The official lyric video for "Accidents Can Happen 2017", a re-imagined track from SIXX:A.M.'s "The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack" album, can be streamed below. The song is taken from the tenth-anniversary re-release of the disc, which came out on October 27 via Eleven Seven Music as a digital album, CD and CD/DVD. All music configurations feature new artwork, personal notes from the band and include three newly reworked tracks: "Life Is Beautiful 2017", "Accidents Can Happen 2017" and "Girl With Golden Eyes 2017". Comprised of James Michael (vocalist, producer, songwriter), DJ Ashba (guitarist, songwriter) and Sixx (bassist, songwriter), the group initially came together to write, record, and co-produce "The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack", which sold over 300,000 copies, and includes the #1 hit single "Life Is Beautiful", which became radio's most played rock song of 2008. Over the past decade, SIXX:A.M. has become a full-fledged global rock powerhouse, releasing four additional albums, multiple Top 5 hits and playing the biggest festivals and arenas around the world.

Sixx and Ashba told Billboard they originally planned to enlist different singers to tackle each song on "The Heroin Diaries", but soon discovered they'd have a hard time filling Michael's shoes. "I have a pretty broad range for a male vocalist, and we realized it was gonna be a pretty tough challenge to find somebody that was gonna be able to sing these songs live in a band setting," the singer said. "So we just kind of said, 'Well, you know what, let's just leave my vocals on there and let's just see what happens with this.' And that's literally how I became the lead singer of the band."

SIXX:A.M. embarked on their first North American headlining tour in support of its third album, "Modern Vintage", in 2015.

The band is currently on hiatus while the individual members pursue other projects.

Photo credit: Dustin Jack

Symphonic metallers XANDRIA made their live debut with singer Aeva Maurelle (AEVERIUM) on November 3 at the Brainstorm festival at Gigant in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

On September 12, XANDRIA canceled its previously announced U.S. tour, which was scheduled to kick off on September 29 in Buffalo, New York and conclude on October 21 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The band also announced that it had recruited Maurelle to sing for XANDRIA at its European shows in November and December.

One day later, singer Dianne Van Giersbergen released a statement saying that she was exiting XANDRIA because "staying in the band would cause further damage to the health problems the band has caused me." She went on to say that her attempts "to put band and management issues on the table… failed and have been ignored" and her "cries for help have been met with financial threats and emotional extortion," ultimately leaving her with "uncontrollable stress symptoms."

Later that same week, the remaining members of XANDRIA released a follow-up statement, claiming that their decision to enlist a "temporary replacement singer" was purely an attempt to "celebrate the music we love so much together with you and us, instead of cancelling any more concerts."

They wrote: "We are very sad about the situation that we and you, the people following XANDRIA, have to face now.

"After we already had to cancel many concerts since July due to Dianne not being able to perform we had now been informed by her that she is leaving the band with immediate effect. This happened after we published news that the upcoming concerts will be played with a temporary replacement singer. It was clear to everyone, including Dianne, that it was supposed to be a temporary solution only.

"We had to learn about her departure in a way that has been surprising us very much and with a statement in which we do not recognize ourselves in.

"We have been very downhearted about not being able to play these concerts, and probably would not have been able to play for an undetermined time also in the future. For that reason, we wanted to play at least the concerts in November and December with a temporary replacement singer that can celebrate the music we love so much together with you and us, instead of cancelling any more concerts.

"We always have been doing our best to be there for you fans, so we tried the same in this difficult situation.

"Just as we always tried to find a good way to care for all members of the band to live the passion that is music, which can sometimes be difficult for everyone. Unfortunately, it seems that Dianne's needs and goals were drifting apart from the band's ones.

"However, we are proudly looking back at what we achieved together and we are thanking Dianne for the great times we shared and everything she did for the band. We wish her all the best for what she is heading for on her future way.

"We will live the passion we have for our music together with you all on our concerts in November, December and beyond! With a heavy heart, but at the same time looking forward to the future and to see you out there sharing our music with you."

XANDRIA in 2013 parted ways with their singer of three years, Manuela Kraller, and replaced her with Van Giersbergen, who also fronts the progressive metal outfit EX LIBRIS.

Dianne Van Giersbergen made her live debut with XANDRIA at the end of November 2013 on a Spanish tour.

XANDRIA's latest album, "Theater Of Dimensions", was released on January 27 via Napalm Records.

Professionally filmed video footage of METALLICA performing the song "The Shortest Straw" on October 30 at Genting Arena in Birmingham, England can be seen below.

The European leg of METALLICA's "WorldWired" tour kicked off in Copenhagen, Denmark on September 2 and will run 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 last November.

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

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told Rolling Stone that the band was genuinely surprised to learn they could still play stadiums, saying, "It was like, 'Holy fuck, people really still care about this band in ways that you stopped taking for granted literally decades ago. It was very inspiring and kind of eye-opening."

He added: "Full stadium runs can sometimes be a little intimidating. There's all these things to worry about like, 'You should really try to play maybe only on the weekend,' and, 'Where do you play on Tuesday?' and some of those practicalities can get a little bewildering. We just threw caution to the wind. Doing a stadium run seemed like the perfect thing on the back of how well this record has been received and all the good will that's out there in METALLICA's world right now."

Fan-filmed video footage of DOKKEN's November 2 performance at Proof Rooftop in Houston, Texas can be seen below.

As previously reported, guitarist Ira Black (I AM MORBID, METAL CHURCH, LIZZY BORDEN, WESTFIELD MASSACRE) has joined DOKKEN for nine U.S. tour dates in November and December.

Black made his live debut with DOKKEN in Houston, and will perform with the group on November 4 at the Rockfest 80's festival in Pembroke Pines, Florida, to be followed by seven shows in December.

Black said in a statement: "I am very excited to be playing with DOKKEN. To play all these great songs live is a great honor, not to mention all these insane George Lynch solos!

"I remember when I was thirteen years old playing guitar on my porch and listening to 'Tooth And Nail', trying to play these songs... Imagine if someone told me back then that I would eventually do this. Well, my mind is blown NOW!"

Black is filling in for DOKKEN's longtime guitarist Jon Levin, who has been with the group since 2003. Levin, who also works as an attorney specializing in entertainment contract law, as well as the occasional divorce case, is reportedly busy with his law practice through the end of the year and is unable to play with DOKKEN this fall.

Don Dokken recently confirmed that DOKKEN is planning to begin writing a new studio album this fall for a tentative 2018 release. The disc will mark the band's first collection of all-new material since 2012's "Broken Bones" effort.

Don also revealed that DOKKEN's next studio album will feature a sound and style that is very reminiscent of the band's classic releases.

"Broken Bones" sold around 2,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 173 on The Billboard 200 chart.

DOKKEN's current lineup is completed by drummer "Wild" Mick Brown and bassist Chris McCarvil.

Fan-filmed video footage of LAST IN LINE's November 3 performance at Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania can be seen below.

LAST IN LINE singer Andrew Freeman last week confirmed to Tigman of the Q103 radio station in Albany, New York that the band has commenced work on the follow-up to its acclaimed 2016 debut album, "Heavy Crown". "We're in the process of recording a new record," he said. "We have about six songs completed and probably about fourteen ideas altogether that we've been working on and just kind of weeding through 'em. It's supposed to come out next year. We're supposed to have it finished by January, so some time next year it'll be out. And we're looking forward to getting it out."

Drummer Vinny Appice, guitarist Vivian Campbell and bassist Jimmy Bain were part of the original DIO lineup which reunited in 2012 alongside Freeman to launch LAST IN LINE.

When LAST IN LINE formed, the intent was to celebrate Ronnie James Dio's early work by reuniting the members of the original DIO lineup. After playing shows that featured a setlist composed exclusively of material from the first three DIO albums, the band decided to move forward and create new music in a similar vein.

"We've all become really good friends," Andrew told Q103. "It kind of started as a little bit of a tribute, in a sense. Those guys wanted to play the songs that they wrote. Vivian's been with DEF LEPPARD for over twenty years now. [Vivian, Vinny and Jimmy] hadn't played together in really a long time, so they wanted to get back together and do something. So we started playing the old songs, and then it just turned into this other thing where we did a record last year, and the record actually sold units and charted on Billboard. And it's become a whole another thing now — it's like a new original band that throws back, with an old catalog of big hits."

As for LAST IN LINE's long-term plan, the singer said: "We don't really have one. It's just kind of… We just go with what we feel. If it makes sense to do it, then we'll do it."

Bassist Phil Soussan joined LAST IN LINE last year as the replacement for Bain, who passed away in January 2016 at the age of 68. He was reportedly suffering from lung cancer at the time of his death.

Campbell recently told Ultimate Classic Rock that the new LAST IN LINE songs were a progression from the debut. "Some of the arrangements for these ideas that are in play at the moment, I would say they're a little more complex than what's on the first record," he said. "But it's really starting to take shape as a band, and we do very much try to write as a band. That's how we did the first record with LAST IN LINE — we'd just get in there and kick around ideas. A lot of times, stuff would come out of nothing.

"I've always said that I've been fortunate to play with so many great musicians and so many great drummers over the years, but Vinny inspires me like no other," he continued. "There's just times when we go in to write when I kind of feel like I don't have any solid ideas that I can bring to the party. Vinny will just play a beat, and he plays with such great intent. It just kind of inspires me. Frequently, we'll come up with ideas, just because of a groove that Vinny's laying down. It is very uplifting, I've got to say."

Former JOURNEY drummer Deen Castronovo has joined the rock 'n' roll collective known as THE DEAD DAISIES for the recording of the band's new album, due in early 2018.

THE DEAD DAISIES said in a statement: "Deen is here in Nashville with us where we are beginning the recording of the new album today. We'd like to thank Brian Tichy who has decided to pursue other projects next year. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours. We cannot wait for you guys to hear this new album we are working on! It will be a real bone-shaker!"

Castronovo was a member of JOURNEY from 1998 to 2015. He has also played also played drums with Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler, as well as with Steve Vai and Paul Rodgers.

Deen and DEAD DAISIES guitarist Doug Aldrich previously collaborated in REVOLUTION SAINTS, whose second album, "Light In The Dark", came out in October.

Castronovo's seventeen-year tenure with JOURNEY ended two years ago when the band fired him after his arrest for a variety of charges involving a former fiancée, including physical abuse, coercion, and unlawful use of a weapon. He later spent fifteen days in jail and was sent to rehab for the fifth time, this time for seventy-five days at the Hazelden Betty Ford Springbrook facility in Beaverton, Oregon.

THE DEAD DAISIES' current lineup is completed by founder/guitarist David Lowy, bassist Marco Mendoza (THIN LIZZY) and vocalist/guitarist John Corabi (MÖTLEY CRÜE, THE SCREAM).

Long-running German metallers ATROCITY have inked a new deal with Massacre Records. The band is the first signing to Massacre since the label was taken over by Soulfood Music.

Comments ATROCITY frontman Alex Krull: "It's sheer lunacy: ATROCITY signs with Massacre Records — the label that accompanied the band during its most important and defining period in the mid-'90s and which released ATROCITY classics like 'BLUT', 'Willenskraft' and 'Werk 80'. The fact that Jochen Richert and his Soulfood Music team are now on board too — after Soulfood Music and Massacre Records have recently joined forces — makes it perfect! Back then, Jochen was already a successful distribution partner.

"We're looking forward to the collaboration with Thomas and Massacre Records, and we're going to emerge from the darkness very soon! Let the Swabian invasion begin!"

Adds Thomas Hertler of Massacre Records: "The return of ATROCITY to Massacre Records is almost unique in this business. After almost twenty years, the legendary Swabian connection is finally reunited again, and everyone involved is really looking forward to this collaboration!"

Part one of what was said to be ATROCITY's album trilogy, "Okkult", was released in May 2013 via Napalm Records.

Pictured above (left to right): Thorsten Bauer (ATROCITY), Thomas Hertler (Massacre), Alex Krull (ATROCITY)

KORN bassist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu has released a music video for his song "Zibba Zibop". The clip, which was directed by Sébastien Paquet, can be viewed at PledgeMusic.com.

"Zibba Zibop" is taken from Fieldy's long-awaited jazz fusion album titled "Bassically", which will be released on November 17. The seventeen-track disc was produced by Fieldy's writing partner Anthony "Q" Quiles" and mixed by Chris Collier. The record features guest appearances by three of Fieldy's bandmates: drummer Ray Luzier plays drums, bongos, shaker, tambourine and djembe on the songs "Bass O Rama", "Step Right Up", "Basque K Cinco", "Zibba Zibop" and "Mr. Bassmen"; guitarist Brian "Head" Welch plays on "I Wuv Bass Mon"; and singer Jonathan Davis does some beatboxing on "JD Fresh".

"This is a bass album that encompasses the last nine years of my life on the road recording with a variety of special and unique basses," Fieldy said. "This project features recordings of mine from dressing rooms, tour buses, hotel rooms and other unique locations playing on basses just as obscure as the locations. It's a blend of funk, fusion, and rock. I can't wait to share it with you."

Asked what his inspirations were when writing "Bassically", Fieldy told Weld For Birmingham in a 2016 interview: "To write it, my inspiration was probably my wife Dena. She was, like, 'You should put a bass album out.' And then I really thought about it. And if you go back in time to my inspiration in my early days, I listened to a lot of Stanley Clarke. And then from there on, I got into a lot of Flea. And I started really listening to some of these great bands — if you're not listening for it, you don't really know how great a lot of those bass players are unless you listen. For example, a lot of classic rock bands I listened to as a kid — now, I was like, 'Wait, I just found the EAGLES on the bass, rippin'! Or LED ZEPPELIN! LED ZEPPELIN gets to rippin' on bass! You hear these great tones that as a kid, I'd never really listened to. And now, I'm like starting to listen and trip out on it."

Luzier told ABC News Radio back in 2013 that he found some inventive ways to create drum tracks for "Basically". "I did some made-up percussion stuff, like we'd literally have a cup full of, like, change and seashells and I'd shake it," he said. "And then… backstage [at a KORN show], we recorded a drum track, I pulled a floor tom off my kit and a snare and a hi-hat and it's come out way better than we thought."

"Bassically" track listing:

01. Bass O Rama02. Charlie Brown03. Step Right Up04. Buck of Funk05. Basque K Cinco06. 15 String Exodus07. JD Fresh08. Zibba Zibop09. Check This Out10. Bass Invaders11. I Wuv Bass Mon12. 5 String Graffiti13. Dance Your Bass Off14. Give Me 515. You Can Do It16. Mr. Bassmen17. Bass Age

"Bassically" is available for preorder via PledgeMusic, where you can also sample the songs "Bucket Of Funk" and "Bass O Rama".

SEVENDUST's Morgan Rose has started laying down drum tracks for the band's new album for an early 2018 release. The follow-up to 2015's "Kill The Flaw" is being produced by Michael "Elvis" Baskette, who has previously worked with ALTER BRIDGE and SLASH, among others.

SEVENDUST's new disc will be the group's first for Rise Records, the Oregon-based metal and hard rock label which was purchased by BMG in 2015.

Craig Ericson, founder of Rise Records, said in a statement: "Signing SEVENDUST is definitely one of the highlights of my career. I'm honored to work with an artist with a legacy as great as theirs, and I'm really excited to work with them on the forthcoming album." SEVENDUST guitarist John Connolly added: "For SEVENDUST, it was important to find a label that understood where we've been and have some new ideas and strategies on where we can go. Through our twenty years playing together, we have garnered the best fans in the world that have become our extended family. Rise from the very beginning explained a very unique game plan to us that we feel like is going to help us celebrate our die-hard SEVENDUST fans and expose us to new ones. There is an excitement we feel just knowing the Rise team is going to be behind this new chapter of our career."

SEVENDUST singer Lajon Witherspoon spoke about the songwriting process for the band's new album in a recent interview with The Washington Times. He said: "It is amazing. We have been sending music back and forth. Things are starting to come together. The magic happens when we all get in one room. It's like we are those 17-, 18- and 19-year-olds [again], doing what they love. And that's music."

Witherspoon also talked about SEVENDUST's longevity, saying: "We love each other, man. We're brothers. So we fight. Somebody will call somebody else a douchebag. At the end of the day, we look at how far we've come and realize it would be foolish for us to ever take this for granted. We have a family. And not just a family at home, the family that has grown up with us and supported us through the years. We can't let them down."

SEVENDUST last year received its first-ever Grammy nomination after two decades together as a band. "Thank You", the debut single from "Kill The Flaw", got the nod for "Best Metal Performance".

Drum tracking has officially started for the new @Sevendust album. #sevendust2018

— Morgan Rose (@morgan7d) November 4, 2017

"Red Before Black", the new album from Florida-based death metallers CANNIBAL CORPSE, can be streamed in its entirety below. Released on November 3 via Metal Blade Records, the follow-up to 2014's "A Skeletal Domain" was recorded at Mana Recording Studios in Saint Petersburg, Florida with producer/engineer Erik Rutan (SOILENT GREEN, BELPHEGOR, HATE ETERNAL), who previously worked with CANNIBAL CORPSE on 2006's "Kill", 2009's "Evisceration Plague" and 2012's "Torture".

Many words come to mind when you hear the name CANNIBAL CORPSE, but one truly defines the soon-to-be-thirty-year death metal veterans: unstoppable. Returning with their fourteenth full-length, the monstrous "Red Before Black", serves to not only reiterate this but to once more raise the stakes, making it very clear who sets the standard when it comes to always compelling music that is equally brutal and complex. Moreover, the band have pushed themselves again, ensuring that it stands out from their catalog.

"We always try to make our music aggressive, but where an album like 'A Skeletal Domain' [2014] was definitely aggressive, it has a targeted refinement that the new album doesn't. 'Red Before Black' is as well executed as anything we've done, but it has a rawness to it that we haven't had in a long time," asserts bassist Alex Webster. "We really worked super hard crafting these songs, practicing them, and getting them where we wanted to be more so than on any of our previous albums," adds drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz. "And, as Alex said, musically I think it's the most raw sound we've had — and at the same time I think it's our most focused, tightest and catchiest record."

With 2017 seeing a slew of stunning new releases from death metal's old guard — including SUFFOCATION, OBITUARY and DYING FETUS — it's been a landmark year both for the genre and its early innovators, and with "Red Before Black", CANNIBAL CORPSE stand strong alongside their peers. "We're proud to be part of a scene that has great, experienced bands that stick to their guns," affirms Webster. "Death metal is an established form of underground music that's here to stay, and the leadership bands like these have shown by staying true to the genre is no doubt part of the reason it has such longevity."

That CANNIBAL CORPSE have carved out a career spanning almost three decades is testament to their work ethic, innovative songwriting, passion and devotion to extreme music — though it still remains an astounding feat to the members, as Webster makes humbly clear.

"Who could have imagined this?" he says. "When we started, even BLACK SABBATH hadn't been around for three decades. There simply was no precedent for a lifelong career in metal, of any kind, let alone a relatively new form like death metal. We've been unbelievably lucky, and we are so grateful to our fans for making it possible." In typically grounded fashion, they continue to forge ahead, seeing no end in sight, Webster stating he likes to think they have yet to write their best record, while Mazurkiewicz outlines their goals: "I would say we just want to keep it going, try to better ourselves — and finally open for SLAYER!"

"Red Before Black" track listing:

01. Only One Will Die02. Red Before Black03. Code Of The Slashers04. Shedding My Human Skin05. Remaimed06. Firestorm Vengeance07. Heads Shoveled Off08. Corpus Delicti09. Scavenger Consuming Death10. In The Midst Of Ruin11. Destroyed Without A Trace12. Hideous Ichor

The cover artwork for the album can be found below.

CANNIBAL CORPSE will kick off a USA tour in support of the upcoming disc on November 3 in Jacksonville, Florida. Support on the trek will come from POWER TRIP and GATECREEPER.

Two-time Grammy Award-winning, acclaimed singer-songwriter and SMASHING PUMPKINS frontman Billy Corgan today shared a new music video for "Aeronaut", off his critically acclaimed new solo album, "Ogilala".

The clip is a 2D preview of a forthcoming immersive virtuality reality experience for "Ogilala". The video was created inside a 3D world that was imagined by San Francisco artist and filmmaker Danny Bittman and brought to life by the joint Viacom NEXT and Isobar team. By capturing Corgan's three-and-a-half-minute performance in volumetric video at Microsoft's Mixed Reality Capture Studios, Isobar, Viacom and Bittman were able to use the Unity creation engine and Tilt Brush to create a world around him. The project is designed for room scale systems, initially for Microsoft's Mixed Reality headsets, with additional versions for other systems to follow. It will be available to the public in early 2018.

Next week, Corgan will return to late night television to perform "The Spaniards" on "The Late Late Show With James Corden". Tune in to CBS at 12:37 a.m. / 11:37 p.m. on Wednesday, November 8 to catch the performance.

"Ogilala" was released on October 13 and is available via BMG. The album, produced by Rick Rubin and recorded at Shangri La studios in Malibu, California, presents Corgan's distinctive vocals and melodies across a sparse, but rich palette of acoustic guitar, piano, and strings.

Last month, Corgan premiered "Pillbox", a silent film set to the music of the album with four sold-out screenings in London, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. "Pillbox" was written by Corgan, and directed by Corgan alongside longtime collaborator Linda Strawberry. Corgan treated fans to early listen of the album, premiering it a week ahead of release on NPR First Listen.

This weekend, Corgan will wrap his North American solo acoustic tour with a sold-out four-night stint at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. These intimate performances will see Corgan perform songs from "Ogilala", as well as a second set which will span works from his earliest days through his years as the frontman of SMASHING PUMPKINS and beyond.

The "Red" EP from SCOUR — the extreme metal "supergroup" featuring Philip Anselmo (PANTERA, DOWN, SUPERJOINT) alongside members of CATTLE DECAPITATION and PIG DESTROYER — can be streamed in its entirety using the widget below. The effort was released earlier today (Friday, November 3).

The "Red" EP was recorded at Anselmo's Nodferatu's Lair with Steve Berrigan (DOWN, PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, EYEHATEGOD, HAARP, CLASSHOLE) at the helm. The record was once again mixed and mastered by Dave Otero (CEPHALIC CARNAGE, CATTLE DECAPITATION, COBALT, KHEMMIS) at Flatline Audio.

SCOUR guitarist Derek Engemann states: "SCOUR returns with a vengeance with the title track, 'Red'. Blasting right out the gate, 'Red' steps up the intensity, while retaining that relentlessly haunting SCOUR sound." Adds bassist John Jarvis, "I think the track shows Phil's versatility, and perhaps some of his best screams in years; a total rip fest." "Red" EP track listing:

01. Red02. Piles03. Bleak04. Barricade05. Sentenced06. Shank

The self-titled debut EP from SCOUR was released in July 2016 via Anselmo's Housecore label.

SCOUR recently officially recruited Adam Jarvis (MISERY INDEX, PIG DESTROYER) as its drummer.

SCOUR is:

* Phillip H. Anselmo (PANTERA, DOWN, SUPERJOINT) - Vocals* Derek Engemann (CATTLE DECAPITATION) - Guitar* Chase Fraser (ANIMOSITY) - Guitar* John Jarvis (PIG DESTROYER) - Bass* Adam Jarvis (MISERY INDEX, PIG DESTROYER) – Drums


Red EP by Scour

Wendy Dio, wife and longtime manager of Ronnie James Dio, says that the hologram tour of her late husband will likely hit the U.S. in the summer of 2018.

The hologram of Ronnie James Dio made its debut at last year's Wacken Open Air festival in Germany. Created by Eyellusion, the surprise appearance of the heavy metal icon during DIO DISCIPLES' set closed out the massive metal event which was attended by more than seventy-five thousand fans.

Eyellusion recently announced initial dates for "Dio Returns: The World Tour", featuring the Ronnie James Dio hologram reunited with the late rock star's former bandmates from the DIO band. The tour will make more than eighty stops around the globe, kicking off in Europe in early December.

During an interview with Argentinean rock journalist Lucas H. Gordon, Wendy stated about the "Dio Returns" trek (see video below): "We will start December 6th in Germany; we're doing a couple of shows in Germany. Then we're doing London, we're doing Poland, Bucharest, three [shows] in Spain, Belgium and Holland. So that's from the 6th of December to the 22nd of December. And then we're in talks about doing some in South America — in Argentina, Chile, Brazil — and a big Mexican tour, actually. Hopefully everything's good by then. So we're in talks about that. That would be in February. And then we're hoping for America for the summer."

