On March 9, Experience Hendrix and Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release "Both Sides Of The Sky", a dynamic new Jimi Hendrix album featuring 13 studio recordings made between 1968 and 1970 — 10 of which have never before been released. The album will be released on multiple formats including CD, digital, and as a numbered 180-gram audiophile vinyl 2LP.

"Both Sides Of The Sky" is the third volume in a trilogy of albums intended to present the best and most significant unissued studio recordings remaining in the music legend's archive. Beginning with "Valleys Of Neptune" (2010), which earned top ten sales rankings in fifteen countries (including a top position of #4 on Billboard's Top 200 album chart), followed by "People, Hell And Angels" (2013) which peaked on Billboard's Top 100 album chart at #2. Billboard's coveted #1 singles ranking went to "Somewhere", the album's lead track and the legendary guitarist's highest-ever U.S. singles chart achievement. This third release is anticipated to complete the spectacular recording event in epic fashion.

"Since Experience Hendrix began its restoration of the Jimi Hendrix music catalog in 1997, our goal has been to present these important recordings to Jimi's fans in the best possible quality. We are excited about achieving that. We've also been intent on generating album releases which present this amazing music in its proper context," explains John McDermott, one of the album's co-producers, together with Janie Hendrix and Eddie Kramer.

Recorded between January 1968 and February 1970, Jimi's desire to push the boundaries of blues music can be heard throughout. "Both Sides Of The Sky" additionally highlights Jimi's mastery of studio production and his increasing use of these facilities as a proving ground for new sounds, material, and techniques. Many of the album's tracks were recorded by the trio that would come to be known as BAND OF GYPSYS: Jimi on guitar and vocals, Billy Cox on bass, and Buddy Miles on drums. For their first-ever recording session on April 22, 1969, Hendrix turned to their shared musical root, delta blues. Their previously unreleased, uptempo reworking of Muddy Waters's "Mannish Boy", which can be streamed below, opens the album and sets the tempo for what follows. "Lover Man" was a favored Hendrix original and the guitarist was determined to realize a finished master. Previous attempts by the original EXPERIENCE had yet to yield this for Hendrix but this December 1969 effort by the BAND OF GYPSYS — complete with its homage to the popular "Batman" theme song — was his strongest effort to date.

"Hear My Train A Comin'" features drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding from the original JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE. This original blues composition had become a staple of Hendrix's concerts. This previously unreleased April 1969 recording captured the furious power and dynamic tension that made the song so memorable. Previously unheard recordings of "Stepping Stone", "Jungle", "Cherokee Mist" (which features Hendrix on both electric guitar and sitar) as well as the January 1968 recording of "Sweet Angel" provide further highlights.

"Both Sides Of The Sky" also features an assortment of notable guest musicians. Stephen Stills befriended Hendrix at the June 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. In September of 1969, Stills was invited to a Hendrix session at the Record Plant in New York. Stills burst into the session with a song Joni Mitchell had recently composed, titled "Woodstock". Joined by Hendrix and Buddy Miles, the trio recorded this version first — months before CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG released their popular rendition of Mitchell's song. Stills would also contribute "$20 Fine", an original song that featured Hendrix on multiple guitars, Mitchell on drums, Stills on organ and lead vocals and Duane Hitchings (BUDDY MILES EXPRESS) on piano.

Another of the album's unique band creations sees Jimi Hendrix and Johnny Winter on guitar, backed by Billy Cox and drummer Dallas Taylor of CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG. An excerpt of their rendition of Guitar Slim's "Things I Used To Do" was initially heard as part of a 1990 nationally syndicated radio program and accompanying box set, but here it is presented in full, newly mixed by Eddie Kramer for "Both Sides Of The Sky". On "Georgia Blues", Jimi is reunited with his old bandmate Lonnie Youngblood (vocals/sax) from his pre-fame days in CURTIS KNIGHT & THE SQUIRES. Briefly issued as part of the 2008 "Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues" series but out of print for nearly a decade, this special recording is once more available to Hendrix fans throughout the world on all audio formats.

"Both Sides Of The Sky" was produced by Janie Hendrix, John McDermott and Eddie Kramer. Kramer served as recording engineer on every Jimi Hendrix album made during the artist's life. In order to preserve the integrity and continuity of the Hendrix legacy, this same team has produced every Jimi Hendrix audio and visual release since 1996.

Janie Hendrix, president and CEO of Experience Hendrix, L.L.C., commented: "We have a growing commitment to preserve the legacy of Jimi and also to continue to give the worldwide family of Jimi fans quality releases. That's what 'Both Sides Of The Sky' reflects… our ongoing commitment. In a deeper sense, it's the keeping of a promise. Jimi and I once made a promise to each other. He said he would take care of me and I told him I would take care him. Through his music and our preservation of his work, my brother and I honor one another. We are now in our third decade of watching over Jimi's creative works and our resolve to maintain the integrity of what he left us has only grown stronger with time."

That is also the purpose for Eddie Kramer's involvement and his devotion to the project. He remarked: "Jimi's true home was the studio, that's where the music and the magic happened. He loved everything about recording and it's been my distinct pleasure and an honor to play a part in that process both then and now."

"Both Sides Of The Sky" track listing:

01. Mannish Boy*
02. Lover Man*
03. Hear My Train A Comin'*
04. Stepping Stone*
05. $20 Fine*+
06. Power Of Soul^
07. Jungle*
08. Things I Used to Do#
09. Georgia Blues++
10. Sweet Angel*
11. Woodstock*+
12. Send My Love To Linda*
13. Cherokee Mist*

* Previously unreleased
^ Previously unavailable extended version
+ Featuring Stephen Stills
# Featuring Johnny Winter
++ Featuring Lonnie Youngblood

Cover photo © Mike Berkofsky

According to The Pulse Of Radio, rock artists around the world responded to the shocking news that THE CRANBERRIES singer Dolores O'Riordan had died suddenly on Monday (January 15) in a London hotel at the age of 46. New STONE TEMPLE PILOTS singer Jeff Gutt wrote: "Rest In Peace Dolores O'Riordan. I've heard people all over the world singing her songs with crowds enthusiastically singing back. Truly a special musician and songwriter."

Singer-songwriter Hozier, a native of Ireland like O'Riordan, wrote on Twitter: "My first time hearing Dolores O'Riordan's voice was unforgettable. It threw into question what a voice could sound like in that context of rock. I'd never heard somebody use their instrument in that way. Shocked and saddened to hear of her passing, thoughts are with her family."

FOSTER THE PEOPLE shared on Twitter: "Shocked and heartbroken over Dolores O'Riordan's death. THE CRANBERRIES were pinnacle in showing me that it was possible to fully embrace masculine and feminine energy in one cohesive sound. She was a true pioneer."

Meanwhile, SMASHING PUMPKINS frontman Billy Corgan shared on Instagram: "Too many, too soon. RIP Dolores xxxx."

PARAMORE vocalist Hayley Williams said on Twitter that her favorite CRANBERRIES track was "I Will Always", adding: "I have never not cried while listening, so here we go."

Other artists and celebrities who posted tributes or comments included James Corden, Diplo, Diane Warren, Dave Davies of THE KINKS, Liz Phair, DURAN DURAN, Josh Groban and more.

At press time, the cause of O'Riordan's death remained unexplained.

Rest In Peace Dolores O'Riordan. I’ve heard people all over the… https://t.co/UttvmE4fBx

— Jeffrey Adam Gutt (@JeffreyAdamGutt) January 15, 2018

THE DEAD DAISIES will release their new album, "Burn It Down", on Friday, April 6 via Spitfire Music/SPV.

"Burn It Down" is a muscular tour-de-force, a tornado of pounding drums, pulverizing bass, screaming guitars and in-your-face raw vocals. Evoking the best of '70s rock with moments of Birmingham's finest, blended with the early works of Boston's best, "Burn It Down" will do just that: burn down everything in its path until there is nothing left standing.

Recorded in Nashville with Marti Frederiksen at the helm, "Burn It Down" — THE DEAD DAISIES' fourth album — was completed in December with Anthony Focx once again handling the mix and mastering legend Howie Weinberg adding his magic.

Frontman John Corabi (MÖTLEY CRÜE, THE SCREAM) states about the new CD: "I'm extremely excited about our new record. It was a pleasure to once again work with Marti Frederiksen and the band on what I believe is the next great step in THE DEAD DAISIES journey. This is a balls-out old-school rock record! Enjoy it, and see you all on our massive 2018 world tour!"

Guitarist Doug Aldrich (WHITESNAKE, DIO) puts it quite simply yet to the point: "The new DAISIES album will melt your face! It is raw and in-your-face with a whole new sound!"

With the band eager to get on the road and in true DAISIES fashion, the band announced the first of many "Burn It Down" tour dates slated for 2018 right before Christmas with fans turning out in droves at the on-sale date. Many more dates are to be announced including the band's highly anticipated return to Japan, North America, Mexico and South America!

"Burn It Down" track listing:

01. Resurrected
02. Rise Up
03. Burn It Down
04. Judgement Day
05. What Goes Around
06. Bitch
07. Set Me Free
08. Dead And Gone
09. Can’t Take It With You
10. Leave Me Alone

The album will be released in the following formats:

* Digipak CD with 12-page booklet and poster
* Gatefold colored vinyl with printed inner sleeves, four-page poster booklet and audio CD in paper sleeve
* Picture-disc vinyl in gatefold sleeve
* Digital download and streaming

Former JOURNEY drummer Deen Castronovo joined THE DEAD DAISIES last November.

Castronovo was a member of JOURNEY from 1998 to 2015. He has also played also played drums with Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler, as well as with Steve Vai and Paul Rodgers.

Deen and DEAD DAISIES guitarist Doug Aldrich previously collaborated in REVOLUTION SAINTS, whose second album, "Light In The Dark", came out in October.

THE DEAD DAISIES' current lineup is completed by founder/guitarist David Lowy and bassist Marco Mendoza (THIN LIZZY).

Metal band BAD WOLVES issued a statement today via Twitter, expressing its deep condolences at the sudden passing of THE CRANBERRIES lead vocalist Dolores O'Riordan. O'Riordan was set to record her vocals today on the up-and-coming Los Angeles group's cover of THE CRANBERRIES' most famous and successful song, "Zombie".

BAD WOLVES singer Tommy Vext said in the statement: "'Zombie' is an incredibly personal song… and we always felt the rawness and honesty she projected on stage and in her recordings was something to which all bands should aspire to... When we heard she wanted to sing on our version, it was the greatest compliment a [band] could receive."

When BAD WOLVES turned in their upcoming album to record company Eleven Seven Music, CEO Allen Kovac, who managed THE CRANBERRIES for many years, immediately knew the version was special and sent it to O'Riordan. She connected with BAD WOLVES' performance and offered to add her own vocals to the track. The recording session was coordinated through Eleven Seven international managing director Dan Waite, a longtime friend of O'Riordan's, and the session was to take place today in London.

Eleven Seven Music CEO Allen Kovac said: "From the very first time I met Dolores, I knew she was a great talent. Managing THE CRANBERRIES and being part of making 'Zombie', one of the biggest records of its time, was a great professional honor. So when Dan Waite called me suggesting a collaboration with Dolores and BAD WOLVES on 'Zombie', I was excited to once again be a part of the magic she was able to create. My heart goes out to her children, I hope they can find some peace despite this tragic event."

Waite added: "The news that my friend Dolores has passed deeply shocked me. I worked with THE CRANBERRIES at Universal Records and have kept in touch ever since.

"Dolores left me a voice message just after midnight last night stating how much she loved BAD WOLVES version of 'Zombie'; she was looking forward to seeing me in the studio and recording vocals. She sounded full of life, was joking and excited to see me and and my wife this week. The news of her passing is devastating and my thoughts are with Don, her ex-husband, her children, and her mother."

In addition to Vext, BAD WOLVES features drummer John Boecklin (ex-DEVILDRIVER), guitarist Doc Coyle (VAGUS NERVE, ex-GOD FORBID), guitarist Chris Cain (BURY YOUR DEAD) and bassist Kyle Konkiel (ex-IN THIS MOMENT).

O'Riordan died in London on Monday, according to a statement from her publicist. The 46-year-old died "suddenly" according to the statement, but no details were given on the cause of her death.

Neal Morse has released a video for "Livin' Lightly". The song is opening track of his new solo album, Life & Times, which will be released on February 16th on Radiant Records via Metal Blade Records/SONY on all digital outlets, as well as CD and vinyl. Pre-orders are now available here. Watch the new clip below.

Tracklisting:

"Livin’ Lightly"
"Good Love Is On The Way"
"JoAnna"
"Selfie In The Square"
"He Died At Home"
"She’s Changed Her Mind"
"Wave On The Ocean"
"You + Me + Everything"
"Manchester"
"Lay Low"
"Old Alabama"
"If I Only Had A Day"

"Livin’ Lightly" video:

"He Died At Home" video:

Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading progressive rock (“prog”) musicians, there is now no doubt that Neal Morse is a “big success,” but his desire to move people through his music burns brighter than ever. Now in his mid-fifties and his children grown up, there is a sense on Life & Times that Morse is looking around and taking stock.

“I’ve come through a lot of difficult times and I’m in a fairly content place now,” he says. “You can feel that on some of the songs.” Much of this ‘acoustic-orientated, singer/songwriter’ album was written while he was travelling around the world on The Road Called Home tour in 2017, with some of the songs being inspired by the places he visited, while others are from spending time with his family.

For example, “Manchester By The Sea” is a musical portrait of that notorious rarity—a sunny day in Manchester, England—when Morse was sitting in a coffee shop watching the world go by. “Selfie In The Square” captures what he saw walking around Luxembourg City, hearing the cathedral bells and children playing, but realizing what a difference it makes to share these experiences. “Luxembourg was really nice, but I knew that if my wife was there, it would feel like a holiday, so I wrote a song about it to send to her,” he explains.

Born in 1960 to a musical Californian family, Morse played in many bands during his youth. He learned and mastered several instruments along the way. In 1995, he wrote and recorded The Light with his new band, Spock’s Beard. It was an album grounded strongly in the then-unfashionable progressive rock genre. The album and title song became modern prog classics, and began to bring Morse and the band global recognition. In 2000, he also joined forces with Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater), Pete Trewavas (Marillion) and Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings) to form Transatlantic, a prog supergroup that went on to win the PROG Magazine Award for “Album of the Year.”

Neal Morse’s solo work has focused almost entirely on music with a strong message of redemption, beginning with 2003’s Testimony - a two-disc musical account of his spiritual journey - and most recently with The Neal Morse Band’s PROG Magazine Award nominee, The Similitude Of A Dream, based on John Bunyan’s classic allegory, The Pilgrim’s Progress.

In touring news, Morse is hoping to move more people with these songs at some “absolutely solo” shows in cafes and small venues throughout the US and Europe in 2018. Check out Neal Morse at the following tour stops (with more dates to be added in the coming weeks on his official website):

February
20 - Boston, MA - Club Passim
22 - Sellersville, PA - Sellersville Theater
23 - New York, NY - The Cutting Room

March
17 - Denver, CO - The Soiled Dove
22 - Decatur, GA - Eddie’s Attic
23 - Charlotte, NC - The Evening Muse
28 - Mesa, AZ - Make Weird Music HQ
30 - Whittier, CA - Whittier Theater

April
3 - San Francisco, CA - Hotel Utah
5 - Portland, OR - The Old Church Concert Hall
6 - Seattle, WA - The Triple Door
12 - Evanston, IL - Space
13 - St. Louis, MO - Blueberry Hill Duck Room
14 - Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall
18 - Quebec City, QC - TBA
19 - Montreal, QC - TBA
21 - Toronto, ON - The Great Hall

VIXEN frontman Janet Gardner's official music video for the song "Candle" can be seen below. The track is taken from her self-titled debut solo album, which was released last August via Pavement Entertainment.

Gardner told Rock Pages that "Candle" is a "really heartfelt" song that she wrote about her parents. "They both passed away within a gap of two years from each other," she explained. "I was with my dad when he took his last breath and the emotional impact of that… I still feel it to this day. So that song, even though it was hard to put into words, means a lot to me."

"Janet Gardner" is a collaboration between the singer, who works days as a part-time dental hygienist, and her husband, guitarist/producer Justin James, who has previously worked with STAIND, COLLECTIVE SOUL and TYKETTO.

"It sort of happened honestly," Gardner told Billboard. "We set up a studio in our new house (in Connecticut) and we were both down there fiddling around, and eventually we started to exchange ideas. We probably had written about five songs and thought, 'This is working pretty good. What are we gonna do with this?'" Gardner and James initially thought about another group or duo name. "Then we said let's call it my solo album. Why not? I've never done one. Even though it is a really strong collaboration, let's call it that."

Gardner described her solo debut to Unrated Magazine as "a very diverse collection of music. Justin and I combined forces with hard rock influences from the last four decades," she said. " If you like the seventies, the song 'The Good Or The Bye' is the song for you. If you like the eighties, 'If You Want Me', 'Candle' and 'Hippycrite' are for you. If you like the nineties, you might dig 'Your Problem Now' and 'The Grind', but they all have a common thread that is simply our sound together."

Regarding how the songwriting process for the album compared to that in VIXEN, Gardner said: "Every creative relationship is different. Justin and I are married, so we obviously have tons of trust in one another. No one has any expectations of us, so we have a lot of freedom to do whatever we want. With VIXEN, we have an established musical style, so there is always that 'Is this right for VIXEN?' question looming over the writing process, but we have known each other for years, so it's very comfortable to present ideas."

As previously reported, Gardner is currently recovering from surgery to remove blood clots in her brain, a condition known as a subdural hematoma.

On Friday, January 12 — the day after playing a successful show with her solo band at the Whisky A Go Go in West Holywood, California — Janet was rushed to the hospital where she had to have a hole drilled into her skull to relieve the hematoma and put a titanium plate to cover the hole.

Canadian metallers, Ivory Knight, have released an official lyric video for "Fight", a song from their upcoming Unity album, due in February. Watch the video below.

The veteran quartet features the fretboard wizardry of guitarist Rob Gravelle and the distinct, soaring, powerful vocals of John Perinbam, backed by the crushing rhythm section of bassist Steve Mercer and powerhouse drummer George Nesrallah.

Ivory Knight was formed in 1987 by singer John Perinbam and ex-Annihilator drummer Paul Malek, and has received accolades from critics and fans alike throughout the world including Greece, Germany, France, Japan, Argentina, Italy, Sweden, the US, and Canada. The band’s second full-length album, titled Unconscience,, was released in January 2005. The CD was mixed and mastered by Jeff Waters of Annihilator. In 2007, frontman John Perinbam issued a solo album called Knightfall, which was produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Waters and also featured songwriting and guitar work from Ivory Knight’s Rob Gravelle.

In issue #92 of Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles magazine, we listed the band among the great Canadian Metal acts alongside bands like Rush, Annihilator, Voivod, Anvil, Exciter, and others. The Temple Of Metal in Greece called the band “Canada’s best kept secret”. US-based Indie-Music.com said this band is “good enough to have a mainstream appeal similar to that of Priest, Sabbath, Megadeth, or Metallica!”

Ivory Knight continues to bring its energetic live performances and has shared the stage with many great acts including Sacrifice, Sonata Arctica, Sword, and Blackstar (featuring John Ricci and Jacques Belanger of Exciter).

American power metallers Sonic Prophecy have revealed the third single and title track of their upcoming third full length, Savage Gods, out via Rockshots Records on January 19th.

The band comments: "'Savage Gods' is an epic song about an epic battle raging among the mythical Gods for supreme power over the world. Musically it ranges from technical and chaotic to driving, powerful, and aggressive."

Savage Gods follows Sonic Prophecy's 2015 sophomore release Apocalyptic Promenade (Maple Metal Records), an album that combined the melody and beauty of symphonic power metal while maintaining the crunch, drive and power of traditional metal plus their 2011 debut A Divine Act Of War, which had its music placed in the television series Rock N’ Lock, the video game Volgarr The Viking, and movie Danny Trejo's Vengeance.

The upcoming release lyrically covers many topics, from quests and medieval wars, to mechanized genocide, to the dangers associated with extremist ideologies. Broadening and stretching their musical palate, Savage Gods will give fans an adventurous listening experience. It's an album that combines melodic hard rock, driving heavy metal, and chest pounding anthems in a way that is uniquely Sonic Prophecy.

"We think our fans will love this album! Savage Gods, as a record, basically combines all of the things I think people liked about our previous releases and then moves us forward into new areas musically and lyrically. For our fans, there will be no mistaking this is Sonic Prophecy, but we definitely cover some new exciting ground on this record. This is pure heavy metal with driving guitars, thundering drums, and some of what I feel is my best vocal work to date. With songs "Night Terror, "Unholy Blood" and the album title track, we’ve really laid down a brutal sonic backdrop, along with keeping the melody, which is important to our music," says vocalist Shane Provstgaard.

Tracklisting:

"Savage Gods"
"Night Terror"
"Unholy Blood"
"Dreaming Of The Storm"
"Man The Guns"
"Walk Through The Fire"
"A Prayer Before Battle"
"Iron Clad Heart"
"Man And Machine"
"Chasing The Horizon"

"Unholy Blood":

"Night Terror" video:

Sonic Prophecy is:

Shane Provstgaard - vocals
Darrin Goodman - guitar
Sebastian Martin - guitar
Ron Zemanek - bass
Matt LeFevre - drums

Californian death metal act Skeletal Remains will release their third studio album, Devouring Mortality, on April 13th via Dark Descent Records in North America and Century Media Records for the rest of the world.

Tracked at Trench Studios (Abysmal Dawn, Exhumed, Hirax, etc.) in California and mixed by Dan Swanö at Unisound Studio (Asphyx, Dissection, Bloodbath, etc.), Devouring Mortality will feature cover artwork by Dan Seagrave (Entombed, Morbid Angel, Pestilence etc.).

Vocalist & guitarist Chris Monroy states: “We are extremely excited and eager for the release of Devouring Mortality. Having the opportunity to work with Dan Seagrave on the artwork was a dream come true for us. And Dan Swanö, man he really made our album sound huge and heavy as fuck! It is a true honor to be able to work with these two legends. We can't wait to share it with all the fans of death metal!”

Inspired by 90’s legends from Asphyx over Pestilence to Gorguts, Morbid Angel, and Demolition Hammer, Devouring Mortality proves to be the band’s most diverse and crushing opus to date.

Devouring Mortality tracklisting:

"Ripperology"
"Seismic Abyss"
"Catastrophic Retribution"
"Devouring Mortality"
"Torture Labyrinth"
"Grotesque Creation"
"Parasitic Horrors"
"Mortal Decimation"
"Lifeless Manifestation"
"Reanimating Pathogen"
"Internal Detestation"

Skeletal Remains formed as Anthropophagy back in 2011, released the two much lauded studio albums Beyond The Flesh (2012) and Condemned To Misery (2015) via German label FDA Rekotz, constantly toured Europe, the US and Japan, performing at such renowned festivals as Maryland Death Fest, Party.San, Brutal Assault, Obscene Extreme and Hellfest.

Devouring Mortality will be released in various vinyl editions, on CD, tape, and all digital platforms. More details to be announced soon.

(Photo - Paul McGuire / Obscenery Films)

On Friday, January 26th, Inside Out Music will release Wuthering Nights: Live In Birmingham, the new live release from guitar legend Steve Hackett. Watch "El Niño" from the upcoming release, below.

“In the run-up to the Wuthering Nights DVD release, I'm thrilled to put out El Niño, which takes off with fiery excitement from the word go... Enjoy!” - Steve Hackett

 Wuthering Nights was filmed at the Birmingham Symphony Hall during Hackett’s recent, critically-acclaimed Genesis Revisited & Classic Hackett tour. Available as 2CD/BluRay Jewel Case and Digital Album, this is a must-have for any prog fan. All video formats include 5.1 Surround Sound and various extras.

