2018 couldn’t have been better for Lord Of The Lost: big headliner tour, impressive festival shows and the release of their sixth studio album Thornstar, which debuted #6 of the German album charts.

To finish the year properly the band has a special gift today: the live DVD, Confession (Live At Christuskirche). Here, Lord Of The Lost celebrate their unpredictable variety once again and present old songs in a new classic guise - including a live ensemble and an impressive location.

Recorded in the Christuskirche Bochum during their Swan Songs Tour 2017, stunningly arranged dark rock symphonies can be found between dramatic chamber orchestra arrangements with gentle strings and piano. The well known hard sound yields to leave some room for intense goosebumps.

Confession (Live At Christuskirche) can be ordered here. Available as limited DVD + 2-CD DVDPack, Deluxe Box and Digital Audio Album. Watch a video for "Fists Up In The Air" below.

Tracklist:

CD 1:
"Raining Stars"
"Wander In Sable"
"Dry The Rain"
"The Devil You Know"
"The Love Of God"
"Ribcages"
"The Sands Of Time"
"Six Feet Underground"
"Beyond Beautiful"
"Waiting For You To Die"

CD 2:
"Fall Asleep"
"Drag Me To Hell"
"Prison"
"See You Soon"
"Full Metal Bawl (The True Story About Her Death)"
"Fists Up In The Air"
"My Better Me"
"Annabel Lee"
"The Broken Ones"
"Credo"
"Lost In A Heartbeat"
"Lighthouse"

"Fists Up In The Air" video:

"Prison" video:

(Photo - Franz Schepers)

Wolcensmen’s debut album from 2016, Songs From The Fyrgen, will be reissued by Indie Recordings on November 30th. Listen to the track "The Fyre-Bough" below.

Dan Capp (Wolcensmen) has commented: "‘The Fyre-Bough’ has become one of Wolcensmen's biggest and most iconic songs, and was composed quite effortlessly. The theme is that of how the natural and 'supernatural' weave into one another, and how respecting these eternal, hidden patterns is the path to contentment."

Founded upon a passion for dark acoustic music and folklore, Wolcensmen began life in 2013. Dan Capp, a guitarist from England (who went on to join black metal band Winterfylleth) undertook the work of resurrecting old acoustic ideas he'd written since the late '90s, inspired largely by Scandinavian bands who had pioneered the inclusion of folk and neo-classical elements within their sound. Wolcensmen became the vehicle for expressing spiritual philosophies and a specific musical atmosphere.

A self-produced demo captured the imagination of underground music fans, and Dungeon Synth label Deivlforst Records assisted in making the demo available again after its limited initial run. In 2015 work began on the debut album, which was released in November of the following year by the name Songs From The Fyrgen. The CD pressing sold out within six months and the album received widespread acclaim, with some quickly considering it a classic of the genre.

In 2017, Wolcensmen was brought to the attention of Norwegian label Indie Recordings who saw the need for a reissue of Songs From The Fyrgen; remixed and remastered, and with proper marketing and distribution. The album will be re-released on November 30th with a bonus disc of brand new songs, including a rendition of the Bathory classic, "Man Of Iron".

Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

Songs From The Fyrgen:
"Withershins"
"The Fyre-Bough"
"Sunne"
"Hoofes Upon the Shymmeringe Path"
"'Neath a Wreath of Firs"
"The Mon o' Micht"
"Snowfall"
"The Bekens are Aliht"
"Yerninge"

Songs From The Mere EP bonus disc:
"The Ferryman"
"Lady of the Depe"
"The Greene Wall"
"Beholdinge, He..."
"Man of Iron" (Bathory cover)

"The Fyre-Bough":

Wolcensmen is part of the revival of interest in old European spirituality; a sincere expression of mysticism and superstition, and an approach to songwriting which aims to bring near-forgotten things back from the mists of time.

Vintage rock duo, The Alligator Wine, have just signed with Century Media Records and present the title track off their upcoming EP The Flying Carousel, to be released on January 25th. Watch the video for “The Flying Carousel”  below.

“The Flying Carousel” marks an introduction to a band that creatively fuses the old and new. With sounds that bridge decades, The Alligator Wine invite you into an electronic yet analogue world that peaks in incredibly catchy hooks and choruses.

The Alligator Wine throw you into a mix of psychedelic moog sounds, distorted organs and thick synth basses that fuse together in a fresh sounding danceable package. The electronic soundscapes that the band explores throughout this EP are solely created by analogue equipment that notably features an illuminated Leslie speaker as a centerpiece on stage and in the studio.

Jens Prueter, Head of A&R, Century Media Records Europe: “The White Stripes wasn’t the first duo in rock music and with The Picturebooks we already have one on Century Media Records. But I can’t think of too many duos even without guitar. Billy Joel’s short-lived Attila came to my mind who rocked really heavy on their only album in 1970. Jimi Hendrix was impressed by the Swedish duo Hansson & Karlsson and covered “Tax Free” from their 1967 debut. And The Alligator Wine transfer these vintage sounds with a heavy groove. It is not about the novelty of a duo as such but The Alligator Wine deliver simply good, unique music and are not afraid of taking risks. Hope you’ll like it as much as we do!”

The band comments: "We are more than stoked to become a part of the Century Media family! A label lead by passionate people that has released so many kick ass albums in the past! Our new single 'The Flying Carousel' is a catchy tune about losing yourself in a surreal disco somewhere decades ago! We all have been there: One foot on the dancefloor, one foot down in hell! Enjo!"

The Flying Carousel EP will be released exclusively on 12" vinyl and digital platforms. Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

"The Flying Carousel"
"Dream Eyed Little Girl"
"Reptile"

"The Flying Carousel" video:

Lineup:

Thomas Teufel - (Drums / Vocals / Percussion)
Rob Vitacca - (Vocals / Organ / Synthesizer)

(Photo - Bjoern Gantert 2018)

Italian death metal veterans Gory Blister have released a video for "No Shadow", a track from the band's new album, 1991. Bloodstained, out now via Mighty Music. Watch below.

Vocalist Raff Sangiorgio comments about the single: "When you are in the dark... when you think you are alone... and you feel safe... that the monsters come... and dance by the light of the candle... but you can't see them, 'cause they are those who have NO SHADOW".

1991.Bloodstained now exists. It’s an album with a self-congratulatory title, because it recalls the birth date of Gory Blister, even if the lyrics, as in the past, deal with a poetic and visionary perceiving of tragedies and disasters caused by the human race on Earth.

Tracklisting:

"Trails Of Lies"
"1991.Bloodstained"
"Mutable Past"
"Anthropocene"
"No Shadow"
"The Frailty Of Life"
"Mother"
"My Insanity"
"The Last Call"
"Damage Inc." (Metallica cover)

"No Shadow" video:

"Trail Of Lies" lyric video:

“The Last Call” video:

Lineup:

Paolo Quaglia (John St. John): Vox
Raff Sangiorgio: Guitar
Fabiano Andreacchio: Bass
Joe Laviola: Drums

The official lyric video for the song "Raise Your Banner" from Dutch metallers WITHIN TEMPTATION can be seen below. The second single from the band's forthcoming studio album, "Resist", features a guest appearance by IN FLAMES vocalist Anders Fridén.

"Resist" will be released on December 14. It is the band's first release through Spinefarm Records, the specialist hard rock label of Universal Music Group.

"Resist" will also feature PAPA ROACH's Jacoby Shaddix and ARID's Jasper Steverlinck on guest vocals.

"Resist" track listing:

1. The Reckoning (feat. Jacoby Shaddix)

02. Endless War

03. Raise Your Banner (feat. Anders Fridén)

04. Supernova

05. Holy Ground

06. In Vain

07. Firelight (feat. Jasper Steverlinck)

08. Mad World

09. Mercy Mirror

10. Trophy Hunter

"Resist" marks a departure from the WITHIN TEMPTATION's past. The record is armed with 10 anthemic tracks, driven by grand melodies and dark hooks. It brings a futuristic take on metal to the table — both instrumentally and thematically.

"'Resist' is a true milestone for us. If it wasn't for 'Resist', WITHIN TEMPTATION wouldn't be here anymore," the band stated.


"With this record, we've taken inspiration from modern music and gave it a face — a very dark one," Sharon said. "Sometimes, it feels that today's pop music lacks a rebellious edge. Our main goal was to collect pieces from sounds we did like and roughen it up as much as we could, resulting in a surprisingly new musical world that is heavier, dirtier and more futuristic than we've ever created before. 'Resist' is our take on metal in a new way: to give modern music its rebellious edge."

Regarding the nearly five-year gap between "Hydra" and "Resist", singer Sharon Den Adel told Poland's Interia.tv: "It took me a long time because of several reasons. We had a heavy touring schedule with 'Hydra', and we toured a long time. We've been together as a band for such ages, and so when I came back, I didn't have any inspiration. There was a lot of things happening in my personal life, so all that came together and I just couldn't write music. I was very much blocked. I needed for myself to discover if I still wanted to do the touring and also writing music for WITHIN TEMPTATION, if I still wanted to be in the band, because it didn't bring me any joy at the time. I was just not in a very good place at that time. Now, I'm feeling a bit — a lot better, actually, and the strange thing is that I couldn't write because I didn't feel the music. I didn't know where to go. Not just me, but also the guys that I work with find it very difficult to write for WITHIN TEMPTATION, because we didn't have any inspiration. It was not just me, but I had a lot of other issues besides not being able to write. That's why it took a long time, and when I did start writing again, I wrote [a] different kind of music — I wrote singer-songwriter kind of songs, and that's not really WITHIN TEMPTATION material. I needed to get that out of my way, so I made a solo album, and when it did start again — when I did feel the songs coming back again to us, and the inspiration and everything — we wrote this album and recorded it in one year. Last summer until this summer, we recorded it, wrote the songs and produced everything."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

VANDENBERG'S MOONKINGS have released a stripped-back version of "Sailing Ships". The track comes from their new record, "Rugged And Unplugged", which will be released on November 23 via Mascot Records/Mascot Label Group.

Originally from WHITESNAKE's 1989 album "Slip Of The Tongue", "Sailing Ships" has a delicate beauty to it that makes the hairs on your arm stand up and has become a favorite and regular in the MOONKINGS' live shows.

"Rugged And Unplugged" is a beautifully stripped back acoustic album which features songs from across Adrian Vandenberg's career. From his first band TEASER as a 20-year-old, he has always used an acoustic guitar in his recordings, which along with the electric guitar creates the light and shade dynamic that is the cornerstone to all of his records.


"For me, the sign of whether a song is good or not, is whether it still stands up when it's completely stripped down to the bare essence of it," says Vandenberg. He continues: "What I find with acoustic versions of songs you already know is that they can touch you in a different way than the full band and even orchestral versions. You don't get 'impressed' by big guitars, drums and even orchestras. As a performer, you can't hide behind all that, so what's left is the emotional content of the performance and the actual song."


his project created the opportunity to strip down the big orchestral arrangements on songs such as "What Doesn't Kill You" and "Breathing" to just Vandenberg on acoustic guitar and the voice of Jan Hoving.

"My favorite singers ever since my teens have always been guys like Paul Rodgers and David Coverdale," Vandenberg says. "Since I wrote this song in 1981, I've always pictured it sung by a singer with such a tone of voice and vocal abilities. Jan is absolutely such a singer as you can hear." "One Step Behind" has a graceful warmth and "Walk Away" feels both intimate and anthemic.


"Out Of Reach" is the only song that features drums, bass and violins and has a warm cascading elegance. The album closes with a new song, the instrumental "Sundown". Adrian says: "It was one of those beautiful early evenings in the late summer, the light turning pink, it was quiet and I was doodling away on my acoustic guitar. The melody that pretty much rolled off of my fingers really matched the vibe of that moment so I decided to record it and end the album with it. It felt like a very natural thing to do."


Like the two MOONKINGS albums, "MoonKings" (2014) and "MK II" (2017), "Rugged And Unplugged" was produced by Adrian Vandenberg himself. It was recorded between Vandenberg's home studio and Jan Hoving's farm which gives it the relaxed, intimate and natural feel, away from the clinical studio environment. It is Vandenberg and Hoving doing what they do and love the most, playing music straight from the heart.

"Rugged And Unplugged" track listing:

01. What Doesn’t Kill You

02. Sailing Ships

03. Out Of Reach

04. One Step Behind

05. Burning Heart

06. Walk Away

07. Breathing

08. Sundown

"Bring Out Your Dead", a new song from black metal pioneers VENOM, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's upcoming 15th full-length studio album, "Storm The Gates", which will be released on December 14 through Spinefarm Records. The follow-up to 2015's "From The Very Depths" will be made available on CD and digital formats, with vinyl and cassette versions to arrive in early 2019.

Frontman Conrad "Cronos" Lant commented: "Get ready for another killer album, packed full of awesome riffs and screaming mayhem.

"We've been hard at work for over two years to make sure this new release raises the bar, to deliver a demonic mix of old and new.

"Get ready to lay down your souls, legions!"

b>"Storm The Gates" track listing:

01. Bring Out Your Dead

02. Notorious

03. I Dark Lord

04. 100 Miles To Hell

05. Dark Night (Of The Soul)

06. Beaten To A Pulp

07. Destroyer

08. The Mighty Have Fallen

09. Over My Dead Body

10. Suffering Dictates

11. We The Loud

12. Immortal

13. Storm The Gates

Last year, Cronos spoke to Metal Rules about the evolution of VENOM's songwriting. "The thing is we, as a band, we are evolving the black metal thing," he explained. 'Because, for me, it has to be exciting, it has to be new, it has to be dangerous. It has to stay in motion. It has to make me excited to do it. I couldn't just do the 'Welcome To Hell' night after night; it would be too boring. So, they know I like to be challenged. I need to create new shit, and I like to twist VENOM a lot and cut and pull it. I like to create an album that people kind of go, 'That wasn't expected.'

"For a band that's been going this long, if we're not going to continue to evolve, I think we're dead," he continued. "But you don't want to forget where you came from. [You want] to be able to play songs from back in the day, so that the people in the audience can hear them and hear the song that they love — played the way that it was played. I think it is special."

Cronos went on to say that his current VENOM bandmates — guitarist Rage, a.k.a. Stuart Dixon, and drummer Danté, a.k.a. Danny Needham — "have got two [VENOM] albums under the belt now [2011's 'Fallen Angels' and 'From the Very Depths'] that they can call their own. So, when they play their songs up on that stage, they can push and pull the bits they want, and they can play them in their style. But when we play the old songs, we kind of try to play them as near to the original we possibly can so, that the people in the audience hear a great version of the song rather than a changed version of the song. Because why change a great song?"

VENOM is not to be confused with VENOM INC., the band featuring original VENOM guitarist Jeff "Mantas" Dunn alongside ex-VENOM bassist/vocalist Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan.

"From The Very Depths" was released in January 2015 via Spinefarm.

Italian progressive metal band LAST UNION has released a music video for the song "President Evil". The track, which features a guest appearance by DREAM THEATER singer James LaBrie, is taken from the group's debut album, "Twelve", which will be released on December 21 via ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records.

"Twelve", which also features Mike LePond (SYMPHONY X) on bass, Uli Kusch (HELLOWEEN, MASTERPLAN) on drums, was mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren, best known for his work with ARCH ENEMY, SYMPHONY X, DEVIN TOWNSEND, ANGRA and OPETH, to name a few. The cover artwork was created by Thomas Ewerhard (AVANTASIA, RAGE, THRESHOLD).

The quiet city of Tolentino in the Marche region of Central Italy not only boasts a rich historical background, it is also the place progressive metal band LAST UNION calls home. Founded by vocalist Elisa Scarpeccio, guitarist Cristiano Tiberi and keyboardist Claudio Feliziani in 2007, the band — originally known as BLAZING ICE — embarked on their journey in the pursuit of sharing their thoughts and feelings about life, and ultimately their art, with the world. With the assistance of professional session bassists and drummers, the trio established themselves on the Italian scene with a string of shows that helped them evolve and refine their craft. Over the course of 20 shows, LAST UNION presented songs that would eventually make the final cut for their debut album.

Strong and positive reactions to their music spurred Scarpeccio and Tiberi on to take the first of many bold steps. The first was to reach out to Kusch, who, after hearing the music, expressed interest in joining the band as a full member rather than just a touring drummer. A similar scenario played out with LePond and LAST UNION was officially born. The icing on the cake, however, was getting LaBrie to sing on three tracks.

rack listing:

01. Most Beautiful Day

02. President Evil (feat. James LaBrie)

03. Hardest Way

04. Purple Angels

05. The Best Of Magic

06. Taken (feat. James LaBrie) (radio edit)

07. 18 Euphoria

08. A Place In Heaven (feat. James LaBrie)

09. Ghostwriter

10. Limousine

11. Back In The Shadow

12. Taken (feat. James LaBrie)

13. President Evil (feat. James LaBrie) (video version)

The official video for the song "Bitter" from RED DRAGON CARTEL, the band led by former OZZY OSBOURNE and BADLANDS guitarist Jake E. Lee, can be seen below. The track is taken from RED DRAGON CARTEL's sophomore album, "Patina", which was released on November 9 via Frontiers Music Srl.

The follow-up to RED DRAGON CARTEL's eponymous 2014 debut, "Patina" marks the group's first release with drummer Phil Varone (SAIGON KICK, SKID ROW) and bassist Anthony Esposito. The band's current lineup is rounded out by singer Darren James Smith.

RED DRAGON CARTEL's new album was recorded at Esposito's Obscenic Arts studio in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania and was mixed by legendary producer Max Norman, who has previously worked with OZZY OSBOURNE, MEGADETH, SAVATAGE and LOUDNESS, among others.

In addition to being the new bassist for RED DRAGON CARTEL, Esposito co-produced the album alongside Lee.

I think we had a great production partnership," says Jake. "He never discouraged me from trying things that were a bit outside the box; in fact, he encouraged it. His attention to detail in the recording of everything was exceptional. Much more than I alone would have toiled over. He has an incredible work ethic that kept me from lapsing into complacency. If we disagreed on how something should be, we'd find a perfect marriage of the two sides, or completely reimagine it. We didn't settle on anything unless we both agreed it was perfect. If I do another album, I'd love it to be with him again."

Another new member to RED DRAGON CARTEL is drummer Phil Varone, whose style Lee really appreciated. "Phil is a very solid and groove-oriented player, who is not afraid to turn things upside down to give the song a more unique flavor," explains Lee.

"Patina" marks a change of style from the debut RED DRAGON CARTEL album, featuring a more bluesy hard rock direction as opposed to its predecessor's heavier leanings.

Lee says: "The first album was more of a piecemeal production with some of the song ideas being 10 years old and never having more than one player in the room at any time. I wanted to do this one from scratch with all the songs originating and worked on with everyone in the room, on their instruments. It felt much more organic, like the way I used to do it for the first 20 years of my career — more honest to my roots."

When asked about his musical inspirations for the record, Jake says: "My inspirations for 'Patina' are from the artists I loved during my youth. Robin Trower, Santana, BLACK SABBATH, CAPTAIN BEYOND, THIN LIZZY, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, David Bowie… I could go on and on, but let me also say that there are also hints of SLY & THE FAMILY STONE, Dick Dale, psychedelia and even some George Benson. Don't let any of that scare you — it all makes sense!"

"Patina" is a definitive statement of Jake's unbelievable skills with a monster production from Esposito and a perfect mix, courtesy of Norman, whose relationship with Jake dates back to the guitarist's days with OZZY OSBOURNE.

The track listing for the disc is as follows:

01. Speedbag

02. Havana

03. Crooked Man

04. The Luxury Of Breathing

05. Bitter

06. Chasing Ghosts

07. A Painted Heart

08. Punchclown (bonus track)

09. My Beautiful Mess

10. Ink & Water

The official music video for "Havana" can be seen below.

"I chose 'Havana' as the first song to be released from the new album for a few reasons," Lee told Guitar World. "First off, it begins with a lone guitar playing the riff, promoting the idea that this is a guitar-heavy record. The song's production is about as straightforward and basic as it gets on this album and I wanted it to be apparent that, overall, it's more of an old school approach, as opposed to its predecessor [RED DRAGON CARTEL's self titled, 2014 debut album.] And, it's just a cool riff I couldn't wait to share with anyone interested in what I'm doing!"

Back in September 2015, RED DRAGON CARTEL was rejoined by Darren James Smith after a period of several months during which the band played shows with a number of other vocalists, including former JONES STREET frontman Shawn Crosby, Canadian singer Paul D'Eath (CITIZENS UNITE, MUSHROOM TRAIL), Chas West (Jason Bonham, LYNCH MOB, 3 LEGGED DOGG) and Michael Beck.

Issued in January 2014, RED DRAGON CARTEL's debut CD sold around 5,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 69 on The Billboard 200 chart.

According to TMZ, AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry is back home, six days after he was hospitalized following an appearance with Billy Joel.

Sources close to Joe tell the site that Perry was released from the hospital Thursday and is now resting.

Only minutes after guesting with Joel on stage on Saturday night (November 10) at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Perry experienced shortness of breath and was treated by paramedics. The legendary rocker, who's now 68, was taken out of the Garden on a stretcher after paramedics worked on him in his dressing room, reportedly inserting a tracheal tube down his throat at one point.

According to TMZ, doctors ran a series of tests and determined that Perry was suffering from a combination of allergies and fatigue.

b>Joe, who has reportedly had breathing issues his whole life, tweeted on Tueday that he was "doing well" and thanked fans "for all the love and support."

As most fans will remember, back in July 2016, Perry collapsed during a HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES gig at Brooklyn, New York's Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk.

Alice Cooper, who fronts the all-star covers band, recalled to CBS News at the time that he was unaware that Perry was perhaps not geared up for such a rigorous schedule. "I didn't realize AEROSMITH only did two shows a week. Honestly, I just figured everybody was like me. I do five shows a week, and very physical shows. We were on our eighth show in 10 days. It was pretty brutal. I think [Joe] was dehydrated and basically exhausted. I talked to him before the show and he said, 'I don't think I've eaten anything in three days.' I went, 'Well, that's not smart.'"

Cooper went on to squash the rumors that Perry had collapsed due to a coronary, explaining: "It wasn't his heart, though, and it wasn't anything vital, because four or five days later, he was on stage with us and I'd never seen him look so good."

Perry is scheduled to kick off a solo tour on November 30 in support of his most recent solo album, "Sweetzerland Manifesto".

POISON frontman Bret Michaels was released from the hospital on Wednesday, November 14 after undergoing a medical procedure known as lithotripsy. He says: "[It] was painful, but worth it. I'm not 100%, but I will be soon. The staff and doctors were incredible. Your well wishes and prayers helped as kidney stones are one of the most painful things to experience."

Lithotripsy is a procedure that helps to break the process of urolithiasis. Urolithiasis is the process of forming stones in the kidney, bladder, and/or urethra. Kidney stones are a common cause of blood in the urine and pain in the abdomen, flank, or groin. Kidney stones occur in 1 in 20 people at some time in their life.

As a result of his medical condition, Michaels was forced to cancel his November 11 concert at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville, Tennessee.

Earlier this year, POISON toured for the first time since 2012, a hiatus largely due to Michaels's frequent tours as a solo artist, during which he typically performs a setlist that differs little from what POISON plays.

b>Michaels said during POISON's "Nothin' But A Good Time" tour that while the band will take the year off in 2019, he'd like POISON to tour again and release something new in 2020. "I think one or two songs, singles route, 100,000 percent," he told Loudwire. "We've already written one song on the road that we've been jamming at soundcheck. It really sounds good — it's a very modern song with a great feel and great hook."

Photo credit: Mark Mazzanti

BORN OF OSIRIS will release its new album, "The Simulation", on January 11, 2019 via Sumerian Records. A music video for the song "The Accursed" can be seen below.

Guitarist Lee McKinney states: "The first single and video for 'The Accursed' plays exactly off of the album titles and themes. People are stuck and addicted to machines, social media, virtual realities and anything that creates a life or reality that's not their own. Our phones have become an extension of ourselves, a body part. We play games or throw on virtual headsets that literally suck us out of the reality we live and into a fantasy. What's the future going to look like, a simulation? Could the simulation have already begun?

"Also, this new album keeps the integrity high across the board. I want to make the best songs I could for the people who are listening (and myself), and I want to perform them to their best ability on stage to give the people attending our shows those ‘wow' moments. We want to give them those concert memories that'll last a lifetime."

Vocalist, keyboardist and synth player Joe Buras adds: "We welcome the incorporation of steel, or have we already? It's hard to prove we are not already in a simulation with the development of AI, advances in brain mapping technology and the inevitable singularity. We now see an age that is either here or on the horizon."

b>"The Simulation" track listing:

01. The Accursed

02. Disconnectome

03. Cycles Of Tragedy

04. Under The Gun

05. Recursion

06. Analogs In A Cell

07. Silence The Echo

08. One Without The Other


BORN OF OSIRIS's U.S. tour with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and CROWBAR will start on November 16 and run through December 9.

"By The Numbers", the new video from West Coast metal veterans METAL CHURCH, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's upcoming 12th full-length studio album, "Damned If You Do", which 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 legendary frontman Mike Howe.

In a case where art imitates life, the "By The Numbers" clip tells the story of a successful businessman who also plays double duty as a rock star lead singer, something Howe knows all too well.

"Damned If You Do" is described in a press release as "a cross between the band's iconic 'Blessing In Disguise' and 'The Human Factor'. This new offering features ten fully charged, classic-metal-influenced songs that showcase the sound that has garnered the band a solid fanbase for over three decades," the press release adds.

Guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof comments: "I feel this album is a very powerful statement to what METAL CHURCH has always been about. A tough and aggressive old-school metal album while maintaining a level of musicality and melodic sensibilities."

b>"Damned If You Do" also features Stet Howland (ex-W.A.S.P., LITA FORD), who joined METAL CHURCH as the replacement for longtime drummer Jeff Plate. Soon after hooking up with the group, Stet was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Miraculously, his treatments for the aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma worked and he was able to begin recording the new album.

Speaking of the new album, Stet said: "From the minute we started tracking this new CD, I had the feeling that it was going to be something special. I knew that I was going to do my best to deliver a top drum performance, not only because of the high standard set by past METAL CHURCH drummers, but also because this is my first CD release after being sick. I'm beyond happy with all aspects of this CD — great songs, great performances, great production; just an overall great CD! I love it!"

"Damned If You Do" is something truly unique and special. The songs are powerful, precise, and METAL CHURCH's musical vision is unified. From the haunting opener "Damned If You Do" to the final hard-edged track "The War Electric", this new album is sure to resonate with fans from the band's early years while garnering new ones. Songs like "By The Numbers", "Guillotine" and "The Black Things" are sure to become instant favorites!

Howe comments: "I'm very excited about the new release. It all came together way better than I even imagined. It's a great feeling to work really hard on a musical project pouring your heart into it and hoping it comes out as something you can be proud of in the end. I have been listening to it every day and loving it! I hope our fans do as well!"

"Damned If You Do" is available in various formats and bundle configurations, including a limited blue, black and white vinyl pressing with an alternate track sequence also an Ultimate Fan Bundle that includes a personal "thank you" phone call from Howe.

"Damned If You Do" track listing:

01. Damned If You Do

02. The Black Things

03. By The Numbers

04. Revolution Underway

05: Guillotine

06. Rot Away

07. Into The Fold

08. Monkey Finger

09. Out Of Balance

10. The War Electric

METAL CHURCH is:

Mike Howe - Vocals

Kurdt Vanderhoof - Guitar

Stet Howland - Drums

Steve Unger - Bass

Rick Van Zandt - Guitar

Photo credit: Melissa Castro

A brand-new QUEENSRŸCHE song, "Man The Machine", can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, "The Verdict", which will be released on March 1, 2019 via Century Media Records. The disc was produced, mixed, and mastered by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (ROB ZOMBIE, ICED EARTH, HATEBREED) at Uberbeatz in Lynwood, Washington; Planet-Z in Wilbraham, Massachusetts; and Watershed Studio in Seattle, Washington.

Says QUEENSRŸCHE singer Todd La Torre: "We are excited to reveal the first full song 'Man The Machine' from our upcoming album, 'The Verdict'. This is just a small taste of what is to come, and we look forward to unveiling more tracks and videos as we approach the official album release date."


He adds: "I'm extremely proud of what we were able to accomplish on this record. The relentless dedication and hard work of everyone involved has been very rewarding. I am excited and looking forward to it no longer just belonging to us, but belonging to the world. We hope you all enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed making it!"


Michael "Whip" Wilton (guitar) adds: "'The Verdict' is the most metal and the most progressive record we have made in a long time. I couldn't possibly be more excited for everyone to hear this."


b>QUEENSRŸCHE's spring U.S. headline tour with special guests FATES WARNING will kick off on March 2 in Orlando, making stops in major markets such as New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles, and will wrap on April 3 in Seattle. THE CRINGE will be joining both bands on select dates.

Todd spoke about "The Verdict"'s musical direction with Eclectic Arts, saying: "It's got more driving songs on this record than the last one… I think there's elements that are more progressive — some different time signatures. It's a good-flowing album. There's some slow, kind of haunting, creepy, cool stuff on this record," he continued. "Like I say, there's more progressive elements on this one, I think — certainly more, I think, than the last one. The song 'Condition Hüman' was kind of progressive in QUEENSRŸCHE's standards, so there's kind of some of those elements going on. Really good lyrical content — thought-provoking stuff. Certainly never trying to tell anyone what to think, but to think. Again, a lot of it deals with things that are happening in the world that everyone can identify with and relate to. I tried to have some really good vocal acrobatics on this [album]. There's not a ton of high singing, but there's some high stuff on there vocally. I mean, it just sounds like a great QUEENSRŸCHE album to me. But you never know until you put it out to everyone, and then it's not yours anymore."

For the past 19 months, drummer Scott Rockenfield has been taking time off from QUEENSRŸCHE's touring activities to spend time with his young son, who was born in early 2017. Filling in for him is former KAMELOT drummer Casey Grillo. However, QUEENSRŸCHE has not yet indicated if Rockenfield was involved with the making of "The Verdict", although it did confirm that Grillo did not play on the record.

"The Verdict" will mark QUEENSRŸCHE's third full-length release with La Torre, following the departure of Geoff Tate in 2012.

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

Now, MALEVOLENT CREATION has confirmed January 18, 2019 as the release date for "The 13th Beast", which introduces a new lineup consisting of Phil Cincilla (drums), Josh Gibbs (bass), Phil Fasciana (guitar) and vocalist/guitarist Lee Wollenschlaeger (THRONE OF NAILS, IMPERIAL EMPIRE).

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

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

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

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

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

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

A first song from the album will be released on November 30.

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

Track listing:

01. End The Torture

02. Mandatory Butchery

03. Agony For The Chosen

04. Canvas Of Flesh

05. Born Of Pain

06. The Beast Awakened

07. Decimated

08. Bleed Us Free

09. Knife At Hand

10. Trapped Inside

11. Release The Soul

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

Lee Wollenschlaeger - vocals / guitars

Phil Fasciana - guitars

Phil Cincilla - drums

Josh Gibbs - bass

California alternative-rock quartet PAPA ROACH will release its 10th studio album, "Who Do You Trust?", on January 18, 2019 through Eleven Seven Music. The 12-track disc features the band's signature heavy rhythmic guitars and catchy hooks on "Who Do You Trust" and "Renegade Music", with "Not The Only One" supplying melody and emotionally charged lyrics. The album is produced by Nick "RAS" Furlong and Colin Cunningham except for "Top Of The World", which is produced by Jason Evigan.


Said bassist Tobin Esperance: "Our goal for our 10th album was to push ourselves even further into genres that inspire us most. We have reached the place where we always wanted to be, creating new and exciting music."

The official lyric video for "Not The Only One" can be seen below. The song follows last month's release of new tracks "Renegade Music" and "Who Do You Trust?", which were lauded by fans and critics alike. The official music video for "Who Do You Trust?" has already surpassed two million views.


"Who Do You Trust?" track listing:

1. The Ending

02. Renegade Music

03. Not The Only One

04. Who Do You Trust?

05. Elevate

06. Come Around

07. Feel Like Home

08. Problems

09. Top Of The World

10. I Suffer Well

11. Maniac

12. Better Than Life

Asked why PAPA ROACH decided to work on new music so soon after the release of 2017's "Crooked Teeth", guitarist Jerry Horton told the Milwaukee radio station 102.9 The Hog: "Normally, we give it a couple of years to two and a half years, just because the touring cycles usually take a pretty long time. And then six months we'll do [in the studio] for the record. This time it was, like, a year on tour and maybe three months [in the studio]. We got in with the same guys [producers Nicholas 'RAS' Furlong and Colin Brittain] that we did 'Crooked Teeth' with, and we have this flow together, and it just went really quick."

He continued: "We've been doing this for so long that we kind of know if we get to a certain point with a song that it's not happening naturally, then we just kind of set it aside and move on to something else and then maybe come back to it later. But we don't try and sit there and force it for days on end like we used to."

According to Jerry, the new PAPA ROACH album will include some material that was left on the cutting-room floor during the "Crooked Teeth" sessions. "Yeah, there's a couple of songs that didn't make it on the last record, mostly because they didn't get finished," he explained. "We took a fresh ear to a couple of the jams and came out with songs. Some bands would look at some of these things and say, 'Oh, well, it didn't happen right away. It must not be good.' Sometimes it just takes a little time for it to kind of click in our heads. But we don't necessarily throw anything away — we're kind of hoarders that way. You never know — something could be sitting in there that's great; we just weren't in that headspace at the time."

Horton previously told Morgan Richards Interviews that PAPA ROACH's new material sees him and his bandmates "really trying to explore more dynamics and not just be a wall of guitars all the time."

Frontman Jacoby Shaddix described the musical direction of the new PAPA ROACH songs to the Lazer 103.3 radio station as "a pretty bold evolution," saying that the tracks that have been laid down so far are "so inspiring and just unique and different and rocking and anthemic and passionate."

PAPA ROACH has announced a special run of five shows in its home state of California to celebrate the "Who Do You Trust?" release. The group will close out this run with three very special shows at the landmark West Hollywood venue The Roxy, presented by SiriusXM.

PAPA ROACH will set out on a December tour to various military bases in Asia. The band will also join SHINEDOWN and ASKING ALEXANDRIA on the 2019 North American leg of the "Attention! Attention!" world tour.

"Love The Ones You Hate", a new song from A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, titled "When The World Becomes Undone", which will be released on January 18, 2019 via Long Branch Records/SPV.

Singer and guitarist Sal Abruscato said: "'Love The Ones You Hate' is one of my favorite songs. Brings back the early '90s alternative goth metal that inspired us back then. The song is about moving on from friends that have intentionally hurt or betray you and it's time to forget them, let go of the grudge and the hate towards them. I wrote this song at my home in upstate New York and finally had the fuel to finish the lyrics this past year."

Led by founding TYPE O NEGATIVE and LIFE OF AGONY member Sal Abruscato, A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH released its debut, "And Hell Will Follow Me", in 2011 and firmly implanted its roots in the metal scene with the sophomore album, "Lay My Soul To Waste", in 2013. Both records were selected as part of Revolver magazine "Top 20 Albums Of The Year" lists in the years they were issued.

Besides Abruscato on guitars and lead vocals, A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH's lineup includes Joe Taylor and Eddie Heedles on guitars and Eric Morgan on bass. Johnny Kelly (TYPE O NEGATIVE) is also back in the band on drums.

b>"When The World Becomes Undone" will be made available via SPV's Long Branch Records imprint. The first single, "Love The Ones You Hate", will be released on November 16.

"It's our signature combination of seemingly depressing and dark musical tones with unexpectedly pretty melodies," says Abruscato. "There's a hypnotic phenomenon that happens when you take super heavy riffs and add a harmonic sensibility. It allows you to drift off and zone out."

"When The World Becomes Undone" was mastered by Maor Appelbaum (FAITH NO MORE, MEAT LOAF, YES, SEPULTURA, HALFORD) at Maor Appelbaum Mastering while the artwork was once again created by Sam Shearon (ROB ZOMBIE, FEAR FACTORY, CRADLE OF FILTH).

"When The World Becomes Undone" track listing:

01. As It Begins

02. When The World Becomes Undone

03. Love The Ones You Hate

04. Fell In My Hole

05. Succumbing To The Event Horizon

06. Vultures

07. End Of Days

08. The Woods

09. We All Break Down

10. Lay With The Wicked

11. Splinters

12. Dreams Of The End

13. Closure

"The phrase 'When The World Becomes Undone' came to me in 2014," Abruscato explains. "You could see what was beginning to happen in the world at large. Just turn on the news or look around. At the same time, there were a lot of crazy things happening in my personal life. Those struggles all became fuel for the music. It was like I had this partial sketch a while ago, and we finally filled it out this year. It evolved into what we have here."

"When The World Becomes Undone" is available for pre-order here.

A five-year gap preceded "When The World Becomes Undone" as Sal rejoined LIFE OF AGONY, which he co-founded, for a triumphant comeback tour and contributed musical arrangements to the 2017 album "A Place Where There's No More Pain".

"Rival", a new song from SOEN, the progressive heavy rock group featuring world-renowned drummer Martin Lopez (formerly of AMON AMARTH and OPETH), can be streamed below. The track is taken from SOEN's fourth album, "Lotus", which will be released on February 1, 2019 via Silver Lining Music.

Having spent the last six months digging deep into the muddy depths of their emotions, the nine songs comprising "Lotus" are intoxicating, addictive aural therapies, questioning much of today's darkness while juxtaposing them with moments of great escape and hope.


"We are all very fortunate to have this place where we can go and explore thoughts, perspectives and emotions which everyday life maybe does not have the room for," says Lopez, one of SOEN's founding members. "There are definitely things that we say, and places we go, in SOEN which would be very hard to express without us coming together and creating music."


Produced by David Castillo and Iñaki Marconi at Ghostward Studios and Studio 6 between July and October 2018, the album marks the first recorded SOEN work of new Canadian-born guitarist Cody Ford, whilst the center-point of the album remains those trademark, snap-heavy, progressive SOEN riffs. Songs such as "Rival", "Covenant" and "Martyrs" are dissertations on modern societies, fraught with poetic, finitely designed confusion and chaos, yet as the name "Lotus" suggests, there is still strength, beauty, and purity to be extracted from what at times seems like an endless cycle of human regression.


The world right now is undeniably a very strange, tense place," says Lopez. "I think the songs clearly reflect that, but they also reflect that we must now be stronger than ever in challenging, confronting, and dealing with the pandemonium life throws at us all."


The lavish "Lotus" artwork features nothing other than an enigmatic and engaging copper-reflective pyramid, offering elements of the sixth sense and greater consciousness before gate-folding open to reveal a girl touched by the copper aura.


"We each have our own personal ideas as to what it means," says Lopez, "but we'd much rather discuss what others think, what our audience thinks, what the media thinks... I think it's extremely important that we all communicate with each other and take the time to fully conceive our own meanings and interactions with life and creativity."


"Ultimately," concludes Ekelöf, "'Lotus' is about rising from whatever darkness, or dark places, you might find yourself. And its inspiration comes from a deep motivation to not just settle for the situation you might find yourself in. 'Lotus' is about changing life — both your own and your surroundings for which we must all take responsibility — and make them better rather than letting darkness pacify you and take you down."

"Lotus" track listing:

01. Opponent

02. Lascivious

03. Martyrs

04. Lotus

05. Covenant

06. Penance

07. River

08. Rival

09. Lunacy


SOEN will bring "Lotus" on the road as it tours Europe starting in March 2019.

SOEN is:

Joel Ekelöf - vocals

Martin Lopez - drums

Lars Åhlund - keys, guitar

Stefan Stenberg - bass

Cody Ford - lead guitar

BILLYBIO, the solo project of BIOHAZARD and POWERFLO guitarist Billy Graziadei, will release its debut album, "Feed The Fire", on November 30 via AFM Records.

The official 360-degree music video for the "Rise And Slay" single can be seen below.

Says Graziadei: "I love the beginning of a band's career when the spirit is raw and unbridled, the fire still burning strong in their hearts. You know the feeling — when everything is new and fresh AF! I wanted to capture this moment of the group and preserve that early live intensity in 360 degrees, like you are there with us.

"I always drive directors insane with my ideas, but in the end, Reinout Hellenthal helped me capture the high-powered live experience and bring you on stage with us during the chaos. You can watch this video 100 times and still find new details. Don't forget to look up!"

b>"Feed The Fire" can be pre-ordered at this location.

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

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


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


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

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

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

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


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

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

Photo credit: Melissa Hummel

JOHN 5 AND THE CREATURES — comprised of world-renowned guitarist John 5, bassist Ian Ross and drummer Logan Miles Nix — are following up on this year's live album, "It's Alive!", with a brand-new full-length studio record coming in 2019. The new disc, titled "Invasion", will be teased on New Year's Day 2019 by way of a brand new music video for the new track "Zoinks!", inspired by "Scooby-Doo!" Directed by Matt Zane with animation from Disney animator Brett Broggs ("Frozen", "Wreck-It Ralph"), the video will also feature the voice acting talents of Nikki Sixx, Susan Olsen (known for her role as Cindy Brady on "The Brady Bunch"), and Fred Coury. Coury also is credited for scoring the video alongside John 5. The video will be premiered via John 5's YouTube channel.


The official release date for "Invasion" will be announced in 2019.


"Invasion" was produced and mixed by Barry Pointer, and will be released via a series of music videos, just as John 5 released his 2017 studio album, "Season Of The Witch".


In celebration of the upcoming album, JOHN 5 AND THE CREATURES will kick off the second leg of his North American "Invasion" tour on February 23, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The tour will feature support from blues-rock guitarist Jared James Nichols.


b>John 5 says: "Get ready for the 'Invasion' tour! I will be playing some songs from my new record, 'Invasion', a brand new medley, and much more. I'm really excited to have Jared James Nichols out with us. This tour is something you're not going to want to miss!"


Jared James Nichols adds: "As a young budding guitarist, I grew up with a Guitar World cut-out picture of John 5 on my bedroom wall. He was always one of my 'guitar heroes'. He is the total package... insane technique, amazing musicality, with a style and look all of his own. Needless to say, when I got the call for this tour, my jaw dropped. I'm absolutely honored to warm up the stage for him every night across America and Canada. I'm getting my chops ready to tear it up!"


JOHN 5 AND THE CREATURES "Invasion" tour dates:

Feb. 23 - Las Vegas, NV @ Count's Vamp'd

Feb. 24 - San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick

Feb. 26 - Mesa, AZ @ Club Red

Mar. 01 - Lubbock, TX @ Jake's

Mar. 02 - San Antonio, TX @ Rock Box

Mar. 03 - Houston, TX @ Scout Bar

Mar. 05 - Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live

Mar. 06 - Dallas, TX @ Trees

Mar. 07 - Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street

Mar. 09 - Indianapolis, IN @ HiFi

Mar. 10 - Akron, OH @ Empire Concert Club

Mar. 12 - Sellersville, PA @ Sellersville Theater

Mar. 13 - New York, NY @ Iridium

Mar. 14 - Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Loft @ The Chance

Mar. 15 - Teaneck, NJ @ Debonair Music Hall

Mar. 16 - Hampton Beach, NH @ Wally's

Mar. 18 - New Bedford, MA @ Vault at Greasy Luck

Mar. 20 - Quebec City, QC @ L'Anti Bar & Spectacles

Mar. 21 - Montreal, QC @ Piranha

Mar. 22 - Ottawa, ON @ The Brass Monkey

Mar. 23 - Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace

Mar. 24 - London, ON @ Rum Runners

Mar. 26 - Thunder Bay, ON @ Crocks

Mar. 27 - Winnipeg, MB @ Pyramids

Mar. 28 - Regina, SK @ The Exchange

Mar. 29 - Calgary, AB @ Dickens

Mar. 30 - Edmonton, AB @ Starlite

Mar. 31 - Vancouver, BC @The Rickshaw Theater

Apr. 02 - Seattle, WA @ Crocodile Cafe

Apr. 03 - Portland, OR @ Dantes

Apr. 05 - Sacramento, CA @ Holy Diver

Apr. 06 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Whisky

Tickets are available now via individual venues, and VIP packages will be available soon exclusively via www.john-5.com/store.

John 5 has worked with a varied range of artists, performing as guitarist for some of the biggest headlining rock bands in the world such as ROB ZOMBIE and MARILYN MANSON, as well as playing session with Paul Stanley, Rod Stewart, LYNYRD SKYNYRD and more. Slash has called John 5, "one of the most mind-blowing guitarists around" and Rob Zombie has dubbed him "a fucking shredder." John 5 has released seven solo albums to date, as well as a remix album, and has written music for the likes of Avril Lavigne, GARBAGE, Ricky Martin and others.

The official music video for the song "Hold On To Love" from Jason Becker can be seen below. The track is taken from the guitarist's new album, "Triumphant Hearts", which will be released on December 7 via Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group.

Becker's story is one of brilliance, talent, determination, adversity, and, ultimately, triumph. A child prodigy on guitar, Jason rose to prominence as a teenager when he was one half of the technical guitar duo CACOPHONY, with his great friend Marty Friedman. In 1989, at only 19 years old and after wowing audiences all over the world, the young virtuoso became the guitarist for David Lee Roth, following in the huge footsteps of Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai. He wrote and recorded on Roth's third solo album, "A Little Ain't Enough", and was poised for superstardom when a nagging pain in his leg was diagnosed as Motor Neurone Disease (MND), also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's Disease, the same condition Stephen Hawking lived with for over five decades. It is a fatal condition with a life expectancy of maybe five years. Maybe.


That was 29 years ago. He lost the ability to play guitar, walk, talk, and breathe on his own. But never lost his will to live or his desire to create music. Communicating through a series of eye movements with a system developed by his father, Jason spells out words as well as musical notes and chords. He imparts his musical vision to his team who then can input the notes into a computer, edit the parts to his exacting standards, and then generate charts for session musicians. His inspiring music and life story have been the subject of countless news articles, magazine cover stories, and an award-winning documentary, "Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet".


The album's 14 tracks showcase Jason's gift for melody and his deep knowledge of classical composition and orchestral arrangement. Many of the guitar parts are performed by a who's who of six-string gods, including Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Neal Schon, Steve Morse, Paul Gilbert, Joe Bonamassa, and many others. And, in what will absolutely delight his fans, Jason's amazing guitar playing — recorded in the '80s and '90s — features throughout.


he first song to be released from the album is the beautifully mesmerizing nine-minute-and-five-second instrumental "Valley Of Fire" that features The Magnificent 13 — Steve Vai, Joe Bonamassa, Paul Gilbert, Neal Schon, Marty Friedman, Michael Lee Firkins, Mattias IA Eklundh, Greg Howe, Jeff Loomis, Richie Kotzen, Gus G., Steve Hunter and Ben Woods. A phenomenal cast to feature on a single song.


The album opens with the title track, featuring Jason's old bandmate Marty Friedman and an astounding violin performance. "I wrote 'Triumphant Heart' and it made me feel triumphant," says Becker. "When Marty found out I was making this album, he told me he would play anything I needed. I sent him this, and his wife, Hiyori Okuda, who is a cellist, also offered to play on it. The great violinist Glauco Bertagnin recorded my violin parts in Italy. That fast solo section I wrote is way too hard; I don't know how Glauco pulled it off. He put so much soul in the whole song."


"Hold On To Love" is the first vocal song on the record, although it didn't start out that way. "It was going to be an instrumental," explains Jason, "but after I wrote the chorus with lyrics, I knew I had to tell my story, to explain how I can continue living without feeling hate. I hadn't written many lyrics before." In addition to its beautiful, gospel-tinged choir, the heartfelt song features Bay Area singer Codany Holiday on lead vocals.


"Fantasy Weaver" displays the four-string magic of world-renown ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro and harp arpeggios that were written back in Jason's CACOPHONY days. "Once Upon A Melody" not only features two Jason Becker guitar solos from his CACOPHONY era, but also audio of him as a three-year-old. The full-circle nature of having little boy Jason, guitar virtuoso Jason, and modern-day composer Jason all on the same song is a breathtaking accomplishment while "We Are One" features soulful FLIPSYDE vocalist Steve Knight, and more Becker guitar delights.


Uli Jon Roth appears on "Magic Woman", along with ex-MEGADETH guitarist Chris Broderick who counts both Uli and Jason as big influences. Fans of Jason's work with David Lee Roth will be thrilled by the inclusion of two previously unreleased outtakes from the "A Little Ain't Enough" sessions, the hard-rocking "Taking Me Back" and the blues-infused "Tell Me No Lies". There are also performances by Joe Satriani, Guthrie Govan, Steve Morse, Trevor Rabin, and many others.


"Some people feel sorry for me," he concedes, "and I understand that. I really feel lucky though. I don't miss playing guitar anymore. I'm sure that's out of necessity, but I am grateful for so much more. I am surrounded by loving people, and I can still make music."


"Triumphant Hearts" track listing:

01. Triumphant Heart (ft. Marty Friedman, Gluaco Bertagnin, Hiyori Okuda)

02. Hold On To Love (ft. Codany Holiday)

03. Fantasy Weaver (ft. Jake Shimabukuro)

04. Once Upon A Melody

05. We Are One (ft. Steve Knight)

06. Magic Woman (ft. Uli Jon Roth, Chris Broderick)

07. Blowin' In The Wind

08. River Of Longing (ft. Jon Satiriani, Aleks Sever, Guthrie Govan, Steve Morse)

09. Valley Of Fire (ft. The Magnificent 13)

10. River Of Longing (ft. Trevor Rabin)

11. Taking Me Back

12. Tell Me No Lies

13. Hold On To Love (ft. Codany Holiday) [Chuck Zwicky Remix]

14. You Do It

Former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes is putting the finishing touches on a new EP, "Under The Influence", to be released in December. A new full-length album will follow a year later.

"If you like the first W.A.S.P. album, you'll like this record, kind of, 'cause it's raw," Holmes told Duke TV in a new interview (see video below). "It's just mainly guitar stuff. It's not over-produced. I didn't add anything in it; I just did some good rock and roll music."

Asked how his new music is a progression from his last album, "Shitting Bricks", which was released in 2015 via M & O Music, Chris said: "I'm three, four years older. [Laughs] I've learned a lot about singing lately and putting words together and stuff like that; I've got more experience now."

According to Holmes, the lyrics to his songs are "just things that I've done in the past." He singled out one track, "The Devil Made Me Do It", saying that "it's about drinking and driving. It's saying 'the devil made me do it.' It's about reality. It's not about the cosmos."

b>"Under The Influence" was recorded in Cannes, France, where Holmes has lived since 2014.

"I just got tired of all the crap in America," Chris told Duke TV. "I like playing here [in Europe]. One thing is, in four years I haven't been arrested by a cop; I haven't been bothered by a cop. It's beautiful here. I hear people telling me the cops are bad here. I haven't been bothered once. In L.A., I've got [cops] looking up my ass every time. I hated it; I got tired of it. I'd probably be in jail now in L.A. for some stupid thing that they're always doing. But anyway, I don't think rock music does that good there anymore — except for the big groups like IRON MAIDEN and stuff. For somebody like me, starting out, it'd probably be really hard. Half the clubs are closed down in L.A.; there's not that many places to play there anymore."

Holmes joined W.A.S.P. in 1982 and remained with the group until 1990. In 1996, Holmes rejoined W.A.S.P. and stayed with the band until 2001. Holmes has not played with W.A.S.P. since.

Holmes in 2013 released a solo album called "Nothing To Lose". Chris composed, performed, and produced the music and vocals, and teamed up with former MOTÖRHEAD drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor to perform on and engineer the effort.

Frontiers Music Srl is known for building new bands/projects featuring musicians of outstanding quality and who come from unique backgrounds. After an intense brainstorming session, a dream team of renowned metal musicians including Tim "Ripper" Owens (ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH), Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA), Steve DiGiorgio (TESTAMENT, DEATH) and Mark Zonder (ex-FATES WARNING, WARLORD) was born and put together under the direction of renowned Los Angeles-based producer Roy Z. (BRUCE DICKINSON, HALFORD, TRIBE OF GYPSIES).

Called SPIRITS OF FIRE (after the title of one of their songs), the band has completed work on their debut album which is set for release on February 22 via Frontiers Music Srl. The music can best be described as "classic JUDAS PRIEST meets SAVATAGE."

Today, SPIRITS OF FIRE has released its first video and single, "Light Speed Marching". Check it out below.

Caffery said: "My influences for writing on this record were the bands that we were and are still in! I wanted to write songs that PRIEST, SAVATAGE, TESTAMENT and FATES WARNING fans would like. But I wanted them to have a personality of their own as well. To give it a vibe that was SPIRITS OF FIRE! I grew up listening to JUDAS PRIEST and spent 30-plus years working with Jon Oliva and Paul O'Neill with SAVATAGE and TSO. Many years playing Criss's music. These influences for me came naturally! Especially because I'm a fan of all of our bands!


This was the first time that I ever worked with Roy and it was so much fun. I have been a huge fan of his work for a long time. He's written music, played on, and produced some of my favorite metal albums ever. He had a difficult job bringing this all together and I can't think of anyone that would have been a better producer and co-worker for this album!"


Added Owens: "I always just sing to the song, whatever I feel it should be. It's like a character thing! I like layers! This music is really perfect for me and in my natural wheel house. I like to sing all over the place and change it up and this all happens on this album. This is just the start of an amazing band, I mean sky is the limit and I actually can't wait to record the next album, because this one is so great and perfect."


Zonder stated: "I am the kind of player that plays what I think fits best with the music. With SPIRITS OF FIRE, the music was more aggressive and hard hitting which I really liked. Again, I tried to be very mindful of the song and the vocals, but tried to add parts that were interesting and creative for the listener."

"Spirits Of Fire" track listing:

01. Light Speed Marching

02. Temple Of The Soul

03. All Comes Together

04. Spirits Of Fire

05. It's Everywhere

06. A Game

07. Dispensable

08. Meet Your End

09. Never To Return

10. The Path

11. Alone In The Darkness

Dutch symphonic heavyweights EPICA have announced a select number of exclusive shows in support of the 10th anniversary of their album "Design Your Universe". The disc holds a special place in the hearts of EPICA's fans and includes such fan favorites as "Kingdom Of Heaven" and "Design Your Universe".


To celebrate the 10th anniversary of "Design Your Universe", the band will return to a number of venues they played while touring on the album back in 2009-2010.


Singer Simone Simons comments: "After all those years, 'Design Your Universe' remains one of my all-time favorite EPICA albums. I know that the message behind the title song also resonates with a lot our fans because there are so many 'Design Your Universe'-related tattoos. The title track and 'Unleashed' are songs that I hold very dear and the memories we made in that time of our career. I am looking forward to go back in time with you all while we play more songs from our 'Design Your Universe' album."


Guitarist Mark Jansen adds: "'Design Your Universe' is very dear to me. It's an album that was written during a very inspiring time. The title track shows us that we can we all create our destiny and it's still one of my favorite tracks to play live. Also, quite a few other songs of the album deserve to be played again, and we will! Our set is gonna be filled with 'Design Your Universe' songs, so don't miss one of these opportunities."


b>"Design Your Universe" 10th-anniversary shows:

Oct. 04 - D - Oberhausen - Turbinenhalle

Oct. 05 - NL - Utrecht - Tivoli Vredenburg

Oct. 06 - F - Paris - Elysée Montmartre

Oct. 10 - ISR - Tel Aviv - Barby Club

Oct. 12 - RU - Moscow - Glavclub


Tickets and VIP upgrades go on sale on Saturday, November 17 at 10:00 a.m.

The official video for the song "One With The Sun" from Boston's UNEARTH can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's new album, "Extinction(s)", which will be released on November 23. For its seventh release and Century Media debut, the band worked with Will Putney (EVERY TIME I DIE, BODY COUNT, GOJIRA, THY ART IS MURDER, SILENT PLANET) at Graphic Nature Studios. Additionally, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's Adam Dutkiewicz recorded drums for the effort.

Frontman Trevor Phipps states: "We chose 'One With The Sun' as the first video off 'Extinction(s)' because we feel it's one of the hardest-hitting tracks in our entire catalog. Musically, it's everything UNEARTH is about, and lyrically, it deals with the effects of climate change we are feeling today as well as the bleakness of our future unless we make drastic changes now. Tim Dennesen and the guys at Punchdance, Inc. did a great job capturing the imagery needed to get the message across. You'll be sure to hear this one at our live shows as it's already become a staple in our set. See you out there."

According to a press release, "Extinction(s)" "is full of venom toward the wrongs of the world, fighting back against the precarious position civilization is in, determined to effect some kind of change. The inevitability of death, loss, and tragedy is a persistent theme throughout 'Extinction(s)', deep within the band’s most profound and hard-hitting lyrics thus far."

"Extinction(s)" track listing:

1. Incinerate

02. Dust

03. Survivalist

04. Cultivation Of Infection

05. The Hunt Begins

06. Hard Lines Downfall

07. King Of The Arctic

08. Sidewinder

09. No Reprisal

10. One With The Sun

After an awe-inspiring 20 years of blazing trails and dominating stages, UNEARTH is now institutionalized as a relentless force in heavy metal, standing the test of time with consistently triumphant creative output, tireless road warrior resilience, blue collar-style workmanship and a resolute determination to deliver the goods.

With over 500,000 in worldwide album sales, UNEARTH's continued staying power has also hinged on its highly interactive and toweringly heavy live performances.

UNEARTH etched its name into the annals of hard rock history through unrelenting determination, tireless energy and a catalog of stone-cold classics. Two decades into a triumphant career, the Massachusetts-bred New Wave Of American Heavy Metal trailblazers are both elder statesmen and newly relevant all over again.

CKY has released a cover of the GG Allin classic "Bite It You Scum". The song is taken from the band's vinyl-only EP "Too Precious To Kill", which will be released in stores on Black Friday, November 23 (Record Store Day).


"Nobody knows fucking GG Allin!" says CKY frontman and guitarist Chad I Ginsburg. "CKY will kill you!!!…with this relentless and quite vicious studio version of this classic punk rock song. It has been a longtime staple in the CKY live show and highly requested for over a decade! Here it is in studio quality, only available as part of our Record Store Day exclusive. Crank it up and take a shit on someone!"


CKY will make a hometown in-store appearance at Creep Records in West Chester, Pennsylvania at 2 p.m. EST on November 23, with none other than Phil Margera participating as Santa Claus.


The band is currently wrapping up its North American run of dates with NEKROGOBLIKON.

b>CKY released "The Phoenix" last year via Entertainment One (eOne). The all-new LP is the first release since the band put out "Carver City" in 2009. The disc was engineered and mixed at Rancho De La Luna, the highly regarded recording studio in Joshua Tree, California.

Chad I Ginsburg, the band's guitarist and singer, steps into the frontman role with charisma, charm, and bravado, confidently delivering a diverse performance as he claims a position that was clearly rightfully his to own. He's joined in enduring partnership and musical and personal chemistry by fellow CKY cofounder Jess Margera, the drummer whose extracurricular work in projects like THE COMPANY BAND (with guys from CLUTCH and FIREBALL MINISTRY) expanded CKY's horizons as much as Ginsburg's solo work has as well. The duo returned to their primary project refreshed and reenergized, with bassist Matt Deis (ex-ALL THAT REMAINS), who first joined CKY in 2005.

Rising stars of Japan's metal scene LOVEBITES will release their sophomore full-length album, "Clockwork Immortality", on December 7 via Arising Empire. The official music video for the disc's first single, "Rising", can be seen below.

"Rising" is available as an instant gratification track on iTunes ahead of the album's physical release. The track was written by the band's guitarist and pianist Miyako, who was also the main composer for half of the album.

Miyako comments: "One of the key sections to 'Rising' is a piano and vocal part in the middle, I used this piece to pay my respects to Chopin. If you listen carefully, you may be able to notice it. I believe this song will be one of LOVEBITES' defining tracks."

LOVEBITES leader and bassist Miho adds: "'Clockwork Immortality' features the strongest, most powerful elements of our second EP, 'Battle Against Damnation', with the speedy and melodic elements of our debut album, 'Awakening From Abyss'. This is the evolution of LOVEBITES so far. I would be happy if you can feel the power overflowing from each song."

b>"Clockwork Immortality" includes ten new recordings and sees Finnish engineer supremoes Mikko Karmila and Mika Jussila return to mixing and mastering duties, respectively. It is the same team responsible for working on releases from CHILDREN OF BODOM, NIGHTWISH and STRATOVARIUS, among many others.

The album's spectacular artwork, featuring a wolf smashing through an hourglass, also sees the return of Spanish creative forces David López Gómez and Carlos Vincente León. The pair had worked on the cover art of LOVEBITES' previous two releases, as well as HELLOWEEN's 30th anniversary book "Hellbook" and single "Pumpkins United".

LOVEBITES consists of Asami (vocals), Miho (bass), Haruna (drums), Midori (guitars) and Miyako (guitars/keyboard). The LOVEBITES sound owes a debt to the many great overseas heavy metal bands that have directly influenced their writing. Coupled with their own unique take on music, taking a piece from each member's eclectic background and experiences, everything has culminated into forging a truly formidable group.

Last fall, Asami, Haruna, Midori, Miho and Miyako performed their first overseas live show in London. On the heels of this success, the all-female band won the "Best New Band" award at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards in June 2018. LOVEBITES released its second mini album, "Battle Against Damnation", that same month, and followed it up with appearances at Wacken Open Air in Germany and Bloodstock Open Air in the U.K.

LOVEBITES' first European tour kicked off on November 13 and will include stops in the Netherlands, Germany, France and the U.K.