Some of the best art is often made in the wake of the worst tragedies. Such is the case with Germany’s doom metal band Owl, whose forthcoming, third full-length album, Nights In Distortion, nearly never came to fruition due to the impact of the death of their bassist René Marquis. Over four years in the making, the band’s long-awaited record will finally be realized on September 7th via the Swedish label Temple of Torturous Records. Stream the track “Madness Is The Glory Of This Life” below.

Owl’s founder and primary songwriter Christian Kolf, who’s also a member of the critically renowned  metal band Valborg (Prophecy Productions) and founder of the label Zeitgeister, created the band in the mid-2000’s as a necessity to further explore and challenge his musical creativity. What began as a death metal project has evolved over the years, incorporating Kolf’s eclectic tastes and influences that’s resulted in an amalgam of death and doom that conjures memories of Type O Negative, Jesu, Neurosis, Anathema and Meshuggah among others.

“I have to say that this album is still heavy for me when I listen to it,” says Kolf. “There are a lot of grievous memories connected to that album, but foremost it’s about my friend René Marquis who died some months ago, who played bass on it. He was really a nice chap. You could nerd with him about music and instruments for hours. He gave us all a big vibe. And to have him on board for this album was very very helpful. Sometimes I thought “why should I do this, it’s stupid, just chill and make music when better times come,“ because I knew that it would be draining somehow. But René always said “do it.“ It was good to have a partner for this album, someone I could talk too and share it with.”

Discussing the record’s first released track “Madness Is The Glory Of This Life,” Kolf says, “I wanted a twisted cosmic death metal song to end the album. Inspired by Gorguts and Type O Negative. To love means to fear, to fear means to hate. The origin of so many problems in humanity. Life is crazy, so madness is the glory of this life. When you are in weird place and like that music, it probably should give you some strength. It is about total forlornness.”

Nights In Distortion tracklisting:

"We Are Made For Twilight"
"Transparent Monument"
"Anamnesis"
"Inanna In Isolation"
"Abortion Of Empathy"
"Madness Is The Glory Of This Life"

"Madness Is The Glory Of This Life":

Nights In Distortion by Owl (Ger)

Progressive metal stalwarts Jasun and Troy Tipton - known for their work in Zero Hour, Cynthesis, Abnormal Thought Patterns, and more over the past two decades - arise with their newest musical entity, A Dying Planet.

A lyric video for "Resist", the opening track of their upcoming debut album Facing The Incurable, can be found below.

With six tracks surging with nearly fifty-three minutes of dynamic material, Facing The Incurable was mixed Forrester Savell (Animals As Leaders, Sikth) and mastered by Alan Douches (Between The Buried And Me, Mastodon). The record features guest contributions, including keyboards on "Missing" by Bill Jenkins, vocals on "Resist" by Paul Villarreal, vocals on "Poisoning The Well" by Erik Rosvold, and vocals on "Facing The Incurable" and "Missing' by Luda Arno. The album is completed with photography by Brian Kirksey and cover artwork by Erick Wurm Pollard.
 
Facing The Incurable will see independent release through the band's own CynNormal Lab Recordings on CD and digital platforms on August 14th; find pre-dorders via Bandcamp here and Amazon here.

Tracklisting:

“Resist”
“Facing The Incurable”
“Human Obsolescence”
“Poisoning The Well”
“Missing”
“Separation Anxiety”

“Resist” lyric video:

Trailer:

(Photo by: Brian Kirksey)

Toronto's Creatures will unleash their sophomore EP II tomorrow, Friday, July 20th. A full advanced stream can be found below.

Spawned in the Toronto murk in 2015, Creatures is a group effort with a long history that intertwines the lives of numerous local bands to summon a truly devastating soundscape of unbridled chaos. Inspired by bands such as Necrophagist, Despised Icon and Thy Art Is Murder, Creatures is a 6-piece band playing heavy and catchy deathcore, taking intense sounds and mixing in small elements of extreme and black metal.

Almost immediately after forming, Creatures released a 4-track self-titled EP. A varied sampling of the musical talents from the band helped them gain the interest of fans in the local scene and they played several shows with great reception. Taking great pride in live performances, Creatures embodies all the aspects of showmanship with high energy and audience involvement.

Three years later, in 2018, they’re set to unleash their second offering the II EP unto the world through their own independent label Old Haunt Records on July 20th. The songs reach into a large porcelain cup of topics and instead of just merely presenting their themes to their listeners, Creatures smashes the cup in their faces, making sure their themes cut deep and stay with the listeners. Whether they are lyrics about the futility of existence with a cartoon metaphor, or the bond of brotherhood within an intense party setting, there is a message for everyone to latch onto. Regardless, the songs are a visceral insight into the band’s life.

Tracklisting:

"Old Style F.A"
"What Would Rick Sanchez Do?"
"Samara"
"Broken Anchors"
"(Safe Space) Triggered"

EP stream:

"Samara" lyric video:

Creatures will be hitting the road for a tour across Ontario during the month of August in support of the release.

Dates:

August
12 - Toronto, ON - The Rockpile
16 - Barrie, ON - Foxx Lounge (with Kavara)
19 - Hamilton, ON - The Doors Pub (with Kavara)
20 - Brantford, ON - Our Place

Frontiers Music Srl has announced the signing of Memphis, Tennessee hard rockers ROXY BLUE. Their legendary debut album, "Want Some", is a classic of the early '90s hard rock scene that had continued on from the '80s heyday. The band is currently busy writing and recording a brand new studio album that will be released in 2019.

Original members Todd Poole (vocals), Josh Weil (bass), and Scotty Trammell (drums) are joined by new guitarist Jeff Caughron. (Original guitarist Sid "Boogie" Fletcher has left the music business for a successful career in dentistry.)

Poole says: "ROXY BLUE fans can expect an explosive new album! I think the new record is definitely a different sound than the 1992 version of ROXY BLUE, but not unrecognizable. The new record is much heavier, but still has some cool ballads and hints of early ROXY in there. I feel that it's a well-balanced record."

He continues: "I have been writing songs for years for different projects I've been in, but when Frontiers called, I knew it was an opportunity to take a fresh approach to a new ROXY BLUE sound. The excitement of having a new record deal actually inspired me to write the songs for the upcoming record from scratch."

On the band's legacy, Poole says: "For 'Want Some' to be recognized as one of the finest moments in the latter hard rock days is an honor. Especially being that there were so many good bands out at the time. We were just so proud to be a part of a great rock era."

Formed in Memphis in late 1989 by Poole, Fletcher, Weil and Trammell, ROXY BLUE started out playing original music from the get-go, with their sights set on putting their music in front of a national and then global audience. Knowing that their dreams were not going to come easy, the guys put their all into step one of their journey, which was to get started playing every gig they could get and opening for every band they could, to get themselves noticed in the local Memphis music scene. Crammed in together in a studio apartment above Cotton Row Studios, the guys were constantly writing and recording new songs and living a 24-hour rock 'n' roll lifestyle miles and miles away for the Sunset Strip of Los Angeles. Quickly earning a name for themselves within the local Memphis music scene and selling out club shows, they soon created a buzz in the music industry. But it wasn't until one night while playing a local bar they were approached by Jani Lane, the vocalist of WARRANT, that things really started to take off. Jani loved what he heard and wanted to help get ROXY BLUE's career launched. Soon after, the labels started calling and eventually Geffen Records' legendary A&R guru Tom Zutaut flew the band to Los Angeles to sign them. The next step was to find the right producer to record the band's debut album. Mike Clink, who had produced GUNS N' ROSES milestone "Appetite For Destruction" and, at the time, was finishing up GN'R's "Use Your Illusion", was ultimately chose for the job. Clink and ROXY BLUE were a perfect match and the result was the 1992 release of "Want Some".

And a fun fact for fans of the Frontiers label: Poole is the son-in-law of the late, great Jimi Jamison, whom Frontiers had a great, longstanding working relationship with.

ROXY BLUE 2018 is:

Todd Poole (vocals)

Scott Trammell (drums)

Josh Weil (bass)

Jeff Caughron (guitar)

Photo credit: Dan Wireman and Steve Roberts

Los Angeles-based vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Gerry Paul Nestler has announced the release of his debut solo album, "Mama's Child". Due on September 12, the disc will be celebrated with a live appearance at The Redwood Bar in Downtown L.A. that same day. A lyric video for the song "Koko My Love", featuring vintage photographs taken around Los Angeles during the early 1950s by Nestler's artist father, Frank Nestler, can be viewed below.

First coming to prominence with Southern California avantgarde thrashers CIVIL DEFIANCE, who cultivated a strong cult following in Europe with a pair of critically acclaimed releases in the 1990s, followed by albums with KKLEQ MUZZIL, SUPER RIDER and PHILM, featuring former SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo, Nestler has long been one of the most unique and daring musicians in progressive circles. Dialing down the loud in favor of a more introspective, acoustic based approach, "Mama's Child" marks the latest addition to Nestler's eclectic body of work.

"When I went into the studio to start work on the album in the spring of 2016, I was interested in recording an album for the songs I had been writing on the piano", reveals Nestler. "The songs reflected the sounds I was hearing from playing and listening to recordings of the early 1900s, some popular, others more obscure, on through the late 1960s and into the early '70s."

Assembling the album over the course of several months in Los Angeles and New York, Nestler recruited a formidable supporting cast of players, including bassist Pancho Tomaselli (PHILM, WAR), drummer Max MacVeety, and longtime Mike Keneally affiliate, saxophonist/flutist Evan Francis, aided by engineer/producer Chris Sorem at NEST Recorders in East Los Angeles where most of the tracking was done.

"I had met Max at a PHILM show in L.A.," says Nestler. "I asked him if he would be interested in playing drums on an album I was putting together. He was intrigued when I mentioned that the music I was working on had me on the piano instead of the electric guitar and how I had been influenced by Roberta Flack's work with drummer Ray Lucas. Max recommended a studio in East L.A., NEST Recorders, which turned out to be the perfect place as it had a 1910 Steinway piano and an echo chamber. We laid down the initial tracks with Chris. Not long after that, I left for New York, where Evan tracked in the woodwinds at Figure 8 Studios in Brooklyn with Michael Coleman at the helm. There was also a short visit to Springfield, Massachusetts where Jim Messbauer added some trombone to the tracks. A few months later, it was back to L.A. to finish up and mix with Chris."

Steeped in ever changing shades of jazz and blues, and conjuring vibes akin to Tom Waits and THE BEATLES' more experimental moments, "Mama's Child" is the type of bold musical curveball most artists dare not throw these days. "I never looked at "Mama's Child" as being a gamble though, just stretching my head, I guess", reflects Nestler. "I don't know if this will be the last of its kind for me or the first of more to come. Above all, I'm grateful to have the opportunity to bring forth something, understanding that overvaluation and undervaluation are inevitable results in the business of art. The creative urge continues not to feel the bliss of generation, but a higher ordinance under a compulsion to ceaselessly work. Part of that work for me is to learn to change and grow, but more importantly, the ability to create something that pays homage to those hidden areas of the mind that carry beauty and light."

"Mama's Child" track listing:

01. Koko My Love

02. Rain On The Window

03. Soul True

04. Genevieve

05. Mercy

06. Little Marie

07. Melinda

08. Glass Bottom Boat

09. Mama's Child

10. Dorma

"Mama's Child" will be released on The Wild Red Mother Records on vinyl and as a digital download.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD has been forced to cancel its previously announced "End Of The World Tour" with PROPHETS OF RAGE. The trek — which was also slated to feature THREE DAYS GRACE — was scheduled to kick off July 22 in Mansfield, Massachusetts.


AVENGED SEVENFOLD singer M. Shadows explained in a statement: "There is no good way to start out a note containing bad news, but here it is.


"After Europe, I came down with a terrible viral infection that rendered me voiceless.


"I tried my best to take care of the situation with voice rest, medication and doctor visits, but the voice was only getting worse.


"After a week of steroids, the swelling went down enough to see the cause of the problem. A blood blister has formed on my vocal folds and is preventing them from vibrating properly. In short, I can't sing anything at the moment and the more I attempt to, the more damage is being done. Luckily, as of now, the doctors feel that three months of no singing and voice rest should get my chords back on track.


"Unfortunately, this means we will have to cancel all tour dates at the moment.


"Decisions like this weigh on me very heavily. It's a tour I was looking forward to very much.

"I want to apologize to the fans who have spent their time and money booking travel arrangements and accommodations. I also want to apologize to our crew and the other bands who were depending on this tour.


"None of these things are lost on me.


"Just know that I have exhausted every possible solution in trying to get out there and perform for you. It just simply can't happen at the moment.

"We have a few things coming down the pipe soon that should be fun, so we hope you look out for those.

"Again, I am deeply sorry and hope to see you all soon."

M. Shadows previously underwent vocal cord surgery more than 15 years ago, prior to the recording of AVENGED SEVENFOLD's 2005 album "City Of Evil". He later said that "it took a couple of years" for him to get all the lost notes from his voice, explaining in a 2016 interview: "I went from just being a kid that dropped out of high school to go on Warped Tour and had no training at all. And then when you come off a surgery, you have a lot of doctor's orders, which is don't talk for a couple of months and then go see this vocal coach. And so once I saw the vocal coach, I realized all the things I was doing wrong. But, you know, about six years stuff after that, I was able to get all my old stuff back, but with a little bit of technique so it doesn't hurt when you sing; it's not supposed to hurt when you sing. So I learned a lot from him and I still use him to this day."


AVENGED SEVENFOLD will probably start working on its eighth studio LP this fall for a 2019 release.

A deluxe edition of AVENGED SEVENFOLD's latest album, "The Stage", arrived in December, featuring seven additional studio songs plus four previously unreleased live tracks recorded during shows at the O2 Arena in London.

U.S. based blackened death metal unit Cast The Stone, release a bass playthrough video for a new track "The Burning Horizon", which will appear on the band's upcoming six-track EP Empyrean Atrophy, due out on August 31st via Agonia Records. The video, filmed by Paul McGuire (Obscenery Films) and starring the band's bassist Derek Engemeann (ex-Cattle Decapitation, Scour)

First formations of Cast The Stone began in 2002, long before its protagonists departed for their better known metal-scene mainstays, including death metal bands Misery Index, Cattle Decapitation, and Scour with Phil Anselmo on vocals. While such ties leave a clear mark, Cast The Stone emerge not as some metal supergroup, but as a project of the original and purest intent of its membership.

Each of Cast The Stone members is involved in writing music, and each has varying tastes. But they all seem to have one acquired taste in common: an appetite for American and Swedish death metal. On Empyrean Atrophy, one can distinctly hear sounds similar to Dismember, Grave, At The Gates, and other proponents of the genre. There are also artisan elements one could liken to more dark and progressive Swedish acts such as Opeth, Edge Of Sanity and Dissection. Perhaps this reason alone, Dan Swanö was a clear choice for production (having produced or had been a member of some of the aforementioned bands).

Hybridizing the dark ferocity of Swedish death metal through a lens of American brutality, Cast The Stone hits a creative stride with Empyrean Atrophy. Guitarist Mark Kloeppel commented, "The band's sound is a testament to an enduring spirit that’s driven us to return to our most organic influences, merge them together, incorporate disparate elements, and forge our own sound. Each person has a distinct sound unto themselves, so it's really cool how smooth and cohesive this stuff comes across. You can immediately hear how different this is from the other things we've been involved in, yet it's still very true to our individual styles. Our bassist Derek progressively weaves my guitars and Jesse's uber-creative drumming style together in a way that only he can. This is all crowned off by Andy Huskey's crazy death metal vocals which are... well, just listen."

Tracklisting:

"As The Dead Lie"
"The Burning Horizon"
"Standing In The Shadows"
"A Plague Of Light"
"Empyrean Atrophy"
"Jesusatan"

"The Burning Horizon" bass playthrough video:

"Jesusatan" video:

"As The Dead Lie" lyric video:

Empyrean Atrophy will be available on:

- Digipack CD
- Black LP
- White LP (Bandcamp exclusive)
- Purple Splatter LP (Agonia Records Webshop exclusive)
- Digital files

Pre-order here.

Lineup:

Andrew Huskey - vocals
Mark Kloeppel - guitars
Derek Engemann - bass
Jesse Schobel - drums

The clip below features Metallica performing "Moth Into Flame" at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL on June 18th, 2017.

Germany's Mothergrid recently posted a series of videos taking fans behind-the-scenes of the staging and production of the European leg of Metallica's WorldWired Tour. Watch four segments below.

Part 1: Rob Koenig, Gene McAuliffe and Michael "Kilty“ Petite talk about the visual system of the Metallica WorldWired Tour at Olympiahalle München.

Part 2: System Tech Tom Lyon talks about the sound system for the Metallica WolrdWired Live Tour at Olympiahalle München. The sound system consists of Meyer Sound LEO element and Meyer Sund 1100 LFC subwoofer elements.

Part 3: Metallica's Lighting Designer for the WorldWired Tour - Rob Koenig - leads us head by head through the lighting rig setup in Olympiahalle München. The lighting system consisted mainly of fixtures from Robe Lighting, Martin by Harman and SGM Lighting plus some Flares.

Part 4: A chat with "Big Mick“ Hughes and Markus Wilmsmann in front of the mighty setup of the 2018 WorldWired Tour: about the microphones from Audio-Technica, DPA and Shure that are to used to the Fractal Amp Emulators. A Meyer Sound Line Array PA system was flown over the center stage at Olympiahalle München. Big Mick Hughes mixes the show on a Midas XL8 Digital Audio Console.

Indian metal band Bloodywood - along with rapper Raoul Kerr - have released a new song entitled "Jee Veerey". They have issued the following update:

"Amongst the calm grasslands, forests and fresh water streams of beloved Himachal Pradesh - here's an original folk metal track 'Jee Veerey' (literal translation: Live, Brave One). A song that speaks about enduring and braving through a highly overlooked but rampant problem - mental illness.

We have purchased 60 counselling sessions for anyone who wants to reach out for help. If you (or anyone you know) are going through a rough patch and feel the need for mental therapy:

- Go to HopeNetwork.in
- Click on Book Appointment
- Use code BWOOD1001

This is completely anonymous, and all the counselors are licensed professionals."

Bloodywood began as a metal parody project, "destroying pop songs as a full-time job". You can see the results of that on the Bandcamp player below. Check out the band via Facebook here.

Anti-Pop Vol. 1 by Bloodywood

Bloodywood is:

Karan Katiyar -  guitars, composition, production
Jayant Bhadula - vocals

Japanese superstars Man With A Mission have released their new single, “2045”, taken from their upcoming album, Chasing The Horizon, out August 10th via Century Media.

The track is the latest to be taken from their upcoming album, “Chasing The Horizon. The album is the wolf collective’s fifth in their native Japan, but their first brand new album to be released worldwide. The album features the previously released singles “Take Me Under”, “Winding Road”, “Freak It! feat. Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra”, “My Hero”, “Dead End In Tokyo”, “ Find You” and “ Dog Days”, which have clocked up multi-million streams across YouTube and Spotify. The international physical “World Edition” also features exclusive special bonus tracks including “Mr. Bad Mouth”, “The Anthem” and “Brave It Out”. Man With A Mission are one of the most important and loved rock bands in Asia today. They sell out arenas across their homeland and also completed sold out headline tours of the UK, Europe and US last year. 

The five-piece played their latest sold-out headline London show this year to an ecstatic crowd at The Dome, and also toured the UK with Don Broco. Man With A Mission will be performing at Reading & Leeds Festival this summer before an exclusive UK headline show at The Cathouse, Glasgow on August 23rd.

JOURNEY founder and only remaining original member Neal Schon is paying tribute to the band's former lead singer, Steve Perry, with a nightly dedication and moving performance of the group's 1978 hit single "Lights" during JOURNEY's current North American tour with DEF LEPPARD. Co-written by Schon and Perry, "Lights" was featured on the band's fourth full-length album, "Infinity", and has become one of JOURNEY's most popular and easily recognizable songs.

Schon, who will release his next solo album in early 2019, has also expressed his wishes to work with Perry, who will issue his own solo album in October, again, as both recognize the timeless music they created together and their brotherhood.

"I've been hearing that he's been showing up in the same coffee joint that I go to all the time," Schon told Westword. 'Hopefully I'll run into him soon. We had a great meeting when we met for the Hall Of Fame. I realized there was still a very deep connection there. He's had nothing but very kind words to say about myself. I've done the same for him. The mutual respect is there. One step at a time. I'd just like to get to know him again and see where he's at. But I can surely tell you that I would love to just have him come and just mess around one day at Narada's studio [referring to drummer and producer Narada Michael Walden] with the three of us, because I think we would turn out something that he would really dig."

Schon founded JOURNEY in 1972 and has been the only consistent member, having participated in every album and tour to date. Schon is a Grammy-nominated guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist who is not only the founding member of JOURNEY but was a member of SANTANA and has performed with a variety of other acts, including BAD ENGLISH, Jan Hammer and HSAS, and has released 10 solo albums, including his latest, "Vortex". His guitar style has been described as soulful and melodic, admired by such fellow legends as Eric Clapton and Prince, who reportedly asked for Schon's blessing to release "Purple Rain", which echoed a similar sound to JOURNEY's "Faithfully".

JOURNEY's worldwide sales have reached over 100 million records, making them one of the world's best-selling bands of all time, with a wide selection of chart-topping hits like "Don't Stop Believin'", "Open Arms", "Lights", "Faithfully", and "When You Love A Woman", among others.

Photo courtesy of TAG Publicity

The veteran Bay Area hard rock group NIGHT RANGER will celebrate the 35th anniversaries of their first two studio albums, "Dawn Patrol" and "Midnight Madness", by performing both records in full for the first time during an October 18 concert at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, Illinois. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday (July 27) at 10 a.m. CST, while a pre-sale begins tomorrow (July 24) at 10 a.m. CST at this location (use password NR35).

"Dawn Patrol", released by MCA Records in November of 1982, included the Top 40 mainstream rock hit singles "Sing Me Away" and "Don't Tell Me You Love Me" and peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

"Midnight Madness", the group's sophomore album (and first to be certified gold and platinum by the RIAA), was issued in October of 1983. The record — which peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 — yielded three additional Top 40 mainstream rock hit singles in "Rumours In The Air", "When You Close Your Eyes" and "(You Can Still) Rock In America". It also included the group's best-known song, the iconic power ballad "Sister Christian", which spent 24 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1984, peaking at No. 5.

Three NIGHT RANGER members who performed on those albums — bassist/vocalist Jack Blades, guitarist Brad Gillis and drummer/vocalist Kelly Keagy — are still in the band today. The group's current lineup is rounded out by keyboardist Eric Levi and guitarist Keri Kelli (ALICE COOPER, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT, RATT).

NIGHT RANGER's twelfth and most recent studio album, "Don't Let Up", was released in March 2017 via Frontiers Music Srl.

Indian/American progressive metal band SKYHARBOR has released a lyric video for its new single, "Dissent". The band had previously released a music video for "Dim". Both songs are available on all streaming services and as iTunes instant-grat tracks.

"'Dissent' is a really interesting track for us," says vocalist Eric Emery. "It's sort of a throwback to all of our metal influences from our youth blended with the SKYHARBOR sound. It's a bit of an outlier on the record stylistically, but it has definitely turned into one of our favorite songs."

SKYHARBOR will release "Sunshine Dust" on September 7 via Entertainment One (eOne) / Good Fight Music. Guitarist Keshav Dhar adds: "It's taken almost four years and it's been a real labor of love, but we're thrilled to finally get this record out there to our fans. We're incredibly stoked on these songs and have really dug in deep to explore and represent what we truly feel is the SKYHARBOR sound."

"Sunshine Dust" was recorded in Australia with renowned producer Forrester Savell. The band's third full-length album, which was nearly four years in the making, delivers on the atmospheric and emotional promise of their earlier material, with breathtaking tectonic shifts between a wall of sound ambiance and groove.

On "Sunshine Dust", the immersive wall of sound SKYHARBOR first perfected in the studio environment, while as polished and precise as ever, shines with a new almost analog warmth, born of the kind of collaborative camaraderie that only happens when musicians trust each other enough to experience growth.

This is music filled with empowering inspiration and sweeping passions, a supernatural slice of transcendent sonic indulgence.

SKYHARBOR erode the boundaries between traditional hit-making structures and technicality dexterity with grace and poise, employing the gentle force of the changing of the tides, in all of its stealthily bombastic earth shaping might.

"Sunshine Dust" track listing:


01. Signal

02. Dim

03. Out Of Time

04. Synthetic Hands

05. Blind Side

06. Disengageevacuate

07. Ethos

08. Ugly Heart

09. The Reckoning

10. Dissent

11. Menace

12. Temptress

13. Sunshine Dust

Photo credit: Argon Photography

Pure Steel Records has released a new video trailer for the recently released Commander Of Pain, the new album and all-star project headed by Austrian rock legend Klaus Schubert. Find the clip below.

Schubert In Rock, inaugurated by Klaus Schubert, lead guitarist and mastermind of No Bros, is taking what was previously established to the next level.

Back in 2013, Schubert assembled some of the most legendary international rock artists and long-time friends to record new versions of No Bros’ greatest hits. Among those previously featured were: Tony Martin (Black Sabbath), Biff Byford (Saxon), Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow, Deep Purple), Marc Storace (Krokus), Doogie White (Rainbow), Bernie Marsden (Whitesnake), Neil Murray (Black Sabbath, Brian May) and Don Airey (Deep Purple). The riveting project turned out to be a huge success and culminated in a sensational sell-out show at the Congress concert hall in Innsbruck.

Much like the first self-titled album, the new Commander Of Pain project will feature some of the world’s most celebrated artists and musicians, making for yet, another milestone in Austrian rock music.

Commander Of Pain will introduce entirely new songs, all of them tailor-made for each artist while remaining true to Schubert's distinctive sonic signature.

"Empathy" - Jeff Scott Soto (Sons Of Apollo) - vocals
"Burning Heart" - Marc Storace (Krokus) - vocals
"Little Boy"
"Too Late" - Dan McCafferty (Nazareth) - vocals
"Under The Lights" - Doogie White (Rainbow) - vocals, Don Airey (Deep Purple) - keyboards
"World With No Tomorrow" - Carl Sentance (Nazareth) - vocals, Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson) - guitar
"Forgive Me When I Fall" - Jeff Scott Soto (Sons Of Apollo) - vocals, Don Airey (Deep Purple) - keyboards
"Ride The Bullet"
"On The Line" - Michael Vescera (Yngwie Malmsteen, Loudness) - vocals
"It's Our World" - Dan McCafferty (Nazareth) - vocals, Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson) - guitar
"Dance Of The Black Tattoo"
"Commander Of Pain" - Marc Storace (Krokus) - vocals, Don Airey (Deep Purple) - keyboards
"My Name Is Judas" - Doogie White (Rainbow) - vocals, Don Airey (Deep Purple) - keyboards

Trailer:

British heavy metal legends JUDAS PRIEST have released the official music video for the song "No Surrender". The track is taken from the band's latest album, "Firepower", which came out on March 9 via Epic.

PRIEST frontman Rob Halford told Noisey about "No Surrender": "The great thing about PRIEST in all the years that we've been making heavy metal music is that we've always kind of carried this metal flag, if you will, this beacon of hope that no matter what you may be going through in life, there's always a sense of overcoming difficulties, a sense of winning, a sense of coming out on top. We've always tried to push this kind of positive experience in the songs that we make. So 'No Surrender', it's a statement. It's a simple fact that, from our perspective, no matter what you're up against, the greatest thing you can ever do is face that challenge. Overcome it, and win, and never surrender."

PRIEST will return to the United States at the end of August for a co-headlining run with fellow classic heavy rockers DEEP PURPLE.

The "Firepower" trek is PRIEST's first since guitarist Glenn Tipton announced that he was retiring from the road due to his battle with Parkinson's disease. He is being replaced on tour by "Firepower" album producer Andy Sneap, also known for his work as the guitar player in NWOBHM revivalists HELL and cult thrash outfit SABBAT.

Tipton was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease four years ago — after being stricken by the degenerative condition at least half a decade earlier — but only recently announced he was going to sit out touring activities in support of "Firepower". The guitarist, who is now 70 and has performed on every PRIEST album since the band's 1974 debut set, "Rocka Rolla", is not quitting the band, but simply cannot handle the rigorous challenges of performing live.

British progressive metal band MONUMENTS will release its long-awaited third album, "Phronesis", on October 5 via Century Media Records.


"The word 'Phronesis' was a big part of society and philosophy in ancient Greece", explains MONUMENTS. "Phronesis is wisdom, but a really specific type of wisdom to do with oneself. Wisdom on your practical actions, good judgement, being excellent in character, practical wisdom. Learning what to do and what not to do based on experience, being mindful of everything around you. Something that, at times, all of us can be pretty terrible at."

After touring the world heavily in support of its "The Amanuensis" album (2014), the intercontinental quintet needed to take a break and catch a breath for multiple reasons. However, the band kept working on "Phronesis".

"My personal relationship with the meaning of the record starts at 'Stygian Blue', which was the second song I wrote for this back in 2015, and it came to be while I was in the darkest place I've ever been in my 32 years", says guitarist John Browne. "We all had a bunch of issues that needed time to let heal so, in between writing we were, you know, fixing our broken souls."

Writing about topics that would be troubling their minds acted as a catharsis though, so "Phronesis" works as a turning point of the progressive metal band on many levels. The independently produced album was finally recorded between March and July of 2018 in various studios throughout the world: while guitars and bass were recorded by Jim Pinder (BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, MACHINE HEAD, WHILE SHE SLEEPS) at Treehouse Studios in Derbyshire, U.K., the drums were played, recorded, tracked and engineered by Anup Sastry (ex-SKYHARBOR). Chris Barretto recorded his vocals with Cristian Machado (ILL NIŇO, LEEWAY) at Soundwars Studios in New Jersey, then everything was mixed and mastered by Joel Wanasek at JTW Music in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

"Phronesis" is available as standard CD jewelcase, gatefold LP+CD and digital album.


The track listing reads as follows:

01. A.W.O.L.

02. Hollow King

03. Vanta

04. Mirror Image

05. Ivory

06. Stygian Blue

07. Leviathan

08. Celeste

09. Jukai

10. The Watch


Don't miss seeing MONUMENTS at Euroblast festival in Cologne, which will be the first show where the band play band new songs from "Phronesis".


A full European tour will be announced shortly.


MONUMENTS is:

Chris Barretto - Vocals

John Browne - Guitar

Olly Steele - Guitar

Adam Swan - Bass

Daniel "Lango" Lang - Drums

DEEP PURPLE and Universal Music Group have announced a very special limited-edition collection of reissues of classic DEEP PURPLE albums from 1972-77. Studio albums "Machine Head" (1972), "Who Do We Think We Are?" (1973), "Burn" (1974), "Stormbringer" (1974) and "Come Taste The Band" (1975) receive brand new reissue treatment, as well as historic live packages "Made In Japan" (1972), "Made In Europe" (1976) and "Last Concert In Japan" (1977).


All albums have been cut from new digital transfers of the original master tapes at Abbey Road Studios, cut to heavyweight 180-gram purple vinyl. Artwork has been faithfully replicated to match the original pressings in conjunction with the band. All vinyl albums also come with download codes and is next in a lineup of classic DEEP PURPLE reissues coming from Universal Music.


Pre-order an exclusive bundle of all 8-albums here. Pre-order the albums individually here.


The band are currently on "The Long Goodbye Tour" of the world.


DEEP PURPLE drummer Ian Paice said: "These albums were recorded in the 'analog age,' that is before digital CDs. We went from recording tape to master cutting room to pressing plant, all of these mechanical processes, and its right that the listener should have the choice to listen to them via another mechanical process. By placing a needle on an 'album' on a turntable."


All albums will be released on September 7.

The official unboxing video for former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen's brand new release, "Act II", can be seen below.

"Victim Of Ritual" was recorded live at the Woodstock festival in Poland and can be seen below.

Filmed during Tarja's world tour "The Shadow Shows", during which the influential heavy rock singer circled the world 7.5 times with over 300,000 km travelled and played over 200 shows in 40 countries in front of 1 million people, "Act II" consists of the singer's very intimate 75-minute set filmed and recorded live at the Metropolis Studio in London, England and the breathtaking live performance of one of her shows in Milan, Italy, and previously unreleased interviews and photo galleries.

The theatrical rock adventure "Act II" combines two incredible-yet-slightly-different live performances on video: The first chapter, "Metropolis Alive", has been filmed two months prior to the release of Tarja's 2016 success "The Shadow Self". Twenty winners from all over Europe were lucky to witness Tarja's set at Metropolis Studios in London, where the singer performed songs from her then unreleased album — for the first time in front of an audience.


"Act II" is the second chapter and was recorded on November 29, 2016 at the magnificent Teatro della Luna Allago in Milan, Italy and includes numerous hits from all four Tarja albums such as "Innocence", "Die Alive", "Until My Last Breath", as well as an incredible cover of MUSE's classic "Supremacy". That night's setlist also enchants the soprano's long-time fans with a medley consisting of the distinctive NIGHTWISH evergreens: "Ever Dream", "Slaying The Dreamer" and "The Riddler". It was all topped off with a remarkable acoustic set, which presented Tarja classics in a brand new way.


Even though the shows deliberately differ in look, sound, approach to the music and adrenaline, both have one thing in common: from the very first to the very last tune, the state of the art production displays Tarja's energetic performance and her graceful, charming presence.


"Act II" will be released on July 27 on earMUSIC as 2CD digipak, 3LP gatefold (180g, black), DVD, Blu-ray, limited mediabook 2CD+2BD (including two full live shows filmed at Hellfest in France and Woodstock Festival in Poland as bonus) and digital.

"Act I", Tarja's first-ever live release, charted Top 10 all over Europe as well as almost all over the world, with a sensational No. 5 in Germany. The video version even remained for over two months at the peak of the Finnish music video charts.

A new trailer for ALTER BRIDGE's "Live At The Royal Albert Hall" can be seen below.

After 14 years performing together, five full-length studio albums, and countless sold-out shows around the globe, there aren't many items left on a band's bucket list. For ALTER BRIDGE, one of the remaining list items was crossed off in October 2017 when the band performed two sold-out shows at London's iconic Royal Albert Hall backed by the 52-piece Parallax Orchestra led by conductor Simon Dobson. Those career-defining shows were captured and combined in the upcoming Napalm Records worldwide release "Live At The Royal Albert Hall" on September 7.

"I think out of all the years of doing this [music], this experience is the top two or three highlights without a doubt," explains singer Myles Kennedy in a recently released trailer that can be seen below. "It's something that none of us are going to forget."

"Live At The Royal Albert Hall" is a 21-song collection that features some of ALTER BRIDGE's biggest hits, fan favorites and even a couple of rarities including "Words Darker Than Their Wings" — a song the band had never played live previously. Songs like "Before Tomorrow Comes", "Ghost Of Days Gone By", "The Last Hero" and "Broken Wings" all find new life with the unique arrangements presented by Dobson and the Parallax Orchestra performing alongside the band. The pre-order for the release is live and fans can order various audio and video configurations including Blu-ray, DVD, CD and vinyl as well as other unique bundles with exclusive content. A portion of the proceeds from all sales will go to the Future Song Foundation; an organization that Myles Kennedy is closely involved with. The first track released from the collection is the band's chart-topping single "Addicted To Pain". The video for that song can be seen below.

The track listing for "Live At The Royal Albert Hall" is:

01. Slip To The Void

02. Addicted To Pain

03. Before Tomorrow Comes

04. The Writing On The Wall

05. Cry Of Achilles

06. In Loving Memory

07. Fortress

08. Ties That Bind

09. The Other Side

10. Brand New Start

11. Ghost Of Days Gone By

12. The Last Hero

13. The End Is Here

14. Words Darker Than Their Wings

15. Waters Rising

16. Lover

17. Wonderful Life/Watch Over You

18. This Side Of Fate

19. Broken Wings

20. Blackbird

21. Open Your Eyes

ALTER BRIDGE is:

Myles Kennedy - vocals/guitars

Mark Tremonti - guitars/vocals

Brian Marshall - bass

Scott Phillips - drums

PROPHETS OF RAGE, the supergroup featuring members of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, PUBLIC ENEMY and CYPRESS HILL, has released a music video for the song "Who Owns Who". The track is taken from PROPHETS OF RAGE's debut album, which came out last September.

In addition to bassist Tim Commerford, drummer Brad Wilk and guitarist Tom Morello, who all played together in RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and AUDIOSLAVE, the band features PUBLIC ENEMY's Chuck D and DJ Lord along with CYPRESS HILL's B-Real.

Earlier in the month, PROPHETS OF RAGE released a new song called "Heart Afire". The track came just a few days after Commerford and Wilk revealed in an interview with Finland's Kaaos TV that the band had already finished its second album.

Morello told The Pulse Of Radio that PROPHETS OF RAGE started as one thing and took off in a way no one anticipated. "In PROPHETS OF RAGE, there's both a fury and a joyfulness," he said. "Like, this band started as an idea that responded to an emergency, a societal emergency, and it became a band that — it became a real band."

Commerford said about the new LP's sound: "It's a different direction, it's not the same, and I love that... We're growing and we're creating and we're going in a new territory and I feel really good about it."

Glenn Hughes started his Classic Deep Purple Live tour in Australia in September 2017, with a cracking band including Jeff Kollman on guitar and Lachy Doley on Keyboards. Check out the first show performance of the classic “Mistreated” below:

Due to a fire at the Glasgow School Of Art, which has affected the O2 ABC Glasgow, the Glenn Hughes Glasgow concert has been moved to the O2 Academy Glasgow on the same date - Friday, October 12th. All original tickets will be valid for the new venue.

Glenn Hughes will be performing Deep Purple only material with his Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple Live Irish and UK tour in September and October 2018 - for the first time ever in Ireland. Special guests for the UK dates will be Laurence Jones.

The eleven date tour promises to be a dynamic, turn-back-the-clocks, two-hour live extravaganza homage to his tenure in MK 3 and MK 4 incarnations of Deep Purple - one of music history’s most seminal and influential rock and roll groups.

Tickets are available from the 24 HR ticket hotline 08444 780 898 or www.thegigcartel.com for the UK dates and from www.seetickets.com for the Irish dates.

Says Hughes: "I'm excited to be touring the “Classic Deep Purple Live” in Ireland and the UK this September and October. I first toured Classic Deep Purple Live in Australia and New Zealand last year and it went down like a storm. We’re also touring the show throughout South America in April, and festivals throughout the summer. By the time we tour the UK in October, we’ll be on fire.”

Dutch symphonic metal giants Epica have teamed up with the highly successful Attack On Titan to release a very special EP. With their legion of fans, Attack On Titan have conquered both the print world with over 70 million copies, and anime sector with an adaption that is currently airing worldwide. The EP entitled Epica Vs. Attack On Titan is out now via Nuclear Blast Records featuring metal covers of the anime’s theme songs. Watch a new trailer video below:

Epica Vs. Attack On Titan is available in the following formats:

- CD Jewel case
- Vinyl - Violet, Yellow, Black

Order your copy here, and watch a track video for "Dedicate Your Heart!" below.

Epica Vs. Attack On Titan was recorded during the summer of 2017 at Sandlane Recording Facilities by Joost van den Broek. The original songs, which were influenced by the music of Epica, were composed by Revo of popular Japanese band Linked Horizon. For the EP, tracks were adapted by Epica and produced by Joost van den Broek. The choir arrangements and scoring were completed by keyboardist Coen Janssen who also handled the orchestral arrangements with Joost van den Broek.

Tracklisting:

"Crimson Bow And Arrow"
"Wings Of Freedom"
"If Inside These Walls Was A House"
"Dedicate Your Heart!"
"Crimson Bow And Arrow" (Instrumental)
"Wings Of Freedom" (Instrumental)
"If Inside These Walls Was A House" (Instrumental)
"Dedicate Your Heart!" (Instrumental)

"Dedicate Your Heart!" track video:

"If Inside These Walls Was A House" track video:  

"Crimson Bow And Arrow":

Trailers:

Epica recently checked in with the following update: "This upcoming year we will be working on an exciting project called The Essence Of Epica. In the book The Essence Of Epica, we will look back at our 15-year career with a lot of exclusive never before seen photos, flyers, interviews with all the band members and other exclusive content."

For more information and to register your interest, head here. Watch an announcement video below:

The clip below features Canadian rock icon Lee Aaron opening with Janet Jackson' "Black Cat" from the Diamond Baby Blues album at the Enmax Centrium Arena in Red Deer, Alberta for the Westerner Days Fair & Expo 2018. Backstage rehearsal footage is also available.

Lee Aaron is riding high off her new album, Diamond Baby Blues, BraveWords is cruising along with her, premiering the new video for “American High”.

Aaron comments, "We were excited to work again with Dan Zachary (who shot ‘Diamond Baby’) because he had a great sensibility about capturing the vibe of the band. The song 'American High' on the surface seems like a great American party tune but it's actually about the polarization of values and beliefs that is occurring everywhere in North America right now under the new administration. We love our USA neighbors and wanted to celebrate the things we treasure about America, so we incorporated iconic characters into the video like Elvis, Lady Liberty, Lincoln and Amelia Earhart. We thought there was a comic irony in actually inviting those characters to a decadent limousine party where everyone could blow off some steam and get wrecked. Serious, but funny as heck."

Guitarist Sean Kelly adds: "“My favourite part of the American High video is that it shows the genuinely fun interaction and love of rock n roll that we all share...it is a testament to Lee’s artistic vision that she is able to take the vibe of a song and perfectly manifest it visually. I really treasure my writing relationship with Lee, and American High totally captures so many of our influences while still retaining all the hallmarks of the Lee Aaron sound...big guitars and drums, and world class melodies and vocals!”

Singer, songwriter, producer, performer, mother, teacher, rock ‘n’ roll legend… Lee Aaron is wearing a lot of hats these days. With a career spanning over 35 years and still going strong, Aaron is one of Canada's most diverse artists. She proves it yet again on her new album Diamond Baby Blues, out now.

Aaron delivers a world-class vocal performance on the new album that may very well be the finest in her career. Diamond Baby Blues is a fiery collection of blues-based rockers, rock ‘n’ roll and hard-rock that pays homage to the giants of the late ’60s and ’70s music scene.

Set to perform at Wacken, Germany's biggest open air festival this summer, Sweden's, Skogsrojet Fest and a string of Canadian shows, this multi-talented songstress shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. A Canadian original and a national treasure - Lee Aaron.

Tracklisting:

"Diamond Baby Blues"
"Mistreated"
"American High"
"I'm A Woman"
"Mercy"
"The Best Thing"
"Black Cat"
"Hard Road"
"In The Bedroom"
"Cut Way Back"
"You're No Good"
"My Babe"

"Diamond Baby Blues" video:

On June 20th, what would have been the 54th birthday of Seattle's Son, music icon and late Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Chris Cornell, Vicky Cornell announced her late husband will be commemorated in his hometown with a statue that will be raised in a public ceremony on Wednesday, August 29th. Ms. Cornell commissioned sculptor Nick Marras to create a life size bronze statue showcasing the rock legend in one of his iconic poses with his signature boots, dog tag, layers and long locks. She has donated the commemorative figure to Seattle's Museum of Pop Culture.

Chris Cornell Sculpture Completed https://t.co/5VWbJmmY2m
— TMZ (@TMZ) 20 July 2018

Check out some of the first photos of the statue courtesy of TMZ here.

"Even though Chris' music touched the lives of millions around the world, there is no better place than Seattle to honor and celebrate both his contribution to music history, as well as Seattle's unique place in popular music, with an enduring symbol of a beloved artist, father, and husband," said Vicky Cornell. "Our children and I are deeply moved by the continued outpouring of love, compassion, and support, and this is our gift to the Museum of Pop Culture and to Seattle - our gift back to the tight-knit community that gave him his start."

"MoPOP is honored to receive this gift from the Cornell family and pay tribute to one of the most powerful and important voices in popular music," says Jasen Emmons, Artistic Director, MoPOP. "MoPOP serves to celebrate the Seattle music scene and the luminaries who have emerged from the Northwest and Chris was a key figure who has made a lasting impact on generations worldwide."

MoPOP is designed by Frank O. Gehry and located inside the Seattle Center next to the Space Needle. The statue will be placed on display in front of the Museum of Pop Culture's gold south entrance, facing 5th Avenue, the ideal location for fans and visitors around the world.

Photo by Nick Marra

Vocalist Erlend Hjelvik recently announced his departure from Norwegian rockers Kvelertak with the following message:

"Hey, Erlend here, there is no easy way to say this, so I'll just get straight to it; it's necessary for me to part ways with Kvelertak.

The experience of building a successful band has been fun and rewarding but has also been equally intense and challenging. Over the years, this has taken its toll. As we've been developing personally and professionally, our individual goals, needs and motivations have changed, leading us in different directions. Though it is a heavy decision to leave a life I've been living and breathing for the last decade, I feel happy and excited to explore new possibilities for the future.

Regrettably, due to circumstances out of my control, I am not able to perform the last four shows in Norway this summer. I apologize to the festival organizers and fans planning on these shows.

I would like to thank Bjarte, Kjetil, Maciek, Marvin and Vidar, our crew, bands we've toured with and everyone else who has worked with Kvelertak. Most importantly, I appreciate our awesome fans that have made everything possible. I'm very proud and grateful for everything we've accomplished as Kvelertak. I am genuinely thankful for everything we've experienced together and wish the band the best of luck and success in the future.

Kvelertakk for meg!"

A short time after Hjelvik announced his departure, his former bandmates issued the following update:

"We have known for a while that Erlend has planned to step down, so we have had the necessary time to plan the way going forward and also find a new vocalist for Kvelertak.

The original plan was to finish up the festival season with Erlend, but as Erlend is not able to do so, we are therefore proudly announcing our newest member at the upcoming show Friday, July 20th, at Fjellparken, Norway.

We would like to thank Erlend Hjelvik for his contribution to the band, and wish him all the best for the future."

The band has since introduced Ivar Nikolaisen as their new frontman, who made his debut with the band at Fjellparken as promised. Video from the show is available below.

The band issued the following statement:

"We are immensely excited to have Ivar on board, and what he will bring to the band. Kvelertak has had a history with Ivar since the bands early days. Both as a tour companion with his other bands (The Good, The Bad, And The Zugly / Silver) and as the guest vocalist on 'Blodtørst'. Ivar is the frontman we could hope for, and nothing is more natural for us than for him to take over the throne."

Nikolaisen: "I've been a huge fan of Kvelertak ever since I first saw them nearly ten years ago. It's an honor to be a part of the band! I will not try to copy Erlend. Erlend is a lion. I'm just a small rat. But this rat is pissed off, infectious, and full of pestilence — ready to take this machine to new heights!"

On July 14th, Saigon Kick guitarist Jason Bieler performed a solo acoustic show at Rockwood Music Hall in New York, NY. He has released a live album to showcase the night, available via the Bandcamp player below. This is a live direct feed from the board at Rockwood Music Hall. 

Jason Bieler Live in NYC by Jason Bieler

The tracklist is as follows:

"Indian Intro"
"All I Want" 
"Coming Home" 
"Close To You" 
"Down By The Ocean"
"Edgar"
"God Of 42nd Street" 
"Russian Girl" 
"One Step Closer" 
"Satellite" 
"Hostile" 
"Sgt. Steve" 
"The Lizard"

Bieler recently checked in with the following update:

"I gotta take a sec and tell you these solo gigs have been some of the most unexpectedly wonderful experiences I’ve ever had the pleasure to partake in. We all get together, sing a bunch of songs, a wee bit of cutting the rug, and I regale you with tales from my pirating days. How this applies to you or your life, well, I’m not sure…but I guess the idea that you are kind of toying with, the one that excites you but then the rational 'you' makes up a myriad of excuses and obligations to prevent you from taking the plunge… well, take the damn plunge. Life is strange and wonderful and sometimes shorter than you think; who has time for anything but food, love, music, and dreams? Now back to your regularly scheduled nonsense. Have a great weekend!"

Bieler's solo tour schedule is currently as follows:

August
9 - The Howling' Wolf Porch - New Orleans, LA
10 - Red Dragon Listening Room - Denham Springs, LA

September
28 - The Funky Biscuit - Boca Raton, FL
30 - 80's In The Park - Cocoa Beach, FL

October
13 - The Hotel Cafe - Los Angeles, CA

November 
2 - The Attic - Ybor City, FL

The Scorpions performed at Menora Mivtachim Arena on Tel Aviv, Israel on July 19th. Fan-filmed video from the show can be viewed below. The setlist on the night was as follows:

"Going Out With A Bang"
"Make It Real"
"Is There Anybody There?"
"The Zoo"
"Coast to Coast"
"Top of the Bill / Steamrock Fever / Speedy's Coming / Catch Your Train"
"We Built This House"
"Delicate Dance"
"Follow Your Heart / Eye of the Storm / Send Me an Angel"
"Wind of Change"
"Tease Me Please Me"
"Overkill" (Motörhead cover)
- drum solo -
"Blackout"
"Big City Nights"

Encore:
"Still Loving You"
"Rock You Like a Hurricane"

Scorpions, one of the most iconic and influential hard rock bands of all time, will return to America on August 31st to kick off rescheduled tour dates in Phoenix, San Antonio, Dallas, Tampa, and Hollywood, FL, as well as adding two new stops in Lake Tahoe, NV and Irvine, CA. Joining the Scorpions on these US dates will be Queensrÿche.

The full schedule is listed below. General tickets and VIP packages are on sale here.

"I am extremely happy to announce that the Scorpions have rescheduled all the remaining American dates that we were forced to cancel last fall due to my severe laryngitis. I was so overwhelmed with all the love and well wishes from our fans when we had to cancel, that the band and I were determined to get back to the US to make these dates up to our loyal and dedicated fans. I am also happy to say that Queensrÿche will join us as well for these Crazy World shows! We look very much forward to seeing you out there and get ready to ROCK!," said singer Klaus Meine.

Tour dates:

August
31 - Lake Tahoe, NV - Harvey's Lake Tahoe

September
2 - Irvine, CA - Five Point Amphitheatre
5 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre
7 - San Antonio, TX - Freeman Coliseum
9 - Dallas, TX - Pavilion at the Music Factory
12 - Hollywood, FL - Hard Rock Event Center
14 - Tampa, FL - Amalie Arena

Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess has checked in with the following update:

"Saturday night before my practice session I did this short improv. In it you will find deep secrets revealed."

In the video below from Sweetwater Sound, Jordan Rudess, "Best Keyboardist Of All Time", defends his title in an epic keyboard battle against an unlikely opponent in this Sweetwater exclusive worldwide key-off.

Mascot Label Group recently announce the signing Rudess. His remarkable career began at the age of nine, when he entered The Juilliard School of Music Pre-College Division for classical piano training. By his late teens he had grown increasingly interested in synthesizers and progressive rock music, and against the counsel of his parents and tutors, he turned away from classical piano and tried his hand as a solo progressive rock keyboardist. After performing in various groups during the 1980s, he was invited to join The Dixie Dregs, with whom he performed until joining Dream Theater in January 1999.

He has been the full-time keyboardist with Dream Theater since the recording of 1999’s Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory. He has pursued numerous collaborations and solo projects throughout his career, beginning with his solo debut Listen (1993). A relentless innovator, Rudess released All That Is Now (2013), a solo acoustic piano recording which works interactively with his app, “Jordan Rudess Explores” and his orchestral album, Explorations which features a 50 piece orchestra. The Unforgotten Path (2015) was a collection of original tracks as well as a collection of acoustic piano covers of songs that have inspired his musical life.

He owns the successful App development company Wizdom Music, which has developed numerous award-winning apps. He is also Chief Music Officer at CME Music, creators of the acclaimed XKey mobile keyboard, as well as the Director of Music Experience for the London-based technology company, Roli Labs, creators of the Seaboard and is an active Artist in Residence at Stanford University’s CCRMA (Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics).

"With the Mascot Label Group I have found the perfect home for myself and my music,” Rudess said. "The Mascot Team are bright, dedicated, inspired and are clearly passionate about music and the industry. They create a climate of respect and support for the artist and I couldn’t be more excited about becoming a Mascot artist."

“Jordan is an incredible virtuoso performer and artist,” said Mascot Label Group owner Ed Van Zijl. "I have admired him for a long time and we go back years. He is an exceptional and forward thinking musician and I am very happy that he is putting his faith in us with his new solo album, which will be released on our Music Theories brand.”

Italian power metallers Frozen Crown, signed to Scarlet Records, have released an offcial video for their new single, "Everwinter". Check it out below.

Frozen Crown released their debut album The Fallen King on February 9th. They recently checked in with the following update:

"When we started all this, we couldn't expect our debut album to sell so many copies. Your amazing support made it possible for us to go further and give The Fallen King a new incarnation. From today, a limited, 350 copies signed version of our debut album is available in vinyl on our BigCartel store! Thanks for setting this milestone with us. We owe you everything!"

Tracklist:

"Fail No More"
"To Infinity"
"Kings"
"I Am The Tyrant"
"The Shieldmaiden"
"Chasing Lights"
"Queen Of Blades"
"Across The Sea"
"Everwinter"
"Netherstorm"

Check out the band's official Facebook page here.

Frozen Crown are:

Giada "Jade" Etro - lead and backing vocals
Federico Mondelli - vocals, guitars, keys
Talia Bellazecca - guitar
Filippo Zavattari - bass 
Alberto Mezzanotte - drums

Slash ft. Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators are streaming a new song from their upcoming album, Living The Dream, which will be available everywhere on September 21st via Slash’s own label Snakepit Records in partnership with Roadrunner Records. Check out "Driving Rain" here.

Living The Dream marks Slash’s fourth solo album and third with his band featuring Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums), Todd Kerns (bass, vocals) and Frank Sidoris (guitar, vocals). A pre-order for the new album will begin on July 25th.

In regards to the new album, Slash recently revealed: “I'm excited about the new stuff we put together for this next record; it's got some cool songs and it's got a great live feel. I've been working with Myles, Brent and Todd for about 8 years now. It's been an amazing ride so far; as a band we continue to get better which is great. With the addition of Frank since the World On Fire tour, I feel we have hit a great, creative stride which I definitely think shows on this next record.”

Slash ft. Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators will heading out across the US and Canada on the Living The Dream Tour in September. Get your tickets at slashonline.com.

Dates:

September
13 - The Whiskey A Go Go - Los Angeles, CA
15 - The Van Buren - Phoenix, AZ
16 - Kaaboo Del Mar - Del Mar, CA
18 - The Depot - Salt Lake City, CA
19 - Fillmore - Denver, CO
21 - Paradise Cove Margaritaville - Tulsa, OK
22 - Winstar - Thackerville, OK
24 - Stubbs - Austin, TX
26 - House of Blues - Houston, TX
28 - Louder Than Life - Louisville, KY
29 - Four Winds Casino Resort - New Buffalo, MI

October
1 - Wellmont Theatre - Montclair, NJ
2 - Fillmore - Silver Spring, MD
4 - Casino Rama - Rama, Canada
5 - Pier 17 at South Street Seaport - New York, NY
6 - Mohegan Sun - Uncasville, CT
9 - Paramount - Huntington, NY
10 - Electric Factory - Philadelphia, PA
11 - House of Blues - Boston, MA
14 - Aftershock Festival - Sacramento, CA