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

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

Track listing:

CD1

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

CD2

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

3LP Box (33 rpm)

Side A

01. The Greatest Show On Earth

Side B

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

Side C

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

Side D

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

Side E

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

Side F

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

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

Former ACCEPT singer David Reece has inked a multiple-album deal with Mighty Music.

"I was searching for a record company that would see my vision as a solo artist so I reached out to Mike Tramp [ex-WHITE LION] and he suggested I speak with Michael H. Andersen at Mighty Music," Reece said. "Michael teamed me up with the Danish producer and songwriting team Marco Angioni and Martin Jepsen Andersen, both from the band MERIDIAN. The collaboration we're working on is exactly where I want to go musically — and Michael H. Andersen and Mighty Music have given me a home to release my new record and given me 100 percent support and belief in this new record! The album will be recorded at Death Island Studio in Denmark with Marco Angioni as producer, and is expected to be released in late 2018. Touring for the album will follow."

The current SAINTED SINNERS vocalist was recruited for ACCEPT's "Eat The Heat" album in 1989 following the departure of Udo Dirkschneider. Reece's higher-pitched delivery was in sharp contrast to Dirkschneider's distinctive style, and overall, the album was a critical and commercial disappointment,

Midway through the "Eat The Heat" tour, differences between the band and Reece had come to a head, leading to the altercation between the singer and bassist Peter Baltes in Chicago. By the end of 1989, ACCEPT had hung it up.

Michael H. Andersen of Mighty Music said: "I know David Reece is so much more, but the 'Eat The Heat' record is one of those albums from the late 80s I still play a lot. Listening to that album on my walkman made life a lot easier being a teenager in suburbia Denmark in the late '80s. Having said that, it is amazing to witness how much on fire David still is today. His vocal skills are still in another league and this man definitely has the energy to make a great new album. Proud to be welcoming you to my home, David."

Reece, who has also played with BONFIRE and BANGALORE CHOIR, will release the new SAINTED SINNERS album, "Back With A Vengeance", in February.

Reece will embark on European tour this year on which he will perform "Eat The Heat" in its entirety.

"Watch The Fire", the new video from the Swedish/American melodic hard rock supergroup W.E.T., which features vocalist Jeff Scott Soto (SONS OF APOLLO, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, TALISMAN), guitarist/vocalist Erik Martensson (ECLIPSE, NORDIC UNION, AMMUNITION) and guitarist Robert Säll (WORK OF ART), can be seen below. The song is taken from W.E.T.'s third studio album, "Earthrage", which will be released on March 23 via Frontiers Records Srl.

W.E.T. — whose moniker is an acronym of the names of the acts that the group's core members are best known for (WORK OF ART, ECLIPSE, TALISMAN) — released its acclaimed self-titled debut album in 2009. The band's sophomore effort, "Rise Up", surfaced in 2013, followed by the live CD/DVD "One Live - In Stockholm" in 2014.

Now, the group — which also features drummer Robban Bäck (MUSTASCH) and guitarist Magnus Henriksson (ECLIPSE) — returns with an album that label owner Serafino Perugino claims is "by far one of the best records in Frontiers's history."

"Earthrage" track listing:

01. Watch The Fire
02. Burn
03. Kings On Thunder Road
04. Elegantly Wasted
05. Urgent
06. Dangerous
07. Calling Out Your Name
08. Heart Is On The Line
09. I Don't Wanna Play That Game
10. The Burning Pain Of Love
11. The Never-Ending Retraceable Dream

Soto told 100 Percent Rock Magazine last year that W.E.T. is "a project. It's not a band in the sense of touring and we get together and do the things that bands do. That's why we only have a handful of dates under our belts to date. We've never actually done a tour together, because it's three completely different bands that are just so busy all the time. And Erik is as bad as I am — Erik Mårtensson. He's in several bands and he's always producing and writing and jumping from one to the next. We've never tried to actually follow up as a band."

EMP Label Group, the U.S.-based label of MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson, has announced the formation of EMP Outlaw, a southern rock/outlaw country imprint. EMP Outlaw will reissue "Metal Cowboy", the 2014 independent release from STEELER/KEEL vocalist Ron Keel, on March 2. 2018 will also see the studio debut from RON KEEL BAND, the highly anticipated follow-up to "Metal Cowboy", titled "Fight Like A Band".

After a storied career that began as lead vocalist for STEELER, which would also go on to include guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen, and selling hundreds of thousands of records under his eponymous KEEL with classic albums "The Right To Rock" and "The Final Frontier" (both produced by KISS's Gene Simmons), Keel veered off into brave new territory with the decidedly southern rock/outlaw country feel of "Metal Cowboy".

"Metal Cowboy Reloaded" features remixed and remastered versions of the tracks from the original independent release, featuring a star-studded lineup of guest musicians, including Frank Hannon (TESLA), Mike Vanderhule (Y&T), Paul Shortino (ROUGH CUTT, QUIET RIOT), Travis Toy (RASCAL FLATTS) and more. The effort contains fan-favorite tracks "Just Like Tennessee" and "What Would Skynyrd Do?", plus the bonus track "Rock N Roll Hell" featuring Troy Lucketta (TESLA) on drums and Jeff LaBar and Eric Brittingham from CINDERELLA on guitar and bass.

Originally released in 2014, "Metal Cowboy" was a bold new direction for Keel, pulling strongly from the playbook of country and southern rock, while maintaining the powerful rock edge and unmistakable powerhouse vocals Keel is known for. While Keel had some success in country and southern rock after the dissolution of KEEL (who reunited in 2008), "Metal Cowboy" definitively established Keel's musical identity, although its genesis had far deeper roots.

"We [KEEL] recorded a version of 'Rock 'N' Roll Outlaw' for Penelope Spheeris for the 'Dudes' movie soundtrack that also features MEGADETH, W.A.S.P., Steve Vai, and JANE'S ADDICTION," recalls Keel. "It ended up being a great cult film and I'd love it even if I wasn't in it. That really was the genesis of the 'Metal Cowboy' — 'Outlaw' became my signature song and ended up featured in the movie twice!"

After releasing "Metal Cowboy" and relocating to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Keel would go on to form RON KEEL BAND, with a new powerhouse band featuring the best players the Midwest has to offer. While sticking to the earthy Southern charms of "Metal Cowboy", RKB showcases a new, rich musical fabric for Keel and his bandmates.

"I knew EMP was the perfect home for this project," Ron says. "Knowing David personally, their diverse artist roster, and the quality of their products and business model told me all I needed to know."

Regarding the direction of the new project, Keel sees this RKB release as the first in a series. "I want each album to contain new original music, covers of some classics that I love, and brand-new versions of songs from throughout my career," he says. Already in the can: a medley of the KEEL hits "The Right To Rock", "Because The Night", "Tears Of Fire" and "Somebody's Waiting".

Says EMP Label Group's Thom Hazaert: "When someone like Ron Keel comes to you and says he wants to be on your label, it pretty much just happens, and that's pretty much verbatim how it happened. One day me and David got an email from Ron saying he was a fan of EMP and he wanted to be on the label. So we created a label just for him. Bottom line, Ron is one of the most talented rock vocalists of our generation, and a true gentleman outlaw, and we are honored to have him as part of the EMP family."

PERFECT STRANGERS, the DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW tribute band featuring former METAL CHURCH and TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA vocalist Ronny Munroe, has inked a deal with the newly launched RFL Records. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and founded by Jon Marchewka, RFL was established in July 2016, and created under a parent company, Rock In The Fastlane. The label's other first signings include SILK9, BLACK KNOTS and HYDROGYN.

"We saw so many artists that have greatness in them that were not being heard, so we decided to use our platform to get them heard," explains Marchewka. "I am extremely passionate about music and saw a huge need for the 'people' aspect to be brought into the business. RFL Records and our artists are not two separate entities, but a family of artist and label.

"I never promise any artist mega success or unrealistic stardom," he continues. "I don't believe in false promises — I believe that if an artist can just be an artist, write great music and work hard, then a record label can power that music to the ears of the listeners with that same effort. It's easy for me because I am first and foremost a fan. RFL is my legacy, and our bands are my passion."

And so far, RFL Records' signees have massive praise for Marchewka and his label. "RFL comes from the heart," says HYDROGYN's Jeff Westlake. "The label and Jon's goal is to bring back the passion for great music inside his chosen genre. It's about developing and growing artists for the masses, and Jon is driven to do just that, which is why I support and back him in his goals."

SILK9's Anthony Leone voices similar praise: "When I decided to shop labels and met with Jon Marchewka at RFL Records, it didn't take me long to realize that this was where I needed to be. I wanted the professionalism and support of someone that wanted us to succeed. When Jon tells you he is going to get something done, he keeps his word. Even though the days of handshakes are over, I fully trust Jon with all the decisions that make SiLK9 the best it can be."

Duke Jackson of PERFECT STRANGERS adds: "It was a no-brainer when researching record labels for our new tribute project — Jon Marchewka and RFL Records was the only choice for us! RFL Records is an artist-friendly record company and works closely with all of the artists to ensure great quality product!"

And Munroe is proud to be a part of the label. "I met Jon from RFL Records through Duke Jackson, and after talking with Jon, I found him to be a breath of fresh air in this crazy business of music," he says. "He is upfront and honest, and definitely cares about the artists on his roster. I have a good feeling about our endeavor together and what he is going to do for and with PERFECT STRANGERS. All of us in the band are very excited for the future with Jon and RFL Records."

RFL Records is also looking for strong hard rock and metal acts to build the lineup. If you believe that your band's got what it takes, send a link to your music, social media sites, band pages and any information that tells the label about your band directly to Marchewka via jon@rockinthefastlane.com.

"Our goal is to give our artists the opportunity to be a part of something and to get their music heard," says Marchewka. "RFL is a family built on a passion for hard rock/metal music and backed by a production staff, with a Billboard-charting producer and musician, plus years of promotional experience on the local and national level."

"Delinquent", a brand new song from PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, the project led by the former PANTERA and current DOWN/SUPERJOINT frontman, can be streamed below. The track is taken from PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS' sophomore album, "Choosing Mental Illness As A Virtue", which will be released on January 26 via Anselmo's Housecore Records in the U.S. and Season Of Mist in other parts of the world. The disc is the follow-up to PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS' debut, "Walk Through Exits Only", which came out in 2013 to mostly positive reviews.

The lineup of the THE ILLEGALS has changed on several position since album one. This is what Philip has to say about his new crew: "Their creative input is fucking fantastic. This is something that was very different from the first record where I was very staunch. I wanted it to be ugly. I was very firm that I was writing every fucking note. The thought was, 'This is my contribution to ugly music right this second in a heavy metal vein.' That was great at the time. 'Walk Through Exits Only' made its own little statement that I am a free agent and I belong to no single band. This time, I worked closely with everyone. We tried different ideas together. It made the spirit of this thing come alive even more because of the enthusiasm these guys bring. It enhanced the integrity of the project."

"Choosing Mental Illness As A Virtue" track listing:

01. Little Fucking Heroes
02. Utopian
03. Choosing Mental Illness
04. The Ignorant Point
05. Individual
06. Delinquent
07. Photographic Taunts
08. Finger Me
09. Invalid Colubrine Frauds
10. Mixed Lunatic Results

Anselmo comments: "Our new album, 'Choosing Mental Illness As A Virtue' is going to get hated. It's going to get loved. Like every record, I've ever done, I put zero expectations upon my peers, critics, or the general fucking public. If you take one thing away from it, let it be this: Do not bog yourself down to one brand, character, or whatever. Have the guts to spread your wings and fucking flourish. I can promise you this is a beginning. As my music trickles out over the next two years, it's going to be quite the roller-coaster ride. This new ILLEGALS is just the tip of the whole fucking avalanche."

Anselmo is an iconic artist — maybe a little bruised, scarred, singed, and somewhat battered by time, himself, and others. But the Lousiana resident remains proudly standing, unbent, and still angry. Loved and hated, attacked and praised, Philip is not ready to go down into the archives of musical history without a fight.

His new cooperation with the band that Philip himself created, THE ILLEGALS, is as brutal, kicking, lashing, and fury-filled as one could expect from this artist and "Walk Through Exits Only". "Choosing Mental Illness As A Virtue" is a much the metaphorical fist in the face and display of force as his adherents could wish for.

"Choosing Mental Illness As A Virtue" is not a simple repeat of the past — as tempting as that might sound, considering that no other artist left a deeper mark on metal in the 90's than PANTERA. Raging, roaring, and bulldozing their way through the metal scene, the Texans have left a lasting legacy. At their front stood anger and hostility personified, Philip H. Anselmo. What followed for example with DOWN and SUPERJOINT RITUAL has further cemented the singer's reputation as a living legend. As an artist in his own right, Philip finally emancipated onto a solo-path with "Walk Through Exits Only", which enabled him to do exactly as he pleased – with no need to compromise on anything.

Back in October 2015, PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS parted ways with guitarist Marzi Montazeri and replaced him with Mike DeLeon. Anselmo told Metal Underground about the split with Montazeri: "What I wanted to do with Marzi was jumpstart his career, which I did. He's the type of guy that needs to be the focal point of pretty much anything he does. So he's got that now and I'm happy for him. More power to him."

Regarding how the addition of DeLeon came about, Anselmo said:"Mostly from his association with my drummer, Blue [José Manuel Gonzalez], and my other guitar player/bass player from SUPERJOINT, Steve [Stephen Taylor]. Steve Taylor was constantly saying, 'DeLeon is the guy. DeLeon is the guy. He wants it the most! He wants it the most!' I trust them. I trust their judgment. I trust their intuition. So far, every time DeLeon has come to jam, it has been serious grinding. He takes a good beating, man. He's great. He's a pleasure to work with."

PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS lineup:

Philip H. Anselmo: Vocals
Mike DeLeon: Lead Guitar
José Manuel "Blue" Gonzalez: Drums
Stephen "Schteve" Taylor: Guitar
Walter Howard: Bass

NWOBHM legends Trespass will release their new album, Footprints In The Rock, out January 12th, 2018 worldwide on Mighty Music (Japan by Bickee Music). A new album teaser video can be found below.

Tracklisting:

"Momentum"
"Be Brave"
"Mighty Love"
"Prometheus"
"Footprints In The Rock"
"Little Star"
"Green Man"
"Dragons In The Mist"
"Beowulf And Grendel"
"Weed"
"Music Of The Waves"

Teaser:

"Momentum" video:

Greek melodic death metal band, Aetherian, have released a video for "Black Sails", a track from their debut album, The Untamed Wilderness, out now via Lifeforce Records. Watch the clip below.

Tracklisting:

“Wish Of Autumn Twilight”
“Dark Earth”
“As The Veil Fades”
“Black Sails”
“Seeds Of Deception”
“Shade Of The Sun”
“Clouds Gathering”
“The Rain”
“The Path”

“Black Sails” video:

“Dark Earth” video:

“Seeds Of Deception” lyric video:

“The Rain” video:

On February 16th, Swedish prog/extreme metal architects, Letters From The Colony, will guide listeners into their world of math metal, crushing death elements and virtuosic shoegaze moments, all united in their debut album, Vignette (Nuclear Blast Records). A second official trailer for the upcoming release is now available. Find two trailers below.

The album, which was mastered by Jens Bogren (Dimmu Borgir, Opeth, Paradise Lost), reaches a length of over 55 minutes. Vignette is now available for pre-order and you can get the physical editions of the new album here.

Tracklisting:

"Galax"
"Erasing Contrast"
"The Final Warning"
"This Creature Will Haunt Us Forever"
"Cataclysm"
"Terminus"
"Glass Palaces"
"Sunwise"
"Vignette"

Trailer #1:

Trailer #2:

"Erasing Contrast" video:

Letters From The Colony build upon the intersection between perfection and ordered chaos; the unbridled joy of experimentation and virtuosic instrument mastery and create their new niche compartment of technically challenging extreme metal. They deliver highly complex songs full of unbound aggression and progressive structures in the vein of Meshuggah, Opeth and Gojira, and also do not shy away from playing saxophone with a guitar or sampling the call of a deer into a track!

Letters From The Colony are:

Alexander Backlund - Vocals
Sebastian Svalland - Guitar
Johan Jönsegård - Guitar
Emil Östberg - Bass
Jonas Sköld - Drums

Century Media Records has announced the signing of German death metal maniacs Deathrite for a worldwide deal.

Hailing from the cities of Dresden and Leipzig, the band has stirred up the cauldron of death metal quite a bit with their extremely well-received three studio albums, Deathrite (2011), Into Extinction (2013) and Revelation Of Chaos (2015). With heavy touring and their excellent live qualities, the four members have proven why Deathrite are among the most hopeful new acts of the worldwide extreme metal scene. Now they are setting their sails to conquer further shores.

The band is currently writing new material for their fourth studio album, which will be released in late 2018.

Deathrite comment on the signing: "We're super thrilled to be part of such an amazing label. Looking at the releases of CM and now being able to have our own music released among some of greatest artists in heavy and extreme music makes us more than proud and we couldn't be more honoured! Thanks a lot CM Team."

Deathrite lineup:

Tony - vocals
Andy - guitars
Martin - bass
Beff - drums

"We Defy", the new video from FIREWIND, can be seen below. The clip was filmed, directed and edited by Panagiotis Kountouras.

"We Defy" is taken from FIREWIND's eighth studio album, "Immortals", which was released on January 20, 2017 via the band's longtime label partner Century Media Records in Europe. The disc marks the first time FIREWIND used an outside co-producer, having worked with Dennis Ward (UNISONIC, PINK CREAM 69), who not only engineered, mixed and mastered the album, but also co-wrote it together with guitarist and main songwriter Gus G.

"Immortals" is FIREWIND's first release to feature singer Henning Basse (METALIUM, SONS OF SEASONS), who previously toured with the band on various continents in 2007 and was most recently the singer in Gus's solo touring group.

Gus told Canadian rock journalist Mitch Lafon about the concept behind "Immortals": "Doing a concept record with the guys is something we talked about for years. It's not something new, but you need to have the right kind of material for that. You need to be in the right mindset, and of course, you have to decide what it's going to be about. For us, since most of us are Greek, we thought it would be cool to talk about our heritage, or some part of Greek history."

He continued: "In 2013, we took a break from touring and recording and I went on to do solo stuff. When I started gathering all this material over the years, I realized the character was very epic and more focused, like into power metal, and this epic style, so I thought it would be a good idea to do the concept record we talked about now. I needed a co-writer for this, so I reached out to Dennis Ward. To make a long story short, we decided to do a record about the battles of Thermopylae and Salamis during the second Persian invasion in 480 B.C."

Kamelot continue to tease the fans with more material from their as-yet-untitled forthcoming 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

Whitesnake revisited the music that singer David Coverdale recorded with Deep Purple in the 70s when they released The Purple Album two years ago. The album, and the tour that followed, offered fans new modern interpretations of Purple classics like “Burn” and “Mistreated”. Highlights from the historic tour will be featured in a new live collection, including double-disc versions that feature audio, video and a selection of bonus material. Check out an unboxing video of the album:

In the video below, Coverdale talks about the classic Purple track "Soldier Of Fortune":

The Purple Tour (Live) will be available on January 19th as CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray sets. Additional formats include a double-LP, single CD, and digital version. Seven video trailers and pre-order links can be found below.

On The Purple Tour (Live), Whitesnake puts their distinctive spin on several songs from Coverdale’s studio albums with Deep Purple - Burn (1974), Stormbringer (1974), and Come Taste The Band (1975). Highlights include: “You Fool No One,” “The Gypsy” and “Soldier Of Fortune.” The double-disc collection also includes video footage of the concert mixed to 5.1 Surround Sound, plus a new music video for “Burn,” band interviews, and a number of bonus performances not available on the CD or vinyl versions.

The Whitesnake lineup that appears on The Purple Tour (Live) includes: singer David Coverdale, guitarists Reb Beach and Joel Hoekstra, bassist Michael Devin, drummer Tommy Aldridge and keyboardist Michele Luppi.

Coverdale says there was never any intention to compete against the original recordings. “We just wanted to play the damn songs. Each member of the band. brought their incredible individual talents and a real band identity to this music. We’ve all done the best we can with this project with respect to the music, and the legacy of Deep Purple Mk3 and Mk4.”

In addition to songs originally recorded by Deep Purple, The Purple Tour (Live) also features performances of killer Whitesnake tracks like “Fool For Your Loving” from Slip Of The Tongue (1990), “Love Ain’t No Stranger” from Slide It In (1984), plus “Still Of The Night,” “Bad Boys,” “Is This Love” and the #1 smash “Here I Go Again” from Whitesnake (1987).

CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray tracklisting:

“Burn”
“Bad Boys”
“Love Ain’t No Stranger”
“The Gypsy”
“Give Me All Your Love”
“Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City”
“Mistreated”
“You Fool No One”
“Soldier Of Fortune”
“Is This Love”
“Fool For Your Loving”
“Here I Go Again”
“Still Of The Night”

DVD/Blu-ray Contents:
Concert Video in 5.1 and Stereo
“Burn” – Music Video
Band Interviews

Bonus 5.1 High Resolution Live Audio:
“You Keep On Moving”
“Lay Down Stay Down”
“Lotsanotes”
“Stormbringer”

CD tracklisting:
“Burn”
“Bad Boys”
“Love Ain’t No Stranger”
“The Gypsy”
 “Give Me All Your Love”
“Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City”
“Mistreated”
“You Fool No One”
“Soldier Of Fortune”
“Is This Love”
“Fool For Your Loving”
“Here I Go Again”
“Still Of The Night”

LP tracklisting:

Side One
“Burn”
“Bad Boys”
“Love Ain’t No Stranger”
“The Gypsy”

Side Two
“Give Me All Your Love”
“Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City”
“Mistreated”

Side Three
“You Fool No One”
“Soldier Of Fortune”
“Is This Love”
“Fool For Your Loving”

Side Four
“Here I Go Again”
“Still Of The Night”
“You Keep On Moving” - LP Bonus Track

"Burn":

"Fool For Your Loving":

Trailer #1:

Trailer #2:

Trailer #3:

Trailer #4:

Trailer #5:

Trailer #6:

Trailer #7:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Australian rockers Dead City Ruins have signed with AFM Records.

Frontman Jake Wiffen comments: 
“It has been a wild ride for DCR (Dead City Ruins). To be honest there has, like all bands, been so many highlights and so many pitfalls that have at times completely consumed me and I’m sure all members of this band.

“Finally, after so much hard work and risk, so much sacrifice and dedication, we can announce that we have signed to AFM Records out of Hamburg Germany.

“With this final piece to our puzzle, I feel we have locked down what all bands require to be successful. Besides the hundreds of other things needed within a band to facilitate the best chance of success, number one being the ability to not kill one another, these three things are most important: Manager, Label and Booking.

“I’m proud as hell to be a part of the AFM family and I look forward to the future of Dead City Ruins and our upcoming full-length album.

“Thanks to our fans, family, mates and everyone who ever did anything to help us along the way.”

Jochen Richert (AFM/Soulfood Music) adds: “With Bands like AC/DC, Rose Tattoo or Airbourne, rock music from Australia has a long tradition and a very special spirit. Dead City Ruins totally live up to this tradition and combine different musical influences to a great, dirty piece of heavy rock, which will crawl right through your guts.“

From January 18th on, Dead City Ruins will support Audrey Horne at the following dates:

January
18 – Berlin, Germany
19 – Arnhelm, Netherlands
21 – Frankfurt, Germany
22 – Cologne, Germany
24 – Oberentfelden, Switzerland
25 – Munich, Germany
26 – Dresden, Germany
27 – Eindhoven, Netherlands
28 – Hamburg, Germany

The world's biggest independent heavy metal label, Nuclear Blast Records, and top independent distributor, ADA (owned by Warner Music Group), have announced a global partnership. ADA will provide worldwide physical and digital distribution, excluding certain territories in Central Europe, as well as offer additional services to support Nuclear Blast's incredible roster of iconic bands and newly developing artists. This deal builds on Nuclear Blast's existing relationship with Warner Music Central Europe, under the leadership of Bernd Dopp, chairman and CEO Warner Music Central Europe, who has provided the label with distribution services for more than 20 years.

Metal juggernauts MACHINE HEAD will release their new studio album, "Catharsis", on January 26 via Nuclear Blast/ADA, and will embark on a massive tour that kicks off on January 25. "Catharsis" is set to deliver a full-throttle roller coaster through every facet of MACHINE HEAD's increasingly diverse sound and looks certain to be one of 2018's most acclaimed metal records. Swedish progressive metal pioneers MESHUGGAH have scored a Grammy nod for "Best Metal Performance" on "Clockworks" released by Nuclear Blast in October 2016. Groundbreaking industrial metal pioneers MINISTRY have also signed a worldwide deal with the label and recently wrapped recording their new album, "AmeriKKKant", which is scheduled for release on March 9 through this new partnership.

"We are excited to enter a new chapter in the history of Nuclear Blast," said Markus Staiger, managing director and founder of Nuclear Blast. "Having been with the Warner family for over 20 years in Germany and other territories in Europe, this seems as a logical step. Looking forward to much success with the ADA team!"

Eliah Seton, president of ADA worldwide, commented: "We look forward to contributing to the legacy of Nuclear Blast and its incredible roster and we couldn't be happier to extend their footprint in the Warner family across the globe."

"Out Of My Life", a brand new single from the new Swedish hard rock project Gathering Of Kings, will be released on January 19th. The song is taken from the yet untitled debut album, which will see the light of day before summer.

The album is being helmed by producer Thomas "Plec" Johansson, who has previously worked with Watain, Soilwork, Scar Symmetry, The Night Flight Orchestra, Nocturnal Rites among others.

The official single artwork was created by Pär Winberg.

Lineup on "Out Of My Life":

Tobias Jansson - Vocals
Victor Olsson - Guitars
Nalle Påhlsson - Bass
Richard Larsson - Keyboards
Jonas Källsbäck - Drums
Apollo Papathanasio - Background Vocals

The first single, "Forever And A Day", is streaming below.

Lineup on "Forever And A Day":

Björn Strid - lead vocals (Soilwork, The Night Flight Orchestra)
Victor Olsson - lead guitar (Saffire, Apollo)
Erik Mårtensson - rhythm guitar, Background Vocals (Eclipse, W.E.T)
Nalle Påhlsson - bass (Therion, ex-Treat)
Richard Larsson - keyboards (The Night Flight Orchestra)
Robban Bäck - drums (Mustasch, W.E.T, ex-Eclipse, ex-Sabaton)

The full-length album will also include following artists:

Apollo Papathanasio - vocals (Spiritual Beggars, Apollo, ex-Firewind)
Tobias Jansson - vocals (Saffire)
Rick Altzi - vocals (Masterplan, Herman Frank)
Jens Westin - vocals (Corroded)
Stefan Helleblad - guitar (Within Temptation, Jono)
Martin Sweet - guitar (Crashdiet, Sister)
Niclas Engelin - guitar (In Flames, Engel)
Erik Wiss - keyboards (Cap Outrun)
Chris Laney - keyboards (Pretty Maids)
Jonas Källsbäck - drums (The Night Flight Orchestra, Mean Streak)

Visit the official Gathering Of Kings Facebook page for further details.

 

 

 

Animal Drive’s debut album, Bite!, will be released on February 23rd. A lyric video for the track "Time Machine" can be found below, and you can pre-order the album here.

Introduced to the label by the one and only Jeff Scott Soto, Animal Drive immediately impressed the label’s executives thanks to the singer, Dino Jelusic who had an incredibly commanding presence befitting of the enormous hard rock songs that were being performed. Hailing from Zagreb, Croatia, Animal Drive were created in 2012 by singer Dino Jelusic, who is the primary songwriter and driving force behind the band’s sound. Dino was chosen by the late, great Paul O’Neill to tour as a featured vocalist on Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s most recent US tour, which is how he crossed paths with Soto and which would ultimately lead to them becoming label mates.

Animal Drive’s lineup is completed by guitarist Ivan Keller, Roko Rokindja Nikolic on bass, and Adrian Boric on drums. Influenced by legendary bands such as Skid Row (think Slave To The Grind era), Whitesnake at their heaviest and with a little progressive rock and metal elements from Dream Theater thrown in the mix, Animal Drive take their listeners on a wild ride of hard rock bombast.

Dino says: “I am more than delighted and excited to present our debut album. I hope the fans can approach our music with curiosity and interest and we hope to come soon in a town near you to Rock your asses off!”

Bite! tracklisting:

"Goddamn Marathon"
"Tower Of Lies (I Walk Alone)"
"Had Enough"
"Hands Of Time"
"Lights Of The Damned"
"Time Machine"
"Father"
"Fade Away"
"Carry On"
"Devil Took My Beer Again"
"Deliver Me"

"Time Machine" lyric video:

"Tower Of Lies (I Walk Alone)" video:

Making of Bite!:

"Helion", a new song from VEXES, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's debut full-length album, "Ancient Geometry", which will be released on February 23.

VEXES guitarist John Klagholz said: "'Helion' was the first song we wrote together as a band, and basically encompasses everything that we want to hear in our music, both rhythmically and dynamically. From a lyrical standpoint, Charlie [Berezansky, vocals] wrote it from the viewpoint of attempting to escape your own consciousness, as if your mind was the very thing making you sick, keeping you from making vital changes, etc. Almost as if it was from the view of a hypochondriac."

From the ashes of renowned Pennsylvania/New Jersey-based rock and metal groups A LIFE ONCE LOST, FURY OF FIVE, VESSL and DOWNSTAGE rises a vital new lifeform, VEXES — the experimental, eclectic, groove-infused new post-rock outfit featuring Berezansky, Klagholz, drummer Justin Graves, and the band's newest member, bassist Bobby Carpenter.

Combining gripping, virtually sensuous alt-metal atmosphere and experimental post-rock inspiration with a healthy dose of post-hardcore undertones, VEXES breathe new life into this genre set to deliver something fresh and instantly absorbing. Even more masterful — the members of VEXES visit entirely new musical realms in comparison to those explored by the bands that molded them, completely avoiding pronounced reflections of their seasoned pasts.

From start to finish, "Ancient Geometry" takes listeners on a journey — starting with the bombastic "Hellion", the first song VEXES wrote together. The track flips between thrash beats and surging, choppy riffs layered with atmospheric guitars. After battering the listener with songs like "Lift" and "Decisions Are Death Here" — each of which veer from tuneful and textural to brash and furious — VEXES tone down a bit and emphasize vulnerability over anger. The distorted guitars and unsettling tempos don't disappear, nor does the juxtaposition of crooning and roaring vocals, but on songs like "Plasticine" and "Lush", the vocals become more consistently tuneful and the backing instrumentation less pugnacious. At the midpoint of the album there's "No Color", a multifaceted song that flows like a daydream turned into a nightmare and features a guest rap by ISLANDER member Mikey Carvajal.

"Ancient Geometry" track listing:

01. Helion
02. Lift
03. Decisions Are Death Here
04. Plasticine
05. No Color (feat. Mikey Carvajal)
06. Terra
07. Lush
08. Meridian Response
09. Photochrom
10. Ancient Geometry

VEXES came together after John Klagholz and Charlie Berezansky's previous band, VESSL, called it quits. The two were interested in starting a heavier project to filter some different ideas into. After finally completing their demos, they sent them to a few respected musician contacts of theirs, and within a few weeks, heard back from former A LIFE ONCE LOST drummer Justin Graves. Graves was impressed with the tracks and hinted at wanting to join the band.

"As soon as I heard these songs, I knew this band was something I immediately wanted to be a part of," says Graves. "Then, not long after I decided to join, we were in need of a new bassist. I rang up my former A LIFE ONCE LOST bandmate and friend Bobby Carpenter, he heard the tracks, and the rest is history. It was nice for Bobby and I to take a long break from our extensive touring years (we've both been touring since our teens) and figure out how to be adults, but it's time for us to get back out there. We're stoked to be doing it with VEXES."

VEXES is a new voice in the dark gunning to show others the light. Klagholz says: "I like to play things I don't hear other bands doing. It's impossible to create something that's totally original, but that's not going stop us from trying."

"Ancient Geometry" was engineered and mixed by Berezansky at Skywire Sound Studios in West Creek, New Jersey, and mastered by Mike Kalajian (THE DEAR HUNTER, SAOSIN, EMMURE) at Rogue Planet Mastering.

According to Birmingham Mail, BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler will be the next celebrity honored on the Broad Street Walk Of Stars in Birmingham, England.

He will be awarded during the half-time break in the Aston Villa vs. Burton Albion match on February 3.

The date marks 50 years year since SABBATH played its first gig together in the city of Birmingham and comes exactly 12 months since the band's last-ever show in the city.

Both singer Ozzy Osbourne and guitarist Tony Iommi were previously honored with a star. Ozzy got the nod on July 6, 2007, while Tony became the eighth recipient on November 23, 2008.

Walk Of Stars chairman Jasper Carrott said: "Lots of people have been invited [to the ceremony], including Tony and Ozzy, but I can't confirm who is definitely coming yet. But hopefully there will be a good showing from the rock fraternity.

"Geezer is a very good guy, very principled and someone who cares about people who are not well off. His heart in the right place."

A founding member of BLACK SABBATH, Butler is also the lyricist of such SABBATH classics as "War Pigs", "Iron Man", "Paranoid" and others.

Butler, Osbourne and Iommi reunited in late 2011 and released a comeback album, "13", in June 2013.

BULLETBOYS have announced the addition of drummer Anthony "Tiny" Biuso to the group's ranks.

"We have known Tiny for a very long time and are so excited to have him providing the major boom to this group," says singer Marq Torien. "Tiny is now a 'fully loaded' BulletBoy and we look forward to having him rock out with us around the globe in 2018.

"I have always admired Tiny's talent and could not be more excited and blessed to have him in the band," Marq adds. "He was not only chosen for his amazing talent, but because of his loving and amazing personality. His drumming is out of this world and a perfect fit! We welcome him into our family with open arms."

Says guitarist Nick Rozz: "Tiny is a real powerhouse who brings a rock-solid foundation and infectious groove. He and his playing are both awesome additions."

States bassist Chad MacDonald: "His name is Tiny, but his talent is anything but. His focus and professionalism is inspiring and the intensity he brings to the 'tubs' is staggering. He serves the music beautifully and makes my bass playing effortless. Welcome aboard the BulletTrain, T!"

Anthony is no newcomer to the rock scene. Most will remember him from his stints with TSOL, THE DICKIES and (HED) P.E.

Biuso was born in New York City and has played drums for nearly 35 years. His career has brought him to 35 countries and almost every single state behind the drum kit for some of today's hottest rock and punk bands.

"Cannot wait to bash out these killer tunes worldwide," says Biuso. "Suits my big beat style perfectly. What a great band!"

BULLETBOYS will release their new album, "From Out Of The Skies", on March 23 via Frontiers Music Srl. The disc was recorded at the Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in Northridge, California.

The official music video for the disc's first single, "D-Evil", featuring guest vocals from Jesse Hughes of EAGLES OF DEATH METAL, can be seen below.

Black Market Enlightenment will be the Liverpool band's seventh full-length album
Liverpoool based dark prog rock band Antimatter have announced they will release their latest album, Black Market Enlightenment, in the Autumn.

Writing on the band's Facebook page, mainman Mick Moss said the new album, the band's seventh full-length album is one of the most personal albums he's ever created.

"The album is about my own correlation (back in the early-mid 90's) between spirituality, and using LSD and marijuana as entheogens," says Moss. "Use which, when done sparsely and with respect, can be completely safe and enlightening. However, my own use quickly became habitual and toxic, the result of which, after half a decade, led me somewhere other than enlightenment. The lowest point being diagnosed with psychosis and suffering from derealisation and daily panic attacks. Some spiritual quest... The album also explores, amongst other topics, the nature of addiction and the loneliness of spirituality amongst depressingly unspiritual beings. This is one of the most personal albums I have written, and I've had the pleasure during 2017 of taking time from touring, and bringing these songs into the world."

Regular updates will be posted on the band's Instagram page which can be found here. Antimatter will play this year's Night Of The Prog festival at Loreley in Germany on Friday June 13.

Former Motorhead guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke dies at the age of 67 after battle with pneumonia
Former Motorhead guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke has died at the age of 67, it’s been announced.

The news was confirmed on Motorhead's Facebook page.

A statement reads: “We are devastated to pass on the news we only just heard ourselves earlier tonight – Edward Allan Clarke, or as we all know and love him Fast Eddie Clarke – passed away peacefully yesterday.

“Ted Carroll, who formed Chiswick Records, made the sad announcement via his Facebook page, having heard from Doug Smith that Fast Eddie passed peacefully in hospital where he was being treated for pneumonia.

“Fast Eddie... keep roaring, rockin’ and rollin' up there as goddamit man, your Motörfamily would expect nothing less!

“RIP Fast Eddie Clarke – 5th October 1950 - 10th January 2018.”

Clarke was introduced to Lemmy by drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor in the mid-70s and he joined Motorhead soon afterwards in 1976.

He played on Motorhead’s self-titled 1977 debut album and also played on 1979’s Overkill and Bomber, 1980’s Ace Of Spades and 1982’s Iron Fist.

The guitarist left Motorhead while on tour in the US with the band following the release of Iron Fist, reportedly unhappy with how that album turned out, and went on to form Fastway with former UFO bassist Pete Way.

Fastway released their self-titled debut album in 1983, and went on to release a further six studio albums – including the 2011 comeback album Dog Eat Dog.

Reactivated San Francisco Bay Area metallers SKINLAB have announced the return of guitarist Steve Green, best known to fans as Snake. The news comes ahead of the band's first live activities of 2018, the "Brothers In Blood Tour", also featuring PISSING RAZORS and SHATTERED SUN.

"We are very excited to announce that our brother Snake has returned home and has rejoined SKINLAB for the 'Brothers In Blood Tour'," said SKINLAB frontman Steev Esquivel. "Our boy has slithered right back into our lives, and we embrace him with open arms.

"Snake has always been a huge part of SKINLAB, making his debut on the 'Eyesore' EP back in 1998. That fan favorite has become a collector's item, and Snake's blood and spirit has been a constant fixture through every release we've done since. We couldn't be happier to have him back for this tour."

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

"The last week has been an amazing experience that started off with handshakes, hugs and tears," continued Esquivel. "The mood quickly turned into a massive wall of heaviness, however, when we began rehearsing a setlist of a dozen-plus songs, each met with smiles and nods of approval. To us, it's obvious that this machine is back in action and ready for war! We are very excited to jump back on the road!"

In addition to rejoining SKINLAB, Snake remains a member of THE DEVIL IN CALIFORNIA, with whom he's been performing since 2015. The band has been added to the bill for SKINLAB's homecoming show on February 10 in Crockett, California.

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

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

"Brothers In Blood Tour" featuring SKINLAB, PISSING RAZORS, SHATTERED SUN:

Jan. 25 - San Diego, CA - Brick by Brick
Jan. 26 - Mesa, AZ - Club Red
Jan. 27 - Las Vegas, NV - Dive Bar
Jan. 28 - Flagstaff, AZ - The Green Room
Jan. 29 - El Paso, TX - Tricky Falls
Jan. 30 - Lubbock, TX - Jake’s Backroom
Jan. 31 - Fort Worth, TX - The Rail Club
Feb. 01 - Houston, TX - Concert Pub North
Feb. 02 - Austin, TX - Come & Take It Live
Feb. 03 - Harlingen, TX - The Hop Shop

SKINLAB with MEDIA SOLUTION, CORE 10:

Feb. 07 - Fullerton, CA - The Slidebar

SKINLAB hometown show with THE GHOST NEXT DOOR, MONSTER GOD and THE DEVIL IN CALIFORNIA:

Feb. 10 - Crockett, CA – Toot's Tavern

Two new songs from SKINLAB, "Dead Tomorrow" and "End Of Silence", can be streamed below. The tracks were produced by 36 CRAZYFISTS guitarist Steve Holt and mark the first new music from the band since 2009's "The Scars Between Us" album.

Formed in 1994, SKINLAB has released four studio albums: 1997's "Bound, Gagged And Blindfolded", 1999's "Disembody: The New Flesh", 2002's "ReVolting Room" and 2009's "The Scars Between Us".

"Bound, Gagged And Blindfolded" was reissued in October 2007 via Century Media Records. The repackaged disc featured never-before-seen video footage and pictures with liner notes from Esquivel and guitarist Mike Roberts along with new artwork layout.

SKINLAB has had different lineups throughout its history, with Esquivel and Hopkins as the only mainstays.


Dead Tomorrow by Skinlab

German thrash metal legends, Accuser, will release their new album, The Mastery, on January 26th via Metal Blade Records. Pre-order the album here, and find a lyric video for the track "Time For Silence" below.

Accuser has been in a constant songwriting mode all over the past year. Combined with the energy and spontaneity from several live shows, the songs came together very quickly. Together with long time producer Martin Buchwalter, they put together the record in the summer of 2017 at well known Gernhart Studio (Destruction, Tankard and many more).

For the band, The Mastery is some kind of missing link between the technical virtuosity of an album like Who Dominates Who and the more basic, heavy approach of Repent. The Mastery contains all of the elements that define the Accuser sound: heavy, chunky thrash riffs, aggressive vocals with a touch of melody - in addition to the high class guitar solos by youngster Dennis Rybakowski. When it comes to the lyrical side of their songs, Accuser still raises their voices to denounce social grievances.

Tracklisting:

"Mission: Missile"
"The Real World"
"Solace In Sorrow"
"Time For Silence"
"My Skin"
"Catacombs"
"Mourning"
"Ruthless"
"Into The Black"
"The Mastery"

"Time For Silence" lyric video:

"Mission: Missile" lyric video:

Former ALL ENDS singer Emma Gelotte — sister of IN FLAMES guitarist Björn Gelotte — has joined forces with guitarist Ulf Larsson in a new project called THE AWARE.

THE AWARE has just released its debut EP, "Alive", via iTunes.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Alive
02. Not Worthy
03. Lost Within
04. You're Gone

Gelotte quit ALL ENDS in 2009 following the release of the band's debut album. She was later replaced by Jonna Sailon.

ALL ENDS drummer Joseph "Joey" Skansås told Metal Shock Finland in a 2010 interview that Emma's exit from the band came about naturally. "One night, Emma called me and we had a long, good talk of three hours," he explained. "She told me that she [didn't] feel to go on, because she want[ed] other things in life, a family, kids and a calm life in the countryside. All of the band members were agreed and understood her choice."

Dark Star Records released the new album from Chicago thrash metal act True Witness, Conspiracy, on January 5th. New single, “Living The Dream”, is streaming below.

Conspiracy is available on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play Music, Spotify, and other digital outlets.

Tracklisting:

“1970”
“Conspiracy”
“Living The Dream”
“Infanticide”
“When You Lie”
“Mercy”
“New Day”
“Vision”

“Living The Dream”:

East Coast crossover titans Iron Reagan and rising Sonoran death metallers Gatecreeper unite for a split recording of cranium crushing proportions. Across eight new tracks of auditory and lyrical venom, both bands showcase why they're two of the most talked about groups in extreme metal today. The split LP, mixed by Kurt Ballou at Godcity Studios, is due out March 2nd on CD/LP/Digital via Relapse Records.

Stream Iron Reagan’s new track “Paper Shredder” and Gatecreeper’s “War Has Begun” below.

Iron Reagan kick off their brief East Coast headline tour tomorrow in Washington D.C. and consists of five intimate concerts ending January 14th in Richmond, VA. Gatecreeper will perform an exclusive headline concert on January 27th at Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn, NY. The band has also announced two February concerts in Arizona with label-mates Mammoth Grinder plus festival appearances at Modified Ghost Festival III and Northwest Terror Fest.

Iron Reagan and Gatecreeper’s split LP is due out March 2nd on CD/LP/Digital via Relapse Records. Physical packages are available via Relapse.com here and digital downloads via Iron Reagan’s Bandcamp here and Gatecreeper’s Bandcamp here.

Tracklisting:

Side A - Iron Reagan

"Warning"
"Paper Shredder"
"Take the Fall"
"Proudly Unaccountable"
"Burn for This"

"Paper Shredder":

Side B - Gatecreeper

"Daybreak" (Intro)
"Dead Inside"
"War Has Begun"

"War Has Begun":

 

"Red Cold River", the new single from BREAKING BENJAMIN, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's sixth album, "Ember", which will be released later this spring.

BREAKING BENJAMIN frontman Ben Burnley revealed the name of the follow-up to 2015's "Dark Before Dawn" during an interview with Rock 102.1 KFMA at this past October's KFMA Fall Ball in Tucson, Arizona.

"Dark Before Dawn" ended a six-year gap between albums for the group and marked the recording debut of the band's current lineup, of which Burnley remains the sole original member. "Dark Before Dawn" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart upon release, another first for the act.

The album went gold in the U.S. for sales of more than five hundred thousand copies and yielded the chart-topping singles "Failure", "Angels Fall" and "Never Again".

Burnley told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that consistency has been the key to BREAKING BENJAMIN's success. "I don't want to reinvent the wheel," he said. "I just want to write good music that's gonna stand the test of time and I try to do that. Whether I accomplished that is another thing, but at least I try to do that. And I think fans are noticing that the band hasn't changed just because I'm the main songwriter, I always have been, and my process — it's not gonna change. All I'm gonna try to do is just write really, really good songs and bring the BREAKING BENJAMIN sound to another level."

Following its successful fall acoustic tour throughout the U.S., BREAKING BENJAMIN will begin its nationwide tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD and BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE on January 12. The tour will kick off on in Nashville and hit arenas throughout North America, wrapping up in Washington in February.

British rock legends IRON MAIDEN and independent family brewers Robinsons announce the creation of Light Brigade, a unique golden English ale with a 4.1% ABV. Available in the U.K., Light Brigade has been developed in support of Help For Heroes, the British charity that provides recovery and support for the armed forces community whose lives are affected by their service. 6p of each pint and 5p of each bottle sold will be donated to help the thousands of servicemen and women who live with complex wounds and injuries — both physical and mental — and are looking to regain their purpose in life.

Help For Heroes met with Robinsons in the summer of 2017 to explore the possibility of launching a beer. Robinsons and IRON MAIDEN, who jointly launched Trooper beer almost five years ago and which has now sold over 20 million pints worldwide, were immediately enthusiastic about the idea. Indeed, the origin of Trooper's name, which comes from the classic IRON MAIDEN song "The Trooper", based on the Battle of Balaclava of 1854 in the Crimean War, reflects the band's well-known interest in history.

As ever with the Trooper range of beers, Robinsons's head brewer, Martyn Weeks, and IRON MAIDEN lead vocalist and ale aficionado, Bruce Dickinson, teamed up to create the new and original beer, with the final tasting and approval taking place at Help For Heroes' Tedworth House Recovery Centre in Wiltshire, last autumn.

Dickinson said: "We are very proud to have been asked to get involved. I have been an instructor on several of British Airways' flight simulator 'Flying Heroes' days for Help For Heroes veterans, so I know the charity and the work that they do well. Light Brigade is our interpretation of a golden ale that maintains the elements of strength and character that are the essence of Trooper but at a more sessionable level. In fact, the two beers complement each other very well."

Beth Miles, director of marketing and fundraising at Help For Heroes: "We are thrilled that Bruce Dickinson has developed a new beer for us under the Trooper brand with Robinsons. We are sure that Light Brigade will have a very popular appeal and raise significant funds, enabling Help For Heroes to empower more veterans to reach their potential and regain their purpose. This is the beginning of a partnership which we hope will see Trooper fans and Robinsons customers join The Force for Good campaign to support the thousands whose lives have been affected by their service."

Martyn Weeks commented: "Bruce and I were recently invited to visit Help For Heroes in Wiltshire, where we had a tour of the incredible recovery facilities there and met some of the veterans. We were both hugely impressed with the work they are doing and launching a new beer in support of this charity is, we believe, a great way to raise money and awareness for this very worthy cause. Robinsons will also be supporting the charity through fundraising in our pub estate."

Light Brigade is designed as a session ale for beer and music fans everywhere. It will also be produced on a long-term basis, differentiating it from the other limited-edition Trooper beers: 666, Red 'N Black and Hallowed. In keeping with the Trooper brand, Light Brigade's original bottle label features IRON MAIDEN's iconic mascot Eddie on horseback in one of the uniforms of the Light Brigade.

Light Brigade is available to pre-order online now at www.robinsonsbrewery.com for delivery from February 1. It will be stocked in supermarkets nationwide and selected pubs from February 19 onwards.

DESTRÖYER 666 will release a crushing new EP on February 23. "Call Of The Wild" contains three brand new songs and a fresh take on the band's classic and live favorite, "Trialed by Fire".

"Call Of The Wild" track listing:

01. Violence Is Golden (4:30)
02. Stone By Stone (3:37)
03. Call Of The Wild (4:46)
04. Trialed By Fire (7:02)

The "Call Of The Wild" title track can be streamed below.

DESTRÖYER 666 continues to do what it is best at: kicking ass and hammering out heavy metal that is slamming straight into the face. No compromise, no sellout, no bullshit!

The Australians fill the gap between albums with the hard-hitting EP, "Call Of The Wild", that comes with a distinct taste of an unrepentantly classic flavor.

DESTRÖYER 666 doesn't do whiny nostalgia but simply sticks to its old-school roots, which are reaching straight down into the golden age of metal while allowing themselves to sound fresh and remain relevant.

DESTRÖYER 666 is:

KK: guitar, vocals
Ro: guitar, vocals
Felipe: bass
Perra: drums

Photo credit: Ester Segarra