According to WLOX, former 3 DOORS DOWN bassist Todd Harrell has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for possession of a firearm by a felon.

Harrell has been in jail since June, when deputies responded to an alarm that went off during an alleged domestic dispute at Harrell's home in St. Martin, Mississippi, a community in Jackson County. Deputies said they saw guns and drugs.

Judge Robert Krebs gave Harrell the maximum penalty for the crime at his sentencing Thursday in Jackson County Circuit Court.

He still faces a jail contraband charge after his wife allegedly mailed him the prescription drug Suboxone at the Jackson County jail in August.

ack in 2013, Harell was charged with vehicular homicide in Nashville for driving drunk and killing 47-year-old Paul Shoulders.

While awaiting trial on that charge, Harrell was arrested again on a DUI charge for driving under the influence of drugs — a charge which led to his firing from 3 DOORS DOWN.

Harrell pleaded guilty in 2015 and was sentenced to two years in prison. With credit for good behavior, he served roughly a year, according to media reports.

Harrell was an original member of 3 DOORS DOWN, which formed in 1996.

Another original 3 DOORS DOWN member, guitarist Matt Roberts, died of an overdose in 2016 after retiring from the group in 2012.

In a new interview with music writer Joel Gausten, drummer James Kottak (Kingdom Come/ex-Scorpions) discusses a variety of topics including staying active in the music industry after 30-plus years. An excerpt from the chat appears below:

Gausten: Lenny Wolf is not involved in this current incarnation (of Kingdom Come). I do know there have been some positive statements made on his behalf online wishing you guys well. For the benefit of those fans who have that initial question of where he is, where does Lenny stand with you guys? What’s the current relationship like?

Kottak: "We have an understanding, and everything’s cool. He got sick of it, and he’s kind of had some bad breaks in the business. It’s a sucky business; it’s terrible. We talked from last September through Christmas. In January, he called and said, ‘You know what? I just don’t want to do it.’ He announced a year ago that he was retiring and putting Kingdom Come away. I was going, ‘Come on, dude. Just one last hurrah, at least for a year.’ When Lenny says he’s made up his mind, that’s it; there’s no talking him out of it. We’re still friends; everything’s great. It’s just that he doesn’t want to go through all of this madness again."

Gausten: Where does Kingdom Come go from here? What are the band’s future plans beyond this tour?

Kottak: "We’re not getting too far ahead of ourselves. We’re using this as a launching pad; we’re going to get the vibe and see what our friends, family and fans and everybody out there says as feedback. But I know so far from doing interviews with guys like you that the reception has been wonderful. I have no idea; we’ll take it from there. If you plan too far ahead, you don’t live in the now and you end up screwing now up. Now is all we have today. There’s a million ideas floating between the band, journalists and fans online. We’ll get to that next and see what happens."

The complete interview is available at this location.

Kingdom Come was formed in 1987 and quickly signed to Polydor Records. The band released their first single "Get It On" which held a stranglehold on rock radio in early 1988, prompting their self-titled debut album to ship gold.

The quintet, comprised of guitarists Danny Stag and Rick Steier, bassist Johnny B. Frank, drummer James Kottak, and singer Lenny Wolf, took to the road immediately as part of the North American Monsters Of Rock tour alongside Van Halen, Scorpions, Metallica, and Dokken. In addition to touring and extensive radio airplay, they also became MTV favourites with such videos as "Get It On" and "What Love Can Be", helping the band to sell over two million debut albums worldwide.

2018 marks the 30th anniversary of the release of that classic album prompting drummer James Kottak to revive Kingdom Come. Along with original members Danny Stag, Rick Steier, Johnny B. Frank, a tour to commemorate the success of the band and album is born. Original singer Lenny Wolf declined to participate in the tour, but wishes the rest of the guys all the success and best in the world! Keith St. John (formerly of Montrose & Lynch Mob) will be stepping up to fill that large void, “but is definitely up to the job” according to the band members.

Guitarist Danny Stag says, “...we all love each other like brothers, get along, and laugh a lot. It's like a miracle that this is finally happening!" Bassist Johnny B. Frank adds, “It was 30 years ago The Wolf recruited us, The Rock produced us, MTV aired us and Van Halen made us Monsters Of Rock. Grateful to Rock another day!!!"

Kingdom Come will tour in 2018 - 2019 performing songs from their legendary debut album along with music from their second album In Your Face. More dates have been announced and the current itinerary can be found below.

Visit the band’s website for information on VIP Meet and Greets.

Tour dates:

October
17 - Pittsburgh, PA - Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
18 - Sellersville, PA - Sellersville Theater
19 - Halethorpe, MD - Fish Head Cantina
20 - Poughkeepsie, NY - The Chance
21 - Derry, NH - Tupelo Music Hall
23 - New Bedford, MA - Greasy Luck Brewpub
26 - Granite City, IL - Eddie's Bar & Grill
27 - Kansas City, MO - The Scene KC Rock Bar

Kingdom Come lineup:

James Kottak - Drums
Johnny B. Frank - Bass
Danny Stag - Guitar
Rick Steier - Guitar
Keith St. John - Vocals

Bonfire will release Legends, an outstanding tribute album to all the rock legends that take part in the Bonfire & Friends tour in November 2018. The album will be available via AFM Records on October 19th. Their take on Survivor's smash hit "Eye Of The Tiger" is available for streaming below.

Tracklisting:

CD 1:

"Africa"
"Hold The Line"
"Rosanna"
"Man On The Silver Mountain"
"I Surrender"
"Stone Cold"
"Death Alley Driver"
"Black Masquerade"
"Burning Heart"
"Eye Of The Tiger"
"Caught In The Game"
"Doctor Doctor"
"Lights Out"
"Rock Bottom"
"Child In Time"

CD 2:

"Jet City Woman"
"Silent Lucidity"
"Eyes Of A Stranger"
"Tears In The Rain"
"The First Time"
"Save Up All Your Tears"
"Hot Cherie"
"Dr. Love"
"Hallelujah"
"Rebellion"
"Heavy Metal Breakdown"
"Love Don't Lie"
"I Wanna Be Loved"
"King Of Dreams"
"Frei wie die Geier"
"Erinnerung"
"Alt wie ein Baum"

"Eye Of The Tiger":

"Africa":

Find out more about their upcoming Bonfire & Friends tour here.

Lineup:

Alexx Stahl (Vocals)
Hans Ziller (Guitar)
Frank Pané (Guitar)
Ronnie Parkes (Bass)
Tim Breideband (Drums)

German power thrashers, Septagon, are streaming the new song "Weight Of The World", featured on the band's forthcoming sophomore album, Apocalyptic Rhymes. Watch the lyric video for the track below.

Apocalyptic Rhymes will be released November 9th on Cruz Del Sur Music. Preorders available at this location.

As if being in Lanfear and Them wasn't enough for German guitarist Markus "Ulle" Ullrich, his power/thrash outfit Septagon provides another canvas for him to color. Formed in 2013 with Atlantean Kodex vocalist Markus Becker, Septagon (who are completed by second guitarist Stef Binnig-Gollub, bassist Alexander Palma and drummer Jürgen "General" Schrank) was created to harness Ullrich's desire to write fast and tight thrash with a vocalist who could carry the songs over the top. Becker, already known for his work in epic metallers and labelmates Atlantean Kodex, was the obvious choice. Born was their 2016 Deadhead Syndicate debut, an album quickly recognized for its knifing blend of Bay Area thrash and classic power metal bravado. Figuring they could better the debut, Septagon soon wrote and recorded ten songs that would become their sophomore album, the appropriately-titled Apocalyptic Rhymes.

Recorded across a variety of studios and produced by the band, Apocalyptic Rhymes is punctuated by a raw, but snappy production job. In turn, the album finds the band offering a variety of styles and flavors both musically and lyrically, from the punchiness of opener "Weight of the World" to the bass-driven "Home, Sweet Hell" up through the churning title track, where fiery guitar solos from Ullrich and Binning-Gollub and Becker's vocal acrobatics take form. Even as the album ascends into the spiraling melodic heights found on "The Unfathomable Evil," it goes on the attack on "P.O.T.U.S.A.," a song inspired by Becker's time in America and is critical of the current presidential regime that has divided the country. Apocalyptic Rhymes eventually crests on the closing "Sunset Blood," a lush, epic construct that allows Septagon to stretch out musically to include acoustic guitars, twin guitar harmonies and carefully-plotted vocal spots.

An album sure to stand out among the dime-a-dozen traditional thrash and power metal entries, Apocalyptic Rhymes is an unapologetic bold step for Septagon, a band unafraid to not only push musical boundaries, but political and social ones as well.

Tracklisting:

“The End”
“Weight Of The World”
“Home, Sweet Hell”
“Apocalyptic Rhymes”
“Make A Stand”
“The Unfathomable Evil”
“P.O.T.U.S.A.”
“Cosmic Outrage”
“Nothingness Awaits”
“Sunset Blood”

“Weight Of The World” lyric video:

“Home, Sweet Hell” lyric video:

Italian progressive metal band, Last Union, featuring Mike LePond (Symphony X) on bass, Uli Kusch (ex-Helloween, ex-Masterplan) on drums, and as guest James LaBrie (Dream Theater) on vocals, have signed a multi-album deal with ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records.

Last Union just finished the work on their debut album, which was mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren, best known for his work with Arch Enemy, Symphony X, Devin Townsend, Angra and Opeth to name a few.

