Devin Townsend has announced a very special European "An Evening With" solo acoustic tour, beginning at the end of March 2019 and running through April. The intimate evenings will feature Devin performing tracks from across his catalog, as well as taking part in a question-an-answer session where fans will get to know more about what Devin is up to at this stage in his career and the forthcoming album "Empath". This will prove to be a unique and special experience for all in attendance.

He comments: "I have been busy making my newest recording, 'Empath', over the past year. It has been a complicated and enlightening experience in that I have gone back to my roots in terms of what my motivations are for making music, in hopes that I am able to move forward as a musician being as true as I possibly can to my motivations. The result is an album that I am exceptionally proud of, one that is uncompromised and diverse in ways that accurately represent where I'm at now at the age of 46.

"The past decade of relentless touring with DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT had been something that caught up with me in a big way, and as a result, I felt I needed to step back from that world and analyse myself and make this music before stepping onto a stage again. The time has come, however, for me to take the next step in my career, and when asked about how I would like to do so, I decided the first thing I would do was a very intimate run of shows that allows me to play my music stripped back to just me and a guitar. The shows are at nice venues, and includes a spoken-word element with questions from the audience as well as aspects of my entire career represented in this one show.

"Before I tour with a band again, I wanted to have the opportunity to play for you, and meet up with the people who not only have made my work possible, but inspire me to continue. In a world of computers and social media, to be stripped of all the bells and whistles is a very important step for my reintroduction to the live concert world. I truly hope you'll join me and I look forward to being the most honest I can be with you at these special shows.

Thank you to Andy Farrow and Northern Music, Thomas Waber and InsideOut records, as well as all who have supported me during this period. I have not been as proud of an album as I am of 'Empath' in many years, and I really needed to get this out of my system."

Tour dates:

March 07 - Piano Man Jazz Club, Delhi, India

March 08 - Levi’s Lounge, Mumbai, India

March 30 - Savoy-teatteri, Helsinki, Finland

March 31 - Sodra Teatern, Stockholm, Sweden

April 01 - Edderkoppen, Oslo, Norway

April 02 - Bremen Theater, Copenhagen, Denmark

April 04 - PassionsKirche, Berlin, Germany

April 05 - Stodola, Warsaw, Poland

April 06 - La Fabrica, Prague, Czech Republic

April 07 - Freiheiz, Munich, Germany

April 09 - Kulturkirche, Cologne, Germany

April 10 - Grunspan, Hamburg, Germany

April 11 - St-Bavokerk, Haarlem, The Netherlands

April 24 - Bush Hall, London, UK

April 25 - Bush Hall, London, UK

April 26 - St George’s, Bristol, UK

April 27 - City Varieties, Leeds, UK

April 29 - Jam House, Edinburgh, UK

April 30 - Glee Club, Birmingham, UK

Devin recently announced that he had signed a brand new contract with InsideOutMusic on the eve of their 20th anniversary of working together, for the release of new albums, including "Empath" in 2019.

In what has been a rare quiet year for Devin when it comes to touring, there has still been plenty of activity. On September 22, 2017, DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT played a special show at the Ancient Roman Theatre in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the landmark "Ocean Machine" album in full, as well as a set of fan-requested tracks alongside the Orchestra of Plovdiv State Opera. This concert was filmed, and recently saw its release as "Ocean Machine - Live At The Ancient Roman Theatre Plovdiv".

"Ocean Machine - Live at the Ancient Roman Theatre Plovdiv" is available as a limited deluxe 3CD/2DVD/Blu-ray artbook (with liner notes from Devin and a special documentary on the second DVD and Blu-Ray), special edition 3CD/DVD digipak, standalone Blu-ray and as digital audio download.


Devin's varied back catalogue is also being celebrated with lavish vinyl box-sets under the name of "Eras". Having already released parts 1 and 2 earlier this year, December 7 will see the release of part three, which features some of his most recent work with DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT, including the albums "Accelerated Evolution", "Epicloud", "Sky Blue", "Transcendence" and the first-ever vinyl release of the second part of the DTP's now-legendary Royal Albert Hall show.

Stay Tuned is the passion project of Austrian multi-instrumentalist Bernhard Welz. Not unlike other musicians, Welz often gathers his musical friends around to play and sing along to the songs he wrote, produced and arranged.

The difference between him and others is however, that his friends include some of the greatest rock’n’roll legends of our time. Among many fantastic others, these include Deep Purple’s Jon Lord, Ian Paice, Ian Gillan, Don Airey, Roger Glover and Steve Morse, Mark King of Level 42, Steve Lukather (Toto), Steve Hackett (Genesis), Suzi Quatro, Dan McCafferty (Nazareth), Jeff Scott Soto, Tony Martin (Black Sabbath), Rainbow’s Bob Daisley, Steve Lee and Marc Lynn of Gotthard.

This star-studded listening experience was brought to life to celebrate and commemorate friends, respect and - above all - the love for music. Defined by an abundance of talent on all instruments, Stay Tuned transports the listener to a time when classic rock was everything - and features solos and riffs from some of the most revered poster children, who were there to tell the tale. The individual talent and experience of each of these thoroughbred artists, when accumulated, created a sophisticated interplay which is not only fun for the artists themselves but to listen to for all rock fans. It is a true celebration of rock’n’roll!

Stay Tuned is going to be released as CD and Digital on November 30th via earMUSIC. All proceeds go to the Linda McCartney Fundraising Centre - a charity very dear to the founder of Stay Tuned. Pre-order the title here, and listen to the song "Fading Away" below.

Tracklisting:

"Jazz Police" (with Mark King, Ian Paice, Steve Morse, Suzi Quatro)
"Fading Away" (with Ian Gillan, Dan McCafferty, Mark King)
"Let The Stars Shine On You" (with Steve Lukather)
"Traffic Night" (with Don Airey, Steve Morse, Carl Sentance)
"I Don't Believe That Rock'n'Roll Is Out"
"Empathy" (with Jeff Scott Soto)
"Yound Free And Deadly"
"It's Just A Long Way" (with Carl Sentance)
"Always Behind You" (with Mark King)
"Believe Me" (with Roger Glover)
"Secret Land" (with Don Airey, Carl Sentance)
"Wanna Give You My Lovin'"
"Drum Jam" (Live 2002) (with Ian Paice)
"Child In Time" (Live 2009) (with Jon Lord)

"Fading Away":

"Traffic Night":

AVENGED SEVENFOLD's Grammy Museum performance of "Exist" can be seen below. The recording is taken from "Live At The Grammy Museum" (Capitol), a special acoustic album recorded during the band's October 19, 2017 sold-out event at the famed Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles.

Produced by Joe Barresi (QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, TOOL, NINE INCH NAILS) and the band, the digital-only release features unique renditions of new songs and classic tracks captured during the first-ever acoustic performance by Grammy nominees AVENGED SEVENFOLD. A portion of the album's proceeds will benefit the education initiatives of the Grammy Museum, which seek to inspire youth to the enduring qualities and cultural significance of music.


Presented as "An Evening with Avenged Sevenfold," the event was held at the Museum's Clive Davis Theater and featured an intimate conversation about the band's career and new music, moderated by Los Angeles Times pop music critic Mikael Wood. The interview followed a stunning acoustic performance from the band (backed by a string section) and saw the quintet (vocalist M. Shadows, guitarists Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ and drummer Brooks Wackerman) discussing their latest release, "The Stage".


"Live At The Grammy Museum" track listing:

1. Opening

02. Introduction To 'As Tears Go By'

03. As Tears Go By

04. Introduction To 'Hail To The King'

05. Hail To The King

06. Introduction To 'Roman Sky'

07. Roman Sky

08. Introduction To 'Exist'

09. Exist

10. Introduction To 'So Far Away'

11. So Far Away

"The Stage" was re-released as a "deluxe edition" in December 2017.

A video recap of LACUNA COIL's special screening of "The 119 Show - Live In London", which took place on October 23 at Screen on the Green in Islington, London, United Kingdom, can be seen below. Singers Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro took part in a live question-and-answer session at the event, which was sponsored by Italian beermakers Birra Moretti.

2018 marks the 20th anniversary of LACUNA COIL's debut. To celebrate this special year, they played an exceptional show on January 19 in London at the O2 Forum Kentish Town. The unique, one-time event was filmed and recorded for "The 119 Show - Live In London", which is scheduled for release November 9.


Fans can look forward not only to a very special live performance that was accompanied by the U.K. circus group Incandescence, but also to a career spanning set including LACUNA COIL songs never played live before:

01. A Current Obsession

02. 1.19

03. My Wings

04. End Of Time

05. Blood, Tears, Dust

06. Swamped

07. The Army Inside

08. Veins Of Glass

09. One Cold Day

10. The House Of Shame

11. When A Dead Man Walks

12. Tight Rope

13. Soul Into Hades

14. Hyperfast

15. I Like It

16. Heaven's A Lie

17. Senzafine

18. Closer

19. Comalies

20. Our Truth

21. Falling

22. Wide Awake

23. I Forgive (But I Won't Forget Your Name)

24. Enjoy The Silence

25. Nothing Stands In Our Way

he band comments: "What took place at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London on the 19th of January 2018 was pure magic. It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us as a band and as people. The work involved, the pre-performance tension, the intensity on stage, the energy between us and the audience — all of this was beyond anything we've ever done before. This event was not just a show, it was a birthday party, an anniversary celebration and most importantly a huge THANK YOU to everyone who travelled side by side with us for the last twenty years. And now, with the release of 'The 119 Show - Live In London', we can also share the magic with those fans who weren't able to party with us in January."

Scabbia explained to Tattoo.com that "there is a reason" January 19 was chosen as the date for the anniversary show. "It's because 1/19 is recognized as 'Lacuna Coil Day,' because we have a song that's called '1.19', so the people from the fan club and the fans decided to declare it 'Lacuna Coil Day,'" she said. "And we thought about making a special show in London, because, logistically, we thought it was the easiest way to reach, even for people who are not coming from Europe, our area. Usually the flights are cheaper. Like, if you come from the States, it's easier to reach London than Milano, for instance, [which] is our hometown. So we thought about London."

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH drummer Jeremy Spencer is sitting out the fall leg of the band's tour with BREAKING BENJAMIN to undergo a second back surgery for an undisclosed condition. A drum prodigy known as "The Engine" is filling in for him on all dates beginning this past Tuesday (November 6) in Wichita, Kansas and ending on December 11 in Portland, Maine.

Fan-filmed video footage of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's second concert with "The Engine", which took place last night (Wednesday, November 7) at Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado, can be seen below.

Following the two bands' successful summer run together, the fall arena tour once again features 2018 breakout rock band BAD WOLVES and Swedish veterans IN FLAMES on select dates. FROM ASHES TO NEW is offering support on the entire trek.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will donate a portion of its ticket sales to VETPAW (Veterans Empowered to Protect African Wildlife). The mission of VETPAW is to end the illegal poaching of rhinos, elephants and other endangered species, using the skills and experience of highly trained combat veterans to form anti-poaching units, train local park rangers and support their communities.

b>FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, "And Justice For None", which came out in May.

A Perfect Circle share a gleefully apocalyptic video for “So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish” as the Billy Howerdel and Maynard James Keenan led outfit continue their US tour, performing tomorrow at Detroit’s Masonic Temple Theatre.

“Welcome to the new normal,” said Keenan of the Kyle Cogan directed clip.

A Perfect Circle also recently announced their participation in Record Store Day’s Black Friday festivities, offering a limited edition 7-inch featuring “So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish” with a B-side of the AC/DC cover “Dog Eat Dog.”

A Perfect Circle tour dates:

November
9 - Detroit, MI - Masonic Temple Theatre (WRIF Radio Show)
10 - Madison, WI - Coliseum at Alliant Energy Center
11 - Minneapolis, MN - Armory (93X Radio Show)
13 - Cedar Rapids, IA - U.S. Cellular Center
14 - Park City, KS - Hartman Arena
17 - Anaheim, CA - The Theatre at Honda Center
18 - Las Vegas, NV - The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas – The Chelsea
20 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre

December
2 - Glasgow, Scotland - Glasgow Academy
3 - Manchester, UK - Victoria Warehouse
5 - London, UK - Wembley Arena Pavilion
6 - Paris, France - Zenith Paris – La Villette
7 - Antwerp, Belgium - Lotto Arena
9 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - AFAS Live
10 - Cologne, Germany - Palladium
12 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Forum Copenhagen
13 - Hamburg, Germany - Sporthalle Hamburg
15 - Kraków, Poland - Tauron Arena Kraków
16 - Vienna, Austria - Wiener Stadhalle
18 - Milan, Italy - Mediolanum Forum
19 - Rome, Italy - Palalottomatica

(Photo - Paul Harries)

Greek black metal band, Lucifer's Child, will release their second studio album, The Order, tomorrow (Friday, November 9th) via Agonia Records. An full album stream can be found below.

The band, featuring members of Rotting Christ, Nightfall and Chaostar, recorded eight new songs clad in artwork by Daniele Valeriani (Dark Funeral, Dissection, Mayhem).

Lucifer's Child originates from Athens. It's music is a bridge to the world of atmospheric black metal, and a vessel for spiritual self-expression through lyrics. The goal of unifying these two elements gleamed clearly in the eyes of George Emmanuel, a prolific guitarist primarily known for his work as part of Rotting Christ (and a former guitarist of Chaostar), when he formed the band together with bassist Stathis Ridis (a member of another long-running Hellenic metal unit, Nightfall) in 2013. Born from a partnership between two talented musicians, the duo quickly expanded to take in vocalist Marios Dupont (Karma Violens) and drummer Nick Vell (Chaostar), and delivered their debut album The Wiccan in 2015. Encouraged by the album's keen reception, followed by several festival appearances (incl. Inferno Festival, Blastfest and Incineration Festival), Lucifer's Child returns in a darker, more extreme shade, passionate in outperforming its bold debut.

The Order was recorded, mixed and mastered in Emmanuel's own recording studio, Pentagram. He commented on the new album: "After three years of converging and sculpting our ideas and sounds we are ready to present our second full length album entitled The Order. Lucifer awaits!"

Album formats:

- Digipack CD
- Black LP
- Transparent Yellow LP
- T-shirt
- Digital

Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

"Viva Morte"
"The Order"
"Fall Of The Rebel Angels"
"Through Fire We Burn"
"El Dragón"
"Black Heart"
"Haraya"
"Siste Farvel"

Album stream:

"Fall Of The Rebel Angels" lyric video:

"The Order" video:

Lineup:

George Emmanuel - guitars
Stathis Ridis - bass
Marios Dupont - vocals
Nick Vell - drums

Swedish thrash metal quintet Defiatory released their sophomore album Hades Rising via Black Lion Records in May 2018. The album consists of all the essences of what thrash metal should be — a fantastic trip to the emergency room, to have neck fusion surgery, to repair it from the continuous beating it just received from this album. 

Defiatory recently filmed a video for the third track from the album, "King In Yellow". This track is a nod to Robert W. Chambers’ collection of weird short stories, The King In Yellow.

Defiatory was initiated in 2015 by guitarist Ronnie Björnström upon his departure from the prominent death metal band Aeon. Soon, Martin Runnzell joined the band to fill the vocal position, and the first demo track, 'Furor Unleashed', saw the light of day within a week after the initial collaboration between Martin and Ronnie. Shortly thereafter, Defiatory completed their debut effort, Extinct, which was released via Black Lion Records in 2016.

Defiatory released their second album, aptly titled Hades Rising, earlier this year. The album marks the continuation of the band’s collaboration with Black Lion Records. Hades Rising carries on from the aggressive thrash metal sound established on the debut album, evolving into more rhythmic and melodic sessions, granting more variances without losing focus on what is important in the old school style of thrash metal. Taking influences from the Bay Area thrash masters, Defiatory flourishes their music through comprehensible production approach. The sophomore album, containing 11 tracks of relentless neck-wrecking thrash metal, with an amazing artwork painted by Mika Rudin, is out now.

Tracklisting:

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

 

Haken, one of progressive music’s most exciting bands, released their fifth studio album, Vector, last month. The album was produced by the band themselves, and recorded & mixed by Adam “Nolly” Getgood (Periphery, Devin Townsend Project), with the artwork once again being handled by Blacklake.

The album is available as limited edition 2CD Digipak (including instrumental versions), gatefold vinyl 2LP + CD, & as digital download. Watch an unboxing video below.

Tracklisting:

"Clear"
"The Good Doctor"
"Puzzle Box"
"Veil"
"Nil By Mouth"
"Host"
"A Cell Divides"

Unboxing video:

"A Cell Divides" video:

"Puzzle Box" video:

"The Good Doctor" video:

Haken and Leprous are on a North American co-headline tour with InsideOut label-mates Bent Knee as special guests.

Dates:

November
9 - Revolution - Fort Lauderdale, FL
10 - The Plaza Live - Orlando, FL
11 - Variety Playhouse - Atlanta, GA
13 - Gas Monkey - Dallas, TX
14 - Barracuda - Austin, TX
16 - Crescent Ballroom - Phoenix, AZ
17 - Glasshouse - Pomona, CA
18 - August Hall - San Francisco, CA
19 - Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR
20 - The Crocodile - Seattle, WA
21 - Rickshaw Theater - Vancouver, BC
23 - Metro Music Hall - Salt Lake City, UT
24 - Bluebird Theater - Denver, CO
25 - Granada Theater - Lawrence, KS
26 - Delmar Hall - St Louis, MO
27 - Exit/In - Nashville, TN
29 - Rex Theater - Pittsburgh, PA
30 - Beachland Ballroom - Cleveland, OH

December
1 - Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL

Haken have also announced European and Latin American live dates in support of their new album.

Latin America 2019

January
26 - Teatro Teleton - Santiago, Chile
27 - Groove - Buenos Aires, Argentina
29 - Caricoa Club - Sao Paolo, Brazil
30 - Auditorio Centro De La Amistad Peruano China - Lima, Peru

February
1 - Lunar - Mexico City, Mexico

Europe 2019

February
15 - Academy 3 - Manchester, UK
16 - St Luke’s - Glasgow, UK
17 - The Fleece - Bristol, UK
19 - Essigfabrik - Cologne, Germany
20 - Batschkapp - Frankfurt, Germany
21 - Übel & Gefährlich - Hamburg, Germany
22 - Lille Vega - Copenhagen, Denmark
23 - John Dee - Oslo, Norway
24 - Debaser Strand - Stockholm, Sweden
26 - Columbia Theater - Berlin, Germany
27 - Kwadrat - Krakow, Poland
28 - A38 - Budapest, Hungary

March
2 - Szene - Vienna, Austria
3 - Futurum - Prague, Czech Republic
4 - Conne Island - Leipzig, Germany
6 - Im Wizemann - Stuttgart, Germany
7 - Backstage Halle - Munich, Germany
8 - Kiff - Aarau, Switzerland
9 - Magazzini Generali - Milan, Italy
10 - Transbordeur - Lyon, France
12 - Mon Live - Madrid, Spain
13 - Kafe Antzokia - Bilbao, Spain
14 - La Maroquinerie - Paris, France
15 - De Boerderij - Zoetermeer, Netherlands
16 - Islington Assembly Hall - London, UK
23 - Tavastia - Helsinki, Finland

Full ticket details here.

(Photo - Will Ireland)

Earlier this year, Belgian dark rock outfit Diablo Blvd announced that they had decided to call it quits. The band will perform their last show ever on December 10th at Ancienne Belgique in Brussels.

On August 4th, Diablo Blvd performed at Germany's Wacken Open Air festival. You can now watch the full set below.

