"For No Master", a brand new song from the legendary death metal unit MORBID ANGEL, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's ninth studio album, which will be released on December 1 via Silver Lining Music and JVC in Japan. Titled "Kingdoms Disdained", the record reunites founding guitarist Trey Azagthoth with bassist/vocalist Steve Tucker. Just one play of "Kingdoms Disdained", and you'll realize that this is the only true current aural document of a world sinking into uncharted despair. "The album title says it all," says Tucker. "Everybody's fed up and nobody can figure out how to fix it. We've got all these miniature wars in neighborhoods, cities, countries, and we've got people with varying opinions causing chaos, yet everyone is doing what they feel is right. Which all makes it feel like the world has reached a point of utter madness and confusion." As if fate constructed the moment, these forefathers of death metal found themselves witnessing the storm's eye as they prepared to create "Kingdoms Disdained", deciphering it with their ferocious music via long-held Sumerian-based beliefs. "It's been written but nobody pays attention, because we erase our history," adds Tucker. "We don't understand much about the Sumerian texts because things got erased, buried, and broken up. And for years, Trey and I talked a lot about the idea of those Gods waking up and coming back to show us that they're angry." Recorded at Mana Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida and produced by MORBID ANGEL with Erik Rutan (CANNIBAL CORPSE, HATE ETERNAL, SIX FEET UNDER, BELPHEGOR), Azagthoth, Tucker and drummer Scotty Fuller (ANNIHILATED; formerly of ABYSMAL DAWN) created eleven pieces of devastatingly dynamic death metal. Compositions such as "Garden Of Disdain", "Architect And Iconoclast" and "The Pillars Crumbling" supremely illustrate Azagthoth's incredible creative alchemy with Tucker as well as his own incomparable guitar work. "We're always trying to paint pictures; to create images," notes Tucker, "and I think this album is a fair image of the world today, but taken from a different perspective; the perspective of those Gods who built this, who may be resting now but are starting to wake up." "Kingdoms Disdained" features artwork courtesy of Irish mixed-media artist Ken Coleman, who created a series of pieces that further augment the stories being told. The effort will be available on CD, vinyl, and digital formats. "Kingdoms Disdained" track listing:

01. Piles Of Little Arms 02. D.E.A.D.03. Garden Of Disdain 04. The Righteous Voice 05. Architect And Iconoclast 06. Paradigms Warped 07. The Pillars Crumbling 08. For No Master09. Declaring New Law (Secret Hell) *10. From The Hand Of Kings11. The Fall Of Idols

* Not available on the vinyl format

MORBID ANGEL in January announced the addition of Dan Vadim Von (guitarist/frontman of the American death metal band VADIMVON) to the band's lineup on second guitar. He joined the group as the replacement for Norwegian guitarist Destructhor (a.k.a. Thor Anders Myhren), who left the band two years ago.

Former MORBID ANGEL frontman David Vincent recently joined forces with several other musicians — including ex-MORBID ANGEL drummer Tim Yeung — to perform classic MORBID ANGEL songs under the I AM MORBID banner.

MORBID ANGEL's controversial 2011 album, "Illud Divinum Insanus", marked the group's first CD to feature Vincent since "Domination".

Italy's Cadaveria have revealed the cover artwork and the release date of the 2017 edition of Far Away From Conformity, the second album of Italian horror metallers, originally released in 2004. The album will be out on December 8th, in all digital stores and on CD, with a new graphic design. It comes out in deluxe digipack version with a twelve-page booklet via Sleaszy Rider Records. The colored vinyl version will be released via Shadows Records in a limited edition of 300 hand-numbered copies worldwide. The vinyl LP will be out on January 12th, 2018, exactly 14 years after the first release. 

This is not just a reprint: the nine songs of Far Away From Conformity, including Blondie's cover “Call Me”, have been completely remixed and remastered for the occasion. In addition, a bug in the backup of the original recordings made in 2003, had caused the loss of some vocal tracks and it requested Cadaveria’s recent effort to re-record her voice for the songs “Blood And Confusion” and “The Divine Rapture”. 

Preorders available at this location.

Tracklisting:

“Blood And Confusion”
“Eleven Three O Three”
“Irreverent Elegy”
“The Divine Rapture”
“Omen Of Delirium”
“Call Me” (Blondie cover)
“Out Body Experience”
“Prayer Of Sorrow”
“Vox Of Anti-Time”

 

Danish prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen presented Indonesian president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo with a signed box set of METALLICA's seminal third album "Master Of Puppets" during a state visit earlier today (Tuesday, November 28) at the Bogor Palace in Indonesia. In return, Jokowi, gave Rasmussen a rencong (traditional dagger from Aceh), according to The Jakarta Post.

"Prime Minister Rasmussen understands my favorite [music]," Jokowi said of the "Masters Of Puppets" expanded reissue, which was made available earlier in the month.

The LP has been remastered for the most advanced sound quality and was made available in various physical configurations, including Standard LP, Standard CD, three-CD Expanded Edition, and Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set. It was also made available available digitally as a Standard CD, a three-CD Expanded Edition and a Digital Deluxe Box Set.

Bonus content in the set ranges from previously unreleased demos, rough mixes, interviews and live tracks to a 108-page hardcover book, DVDs, handwritten lyrics and more.

Jokowi's copy of the "Masters Of Puppets" box set came with the signature of METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich, who was born in Denmark. The album itself was recorded in Copenhagen between September and December 1985.

The 56-year-old Widodo, who served as governor of Jakarta before being elected president in 2014, attended METALLICA's August 2013 concert in the city — 25 years to the day after the release of the band's fourth album, "…And Justice For All", and more than 20 years after their tumultuous first show in Indonesia.

"I am happy and satisfied with the concert," Widodo said after the performance. "No one got out of control. We showed them that Jakarta citizens are all dignified. We could rock the night away in an orderly fashion."

Back in May 2013, Widodo had to turn over his autographed METALLICA bass guitar to the government temporarily, while authorities determined whether the instrument was merely a gift or a violation of ethics rules. Widodo received the bass from METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo, but had to give it up to the state within 30 days, according to laws regarding gifts to state officials.

Widodo has professed love for heavy metal bands like METALLICA, MEGADETH, LAMB OF GOD and NAPALM DEATH in the past.

Indonesia’s president @jokowi seemed eager to dig into his diplomatic gift from Denmark: A #MasterOfPuppets box signed by #heavymetal fans’ all-time favorit drummer @larsulrich @metallica pic.twitter.com/Epcq2paywh

— Lars Løkke Rasmussen (@larsloekke) November 28, 2017

According to TMZ, GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash sold his mansion in the Mulholland Estates, a guard-gated community in the Beverly Hills area of Los Angeles, to rapper Big Sean for $8.7 million.

Slash put the house on the market in June 2015 for $10.995 million, but that price came down in April 2016 by half a million to $10.495 million and in August 2016 by another million to $9.499 million.

The 10,971-square-foot, three-story Tuscan Villa-like home on Clerendon Road offers complete privacy and luxury, and is an entertainer's dream come true. Interior features include a dramatic two-story entry, state-of-the-art theater, massive double center island kitchen, amazingly unique lower level nightclub/entertainment room with an elevated DJ booth and custom LED lighting, and a soundproof recording studio that can be easily converted back to a guest suite. Boasting explosive canyon and city light views, it also provides a private balcony, tremendous walk-in closet and an awesome bathroom with steam shower and a custom over-sized spa tub with special unique lighting. You will also find a huge bonus/game room, library and more. The family room has a large walk-in wet bar, custom beamed ceilings and French doors that open to backyard.

Slash and his then-wife Perla bought the home in 2009 for $7.3 million. Their neighbors at the time reportedly included Vanna White, TV judge Greg Mathis, reality TV queen Paris Hilton, British pop star Robbie Williams and actor Charlie Sheen.

Slash filed for divorce from Perla in December 2014 after 13 years of marriage, citing "irreconcilable differences." He asked for joint custody of their two sons, 15-year-old London and 13-year-old Cash.

The reunited GUNS N' ROSES, featuring Slash, singer Axl Rose and bassist Duff McKagan, will complete a North American arena tour tomorrow (Wednesday, November 29) at The Forum in Los Angeles.

Tanith is a new four piece band based in Brooklyn NY, featuring Satan guitarist Russ Tippins on vocals and guitar. 

"With two singers and twin guitars we play old-school heavy rock influenced by the sounds and imagery of the 1970s such as BOC, Wishbone Ash and Uriah Heep,” says the band.

 

Tanith's debut 7" “Citadel” can be streamed via the Bandcamp player below; the vinyl version will be available soon.

CITADEL by Tanith

(Photo by: Hugh Pool)

Australia’s Thy Art Is Murder released their latest album, Dear Desolation, last August via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. Today, the band has released a unique playthrough video for the album's title track. Watch guitarist Sean Delander shred through the song below:

The Depression Sessions EP featuring Thy Art Is Murder, The Acacia Strain and Fit For An Autopsy, is available for the first time on CD for Record Store Day last week. Fans can also order online here. The pressing will be limited to 2,000 copies worldwide, so get yours before they're all gone.

The Depression Sessions tracklisting:

Thy Art Is Murder - “They Will Know Another”
The Acacia Strain - “Sensory Deprivation”
Fit For An Autopsy - “Flatlining”
Thy Art Is Murder - “Du Hast” (Rammstein cover)
The Acacia Strain - “Black Hole Sun” (Soundgarden cover)
Fit For An Autopsy - “The Perfect Drug” (Nine Inch Nails cover)

MASTODON, MESHUGGAH, AUGUST BURNS RED, BODY COUNT and CODE ORANGE are among the nominees for the 60th annual Grammy Awards, which will be held on Sunday, January 28, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York Cit and broadcast on CBS at 7:30 p.m. ET.

METALLICA's " Atlas, Rise!", AVENGED SEVENFOLD's "The Stage", FOO FIGHTERS' "Run" and NOTHING MORE's "Go To War" were also nominated in the "Best Rock Song" category, while MASTODON's "Emperor Of Sand", METALLICA's "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", NOTHING MORE's "The Stories We Tell Ourselves" and QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE's "Villains" were nominated in the "Best Rock Album" category.

CHRIS CORNELL's "The Promise", FOO FIGHTERS' "Run" and NOTHING MORE's "Go To War" were nominated in the "Best Rock Performance" category.

Best Metal Performance

AUGUST BURNS RED - "Invisible Enemy"BODY COUNT - "Black Hoodie"CODE ORANGE - "Forever"MASTODON - "Sultan's Curse"MESHUGGAH - "Clockworks"

Best Rock Performance

LEONARD COHEN - "You Want It Darker"CHRIS CORNELL - "The Promise"FOO FIGHTERS - "Run"KALEO - "No Good"NOTHING MORE - "Go To War"

Best Rock Song

METALLICA - "Atlas, Rise!"K. FLAY - "Blood in the Cut"NOTHING MORE - "Go To War"FOO FIGHTERS - "Run"AVENGED SEVENFOLD - "The Stage"

Best Rock Album

MASTODON – "Emperor Of Sand"METALLICA - Hardwired... To Self-DestructNOTHING MORE – "The Stories We Tell Ourselves"QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE – "Villains"THE WAR ON DRUGS – "A Deeper Understanding"

Any category with more than five nominees means there was a tie.

The Grammys are voted on by approximately 13,000 Recording Academy members, who are comprised of artists, songwriters, producers and engineers. More than 22,000 recordings were submitted for Grammys consideration this year. For 2018 awards, music must have been released between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017 in order to be eligible.

Tuomas Holopainen's three-track demo earned him his first record deal with his freshly founded band NIGHTWISH back in 1996. Today, 20 years later — with over 2,000 shows played and more than eight million records sold — NIGHTWISH is the biggest European symphonic metal band. Reason enough for Nuclear Blast to celebrate this huge anniversary by releasing a 2CD compilation titled "Decades" on March 9, 2018. This release will be accompanied by a nine-month tour across the globe. After kicking off with 34 concerts in North America in March-April, the journey will continue with dozens of European festival and headline shows. On this tour, NIGHTWISH will also be presenting a special se list, featuring rare material from the early years of their career. That's why these evenings will not only be special events for the fans, but also for the band themselves. Be prepared to hear a lot of old school material!

Tuomas states: "July 6th, 1996 was the exact date marked on my family's summer cabin guestbook. On that date, by a campfire, a decision was made to form a band of three members, playing atmospheric acoustic music led by a female voice. 15 months later, this group would release its debut album, and more than two decades later, it would release a compilation including songs from eight studio albums and from the very first demo which gave the band its name.

"The infinite freedom and potential I found from songwriting back in the days took me right back home, offering a place to feel free and meaningful. So the roller coaster ride begun, adventures from all sides of the spectrum ahead, making a pit stop at this place and age from where we're greeting you now. Looking back, the voyage has been nothing short of spectacular.

