After a nearly seven-year absence from Las Vegas, multi-platinum, chart-topping rock band NICKELBACK is returning to Sin City in February 2018 for an impressive five-night run at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. MONSTER TRUCK will open all five shows. The limited run is made even more special with the announcement that these shows will be NICKELBACK's only North American dates scheduled in 2018.

The Las Vegas shows are scheduled for February 23, 24, 27 and March 2 and 3, 2018. Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, November 10 at 10 a.m. PT.

NICKELBACK released its ninth studio album, "Feed The Machine", this past summer and recently completed a packed 45-city tour. Following their Vegas run, NICKELBACK will embark on the international leg of the "Feed The Machine" tour throughout the remainder of 2018.

Tickets for the "Feed The Machine" Las Vegas residency start at $50.50 (plus applicable service fees), and will be available beginning with a fan club pre-sale at www.nickelback.com/tour on Tuesday, November 7 at 10:00 a.m. PT. Public on-sale begins Friday, November 10 at 10 a.m. PT at the Hard Rock Hotel box office in Las Vegas, by calling 888.9.AXS.TIX or online at www.axs.com. For additional ticket information and details on where to buy tickets, visit www.nickelback.com. NICKELBACK will offer a limited number of VIP packages for each show with options that include one-night accommodations at the Hard Rock Hotel, premium seating, early entry and an exclusive pre-show VIP Rockstar lounge with food, drinks and more, a specially designed NICKELBACK messenger bag, limited edition guitar pick set in wood casing, VIP laminate and commemorative VIP ticket and more. Fans can visit livemu.sc/Nickelback-VIP for more info. VIP Packages will be made available during the presale.

Former FAITH NO MORE singer Chuck Mosley has died at the age of 57.

His family has issued the following statement:

"After a long period of sobriety, Charles Henry Mosley III lost his life on November 9th, 2017 due to the disease of addiction.

"We're sharing the manner in which he passed in the hopes that it might serve as a warning or wake-up call or beacon to anyone else struggling to fight for sobriety.

"He is survived by long-term partner Pip Logan, two daughters, Erica and Sophie, and his grandson Wolfgang Logan Mosley.

"The family will be accepting donations for funeral expenses. Details to follow when arranged."

With Mosley at the helm, FAITH NO MORE became one of the '80s' leading underground bands on the strength of 1985's "We Care a Lot" and 1987's "Introduce Yourself". Despite exiting the group in 1988 under less-than-friendly circumstances, the Ohio-based Mosley is now friendly with most of his former FNM bandmates and has even joined them on stage in recent years.

Axl Rose has paid tribute to Paul Buckmaster, saying that he feels "very fortunate" to have met the half-British, half-Italian string arranger who died Tuesday at age 71.

Buckmaster worked on orchestral arrangements for GUNS N' ROSES' 2008 studio album "Chinese Democracy", contributing to the tracks "Street Of Dreams", "There Was A Time", "Madagascar" and "Prostitute". He is also renowned for working with Elton John, THE ROLLING STONES, David Bowie and many others. In 2016, he collaborated with HEART on the "Beautiful Broken" album.

The GUNS N' ROSES singer tweeted on Thursday (November 9): "Very sorry to hear of Mr. Paul Buckmaster's passing. I feel very fortunate to have met him n' have his involvement in GNR. My deepest condolences to his friends, fans n' loved ones."

Buckmaster is probably best known for his work on John's early albums, where he provided the orchestral arrangements for such classic tracks as "Tiny Dancer" and "Your Song". He also teamed with THE ROLLING STONES for "Moonlight Mile" and "Sway" on the group's "Sticky Fingers" album.

CHILDREN OF BODOM bassist Henkka Seppälä (a.k.a. Henkka T. Blacksmith) has confirmed to The Salt Lake Tribune that the band has commenced work on material for the follow-up to 2015's "I Worship Chaos" album. "We've been already writing the whole fall, actually," he said. "We have almost half the new album. So we'll go back and do some more new songs. And then, in the spring, we're gonna start laying the tracks."

As for the musical direction of the new CHILDREN OF BODOM songs, Henkka said: "I don't know. It's always hard. For me, for some reason, I'm incapable of describing any direction that we go. There's always something new, and it's always somehow refreshing to me to do the new songs. I'm very, very excited. Very, very excited."

According to Seppälä, the new CHILDREN OF BODOM album "should be mastered by the summer" of 2018, with a release to follow later in the year.

Henkka was also asked about recent comments made by ex-CHILDREN OF BODOM guitarist Roope Latvala, who claimed that he was "stabbed in the back" by his former bandmates.

Latvala was a member of CHILDREN OF BODOM for more than a decade before being dismissed from the group in May 2015. His exit came just as the band was preparing to enter the studio to begin recording "I Worship Chaos".

Roope told Finland's YLE that he was "bitter" at his former bandmates because he was "fired without an explanation." The guitarist added that he felt that "CHILDREN OF BODOM's success had gone to" frontman Alexi Laiho's head and that Alexi started to "look down on" him for reasons that weren't quite clear to him.

Pressed by The Salt Lake Tribune for a response to Roope's remarks, Henkka said: "Well, it was pretty clear, the whole thing, when we made the announcement when we split up. There was really nothing unclear. I don't know where this now came from. It was really kind of, like, sad — a sad thing to see it. I'd rather not talk about it. There's nothing to comment about it, and I'd rather leave it like it is now."

CHILDREN OF BODOM has embarked on a U.S. tour during which it is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release of the band's debut album, "Something Wild". The 24-date trek kicked off on October 31 in Dallas, Texas and included an appearance at this year's Ozzfest Meets Knotfest. The tour will conclude in Montreal on December 1. Joining the band are Dutch masters of horror CARACH ANGREN, Finnish thrashers LOST SOCIETY and New Jersey progressive, technical death metallers UNCURED.

Finnish symphonic metallers AMBERIAN DAWN have released the official lyric video for the song "Dragonflies". The track is taken from the band's eighth album, "Darkness Of Eternity", which is being released today (Friday, November 10) via Napalm Records.

"Darkness Of Eternity" track listing:

01. I'm The One02. Sky Is Falling03. Dragonflies04. Maybe05. Golden Coins06. Luna My Darling07. Abyss08. Ghostwoman09. Breathe Again10. Symphony Nr. 1, Part 2 - Darkness Of Eternity11. Anyone (bonus track)

AMBERIAN DAWN keyboardist and mastermind Tuomas Seppälä comments: "'Darkness Of Eternity' is one of the most emotional AMBERIAN DAWN albums so far. It's got some really bombastic songs in mood of dark and symphonic melodic metal and in contrast to that also some really poppy songs too.

"For me, it's really hard to stick in one genre only and I constantly want to compose different kinds of songs!"

Tuomas adds: "The song 'Symphony Nr.1, Part 1 - The Witchcraft' told the story on the last record, 'Innuendo', before the time of 'Magic Forest'. The little girl is a healer and village elders buried her alive in a coffin. The track 'Symphony Nr.1, Part 2 - Darkness Of Eternity' on our upcoming record 'Darkness Of Eternity' tells the story of the girl lying in the coffin trying to get out. Darkness is asking her to dance the waltz of eternity. The story will continue in Part 3 and we will tell you how she became the Magic Forest's evil witch!" Regarding the "Darkness Of Eternity" recording process, Tuomas says: "We did a lot of production at legendary Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland: drum recordings, mixing by Mikko Karmila and mastering by Mika Jussila. We also used a live string section on orchestral parts and that added nice color on the sound.

"It's easy for me to say that this album is without any doubt the best sounding AMBERIAN DAWN album ever! It's a kind of monument for me and it introduces the many sides of me as composer.

"I still feel very lucky that I've got Capri [Päivi Virkkunen] on this band because she's probably the only singer capable singing all of those different styles with superior sound and feeling."

AMBERIAN DAWN released a compilation album of songs that originally appeared on their first four albums — "Circus Black" (2012), "End Of Eden" (2010), "The Clouds Of Northland Thunder" (2009) and "River Of Tuoni" (2008) — to showcase Virkkunen after the departure of Heidi Parviainen. "Re-Evolution" was made available on June 14, 2013 in Finland, distributed by Suomen Musiikki.

AMBERIAN DAWN is:

Tuomas Seppälä – Keyboards, GuitarPäivi "Capri" Virkkunen - VocalsEmil Pohjalainen - GuitarJukka Hoffren - BassJoonas Pykälä-aho - Drums

THUNDER's music video for the brand new song "Christmas Day" can be seen below.

The band will release the track to bookend a very successful phase in its career, which culminated with two studio albums in a row entering the U.K. Top 10 chart. The most recent, "Rip it Up", charted at No. 3, while their recent live concert film, "All You Can Eat", charted at No. 1 and their touring included a U.K. arena tour and numerous concerts across the world. "Christmas Day" is more of a timeless ballad than it is a traditional festive carol and the song reveals the band in a new light. The heartfelt, melancholic track features a stunning and evocative arrangement from guitarist Luke Morley to accompany the unique voice of singer Danny Bowes.

The single is released in highly collectible formats with exclusive additional songs released digitally for the first time. They include a new version of THUNDER classic "Love Walked In", which appears in a new re-recorded and mostly acoustic arrangement; the classic "Low Life In High Places", featuring similar treatment, as does the more recent song "Heartbreak Hurricane". "Christmas Day" will be released digitally on December 1 via earMUSIC.

The official THUNDER store also offers a wide variety of exclusive, limited fan items and bundles, including a seven-inch single, two-track vinyl as well as a colored ten-inch, four-track vinyl.

"Christmas Day" track listing:

01. Christmas Day02. Love Walked In (2017 Version)03. Low Life In High Places (Acoustic)04. Heartbreak Hurricane (Acoustic)05. Christmas Day (Live at RAK) (Bonus Track)

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY will release its new album, "No Cross No Crown", on January 12 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. It will be made available on CD, digital, vinyl, and cassette formats.

In 2014, after nearly a straight decade traversing the globe as a guitarist with New Orleans supergroup DOWN, Pepper Keenan reconnected with the core CORROSION OF CONFORMITY trio of Woody Weatherman, Mike Dean and Reed Mullin to hit the road hard. "Reed called me and mentioned maybe playing a couple shows," Keenan recalls. "I said, 'Let's just go to Europe and see if it works.' So we went to Europe and then ended up going back four times in one year... We toured for a year and then started tracking about ten or eleven months ago." Recording in North Carolina with longtime producer John Custer, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY cut "No Cross No Crown" in about forty days over the course of a year. "We took our time and didn't put any pressure on ourselves," Keenan says. "I'd go up from New Orleans and we'd do four or five days at a time, just hacking away at it. It was fun because we did it like a demo, but in a studio. We were writing and putting it on tape at the same time. We took what parts we thought were great from the old days and weren't scared to go backwards. It kinda wrote itself that way." Some of these new jams sound like could've easily been on "Wiseblood" or "Deliverance", two of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's most revered records. On "No Cross No Crown", beefy Southern stompers like "The Luddite", "Little Man" and "Forgive Me" are interspersed with melancholy guitar interludes like "No Cross", "Matre's Diem" and "Sacred Isolation" — just like SABBATH used to do in the '70s. "We started doing that on 'Deliverance'," Keenan points out. "My theory on that is that if you're trying to make a record flow, you need to break it up a little. When you need a breather, write an interlude. I like writing those mellow pieces just to space things out and make the next thing come in heavier." The album's iconic title comes from a recent tour stop in England. "We were playing this old church from like the 1500s that had been turned into a performing arts center," Keenan recalls. "The dressing room had stained glass windows and one of them showed this poor fella being persecuted. Underneath it said, 'no cross no crown.' So I just took that idea. We're not trying to be on a soapbox, but we used it as a catalyst to write songs around." Which is to say that "No Cross No Crown" has a lot less to do with politics or religion than its title implies. "I think everyone needs to get away from that mindset in general," Keenan offers. "It just seems to be a mess out there nowadays. We need to get back to being humans and taking care of each other and simple things like that. For us, the terminology 'no cross no crown' is a theme. It's mentioned in like three songs throughout the album. We just weaved it through as we went." "No Cross No Crown" stands as irrefutable proof of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's ability to overcome. "CORROSION OF CONFORMITY and the prior records I've done with them didn't just go away," Keenan observes. "It's an honor to be back out there and have an opportunity to do it again in a real way and not some washed-up reunion thing. Even before we wrote the record, we were out there for a year seeing there was a demand for it and that there was a void that we could fill. That's been CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's deal from day one. We're not chasing anybody around. We're not gonna worry about what the new trends are. CORROSION OF CONFORMITY is CORROSION OF CONFORMITY." "No Cross No Crown" track listing:

01. Novus Deus02. The Luddite03. Cast The First Stone04. No Cross05. Wolf Named Crow06. Little Man07. Matre's Diem08. Forgive Me09. Nothing Left To Say10. Sacred Isolation11. Old Disaster12. E.L.M.13. No Cross No Crown14. A Quest To Believe (A Call To The Void)15. Son And Daughter

The song "Cast The First Stone" can be streamed below. In advance of the release of "No Cross No Crown", CORROSION OF CONFORMITY will join BLACK LABEL SOCIETY for a mammoth North American live takeover. The tour begins December 27 in Denver, Colorado and will wind its way through nearly four dozen cities, the journey coming to a close February 27, 2018. Additional support will be provided by EYEHATEGOD and RED FANG on select shows.

GUNS N' ROSES has announced the summer 2018 European leg of the "Not in This Lifetime" tour, including headlining appearances at several festivals.

The trek will kick off June 3 in Berlin, Germany, conclude on July 21 in Gothenburg, Sweden. The dates will include an appearance at the U.K.'s Download festival on June 9 and a June 21 headlining slot at Belgium's Graspop Metal Meeting.

"It's great to have this iconic line up of GUNS N' ROSES headlining at Download," promoter Andy Copping said in a statement. "I am sure I am not alone when I say I have been wanting this to happen for years. It will be an incredible show and will be one of the highlights of the Download weekend."

GUNS N' ROSES summer 2018 tour dates:

Jun. 03 - Berlin, Germany - OlympiastadionJun. 06 - Odense, Denmark - DyreskuepladsenJun. 09 - Donnington, UK - DownloadJun. 12 - Gelsenkirchen, Germany - Veltins ArenaJun. 15 - Firenze, Italy - Firenze RocksJun. 18 - Paris, France - DownloadJun. 21 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Metal MeetingJun. 24 - Mannheim, Germany - MaimarktgeländeJun. 26 - Bordeaux, France - Matmut StadiumJun. 29 - Madrid, Spain - DownloadJul. 01 - Barcelona, Spain - Estadio OlympicoJul. 04 - Nijmegen, Netherlands - GoffertparkJul. 07 - Leipzig, Germany - FestwieseJul. 09 - Chorzow, Poland - Stadion SlaskiJul. 13 - Moscow, Russia - Otkritie ArenaJul. 16 - Tallinn, Estonia - Tallinn Song Festival GroundJul. 19 - Oslo, Norway - Valle HovinJul. 21 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Ullevi Stadium

Pollstar reported earlier in the year that "Not In This Lifetime" tour was the most popular and highest-grossing global tour of 2017.

About seventy people travel with the show in addition to the truck drivers; that number goes upwards of five hundred, including the local workers, by show date once catering, security, etc. are factored in, according to the tour's production manager, Dale "Opie" Skjerseth.

GUNS kicked off its long-rumored and long-awaited reunion tour in April 2016 with a club show in Hollywood and appearances in Las Vegas and at California's Coachella festival.

The "Not In This Lifetime" tour features classic lineup members Slash (guitar), Duff McKagan (bass) and Axl Rose (vocals) backed by guitarist Richard Fortus, drummer Fank Ferrer, keyboardist Dizzy Reed and new second keyboardist Melissa Reese.

Chester Bennington's widow has shared a touching video the late LINKIN PARK singer sent to her several weeks before he took his own life.

In the 45-second clip, which Talinda Bennington posted to her Twitter account, Chester can be seen gushing about his wife, telling her: "I just wanted to tell you how much I love you and how much I miss you. And I just think that you're the most amazing woman in the whole world. You're such a great mom, and you're the best wife. And I'm so glad that you and I can always find a way to keep the magic alive and keep our love strong and be there for each other no matter what. And I just want you to know how much I appreciate you, and how great you are, and I miss you. I love you. Bye."

Talinda uploaded the video earlier today (Thursday, November 9), writing in an accompanying message: "My one true love. I miss these msgs from my @ChesterBe.This was 2 months before he died. #fuckdepression #makechesterproud"

Bennington died on July 20 after committing suicide at the age of 41. He had been open with the press and public about his struggles with depression, drugs and alcohol, which landed him in rehab twice around 2006.

Using the hashtags #FuckDepression and #MakeChesterProud, Talinda is growing an online community that is there to support people with depression, and people who have been impacted by a loved one's depression or suicide.

Chester and Talinda had three children together, Tyler Lee, 11, and Lila and Lilly, both of whom are 6.

LINKIN PARK paid tribute to Bennington on October 27 with an emotional three-hour show that featured numerous guests joining the band onstage at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Among the artists who performed with the band throughout the show were BUSH's Gavin Rossdale, Jonathan Davis of KORN, Alanis Morissette, the instrumental members of NO DOUBT, Oli Sykes of BRING ME THE HORIZON, BLINK-182, M. Shadows and Synyster Gates of AVENGED SEVENFOLD and many more.

LINKIN PARK has yet to announce whether the band intends to continue without Bennington.

It's a well-known predicament that the FREEDOM CALL founder and frontman Chris Bay shares with many other composers: occasionally, his wealth of inspiration goes beyond the stylistic and thematic scope of his own band.

"I permanently write songs and am constantly working on ideas in the studio," he explains. "That's why I've collected a whole lot of tracks over the years that on the one hand don't really suit FREEDOM CALL and on the other are just too good to gather dust in my archive." The solution to his "luxury" problem: February 23, 2018 will see the release of Bay's first solo album, "Chasing The Sun", on Steamhammer/SPV, committing himself in his very own, unmistakable way to the music that has inspired him since the very early days of his career. And although the songs on the album were created over a long period of time, Bay produced the whole material in spring 2017 at his own studio.

Which must be one of the reasons why "Chasing The Sun" — despite the diversity of the individual tracks — sounds cohesive. Alongside a number of rock songs in characteristic Chris Bay style, he has skilfully blended in modern sound elements on the opening track "Flying Hearts", added Wurlitzer piano touches, which bring to mind the currently trendy 1970s, on "Hollywood Dancer" and risked a song with a slow shuffle groove, a consciously dark atmosphere and an avant-garde flair in "Where Waters Flow In Heaven".

In stark contrast to this is the first single release "Radio Starlight", with its obvious airplay potential, which will be released digitally on December 1 and to which there will be also a video clip, which triggers with tantalizing images wanderlust and will definitely makes you hungry for more.

This title once again underscores the boundless ease with which Bay moves in his world of music. As the album title "Chasing the Sun" already suggests, Bay casually processed the desires and wishes that probably each of us holds in this dark season.. sun, freedom, warmth and harmony ... a "summer hit" in winter, a matter of interpretation.

Whitey Glan, best known for his work as a session drummer with Lou Reed and Alice Cooper, passed away on November 7 at the age of 71. Whitey was diagnosed with lung cancer in September after follow-up tests from treatment for pneumonia in August.

Cooper commented on Whitey's passing in a Facebook post earlier today (Thursday, November 9). He wrote: "I picked Whitey Glan as the drummer for my 'Welcome To My Nightmare' tour because he was simply the best drummer around, not knowing he could drink me under a table. He was just a great guy, everybody who's worked with him considered him one of their best friends. He was one of rock's premier drummers, but in my opinion, he was very underrated and underpublicized — he was certainly a drummer's drummer! Canada is less one world class musician... rest in peace, Whitey."

According to Toronto Moon, Whitey had been anchoring a weekly Saturday afternoon series in Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada with a band known as WHITEY & THE ROULETTES since August of last year. In recent years, he also appeared with a number of local R&B veterans, including the DANNY B BAND, Mike McKenna and former MANDALA bandmate George Olliver.

OF MICE & MEN will release is new album, "Defy", 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.

The official video for the disc's new single, "Warzone", can be seen below. The clip lives up to the song's explosive combination of metallic insurgency and irresistible hooks.

"We’re excited to be debuting the music video for 'Warzone' today, a song from our new album, 'Defy'," said Pauley. "For us, this new album encapsulates and showcases our desire to return to an aggressive, live-oriented sound, and 'Warzone' is of the heaviest tracks on the album. Because we love releasing new music as often as we can, it only seemed fitting to release it right before our massive EU/UK tour with IN FLAMES and FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH this fall/winter. So turn it up, and bang your head."

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

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.

Long acknowledged as one of the greatest live bands of their generation, rock legends METALLICA have set new attendance records at each of the shows they played on their recent U.K. tour. "WorldWired" — presented by Live Nation — played five sold-out U.K. arena shows in October to ecstatic reviews. Metro called them "exciting and innovative" while The Times noted that they were "powerful enough to get over 20,000 fans punching the air in unison" and Kerrang! thought they were "jaw-droppingly awesome." The band's groundbreaking in-the-round production not only gave fans a totally immersive live experience but also allowed for an increased venue capacity. On the opening night at London's O2, METALLICA pulled in a crowd of 22,134, the following night they broke their own record for the best attended single concert performance by one headliner with a crowd of 22,211. It was the same story on the rest of the tour, a crowd of 13,111 packed into Glasgow's Hydro to set a new attendance record and in Birmingham METALLICA drew in a record-breaking crowd of 15,604. Commenting on the achievement, Live Nation's executive president of U.K. touring Andy Copping said: "This has been an incredible achievement by METALLICA. The band and everyone around them have been a pleasure to work with and they staged one of the greatest indoor shows I have ever seen." The European leg of METALLICA's "WorldWired" tour kicked off in Copenhagen, Denmark on September 2 and ran through November 3. After a break, the trek will pick up again on February 1, 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal, and continue through May, finishing up in Helsinki, Finland.

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame band is touring in support of its tenth studio album, "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", which came out in November 2016.

The first ten of the shows of the North American "WorldWired" tour during May and June grossed $49.5 million in ticket sales.

Photo credit: Ross Halfin

A video wrap-up of this year's Knotfest, which was held on November 5 in Devore, California, can be seen below.

This was the second year Ozzy Osbourne's Ozzfest has merged with SLIPKNOT's Knotfest for a two-day heavy metal juggernaut dubbed Ozzfest Meets Knotfest. In 2016, the two festivals combined, with SLIPKNOT headlining one night and BLACK SABBATH closing out the other.

Sunday's event was headlined by ROB ZOMBIE, with support from MARILYN MANSON, STONE SOUR, EIGHTEEN VISIONS, TESTAMENT, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, GOATWHORE, DEATH ANGEL and others across three stages.

For the first time since bringing the festival to Southern California three years ago, SLIPKNOT did not perform.

"Knotfest was never supposed to be exclusively about SLIPKNOT. It was always about the things that fueled the spirit of SLIPKNOT: music, art, passion, insanity, and the tribes that give it power. So it would make sense for Knotfest to carry on these ideas, even without SLIPKNOT," singer Corey Taylor said in a press release about the festival.

Knotfest made its Southern California debut in 2014 as a two-day festival, with SLIPKNOT headlining both nights.

Drummer Brian Tichy will rejoin FOREIGNER for the next five shows, beginning with this Saturday's (November 11) concert in Hammond, Indiana. He will be filling in for FOREIGNER's regular drummer Chris Frazier, who is "ill" and "has been advised to rest it up a bit," according to Brian. "He'll jump back in sooner if he can!" Tichy wrote on his Facebook page.

Brian added: "It's always great to join back up with [FOREIGNER] and play one of the best setlists in rock!"

FOREIGNER tour dates with Brian Tichy on drums:

Nov. 11 - The Venue at Horseshoe Casino - Hammond, INNov. 13 - Tribute Communities Centre - Oshawa, ONNov. 14 - Budweiser Gardens - London, ONNov. 17 - IP Casino Resort and Spa - Biloxi, MSNov. 18 - Horseshoe Casino's Bluesville - Robinsonville, MS

Tichy joined FOREIGNER in 1998 and remained until 2000. He rejoined briefly in 2007, stepping in for Jason Bonham. He then returned from 2008 until 2010, recording the album "Can't Slow Down". He returned for one show in summer 2011, filling in for Mark Schulman, who had recently lost his father. Tichy rejoined FOREIGNER for the month of August 2012 for live performances, replacing the departed Schulman once again.

Asked what he thinks the most important thing is that a drummer can do for a band, Tichy told Glide Magazine in a 2014 interview: "There really is only one most important thing and it's keeping good solid time, and solid doesn't mean you have to hit everything and smash it as hard as you can and all that. It just means no matter what you're doing up there, whatever it takes to make that band sound right and groove right and drive the band correctly, the way the band should be, you know, meaning like I don't want to hear like Neil Peart from RUSH playing in AC/DC and I don't want to hear Phil Rudd from AC/DC playing in RUSH. And I don't want a drummer to change it up too much. But the main thing is the groove and the timing."




Urgent news!(Well, it’s not really “urgent”, it’s a song that ties into this post...😜)Just as I’m getting into...

Posted by Brian Tichy on Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Swedish black metal masters DARK FUNERAL have parted ways with drummer Nils "Dominator" Fjellström.

Lord Ahriman comments: "We must sadly inform you that we have agreed to let Nils 'Dominator' Fjellström take a much needed timeout from the band to handle personal matters. We, of course, wish him the best!

"Yet the world keeps turning and so DARK FUNERAL will stride on. We have hired an extremely talented drummer that will fill in Nils's position until further notice. 'Jalomaah' will make his live debut with us today, Friday 10 November, at Aalborg Metal Festival in Denmark.

"All scheduled shows and tours will take place as planned! Stay tuned for further announcements!

"2018 will be an epic year as we have two celebrations to make: our classic album 'Vobiscum Satanas' turns 20 years old and DARK FUNERAL celebrate 25 years as a band. More news to follow — stay tuned!"

DARK FUNERAL's latest album, "Where Shadows Forever Reign", was released in June 2016 via Century Media. The effort was recorded at the Dugout Studios in Uppsala, Sweden and was produced by guitarist Lord Ahriman and Daniel Bergstrand (IN FLAMES, DIMMU BORGIR, BEHEMOTH). The stunning artwork was created by Necrolord (DISSECTION, NECROPHOBIC, EMPEROR).

DARK FUNERAL in 2014 announced the addition of frontman Heljarmadr and bassist Natt to the group's ranks.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's new single, "Trouble", has reached No. 1 on iTunes Rock and Metal charts around the globe and has garnered over 1 million streams worldwide in less than a week. The single has also hit No. 13 on Spotify's Global Viral 50 chart and No. 31 United States Viral 50 chart, as well as had over 646,800 views on VEVO and 540,000 views on YouTube of the official song and lyric videos, respectively. The release has broken records for the band and is their biggest streaming debut for a lead single in the U.S. with over 470,000 streams.

The increasing success of "Trouble" furthers the band's path of exponential achievement, as they have amassed over 2.3 billion streams, over 8.8 million song downloads and over 4 million album sales in the US (close to 8 million records globally) to date. Their previous six albums have all certified gold, while the 2009 critically acclaimed album "War Is The Answer" has been certified platinum, along with the single "Bad Company" from the collection. FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH is also one of the most popular rock bands streamed on Spotify today — they are currently No. 14 on Spotify's Top 21 Rock Acts in the U.S. surpassing major groups such as QUEEN, LED ZEPPELIN, AC/DC, PINK FLOYD, ARCTIC MONKEYS, MUMFORD & SONS and THREE DAYS GRACE.

"Trouble" is the first piece of new music the band has released in over two years, and serves as the lead single from FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's upcoming compilation album, "A Decade Of Destruction", which is due out December 1.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will kick off its biggest European arena rock tour of fall 2017 today in Moscow, Russia. They will be joined by co-headliners IN FLAMES and special guests OF MICE & MEN starting November 14 in Helsinki, Finland.

A new FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH full-length studio album — which has been completed for almost a year — will arrive in early 2018.

EUROPE drummer Ian Haugland has announced the "sudden" and "tragic" death of his 28-year-old son Simon.

Ian wrote in a post on his Facebook page: "It's impossible for me to understand and to grasp the cold fact that I'll never again see [Simon's] glowing warm eyes, never hear his cheerful chuckles, like when I told him one of my bad jokes that only him and me were deranged enough to find amusing. But hardest of all is to realize that I will never again hear him say, 'I love you, dad!'

"Right now I feel like I'm drifting in a boat on an endless cold black ocean, just holding on not to get draged down into the deep. Still, I feel lucky to have friends and family to share my grief with. But, most of all, I'm truly blessed to have my wonderful wife Marie Haugland that understand me and lifts me up through this emotional roller coaster. She is the lighthouse that I'm navigering by on this vast sea of sadness… and also Simon's words that echo from far beyond the horizon: 'It will all be okay, because you know I'll always love you, dad!'

"Until we meet again, rest in peace, Simon, my son."

EUROPE's latest album, "Walk The Earth", was released on October 20 via the band's own Hell & Back label through Silver Lining Music. The follow-up to 2015's "War Of Kings" was laid down at London, England's legendary Abbey Road studios and was produced by Dave Cobb, who also helmed the band's last disc.

Season Of Mist has announced the signing of crossover thrash metal band Insanity Alert. The group will release their third full length via the label worldwide next year.

Regarding their signing Insanity Alert comment: "We are extremely happy to announce that we are now part of the Season Of Mist family. It is an honour to work with a label that has produced so many great records. First up will be the re-release of our self-titled debut album from 2014, which will be soon followed by a new full-length in 2018. Tout détruire!"

Insanity Alert were founded in the Austrian city of Innsbruck in 2011. Their declared intent: to deliver crushing crossover thrash. The band have performed across Europe in support of their previous two full lengths, and has been invited to play prestigious festivals such as Hellfest, Summer Breeze, Motocultor and more, sharing stages with genre stalwarts Suicidal Tendencies, Municipal Waste, D.R.I., Sodom, Toxic Holocaust, and more.

Insanity Alert are currently touring across Europe. In January, Insanity Alert will embark on the Persistence Tour alongside Hatebreed, Madball, Terror, Power Trip and Born From Pain. A full list of tour dates can be found in the posters below.

 

UK rockers Toseland have signed with Frontiers Music Srl.

"Myself and the band are so excited and proud to have been recognized by one of the world's leading rock labels. We know having a label as respected as Frontiers behind us makes a massive difference in our continued development. We are looking forward to working with Frontiers on our 3rd studio album, which we hope will be released in the autumn of 2018. I want to thank everyone that has supported us from the start in 2013 until now. Your loyal support has helped us get recognition from such an established label. We will do our very best to keep producing music that we and our fans are proud of and with this support it looks like we can do this for many years to come!" - James Toseland

It has been a quite exciting few years for Toseland. Formed five years ago by James Toseland, they have steadily and convincingly grown into one of the leaders of the new breed of classic rock acts that are taking the UK by storm.

An enthusiastic fan base combined with strong support from Planet Rock Radio, brought the band's debut album Renegade (produced by Wayward Sons and Little Angels frontman Toby Jepson) crashing onto the UK album charts in 2013. The band set out on what would be the first of many UK tours and hasn't looked back since.

Second album, Cradle The Rage, followed in 2016 with a more fully developed sound. While the live following grew and grew in the UK, the band also set their sights on European audiences. Appearing as special guests on tours with respected international tour acts like Black Stone Cherry, Deep Purple, The Winery Dogs, and Michael Monroe brought the band a whole slew of new believers. Regular festival appearances at the likes of Download, Ramblin' Man Fair, Steelhouse, Planet Rockstock, Hard Rock Hell, Isle Of Wight, Graspop, Winter Storm, and a headline slot at Planet Rock Radio's inaugural Winter's End have also further elevated the band's status as an incredible live act.

2017 saw a new version of the song "We'll Stop At Nothing", featuring a community choir, adopted as the anthem for the Special Olympics National Games, culminating in a wonderful performance at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane stadium.

November 2017 sees the band embarking on a short UK tour, incorporating the Hard Rock Hell festival and a London show as special guests to the Von Hertzen Brothers alongside four headline shows of their own. They then head to the studio to work on album #3, stopping only to play a sold out show in London with Australian legend Jimmy Barnes on December 13th. In March 2018, the band will play a full UK tour as special guests to Skid Row.

Expect new music in fall 2018. The Toseland story continues to grow apace.

Hi there!
I know you all have been waiting for the announcement we were going to make, and here it is.
For many years we’ve been touring and everytime we came home I used to start writing songs almost immediately and was happy to do so. After the last tour I tried to do the same but it wasn’t the same. Eventually I found myself in a crisis which was bigger than just not being able to write songs. The years of touring and working under a certain pressure took its toll and besides that there were things in my personal life I had to deal with.

I really took time off, but when I started writing again it was something totally different than WT, but this was what I needed and I embraced it. One song led to another and it turned into a whole album. I gave it a name and it’s called ‘My Indigo’. My Indigo is about my journey these last few years and I would like to share it with you. Besides all of this I’m happy to tell you that my journey has led me back to Within Temptation. There will be a new album and a tour but more about that in the near future.

Today my first single will be released and this song is the core of my album and has the same name: My Indigo. My Indigo is not at all like Within Temptation and it wasn’t meant to be that at all. I wrote it first of all for myself, but nevertheless I hope you’ll enjoy it as well!

Thanks & take care!

An unboxing video for KISS icon Gene Simmons’ forthcoming box set, Gene Simmons: The Vault Experience, can be seen below:

Celebrating 50 years in rock (1966-2016) Gene Simmons, multi-hyphenate entrepreneur, co-founder and front man of KISS, America’s number one gold record award-winning group of all time in all categories (RIAA), and one of the most recognized performers in the world, recently announced the unprecedented release of Gene Simmons: The Vault Experience in partnership with Rhino Entertainment.

Gene Simmons: The Vault Experience commemorates and celebrates Simmons’ notorious five-decade journey as a rock icon, offering fans around the world a limited-edition collectible ‘Vault’ with contents that offer a unique look into The Demon’s colourful life, including never-before-released songs, photos, stories and collectible items. Additionally, every Vault will be personally delivered to each fan by Simmons himself.

Gene Simmons: The Vault Experience begins with a personal delivery, by Simmons himself, of a numbered, limited-edition, 17” x 25” 38-pound Vault, during Simmons’ Vault World Tour set to take place January 2018 through December 2018.

Priced at $2,000 - each unique Vault includes:

* 150 never-before-released tracks written and performed by Simmons, and featuring notable rock and roll artists, including members of KISS past and present

* Packaged in a massive 12” x 12” x 6” leather-bound commemorative book containing dozens of never- before-seen images of Simmons throughout his 50-year career

* These unreleased tracks are exclusive to The Vault and will not be available in other physical or digital configurations

* Limited-edition collectibles including a Gene Simmons non-makeup action figure and an “In Gene We Trust” oversized medallion

* A one-of-a-kind, hand-selected original piece of memorabilia from Gene’s personal collection

During the one-on-one meet and greets with the delivery of the Vaults, Simmons will travel around the world, to a designated location to take photos and video with the fan and a guest, and sign autographs. In addition to the private meeting, fans will receive a Vault Pre-Pack* and join a small group of other fans for “Songs and Stories” from The Vault and a Q&A with Simmons. Within a month of purchase, fans will also receive via mail a Vault Pre-Pack featuring a USB including the first track “Are You Ready”, a signed golden ticket, exclusive t- shirt, and a laminate. Ordering by December 5th will ensure delivery of the Vault Pre-Pack by December 23rd, just in time for holiday gift giving.

“Any artist can release a boxed set, and never really thank the fans for their support,” said Simmons. “I want to celebrate my 50th anniversary in rock WITH the fans, and I have had a blast putting something really special together for them. Gene Simmons: The Vault Experience gives fans something truly unique that they can keep forever, and it gives me a chance to personally thank them for all of their support over the years.”

“What Gene and Rhino have put together with The Vault Experience is truly unprecedented. We have taken the idea of a boxed set to a completely different level,” says Mark Pinkus, President of Rhino Entertainment. “As a card-carrying member of the KISS Army from a young age, I’m honored to be working with Gene on such an exciting and innovative project. His fans are going to be absolutely blown away by The Vault Experience.”

For the ultimate fan, two additional Vault Experiences are available:

* The Executive Producers Experience - $25,000

Kicking off in New York on September 15th, the Executive Producer’s Experience will be available in cities around the world until November 2017, and is the quintessential experience for the devoted fan, plus a guest. The Executive Producer’s experience includes an initial Skype call with Simmons; a one-hour private studio preview with Simmons, offering the opportunity to listen to tracks before they are released; a distinguished Executive Producer credit on every Vault; a photo, video and autograph opportunity with Gene; one of the first 500 limited-edition numbered Vaults; and a Vault Pre-Pack.

* The Home Experience** - $50,000

Launching December 2017 in the US and in cities around the world, the Home Experience includes a personal delivery of The Vault to the fan’s home by Simmons himself; one of the first 300 limited- edition numbered Vaults; two hours with Simmons at the fan’s home (or location of their choice) for a special event with up to 25 friends and family; photos, videos and autographs; an intimate “Songs & Stories” playback session and Q&A with Gene; and a Vault Pre-Pack for all guests in attendance.

For a complete schedule of all three Vault Experiences or to pre-order The Vault Experiences please visit GeneSimmonsVault.com or call 1-833-GSVault.

* Vault Pre-Pack includes signed golden ticket, exclusive t-shirt, USB with “Are You Ready” and a laminate. It will be shipped three to four weeks after purchase

** Some scheduling and travel restrictions may apply

Rhino Records has uploaded a medley of sample tracks from The Vault; listen via the audio player below.

Archspire’s new album, Relentless Mutation, is out now via Season Of Mist. A full album stream can be found below.

Relentless Mutation was recorded and engineered by Dave Otero at Flatline Studios (Cattle Decapitation, Cephalic Carnage, Allegaeon) and features artwork from Eliran Kantor (Hatebreed, Soulfly, Hate Eternal). Order Relentless Mutation at this location.

Tracklisting:

"Involuntary Doppelgänger"
"Human Murmuration"
"Remote Tumour Seeker"
"Relentless Mutation"
"The Mimic Well"
"Calamus Will Animate"
"A Dark Horizontal"

Album stream:

“Calamus Will Animate” karaoke video:

"Human Murmuration" playthrough:

Catch Archspire live in concert as part of the Bloodletting Tour, featuring headliners Origin, as well as opening acts Defeated Sanity, Dyscarnate, Visceral Disgorge, and The Kennedy Veil.

Tour dates:

November
9 -  Club Red - Mesa, AZ
10 - Gideon's Hall - Upland, CA
11 - Brick By Brick - San Diego, CA
12 - The Catalyst - Santa Cruz, CA
13 -  Rock hard PDX - Portland, OR
14 - Studio Seven - Seattle, WA
15 -  Rickshaw Theatre - Vancouver, BC
17 -  Metro Music Hall - Salt Lake City, UT
18 -  The Roxy Theatre - Denver, CO

Steve Moore (Zombi) returns with a hypnotizing score for the acclaimed action/horror film Mayhem, starring Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead, Okja). A veritable portrait of shock and dread across seventy-plus minutes of analog synth tension, Steve Moore methodically crafts pulsating rhythms and penetrating arpeggios that constrict the listener into a deep sense of aural anxiety. With four soundtracks under his belt, Steve Moore is quickly becoming one of the most sought out synth composers in the horror realm and Mayhem is the ultimate demonstration of his unquestionable mastery of the style.

The track “Bullets Are For Cowards” is available for streaming below. Mayhem is due out November 24th on CD/2xLP/Digital via Relapse Records. Physical and digital pre-orders are available via Relapse.com here and digital retail outlets here.

Mayhem Tracklisting:

“Welcome To TSC”
“Thank God For Coffee”
“9 O’Clock”
“Drop Of Water”
“Deep Shit”
“File 45A”
“We Are Brave”
“Thumbs Turned”
“The Reaper”
“ID-7”
“Dead Inside”
“The Bull”
“Loophole”
“Two Pepperoni Pizzas”
“Time To Worok”
“Wednesdays”
“Extreme Measures”
“On The Count Of…”
“Nevil Reed”
“Allergies”
“Make Your Move”
“Showdown”
“Can We Talk”
“Negotiations Have Ended”
“No More Bullshit”
“Fuck This Place”
“Up To 11”
“So What Now”
“Irene Smythe”
“Level 3”
“Bullets Are For Cowards”
“You Belong Here”
“Surrender”
“Mine’s Bigger”
“The King Falls”

“Bullets Are For Cowards”:

“ID-7”:

“Welcome To TSC”:

Canadian melodic thrash metal powerhouse, Threat Signal, are streaming their new album, Disconnect, out tomorrow, November 10th, via Agonia Records. Listen to the full album below.

Since their debut offering Under Reprisal (2006), which won the "Canadian Recording Of The Year Award" at the Hamilton Music Awards, Threat Signal became internationally recognized as one of the most interesting modern acts in thrash metal. Their latest two instalments, the intense Vigilance (2009) and reinvented Threat Signal (2011), have both met with unrelenting hype, with each generating growing interest within the metal community. Combining the complexity of thrash metal, with a more contemporary groove sound involving technical rhythms and melodic musical passages, the band finally returns with its fourth studio album, Disconnect.

Founder & vocalist Jon Howard commented: "Well, we made it to album number 4! To say its been a tough ride would be an understatement, but as the shit piles on, we'll keep shovelling that shit off!! So we began writing this album back in 2012, and continued writing over the next 3 years until we were able to hit the studio again. Basically our thought process while writing was to not have an end goal of what the album should sound like. We didn't plan to make a really heavy album, or a melodic album, or take anyone else's input on what we should sound like. We basically just wrote songs with a clear and open mindset until Disconnect grew together. This album ranges from melodic metal, to hard rock, to thrash metal, and even down to a chill acoustic tune, its a roller coaster of a ride while staying true to the Threat Signal sound. You will feel the energy from all of our previous albums plus something new. A big thanks to Agonia Records for believing in us and finally getting this album released. Also a HUGE thanks to the fans for sticking with us over the years. I'd like to dedicate our album Disconnect to my fallen friend and former Threat Signal drummer Norm Killeen. May you be jamming with the best of them in the next life!!! Peace and love".

Disconnect was recorded and produced by vocalist Jon Howard and lead guitarist Travis Montgomery. Mixing and mastering were done by Mark Lewis (DevilDriver, Whitechapel, Battlecross, Coal Chamber). Artwork for the album was created by Ludovic Cordelieres of Rusalkadesign (Kamelot).

Tracklisting:

“Elimination Process”
“Nostalgia”
“Walking Alone”
“Exit The Matrix”
“Falling Apart”
“Aura”
“Betrayal”
“To Thine Own Self Be True”
“Dimensions”
“Terminal Madness”
“Eyes Sewn Shut” *

* Box CD exclusive

Album stream:

"Elimination Process" drum playthrough:

“Elimination Process” 360° VR video:

“Exit The Matrix” lyric video:

"Exit The Matrix" playthrough video:

Album formats:

- Digipack CD
- Limited to 500 copies BOX (inc. CD + bonus track, poster, patch and sticker)
- Regular black LP
- Limited to 150 copies transparent blue/opaque red ("colour in clolour") LP
- Digital
- TS

Pre-order Disconnect via the following links:

- CD/Box/LP/Merch
- iTunes
- Bandcamp

Lineup:

Jon Howard - vocals
Travis Montgomery - guitars
Pat Kavanagh - bass
Matt Perrin - guitars

(Photo - Andrew Minarik)

On Friday, January 26th, Inside Out Music will release Wuthering Nights: Live In Birmingham, the new live release from guitar legend Steve Hackett. Wuthering Nights was filmed at the Birmingham Symphony Hall during Hackett’s recent, critically-acclaimed Genesis Revisited & Classic Hackett tour. Available as 2CD/BluRay Jewel Case and Digital Album, this is a must-have for any prog fan.

This tour marked the 40th anniversary of Wind & Wuthering, Hackett’s last album with Genesis which reached #7 in the UK album chart. To celebrate Steve and his band played five of the best-loved tracks from this iconic album: “Eleventh Earl Of Mar”, “One For The Vine”, “Blood On The Rooftops”, “…In That Quiet Earth” and “Afterglow”.

Other fan favorites from Hackett’s Genesis days were ‘revisited’: “Dance On A Volcano”, “Inside & Out”, “Firth Of Fifth”, “The Musical Box” and the classic “Los Endos”. This mesmerizing show marks the first ever live performance by Hackett and his band of the tracks “One For The Vine” and “Inside & Out”, and also includes many of Hackett’s solo fan-favorites as well as material from his latest studio album, The Night Siren.

Steve recalls the Birmingham performance: “I’m excited about the imminent release of Wuthering Nights. It felt special to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Wind & Wuthering, the Genesis album I had the most songwriting involvement with and a favourite among many fans. Songs like “One For The Vine”, “Eleventh Earl Of Mar” and “Blood On The Rooftops” come across powerfully on this release, which also features other Genesis and solo Hackett favourites along with songs from my latest album The Night Siren... Sit back and enjoy!”

The band are: Roger King (keyboards), Gary O’Toole (drums/percussion), Rob Townsend (saxes/flutes), Nick Beggs (bass, stick & twelve string) and Nad Sylvan on vocals plus special guests John Hackett and Amanda Lehmann.

The DVD / Blu-Ray also includes fascinating behind the scenes footage, most of which was filmed on the day in Birmingham. There are also three videos for tracks from The Night Siren: “Behind The Smoke”, “Fifty Miles From The North Pole” and “West To East”.

Steve Hackett is renowned as an immensely talented and innovative rock musician. He was lead guitarist with Genesis as part of their classic line up with Gabriel, Collins, Banks and Rutherford, who produced several of the band’s most acclaimed albums including Selling England By The Pound (a favourite of John Lennon) and The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. With Steve's extraordinary versatility in both his electric guitar playing and his composing, he involves influences from many genres, including jazz, world music and blues. He is equally adept in his classical albums that include renditions of pieces by composers from Bach to Satie, his own acoustic guitar compositions that have gained the admiration of many, including Yehudi Menuhin, and ambitious guitar/orchestra albums such as A Midsummer Night's Dream, recorded with the Royal Philharmonic.

(Photo - Tina Korhonen)

Nestled within the looming embrace of seven mountains, the rugged, rain-swept coastline of Bjoergvin has spawned many extreme bands and musicians over the years, but none quite as iconic as Taake and its formidable founder Hoest, who is now back with a seventh full-length album.

Titled Kong Vinter (King Winter), the album is set for release via Dark Essence Records on November 24th in digipak CD, digital and vinyl formats, with the vinyl available in black, transparent and white versions. All are double, 180 gram LPs in a gatefold cover. Transparent and white are limited to 1000 each. Listen to the track “Inntrenger” below.

Kong Vinter is available for pre-order via the links below:

- Bandcamp
- EU Webshop
- US Webshop

Over the years Hoest has steered his creation with unerring accuracy through the mire of black metal. He has avoided the pitfalls of either stagnation or over-experimentation, and remained true to the spirit of the traditional Black Metal genre, whilst at the same time breathing fresh life into it.

True to form Hoest has spent three years working on Kong Vinter, ensuring that the album is imbued with the unique Taake sound, whilst at the same time taking it even further. It is deceptively familiar to the ear, yet it is unpredictable as it winds its way sinuously through a soundscape that only a mother could love. A soundscape underscored by a nasty groove, that at times can seem devilishly playful.

The result is an album that is both progressive and straight forward, with a touch of the devil's own music - rock’n’roll, making it unmistakably Taake. It is, in fact, an illustration as to why, for over two decades, Hoest has succeeded in remaining relevant and at the forefront of the genre.

Kong Vinter, on which Hoest plays all the instruments himself, was recorded and produced by Bjornar Nilsen (Vulture Industries) at his Conclave and Earshot Studios in Bergen. The album artwork was created by Tom Korsvold of Coverart.

Tracklisting:

“Sverdets Vei”
“Inntrenger”
“Huset i Havet”
“Havet i Huset”
“Jernhaand”
“Maanebrent”
“Fra Bjoergegrend mot Glemselen”
“On Top” (De Press cover, bonus track on the vinyl edition)

“Inntrenger”:

Swedish rockers Europe returned to Germany’s Wacken Open Air festival back in August. Professionally filmed video of the band performing “Sign Of The Times”, “Superstitious”, and “The Final Countdown” can be seen below:

Europe are heading to Australia for the first time ever in May 2018.

Says the band: “The waiting is over - we're going down under. Believe it or not IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN! We are touring Australia for the FIRST TIME! Something we always wanted to do but could just never make the schedules work before. We are really excited to announce these dates and to finally hook up with our friends in Australia!”

Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.com.au, except Sydney at Ticketek.com.au. An announcement video and the tour schedule can be found below.

Dates:

May
16 - Perth Concert Hall, Perth
18 - Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
19 - Palais Theatre, Melbourne
22 - Enmore Theatre, Sydney
23 - The Tivoli, Brisbane

Europe’s new studio album, Walk The Earth, is out now via the band’s Hell & Back label via Silver Lining Music. The album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London with Grammy winning producer Dave Cobb (Rival Sons, Shooter Jennings, Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton) who also produced the band’s War Of Kings album.

Tracklisting:

“Walk The Earth”
“The Siege”
“Kingdom United”
“Pictures”
“Election Day”
“Wolves”
“GTO”
“Haze”
“Whenever You’re Ready”
“Turn To Dust”

“The Siege”:

“Election Day”:

“Walk The Earth”:

Brazilian female-fronted progressive power metal band VANDROYA has released a music video for "The Path To The Endless Fall", the second single from its new album, "Beyond The Human Mind". The disc is available through Inner Wound Recordings in Europe and North America and through Bickee Music in Japan.

With a more evident progressive influence but without giving up the weight and virtuosity of power metal, the new album brings a more mature band, a more balanced sound and reflects the musicians technical and artistic evolution since the debut album, "One".

The "Beyond The Human Mind" album concept revolves around the journey we all go through in search of fullness and inner peace.

The cover artwork was created by Felipe Machado Franco (BLIND GUARDIAN, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, ICED EARTH).

Led by vocalist Daísa Munhoz, VANDROYA is ready to take the next step and make a mark in the metal scene with "Beyond The Human Mind".

"Beyond The Human Mind" track listing:

01. Columns Of Illusion 02. The Path To The Endless Fall 03. Maya 04. Time After Time 05. Last Breath 06. I'm Alive 07. You'll Know My Name 08. If I Forgive Myself 09. Beyond The Human Mind