Tuomas Holopainen's three-track demo earned him his first record deal with his freshly founded band NIGHTWISH back in 1996. 20 years later — with over 2,000 shows played and more than eight million records sold — NIGHTWISH is the biggest European symphonic metal band. Reason enough for Nuclear Blast to celebrate this huge anniversary by releasing a 2CD compilation titled "Decades" on March 9.

"Decades" will be available as a 2CD jewelcase, 2CD digipak, 3LP box (different colors) and 2CD earbook.

The first trailer for "Decades" is available below.

Track listing:

CD1

01. The Greatest Show On Earth
02. Élan
03. My Walden
04. Storytime
05. I Want My Tears Back
06. Amaranth
07. The Poet And The Pendulum
08. Nemo
09. Wish I Had An Angel

CD2

01. Ghost Love Score
02. Slaying The Dreamer
03. End Of All Hope
04. 10th Man Down
05. The Kinslayer
06. Dead Boy's Poem
07. Gethsemane
08. Devil & The Deep Dark Ocean
09. Sacrament Of Wilderness
10. Sleeping Sun
11. Elvenpath
12. The Carpenter
13. Nightwish (demo)

3LP Box (33 rpm)

Side A

01. The Greatest Show On Earth

Side B

01. Élan
02. My Walden
03. Storytime
04. I Want My Tears Back
05. Amaranth

Side C

01. The Poet And The Pendulum
02. Nemo
03. Wish I Had An Angel

Side D

01. Ghost Love Score
02. Slaying The Dreamer
03. End Of All Hope
04. 10th Man Down

Side E

01. The Kinslayer
02. Dead Boy's Poem
03. Gethsemane
04. Devil & The Deep Dark Ocean

Side F

01. Sacrament Of Wilderness
02. Sleeping Sun
03. Elvenpath
04. The Carpenter
05. Nightwish (demo)

The release will be accompanied by a nine-month tour across the globe. After kicking off with 34 concerts in North America in March-April, the journey will continue with dozens of European festival and headline shows. On this tour, NIGHTWISH will also be presenting a special setlist, featuring rare material from the early years of their career. That's why these evenings will not only be special events for the fans, but also for the band themselves. Be prepared to hear a lot of old-school material.

VIOLATION WOUND, the punk rock/metal band formed by Chris Reifert (DEATH, ABSCESS, AUTOPSY) on guitar and vocals, will release its new album, "With Man In Charge", on April 27 via Peaceville Records.

VIOLATION WOUND was born in a beer- and whiskey-soaked basement in June of 2013, driven to create 100 percent real punk rock. Nothing trendy, nothing wimpy, nothing pretentious, just fuelled by aggression and kick-ass riffs. VIOLATION WOUND is not interested in modern, plastic or safe crap, instead honoring the raw, dirty and pissed off ways of the original innovators, while carving out a path all their own.

Featuring Reifert alongside bassist Joe Orterry and drummer Matt O'Connell, "With Man In Charge" is VIOLATION WOUND's first release for Peaceville, offering psychotic blasts of punk-injected madness over 20 tracks. Joining VIOLATION WOUND on "With Man In Charge" are guests Athenar of U.S. act MIDNIGHT and Dave Hill, having recently collaborated with Chris in the rock act PAINTED DOLL. The disc was recorded at Earhammer Studios in Oakland, California with Greg Wilkinson (AUTOPSY), featuring cover artwork created by Wes Benscoter (AUTOPSY, SLAYER, NILE).

Reifert states: "We at VIOLATION WOUND headquarters are really fucking psyched to be working with Peaceville Records.

"We poured a lot of outrage, madness, aggression, and just plain ass-kicking into our new album, 'With Man In Charge', and we think our intentions will be heard loud and clear for anyone who gets their eardrums wrapped around this quickfire distorted assault. This isn't just an attempt to relive old punk days gone by or to latch on to whatever the hell people are calling hardcore these days. It's insane music for insane times by insane people."

The first track to be released is "Stalemate Suicide". Reifert states about the song: "Ah, humans. If only we could learn to deal with each other intelligently instead of putting ourselves on the brink of potential nuclear war over toxic egos and playground insults. Should we build a bigger bomb? What could possibly go wrong?"

Capital Chaos TV has uploaded video footage of SKINLAB's February 11 performance at The Boardwalk in Orangevale, California. Check it out below.

SKINLAB kicked off a short southwestern run, dubbed "Brothers In Blood", on January 25 in San Diego, wrapping on February 3 in Harlingen, Texas. Support on the trek came from PISSING RAZORS and SHATTERED SUN. A five-date "No Sleep Till Cali" run launched on February 6 in Tucson, Arizona and ended on February 11 in Orangevale.

SKINLAB recently announced the return of guitarist Steve Green, best known to fans as Snake.

"Our boy has slithered right back into our lives, and we embrace him with open arms," said SKINLAB frontman Steev Esquivel

"Snake has always been a huge part of SKINLAB, making his debut on the 'Eyesore' EP back in 1998. That fan favorite has become a collector's item, and Snake's blood and spirit has been a constant fixture through every release we've done since."

Added Snake: "It all comes down to LOVE... LOVE for these two dudes, Steev and Paul [Hopkins, drums], with whom I have shared so much time with. LOVE for the powerful music we have made, LOVE for the fans of SKINLAB, and ultimately, the LOVE for LIFE around every corner we turn. We're older, wiser and share a mutual passion for what we've created together. As for the future, we'll enter the studio and take things day by day, waiting to see what fate the metal Gods will bring forth. Enjoy the moment!"

In addition to rejoining SKINLAB, Snake remains a member of THE DEVIL IN CALIFORNIA, with whom he's been performing since 2015.

SKINLAB's lineup for the "Brothers In Blood Tour" is:

Steev Esquivel - Vocals, Bass
Paul Hopkins - Drums
Snake - Guitar
Marcos Medina Rivera - Guitar

Ozzy Osbourne has told Rolling Stone in a new interview that he "would like to make an album" after he completes his "No More Tours 2" farewell tour. Confirming that he has eight or nine song ideas, the legendary singer said that "I've just got to sit down and work them out. There's never enough time in this house," he said.

Ozzy added that he doesn't normally work on music while on tour. "When I'm on the road, when I take a day off, I should try to rest my voice, so it's not a good idea to go and start singing and writing songs," he said. "But I've done that in the past.

Osbourne hasn't issued a solo album since 2010's "Scream" and has spent the last few years touring with BLACK SABBATH before the legendary heavy metal act retired from the road.

"No More Tours 2" is a reference to Ozzy's 1992 "No More Tours" trek, which marked the first time the singer announced the end of his days as a touring artist. The tour name was a pun based on the title of his then-most recent solo album, "No More Tears". Ozzy returned to action three years later and has been on the road ever since.

Ozzy has previously made conflicting statements about whether or not he intends to record a new studio album, telling The Orange County Register last fall that "it's not cost-effective" to release full-length collections of tracks. "You actually lose money because people aren't buying records anymore," he said. "A couple of songs, maybe I'll do that and put that out. I'll go to Sharon [Osbourne, Ozzy's wife and manager] and say, 'I want to do an album' and then I'll go to her and say, 'I don't want to do an album.' I really can't make up my mind."

Last year, Ozzy reunited with guitarist Zakk Wylde, who played on studio albums such as "No Rest For The Wicked", "No More Tears" and "Ozzmosis" and who has toured on and off with Ozzy for nearly thirty years.

Ozzy has played a handful of solo shows since doing his final concerts with BLACK SABBATH a year ago. The legendary band wrapped up its forty-nine-year career with a year-long farewell tour, ending with two shows in its hometown of Birmingham, England.

ROBERT PLANT & THE SENSATIONAL SPACE SHIFTERS have released a performance video for the title track of their latest album, "Carry Fire". The clip was filmed on November 30, 2017 at the O2 Apollo in Manchester, England. It was directed by Ryan Mackfall and produced by Crashburn Media.

ROBERT PLANT & THE SENSATIONAL SPACE SHIFTERS kick off their 12-city North American tour tonight (February 9) at Raleigh, North Carolina's Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. Plant and the band are touring in support of "Carry Fire", with the trek stretching through March 2, when it wraps at L.A.'s Orpheum Theatre.

Released today on DVD and digital video is ROBERT PLANT & THE SENSATIONAL SPACE SHIFTERS "Live At David Lynch's Festival Of Disruption". The eight-song performance was captured on October 8, 2016 at L.A.'s Ace Hotel Theatre as part of David Lynch's inaugural Festival Of Disruption, which raised money for The David Lynch Foundation. In addition to newer solo material, Plant dips into his LED ZEPPELIN back catalogue with updated takes on such classics as "Black Dog", "Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You", "Going To California" and a medley of "Hoochie Coochie Man / Whole Lotta Love / Mona".

Robert Plant explained to The Pulse Of Radio that the truest expression of his musicality today can be summed up by the work he does with SENSATIONAL SPACE SHIFTERS. "The biggest joy is to get it right — to feel that you got it right," he said. "The whole thing, it's like a weave, because it's not the kind of... what people would expect. I've made a lot of music in Nashville and I've worked a lot with... [I've] modified my singing style quite a lot to fit in with another process. So, the music that I made with Alison Krauss and with the BAND OF JOY was more reflective. And when I came back to the U.K. recently, I just missed these guys and the way that they — they're coming from great places, y'know? It's strong urban British music."

Former W.A.S.P. and current METAL CHURCH drummer Stet Howland is in remission from Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), an aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that develops from the B-cells in the lymphatic system.

Howland revealed the good news on his Facebook page, saying that results from last Friday's a positron emission tomography (PET) scan showed "no detectable cancer in my body." He added that when he received the report, "I nearly shit myself I was so happy. Needless to say, there were tears of joy here at my house."

Last October, Howland began chemotherapy treatments, with each treatment consisting of Stet checking into the hospital as an inpatient and running continuously on chemo (16-hour drips, one right after the other) for just under five full days. On his days "off," he continued to go in for blood testing and received blood transfusions every couple of days.

In his latest Facebook post, Howland said that he "lost six months of my life and every hair on my body to a dreadful disease that usually takes good people's lives. The financial doom that came with it will follow me for a while, but honestly, in my opinion, huge financial debt cannot be weighed against the value of life itself. So now I owe hundreds of thousands of dollars — big fucking deal. That's a gift when compared to the alternative."

A GoFundMe page has been created to help Stet cover the cost of his medical expenses.

Stet was named METAL CHURCH's permanent new drummer in July 2017. He stated at the time that he was "honored to be a member of such a group of people" and vowed to do his "best to deliver strong performances both live and in the studio." He added in a social media post: "I consider myself a very lucky man who has done many great things in my life. I have been blessed to play in several iconic bands in my career. But my current METAL CHURCH gig is the unrivaled pinnacle of it all."





THIS JUST IN FROM STET:

“Holy crap do I have some good news to share today!

Friday I got a PET Scan to see where I’m...

Posted by Christine Gunder on Monday, February 12, 2018

Professionally filmed video footage of METALLICA performing a cover version of the BUDGIE classic "Breadfan" on February 7 at Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, Spain can be seen below.

METALLICA's February 1 show in Lisbon, Portugal kicked off the 2018 European leg of the group's "WorldWired" tour, which will run through May 11 in Helsinki, Finland.

The first European leg of METALLICA's "WorldWired" tour launched in Copenhagen, Denmark on September 2 and ran through November 3.

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame band is touring in support of its tenth studio album, "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", which came out in November 2016.

The "WorldWired" trek was Pollstar's fifth-highest grossing tour of 2017, with 1.5 million tickets sold and $153 million earned. The band was also the top-selling rock act of the year and had the third best-selling rock album.

Behind-the-scenes footage from the making of MEGADETH's official music video for the song "Lying In State" can be seen below. The clip was filmed last fall with Brazilian award-winning director Leo Liberti during the band's South American tour.

"Lying In State" is taken from MEGADETH's latest studio album, "Dystopia", which came out in January 2016.

MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine said about "Lying In State": "'Lying In State' is actually a second part of 'Conquer Or Die'. These two parts were supposed to be sequenced together. So it goes 'Conquer Or Die… Lying In State'. And the 'Lying In State' part is a double entendre which I'm pretty familiar with doing. The 'lying in state' was a place where you… Once you die, you're lying in state for all to see. Or, right now, with people who are still upright, standing by the podium, lying in a position of state."

He added: "The song is about how it is here with almost every single politician. It talks about how I've seen the world change in the [56] years that I've been alive. I guess the double entendre came from watching a lot of these politicians, you just know when they're asked a question the answer is such spin, somebody that doesn't know shit is gonna go, 'Oh, I get it,' because they don't wanna say, 'I have no idea what he just said.' But for me, since I watch a lot of political pundits to try to get inspiration for songs, I see when people are spinning stuff. Then you've got John Kerry — his wife is the heir to Heinz Ketchup over here, so that dude's a billionaire. He don't need to be working! But then he comes out and says the Paris shooters should have been able to be justified for what they did like at Charlie Hebdo, and the world went nuts on him and then he back-pedalled it, and to me that's lying in state."

MEGADETH is tentatively planning to enter the studio in mid-2018 to begin recording its new album for a 2019 release. Mustaine revealed on Twitter that he is in the process of "collecting ideas" for the follow-up to "Dystopia".

MEGADETH's upcoming effort will mark the group's first release to feature drummer Dirk Verbeuren, who officially joined the group a year and a half ago.

"Dystopia" was MEGADETH's first album with Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro, best known for his work with ANGRA.

Reactivated RAINBOW will release, "Memories in Rock II" on April 6 via Minstrel Hall/Soulfood. The set will include a double CD of the June 2017 U.K. RAINBOW concerts, a brand-new RAINBOW studio song called "Waiting For A Sign", a DVD containing over 80 minutes of interview footage with the band and crew, an additional backstage clip and a video for the 2017 studio version of "I Surrender".

"Memories in Rock II" track listing:

Disc 1

01. Over The Rainbow
02. Spotlight Kid
03. I Surrender
04. Mistreated
05. Since You've Been Gone
06. Man On The Silver Mountain/Woman From Tokyo
07. 16th Century Greensleeves
08. Soldier Of Fortune
09. Perfect Strangers
10. Difficult To Cure
11. All Night Long
12. Child In Time

Disc 2

01. Stargazer
02. Long Live Rock'n'Roll/Lazy
03. Catch The Rainbow
04. Black Night
05. Carry On Jon
06. Temple Of The King
07. Smoke On The Water
08. Waiting For A Sign

Disc 3

01. Ritchie Blackmore Interview
02. Ronnie Romero Interview
03. Jens Johansson Interview
04. Bob Nouveau Interview
05. David Keith Interview
06. Candice Night Interview
07. Lady Lynn Interview
08. Dave David Interview
09. Andreas Bock Interview
10. Michael Bockmühl Interview
11. Bonus Backstage Clip
12. I Surrender 2017 Backstage Clip

Back in May, the revamped version of RAINBOW released its first new music in more than two decades. Two tracks were made available on iTunes: an instrumental song called "Land Of Hope And Glory", which is is a reworking of the 1902 British patriotic song of the same name from Edward Elgar's "Pomp And Circumstance March No. 1", and a re-recording of the RAINBOW classic "I Surrender", which was written by Russ Ballard and was first released by RAINBOW in 1981. The latter song features vocals recorded by Ronnie Romero, who is originally from Chile but is now settled in Madrid.

Blackmore stepped away from his Renaissance-inspired brand of music with BLACKMORE'S NIGHT in 2016 to perform a handful of shows with a brand-new lineup of the band he had formed after quitting DEEP PURPLE.

Although Ritchie initially said that he had no plans to make a new RAINBOW album — explaining in early 2016 that he wanted to "just get back to playing the old songs one more time" — he revealed to Japan's Burrn! magazine that he changed his mind.

In addition to Blackmore and Romero, the current incarnation of RAINBOW includes STRATOVARIUS keyboardist Jens Johansson, BLACKMORE'S NIGHT drummer David Keith, bassist Bob Nouveau (a.k.a. Robert "Bob" Curiano, ex-BLACKMORE'S NIGHT), and backing singers Candice Night and Lady Lynn.

The two shows RAINBOW played in Germany in June 2016 were caught on camera to produce "Memories In Rock - Live In Germany", which was released in November 2016 via Eagle Rock Entertainment on DVD+2CD, Blu-ray+2CD, and digital formats.

After Ritchie left DEEP PURPLE for the final time in 1993, he reformed RAINBOW for one album (1995's "Stranger In Us All") and one tour, ending things in Denmark in 1997.

Former HIM members Mikko "Linde" Lindström (guitar) and Mika "Gas Lipstick" Karppinen (drums) have joined forces with ex-AMORPHIS bassist Niclas Etelävuori and POLANSKI singer Anttoni "Anthony" Pikkarainen in a new band called FLAT EARTH.

Based in Helsinki, Finland, FLAT EARTH is "anything but your run-of-the-mill 'supergroup," according to a press release. "The fearsome foursome is an ideal amalgamation of love for music, every bandmember's unique skillset and battle-tested charisma, completed with a dynamic of a band that has been playing together for aeons.

"The audible musical signposts point to the heydays of alternative rock, take a nonchalant bow to the forefathers of all things heavy with a pinch of wistful psychedelia," the press release continues. "Magnetically melodic, playful, exhilaratingly unconstrained and thoroughly permeated by vocalist Anthony's passionately melancholic overtones, FLAT EARTH delivers in the same parcel both the beauty and the beast.

"Gas and Niclas's robust-yet-subtle rhythmic dynamic work pave the perfect runway for Linde's guitar solos to freewheel and Anthony's maudlin-yet-contemplative singing that gives the band's sound a tint of mawkish desperation that sets them apart from any other band you've heard."

FLAT EARTH is recording its debut album at Finnvox in Helsinki with producer Hiili Hiilesmaa, who has previously worked with HIM, AMORPHIS, THE 69 EYES and APOCALYPTICA, among others. A label deal for the effort has not yet been secured.

FLAT EARTH is:

Mikko "Linde" Lindström (HIM) - Guitar
Mika "Gas Lipstick" Karppinen (HIM) - Drums
‪Niclas Etelävuori (AMORPHIS) - Bass
‪Anttoni "Anthony" Pikkarainen (POLANSKI) - Vocals

For more information, go to this location.

Photo credit: Jarkko Tiitinen

MELVINS will release their new album, "Pinkus Abortion Technician", on April 20 via Ipecac Recordings. The disc features both MELVINS' regular bass player Steven McDonald (REDD KROSS, OFF!) and BUTTHOLE SURFERS' Jeff Pinkus on bass.

"With our upcoming release, we double your bass player with Steven McDonald and Jeff Pinkus holding down the bottom," explains Dale Crover. "It's an experiment in the low end of the aural spectrum where we asked ourselves, 'Would it work?' 'Could it work??' 'Should it work???' The answers were yes, yes and YES!"

"We've never had two bass players," adds Buzz Osborne. "We've had two drummers and two guitar players, so it makes total sense to now have two bass players. We'll be taking this two-prong bass attack on the road as well which should prove to be interesting.

"'Pinkus Abortion Technician' is a radically great record and was a stone groove to record. We drank a lot of coffee and enjoyed each other's company.

"I like Steven and Jeff a great deal. I admire their bass playing and singing and both of them can grill a mean steak."

"Pinkus Abortion Technician" track listing:

01. Stop Moving To Florida
02. Embrace The Rub
03. Don't Forget To Breathe
04. Flamboyant Duck
05. Break Bread
06. I Want To Hold Your Hand
07. Prenup Butter
08. Graveyard

"Stop Moving To Florida" is a medley of the James Gang's "Stop" and BUTTHOLE SURFERS' "Moving To Florida", the band also covers THE BEATLES' "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and BUTTHOLE SURFERS' "Graveyard" on the eight-song release. Pre-orders will be announced soon.

The MELVINS have also simultaneously announced a 10-week North American tour, kicking off on April 26 at the Casbah in San Diego. The tour will feature the MELVINS as a four-piece with both Pinkus and McDonald joining Osborne and Crover.

Tour dates:

Apr. 26 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah
Apr. 29 - Dallas, TX @ Tree's
Apr. 30 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk
May 01 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
May 03 - Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon
May 04 - Birmingham, AL @ Zydeco
May 06 - Charlottee, NC @ Visulite Theater
May 07 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
May 09 - Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
May 10 - Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
May 11 - Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
May 12 - Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom
May 13 - Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
May 14 - Montreal, QC @ Corona Theatre
May 18 - Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
May 19 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theater
May 20 - Louisville, KY @ Headliner's Music Hall
May 22 - Nashville, TN @ 3rd & Lindsley
May 23 - Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone
May 24 - St. Louis, MO @ The Ready Room
May 25 - Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
May 31 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
Jul. 12 - Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory
Jul. 13 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
Jul. 14 - Fresno, CA @ Strummer's
Jul. 16 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
Jul. 17 - Sacramento, CA @ Holy Diver
Jul. 19 - Seattle, WA @ Neumo's
Jul. 20 - Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
Jul. 21 - Vancouver, BC @ Venue Nightclub
Jul. 24 - Edmonton, AB @ Union Hall
Jul. 25 - Calgary, AB @ Marquee Room
Jul. 27 - Winnipeg, MB @ Pyramid Cabaret
Jul. 28 - Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium (Dempsey's Upstairs)
Jul. 29 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
Jul. 30 - Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
Jul. 31 - Chicago, IL @ Park West
Aug. 02 - Grand Rapids, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme
Aug. 03 - Detroit, MI @ El Club
Aug. 04 - Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar
Aug. 05 - Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue Theatre
Aug. 06 - Rock Island, IL @ Rock Island Brewing Company
Aug. 07 - Des Moines, IA @ Wooly's
Aug. 08 - Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
Aug. 10 - Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
Aug. 11 - Ft. Collins, CO @ Aggie Theatre
Aug. 13 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
Aug. 14 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Bunkhouse Saloon

Tickets for all shows are on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. local time.

In a brand-new feature by music writer Joel Gausten, legendary BAD BRAINS frontman H.R. (a.k.a. Joseph I) discusses his reaction to the recent book and documentary on his life (both titled "Finding Joseph I") and confirms that the BAD BRAINS are currently recording a follow-up to their 2012 album "Into The Future". An except from the story appears below.

Although H.R.'s place in history was solidified the very first time he hit the stage with the BAD BRAINS in the '70s, he has experienced a career renaissance in recent years complete with the public acclaim he has so richly deserved. In addition to their 2006 return as a recording and touring unit (resulting in 2007's "Build A Nation" and 2012's "Into The Future"), the original BAD BRAINS — H.R., Earl, guitarist Dr. Know and bassist Darryl Jenifer — were prominently featured in the 2006 film "American Hardcore" and later became the subject of their own full-length documentary, 2012's "Bad Brains: A Band In D.C." In 2016, H.R. was the subject of the documentary "Finding Joseph I" and an oral history book of the same name.

"Overall, the book and the film were great," H.R. said. "They had a lot to do with what people thought about me. I was so surprised to know that that many people had cared about me, really loved me and wanted to work with me! I was surprised at that, and what they had to say was just overwhelmingly cool. I want to thank them very much for their inspiration and for their support."

As celebratory as the "Finding Joseph I" releases are, both also offer an unflinching view inside H.R.'s turbulent mental state. Tales of violent outbursts, burnt bridges and bouts of homelessness flow between words of praise from fans and musicians alike, painting a complex portrait of a man who is both immensely talented and deeply troubled.

Unsurprisingly, the fallout from his unpredictable behavior has had a chilling effect on the BAD BRAINS' career. In one pivotal scene in "A Band In D.C.", a frustrated Jenifer unloads on H.R. backstage in Chicago after the singer delivered a near-catatonic performance (punctuated by snarky comments) in front of an agitated crowd.

Fortunately, things are finally turning around. The "Finding Joseph I" book and film both end with H.R. finally welcoming professional help for his schizophrenia, a process helped along by the love and support of his wife/manager Lori. Shortly before "Finding Joseph I"'s initial November 2016 theatrical release, the BAD BRAINS became the first hardcore band in history to be nominated for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. After decades of inner strife, H.R. is finally enjoying a life worthy of his many gifts.

Naturally, one very big question remains: What does the future look like for the BAD BRAINS?

"The future looks bright!" replies H.R. "We got a great new manager. We just came from doing a little tour over the summer, and we're just waiting for the weather to break and we'll be on our way to do more festival work."

Now a five-piece band following the recent addition of full-time second guitarist Chogyi Lama ("Man, can that dude throw down!" says H.R.), the BAD BRAINS have new music on the way — 35 years after their legendary self-titled cassette changed everything.

"Any day now, we're scheduled to go into the studio and do some more work on a new album. The greatest album that we did, 'Into The Future', came off great, and I really like working with the fellas."

If there's ever a time for new BAD BRAINS music, it's now. With America in a state of political, financial and spiritual disarray, the Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) expounded by the band is in high demand. While the realities of modern life are difficult for many, H.R. insists that there is still plenty of hope to be found on stages and records around the world.

"I think that people overall need to listen to more good music!" he laughed. "What they need to do is put down the sword and learn to be forgiving towards each other, just give a chance to let peace rule over their bad, negative feelings and be more positive with listening to good music and being supportive of the good scene that's happening."

The complete feature is available at www.joelgausten.com.

METALLICA honored what would have Cliff Burton's 56th birthday by performing the song "Orion" during the band's February 10 concert in at the Pala Alpitour in Turin, Italy.

The track, which appears on METALLICA's classic 1986 album "Master Of Puppers", was co-written by the band's late bassist, whose life was tragically cut short in a tour bus crash on September 27, 1986 12 miles north of Ljungby, Sweden. He was just 24.

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich tweeted after the Turin show: "Threw in Orion tonight for Cliff.. the first time in almost a year. A very special moment. Thank you Turin for your generosity and warm vibes. ?? #wanna #metinturin #cliffburton"

Last week, Alameda County, California officially proclaimed February 10 to be "Cliff Burton Day" in the musician's honor.

The proclamation came after METALLICA fans started a Change.org petition to recognize Burton in his hometown of Castro Valley.

Burton was asked to join METALLICA in 1982 after the band saw him perform with his group at the time, TRAUMA.

The bassist was not willing to move to Los Angeles, where METALLICA was based at the time, so they decided to move to the San Francisco area so that he would join.

Burton played on METALLICA's first three studio albums — "Kill 'Em All", "Ride The Lightning" and "Master Of Puppets" — and co-wrote classic songs like "Ride The Lightning", "For Whom The Bell Tolls", "Fade To Black", "Creeping Death" and "Master Of Puppets".

Burton's initial replacement in the group was Jason Newsted, who stayed in the lineup until 2001. Robert Trujillo joined in 2003 and remains in the band to this day.

Burton's huge talent and achievements were chronicled in book form with the 2009 global publication of "To Live Is To Die: The Life And Death Of Metallica's Cliff Burton", written by U.K.-based author Joel McIver and published by Jawbone Press. The foreword was provided by METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett.

Threw in Orion tonight for Cliff.. the first time in almost a year. A very special moment. Thank you Turin for your generosity and warm vibes. ?? #wanna #metinturin #cliffburton pic.twitter.com/v0HjEZ2atT

— Lars Ulrich (@larsulrich) February 11, 2018

Swiss melodic metal outfit, Crystal Ball, will release its new album, Crystallizer, on April 27th via Massacre Records.

The band comments: "Crystallizer is the full package - it's powerful and full of melodic hooklines and catchy songs!"

Crystal Ball's new album was once again produced, mixed and mastered by Stefan Kaufmann (ex-Accept, ex-U.D.O). The cover artwork was created by Thomas Ewerhard, who already designed the album artwork of bands like Jaded Heart, Kreator or Edguy, among others.

The album will additionally be available as a limited edition digipak CD with bonus tracks. More details to follow.

(Photo - Bojan Zupan / MD9 Photography)

Profound Lore has announced their cooperation with Denver, Colorado-based black metal outfit Wayfarer for their newly completed third LP, World's Blood, this May. World's Blood is black metal of the American West. Wayfarer recorded the album in the winter of early 2018 at The Thousand Caves in New York under the watchful production of Colin Marston.

A reflection of the Rocky Mountains and high plains of their native Colorado, the band tells a story that is uniquely American. Drawing influence as much from the dusty, dark Americana of the "Denver sound" and the scores of epic Westerns as they do the fury and melody of black metal, Wayfarer brings something original to the table with a sound that is at once aggressive and honest. The album paints a hallucinatory picture of the western frontier, and the haunting presence of the blood in the soils from a culture lost to time.

Offers Wayfarer's Shane McCarthy, "We feel like we are in the right home for the band, and that we have with this record something that is honest and uniquely American, as we are from the American West, and not Norway, and the music reflects that. Working with Colin Marston on the record I think gave us the best possible environment to bring it together."

Wayfarer was first brought together in 2012, by a group of Colorado natives. The members of the band aimed to create something original - fierce, beautiful, and honest, in order to contribute back to the pantheon of the great and timeless music that shaped them as people. The founding lineup of Shane McCarthy, Tanner Rezabek, Isaac Faulk and James Hansen released their debut album Children Of The Iron Age in 2014, which was later picked up by Prosthetic Records. With the release of the album, the band began what would grow be substantial touring of the material with a strong and memorable live show. Subsequent years would bring touring alongside the likes of Dreadnought, Falls of Rauros, Anicon, Velnias, and Haunter.

The second LP Old Souls was released in 2016 via Prosthetic and continued the band's progression to a sound not easily confined by genre tags. With a more refined and decidedly darker album in tow, the band continued to hit the road, performing across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Guitarist and long-time collaborator of the band Joey Truscelli officially joined following the release of the record, replacing the departed Tanner Rezabek.

World's Blood marks Wayfarer's debut with Profound Lore Records, as they step into their own in the music underground with their strongest and most fully realized vision. With the LP's release in late spring of 2018, the year promises to see the band bring their forceful live show to stages across the world.

Profound Lore will release World's Blood on May 25th. Stand by for the album's artwork, tracklisting, audio samples, pre-orders, and much more to be issued as we head towards the spring thaw.

Live dates:

April
28 - Hi-Dive - Denver, CO (with Of Feather And Bone, Suffering Hour, Many Blessings)

June
8 - 71Grind Festival - Colorado Springs, CO (with Mizmor, Brainoil, Vermin Womb, Of Feather And Bone, Wake)
17 - Austin Terrorfest - Austin, TX (with Krallice, Primitive Man, Yob, 40 Watt Sun, Bell Witch)
24 - Los Angeles Strikefest - Los Angeles, CA (with Morbid Saint, Exciter, Krallice, Nocturnus AD, Razor)

Wayfarer lineup:

Isaac Faulk - drums
Joey Truscelli - guitars/vocals
Shane McCarthy - guitars/vocals
James Hansen - bass/vocals

(Photo - Alvino Salcedo)

Sacramento tech death masters The Kennedy Veil have released a guitar play through video for their track "Draconian", featuring guitarist KC Childers.

"Draconian" is off of The Kennedy Veil's full length album Imperium, which was released last year via Unique Leader.

Continuing to support Imperium, The Kennedy Veil will be hitting the road next week as part of the Feast Winter Tour alongside Alterbeast, The Grindmother, and Aethere. Confirmed dates are as listed:

February
17 - Petaluma, CA -  The Phoenix Theater
18 - Santa Ana, CA -  Malones
19 - Las Vegas, NV - The Chxrch
20 - Mesa, AZ - The Underground

 

Be The One, released February 8th via Sliptrick Records, is the fourth album from Italian hard rockers Lucky Bastardz. It’s also, by far, their most ambitious. It’s what you might call a “semi-concept album” focused on the themes of inner re-birth. 

The video for "My Best Enemy" from Be The One, can be seen below:

The band use “Double-Kick Engine Rock’n’Roll” to describe their musical style, and are known for boundless energy and attitude. Thrash, AOR, hard rock, classic and modern metal are all mixed up to create the group's unique sound. Then there’s the inspiring lyrics, augmented with catchy melodies and choruses. The album also presents the first totally acoustically orchestrated ballad from Lucky Bastardz, in the form of the mournful track "Tear In The Wind".

The artwork for Be The One was created by Tiziano Spigno. The tracks were recorded, mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studio (San Marino).

Tracklisting:

"Holy War"
"Shed Your Skin"
"My Best Enemy"
"Match My Rhyme"
"The House By The Sea"
"Not Your Idol"
"Sail Away"
"No One Else But Me"
"Tear In The Wind"
"Be The One"

For further details, visit Lucky Bastardz on Facebook.

 

Nuclear Blast Entertainment will release the new album from Tax The Heat, Change Your Position, on March 9th, 2018. The album will be available as CD and digital. The band have released a new video trailer, entitled The Medicine Sessions: Episode Two. Check it out below.

Change Your Position is the follow up to the 2016 critically-acclaimed debut album Fed To The Lions. The new album sees the band take a huge step forward as both songwriters and performers. The band's unique blend of fuzz-driven rock with a modern alternative twist has won them a legion of fans. The album stamps its authority right from the off with the taut "Money In The Bank" (also the first single). From the staccato stomp of "Playing With Fire" to the huge riffs of "Cut Your Chains," from the garage rock of "On The Run" to the slow groove and instant lyrical hit of "All That Medicine". Change Your Position is a lean, focused album loaded with an energy that is set to propel the band to headline status.

The driving rhythms of Jack Taylor (drums) and Antonio Angotti (bass) are overlaid with the powerful riffs of JP Jacyshyn (guitars) and distinctive melodies of Alex Veale (vocals, guitars).

"If an album is about capturing a band or artist at a certain point, Change Your Position might have happened at the perfect time. As a band we toured, found our sound, found our place and took inspiration from a world in utter chaos. With Change Your Position we pushed ourselves creatively as hard as we could and it took us further into ourselves than we expected - we hope it's apparent to the listener." - Alex Veale

Tracklisting:

“Money In The Bank”
“Change Your Position”
“Playing With Fire”
“All That Medicine”
“On The Run”
“The Last Time”
“Taking The Hit”
“My Headspace”
“We Are Consumers”
“Cut Your Chains”
“Wearing A Disguise”
“The Symphony Has Begun”

“Change Your Position” video:

“All That Medicine” lyric video:

“Money In The Bank” video:

The Medicine Sessions: Episode One:

The Medicine Sessions: Episode Two:

Finland-based Tornado have checked in with the following update:

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Finally we can share some more details about our forthcoming new album, Commitment To Excellence. Eleven tracks of our catchiest, most diverse and angriest material to date! The drums were recorded at Studio 33 in Kuopio, while the rest of the tracking was done under the watchful eye of current Oceanhoarse guitarist Ben Varon at Imperial Cassette Recording Facilities in Helsinki.
 
Seeing that we were one guitarist short before we went in to record, we asked a few friends to lend us their talents and are very grateful that they took the time out of their busy schedules to help us out, Thank You.
 
We also have a few other surprises which you can find in the track listing below. To conclude, it is our pleasure to present to you this cover of the S.O.D. classic 'United Forces' to hold you over while we try to find a label to release the album." 

Tornado - Commitment To Excellence tracklist:
 
"A Minute Of Nothing"
"White Horse Of The Apocalypse" (Solo: Karl Sanders/Nile. Additional Vocals: Niko Kalliojärvi/ex-Amoral)
"Global Pandemic"
"Spirit And Opportunity" (Additional Vocals: Ross Dolan/Immolation)
"The Flight Of Yuri Gagarin"
"Endless Forms Of Torment" (Additional Solo: Adam Phillips/Pro-Pain)
"Through Difficulties To Victory"
"Supremacy
"Chaos Among The Ruins"
"United Forces (S.O.D. Cover)
"At The Chapel Of Rest (Additional Solo: Glen Drover/ex. Megadeth)

Tornado:
Superstar Joey Severance - vocals
Tommy Shred - guitar
Henri Steel - bass
Jimmy Grey - drums

German power metal institution, Evertale, have officially announced Simon Hofmeister as their new drummer.

The band states: "Hey metal community! Those of you who payed closed attention, will surely have realized this: Since a few months there's a new guy behind the drums. We are happy to finally announce, that the extremely well-versed SSimon Hofmeister has joined our ranks. He follows on the not in the slightest lesser gifted Wombo, who had to leave the band already due to schedule and time-issues with his other activities and Evertale - but he remains a good friend of us and the band.

"Simon has the necessary punch, the fire in his heart and the character, to endure us old Dragonriders and help us reach the next levels of our career.

"Come and see for yourselves when we play live the next time!"

Find the band's tour schedule here.

New Zealand’s rising musical stars and teenage thrash metal band, Alien Weaponry, have signed a worldwide deal with Napalm Records. With such an impressive career that started five years ago when the band members were just 10 and 12 years old and this unique combination of thrash metal and Māori cultural background, Napalm Records is excited to welcome Alien Weaponry to their eclectic artist roster.

"Napalm Records is proud to announce the signing of the thrash metal band Alien Weaponry from New Zealand,“ says Sebastian Muench, A&R of Napalm Records. "Besides the fact that they are the youngest musicians we ever added to the Napalm band roster they are also one of the most exciting and unique bands in recent years. Their combination of old school thrash metal and Māori culture elements and language creates intense and energetic songs that should be highly attractive to all true genre fans especially those stopped listening to the Sepultura after the Roots album. Kia Ora Alien Weaponry and welcome to the Napalm family!“

The band comments: "Napalm is a great label for us to work with because their whakapapa (genealogy) includes a lot of thrash metal, which is where our roots are. So we fit within their whanau (family), but we're also doing something different, introducing our own language and style. For these reasons, we think we will both grow and benefit from this relationship. "Being based in the tiny town of Waipu, New Zealand, we are pretty much as far away as you can get from the heavy metal centre of the world (which to us is Wacken, Germany), so this is a massive step for us towards establishing our career internationally.“

The trio shocks and surprises audiences on a number of levels. Alien Weaponry's songwriting is complex, developed and highly political. Their live performance energy is startling, with just two fifteen-year olds commanding the front of stage as effectively as four- and five-piece bands three times their age. But perhaps most surprising of all, given their blonde flailing locks and Viking appearance, many of their songs are in New Zealand’s native language, Te Reo Māori. In fact, guitarist/lead singer Lewis de Jong (15) and his brother, drummer Henry (17), are of Ngati Pikiāo and Ngati Raukawa descent – they call themselves ‘Stealth Māori.’ They attended a full immersion kura kaupapa Māori (Māori language school) until they were seven years old, where singing waiata and performing haka were a daily routine. Also ingrained in their early learning were stories of New Zealand history from a Māori perspective. In September 2017, they won the prestigious APRA Maioha award for their song ‘Raupatu’ – a thrash metal commentary on the 1863 act of parliament that allowed the colonial government to confiscate vast areas of land from the indigenous Māori people. On 16 November, they took their places among NZ’s musical elite as nominees at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.

The combination of thrash metal with Māori history and language has proved popular. Their latest music video for "Rū Ana Te Whenua" has more than a million YouTube and Facebook views, spent two weeks at #1 on Spotify’s NZ Viral chart, and hit #2 on the iTunes global metal chart (just behind Iron Maiden’s "Run To The Hills"). The band’s music has been playlisted on stations in New Zealand and around the world – from Scotland to Brazil, as well as the USA, Australia and Germany.

Alien Weaponry’s English material is equally controversial, calling out everyone from teachers and friends at school to the media for variously glorifying and destroying the lives of television and sports stars. “We listened to all sorts of music when we were younger,” says lead singer and guitarist Lewis de Jong, “but we were drawn to thrash metal because it’s quite complex music, and it is a great vehicle for expressing real stories and emotions.” “It also works with Te Reo Māori,” adds drummer Henry. “Both the musical style and the messages have a lot of similarities with haka, which is often brutal, angry and about stories of great courage or loss.”

But it’s not just the metal community who are taking notice. London-based youth culture and fashion institution i-D ran a piece on the band in September 2017. More recently, Alien Weaponry featured in a story entitled ‘Can A Thrash Metal Band Help Save The Maori Language?’ published in the respected New York political and cultural journal, The Atlantic. In New Zealand, they have appeared on everything from Kids’ TV shows Pukana! and Sticky TV to late night political comedy panel 7 Days. “These guys could be bigger than Lorde in terms of our musical export,” says TV One Breakfast music correspondent Sarah Gandy. “They believe in their identity as a metal band, their use of Te Reo is impressive, there’s really nothing else like this in the world at the moment,” agrees Jeff Newton from NZ On Air.

More news and album details about the band's upcoming record, set to be released for mid of 2018, will follow soon.

Alien Weaponry live dates:

February
17 - Wellington, New Zealand - Pao Pao Pao

March
3 - Auckland, New Zealand - Auckland City Limits Festival

July
22-28 - Tomlin, Slovenia - Metal Days Festival

August
2-4 - Wacken, Germany - Wacken Festival

September
1 - Hamburg, Germany - Welt-Turbojugend Tage

More dates for 2018 to be added shortly.

(Photo - Maryanne Bilham)

Ten years ago, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton was diagnosed with the onset of the early stages of Parkinson's disease. From then until recently, the 70-year-old musician has lived his life as the great heavy metal guitar player he has always been, maintaining by his own definition a standard of quality and performance that is incredibly important.

Right now, Glenn is able to play and perform some of the PRIEST songs that are less challenging but due to the nature of Parkinson's progression, he wants to let the fans know that he won't be be touring with the band.

True to the metal spirit of "the show must go on," Glenn has requested PRIEST producer and HELL guitarist Andy Sneap to fly the flag on stage for him.

Glenn said: "I want everyone to know that it's vital that the JUDAS PRIEST tour go ahead and that I am not leaving the band — it's simply that my role has changed. I don't rule out the chance to go on stage as and when I feel able to blast out some PRIEST! So at some point in the not-too-distant future, I'm really looking forward to seeing all of our wonderful metal maniacs once again."

Tipton's PRIEST bandmates had this to say: "We have been privileged to witness Glenn's determination and steadfast commitment over the years, showing his passion and self belief through the writing, recording and performing sessions with PRIEST. He is a true metal hero!

"We are not surprised by Glenn's insistence that we complete the 'Firepower' tour and thank Andy for joining us to make Glenn's wishes become real.

"As Glenn has said, we also can't wait to have him with us at any time any place on the road. We love you, Glenn!"

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, which leads to progressive deterioration of motor function due to loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. As the symptoms worsen, it gets harder to cope with everyday tasks and lead an independent life.

Parkinson's disease affects one in 100 people over age 60. While the average age at onset is 60, people have been diagnosed as young as 18.

The exact cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, although research points to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Pat Torpey, the longtime drummer for rock group MR. BIG, died last week due to complications from Parkinson's disease.

JUDAS PRIEST's new album, "Firepower", will be released on March 9 via Epic. The disc was recorded by Sneap, the band's longtime collaborator Tom Allom and engineer Mike Exeter (BLACK SABBATH). The cover artwork for "Firepower" was created by the Chilean/Italian digital artist and photographer Claudio Bergamin.

The North American leg of the "Firepower" tour will kick off on March 13 in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania and will wrap on May 1 in San Antonio, Texas. Support on the trek will come from SAXON and BLACK STAR RIDERS.

Photo credit: Mark Weiss

Tony Iommi says that he has been too busy enjoying life and doing charity work to pursue any new musical projects since BLACK SABBATH retired from the road a year ago.

In February 2017, the legendary heavy metal band finished "The End" tour in SABBATH's hometown of Birmingham, England, closing out the quartet's groundbreaking 49-year career.

During a February 3 interview with The Midland Rocks, Iommi was asked how he has been spending his time since he and his bandmates played the final show of the SABBATH tour.

"I thought after this tour, 'Well, now I will get time to just relax and do some stuff that I had always wanted to do,' but it hasn't happened yet," he revealed. "I don't know what it is — the time is just flying by, and I think because of all the years of not seeing my friends that often it has got to the stage now where I see them a lot. And we moved house, and we met a new group of friends, and so we have the old friends and the new friends and we just seem to be doing more than ever."

Asked if he is thinking about any sort of music-related activity at the moment, Iommi responded: "Music-wise, I would certainly like to start writing again, but at the moment I'm doing a lot of stuff for charities; Heartlands Hospital, which is part of the Heart Of England Foundation Trust, and also Wythall Animal Sanctuary, and both of those are very dear to me. I just try and help where I can, and with the Hospital Trust, at the moment we are trying to raise some money to buy some beds for the chemo patients. And so that is something that I very much like to be involved with. You see, the nurses and the doctors, they work so hard and they don't get a lot of credit for it and when you're in there, they are all so committed and it sparks me off, and so that's what I've been spending some of my time doing."

Iommi was diagnosed with lymphoma in early 2012, shortly after SABBATH announced a reunion tour and album. He underwent treatment throughout the recording of the disc, titled "13", and the subsequent tour to promote it.

Iommi said in 2016 interview that "the lowest moment" for him was being diagnosed. He explained: "You automatically wind yourself up saying, 'That's it then,' but that is not always the case. When they tell you, you think, 'Oh God.' That was a low time. I have had a few low times in my life like everybody has, but that was one that stuck in the head."

The BLACK SABBATH guitarist successfully underwent an operation in January 2017 to remove a noncancerous lump from his throat.

Last November, a documentary focusing on SABBATH's final concert, "The End", was made available in home video and audio packages, featuring footage of the entire historic show.

The official lyric video for "Where Is My Love", a brand new song from WITHIN TEMPTATION frontwoman Sharon Den Adel's solo project, called MY INDIGO, can be seen below. The track is taken from MY INDIGO's self-titled debut album, which will be released on April 20.

The singer announced the new project's existence via a video message on Facebook in which she described the MY INDIGO material as "very personal" and revealed that composing the songs was a therapeutic experience that helped he deal with an undisclosed family "crisis."

She said in a statement: "For many years, we've been touring and every time we came home, I used to start writing songs almost immediately and was happy to do so. After the last tour, I tried to do the same, but it wasn't the same. Eventually I found myself in a crisis which was bigger than just not being able to write songs. The years of touring and working under a certain pressure took its toll and besides that there were things in my personal life I had to deal with.

"I really took time off, but when I started writing again, it was something totally different than WT, but this was what I needed and I embraced it. One song led to another and it turned into a whole album. I gave it a name and it's called MY INDIGO. MY INDIGO is about my journey these last few years and I would like to share it with you.

"MY INDIGO is not at all like WITHIN TEMPTATION and it wasn't meant to be that at all. I wrote it first of all for myself, but nevertheless I hope you'll enjoy it as well!"

"My Indigo" track listing:

01. My Indigo
02. Indian Summer
03. Out Of The Darkness
04. Star Crossed Lovers
05. Crash And Burn
06. Someone Like You
07. Black Velvet Sun
08. Lesson Learned
09. Safe And Sound
10. Where Is My Love

Ministry's new album, AmeriKKKant, the band's first release for Nuclear Blast Records (worldwide), is due out March 9th. Al Jourgensen speaks on why now was the right time for a new album in this new trailer:

Produced by Al Jourgensen, recorded at Caribou Studios in Burbank, CA between January and May this year, and with striking artwork created by Mister Sam Shearon, the psychedelic, politically influenced and very much in-your-face AmeriKKKant's nine tracks are rooted in Jourgensen's unadulterated anger for what's happening in America today: the waning respect for the US Constitution, the growing acceptance of one's opinions replacing facts, the decline of our leaders' sense of morals, ethics and personal responsibility to the country and to their constituents, and the mad man in the White House.

Pre-order your physical or digital copy of AmeriKKKant via Nuclear Blast or Pledgemusic.com.

AmeriKKKant tracklisting:

"I Know Words"
"Twilight Zone"
"Victims Of A Clown"
"TV5/4Chan"
"We're Tired Of It"
"Wargasm"
"Antifa"
"Game Over"
"AmeriKKKa"

"Wargasm" lyric video:

"Antifa" video:

To support the release of AmeriKKKant, Ministry will headline a five-week North American tour that kicks off March 22nd with the enigmatic Chelsea Wolfe supporting. For all ticket purchasing info, go to ministryband.com/shows.

Tour dates:

March
22 - House of Blues - Anaheim, CA
23 - Ventura Theatre - Ventura, CA
24 - Brooklyn Bowl - Las Vegas, NV
26 - Ace of Spades - Sacramento, CA
28 - Roseland Theatre - Portland, OR
29 - Vogue Theatre - Vancouver, BC
31 - Union Hall - Edmonton, AB

April
1 - Palace Theatre - Calgary, AB
3 - Wilma Theatre - Missoula, MT
5 - Boubon Theatre - Lincoln, NE
7 - Riviera Theatre - Chicago, IL
8 - Turner Hall Ballroom - Milwaukee, WI
10 - Bogart's - Cincinnati, OH
11 - 20 Monroe Live - Grand Rapids, MI
12 - Egyptian Room - Indianapolis, IN
14 - Opera House - Toronto, ON
15 - MTelus - Montreal, QC
17 - Royale - Boston, MA
18 - Aura - Portland, ME
19 - Paramount Theatre - Huntington, NY
21 - Wellmont Theatre - Montclair, NJ
22 - Town Ballroom - Buffalo, NY
23 - Rams Head Live - Baltimore, MD
25 - Center Stage - Atlanta, GA
26 - Hard Rock Live - Orlando, FL
28 - Levitation Festival - Austin, TX

Dool is the fast-rising hard rock band featuring former members of The Devil's Blood and singer Ryanne van Dorst. The group has become a hotly-tipped buzz band in underground circles on the strength of its celebrated debut album, Here Now, There Then, and eye-opening live performances. Dool has just released a new video for the song "The Alpha".

"The video for "The Alpha" is as well a celebration of will power as it is an ode to transformation, in parallel with the lyrics of the song," comments Ryanne van Dorst. "It has been truly inspiring to work on this video, and we hope it empowers you as much as it empowers us".

Dutch for “wandering”, the sound of Dool is distinct and dynamic, radiating an undeniable raw energy. An album of supreme songwriting and remarkable musical diversity, Here Now, There Then blends classic hard rock, gothic pop and psychedelic metal in an ever-surprising manner. Carried by infinite, hypnotic guitar lines, Dool hits every pressure point, striking with the deadly precision of a venomous asp.

BraveWords is premiering the new track and lyric video for Graveshadow’s “Widow And The Raven”.

The Sacramento-based quintet Graveshadow – who deftly mixes symphonic/gothic metal with elements of doom, thrash and epic progressive power metal – have built a steady following in the Western United States in recent years through regional tours and performances alongside the likes of Arkona, Children of Bodom, Apocalyptica, Marty Friedman, Death Angel, Flotsam and Jetsam and Anvil. After self-releasing an EP in 2014, the group signed with Belgium's Mausoleum Records for the release of their debut full-length, 2015's acclaimed Nocturnal Resurrection.

In 2017, the group signed with M-Theory Audio and continued to tour aggressively while also working on their second album, Ambition's Price. Packed with crushing guitars, beautiful keyboard melodies, thundering bass, earth-shattering drums and powerful vocals that range from operatic highs to unearthly growls, the album's music creates a rich and dynamic atmosphere that is ripe for storytelling. Whether it is a tale of personal struggle or of fantastical creatures, the listener is sure to find themselves immersed in a world apart.

Produced and mixed by Armand John Anthony (Night Demon, The Fucking Wrath, Gygax), and mastered by Colin Davis at Imperial Mastering (Deeds of Flesh, Decrepit Birth, Origin), Ambition's Price features stunning cover artwork by Serbian fantasy graphic designer Dusan Markovic (Jag Panzer, Mystic Prophecy, Seven Kingdoms). Highlights include the stunning “Hero Of Time” (which features a guest solo by Anthony), the epic three-part “Call of the Frostwolves” and the powerful “Doorway To Heaven.”

Graveshadow – managed by Jeff Keller for The Artery Foundation (Destruction, Arsis, Sirenia) - is poised and ready to leave a lasting impact within the metal community. With an electrifying stage show and a sound as large as the Dragons of Westeros, they are as talented as they are unforgettable.

Professionally filmed video footage of METALLICA performing the song "Creeping Death" on February 5 at WiZink Center in Madrid, Spain can be seen below.

As previously reported, bassist Robert Trujillo and guitarist Kirk Hammett performed a cover of BARÓN ROJO's "Los Rockeros Van Al Infierno" during the Madrid concert.

BARÓN ROJO is a Spanish heavy metal band which had some international success in the 1980s. The band's original lineup included brothers Armando and Carlos De Castro (guitars and vocals), José Luis Campuzano (known as Sherpa; bass and vocals) and Hermes Calabria (drums).

METALLICA's February 1 show in Lisbon, Portugal kicked off the 2018 European leg of the group's "WorldWired" tour, which will run through May 11 in Helsinki, Finland.

The first European leg of METALLICA's "WorldWired" tour launched in Copenhagen, Denmark on September 2 and ran through November 3.

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame band is touring in support of its tenth studio album, "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", which came out in November 2016.

The "WorldWired" trek was Pollstar's fifth-highest grossing tour of 2017, with 1.5 million tickets sold.

British grindcore pioneers NAPALM DEATH will release a special 2CD, 2LP and digital-download compilation titled "Coded Smears And More Uncommon Slurs" on March 30 via Century Media Records. This special collection will include a total of 31 songs with a playing time of over 90 minutes, compiling rarities and exclusive earworms spanning 2004-2016 from the whirling gene pool of noise that is NAPALM DEATH. The release's cover artwork, created by longtime visual partner Frode Sylthe, can be seen below.

The first single from the disc, "Oh So Pseudo", can be streamed below.

NAPALM DEATH bassist Shane Embury stated: "We are very thrilled to be finally releasing this compilation of rarities and covers from the past 10 years.

"NAPALM DEATH is a band that gives 100 percent when writing a song, so the songs included on this comp were saved originally for split EPs, now sold out, or vinyl editions of our albums or to become Japanese bonus tracks.

"When I was compiling the track listing, I was struck by how exciting again these tunes are to me. I had actually forgotten some of them, haha! We have written so many tracks and the years go by so quick that you forget just how fucking great these songs are! We will most certainly be blasting a few of these out live on our upcoming shows… Cheers and see you on the road!"

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

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

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