Almost 10 years have passed since Munich-based Commander released The Enemies We Create. On April 13th they will return with a new album featuring nine brand new songs, Fatalis (The Unbroken Circle). The album was mastered in November 2017 at Temple Of Disharmony by Patrick W. Engel. Artwork was created by Remy Cooper (Headsplit Design), who is also responsible for works with Kreator, Cryptopsy and Arch Enemy. More album details will be released soon.

Fatalis (The Unbroken Circle) will be released via Black Sunset / MDD. Go to this location to pre-order.

The tracklist is as follows:

"Fatalis"
"Locust Infestation"
"Chaos Awakening"
"New Slave Democracy"
"Insidious Greed"
"Invidia"
"Superbia"
"And Death Swings the Scythe"
"Shattered Existence"

Check out the new lyric video for "Locust Infestation" below.

Commander have announced the following live dates for 2018:

March
31 - München, Germany - Backstage (Dark Easter Metal Meeting 2018)

April
28 - Aalen, Germany - Rock It (Death Celebration 2018)

September
22 - Schrobenhausen, Germany - Metal im Woid V Festival

December
28 - München, Germany - 8Below Friday Madness Party

For information and updates on Commander go to this location.

Raleigh, NC progressive deathcore unit Krosis have premiered a Jaiden Frost directed music video for their song "Melting Point".The track is from the group's outstanding Unique Leader debut Solem Vatem which was released on March 9th and shows Krosis pushing the boundaries of what is possible within the genre. 

Drummer Daniel Cece said of the track, "Melting Point' explored the lighter, more atmospheric side of our musical creativity. We are just as much a progressive metal band as we are deathcore or death metal. That allows us to incorporate various experimental elements that might be rarely seen in today's metal genres. This one is a fun, melodic song that still jams, and the video that Jaiden shot for it fits the theme perfectly."

Krosis will headline The Solem Vatem Tour in support of their new album next month with support coming from Silent on Fifth Street and Terraform.

German death metallers Dawn Of Disease have released a new video for “Leprous Thoughts”, taken from their Ascension Gate album, out now via Napalm Records.

Album artwork by Mark Cooper.

“Ascension Gate”:

“Akephalos” video:

“Perimortal”:

The official lyric video for the song "Better The Devil" from BAD WOLVES can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's debut album, "Disobey", which will be released on May 18 via Eleven Seven Music. The disc will include BAD WOLVES' cover of THE CRANBERRIES' "Zombie", which recently hit No. 1 in multiple countries around the globe.

The hit single was first released by THE CRANBERRIES in 1994, the original track hit No. 1 across the globe, including the Billboard Alternative Songs Chart. The song returned to the Top 10 on the U.S. Rock chart shortly after news of Dolores O'Riordan's passing earlier this year.

O'Riordan was slated to record vocals for BAD WOLVES' cover of the track (which she described as "killer") on the day of her passing. The band decided to release the song in her honor with all BAD WOLVES' proceeds going to her children.

BAD WOLVES, which is managed by Zoltan Bathory of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, consists of of vocalist Tommy Vext (ex-DIVINE HERESY, SNOT), drummer John Boecklin (ex-DEVILDRIVER), guitarist Doc Coyle (VAGUS NERVE, ex-GOD FORBID), guitarist Chris Cain (BURY YOUR DEAD) and bassist Kyle Konkiel (ex-IN THIS MOMENT).

"Disobey" track listing:

01. Officer Down

02. Learn To Live

03. No Masters

04. Zombie

05. Run For Your Life

06. Remember When

07. Better The Devil

08. Jesus Slaves

09. Hear Me Now

10. Truth Or Dare

11. The Conversation

12. Shape Shifter

13. Toast To The Ghost

BAD WOLVES burst on to the scene last year with the independently released debut single "Learn To Live".

Boecklin previously described BAD WOLVES' style as "a heavy-slightly prog rock band that tunes low and cuts off most of the fat. Watching FAITH NO MORE on the reunion tour made my thought process change," he explained. "I was standing there, and it hit me that I don't want to be in a metal band with screaming all the time. We're heavy, yet from track-to-track, things change quite a bit."

"More was revealed, so more was required," added Vext. "The overall tonality and approach resonated with me as an opportunity to challenge myself and grow as a vocalist. I was given a platform to tap into some musical influences I hadn't yet explored in previous bands. All in all, it was some of the most diverse, original material I've gotten to wrap my hands around."

In no rush to put together something reminiscent of his musical past, Boecklin quietly wrote over the course of 2015. During summer of 2016, he entered AudioHammer Studios with longtime collaborator Mark Lewis (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS) and tracked what would become the group's debut album.

"Starting from scratch is never easy," admitted Boecklin. "Many musical roads were traveled before getting to what you hear today — it's trial and error. I kept reminding myself not to do what I've done before. Eventually, we started to hear what we wanted."

"A Toast To The Ghosts" delivers a searing gut-punch punctuated by sharp succinct fretwork, smart-bomb precise percussion, and another searing vocal performance. Everything culminates on the pensive and punishing "Blood And Bones". Vext added: "It's like an open letter to an abusive relationship partner that no longer serves you or the opposing counterpart. It's left open to interpretation."

Defined by a push-and-pull between incalculable instrumentation and soaring melodies, BAD WOLVES will keep listeners guessing and thinking on their path to hard rock and metal supremacy.

"This is something new for me," Boecklin left off. "It's the most unique drumming I've ever done. Tommy has never sounded so good. The songs are much more diverse than anything from our collective past. I'd love for people to take away some sort of connection emotionally. That's what all of the bands who inspire me do. Everything else doesn't really matter."

BAD WOLVES will tour the U.S. later in the year with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and SHINEDOWN.

HOUSE OF LORDS singer James Christian will release a new solo album, "Craving", on April 20 via Frontiers Music Srl. It is his fourth solo effort, following "Lay It On Me" (2013), "Meet The Man" (2004) and "Rude Awakening" (1995).

Christian's first solo album, "Rude Awakening", is, to this day, regarded as a musical delight for any lover of first-class AOR. After the return of HOUSE OF LORDS in the early 2000s, Christian released another classy melodic rock LP, "Meet The Man", which featured the songwriting of several AOR luminaries such as Stan Bush, Judithe Randall and his then-HOUSE OF LORDS bandmates Chuck Wright and Lanny Cordola. Nine years later, Christian stepped back on the scene with a brand new solo release, "Lay It All On Me", which he recorded and produced in his own studios in Florida during the second part of 2012 and early 2013.

According to a press release, the long wait for "Craving" "has been worth every drop of sweat and tears spilled these past years since Christian's superb vocals can really offer the listener a rewarding experience."

With songwriting contributions from Tommy Denander, Chris Pelcer, Jimi Bell, Clif Magness, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Richard Hymas, Charlie Mason and Jeff Kent, "Craving" is a strong personal statement from Christian: a mature artist, songwriter, producer and performer who meets his fans with another beautifully crafted melodic rock release.

"Craving" track listing:

01. Heaven Is A Place In Hell

02. Wild Boys

03. Craving

04. Jesus Wept

05. World Of Possibility

06. Sidewinder

07. I Won't Cry

08. If There's A God

09. Love Is The Answer

10. Black Wasn't Black

11. Amen

The song "Jesus Wept" can be streamed below.

Recording credits:

* James Christian: Lead Vocal, Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocals

* Billy Seidman: Additional Acoustic Guitars

* Tommy Denander: Guitars, Bass, Keys ("Wild Boys", "Love Is The Answer", "Sidewinder", "I Won't Cry")

* Jimi Bell: Guitars ("Black Wasn't Black")

* Pete Alpenborg: Guitars, Bass ("Jesus Wept")

* Alessandro Del Vecchio: Keyboards ("Jesus Wept")

* Clif Magness: All instruments ("Craving")

* Josh Freese: Drums ("Craving")

Swedish classic rock connoisseurs GRAVEYARD have released a teaser video for the official music video for "Please Don't", the first single from the band's eagerly anticipated comeback album, "Peace". The disc was recorded at Park Studios in Stockholm with producer Chips Kiesbye (THE HELLACOPTERS, MICHAEL MONROE, THE NOMADS) and engineer Stefan Boman (BURT BACHARACH, ALICE COOPER, DEF LEPPARD, KENT).

"Peace" is now available for pre-order in various formats. The Nuclear Blast mailorder edition will feature the CD as well as a red seven-inch vinyl containing two exclusive and previously unreleased non-album tracks ("Headache City" and "Something Else"). Aside of that the album will be available as digipack CD as well as on black, yellow, mint, beige and clear vinyl.

"Peace" will be released on May 25 via Nuclear Blast.

The disc will contain the following tracks:

01. It Ain't Over Yet

02. Cold Love

03. See The Day

04. Please Don't

05. Del Maniac

06. The Fox

07. Walk On

08. Bird Of Paradise

09. A Sign Of Peace

10. Low (I Wouldn't Mind)

GRAVEYARD announced its return in January 2017, only four months after saying that the band was calling it quits. The group's new lineup does not include drummer Axel Sjöberg, who is apparently focusing on his new outfit called BIG KIZZ. He has since been replaced by Oskar Bergenheim.

GRAVEYARD released four full-length albums, the latest one being 2015's "Innocence & Decadence".

GRAVEYARD's breakup in September 2016 was attributed to "the all-so-classic reason 'differences within the band.'" The group explained at the time: "This is the unfortunate final decision we've had to make after going through a period of struggling and juggling with personal issues. Things have gone out of hand and now our energy is very low."

GRAVEYARD 2018 is:

Joakim Nilsson - vocals, guitar

Truls Mörck - bass

Oskar Bergenheim - drums

Jonatan Ramm - guitar

Today, Raleigh-based rock outfit ALESANA has released a video for its single "The Coward". The track is taken from the band's new EP, "The Lost Chapters", which is available now.

ALESANA vocalist Shawn Milke stated: "'The Lost Chapters' fills in some blanks for fans who enjoy the small details of our concepts. There are some tunes here that introduce new possibilities as to where our stories could have gone, while others expand on some already existing points. Musically and sonically, each song feels like the era in which they were born and really makes 'The Lost Chapters' feel like you are traveling back in time.

"'The Coward' is, lyrically and narratively, my favorite of the bunch because it introduces a chapter in 'The Emptiness' that I loved and was disappointed to cut originally. It takes place in the immediate aftermath of 'The Murderer'."

"The Lost Chapters" was originally included in ALESANA's project "Origins" which came out last year. Alongside the EP, "Origins" contains a USB key full of never before seen footage, photos, and audio tracks from throughout ALESANA's 13 years as a band, five posters, a shirt with the first-ever ALESANA design, a handbook to walk you through the material covered in "Origins", a personalized message from the band, guitar picks with six of the band's favorite designs, and a ticket good voucher for two for one ALESANA performance.

"The Coward" and "The Lost Chapters" EP are available to stream on all digital platforms and for purchase on iTunes.

Swedish sleaze rockers CRASHDÏET played their first official concert with new frontman Gabriel Keyes on March 30 at Kägelbanan in Stockholm.

Video footage of the gig can be seen below.

In December, CRASHDÏET released its first new song with Keyes, "We Are The Legion".

Keyes, a Stockholm-based singer, is CRASHDÏET's fourth vocalist. CRASHDÏET was previously fronted by Dave Lepard (2000-2006), H. Olliver Twisted (2007-2008) and Simon Cruz (2009-2015).

"We Are The Legion" was made available through CRASHDÏET's own label imprint, Diet Records.

"We like to be a bit impulsive and spontaneous at the moment," CRASHDÏET said in a statement. "Now that we can release the song under our own record label, it's just a matter of going with the flow. It's an interesting time and we're learning a lot about the new music business."

"We Are The Legion" was produced by Eric Bazilian, who can also be heard playing the acoustic guitar in the mesmerizing intro of the track. The song was mixed by Chris Laney, who also worked on CRASHDÏET's debut album, "Rest In Sleaze". The drums were recorded by Björn Samuelsson at Samuelsson Music And Sound Studio. It was mastered by Classe Persson. The artwork was created by Christel Mentges.

CRASHDÏET stated about the song: "It's a fight song, relevant to anyone who's going through challenges and setbacks in a world that is judgmental and superficial. We can only stay together and be strong in the battlefield of life."

Cruz, who was previously a member of the Stockholm act JAILBAIT, joined CRASHDÏET in 2009 as the replacement for H. Olliver Twisted (now in RECKLESS LOVE).

CRASHDIET's latest album, "The Savage Playground", entered the official chart in Sweden at position No. 2. The CD was released in January 2013 via Frontiers.

A trailer for "Family Tree", the new album from Kentucky rockers BLACK STONE CHERRY, is available below. The disc will be released on April 20 via Mascot Records/Mascot Label Group.

"Family Tree" is the much-anticipated follow up to 2016's "Kentucky". As was the case on "Kentucky", the BLACK STONE CHERRY members opted to produce and track the new disc at David Barrick's Barrick Recording in Glasgow, Kentucky, the same studio where the four-piece recorded its eponymous debut. BLACK STONE CHERRY also chose to not over-rehearse upfront of the album sessions, instead preferring the immediacy and spontaneity of in-the-moment takes. The band also entrusted frontman Chris Robertson to mix the songs, which perfectly fit the loose, creative process that birthed "Family Tree".

"Family Tree" boasts BLACK STONE CHERRY's tried-and-true lucky number with its 13 songs, and like all BLACK STONE CHERRY releases, features songwriting contributions from each member.

"This album's not as heavy," Chris told Classic Rock. "In truth, there was some anger and aggression that came out on some of the 'Kentucky' songs, just from changing record labels and stuff like that. But with this record, we didn't concern ourselves with songs being heavy. We broke down all the barriers we'd put up ourselves — or that anyone else had put up in front of us — and just made a rock 'n' roll record."

Two special guests appear, one bringing the concept of family full circle. Chris's five-year-old son contributes backup vocals on the swaggering "You Got The Blues", while the other, revered jam-band musician Warren Haynes (GOV'T MULE) offers a guitar cameo and vocals on the delta stomp of "Dancing In The Rain". The band first met Warren 17 years ago as freshly signed youngsters on their first visit to New York City.

The concept of family looms large in the world of BLACK STONE CHERRY's four band members. Young's father Richard and his uncle Fred are founding members of the Grammy Award-winning country rock 'n' roots band THE KENTUCKY HEADHUNTERS.

BLACK STONE CHERRY's four high school-aged friends — Young, plus frontman/guitarist Chris Robertson, guitarist Ben Wells and bassist Jon Lawhon — grew up honing their craft in the HEADHUNTERS' Practice House, an abandoned property on the Young family's farmland. John Fred says: "We grew up in THE KENTUCKY HEADHUNTERS' rehearsal space, looking up at posters of CREAM, LED ZEPPELIN, URIAH HEEP, THE [ROLLING] STONES MONTROSE, and THE FACES. We were like kids someone took in a time capsule and put in the woods."

"Family Tree" track listing:

01. Bad Habit

02. Burnin'

03. New Kinda Feelin

04. Carry Me On Down The Road

05. My Last Breath

06. Southern Fried Friday Night

07. Dancin' In The Rain (feat. Warren Haynes)

08. Ain't Nobody

09. James Brown

10. You Got The Blues

11. I Need A Woman

12. Get Me Over You

13. Family Tree

The official lyric/performance video for the song "The Safety Of Disbelief" from LIGHT THE TORCH (formerly DEVIL YOU KNOW), the band fronted by former KILLSWITCH ENGAGE singer Howard Jones, can be seen below. The trck is taken from LIGHT THE TORCH's debut album, "Revival", which was released today (March 30) via Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

In addition to Jones, LIGHT THE TORCH features guitarist Francesco Artusato (ALL SHALL PERISH) and bassist Ryan Wombacher (BLEEDING THROUGH). The Los Angeles, California-based trio drew from five years together as DEVIL YOU KNOW to forge a wholly distinct path. Amidst a myriad struggles, they returned from the brink under a new name.

"2016 was a really tough year for us as a band, both personally and professionally," explained Jones. "While going through some lineup changes, we were also battling some issues with the use of our band name. At the same time, I was trying to deal with the loss of my oldest brother, which really hit me hard. During that time, we just bonded like never before. We all meshed because we faced war together. We survived. At the end, we realized we were a real band and decided to make an album representing that resilience. Honestly, we came out of the dark. The name literally signifies what we went through."

"It was time for a change", the singer continued. "It was time for us to try and stretch our wings. We were really going for songs. The structuring made more sense. I was focused on melody and harmony. I really cut loose. All in all, it was the perfect storm. We had so much fun making this, because there were really no restrictions other than creating a heavy and catchy body of work."

The LIGHT THE TORCH lineup boasts one of the most esteemed pedigrees in modern heavy music. Jones spent a decade at the helm of Grammy Award-nominated and gold-selling titans KILLSWITCH ENGAGE. Artusato had much-lauded stint in ALL SHALL PERISH and has attained status as a shred virtuoso. Wombacher was a staple in BLEEDING THROUGH for well over a decade. For "Revival", they are joined by EXTINCTION A.D. drummer Mike "Scuzz" Sciulara.

The album artwork was designed by Artusato.

"Revival" track listing:

01. Die Alone

02. The God I Deserve

03. Calm Before The Storm

04. Raise the Dead

05. The Safety Of Disbelief

06. Virus

07. The Great Divide

08. The Bitter End

09. Lost in the Fire

10. The Sound Of Violence

11. Pull My Heart Out

12. Judas Convention

DEVIL YOU KNOW's name change was prompted by a dispute with the band's former drummer, John Sankey, who left the group in June 2016.

DEVIL YOU KNOW released two albums through Nuclear Blast Entertainment: 2014's "The Beauty Of Destruction" and 2015's "They Bleed Red".

In addition to playing songs from its debut, LIGHT THE TORCH will perform DEVIL YOU KNOW songs at its live shows.

San Francisco Bay Area thrashers HATCHET have released a video for "Desire For Oppression", the first single from their upcoming album, "Dying To Exist", The disc will be released on June 22 via Combat Records, the relaunched imprint now run and operated by EMP Label Group, the U.S.-based label of MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson.

"Desire For Oppression" is also the leadoff track on the upcoming two-disc "Combat Bullets Vol 1.0" compilation, due in stores on April 6. In addition to the HATCHET cut, the collection features tracks from other Combat artists, including SWORD (Canada) , HELSTAR, DEAD BY WEDNESDAY, Marc Rizzo, WRATH, GREEN DEATH and THROW THE GOAT, plus over 25 of the best underground metal bands, as voted by fans, including CASKET ROBBERY, THE VENTING MACHINE, WHITE THRASH, ANIALATOR TX, JUDGEMENTAL, MIDNITE HELLION, AT HOME IN HELL, MYNAS, DIABOLOGY, A HANGING and FATAL MALADY.

HATCHET has launched the pre-order for "Dying To Exist" via CombatMerch.com, available on CD and LP, and in several bundle configurations.

Fueled by the twin guitar attack of vocalist Julz Ramos and Clayton Cagle, bassist Devin Reiche, and drummer Ben Smith, the HATCHET members have built a name and reputation for themselves carrying the torch of classic Bay Area metal, through three prior full-length releases of high-energy, intense thrash and countless tours supporting names like METAL CHURCH, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, SOILWORK, WARBRINGER, ACT OF DEFIANCE, EXMORTUS, DOYLE, D.R.I. and more.

The follow-up to 2015's "Fear Beyond Lunacy", "Dying To Exist" promises to be the band’s heaviest and most focused release to date.

Combat was relaunched in 2017 by Ellefson and partner Thom Hazaert, with all releases manufactured and distributed by EMP Label Group via Amped in North America and SPV in Europe.

THE SKULL, the band featuring vocalist Eric Wagner and bassist Ron Holzner, formerly of metal legends TROUBLE, has completed work on its sophomore album. Titled "The Endless Road Turns Dark", the LP was recorded in Chicago's Decade Music Studios with engineer Sanford Parker (YOB, TOMBS) and builds on the foundation laid by THE SKULL's debut album, "For Those Which Are Asleep", a recording that landed at or near the top of a host of 2014 year-end best of lists. A fall release date is projected for the new LP.

To celebrate the completion of the new album, THE SKULL, which also features longtime CATHEDRAL drummer Brian Dixon, guitarist Lothar Keller (SACRED DAWN), and guitarist Rob Wrong (WITCH MOUNTAIN), has announced a spring U.S. headlining tour that will launch on April 18 in Rochester, New York. The 16-city jaunt will run through May 5 in Lombard, Illinois.

THE SKULL tour dates:

Apr. 18 - Rochester, NY - Montage Music Hall

Apr. 19 - Worcester, MA - Ralph's Rock Diner

Apr. 20 - Jewett City, CT - Altone's

Apr. 21 - Lancaster, PA - Chameleon Club

Apr. 22 - Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery

Apr. 23 - Harrisonburg, VA - Golden Pony

Apr. 24 - Raleigh, NC - Pour House Music Hall

Apr. 25 - Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn

Apr. 26 - New Orleans, LA - Santos Bar

Apr. 27 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall

Apr. 28 - San Antonio, TX - The Limelight

Apr. 30 - Dallas, TX - Reno's Chop Shop

May 01 - Austin, TX - Hotel Vegas

May 03 - Newport, KY - Southgate House Revival

May 04 - Detroit, MI - Harpos

May 05 - Lombard, IL - Brauerhouse Live


In a 2017 interview with Columbus Calling, Wagner stated about how advancements in technology have affected the way he makes new music.

"I like getting in a room together," he said. "I think it's important. The last SKULL record, we did the same thing. Everybody's got their riffs and their songs and when we get together. I used to go to rehearsals with a boombox and a cassette to tape it. Now I'm so spoiled, because it sounds almost like a record in a way. Obviously, we would never put one out like that, but it sounds so good to me, it sounds like I'm listening to a song instead of hurting my ears with a boombox tape. I think it's great, I can talk to the guy and say, 'Try this, try this and move shit around and edit,' and he'll send them back to me.

"Technology is definitely on our side in the studio," he added. "The trick is to make it sound human and not be totally reliant on those technology tricks. It's just like with anything — you use it as a tool, you use it to your advantage and you don't abuse it."

Kaaos TV conducted an interview with vocalist Chuck Billy of San Francisco Bay Area metallers TESTAMENT prior to the band's March 21 concert at Pakkahuone in Tampere, Finland. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked for his thoughts on SLAYER's decision to retire after completing one "final" world tour, Billy said: "We've toured with SLAYER. And I think anybody… If you're not into it… I don't know what their reason is [for calling it quits], but you have to have your heart and soul in whatever you do. Maybe they just felt it was time; I don't know. But SLAYER will be a big part of history and a big part of what metal is today. And to choose to go out on a high note is always a good thing. And especially if you can afford to go out on a high note and enjoy life and do other things than being on the road and touring. Especially if you do it for 30, 40 years, at some point, you might go, 'Well, now I have a family, and maybe I wanna be home with my kids or see my kids grow up.' It's hard to make that decision, and sometimes it probably gets harder to leave home, the older you get and when you have family involved. At some point, you have to think about your family too, and make it work for everybody."

Speaking about how long he can see TESTAMENT carrying on, Chuck said: "We've never really thought about an endgame or an end plan. Over the years, it was always tougher before we had our reunion [in 2005]. Maybe thoughts in the back of our mind said, 'Maybe this is not working out. Maybe we should stop.' But once we had the reunion and everybody was back, we've had a solid lineup, and we've been on tour like a real working band again. So right now, things are good and everybody's surviving and fans seem to be enjoying the shows and there is no goal like that. But we have two more records with Nuclear Blast, and we'll see, at that point, if we get another record deal, we'll keep carrying on. And if we don't, then maybe we'll just write music and put it on the Internet, since that's [how] people get music these days. 'Cause maybe it isn't all just about the touring too."

TESTAMENT will support SLAYER on the first two legs of the Tom Araya-fronted outfit's last-ever North American run of dates. Also scheduled appear on the bill are LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX and BEHEMOTH (with NAPALM DEATH replacing BEHEMOTH for the second leg).

TESTAMENT is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, "Brotherhood Of The Snake", which was released in October 2016 via Nuclear Blast. The cover was once again created by renowned artist Eliran Kantor, who also handled the art for TESTAMENT's previous album, 2012's "Dark Roots Of Earth", and worked with bands like HATEBREED, SOULFLY and KATAKLYSM in the past.

Charlie Benante says that he has around "seven or eight ideas" demoed for ANTHRAX's next album.

The band's upcoming 12th studio disc will be the follow-up to 2016's "For All Kings", which was widely hailed as one of the strongest efforts of ANTHRAX's career.

Asked in a new Metal Wani if he has commenced the songwriting process for ANTHRAX's next LP, the drummer said (hear audio below): "I'm happy to say that I've demoed lots of songs. And I'm already pretty much on our way to the start of making another record. It's just gonna take a little time to all get together and start to arrange and start really crafting the tunes. But, yes, I have started writing songs, and it sounds really good. [I have] probably around seven or eight ideas [demoed right now]. It's probably gonna be another goal of mine to have 20 songs to choose from, like with the last album. I just wanna have as much as possible so we can say, 'Those are great. Okay, we need to work on those a little more.' Just have a variety."

Benante, who is ANTHRAX's main songwriter, also confirmed that there are several tracks left over from the "For All Kings" sessions which did not make the final cut. However, it's unlikely that any of that material will surface on the upcoming record.

"I always say that [some of the unused ideas could serve as a starting point for the next album], and then I always scrap it," Charlie said. "It's, like, 'Nah. The newer stuff is better than that stuff.' But sometimes a little piece of a song will come into play, so I wouldn't rule that out."

"For All Kings"' arrival followed a five-year period during which ANTHRAX experienced a rebirth of sorts, beginning with the band's inclusion on the 2010 "Big Four" tour with METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH, and continuing with the 2011 release of comeback LP "Worship Music".

In December, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian said that he had heard "some killer riffs" that Benante had sent over, "and, in my opinion, they're awesome, and that makes it very exciting moving forward." He added that he was confident that the next ANTHRAX record would "be fucking amazing.'"

Benante told "Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon" last year that the new ANTHRAX music he has been writing is "sounding very pissed off and angry again. I think maybe it's just a reflection of the world and everything in general in this so-called business," he said. "I don't know why it's coming out like that, but it's coming out very — like I said — angry and pissed off and just very aggressive."

ANTHRAX's upcoming disc will be the band's third full-length release since the return of singer Joey Belladonna, who came back into the fold for the "Big Four" shows, in the process helping inspire a new wave of creativity.

ANTHRAX will release its long-awaited live-in-concert DVD, "Kings Among Scotland", on April 27 via Megaforce.

ANTHRAX will support SLAYER on the first two legs of the Tom Araya-fronted outfit's last-ever North American run of dates. Also scheduled appear on the bill are LAMB OF GOD, TESTAMENT and BEHEMOTH (with NAPALM DEATH replacing BEHEMOTH for the second leg).

MASTODON drummer Brann Dailor spoke to Australia's Heavy about finally winning a Grammy in the "Best Metal Performance" category at the 60th annual Grammy Awards in January at Madison Square Garden in New York City. MASTODON got the nod for the song "Sultan's Curse" from its 2017 album "Emperor Of Sand", with the latter also being nominated for "Best Rock Album."

"It felt great," Brann said. "It was an emotion that I couldn't have predicted, to be honest with you. I kind of went out of my body a little bit, I think, which was really awesome."

Acknowleding that "the Grammys mean something different to each person that gets one," Brann said that for him, "it was a hundred years of family members that played music and had always wanted to stand up there and the metal scene. Just a band that's four dudes that started off, humble beginnings or what have you, playing in basements and VFW halls in the U.S., slugging it out, clawing our way through, eating baloney sandwiches and sleeping in our van and sleeping on catpiss-infested floors of the kindness of strangers. So building something from the ground up and then standing on a stage and accepting an award that Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson have both accepted was mindblowing."

Dailor went on to give credit to all the other nominees in the "Best Metal Performance" category, explaining that "any heavy metal band that's nominated for a Grammy definitely deserves one, because I think that heavy metal as a genre is probably one of the most healthy genres, with thousands of subgenres that sprout off it in its 30-, 40-year existence. And all the nominees that were up definitely deserve one — CODE ORANGE and AUGUST BURNS RED… MESHUGGAH especially, [for being] innovators, and BODY COUNT being an incredible band."

It was the fourth and fifth time MASTODON had received Grammy nominations, having missed out on the three previous occasions — "Colony Of Birchmen" (2007), "Curl Of The Burl" (2012) and "High Road" (2015) — it had been up for the "Best Metal Performance" award.

Brann said that he "was really expecting BODY COUNT to win" the "Metal" Grammy this year. "When I found out that they were playing and then they were gonna announce the award, I was, in my head, saying to myself, 'Just say BODY COUNT. Just say BODY COUNT,'" he recalled. "Because being nominated a bunch of times, which is amazing in itself and an amazing feeling to go there, and it's also a great date night — I get dressed up in my finest duds, my wife gets all dressed up — we go out and party and it's a great time. But you wanna get past when they read who won, 'cause then you can just get on with your night, and just say, 'Okay. We lost. Whatever. It doesn't matter. We're here. Let's party. Let's have fun.' But winning was a completely different experience. And I didn't have anything prepared to say, because I didn't wanna have hope in my pocket. But anyways, it was awesome and it was an amazing feeling and our family and friends and fans and everybody that we work with couldn't have been prouder and it was fucking amazing."

The Grammys are voted on by approximately 13,000 Recording Academy members, who are comprised of artists, songwriters, producers and engineers. More than 22,000 recordings were submitted for Grammys consideration this year. For 2018 awards, music must have been released between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017 in order to be eligible.





We won! #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/q0cowXpjxW— Mastodon (@mastodonmusic) January 29, 2018

SLAYER and EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt was recently interviewed on "Whiplash", the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie. You can listen to the entire chat below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

Full Metal Jackie: SLAYER are going on the road for the last time on a final world tour. Tom Araya had hinted about retirement a couple of years ago, but people are still surprised. Was it always the plan to end in 2018?

Gary: "I can't really comment on anything other than what the press release put out there. There'll be more info to follow. All I can say is that the band's gonna go out swinging and we're gonna go out hard. And it's gonna be epic. And from there, we'll see wherever the avenues, roads take me."

Full Metal Jackie: Seeing SLAYER has always been a metal "rite of passage," who do you think will be the must-see band for kids getting into metal after SLAYER ends?

Gary: "That's a really hard question to answer. I mean, there's so many just amazing bands now, but it's also so much harder to build a three-decade-long career in the music industry. Bands like SLAYER and EXODUS and MEGADETH and all of us, we are fortunate to be old. [Laughs] We started before downloading. Back then, it was called tape trading. We were able to build a fanbase, and now it's much harder. There are so many killer bands, like MUNICIPAL WASTE, who you can hardly call a new band — they're veterans now; they've been around forever. And POWER TRIP, and so many more. But as far as filling the big venues, it's gonna be hard for another one to come up, an extreme metal band to get to that level, just because the business model has changed so much. But I hope so. Rap is the number one music form in America for the first time ever. It's not rock 'n' roll, and that pisses me off — angers me to no end."

Full Metal Jackie: EXODUS has long been regarded as a pioneering band right alongside METALLICA, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX and SLAYER. Do you feel any greater sense of responsibility to continue that thrash lineage with EXODUS once there's an absence of SLAYER?

Gary: "Well, EXODUS, that's my life — it's like my childhood friends I'm playing music with there. And they've been super supportive in my absence, and nobody more so than the EXODUS fans themselves. But I've been writing for the last several months. Tom Hunting [drums] and I are both the like-minded in wanting to take as long as it takes to make the next record. We want to make the most badass thing anybody has ever heard. And the new material is simply just devastating — it's just so crushing. The only responsibility I feel is to the band's fans and our own legacy. I don't ever wanna hit the stage and appear to be way past my prime. I feel I'm in my prime now. I'll be 54 in May, and I feel as confident in my abilities as a player and onstage as I ever have. I have to take better care of myself to do it. When I was young, I didn't take care of myself at all. But we're just gonna keep waving the flag of thrash metal. I've always been proud to be a standard bearer and I always will. It's the music form we helped invent, and I love it. It's done very well for me in my life, and I'll never take it for granted."

Full Metal Jackie: You've been playing in SLAYER for seven years. What is going to be the biggest adjustment for you when it's done?

Gary: "There won't be. I'm fortunate in that I won't have to, like someone else in a similar circumstance, start over. I'm sure there are a lot of fans who… I see some of the funny memes out there on Instagram. There are a lot of fans who are, like, 'Come back.' But I have two musical families. Yeah, seven years — that's crazy. It's something that I thought was gonna be a few months long, and, unfortunately, tragedy struck, and I'm still here. I'm not taking that for granted either, but I wish Jeff [Hanneman] was here. I'm just gonna enjoy it while I can and move on to other chapters — EXODUS and other projects I've wanted to do and haven't had time. Time is something in short supply sometimes. I'm just [gonna] stay busy."

Full Metal Jackie: People will speculate what Tom Araya will do next, what Kerry King will do next? What will you do after SLAYER with EXODUS and otherwise?

Gary: "I'll probably be on the road a few weeks later. [Laughs] I'm just gonna keep writing music, writing riffs and playing guitar. That's what I love to do. And as far as what anybody else is gonna do, that's a question only they can answer. But for myself, I'll do what I've been doing — headbang. [Laughs] I fear if I stop, I'll never be able to start up again."

Full Metal Jackie: EXODUS were expected to be already started to record a new album but you've been taking more time with the songwriting. What will be different about the next EXODUS album?

Gary: "That's always a hard question to define for me. I mean, sometimes what's different to me isn't different to other people. Am I trying to retread the same thing? I never do. I think all of our last five albums are different in their own way yet 100 percent EXODUS. Maybe in some ways, some of the riffs are a little more dissonant and bone-crushingly brutal, yet some of the stuff I'm writing is really melodic. Everything seems to be jumping out with really big, badass choruses. It's heavy, it's fast, crushing. No one's gonna be disappointed, that's for sure — no one's gonna say we watered anything down. They're gonna say they turned it up fucking 10 notches. I just challenge myself to see where I can take this thing called thrash metal and this band EXODUS — see where we as five guys, how far we can push the boundaries."

Full Metal Jackie: The last "Big Four" show — [featuring] METALLICA, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX and SLAYER — was almost seven years ago. Do you think SLAYER announcing its farewell might motivate one more "Big Four" show?

Gary: "I have no idea. [Laughs] I know Dave Mustaine [MEGADETH] would like to see it; he said so much publicly. I can't comment on any of that stuff. All I can comment on is we've got some dates coming up, and it's the tour of the summer. It's gonna be epic."

Americano kick ass rock band, Cattail Brew, have released their new album It's A Bit Difficult Really on March 23rd via Capital City Music Factory/Cargo Records. The album contains ten tracks and featuring members of American Dog, Waysted and Snowblynd.

Tracklisting:

“Cry Baby”
“Side By Side”
“Fishbowl Blues”
“Liar”
“Jump Back”
“Get Back The Spark”
“Glitter”
“Fool’s Gold”
“Rock & Roll”
“The Time’s Come”

Cattail Brew is:
Fin Muir - Vocals (American Dog, Waysted)
Steve Theado - Guitars (Amercian Dog, Blackjack, Jade)
Joe Viers - Bass (Snowblynd)
Ryan Smith - Guitars (Snowblynd)
Keith Pickens - Drums (American Dog)

(Photo by: Missie Tong)

Legendary L.A. hard rockers Odin have signed with EMP Label Group, who will reissue much of their classic catalog including upcoming reissues of Don't Take No For An Answer and Fight For Your Life. The limited edition (300 pcs) vinyl reissue of Don't Take No For An Answer, in stores April 20th with a limited quantity available for pre-order now from empmerch.com, includes remastered versions of the original 1985 recording, in an astonishingly faithful recreation of the original LP, reworked by artist Melody Myers.

Says EMP Label Group's Thom Hazaert, “We really wanted the reissue of Don't Take No For An Answer to be painfully faithful to the original release, but with a few modern upgrades, and we pored over every detail. As a HUGE fan of Odin, I wanted to create a really special reissue that fans could celebrate, and would really be a nod to this seminal, criminally overlooked release.”

Says vocalist Randy “O” Roberg, “I was introduced to Thom from EMP by my cousin, Jerry Dixon from Warrant. We started talking about my solo release and some things I was working on, and he told me what a huge Odin fan he was, and we started discussing ideas for reissuing some of the Odin catalog. We’re all really excited about the reissues and the way they are coming out. It’s awesome to be able to really bring these releases to light in a way that the fans are excited about.”

Formed in 1982, Odin were one of the original pioneers of the LA progressive power metal/hard rock scene, playing to sold out crowds with the likes of W.A.S.P. (Odin performed during the band’s legendary Blood Drive), Armored Saint, Steeler (featuring EMP labelmate Ron Keel), Dokken, Alcatrazz, The Plasmatics, Helix, Malice, and more, building a massive following before disbanding in the late 80’s. Guitarist Jeff Duncan went on to join Armored Saint, of which he is still a member, as well as DC4 alongside his brother, and Odin drummer, Shawn Duncan, brother Matt Duncan, and guitarist Rowan Robertson (ex-Dio). Singer Randy O, who released the fan favorite post-Odin Lostboys LP via Atlantic Records in 1990, is putting the finishing touches on his roots-rock heavy debut solo LP Coming Home, also to be released via EMP in 2018.

Also on the slate is a reissue of Odin's 1988 Japan only LP Fight For Your Life, being released with bonus tracks including a brand new 2018 recording of “Little Gypsy”, made infamous by the bands notorious appearance in the recently re-released Penelope Spheeris documentary Decline of Western Civilization Part 2, The Metal Years, (the album also features “12 O’ Clock High”, the other song featured in the film) being the subject of recent press features, which strayed sharply from the band’s metal roots to focus heavily on the band’s more “Sunset Strip-friendly” aspects.

Says drummer Shawn Duncan, “We were always playing with metal bands. We had a lot of the more mainstream bands open for us, Warrant opened for us, Tesla, Bang Tango. But really our hearts were metal. We listened to a lot of Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Maiden, Scorpions, and Ozzy. That stuff was huge to us. We were more of a power metal band than a glam band, which was sort of the perception because of Decline.”

He adds, “You figure, from the movie, that was the only exposure most people had to Odin. But you listen to the Fight For Your Life album, you listen to a song like “Fight For Your Life”, “Modern Day King”, those are heavy songs. I think ultimately what happened with Odin, me and Jeff have always had a heavier heart, but Jeff writes really good catchy things. Like, DC4 is just a progression of Odin, and It still has the edge but there’s some commercial aspects to it. And we had a flashier style than some of the other Metal bands around. It’s its own anomaly, I guess.”

“But she (Decline director Penelope Spheeris) did what a director does, she picked out the stuff that is gonna stick out the most and get the most attention. Now down the road I look at it, if you didn’t have that attitude in LA at that particular moment, you weren’t gonna do shit. Everybody had that attitude, it wasn’t just Odin. And that’s why so much shit came out of there. It was an incredible, competitive talent pool that was alive and thriving because everybody came there. If you didn’t think you were gonna be huge, you weren’t gonna be shit. Just like Jeff says, we weren’t doing anything everybody else wasn’t doing at the time. We just got it on film.”

Odin, who reunited for a one-off show in 2003 with their classic lineup featuring vocalist Randy O, guitarist Jeff Duncan, Bassist Aaron Samson, and drummer Shawn Duncan, still play several shows a year, and will headline the Whisky on April 21st for an album release show.

Says Randy O, “We would get asked to do shows constantly, and eventually, I think in 2003, we did our first reunion show at the Troubadour. Since then we’ve done a few shows a year, we did Rocklahoma, Monsters of Rock. It’s been great. Everyone is busy doing their own things, Jeff is in Armored Saint, Shawn and Jeff in DC4, Aaron tours with Bulletboys and a bunch of other bands, and I’ve been working on my solo record for like, 15 years. Haha. But we have so much fun doing Odin, it’s like a high school reunion every time. The place is packed, all of our friends show up, and we all have a great time.”

Rob Halford says that there are no plans for JUDAS PRIEST to retire, even though guitarist Glenn Tipton announced that he was stepping away from the road due to his battle with Parkinson's disease.

Tipton found out he had Parkinson's four years ago — after being stricken by the degenerative condition at least half a decade earlier — but only recently announced he was going to sit out touring activities in support of PRIEST's latest album, "Firepower". The guitarist, who is now 70 and has performed on every PRIEST LP since the band's 1974 debut set, "Rocka Rolla", is not quitting the band, but simply cannot handle the rigorous challenges of performing live. He is being replaced on the road by "Firepower" producer Andy Sneap, who is also known as the guitar player in NWOBHM revivalists HELL and cult thrashers SABBAT.

"We know what Glenn has been up against, and he has showed us the absolute proof that there is no such thing as retirement in the PRIEST plan," Rob tells Maximum Ink. "Glenn has been forging ahead for the last 10 years with Parkinson's disease and he never once mentioned retiring or quitting. This is really a strong signal from Glenn and the rest of us. Why should we even consider retiring now? We still feel that there is another song to do, another show to do, and always our beautiful fans to see again and again. You retire when things get too shaky and a bit of sadness. That's not the case with PRIEST. We're probably stronger now than we have been, and I think Glenn would agree with that."

Halford and PRIEST bassist Ian Hill previously spoke about a potential end to the band on the "Metal Hammer Podcast".

"I cannot conceive of us ever saying, in 2022, at 3 o'clock, on a Wednesday afternoon, July, we're gonna end," Rob said. "I think more than ever now, we're so joyed and grateful that we've been able to get this far from the support of our fans that you don't say a farewell tour, you don't say retire. I think slowly but surely we'll just play less and less and less, but I can't see that for the foreseeable future.”

Ian explained that it's virtually impossible for PRIEST to ever stop considering the large number of tour offers the band receives.

"Where don't you play?" he said. "New album, tour coming up, all of these offers are coming from all over the world… so you're right back into touring again."

"You've got to go where your fans want you," added Rob. "You can arrange the touring in a different way, but you can't just got to A, then to C, and miss B out, because those people have supported you for 30, 40 years. You try to explain to them that you're not coming to B so they have to travel a thousand miles to A or C. We can't be that as a band, as people. So we're just going to keep going and going and the end will come when it chooses to show its face."

In 2011, PRIEST embarked on its world run of "Epitaph" shows, at the time billed as a farewell tour. It wasn't long, however, before the members of PRIEST changed their minds, with Halford crediting the addition of guitarist Richie Faulkner, who replaced original member K.K. Downing just prior to the "Epitaph" tour, with rejuvenating the band and causing everyone to reconsider.

"Firepower" was released on March 9 via Epic.

The North American leg of the "Firepower" tour will wrap on May 1 in San Antonio, Texas.

Greek guitar virtuoso Gus G., who joined Ozzy Osbourne's band just under a decade ago, says that he is "totally cool" with the BLACK SABBATH singer getting back together with his longtime axeman Zakk Wylde.

It was announced last April that Wylde would be rejoining Ozzy's backing group for all his upcoming solo show dates. Osbourne's touring lineup also includes Rob "Blasko" Nicholson on bass, Tommy Clufetos on drums and Adam Wakeman on keyboards.

Gus, who played on Ozzy's latest studio album, 2010's "Scream", confirmed in a new interview with All That Shreds that he was told in advance that Ozzy would be working with Zakk again. "Sharon [Osbourne, Ozzy's wife and manager] gave me a call last year," he said. "She told me what's going to happen. I got a heads up, and I am totally cool with it. It's your band, and you do what you have to do. I was happy that I was there in the first place and [that] it lasted for [as long as it did]. My original deal with the Osbournes was for an album and a tour that was going to continue for 18 months and that 18 months became seven years. Technically, they didn't even have to call me after that [first] tour, so they kept calling me back. So it was all good, man. I'm lucky, and I'm blessed that I got to spend all the time with them and play all these shows and be a part of his band for all this time. I have terrific memories."

Gus reiterated that there are no hard feelings between him and Ozzy. "There's a lot of history there with Zakk, and I understand that," Gus said. " Coming out of the BLACK SABBATH thing, which was huge, of course, he needed a big boost. Given the fact that it's a farewell-tour thing, it's cool that he's bringing Zakk back to the band. You cannot take those kinds of things for granted, honestly."

According to Gus, he "wrote a couple of songs" for a possible new Ozzy studio album before his departure from Osbourne's band. "One of those songs, after they let me go from the band, I decided to use it for this record," referring to his upcoming solo album, "Fearless". "It's a song called 'Don't Tread On Me'."

"Fearless" will arrive on April 20 via AFM Records. The follow-up to 2015's "Brand New Revolution" marks Gus's first release since exiting Osbourne's band in 2017.

Wylde originally joined Osbourne's band three decades ago and backed the legendary frontman from 1987 to 1995, then again in 1998, from 2001 to 2004 and also from 2006 to 2009. His guitar playing can be heard on Osbourne's studio albums "No Rest For The Wicked", "No More Tears", "Ozzmosis", "Down To Earth", "Under Cover" and "Black Rain". The first album with Wylde went double platinum and "No More Tears" remains Ozzy's most successful album, going four times platinum in the United States with four Top 10 songs on the U.S. Billboard chart. Wylde also appeared with Ozzy on three live albums.

Last year, Gus released a new studio album with his long-running band FIREWIND, "Immortals", after issuing two discs as a solo artist.

"Victim Of Pain", a new song from DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Don Airey, can be streamed below. The track is taken from Airey's upcoming solo album, "One Of A Kind", which will be released on May 25 via earMUSIC as 2CD (including a bonus live CD) as well as on vinyl and digitally.

It is hard to find a name amongst all those that over the last 30 years have left their mark in the history of rock that has not utilized Don's keyboard skills at some point. The list includes OZZY OSBOURNE, RAINBOW, WHITESNAKE, JUDAS PRIEST, Gary Moore, Brian May, JETHRO TULL, BLACK SABBATH and, obviously, DEEP PURPLE, the band of which Airey has been a full-time member for over 15 years.

But Airey has never been a session player. Bands and artists work with him for his unique musical vision, for the twist he gives to songs. It is with the same passion, the same energy, the same talent that Don Airey approaches his very own songwriting.

"One Of A Kind" is a true classic hard rock gem with melodies, great riffs and solos and a unique band unity. To top it all, his new solo album has been written and recorded using the spirit of a band featuring the following talented musicians: Carl Sentance (from the current lineup of British legends NAZARETH) is a singer that all fans of metal voices like those of Rob Halford and Graham Bonnet will love; bassist Laurence Cottle, who has played with everyone from BLACK SABBATH to Gary Moore to Chick Corea, forges a great rhythm section with the thunderous talent of Jon Finnigan, apparently as loud on stage as he is at the after show parties. Last but definitely not least, there is the incredible talent of Simon McBride, who has no fear of being compared to the many incredible guitar players Don has worked with before.

"One Of A Kind" is one song after the other for the delight of every hard rock fan, who would be making a big mistake were they to overlook this album.

It is not difficult to see Don Airey playing one day with DEEP PURPLE in front of 15,000 people, and the next day, playing the organ in the church of his beloved local village with the same concentration and respect for the music and the audience.

It is with the same spirit that Don shows no discernible effort moving from the glories of the last two DEEP PURPLE albums ("Now What?!" and "InFinite" both having benefitted from his ever present talent) to playing in clubs with his own band. And always with a big smile on his face as soon as the guitar roars in, waiting to reply with his Hammond.

"One Of A Kind" track listing:

01. Respect

02. All Out Of Line

03. One Of A Kind

04. Everytime I See Your Face

05. Victim Of Pain

06. Running Free

07. Lost Boys

08. Need You So Bad

09. Children Of The Sun

10. Remember To Call

11. Stay The Night

Bonus CD (Recorded live at Fabrik, Hamburg on March 14, 2017):

01. Pictures Of Home (originally by DEEP PURPLE)

02. Since You've Been Gone (originally by RAINBOW)

03. I Surrender (originally by RAINBOW)

04. Still Got The Blues (originally by GARY MOORE)

From multi-Emmy award-winning composer/producer Brian Tarquin comes Guitar Masters Collection, an extraordinary compilation of hard-to-find rarities, including tracks from the late great Allan Holdsworth, plus a rare, unheard recording by the recently departed guitar icon Larry Coryell. The album also contains cover songs “Hair” by Joe Satriani & Stanley Clarke and “I Wish” featuring Ozzy axeman Zakk Wylde as well as Steve Vai, Chris Poland (of Megadeth), Leslie West & Hal Lindes (of Dire Straits) alongside bass masters Randy Coven and Billy Sheehan.

Guitar Player magazine editor & chief, Mike Molenda, who wrote the liner notes for this collection, states “For fearless explorers of the musical unknown, a perfect compilation of artistry is a collection of performances that pummels your unsuspecting little ass with shock waves of awe and wonder. Rather than document the obvious - or sate the expectations of the casual enthusiast - every track challenges, puzzles, thrills, inspires, and, ultimately, delights the listener.”

Don’t miss this fantastic album, available on CD and digital from Purple Pyramid Records. Purchases are available at this location.

Tracklisting:

Allan Holdsworth & David Hines – “Skippy”
Larry Coryell & Brian Tarquin – “Tocar Modera”
Steve Vai & Randy Coven – “Funk Me Tender”
Zakk Wylde & Randy Coven – “I Wish”
Stanley Clarke & Joe Satriani – “Hair”
Chris Poland & Brian Tarquin – “Tarquinius Maximus”
Leslie West & Randy Coven – “Mother Load”
Hal Lindes – “Ricarda”
Allan Holdsworth & David Hines – “Antilla”
Billy Sheehan, Doug Doppler & Brian Tarquin – “Blue Wind”

The reunited original lineup of ROCK GODDESS — the female power trio from the days of NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) featuring sisters Jody and Julie Turner along with bassist Tracey Lamb — will enter a London studio on May 14 with producer Wes Maebe (UB40, Robert Plant, NEW MODEL ARMY, PRAYING MANTIS) to begin recording its comeback album, "This Time". The disc will be released on October 5 via the band's own label, Bite You To Death Records, in conjunction with partners worldwide and digitally via Cargo Records.

"This Time" can be exclusively pre-ordered now on Pledge Music.

Jody states: "It's been a long time coming, and thanks for your loyalty, love and patience. We can't put into words how excited we are about making this album. Here we go."

ROCK GODDESS's last release was a three-song EP, "It's More Than Rock And Roll", which arrived last May.

The official video for the "It's More Than Rock And Roll" title track can be seen below.

ROCK GODDESS was formed in 1977 in Wandsworth South London by Jody Turner (guitar and vocals) and Julie Turner (drums) when they were thirteen and nine years old, respectively. They recruited school friend Tracey Lamb on bass guitar.

ROCK GODDESS first rose to the nation's awareness when they were first featured in Kerrang! No. 5 in 1981 in the "Armed And Ready" section as one of the bands to watch out for. After recording a four-track demo tape and an appearance at the Reading Festival in 1982, sharing a bill with IRON MAIDEN, plus regular shows at the Marquee club, the band landed a contract with the A&M label. They recorded their eponymous debut album with producer Vic Maile in 1983 and hit the lower end of the charts. A follow-up album, "Hell Hath No Fury", arrived a year later, by which time Lamb had left the band to form SHE and later to join GIRLSCHOOL.

After their contract with A&M expired in 1987, ROCK GODDESS' already recorded (in 1985) third album, titled "Young And Free", was released only in France. The effort saw the band taking on a more commercial sound.

ROCK GODDESS' career was cut short by financial and contractual problems, which forced them to disband shortly thereafter.

ROCK GODDESS did briefly reform in 2009 and was due to play Hard Rock Hell festival in Prestatyn, and was also booked to perform at the Headbangers Open Air festival in Germany the following summer, but split before they had a chance to appear at either event.

In March 2013, it was announced that the original ROCK GODDESS lineup had reunited and would start recording a new album.

Rufus Stone Publications will release a special 50th-anniversary edition of "Led Zeppelin - Five Glorious Nights" showcasing LED ZEPPELIN's legendary appearance at Earls Court in 1975.

Originally released in 2015, "Five Glorious Nights" captures the visual magnificence of the band though the photographic images of some of the finest rock photographers of the era — who were right there on the spot to capture rock history.

Drawing from the archives of a variety of photographers — including Barry Plummer, Dick Barnatt, Ian Dickson, Michael Putland, Mick Gold and Gus Stewart — the book chronicles the sheer visual splendor of these historic concerts though an extensive collection of color and black-and-white photos, many of them rarely seen. The photos are complemented by rare memorabilia and a written commentary that puts into perspective exactly why these concerts were some of the finest LED ZEPPELIN ever performed.

The book is compiled and written by Dave Lewis — the highly respected LED ZEPPELIN archivist and author and editor of the long running LED ZEPPELIN magazine Tight But Loose. Dave was in attendance at all five of the Earls Court concerts.

This special, limited edition of the book is available in a run of just 50 copies, celebrating the band's gold anniversary. The book is a 300mm square, 288-page hardback book with leather quarterbind and foiled, embossed cover. Each book is signed by the author Dave Lewis and lead photographers Barry Plummer and Dick Barnatt and numbered 1-50. The book comes with a folder featuring a 3D lenticular cover housing four prints selected by Barry Plummer and Dick Barnatt. The whole package comes in a gold metal slipcase with laser cut logo and a unique "Five Nights" t-shirt (small, large or extra-large).

"Five Glorious Nights" has been acclaimed by fans and critics, with Chris Charlesworth remarking: "It is a fine tribute to a legendary group, conceived and assembled with loving care and attention to detail by Lewis, now their foremost archivist. Bearing in mind the prices of these upper-end editions, it's a bit of a bargain, at least compared to Genesis editions. The photo budget must have been colossal as there are over 250 included here."

For more information, click here.

German psychedelic, hard rock trio Black Salvation have released a visualizer for “Leair”, off the impending full-length album Uncertainty Is Bliss. Watch below.

Uncertainty Is Bliss is due out April 6th on CD/LP/Digital via Relapse Records. Physical packages are available here, and digital downloads / streaming services here.

Black Salvation - featuring Uno Bruniusson formerly of In Solitude and Grave Pleasures and currently of Death Alley - challenges the listener to open wide the doors of perception and slowly drift away among their transcendental compositions and deeply hypnotic tales of magic and mysticism. Across eight tracks and over forty minutes, Black Salvation exquisitely blends hard rock, doom, and psychedelia into an intoxicating synthesis of rock 'n' roll alchemy. Uncertainty Is Bliss is surely one of the most captivating rock debuts in years.

Tracklisting:

“In A Casket’s Ride”
“Floating Torpid”
“Breathing Hands”
“The Eye That Breathes”
“Leair”
“A Direction Is Futile”
“Grey River”
“Getting Slowly Lost”
“The Chapel” (Bonus track)
“Follow Me Down” (Bonus track)

“Leair” visualizer:

"Breathing Hands" video:

“In A Casket’s Ride”:

Century Media Records has announced the worldwide signing of Danish death metal act Baest, whose moniker translates to ‘beast’ or ‘brute’ in the band’s native language and fits just perfectly to the group’s vicious sound. Highly influenced by bands such as Bloodbath, Grave, Entombed and Dismember, who are renowned for their savage Boss HM-2 pedal abusing guitar tone, Baest have a deadly old school backbone and combine with their own creative edge and incredible, ferocious live energy.

Having formed just three years ago in 2015, the quintet played over 40 shows just in their first year of existence and meanwhile has performed at festivals such as Copenhell, Roskilde, Royal Metal Fest, Eurosonic and supported bands like Hatebreed, Dying Fetus, Entombed A.D. and Illdisposed. After the independently released Marie Magdalene EP in 2016 and last year’s "Crosswhore” single, the Aarhus based band is now gearing up for the release of their first full-length, which will be released in summer 2018.

Baest comment: “Signing with Century Media is more than a dream come true. Hailing from the greatest period of heavy music ever, signing legendary acts such as Demolition Hammer, Grave, Unleashed and of course Bloodbath early on, CM is the perfect label for Baest. The guys have an awesome taste and balls as big as the HM-2 tone. Our debut Danse Macabre deserves the best possible launch, and CM makes that possible. The CM followers can expect an old school death metal album, honouring the genre’s forefathers, perfectors and legends, but with a brutal and conceptually true aura to it. This is death metal with a timeless appeal. We want to also thank Toke Holt (Wannarock) and Jesper Mardahl from Promus, for their enormous amount of help and guidance!”

Jens Prüter, Head of A&R, Century Media Records Europe: “This January I visited Copenhell Freezes Over where the Copenhell Festival is presenting Danish talent to fans and international business partners (it’s like South By Southwest - just more metal and much colder, ha ha). I had already heard some good things about Baest and Jeppe from Copenhell made sure that I didn’t miss them at the sold-out Vega club. It rarely happens that a bunch of business farts is immediately blown away by a band’s sheer force, but we all were and I couldn’t hold back signing them for CM. We are very proud to unleash this Nordic death metal beast upon mankind and hope you will like this bunch as much as we do! Thanks again to Jeppe Nissen from Copenhell and Anders Meisner from Music Export Denmark - and of course to Baest!”

To get a first impression of Baest, check out the video for “Crosswhore”, the opening track of Danse Macabre:

Furthermore, the band has just been confirmed for this year’s Summer Breeze festival and is working hard on additional live shows in support of Danse Macabre. Find their current tour schedule here.

Lineup (above, from left to right):

Mattias Melchiorsen - bass
Svend Karlsson - guitar
Sebastian Abildsten - drums
Simon Olsen - vocals
Lasse Revsbech - guitar

(Live photo - EHB Fotografia / ehbfotografia.com, Band photo - Jens Karlsson)

Blackberry Smoke performed “Pretty Little Lie”, a track from their 2012 album The Whippoorwill, at YouTube HQ in London. Watch the performance below:

The band's new album, Find A Light, will be available on April 6th. Order your copy here.

Trackisting:

"Flesh And Bone"
"Run Away From It All"
"The Crooked Kind"
"Medicate My Mind"
"I've Got This Song"
"Best Seat In The House"
"I'll Keep Ramblin'"
"Seems So Far"
"Lord Strike Me Dead"
"Let Me Down Easy"
"Nobody Gives A Damn"
"Till The Wheels Fall Off"
"Mother Mountain"

"Let Me Down Easy":

Fat&Holy Records introduce Glanville, a brand new heavy metal band mostly from Darmstadt, Germany. The introduction comes by way of a video for the song "God Is Dead", which can be found below. "God Is Dead" dives, in a holy fashion, straight into twin lead guitar harmonies which immediately sets the tone for the rest of song.

Glanville was formed by childhood friends Philipp Michel (Jack Daniels) and René Hofmann (Marijuana) who wrote five great heavy metal songs and decided they needed to be played by a real band.

Hofmann, who previously played guitar, had this to say about the experience: "As an unsuccessful guitarist screaming and complaining all the time about my playing, I found out that my my tongue works better than my fingers so I became a singer. Finding the right musicians for the band was hard. It took over a year... like diggin' in the bargain bin and only finding the leftover bruised apples."

The lineup is completed by bass player Peter-Philipp Schierhorn (Cocaine), rhythm guitar player Chris West (Cheeseburgers) and Thomas Hoffmann (Heroin) on drums.

Bass player extraordinaire Schierhorn describes joining the fast-paced band: "Having grown up on a strict diet of Judas Priest, I just had to hop on board. But now my right hand constantly hurts.”

"God Is Dead" is taken from the band's upcoming First Blood EP that is due to be released May 4th via Fat&Holy Records on CD, LP and digital. First Blood was recorded live in a Darmstadt studio with most members never having played together and some only meeting for the first time during the two days pre-production and rehearsing before recording.

The band play an EP launch gig at the Oetinger Villa in Darmstadt, Germany on April 14th. First Blood can be pre-ordered here.