"The best part of it all, though, are the people. The fellowship of the band, past and present, the crew and the management. The relationships created, whether it's the fans in the front row, guest musicians, other bands, promoters, media, record label staff, or even your own heroes you never thought you'd meet. I've met my best friends through music, as well as faced the most unfortunate ordeals, but it's all been for the love of life and adventure, for learning, and for a meaning. The sense of privilege I feel looking into the past, the present, and future is immeasurable by words. It's something that can only be expressed through poetry and music. A journey of two decades has taken our wonderful Edema Ruh this far, and the beauty of the future is, that it remains an untold story.

"In a few months, we'll celebrate the journey so far in the form of a nine-month nostalgia tour, including material from all of our eight studio albums. We shall meet you all soon, and it will be wondrous as never before!"

"Decades" European tour:

Nov. 02 - S - Gothenburg - Partille ArenaNov. 05 - D - Berlin - Max-Schmeling-HalleNov. 06 - D - Hamburg - Barclaycard ArenaNov. 07 - B - Antwerp - Lotto ArenaNov. 09 - D - Oberhausen - König-Pilsener-ArenaNov. 10 - F - Paris - AccorHotels ArenaNov. 11 - CH - Geneva - ArenaNov. 13 - SK - Bratislava - Incheba Expo ArenaNov. 14 - D - Munich - OlympiahalleNov. 16 - D - Leipzig - ArenaNov. 17 - PL - Krakow - Tauron ArenaNov. 20 - H - Budapest - ArenaNov. 22 - CH - Zurich - HallenstadionNov. 23 - D - Nuremberg - ArenaNov. 24 - D - Stuttgart - Schleyer-HalleNov. 27 - D - Saarbrücken - SaarlandhalleDec. 04 - I - Milan - Medionalum ForumDec. 05 - D - Frankfurt - Festhalle

Former CANDLEMASS singer Messiah Marcolin joined the Chilean doom metal band PROCESSION on stage on November 20 at Nambucca in London, England to perform the CANDLEMASS classic "Solitude". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below. Messiah previously performed the same song with PROCESSION in 2011 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Marcolin exited CANDLEMASS for the presumably final time in 2006, one year after the release of the band's self-titled album. He was later replaced by Robert Lowe (SOLITUDE AETURNUS), who sang on the band's "King Of The Grey Islands" (2007), "Death Magic Doom" (2009) and "Psalms For The Dead" (2012). CANDLEMASS's frontman for the past five years has been Mats Levén, who previously recorded and toured with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and THERION.

Messiah told Metal Rules that he was "very honored" by new bands who cite CANDLEMASS as an influence on their music. "If anyone wants to be inspirited by CANDLEMASS, it is the most respectable thing what a band ever can get," he said. "I love WITCHFINDER GENERAL which are very BLACK SABBATH influenced and PENTAGRAM, which is fucking great. The first PENTAGRAM album is great, and, of course, TROUBLE is influenced by BLACK SABBATH, and CANDLEMASS is also influenced by BLACK SABBATH — the whole fucking world is influenced by BLACK SABBATH. But, I mean, CANDLEMASS made its own style — we don't sound exactly the same, but the heaviness is the same, but the music is different. We created our own style, doom metal stuff and all the other bands which have taken it after, it is a great honor."

Swedish death metallers THE CROWN have returned to Metal Blade Records for a multi-album deal. The band has just finished recording its new, as-yet-untitled album at Studio Fredman, and the record promises to be one of the biggest surprises of the upcoming year. A return to death metal speed and darkness in full glory!

Metal Blade will release "Iron Crown", the first single from the upcoming album, as a limited seven-inch single on January 12.

A video teaser for the song can be seen below.

The B-side features the exclusive new song "Ride The Fire", which will not be featured on the long-player.

The "Iron Crown" seven-inch single will be released in these colors: black (300 copies), silver (200 copies), red transparent (100 copies).

Comments THE CROWN: "We are very honored to be back working with the label that supported us through many albums. The biggest 'steps' during our career have been thanks to Metal Blade. We have always had a strong mutual will to make the best possible albums. Now let's fire up this death metal engine again!"

THE CROWN is:

Johan Lindstrand - VocalsMagnus Olsfelt - BassMarko Tervonen - GuitarRobin Sorqvist - Lead guitar and backing vocalsHenrik Axelsson - Drums

Photo credit: Roger Dunder

German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR are back in the studio working on their next album, "Apocalypse". 12 brand new crushing heavy metal songs have been selected, out of 30 newly written tracks, which will be produced by PRIMAL FEAR bassist Mat Sinner and engineered and mixed by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios in Denmark. The album is tentatively scheduled for release in mid-2018 via Frontiers Music Srl. New songtitles include "Apocalypse", "New Rise", "The Hounds Of Justice", "King Of Madness", "The Beast", "Blood, Sweat & Fear" and the 10-minute extravaganza "Eye Of The Storm". Stylistically, the new tunes follow the same path that started on the most successful PRIMAL FEAR album so far, "Rulebreaker". Said PRIMAL FEAR singer Ralf Scheepers: "I don't know where it comes from and how we do it, but we seem to have a real flow in writing some cool heavy metal tunes since quite a while. And again, nothing will be released which we are not 100 percent satisfied with. You can trust the seal of the brand PRIMAL FEAR." Added Sinner: "I'm really surprised about the creativity in the band. Every band member contributes on the song writing and I'm super happy about the chosen songs and the production so far. You can expect a full energy driven metal album with a maximum attitude and raw power!" PRIMAL FEAR will support the new album release with an extensive summer festival tour in 2018, followed by a world tour.

PRIMAL FEAR released a new collection, "Best Of Fear", on November 10. The set includes a cover of HEART's "If Looks Could Kill".

"Best Of Fear", as the name implies, is a new "best-of" compilation. This double album culls together the best material from PRIMAL FEAR's last ten years of work — including the albums "New Religion", "16.6 (Before The Devil Knows You're Dead)", "Unbreakable", "Delivering The Black" and "Rulebreaker" — plus four brand new songs recorded specifically for this release.

