GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose has thanked fans and his bandmates for their support after his illness forced the group to play an abbreviated show this past weekend in the United Arab Emirates.

Despite the fact that he didn't feel well, Rose managed to perform more than half of the band's regular 28-song set on Sunday (November 25) in Abu Dhabi before pulling the plug on the gig after playing the GN'R classic "November Rain".

Ahead of GUNS N' ROSES' November 29 concert in South Africa, Rose took to his Twitter account to write: "Wanna thank All the fans, the band n' every1 4 their concern n' well wishes! In Johannesburg w/plenty of time 2 b ready 4 the show! This flu or whatever is a wild ride! Comes in waves. Ur ok till ur not!

"Felt lame explainin' myself earlier on at the gig but really didn't know how things would play out n' we really wanted to do r best 4 the fans. Was a GREAT crowd, awesome venue, cool stage (w/a gentle breeze in the desert!

Thanks again n' hope any1's not 2 disappointed n' we look 4ward 2 see every1 again in the UAE!!"

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix special closed the Asian leg of GUNS N' ROSES' "Not In This Lifetime" tour that has now lasted almost three years. According to The National, the gig was the 157th night of a 31-month jaunt, which went around the world twice, played to five million people and is on track to be the second highest-grossing tour of all time — overtaking even THE ROLLING STONES. Only U2 has grossed more from a single tour than GN'R's projected earnings of $600 million.

GUNS N' ROSES will play the last show of 2018 on December 8 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Three-fifths of the classic GUNS lineup reunited in 2016 after last performing together more than two decades earlier.

Photo credit: Katarina Benzova

Wanna thank All the fans, the band n’ every1 4 their concern n’ well wishes!?? In Johannesburg w/plenty of time 2 b ready 4 the show!??This flu or whatever is a wild ride! Comes in waves. Ur ok till ur not!? pic.twitter.com/gfbLR7YemW— Axl Rose (@axlrose) November 27, 2018

Felt lame explainin’ myself earlier on at the gig but really didn’t know how things would play out n’ we really wanted to do r best 4 the fans. Was a GREAT crowd, awesome venue, cool stage (w/a gentle breeze in the desert!?)— Axl Rose (@axlrose) November 27, 2018

Thanks again n’ hope any1’s not 2 disappointed n’ we look 4ward 2 see every1 again in the UAE!!???????— Axl Rose (@axlrose) November 27, 2018

Unearth have released an unboxing video for their new album, Extinction(s), out now via Century Media Records. Watch below:

Will Putney (Every Time I Die, Body Count, Gojira, Thy Art Is Murder, Silent Planet) handled the production duties for Extinction(s) at Graphic Nature Studios.

Tracklisting:

"Incinerate"
"Dust"
"Survivalist"
"Cultivation Of Infection"
"The Hunt Begins"
"Hard Lined Downfall"
"King Of The Arctic"
"Sidewinder"
"No Reprisal"
"One With The Sun"

"One With The Sun" video:

"Survivalist" lyric video:

"Incinerate":

In support of the album, the band has announced a co-headline European tour with Darkest Hour in March/April 2019. Support acts will be Misery Signals, Malevolence and Left Behind.

Unearth frontman Trevor Phipps comments: “It's been over two years since we've set foot in Europe and we are more than ready to return for the Death to False Metalcore tour. Hitting the road alongside our brothers in Darkest Hour as well as the stacked package of Misery Signals, Malevolence and Left Behind is something we are very much looking forward to. See you soon Europe!”

Dates are as follows:

March
21 - Köln, Germany - Essigfabrik  
22 - Brugge, Belgium - Het Entrepot  
23 - London, UK - ULU (w/o Malevolence)  
24 - Utrecht , Netherlands - Tivoli Pandora  
25 - Wiesbaden, Germany - Schlachthof  
26 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle  
27 - Berlin, Germany - SO36  
28 - Munich, Germany - Backstage   
29 - Leipzig, Germany - Conne Island  
30 - Prague, Czech Republic - Futurum  
31 - Budapest, Hungary - A38  

April
1 - Vienna, Austria - Arena

More Unearth live dates can be found here.

"We have some exciting news for you," states a message from Greek/Swedish metallers, Nightrage. "By now you all may know that during our last European tour supporting Voivod we had the super talented Dino George Stamoglou helping us out behind the drums.

"We now would like to take this opportunity to welcome this handsome 22 year old young man as our new full time drummer as Lawrence Dinamarca is no longer with us. Welcome to the NR family Dino!

"We also want to wish good luck in the future to Lawrence.”

Meanwhile, Nightrage have released a teaser for the upcoming music video for the single "By Darkness Drawn". The single will be available on  December 7th via Despotz Records, and the video will be released on December 14th.

"By Darkness Drawn" is the first single from the upcoming album, Man To Wolf, due for release in 2019. Watch the teaser below, and stay tuned for further updates.

(Photo - Renata Lino)

With the end of 2018 drawing near, most bands are staying under the radar and getting ready for the New Year. That's not the case with symphonic deathcore band, The Convalescence as they have signed to Legend Recordings.

The band has seen success over their career thus far and are excited to see where their new home at Legend Recordings will take them. Vocalist Keith Wampler "We are very excited to be working with a company who understands our vision and believes in our band as much as we do. We're already deep in the Pre-Production/Writing phase of the new album and are working on what we consider to be our best yet."

Covering an infamous band that has been in the metal scene for decades can be a daunting challenge, but The Convalescence is not afraid accept the challenge as they release their cover of Korn's "Coming Undone." The band stays true to the original track, but puts their own unique spin on the song showcasing their talents.

With all the excitement surrounding the band right now, 2019 is shaping up to be a big year for the band with new music and more tour dates to be announced.

Explore the rich lore that has been created through these stories and feel the magic of this imaginative new world, with its own characters, gods and creatures. Norwald, brings you magical lands and magnificent warriors; mythical creatures, life, and death, in the form of power metal songs.

To acquaint the world of Norwald, they have released their first two singles, “Creatures” and “Arden”. “Creatures” regales listeners with the tale of Prince Thostar who is on a quest for the throne. It’s a fast and simple song to introduce both the band and world of Norwald.

“Arden” is a bonus tale, not directly related to the rest of the story told on the upcoming concept album. It is fun and dancey, but with a cold vibe.

With influences such as Nightwish, Rhapsody and Epica, Norwald is just as enchanting as the tale it tells. As to what their debut album brings, composer Grief explains her purpose: 

“The album is, as a whole, an epic tale that goes through a lot of phases, to finish in an epic song that Norwald people would sing in their taverns. To end the whole thing and to make people want to listen to more of our stories, we play Arden, which is a short tale not related to the tale told in the rest of the album.”

“Creatures”:

“Arden”:

Sacramento, California-based technical melodic death metal outfit The Odious Construct recently dropped their five-song tour-de-force EP, Shrine Of The Obscene, through The Artisan Era. Since it's release on October 12th, Shrine Of The Obscene has garnered worldwide praise from fans and writers alike as a smartly crafted effort of catchy high-octane death metal. Check out a guitar and drum playthrough video of the title track:

Throughout the five swift and deadly songs on Shrine Of The Obscene, The Odious Construct carves out a path beyond the typical "complex for complexities sake" approach with a focus built upon catchy guitar melodies, straightforward brutality, and enhanced by orchestral flair to ensure the songs remain stuck in your head.

“Vortex Of Self”:

"Shrine Of The Obscene" lyric video:

Teaser:

They're back! Germany's Hate Squad will release their new album, Reborn From Ashes, on December 7th via Massacre Records. The album will be available as CD Digipak, limited vinyl LP, stream and download. New single "Until I Die" is streaming in the form of a lyric video below.

The album was produced, mixed and mastered by Eike O. Freese at Hamburg's Chameleon Studios. Hiko Kramer is responsible for the cover artwork.

But don't let the cover artwork fool you: Reborn From Ashes is a monster of an album, and exactly the massive hate-bomb that all Hate Squad supporters worldwide hoped for over the last few years.

Tracklisting:

"Against All Odds"
"Death List"
"Amok"
"Reborn From Ashes"
"Retaliation Promise"
"Until I Die"
"Regain The Strength"
"Know Your Enemy"
"Hate Factory"
"2 Miles Behind Enemy Lines"
"Fuck Cancer!"

"Until I Die" lyric video:

Live dates:

August
24-28 - Palma De Mallorca, Spain - Full Metal Cruise

(Photo - Rene Budde)

Greek extreme metal veterans ROTTING CHRIST will release their new album, "The Heretics", on February 15, 2019 via Season Of Mist. The artwork for the disc created by Greek artist Maximos Manolis.

The lyric video for the song "Fire, God And Fear" can be seen below.

Frontman Sakis Tolis comments: "Dear metal brothers around! After almost three years of silence and countless hours of inner search, I can proudly announce, on behalf of the band, our fresh artistic worry that is represented in 'Fire, God And Fear', taken from the upcoming opus 'The Heretics'. A song that definitely won't create a clear opinion on how the new album will sound like, but shows the heretic and atmospheric approach we have chosen for creation. I hope you will enjoy our new album and until we cross paths mentally... Non Serviam brothers and sisters!"

"The Heretics" track listing:

1. In The Name of God (04:14)

02. Vetry Zlye (03:13)

03. Heaven And Hell And Fire (04:52)

04. Hallowed Be Thy Name (05:06)

05. Dies Irae (03:46)

06. I Believe (03:42)

07. Fire God And Fear (04:50)

08. The Voice of the Universe (05:23)

09. The New Messiah (03:07)

10. The Raven (05:23)

With "The Heretics", ROTTING CHRIST is opening a brand new chapter. Sakis, in collaboration with his brother Themis on drums, achieves a perfect balance of amalgamating the band's classic and unique style of riffing and rhythm with exciting new elements sprinkled in to keep its material exciting and fresh. The experience is enhanced by Jens Bogren's equally clear and transparent yet also massive as well as sombre mix and mastering at his widely renowned Fascination Street Studios (AMORPHIS, BORKNAGAR, MOONSPELL, DEVIN TOWNSEND).


With more than 30 years, 13 studio albums, a dozen EPs, singles and split releases, as well as more than 1,250 shows under their belt, 2018 marked the year of ROTTING CHRIST's "Their Greatest Spells", where the band musically revisited its exciting legacy to connect its past with the present.

Asked in an interview with Pavillon 666 if he thought ROTTING CHRIST would last 30 years upon the band's 1988 formation, Sakis said: "It's a full life. No, of course [not]…you don't start the band to exist for 30 years or to be famous or rich or whatever the fuck. We just started the band because I wanted to sound like my idols back then. I wanted to play only one show and now I'm in a position where I've played 1,500 shows. And, no, I didn't expect something like this, but the spirit remains the same, even if I'm not that young. I still have the spirit and the hope that if we are in good health to keep playing with the band until our death. If health permits, of course. It's not up to me. If health does not permit, then I will not serve."

ROTTING CHRIST is:

Sakis Tolis: vocals, guitar, keys

Themis Tolis: drums

George Emmanouil: lead guitar

Van Ace: bass

U.K.-based blackened death metal group HECATE ENTHRONED will release "Embrace Of The Godless Aeon", its first album in five years (and its debut for new label M-Theory Audio), on January 25, 2019. The LP — which features cover artwork by Nestor Avalos (BLOODBATH, ROTTING CHRIST, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER) — can be pre-ordered now on CD and red splatter vinyl at this location. A limited-edition deluxe box set that includes exclusive purple vinyl and cassette editions of the album, a signed photo card and other collectibles is also available.


A new song from the album, "Temples That Breathe" will premiere on streaming and digital download platforms on December 7. A brief teaser clip can be seen below.


One of the U.K. underground's longest-running and most respected acts, HECATE ENTHRONED has been praised by the likes of Terrorizer for its "mixture of death metal aggression with black metal atmosphere." "Embrace Of The Godless Aeon" — the band's first recording with vocalist Joe Stamps, who joined the band in 2015 — sees the group continue to deftly mix black with death, modern with classic and extreme with symphonic. The album, which features guest vocals on three songs by Sarah Jezebel Deva (CRADLE OF FILTH, THERION, MORTIIS), was co-produced by Dan Abela (VOICES, THE ANTICHRIST IMPERIUM).


Says bassist Dylan Hughes: "This album with its epic sweeping orchestration and heavy aggression represents a new chapter for us cementing the chemistry of the current lineup and our partnership with M-Theory. A welcome return from Sarah Jezebel Deva hints to the grandiose flavor of earlier releases, but this time, it's tempered with a guitar and drum sound forged from solid steel and then edged by a razor-sharp production from Dan Abela. The summoning of unholy flame and terror that is the cover art is an oil painting commissioned from in-demand satanic artist Nestor Avalos and begins your visceral journey through cold bleak landscapes, crushing tormented seas and searing shards of heavy metal."


riginally co-founded in Wales by guitarist Nigel Dennen in the mid-1990s, HECATE ENTHRONED is dedicated to delivering their own brand of evil metal with little regard to politics or the trends of popular demand. The group's 1997 debut, the Andy Sneap-produced "The Slaughter Of Innocence, A Requiem For The Mighty" (Blackend Records), was a seminal release in the then-burgeoning orchestral black metal movement. Since then, several full-lengths and EPs and numerous live performances have firmly established the band as one of extreme metal's most important voices, a sentiment that "Embrace Of The Godless Aeon" firmly reinforces.


HECATE ENTHRONED's next live performance will take place on December 1 at the Tabernacl Chapel in Llandundo, North Wales, followed by a show in Belgium on December 14 with Altar at De Verlichte Geest in Roeselare. The group plans to tour extensively throughout 2019.

Swedish metallers IN FLAMES will release a new single and video, "I Am Above", on December 14. The clip was once again directed by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, AMARANTHE and KAMELOT, among others.

A teaser for the "I Am Above" video is available below.

IN FLAMES recruited American drummer Tanner Wayne, best known for his work with UNDERMINDED, SCARY KIDS SCARING KIDS and CHIODOS, to sit behind the kit for the band for its 2018 live appearances.

Wayne stepped into IN FLAMES following the apparent recent departure of Joe Rickard, who played on the band's 2016 studio album, "Battles".


b>Tanner made his live debut with IN FLAMES in July in Brno, Czech Republic.

Longtime IN FLAMES drummer Daniel Svensson announced in 2015 that he was leaving the band to focus on his family life.

IN FLAMES' current lineup features American bassist Bryce Paul, who has been playing most of the shows with the group since longtime bassist Peter Iwers's November 2016 exit.

In a recent interview with Mexico's Etic's Live, IN FLAMES vocalist Anders Fridén stated about the band's current plans: "We released an album called 'Battles' and that was released two years ago, I think. We are working on something, and people who know what we sound like today will definitely recognize it, but there are elements there that will feel a little bit new here and there. With IN FLAMES, we don't want to change it too much, but we want to change a little from album to album. It's still important for us to have the melody, that's the first thing. We grew up on melody and melody is everything for us. Then you can do a lot of things, of course. It's very melodic and heavy at the same time."

Regarding IN FLAMES' knack for integrating different styles into the band's music, Anders said: "I see it as a natural evolution. You can only do so many riffs on the guitar. It's all about notes in a different order and a lot of things has been done, but you're taking influences from here and there and you mix it up and make it your own. That's how the music develops. I really think that we all fit within this. Then, it's obviously up to the audience if they're open-minded enough. Can you mix classic with more than the heavier, can you do this and that? In my opinion, good music is good music. You can do that. I like bands that try to take something and move it forward and mix and match from different outlets. That's progress. In my world, there are no different genres, just good music and bad music."

HATEBREED remains one of the most relevant and impactful acts in the hard rock and metal scenes. The Connecticut band will celebrate 25 years of ruthless breakdowns, pit-stirring anthems, and poignant lyrics across eight albums and consistently sold-out shows in 2019. The band, which has gone from playing basements and backyards to being a featured worldwide attraction on countless festivals and high-profile tours from Ozzfest to Warped Tour to Download, will commemorate two-plus decades by embarking on a 25th-anniversary tour.

The first leg of the tour will feature support from OBITUARY and CRO-MAGS, two bands that HATEBREED have covered in their career and who have influenced the signature and instantly recognizable HATEBREED sound. TERROR and FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY will round out this "can't miss" juggernaut of a lineup. The initial trek will kick off in Philadelphia in April, with an additional leg to be announced shortly. All confirmed dates are below.

"I can't believe it's been 25 years already," said HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta. "We're excited to bring out this massive tour package with some of our favorite bands. Every band on this bill is a headliner in their own right. The show will be run festival-style with bands you don't want to miss playing early. Activate the pit!"


"Looking forward to this one — 25 years of HATEBREED, celebrated with not only friends, but a couple bands who influenced us so much that we covered their songs on 'For The Lions'. Come celebrate the entire catalog with us!," said HATEBREED guitarist Frank Novinec.


All killer, no filler here," said HATEBREED drummer Matt Byrne. "This April will be a sick tour for HATEBREED. Celebrating 25 years is a big accomplishment for any band. But it's that much sweeter when you're doing it with some of your favorite bands in tow. We love OBITUARY so much that we covered them on our 'For The Lions' record. We love CRO-MAGS so much that we covered them on our 'For The Lions' record. We love TERROR and FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY so much that... ;) See you all in April!"

"We are excited to be invited to HATEBREED's 25th-anniversary U.S. tour and super honored to be a part such an awesome lineup," stated OBITUARY drummer Donald Tardy. "Looking forward to throwing down each night with them and bringing some of our southern swamp metal to this tour. Gonna be sick!"

"HATEBREED's 25th anniversary tour is gonna be a banger — the CRO-MAGS are psyched as fuck to be part of it," proclaimed frontman John Joseph.


"The lineup for this tour is insane," said TERROR frontman Scott Vogel, echoing all of those sentiments. "We are very much looking forward to being on this run with some of our favorite bands."

HATEBREED 25th-anniversary tour dates with OBITUARY, CRO-MAGS, TERROR, FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY:

Mar. 07 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues*

Apr. 04 - Philadelphia, PA - Franklin Music Hall**

Apr. 05 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium

Apr. 06 - Clifton Park, NY - Upstate Concert Hall

Apr. 08 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall

Apr. 09 - Ft. Wayne, IN - Piere's

Apr. 10 - Detroit, MI - Harpos Concert Theatre

Apr. 11 - Chicago, IL - Concord Music Hall

Apr. 12 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE

Apr. 13 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogarts ^

Apr. 15 - Tampa, FL - The Ritz Ybor

Apr. 16 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade

Apr. 17 - Charlotte, NC - The Underground

Apr. 18 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore Silver Spring

Apr. 19 - New York, NY - PlayStation Theater

Apr. 20 - New Haven, CT - College Street Music Hall

* With BLEEDING THROUGH, ASESINO, STRIFE

** Featuring MUNICIPAL WASTE (No OBITUARY)

^ No OBITUARY

Californian rockers BUCKCHERRY will release their new studio album, "Warpaint", on March 8, 2019 via Century Media/RED Music. The 12-song album, featuring 11 new BUCKCHERRY songs along with a cover of the NINE INCH NAILS classic "Head Like A Hole", was produced by Mike Plotnikoff, whose last collaboration with the band was the platinum-certified album "15". The album art was created by Aaron Marsh and can be seen below.

Pre-orders for "Warpaint" will begin on January 11, 2019.


Singer Josh Todd comments: "Good things come to those who wait and we have been very patient and thorough with the song writing for 'Warpaint'. We took into consideration all the factors and what this record means to, not only us, but the great BUCKCHERRY fans around the world. This record takes the listener on an unforgettable journey and I'm very proud of it."


BUCKCHERRY plans extensive worldwide touring throughout 2019 commencing with four Southern California shows in January, followed by a month-long European tour in February. The first leg of the North American tour will begin in March.


b>BUCKCHERRY has just premiered the video for "Head Like A Hole". The clip was shot in Los Angeles and directed by Jeremy Saffer.

Todd told Billboard that the NINE INCH NAILS cover "happened really organically. We were in the studio making the record, just kind of going through some old songs while they were setting up," he said. "We jammed it out the first time and it was like, boom, automatically sounded right as if we'd written it, which is what we always want to achieve when we do a cover.

"Our producer, Mike Plotnikoff, was recording the whole time and said, 'Hey, why don't you guys come in and hear this?' He put up a little rough mix of it and we were like, 'Wow, this sounds really good. We should do it.'"

Back in September, Todd told the 105.7 The Point radio station that BUCKCHERRY wrote 30 songs for the follow-up to 2015's "Rock 'N' Roll". "We've been writing songs since November of last year, and we really molded it into something really great," he said.

Asked how they whittle down so many songs to just a 10-track album, BUCKCHERRY guitarist Stevie Dacanay (a.k.a. Stevie D.) said: "You kind of know. When you [are writing] the songs, it kind of takes a life of its own, and you can really kind of feel it if it's working or not. And if it is working, then we pursue it; if not, we kind of put it to the side right away."

On the recent "Gen-X" summer tour with P.O.D., LIT and ALIEN ANT FARM, BUCKCHERRY was playing two new songs, "The Vacuum" and "Chaos Is The Ladder", both of which are expected to appear on the upcoming LP.

BUCKCHERRY's new disc will mark the band's first release since the departures of guitarist Keith Nelson and drummer Xavier Muriel and addition of Kevin Roentgen and Sean Winchester, respectively.

Sascha Paeth, one of the most talented writers, musicians, and producers of the German heavy metal scene, has recruited Adrienne Cowan of the Boston metal band SEVEN SPIRES to sing on the debut album from his MASTERS OF CEREMONY project.

Says Paeth: "We have started the recording process and it is turning out wonderfully. She can totally deliver exactly what I had hoped for: from soft, melodic to super aggressive with an amazing range. On top of that, she is a 'no-attitude' sweet, kind person, who easily fits into our 'family.' Thanks for joining, Adrienne!"

MASTERS OF CEREMONY's debut album will be released through Frontiers Music Srl.

To label Paeth a multi-talented producer, engineer, musician, and songwriter might not quite cover his full set of skills and achievements. The Wolfsburg-born German multi-musician has produced countless bands including AVANTASIA, KAMELOT, RHAPSODY and EPICA. Having worked on, produced, and engineered over 200 albums since 1988, it's fair to say he has a reputation for being at the forefront of shaping the European melodic power metal sound. Now Paeth is taking the next step in his artistic journey by releasing his new project, SASCHA PAETH'S MASTERS OF CEREMONY.

b>Sascha said: "Finally, I am putting my energy into a metal project of my own. It is the sum of my experiences over the years and a bit of a revival of what I was doing in the past."

As a 15-year-old teenager, you might have found Paeth playing a more bluesy style, or VAN HALEN-meets-ACCEPT style hard rock, but it wasn't long before Paeth joined HEAVEN'S GATE, where the music was harder and heavier. The experience was where he learned to enjoy inspiration from adapting, from new styles, and from new collaborations. It was the start of a long journey through the music business, a journey that is far from over.

"It took a few years of nice, and ambitious, talks about a possible collaboration with Frontiers," said Sascha. "It's my very first metal solo album and I am looking forward to sharing the progress on the production and revealing the band members over the next weeks and months."

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EXTREME guitarist Nuno Bettencourt has confirmed that the band is putting the finishing touches on its first new album since 2008's "Saudades De Rock". "I'm really pumped and excited," he told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation" on Monday (November 26). "We have chosen, I think, our final songs that we have; we had about 24, 25 to choose from. I know we've taken too long — it's pretty embarrassing that we've taken this long — but we tapped on to something that's a little bit of a harder version for EXTREME, a little bit heavier, and I can't wait to share it with everyone. So we're wrapping up vocals, Pat's [Badger, bass] still got some stuff to do, and I'm thinking — safely, I think we're thinking spring, EXTREME will have a new album; maybe March, April. So I'm really pumped about that."

Singer Gary Cherone told Metalholic two years ago that EXTREME's fans will be pleased with the musical direction of the group's new material. He said: "There will be, like all EXTREME records, familiar elements, but also stuff… Over the years, when Nuno and I write, we're affected by our environment and music changes throughout the years, so those elements… There will still be some new elements to the band as well. Hopefully that always happens; you always wanna grow and evolve and move on. But the guitars will be there, the harmonies will be there, the songs, the hooks, the lyrics… There'll still be elements of the past, but certainly new elements [as well]."

A live package celebrating EXTREME's "Pornograffitti" album was made available in October 2016. Titled "Pornograffitti Live 25 / Metal Meltdown", it included a DVD, Blu-ray and audio CD recorded at the band's show at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Casino on May 30, 2015, where they performed the record in full.

Professionally filmed video footage of SCORPIONS performing the song "Rock You Like A Hurricane" live on July 13 at the 2018 edition of the Resurrection Fest, which was held in Viveiro, Lugo, Spain, can be seen below.

SCORPIONS singer Klaus Meine recently said that the band is not opposed to making another studio album.

The legendary German hard rockers' latest release, 2017's "Born To Touch Your Feelings - Best Of Rock Ballads", was an anthology of the band's new and classic material.

SCORPIONS' last full-length collection of new recordings was 2015's "Return To Forever", partially comprising songs the band had in the vault from the '80s. It was the final recorded appearance of SCORPIONS' longtime drummer James Kottak, who was dismissed from the band in September 2016. He has since been replaced by Mikkey Dee, formerly of MOTÖRHEAD.

sked by SiriusXM's Eddie Trunk if SCORPIONS would consider releasing a new album in the not-too-distant future, Meine said: "I think we never would say no, because it's so much in our veins to have this rhythm of touring, making records, being creative, going back into the studio.

"We just put an album out in 2015 with 19 songs, with all the extras and bonus tracks for Japan and whatsoever, so it takes a lot of time, it takes a lot of work in the studio," he continued. "And I think we might be ready next year, at least to go back and come together and start songwriting, and let's see what comes out.

"At the end of the day, to make an album, to go back into the studio, you have to have the feeling we have great material, there are great songs, and it's time now to do it, and really to top yourself — at least give it a try," Meine added. "And it only makes sense if everybody feels it in the band, if everybody wants it, and we know the fans want it. And if we feel we have the right material, the right songs, the right setup, I think we might go back into the studio and maybe surprise a lot of people. But if we do it, we'll definitely go for the harder edge of the SCORPIONS. But if that would be reality, we have to figure out, and we have to see how things will turn out at the end of this year into next year and if everybody's ready to go for another challenge and really try and go for the best. Because that's all what counts at the end of the day — if you make another album, then you'd better come out with something strong. And there are a few examples of bands [from] our generation — like JUDAS PRIEST recently; DEEP PURPLE as well — they came up with really strong new albums. So it can be done. And let's see what life will bring."

British extreme metal pioneers CARCASS appear to have entered the studio to begin recording the long-awaited follow-up to 2013's comeback album, "Surgical Steel".

Earlier today, a photo was posted on the band's Facebook page of drummer Daniel Wilding's drum kit set up at an undisclosed recording facility.

CARCASS guitarist Bill Steer told the WSOU radio station back in April that he and his bandmates demoed "close to 50 minutes' worth" of new music in late 2017. He added: "We're not gonna stop; we're gonna keep on writing so that we've got quite a lot of material and we can pick the best stuff for the album."

Steer also talked about the departure of second guitarist Ben Ash and addition of Tom Draper (POUNDER, ex-ANGEL WITCH, PRIMITAI). He said: "Well, I guess going back to what I was saying about five years of touring off one album, I think it's taken a toll on every one of us in one way or another. Ben was brought into the band as a live guitar player. We'd finished the album, we were booking shows and we needed to get out there with a second guitar player. This feels like an eternity ago, but we did have a Swedish friend of Jeff's [Walker, bass/vocals] who was in the frame, and then very near… it was quite near the knuckle for us, he kind of pulled out and said, 'Look, I can't do this for various reasons.' So then this frantic search began, and Ben came into the picture. And then we were off. And a lot of touring and a lot of travel [followed]. But, yeah, I gather he's quite keen to get back to some of the stuff he was doing beforehand, which is a lot of teaching, pretty much. And [Tom], our [new] second guitarist, he's a guy I've known for years. He would have been in the frame immediately [after 'Surgical Steel' was recorded], but as time would have it, it didn't work out, 'cause he'd moved with his wife to the U.S.A. It's early days, but [Tom's] been fantastic. He's taking it very seriously. He's been so methodical with how he's learned everything, and he's very self-critical. So, yeah, he's a cool guy to have around."

b>Draper, who is from the United Kingdom but currently resides in California, made his live debut with CARCASS in early March at the Netherlands Deathfest at 013 in Tilburg.

"Surgical Steel" sold around 8,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 41 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Posted by Carcass on Tuesday, November 27, 2018

METALLICA, the All Within My Hands Foundation and its contributors commemorate Giving Tuesday with the launching of the pre-order for the limited-edition vinyl release of "Helping Hands… Live & Acoustic At The Masonic". The double album, mixed by Greg Fidelman and newly mastered for vinyl by Reuben Cohen at Bernie Grundman Mastering, documents the inaugural "Helping Hands" benefit concert held in San Francisco on November 3.


"Helping Hands… Live & Acoustic At The Masonic" features rare acoustic renditions of hits and deep cuts spanning the METALLICA catalog (as well as covers of DEEP PURPLE, NAZARETH, BOB SEGER and BLUE ÖYSTER CULT classics), captured on 140-gram colored vinyl with proceeds donated to the band's All Within My Hands Foundation. "Helping Hands… Live & Acoustic At The Masonic" continues AWMH's mission to fight hunger and to assist in creating sustainable communities through workforce education.

The album will be available February 1, 2019 at independent and digital retail around the world, all streaming services that feature METALLICA's music, and can be pre-ordered in the METALLICA store. All copies will include a download card.


In addition to the vinyl pre-order, METALLICA's Giving Tuesday offerings will include a limited-edition etched glass featuring the iconic Pushead artwork for "One", with all net proceeds donated to AWMH.


he first-ever "All Within My Hands Helping Hands Concert And Auction" raised more than $1.3 million. Those resources will fund AWMH's efforts with partners at Feeding America and the American Association of Community Colleges.


The METALLICA family and the All Within My Hands Foundation board members are committed to running an organization of the highest integrity where expenses are kept to a minimum and are paid for entirely by the band, the board, and friends who have worked with the band over many years. As such, 100% of all donations from fans and third parties go to the organizations AWMH supports.


For more info and/or to make a donation, visit allwithinmyhands.org.


The track listing for "Helping Hands…Live & Acoustic At The Masonic":


Disc One / Side A

01. Disposable Heroes

02. When A Blind Man Cries (DEEP PURPLE cover)

03. The Unforgiven


Disc One / Side B

01. Please Don't Judas Me (NAZARETH cover)

02. Turn the Page (Bob Seger cover)


Disc Two / Side C

01. Bleeding Me

02. Veteran of the Psychic Wars (BLUE ÖYSTER CULT cover)

03. Nothing Else Matters


Disc Two / Side D

01. All Within My Hands

02. Enter Sandman

03. The Four Horsemen

04. Hardwired

Bandmembers James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo and Lars Ulrich were joined by a quartet of backing musicians who provided additional percussion, keyboards, strings and vocal harmony.

Professionally filmed video footage of METALLICA performing the song "All Within My Hands" at "All Within My Hands Foundation Helping Hands Concert And Auction" can be seen below. Additional musicians in the clip are Avi Vinocur on mandolin and background vocals, David Phillips on pedal-steel, Henry Salvia on keyboards, and Cody Rhodes on percussion.

Minneapolis, Minnesota power metal band Eternal Voyager have released the cover artwork and tracklisting for their upcoming 2nd album titled Darkened Times.

Guitarist Brian Blake has checked in with the following comment:

Finally, the artwork and tracklisting for our upcoming ripping 2nd album Darkened Times is unleashed to our worldwide fan base and metal community. We have forged a face melting album full of US power metal songs cranked up to 12. With a new vocalist, bassist and drummer bringing their shining steel to the recordings, we have increased the metallic firepower tenfold. The new album Darkened Times will be will be mixed in the US and mastered by producer / guitarist Stu ‘The Hammer’ Marshall (Night Legion, Blasted to Static, Death Dealer, Empires of Eden, Dungeon) who will provide a truly menacing sound to the final master. Expect no mercy.”

Tracklisting:

“Riders Of The Apocalypse (Intro)”
“(Redemption) Through Fire And Steel”
“Winds Of Fire”
“Tyrants Of Our Land”
“Darkened Times”
“The Fallen”
“Out In The Darkness”
“Wings Of The Cherubim”
“Our Worlds Decay”
“Eye Of The Soul”
“Throne Of Truth (A New Beginning) (Outro)”

Eternal Voyager:

Lead Vocals - Alonso "Zo" Donoso (Unity) 
Rhythm Guitar / Vocals- Brian Blake 
Lead Guitar - Kurt KJ Johnson 
Bass Guitar - Jaden Adair 
Drums - Mark Deebach

Unholy Swedish deathrace kings The Crown have announced vinyl reissues for three of their classic albums.

Brand new editions of Crowned In Terror, Crowned Unholy and Possessed 13 will be available January 11th. Preorders - eBay, EMP.

Here's the available versions:

Crowned In Terror
-180 g black vinyl
-Amber marbled vinyl (ltd. 200) EU
-Clear teal marbled vinyl (ltd. 200) EU
-Bone white marbled vinyl (ltd. 100) EU
-Orange-brown marbled vinyl (ltd. 300) US

Crowned Unholy
-180 g black vinyl
-Dead gold marbled vinyl (ltd. 200) EU
-Opaque golden yellow marbled vinyl (ltd. 200) EU
-Clear/black marbled vinyl (ltd. 100) EU
-Clear old gold marbled vinyl (ltd. 300) US

Possessed 13
-180 g black vinyl
-Cool grey marbled vinyl (ltd. 200) EU
-Red/black marbled vinyl (ltd. 200) EU
-Smoke clear vinyl (ltd. 100) EU
-White/red marbled vinyl (ltd. 300) US

The Crown will embark on a short European run in December, support comes from Svart Crown, Bleeding Gods, Temnein and Bleeding Utopia.

Dates:

December
10 - Aarhus, Denmark - Voxhall
11 - Hamburg, Germany - Bambi Galore
12 - Erfurt, Germany - From Hell
13 - Mannheim, Germany - MS Connexion
14 - Sursee, Switzerland - Kulturwerk 118

ACCEPT's founding bassist Peter Baltes has announced his exit from the band. He said in a statement: "To all ACCEPT fans: I hereby like to announce my departure as bass player from ACCEPT. I have been with the band from the very beginning. Many of you have been there as well. I like to thank you all for the great years we shared together. Keep it metal."

ACCEPT's founding guitarist Wolf Hoffmann commented: "We spent four decades together and went through thick and thin, ups and downs and I remember some incredible moments on stage. There was a blind understanding between us, personally and musically, that is very rare in this business!

"Looking back, I will forever cherish the carefree early years, the countless hours we spent writing songs, goofing around or roaming the cities together on tour — just having a good ol’time!

"Especially these last 10 years, after the revival of ACCEPT being so much fun and so successful that I thought we would continue forever and sail into the proverbial sunset together — maybe until one of us would drop dead on stage. But I guess I was wrong; it wasn’t meant to be.

To see Peter leave ACCEPT now saddens me immensely, but there's nothing I can do but to wish him well — hoping that this is the right decision for him and that he will find whatever he is looking for ...

"I will certainly miss my musical brother! One thing is certain, however: ACCEPT will continue full steam ahead!"

The group added in a separate statement: "We are all heartbroken! Peter needed a change in his life and we wish him all the best. He will always be part of the ACCEPT family and to honor his tribute to music history, we should all wish him well... Indeed, ACCEPT WILL KEEP IT METAL!"

In a 2016 interview with Antihero Magazine, Hoffmann stated about his relationship with Baltes: "We've been working together for 40 years and hanging together and we haven't killed each other yet. It's quite amazing. We get along really well for the most part, even on tour, personally. We hang all the time. We go wander the streets when we're on tour. We have breakfast together and all that kind stuff. We meet for dinners even if we don't have to."

He added: "Peter and I really have something like a bond, or whatever you want to call it, that's lasted all these years. That doesn't mean we always get along on every level. There's days when we don't see each other and keep the distance for a little while, but for the most part, it's been working really, really well and we write together really well. That's a rare thing, I know."

ACCEPT has just released a live set, "Symphonic Terror - Live At Wacken 2017", via Nuclear Blast. It features a unique ACCEPT show, shot on August 3, 2017 at the legendary Wacken Open Air festival, where the band played the biggest and most extraordinary show of its career in front of 80,000, on top of thousands more fans watching via a live stream.


To all Accept fans:

I hereby like to announce my departure as Bassplayer from ACCEPT.

I have been with the band from...Posted by ACCEPT on Tuesday, November 27, 2018


We are all heart broken ! Peter needed a change in his life and we wish him all the best. He will always be part of the...Posted by ACCEPT on Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Ozzy Osbourne says that he doesn't particularly enjoy collaborating with Tony Iommi even though he appreciates the BLACK SABBATH guitarist on a personal level. "Do I like working with him? Not really. Do I like him as a person? Yeah, I love him as a person," Osbourne told The Times in a new intervew. "But if people was to say to me, 'Was there a leader of BLACK SABBATH?' I'd have to say it was Tony Iommi, because without his guitar riffs, we'd be still sitting in fucking rehearsal with our thumbs up our arses going, 'What do we do now?'"

Osbourne also claimed that he has "moved on" from the band, and compared his relationship to the rest of SABBATH on their recent tour to reconnecting with a former girlfriend after several decades.

"I'll tell you what it was like. It's like when you're younger and you met a girl, Susie, and you break up and you don't see her for 30 years," he said. "Then she's in town and you go, 'Oh, I'll give Susie a call,' because your memory only remembers the good parts and you can narrow it then to a week and you go, 'I remember that week and it was lovely.' But then you go back and you go, 'I forgot the fucking four and three-quarter years I was fucking miserable.'"

Osbourne, who is currently on the road on his own farewell tour as a solo artist, described his current trek as "great fun." He explained: "I'm in control and it's so much better. I get more pleasure out of doing the gigs now."

b>Ozzy has said in some of his recent interviews that his last tour with BLACK SABBATH — the band's farewell trek which ended in February 2017 — was not a pleasant experience for him. "It's not allowed to have fucking fun with SABBATH," he told Rolling Stone. "It's too serious. Tony was trying to have a go at me, saying, 'Don't fucking talk over my solos.' I go, 'Okay, are you sure? 'Cause most of the fucking song is solos. The intro to the song is fuckin' five minutes and then I sing for about two seconds and then it's another one.' With my own thing, I'm looking to have fun, and that's what music's about for me. I'm not a serious fucking singer. I'm just a frontman who's trying to get the crowd going in front."

This past September, Ozzy told Philadelphia Inquirer that he "didn't have a great time" on SABBATH's final tour. He explained: "I spent nine or 10 years in SABBATH, but I'd been away from them for over 30 years. With them, I'm just a singer. With me, I get to do what I want to do. I was getting bad vibes from them for being Ozzy. I don't know — what the fuck else can I be?"

A couple of weeks after Ozzy's Philadelphia Inquirer interview was published, Iommi was asked by The List if he had a response to the singer's comments. Iommi said: "I saw that, but I don't know what he meant. I had a great time on the last tour playing with the guys, and Ozzy never mentioned anything to me. He seemed to enjoy it and we had a laugh, so I don't know. So I think possibly that quote was taken out of context."

Last month, Ozzy postponed the final four shows on his North American "No More Tours 2" after undergoing surgery for multiple infections in his right hand.

GUNS N' ROSES lead singer Axl Rose recently gave a rare interview to Atlas By Etihad in which he discussed the band's appearance in the United Arab Emirates, his favorite city to perform in and his love for Formula One racing, among other topics.

Asked which singer, in his opinion, is the greatest frontman of all time, Rose responded: "For me, it's easy — QUEEN is the greatest band and Freddie [Mercury] is the greatest frontman of all time. The band are the greatest because they embraced so many different styles."

Regarding how he and his bandmates keep performing with so much energy night after night, Axl said: "We all want to do the best we can for the fans — they come wanting a big performance and that is what we want to give them. We all push each other to go further in terms of our performance and commitment. It doesn't matter how many performances you do, every crowd is different and you feed off that."

Rose also talked about his interest in composing music for film. He said: "Listening to movie soundtracks is a big thing for me. When you listen to stuff like 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' and you get that blend of orchestra and modern instrumentation, it's very clever. I have a lot of respect for the guys who do that. It is something that I would like to do at some point in the future."

As previously reported, GUNS N' ROSES played an abbreviated in the United Arab Emirates Sunday night (November 25) after Axl became "severely ill."

Rose and his bandmates performed almost 20 songs in Abu Dhabi before cutting the show short.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix special closed the Asian leg of GUNS N' ROSES' "Not In This Lifetime" tour that has now lasted almost three years. According to The National, the gig was the 157th night of a 31-month jaunt, which went around the world twice, played to five million people and is on track to be the second highest-grossing tour of all time — overtaking even THE ROLLING STONES. Only U2 has grossed more from a single tour than GN'R's projected earnings of $600 million.

Three-fifths of the classic GUNS lineup reunited in 2016 after last performing together more than two decades earlier.

Photo credit: Katarina Benzova

METAL CHURCH singer Mike Howe has told Myglobalmind that meeting Rob Halford and being on the road with the JUDAS PRIEST singer was "a huge highlight" of his career. "I can recall one time leaving the dressing room to go the stage and him telling me that he just got done listening to 'The Human Factor' and how it got him pumped up to go on stage," Howe said. "I was, like, 'Wow!'

"My favorite story that I like to tell about Rob is when I went back to my hometown of Detroit to play an outdoor area, my whole family came out to see the show," he continued. "My mother, knowing Rob was a big influence [on me], asked if she could meet him. I told her, 'After the show, at the meet-and-greet, I'll introduce you to him.' After our set, I came back out to the tent where my family had a big table. I saw Rob and asked if he would take a photo with my mom. He said, 'Let me tell you something, Mike. Your Mom is just like my mom, and she already came over and got her photo with me.' [Laughs] I thanked Rob and went over to the table and saw my mom with her head down looking like a little girl who got her hand caught in the cookie jar. It was so awesome."

METAL CHURCH supported JUDAS PRIEST on the "Operation Rock & Roll" tour in 1991. Also appearing on the bill were ALICE COOPER, MOTÖRHEAD and DANGEROUS TOYS. The trek, which was assembled in honor of the troops fighting in "Operation Desert Storm" in the Middle East, was PRIEST's final tour with Halford before his exit from the band in July 1991 and return 12 years later.

METAL CHURCH's 12th full-length studio album, "Damned If You Do", will be released on December 7 via Rat Pak Records. The effort will also be available in Europe via Nuclear Blast and Japan via King Records. The latest release is the follow-up to 2016's "XI", which saw the return of Howe.

The death of missionary John Chau has been a hot topic this past week. He was killed by the Sentinelese tribe when he tried to visit their island in an effort to teach them about Christianity. They are considered the last pre-Neolithic tribe in existence as they have shut themselves off from the outside world.

Nergal commented on the matter saying, ““Not that I’m happy when people die but hey… this IDIOT has asked for that, no? And now bunch of other idiots follow…Is STUPIDITY naturally inbred in ALL monotheistic religions? I guess so… There’s a saying: ‘play stupid games, win stupid prizes’ …”

Behemoth recently unleashed their new album, I Loved You At Your Darkest, via Metal Blade Records (North America) / Nuclear Blast (Europe).

A crushing salvo of black metal majesty replete with hellish riffs, thundering drum cannonades and soaring liturgical choirs reminiscent of classic horror cinema, I Loved You At Your Darkest is the group's most dynamic record yet: extreme and radical on one hand, but also more rock-oriented than any other Behemoth release.

Produced by the band themselves, with drum co-production by Daniel Bergstrand (Meshuggah, In Flames), mixing by Matt Hyde (Slayer, Children Of Bodom) mastering by Tom Baker (Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson), and a 17-piece Polish orchestra arranged by Jan Stoklosa, I Loved You At Your Darkest can be ordered here.

I Loved You At Your Darkest tracklisting:

"Solve"
"Wolves ov Siberia"
"God = Dog"
"Ecclesia Diabolica Catholica"
"Bartzabel"
"If Crucifixion Was Not Enough..."
"Angelvs XIII"
"Sabbath Mater"
"Havohej Pantocrator"
"Rom 5:8"
"We Are the Next 1000 Years"
"Coagvla"

"Bartzabel" video:

"Wolves ov Siberia" video:

"God = Dog" video:

Find the band's complete tour itinerary here.

Behemoth lineup:

Nergal - vocals & guitars
Orion - bass & vocals
Inferno - drums & percussion

Hagen, Germany-based death grind shredders, Stillbirth, have released a video for "Torn Apart", a track from their new album, Annihilation Of Mankind, out now via Unique Leader.

Says the band: ""What's the best thing to do on a 'day off' on tour? Yes, shooting a music video. That's what we did on the Gutted At Birth South Asia Tour 2018 at the beautiful Seseh Beach/ Bali (Indonesia Brooo!). In case you wonder why it's just 4 of 5 band members in the video, wait until the end of the video..."

The Annihilation Of Mankind album shows Stillbirth at their most sickeningly extreme. Get the release here, and find a full album stream below.

Annihilation Of Mankind tracklisting:

"Fictional Entertainment"
"Enemy Of The Enemy"
"Hypnotized By Lies"
"Psychological Manipulation"
"Firststrike"
"Highest Of Malice"
"Torturized"
"Plague Of Warfare"
"Torn Apart"
"Nuclear Stench"
"The Sky Turns Black"
"Annihilation Of Mankind"

Album stream:

"Highest Of Malice" lyric video:

"Psychological Manipulation" lyric video:

Astronoid, the Boston-based outfit who cemented themselves as one of heavy music’s most promising new bands with the 2016 album Air, release their sophomore full-length, Astronoid, on February 1st via Blood Music.

The band is giving fans an early preview of the new album with a video for “I Dream In Lines”. Watch below.

“After the completion of our sophomore album, we feel we have ventured further out of our comfort zone and created something special,” explains singer/guitar player Brett Boland. “The album encapsulates all the changes in our lives over the past couple of years. Astronoid is a testament to who we are as people, the music that consumes us, and the love in our lives. These songs hold a special place in our hearts and we hope that others can find the same solace in them that we have.”

Astronoid pre-orders, which include an instant download of “I Dream In Lines” as well as multiple colored vinyl packages, are available now via districtlines.com/Astronoid, and blood-music.com/store.

Astronoid tracklisting:

"A New Color"
"I Dream In Lines"
"Lost"
"Fault"
"Breathe"
"Water"
"I Wish I Was There While The Sun Set"
"Beyond The Scope"
"Ideal World"

"I Dream In Lines" video:

Astronoid is Brett Boland (vocals/guitar), Daniel Schwartz (bass), Casey Aylward (guitar) and Matt St. Jean (drums). The band was formed in 2012, releasing two EPs over the next year: Stargazer and November. Air, the band’s debut full-length album, arrived in June of 2016.

(Photo - Karen Jerzyk)

SLIPKNOT percussionist M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan has shared some insights about the concept behind the band's upcoming album in a new interview with Billboard.

He stated that the concept of the record "breaks down to… good vs. evil, or in this sense, evil vs. good. It's about being a human being and experiencing what you have in correlating it to this world. This world is ugly and it's supposed to be, and it has to be in order for art to lead to grandness and beauty."

Though a title and release date have yet to be announced for now, Crahan did seem to hint that the album will arrive sometime around the band's late spring/early summer touring in 2019. The band has been working on the material for the LP since early 2016 and has a "plethora of songs" that are being recorded with co-producer Greg Fidelman, who previously worked on 2014's ".5: The Gray Chapter".

"Nothing is in stone," Crahan said. "There are songs that are considered the album, but everything can change. We would never go do (concert) dates without an album, but... we're not following any rules this time, not that we ever did. We're on an outline, and I think everybody's going to be pleasantly surprised."

arlier this month SLIPKNOT released a brand new song called "All Out Life", accompanied by an official music video directed by Crahan.

In an interview with "Zane Lowe's World Record", singer Corey Taylor said the new album was "one of the darkest chapters in SLIPKNOT's history — it's that good. It's complicated, it's dark, it's heavy, it's melodic, it's fierce, it's angry and it's real, it's raw as hell and it's gonna be talking about a lot of things that people are going to need in their life right now."

".5: The Gray Chapter" was released following a six-year hiatus during which founding SLIPKNOT bassist Paul Gray died and drummer Joey Jordison was dismissed.

".5: The Gray Chapter" sold around 132,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores in October 2014 via Roadrunner.

Gray died in 2010 from a drug overdose, while Jordison was let go in December 2013, just before SLIPKNOT began recording the last album.

Employed To Serve - the fast-rising UK collective who've staked their claim in heavy music's future through consistent ferocious live shows, acclaimed studio recordings plus the desire to give a voice to a disillusioned generation - have signed a worldwide deal with Spinefarm Records, a Universal Music Group label.

Formed in 2012, this young five-piece already have two full-length outings to their name, along with a series of EPs and singles. 2015 saw the release of the Greyer Than You Remember album, with the award-winning The Warmth Of A Dying Sun following two years later. The band appeared at a number of European festivals (Download, Graspop, Boomtown, With Full Force, Lowlands, and more) and toured with the likes of Stick To Your Guns, Counterparts, Stray From The Path, Milk Teeth, Rolo Tomassi, and Black Peaks.

Both live and on record, ETS make the point that no-compromise sonics and well-crafted songs can readily occupy the same heavy space, and their forthcoming studio album - set for release next spring and the first under the new Spinefarm deal - will venture even further down this path: an anthemically heavy statement of intent underpinned by positive, self-belief themes, and the struggle to break away from the mediocre and the mundane.

Palace, the brainchild of Swedish musician Michael Palace, will release the new album, Binary Music, on December 7th via Frontiers Music Srl. Order the album here.

In this new "Meet The Artist" video, Michael Palace reveals his favourite albums:

Palace is a Swedish melodic rock band founded by lead singer and multi-instrumentalist Michael Palace. Heavily influenced by 80’s imagery and sounds, Palace delivers a massive melodic rock/AOR sound unlike you’ve ever heard before. With layers of keyboards, Palace deliver a heavier sound than most in the genre, with guitars a dominating feature. Swirling keyboards, layers of guitars, and fast moving 80’s themed melodic hard rock is what is on offer on Binary Music. After the very warm reception of the debut album, Master Of The Universe, Michael was very excited to get to work on the follow up and face the challenges that came with it.

”I wanted to make an album that will give the fans even more of what they enjoyed the last time around, all the while staying creative and not shying away from new musical ideas,” he says.

Michael Palace began working with Frontiers as a songwriter and guitar player for First Signal (featuring Harry Hess of Harem Scarem fame), Cry Of Dawn (with Goran Edman), Kryptonite (featuring Jakob Samuel of The Poodles), and Toby Hitchcock. The successful collaborations led to a worldwide record deal with Frontiers for his own musical output. Then the subsequent success of Master Of The Universe opened up even more opportunities for Michael to grow as a musician outside of Palace, appearing on many releases as a guitar player, songwriter, and at times, producer.

Despite his young age, Michael Palace has accumulated a wealth of experience playing live and recording in the studio with several different acts in addition to the aforementioned acts and including Code Red, Jim Jidhed, Erika, Hank Erix, Find Me (Featuring Robbie LeBlanc) and Big Time to name a few.

”Since the release of the first album, I’ve had the chance to be involved in a lot of cool musical projects and made more music in two years than I’ve made in my whole life. It has been a fantastic learning experience and I’ve brought a lot of that new gained knowledge into the making of Binary Music. I produced the new album with the guidance from my good friend and mentor Daniel Flores (Find Me, First Signal, The Murder Of My Sweet), and I can’t wait to produce more albums in the future,” Michael explains.

Tracklisting:

"Binary Music"
"Tears Of Gaia"
"Nothing Personal"
"Promised Land"
"Love Songs"
"Dangerous Grounds"
"Queen Of The Prom"
"Who's Counting Time"
"Julia"
"To Have And To Hold"

"Binary Music" video:

"To Have And To Hold”:

Lineup:

Michael Palace - vocals, backing vocals, guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, harmonica and alto saxophone.
Daniel Flores - drums and percussions
Oscar Bromvall - guitar solo on "Julia"