Fan-filmed video footage of former QUEENSRŸCHE and current OPERATION: MINDCRIME singer Geoff Tate performing on August 19 at Tom Brasil in São Paulo, Brazil can be seen below.

Tate's backing band for the concert consisted of the following musicians:

Felipe Andreoli (ANGRA, ALMAH) - BassLeo Mancini (TEMPESTT) - GuitarEdu Cominato (SOTO) - DrumsDalton Santos - GuitarBruno Sá - Keyboards

When asked by Chasing Strange Music if he feels as creative today as he did twenty or thirty years ago, Tate said: "I feel equally as creative. I think what happens over time is that you have a measure of success doing what you're doing, and you build your lifestyle around that success. And then to deviate from that success and that way of doing things puts your livelihood at risk, so a lot of people choose not to do that — they choose not to put their livelihood at risk; they hit upon a formula, something that works for them, and they just continue doing that. And some people find joy in that and they build their lives around that. Other people are constantly pushing that envelope and experimenting with what they do, and I tend to fall into that category of a person — I push it readily. And I risk losing my audience all the time with what I write. I probably have lost some people along the way, but I've gained other people as well."

He continued: "To me, it's important to not keep repeating yourself, but to try different things and experiment with what it is you do, your ideas — keep 'em coming and keep experimenting with them. And music is so… There's so much you can do, so many things you can do with them now. And it's actually so much easier to compose and to create music nowadays than it was back then, because of the recording abilities you have now. You don't have to wait, schedule studio time, go in there and go through the whole rigor of the studio set-up, and hopefully pick the right people to work with that know what they're doing and can capture what it is that you're trying to do, and hopefully you can communicate with them well enough so that you can get your ideas across to them so they can record them accurately. You can bypass all that bullshit now and you do it yourself. [Laughs] You can have an idea and put it down and put it up for sale the next day. It makes art so much more immediate. And you can actually be part of the global conversation these days with what you do, because you're not waiting and waiting and waiting and months and months and months aren't going by, and you can comment on a situation that's happening in a song and create a piece of music around something that's happening topically right now and be current with what's going on. Before, you just had to wait and wait and wait and work around people's schedules and you had to wait for the record company to fit your album release into their fiscal calendar."

Tate's recent acoustic tour, dubbed "The Whole Story 'Rÿche' Acoustic Tour", saw him performing songs from all seventeen albums he has done throughout his illustrious thirty-five-year career. Geoff was backed during the show by a seven-piece acoustic band of musicians from the United States and Ireland, with three guitar players, mandolin, cello, saxophone, violin and multiple percussion instruments to produce high-energy acoustic versions of some of the Tate's former band's most recognized songs, including "Silent Lucidity", "Jet City Woman", "Empire", "I Don't Believe In Love" and "Eyes Of A Stranger".

"Resurrection", the second album from OPERATION: MINDCRIME, was released last September via Frontiers Music Srl. The album is the second part of Tate's musical trilogy. A follow-up effort is expected to arrive this fall.

Professionally filmed video footage of HEADCAT performing the song "(This Train Is Going) Straight To Hell" on August 5 at the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany can be seen below.

In 1999, MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy Kilmister, Slim Jim Phantom (THE STRAY CATS) and rockabilly guitar-slinger Danny B. Harvey (ROCKATS) teamed up to create a high-energy, take-no-prisoners combo to remind the world how rock 'n' roll was supposed to sound. For over sixteen years, HEADCAT (formerly THE HEAD CAT) continued doing just that to the accolades of fans worldwide.

Since Lemmy's untimely passing in 2015, Slim Jim and Danny B. have put HEADCAT on hold out of respect for their fallen bandmate and have waited until the appropriate time to start performing, and recording again.

Which brings us to 2017. Along with new HEADCAT bassist and vocalist — former MORBID ANGEL frontman David Vincent — HEADCAT recently recorded a heartfelt and rockin' tribute to their late friend Lemmy Kilmister, appropriately titled "Born To Lose, Live To Win".

The song was released digitally worldwide on June 23 and was made available on a very limited-edition seven-inch single (only 300 copies pressed!). The seven-inch vinyl singles were available at the band's European shows this August, including at Wacken Open Air — where the band performed two sets throughout the weekend.

"Lemmy was my true pal for 35 years," said Slim Jim Phantom. "The HEADCAT 'Born To Lose, Live To Win' track is a tribute to his spirit, image and love of original rock and roll. With his gang, MOTÖRHEAD, he made an everlasting impact on their fans, and like his famed Rickenbacker/Marshall spine tingling feedback, their legacy will continue to resonate for a long time." Danny B. Harvey continued: "This single is both dedicated to, and a tribute to our dear friend and fallen leader. As just about every Lemmy fan knows 'Born To Lose, Live to Win' was not only tattooed on Lemmy's arm but also the credo he lived his life by. Rest in peace, my friend."

Track listing:

A Side: "Born To Lose, Live To Win"B Side: "(This Train Is Going) Straight To Hell"

* Digital-only additional track: "T For Texas"

Miami, Florida-based outfit Loaded Guns have signed with Century Media Records. To commemorate the occasion, the band has released their new EP, Unstoppable, today (August 25th).

Speaking about signing with their new label, Loaded Guns frontman Rafael Salazar comments, “We are beyond excited to have one of favorite record labels, Century Media Records, releasing our debut EP. It has been a long time coming, but they've put in so much hard work and care into our band and this release. We couldn’t ask for a better team to work with!”

Loaded Guns' new EP, Unstoppable, is available now for purchase online here. The band’s video for "Bring Us Down"  can be seen below.

Discussing the music video, Salazar adds, “We are very excited for everyone to finally see the music video for ‘Bring Us Down’. The song was written by my brother & I when we were going through a time where we felt a lot of criticism in different aspects of life. We wanted to write something that spoke exactly how we felt and to remind us to always work to overcome anything that tries to bring us down. This song is about rising above and overcoming the hatred or negativity we deal with in the world today."

Speaking about Unstoppable, Salazar (lead vocals) delves deeper, stating: “I can honestly say we have never wrote a set of more meaningful songs than we have with our new EP ‘Unstoppable’. Personally, I was at a point in my life where I was in a particularly tough spot and had a lot to get off my chest. We spent a lot of time and hard work into this release to specifically capture the right vibes for each individual song. Not only can I not wait for the world to hear our new EP, but to also be able to relate to it.”

3 years after Memoria Vetusta III - Saturnian Poetry, Blut Aus Nord are back with Deus Salutis Meæ, a brand new opus eagerly awaited by a horde of fans in need of disturbing sensations. A short teaser is streaming below.

Mastered by Bruno Varea at Upload-Studio, Deus Salutis Meæ is an unfathomable opus in which Blut Aus Nord fuses each distinct era of its 23-year existence with innovative readings of cavernous death metal, the occult excesses of outsider industrial and the abject hauntings of psychotropic doom.

Deus Salutis Meæ, scheduled for release on October 28th (October 20th in North America), is available for preorder right now in sumptuous digipack CD, Gatefold 12" LP, special edition Gatefold 12" LP and digital download. An excellent t-shirt and hooded zip-front sweatshirt are also up for pre-order.

The astonishing artwork was handed to talented Artist Anna Levytska.

Tracklisting:

“δημιουργός”
“Chorea Macchabeorum”
“Impius”
“γνῶσις”
“Apostasis”
“Abisme”
“Revelatio”
“ἡσυχασμός”
“Ex Tenebrae Lucis”
“Métanoïa”

Teaser: 

Chicago-based four-piece instrumental group, Zaius, are streaming “Phaneron”, the opening track of their debut LP, Of Adoration, to be released via Prosthetic Records on October 6th. Listen to the song below.

Formed in 2010, the band explores a lighter, more melodic side of the members' musical tastes without abandoning the metal tendencies that come natural to them.

Guitarist Dann Dolce comments on signing to Prosthetic Records: "We are insanely proud of these eight songs and can't wait to share our first full length with the world. A proper release is what this album deserves, and Prosthetic Records really has our backs on this. The four of us couldn't be happier."

Of Adoration was tracked at the start of 2017 with Jeff Edwards before being sent off to be mixed and mastered by Chris Common (Pelican, Mouth Of The Architect, Minus the Bear). The record features eight tracks that peaks and valleys its way through over 40 minutes of music.

"We try not to conform to any specific sub-genre and pull influence from as many places as possible," reflects Dolce. "Our goal is to keep our songs moving and dynamic, heavy yet engaging, not letting parts drag on longer than they have to."

Illustrations for the album were created by Marald Van Haasteren (Baroness, Kylesa) whose style is as colorful and alive as these tracks were meant to be.

Of Adoration tracklisting:

“Phaneron”
“Echelon”
“Reformer”
“Sheepdog”
“Magnolia”
“Seirenes”
“Anicca”
“Colin”

“Phaneron”:

Zaius is:

Jeremy Bellen - Bass
Dann Dolce - Guitar
Mike Imbordino - Drums
Ian McConnell - Guitar

(Photo - Andy Delgado)

Former Dio guitarist, Tracy G, has released a 20th anniversary edition of his debut solo album, The G Factory. Listen to tracks and buy it now at this location.

Tracklisting:

“The G Factory”
“Warped Out”
“Opus In Bbm”
“Goodbye To Sao Paulo”
“The Elephant”
“Blutodidit”
“Climb The Walls”
“The Many Forms Of Evil”
“Number Nine”
“A Lil’ Sump’n”
“Sciatic Notch”

Welcome back the sweet scent of freedom. Breath in the greeheen! Brant Bjork has come to revive your spirit: The Kyuss and Fu Manchu legend recently announced his first live record ever.

From the opening guitar riff of Europe '16, recorded in Berlin, one can sense the buzz of classic rock electricity that transcends into new spheres. This is controlled madness between trippy and doomy, groovy and sludgy.

Set for release on September 22nd via Napalm Records, Brant Bjork is streaming “The Greeheen” from his first live record. Listen to the track below.

“This record is live. Live records are ugly and they should be. When a band plays live, they let their hair down. Live is all that really matters. There are those moments in life when everything is ok and these are the moments when you are doing exactly what your here on the planet to do. You're right where you are supposed to be with no shame, no fear, no regret, no envy, no hatred and no apology. I always say this band brings a feeling. The feeling is always primary and the sound, secondary. At least to me. In the book of Tao, there is a passage..."naming is the origin of all particular things". I use here the term ugly to refer to my naming of my particular relationship with my soundscape. my my my. Why the term ugly? Because its the opposite of pretty. As the popular saying goes, "It is what it is". As for my music, my band and this live record, I prefer to say, "it is what it isn't".” - Brant Bjork on Europe '16.

Tracklisting:

“Buddha Time”
“Controllers Destroyed”
“Humble Pie”
“Stakt”
“The Greeheen”
“Lazy Bones-Automatic Fantastic”
“Stokely Up Now”
“Dave's War-Dave's Peace”
“Biker No. 2”
“Freaks Of Nature”
“Low Desert Punk”
“Let The Truth Be Known-Jumpin' Jack Flash”

“The Greeheen”:

Whenever Brant Bjork turns on his fuzz pedals on stage, you can always count on him, as he delivers lush stoner rock with balls of steel, winged by vivid guitar solos and his creaking whiskey tinged voice. His psychedelic melodies raise to huge groove monsters. The air feels dry from the dust; the inner eye witnesses the setting sun morphing the desert sand into a glowing sea. Europe '16 lives from exquisite desert rock grade A. Live and pure.

Gree Heen Europe 2017 (with special guest Sean Wheeler):

September
26 - Stockholm, Sweden - Debaser Strand
27 - Stavange, Norway - Folken
28 - Oslo, Norway - John Dee
29 - Gothenbourg, Sweden - Sticky Fingers
30 - Copenhagen, Denmark - KB 18

October
1 - Hamburg, Germany - Logo
2 - Leipzig, Germany - UT Connewitz
3 - Bielefeld, Germany - Forum
4 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg
5 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - Effenaar
6 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Up In Smoke
7 - Aschaffenburg, Germany - Colossal
8 - Brussels, Belgium - Botanique
9 - Rennes, France - Ubu
11 - Bilbao, Spain - Kafe Antzokia
12 - Porto, Portugal - Cave 45
13 - Lisbon, Portugal - RCA Club
14 - Madrid, Spain - Caracol
15 - Barcelona, Spain - Bikini
16 - Marseille, France - Jas Rod
17 - Torino, Italy - Blah Blah
18 - Ravenna, Italy - Bronson
19 - Zagreb, Croatia - Vintage Industrial Bar
20 - Wien, Austria - Arena (with Stoned Jesus + Beastmaker)
21 - Munich, Germany - Keep It Low

(Photo - Kip Dawkins)

American progressive metal act, The Contortionist, have released a new music video for their track “Return To Earth”. “When making the 'Return to Earth' video we wanted to make sure it was cohesive in concept with 'Reimagined’,” says vocalist Michael Lessard.

Directed by Erez Bader and produced by Lessard himself, the video is the band’s second from their forthcoming LP due out in mid-September.

“We made sure we took our time with the process. This video picks up where 'Reimagined' left off, and can actually be played in succession with it. We couldn't be more pleased with the continuity and end result!”

"Return To Earth" is the third track the band has released from Clairvoyant behind "Absolve" and "Reimagined”. The three tracks are available on all streaming services and will serve as iTunes Instant Gratification tracks, meaning, fans who pre order the LP via iTunes receive all three as instant downloads.

The Contortionist will release Clairvoyant on September 15th via Entertainment One Music / Good Fight Music. The new LP is the follow-up to Language, the genre defying LP that continues to garner critical acclaim. Clairvoyant, which reunited the band with producer Jamie King (Between The Buried And Me, Through The Eyes Of The Dead), takes the best elements of The Contortionist’s past and reshapes them as the band follows their individual creative muses toward the future.

Pre-order the new album at the following links: Digital, Official Band Store, Good Fight Store.

Tracklisting:

“Monochrome (Passive)”
“Godspeed”
“Reimagined”
“Clairvoyant”
“The Center”
“Absolve”
“Relapse”
“Return To Earth”
“Monochrome (Pensive)”

“Absolve”:

“Reimagined” video:

Click here for all tour dates.

(Photo - Gobinder Jhitta)

Swedish post punk/dark wave masters, Then Comes Silence, have released a fourth video trailer for their upcoming, fourth full-length studio album, Blood, which will be released on October 20th worldwide via Nuclear Blast. Watch four trailers below.

Blood tracklisting:

“The Dead Cry For No One”
“Flashing Pangs Of Love”
“Strange Kicks”
“My Bones”
“In Leash”
“Choose Your Poison”
“Good Friday”
“The Rest Will Follow”
“Magnetic”
“Warm Like Blood”
“Mercury”
“Into Death Alone” (limited first edition bonus track)

“Strange Kicks” lyric video:

Trailer #1:

Trailer #2:

Trailer #3:

Trailer #4:

"The Dead Cry For No One" video:

Lineup:

Alex Svenson - vox, bass, synth
Seth Kapadia - guitars
Jens Karnstedt - guitars
Jonas Fransson - drums

(Photo - Per Kristiansen)

Available now for the very first time, Yardbirds '68 presents an 18-track double album produced by legendary guitarist and producer Jimmy Page.

This special album features remixed live recordings from the Anderson Theater in March 1968 alongside Studio Sketches recorded in the same era and the album features music from The Yardbirds members Jim McCarty, Chris Dreja, Jimmy Page and Keith Relf.

“We thought this might be lost forever, but we’ve rediscovered it, remixed it. It’s of great historical importance. We’re delighted to see the release.”

Yardbirds '68 is now available for pre-order in advance of its November 5th release date. The release is available in three editions: CD, Vinyl and Deluxe.

Signed Deluxe Edition - The Deluxe boxset edition is available with the sleeve hand-signed by Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty and Jimmy Page in a limited edition release bringing the signatures of three music legends together for the very first time.

Tracklisting:

Live At Anderson Theatre
“Train Kept A Rollin’”
“Mr, You’re A Better Man Than I”
“Heart Full Of Soul”
“Dazed And Confused”
“My Baby”
“Over Under Sideways Down”
“Drinking Muddy Water”
“Shapes Of Things”
“White Summer”
“I’m A Man” (contains Moanin’ And Sobbin’)

Studio Sketches
“Avron Knows”
“Spanish Blood”
“Knowing That I’m Losing You (Tangerine)”
“Taking A Hold On Me”
“Drinking Muddy Water” (Version Two)
“My Baby”
“Avron’s Eyes”
“Spanish Blood” (Instr.)

Swedish thrash metallers The Haunted have unleashed their ninth studio album, Strength In Numbers, available worldwide via Century Media Records. A guitar playthrough video for the album track “Preachers Of Death” is available for streaming below.

The album’s limited edition Mediabook CD version includes the bonus tracks “Illusions” and “Sinister”, expanded layouts as well as three stickers. Strength In Numbers is also available on 180gr vinyl in various editions:

- Black LP (Unlimited)
- Silver LP (200x copies / Sweden)
- Clear LP (300x Copies / US)

A strictly limited Deluxe LP package is available from CM Distro / CM Webshop in Europe. This very special edition is limited to 500x copies on transparent red coloured vinyl and comes with a printed guitar tablature book, a poster, a set of three guitar-picks and the entire album on CD as bonus. Grab it before it’s too late.

Order the album in its various physical formats from CM Distro here, or digitally here.

Recorded at Parlour Studios in The UK with producer Russ Russell (Napalm Death, Dimmu Borgir, The Exploited), Strength In Numbers comes with artwork by The Haunted’s longtime designer Andreas Pettersson.

Strength In Numbers tracklisting:

“Fill The Darkness With Black”
“Brute Force”
“Spark”
“Preachers Of Death”
“Strength In Numbers”
“Tighten The Noose”
“This Is The End”
“The Fall”
“Means To An End”
“Monuments”

“Preachers Of Death” guitar playthrough video:

“Preachers Of Death” video:

“Spark” guitar playthrough video:

“Spark” video:

“Brute Force” video:

​

Deluxe Edition unboxing:

Live dates:

August
31 - Oslo, Norway - Blå

September
1 - Stavanger, Norway - Folken
2 - Bergen, Norway - Hulen
8 - Örebro, Sweden - Frimis Salonger (with Witchery)
9 - Linköping, Sweden - The Crypt (with Witchery)
15 - Borlänge, Sweden - Liljan
16 - Sundsvall, Sweden - Club Destroyer
21 - Göteborg, Sweden - Pustervik (with Witchery)
22 - Stockholm, Sweden - Debaser Strand (with Witchery)
23 - Malmö, Sweden - KB (with Witchery)
29 - Hultsfred, Sweden - Mörkaste Småland Festival
30 - Eskilstuna, Sweden - Loket

October
7 - Hoogeveen, Netherlands - Graveland Fest

The Haunted lineup:

Marco Aro - Vocals
Jensen - Guitars
Ola Englund - Guitars
Jonas Björler - Bass
Adrian Erlandsson - Drums

A new official lyric video for "Girls, Girls, Girls", the fourth studio and four-times-platinum album from the Los Angeles rock band MÖTLEY CRÜE, can be seen below.

MÖTLEY CRÜE is celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of "Girls, Girls, Girls" with special album reissue bundles that are now available via Pledge Music. Various bundles include colored vinyl, cassette tape, commemorative poster/lithograph, vintage t-shirt, vinyl test pressings, a limited-edition, numbered drum head, a flexi single of "Wild Side", "Girls, Girls, Girls" patch, and more.

MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx told Billboard about the decision to reissue the album: "You know, it's interesting. You build up a body of work and it's like, 'Well, I want to get people who may not be album buyers turned onto the band.' And then they might go and discover the albums the way the fans of the band do. And so you release greatest hits, you do remasters, you create new packaging, you see if you can find any extra tracks that maybe weren't on the record, you bring out demo versions, you try to come up with ways to make it unique and special. And that's what we did here. I think it's a cool thing for fans. I'm a rock fan myself and I love that. And thirty years is a significant amount of time, and 'Girls, Girls, Girls' was an important album for us in a lot of ways. It was also a frustrating album for us in a lot of ways."

"Girls, Girls, Girls" reached No. 2 on Billboard 200 in its third week — MÖTLEY CRÜE's highest charting album at the time. But it was held out of the top spot by Whitney Houston's "Whitney", which debuted at No. 1.

"Well, back then, you know, there was no SoundScan," Nikki explained. "Retail would report in with their top-selling bands, and then Billboard would accumulate the results from all these different chains — Licorice Pizza, Tower Records, all these places. And I remember I was on a conference call with [then-MÖTLEY CRÜE managers] Doc McGhee and Doug Thaler, and they said, 'Hey man, you guys are outselling everybody two to one. You're gonna have a No. 1 record.' And I said, 'That's great.' I don't really think that having a No. 1 record mattered to us that much, but we were like, 'That's fucking cool!' But then Whitney Houston came out and she was No 1. And I remember that lit a fucking flame to the fucking bomb man. That lit the fuse. Because we were like 'What the fuck happened?'"

"Girls, Girls, Girls" included three smash hits, "Wild Side", "You're All I Need" and the title track, which became a global success, despite the original uncensored video being banned from MTV at the time.

MÖTLEY CRÜE's last studio album was 2008's "Saints Of Los Angeles", which was followed by a 2009 "Greatest Hits" compilation.

A tour film about MÖTLEY CRÜE's final shows, "The End", came out last fall, and a film adaptation of the band's 2001 autobiography "The Dirt" is still said to be in the works.

The official lyric video for the song "Apophis - Black Dragon" from European diabolical death/black metal kings BELPHEGOR can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's new album, "Totenritual", which will be released on September 15 via Nuclear Blast. The disc was recorded at Stage One Studios in Germany and Studio Mischmaschine in Austria and was mixed by Jason Suecof and mastered by Mark Lewis at Audiohammer Studios in Florida.

The artwork was once again created by Greek artist Seth Siro Anton, who also painted the cover artwork for 2006's "Pestokalypse VI" and 2014's "Conjuring The Dead". Check it out below.

BELPHEGOR singer, guitarist and founder Helmuth Lehner states: "It is the most brutally heavy offering we have consecrated thus far. The drums are precise and very technical with loads of breaks, fills and tempo changes. The bass is like a panzer tank. Also, the rhythm guitars are utterly aggressive and obscure. You don't hear guitars like that anywhere with such a massively low tuning."

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Baphomet02. The Devil's Son03. Swinefever - Regent Of Pigs04. Apophis - Black Dragon05. Totenkult - Exegesis Of Deterioration06. Totenbeschwörer [Instrumental]07. Spell Of Reflection 08. Embracing A Star09. Totenritual

"Whatever It Takes", the new video from HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD, can be seen below. The band's own Charlie Scene co-directed the clip and remarked: "The song is about being driven by your own determination to succeed no matter what anyone else thinks. I wanted the video to show that same message."

"Whatever It Takes" is taken from HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD's fifth full-length album, "V" (Five), which will be released on October 27.

"We're five brothers, and this is our fifth record," affirms HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD's Johnny 3 Tears. "Nothing gets to the essence of the music like this number does. Numerology has a lot of power. When we said 'Five', it just made sense. The fact that we could all agree on one word codifies who we are. It also nods back to 'No. 5' from our first album, because it was our fifth song. Moreover, it hints at this secret society of fans supporting us for the past decade. The number is significant, and this is a significant moment for us."

HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD has also announced a new set of dates in support of "V", which will begin on September 30 at the Louder Than Life festival. For all U.S. headline shows, BUTCHER BABIES will serve as direct support.

Nuclear Blast Entertainment has announced the signing of Canadian newcomers ARRIVAL OF AUTUMN.

"We are incredibly excited to be signed with Nuclear Blast," states the band. "To work with a team that has not only been a leader in the industry, but has helped develop and give the world so many bands that are extremely important to us as musicians is an absolute honor."

Today, the band has released a demo version of a song from their upcoming album. Check out the track, which was produced and mixed by Jason Suecof, on Spotify or YouTube.

ARRIVAL OF AUTUMN started as a band with a mission to play music without compromise and carve their way through the music scene on their own terms. Coming from a small city in Northern Canada, this was a necessary strategy, since the band didn't come up in a big city scene with regular promoters, venues and attendees.

After touring in support of two independently issued albums, "Endless Nights" and "Shadows", the band began plotting its next release. On a whim, they decided to send some of the new demos to one of their heroes, Jason Suecof at Audiohammer Studios, to see if he would be interested in recording them. To the band's absolute surprise, Jason liked what he heard, and found time between some of the heavy-hitters that he had been working on to record the material. This was an opportunity the band couldn't pass up, and immediately started planning the trip of flying over three thousand miles, from one end of the continent of North America to the other, to record the best songs the band had ever written.

Fast forward to after two successful recording sessions produced by Jason Suecof and mastered by Mark Lewis now complete, the band was able to attract the attention of A&R legend Monte Conner. Conner was impressed with what he heard and quickly struck a deal with the band. With such a rapid ascent thus far, there's no telling what great things lurk in ARRIVAL OF AUTUMN's not-too-distant future. Keep an eye out for news on the band's label debut sometime in early 2018.

ARRIVAL OF AUTUMN is:

Jamison Friesen - Vocals, Rhythm GuitarsBrendan Anderson - Lead GuitarsKevin Student - BassTy Fox - Drums

"Steambreather", the new video from Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON, can be seen below. The song taken from the band's latest album, "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".

"Emperor Of Sand" finds MASTODON returning to a deeply imaginative and complex conceptual storyline that ponders the nature of time. Threading together the myth of a man sentenced to death in a majestically malevolent desert, the band conjures the grains of a musical and lyrical odyssey slipping quickly through a cosmic hourglass.

"'Emperor of sand' is like the grim reaper," says drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor. "Sand represents time. If you or anyone you know has ever received a terminal diagnosis, the first thought is about time. Invariably, you ask, 'How much time is left?'"

"We're reflecting on mortality," adds bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders. "To that end, the album ties into our entire discography. It's seventeen years in the making, but it's also a direct reaction to the last two years. We tend to draw inspiration from very real things in our lives."

According to BBC News, pedophile Ian Watkins, lead singer of the Welsh rock band LOSTPROPHETS, could have been caught and brought to justice nearly four years earlier if police had properly investigated reports from a series of informants, Britain's police watchdog said Friday.

Six people came forward to make allegations against Watkins before he was finally arrested and jailed for thirty-five years, the report from the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) found. He must serve at least twenty-nine years in prison.

In one instance, the police did not examine the mobile phone of Watkins's ex-girlfriend Joanne Mjadzelics, who first reported the singer to the authorities in December 2008 and was video interviewed in March 2009 when she told officers she had a message on her mobile phone from Watkins about his desire to sexually abuse children.

The report says the phone was not examined "on the basis that her report was malicious."

It goes on: "It would have been found to hold a message Ian Watkins sent to Ms Mjadzelics on August 12 2007, which read: 'WISHLIST RAPE A 12 YR OLD F*** TWO UNDERAGE TWINS.'

"The message corroborated Ms Mjadzelics's allegations that Watkins had expressed 'desires to abuse children.'"

In 2013, Watkins was convicted of thirteen child sex offenses. These crimes only came to light following a drugs investigation.

IPCC commissioner for Wales Jan Williams said the case was the most "disturbing and distressing" she had dealt with.

"In my view, all the reports made were subject to a biased response, whether this was conscious or unconscious," Williams added.

"Some were conflated with reports made by Ms Mjadzelics and were thus dismissed as lacking credibility.

"All those involved in responding accepted the initial skeptical view of Ms Mjadzelics's reports, demonstrating a lack of open-mindedness and professional curiosity.

"This continued until 'the right type of complainant came along.'"

Mjadzelics told The Yorkshire Post: "From day one, they treated me like some obsessed fan, like I was crazy. They thought, 'Let's not listen to her, let's not believe her — let's trust the nice pop star instead.'

"It's been years of screaming until I was blue in the face, of knocking on police doors, of begging for someone to believe me, of banging my head against a brick wall.

"When he was finally charged, it hit me like a cannonball. Even though I knew it was all true, because I'd been pushed away so many times, and had been made to feel like I was crazy, I'd begun to doubt myself.

"What immediately started flashing through my mind was how many more children were there? How many more children are there? I started thinking if they'd listened to me, if they'd acted sooner could he have gone on to commit those sickening crimes?"

After the Independent Police Complaints Commission released its findings, South Wales police assistant chief constable Jeremy Vaughan said: "Today's report highlights a number of failings in which information about Watkins was investigated between 2008 and 2012 which the force entirely accepts and regrets.

"South Wales Police failed to listen and properly investigate information about Watkins's offending behaviour, for this we are truly sorry."

Watkins's disgusted LOSTPROPHETS bandmates called it quits in 2013, just before the frontman pleaded guilty to his crimes. They subsequently formed a new group, named NO DEVOTION.

METALLICA, MASTODON and GWAR are among the artists who will reissue their music on pink vinyl for the fourth annual Ten Bands One Cause. The initiative has raised over $144,000 for Gilda's Club NYC, an organization that provides community support for both those diagnosed with cancer and their caretakers. It is named after comedian Gilda Radner, who passed away from cancer at the age of 43 in 1989.

This year's releases include pink pressings of METALLICA's "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct", MASTODON's "Emperor Of Sand" and GWAR's "The Blood Of Gods". They will be available for purchase at retailers nationwide wherever vinyl is sold, and proceeds will sponsor Gilda's Club NYC.

"The daily routine of life now includes doctors' visits, weekly treatments and unprecedented medical expenses," said Gilda's Club's chief executive. "The new 'routine' is difficult to manage and navigate alone. But at Gilda's Club NYC, we help cancer patients and their families learn how to live with a cancer diagnosis — through our support groups, educational lectures, and classes. It's important to know you aren't alone and at Gilda's Club, you never are."

Quality multi-camera video footage of British heavy metal vocalist Blaze Bayley (IRON MAIDEN, WOLFSBANE) performing the song "Escape Velocity" on August 21 at the Token Lounge in Westland, Michigan can be seen below (video produced by George S Pogacich). The track is taken from his ninth solo album, "Endure And Survive", which was released on March 3 via Blaze Bayley Recording. The disc was recorded at Birmingham, England's Robannas Studios and said to be "an exciting and enthralling sequel" to his 2016 release "Infinite Entanglement", which was the first of a trilogy of releases following a sci-fi concept and storyline.

"Endure And Survive" is accompanied by a world tour totalling more than a hundred shows. Throughout the trek, Blaze is being backed by his main recording and touring musicians, picked from British metal band ABSOLVA and including Chris Appleton (guitar, backing vocals), Martin McNee (drums), Karl Schramm (bass, backing vocals).

In addition to the established bandmembers as above from ABSOLVA, "Endure And Survive" also contains a talented array of collaborators: Luke Appleton (ICED EARTH, ABSOLVA) on backing vocals; Michelle Sciarrotta on nylon acoustic, backing vocals, voice actor; Jo Robinson on backing vocals; Mel Adams on backing vocals; Liz Owen on backing vocals; Thomas Zwijsen on nylon acoustic, Anne Bakker on violin, backing vocals; Corvin Bahn (Uli Jon Roth) on accordion; Aine Brewer (voice actor); and Rob Toogood (voice actor) on backing vocals.

The spectacular album artwork was created by Andreas Sandberg, with additional images from Christopher Steenstrup who is also working on a Blaze Bayley video game.

"Endure And Survive" was recorded between October and December 2016, produced by Blaze Bayley and Chris Appleton, mixed and engineered by Miguel Seco, mastered by Ade Emsley (IRON MAIDEN, TANK, PHIL CAMPBELL). As with the previous record, the songwriting has been a collaboration between Blaze, Chris Appleton and Michelle Sciarrotta.

"Endure And Survive" track listing:

01. Endure And Survive02. Escape Velocity03. Blood04. Eating Lies05. Destroyer06. Dawn Of The Dead Son07. Remember08. Fight Back09. The World Is Turning The Wrong Way10. Together We Can Move The Sun

2014-2015 was a period of building momentum for Blaze, partly created by the highly popular release of the fifteenth anniversary edition of his debut solo record, "Silicon Messiah", as well as his "Soundtracks Of My Life" thirty-year compilation celebrating his career since he began singing with his first band WOLFSBANE, before catapulting to worldwide fame with IRON MAIDEN.

2016 saw a significant renaissance with the remarkable plaudits given to the "Infinite Entanglement" album from fans and critics alike. The year was also notable for Blaze's special guest performance with DISTURBED at the U.K.'s premier festival Download when the warmth and recognition from the crowd was as crystal clear as it was predictable given Blaze's reputation for connecting with audiences.

Billy Ray Cyrus is celebrating his birthday with the announcement of his new album, "Set The Record Straight", due on November 10. The disc features collaborations with Joe Perry (AEROSMITH), George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Bryan Adams, Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION), Jencarlos Canela, Ronnie Milsap and Billy's daughter, Miley Cyrus.

"I'm so excited to share this collection of music," Billy Ray Cyrus said. "These are some of my favorite songs. Some are new and have been an intricate part of 'Still The King' story lines. Others are new mixes and different styles of songs that allowed me to experiment with the diversity that is so much a part of my musical being. There are some collaborations with my musical heroes and a special tribute to one of my greatest influences of all time — Ronnie Van Zant and the members of LYNYRD SKYNYRD. In this being the forty-year anniversary of that tragic crash that impacted me and so many others fans around the world, I wrote and recorded 'The Freebird Fell'."

Momentum will continue for Cyrus's new album August 29 when he appears on "Carpool Karaoke: The Series" alongside his family, including Miley, Noah, Tish, Brandi, Braison and Trace, during their sing-along to "Achy Breaky Heart" (Muscle Shoals Mix), which is included on "Set The Record Straight". "Carpool Karaoke" will be available exclusively to Apple Music subscribers.

Fans who pre-order a physical copy will receive an autographed CD when it's released November 10. iTunes pre-orders will get three instant-gratis tracks, including "I Wanna Be Your Joe", "Achy Break Heart 25th (Muscle Shoals Mix)" and "Tulsa Time (Rokman Remix)".

"Set The Record Straight" track listing:

01. Tulsa Time (feat. Joe Perry)02. I Wanna Be Your Joe (New Mix)03. Achy Breaky Heart (feat. Ronnie Milsap On Piano) (Muscle Shoals Mix)04. You Good05. I Want My Mullet Back06. Country Music Has The Blues (feat. George Jones & Loretta Lynn)07. Thin Line (feat. Shelby Lynne)08. Hey Elvis (feat. Bryan Adams & Glenn Hughes)09. I Wouldn't Be Me10. Stand (feat. Miley Cyrus)11. Hey Daddy12. The Freebird Fell13. Achy Breaky Heart 25 (Spanglish) (feat. Jencarlos Canela)14. Tulsa Time (Rokman Remix)15. Worry

Throughout the course of nearly three decades, Cyrus has achieved worldwide success as a singer, songwriter, actor and producer. The Flatwoods, Kentucky native exploded onto the music scene when his first album, "Some Gave All", debuted on the all-genre Billboard album charts at No. 1 and stayed there for a record-breaking seventeen weeks in 1992. The lead single, "Achy Breaky Heart", became a phenomenon as it went multi-platinum. "Some Gave All" also went on to sell nine million copies. Cyrus has also enjoyed a successful career as an actor, most notably in cable series "Doc", and in the Disney series "Hannah Montana" with his daughter Miley Cyrus. Today, Cyrus stars in CMT's "Still The King" and is recording new music while playing to live audiences across North America.

CYHRA, the new band featuring former IN FLAMES members Peter Iwers (bass) and Jesper Strömblad (guitar) alongside ex-AMARANTHE singer Joacim "Jake E" Lundberg and LUCA TURILLI'S RHAPSODY drummer Alex Landenburg, will release its debut album, "Letters To Myself", on October 20 via Spinefarm Records. The disc was recorded at Top Floor Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden. The first single from the effort, "Karma", can be streamed on Spotify. A video for the track will follow on September 8. From the blissfully melodic thrust of Strömblad's riffs and hooks, and the soaring, soulful splendor of Jake E's unmistakable voice, to the pummeling, groove-driven precision of Iwers and Landenburg's rhythmic bedrock, every last moment crackles with the excitement of fresh territory, new challenges, and a brand-new identity for all involved to embrace. Formed in 2016 by longtime friends Jake E and Strömblad, CYHRA is about to light a fire under the contemporary metal scene that promises to blaze for decades to come. The buzz around CYHRA has been growing at a rapid rate since the band unveiled its plans earlier this year. "The excitement that I feel about CYHRA is over the top," Jake E exclaims. "I have to pinch myself every day to make sure it's not just another dream. I am so proud of the music we have created and I can't wait to show it to the world!" "For the first time for as long as I can remember, I feel I am a part of something special," adds Strömblad. "This band has helped me regain my true passion for music. I can't wait to share this." "Letters To Myself" track listing:

01. Karma02. Heartrage03. Here To Save You04. Muted Life05. Closure06. Letter To Myself07. Dark Clarity08. Holding Your Breath09. Rescue Ride10. Black Wings11. Inside A Lullaby12. Dead To Me13. Letters To Myself

Speaking to AntiHero Magazine, Jake stated about CYHRA's formation: "I have been friends with Jesper for a long time, probably ten years. We met for the first time when I was working for IN FLAMES as a pyro technician back in the day. That was also when I got to know Peter. We had been friends since then. I was considering to make a solo album, and I would say that I have no idea what I'm going to do, but I'm probably going to write some songs as well. And he asked me, 'Would you do the vocals on my solo album?' And I said, 'Of course. Would you be interested in playing guitar on whatever I'm doing?' And he said yes. And then we started to talk about what our solo albums, projects, whatever it was meant to be would sound like and when we were discussing that we just realized that okay, we want the same. We want to make the same album. So that's where it all came to be and then we decided to start writing songs together. So, we were actually talking over a cup of coffee on a Friday and then on Monday we actually sat down in the studio and we started working on the first song. So that was really, really good. And then when we were doing the same thing there, we didn't know what to do. But after a couple of songs, everything started to come together. Then Jesper said, 'Okay what are we going to do?' And I said that I had the perfect drummer for this band, and that's Alex Landenburg. I said that you are going to love this guy. And a couple of months later we all met, and Jesper and Alex became best friends instantly. And then Jesper said that it would be cool if Peter would like to join. And so we asked him and he was still the bassist for IN FLAMES, and he said, 'Yeah, absolutely, I will gladly jump on board of this ship. But just to let you know, I am going to still be a member of IN FLAMES as well.' We were cool with that and then things happened like they did. Peter eventually decided to part ways with IN FLAMES."

Regarding the CYHRA sound, Jake said: "It is hard to describe what we sound like because we've been writing for almost a year. We've been influenced by so many different bands. We are, of course, influenced by ourselves. Because like, as the main songwriter in all our different projects before, you know, like, Jesper has his touch of things, I have the touch on my side, and also the other guys. Of course, you will find similarities in our former bands. But I won't say that we have reinvented the wheel in any way, but it's still something that sounds really, really fresh and new, even though music is music. You could always probably find similarities. But I would not say that it sounds like old AMARANTHE, or that it sounds like IN FLAMES. But you could completely, you know, recognize yourself within these boundaries."

Jake E announced his departure from AMARANTHE in February, explaining at the time that he began to feel that "my place both on the albums and live was reduced; I felt like I was superfluous… I started to feel more like a backing singer."

Iwers issued a statement in November saying that he was leaving IN FLAMES "to pursue other endeavors." He has since been replaced on the road by Bryce Paul, a member of the Southern California pop-rock outfit IVES.

Strömblad quit IN FLAMES in February 2010 in order to continue receiving treatment for his alcohol addiction. He later formed THE RESISTANCE with Marco Aro (vocals, THE HAUNTED) and Glenn Ljungström (guitar, ex-IN FLAMES), only to exit that band in March 2016. THE RESISTANCE bassist Rob Hakemo later slammed Jesper in an interview, calling the guitarist "an alcoholic" and "drug addict" who "doesn't want to [get] sober."

CYHRA will make its live debut on October 27 at Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland.

POWERMAN 5000's new single, "Sid Vicious In A Dress", can be streamed below. The song is taken from the band's upcoming album, "New Wave", which will be released on October 27 via Pavement Entertainment.

"New Wave" is POWERMAN 5000's eleventh official release since forming in 1992 and continues the strides and success, from their platinum-selling album "Tonight The Stars Revolt!" to their most recent chart-topping single in 2014, "How To Be A Human".

POWERMAN 5000 vocalist Spider One stated about "Sid Vicious In A Dress": "I suppose at its simplest it's a twisted love song, but really it's about loving what hurts you, what is bad for you. Staying when you should run. Over the years, Sid Vicious has become the poster child for chaos and self-destruction. I just took that and put it in the form of a beautiful girl. The title of the song kind of says it all."

Regarding the overall sound of the follow-up to 2014's "Builders Of The Future", Spider One said: "We went a bit dirtier on this one. Ripped it up more than the last couple of records. One of the goals was to recreate the noise of the live show. Keep in the chaos."

On the topic of the new album title, Spider said: "New Wave? Are we a new wave band? Well, I would say that we have always had more in common with DEVO than DIO."

POWERMAN 5000's legacy continues to push the boundaries of rock, metal, industrial, rap and punk to create innovative and groundbreaking releases time and time again. With songs like "David F**king Bowie", "Cult Leader" and "Sid Vicious In A Dress", the new album is sure to please longtime fans, as well as turn the heads of many more to come.

"New Wave" track listing:

01. Footsteps And Voices02. Hostage03. Sid Vicious In A Dress04. David F**king Bowie05. Cult Leader06. No White Flags07. Thank God08. Die On Your Feet09. Get A Life10. Run For Your Life

"Builders Of The Future" sold around 4,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 63 on The Billboard 200 chart. Issued in May 2014, the CD was released through POWERMAN 5000's partnership with T-Boy Records, a co-venture with Universal Music Enterprises founded by veteran rock manager Andy Gould.

"Rat Hole", the new video from VIXEN frontwoman Janet Gardner, can be seen below. The track, which was inspired by Gardner's frustration with health care insurance companies, is taken from her self-titled debut solo album, released last week via Pavement Entertainment.

"Janet Gardner" is a collaboration between the singer, who works days as a part-time dental hygienist, and her husband, guitarist/producer Justin James, who has previously worked with STAIND, COLLECTIVE SOUL and TYKETTO.

"It sort of happened honestly," Gardner told Billboard. "We set up a studio in our new house (in Connecticut) and we were both down there fiddling around, and eventually we started to exchange ideas. We probably had written about five songs and thought, 'This is working pretty good. What are we gonna do with this?'" Gardner and James initially thought about another group or duo name. "Then we said let's call it my solo album. Why not? I've never done one. Even though it is a really strong collaboration, let's call it that."

Gardner described her solo debut to Unrated Magazine as "a very diverse collection of music. Justin and I combined forces with hard rock influences from the last four decades," she said. " If you like the seventies, the song 'The Good Or The Bye' is the song for you. If you like the eighties, 'If You Want Me', 'Candle' and 'Hippycrite' are for you. If you like the nineties, you might dig 'Your Problem Now' and 'The Grind', but they all have a common thread that is simply our sound together."

Regarding how the songwriting process for the album compared to that in VIXEN, Gardner said: "Every creative relationship is different. Justin and I are married, so we obviously have tons of trust in one another. No one has any expectations of us, so we have a lot of freedom to do whatever we want. With VIXEN, we have an established musical style, so there is always that 'Is this right for VIXEN?' question looming over the writing process, but we have known each other for years, so it's very comfortable to present ideas."

"Janet Gardner" track listing:

01. Rat Hole02. Hippycrite03. If You Want Me04. Candle05. Your Problem Now06. Let It Be Over07. Lost08. The Grind09. Best Friend10. The Good Or The Bye

Photo credit: Jon Gregory

Colorado metallers JAG PANZER have released the official lyric video for their cover of "Foggy Dew", an Irish folk song about the 1916 Easter Rising. The track is taken from the band's new album, "The Deviant Chord", which will be released on September 29 via SPV/Steamhammer.

The "Foggy Dew" lyric video was once again created by JAG PANZER guitarist Mark Briody, who said: "'Foggy Dew' was a song I grew up with. My father used to sing it often. He also told me stories of the Easter Rising in Ireland, the same stories his father told him.

"It was a challenge to record a classic song that has already been covered many times. But I think we were able to bring a different flavor to the song."

For JAG PANZER, team spirit is more important than anything else. Without team spirit, Briody would no longer see any reason for continuing the band. "We're like a family, we've all known each other for many years," he says and looks back at the years between 2011 and 2013 when JAG PANZER were on the brink of calling it a day. "Two bandmembers quit and there was little interest in hiring new people and starting over. Introducing new musicians would have been tough, so we decided to disband." But then the American power metal act's strong fan base made itself heard, causing the spark to be rekindled. Briody explains: "We had a lot of interest in our early albums, so my bandmates soon noticed that people were still listening to JAG PANZER, that the audience was still there. We started talking on the phone more and more. Some excellent gig offers arrived so we decided we should get back together."

"The Deviant Chord" is a veritable metal manifesto, consisting of ten awesome songs featuring all those typical JAG PANZER strengths that the band's fans have come to appreciate. Together with band members John Tetley (bass), Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin (vocals), Rikard Stjernquist (drums) and Joey Tafolla (lead guitar), who has returned to the fold, Briody has recorded an album that impresses in every respect and that benefits from the outstanding qualities of all five band members.

"John does our 'quality control,' meaning that he makes sure every song we do is the best it can be. Harry is a musical genius. He's been singing since we were kids, he's very skilled in vocal arrangements and vocal recording techniques. This skill makes him a very big contributor in the songwriting. Rikard is all about drumming. He's been drumming since he was a small child and has never stopped. He grew up living all around the world and he has always been in a band. Joey is the classic lead player in every sense of the world. He has amazing skill on the guitar plus an outstanding stage presence. His playing makes every song better." "The Deviant Chord" will be available as a CD digipak (including poster) and double LP colored version as well as for download and streaming. The cover artwork was created by Serbian artist Dusan Markovic and reflects the album's haunting atmosphere perfectly. Briody gives also some hints: "Fans of both science fiction and real-life scientists should look closely at the new JAG PANZER album as the band has placed a few hidden tributes in the album art!"

There can be no doubt: the spark has rekindled the fire in JAG PANZER and it's burning brightly. Briody says: "The mood in the band is very focused. This album was the first time we did multiple demos for every song. So everyone has been very involved in every step. Each band member got to see a song grow and change with time. That's very exciting for us. And we're all excited to unleash 'The Deviant Chord' unto the world."

"The Deviant Chord" track listing:

01. Born Of The Flame (4:00)02. Far Beyond All Fear (3:49)03. The Deviant Chord (5:37)04. Blacklist (4:19)05. Foggy Dew (3:20)06. Divine Intervention (3:30)07. Long Awaited Kiss (6:16)08. Salacious Behavior (4:07)09. Fire Of Our Spirit (4:37)10. Dare (5:17)

AVENGED SEVENFOLD is continuing to expand its latest album, "The Stage", into an evolving body of work by adding a series of new tracks over the course of several months. Today sees the release of the album's latest addition, AVENGED SEVENFOLD's rendition of "God Only Knows" by THE BEACH BOYS. The track follows the recent release of AVENGED SEVENFOLD's version of MR. BUNGLE's "Retrovertigo", the band's first-ever Spanish-language recording, "Malagueña Salerosa", and a rendition of "Runaway", the 1961 song made famous by Del Shannon. The band recorded all four tracks with producer Joe Barresi (QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, TOOL).

"We love the idea of putting out music in a non-conventional way," AVENGED SEVENFOLD singer M. Shadows told Billboard. "We also love making albums, so this allowed us to do both. This was all put into motion when we made the original recording for 'The Stage', so it all feels cohesive; We put out 'The Stage' and let it sink in for seven months, and now we can add to that piece of work. This way, throughout the cycle you'll be able to hear new music while going back to the original album.

"The idea of turning an album into a living piece of art and adding new installations is really intriguing," he continued. "It expands the journey."

Shadows added that AVENGED SEVENFOLD took inspiration from the way hip-hop and pop artists have taken to surprise and random releases of new material, sometimes with little or no notice, and sometimes simply releasing individual songs not related to any particular album or other project.

"We told all the kids we were going to evolve the record... It was just a matter of how," Shadows said. "Obviously it works in the (pop) mainstream a little better than it does in rock 'n' roll. You look at what Kendrick Lamar or Drake are doing, or any hip-hop or pop act. Their streaming numbers are through the roof. And you look at rock, and they're just not there. But we want to get new stuff out to people. We don't have the answers to all the big questions in the music industry, but we do have control of keeping ourselves artistically satisfied, and this just seemed fun to us."

"The Stage" was released at the end of October with almost no promotion beforehand.

M. Shadows recently confirmed to Kaytie of the Razor 94.7 radio station that AVENGED SEVENFOLD will embark on a full North American headlining tour in January and February 2018. The trek, which will be announced in September, was originally "supposed to happen this summer until we got that call from METALLICA, so we decided to put it on hold," the singer explained.

On September 29, Metal Blade Records will release two classic TESTAMENT albums on vinyl for the first time in the USA: "Low" and "The Ritual". Pre-order your copies now at this location.

"Low" (translucent gold 180-gram vinyl, single jacket, 2-sided insert; limited to 1500 copies):

Side A

01. Low02. Legions (In Hiding) 03. Hail Mary04. Trail Of Tears05. Shades Of War06. P.C.

Side B

07. Dog Faced Gods08. All I Could Bleed09. Urotsukidoji10. Chasing Fear11. Ride12. Last Call

"The Ritual" (white 180-gram vinyl, single jacket, 2-sided insert; limited to 1500 copies):

Side A

01. Signs of Chaos02. Electric Crown03. So Many Lies04. Let Go of My World05. The Ritual06. Deadline

Side B

07. As the Seasons Grey08. Agony09. The Sermon10. Return to Serenity11. Troubled Dreams

TESTAMENT's latest album, "Brotherhood Of The Snake", was released last October via Nuclear Blast. The cover was once again created by renowned artist Eliran Kantor, who also handled the art for the TESTAMENT's previous album, 2012's "Dark Roots Of Earth", and worked with bands like HATEBREED, SOULFLY and KATAKLYSM in the past.

"Brotherhood Of The Snake" was recorded under the watchful eyes of producer Juan Urteaga (EXODUS, HEATHEN, MACHINE HEAD), guitarist Eric Peterson and singer Chuck Billy and was mixed and mastered by British metal producer Andy Sneap (ACCEPT, ARCH ENEMY, CRADLE OF FILTH, KREATOR, MACHINE HEAD, MEGADETH).

Billy recently told Metal Wani that TESTAMENT's goal is to release the follow-up to "Brotherhood Of The Snake" in 2018.

TESTAMENT will embark on a European tour in the fall. Support on the trek will come from ANNIHILATOR and DEATH ANGEL.

"Isolation", the new video from British doom metal mavens WITH THE DEAD, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's second album, "Love From With The Dead", which will be released on September 22 via Rise Above Records. Comprising tracks recorded during two separate sessions with celebrated studio guru Jaime Gomez Arellano, the new material represents the first fruits of the band's recently retooled lineup. Joining former CATHEDRAL/NAPALM DEATH frontman and Rise Above Records boss Lee Dorrian and ex-ELECTRIC WIZARD/RAMESSES bassist/guitarist Tim Bagshaw are bassist Leo Smee and drummer Alex Thomas, who replaces the departed Mark Greening.

Formed in 2014 by Dorrian and Bagshaw, the band coalesced in a monetary burst of spontaneity and shared fury, resulting in the release of their eponymous debut album in 2015: one of that year's most widely acclaimed releases and a welcome shot in the arm for fans of merciless, unrelenting sonic despair.

For those who flinched at the sheer, unforgiving brutality of WITH THE DEAD's first record, the songs on "Love From With The Dead" are liable to cause major emotional trauma. Darker, denser, more despondent and sickeningly heavy in numerous senses of the word, this is an album that re-establishes doom as a genre that embraces the extreme and not just some cozy, nostalgic reimagining of the early '70s. "Love From With The Dead" grimly extinguishes the light of hope and hammers home the hatred and futility that plagues our brief and brittle lives. "The thinking was that the first LP was meant to be the heaviest we could possibly make, but then what do you next?" Lee muses. "Well, the only thing you can do is make the next one even heavier. So that was the ambition and the intention, to make it even more crushing. But to be able to do that you have to be crushed yourself. This last couple of years have been quite soul-destroying. There's been a lot of personal shit going on, and during this whole process so much fucking bad shit has happened in my personal life and other people's personal lives. Everything you hear on this LP, the angst is very real. I've never felt so disillusioned with life and the world around me, not since the first CATHEDRAL album." He continues: "I'm fifty next year and you're supposed to mellow out when you get older, but why? I don't feel like mellowing out. The world's getting worse, the atmosphere is getting heavier, people treat each other like shit and there's so much negativity, how are you supposed to chill out when all that's going on? I'm in a privileged position to be able to be in a band like this, so why fuck around? The band's called WITH THE DEAD and it's a doom band, why would you want to mellow out? It's got to be pure nihilism or nothing." "Love From With The Dead" track listing:

01. Isolation02. Egyptian Tomb03. Reincarnation of Yesterday04. Cocaine Phantoms05. Watching the Ward Go By06. Anemia07. CV1