This comprehensive overview of PRIMAL FEAR's body of work over the past ten years is aptly split into two records which showcases the magnificence (and constantly maturing) songwriting abilities of these heavy metal lifers. The first album encompasses the heavier and more straight-ahead material, while the second shows the more involved and epic side of the band's songwriting. PRIMAL FEAR is:

Ralf Scheepers - Lead VocalsTom Naumann - GuitarAlexander Beyrodt - GuitarMagnus Karlsson - GuitarFrancesco Jovino - DrumsMat Sinner - Bass, Vocals

Photo credit: Alex Kuehr

Washington, DC’s Genocide Pact are set to unleash their raging sophomore full-length and Relapse debut, entitled Order Of Torment.

Recorded by Kevin Bernsten (Full Of Hell, Code Orange, Magrudergrind) in Baltimore, MD at Developing Nations and featuring cover art from the legendary Joe Petagno (Motorhead, Autopsy, Marduk, Pink Floyd), Order of Torment features eight tracks of pulverizing, relentless death metal that harkens to the greats while pushing the genre to chaotic new realms of possibility. Stream the opening track, “Conquered And Disposed” via the YouTube clip below, and all streaming services here.

Order Of Torment is due out February 2nd on CD/LP/Digital via Relapse Records. Physical packages and digital order are available via Relapse.com here, and all digital retail outlets here.

Order Of Torment tracklisting:

"Conquered And Disposed"
"Decimation Grid"
"Spawn Of Suffering"
"Pain Reprisal"
"Ascendancy Absolved"
"Structural Dissolution"
"Authoritarian Impulse"
"Blood Rejection"

"Conquered And Disposed":

Tour Dates:

February
2 - Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel (with Mammoth Grinder)
3 - Richmond, VA - Strange Matter (with Mammoth Grinder)

Sweden-based metal outfit Methane have released a live music video of their song “Scars And Bars”. The song comes off of their debut record The Devil’s Own released on Sony’s Dark Star Records in early 2017.

"We love playing live, it’s onstage where the music comes to life." said bassist/vocalist Tim Scott about the clip. "This song has a deeper meaning for me and means a lot to have recorded this at home and our home crowd, maybe the person who inspired the anger in the text."

The video was recorded live with soundboard quality sound at Liljan in Methane’s home town Borlänge Sweden, September 19th on The Devil’s Own European tour. “Scars And Bars” is the first in a series of live videos to be released from the tour.

Ammunition, featuring Norwegian singer Age Sten Nilsen (ex-Wig Wam), will release their self-titled album on January 26th. The first track from the upcoming release is “Freedom Finder”. An official video for the track can be found below.

Ammunition was founded in 2014 by the songwriting duo Age Sten Nilsen and the multi-talented Erik Mårtensson (Eclipse, W.E.T., Nordic Union). They released their debut album, Shanghaied, in 2015 on their own label. Teaming up with former TNT and Jack In The Box bassist Victor Cito Borge, keysman Lasse Finbråten (Circus Maximus), skinsman Magnus Ulfstedt (Eclipse), and the exceptional guitar player Jon Pettersen, Ammunition has made a name for themselves as an incredible live act.

Åge Sten Nilsen states: "We formed this band to enjoy making the music we love and have a real good time. And I really think this album reflects just that! It was fun and easy to write and record... and it's simply enjoyable to listen to. As a rock producer Erik Mårtensson has proven that he's one of the best around for many years. But I think on this album he has reached an even higher level.... If you’re into physics you'd love to be on Einstein’s team. I'm into rock music, and I'm on Erik’s team... pretty much the same!"

The first taste of music from this self-titled album was released earlier in 2017. "Wrecking Crew" (written by Nilsen and Mårtensson) landed on top of the Norwegian charts, taking Ammunition to the Norwegian Eurovision grand finale where they reached an astonishing second place. The full length, original version of the song will be included on the forthcoming album, produced and mixed by the band's guitar player and co-writer, Erik Mårtensson.

A Limited Edition 180g grey vinyl version of the album is available only on the Frontiers' webstore, limited to 100 copies worldwide. Get it here.

Tracklisting:

"Time"
"Freedom Finder"
"Virtual Reality Boy"
"Guns Ho (I Told You So)"
"Eye For An Eye"
"Tear Your City Down"
"Caveman"
"Wrecking Crew"
"Miss Summertime"
"Bad Bones"
"Klondike"

"Freedom Finder" video:

Lineup:

Age Sten Nilsen - lead and backing vocals
Erik Martensson - guitars, backing vocals
Victor Cito Borge - bass
Jon Pettersen - guitars
Lasse Finbråten - keyboards
Magnus Ulfstedt - drums

Producer / engineer Richard Chycki has checked in with a brief update:

"Mixed Dream Theater’s Budokan live show celebrating Images, Words & Beyond for broadcast by wowow."

The show took place on September 11th, 2017 at the Budokan in Tokyo, Japan.The tracklist for the package is available below. More details will be revealed soon.

Disc 1 
"Opening (The Colonel)"
"The Dark Eternal Night" 
"The Bigger Picture" 
"Hell's Kitchen"
"The Gift of Music"
"Our New World"
"Portrait of Tracy" (John Myung solo) 
"As I Am"
"Breaking All Illusions"

Disc 2
"Pull Me Under" 
"Another Day" 
"Take the Time" (extended outro with John Petrucci guitar solo)
"Surrounded"
"Metropolis Pt. 1" (with Mike Mangini drum solo)
"Under a Glass Moon" 08. 
"Wait for Sleep" (with extended keyboard intro)
"Learning to Live"

Disc 3
"A Change of Seasons"

The funeral for AC/DC guitarist Malcolm Young was held on Tuesday (November 28) in Sydney, Australia. Malcolm, who co-founded AC/DC with his brother Angus in 1973, died on November 18 at the age of 64 after suffering from dementia and failing health for several years.

Hundreds of people gathered at Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral for the service, including Angus Young, former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd and ex-AC/DC bassist Mark Evans. Also in attendance were ROSE TATTOO's Angry Anderson, concert promoter Michael Chugg and Sony Music CEO Denis Handlin.

Eulogies were read by Bradley Horsburgh and David Albert, who described Young as a "quiet, humble and understated man," according to ABC. The Albert family had managed AC/DC for more than four decades.

One of Malcolm Young's guitars was also carried into the church for the service.

Guitar picks inscribed with Young's date of birth and death were handed out with the official funeral programs.

Following the service, a pipe band played a medley of songs as the funeral procession left St Mary's, including the guitar solo from AC/DC's "It's A Long Way To The Top", as well as "Waltzing Matilda" and "Road To Gundagai".

More photos of the service can be found at Daily Telegraph.

Malcolm retired from AC/DC in 2014 after it was made public that he was suffering from dementia.

Singer Brian Johnson was forced to leave the band in 2016 midway through the touring cycle for its latest album, "Rock Or Bust", when told by doctors that he faced total hearing loss if he continued to perform live. His replacement for the balance of the dates was GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose.

Johnson told Rolling Stone that he still recuperating from "nine fucking operations" on his ears, saying, "You got to take it like a man, but when it hurts, you know that's it — you're done, pal."

With Angus now the sole original member left in AC/DC, and no members left from the band's classic "Back In Black" lineup, he has not revealed whether he intends to keep the band going.

Pix: Malcolm Young Funeral https://t.co/5f6mc01KrM pic.twitter.com/07Jw0DvrWH

— AAP Multimedia (@aap_multimedia) November 28, 2017

Malcolm Young has been farewelled at a funeral in Sydney, remembered as a ‘musical mastermind’ and a ‘humble’ man. #acdc #7News pic.twitter.com/Yqazlufm1s

— 7 News Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) November 28, 2017

Guitar picks are being handed out with programs at the funeral service for AC/DC guitarist Malcolm Young in Sydney. pic.twitter.com/KjUm7Z7ncg

— Nour Haydar (@NourHaydar) November 28, 2017

Farewell #MalcolmYoung: #ACDC legend led from #StMarysCathedral #Sydney by pipers playing #WaltzingMatilda. #7News pic.twitter.com/mAMYUYI72j

— Paul Kadak (@PaulKadak) November 28, 2017

AC/DC guitarist's Malcolm Young's funeral procession pic.twitter.com/yxDeT4vIve

— Rosemary Bolger (@rose_bolger) November 28, 2017

Drum-cam footage of SLAYER drummer Paul Bostaph performing the song "Born Of Fire" during the band's July 21 concert at St. Augustine Amphitheatre in St. Augustine, Florida can be seen below.

Bostaph, who was previously SLAYER's drummer from 1992 until 2001 and recorded four albums with the band, rejoined SLAYER in 2013 after the group's original drummer, Dave Lombardo, was effectively fired from the band due to a contract dispute with the other members of the veteran California-based thrash metal act.

In an interview with Fuse, SLAYER guitarist Kerry King stated about Bostaph: "Paul, I mean, he's a machine. I don't worry about him at all. He never would have been out of SLAYER if he didn't quit twice. It was never over anything personal — he was always my friend — so it was very easy for him to come back and be a part again."

Speaking to Loudwire about Bostaph's contributions to SLAYER's latest album, "Repentless", King said: "I think it's just making the unit whole, more than anything. Of course, Paul can play the shit out of the drums. I didn't realize — and I don't mean this in a detrimental way to Paul — I never realized Paul had so many niche SLAYER fans who are just Bostaph fans; I didn't realize that, and a lot of people had mentioned that to me since Paul has been working on the record. And I think that's great. I used to say 'God Hates [Us All]' was his 'Reign In Blood' — Bostaph's. The new one is his 'Reign In Blood'. The new one's… I would play any song live."

"Repentless" debuted at No. 4 on The Billboard 200, having shifted 50,000 equivalent album units in the week ending September 17, 2015.

The album was released on September 11, 2015 via Nuclear Blast.

Photo credit: Andrew Stuart

BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi says that his cancer is still in remission six years after he was diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma.

Iommi revealed his cancer diagnosis in early 2012, shortly after SABBATH announced a reunion tour and album. He underwent treatment throughout the recording of the disc, titled "13", and the subsequent tour to promote it.

Nine months after BLACK SABBATH brought its farewell tour to an end in the band's hometown of Birmingham, England, Iommi told Guitar World that "healthwise, I seem to be all right for the moment. It's still in remission," he said. "I continue to have my regular checkup every six weeks, and it's a bit easier for me now that I'm not touring. The doctors were concerned about all the flying I was doing, because it isn't good for the blood. But I'm on top of it, and I'm eating the right things… although sometimes I still eat the wrong things. [Laughs]"

Iommi originally revealed that his cancer was in remission during an August 2016 plaque unveiling at Spire Parkway Hospital's Specialist Care Centre in Solihull, England, where he had been receiving treatment for lymphoma.

Earlier this month, a documentary focusing on SABBATH's last-ever concert, "The End", was made available in home video and audio packages, featuring footage of the entire historic show.

Tony, who oversaw the mixing of the DVD, told Guitar World about his future plans: "I'm not sure. I'm still involved with SABBATH to some degree, because we've been very involved with the film and how it sounds. I'm still going to write, and I'm quite excited about the future because it's a mystery."

Iommi said in 2016 interview that "the lowest moment" for him was being diagnosed. He explained: "You automatically wind yourself up saying, 'That's it then,' but that is not always the case. When they tell you, you think, 'Oh God.' That was a low time. I have had a few low times in my life like everybody has, but that was one that stuck in the head."

SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne told The Pulse Of Radio in 2014 that Iommi never let his condition slow him down: "My hat goes off to him 'cause he really is Iron Man. I mean, that chemotherapy knocks you sideways, you know. I mean, when my wife had cancer a few years back, she was having three chemo things a month and it would knock the life out of — literally every time she'd have a treatment, she'd have a seizure. It's scary stuff. But he came down, plugged in and carried on. He's my hero, I swear to God he is."

The BLACK SABBATH guitarist successfully underwent an operation in January 2017 to remove a noncancerous lump from his throat.

Long-running San Francisco Bay Area thrashers SADUS are working on their first new music in over a decade.

Guitarist/vocalist Darren Travis tells BLABBERMOUTH.NET: "I have been working on new material for quite sometime with drummer Jon Allen in his personal studio in Texas.

"I am going to record again in Trident Studios in the next few weeks for two/three new tracks. Guitars and voice. Teasers will be posted on Facebook via YouTube links. Then full songs soon."

SADUS's last album, titled "Out for Blood", was released in North America in May 2006 via The End Records. The CD was issued in Europe in February 2006 through Holland's Mascot Records.

The follow-up to 1997's "Elements of Anger", "Out for Blood" was recorded at Trident Studios in California with producer Børge Finstad (MAYHEM, BORKNAGAR, VINTERSORG, EXTOL), engineer Juan Urteaga and manager Rob Lewis. The album featured a guest appearance on one track by TESTAMENT frontman Chuck Billy.

SADUS bassist Steve DiGiorgio rejoined TESTAMENT in 2014 following the departure of Greg Christian.

Steve previously played with TESTAMENT on "The Gathering" (1999) and "First Strike Still Deadly" (2001) albums.

A 23-minute video recap of Blaze Bayley's North American tour can be seen below. The footage was filmed and edited by Nicolas Houbre.

The British heavy metal vocalist, who was previously the frontman of both IRON MAIDEN and WOLFSBANE, will release the third album in his "Infinite Entanglement" trilogy on March 2, 2018.

The new disc, called "The Redemption Of William Black", is the highly anticipated third part of the trilogy, bringing the sci-fi concept to a conclusion.

This will be the tenth album of Blaze's solo career, following his rise to global fame as singer with IRON MAIDEN (1994-1999). He was chosen for the MAIDEN role after coming to notice with his first band WOLFSBANE, based around home city of Birmingham, England, which is now the location for the recording of all his more recent solo releases.

The past three or four years has been an exciting period in Blaze's career, with a real sense of purpose, increased sales and media attention, not least with the recent front cover of Powerplay magazine (November 2017 issue), together with a three-page tour report from North America. Blaze received further recognition when voted by fans as the 67th best singer of all time in Sweden Rock Magazine, while a guest performance with DISTURBED at the U.K.'s premier music festival Download was another highlight.

"The Redemption Of William Black" has been co-written with Chris Appleton of fellow British metal band ABSOLVA. Chris, who also co-produces the album, is lead guitarist and backing vocalist in Blaze's band for recording and touring, together with his ABSOLVA bandmates Martin McNee (drums) and Karl Schramm (bass and backing vocals).

Special guests on the album include FOZZY singer Chris Jericho, also of WWE fame, for whom Blaze has specially created a character within the "Infinite Entanglement" story. Also, on choir duty is Luke Appleton (ICED EARTH bassist and ABSOLVA rhythm guitarist), as well as Michelle Sciarrotta (choir/voice actor), Jo Robinson (choir), Mel Adams (choir), Liz Owen (backing vocals/choir), Aine Brewer (voice actor) and Rob Toogood (choir/voice actor).

"The Redemption Of William Black" world tour begins at the end of February in Glasgow and the European leg completes on May 25 and May 26 when a live DVD and CD will be recorded over two nights at Chez Paulette, near Nancy, France. After a small number of festival shows in the summer, plus a short second run of U.K. shows to be confirmed, the tour heads to USA and Canada in September, on the back of the success of the North America tour of 2017. Then, in the first half of 2019, the schedule takes the tour to Latin America and again to the USA to return to those territories not covered in 2018, by which time the live DVD and CD will be ready for release.

Special guests on the U.K. shows (except Hammerfest) will be Manchester-based hard rockers FAITH IN GLORY, while in Europe from April 1 to the completion of the European leg on May 26, the special guest will be Luke Appleton (ICED EARTH, ABSOLVA) with his solo acoustic show.

Pictured below (from left to right): Martin McNee (drums), Chris Appleton (lead guitar and backing vocals), Blaze Bayley (lead vocals), Karl Schramm (bass and backing vocals)

Austrian symphonic metallers EDENBRIDGE will release a new live album, "Live Momentum", on November 29. Limited to 1,000 copies worldwide, it will only be available through the band's webstore without any label support.

"Live Momentum" track listing:

01. The Force Within (Intro)02. Mystic River03. Alight A New Tomorrow04. Skyline's End05. Shiantara06. The Moment Is Now07. Return To Grace08. Star-Crossed Dreamer09. The Die Is Not Cast10. Remember Me11. The Invisible Force12. Solitaire13. The Greatest Gift Of All/The Bonding14. Higher

The official video for the song "The Die Is Not Cast" can be seen below.

EDENBRIDGE's latest album, "The Great Momentum", was released in February through SPV/Steamhammer.

Like its predecessor "The Bonding" (2013), "The Great Momentum" was produced by guitarist/composer Lanvall and again mixed by Karl Groom (THRESHOLD) at his Thin Ice Studio in Surrey, England. The mastering was taken care of by Mika Jussila (STRATOVARIUS) at the renowned Finnvox Studios. Among the featured guests on the album are vocalist Erik Martensson (ECLIPSE, W.E.T., NORDIC UNION) and the Junge Philharmonie Freistadt orchestra.

Lanvall told HardrockHaven.net about the making of "The Great Momentum": "Right after our last studio album, 'The Bonding', I wanted to do something different musically. In 2010, Sabine [Edelsbacher, vocals] and I played a short acoustic showcase in Hanoi (Vietnam), just piano and vocals. This was really inspiring, so we founded VOICIANO, the acoustic project. Only acoustic instruments were allowed to use, so no drums, electric guitars and keyboards. I recorded most of the piano parts live without click tracks and then everything followed. In 2014, we released our first album 'Everflow'. After that, I had the idea to do a history DVD about the first 15 years of our career. In the end, I sat over one year in the cutting room and out came a nine-hour documentary on six DVDs called 'A Decade And A Half… The History So Far'. In spring 2015, I immediately started writing the new studio album 'The Great Momentum', which also took me one year in the writing and arranging process. In June [2016], we recorded the drums and after that, I spent the whole summer of recording in my own studio. That all was a very relaxing process this time and made a lot of fun. After a three-weeksholiday break, I went to England to Karl Groom for the mix, which was a great process again. It is the fifth album we have been done together now and the collaboration is always awesome. Finally, Mika Jussila put the final touches on the album on mastering in Finnvox."

Legendary British metal gods Judas Priest have unveiled the artwork and an audio snippet from their upcoming album, Firepower, which was produced by Andy Sneap and Tom Allom and is due in March 2018.

The Judas Priest: Firepower 2018 Tour will kick off on March 13th in Pennsylvania, and wrap up on May 1st in Texas and will feature the lineup of singer Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. Support comes from Saxon and Black Star Riders.

All dates will be running a Judas Priest Fan Presale starting Wednesday, October 25th at 10 AM local time with the password: FIREPOWER that fans can use to purchase tickets in advance. Check the local venue for additional information.

There are few heavy metal bands that have managed to scale the heights that Judas Priest have during their 40 year career - originally formed during the early '70s in Birmingham, England, Judas Priest is responsible for some of the genre's most influential and landmark albums (1980's British Steel, 1982's Screaming For Vengeance, 1990's Painkiller, etc.) and for decades have been one of the greatest live bands in the entire heavy metal genre including an iconic performance at Live Aid in 1985 - they also brought metal to the masses by their appearance on American Idol in 2011 - plus Judas Priest were one of the first metal bands to exclusively wear leather and studs - a look that began during this era and was eventually embraced by metal fans throughout the world! And in 2017, the band was nominated for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

And come 2018, North American headbangers will get the opportunity to experience the mighty Priest on a nearby concert stage!

Confirmed tour dates:

March
13 - Wilkes Barre, PA - Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
15 - Youngstown, OH - Covelli Centre
17 - Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
18 - Washington, DC - The Anthem
20 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
22 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
25 - Ottawa, ON - The Arena at TD Place
27 - London, ON - Budweiser Gardens
28 - Oshawa, ON - Tribute Communities Centre
30 - Orillia, ON - Casino Rama
31 - Detroit, MI - Detroit Masonic Temple

April
3 - Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theater
5 - Green Bay, WI - Resch Center
8 - Bloomington, IL - Grossinger Motors Arena
10 - Casper, WY - Casper Events Center
11 - Loveland, CO - Budweiser Events Center
15 - Kent, WA - ShoWare Center
17 - Portland, OR - Veterans Memorial Coliseum
19 - San Francisco - The Warfield
22 - Los Angeles, CA - Microsoft Theater
24 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre
26 - Tulsa, OK - BOK Center
28 - Dallas, TX - The Bomb Factory
29 - Sugarland, TX - Smart Financial Centre

May
1 - San Antonio, TX - Freeman Coliseum

St. Louis metal outfit Black Fast will enter Mana Studios in St. Petersburg, FL this week with veteran producer Erik Rutan to begin work on an all-new LP for Entertainment One (eOne). Known for his work with Hate Eternal, Six Feet Under, Goatwhore and Cannibal Corpse, Rutan was an easy choice for the band to produce their widely successful eOne debut Terms Of Surrender. Citing the positive rapport between him and the band, Erik is very excited about working with Black Fast once again. 

“We are super excited to produce the new Black Fast album," Rutan says. "We had such a great experience working together on the recording of 'Terms of Surrender' and I know that we will step it up a notch in this next production. There is a certain chemistry that happens when as a producer you get to work with bands on multiple records and when everyone is on the same page like we are, fantastic things happen. Black Fast is such a unique band of incredible musicians and great people. I cannot wait to get to work with the guys again, capture their raging sound and stellar performances in the best way I know how! May the metal commence!”

Terms Of Surrender, the band's ferocious and thrashing eOne debut, is also now available on vinyl for the first time on the band's official online store.

Black Fast have recently joined the D'Addario and Co. family. Aaron Akin says, "We won’t play anything else since we found the NYXL brand. They are the loudest, clearest, strongest and most balanced strings out there. They are the only strings we use on the road or in the studio. D’Addario rips!" Black Fast shreds with D’Addario NYXL-1046 and Evans Drumheads.

Phoenix post-hardcore outfit Eyes Set To Kill unveil the music video for their brand new single, "Break", the first new material from the band since their 2013 Century Media Records debut album, Masks.

On the meaning behind "Break", vocalist Alexis Rodriguez comments: "Putting yourself out there and staying true to your inner artist is always a challenge and is especially difficult when outside influences push you to be something you’re not. Break is about that point in your life that you’ve had enough and don’t want to be consumed or controlled by negative energy. I wanted the normal interpretation of 'the breaking point' to be renewed and actually portrayed as a positive realization and new beginning. It’s about accepting who you are and welcoming changes without letting them break you down."

Eyes Set To Kill have also announced they will embark on the New Years Resolution West Coast tour at the end of 2017 supporting Dayshell. Dates are as follows: 

November
29 - Fresno, CA - Strummers
30 - Sacramento, CA - Holy Diver

December
1 - Redding, CA - The Dip
2 - Portland, OR - Analog
3 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
5 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Loading Dock
6 - Denver, CO - Marquis Theatre
7 - Lincoln, NE - Vega
8 - La Crosse, WI - The Warehouse
9 - Barrington, IL - Penny Road Pub
10 - St. Louis, MO - Fubar
11 - Oklahoma City, OK - 89th St. Collective
12 - Tyler, TX - Crossroads
13 - Roswell, NM - The Unity Center
15 - Riverside, CA - Mission Tobacco Lounge

Stay tuned for more new material from Eyes Set To Kill in early 2018.

 

 

On November 11, Tristen Lang conducted an interview with ARCH ENEMY frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz and guitarist Michael Amott in Kansas City, Missouri during the band's tour with TRIVIUM, WHILE SHE SLEEPS and FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked what it's like to be a female musician in the male-dominated heavy metal scene, Alissa said: "In general, people that we meet in person are pretty cool people — always very respectful, just happy to be there, happy to enjoy the music.

"Quite honestly, I don't pay much attention to pop culture and don't have any interest in it, so I don't know what those ladies are subject to.

"Of course, there are always obstacles with being the oddball in any situation, and so, of course, in this situation, I am the oddball. But it's just something that you deal with.

"It's just one of those things. I mean, I've always been a woman, actually [laughs], so I'm kind of used to whatever bullshit comes with that. And it's just the way it is."

The Viking sails have been set – 2018 will be under the sign of the dragonhead. Uncompromising, combative, epic – the new LEAVES’ EYES! One of the most successful bands in the symphonic metal genre returns with its seventh album, ready to live up to the public’s high expectations.

The brand new official music video, filmed for the album’s title track, is available now.
Again, the band has worked with director Rainer “Zipp” Fränzen and the result is another authentic Viking story which perfectly underlies the song’s epic spirit.

The new LEAVES’ EYES album “Sign Of The Dragonhead” will be released on January 12th.

The official lyric video for "Defy", the title track of the upcoming album from OF MICE & MEN, can be seen below. Due on January 19, 2018 via Rise Records, the disc will mark OF MICE & MEN's first full-length release without vocalist Austin Carlile, who left the group due to his ongoing battle with Marfan syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that afflicts the connective tissue holding the body's cells, organs and tissue together. Handling lead vocals in the band now is bassist Aaron Pauley.

Earlier this year, OF MICE & MEN teased the forthcoming album with the one-two punch of the singles "Unbreakable" and "Back To Me". Those songs have clocked over seven million Spotify streams and five million YouTube/VEVO views in six months. Both tracks were recorded with Grammy-nominated producer Howard Benson (IN FLAMES, ALL THAT REMAINS), mixed by Grammy winner Chris Lord-Alge (DEFTONES, MUSE) and mastered by Chris Athens (DRAKE, OZZY OSBOURNE).

"Defy" track listing:

01. Defy02. Instincts03. Back To Me04. Sunflower05. Unbreakable06. Vertigo07. Money08. How Will You Live09. On The Inside10. Warzone11. Forever YDG'n12. If We Were Ghosts

Pauley told Kaaos TV about the songwriting process for "Defy": "The only real difference was, in the past, [Austin] and I would work on vocals together and stuff, and for writing the music, everything else was the same as it's been before, which, for us, felt very good to kind of go back in the studio… That's a really good question — we get asked that a lot: how different was it? And for us, it didn't really feel that much different. I think when it came to doing lyrics and vocals, instead of me bouncing ideas off of Austin, I would bounce ideas off of Tino [David Valentino Arteaga, drums] or off of Alan [Ashby, guitar] or off of Phil [Manansala, guitar]. So kind of the whole way that we've always done things is very group-oriented. And with regards to the music, us being the four musicians that played instruments, that didn't change and the way that we had crafted music and made records and demos in the past didn't change. It was just the vocals and the lyrics — and even that didn't really change other than it wasn't me bouncing ideas off of Austin, it was me bouncing ideas off of Tino and Alan, Phil and our producer. So it felt very similar — probably more similar than it felt different."

Carlile originally left OF MICE & MEN in 2010 after his doctor forbade him from touring to undergo heart surgery tied to complications with Marfan Syndrome. He returned in 2011, but his ailments didn't cease, forcing him to exit the band for the second, and presumably final, time at the end of last year.

An OF MICE & MEN documentary called "Unbreakable" was released on October 13. The short film, which was directed by Johann Ramos, follows the band across multiple continents on their tour earlier this year.

Animal Drive’s debut album, Bite!, will be released on February 23rd. A video for the album track “Tower Of Lies (I Walk Alone)” can be found below, and you can pre-order the album here.

Introduced to the label by the one and only Jeff Scott Soto, Animal Drive immediately impressed the label’s executives thanks to the singer, Dino Jelusic who had an incredibly commanding presence befitting of the enormous hard rock songs that were being performed. Hailing from Zagreb, Croatia, Animal Drive were created in 2012 by singer Dino Jelusic, who is the primary songwriter and driving force behind the band’s sound. Dino was chosen by the late, great Paul O’Neill to tour as a featured vocalist on Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s most recent US tour, which is how he crossed paths with Soto and which would ultimately lead to them becoming label mates.

Animal Drive’s lineup is completed by guitarist Ivan Keller, Roko Rokindja Nikolic on bass, and Adrian Boric on drums. Influenced by legendary bands such as Skid Row (think Slave To The Grind era), Whitesnake at their heaviest and with a little progressive rock and metal elements from Dream Theater thrown in the mix, Animal Drive take their listeners on a wild ride of hard rock bombast.

Dino says: “I am more than delighted and excited to present our debut album. I hope the fans can approach our music with curiosity and interest and we hope to come soon in a town near you to Rock your asses off!”

Bite! tracklisting:

"Goddamn Marathon"
"Tower Of Lies (I Walk Alone)"
"Had Enough"
"Hands Of Time"
"Lights Of The Damned"
"Time Machine"
"Father"
"Fade Away"
"Carry On"
"Devil Took My Beer Again"
"Deliver Me"

"Tower Of Lies (I Walk Alone)" video:

In a brand interview with Clash, METALLICA frontman James Hetfield was asked if the band had to make certain compromises along the way in order to be accepted by the mainstream. He responded: "It is interesting, because we have created our own mainstream, is what I believe. We've been extremely honest with ourselves, including the compromising part.

"There always has to be some kind of compromise — especially when you've got four guys in a band," he continued. "You've got two guys that are really driving the thing — Lars [Ulrich, drums] and myself — and when we don't agree, there has to be a compromise. But as far as doing something that doesn't feel right, I'm sure there's been a few times that it's happened — the 'Load' and 'Reload' era, for me, was one of those; the way that was looking, I wasn't 100 percent on with it, but I would say that that was a compromise. I said, 'I'm going with Lars's and Kirk's [Hammett, guitar] vision on this. You guys are extremely passionate about this, so I'll jump on board, because if the four of us are into it, it's going to be better.' So I did my best with it, and it didn't pan out as good as I was hoping, but, again, there's no regrets, because at the time it felt like the right thing to do. So, even thinking that I need to compromise a little bit for the integrity of the band to go forward, I'd do that. But as far as the mainstream goes, I think we've been so honest and open about what we want and what we don't want. You know, this is our fucking party. [Laughs] You're invited! Everyone's invited! Be a part of the acceptance of this and the adventure, and if it starts to get personal and you don't like it, you can jump off at any point, because there's always hopefully going to be someone who enjoys that enthusiasm about creation, and there will always be a seat for that person."

During the same chat, Hetfield said that METALLICA has "always hated any kind of rules, or any attempt to categorize or box us in any way. We don't like boundaries and limits," he added. "And I think right away… heavy metal has the impression that it's a bit punk, like 'Fuck the world,' and 'We're us, we're doing things our way,' and that's fine, until you don't fit into their way. You know, cutting your hair or not wearing a leather jacket, or whatever. Doing a ballad: that was one of the things that set us apart right away. I remember almost getting in a fight with a fan in San Francisco. This was about '89, because '[…And] Justice [For All]' had just come out, and we had done a video for the song 'One', and the guy said, 'Fuck you, you sell-out motherfucker. You did a video for MTV, and blah blah blah…' [Laughs] I felt the need to defend us! It's like, 'Why do I need to justify our art to you?' So that, to us, it disappointed us. It disappointed us that fans would get angry at you for being an artist, or doing what you feel you want to do to explain yourself to the world, or to connect with the world."

Following the "Load"/"Reload" albums and tour, METALLICA went into a tailspin that resulted in the exit of bassist Jason Newsted, Hetfield spending the better part of a year in rehab and the band nearly splitting up.

In a 2016 interview with TeamRock, Hetfield was asked what he thought late METALLICA bassist Cliff Burton might have felt about the drastic changes in METALLICA's look and sound that the band made through the 1990s and early 2000s with albums like "Load", "Reload" and "St. Anger". Hetfield replied: "Well, I certainly would have thought there would have been some resistance, for sure. I think the 'Black Album' was a great album and I appreciate the fact that we did have the balls to do that… I would certainly think that the 'Load' and 'Reload' [era], I would have had an ally that was very against it all — the reinvention or the U2 version of METALLICA."

METALLICA returned to a heavier style more reminiscent of its early albums on 2008's "Death Magnetic", while its new disc, "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", arrived in November 2016.