Last Friday, melodic death/folk metal masters Eluveitie finally released their follow-up to their 2009 acoustic album Evocation I: full steam ahead for Evocation II – Pantheon.

Today, there is some more news. Comments Eluveitie:

"Ever wanted to get an in-depth look on the creative process of Evocation II - Pantheon? Ever wanted to know details of the guitar work, wondered about vocal techniques used or particular folk instruments played on the album?

“Then don't miss your chance: Tomorrow, Thursday August 24th at 10 AM Pacific / 1 PM Eastern (7 PM CEST) sharp we'll hold a real-time Q&A on our official Facebook page. You'll get the chance to drill us with your questions, we'll be all yours!

“If you don't have the album yet, then go and get it now! Listen to it and discuss it with us tomorrow!

“Cheers & sláinte"

In addition, the band has released a second studio trailer:

Get your physical copy of the album here. Order the digital version of the new album here.

Tracklisting:

“Dureððu”
“Epona”
“Svcellos II (Sequel)”
“Nantosvelta”
“Tovtatis”
“Lvgvs”
“Grannos”
“Cernvnnos”
“Catvrix”
“Artio”
“Aventia”
“Ogmios”
“Esvs”
“Antvmnos”
“Tarvos II (Sequel)”
“Belenos”
“Taranis”
“Nemeton”

“Lvgvs” video:

In The Studio trailer:

“Epona” video:

The Story Of “Epona” video:

(Photo - Manuel Vargas)

February 2018 sees the release of the rerecorded/rewritten version of Nergard’s debut album Memorial For A Wish through Battlegod Productions.

Nergard explains the decision to rewrite the material:

“May 2010: A head full of dreams, an impressive budget and a desire to create something grandiose. The writing of my debut album Memorial For A Wish had begun, a dream was about to become reality. This particular dream was to write an album featuring some of the artists that had been monumental inspirational sources to me from my childhood years and up until then. Now was the time to take action and make these ideas come to life. Positive feedback from three amazing singers; Göran Edman, Åge Sten Nilsen and Tony Mills really kick started the writing. I couldn’t believe that I actually was going to work with some of my childhood heroes, people that had lead me onto the musical path in which I still am today. I was so eager to get the album finished I could hardly wait. However, it would take three long years before the album would see its release. Why? Memorial For A Wish was a hard earned experience in how not to make an album and how to throw away precious time and money. An experience I benefited on when writing and recording the follow up A Bit Closer To Heaven. It was the first ‘professional’ album I ever wrote and recorded. I was inexperienced and didn’t quite know how to embark on that mission. Besides writing some songs that I am very proud of I didn’t manage to create half of what I wanted with that album, it became a shadow off the original idea. The task simply became too big to pull through with the little experience I had at the time.

“Spending three years on that album would have been justified if the product was great but the product wasn’t great. In fact it was far from that. It was something that I almost felt ashamed of from the very day I got the mastertape. It was something that I couldn’t get myself to show to those involved. I could imagine myself sending the album to my heroes Göran, Ralf, Michele ++ saying:’“hey, check out the mess of a record I made with your vocals on it.’ It wasn’t the songs that bothered me. The songs obviously needed some improvement, which they got on this rerecording, but I would never have revisited this album if it wasn’t for the poor recordings ... and the mix, which felt both right and wrong at the time. A lot of the recordings didn’t have good enough quality and much of it was not very tight played. It made the overall sound very chaotic, too many melodies/riffs etc. intertwining at the same time. There was a lot gone wrong with the actual recording but at the end of the day it was the mix that bothered me enough to make me want to rerecord it. One can only speculate on why I even decided to release the album back then. Being inexperienced and working on this album for so many years eventually made me a little blind and tired. I needed to get that album out of my head and start working on something different. After its release the album launched Nergard on a small but expanding platform that has been making a great foundation so far, for which I am very grateful, much of it thanks to the great promotional work done by my label Battlegod Productions. There was lot of positive reviews and it made me happy off course but I knew that it could be ten times better than what it had become. I guess many will say that it is a waste of time going back to re-record an album that is only four years old, but I strongly felt that for the sake of the songs and the performances from the guest artists that put their mark on this product and expected professional quality I had to do the album all over again. I also felt that this was something that needed to be done before any new music was released. Pete at Battlegod Productions gave me the thumb up and I went straight ahead working on it.

“The only things kept of the original recordings are the once delivered by the guest singers and some guitar solos. The rest of it are done all over again, guitar/drums/bass/keyboards etc. New guitar solos, new guest singers, even two completely new songs made out of one of the old ones. Every song got some big or minor changes during the rewriting, I even changed the title on some of them. When rewriting the album I got the chance to cut away pointless parts of music that crippled the songs instead of pushing them forward, especially the long ones. The opening track ‘Twenty Years In Hell’ is left out of the new version. I really loved that track because of its dark, storytelling atmosphere but in the big picture it only left people in confusion. It was written in the stages when the project were supposed to be a heavy metal musical but unfortunately/fortunately did not follow up with the same vibe on the other tracks. That decision made the song stand out as a weird loner on the album. Instead of having that track on the album, ‘The Haunted’ from my debut EP The Beginning, will take its place in a new version with female vocals on it. I’m extremely proud of the new Memorial For A Wish and can’t wait to let you hear this monster.

"One should not forget the past though. I don’t rerecord this album to bury the old one. Old and new will be united on this release as a double album, the old one attached as a demo version and some extra tracks. Release date, full track list and the new guest singers will be revealed very soon. Below you can find the ones that are already on the album.”

Memorial For A Wish lineup:

Drums/bass/keyboards: Andreas Nergård
Rhythm guitars: Henrik Karlsvik & Ørjan Halsan
Vocals: Göran Edman (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen) 
Vocals: Mike Vescera (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen)
Vocals: Nils K. Rue (Pagan’s Mind) Vocals: Åge Sten Nilsen (Wig Wam)
Vocals: Andi Kravljaca (Aeon Zen, Thaurorod)
Vocals: Tony Mills (ex-TNT, ex-Shy)
Vocals: Michele Luppi (Whitesnake)
Vocals: David Reece (ex-Accept)
Guitar solo: Helge Engelke (Fair Warning)
Guitar solo: Stig Nergård (Tellus Requiem)

Glenn Hughes performed at Hungary’s Fezen 2017 festival on Friday, August 4th. Three songs into his set he performed the Deep Purple song, “Might Just Take Your Life”, featured on the 1974 album, Burn, the first Deep Purple album to feature David Coverdale on vocals and Hughes on bass and vocals.

Check out video of the performance below:

Black Country Communion, the Anglo-American rock group comprising vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes. drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner), Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Alice Cooper, Billy Idol) and blues-rock guitarist/vocalist Joe Bonamassa, will release their fourth album, BCCIV, via Mascot Records on Friday, September 22nd. A first ‘making of’ video can be found below.

Just like its three predecessors, BCCIV was overseen by Kevin Shirley, whose catalogue of hit records for Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, Journey, The Black Crowes, has made him the hottest producer that rock music has to offer. Shirley, who originally had the idea of putting Hughes and Bonamassa in a band after seeing them jamming together onstage in Los Angeles back in November 2009 – is the group’s unofficial ‘fifth member’.

"We had around 4 months to write this album, and I think the results speak for themselves," comments Glenn Hughes. "All four of us wanted to make a record that stood up to the first three albums, however, the new album is more of a progression, as we wanted to be careful not to repeat the previous albums. A lot has happened since we last recorded the Aferglow album in 2013, so, in many ways, the new album shows BCC with a much harder, riffier and bigger and bolder sound.  If you’re looking for a folk album, this ain’t the one."

The band assembled to record BCCIV at Cave Studios in Los Angeles in December 2016.  The album was mixed at Cave Studios in Sydney in March 2017.  The songs on BCCIV will appeal to all fans of high quality hard rock, also those that admire singers of distinction. Hughes is not known as The Voice of Rock for nothing.

In terms of content, BCCIV expands upon the progression that took place between the first three albums. With an abundance of heavy riffs, undeniable hooks, melodic flair and infectious choruses, BCCIV is a spectacular album that gets bigger and bolder with repeated spins.

"I wanted the new album to physically shake your soul. It’s a wake-up call." explains Hughes.

All songs on the new album were co-written by Glenn Hughes and Joe Bonamassa.  Glenn wrote all the lyrics on the album except for the song “The Last Song For My Resting Place”, which was written by Joe.

Tracklisting:

“Collide”
“Over My Head”
“The Last Song For My Resting Place”
“Sway”
“The Cove”
“The Crow”
“Wanderlust”
“Love Remains”
“Awake”
“When The Morning Comes”
“With You I Go” (Vinyl edition bonus track)

Making Of #1:

“Collide” video:

Black Country Communion are pleased to announce two exclusive concerts in Europe during January 2018 to support the release of their new album BCCIV. The band will play Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Tuesday, January 2nd and London Hammersmith Apollo on Thursday, January 4th.

These will be the only two concerts the band will play in the UK and Europe. Tickets are available by calling 0844 844 0444, and can be booked online from www.ticketmaster.co.uk and www.eventim.co.uk.

(BCC Photo - Neil Zlozower)

Zen From Mars is aiming to release their debut album, The Ultra Head Frequency, in late fall. It's currently being mixed by Richard Easterling (American Head Charge, Muse), who's provided a brief preview via the following snippet of the song "Inner Mission".

"We are all incredibly excited about finally getting the record mixed by the incredible Richard Easterling," says Zen From Mars guitarist Drew Fortier. "Much like the Bang Tango movie I had made, this record has been one huge work of passion, especially with collaborating with such incredibly talented people. We are all extremely excited to reach the finish line with this album and are stoked for the public's reaction to what we have all accomplished together with this. We all believe in this band and feel that anyone who listens, will believe in it as well."

Zen From Mars is an all new six-piece hard rock band. Its lineup consists of:

Stephen Shareaux (Kik Tracee) - vocals
Mike Heller (Fear Factory / Malignancy) - drums
Chip Z’Nuff (Enuff Z’Nuff) - bass, backing vocals
Brynn Arens (Flipp) - guitar
Drew Fortier (Bang Tango) - guitar
Kate Catalina (The Showgirl Of Rock) - keyboards

Bassist Chip Z'Nuff states: "Great song, rockstar singer, two solid guitarists, brilliant drummer, world renowned bassist, foxy keyboardist = Supergroup!"

Vocalist Stephen Shareaux shares: “ZFM is purely a passion project, I just really love this music! We had a deep connection musically from the word go, Drew and I! Plus he was just so damn persistent! (laughs)”

Kate Catalina, the band's keyboardist stated: “It has been a really thrilling process watching this band come to life and hearing musical concepts turned into beautiful, heavy, transcending songs. The contrast alone is mesmerizing: each member operates from a different genre, but we all met in the same land of songwriting and performance.”

More on Zen From Mars at this location.

(Photos courtesy of Danielle Brunke)

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of their debut album, multinational melodic metal band, Eden's Curse, will release Revisited - a two disc set featuring the debut album re-recorded in it's entirety and a bonus DVD, Live In Glasgow - The Official Bootleg, on August 25th worldwide via AFM Records. Listen to the re-recorded version of “We All Die Young” below:

Bassist Paul Logue explains: "The first album really was the foundation for all that was to follow and ever since Nikola joined the band we have been inundated with fan requests to re-record the older material and whilst it would be great fun, it would also be the same amount of work as recording a brand new album. In actual fact, that is one of the main reasons we recorded the live album, Live With The Curse, so the fans could hear Nikola's voice on the older songs. However, it did not stop the flow of requests - in fact it made it worse! So, with this pivotal tenth anniversary coming up, we thought it would be a good idea to do it and AFM agreed. It's turned out really great and given the older songs that little bit of freshness. It's not to out-do what went before but to pay homage to a very important record in our career.”

The debut re-recordings were mixed by Pete Newdeck (Eden's Curse, Tainted Nation, Grim Reaper) and Mastered by Harry Hess (Harem Scarem).

Coupled with the re-recorded debut album is the Live In Glasgow - Official Bootleg DVD which is the Live With The Curse live album recording show in it's entirety. Filmed at The Classic Grand in Glasgow on November 28th, 2014, the release mark's the band first official live DVD release, albeit in a bootleg form.

"The footage is absolutely excellent,” states bassist Logue. "We did not intend to film a DVD, but the audio recording company brought two cameras along to capture the show and when we saw the results we were really surprised! We put out four videos on You Tube to promote the live album and the fans kept asking to see the full show on DVD. So, here it is! We've called it a 'bootleg' because it wasn't recorded on 6 cameras, e.g one above the drummer and one on the keyboard player - like we would do for a proper DVD release. However, beyond that is looks and sounds great! We WILL do a DVD in the future but in the meantime this give our fans across the world something to enjoy time and time again and it makes 'Revisited' a very special package indeed,” he adds.

Revisited is the ultimate package for Eden's Curse fans old and new and a fantastic introduction to the band's music. It's a true celebration of the record that started it all, from the guys who carry the legacy forward. Over 60 mins of music and 100 mins of film make Revisited a must have for all Eden's Curse and melodic metal fans.

Check out a video trailer below, and order yours today from AFM Records.

“Fly Away”:

“Fallen King”:

Grindcore/death metal outfit, Implore, are streaming the track “Untouchable Pyramid”, featured on their upcoming album, Subjugate. Listen to the track below.

Subjugate will be released on September 22nd in the following formats:

- Ltd. CD Digipak (with two bonus tracks and patch)
- LP (gatefold sleeve, 180 gram vinyl, CD with two bonus tracks)
- Digital download/stream

The following vinyl colours are offered:

- Black vinyl: unlimited
- Silver vinyl: limited to 100 copies, exclusively available at CM Distro Europe
- White vinyl: limited to 200 copies, available at various mailorder stores
- Clear/black haze vinyl: limited to 300 copies, exclusively offered at Pelagic Records

Pre-order options here.

The cover artwork for Subjugate, as well as the entire layout, was created by Brian D’Agosta, who many of you will know from his excellent work for bands such as Vallenfyre, Goatwhore and others.

Tracklisting:

“Birth Of An Era”
“Loathe”
“Cursed Existence”
“Paradox”
“Disconnected From Ourselves”
“Totalitarian”
“Patterns To Follow”
“Ecocide”
“Technology A Justification For Killing”
“Cult Of El”
“Desolated Winds”
“Boundary”
“Untouchable Pyramid”
“Gazing Beyond”
“Manufactured Reality”
“Victims Of The Hollowing”

“Untouchable Pyramid”:

“Loathe”:

To present the new album live, Implore will be touring Europe with label mates Vallenfyre in September, followed by shows in October/November with Gadget, and will visit Japan as well.
 
September (with Vallenfyre)
10 - Boston Music Room - London, UK
11 - Rebellion - Manchester, UK
12 - Het Bos - Antwerp, Belgium
13 - Boule Noire - Paris, France
14 - Gebr. De Nobel - Leiden, Netherlands
15 - IDUNA - Drachten, Netherlands
16 - De Cacaofabriek - Helmond, Netherlands
20 - Pumpehuset - Copenhagen, Denmark
 
October (with Gadget)
26 - Dynamo - Zurich, Switzerland
27 - Bloodshed Fest - Eindhoven, Netherlands
28 - Westwerk - Leipzig, Germany
29 - Nove Korzo - Ruzomberok, Slovakia
31 - Dude Fest Fall Edition - Karlsruhe, Germany

November (with Gadget)
1 - Magasin 4 - Brussels, Belgium
2 - Hafenklang - Hamburg, Germany
3 - Tommy Haus - Berlin, Germany
 
Japan tour:

November
8 - Chaotic Noise - Kochi, Japan
9 - K2 - Tsuyama, Japan
10 - Sengoku Daitoryo - Osaka, Japan
11 - Kunperuza - Shizuoka, Japan
12 - Dues - Tokyo, Japan
13 - El Puente - Nishi Ku, Japan

Implore lineup:

Gabriel Dubko - Bass & Vocals
Eduard Petrolillo - Guitars
Guido Montanarini - Drums

Alter Bridge have released a new teaser video for their upcoming Live At The O2 Arena + Rarities album, scheduled for release on September 8th worldwide via Napalm Records. The 30-track collection is available via all digital retailers and can be ordered via iTunes and is also available via Amazon.

Live at the O2 Arena + Rarities that captures one of the biggest moments of the band's career, when they played their monumental show at London's famous O2 Arena on November 24th, 2016.

One of the biggest moments of the band’s career was the monumental show at London's famous O2 Arena on November 26th, 2016. That landmark performance was captured in its entirety. The 2-CD 19-track recording documents what an enormous presence Alter Bridge have become on concert stages around the world. The album can be pre-ordered at this location, and via PledgeMusic.

Myles Kennedy, Mark Tremonti, Brian Marshall, and Scott Phillips tear through hits like "Farther Than The Sun", "Show Me A Leader," "Rise Today", and their masterpiece "Isolation", showcasing a band at the top of their game. Other highlights include the Tremonti sung "Waters Rising," the acoustic-driven “Watch Over You” and their signature anthem "Blackbird”.

In addition, this latest release includes an exclusive full-length Rarities CD sure to excite fans everywhere. This disc features the never-before released tracks "Cruel Sun" and "Solace” that were recorded during the One Day Remains sessions, as well as the song “Breathe” from the same time which has only ever been available as a US retail exclusive via Best Buy. These tracks join seven other songs that have only been released in Japan until this collection.

This incredible selection of Alter Bridge gems will be released in multiple formats. In addition to a standard 3-CD audio version, fans can also pick up one of the limited deluxe editions (including a 4-LP set and a CD/DVD Earbook) which also include an exclusive Alter Bridge documentary featuring extensive interviews with the band, their crew, and family, giving an amazing glimpse behind the scenes of this legendary show at London's O2 Arena! Check out a trailer below.

Tracklisting:

CD1:
“The Writing On The Wall”
“Come To Life”
“Addicted To Pain”
“Ghost Of Days Gone By”
“Cry Of Achilles”
“The Other Side”
“Farther Than The Sun”
“Ties That Blind”
“Water Rising”
“Crows On A Wire”
“Watch Over You” (solo acoustic)

CD2:
“Isolation”
“Blackbird”
“Metalingus”
“Open Your Eyes”
“Show Me A Leader”
“Rise Today”
“Poison In Your Veins”
“My Champion”

CD3:
“Breathe”
“Cruel Sun”
“Solace”
“New Way To Live”
“The Damage Done”
“We Don't Care At All”
“Zero”
“Home”
“Never Borne To Follow”
“Never Say Die (Outright)”
“Symphony Of Agony (The Last of Our Kind)”

“Metalingus”:

“The Other Side” video:

Trailer:

Alter Bridge recently announced their special Royal Albert Hall shows for early October, which sold out extremely fast, followed by additional UK and Ireland shows subsequently. Due to the great demand to get them back to Europe's mainland as well, the band now announce The Last Hero tour all across Europe.

Starting in Paris at the Elysee Montmartre, the tour leads Alter Bridge from France to the Netherlands, from Germany over Austria to Poland, Hungary, Switzerland all the way down to sunny Spain and Portugal, where they also ended their last tour just a couple of days ago. In case you saw Alter Bridge live on this past tour run or somewhere on the summer festivals: don't think they won't add anything new to the set list. Quite the contrary. They will play a totally different set that differs very much to the shows they recently played over the summer. So don't miss out on another amazing live experience with these incredibly talented musicians and get your tickets now.

Tour dates:

October
2  - London, England - Royal Albert Hall (Sold Out)
3 - London, England - Royal Albert Hall (Sold Out)
5  - Edinburgh, Scotland - Usher Hall
7 - Dublin, Ireland - Olympia
8  - Belfast, Ireland - Ulster Hall
10 - Paris, France - Elysee Montmartre                                 
11 - Groningen, Netherlands - Oosterpoort                                   
12 - Stuttgart, Germany - Porsche Arena                                                                                  
15 - Hannover, Germany - Swiss Life Hall                                  
16 - Oberhausen, Germany - Turbinenhalle                                                             
18 - Vienna, Austria - Gasometer                                                                            
20 - Warsaw, Poland - Progresja                                                                               
22 - Budapest, Hungary - Sport Arena                                                      
24 - Zurich, Switzerland - Samsung Hall                                                            
26 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz 1                    
27 - Madrid, Spain - La Riviera                                                                                 
29 - Lisbon, Portugal - Coliseu

Melodic metal band, Within Silence, will release their new album, Return From The Shadows, on October 27th in Europe and North America via Ulterium Records.

Return From The Shadows is a perfect follow-up to the debut album, Gallery Of Life, and feels like a more mature and focused album. The impressive songwriting and melodies are still there, and together with heavy riffs, symphonic arrangements and epic parts the result is a really strong album.

The album was mixed and mastered by Roland Grapow (Masterplan, ex-Helloween) and the artwork was created by Jan Yrlund (Delain, Apocalyptica, Korpiklaani). Return From The Shadows is a perfect album for fans of bands like Theocracy, Sonata Arctica and Stratovarius.

Return From The Shadows tracklisting:

“We Are The Ones”
“Heroes Must Return”
“Children Of Light”
“Calling From The Other Side”
“In the Darkness”
“The Final Victory”
“You & I”
“Master”
“Return From The Shadows”

Within Silence tour dates:

November
3 - Brainstorm Festival - Apeldoorn, Netherlands

March
24 - Lindenkeller - Freising, Germany (with Brainstorm, Signum Regis)

Paradise Lost have released the fifth official trailer for their upcoming studio album, Medusa, out on September 1st via Nuclear Blast. Watch five trailers below.

The pre-order for Medusa is underway and you can purchase the full-length release in several formats:

- Standard jewelcase CD
- Digibook including 2 bonus tracks
- Various coloured 180g LP (black / clear / copper / grey+red bi-coloured / gold / NB anniversary green)
- Collector’s box including the digibook, gatefold picture disc, an exclusive 7'', a candle, poster, band photo card and poster flag.
- Mailorder edition Collector’s box including the digibook, gatefold picture disc, a 7'' featuring the tracks 'Shrines' and 'Symbolic Virtue', a candle, poster, band photo card, poster flag and exclusive cover artwork

Pre-order the physical editions of the new album, including special merchandise here, or get the digital versions here and receive 'The Longest Winter' as instant grat, or in the band shop, here.

Tracklisting:

“Fearless Sky”
“Gods Of Ancient”
“From The Gallows”
“The Longest Winter”
“Medusa”
“No Passage For The Dead”
“Blood And Chaos”
“Until The Grave”

Bonus tracks:
“Frozen Illusion”
“Shrines”
“Symbolic Virtue”

“Blood And Chaos” video:

“The Longest Winter” lyric video:

Trailer #1:

Trailer #2:

Trailer #3:

Trailer #4:

Trailer #5:

On September 1st, Paradise Lost return to Stuttgart, Germany to present Medusa in its entirety. Check out a video trailer below, and get you tickets here.

Shortly after the release, Paradise Lost will embark on an extensive European tour and with label mates and US doomsters Pallbearer, as well as Sinistro from Portugal. To drown in beautiful sorrow, visit the tour on one of the following dates:
 
September
1 - Stuttgart, Germany - LKA Longhorn (Album release show)
8 - Dubai, UAE - The Music Room (Majestic Hotel)

September (with Pallbearer, Sinistro)
27 - Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg - Kulturfabrik
28 - Herford, Germany - X
29 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Pumpehuset

October (with Pallbearer, Sinistro)
1 - Oslo, Norway - John Dee
3 - Helsinki, Finland - Nosturi
7 - Aarhus, Denmark - Voxhall
10 - Brno, Czech Republic - Fleda
11 - Bratislava, Slovakia - Randal
13 - Belgrade, Serbia - Dom Omladine
14 - Zagreb, Croatia - Boogaloo
15 - Budapest, Hungary - Dürer Kert
18 - Nuremberg, Germany - Hirsch
19 - Frankfurt, Germany - Batschkapp
20 - Saarbrücken, Germany - Garage
21 - Geneva, Switzerland - L‘Usine
28 - Fontaneto D'Agogna, Italy - Phenomenon
29 - Munich, Germany - Theaterfabrik
30 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7

November (with Pallbearer, Sinistro)
3 - London, UK - Electric Ballroom
4 - Leeds, UK - Damnation Festival
6 - Utrecht, Netherlands - Pandora
7 - Tilburg, Netherlands - 013
8 - Cologne, Germany - Live Music Hall
9 - Berlin, Germany - Columbia Theater
10 - Weissenhäuser Strand / Ostsee, Germany - Metal Hammer Paradise (Paradise Lost only)

December
14 - Brisbane, Australia - The Triffid
15 - Sydney, Australia - The Metro Theatre
16 - Melbourne, Australia - Corner Hotel
17 - Adelaide, Australia - The Gov
18 - Perth, Australia - Capitol

Summer Festival dates:

August
25-26 - Wörrstadt, Germany - Neuborn Open Air

IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain, who is also a noted car enthusiast, drives a custom Jaguar XKR-S adorned with the band's font and painted a singular shade of blue. The longtime Jaguar aficionado recently took The Wall Street Journal out for a spin. Check out the video below, and read the full article at this location (subscription required).

In 2012, McBrain decided to have British automaker Jaguar commission him with a special-edition XKR-S shortly after taking the sports car out for a ride out on a race track. At his behest, Jaguar jumped at the opportunity, dressing up McBrain's XKR-S with an Ultra Blue exterior paint job to go with a red and black interior that comes complete with IRON MAIDEN references. The door sills, in particular, were engraved with a "Nicko McBrain XKR-S" inscription using IRON MAIDEN's iconic font style. The same font was also used on the carbon fiber hood louvers where the word "Supercharged" was engraved to.

"Since I was a kid, I've always loved Jags with a passion," McBrain told AutoEvolution. "I remember my father taking me to see the big ol' Mark 10 when it came out in '61. That was his favorite car, and since then, I've always preferred Jaguar sedans rather than sports cars. In fact, I still have my Series III that I bought in 1986 along with my '89 Series III that I keep in Florida and use as my daily driver. I bought my wife an XK in 2009, and when she finally let me drive it, I absolutely loved it; so when the XKR-S came out, that was it, I decided I had to have one."

Asked when he first got to drive the XKR-S, McBrain said, "Jaguar invited me to the Gaydon test track in the U.K. to do a few laps, and really, that's how my car came about. They drove me to the track in a new Range Rover Evoque with a terrific black and red leather interior. When we pulled up alongside this French Racing Blue XKR-S, the door was open. When I opened my door to the Range Rover Evoque, I said, 'This is the interior I want in my car.'"

Regarding what features he decided on, McBrain said, "The first major feature we worked on was the paint; I chose a new metallic version of French Racing Blue. Jaguar calls it Ultra Blue and they agreed to let me use it for my car. I live in Florida and when the sun hits the paint, it just explodes, the color is truly amazing. Next, we wanted to really customize the car so where it says 'Supercharged' on the carbon fiber hood louvers, we've used the famous IRON MAIDEN 'metal lord' font. We used the same script for the door tread plates, which now read 'Nicko McBrain XKR-S.' In the piano black veneer above the glove box we've added 'Made In Aluminum;' get it?"

SEVENDUST will enter the studio this fall to record the follow-up to 2015's "Kill The Flaw" album for an early 2018 release. "We're starting pre-production in October and we'll be tracking in November, mixing in December," guitarist John Connolly told Totally Driven Radio (hear audio below).

Regarding the progress of the songwriting sessions for SEVENDUST's next disc, Connolly said: "I actually just got back from Atlanta last week. I went up there with Morgan [Rose, drums] and Vinnie [Vince Hornsby, bass] and Lajon [Witherspoon, vocals], just to do a writing session, just to kind of crack the ice. We've got a handful of songs and now we kind of have a better idea of what everyone's mindset is."

He continued: "That's always the toughest thing — if you write a ton of stuff, there could be sixteen different directions that you could end up going. But until you actually sit down with the guys in the band, you kind of don't know [how it's going to sound]… So, yeah, I think we have a decent understanding and idea of where everyone else's plan is, what kind of a record they wanna make. And, yeah, the next three or four months, we'll probably be busy getting it all set up and launch for spring."

SEVENDUST's new album will be produced by Michael "Elvis" Baskette, who has previously worked with ALTER BRIDGE and SLASH, among others.

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

According to The Pulse Of Radio, Paul Stanley (KISS) and Philip Anselmo (PANTERA, DOWN, SUPERJOINT) made their predictions for this weekend’s big fight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor.

Mayweather (49-0, 26 KOs) will be returning from a two-year retirement at the age of 40. The 29-year-old McGregor (21-3 in MMA), meanwhile, is making his professional boxing debut.

Noted fight fan Anselmo, who used to write a column for Boxing Insider, gave UFC champion McGregor "zero chance" to defeat Floyd Mayweather in a straight-up boxing match. He said: "It's going to be a one-sided fight, with Floyd carrying him for as long as he possibly can.… Mayweather by a landslide, and he can knock McGregor out anytime he wants."

Stanley also favors Mayweather. He said: "I think people are expecting more of a fight than they might get. You have to remember Floyd Mayweather is a fighter who knows how to punch and get away. The idea of them going toe-to-toe, I think, is a fantasy. Sometimes people are disappointed by Mayweather's performance. But he's a technician. The idea that they're gonna go in and see who can knock the other out — I don't think that's in the cards, although I wouldn't be surprised if somebody winds up on the mat."

The August 26 bout is expected to beat the $72.2 million in ticket revenue from Mayweather's fight against Manny Pacquiao in May 2015. T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where Mayweather-McGregor will take place, is more than three thousand seats bigger than MGM Arena, where Mayweather-Pacquiao was held.

SONS OF APOLLO, the new band featuring former DREAM THEATER members Mike Portnoy and Derek Sherinian alongside Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (ex-GUNS N' ROSES), Billy Sheehan (THE WINERY DOGS, MR. BIG, DAVID LEE ROTH) and Jeff Scott Soto (ex-JOURNEY, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN'S RISING FORCE), will release its debut album, "Psychotic Symphony", on October 20 via InsideOut Music. The disc was produced by the dynamic production duo of Portnoy and Sherinian, also affectionately known as "The Del Fuvio Brothers," which is the nickname given to them over 20 years ago during their time together in DREAM THEATER.

Part one in a series of SONS OF APOLLO "introduction videos" can be seen below.

"Psychotic Symphony" track listing:

01. God Of The Sun02. Coming Home03. Signs Of The Time04. Labyrinth05. Alive06. Lost In Oblivion07. Figaro/S Whore08. Divine Addiction09. Opus Maximus

The song "Signs Of The Time" can be streamed below.

Mike comments: "''Signs Of The Time' was the very first thing myself, Derek and Bumblefoot wrote when we got together to begin writing for SONS OF APOLLO in March of this year. It starts with this heavy, brutal Bumbleriff (initally coined 'Korntera'), then goes into a cool verse with a two-part vocal melody that I wrote sung by Jeff and myself... which eventually opens up to a HUGE vocal hook in the chorus that Jeff wrote (sung in three-part harmony by Jeff, myself and Bumblefoot). The middle section riffs are a few things that Derek brought in and show why he is the most BADASS keyboard player in the biz (playing the keys like a guitar player on fire!) and then we have the long, extended breakdown and guitar solo which shows why Bumblefoot is one of today's greatest GUITAR HEROES! This album is going to get him the recognition he truly deserves and this particular guitar solo is one of the tastiest, most insane solos I've EVER heard... "So all in all, this song has a little bit of everything that makes SONS OF APOLLO so special...great heavy riffs, amazing solos with individual instrumental virtuosity and a big, catchy chorus with more hooks than a tackle box!! "I figured this would be a great 'first taste' to introduce the world to this amazing new supergroup... and there's a whole lot more of different musical styles and twist and turns still to come all throughout the album."

SONS OF APOLLO got together very organically, as Portnoy explains: "Derek and I reunited shortly after I left DREAM THEATER in 2010 and we put together an all-instrumental touring band with he and I, Billy Sheehan, and Tony MacAlpine. That was my first time working with Derek since the '90s when he was in DREAM THEATER and it was just great to be working with him again. Ever since that tour, which was really just a one-off live thing, he has been nudging me to start a real, original, full-time band. The timing just had never been right, because I had too many other things on my plate. Long story short, the time was finally right to take the bait and put together a band." "Mike and I work at a relentless pace in the studio," continues Sherinian. "The music is modern, but we have an old-school soul. What is unique about SONS OF APOLLO is that we have true rock 'n' roll swagger along with the virtuosity — a lethal combination!” But what to call the next great supergroup? "Derek was mainly the one behind the name," says Portnoy. "I have a list that I keep on my phone of about a hundred different band names, which I constantly have to refer to every time I have a new band every year. [Laughs] So, I pulled up the list and APOLLO was one of the names on the list. It was a word that both of us really liked. We started fiddling with different variations of the word. One of the original band names we were working with was APOLLO CREED, the character from the 'Rocky' movies, but after lots of different discussions on different variations, Derek suggested SONS OF APOLLO and it seemed to stick. Apollo is the God of music so with that in mind it seemed like a fitting name." Mike Portnoy, Derek Sherinian and Billy Sheehan previously toured together in 2012 and 2013 as PSMS (along with guitarist Tony MacAlpine), playing all instrumental versions from each of their previously recorded music. SONS OF APOLLO is the next logical progression by adding a vocalist and creating all-original material. The band incorporates the progressive style and individual technical prowess that Portnoy and Sherinian shared together in DREAM THEATER combined with the swagger and groove of VAN HALEN, DEEP PURPLE and LED ZEPPELIN. "I have known Mike and Derek for a long time, so when they came to me with SONS OF APOLLO, I jumped on this straight away," says Thomas Waber, label manager/A&R international of InsideOut Music. "However, the album they ended up recording exceeded my already high expectations by a long mile! We couldn't be happier about it!" SONS OF APOLLO will hit the road in 2018 for their first worldwide tour. "This is a real band," Portnoy declares. "This is going to pick up for me and Billy where THE WINERY DOGS left off, in terms of this being the next logical full-time thing for us. I'm not saying THE WINERY DOGS have broken up, because we haven't, we're just on a break. SONS OF APOLLO is absolutely going to be a full-time band and we plan on touring all over the world all throughout 2018 and, honestly, it is the priority for all five of us." Sherinian agrees: "We will go on a worldwide crusade in 2018 to bring SONS OF APOLLO to as many people as possible. Apollo was the God of music, and we are his mighty offspring!"

Following the overwhelmingly massive reception to the MTV Video Music Award-nominated, Mainstream Rock #1 track "Run", FOO FIGHTERS have delivered a second consecutive contender for rock anthem of 2017 in the form of "The Sky Is A Neighborhood". Described by Grohl as "the biggest thing sonically that we've ever done," "The Sky Is A Neighborhood" is also the piece de resistance that effectively completed FOO FIGHTERS' forthcoming ninth album, "Concrete And Gold".

"One night I was lying out looking up at stars," Grohl recalls. "Just imagining all of these stars as places that have life on them as well, and I decided that the sky is a neighborhood, that we need to keep our shit together in order to survive in this universe full of life. But I had no music yet. I just had the title. So every day I would walk around, kind of humming this thing in my head."

The melody of the song came to Grohl without even touching a guitar, so it follows that "The Sky Is A Neighborhood" would come just as naturally to the band: the song was recorded in a single afternoon by Grohl and fellow FOO FIGHTERS members Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear and Rami Jaffee. "And once we were finished," Grohl says. "I thought, 'Okay, now we have an album. This is it and we're done'… as we were mixing, I realized that we'd actually done what we set out do: to make this gigantic FOO FIGHTERS record but with Greg Kurstin's sense of jazz and melody and arrangement, something that we'd never done before."

Of course, "The Sky Is A Neighborhood" deserved an equally ambitious visual representation, and together with director of photography Brandon Trost and with production by Therapy Studios, director Grohl, FOO FIGHTERS — and family — have more than delivered: "The Sky Is A Neighborhood" is a kaleidoscopic sci-fi mini-epic as massive as the slow burning rock anthem that gave it life. Hypnotic swirls of color of extraterrestrial origin, glowing eyes, levitating children and more combine to create an otherworldly cinematic palette equal parts beautiful and creepy — the result being arguably the most striking video in the FOO FIGHTERS' multiple award-winning canon.

Simultaneously, FOO FIGHTERS are launching a constellation viewer, enabling every FF fan to transform to their phone into a tool for exploring the sky in their neighborhood: Go to sky.foofighters.com from your phone to configure a realistic constellation map in the viewer's 3D sphere, then let it identify the constellations in your night sky — all while tiny FOO FIGHTERS soundtrack your explorations at the bottom of the screen.

With more than two million YouTube views in its first 24 hours, "Run" smashed into the Top 5 of the iTunes video chart and the Top 15 iTunes singles chart — quickly amassing the highest first-day numbers of any single in the FOO FIGHTERS' career. Both songs were performed during FOO FIGHTERS' epic three-and-a-half-hour thirty-two-song marathon Lollapalooza aftershow August 4 at Chicago's Metro club, and are sure to be live staples of the coming FOO FIGHTERS U.S. tour. That tour kicks off October 7 with the band's Cal Jam 17 festival at Glen Helen Regional Park in San Bernardino, California.

"Concrete And Gold" was written and performed by FOO FIGHTERS, produced by Greg Kurstin and FOO FIGHTERS, and mixed by Darrell Thorp. The album will be released September 15 worldwide on Roswell/RCA.

The track listing is:

01. T-Shirt02. Run03. Make It Right04. The Sky Is A Neighborhood05. La Dee Da06. Dirty Water07. Arrows08. Happy Ever After (Zero Hour)09. Sunday Rain10. The Line11. Concrete And Gold

Former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd will release a new solo single, "Sun Goes Down", on September 29. The song was written about a period in Rudd's life when he found himself alone and starting his life again in a new country.

The drummer and his band will be touring Europe from September 14 to November 6.

Rudd recently re-signed his long-standing drum sponsorship deal with German drum makers Sonor, signalling his determination to develop and record with his new band and continue what is already a remarkable career. He has also signed a new distribution deal with German company SPV.

Phil Rudd's band:

Phil Rudd - drumsMichael Furness - rhythm guitarGeoffrey Martin - lead guitarJohn Proctor - bassAllan Badger - vocals

Tour dates:

Sep. 14 - The Brook - Southampton EnglandSep. 15 - The Underworld - London EnglandSep. 17 - Concorde 2 - Brighton EnglandSep. 19 - Alban Arena - St Albans England Sep. 21 - Band On The Wall - Manchester EnglandSep. 22 - Turrock - Essen GermanySep. 23 - Metal Dayz Festival - Hamburg Germany Sep. 25 - Colos Saal - Aschaffenburg‎ GermanySep. 26 - Backstage Halle - Munich GermanySep. 27 - Palac Alfa - Pilzen Czech RepublicSep. 28 - Gerbera - Ceske Budejovice Czech RepublicSep. 29 - S-Club - Olomouc Czech RepublicSep. 30 - Rock Café - Jablunkov Czech RepublicOct. 03 - Lucerna Music Bar - Prague Czech RepublicOct. 04 - Knak - Teplice Czech RepublicOct. 12 - Fibbers - York EnglandOct. 19 - Tivoli - Buckley North WalesOct. 21 - Limelight 2 - Belfast Northern IrelandOct. 25 - Liquid Room - Edinburgh ScotlandOct. 28 - Festsaal Kreuzberg - Berlin GermanyNov. 02 - Sala Arena - Madrid SpainNov. 03 - Sala Capitol - Santiago De Compostella SpainNov. 04 - Paper Club - Las Palmas Canary Islands SpainNov. 05 - Razzamataz 2 - Barcelona Spain

Rudd, who has appeared on all but three of AC/DC's 18 studio albums, recently completed his first solo tour in support of his 2014 solo debut, "Head Job". It was the release of that album that led indirectly to Rudd's arrest and subsequent dismissal from AC/DC, with the drummer allegedly so angry at a personal assistant over the way the record was promoted that he threatened to have the man and his daughter killed.

Rudd revealed in August 2016 that he underwent an emergency procedure after suffering a heart attack. He told The New Zealand Herald: "I was just at home walking around and I started [to] feel, well, just funny. You know how you can feel funny? I had a strange pain in my chest. So my housekeeper took me to the hospital, when they hooked me up and did all these tests, turned out I had a big heart attack... my artery was all blocked up, and they said I had to stay in and have an operation."

Rudd's replacement in AC/DC is Chris Slade, who also did a three-year stint with the group from 1990 to 1993.

Rudd played with AC/DC from 1975 until 1983, and then again from 1994 through 2014. He first appeared on the band's second album, 1975's "T.N.T."

GWAR will release its new album, "The Blood Of Gods", on October 20 via Metal Blade. The disc was produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Ronan Chris "Lord God" Murphy and will be made available in standard CD, 2LP colored vinyl and digital formats.

The video for the first single, "Fuck This Place", can be seen below.

Digital pre-orders include an instant gratification download of "Fuck This Place".

"The Blood Of Gods" track listing:

01. War On GWAR02. Viking Death Machine03. El Presidente04. I'll Be Your Monster05. Auroch06. Swarm07. The Sordid Soliloquy Of Sawborg Destructo08. Death to Dickie Duncan09. Crushed By The Cross10. Fuck This Place11. Phantom Limb12. If You Want Blood (You Got It) (AC/DC cover)

The Berserker Blothar says: "'Fuck This Place', the name says it all. Look around you. Your life sucks. Your planet is dying. You want to kill yourself and everyone you meet. So do it. You've drenched yourselves in gasoline, and now GWAR offers you a light. The finish line of the human race is at last within reach. Scream it now at the top of your lungs... 'Fuck This Place!'"

"The Blood of Gods" is nothing less than a sacred text chronicling the rise of humanity against their makers, and the massive battle between GWAR and the forces of all that is uptight and wrong with the world. Along the way, the band challenges the sins of their great mistake, from politics, pollution, and organized religion, to fast food, and factory farming. Humans are shown as what they are; a parasitic disease that must be eradicated before they suck the planet dry.

Sleazy P. Martini comments on "The Blood Of Gods": "Sorry, scoffers, you thought GWAR was finished? You're the one who's finished when GWAR starts their fall tour after dropping their heaviest album yet. 'The Blood Of Gods' will be the soundtrack that covers up your pathetic cries for mercy. So go ahead and scream all you want. Just make sure your in key or your death will be excruciating beyond comprehension."

In support of "The Blood Of Gods", GWAR will be on the road throughout the rest of 2017 including three shows in September with a stop at Chicago's Riot Fest. GWAR will then return to the road on October 20, starting in their adopted home base of Richmond, Virginia and running through December 10 in Detroit, Michigan.

According to Times Leader, ADRENALINE MOB's tour manager, Jane Train (pictured) "took a turn for the worse" over the weekend and is in "very, very, very critical condition," a little over a month after she suffered "catastrophic injuries" in a crash that killed the band's bassist.

The 48-year-old's attorney, Ed Ciarimboli, said she was in "pretty bad shape" Monday at the University of Florida Health Shands Burn Center in Gainesville, Florida five weeks after ADRENALINE MOB's RV was struck by a tractor-trailer near Micanopy, Florida. The accident occurred when the tractor-trailer — dispatched by Largo, Florida company Twiss Transport Inc., veered off Interstate 75, crossed at least one full traffic lane before leaving the road, splitting the RV in half and causing it to become engulfed in flames. "She's literally fighting for her life," Ciarimboli said.

Ciarimboli and attorney Greg Fellerman expect to file a lawsuit against the trucking company in connection with the incident this week. Officials are awaiting the release of the tractor-trailer driver’s toxicology report, Ciarimboli said.

It was previously reported that a total of nine people were in the vehicles. One died, six were taken to area hospitals, and the other two declined medical treatment. The majority of those injured were taken to UF Health Shands Hospital and North Florida Regional Medical Center.

ADRENALINE MOB bassist David "Z" Zablidowsky was killed in the crash.

Robert Dressler, 45, of Plains, who was the band's soundman on the tour; and Jason McCole, 41, of Wilkes-Barre, who was driving the RV, were also injured.

The Citizens' Voice reported earlier in the month that Twiss Transport has a "satisfactory" rating from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, despite the fact that the company received 87 violations during the past 24 months. Of that total, 26 violations were for unsafe driving, 31 for hours-of-service compliance, 28 for vehicle maintenance and two for controlled substances and alcohol.

The company was also involved in 14 crashes, not including the ADRENALINE MOB crash, including one which caused a fatality, and seven that caused injury.

ADRENALINE MOB singer Russell Allen posted a message on his Facebook page in which he revealed that he helped pull Train and McCole from the wreckage before the RV became engulfed in flames. Allen sent special thanks to passer-by and Marine Lance Cpl. Patrick Dumon for his "bravery in assisting me."

Train is best known as lead singer of '80s cover band M80.

A GoFundMe page created for Rains's recovery expenses has raised more than $21,000 in 29 days.

ADRENALINE MOB was touring in support of its third studio album, "We The People", which was released in June via Century Media. The follow-up to 2014's "Men Of Honor" was the first ADRENALINE MOB release to feature Zablidowsky and drummer Jordan Cannata.

Throane, the creature of enigmatic photographer/illustrator/designer Dehn Sora (Blue Aus Nord, Ulver) is about to offer the world one of the most stunning trips of the year. The second album from this fascinating project, entitled Plus Une Main A Mordre, is scheduled for release on October 20th worldwide via Debemur Morti Productions.

Plus Une Main A Mordre is available for pre-order right now on Digipack CD, Gatefold 12" LP, Special edition Gatefold 12" LP and Digital edition. A t-shirt is also available. The enigmatic artwork was created by Dehn Sora himself.

Tracklisting:

“Aux Tirs Et Aux Traits”
“Et Ceux En Lesquels Ils Croyaient..”
“À Trop Réclamer Les Vers”
“Et Tout Finira Par Chuter”
“Mille Autres”
“Plus Une Main À Mordre”

Trailer:

"Howdy from Dallas, gang," says The Dead Daisies. "Before our show at the infamous Gas Monkey tonight, we want to take some time to look back on the past week of this insane tour! It’s hard to imagine, but this trip just keeps on getting wilder: From beachside adventures in Asbury Park to rocking Manhattan, from playing a sweat-soaked show in Atlanta to drumstick madness in Nashville - The Dirty Dozen Tour is ON FIRE! Not to mention our awesome concert in Baltimore, where so many young rockers showed up keeping the spirit alive!"

"We’d like to thank you all so so much for coming out, guys! We really couldn’t ask for a more awesome community and we’re so proud we get to play such amazing shows for you every night! With a special shoutout to our super dedicated Chain Gang members for holding the flag up high! You guys ROCK!"

"Can’t get enough? Check out the rad recap video from this week of The Dirty Dozen Tour! Next up we’ll be invading the Gas Monkey Dallas tonight! Get ready to party, Texas, because this is going to GET WILD!"

Catch The Dead Daisies live in concert:

August
23 - Gas Monkey - Dallas, TX
25 - El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
26 - House Of Blues - San Diego, CA
27 - Counts Vamp’d - Las Vegas NV

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

"Calling All Corpses! Tour time is right around the corner, and we have 45 shows coming up in 11 different countries," says Wednesday 13. "We are cleaning out the grave here and putting up some special eBay items to help out with tour funds." Items up for grabs include:

Stage Microphone, Mask, Tour Laminates Set

 Custom Made Stage Worn Mask

Monsters Of The Universe Record Store Day Test Pressing Vinyl

To view and/or bid on these items, and more, visit this location; auctions end Tuesday, August 29th.

The duke of spook, Wednesday 13, has announced the second leg of headlining dates supporting his latest album, Condolences. 

"We are excited to continue our Condolences Across America Tour to the east coast of the USA," commented Wednesday. "We have been having a blast with our new stage show and playing the new songs live. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the shows."

Confirmed dates are as follows:

September
21 - The Warehouse - Clarksville, TN
22- The Concourse at The International - Knoxville, TN
23 - Ground Zero - Spartanburg, NC
24 - State Theater - St. Petersburg, FL
26 - The Masquerade (Hell Room) - Atlanta, GA
29 - Canal Club - Richmond, VA
30 - Shocktober Fest - Sinking Spring, PA

October
1 - One Centre Square - Easton, PA
3 - Diesel Concert Lounge - Pittsburg, PA
4 - Machine Shop - Flint, MI
5 - Rockpile - Toronto, CAN
6 - Rockpile - Toronto, CAN
7 - Piranha Bar - Montreal, CAN
8 - Brass Monkey - Ottawa, CAN
9 - Middle East (Downstairs) - Cambridge, MA
10 - Saint Vitus - Brooklyn, NY
12 - HMAC - Harrisburg, PA
13 - The Agora - Cleveland, OH
14 - Aftershock - Kansis City, MO
15 - Outland Ballroom - Springfield, MO
19 - Sunshine Studios - Colorado Springs, CO
20 - Mesa Theater - Grand Junction, OR
21 - Diamondz Event Center - Jerome, ID

Condolences was released on June 2nd, via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The album was produced, mixed and mastered by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (Hatebreed, Rob Zombie). Artwork was created by Travis Smith (Opeth, Katatonia, Nevermore).

“Cruel To You” video:

“Blood Sick” video:

"What The Night Brings" video:

This Friday, August 25th, The Artisan Era will release Underneath a Melting Sky, the fourth full-length from technical death metal group Inanimate Existence. The band has launched an album stream of the album a few days before its release.

Inanimate Existence had this to say about the album: “We at Inanimate Existence are proud to announce the coming of our 4th studio album titled Underneath A Melting Sky. We have been working non-stop to bring this album to fruition and now the time has come to share it with all of you! Join us as we revisit our roots and reimagine a fresh take on our signature sound. Expect dark compositions riddled with brutal riffing that flow seamlessly into beautiful clean sections. Intricate bass lines that weave their way between unrelenting blast beats and grooving rhythms. Catchy melodies with layers of lead guitar with ethereal synthesizers, and an onslaught of duel vocals. The album drops on August 25th so be on the lookout and come see us this fall on tour!”

Underneath A Melting Sky tracklisting:

“Forever To Burn”
“Underneath A Melting Sky”
“In Moonlight I Am Rebornv
“Blood Of The Beggar”
“The Old Man In The Meadow”
“The Djinn”
“The Unseen Self”
“Formula Of Spores”

"In Moonlight I Am Reborn":

Lineup:

Cameron Porras - Guitar, Vocals
Scott Bradley - Bass, Vocals
Ron Casey - Drums

Eclipse Records has announced the signing of Coffin Carousel to an exclusive, worldwide deal. Coffin Carousel is an Australian horror-punk rock band based in Melbourne. The band infuses supercharged guitars and spooky sounds, with melodic hard-pressed vocals and action-packed drumming.
 
In 2014 when his band Diamond Noir went on a hiatus, frontman Howard Von Noise decided to launch Coffin Carousel as a way to stay active with his music. With a renewed drive and vigor, he quickly began recording new material and the band released their debut single Sinister in November 2014. In 2015 they released the cover single Doom Pop, a four-song EP entitled Predators, and the six-song EP Fiend. In 2016, the band released the double-single Bat Shit Crazy/Toxic Candy and another single entitled The Strange.
 
Their new album Between Death & Dead was recorded and produced by Howard Von Noise, and mixed by Neil Kernon (Queensryche, Dokken, Hall & Oats). Between Death & Dead features eighteen brand new songs of spooky, adrenaline-infused horror-punk, and will be released worldwide on October 13th via Eclipse Records.

Preorder information is available at Eclipse Records.

Tracklisting:

“Echoes From The Crypt”
“Pale Raven Sky”
“Majestic”
“Skull Candy”
“Black Casino”
“Death Delight”
“Beyond The Plague”
“Delusions”
“Bat Shit Crazy”
“The Crawler”
“So Cherry”
“Toxic Candy”
“Sleeping Hollow”
“Voodoo Riot”
“The Coffin”
“Devils Parade”
“Carnalveil”
“You Keep Me Hangin’ On” (The Supremes cover)

“Bat Shit Crazy” video:

Inner Wound Recordings has announced the signing of the female fronted melodic metal band Angel Nation to the label. The band's new album Aeon will be released on October 27th in Europe and North America. 

Angel Nation is a melodic metal band founded by the classically trained Finnish singer Elina Siirala who moved to London in 2008 and fell in love with the power of rock and metal.

Their debut album (released under the name EnkeliNation) Tears Of Lust was received with glowing reviews all over the world. The release in 2014 was followed by shows at Bloodstock Open Air, shows in Finland amongst others.  In 2016 Elina also joined Leaves' Eyes as their new vocalist. 

Angel Nation's second album Aeon continues the musical diversity that Elina likes to express in her songwriting. The unique blend of retro and modern sounds is developed even further with this album. The power of metal and rock combined with Elina's ethereal yet strong and emotional vocals create the perfect platform for stories of both earthly and otherworldly she likes to create with her lyrics. 

The album features a guest appearance by Jukka Pelkonen (Omnium Gatherum) on vocals and the artwork was created by Darkgrove Design (Apocalyptica, Delain, Leah).

Tracklisting:

“Burn The Witch”
“Blood Is On Your Hands”
“Breathe Again”
“Wonder Who You Are”
“Farewell”
“Free”
“Enough Is Enough”
“Music Plays”
“Fireflies”
“Destination”

Unmatched technical progressive metal band Oni have publicly cited Linkin Park as a longtime influence, and after the recent untimely death of vocalist Chester Bennington, the band decided to enter the studio to record a cover track and pay homage to their fallen musical hero. Right now, you can stream Oni's metal-charged cover of the classic Linkin Park track, "A Place For My Head".

Oni frontman Jake Oni says: "Linkin Park was the first band that introduced me into heavier music, which ultimately lead me down my path of metal. His voice and lyrics affected so many people, especially me. The world will not be the same without Chester Bennington. We decided to record this cover as a tribute to Linkin Park and Chester. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and fans."
 
Oni recently wrapped up tours with Devin Townsend Project, Gojira, Deafheaven and Code Orange, and have even more exciting touring plans scheduled for the fall, to be announced soon. Stay tuned for more information forthcoming.

Ironshore hit stores in November 2016 and was released by Metal Blade Records.. Ironshore was produced by Josh Wilbur, primarily recognized for his work with top metal artists Lamb Of God and Gojira. Upon release of the album, Oni undoubtedly introduced the metal world to the wonders of Xylosynth.

Los Angeles has always been a breeding ground for some of the finest traditional heavy metal and in recent years a new, young generation of bands have taken their ‘80s influences and created some new, exciting and original music. Blade Killer is and should be one of the groups noted for leading this true revolution of classic metal, as evidenced by the promise and reception of their 2014 self-titled EP and countless shows around the Southern California area. 
 
 “We’re excited to announce that Blade Killer has joined forces with M-Theory Audio to release our upcoming full-length album,” states bassist Kelsey Wilson. “There is much to look forward to on the horizon and we couldn’t be more stoked to have the support of M-Theory Audio and all of you!”
 
“Blade Killer is another band I’ve been eyeing for some time and wanted to bring to the label. I loved the EP and feel their potential and commitment to metal is unparalleled,” explains M-Theory founder Marco Barbieri. “I’m pleased to publicly announce the signing and look forward to hearing the group’s new recordings.”
 
Currently Blade Killer are diligently finishing up recording nine new songs to be released early next year but will be embarking on a string of west coast shows next month supporting BAT (with Ryan Waste and Nick Poulos (both of Municipal Waste) and (ex-D.R.I.) drummer Felix Griffin), including an L.A. show which features the return of old-school thrash metal band Evil Dead.
 
M-Theory Audio is the new label helmed by Marco Barbieri, former president of Century Media Records and Nuclear Blast America with a staff whose resumes include Prosthetic, Epitaph and Victory Records. M-Theory Audio features a burgeoning roster including such notable acts as Nomadic Folk Metal group Tengger Cavalry, Pagan metal warriors Helsott, doom/psychedelic outfit Blackfinger (featuring former Trouble vocalist Eric Wagner and Dream Death guitarist Terry Weston), female-fronted symphonic metal band Graveshadow and traditional metal band White Wizzard.

Upcoming live shows:

September
28 – San Diego, CA – Til-Two
29 – Los Angeles, CA – The Union
30 – Oakland, CA – Eli’s

On August 25th, Swedish heavy metallers Portrait will release their new full-length, Burn The World, worldwide via Metal Blade Records. The band is streaming new song "Mine To Reap" below. The album can be preordered on Metal Blade in the following formats:

--CD
--180g black vinyl
--pale violet red marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 500 copies) 
--pastel rose marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies) 
--mahogany brown marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies) 
--multi-coloured splatter vinyl (eBay exclusive - limited to 150 copies) 
--orange red marbled vinyl (USA exclusive - limited to 150 copies) 
--box-set (limited to 500 copies) with the album on pale pink clear vinyl and digipak CD, plus a patch, slipmat, photo card (signed by all members), and Mother Sun 12" featuring a cover of Judas Priest's "Mother Sun" as well as two exclusive demo versions on side B
* exclusive bundles with a shirt, plus digital options are also available!

Portrait comments: "Burn The World is our fiercest one to-date, holding all aspects of Portrait within it, yet in an even more dynamic, empowered and elevated form than its predecessors. Expect nothing else than sheer heavy metal rage dedicated to all forces that seek to end this world through their fires of adversity."

Burn The World contains guest appearances by Set Teitan (Dissection) and Kevin Bower (Hell).

Tracklisting:

“Saturn Return (Intro)”
“Burn The World”
“Likfassna”
“Flaming Blood”
“Martyrs”
“Further She Rode”
“The Sower’s Cross” (CD bonus track)
“To Die For”
“Pure Of Heart” 

"Mine To Reap":

"Martyrs":

"Burn The World":

Part 2 of an EPK video in support of David Gilmour’s upcoming Live At Pompeii release is available for streaming below.

45 years after Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour filmed Live At Pompeii in the legendary Roman Amphitheatre there, he returned for two spectacular shows that took place on July 7th and 8th, 2016, part of his year-long tour in support of his #1 album, Rattle That Lock. The performances were the first-ever rock concerts for an audience in the stone Roman amphitheatre, and, for two nights only, the 2,600 strong crowd stood exactly where gladiators would have fought in the first century AD.

David Gilmour Live At Pompeii is an audio experience on its own, while the audio-visual spectacle features lasers, pyrotechnics and a huge circular screen on which specially-created films complement selected songs. Paramount, however, is the incredible music: the show includes songs from throughout David's career, as well as many Pink Floyd classics, including “One Of These Days”, the only song that was also performed at the band’s 1971 show.

Both concerts also saw very special performances of “The Great Gig In The Sky” from The Dark Side Of The Moon, which David rarely plays as a solo artist. The 2-disc concert CD was produced by David Gilmour, and mixed by Andy Jackson and David Gilmour. The 148-minute concert film includes highlights from both shows, filmed in 4k by director Gavin Elder. DVD and Blu-ray versions contain an extra 7-minute documentary by Gavin Elder ‘Pompeii Then And Now’, while the Deluxe Blu-ray 4-disc box contains the 2xCD version, the 1xBlu-ray version, and a full 207 minutes of extra footage: 11 live performances and 5 documentaries, plus bonus collectables. Vinyl lovers can enjoy a deluxe 4xLP version in gatefold sleeves and a hardback slipcase, plus a 24-page photo booklet.

David Gilmour Live At Pompeii shows an artist at the top of his artistic game, performing incredible material with his world-class band, in a unique setting on one very special occasion. The release is set for September 29th.

Tracklisting:

“5 A.M.”
“Rattle That Lock”
“Faces Of Stone”
“What Do You Want From Me”
“The Blue”
“The Great Gig In The Sky”
“A Boat Lies Waiting”
“Wish You Were Here”
“Money”
“In Any Tongue”
“High Hopes”
“One Of These Days”
“Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts. 1 - 5)”
“Fat Old Sun”
“Coming Back To Life”
“On An Island”
“Today”
“Sorrow”
“Run Like Hell”
“Time” / “Breathe (In The Air)” (reprise)
“Comfortably Numb”

EPK Part 1:

EPK Part 2:

“A Boat Lies Waiting” excerpt:

Deluxe Box Set unboxing video:

“One Of These Days” excerpt:

“Rattle That Lock”:

Live At Pompeii will be in cinemas worldwide for one night only, September 13th. Tickets/info at this location. A trailer can be found below.

Presented in 4K and Dolby Atmos where available.

German metallers, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter, will release their new album, Der Rote Reiter, on August 25th via Nuclear Blast Records. A censored music video for the album track “Auf Und Nieder” is available for streaming below.

Der Rote Reiter was produced by the band and co-producers Alexander Dietz (Heaven Shall Burn) and Eike Freese (Deep Purple, Kai Hansen) at Chameleon Recording & Chemical Burn Studios.

Tracklisting:

“Wir Sind Zurück”
“Der Rote Reiter”
“Auf Und Nieder”
“Folgt Uns”
“Hört Mich An”
“The Great Experience Of Ecstasy”
“Franz Weiss”
“Die Freiheit Ist Eine Pflicht”
“Herz In Flammen”
“Brüder Auf Leben Und Tod”
“Ich Bin Weg”
“Ich Nehm Dir Deine Welt”
“Ich Werd Bleiben”

“Auf Und Nieder video:

Album teaser:

“Der Rote Reiter” video:

Trailer:

Austrian thrashers, Silius, have released a lyric video for “War Planet”, a track from their upcoming album, Hell Awakening, out on September 1st via Massacre Records. Watch the new clip below.

Hell Awakening was mixed and mastered by R.D. Liapakis and C. Schmid. Anestis Goudas is responsible for the cover artwork.

Silius' debut album is a wake-up call for everyone, who thinks that metal is a dying art! Expect a sound that feels like uncompromising punches in the gut, topped with fast, groovy and catchy melodies.

​

Tracklisting:

"Seven Demons"
"Immortalize"
"War Planet"
"Invictus"
"Anger Management"
"Kingdom Of Betrayal"
"Sick And Tired"
"Message In A Molotov"
"Tool Of Destruction"
"Joy And Pain"
"Evol Monument"

"War Planet" lyric video:

"Seven Demons" video: