According to Deadline, David Costabile, who stars in Showtime's original hit drama series "Billions", has been tapped to play MÖTLEY CRÜE's manager Doc McGhee in the film adaptation of the group's biography, "The Dirt - Confessions Of The World's Most Notorious Rock Band".

The movie, which is being helmed by "Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa" director Jeff Tremaine, will also reportedly star Daniel Webber ("The Punisher") as frontman Vince Neil, Douglas Booth as bassist Nikki Sixx, Machine Gun Kelly as drummer Tommy Lee, and Iwan Rheon ("Game Of Thrones") as guitarist Mick Mars. Playing rock and roll legend Ozzy Osbourne in the film will reportedly be actor-comedian Tony Cavalero, while Rebekah Graf ("The Amityville Murders", "Lycan") will play actress Heather Locklear, ex-wife of Tommy Lee.

"The Dirt" is being produced by LBI Entertainment's Julie Yorn and Rick Yorn, along with Erik Olsen and Amanda Adelson, who wrote the script. Netflix will distribute the project, which was previously at Focus and before that at Paramount.

Neil previously told Las Vegas Magazine that "The Dirt" movie script stays "pretty close to 'The Dirt', so if you've read 'The Dirt', it's really something to look forward to."

Asked how it struck him that he would be seeing an actor playing him on screen, Vince said: "That's gonna be strange. It's funny, I saw the table read of the last script. They have these different actors playing each person, and even just the table read of the script was weird when the Vince guy was talking. [Laughs] It wasn't the guy that's gonna play me, but it was just kind of weird hearing somebody say your words. It's a bit of a trip."

SONS OF APOLLO — the progressive metal supergroup featuring former DREAM THEATER bandmates Mike Portnoy and Derek Sherinian, as well as bassist Billy Sheehan (MR. BIG, THE WINERY DOGS), guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (GUNS N' ROSES) and vocalist Jeff Scott Soto (JOURNEY, TALISMAN, W.E.T.) — has released a new digital EP, "Alive / Tengo Vida". The six-track release includes a Spanish-language version of the group's current single, "Alive", as well as acoustic renditions and radio edits of the song in both English and Spanish.

"Alive / Tengo Vida" track listing:

01. Alive

02. Alive (radio edit)

03. Alive (acoustic version)

04. Tengo Vida ("Alive" Spanish version)

05. Tengo Vida ("Alive" Spanish version - radio edit)

06. Tengo Vida ("Alive" Spanish acoustic version)


A music video for "Tengo Vida" is due to premiere next week.

The release of "Alive / Tengo Vida" precedes SONS OF APOLLO's upcoming tour dates in Mexico and South America, after which the group will hit the road in North America for a month-long tour. From there, SONS OF APOLLO will spend much of the summer performing at European festivals, including Germany's Wacken Open Air, France's Hellfest and Belgium's Graspop Metal Meeting. The group will continue to tour Europe in the fall, including a special performance alongside an orchestra at the Ancient Theatre in Plovdiv, Bulgaria on September 22. That night, the band will perform two sets — one of which, says Portnoy, will be a "very special covers set" — and record the show for a future live CD/DVD.

SONS OF APOLLO's debut album "Psychotic Symphony" was released last October via InsideOut Music. It sold around 5,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release, earning the band the top position on Billboard's Heatseekers chart, which focuses on top-selling albums by new or developing acts, defined as those who have never appeared on the top 100 of the Billboard 200.

DRESS THE DEAD, the band featuring ex-FORBIDDEN guitarist Craig Locicero and WITCH MOUNTAIN singer Kayla Dixon, has released the official lyric video for the song "Promises And Kisses".

Dixon was announced as DRESS THE DEAD's new vocalist in January. She joined the band as the replacement for former THE HAUNTED frontman Peter Dolving, who left DRESS THE DEAD in March 2017. The split happened only three months after DRESS THE DEAD — whose lineup also includes Mark Hernandez on drums, James Walker on bass and Dan Delay on guitar — played its first two shows at Slim's in San Francisco, California as the support act for DEATH ANGEL.

Kayla made her live debut with DRESS THE DEAD at the January 20 benefit concert for VIO-LENCE singer Sean Killian at The Midway in San Francisco, California.

Said Locicero: "Back when my last band was coming to a close, I immediately wrote a pile of new riffs and the music came in a creative flurry. Never thinking about what I was doing, just riffing. Some of it was heavy, aggressive and thrashy while other things were more melodic and, in some cases, very beautiful.

"One of the first things that poured out was the clean intro to 'Promises And Kisses'. It sounded like water to me. Rain, oceans, rivers and storms in my head.

"When I first approached Peter Dolving about helping me form DRESS THE DEAD, 'Promises And Kisses' was in the first batch of riffs. Once Mark, James and Dan got involved, our sound quickly started developing into something pretty cool and unique. We felt the potential was farther reaching than originally anticipated.

"Peter eventually came to the Bay Area and we put our heads together with Robb Flynn [MACHINE HEAD] for the recording. Peter had the outline of something special and we were all excited. Unfortunately, when we played 'Promises And Kisses' for other people, some of them didn't connect to the emotion he was conveying. They only thought of him only as the singer from THE HAUNTED. Their minds were already made up.

"Once Peter unexpectedly left the band a couple of months later, he made it clear he wanted us to continue to play the three songs we wrote together. Easier said than done. I told him only if we could find somebody who could do them justice. One came close, but nobody made it their own until Kayla Dixon.

"'Promises And Kisses' was the first song that Kayla auditioned with back in October. She sent me a demo two days after we spoke and added elements that Peter's original version didn't have. Kayla took liberties with it and the result was amazing. She takes 'Promises And Kisses' to another level. Commanding and vulnerable at the same time. It sounds perfect coming from her female point of view.

"Kayla has the rare ability to do what the greatest singers can. She not only writes her own lyrics and melodies, but expounds and re-imagine others' songs to make them her own.

"Once we got Kayla into the studio with Robb, the real magic happened. Robb suggested she sit down and think about what these songs meant to her. Most importantly, he captured an amazing performance. Kayla was pretty much limitless in the studio. As a result, everything she recorded has a tangible connection. What we've been writing since then is equally as strong.

"We feel we must give Peter the deserved credit for his artistry. The stuff that made me want to be in a band with him in the first place. He set the bar so high that we couldn’t find the right person to replace him. Not until Kayla Dixon walked through our door and rocked us to the core.

"Nobody saw it coming.

"Dolving left us some almost impossible shoes to fill until Kayla came in and stomped down her own footprint."

Dixon said that she first learned about DRESS THE DEAD after "a mutual friend reached out" to her. "One of my first thoughts was, 'I don't know if I'm ready or even at an appropriate talent level to be replacing someone like Peter Dolving for these guys,'" she said. "I'd battled with the idea in my head for several months before finally reaching out. I had listened to and loved '1969' but what really hit me hard was when I heard the other songs that are still unreleased that they sent me. I had no idea how musically diverse this band would turn out to be!"

Gene Simmons says that he "had nothing to do" with KISS's recent attempt to trademark the phrase "The End Of The Road." An application from KISS was filed on February 8 to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which — should it be accepted — means that the band could use it in connection with "live performances by a musical band." As it stands now, no official farewell tour has been announced.

During a question-and-answer session as part of the KISS bassist/vocalist's "Vault Experience" event this past weekend in New York City, Simmons was asked about the "The End Of The Road" application and what it means for the band's future.

"I had nothing to do with that," Gene said (see video below). "I really don't know who stuck it on there, and I don't know if it's a fan or somebody in the band. I would tell you the truth. I literally don't know anything about it. KISS is playing some big outdoor shows in Spain in July. Around there, the GENE SIMMONS BAND is playing, headlining some festivals and stuff like that. We're very lucky. I have a ball doing it, playing obscure songs like 'I' and 'She's So European', stuff we've never played before. So I get to have a great time. But as regards to your [question], I have no idea."

Simmons's KISS bandmate Paul Stanley recently confirmed that he was behind "The End Of The Road" trademark application, telling journalist Michael Cavacini: "It's not the first trademark that's been filed. I thought it was a terrific name, and I was surprised nobody had used it before. I wanted to make sure that when we used it, and there will be a time that we do, I imagine — I wanted to be sure that we own it and it's ours. When we wanted to go out and do the 'Hottest Show On Earth' tour, Ringling Bros. came to us and said, 'You can't do that.' It set off a light and bell for me. We've always had slogans or sayings that are synonymous with us, and this was another. Everything does end, in one form or another. When it's my time, I want to go out in style, and I want to go out guns blazing. So, when I came up with this idea, I thought let's make sure we tie this up."

KISS had once before publicly announced its plans to call it quits nearly 20 years ago. Stanley later said that the band's tumultuous "Farewell Tour" in 2000 was nothing more than an attempt by the group to "put KISS out of its misery" after years of ego clashes and disagreements over songwriting credits between the band's original members.

Stanley has repeatedly said that the band could one day continue without him and bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons, explaining in an interview: "Once the original [KISS lineup] was no more, it just became clear to us that, in some ways, we're much more a sports team. We don't fall into the limitations of other bands, because we're not other bands. So, yeah, at some point, I'd love to see somebody in the band in my place, and it's because I love the band."

Back in January, Stanley said that he wasn't sure "about the idea of KISS coming to an end. We've built something that's so iconic, and I think it transcends any of the members so I can certainly see me not being there, seriously." He also spoke about his reasons for wanting to spend less time on the road. "I don't want to go leave home," he said. "I have a family and I have children and, honestly, I think my primary responsibility is to be a dad, and I don't want to miss out on that. And certainly, as we got older, we know that life is finite and I pick and choose what I want to do at this point."

On June 1, Bludgeon Riffola/Mercury/UMe fires the first salvo in DEF LEPPARD's projected four-volume career-spanning box set series, when the appropriately dubbed "Volume One" appears in multidisc LP and CD collections. The collection arrives in time for this summer's highly anticipated DEF LEPPARD co-headline tour with JOURNEY.

This first volume of the band's complete recorded output comes in both limited-edition 180-gram heavyweight vinyl and CD box sets, each featuring DEF LEPPARD's first four studio albums — along with some choice bonus live and studio material — all spread across 8LPs and 7CDs, respectively.

The "Volume One" collection includes bonus material, including "Live At The LA Forum 1983", originally released as a bonus disc in the deluxe CD version of "Pyromania", making this the first-ever vinyl offering of the complete show. This 2LP version comes with a new sleeve and inner bags.

"Rarities Volume 1" has been specially compiled by Joe Elliott, containing rare B-sides and recordings from DEF LEPPARD's early years, all in a newly commissioned sleeve. Finally, rounding out this collection is the 7-inch vinyl single and 3-inch CD of DEF LEPPARD's original, self-titled EP.

The fiery "Volume One" collection contains all of DEF LEPPARD's iconic 1980s recordings with reproductions of the original packaging in both formats, plus the added bonus of a replica 7-inch single and 3-inch CD of the band's original independent EP, the self-titled "The Def Leppard E.P.".

Each album in the box set was mastered by longtime band producer/soundmaster Ronan McHugh and cut by Greg Moore.

Housed in rigid boxes, the "Volume One" collection also contains a hardback book with rare photos by longstanding band confidant Ross Halfin and liner notes by Classic Rock's Paul Elliott. DEF LEPPARD bandmembers Joe Elliott, bassist Rick Savage, drummer Rick Allen, and guitarist Phil Collen have all also contributed their personal introductions to the collection.

"Volume One" is an extraordinary early chronicle of a band whose global impact only continues to grow. DEF LEPPARD have a cumulative sales tally of over 100 million albums worldwide, not to mention putting on consistently sold-out world tours. DEF LEPPARD recently authorized their entire recorded catalog for access on streaming and download platforms, a move that resulted in a nearly 400 percent surge in catalog sales on the first day alone, as well as appearances in the iTunes Top 10 charts in over 30 countries worldwide.

"Volume One" kicks off with DEF LEPPARD's 1980 debut album "On Through The Night", which immediately put the rock world on notice that the band were destined for big things, having charted at No. 15 in the U.K. and No. 51 in the U.S. Produced by Tom Allom (JUDAS PRIEST, BLACK SABBATH), "On Through The Night" features many of the band's live favorites ("Rock Brigade", "Hello America"), along with updated versions of early singles ("Rocks Off"). The album achieved platinum status in 1989, and the version included here is the rare Australian gatefold-sleeve version.

Released in 1981, "High 'N' Dry" was DEF LEPPARD's second platinum album and the first to be produced by Robert "Mutt" Lange (AC/DC, FOREIGNER). It reached No. 26 in the U.K. and No. 38 in the U.S., having garnered much impactful FM airplay with the propulsive "Let It Go" and one of the band's most popular signature tunes to this day, "Bringin' On The Heartbreak".

"Pyromania", released in 1983, saw the band become indisputable rock legends. It was the first record to feature guitars by Phil Collen, who had replaced Pete Willis. The album contains massive MTV hits "Photograph" and "Rock Of Ages", as well as fist-pumper "Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)". "Pyromania" reached No. 2 in the U.S. and went diamond, with over 10 million album sales.

DEF LEPPARD released "Hysteria" in 1987, the band's best-selling record to date having sold over 25 million copies worldwide. It went to No. 1 in the U.K., U.S., and Australia, and is also the band's second album to achieve diamond status in the U.S.. Notes Collen: "Not many people even get platinum albums anymore! Going diamond is going 10 times platinum in America, which is a huge deal — and we've got two of those. We're really pleased that we got them. It's pretty cool that we've achieved that."

Produced by Mutt Lange, "Hysteria" took over three years to make, ultimately featuring seven charting singles (including No. 1 smash "Love Bites" and "Pour Some Sugar On Me"), and has been rightly nicknamed as "heavy metal's 'Thriller'." Clocking in at just over 62 minutes, "Hysteria" was then one of the longest albums ever issued on a single vinyl record — but for this special box set release, it has been made into a double LP for maximum sound-quality purposes.