Setlist:

"Life Amounts To Nothing"
"Animal"
"Demonize"
"The Song Is Over"
"Sing From The Gallows"
"The Future Will Do What It's Told"
"Black Heart Bleed"

Decrepit Birth drummer Samus Paulicelli, who runs a YouTube channel under the name 66Samus, has posted a 'long overdue" cover of Metallica's "Master Of Puppets". Check it out below.

Paulicelli recently posted a behind-the-scenes clip from the recordings of Devin Townsend's new Empath album.

 

 

"Tracking for Devin's upcoming album, Empath. It was such a huge honor to be a part of this project!"

 

 

 

 

Check out Paulicelli's official website here.

 

Swedish rock quintet Spiral Skies have unveiled a new, ominous music video for their song “Awakening.” The song is found on their debut album, Blues For A Dying Planet, that’s out now on AOP Records.

With influences ranging over decades, Spiral Skies has created a sound that can most easily be described as “Rock from another planet.” A unique blend of folk, doom and 70’s inspired rock music. The band has been compared to band such as Jefferson Airplane, Curved Air and The Devil's Blood, to name a few.

Spiral Skies’ new album Blues For A Dying Planet is available digitally and on CD and vinyl from AOP Records via distribution from Plastichead (Europe, USA, World) and Edel (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).

25 years after having been formed by iconic drummer Jontho, veteran Norwegian black metallers Ragnarok have entered the studio to record what will be the band’s ninth full-length album. The, as yet unnamed, album is expected to be released during late May 2019 on Agonia Records.

Work on the album is progressing well, with all instruments already recorded, and vocals set to be laid in January. As with Ragnarok's last three albums, Psychopathology (2016), Malediction (2012) and Collectors Of The King (2010), the band has chosen to record in Sweden’s Endarker Studio, with Devo of Marduk once again producing, because, as Jontho, who has now switched roles from drummer to frontman, explained:

"Why change something that works?  We know the studio so well by now and how good the facilities are, and, after three albums,  Devo really understands what Ragnarok wants and how we work. He’s a great producer and we’re really looking forward to seeing what he does the new material".

Ragnarok will head for Canada later this month to appear at the Messe des Morts Festival in Montreal, and have been confirmed to appear at next year’s legendary Inferno Metal Festival in Oslo, Norway on the April 19th.

On December 14th, Goatwhore's A Haunting Curse LP will be reissued via Metal Blade Records. Initially released in 2006, the limited reissue will come in three color variants in the US: root beer vinyl (limited to 500 copies), butter cream vinyl (limited to 250 copies), and brown/white split vinyl (limited to 250 copies).

Pre-orders are currently available here.

Goatwhore is currently in the midst of a North American tour as headliners of the 2018 edition of Metal Alliance. The trek runs through November 30th and features support from The Casualties, Black Tusk, and Great American Ghost as well as Morthereon and Gozu on select dates.

The following month, Goatwhore will march on playing five more headlining shows with Cloak and Great American Ghost from December 1st through December 5th. See all confirmed dates here.

Minus One, the well-known rock band from Cyprus, will release their new single, “Girl” this Friday. The track is from the quintet's new album Red Black White, which is going to be released by Mighty Music on December 14th. “Girl” is also premiering today as a new official video:

Red Black White was recorded and mixed by Soren Andersen, produced by Soren Andersen and the band at Medley Studio (Mike Tramp, Glenn Hughes, Artillery) and mastered by Thomas "Plec" Johansson of Panic Studio Sweden and shows a super professional rock band that should appeal to both AOR/melodic rock fans with a modern Muse meets Imagine Dragon touch.

Minus One was formed in 2009 and is one of the best rock bands from Cyprus. They play over 70 live shows every year and have so far performed in UK, USA, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Austria and Russia, and even acted as a support band for Glenn Hughes on a mini-tour.

WE CAME AS ROMANS singer Dave Stephens has confirmed to U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine that the band will continue as a quintet following the tragic passing of co-vocalist Kyle Pavone.

"We wrote those songs together and they're still my songs as well, but it's weird even for me singing his parts," Dave said. "I'm sure it's kind of strange to the fans and the band, but I can't imagine how much more strange it would be to have someone else singing them permanently. We don't ever want to add another member again, and at this point, we're closer than ever. We wanna do our best to honor [him] and make him proud, but never replace him. He definitely won't be forgotten."

WE CAME AS ROMANS recently completed a U.S. tour as the support act for BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and Stephens said that there are tentative plans for the band to work on new music.

"I think as of now, we need some time to navigate our grief," Stephens said. "We got the tour done and a lot of those firsts that were going to be really difficult out of the way. I guess the next first would be writing music without him, and I'm not sure when that will happen. We definitely plan on continuing on. Kyle and all of us dedicated so much time to making this happen because we all wanted it so band, and I know he would be pretty livid if we threw in the towel."

b>Pavone died in August of an accidental drug overdose.

WE CAME AS ROMANS' fifth album, "Cold Like War", was released in October 2017 through SharpTone Records.

Pavone joined WE CAME AS ROMANS in 2008 as vocalist and keyboardist and appeared on all five of the band's albums. Their 2013 LP, "Tracing Back Roots", peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 chart.

QUIET RIOT's performance at Frontiers Rock Festival 2018 marked the band's first-ever concert in Italy and what a hell of a show it was! This special event is now being released on CD/DVD and Blu-ray. Titled "One Night In Milan", this once-in-a-lifetime performance will be released January 25, 2019 via Frontiers Music Srl.

With the entire club shouting and singing along and calling the band back on stage at the end of the show for an unplanned encore, QUIET RIOT took no prisoners, offering the crowd a superb selection of its greatest hits plus a very special surprise in "Thunderbird", a song from the multi-platinum album "Metal Health" that the band had never performed on stage before with piano accompaniment.

Drummer Frankie Banali had this say about the upcoming release: "'One Night In Milan' documents QUIET RIOT in real time as it was recorded in Milan, Italy in April of 2018.

"For anyone interested in the long and storied history of QUIET RIOT, this performance chronicles the progression of a band that continues to bring its brand of music to our longtime fans and new fans as well.

The performance was historic as it was the first time that QUIET RIOT has played in Italy since the band's inception 35 years ago. The set included a performance of 'Thunderbird' with live piano as it was originally recorded in 1983 with help from maestro Alessandro Del Vecchio. The fan response was nothing short of phenomenal and heartwarming, with not just the incredible Italian fans, but also the many longtime fans from all over Europe, many of whom, like the Italian fans, had never seen QUIET RIOT live before."

Track listing:

01. Run For Cover

02. Slick Black Cadillac

03. Mama Weer All Crazee Now

04. Whatever It Takes

05. Terrified

06. Love's A Bitch

07. Condition Critical

08. Thunderbird

09. Party All Night

10. Freak Flag

11. I Can't Get Enough

12. Wild & The Young

13. Let's Get Crazy

14. Cum On Feel The Noize

15. Metal Health (Bang Your Head)

Banali recently said that James Durbin "has proved to be the best singer" QUIET RIOT has had since it was resurrected eight years ago.

Durbin, who became known as the "metal guy" on 2011's season of "American Idol" after performing "Living After Midnight" and "Breaking The Law" with JUDAS PRIEST, hooked up with QUIET RIOT after the dismissal of Seann Nicols (a.k.a. Sheldon Tarsha; formerly of ADLER'S APPETITE). Nicols was with QUIET RIOT for just a few months, but long enough to record the vocals for an early version of the band's latest album, 2017's "Road Rage".

In an interview with The Tribune-Democrat, Banali praised QUIET RIOT's latest addition, saying: "When I decided to restart QUIET RIOT in 2010, I knew it was going to be very difficult — both professionally and personally — because Kevin [DuBrow, original QUIET RIOT singer] and I were best friends for 27 years.

"There was never a thought to replace the late, great Kevin DuBrow. That is impossible. Kevin was an amazing singer with a vocal range second to none. And as a performer, no one comes even close.

"My thought was to try to preserve the music and sound of QUIET RIOT as best I could. We went through four different singers over roughly a six-year period.

"In 2017, we brought on James Durbin, who — without a doubt — has proved to be the best singer we've had since revving up the engines in 2010. He's a really great vocalist, performer and — equally as important — a very nice person.

"I'm used to change in QUIET RIOT, not just the trials and tribulations with singers since Kevin's passing, but during the entire 35-plus year history. I'm very happy to have James involved with us as long as he wants to be with QUIET RIOT."

In addition to Banali and Durbin, QUIET RIOT's current lineup includes bassist Chuck Wright (who has been in and out of the group since 1982) and guitarist Alex Grossi.

Banali revived QUIET RIOT in 2010, three years after DuBrow's death, along with Grossi and Wright. The group went through two vocalists — Mark Huff and Scott Vokoun — before settling on Jizzy Pearl in 2013. Pearl announced his exit from QUIET RIOT in October 2016.

Danish thrash metal veterans ARTILLERY will release their ninth studio album, "The Face Of Fear", on November 16 via Metal Blade. The follow-up to 2016's "Penalty By Perception" is ARTILLERY's third effort with the current lineup.

The official music video for the song "Pain", taken from "The Face Of Fear", can be seen below. The clip was produced by Morten S. Madsen and features the talented Danish actor Tommy Vonsyld in the leading role.

Says the band: "The video for the song 'Pain' is about a man that live his life isolated and everything is centered around his abuse of drugs and alcohol. He is in pain and struggling with mental and psychological issues caused by his own abuse. He is near the end of his life, and haunted by his own demons and the reaper is lurking in the shadows."

The lyrics are ARTILLERY as you know them, with subjects concerning the destruction of mankind, double standards, abuse and the looming worst-case scenarios. "The Face Of Fear" was recorded with longtime producer Søren Andersen at Medley Studios. It's Søren's fifth time at the helm, and once again he manages to deliver a monster production.

b>Søren comments: "Pure and raw! Some of the material of this album was originally written in the early '80s, and that inspired us to go old school this time. Not too many layers, just classic ARTILLERY thrash metal... And Bastholm [singer Michael Bastholm Dahl] is better than ever on this one. This is a no-filler album, created together with the band. I'm really proud of the final result and I hope everyone will enjoy it as much as I do!"

"The Face Of Fear" track listing:

01. The Face Of Fear

02. Crossroads To Conspiracy

03. New Rage

04. Sworn Utopia

05. Through The Ages Of Atrocity

06. Thirst For The Worst

07. Pain

08. Under Water (instumental)

09. Preaching To The Converted

10. Mind Of No Return (limited first-edition bonus track / re-recorded song from ARTILLERY's first demo from 1982)

11. Doctor Evil (limited first-edition bonus track / 2018 version)

Since the release of "Penalty By Perception" — which won the band four Danish Metal Awards in 2016 (best album, best band, best production and honorary prize) — ARTILLERY has toured around the world, including Europe, South America and parts of Asia. For the rest of 2018, there will be time for Copenhell's Metal Cruise and a Denmark tour, plus a release party on High Voltage. 2019 will include tours in Europe, South America and USA.

ARTILLERY lineup:

Michael Bastholm Dahl - Vocals

Michael Stützer - Guitars

Morten Stützer - Guitars

Peter Thorslund - Bass

Joshua Madsen - Drums

Kane Roberts will release his new solo album, "The New Normal", on January 25, 2019 via Frontiers Music Srl.

The first single from the disc, "Forever Out Of Place", can be streamed below.

Kane states: "This song does not tell the whole story of my new CD message or sound, but it does talk about feeling like you just don't belong anywhere and how you gotta be good with that because life isn't about blending into the furniture."

"The New Normal" track listing:

1. King Of The World

02. Wonderful

03. Beginning Of The End

04. Who We Are

05. Forever Out Of Place

06. Leave This World Behind

07. The Lion's Share

08. Leave Me In The Dark

09. Above And Beyond

10. Wrong

Says Roberts: "It only took me three years! Fuck! Some might find the artwork a bit edgy, but hey, that's a good thing to my way of thinking. All of you were in my mind during this entire process, so for sure you're all up in it. Thanks for sticking with me, and yeah, I'm one lucky dude! Truly — RTFO!"

Kane previously recorded a total of four solo albums (also including the PHOENIX DOWN project released on Frontiers in the late '90s).

Kane's name and abilities first came to prominence on Alice Cooper's "Constrictor" album, which was soon followed by his self-titled debut solo album in 1987. More albums and tours with Alice followed, making Kane a well-known face in the business especially for his guitar skills, but also for his body-builder image and his now iconic machine-gun guitar.

As a solo recording artist, he landed a few Top 40 hits, and his varied musical background includes recording, writing and touring with artists such as Rod Stewart, Alice Cooper Desmond Child, KISS, Diane Warren, ALICE IN CHAINS, BERLIN, GUNS N' ROSES, Garland Jeffries and more. He's also written or recorded music for films like "Light Sleeper", Penelope Spheeris's "Decline Of Western Civilization", "Friday the 13th IV Jason Lives", John Carpenter's "Prince Of Darkness", and more. In 1991, his second solo album, "Saints And Sinners", for Geffen Records included the Top 40 Billboard hit "Does Anybody Really Fall In Love Anymore?", originally written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora.

Prior to the recording of "The New Normal", Kane said about his long absence from the music scene: "Once you strap on a guitar and make the hard-coded decision to play music in the face of everything you know and don't know, you find that 'the life' (of a musician) has its way with you no matter what and will tear you up if you try and wander too far away.

"I may have stepped into other enterprises and projects, but I was never far from the jet stream that I was lucky enough to have been a part of in the '80s and '90s. Now, because of the new songs inside of me, my guitar and the fans I'm in contact with, I know the creative fire will burn me down if I don't step back inside the flames. I believe the people at Frontiers Music Srl also feel that creative heat, the need to be an integral part of the music industry (their output is resoundingly prolific) and I don't know of a better place for me to record and release my new album.

"Over the last few years, the songs, the messages, and the fans have been burning a hole on my insides. This new album has been gearing up for a while and the songs and messages I'll be forging will emerge from the fire.

"Sorry it took me so long; all kinds of life happened that will definitely find it's way onto the record, and yeah, I'm gonna hit this one hard."

Legendary rockers KISS were joined by James Corden Monday night (November 5) for a performance of their 1975 classic "Rock And Roll All Nite" on "The Late Late Show With James Corden".

Corden, who wore his own custom costume and face paint, changed the lyrics of the songs to reflect the fact that the older we get, the more difficult it becomes to rock and roll all night on top of partying every day.

"You show us everything you've got / You keep on dancin' and the room gets hot / You drive us wild / We'll drive you crazy," he sang.

"More than two drinks is a big mistake / Can't fall asleep and get the worst headache / I got work tomorrow / Let's not get crazy."

month ago, KISS announced its "End Of The Road" farewell tour on NBC's "America's Got Talent", and last week, the band revealed the first set of dates and cities in North America, produced by Live Nation. International markets were announced simultaneously.

The North American leg of "End Of The Road" will launch January 31 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada at Rogers Arena and will hit an additional 43 cities.

"We Come Alive", a song from DEVIL'S HAND, exciting new project featuring the amazing talents of two outstanding musicians — famed producer/guitarist/songwriter Mike Slamer and singer Andrew Freeman of LAST IN LINE — can be streamed below. The track is taken from the project's self-titled debut album, which will be released on December 7 via Frontiers Music Srl.

Mike Slamer has been behind some of the most amazing melodic hard rock releases of the past two decades. The list includes, but is not limited to, STEELHOUSE LANE, SEVENTH KEY, SLAMER and Terry Brock. And let's not forget his past work in the '80s with STREETS (featuring KANSAS singer Steve Walsh) and in the '70s with CITY BOY. The quality of his songwriting and production work is unsurpassed as the records he has produced and been involved in have more than stood the test of time.

Mike says: "This new record has some great stuff. I don't want to make direct comparisons because STEELHOUSE LANE, SEVENTH KEY, my solo album, and the new one all have great singers, but different styles, qualities, and levels of collaboration."

Freeman is simply one of the most gifted singers of the current hard rock scene. With his performance on LAST IN LINE's debut album (and their forthcoming 2019 release), he made heads turn with the power of his vocals. His unbelievable set of pipes adds an undeniable fire to the DEVIL'S HAND album.

b>Andrew adds that his "approach on singing the songs was the same as all the recordings I've done. I try to bring the same amount of passion and conviction in everything I write and perform.

"This group of songs that Mike and I wrote are a bit more commercial, but they have the same amount of intensity and anthemic spirit as the LAST IN LINE record. Lots of big sing-along choruses and screaming guitars!

"I think the title track, 'Devil's Hand', encompasses the entire vibe of the record. It has elements of all the greatest rock 'n' roll songs I've ever heard. 'Heartbeat Away' will give you the feels. It's pensive, dramatic, and optimistic. All of the emotion that encompasses life. It's just a really well-rounded record."

"Devil's Hand" track listing:

01. We Come Alive

02. Falling In

03. One More Time

04. Another Way To Fly

05. Drive Away

06. Justified

07. Rise Above It All

08. Devil's Hand

09. Unified

10. Heartbeat Away

11. Push Comes To Shove

DEVIL'S HAND bandmembers:

Andrew Freeman - Lead Vocals

Mike Slamer - Guitars, bass, keyboards

Chet Wynd - Drums

Photo credit: Robert Knight (Andrew Freeman), Nicole Slamer Higdon (Mike Slamer)

A public memorial service for Oli Herbert, a founding member and lead guitarist of metal band ALL THAT REMAINS, has been canceled.

Earlier this week, it was announced that the event would be held on Sunday, November 11 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Worcester Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The memorial service was due to be live-streamed on the official Oli Herbert Facebook page beginning at 2:15 p.m. But a new post on the page says the event has been called off.

The statement reads: "The public memorial service for Oli Herbert scheduled for Sunday, November 11, has been cancelled. No additional information is available at this time."

b>Herbert was found dead on October 16 near his home in Connecticut. He was 44 years old.

According to TMZ, police were dispatched to Oli's Stafford Springs residence after someone reported him missing. Cops searched the area and found Oli in a nearby pond.

Police sources say the death does not appear to be suspicious, but an autopsy needs to be performed to confirm the cause and manner of death. The Connecticut medical examiner is investigating.

The Herbert family publicist confirmed Oli passed away "unexpectedly as a result of an accident which occurred on the property of his home."

Herbert began playing guitar at 14. He co-founded ALL THAT REMAINS with frontman Phil Labonte in 1998.

ALL THAT REMAINS has released five studio albums, a live CD/DVD, and has sold more than one million records worldwide. The band's new LP, "Victim Of The New Disease", will arrive on November 9.

Herbert married his wife, Beth, in 2004.


**IMPORTANT NOTICE - Wednesday, November 7th at 9:30 pm, ET: The public Memorial Service for Oli Herbert scheduled for...Posted by The OFFICIAL Oli Herbert Page on Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Shut Up & Rock On recently conducted an interview with KINGDOM COME drummer James Kottak. You can listen to the entire chat via the SoundCloud widget below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On how the ball got rolling for KINGDOM COME's 30th-anniversary tour:

James: "It's been kind of going off and on for two years, but in January of this year, we nailed down everything and got new management and an agent and all of that stuff. However, Lenny [Wolf, vocals] chose to retire and chose not to do this tour. That's when we brought in Keith St. John [ex-MONTROSE, LYNCH MOB] to do vocals, and it's been great."

On whether Wolf was in the original plans for the anniversary tour:

b>James: "He was onboard, and then he announced his retirement a year and a half ago. He chose not to do it. We were really disappointed, but we respected his decision and he gave us his blessing. We're up and running. We have the original four: myself on drums, Rick Steier on guitar, Johnny B. Frank on bass and Danny Stag on guitar. The original four members since day one. Keith, it's a tall order singing this stuff, but he's killing it."

On how St. John entered the picture:

James: "Me and Rick Steier had a band called WILD HORSES back in '90/'91-ish right after KINGDOM COME. We had a deal with Atlantic and we were auditioning all kinds of people and Keith came in for an audition and he got my vote, but unfortunately, I was outvoted. Sometimes you have to listen to your producer and the people at the record label, but I always had my radar on for Keith over the years. We'd see him out at clubs and jamming here and there and our paths have always crossed and it worked. He was the first guy that came to my mind."

On what fans can expect from a KINGDOM COME live show:

James: "For some reason, I think a lot of people have the impression that KINGDOM COME is all serious and we take ourselves serious, but we like to have fun, we like to have a big party. We have total interaction with everybody at the venue, whether it's big or small. We like to hang out after the show, we like to goof off. We like to make a good, solid connection with everybody because that's what it's really all about."

On KINGDOM COME's future plans:

James: "We want to do a little bit of everything. From this tour, we've done 12 shows so far. We got a pretty good grasp of what's going on out here on this level and we've had lots of offers coming in from Europe, England, South America, Japan. We already have more shows booked in 2019 in the U.S.A. The live thing is obvious. We do want to put out some new music, but we have to wait for legal reasons to do that. Other than that, the sky is the limit and we're in for the long run."

On whether he's "all in" for KINGDOM COME or has other projects in the works:

James: "I'm totally all in for KINGDOM COME because it's much bigger, way more, the preparation was five times more than I thought it would be. However, I do have my other band, A NEW REVENGE, that's Keri Kelli, Rudy Sarzo, Tim 'Ripper' Owens from JUDAS PRIEST. You know Rudy from WHITESNAKE. Keri Kelli played with ALICE COOPER. We've had an album in the can for two and a half years, trying to find the right label. We finally found it with an Australian label called Golden Robot Records. That album will come out in../ I want to say late January, February. We're shooting a few videos and the first single will come along in January. I'm super excited about that, because that's a little more hard rock with an alternative edge. It has great melody and killer, in-your-face type of stuff. It's a great album."

After its early run of success in the '80s, KINGDOM COME released several albums, with Wolf remaining the only constant member of the band. The group's most recent effort was 2013's "Outlier".

With one week left before the November 16 release of THE SMASHING PUMPKINS' new album, "Shiny And Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun.", the Grammy-winning band is giving fans one more sneak peek with today's preview of new track "Knights Of Malta". The song will be officially released across all digital service providers this Friday.

"Knights Of Malta" is the third song to be released from the LP, following "Solara" and "Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts)", both of which are available to stream and download.

In an early review, Q magazine praised the LP with a four-star review, pointing out its "moments of glorious burning distortion" and called "Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts)" "one of the most resplendent songs of their career. For a band claiming ‘no past' and 'no future,' the present suits them extremely well."

"Shiny And Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun." was produced by multi-Grammy winner Rick Rubin and is the first SMASHING PUMPKINS LP in over 18 years to feature founding members Billy Corgan, James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlain, with longtime guitarist Jeff Schroeder. It's available for preorder via Corgan's own Martha's Music under exclusive license to Napalm Records via a strategic worldwide partnership.

n November 28, the band will launch its special 30th-anniversary live shows with a performance at The Sylvee in Madison, Wisconsin. On December 8, they'll headline the first night of KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas in Los Angeles, California (tickets go on sale this Friday at 12 noon PST).

The group recently wrapped the "Shiny And Oh So Bright Tour", which sold over 300,000 tickets across North America and saw them playing sold-out arena shows at venues including The Forum, United Center and Madison Square Garden. Produced by Live Nation, the tour was the band's first in nearly two decades to feature Corgan, Chamberlin and Iha, alongside Schroeder, bassist Jack Bates and keyboardist Katie Cole. Critics were quick to praise the tour's opening dates as "a massive gift to their fans" (Uproxx), "a welcome reminder of why those early albums resonated in the first place" (SPIN), and "an unforgettably rewarding and often spectacular odyssey" (Forbes).

Formed in 1988 in Chicago, Illinois, THE SMASHING PUMPKINS released their heralded debut album, "Gish", in 1991 and found mainstream success with 1993's four-times-platinum "Siamese Dream" and 1995's ten-times-platinum "Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness". With over 30 million albums sold to date, the Grammy-, MTV VMA- and American Music Award-winning band remains an influential force in alternative rock.

Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA have entered the studio to start recording their tenth studio album, due in 2019 through Nuclear Blast. But before the new record sees the light of day, SONATA ARCTICA will embark on a special journey — its very first acoustic run across European soil. Support will come from WITHERFALL.

Keyboardist Henrik "Henkka" Klingenberg comments: "We've been locked up in the studio since the end of the summer working on our next studio album and decided we needed to take a break and go out and play some shows.

"In the summer of 2016, we did an acoustic summer tour in Finland which was a lot of fun for both us and our fans; in fact, it was so great that we wanted to do it again and this time we're not settling for just Finland — but taking this show all around Europe for the first time ever.

"Now is a unique chance to hear our music in a completely different setting and we're sure these evenings will be something really special. Our set will also include some stuff we've never played live before, and who knows — maybe even a new song from the upcoming album. See you at the shows!"

b>"Acoustic Adventures" tour dates:

March 13 - N Oslo - Parkteatret

March 14 - S Stockholm - Södra Teatern

March 15 - S Gothenburg - Storan Teatern

March 16 - D Hamburg - Fabrik

March 17 - NL Eindhoven - Effenaar

March 19 - UK London - Islington Assembly Hall

March 20 - NL Haarlem - Patronaat

March 21 - D Aschaffenburg - Colos-Saal

March 22 - F Paris - Le Trabendo

March 23 - F Lyon - Ninkasi Kao

March 24 - I Milan - Teatro Dal Verme

March 26 - CH Pratteln - Z7

March 27 - D Nuremberg - Hirsch

March 28 - CZ Prague - Roxy

March 29 - D Stuttgart - Im Wizemann (Club)

March 30 - D Bochum - Christuskirche

SONATA ARCTICA's latest album, "The Ninth Hour", was released in October 2016 through Nuclear Blast. The disc was produced by the SONATA ARCTICA members themselves and mixed by Pasi Kauppinen.

SONATA ARCTICA will support KAMELOT on the second North American leg of its "The Shadow Tour" in September and October 2019.

Rising stars of Japan's metal scene LOVEBITES have signed a deal with Arising Empire. The band's sophomore full-length album, "Clockwork Immortality", will be released on December 7.

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.

LOVEBITES started working on its first EP at the end of 2016, joined by the amazing engineering team of Mikko Karmila and Mika Jussila from Finland, who are known for their work with NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM and AMORPHIS, to name but a few. The "Lovebites" EP was the end product of those sessions, which was released in mid-2017. In October 2017 they released their first full album, "Awakening From Abyss".


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.

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

On November 16, Metal Blade Records will finally release the self-titled debut album of the American/Japanese collaboration SKULL PIT.

SKULL PIT is a tale of two musicians from opposite sides of the heavy metal spectrum and the planet: Tatsu Mikami, hailing from Tokyo, Japan, is the bassist and mastermind behind the internationally acclaimed doom outfit CHURCH OF MISERY; Mem V. Stein, from New York, is the singer and frontman of German thrash pioneers EXUMER.

For a preview of SKULL PIT, the latest single, "Blood Titan", can be streamed below.

Mem comments: "'Blood Titan' is a straight-up stomper with a very recognizable chorus that could've been on MOTÖRHEAD's 'Bomber' album or any late '70s/early '80s NWOBHM record for that matter. We were very happy with the guitar tones on this song as they appear to conjure up the spirit of the late Fast Eddie Clarke."

he two veterans endeavored to combine their favorite elements of bands like MOTÖRHEAD along with the countless outfits of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal into one blistering and highly energetic nine-track album. The songs on SKULL PIT's debut are a clear departure from what EXUMER or CHURCH OF MISERY usually sound like. Stepping away from EXUMER's lighting fast rhythms and CHURCH OF MISERY's slowed down, Tony Iommi-inspired riffs, SKULL PIT creates melodies in the vein of '70s hard rock and '80s NWOBHM with Lemmy's punk attitude.

Mixed in Tokyo by O-mi Kihara, "Skull Pit" was recorded in New York and Japan during EXUMER's and CHURCH OF MISERY's time off from playing live around the globe. The result is a free-flowing album that switches effortlessly between genres and boundaries, but always with the intent to deliver a razor-sharp riff or a memorable hook.

SKULL PIT didn't shy away from further expanding its all-inclusive attitude when it came to choosing and recording a cover song as a bonus track: ROSE TATTOO's "All The Lessons". The song features Brian "Mitts" Daniels (ex-MADBALL), who produced Mem's vocal tracks in New York.

"Skull Pit" track listing

01. Double Cross

02. Roller

03. Fire Breather

04. Year Of The Dog

05. Soul Raiders

06. Blood Titan

07. Marauders

08. The Line

09. Wolf Spirit

10. All The Lessons (bonus track)

Next week, Boston's rock/metal outfit Gozu will join the Metal Alliance tour, featuring Goatwhore, The Casualties, Black Tusk, and Great American Ghost. In anticipation of these upcoming shows, the band has now launched a new video for "They Probably Know Karate", directed by Tony Simone at Zenbeast Media).

Gozu comments: "We are super excited about our new video! Tony is a super talented up and coming video director and knocked this it out the park! This is also a great jump off point to the Metal Alliance Tour coming up next week!! Goatwhore, The Casualties, Black Tusk, Great American Ghost...What's not to like?? We get to tour with bands we're actually fans of!"

Tour dates:

November
18 - Aftershock - Merriam, KS
20 - Turf Club - St. Paul, MN
21 - Reggie's Rock Club - Chicago, IL
23 - Magic Stick - Detroit, MI
24 - Overtime Sports Bar - Kingston, ON
25 - Salle Multi Du Complex Meduse - Quebec City, QC
26 - Les Foufounes Electriques - Montreal, QC
28 - Gramercy Theater - New York, NY
29 - Montage Music Hall - Rochester, NY
30 - One Centre Square - Easton, PA

This White Light, the new band featuring guitarist Greg Anderson (Sunn O))), Goatsnake), drummer Jade Devitt (Lucky Me, Gale Forces), bassist Bryan Herweg (Pelican), and vocalist Jen Wood (solo artist and formerly of Tattle Tale and collaborator with The Postal Service) shares a new track, "The House", as they announce their first live dates.

Exploring the contrast of darkness and light, This White Light's music is delicate when called for, powerful when necessary. Listen to "The House" and revisit the early demo track "Winter Flowers" below, and get the tracks here.

S/T Demo by This White Light

This White Light will play their first-ever live shows this fall, confirming their performance alongside legendary garage rock act The Sonics as well as The Primals at the kickoff party for The Power Of The Riff 2018 in Los Angeles on November 17th. This White Light will also play two more shows with The Primals in San Francisco December 7th and San Diego December 9th.

Dates:

November
17 - Echoplex - Los Angeles, CA @ The Power Of The Riff (with The Sonics, The Primals)

December
7 - Elbo Room - San Francisco, CA (with The Primals)
9 - Bancroft - San Diego, CA (with Primals, Modern Love)

In March 2017, Greg Anderson and Jade Devitt began to make music with one another again, having previously played together in the nineties with Engine Kid. Starting with the formula of extreme dynamics that they had perfected in the years previous as Engine Kid, the pair have added their more-than-twenty-years of musical experience and taken the music in a new and different direction. Chance encounters and serendipitous moments fortified the final line up of This White Light with the addition of Bryan Herweg and Jen Wood. The four-piece recorded with Josh Homme at his Pink Duck Studios in April for their next release, with more info to follow soon.

Stay tuned for further news from This White Light in 2019.

(Photo - Jenn Anderson)

WDR Rockpalast live streamed performances from the 2018 edition of Germany's Summer Breeze festival from Dinkelsbühl. Watch demonic death metal supergroup Bloodbath’s full set from August 18th below.

Setlist:

"Let The Stillborn Come To Me"
"Cry My Name"
"So You Die"
"Breeding Death"
"Anne"
"Cancer Of The Soul"
"Like Fire"
"Outnumbering The Day"
"Bathe In The Blood"
"Mock The Cross"
"Eaten"

Bloodbath’s fifth slice of morbid savagery, The Arrow Of Satan Is Drawn, is out now via Peaceville. Order here.

Tracklisting:

"Fleischmann"
"Bloodicide"
"Wayward Samaritan"
"Levitator"
"Deader"
"March Of The Crucifers"
"Morbid Antichrist"
"Warhead Ritual"
"Only The Dead Survive"
"Chainsaw Lullaby"

Bonus tracks on limited edition CD:

"Ride The Waves Of Fire"
"Wide Eyed Abandon"

"Chainsaw Lullaby" video:

"Bloodicide" lyric video:

Bloodbath lineup:

Old Nick - vocals
Blakkheim - guitar
Lord Seth - bass
Joakim - guitar
Axe - drums