The Ronnie James Dio hologram will perform for the majority of the show, treating fans to an alternating set list that will feature songs such as "Holy Diver", "Rainbow In The Dark", "We Rock", "King Of Rock And Roll", BLACK SABBATH's "Neon Knights" and "Heaven And Hell" and RAINBOW's "Man On The Silver Mountain" and more. The "Dio Returns" tour will feature Dio's actual live vocals, backed by a live band consisting of former DIO and current DIO DISCIPLES members Simon Wright (drums), Craig Goldy (guitar) and Scott Warren (keyboards) alongside Bjorn Englen (bass). Singer Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) will also perform, with Oni Logan (LYNCH MOB) joining on select dates.

Englen told "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show" last month that "Dio Returns" will see him and his bandmates perform "quite a few songs with the hologram — probably, I would say, about half or maybe more than half. And then the rest of them are gonna be without the hologram, with 'Ripper' Owens and Oni Logan singing," he said. "So it's gonna be the DIO DISCIPLES. And the hologram is gonna be in the middle of the stage, but I don't wanna reveal too much. It's quite a large… it needs quite a bit of space onstage, so hopefully most of the venues are gonna be able to accommodate that, as far as the places that haven't been booked yet. But we're excited about it. It's gonna be great."

According to Englen, the tour will consist of shows "at theaters and large clubs. And as long as the stage is big, we can do it. It has to have a certain width," he explained.

Regarding what is involved in planning a tour like this, Englen said: "We have to do some choreography, as far as where to be and what song and all that stuff. All the music is live, and we obviously have to play to a click track — or Simon does — so that we're synced with Ronnie's vocals. Other than that, we play the songs like we normally play them. We've just gotta make sure the arrangements are the same, and they usually are — we haven't done many changes to the songs since the DIO days. So they're the same anyway."

Asked if he finds it "haunting" to perform with a Dio hologram, the bassist said: "You know, we're not really looking at it while we're playing. Looking at it after, I think it's just a nice thing. Some people wonder, 'Is it creepy?' or that kind of a thing. We're excited. We feel good about it. It's done really well, and it's with live vocals — you know, you get that live feel and everything — and they've done a really nice job as far as the content and the photography and all that stuff. I think a lot of people are gonna be — even the people that have been negative about it, or pessimistic — are gonna be positively surprised."

They're back! From the streets of New York City and the gutters of Los Angeles, the kings of '80s and '90s biker rock CIRCUS OF POWER make their hugely anticipated return with their first new album in a quarter of a century. Vocalist and songwriter Alex Mitchell has drafted the talents of former KYUSS and FU MANCHU drummer and stoner rock legend Brant Bjork to command the drumming duties on fourteen brand new STONES-y, pseudo psychedelic, street rock anthems. Stretching out into bold new territories , while keeping true to the ever identifiable, classic CIRCUS OF POWER sound, tracks like "Fast And Easy", "Hard Drivin' Sister" and "American Monster" are sure to excite fans, old and new.

The band's new video, "Fast And Easy", the first single from their upcoming album, "Four", can be seen below.

CIRCUS OF POWER was the personification of East Coast sleaze rock during the late '80s and early '90s. Formed in the mid-1980s during the burgeoning New York City club scene, the classic lineup of Alex Mitchell (vocals), Ryan Maher (drums), Ricky Beck Mahler (guitars) and Gary Sunshine (bass), was signed to RCA and promptly released its seminal, self-titled debut album. Their brand of bluesy, bad-ass biker rock set the perfect backdrop for their lyrical swagger and stories of debauchery and depravity. A live EP (1989's "Still Alive") and second full-length (1990's "Vices") continued their musical tradition and thrust the band towards new heights, securing major tours and MTV airplay. Lineup and label changes led to the third full-length album, 1993's "Magic And Madness". Released on Columbia, the LP ushered in a more melodic sound for the band while losing none of the grit that fans had grown to expect.

The group disbanded in the mid-90s, and despite a few sporadic "reunion" gigs, CIRCUS OF POWER has been largely inactive... until now.

The official lyric video for the song "Born Again" from BEAST IN BLACK, the Helsinki, Finland-based metal band led by former BATTLE BEAST guitarist and main songwriter Anton Kabanen, can be seen below. The track is taken from BEAST IN BLACK's debut album, "Berserker", which is being released today (Friday, November 3) via Nuclear Blast. The disc was produced by Kabanen and recorded primarily at his studio, Sound Quest Studio. The cover artwork is a collaboration between Anton and Roman Ismailov, who was the original illustrator and graphic artist for BATTLE BEAST.

"Berserker" track listing:

01. Beast In Black02. Blind And Frozen03. Blood Of A Lion04. Born Again05. Zodd The Immortal06. The Fifth Angel07. Crazy, Mad, Insane08. Hell For All Eternity (bonus track; digi only)09. Eternal Fire10. Go To Hell (bonus track; digi only)11. End Of The World12. Ghost In The Rain

The official video for the song "Blind And Frozen" can be seen below. The clip was directed by Ville Lipiäinen.

Kabanen stated: "'Blind And Frozen' is a super-catchy and massive song. Yannis's [Papadopoulos, vocals] interpretation and performance here is nothing short of pure perfection!"

BEAST IN BLACK was formed by Kabanen shortly after he exited BATTLE BEAST in early 2015. By the end of that year, his new group had played its first gig as opening act for NIGHTWISH.

The recording process for "Berserker" took more than a year and was completed this summer. The Nuclear Blast deal was inked almost immediately after BEAST IN BLACK put the finishing touches on the album.

According to a press release, "Berserker" "continues in the style of Anton's previously composed works which include the first three BATTLE BEAST albums. One of the essential themes on this debut album is the Japanese manga and anime Berserk."

Kabanen was dismissed from BATTLE BEAST in February 2015 due to what was described at the time as "insurmountable disagreements" with the other members of the band.

In a 2016 interview with Hungary's Hard Rock Magazin, Anton stated about his split with BATTLE BEAST: "To be honest, I'd prefer not to go into the truth how I see it, because probably it would only start an ugly and endless war of words. But at least to squeeze it into minimum without going into details, I can tell that hypocrisy, lying, opportunism and blackmailing was the name of the game. The whole thing was just wrong and twisted and there is no more BATTLE BEAST, if you ask me."

Kabanen admitted that it was "hard at first" to move forward after his departure from BATTLE BEAST "but the only solution was just to keep going." He added: "I got support from many dear people; fans, friends, colleagues, family and etc. I'm grateful to everyone who stood by my side. My passion is to create music and I always do it with full heart and uncompromised. So I kept writing new songs and tried to focus in forming a new band/project that would consist of people whose musical professionalism matches — or surpasses — my expectations and of people who would be honest and loyal friends."

Regarding why he chose to keep the word "beast" in the name of his new band, Anton said: "I want to continue my vision which I originally started with BATTLE BEAST. Basically, it means writing my own songs with freedom, and the beast has already become an essential part of my life. It's something like Eddie of IRON MAIDEN."

Asked how he would compare the music and the overall vibe of his new band to that of BATTLE BEAST, Anton said: "The feeling in this group is totally different. And only in a good way. Everyone can be themselves and we enjoy each other's company and I believe people will feel and see it. In BEAST IN BLACK, the level of musicianship is much higher than in BATTLE BEAST. The band rehearsals, the album recordings and the communication is so much smoother. The music itself is not gonna be so different, but it's gonna be more powerful and heavy."

BATTLE BEAST singer Noora Louhimo told Metal Assault earlier this year that the band parted ways with Anton because he "wanted to do all the songs and make decisions on everything, and we weren't willing to do that. We wanted this band to be involved, and have everyone write songs if they want to."

BEAST IN BLACK is:

Anton Kabanen (BATTLE BEAST) - Guitar, VocalsYannis Papadopoulos (WARDRUM) - Lead VocalsKasperi Heikkinen (U.D.O.) - GuitarMáté Molnar (WISDOM) - BassSami Hänninen (BRYMIR) – Drums

Los Angeles rockers BLACK VEIL BRIDES have released a brand new song called "When They Call My Name". The track, which can be streamed below, is taken from the band's upcoming fifth album, "Vale", which will be released on January 12 via Lava/Universal Republic. The follow-up to BLACK VEIL BRIDES' 2014 self-titled effort, which was originally expected to arrive in September, was produced by John Feldmann at his Southern California studio.

BLACK VEIL BRIDES frontman Andy Biersack said: "We cannot wait for the BVB army to hear 'Vale' in its entirety!

"In my opinion, this record is the most complete and exciting album we have done to date.

"The opportunity to work with John Feldmann once again over the course of the past two years creating 'Vale' was an incredible experience and I am thrilled with the collection of songs we have put together as a band.

"The Latin translation of 'Vale' is 'be well, be strong!' and central to the message of this record.

"We hope to continue to inspire our fans and friends to embrace their own individuality and inner strength.

"The central narrative once again finds 'The Wild Ones' characters facing the challenge of moving on from the pain and anguish of their past and looking to a new chapter in their lives. This concept is one that is near to my heart and I believe will resonate with those that find themselves cast on the fringe of society.

"From our inception, BLACK VEIL BRIDES have stood up for the outcasts and disenfranchised. With this album, [we] hope to give you hope, fun and most importantly a kickass rock and roll record."

"Vale" track listing:

01. Incipiens Ad Finem02. The Last One03. Wake Up04. When They Call My Name05. The Outsider06. Dead Man Walking (Overture II)07. Our Destiny08. The King Of Pain09. My Cow10. Ballad Of The Lonely Hearts11. Throw The First Stone12. Vale (This Is Where It Ends)

During a recent interview with the Rock Sound Podcast, Biersack explained the delay in getting the new disc released. He said: "First of all, we took fifteen months to make the record, and so in that way, we really wanted everything to be as perfect as possible. And the original deadline that we gave ourselves while the record was completed and the mixing was completed, we weren't able to get the artwork and assets and all the stuff together exactly how we wanted it. And while listening to it, there were also elements and stuff I wanted to change.

"People don't necessarily understand that when you're on a major label that they determine when stuff is released," he continued. "And so they gave us the initial deadline that they would have preferred we released the record on the first time, and they were just unable to get the assets together, and also on our end, we just weren't quite done at the original time. So we had a discussion with the label and they were in agreement with us that it seemed like we should try to line it up with something big tour-wise."

Biersack delved deeper into BLACK VEIL BRIDES' reasons for wanting to take a bit longer to make an album they were all really happy with, explaining: "We've been doing this for a very long time, and it seemed like if we were gonna take time to make a record, it seemed like the right time to really try to sink our teeth into doing something that we really spent time cultivating. Before, it's not to say that we didn't spend time with it, but we were on deadlines and we were also a very young band that people were saying, 'We've gotta get this record out. We've gotta get you on tour.' And we've never really been afforded the opportunity to take our time with something.

"We wound up doing it in three different locations with Feldmann, because he wound up moving studios in the middle of the record," he added. "So it was kind of fun record in the sense that I sang the vocals for it in so many different places and I saw so many different rooms and the writing process took place in so many different places while I was on tour, and we were at Jake's [Pitts, guitar] personal home studio for a while. And it was a really fun and interesting way of doing the album over the course of over a year."

Asked about the overall sound of the new BLACK VEIL BRIDES album, Andy said: "We made 'Wretched And Divine [The Story Of The Wild Ones]' with John in 2013, and that was, at least commercially, our most successful record to date. A song like 'In The End' is probably our most successful song. And so a lot of times, people point to that record as the sound of the band. But what I think is interesting is that we have evolved significantly, I think, from record to record — from the first record to the fifth record. The previous record that we made with [producer] Bob Rock was a much more straight-ahead, hard rock, heavy metal record. I think that this album — and everybody says this, of course, because you want it to be true — but at least for me, I believe that it's a nice combination of many different eras of the band. I think that it represents all the different places that we've been while retaining that Feldmann thing, that thing about Feldy that I don't think anybody else can even touch or come close to; he just knows how to make things huge. And writing with Feldy is one of my favorite things, so to be able to come back into the world of doing heavy, darker rock music after doing a pop record together [with ANDY BLACK].

"We've been in a band together — Jake and Jinxx [guitar] and Ashley [Purdy, bass] and C.C. [Christian Coma, drums] and I — have been a band together for a decade, we know each other pretty well and the writing process is pretty simple in that way. So I think, all in all, it's a record that's very representative of where we are as a band at this point in our career. I'm not gonna tell you, 'Well, it's our heaviest and most melodic,' or, 'This is the best…' I think that it's just a record that we're really, really proud of and I think it's a great album and I think the fans are gonna like it, and it's a long time coming. At this point, it'll be four years since the last BLACK VEIL record, by the time it's out. So I think it's a long time coming, and I think people are gonna really enjoy it."

BLACK VEIL BRIDES will embark on a North American co-headline tour, dubbed "The Resurrection Tour", with ASKING ALEXANDRIA, kicking off January 10 at The Complex in Salt Lake City, Utah, rolling through major markets coast to coast, and concluding in Las Vegas, Nevada at House of Blues on March 2. CROWN THE EMPIRE will act as support on all dates.

Swedish blackened thrash metallers WITCHERY have released a lyric video for their new single "Welcome, Night". The clip was produced by Cloud Music Typography. The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, "I Am Legion", which will be released on November 10 via Century Media Records. WITCHERY guitarist Patrik Jensen stated about "Welcome, Night": "On 'I Am Legion', we have tried a few things that WITCHERY never has done before. 'Welcome, Night', with its odd timing, atypical arrangement and with riffs that are meant to enhance the vocals/lyrics (and not the other way around as per usual), makes the song probably my favorite track on the album. I like how the lyrics turned out too. They might lead you to think about a certain infamous incident in history, but I chose to place it in 'the year 1855' to distance the song from that, yet keeping it in the same Victorian setting.

"I got a question from a journalist if the lyrics somehow were about 'the Devil's footprints' that happened that specific year. They're not connected, but I can recommend looking up that particular incident. Pretty interesting. Please enjoy the contribution of our two great friends — Nick Barker's spoken word and Mike Wead's solo — in the song as well!" As with the previous album, "I Am Legion" was created by the WITCHERY lineup consisting of Angus Norder (vocals), Patrik Jensen (guitar), Rickard Rimfält (lead guitar), Sharlee D'Angelo (bass) and Chris Barkensjö (drums). The disc was also produced and mixed by Daniel Bergstrand at Dugout Studios (BEHEMOTH, IN FLAMES, MESHUGGAH) and comes packaged in powerful artwork by Andreas Diaz Pettersson, which can be seen below. "I Am Legion" track listing:

01. Legion02. True North03. Welcome, Night04. Of Blackened Wing05. Dry Bones06. Amun-Ra07. Seraphic Terror08. A Faustian Deal09. An Unexpected Guest10. Great Northern Plague11. The Alchemist The album's initial CD pressing comes as a digipak with two bonus tracks: "Ragnarök" and "Apex Ghoul". "I Am Legion" is also available as 180-gram vinyl version on either black vinyl or limited colored runs on clear vinyl (100 copies via CM webshop) and transparent red vinyl (200 copies via CM Distro).

"Walk", the new video from SWEET & LYNCH — the band featuring guitarist/vocalist Michael Sweet of STRYPER, legendary guitarist George Lynch (DOKKEN, LYNCH MOB), bassist James LoMenzo (MEGADETH, WHITE LION, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Brian Tichy (THE DEAD DAISIES, WHITESNAKE) — can be seen below. The song is taken from SWEET & LYNCH's sophomore album, "Unified", which will be released on November 10 via Frontiers Music Srl.

Sweet recently told That Drummer Guy about "Unified": "This album, to me, sounds a little bit more focused. It's a little bit more raw and in your face. The first album was a little more slick, had a little bit more production and effects and things going on and more tracks, too. This album doesn't have as many tracks. It's a little bit more scaled-down and bare bones, but I think it works. I really do. We experimented a little bit more. Like the song 'Walk', George sent me that. I went 'Wow, this is cool. I don't know what to do with it, but it's really cool.' It sounds like if you merged AEROSMITH and QUEEN, STRYPER and DOKKEN together, you're going to get 'Walk'. It's kinda cool."

Regarding the increased diversity of the songs found on "Unified", Sweet said: "That's all you can hope and pray for when you make an album. That people are going to connect with it and they're going to get it. Sometimes it doesn't happen. Sometimes a band makes an album that they feel is the best album of their career and the fans just don't get it. It's happened with us. We made a couple of albums that we were really excited about and they got released and they didn't do so well. It's probably happened with anything. It's really nice to see and hear the band be so excited and the fans and the critics seem to be equally as excited about that album as well. So far, that's the result of this album. I'm hearing a lot of good things. I think it's going to be a winner, man. I do. Granted, we're limited because of the times we live in. Rock isn't at the top of the charts. It's a struggle, it's a battle, it's a fight for bands from our era and for us to go out there and get it out to the masses and do it the right way, it's very tough. But man, we're still trying. We still love what we do. Hopefully that shows."

Speaking about the work put into the creation of "Unified", Michael said: "We were all, our hearts and our souls and our bodies to the core were completely into this album. We put everything we had into this album and gave our all. We all wanted it to be the best. There's no doubt, you're right on the money with that. You know, it's just again, it's hit-or-miss, especially when you start experimenting. When you start trying different things, as an artist, you have to do that and have the freedom to do that. That's what makes some of the best bands in history so good because they took the risk and they experimented and they did something really unique. We tried a little bit of that on this album. Like I said, songs like 'Walk', there's a song called 'Afterlife'. For typical, what people expect to hear from George and Michael, collectively or individually, that ain't it. Those are the songs people are going to listen to and go 'Oh wow, this is different' for them. It really is. We enjoyed doing that. It was a lot of fun."

"Unified" track listing:

01. Promised Land02. Walk03. Afterlife04. Make Your Mark05. Tried & True06. Unified07. Find Your Way08. Heart Of Fire09. Bridge Of Broken Lies10. Better Man11. Live To Die

SWEET & LYNCH's debut album, "Only To Rise", was released in January 2015 via Frontiers Music Srl.

Los Angeles progressive rock group PERFECT BEINGS will release its new album, "Vier", on January 19, 2018 via InsideOut Music. The band's current lineup includes Ryan Hurtgen (vocals, piano), Johannes Luley (guitar, bass, production) and Jesse Nason (keyboards) alongside new drummer Sean Reinert (ex-CYNIC, DEATH).

A snippet of "A New Pyramid", the first part of "Vier"'s opening track "Guedra", can be streamed below.

Luley had this to say about the song: "We are excited to share with you the opening salvo of our new album 'Vier', our most ambitious and adventurous work to date. Get ready for one hell of a ride."

"Vier" track listing:

Guedra - 18:23

01. A New Pyramid02. The Blue Lake Of Understanding03. Patience04. Enter The Center

The Golden Arc - 16:47

05. The Persimmon Tree06. Turn The World Off07. America08. For A Pound Of Flesh

Vibrational - 18:17

09. The System And Beyond10. Mysteries, Not Answers11. Altars Of The Gods12. Everywhere At Once13. Insomnia

Anunnaki - 18:42

14. Lord Wind15. Patterns Of Light16. A Compromise17. Hissing The Wave Of The Dragon18. Everything's Falling Apart

Hurtgen originally met Luley as a client in Luley's Los Angeles-based recording studio My Sonic Temple. Luley, who was instantly impressed with his personality, song-crafting skills, and voice, asked Hurtgen to join him on a new project. This new group was going to continue the path Luley's former band MOTH VELLUM had set out on. The two became fast friends and soon put together a full band which would also include founding member Jesse Nason on keyboards. After releasing "Perfect Beings" (2014) and "II" (2015) to critical acclaim, a few personnel changes occurred that left the band without a rhythm section. The guys decided they wouldn’t be deterred, even by such a major setback. Instead, they hired Minneapolis transplant Ben Levin to play the drums on their next album, with Luley taking over the bass spot in addition to playing guitars. The result is the exhilarating double album, "Vier". As the group got closer to completing the record, they approached InsideOut, whose label chief Thomas Waber had shown interest a couple of years earlier. The parties agreed to join forces and release the record in early 2018. Levin dropped out and progressive rock drumming phenom Sean Reinert joined the band to add even more life force to an already powerful and highly skilled group.

PERFECT BEINGS 2017 is:

Ryan Hurtgen - vocals, pianoJohannes Luley - guitars, bassJesse Nason - keyboardsSean Reinert - drums, percussion

Professionally filmed video footage of EXIT EDEN, the all-female four-piece ensemble featuring Amanda Somerville, Clémentine Delauney, Marina La Torraca and Anna Brunner, performing a cover version of Rihanna's "Unfaithful" on September 22 at the Hamburg Metal Dayz festival in Hamburg, Germany can be seen below.

EXIT EDEN unites all attributes ascribed to the new millennium: cosmopolitan, self-confident-independent and ready to do their very own thing. Despite their diversity, the four singers blend together personally as superbly as they do vocally with their very diverse vocal tones and techniques that go from opera style to raspy rock. This constellation created extraordinary and powerful ideas and finally became their unique plan to raise EXIT EDEN's very own edge: to show the world that almost every classic song can be transformed into a solid metal-rock song. EXIT EDEN's debut, "Rhapsodies In Black", which was released on August 4 via Napalm Records (worldwide excluding Germany, Switzerland and Austria, where it was made available via Starwatch), is home to a colorful mix of international super hits from Rihanna to Madonna, from DEPECHE MODE to Adele, and many more. Still and all, it's miles away from being just a cover album. Who the musicians are: Amanda Somerville: Amanda is a rock-solid authority of the music scene, both as a solo artist and sharing success and the stage with bands like AVANTASIA, EPICA and KAMELOT. Though her American roots are based in pop and rock, she fell in love with the metal scene and made it her home. She has toured with Alice Cooper, Ian Gillan and many more legends with her commanding voice and fronts the projects TRILLIUM and KISKE SOMERVILLE (with HELLOWEEN icon Michael Kiske). All of this, combined with her wide range of experience, grants her a unique edge and a permanent address in the metal world. Anna Brunner: A natural talent, Anna began singing at a very young age. As a daughter of a German father and an American mother, she grew up bilingual and founded her first rock band as a teenager. Due to a music study that lead her through different parts of the world, she garnered a multitude of experience and it became crystal clear to her: music has to rock — and vocals need to be emotional — just like a passionate scream. Marina La Torraca: Hailing from Brazil, Marina was born with rhythm in her blood. As the auspicious frontwoman of several metal bands since the age of 15, her path led her to Europe, where she got to perform with AVANTASIA and to found her up-and-coming band PHANTOM ELITE. Since having studied musical theater in New York, the versatile singer and actress can also be seen internationally in musical productions, including the upcoming German tour of the Broadway hit "Rent". For her, being close to the crowd is what counts — no problem for her and her natural convincing character. Clémentine Delauney: Clémentine was born near Paris 30 years ago. She has been a multi talent since her childhood days — no matter if she was dancing, playing the piano or singing, she enchanted her audience. At the age of 16, she joined her first metal band. She is currently fronting symphonic metal outfit VISIONS OF ATLANTIS and also worked with SERENITY and MELTED SPACE. Another one of her career highlights is her participation on Kai Hansen's (HELLOWEEN, GAMMA RAY) first solo album, released in 2016. Thus, Clémentine has carved her way into being one of the great performers of the scene.

"Rhapsodies In Black" track listing: 01. A Question Of Time02. Unfaithful03. Incomplete04. Impossible05. Frozen06. Heaven07. Firework08. Skyfall09. Total Eclipse Of The Heart10. Paparazzi11. Fade To Grey

Tune in Friday, November 3 to watch the broadcast premiere of the concert special "Prophets Of Rage" on AT&T Audience Network via DirecTV Ch 239, AT&T U-verse Ch 1114 and on-demand through DirecTV Now. Airing at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT the one-hour event titled "Prophets Of Rage" features a full, live concert shot on location at six major rock festivals around the world including Mexico (Festival Vive Latino), France (Hellfest), Buenos Aires, Argentina (Maximus), Switzerland (Festi'neuch), Poland (Open'er) and USA (Louder Than Life). Watch as the group tears through an explosive set comprised of new songs and fan favorites "Prophets Of Rage", "Unfuck The World", "Testify", "Living On The 110", "Jump Around/Sleep Now In The Fire/Cochise", "Fight The Power", "How I Can Just Kill A Man" and "Killing In The Name". Later on, the show includes a behind-the-scenes interview where B-Real, Tim Commerford, Tom Morello and series host Ted Stryker delve into their motivations for creating the music.

Formed amid 2016's tumultuous election, PROPHETS OF RAGE — Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, Brad Wilk, Chuck D, B-Real and DJ Lord — have toured extensively in the U.S. and Europe and coalesced into an explosive unit capable of playing with equal parts precision, passion and muscle. The group's self-titled album — produced by longtime RAGE collaborator Brendan O'Brien, with bold cover art created for the band by renowned street artist Shepard Fairey — fuses the diverse styles, sonic firepower and hard-hitting social consciousness of their previous work into an inventive, compelling and timely new musical statement. Michael Moore, who directed the blistering, politically charged video for the track "Unfuck The World", declared, "PROPHETS OF RAGE is the right band, saying the right shit, at this very critical moment." At its core, PROPHETS OF RAGE functions not only on a love of music, but a deep belief in its power as a tool and a weapon. Woven into the band's DNA are influences as varied as THE CLASH, KRS-One and Johnny Cash, as well as the undeniable ideals and aesthetics of its predecessors: PUBLIC ENEMY's frenzied, racing textures, RAGE's jaw-melting riffs, and CYPRESS HILL's manically playful party energy. PROPHETS OF RAGE are currently in the midst of a U.S. tour, having just completed a short run of intimate club shows in a number of historic rooms across the U.S. and headlining festival turns at Riot Fest, Louder Than Life, Voodoo Music + Arts Experience and Ozzfest.

A new preview clip of "Dimevision Vol. 2: Roll With It Or Get Rolled Over" — which is described as "another true celebration" of late PANTERA and DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and how he lived his life — can be seen below (courtesy of Guitar World).

With 2006's "Dimevision Vol. 1: That's The Fun I Have", fans of Dimebag and his work with PANTERA and DAMAGEPLAN were afforded the chance to see into the world of the legendary guitarist. Compiled from the many, many hours of video footage captured between the mid-'80s and his later years, it was a funny, touching and poignant memorial.

Metal Blade Records will release "Dimevision Vol. 2: Roll With It Or Get Rolled Over" on November 24. Pre-orders are available at this location. The DVD/CD set — which will include more raw footage, true gems and classic Dimebag moments — will also include five previously unreleased demos, picked from a vast catalog Dimebag accrued since longtime girlfriend Rita Haney gave him his first four-track in 1984.

Fans of Dimebag, PANTERA and DAMAGEPLAN who have had the opportunity to watch "Dimevision Vol 1: That's The Fun I Have" know it is a funny, touching memorial. "Dimevision Vol 2: Roll With It Or Get Rolled Over" continues this tradition, and today, Metal Blade, Rita Haney and Daryl "Bobby Tongs" Arnberger are pleased to share one of the funniest clips from the set. Watch Dime take part in an "interesting" CPAP machine fitting in the clip below. Haney says: "This particular trailer's focus is on one of the items available from 'Dimevision 2', along with many other props from past home videos. We want to offer up a piece of these magical volumes so that in the future, with the help of his fans, we'll be able to bring more DVD/CD packages to everyone out there that love Dime as much as we do." She adds: "I had just rolled outta bed and the doctor fitting Dime was about an hour early for his appointment. Dime and ST were still up partying, so, of course, things never go as planned in Dime's world!

"One thing people need to realize is that when you're getting fitted for one of these machines, it's imperative that you do not speak during the process so they can ramp the proper amount of air through those things, so you have to keep your mouth closed. But as you can see from this segment in full, that's a damn near impossible feat for him at the moment. It's also impossible to be angry at Dime when he made you laugh all the time!"

Going into making "Dimevision Vol. 2: Roll With It Or Get Rolled Over", Haney worked in collaboration with Daryl "Bobby Tongs" Arnberger, who was not only one of Dimebag's closest friends both on and off the road, but also worked as an official videographer for PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN and a plethora of A-list musicians, from SLIPKNOT to Dolly Parton, along with film editor Rob Fenn. After cataloguing hundreds of tapes, they chose 43 segments to create "Dimevision Vol. 2".

Arnberger explains: "As we all watched, we envisioned certain segments and ideas coming to life in my head, and rather than it serving as a memorial, this second DVD is more about the vision Dime had in his head for this footage, what he actually wanted it to become. This one is more uplifting, funny, and it stays 100% true to his idea for 'Dimevision'."

Fans of the original know that this way of life involved a lot of whiskey, an insane amount of fireworks and a contagious desire to have fun — and like its predecessor, the title is also drawn from the words of the man himself. Having a habit of latching onto a saying or a phrase, this soon became part of his particular dialect, affectionately dubbed "Dime-bonics." "It comes from something he was saying a lot in 2003 and 2004," Haney recalls. "He'd call from the road and he'd say 'man, I'm beat up out here, but that's the highs and lows of rock and roll. You gotta roll with it or get rolled over.'"

"He had a unique way of seeing things, and he always lived with a video camera," adds Haney. "No matter where we went he was always capturing what was going on, and myself and others around him were filming a lot too. In putting out these videos I just want people to see the way he was, 24/7. What you saw on stage and backstage, that was how he lived."

Unsuspecting visitors to the couple's home were regularly drawn in — memorable segments involve girl scouts selling cookies and Dimebag experiencing an "interesting" CPAP machine fitting — and events as mundane as taking a friend to get a pedicure become hilarious, thanks to his particular way of seeing the world. As endlessly entertaining as Dimebag was, there were of course other, deeper sides to his personality, which are also reflected in both volumes. Haney adds: "There were some really touching, deep, heavy and emotional moments in the first one, where he's talking about himself to the camera while in the shower. Filming himself like that was something he did a lot, and you'd have no clue until you're looking through the tapes and come across them, and when you do the goosebumps crawl all over you. People that love and know Darrell are going to be touched by what he has to say, because it's him telling you for the first time."

As for his included demos, Dimebag not only wrote down the lyrics and dates of everything he recorded but also his thoughts on it at the time, which Haney will also be sharing with fans. However, she's quick to point out that no one should expect high production standards ("It's called a four-track for a reason!") and that these are not "lost" PANTERA tracks. "These songs come from his 'off' time; it was entertainment to him. One of them was even inspired by a George Michael solo record coming out back in the '80s!" she laughs. "But he loved making music and he appreciated all kinds of music, whether he was making a joke of it or not, it still caught his ear, and I hope people can enjoy these songs for what they are and the spirit they were made in."

With so much footage left over, fans can rest assured that as fulfilling as "Dimevision Vol. 2: Roll With It Or Get Rolled Over" is, there's still a lot to look forward to. Haney says, "We hope to make ['Dimevision'] an annual thing. It will all depend on if the fans want it and support it!"

The official lyric video for the song "Toast To The Ghost" from BAD WOLVES can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's debut album, which will be released in the spring on Eleven Seven Music.

BAD WOLVES, which is managed by Zoltan Bathory of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, consists of of vocalist Tommy Vext (ex-DIVINE HERESY, SNOT), drummer John Boecklin (ex-DEVILDRIVER), guitarist Doc Coyle (VAGUS NERVE, ex-GOD FORBID), guitarist Chris Cain (BURY YOUR DEAD) and bassist Kyle Konkiel (ex-IN THIS MOMENT).

"We're already fans of the band so it's fantastic to welcome BAD WOLVES to the Eleven Seven label family," says Eleven Seven COO Steve Kline. BAD WOLVES burst on to the scene earlier this year with the independently released debut single "Learn To Live". The Los Angeles-based five-piece is now gearing up for an even bigger 2018 with new music, a new label and new management. "From a creative standpoint, we were very fortunate to garnish the support of not only a friend we trusted as a manager but also respected as an artist and entrepreneur," explains the band of the decision to work with Bathory's management company. "Zoltan's outside-the-box thinking and unique perspective helped broadened the vision of what we hope to accomplish as a band." Adds Bathory: "I knew these guys for many years from their previous bands so I knew they were all exceptional musicians, but when they formed BAD WOLVES and played me the first few songs, I thought, 'Okay... there is fire here, this one has the magical combination.' Hard work and persistence always outstrip talent, and these guys have both."

Boecklin previously described BAD WOLVES' style as "a heavy-slightly prog rock band that tunes low and cuts off most of the fat. Watching FAITH NO MORE on the reunion tour made my thought process change," he explained. "I was standing there, and it hit me that I don't want to be in a metal band with screaming all the time. We're heavy, yet from track-to-track, things change quite a bit."

"More was revealed, so more was required," added Vext. "The overall tonality and approach resonated with me as an opportunity to challenge myself and grow as a vocalist. I was given a platform to tap into some musical influences I hadn't yet explored in previous bands. All in all, it was some of the most diverse, original material I've gotten to wrap my hands around."

In no rush to put together something reminiscent of his musical past, Boecklin quietly wrote over the course of 2015. During summer of 2016, he entered AudioHammer Studios with longtime collaborator Mark Lewis (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS) and tracked what would become the group's debut album.

"Starting from scratch is never easy," admitted Boecklin. "Many musical roads were traveled before getting to what you hear today — it's trial and error. I kept reminding myself not to do what I've done before. Eventually, we started to hear what we wanted."

Album opener "A Toast To The Ghosts" delivers a searing gut-punch punctuated by sharp succinct fretwork, smart-bomb precise percussion, and another searing vocal performance. Everything culminates on the pensive and punishing "Blood And Bones". Vext added: "It's like an open letter to an abusive relationship partner that no longer serves you or the opposing counterpart. It's left open to interpretation."

Defined by a push-and-pull between incalculable instrumentation and soaring melodies, BAD WOLVES will keep listeners guessing and thinking on their path to hard rock and metal supremacy.

"This is something new for me," Boecklin left off. "It's the most unique drumming I've ever done. Tommy has never sounded so good. The songs are much more diverse than anything from our collective past. I'd love for people to take away some sort of connection emotionally. That's what all of the bands who inspire me do. Everything else doesn't really matter."

Dutch symphonic metallers EPICA will play their one thousandth concert on Saturday, April 14, 2018, in Tilburg, The Netherlands.

After its recent sold-out shows in The Netherlands, EPICA is more than proud to announce it will perform this milestone event at the legendary 013 venue, the exact same place where it all started for the band sixteen years ago. Rest assured that this night will be celebrated the right way as EPICA invited some very special guests to make sure this night will be remembered. Danish metal sensation MYRKUR and American progressive metallers OCEANS OF SLUMBER are already confirmed, and more guests are still to be announced. EPICA singer Simone Simons says: "Back in 2002, we could have never imagined that one day we'd be playing our thousandth live show. This couldn't have happened without the support of our dearest and most loyal EPICA legion, so in order to make this an unforgettable night, We've invited some very cool guests to perform with us." Adds guitarist Mark Jansen: "I remember our very first show at 013, Tilburg as if it was yesterday. Back then we were supporting ANATHEMA, but now sixteen years later, we'll have the honour to be celebrating our thousandth show at the same venue as headliners. We could have never achieved this without the support of our loyal fans, so we definitely wanted to make this an amazing night to celebrate all together with also some very cool special guests. We hope to see you all in Tilburg." Early-bird tickets will be available from Saturday, November 4 at 11:00 a.m. You can also purchase a special ticket bundle which includes an exclusive t-shirt of this show.

Multi-national rock act, Blues Pills, have released an official live video for “Lady In Gold”, taken from the DVD/Blu-ray, Lady In Gold - Live In Paris, out tomorrow, November 3rd, and available for purchase here.

The release features the band’s sold out performance at Le Trianon in Paris, France on October 30th, 2016 in front of 1,200 euphoric fans.

Commented the band: "We are stoked to share with you that we will release a live record/ DVD which was recorded and filmed during our show in Paris at Le Trianon last October on the Lady in Gold Tour. We decided to do this because we want to share our live experience with all our fans and also those fans who might have never had the chance to see us live. The live interpretation of our songs differs a lot from the studio record versions. We would call it a bit more rock’n roll, more heavy, more jam parts, more psychedelic parts – simply another experience . Playing live is what we've always enjoyed most. In no other situation can you connect as deep with your fans. We tried to catch the magical moments and emotions of the live atmosphere on DVD/ record for your living rooms, cars and wherever you will rock out to it. Paris was chosen because it means a lot to us to play in this beautiful city and also Le Trianon is one of the most beautiful venues in Europe – this needed to get shared with you!“

Lady In Gold - Live In Paris tracklisting:

“Lady In Gold”
“Little Boy Preacher”
“Bad Talkers”
“Won't Go Back”
“Black Smoke”
“Bliss”
“Little Sun”
“Elements And Things”
“You Gotta Try”
“High Class Woman”
“Ain't No Change”
“Devil Man”
“I Felt A Change”
“Rejection”
“Gone So Long”

“Lady In Gold” video:

“Bliss” video:

“Elements And Things” video:

“Little Boy Preacher” video:

Pink Cream 69 will release their new album, Headstrong, on November 10th. A video for the album track “Walls Come Down” is available for streaming below.

Headstrong marks the 30th Anniversary of the German hard rockers Pink Cream 69. And what better way to celebrate than by adding yet another gem to their already spectacular discography! Produced by bassist (and renowned producer) Dennis Ward, Headstrong sees the same line-up from 2013’s well received Ceremonial album return to deliver fans another hard rocking set of quality songs and is their 12th studio album overall. As a special treat, the new release includes a bonus live album featuring songs from across the band’s catalogue.

Dennis Ward says: When we released our first album in 1989, we were proud to be a “guitar band” that yielded powerful guitar riffs and soaring vocal melodies. Since the release of Ceremonial it became evident to us that we had to take a step back to be able to make 2 steps forward so we made a “master plan”: to resurrect our earliest form of songwriting incorporating these riffs and melodies, reducing the amount of keyboards and keeping the production to a minimum of sonic layers in order to be as true as possible to our sound - the sound of fat and crunchy guitars. I feel that the new Headstrong album is a high-energy recording that redeems us as the powerful rock n’ roll band we used to be. After weeks of cross checking the production, listening to the CD in my car, I take great pride in saying “mission accomplished”. We look so very forward to presenting our new “baby”.”

Pink Cream 69 was founded in 1987 by singer Andi Deris, guitarist Alfred Koffler, drummer Kosta Zafiriou, who were later joined by bassist Dennis Ward. Deris left the band in 1994 and after auditioning various singers was replaced by Englishman David Readman.

Tracklisting:

Studio Album:

“We Bow To None”
“Walls Come Down”
“Unite And Divide”
“No More Fear”
“Man Of Sorrow”
“Path Of Destiny”
“Vagrant Of The Night”
“Bloodsucker”
“Whistleblower”
“The Other Man”

“Walls Come Down” video:

“Man Of Sorrow” lyric video:

“Path Of Destiny”:

“We Bow To None”:

Bonus Live Album (Recorded In Ludwigsburg (2013):

“Special”
“Talk To The Moon”
 Break The Silence”
“Do You Like It Like That”
“The Spirit”
“Livin’ My Life For You”
“Wasted Years”
“Welcome The Night”
“Shame”

 

 

Dutch death metallers Neocaesar - a band formed by all ex-Sinister members like Mike van Mastrigt (vocals), Bart van Wallenberg (guitars), Michel Alderliefsten (bass), and Eric de Windt (drums) - have premiered their new track "Valhalla Rising" via the YouTube clip below. The song hails from the band's debut album, 11:11, which was self-released a few months ago but is now seeing official release and distribution through Xtreem Music on December 5th. 

Tracklisting for 11:11 is as follows:

“Initial Novum (Intro)”
“From Hell”
“Victims Of Deception’
“Invocation Of The Watcher”
“Sworn To Hate”
“Valhalla Rising”
“Prelude To Darkness”
“Angelic Carnage”
“Sigillorum Satanas”
“Blood Of The Nephilim”

 

German black metal outfit Grabak will release its sixth studio album, Bloodline Divine, on November 17th via Massacre Records. A lyric video for the song “Phoenix” can be found below.

The album was mixed and mastered by Andy Schmidt and Michel Boer at Echolux Tonstudio. Bloodline Divine is characterized by furiously fast riffs and atmospheric parts, as well as a gut-wrenching sound. The cover artwork was created by Dan Verkys.

"Post Lucis Natum" (Intro)
"Via Dolorosa"
"Sinnocence"
"Corpsebride"
"Oblivion"
"Seelensammler"
"Bloodline Divine"
"S.T.U.K.A."
"Phoenix"
"Apostate"

"Phoenix" lyric video:

The Fright have released a video for “Oblivion”, a track from their new album Canto V, available via SPV/Steamhammer. Watch the new clip below.

The Canto V album was produced by Waldemar Sorychta (Lacuna Coil, Tiamat, Sodom, Moonspell), who commented on his co-operation with The Fright: "This is a really outstanding band and they present a well dosed mixture between Gothic tunes and metal. Strong melodies and hook lines alongside a very talented shouter - this is top notch! The whole production process was extremely enjoyable. I definitely found some new friends. Thanks a lot guys."

Canto V’s cover art was created by German artist Timo Würz.

Tracklisting:

“Bonfire Night”
“No One”
“Wander Alone”
“Love Is Gone”
“Fade Away”
“Oblivion”
“Leave”
“Drowned In Red”
“Century Without A Name”
“In Sicherheit”

“Oblivion” video:

“Bonfire Night” video: