Portland doom quartet, Usnea, have released a video for “Pyrrhic Victory”, a track from their upcoming third full-length album, Portals Into Futility. The clip can be found below.

Inspired by dystopian science-fiction and the painful intersection of today's crushing reality, Portals Into Futility is five songs and 56 minutes of expertly crafted and elegantly depressive doom/sludge. With an evolved sound of strength and dynamism, Usnea delve more into the worlds of dissonant death metal, varied vocal structures and cinematic composition, all while maintaining the monumental heaviness, brutality, discord, anger, and mournful melodicism of their previous work. Across dark and brooding peaks and valleys, Usnea remind us that no matter how many doors are opened to the human species, our self-aggrandizement and hubris all lead to futility.

Portals Into Futility is due out September 8th on CD/2xLP/Digital via Relapse Records. Physical pre-orders and exclusive bundles are currently available via Relapse.com at this location and digital pre-orders are available via Bandcamp here.

Portals Into Futility tracklisting:

“Eidolons And The Increate”
“Lathe Of Heaven”
“Demon Haunted World”
“Pyrrhic Victory”
“A Crown Of Desolation”

“Pyrrhic Victory” video:

“Lathe Of Heaven”:

Usnea will tour throughout Europe dates this fall as direct support for Ufomammut. The tour commences on September 30th in Paris and ends October 22nd in Munich while hitting 19 different cities. The tour includes appearances at multiple festivals including Up In Smoke, Doornroosje Festival and Keep It Doom. The band will also perform an exclusive US set at Psycho Las Vegas on August 18th. A complete listing of dates is available below.

Tour dates:

August
18 - Las Vegas, NV - Psycho Las Vegas

September (with Ufomammut)
30 - Paris, France - La Boule Noire

October (with Ufomammut)
1 - Nantes, France - Le Ferrailleur
3 - London, UK - Borderline
4 - Brussels, Belgium - Magasin 4
5 - Wiesbaden, Germany - Schlachthof
6 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Up In Smoke
7 - Nijmegen, Netherlands - Soulcrusher Festival @ Doornroosje Festival
8 - Bielefed, Germany - Forum
10 - Oslo, Norway - Blitz
11 - Stockholm, Sweden - Klub Undergangen
13 - Helsinki, Finland - Korjaamo Blowup VOL 3
14 - Tampere, Finland - Olympia-Kortelli
16 - Copenhagen, Denmark - KB 18
17 - Berlin, Germany - Lido
18 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
19 - Leipzig, Germany - Werk 2
20 - Wroclaw, Poland - Firley
21 - Prag Checkt, Germany - 007
22 - Munich, Germany - Keep It Doom

(Photo - Orion Landau)

A lyric video for “Waiting For You To Die”, the lead track from Lord Of The Lost’s upcoming Swan Songs II album, is available for streaming below.

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

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

Swan Songs II tracklisting:

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

“Waiting For You To Die” lyric video:

Teaser:

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

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

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

Relapse Records will release the new album from UK sludgecore legends Iron Monkey, entitled 9-13, on October 20th. A first glimpse has been offered via the following clip.

Heavily influenced by the nihilistic sound of groups like Eyehategod, Buzzov*en, Floor and Grief, Iron Monkey originally formed in Nottingham, England in 1994 and released two full-lengths (1997's self-titled debut and 1998's Our Problem), a live album and a split with Church Of Misery before splitting in 1999.

Now, almost two decades later, the band has decided to reform as a trio with co-founding members S. Watson on bass and J. Rushby on guitar / vocals. They're rounded out by new member S. Briggs (Chaos U.K.) who also played with original Iron Monkey vocalist J.P. Morrow in the short-lived sludge supergroup, My War.

The band commented on the reformation and new material: "We're older, more cynical, more isolationist. Musically, we're more aggressive, more focused - a direct assault. We intend to take what is rightfully ours, usurp the scene, then crush its skull."

(Photo - Ralph Barklam)

Ritualistic, apocalyptic noisemakers Atriarch are streaming their new album, Dead As Truth, ahead of tomorrow’s official release. Listen to the full album below.

Recorded and mixed by Greg Wilkinson at Earhammer Studios (Om, Graves At Sea, Vhol) and featuring artwork by Stevie Floyd (YOB, Dark Castle), Dead As Truth sees Atriarch venture deeper into the blackened abyss with haunting incantations, exotic drones, and crushing aural experimentations that boldly embrace death's cold heart. Fragments of post-punk, gothic doom, black metal, sludge, and noise complement the band's desolate universe and further supplement their most immediate and formidable release to date. Atriarch prescribe the order that there is but one truth and that is death.

Dead As Truth is set for release tomorrow, August 11th, on CD/LP/Digital via Relapse Records. Physical packages and digital order are available via Relapse.com here and Bandcamp here.

Dead As Truth tracklisting:

“Inferno”
“Dead”
“Devolver”
“Void”
“Repent”
“Hopeless”
“Void” (Demo) (Digital Bonus Track)
“Dead” (Demo) (Digital Bonus Track)
“Repent” (Demo) (Digital Bonus Track)

Album stream:

"Repent" video:

Additionally, the band is set to open for label-mates Inter Arma on a short run of West Coast dates this month. More dates will be announced shortly.

Tour dates with Inter Arma:

August
11 - Vancouver, BC - The Cobalt
12 - Seattle, WA - Barboza
13 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
17 - San Francisco, CA - Thee Parkside

Atriarch is:

Lenny Smith - Vocals
Joshua Dark - Guitar
Andrew Stromstad - Bass
Maxamillion Avila - Drums

(Photo - James Rexroad)

Greek melodic death metal upcomers, Aetherian, have released a lyric video for “Seeds Of Deception”, a track from their upcoming debut album, The Untamed Wilderness, to be released in November via Lifeforce Records. Watch the clip below.

Listening to Aetherian for the first time makes you think the band would come from Finland or Sweden, but the trio in fact is from sunny shores of Greece. Even with a Southern heritage and much more Vitamin D in their veins the band from Athens share the same melancholic genes as their “competitors” from the upper North. With the sound the band is creating we are very sure Aetherian will be playing in the first league of melodic death metal bands very soon.

In April 2016 the band self-released a video clip for their single “The Rain”, which received amazing feedback and well over 1.25 million plays on YouTube so far.

Sadly, former guitarist and singer Roland Johannsson has decided to leave The Unguided, but with new frontman Jonathan Thorpenberg, The Unguided have found the perfect replacement. After having released a 2-track EP in December of last year, it's time to get ready for the full-length studio album. The album, entitled And The Battle Royale, is scheduled for a worldwide November 10th release via Napalm Records.

Richard Sjunnesson states: "We've without doubt sacrificed our five souls into this one. Everyone knew it would be a career defining record after the departure of our highly acclaimed brother and we had no intensions to disappoint our fans nor ourselves writing and record this dynamic monster with innovative producer Dino Medanhodzic. Everyone indeed brought their absolute A-game on this record and Jonathan over performed in every possible way whilst also bringing something completely new to the table. A table which much urgently needed it I'd say. Come November and the battle royale will make or break you!"

Tracklisting:

“Death's Sting”
“The Heartbleed Bug”
“Legendary”
“Dark Metamorphosis”
“A Link To The Past”
“Anchor Stone (Of The World)”
“Manipulate Fear”
“Force Of Nature”
“King's Fall”
“Nighttaker” (Bonus Track)
“Daybreaker” (Bonus Track)
“Nighttaker” (Bonus Track)

The Unguided have decided to deliver a full live DVD with the limited digipak version on top of this new release. The DVD captures Roland Johansson's farewell show in Falkenberg (Sweden) with a unique 6-man strong setting of the band.

And The Battle Royale"will be available as digital album download, as well as 6-page digipak including the already mentioned bonus DVD.

The track listing of the DVD reads as follows:

“Becoming Death” (Intro)
“Enraged”
“King Of Clubs”
“Blodbad”
“Heartseeker”
“Green Eyed Demon” (Feat. Christoffer Andersson)
“Unguided Entity”
“Betrayer Of The Code” (Feat. John Bengtsson)
“Operation: E.A.E.”
“Eye Of The Thylacine”
“Inherit The Earth”
“The Worst Day” (Revisited)
“Nighttaker”
“Phoenix Down”
“Hate (And Other Triumphs)”

Pre-orders will be available shortly.

In terms of excellent songwriting, both vocalists, Richard Sjunnesson and new addition Jonathan Thorpenberg, are building up a perfect symbiosis of brutal shouts and huge melodies. Stomping industrial is gilded in heavy-handed synthesizers as a battle trophy. And The Battle Royale is a must-have for all those who value pure harshness with a good portion of sex appeal

The second studio release from Phantom 5, entitled Play II Win, will be released on October 13th. A video for the album track “Crossfire” is available for streaming below.

After the success of their self-titled debut album, the brainchild of producer/guitarist (and for this record, bassist) Michael Voss and vocalist Claus Lessmann have returned with yet another incredible outing of impeccable German melodic hard rock. Once again joined by Robert Boebel on guitars and keyboards and Axel Kruse on drums, these fist pumping anthems will tickle the eardrums of any connoisseur of melodic hard rock.

Michael Voss says, "To all the rockers out there, we are more than happy to continue this lab our of love and come back with a bang! Again, guitar wizard Robby Boebel delivered powerful riffs and Claus wrote some magic melodies. The drums were delivered by heart-pounding visual timekeeper Axel Kruse and taped by the famous Rolf Munkes at Empire Studios. 11 well balanced songs, full of emotion and power, right in the vein of our first album. If you like the first one, you will love the new one! Come and get it... and play it loud...we play 2 win!!!"

Tracklisting:

“The Change In You”
“Crossfire”
“Baptised”
“Read Your Mind”
“Play To Win”
“Child Soldiers”
“Do You Believe In Love”
“Phantom Child”
“Had Enuff”
“Shadows Dance”
“Reach Out”

“Crossfire” video:

“The Change In You” lyric video:

Newly formed black metal duo/recent Relapse signees, Poison Blood, will unleash their debut, self-titled EP tomorrow (August 11th). A collaboration between Horseback’s Jenks Miller and Krieg’s Neill Jameson was born out of Miller’s desire to write music that was an outlet for a more straightforward kind of aggression, Poison Blood‘s eponymous debut EP is a short but furious chronicle of cold, reptilian sonic terror. An advance EP stream is available below.

Poison Blood will be available on CD/LP/Digital via Relapse Records. Physical pre-orders and exclusive bundles are currently available via Relapse.com at this location and digital pre-orders are available via Bandcamp here.

The album artwork was created by Viral Graphics.

Poison Blood tracklisting:

“The Scourge And The Gestalt”
“Deformed Lights”
“Myths From The Desert”
“A Cracked And Desolate Sky”
“The Flower Of Serpents”
“Shelter Beneath The Sea”
“From The Lash”
“Circles Of Salt”

EP stream:

Sweden’s Antarktis, who recently signed a record deal with Agonia Records, have revealed details for their debut album, Ildlaante. Set to be released on October 6th, the record features six tracks with a playing time of 52 minutes. A video for the first single, "Svalbard", is available for streaming below.

Antarktis was co-founded by guitarists Björn Pettersson (In Mourning) and Tobias Netzell (In Mourning, ex-October Tide). Initially a few songs were written, yet laid on ice before they ever saw the light of day. As years passed, the idea of Antarktis was picked up once again, and what first started out as an after work side project, ventured off into a territory uncharted by the duo's mother band, In Mourning. Thanks to vocalist and bassist Daniel Jansson (Ikhon) and drummer Jonas Martinsson (Me The Tiger, Necrosavant), the lineup got completed in 2013, giving Antarktis new life and a personality of its own.

The band comented on the debut album: "We are all extremely proud of this album and we're excited to finally be getting it out. We've really grown together a lot as a band since we formed, into something where we all can contribute and write together very unconditionally. The entire album and the process behind it is very much a group effort which we think makes it stand apart from what we do with our respective other bands and projects. Our hats off to Karl Daniel Lidén for a meaty mix/master and to Emy Rojas for the beautiful art."

Ildlaante was recorded between September 2016 and February 2017 in three different studios in Sweden. Drums were tracked with Alexander Backlund and Sebastian Svalland at Nailvillage Studio. Guitars, bass, vocals and keyboards at Studio Libra, while additional vocals at Ikhon HQ. The record was mixed and mastered by Karl Daniel Lidén (Breach, Terra Tenebrosa, The Old Wind). Artwork was created by Emy Rojas of Arrache-toi Un Oeil (Converge, Sunn O))) and Clutch).

Tracklisting:

“Aurora”
“Svalbard”
“Notes From Underground”
“Ildlaante”
“Cape Meteor Pt 1”
“Cape Meteor Pt 2”

“Svalbard” video:

Album formats:

- Digipack CD
- Double regular black LP
- Double transparent LP with blue & silver splatter
- T-shirt
- Digital

Pre-orders:

* CD/LP/Merch
* Digital

Lineup:

Daniel Jansson - Bass/Vocals
Björn Pettersson - Guitar
Tobias Netzell - Guitar
Jonas Martinsson - Drums

(Photo - Pierre Stam)

Assembled in 2003 to infiltrate, build and destroy, Gatineau, Quebec’s Insurrection is an aural onslaught assaulting witnesses in both languages of French and English. Known for blending calculated technicality with a signature mixture of merciless death metal, the band has emerged to be one of the most prominent Eastern Canadian metal bands.

Annihilating the masses with their three previous full lengths Prototype (2013), Fracture (2010) and Prologue (2009), Insurrection is ready to once again push their metal to blasphemous levels with their next release, Extraction. A ten track aberration, ready to shock and blast fans to the next life. The album is produced by Pierre Rémillard at Wild Studio (Cryptopsy, Voivod, Krisiun, etc.) and features guest vocals from Bruno Bernier (Obliveon) on "Data Extracted ... End Transmission". Slated for release on October 6th via Galy Records, the band is revealing to fans the artwork and tracklisting.

Tracklisting:

“System Failure”
“Onward To Extinction”
“Pull The Plug”
“Le Prix à Payer”
“The Eulogy of Hatred”
“Parasite”
“Le Pesant D'Or”
“Misère Noire”
“Assassins”
“Data Extracted ... End Transmission” featuring Bruno Bernier (Obliveon)

In addition to the release of their fourth album, Insurrection will be spreading the notoriety of their live shows across areas of Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick in promotion of Extraction (dates listed below).  

Vocalist Stef Jomphe comments: "I think I speak for the others guys in the band when I say all this news is more than exciting. This tour we're embarking on is all about meeting up with the fans who supported us in the past and present. We've been working on 'Extraction' for quite some time and we know ‎fans will have as much fun listening to it as we will playing it live for everyone!"

Tour dates:

August
26 - Saguenay, QC - Salle 4-Barils†

September
1 - Lavaltrie, QC - Café  Chasse-Galerie
15 - Niagara Falls, ON - Geekery Pub*
16 - Guelph, ON - Van Gogh's Ear
29 -  Rimouski, QC - Le Cactus†
30 - Edmundston, NB - Café D’La Forge

October
7 - Repentigny, QC - Salle Laurent-Venne
13 - Mont-Laurier, QC - Pub 99†
14 - Rouyn, QC - Salle Evoluson†
15 - Sudbury, ON - The Asylum
27 - Cornwall, ON - La Taverne
28 - Gatineau, QC - Le Minotaure†
29 - Ste-Thérèse, QC - Monte-Cristo

November
3 - Sherbrooke, QC - Magog
4 - Trois-Rivières, QC - Thrashfest
25 - Lévis, QC - Le Corsaire†
26 - Drummondville, QC - TBA

† with Blinded By Faith
* with Accursed Spawn

CD lineup:

Stef Jomphe - Vocals
Vincent Laprade Séguin - Guitar
Antonin Perras-Foisy - Guitar
Francis Girard - Bass
Philipe Moreau-Latreille - Drums
Guest Vocals : Bruno Bernier (Obliveon) on track 10. “Data Extracted … End Transmission”

Touring lineup:

Stef Jomphe - Vocals
Vincent Laprade Séguin - Guitar
Antonin Perras-Foisy - Guitar
Martin Samson - Bass
Stéphane Desilets - Drums

(Photo - Nicolas Paquet)

Swedish crossover kings, Dr. Living Dead!, will release their new studio album, Cosmic Conqueror, on October 27th via Century Media Records. Bringing you 11 skull-fracturing thrash metal anthems, a 40-minute lethal injection of metal thrashing madness. Check out the album artwork below.

The album recordings took place at Studio Rovljud in Örebro, Sweden, helmed by Martin Jacobsson and Anders Alexandersson who both worked with the band on their previous effort.

A first glimpse into the album will be released in September. Please proceed to the waiting room until you’re called.

(Photo - Emmelie Herwegh)

The Fright will release their new album, Canto V, on October 13th via SPV/Steamhammer.

Put your hand on your heart: It's hardly going to be any old random stories when a band like The Fright names its latest release after one of the greatest works of world literature. The title, Canto V, goes back to Dante's Inferno, in other words to the opening section of his Divine Comedy, and it documents two things: Firstly, it's the fifth studio album by the formation from Thüringen (which explains the Roman symbol for 5), secondly, it's a particularly special piece of work, both musically and with regard to subject matter.

For, even more than on their previous releases, on Canto V, The Fright perfects their greatest strengths. At the same time, their first-class songwriting once again effortlessly meets international standards, sounding as catchy as it is ambitious. As we have become accustomed, the Thuringian dark rockers' sound derives from a wide variety of sources, from gothic rock legends like Bauhaus, The Cult, The Mission, Sisters Of Mercy and The 69 Eyes (who The Fright toured with in 2013) to traditional hard rock à la Whitesnake, Mötley Crüe, Guns N’ Roses and Skid Row. "I love Sebastian Bach!,” confesses singer Lon Fright, who founded the group back in 2002.

The album was produced by well-known producer Waldemar Sorychta (Lacuna Coil, Tiamat, Sodom, Moonspell).

Waldemar Sorychta about the co-operation with The Fright: "This is a really outstanding band and they present a well dosed mixture between Gothic tunes and Metal. Strong melodies and hook lines alongside a very talented shouter - this is top notch! The whole production process was extremely enjoyable. I definitely found some new friends. Thanks a lot guys."

Canto V will be available digitally in North America. Cover art by German artist Timo Würz.

Tracklisting:

“Bonfire”
“No One”
“Wander Alone”
“Love Is Gone”
“Fade Away”
“Oblivion”
“Leave”
“Drowned In Red”
“Century Without A Name”
“In Sicherheit”

(Photo - Liss Eulenherz Photography)

Kings And Liars - the hard rock upstart featuring Nick Bellmore of Toxic Holocaust along with current members of Jasta and Kingdom Of Sorrow have partnered up with BraveWords for the premiere of their first ever music video for the breakout single, “Recently Departed.”

“‘Recently Departed’ was a lifelong goal of combining our love of the infamous ‘blues groove’, sludge-y metal, three part harmonies and a heavy breakdown. For Kings And Liars first video we wanted to avoid a story based video and instead focus on what we do best - play.”  - Guitarist Charlie Bellmore.

Pulling from their pure love of early metal and larger doses of ‘90ss grunge rock, Kings And Liars move past the “classic rock” ear tag driving their sound forward with the volume up and the pedal flat. What began as an outlet for guitarist Charlie Bellmore while he wasn’t touring with Jasta and Kingdom Of Sorrow has now become a burgeoning force on the scene. After playing all across Connecticut and the Tri-State area, Kings And Liars orchestrated the soft release of their 4-song EP teaser titled Machines earlier this year. The EP is part one of three to be released later this year.

Supercharging their way into second half of 2017; Kings And Liars will unveil even more details on their forthcoming extended plays and North American tour dates to be announced. Residents of Maine can catch Kings And Liars live at Geno’s rock club on August 12th in Portland, ME alongside Devils Nite Out and Culling The Herd.

Stream Machines on Spotify. Limited edition (100 copies only) handmade hard copies of Machines are also available exclusively at Bandcamp.

Canadian hardcore/punk outfit Comeback Kid have released a third trailer for their upcoming album, Outsider, out on September 8th via New Damage Records in Canada and Nuclear Blast throughout the rest of the world. Watch the new video below, and order the new album here.

Tracklisting:

“Outsider”
“Surrender Control”
“Absolute” (feat. Devin Townsend)
“Hell Of A Scene”
“Somewhere, Somehow”
“Consumed The Vision” (feat. Chris Cresswell)
“I’ll Be That”
“Outrage (Fresh Face, Stale Cause)”
“Blindspot”
“Livid, I’m Prime”
“Recover”
“Throw That Stone”
“Moment In Time” (feat. Northcote)

“Surrender Control” video:

“Somewhere, Somehow” video:

“Absolute” (featuring Devin Townsend):

Trailer #1:

Trailer #2:

Trailer #3:

(Photo - Alexey Makhov)

KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch joined BABYMETAL on stage — his face painted in the same white-and-black makeup as the Japanese act's backing band — on June 25 at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa, Idaho. Official video footage from KORN, as well as a couple of fan-filmed clips, of the collaboration can be seen below.

BABYMETAL was one of the support acts on KORN's "The Serenity Of Summer" tour, also featuring STONE SOUR, YELAWOLF and ISLANDER.

KORN's latest album, "The Serenity Of Suffering", came out at the end of October. The track "A Different World" features a guest appearance from SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor.

BABYMETAL released "Live At Tokyo Dome", in April. The 2 Blu-ray + 4 CD set captures the band's two September 2016 concerts at Tokyo Dome which saw BABYMETAL perform in front of 110,000 people.

BABYMETAL's members — Suzuka Nakamoto (a.k.a. Su-Metal, who handles vocals and dancing), Yui Mizuno (a.k.a. Yuimetal) and Moa Kikuchi (a.k.a. Moametal), the latter of whom both scream and dance — admit that they had never listened to metal before joining the group. The girls wear gothy schoolgirl costumes, do choreographed dance routines and bang their heads violently.

The Japanese pop-metal sensation made its U.S. late-night TV debut on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" in April 2016, performing "Gimme Chocolate" off their debut album.

Head x @BABYMETAL_JAPAN? #korn #babymetal #serenityofsummer #korn17 pic.twitter.com/MdRwmeq1Za

— Korn (@Korn) August 10, 2017

Corey Taylor has slammed people who have have implied Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell were "cowards" for taking their own lives, saying that such criticism is "simplifying a very real issue."

The LINKIN PARK singer was found dead late last month at his home in Southern California. A Los Angeles County coroner confirmed that the cause of death was "suicide by hanging."

After Cornell committed suicide in May, Bennington sang at his funeral and also wrote a heartfelt message paying tribute to the SOUNDGARDEN frontman.

Chester died on July 20, which would have been Cornell's 53rd birthday.

The suicides of these two high-profile musicians drew serious critics, all of whom wondered how someone could do something so extremely "selfish." That included KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch, who blasted Bennington as a "coward" for leaving six kids and a family behind.

In a brand new interview with Loudwire, Taylor, who has always been very open about his battle with depression and the natural ways he tries to combat it, was asked for his opinion on some people's insistence that suicide is an act of cowardice.

"Calling them 'cowards' is a very immature way of looking at it," Taylor said (see video below). "Obviously, [the people who are saying that are] hurt, which is why they're lashing out and saying that. It's the easy way to look at something like that, because it makes you not have to face what a serious issue it is. It's easy for someone to label it like that so they can turn their back on it and pretend that it was something that didn't happen to them, when inside they're hurting."

He continued: "People who fight depression are almost in a constant state of hurting. It comes and goes. The tide rises, the tide ebbs, and sometimes it's hard to get past that break."

Taylor reiterated that calling people like Bennington and Cornell "cowards" is "not only immature, but it's also a cop-out. It's needlessly — needlessly — simplifying a very real issue," he explained. "An issue that might have a lot to do with a lot of the other issues that are going on in our country right now. Whether it's suicide or the opioid problem that's going on right now, people don't wanna feel. Why do they not wanna feel? Let's get to the bottom of that. Let's get to the bottom of why there is a rise in not only PTSD, but severe depression across the board."

Corey pointed out that he personally suffers from manic depression, "which means I rise and fall, I crash and I burn," he said. "I've got the practice and I've got the people to talk to so I can keep myself from really breaking myself against that wall. But it's tough, man. It's tough. And some people don't have that luxury. Some people, like our friends, the wall pushes back, and it is a goddamn tragedy. That does not make them cowards. I've even heard people recently say something to the fact of, 'It was bound to happen. This was always going to happen.' And I've gotten so angry hearing that that I've gone on record as saying that 'you are absolutely wrong for saying that.'"

According to Taylor, suicide should never be a foregone conclusion. "That means you're not listening," he said. "You say you care about that person? That means you're not listening. So I'm listening. So I'm doing everything I can to make sure that people know that there are people out there listening. There are places to go. Whether it's a friend or a stranger, there are organizations, there are centers, there are people who are dedicated to listening. Because sometimes that's all you need — just someone to listen. It's not gonna change the severity of it, but it's gonna help you feel a little better. It will take away that solitary confinement. It will take away that sense that you're alone. You're not. You're not alone. Not one person out there who feels that way is alone. I feel it, I'm sure you know people who feel it, or you feel it. You're not alone. And it is important for people to know that. You're not a coward. You're not alone. Get the help you need. There are ways to find it."

Neither Chester nor Chris left a suicide note.

The two singers bonded when they toured together nearly a decade ago.

American singer/songwriter Julia Michaels (pictured), who co-wrote LINKIN PARK's "Heavy" single, she finds it difficult to listen to the track now in light of Chester Bennington's suicide last month.

"I've listened to LINKIN PARK for years," Julia tells Billboard. "When I was growing up, my brother was such a huge fan of theirs, so it was always around in my house."

The 23-year-old from Santa Clarita, California, who began singing and writing songs at the young age of 12, became friends with Bennington after they worked together and her songwriting partner Justin Trantor.

According to Michaels, the concept for "Heavy", which focuses on self-care and "dragging around" personal issues, was the LINKIN PARK singer's idea

"He was like, 'I wanna write a song about how sometimes you get really weighed down by all your problems, and sometimes it's really hard to get out of that,'" she explains. "I was like, 'Yeah, let's do that.' And we wrote the song in about two hours."

Michaels also remembers Chester being "really funny" and "really warm" while they were working together with LINKIN PARK's Mike Shinoda and Brad Delson.

"He came in and was really funny and really warm, and had the biggest smile on his face," Michaels says. "He was just cracking jokes and having the best time, and Mike [Shinoda] and him were going back and forth, just making each other laugh.

"[The band] was so excited about putting out new music, and just so happy and just so lovely," she adds. "So it's really strange that these circumstances have happened. I have a really hard time listening to the song now because of it."

In a March 2017 interview with News Corp., Bennington was full of praise for his collaboration with Michaels and Trantor.

"They're a lot of fun to be in the room with," Bennington said. "Justin has an incredible sense of humour, Julia was really quiet in the studio. She's super bright. Together they're a very interesting team. She has a lot of personality but she's selective on how she lets it out. They brought this fun, edgy creativity to the room. It was really easy, it was really fun and very thoughtful."

He continued: "Julia has such a great voice, I was saying, 'You should sing your stuff. Why are you not out the front and in the background?' She said she wasn't that comfortable being a huge pop star. My ego would like to think that maybe I helped push her on her solo path."

"Heavy" was the first single from LINKIN PARK's latest album, "One More Light", which came out in May. The track featured singer Kiiara trading verses with Bennington over what was described by Rolling Stone magazine as "a sparse but nimble pop groove of swirling synths and rapt percussion."

Michaels recently released her debut mini-album called "Nervous System".

On July 19, ex-QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate spoke to the Hit Parader fan page about his recent chance encounter with his former bandmates at a festival in Spain. Tate said (see video below): "We had a massive falling out in 2012, which led me to leave the band and for them to sue me and take me to court. And there was lot of money that exchanged hands and a lot of bad things were said in the press. And we never had spoken since May of 2012 — we hadn't spoken a word. Just recently, two weeks ago, I got asked to appear with a European band called AVANTASIA. And we did a couple of shows in Switzerland and one in Barcelona where they were headlining a music festival there. When I get there, at the music festival, I see that QUEENSRŸCHE is opening the dates. So I [thought], 'I've gotta go see them.' I hadn't seen them play without me ever, and I hadn't even heard anything since I left the band, and I'd never heard their new singer [Todd La Torre]. So I went out to the show. And I ended up talking to everybody, and we all had pleasantries to say to each other, and I watched the show. God, that guy [Todd] — he's a great singer. He's fantastic. He sounds just like me."

Geoff added that the first time he had ever spoken with La Torre "was in Barcelona and we had a nice conversation and did a selfie together." He laughed before adding: "I guess that means something. Does that mean we're dating, or what does it mean?"

La Torre joined QUEENSRŸCHE as the replacement for Tate, who was the band's original lead vocalist, after the latter was fired in 2012. A two-year legal battle followed where Tate sued for the QUEENSRŸCHE name, only for his former bandmates Michael Wilton (guitar), Scott Rockenfield (drums) and Eddie Jackson (bass) to respond with a countersuit. They eventually settled the dispute, with Wilton, Rockenfield and Jackson continuing as QUEENSRŸCHE, and Tate now having the sole right to perform the albums "Operation: Mindcrime" and "Operation: Mindcrime II" in their entirety live.

Todd told the "Trunk Nation" radio show earlier in the week that his meeting with Tate was "a nice, complimentary exchange. We shook each other's hands, we did a little selfie. He was nice to me, I was nice to him. So, should there ever be another time where we're in the same area, it's nice to know that he could walk up to me or I could walk up to him, or whatever, and it's fine. So that was good."

QUEENSRŸCHE has released two albums thus far with La Torre on vocals: 2013's "Queensrÿche" and 2015's "Condition Hüman".

The band is scheduled to enter the studio in September to begin recording its next disc for an early 2018 release.

Tracii Guns has spoken out against cell phone use at concerts, saying that L.A. GUNS would like to "connect with humans in the front" of the band's live shows "instead of cameras."

In a post on his Facebook page, Tracii wrote: "Okay, lol, I have to address this. YOUR CAMERA PHONES ARE DISTRACTING WHEN WE ARE PLAYING. If you are taking video, please don't leave your flash on — it blinds us. If you are videoing at the front of the stage, it seems to us you aren't involved in the moment. It would be nice if you could video from the back so we can connect with humans in the front instead of cameras."

He continued: "Sheesh, we live in an odd time. We love ya, but the camera phones are tripping us out. I am sure we aren't the only performers that are going through this."

A number of other musicians have come out in recent years to say that mobile technology is ruining the concert experience, including SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR singer Corey Taylor. He told "Loudwire Nights" that "it's fine" if people want to take pictures of his bands' shows, but not so much if they are videotaping entire performances. "It's one thing to film it, it's another thing to just be staring at your screen while you're filming it," he said. "It's right there. Are you so terrified of real life that you can't do anything unless it's on that little four-by-four screen? Ugggh. It's very weird."

Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach in 2015 urged fans to keep their cell phones at the bottom of their pockets and just watch his performances. "Be in the moment," he said. "You're distracted and it's distracting to the performer as well. Like, put your fuckin' cell phone away, dammit! You're never even going to watch that footage."

The overuse of cellphones to capture grainy, blurry photos and videos at concerts has for years vexed and enraged artists like Bach, who lamented the fact that every one of his performances could be recorded and shared on YouTube almost immediately.

"If I go to a wedding and sing a song, it's on Blabbermouth the next day and everybody analyzes it," said Bach. "It's a really backwards way to watch a band. It's a drag sometimes when I go up there and the first thing I see is everybody getting their phones out and holding them toward my face. It makes you feel intimidated."

Bach said that he finds it impossible to stand still while singing in concert because adrenaline takes over, leaving him open to criticism by making it difficult for him to deliver pitch-perfect performances.

"I try to tell myself that, but I can't do it," said Bach with a laugh. "The music gets in me and I want to move and jump. I don't want to stand there frozen like a tree and be filmed."

Back in 2012, Bruce Dickinson chastised a fan for texting during an IRON MAIDEN concert, calling him a "wanker."




Ok lol I have to address this . YOUR CAMERA PHONES ARE DISTRACTING WHEN WE ARE PLAYING . If you are taking video please...

Posted by TRACII GUNS on Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Professionally filmed video footage of METALLICA performing the song "Halo On Fire" on August 4 at University Of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona can be seen below.

The North American leg of METALLICA's "WorldWired" trek will hit stadiums in four more cities before ending in mid-August.

The next stop on the tour is Seattle, Washington on August 9.

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame band is touring in support of its tenth studio album, "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", which came out last November.

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told Rolling Stone that the band was genuinely surprised to learn they could still play stadiums, saying, "It was like, 'Holy fuck, people really still care about this band in ways that you stopped taking for granted literally decades ago. It was very inspiring and kind of eye-opening."

He added: "Full stadium runs can sometimes be a little intimidating. There's all these things to worry about like, 'You should really try to play maybe only on the weekend,' and, 'Where do you play on Tuesday?' and some of those practicalities can get a little bewildering. We just threw caution to the wind. Doing a stadium run seemed like the perfect thing on the back of how well this record has been received and all the good will that's out there in METALLICA's world right now."

2017 marks the twentieth anniversary of BLACKMORE'S NIGHT — the internationally heralded Renaissance rock band helmed by six-string extraordinaire Ritchie Blackmore and his wife, vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Candice Night. To celebrate, the band will release "To The Moon And Back: 20 Years And Beyond…", a two-disc collection of favorites and new material, on August 18.

"To The Moon And Back" boasts three brand new songs: "Ghost Of John", which proudly introduces the vocals of Autumn Blackmore (the 6-year daughter of Blackmore and Night) at the close of the song, Blackmore's "Land Of Hope and Glory" (a reworking of British patriotic anthem "Pomp And Circumstance March No. 1", written in 1902), and a cover of favored RAINBOW tune "I Surrender", with Night providing the vocals.

Additionally, the set includes re-recorded versions of catalog favorites "Moonlight Shadow", "Somewhere Over The Sea", "Coming Home", and "Writing On The Wall". This new material is buoyed with BLACKMORE'S NIGHT classics, such as "Shadow Of The Moon", "Ghost Of A Rose", and "Under A Violet Moon", and a live version of "Home Again", fully rounding out this best-of compilation. The included booklet displays a collage of memorabilia, showcasing live band photos, backstage passes, and tour flyers. Completing "To The Moon And Back" is a behind-the-scenes bonus video of Blackmore and Night rehearsing at a soundcheck, allowing fans an intimate glimpse of the band before a show.

"We hope you enjoy this musical journey down memory lane from 'Shadow Of The Moon'… our first release… through our brand new 2017 versions of old favorites and a new surprise song. 20 years of memorable music and beyond..." enthuse Blackmore and Night.

The magic of BLACKMORE'S NIGHT is their ability to transport the listener to a bygone era, gathered around a fire or in an old renaissance tavern. Their sold-out concerts resemble that era, with band and fans alike decked out in Renaissance garb, losing themselves in the mirth of the music. This ambiance is created via Blackmore's dexterous movement between acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin, mandola, cello, and hurdy gurdy, Night's ethereal vocals and command of seven medieval woodwind instruments (bagpipe, chanters, shawms, and pennywhistles, to name a few), and the consummate musicianship of keyboardist/back-up vocalist Bard David, violinist Scarlett Fiddler, back-up vocalist/shawm player Lady Lynn, bassist/rhythmic guitarist Earl Grey, and percussionist Troubadour of Aberdeen.

"To The Moon And Back: 20 Years And Beyond…" track listing:

CD 1:

01. Shadow Of The Moon 02. Spirit Of The Sea 03. Renaissance Faire 04. Play Minstrel Play 05. Under A Violet Moon 06. Spanish Nights 07. Fires At Midnight 08. Ghost Of A Rose 09. Cartouche 10. Village Lanterne 11. The Circle12. 25 Years13. Dandelion Wine14. Home Again (live)

CD 2:

01. I Surrender (bonus track) 02. Moonlight Shadow (2017 version) 03. Somewhere Over The Sea (2017 version) 04. Writing On The Wall (2017 version) 05. Coming Home (2017 version) 06. Ghost Of John (bonus track) 07. Minstrel Hall 08. Possum Goes To Prague 09. Durch den Wald zum Bach Haus 10. Nur eine Minute 11. Village Dance 12. Land Of Hope And Glory (2017 single version) 13. Bonus Video

According to The Seattle Times, Chris Cornell's widow, Vicky Cornell, has hired the artist and sculptor Wayne Toth to create a statue of the SOUNDGARDEN frontman to be placed somewhere in Seattle, where the singer was born and nurtured his music career.

"He has already given me a design and the children and I love it," Vicky said of Toth, who created the statue of Johnny Ramone that stands at his grave at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, where Chris Cornell is buried.

Vicky said that it will take Toth about seven months to create to create the statue, for which Seattle attorney and family friend Mark Johnson is working with the city to find a location.

"He is Seattle's son," she said, "and we will be bringing him home and honoring him, I hope, with all of you, your love and support."

Cornell was pronounced dead on May 18 after being found unresponsive in his Detroit hotel room the previous night. SOUNDGARDEN had played a show earlier that evening.

The 52-year-old had sedatives and an anxiety drug in his system on the night he died by hanging himself. According to a completed toxicology report released by Michigan's Wayne County Medical Examiner, the drugs didn't contribute to the cause of death.

In addition to SOUNDGARDEN, Cornell sang with AUDIOSLAVE and TEMPLE OF THE DOG, while also recording four solo studio albums and one live set on his own.

"Betray And Degrade", the new video from SEETHER, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's seventh full-length studio album, titled "Poison The Parish", which was released on May 12. The first release via frontman Shaun Morgan's new label imprint Canine Riot Records was recorded at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, Tennessee with Morgan taking the reins as producer. He told Billboard of manning the boards: "Ultimately, at the end of the day, I didn't want anybody else to answer to. For me, it was kind of a liberating experience, because I was making an album where I was getting it to sound like I always wanted it to sound like."

Morgan added that he learned much from SEETHER's previous producers: Jay Baumgardner, Bob Marlette, Howard Benson and Brendan O'Brien. "They're all great in their own right," said Morgan. "Of all the producers I learned the most from, [it was] definitely Brendan O'Brien. I learned from him what to do and I learned from the other guys what not to do, so with that kind of knowledge and having done six albums at that point, I figured I had enough information that I could try it myself."

SEETHER has logged more than twenty top 10 hits on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Songs chart, including the No. 1s "Remedy", "Fake It", "Country Song", "Tonight" and "Words As Weapons". They have also notched four top 10s on the Billboard 200 and have accumulated U.S. album sales of 4.5 million, according to Nielsen Music.

SEETHER is currently on the last leg of its North American tour and will embark on a European trek next month.

German/American heavy metal veterans ACCEPT celebrated the release of their new album, "The Rise Of Chaos", with a special performance last Thursday, August 3 at the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany. The set consisted of three parts: a classic ACCEPT set, packed with new and old hits; ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann playing tracks from his solo album, "Headbangers Symphony", with an orchestra for the very first time; and the entire ACCEPT band sharing the stage with the orchestra, supported by a complex multimedia show.

This unique concert experience took place on this year's "Night To Remember", which made it even more special. The "Night To Remember" is a celebrated, long-lasting Wacken tradition; for one night of the festival, an established band does something unique and special with its performance.

Professionally filmed video footage of ACCEPT performing the song "Die By The Sword" at this year's Wacken Open Air can be seen below. The track is taken from "The Rise Of Chaos", which was released on August 4 via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2014's "Blind Rage" is the first ACCEPT album to feature the band's latest additions, guitarist Uwe Lulis (GRAVE DIGGER, REBELLION) and drummer Christopher Williams.

Hoffmann told Spain's MariskalRock TV about "The Rise Of Chaos": "It was recorded by the same team as the last three albums — it was Andy Sneap producing and Mark Tornillo on vocals and Peter Baltes [bass] and myself in the band. We have two new members, but other than that, it was recorded and written exactly the same way as all the other previous three albums. [It was] recorded mainly in Nashville, mixed in England. And, yeah, we took all of last year to write the songs, and I think it sounds [like] typical ACCEPT."

Regarding the "The Rise Of Chaos" title, Wolf said: "The title just seemed to come out of nowhere. It really seems to fit the times that we live in. It really means the world is getting more and more chaotic, and that's what we feel like. So when we had the [title track], it seemed to just fit the times that we live in. It's not really about any chaos in particular, but if you look at politics nowadays, there's chaos; if you look at the global warming or the climate change, that's chaotic; or a lot of the Syrian crisis and the refugees in the world, there's so much chaos around us. So that's what it is about."

"The Evil Has Landed", a brand new song from QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's seventh album, "Villains", which will be released on August 25 via Matador Records.

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE leader Joshua Homme said: "The title 'Villains' isn't a political statement. It has nothing to do with Trump or any of that shit. It's simply 1) a word that looks fantastic and 2) a comment on the three versions of every scenario: yours, mine and what actually happened… Everyone needs someone or something to rail against—their villain — same as it ever was. You can't control that. The only thing you can really control is when you let go."

Now available for preorder on deluxe vinyl, standard vinyl, CD and digital (all formats include an instant download of first single "The Way You Used To Do"), "Villains" consists of the following songs:

01. Feet Don't Fail Me02. The Way You Used To Do03. Domesticated Animals04. Fortress05. Head Like A Haunted House06. Un-Reborn Again07. Hideaway08. The Evil Has Landed09. Villains Of Circumstance

Produced by Mark Ronson and co-produced by Mark Rankin and mixed by Alan Moulder, "Villains" is the first full album offering from QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE since 2013's "…Like Clockwork" gave the band its first No. 1 album in the U.S. Like the stunning artwork of returning illustrator Boneface, the sonic signatures of the lineup that took "…Like Clockwork" around the world and back are as unmistakable as ever, though coexisting with sufficient new twists to induce recurring double takes. As Homme himself puts it: "The most important aspect of making this record was redefining our sound, asking and answering the question 'what do we sound like now?' If you can't make a great first record, you should just stop — but if you can make a great record but you keep making records and your sound doesn't evolve, you become a parody of that original sound."

Of his role working within such a closed and confident ecosystem as QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, Ronson says: "QUEENS are and have always been my favorite rock n roll band ever since I walked into Tower on Sunset and bought 'Rated R' in the summer of 2000, so it was incredibly surreal to be welcomed into their secret, pirate clan — or the 'jacuzzi,' as Josh likes to call it. I also knew that my super fandom alone would not keep me in the jacuzzi. There were moments during the making of the album in which i was aware i was watching my musical heroes craft something that was sure to become one of my favorite moments on any QUEENS album. And to have some part in that felt like being in a dream — a very heavy, dark, wonderful dream."

Longtime QUEENS cohort co-producer Mark Rankin added: "After the baptism of fire that was '…Like Clockwork', I was excited to get into the studio again with the challenge of pushing the sound for this record, especially with the the addition of Ronson into the creative mix. We wanted to evolve the production to be processed in a modern way yet be totally organic and still performed fully live, like lifting a veil and what you thought was electronic is actually live and things are not as they first appear… What we've made is forward looking yet unmistakably QUEENS."

The official lyric video for "Enemy Of Truth", a brand new song from Greek masters of symphonic death metal SEPTICFLESH, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's tenth full-length album, "Codex Omega", which will be released on September 1 via Prosthetic Records.

SEPTICFLESH comment: "As the release date of our new album is getting closer, it is only appropriate to introduce you to the song that revolves around the main theme, '3rd Testament' (Codex Omega)'. So, behold the anti-bible. Listen to the sutras of the 3rd and final book in the divine drama series…"

The cover artwork for "Codex Omega" was created by Seth Siro Anton and can be seen below.

"Codex Omega" will be available as a 2-CD set, on purple wax vinyl as well as a U.S. indie retail store exclusive on white wax vinyl, and on all digital outlets. "Codex Omega" was produced by Jens Bogren (OPETH, DIMMU BORGIR) and features ten tracks of SEPTICFLESH's trademark blend of mystical atmosphere, relentless death guitar riffing and pale melodies. Lyrically and musically, it is by far the most infernal release from SEPTICFLESH to date. As a bonus, the CD and vinyl LP will come with an extra disc comprised of three orchestral tracks, once again featuring the Filmharmonic Orchestra of Prague. "Codex Omega" track listing:

Disc One

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

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