Released in 1983, "The Final Cut" is the title track from Pink Floyd's album The Final Cut. The Final Cut is an anti-war concept album, who Roger Waters alone is credited for writing. The music explores what Waters regards as the betrayal of fallen British servicemen - such as his father - who during the Second World War sacrificed their lives in the spirit of a post-war dream. A rare video for the song can be seen below:

"Welcome To The Machine" is the second song on Pink Floyd's 1975 album Wish You Were Here. The song is said to be inspired by George Orwell's book 1984, in which a man is trying to escape the government which is brainwashing its citizens with TV shows and oppressive rules. The iconic video was created by Gerald Scarfe initially as a backdrop film for when the band played the track on its 1977 In The Flesh tour.

''See Emily Play'' was the second single released by Pink Floyd. Published in 1967, it was initially thought to be a non-album single but was later included on the US debut album The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn. Watch a video for the song below:

''Arnold Layne'' was Pink Floyd's first single, released in 1967. The video, directed by Derek Nice, was made in late February 1967 and was filmed on the beach in East Wittering, West Sussex, England. The song was later published on the 1971 album Relics, the 1983 Works and the album Echoes: The Best Of Pink Floyd. It is also included in the Early Years box set.

Pink Floyd's "Not Now John" was released in 1983 and was the only single released from the album The Final Cut. "Not Now John" is the only song on the album with David Gilmour as the lead vocalist singing the verses and Roger Waters singing the refrains and interludes. Watch this rare video:

"One of These Days" is the opening track from Pink Floyd's 1971 album Meddle. The song is instrumental and only has one spoken/sung sentence by drummer Nick Mason, "One of these days I'm going to cut you into little pieces." This video was created the British artist and filmmaker Ian Emes who became widely known for his creative animations and for being the original animator for Pink Floyd.

Pink Floyd released "Point Me At The Sky" as their fifth UK single in 1968. The song has become one of the rarest official recordings of Pink Floyd and was not successful at the time, with it's B-side "Careful With That Axe, Eugene" becoming more popular.

Pink Floyd's "Paintbox'', written and sung by keyboardist Richard Wright, was first released in 1967 as the B-side to the single "Apples And Oranges". The promotional film was shot for a Belgian television programme. In the video, the band is miming to the song on a bridge in Brussels. This is David Gilmour's first appearance on film with Pink Floyd.

"Apples And Oranges" is the third UK single by Pink Floyd, released in 1967. It was the final song written by Syd Barrett with the group. After David Gilmour replaced Syd Barrett, the band recorded a promotional video in Belgium in a fruit market with Roger Waters lip-synching to the song.

All of the above tracks are included in The Early Years 1965–1972. Get it here.

On September 28th, Pink Floyd Records will release, for the first time on vinyl,  A Foot In The Door - The Best Of Pink Floyd, a collection of classic Pink Floyd tracks, chosen by members of the band.

Originally released in 2011 on CD only, the artwork for this compilation is the last work of long-term Floyd designer, the late Storm Thorgerson. This is the perfect Pink Floyd album for both devoted fans and those discovering their music for the very first time.

The career-spanning compilation features some of the best-known album tracks from 1967 - 1994, including the band’s first UK Top 10 single "See Emily Play", and the iconic "Wish You Were Here", "Comfortably Numb", "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and "High Hopes".

The tracks have been newly mastered for vinyl by longstanding Pink Floyd associate James Guthrie, with Joel Plante, and with lacquers cut by Bernie Grundman of Grundman Mastering in Los Angeles, California. The 2-LP version features the reinstated version of "Time", with the ringing alarm clocks at the start of the track restored, after being omitted on the CD release.

The original sleeve design, has been amended by Pink Floyd Creative Director Aubrey Powell of Hipgnosis and Peter Curzon, to include alternate versions of the photographs used in the original CD version. The album package comes in a gatefold outer sleeve, with two separate printed inner bags, and is pressed on heavyweight 180-gram vinyl.  

Tracklisting:

LP1 Side A
"Hey You"
"See Emily Play"
"The Happiest Days Of Our Lives"
"Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2"
"Have A Cigar"

LP1 Side B
"Wish You Were Here"
"Time" / "Breathe" (Reprise)
"The Great Gig In The Sky"
"Money"

LP2 Side A
"Comfortably Numb"
"High Hopes"
"Learning To Fly"

LP2 Side B
"The Fletcher Memorial Home"
"Shine On You Crazy Diamond"
"Brain Damage"
"Eclipse"

The lyric video for "Wreck It Like Beckett", the new single from Northern Ireland rockers THERAPY?, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's 15th studio album, "Cleave", which will be released on September 21 via Marshall Records. Roughly themed around notions of duality and division, the band's follow-up to 2015's acclaimed "Disquiet" — and their first recording for Marshall — is a sharply focused, fiercely intelligent, impassioned and empowering set of songs from a band operating at a creative and artistic peak. A scathing, incisive state-of-the-nation address, investigating the schisms in contemporary society and the motivations of those seeking to propagate disjuncture, it's a powerful, challenging, uncompromising collection from a band never afraid to confront and dissect humanity's darkest impulses.

Frontman Andy Cairns stated about "Wreck It Like Beckett": "This song originated with Michael. He told me he had a riff which reminded him of 'She Watch Channel Zero' by PUBLIC ENEMY and he sent me over a bass riff, a guitar riff and a drum beat. I thought the riff was incredible, and so we chopped it up in the rehearsal room, to make it more stop-start, like [classic THERAPY? tracks] 'Knives' or 'Screamager', and that really worked. Lyrically, it's about trying to start anew. The reason that [Irish playwright and poet] Samuel Beckett is referenced in the title is that each time Beckett began a new project he used to imagine that he was sitting at a desk and could swipe his arm across the desk to clear away all the sheets of paper so that he could make a fresh start. This is a song that sets the album up as a new chapter for THERAPY?"

From the thrillingly propulsive assault of "Wreck It Like Beckett" via the addictive "Callow" (the album's first single, out now) and the unsettling "I Stand Alone" to the disquieting, bleakly beautiful "No Sunshine", the ten tracks which make up "Cleave" coalesce to paint a portrait of a fractured, dislocated world rent by unprincipled, mendacious masters.

Cairns is justifiably proud of the unified drive and restless creativity evident in this powerful, questing collection and says this about the forthcoming opus.

"I know that we can be a difficult sell, because we have no particular niche and no desire to conform," he admits, "but THERAPY? have always been the kind of band that when people discover us, they immerse themselves deep and keep us close to their hearts. We've never been part of a trend, so we've never been cast aside when fashions changed.

"'Cleave', to me, is THERAPY? at our most focused. I love our more experimental side, but I also love that this record sounds like it was made by a band who're all reading from the same script and moving forward with the same determination and hunger."


"We're living in a time riven by conflict," Andy Cairns states baldly. "You look at what's happening in the United States at present, what's going on with Brexit in the U.K., with North and South Korea, with Palestine and Israel, and it's impossible not to see turmoil and turbulence. Some of these conflicts have been going on as long as I can remember, but they seemed to really reach a head again around the time we were writing the album. 'Cleave' is our response to the divisions we see all around us."

Cairns credits producer Chris Sheldon (FOO FIGHTERS, BIFFY CLYRO, FEEDER), who worked with the band on 1994's "Troublegum", 1998's "Semi-Detached" and 2003's "High Anxiety", for keeping the band fixated upon delivering their new material with maximum impact, streamlining arrangements and stripping away extraneous fat, setting aside ego in service of the songs.

The result is one of the most formidable, provocative and impactful albums of THERAPY?'s storied 29-year career, once again proving that the band's pre-eminence as one of the U.K.'s most inventive, fearless and individualistic musical artists.

THERAPY? is:

Andrew James Cairns - Vocals/Guitar

Michael McKeegan - Bass

Neil Cooper - Drums

Photo credit: Tom Hoad

Attacker have just released their new EP today entitled, Armor Of The Gods which was produced by renowned producer/engineer Alex Perialas (Anthrax, SOD, Overkill, Testament, Vio-lence) This is fitting for the band since it's the 30th Anniversary of The Second Coming album which was also produced and engineered by Perialas.

The disc also features two live tracks recorded at the Up the Hammers Festival in Athens, Greece in May of 2017. The live tracks were mixed by Tom Beaujour at Kaleidoscope Sound in Union City, NJ on March 6th, 2018.

The first single "Skinwalker" was released well as a live video of the track "Glen Of The Ghost" from their 2017 Athens festival appearance.

The EP is released on Metal On Metal Records, Attacker's home since 2013's Giants Of Canaan and 2016's Sins Of The World. Order the EP at this location.

Attacker with be making festival appearances at the Pyrenean Warriors of Metal Open Air in Torreilles, France in just over a week and the Frost and Fire Festival in Ventura, California in October, as well as NJ shows supporting Metal Mike of Halford on Sept. 28th and the debut performance Mike Lepond's Silent Assassin's on Dec. 22nd. 

According to drummer Mike Sabatini "Even though metal fans prefer a full album, doing the EP was more cost effective for us at this time. The state of the music business has led to rethinking strategies and even doing singles here and there might have to come into play at some point. We only do this for the love of the music."

“Skinwalker”:

“Glen Of The Ghost”:

One week after the release of their biggest and most infectious album yet, Omnium Gatherum release their home recorded playthrough video for “Over The Battlefield”. Dedicated to the countless fan playthrough videos online, the band decided to do one themselves by simply setting up their cameras at home and shredding through this heroic death metal masterpiece off their newest album The Burning Cold.

Fans are encouraged to join in on the action by recording themselves letting loose to the band’s songs and tagging @omniumgatherumofficial in their Instagram stories! The band will then feature these tagged posts on the official account!

Head here to order all physical and digital formats of The Burning Cold

The cover artwork for the album was once again created by Olli-Pekka Lappalainen, who has been responsible for every single artwork for the band since the very first demo. The Burning Cold was mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö and produced and engineered by Teemu Aalto.

The Burning Cold tracklisting:

"The Burning"
"Gods Go First"
"Refining Fire"
"Rest In Your Heart"
"Over The Battlefield"
"The Fearless Entity"
"Be The Sky"
"Driven By Conflict"
"The Frontline"
"Planet Scale"
"Cold"

Track-by-track video:

Unboxing video:

"Refining Fire" video:

"Gods Go First" video:

Lineup:

Jukka Pelkonen - Vocals
Markus Vanhala - Guitar
Tuomo Latvala - Drums
Aapo Koivisto - Keyboards
Joonas Koto - Guitar
Erkki Silvennoinen - Bass

Lemmy Kilmister, the founding member and frontman of the British heavy metal band MOTÖRHEAD, makes a guest appearance on LEADER OF DOWN's debut album, "Cascade Into Chaos", which will be released on September 28 via Cleopatra Records. He can be heard on the track "Paradise Turned Into Dust", the official music video for which can be seen below.

LEADER OF DOWN is the brainchild of Grammy-nominated former MOTÖRHEAD guitarist Michael "Würzel" Burston and bass player Tim Atkinson.

LEADER OF DOWN was formed in 2008 by Würzel and Atkinson, who busied themselves in a London rehearsal studio writing dozens of tracks in preparation for recording an album. They then recruited drummer Steve Clarke (ex-FASTWAY) to join the ranks and continue preparing for the studio sessions.

The name LEADER OF DOWN came from Würzel mishearing the lyrics to the STATUS QUO track "Down, Down". Würzel found this extremely funny as he had been singing the wrong words "Down Down, Leader Of Down" for over 30 years.

"Cascade Into Chaos" is named after a phrase that Würzel and Tim liked during the initial songwriting sessions. It seemed a very obvious choice and was the only title that the two of them ever really discussed.

The band started recording the initial tracks for the album which included a reworking of Würzel's solo release from the '80s, "People Say I'm Crazy". These initial sessions also included a track that was always intended for Lemmy to sing on, as Würzel said, "We think it would suit him". This track eventually became "Paradise Turned Into Dust", with Lemmy finishing his recording at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles in 2015 shortly before his own passing, at a very emotional session with Tim Atkinson and Steve Clarke. It is unmistakably Lemmy Kilmister with his unique voice on "Laugh At The Devil".

Although there are several guest vocalists on the album such as Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE), the lineup of LEADER OF DOWN is completed by vocalist Matt Baker and guitarist Alex Ward.

After Würzel's tragic death in 2011, LEADER OF DOWN continued to finish the album and enlisted the help of some friends to honor the great man, including Lemmy, Phil Campbell (who joined MOTÖRHEAD on the same day as Würzel in 1984), "Fast" Eddie Clarke (who has also sadly passed away beginning of 2018), Crane, Lee Richards (ex-GODSMACK), Bruce Foxton from THE JAM, and Cliff Evans from TANK.

Says Tim Atkinson: "It is a very bittersweet feeling now that the album is being released.

"It feels very strange without Würzel being here, and I know he would be thrilled with the final result.

"It was a real pleasure writing with Würzel, as we instinctively knew what both of us were thinking when we put our ideas forward.

"We always wanted Lemmy to sing on 'Paradise Turned Into Dust', and it was a very emotional session in Los Angeles when Lemmy completed the track and I just wish that Würz had been there to see it.

"It was amazing that so many friends helped us to finish the album with guest appearances and I can only thank them from the bottom of my heart.

"To hear Phil playing with Würzel again was absolutely fantastic."

"Cascade Into Chaos" features 10 blockbusting tracks, all mixed by MOTÖRHEAD's Grammy-winning producer Cameron Webb at Maple Studios in California.

The album is, of course, a tribute to Würzel and the other fallen MOTÖRHEAD heroes but it is also just the beginning for LEADER OF DOWN, who, after a successful appearance at Hard Rock Hell, will embark on a tour with PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS in November 2018, and will be very busy next year, with live shows already planned.

"Cascade Into Chaos" track listing:

01. Paradise Turned Into Dust (Lemmy on vocals, Tim Atkinson on additional bass)

02. Cascade Into Chaos

03. People Say I'm Crazy

04. Serial Killjoy (Bruce Foxton on additional bass with Tim Atkinson)

05. Children Of Disease (Whitfield Crane on vocals, Lee Richards and Whitfield Crane on backing vocals, Phil Campbell on second guitar solo)

06. Snakebite ("Fast" Eddie Clarke on all guitars and vocals)

07. Punch And Geordie

08. Feel Good (Cliff Evans on first guitar solo)

09. The Killing Rain (the last song Würzel ever recorded)

10. Laugh At The Devil (Lemmy on vocals and all guitars by "Fast" Eddie Clarke)

German thrash metal veterans SODOM will release a new EP, "Partisan", on November 23 via SPV/Steamhammer. The effort will be made available as a CD digipak, 10-inch clear vinyl, download and stream.

"Partisan" will contain three tracks, including a live recording from this year's Rock Hard Festival.

Track listing:

01. Partisan

02. Conflagration

03. Tired & Red (live at the Rock Hard Festival 2018)

SODOM bassist/vocalist Thomas "Angelripper" Such is joined in the band's current lineup by guitarist Frank "Blackfire" Gosdzik (also formerly of KREATOR, ASSASSIN), drummer Stefan "Husky" Hüskens (ASPHYX, DESASTER) and second guitarist Yorck Segatz (BEYONDITION). Blackfire previously played with SODOM on the seminal albums "Persecution Mania", "Mortal Way Of Live" and "Agent Orange".

Commented Such: "We're a real family again. We all really enjoy the new lineup. There's a real team spirit again; we're having a great time together, every one of us is interested in everything and — really important! — everybody is there for everybody else. Obviously that kind of atmosphere is bound to have a positive effect on the songwriting."

Former SODOM guitarist Bernd "Bernemann" Kost and drummer Markus "Makka" Freiwald released a joint statement in January claiming that they were fired from the band by Tom via messaging platform WhatsApp even before Tom had a chance to hear any of the material the duo had been working on for the group's next album.

SODOM, DEATH ANGEL and SUICIDAL ANGELS will join forces for the 2018 installment of the "MTV Headbangers Ball" European tour in November and December.

Birmingham, United Kingdom-based death/grind metal band MEMORIAM has announced the departure of drummer Andy Whale.

The group said in a statement: "Those who know Andy will know he is a fiercely proud family man and father.

"He wants to be with the first love of his life, which is his partner and children, more and we cannot see a better and more admirable reason for a band departure.

"We are sure that Andy will continue playing in the future but we think he may well follow his more punk routes than death metal.

"This is not an acrimonious departure and we are sure that in the future he will jump behind the kit again with MEMORIAM on stage for a bit of a bash!

"So, on the 28th and 29th of September in Germany (Erfurt and Oberhausen), Andy will be doing his last live shows with MEMORIAM.

"So those that can, please come along and enjoy the events, join our party, have fun and give Andy a right good send-off.

"All other shows will still go ahead, but for now, let's all wish Andy well in whatever endeavour he chooses to move on with.

"We have achieved so much in such a short time together as a band and our love for you will never diminish.

"Our love and respect always."

MEMORIAM features in its ranks Karl Willets (BOLT THROWER) on vocals, Frank Healy (BENEDICTION, CEREBRAL FIX) on bass and Scott Fairfax (CEREBRAL FIX).

Whale was previously a member of BOLT THROWER from 1986 to 1994.

MEMORIAM's second album, "The Silent Vigil", was released in March via Nuclear Blast.

The band was primarily developed to fill the void that was left following the tragic death of Martin "Kiddie" Kearns, the drummer from BOLT THROWER, back in September 2015. BOLT THROWER subsequently placed all activity on hold for the foreseeable future which gave Willetts an opportunity to develop a new project with friends that had expressed interest in forming a band for some time.

We have some news.

Our bandmate and wonderful friend Andy Whale is going to be moving on from Memoriam.

Those who...Posted by Memoriam UK on Saturday, September 8, 2018

Legendary Detroit hard rockers, Madam X, have released a video for the title track of their studio album Monstrocity released back in October 2017. Watch below:

Formed in 1981 by sisters Roxy and Maxine Petrucci, Madam X recruited bassist Chris “Godzilla” Doliber and vocalist Bret Kaiser, who released their classic, Rick Derringer produced, Jet Records debut, We Reserve The Right, in 1984, spawning the hit single “High In High School”. Four years later, after Roxy departed to join future arena rock superstars Vixen, and original vocalist Kaiser was briefly replaced by an unknown Canadian vocalist named Sebastian Bach, Madam X disbanded, and would remain mostly inactive until 2014, when the original lineup reunited at the Sweden Rock Festival.

Fast forward to 2017, when the Petrucci sisters collaborated with vocalist Mark Slaughter on a Lemmy Kilmister tribute track for their VIP Aftershow project, Slaughter who introduced Roxy to EMP Label Group head of A&R Thom Hazaert, who released a 12” “Kilmister” single for Aftershow, and the conversation soon shifted to the upcoming Madam X release.

The album features 12 hard-hitting slabs of rock, including the pummelling title track “Monstrocity”, “Resurrection”, “Nitrous”, and an updated version of their 1984 hit, “High In High School”.

FLAT EARTH, the new band featuring former HIM members Mikko "Linde" Lindström (guitar) and Mika "Gas Lipstick" Karppinen (drums) alongside ex-AMORPHIS bassist Niclas Etelävuori and POLANSKI singer Anttoni "Anthony" Pikkarainen, has inked a deal with Drakkar Entertainment for Europe excluding Finland. The band's debut album is due before the end of the year. The disc was recorded at Finnvox in Helsinki with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa, who has previously worked with HIM, AMORPHIS, THE 69 EYES and APOCALYPTICA, among others.

Says Etelävuori: "We are stoked to sign with Drakkar! We have been working on this album for quite some time now and are super excited that we finally can release the first FLAT EARTH album in Europe through Drakkar. Can't wait to get it out and get on the road and play again."

Adds Jonathan Geschwill of Drakkar: "We are very happy to have FLAT EARTH join the Drakkar roster because this band has a lot of potential and comes with considerable knowledge and skill. Both on a musical as well as on a personal level, it's easy to see that these are musicians who have mostly been working professionally for more than 20 years in the industry. Finland has always been a good place for Drakkar in this regard and of course the goal is to establish the band as quickly as possible across Europe as well."

FLAT EARTH's "Blame" video was mainly shot during the recordings of the disc in February and March by Tommi Mattila, who followed the band to capture some documentary material.

FLAT EARTH was formed after Etelavuori fell out with the manager of AMORPHIS and exited the latter band. Suddenly, Niclas was left stranded. He decided to show the world that he still had a lot to give, so he started looking for possible bandmates.

Niclas explains: "After over two decades playing with bands, I was at a point thinking that maybe I start doing something else. But then I knew I had these songs on my hard drive still, and nothing was done with them. And I just wanted to get rid of them and see what happens. But then it kind of took over and I started to focus more on that."

Linde first sprang to mind, even though he still had his hands full with HIM at that time. Nevertheless, the two of them kept meeting regularly, and started working on ideas for new songs. Getting Anthony on board provided additional inspiration. And when their old bandmate Karppinen finally joined on drums, the group's lineup was completed.

While Linde was busy playing the States and Europe on HIM's farewell tour, the remaining trio spent their time recording drums to seven pilot demos that had previously been taped in Niclas's basement studio. Gas brought along two of his own songs, and Anthony composed a new track for the band. Linde found an old song of his he had first fleshed out when he was only 13. The rest of the tracks were Niclas's ideas mainly, treated to the band's arrangements, with Anthony providing both the vocal melodies, as well as the lyrics. The basic structure for the first album was ready.

Linde remembers: "Our common friend, who's been helping us get this band off the ground, recommended a guy named Anttoni 'Anthony' Pikkarainen, who had been singing in a band named POLANSKI. The band had made a record, and after we'd listened to it, we had to set up a meeting immediately.

"I have a great feeling about our new band. Anthony had recorded with Hiili Hiilesmaa before, and the rest of us have known each other for years. It feels as if all the stars have finally aligned."

FLAT EARTH is:

Mikko "Linde" Lindström (HIM) - Guitar

Mika "Gas Lipstick" Karppinen (HIM) - Drums

‪Niclas Etelävuori (AMORPHIS) - Bass

‪Anttoni "Anthony" Pikkarainen (POLANSKI) - Vocals

THREE DAYS GRACE, the internationally acclaimed and multi-platinum certified Canadian band with over a billion streams on Spotify, has made history with "Infra-Red", its 14th No. 1 single on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Songs chart. With this latest achievement, the band has broken VAN HALEN's two-decade record of topping the Billboard chart.

"Infra-Red" is featured on "Outsider", THREE DAYS GRACE's sixth full-length album and fifth consecutive Top 40-charting LP on the Billboard Top 200. Additionally, the song is the 15th No. 1 single on Mediabase Active Rock chart. Watch the music video for "Infra-Red" below.

Said drummer Neil Sanderson about the latest record: "If you had told me when we were 14 and making noise in our garage that someday we'd set the record for most No. 1 rock songs in America, I would've called you bat-shit crazy!! Accomplishments like this are never done individually. We want to thank our family who's supported us from day one, rock radio who get our music to the masses, our label and friends in the industry for believing in the band, and most importantly all our loyal fans on this amazing journey with us."

THREE DAYS GRACE's other No. 1 singles include "Misery Loves My Company", "Chalk Outline", "World So Cold", "Never Too Late", "Just Like You", "Animal", "Pain" and "Home".

The Canadian act also consistently averages 3.9 million monthly listeners on Spotify, remaining one of the most listened-to rock bands in the world.

Sanderson said a while back why he thinks the band continues to connect with listeners. "One thing that hasn't changed with us is that we write about real things in our lives and the lives of people around us, and observations of just sort of life itself, you know," he explained. "And I think THREE DAYS GRACE fans have attached themselves to that and I think that sometimes, you know, that's a powerful thing if you can put into words what other people are thinking."

Fan-filmed video footage of STRYPER's September 8 performance at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois can be seen below.

This has been a challenging summer for STRYPER. On August 11, guitarist Oz Fox suffered a medical emergency while performing with a side project in Las Vegas. An onstage seizure led to the discovery of some previously unknown "spots" on the brain. Oz has been released from the hospital, although additional testing and treatment will be necessary. However, he should be released to work this fall while his medical team decides the best course of action moving forward.

Oz was forced to sit out the Australia tour dates last month, and he'll miss the September dates as well due to air travel restrictions from his doctor. However, he intends to rejoin STRYPER on the road in October. Oz handpicked Los Angeles-based guitarist Howie Simon to fill in for him on the September dates, allowing Oz additional time to rest and recover. Simon will be a familiar face to many STRYPER fans, with performance credits that include NELSON, Jeff Scott Soto, SCRAP METAL, TALISMAN, Eric Martin, WINGER and more.

"Howie Simon and I have been friends for well over a decade now," says Oz. "It is great to have him help us out and fill in for me while I am in recovery. I am looking forward to catching some fan videos of him online. He's an excellent performer and his guitar playing outranks so many in the business. In my opinion, it is very important for the band to fulfill dates that have been booked for so long. I am thankful for the continued support of the fans while my STRYPER family and I face this detour in my career, and I look forward to seeing many of you on the road in October and November."

"We appreciate all the support, thoughts and prayers from everyone at this time," says frontman Michael Sweet. "We look forward to having our brother Oz back as quickly as possible. We're also very grateful to Howie for working so hard learning the material and parts to be able to sit in with us for the time being. We'll do our best to bring you the absolute best show possible until Oz returns."

Formed 35 years ago, STRYPER is the first overtly Christian metal band to go mainstream. The group's name comes from Isaiah 53:5, which states: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

STRYPER's albums include "To Hell With The Devil", "Second Coming", "No More Hell To Pay", "Fallen" and the band's latest effort, "God Damn Evil".

Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman will release a new live album, "One Bad M.F. Live!!", on October 19 via via Prosthetic Records.

A track from the disc, "Mutation Medley", can be streamed below.

"One Bad M.F. Live!!" was recorded at the final concert of Friedman's most recent tour, on April 14 at "Guitarfest 2018", which was held at Centro Cultural Roberto Cantoral in Mexico City.

"This live album is a tip of the hat to the live albums that blew my mind when I was a kid," explains Friedman. "The musical content itself is modern and atomic-powered, but the presentation is decidedly old school. The pacing of the show, the audience participation stuff, the special live arrangements of the songs, these are the things that got me all jacked up as a kid. I like to give the audience the feeling that they are really getting something unique, something that only happens at their show, not just a recital of the songs exactly as they know them. There are lots of happy accidents, once-in-a-lifetime ad libs, things that could have only happened because we were high on that particular audience's energy."


"One Bad M.F. Live!!" was recorded on the tour in support of Friedman's latest solo album, "Wall Of Sound", which was released in August 2017 on Prosthetic Records, and debuted on Billboard's Heatseekers chart at No. 12.

"I've had albums that have charted higher, sold more, and got more attention over my career," says Friedman, "but 'Wall Of Sound' is the album I've been striving to make ever since I picked up a guitar. I have an almost unhealthy amount of pride towards that album. The thrill I get from playing the 'Wall Of Sound' stuff live is something that I wanted documented, and that's what 'One Bad M.F. Live!!' is."

Joining Friedman on "One Bad M.F. Live!!" are his bandmates Kiyoshi on bass, Jordan Ziff on guitar and Chargeeee on drums.

Friedman will celebrate the release of the disc with an October 21 show at The Viper Room in Los Angeles. A full U.S. tour will take place in 2019.

"One Bad M.F. Live!!" track listing:

01. Street Demon

02. Elixir

03. Amagi Goe

04. Inferno

05. Self Pollution

06. Devil Take Tomorrow

07. Mutation Medley (featuring "Asche zu Asche", "My Oh My", "Forbidden City", "Tornado Of Souls")

08. Ripped

09. Whiteworm

10. Undertow

11. Dragon Mistress

12. Kaeritakunatta Yo

"Wall Of Sound" was produced by Friedman, engineered by Paul Fig (GHOST, RUSH, ALICE IN CHAINS) and mixed by Jens Bogren (KREATOR, OPETH, SEPULTURA). The disc was recorded in part at Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in California and was previously described by Friedman as "a way more intense version" of 2014's "Inferno": "deeper, sadder, happier and more aggressive."

VAN HALEN frontman David Lee Roth performed at the Brent Shapiro Foundation's Summer Spectacular on Friday (September 7) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The invite-only gala — which also featured a performance by CLETO AND THE CLETONES (house band from "Jimmy Kimmel Live!") — celebrated the 13th year of the foundation, which has raised over $3 million for drug awareness and prevention, focused on high-risk communities.

Video footage of Roth's appearance can be seen below. Photos are available at GettyImages.com.

Hosted by Mario Lopez ("Extra"), this year's gala bestowed the foundation's Spirit Of Sobriety Award upon Emmy-winning actor, producer and director Joe Manganiello. The award is given to an individual who is open about their own recovery or that of a friend or family member. Foundation creators Robert and Linell Shapiro also presented college scholarships to two members of its educational outreach program Brent's Club for successfully completing high school without failing a drug test.

Prominent entertainment industry leaders and celebrities gathered to recognize advances in the fight against addiction and rally around the growing movement to end the disease.

VAN HALEN has been inactive since it completed its U.S. tour in October 2015 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California.

The trek was VAN HALEN's first since an aborted North American run three years earlier in support of its then-new studio album, "A Different Kind Of Truth".

Released in 2015 was "Tokyo Dome In Concert", VAN HALEN's first-ever live collection featuring Roth, despite numerous pro-shot concerts from the band's original heyday being heavily booted for years.

Behind-the-scenes footage from EVANESCENCE's current North American co-headlining tour with violin virtuoso Lindsey Stirling can be seen below. The trek, produced by Live Nation, kicked off July 6 in Kansas City, Missouri at the Starlight Theatre and is making stops in 31 North American cities. The trek will wrap September 8 in Ridgefield, Washington at the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater.

Both artists' shows are accompanied by a full orchestra, highlighting both acts' musicality and incredible performance abilities. The orchestrated performances also perfectly accent the astounding amphitheater venues across the U.S. and Canada that the two are performing in, making for a magical summer evening.

Stirling made a guest appearance on EVANESCENCE's recently released single, "Hi-Lo". The track is one of two new songs that are included on EVANESCENCE's latest album, "Synthesis". The set is a reimagining of some of EVANESCENCE's best-loved tracks is the band's first full-length effort since its 2011 self-titled release.

EVANESCENCE singer Amy Lee is joined on the road this summer by her husband, Josh Hartzler, and their 4-year-old son, Jack.

"I feel really grateful that I'm able to do both and not have to stop making music and being who I am to be a mom," Lee told People.

"I think when I was a lot younger, I always thought it was one or the other: You are either fully focused working your butt off on your art, or you're a mom and you don't have time for that anymore," she said. "And actually, now that I'm in it, I realize that it’s super important that I keep being who I am."

THE HEARD, the new Swedish rock band featuring former CRUCIFIED BARBARA guitarist Klara "Force" Rönnqvist Fors, bassist Ida "Evileye" Stenbacka and drummer Nikki Wicked (a.k.a. Jannicke Lindström) alongside DEATHSTARS bassist Jonas "Skinny Disco" Kangur (on lead guitar) and burlesque performer, model and singer Pepper Potemkin, has released a new single, "Tower Of Silence". The song is taken from the band's upcoming debut album, "The Island", which is due on November 2 via Despotz Records.

THE HEARD made its live debut at the Where's The Music festival in Norrköping, Sweden on February 10.

THE HEARD's Facebook page describes the group as being about "heavy riffs, misty songs, dark waters and a death supreme."

THE HEARD is:

* Klara Force (CRUCIFIED BARBARA) - Guitar

* Ida Evileye (CRUCIFIED BARBARA) - Bass

* Nikki Wicked (CRUCIFIED BARBARA) - Drums

* Jonas "Skinny Disco" Kangur (DEATHSTARS) - Lead Guitar

* Pepper Potemkin - Vocals

CRUCIFIED BARBARA announced its breakup in June 2016, two years after the release of the band's fourth album, "In The Red". The group explained at the time that "our lives have parted and we need to move on. The last years have taken its toll on all of us and the joy of playing together got lost somewhere along the way."

Bon Jovi have released another official live video, shot in Philadelphia, PA on the 2018 This House Is Not For Sale tour. Watch the band perform "Bad Medicine" below:

More footage from the Philadelphia show can be seen below:

A series of videos recapping the North American tour leg of Bon Jovi's This House Is Not For Sale can be seen below:

Episode #1:

Episode #2:

Episode #3:

Episode #4:

Episode #5:

Cruz Del Sur Music has shared the first track stream from Beyond Celestial Echoes, the forthcoming new album from Greek speedsters Sacral Rage, scheduled for release on October 19th. Listen to "Necropia" via the audio player below:

Beyond Celestial Echoes by Sacral Rage

The band had this to say about choosing "Necropia" as an introduction to the new album: "We chose to start with 'Necropia', a song you might already know if you have had the opportunity to see Sacral Rage live in the past few months. We think it's a perfect bridge between the material on Illusions In Infinite Void and the new album. Beyond Celestial Echoes will indeed transport the band into new territories, maintaining their identity but also pushing their creativity to a next level."

Tracklisting:

“Progenitor”
“Eternal Solstice”
“Vaguely Decoded”
“Suspended Privilege”
“Samsara (L.C.E.)”
“Necropia”
“Onward To Nucleus”
“The Glass”

CD and limited edition vinyl pre-orders are now available at this location.

 

Heavy metal frontrunners Incite - lead by frontman Richie Cavalera - have announced select details about their upcoming fifth full-length burner, Built To Destroy, scheduled to drop in early 2019 via Minus Head Records. Produced by Steve Evetts (The Dillinger Escape Plan, Suicide Silence) and mastered by Zeuss (Rob Zombie, Hatebreed), Built to Destroy is a visceral, urgent, voracious distillation of modern metal with reverence for the past.

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

Today, Incite dropped a new static video for their new single "Ruthless Ways".

Vocalist Richie Cavalera says, "Our new song 'Ruthless Ways' is about being a piece of sh*t and it finally catching up with you. It's the exact vibe we wanted to explode out the gate with. The song is brutal, catchy, and hella groovy. It's a good feel for what to expect on this new album. Huge riffs, massive drums, bass for days, and a new vocal feel that to me is pure evil and nasty. We kept it real heavy - get your headbang on."

The track can also be downloaded/streamed via iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Bandcamp.

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

Incite is currently out on their North American Burn & Shred headline tour. The band plans to perform the new tracks "Ruthless Ways" and "Built to Destroy" on the road. See below for all tour dates.
 
Leg One (with Aethere)

September
7 - Cave In Rock, IL - Full Terror Assault *
8 - Omaha, NE - Lookout Lounge
*no Aethere

Leg Two (with Lody Kong)

September
14 - San Diego, CA - Space Bar
16 - Oakland, CA - Elbo Room Jack London
17 - Sacramento, CA - Blue Lamp
19 - Portland, OR - High Water Mark
20 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon (Funhouse)
22 - Boise, ID - The Shredder
25 - Denver, CO - Streets of London
27 - Las Vegas, NV - Beauty Bar
28 - Phoenix, AZ - Club Red

(Photo - Jeremy Saffer)

"We can’t believe we’ve just smashed through week three," says The Dead Daisies. "Every day is a wild ride on this Burn It Down Tour and it’s all thanks to our TDD family!"

"Thank you all for coming to watch our acoustic DaisyLand shows at Guitar Center over this past week, hanging out with us and sharing your rockin’ stories, it’s the reason we do what we do! Make sure you invite your friends along, everyone is welcome at DaisyLand. Keep sending through your artwork and stories, we love reading them and sharing them with all The Dead Daisies family!"

"This week has seen us travel across the states of New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio with shows in New York, Warrendale, Cincinnati, Lancaster and Albany! And wow, The Dead Daisies family sure know how to rock’n’roll!"

"We’re back on the road and ready to bring the rock to more cities across the US. While we travel, check out this awesome video from the third week of our Burn It Down Tour."

The Dead Daisies are currently touring North America, in support of their new album Burn It Down, alongside special guests Dizzy Reed's Hookers & Blow. Remaining dates are as listed:

September
6 - Houston, TX - Scout Bar
7 - Dallas, TX - Trees
8 - Austin, TX - Come and Take It Live
12 - Las Vegas, NV - Fremont Country Club
13 - San Diego, CA - Brick by Brick
14 - Pomona, CA - The Glass House
15 - Phoenix, AZ - The Marquee
16 - Los Angeles, CA - Roxy Theatre

 

Matthias Jabs says that SCORPIONS "had to make" the decision to fire James Kottak, explaining that he and his bandmates gave the drummer "all the chances" to get better.

In September 2016, Kottak was dismissed from the legendary German hard rock band during his well-publicized battle with alcoholism and was replaced by former MOTÖRHEAD drummer Mikkey Dee.

Jabs spoke about the lineup change during an appearance on a recent episode of "Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon". The guitarist said: "James was a real good friend — and he still is — but we couldn't continue with him. We gave him all the chances, and 10 more. And it was something that developed over the years — the drinking habit. It came in waves — sometimes it was good for four weeks, and then [there] was drama, and if you know him, you know what that's like. Then if it affects the show, you have to go, 'Hmmm…' Because our drum riser goes up 21 feet, or 24 feet sometimes, if the venue allows it, and the production manager, or stage manager, goes, 'I can't have him go up there. It's too risky.' If you can't really walk down the stairs с, you can't have that. So that affects your intro of the show, and that's not good — it's not professional."

He continued: "We were helping him — we were sending him to [the island of] Antigua [to Eric Clapton's Crossroads drug and alcohol treatment center], and we paid for it, and we did everything we could, because we are extremely loyal. It's always hard if you work with somebody for almost 20 years to say, 'Okay, you've gotta go.' We'd rather do the opposite and try to keep him and help him. But we reached the point — or he reached the point — where it was just not worth it. After three months or four months even — they gave him an extra month in Antigua, the rehab — he'd come home, we'd start again, and you can't even talk to him. So we had to make that decision. We had Mikkey on the road, so [James] didn't notice. So I rehearsed with [Mikkey] and Paweł [Mąciwoda, bass] in the afternoon, just a backup; that was the original plan. But then there was no way we could continue with James, so we started with Mikkey."

Kottak, who joined the SCORPIONS in 1996 and played with the band for 20 years, called his exit an "amicable departure" during a recent interview with IndiePower.com. "I have had my problems with alcoholism — I will not deny that," he said. "I've been in recovery for about two years. I'm not perfect; I've struggled. I've been up, I've been down, I've been in and out. But the thing is that I'm working my program, and I'm working hard, and I don't preach it — I'm not going, 'Don't drink.' Eff that, man. This is my personal situation. I've had my problems with alcoholism. Thank God I was never a pill addict — that was never my cup of tea. And it is what it is. And I acknowledge that, and I'm working on it. And it's a thing. And I have the gene — I'm an alcoholic. But the thing is I'm working on it…"

Last fall, Kottak told the "Talking Metal" podcast that he had "no regrets" about his exit from the SCORPIONS. "To be perfectly honest, I've been pretty burnt out for the last four or five years, but I'm still grateful and so thankful to be in the SCORPIONS for 21 years," he said.

Kottak also spoke about the circumstances that led to his departure from the SCORPIONS, a series of events that began more than two years ago.

"In April of 2016, we were in Germany, and, unfortunately, Klaus [Meine, SCORPIONS singer] had some problems with his voice, and we had to cancel the last eight shows in Europe," he explained. "And that left a gap of about two and a half months. At that point, I was kind of struggling a little bit [with my personal issues], so I decided to go down to Antigua. I was gonna go down there just for a month and kind of check myself and get a tune-up. And it's a wonderful, wonderful place.

"So I went down there while we still had some time, and then I go, 'You know, I'm gonna stay an extra two weeks.' And then I was gonna go back. And the guys were going, like, 'Man, take advantage of this.' So I ended up staying 92 days. In the meantime, there were a few [SCORPIONS] gigs [lined up], and, of course, they had to move on, and I gave them my blessing. They go, 'Well, we're gonna get Mikkey to fill in for you.' I'm, like, 'Cool, man.'

"So I came back and then there was some time off," he continued. "I came home about the end of July, and the next batch of gigs were gonna be in South America in September. And at that point, all the gear's getting shipped and all that stuff, and it was only about a handful of dates — seven dates. And to swap the gear out is really expensive. To send Mikkey's stuff home and get my stuff out there was, like, twenty-five, thirty thousand dollars. So I go, 'You know what? I don't wanna be down there anyway.' And then after that, there was just another six or eight gigs left for the year. So it was kind of, like… We were going, 'Let Mikkey finish it out. I could use the time home.' And I got a tune-up and everything was cool. But then we talked, I think it was the end of October-ish, something like that, we were kind of talking and we kind of mutually agreed that it just didn't make sense [for me to continue playing with the band]."

Once he got word that he was no longer a member of the SCORPIONS, "it was actually a relief, to tell you the truth, that it came to that," Kottak said. "They called, and I thought everything was gonna kind of cruise on, but it just worked out that way. And things happen. And, like I said, 21 years with one band is incredible, and the guys are just so wonderful; I love 'em to death. But it is what it is. Life has its twists and turns, and this is one of 'em."

Kottak will tour this fall with a revamped version of KINGDOM COME, also featuring guitarists Danny Stag and Rick Steier, and bassist Johnny B. Frank, along with singer Keith St. John (formerly of MONTROSE and LYNCH MOB). Original frontman Lenny Wolf declined to participate in the trek, which will kick off on September 27 in Seattle, Washington.

On September 1, Glenn Hughes played at Chameleon Club in Lancaster, Pennsylvania as part of his "Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple Live" tour. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

Hughes's "Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple Live" tour finds him performing various hits and deep cuts from the DEEP PURPLE catalog, including "Burn", "Stormbringer", "Sail Away" and "Smoke On The Water", among others. Asked if he handles all the vocal parts in the classic PURPLE songs, including those that were originally sung by David Coverdale, Hughes told the "Iron City Rocks": "I do sing it all. It's not like I want somebody in the band to sound like David. I enjoy singing his parts as well as my own parts. I have a very — as you know — bluesy, soulful voice, and I feel kind of comfortable singing some of David's stuff. I've been singing 'Burn' now as a lead vocalist for 45 years, pretty much, and I don't think anybody really has ever gone home going, 'Woah, that wasn't Coverdale.' I just think I'm doing it because it feels like I can do it; let's just say I feel free doing it. It's not a chore for me to do; it's something I actually enjoy. I wouldn't sing something I didn't wanna sing."

The U.S. leg of "Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple Live" will travel around the Northeast before wrapping up in Tarrytown, New York on September 22.

Once the U.S. run wraps at the end of September, Hughes will return to Europe to continue to bring his interpretation of the legendary music of DEEP PURPLE to the fans worldwide.

During the "Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple Live" tour, Glenn focuses on arrangements from the live albums — not studio recordings — for the classic PURPLE songs, "giving fans even more insight as to what it was like seeing a DEEP PURPLE show during the 1970s," according to a press release for the tour.

On October 26th, Vancouver BC fuzz rock band We Hunt Buffalo will release their second studio album, Head Smashed In, on New Damage Records (Canada) and Fuzzorama Records (rest of the world). Returning to Jesse Gander’s infamous Rain City Recorders (the same studio and producer who captured Living Ghosts), the final result is dynamic and a clear step forward for the trio. Pre-orders can be placed here.

“Lyrically we still have our apocalyptic theme carrying forward from the last record,” explains vocalist / guitarist Ryan Forsythe. With delicious grooves and psychedelic overtones, your ears will thank you when you hear the first single ’Heavy Low’. This song, in particular, saw the band experimenting with new drop turnings. Their newly streamlined, bombastic sound is the direct result of years of perfecting their sound both live and in recorded form.   

Tracklisting:

"Heavy Low"
"Angler Must Die"
"Prophecy Wins"
"Get In The Van"
"Industry Woes"
"The Giant’s Causeway"
"Keep It Refreshing"
"Anxious Children"
"God Games"

For further details, visit We Hunt Buffalo on Facebook.

Original Human Music, the debut album by Ultraphonix, the new creation of Corey Glover (Living Colour) and George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob), alongside the great rhythm section formed by drummer Chris Moore and Pancho Tomaselli on bass, is out now via earMUSIC. The album track "Take A Stand" is available for streaming below.

Original Human Music was co-produced by Bob Daspit (Sammy Hagar) and it displays the magic match between Corey Glover's iconic voice and George Lynch's unique style on the guitar.

The core and value of Ultraphonix lies in the songwriting and the quality of the songs. Original Human Music is an album where Glover's profound and thoughtful lyrics sound loud - together with the warm and heavy wall of sound created by George Lynch. It's all sustained by a rhythm section that can go anywhere musically.

To quote Lynch, "The album sounds like a fusion of early Chili Peppers meets King Crimson meets Judas Priest! It's a super fun band."

Drawing on (very heavy) rock, funk, and jazz influences, the band paints a picture of a band still believing that social consciousness could be celebrated through great rock songs.

Order here.

Tracklisting:

"Baptism"
"Another Day"
"Walk Run Crawl"
"Counter Culture"
"Heart Full Of Rain"
"Free"
"Wasteland"
"Take A Stand"
"Ain't Too Late"
"Soul Control"
"What You Say"
"Power Trip"

"Take A Stand":

"Wasteland":

"Heart Full Of Rain":

"Counter Culture":

"Baptism":

"Another Day" video:

"Free" lyric video:

"Walk Run Crawl" video:

"Ode To Despair", the new video from U.S. dark melodic metal masters WITHERFALL, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's sophomore album, "A Prelude To Sorrow", which will be released on November 2.

Says WITHERFALL: "'Ode To Despair' was the first composition that was completed for 'A Prelude To Sorrow', so it only seems fitting to start off with this track. Its origin traces back to around 2016 when we were figuring out what to do with [late WITHERFALL drummer Adam] Sagan being sick and unable to perform. Fueled by red wine and only a glimmer of the sorrow that was to come, 'Ode' took only one writing session to complete. The video was shot over the two-month span that we were in the studio tracking 'A Prelude To Sorrow' and watching the video brings you into the world we inhabited for what seems like an eternity... Special thanks to Don Adams and his masochistic tendencies and keen editor's eye."


Songwriters Joseph Michael (vocals, SANCTUARY) and Jake Dreyer (guitar, ICED EARTH) succeeded in perfectly combining the group's technical proficiency with an appropriate eerie and somber atmosphere, manifesting also in Kristian Wåhlin's majestic cover painting. For mix and mastering, WITHERFALL again worked with Chris "Zeuss" Harris (SANCTUARY, QUEENSRŸCHE, ICED EARTH).

Regarding the follow-up to 2017's "Nocturnes And Requiems", WITHERFALL said: "'A Prelude To Sorrow' is a concept record, though not in the sense that most people have come to know the form. Ours is not a story where each song acts as a chapter. The inspiration lays in the supremely dark reality that was the passing of our drummer and one of our best friends, Adam Sagan.

"These songs are raw emotional reflections, composed in the witching hours under the influence of wine and sorrow, while watching and helping our friend fight and ultimately lose his battle with lymphoma. 'Nocturnes And Requiems' was dedicated to Adam after the fact. 'A Prelude To Sorrow' is written specifically about his and our personal tragedy.

"Like 'Nocturnes and Requiems', the songs have been arranged to still have the peaks and valleys that any great record should. With 'Prelude', these peaks just might be a little steeper and the valleys might be a little deeper, alternating between violence and beauty.

"The titles initials are an acronym for 'Adam Paul Sagan.' He came up with 'Nocturnes And Requiems' so we suppose it is kind of fitting that he also inspired this title. Hope he doesn't come knocking on our door for royalties.

"We hope that this will be a fitting requiem for our friend and talented musician."


"A Prelude To Sorrow" track listing:


01. A Prelude To Sorrow

02. We Are Nothing

03. Moment Of Silence

04. Communion Of The Wicked

05. Maridian's Visitation

06. Shadows

07. Ode To Despair

08. The Call

09. Vintage

10. Epilogue


The album will be released as limited-edition digipak, jewelcase CD (U.S. only), gatefold 2LP plus poster and etching on Side D as well as digital album.


WITHERFALL is:

Jake Dreyer - Guitar

Joseph Michael - Vocals/Keyboards

Anthony Crawford - Bass

Fili Bibiano - Guitar

Steve Bolognese - Drums

Dutch symphonic metallers EPICA have announced their unique collaboration with the Metropole Orkest. The Metropole Orkest is a world-renowned Dutch orchestra which has performed and/or recorded with the world biggest superstars such as Sting, Bono and Brian Eno.


In the summer of 2017, with the help from its massive fan base, EPICA won a high-profiled competition organized by the Metropole Orkest. First prize was a recording of a song of their choice with the orchestra. In between EPICA's heavy touring schedule, the band was able to conjure up a unique, never-before-seen "big band meets symphonic metal" rendition of "Beyond The Matrix". As a bonus to all voters, runner-up in the competition and friend of the band, Arjen Lucassen (AYREON) contributed a beautiful guest solo to the song.


Keyboard player Coen Janssen commented on writing process: "We came up with 'the battle' to fully display the strengths of both worlds — our heaviness and their jazziness, but how to combine it in one piece… In comes Tom Trapp, arranger extraordinaire. He fully understood the way we wanted to build up the piece and he translated it into this amazing arrangement for the Metropole Orkest. From ambient soundscapes to heavy symphonic to over-the-top big band parts... this song has it all!! Expect the unexpected!!! It was an absolute pleasure and honor to see such professionals work from up close and I learned a lot every step of the way. The way the conductor, arranger and orchestra communicate and play is something I've rarely seen before. A unique experience that resulted in a unique version of 'Beyond The Matrix'."


EPICA VS METROPOLE ORKEST "Beyond The Matrix - The Battle" will be released as a limited-edition vinyl and digital download on October 26 through Nuclear Blast.

EPICA's "Attack On Titan" EP was made available outside of Japan on July 20 via Nuclear Blast Records. The release features metal versions of the theme songs from the highly successful manga-series-turned-worldwide-aired anime "Attack On Titan".

METALLICA commemorates the 30th anniversary of the release of its breakthrough fourth album "…And Justice For All" with the announcement of its definitive reissue to be released on November 2 via the band's own Blackened Recordings.


The re-release of "…And Justice For All" has been remastered for the most advanced sound quality overseen by Greg Fidelman, and will be available in multiple digital and physical configurations. Pre-orders begin today at Metallica.com where fans can see the full package details and track listing.


Pre-orders of all configurations will receive an instant download of "Dyers Eve (Remastered)" , while pre-orders of the expanded and deluxe editions will receive an additional instant download of "Eye Of The Beholder (Live At Hammersmith Odeon, London, England On October 10th 1988)" .


The "…And Justice For All" reissue will be available physically as a Standard Double 180 gram LP, Standard CD, 3 CD Expanded Edition, Cassette, Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set and digitally as a Standard album (available to stream and download), an Expanded Edition (available for download only), and a Digital Deluxe Box Set (available for streaming and download).


The Expanded Edition will include previously unreleased demos, rough mixes, previously unreleased live tracks, and an expanded booklet of never-before-seen Ross Halfin photos. The one-pressing-only Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set will include the remastered double 180g LP, a "One" picture disc, 3 LPs featuring their iconic performance from Seattle in 1989 remixed by Greg Fidelman, 11 CDs, 4 DVDs, a set of four patches, a Pushead print, a tour laminate, lyric sheets, a download card for all material in the set, and a deluxe 120-page book with never-before-seen photos and never-before-told stories from the people who were there.


Watch METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett unbox the reissue below.

"…And Justice For All" was originally released — despite what the Internet might tell you — on September 7, 1988, on Elektra Records.

While "...And Justice For All" is considered one of METALLICA's classics, it has been criticized almost since the day it was released in 1988 for the lack of any bass guitar on the record. Jason Newsted's playing is virtually buried in the mix — and many fans feel that drummer Lars Ulrich, who had very specific ideas for how he wanted his drums to sound, is to blame.

"...And Justice For All" was Jason Newsted's first full-length album with METALLICA after he replaced late bassist Cliff Burton in 1986.

The album was the first by the band to sell more than a million copies and featured their first radio hit, "One", which was also the basis of the group's first music video.

The record was nominated for the first-ever Grammy for "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance", but infamously lost to JETHRO TULL's "Crest Of A Knave".

In a 2015 interview with Ultimate-Guitar.com, one of the "...And Justice For All" album mixers, Steve Thompson, revealed that Ulrich was the culprit for the lack of any bass guitar on the record. Ulrich apparently wanted his drums to sound a certain way — even if it meant cutting out the bass.

Thompson explained: "We had to get the drum sound up the way he had it. I wasn't a fan of it. So now he goes, 'See the bass guitar?' and I said, 'Yeah, great part, man. [Newsted] killed it.' He said, 'I want you to bring down the bass where you can barely, audibly hear it in the mix.' I said, 'You're kidding. Right?' He said, 'No. Bring it down.' I bring it down to that level and he says, 'Now drop it down another 5 dB.' I turned around and looked at [guitarist/vocalist James] Hetfield and said, 'He's serious?' It just blew me away."

Thompson added that a terrific performance by Newsted was wasted due to Ulrich's meddling, saying: "My only regret is that we didn't have enough time to at least mix it the way we heard it… It was all there but I think they were looking for more garagey-type sound without bass. And the bass was great; it was perfect."

Thompson said that he spoke out because he was tired of being blamed for the lack of bass. He remarked: "They flew us out [to METALLICA's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction in 2009] and I'm sitting with Lars. He goes, 'Hey, what happened to the bass in 'Justice'?' He actually asked me that. I wanted to cold cock him right there. It was a shame because I'm the one getting the shit for the lack of bass."

Ulrich told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that fans were extremely vocal about the sound of the album at the time of its release. "I mean, it was unbelievable, you know, '...And Justice For All', " he said. "People were saying, 'That's the worst-sounding record, where's the bass, and it sounds like it was recorded in a garage, and...' But, you know, listen, you do the best you can in the moment and then you move on."

Photo credit: Ross Halfin

Former CANDLEMASS singer Mats Levén has shared a short audio snippet of some of the new solo music he is working on. The song in question, which can be heard in the video below, features Martin "Axe" Axenrot (BLOODBATH, OPETH, WITCHERY) on drums and Nalley Påhlsson (TREAT, THERION) on bass. "And the rest is me, basically," Mats says.

According to Levén, he didn't want to work on his solo material while he in CANDLEMASS because he "didn't wanna kind of interfere."

Some of the other tracks Mats has been working on will feature drumming by Snowy Shaw (ex-KING DIAMOND) and Petter Karlsson (ex-THERION, DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA).

CANDLEMASS announced earlier this week that it had parted ways with Levén and reteamed with Johan Längqvist.

Längqvist sang on CANDLEMASS's debut album, 1986's "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus", before exiting the group and being replaced by Messiah Marcolin.

Mats, who was in CANDLEMASS for six years, began his professional musical life with SWEDISH EROTICA from Gothenburg, Sweden in 1989. In 1990, Mats got an offer from TREAT and moved to Stockholm where he still lives with his wife and two kids.

After recording albums with ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA and AB/CD, Mats as approached by Yngwie Malmsteen to join the guitarist's band in 1997-98 and to lay down his vocal tracks on the "Facing The Animal" LP.

Over the past couple of decades, Levén has been involved with a number of different bands and projects, including SOUTHPAW, DOGFACE, ESSENCE OF SORROW, AT VANCE and KRUX.

In 2004, Mats supplied lead vocals for THERION's two albums "Sirius B" and "Lemuria". This led to some 150 shows with the band over the course of the next four years. THERION's 2007 album "Gothic Kabbalah" saw Mats co-writing six of the tracks, including the epic "Son Of The Staves Of Time". In 2010-2011, Mats toured with ADAGIO and FIREWIND before joining CANDLEMASS as the replacement for Robert Lowe.

Since 2016, Mats has been touring with rock theater sensation TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, whose 20th-anniversary trek is set to begin on November 14 and visit 65 cities across North America, for 100-plus performances, before concluding on December 30.

Fan-filmed video footage of PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, the project led by the former PANTERA and current DOWN/SUPERJOINT frontman, performing a medley of classic PANTERA songs on September 7 at The Rock Box in San Antonio, Texas can be seen below. The medley consisted of the tracks "Death Rattle", "Domination" and "Hollow".

PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS' current U.S. tour marks the band's first run of dates since a video message from the Anselmo was played at the public memorial for ex-PANTERA drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott. It was the first time the singer had publicly commented on his former bandmate's death.

The event, which was held on July 1 at Bomb Factory in Dallas, Texas, included emotional tributes from a number of Abbott's fellow musicians, some of whom appeared in person while others sent short video speeches expressing their affection for the fallen PANTERA and HELLYEAH drummer.

Anselmo's tribute was a few seconds long and saw him speaking in his trademark deep voice. "Vince, always have love in my heart for you, man," he said. "Rest in peace."

Vinnie Paul and his brother "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.

Up until his death, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo.

Vinnie and Anselmo's relationship got more acrimonious when Vinnie indirectly blamed Philip for Dimebag's death, suggesting that some remarks the vocalist had made about Dimebag in print just weeks earlier might have incited Dimebag's killer.

Back in October 2016, Vinnie Paul said in an interview that it was "sad" to see Anselmo doing "a lot of things" that have tarnished PANTERA's image in the decade and a half since the band's split.

Vinnie passed away on June 22 at his home in Las Vegas at the age of 54.

The PANTERA and HELLYEAH drummer was buried on June 30 next to his brother and their mother, Carolyn, at Moore Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Arlington, Texas.

Prog metal veterans Redemption returned to Atlanta this weekend to play ProgPower this year, wher they filmed the show for a new DVD. Fan-filmed video is below, including the band's performance of Megadeth's "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying" with former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland.

Redemption recently released their seventh full-length album, Long Night's Journey Into Day. The band has released this behind the scenes footage from the shoot for their music video for "Someone Else's Problem":

Find the full music video below.

Long Night's Journey Into Day tracklisting:

"Eyes You Dare Not Meet In Dreams"
"Someone Else's Problem"
"The Echo Chamber"
"Impermanent"
"Indulge In Color"
"Little Men"
"And Yet"
"The Last Of Me"
"New Year's Day"
"Long Night's Journey Into Day"

"New Year's Day":

"Someone Else's Problem" video:

"Little Men":

"Indulge In Color" playthrough video:

Redemption guitarist Nik van Dyk recently issued the following update: "For those of you in Los Angeles who have been curious about my band, I'm pleased to announce we are playing the world famous Whiskey on the Sunset Strip on September 19th. Make me proud and let's sell out!"

For ticket information go to this location.

As previously announced, Redemption will appear at ProgPower USA 2018 on September 8th in Atlanta, GA, with more US dates coming soon.

Redemption lineup:

Tom Englund - vocals
Nick van Dyk - guitars
Sean Andrews - bass
Chris Quirarte - drums
Vikram Shankar - keyboards

Des Moines metallers Green Death will release their third full-length album Hallowmass on October 19th on Combat Records. The new album follows their sophomore release Manufacturing Evil, and finds the band further expanding their musical horizons. Green Death are redefining thrash, incorporating doom, melodic death and classic metal, the Iowa natives are taking the genre back to hallowed ground, and creating the mold for future speed freaks. A new video for "I Am Eternal" is streaming below.

Hallowmass was recorded in Des Moines, Iowa at The Establishment Recording with engineer Griffin Landa (The Acacia Strain), mastered by Zeuss at Planet Z, and produced by Green Death and Executive Producer David Ellefson.

Hallowmass once again features iconic artwork by the incredible Eliran Kantor (Testament, Iced Earth, Sodom). Head to this location for LP preorders.

Tracklisting:

“Lycanthropy”
“Bullet Of Silver”
“I Am Eternal”
“Lament”
“Curse The Heavens”
“The Betrayed”
“Bad Omens”
“Sacrament”
“Messis Diaboli”
“The Harvest”
“She Couldn’t Live”
“Pure Torture” (feat. David Ellefson)
“Hallowmass”
“Sickle & Scythe” (feat. Clayton Cagle of Hatchet)

"I Am Eternal" video:

Teaser: