AYREON, the highly acclaimed project from singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer Arjen Lucassen, has released the official lyric video for the song "Everybody Dies", taken from the upcoming album "The Source". Check it out below.

"The Source" is an exciting new chapter in the AYREON saga, with contributions from renowned vocalists like James LaBrie (DREAM THEATER), Simone Simons (EPICA), Floor Jansen (NIGHTWISH), Hansi Kürsch (BLIND GUARDIAN), Tobias Sammet (EDGUY, AVANTASIA), and Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X). "The Source" will be released on April 28 through AYREON's new label Mascot Label Group/Music Theories Recordings.

While AYREON's "Forever/Planet Y" saga seemed to have reached its conclusion with the album "01011001", it's clear that Lucassen's creative muses had other plans. The new AYREON album "The Source" revisits the "Forever" saga, adding a whole new chapter to Lucassen's impressive body of work. With its top-flight cast of singers and musicians, compelling songs, overwhelming sound, and intriguing story, "The Source" offers everything that has gained Lucassen dedicated fans worldwide since he laid the foundations of AYREON back in the mid-'90s.

The story of "The Source" is set six billion years in the past relative to Earth. It begins on Planet Alpha, a world in the Andromeda system where computer intelligence has far surpassed that of humanity. Alpha is facing a massive global crisis, with ecological and political catastrophes threatening all human life. The Alphans (our human ancestors) try to save their planet by entrusting the global computer mainframe — The 'Frame — to find a solution. Given total control of the planet, the 'Frame reaches the logical conclusion that its creators are the cause of all the trouble. The only way to solve Alpha's problems is to exterminate humanity. This leaves the Alphans no other option than to try and escape their horrific fate. But their escape comes at a terrible price. It's the beginning of a story that contains everything that has made the Ayreon epics so endlessly fascinating all these years.

The international status of AYREON enables Arjen Lucassen to write his characters with some of the most respected singers in rock in mind: James LaBrie (DREAM THEATER), Tommy Giles Rogers (BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME), Simone Simons (EPICA), Mike Mills (TOEHIDER), Floor Jansen (NIGHTWISH), Hansi Kürsch (BLIND GUARDIAN), Michael Eriksen (CIRCUS MAXIMUS), Tobias Sammet (EDGUY, AVANTASIA), Nils K. Rue (PAGAN'S MIND), Zaher Zorgati (MYRATH), Tommy Karevik (KAMELOT) and Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X). Special contributions were offered by guitarists Paul Gilbert (MR. BIG), Guthrie Govan (THE ARISTOCRATS, ASIA, STEVEN WILSON), Marcel Coenen and keyboard player Mark Kelly (MARILLION).

Watch the epic 12-minute video for album opener "The Day That The World Breaks Down" below.

Just as on his previous albums, "The Source" has Arjen Lucassen playing a wide variety of instruments, while the inimitable Ed Warby (ELEGY, GOREFEST, HAIL OF BULLETS) once again masterfully handles the drums.

2017 will be a particularly exciting year for AYREON fans thanks to a unique chance to actually see AYREON live. Limited to three exclusive performances, "The Ayreon Universe" will take place in September in the prestigious 013 venue in Tilburg, Holland. This unprecedented live event features the best of twenty years of AYREON music, brought to life by a top cast of musicians such as Floor Jansen (NIGHTWISH), Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X), Damian Wilson (THRESHOLD), Hansi Kürsch (BLIND GUARDIAN), Tommy Karevik (KAMELOT), Jonas Renkse (KATATONIA), Anneke van Giersbergen, and various others. The reclusive Arjen Lucassen himself is also expected to make a rare appearance on stage. The tickets for all concerts — 9000 in total — sold out within a day, proving once again that the AYREON magic is still very much alive and kicking.

"The Source" track listing:

CD1

Chronicle 1: The 'Frame

01. The Day That The World Breaks Down02. Sea Of Machines 03. Everybody Dies

Chronicle 2: The Aligning Of The Ten

04. Star Of Sirrah 05. All That Was 06. Run! Apocalypse! Run! 07. Condemned To Live

CD2

Chronicle 3: The Transmigration

08. Aquatic Race 09. The Dream Dissolves 10. Deathcry Of A Race 11. Into The Ocean

Chronicle 4: The Rebirth

12. Bay Of Dreams 13. Planet Y Is Alive! 14. The Source Will Flow 15. Journey To Forever 16. The Human Compulsion 17. March Of The Machines

Rob Zombie has has lent his voice to "Guardians Of The Galaxy 2".

Rob confirmed his involvement in the sequel to the 2014 comedic superhero flick via his Instagram account.

Zombie posted a picture of him with the film's director, James Gunn, and wrote: "With James Gunn at Disney recording a voice for 'Guardians Of The Galaxy 2'."

Gunn later tweeted: "It isn't a James Gunn film without Rob Zombie's voice!"

In the first "Guardians" film, Zombie voiced the Ravager's own navigation system. Zombie also lent his voice to other characters in Gunn's films: he voiced a doctor in "Slither" and even sounded off as God in "Super".

Last July, Jimmy Urine of electro-punks MINDLESS SELF INDULGENCE revealed that he will have a part in the upcoming "Guardians Of The Galaxy" sequel. Urine was cast in the role of Half-Nut, a member of the Ravagers.

AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler last year publicly expressed an interest in being a part of "Guardians Of The Galaxy 3" — even though a third instalment wouldn't arrive before 2020 at the earliest.

Gunn responded: "Yes, I did hear that Steven Tyler wants to be in 'Guardians Of The Galaxy'. The answer is, Steven, yes I am listening. And I'm a big fan of Steven Tyler's. I had the pleasure of directing his daughter Liv in 'Super' in 2010 in which she was fantastic, and I met him for a few seconds at a screening of that movie. He's a cool guy. And, of course, I would love to work with Steven Tyler sometime."

"Guardians Of The Galaxy 2" is due in theaters on May 5.

A video for Black Sabbath's "Killing Yourself To Live" has been created using the album track and footage from the Santa Monica Civic show in 1975. Check it out below.

Rare Black Sabbath live audio was recently posted on YouTube. The clip below features the band performing at Rugman’s Youth Club in Dumfries, Scotland on November 16th, 1969. The setlist was as follows:

"Black Sabbath"
"Let Me Love You Baby"
"Song For Jim" - Drum Solo - Reprise
"The Warning" (Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation Cover)
"Wicked World"
"Behind The Wall Of Sleep"
"Early One Morning" (Elmore James Cover)
"N.I.B."
"Blue Blooded Man"

Ozzy Osbourne - vocals
Tony Iommi - guitar, flute
Geezer Butler - bass
Bill Ward - drums

Bobby Blotzer will undergo lumbar spine surgery at the end of March.

The original RATT drummer revealed the news in a Facebook post, explaining that one of the spine's five intervertebral segments has collapsed, with another one soon to follow.

According to Blotzer, he has been getting epidural spine injections for six years and had a nerve-burning procedure done, neither one of which has successfully ended his chronic pain problems.

Blotzer, who had a spinal fusion surgery for the C6-C7 vertebrae in his neck four years ago, said that he will go under the knife two days after his version of RATT performs at the Prairie Knights Casino & Resort in Fort Yates, North Dakota on March 18.

Blotzer did not disclose who will front his version of RATT at the North Dakota concert, having recently parted ways with singer Joshua Alan, who had been with the group since its late 2015 inception.

The drummer also promised that he would "mop up [the] litigation" he is currently embroiled in with his former bandmate over the rights to the RATT name and that he would return to the road "with RATT around late June."

Blotzer has spent the last year and a half battling the other three members of RATT's classic lineup in court. At the same time, he has been hitting the road with his version of RATT, which, in addition to Alan, most recently included guitarists Mitch Perry (TALAS, HEAVEN, STEELER, MSG, LITA FORD) and Stacey Blades (L.A. GUNS) and bassist Brad Lang (Y&T).

Back in November, a California judge ruled against Blotzer with respect to whether bassist Juan Croucier had committed trademark infringement by using the RATT name and logo to advertise his band RATT'S JUAN CROUCIER in the fall of 2015. The judge furthermore decided that the corporation WBS, Inc. — of which Blotzer and guitarist Warren DeMartini were thought to be the sole shareholders — did not have ownership interest in the RATT marks and that the name and brand was still owned by the members who were part of the original RATT partnership agreement.

In addition to claiming to have expelled Blotzer from the partnership following the November court ruling, DeMartini, Croucier and singer Stephen Pearcy said that Blotzer could now only refer to himself as a "former member of RATT," as per the partnership agreement.

Blotzer's attorney later filed a request for reconsideration, and a hearing was held on January 23 in a downtown Los Angeles federal courtroom at which point the judge took the matter under submission. Less than two weeks later — on February 3 — U.S. District Judge Dean D. Pregerson issued an order denying Blotzer's request.

The RATT version featuring Pearcy, DeMartini, Croucier and later-period RATT guitarist Carlos Cavazo (ex-QUIET RIOT) made its first official return to the stage on February 11 at the Treasure Island Resort Casino in Welch, Minnesota.




Hey all : I got this MRI last week. Having some bad shite coming to the roads end on my back.

Alot of people that...

Posted by RATT on Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Sólstafir will release their new album Berdreyminn on May 26th via Season Of Mist. More information coming soon.

Tracklisting:

“Silfur-Refur”
“Ísafold”
“Hula”
“Nárós”
“Hvít Sæng”
“Dýrafjörður”
“Ambátt”
“Bláfjall”

(Photo by: Falk-Hagen_Bernshausen)

A playthrough video for the song "Schizomaniac" from death metal veterans SIX FEET UNDER can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's twelfth studio album, "Torment", which will be released on February 24 via Metal Blade.

There's plenty of classic SIX FEET UNDER groove to be had on "Torment", but fans will note a much more aggressive approach, and even more modern blast beats throughout. This is a cantankerous SIX FEET UNDER with absolutely nothing to prove. This is SIX FEET UNDER at its most deadly.

"Torment" was brought to life by Chris Barnes with bassist/guitarist Jeff Hughell (BRAIN DRILL) shouldering the load of writing the music, along with heralded drummer Marco Pitruzzella (BRAIN DRILL, ANOMALOUS, SLEEP TERROR). The combination of Barnes's multi-decade death metal experience and the speed and precision of Hughell and Pitruzzella's relative youth go a long way to cementing this as a solid foundation for high-level death metal. This is immediately apparent in the first track "Sacrificial Kill" and expanded further right away in the second track "Exploratory Homicide". Both Hughell and Pitruzzella are allowed to play their style of metal with a unique SIX FEET UNDER flair. That's what makes "Torment" a unique and welcome addition to the band's stories catalog.

Barnes states about "Torment": "I've been lucky to have a lot of standout albums in my career. That's only because I've had a great many talented writing partners and musicians to collaborate with. Our new album, 'Torment', to me, is one of those albums. Jeff Hughell has provided the flammable material for me to write some explosive lyrics and vocal parts to.

"I know people always say, 'This is my best album ever,' and I won't say that, because everyone has their own favorites, but I do enjoy creating new music, and I feel as though with this one we expressed concisely and to the fullest the duality of our music. I have also found it important over the years, going back to the start of my career, that the artwork for our albums gets to express, on some level, what the experience is within. To do that this time around, we were able to incorporate an amazing new artist, Septian Devenum, to take on the task of visually bringing this album to life.

"Every song on the album is depicted with a piece of artwork that explores the lyrical content of each song, similar to what we did for the packaging for our album 'Bringer Of Blood'.

"'Torment' has been a great album to work on and help create, we hope all of our fans appreciate it."

"Torment" track listing:

01. Sacrificial Kill02. Exploratory Homicide03. The Separation Of Flesh From Bone04. Schizomaniac05. Skeleton06. Knife Through The Skull07. Slaughtered As They Slept08. In The Process Of Decomposing09. Funeral Mask10. Obsidian11. Bloody Underwear12. Roots Of Evil

SIX FEET UNDER's new album was mixed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris and was previously described by Barnes as "the most brutally intense, groove-laden masterpiece we've ever put together!"

SIX FEET UNDER in December completed the "X-Mas in Hell Tour 2016" in Germany where the band celebrated the 21st anniversary of its debut album, "Haunted", by performing the LP in its entirety.

Relapse Records has announced the vinyl reissues of Dying Fetus's five most recent full-length albums, including Reign Supreme (2012), Descend Into Depravity (2009), War Of Attrition (2007), Stop At Nothing (2003) and Destroy the Opposition (2001). This will be the first repressing of each album since their initial release.

All five LPs will be pressed on black vinyl along with a special clear with blood red splatter edition limited to 300 copies each worldwide. Each album will contain special bonus tracks from the original recording sessions that were previously never available on vinyl.  

Watch a trailer for the reissue below:

The Dying Fetus vinyl reissues are due out March 24th via Relapse Records. Pre-orders are available and full details on each reissue are available now through Relapse.com at this location. Stream these albums along with the band's full catalog via Bandcamp here.

Additionally, Dying Fetus recently completed recording their highly anticipated eighth full-length album, which will see a summer release via Relapse. More details will be announced shortly.

Dying Fetus will embark on a full European tour with Hatebreed this spring. The band will also play a special show in Philadelphia, PA where they will shoot footage for an upcoming music video with director Mitch Massie (Cattle Decapitation, The Dillinger Escape Plan).

Dying Fetus Tour Dates:

March
17 - Philadelphia, PA - Voltage Lounge

April (with Hatebreed)
12 - Koln, Germany - Essigfabrik
13 - Magdeburg, Germany - Factory
14 - Warsaw, Poland - Progresja
15 - Berlin, Germany - Astra
16 - Schijndel, Netherlands - Paaspop
17 - Solothurn, Switzerland - Kofmehl
18 - Saarbrucken, Germany - Garage
19 - Nurnberg, Germany - Hirsch
20 - Munchen, Germany - Backstage
21 - Bologna, Italy - Zona Roveri
22 - Innsbruck, Austria - Hafen
23 - Lindau, Germany - Club Vaudeville
25 - Besancon, France - La Rodia
26 - Munster, Germany - Sputnikhalle
27 - Aarhus, Denmark - Train
28 - Oslo, Norway - Parkteatret
29 - Sweden - TBA

May
25 - Vancouver, BC - Modified Ghost Festival II

(Photo - John Fisk)

My Dying Bride has been the leading light of doom metal since the debut album As The Flower Withers was released on Peaceville Records back in 1992. Influenced by acts such as Celtic Frost and Candlemass, the band's heavy atmospherics have carved a huge worldwide following over the years and they remain at the pinnacle of the genre and one of the most instantly distinguishable metal bands.

Songs Of Darkness, Words Of Light was the band's eighth studio album and was originally released in 2004. With My Dying Bride's perfected blend of guitar and sombre atmospherics creating an unmistakable ensemble of epic crushing doom metal, and featuring some of the band's most dark and sinister material to date, the album was also notable for its more sensitive and reflective side, as evident on the track “Catherine Blake”, and fan favourite, “My Wine In Silence”.

This edition of Songs Of Darkness, Words Of Light is presented on 180gm heavyweight vinyl, with gatefold sleeve. Order at this location.

Tracklisting:

Side A:
“The Wreckage Of My Flesh”
“The Scarlet Garden”

Side B
“Catherine Blake”
“My Wine In Silence”

Side C
“The Prize Of Beauty”
“The Blue Lotus”

Side D
“And My Fury Stands Ready”
“A Doomed Lover”

“The Wreckage Of My Flesh”:

Atmospheric black metallers, Fen, are streaming the video “II (Penance)”, the second track from their fifth full-length album, to be released via Code666 on March 10th.

Titled Winter, and produced by of Jaime Gomez Arellano at the Orgone Studios in London (Ulver, Altar Of Plagues, Grave Miasma, Primordial, Solstafir), the six-track album promises to be a colossal piece of work for the English three-piece, at once rich in sound, beguilingly delicate, and yet laced with darkness.

Consisting of six songs that are thematically and compositionally linked, each piece on Winter flows into the next, and, ideally, the whole record is intended to be listened to in one sitting to allow the full journey to be absorbed. Musically, the band have sought to push themselves further than ever before and Fen’s trademark use of atmospheric black metal and delicate, spacious cleans,has been married with aspects of ‘70s progressive rock, shoegaze and doom metal, with the intention of rendering Winter as involving and as immersive a listen as possible.

Winter will be available in Standard CD, Double Black Vinyl limited to 300 copies, and Digital formats.In addition there will also be available a Special Collectors Box limited to 199 copies which will include the standard CD, an additional bonus CD, the DLP with Side A/Side B in a smashed splatter effect of transparent aquamarine and opaque cream, an exclusive T-shirt and poster, and a certificate of authenticity signed by the band.

Frontman The Watcher has summarized the album thus:  “With Winter we wanted to ‘return to the roots’ of the band so to speak but not in the clichéd, nostalgic way many bands do – instead, we wanted this record to represent the ‘essence’ of Fen in terms of tone, atmosphere and above all concept. This album therefore very much describes a journey towards sanctity and redemption across a landscape steeped in mystery, hints of forgotten darkness and sorrows long since drowned in the distant past. It represents the culmination of over 18 months of writing and rehearsing, pushing ourselves harder and harder as musicians – it is a lengthy and self-indulgent record for which we make no apology for. Indeed, it is a fitting tribute to mark ten years of the existence of Fen.”

Artwork by Grungyn.

Tracklisting:

“I (Pathway)”
“II (Penance)”
“III (Fear)”
“IV (Interment)”
“V (Death)”
“VI (Sight)”

Bonus (available on all limited formats)

“The Keening Soils”
“Sight (Reprise)”
“Penumbral Whispers”
“Temples Beyond The Shoreline”

"II (Penance)" video:

“I (Pathway)”:

Austin, Texas, metal group Dead Earth Politics will release its debut Pavement Entertainment album The Mobius Hammersmith on March 3rd, featuring the single “Runescarred.” Preorders are available on iTunes.

The band has been in the metal scene since 2005, rising to fame with its Mark The Resistance EP in 2006 and following up with its stellar The Weight Of Poseidon LP in 2010.

Dead Earth Politics is thrilled to be back in the studio recording The Mobius Hammersmith. Vocalist Ven Scott says, “Mobius is by far the most progressive EP we put out to date, yet somehow it is our heaviest. I'm proud as hell of it because we continue to blend every idea we have without forcing a set of preconceived parameters. We just. Make. Art.”

On the new single, Ven adds, “‘Runescarred’ is the flagship tune that perfectly illustrates the heaviness we want to put forth and still allows breathing room for out-of-the-box creativity.”

Tracklisting:

“Runescarred”
“The Mobius Hammersmith”
“Balancing Broken Scales”
“Wretched Things”
“Broad Wings & Distant Shores”
“Redneck Dragonslayer”
“Ice & Fire (Men Become Gods)”

“Runescarred” video:

Striker returns in 2017 with their fifth self-titled studio album, due out on February 24th, along with a tour across Europe till mid April (dates listed here). The album is streaming in full below.

The band comments on the upcoming release: "This is our no bullshit album. We cut out everything that wasn't absolutely necessary and kept everything short and to the point. We pray at the altar of heavy metal everyday, and there are some musical ideas that persist through time and some that don't. We focused in on what keeps listeners coming back and got rid of everything else. You can't climb Mount Everest dragging any useless shit with you; if you want to make it to the top, only bring with you what is absolutely necessary: Lethal Amounts of Shred."

Tracklisting:

“Former Glory”
“Pass Me By”
“Born To Lose”
“Cheating Death”
“Shadows In The Light”
“Rock The Night”
“Over The Top”
“Freedom's Call”
“Curse of The Dead”

Album stream:

“Born To Lose”:

Tokyo Motor First have launched a new EPK (Electronic Press Kit) introducing the band members. Watch below:

You don't need to be a die-hard '80s metal fan to know that the fruits of an artistic alliance between Danger Danger singer Ted Poley and guitarist/producer Steve Brown of Trixter is going to make melodic rock fans rejoice! The two musicians from New Jersey recently created Tokyo Motor Fist and the new band is ready to unleash on the world their self-titled debut album on February 24th.

Indeed, Tokyo Motor Fist is exactly what you would expect: catchy and uplifting hard rock, the way is should be! You want big - we mean, BIG - hooks? You got 'em. What about major guitar riffs? Of course there's plenty of those. Killer rhythm section? Well, with Greg Smith (Ted Nugent, Rainbow, Alice Cooper) and Chuck Burgi (Rainbow, Blue Oyster Cult, Joe Lynn Turner) you simply can't go wrong.

Ted and Steve have been friends for a long time. They were playing the same club circuit with their respective bands, Danger Danger and Trixter, when both bands were starting their careers. Over the years, they've had a great personal relationship and the idea of doing a record together has been in the cards for many years. Now, thanks to Frontiers this concept has become a reality.

"To say that I'm excited for the world to hear Tokyo Motor Fist would be an understatement," says Steve Brown. "Working on this project with my rock and roll brothers Ted Poley, Greg Smith & Chuck Burgi was a total blast....We had fun and it shows in the performances and in the music!  As a songwriter I couldn't be happier with the way the songs came together. Fans of Trixter, Danger Danger, Def Leppard , Bon Jovi and Cheap Trick will get the best of all those worlds."

Ted Poley adds: "Working with guys of this caliber was amazing. I was excited to collaborate with my long time friend Steve Brown, who is not only a really great songwriter and guitarist but also an insanely cool producer! The band sounds great and very high energy. The vocals of Steve and I along with his SHREDDING guitar, combined with the World Class rhythm powerhouse section of Greg Smith and Chuck Burgi is amazing, what a cool band - the sound is HUGE. But it's the songs that drew me into making this album in the beginning and the record is full of catchy songs with massive choruses and great melodies and sounds BIG BIG BIG! I am beyond THRILLED with the final result and I hope you will be too."

Tokyo Motor Fist tracklisting:

“Pickin' Up The Pieces”
“Love Me Insane”
“Shameless”
“Love”
“Black And Blue”
“You're My Revolution”
“Don't Let Me Go”
“Put Me To Shame”
“Done To Me”
“Get You Off My Mind”
“Fallin' Apart”

“Love”:

“Put Me To Shame”:

“Shameless”:

“Love Me Insane”:

Tokyo Motor Fist lineup:

Ted Poley - Vocals
Steve Brown - Guitars, Vocals
Greg Smith - Bass Guitar
Chuck Burgi - Drums

Germany's Lunar Shadow are set to release their debut album, Far From Light, via Cruz Del Sur Music on February 24th in Europe and March 10th in North America. Preorders are available at this location. The new song, "They That Walk The Night”, is streaming below.

Far From Light delivers eight brand new songs with a playing time of over 60 minutes. Epic, melodic, thoughtful, and proudly regressive.

Tracklisting:

“Hadrian Carrying Stones”
“They That Walk That Night”
“Frozen Goddess”
“Gone Astray”
“The Hour Of Dying”
“The Kraken”
“Cimmeria”
“Earendil”

“They That Walk The Night”:

“Hadrian Carrying Stones”:

Led by guitarist Max "Savage" Birbaum, Lunar Shadow have worked their way to the debut LP with patience and extreme dedication. After the release of their first EP Triumphator in 2015, the band played a number of select live shows, including the Harder Than Steel Festival and gigs with Atlantean Kodex, Dark Forest, and Argus.

One year later and there are tales of strange sounds in the hills. Chariots are being prepared for war. The women and children are fearful. Lunar Shadow have returned.

 

On March 24th, Blood Divisions - a collaborative project of heavy metal musicians with proceeds going to Rock And Rescue - will release their new EP, Cardinal One, via Metal Blade Records. Featuring cover songs of classic tracks as well as original material, Cardinal One can be pre-ordered at this location. The album track, a cover of UFO's "Hot ’N’ Ready" can be streamed below.

Founded by core members Chris Jericho (Fozzy, WWE), David Austin (Nasty Savage), and Ed Aborn (Intersonic Cyber Symphony), Blood Divisions features a roster of supporting musicians who are current or former members of bands such as Obituary, Death, Nasty Savage, Six Feet Under, Iced Earth, Sebastian Bach, Deicide, Massacre, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and more. The result is a mixture of classics injected with new energy and original music in the mould of Florida's heavy metal roots.

"Blood Divisions is the perfect heavy metal snack mix," says singer and Executive Producer Chris Jericho (Fozzy, WWE). "It's a complete blend of balls out thrash, virtuoso technique and 70's hard rock melodies. It's an honour to be a part of this project, as I'd be a fan even if I wasn't in the band! Plus I love machine elves."

"The project began purely as a creative outlet to have some fun and pay homage to some of the bands that influenced or inspired us," adds Ed Aborn (Intersonic Cyber Symphony). "Once we began, though, friends from the Florida metal community started to reach out and ask if they could join in. Eventually we decided to make it semi-official and do it all for charity."

David Austin (Nasty Savage) comments: "Absolute pleasure working with all my friends on here. For them to take their time out of their busy schedule and to do something for free for charity means everything to me. Hopefully I get to do it all over again!!!!"

For more information about Rock And Rescue and how you can donate, visit this location.

Cardinal One tracklisting:

“The Morgue” (Nasty Savage cover)
“Hot ’N’ Ready” (UFO cover)
“March Of The Machine Elves”
“Top Of The Bill” (Scorpions cover)
“Return To The Garden Of Temptation”
“No Sympathy” (Nasty Savage cover)

“Hot ’N’ Ready” (UFO cover):

On March 10th, Nova Collective (featuring members of Between The Buried And Me, Haken, Trioscapes, Cynic) will release their debut album, The Further Side, via Metal Blade Records.

For a preview of The Further Side, a full band playthrough video for the new single, "Ripped Apart aAnd Reassembled", can be viewed below:

Nova Collective's music can be described as fusion, weaving progressive rock influences with world music, jazz and classical, to create something entirely new that is pure aural candy for prog/jazz fans. For another preview, a full-band, live performance video for the single "Dancing Machines" can be viewed below:

The album can be pre-ordered here in the following formats:

- CD
- Black 180g LP
- Clear-red marble LP (limited to 200 copies)
* digital options are also available

Nova Collective began in 2014 when bassist Dan Briggs (Between the Buried and Me, Trioscapes) and guitarist Richard Henshall (Haken) began exchanging emails about music; before long, a few demos were fleshed out into full arrangements. Drummer Matt Lynch (Trioscapes, Cynic) and keyboardist Pete Jones (ex-Haken) came on board shortly after to finish writing the album. The Further Side was written on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, with Briggs and Lynch in America and Henshall and Jones in England, sharing session files until the group could get together at the beginning of 2015 to record with engineer Jamie King (Between the Buried and Me, The Contortionist). Mixed by Rich Mouser (Neal Morse, Transatlantic), it is immediately clear that The Further Side is a labor of love for all involved, and that enthusiasm shines throughout.

Nova Collective lineup:

Dan Briggs - Bass
Matt Lynch - Drums
Pete Jones - Keyboards
Richard Henshall - Guitar

Polish black/death metal tyrants and recent Agonia Records signees, Azarath, have released a lyric video for the track “At The Gates Of Understanding”, featured on the upcoming In Extremis album. The clip is available for streaming below.

On April 7th, the band (featuring drummer Inferno of long-time Behemoth fame) will return with their most furious sonic statement to date, In Extremis. The eerie painting that adorns the album's cover was made by Marta Promińska (Hypnagogic Painting).

Meaning "at the point of death" or "under extreme circumstances" in Latin, In Extremis is yet another apex reached by Azarath. Offering a vehement ride through the netherworlds, the effort arrives six long years after its predecessor, Blasphemers' Maledictions (2011), and places the band back at the fore of the genre, with strong ties to the group's early cult albums. Black as a night and dense as tar, In Extremis offers a whirlwind of chaotic currents ready to overwhelm.

Recorded in various locations between March and November 2016, the opus was mixed and mastered by Haldor Grunberg at Satanic Audio. Graphic design and layout were done by Mentalporn (Behemoth, Origin, Decapitated) with calligraphy provided by Ihasan Art and additional work by Holy Poison Design.

Tracklisting:

“The Triumph Of Ascending Majesty”
“Let My Blood Become His Flesh”
“Annihilation (Smite All The Illusions)”
“The Slain God”
“At The Gates Of Understanding”
“Parasu Blade”
“Sign Of Apophis”
“Into The Nameless Night”
“Venomous Tears (Mourn Of The Unholy Mother)”
“Death”

“At The Gates Of Understanding” lyric video:

In Extremis will be available in a variety of formats:

- Digipack CD with 36 page booklet
- Limited to 100 copies gatefold red LP with 20 page booklet
- Limited to 150 copies gatefold white LP with 20 page booklet
- Limited to 250 copies picture LP with 20 page booklet
- Standard black LP with 20 page booklet
- T-shirt (2 versions)
- Hooded sweatshirt
- Full zip hooded sweatshirt
- Digital format

Pre-orders are available here.

Following the album's release, Azarath will play at Inferno Festival (Norway) and Party.San Festival (Germany). The record release show will take place in Warsaw (Poland) a few weeks after album's release date.

Lineup:
Inferno - drums
Bart - guitars
Necrosodom - vocals/guitars
Peter - bass

Originally formed in 2001, Barcelona, Spain’s Moonloop have kept on impressing the press and local fans with their own mix of progressive and death metal. Often tagged as a non mimicking but challenging combination of Opeth’s catchy arrangements and musical sensibilities and Gojira / Death heavy menacing yet melodic powerful guitar grooves and bashing drums.

Moonloop are now unveiling a new song off their forthcoming album Devocean, set to be released on March 24th through Listenable Records. The album track, “Zeal”, is now available for streaming below.

Eric Baulenas (vocals/guitar) gives an insight on the lyrical process: "When I was writing the lyrics, I was inspired by a great quote from Khalil Gibran (a Lebanese poet) which says: "Zeal is a volcano, the peak of which the grass of indecisiveness does not grow…. The experience of losing yourself might be painful, but brings new eyes, and then you learn the lesson for being able to reborn from your own ashes.”

Moonloop is a band with the broadest opportunities for evolution, consistently forward thinking yet retaining the death metal roots in their songwriting. Devocean is undoubtedly the band 's most accomplished adventure.

Devocean will be available in limited edition transparent blue vinyl of 300 copies worldwide and digipack. Pre-order now at this location.

Tracklisting:

“Megalodon”
“Zeal”
“Gallery Of Dminished Nightmares”
“Expired Kings”
“Medusa”
“Oceans”
“Interglacial”
“Origin”

“Zeal”:

Lineup:

Eric Baulenas: Vocals, lead & rhythm guitars
Juanjo Martin: Rhythm guitars & background vocals
Raul Payan: Drums
Vic Granell: Bass

Australia's Maniacs TV last year conducted an interview with IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain. The chat, which has just been posted on YouTube, can be viewed in two parts below.

Speaking about MAIDEN's devoted following, Nicko said: "Seeing so many of our fans out there… It is the MAIDEN army.

"I mean, every band in the world says their fans are the best, but I know for a fact that ours are truly the best fans in the world. And there's a passion and a love, and it's one big family."

He continued, addressing the fans directly: "I hope that you continue to love what we do as much as we love what we do. And this tour, I've gotta say thank you to you all, because without doubt, we're having the best time that I think we've ever had as a band touring, and playing these songs — these six songs that you probably know by now off the new record — and some old stuff… Old stuff… There's some old shit — thirty-five years old, some of these songs. And we really love this tour and what we do, and you make it all very, very special for us to get up there every night and play these songs for you."

IRON MAIDEN's hugely successful "The Book Of Souls" world tour will return to North America for an extensive series of arena and amphitheater shows in summer 2017. The mammoth tour opened in Florida in February 2016, playing fourteen sold-out shows in the U.S.A and Canada along with a further 58 concerts in 34 other countries around the globe.

Support on the trek will come from GHOST. There will also be some further bands added to the show at San Bernardino.

"The Book Of Souls" is MAIDEN's first ever double studio album and their most successful chart-wise to date, debuting at the No. 1 spot in over 40 countries around the world and No. 4 in the U.S.A.

John Petrucci says that there are "no plans" for DREAM THEATER to reunite with drummer Mike Portnoy for a show or a tour.

Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER more than thirty years ago, abruptly quit the band in September 2010 while on tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD. He has since been replaced by Mike Mangini (ANNIHILATOR, EXTREME, JAMES LABRIE, STEVE VAI). Portnoy later revealed that he tried to rejoin DREAM THEATER, only to be rebuffed.

During a February 8 question-and-answer session in Tilburg, The Netherlands, Petrucci and DREAM THEATER keyboardist Jordan Rudess were asked by a fan if they would be willing to play with Portnoy again, possibly at a show celebrating a band anniversary. The guitarist responded (see video below): "There's no plans to do anything like that. Mike's great, and he's doing many, many projects right now."

Rudess jokingly added: "He's too busy for us."

Continued Petrucci: "Yeah, he's in twenty bands. I don't think he has time. But, yeah, this tour celebrating 'Images [And Words]', we won't be having any past member guests."

DREAM THEATER is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its milestone RIAA-gold-certified album "Images And Words" on a European tour, which kicked off on January 30 in Rome, Italy. Each performance sees the iconic progressive rock band delivering an unparalleled live set of "Images And Words" in its entirety along with fan favorites from their renowned catalogue.

In a 2016 interview with Metal Rules, Portnoy stated about his time with DREAM THEATER: "I'm proud of everything I did for those 25 years. That was my life for a quarter of a century, my half of lifetime. DREAM THEATER was my baby. I formed it from the beginning, out of college and I lived a lifetime with them. So I'm proud of every one of those albums and every one of the shows. I left behind a legacy and there is a lot of people that still talk about seeing me with them. I don't count on that happening. I wouldn't count on it. I wouldn't bet money on it. If it happens, then, sure, I'm up for it. Because I'm a very sentimental person and I still love the guys and I love the fans. But I surely don't count on it and I don't plan on it, and I'm happier than ever with everything I'm doing now."

Pain mainman Peter Tägtgren has posted a new message regarding any possibility of Hypocrisy recording any new material. The band’s last album was 2013’s End Of Disclosure. Tägtgren says he has a “hard time being motivated of writing new songs for that band.”

He says, “I feel that after 26 years of building up the band to its status today in the world, then I think...where do we go from here?

“I'm really happy to see Horgh is busy with new Immortal and that will buy some time to figure out what to do in the best of interest of Hypocrisy and what is respectful to our loving fans all over the globe…

“Do we have to release a new album? Can we just do some tours or festivals til/if the motivation is back? I don't know…I just don't wanna be a part of a half lame & stressed album…”

Svart Records has announced the signing of HALLATAR. The first fruit of this union shall be the band's debut album, "No Stars Upon the Bridge", which is based on the lyrics and poems of Aleah Starbridge, and is tentatively slated for release this autumn. Although a brand-new name, HALLATAR features in its ranks SWALLOW THE SUN and TREES OF ETERNITY guitarist Juha Raivio, AMORPHIS vocalist Tomi Joutsen and former HIM drummer Gas Lipstick. In fact, one could see HALLATAR as an extension of TREES OF ETERNITY, whose acclaimed debut for Svart, "Hour Of The Nightingale", served as the swansong of vocalist Aleah Starbridge.

Juha Raivio explains the genesis of HALLATAR: "After the death of my beloved and my life partner Aleah Starbridge last April, I have been gathering writings, lyrics, and the poems of Aleah to keep them safe and close to my heart.

"About one month after the world came down on the blackest day of my life on April 18th, I knew I needed to pick up the guitar and try to create something or I would be truly destroyed. And something did arrive out of the darkness, and I wrote the music for the HALLATAR album in a week's time.

"I don't have much memory of this week, not a memory of a single day of writing the music. But all I remember when going into this abyss of the writing process was a promise to myself that whatever music would come out, I would not touch or change anything of it afterwards. What mattered was that the music would stay forever as an absolute truth of those moments as they came out.

"I asked my good friends — and amazing musicians — Tomi Joutsen and Gas Lipstick if they would want to record this music with me, and both of them said yes without even hearing a note of it. I am forever grateful to both of them for sharing this road with me; even the weight of the process has not been easy to carry, or will be."

Says Gas Lipstick: "I am grateful and very honored to be asked to join this band. Juha is a dear friend of mine since many years ago, and when he told me about his vision for HALLATAR and asked me to join, I said yes instantly — I just had to be part of this amazing journey. I had never heard a single note of the music before I gave my 'yes' because I didn't need to. Juha has been one of my favorite songwriters already for years, and I knew that HALLATAR will be a very deep, personal, and one-of-a-kind story which I wanted to help him to bring alive."

Adds Tomi Joutsen: "I have known Juha from the year 2007, when we worked together for the first time. A couple years ago, I had the privilege to meet Juha's life partner, Aleah Starbridge, who was such a beautiful person, inside and outside, and had an angelic voice out of this world. Aleah lent her voice on the latest AMORPHIS album, and we called her 'the whispering ghost.' When I heard about Aleah's passing last spring, it came as a total shock and heartbreaking news out of the blue. When Juha asked me if I would want to be part of this album and carry Aleah's flame with him, I didn't have to think twice. When everything has been taken, all that is left is the music. The sorrow strips us naked and leave us humble — this is how it sounds like."

Concluded Raivio: "What we recorded was a raw moment in time honoring the memory, lyrics, and poems of Aleah Starbridge with all its pain, beauty and darkness. There are no stars left upon the bridge to light the way anymore, but the music will always be a dim light, even in the darkest of the night."

HALLATAR is:

Tomi Joutsen - VocalsGas Lipstick - DrumsJuha Raivio - Guitar, Bass, Keys

Danish composer and classically trained multi-instrumentalist, Myrkur, has entered the studio to record the follow-up to her masterful debut M, released in 2015 on Relapse. She's revealed Randall Dunn as the producer, who is known for his work with Marissa Nadler, Earth, Sunn O))), Boris, Wolves In The Throne Room and more. They began work last week in Copenhagen's Black Tornado studio and round things off the coming weeks in Dunn's own Seattle studio.

Myrkur discloses "I have spent the last year writing songs for this record and choosing which ones should make it. It has been a very different approach as well as process, compared to my debut album. I am mixing Kulning into the melodies, an ancient Scandinavian herding call and the lyrics are in different languages. I am very happy to have Randall Dunn produce the album here in Copenhagen, even though he is American, he seems to have Nordic blood and music running in his veins. It's a very exciting juxtaposition for me."

The album will include special guests (to be announced shortly) and an array of special instruments including Nyckelharpa, violin, mandola, folk drums and Kulning as previously mentioned. The album is slated for release this fall on Relapse Records. Stay tuned for more details.

Video footage of Myrkur’s performance at Wacken Open Air 2016  is available for streaming below.

Setlist:

“Den Lille Piges Død”
“Hævnen”
“Onde Børn”
“Vølvens Spådom”
“Jeg Er Guden, I Er Tjenerne”
“Mordet”
“Dybt I Skoven”
“Skøgen Skulle Dø”
“Skaði”
“Bathory”

Maryland/Pennsylvania experimental death-noise band FULL OF HELL will release its new full-length album, "Trumpeting Ecstasy", on May 5 via Profound Lore.

Punishing, virulent, and dynamic beyond expectation, "Trumpeting Ecstasy" was recorded at GodCity Studios with Kurt Ballou. The aural deluge also features guest appearances by Aaron Turner (SUMAC, OLD MAN GLOOM, MAMIFFER, ISIS), Nate Newton (CONVERGE, OLD MAN GLOOM), Andrew Nolan (COLUMN OF HEAVEN, THE ENDLESS BLOCKADE), and Canadian singer/songwriter Nicole Dollanganger.

"Trumpeting Ecstasy" track listing: 01. Deluminate02. Branches Of Yew03. Bound Sphinx04. The Cosmic Vein05. Digital Prison06. Crawling Back To God07. Fractured Quartz08. Gnawed Flesh09. Ashen Mesh10. Trumpeting Ecstasy11. At The Cauldron's Bottom

FULL OF HELL has had quite the journey leading up to the release of this third full-length album; the band's embryonic beginnings displayed their palette at its most primitive, d-beat and blast-ridden hardcore punk with spats of noise and caustic rhythm, and within a few short years, they have bloomed into a true force to be reckoned with within the punk and metal communities.

Since the release of their Profound Lore Records debut album, "Full Of Hell & Merzbow", in late 2014, the band began to truly come into their own, combining elements of grindcore, death/black metal, punk and hardcore with a smattering of sonically laden power electronics and industrial pounding. It would also signal the band being at their most active and prolific ever since their inception in 2009.

Swedish doom metallers AVATARIUM will release their third studio album, "Hurricanes And Halos", on May 26 via Nuclear Blast. Once again, singer Jennie-Ann Smith and her gentlemen cast a spell over you with a truly magical sound experience.

As was the case with the band's first two efforts, AVATARIUM relies on beauty and darkness, heavy guitars and fragile sounds, unique female vocals and the mystic vintage blues sound from the '60s, while still staying on modern ground and trusting into the haunting soul of doom rock. Six out of the eight new tracks were forged by CANDLEMASS wizard Leif Edling, but guitar master Marcus Jidell and Jennie-Ann Smith also contributed to the songwriting and formed a worthy successor to "The Girl With The Raven Mask" — an album that landed the band the "Up And Coming" award from Germany's Metal Hammer magazine.

"Hurricanes And Halos" was produced by Jidell himself, while David Castillo (KATATONIA, BLOODBATH, OPETH) recorded and mixed it in the famous Ghost Ward Studios and the mastering was done by Jens Bogren (SOILWORK, SEPULTURA). Together they created an organic and warm sound that sets "Hurricanes And Halos" apart from the overbred, electronically optimized mass.

"Recording 'Hurricanes And Halos' has truly been an emotional roller coaster for me and I do think that has contributed to a pure and vibrating energy on the album. I am deeply proud of what we have achieved together," states Jennie-Ann Smith. Jidell adds: "It feels like the two previous albums and the EPs lead us to this one. It's been a natural flow to where we are today, musical- and emotional-wise."

SCOUR, the new extreme metal "supergroup" featuring Philip Anselmo (PANTERA, DOWN, SUPERJOINT) alongside members of CATTLE DECAPITATION and PIG DESTROYER, made its live debut this past Sunday night (February 19) at One Eyed Jacks in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Professionally filmed video footage of SCOUR performing the song "Crooked" at the One Eyed Jacks concert can be seen below (clip shot by Mike Holderbeast).

The self-titled debut EP from SCOUR was released last July via Anselmo's Housecore label. The six-track effort was mixed by Dave Otero (CEPHALIC CARNAGE, CATTLE DECAPITATION, COBALT, KHEMMIS) and was made available on CD and vinyl formats.

Anselmo previously stated about his involvement with from SCOUR: "Doing the SCOUR project was a blast. The track 'Dispatched' was the first one I attacked, as it was the first one sent to me. Lyrically, I leave it to the listener to evaluate, as usual. The way I saw it, the songs were short, and extremely straight-forward, so I didn't want to clutter 'em up with too much. Therefore, I had to pick particular lyrics that seemed provocatively absurd enough, and to perform them as raw as deemed fit."

SCOUR is:

* Phillip H. Anselmo (PANTERA, DOWN, SUPERJOINT) - Vocals* Derek Engemann (CATTLE DECAPITATION) - Guitar* Chase Fraser (ANIMOSITY) - Guitar* John Jarvis (PIG DESTROYER) - Bass* Jesse Schobel (STRONG INTENTION) - Drums

Veteran Dutch extreme metallers PESTILENCE have set "Hadeon" as the title of their new album, due later in the year.

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

Asked by a fan on Facebook why bassist Tony Choy — whose return to PESTILENCE was announced last October — is not involved with the band anymore, Mameli responded: "Choy's out. I only work with professional people."

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

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

In a 2013 interview with Live Reviewer, Mameli said that it was his "passion" that motivated him to keep PESTILENCE alive after all these years. He explained at the time: "I think we can still contribute to the death metal community. PESTILENCE has always been my passion since I formed the band. It feels like a child that's grown up now. If I would run out of ideas, that would be the end."

Mameli also dismissed constant calls for a reunion with early PESTILENCE bassist/vocalist Martin Van Drunen, who sang on the band's classic albums "Malleus Maleficarum" (1988) and "Consuming Impulse" (1989). He said: "It's been 25 years. We try to become better musicians all the time. I think we deserve some credit for always looking ahead and trying to be innovative."

AT THE DRIVE IN will release its first album in seven years, "Inter Alia" (Latin for "among other things"), on May 5 via Rise Records.

The official lyric video for "Incurably Innocent", the second track to be released in advance of the record, can be seen below.

Pitting spacey phaser and thrash-y riffing against a sidewinder hook and siren wail, "Incurably Innocent", described by vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala as "a song about sexual abuse and being able to finally speak out," reveals additional facets of the kaleidoscopic "Inter Alia". Produced by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Rich Costey at Hollywood's Sound Factory, the 11-song 41-minute effort a picks up where 2000's "Relationship Of Command" left off… and rockets off into myriad other trajectories as unpredictable as they are intense. "Inter Alia"'s release will be immediately followed by a new series of live dates beginning in AT THE DRIVE IN's native El Paso, Texas and including headline dates at the likes of the Bill Graham Civic Center in San Francisco, the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and more. LE BUTCHERETTES will support on the new dates. "Inter Alia" track listing:

01. No Wolf Like The Present02. Continuum 03. Tilting At The Univendor04. Governed By Contagions05. Pendulum In A Peasant Dress06. Incurably Innocent 07. Call Broken Arrow 08. Holtzclaw 09. Torrentially Cutshaw10. Ghost-Tape No. 911. Hostage Stamps AT THE DRIVE IN is Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, Paul Hinojos, Tony Hajjar and Keeley Davis.

German thrash metal band Destruction has joined forces with PledgeMusic to launch a pre-order campaign in support of their upcoming album Thrash Anthems II, an exclusive self-supported release from the band.
 
Fans can pre-order the album in digital and CD form now on Destruction’s campaign page. The leaders in direct-to-fan platforms, PledgeMusic allows artists to get more personal with their fans, offering pledgers updates straight from the band and items not available anywhere else.
 
A follow-up to 2007's Thrash Anthems, the new album will re-animate another batch of classics including: “United By Hatred”, “Confused Mind”, and “The Ritual”. For Thrash Anthems II, Destruction is calling on their loyal fans through PledgeMusic to help them create the record and contribute to the band's epic history.
 
Pledgers who pre-order the album will receive an AccessPass which will give them early access to a digital download of the full album before anyone else; plus exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes content, and sneak peeks into the recording process available only through PledgeMusic. Fans will also be able to pledge on special merchandise and one-of-a-kind experiences. These include: a signed set list; handwritten lyric sheet; a signed pressing of the original vinyl; dinner with the band; the opportunity to attend a live rehearsal or stop by the studio for a day; an original stage backdrop; a signed Ibanez Destroyer Bass from 1985; and many more.

In late 2016, Destruction released a lyric video for “Generation Nevermore” from their Under Attack album. The clip can be found below.

The Under Attack artwork was created by acclaimed artist Gyula from Hungary, who has also created artwork for Annihlator, Grave Digger, Stratovarius, Tankard and many more.

Tracklisting:

“Under Attack”
“Generation Nevermore”
“Dethroned”
“Getting Used To The Evil”
“Pathogenic”
“Elegant Pigs”
“Second To None”
“Stand Up For What You Deliver”
“Conductor Of The Void”
“Stigmatized”

Bonus tracks:
“Black Metal” (feat. Alex [Krisiun])
“Thrash Attack”

“Generation Nevermore” lyric video:

"Under Attack" video:

“Second To None” lyric video:

BraveWords’ Under Attack review can be found here.

(Photo - Destruction Facebook)