The Jamming With Waters In International Waters All-Star Jam, hosted by Annihilator frontman/founder Jeff Waters, hit the waves once again on the 2017 run of the 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise. Fan-filmed video of the on-stage mayhem featuring many of the artists on board can be viewed below.

The 2017 installment of the annual 70000 Tons Of Metal Cruise set sail February 2nd - 6th on board Royal Caribbean’s luxurious Independence Of The Seas, leaving from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to Labadee, situated on the northern coast of Haiti.

Bands performing during the cruise included: Amaranthe, Amorphis, Angra, Annihilator, Anthrax, Arch Enemy, Avatarium, Axxis, Carcass, Cattle Decapitation, Cruachan, Cryptex, Cryptopsy, Dalriada, Death Angel, Demolition Hammer, DevilDriver, Draconian, Dying Fetus, Edenbridge, Einherjer, Equilibrium, Ghost Ship Octavius, Grave Digger, Haggard, Kalmah, Kamelot, Manegarm, Marduk, Misery Loves Co., Moonsorrow, Mors Principium Est, Nightmare, Omnium Gatherum, Orden Ogan, Orphaned Land, Pain, PowerGlove, Psycroptic, Revocation, Saltatio Mortis, Scar Symmetry, Serenity, Stam1na, Striker, Stuck Mojo, Suffocation, Testament, Therion, Total Death, Touch The Sun, Trauma, Trollfest, Uli Jon Roth, Unleashed, Vreid, and Xandria.

Watch for more footage in the coming days, along with an overview from BraveWords.com's own Metal Tim Henderson. Check out the BraveWords photo gallery courtesy of Mark Gromen here.

US power/thrash metal act, Wretch, will release their new album, The Hunt, on limited edition vinyl on March 10th via Pure Steel Records. The pre-order phase will start on February 24th. Listen to the single "Throne Of Poseidon" below:

Wretch are pioneers of their local Cleveland metal scene and have since forged ahead to become an internationally recognized force of powerful melodic metal with festival performances in Germany and Greece. The Hunt is a shredding masterpiece that will appeal to fans of Primal Fear, Iced Earth, Helloween and Iron Maiden.

The first album to feature new singer Juan Ricardo who has a voice reminiscent of the mighty Bruce Dickinson, the new album is 40-minutes of exceptional power/thrash that marks the bands long journey since its 2006 debut, Reborn.

The vinyl version of The Hunt will be limited to 200 black copies with insert.

Tracklisting:

Side A
“Sturmbringer”
“The Hunt”
“Throne Of Poseidon”
“Twilight´s End”
“The Final Stand”
“Fortune’s Fool”
“The King In Red”

Side B
“Straight To Hell”
“Pierce The Veil”
“Once In A Lifetime”
“She Waits”

"Throne Of Poseidon":

"The Final Stand" video:

Lineup:

Juan Ricardo – vocals
Nick Giannakos – lead- and rhythm guitar
Michael “Mjölnir” Stephenson – lead- and rhythm guitar
Tim Frederick – bass
Jeff Curenton – drums

Vangough is a three-piece, American progressive metal band. Their eclectic brand of songwriting straddles the line between the familiar and the volatile - a temperamental cocktail that invites both heavy metal fans and those seeking refuge from the beaten path. With an ever-growing catalog of acclaimed releases under their belt, Vangough continue to captivate their fanbase with the unexpected.

And now they will further their legacy with the release of their latest masterpiece, Warpaint, on March 17th. Check out the lyric video for "Morphine" below. Preorder the album here.

Warpaint, ferments their audacious songwriting style across seven formidable yet emotionally vulnerable songs. Spending over a year in production, this album represents the delicate inculcation of restraint, self-doubt and introspection that was afforded as a result of their recent touring efforts. Exposing the nakedness that we struggle to conceal, Warpaint is the story of embattled spirits.

Following on the heels of a raucous performance at the annual ProgPower USA music festival in 2014, Vangough set out on their first North American tour with one of their modern influences, Pain of Salvation. The following year saw Vangough hit the road once again, this time in support of progressive metal pioneers Fates Warning. Even with their limited touring experience, Vangough have been recognized by fans for delivering one of the most aggressive and powerful live performances in the genre.

As a live band first and foremost, Vangough is currently focused on hitting the road for their next American tour, in support of Warpaint, which releases March 17th.

Warpaint tracklisting:

“Morphine”
“Dust”
“The Suffering”
“Gravity”
“Till Nothing's Left”
“Knell”
“Black Rabbit”

"Morphine" lyric video:

Teaser:

British extreme metallers Krysthla have just dropped a punishingly epic lyric video for new song “Make Disciples Of The Nations”.

The track is the second song to be taken from the Northamptonshire's forthcoming brutal sophomore album.

 
"'Make Disciples Of The Nations' is buried in the feeling of helplessness and despair as the world is plunged into misery as the wars keep coming. An endless stream of ignorant cannon fodder gets in line to go and do their part for democracy but it all means nothing in reality.  Eventually, all the nations of the world will be without culture or individuality. Goddess Columbia rules ok!" - Neil Hudson (guitars / lyricist)

Release is set for April 7th via PHD.

Kadinja is a tech-prog metal band, formed in 2013 in Paris, France. After their first EP November 2013 and a successful premier of their live show at UK Tech Fest 2014, Kadinja have gone on to destroy venue and festival stages across Europe, perfecting their trademark sound along the way. 

Their sound is a mix of polymetric metal and intricate riffs, in a very unique style, with ambient atmospheres and should appeal to fans of respective styles. The completion and upcoming release of the new album is a key chapter of a stylistic research that has lasted for years and will go on as the band continues to grow as people and musicians.

Their debut album, Ascendancy will be released on February 17th via Klonosphere/Season Of Mist. Preorders are being taken on Bandcamp.

Tracklisting:

“Stone Of Mourning”
“GLHF” (feat. Rick Graham)
“Episteme”
“Episteme Part II”
“’Til The Ground Disappears”
“A November Day”
“Dominique”
“Ropes Of You”
“Bittersweet Guilt”
“Seven (The Stick Figures)”

“’Til The Ground Disappears”:

On the heels of the very successful self-titled debut album, black metallers Nordjevel are set to release Krigsmakt, a 7" EP, which will hit the streets on Osmose Productions on the February 20th.
 
With artwork by Khaos Diktator Design, the three-track EP will be limited to 500 copies, the B side of which is silk screen printed and comes with a printed inner sleeve.

Tracklisting:

“Krigsmakt”
“For De Falne…”
“Into Ever Deeper Depths”

Nordjevel was founded by frontman Doedsadmiral (Svartelder, Doedsvangr, Enepsigos) and guitarist Nord (Fatal Impact, Tvangeste, Byrdi), and, making use of Doedsadmiral's considerable skills at bringing together musicians who are not only hugely experienced, but who also share the same musical ideas and ideals, the band's ranks were quickly swelled by Marduk's Fredrik Widigs on drums, and former Ragnarok bassist DzeptiCunt. With Nordjevel's distinctive sound firmly set, the band have added another guitarist to their lineup in the shape of Morten "Noralf" Kleftaas, who had previously appeared with the band as a session live guitarist. 
 
The success of the band's debut album meant that virtually overnight offers started to come in for live appearances, and, as a result, Nordjevel have handed their booking and management responsibilities to the Flaming Arts Agency. Commenting on the new collaboration the band had this to say:
 
"We have to admit that the success of the debut album caught us a little by surprise. We knew we had something special, but the response from the fans and critics was overwhelming, and resulted in a lot of interest in us playing live. We had to totally rethink everything very quickly, and came up with what we consider to be a perfect solution - and that was teaming up with Flaming Arts.  Patricia Thomas, who has been Doedsadmiral's personal manager for longer than either of them care to remember, and who works with all his projects, will continue handling all of Nordjevel's PR. She and Flaming Arts have frequently worked together over the years and know how each other functions, which is a big plus for everyone concerned as there is no learning process.  So now we have a great band and a great team, and we can look forward to the future, which will include more live appearances world-wide".
 
Aside from preparing for their already confirmed live appearances, which include a UK tour in April, a US tour in May, which will culminate in an appearance at the Maryland Deathfest, and an appearance at the Gothoom Open Air Festival in Slovakia in July, Nordjevel are currently working on their second full-length album.

It was 30 years ago that Jesters Of Destiny’s Fun At The Funeral debut was released on the short-lived Metal Blade subsidiary, Dimension Records. A year later, they released the all-covers record In A Nostalgic Mood, after which the band was unceremoniously hacked from the Metal Blade stable and, unable to land another deal for their third album, No Laughing Matter, they quietly disappeared, with all the main participants going on to other pursuits.

All these years later, on April 7th via Ektro Records, Jesters Of Destiny are back with The Sorrows That Refuse To Drown, an all-new record of the kind of hard rock/metal that only they made. This poses the question: Why? Bruce Duff and Ray Violet, the co-band leaders and production team behind everything the band recorded, are as perplexed as everyone else.

"Ray and I were recording new material independently at home, and we sent each other some things and said, 'These seem like songs the Jesters would do,'" says Bruce. "So we started making more, and getting more people involved, and all of a sudden - it was anything but sudden, actually - it seemed like we were making a Jesters Of Destiny album."

In the subsequent years from the original days of the Jesters, Bruce went on to play with the Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs, Angus Khan, the Adz (Adolescents), Jeff Dahl, and producing the likes of Prima Donna and Thor. Ray produced God Lives Underwater, Tim Harrington (Masters of Reality), Rozz Williams, and engineered R&B legends the Temptations, Shalamar, and By All Means. Both always held the Jesters as a high point in their careers, certainly creatively if not commercially. Indeed, the Jesters might have been just a bit ahead of the curve. According to Wikipedia and Allmusic.com (and even a Creem Metal interview from the band’s own time), Jesters Of Destiny were quite possibly the first “aternative metal" band. Ray and Bruce always wondered, "What exactly is ‘alternative metal,' anyway?"

"Our music always had a lot of elements in it, whatever was around that we were listening to," recalls Ray. "Black Sabbath mingled with Prince in our world, along with Jane’s Addiction and the Chocolate Watch Band. If we liked it, it went into the mix."

This is still true today, with The Sorrows That Refuse To Drown bookended by the thunder-riffs of "Fire In The Six Feet Hole" and "Another Fire Six Feet Deep." Along the way, there’s the soundscape "Ladies of Runyon Canyon," the mini-documentary of "The Misunderstood," a recasting of Screaming Lord Sutch’s very first single "'Til The Following Night," and even a waltz with no drums, "Happy Ending”.

"We always called what we did Gleeful Gloom," notes Bruce. "With 30 years of real life since Funeral, we might be leaning a bit more on the gloom side. We wanted to lighten the load at the end, hence 'Happy Ending.' Also, however deep we lean into our own trials, Ray still really likes songs about the devil. If it ain’t broke..."

The Sorrows That Refuse To Drown is being issued on vinyl, and digitally on CD and download/streaming. The vinyl and digital versions are different from each other. The CD has different mixes of two of the songs, and three songs not on the vinyl, including a cover of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s "Two Minutes Silence”. "It took some work for us to get that one just right," confirms Ray.

As a leadup to the release of The Sorrows That Refuse To Drown, Ektro Records has revealed two new tracks, "My Card, Sir" and "Ladies of Runyon Canyon”, which are available for streaming below.

The Sorrows That Refuse To Drown tracklisting:

“Fire In The Six Foot Hole”
“The Flesh Parade”
“Ladies Of Runyon Canyon”
“My Card, Sir”
“Chalk Outline”
“The Misunderstood”
“'Til The Following Night”
“Sunset Boulevard”
“Peace, Blood And Charlie Cocaine”
“Another Fire Six Feet Deep”
“Happy Ending”

“My Card, Sir”:

“Ladies Of Runyon Canyon”:

On his recent visit to EMGtv, Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne) performed a playthrough of a track from his new record, Book Of Shadows II. In this version of "Autumn Changes“, Zakk shows off the seldom heard, yet beautiful clean tones from the EMG Zakk Wylde Set (81/85). From rhythm to lead, the tone is harmonically rich, complex, and provides amazing sustain.

Buy the EMG ZW set here, and check out the video below:

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

Tickets will go on sale Saturday, February 4th at ZakkSabbath.live, and VIP upgrade packages will be available on Monday February 6th at the same location.

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

Tour dates:

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

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

* - No Beastmaker

Philadelphia's heavy psych quartet, Ecstatic Vision, return with their sophomore album, Raw Rock Fury, the follow-up to 2015’s Sonic Praise. The band’s new song, “You Got It (Or You Don’t)”, is available for streaming below.

Ecstatic Vision commented on the new album: “With Raw Rock Fury, we set out to make an album that would remind listeners of what an unpolished, dangerous rock recording should sound like. This is the opening composition entitled “You Got It (Or You Don’t)”. Prepare for a searing mash-up of the driving rhythms of Sly & The Family Stone mixed with the sounds of Hawkwind playing Funhouse-era Troglodyte Rock.”

April 7th, 2017 will see the worldwide release of Raw Rock Fury via Relapse Records on CD/LP/Digital. Physical pre-order and bundles are available via Relapse.com here and digital downloads can be pre-ordered by Bandcamp at this location.

Raw Rock Fury exhibits the band locking in on primordial, troglodyte Detroit rock grooves, krautian motorik sounds that recall the obscure one-time collaboration between NEU and the MC5, grimy harmonica flourishes that evoke Beefheart at his most savage, and the Hawkwindian, primal world heavy psych their debut expertly showcased. All of this is captured on four songs and 35+ minutes of the dirtiest sounding recordings since Kick Out The Jams. Do you miss the days when rock recordings were dangerous? If so, you must crave Raw Rock Fury.

Additionally, Ecstatic Vision has announced brand new European tour dates throughout April and May including an appearance at Desertfest on April 30th. The band will also tour throughout the US with Philadelphia’s Creepoid in March.

Raw Rock Fury tracklisting:

“You Got It (Or You Don’t)”
“The Electric Step”
“Keep it Loose”
“The Twinkling Eye”

“You Got It (Or You Don’t)”:

Ecstatic Vision is:

Doug Sabolik
Michael Field Connor
Jordan Crouse
Kevin Nickles

Polish black/death metal tyrants and recent Agonia Records signees, Azarath, are ready to move forward with new music. On April 7th, the band (featuring drummer Inferno of long-time Behemoth fame) will return with their most furious sonic statement to date, a new album titled 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”

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

WEAR YOUR WOUNDS has unveiled the first music video off its eponymous debut album. The clip, which was directed by Max Moore, can be seen below.

Founded by CONVERGE's Jacob Bannon, WEAR YOUR WOUNDS is the product of years of lo-fi solo recordings that have sat on the backburner until now.

Bannon commented on the track and video: "The song is about the psychological effects of negative experiences and ultimately not allowing them to define who you are and wish to be. I feel that most people can likely relate to that message in some way. The video is a recreation of the album cover and other visuals in the album. The character creates a ladder to ascend to the sky. Looking for answers, hoping for a metaphorical confrontation in some way. The character also wears a mirror, being a literal reflection of the world that surrounds."