DEF LEPPARD's collective vocal prowess is but one of the many things that helped cement their unparalleled standing in rock history, as Joe Elliott explains: "The way we did our harmonies was based on the multitracking abilities of a band like QUEEN, but we took what they did to the next level. QUEEN maybe tripled or quadrupled their backing vocals — but we did it like 20 times! We wanted it to sound like the quality of QUEEN but have the size of SLADE. The way we did it gave us a unique sound. And that's the whole point of an album, really — capturing a band's unique dynamics." Adds Phil Collen: "The American bands had beautiful vocals, with all those wonderful harmonies. But we added a bit of a punk ethos in there with ours, where it became a bit more charming and anthemic with screaming and shouting. And that was a very British thing, I think, that made us different from a lot of the American bands."

For the full track listing, click here.

RUSH has released the official lyric video for the title track of the band's landmark album "A Farewell To Kings" — the fifth studio LP originally released in 1977, which introduced the radio hit "Closer To The Heart", album tracks "Madrigal", "Cinderella Man", as well as enduring fan favorites with "Xanadu" and "Cygnus X-1". The clip was created by Adam Jones of ALJ Innovations and features original artwork by Hugh Syme and illustration by Fantoons.

"A Farewell To Kings" was released last fall in a lavish and expanded edition.

"A Farewell To Kings - 40th Anniversary" is available to fans in four distinct configurations, including (1) Super Deluxe Edition, (2) three-CD Deluxe Edition, (3) four-LP Deluxe Edition, and (4) the Deluxe Digital Edition.

The Super Deluxe Edition includes three CDs, one Blu-ray Audio disc and four high-quality 180-gram vinyl LPs. The set encompasses the Abbey Road mastering studios 2015 remastered edition of the album for the first time on CD; a complete RUSH concert recorded in February 1978 at London's Hammersmith Odeon, newly mixed by longtime RUSH engineer and original "A Farewell To Kings" producer Terry Brown from the multi-track live tapes; four newly recorded cover versions of songs from the original album by DREAM THEATER, BIG WRECK, THE TREWS and Alain Johannes; and an instrumental studio outtake of the spacey sound effects the band has creatively titled "Cygnus X-2 Eh". The Hammersmith show features, for the first time ever, over thirty-four minutes of unreleased performances including a complete "2112" suite, "Lakeside Park", a drum solo and "Closer To The Heart". The Super Deluxe Edition's audio content on its CDs is duplicated on its vinyl discs. Meanwhile, the Blu-ray audio disc contains a brand new 5.1 Surround mix of the album by four-time Grammy-nominated Surround Sound producer Steven Wilson, along with three original 1977 promo videos from a newly found two-inch quad video master significantly improving the video quality for "Closer To The Heart". The Super Deluxe package also includes an elaborate new fortieth-anniversary cover treatment by longtime RUSH creative director Hugh Syme, who has also created a new piece of artwork for each of the album's six songs, and an extensive twelve-thousand-word liner notes by Grammy-winning rock historian Rob Bowman.

The Super Deluxe Edition of "A Farewell To Kings - 40th Anniversary" also includes several exclusive items, including a unique King's Ring, with custom velvet pouch and neck chain; two lithographs with original artwork by Hugh Syme; a special twelve-inch turntable mat featuring distinctive artwork by Hugh Syme; and a reproduction of RUSH's original 1978 "A Farewell To Kings" tour program.

"A Farewell To Kings - 40th Anniversary" second configuration was released in a three-CD Deluxe Edition, with the newly reasserted "A Farewell To Kings" album, the Hammersmith Odeon show, the four new cover songs, "Cygnus X-2 Eh" outtake, Hugh Syme's song-specific artwork and Rob Bowman's liner notes.

The third configuration is offered as an audiophile 180-gram four-LP Deluxe Edition featuring the same audio content as the three-CD edition with double-gatefold packaging, thirty-two-page vinyl-size booklet, the special twelve-inch turntable mat, along with Syme's artwork and Bowman's liner notes.

The fourth configuration, the Deluxe Digital Edition, features the original album as disc 1, the complete Hammersmith concert unedited as disc 2, and the four covers songs plus the "Cygnus X-2 Eh" outtake as disc 3.

According to Billboard, METALLICA's latest album, "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct", has landed at position No. 2 on this weekend's Billboard 200 chart, following sizable sales generated from a concert ticket/album sale redemption offer with the band's upcoming U.S. and Canada tour. (The redemptions count as sales.) The disc, which arrived in November 2016, shifted approximately 65,000 equivalent album units in the week ending March 22.

Unlike XXXTentacion's "?", which topped this weekend's chart, METALLICA's No. 2 showing is driven by traditional album sales, as 63,000 of its 65,000 units were in pure sales.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week based on multi-metric consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).

When METALLICA bundled "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct" with tickets to its North American stadium tour last year, the band worked with WMG to remind fans to download the album, pushing it back up to No. 2 on the Billboard 200.

According to Billboard, "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct" is METALLICA's 12th album to sell at least a million copies since Nielsen Music began tracking sales in 1991.

In total, the group has sold 58 million albums in the U.S. in the Nielsen Music era, and owns the overall top-selling album of that span of time: its self-titled 1991 release, with nearly 17 million sold.

Who Brought The Dog, the solo project launched by The New Black guitarist Fabian "Fabs" Schwarz featuring BraveWords scribe Carl Begai and The New Black drummer Philipp Klinger, have issued the following update:

"Hey folks, check out the new Who Brought The Dog song 'Hidden And Hollow'. It’s about the slow destruction of a relationship.... and the 'blue pill' in the song is not Viagra! If you’re a nerd you’ll get the reference. Musically, this song has everything including choirs, tubular bells..... and a banjo. Seriously."

Who Brought The Dog have released two songs for free via Bandcamp. "I'm With The Banned" is an anti-bullying, anti-racism, anti-sexism, anti-Trump rant, "Three Days" is a cancer survivor song, lyrics written by Carl and Canadian rocker Bif Naked.

The download is free, but anyone interested in supporting Deutsche Krebshilfe / German Cancer Aid (www.krebshilfe.de) can make donations on Bandcamp. Please add the code AK 49006511 to your PayPal transaction.

The Singles by Who Brought The Dog

Who Brought The Dog recently released a new video for the song "Mouth". Check it out below.

Carl: "Here's a fun video for a serious song about the posers out there who live on big talk, big money, big make-up and empty words, with nothing useful to offer anyone. Dedicated to the Donald Trumps and Kylie Jenners of the world."

Fabs: "The video features the last appearance of my gorgeous white guitar, which was severely damaged in a bizarre gardening accident a couple weeks before the shoot. Her final act of awesome was to make a dream of mine come true by throwing a guitar like a real cool motherfucker."

Swedish bashers Morgana Lefay, who have been silent for years, have been confirmed to play the Karlslundsfestivalen in their home town of Bollnäs, Sweden this summer. Organizers have issued the following update:

"It's finally done! And with the record in hand, it would have almost been easier to get The Ramones here, but now... the rumors have been been around online for a couple of years: 'Have they put down?' and 'Is it over?' from small fanzine in the deepest forests of Chile to large warehouses in the States like Rolling Stones. No one's had a clue. Until now today!"

Karlslundsfestivalen takes place on June 29th and 30th at Langnäsparken. Go to this location for information and updates.