This tour marked the 40th anniversary of Wind & Wuthering, Hackett’s last album with Genesis which reached #7 in the UK album chart. To celebrate Steve and his band played five of the best-loved tracks from this iconic album: “Eleventh Earl Of Mar”, “One For The Vine”, “Blood On The Rooftops”, “…In That Quiet Earth” and “Afterglow”.

Other fan favorites from Hackett’s Genesis days were ‘revisited’: “Dance On A Volcano”, “Inside & Out”, “Firth Of Fifth”, “The Musical Box” and the classic “Los Endos”. This mesmerizing show marks the first ever live performance by Hackett and his band of the tracks “One For The Vine” and “Inside & Out”, and also includes many of Hackett’s solo fan-favorites as well as material from his latest studio album, The Night Siren.

Steve recalls the Birmingham performance: “I’m excited about the imminent release of Wuthering Nights. It felt special to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Wind & Wuthering, the Genesis album I had the most songwriting involvement with and a favourite among many fans. Songs like “One For The Vine”, “Eleventh Earl Of Mar” and “Blood On The Rooftops” come across powerfully on this release, which also features other Genesis and solo Hackett favourites along with songs from my latest album The Night Siren... Sit back and enjoy!”

The band are: Roger King (keyboards), Gary O’Toole (drums/percussion), Rob Townsend (saxes/flutes), Nick Beggs (bass, stick & twelve string) and Nad Sylvan on vocals plus special guests John Hackett and Amanda Lehmann.

The DVD / Blu-Ray also includes fascinating behind the scenes footage, most of which was filmed on the day in Birmingham. There are also three videos for tracks from The Night Siren: “Behind The Smoke”, “Fifty Miles From The North Pole” and “West To East”.

Steve Hackett is renowned as an immensely talented and innovative rock musician. He was lead guitarist with Genesis as part of their classic line up with Gabriel, Collins, Banks and Rutherford, who produced several of the band’s most acclaimed albums including Selling England By The Pound (a favourite of John Lennon) and The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. With Steve's extraordinary versatility in both his electric guitar playing and his composing, he involves influences from many genres, including jazz, world music and blues. He is equally adept in his classical albums that include renditions of pieces by composers from Bach to Satie, his own acoustic guitar compositions that have gained the admiration of many, including Yehudi Menuhin, and ambitious guitar/orchestra albums such as A Midsummer Night's Dream, recorded with the Royal Philharmonic.

Dave Mustaine says that his initial vision for MEGADETH was to "destroy METALLICA."

Mustaine was a member of METALLICA for less than two years, from 1981 to 1983, before being dismissed and replaced by Kirk Hammett. He went on to form MEGADETH and achieve worldwide success on his own.

Mustaine feuded with the members of METALLICA for more than two decades before finally patching things up over the last few years. He has jammed with his ex-bandmates on several occasions during "Big Four" shows and at METALLICA's 30th-anniversary concerts in 2011.

Asked by a fan earlier today on Twitter what his measure of success was when starting MEGADETH and what his vision for the band was, Dave responded: "My measure of success was if I ate that day or not, and my vision was destroy METALLICA and stop living in a van. Good thing I got over my animosity for leaving the band. I'm glad we reconciled... Where's the Big 4 shows???"

Back in May 2012, Mustaine apologized to METALLICA frontman James Hetfield for publicly discussing the fact that Dave wanted to assemble a "supergroup" combining Mustaine and MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson with Hetfield and METALLICA drummer Ulrich.

Hetfield laughed off talk of a possible collaboration between members of his band and members of MEGADETH in an interview, calling it "crazy" talk on the part of Mustaine.

Hetfield told So What!, METALLICA's fan club magazine: "I see [Mustaine] healthier now. I see him as less of a bitter guy. But I do see a lot of stuff in the press with him talking about jamming with us and making an album. All this other crazy stuff. I read it and say to myself, 'Hold on. This is the Dave that we kind of wanted to forget about. You know, the big-mouth that wants to just go-go-go."

Hetfield added: "But there is an authenticity about him when he speaks. He doesn't think too much before he does. He just goes off the cuff. Plus, when he says stuff like that, it's well-intended."

Mustaine recently revealed that a dispute over songwriting credits may have contributed to the shelving of the previously announced expanded version of METALLICA's 1982 demo tape, "No Life 'Til Leather". The MEGADETH mainman tweeted that he was contacted by Hetfield two years ago about "officially" releasing "No Life Till Leather" with "27 tracks, pics, the whole enchilada," but, he said, "the talks broke down because Lars wanted credit on two songs I wrote every note and word to. I have the texts. I passed."

Mustaine was not inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame with METALLICA during the April 2009 ceremony at Cleveland, Ohio's Public Auditorium. Ulrich later explained to The Plain Dealer that Mustaine "never played on any METALLICA records. No disrespect to him. But there [were] half a dozen other people that were in the lineup in the early days. We thought... the fair thing to do would be to include anybody that played on a METALLICA record." He added: "Dave Mustaine was in the band for eleven months, predominantly in 1982... I'm not trying to play it down. I have nothing but respect and admiration for his accomplishments since."

My measure of success was if I ate that day or not, and my vision was destroy @Metallica and stop living in a van. Good thing I got over my animosity for leaving the band. I’m glad we reconciled... where’s the Big 4 shows??? https://t.co/nmq6eBIeeH

— Dave Mustaine (@DaveMustaine) January 13, 2018

STRATOVARIUS vocalist Timo Kotipelto was interviewed by SpazioRock during his recent acoustic tour of Italy with former SONATA ARCTICA guitarist Jani Liimatainen. The full chat can be viewed below. A few excerpts follow (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):

On STRATOVARIUS's October performance in Milan, during which they performed 1997's "Visions" in its entirety to commemorate the album's twentieth anniversary:

Timo: "We've been playing some of the songs live every now and then, but not the whole album. Of course, it's a different lineup [now] — there's only Jens [Johansson, keyboards] and me from the original guys — but now that I had to 'learn' them again, I was surprised that there's some very good songs on that album. It was super nice, because then it's easy to make the set list when you play the whole album.

"We only did this one show this year for 'Visions'. Last year, we played [1996's] 'Episode', but only in Finland. For us, it's something new. We've done so many albums, and when you start touring for the new album, you need to play old stuff and then you play some of the new stuff, so the last couple of years, we've been playing some certain songs quite often. Now, we decided that, 'Okay, if we can play the whole album in Italy, let's do it.' But that was only this one thing. Of course, it's also for us sometimes — well, maybe also for other bands, sometimes they want to have a break from composing or just playing the newest material. They want to go back."

On when to expect the next STRATOVARIUS album:

Timo: "We have started to write, but we haven't got together yet to show everybody the ideas. I have some ideas and I know Matias [Kupiainen, guitars] has some, and probably Lauri [Porra, bass] and Jens too, so the plan is that probably early, I think, in February, we're going to get together, some of the guys, and we see what we have. Then we start, hopefully, recording next spring, but we don't have a deadline. It doesn't work in our case. We need to compose the songs first and then see where we are."

On whether he plans to ever make another "Blackoustic"-style album with Liimatainen:

Timo: "We don't have any proper plans, because we would need to decide on the songs. Maybe, maybe a little bit later, but not within the next two years. I don't think so, anyways. It's very difficult, actually, to select the songs for the acoustic album, because there's only one song and two vocals, and that's it. Not all the songs work as an acoustic version, but why not? It's been very good feedback, and let's see after this tour whenever we have time, because Jani's going to be busy and I'm going to be busy and then we have this tour together, and we have more shows in Finland. Let's see, maybe, in two years."

On translating power metal songs into an acoustic format:

Timo: "We think that if the song is good, if the melodies are good, then it should be possible to play it with one guitar only. They're totally different from when you are playing with the whole band. It's more intimate, and there's more room to fuck up. You need to do a lot of arrangement for the songs. We've been trying a lot of songs [live] — we've been playing a lot of, especially, STRATOVARIUS songs, and then we play them a little bit — like, maybe we do a couple of gigs — and then we think that, 'Oh, they don't work live.' Some of the songs, they just don't work. The truth is that some songs work better than the other ones. You see the reactions from the people, because when you're playing with the band, if there's thousands of people, people are more far away. When we are just joking on the stage and we don't take ourselves so seriously. Of course, we are here to entertain and we're going to have fun, and sometimes we're talking with the people, because then you hear actually what the people are saying, because they're, like, two meters away. When you're with the band and all the in-ear monitors on, you don't hear anything — you just see people. It's totally different. I like both, of course. I've been playing in a band for more than 20 years, and we've been doing this for the last eight years. Both, I've done quite a lot."

On how it feels to sing other artists' material:

Timo: "The songs are better. [laughs] Of course, we play some cover songs. In the beginning of our duo thing, we played way more cover songs, but now we've been able to bring more [of] our own material, more STRATOVARIUS, [and] there's a couple songs that we've been composing together, and there's at least one CAIN'S OFFERING song, and then I think one song from SONATA ARCTICA that was composed by Jani. But he doesn't want to play any more SONATA ARCTICA, because it doesn't many any sense to him, but when he composed the songs, this is different. I don't mind — if the song is good and we can make it work, then it makes sense to play it. Good songs are always good, but it's difficult to find a good song to play with one guitar. That's the problem."

On any "dreams" he has yet to achieve:

Timo: "In a way, I could say that I've lived the dream that I can earn my living from the stuff that I love to do. I love singing. But then again, of course, it's not a dream [when it] comes to traveling and all the stress about, 'Can I sing tonight? My voice is fucked up.' I don't have any huge expectations. I don't want to be as popular as [THE] BEATLES or anybody. I'm fine with what I am. I'm super-satisfied. I'm happy [with] what I do now."

Kotipelto and Liimatainen recently announced their 28-date, 11-country "Blackoustic Latin Tour", which kicks off in Rio de Janiero, Brazil on April 18.

STRATOVARIUS's most recent studio album, "Eternal", was released in 2015 via earMUSIC.

BEHEMOTH frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski has been formally charged by Polish authorities for allegedly disrespecting one of the country's national symbols.

The case, referred to court by the District Prosecutor's Office in Gdańsk, northern Poland, involves the band's "Republic Of The Unfaithful" tour artwork and merchandise, which is said to be "insulting" to the national coat of arms of Poland, a stylized white eagle with a golden beak and talons, and wearing a golden crown, in a red shield.

An expert on heraldry and iconography has determined that the tour's artwork featured "a distorted image of Poland's national emblem," according to the prosecutor's office.

The artwork "included elements and symbols considered Satanist and anti-Christian, with the aim of conveying content far removed from the historical and state ideology," the prosecutor's office said.

Nergal and Maciej G., who, as the band's webmaster, promoted the tour online, both stand accused of publicly affronting the Polish national emblem, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison. Also charged is Rafał Wechterowicz, the graphic artist who worked on the BEHEMOTH artwork.

This is the latest development in the legal case following an initial complaint filed with the prosecutor's office last September by Marek Dudziński and Ryszard Nowak, both of whom are representatives of a religious organization called Ogólnopolski Komitet Obrony Przed Sektami (English-language translation: National Defense Committee Against Sects or All-Polish Defense Committee Against Sects And Violence).

Nergal, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, commented on the case in an Instagram post. He wrote: "Well… this is the first thing that hits me after coming back from a relaxing and sunny holiday trip. Me and two other dudes are accused of profaning Polish emblem. What a bummer! PiS-driven Poland [Editor's note: PiS is a right-wing populist, national-conservative, and Christian democratic political party in Poland] is trying its best to nail my ass down… as an example, I guess. But first thing is: it is NOT a Polish emblem. Second… let's leave those arguments for the court case which is to begin shortly! Is there limits to their obscurity and blindness? Bring it on!"

Polish symbols are protected against public profanation and insult. According to Lexology.com, any public use that could be damaging or insulting may be considered a criminal offense. Therefore, it is important not to use any national symbol (even if artistically processed) in a way that could be deemed as disrespectful or offensive.

In 2011, Nergal was acquitted in Poland on charges he insulted religious sentiment when he called the Catholic Church "the most murderous cult on the planet" during the band's September 2007 performance in Gdynia and tore up a copy of the Bible, calling it "a book of lies."

Video footage of VIXEN frontman Janet Gardner performing the song "Rat Hole" live on January 11 at Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood, California can be seen below. The track, which was inspired by Gardner's frustration with health care insurance companies, is taken from her self-titled debut solo album, released last August via Pavement Entertainment.

"Janet Gardner" is a collaboration between the singer, who works days as a part-time dental hygienist, and her husband, guitarist/producer Justin James, who has previously worked with STAIND, COLLECTIVE SOUL and TYKETTO.

"It sort of happened honestly," Gardner told Billboard. "We set up a studio in our new house (in Connecticut) and we were both down there fiddling around, and eventually we started to exchange ideas. We probably had written about five songs and thought, 'This is working pretty good. What are we gonna do with this?'" Gardner and James initially thought about another group or duo name. "Then we said let's call it my solo album. Why not? I've never done one. Even though it is a really strong collaboration, let's call it that."

Gardner described her solo debut to Unrated Magazine as "a very diverse collection of music. Justin and I combined forces with hard rock influences from the last four decades," she said. " If you like the seventies, the song 'The Good Or The Bye' is the song for you. If you like the eighties, 'If You Want Me', 'Candle' and 'Hippycrite' are for you. If you like the nineties, you might dig 'Your Problem Now' and 'The Grind', but they all have a common thread that is simply our sound together."

Regarding how the songwriting process for the album compared to that in VIXEN, Gardner said: "Every creative relationship is different. Justin and I are married, so we obviously have tons of trust in one another. No one has any expectations of us, so we have a lot of freedom to do whatever we want. With VIXEN, we have an established musical style, so there is always that 'Is this right for VIXEN?' question looming over the writing process, but we have known each other for years, so it's very comfortable to present ideas."

JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford spoke to U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine about the lyrical themes covered on the band's upcoming album, "Firepower". "We're an open book," he said. "We can go anywhere, and that's my job, where the proverbial word 'challenge' comes into play. I'm looking for things around me in the real world and in the metal fantasy world, so I'm making political comment and comments on the environment, as metaphorically as I can.

"We've always tried to be a bit ambigious, so our fans can make up their own mind, but on this one, you know, we are talking about Mother Earth and places like 10 Downing Street [the headquarters of the government of the United Kingdom]," he continued. "But we've always found a balance in not making the message too intense, while showing that we're connected as a bunch of metalheads in the real world."

Halford also credited "the incredible work" of British producer Andy Sneap for making "Firepower" sound "as wonderful as it does." "We are aware of the elements that are important to PRIEST, that have been our anvil in everything we've done, but in working with Andy, who is such a sought-after, contemporary metal producer, he's been able to dial everything in and get an effect where what you hear coming out of the speaker sounds like a young, fresh metal band," he said. "I've always tried to keep up with what's going on in metal, and I really feel confident that this sound is as strong as it ever was."

"Firepower" will be released on March 9 via Epic.

The follow-up to 2014's "Redeemer Of Souls" was recorded Sneap, the band's longtime collaborator Tom Allom and engineer Mike Exeter (BLACK SABBATH).

The official video for the album's first single, "Lightning Strike", can be seen below.

Halford stated about "Lightning Strike": "To me, the overall concept of this song is to use the element of a lightning strike to pull away and tear apart at an individual, at a body of people, maybe an organization, maybe an administration, that is kind of leading you, or leading us, into potentially a destructive place. You're kind of spinning that effect round, and you have the right to react and to do something about it. So that, in essence, is what this song is all about."

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.

Iconic rocker Glenn Hughes says DEEP PURPLE will soon cease touring completely, leaving him "the last man standing" who can play the band's songs with authenticity.

Speaking on the "White Line Fever" podcast, Hughes discussed his current tour featuring DEEP PURPLE songs, which will include the Steelhouse Festival in Wales on July 29 and 29.

"I'm saying this out of respect but DEEP PURPLE are on a tour called 'The Final Goodbye' or whatever it's called [Editor's note: It's actually called 'The Long Goodbye']," said Hughes. "It would appear the band are stopping touring. That's what I've been told from inside the office.

"All I can say to you is I'm doing the respectful thing by playing these songs. I may be the last man standing to do this, who can actually carry this off, and I'm going to embrace it and give it some love and bring it back to the fans.

"I just figured it was time to carry the torch, if you will, and play the songs I recorded and wrote whilst I was in the band — three albums and two live albums — and play a couple of the songs they did with David [Coverdale] in Mk III and a couple of Mk II hits which I will carry in the same arrangement that I did back in the seventies. And I think it will be an incredible thing for me to embrace the songs and for the songs to be very believable from somebody's who's spiritually inclined to do that."

Hughes said his motivations surrounded the honouring of fallen bandmates. "You know why I'm doing it? I lost two members in Jon Lord and Tommy Bolin," he explained. "I'm basically gracefully saying goodbye to those guys. I'm also saying goodbye… I'm going to be doing some touring behind this and it's very therapeutic for me, it's very cathartic to do this and to do it with love because, you know, I almost didn't make it.

"At the end of the seventies, I was almost a statistic so I stepped out of the fast lane and got well. All these years later, I'm spiritually in a good place and I'm trying to bring the love back to the fans and the followers. There's two generations of DEEP PURPLE, the fans that are my age and their children."

Hughes recounted the story of an attempt by him, Coverdale and Lord to reunite with guitarist Ritchie Blackmore.

"Jon Lord, David Coverdale and I had a meeting about seven or eight years ago, before Jon got sick, about reforming with Ritchie but Ritchie wouldn't take our phone call so after about six months of trying to get hold of him, we said, 'You know, we tried. Let's move on.' We did and then Jon got sick and passed away, I did a memorial show for him in London, at the Albert Hall."

Hughes was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2016 along with fellow DEEP PURPLE members Blackmore, Coverdale, Lord, Rod Evans, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover and Ian Paice.

British drummer Barry Graham Purkis, better known as Thunderstick, who played with a developing IRON MAIDEN in the seventies and then moved on to SAMSON (being instrumental in finding a very youthful Bruce Dickinson), has revealed his new-look live touring band. Viixen is the rock 'n' roll wildchild vocalist who will be fronting up the new version of THUNDERSTICK and sparring with the crazed, masked drummer.

THUNDERSTICK will play material from the recent "Something Wicked This Way Comes" album, as well as from the earlier "Echoes From The Analogue Asylum" effort. There will be something special, too. By way of a tribute to the band that the drummer was such a big part, the set will also include some classics from the SAMSON era.

Purkis comments: "To describe the live lineup of THUNDERSTICK as 'explosive' would be an understatement, to say the least. We are calling the live gigs the 'Tectonic Plates Dates'.

"After the phenomenal reaction last year's album has had from both our fans and reviewers alike, this year will see an all-new lineup of THUNDERSTICK taking to the stage.

"It has been spectacular letting Viixen take on the mighty vocal melodies of Bruce Dickinson playing the SAMSON material.

"Headline gigs are being put together for this year, both in the U.K. and Europe, as well as festival appearances at A New Day festival, Hard Rock Hell and Mearfest. We will keep everyone posted as the dates are added."

Viixen adds: "This band is so right for me! Energy, power, theatrics and outrage are all extremities of my personality. This band allows total expression of those personalities... I am rock roller coaster... I am a woman of paradox — with outfits to match!"

Also new to the band is guitarist Baz Rose, who has played in popular gigging bands since the early nineties, such as FINAL SUNSET, BLACK RAIN and BLACK ROZE. He says: "When I was younger, I remember recording SAMSON on the 'Friday Rock Show'. 'Riding With The Angels' has always been on my playlist ever since then — and now I'm playing with THUNDERSTICK. Crazy how things work out!"

The full THUNDERSTICK lineup is:

Vocals - Viixen
Guitar - Dave "Kandy" Kilford
Guitar - Baz Roze
Bass - Rex Thunderbolt
Drums - Thunderstick

"Something Wicked This Way Comes", the first new THUNDERSTICK album in over 30 years, was released in July 2017 and has been attracting enthusiastic reviews from all over the world.


SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES by THUNDERSTICK

CYNIC has released a digital single titled "Humanoid". This song marks the first new music from the progressive pioneers since their 2014 full-length, "Kindly Bent To Free Us".

Frontman Paul Masvidal comments: "'Humanoid' is a portrait of contrasts, like those between struggle and stillness, or the immediate against the limitless. Our Stargate is planet Earth — consciousness, the transmitter. We, sentient creatures of light, are alive now — on a sphere, floating in a galaxy fixed amidst the infinite. It's quite miraculous to be aware of this, and it invokes a sense of urgency and empowerment that is unlike anything else."

"Humanoid" was recorded by Paul Masvidal and longtime CYNIC bassist Sean Malone. The song also and marks the debut of the band's new drummer, Matt Lynch, who brings a renewed sense of energy to CYNIC's rhythm section.

For the mixing of "Humanoid", CYNIC partnered with renowned engineer Adam "Nolly" Getgood. Malone comments: "Nolly's approach is equal parts expertise and intuition. Working with him was quick, clear, but most of all, musical."

The artwork for "Humanoid" features a detail from the painting "Ayahuasca Dream" by Robert Venosa, CYNIC's longtime collaborator and celebrated artist who sadly passed away in 2011.

In other news, a new Paul Masvidal signature instrument, the "Masvidalien Cosmo", has just been released by Strandberg, the company founded in 2007 by Swedish native Ola Strandberg.

Masvidal comments: "Strandberg breaks new ground yet again. Kabir, the 15th century Indian mystic poet said 'Wherever you are is the entry point", and the Masvidalien Cosmo captures this spirit as a instrument.

"When I first started conversations with Ola about the guitar, words such as 'effortless', 'ease', 'elegance', and 'versatility' came to mind. Not only was this captured with the instrument, but it was also taken further. The finished product managed to strike a rare alchemy, where everything from the way it sounds, feels, and appears fell seamlessly into place: the guitar both expresses and is itself an expression.

"Strandberg is in a league of its own, holding the greatness of progressive design at its heart. Ola's work benefits the present by not being bound to it. It's truly an honor to be working with a visionary company like Strandberg."

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's studio video for "Wanderlust" can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's fourth album, "BCCIV", which was released last September via Mascot Records. This is BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's first studio album since 2013's "Afterglow".

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION is the Anglo-American rock group comprising vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, TRAPEZE), drummer Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN, FOREIGNER), Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, ALICE COOPER, BILLY IDOL) and blues-rock guitarist/vocalist Joe Bonamassa.

Hughes told Blues Rock Review about how "Wanderlust" came together: "We're always jamming, Joe and I, and I may have been tuning my bass up and he starts playing [hums riff] and I'm going, 'Don't stop! Carry on. What key is this?' I found out we were in B and I'm, like, 'This is great.' And then I started to sing, 'Oh, when I come around.' I know what's coming. I know when there's going to be a pre-chorus and when the chorus hit I started to play these BEATLES kind of chords in a rock version and we just knew this was a song. Of course, the FLEETWOOD MAC part is Joe being Joe, but, as you know, Joe will say to you he's just borrowing from somebody else as I borrow from X, Y or Z. Trust me, we all borrow from each other."

Just like its three predecessors, "BCCIV" was overseen by Kevin Shirley, whose catalogue of hit records for LED ZEPPELIN, IRON MAIDEN, AEROSMITH, JOURNEY and THE BLACK CROWES has made him one of the hottest producers that rock music has to offer. Shirley, who originally had the idea of putting Hughes and Bonamassa in a band after seeing them jamming together onstage in Los Angeles back in November 2009, is the group's unofficial "fifth member."

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's inception took place when Hughes and Bonamassa fused their styles on stage in Los Angeles in November 2009 for an explosive performance at Guitar Center's King Of The Blues event. With the help and guidance of Shirley, they further added to their rock lineage by recruiting Bonham and Sherinian.

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION played two exclusive concerts in the U.K. earlier this month.

Former CANDLEMASS singer Messiah Marcolin joined fellow Swedish doom metal legends STILLBORN on stage on January 12 at Debaser Strand in Stockholm, Sweden to perform the song "Calvaria 1939".

STILLBORN has been described by its record label, Black Lodge Records, as "probably the first gothic metal band in history. Although they have little to do with today's genres, they were ahead of time by the end of the '80s." Their first album is a cult classic, a masterpiece for horror fans, record collectors and fans who like doom, goth and other alternative subgenres.

Bands like ENTOMBED, PARADISE LOST and MEDICINE RAIN have released cover versions of STILLBORN songs.

STILLBORN drummer Peter Asp is also a member of the highly popular Swedish metal band BOMBUS. He is also former member of the acclaimed Swedish outfit MARY BEATS JANE.

During 2016 and 2017, STILLBORN's original members got together and recorded 10 new songs in the spirit of their debut, "Necrospirituals". The songs were recorded and mixed at studio Juicy Halftone in Copenhagen by Henrik Stendahl.

On its new album, "Nocturnals", which came out last October, STILLBORN has refined its sound and style even more but old fans will still recognize the band's original essence. The lyrics are still sinister and eerie with a subtle twist. The music is loud, sturdy, dark and heavy as a monolithic stone.

STILLBORN is:

Ingemar Scott Henning - Guitar
Kari Hokkanen - Vocals & Bass
Peter Asp - Drums
Erik Sandquist - Guitar

Finnish cinematic metal band Dark Sarah's new album, The Golden Moth, will be released in May. The cover artwork has been unveiled and can be viewed below.

Dark Sarah has released the final guest list for the album:

White Beard - Marco Hietala (Nigthwish)
Iron Mask - Zuberoa Aznárez (Diabulus In Musica)
Fortune Teller - Netta Skog (Ensiferum)
Dragon - JP Leppäluoto (Charon)

Check out a short audio teaser below:

The band also released the music video for "Trespasser” with JP Leppäluoto, the first single from the upcoming album. Watch the clip below:

The third Dark Sarah album, The Golden Moth, is the last part of the first trilogy (The Chronicles). The trilogy tells about Dark Sarah's travel through three worlds: The Middle World (Behind The Black Veil album), The Underworld (The Puzzle album) and The Upper World (The Golden Moth album).

On The Golden Moth album, Dark Sarah has to face the final test and find her way to the gods in the Upper World. After she had solved the puzzle in The Underworld and found the three keys, the Iron birds came there for her and took her to the Upper World, a deserted waste land where the gods rule. But also a trespasser, The Dragon, came with her. In the heat of the desert they meet again and there is something The Dragon wants from her..

Earth Made Flesh, the first album of Finnish black metal band Wyrmwoods, was released through Inverse Records on January 15th. According to the label, Wyrmwoods' songs are a mix of aggressive atmospheric black metal and almost progressive ambient instrumental passages, including less typical metal instruments like the saxophone, all played by the solo member Nuurag-Vaarn.

The album's themes alter from existential horror like Thomas Ligotti to the mysteries of Norse paganism. The tracklist is available below:

"Break The Seal"     
"The Greater Festival Of Masks"
"Saturnalia"
"Abomination"
"Primordial Waters / The Well of Urth"
"The One As Chaos And Egg"

Check out the official Wyrmwoods Facebook page here. Check out the full album stream below.

According to a brief update from Kamelot, Beyond The Black vocalist Jennifer Haben has become a part of the family and will make a guest appearance on the band's forthcoming album. Stay tuned for details.

Kamelot continue to tease the fans with more material from their as-yet-untitled new album, this time with a pre-mix audio clip of the song "Phantom Divine". Check it out below.

The band previously posted a portion of the new album cover.

In addition, Kamelot have revealed that "a new limited edition box will be offered and has some amazing items."

With their latest opus Haven, released on Napalm Records, symphonic metal masters Kamelot set new heights with their epic and highly emotional trademark sound: This album became the soundtrack for an unforgettable and monumental silver screen experience delivering dark melancholy, aggressive metal and soul-soothing melodies! Produced by Sascha Paeth, illustrious guests such as Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy), Troy Donockley (Nightwish) and Charlotte Wessels (Delain) gave Haven some extra magic.

As the perfect Christmas gift, Kamelot unveiled a brand new video for the track "Under Grey Skies", featuring Delain's Charlotte Wessels.

Kamelot vocalist Tommy Karevik states: "One of my favourite songs from Haven. About the importance of never giving up on yourself or the people around and that you can always make a difference in someone else's life. Sometimes by just believing in them or simply listening to what they have to say. It was very nice singing with Charlotte and her voice fits the song perfectly."

"I absolutely adore songs like Under Grey Skies that inspire hope and optimism in the darkest of times. I was proud to be part of the track and even more thrilled that there's a video for the song to share now as well. Add to that the fact that Kamelot and Delain will share the stage again in the US this spring and I'd say there's plenty of things to get excited about!" adds Charlotte Wessels.

"We wanted to release this video as a last "Haven" Christmas gift to the fans. This album has reached so many new heights for us, thanks to the fans and some long and intense touring. The next album is almost ready to be unleashed in 2018, get ready for a monster!!" says Thomas Youngblood. He continues: "We approach the end of the 2017 and the ending of the epic Haven Tour. What an amazing time we have had with Haven, taking the band to new countries, cities and highest chart placements in the band's history. Debuting at #1 on Billboard's Hard Rock Charts was a stunning reminder that we have the best fans in the world!!

"But, wait! We will not leave for the Christmas break without dropping a nice and beautiful Christmas present here for all of you beautiful people! Here is our video for

'Under Grey Skies' featuring Charlotte Wessels from Delain. Also appearing on this track is Troy Donockley from Nightwish. Enjoy and see you all on tour in 2018!!!"

Kamelot, Delain, and Battle Beast will tour North America in April/May 2018.

Tour dates:

April
16 - Louisville, KY - Mercury Ballroom
17 - Charlotte, NC - Filmore Underground
18 - Silver Springs, MD - The Filmore
20 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
22 - Montreal, QC - Metropolis
23 - Toronto, ON - The Opera House
25 - Albany, NY - Upstate Concert Hall
26 - Pittsburgh, PA - Carnegie Music Hall
27 - Chicago, IL - Concord Music Hall
28 - Minneapolis, MN - The Cabooze
29 - Des Moines, IA - Wooly's

May
1 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theater
2 - Salt Lake City, UT - Complex
4 - San Jose, CA - City National Civic
5 - Anaheim, CA - Grove Anaheim
6 - Phoenix, AZ - Marquee Theater
8 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues
9 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
11 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
12 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues
13 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Revolution

DRESS THE DEAD, the band featuring ex-FORBIDDEN guitarist Craig Locicero, has announced the addition of singer Kayla Dixon (WITCH MOUNTAIN) to the group's ranks. Dixon joins DRESS THE DEAD as the replacement for former THE HAUNTED frontman Peter Dolving, who left DRESS THE DEAD in March 2017. The split happened only three months after DRESS THE DEAD — whose lineup also includes Mark Hernandez on drums, James Walker on bass and Dan Delay on guitar — played its first two shows at Slim's in San Francisco, California as the support act for DEATH ANGEL.

Said Locicero in a statement: "It has been a long and bumpy road getting to this point for a lot of reasons. The main thing is finding the right fit after losing Peter Dolving so unexpectedly. That took us by surprise, to say the least.

"After many months of listening to submissions and not feeling we had the proper replacement, Kayla literally dropped out of the sky with a random text to me on October 9th. She basically said she was turned on to DRESS THE DEAD through a mutual friend and loved our song '1969'. She wanted an audition."

He continued: "I had actually witnessed Kayla playing with her other band WITCH MOUNTAIN almost a year to the day she texted me. I had literally walked away from watching her perform that night and thought to myself, That girl is going to be a STAR!' At that same time, we'd already had Peter, so there was no thought of ever having a chance to play and write music with Kayla. In fact, I never even saw myself being in a band with a female lead vocalist. Let alone a super badass like Kayla. We all could not be happier that it happened!

"Fate is a strange beast and we can not always see what's coming around the bend.

"Needless to say, when she arrived at our studio from Portland (where she lives) a few days later to audition, it completely knocked us sideways! From the very first note she sang with us every one of us played better. There was the excitement and chemistry we'd been looking for! Kayla was our new front-WOMAN and we had all found each other in the most appropriate and organic way possible. Through the appreciation and love of music. That's what it's ALL about.

"Our first show with Kayla will be supporting the 'Killian On Command' (all Bay Area thrash stars VIO-LENCE tribute) for the Sean Killian benefit at the the Midway in San Francisco on January 20th. It's an honor to be included in such an important event to help our Bay Area brother.

"The first song we are releasing [with Kayla on vocals] is called 'There Goes The Sun'. Produced by Robb Flynn [MACHINE HEAD] and recorded by Zack Ohren at Sharkbite Studios. It seemed appropriate as our first selection because it shows how massively diverse Kayla is. This girl can hit ALL the gears, intensity, emotion, guttural, melodic and every register. Kayla simply has it all and 'There Goes The Sun' shows it.

"Now DRESS THE DEAD can finally be a band again. Grow together, play shows, record our music and find the home that best fits us. It's really all we ever wanted and it's an exciting time."

Dixon said that she first learned about DRESS THE DEAD after "a mutual friend reached out" to her. "One of my first thoughts was, 'I don't know if I'm ready or even at an appropriate talent level to be replacing someone like Peter Dolving for these guys,'" she said. "I'd battled with the idea in my head for several months before finally reaching out. I had listened to and loved '1969' but what really hit me hard was when I heard the other songs that are still unreleased that they sent me. I had no idea how musically diverse this band would turn out to be!"

According to The Pulse Of Radio, an old friend of late NIRVANA frontman Kurt Cobain named John Purkey, who runs a YouTube account called The Observer, recently uploaded four videos containing cassette audio of NIRVANA demos from the late eighties. Purkey claims that the tapes were given to him by Cobain himself. They include early recordings of songs that would eventually make up the band's debut LP "Bleach", as well as material recorded with MELVINS drummer Dale Crover and audio of early, pre-Dave Grohl "Nevermind" recordings featuring Chad Channing on drums. Purkey has also offered comments on each tape.

The tapes amount to about two hours of material, some of which has been heard by fans before, with much of it sounding raw and unpolished.

Grohl, who joined NIRVANA in 1990, told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that the band recorded a lot of material that has never seen the light of day. "There's a lot of unreleased stuff that no one's ever heard," he said. "There's a lot of unreleased stuff that I've never heard. I mean, I was the fifth drummer. I didn't join until 1990, but spent a lot of time demoing and recording basement practices, and things like that."

A 2015 documentary called "Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck" used rare home video footage, interviews, artwork and music from the late NIRVANA leader's own personal archives to tell his life story.

A number of personal items once belonging to Cobain went up for auction last year, including his Blockbuster video rental card, some original Cobain sketches, NIRVANA's MTV Video Music Awards trophy for the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video, and some of the proofs for the "In Utero" album artwork.

According to Billboard, GUNS N' ROSES' "Greatest Hits" collection, which was originally released in March of 2004, has surpassed 6 million in total U.S. sales. The LP sold another 4,000 copies in the week ending December 28, with its sales now at 6.002 million.

GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose, guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan tried to block the release of "Greatest Hits" with a lawsuit, claiming that the record label had assembled the CD without their input. The band's label, Geffen Records, insisted that it was forced to put out a greatest-hits album since Axl Rose had failed to deliver the long-delayed new GUNS album, "Chinese Democracy".

"Greatest Hits" debuted and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart dated April 10, 2004 and has spent 425 weeks on the list.

As previously reported, GUNS N' ROSES' "Not In This Lifetime" reunion tour is now the fourth highest grossing trek of all time, according to Billboard Boxscore. The tour, which launched in April 2016, topped the $475 million mark in gross sales with the final show of the band's 2017 schedule on November 29 in Los Angeles.

GUNS N' ROSES kicked off its long-rumored and long-awaited reunion tour in April 2016 with a club show in Hollywood and appearances in Las Vegas and at California's Coachella festival.

The "Not In This Lifetime" tour features classic lineup members Slash on guitar, Duff McKagan on bass and Axl Rose on vocals, backed by guitarist Richard Fortus, drummer Frank Ferrer, keyboardist Dizzy Reed and new second keyboardist Melissa Reese.

It marked the first time that the three founding members of the group had performed together onstage in more than 20 years.

GUNS will return to Europe in June for a seven-week road trip, but the band's plans until then, and beyond that, remain unknown for now.

The Pulse Of Radio reports that PUDDLE OF MUDD frontman Wes Scantlin appears to be trying to finally get his life together after years of legal troubles, canceled or disrupted shows and arrests for disorderly or drunken behavior. According to a recent post from the band on Facebook, Scantlin has been in rehab since before Christmas and is "doing very well."

Scantlin was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on September 9 after he attempted to board a plane with a BB gun. He pleaded no contest and was banned from LAX unless it involved traveling for work.

Before that, there have been a few tumultuous years for the singer and guitarist. In January of 2016, he was arrested on suspicion of breaking into his former home and vandalizing some of the property.

He skipped two court dates related to the charges later that spring, which led to another arrest.

Prior to that, Scantlin was arrested in December 2015 for possession of a controlled substance and had several previous busts that same year for driving under the influence.

Additionally, he was arrested at a Denver airport in 2015 for taking a joyride on a baggage carousel and taken into custody as far back as 2012 for an altercation with a flight attendant.

He also ended a number of PUDDLE OF MUDD shows in 2016 early with various meltdowns, including one in which he accused a fan of stealing his house.

PUDDLE OF MUDD will resume touring later this month after being forced to cancel some performances due to Scantlin's troubles. The band will play at the Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles on January 26.





Happy Holidays to all our fans!!!
We hope you have a great Holiday and Happy New Year 2018.
First show of the year is...

Posted by Puddle of Mudd on Sunday, December 24, 2017

Ex-QUEENSRŸCHE and current OPERATION: MINDCRIME singer Geoff Tate has just kicked off a European tour on which he is celebrating the 30th anniversary of his former band's "Operation: Mindcrime" album.

Fan-filmed video footage of the January 12 concert at the Empire Music Hall in Belfast, United Kingdom can be seen below.

Last month, Tate told Metal Wani said that he was thrilled at the prospect of playing the LP in its entirety once again. "We're going to perform the 'Mindcrime' album in its entirety, and the last part of the show will be a journey into the newer material from the [OPERATION: MINDCRIME] trilogy and some of the fan favorites from past albums as well. I'm actually really looking forward to playing the 'Operation: Mindcrime' album in its entirety again. I love playing that thing, and it's actually quite enjoyable to present, although it's a really violent record. It's going to be kind of a challenge for me to put myself in that head space for that length of time and then snap out of it."

"Operation: Mindcrime" is the third studio album of eleven that Geoff recorded with QUEENSRŸCHE. The concept album and rock opera is a story following Nikki, a recovering drug addict, who becomes disillusioned with the corrupt society of his time and becomes involved in a revolutionary group, acting as an assassin of political leaders. The certified platinum album was rated by Kerrang! as one of heavy metal's top 100 albums of all time.

QUEENSRŸCHE played "Operation: Mindcrime" in its entirety during the band's 1990 tour to promote the "Empire" album. The performance featured video, animation and guest singer Pamela Moore as the character Sister Mary.

Tate was fired from QUEENSRŸCHE in 2012. A two-year legal battle followed where Tate sued for the QUEENSRŸCHE name, only for his former bandmates Michael Wilton (guitar), Scott Rockenfield (drums) and Eddie Jackson (bass) to respond with a countersuit. They eventually settled the dispute, with Wilton, Rockenfield and Jackson continuing as QUEENSRŸCHE, and Tate now having the sole right to perform the albums "Operation: Mindcrime" and "Operation: Mindcrime II" in their entirety live.

Tate recently recorded a brand-new song in support of charity. All proceeds from the track, which is titled "The Way The Wind Blows", will benefit MercyWatch, a nonprofit focused on outreach to the homeless community in Snohomish County, located in the U.S. state of Washington, where Tate lives with his family.

"A New Reality", the third and final of a concept album trilogy from Geoff's OPERATION: MINDCRIME project, was made available in December.