"Shine On", the new video from New Jersey thrash metal veterans OVERKILL, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's latest album, "The Grinding Wheel", which was released on February 10 via Nuclear Blast. The disc was produced by OVERKILL and mixed by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, EXODUS, ACCEPT). The artwork was created again by Travis Smith (NEVERMORE, OPETH, SOILWORK, DEATH).

OVERKILL frontman Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth recently told the Croatian metal portal NoiseEyes.com about the musical direction of "The Grinding Wheel": "First and foremost, production. Andy has done some great work with different bands in the genre from ACCEPT to ARCH ENEMY. He's really the metal go-to guy. But we wanted to use his abilities, but we wanted to use them with regard to how we saw the record being. One of the things we saw in modern metal is a guitar tone that doesn't have a cohesive relationship with the drums. We wanted more organic drums to start with, and we wanted a guitar tone that came somewhere out of the high technology of the '90s. So it's really kind of a throwback with regard to our thinking, so if you're thinking a drum sounding like a drum and the guitars sounding more in the vein of 'Horrorscope' for us, where it wasn't just top end, but top end and low end with a little bit of mids carved out of them. I think that's the thing I noticed the most about it."

He continued: "With regard to songwriting, we had done three records, 'Ironbound', 'The Electric Age' and 'White Devil Armory', that were for us, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. [Laughs] Or sisters! There's something about them where there was a formula that we were, I think in our opinion, neglecting some of the other tools that we've accumulated over the years. 'The Grinding Wheel' is much more diverse. There's an epic feel to some of the songs. There's a sludgy, slower feel. There is 'Our Finest Hour', which has been released, which could fit on one of those other three records but everything else doesn't seem like it would fit on these records. I think it's a wider OVERKILL, but press play when you get it. I think that's the best way for people to decide. Everybody has got to be a critic. That's the idea of being a music fan. I'm a music fan, but I'm also a critic. I love or I hate, or it's okay. It'd rather be loved or hated, not 'Ah, it's okay, whatever.'"

The official lyric video for the song "Resistance" from MEMORIAM, the new Birmingham, United Kingdom-based death/grind metal band featuring Karl Willets (BOLT THROWER) on vocals, Frank Healy (BENEDICTION, CEREBRAL FIX) on bass, Scott Fairfax (CEREBRAL FIX) on guitar and Andy Whale (BOLT THROWER) on drums, can be seen below. The track is taken from MEMORIAM's debut album, "For The Fallen", which will be released on March 24 through Nuclear Blast Records. The album's impressive artwork was created by Dan Seagrave (BENEDICTION, DISMEMBER, HYPOCRISY, SUFFOCATION).

Seagrave stated about the "For The Fallen" artwork: "Starting from the band's thoughts on visualizing a kind of funeral procession with a theme of combat, war and in conjunction with the title 'For The Fallen', as with all my works, I then attempt to make the information evolve in my mind's eye, and allow imagination to take over those elements but retaining the core concept. The painting thus depicts a funeral procession moving through a long-wartorn cityscape. Twisted shards of towers and buildings. A cathedral facade stands defiantly, yet riddled with destruction and decay. At closer insp,ection the structures all seem to be infected with an element of natural decomposition, as if organically inclined to fade with the demise of the season, the season itself lost in a timeless void. The figures appear as remnants of once soldiers, now strange in their gathered mass, drawn forwards by the drifting momentum of the procession. Unaware of their emaciated state they follow the commander. The commander's elongated appearance is tattered and almost creature-like, with the combat-style elements and gasmask falsely presenting as a costume. The procession appears almost ghost-like, ancient and serene, slowly moving through this eerie place as if forever. Far in the background there might still be a war happening, but perhaps in another time. As we view a sublevel of reality, lost in the present, captured in light, where the war had passed through and we are left in a ghost biology, where chemicals and history meet to create an inescapable surrealism."

"For The Fallen" track listing:

Digi

01. Memoriam02. War Rages On03. Reduced To Zero04. Corrupted System05. Flatline06. Surrounded (By Death)07. Resistance08. Last Words

LP

Side A

01. Memoriam02. War Rages On03. Reduced To Zero04. Corrupted System

Side B

01. Flatline02. Surrounded (By Death)03. Resistance04. Last Words

MEMORIAM was primarily developed to fill the void that was left following the tragic death of Martin "Kiddie" Kearns, the drummer from BOLT THROWER, back in September 2015. BOLT THROWER subsequently placed all activity on hold for the foreseeable future which gave Karl Willetts an opportunity to develop a new project with friends that had expressed interest in forming a band for some time.

MEMORIAM is an old-school death metal band, maintaining the standards set by their previous bands, focusing on the themes of death, loss and war. Initially, the bandmembers got together to play covers of songs that had influenced them throughout their careers within the death metal scene. However, it soon became apparent that the new songs that they created were of a superior standard.

Photo credit: Gobinder Jhitta

NIGHTWISH singer Floor Jansen and SABATON drummer Hannes Van Dahl welcomed their first child, a daughter named Freja, on March 15. They say in a statement: "We are very happy parents! Thank you for your kind support coming in from all over the world during this time!"

Van Dahl is sitting out shows on SABATON's European tour so that he could spend time with his family during this period. Fillling in for him is Daniel Sjögren (TWILIGHT FORCE, BLOODBOUND).

Asked by Spain's Metal Journal whether his family situation will have an impact on his ability to tour with SABATON, Hannes said: "Well, you know, as far as I'm concerned, nothing will really change, 'cause this is what I do, an this is… this is what I do to make a living. People have had kids before in this business. So, to stop any worries — 'cause I know a lot of people are worried [about me] quitting the band — I will stay in the band. And as far as I can say, when it's time, I need to go and be there with my family. But when I've done that, I'm going back to touring. So I won't leave. I will be there."

Jansen herself has spoken about the challenges of raising a child while being in a touring band like NIGHTWISH. She told Finland's Radio Rock last fall: "Of course, it's a very challenging combination, and I was very happy that the way [NIGHTWISH is] today — or, actually, have always been — it's a very open group; we can talk about things. And the guys, actually, were curious. A few months ago, we started talking about it, like, 'So, 2017… How about kids? Yeah?' So it's great to think about things together: how can we combine it? Also 'cause my partner is in a successful band, touring a lot. Yeah, then you need the cooperation of the people that you are family with also. So I am not afraid that won't work. It will be a challenge, for sure, but, yeah, a little SABATON or NIGHTWISH daycare program sounds lovely, doesn't it? [Laughs]"

Jansen also dismissed rumors that she will leave the band after welcoming her first child. She told Mariskal Rock TV: "No, I won't [quit NIGHTWISH]. I love this way too much; don't worry. You don't even have negative speculations one way or another. Things are great, and let's keep on doing this forever."

SABATON's eighth album, "The Last Stand", was released last August via Nuclear Blast.

Van Dahl joined SABATON in November 2013 after previously playing with another Swedish band, EVERGREY.




In perfect health our daughter Freja was born on the 15th of March. We are very happy parents! Thank you for your kind support coming in from all over the world during this time! Hannes, Floor & Freja.

Posted by Floor Jansen on Friday, March 17, 2017

DIRKSCHNEIDER decided to continue the tour in 2017. You can read the official statement below:

"Dear Fans, Friends and Partners,

We want to let you know that we have decided to continue with DIRKSCHNEIDER!

Originally it was our plan to go back to touring with U.D.O. in 2017. But we have received an incredible number of emails and letters from fans begging us to continue with DIRKSCHNEIDER, and as there are still so many (Accept) songs left to be sung, we have decided to bow to your demands!

During the last tours with DIRKSCHNEIDER, the audience had a lot of fun, and we as a band also had the time of our lives on stage. In fact, a whole lot of people in countries all over the world have been knocked out by these shows. Just check out all the media (especially from the US, where we have just finished a 5 week tour) and you will read the caption „tour of the year“ multiple times……

We are thrilled by the idea of continuing and we are really looking forward to seeing you all again live on tour!

Oh, we nearly forgot to tell you about possibly the most important point of all: From Oct 2017 on, DIRKSCHNEIDER will tour with an almost completely NEW setlist. Of course, it will still contain only Accept hits, but this time with many different songs compared to the last tours.

Get your tickets here: https://www.adticket.de/Dirkschneider.html

For this tour you will also have the chance to purchase special hard tickets from metaltix ltd. https://www.metaltix.com/udo-dirkschneider-tickets-4983.html"

LINKIN PARK's official lyric video for the song "Battle Symphony" can be seen below. The track is the second single from the band's seventh studio album, "One More Light", which will be released on May 19 through Warner Bros.

LINKIN PARK debuted the disc's first single, "Heavy", on Los Angeles radio station KROQ on February 16, followed by a performance of the track later in the day on Facebook Live. The song features guest vocals from Kiara Saulters, who is best known for recording stop-motion, hip-hop-inspired electro-R&B under the name Kiiara and who is featured in the track's accompanying video.

"Heavy" sees LINKIN PARK teaming up with pop songwriter Emily Wright, who has worked with artists like Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry and Flo Rida. Vocalist Mike Shinoda told The Pulse Of Radio about the concept behind the song and its very different sound: "The question popped into my head, what would it be like, first of all, to write with people outside the band? What would it be like to really approach things with our arms kind of wide open, wrapped around a larger audience? And still make it a hundred percent LINKIN PARK and a hundred percent true to what we do. Almost a year and a half later, this is the first taste of what that sounds like."

Asked what the rest of "One More Light" is like, Shinoda told Billboard: "One of the reasons why we chose 'Heavy' as the first single is because it is really the core sound of the album. This wasn't a scenario where the whole album sounds one way and the single sounds different. This is how the album sounds. So we wanted to go out with a song like that, where everybody can get a sense of the direction of this body of work."

Shinoda also talked about LINKIN PARK's decision to collaborate with other writers this time around.

"The thing that really drove this album was we kind of flipped our writing process backwards," he said. "Historically for us the (instrumental) track usually comes first, like we'll make a body of music and the music will inspire the lyrics. In this case, we actually flipped that around and the very first thing we'd do each day is we'd get into the studio and say, 'What's on my mind? What do I want to sing about and write about?' and that defined a whole different kind of writing. It builds a wonderful foundation to put everything else on top of. And the soundmaking is actually one of the most fun parts for me, so then it's like icing on the cake. I know I've got a strong song, a strong foundation and then it's just icing to put on top of it."

Other tunes on the new CD include "Nobody Can Save Me", "Good Goodbye", "Talking To Myself", "Invisible", "Sorry For Now", "Halfway Right", "Sharp Edges" and the title track.

Photo credit: James Minchin

Legendary progressive metal act FATES WARNING celebrated the 30th anniversary of its third album, "Awaken The Guardian", in 2016. The album was to become their final release to feature vocalist John Arch. That era's lineup was rounded out by bassist Joe DiBiase, drummer Steve Zimmerman, along with current guitarist Frank Aresti and, of course, guitarist and main songwriter Jim Matheos. "Awaken The Guardian" also holds the honor as the band's very first release to debut on the Billboard chart.

"Awaken The Guardian" remains an important album for the band's fans worldwide. Decibel magazine remarked in its "Hall Of Fame" No. 134 entry that "Each member still talks with great pride of its creation, each blown away by the feedback it has received since its release 30 years ago, each amazed at the powerful and positive impact it has had on so many lives."

To celebrate 30 years since the album's release, Matheos reassembled the "Awaken The Guardian"-era lineup for two special festival appearances: Keep It True XIX in Lauda-Konigshofen, Germany and Prog Power USA XVII in Atlanta, Georgia. Fortunately for fans that were not able to attend, each show was filmed and recorded.

Arch comments about the experience: "It was truly a surreal experience being able to share the spirit of 'Awaken The Guardian' at these shows. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the fans that have given back so much over the 30-year span since the album's release. To all our family and friends, much gratitude."

Due on April 28 via Metal Blade, "Awaken The Guardian Live" consists of both festival performances in their entirety. This piece of progressive metal history will be available on CD, DVD, Blu-ray, and double gatefold vinyl.

* Keep It True festival, April 30, 2016, Lauda-Königshofen, GermanyDirected and edited by Oliver "Bomber" Barth. Mixed and mastered by Bill Metoyer at SkullSeven Studio, North Hollywood, California

* ProgPower USA, September 9, 2016, Atlanta, GeorgiaSound recording and video editing by Kent Smith. Audio and video recording services provided by Lucid Lounge Studios – Atlanta. Mixed and mastered by Bill Metoyer at SkullSeven Studio, North Hollywood, California

Art direction, design, and artwork by Ioannis.

For more information and to pre-order, visit www.metalblade.com/fateswarning.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE frontman Jesse Leach has launched a new hardcore/punk side project inspired by his love for early albums from MINOR THREAT, 7 SECONDS, DISCHARGE and BLACK FLAG.

Leach announced the project's formation on Instagram, writing: "It's been a long time coming, man! Woke up with a fire in my heart!

"These four albums — MINOR THREAT's 'Minor Threat', 7 SECONDS' 'Walk Together, Rock Together', BLACK FLAG's 'Damaged' and DISCHARGE's 'Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing' — serve as inspiration for a jam session today with three killer humans! Don't tell anyone, but I've put together a punk hardcore band/project for fun and today is our first jam session here in New York! To say I'm excited is a vast understatement!"

He added: "This is a side project and it is being done for the pure enjoyment of playing. It is also a necessary outlet for a singing/yelling style and lyrics I can't fit into any other band or project I've ever done. My 15-year-old self is quite proud of me! GO!!"

In a 2013 interview with Noisecreep, Leach spoke about his love of early punk and hardcore. He said: "My brother got me into METALLICA. The first time I heard 'Blackened', it blew my mind, but it wasn't something that 100% spoke to me. I was looking for something else. That happened when I was hanging out with my friends in high school and they knew I was into METALLICA, NIRVANA and PEARL JAM and they asked me: 'Hey, have you ever heard this band MINOR THREAT? Or this band BLACK FLAG?' I remember hearing MINOR THREAT for the first time. I think the song was 'Seeing Red' and my mind was blown. I didn't understand what I was hearing. It was raw and pissed off. To this day, Ian Mackaye's voice is my favorite voice in hardcore. It just sounds so angry and the guitars sounded like that as well. I had never heard anything like before and I was hooked. I went right out and bought the MINOR THREAT discography CD that was out then: it was '92 or '93. From there I went into all different kinds of hardcore. BAD BRAINS, EARTH CRISIS, YOUTH OF TODAY, CRO-MAGS. That led me back into punk because I wanted to know where this music came from.

Regarding his pre-KILLSWITCH ENGAGE bands, Jesse said: "Interestingly enough, my first band was more a mixture of hardcore and rock. But vocally, I became more of a metal and hardcore vocalist because I always ended up playing with people who were already influenced by bands like INTEGRITY and DEADGUY; bands that played a mixture of styles. Even though I fell in love with hardcore and punk, I was always a vocalist who did a mixture of things — singing, screaming, yelling — the kind of vocals they now call 'metalcore.'"

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and ANTHRAX will hit the road this spring to co-headline a 27-date North American tour, presented by SiriusXM. The bands' itinerary will also include an April 15 appearance at the Texas Independence Festival in Austin, as well as each band headlining two solo shows separate from the double bill.

With KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and ANTHRAX rotating the closing slot over the course of the dates, the tour will hit the ground on March 29 in Montclair, New Jersey and then criss-cross the continent, wrapping up in Boston on May 7. The intense and dynamic THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA will provide direct support on all dates.

Frontiers Music Srl has announced the release of Vanden Plas' forthcoming live CD/DVD entitled The Seraphic Live Works on May 12th.
 
In their long career, Vanden Plas Official has only released one live album, Spirit Of Live, recorded in Paris at the legendary Elysée Montmartre, in 2000. With the upcoming release of The Seraphic Live Works, the wait for another documentation of the band's immense talents as a live act is finally over.
 
Through many tours and countless concerts, Vanden Plas has proven again and again that it is among the world's leading progressive metal bands. The quintet's glowing reputation carries across the pond to the U.S. where Vanden Plas was invited to appear at the renowned ProgPower USA in Atlanta in 2011. Regardless of a band's fame, an invitation to this prestigious event is an honor and their performance is certainly a high note in Vanden Plas' history. And it is for exactly that reason that Vanden Plas decided to captutre that unique moment.
 
The Seraphic Live Works shows unmistakably how extraordinary this gig at Center Stage Theater was for everyone involved. A performance exploding with energy, euphoric audience, and the venue's own special flair. The recordings will captivate every viewer and there is no question that Vanden Plas made the right decision to preserve this performance for eternity.
 
The Seraphic Live Works captivates and enthralls for nine songs, beginning with straightforward opener "Postcard To God" through the atmospheric "Far Off Grace" to the brilliant closer, "Silently." In this extended live version of the song, Vanden Plas ignites a prog metal fireworks display that is unparalleled, leading the listener through more than 11 magnificent minutes to a spectacular conclusion.
 
Vanden Plas has fans all over the world, but for those who have not yet been able to experience the band, they wanted to give them the next best thing with The Seraphic Live Works. The audio and video capture an authentic band that stands out in the prog metal genre.

Tracklisting (CD/DVD):

“Postcard To God”
“Rush Of Silence”
“Holes In The Sky”
“Far Off Grace”
“Scar Of An Angel”
“Quicksilver”
“Cold Wind”
“Frequency”
“Silently”

Lineup:

Stephan Lill – Guitar
Andreas Lill – Drums
Günter Werno – Keyboards
Andy Kuntz – Vocals
Torsten Reichert – Bass 

BARDSPEC, the ambient project/band led by ENSLAVED composer/guitarist Ivar Bjørnson, will release its debut album, "Hydrogen", in June via By Norse.

Having launched at Roadburn in 2015, BARDSPEC has since evolved into a fully-fledged band, with Steve Austin on guitars/effects, David Hall presenting the live visual aspect of the project, and the layout created by Josh Graham (SOUNDGARDEN, NEUROSIS)

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

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

BARDSPEC is inspired by the German masters TANGERINE DREAM, Klaus Schultze and Conrad Schnitzler, in addition to contemporary ambient music like Norwegian one-man-band BIOSPHERE and abstract modern electronic music like WHEN (Norwegian also), as well as the electronic/industrial-driven metal like GODFLESH. Ivar describes the appeal and trance-inducing aspects of such music to him. "I remember listening to Richard Burmer and his album 'Mosaic' from 1984," he says. "I thought I fell asleep but I was in a semi-lucid state where I still registered music — but not much else. At the end of side A there's an explosion so violent and extreme that I jumped two feet into the air and was totally shocked. The weird thing is, I couldn't remember it being there. When I revisited the music again, it was just a little 'thud.' I was just experiencing a trance so deep into the music that this deviation from the pattern and frequencies in the foregoing half hour of monotony totally shocked me. I loved it!" Roadburn festival will play host to a very special public listening session of "Hydrogen" by BARDSPEC, a chance for people to hear the album from start to finish in advance of the official release date. This event shall take place on April 21.

"Hydrogen" track listing:

01. Intro - Deposition02. Bone03. Fire Tongue04. Gamma05. Salt06. Teeth (bonus track) "Hydrogen" willl be released on June 23 across all formats. The six-panel CD digipak is available as limited first press to a thousand copies including bonus track "Teeth". The double gatefold LP is limited to five hundred copies on black vinyl, and the digital format also including the bonus track.

"I Got What You Want", the new video from the internationally renowned glam rock band STEEL PANTHER, can be seen below. The clip was filmed during the group's sold-out 2016 U.K. arena tour.

"I Got What You Want" is taken from STEEL PANTHER's upcoming album, "Lower The Bar", which will be released on March 24 via Kobalt Music Recordings. The disc was co-produced with regular collaborator Jay Ruston, and includes eleven songs recorded at studios in north Hollywood and Sherman Oaks, with an additional two tracks on a Best Buy deluxe edition.

STEEL PANTHER frontman Michael Starr told Billboard about the follow-up to 2014's "All You Can Eat": "I think we've expanded. Our style is still the same formula, I guess, but we've changed it up a bit. I could say that we used to sing about pussy and partying; now we're singing about partying and pussy, but the reality is we did switch up a few things. It's a really solid, fun, intelligent party record. We're just maturing as a band after being on the road for years together and living together. It shows."

He continued: "It's hard to put into words without sounding like a typical review, but it feels different to me. It feels like we're doing some melody lines we normally wouldn't do on a couple of sings, different kinds of moods and not necessary just 'Dr. Feelgood'. There's some different stuff in there, but everything's open for interpretation. Hopefully we connect with it."

For the uninitiated, STEEL PANTHER was formed in 2000 and is Michael Starr (vocals), Satchel (guitar), Lexxi Foxx (bass) and Stix Zadinia (drums). Hailing from Los Angeles, the epicenter for rock n' roll in all its debauchery and glamour, STEEL PANTHER has established themselves as the world's premier party band, melding hard rock virtuosity with parody and criminally good looks.

Dutch black metallers CARACH ANGREN will release their new album, "Dance And Laugh Amongst The Rotten", on June 16 via Season Of Mist. The CD's cover art was created by renowned Romanian artist Costin Chioreanu.

"Dance And Laugh Amongst The Rotten" track listing:

01. Opening (2:17)02. Charlie (4:10)03. Bloodqueen (4:55)04. Charles Francis Coghlan (6:07)05. Song For The Dead (4:16)06. In De Naam Van De Duivel (6:29)07. Pitch Black Box (3:17)08. The Possession Process (4:27)09. Three Times Thunder Strikes (5:19)

The song "Song For The Dead" can be streamed below.

CARACH ANGREN comments: "After months of hard work, we proudly reopen the doors to our haunted mansion to reveal the first deadly taste of our upcoming concept album. A unique horror story as you all expect and deserve from us, we consider this as one of the most terrifying tracks that we have created so far."

On "Dance And Laugh Amongst The Rotten", CARACH ANGREN are painting musical pictures that easily combine the grandiose depth of a Rembrandt with Van Gogh's maelstrom of whirling colours and the utter madness of Bosch. This lusciously seductive danse macabre will drag you in and never let go.

CARACH ANGREN have employed all the sonic colours on their palette to dazzling effect. Their trademark whipping guitars are weaving harsh melodies and sinister soundscapes, which are beautifully contrasted by opulent keyboards and majestic orchestrations. That Till Lindemann (RAMMSTEIN) and Peter Tägtgren (PAIN) have called upon the composition talent of Clemens "Ardek" Wijers is a telling sign of his outstanding mastery of the craft. Another signatory counterpoint is provided by Seregor's fierce rasping and shrieking vocals. Adding to the impact, Namtar has become a relentless driving force with his hard-hitting-yet-intricate drumming. Each track on this album is a highlight on its own, while combined "Dance And Laugh Amongst The Rotten" simply shines.

With "Dance And Laugh Amongst The Rotten", CARACH ANGREN are returning to "pure" storytelling with episodes that are centered on a girl playing a little too long with her Ouija board. The Dutch have pushed their unashamedly theatric style to a new intense height.

Frontiers Music Srl has announced the signing of Norway's AMMUNITION.

AMMUNITION was founded in 2014 by the songwriting duo Age Sten Nilsen (formerly of WIG WAM) and the multi-talented Erik Mårtensson (ECLIPSE, W.E.T., NORDIC UNION).

AMMUNITION released its stellar debut album, "Shanghaied", in 2015 on its own label. Teaming up with former TNT and JACK IN THE BOX bassist Victor Cito Borge, keysboardist Lasse Finbråten (CIRCUS MAXIMUS, ex-WIG WAM), skinsman Maguns Ulfstedt (ECLIPSE), and the exceptional guitar player Jon Pettersen, AMMUNITION has made a name for itself as an incredible live act.

AMMUNITION is currently mixing its second album, titled "Ammunition", due for release late summer. The first taste of what's to come, "Wrecking Crew" (written by Nilsen and Mårtensson), has already landed on the Norwegian charts, taking AMMUNITION to the Norwegian Eurovision grand finale. The full-length, original version of the song will be included on the forthcoming album, produced and mixed by the band's guitar player and co-writer, Erik Mårtensson.

"Show Yourself", the new music video from Atlanta heavy rock icons MASTODON, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's eighth studio album, "Emperor Of Sand", which will be released on March 31 via Reprise Records.

MASTODON drummer-singer-lyricist Brann Dailor handles lead vocals on the track. "You're not as safe as far as I can tell, and I can tell," he sings on the song's chorus. "Only you can save yourself/ Soon this will all be a distant memory/ Or could this dream be real at all?"

As Dailor told Rolling Stone, he was at first reticent about adding his vocals to "Show Yourself". "When I first heard that riff, I wasn't 100 percent on it," Dailor said. "I felt like it was too easy to like or something — which is stupid, but I want to avoid 'easy.' I was wrong about that one."

The follow-up to 2014's "Once More 'Round The Sun", "Emperor Of Sand" was recorded at The Quarry Recording Studio in Kennesaw, just outside MASTODON's hometown of Atlanta, with producer Brendan O'Brien (PEARL JAM, NEIL YOUNG, AC/DC, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE), who first worked with MASTODON on their seminal 2009 album "Crack The Skye".

MASTODON kicks off a spring U.S. headline tour in support of "Emperor Of Sand" on April 14 in Missoula, Montana, with support from EAGLES OF DEATH METAL and RUSSIAN CIRCLES. The tour also includes stops at several festivals, including the Carolina Rebellion on May 5.

Each pair of tickets purchased online for MASTODON (excluding festival dates and the May 6 Philadelphia show) includes a choice of a physical or digital copy of "Emperor Of Sand". Ticket purchasers will receive instructions via e-mail on how to redeem the album on March 31. Tickets are on sale now.

Norwegian rockers KVELERTAK have released the official music video for "Bronsegud", from their new LP, "Nattesferd", which was celebrated globally as one of 2016's best metal releases. The video, which was directed by Stian Andersen, documents the band's life on the road as they travel the world performing neck-breaking sets to sold-out audiences.

Furthermore, KVELERTAK has been announced as special guests for the entirety of METALLICA's upcoming "WorldWired" European tour. Dates are set to kick off September 4 at The Netherlands' Ziggo Dome and continue through May 2018.

Recently profiled by Vice's Noisey Shreds, KVELERTAK took home its third Spellemann award (Norway's Grammy equivalent) earlier this year for "Nattesferd". Recorded live in Oslo, Norway's Amper Tone Studio, the abum was produced by KVELERTAK and mixed/engineered by Nick Terry (LINDSTRØM, TURBONEGRO, THE LIBERTINES). It was the first KVELERTAK LP to be recorded in Norway.

KVELERTAK is Erlend Hjelvik (vocals), Vidar Landa (guitar), Bjarte Lund Rolland (guitar), Maciek Ofstad (guitars), Marvin Nygaard (bass) and Kjetil Gjermundrød (drums).

The Kaster Troy-directed video for the song "Death Grip Tribulations" from BLACK LABEL SOCIETY guitarist Dario Lorina can be seen below. The track is the title cut of Lorina's second instrumental album, which was released in February via Shrapnel Records, known for discovering and recording guitarists of extraordinary ability.

Dario's new record is a powerful show of songwriting infused with shred guitar, vintage modern influence, and a richly musical band consisting of longtime musical partner Dan "D.C." Conway (drums), BLACK LABEL SOCIETY bandmates John "J.D." DeServio (bass) and Jeff Fabb (drums), along with former LIZZY BORDEN bandmate Marten Andersson (bass). It also features a song with MOTÖRHEAD guitarist Phil Campbell. Engineered and mixed by Fred Archambault, known for his work with ALICE COOPER and AVENGED SEVENFOLD, among others, this effort is a sheer embodiment of this high caliber guitarist's vast skill set.

Says Shrapnel's Mike Varney: "'Death Grip Tribulations' makes it clear that Dario Lorina has become a force to be reckoned with, as at twenty-seven years of age, he draws from experience far beyond his years, creating a collection of songs built on forceful rhythms, strong melodies and an arsenal of advanced guitar chops." Lorina began his professional career in 2006 at age 16 as the touring guitarist with the late Jani Lane (ex-WARRANT). At age 19, he joined veteran metal act LIZZY BORDEN, whom he toured with for four years.

Dario released his first instrumental record on Shrapnel in September 2013. In January 2014, he joined BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and has since been touring worldwide with Zakk Wylde, performing on both guitar and keys, most recently on Wylde's "Book Of Shadows II" tour.

Brazilian female-fronted progressive power metallers VANDROYA will release their new album, "Beyond The Human Mind", on April 28 via rough Inner Wound Recordings.

The official lyric video for the song "I'm Alive", taken from "Beyond The Human Mind", can be seen below.

With a more evident progressive influence but without giving up the weight and virtuosity of power metal, the new album brings a more mature band, a more balanced sound and reflects the musicians technical and artistic evolution since the debut album, "One".

The "Beyond The Human Mind" album concept revolves around the journey we all go through in search of fullness and inner peace.

The cover artwork was created by Felipe Machado Franco (BLIND GUARDIAN, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, ICED EARTH).

Led by vocalist Daísa Munhoz, VANDROYA is ready to take the next step and make a mark in the metal scene with "Beyond The Human Mind".

"Beyond The Human Mind" track listing:

01. Columns Of Illusion 02. The Path To The Endless Fall 03. Maya 04. Time After Time 05. Last Breath 06. I'm Alive 07. You'll Know My Name 08. If I Forgive Myself 09. Beyond The Human Mind

METALLICA today announced the European leg of its "WorldWired" tour in support of the band's new album, "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct". The trek kicks off with two shows in Amsterdam at the Ziggo Dome on September 4 and September 6. Norway's KVELERTAK will be support for the tour run. See below for a complete list of all confirmed dates; no additional shows will be added. Presale tickets will be available to Legacy Met Club members beginning on Tuesday, March 21 at 10:00 a.m. CET, with presale tickets available to all Fifth Members beginning on Tuesday, March 21 at 11:00 a.m. CET. Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, March 24. Every ticket purchased through official outlets includes your choice of a standard digital or standard physical copy of "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct". Redemption information will be included in your ticket purchase confirmation email. Full details of how you can gift the album, should you have already purchased, will be given on the redemption page. Please note that shipping and handling fees apply to the physical version of the album. METALLICA has partnered with CID Entertainment to offer three options of special enhanced experiences on this tour, including premium tickets and amenities, early access to the venue, a visit to the "Memory Remains" exhibit of memorabilia, and meet-and-greets. For full package details, go to this location.

European tour dates: Sep. 04, 2017 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Ziggo DomeSep. 06, 2017 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Ziggo DomeSep. 08, 2017 - Paris, France - AccorHotels ArenaSep. 10, 2017 - Paris, France - AccorHotels ArenaSep. 12, 2017 - Lyon, France - Halle Tony GarnierSep. 14, 2017 - Cologne, Germany - Lanxess ArenaSep. 16, 2017 - Cologne, Germany - Lanxess ArenaOct. 22, 2017 - London, England, UK - The O2 ArenaOct. 24, 2017 - London, England, UK - The O2 ArenaOct. 26, 2017 - Glasgow, Scotland, UK - The SSE HydroOct. 28, 2017 - Manchester, England, UK - Manchester ArenaOct. 30, 2017 - Birmingham, England, UK - Genting ArenaNov. 01, 2017 - Antwerp, Belgium - SportpaleisNov. 03, 2017 - Antwerp, Belgium - SportpaleisFeb. 01, 2018 - Lisbon, Portugal - MEO ArenaFeb. 03, 2018 - Madrid, Spain - Wizink CenterFeb. 05, 2018 - Madrid, Spain - Wizink CenterFeb. 07, 2018 - Barcelona, Spain - Palau Sant JordiFeb. 10, 2018 - Turin, Italy - Pala AlpitourFeb. 12, 2018 - Bologna, Italy - Unipol ArenaFeb. 14, 2018 - Bologna, Italy - Unipol ArenaFeb. 16, 2018 - Mannheim, Germany - SAP ArenaMar. 27, 2018 - Herning, Denmark - Jyske Bank BoxenMar. 29, 2018 - Hamburg, Germany - Barclaycard ArenaMar. 31, 2018 - Vienna, Austria - Wiener StadthalleApril 02, 2018 - Prague, Czech Republic - O2 ArenaApril 05, 2018 - Budapest, Hungary - Sports ArenaApril 07, 2018 - Stuttgart, Germany - SchleyerhalleApril 09, 2018 - Stuttgart, Germany - SchleyerhalleApril 11, 2018 - Geneva, Switzerland - PalexpoApril 26, 208 - Munich, Germany - OlympiahalleApril 28, 2018 - Krakow, Poland - Tauron ArenaApril 30, 2018 - Leipzig, Germany - Leipzig ArenaMay 02, 2018 - Oslo, Norway - Telenor ArenaMay 05, 2018 - Stockholm, Sweden - Ericsson GlobeMay 07, 2018 - Stockholm, Sweden - Ericsson GlobeMay 09, 2018 - Helsinki, Finland - Hartwall ArenaMay 11, 2018 - Helsinki, Finland - Hartwall Arena

"Hardwired… To Self-Destruct" debuted as expected at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 album chart last November, selling 291,000 copies in its first week of release. Both of the band's previous outings, 2008's "Death Magnetic" and 2003's "St. Anger", sold more copies in shortened sales weeks. "Death Magnetic" moved 490,000 copies in a three-day window, while "St. Anger" shifted 418,000 copies in a similar frame.

"Hardwired... To Self-Destruct" consists of two discs, containing a dozen songs and nearly 80 minutes of music.

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

Frank DiMino joined his former ANGEL bandmate Punky Meadows on stage for the first time in over thirty years on March 8 to perform the ANGEL song "Tower" at the Backstage Bar And Billiards in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"It felt just like it did in ANGEL," Punky said. "The band kicked ass and Frank felt it and sang his ass off. We didn't miss a beat and the fans went crazy!! We blew the roof off the house. It was really awesome to jam with Frank again!!"

Former members of ANGEL appeared at the 2016 Vegas Rocks! Hair Metal Awards last May at the at the Eastside Cannery Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The group received the "Glam Rock Legends" award in honor of their contributions and influence in music. Accepting the award were Meadows, DiMino, Gregg Giuffria, Barry Brandt, and Felix Robinson. This marked the first time all surviving ANGEL bandmembers — bassist Mickie Jones passed away from cancer in 2009 — had been on stage together since 1980.

Formed in 1975 by Meadows and Jones in Washington D.C., ANGEL straddled the fence between the prog-rock pomp of YES and ELP, the orchestral hard pop of QUEEN, BOSTON and ELO, and the riff-heavy raunch-rock of KISS and AEROSMITH. They were discovered by KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons while performing at a nightclub and were eventually signed to the same label as KISS, Casablanca.

Released in the fall of 1975, the band's self-titled debut was promoted with a number of live appearances on the great American arena circuit with the likes of AEROSMITH, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, JOURNEY and RUSH. The group's gimmick — the members were all dressed in white — got them labeled the "anti-KISS" by rock critics, and their spectacular stage show was so over the top that even Simmons & Co. were said to have been inspired by it.

ANGEL started to fall apart in the early 1980s after Casablanca pulled the plug on the group due in part to disappointing album sales. In 1981, Robinson and DiMino left to pursue other projects. Meadows and Giuffria tried to keep ANGEL going and came close to landing a record deal with CBS. But it didn't pan out, and ANGEL finally disbanded.

Several apparently inebriated members of AVENGED SEVENFOLD played a somewhat sloppy rendition of their song "Nightmare" during an unannounced appearance at a small restaurant and bar in Helsinki, Finland on March 5. Using equipment that was supplied by the Hard Rock Cafe, vocalist M. Shadows, guitarist Synyster Gates, bassist Johnny Christ and drummer Brooks Wackerman performed the track to what was apparently an almost-empty bar before calling it quits.

Said the band in a Facebook post: "After arriving in Helsinki [on March 5], we decided to head to the local Hard Rock Cafe Helsinki and grace the customers with some sweet tunes. Unfortunately, as the patrons fled for the exits, we were cut off after only half of 'Nightmare' was played. Maybe better luck tomorrow."

AVENGED SEVENFOLD played at Hartwall Areena in Helsinki on March 7 as part of its European headlining tour with support from DISTURBED and CHEVELLE.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD will join METALLICA for the latter's "WorldWired" 2017 North American tour. Produced by Live Nation, the summer's hottest ticket kicks off May 10 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland with openers VOLBEAT.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD is touring in support of its seventh album, "The Stage", which was given a surprise release at the end of October with almost no promotion beforehand.

The band filmed a music video last month in the Los Angeles area for the song "God Damn" from the new disc.

"The Stage" debuted at No. 4 on The Billboard 200 album chart back in November following its surprise release. Co-produced by the band and Joe Barresi, the disc features eleven panoramic tracks tied together by an Artificial Intelligence theme. Inspired by the writings of Carl Sagan and Elon Musk, the album is the band's first thematic release. While the term "AI" conjures up images of robots and fantasy films, the band steers clear of a science fiction storyline. Instead, the album sees them taking a futurist's look at the accelerated rate at which technology's intelligence is expanding and what that means — good and bad — for the future.

Britain's Skarlett Riot have taken the music world by the throat with their powerful, riff-led songs blending melody and grit with a muscular backbone. Add to that an ear for infectious hooks, a singer blessed with an enormous set of vocal cords, and you have a band that not only has miles of attitude but the songs to back them up. And now, the rising rockers have signed a worldwide record deal with Sweden's Despotz Records.

The band says, “We're so excited to announce our signing to Despotz Records! We have been and still are working hard behind the scenes so it feels great to be able to share this news with you all! We've got an amazing team of people working with us now and we can't wait to see what the future holds for Skarlett Riot. We'd also like to thank all of our fans for their loyal support and patience. More news coming soon! Here's to us!”

Omer Akay of Despotz says, "After ten years of running Despotz Records, I had given up finding artists in the UK. But by pure luck we discovered Great Britain's best kept secret that will take the world by storm. We are so proud that Skarlett Riot choose us to lead their worldwide musical journey."

Skarlett Riot's debut single for Despotz, "Feel" is slated for release on April 21st with their full length album hitting the streets in the fall.

German classic heavy metal outfit, Midnight Rider, will release their debut album, Manifestation, on April 21st via Massacre Records. The album track, “When I Spew My Hate”, is available for streaming below.

The band was formed 12 years ago, and released a self-titled EP in 2008. They quickly became a well noticed band in the underground scene worldwide. But now it's time to rise from the underground.

Tracklisting:

“When I Spew My Hate”
“Tears Of Your Temptation”
“The Execution”
“Creature Of The Night”
“In My Void”
“Heroes And Speedfreaks”
“Change Your Life”
“I Wanna Be A Prowler”
“Arrival”
“Unknown Woman Of The Seine”

“When I Spew My Hate”:

The rare video below features an excerpt of Pink Floyd performing “Atom Heart Mother”, filmed by French TV channel Pop Deux at the Festival de St. Tropez, in the South of France, on August 8th, 1970. This clip and others are included on the CD/DVD/Blu-ray package Pink Floyd - The Early Years 1970 Devi/ation, which also includes a photo booklet, memorabilia from the period, and a credits booklet. Available from March 24th, with more details available here.

The Pink Floyd Exhibition: Their Mortal Remains opened on May 13th and runs for 20 weeks at Victoria And Albert Museum in London, England. Purchase tickets here. A video trailer can be found below.

The first international retrospective of one of the world’s most iconic and influential bands. Experience a spectacular and unparalleled audio-visual journey through Pink Floyd's unique and extraordinary worlds, chronicling the music, design and staging of the band, from their debut in the 1960s through to the present day.

Daily: 10 AM - 5:30 PM
Last ticketed entry: 4:15 PM

Friday: 10 AM - 9:30 PM
Last ticketed entry: 8:15 PM

Tickets cost £20 – £24 (varying weekday and weekend prices apply)

Presented by the V&A, Pink Floyd and Iconic Entertainment Studios. More details at this location.

San Francisco Art Exchange LLC (SFAE) has been selected to exclusively represent the most valuable collection of rock and roll artwork ever to be offered for sale: eleven original paintings created and hand-selected by famed English artist Gerald Scarfe, from Pink Floyd’s 1982 masterpiece The Wall. A major exhibition will be held in July with Scarfe in attendance at the invitation-only premiere to be held at SFAE’s gallery (458 Geary St, San Francisco, CA). Details to be announced.

The paintings being offered have been carefully selected by Scarfe as his most important works, and include several of the most famous images in rock history due to their association with The Wall. Among the paintings are the true definitive originals for iconic artworks such as The Scream (pictured above), Wife With Flaming Hair, Giant Judge and Hammers, The Mother, Education For What? No Jobs!, The Wife's Shadow, One Of The Frightened Ones, The Gross Inflatable Pig, Comfortably Numb, and The Teacher, as well as the massive original storyboard created for the film which incorporates 50 original renderings.

To view available artworks, including in-depth descriptions and histories, click here.

Epic in scale and steeped in rock history, these original works of art are marquis collectibles for major individual, corporate, and institutional collectors. Due to the extensive distribution of the imagery via album, live-performances, music-videos, and the film (along with the accompanying publicity), the artwork offered is among the most instantly recognizable and significant in pop culture.

One of the paintings available for purchase, Giant Judge and Hammers, will be prominently on display in London beginning May 13th as part of the Victoria & Albert Museum’s eagerly anticipated The Pink Floyd Exhibition: Their Mortal Remains, the first international retrospective of one of the worlds’ most ground-breaking and influential bands. This exhibition is expected to become one of the most successful on record.

The Wall album topped Billboard charts for 15 weeks, and in 1999 was certified 23 x Platinum. It remains one of the best-selling albums of all time, selling over 19 million copies between 1979 and 1990 in the US alone. The film was critically acclaimed when it was released in 1982 and won BAFTAs for Best Original Song and Best Sound. Scarfe developed the film's entire visual environment before the project began and his characters became a mixture of live-action and animated imagery, all of which played an integral role in the surreal narrative.

(Above: Judge With Marching Hammers)

 

Gerald Scarfe is one of the world's most famous political cartoonists and caricaturists whose work has been seen in The Sunday Times and The New Yorker for decades. His artworks reside in the following permanent collections, among others: Tate Gallery, National Portrait Gallery and The Parliamentary Art Collection in London, as well as the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

San Francisco Art Exchange is the sole gallery authorized to sell these paintings. San Francisco Art Exchange is known worldwide for record-breaking sales of album cover related artwork, and has represented such revered artworks as the originals for Abbey Road, Meet The Beatles, Rubber Soul, Imagine, Dark Side Of The Moon, Wish You Were Here, Ummagumma, Animals, Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, The Best Of The Doors, Candy-O, and many, many more.

For sales and inquiries, please contact San Francisco Art Exchange, sales@sfae.com, or call 415-441-8840. More information at www.sfae.com.

On his recent visit to EMGtv, Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne) performed “Lay Me Down” from his new record, Book Of Shadows II. In this version, Zakk shows off the versatility and wide range of tone variations you get from the EMG Zakk Wylde Set (81/85). From rhythm to lead, the tone is harmonically rich, complex, and provides amazing sustain.

Previously posted footage of Zakk performing a playthrough of "Autumn Changes“ can be seen below:

Zakk Sabbath, the Black Sabbath cover band/supergroup featuring Zakk Wylde, bassist Blasko (Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Zombie) and drummer Joey Castillo (Danzig, Queens Of The Stone Age) will embark on their first ever US headline tour May 19th - June 10th.

Tickets are on sale at ZakkSabbath.live, and VIP upgrade packages are available at the same location.

Support will come from Beastmaker (Rise Above Records) whose new album, Inside The Skull, will be released on May 26th.  

Tour dates:

May
19 - New York, NY - The Gramercy Theatre
20 - Camden, NJ - MMR*B*Q*
21 - Columbus, OH - Rock on the Range*
23 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel
25 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live Studio
26 - Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey Bar N’ Grill
27 - Pryor, OK - Rocklahoma*
28 - St. Louis, MO - Fubar
30 - Nashville, TN - Exit/In
31 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade

June
2 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
4 - Denver, CO - Marquis Theater
6 - Spokane, WA - The Pin
7 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile
8 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre
10 - San Francisco, CA - Slim’s

* - No Beastmaker

On April 7th, Swedish heavy metallers Trial (swe) will release their new album Motherless worldwide via Metal Blade Records. A lyric video for the album’s title track is available for streaming below.

Motherless is one of the most original heavy metal albums in a long time. Trial (swe) have refined their sound and are one of the most unique acts you can find in today's heavy metal. Pre-orders are available at Metal Blade.

Trial (swe) comments: "'Motherless is a multifaceted album, a creation of many different elements, yet coherently crafted to perfectly represent the entity that is Trial (swe). The first single that we've chosen from the album is 'Cold Comes The Night'. A ferocious, fast-paced track which displays the aggressive and more straight-forward side of the album."

Tracklisting:

“Motherless”
“In Empyrean Labour”
“Cold Comes The Night”
“Juxtaposed”
“Aligerous Architect”
“Birth”
“Embodiment”
“Rebirth”

“Motherless” lyric video:

“Cold Comes The Night”:

(Band photo by: Skoorell Photography)

Royal Hunt are celebrating their 25th anniversary with the release of a brand new live 2CD/DVD, Blu-Ray, and Digital set, entitled 2016, on May 12th. An official video trailer can be seen below.

Following a tradition established after two successful anniversary long form video releases - 1996 and 2006 - it is time for a third one: 2016. Recorded with 9 HD cameras and top-notch audio equipment in Moscow's Izvestiya Hall during last year's world tour, the video shows “all-fab-things-Royal”: a high energy show in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd, an excellent set list, the band in top form, and a stunning stage production. Add a stellar audio recording and this package, celebrating Royal Hunt's 25th anniversary, is any hard rock fan's delight.

In keyboardist André Andersen’s own words: “25 years later Royal Hunt's still going strong… who could have imagined that? Not me, that's for sure… a quarter of a century?! Absolutely unreal. 13 studio albums, lots of special EPs and compilations, 5 live albums, literally countless shows/tours, and now the 4th DVD release. Lots of ups and downs along the way, yet we're still around, still able to do what we love doing the most - making music. I always felt that if you do it from your heart, if you stay true to yourself and work hard you'll be granted this sort of staying power…and yes, we're all extremely grateful to our fans for giving us an opportunity to create, to improve and to continue our musical journey. So, once again, push that “play” button, enjoy this video and rest assured, the best is yet to come!”

2016 tracklisting:

CD1:

Medley: “So Right So Wrong” / “Martial Arts”
“River Of Pain”
“One Minute Left To Live”
“Army Of Slaves”
“Lies”
“Wasted Time”
“Heart On A Platter”
“Flight”

CD2:

“May You Never (Walk Alone)”
“Until The Day”
“Half Past Loneliness”
“Message To God”
“Stranded”
Medley: “A Life To Die For” / “Epilogue”

DVD / Blu-Ray:

Medley: “So Right So Wrong” / “Martial Arts”
“River Of Pain”
“One Minute Left To Live”
“Army Of Slaves”
“Lies”
“Wasted Time”
“Heart On A Platter”
“Flight”
“May You Never (Walk Alone)”
“Until The Day”
“Half Past Loneliness”
“Message To God”
“Stranded”
Medley: “A Life To Die For” / “Epilogue”

Lineup:

André Andersen - keyboards
DC Cooper - vocals
Andreas Passmark - bass
Jonas Larsen - guitar
Andreas Johansson - drums

The new DANZIG album will be released in mid-May. This will be the first collection of all-new DANZIG material in seven years, following 2010's critically acclaimed "Deth Red Sabaoth". The title for the new disc will be announced shortly.

This June also marks the 25th anniversary of "Danzig III: How The Gods Kill". "How The Gods Kill" was the first DANZIG album to crack Billboard's Top 30 and the first DANZIG album produced by the band's frontman and namesake Glenn Danzig himself. In honor of this momentous occasion, DANZIG will play a select handful of shows this summer and will perform many songs from "How The Gods Kill".

In other news, DANZIG and MINISTRY will play at this year's edition of the "Blackest Of The Black" festival, set to take place May 26-27 at Oak Canyon Park in Silverado, California. The two-day event will feature over twenty bands and over twenty "evil attractions." Look for the full details to be announced on March 27.

In a 2015 interview with Noisey, Glenn Danzig was asked what it is that keeps him coming back to the creative well. He responded: "It's so many different things. There's always stuff to write about, but I think that the whole punk thing helped a lot. If it gets boring, change it, fix it, make it exciting, make it relevant again, and that's what I did without sacrificing the music. That's what I try to do. I try to do stuff where first thing is I'm excited about the record, and then I hope that the people who listen to my music are gonna dig it too. That's pretty much how I go into doing a record, and I don't do a new record until I have stuff to write about it. I don't force myself to do a record. Someone doesn't come to me and say, 'Hey, it's been a year or two since your last record. You've gotta write a record and put one out in a couple of months.' No one comes to me and says that to me."

Asked if that attitude of not forcing the creative process is something that's always been there for him, Danzig said: "Yeah. I mean, I used to do it on a more frequent basis. [Laughs] But I think even back in the MISFITS and SAMHAIN days, I put out a record every two years, I think. The same thing with DANZIG, too, where I put out a record every two years. Later on it became further and further apart, but that's just the way it worked out. I think in between 'Danzig IV' and 'V' was probably a two-year period, and then between 'V' and 'VI' was probably a three-year period. It seems to be now it's gone to four or five. I think one of the things also was for 'Deth Red' we toured a lot over those years. Not two or three months at a time, but we just kept getting offers to go to Europe and then back to America. The record did pretty well for me, especially the way it was received, so hopefully the next one will be the same."

Glenn's covers record, "Skeletons", was released in November 2015 in North America via Nuclear Blast Entertainment/Evilive Music. A labor of love that dates back to 1979, "Skeletons" saw Danzig pulling back the curtain behind his influences with a collection of ten covers spanning artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, ZZ TOP, and AEROSMITH to BLACK SABBATH, THE TROGGS, THE EVERLY BROTHERS, and more.

Earlier this week, former QUEENSRŸCHE and current OPERATION: MINDCRIME frontman Geoff Tate performed on KING 5's daily talk show "New Day Northwest". You can watch video footage of his appearance below.

Tate's current acoustic tour, dubbed "The Whole Story 'Rÿche' Acoustic Tour" , sees him performing songs from all 17 albums he has done throughout his illustrious 35-year career. Geoff is backed during the show by a seven-piece acoustic band of musicians from the United States and Ireland and features three guitar players, mandolin, cello, saxophone, violin and multiple percussion instruments to produce high-energy acoustic versions of some of the Tate's former band's most recognized songs, including "Silent Lucidity", "Jet City Woman", "Empire", "I Don't Believe In Love" and "Eyes Of A Stranger".

Tate told Centre Daily Times about his acoustic tour: "I've done acoustic tours before, but nothing quite like this. This is a storytelling tour and I've got 35 years of music, touring and stories to accompany all of that. I thought that it would be kind of interesting to tell stories about the songs and what was going on at the time when they came out, either with me personally, with the band or what was going on in the news at the time and how they influenced the albums."

According to Tate, stripping down songs involves so much more than just replacing the electric guitar with an acoustic.

"An acoustic presentation goes back to the roots of the song," he explained. "Every song I've ever written has either started on an acoustic guitar or a piano and with this tour, I am just reverse engineering the song back to where it started. I think that a song is a song, and you can take just about any song and reformat it with different instrumentation. As long as you have a vocalist, it's going to be identifiable to the audience.

"It's been really fun reworking the music to fit acoustically," he continued. "You have to approach it differently and figure out what the song's strength is. Is it the melody? The rhythm? And then, how do you showcase those things? It really is a different way of thinking and presenting the music."

"Resurrection", the second album from OPERATION: MINDCRIME, was released last September via Frontiers Music Srl. The album is the second part of Tate's musical trilogy.





See Geoff Tate tonight and tomorrow at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle!

http://www.king5.com/entertainment/television/programs/new-day-northwest/rock-powerhouse-geoff-tate-returns-to-his-roots/422511640

Posted by Geoff Tate (Official) on Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Buckle up for a fast, no frills debut from Vancouver old-school death metal act Assimilation. BraveWords is streaming the debut album The Laws Of Power, set for release this Friday, March 17th. Prepare to be pummeled by relentless riffs and punishing rhythms!

Like a force of nature, the voice of singer and founding member Jesse Jardine’s vocal attack leaves the listener penetrated by high shrieks, and pummeled by mids and lows. Lead guitarist Matt Chanway brings his neo-classical shred style into the fold to melt off any remnants of what used to be your face. Shiloh Anderson holds the low end down with his finger/slap hybrid style, and Stephen Shaw brings his experience and ferocity as the entity that keeps this   juggernaut from flying off the rails.   

With The Laws Of Power, the four Canadians make it clear: there are still bands well versed in the art of original uncompromising death metal, something that is hard to find these days.

Tracklisting:

"Sigil Of The False God" 
"Decapitated By Beasts" 
"Laws Of Power"
"Karmic Future" 
"Mastery" 
"Apotheosis"  
"Remotion Of The Succubus" 
"Personal Vendetta" 
"S.L.D." 
"Massive Liquidation" 
Apotheosis EP – Bonus Tracks – 2015 
"Apotheosis"    
"Decapitated By Beasts"    
"Idle No More" 
"Personal Vendetta" 

Iconic drummer and former member of DREAM THEATER, Mike Portnoy performed the band's "12 Step Suite" in its entirety for the first time ever on the Cruise To The Edge, which sailed out of Tampa, Florida on February 7. The music documents the musician's battle with alcoholism, and is an ensemble of five songs recorded by DREAM THEATER from 2002 to 2009, with titles that reflect his struggles: "The Glass Prison", "This Dying Soul", "The Root Of All Evil", "Repentance" and "The Shattered Fortress".

Portnoy, who also celebrated his 50th birthday on Cruise To The Edge, said that it was always part of his master plan to perform "12 Step Suite" in its entirety live on stage with DREAM THEATER. However, his 2010 exit from the band made that impossible, until now.

"I would love nothing more than to perform it with [DREAM THEATER]," he told The National Student. "But they've made it clear that they have no intention in reuniting at any point. So, life is short; this [was] my 50th birthday and it just felt like the right time and place to finally play this music."

He continued: "I wrote all five of these songs with the intention of them being performed from start to finish, and I would have loved nothing more than to be doing it with DREAM THEATER. But it's obviously not on the cards for them. I can't sit around waiting for a reunion that may not happen."

Video footage of Portnoy's two appearances at this year's Cruise To The Edge — which also saw his performing music from several of his other projects — can be seen below.

Featured songs:

FLYING COLORS

01. Infinite Fire02. A Place In Your World03. Kayla04. Mask Machine

TRANSATLANTIC

05. Into The Blue (with Daniel Gildenlöw)06. We All Need Some Light07. Stranger In Your Soul

LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT

01. Paradigm Shift (Tony Levin, Eric Gillette and Diego Tejeida)02. Acid Rain (Tony Levin, Eric Gillette and Diego Tejeida)03. Universal Mind (Tony Levin, Eric Gillette and Diego Tejeida)

MIKE PORTNOY'S THE SHATTERED FORTRESS

04. The Glass Prison (Ross Jennings on lead vocals)05. This Dying Soul (Daniel Gildenlöw & Ross Jennings on lead vocals)06. The Root Of All Evil (Ted Leonard on lead vocals)07. Repentance (Mike Portnoy on lead vocals)08. The Shattered Fortress (Ross Jennings on lead vocals)

SHATTERED FORTRESS is:

Mike Portnoy - DrumsEric Gillette, Richard Henshall, Charlie Griffiths - Guitars Connor Green - BassDiego Tejeida - Keyboards