In addition, Morgana Lefay have confirmed their first ever performance in Greece. On October 21st they will play in Athens at the Kyttaro live club with German metal veterans Sacred Steel. Event information (in Greek) can be found here.

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

The new band is now officially known as Imonolith. They are now active on social media via Facebook and Instagram. Check both pages for information and updates.

The band has checked in with the following update:

"Ryan Van Poederooyen completed some of the Imonolith drum tracks yesterday for our first album. All we can say is we're beyond lucky to have an A-List producer, engineer and mixer in Jay Van Poederooyen. Yesterday, Ryan said, without a doubt in his mind, he got the best sounding drum sound out of ANY recording he's ever done. Hands down. No question. RVP's Sonor drums and Sabian cymbals sounded simply incredible. The whole band was beyond stoked. Jay said it's the best drum sound he's dialled up in his career to date. That's saying something! Natural drums, NO SAMPLES! It was a great start to the recording. Today we're on to Jed's guitars. Stay posted for more pics and updates as we go along. Thanks for the support and stay posted!"

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

Photo by LIM SANG Photography

My Kundalini is the solo project of Jukka-Pekka Miettinen (ex-ArthemesiA, ex-Ensiferum, ex-Stone Beast, Kirkkokahvit, Atmosphere Enterprise) that was based on the need to express music of the cosmos without the need to limit it to some certain genre. Well of course it took a heavier form and is therefore part of a genre, but so that it’s a mixture of Black Sabbath and Entombed having a child and then some. The debut album will be released on April 20th.

The Art of Dying is a dive into human consciousness and beyond. Death and Resurrection. Knowledge found in psychedelics and discipline. And it is out there for you to reach.

The first video from the album “Stone Beast” is a song that was supposed to be the ultimate anthem to his former band Stone Beast, but as it goes the band split up and the song ended up being the beginning of something new. It became the anthem of the modern man in search of his soul and failing at it.

Tracklisting:

“Bone”
“Love”
“Queen Mother”
“Stone Beast”
“The Art Of Dying”
“Supermoon”
“Leaking Mind”
“Wake Up The Messiah”
“Codex Bestia”

“Stone Beast” video:

Spanish thrash metallers Angelus Apatrida return to the spotlight with a new studio album entitled Cabaret de la Guillotine, set for worldwide release via Century Media Records on May 4th. A video for the track "Downfall Of The Nation" can be found below.

Following up 2015’s Hidden Evolution, which entered the charts in Spain on # 2, this sixth studio album showcases the wide heavy metal range of Angelus Apatrida, from neck-breaking thrash, to truly melodic and yet powerful metal, acting as the group’s most diverse effort to date.

The album was mixed and mastered by the longtime sonic partner Daniel Cardoso (Anathema, Anneke van Giersbergen) and with artwork by Gyula Havancsák (Destruction, Annihilator).

Tracklisting:

“Sharpen The Guillotine”
“Betrayed”
“Ministry Of God”
“The Hum”
“Downfall Of The Nation”
“One Of Us”
“The Die Is Cast”
“Witching Hour”
“Farewell”
“Martyrs Of Chicago”

“Downfall Of The Nation” video:

“Sharpen The Guillotine” lyric video:

California-based death metal act Skeletal Remains will join Angelus Apatrida on their European tour in May. Dates are listed below.

May
4 - Essen, Germany - Turock
5 - Roeselare, Belgium - De Verlichte Geest
6 - Drachten, The Netherlands - Iduna
7 - Köln, Germany - Jungle
9 - Rostock, Germany - Peter-Weiss-Haus
10 - Sebnitz, Germany - Wonnemond Festival
11 - Prague, Czech Republic - Modrá Vopice
12 - Wroclaw, Poland - D.K. Luksus
14 - Ostrava, Czech Republic - Barrák
16 - Vienna, Austria - Viper Room
17 - Bratislava, Slovakia - British Rock Star
18 - Brno, Czech Republic -  ElevenClub        
19 - Budapest, Hungary -  Dürer Kert
20 - Milano, Italy - Blue Rose Saloon  
21 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz
22 - Valencia, Spain - Rock City

Gone In April, the symphonic melodic death metal ensemble featuring Testament bassist Steve Di Giorgio, have released an official music video for the song "Our Future Line", from their Threads Of Existence album, out now. Watch the clip below.

Gone In April features musicians from Testament, Death, Quo Vadis, Märchenbilder and Vivaldi Metal Project and combines elements of symphonic, death, speed and folk metal in a compelling and aggressive blend sure to please a wide audience.

Threads Of Existence tracklisting:

“Dawn Of Time”
“The Curtain Will Rise”
“Our Future Line”
“Remember The Days”
“As Hope Welcomes Death”
“Embracing The Light”
“A Million Souls Gather”
“Relentless”
“The Great Contemplation”
“The Will To End A Life”

“Our Future Line” video:

“As Hope Welcomes Death" video:

Below is fan-filmed footage of Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess performing David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” during his Portland, OR stop of his From Back To Rock: A Musician’s Journey solo tour.

Keyboardist/multi-Instrumentalist extraordinaire, Jordan Rudess, member of platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated band Dream Theater, has announced details for his third annual Jordan Rudess KeyFest, which will be held April 26th - 28th at Sweetwater Sound in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Registration is open now at jordanrudess.com/keyfest-2018, and sweetwater.com/events/2018/04/keyfest.

KeyFest is a 3 - day interactive keyboard gathering with Jordan Rudess, Tom Brislin (Yes, Renaissance), and Bill Laurence (Snarky Puppy). During the day, these three renown keyboardists will lead workshops on essential skills ranging from the art of soloing, keyboard technique, sound design, music apps, improvisation and more. In the evenings, they will perform intimate concerts and lead the participants in jams and master classes.

“Besides all of the learning that happens during the workshops, the best part of the past two KeyFests was just having the chance to hang out with other keyboardists, share our musical ideas and geek out together. Sweetwater is the ultimate musical instrument store so it’s the perfect setting for the ultimate keyboard gathering”, says Rudess.

Thad Tegtmeyer, Sweetwater Vice President, Campus Sales Operations & Artist Relations says, “Sweetwater is absolutely delighted to host KeyFest 2018. It's an honor to host Jordan Rudess, along with Tom Brislin and Bill Laurance. We're very excited to bring these amazing artists to the Sweetwater campus and we appreciate them sharing their talents with our customers”

Watch announcements from Jordan, Tom Brislin and Bill Laurence below:

Jordan Rudess is on a US West Coast and European tour to perform a solo piano performance entitled: From Bach To Rock: A Musician’s Journey. The tour began in the US in March, and travels to Europe beginning March 30th through mid-April.

Rudess’ solo concert will travel through his fascinating musical journey - how a young Juilliard piano prodigy destined for a classical music career evolved into a keyboard rock star phenomenon.

Tour dates:

March
30 - Padua, Italy

April
1 - Tel Aviv, Israel
3 - London, England
4 - Utrecht, Netherlands
6 - Vantaa/Helsinki, Finland
8 - Stockholm, Sweden
10 - Esbjerg, Denmark
11 - Hamburg, Germany
12 - Essen, Germany
13 - Frankfurt, Germany
15 - San Sebastian, Spain

More details and tickets here.

Victoriaville, Quebec's Obliterate have released a music video for the title track off of their crushing new album Impending Death. This pulverizing video shows exactly why the group's highly anticipated Unique Leader debut, which has a May 18th street date, will establish the group as one of the most aggressive and exciting bands in the current deathcore scene. 

The group collectively said of the video, "For this video we decided to make things differently from our previous ones. We went to an abandoned asylum, where nine patients perished in flames in 1988, to shoot a storyline. In the clip you can see a woman using different methods to kill us. We tried to demonstrate that no matter how things or people may look, death is inevitable and you'll have to face it one day or another."

Obliterate are currently touring throughout the Midwest and East Coast of the US alongside Widowmaker and Second Death.

Dates:

March
23 - Lacrosse, WI - The Warehouse
24 - Bradley, IL - The Looney Bin
25 - Detroit, MI - Hot Rock Music Cafe
26 - Kent, OH - The Outpost
27 - Erie, PA - Basement Transmission
28 - Syracuse, NY - Spark
30 - Corning, NY - Lando's
31 - Lemoyne, PA - The Champ

April
1 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bazaar
2 - Philadelphia, PA - Voltage Lounge
3 - Chesapeake, VA - Riffhouse Pub
4 - Fayetteville, NC - Drunk Horse Pub
5 - Spartanburg, SC - Ground Zero
6 - Ringgold, GA - Cloud Springs Deli
7 - Margate, FL - O'Malley's

Long running Swedish metallers Sparzanza have released the video for their latest single, "Whatever Come May Be."  The track comes off of their eighth studio album, Announcing The End on Despotz Records.

The video was filmed entirely by the band's fans on their fall 2017 tour - of fans, for fans.  As the band says, "By the fans, for the fans! Sparzanza bows to all the fans who made the autumn tour a success. To celebrate and show our appreciation, the fans themselves contributed video material to the latest single ‘Whatever Come May Be’ - one of the heavier songs on the record. Recorded during the 2017 tour in Finland, Sweden and Norway and clipped by Erik Hansen on EH Digital."  

"Whatever Come May Be" can be ordered from iTunes and streamed on Spotify while the album Announcing the End can be purchased on iTunes or streamed in full on Spotify.

Announcing The End tracklisting:

“Announcing The End”
“Damnation”
“One Last Breath”
“Whatever Come May Be”
“Vindication”
“The Dark Appeal”
“Breathe In The Fire”
“The Trigger”
“To The One”
“We Are Forever”
“Truth Is A Lie”

“Whatever Come May Be”:

"The Trigger" lyric video:

“Vindication” video:

“Announcing The End” video:

(Photo - Eric Hansen)

Vocalist Carley Coma of Candiria recently launched a new series of videos for the band's latest album While They Were Sleeping. The series dives deep into the story behind the album's concept. A ninth video is now available. Watch all clips below:

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Candiria will be hitting the road for a spate of headline dates commemorating 20-plus years of their critically acclaimed sophomore album, Beyond Reasonable Doubt.

The tour kicks off on April 20th in Long Island and will feature support from Cleric on most dates. The trek will take the band through the Northeast and the Midwest. It also includes an appearance at the annual New England Metal and Hardcore Fest. The band will also play two shows supporting Killswitch Engage. Additional dates will be added and all confirmed dates are below.

The band has crafted a special set list for the tour to celebrate the definitive Beyond Reasonable Doubt album. At the shows, Candiria will also be selling a special Collector's Edition of Beyond Reasonable Doubt. This version is packed with memorabilia and imagery from the period in which the band was writing, recording, and supporting the album. It also boasts newly revised artwork, audio taken from the original 1997 masters, and a forward by original drummer Ken Schalk. It is a piece that diehard Candiria fans will certainly want for their musical libraries.

Tour dates:

April
20 - Amityville, NY - Revolution Bar & Music Hall*
21 -  Worcester, MA - New England Metal & Hardcore Fest*
26 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom (with Killswitch Engage + Hatebreed)
27 - Lancaster, PA - Chameleon Club
29 - Philadelphia, PA - Voltage Lounge

May
3 - Poughkeepsie, NY - The Chance (with Killswitch Engage, The Word Alive)
4 - Pittsburgh, PA - The Smiling Moose
5 - Lansing, MI - Mac's Bar
6 - Toledo, OH - Frankie's
7 - Chicago, IL - Reggie's

* - no Cleric

Cult New York heavy metal band and godfathers of power metal, Riot V, have released a third video trailer for their upcoming sixteenth album, Armor Of Light, out on April 27th. Watch below.

The album will be available on colored vinyl (black, silver, red) 2-LP in gatefold and as a limited CD-Digipak-Edition, both including the two bonus tracks "Unbelief" as well as a new recorded verison of their classic hymn "Thundersteel".

Mastermind Donnie van Stavern (bass) states: "'Victory' is the first song on the new album Armor of Light and the first song I wrote for it! I'm taking it back to my writing roots of Thundersteel/Privilege Of Power style, a fast no holds barred face melting assault on your ears! Although it is about a victorious battle of Thunder Bay it also means a victory of sorts for us and the fans for keeping the torch burning! Rise up your voices strong and scream along cry out...Victory!"

Pre-order Armor Of Light digitally and receive "Victory" instantly.

The album was produced by Chris "The Wizard" Collier (Metal Church, Flotsam And Jetsam), while the cover artwork was created by Mariusz Gandzel (Crytal Viper).

Tracklisting:

"Victory"
"End Of The World"
"Messiah"
"Angel's Thunder, Devil's Reign"
"Burn The Daylight"
"Heart Of A Lion"
"Armor Of Light"
"Set The World Alight"
"San Antonio"
"Caught In The Witches Eye"
"Ready To Shine"
"Raining Fire"
"Unbelief"
"Thundersteel"

Trailer #1:

Trailer #2:

Trailer #3:

"Victory" lyric video:

Demonstealer is wasting no time in unleashing tracks from his massive album The Last Reptilian Warrior which has guest drummers from prominent bands from all over such as SepticFlesh, Benighted, Ne Obliviscaris, Cognizance and Necrophagist. The latest track has the drummer of Cognizance involved along with the bassist of Aborted and Hideous Divinity. 

The band's founder Sahil Makhiija a.k.a Demonstealer had this to say about it:

"This was a super fun song to write and it was the most collaborative song on the album with David being integral in helping shape the song and riffs with his input. Stefano is also super professional to work with and he just nailed the track in like a day and sent it back to me. The track is at 260bpm and David nailed it in a single take which blew my mind as well. I'm super excited for people to hear this, even though this project is taking a bit more time than I would have liked I'm glad that we're half way through the album already. Four songs recorded and released and four more to go."

The album artwork was created by Reuben Bhattacharya, aka Visual Amnesia (Slipknot, Twelve Foot Ninja, Demonic Resurrection).

Extended version of the continuous two-panel artwork:

Updated tracklisting:
 
"The Grand Collapse Of Humanity" (featuring Kevin Paradis/Benighted)
"Sculpting The Archetype" (featuring Krimh/Septicflesh, Stefano/Aborted, Rami/Nervecell)
"The Perspective Of Evil" (featuring Romain Goulon/Necrophagist, Arran McSporran/Virvum)
"The Human Pestilence" (featuring David Diepold/Cognizance, Stefano/Hideous Divinity)
"No Victory In War" (featuring Kevin Paradis/Benighted, Shoi Sen/De Profundis)
"The Weak Shall Perish" (featuring David Diepold/Cognizance, Arran McSporran/De Profundis, Mendel/Aborted)
"The Last Reptilian Warrior"
+ to be announced bonus track featuring Dan Presland (Ne Obliviscaris)

"The Grand Collapse Of Humanity" video:

The crowd-funding campaign for this album is still going on at this location.

Malignant Records is preparing for the April release of Soul Of Ruin, Body Of Filth, the new full-length by Erie, Pennsylvania-based doom/death industrial act Abjection Ritual. Advancing the album's release, the first single has been issued in the form of "Blood Mother".

 
Like a hybrid of Enemy Of The Sun-era Neurosis, early Swans, Godflesh, IRM, and Khanate, mixed with the caustic doom sludge of Halo and Indian, Abjection Ritual's Soul Of Ruin, Body Of Filth is a far more diverse and eclectic journey than the band's previous works. The album features guest appearances by Rennie Resmini (Starkweather) and author Christopher Ropes, and features artwork by Jef Whitehead (Leviathan).

Soul Of Ruin, Body Of Filth will see release on digital platforms and as a six-panel digipak CD featuring through Malignant Records on April 6th; find physical preorders at the label webshop.

With Soul Of Ruin, Body Of Filth, Abjection Ritual emerges as a far different beast than on prior recordings, now fully untethered by genre constraints and conventions. Soul Of Ruin, Body Of Filth is a vast progression from past releases, incorporating guitars, bass, and a live drummer into their arsenal, and in doing so has crafted a far more diverse, idiosyncratic vision, while retaining the atmospherics of heavy electronics and industrial ambience for which they're known throughout the scene.

YOB, the Oregon-based trio, will release Our Raw Heart, the band’s eighth full-length album and Relapse Records’ debut, on June 8th.

“We’re very excited to share this new music,” says singer/guitar player Mike Scheidt. “We gave it everything we have. Going from an uncertain future in the beginning of 2017, to writing and then recording a new album at the end of it, it was quite a year. We’re very grateful. We’re looking forward to hitting the road again and celebrating decibels and good cheer with friends worldwide. Can’t wait.”

The news of the seven-track album’s release arrives as the band confirms a North American tour, kicking off June 14th at 89th Street in Oklahoma City. The outing, which will feature direct support from Bell Witch, also includes performances at Austin Terror Fest and Mutants of the Monster 2018. 

Our Raw Heart was co-produced by the band and Billy Barnett at Gung Ho Studio in Eugene, OR, with mastering handled by Heba Kadry (The Mars Volta, Diamanda Galas, Slowdive). Decibel Magazine and Stereogum named the release as one of their most anticipated albums of 2018. Preorders for Our Raw Heart will be available April 10th via Relapse.com.

Dates:

June
14 - Oklahoma City, OK - 89th Street
15 - Austin, TX - Austin Terror Fest
16 - Little Rock, AR - Mutants of the Monster 2018
17 - Memphis, TN - Hi Tone
19 - Birmingham, AL - Saturn
20 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
22 - Orlando, FL - Will’s Pub
23 - Wilmington, NC - Reggies
24 - Asheville, NC - Mothlight
25 - Raleigh, NC - King’s
27 - Baltimore, MD - Metro
28 - New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge
29 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts
30 - Boston, MA - Middle East

July 
2 - Montreal, QC - La Sala Rosa
3 - Ottawa, ON - Mavericks
4 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club
6 - Pittsburgh, PA - Rex Theatre
7 - Detroit, MI - El Club
8 - Chicago, IL - Reggies
10 - St. Paul, MN - Club
11 - Omaha, NE - Lookout Lounge
12 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre
13 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
14 - Boise, ID - Neurolux

(Photo by: Alyssa Herman)

Santa Cruz, one of Finland's most raucous gangs of youth gone wild, have returned to America. The quartet kicked off their first U.S. tour in support of their acclaimed new album Bad Blood Rising last week in Houston, when they performed the first of two dozen shows alongside Fozzy, Through Fire and Dark Sky Choir. The tour continues today (March 7th) in Tucson, Arizona before hitting the famed Whisky A Go-Go in Hollywood this weekend. From there, the groups will head toward the Pacific Northwest before Santa Cruz plays a handful of headline dates prior to the tour's second leg, which begins in Milwaukee on March 27th.

To celebrate their triumphant return to the States, Santa Cruz has unveiled a lyric video for their new single, “Fire Running Through Our Veins.” The track is impacting active rock radio now, so fans who want to hear the Helsinki hellraisers on the airwaves in their home markets are welcome to call their local stations and request the track. The lyric video – edited by Rafael Ortega (Blackfinger, Ayreon, Sicosis) – can be seen below:

The mustard-yellow initial vinyl pressing of the album has sold out, but an exclusive blood-red second pressing – limited to only 200 copies – can be purchased directly from the band during their American tour.

Tour dates:

March
7 - Tucson, AZ - Club X's
8 - Phoenix, AZ - Marquee Theater
9 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues
10 - Los Angeles, CA - The Whisky
11 - Las Vegas, NV - Counts Vamp'd
13 - San Francisco, CA - Slim's
15 - Portland, OR - Dante's
16 - Seattle, WA - Studio Seven
27 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Ballroom
28 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
29 - Grand Rapids, MI - Intersection
30 - Detroit, MI - Shelter
31 - Dayton, OH - Oddbody's

April
2 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
3 - Pittsburgh, PA - Jergel's
4 - Clifton Park, NY - Upstate Concert Hall
5 - New York, NY - The Gramercy
6 - Philadelphia, PA - The Foundry
7 - Portland, ME - Aura
8 - Hampton Beach, NH - Wally's Pub

On April 21st, Toronto, Canada-based metal trio Cauldron will celebrate Record Store Day in their native land by releasing a limited special edition 7” featuring the band’s new single "Letting Go" b/w "Hold Your Fire", the final single and closing track from the band’s 2016 album In Ruin, which debuted at #1 on the CMJ Loud Rock charts.

Cauldron vocalist/bassist Jason Decay had this to say, "We are excited to partner with Record Store Day Canada for the release of our new limited special edition 7” featuring our new single ‘Letting Go'. We’re really happy with how the new video for b/w track ‘Hold Your Fire’ came out and hope you dig it as much as we do! These are two very strong tracks that show our attention to melody and songwriting while both retaining that classic unmistakable Cauldron sound so check it out!”

Watch the "Hold Your Fire" music video below.

Tracklisting:

Side A:
"Letting Go"

Side B:
"Hold Your Fire"

"Hold Your Fire" video:

To commemorate its release, Cauldron is set to perform a special in-store show on Record Store Day, April 21st , at Stained Class Records in Toronto at 3 PM, followed by a headline performance at the official Record Store Day Canada after party at Henderson Brewing Co..

Saturday, April 21st performances:

Stained Class Records
Time: 3 PM
Location: 1614 Queen St. West
Toronto, Ontario
facebook.com/stainedclassrecords

Henderson Brewing Co.
Time: 9 PM
Location: Henderson Brewing Co.
128A Sterling Road
Toronto, Ontario
hendersonbrewing.com

The band is also set to play a show on March 16th at Lee's Palace in Toronto (with Angel Witch, Blood Ceremony). More info here.

In January 2016, the group released their critically-acclaimed album In Ruin, which debuted at #1 on the CMJ Loud Rock charts. While touring the band suffered a near-fatal crash that set them on an indefinite hiatus. Cauldron bounced back to the stage in October 2016 on a US tour with Satan followed by a European headlining tour in the spring of 2017.

In 2018, Cauldron plan to release their fifth studio album and follow-up to In Ruin album via The End Records (North America) and Dissonance Productions (Europe) - once again promising a strong emphasis on songwriting and melody, complete with high-end organic production to match.

Experience Hendrix and Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, have released Both Sides Of The Sky, a dynamic new Jimi Hendrix album featuring 13 studio recordings made between 1968 and 1970 - 10 of which have never before been released. The album is available on multiple formats including CD, digital, and as a numbered 180 gram audiophile vinyl 2LP.

A video for the unreleased song "Lover Man'" can now be seen below:

Both Sides Of The Sky is the third volume in a trilogy of albums intended to present the best and most significant unissued studio recordings remaining in the music legend’s archive. Beginning with Valleys of Neptune (2010), which earned top ten sales rankings in fifteen countries (including a top position of #4 on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart), followed by People, Hell and Angels (2013) which peaked on Billboard’s Top 100 album chart at #2. Billboard’s coveted number one singles ranking went to “Somewhere,” the album’s lead track and the legendary guitarist’s highest ever US singles chart achievement. This third release is anticipated to complete the spectacular recording event in epic fashion. “Since Experience Hendrix began its restoration of the Jimi Hendrix music catalog in 1997, our goal has been to present these important recordings to Jimi’s fans in the best possible quality. We are excited about achieving that. We’ve also been intent on generating album releases which present this amazing music in its proper context,” explains John McDermott, one of the album’s co-producers, together with Janie Hendrix and Eddie Kramer.

Order Both Sides Of The Sky here.

Recorded between January 1968 and February 1970, Jimi’s desire to push the boundaries of blues music can be heard throughout. Both Sides Of The Sky additionally highlights Jimi’s mastery of studio production and his increasing use of these facilities as a proving ground for new sounds, material, and techniques. Many of the album’s tracks were recorded by the trio that would come to be known as Band of Gypsys: Jimi on guitar and vocals, Billy Cox on bass, and Buddy Miles on drums. For their first-ever recording session on April 22nd, 1969, Hendrix turned to their shared musical root, delta blues. Their previously unreleased, uptempo reworking of Muddy Waters’ “Mannish Boy” opens the album and sets the tempo for what follows. “Lover Man” was a favored Hendrix original and the guitarist was determined to realize a finished master. Previous attempts by the original Experience had yet to yield this for Hendrix but this December 1969 effort by the Band Of Gypsys - complete with its homage to the popular Batman theme song - was his strongest effort to date.

“Hear My Train A Comin’” features drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding from the original Jimi Hendrix Experience. This original blues composition had become a staple of Hendrix’s concerts. This previously unreleased April 1969 recording captured the furious power and dynamic tension that made the song so memorable. Previously unheard recordings of “Stepping Stone,” “Jungle,” “Cherokee Mist” (which features Hendrix on both electric guitar and sitar) as well as the January 1968 recording of “Sweet Angel” provide further highlights.

Both Sides Of The Sky also features an assortment of notable guest musicians. Stephen Stills befriended Hendrix at the June 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. In September of 1969 Stills was invited to a Hendrix session at the Record Plant in New York. Stills burst into the session with a song Joni Mitchell had recently composed, titled “Woodstock.” Joined by Hendrix and Buddy Miles, the trio recorded this version first - months before Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young released their popular rendition of Mitchell’s song. Stills would also contribute $20 Fine, an original song that featured Hendrix on multiple guitars, Mitchell on drums, Stills on organ and lead vocals and Duane Hitchings (Buddy Miles Express) on piano.

Another of the album’s unique band creations sees Jimi Hendrix and Johnny Winter on guitar, backed by Billy Cox and drummer Dallas Taylor of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. An excerpt of their rendition of Guitar Slim’s “Things I Used To Do” was initially heard as part of a 1990 nationally syndicated radio program and accompanying box set, but here it is presented in full, newly mixed by Eddie Kramer for Both Sides Of The Sky. On “Georgia Blues,” Jimi is reunited with his old bandmate Lonnie Youngblood (vocals/sax) from his pre-fame days in Curtis Knight & The Squires. Briefly issued as part of the 2008 Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues series but out of print for nearly a decade, this special recording is once more available to Hendrix fans throughout the world on all audio formats.

Both Sides Of The Sky was produced by Janie Hendrix, John McDermott, and Eddie Kramer. Kramer served as recording engineer on every Jimi Hendrix album made during the artist’s life. In order to preserve the integrity and continuity of the Hendrix legacy, this same team has produced every Jimi Hendrix audio and visual release since 1996.

Janie Hendrix, President and CEO of Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. commented, “We have a growing commitment to preserve the legacy of Jimi and also to continue to give the worldwide family of Jimi fans quality releases. That’s what Both Sides Of The Sky reflects…our ongoing commitment. In a deeper sense, it’s the keeping of a promise. Jimi and I once made a promise to each other. He said he would take care of me and I told him I would take care him. Through his music and our preservation of his work, my brother and I honor one another. We are now in our third decade of watching over Jimi’s creative works and our resolve to maintain the integrity of what he left us has only grown stronger with time.”

That is also the purpose for Eddie Kramer’s involvement and his devotion to the project. He remarked, “Jimi’s true home was the studio, that’s where the music and the magic happened. He loved everything about recording and it’s been my distinct pleasure and an honor to play a part in that process both then and now.”

Both Sides Of The Sky tracklisting:

"Mannish Boy" *
"Lover Man" *
"Hear My Train A Comin’" *
"Stepping Stone" *
"$20 Fine" *+
"Power Of Soul" ^
"Jungle" *
"Things I Used To Do" #
"Georgia Blues" ++
"Sweet Angel" *
"Woodstock" *+
"Send My Love To Linda" *
"Cherokee Mist" *

* Previously unreleased
^  Previously unavailable extended version
+ Featuring Stephen Stills
# Featuring Johnny Winter
++ Featuring Lonnie Youngblood

Produced by Janie Hendrix, Eddie Kramer and John McDermott for Experience Hendrix, L.L.C.

"Hear My Train A Comin'", featuring commentary from producer Eddie Kramer:

"Hear My Train A Comin'":

"Mannish Boy" featuring commentary from producer Eddie Kramer:

“Mannish Boy”:

In the video below, Brad Tolinski of BackStory Events interviews engineer Eddie Kramer and producer John McDermott about the new release:

Arch Enemy have released an unboxing video for their deluxe vinyl box set, which includes all ten studio albums and a bonus gatefold 2LP featuring covers and bonus tracks recorded between 1996 and 2017, out now. Watch below.

The hand-numbered box set also comes with a 36-page-booklet with liner notes. All albums are mastered for vinyl.

The set is available as a picture LP box set and also in the following vinyl colors:

* Black vinyl - limited to 1.500 copies
* Clear vinyl - limited to 100 copies, only available at CMDistro
* Transparent red vinyl - limited to 200 copies, only available at EMP
* Silver vinyl - limited to 100 copies, only available at Nuclear Blast
* Dark green vinyl - limited to 100 copies, only available at ST Records
* Picture vinyl - limited to 500 copies

Order here.

Unboxing video:

(Photo - Katja Kuhl)

War Of Thrones, featuring former members of Crimson Glory and Rob Rock, have released a new music video, “Aftermath”, from their forthcoming debut album. The album, Conflict In Creation, will hit stores worldwide on March 9th via Sonic Night Music Club.

Forged in steel, War Of Thrones was formed when iconic vocalist Wade Black and virtuoso guitarist Rick Renstrom joined forces in 2012. Previously, the two had worked together in Leash Law releasing Dogface in 2005.

Wade is no stranger to metal. For more than two decades, Wade has thrilled audiences worldwide fronting such legendary metal bands as Crimson Glory, Seven Witches, and Leatherwolf. Rick entered the scene in 2000, joining legendary vocalist Rob Rock's touring and recording band. Having toured around the world, hundreds of thousands have witnessed Rick’s incredible and inspiring guitar playing. Joining Wade and Rick is bass player Rich Marks (Vivaldi Metal Project) who delivers a booming low end and virtuosic moving lines along with former Yngwie Malmsteen drummer Patrick Johansson behind the drumkit.

“Aftermath”:

The band is set to appear at Rocklahoma 2018 on May 27th. War Of Thrones continues to thrill audiences live as they share the stage with bands such as: Kamelot, Drowning Pool, Marty Friedman, Anvil and Mushroomhead.

“Rule The World”:

The album was mastered by Maor Appelbaum (Halford, Armored Saint, Faith No More) at Maor Appelbaum Mastering in California, and recorded and mixed by James Fox at Sweet Spot Studio in Florida.

 

Known first and foremost as the lynchpin of instrumental band Earth, Dylan Carlson has become one of alternative music’s most ambitious pathfinders. It seems beyond appropriate, then, that Carlson’s new solo endeavor is titled Conquistador. The five-track LP channels the indulgent drone of Earth while traversing uncharted sonic terrain. Listen to the album’s first single, “Scorpions In Their Mouths,” below.

Untethered from the collaboration and compromise of Earth, Carlson’s previous solo work under the moniker drcarlsonalbion has consistently veered away from the band’s American motifs in favor of English folklore. For his first proper full-length as Dylan Carlson, the guitarist returns West. Whereas Earth has sought to score Cormac McCarthy’s examination of white settlers’ horrific campaign against Native Americans in Blood Meridian, Conquistador bypasses the intermediary narrative of a novelist. Long heralded as a master of minimalism, Carlson’s album demonstrates his ability to craft compelling symphonic compositions while exercising extreme musical frugality.
 
“I guess what ties this all together—all my musical projects and my life in general—is the idea of the quest, that search for new horizons and something unnamable and possibly unreachable,” Carlson says of the record.
 
Conquistador was recorded at God City Studios with Kurt Ballou during a weeklong break in Carlson’s 2016 solo tour of the East Coast. After months of gestating the material that would eventually become Conquistador, Carlson viewed the session as an opportunity for both catharsis and collaboration, thanks to contributions from the esteemed Emma Ruth Rundle (baritone and slide guitar) and his wife Holly Carlson (percussion, photography, cover model).

Conquistador is due out via Sargent House on April 27th.

Tracklisting:

“Conquistador”
“When The Horses Were Shorn Of Their Hooves”
“And Then The Crows Descended”
“Scorpions In Their Mouths”
“Reaching The Gulf”

“Scorpions In Their Mouths”:

Australia's Greystone Canyon have released a lyric video for "Take Us All", featured on their debut album, While The Wheels Still Turn, out now in Europe and North American through Rockshots Records, and via Hellfire Records in Australia on March 12th. Watch the clip below.

While The Wheels Still Turn was tracked at the splendidly named Goatsound Studios in Melbourne, Australia, and then mixed in Canada, making ‘the album a real rock n’ roll frequent flyer. Mixing duties were undertaken by none other than Grammy nominated producer Glen Robinson, who had engineered, mixed and produced legendary acts like Annihilator, Queensrÿche, and Voivod.

Inspired by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne, Megadeth and King Diamond, While The Wheels Still Turn is an album that could not only sit well beside the works of those legends, but with the current tsunami of all things 70s and 80s inspired, Greystone Canyon are in the right place at the right time. We are travelling back to the future and they are the soundtrack.

As vocalist/guitarist Darren Cherry proudly states, “We really wanted to make an album similar to an old Ozzy Osbourne record where songs like ‘I Don't Know’ and ‘Goodbye To Romance’ can sit comfortably together. This is music from the heart and soul!”
 
Order the album here.

Tracklisting:

"Keeping Company With The Dead"
"Astral Plane"
"In These Shoes"
"Cinco Cuerda Bandito"
"Take Us All"
"Sombrero Serenade"
"River Of Fire"
"Path We Stray"
"The Sun Sets"

"Take Us All" lyric video:

"Astral Plane":

Teaser:

Greystone Canyon is:

Darren Cherry - Vocals / Guitars
Richard Vella - Guitars
Dave Poulter - Bass
Luke Wilson - Drums

Swedish thrashers Defiatory are about to release their second album, titled Hades Rising. The album marks the continuation of the band’s collaboration with Black Lion Records, following up their debut release Extinct, issued in 2016.

Hades Rising carries on from the aggressive thrash metal sound established on the debut album, evolving into more rhythmic and melodic sessions, granting more variety without losing focus on what is important in the old school style of thrash metal. The album, containing 11 tracks of relentless neck-wrecking thrash metal, with amazing artwork painted by Mika Rudin, will be released May 11th.

As soon the band finished the album, they started to work on two music videos, the first one, "In Hell" is ready to hit you in the face!

Defiatory notes, “‘In Hell’ takes the listener through the horrors of war and the helplessness and madness striking the soldiers fighting it. Are you fighting for the right side? Who is the enemy? Who are your friends? As the battle is over and the smoke clears, are you certain that your choices have been the right ones?”

Tracklisting:

"In Hell"
"Dance Of The Dead"
"King In Yellow"
"Stronger Than God"
"Death Takes Us All"
"Morningstar"
"Down To His Kingdom Below"
"Metatron"
"Bane Of Creation"
"All That Remains"
"Hades Rising"

Defiatory is:

Martin Runnzell - vocals
Ronnie Björnström - guitars
Ludvig Johansson - lead guitars
Patrik Wall - bass
Jon Skäre - drums