"Wear Your Wounds" will be released on April 7 via Deathwish. Joining Bannon on the effort are guest musicians Kurt Ballou (CONVERGE), Mike McKenzie (THE RED CHORD, STOMACH EARTH, UNRAVELLER), Chris Maggio (SLEIGH BELLS, TRAP THEM, COLISEUM) and Sean Martin (HATEBREED, CAGE, KID CUDI, TWITCHING TONGUES). The album is comprised of ten emotionally heavy songs that call to the slower, more epic leanings of CONVERGE, as well as Bannon's previous work in SUPERMACHINER. WEAR YOUR WOUNDS brings to mind the dense multi-layered approach of SWANS and early PINK FLOYD, while being as vulnerable as influences SPARKLEHORSE, SONGS: OHIA and other like-minded artists. WEAR YOUR WOUNDS will debut in a live setting on April 22 at the Roadburn festival in Tilburg, The Netherlands as part of John Dyer Baizley's curation. Joining Bannon on stage will be musicians Mike McKenzie, Chris Maggio, Adam McGrath (CAVE IN, ZOZOBRA, NOMAD STONES) and Sean Martin. "Wear Your Wounds" track listing:

01. Wear Your Wounds02. Giving Up03. Iron Rose04. Hard Road to Heaven05. Best Cry of Your Life06. Breaking Point07. Shine08. Fog09. Heavy Blood10. Goodbye Old Friend

Swedish traditional heavy metal band, Mean Streak, recently signed a deal with Japanese label Marquee/Avalon, who will release the band’s new album, Blind Faith, on May 31st.

Mean Streak have now signed with European label Rock Of Angels Records. Blind Faith includes 11 tracks, to be released on CD and vinyl in Europe on June 2nd. The above mentioned Japanese release will include one bonus track.

Bassist Peter Andersson states: “This is exciting for us to work with Rock Of Angels Records, as our new album is coming in Europe as a vinyl version too! We are really looking forward to do our fourth album with Rock Of Angels Records in Europe. The album artwork is in progress right now and we can't wait to share it with the fans soon.”

The album is produced by Peter Andersson and Max Norman, mixed by Max Norman (Ozzy Osbourne, Lynch Mob, Armored Saint, Lizzy Borden, Megadeth, Y&T) and mastered by Thomas “Plec” Johansson (Soilwork, Onslaught, Armageddon, Degradead, Dynazty) at The Panic Room Mastering.

Max Norman recently stated: “Just finished mixing Mean Streak new album - it really rocks! Thankfully all mixing completed and congratulations to the guys on a killer album!”

Mean Streak is:

Peter Andersson - Bass and background Vocals

Andy LaGuerin - Lead Vocals and Guitars

Thomas Johansson - Guitars

Jonas Källsbäck - Drums and Background vocals

(Photo - Joanna-photo)

Norwegian Viking metallers, Helheim, have released a video for "Ymr”, the lead track from the band’s recently released ninth full-length album, landwarijaR.

Like the preceding video for the track "Baklengs mot intet", "Ymr" was directed by Guilherme Henriques, and this time the band  concentrates on live footage filmed at Inside Live & Rock Café by Mathis Backe interspersed with film of some of the glorious scenery that surrounds the band’s home town of Bergen.

"Ymr" also has a theme running through it, one that is in contrast to that expressed in the "Baklengs mot intet". As Helheim’s V'gandr explains: "With "Ymr" Helheim explores the terrain that might result from the  complete enlightenment of knowledge. The tree of life is the symbol of this path and you may wonder if this enlightenment is of a positive or of a negative energy. When the One with the one eye closes it, that is when we must open up ours and see what lies ahead.  "Ymr" is the primal scream, the essence of man, and to grow from there you have to climb. Whereas "Baklengs mot intet" showed no hope in its cloak of negativity, "Ymr" might kindle a tiny spark - but that's up to the eye of the beholder or should I say, the ears of the listener."

LandawarijaR contains seven tracks, all of which bear the hallmarks of Helheim's traditional Norse heritage. A heritage of which they are rightly proud and to which they have remained true, eschewing the temptation to turn themselves into the Viking parodies that so many bands have espoused. With landawarijaR, Helheim use their lyrics to express the need to include the Norse Heritage into modern life by emphasizing the importance, mystery and never-changing wonder of the Runes.

Just as Helheim's raunijaR followed in the same vein as its predecessor Asgards Fall, landawarijaR continues where Heidindomr ended. All four albums incorporate the use of timpani and horns, and the new album also has a number of artists performing guest vocals including William Hut, Morten Egeland (Narrowhead), Pehr Skjoldhammer (Alfahanne), Bjornar E Nilsen (Vulture Industries, Black Hole Generator) and Ottorpedo.

With music by by H'grimnir and V'gandr, lyrics by V'gandr and artwork by H'grimnir, landawarijaR was recorded at the Conclave and Earshot Studios in Bergen, and produced by Bjornar E. Nilsen (Vulture Industries, Black Hole Generator) and mastered by Herbrand Larsen (Enslaved).

landawarijaR tracklisting:

"Ymr"
"Baklengs mot intet"
"Rista blodørn"
"landawarijaR"
"Ouroboros"
"Synir af heidindomr"
"Enda-dagr"

"Baklengs mot intet" video:

landwarijaR is available on CD, vinyl and digital formats, and can be ordered with related merchandise, at Dark Essence Records, Bandcamp, and at the US webstore, here.

It was back in December 1984 in Sydney, Australia and Deep Purple had just released the Perfect Strangers album. The first single in many territories was “Knocking At Your Back Door”, and the band decided to cut a film clip. Check out this rare footage:

Deep Purple will release their new album, inFinite, the highly anticipated follow-up to their worldwide chart topping album NOW What?!, on April 7th via earMUSIC. The tracklisting for the standard edition of the album has been revealed (see below).

Tracklisting:

"Time For Bedlam"
"Hip Boots"
"All I've Got Is You"
"One Night In Vegas"
"Get Me Outta Here"
"The Surprising"
"Johnny's Band"
"On Top Of The World"
"Birds Of Prey"
"Roadhouse Blues"

“Time For Bedlam” lyric video:

inFinite trailer clips:

According to Darker Than Blue, inFinite will be available in the following formats:

* CD
* CD + DVD
* Double Vinyl + DVD
* Small Fan Box
* Large Fan Box

The boxes will include:

Ltd. Box
- CD+DVD Digipak
- T-Shirt (L)

Ltd. & numbered Large Box
- CD+DVD
- 2LP
- 3x 10“vinyl (The NOW What?! Live Tapes Vol. 2)
- T-Shirt (size L)
- Poster
- 5x Photo Prints
- Sticker

Also, the first single, “Time For Bedlam” will include the following tracklisting:

“Time For Bedlam”
“Paradise Bar”
“Uncommon Man” (instrumental)
“Hip Boots” (Ian Paice rehearsal version)

The track “Time For Bedlam” is available as instant grat as part of the digital album pre-order, as well as on all streaming platforms. A limited edition EP for “Time For Bedlam”, with non-album songs and unreleased recordings will hit the shops on February 3rd.

A documentary movie, witnessing the songwriting process and the recording of the album with producer Bob Ezrin, has been produced, allowing for the first time for the fans to be part of the private band member interactions in the studio. The movie will be included in some editions of the album and it will be presented before release in various fan events worldwide.

Deep Purple recently announced their Long Goodbye Tour, which will bring the legendary live show once again all over the world. The band have not yet answered, in fact, the many questions received by fans from all over the world who are speculating about the meaning of the title inFinite and "Long Goodbye".

Singer Ian Gillan has in fact declared: “If you take it literally you may, quite reasonably, think the ‘Finite’ part of the word describes the life of Deep Purple, with a clear beginning and a nebulous end; but what of the ‘in’ bit? The word infinite is a three-dimensional double edged sword. It describes something that goes on forever in all directions; not unlike its temporal equivalent ‘Eternal’ What’s that all about?

“Stephen Hawking declared (in A brief History Of Time) that, before the Big Bang there was nothing. That would put the kybosh on the idea of our universe being Infinite, as he provides a starting point, which is not acceptable to the concept. So, Hawking’s universe in ‘Finite’; by definition; whether he agrees or not.

“Ironically, he is quite wrong (scientists always are eventually), therefore the Universe is infinite, which means it will never end, and also means that it never started, and the corollary to that of course is that we don’t exist.

“There is a metaphysical solution to all this, but it will have to wait until the tour is over because (thanks heavens) there are only 24 hours in a day (for the time being) or 10 hours in a metric day. More on that later…”

Tour dates:

May
17 - Wien, Austria - Stadthalle Halle D
19 - München, Germany - Olympiahalle
23 - Lodz, Poland - Atlas Arena
24 - Katowice, Poland - Spodek
30 - Hamburg, Germany - Barclaycard-Arena

June
1 - Lille, France - Zenith Arena
2 - Amsterdam, Holland - Ziggodome
3 - Paris, France - Accorhotels Arena
6 - Köln, Germany - Lanxess Arena
7 - Dortmund, Germany - Westfalenhalle
9 - Leipzig, Germany - Arena Leipzig
10 - Frankfurt/Main, Germany - Festhalle
13 - Berlin, Germany - Mercedes-Benz-Arena
14 - Stuttgart, Germany - Schleyer-Halle
16-18 - Clisson, France - HellFest (exact date TBC)

July
1 - Barcelona, Spain - Rock Fest

November (with Europe)
17 - Birmingham, England - Birmingham Arena
18 - Manchester, England - Manchester Arena
20 - Cardiff, Wales - Cardiff Arena
22 - Glasgow, Scotland - SSE Hydro
23 - London, England - 02 Arena

Music history will be made when Deep Purple and Alice Cooper, joined by special guest, The Edgar Winter Band, visit 19 cities across America this summer on an epic rock tour.  Produced by Live Nation, the tour will also serve as the Long Goodbye Tour for Deep Purple, and begins Saturday, August 12th in Las Vegas, with stops in Los Angeles, Boston, including Cooper’s hometown of Detroit, and more.

Tickets go on sale Friday, February 3rd at LiveNation.com and on the Live Nation app. American Express card members can take advantage of a special pre-sale opportunity beginning on Wednesday, February 1st at 12 PM, local time. On Thursday, February 2nd at 10 AM, local time there will also be pre-sales via LiveNation.com, the Live Nation app and on Facebook.

Deep Purple’s studio album, Infinite, is set for release April 7th. The metal pioneers have released five studio albums since 1996, augmented by an abundance of solo work and special projects from members Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Steve Morse and Don Airey. Fans will be thrilled as they cover decades of favorites for this run.

Alice Cooper brings his own brand of rock psycho-drama to fans both old and new. Known as the architect of shock-rock, Cooper has rattled the cages and undermined the authority of generations of guardians of the status quo. Alice’s catalog of hits and anthems, including “I’m Eighteen,” “No More Mr Nice Guy,” School’s Out,” “Elected,” “Poison,” and others, are featured in his live show, along with a mix of newer songs and fan-favorite album cuts. Alice’s touring band features the three-guitar attack of Nita Strauss, Tommy Henriksen and Ryan Roxie, backed by longtime bassist Chuck Garric and drummer Glen Sobel.

Edgar Winter has been celebrated across the globe since his 1970 solo debut, Entrance.  With over twenty albums, top hits “Frankenstein” and “Free Ride,” and numerous collaborative efforts to his credit, Edgar Winter has not been satisfied to ride the wave of popular music stardom. His music is always evolving and he is a master at stretching his skill and imagination to produce amazing results. He continues to thrill audiences with his live performances, always remaining on the cutting edge of music and style. Edgar is now at the very top of his game, and his future looks even brighter than his past.

Dates:

August
12 - The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas - Las Vegas, Nevada
13 - Greek Theatre - Los Angeles, California
15 - Ak-Chin Pavilion - Phoenix, Arizona
16 - Isleta Amphitheater - Albuquerque, New Mexico
18 - The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion - Woodlands, Texas
19 - Starplex Pavilion - Dallas, Texas
23 - Jiffy Lube Live - Bristow, Virginia
24 - BB&T Pavilion - Camden, New Jersey
26 - Jones Beach Theater - Wantagh, New York
27 - Xfinity Center - Mansfield, Massachusetts
28 - PNC Bank Arts Center - Holmdel, New Jersey
30 - Klipsch Music Center - Noblesville, Indiana

September
1 - KeyBank Pavilion - Burgettstown, Pennsylvania
2 - Budweiser Stage - Toronto, Ontario

For more details and tickets click here.

On March 24th, Grumpynators will release their second album, City Of Sin. The first single from the album, “Take The Last Dance With Me”, was released on February 3rd. A music video for the song can now be seen below.

The 12-track album is a product of a joint work process between the four musicians in the band and Rob Caggiano (Volbeat) as guest guitarist on “Far Away”, a song where he in cooperation with the band have played solo, fills and themes. The drums, guitars and bass are recorded by Jakob Gundel at Gainfactory Studio - vocals, production, mix and master have been done with Jacob Hansen (Dizzy Miss Lizzy, Volbeat, Pretty Maids).

Tracklisting:

“Tears Of Whiskey”
“Hotel 2nd Age”
“Take The Last Dance With Me”
“Then We Cried”
“Pretty Little Devil”
“Far Away” (feat. Rob Caggiano)
“Now I Know”
“Fame”
“St. Elvis Day”
“City Of Sin”
“We Are The Outcasts”
“Werewolf”

“Take The Last Dance With Me” video:

As Lions, featuring vocalist Austin Dickinson (son of Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson), released their debut full-length album, Selfish Age, on January 20th via Better Noise Records. Louder Noise is streaming the album’s title track, listen below:

Selfish Age is the follow-up to As Lions’ debut EP Aftermath. Produced by award-winning producer David Bendeth (Of Mice & Men, Paramore, Bring Me The Horizon) and Kane Churko (Five Finger Death Punch, Disturbed, In This Moment), Selfish Age is an illustration of the band’s mission to create “the biggest, baddest hard rock we could, and on an almost cinematic scale.”

The album’s 11 dynamic tracks are a study in contrasts, with the epic and evocative “Aftermath”, the crushing “Deathless” which targets the internet culture’s obsession with image, “Bury My Dead”, a hard-hitting personal statement complemented by stately piano tinklings, and the electro-tinged title track, “Selfish Age”.

Comprised of Austin Dickinson on vocals, guitarist and keyboardist Conor O’Keefe, guitarist Will Homer, bassist Stefan Whiting and drummer Dave Fee, As Lions showcase an evolution in British rock.

Selfish Age tracklisting:

“Aftermath”
“The Suffering”
“Bury My Dead”
“Deathless”
“Selfish Age”
“White Flags”
“Pieces”
“World On Fire”
“One By One”
“The Fall”
“The Great Escape”

"Bury My Dead" lyric video:

“Aftermath” video:

As Lions have announced a 10-date US tour this spring with US metallers Shinedown. They have also announced their first UK festival appearance of the year at Bristol's Fat Lip Festival in July, along with Young Guns and will be playing a number of US festivals including Rock On The Range, Welcome To Rockville and Northern Invasion.
 
Tour dates:

April
1 - Rialto Theatre - Tucson, AZ (supporting Shinedown)
4 - House Of Blues - San Diego, CA (supporting Shinedown)
5 - Fox Theater - Bakersfield, CA (supporting Shinedown)
7 - Belasco Theatre - Los Angeles, CA (supporting Shinedown)
8 - Blaze Fest Paul Paul Theater - Fresno, CA
10 - Medford Armory - Medford, OR (supporting Shinedown)
11 - Eureka Municipal Auditorium - Eureka, CA (supporting Shinedown)
13 - Sacramento Memorial Auditorium - Sacramento, CA (supporting Shinedown)
14 - Silver Dollar Fairgrounds - Chico, CA (supporting Shinedown)
15 - Grand Sierra Resort & Casino - Reno, NV (supporting Shinedown)
17 - House Of Blues - Anaheim, CA (supporting Shinedown)
29 - Rockville Festival - Jacksonville, FL

May
5 - Carolina Rebellion - Charlotte, NC
13 - Northern Invasion - Somerset, WI
19 - Rock On The Range - Columbus, OH

June
17 - Graspop Metal Meeting - Dessel, Belgium
29 - Fat Lip Festival - Bristol, UK

(Photo - John McMurtrie)

London, England-based rock legends, Thunder, will release their new studio album, Rip It Up, this Friday (February 10th) via earMUSIC. A new trailer video can be found below.

About the new album, the band recently revealed: “It was recorded in three sessions (March, June and August) and it's a real step up in every direction. There are 11 brand new cracking tunes, all written as ever by Luke (Morley). He also produced it, and our old mate Nick Brine recorded it at Rockfield in Monmouth (as with Wonder Days). This time we made a few changes, with some new mixing ears wrapped around it in the form of the talented Clint Murphy at Modern World, and Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound, who mastered it in New York USA. The album artwork was done by a fantastic Norwegian artist (yes he's an artist) called Magnus Gjoen. His work focuses on how things are not always what they seem, which we think is a bit like us.”

Rip It Up tracklisting:

“No One Gets Out Alive”
“Rip It Up”
“She Likes The Cocaine”
“Right From The Start”
“Shakedown”
“Heartbreak Hurricane”
“In Another Life”
“The Chosen One”
“The Enemy Inside”
“Tumbling Down”
“There's Always A Loser”

Trailer:

“Rip It Up”:

“No One Gets Out Alive” studio session:

Thunder continues: “Check out all the formats and the bundles in all their splendiferous glory, on our newly sexed-up online store.”

METALLICA's James Hetfield has narrated a new documentary which takes a sobering look at the impact pornography addiction is having on the individual and on cultures around the world.

"Addicted To Porn: Chasing The Cardboard Butterfly" is the fifth feature-length film, and fourth documentary, from writer-director Justin Hunt, who previously interviewed Hetfield for his award-winning documentary "Absent", exploring the worldwide crisis of absent and disengaged fathers and the negative impact that the "father wound" makes on society.

In "Addicted To Porn: Chasing The Cardboard Butterfly", Hunt dissects the impact of pornography on societies around the globe, from how it affects the brain of the individual, to how modern technology leads to greater exposure to youth, to watching it tear a family apart. In what may well be one of the most devastating issues in modern culture, this film will break down the damage that porn is doing to us a human race and leave you thinking that it's clearly time that we start taking porn addiction much more seriously.

Beginning with a brief history of sexuality in human beings and continuing on with how it affects the human brain, how modern technology, coupled with a lack of public education, is exposing youth to a level of sexuality that they're not prepared for, this film will open up audiences' minds to an entirely new perspective on what porn does to the individual, the family and society as a whole. With some of the world's leading minds on the issue, this film is an authentic undertaking aimed at exposing people to the dangers of porn and the cycle of shame that can keep people addicted for a lifetime.

Hunt has informed BLABBERMOUTH.NET that "Addicted To Porn: Chasing The Cardboard Butterfly" will be released in April via Video On Demand (VOD). In the meantime, you can catch several screenings around the country.

For more information, visit www.atpdoc.com.

Vocalist Michael Kiske spoke to Spain's TNT Radio Rock about the reunion of the classic lineup of German power metallers HELLOWEEN. Dubbed "Pumpkins United", the band's upcoming tour will feature seven musicians — including former members Kiske and Kai Hansen (guitar), alongside current singer Andi Deris and guitarist Sascha Gerstner — performing material spanning HELLOWEEN's entire three-decade-plus history. A few excerpts from the chat follow below (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On whether he has repaired his relationship with HELLOWEEN guitarist Michael Weikath:

Kiske: "Yeah. It had been a long story. It didn't happen overnight. It started with me getting older, and somehow inside of me things changed over the last three or four years, without noticing. And it really started when I ran into him at Sweden Rock [Festival] again, I think, in 2013. And he said to me… The first thing he said was, 'What have I done that you can't forgive me?' That was the first line he said to me. And I realized that I had forgiven somehow a long time ago without noticing. That's how it all started. And also, looking back at the years after HELLOWEEN, I have gained so much out of it. Having to be on my own, having to be responsible for records, and even all the painful things that I got through, I gained so much from it on a human level that I can't really be angry anymore. Sometimes it's not easy to understand, for people, when you say something like that. But that's why it was also easy for me to forget about it all and start talking again, because I just realized that it was all good for me. I was so blessed, spiritually, especially during that time, that I don't wanna miss it, really, so I can't really be angry anymore."

On other factors that played a part in his decision to reunite with HELLOWEEN:

Kiske: "In the last number of years, the HELLOWEEN guys were always sending out these signals. More and more in interviews, they were talking about that they would love to do some reunion kind of stuff, or a tour with me and Kai together. They were always sending out these signals, which I found kind of confusing at first — I didn't know what to think about it — but it was also a good thing to do. It helped me to get to the point that, after a great show in Spain, actually, with UNISONIC — we had three very nice concerts in 2014 in Spain — and at the last gig, Kai said something like, 'Michael, if we don't ever do anything again under the name of HELLOWEEN, we're just idiots.' And before that, a year before, I met Weiki [Michael Weikath]— the thing that I just told you earlier [about our encounter at Sweden Rock] — and I just said, 'You know what, Kai? I'm open.' And that's how it all really started… Kai has a lot to do with it. He was just throwing that thing out at the perfect time. He wanted to do it. And I was with him for a number of years in HELLOWEEN and UNISONIC. We enjoyed it, so it was kind of… Maybe it was just the next thing to do somehow."

On whether the upcoming shows on the "Pumpkins United" tour will see each singer performing songs from his respective era of HELLOWEEN:

Kiske: "Yeah, that's the main thing, of course, that's gonna happen. I mean, it's not the usual kind of reunion you would see, because no one is leaving, you know — we're just coming to the whole bunch and we do it all together, with celebrating thirty years of this band. And, of course, I'll be doing the stuff that I got known for in HELLOWEEN, like the ['Keeper Of The Seven Keys: Part I' (1987) and 'Keeper Of The Seven Keys: Part II' (1988)] songs mainly, and Andi will hold up the flag for his phase, and then pick the strong songs for Kai [to] do, a little bit, with his 'Walls Of Jericho' [1985] kind of era. And then we do some duets maybe and we do some swapping. And I might even sing a song of Andi's phase and vice versa and stuff. We're trying to make it an interesting knd of thing, and we've put a lot of money in there to have an interesting show set, with big screens. We want this to be a very special thing in the end. With all those years that this band has existed, and all those records that had been released, there's a whole lot of stuff we can actually choose from."

On HELLOWEEN's decision to not stage the "usual" kind of reunion where other, later eras of the band get ignored in favor of the early "classics":

Kiske: "When I first said something to Kai, that I was open [to taking part in a HELLOWEEN reunion], of course I had in mind maybe just doing only the 'Keeper' band with a new drummer, and just playing that [early] stuff, but I like a lot better the way we are doing this now, because I think this sends out a very nice message. Even when you are enemies for a long time of your life, you can sort it out. You can forgive. Even if you were really hurt, and things were really bad for you during a certain time, there's always a possibility to bury it and to forgive… I never met Andi before, and the first time I met him, we got along very well; we had a very nice connection as people, as persons. And I think it's a great idea to do it this way — everybody involved and as a team together. I think this sends out a very good message."

On why former HELLOWEEN guitarist Roland Grapow (1989-2001) isn't involved in the reunion tour:

Kiske: "As far as I know, they asked him [to take part in it], and he didn't wanna do it. That was the information [I was given]. He's probably still hurt. I know how it feels. When this stuff is fresh, it's difficult."

On the possibility of HELLOWEEN playing the "Keeper Of The Seven Keys: Part I" and "Keeper Of The Seven Keys: Part II" albums in their entirety on the upcoming tour:

Kiske: "We can't play them completely. We will be, anyway, getting close to three hours, playing-wise, but that means it can't be the whole two records. But it'll be the key songs. We might even change it here and there. We wanna make it very balanced out, that both phases are equally covered — the Andi phase and the Michael phase. And we also wanna do some duets and stuff like that. So we have too much to choose from to really play everything from the 'Keeper' [albums]. But it'll be a big part."

"Pumpkins United" touring lineup:

Michael Kiske - VocalsKai Hansen - GuitarMichael Weikath – GuitarMarkus Grosskopf - BassAndi Deris - VocalsSascha Gerstner - GuitarDaniel Löble – Drums




Posted by Helloween on Monday, January 2, 2017


Posted by Helloween on Monday, January 2, 2017

Legendary guitarist George Lynch says that the classic lineup of DOKKEN is "talking about" playing more shows in 2018.

Lynch reunited with singer Don Dokken, bassist Jeff Pilson and drummer "Wild" Mick Brown for a six-date Japanese tour last fall, including an appearance at the Loud Park festival. At the time, Don told Billboard magazine that he didn't want to continue with the classic DOKKEN lineup because he "loved" the band he has now — which features Brown, alongside longtime guitarist Jon Levin and bassist Chris McCarvil. "We've been together for 13 years, and I don't want to hurt that franchise," he explained. "Plus if we were to continue with [the classic] lineup, old wounds might be opened, and I don't want to revisit that. I don't think any of us wants to. It's all great when a marriage fails and you say, 'I'm gonna get back with my ex' — for a week, maybe. Six months into it, the wounds come back. I don't want to experience that. It's just not part of my life anymore, and I think the other guys feel the same way."

Now, in a brand new interview with "Trunk Nation", Eddie Trunk's show on SiriusXM channel Volume (106), Lynch revealed that there is a possibility that DOKKEN will be back for more live appearances next year, although he declined to discuss specifics.

Asked if the prospect of more dates from the classic lineup of DOKKEN is "completely out of the question," George responded: "Well, it's never completely out of the question. We are talking about doing something in 2018. I would love for it to happen."'

The guitarist added that DOKKEN's brief 2016 reunion "went well" but admitted that "it wasn't without its challenges." He explained: "It's an interesting band. And I say 'interesting' in a… My wife's not a great cook. I mean, her food's interesting. I don't wanna insult her. I love her. She's trying hard. But the band definitely has an undeniable thing that people love, and we created some good music, and to see the fans' reaction was really great, and we did good business."

He went on to say: "I thought it worked on most levels. So I would like to continue to do more shows with the original DOKKEN."

Pressed about where there are some additional DOKKEN shows in the works, Lynch said: "Well, I can't talk about it, but there is a little bit of something going on."

A new DOKKEN concert DVD focusing on the band's reunion tour is tentatively due before the end of the year. The set will feature footage from two of the Japanese shows — including Tokyo — as well as the band's very first comeback gig, which was held on September 30, 2016 at Badlands Pawn Guns Gold And Rock 'N' Roll in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Pilson told "Trunk Nation" that the Japanese tour was "very, very drama-free; I was kind of surprised — very pleasantly so. It was a great time," he said. "We actually had a lot of fun. We connected on a friendship level that I wasn't really expecting, to be honest with you, and it was great. I mean, it was really, really fun — much more so than I was expecting."

Pilson also talked about the fans' reaction to seeing the classic lineup of DOKKEN perform again. "It was pretty spectacular," he said. "You could feel it. We would meet-and-greets for a lot of people that were… It was a wonderfully warm feeling, and you could feel it all the way through the crowd. And I've gotta say, it was really great."

METALLICA will perform with pop superstar Lady Gaga at the 59th annual Grammy Awards this Sunday night (February 12). The news about the collaboration, which had not been officially announced, broke on Monday night (February 6) after a Gaga fan saw the collaboration promoted on a TV commercial for the Grammys and tweeted about it.

Gaga told Apple Music's Zane Lowe that the idea for the pairing came about when she "was at [actor] Bradley's [Cooper] house with Lars [Ulrich, METALLICA drummer], and we were just, like, hanging out…" She went on to call Ulrich "amazing," before adding: "I've gotta tell you something: I went to see [METALLICA] live. I mean, I've seen them a couple of times live, but I saw them live recently, and we were watching the show and I'll tell you something, those guys play better than they've ever played in their whole lives."

It's not yet known which song METALLICA will play at the event, which will air live Sunday night from the Staples Center in Los Angeles at 8:00 p.m. ET on CBS.

The band had previously promised "something unique and special" for its Grammys performance.

The band is up for the Grammy Award for "Best Rock Song" for the track "Hardwired" from its new album, "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct".

Meanwhile, METALLICA returned to the stage on Tuesday night (February 7) with a concert in Copenhagen, Denmark that was initially supposed to be the third of a four-night stand at that city's Royal Arena. The first show was cut short on Friday night (February 3) when frontman James Hetfield took ill.

Hetfield was put on complete vocal rest the next day, forcing the band to postpone the second show on Sunday (February 5).

Following the Grammy Awards on Sunday, METALLICA will play an intimate show for around 3,000 or so fans at the Hollywood Palladium.

During a brand new interview with Heavy Metal Mixtape, VENOM INC. bassist/vocalist Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan was asked for his thoughts on his band being called a "pale imitation" by members of the Conrad "Cronos" Lant-fronted version of VENOM, which is continuing to tour and make albums under the VENOM moniker. Dolan said: "[I have] no thoughts at all. [Cronos] can moan for the rest of his time, if that makes him feel happy. We are just doing our thing, and the rest is of no importance."

As for "not seeing eye to eye" with Cronos with regards to the use of the VENOM name, Dolan said: "Well, we just tell the real story. He chooses a kind of strange series of alternating facts.

"The official biography on his site that he administers himself has changed six times in ten years, so it is hard to keep up, to be honest.

"He does what he does and hopefully he still does it well, but beyond that, we don't care.

"The name [VENOM INC.] was given to us, and the logo we use is the one Abaddon [former VENOM and current VENOM INC. drummer] designed originally with the addition of 'Inc.'

"We don't do as he does and spend time in interviews and onstage to audiences, disrespecting anyone... It's just not who we are."

In addition to Dolan, VENOM INC. features original VENOM guitarist Jeff "Mantas" Dunn and drummer and Anthony "Abaddon" Bray.

Mantas told Westword in a 2016 interview that he is well aware of a possible confusion fans may feel about the existence of two similarly named bands performing many of VENOM's classic songs.

"To be perfectly honest, we're letting the fans decide," Mantas said. "There are a few hardcore Cronos fans, but I think every little battle that we have, we're winning. Everybody that we meet after the show say that we are the true VENOM, this is what they've been waiting for. Everybody who I have spoken to who has seen the other version basically said that the heart, the soul and the spirit of VENOM is with us."

He added: "Cronos is doing what he does. The last few interviews I've seen, all he does is attack us in the press and call us names, and he's got his little minions, his guitarist, calling us a pale imitation, and it's like, actually, you're playing my parts and Abaddon's parts. So who's the fucking tribute band around here? But we don't want to get into that. Like I say, we're letting the fans decide. At the moment, the fans are deciding firmly in our favor. That's great. It shows a hell of a lot of loyalty, and I have the utmost respect and thanks."

VENOM INC. recently inked a deal with Nuclear Blast. The band's debut album is tentatively due later in the year.

Mantas told Westword that VENOM INC. will "go right back to basics" on the upcoming disc. He explained: "It's going to be fucking rock and roll, and what VENOM was all about. We're not planning to look at the first few albums and say that we need a song like 'Welcome To Hell' or 'Countess Bathory'. We're just going to do what we did in the early days, and that's strip everything back and just write. I think everybody's going to like it. I think they're gonna get a fucking shock — let's put it that way."

According to The Pulse Of Radio, LED ZEPPELIN's Top 10 "worst" songs have been posted online by CheatSheet.com. Leading the pack is the 1969 "Led Zeppelin" track "I Can't Quit You Baby", which is deemed "passable" — although "the band members are all on-point, particularly (Jimmy) Page, but the repetitive lyrics and slow pace make for a rather boring song on an otherwise riveting record." Coming in at No. 2 is the "Led Zeppelin II" favorite "The Lemon Song", whose lyrics are described as "(ranking) among the most juvenile LED ZEPPELIN ever recorded, which is really saying something."

The Top 3 is rounded out by the John Bonham workout "Moby Dick", which claims, "Bonham was obviously an amazing drummer, but even he can't make an extended drum solo that exciting to listen to. "

In the book "Isle Of Noises: Conversations With Great British Songwriters", Page spoke about LED ZEPPELIN's songwriting approach. He said: "One of the things that you'll see in the LED ZEPPELIN music is that every song is different to the others. Each one has its own character; musically as much as lyrically. For example, 'Ten Years Gone' or 'The Rain Song', which has got a whole orchestral piece before the vocal even comes in. So yes, it was crafted in such a way that the music was really of paramount importance to setting the scene and most probably inspired the singer, in this case Robert [Plant], to get set into the overall emotion, the ambience of the track of what was being presented, and then hopefully inspire him to the lyrics."

He continued: "Often we just had working titles. A good example of this and how it would change and mutate was 'The Song Remains The Same' leading into 'The Rain Song'. The original idea I had for that was an overture — as 'Song Remains The Same' is — leading into an orchestral part for 'The Rain Song'. I had a mellotron and I'd worked out an idea — John Paul Jones did it much better than me — coming into the very first verse. If it'd worked that way, there wouldn't have been any vocal until the first verse, you would have had this whole overture of guitars and then into the orchestral thing that opened up into the first verse. But as it was, when we were rehearsing it, then it actually became a song; the structure changed, there was another bit put in and then Robert started singing. That wasn't a bad idea to have an overture, a whole musical segment that took you into 'The Rain Song', but it worked out really well as it was. [Laughs] Whatever it was, you were constantly thinking all the time about it."

Christian singer and former FLYLEAF frontwoman Lacey Sturm told ROCKwell UnScene in a new interview that she is surprised more musicians haven't had "encounters with God." But, she added, "I've seen there's so much more lately than ever. I got to meet Dave Mustaine [MEGADETH mainman] the other day, and I was so amazed at him. The first thing he talked to me about was God. And he's just so real, and he can say whatever he wants; he doesn't have to impress anybody. And he's just, like, 'Hey, so I heard you love Jesus?' And he's just like looking at me. [And I was like] 'Yeah.'"

Mustaine spoke about "spirituality" during a 2016 interview, telling Honolulu, Hawaii radio host Dave Lawrence: "A lot of people believe that I'm into religion, because I had said that I had become a Christian. So let me just say that religion's for people who are afraid of going to hell, and spirituality's for people like me who've been there. And I say that there's a whole spirit world of stuff that… There's good and bad in everybody and in all things."

Those comments echoed what Mustaine said three years earlier in a chat with the Nashville Scene. He stated at the time: "I don't think that my faith has anything to do with my lyrics. I try and keep religion out of it. Frankly, for me, I don't believe in religion. I have a personal relationship with God and with Christ, and that's it. I don't push that on anybody; it's private. I kind of leave it there. [MEGADETH bassist] Dave's [Ellefson] real open about it."

In a 2012 interview with Great Falls Tribute, Ellefson — who recently became a Lutheran pastor — talked about how he and Mustaine renewed their interest in Christianity. "It's pretty funny, isn't it? When you fight [God], you have struggles and it's an uphill battle. When you surrender to it and you embrace it, that becomes like a jet engine that rockets you forward with not just great success but ease," he said. "All of a sudden, you're not operating from a place of always being so competitive and fear-based. You start to go downstream instead of always paddling upstream."

Ellefson also shot down speculation that MEGADETH would somehow incorporate their Christianity into their songwriting. He said: "That's the misconception that if you're a metal guy, you only sing about the devil and if you're a church guy you only sing about the Lord. What a lame stereotype that is.

"The only reason we talk about [our faith] is because people ask us about it. The MEGADETH tour isn't some crusade. We're not on some mission."

Reactivated California thrash metal pioneers DARK ANGEL are continuing to write material for their long-awaited comeback album. The band's first CD since 1991's "Time Does Not Heal" will feature the lineup that has performed sporadic live shows since reuniting in 2013: Gene Hoglan (drums), Eric Meyer (guitar), Jim Durkin (guitar), Ron Rinehart (vocals) and Michael Gonzalez (bass).

In a brand new interview with KNAC.COM, Hoglan stated about how the new DARK ANGEL disc is shaping up: "We started writing this new album, Jim Durkin and myself, in 2014. It was kind of an open year for me, there wasn't a lot of TESTAMENT stuff, there was a little bit of DEATH TO ALL going on and it gave me time to do a lot of DARK ANGEL stuff that year. Originally, we just threw it out: 'Let's get back together. We've got offers to get back together and play some shows and, hey, maybe we can write a little music, see how that goes.' And the shows were super amazing, super successful."

He continued: "The band, we've always gotten along. We never broke up due to acrimony; we broke up because it was time to move on. So all the guys getting together, it's been amazing, and we've all grown up. We used to argue like brothers, like teenage boys back in the day, and now we're just polite older chaps.

"The best way for us to write a DARK ANGEL record is when Jim and I are in the same room, we've both got our guitars on, I'm throwing ideas, he's augmenting them, he's throwing out ideas, I'm augmenting them and we work really well together. That has been a little challenging, schedule-wise, but hopefully over the course of this year, we'll get a little time in and I'll give Jim a shout and see what his schedule's like. I know when I have my gaps so far this year, and maybe we can get together."

Hoglan added: "We've already got five or six songs ready to go and they're killer. The stuff Jim's writing is deadly. And I'm trying to carry forth the youthful energy and aggression of 'Darkness Descends' with a little bit of what we were doing with 'Time Does Not Heal' and some cool-ass 'Leave Scars' thrown in. It sounds like DARK ANGEL, but I'm trying to err on the side of hyper-aggression, and that's cool with me. You never go wrong going heavier. So write a shit-ass heavy fucking record, that's gold in my book."

DARK ANGEL released two albums with Don Doty on vocals — 1984's "We Have Arrived" and 1986's "Darkness Descends" — before he exited the group and was replaced by Ron Rinehart (after a brief stint with Jim Drabos in 1987). The band issued two more studio LPs — 1989's "Leave Scars" and 1991's "Time Does Not Heal" — before calling it quits in 1992. Rinehart, Hoglan and Meyer reassembled DARK ANGEL more than a decade ago but were forced to abandon their reunion plans after health issues reportedly put Rinehart's singing career on hold.

Multinational metal band DRAGONFORCE will release its new album, "Reaching Into Infinity", on May 19 via earMUSIC on CD, LP and a special-edition CD and DVD. The follow-up to 2014's "Maximum Overload" will mark the band's third full-length studio release with singer Marc Hudson, who joined the group in 2011 following the departure of original frontman ZP Theart (now in SKID ROW). The bulk of the recording sessions for "Reaching Into Infinity" took place at Fascination Street studios in Örebro, Sweden with producer Jens Bogren, who has previously worked with OPETH, THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT, AMON AMARTH, KATATONIA, SOILWORK and SYMPHONY X, to name a few. The band also laid down tracks while touring their "Killer Elite" best-of album, utilizing Lamerluser Studios in London, U.K.; Dark Lane Studios in Witney, U.K.; as well as the band's own Evil1 Studios in Charleville-Mézières, France and Shredforce One Studios in California. "We were flying out, playing a festival, then back into the studio, then back out again," explains DRAGONFORCE bassist Frédéric Leclercq, who also handled the majority of songwriting on this album. "It was very intense and very tiring. I obviously played bass but also a lot of rhythm guitar, electric and acoustic, and lost my temper a few times. I think we all did at some point, because we wanted to deliver nothing but the best." For their seventh studio album, DRAGONFORCE have opened up their sound like never before, capturing the fierce, forlorn and fun with both menace and melody. "I think we have proven that playing fast was something we were good at, so this time I wanted to bring even more diversity into our music," Frédéric continues. "It's great to challenge ourselves instead of staying in a comfort zone, and I really wanted to experiment with Marc's vocals. I think people are going to be surprised at his brutality."

"Reaching Into Infinity" is DRAGONFORCE's first album to feature Gee Anzalone, the Italian drummer who has laid down an insanely impressive performance to provide the perfect backbone to the DRAGONFORCE sound, which, of course, still boasts the bands trademark crazy-fast solos, courtesy of guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman.

"The title of the album explains pretty much what we are trying to do with our music," Frédéric concludes. "Today's world is really crazy — there is fear of the future, uncertainty. But the power of music is infinite, and it can give strength and hope to people." The band will give fans their first taste of the new songs in a live setting at a very exclusive one-off show at Camden Town, London's Black Heart venue, on April 12.

Totman says: "This is going to be insane! We always like to kick things off with some intimate shows and this will be the smallest London show we've done since doing three consecutive weeks at The Barfly back in 2005. It's going to be a wild sweaty party!" "Reaching Into Infinity" will be available on the following formats:

Standard Edition 01. Reaching Into Infinity02. Ashes Of The Dawn03. Judgement Day04. Astral Empire05. Curse Of Darkness06. Silence07. Midnight Madness08. WAR!09. Land Of Shattered Dreams10. The eDGE OF THE wORLD11. Our Final Stand Special Edition with multi-angle Bonus DVD: Disc 1 - CD 01. Reaching Into Infinity02. Ashes Of The Dawn03. Judgement Day04. Astral Empire05. Curse Of Darkness06. Silence07. Midnight Madness08. WAR!09. Land Of Shattered Dreams10. The Edge Of The World11. Our Final Stand Bonus Tracks 12. Hatred And Revenge13. Evil Dead Disc 2 - Bonus DVDDRAGONFORCE Live at Woodstock Festival Poland 2016 01. Holding On02. Heroes Of Our Time03. Operation Ground And Pound04. Holding On (Multi-angles)05. Heroes Of Our Time (Multi-angeles)06. Operation Ground And Pound (Multi-Angles)

METALLICA returned to the stage on Tuesday night (February 7) with a concert in Copenhagen, Denmark that was initially supposed to be the third of a four-night stand at that city's Royal Arena. The first show was cut short on Friday night (February 3) when frontman James Hetfield took ill.

Hetfield was put on complete vocal rest the next day, forcing the band to postpone the second show on Sunday (February 5).

Fan-filmed video footage of last night's concert can be seen below.

As previously reported, METALLICA will perform with pop superstar Lady Gaga at the 59th annual Grammy Awards this Sunday night (February 12). The news about the collaboration, which had not been officially announced, broke on Monday night (February 6) after a Gaga fan saw the collaboration promoted on a TV commercial for the Grammys and tweeted about it.

It's not yet known which song METALLICA will play at the event, which will air live Sunday night from the Staples Center in Los Angeles at 8:00 p.m. ET on CBS.

The band had previously promised "something unique and special" for its Grammys performance. The group is up for the Grammy Award for "Best Rock Song" for the track "Hardwired" from its new album, "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct".

Following the Grammy Awards on Sunday, METALLICA will play an intimate show for around 3,000 or so fans at the Hollywood Palladium.

"Dethrone And Defy", the new video from Swedish metallers HAMMERFALL, can be seen below. The clip was filmed at four different shows on the "Built To Tour" 2017 trek.

"Dethrone And Defy" is taken from HAMMERFALL's tenth studio album, "Built To Last", which was released on November 4 via Napalm Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Bring It!02. Hammer High03. The Sacred Vow04. Dethrone And Defy05. Twilight Princess06. Stormbreaker07. Built To Last08. The Star Of Home09. New Breed10. Second To None

HAMMERFALL kicked off a European headlining tour on January 12 in Bremen, Germany. A North American trek with DELAIN will launch in April.

Drummer David Wallin recently left HAMMERFALL in order to focus on his family life. He has since been replaced by Johan Koleberg, formerly of THERION and LION'S SHARE.

HAMMERFALL guitarist Oscar Dronjak recently told Distorted Sound about the songwriting process for "Built To Last": "It was difficult for me this time, because normally when we write songs for an album, I need six to eight months without anything going on. I need to able to think about writing songs, and I need to be able to have that in my head all the time. This time, pretty much every other month we were doing a tour somewhere, so that disrupted the whole process for me a lot, which made it more difficult in the end, because it was more stressful, and I never got the chance to enjoy writing songs the way I normally do. When one song was finished, I just wanted to move onto the next one rather than finishing one song and being able to savor the moment for a while — I never had any time to do that, so it was a little bit difficult, but I trusted my gut instinct that the songs that I had done were good enough, that I would like them in the end and it turned out to be really, really good. I'm very happy with everything, despite the pain that I went through to create it. I believe the saying is all art comes through pain."

Regarding the musical influences for "Built To Last", Oscar said: "It's the same things as always for me. When I'm in songwriting mode and I know that over the next couple of months I'll be writing songs, I usually try to listen to a lot of the music that I had been inspired by over the years. For example, JUDAS PRIEST are always one of my main inspirations, and I have this thing that I do where I go back and listen to their albums chronologically; I don’t mean that I put it on at one o'clock and then listen to all of them in a row, but when I listen to JUDAS PRIEST, I always listen to the next album in succession. I started with 'Rocka Rolla' and then went on to 'Sad Wings Of Destiny' and, of course, onward from there. By doing that, I see the development of the band in a different way, because the first album I'd heard by them was 'Screaming For Vengeance', and then I listened to every new album as it came out, so for me going through the albums chronologically it gives me a sense of nostalgia, but also for me it's a great way to see how JUDAS PRIEST has developed. I've done this with a number of different bands, KISS, MANOWAR, ACCEPT and KING DIAMOND as well. This is just a tool for me to find inspiration, basically."