The official video for "Get Off Your Ass", the title track of the new album from veteran Los Angeles hard rockers AUTOGRAPH, can be seen below. The disc will be released on October 6 via EMP Label Group, the U.S.-based label of MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson. It will be issued on CD and digital, with a limited-edition vinyl LP version available in November.

"Get Off Your Ass" is the first official studio LP from the revamped quartet, featuring original/founding members guitarist Steve Lynch and bassist Randy Rand, alongside new vocalist/rhythm guitarist Simon Daniels and drummer Marc Wieland.

Lynch, an iconic guitarist, revered worldwide as a bona fide guitar hero (known for his signature eight-finger hammer-on technique), reactivated the band in 2013 with bassist Randy Rand after reconnecting at the NAMM show. After approaching original vocalist Steve Plunkett, who was unavailable for the reunion due to other business interests, with his blessing, the newly resurrected AUTOGRAPH recruited former JAILHOUSE vocalist Simon Daniels, the rest, as they say, is history.

"Get Off Your Ass" features an updated, hard-edged (and keyboard free) sound for the band, featuring down-tuned guitars, and the fiery, blues-soaked delivery of Daniels, as evidenced on tracks like "Every Generation", "I Lost My Mind In America", and the first single, edgy title track "Get Off Your Ass". The album also features an updated live version of the band's classic rock staple "Turn Up The Radio", performed by the current lineup.

Says Lynch: "'Get Off Your Ass' definitely sets a new direction for the band, with an updated, heavier sound, while still retaining the signature melodic hooks people have come to expect from AUTOGRAPH. This record is bound to get the attention of old AUTOGRAPH fans as well as the new. So put your ears on and turn this one up!!"

Adds Daniels: "We are so excited about this record! This is a lineup of brothers with a vision and the perfect chemistry. We wanted the record to be musically timeless, and translate a heavier sound featuring the melodies and harmonies, but with heavier guitars and a more 'in-your-face' attitude. The lyrics come from the heart and are directed to people of our current era, with uplifting messages and positive energy. It's AUTOGRAPH on steroids."

On their partnership with EMP, Daniels adds: "EMP is the perfect match for us. They understand what we're doing, they have the same vision and we are grateful to work with such great experienced humble focused achieving people!" Drummer Marc Wieland concurs: "EMP shares and supports the same vision we had for our new album, 'Get Off Your Ass'. We are stoked to be part of their family!"

Ellefson expresses a mutual admiration. "When I first moved to L.A. to go to MI (then known as GIT), Steve Lynch was the guy everybody went there to learn from. As far as guitar players in L.A. went, he was the guy. I never did end up at GIT, we formed MEGADETH and obviously went down an extremely different path, but Steve truly is an iconic guitar hero of the highest caliber, and I am so proud for EMP to be able to partner with him and the re-imagined AUTOGRAPH to release this killer album."

Forming in 1983, AUTOGRAPH gave the world the perpetual rock anthem "Turn Up the Radio", which still commands nearly constant airplay on classic rock stations around the world, and has become an iconic piece of pop culture, making appearances in mass media classics like "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" and more recently in the film "Hot Tub Time Machine".

With seminal albums "Sign In Please" (1984), "That's The Stuff" (1985) and "Loud And Clear" (1987), as well as years of touring alongside legendary artists, including MÖTLEY CRÜE, DIO, VAN HALEN and AEROSMITH, AUTOGRAPH left an everlasting imprint on rock 'n' roll. Now this undeniable rock legacy is reclaimed with "Get Off Your Ass".

The Unity, the new band founded by drummer Michael Ehré and guitarist Henjo Richter (both Gamma Ray), release their third digital single and video for the song "Never Forget" today.

Drummer Michael Ehre about the single: "We are extremely happy to present our third single ‘Never Forget’ shortly before our tour with Edguy starts. It will be released as download and 7" vinyl-single with an exclusive, unpublished bonus track. We also produced a brand new videoclip for this song. See you on tour in September, October!"

"Never Forget" will also be released as a 7" vinyl single, limited to 500 units worldwide, on September 15th. The b-side is an unreleased track called "Nowhereland".

The Unity will be supporting Edguy on their Monuments Tour 2017.

Says The Unity: “Now this is really the juicy, sweet cherry on top of a delicious heavy metal cake, isn’t it !?? We are extremely excited and proud to announce that The Unity will support Edguy on their anniversary tour in autumn 2017! The Monuments Tour is going to be a rocking celebration of 25 glorious and extremely successful years of Edguy’s career. A best of on stage, as far as songs and musicians are concerned!”

Tour dates:

September
15 - Bremen, Germany - Aladin
16 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
17 - Bochum, Germany - Zeche
19 - Frankfurt, Germany - Batschkapp
20 - Saarbrücken, Germany - Garage
22 - Cologne, Germany - Essigfabrik
23 - Stuttgart, Germany - LKA Longhorn
24 - Munich, Germany - Backstage
26 - Erlangen, Germany - E-Werk
27 - Berlin, Germany - C-Club
29 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
30 - Memmingen, Germany - Kaminwerk

October
2 - Praha, Czech Republic - Meet Factory
3 - Fulda, Germany - Wartenberg-Oval

The Unity’s debut album was produced by the musicians themselves, mostly at Ehré’s own B Castle Studio and mixed and mastered by Spain’s Miquel A. Riutort at the Psychosomatic Recording Studio. The impressive cover artwork, penned by Alexander Mertsch who has worked for the likes of Deep Purple, Gamma Ray, Status Quo and Europe, also deserves a mention.

Tracklisting:

“Rise And Fall”
“No More Lies”
“God Of Temptation”
“Firesign”
“Always Just You”
“Close To Crazy”
“The Wishing Well”
“Edens Fall”
“Redeemer”
“Super Distortion”
“Killer Instinct”
“Never Forget”

“Rise And Fall” lyric video:

"No More Lies" video:

Finnish winter metal band, Wolfheart, has just released a new single via Spotify and other digital medias. “The Black Light” is the first acoustic release from Wolfheart and with this single the band draws a totally new line on their winter-frosted path.

Listen to “The Black Light” on Spotify, Deezer, iTunes, Apple Music, etc.

The band’s upcoming live dates are listed on the poster below:

(Photo - Valtteri Hirvonen)

Swedish heavy metal band LION'S SHARE has been rejoined by co-founder and original keyboardist Kay Backlund for its latest single, "The Lion's Trial". The track is the follow-up to "Another Desire", which was released in June and marked the group's first new music since 2009's "Dark Hours" album.

"I've been working with Kay on a couple of albums I've produced the last couple of years, so when we needed keyboards on 'The Lion's Trial', he was the natural choice," LION'S SHARE guitarist Lars Chriss says. "I'm sure it's pretty cool for our fans as well that we have three-fifths of the debut album lineup together again on this track."

The official lyric video for "The Lion's Trial" can be seen below.

More than twenty new LION'S SHARE songs have been written and about half of them have been partially recorded, with original member Andy Loos handling the bass duties on the first batch of tracks. The plan is to release a couple of lyric videos — one at a time — a few months apart, and to take it from there, depending on the response from fans.

LION'S SHARE lead singer Nils Patrik Johansson says: "Lars and I agree that at this point it feels the most natural to keep LION'S SHARE as a duo, with friends helping out wherever needed."

POISON has released a "Nothin' But A Good Time" "fan video," featuring photos that were submitted by fans who attended the band's recently completed first U.S. tour in more than four years, dubbed "XXX".

Says POISON: "We love our loyal fans and wanted to take the time to say THANK YOU for coming to support us on tour this year! We had the best time and loved seeing you all again.

"In celebration of the tour, we asked fans to send in their #NothinButAGoodTime photos, and vote on their favorites to make it into our video. The top 100 fan-voted photos were included here — plus three bonus photos! It was truly #NothinButAGoodTime"

In an interview with the "Drummer Nation" show, POISON drummer Rikki Rockett spoke about what it has been like reuniting with his bandmates for the trek. "It's been a lot of fun so far," he said. "It's kind of crazy. I mean, I was out there with [my side project] DEVIL CITY ANGELS, doing stuff, but not POISON. We had a few corporate gigs here and there, but not a full-blown tour."

He continued: "It felt great [getting back up on stage with the guys]. I mean, after the first two days, I felt at home. The first day, I was, like, 'Woah! Can I do this?' And now, I get up on stage and it's like home, you know what I mean? It really is. A lot of people say, 'Oh, another day at the office at the drum kit.' It's, like, no — another day at home."

POISON's reunited original lineup — Rockett, Bret Michaels, Bobby Dall and C.C. DeVille — kicked off its North American tour with DEF LEPPARD on April 8 at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire. The trek wrapped on June 25 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

POISON and DEF LEPPARD first hit the road together back in 2009, and then again three years later.

POISON appeared at the 2013 Indy 500 Miller Lite Carb Day, but had otherwise been mostly playing private shows, including one in January 2015.

The band hadn't done any major touring since taking part in the 2012 "Rock Of Ages" trek with DEF LEPPARD and LITA FORD.

Rockett was recently declared cancer free after undergoing an experimental treatment. He was diagnosed with oral cancer back in 2015.

"Portrait Of A Headless Man", the new video from Greek masters of symphonic death metal SEPTICFLESH, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's tenth full-length album, "Codex Omega", will is being released today (Friday, September 1) via Prosthetic Records. The disc was produced by Jens Bogren, who has previously worked with OPETH, DIMMU BORGIR, KREATOR and SEPULTURA, among others.

SEPTICFLESH bassist/vocalist Spiros "Seth" Antoniou (a.k.a. Seth Siro Anton) recently told WSOU 89.5 FM about "Codex Omega": "This time, every time that we are thinking [about] and we are writing and start pre-recording then composing a new [album] with SEPTICFLESH, it's a great challenge. I mean, after 'Communion', [2008] we wanted to create something different from the previous albums that we made in the past. Regarding 'Codex Omega', I think this album is much different than 'Titan' [2014] or even 'The Great Mass' [2011] or even 'Communion'. The basis is the same; for sure we have a formula that we really like and we'll still use it, but on 'Codex Omega', we have some new elements, some new elements that I could say we found the 'great spot' to combine the extreme sound with the orchestra and the guitars."

Regarding how the band's sound has evolved over the years, Spiros said: "SEPTICFLESH, it's a team production. It's a production of a team. It's not the music of one person only. So that means, the main composers of the band, which is me, Chris and Sotiris [Vayenas, guitar], we have our own home studios, so before a new album, we are composing our own tracks in our studio and later, we exchange ideas and we start to combine all the elements together. I would say me and Sotiris, we are most responsible for the 'metal' part of SEPTICFLESH, about the guitar riffs, about the extreme sound. Chris is exclusively working with the orchestra. Even sometimes with his tracks, he composes them with a piano or with some instruments of samples of the orchestra before going to the real orchestra. As you understand, SEPTICFLESH is working as a whole team and this is something that gives to the band, a multi-color of sound. I'm really happy about this cooperation."

On the topic of the lyrical direction behind "Codex Omega", Spiros said: "Sotiris is actually the guy behind the lyrics. He's the brain of SEPTICFLESH, but I made the artwork and the whole visual style of SEPTICFLESH, we work together a lot. This time, we wanted to create and to move in a different approach than our previous albums. Most of the lyrical concepts of SEPTICFLESH, we are always talking about ancient traditions of many cultures and many countries, from Sumerians, Egypt, even from Incas. Every tradition that has something really interesting. This time, it was an idea from Sotiris. He said, 'Why don't we write a new concept about a third testament? About a new book that talks about humans?'"

"Codex Omega" track listing:

CD 1:

01. Dante's Inferno02. 3rd Testament (Codex Omega)03. Portrait Of A Headless Man04. Martyr05. Enemy Of Truth06. Dark Art07. Our Church, Below The Sea08. Faceless Queen09. The Gospels Of Fear10. Trinity

Cd 2:

01. Martyr Of Truth02. Dark Testament03. Portrait Of A Headless Man (Orchestral Version)

To coincide with the TEN YEARS AFTER's eponymous debut release in 1967, Chrysalis Records presents a fiftieth-anniversary ten-CD box set.

Due in November, the limited-edition set gathers, for the first time, albums from both the Chrysalis and Deram periods from 1967 to 1974 and includes a disc of previously unreleased material.

"1967 - 1974", limited to one and a half thousand copies worldwide, contains LPs which have been remastered from the original quarter-inch production master tapes along with the bonus disc titled "The Cap Ferrat Sessions", which consists of never-before-heard recordings from 1972, newly mixed by acclaimed record producer Chris Kimsey. The package comes in a luxury hardback format with slipcase and an accompanying book which includes newly commissioned in-depth ten-thousand-word sleeve notes written by legendary Melody Maker journalist and early champion of the band Chris Welch, charting the band's progress from their early beginnings in Nottingham, through iconic appearances at the Woodstock and the Isle Of Wight festivals, right up to their eventual split in 1974. There are extensive interviews with the remaining band members plus members of Alvin Lee's family, and additional recording notes by Chris Kimsey.

"I'm genuinely excited about the new TEN YEARS AFTER box set that we've been working on with Chrysalis due for release in November to celebrate the band's fiftieth anniversary," says TEN YEARS AFTER's founding drummer Ric Lee.

"The box includes nine studio albums and a bonus CD that features the previously unreleased live album 'The Cap Ferrat Sessions'.

"Originally recorded in 1972 in the south of France using THE ROLLING STONES mobile recording truck, the session tracks were gathering dust until now.

"I remember we recorded the live tracks in a villa in Cap Ferrat, south of France. Each of the instruments were recorded in a different room — drums in the ballroom.

"Between Chris Kimsey, our recording engineer and I, we managed to get one of the best drum sounds on any TEN YEARS AFTER recording. Natural ambience from the villa's acoustics helped tremendously.

"The session tracks were originally planned for the 'Rock N Roll Music To The World' album, but due to vinyl restrictions of the time, the tracks were not included in the final album release.

"More details are on the sleeve notes written for us by Chris Kimsey, who kindly agreed to mix the tracks for this boxed set release forty-five years after they were recorded.

"This is a must-have collection for any avid TEN YEARS AFTER fan, and any new fans that want to soak up the band's recorded history."

Storming the stages of rock, TEN YEARS AFTER created a sensation that stunned audiences and quickly won them a coveted place among the pantheon of great British groups. Alvin Lee — one of the most charismatic and admired guitar players to emerge from the British blues boom of the era and deservedly ranked alongside his contemporaries Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix — headed a powerful team of talented musicians, Leo Lyons, Chick Churchill and Ric Lee.

During an intense seven-year period, they embarked on marathon tours, conquering America, enjoying success round the world, while also unleashing a succession of ground breaking albums. Their 1967 debut, "Ten Years After", was swiftly followed by pioneering live album "Undead" (1968) through the critically acclaimed "A Space In Time" (1971), featuring one of their finest songs, "I'd Love To Change The World", which is very apt in today's world, ending with 1974's "Positive Vibrations".

"The Cap Ferrat Sessions" came as a result of a discovery by Alvin Lee's wife, who found a box of recordings deep in the vaults of the studio in their house they shared in Spain. They originate from the "Rock N Roll Music To The World" album sessions, which were recorded at a seaside villa in Cap Ferrat, south of France and Olympic Studios in London. Chrysalis Records turned to world renowned producer Chris Kimsey (whose credits include THE ROLLING STONES, BAD COMPANY and Peter Frampton), who recorded and engineered the original sessions, to mix these tracks for the first time.

Revisiting the tapes, some forty-five years later, Kimsey added, "Alvin and the band were incredibly creative and abundant during this period. These re-discovered recordings were not rough demos, not rehearsals, but completed masters that did not make the album due to the time limitations of vinyl at the time. So these gems were left off. Mixing this in 2017 I began to study the parts, the playing, the response of each musician. It was amazing! It is what all great recordings are made of."

CDs included in box set: 01. Ten Years After [Mono, 1967]02. Undead [Stereo, 1968]03. Stonedhenge [Stereo, 1969]04. Ssssh [Stereo, 1969]05. Cricklewood Green [Stereo, 1970]06. Watt [Stereo, 1970]07. A Space In Time [Stereo, 1971]08, Rock & Music To The World [Stereo, 1972]09. Positive Vibrations [Stereo, 1974]10. The Cap Ferrat Sessions [recorded in 1972, mixed in 2017]

Canadian extreme metallers KATAKLYSM are celebrating their twenty-fifth anniversary in 2017 by embarking on a massive headline tour across Europe in the fall. To immortalize this event, the band has picked the last show of the tour — on October 21 in Munich, Germany at the famous Backstage club — to film the concert for future release. Longtime friend and American director Tommy Jones (SLAYER, DEATH ANGEL, IMMOLATION) will capture the entire gig. Tommy previously worked on KATAKLYSM's "Iron Will" documentary and the multiple video releases from the band's latest album, "Of Ghosts And Gods".

KATAKLYSM states: "Hard to imagine so many years have passed already, but at the same time, we can't help but feel accomplished as a band. Twenty-five years later amongst multiple storms in our career, we stand tall and defined as a band. To mark this historic time in our lives, we have selected to go back to Europe, the place that embraced KATAKLYSM first, and do a series of shows commemorating the band's milestone anniversary. The band will be playing in their entirety two of our career-defining albums, 'Shadows & Dust' (which marks its fifteen-year anniversary) and 'Serenity In Fire', two back-to-back albums that became classics in the bands vast repertoire."

Tommy adds: "I've done a lot of work with KATAKLYSM over the past several years. Seems like just yesterday we were shooting the twenty-year-anniversary DVD, 'Iron Will'! Looking forward to hitting Europe again with the guys for another go-round!"

"Of Ghosts And Gods" was released in July 2015 via Nuclear Blast.

Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON will release a new EP featuring four previously unreleased tracks. "Cold Dark Place" will be made available digitally and on CD on September 22 via Reprise Records, followed by the release of a limited-edition ten-inch vinyl picture disc on October 27.

Three of the songs on "Cold Dark Place" — "North Side Star", "Blue Walsh" and "Cold Dark Place" — were recorded during the sessions for MASTODON's 2014 album "Once More 'Round The Sun" and were produced by Nick Raskulinecz. A fourth track, "Toe To Toes", was recorded during the sessions for the band's most recent album, 2017's "Emperor Of Sand", and was produced by Brendan O'Brien.

Those who pre-order "Cold Dark Place" will receive an instant download of the track "Toe To Toes" on September 1.

"Toe to Toes" is now available for streaming below.

Also, next month MASTODON will appear on the cover of the newly relaunched Revolver magazine. The issue, which hits newsstands on September 12, will be available withfour different covers, each featuring a member of MASTODON. When all four covers are placed together side by side, a single image of the full band, which is Brann Dailor, Brent Hinds, Bill Kelliher and Troy Sanders, is created. As an added bonus, Revolver subscribers will receive an exclusive and very limited-edition seven-inch vinyl single with their paid order. The A-side is the version of "Toe To Toes" that appears on "Cold Dark Place", and the B-side is a previously unreleased instrumental version of the track. The single will be housed in a picture sleeve featuring exclusive artwork by Richey Beckett, who also created the cover image of the "Cold Dark Place" EP.

A behind-the-scenes mini-doc on Beckett and the making of the "Cold Dark Place" cover art can be seen below.

"Cold Dark Place" track listing:

01. North Side Star02. Blue Walsh03. Toe To Toes04. Cold Dark Place

MASTODON will spend the remainder of 2017 on the road in North America and Europe in support of "Emperor Of Sand", which debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The follow-up to 2014's "Once More 'Round The Sun" was recorded at The Quarry Recording Studio in Kennesaw, just outside MASTODON's hometown, with producer Brendan O'Brien (PEARL JAM, NEIL YOUNG, AC/DC, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE), who first worked with MASTODON on their seminal 2009 album "Crack The Skye".

Fan-filmed video footage of FOREIGNER's August 30 performance at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, California can be seen below.

The band — Mick Jones (lead guitar), Kelly Hansen (lead vocals), Jeff Pilson (bass, vocals), Tom Gimbel (rhythm guitar, sax, vocals), Michael Bluestein (keyboards), Bruce Watson (guitar) and Chris Frazier (drums) — is promoting a new career-spanning compilation titled "40" that features forty hits from forty years. Rhino released "40" on May 26 as a double-CD set that includes forty songs recorded between 1977 and 2017. A double-vinyl version that features twenty-three songs was made available on June 2. "40" brings together the best songs from Foreigner's nine studio albums, including all sixteen of its Top 30 hits: "Feels Like The First Time", "Urgent", "Waiting For A Girl Like You" and more. The collection features "Too Late" from the group's 2008 retrospective "No End In Sight" and "The Flame Still Burns", the title track from a vinyl EP released just last year, making its debut on CD in this collection. All prior recordings have been remastered and the album features two new tracks recorded especially for this release, "Give My Life For Love" and a new version of "I Don't Want To Live Without You".

Four of the five surviving original members of FOREIGNER reunited for a three-song encore during the band's concert on July 20 at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, New York. Singer Lou Gramm, keyboardist Al Greenwood and multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald joined Mick Jones to perform "Long, Long Way From Home", "I Want To Know What Love Is" and "Hot Blooded". This marked the first time Jones, Gramm, Greenwood and McDonald had all shared a stage together since 1980.

FOREIGNER's fortieth-anniversary tour — with support from CHEAP TRICK and JASON BONHAM'S LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE — runs through through September 9 in Auburn, Washington.

ANTHRAX singer Joey Belladonna joined CHEAP TRICK on stage on July 11 at Lakeview Amphitheater in Syracuse, New York to perform the classic CHEAP TRICK song "Surrender". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

Joey is not the first ANTHRAX member to play with CHEAP TRICK. Last October, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian got to live out a dream when he joined the legendary rockers on stage at the at the Louder Than Life festival in Lousville, Kentucky to perform the track "Auf Wiedersehen".

ANTHRAX recorded a version of "Auf Wiedersehen" in 1992 during the sessions for the "Sound Of White Noise" album. They also covered CHEAP TRICK's "Big Eyes" on the "Anthems" EP, which came out in 2013.

"We were toying around with the idea of doing a CHEAP TRICK song, and 'Big Eyes' was one of our favorites," ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante stated at the time of the EP's release. "We recorded it, but then got busy with other things, so we never finished it. What happened was, Joey was out in L.A. doing vocals for the EP and Jay Ruston [co-producer] pulled 'Big Eyes' up and had Joey do the vocals, something we didn't know he was going to do. But it turned out so great. Joey's vocals are so amazing, so we knew we wanted the song on the EP. After Joey's vocals, all the song needed was a guitar lead, and I did that in my Chicago studio. I think the song turned out to be one of the best songs on the EP.

"Everyone in the band is a huge CHEAP TRICK fan. They were one of the first concerts I went to, probably in 1978 when I was living in New York. I saw them at the Palladium."

ANTHRAX is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, 2016's "For All Kings", which sold 34,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 9 on The Billboard 200 chart.

BEAST IN BLACK, the Helsinki, Finland-based metal band led by former BATTLE BEAST guitarist and main songwriter Anton Kabanen, will release its debut album, titled "Berserker", in November 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.

Kabanen states: "Our wildest dreams came true when we made a deal with Nuclear Blast, the biggest and the best heavy metal label in the world!

"We are thrilled about our debut album release in November and besides the massive anthem-like heavy metal songs, we'll promise unforgettable live shows all around the world as we unleash the 'Berserker' album!"

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."

Video footage of BEAST IN BLACK performing a new song called "Go To Hell" at last year's Tuska festival in Helsinki, Finland can be seen below.

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

In a brand new interview with Billboard, MOTÖRHEAD drummer Mikkey Dee offered his opinion as to what the band's late mainman Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister might have said about the recent events that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia, where an August 12 white supremacist protest against the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee descended into violence that culminated in the death of activist Heather Heyer and injuries to almost two dozen others after a car rammed into a group of counter-protestors.

"Oh, he would have fucking hated it. I can totally speak for him there: He hated that shit," Dee said. "A lot of people judged him on the fact that he collected war stuff. A lot of people did not look behind the curtain. He hated fucking Nazis. He hated stupidity and he was fascinated by the stupidity of the human race. He would probably write some incredible lyrics about it — he thought it was so ridiculous."

Lemmy had an extensive collection of military and particularly Nazi paraphernalia from World War II, and he had been known to wear Iron Crosses and hats from the German air force. He publicly condemned racism, claiming he "only collected the stuff" and "didn't collect the ideas." He explained: "I've got friends of all colors and religious persuasions. I ain't got a racist bone in my body."

MOTÖRHEAD will release a covers compilation album, "Under Cöver" — a collection of some of the band's best covers — on September 1.

"Outback Incest Clan", the new video from death metal veterans BROKEN HOPE, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's seventh studio album, "Mutilated And Assimilated", which was released in June via Century Media Records.

BROKEN HOPE guitarist Jeremy Wagner commented: "What's in a name? Our song titles usually say a lot, and 'Outback Incest Clan' should tell you what's in store.

"I got the idea for the subject matter straight from our sick vocalist, Damian Leski, who has can given me a few lyrical ideas. This song is based on true events!

"I'll give you the Wikipedia lowdown: It's about the 'Colt family incest case,' dubbed by media as the 'Colt incest clan,' an Australian family discovered in 2012 to have been engaging in four generations of incest beginning with 'Tim and June Colt,' a brother and sister who emigrated from New Zealand in the 1970s. The family grew to nearly forty members ranging from grandparents to mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, nephews, brothers and sisters all engaging in various forms of incest. Many of the children suffered from deformities and medical problems.

"The video was another collaboration between director Tommy Jones and BROKEN HOPE and we love the way this one played out with Tommy's cool camera angles and the creepiness he injected into it."

"Mutilated And Assimilated" was produced by Scott Creekmore and features artwork by Wes Benscoter

"Mutilated and Assimilated" track listing:

01. The Meek Shall Inherit Shit (02:48)02. The Bunker (03:28)03. Mutilated And Assimilated (03:31)04. Outback Incest Clan (02:31)05. Malicious Meatholes (03:50)06. Blast Frozen (01:58)07. The Necropants (03:14)08. The Carrion Eaters (03:07)09. Russian Sleep Experiment (03:15)10. Hell's Handpuppets (02:48)11. Beneath Antarctic Ice (01:25)12. Swamped-In Gorehog (06:21)

BROKEN HOPE in 2015 overhauled its lineup by adding bassist Diego Soria (DISGORGE) and guitarist Matt Szlachta (DIRGE WITHIN, CHIMAIRA).

BROKEN HOPE is:

Damian Leski - VocalsJeremy Wagner - GuitarsMike Miczek - DrumsMatt Szlachta - Lead GuitarsDiego Soria – Bass Regarding the follow-up to 2013's "Omen Of Disease", Wagner said: "BROKEN HOPE studio album number seven?! Un-fucking-believable! I'm floored at how amazing our new album turned out. The songs are relentless and violent and dark and heavy — and all from a fresh and ferocious place we haven't shared before. Moreover, thanks to my new studio and the stellar work of engineering/producing Jedi — Scott Creekmore — the production is on a sonic level like we've never had in our career.

"For me personally, I feel 'Mutilated And Assimilated' is my own finest hour as a guitarist and lyricist since I formed this band as teenager. I've never felt this inspired before. The album has my strongest riffage to date, it also has Leski riffage on a few songs, it has my best friends on it, and in a crazy twist, I used Jeff Hanneman's guitars to write the album with and used them to track with in honor of his influence on myself and the world of metal."

Earlier this summer, Volbeat played the prestigious Wacken Open Air Festival in Wacken, Germany. The band has just shared professionally filmed footage of their performance of "Slaytan" / "Dead But Rising" from that unforgettable gig:

Catch Volbeat live in concert:

September
1 - Messe Graz - Graz, Austria
3 - Willy-Sachs-Stadion - Schweinfurt, Germany
5 - Strijp-S - Eindhoven, The Netherlands
7 - Telenor Arena - Oslo, Norway
9 - Friends Arena - Stockholm, Sweden

 

Kinlin - featuring former Yngwie Malmsteen drummer Patrick Johansson - has released a music video for the title track of their new album The Last Stand, due September 8th via Sonic Night Music Club.

The Last Stand artwork and tracklisting are as follows:

"Wake Up"
"The Last Stand"
"Forever And A Day"
"Unthinkable"
"Lost Memories"
"Monday Rain"
"Stand Or Fall"
"Suffer And Pray"
"Leap Of Faith"
"Let Go"
"Blood Of Our Fathers"
"Live Again"

 

The Dead Daisies recently dropped by Gas Monkey Garage to play an acoustic set for their inaugural Monkey Trap Sessions. The idea behind it being, as you’ll hear in the video, the folks at GMG like cars, beer and music - and were drastically lacking in the latter. So here it is, the first ever Monkey Trap Sessions featuring The Dead Daisies.

The Dead Daises have two shows remaining in 2017, they are:

September
1 - The Easyriders Rodeo - Chillicothe, OH
2 - The National H.O.G. Rally at the Harley-Davidson Museum - Milwaukee, WI

 

Hamilton's Prismind presents the first video from their debut CD, Disciples By Design, for the song "Our Broken Fate":

The cover art and tracklisting for Disciples By Design can be seen below.

"Pawns Of The Damned"
"Dagger"
"Slaves To The Machine"
"Diamond Eye"
"Our Broken Fate"
"Palace Of The Mighty And The High"
"Last Breath"
"Time Unforgiving"
"Void"

On November 11th at The Zoetic in Hamilton, ON, Prismind will peform directly following the Canadian premiere of Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson’s Scream For Me Sarajevo documentary; get tickets at this location.

Prismind is:

John Mamone - vocals
Kelly Kereliuk - guitar
Mike Harshaw - drums
Justin Faragher - bass

Visit prismindband.com for further details.

 

King Woman have released a music video for “Manna”, which was filmed in the depths of a forest using stark black-and-white filters. The Huemidhaus-directed video delves into its namesake “manna,” a miracle sustenance that was introduced in the Book Of Exodus. As artful as it is spiritual, the video is a stunning addition to the King Woman dogma.

The track is pulled from King Woman’s debut album, Created In The Image Of Suffering, which was released earlier this year via Relapse Records. Harnessing the texture and temporality of drone alongside the transcendental, melancholic power of metal, King Woman forges world swallowing doom rock. Created In The Image Of Suffering was recorded with engineer Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Wreck & Reference, Oathbreaker) at the Atomic Garden in Palo Alto, CA.

Each of Created In The Image Of Suffering’s eight songs evokes gloomy, Biblical leaning imagery with hazy, psychedelic atmospheres scarred with bristling swaths of distortion. Calling to mind a a surrealistic Black Sabbath fronted by Hope Sandoval, King Woman crafts deeply cathartic pieces that channel religious and mental torment. There has never been any doubt that King Woman truly suffer to create their art.

Order the new album at this location.

Tracklisting:

“Citios” (Digital Bonus Track)
“Utopia”
“Deny”
“Shame”
“Hierophant”
“Worn”
“Manna”
“Hem”

"Deny" video:

Tour dates:

September
8 - Raleigh, NC - Hopscotch
9 - Richmond, VA - Strange Matter *
10 - Teaneck, NJ - Mexicali *
11 - Oneonto, NY - Cop Frat *
12 - Buffalo, NY - Mohawk *
13 - Toronto, ON - Coalition
14 - Montreal, QC - Montreal Pop
15 - New York, NY - Union Pool +
16 - Philadephia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie #
 
October
14 - Joshua Tree, CA - Desert Daze  
23 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent (Loudwire Music Awards)
 
* with Thou & Dreamdecay
+ with Dreamdecay
# with Wovenhand and Subrosa

Starkill have released a lyric video for “No Savior”, a track from their third album, Shadow Sleep, out now via Prosthetic Records worldwide. The video can be found below.

Recorded and mixed at Electrowerks Studio with Chuck Macak (Fall Of Troy, Oceano Letlive) while being sent for mastering by Troy Glessner (August Burns Red, Devin Townsend, Death Cab For Cutie), Shadow Sleep presents 13 tracks of melodic, majestic death metal reinforced by Jameson’s over-the-top shredding paired with one of the tightest rhythm sections in the scene.

Shadow Sleep tracklisting:

“Walk Through Fire”
“Burn Your World”
“Through The Darkness”
“Shadow Sleep”
“Cloudless”
“Piece Of Paradise”
“Ruin”
“Into The Grey”
“Razors Edge”
“No Savior”
“Erase Me”
“Farewell”
“Captive Of The Night”

“No Savior” lyric video:

“Erase Me” video:

“Burn Your World” video:

Starkill is:

Parker Jameson - lead guitar, vocals, keyboards
Spencer Weidner - drums
Tony Keathley - guitar, backing vocals
Shaun Andruchuk - bass guitar

Four years since the release of their last full-length, All Pigs Must Die have return with Hostage Animal, a 10-song album that distills aggressive music to its purest tenets. The album will be available on October 27th via Southern Lord.

The band, now a 5-piece with the addition of Brian Izzi (Trap Them) on guitar, is comprised of some of the most well-seasoned musicians on the eastern seaboard - Kevin Baker (The Hope Conspiracy), Ben Koller (Converge), Matt Woods, and Adam Wentworth (both of Bloodhorse).

Hostage Animal is their most dynamic collection of work thus far and the album’s first single, “A Caustic Vision”, is an aural representation of the record as a whole; concise, intense, aggressive and carrying a bleak world view. Listen to “A Caustic Vision” below.

APMD unleashed their first full length in 2011 with God Is War, and the 30-minute rip was a nod to primeval disdain and anger. Exploring facets of human conflict one track at a time, God Is War introduced the world to a whole new spectrum of rage. In 2013, APMD upped the ante with Nothing Violates This Nature. Honing their craft with more speed and filth, APMD pushed their sound closer to the edge of the cliff.

Now, in 2017, the band is gearing up for the release of Hostage Animal which, like its predecessors, was recorded at Kurt Ballou’s GodCity Studio. But that is where the similarities end; Hostage Animal ushers in 10 new songs that pulverize, gnash, and whirl with the band’s most punishing delivery yet.

Hostage Animal showcases that All Pigs Must Die are far more than the sum of their parts, and their fusion of crust punk, hard core and metal is more ferocious than ever before.

Tracklisting:

“Hostage Animal”
“A Caustic Vision”
“Meditation Of Violence”
“Slave Morality”
“End Without End”
“Blood Wet Teeth”
“Moral Purge”
“Cruelty Incarnate”
“The Whip”
“Heathen Reign”

“A Caustic Vision”:

Tour dates:

October
19 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus
20 - Boston, MA - Great Scott
21 - Providence, RI - AS220

Lineup:

Kevin Baker (vocals)
Brian Izzi (guitar)
Ben Koller (drums)
Adam Wentworth (guitar)
Matt Woods (bass)

(Photo - Patrik Kučera)

Heavy metal cult band Oz is back! More than five years after the re-start of their career with the Burning Leather release, the band led my founding member and drummer Mark Ruffneck finally delivers the anticipated new studio album (their first all new songs album since 1991), titled Transition State.

The album will be released on October 20th via AFM, and can be pre-ordered here.

Oz doesn’t fail to impress with thirteen cracking and fresh, traditional metal tracks of immensely high quality. Even though Ruffneck is the last remaining member left from the original lineup, Oz are as strong as ever and continue to haunt you with the relentless, uncompromising sound they are known for.

Tracklisting:

“Bone Crusher”
“Restless”
“Heart Of A Beast”
“Drag You To Hell”
“Whore Of Babylon” (Bonus Track)
“The Witch”
“In A Shadow Of A Shotgun”
“Never Close Your Eyes”
“The Mountain”
“Demonized”
“We'll Never Die”
“Sister Red” (Bonus Track)
“Midnight Screams” (Bonus Track)

Oz lineup:

Mark Ruffneck - Drums & Percussion
Vince Kojvula - Vocals
Johnny Gross - Guitar
Juzzy Kangas - Guitar
Peppy Peltola - Bass

Dan Lorenzo (Hades, Non-Fiction, The Cursed) and Nathan Opposition (Ancient VVisdom) have joined forces in Vessel Of Light, and recently signed to Argonauta Records. Their debut EP will be released on CD/DD and available from November 3rd.  The group have now released a lyric video for their first single, “Meant To Be”. The song will be available via iTunes soon.

Argonauta Records recently stated: “We’re excited to announce we inked a deal with supergroup Vessel Of Light, formed by Dan Lorenzo and Nathan Opposition.

Dan Lorenzo said: “For the last decade since I recorded The Cursed CD (with Bobby Blitz from Overkill), I haven't really felt the desire to jam music with anybody. I've had offers to join a few bands, but I've always considered myself more of a songwriter than a "real" musician. I never wanted to join somebody else's band. A few months ago that all changed when I heard the songs "The Opposition" and "Deathlike" by the band Ancient VVisdom.”

Added Nathan Opposition: "Lorenzo and I became friends due to my inability to not be susceptible to flattery. Turns out he's a really cool guy who writes awesome riffs too. Randomly one day I ask him about the band we are starting in joking fashion. I guess it was the right timing and the right person because we immediately agreed we should actually start a project. Before I knew it he was sending me CDs of riffs and I had lyrics flowing like a faucet."

The tracklisting of songs recorded by the duo are:

“Where My Garden Grows”
“Dead Flesh And Bone”
“Meant To Be”
“Descend Into Death”
“Vessel Of Light”
“Living Dead To The World”

Lorenzo on the record deal: “Although we conceded to the fact that signing to a label was improbable, I sent music to one of my former record labels and an Italian label I found that I thought was right for us: Argonauta Records. When Gero from Argonauta replied I knew it was the right call. The right label. Somebody who knew and respected my past and Nathan's currency. I am so happy that thanks to Argonauta the world will soon hear the magic Nathan and I have captured with Vessel Of Light.”

A video for “Lighthouse”, a track from Lord Of The Lost’s upcoming Swan Songs II album, is available for streaming below.

With their Swan Songs-series, Lord Of The Lost showcase their ability to create fascinatingly heavy classical music. This is the second time the Hamburg-based dark rockers have conjured their music with an ensemble album in such grandiose style. Their upcoming masterpiece, Swan Songs II, will be released October 6th via Napalm Records and will feature some of the finest dark rock-sinfonia coated by dramatic arrangements with a chamber orchestra.

"You could say Swan Songs is some kind of a side-project for us, but Swan Songs II is predominated with 10 brand new songs so we would like to emphasize its independence as a main album," vocalist Chris Harms explains. "After our show at Gothic Meets Classic and when we started to re-arrange our songs with a symphonic orchestra in 2014 for the first Swan Songs release back in early 2015, this album turned out as a huge success. Sold out shows, many emotions and tears behind, on and in front of the stage, it's been a very touching record for us and our fans, so that kept motivating us as well as in our creative freedom to release the next chapter of new songs you won't hear as normal rock versions, and what should become Swan Songs II."

Swan Songs II tracklisting:

“Waiting For You To Die”
“Lighthouse”
“The Broken Ones”
“My Better Me”
“Ribcages”
“Wander In Sable”
“The Devil You Know”
“We Were Divine”
“From The Brink Of The Other World”
“Fall Asleep”

“Lighthouse” video:

“Waiting For You To Die” lyric video:

Teaser:

A true opus featuring ten brand-new songs, which showcase tender strings and charming piano play with a heaviness one has come to expect from the band. Once more Lord Of The Lost manage to deliver their songs with a new beauty and gloss, and prove that they cannot be reduced to their brute site only. Swan Songs II is a touching creation with top arrangements.

Swan Songs II will be available as CD Digi Pack, LP Gatefold or Digital Download. Pre-order here.

In support of their upcoming release, Lord Of The Lost will heavily hit the road this year. Find the band’s live itinerary at this location.

Having spent the last year or so using session bass players for their live appearances, Norwegian black metal veterans, Ragnarok, have today announced that bassist Rammr (Jordskipstyrann, Elvarhøi) has joined the band on a full-time, permanent basis.

"Originally it was our intention to use a session bassist going forward," explains founder and frontman Jontho Panthera, one of Norway's most iconic black metal drummers, who recently switched roles to become the band's vocalist. "However, during the shows he did with us, Rammr's dedication to his craft, and to Ragnarok itself, became very evident to everyone. He fits in perfectly with the rest of the band, which includes Bolverk on guitars and drummer Daniel Minge (Dauden), not only on stage, but also on a personal level. Most importantly he understands our ideology, and what Ragnarok expects of its members, and after yet another incredible performance from him at Kaltenbach Open Air recently I thought it was right to make him a full member of the horde!"

Ragnarok are set to hit the road in September, for a thirteen-date tour of Latin America, where the band has a considerable following. Find their itinerary here.

Tour trailer:

Cradle Of Filth will release their new album, Cryptoriana - The Seductiveness Of Decay, on September 22nd via Nuclear Blast Records. In the fourth official video trailer, Dani Filth talks about their cover of Annihilator's “Alison Hell” plus future cover ideas. See all four trailers below:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Cryptoriana - The Seductiveness Of Decay is available for pre-order here. The album was recorded at Grindstone Studios, Suffolk, UK by the very honourable Scott Atkins, esq. who has been the resident go-to producer for Cradle Of Filth for several albums. Dani sat in during the mix, serving up flaming mugs of teas, making the studio couch his own and lending his ears when necessary.

The new album’s cover artwork by Artūrs Bērziņš can be seen below. Bērziņš is the mastermind behind the new record’s artwork, photography and videography – best known for his defiant neo-symbolism raster graphics and oil paintings; postmodern interpretations of classic myths. He has been proclaimed as a “sacred monster of Latvian postmodernism”.

Tracklisting:

“Exquisite Torments Await”
“Heartbreak And Seance”
“Achingly Beautiful”
“Wester Vespertine”
“The Seductiveness Of Decay”
“Vengeful Spirit”
“You Will Know The Lion By His Claw”
“Death And The Maiden”
“The Night At Catafalque Manor”
“Alison Hell”

“Heartbreak And Seance” bass playthrough:

“You Will Know The Lion By His Claw” lyric video:

“Heartbreak And Seance” video:

“Heartbreak And Seance” making of:

The band has also announced their first full scale UK and Ireland tour in years, starting in Belfast, Northern Ireland on October 30th.

Dani Filth: "We, as a band, are incredibly excited about hitting the UK and Ireland for a full run of dates around All Hallows Eve, as playing the band's home country is always great fun and the audiences here are very receptive. And nuts. The dates will be the first in a long line of shows that will extend throughout the rest of the World throughout 2018. We aim to be very prolific on the live front, delivering a show worthy of our fan’s exalted expectations and more.”

Tour dates:

October
30 - Belfast, Ireland - Limelight
31 - Dublin, Ireland - Academy (Halloween Show)

November
2 - Manchester, England - Academy 2
3 - Glasgow, Scotland - Garage
4 - Birmingham, England - O2 Institute 2
5 - Leeds, England - Church
7 - Oxford, England - O2 Academy
8 - Southampton, England - Engine Rooms
9 - Norwich, England - Waterfront
10 - London, England - Electric Ballroom
11 - Bristol, England - Bierkeller

Cradle Of Filth have announced a run of European tour dates, with Moonspell confirmed as special guests for the duration of the tour. The schedule is as follows:

January
18 - Roxy - Prague, Czech Republic
19 - Garage - Ostrava, Czech Republic    
20 - MMC - Bratislava, Slovakia
21 - A38 - Budapest, Hungary    
23 - Kwadrat - Kraków, Poland
24 - Progresja - Warsaw, Poland
25 - B90 - Gdansk, Poland
27 - Hellraiser - Leipzig, Germany
28 - C-Club - Berlin, Germany    
29 - Grunspan - Hamburg, Germany    
30 - Schlachthof - Bremen, Germany

February
1 - 013 - Tilburg, Netherlands    
2 - Patronaat - Haarlem, Netherlands
3 - Hyde Park - Osnabruck, Germany     
4 - Essigfabrik - Cologne, Germany
6 - Zeche - Bochum, Germany     
7 - Batschkapp - Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
8 - Hirsch - Nuremberg, Germany
9 - Garage - Saarbrucken, Germany
10 - Z7 - Pratteln, Switzerland     
12 - Live Club - Trezzo Sull'adda, Italy     
13 - Zona Roveri - Bologna, Italy    
14 - Le Fil - Saint Etienne, France
15 - Salamandra 1 - L'hospitalet De Llobregat, Spain    
16 - Mon Live - Madrid, Spain    
18 - CC John Lennon - Limoges, France    
19 - La Machine Du Moulin Rouge - Paris, France    
20 - Le Metaphone - Lille, France     
21 - La Rondia - Besancon, France
23 - LKA Longhorn - Stuttgart, Germany         
24 - MS Connexion Complex - Mannheim, Germany
25 - Conrad Sohms - Dornbirn, Austria
26 - Simm City - Vienna, Austria    
27 - Backstage Werk - Munich, Germany    

March
1 - Trix - Antwerp, Belgium    
2 - Roxy - Flensburg, Germany     
3 - Posten - Odense C, Denmark
4 - Vulkan Arena - Norway, MI    
5 - Fryshuset Klubben - Stockholm, Sweden     
7 - Nosturi - Helsinki, Finland    
8 - Zal Oyhidaniya - St Petersburg, Russia
9 - Red - Moscow, Russia