Greece's own rotten Death Metal savages Necrovorous are set to release Plains of Decay September 29th on Dark Descent Records. A vinyl LP version of the album is also in the works.

Known for their undying adoration for everything sleazy, macabre and genuinely disturbing, the Necrovorus ghouls have risen from their crypt after years of hibernation and are staring at you with bloodshot eyes while brandishing scepters made of human bones.  The world's best attempts to keep from waken the beast have failed miserably. Proceed with caution, as the death metal equivalent of Jörg Buttgereit flick Plains Of Decay is coming to melt with your brain.

Tracklisting:

“The Sun Has Risen In A Land I No Longer See”
“Cherish The Sepulture”
“Eternal Soulmates”
“Plains Of Decay”
“Psychedelic Tribe Of Doom”
“Faces Of Addiction”
“Red Moon Rabies”
“Misery Loves Dead Company”
“Lost In A Burning Charnel Ground”
“The Noose Tightens”

Weapons Of Anew, the dynamic new band that features Freddy Ordine, Ray West, Stefan "Reno" Cutrupi, Chris Manfre, and new guitarist Kris Norris will release their debut recording, The Collision Of Love And Hate, on September 15th via OK Good Records. The quintet will then hit the road with Tesla on September 19th, through October 5th.

Weapons Of Anew's debut, The Collision Of Love And Hate, was produced and engineered by James F. Murphy (Havok, Necromancing The Stone, Product Of Hate), mixed by Mike Ferretti (Sevendust, Warren Haynes), and mastered by Ted Jensen.

"We are all super excited to have our record coming out and an amazing tour to launch the release," states an elated Freddy Ordine. "It means the world to us! We have been extremely lucky with touring and getting to open for larger established bands."

Weapons Of Anew dates with Tesla:

September
19 - Santander PAC - Reading, PA
20 - The Paramount - Huntington, NY
22 - The National - Richmond, VA
23 - Eastern Kentucky Expo Center - Pikeville, KY
24 - Atlanta Symphony Hall - Atlanta, GA
27 - Parker Playhouse - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
29 - Ruth Eckerd Hall - Clearwater, FL
30 - House of Blues - Orlando, FL

October
2 - Iron City - Birmingham, AL
4 - The Criterion - Oklahoma City, OK
5 - Irving Music Factory - Dallas, TX

Speaking about the tour, Ray West said: "I'm very psyched to go out on the Tesla tour. I've been a Tesla fan for a long time. I also happen to think Jeff Keith has one of the coolest voices around. For me it's a real privilege to be playing for their audiences. I have a good feeling we will connect with them. I'm all in, all positive!"

Ordine remembered being a kid when Tesla's Five Man Acoustic Jam came out: "I dug it. So it's always an honor to be able to tour with an artist I grew up listening to."

"Playing rock is a privilege that I don't take for granted," says West. "Performing live to an audience is very powerful and humbling at the same time. Fans at our shows can expect the high energy, emotionally charged assault, we have always delivered."

Ordine adds, "A total assault on their senses, full on every night."

Earlier this year, Weapons Of Anew halted their recording sessions to go on tour with Alter Bridge. "When we went out with Alter Bridge, as Weapons of Anew," states West, "we had never played a live show together before. I think we learned a lot about ourselves as performers and that our music translated well to a live audience."

Ordine states, "We were able to really dial the songs in on the Alter Bridge tour. They are exactly where we wanted them. They are burnt into us all now."

West continues, "Let's face it, most people don't go out to see the 1st band on a 3-band bill, so winning people over was our mission. We all worked very hard and as a band we felt it paid off. Audiences were very generous to us, but every fan that talked to us after the shows, asked 'We really liked you guys, how can I hear more songs? Where can I get the album?' Now we can say, well it's right here!"

(Photo - Scott Braun)

Lock the mausoleum doors and chain up the cemetery gates. Long-standing gore metal maniacs, Exhumbed, re-emerge with their disgusting new album, Death Revenge. The band's sixth full-length sees them tread into ambitious new territory with their first concept album: a musical melodrama in thirteen parts based on shocking true events.

Death Revenge takes place in the late 1820s in Edinburgh, Scotland and tells the macabre tale of a series of brutal murders where the victims' cadavers were sold to anatomists, amid a grisly underground trade of grave-robbery. Recorded with producer Jarrett Pritchard (Goatwhore, Eternal, Gruesome), Death Revenge takes the band's signature gore-drenched, death metal mayhem to theatrical and ghastly new depths. Cover illustration is by Orion Landau with interior illustrations by Lucas Ruggieri.

Frontman Matt Harvey comments: "We're very excited to see this record come out. It's been a long time since we've fucked up your stereos! I think this record has a darker vibe than the last two, with a pretty gnarly tale of grave-robbery, dissection, murder, and all sorts of general skullduggery. We dig it and we hope you filthy animals will too."

Death Revenge is set for release on October 13th on CD, LP, deluxe LP with cassette, and digital formats via Relapse Records. Physical packages and digital orders are available via Relapse.com here, and Bandcamp here. Listen to the new song "Defenders Of The Grave" below.

Death Revenge Tracklisting:

"Death Revenge Overture”
"Defenders Of The Grave”
"Lifeless”
"Dead End”
"Night Work”
"Unspeakable”
"Gravemakers Of Edinburgh”
"The Harrowing”
"A Funeral Party”
"The Anatomy Act Of 1832”
"Incarnadined Hands”
"Death Revenge”
"Death Revenge Underture” (Bonus Track)
"A Lesson In Violence” (Bonus Track)

"Defenders Of The Grave”:

Trailer:

Exhumed live:

November
5 - Ozzfest Meets Knotfest - San Bernardino, CA

Lineup:

Michael "Bud" Burke - guitar, vocals
Michael Hamilton - drums
Matthew Harvey - guitar, vocals
Ross Sewage - bass, vocals

Lynch Mob’s new album, The Brotherhood, will be released on Friday, September 8th via Rat Pak Records. Check out an EPK (Electronic Press Kit) below, and pre-order the album at this location.

Produced by Chris "The Wizard" Collier (Flotsam And Jetsam, Prong, KXM), The Brotherhood features 11 brand new hard rock tracks. This album will surely resonate with long time fans of the band, as well as those longing for that good ol' hard rock sound and feel."The Brotherhood highlights the unique pairing of Oni Logan and George Lynch, and along with Sean McNabb (bass) and Jimmy D’Anda (drums), the band has created a solid offering from start to finish. From the heavy guitar riffs of the opening track “Main Offender” to the melodic album finale ”Miles Away”, Lynch Mob have once again proven they remain on top of their game and at the top of their genre!

On the subject of Lynch Mob’s new record, Oni Logan comments, “After doing quite a few miles together with this latest lineup of Sean McNabb and Jimmy D’Anda, we consider ourselves a pack of wolves, and we came up with the name The Brotherhood for the title of the next Lynch Mob album. It’s got more of an adventurous sound in part and maybe a darker, colder sound to it. We are always willing to go farther. We come from the early 90’s and it's when we released the first Lynch Mob album which set a sound and course for us. Here we are 27 years later, George and I are still able to keep on stretching. As a player, as a writer, that is very important to us. Otherwise we would be fooling ourselves and fooling you”.

George Lynch adds, "We wrote this album as a band and the name of the record reflects what the band is about, and what all my bands have been about since I've been a kid. This is my second family. These are my brothers. You go through a lot together and have a lot of experiences together. And that then becomes a part of the music."

Tracklisting:

“Main Offender”
“Mr. Jekyll And Hyde”
“I'll Take Miami”
“Last Call Lady”
“Where We Started”
“The Forgotten Maiden's Pearl”
“Until the Sky Comes Down”
“Black Heart Days”
“Black Mountain”
“Dog Town Mystics”
“Miles Away”
“Until I Get My Gold” (bonus track)  

EPK:

“Main Offender” video:

Chilean black/death metal squad Occasvs will their new album on September 19th on Unspeakable Axe Records. CD and cassette preorders are available at this location.

The Chilean underground scene has thrived for eons with great bands playing every brand of extremity. Occasvs is both unique within that scene and a fitting encapsulation of it, combining black metal with death metal, heavy metal, and more.  They lay in wait for years as their long-in-the-works debut album was fine-tuned to their exacting standards. Now Nocturnal Majestic Mysteria is to be unleashed on the world.

A promo video for album track "Union" is available below. The song is an 8-minute odyssey through all of the band's startling blend of ideas and influences. Tremolo-picked riffs intertwine around blast beats, and the vocals are growled, shrieked, and even sung in eerie, stentorian harmonies.

Tracklisting:

“Andante Nocturno Op.7”
“Triumphal Defeat”
“Under Human Eyes”
“Psychic Burial”
“Ritual Death”
“Seer”
“Union”

“Union” lyric video:

Black metal originators, Venom Inc. will unleash their new full-length opus, Avé, this Friday, August 11th, via Nuclear Blast. Today, you can watch the fifth instalment of the band's one-on-one video interview series describing behind-the-scenes details on Avé.

In this video, they discuss the band's history and evolution through time - the dark and twisted roots of Venom Inc.:

More trailer videos can be found below. Pre-order your copy of Avé here.

Regardless of your take on black metal forefathers Venom, they are the undisputed originators of extreme metal as we know it. Almost 40 years after their inception, the revitalized 1989-1992 lineup of guitarist Jeff "Mantas" Dunn, vocalist/bassist Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan and drummer Anthony "Abaddon" Bray have returned with a monster of an album.

Going into writing Avé, Venom Inc. realized their live performance was the key to creating an album that would be a metal classic. It was clear that any songs the trio came up with had to have the intensity, the honesty and the aggression that was happening for Venom Inc. in a live situation. Simply put, they needed to translate what they do on stage onto a record. Not once did they look back on the Venom catalogue and think, "We have to write another Black Metal or another Schizo..." The focus is on Venom Inc. and everything the rejuvenated three-piece do in the here and now.

Avé tracklisting:

“Ave Satanas”
“Forged In Hell”
“Metal We Bleed”
“Dein Fleisch”
“Blood Stained”
“Time To Die”
“The Evil Dead”
“Preacher Man”
“War”
“I Kneel To No God”
“Black N Roll”

"Avé Satanas" lyric video:

“Dein Fleisch”:

Trailers:

Venom Inc., have released a video trailer for their upcoming Blood Stained Earth Tour with Goatwhore, Toxic Holocaust and The Convalescence.

Venom Inc. will kick off the Blood Stained Earth headline tour on September 1st. Tickets for each date of the Blood Stained Earth tour, in addition to exclusive, limited Venom Inc. meet & greet packages, are available now at this location.

Blood Stained Earth Tour with Goatwhore, Toxic Holocaust and The Convalescence:

September
1 - Philadelphia, PA - Voltage
2 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theater
3 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
4 - Montreal, QC - Les Foufounes Electriques
5 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club
6 - Detroit, MI - Harpos
7 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Ballroom
8 - Chicago, IL - Reggies
9 - Cave In Rock, IL - Full Terror Metal Fest
10 - Kansas City, MO - Riot Room
11 - Denver, CO - Marquis Theater
13 - Spokane, WA - The Pin
14 - Seattle, WA - Studio 7
15 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theater
16 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater
18 - San Francisco, CA - Slims
19 - Los Angeles, CA - The Roxy Theatre
20 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
21 - Phoenix, AZ - Club Red
22 - El Paso, TX - Tricky Falls
23 - Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey
24 - Austin, TX - Grizzly Hall
25 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall
26 - New Orleans, LA - Parish at HOB
28 - Miami, FL - Churchill's
29 - Tampa, FL - Orpheum
30 - Orlando, FL - The Haven

October
1 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
2 - Baltimore, MD - Soundstage

Fall festival dates:

October
27 - Helsinki, Finland - Heavy Metal Cauldron

Venom Inc. is:

Jeff "Mantas" Dunn - guitars
Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan - bass, vocals
Anthony "Abaddon" Bray - drums

(Photo - Stephanie Cabral)

Jyrki 69, lead vocalist for Helsinki’s darkest and deadliest goth metal band, The 69 Eyes, is streaming a few songs featured on his debut solo album, Helsinki Vampire, out now via Cleopatra Records. Listen to "Birthday", "Perfection", and "Call Of The Night" below.

Helsinki Vampire builds on the distinctive “goth n’ roll” sound that The 69 Eyes honed over the course of a dozen albums (millions of units sold collectively worldwide) while adding a more richly textured, darkly romantic atmosphere. Jyrki’s vocals, which have always been crucial to the band’s success, are as exceptional as ever on the new solo venture, a captivating baritone croon that evokes both Jim Morrison and Glenn Danzig.

Since the entire album has been produced, mixed, and mastered by longtime The 69 Eyes producer Johnny Lee Michaels, fans will find this album to be closer to the band’s classic sound. This is pure “goth ‘n’ roll” from Helsinki as we all know it.

Tracklisting:

“Ad Infinitum”
“Versailles”
“Spanish Steps”
“Bloodlust”
“Last Halloween”
“Happy Birthday”
“Call Of The Night”
“Perfection”
“Close Your Eyes”
“In Your Dreams”
“Sayonara” (CD only)

“Happy Birthday”:

"Perfection":

"Call Of The Night":

“Bloodlust” video:

“Last Halloween” video:

Order the album via the following links:

- Digital
- CD
- LP

A lyric video for “D.N.A. (Diruo Nocens Acervus)”, a track from Nervecell’s forthcoming third album, Past, Present...Torture, is available for streaming below. Past, Present...Torture will be released through Lifeforce Records in most part of the world, while Metal East Records is handling the release in the Middle East region.

It is a fine line to combine brutality, technical requirements and harsh accessibility in such a way, that the result leads to extreme songs, which listeners like to hear and which they can remember. Nervecell master that impressively. The addition of Middle-Eastern folklore accents contributes a decisive part to this.

The Dubai-based band is, above all, an uncompromising death metal band, but the charm of the “special ingredients” always resonates. And this is how Nervecell find to musical differentiation. Past, Present…Torture marks the group’s third full-length and is the successor of Psychogenocide from 2011.

“Past, Present…Torture” was mixed and mastered by Wojtek and Slawek Wiesawski at Hertz Studios (Behemoth, Decapitated, Vader) in Poland, the cover artwork was created by Colin Marks of Rain Song Design (Origin, Exodus).

The album consists of 13 tracks and is the most extreme and versatile Nervecell record to date. The title speaks for itself, focusing on the state of the world and where we are all headed as a civilization. Past, Present…Torture serves as a concise summary for both, the lyrical message and the musical direction. Offering unpleasant truths and a rigorous death metal sound. Just as you know and expect from the beast from the Middle East... Nervecell.

Past, Present...Torture tracklisting:

“Intro”
“Aadvent”
“Proxy War”
“D.N.A. (Diruo Nocens Acervus)”
“Abyssviand”
“Hypnosis”
“Malice Within”
“Dawn Of Decimation”
“Habitual Deceit”
“Maqabre”
“Tree Of Lies”
“Treading Beneath”
“Past, Present... Torture”

“D.N.A. (Diruo Nocens Acervus)” lyric video:

“Abyssviand” lyric video:

“Proxy War”:

Vinyl unpacking video:

Svart Records have set October 13th as the release date for No Stars Upon The Bridge, the debut album from Hallatar. A third official album teaser is now available for streaming below. Pre-order the new album here.

Although a brand-new name, Hallatar features among its ranks Swallow The Sun and Trees Of Eternity guitarist Juha Raivio, Amorphis vocalist Tomi Joutsen, and former HIM drummer Gas Lipstick. In fact, one could see Hallatar as an extension of Trees Of Eternity, whose massively acclaimed debut for Svart, Hour Of The Nightingale, served as the swansong of vocalist Aleah Starbridge.

Juha Raivio explains the genesis of Hallatar: "After the death of my beloved and my life partner Aleah Starbridge last April, I have been gathering writings, lyrics, and the poems of Aleah to keep them safe and close to my heart. About one month after the world came down on the blackest day of my life on April 18th, I knew I needed to pick up the guitar and try to create something or I would be truly destroyed. And something did arrive out of the darkness, and I wrote the music for the Hallatar album in a week's time. I don’t have much memory of this week, not a memory of a single day of writing the music. But all I remember when going into this abyss of the writing process was a promise to myself that whatever music would come out, I would not touch or change anything of it afterwards. What mattered was that the music would stay forever as an absolute truth of those moments as they came out. I asked my good friends - and amazing musicians - Tomi Joutsen and Gas Lipstick if they would want to record this music with me, and both of them said yes without even hearing a note of it. I am forever grateful to both of them for sharing this road with me; even the weight of the process has not been easy to carry, or will be."

Adds Gas Lipstick, "I am grateful and very honored to be asked to join this band. Juha is a dear friend of mine since many years ago, and when he told me about his vision for Hallatar and asked me to join, I said yes instantly - I just had to be part of this amazing journey. I had never heard a single note of the music before I gave my 'yes' because I didn't need to. Juha has been one of my favorite songwriters already for years, and I knew that Hallatar will be a very deep, personal, and one-of-a-kind story which I wanted to help him to bring alive."

Continues Tomi Joutsen: "I have known Juha from the year 2007, when we worked together for the first time. A couple years ago, I had the privilege to meet Juha's life partner, Aleah Starbridge, who was such a beautiful person, inside and outside, and had an angelic voice out of this world. Aleah lent her voice on the latest Amorphis album, and we called her 'the whispering ghost.' When I heard about Aleah's passing last spring, it came as a total shock and heartbreaking news out of the blue. When Juha asked me if I would want to be part of this album and carry Aleah's flame with him, I didn't have to think twice. When everything has been taken, all that is left is the music. The sorrow strips us naked and leave us humble - this is how it sounds like."

Concludes Raivio, "What we recorded was a raw moment in time honoring the memory, lyrics, and poems of Aleah Starbridge with all its pain, beauty and darkness. There are no stars left upon the bridge to light the way anymore, but the music will always be a dim light, even in the darkest of the night."

Tracklisting:

“Mirrors”
“Raven’s Song”
“Melt”
“My Mistake” (feat. Heike Langhans)
“Pieces”
“Severed Eyes”
“The Maze”
“Spiral Gate”
“Dreams Burn Down” (feat. Aleah Starbridge)

Teaser #3:

Teaser #2:

“My Mistake” video teaser:

“Mirrors” video:

Finnish folk metal superstars Korpiklaani have released a second official trailer for their first ever live Blu-ray/DVD+2CD package, Live At Masters Of Rock, out on August 25th through Nuclear Blast. The clip can be found below.

Pre-orders are live at Nuclear Blast and digital preorders receive “Pilli On Pajusta Tehty” (live) plus “Erämaan Ärjyt”(live) instantly.

After hearing the title of the package, it's easy to conclude that it was recorded at the identically named festival in Vizovice, Czech Republic. But there's even more to be excited about, this release doesn't just include Korpiklaani's show from 2016, it even has a second full show from 2014 as bonus feature. The 2016 concert features guest appearances from Tero Hyväluoma (additional fiddler) as well as Toni Perttula (additional accordion player), Sami's identical twin brother. Mixing and mastering of  Live at Masters of Rock were handled by front man Jonne Järvelä himself.

Jonne comments, "This our first ever DVD release, which we are quite proud of. It has no backing tracks, no choirs, no samples, all the mistakes are included. It is just us, Korpiklaani, pure live rock 'n' roll."

He also adds, "I spent a lot of time during the mastering process with Svante Forsbäck who recently handled the Rammstein mastering and we worked hard to achieve the right ambience and crowd sound. So when you turn it up loud, it feels like you are right there in the middle."

Sami adds, "For us, our bigger shows means more folk musicians, which are much cheaper than pyro, for example my brother agreed to this show for a few beers and he doesn't even drink much!"

Tracklisting:

Blu-ray/DVD
2016
“Intro (Tanhuvaara)”
“A Man With A Plan”
“Journey Man”
“Pilli On Pajusta Tehty”
“Erämaan Ärjyt”
“Lempo”
“Sahti”
“Ruumiinmultaa”
“Vaarinpolkka”
“Viima”
“Metsämies”
“Kultanainen”
“Kipumylly”
“Ämmänhauta”
“Rauta”
“Kylästä Keväinen Kehto”
“Wooden Pints”
“Vodka”
“Beer Beer”

2014
“Intro (Tanhuvaara)”
“Tuonelan Tuvilla”
“Ruumiinmultaa”
“Metsämies”
“Kantaiso”
“Juodaan Viinaa”
“Petoeläimen Kuola”
“Sumussa Hämärän Aamun”
“Vaarinpolkka”
“Kultanainen”
“Uniaika”
“Louhen Yhdeksäs Poika”
“Uni”
“Vodka”
“Ievan Polka”
“Rauta”
“Wooden Pints”
“Pellonpekko”
“Happy Little Boozer”

CD1 (2016)
“Intro (Tanhuvaara)”
“A Man With A Plan”
“Journey Man”
“Pilli On Pajusta Tehty”
“Erämaan Ärjyt”
“Lempo”
“Sahti”
“Ruumiinmultaa”
“Vaarinpolkka”
“Viima”
“Metsämies”
“Kultanainen”
“Kipumylly”
“Ämmänhauta”
“Rauta”
“Kylästä Keväinen Kehto”
“Wooden Pints”
“Vodka”
“Beer Beer”

CD2 (2014)
“Intro (Tanhuvaara)”
“Tuonelan Tuvilla”
“Ruumiinmultaa”
“Metsämies”
“Kantaiso”
“Juodaan Viinaa”
“Petoeläimen Kuola”
“Sumussa Hämärän Aamun”
“Vaarinpolkka”
“Kultanainen”
“Uniaika”
“Louhen Yhdeksäs Poika”
“Uni”
“Vodka”
“Ievan Polka”
“Rauta”
“Wooden Pints”
“Pellonpekko”
“Happy Little Boozer”

Trailer #1:

Trailer #2:

“Erämaan Ärjyt” video:

“Pilli On Pajusta Tehty” video:

Dan Reed Network has released a new video for the track “Infected”, featured on the new album, Fight Another Day, out now. Watch the new clip below.

Fight Another Day marks the return of one of the most infectious and gifted bands to come out in the melodic rock world in the second part of the 80's. The new album was recorded primarily in the home town of members of DRN, Portland, Oregon, while most of the writing process took place in Dan Reed's private studio in Prague in the Czech Republic, where Reed currently resides with his family. Demos were sent back and forth between Derek Shulman (A&R for Frontiers), Brion James, Melvin Brannon Jr. and Rob Daiker, making notes and refining the songs over great distances via the internet. This process was not unlike with DRN composed songs back in the late 80's and early 90's as Dan Reed used to demo out songs on his Akai 12 track machine and bring the songs into rehearsals where the band members would then arrange and flesh out the band's classic 'funk rock' sound.

After the tracking was completed, band's keyboardist Rob Daiker went to work editing and mixing each track alongside Shulman and Reed, sending mixes back and forth, making notes and shaping and moulding the album to best represent what DRN sounds like currently, while paying respect to what brought the band to the world's attention back in the late 80's.

Fight Another Day tracklisting:

“Divided”
“The Brave”
“Infected”
“Champion”
“Ignition”
“Give It Love”
“B There With U”
“Save The World”
“Eye Of The Storm”
“Reunite”
“Heaven”
“Sharp Turn”
“Stand Tall”

“Infected” lyric video:

“Save The World” video:

“B There With U” video:

“Champion” video:

“The Brave” video:

“Divided” video:

Dan Reed Network is:

Dan Reed - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitars, Piano, Synth Programming, Moog Bass
Brion James - Vocals, Lead and Rhythm Guitars, Synth Guitars, Synth Programming, Drum Programming
Dan Pred - Drums, Percussion, Videographer
Melvin Brannon II - Vocals, Bass, Acoustic Bass, Electric Contra Bass, Synth Bass
Rob Daiker - Vocals, Keyboards, Synth Programming, Drum Programming

Heavy rockers Tower Of Babel, featuring guitar shredder Joe Stump (Raven Lord, Holyhell) and singer Csaba Zvekan (Exorcism, Raven Lord, Metal Machine), recently released their debut album, Lake Of Fire, via Lion Music. The album’s title track is now available for streaming below.

The record was produced by Zvekan and Stump and recoded at various places. Artwork was created by Gragoth.

Tracklisting:

“Dragonslayer”
“It’s Only Rock’n’Roll”
“Lake Of Fire”
“Addicted”
“Midnight Sun”
“Eternal Flames”
“Once Again”
“Stardust”
“Eyes Of The World”
“Lamb And The Wolves”
“Thoth”
“All Out Warfare”

“Lake Of Fire”:

"Midnight Sun" lyric video:

ARCH ENEMY performed its new single, "The World Is Yours", live for the first time on Friday, August 4 at the Rock Pod Kameňom festival at Sninské Rybníky, Snina, Slovakia. Fan-filmed video footage of the live premiere can be seen below.

"The World Is Yours" is taken from ARCH ENEMY's new album, "Will To Power", which will be released on September 8 via Century Media Records. Co-produced by guitarist Michael Amott and drummer Daniel Erlandsson, the disc was mixed and mastered by longtime collaborator and friend Jens Bogren (OPETH, AT THE GATES, DIMMU BORGIR). The disc's captivating cover artwork was designed by Alex Reisfar. "Will To Power" marks the second ARCH ENEMY album since the departure of longtime singer Angela Gossow and addition of her replacement, former THE AGONIST frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz. It will also be the first ARCH ENEMY disc to feature guitarist Jeff Loomis (ex-NEVERMORE), who joined the band in late 2014.

ARCH ENEMY's "As The Stages Burn!" DVD was released on March 31 via Century Media. The set contains video footage of the band's largest stage production to date from their performance last summer at the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany.

ARCH ENEMY and TRIVIUM have announced plans for a co-headlining tour across North America this fall. Featuring support from English metalcore outfit WHILE SHE SLEEPS and New Jersey deathcore act FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY, the trek will kick off on October 27 in Orlando, Florida and make its way across the U.S. and Canada before finishing on December 6 in Houston, Texas.

Steve Morse, guitarist for rock legends Deep Purple, recently spoke with Billboard about the band's latest album, Infinite, and The Long Goodbye Tour, scheduled to play at least 65 dates around Europe, North America and South America. Following is an excerpt from the interview.

Q: Ritchie Blackmore has mentioned his interest in playing one last show with the band. How do you feel about that?

Morse: "Well, he's one of the founding members of Deep Purple. Fans would love it. It would be nice, I think, to see closure with everybody involved, and the bad feelings put aside. I think they'd all get a kick out of it if they could get past the psychological barriers. I am a fan of music, I'm a musician. I am not a politician.

Now, a lot of people would feel intimidated, to have somebody come who's likely to play over them, standing in front of them and stealing the spotlight or whatever. But I thought, a lot of people would love to see this. And at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I thought Ritchie Blackmore was going to show up. He could've played three songs, but I ended up doing them, because he didn't. That was up in the air.

There have been a lot of bad things said and done amongst the guys, and anyhow, it is like the ice has to be broken. I think that once that's done, they'd all have a great time. But I don't know how to go about doing that. Anyway, as far as I am concerned, all members, past and present and future (laughs) of Deep Purple, are welcome."

Deep Purple co-founder Ritchie Blackmore, who last played with the band in 1993, was recently interviewed by German website Rock N Roll Reporter. During their chat, Blackmore said he would be willing to reunite with Deep Purple for one final show.

According to Blackmore, "I think if they would be interested and our schedules would not collide, I would be available for a single show - for nostalgic reasons. But I do not think Deep Purple are interested. They have their niche and are not into doing thigs like that. We are friends and I've been making my music now for 20 years, and they've been doing their stuff for 20 years. It's probably not likely (to happen). Some management would not like it, even if we were only interested in a single show. Their management would not allow it, I'm sure."

Read more (in German) at this location.

On August 4th, earMUSIC released Deep Purple - From The Setting Sun (In Wacken)… To The Rising Sun (In Tokyo) on Blu-ray, numbered and limited to 10,000 copies. For the very first time you get both shows in one high-quality package - a real collector's item.

You can now watch Deep Purple's incredible live performance of “Smoke On The Water” (featuring Uli Jon Roth) from Wacken Open Air 2013. Check it out below and pre-order the Blu-ray at this location.

Wacken Open Air, one of the world's largest heavy metal music festivals, and the Hall Of Heavy Metal History have joined forces to former MANOWAR and DICTATORS guitarist Ross "The Boss" Friedman as the first-ever "Global Metal Ambassador." The onstage induction ceremony took place August 3 in front of 75,000 metal fans, in Wacken, Germany. Joining Ross on stage were Hall Of Heavy Metal History board members Whitney Alyson Ribbins and Steve Goldby. "We are very happy to have had this very special ceremony with Ross The Boss on our stage for the very first time," said one of the Wacken Open Air promoters, Thomas Jensen. "It is a great honor to join with Wacken Open Air to induct Ross 'The Boss' Friedman, with the Hall Of Heavy Metal History Global Metal Ambassador award," says Hall Of Heavy Metal History founder/CEO Pat Gesualdo."If anyone deserves this award, it's Ross. He has been working extremely hard for decades to ensure that metal continues to thrive." "It was a huge privilege to be inducted into the 2017 Hall Of Heavy Metal History, along with Randy Rhoads, Ronnie James Dio, Lemmy Kilmister, and the other superstar inductees," says Ross. "Now I am the very first 'Global Metal Ambassador' in the music industry. That is a huge honor as well." The Hall Of Heavy Metal History is part of the non-profit organization D.A.D. (Drums And Disabilities). Proceeds from both organizations are donated to establish free therapy services and programs to help disabled children and their families. Every January, iconic musicians and music industry personalities are inducted into the Hall Of Heavy Metal History in Anaheim, California. The new lineup of ROSS THE BOSS, the band led by Friedman, performed at this year's Hall Of Heavy Metal History induction ceremony in January at the Anaheim Expo Center in Anaheim, California.

Joining Friedman in the group's incarnation are SYMPHONY X bassist Mike LePond, former MANOWAR drummer Kenny "Rhino" Earl and LET US PREY vocalist Marc Lopes.

One of the great metal guitarists, Friedman first made his name with THE DICTATORS, before briefly teaming up with French band SHAKIN' STREET. But in more recent times, he became renowned for his work with MANOWAR. A founding member, Ross recorded six albums with the band, before leaving after 1988's "Kings Of Metal". Since then he's worked with MANITOBA'S WILD KINGDOM, BRAIN SURGEONS and THE SPINATRAS. Now he's back doing what he does best — playing loud, true heavy metal with DEATH DEALER and ROSS THE BOSS.

Original DIO guitarist Vivian Campbell says that he is "not going to pass judgment" on the hologram of Ronnie James Dio, which made its debut at last year's Wacken Open Air festival in Germany. Created by Eyellusion, the surprise appearance of the heavy metal icon during DIO DISCIPLES' set closed out the massive metal event which was attended by more than seventy-five thousand fans.

Eyellusion recently announced initial dates for "Dio Returns: The World Tour", featuring the Ronnie James Dio hologram reunited with the late rock star's former bandmates from the DIO band. The tour will make more than eighty stops around the globe, kicking off in Helsinki, Finland on November 30.

Asked by EonMusic for his opinion on the Dio hologram, Campbell said: "Well, I don't actually know anything about that except that Vinny [Appice, former DIO and current LAST IN LINE drummer] pointed it out to me yesterday. He showed me an ad for it that said that it was coming. I've never seen the hologram."

He continued: "To each his own. The way I look at it is, if that goes on tour, that will raise awareness of DIO and the catalog, and by virtue of that, we will benefit because we're associated in some way, and they will benefit from what we're doing, so it's a very reciprocal kind of thing, and it's all good. Like I say, I haven't seen it, so I'm not going to pass judgment on it."

Cambell, along with Appice and bassist Jimmy Bain, was part of the original DIO lineup, which reunited in 2012 alongside singer Andrew Freeman to form LAST IN LINE.

When LAST IN LINE formed, the intent was to celebrate Ronnie James Dio's early work by reuniting the members of the original DIO lineup. After playing shows that featured a setlist composed exclusively of material from the first three DIO albums, the band decided to move forward and create new music in a similar vein.

The "Dio Returns" tour will also make stops throughout Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Paraguay, United Kingdom, Venezuela and other countries, with dates to be announced. The tour is expected to come to the United States in spring 2018 and play festivals globally during the summer. The Ronnie James Dio hologram will perform for the majority of the show, treating fans to an alternating set list that will feature songs such as "Holy Diver", "Rainbow In The Dark", "We Rock", "King Of Rock And Roll", BLACK SABBATH's "Neon Knights" and "Heaven And Hell" and RAINBOW's "Man On The Silver Mountain" and more. The "Dio Returns" tour will feature Dio's actual live vocals, backed by a live band consisting of former DIO and current DIO DISCIPLES members Simon Wright (drums), Craig Goldy (guitar) and Scott Warren (keyboards) alongside bassist Bjorn Englen (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN). Veteran metal vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) will also perform, with singer Oni Logan (LYNCH MOB) also joining on select dates.

Vivian last year slammed DIO DISCIPLES, saying that the band has "zero credibility" as a Ronnie James Dio tribute project despite the fact that it is fully supported by Ronnie's widow/manager, Wendy.

DIO DISCIPLES is billed as a "celebration of the music and legacy of the greatest singer in the world, Ronnie James Dio." The band also notes that "we could NEVER replace Ronnie and that is NOT our intention. There will only ever be one Ronnie James Dio!"

Campbell was fired from DIO in 1986 after a contentious business disagreement with Ronnie James Dio and band management.

According to the web site of London, England's Natural History Museum, British scientists have named the fossil of a fierce giant crocodile from the Jurassic era after late MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy.

Lemmysuchus obtusidens lived around 164 million years ago during the Middle Jurassic Period and was a member of an extinct group of marine crocodile relatives called teleosaurs.

"With a meter-long skull and a total length of 5.8 metres, it would have been one of the biggest coastal predators of its time," says University of Edinburgh palaeontologist Michela Johnson, who helped to untangle the identity of Lemmysuchus.

The specimen, housed in the Natural History Museum, was dug up by collectors in the early twentieth century from a clay pit quarry near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. However, it was incorrectly categorized with the remains of other sea crocodiles found in the same location.

In a study published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, an international team of scientists took a fresh look at the fossil skeleton and gave it a new classification and scientific name.

The name was suggested by Natural History Museum curator and MOTÖRHEAD fan Lorna Steel.

She said: "Although Lemmy passed away at the end of 2015, we'd like to think that he would have raised a glass to Lemmysuchus, one of the nastiest sea creatures to have ever inhabited the Earth.

"As a long-standing MOTÖRHEAD fan, I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to immortalize the rock star in this way."

In honor of this century's most anticipated and celebrated tour making its way back to the United States, Harley-Davidson has announced the launch of a special capsule collection, in conjunction with the GUNS N' ROSES "Not In This Lifetime" tour. Available in early August, the limited-edition line of men and women's wear, created in partnership with Bravado International Group, Inc., will be sold exclusively at Harley-Davidson dealerships around the world.

"We are excited to partner with Bravado to celebrate GUNS N' ROSES as this collaboration brings two brands together in an expression of freedom and rebellion," said Mary Kay Lee, director of Harley-Davidson General Merchandise. "The new styles will only be available for a limited time, so visit your local Harley-Davidson dealership to check them out."

"Harley-Davidson and GUNS N' ROSES share in common respect for freedom of expression, passion for life and a dedication to adventure," said John Burke, vice president, Harley-Davidson Operations, Bravado. "We're thrilled to be able to bring a unique collection to both GUNS N' ROSES and Harley-Davidson fans and celebrate the homecoming of this epic, global tour."

Available exclusively at Harley-Davidson dealerships, the capsule collection will include men's and women's printed shirts, in an assortment of styles and colors. Prices starting at $30 USD.

The "Not In This Lifetime" tour features classic GUNS members Slash on guitar, Duff McKagan on bass and Axl Rose on vocals, backed by drummer Frank Ferrer, guitarist Richard Fortus, keyboardist Dizzy Reed and second keyboardist Melissa Reese.

GUNS kicked off its long-rumored and long-awaited reunion trek in April 2016 with a club show in Hollywood and appearances in Las Vegas and at California's Coachella festival.

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.

After the performance, Hoffmann told TotalRock's Whitney Alyson Ribbins: "It was phenomenal. We didn't really know what to expect. We did some rehearsals and stuff, but that was the first time we were ever on stage with an orchestra. It was totally different to what we normally do, but it sounded fantastic and it felt great. Everybody was smiling, the orchestra people had a lot of fun, the conductor was in a great mood and everybody was, like, 'This is fun.' It all went really, really smooth and it couldn't have gone better."

He continued: "A lot of preparation went into it — months of talking about it and organizing everything and writing the scores and writing all the sheet music for everybody, because playing with an orchestra, you can't just jam."

Asked whether this was something he would like to do again, Wolf responded: "Yeah, I'd love to. For me, classical music... the sound of an orchestra is something that has always fascinated me. My whole life I have wanted to combine the two elements together. I've done it by using classical bits and pieces in my solos over the years, then I made a solo record, then I made a solo record with an orchestra and now finally live on stage with an orchestra like that, fifty people, it was a dream come true and hopefully we get to do it again some time."

"The Rise Of Chaos" 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.

METALLICA is planning to reissue its third album, 1986's "Master Of Puppets", before the end of 2017 or early next year. Like the group's first two LPs, 1983's "Kill 'Em All" and 1984's "Ride The Lightning" — both of which were reissued in April 2016 — "Master" is expected to be remastered for the most advanced sound quality and will be available in several formats, including a deluxe box set.

Speaking to Quebec, Canada's Voir, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich stated about the "Master Of Puppets" reissue: "It should be coming maybe later… We'll try to see if we can get it out at the end of this year. It's coming soon. We're working on it. There's a lot of stuff associated with 'Master Of Puppets'; that's a big project. And we've spent so much time looking forward, with [the latest METALLICA album] 'Hardwired [… To Self-Destruct]' and so on, but 'Master Of Puppets' is obviously next. [It will be out] hopefully late this year. If not, soon thereafter."

"Master Of Puppets" was released on February 24, 1986 and was the first album METALLICA recorded after signing a major label deal with Elektra Records.

The set only reached No. 29 on the Billboard album chart but has sold over six million copies in the U.S. since.

It is the last record to feature bassist Cliff Burton, who was killed later that year in a tour bus crash.

Several songs from the album are still staples of METALLICA's live set, including "Battery", "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" and the title track.

Many fans consider it METALLICA's finest album, a fact that the band acknowledged by playing it in its entirety on a European tour in 2006.

"Metallica: Back To The Front", the definitive story of "Master Of Puppets" and the tour that followed its release, hit bookstores and online sellers last September. A very special Collector's Edition of the book was made available two weeks earlier through Metallica.com and MoonriseMedia.net.

"That album, it's interesting, because from the moment it was released, it never went away," METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett said last year while promoting the book. "It still has not and there are no signs of it going away at all."

"It was still rebellious," METALLICA frontman James Hetfield said. "Back then, it was still the four of us in a van out to conquer the world."

"I really feel that a lot of the music on 'Master Of Puppets', we pulled it out of a deep place," Hammett added. "A lot of it, it's just so emotional, from the music to the lyrics to the guitar solos to even the arrangements. It's so dramatic."

On October 20, GWAR will release a new studio album titled "The Blood Of Gods" via Metal Blade Records. The disc 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. Meanwhile, Sleazy P. Martini, the crooked entrepreneur who discovered the Scumdogs, and has always envisioned them as a sort of horrific boy band, finally managed to convince the group to write a hit song called "I'll Be Your Monster". If all goes according to plan, it may be just stupid enough to work!

Of course, "The Blood Of Gods" is the first GWAR album without the band's fallen brother, Oderus Urungus. The title of the album refers to the loss of Oderus. and the struggles and triumphs that produced the new sound of the band. Born of adversity, "The Blood of Gods" is a sonic scar...a question asked and answered...Death cannot kill GWAR. Nothing can.

GWAR is taking a quick break following Vans Warped Tour, then heading back out on the road for an appearance at Chicago's Riot Fest and a couple of additional headline dates (including an appearance at Land Of Illusion in Middletown, Ohio). Following those shows, the band will return home to Antarctica to prepare for a never-ending tour in support of "The Blood Of Gods".

GWAR's last album was 2013's "Battle Maximus", which was released the year before Dave "Oderus Urungus" Brockie passed away.

Brockie was found dead in his home in Richmond, Virginia on March 23, 2014. According to Virginia's State Medical Examiner's Office, he died from acute heroin toxicity by accidental means.

Dave Brockie, who fronted GWAR under the name Oderus Urungus was the band's last remaining original member.

Photo credit: Rachel Naomi

TRIPTYKON — the occult/avant-garde metal project formed by former HELLHAMMER/CELTIC FROST singer, guitarist, and main songwriter Tom Gabriel Fischer (a.k.a. Tom Gabriel Warrior) — will play its final concerts with drummer Norman Lonhard at Spain's Leyendas Del Rock and Germany's Party.San festivals later this month. TRIPTYKON says in a statement: "Norman joined TRIPTYKON in December of 2008, thereby completing the freshly formed band. He recorded two acclaimed albums, an EP, and a single with the group, appeared in all of TRIPTYKON's video clips, and performed uncounted concerts around the globe with us. "We are proud of TRIPTYKON's exceedingly stable lineup, not least in light of some of the events that transpired in TRIPTYKON's predecessor, CELTIC FROST. It reflects TRIPTYKON's internal spirit of harmony that this first departure of a member of the group occurs in true friendship and deep mutual respect.

"After eight and a half years of invoking supreme darkness with TRIPTYKON onstage and in the studio, Norman has indicated his desire to explore different musical avenues in the future. It is a wish we fully understand, of course, but also one we bemoan on a personal level. "We all wish Norman the very best for any and all of his future endeavors. He will forever remain one of us. "TRIPTYKON is thus now looking for a new drummer, before continuing work on the group's third album and returning to the world's stages. We are taking the required technical capabilities for granted, and we are completely open with regard to age and female and male applicants. Of decisive importance to us, however, are uniqueness, an unrestricted musical horizon, creativity, artistic courage, a stable and professional personality, and an appearance that reflects the group's music and unique historic background." Interested parties may contact TRIPTYKON through this e-mail address: [email protected]/* */ Please note that this e-mail address will only respond to serious inquiries regarding the above-mentioned topic. TRIPTYKON's second album, "Melana Chasmata", was released in April 2014. The CD was made available through a collaboration between TRIPTYKON's own label, Prowling Death Records Ltd., and renowned metal giant Century Media Records. This is the same label partnership responsible for CELTIC FROST's final album, "Monotheist" (2006), HELLHAMMER's "Demon Entrails" demo compendium (2008), and TRIPTYKON's debut album, "Eparistera Daimones", and "Shatter" EP (2010).

Like its predecessor "Eparistera Daimones", the album was produced by Warrior and guitarist V. Santura and recorded and mixed at V. Santura's own Woodshed Studio in southern Germany as well as at TRIPTYKON's rehearsal facilities in Zurich, Switzerland, in 2013 and 2014.

Denver’s nihilistic trio, Primitive Man, return with Caustic, their second full-length offering of soul-crushing blackened doom and noise-ridden claustrophobia.

Recorded and produced at Flatline Audio by Dave Otero (Cobalt, Cephalic Carnage, Cattle Decapitation), Caustic is 12 songs and 75+ minutes of bloodcurdling howls, abysmal tones and dense, unsettling feedback spewing forth a cesspool of utter misery. With lyrical themes ranging from political corruption, personal struggle and the crumbling social climate facing the world today, Caustic serves as a cataclysmic soundtrack for a world gone awry.

Listen to the opening track, “My Will”, available for streaming below.

Caustic is set for release on October 6th on CD/2xLP/CS/Digital via Relapse Records. Physical packages and digital orders are available via Relapse.com here and Bandcamp here.

Caustic tracklisting:

“My Will”
“Victim”
“Caustic”
“Commerce”
“Tepid”
“Ash”
“Sterility”
“Sugar Hole”
“The Weight”
“Disfigured”
“Inevitable”
“Absolutes”

“My Will”:

Tour dates:

August
11 - Denver, CO - The Marquis Theater (with Eyehategod)
12 - Albuquerque, NM - The Launchpad (with Eyehategod)
31-September 3 - Salt Lake City, UT - Crucialfest 7

(Photo - Alvino Salcedo)

Melodic metal band Pyramaze announce Pyramaze - The Game, an official video game that can be played at the Pyramaze website. The game was developed by Impawsible Games.

Jonah Weingarten of Pyramaze comments: "We are pleased to announce that we now have an official Pyramaze video game on our website! It was developed by the wonderful Impawsible Games from Germany, and we cant thank them enough for their hard work and creativity that was involved in making this possible. We look forward to seeing who can get the highest scores!"

A lyric video for “Obsession”, a track from Pyramaze’s Contingent album is available for streaming below. The album is out now via Inner Wound Recordings.

With their milestone fifth album, Contingent, Pyramaze have grown and matured into a band that is capable of satisfying their fans while simultaneously continuing to break new ground. The incorporation of modern cinematic film score elements mixed with progressive metal riffs and melodies will leave the listener breathless! Huge, sweeping, hard-hitting, and poignant, Contingent is an epic post-apocalyptic conceptual piece inspired by current events, the human spirit to overcome struggle and diversity, and the brotherhood that lies there in. Produced, mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Amaranthe, Epica, Evergrey).

"Divided by oceans, bound together by brotherhood, we must become that which divides us.... we are Pyramaze, and we are the Ocean!"

Contingent tracklisting:

“Land Of Information”
“Kingdom Of Solace”
“Star Men”
“A World Divided”
“Nemesis”
“Contingent - Part I: The Campaign”
“20 Second Century”
“Obsession”
“Heir Apparent”
“Contingent - Part II: The Hammer Of Remnant”
“Under Restraint”
“The Tides That Won't Change”
“Symphony Of Tears”

“Obsession” lyric video:

“The Tides That Won’t Change” lyric video:

“Star Men” lyric video:

“A World Divided” video:

“Kingdom Of Solace” lyric video:

“20 Second Century” lyric video:

Pyramaze lineup:

Terje Harøy - Vocals
Jacob Hansen - Guitars, Bass
Jonah W. - Keyboards
Toke Skjønnemand - Guitars
Morten Gade Sørensen - Drums

WE START WARS, the new all-female group led by Nita Strauss, the Los Angeles-based guitar shredder for the ALICE COOPER band, made its live debut on May 25 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California. Newly uploaded quality video footage of the concert can be seen below (courtesy of Jim Antera Ross).

In addition to Nita, WE START WARS features Alicia Vigil (VIGIL OF WAR) on bass, Seana (a.k.a. Shauna Lisse) on vocals, Nicole Papastavrou on guitar, Katt Scarlett (FEMME FATALE) on keyboards and Lindsay Martin on drums.

Asked how WE START WARS came together, Strauss told The Front Row Report: "WE START WARS, I always say it's the band I've always wanted to be in. When I was a young guitar player starting out, there wasn't really a lot of all-female bands that had a really high level of technique for me to look up to. I love Steve Vai, [Joe] Satriani, DREAM THEATER… That's my stuff, that's what I like to listen to. And the more I started to figure out, there's not a lot of all-female bands that play this kind of stuff, that play technical stuff. There's some incredible all-female bands and I'm not knocking all-girl bands by any stretch of the imagination. But I wanted one that was really technical. I wanted a drummer that plays really fast double bass. I wanted two guitar players that both play solos. I wanted a singer with a big range — which you have… Female bands have great singers. My keyboard player went to Berklee — [she's] an incredible musician. So I really got the full spectrum of great musicianship first and foremost, and that's what I'm really excited to showcase for the fans."

According to Nita, part of the reason she didn't launch WE START WARS earlier is the fact that quality female musicians are hard to come by. "A lot of times [when] I do press, I get this sort of snarky [question from interviewers], 'Well, why did it take you so long to put a band together?'" she said. "And I [usually tell them], 'How many female drummers do you know that live in this small area…?' I mean, I wanted to get local people to L.A., where I live. I didn't wanna bring people in from out of town. I've done it, and I always end up paying for their flight, and I just can't do it. So I really wanted to get local people that could be in a room in rehearsal when I'm gone. 'Cause I'm gone most of the year with Alice."

Regarding the band's sound, Papastavrou told Guitar World: "I'd say it's super-melodic metal but also has a little bit of something for everyone. We wanted to broaden our audience — not do anything too aggressive, but there's still a little bit of heaviness in there." Strauss concurred, adding: "There's a lot of crossover appeal. Nicole and I probably have the heaviest influences in the band, but when it comes down to it, we make music a lot of people can enjoy."

Strauss said of the band's name: "A phrase I heard years ago has always stuck with me: 'Some of the greatest wars in history were fought over a beautiful woman.'

"I've always been fascinated by the idea of the female warrior, someone who fights her own battles and doesn't take shit from anyone, and equally fascinated with the concept that a woman's love or defending her honor would be worth so much that people would actually put their own lives and the lives of others at risk over it," she continued. "The most famous story everyone thinks of first is, of course, 'The face that launched a thousand ships,' Helen of Troy. But there was also Cleopatra and Marc Antony, Attila the Hun's invasion of Rome, Richard the Lionheart rescuing his sister Joan of England during the crusades, General Wu Sangui's betrayal, which led to the downfall of the Ming Dynasty in the 1600s, and the Celts uprising against the Roman Empire in AD 60. The list goes on and on.

"So that's the story behind the name — WE START WARS represents not only the battles that women face in daily life, but also the battles that have followed them throughout history."

VIMIC, the new band featuring former SLIPKNOT drummer Joey Jordison, is in the process of signing a new record deal for the release of its long-awaited debut album.

"Open Your Omen" was originally supposed to arrive last year via Jordison's longtime label, Roadrunner, but VIMIC has since parted ways with the record company and has yet to announce a new label home.

Speaking to Loudwire for the latest installment of Wikipedia: Fact Or Fiction?, Jordison stated about VIMIC's full-length disc: "Right now we have a release date set. We don't know if we wanna go through with it or not, because we're signing a new deal right now. 'Cause everything's being closed as we speak… So everything's going really good. It's coming out."

He continued: "That's what's good about being on tour. We're just getting out to meeting the fans, showcasing what we're about, getting the music out there. Usually I'm not a big Internet fan, but it's actually doing really good for us right now, so I think I've changed a little bit. [Laughs]"

Jordison added: "It's coming out. The deal's getting signed already, and it's getting put out. It's on its way."

VIMIC in February postponed its European tour so that the group could finish work on its debut LP, which has been described in a press release as "quite possibly the biggest triumph of Jordison's illustrious career."

In April, photos surfaced on social media of Jordison and Dave Mustaine at a Nashville studio, leading to speculation that the MEGADETH mainman was involved in the mixing process for VIMIC's upcoming effort.

Joining Jordison in VIMIC are singer Kalen Chase Musmecci, who has toured with KORN as a backing vocalist and percussionist, and Joey's former SCAR THE MARTYR bandmates Jed Simon (guitar), Kyle Konkiel (bass) and Matthew Tarach (keyboards). VIMIC has also welcomed new guitarist Steve Marshall to the band.

In a December 2016 interview with Shockwave Magazine, Jordison stated about the making of VIMIC's first album: "The way we did 'Open Your Omen', the way we wrote it is exactly like how a garage band would do their demo tape. We went all the way back to the basics, and it was cool doing it like that because you didn't have the influence of your label, and the huge studio, and cars, hotels, and fancy dinners, all this bullshit that goes on along with being in the record industry. It was done literally in my home, organic, and we went out just to the studio not too far from my house and we just laid it down there. So, it was pretty much born in my home and then we just cruised up to the studio and just laid it down really quick."

Before his dismissal from SLIPKNOT in December 2013, Jordison had been quietly struggling with the career-threatening neurological condition acute transverse myelitis, an inflammation of the spinal cord which damages nerve fibers, which ultimately led to Joey losing the use of his legs. Never one to quit or back down from a fight, Jordison overcame the impossible through months and months of rehabilitation, regaining the strength to walk again. He is feeling stronger than ever and is eager to show the world what is possible.

"When this stuff happened to me, most, a lot of people, they just don't come back from it," he told Shockwave Magazine. "They just don't. They're crippled for life, they give up, and they're either in a wheelchair, or they just don't come back from this. My fighting spirit is to never give up no matter what and I fought so hard. I had to throw music away, I had to kiss it goodbye for a little bit and it sucked. But I knew that if I was going to be able to do this again that I had, with all my strength that I had in my body, mentally, in my heart as well, soulful, spiritually, whatever I had to get through this, I had to do it. I put myself all the way through it and I came back and I'm actually stronger than I've ever been. It took a long time to get through it. It was not an easy road, but I'm back and I'm happier than I've ever been. I'm playing music all the time. I play better than I ever have, cause all I do is gym and just work out. Life takes you down troubled roads sometimes, not to hurt you, but to cleanse you. That's the way I kind of look at it."

The brand new video clip by melodic power metal band SERIOUS BLACK is availale below. "Serious Black Magic" is taken from the upcoming album "Magic" (out August 25th via AFM Records).

Track-list

2-CD Digipak

CD 1

1. With A Tip Of The Hat
2. Binary Magic
3. Burn! Witches Burn!
4. Lone Gunman Rule
5. Now You’ll Never Know
6. I Can Do Magic
7. Serious Black Magic
8. Skeletons On Parade
9. Mr. Nightmist
10. The Witch Of Caldwell Town
11. True Love Is Blind
12. Just Kill Me
13. Newfound Freedom
14. One Final Song

CD 2 (Live in Atlanta Bonus CD)

1.Temple Of The Sun (Intro)
2. Akhenaton
3. Castor Skies
4. Older And Wiser
5. Trail Of Murder
6. As Long As I’m Alive
7. Sealing My Fate
8. I Seek No Other Life
9. Setting Fire To The Earth
10. High And Low
11. As Daylight Breaks (Outro)

Hundred Suns – the trio featuring Cory Brandan (Norma Jean), Ryan Leger (Every Time I Die) and Chris LeMasters (Dead & Divine) – are giving fans a sneak preview of debut album The Prestaliis (New Damage Records) ahead of its August 11th release date. Listen to the album via the YouTube playlist below:

The special album preview follows last week’s release of the band’s “Amaranthine” video and the announcement that the band is donating a portion of the song’s sales proceeds to Thorn, an organization that creates and supports tech initiatives that disrupt predatory behavior and work to make the internet a more hostile environment for those who seek to exploit children.

“Amaranthine” follows the release of first track “Last Apology” (listen below). Both songs are available as instant downloads by clicking here to pre-order The Prestaliis ahead of its August 11th release date.

In support of their forthcoming LP, Hundred Suns will be touring across North America this summer. The month-long tour kicks off in Dallas, TX on August 5th and wraps up with three Canadian shows in Ottawa (August 24th), Toronto (August 25th) and St. Catharines (August 26th). Tickets for the tour are on-sale now.

Hundred Suns is the convergence of darkness, intention, and emotion, summoning an enrapturing dreamscape of haunting songs that are multilayered yet delivered with urgent immediacy. Tastemaker media outlets like Revolver, Alternative Press, and BBC1 with Daniel Carter have already taken notice. The response from fans is no less exciting, with a crowd-funded campaign that easily surpassed its initial goal.

Armed with the support of campaign backers, Hundred Suns conjured their debut full-length, together with producer/engineer Sam Guaiana (Like Pacific), vocal engineer/producer Jeremy SH Griffith (Norma Jean, Underoath), and producer/mixer (and Saosin guitarist) Beau Burchell (Blaqk Audio, The Bronx). The Prestaliis explores catastrophe, elemental power, primitive anxieties, and complex struggles within songs that are straightforward and structured, free and invigorating, yet deceptively focused on details. Hundred Suns meditates on the unspoken sentiments that hang in the air, the conversations that often are never had, yet exist on the tip of the tongue for so many that often feel the same conflict.

Multidimensional stories intersect with colorfully vibrant music, shrouded and cloaked in introspective fog ‘though they may be. Hundred Suns is an invitation to artistic indulgence, to creative alchemy, and to drink in each shared experience.

Tracklisting:

“The Prestaliis I”
“Partner/Predator”
“Bedburner”
“Last Apology”
“Fractional”
“Reversal”
“December”
“Hellelujah”
“Infinite Winter”
“Amaranthine”
“The Prestaliis II”

“Last Apology”:

(Photo by: Jay Perry)

California-based extreme metal vets, Exhumed, have released a video trailer for their upcoming sixth studio album, Death Revenge. The follow-up to 2013’s Necrocracy will be released on October 13th via Relapse Records.

Founding member and guitarist/vocalist Matt Harvey previously commented on the new album: “All Guts, No Glory was more of a straight-up speeding attack, Necrocracy had a bit more focus on groove and incorporating some mid-paced stuff in there, and this one is gonna be a lot darker. It's a concept album, which is a first for us, so expect some new twists on our tried-and-true formula: one part late 80s death metal, half a cup of German / Canadian / Bay Area thrash, a dash of grindcore, crossover, and crust and the occasional, well-concealed, Hall and Oates rip-off.”

Check out the new trailer below, and stay tuned for album updates, coming soon.