True-Metal titans Ignitor have released the official video for the title track from their latest album Haunted By Rock & Roll. The video was directed, shot and edited by guitarist Stuart "Batlord" Laurence. The band gives special thanks to Lydia Gallardo (she's the unfortunate lady in the video) and her husband "Hands" Gallardo.

Ignitor released their sixth full length album Haunted By Rock & Roll November 24th, 2017 through EMP Label Group/ArieScope Records. The official video for the title track is the fourth one released from the album, following "Hatchet (The Ballad of Victor Crowley)" "No Sanctuary" and "To Brave The War".

Ignitor will be appearing at Alehorn Of Power X on July 28th at Reggies in Chicago, IL. Chicago's longest-running heavy metal festival, Alehorn Of Power, is now set to bring you its tenth installment.  Since its beginning in 2006, Alehorn Of Power has sought out the best of the heavy metal underground and this year will prove to be no exception.

"Hatchet (The Ballad Of Victor Crowley)" video:

"To Brave The War" video:

"No Sanctuary" video:

Robert Trujillo and Kirk Hammett played a cover version of the ABBA classic "Dancing Queen" during METALLICA's May 7 concert " at Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden. Professionally filmed video footage of their performance can be seen below.

METALLICA played 22 shows in Europe since early February and has another two dates booked between now and mid-May.

METALLICA recently announced the details of the 2018-2019 North American leg of of its "WorldWired" tour in support of the band's latest album, "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct".

The 34-date trek kicks off September 2 in Madison, Wisconsin and runs through March 13 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Each ticket purchase will be accompanied by a physical or digital copy of "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct".

The 2017 dates on the "WorldWired" tour, which included stadium shows across the U.S., grossed $110.3 million in North America and $152.8 million worldwide.

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich said that the band is relishing its staying power now more than ever. "It was, like, 'Holy fuck, people really still care about this band in ways that you stopped taking for granted literally decades ago," he told Rolling Stone. "It was very inspiring and kind of eye-opening... 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."

Trooper beer, the award-winning collaboration between Stockport-based Robinsons Brewery and British music icons IRON MAIDEN, celebrates its fifth birthday today, Wednesday, May 9, 2018.

Since its launch in 2013, the 4.7% ABV premium British beer has sold over 20 million pints, firmly establishing itself as a top 40 U.K. beer brand, whilst becoming a leading player amongst exported British ales, having been sold in over 50 countries worldwide.

The Trooper family has grown to include three limited-edition beers: Trooper 666 in 2015, with an ABV of 6.6%; Red 'N' Black, a porter-style beer launched in 2016; and 2017's Hallowed, a Belgium-inspired hybrid ale.

2018 has also seen the launch of Light Brigade, a 4.1% ABV Golden beer brewed in support of Help For Heroes, the British charity that provides recovery and support for the armed forces community whose lives are affected by their service, which is currently being rolled out across the U.K.

These beers are the brainchild of IRON MAIDEN vocalist and ale aficionado Bruce Dickinson, working in partnership with Robinsons's head brewer, Martyn Weeks.

Dickinson commented: "I'm incredibly proud of the success that Trooper has had, and long may it continue. To sell over 20 million pints in five years is something that we couldn't have imagined when we started out with just the simple plan to make a great session ale that didn't compromise on flavor, and the quality of the end product speaks for itself.

"It has been great fun to work with Robinsons on Trooper and the various limited editions that we have created, each of which have been unique in their own way, and it's exciting to see the reaction that our latest beer, Light Brigade, has had too. I'm delighted that our fans and beer lovers worldwide have enjoyed them so much, and who knows what we will come up with next... Cheers!"

Trooper has won multiple gold medals at the prestigious British Bottlers' Institute Awards, as well as picking up awards at the World Beer Awards, Global Beer Masters and International Beer Challenge.

Oliver Robinson, managing director (beer division) of Robinsons Brewery, added: "The fact that Trooper is celebrating its fifth birthday shows that it isn't just a 'flash in the pan.' Together with Bruce and IRON MAIDEN we have created a globally renowned beer, which continues to venture into new countries (57 and counting!) and allows us to experiment with Trooper limited-edition beers. It's a project that continues to excite everyone at the brewery and I look forward to seeing what Bruce and Martyn are planning for the future!"

To celebrate the fifth birthday, Trooper fans can get their hands on a limited-edition badge at one of 86 stockists across the U.K. Details can be found at www.ironmaidenbeer.com.

METAL CHURCH's cover version of the NAZARETH classic "Please Don't Judas Me" can be streamed below. The song is taken from "Deep Cuts & Rarities", a limited-edition 15-track compilation CD that includes rare unreleased and previously released cover songs which are performed by various artists from the rock and hard rock genres.

Due on Friday, May 18 via Rat Pak Records, "Deep Cuts & Rarities" features mostly classic songs from the '70s and '80s but also includes a solo acoustic version of CAM's "Burning House" performed by SEVENDUST guitarist John Connolly and a recently recorded live version of John Corabi performing THE SCREAM's "Man In The Moon", which was recorded during his "Live 94" tour. Other featured artists on this release include Doug Pinnick (KING'S X), Michael Angelo Batio, Mark Tremonti (ALTER BRIDGE, CREED), Chuck Garric (ALICE COOPER), VIXEN, Dave Rude (TESLA), Kurdt Vanderhoof (METAL CHURCH), LYNCH MOB, PRESTO BALLET, BEASTO BLANCO, Tommy Baldwin, Jeff Plate (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) and Craig Blackwell.

"Deep Cuts & Rarities" features nine unreleased tracks and six previously released tracks.

Track listing:

01. "Barracuda" [HEART] *previously unreleased*

Performed by Todd La Torre (QUEENSRŸCHE) feat. Craig Blackwell

02. "I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You" [ALAN PARSONS PROJECT] *previously unreleased*

Performed by Doug Pinnick (KING'S X) feat. Tommy Baldwin

03. "Burning House" [CAM] *previously unreleased*

Performed by John Connolly (SEVENDUST)

04. "Feed My Frankenstein" [ALICE COOPER]

Performed by BEASTO BLANCO

05. "Eruption" [VAN HALEN] *previously unreleased*

Performed by Michael Angelo Batio

06. "Burnin' Sky" [BAD COMPANY]

Performed by LYNCH MOB

07. "Sledgehammer" [PETER GABRIEL]

Performed by Dave Rude (TESLA)

08. "I Don't Need No Doctor" [humble pie] *previously unreleased*

Performed by VIXEN feat. Share Ross on vocals (Live)

09. "Free Ride" [The Edgar Winter Group] *previously unreleased*

Performed by Roxanne with Ray Luzier (KORN) on drums

10. "Please Don't Judas Me" [NAZARETH] *previously unreleased*

Performed by METAL CHURCH

11. "Burn" [DEEP PURPLE]

Performed by Michael Angelo Batio, Todd La Torre (QUEENSRŸCHE) and Mark Tremonti (ALTER BRIDGE)

12. "Teacher" [JETHRO TULL] *previously unreleased*

Performed by PRESTO BALLET (featuring Kurdt Vanderhoof of METAL CHURCH)

13. "Hang On To Your Life" [THE GUESS WHO] *previously unreleased*

Performed by Doug Pinnick (KING'S X) feat. Tommy Baldwin

14. "What You're Doing" [RUSH]

Performed by Michael Angelo Batio, Todd La Torre (QUEENSRŸCHE), Kurdt Vanderhoof (METAL CHURCH), Chuck Garric (ALICE COOPER), Jeff Plate (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) and Craig Blackwell.

15. "Man In The Moon" [THE SCREAM]

Performed by John Corabi (Live)

For more information, click here.

EUROPE's video for the song "The Siege" can be seen below. The clip was helmed by acclaimed director Patric Ullaeus of the Revolver Film Company AB (IN FLAMES, DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL).

"The Siege" is taken from EUROPE's latest album, "Walk The Earth", which was released last October via EUROPE's own Hell & Back label through Silver Lining Music. The follow-up to 2015's "War Of Kings" was laid down at London, England's legendary Abbey Road studios and was produced by Dave Cobb, who also helmed the band's previous disc.

Singer Joey Tempest told Planet Rock about the lyrics for "The Siege": "[It is] basically a postcard from the French Revolution, where democracy took a giant leap forward in France (and subsequently Europe). I worked with my old friend Chris Difford (from the band SQUEEZE) on this lyric." As for the music, Tempest said: "John Levén [bass] sent us this riff/idea and we all loved it. In rehearsal, we put it together with a chorus idea Mic [Michaeli, keyboards] had and a very cool song started to emerge. In Abbey Road, Dave helped us with the feel and arrangements and also the small quirky stops in verses and outro."

"Walk The Earth" features original artwork by famed Los Angeles artist Mike Sportes of Filth Mart.

Photo credit: Brian Cannon

SLAYER will embark on the European leg of its "farewell" tour in the fall. Support on the trek will come from LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX and OBITUARY.

So far the following dates have been leaked:

Nov. 14 - Dortmund, Germany

Nov. 15 - Zwolle, The Netherlands @ IJsselhallen

Nov. 24 - Freiburg, Germany

Nov. 26 - Hamburg, Germany

Nov. 29 - München, Germany

Nov. 30 - Erfurt, Germany

Dec. 02 - Berlin, Germany

The full European tour is expected to be announced later this week.

This past January, SLAYER announced that it would do one last concert tour around the globe to thank their fans for all of their support over the years, for making the last three and a half decades so packed with good times and unforgettable experiences, and then move on.

SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya talked about his possible retirement in a 2016 interview with Loudwire. He said: "At 35 years, it's time to collect my pension. [Laughs] This is a career move." He continued: "I'm grateful that we've been around for 35 years; that's a really long time. So, yeah, to me, it is. Because when we started off, everything was great, because you're young and invincible. And then there came a time where I became a family man, and I had a tough time flying back and forth. And now, at this stage, at the level we're at now, I can do that; I can fly home when I want to, on days off, and spend some time with my family, which is something I wasn't able to do when [my kids] were growing up. Now they're both older and mature. So now I take advantage of that." Araya added: "Yeah, it just gets harder and harder to come back out on the road. 35 years is a long time."

Tom also revealed another reason for his diminished enjoyment of the touring life. He said: "There's things that have gone on in my life that have made me change how I play as a bass player. I had neck surgery, so I can't headbang anymore. And that was a big part of what I enjoyed doing what I do — singing and headbanging. I liked knowing that I was one of the fucking badass headbangers. That played a big part. Now I just groove with the music, which is cool, because I'm grooving with the music and the feel of the songs, so that's changed a little for me."

SLAYER has been touring in support of its latest album, "Repentless", which was released in September 2015 via Nuclear Blast. That effort marked the band's first release since the death of SLAYER's co-founding guitarist Jeff Hanneman.

Hanneman contracted necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, in January 2011 from a spider bite in his backyard. The infection ravaged the flesh and tissues of Hanneman's arm, leading to numerous surgeries, skin grafts and intense periods of rehab that forced him into semi-retirement and left him near death at several points.

Hanneman eventually died in May 2013 from alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver. He is credited for writing many of SLAYER's classic songs, including "Angel Of Death" and "South Of Heaven".

Original SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo was effectively fired from the band after sitting out the group's Australian tour in February/March 2013 due to a contract dispute with the other members of SLAYER. He has since been replaced by Paul Bostaph, who was previously SLAYER's drummer from 1992 until 2001 and recorded four albums with the band.

SLAYER will kick off the first leg of its farewell world tour with a May 10 concert at San Diego's Valley View Casino Center, with U.S. dates running through August 26 at San Jose, California's SAP Center.

Maryland hard rock icons KIX will release "Fuse 30 Reblown" on September 21, 2018, exactly 30 years after "Blow My Fuse"'s original September 19, 1988 release date. KIX announced the release from the stage of the M3 Rock Festival where the band performed "Blow My Fuse" in its entirety last weekend to their hometown crowd.

"Fuse 30 Reblown" features a stunning Beau Hill (ALICE COOPER, RATT, WARRANT, KIX) remixed and remastered version of KIX's Atlantic Records "Blow My Fuse" album, as well as special never-before-released demos of all 10 tracks, recorded in the early-to-mid-1980s. "Blow My Fuse" features the group's biggest hit, the power ballad "Don't Close Your Eyes", which reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1989. The album achieved platinum sales and peaked at No. 46 on the Billboard Top 200, making it the most successful of the band's 35-year career.

"We are proud to be celebrating the 30-year anniversary of the biggest album of our lives," says singer Steve Whiteman. "We went from clubs to arenas, a van to a tour bus, and from the U.S. to Japan and Europe. And 30 years later, our fans are still right here with us."

"Fuse 30 Reblown" will be available for pre-order in July through the band's PledgeMusic store, where fans can also purchase special commemorative merchandise.

KIX gracefully eased back into the public consciousness in 2008. After sold-out hometown gigs, the quintet hit the stage at Rocklahoma in front of over 20,000 people, venturing out of the Mid-Atlantic for the first time in 13 years. Delivering a triumphant set alongside Sammy Hagar and Alice Cooper, they left their mark on old and new fans alike. After capturing their fiery reunion on 2012's "Live In Baltimore" CD and DVD, the members agreed to enter the studio once again.

In 2014, KIX released its seventh full-length album, "Rock Your Face Off" (Loud & Proud Records) their first studio effort since 1995's "Show Business".

KIX last released "Can't Stop The Show: The Return Of Kix" on October 21, 2016, a two-disc DVD/CD set that entered the Billboard Top Music Video Sales chart at No. 3. The 71-minute film offered an in-depth look into KIX's decision to record "Rock Your Face Off".

"Fuse 30 Reblown" track listing:

Disc 1 - "Blow My Fuse" remixed and remastered By Beau Hill:

01. Red Lite, Green Lite, TNT

02. Get It While It's Hot

03. No Ring Around Rosie

04. Don't Close Your Eyes

05. She Dropped Me The Bomb

06. Cold Blood

07. Piece Of The Pie

08. Boomerang

09. Blow My Fuse

10. Dirty Boys


Disc 2 - Demos:

01. Red Lite, Green Lite, TNT (Demo recording, 6/20/86)

02. Get It While It's Hot (Demo recording, 11/10/86)

03. No Ring Around Rosie (Demo recording, 1987)

04. Don't Close Your Eyes (Demo recording, 11/25/86)

05. She Dropped Me The Bomb (Demo recording, 6/20/86

06. Cold Blood (Demo recording, 3/21/87

07. Piece Of The Pie (Demo recording, 6/20/86)

08. Boomerang (Demo recording, 3/4/84)

09. Blow My Fuse (Demo recording, 9/5/86)

10. Dirty Boys (Demo recording, 11/10/86)

KIX will perform select shows for the rest of the year.

Photo credit: Mike Morgan

LIMP BIZKIT guitarist Wes Borland has released "Matadors & Daughters", the first single from his upcoming solo album. The single includes "Arcturus" on the B-side and is among the new music that Borland will debut as part of his four-hour durational performance at Moogfest 2018 in Durham, North Carolina, May 17-20 featuring a custom-built sonic rig. While the single is out today, the new material will be featured on the LP "Astral Hand" via Borland's own imprint, Edison Sound, and be distributed by The Orchard in the fall of 2018. The single premiered yesterday via Rolling Stone, which calls "Matador & Daughters" "phantasmagoric" while "Arcturus" is a more "umbral, cinematic B-side."

"Matadors & Daughters" provides a bridge between Borland's work on his 2016 electronic rock album, "Crystal Machete", and his commissioned work for Moogfest. Although the new material is slightly different and follows a more conventional song pattern, it still adheres to the same rules Borland imposed on himself for "Crystal Machete": no unprocessed vocals, no outside help from anyone else, and no distorted guitar.

"The voice rule was inspired by artists like PLANNINGTOROCK, AIR, DAFT PUNK and APHEX TWIN," Borland explains. "I want the vocals to be androgynous, between male and female. I want them to sit in that uncanny valley between human and not, not male or female, not human or electronic. Rule 2 was distorted guitars. For some reason, I have no problem cranking out riff after riff, it's like a conveyor belt in my head. It's no challenge to write one. I wanted to disable that option. The third one, no help from outside sources was set up to challenge myself to be a better musician and engineer. The only outside help I had was mastering."

This new set of music also adheres to two additional rules. "Every single song has to have something in it that comes from Wagner's Ring cycle — an idea or thought, or some musical element, something to me, that I've filtered through the Ring cycle, any of the four," Borland says. "And also Jan Hammer's score to 'Miami Vice'. That score plus something from Wagner, something from both, has to be present in every single single."

In addition to debuting new songs at Moogfest, Borland is presenting a custom sonic rig central to his performance. Describing the rig, Borland says that "it's basically multiple delay pedals and loopers and samplers going into a small mixing console which goes into a main sampler/looper. I've set up tons of instruments and made railroad tracks that come together to a central hub where I can record a loop of those things and have it run and then play over it and then have other stations that have their own loopers playing by themselves and I can enjoy the imperfection of those things overlapping each other. I'm set up for all kinds of things to happen, including accidents."

The durational will mostly be a solo performance but will include support from Alex Rosson, former head of audio at Detroit's Shinola and the ears and vision behind Audeze headphones. It was Rosson who introduced Borland to the Moog team, at dinner one night during which they invited Borland to perform. "Thank goodness they saw in me what I did outside of BIZKIT," Borland says of the invitation. "They're very open minded."

This is precisely where Borland wants to be. Originally known for his work as a guitarist in 1990s rap-rock juggernaut LIMP BIZKIT, Borland has increasingly established himself as a dynamic, experimental artist since leaving LIMP BIZKIT in 2001 through various solo and collaborative albums and projects, including industrial and metal bands BLACK LIGHT BURNS, BIG DUMB FACE and supergroup THE DAMNING WELL (with members of NINE INCH NAILS, FILTER and A PERFECT CIRCLE).

"I think when you're primarily known for songs you wrote when you were 24, it's ridiculous that that's it, that's the snapshot of you in the world forever," Borland says. "Any growth after that is looked at sideways, so it's important to be extra good. I try to make everything I do be significant and impactful, to make people who are pigeonholing you go, 'Oh, I like this.' And for people who are all 'Who do you think you are, you are some dumb alien frat boy from LIMP BIZKIT, we hate you,' for them to go, 'I accidentally listened to something this dude did and it's actually good.' That's what I'm aiming for: someone with good taste in music accidentally listening to me and going, 'Oh, I was wrong.'"

U.K. grindcore pioneers NAPALM DEATH have released a video for the opening track, "Standardization", off their compilation "Coded Smears And More Uncommon Slurs", recently released via Century Media Records. The clip, which was created by Costin Chioreanu of Twilight 13 Media, can be seen below.


NAPALM DEATH vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway checked in with the following comment about the clip: "Videos I find one of the trickiest mediums to make vibrant and impactful. Costin, the producer, though, had a lot of stuff from our Roadburn festival presentation which seemed to fit the music quite nicely and reflect the song's subject matter about the utter despair of a colorless life and desire of more conservative forces for a homogenous world according to gender, sexuality, human habits and, well, generally everything. No thanks!"


"Coded Smears And More Uncommon Slurs" includes a total of 31 songs in a playing time of over 90 minutes, compiling rarities and exclusive earworms spanning 2004-2016 from the whirling gene pool of noise that is NAPALM DEATH.

Greenway told Metal Wani that guitarist Mitch Harris, who has been taking a leave of absence from NAPALM DEATH since late 2014 to focus on his family life, will "most likely" play on the group's next album.

Harris took an indefinite break in the fall of 2014 to tend to a family situation. He has since been temporarily replaced by John Cooke (CORRUPT MORAL ALTAR).

NAPALM DEATH's latest album, "Apex Predator - Easy Meat", was released in January 2015 via Century Media Records.

New Jersey metal titans FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY have signed a worldwide deal with Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The band is working on material for its fifth full-length album, to be released sometime in early 2019.

Comments the group: "We're incredibly excited to announce that FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY has signed a worldwide deal with Nuclear Blast. Looking forward to the next chapter of the band with the gurus of the metal world at our side.

"Thank you, Carl, Rick, Scott, Bill, Brendan, Steve and everyone else at eOne/Good Fight for the believing in the band and supporting us through our last few records. It was a pleasure working together.

"We're currently finishing up writing a new record, with recording set to commence shortly. Stay tuned for updates and some tour announcements. Horns up."

The crushing music of FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY is for any fan of extreme metal, as it's devoid of preachy politics or grandstanding soapboxing, but its sound and fury is absolutely unflinching in purpose. The band expertly blends excessive-force fueled death metal with atmospheric groove and impassioned personal diatribes, reflecting back the dark state of current events.

On their latest critically acclaimed release, "The Great Collapse", the band doesn't waste time with fantasy bullshit or cliché gore horror. FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY are metal guys, to be certain, but they grew up in the hardcore scene. They embrace the responsibility to put as much devoted purpose into their lyrics and message as they do into their dense, heady, songs, forging a magnificently powerful new post-deathcore.

FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY is:

Joe Badolato - Vocals

Will Putney - Guitar

Patrick Sheridan - Guitar

Tim Howley - Guitar

Peter Spinazola - Bass

Josean Orta - Drums

Germany's progressive death metal masters OBSCURA complete their long-running, four-album conceptual circle with the release of "Diluvium" (defined as a great oceanic flood), their most evocative, diverse and vibrant release to date. The effort is due out July 13 on CD, LP and digital via Relapse Records.


The official video for the "Diluvium" title track can be seen below. The clip was directed by Mirko Witzki (KREATOR, BLIND GUARDIAN, CALIBAN) and further explores the album's celestial themes.

The band commented: "With the title track of our new album, we present you one of the most fast forward and brutal compositions 'Diluvium' has to offer.

"The music video created by German cinematographer Mirko Witzki shows the first part of a connected story relating to the band's long-running four-album cycle."

Recorded with longtime producer V. Santura (TRIPTYKON, PESTILENCE) at Woodshed Studios in Landshut, Germany, "Diluvium" is a stunning achievement for the illustrious quartet and a landmark release for progressive metal as a whole. Complete with all the band's signature elements plus groundbreaking polyrhythms, dramatic songwriting, and jaw-dropping virtuosity, "Diluvium" will go down in the annals of metal history as one of the most astonishing performances the genre has to offer.

"Diluvium" track listing:

01. Clandestine Stars

02. Emergent Evolution

03. Diluvium

04. Mortification of the Vulgar Sun

05. Ethereal Skies

06. Convergence

07. Ekpyrosis

08. The Seventh Aeon

09. The Conjuration

10. An Epilogue to Infinity

11. A Last Farewell (Bonus Track)

Album art credit: Orion Landau

OBSCURA will perform at select European festivals this summer, including Vienna Metal Meeting, Amsterdam Metal Meeting and Summer Breeze.

Photo credit: Christian Martin Weiss

On June 1, Bludgeon Riffola/Mercury/UMe fires the first salvo in DEF LEPPARD's projected four-volume career-spanning box set series, when the appropriately dubbed "Volume One" appears in multidisc LP and CD collections. The collection arrives in time for this summer's highly anticipated DEF LEPPARD co-headline tour with JOURNEY.

To promote the arrival of "Volume One", DEF LEPPARD has released the official lyric video for what is probably the band's most recognizable song, "Pour Some Sugar On Me". Check it out below.

This first volume of the band's complete recorded output comes in both limited-edition 180-gram heavyweight vinyl and CD box sets, each featuring DEF LEPPARD's first four studio albums — along with some choice bonus live and studio material — all spread across 8LPs and 7CDs, respectively.

The "Volume One" collection includes bonus material, including "Live At The LA Forum 1983", originally released as a bonus disc in the deluxe CD version of "Pyromania", making this the first-ever vinyl offering of the complete show. This 2LP version comes with a new sleeve and inner bags.

"Rarities Volume 1" has been specially compiled by Joe Elliott, containing rare B-sides and recordings from DEF LEPPARD's early years, all in a newly commissioned sleeve. Finally, rounding out this collection is the 7-inch vinyl single and 3-inch CD of DEF LEPPARD's original, self-titled EP.

The fiery "Volume One" collection contains all of DEF LEPPARD's iconic 1980s recordings with reproductions of the original packaging in both formats, plus the added bonus of a replica 7-inch single and 3-inch CD of the band's original independent EP, the self-titled "The Def Leppard E.P.".

Each album in the box set was mastered by longtime band producer/soundmaster Ronan McHugh and cut by Greg Moore.

Housed in rigid boxes, the "Volume One" collection also contains a hardback book with rare photos by longstanding band confidant Ross Halfin and liner notes by Classic Rock's Paul Elliott. DEF LEPPARD bandmembers Joe Elliott, bassist Rick Savage, drummer Rick Allen, and guitarist Phil Collen have all also contributed their personal introductions to the collection.

"Volume One" is an extraordinary early chronicle of a band whose global impact only continues to grow. DEF LEPPARD have a cumulative sales tally of over 100 million albums worldwide, not to mention putting on consistently sold-out world tours. DEF LEPPARD recently authorized their entire recorded catalog for access on streaming and download platforms, a move that resulted in a nearly 400 percent surge in catalog sales on the first day alone, as well as appearances in the iTunes Top 10 charts in over 30 countries worldwide.

"Volume One" kicks off with DEF LEPPARD's 1980 debut album "On Through The Night", which immediately put the rock world on notice that the band were destined for big things, having charted at No. 15 in the U.K. and No. 51 in the U.S. Produced by Tom Allom (JUDAS PRIEST, BLACK SABBATH), "On Through The Night" features many of the band's live favorites ("Rock Brigade", "Hello America"), along with updated versions of early singles ("Rocks Off"). The album achieved platinum status in 1989, and the version included here is the rare Australian gatefold-sleeve version.

Released in 1981, "High 'N' Dry" was DEF LEPPARD's second platinum album and the first to be produced by Robert "Mutt" Lange (AC/DC, FOREIGNER). It reached No. 26 in the U.K. and No. 38 in the U.S., having garnered much impactful FM airplay with the propulsive "Let It Go" and one of the band's most popular signature tunes to this day, "Bringin' On The Heartbreak".

"Pyromania", released in 1983, saw the band become indisputable rock legends. It was the first record to feature guitars by Phil Collen, who had replaced Pete Willis. The album contains massive MTV hits "Photograph" and "Rock Of Ages", as well as fist-pumper "Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)". "Pyromania" reached No. 2 in the U.S. and went diamond, with over 10 million album sales.

DEF LEPPARD released "Hysteria" in 1987, the band's best-selling record to date having sold over 25 million copies worldwide. It went to No. 1 in the U.K., U.S., and Australia, and is also the band's second album to achieve diamond status in the U.S.. Notes Collen: "Not many people even get platinum albums anymore! Going diamond is going 10 times platinum in America, which is a huge deal — and we've got two of those. We're really pleased that we got them. It's pretty cool that we've achieved that."

Produced by Mutt Lange, "Hysteria" took over three years to make, ultimately featuring seven charting singles (including No. 1 smash "Love Bites" and "Pour Some Sugar On Me"), and has been rightly nicknamed as "heavy metal's 'Thriller'." Clocking in at just over 62 minutes, "Hysteria" was then one of the longest albums ever issued on a single vinyl record — but for this special box set release, it has been made into a double LP for maximum sound-quality purposes.

DEF LEPPARD's collective vocal prowess is but one of the many things that helped cement their unparalleled standing in rock history, as Joe Elliott explains: "The way we did our harmonies was based on the multitracking abilities of a band like QUEEN, but we took what they did to the next level. QUEEN maybe tripled or quadrupled their backing vocals — but we did it like 20 times! We wanted it to sound like the quality of QUEEN but have the size of SLADE. The way we did it gave us a unique sound. And that's the whole point of an album, really — capturing a band's unique dynamics." Adds Phil Collen: "The American bands had beautiful vocals, with all those wonderful harmonies. But we added a bit of a punk ethos in there with ours, where it became a bit more charming and anthemic with screaming and shouting. And that was a very British thing, I think, that made us different from a lot of the American bands."

For the full track listing, click here.

EMPEROR frontman Ihsahn performed the band's song "I Am The Black Wizards" during his May 7 solo concert in Melbourne, Australia. Video of the performance, courtesy of AndrewHaug.com, can be seen below.

Asked in a recent interview with Antichrist Magazine about his status as an "icon" of black metal, Ihsahn said: "I don't know about that. I was just doing an interview previously about the song 'I Am The Black Wizards' because that's also a song that's stuck with us that a lot of people seem to have a relationship to, that they recognize well. We wrote that song when I was 16. I was 17 by the time we recorded 'In The Nightside Eclipse'. It's strange, but kind of a very nice experience having been part of music that, of course, in Poland, we played 'I Am The Black Wizards', it's one of the songs that we always play and you see grown men cry because they get very emotional. It's in a similar way that some of my favorite music I grew up listening to or going to an IRON MAIDEN show and hearing some of my favorites from back in the day, it has a huge emotional impact on me.

"You mentioned an 'icon' of black metal. I differentiate it very much about the music, and once it's released, it lives a life on its own," he continued. "But it has nothing to do with me as a person. It can sometimes be very strange to be in the capacity when we're playing and doing autographs and signing sessions and selfies and being a representative of very much that emotional focus, that I think it's important for me dealing with that, that is more respecting the fact that people have a strong relationship to music that I happen to be a part of, rather than thinking it has anything to do with me as a person."

Ihsahn's seventh solo album, "Ámr", was released on May 4 via Candlelight/Spinefarm.

SLAYER will release an exclusive "Repentless" collector's box set that includes six single EPs featuring all the songs off the band's latest album pressed on unique 6.66-inch vinyl. The box set, which will be released on June 6, will be available in black, red, and gold.

An unboxing video for the "Repentless" collector's box set can be seen below.

This past January, SLAYER announced that it would do one last concert tour around the globe to thank their fans for all of their support over the years, for making the last three and a half decades so packed with good times and unforgettable experiences, and then move on.

SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya talked about his possible retirement in a 2016 interview with Loudwire. He said: "At 35 years, it's time to collect my pension. [Laughs] This is a career move." He continued: "I'm grateful that we've been around for 35 years; that's a really long time. So, yeah, to me, it is. Because when we started off, everything was great, because you're young and invincible. And then there came a time where I became a family man, and I had a tough time flying back and forth. And now, at this stage, at the level we're at now, I can do that; I can fly home when I want to, on days off, and spend some time with my family, which is something I wasn't able to do when [my kids] were growing up. Now they're both older and mature. So now I take advantage of that." Araya added: "Yeah, it just gets harder and harder to come back out on the road. 35 years is a long time."

Tom also revealed another reason for his diminished enjoyment of the touring life. He said: "There's things that have gone on in my life that have made me change how I play as a bass player. I had neck surgery, so I can't headbang anymore. And that was a big part of what I enjoyed doing what I do — singing and headbanging. I liked knowing that I was one of the fucking badass headbangers. That played a big part. Now I just groove with the music, which is cool, because I'm grooving with the music and the feel of the songs, so that's changed a little for me."

SLAYER has been touring in support of its latest album, "Repentless", which was released in September 2015 via Nuclear Blast. That effort marked the band's first release since the death of SLAYER's co-founding guitarist Jeff Hanneman.

Hanneman contracted necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, in January 2011 from a spider bite in his backyard. The infection ravaged the flesh and tissues of Hanneman's arm, leading to numerous surgeries, skin grafts and intense periods of rehab that forced him into semi-retirement and left him near death at several points.

Hanneman eventually died in May 2013 from alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver. He is credited for writing many of SLAYER's classic songs, including "Angel Of Death" and "South Of Heaven".

Original SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo was effectively fired from the band after sitting out the group's Australian tour in February/March 2013 due to a contract dispute with the other members of SLAYER. He has since been replaced by Paul Bostaph, who was previously SLAYER's drummer from 1992 until 2001 and recorded four albums with the band.

An EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for "To Drink From The Night Itself", the upcoming album from Swedish melodic death metal pioneers AT THE GATES, can be seen below. The disc will be released on May 18 via Century Media. Produced with Russ Russell (NAPALM DEATH, THE HAUNTED, DIMMU BORGIR) at Parlour Studios in the U.K., the follow-up 2014's "At War With Reality" features conceptual artwork created by Costin Chioreanu of Twilight 13 Media, who previously worked with AT THE GATES on the band's last disc.

"To Drink From The Night Itself" track listing:


01. Der Widerstand

02. To Drink From The Night Itself

03. A Stare Bound In Stone

04. Palace Of Lepers

05. Daggers Of Black Haze

06. The Chasm

07. In Nameless Sleep

08. The Colours Of The Beast

09. A Labyrinth Of Tombs

10. Seas Of Starvation

11. In Death They Shall Burn

12. The Mirror Black

Singer Tomas Lindberg recently spoke to Decibel magazine about how the departure of longtime AT THE GATES guitarist and primary songwriter Anders Björler has affected the band's sound. "It is true that there is a big shift in the lineup," he said. "What you have to take into consideration is that Jonas Björler [bass] wrote 40 percent of both 'Slaughter Of The Soul' and 'At War With Reality'. Some people seem to forget this. They just assume that the lead guitarist is the sole songwriter. Jonas had to take a lot more responsibility this time around, but me and him have had a really great and creative time writing this album. There is a slight change of direction, maybe, but AT THE GATES fans shouldn't be worried — it is still an AT THE GATES record. If anything, it is heavier and more death metal than the last one."

Lindberg said that new AT THE GATES guitarist Jonas Stålhammar came into the band too late to be involved in the composing process for the new disc. "This one is basically Jonas [Björler] and me when it comes to the writing. All the guys have contributed in some way, but the main writing comes from Jonas and me. Most of the songs were already in the finishing stages when Jonas Stålhammar joined, so there wasn't much time for him to contribute, but we look forward to having him more involved next time around. Saying that, his solos will, of course, be written by himself."

AT THE GATES 2018 is (left to right in photo):

Adrian Erlandsson - Drums

Jonas Björler - Bass

Tomas Lindberg - Vocals

Jonas Stålhammar - Guitar

Martin Larsson - Guitar

Japanese pop metal act BABYMETAL has released the official music video for a new song called "Distortion". The track was uploaded to BABYMETAL's official YouTube channel and became available on digital platforms such as iTunes, Apple Music and Spotify as a digital release.


BABYMETAL fans will get their first chance to hear this new song live on the first date of the band's world tour in Kansas City, Missouri (Uptown Theater). The BABYMETAL trek begins today in the U.S. with sold-out headline shows before appearances at some of the most recognized festivals in the world, including Rock On The Range (U.S.), Rock Am Ring, Rock Im Park (Germany) and Download (U.K.).


On April 1, known as "Fox Day", a new prophecy was revealed. The prophecy revealed that up until now we have only experienced the Light Side and there exists an unknown Dark Side, a legend of seven metal spirits The Chosen Seven. "Distortion" explores the unrevealed Dark Side, the Apocrypha, the legend of seven metal spirits in which power is distorted through time and space. The music video of this song presents this unknown side and marks the important beginning of a new legend.

BABYMETAL recently built a new partnership with 5B Artist Management And Records, a leading global music, events, and marketing firm, which manages well-known artists such as SLIPKNOT and MEGADETH. Additionally, with the powerful duo of 5B Artist Management And Records and Cooking Vinyl, which has handled the release of prestigious artists such as MARILYN MANSON and THE PRODIGY, BABYMETAL has announced the establishment of a new record label, Babymetal Records.

Formed in 2010, BABYMETAL is the offshoot of the Japanese pop idol group SAKURA GAKUIN that performs a distinctly Japanese mix of schoolgirl J-pop and heavy metal.

BABYMETAL's members — Suzuka Nakamoto (a.k.a. Su-Metal, who handles vocals and dancing), Yui Mizuno (a.k.a. Yuimetal) and Moa Kikuchi (a.k.a. Moametal), the latter of whom both scream and dance — admit that they had never listened to metal before joining the group. The girls wear gothy schoolgirl costumes, do choreographed dance routines and bang their heads violently.

BABYMETAL recently released its two concerts from December 2-3, 2007 at Hiroshima's Green Arena on a new Blu-ray titled "Legend S - Baptism XX". The limited-edition set, featuring 16 songs, a live CD and a booklet, is only available for members of the band's fan club, The One.

Aerosmith performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 5th, playing their first public concert since canceling a tour last September. fan-filmed video from the show is available below. The setlist was as follows:

"Toys In The Attic"
"Same Old Song And Dance"
"Love In An Elevator"
"Cryin'"
"Livin' On The Edge"
"Last Child"
"Rag Doll"
"Stop Messin' Around" (Fleetwood Mac cover)
"Janie's Got A Gun"
"Oh Well" (Fleetwood Mac cover)
"Adam's Apple" (first time live since 2009)
"I Don't Want To Miss A Thing"
"Sweet Emotion"
"Dude (Looks Like A Lady)"

Encore:
"Dream On"
"Mother Popcorn" (James Brown cover)
"Walk This Way"

Society 1 are back with their ninth music video off their Rise From The Dead album for the track "No Control". It's a two part video spanning between albums Rise From The Dead and the yet to be released Black Level Six.

The song was remixed by Patrick Burkholder and remastered by Mike Wells specifically for the video which takes place in the year 2019 as well as an undisclosed timeframe within the future. The scenes are linked together by a type of machine that allows a mad scientist of sorts to view the event through a virtual monitor. The performance is supposedly the last live show of Society 1. The video was shot entirely on green screen and then composited and edited by Matt Zane over the course of a few months.

Vocalist Matt "The Lord" Zane says, "It was a challenge creating this. I had the concept, pitched it to the band and they thought it was different and cool but the next question became...how do we do this? It became apparent fast that the only way it was getting done was with 100% fabricated elements in post production. The decision was made to shoot everything on green screen. The band and the actors had no idea what was going on. They just knew they had to wear certain costumes and react to things happening that actually weren't."

The other unique aspect of the video is that it's a two part story that will span across albums.

"I don't know if it's been done before but this video has a sequel that will debut when the new album Black Level Six is released next year. It will finish the story that we started. We will probably release a teaser trailer of sorts in-between the albums explaining the story a little better to hold people over as well," says Zane.

Watch the video below and make sure to catch Society 1 on July 15th at the world famous Viper Room with Dope.

Who Brought The Dog, the solo project launched by The New Black guitarist Fabian "Fabs" Schwarz featuring BraveWords scribe Carl Begai and The New Black drummer Philipp Klinger, have posted a lyric video for the song "In June", taken from the forthcoming album Welcome To The Man Cave. They have issued the following update: 

"And now for something a little different....

So far, Who Brought The Dog has presented songs about the darker side of life: that orange baboon in the White House, superficial people, screwed up relationships, racism and battling cancer. This time we give you 'In June', a song with a positive vibe. Call it a celebration of life, or a reminder than as fucked up as things may be in life there is, in fact, a light at the end of the tunnel.

'In June' features an upbeat groove and a huge singalong chorus, perfect for driving with the top down on the way to that summer barbecue..."

Check out the recently released song "Freakshow":

Who Brought The Dog have released two songs for free via Bandcamp. "I'm With The Banned" is an anti-bullying, anti-racism, anti-sexism, anti-Trump rant, "Three Days" is a cancer survivor song, lyrics written by Carl and Canadian rocker Bif Naked.

The download is free, but anyone interested in supporting Deutsche Krebshilfe / German Cancer Aid (www.krebshilfe.de) can make donations on Bandcamp. Please add the code AK 49006511 to your PayPal transaction.

The Singles by Who Brought The Dog

Video footage of POISON frontman Bret Michaels performing acoustic versions of the songs "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" and "Nothing To Lose" as part of his new "Live From The Living Room" series can be seen below.

Michaels is a multi-platinum global superstar who has turned his passion for music into a multi-faceted brand that encompasses record-breaking touring sales, reality TV stardom, legendary songs that have sold over 32 million records, product endorsements as well as being a devoted philanthropist, all supported and followed by three generations of loyal fans.

Bret was born in Butler, Pennsylvania on March 15, 1963. Rising to fame as the frontman of POISON, one of rock's most iconic and enduring bands, he helped define rock 'n' roll on the Sunset Strip. POISON's massive success includes selling over 30 million records worldwide and numerous hit singles. Bret's solo career has charted its own course with multiple solo albums. His last album, "Custom Built", included guest appearances by Joe Perry (AEROSMITH) Loretta Lynn, Jimmy Buffett, Ace Frehley (KISS), Michael Anthony (VAN HALEN) and members of LYNYRD SKYNYRD.

When this multi-talented performer is not touring, he can be found both in front of and behind the camera as a director, producer and a reality TV superstar. Shows like "Rock Of Love With Bret Michaels" on VH1, "Life As I Know It" and Bret has also starred in and won Donald Trump's NBC hit "Celebrity Apprentice".

Michaels's latest television endeavor, "Rock My RV With Bret Michaels" will see him and his team revamping and redesigning dilapidated RVs in true rock star form and style. The show will begin airing on the Travel Channel in May.

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TORCHE has entered the studio to record its fifth album. The as-yet-untitled effort is being recorded by guitarist Jonathan Nunez at Cabana East in Miami, Florida. An early 2019 release via Relapse Records is expected.

The band commented: "The new record has a great balance of new elements that have become a part of our sound over the last couple years, which is very exciting for us. We're pushing classic signatures of our sonic identity and bringing new vibes to the table. This time around, there's going to more dynamics, while pushing our 'wall of sound' nature much further.”

TORCHE is often cited for its masterful combination of melodic songwriting and heavy music, with Spin dubbing the band's music "sludge-pop" and Filter saying the band proves "a heavy-rock band can be optimistic and sincere-without sacrificing any of the edge."

Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH debuted a brand new song, apparently titled "Wolves Ov Siberia", during their May 5 appearance at the Pulp Summer Slam festival in the Philippines. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

"Wolves Ov Siberia" is expected to appear on BEHEMOTH's long-awaited follow-up to 2014's "The Satanist" album, tentatively due before the end of the year. The new disc is being mixed by Matt Hyde, who has previously worked with SLAYER and HATEBREED, among others.

Back in January, BEHEMOTH frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski stated about what fans can expect from the band's next disc: "[2009's] 'Evangelion' was the most perfectly recorded and perfect sounding record, but then 'The Satanist' was something else. The new one is going to be something else once again, I'm sure about it. So when people tell me, 'You need to top 'The Satanist''… I don't need to top anything. I just want to make sure we take curves with our career. We're gonna take a different direction in order not to get stuck in the same pattern."

BEHEMOTH will join forces with SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX and TESTAMENT for a massive North American tour in late spring and early summer.

BEHEMOTH's latest release was the live DVD/Blu-ray "Messe Noire". The set includes the band's victorious shows in Warsaw, Poland on October 8, 2016 and Brutal Assault 2016, as well as "The Satanist" cinematic archive featuring all official videos associated with the band's globally successful record of the same name.

Legendary death metal unit MORBID ANGEL has unveiled the unsettling new video for "Garden Of Disdain" from the band's recently issued "Kingdoms Disdained" full-length.


Produced by Nadar Sadek, "Garden Of Disdain" is a tale of allegory and Sumerian-fueled vision. Bristling with gore and metaphor, the clip is a disturbing piece that depicts the darkest, most hopeless sides of the human condition.


"My intention is to create a visual parallel to the song," offers Sadek, "a theme which repeats, yet within the loop-lay textures are controlled twists and turns. It was a bonus that I had the opportunity to use Sumerian iconography as well as obscure symbols of the pre-ancient past such as the Merkaba, a galaxy-roaming vessel. "


"Nader does some of the most interesting and dark visual art I have ever seen," says MORBID ANGEL bassist/vocalist Steve Tucker. "We were excited to work with him and see our musical ideas put into such amazing visuals!"


MORBID ANGEL is currently in the midst of a U.S. headlining tour. The month-long trek kicked off on April 16 and will run through May 17, with support provided by ORIGIN, DREAMING DEAD and HATE STORM ANNIHILATION.

"Kingdoms Disdained" was released in December via Silver Lining Music in the U.S. and JVC in Japan. The disc, which reunites founding guitarist Trey Azagthoth with Tucker, was recorded at Mana Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida and produced by MORBID ANGEL with Erik Rutan (CANNIBAL CORPSE, HATE ETERNAL, SIX FEET UNDER, BELPHEGOR).

Joining Azagthoth and Tucker during the recording sessions for "Kingdoms Disdained" was drummer Scotty Fuller (ANNIHILATED; formerly of ABYSMAL DAWN)

MORBID ANGEL in January 2017 announced the addition of Dan Vadim Von (guitarist/frontman of the American death metal band VADIMVON) to the band's lineup on second guitar. He joined the group as the replacement for Norwegian guitarist Destructhor (a.k.a. Thor Anders Myhren), who left the band three years ago.

Silver Lining Music recently released a special two-disc digipack edition of "Kingdoms Disdained", featuring seven instrumental demo tracks previously only available as part of the deluxe box set.

Video footage of Dave Mustaine performing the MEGADETH classic "Symphony Of Destruction" with bassist Bjorn Englen (DIO DISCIPLES, TONY MACALPINE) and several campers at last month's Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp in Los Angeles, California can be seen below.

Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp is a non-competitive atmosphere designed for all levels of musicians and music enthusiasts. Participants are placed in bands with like-minded people and skill level to make for an off-the-charts experience.

Some of the campers play well and even gave up careers as musicians to become CEOs and lawyers. Some campers can't play at all. What they all have in common is passion for rock music. At Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp, they all get to pursue their passion — and meet, and play with the artists who became the soundtrack of their lives.


David Fishof is the founder and creator of the famed Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp where rock dreams become reality. The idea came to him after years of producing rock tours throughout the word. He's been honored to work with veteran rockers Roger Daltrey, Joe Walsh, Ringo Starr, Todd Rundgren, Gene Simmons, Dr. John, Randy Bachman, and so many more. He feels fortunate to have seen their talent first hand. David's desire to share this experience with you, gave him the inspiration to produce the one-of-a-kind Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp.

For more information, visit www.rockcamp.com.



Not sure what the serious faces were all about but it was great having Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) as a special guest at the Rock’n’Roll Fantasy Camp last weekend. My campers nailed it! ?(Photo: Lisa Woodard) #rocknrollfantasycamp #davemustaine #megadeth #bjornenglen pic.twitter.com/MMOWNmfBTU— BJORN ENGLEN (@BjornEnglen) April 28, 2018

A fundraising campaign has been launched for former MALEVOLENT CREATION frontman Brett Hoffman, who was recently diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.

The GoFundMe page, which was started by Brett's "very close friend/family member" Tina Kuntz Mielcarek, is asking for donations to cover his "medical expenses and treatments."

Said Brett: "I have been in hospital for almost two weeks now. I've had a MAJOR surgery, many proceedures and tests. Have not eaten that entire time and have not even smelled the outside air in that time. I am, however, progressing forward. They do want me out so that I can go home and heal and rehab. That may take weeks. After that, they have a treatment they are confident in for my cancer.

"I know I have a long road and life has changed. I will still finish new album and do music. I just have a bit more important task at hand for the near future. This ,so far, has been the most trying, painful, torturous event that has EVER happened to me.

"I am on the battlewagon and I'm rolling!!! My wife, Kim, has been a rock for me!!! I love her with all my heart!!! My very close friends have all been battling with me and I've needed that support."

Brett performed on the first three MALEVOLENT CREATION releases until he left the band after 1993's "Stillborn" album. Five years later, he returned and performed on "The Fine Art Of Murder" and "Envenomed" before leaving again and being replaced by Kyle Symons. He rejoined MALEVOLENT again in 2006 and appeared on the group's last three albums, 2007's "Doomsday X", 2010's "Invidious Dominion" and 2015's "Dead Man's Path". He exited the group once again two years ago and was replaced by Lee Wollenschlaeger.

More recently, Brett has been involved with the FIRE FOR EFFECT project in which he was joined by guitarist and songwriter Gio Geraca (MALEVOLENT CREATION, ASHES OF ARES), bassist Tony Choy (PESTILENCE) and drummer Mike Smith (SUFFOCATION). Smith was later replaced by Derek Roddy (HATE ETERNAL, NILE, MALEVOLENT CREATION).

In a 2015 interview with Metal Rules, Brett was asked about how he developed his unique vocal style. "When I grew up, I knew I wanted to sing," he said. "I was playing bass at first and I kind of sucked at it. I tried singing and sucked at it. So I went into my room for like two years and practiced singing old JUDAS PRIEST and IRON MAIDEN with [Bruce] Dickinson. I practiced those screams and could do them pretty good. Then when I transitioned over to death metal it worked because I learned the right way how to do those screams. It worked."

The official lyric video for the song "Insentience" from London's AKERCOCKE can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's sixth full-length album, "Renaissance In Extremis", which was released last August via Peaceville Records. Mixed by legendary studio guru Neil Kernon (NILE, DEICIDE) and mastered by Alan Douches (DEATH, MISFITS, CRO-MAGS) at West West Side Music, the disc is nothing short of a new dawn for these most eccentric of extremists.

A comprehensive reinvention and expansion of the band's multifarious sound, "Renaissance In Extremis" delivers euphoric force and mind-boggling weirdness. There are scything thrash and death metal riffs in abundance, plus warped but elegant melodies and clouds of ugly dissonance; moments of unsettling calm and quiet. "Renaissance In Extremis" is a bold, bullish and belligerent statement of creative intent: metal's dark spirit reborn in an explosion of bright ideas and inspirational fury.

Towering above the vast majority of nefarious contemporary noisemakers, AKERCOCKE erupted across the consciousness of the U.K. metal scene in the late '90s, wielding a fiendishly inventive blend of death, black and progressive metal. Their distinctive, smartly-dressed demeanour and eloquent preoccupation with all things dark and Satanic marked them out both as ferociously individual artists and enlightened students of the pitch-black sonic code. Immediately embraced by the British faithful upon the release of debut album, "Rape Of The Bastard Nazarene", AKERCOCKE spent the following decade leading the creative charge for their entire native scene.

AKERCOCKE received widespread acclaim for follow-up album, "The Goat of Mendes" (Peaceville, 2001) and despite enjoying furious momentum over the following years, the release of fifth album, "Antichrist", in 2007 signalled the end of the first chapter of the AKERCOCKE story, when the band retreated into the shadows and remained dormant for the best part of a decade.

Fast forward to 2018 and AKERCOCKE's ongoing return to active service reached its first invigorating climax. 2016 saw Mendonca reconvening with Gray and returning original second guitarist Paul Scanlan to reignite the flames that first drove this band to deftly redefine an entire genre. This was deftly followed by a triumphant live return at Bloodstock festival in August 2016.

"Renaissance In Extremis" track listing

01. Disappear

02. Unbound By Sin

03. Insentience

04. First To Leave The Funeral

05. Familiar Ghosts

06. A Final Glance Back Before Departing

07. One Chapter Closing For Another To Begin

08. Inner Sanctum

09. A Particularly Cold Sept

Photo credit: Tina Korhonen

Original Budgie drummer Ray Phillips has a new autobiography out now. It’s called The Ray Phillips Story: An Awful Biography Of A Great Life - From Budgie To Tredegar And Beyond. The first 150 copies will include a 12-track sampler CD of Phillips' work over the years with Ray Phillips Woman, Titus Oats, Tredegar, Six Ton Budgie and solo, including four previously unreleased tracks.

​The original Budgie lineup made three albums from 1971–73 that punched above their weights to influence heavyweight bands to come - Megadeth, Metallica and Soundgarden, to name three.

In the book, Phillips tells the story of his life. It’s a personal and musical journey filled with trials, tribulations and triumphs… and a jolly good laugh! He answers the question, once and for all, about whether he jumped or was pushed from Budgie, only a few months after drumming up a storm on classics from Budgie’s third album such as Breadfan, Parents and In The Grip Of A Tyrefitter’s Hand.

After leaving Budgie in late 1973, Phillips formed Ray Phillips Woman, a group that would tread the boards all over the UK from 1974-77. Phillips reunited with ex-Budgie guitarist Tony Bourge in Freeze, Storm and then Tredegar - the latter band releasing an accomplished self-titled album in 1986. After Tredegar, Phillips recorded albums under the Six Ton Budgie moniker and then in 2011 he released his first solo album, Judgement Day. In the book, Phillips talks about his battle to pay off a huge debt he incurred financing the Tredegar album.

The 496-page book is printed in full colour on high-quality 115gsm gloss paper. The book contains 118,000 words and over 600 images, many of which are unseen.

Phillips is busy rehearsing a three-piece band and plans to tour the UK as Ray Phillips Budgie in 2018, belting out Budgie classics from across the catalogue with renewed enthusiasm.

The book can be ordered here and will ship from later this week.

More information about the book, including a gallery of 30 pages, can be found here.

A short video about the book from Ray:

A longer video with more detail about the book, and audio from Tredegar’s "Battle Of Bosworth":

CD tracklisting:

"Rock ‘N’ Road Song" - Ray Phillips Woman [previously unreleased]
"Coming Home" - Titus Oats
"Betty’s Baby" - Titus Oats [previously unreleased]
"Love To Tango" - Ray Phillips [previously unreleased]
"I Love That Lady" - Ray Phillips [previously unreleased]
"Which Way To Go" - Tredegar
"Battle Of Bosworth" - Tredegar
"Love It Or Hate It" - Tredegar
"You Need Respect" - Six Ton Budgie
"Southern" - Six Ton Budgie
"Our Life" - Six Ton Budgie
"For The Love Of Cleo" - Ray Phillips

Legendary US progressive rockers Spock’s Beard will release of their 13th studio album, Noise Floor, for May 25th. For this album, Ted Leonard, Alan Morse, Dave Meros and Ryo Okumoto were joined in the studio once again by drummer and original member Nick D’Virgilio.

The band have released the "Beginnings" studio documentary video, which can be seen below:

Spock's Beard is a band that is in a continual state of evolution, as is always the case with genuinely creative musicians. And their new album, Noise Floor, fits perfectly into this process.

“We are always about evolution, not revolution. But what we have done this time is make the songs more melodic,” believes vocalist/guitarist Ted Leonard. “We still love our crazy prog, but now appreciate how important it is to grab people's attention early on.”

As with all Spock's Beard songs, most of the new album was written by the individual members, and then brought to the rest of the band as high quality demos. “We all do this type of thing in our home studios,” adds Leonard. “So, by the time they reach the stage where the entire band get to judge them, they are really developed, and therefore everyone can make a reasoned judgement.”  Much of what you will listen to here is very much the product of fresh inspiration from the Californian band.

One key change on this album sees the return of drummer Nick D'Virgilio, who originally left in 2011. There are also two violinists, a cello player, a viola player and an English horn featured on the album, thereby giving the sound a slightly more evocative and persuasive twist.

The album was once again engineered by long-time collaborator Rich Mouser and will be released as a 2CD digipak (featuring an EP of material from the same sessions), gatefold 2LP + 2CD & as digital download.

Tracklisting:

Disc 1 - Noise Floor

"To Breathe Another Day"
"What Becomes Of Me"
"Somebody’s Home"
"Have We All Gone Crazy Yet"
"So This Is Life"
"One So Wise"
"Box Of Spiders"
"Beginnings"

Disc 2 - Cutting Room Floor

"Days We’ll Remember"
"Bulletproof"
"Vault"
"Armageddon Nervous"

"To Breathe Another Day" video:

"To Breathe Another Day" studio documentary:

(Photo - Kat Mueller)

Prog metal veterans Redemption have checked in with the following announcement.

"Hello everyone! As you know, we are returning to Atlanta to play ProgPower this year and are extremely excited to do so! We're going to pull out all the stops for this and want to make it an evening to remember. And we will be filming it for a new DVD!

These things cost a lot to do right -- and we managed to pull it off with help from you all last time on Kickstarter. We'll be doing the same thing this time.
So what we'd like to learn is what would YOU like to see as benefits from a Kickstarter pledge. Names in the credits? Merch? Autographs? Visits with the band? An invitation to a rehearsal?

Let us know your ideas so that we can put together some cool packages in exchange for your support!"

Post your feedback on the official Redemption Facebook page here.

It was recently announced that eyboardist Vikram Shankar has joined Redemption.

Nick van Dyk - the band's guitarist and songwriter, who has also played the majority of keyboards on Redemption's seven studio albums - comments: "We haven't had a dedicated keyboard player since before 2011's This Mortal Coil. We were very happy and fortunate to have had Greg Hosharian in the band for some time, but when Greg left to focus on composing and conducting classical music, we decided to continue without replacing him and I returned to playing keys in addition to guitar. I'm comfortable enough handling things, but at the same time, from a performance and also from a compositional standpoint, it's always been in the back of my mind that having a dedicated keyboardist allows us to do more, sound better, and grow."

Van Dyk continues: "Almost as soon as Tom [Englund, vocals] joined Redemption, he introduced me to Vikram by way of Vik’s YouTube channel, where Vik showcases both original compositions as well as stunning arrangements of some great progressive metal songs. I was utterly floored. This is a guy who has perfect pitch, tremendous feeling to his playing, and is absolutely a virtuoso - I mean he literally plays blindfolded to perfect his technique. I've never seen anything like it. Then we spent some time together, both one on one and then with the rest of Redemption, and learned he’s a terrific guy as well as a terrific musician. He came out to LA for a few days and spent some time adding some parts to our otherwise-finished upcoming release, Long Night's Journey into Day, and it was evident that not only does he have technique and feel for miles to enhance our musicianship, but he and I share a similar compositional sensibility. We hear things the same way, plus Vikram adds fresh ideas and his tremendous talent as an arranger and writer. I can't wait to involve him more in songwriting for future material, and we are all thrilled to have him join us on stage and in the studio. He's an absolutely stunning talent."

"I'm honoured to have the opportunity to play alongside the talented folks in Redemption!" enthused Vikram. "The guys are wonderful musicians and wonderful people, and I can't thank them enough for welcoming me into the fold as they have. Can't wait to see and play for all the Redemption fans at Progpower USA and elsewhere, and for the future of our music and collaboration!"

Already confirmed to headline ProgPower USA 2018, Redemption - featuring Tom Englund (vocals; Evergrey), Nick van Dyk (guitars and keyboards), Sean Andrews (bass), Chris Quirarte (drums), Vikram Shankar (keyboards) - will release their seventh full-length album, Long Night's Journey Into Day, this summer via Metal Blade Records. The first to be produced with Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Primal Fear, Amaranthe, Doro, etc.), Long Night's Journey Into Day also features guest guitarists Chris Poland (Megadeth, OHM) and Simone Mularoni (DGM).

Stay tuned for more Redemption news coming soon.

(Photo - Stephanie Cabral)