Spanish melodic death metal outfit, Jotnar, have released a video for “Suicidal Angel”, a track from the band’s Connected/Condemned album, to be released worldwide on April 21st via Massacre Records. The new video, directed by Pablo Garcia, is available for streaming below.

Jotnar offers a redesigned and modern sound with strong and aggressive rhythms, smooth melodies, catchy choruses and insane growls. The band made it’s live debut in late 2008, and underwent several lineup changes, which led to today's lineup, consisting of vocalist Mario Infantes, guitarists Ben Melero and Elhadji N’Diaye, bassist Octavio Santana and Jose Rodriguez. The quintet has already played with bands such as Korn, Amon Amarth, Sabaton and Machine Head, and played at festivals like MetalDays, Rock Bitch Boat and Villa De Bilbao.

The Connected/Condemned cover art was created by British artist Russ Mills.

Connected/Condemned tracklisting:

“Connected/Condemned”
“Remaining Still”
“Missing Shadows”
“Broken Esteem” (feat. Björn “Speed” Strid - Soilwork)
“Suicidal Angel”
“Live Together Die Alone”
“Starved Of Guidance”
“I, The Paradox”
“The Sentence”
“Invisible Trace”
“The Loneliness' Legacy”
“Say It Right” (Nelly Furtado cover)
“Envy World”
“The Portrait” (feat. Jennie Nord - Ultimate Fate, Santi Suarez - Sphinx, Bruno Pardini)

“Suicidal Angel” video:

“Starved Of Guidance” video:

“Broken Esteem” video:

“Connected/Condemned” video:

Album teaser:

Original Overkill guitarist, Bobby Gustafson, has launched a pre-order for Axe To The Head Of My Enemies, the new album from his Satans Taint project. A video message from Bobby can be found below.

The first five songs on the set were remastered by James Murphy, who also performs a solo on one of the tracks.

Tracklisting:

“Asatru”
“Killing Spree”
“He Who Wore The Crown”
“Deliver Me To The Gods”
“Gutpile”

Bonus tracks:
“All Out War”
“Gothic Serpent”
“Battle Of Bravalla”
“Song For The Einherjar”
“The Hammer And The Cross”

To pre-order the album, head to this location.

Just Before Dawn, the “Swedish steamroller death metal project”, will be performing at select festivals in 2018. A message posted at the band’s Facebook page follows:

“The troops have gathered, and we have formed a death metal alliance that will bring a panzer breaking attack on to the stages of the world.”

The official live lineup will be:

Dave Ingram - Vocals (Down Among The Dead Men, Echelon, Ursinne, ex-Hail of Bullets, ex-Bolt Thrower, ex-Benediction)
Anders Biazzi - Guitar (Blood Mortized, ex-Amon Amarth)
Jonny Pettersson - Bass/ backing vocals (Wombbath, Ashcloud, Ursinne, Henry Kane)
Gustav Myrin - Guitar (Blood Mortized, Reek Of Martyr, ex-Pathalog)
Jon Rudin - Drums (Pale King)

The band was founded by Anders Biazzi in the summer of 2012. Rogga Johansson (Paganizer, Revolting, The Grotesquery) joined some months later. It was originally meant to be a two man project, with Anders writing the music and Rogga writing the lyrics and singing. But soon after many other musicians from around the world got involved in the project: Jonas Lindblood (Puteraeon), Mr. Hitchcock (Zombiefication), Gustav Myrin (Blood Mortized), Dennis Johansson (Plästerd, Headstoned), Ralf Hauber (Revel in Flesh) and Tony Freed(Godhate), as well as those involved in the live line-up.

In September 2012, Just Before Dawn signed with Chaos Records for an 8-track CD and vinyl release. Music in the vein of Bolt Thrower, Hypocrisy and Asphyx.

The self-titled full-length debut from Seattle-based extreme progressive metallers, A Flourishing Scourge, will be released on June 9th through the band's own imprint Begotten Records. The album features eight dynamic and ferocious songs, all written and performed by original members Tye Jones (Vocals, Guitars), Kevin Carbrey (Bass), and Andrew Dennis (Guitars). The album also features session drummer Samus Paulicelli (Decrepit Birth, ex-Abigail Williams).

Pre-order the album here, and stream new song "Tidal Waves" below.

A Flourishing Scourge was recorded at Gojira's Silver Cord Studios in Brooklyn, New York, from June 1 to June 10, 2016. The album was engineered and mixed by Jamie Uertz (Gojira, Anthrax) with mixing and editing contributions from Tye Jones during the fall of 2016, and was mastered by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Amon Amarth) of Fascination Street Studios, Stockholm, Sweden. Original cover artwork by Andrada Saftescu.

Tracklisting:

“Tidal Waves”
“To The Stench Of A Rotting Corpse”
“Insatiable”
“Onerous”
“Awakened”
“Vacant”
“The Hedonist”
“Solace”

“Tidal Waves”:

Additional vocals by Andrew Dennis and Kevin Carbrey. Additional instrumentation composed and recorded by Tye Jones. Lyrics by Tye Jones, Kevin Carbrey, and Josh Keifer. Album design by Tye Jones. Artist Management by Kevin Carbrey.

Lineup:

Tye Jones - Guitar / Vocals
Andrew Dennis - Lead Guitar
Kevin Carbrey - Bass

Middle East extreme metal pioneers Nervecell have set Past, Present…Torture as the title of their new album, due for release this summer via Lifeforce Records. 

Nervecell’s forthcoming effort will mark the band’s third full-length studio release since the follow-up to 2011’s Psychogenocide, which was also mixed and mastered by Wojtek and Slawek Wiesawski at Hertz Studios (Behemoth, Decapitated, Vader) in Poland. The album cover artwork was created by Colin Marks of Rain Song Design (Exodus, Origin, Whitechapel) and can be seen below. The new song "Proxy War" is available for streaming:

 

Commented the band: "Past, Present…Torture is an album we’ve been working on for roughly the last four years. The album consists of 13 new tracks that promise to be the most extreme and versatile Nervecell record to date, have no doubt about it! The title speaks for itself, focusing on the state of the world and where we are all headed as a civilization. We can’t wait for you all to have a taste of what’s in store, don’t say we didn’t warn you…"

For information and updates on Nervecell check out their official Facebook page here.

Newmachine have released a video for “Hell To Pay”, the lead track on their debut album, Karma, out now via HighVolMusic. The new clip can be found below.

The album was engineered and produced by Howard 'The Doctor' Lindeman (John Lennon, Blue Oyster Cult, KISS) and recorded at CVRS Studios in Naples, FL during the months of October, November, and December 2016. Karma contains ten tracks with one track being mastered by Bill Leverty of Firehouse.

Tracklisting:

"Hell To Pay"
"Nowhere Fast"
"Everglades"
"Lost"
"Love Is Crazy"
"No More"
"Hold On"
"Livin' It Up"
"Hell To Pay" (Bill Leverty master)

“Hell To Pay” video:

Audios samples:

“Heroine’s Descent”, a track from Ides Of Gemini’s upcoming new album, Women, is available for streaming below. The album, due for release on April 28th via Rise Above Records, is available for pre-order at this location.

Formed in Los Angeles, California, in 2010, Ides Of Gemini have built a formidable and enigmatic reputation by stoutly refusing to conform to anyone else's idea of what lurks in the shadows-with a sound that elegantly salutes the greats of the post-punk and proto-goth eras while simultaneously harnessing the oomph and clangor of underground metal. The ornate sparkle of something else, something irresistibly alien has long ensured that Ides Of Gemini have stood proudly alone, and yet their stately invective has clearly connected with the discerning masses.

"We get lumped in with a lot of metal bands, I guess for obvious reasons," says guitarist and songwriter Jason Bennett. "There are some metal songs on the new album, but it's really not a metal record. And we're not exactly a Goth band, either. So I don't know what to call what we do. Is it heavy? Yes. Is it metal? Not exactly. I guess you could say it's a mystery..."
 
Even the haziest of musical entities undergo some process of regeneration between records. Ides Of Gemini are no different, but their journey from their stunning 2012 debut, Constantinople, and its formidable follow-up Old World New Wave-both released via post-metal mavens Neurosis' Neurot Recordings-to brand new studio album Women, the band's first for Rise Above Records, has been a turbulent and challenging one. Original drummer Kelly Johnston-Gibson incurred a career-threatening injury while on tour in the US in 2015, causing Bennett and vocalist (and then-bassist) Sera Timms to reassess their next move. After enlisting Scott Batiste of Saviours as a stand-in drummer for a short West Coast tour, a new alliance was formed and Scott soon became a permanent member. The band then expanded to a quartet for the first time, as Sera relinquished her bass-playing duties to newcomer Adam Murray.

"Having Sera make that change ended up being the best thing we ever did," Bennett recalls. "It's freed her up to do so much more vocally. She was somewhat confined by also playing bass, and now she doesn't have to do that anymore-the sky's the limit. Scott and Adam are awesome. It's almost a new band. I think that the new record would've been pretty similar if we'd stayed a three-piece, but it wouldn't have been this good. There's a totally different dynamic now. We're new and improved.
 
Still recognizable as the work of the band behind those early triumphs, the new Ides Of Gemini album is both a dramatic leap forward for these idiosyncratic spirit guides and their most direct and impactful collection of songs to date.

Produced by the inimitable Sanford Parker, Women also features guest appearances from Tara Connelly of Clay Rendering (on "Queen Of New Orleans") and bewitching singer-songwriter Emma Ruth Rundle (on "She Has A Secret"). As ever, Ides Of Gemini's new songs uniformly fizz and crackle with a storyteller's verve, as Timms' emotionally devastating delivery and Bennett's scabrous riffs paint vivid images of womanhood's multifarious routes to the gates of Hell and beyond. As a result, the new album's title was a no-brainer.

"Why Women? The short answer is that all the songs are about women!" Bennett laughs. "The way we work is that I title all the songs and Sera writes all the lyrics, and I give her an idea of what inspired each title for me. She can either take my idea and use it or totally discard it and come up with her own concept for it. Some of these women are mythological figures, some are historical figures, some are obscure actresses, and some are people we just made up. But every song is about a woman, so the title seemed obvious."

Determined to make up for the time lost during recent upheavals, Ides Of Gemini hope to use Women as a springboard to re-launch their assault on the consciousness of the world's outcasts and eccentrics. Revitalized and armed with their finest album to date, these inveterate square pegs may yet prove to be unstoppable.

"We want to tour as much as possible," Bennett avows. "There are a lot of places we haven't been yet and a lot of places we haven't been to in a while. We never finished the tour when Kelly got injured, so we haven't done a full national tour since 2013 when we went out with Ghost. And we haven't been to Europe since 2012, so it's been a while. We can't wait to get started."

Tracklisting:

“Mother Kiev”
“The Rose”
“The Dancer”
“Raft Of Medusa”
“Heroine’s Descent”
“Swan Diver”
“The Last Siren”
“Zohra”
“She Has A Secret”
“Queen Of New Orleans”

“Heroine’s Descent”:

SLAYER frontman Tom Araya says that the United States Of America has become "a nation of crybabies" following the election of Donald Trump as president, with many of its citizens unable to "even laugh at themselves" because they are "mad" that "they didn't get their way."

Araya drew criticism from some SLAYER fans in January when a photoshopped picture of Donald Trump and the members of SLAYER appeared on their Instagram account. Araya posted the image and later criticized fans who objected to the photo, saying that he "thought it was funny" and that anyone who disagrees should keep quiet.

The same image first appeared on the official SLAYER Instagram account on inauguration day, but was mysteriously removed before being reposted a few days later.

A SLAYER band representative told Rolling Stone that Tom took it upon himself to post the photo and stressed that the image was "not something the band would have posted if asked," insisting that such a picture "does not belong on a SLAYER social page." The representative added: "We all have our personal opinions, some of which we have voiced in the past, but SLAYER has never endorsed any political party or any candidate, and the band intends to keep it that way." SLAYER guitarist Kerry King also chimed in via his wife's Instagram account, saying that "my opinion is that our war of words should be with people who don't believe what SLAYER is about. NOT with our own fan base."

Now, in a brand new interview with the Chilean radio station Futuro, Araya spoke out about the controversy surrounding his decision to post the Trump photo, saying that he was "taken aback by the response" to the image and insisting that he "didn't realize that [he] was gonna piss so many SLAYER fans off."

Referring to the public outcry that following his Instagram post, Tom said (hear audio below): "That's what America has become. It's become a bunch of people that… because they didn't get their way, they're mad. I shared a picture that I thought was funny. They can't even joke. They can't even laugh at themselves. They can't even have fun. And that just is amazing that it's come to that. We're a nation of crybabies. [Laughs]"

Regarding how he came to post the picture in the first place, Araya said: "Someone has sent it to my wife on her page. She showed it to me. I laughed. I thought it was funny. And I thought it was funny because of all the rhetoric that Donald Trump is getting and how everybody hates him. And I decided to post the picture. I knew that some people wouldn't like it. You have to do that, though, you know what I mean? I'm in SLAYER [laughs], and being in SLAYER, sometimes you do stuff like that just to piss people off. [Laughs]"

Even though Araya expected to get some flak for posting the Trump photo, the ferocity of the reaction from SLAYER fans surprised him. "I didn't realize it was gonna be the way it was, which is blown out of proportion and people saying really mean things," he said. "I'm amazed. I was just amazed at the response, as far as people thinking it's funny and they thought it was great and they support Trump, and other people that didn't like it, they thought it was ugly and they can't believe that I support Trump. [Laughs] I don't even support Trump. I didn't vote for Trump and I didn't vote for Hillary [Clinton]. Those are two people that are the furthest from… that I would ever vote for. I was taken aback by the response and how people reacted. But it was all in fun. It was all to make people laugh, 'cause I thought it was funny. And also to piss some people off. I just didn't realize that I was gonna piss so many SLAYER fans off. [Laughs]"

Araya also talked about the left-right division in American politics and how it has created a real resentment on the part frustrated citizens who see their government not being efficient or effective. "It's not only America, man," he said. "I think it's all over the world. People are just fed up. The world is fed up with the nonsense and the bureaucratic bullshit that exists, that runs and controls our lives. Everybody! Here in America, we're able to express it without any repercussions. But [it's happening] in the world in general, everywhere. Some places, people have have had enough. Everyone has had enough. They wanna be able to speak; some of these countries don't allow that. The experience that went on in Chile about that — people trying to express themselves, and that was a bad time in Chile. Now it's the whole world; the whole word is doing that. And that's not good. It's a time of people rising up and it can be dangerous for some people."

SLAYER drummer Paul Bostaph last year called Donald Trump "the biggest joke I've ever seen in my life," and referred to some of Trump's rhetoric as "the scariest shit I've ever seen as an American — in my lifetime." Similarly, SLAYER guitarist Kerry King said that Trump was "the biggest liar I've ever seen in politics," clarifying, "I mean, most of them are liars, but he just outright in-your-face lies." King's words were echoed by his SLAYER bandmate Gary Holt who described Trump as a "serial liar" who refused to disavow former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke.

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A new trailer for "Addicted To Porn: Chasing The Cardboard Butterfly", the documentary which takes a sobering look at the impact pornography addiction is having on the individual and on cultures around the world, can be seen below.

Narrated by METALLICA's James Hetfield, "Addicted To Porn: Chasing The Cardboard Butterfly" is the fifth feature-length film, and fourth documentary, from writer-director Justin Hunt, who previously interviewed Hetfield for his award-winning documentary "Absent", exploring the worldwide crisis of absent and disengaged fathers and the negative impact that the "father wound" makes on society.

In "Addicted To Porn: Chasing The Cardboard Butterfly", Hunt dissects the impact of pornography on societies around the globe, from how it affects the brain of the individual, to how modern technology leads to greater exposure to youth, to watching it tear a family apart. In what may well be one of the most devastating issues in modern culture, this film breaks down the damage that porn is doing to us a human race and leave you thinking that it's clearly time that we start taking porn addiction much more seriously.

Beginning with a brief history of sexuality in human beings and continuing on with how it affects the human brain, how modern technology, coupled with a lack of public education, is exposing youth to a level of sexuality that they're not prepared for, this film opens up audiences' minds to an entirely new perspective on what porn does to the individual, the family and society as a whole. With some of the world's leading minds on the issue, this film is an authentic undertaking aimed at exposing people to the dangers of porn and the cycle of shame that can keep people addicted for a lifetime.

"Addicted To Porn: Chasing The Cardboard Butterfly" is being released tomorrow (Tuesday, April 18) via Amazon, iTunes, Vimeo and numerous cable networks in the U.S. and Canada.

For more information, visit www.atpdoc.com.

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine and VIMIC, the new band featuring former SLIPKNOT drummer Joey Jordison, have both shared photos on social media of Dave and Joey at a Nashville studio, leading to speculation that Mustaine will make a guest appearance on VIMIC's upcoming debut album.

VIMIC in February postponed its previously announced European tour so that the group could finish work on its first full-length disc, to be released later this year. "Open Your Omen", is described in a press release as "quite possibly the biggest triumph of Jordison's illustrious career."

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

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's "Alive Or Just Breathing" (Roadrunner) was released on May 21, 2002 and has since secured its reputation as a modern classic, as noted by its election to Decibel's elite Hall Of Fame canon. The record celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. The band, which released its most recent album, "Incarnate", in March 2016, is commemorating the occasion with an 180-gram black vinyl version of the album that drops on May 12. Fans can pre-order the vinyl here; there are 15-year anniversary merch bundles also on sale. Additionally, a limited-release beer, cleverly dubbed "Alive Or Just Brewing", will be released in conjunction with the vinyl. The beer is available in select markets, including Tampa, New York City, and the Cigar City Brewing Tasting Room. More info can be found here. KILLSWITCH ENGAGE is scheduled to play The Paramount Theatre on May 5 in Long Island, New York as part of "The Killthrax Tour", a co-headlining bill with ANTHRAX that also features THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA and CODE ORANGE as support. The vinyl will be available for purchase on tour beginning that evening. Also, the "Alive Or Just Brewing" beer will be on tap for the show so fans can properly celebrate the anniversary and Cinco de Mayo. The "Alive Or Just Brewing" bottle features the signature artwork of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE bassist Mike D'Antonio on the label. The beer is a New England-style IPA, is loaded with Citra, Mosaic, Motueka and Neslon Sauvin hops, and uses white wheat and flaked oats to add additional body and a slight haziness resulting in a full, juicy hop experience. What better beer style to celebrate the New England band's aggressive and innovative brand of metal than an aggressive and innovative take on a New England-style IPA.

Fan-filmed video footage of GHOST's entire April 5 concert at E-Werk in Köln (Cologne), Germany can be seen below.

Featured songs:

02:10 Square Hammer06:16 From The Pinnacle To The Pit10:12 Secular Haze15:31 Con Clavi Con Dio19:24 Per Aspera Ad Inferi23:30 Papa Talks To The Crowd27:14 Body And Blood30:58 Devil's Church (Short Intro/Song)33:15 Cirice39:10 Year Zero44:45 He Is48:58 Absolution55:12 Mummy Dust59:25 Ghuleh / Zombie Queen1:07:10 Ritual1:18:04 Monstrance Clock

As previously reported, GHOST frontman and founder Tobias Forge, who performs as Papa Emeritus, is being sued by four ex-members of the group. The quartet of former Nameless Ghouls have accused Forge of cheating them out of their rightful share of the profits from the group’s album releases and world tours.

The lawsuit, filed in the district court of Linköping, Sweden, where GHOST was originally based, claims that Forge solely controlled the band’s business affairs without input from anyone else in the group, while also carrying out management duties. The four musicians are asking the court to order Forge to disclose GHOST's revenues and expenses for the financial years 2011 to 2016 and reveal the company's assets as of December 31, 2016.

If Forge fails to act as ordered, the musicians are asking the court to force Forge to pay a penalty of approximately $22,000 or an amount that the court considers reasonable.

The lawsuit alleges that Forge has been collecting all revenues from sales of the band's merchandise and recordings since the band was formed in 2010, and has insisted that the "company" was not yet profitable while at the same time refusing to disclose financial statements.

The situation became dire in 2012, when the band members did not receive any compensation at all. Forge was finally pressured to pay them, which he did only sporadically while still claiming that the band was broke.

The four musicians were offered two separate contract proposals by Forge in 2016, which they rejected as "slave agreements." That may have led to Forge's wholesale firing of the band at the end of 2016.

The new lineup of GHOST is rumored to include musicians who have previously played with THE SISTERS OF MERCY, KORN, PENDRAGON and BLOODBATH.

Since the musicians wear masks and are only identified as Nameless Ghouls, personnel changes in the group over its seven-year existence have gone unannounced.

Forge writes almost all of the group's music and does most of the act's interviews disguised as a Nameless Ghoul.

Asked for his reaction to the lawsuit by Swedish outlet Corren, Forge said: "I can't comment on it because it is a legal process. The lawsuit will be answered fairly soon by my legal counsel."

A PERFECT CIRCLE guitarist Billy Howerdel has told The Salt Lake Tribune in a new interview that the band's first new album in 14 years will arrive possibly by this November, but next spring at the latest. Howerdel said: "In a perfect world for me, I would make an album, tour, take a break, make an album, tour. But there's costs to that, too. There's a benefit to having an appetite out there when we haven't been out in a while, and it makes us approach things a little differently. It's just like saying, 'Would you like to eat something delicious every day?' You'd be like, 'Yeah, of course,' but if you don't, you're really going to appreciate it when you get it."

Howerdel added that he began writing music for a new A PERFECT CIRCLE album several years ago and "started peppering [singer Maynard James Keenan] with songs as early as, I'd say, maybe 2010."

The guitarist explained that a new A PERFECT CIRCLE record would have arrived much sooner had he not been forced to work around his singer's timetable. "I've always been there, ready for Maynard to get a window in his schedule," he said. "The bottom line is, if you know anything about him, then you'll know that … many things take his attention. He's owns a winery, he's also a father and a husband, he's got three bands. Finding that window to put a tour together is not something you can do in a whim or just do on a month's notice. You need planning, you need notice a year in advance to start chipping away at the schedule."

Last month, A PERFECT CIRCLE announced that it had signed a new worldwide recording deal with BMG Music.

The group, which toured in 2010 and 2011, launched its first full-fledged tour in six years on April 6 in Las Vegas. The schedule will include several festivals in late April and early May, closing at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on May 7.

Original ANVIL member Dave Allison (guitar) rejoined his former bandmates on stage this past Saturday, April 15 at Red Dog in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada to perform three songs: "Metal On Metal", "Forged In Fire" and a cover version of "Born To Be Wild". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below (courtesy of Scotty Flamingo).

After Allison and original ANVIL bassist Ian Dickson came up on stage for the first time since 1989 at ANVIL's July 2016 concert in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, ANVIL drummer Robb Reiner told Planet Mosh TV: "Yeah, it was the first time in 20-odd years that the four original boys were hanging out at the same time. It was great. Dave got on the Internet recently. He discovered smart phones and all of this stuff, so he got on Facebook so he's been following ANVIL. Next thing you know, he wanted to come and see the band. In that process, we phoned up Ian and told him, 'Hey, man, why don't you come and hang out with us since Dave is coming out?' We didn't jam onstage. They came onstage and sang 'Metal On Metal'. It was a good time. Dave's been out of the business since back whenever… like 1984. He's been out of it since then. Ian, he plays weekends in some band, like a hobby. That's about all I know. We were talking about doing this '1-2-3' tour where we'd have the original guys and do all of the stuff from the first three albums. It's a good idea to do it for the fans where we play five songs from each album. We still might do it. The original guys… I don't know. I don't know if Dave is ever going to be up to it as a musician. I don't know if he's got it. He's not in game shape."

Reiner and ANVIL guitarist/vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow recently confirmed that they are "about halfway through" filming their next documentary project. They also revealed that they have written "six new songs" for ANVIL's follow-up to "Anvil Is Anvil" album, which came out in February 2016 worldwide (excluding Japan) via SPV/Steamhammer. "We're gonna try to record it next summer," said Robb.

ANVIL's first documentary, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil", was named one of 2009's best documentaries by a slew of film critics associations across the continent. The directorial debut of screenwriter Sacha Gervasi ("The Terminal"), it followed ANVIL on a thirty-year quest for rock-stardom and it featured interviews with longtime fans and many of the band's successful peers, all of whom seemed equally puzzled by ANVIL's lack of fame and fortune.

Photo credit: Scotty Flamingo

Terry Ilous, lead singer for the band GREAT WHITE and founder of '80s metal band XYZ, will release his third solo venture, "Gypsy Dreams", on Friday, April 28.

A video trailer for the album is available below.

Ilous relocated to Hollywood, California from Lyon, France in 1986, forming the metal band XYZ along with friend and bassist Pat Fontaine. Ilous quickly became a favorite on Sunset Strip scene in the late '80s before getting signed to Enigma/Capitol. After selling over 1.5 million records worldwide and touring with artists such as FOREIGNER and ALICE COOPER, Ilous has continued to release albums well into the 2000s, along with film, songwriting and television work.

In 2009, Terry was contacted to play a handful of dates with multi-platinum recording artists GREAT WHITE, who are one of the few bands of that era to still be consistently touring to sold-out shows. In 2011, the lineup was made official and GREAT WHITE immediately headed out on an extensive year-long tour followed by a new album in 2012 that was highly praised by the media and fans alike, with the song "Hard To Say Goodbye" reaching No. 8 on the radio chart.

A cover album of classic rock and hard rock favorites with a Latin and flamenco edge, "Gypsy Dreams" features an amazing cast of L.A.-based artists, including Luis Villegas (Grammy-nominated artist) on guitar, Jose Garcia (vocalist, renowned flamenco guitarist) on guitar, Chris Trujillo (former percussionist for TOTO, BLACK CROWES) on drums/percussion, Al Velasquez (BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY, Michael McDonald, Albert Lee) on drums/percussion, Mike Paganini (renowned session player, bassist) on bass, Ben Woods (renowned flamenco guitarist) on guitar, Mike Bennett (Alicia Keys, Pitbull, Richie Kotzen) on drums/percussion, Jesse Stern (George Clinton, Chad Smith) on bass and Natalie Gelman (singer/songwriter) on background vocals. Terry states: "This album is just the start in a series of different projects I have in mind for the future.

"I decided to start with covers of familiar and rock favorites to introduce the Latin/flamenco rock sound to my audience, and I plan to start up a series of intimate club shows reminiscent of close-knit Latin and gypsy gatherings."

Terry on recording "Long Train Running": "In the late '80s, I would warm up with 'Long Train Running' while on the road with XYZ; and for years I wanted to record the song with more of a Latin edge." Terry on recording "Heaven And Hell": "[Ronnie James] Dio was arguably one of the biggest inspirations in music. And this is one of the songs that really influenced my decision in making this album."

He adds: "This has been a long road, but the final tracks sound truly amazing, and are definitely worth the wait.

"I thank all my fans and band for being a part of this journey and for all your support along the way. I couldn't have done it without each and every one of you." "Gypsy Dreams" track listing: 01. Whole Lotta Love (LED ZEPPELIN)02. Boys Of Summer (DON HENLEY)03. In Your Eyes (PETER GABRIEL)04. Long Train Running (THE DOOBIE BROTHERS)05. Wicked Game (CHRIS ISAAK)06. Heaven And Hell (BLACK SABBATH) 07. Ride Like The Wind (CHRISTOPHER CROSS)08. Love Bites (DEF LEPPARD)09. Kill The King (RAINBOW) Featured musicians:

Terry Ilous - VocalsLuis Villegas - GuitarJose Garcia - GuitarMike Paganini - BassMike Bennett - BassBen Woods - GuitarJesse Stern - Drums/PercussionChris Trujillo - Drums/PercussionAl Velasquez - Drums/PercussionNatalie Gelman - Background Vocals

"Gypsy Dreams" will be released Friday, April 28 via digital format on iTunes.

The physical copy will arrive in May 2017 on Ilous's private label, Fyco Records.

Secret Sphere's ninth studio album, The Nature Of Time, will be released on June 2nd. Watch a video for the new song “The Calling”, available for streaming below.

The new recording celebrates 20 years of hard work that started back in 1997 with the release of the band's widely praised debut album, Mistress Of The Shadowlight. Since then, Secret Sphere has evolved and developed their unique style into what has become a trademark sound, making them one of an elite group of bands putting the Italian metal scene on the global map. The addition of extraordinary singer Michele Luppi (also currently serving as keyboardist and background vocalist for the legendary hard rock act, Whitesnake) in 2012 brought the band to the next level. This was evidenced by his first release with the band, Portrait Of A Dying Heart, receiving wide fan and critical acclaim and landing on many metal journalists best releases of 2012 lists.

The new album, The Nature Of Time, proves to be the ultimate showcase of the band's skill in composing highly orchestrated songs and introducing their foray into a new age of heavy rock and metal music. High class songs with amazing choruses, big vocals, majestic orchestral arrangements, and amazing, mind-blowing, guitar heroics are the order of the day.

The Nature Of Time explores the "back to life" concept, an inward looking search of the self that can positively impact everyone's everyday life.

"The long writing process of this album has been a constant "re-living" of memories and feelings, that started with only instrumental pieces that were put together only in order to vent my then current state of mind: a way to express emotions purely, without any kind of "holding back," so to speak. I then talked to Michele and we decided these were the perfect basis for a new Secret Sphere record," states guitarist Aldo Lonobile.

"What can I say about this album? We spent a few months writing songs in a way that opened the doors to our new age of heavy rock... definitely a new beginning for each member of the band, a new approach that got inspired by the concept of the album itself. It's not easy to open and talk about love and kindness. We chose the most direct way, no masks, only passion, energy and light guided each note leaving any kind of fear behind. Eventually, with time, we became US, not individuals...THIS IS US. Some of these songs earned a very special place in my heart," concludes singer Michele Luppi.

The Nature Of Time tracklisting:

Chapter I - Genesis
“Intermission”
“The Calling”

Chapter II - The Seven Virtues
“Love”
“Courage”
“Kindness”
“Honesty”
“Faith”
“Reliance”
“Commitment”

Chapter III - The New Dawn
“The Awakening”

Chapter IV - The Way
“The New Beginning”

“The Calling” video:

Secret Sphere lineup:

Michele Luppi - Vocals
Aldo Lonobile - Guitars
Andrea Buratto - Bass
Gabriele Ciaccia - Keyboards
Marco Lazzarini - Drums

Metallica performed their classic track, “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, during their show at Foro Sol in Mexico City, Mexico on March 3rd. Pro-shot video of the performance can be seen below:

Footage of the band performing “Ride The Lightning” at the same venue on March 5th can be seen below:

Watch video of Metallica performing the Hardwired… To Self-Destruct album track, “Moth Into Flame”, on April 1st in Santiago, Chile:

Metallica’s next concert is scheduled for May 10th a M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The band’s complete live schedule can be found at this location.

SOUNDGARDEN's Chris Cornell spoke to The Pulse Of Radio last week about the status of the band's next studio album. "[I'm] not really sure," he said. "I mean, I think we're kind of halfway through. We haven't really recorded anything, so we're just sort of working on ideas. I think we have about half the songs we need for an album. But you never know. We tend to make pretty long albums. At some point when we feel like we're done, five more songs show up at the doorstep."

Guitarist Kim Thayil was also asked about the new SOUNDGARDEN album by Philadelphia radio station WMMR, to which he replied: "There's some things that have been documented in rehearsal, there's some things that are at the demo stage, there are some that are still in the developmental stage, ideas that we jammed on that we're kind of working out arrangements for. Every different stage within the process of songwriting is being addressed at this point."

Cornell told The Pulse Of Radio that the band should get into the studio "sometime" this year.

Work on SOUNDGARDEN's seventh studio effort started in 2015, but the band took breaks while Cornell toured his "Higher Truth" solo set and drummer Matt Cameron hit the road with PEARL JAM.

SOUNDGARDEN reunited in 2010 after a 13-year hiatus, first touring and then writing and recording "King Animal", its first new studio album in 16 years.

The band will kick off a North American tour on May 3 in Atlanta, winding down on May 27 at the Rocklahoma festival in Pryor, Oklahoma.

Support on selected dates will come from THE PRETTY RECKLESS and THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN. This will be SOUNDGARDEN's first trek since a summer 2014 co-headlining run with NINE INCH NAILS.

DISTURBED bassist John Moyer spoke to Metal Wani about the band's plan to release a new acoustic record which will include brand new material as well as reworked versions of songs from the group's catalog.

According to Moyer, an acoustic EP now could capitalize on the success DISTURBED has had with its cover of SIMON & GARFUNKEL's "The Sound Of Silence", which has been a massive hit that has introduced the band to new audiences. "With the success of 'The Sound Of Silence', it seems like now is a good time to kind of… We've always talked about it, but now seems like the best time to go down that road and explore it," he said.

Singer David Draiman revealed in February that DISTURBED's acoustic EP will be released before the band begins work on the follow-up to 2015's "Immortalized" album.

Prior to the arrival of "Immortalized", DISTURBED had been on hiatus since the fall of 2011, after completing the touring cycle for its previous studio effort, "Asylum", and issuing a rarities collection called "The Lost Children".

Asked if it will take DISTURBED another four years to release its next studio album, Moyer told Metal Wani: "No, no. I'm not really sure what the time [frame] is, but I'm sure it will be less than four years. DISTURBED will be back out with a new record probably by 2019, but who knows? There's no plans to take a hiatus like we did previously."

Moyer also said that DISTURBED's next album will likely contain similar musical elements to the band's first six efforts while dipping into some new territory. "Even the last album had a lot of moments of aggression and melody," he explained. "The band's always gonna have that vibe. I expect DISTURBED to explore new avenues and always push themselves and evolve, but at its core, you're gonna have a band that plays heavy riffs with heavy emotion."

"Immortalized" became DISTURBED's fifth album to enter The Billboard 200 chart at No. 1 — a feat shared only with METALLICA and DAVE MATTHEWS BAND.

Moyer is currently on the road with ART OF ANARCHY, which also features CREED singer Scott Stapp, ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and brothers Jon and Vince Votta on guitar and drums.

ART OF ANARCHY issued its sophomore album, "The Madness", on March 24.

METALLICA frontman James Hetfield was interviewed by Radio Futuro before the band's April 1 concert at Lollapalooza Chile in Santiago. You can now watch the chat below.

Speaking about METALLICA's willingness to constantly take chances with its music and other projects, Hetfield said: "At the end of the day, we are artists and we love creating art that we like, and the songs and the artwork and the logos and t-shirts — everything. We are very blessed to be able to be in a position of doing whatever we want as an artist. But I think that honesty is very important for the integrity of the music, integrity of all of METALLICA. I think the fans really enjoy the fact that we write music that we want to hear. And it's simple — we keep it simple that way. And the fans will come, if you're honest about your art."

Hetfield also talked about the success of METALLICA's latest album, 2016's "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct". He said: "[I'm] very surprised — very surprised that, after 36 years, an album like this is important to people. It's a surprise still; it blows my mind that after this long, people are enjoying our music. It's as simple as that. We will continue to make music, play shows and do what we need to do as people. METALLICA helps us stay alive, and the fact that we're gonna be on tour for another two and a half years, it's exciting."

The North American leg of METALLICA's "WorldWired" 2017 tour kicks off in Baltimore and will hit stadiums in 25 cities before winding down in mid-August. Support on the quartet's first North American trek since 2009 will come 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.

Legendary British guitarist and composer Allan Holdsworth has died at the age of 70.

In a short statement his daughter Louise said on Facebook: "It is with heavy hearts that we notify everyone of the passing of our beloved father. We would appreciate privacy and time while we grieve the loss of our dad, grandad, friend and musical genius. We will update close friends and family when service arrangements have been made and will notify the public of an open memorial service, which all would be welcome. We are undeniably still in shock with his unexpected death and cannot begin to put into words the overwhelming sadness we are experiencing. He is missed tremendously. Louise, Sam, Emily & Rori."

Holdsworth, born in Bradford, England in 1946, embarked on a solo career as composer and bandleader exclusively in 1979. Holdsworth’s career as producer, bandleader, and lead composer is documented in a new box set called The Man Who Changed Guitar Forever, featuring a 28-track selection of favorites on his label Eidolon Efformation featuring material from 1982 through 2003.
 
Holdsworth has been recognized by many of the world’s most accomplished and unique rock and jazz guitar virtuosos. Luminaries including Eddie Van Halen, Carlos Santana, Frank Zappa, Pat Metheny, John McLaughlin, Joe Satriani, Tom Morello universally expressed reverence and astonishment at Holdsworth’s pioneering approach to his playing and vast vocabulary of “uncommon” chord voicings.
 
He further expanded the guitar’s orchestral potential with a range of electronic effects, then moved on to become one of the early innovators of guitar-based synthesizer controllers. In the nearly five decades Holdsworth has been touring, collaborating, and recording, he has created an immense sonic and musical legacy.
 
In the ‘70s he played with legendary Miles Davis drummer, Tony Williams and Cream bassist Jack Bruce as the band Lifetime, and toured with Soft Machine. He worked with former Yes and King Crimson drummer, Bill Bruford’s first solo project, Feels Good To Me, and subsequent recordings with Jean-Luc Ponty, and Gong. Bruford suggested Allan for the progressive-rock “supergroup,” U.K., which, along with Bruford, also featured John Wetton and Eddie Jobson.
 

Members of DREAM THEATER, WHITESNAKE, LIVING COLOUR, JOURNEY and ARCH ENEMY are among the rock musicians and scores of other artists who reacted on social media to the passing of the groundbreaking British guitarist Allan Holdsworth.

The news of Holdsworth's death was broken by his daughter's Louise on her Facebook page earlier this evening. In a short statement, she said: "It is with heavy hearts that we notify everyone of the passing of our beloved father. We would appreciate privacy and time while we grieve the loss of our dad, grandad, friend and musical genius. We will update close friends and family when service arrangements have been made and will notify the public of an open memorial service, which all would be welcome. We are undeniably still in shock with his unexpected death and cannot begin to put into words the overwhelming sadness we are experiencing. He is missed tremendously. Louise, Sam, Emily & Rori."

Holdsworth released twelve studio albums as a solo artist and played a variety of musical styles spanning a period of more than four decades, but is best known for his work in jazz fusion.

Holdsworth has been cited as an influence by such renowned rock, metal and jazz guitarists as Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Greg Howe, Richie Kotzen, John Petrucci, Alex Lifeson, Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Romeo and Tom Morello.

Holdsworth was working on a new solo album at the time of his death.

Devastated to hear of the passing of a legend! RIP Allan Holdsworth

— Richie Kotzen (@Richie_Kotzen) April 16, 2017

F*ck!!!!! RIP Allan Holdsworth....One of the all-time greats and innovators...no Holdsworth = no Eddie Van Halen #UK #OneOfAKind pic.twitter.com/xXuPwb8ctn

— Mike Portnoy 🤘 (@MikePortnoy) April 16, 2017

R.I.P. Allan Holdsworth. pic.twitter.com/ubyzaV6JXH

— Michael Amott (@Michael_Amott) April 16, 2017

I'm very saddened to hear about the death of Allan Holdsworth today. He was a huge influence on my playing as... https://t.co/gUzIYxlEjd

— John Petrucci (@JPetrucci) April 16, 2017

I cant believe it! Allan Holdsworth, legendary guitarist of our generation !He changed the game + was the sweetest guy ever... RIP

— Steve Lukather (@stevelukather) April 16, 2017

Wow, just heard that Allan Holdsworth passed away. Another one of the greats is gone. RIP

— Gus G. (@gusgofficial) April 16, 2017

Rest in peace, my brother Allan pic.twitter.com/drfLxTCev1

— Tony MacAlpine (@tonymacalpine) April 16, 2017

Very sad to hear about the loss of Allan Holdsworth. We were just at NAMM together for ISP! A brilliant guitarist & innovator. God Bless you

— MichaelSweet Stryper (@michaelhsweet) April 16, 2017

Alan Holdsworth...RIP...Stunning Guitarist. Thoughts & Prayers To His Family, Friends & Fans... pic.twitter.com/tTDmObQwun

— David Coverdale (@davidcoverdale) April 16, 2017

RIP Allan Holdsworth 🙏🏾 Wow... how very sad. Enjoy life it's been 2 very heavy years✝️... God Bless https://t.co/SUnlOhACmT

— Neal Schon (@NealSchonMusic) April 16, 2017

Music legend Iggy Pop is streaming a new single, "Asshole Blues", which debuted via Rolling Stone. It will be available on April 21st as part of a flexi-disc series on Jacuzzi Boys' Mag Mag label.

Eagle Rock Entertainment released Iggy Pop’s Post Pop Depression: Live At The Royal Albert Hall on DVD+2CD and Digital Formats on October 28th, 2016. This film captures a critically acclaimed concert that is a much-anticipated release for Iggy Pop fans.

Post Pop Depression: Live At The Royal Albert Hall features tracks primarily from The Idiot, Lust For Life and Post Pop Depression. The Post Pop Depression album, a collaboration with co-writer and producer Joshua Homme from Queens Of The Stone Age, is one of his most critically acclaimed and commercially successful album for many years.

On May 13th, 2016, Iggy Pop brought his Post Pop Depression live show to London’s revered Royal Albert Hall and almost tore the roof off! As reviewed by the Telegraph, “I have been going to gigs for a very long time and that was one of the best I have ever seen.”

With a backing band including Joshua Homme, Dean Fertita, and Troy Van Leeuwen from Queens Of The Stone Age, Matt Helders from the Arctic Monkeys, and guitarist Matt Sweeney, Iggy delivered a set focused almost entirely on the new album plus his two classic David Bowie collaboration albums from 1977, The Idiot and Lust For Life.

Post Pop Depression: Live At The Royal Albert Hall will definitely be remembered as one of Iggy Pop’s finest concerts.

Tracklisting:

“Lust For Life”
“Sister Midnight”
“American Valhalla”
“Sixteen”
“In The Lobby”
“Some Weird Sin”
“Funtime”
“Tonight”
“Sunday”
“German Days”
“Mass Production”
“Nightclubbing”
“Gardenia”
“The Passenger”
“China Girl”
“Break Into Your Heart”
“Fall In Love With Me”
“Repo Man”
“Baby”
“Chocolate Drops”
“Paraguay”
“Success”

“The Passenger”:

Veteran Dutch extreme metallers PESTILENCE have recruited Slovenian bassist Tilen Hudrap (VICIOUS RUMORS, PARADOX, THRAW) for their upcoming studio album, "Hadeon", and accompanying world tour.

An audio clip of Hudrap playing the new PESTILENCE song "Discarnate Entity" — which will appear on "Hadeon" — can be streamed below.

PESTILENCE has just inked a deal with Hammerheart Records. The band will enter the studio in June to begin recording "Hadeon" for a late 2017 release.

Hammerheart has also come to an agreement on the PESTILENCE back catalog, but plans are still in the works to get all details finalized concerning these essential recordings ("Malleus Maleficarum", "Consuming Impulse", "Testimony Of The Ancients" and "Spheres"). It is hoped that those records will be reissued as deluxe 2-CDs and LPs later this year 2017.

Joining Hudrap and vocalist/guitarist Patrick Mameli in the band's current lineup are Santiago Dobles (AGHORA) on lead guitar and Septimiu Hărşan (DISAVOWED) on drums.

In July 2014, Mameli announced that PESTILENCE was "on a permanent hold" while he concentrated fully on his new NEUROMORPH project, which he said would be "more brutal, more crazy, more tech, more futuristic and more death" than his longtime outfit.

PESTILENCE's seventh album, "Obsideo", was released in November 2013 via Candlelight Records. The CD was produced by Mameli and featured ten new songs. According to Mameli, the album's overall lyrical theme was "the journey of the human soul."

Photo credit: Dominika Torkar




Our new bassplayer Tilen plays Discarnate Entity, new track on the upcoming new Pestilence album called HADEON🤘

Posted by Patrizio Marco Giovanni Mameli on Saturday, April 15, 2017

EYEHATEGOD frontman Mike IX Williams made his triumphant return to the stage this weekend following a successful liver transplant this past December. Williams, who hadn't performed live in a year, made his 2017 stage debut on April 14 at this year's Berserker Fest in Pontiac, Michigan. From there, the band hit Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for a performance last night (April 15) at First Unitarian Church.

Fan-filmed video footage of the entire Philadelphia concert can be seen below.

Williams recently said it was "totally strange" seeing Philip Anselmo (PANTERA, DOWN) and Randy Blythe (LAMB OF GOD) sing for EYEHATEGOD while he recovered from his liver transplant.

He underwent the successful surgery last year after fans pledged more than $50,000 thanks to a crowdfunding drive.

Williams told Clrvynt: "The idea to get Philip to sing was my idea, and the idea to get Randy was also mine. I didn't want to cancel that DISCHARGE tour.

"This is my band, and whether I'm there or not, I want to do it. It's always gonna be part of me. So, when I found out I was absolutely too sick, we had already had Philip do some shows, so we got Randy to do some others.

"I just didn't want to cancel and let down more people. They at least got to see EYEHATEGOD, even if it was a different version of the band."

He continued: "It's just another part of this situation. Shit happens. I just wanted the band to go on.

"It was crazy to watch — totally strange to watch somebody in my spot onstage — but it's another part of the game and another chapter in this weird band that I'm in. It's life."

EYEHATEGOD continues to deafen the masses in support of its self-titled LP which dropped in 2014 via Housecore Records, breaking the band's decade-and-a-half gap since their prior full-length and marking the most successful release of the band's storied history.

Having helped define the "NOLA sound" with their signature down-tuned, blues-inflected guitars awash in furious distortion, underpinning the tormented screams of Mike IX Williams over a thundering rhythm section, EYEHATEGOD re-emerged stronger and more determined than ever before.

EYEHATEGOD personifies desperation and addiction in the various backwaters of forgotten America, punctuated by the "N'awlins" sound of rebellion and pollution resulting in triumph over adversity. The band will be celebrating its thirtieth anniversary next year. Stay tuned for special releases to be announced in the future.

Broken Teeth, led by former Dangerous Toys frontman Jason McMaster, will release their new album 4 On The Floor, on April 21st via EMP Label Group; pre-orders can be placed now at this location. 

Twenty years after seizing power in Austin, Texas, rock-roll battering squad Broken Teeth throw it's hardest punch ever after signing with Megadeth bassist David Ellefson and former Corporate Punishment President Thom Hazaert at their powerhouse EMP Label Group.

"I've had my eyes and ears on Broken Teeth for a few years now and have a history with singer Jason McMaster," Ellefson said. "It was only a matter of time until I found a way to partner with them. Given their reputation as a crushing live act, along with their previous string of classic, underground hard-rock albums, I couldn't be more proud to welcome Broken Teeth to the EMP family and help them share their music with an even wider audience."

Once described as "a pissed-off AC/DC," Broken Teeth has evolved into a hard-rock / heavy metal bomb blast built on the swaggering boogie of bad-boy blues. Not surprisingly, 4 On The Floor continues the band's gritty legacy with odes to the rebellious, forbidden love of rock-n-roll (the slow-stomping "Sinful"); standing proud as a loner (the riotous burner, "House Of Damnation"); life on the rock-n-roll highway to hell (the bluesy shuffle of "Borrowed Time"); and the ultimate salute to legendary Motorhead mainman, Lemmy Kilmister (the appropriately rollicking "Never Dead", which was written before Lemmy's passing). "We don't really do tributes, but Lemmy and the kind of rock-n-roll he did is what we're all about," said Broken Teeth guitarist Jared Tuten. "It just felt right for Broken Teeth to immortalize him forever."

Tracklisting:

"4 On The Floor"
"Sinful"
"All Or Nothin'"
"Getcha' Some"
"Borrowed Time (W.O.M.G.)"
"House Of Damnation"
"Let The War Machine Roll"
"Never Dead"
"All Day Sucker"
"Rock Bottom"

Broken Teeth is:

Jason McMaster - vocals
Jared Tuten - guitar
Bruce Rivers - drums
David Beeson - guitar
Robb Lampman - bass

For further details, visit Broken Teeth on Facebook and at their official website.

 

Saigon Kick guitarist Jason Bieler has released another new song via his Owl Stretching side-project. He has posted the following update:

"Just finished this new song/draft which is a warbling post apocalyptic unrequited love tragedy in waltz time... set in a bar in southern California in the mid-70’s. I’m still absorbing it but really feel like there is something to the chorus."

Where Dreams Go To Die by Owl Stretching

Saigon Kick recently updated their live schedule with three shows in Texas over the summer. It is now as follows:

April
28 - The Viper Room - West Hollywood, CA

June
29 - Scout Bar - Houston, TX
30 - Trees - Dallas, TX

July
1 - Fitzgerald's - San Antonio, TX

German/American metallers ACCEPT will release their new studio album, "The Rise Of Chaos", on August 4 via Nuclear Blast. The band will launch the disc on August 3 with special show at the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany. The group's set will consist of three parts: Part one will bring fans a classic ACCEPT set, packed with new and old hits. Part two will present another premiere: Guitarist Wolf Hoffmann will play tracks from his solo album, "Headbangers Symphony", released in 2016, with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra for the very first time. On this record, Wolf covered famous opuses by composers such as Beethoven, Vivaldi and Mozart in a metal guise. And in Part 3, all elements can be seen and heard together: ACCEPT will make the holy Wacken ground shake by sharing the stage with the orchestra, supported by a complex multimedia show.

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

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

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

Hoffmann told Metalholic about ACCEPT's upcoming follow-up to 2014's "Blind Rage" album: "[The band's sound is] not gonna change ever dramatically, because as long as Peter [Baltes, bass] and I sort of write the songs in the way that we do, it's always gonna sound very much like ACCEPT, and it's what we're going for. We don't really ever want any changes. 'Cause we're going for that consistent vibe in our songs. And the best compliment we sometimes give each other is when we finish a song and we say, 'Man, that sounds like 1982 all over again.' 'Cause we don't want it to sound any different at this point. We just want it to sound like it could have been written thirty years ago — only with a modern twist and a modern production and maybe better than ever, but the general vibe shouldn't be any different. We don't really wanna change at this point."

Organizers of the Inferno Metal Festival, which ran from April 12th - 15th in Oslo, Norway, have posted the following message on their official Facebook page:

"We are very sorry that Abbath left the stage after 30 minutes into their show. Of course this has nothing to do with the festival and an official statement will come from the band. We hope you all had a great festival even that the night was cut a bit shorter than expected. Thanks for your understanding!"

Abbath headlined on Saturday, April 15th at Rockefeller, hitting the stage at midnight. Stay tuned for a statement from the band on the reason for their abbreviated set.

Inferno 2017 featured Abbath, Carcass, Gorgoroth, Destruction, Samael, Borknagar, Belphegor, Primordial, Venom Inc, Anaal Nathrakh, Crowbar and many more.

Abbath, the band led by former Immotal frontman Olve Eikemo (aka Abbath), are due to release a new album later this year.

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons was recently interviewed on the "Thunder Underground" podcast. You can now listen to the chat using the SoundCloud widget below.

Asked for his opinion on streaming music services like Spotify, Simmons said: "Good luck to 'em. I am not a supporter. I do believe in free market economy — supply and demand and all that kind of stuff — and I support Taylor Swift and METALLICA and anybody else who doesn't wanna play the game; THE BEATLES didn't wanna play the game for a long time.

"Look, it doesn't affect me," he continued. "I'm a rich bastard. I do well. By some standards, I'm rich and famous and all that stuff. By Warren Buffett standards, I couldn't pick a booger of the floor for him; actually, I can. But it's all relative. However, none of this affects me. It doesn't. I make a living. We have our fans, they show up, that's great. We sell truckloads. We outsell THE BEATLES and Elvis [Presley] on licensing and merchandising combined, as well as any other ten bands put in there. But imagine you're a new band and you have your passion and your music and you really love it, you can't do it. There's nothing else. They can't show up live, because they don't know who you are, so somehow you've gotta get the music out there. But if you wanna earn a living, you can't get the music out there. So you're living in your mother's basement, you have to have a dayjob and the kids get your music for free. 'I'm just promoting my live shows.' It doesn't work. And the people that killed all the new bands are the fans themselves. It wasn't corporate America, it wasn't aliens from space. The people that killed the music they love are the people who love the music."

Simmons went on to say: "Remember, RADIOHEAD put out a record: 'Hey, pay what you wanna pay.' [Editor's note: RADIOHEAD's 'In Rainbows' album was first released in October 2007 as a digital download from the band's web site. Fans were encouraged to 'pay what you wish' — even nothing — and a 'digital tip jar' was set up to collect voluntary payments.] They did it once, didn't they? It doesn't work. Charge people. Make them pay. Make a cross, draw a line in the sand. This is commerce, and that's charity. Once you get your money and all that stuff, then you can decide if you wanna do charity. Or advertise it as charity: 'What I'm about to do? Charity.' But I don't want somebody else deciding when I do charity or how much I'm giving.

"Did you ever heard a freckle-faced kid go, 'Hey, you're too rich. You don't need that money.' Listen, bitch, I didn't ask your opinion. I'll let you know what money I need and what I don't need. I don't need some kid who hasn't wiped his first cumstain off his leg to tell me what I need in my life."

Simmons recently said that he was not interested in producing another KISS studio album "unless and if there's a financial model that works" to make it worthwhile for the band to write and record new music.

KISS's last studio effort, 2012's "Monster", sold 56,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 3 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous disc, "Sonic Boom", opened with 108,000 units back in October 2009 to enter the chart at No. 2. This marked the KISS's highest-charting LP ever.