Strong and positive reactions to their music spurred Scarpeccio and Tiberi on to take the first of many bold steps. The first was to invite drummer Uli Kusch (ex-Helloween, ex-Masterplan) to join the fold, who expressed interest in joining the band as a full member rather than just a touring drummer after hearing the music. A similar scenario played out with Symphony X bassist Mike LePond and Last Union was officially born.

The icing on the cake, however, was getting Dream Theater vocalist James LaBrie to sing on three tracks.

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

Last Union is:

Elisa Scarpeccio - Vocals
Cristiano Tiberi - Guitars
Mike LePond – Bass (Symphony X)
Uli Kusch – Drums (ex-Helloween, ex-Masterplan)
Feat. James LaBrie on vocals (Dream Theater)

America’s preeminent progressive rock band, Kansas, will be touring select cities in the United States and Canada next spring, expanding the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of their massive hit album Point of Know Return. For the first time in history, the band is performing the album Point of Know Return in its entirety. The tour showcases more than two hours of classic Kansas music including hit songs, deep cuts, and fan favorites. Tickets and Kansas VIP Packages for most dates go on sale to the general public Friday, October 19, 2018. Ticket information can be found at this location.   

The first leg of the Kansas: Point of Know Return Anniversary Tour premiered September 28, 2018, in Atlanta, GA. The tour has already performed to large and enthusiastic audiences in Atlanta, GA; Nashville, TN; Glenside, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Milwaukee, WI; and Chicago, IL

In 1977, Kansas followed up the success of Leftoverture by releasing the album Point of Know Return. Containing the smash hit and million-selling single “Dust in the Wind”, along with fan favorites such as “Portrait (He Knew)”, “Closet Chronicles” and “Paradox”, Point of Know Return became the band’s greatest selling studio album. The album peaked at #4 on Billboard’s Album charts, reached sextuple-platinum status with more than six million copies sold, and had three Billboard Hot 100 singles.

"After the success of the album Leftoverture, it was hard to imagine when we released Point of Know Return that this album would be even bigger, but it was," comments Kansas guitarist, and original member, Richard Williams. "From the album artwork to the song ‘Dust in the Wind,’ the album Point of Know Return is really ingrained in Rock N Roll history and even in popular culture. For two years we played around 80 select shows performing the album Leftoverture in its entirety. We have been blown away by the positive fan response. Our hope is that fans will enjoy this Point of Know Return Tour just as much, and hopefully even more! So far, that has been the case and we hope to continue it!"

Throughout the tour, live shows not only culminate with the album Point of Know Return performed in its entirety, but Kansas also performs classic hits, deep cuts, and fan favorites. The band has not publicly performed some songs in the more than two-hour Kansas musical event in decades.

Kansas lead vocalist Ronnie Platt adds: “I often joke that I cannot be in charge of putting together a set list, because there are too many songs that I really want to perform. These shows, though, will be about as close as it gets. Of course, there will be hits like ‘Carry On Wayward Son,’ but to know we will be performing songs that Kansas has not performed live for twenty or thirty years, or even ever, that is just really exciting. It is going to be a lot of fun.”

Kansas is currently comprised of original drummer Phil Ehart, bassist/vocalist Billy Greer, keyboardist David Manion, vocalist/keyboardist Ronnie Platt, violinist/guitarist David Ragsdale, guitarist Zak Rizvi, and original guitarist Richard Williams. The band continues to perform in front of large and enthusiastic audiences around the world.

The updated tour schedule is as follows, featuring a new run of dates from March through May 2019:

October 
19 - Kansas City, MO - Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland
20 - St. Louis, MO - The Fabulous Fox Theatre
26 - Kalamazoo, MI - The State Theatre
27 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theatre

November 
2 - San Antonio, TX - The Tobin Center for Performing Arts
3 - Dallas, TX - Majestic Theatre – SOLD OUT
9 - Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theatre
10 - Indianapolis, IN - Murat Theatre at Old National Centre
16 - Huntington, NY - The Paramount
17 - Worcester, MA - The Hanover Theatre
23 - Wilkes-Barre, PA - F.M. Kirby Center
24 - Baltimore, MD - The Modell Lyric
30 - Asheville, NC - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium

December 
1 - Columbia, SC - Township Auditorium
6 - Mobile, AL - Saenger Theatre
8 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
14 -  Daytona Beach, FL - Peabody Auditorium
15 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Au-Rene Theater at Broward Center

March 
8 - Des Moines, IA - Hoyt Sherman Place
9 - Peoria, IL -  Peoria Civic Center Theater
15 - Salina, KS - The Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts
22 - Charleston, WV - Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences
23 - Louisville, KY - Louisville Palace Theatre
29 -  Beaver Creek, CO - Vilar Performing Arts Center
30 -Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre

April 
2 - Tucson, AZ - Fox Tucson Theatre
4 - San Diego, CA - Balboa Theatre
6 - Los Angeles, CA - The Orpheum Theatre
7 - Santa Barbara, CA - Arlington Theatre
10 - Oakland, CA - Paramount Theatre
12 - Portland, OR - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
13 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
24 - Vancouver, BC - The Orpheum
26 - Edmonton, AB - Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
28 - Calgary, AB - Jack Singer Concert Hall
30 - Saskatoon, SK - TCU Place

May 
1 - Regina, SK - Conexus Arts Centre
3 - Winnipeg, MB - Burton Cummings Theatre for Performing Arts
10 - Rockford, IL - Coronado Performing Arts Center
11 - Ft. Wayne, IN - Foellinger Theater

Texas Metal Outlaws have released the official video for “Echoes Of Memory,” a track from the all-star project’s self-titled debut album. 

The song features: vocalist James Rivera (Helstar, Distant Thunder, Destiny’s End);  guitarist Robert Williams (Ignitor, Witches Mark); guitarist Stuart Laurence (Agony Column, Ignitor); guitarist Larry Barragan (Helstar, Eternity Black), bassist Stony Grantham (Shadowkeep, Byfist); and drummer Cody Gilliland (Immortal Guardian).

The forthcoming self-titled album from Texas Metal Outlaws is now streaming in its entirety. Listen below via the Bandcamp player:

Texas Metal Outlaws by TEXAS METAL OUTLAWS

The heat, the attitude, the metal! Texas doesn't do subtly and it sure as hell doesn't do mellow, as evidenced by the forthcoming self-titled album of molten Lone Star metal from Texas Metal Outlaws. Scheduled for release on CD (Heaven And Hell Records) and vinyl (Texas Metal Underground Records) on October 26th, each of the album's nine tracks features a unique lineup of players from the deep well of Texas metal talent. The official video for the album's eponymous opening track is available below.

The track features Jason McMaster (Watchtower, Dangerous Toys, Broken Teeth, Ignitor, Evil United), Stuart Laurence (Agony Column, Ignitor), Robert Williams (Ignitor, Witches Mark), Donnie Van Stavern (S.A. Slayer, Riot, Pitbull Daycare), and Felix Griffin (D.R.I., Bat).

Though barely scratching the surface of the magic on offer, some particularly interesting aspects of the album include:

- The appearance of every member of Witches Mark on "Malt Liquor Maniac".
- Bonus track "Black And Green" features every member of Agony Column, plus guitarist Robert Williams (Ignitor, Witches Mark) and is the first thing Agony Column has recorded since 1995's Way Back In The Woods album.
- The Burt Bacharach/Carole Bayer Sager-penned cover of "That's What Friends Are For" features a complete previous lineup of Ignitor plus Logan Orlando Perez (Against The Plagues, Vex, Whore Of Babylon).
- The cover song "Running From The Law" from Riot's Born In America album was recorded as a tribute to Mark Reale and Rhett Forrester and even features Donnie Van Stavern (Riot) on bass.

The complete list of players on Texas Metal Outlaws is as follows:

- Jason McMaster (Watchtower, Dangerous Toys, Broken Teeth, Ignitor, Evil United)
- Stuart Laurence (Agony Column, Ignitor)
- Donnie Van Stavern (S.A. Slayer, Riot, Pitbull Daycare)
- Felix Griffin (D.R.I., Bat)
- Robb Bockman (Witches Mark, UADA)
- Scott Palmer (Witches Mark, Byfist, Demontuary)
- Carlos Zema (Immortal Guardian, Vougan, Heaven's Guardian, Outworld, David Shankle Group)
- Billy Dansfiell (Agony Column, Ignitor, E.K.U., Zero Percent)
- Ross The Boss Friedman (Manowar, Death Dealer, Ross The Boss Band, The Dictators)
- Cody Gilliland (Immortal Guardian)
- Richie Turner (Agony Column)
- Chris Alaniz (Agony Column, Cheetah Chrome)
- Mike Soliz (Militia, Assalant, Oblivion Knight)
- Mark Zammaron (Odometer, Las Cruces, Wicked Angel, Passage Temple)
- Pat Doyle (Ignitor, The Offenders)
- Michael Paul Toupin (Raging Saint, Force Of Rage)
- Al Berlanga (Syrus)
- Stan Martinez (Target 7, Social Slut)
- James Rivera (Helstar, Distant Thunder, Destiny's End, Seven Witches, Malice, Flotsam and Jetsam, Agent Steel, Shadowkeep)
- Larry Barragan (Helstar, Eternity Black, Santa Oscuridad)
- Stony Grantham (Shadowkeep, Byfist)
- Brendon Bigelow (Ignitor, Death Of Millions)
- Logan Orlando Perez (Against The Plagues, Vex, Whore Of Babylon)
- Robert Williams (Ignitor, Witches Mark)

Texas Metal Outlaws tracklisting:

"Texas Metal Outlaws"

Jason McMaster - Vocals
Robert Williams - Guitar
Stuart Laurence - Guitar
Donnie Van Stavern - Bass
Felix Griffin - Drums

"Malt Liquor Maniac"

Robert Williams - Guitar, Bass, Vocals
Robb Bockman - Guitar
Scott Palmer - Drums

"Rebel Years"

Carlos Zema - Vocals
Robert Williams - Guitar
Stuart Laurence - Guitar
Ross The Boss Friedman - Guitar solo
Billy Dansfiell - Bass
Cody Gilliland - Drums

"Black And Green"

Richie Turner - Vocals
Stuart Laurence - Guitar
Robert Williams - Guitar
Billy Dansfiell- Bass
Chris Alaniz - Drums

"Running From The Law" (Riot cover)

Jason McMaster - Vocals
Mike Soliz - Vocals
Robert Williams - Guitar
Stuart Laurence - Guitar
Donnie Van Stavern - Bass
Felix Griffin - Drums

"Sound Of Scorn"

Mark Zammaron - Vocals
Robert Williams - Guitar, Bass
Stuart Laurence - Guitar
Pat Doyle - Drums

"Within The Spell"

Michael Paul Toupin - Vocals
Robert Williams - Guitar
Stuart Laurence - Guitar
Al Berlanga - Guitar solo
Stan Martinez - Bass
Scott Palmer - Drums

"Echoes Of Memory"

James Rivera - Vocals
Robert Williams - Guitar
Stuart Laurence - Guitar
Larry Barragan - Guitar solo
Stony Grantham - Bass
Cody Gilliland - Drums

"That's What Friends are For"
(Original recording by Dionne Warwick / Reworked by Williams/Laurence of Texas Metal Outlaws with lyrics by Williams)

Logan Orlando Perez - Vocals
Jason McMaster - Vocals
Robert Williams - Guitar, Vocals
Stuart Laurence - Guitar
Brendon Bigelow - Bass
Pat Doyle - Drums

"Texas Metal Outlaws" video:

Doomsday Outlaw have released a video for "Hard Times", the title track of their new album, released back in May. Watch below, and order the album here.

Tracklisting:

"Hard Times"
"Over And Over"
"Spirit That Made Me"
"Into The Light"
"Bring It On Home"
"Days Since I Saw The Sun"
"Will You Wait"
"Break You"
"Come My Way"
"Were You Ever Mine"
"Too Far Left To Fall"

"Hard Times" video:

"Bring It On Home" video:

"Over And Over" video:

Los Angeles' purveyors of thrash metal violence Anger As Art are releasing their first live album (and sixth release overall) on November 23rd via Malevolence Records. The appropriately titled Fast As Fuck! includes a total of 16 incendiary tracks, including 13 career-spanning songs recorded live on February 3rd, 2018 at ChiCali Lounge in Monterey Park, CA, and three new studio cuts as a bonus (one of which is a cover of Montrose's "Matriarch").

One of those studio tracks, "Vicious Intent," has been released as the album's first single. A lyric video for the song is available below. Both "Vicious Intent" and "Everybody Dies" are indicative of where Anger As Art is headed musically.

An in-studio interview with Anger As Art during which the members discuss the "Vicious Intent" single, as well as a little history about the band, can also be found below.

"Vicious Intent" is available for streaming/purchase on Bandcamp. The song will eventually be made available on most digital and streaming platforms such as iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play, CD Baby, Amazon Music, Deezer, etc.

Fast As Fuck! was was produced and engineered by Ronald Sandoval whose work is also credited on the band's previous release Ad Mortem Festinamus. The bonus songs were recorded at Rev Studios in Chino, CA during summer 2018.

Tracklisting:

"Gods Of Hate"
"Aim For The Heart"
"I Create Your God"
"Tombward"
"Unknowing Undead"
"Race For The War"
"Time Devours Life"
"The Crush"
"Hammer Blade And Twisting Fire"
"Two Minutes Hate"
"Dim Carcosa"
"Never Forgive, Never Forget"
"Head Of The Snake"
"Everybody Dies" (Bonus Studio Track)
"Vicious Intent" (Bonus Studio Track)
"Matriarch" (Bonus Studio Track)*

* Montrose cover

"Vicious Intent" lyric video:

In-studio interview:

With Metallica set to reissue their classic album ...And Justice For All (available everywhere on November 2nd), the band are posting live versions of each song from the album from over the years. In the video below, Metallica performs "Dyers Eve" at The Forum in Inglewood, CA on March 5th, 2004:

More rare live videos can be found at the bottom of this article.

Says Metallica: "Next up in our line of reissues is …And Justice For All! As many of you know, we’ve been rereleasing our albums remastered for the most advanced sound quality possible along with special deluxe editions including previously unreleased audio and video recordings. Next up is …Justice, coming to your favourite music retailer, Metallica.com and the Probity Merch UK/EU Metallica Shop on November 2nd with pre-orders beginning today.

"Available in both physical and digital versions, there will be multiple options to suit your taste... double LP on 180-gram vinyl, CD, cassette, 3-CD expanded edition and deluxe box set, all remastered as overseen by Greg Fidelman. The 3-CD set includes the remastered album, two discs including never before released rough mixes, demos and live tracks, and an expanded booklet including unseen photos taken by the master, Ross Halfin. The limited edition, one-pressing-only deluxe box set includes the remastered CD and double LP versions of the album, “One” 10” vinyl picture disc, triple live LP set featuring a newly mixed version of the band's iconic show from Seattle ‘89 by Greg Fidelman, 4 DVDs, 11 CDs of unreleased demos, rough mixes, interviews and live tracks, many of which have never been available and were pulled from our personal collections. There’s also a 120-page hardcover book with rare and never-before-seen photos from Ross Halfin’s vaults and friends and family, along with essays by those who were with us for the madness. Still not enough? The box also includes a set of four patches, a Pushead print, a tour laminate, lyric sheets and a download card for all the audio goodies included.

"Pre-order your copy now and we’ll send you a digital remastered version of “Dyers Eve” (streaming below), while pre-orders of the expanded and deluxe editions will receive an additional instant download of “Eye Of The Beholder" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England – October 10, 1988) (streaming below). Several additional instant grats will be sent to all pre-orders between now and November 2nd.

"Deluxe box sets are limited edition collectors’ items, so get yours before they are gone! You may pre-order all the configurations in the Met Store now and also our store serving European fans and beyond, and of course …And Justice For All will be available at your local record stores around the world on Friday, November 2nd."

Tracklistings:

...And Justice For All (Remastered) - Available on Vinyl, CD, Cassette and Digitally

"Blackened"
"...And Justice For All"
"Eye Of The Beholder"
"One"
"The Shortest Straw"
"Harvester Of Sorrow"
"The Frayed Ends Of Sanity"
"To Live Is To Die"
"Dyers Eve"

Remastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, Los Angeles, CA

...And Justice For All (Remastered): 3-CD Expanded Edition

Disc One: ...And Justice For All (Remastered)

"Blackened"
"...And Justice For All"
"Eye Of The Beholder"
"One"
"The Shortest Straw"
"Harvester Of Sorrow"
"The Frayed Ends Of Sanity"
"To Live Is To Die"
"Dyers Eve"

Remastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, Los Angeles, CA.

Disc Two: Demos & Rough Mixes - Previously Unreleased

"Blackened" (November 1987 Demo)
"...And Justice For All" (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
"One" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"The Shortest Straw" (December 1987, Writing in Progress)
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"The Frayed Ends Of Sanity" (November 1987 Demo)
"To Live Is To Die" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"Dyers Eve" (January 1988 Demo)

Disc Three: Live from the Damaged Justice Tour - Previously Unreleased except where noted

"Blackened" (Live – Seattle ’89) - Previously released on Live Shit: Binge & Purge. Newly mixed by Greg Fidelman.
"For Whom The Bell Tolls" (Live at Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA – December 7th, 1988)
"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England – October 10th, 1988)
"Leper Messiah" (Live at Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA – December 7th, 1988)
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England – October 10th, 1988)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England – October 10th, 1988)
"Seek & Destroy" (Live at the Troubadour, West Hollywood, CA – May 24th, 1988)
"Creeping Death" (Live at Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX – February 5th, 1989) - Previously released as a b-side to one of the many singles for One. Newly remastered.
"One" (Live – Seattle ’89) - Previously released on Live Shit: Binge & Purge. Newly mixed by Greg Fidelman.
"…And Justice For All" (Live at Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA – December 7th, 1988)
"Whiplash" (Live at the Troubadour, West Hollywood, CA – May 24th, 1988)
"Breadfan" (Live at Seattle Coliseum, Seattle, WA – August 30th, 1989) - Previously released on The 6 1/2 Year Anniversary EP as part of The Good, The Bad & The Live box set. Newly remastered.

...And Justice For All (Remastered): Deluxe Box Set

LP 1 & 2: ...And Justice For All (Remastered)

Side One
"Blackened"
"...And Justice For All"

Side Two
"Eye Of The Beholder"
"One"

Side Three
"The Shortest Straw"
"Harvester Of Sorrow"
"The Frayed Ends Of Sanity"

Side Four
"To Live Is To Die"
"Dyers Eve"

Remastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, Los Angeles, CA
Vinyl lacquers by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, CA

LP 3: "One" 10" Picture Disc

Side One
"One"

Side Two
"Seek & Destroy" (Live at Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX – February 5th, 1989)

Artwork by Pushead
Remastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, Los Angeles, CA

LP 4, 5 & 6: Seattle ‘89

Side One
"The Ecstasy of Gold"
"Blackened" (Live)
"For Whom The Bell Tolls" (Live)
"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" (Live)

Side Two
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (Live)
"The Four Horsemen" (Live)
"The Thing That Should Not Be" (Live)

Side Three
Bass Solo (Live)
"Master of Puppets" (Live)
"Fade to Black" (Live)

Side Four
"Seek & Destroy" (Live)
"...And Justice For All" (Live)
"One" (Live)

Side Five
"Creeping Death" (Live)
Guitar Solo (Live)
"Battery" (Live)

Side Six
Encore Jam (Live)
"Last Caress" (Live)
"Am I Evil?" (Live)
"Whiplash" (Live)
"Breadfan" (Live)

Recorded live on August 29th and August 30th, 1989 at Seattle Coliseum in Seattle, WA
Mixed by Greg Fidelman
Mastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, Los Angeles, CA
Vinyl lacquers by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, CA

CD 1: ...And Justice For All (Remastered)

"Blackened"
"...And Justice For All"
"Eye Of The Beholder"
"One"
"The Shortest Straw"
"Harvester Of Sorrow"
"The Frayed Ends Of Sanity"
"To Live Is To Die"
"Dyers Eve"

CD 2: Interviews

KSDT Interview with Jason
Circus Magazine Interview with James
KNAC Report from LA Monsters of Rock
KHDX Interview with Kirk
Metal Forces Magazine Interview with Lars

CD 3 & 4: Riffs, Jams & Demos

Disc One

"Blackened" (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"Blackened" (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes II)
"…And Justice For All" (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"…And Justice For All" (1988, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes II)
"One" (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"The Shortest Straw" (1986, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"The Shortest Straw" (1986, from James’ Riff Tapes II)
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"The Frayed Ends Of Sanity" (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"To Live Is To Die" (1986, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"To Live Is To Die" (1988, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"Dyers Eve" (1986, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"Dyers Eve" (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
"Blackened" (October 1987, Writing in Progress)
"…And Justice For All" (October 1987, Writing in Progress)
"…And Justice For All" (October 1987, Writing in Progress II)
"One" (October 1987, Writing in Progress)
"The Shortest Straw" (October 1987, Writing in Progress)
"…And Justice For All" (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
"The Frayed Ends Of Sanity" (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
"One" (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
"Dyers Eve" (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
"To Live Is To Die" (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
"The Shortest Straw" (December 1987, Writing in Progress)
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (December 1987, Writing in Progress)

Disc Two

"Blackened" (November 1987 Demo)
"…And Justice For All" (November 1987 Demo)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (November 1987 Demo)
"One" (November 1987 Demo)
"The Frayed Ends Of Sanity" (November 1987 Demo)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (January 1988 Demo)
"The Shortest Straw" (January 1988 Demo)
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (January 1988 Demo)
"Dyers Eve" (January 1988 Demo)
"To Live Is To Die" (January 1988 Demo)

CD 5: Rough Mixes from the Vault

"Blackened" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"…And Justice For All" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"One" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"The Shortest Straw" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"The Frayed Ends Of Sanity" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"To Live Is To Die" (Acoustic Intro) (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"To Live Is To Die" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"Dyers Eve" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"Breadfan" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
"The Prince" (Work in Progress Rough Mix)

CD 6 & 7: Live at the Troubadour, West Hollywood, CA - May 24th, 1988 + B-Sides

Disc One

"Creeping Death" (Live)
"For Whom The Bell Tolls" (Live)
"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" (Live)
"The Four Horsemen" (Live)
"Whiplash" (Live)
"Fade to Black" (Live)
"Seek & Destroy" (Live)
"Master of Puppets" (Live)
"Encore Jam (Live)
"Last Caress" (Live)
"Am I Evil?" (Live)
"Battery" (Live)

Disc Two

Encore Jam #2 (Live)
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (Live)
"Leper Messiah" (Live)
"Blitzkrieg" (Live)

B-Sides
"Breadfan" (Remastered)
"The Prince" (Remastered)
"For Whom The Bell Tolls" (Live) *
"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" (Live) *
"Seek & Destroy" (Live) *
"Creeping Death" (Live) *
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (Live) **
"One" (Live) **
"Breadfan" (Live) ***
"Last Caress" (Live) ***

* Recorded live at Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX on February 5th, 1989
** Recorded live at Seattle Coliseum, Seattle, WA on August 29th, 1989
*** Recorded live at Seattle Coliseum, Seattle, WA on August 30th, 1989

CD 8 & 9: Live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, England - October 10th, 1988 + Radio Edits

Disc One

"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" (Live)
"The Four Horsemen" (Live)
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (Live)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (Live)
Bass Solo (Live)
"Master of Puppets" (Live)
"Damage, Inc." (Live)
"One" (Live)
"Seek & Destroy" (Live)
"…And Justice For All" (Live) * Note: there is a tape cut on this track

Disc Two

"Encore Jam (Live)
"Creeping Death" (Live)
"Fade to Black" (Live)
Guitar Solo (Live)
"Battery" (Live)
Encore Jam #2 (Live)
"Last Caress" (Live)
"Am I Evil?" (Live)
"Whiplash" (Live)

Radio Edits
"Eye Of The Beholder" (Radio Edit)
"One" (Radio Edit)
"...And Justice For All" (Radio Edit)

CD 10 & 11: Live at Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA - December 7, 1988 + More

Disc One

"Blackened" (Live) *Note: there is a tape cut on this track
"For Whom The Bell Tolls" (Live)
"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" (Live)
"Leper Messiah" (Live)
"Harvester Of Sorrow" (Live)
"Eye Of The Beholder" (Live)
Bass Solo (Live)
"Master of Puppets" (Live)
"One" (Live)
"Seek & Destroy" (Live)

Disc Two

"…And Justice For All" (Live)
Encore Jam (Live)
"Creeping Death" (Live)
"Fade to Black" (Live)
Guitar Solo (Live)
"Battery" (Live)

Live at UIC Pavilion, Chicago, IL - November 18th, 1988
"Last Caress" (Live)
"Am I Evil?" (Live)
"Whiplash" (Live)

DVD 1: ...And Camcorder for All & "One"

...And Camcorders For All - Featuring previously unreleased footage shot on Lars' camcorder

Intro
Barcelona
Leiden
San Francisco
San Antonio
Dallas
Philadelphia
Buffalo
Auckland
Osaka
Hoffman Estates
Richfield
Thornville
Greenville
Atlanta
Biloxi
Concord
Irvine (Night #2)
Irvine (Night #3)
São Paulo (Night #1)
São Paulo (Night #2)

"One"

2 of One Introduction with Lars
"One"
"One" (Jammin’ Version)
"One" (Live at the 31st Annual GRAMMY® Awards)

"One" B-Roll - Previously Unreleased

Intro
Band
Lars
Kirk
James
Jason
More Band

DVD 2: Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA - September 15th, 1989 - Previously Unreleased

"The Ecstasy of Gold"
"Blackened"
"For Whom The Bell Tolls"
"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)"
"Harvester Of Sorrow"
"The Four Horsemen"
"The Thing That Should Not Be"
Bass Solo
"Master of Puppets"
"Fade to Black"
"Seek & Destroy"
"…And Justice For All"
"One"
"Creeping Death"
Guitar Solo
"Battery"
Encore Jam
"Last Caress"
"Am I Evil?"
"Damage, Inc."
"Blitzkrieg"
"Breadfan"

DVD 3: Live at the Stone Balloon, Newark, DE - August 7th, 1989 - Previously Unreleased Fan-Shot Footage

Backstage Shit
"The Ecstasy of Gold"
"Creeping Death"
"For Whom The Bell Tolls"
"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)"
"The Four Horsemen"
"Harvester Of Sorrow"
"Phantom Lord"
Bass Solo
"Master of Puppets"
"Fade to Black"
"No Remorse"
"Seek & Destroy"
"Last Caress"
"Am I Evil?"
"Motorbreath"
"Hit the Lights"
"Blitzkrieg"
"Damage, Inc."
"Breadfan"

DVD 4: Justice On Wheels, Masa Ito Interviews, Raw Live Footage

Justice On Wheels - A MuchMusic Documentary

Intro
The Road Crew
The Fans
The Band
The Video

Masa Ito Interviews - Previously Unreleased

Lars
James
Jason
Kirk

Raw Live Footage (Live at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia, PA – June 11th, 1988) - Previously Unreleased

"Whiplash"
"Fade to Black"
"Seek & Destroy"

Raw Live Footage (Live at RPI Field House, Troy, NY – March 15th, 1989) - Previously Unreleased

"Master of Puppets"
"One"

Raw Live Footage (Live at Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario – April 8th, 1989) -Previously Unreleased

"Master of Puppets"
"One"
"Seek & Destroy"

"The Shortest Straw" "writing in progress" demo:

Unboxing video:

"Dyers Eve" (Remastered):

Rare live videos:

"Blackened" at the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit, Michigan on December 31st, 1999:

"The Shortest Straw" at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. on July 17th, 1992:

"Eye Of The Beholder" (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, England - October 10th, 1988):

"Harvester Of Sorrow at the Monsters of Rock Festival in Donington, England on August 17th, 1991:

Juno award-winning metallic noise rock band, KEN mode, have released a video for "Learning To Be Too Cold", a track from their seventh studio album, Loved, out now New Damage Records in Canada and Season Of Mist in Europe. Order here, and watch the video below.

Loved, which follows KEN mode’s critically acclaimed and Juno nominated 2015 release Success, represents yet another pivot point in the group’s sound. Moving away from the indie/noise, punk focused tracks on Success, Loved sees the band delving deeper and darker than ever before, resulting in what may be the group’s quintessential statement of violence and despair made sonic.

Drawing from not only the desperate noise and industrial sonics of the 80’s and 90’s, on Loved, KEN mode has mixed in the decidedly more extreme tone and presence of death and black metal, expertly captured by producer Andrew Schneider’s (Unsane, Cave In, Daughters) sick vision of noise and girth. “We entered writing for this album with one goal in mind – to please the smile”, states Matthewson, referring to the album cover piece by the band’s long-time collaborator Randy Ortiz – see below.

Tracklisting:

“Doesn’t Feel Pain Like He Should”
“The Illusion Of Dignity”
“Feathers & Lips”
“Learning To Be Too Cold”
“Not Soulmates”
“Very Small Men”
“This Is A Love Test”
“Fractures In Adults”
“No Gentle Art”

“Learning To Be Too Cold” video:

“Not Soulmates”:

"Feathers & Lips" video:

“Doesn’t Feel Pain Like He Should” video:

(Photo - Brenna Faris)

Brainstorm have released a video for "When Pain Becomes Real", featured on the band's latest AFM release, Midnight Ghost. Watch below.

Midnight Ghost was produced by Seeb Levermann (Orden Ogan, Rhapsody Of Fire), the cover artwork was created by Gyula Havancsak (Annihilator, Stratovarius).

The album is available as CD, CD/DVD Digibook, blue vinyl (limited to 400 units), yellow/blue splatter vinyl (limited to 100 units and exclusively available in the AFM webshop), and box set.

Midnight Ghost tracklisting:

CD:

"Devil's Eye"
"Revealing The Darkness"
"Ravenous Minds"
"The Pyre"
"Jeanne Boulet (1764)"
"Divine Inner Ghost"
"When Pain Becomes Real"
"The Four Blessings"
"Haunting Voices"
"The Path"

Digibook bonus DVD: Scary Creatures Over Europe 2016 at LKA Stuttgart:

"The World To See"
"Firesoul"
"Fire Walk With Me"
"Highs Without Lows"
"We Are"
"Worlds Are Coming Through"
"Shiva's Tears"
"End In Sorrow"
"How Much Can You Take"
"Falling Spiral Down"
"All Those Words"
"Shiver"

"Revealing The Darkness" lyric video:

"Ravenous Minds" video:

"The Pyre":

Singer Andy B. Franck was over the moon when contacting BraveWords.com about the success of Midnight Ghost. "Heard the news? We have entered the official German Album Charts at position #25! Oh man... I am so proud! So so proud! This is a dream came true!"

Prior to the proclamation, the band wrapped up a quick string of dates, in their homeland and will now focus on the upcoming six-country trek, kicking off in January 2019.

(Photo - Alex Kühr)

Greek power groove metallers, Full House Brew Crew, featuring a Rotting Christ member in their ranks, have released a lyric video for "Hollow God", taken from their monstrous second album Me Against You, out on November 16th via ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records. The video can be viewed below.

The album can be pre-ordered here, or here.

After many years of absence, because of Vagelis Karzis’ duties as the bass player of the legendary Rotting Christ, Full House Brew Crew are coming back with a strong statement of an album.

“No Retreat” and “Black Empty Box” were the fan’s favourite songs from their debut album Bet It All and with those songs in mind, now they put out Me Against You, which maybe includes the heaviest power grooves ever written from a European artist.

Me Against You influences came from bands like Slipknot, Five Finger Death Punch, Pantera, Metallica (Black Album era) and Black Label Society. This made the album more diverse on vocal perspective and more mature compositions! Full House Brew Crew keep on making headbang-worthy records, with melodies that stick to your brain!

Tracklisting:

"Cannot Be Judged"
"Me Against You"
"No One’s Safe"
"Hollow God"
"Bury Me"
"When I Crossed That Door!"
"Hard To Tell"
"Not Again"
"Bring The Chaos"
"Another Life"
"The Undisputed"

"Hollow God" lyric video:

Full House Brew Crew is:

Vagelis Karzis - Vocals, Guitars (Rotting Christ)
Spiros Dafalias - Bass
George Tzatzakis - Guitars
Alex Keito - Drums

Mediterranean death metallers Coffin Birth will release their new album, The Serpent Insignia, via Narcotica / Time To Kill Records on all formats (LP, CD, MC, digital) on November 30th.

The artwork, created by Roberto Toderico (Asphyx, Pestilence, Sinister), and tracklisting can be seen below:

"Throne Of Skulls"
"The 13th Apostle"
"Godless Wasteland"
"Red Sky Season"
"Christ Infection Jesus Disease"
"From The Dead To The Dead"
"Casket Ritual"
"Sanguinary"
"The Serpent Insignia"
"Zombie Anarchy"

Coffin Birth unleash the feral urgency of classic Swedish death metal with the bludgeoning, no-frills ferocity of grind and punk. In advance of The Serpent Insignia's release next month, the band spews forth the sordid sounds of the album's first single, "The 13th Apostle".

The group comment: "We are elated to present Coffin Birth's official video 'The 13th Apostle' which is also our very first song to be released from the upcoming album The Serpent Insignia. Directed and produced by Sanda Movies, 'The 13th Apostle' takes no prisoners, it captures the filth and aggression at the essence of Coffin Birth's music."

"With The Serpent Insignia being such a varied album combining different elements from the spectrum of heavy music from rock 'n' roll to grind, picking one song was not an easy decision. 'The 13th Apostle' however is the one that combines all the right elements representing Coffin Birth's proposition at its best and most brutal."

Coffin Birth is:

Frank Calleja (Beheaded) - vocals
Giulio Moschini (Hour Of Penance) - guitar
Francesco Paoli (Fleshgod Apocalypse, Hour Of Penance) - guitar
Marco Mastrobuono (Hour Of Penance, Buffalo Grillz) - bass
Davide Billia (Hour Of Penance, Beheaded) - drums

For further details, visit the official Coffin Birth Facebook page.

 

War Of Thrones, featuring former members of Crimson Glory and Rob Rock, have released a new music video, “Say What”, from their debut album. The album, Conflict In Creation, hit stores worldwide in March 2018 via Sonic Night Music Club.

Forged in steel, War Of Thrones was formed when iconic vocalist Wade Black and virtuoso guitarist Rick Renstrom joined forces in 2012. Previously, the two had worked together in Leash Law releasing Dogface in 2005.

Wade is no stranger to metal. For more than two decades, Wade has thrilled audiences worldwide fronting such legendary metal bands as Crimson Glory, Seven Witches, and Leatherwolf. Rick entered the scene in 2000, joining legendary vocalist Rob Rock's touring and recording band. Having toured around the world, hundreds of thousands have witnessed Rick’s incredible and inspiring guitar playing. Joining Wade and Rick is bass player Rich Marks (Vivaldi Metal Project) who delivers a booming low end and virtuosic moving lines along with former Yngwie Malmsteen drummer Patrick Johansson behind the drum kit.

War Of Thrones continues to thrill audiences live as they share the stage with bands such as Kamelot, Drowning Pool, Marty Friedman, Anvil and Mushroomhead.

The Conflict In Creation album was mastered by Maor Appelbaum (Halford, Armored Saint, Faith No More) at Maor Appelbaum Mastering in California, and recorded and mixed by James Fox at Sweet Spot Studio in Florida.

German-Italian melodic metal act The Unity have released the single and lyric video for the song "You Got Me Wrong", taken from their new album Rise. Watch the clip below.

Drummer Michael Ehre says: "The weeks since the release of our second albumm, Rise, were simply unbelievable: tons of overwhelming reviews, enthuastic fans and the entry into the Official German Albumcharts! Awesome! As if that weren´t enough, our European tour with Axel Rudi Pell starts in a few days, followed by the only confirmed headliner show in our hometown Nordenham. We say 'thank you' by presenting you today the third single from our new album, called 'You Got Me Wrong'. Have fun with it! See you on tour!"

Rise was released through SPV/Steamhammer on September 14th as limited Boxset (incl. CD, 2LP, flag, handsigned photocard, 6 track bonus CD, patch, sticker etc....see photo attached), CD DigiPak, 2LP Gatefold, download and stream: https://TheUnity.lnk.to/Rise

The recording features 13 brand-new songs and was cut by drummer Michael Ehré (Gamma Ray) at the B Castle Studio. Rise was produced by the band themselves and, like its predecessor, mixed and mastered by Spanish sound engineer Miquel A. Riutort at the Psychosomatic Recording Studio.

Aside from Ehré, The Unity continue to consist of guitarists Henjo Richter (Gamma Ray) and Stef, vocalist Gianbattista Manenti, bassist Jogi Sweers and keyboardist Sascha Onnen.

“The new songs reflect the amazing energy and extremely enthusiastic responses at our shows, but also the very positive media reactions,” Michael Ehré sums up the material on Rise.

Soon after its release, Rise will also be presented to The Unity’s rapidly growing fan base as part of an extensive tour. From mid-October, The Unity will accompany Axel Rudi Pell and his band, and the date of the big release show at Ehré’s home town of Nordenham has already been announced (see tour dates below). So the second round of The Unity’s triumphal march is about to kick off.

Tracklisting:

"Revenge"
"Last Betrayal"
"You Got Me Wrong"
"The Storm"
"Road To Nowhere"
"Welcome Home"
"All That Is Real"
"No Hero"
"The Willow Tree"
"Above Everything"
"Children Of The Light"
"Better Day"
"L.I.F.E."

"No Hero" lyric video:

Tour dates are listed below.

October (with Axel Rudi Pell)
18 - Bremen, Germany - Aladin
19 - Prague, Czech Republic - Palac Akropolis
20 - Zlin, Czech Republic - Masters Of Rock Cafe
21 - Budapest, Hungary - Barba Negra Music Club
23 - Zvolen, Slovakia - Music Garden
24 - Vienna, Austria - Szene
26 - Memmingen, Germany - Kaminwerk
27 - Leipzig, Germany - Hellraiser
28 - Bochum, Germany - Zeche
30 - Langen (Frankfurt), Germany - Neue Stadthalle
31 - Karlsruhe, Germany - Substage

November (with Axel Rudi Pell)
2 - Emden, Germany - Live Music Center
3 - Weissenhäuser Strand, Germany - Metal Hammer Paradise
4 - Cologne, Germany - Essigfabrik

November
17 - Nordenham, Germany - Jahnhalle (CD release show)

NorthTale, the new power metal band led by guitarist Bill Hudson (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Jon Oliva’s Pain, Circle II Circle, U.D.O) and singer Christian Eriksson (Twilight Force) have posted a video playthrough for the song “Higher”.

The video features guitarist Bill Hudson and keyboardist Jimmy Pitts trading and harmonizing solos, a concept that will be present throughout much of the band’s highly anticipated debut album.

NorthTale are:

Christian Eriksson - vocals
Bill Hudson - guitars
Patrick Johansson - drums
Mikael T. Planefeldt - bass
Jimmy Pitts - keyboards

For further details, visit the official NorthTale Facebook page.

 

Faithsedge is wrapping up the recording for their fourth album, due in the first quarter of 2019. Fronted by singer / songwriter Giancarlo Floridia, vocals were tracked by Jeff Pogan at Costa Mesa recording studios.

The album also marks the return of former Stryper bassist Tim Gaines holding up the rhythm section with Mr. Big/Ace Frehley drummer Matt Starr. Bass tracking was done in Arizona and drum tracking in Los Angeles.

Former Dokken guitarist Alex De Rosso will be doing all the guitar work for the album along with producing mixing and mastering of the album at The New Cube studios in Italy. The album is promised to be a return to the melodic sounds of 80's arena rock but also with a mix of progressive and metal .

Pictured above is singer Giancarlo Floridia and Jeff Pogan at Costa Mesa studios. Stay tuned for updates.

Last month, heavy metal frontrunners Incite - lead by frontman Richie Cavalera - announced select details about their upcoming fifth full-length album, Built To Destroy. Produced by Steve Evetts (The Dillinger Escape Plan, Suicide Silence) and mastered by Zeuss (Rob Zombie, Hatebreed), Built to Destroy is a visceral, urgent, voracious distillation of modern metal with reverence for the past, and boasts a progressed, matured sound for Incite.

Incite can now announce that Built To Destroy will hit the metal masses with full force on January 25th via MinusHead Records. In celebration of the album's release, Incite will kick off a massive North American tour with headliners Soulfly and direct support artist Kataklysm beginning on the same day. The tour will visit several cities across North America, coming to an end on February 26th in Los Angeles, CA. The tour will feature additional support from Chaoseum, Alukah and Skinflint on select dates.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, October 19th at 10 AM, local time. Tickets are available via each venue. See below for all confirmed tour dates.

Incite vocalist Richie Cavalera says, "Metalheads! We're fired up to hit the road with Soulfly and Kataklysm and all the other killer bands on this bill. This will be the first tour in support of our new album, so expect to hear some new Incite tracks at these raging shows!"

Incite shows with Soulfly and Kataklysm (Chaoseum, Alukah and Skinflint) on select dates are listed below.

 

January
25 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater*
26 - Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey*
27 - Austin, TX - Come & Take It Live*
28 - New Orleans, LA - Santos*

February
5 - Orlando, FL - Soundbar #
6 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade #
7 - Frederick, MD - Cafe 611 #
8 - Clifton, NJ - Dingbatz #
9 - Reading, PA - Reverb #
10 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall #
11 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre #
12 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club &
13 - Flint, MI - Buick City Events Center &
14 - Joliet, IL - The Forge &
15 - Ft Wayne, IN - Piere's &
16 - Dayton, OH - Oddbodys &
17 - Lexington, KY - Manchester Music Hall &
18 - Kansas City, MO - Riot Room &
19 - Colorado Springs, CO - Sunshine Studios Live ^
20 - Grand Junction, CO - Mesa Theater ^
22 - Spokane, WA - The Pin ^
23 - Seattle, WA - Club Sur Rocks ^
24 - Portland, OR - BossaNova ^
25 - Petaluma, CA - Phoenix Theatre ^
26 - Los Angeles, CA - 1720 Club ^
 
Support lineup key:

* with Incite supporting Soulfly
# with Kataklysm, Incite, Chaoseum supporting Soulfly
& with Kataklysm, Incite, Alukah supporting Soulfly
^ with Kataklysm, Incite, Skinflint supporting Soulfly

Last month, Incite dropped a new single, "Ruthless Ways". Listen below. The track can also be downloaded/streamed via iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Bandcamp.

Nearly 15 years into a career in which everything they've accomplished was earned and nothing was taken for granted, Incite bridges the gap between various metal sub-genres, but one thing is for certain - you will be banging your head in no time. This is a band who will open for Gorgoroth one night and Cancer Bats the next, converting true-believers out of everyone who crosses their path.

As renegade disciples of trailblazing metal architects like Pantera, Slayer, Sepultura, and Machine Head, Incite raise the torch for trend-killing and hipster-smashing metal. Incite is as much a part of the fabric of the style championed by Lamb of God as the surge of newer bands like Power Trip. Incite perfected their signature brand of extreme sounds by playing shows with DevilDriver, Crowbar, Brujeria, Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy, and Six Feet Under.

Incite is:

Richie Cavalera - Vocals
Lennon Lopez - Drums
Christopher "EL" - Bass
"Dru Tang" Rome - Lead Guitar

Nordic epic metal masters Sirenia have released another guitar solo playthrough video, this time for the new song "The Twilight Hour", featured on their forthcoming album, Arcane Astral Aeons. Watch below:

Arcane Astral Aeons will be released on October 26th via Napalm Records. Pre-order the new album here.

Band leader Morten Veland about the artwork and the album: “We are very pleased to present the artwork for our new album Arcane Astral Aeons. Once more we have worked with designer Gyula Havancsák to create an artwork that renders and adorns the heart and soul of our music. The album was recorded in Audio Avenue Studios (Norway), and Sound Suite Studios (France), while the mixing and mastering took place in Hansen Studios (Denmark) with mixing engineer Jacob Hansen. This album is something unique to us as it is the first one we have made together with our fans, everyone who have supported our pledge campaign has directly contributed to the funding of the album and to make it what it has turned out to be. We are very proud of what we have achieved together and we're very eager to share it with you, hoping that you all will find it as special as we do."

Tracklisting:

"In Styx Embrace"
"Into The Night"
"Love Like Cyanide"
"Desire"
"Asphyxia"
"Queen Of Lies"
"Nos Heures Sombres"
"The Voyage"
"Aerodyne"
"The Twilight Hour"
"Glowing Embers"

Album teaser:

"Love Like Cyanide" lyric video:

"Into The Night" guitar solo playthrough:

"In Styx Embrace" guitar solo playthrough:

Sirenia are going to return to the European stages. In November, Morten Veland and his bandmates are heading South for a headlining tour. Supported by their fellow Norwegians Triosphere, Sirenia will bring their epic melancholic symbiosis of orchestral opuses and raw heavy metal sounds to the UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Italy.

Tour dates:

November
4 - London, England - The Dome
5 - Paris, France - La Boule Noire
6 - Nantes, France - Ferailleur
8 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz 2
9 - Madrid, Spain - Mon Live
10 - Lisbon, Portugal - RCA Club
14 - Musigburg, Switzerland - Aarburg
15 - St-Maurice, Switzerland - Le Manoir Pub
16 - Bologna, Italy - Alchemica Club
17 - Milan, Italy - Legend Club

Morten Veland about the upcoming tour: "We are excited to announce the first tour dates in support of our upcoming album to be released the 26th of October. We will return to some countries we have not been to for some time. We intend to announce further dates later on, covering more countries and territories. Stay tuned for more news and we are looking forward to see you on the road again soon."

Founding KISS guitarist and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Ace Frehley has released the official music video for his new single, "Rockin' With The Boys". The clip was filmed on August 18 at the Motor City Muscle Music Festival in Detroit, Michigan.

"Rockin' With The Boys" is the second song Frehley has made available from his forthcoming all-new "Spaceman" album, due October 19 via Entertainment One (eOne). Frehley previously released the track "Bronx Boy" in April.

"Spaceman", Frehley's eighth solo LP, features nine new original tracks, including a cover of Eddie Money's "I Wanna Go Back", a ripping power pop makeover of the original.

"No need to worry, I'll be home soon, 'cause I'm rockin' with the boys," Frehley sings on "Rockin' With the Boys", which tells the tales of life on the road. Ace says he wrote the original version of the song back in KISS's heyday in the '70s. Both "Rockin With The Boys" and "Bronx Boys" are available on all streaming platforms today, and are iTunes instant-grat tracks for fans who preorder the album.

n addition to Ace's distinctive guitar sound on each track, Ace played bass on all of the songs on "Spaceman" except for two. The listener might recognize the mighty dinosaur growl of a bass tone belonging to Gene Simmons on the album opener, "Without You I'm Nothing", which Gene also co-wrote, and "Your Wish Is My Command". Both songs were recorded at Frehley's home studio in Rancho Santa Fe, California.

Ace's reconnection with Simmons and fellow KISS vocalist-guitarist Paul Stanley (who joined Ace on a cover of FREE's "Fire And Water" for 2016's covers LP "Origins, Vol. 1") might be chalked up to the fact that Frehley has been sober for more than a decade (he celebrates 12 years of sobriety in September). Ace's clean living no doubt has a lot to do with his productive streak, which began with the release of his top 20 "Anomaly" album in 2009.

"Spaceman" (a title suggested by Simmons himself) serves as the first collection of all new Frehley-penned material since 2014's "Space Invader", which debuted at No. 9 on the Top 200 chart. The LP scored the highest=charting position of any former or current KISS bandmember ever and marked Frehley's first return to the Top 10 since KISS's 1998 "Psycho Circus" reunion album.

Widely known as the original "Space Ace" and founding guitarist for 16 cumulative years (over two tenures) of the multi-platinum selling rock band KISS, Frehley is arguably the most popular original member. In addition to having the best-selling solo album career (vintage or current) among the original foursome, Frehley's self-titled "Ace Frehley", released in 1978, went on to sell over one million copies, producing the only Top 40 single, "New York Groove", from any of the legendary KISS solo albums (peaking at #13).

Fresh off an electrifying performance at the Aftershock festival over the weekend, where singer Spencer Chamberlain performed while still nursing a still-healing broken foot that he sustained during the band's appearance at Riot Fest, UNDERØATH has released the cinematic and thematically arresting video for "ihateit".

"The 'ihateit' video is a glimpse into what it's like to feel alienated, to need something you shouldn't need, to feel trapped and isolated and to feel like you have to keep returning to that place to find solace — it's a vicious cycle," said UNDERØATH's Aaron Gillespie.

The band is gearing up to hit the road on its "Erase Me" tour with DANCE GAVIN DANCE, CROWN THE EMPIRE and THE PLOT IN YOU in tow. The trek marks UNDERØATH's first major market headline tour in support of their new album, "Erase Me" (Fearless Records), which recently debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart. The tour finds UNDERØATH returning to many markets they previously sold out on their incredibly successful "Rebirth" tour.

"Erase Me" was written and recorded over the summer of 2017 with producer Matt Squire (PANIC! AT THE DISCO, 3OH!3) and mixed by Ken Andrews (FAILURE, JIMMY EAT WORLD).

hoto credit: Nick Fancher

THE NEAL MORSE BAND — Neal Morse (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards), Mike Portnoy (drums, vocals), Randy George (bass), Bill Hubauer (keyboards, vocals), Eric Gillette (guitars, vocals) — will take fans on "The Great Adventure" with its latest double concept album, due out January 25, 2019 on Radiant Records via Metal Blade worldwide. It will be available in three formats: a two-CD package, two-CD/DVD special edition featuring behind-the-scenes video clips of the making of the album, and three vinyl LPs. Pre-orders begin December 4 on Radiant Records' web site.


The follow-up to 2016's critically acclaimed "The Similitude Of A Dream" will be the ninth studio album with Morse, Portnoy and George, and the third as a true collaboration with this current lineup. Together, Morse and Portnoy have launched four bands, but the one that has endured the longest and thus with the most musical output has been THE NEAL MORSE BAND.


"Let the great adventure now begin…" The closing line of "The Similitude Of A Dream" has proved to be strangely prophetic. The new album is exactly that: a perfect companion piece to "The Similitude Of A Dream"'s partial retelling of John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress". It has everything that fans would expect from an album by THE NEAL MORSE BAND, and more: rock, metal, classical and jazz elements appear throughout, as well as some killer melodies, all played faultlessly by some of the greatest rock musicians on the planet.


As Neal Morse explains: "This band continues to amaze me! I have to say it was a little daunting to follow up 'The Similitude Of A Dream' as it was such a special album and it delivered every night at our concerts, but I believe that 'The Great Adventure' will have a tremendous impact as well. This new double album is everything that I hoped it would be! I listened through last night and I was in tears at the end!"


b>Mike Portnoy emphatically agrees. He says: "How do you follow an epic double concept album??? Well, create another epic double concept album!! Hahaha. I always knew topping 'The Similitude Of A Dream' was going to be difficult, if not impossible, as I held it in such high regard, but alas, I am absolutely blown away with what we achieved here! We've created what is the ultimate companion to 'The Similitude Of A Dream'."


"Sometimes there are things that you just can't mess with," Randy George continues. "On 'The Similitude Of A Dream', we tapped into something special. I was sure that the follow up should be something quite different, but you have to follow your heart and follow the music where it wants to go. 'The Great Adventure' is nothing short of a miracle. It's similar to 'Similitude' in concept and form, but yet it's tougher and deeper in its tone! This is a powerful work and I look forward to playing it live!


True to the album's title, the creative process was indeed a "great adventure." Unlike many previous Morse albums, which have often been written and arranged within weeks, this time around these prolific and world-class musicians spent almost a year working on the end result, producing an abundance of top-quality material. This meant some ruthless decision-making: some already completed songs and characters had to go, and — with studio time running out–new links and ideas were being composed and recorded up to the eleventh hour. "A lot of work and re-work has gone into this," says Morse, "but I know that some of the most successful and far-reaching albums I've been involved with have been just like that. 'Sola Scriptura' and SPOCK'S BEARD's 'Snow' album come to mind."


Another key question that had to be addressed in the studio was how to pull all the ideas together into a coherent whole. In the end, what unlocked this "adventure" for Morse was the realization that 'The Great Adventure' needed a new voice and perspective. This time, it is that of the Pilgrim's abandoned son, a younger, perhaps angrier, voice than was heard on "The Similitude Of A Dream".


THE NEAL MORSE BAND will bring "The Great Adventure" to fans worldwide with a new round of headlining tour dates, which begin February 2, 2019 in Nashville at City Winery.

Photo credit: Robert Smith

Canadian thrash metal pioneers EXCITER have announced the addition of guitarist Daniel Dekay (DIEMONDS, Banger TV) to the group's ranks. A longtime friend of the EXCITER family, Dekay was a natural choice and a perfect fit to keep this thrash machine pounding.

Dekay joins forces with original members Dan Beehler (vocals, drums) and Allan Johnson (bass) to round out this lineup of the band which is already working on new tunes with plans for a full-length studio record.

Last month, original EXCITER guitarist John Ricci left the band "due to certain professional and personal differences."

Just this past June, Ricci seemed excited about the prospect of writing and recording new EXCITER material, telling The Jimmy Cabbs 5150 Interview Series: "We're being really careful about the new music that we put out because it has to stand up to the old stuff. We feel kind of pressured. We don't want to put out a weak record, and we're taking our time to make sure the music is going to be just as explosive as it was back in the day when we were making albums together."

he original EXCITER lineup recorded three classic albums in the 1980s — "Heavy Metal Maniac" (1983), "Violence & Force" (1984) and "Long Live the Loud" (1985) — before Ricci left the group and was replaced by Brian McPhee.

EXCITER's latest album, "Death Machine", which featured Ricci as the sole remaining original member, was released in October 2010 via Massacre Records.

Ricci, Beehler and Johnson reunited as EXCITER in 2014 and had been playing sporadic shows ever since.

Photo by Theo Rallis

"Pretty Decent Exposure", the third single from former TURBONEGRO frontman Hank Von Hell's comeback album, "Egomania", can be streamed below.

Speaking about the track, Hank says: "This is the final single before the release of 'Egomania'. I love this track, and I can relate to it a lot. The song is about my spirit animal, the Honey Badger, who just doesn't give a shit. He's fierce, nasty, sly... just like me. I love those little bastards, so that's why I made a song about them. And in this song, the honey badger struts around town flashing his dick. But instead of calling it 'indecent exposure,' it's 'Pretty Decent Exposure'. Just because he doesn't give a shit, you know."

On August 31, Hank Von Hell released his very first single as a solo artist, "Bum To Bum".

"Egomania" is due on November 2 through Sony Music Entertainment/Century Media Records worldwide.

ue to popular demand and just in line with the songtitle, Hank Von Hell has announced his first-ever European solo tour for December 2018 — aptly titled the "Pretty Decent Tour". These 10 dates will take him to five countries throughout central Europe.

HANK VON HELL is:

Hank Von Hell - Vocals

Cat Casino - Lead Guitar

Major Sam - Rhythm Guitar

Jean Genus - Bass

Dead Said Fred - Drums

Photo courtesy of Hank Von Hell's Facebook page

According to The Pulse Of Radio, GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose put Kanye West on blast after the rapper's appearance at the White House on Thursday (October 11), in which West delivered a rambling 10-minute monologue that addressed topics ranging from violence in Chicago to "flyest" cars. The nearly incoherent rant appeared to leave even Donald Trump — not exactly known for his own speechmaking skills — at a loss for words.

But not Axl, who wrote on Twitter: "What a joke. Not gonna solve anything in Chicago or anywhere else with any of that attention-seeking nonsense." He quickly added: "Oh n' don't let any of this distract from the Khashoggi killing," a reference to the recent disappearance of a prominent journalist who many believe was murdered on the orders of the Saudi government.

Axl is no fan of the current occupant of the Oval Office either, having taken to Twitter a number of times in the past couple of years to slam Trump, his administration and his policies.

West was among several musicians who visited Trump on Thursday as the latter signed the Music Modernization Act into law after an effort that began years ago and was renewed in 2017. Although West wasn't present for the signing, Kid Rock and members of the BEACH BOYS, DOOBIE BROTHERS, SAM & DAVE and other acts were on hand. According to Billboard, the legislation updates the music licensing process with modern technology and greater transparency to speed royalty payments to music publishers and songwriters, and also provides digital streaming services with increased efficiency and greater certainty.

ack in November 2016, Rose took to Twitter to condemn then-President-elect Donald Trump's choice for U.S. attorney general, and to berate Trump for demanding an apology from the cast of the Broadway show "Hamilton" after then-Vice President-elect Mike Pence was booed when he attended the musical. One month later, Rose invited fans at a GUNS N' ROSES concert in Mexico City to beat the crap out of a large piñata designed to look like Trump.

This past January, Axl blasted the Trump administration as the "gold standard of what can be considered disgraceful."

Photo credit: Katarina Benzova

Corey Taylor has told Spain's Resurrection Fest TV that SLIPKNOT's follow-up to 2014's ".5: The Gray Chapter" album will likely arrive next summer. Saying that 2019 will be "a big year for SLIPKNOT," Taylor added that the band's plans for the coming months include the launch of "a big world tour." But, he cautioned, "it all depends on when we get in the studio. Right now, the plan is for us to be in the studio early next year — like, first couple of months next year," he explained. "So, a couple of months to get that going, a couple of months to get production, new masks, new outfits, new everything. And hopefully be able to come and start touring in the summer when the album comes out.

Asked if SLIPKNOT has already commenced the songwriting process for its next album, Taylor said: "Right now, we have 20 songs that we've demoed. And they are really, really good. So it'll just come down to which ones come out the best, and we take that, we make the album out of that, put the album out. However, the way we're talking right now, we're trying to find ways that everyone can hear all the songs. So we'll put the album out, and then maybe we'll release something after that. It's something that we're really trying to think of — giving the audience more, giving the fans more of us. But it's gotta make sense — it's gotta be SLIPKNOT. It can't just be something that throw out there because we can; it's gotta have art, it's gotta have content, it's gotta have passion to it."

SLIPKNOT's Shawn "Clown" Crahan recently hinted to the Des Moines Register that the band will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its self-titled debut album in 2019. Asked whether the group had any plans to mark the milestone, he replied: "Oh, for sure."

".5: The Gray Chapter" was released following a six-year hiatus during which founding SLIPKNOT bassist Paul Gray died and drummer Joey Jordison was dismissed.

b>".5: The Gray Chapter" sold around 132,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores in October 2014 via Roadrunner.

Gray died in 2010 from a drug overdose, while Jordison was let go in December 2013, just before SLIPKNOT began recording the last album.

Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE have released their music video for the song "Not Dead Yet". The track is taken from the band's latest album, "Gravity", which was issued in June. The effort was made available through BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's new label home, Search And Destroy, the imprint launched in 2014 by Spinefarm and international artist management company Raw Power Management.

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE frontman Matt Tuck said: "We shot our latest video for 'Not Dead Yet' in Japan after our Summersonic 2018 performances. We've never done a video there before,w se o thought, 'Why not?!' Visually, it's stunning thanks to the amazing work by Japanese filmmakers Maxilla. We love this track and can't wait for you all to see the new video."

The video's director, Takahito Matsuno, of Maxilla Inc. , added: "It is such an honor to shoot BFMV, especially in Tokyo! Thank you for everyone involved in this project and I hope the people reading this like it, ARIGATO!"

Tuck told Metal Hammer about "Not Dead Yet": "There's a lot of stuff going on on this record, which was stuff about me, and stuff that kind of felt quite negative, even though it wasn't trying to be. There was just more songs about where I'm at and stuff. So I wanted to do a positive vibes song about not being dead yet, and we've achieved amazing things, and there's still a lot of life left in us yet, in our personal lives and in the band. Creative juices, you know. And so the song is about taking life by the paws and not giving up."

his past summer, Tuck defended BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's decision to add more electronic elements to its distinct signature sound on "Gravity", telling Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show: "Well, this is album number six. We've been around a long time now; we've had five previous records. And we've kind of stuck to a certain way of writing, a certain sound and formula for many years now, and we just felt that the time was right to add different colors, sounds and elements and diversity to our sound and our songwriting abilities. It was just something that we've never really done in the past; we've dabbled on it slightly on a couple songs on 'Venom'. So we knew that, if done right, it's a very powerful way of enhancing the feel of a song, just like movie soundtrack stuff."

He continued: "We really wanted to kind of ease back on the more technical side of the band, which we displayed numerous times over the years on every single record, with shredding solos and really complicated song structures and drum patterns and stuff like that, and we just wanted to simplify everything and just have foundations and walls of sound, so that the lyrical content and the vocal performances, especially, were in the spotlight on every single song this time. It was a different way of writing, a different approach, but it's something that, looking back on it, it was the right thing to do. And the way 'Gravity' has turned out and how big and anthemic and how good the songs sound, I think if was definitely the right thing to do. We could have easily gone down the route of writing another kind of shreddy metal-style record, but it wasn't really pushing any boundaries for us as a band or songwriters; it just wasn't exciting or challenging anymore. So, we decided to do something different. And so we did."

Tuck also talked about how the addition of bassist Jamie Mathias and drummer Jason Bowld perior to the recording of "Gravity" affected the album's overall sound. "I just think [it was a case of] everyone kind of getting on board and pulling in the same direction," he said. "It's not easy when writing a record when you've got four very capable songwriters and musicians in the band with you. Someone's gotta kind of take the lead musically, and I had a bit more of a vision than everyone else on this one and where to take it. And thankfully, they were on board. We all wrote individually, we all wrote as a band, we wrote in pairs. If ever there was a song that someone wanted [the others] to hear, or they've done behind the scenes, everything was brought to the table and we just kind of listened to everything as a unit."

He added: "Having Jason and Jamie on board now, it just gives the band a kind of extra lease on life in a way. They've brought a very new energy to the band, which we haven't had for a while. They have an outsider's perspective as well, which is great, 'cause me and Padge [guitarist Michael Paget], obviously, being here since day one, we don't really know an outsider's perspective, really, from our point of view. We just live it every day and have been for, like, 15 years. So for them to come inside and give us their thoughts on what the band should do and how they feel the band should sound is great. It's just reinvigorated everything massively compared to what it was a couple of years ago."

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE is currently touring the U.S. with support from WE CAME AS ROMANS and BAD OMENS.

Paul Stanley says that it's unlikely KISS will produce any new music before finally calling it quits at the end of its upcoming "farewell" tour.

KISS hasn't released a full-length disc of new music since 2012's "Monster", which sold 56,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 3 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous LP, "Sonic Boom", opened with 108,000 units back in October 2009 to enter the chart at No. 2. It was KISS's highest-charting LP ever.

Over the weekend, Stanley stopped by the Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp and was asked by teenage radio host Miles "The Shoe" Schuman if fans can expect to hear anything new from KISS prior to the completion of the group's "One Last Kiss: End Of The Road World Tour". He responded (see video below): "No. I don't think so. Look, it's a different time now. I could write 'Let It Be', and people would still say, 'That's great. Now play 'Detroit Rock City'.' And I understand it, because when songs have a history with you, they're kind of like a snapshot of a time in your life, and that's not something that anything can take the place of overnight."

e continued: "It's interesting that I think 'Modern Day Delilah' or 'Hell Or Hallelujah' are as good as anything we did [on the earlier albums], but I understand that people are more connected to those old classic songs. I understand it.

"Look, if you put on a live video concert of any band — if you put on [Paul] McCartney, if you put on THE [ROLLING] STONES — and you turn off the volume, I will tell you every time they're playing a new song, because the audience sits down."

Stanley added: "It's always interesting that people say, 'When are you gonna churn out new material?' But when those acts, or any classic act turns out new material, people tolerate it. They're asking you to do it and they're asking you to produce it, but at the same time, they really don't want it. So, at some point, I go, 'Really, what's the point?' Unless it's something that's fulfilling for me, to go back in the studio just to record new KISS material, I think everything we've done so far speaks volumes and it's enough of a legacy."

Paul had previously expressed uncertainty about the idea of making another KISS album in a number of other interviews, telling the "Loudwire Podcast": "If we're going to do an album, it would be because we want to do an album, not because of sales. I think we're living in a time, obviously, now where albums don't sell what they once did, so you either do it because it's a creative outlet and because it satisfies something in you, or not. If you're doing it purely for sales, then you're probably doing it for the wrong reason."

Paul's comments were echoed by his bandmate Gene Simmons, who said that he was "not incentivized" to release another KISS disc unless there are some major changes in the way music is consumed. He said: "The idea that you work your ass off and then someone with freckles on their face decides they want to download your music and file share — that's not what I work for. How'd you like to be a plumber, come over somebody's house and work all day to fix their plumbing and then when it's time to get paid, they say, 'No, I just wanted to say thank you.' No."

"One Last Kiss: End Of The Road World Tour" will launch in early 2019 and will likely last two or three years, according to Stanley.