Serious Black will release their new album, Magic, on August 25th via AFM Records. A lyric video for the new song “Burn! Witches Burn!” is available for streaming below.

Featuring cover artwork by Jan Yrlund, Magic will be released in the following editions:

Special Fan Box ( Ltd. to 500):

- Ltd. Digipak (the limited 2CD digipak contains the bonus CD Live In Atlanta)
- exclusive acoustic CD First Light - only available in this boxset
- witchboard with planchette (exclusive design)
- 22 tarot cards (exclusive design)
- Listener’s companion written by Urban breed
- certificate of authenticity

CD Jewelcase:

- Magic

CD Digipak Ltd. (2 CDs):

- Magic
- Live in Atlanta

Vinyl:

- Black Ltd. to 250
- White Ltd. to 250

Pre-order the new album in various formats at this location.

“Burn! Witches Burn!” lyric video:

Serious Black has achieved in less than three years of band history and with just two albums released quite an impressive success. The group, consisting of musicians from bands such as Firewind, Rhapsody, Tad Morose, Edenbridge, Visions Of Atlantis and Dreamscape, has positioned itself directly among the leading formations of their genre.

Tours with HammerFall and Gamma Ray allowed the fanbase to grow  rapidly and with the first headliner tour in September 2016, Serious Black impressively demonstrated that they are a real live force.

Inspired by the consistently euphoric reactions of fans and the media, the band is already working under high pressure on their third studio album, Magic.

The band have announced a string of European tour dates. As special guests, Herman Frank (ex-Accept), Rick Altzi  (Masterplan), Andre Hilgers  (ex-Rage) and Michael Müller (Jaded Heart) will be part of the show, supports are My Own Ghost (Luxemburg) and Stormhammer (Germany).

Wayward Sons’ debut album, Ghosts Of Yet To Come, will be released on September 15th. The band are releasing four videos to support single releases. The videos together will make one short film. You can see the latest video, for new single “Alive”, below.

Wayward Sons is a UK guitar act made up of Toby Jepson (vocals, guitar), Sam Wood (guitar), Nic Wastell (bass), Dave Kemp (keys) and Phil Martini (drums). They have an impressive resume of groups they have previously worked with - Little Angels, Gun, Spear Of Destiny, Treason Kings and Chrome Molly to name a few - which is reassuring in terms of the band as players, but doesn’t really hint at their sound. Wayward Sons sound nothing like the sum of their parts. The music is hard rock but mixed with a vitality and energy - both musically and lyrically.

Ghosts Of Yet To Come is a hugely accomplished debut album - as might be expected. From the staccato riffing of “Give It Away” to the melodic intro of first single “Until The End”, from the hard rock of “Ghosts” to 4/4 rock of “Don’t Wanna Go”, the album sounds familiar yet of its own. Toby Jepson had the basis of songs written when the band formed. Together they then took these rough song ideas and forged their own sound. Lyrically the album sees Jepson treading a far more personal line than some of his previous output.

“I feel I have unfinished business, stories still left to tell, points to make, noise to create, all of the above... besides, it wasn't a choice, more of a need. My intention is very simple. I want to write about what makes me tick; about what I believe in. Hopefully you will believe in it too. It will be warts and all,” says Jepson.

The album was produced by Wayward Sons (Toby Jepson’s previous credits as a songwriter and producer include the likes of Katie Melua, The Virgin Marys, The Answer and Toseland) and Chris D’Adda (Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds).

Tracklisting:

“Alive”
“Until The End”
“Ghost”
“Don't Wanna Go”
“Give It Away”
“Killing Time”
“Crush”
“Be Still”
“Small Talk”
“Something Wrong”

“Alive” video:

“Until The End” video:

“Until The End” alternate studio video:

Wayward Sons have a series of dates through 2017, with more to follow.

July
26 - Bristol, UK - Louisiana
28 - Derbyshire, UK - Rock And Blues Custom Show Festival
29 - Kent, UK - Ramblin’ Man Fair Festival
30 - Ebbw Vale, UK - Steelhouse Festival

“Gates Of Hell”, the opening track of Bloody Hammers’ upcoming The Horrific Case Of Bloody Hammers EP, is available for streaming below.

This very special case is a webstore and band only release strictly limited to 300 copies - out on July 14th. This six-song strong EP descends from the dark mountain peaks of Transylvania. The EP features somber-sacral organ symphonies that slide over cruel hammering staccato riffing. The master of horror Anders Manga, delivers a bombastic, powerful voice over his wife Devallia's sinister synthesizers. The ice-cold nostalgia of ‘70s b-list thrillers and horror flicks shoots through the veins directly into the heart. Pre-orders are available at this location.

Tracklisting:

“Gates Of Hell”
“Blood”
“The Beyond”
“Vultures Circle Overland”
“All The Colors Of The Dark”
“The Bloodsucker Leads The Dance”

“Gates Of Hell”:

“Blood” video:

Goatwhore's latest album, Vengeful Ascension, released on June 23rd via Metal Blade Records, toppled Billboard charts upon its first week of release earning the #4 spot on Billboard's Heatseeker Albums chart, #6 on the Hard Rock Album Sales chart, #11 on the Independent Albums chart, #16 on the Hard Rock Albums chart, #18 on the Rock Album Sales chart, #49 on the Top 200 Current Albums chart, and #59 on the Top 200 Albums chart making it the band's highest charting album to date.

In Canada, the record was met with equal accolades debuting at #19 on the Hard Music chart and #145 on the Top Albums chart.

Vengeful Ascension is out now on Metal Blade Records on CD, vinyl, and digital formats. To preview and purchase the record visit this location.

Goatwhore recently wrapped up a near-three-week headlining tour with Vancouver metallers, Anciients. The band will take to the streets again this fall on a North American live takeover supporting UK-based metal icons Venom Inc. The Blood Stained Earth Tour will ravage twenty-eight cities from September 1st through October 2nd. Additional support will be provided by Portland punk thrashers Toxic Holocaust and Ohio deathcore unit The Convalescence. See all confirmed dates below.

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
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

Goatwhore recording lineup:

Louis B. Falgoust II - Vocals
Sammy Duet - Guitars, Vocals
Zack Simmons - Drums
James Harvey - Bass

Goatwhore touring lineup:

Louis B. Falgoust II - Vocals
Sammy Duet - Guitars, Vocals
Zack Simmons - Drums
Robert "TA" Coleman - Bass

Earache Records is presenting a very long overdue reissue of the revered second album from Florida's death metal titans Morbid Angel. Widely renowned as the kings of the death metal genre, with their revolution and unapologetic sound, Blessed Are The Sick is finally getting the Full Dynamic Range treatment that has enhanced many other albums, including both Altars Of Madness and Covenant (also available). A video trailer for the release, shipping on August 18th, is available for streaming below.

Pressed from the original master tapes and specially recreated using full dynamic range mastering, their FDR vinyl are regarded as one of the best series of vinyl reissues around. The FDR mastering process allows the music's nuance to shine through, and gives these classic albums a more ferocious and dynamic sound, enabling the listener to immerse themselves in the full audio heaviness.

Pre-orders available at this location.

Spanish female-fronted death metallers Bloodhunter have revealed the cover artwork their upcoming second album, The End Of Faith, whose release date is scheduled for October 16th through Xtreem Music.

Formed back in 2008, Bloodhunter is one of Spain's leading death metal forces. Led by virtuoso guitarist Fenris and vocalist Diva Satanica, the band released their debut album, Bloodhunter, back in 2014, where they started to create a solid fanbase around the country thanks to their strong live performances and high-quality death metal with a melodic & brutal edge.

Bloodhunter has now finished recording their second album, The End Of Faith, whose lineup is completed with bassist Éadrom and magnificent session drummer Marcelo Aires. The result is fantastic and will definitely put Bloodhunter on the map as a force to reckon. Just imagine if Arch Enemy would play death metal - yes, death metal, not aggressive modern heavy metal - with a much more brutal approach.

Tracklisting:

“The Forbidden Zone”
“The End Of Faith”
“Eyes Wide Open”
“Still Standing Up”
“Death & Rebirth”
“The Queen Beast”
“All These Souls Shall Serve Forever”
“Spirits Of Sin”
“Let The Storm Come”
“Possessed By Myself”
“Crystal Mountain” (Death cover)

Last week saw the worldwide release of Wrong One To Fuck With, the new album from Dying Fetus via Relapse Records.  Wrong One To Fuck With landed Dying Fetus their highest chart debut ever and the album is the highest selling death metal album of the year thus far.  In addition to their 460,000 + streams worldwide, the band entered the Billboard Charts at the following positions:

 
#2 Hard Music
#2 Heatseekers Chart
#7 Indie Chart
#13 Rock
#39 Top Current Albums
#53 Current Digital
#180 Top 200

Orders for the new album are available via Relapse.com here and digital downloads can be ordered via Bandcamp here.

Dying Fetus once again raise the bar of sonic extremity with their eighth studio album and first new material in over five years, Wrong One To Fuck With. The seasoned veterans manage to further stretch their creative and technical boundaries across 10 complex tracks of pulverizing death metal, filled with more dynamic intricacies, brutal breakdowns and varied vocal patterns than ever before. Now over 25 years into their distinguished career, Dying Fetus cement their legacy with Wrong One To Fuck With and uphold their position as the most dominant force in death metal today.

Tracklisting:

“Fixated On Devastation”
“Panic Amongst The Herd”
“Die With Integrity”
“Reveling In The Abyss”
“Seething With Disdain”
“Ideological Subjugation”
“Weaken The Structure”
“Fallacy”
“Unmitigated Detestation”
“Wrong One To Fuck With”

"Die With Integrity” video:

“Panic Amongst The Herd” video:

“Fixated On Devastation” live video:

Teaser:

The band will be on tour throughout the year starting with Summer Slaughter alongside The Black Dahlia Murder, The Faceless, Oceano and more. The tour kicks off July 27th in Reading, PA and runs through August 26th in Cleveland, OH. Following a quick break, Dying Fetus will head overseas on the Wrong One To Fuck With Europe 2017 Tour. The tour runs October 13th through November 18th and features support from Psycroptic, Beyond Creation and Disentomb. A complete list of tour dates can be found here.

Powerwolf has risen over the years to become one of the biggest flagships in the heavy metal scene of today. The band has a deep bond with Metal Blade Records who helped them over the period of four albums to become the dominating force they are today.

Metal Blade will now reissue the first three full-lengths in the history of Powerwolf - Return In Bloodred, Lupus Dei and Bible Of The Beast - on August 11th on vinyl. This is the first time these albums will be available on vinyl as stand-alone releases.

All three albums will receive the "MB Originals" treatment: 400g heavy cardboard spine sleeves (inside out print), big posters, 250g inserts, plus a special vinyl re-mastering from Patrick W. Engel.

Pre-order your copies now at Metal Blade Records (US), EMP (Europe) or at Metal Blade’s eBay store (Europe).

Return In Bloodred "Originals-Series" LP reissue
- 180g Black Vinyl
- Orange Transparent Vinyl (limited to 300 copies - EU exclusive)
- Golden Vinyl (limited to 200 copies - Napalm exclusive)
- Red/Black Splatter Vinyl (limited to 100 copies - eBay exclusive)

Lupus Dei "Originals-Series" LP reissue
- 180g Black Vinyl
- Opaque Red Vinyl (limited to 300 copies - EU exclusive)
- Golden Vinyl (limited to 200 copies - Napalm exclusive)
- Red/Black Splatter Vinyl (limited to 100 copies - eBay exclusive)

Bible Of The Beast "Originals-Series" LP reissue
- 180g Black Vinyl
- Red Transparent (limited to 300 copies - EU exclusive)
- Golden Vinyl (limited to 200 copies - Napalm exclusive)
- Red/Black Splatter Vinyl (limited to 100 copies - eBay exclusive)

MACHINE HEAD guitarist Phil Demmel joined ADRENALINE MOB on stage on July 3 at Slim's in San Francisco, California to perform cover versions of "Rebel Yell" (BILLY IDOL) and "The Mob Rules" (BLACK SABBATH). Fan-filmed video footage of the "Rebel Yell" performance can be seen below.

ADRENALINE MOB is the band featuring Russell Allen (vocals; also of SYMPHONY X) and Mike Orlando (guitar).

The group's third studio album, "We The People", was released on June 2 via Century Media. The follow-up to 2014's "Men Of Honor" is the first ADRENALINE MOB release to feature the band's new drummer Jordan Cannata and bassist David Zablidowsky (of TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA).

As the title "We The People" indicates, there's a political side to ADRENALINE MOB. Throughout their years as a musicians and songwriters, they hadn't stayed silent on matters significant. Whether they were masked in metaphor or flatly conspicuous, they've always poured their feelings into song. It was, as Orlando puts it, a form of catharsis. So, as they were watching the presidential campaigns, feeling the negativity — the constant bickering and finger pointing — they knew ADRENALINE MOB's next venture would be affected. In fact, the first song Orlando began writing for "We The People" was the politically charged rocker "Blind Leading The Blind". "The title track is very much inspired by the past election year," confirms Allen. "It touches on our society, here in America. The album title is a reflection of our times. The songs have certain particular stories that stand on their own. Many of them are also driven by the climate we live in today and some are about having a good time, being free and loving rock 'n' roll. All the tracks have a personality and character to them."

ADRENALINE MOB and TWISTED SISTER drummer A.J. Pero died in March 2015 of a heart attack.

Bassist John Moyer, who has been a member of DISTURBED since 2004, joined ADRENALINE MOB in February 2012 and appeared on the band's "Covertà" EP (2013) and "Men Of Honor" album (2014).

Drummer Mike Portnoy (FLYING COLORS, THE WINERY DOGS, DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD) quit ADRENALINE MOB in June 2013 due to "scheduling conflicts."

In a recent interview with I'm Music Magazine, Orlando stated about ADRENALINE MOB's lineup changes: "We've had a few member changes and, unfortunately, the passing of A.J., but we had no choice but to get someone else behind the kit. We've been very fortunate and we have someone really incredible in Jordan Cannata with us now. I think of it as turning the page and starting something better; write a better paragraph than the page before. To me, it's always moving forward and trying to do something better. The sound of the band has always been myself and Russell Allen; we're the writing team and it's been that way since day one. We've changed members on drums and bass, but that doesn't affect the writing, because it stays between Russ and I."

ADRENALINE MOB's 30-date U.S. tour kicked off on June 16 in Poughkeepsie, New York.

In a brand new interview with AXS, Dave Mustaine was asked how he decides which guitarist plays which solos when composing new MEGADETH material. He responded: "It's pretty simple. It's based on the rhythm. I'm a better rhythm player than a soloist. I consider myself an accomplished soloist, but if the rhythm gets too complicated, I can't follow it very well. The other guys can. So I'll take the more complicated rhythm to play and let them solo over it. But when the rhythm is simpler, I'll have them do it and I'll solo over it. That's usually the most obvious way we pick who does what. There'll be times when it just doesn't work out that way."

He continued: "One of the main reasons Marty Friedman left MEGADETH was because of the solo in 'Breadline' [off 1999's 'Risk' album]. That was a song where Marty wanted to do the solo so badly. And he did, but when we got the song back, our management said, 'We don't like the solo.' Marty was already gone, so I agreed to redo it. But I told them they'd have to tell Marty they didn't like his solo and wanted it redone, because I knew it was gonna cause problems. So then we're sitting in the control room and the song comes on. Everyone's there, we're all excited. I'm fat, dumb, and happy because I think they told Marty it would be my solo, not his. So the song comes up and there's my solo. Dave Ellefson [MEGADETH bassist] and I look over at Marty, and he's got tears coming down his face. I was like, 'Oh my God! You didn't tell him!' I felt terrible. Those are the little things that just fuck everything up. People don't see that part of it. They think it's my fault. I mean sure, I had a part in it, yeah. But who forgot to tell him?"

In previous interviews, Mustaine painted a different picture of how the writing and recording process worked on earlier MEGADETH albums. Speaking about the musical chemistry of the band's classic "Rust In Peace"-era lineup, he told Revolver magazine in 2008: "I sang almost every single note of Marty Friedman's guitar solos, and I wrote the majority of Nick's [Menza] drum parts, and I wrote almost every bass note that [David] Ellefson played." He doubled down on those claims in a 2009 interview with Guitar World, where he said: "You know, people have heard me say that I 'sang' solos to Marty in the studio, and I did. I did it to [former guitarists] Jeff [Young], Chris [Poland] and Al [Pitrelli], too. But [then-MEGADETH guitarist] Chris Broderick? I only did it two times [on MEGADETH's 2009 album 'Endgame'], and there are literally hundreds of thousands of notes on 'Endgame'. Now that is a testimony to a guy who has studied his partner."

Friedman has disputed Mustaine's claim that Dave "sang almost every single note" of the guitarist's parts before they were recorded. Marty told San Antonio Metal Music Examiner in a 2016 interview: "I had complete control over what I played [on 'Rust In Peace']. And I wasn't interested in changing anything up that anybody else was doing, as long as I could do what I wanted to do. Of course, everybody else had to like what I did, so I wanted to make sure everybody liked what I did. But it was completely up to me what I wanted to play. So that's all I wanted; I didn't wanna come in and start changing things around, band-wise, politics-wise or anything like that, or even in songwriting. I just wanted to, you know, have my guitar playing [come out] my way, which is really the only way that I ever play guitar. I'm not really good at adapting to anyone saying they want me to play one way or another way; I've never been in that situation, so I wouldn't be the type of guy that you could say [to], 'Play this like whatever.' So as far as I was concerned, I had all the freedom that I wanted ever in that band. It was fantastic."

MEGADETH is currently touring North America with MESHUGGAH and will play arenas later in the year as the support act for German hard rock veterans SCORPIONS.

In a new interview, famed producer Desmond Child (KISS, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith) talked to Music Business Worldwide about the impact of streaming on songwriters. 

“Well, ‘Livin’ On a Prayer’ got 392 million plays on Pandora alone, in just one year, but my take home pay on that was $6,000. It’s not tenable”, says Child

He went on to say, “Who would ever chose this as a career? They wouldn’t. You are going to get potentially genius songwriters who say, ‘No, I want to be able to support a family, I want to eat nice food and live in a nice place, so I can’t be a songwriter, I’ll be a realtor’ – and the world is less for it.

“Meanwhile, the big corporations line their pockets through our music. It’s unfair and we have to fix it.

“We’re saddled with legislation that suppresses our rates in a terrible way, through out-dated [US] consent decrees that are 76 years old. The last time they were even reviewed was 2001, before the iPod had even been launched. We are in a dire, dire situation.

“When digital [music] came into being, the people protecting songwriters’ rights weren’t young enough, hip enough or educated enough to understand the impact that the internet was going to have.

“So we got sold down the river and it’s been very difficult, almost impossible, to recover from the mistakes our leaders made at that time. It’s tragic.

“People go on and on about lost jobs in coal – they shout about 7,000 workers have lost their jobs etc. Well guess what? In the last 10 years, the music industry has lost one million jobs. When I first arrived in Nashville, in 1992, there were 5,000 signed writers within the 440 Circle. At last count I think there were 232.”

Jason Hook says that everyone who has heard FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's upcoming album thinks it's the band's strongest effort to date.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH delivered its follow-up to 2015's "Got Your Six" to the band's longtime record label Prospect Park several months ago, but a legal battle with the company has delayed the disc's release.

Speaking to SpazioRock before FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's June 6 concert at Alcatraz in Milan, Italy, the guitarist stated about the upcoming LP (see video below): "It's completely done. There was sixteen songs completed, sitting at Prospect Park, ready to go. Everybody that's heard the record so far thinks it's our best record. I'm super excited about it. I thought we fucking knocked it out of the park. There's some really cool, different things on there that are slightly different for us. There's certainly a chunk of what you would expect from FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, but there's some solid songs that are slightly outside of our regular box. But everyone thinks it's a smash, and it's in their control."

According to Hook, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's new album finds the band once again walking the fine line between subtle experimentation and continuing with the tried-and-tested formula which has turned them into arena headliners.

"We can't really do anything differently," Hook admitted. "We are what we are. And it's an interesting challenge, because when you get to your seventh or eighth or ninth record, it comes naturally to do what we do. So we can't be fake about it, we can't fabricate something that's different — we have to just do what comes naturally. Fortunately, when we're making records, you have to come up with sixteen or so songs, so you can do a little bit of experimentation and try to break outside the box a little bit. Sometimes it doesn't work. Sometimes it's, like, 'Okay, that's way too fucking different.' But it's very easy for us to come up with the bulk of our sound in sixteen songs. And I think you'll be very delighted. It's a powerful record."

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH in April filed a new lawsuit against Prospect Park, asking a judge to release them from their contract with the label and to order the company to pay more than a million dollars in damages.

Prospect Park told TMZ the real issue was the band still hadn't delivered the album "required under the recording contract and expected by their fans."

Hook talked about FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's legal issues during the SpazioRock interview, telling the site: "The whole lawsuit thing, to me, is just so silly. We haven't done anything wrong. People always ask me, 'Why are you getting sued by your label?' I'm, like, 'I can't honestly answer that. I don't even know why.' We owed the label one record, which we completed within the terms of the contract. We didn't anything too soon. Twelve months after 'Got Your Six', we had another record ready, and we submitted it, and they refused to release it because we've already signed to another label to move on with our lives."

The guitarist also blamed Prospect Park CEO Jeff Kwatinetz personally for delaying the new FIVE FINGER album release, saying: "This Jeff Kwatinetz character has sued 89 people so far; that's his thing. So we'll never stop fighting. He won't win. We have millions and millions of people that demand us to come and play. There's plenty of money. What he's done is just kind of childish and ridiculous."

The label sued FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH more than a year ago for breach of contract, alleging that the group wanted to rush the recording of a new album without proper creative input from the label and in order to "cash in" before the anticipated "downfall" of singer Ivan Moody, who was revealed at the time to be in rehab. In addition, Prospect Park wanted more time to promote "Got Your Six", and asked the band to provide just two new songs for a greatest-hits collection in the interim.

According to Prospect Park's original lawsuit, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's four-album contract prohibited the band from beginning to record a new effort until at least nine months have passed since the release of the previous one.

In May 2016, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH announced it had signed a new North American recording deal with the BMG-owned rock label Rise Records.

"Bread And Circuses", a new song from TAU CROSS, the multinational punk/heavy metal collective featuring AMEBIX bassist/frontman Rob "The Baron" Miller, VOIVOD drummer Michel "Away" Langevin, and members of cult crust outfits MISERY and WAR//PLAGUE, can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below. The track is taken from TAU CROSS's second full-length album, "Pillar Of Fire", which will be released on July 21 on CD, 2xLP, and digital formats via Relapse Records.

"Pillar Of Fire" was recorded across three different countries and co-produced by "The Baron" in the same manner as their eponymous debut. The drums were tracked in Montreal, guitars in Minneapolis, bass in Seattle and Minneapolis, and vocals on the Isle Of Skye in Scotland. "Pillar Of Fire" further expands the group's unique musical approach ranging from dark folk witchery to industrial punk metal brutalism; a moody melting pot of KILLING JOKE's metallic post-punk and MOTÖRHEAD's anthemic, hard rock with flourishes of traditional instrumentation and an infusion of 16th Century English mysticism. "Pillar Of Fire" is a musical unearthing of TAU CROSS's philosophical preoccupations: mythological motifs, ultra-terrestrial hypotheses, surreal, social political landscapes, and the endless search for meaning in a controlled universe. "Pillar Of Fire" track listing:

01. Raising Golem02. Bread And Circuses03. On The Water04. Deep State05. Pillar Of Fire06. Killing The King07. A White Horse08. The Big House09. RFID10. Seven Wheels11. What Is A Man12. Three Down (Vinyl + Digital Bonus Track)13. We Are The Terror (Vinyl + Digital Bonus Track)14. In Time (Vinyl + Digital Bonus Track) Comments TAU CROSS on the new album: "'Pillar Of Fire' is the continuation of some of the ideas that were explored on our first album. This time we have managed to share the songwriting more equally and introduce some other textures to the songs. This should help to establish TAU CROSS as less of a one-off phenomenon and more of an ongoing musical collective producing our own distinctive sonic environment." Formed in 2013 across two continents and three countries, TAU CROSS is the natural evolution of Miller's work in AMEBIX. The band's self-titled debut was recorded in 2014 and released via Relapse Records in May 2015 to widespread critical reception, including an inclusion on Rolling Stone's Metal Albums Of The Year list.

TAU CROSS made its live debut in 2016 in North America, followed by a special mainstage performance at the legendary Roadburn festival in the Netherlands. TAU CROSS is:

Rob "The Baron" Miller - bass/vocalsAndy Lefton - guitarJon Misery - guitarMichel "Away" Langevin - drumsTom Radlo - bassJames Adams - keyboards

"One Eyed Nation", a brand new song from DECAPITATED, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's seventh album, "Anticult", which will be released on July 7 via Nuclear Blast.

"Anticult" highlights just how vital DECAPITATED has remained two decades deep into the band's career. The Polish metal extremists have long been undeniable masters of their craft and they are expanding their parameters with "Anticult", which should elevate the band's profile beyond the death metal realm in which it has dominated for years.

"'Anticult' represents the legacy and future of DECAPITATED," said DECAPITATED guitarist and founding member Waclaw "Vogg" Kieltyka. "We're extremely proud of the record, in both the song compositions and the production. This is the best representation of our music and we're really excited for the world to hear it!"

"Anticult" track listing:

01. Impulse02. Deathvaluation03. Kill The Cult04. One-Eyed Nation05. Anger Line06. Earth Scar07. Never08. Amen

DECAPITATED's sixth album, "Blood Mantra", was released in September 2014 via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2011's "Carnival Is Forever" was recorded at Hertz Studio in Bialystok, Poland with producers Wojtek and Slawek Wiesawski.

This past Monday night (July 3), PRO-PAIN frontman Gary Meskil was the victim of a robbery and attempted murder in Brussels, Belgium. According to a statement released by his bandmates, Gary was pick-pocketed of cash, credit card, and passport, struck on the head with an ice pick and then subsequently attacked by a gang of individuals. The police have confiscated more than one weapon and they have established the identities of some of the suspects. Gary was quickly admitted to ICU after suffering head trauma (including several fractures to his face and jaw) and massive blood loss. Since then he has stabilized and is trying his best to recover, but future surgery may be necessary.

As a result of Meskil's injuries, PRO-PAIN has been forced to cancel its scheduled concerts in Roeselare, Belgium (July 7) and Osnabrück, Germany (July 8).

According to Nieuwsblad.be, Meskil left the hospital yesterday and is now recovering at a friend's house in Belgium. He is said to have been put on "heavy pain medication."

PRO-PAIN is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, "Voice Of Rebellion", which was released in June 2015 through SPV/Steamhammer.

"Across The Water", the new lyric video from Sweden's KRYPTONITE, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's self-titled debut album, which will be released on August 4 via Frontiers Music Srl. Sometimes musicians are put together who only know each other from afar via their respective recordings, but something clicks and triggers a magical moment. That's exactly what happened when Jakob Samuel from THE POODLES met up with producer Alessandro Del Vecchio on the heels of a concept created by Frontiers president Serafino Perugino. Together, they set off to work on a new band that could offer lyrical concepts that are deep and intelligent with music that operates within the genres they excel in. And most importantly, has a great energy and impact. Samuel, Del Vecchio and Perugino handpicked each musician to be part of their vision for a strong lineup of young and hungry Swedish musicians that would be ready to go out there and kick some ass. Pontus Egberg, formerly of THE POODLES and now the bass player for KING DIAMOND and TREAT, was the first one to enter the picture, followed shortly thereafter by Robban Back of MUSTASCH (and ex-ECLIPSE). The choice of guitar player fell to the young and immensely gifted Mike Palace. Mike showed his huge talents as a writer and performer on his band Palace's debut album and on several songs he has already written for the label. The recording and writing sessions flowed freely and the songs came naturally. This band will truly set a standard for what fans perceive as melodic hard rock in today's climate. It is classic, but modern at the same time, groovy and cool.

Israeli progressive folk metal masters ORPHANED LAND will release a new studio album on January 26, 2018 via Century Media Records. Most parts of the disc, which will be titled "Unsung Prophets And Dead Messiahs", have already been recorded and Jens Bogren will once again take over mixing and mastering duties of what is to be destined to become the band's best and biggest production so far. "Unsung Prophets And Dead Messiahs" will feature a guest appearance of guitar virtuoso Steve Hackett and more specials will be announced soon.

Singer and frontman Kobi Farhi comments: "Hails from the recording studio! We are so thrilled and impatient for you all to hear 'Unsung Prophets And Dead Messiahs'. I wish to inform our old school fans: Growls are back as well as killer melodies that will break your hearts! On a personal note: It's such a great feeling after a career of 25 years to know that we are still at our bests by all means. Prepare for something strong! Count the days with us till Jan 26th, 2018!"

The release of "Unsung Prophets And Dead Messiahs" will be followed by an extensive European tour in early 2018. There will also be a U.S. tour in September 2017.

ORPHANED LAND is:

Kobi Farhi - VocalsChen Balbus - GuitarsIdan Amsalem - GuitarsUri Zelcha - BassMatan Shmuely - Drums

"I'm no stranger to wild behavior," writes Tommy Lee in a new comment piece published in the Independent today, "but there's one thing that even I wouldn't do, and that's running 'with' the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. That can fuck right off."

In the piece, which he wrote on behalf of PETA, the MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer explains that prior to the Running Of The Bulls, electric prods and sticks are often used to torment the bulls. The panicked animals then slip and slide along the narrow streets, pursued by hundreds of people. "This isn't a test of nerve and resolve," writes Lee. "It's a pathetic display of human idiocy and cruelty."

At the end of the day, the bulls are herded into the bullring, where as many as eight men taunt, beat, and stab a single bull with daggers and harpoon-like banderillas until he becomes weakened from blood loss. Then the matador stabs the exhausted animal with a sword, and an executioner cuts his spinal cord. "It's truly more twisted than anything I could have imagined, even during my wildest days with MÖTLEY CRÜE," writes Lee. "And let's be honest: if people paid to watch a man in a sparkly leotard torment and butcher a dog or cat in this way, we wouldn't dare try to excuse it as 'tradition' – we'd declare him a sicko, lock him up, and throw away the key."

PETA — whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to use for entertainment" — notes that a 2013 Ipsos MORI survey revealed that more than 70 percent of Spaniards have no interest in attending or supporting bullfights, which means it's largely tourists who fuel the industry.

"Fortunately, organisations like PETA and other kind people are working to get these cruel, cowardly spectacles banned across Spain — and they have my support," concludes Lee. "I hope they have yours, too."

MÖTLEY CRÜE called it quits in December 2015 following an eighteen-month tour that saw the group performing to packed houses all over the world.

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

Integrity have released a teaser for their new music video for “7 Reece Mews”. The full clip will be released tomorrow, Thursday, July 6th.

Known for being one of the most incendiary and influential bands in hardcore and modern metal history, apocalyptic heavy music icons Integrity return with their 12th studio album, entitled Howling, For The Nightmare Shall Consume.

A conceptual foretelling of the final days of Armageddon, Howling... is a manifestation of pentecostal nightmares and religious depravities, wrought with fire and brimstone sermons and occult prophecies bathed in waves of destruction. Now with almost 30 years of creating dark and terrifying anthems under their belt, Integrity have honoured their past musical legacy while fearlessly moving forward into unchartered territory on what is undoubtedly their most elaborate and ambitious effort to date.

Howling, For The Nightmare Shall Consume was recorded and mixed at Developing Nations Studio in Baltimore with mastering handled by Brad Boatright (Obituary, Toxic Holocaust, Full Of Hell). The album will see its release on CD/2xLP/Deluxe 3xLP/CS/Digital via Relapse Records on July 14th. A music video for the song “Hymn For The Children Of The Black Flame”, directed by Jimmy Hubbard, can be viewed below.

"The horrifically stunning aesthetic of director, Jimmy Hubbard has taken us deep into the realm of forbidden nightmare and religious inversion. Hubbard has breathed a new hell into our song, “Hymn For The Children Of The Black Flame”,” says vocalist Dwid Hellion.

Physical pre-orders and exclusive bundles are currently available via Relapse.com at this location, while digital pre-orders are available via Bandcamp here.

The Deluxe 3xLP contains three additional bonus tracks, a 12 page LP sized booklet featuring expanded artwork and a double-sided slipmat. The digital version will include four additional bonus tracks. A complete tracklisting is available below.

Additionally, Integrity recently announced a European tour this June followed by a Japanese tour in October. A trailer for the European run featuring the opening track "Fallen To Destroy" can be viewed below. A complete listing of dates is included below.

Howling, For The Nightmare Shall Consume tracklisting:

“Fallen To Destroy”
“Blood Sermon”
“Hymn For The Children Of The Black Flame”
“I Am The Spell”
“Die With Your Boots On”
“Serpent Of The Crossroads”
“Unholy Salvation Of Sabbatai Zevi”
“7 Reece Mews”
“Burning Beneath The Devils Cross”
“String Up My Teeth”
“Howling, For The Nightmare Shall Consume”
“Viselle De Drac” (Digital / Deluxe Vinyl Bonus Track)
“Entartete Kunst” (Digital / Deluxe Vinyl Bonus Track)
“Deathly Fighter” (Digital / Deluxe Vinyl Bonus Track)
“The Perfect Silence” (Digital Bonus Track)

“Hymn For The Children Of The Black Flame” video:

“I Am The Spell” video:

Tour dates:

October (with Creepout)
6 - Tokyo, Japan - Antiknock
7 - Mie, Japan - Chaos
8 - Osaka, Japan - Hokage
9 - Tokyo, Japan - Earthdom

(Photo - Jimmy Hubbard)

Four years after the release Beyond The Martyrs, US heavy metal torchbearers Argus will release From Fields Of Fire on September 8 via Cruz Del Sur Music. From Fields Of Fire is the defining moment from a band that has delivered the goods album after album. It is the highlight of their career to date and it is an album that will be seen as a highlight in heavy metal circles, not just this year, but for years to come.

Argus no longer needs an introduction. Three studio albums, three EPs, several European tours and US showcases and festival appearances have established the name of Argus as an established force in the heavy metal Universe. Yet, Argus is a band not content to rest on its achievements. This is a band that is still hungry - a growing and strengthening animal that shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

Judging from the outside almost nothing seems to have changed this time around on From Fields Of Fire. Another exceptional and visionary cover provided by Brad Moore, and an Intro / Outro on the tracklisting, another of Argus' trademarks through all their records. But it's when you get on the inside, when you bite this album below the flesh to the bones that you realize Argus has not only been able to maintain their uniqueness, but the band has raised the quality of their creativity and therefore raised the stakes for their future. There's a definite step ahead in terms of production and songwriting, which has reached the highest quality with the addition of producer and guitarist Dave Watson and bassist Justin Campbell in the lineup. The tense opener "Devils Of Your Time" and the emotional closing "No Right To Grieve" are the songs that most clearly express their courage and confidence of exploring unusual sonic paths.

But it's the entire album that confirms that Argus is probably the best band nowadays to pay homage to traditional heavy metal without merely aping their heroes. This is true metal with doom elements, two worlds that often touch, but have never been as well synthesized into a single, organic sound as they are here. From Fields Of Fire features some real heavy metal gems: the infectious melodies and guitar-drive of "You Are The Curse" and "216”, the moody "Hour Of Longing”, the galloping sound of "As A Thousand Thieves" and the borderline epic, ever-shifting majesty of "Infinite Lives, Infinite Doors”.

From Fields Of Fire is an album that whose parts are as strong as the whole, where each track is a highlight; yet, it is also an album that demands to be absorbed as a whole where the music, lyrics and atmosphere reach deep inside of you and take root as your appreciation of this band and this music grows to be a part of you.

Tracklisting:

“Into The Fields Of Fire”
“Devils Of Your Time”
“As A Thousand Thieves”
“216”
“You Are The Curse”
“Infinite Lives Infinite Doors”
“Hour Of Longing”
“No Right To Grieve”
“From The Fields Of Fire”

Lineup:

Brian 'Butch' Balich - Vocals
Dave Watson - Guitars
Jason Mucio - Guitars
Justin Campbell - Bass
Kevin Latchaw - Drums

Neurosis will reissue the band's second LP, The Word As Law, in August, the album having remained out-of-print since the 1990s.

While listening to Neurosis' discography in chronological order, their sound gradually shifts in a very steady and somewhat seamless progression with each record, though their first few albums are undoubtedly cut from their 80s punk influences and surroundings. The Word As Law was initially released on vinyl only in 1990 through Lookout! Records, alongside the likes of Operation Ivy, Green Day, Screeching Weasel, and other Bay Area punk acts of the time. Upbeat rhythms and enraged vocals fuel The Word As Law, the record picking up where their Pain Of Mind debut's ripping punk sound left off, while the band simultaneously began experimenting with more dissonant, melancholic, and demoralizing tones that would carve the foundation for their next few albums and their signature sound.

Neurosis had yet to infuse keyboards or synthesizers into the mix when The Word As Law was recorded by Mark Lemaire at Sound & Vision in San Francisco of December 1989. The blend of vocals delivered by guitarist Scott Kelly, bassist Dave Edwardson, and new inductee on this album, guitarist Steve Von Till, driven by the powerful rhythms of drummer Jason Roeder, coalesce to formulate an eerie and original sound on The Word As Law, which results in the album's cult status as an incredibly groundbreaking album for countless crust punk, hardcore, and experimental metal artists worldwide.

While prior reissues of the album featured several re-recorded bonus tracks from the band's prior singles and releases, the 2017 Neurot reissue of The Word As Law will bear the album's initial eight tracks, all completely remastered by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering. Additionally, the album's cover artwork has been reworked and modernized by Neurosis' former live visual architect Josh Graham to match the label's previously-reissued Souls At Zero, Enemy Of The Sun, and other titles.

Neurosis' own Neurot Recordings will reissue The Word As Law on CD, LP, and digital formats on August 25th, directly following their US tour with Converge and Amenra and their performance at Psycho Las Vegas. See all confirmed tour dates below and find pre-order links for The Word As Law at this location.

The Word As Law tracklisting:

“Double Edged Sword”
“The Choice”
“Obsequious Obsolescence”
“To What End?”
“Tomorrow's Reality”
“Common Inconsistencies”
“Insensitivity”
“Blisters”

“I still remember the first time I heard The Word As Law, shortly after it was released in 1990. From the first chords of "Double-Edged Sword" I was hooked - the sounds seemed to send some sort of powerful electrical current coursing through my body - and by the time the feedback faded out at the end of "Blisters" I was emotionally spent. I had never heard anything like it: The Word As Law completely changed my understanding of three different musical genres - punk, hardcore, and metal. 

“The record blends elements of all three. There is the raw moodiness of punk. The ferocity and anger of hardcore. The musicianship and dynamics of metal. But The Word As Law transcends all those labels, in the process creating something utterly unique.

“It hit me on so many levels. It spoke to the anger I had as a young punk, my sense that I was trapped in a dog-eat-dog world of relentless capitalist competition, my alienation from the broader society. But it also resonated on a deeper level. My father killed himself when I was a teenager, leaving me mourning, feeling as if I were surrounded by a thick fog of despair. The Word As Law is not happy collection of songs, but it played this incredibly positive and cathartic role in my life. Listening to it over and over, gave me an odd sense of comfort. I realized that I wasn't the only person struggling with deep emotional turmoil and found myself slowly working through the anger and grief that had enveloped me.

“More than twenty-five years later they are still my favorite band. And I still try to attend every Neurosis show I can.

“The Word As Law was a massive influence on an entire generation of bands including my own, Econochrist. It's the bridge to what Neurosis would become in later years. So, put it back on your turntable. Step to the front the falling is today. - Ben Sizemore, Econochrist

Neurosis tour dates:

July
5 - Eistnaflug - Neskaupstadur, IS
27 - Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL (with Amenra)
28 - Thalia Hall - Chicago, IL (with Converge, Amenra)
29 - St Andrews - Detroit, MI (with Converge, Amenra)
30 - Rex Theatre - Pittsburgh, PA (with Converge, Amenra)

August
1 - Metropolis - Montreal, QC (with Converge, Amenra)
2 - Danforth Music Hall - Toronto, ON (with Converge, Amenra)
3 - College St. Music Hall - New Haven, CT (with Converge, Amenra)
4 - Warsaw - Brooklyn, NY (with Converge, Amenra)
5 - Warsaw - Brooklyn, NY (with Converge, Amenra)
6 - Royale - Boston, MA (with Converge, Amenra)
7 - Union Transfer - Philadelphia, PA (with Converge, Amenra)
18-20 - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, NV @ Psycho Las Vegas

October
28-29 - Ram's Head Live - Baltimore, MD @ Days Of Darkness

December
8 - Clash Club - São Paulo, BR (with Deafkids)
9 - Teatro Vorterix - Buenos Aires, AR
10 - Club Blondie - Santiago, C

As progressive/technical death metal project Nyn moves closer towards the August 11th release of Entropy: Of Chaos and Salt, the time has come for another exciting song from the release to be made public. The band has launched "Maelstrom II: The Ignorance Of The Gatekeeper", the second part of a dynamic four-part song on the album. 

Which, like the rest of the release, features dazzling performances from new members Tom "Fountainhead" Geldschläger (ex-Obscura, Fountainhead, Pitts Minneman Project) on fretless guitar and legendary key/synth musician Jimmy Pitts (Pitts Minneman Project, Eternity's End, Equipoise) alongside Nyn founding member and vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Noyan Tokgozoglu. Of special note in today's song premiere for "Maelstrom II: The Ignorance of the Gatekeeper" is the inclusion of a guest spot from Brandon Morris, a member of renowned prog metal act A Sense Of Gravity.

Tracklisting:

“The Mind Inverted”
“The Apory Of Existence”
“Omnipotence”
“Dissimulating Apologia”
“Rebirth: Rebuild, Advance, Redo”
“Embrace Entropy”
“The Hallway”
“Maelstrom”
“Taken Away By The Tides”

“Maelstrom II: The Ignorance Of The Gatekeeper”:

“The Apory Of Existence”:

Accept have released a first official video trailer for their upcoming new album, The Rise Of Chaos, out on August 4th via Nuclear Blast Records. In the clip, the band present the new album to the press. Watch below.

The band's fourth studio release through Nuclear Blast will continue the tradition of its three predecessors - Blood Of The Nations, Stalingrad, and Blind Rage - with grandeur and precision. Get your physical copy, here, or digitally here.

The cover artwork of the new record was created by the Hungarian artist Gyula Havancsák.

"The Rise Of Chaos is something I have been thinking about often. Wherever we go - there is some hidden as well as some visible destruction and it kind of changes the world we know. What was there today - can be gone tomorrow and it’s somehow irritating, because it happens on so many levels and no one knows what comes next. The cover is our last stage set - but now clearly “destroyed" - like… after a catastrophe", explains Wolf Hoffmann.

The Rise Of Chaos tracklisting:

“Die By The Sword”
“Hole In The Head”
“The Rise Of Chaos”
“Koolaid”
“No Regrets”
“Analog Man”
“What’s Done Is Done”
“Worlds Colliding”
“Carry The Weight”
“Race To Extinction”

Trailer #1:

“The Rise Of Chaos” video:

Accept will celebrate the album's live premiere exclusively on August 3rd, on the day before its release, as a part of a special show at Wacken Open Air, Germany. The set will consist of three parts, which represent the band's creative power:

Part 1 will bring fans a classic Accept set, packed with new and old hits. Part 2 will present another premiere: Wolf Hoffmann will be playing tracks from his solo album Headbangers Symphony, released in 2016, with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra for the very first time. On this record, Wolf has covered famous opuses by composers such as Beethoven, Vivaldi, and Mozart, in a metal guise. And in Part 3, all elements can be seen and heard together: Accept will make the holy Wacken ground shake by sharing the stage with the orchestra, supported by a complex multimedia show.

This unique concert experience will take place on this year's Night To Remember which makes it even more special. The Night To Remember is a celebrated, long-lasting Wacken tradition; for one night of the festival a selection of established bands will do something unique and special with their performance.

Wolf Hoffmann stated: "It's always impressive to see how bands take this evening seriously and how much love the artists and the organising team put into their work to get a varied result. It's a great tradition which underlines and documents the top-notch level of the international rock community like nothing else. We also want to present something that Accept has never done before, we hope we can give something really special to the fans."

"Accept have been and are still a very important part of Germany's heavy metal scene. We're really looking forward to having them with us once more. With this epic concept, the Thursday evening will be one to remember for sure," stated Thomas Jensen, organizer of Wacken Open Air.

Get your tickets for W:O:A here.

Three years after their debut, Finland’s Mausoleum Gate return with Into A Dark Divinity. The band’s sophomore full-length will be released on September 8th via Cruz Del Sur Music.

Capitalizing on the debut’s majestic sound, Mausoleum Gate harnesses the keyboard-dominated bravado of classic Deep Purple and Rainbow and blends it with the proto-metal visions of Manilla Road and early Iron Maiden.

Into A Dark Divinity proves that Mausoleum Gate are one of the scene’s best new true metal torchbearers. Singular, alluring and able to captivate audiences of all varieties, they represent a new front in authentic vintage metal.

Tracklisting:

“Condemned To Darkness”
“Burn The Witches At Dawn”
“Apophis”
“Solomon's Key”
“Horns”
“Into A Dark Divinity”

Hard rock/NWOBHM band, Vardis, will have their classic albums 100 MPH, The World’s Insane, and Quo Vardis remastered and re-released on CD and vinyl via Dissonance Productions and Back On Black Records.

Steve Zodiac comments: “It’s a thrill to finally hear these records as I remember them sounding in the studio. Dissonance Productions and Back On Black Records have done a fantastic job and produced the definitive editions of these albums.”

The CD digipaks, featuring exclusive bonus tracks, are to be released on September 22nd with vinyl copies due for release on October 20th.

Pre-oder now via the links below:

- 100 MPH
- The World’s Insane
- Quo Vardis

The Vardis comeback album, Red Eye, was released in 2016 via SPV/Steamhammer.

Vardis was forged out of glam, punk, heavy metal, blues and rock ‘n’ roll in the crucible of 1970s northern England. They are a product of rock music across three generations: inspired by the great rockers and electric bluesmen of the ’50s and ’60s, learning their trade rubbing shoulders with the young guns of hard rock and punk in the ’70s and achieving prominence in the ’80s as part of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal.

The hard, ferocious attack of their sound directly influenced the development of thrash and speed metal across North America and Europe, cited by metal giants such as Metallica and Megadeth. Never losing sight of the melodic, boogie sensibilities of their earliest influences, Vardis’ brand of hard rock retains a unique heavy groove and has endured as something truly original.

Vancouver, British Columbia-based Neck Of The Woods has completed their debut album, The Passenger, capturing the band's crushing blend of progressive, death-inspired, technical, and groove-laden metal through nine engaging tracks. 
 
The Passenger will see release through Basick Records in mid-September, and an early dose of the record has been issued of the lead track, "Bottom Feeder." Delivered through an animated art video, the band describes the premise of "Bottom Feeder" as, "Recognizing recurring patterns in relationships that lead to imminent failure and learning to break free from these tropes."

The Passenger will see digital release via Basick Records and CD release through the band on September 15th. The album's artwork and track listing have been posted; stand by for additional audio samples, preorders, and more.

Tracklisting:

“Bottom Feeder”
“Nailbiter”
“White Coats”
“Open Water”
“You’ll Always Look The Same To Me”
“Face Of The Villain”
“Drift”
“Foothills”
“Before | Rest”

“Bottom Feeder”:

Neck Of The Woods will advance The Passenger with regional performances throughout the summer months, with several shows already booked for July and August including providing main support for Every Time I Die, a set at Loud As Hell Metal Fest, and a month-long, cross-Canada tour which will be announced in the days ahead.

July
21 – Victoria, BC – Logan’s Pub
22 – Nanaimo, BC – The Cambie

August
2 – Vancouver, BC – The Rickshaw
5 – Drumheller, AB – Loud As Hell Metal Fest

(Photo by: Christopher McKenny)

Blind Guardian will release a new live album, Live Beyond The Spheres, on 3CD and 4LP box set editions on July 7th via Nuclear Blast. An official video trailer for the upcoming release is available for streaming below.

The new release will include material recorded from various shows during the band’s European tour leg in 2015 - among old classics, new tracks as well as songs that are played very rarely during live shows.

Vocalist Hansi Kürsch speaks about the difficulties to create such an ambitious album: "In general I would say that we've had a really good run on this tour and that nearly every show was perfect. But at the end of the day, after every band member has checked each and every song and concert of those 30 shows again and again, there were only like two or three versions of each song being suitable to be used for an album. We then had to decide between those last remaining versions, which would have been the most impressive one. This was a nearly endless task!"

But as we all know, Blind Guardian stands for perfectionism in any way.

"The songs finally chosen reveal such an energy, that possible smaller mistakes appeared to be totally unimportant for the evaluation. As soon as you have listened to the songs, you will know what I mean, they feel alive", the vocalist continues.

But in the end, the effort was all worth it. Hansi sums up: "There is always something happening at each show, let's call it 'MAGIC', that is giving us all the creeps. We are really satisfied when the people sing with us, have a good time and go back home happy."

Tracklisting:

CD1
“The Ninth Wave”
“Banish From Sanctuary”
“Nightfall”
“Prophecies”
“Tanelorn”
“The Last Candle”
“And Then There Was Silence”

CD2
“The Lord Of The Rings”
“Fly”
“Bright Eyes”
“Lost In The Twilight Hall”
“Imaginations From The Other Side”
“Into The Storm”
“Twilight Of The Gods”
“A Past And Future Secret”
“And The Story Ends”

CD3
“Sacred Worlds”
“The Bard’s Song (In The Forest)”
“Valhalla”
“Wheel Of Time”
“Majesty”
“Mirror Mirror”

Trailer:

“Twilight Of The Gods” live video:

“Prophecies” live video:

“Mirror Mirror” live video:

In the new video below, German heavy metal trio Rage discuss Avenger Revisited, the bonus disc of re-recorded tracks included with the upcoming Seasons Of Black album, from when the band were still called Avenger.

Seasons Of The Black, the band’s upcoming 23rd studio album, will be released on July 28th via Nuclear Blast. Pre-order the album in the following formats:

- 2CD-Digibook
- CD
- 2LP (black) in gatefold

NB Mailorder Exclusive:
- 2LP (NB anniversary green) in gatefold
- Digibook + belt bag

Get your copy here, or get the digital version of the new album here.

Tracklisting:

“Season Of The Black”
“Serpents In Disguise”
“Blackened Karma”
“Time Will Tell”
“Septic Bite”
“Walk Among The Dead”
“All We Know Is Not”
“The Tragedy Of Man - Gaia”
“The Tragedy Of Man - Justify”
“The Tragedy Of Man - Bloodshed In Paradise”
“The Tragedy Of Man - Farewell”

Avenger Revisited (Bonus CD):
“Adoration”
“Southcross Union”
“Assorted By Satan”
“Faster Than Hell”
“Sword Made Of Steel”
“Down To The Bone”

“Adoration”:

Seasons Of The Black was recorded in February / March 2017 at Megafon Studios (Burscheid, Germany) and at Soundchaser Studios (Zandhoven, Belgium). Its production was handled by Rage, whilst the renowned Dan Swanö (Marduk, Opeth, Katatonia) took care of the mix and mastering at Unisound Studios (Grefrath, Germany).

Trailer #1:

Trailer #2:

Trailer #3:

“Blackened Karma” video:

Studio trailer #1:

Studio trailer #2:

Studio trailer #3:

Rage live dates:

July
6 - Ballenstedt, Germany - Rock Harz Open Air
16 - Vizovice, Czech Republic - Masters of Rock
21 - Ternopil, Ukraine - Faine Misto Festival

August
3-5 - Wacken, Germany - Wacken Open Air
10 - Villena, Spain - Leyendas Del Rock
12 - Kortrijk, Belgium - Alcatraz Festival
13 - Königs Wusterhausen, Germany - Zombie Rock Festival

September
2 - Zons, Germany - Zons Rockt (RAGE meets REFUGE)

December
23 - Burglengenfeld, Germany - VAZ, X-Mas Dynamite Night

Rage lineup:

Peter "Peavy" Wagner - lead vocals, bass
Marcos Rodriguez - guitars, vocals
Vassilios "Lucky" Maniatopoulos - drums, vocals