This June, By Norse will release the debut album, Hydrogen, from BardSpec, the ambient project/band featuring Enslaved composer/guitarist Ivar Bjørnson and Today Is The Day's Steve Austin. A David Hall-directed video for the track “Gamma” can be seen below.

Comments Bjørnson of the band's latest single, "'Gamma' is a meditation on the magic of science, or perhaps the science of magic. The mysteries of the atom and nuclear physics have fascinated me deeply as long as I can remember. Enlightened humans have known for thousands of years that the concept of 'god' dwells within the corporal being, and with the atom bomb the proof was definite... to me at least. As scientist in charge [American theoretical physicist and professor of physics Julius Robert] Oppenheimer said, watching the first test atom bomb go off: 'I have become Shiva: Destroyer Of Worlds.' The other aspect of radiation is its communicative powers; of carrying information over enormous distances. We learn things about the universe and its early days from watching bursts of Gamma Ray make its way through the universe. Musically speaking it is one of the heavier songs, which I managed to sneak in a little Sigur Ros tribute into as well."

Hydrogen will be released on June 23rd across all formats. The six-panel CD digipak is available as a limited first pressing of 1,000 and includes bonus track "Teeth”. The double-gatefold LP is limited to 500 on black vinyl; the digital format will also include the bonus track. Access the "Fire Tongue" radio edits now via iTunes and Apple Music.

Pre-orders for the the limited CD, LP, and shirt are available at the following locations: North America, Europe.

Having launched at Roadburn in 2015, BardSpec has since evolved into a fully-fledged band, with Steve Austin on guitars/effects, David Hall presenting the live visual aspect of the project, with the layout created by Josh Graham (Soundgarden, Neurosis, IIVII, etc.).

BardSpec combines stirring, hallucinatory synth-sounds with mercurial guitar effects and hypnotic rhythms that navigate illusory landscapes. Field recordings, and other found-sounds also drift and evaporate into the ether. Working intuitively with these elements and with sharpened senses, attuned to inner impulses, this is immersive music that can exist anywhere and anytime within the minds of the listener.

Whilst BardSpec might essentially be the same brain and personality making the music, compared to Enslaved, it is a widely different entity. Thematically and sonically, BardSpec is about minimizing, subtracting, and meditating upon the simplest essence of "things;" the single points exemplified through song titles like "Bone," "Salt," and so on, the basic elements and foundations that make up the whole. There is an element of "space" in the music and the artwork, as a representation of the inner workings of the mind and the subconscious.

Inspired by the German masters Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schultze, and Conrad Schnitzler in addition to contemporary ambient music like Norwegian one-man-band Biosphere and abstract modern electronic music like When (Norwegian also), as well as the electronic/industrial-driven metal like Godflesh. Ivar describes the appeal and trance-inducing aspects of such music to him, "I remember listening to Richard Burmer and his album Mosaic from 1984. I thought I fell asleep but I was in a semi-lucid state where I still registered music - but not much else. At the end of side A there's an explosion so violent and extreme that I jumped two feet into the air and was totally shocked. The weird thing is, I couldn't remember it being there. When I revisited the music again it was just a little 'thud.' I was just experiencing a trance so deep into the music that this deviation from the pattern and frequencies in the foregoing half hour of monotony totally shocked me. I loved it!"

Hydrogen tracklisting:

“Intro - Deposition”
“Bone”
“Fire Tongue”
“Gamma”
“Salt”
“Teeth” (bonus track)

“Bone”:

“Fire Tongue” video:

A special record release show to showcase the album is scheduled for June 29th at Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn, New York.

(Photo - Christian Misje)

Former Guns N’ Roses and current Art of Anarchy guitarist, vocalist, and producer Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal has signed a deal with EMP Label Group, who will re-release his 2015 independent solo release, Little Brother Is Watching, on CD and vinyl double LP on August 25th.

Little Brother Is Watching is an eccentric, upbeat collection of epic, modern rock with haunting melodies, huge choruses and witty lyrics about life in the digital age and beyond, specifically, Thal’s own life and coming to terms with what we all face - beginnings, endings, and moving on. The album was composed, produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Bumblefoot at his studio in New Jersey, and includes a crowd of 100 fans stomping, chanting and singing backing vocals recorded at a listening party in New York. The day after its initial release, the album went as high as #4 on the Amazon.com Rock charts in Europe.

Little Brother features the singles “Little Brother Is Watching” and the epic “Don’t Know Who To Pray To Anymore”, with a video filmed in three countries with 12 sets and 50 actors, including the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the Fortress of Klis and Diocletian Palace in Croatia, and being granted exclusive access to ancient Roman ruins by the Jordanian border with the distinction of being the only music video to ever have been shot there.

EMP Label Group’s Thom Hazaert says of the collaboration, “Myself and Ron have been working together for years now, even pre-EMP, through the original release of Little Brother, and discussing various scenarios for a wider retail release. Obviously, Ron and David (Ellefson) have a great relationship, and eventually the stars aligned and we are extremely proud to welcome Bumblefoot to the EMP family!”

Thal echoes those sentiments. “A great pleasure to officially join the EMP family! We're starting off with the vinyl release of the Bumblefoot Little Brother album, and we'll grow from there. Looking forward to a bright future together.”

Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, producer and world-renowned guitar virtuoso, with over 20 years of releasing music, playing international festivals and headlining tours, and gracing magazine covers as a solo artist. As lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses (2006 - 2014) Bumblefoot toured sold-out shows all over the world, headlining festivals with crowds up to 150,000. Bumblefoot's unique 'fretless guitar' can be heard throughout GNR's 2008 Chinese Democracy album and the 2012 concert DVD Appetite For Democracy.

Bumblefoot is also a founding member of rock group Art Of Anarchy (featuring vocalist Scott Stapp and Disturbed bassist John Moyer), whose latest album The Madness landed in the Top 20's at Rock radio and #2 at Billboard's Heatseeker chart earlier this year.

Thal is also an accomplished composer whose music is often heard in TV, film and videogames including the theme song to VH1's That Metal Show and the film score to the horror movie The Evangelist (released May 2017). Bumblefoot also works with US Embassies around the world on cross-cultural music programs, has his own line of award-winning hot sauces, and works with dozens of international charities visiting orphanages and children's hospitals around the world with guitar in hand.

(Photo - Kevin RC Wilson)

Finnish AOR hopefuls The Nights have released this new video, featuring an acoustic performance of the debut single, “Welcome To The Show”, lifted from the band’s self-titled debut album, due for release in August.

The Nights is a new band formed in the summer of 2015 by Sami Hyde (vocals) and Ilkka Wirtanen (guitar). Both Sami and Ilkka have successful careers in music, in Finland and abroad.

Sami has been a singer for many acts and projects, including the Tony Mills Band in 2008 which also included Geoff Nichols (Black Sabbath) on keyboards and Neil Hibbs (Shy) on guitar. He has also written songs for many artists, including The Magnificent ("If It Takes All Night", "Lost", and "Drive").

Ilkka Wirtanen is best known for his work as a producer with international acts like glam metal band Reckless Love, for whom he has produced four albums and co-written many of their popular songs, including "Hot" and "Night On Fire". He has also produced several other rock bands (Baton Rogue Morgue, Hellcity Punks) and worked as a mixer for international acts (S.E.X. Department).

The Nights was formed because Sami and Ilkka felt a common need to write songs that, “make you feel good and also give tribute to our everlasting heroes in music, for example TNT and Yngwie Malmsteen.” Frontiers interest was piqued by their songs featuring a superb mixture of classic pop melodies and modern melodic rock/metal production and the band was signed.

Tracklisting:

“Welcome To The Show”
“Nothing But Love”
“Juliette”
“I Will Never Stop Loving You”
“In A Blink Of An Eye”
“Hold On”
“Elegy (You Should Be Here)”
“Take Me To Heaven”
“You Belong To Me Tonight”
“I Wanna Be Your Superhero”
“We Can Rule The World Tonight”

“Welcome To The Show”:

Italian folk/power metal band, Wind Rose, will release their new album, Stonehymn, on May 26th in Europe and North America via Inner Wound Recordings. A music video for the album track, “To Erebor”, is available for streaming below.

Having toured with bands like Wintersun, Eluveitie and Ensiferum, and with two successful albums under their belt, Wind Rose are ready to take things to the next level with the release of their third album Stonehymn, an album filled by the epic, powerful and folk inspired brand of power metal the band is known for.

Stonehymn was mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni (DGM, Ancient Bards, Secret Sphere) and the artwork was created by Jan Yrlund (Apocalyptica, Korpiklaani, Tyr).

Stonehymn tracklisting:

“Distant Battlefields”
“Dance Of Fire”
“Under The Stone”
“To Erebor”
“The Returning Race”
“The Animist”
“The Wolves’ Call”
“Fallen Timbers”
“The Eyes Of The Mountain”

“To Erebor” video:

“The Wolves’ Call” lyric video:

Wind Rose are confirmed for Masters of Rock 2017, that takes place in Vizovice, Czech Republic July 13th - 16th. Other bands confirmed for the festival are Sabaton, Running Wild, Kreator, Edguy, Epica and more.

 

Swedish black metal band Svartsyn are streaming the track “Black Thrones Of Death”, featured on the band’s upcoming new album, In Death, set for release on June 9th via Agonia Records. Listen to the song below.

In Death is the successor to Black Testement from 2013. The album was recorded in the Belgian Mortsella Studio in March and December 2016, and in January 2017. Mixing and mastering took place at Clintworks Studio (Amon Amarth, 3 Inches Of Blood, Misery Index). The cover artwork was created by Chadwick St John (Arckanum, Horna, The Piper graphic novel).

Svartsyn plays dark, grim and misanthropic black metal. The music operates from mid-paced to fast and sinister tempos, featuring a dynamic melodic range injected into an overall feeling of obscurity and brutality. Originally formed as Chalice in 1991, and renamed to Svartsyn three years later, the band can be considered as a one man project led by Ornias. He sang and played all instruments on In Death, except for drums. Along its career, the band put out a number of albums celebrated in the underground black metal scene, including the 1998 debut album The True Legend.

Ornias comments: "The new record completes and combines the Black Testament and the Nightmarish Sleep albums. My revelations. My deathwork.”

Album formats:

- Jewelcase CD
- Limited Red LP and regular black LP
- Two different black t-shirts with white and silver/grey print.

Tracklisting:

“Seven Headed Snake”
“Dark Prophet”
“With Death”
“Inside The White Mask”
“Wilderness Of The Soul”
“Black Thrones Of Death”
“Exile In Death”

“Black Thrones Of Death”:

“Seven Headed Snake”:

Pre-orders available on Agonia Records.

Finnish trad-metal newcomers Legionnaire will release their full-length debut album, Dawn Of Genesis, on May 26th via Gates Of Hell Records (a Cruz Del Sur Music imprint). The album will be available on CD, vinyl, and digital formats. Order here. The album track “Dawn Of Genesis” is available for streaming below.

Legionnaire's music is based on powerful twin guitar harmonies, and medieval style epic melodies. While the lyrics often have influences from ancient or medieval mythology. fictional themes, including science fiction, are also present. Legionnaire creates an original, personal sound, though you can definitely hear tons of influences in their  music: old Scandinavian metal, classic NWOBHM-style galloping riffs, and an overall epic feel that brings to mind U.S. metal bands such as Liege Lord, Brocas Helm and obscure US epic metal release from the mid-80s. In a few words: traditional heavy metal.

Dawn of Genesis was mastered by Wicked Ischianus of Mausoleum Gate. With bands like Legionnaire, heavy metal will never die.

Tracklisting:

“Clairvoyance”
“Enigma Of Time”
“Shadow Upon The Metropolis”
“Millennium”
“The Guardian”
“Dawn Of Genesis”
“Black Harbinger”
“Olympian Aegis”

“Dawn Of Genesis”:

“Black Harbinger” lyric video:

Legionnaire consists of singer/lead/rhythm guitarist, Aku Tiensuu, Lead/rhythm guitarist Petri Ranta, Bassist Frans Kivelä and drummer Akseli Häärä. Aku, Petri and Frans are the three original members of the group. Akseli was asked to join Legionnaire in late 2014 to replace the original drummer, Heikki Härkönen. Before the first official release, full-length album Dawn Of Genesis, Legionnaire released two demo tapes, Legionnaire in 2014 and The Enigma Of Time a year after the first one, both on cassette format.

Lineup:

Aku Tiensuu - vocals / guitars
Frans Kivelä - bass
Petri Ranta - guitars
Akseli Häärä - drums

For one night only, on June 16th at Count’s Vamp’d in Las Vegas, Nevada – Todd “Dammit” Kerns, Brent Muscat, Michael “Doc” Ellis, and Rob “Boom Boom” Cournoyer – formerly known as Sin City Sinners, now going by the name Original Sin, will reunite for a very special show. The group will play their Exile On Fremont Street album live in its entirety, along with several other songs.

Speaking exclusively to Brave Words scribe Aaron Small, vocalist and guitarist Todd Kerns shares how this unexpected, but incredibly welcome reunion came to be – ten years after the guys first got together in 2007. “The funny thing about this is… these four individuals are in constant contact, and are friends; just like The Age Of Electric (one of Todd’s other bands) in a sense. Ellis and I have been playing in The Anti-Stars for… geez, I don’t even know when we started that? Last year at some point. Then Brent and Rob play in The Saints together, so it’s this funny kind of like, ‘We should get together sometime.’ Next thing you know, it’s the classic example of, ‘What are you doing here? What are you doing there?’ Honestly, we started to get people sniffing around, asking questions, and a lot of residency talk. You know my schedule, there’s no way I could really do a week to week to week thing just yet. So, let’s play a show, see how it goes.”

“It’s one of those things, there’s a lot of history there,” continues Todd. “There’s a lot going on – a lot of drama and weird stuff. Look, I just love these guys and I want to play Exile On Fremont Street live in its entirety, and a few of the other songs we used to play. To me, it’s always about music. It’s never about some sort of pseudo-political stance; I just want to play some music with some friends. And to put a smile on people’s faces, cause I know that a lot of people will be very excited to see that happen and to see these four guys together.”

As far as the name change from Sin City Sinners to Original Sin goes… “We’re calling it Original Sin mostly because it differentiates us from the past; it’s something kind of fresh for us.” And it sets this band apart from the currently active Sin City Sinners All-Stars, as well as Sin City Rejects. “Yeah, just separating ourselves from all this other stuff that, to be honest, is a bit confusing. I’m so out of touch with whatever version there is of the Sinners out there right now. Whatever’s going on, I don’t even know? Why would we go out and call ourselves Original Sinners Mach 1 or something? It just makes sense to do something fresh. That way, if we decide to release something, this is its own entity, just these four guys.”

And these are four very busy guys; Todd plays bass in a little band called Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators. “Muscat’s gone on to do a lot of other stuff, him and Zach (Throne) started this thing called Alley Cats; they’ve got a thing going on in Japan. Ellis has multiple things going on, Rob has multiple things going on too. So it’s been one of those really interesting things where everybody goes off in their own direction, and then comes back together with a bunch of other experiences; which is very familiar to me, cause I’ve been doing this for the past two years with The Age Of Electric. But coming back here (to Vegas), I really can’t think of a good reason not to do this. To me, anything that sounds like fun, and will get people smiling in the audience – that’s the most important thing.”

Back in their heyday, Sin City Sinners were known for having a big name guest star at almost about every show. Just open the Exile On Fremont Street booklet and there’s a list of well over 100 people that have joined the band on stage, including: Bruce Kulick (KISS), Vinnie Paul (Pantera), Sami Yaffa (Hanoi Rocks), David Ellefson (Megadeth), Stix Zadinia (Steel Panther), and adult film legend Ron Jeremy, to name but a very few. However, this show on June 16th will just be the original four – Kerns, Muscat, Ellis, and Cournoyer. “Yeah, absolutely. The band started with this jam aspect, which was a lot of fun, and we happened to be very good at it. But I was always focused on the importance of these four individuals being the main part of it. I feel that was our most successful lineup; it’s the one that people remember from those days. The guest thing is all fine and good, and I suppose if somebody’s in the building, then we’ll jam. But there won’t be anybody slated to guest. Zachary Throne is opening the show, Joshua Alan is opening the show – both of them were affiliated with the Sinners, and I’m sure they’ll get up on stage with us as well. Joshua was in the Let It Burn phase, and Zachary was in the Dive Bar Days Revisited phase; there’s a lot of history even there. In reality, the original four that we’re talking about aren’t the original four. The Dive Bar – the original wave of the Sinners had a bass player, Dee. I’m hoping he’ll be a part of it as well. But Ellis has been there in the highest profile phase of the band.”

Initially self-released in 2010 and long since out of print, the Exile On Fremont Street CD is being sold online for over $1000. Are there any plans for a re-release of this highly sought after album? “I would like to do that. I’m still very proud of that collection of songs and that piece of work we did. It’s just more a question of where to begin with that. At the moment I’m really focused on, let’s play a show for some people who want to show up and do it; then we’ll discuss all these other things. Cause there’s a lot of music we did that simply isn’t available, before it became contentious and just sort of all went on pause. It would be nice to see it resurface.”

Will Original Sin film and/or record this one-off show on June 16th at Vamp’d? “You know, I hadn’t really thought too hard on that, but that probably would be smart, wouldn’t it. We’ll probably record it. The filming of things is always a lot more involved, and it’ll be all over YouTube five seconds after we play. But actually professionally filming a show is so much more than, let’s film it! You need a film crew and a sound crew; but it is a distinct possibility, I think it’d be great. I was saying to the guys, ‘you have no idea what’s coming up or what could happen.’ One of us could get a gig and off we go. The four of us are here now, let’s make the most of it. This could lead to anything, and it always does. I just know the way these things work. Next thing you know you’re being offered this or that; a lot of which depends on my availability, and the others’ availability as well.”

For those unable to make it to Vamp’d in Las Vegas, NV on June 16th for Original Sin, Todd Kerns has two solo shows upcoming: May 19th in Los Angeles, CA at Genghis Cohen, and May 27th in Las Vegas, NV opening for Vince Neil at the Downtown Grand. Furthermore, Todd’s tribute to Canadian music, Toque, have a pair of gigs booked: June 29th in Dauphin, MB, at Dauphin Country Fest, and August 6th in Kenora, ON at Harbourfest.  

 

 

Virtuoso guitarist and visionary composer Steve Vai will release Modern Primitive on July 7th through Favored Nations Entertainment, the indie label he founded in 1999. Originally included as a companion disk to Vai’s 25th anniversary release of his seminal Passion and Warfare CD, Modern Primitive will be released by itself as the seventh installment of the Steve Vai Secret Jewel Box, an ambitious 10 CD box set that was originally released in December 2001. This stand-alone release of Modern Primitive will be a limited edition album and has been modified specifically for Vai’s Secret Jewel Box, making this an instant collector’s item for Vai fans around the globe. 

Modern Primitive is comprised of material that was written and partially recorded with Vai’s band, The Classified, back in the early '80s. The Classified consisted of Tommy Mars on Keyboards, Chris Frazier on drums, Stu Hamm on bass and Sue Mathis on vocals and keyboards that he formed after his first solo record Flex-Able (1983) and prior to the writing and recording of the music on Vai’s renowned, Passion and Warfare (1990). Vai completed the recording in 2016, 30 years after its inception. The album represents that missing link that exposes the colossal growth period between Flex-Able and Passion and Warfare.

“The music on Modern Primitive was written and recorded with virtually no expectations for its future,” Vai said. “As a result, there was an opening up to a powerful and personal creativity that allowed me to find the most stimulation music I could conjure. So far it’s my favorite album that I ever made.”

Modern Primitive tracklisting:

“Bop!”
“Dark Matter”
“Mighty Messengers”
“The Lost Chord”
“Upanishads”
“Fast Note People”
“And We Are One”
“Never Forever”
“Lights Are On”
“No Pockets”
“Pink and Blows Over: Part 1”
“Pink and Blows Over: Part 2 (Mars Attack)”
“Pink and Blows Over: Part 3 (Jazzbo Paddle-foot)”

Alex Stojanovic of Metal Master Kingdom conducted an interview with Mille Petrozza of German thrash metal veterans KREATOR on April 11 at the Opera House in Toronto, Ontario, Canada during this year's Decibel Magazine Tour with OBITUARY, MIDNIGHT and HORRENDOUS. You can now watch the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On becoming vegan in 2009:

Mille: "To me, I don't even think about it anymore. It's just something that I… It's a choice. I know a lot of people have problems if you preach the vegan life. Like, 'Get the fuck out! I eat my steak.' I don't wanna preach, though. If anyone wants to… Do whatever you want. To me, it's a choice that I made, and I don't feel powerless. I feel very powerful, and I feel very energetic. Talking about the vegan thing, if you become a vegan, you have to make sure that you don't become one of those fast-food vegans and you eat everything only because it's vegan and you eat worse than any other person. You have to make sure that you eat your vegetables and eat fresh. Eat clean — that's the bottom line."

On KREATOR's touring plans for the rest of 2017 and into 2018:

Mille: "Ahh… I need a break. [Laughs] There's something coming up in South America and Australia and Japan, some Asian cities. Yeah, there's a lot coming up. I'm at the point where I'm really looking forward to the six weeks off that we have. When this time is over, I will be very enthusiastic about going on tour in those cities, but at this point, I'm, like, 'Oh, fuck!' You get into this cycle. To me, this is not a job. I don't want this to feel like a job, and if you do it too much and if you do too many concerts in a row, sometimes you're, like, 'Ahhh…' And you don't wanna do that — you wanna give a hundred and fifty percent every night, you wanna keep the enthusiasm, you wanna keep the spark and the spirit, like really powerful. It's easy to get burnt out on the tours. So, yes, we need the time in between off where I don't do anything that's related to music."

KREATOR's latest album, "Gods Of Violence", was released on January 27 via Nuclear Blast Records. The cover artwork for the disc was created by renowned artist Jan Meininghaus, who also made the limited-edition artwork for KREATOR's last album, 2012's "Phantom Antichrist", and has lent his talents to bands like BOLT THROWER, ACCEPT and OVERKILL in the past. The exclusive North American cover was created by renowned artist Marcelo Vasco, who has previously worked with SLAYER, MACHINE HEAD, SOULFLY and HATEBREED.

Elliott Fullam of Little Punk People conducted an interview with METALLICA frontman James Hetfield before the band's May 14 concert show at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked to name his favorite thrash bands that are not part of the so-called "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal (METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX), Hetfield said: "Oh, my God! There's tons of them. Well, EXODUS for sure. We grew up with those guys in the [San Francisco] Bay Area. Oh, and we stole their guitar player; that too. [Laughs] But, yeah, I think they're great. TESTAMENT… A lot of bands in the Bay Area, a lot of thrash stuff. I just think even before that… Yeah, there's thrash… Punk rock was kind of the beginning of it for me. MOTÖRHEAD — kind of thrashy but rock and roll. But I loved G.B.H., or still do, and I love DISCHARGE a lot. That's kind of really cool thrash music to me."

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine in 2013 spoke to Radio.com about which band should have been included if the "Big Four" were expanded and considered the "Big Five". Mustaine said: "You know, people will say there's a whole another generation, like the 'Medium Four' [laughs], and I think there's a lot of great bands that fit that bill, too. But I think probably EXODUS, because there was nobody else at the time that had that kind of pull or that kind of importance in the metal community. Granted, it was with [late EXODUS singer Paul] Baloff, and Baloff had a voice that you had to have an acquired taste for, but you know, I liked him."

In a 2010 interview with Metal Asylum, EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt was asked if he feels the "Big Four" should have been expanded and considered the "Big Seven", including EXODUS, TESTAMENT and OVERKILL. "Well, I think it should be the 'Big Five' with EXODUS, because we were there at the start of thrash metal with METALLICA in the real early '80s," he said. "Same thing with MEGADETH because Mustaine was a part of METALLICA's birth and he also created MEGADETH. And SLAYER are SLAYER. ANTHRAX are also great and old friends, but if you listen to those first few records, they have definitely changed. TESTAMENT has every right to be part of the thrash metal legends, but it just came down to timing because they came later. And OVERKILL have been their since the beginning also. But I don't get hung up on that shit, because I know how it all started and I know where I was when the shit got created. We [EXODUS] certainly deserve to be part of the founding fathers, but you know who often gets excluded are the Germans — KREATOR, DESTRUCTION and SODOM. Everybody looks to America and forgets those guys. KREATOR, DESTRUCTION and SODOM all released records in the early '80s."

Back in 2014, METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett was asked by U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine if it's strange to him how much METALLICA has eclipsed the other "Big Four" bands in terms of commercial popularity. "I try not to spend too much time thinking about stuff like that because whatever I think of is still not going to be a satisfying enough explanation," he replied. "It's just the way things are and how the chips fell. EXODUS in the '80s had some bona fide problems, but I think their first album [1985's 'Bonded By Blood'] is just as good as [METALLICA's debut] 'Kill 'Em All'. We were just playing the music we wanted to hear because no one else was playing it and it wasn't being played on the radio. It was only a small group of people who knew about it and it was almost elitist in that 'No posers allowed!' thing."

METALLICA has uploaded a five-minute video recap of the band's May 14 concert at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey as part of the North American leg of the "WorldWired" tour. Also available is fan-filmed video footage of the show (courtesy of John Erigo).

METALLICA's setlist was as follows:

01. Hardwired02. Atlas, Rise!03. For Whom The Bell Tolls04. Fuel05. The Unforgiven06. Now That We're Dead07. Moth Into Flame08. Wherever I May Roam09. Halo On Fire10. Whiplash11. Sad But True12. One13. Master Of Puppets14. Fade To Black15. Seek & Destroy

Encore:

16. Fight Fire With Fire17. Nothing Else Matters18. Enter Sandman

METALLICA was joined in East Rutherford, as they will be on most of the rest of the trek, by VOLBEAT and AVENGED SEVENFOLD.

The North American run will hit stadiums in 23 more cities before ending in mid-August. METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told Rolling Stone that the band was genuinely surprised to learn they could still play stadiums, saying, "It was like, 'Holy fuck, people really still care about this band in ways that you stopped taking for granted literally decades ago. It was very inspiring and kind of eye-opening."

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

The next stop on the tour is The New Coliseum Presented By NYCB in Uniondale, New York on Wednesday (May 17).

Guitarist Andreas Kisser of Brazilian/American metallers SEPULTURA was interviewed by Full Metal Racket at this year's edition of the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival, which was held April 21-22 at the Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked which is his favorite SEPULTURA album from the Derrick Green era of the band, Andreas said: "I never really divided our career like that — pre or post — because we have [had] a few changes. Of course, the singer was the most powerful, whatever, most radical change. But we are on our third drummer, I myself, I joined in '87, and we play songs from all over our career. We don't play only songs… like a political setlist, let's say, [or just] play the new stuff. But usually I like the newer material always. But I really feel this album [2017's 'Machine Messiah'] is our best work with Derrick. And Igor [Cavalera, original SEPULTURA drummer] was working with us ten years after Max [Cavalera, former SEPULTURA frontman] left the band. And I really like 'Kairos' [2011] a lot, because it was a very important album — first album with Nuclear Blast. It was the last album with Jean Dolabella on drums. So we had a few changes there that also changed and gave a new direction for the band. Everyone that came into the band brought something new. And that's something that we like to respect always — not try to copy formulas and try to fulfill expectations that are impossible to fulfill. Yeah, I think 'Machine Messiah' is one of our best works, period, in our career, for sure."

"Machine Messiah" was released on January 13 via Nuclear Blast. The disc was produced by the band and Jens Bogren (SOILWORK, OPETH, KATATONIA, AMON AMARTH) of Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden. The CD's cover artwork was created by Filipino artist Camille Della Rosa.

The world premiere of SEPULTURA's documentary, "Sepultura Endurance", will take place on Sunday, May 21 in Los Angeles. The special screening of the documentary at the Regent theater will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the band.

"Sepultura Endurance" shows the journey from SEPULTURA's humble rural beginnings to decades spent on the international stage, giving an in-depth look into how the band continues to thrive in a changing metal landscape. Crammed full of rare archival footage, and featuring interviews with legends like Lars Ulrich (METALLICA) and Scott Ian (ANTHRAX), and younger artists influenced by SEPULTURA, like SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor, "Sepultura Endurance" is the definitive document of the band's myths, struggles and heart.

The "Sepultura Endurance" screening will start at 1 p.m. PT.

IN THIS MOMENT's 2012 album "Blood" was certified gold for sales of half a million units on May 10 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America).

In February 2016, the RIAA began including on-demand audio and video streams and a track sale equivalent in determining which releases get the coveted album awards, a change that followed a similar tweak in 2013 to include on-demand streams for its Digital Single Award.

As part of the new rules, 1,500 streams count as an album unit. This move came on the heels of its 2013 alteration to its Gold Single award where it announced that 100 streams would count as a single download, and in January 2016 had upped that ratio to 150 streams in recognition of how streaming had grown.

"Blood" reached No. 15 on the Billboard album chart, while the title track — which itself was certified gold in March — became IN THIS MOMENT's first-ever Top 10 hit at rock radio.

IN THIS MOMENT will release its sixth studio album, "Ritual", on Friday, July 21. The disc will be released by Atlantic Records in partnership with Roadrunner Records.

Produced by longtime collaborator — and multiple Grammy Award nominee — Kevin Churko (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, OZZY OSBOURNE), "Ritual" includes a reimagination of the Phil Collins classic "In The Air Tonight" as well as "Black Wedding", which sees lead singer Maria Brink sharing the mic with legendary JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford. IN THIS MOMENT will promote "Ritual" by kicking off a major North American tour on June 20 at Peoria, Illinois's Limelight and featuring support by MOTIONLESS IN WHITE, VIMIC, LITTLE MISS NASTY and STARSET.

Relapse Records has announced the signing of extreme metal act EXPULSION. The newly formed group features members of REPULSION, EXHUMED, PHOBIA, INTRONAUT, GRUESOME and numerous others.

EXPULSION's debut album, "Nightmare Future", will be released on July 14 on CD/LP/digital. Hear the track "Altar Of Slaughter" now via YouTube below.

"Nightmare Future" was produced by Matt Olivo, mixed by TOXIC HOLOCAUST's Joel Grind and mastered by Maor Appelbaum (MAYHEM, FAITH NO MORE, HALFORD). Physical pre-orders and bundles are available at Relapse.com and digital downloads can be pre-ordered via Bandcamp.

Spawned from the cerebral mind of grind legend Matt Olivo (REPULSION), EXPULSION combines grind, punk and crust into a caustic musical vomit guaranteed to stack the corpses high. Olivo's partner in grind Matt Harvey (EXHUMED, GRUESOME) was recruited over beers in a sweaty L.A. apartment to bring his classic brand of oratory assault. The additions of veterans Danny Walker (drums; INTRONAUT, EXHUMED, PHOBIA) and bassist Menno Verbaten (LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH) complete the fit-to-burn outfit. Expect nothing but the best of throat-shredding vocals, relentless blast beats, buzzsaw riffs and raw bass tones. EXPULSION will leave you horrified with their vile brand of classic, '80s sickness! "Nightmare Future" track listing:

01. Total Human Genocide02. Altar Of Slaughter03. Mask Of Fear04. Nightmare Future05. Funeral Bells06. Compulsions07. Comatose

EXPULSION is:

Matt Harvey - VocalsMatt Olivo - GuitarDanny Walker - DrumsMenno Verbaten - Bass

CELTIC FROST will reissue its four seminal Noise Records albums on June 30 via BMG on deluxe hardback CD and 180-gram double album sets, complete with posters and 10-inch spine bound book. All tracks have been fully remastered and these releases contain previously unreleased and rare tracks. These are the definitive CELTIC FROST reissues. Pre-order now from PledgeMusic. Heroes of the extreme metal scene, there has always been so much more to CELTIC FROST's music. From "Morbid Tales", through "To Mega Therion", onwards to "Into The Pandemonium" and finally "Vanity/Nemesis", this is a band who refused to conform or follow any specific musical direction. They experimented, took risks and in the process have left behind a remarkable catalogue which is timeless and extraordinary. When you hear these albums, you'll appreciate why succeeding generations of diehard fans and cutting edge bands are so heavily inspired and influenced by CELTIC FROST. It almost seems churlish to regard CELTIC FROST as one of the great extreme metal bands, because they were so much more than that. It's better to hail them as among the finest extreme and experimental bands of the 1980s. Refusing ever to do what was expected or demanded, the band constantly changed musical direction, always brought in surprising influences, and kept people guessing as to where they might venture next. Their catalogue of albums is formidable and unmatched. Each is not only unique, but part of an entire tapestry that only now can be appreciated for being a remarkable part of music history. Despite, or maybe because of, constant turmoil on so many fronts, CELTIC FROST achieved an artistic level few others would even have dared to dream of aspiring towards. They climbed high because they were never afraid to fall. Which is why the band are now rightly regarded as icons, and iconoclasts. Debut album "Morbid Tales" was originally released in 1984, and quickly became known as the work of agitated and agitating talents. This record was a huge influence on the burgeoning death and thrash scenes at the time: a master-class of riff tirades and unholy sentiments. This reissue includes previously unheard and restored rehearsals from 1984. Both the 180-gram 2LP and CD versions include extensive booklets plus a poster. CELTIC FROST's second album, "To Mega Therion", was released in 1985 and showcased an ominous pall of doom and gloom, enmeshed in a sound both primitive yet also Wagnerian in its vast scope. This reissue includes the "Emperor's Return" EP as well as a remix of "Visual Aggression". Both the 180-gram LP and CD versions include extensive booklets. The band's third album, "Into Pandemonium", was originally released in 1987. The record represented a turning point for a whole genre, being extremely ahead of its time. Not only did it have maniacal rhythms, but introduced electronica into extreme metal. On every level, it was a remarkable record, full of visionary ideas and ideals. This reissue includes alternate versions of tracks from the album and a cover of a Dean Martin song. Both the 180-gram LP and CD versions include extensive booklets. CELTIC FROST's fifth studio album, "Vanity/Nemesis", was released in 1990. It featured a twisted cover of David Bowie's "Heroes" and it saw the band going in a much more thrash-oriented direction. The restless energy percolates throughout, as CELTIC FROST continued to leave fans aghast at their soundscapes and adventurous perceptions. The reissue includes tracks from the "Wine In My Hand" 12-inch EP, and both the 180-gram LP and CD versions include extensive booklets. "Morbid Tales" track listing

01. Human (Intro)02. Into The Crypts Of Rays03. Visions Of Mortality04. Dethroned Emperor05. Morbid Tales06. Procreation (Of The Wicked)07. Return To The Eve08. Danse Macabre09. Nocturnal Fear

* Bonus Tracks

10. Morbid Tales (1984 Rehearsal)11. Messiah (1984 Rehearsal)12. Procreation (Of the Wicked) (1984 Rehearsal)13. Nocturnal Fear (1984 Rehearsal) "To Mega Therion" track listing:

01. Innocence And Wrath02. The Usurper03. Jewel Throne04. Dawn Of Meggido05. Eternal Summer06. Circle Of The Tyrants07. (Beyond The) North Winds08. Fainted Eyes09. Tears In A Prophet's Dream10. Necromantical Screams

* Bonus Tracks

11. Circle Of The Tyrants ("Emperor's Return" EP)12. Visual Aggression ("Emperor's Return" EP)13. Suicidal Winds ("Emperor's Return" EP)14. Journey Into Fear ("Emperor's Return" EP Recording Sessions)15. Visual Aggression (1988 Remix)16. Return to the Eve (1985 Studio Jam) "Into Pandemonium" track listing:

01. Mexican Radio02. Mesmerized03. Inner Sanctum04. Tristesses De La Lune05. Babylon Fell (Jade Serpent)06. Caress Into Oblivion (Jade Serpent II)07. One In Their Pride (Porthole Mix)08. I Won't Dance (The Elders' Orient)09. Rex Irae (Requiem)10. Oriental Masquerade

* Bonus Tracks

11. Sorrows Of The Moon12. The Inevitable Factor13. In The Chapel In The Moonlight14. One In Their Pride (Re-Entry Mix)15. The Inevitable Factor (Alternate Vox) "Vanity/Nemesis" track listing:

01. The Heart Beneath02. Wine In My Hand (Third From The Sun)03. Wings Of Solitude04. The Name Of My Bride05. This Island Earth06. The Restless Seas07. Phallic Tantrum08. A Kiss Or A Whisper09. Vanity10. Nemesis

* Bonus Tracks

11. Heroes12. A Descent to Babylon (Babylon Asleep)

California rockers BUCKCHERRY have parted ways with guitarist Keith Nelson and drummer Xavier Muriel. Replacing them on the band's summer tour dates will be Kevin Roentgen and Sean Winchester (EVERCLEAR), respectively.

The news of Nelson and Muriel's exit from BUCKCHERRY was confirmed by the band's guitarist Stevie D., who recently launched a new group called JOSH TODD & THE CONFLICT with BUCKCHERRY singer Josh Todd.

Stevie wrote in a statement: "As most of you may already know, Josh and I have just completed the debut album from our other band, JOSH TODD & THE CONFLICT, which is set to drop in September. We look forward to seeing all of you on the road very soon — keep your eyes peeled for upcoming dates, we'll be adding them shortly. And, as most of you may already also know, BUCKCHERRY has recently gone through some big changes.

"As we wish the very best for Keith and Xavier in all of their future endeavors, we want you to be the first to know that we'll be showing up in a huge way for all the BUCKCHERRY dates this summer with the help of a couple of our dearest friends, Kevin Roentgen and Sean Winchester.

"Josh, Kelly [LeMieux, bass] and I can't even begin to thank you ALL enough for your continued love and support. Our fans are the very best, and we are humbled and forever grateful."

Muriel apparently referred to his exit from BUCKCHERRY when he wrote in a tweet on Sunday (May 14): "A Heartfelt Thank You to all the fans of the last 11 years.. couldn't have done it without you!!!! What a ride.... Until next time. X"

The digital deluxe edition release of BUCKCHERRY's album "Rock 'N' Roll", was made available in January 2016 via F-Bomb/Caroline. The new deluxe edition featured the record's original track list as well as the newly released version of "The Feeling Never Dies", a brand new song titled "Getting Started" and a B-side called "Cannonball".

Legendary bass player Rudy Sarzo has joined the new thrash band launched by former ANTHRAX guitarist Dan Spitz and ex-JOURNEY drummer Deen Castronovo.

Since the early 1980s, Sarzo has played with some of the biggest bands and artists in hard rock and heavy metal, including OZZY OSBOURNE (alongside renowned guitarist Randy Rhoads), QUIET RIOT, WHITESNAKE, DIO and Geoff Tate's version of QUEENSRŸCHE, not to mention a five-year stint with hard rock juggernauts BLUE ÖYSTER CULT.

Sarzo in 2006 published "Off The Rails", a book about his time with Osbourne and Rhoads.

During an appearance on "Talking Bollocks", the monthly metal podcast hosted by ACID REIGN frontman-turned-stand-up-comedian Howard H. Smith, Spitz stated about his new band: "We have a singer; I just can't say who it is yet. But it's pretty monumental. It's killer. And it's not a project; it's a band. And, of course, Deen is one of the world's most incredible drummers walking the planet. You first think of him as [having played in] JOURNEY. Deen's also a lead singer. He sings three or four of the JOURNEY songs live as he plays [the drums]. He sings the ones that Steve Perry wouldn't even sing live. He's quite an incredible singer. He's the lead singer for REVOLUTION SAINTS and just a great guy and a monster, monster, monster drummer. He got his start in SOCIAL DISTORTION, and he's just a metalhead, really. [He spent] seventeen years in JOURNEY, he played for Ozzy [Osbourne], he played on early Ted Nugent albums. I mean, it goes on, dude. He's pulling out stuff, and I'm, like, 'Are you kidding me, dude? I used to sit and just do bong hits and blast my guitar listening to that album. Are you crazy? I didn't know it was you.' [Laughs]"

Asked if the vocalist in Spitz's and Castronovo's new band has a thrash background, the guitarist said: "I'm not gonna say anything. 'Cause what I create is always new. Was [ANTHRAX's] Joey Belladonna a thrash singer when I found him in a JOURNEY cover band in upstate New York? We can take someone like Joey and get him to sing and fit in. I don't hold any barriers to anybody."

According to Dan, "the whole cycle" for his new band with Deen "will be starting in the beginning of July as far as all [of us being] in one room." He added that he has already completed writing "about an album and a half" worth of material for the project, with plans to have "about two albums' worth" of songs to choose from.

Spitz, a born-again Christian and Messianic Jew who frequently cites his faith as an influential component to his life, explained that he decided to launch a new group with Deen because "it's just time now to play again… I have a lot more music in me. I don't know where or what. I don't ask questions and I don't sit around the table and whatever. However God gets it to fall into place, it is what it is, and away we go."

After leaving ANTHRAX for the first time, Spitz became a world-renowned, prize-winning watchmaker who hand-lathed his own replacement parts for antique watch restorations.

METALLICA performed the song "Now That We're Dead" on last night's (Monday, May 15) episode of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" on CBS. You can now watch the band's appearance below.

This was not be the first time that METALLICA has appeared on a talk show hosted by Stephen Colbert. The band previously sat down for an interview and performed on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" in September 2013.

"Now That We're Dead" is taken from METALLICA's latest album, "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", which came out in November.

The North American leg of METALLICA's "WorldWired" 2017 tour kicked off in Baltimore on May 10 and is hitting stadiums in 25 cities before winding down in mid-August. Support on the quartet's first North American trek since 2009 is coming mainly from AVENGED SEVENFOLD and VOLBEAT, with GOJIRA taking over for the latter group for the last six shows.

The first European leg of "WorldWired" kicks off on September 4 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and stretches through November. After a break, the trek will pick up again on February 10, 2018 in Bologna, Italy, and continue through May, finishing up in Helsinki, Finland.

INVIDIA, the new band featuring former and current members of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and SKINLAB, has officially announced the addition of Evan Seidlitz as the newest member of the band, replacing vocalist Travis Johnson on the upcoming "Screaming Black Curse" tour with ALL HAIL THE YETI and supporting act BROKEN RAIL. Seidlitz is no stranger to the frontman spotlight, known for his work in VYCES, THROWN INTO EXILE and GRIMACE. Though Johnson is leaving to fully invest in his role as bassist of IN THIS MOMENT, the band is very excited to begin this new journey with Seidlitz and has no doubts that fans will be pleased with what he has to bring to the table.

When asked about Johnson's departure, INVIDIA stated: "We respect Travis's choice to honor his commitment to IN THIS MOMENT but it left us in a tough spot. It's hard for us as well — Travis is family and is part of the INVIDIA story.

"We are beyond happy that Evan was interested and fits in so well in the INVIDIA camp. He's a guy we all know well and the band as well as the fans are in great hands.

"We sincerely hope you will all welcome Evan to the fold like we have and come see us on tour this summer!"

Johnson added: "It was a really tough choice for me to step back from fronting INVIDIA. I love singing and am so proud of 'As the Sun Sleeps'. INVIDIA is family to me. I mean, I just can't be in two places at the same time and I had to honor my commitment to IN THIS MOMENT.

"I can't imagine a better fit than Evan. It was actually a suggestion I had brought up to the band.

"I truly hope all of the IN THIS MOMENT fans who have supported INVIDIA welcome him to the band.

"It's a tough one knowing someone else is singing my tunes but I can't see myself holding INVIDIA back."

Seidlitz said: "When Matt Snell called me up and asked me to join INVIDIA full-time, I didn't have to think very long about it before I said, 'Yeah, let's do it.' I knew I could no longer keep a commitment with VYCES.

"The guys in VYCES as well as Travis have been nothing but supportive in my decision.

"Travis did a wonderful job on the album vocally and I look forward to singing these songs every night on tour."

The tour will begin on May 17 in Los Angeles at the Whisky A Go Go and wrap up on June 4 in Fullerton, California.

May 17 - Los Angeles, CA @ Whisky A Go GoMay 18 - Las Vegas, NV @ Adrenaline May 19 - Kingsburg, CA @ Bullfrogs may 20 - Anderson, CA @ Firehouse LoungeMay 21 - Eugene, OR @ Wow HallMay 22 - Seattle, WA @ El CorazonMay 23 - Spokane, WA @ The CheckerboardMay 24 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Liquid JoesMay 25 - Colorado Springs, CO @ Black SheepMay 26 - Kansas City, MO @ The Riot RoomMay 27- Oklahoma City, OK @ Thunder AlleyMay 28 - Houston, TX @ BFE Rock ClubMay 30 - Fort Worth, TX @ The Rail ClubJune 01 - Austin, TX @ The Rock HouseJune 02 - El Paso, TX @ The Rock HouseJune 03 - Tempe, AZ @ Yucca Tap RoomJune 04 - Fullerton, CA @ Slidebar

INVIDIA's debut album, "As The Sun Sleeps", was released on March 31 via SPV.

Photo credit: Fred Morledge / PhotoFM.com

Rocket88 announces the first in-depth study of one of England’s most enigmatic and engaging bands, Time Flies: The Story Of Porcupine Tree.

The second book by Rich Wilson, author of the acclaimed Lifting Shadows, the authorized biography of Dream Theater, Time Flies describes the genesis of Porcupine Tree from founder Steven Wilson’s bedroom through their entire seventeen year career and ten studio albums.

Drawing on original and archive interviews with band members, friends and people connected to Porcupine Tree, this unauthorized biography offers a perfectly complete critical look at arguably the UK’s last great prog rock band.

The book will be published in the fall, but fans can register now - and get the chance to have their names printed in the book - only at porcupinetreebook.com.

One Book, Two Editions - The book will be available in two versions, both produced to the highest standards. The Classic edition will be a 300+ page hardback presented in a choice of four different cover designs. The Signature edition will come in a specially designed presentation box, be signed and numbered by the author, and include 3 previously unseen, numbered, 10x8 photographs which will be exclusive to the book.

Professionally filmed video footage of METALLICA performing the song "Motorbreath" on May 12 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania can be seen below.

The North American leg of METALLICA's "WorldWired" tour will hit stadiums in 22 more cities before ending in mid-August. METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told Rolling Stone that the band was genuinely surprised to learn they could still play stadiums, saying, "It was like, 'Holy fuck, people really still care about this band in ways that you stopped taking for granted literally decades ago. It was very inspiring and kind of eye-opening."

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

The next stop on the tour is The New Coliseum Presented By NYCB in Uniondale, New York on Wednesday (May 17).

Support on the trek is coming from Danish/American rock and rollers VOLBEAT and popular California act AVENGED SEVENFOLD.

Polish extreme black/death metallers, Hate, released their new album, Tremendum, on May 5th via Napalm Records. An official drum playthrough video for the album track “Indestructible Pillar” can be seen below:

Tremendum is available as CD Digipak and LP Gatefold. Order here.

Tracklisting:

“Asuric Being”
“Indestructible Pillar”
“Svarog's Mountain”
“Numinosum”
“Fidelis Ad Mortem”
“Into Burning Gehenna”
“Sea Of Rubble”
“Ghostforce”
“Walk Through Fire”
“Hearts Of Steel” (Bonus Track)

“Walk Through Fire”:

“Numinosum” video:

“Asuric Being” lyric video:

Hate lineup:

Atf Sinner - Guitar, Vocals
Pavulon - Drums
Apeiron - Bass (live)
Domin - Guitar (live)

Brazilian metallers Almah, led by ex-Angra singer Edu Falaschi, have released the latest video from their new album, E.V.O, which is out now via Pride & Joy Music (Europe), Test Your Metal (North America) and King Records (Japan). Watch the new clip for “Pleased To Meet You” below:

E.V.O is the fifth studio album from Almah, it was recorded in São Paulo, Brazil at IMF studios by Tito Falaschi and mixed and mastered by Damien Rainaud (Fear Factory, Dragonforce) at Mix Unlimited in Los Angeles, California. It is a concept album and the main idea is based on evolution of people’s mind and soul during so-called Age Of Aquarius - the new era that the world is about to live. The author of the concept, Edu Falaschi, touches different subjects connected to the main idea, creating very positive lyrics and the whole album’s atmosphere.

Musically, E.V.O brings a fresh and powerful sound with typical modern and heavy Almah’s touch but this time one will be able to realize that it also has a direct connection with the Angra’s Rebirth (the first Angra’s album with Edu's voice). The compositions are pleasant travel between the modern power metal, contemporary rock and prog metal. The vocal lines on E.V.O are very powerful, classic and the voice has a higher pitch comparing to the previous Almah’s records. It’s very melodic, clean and into the bel canto style.

Tracklisting:

“Age Of Aquarius”
“Speranza”
“The Brotherhood”
“Innocence”
“Higher”
“Infatuated”
“Pleased To Meet You”
“Final Warning”
“Indigo”
“Corporate War”
“Capital Punishment”

“Speranza” video:

“Age Of Aquarius” lyric video:

Album stream:

Almah is:

Edu Falaschi - vocals
Marcelo Barbosa - guitars
Raphael Dafras - bass
Diogo Mafra - guitars
Pedro Tinello - drums

(Photo - Danillo Facchini)

With its new theatrical piece, Solveig, female-fronted American band Seven Spires is about to pull off a major coup in the ever-growing symphonic metal scene. This debut album, which is to be released worldwide on August 4th via SAOL, indeed succeeds in establishing as of now the four-piece orchestra as an essential figure of tomorrow's extreme soundscape. The first video from the album, for the song "The Cabaret Of Dreams”, can be viewed below.

Fans can get their hands on special versions of the album with all sorts of exclusive perks by taking part in the Seven Spires' Go Fund Me campaign.

The wide stylistic range embraced by Seven Spires' art of musical storytelling relentlessly attests of the outstanding abilities of the band's members. Going astray from melancholic power metal to melodic death metal with fierce forays into black metal, the quartet's versatility never fails to make a deep impression on the listener. Their signature blend of melody, theatrics and high-caliber musicianship is tastefully bittersweet, chaotic at times and comforting at others.

Solveig tells the story of a lost soul and his journey through a Demon's sunless neo-victorian underworld. Despite small glimmers of hope, it is a grim tale with a heavy focus on escapism, death and decadence. The love for Romantic composers and epic film scores the four young graduates/students of the prestigious Berklee College of Music have shows in their ambitious and emotionally moving dramatic vision.

Frontwoman Adrienne Cowan leads the band with an iron will and a golden voice. She employs a combination of her classical training and self-taught extreme vocal techniques to "deliver every bit of recorded promise live". Therefore, the strict operatic singing that is often found in the symphonic corner of metal is more of a spice than a staple for Seven Spires.

The band ventured to Gate Studios in Wolfsburg, Germany to put the finishing touches to Solveig in the company of the illustrious Sascha Paeth (Avantasia, Kamelot, Rhapsody), who stated that Seven Spires is "one of the few new real personalities in metal". As a matter of fact, a band that has been sharing the stage with big names such as Arch Enemy, Amaranthe and Apocalyptica - among many others - in its first three years of existence has to be taken seriously in the challenging environment of the current metal scene.

Solveig tracklisting:

“The Siren”
“Encounter”
“The Siren” (Reprise)
“The Cabaret Of Dreams”
“Choices”
“Closure”
“100 Days”
“Stay”
“The Paradox”
“Serenity”
“Depths”
“Distant Lights”
“Burn”
“Ashes”
“Reflections”

“The Cabaret Of Dreams” video:

SikTh will release their new album, The Future In Whose Eyes?, on June 2nd via Millennium Night, the newly created label imprint from Snapper Music, home of Peaceville Records and Kscope. The band have released a new single and video (streaming below) for the track “Golden Cufflinks”.

When introducing the new song, vocalist and lyricist Mikee W Goodman states, "The song is very melodic and is a very different type of song for SikTh fans to hear. Even though there are extremely aggressive moments on the new album. This song has a real epic and melodic feel to it."

Produced and directed by Goodman, the video acts as a commentary to and the causation of the ongoing sanitization of many towns and cities, something many music fans around the world will be able to relate to.

"When I wrote the lyrics for “Golden Cufflinks”, they were initially inspired by the amount of live music venues that are being closed and a feeling that rock culture is in decline," Goodman said. "The venue which sticks out to me the most is the famous London Astoria. Some of the best SikTh shows were in the LA2 and main Astoria. I went a lot as a fan as well. So when that was closed and knocked down to make way for Crossrail, it really was a sad and defining moment in rock history for me and many others."

He furthers, "I think places of such rich history and cultural importance should be protected and preserved. I see this happening across the country and world — so many other venues being shut down and how scenes and golden eras come and go. How we have to move along or do it seems."

The singer finishes, "You see the business men buying up cities to turn them into the most profitable and bland form. It follows a similar theme from our song “Bland Street Bloom” from Death Of A Dead Day. This happens in many cities; it is not just about London. 'Golden Cufflinks' is a reflection and commentary of this kind of happening."

 
The "Golden Cufflinks" single is available to purchase

Pre-order the following formats at this location:

- Digipak CD
- Mediabook 3xCD hardcover set with page booklet, bonus instrumental disc, and bonus "Re-Imagined" disc.
- Black Vinyl (180 gram)
- Orange Splatter Vinyl (Limited to 500)
- Purple Splatter Vinyl (Limited to 500)

Tracklisting:

“Vivid”
“Century Of The Narcissist?”
“The Aura”
“This Ship Has Sailed”
“Weavers Of Woe”
“Cracks Of Light”
“Golden Cufflinks”
“The Moon’s Been Gone For Hours”
“Riddles Of Humanity”
“No Wishbones”
“Ride The Illusion”
“When It Rains”

“Vivid” lyric video:

“No Wishbones” lyric video:

Napalm Records premieres its fourth DVD compilation of their finest metal and rock hymns! The Realm Of Napalm Records, Vol. IV DVD will be released as a 6-page digipack including a bonus audio CD of the most recent Napalm Records hits. A video trailer for the upcoming release can be found below.

The set includes special material from doom patrons AHAB, hardcore heroes Walls Of Jericho, thrash metal giants Warbringer and street punk's finest Toxpack. The hottest video clips from Napalm Records including a bonus audio CD will be released worldwide (excl. US/Canada) via Napalm Records on May 26th. 26 videos, 16 singles, one package.

Throwback and throw down with this synthesis of senses! You've got Myles Kennedy's Alter Bridge, power metal chart breakers Hammerfall (pictured above) and Powerworlf, heavy Californian groove from DevilDriver, fresh and funky progressive tunes from Jinjer, the reggae rock power pack Skindred, heavy metal titans Civil War, symphonic sweetness of Xandria and Visions Of Atlantis and to top it all off Kamelot’s feature "Liar Liar" with Arch Enemy’s Alissa White-Gluz.

DVD tracklisting:

Alter Bridge - “Show Me A Leader”
Hammerfall - “Hammer High”
Powerwolf - “Army Of The Night”
Kamelot - “Liar Liar” (feat. Alissa White-Gluz)
Delain - “Suckerpunch”
Devildriver - “Daybreak”
Otep - “Zero”
W.A.S.P. - “Scream”
The Answer - “Solas”
Grave Digger - “Healed By Metal”
Jinjer - “Words Of Wisdom”
Skindred - “Volume”
Moonspell - “Extinct”
The Agonist - “The Moment”
Serum 114 - “Wilde Zeit”
Civil War - “Tombstone”
John Garcia - “Kylie”
Megaherz - “Einsam”
Monster Magnet - “The Duke Of Supernature”
Alestorm - “Drink”
Xandria - “Nightfall”
Serenity - “Follow Me”
Visions Of Atlantis - “Winternight”
American Head Charge - “Let All The World Believe”
Adept - “Dark Clouds”
Greenleaf - “A Million Fireflies”

Bonus CD tracklisting:

Xandria - “Call Of Destiny”
Walls Of Jericho - “Reign Supreme”
Draconian - “Rivers Between Us” (feat. Daniel Änghede)
Warbringer - “Remain Violent”
The New Roses - “What If It Was You”
Gloryhammer - “Rise Of The Chaos Wizards”
Black Mirrors - “Funky Queen”
AHAB - “Like Red Foam (The Great Storm)”
Skalmöld - “Niðavellir”
Nervosa - “Hostages”
Diabulus in Musica - “Earthly Illusions”
Evil Invaders - “Raising Hell”
Be´lakor - “An Ember’s Arc”
Drescher - “Unten”
8kids - “Blitzschlag”
Toxpack - “Willkommen im Klub”

Get your copy here.

The Interbeing has released the second single / video from their upcoming album, Among The Amorphous. The song, called "Deceptive Signal", is the follow-up to the comeback single "Sins Of The Mechanical". The new album Among The Amorphous will be released worldwide on June 23rd through Long Branch Records as CD, LP, download and stream. Watch the video for "Deceptive Signal" below.

Singer Dara Corcoran talks about "Deceptive Signal": "'Deceptive Signal' is the second track on our coming concept album about The Interbeing's struggle with his creators. In this song The Interbeing hears a signal and is drawn to it, but it turns out to be a trap made by his creators."

"To realize the visual storyline, we contacted the gifted Jeb Hardwick and flew him in to Copenhagen to shoot the ambitious video. The countless hours playing in a green screen studio and post-production really paid off. Jeb did an amazing job creating this other dimension with us and The Interbeing in it."

Among the Amorphous is an album that lifts the bar in regards of storytelling and songwriting in the world of technical metal. The songs have a sinister David Lynch feel to them, while the massive sections of polyrhythmic Meshuggah-inspired sonances envelop the listener. In conclusion, the soundscape peaks with great evoking choruses that would even get Devin Townsend's stamp of approval. The Interbeing plunges into a futuristic music journey in which Dara Corcoran's constant shifting between growls, whispering, chanting and grand melodies makes this album one of the most ambitious albums in Danish metal in many years.

Among The Amorphous is mixed by the producer Jonas Haagensen and mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios (Volbeat, Pretty Maids).

Tracklisting:

"Spiral Into Existence"
"Deceptive Signal"
"Sins Of The Mechanical"
"Borderline Human"
"Purge The Deviant"
"Cellular Synergy"
"Enigmatic Circuits"
"Pinnacle Of The Strain"
"Sum Of Singularity"
"Among The Amorphous"

Pre-orders can be placed here.

"Sins Of The Mechanical":

The Interbeing lineup:

Dara Corcoran - vocals
Torben Pedersen - guitars, vocals
Boas Segel - guitars, programming
Jacob Hansen - bass
Kristoffer Egefelt - drums

Dobermann have released a lyric video for "Radioactive", featuring former Guns N' Roses guitar player Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal on lead guitar. 

"Radioactive" is  the second single from Dobermann's new album Pure Breed, produced by renowned Guano Apes and H Blockx producer Fabio Trentini, and released last March via Wild Mondays Music / Horus Music UK The video can be seen below:

The video for the title track, "Pure Breed", is also available:

Visit dobermannweb.net for further details.

 

Aggressive shock metal band salems Lott have posted an acoustic cover of the KIX classic "Don't Close Your Eyes", taken from the 1988 album Blow My Fuse.

Aficionados and devotees of Salems Lott will have a great deal of awesome new music to look forward to this May as the band prepares to release its second record, Mask Of Morality. This is not your lame, tame “let’s follow what everybody else is doing” style of music. Rather, it’s a head snapping, jaw-dropping, in your face mix of speed metal, death, glam, prog, classical elements, as well as shock and awe replete with power that is charting the course of an otherwise new era of rock.

“The themes of Mask Of Morality convey unbridled resentment, trans valuation, and greatness, as well as struggle/suffering and collectivism vs. individualism among other themes” says, lead guitarist Jett Black. “We live in a society replete with a system of values that are generalized and have become a norm which needs to be followed by one and all without questioning it, which is basically immoral.”

“The values of empathy, altruism, compassion, equality and pity, unanimously viewed as "good" today, when left unchecked can become just as easily corrupt, dangerous and authoritative,” asserts Black.

Mask Of Morality will be released in two parts.  Part 1 containing three songs to be released in May and Part 2 to be released later in the summer.

The first single “When Heaven Comes Down” can be heard via the dark animated lyric video below: