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).

Get to know the band in this new album trailer:

The album, which was mastered by Jens Bogren (Dimmu Borgir, Opeth, Paradise Lost), reaches a length of over 55 minutes.

Tracklisting:

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

"Erasing Contrast" video:

Vignette is now available for pre-order and you can get the physical editions of the new album here. Stream or download the new single here.

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

"Walk On Water", the first video from CORELEONI, the new project founded by GOTTHARD guitarist Leo Leoni to pay a very personal tribute to his rock and roll past, can be seen below. The song is taken from CORELEONI's debut album, "The Greatest Hits - Part 1", which will be released on February 23 via Frontiers Music Srl.

Leo Leoni is joined in CORELEONI by Ronnie Romero (LORDS OF BLACK, RAINBOW) on vocals, Hena Habegger on drums, Jgor Gianola on guitar and Mila Merker on bass.

Says Leo: "On the 25th anniversary of the release of the first GOTTHARD album, I wanted to pay tribute to songs like 'Downtown', 'Firedance', 'Higher', 'Here Comes The Heat', 'In The Name', 'Ride On…', 'Let It Be' and 'All I Care 4'. Songs that with GOTTHARD we have kind of left aside. We've re-recorded, refreshed, and 're-brushed' them in a respectful way. These songs are very dear to me and they are part of a period that will remain forever with me."

Leoni dusted these songs off and brough a new life to these overlooked masterpieces from his past.

"Walk On Water" is the sole new track featured on "The Greatest Hits - Part 1".

"This CORELEONI project made me feel so many emotions and memories, filling my heart with joy," says Leo. "I hope hearing these new versions gives all the GOTTHARD fans, especially the ones who knew and loved the band in the early days, the same great emotions that it has brought to me."

"The Greatest Hits - Part 1" track listing:

01. Il Padrino
02. Firedance
03. Downtown
04. Higher
05. Get It While You Can
06. In The Name
07. Let It Be
08. All I Care For
09. Walk On Water
10. Here Comes The Heat
11. Tell No Lies
12. Ride On
13. Anytime Anywhere
14. El Traidor (bonus track; CD edition only)

CORELEONI will play the following shows in Switzerland:

Dec. 21 - Temus, Agno
Dec. 22 - Musigburg, Aarburg
Dec. 23 - Harley Heaven, Dietikon
Dec. 30 - Piazza, Lugano – Radiofestival

OVERKILL bassist and main songwriter D.D. Verni will release his first solo album in 2018. The record, which was mixed and mastered by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (ROB ZOMBIE, QUEENSRŸCHE, HATEBREED), is said to be a mix of all of Verni's influences. "There's some metal, punk, and classic rock... it's all in there, from QUEEN to GREEN DAY to METALLICA, I think we covered all the basses!" declares D.D.

The lyric video for the song "Fire Up" can be seen below.

Verni is currently seeking a label home for his first effort, which features a host of guitar players doing guest spots, including Jeff Loomis (ARCH ENEMY), Angus Clark (TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA), Jeff Waters (ANNIHILATOR), Bruce Franklin (TROUBLE), Mike Romeo (SYMPHONY X), Mike Orlando (ADRENALINE MOB), Steve Leonard (ALMOST QUEEN), and Andre "Virus" Karkos (DOPE), who also contributed the rhythm guitar tracks. Rounding out the recording lineup is former OVERKILL drummer Ron Lipnicki.

"I'm psyched to get this disc out," states Verni. "We had a lot of fun and a lot of great players contributed."

In addition to OVERKILL's 18 full-length albums, Verni has four releases with his side band THE BRONX CASKET CO.

For more information, visit www.ddverni.com.

Due on March 9, 2018 via Century Media is "The Complete Collection" by acclaimed U.S. progressive/thrash metallers NEVERMORE. A strictly limited 12-disc box set covering all recordings by these Seattle innovators, it includes all albums (some with bonus tracks), all EP and live releases, plus an extra disc of rarities and previously unreleased demo and live recordings. It comes with a hand-numbered collector's certificate, 80-page booklet (with lyrics, photos, liner notes) as well as an exclusive poster flag (size: 95x65cm).

Formed in Seattle back in 1992, NEVERMORE developed quickly into one of the most revered metal bands of the time, representing a metallic counterpart to the "grunge" acts of the era. Blending the heaviness of traditional American thrash with progressive elements as well as the gloomy lyrics and impressive, emotionally charged vocal range of Warrel Dane (of SANCTUARY fame), albums such as "Dreaming Neon Black", "Dead Heart In A Dead World", and "This Godless Endeavor" are considered metal milestones to the very day. Having disbanded in 2011, NEVERMORE's timeless and incredibly consistent back catalog is revisited by Century Media Records on stunning, strictly limited box set release. Expanded with a poster flag (showing the band's lineup on their masterpiece "This Godless Endeavor"), a disc filled to the brim with cover versions, bonus tracks and rarities, "The Complete Collection" celebrates one Century Media's finest bands on the verge of the label's 30th anniversary in 2018.

NEVERMORE effectively split up when guitarist Jeff Loomis and drummer Van Williams announced their departure from the band due to personal differences with Dane and bassist Jim Sheppard. Warrel later described NEVERMORE in an interview as "the greatest band that alcohol ever ruined."

Dane died on December 13 in São Paulo, Brazil at the age of 56. The singer reportedly had a heart attack during the night and could not be revived.

"The Complete Collection" track listing:

Disc 1: Nevermore (1995)

01. What Tomorrow Knows
02. C.B.F.
03. The Sanity Assassin
04. Garden Of Gray
05. Sea Of Possibilities
06. The Hurting Words
07. Timothy Leary
08. Godmoney

Bonus tracks

09. The System's Failing
10. The Dreaming Mind (Demo 1992)
11. World Unborn (Demo 1992)
12. Chances Three (Demo 1992)
13. Utopia (Demo 1992)

Disc 2: In Memory (1996)

01. Optimist Or Pessimist
02. Matricide
03. In Memory
04. Silent Hedges/Double Dare (BAUHAUS cover)
05. The Sorrowed Man

Bonus tracks

06. The Tiananmen Man (Demo 1996)
07. The Seven Tongues Of God (Demo 1996)
08. Passenger (Demo 1996)
09. This Sacrament (Demo 1996)
10. 42147 (Instrumental Demo 1996)

Disc 3: The Politics Of Ecstasy (1996)

01. The Seven Tongues Of God
02. This Sacrament
03. Next In Line
04. Passenger
05. The Politics Of Ecstasy
06. Lost
07. The Tiananmen Man
08. Precognition
09. 42147
10. The Learning

Disc 4: Dreaming Neon Black (1999)

01. Ophidian
02. Beyond Within
03. The Death Of Passion
04. I Am the Dog
05. Dreaming Neon Black
06. Deconstruction
07. The Fault of the Flesh
08. The Lotus Eaters
09. Poison Godmachine
10. All Play Dead
11. Cenotaph
12. No More Will
13. Forever

Disc 5: Dead Heart In A Dead World (2000)

01. Narcosynthesis
02. We Disintegrate
03. Inside Four Walls
04. Evolution 169
05. The River Dragon Has Come
06. The Heart Collector
07. Engines Of Hate
08. The Sound Of Silence (SIMON & GARFUNKEL cover)
09. Insignificant
10. Believe In Nothing
11. Dead Heart In A Dead World

Disc 6: Enemies Of Reality (2003)

01. Enemies Of Reality
02. Ambivalent
03. Never Purify
04. Tomorrow Turned Into Yesterday
05. I, Voyager
06. Create The Infinite
07. Who Decides
08. Noumenon

Disc 7: Enemies Of Reality (Remixed & Remastered) (2005)

01. Enemies Of Reality
02. Ambivalent
03. Never Purify
04. Tomorrow Turned Into Yesterday
05. I, Voyager
06. Create The Infinite
07. Who Decides
08. Noumenon
09. Seed Awakening

Disc 8: This Godless Endeavor (2005)

01. Born
02. Final Product
03. My Acid Words
04. Bittersweet Feast
05. Sentient 6
06. Medicated Nation
07. The Holocaust Of Thought
08. Sell My Heart For Stones
09. The Psalm Of Lydia
10. A Future Uncertain
11. This Godless Endeavor

Disc 9: The Year Of The Voyager (2008) Live Album

CD 1

01. Final Product
02. My Acid Words
03. What Tomorrow Knows/Garden Of Grey
04. Next In Line
05. Enemies Of Reality
06. I, Voyager
07. The Politics Of Ecstasy
08. The River Dragon Has Come
09. I Am The Dog
10. Dreaming Neon Black

Disc 10 – Live Album CD 2:

01. Matricide
02. Dead Heart In A Dead World
03. Inside Four Walls
04. The Learning
05. Sentient 6
06. Narcosynthesis
07. The Heart Collector
08. Born
09. This Godless Endeavor

Disc 11: The Obsidian Conspiracy (2010)

01. The Termination Proclamation
02. Your Poison Throne
03. Moonrise (Through Mirrors Of Death)
04. And The Maiden Spoke
05. Emptiness Unobstructed
06. The Blue Marble and the New Soul
07. Without Morals
08. The Day You Built The Wall
09. She Comes in Colors
10. The Obsidian Conspiracy

Disc 12: Rarities & Demos

01. Temptation (THE TEA PARTY cover) - "The Obsidian Conspiracy" session
02. The Purist's Drug (Japan bonus track) - "The Obsidian Conspiracy" sessions
03. Crystal Ship (THE DOORS cover) - "The Obsidian Conspiracy" sessions
04. All The Cowards Hide (Japan bonus track) - "Dead Heart In A Dead World" sessions
05. Chances Three (Japan bonus track) - "Dead Heart In A Dead World" sessions
06. Love Bites (JUDAS PRIEST cover) - "The Politics Of Ecstasy" sessions
07. Termination Proclamation (Live in London 2010) - previously unreleased
08. Your Poison Throne (Live in London 2010) - previously unreleased
09. Emptiness Unobstructed (Live in London 2010) - previously unreleased
10. The Obsidian Conspiracy (Live in London 2010) - previously unreleased
11. Dead Heart In A Dead World (Demo 2000) - previously unreleased
12. We Disintegrate (Demo 2000) - previously unreleased
13. Insignificant (Demo 2000) - previously unreleased
14. Engines Of Hate (Instrumental Demo 2000) - previously unreleased
15. Acoustic Instrumental (Demo 2000) - previously unreleased

The classic lineup of DOKKEN — vocalist Don Dokken, guitarist George Lynch, bassist Jeff Pilson and drummer "Wild" Mick Brown — filmed a video in Los Angeles on Tuesday (December 19) for a new song called "It's Just Another Day". The track, which will be featured on the band's forthcoming CD/DVD package, marks the the first new song by the classic DOKKEN lineup since the 1997 "Shadowlife" album.

Pilson wrote on social media that "It's Just Another Day" "came out amazing," adding that "it's amazing how much it sounds like vintage DOKKEN."

DOKKEN's classic lineup played its only U.S. show in September 2016 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota before embarking on a six-show Japanese run dubbed "Unleashed In The East".

DOKKEN's upcoming concert DVD will reportedly feature footage from two of the Japanese shows — including Tokyo — as well as the band's Sioux Falls gig. The band also recorded two acoustic remakes of a couple of the old DOKKEN songs, which also "came out really amazing," according to Pilson.

Jeff told the "Music Mania" podcast that he "enjoyed" the DOKKEN reunion "quite a bit," explaining that "because of DOKKEN's history, I wasn't necessarily expecting to enjoy it personally as much as I did. But we ended up getting along great," he said. "We went out there and did the shows, and the audience reaction kind of made it all worthwhile right there."

Asked about the possibility of more U.S. shows featuring DOKKEN's classic lineup, Pilson said: "You know, I would never say never, because… It's a good thing I didn't say 'never' before, because… [Laughs] I wouldn't rule it out. The thing that's tricky is our schedules are very hard to get together. The reason it worked out with that particular reunion is the Japanese were very, very helpful in helping organize it. They actually got a copy of the FOREIGNER tour schedule and booked around that, which made it impossible to say no. They really went the extra mile for us. But behind something like that, it's very, very hard to schedule time for something like that. But we'll see. I hope it happens. And I really enjoyed working with the guys again. And like I said, when you hear how strong the new song is, you're gonna be shocked that we ever took a break. So it's pretty cool, man."

The 2016 Japanese tour featuring Pilson, Dokken, Lynch and Brown marked the first time in 21 years DOKKEN's classic lineup had hit the road.

Don told "The Classic Metal Show" that the main reason he doesn't want to continue with the classic DOKKEN lineup is that he "loves" the band he has now — which features Brown, alongside guitarist Jon Levin and bassist Chris McCarvill.

Extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY will release a deluxe vinyl box set including all 10 studio albums and a bonus gatefold 2LP featuring covers and bonus tracks recorded between 1996 and 2017 on February 16, 2018. The hand-numbered box set also comes with a 36-page-booklet with liner notes. All albums are mastered for vinyl.

"1996 - 2017" will be available as a picture LP box set and also in the following vinyl colors:

* Black vinyl - limited to 1.500 copies
* Clear vinyl - limited to 100 copies, only available at CMDistro
* Transparent red vinyl - limited to 200 copies, only available at EMP
* Silver vinyl - limited to 100 copies, only available at Nuclear Blast
* Dark green vinyl - limited to 100 copies, only available at ST Records
* Picture vinyl - limited to 500 copies

Go to this location for all preorders.

ARCH ENEMY's latest album, "Will To Power", was released on September 8 via Century Media. Co-produced by guitarist Michael Amott and drummer Daniel Erlandsson, the disc was mixed and mastered by longtime collaborator and friend Jens Bogren (OPETH, AT THE GATES, DIMMU BORGIR). The album's cover artwork was designed by Alex Reisfar.

"Will To Power" marks the second ARCH ENEMY album since the departure of longtime singer Angela Gossow and addition of Alissa White-Gluz (formerly of THE AGONIST). It is also the first ARCH ENEMY disc to feature former NEVERMORE guitarist Jeff Loomis, who joined the band in late 2014.

Another video clip from the recording sessions for CRASHDÏET's new single, "We Are The Legion", can be seen below. The song, which will be released on December 31, will mark the recording debut of CRASHDÏET's fourth singer, Gabriel Keyes, whose addition to the group was announced earlier in the month.

CRASHDÏET was previously fronted by Dave Lepard (2000-2006), H. Olliver Twisted (2007-2008) and Simon Cruz (2009-2015).

CRASHDÏET said: "[Gabriel] is the guy that blew our minds a while back when we first heard his voice. Then we started hanging out, writing music and the chemistry was a fact. We can't wait to let you hear him!"

Gabriel, the brother of HIGHRIDE bassist Kriss Keyes, added: "I'm so fuckin' excited to get this circus started! I'm here to give you a kickin' experience both live and in the studio and I hope you all are lookin' forward to it, 'caaause I fuckin' do!"

CRASHDÏET's first show with Gabriel will take place on March 30, 2018, at Kägelbanan in Stockholm, Sweden.

CRASHDÏET's most recent release was the "Live In Sleaze" album, which was recorded in 2005 and features Lepard on vocals.

Cruz, who was previously a member of the Stockholm act JAILBAIT, joined CRASHDÏET in 2009 as the replacement for H. Olliver Twisted (now in RECKLESS LOVE).

Former CRASHDIET singer David Hellman (a.k.a. Dave Lepard) was found dead on January 20, 2006 at his apartment in the Swedish city of Uppsala, north of Stockholm. It was reported in several places that he hanged himself, although this was never officially confirmed.

CRASHDIET's latest album, "The Savage Playground", entered the official chart in Sweden at position No. 2. The CD was released in January 2013 via Frontiers.

Abruscato seemingly alluded to his exit from LIFE OF AGONY in a December 19 post on his personal Facebook page. He wrote: "Sometimes you just have to let go and say goodbye to old friends, the past and its ghosts. Move forward, grow up, grab that life preserver and jump off the ship. I have three beautiful daughters and a beautiful wife that love me and that's what is important."

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Sal started playing drums at age 10. He co-founded TYPE O NEGATIVE with Peter Steele and performed on the albums "Slow, Deep And Hard" (1991), "Origin Of The Feces" (1992), "Bloody Kisses" (1993) and various best-of compilations and soundtracks. As the drummer for LIFE OF AGONY, he played on "River Runs Red" (1993), "Ugly" (1995), "River Runs Again" (2003), "Broken Valley" (2005) and "A Place Where There's No More Pain" (2017). Additional projects include SUPERMASSIV and MY MORTALITY. He is also the singer, songwriter and guitarist for A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH.

In a 2010 interview with Metalgeek, Sal stated about his original departure from LIFE OF AGONY in 1996: "There were many tensions during the recordings of 'Ugly'. The producer was terrible. He wasn't really pushing the band, he wasn't really doing what he was paid for. There was also issues with the songwriting. There was pressure from the record company to make 'River Runs Red Part 2'. Had we maybe had a different producer, one that cared — like ['River Runs Red' producer] Josh [Silver] did — and pushed the band, maybe it would have been different, maybe not."

Sal added: "Everyone was a young buck but everybody was just kids. When you're older, you know how to handle situations. We were wild, so we would say shit. [Laughs] And then that would cause tensions."

According to Abruscato, it wasn't his choice to leave LIFE OF AGONY in 1996. "They just decided that there was issues with me and it ended with a falling out, basically," he said. "So I think it was mutual. A part of me was relieved, but at the same time, I was a little bit upset about how the thing was handled."

"A Place Where There's No More Pain" was issued in April via Napalm. LIFE OF AGONY's fifth studio LP marked the band's first release since singer Mina Caputo (formerly known as Keith Caputo) came out as transgender in 2011.

According to Billboard, a video of Dave Grohl performing "Paradise City" with GUNS N' ROSES in Tulsa, Oklahoma landed at No. 1 on Top Facebook Live Videos chart for November 2017. The clip, which was uploaded on November 15, was the most-reacted-to, most-shared and most-viewed video by a musical act last month, earning 100,000 reactions, 25,000 shares and 2.1 million views, according to Shareablee.

The Top Facebook Live Videos chart is a monthly look at the widest-reaching and most-reacted-to videos posted by musicians on Facebook Live, as tracked by media analytics company Shareablee. Rankings are determined by a formula that blends reactions, comments, shares and first-seven-days views.

GUNS N' ROSES had two more videos in the Top 10: a performance of "Patience" with Billy Gibbons of ZZ TOP in Houston, Texas, which landed at No. 8; and a rendition of "Paradise City" from the final show of GN'R's most recent leg of the "Not In This Lifetime" tour in Los Angeles, which came in at No. 9.

GUNS N' ROSES concluded its 18-month "Not In This Lifetime" reunion tour with a nearly four-hour, 37-song concert at the Forum in the band's hometown of Los Angeles on November 29. The set featured relatively rare performances of two tracks from the 2008 "Chinese Democracy" album, "Catcher In The Rye" and "Sorry", in addition to tributes to Glen Campbell, Malcolm Young and Chris Cornell in the form of "Wichita Lineman", "Whole Lotta Rosie" and "Black Hole Sun".

GUNS N' ROSES will return next June for a seven-week European jaunt, but the band's plans until then, and beyond that, remain unknown for now. The three original members have not given a single interview together.

The reunited trio, along with four backing musicians from latter lineups, have been on the road almost continuously since the tour was launched with a surprise show at the Troubadour nightclub in Los Angeles on April 1, 2016.

Although some fans have grumbled that two members of the original lineup — guitarist Izzy Stradlin and drummer Steven Adler, the latter of whom did appear at a handful of stops on the tour — remain on the sidelines, the trek has been wildly successful, reportedly grossing more than $400 million since its launch a year and a half ago.

Photo credit: Katarina Benzova





Paradise City with Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters in Tulsa, Oklahoma!

Posted by Guns N' Roses on Tuesday, November 14, 2017

ROAD TO JERUSALEM, the international project featuring Per Møller Jensen (drums; THE HAUNTED, INVOCATOR, KONKHRA), Andreas Holma (bass; HYPOCRISY, SCAR SYMMETRY, SOILWORK), Michael Skovbakke (guitar; KONKHRA) and Josh Tyree (vocals), has signed a deal with the Swedish label ViciSolum Productions. The band's debut album is tentatively due in early 2018.

Commented ROAD TO JERUSALEM on the signing: "We are very excited to be working with ViciSolum Productions and we are looking forward to bring the music of ROAD TO JERUSALEM out to the world through this collaboration. 2018 is going to be an amazing year for us!"

As a result of a deep desire to express their own emotions and pure-self through music, Per Møller Jensen and Michael Skovbakke decided to form ROAD TO JERUSALEM. Very soon, through mutual acquaintances, Andreas Holma and Josh Tyree joined the road with this one whole and shared vision in mind.

Since its official formation in late fall of 2016, ROAD TO JERUSALEM has worked its unique sound and appeal slowly and steady towards the consciousness of the masses. With a "new and fresh approach to heavy music", ROAD TO JERUSALEM entered the studio in the summer of 2017 to record its debut album. The effort is being mixed by acclaimed producer Tue Madsen (HALFORD, MESHUGGAH, HEAVEN SHALL BURN)

ROAD TO JERUSALEM will be touring in 2018 and new concerts are constantly added. They will be supporting ORPHANED LAND on the second leg of the Israeli band's upcoming European tour from late February to late March of 2018.

Seattle's WALKING PAPERS, featuring Jefferson Angell (THE MISSIONARY POSITION), Benjamin Anderson (THE MISSIONARY POSITION), Duff McKagan (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER) and Barrett Martin (SCREAMING TREES, MAD SEASON), will release its second album, "WP2", on January 19, 2018 via Loud & Proud Records.

A new video teaser for "WP2" is available below.

"This record has exceeded my expectations of what I thought that might be," says Angell. "It perfectly captures the raw, explosive energy of a band primed from extensive touring while at the same time achieving the polish and elevation that comes from experimenting in the studio."

"WP2" is the follow-up to WALKING PAPERS' 2013 critically acclaimed debut album that Rolling Stone called "dark, alternately sensual and sinister." USA Today said, "Sometimes an album sounds nothing like you expect yet still blows you away… It's powerful yet nuanced, a kind of rock confident enough in itself that it rarely needs force to make its point." Consequence Of Sound said, "It's a record that largely eschews typical hard rock fare, opting instead for a blues rock that slinks and wafts as much as it crunches and blusters. This unlikely dynamic makes WALKING PAPERS a pink slip you'll actually be happy to get." VH1 described the band's sound as "weathered, bluesy and broken in by years of experience. This is hard rock as made by grown-ass men with stories to tell and no one to please but themselves."

"WALKING PAPERS is happier than a tornado in a trailer park to have our second record see the light of day via Loud & Proud Records," says Angell. "It's been a white-knuckled nail-biter since its conception, and we are pleased to have Tom and Madelyn behind the wheel as we make our way to the delivery room!"

WALKING PAPERS have launched a PledgeMusic campaign for pre-orders. There fans will find exclusive offers for merchandise, unique items and experiences with the band, and the only place to purchase the song "This Is How It Ends" along with its companion comic book by Angell, graphic novelist Matt Hayward and artist Csaba Master.

"WP2" track listing:

01. My Luck Pushed Back
02. Death On The Lips
03. Red & White
04. Somebody Else
05. Yours Completely
06. Hard To Look Away
07. Before You Arrived
08. Don't Owe Me Nothin'
09. This Is How It Ends
10. I Know You're Lying
11. Into The Truth

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY will release its new album, "No Cross No Crown", on January 12 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. It will be made available on CD, digital, vinyl, and cassette formats.

In advance of the disc's release, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY has unveiled part five of of J. Bennett's roundtable with the band. In the clip below, the group discusses the origin and meaning of the new album title.

In 2014, after nearly a straight decade traversing the globe as a guitarist with New Orleans supergroup DOWN, Pepper Keenan reconnected with the core CORROSION OF CONFORMITY trio of Woody Weatherman, Mike Dean and Reed Mullin to hit the road hard. "Reed called me and mentioned maybe playing a couple shows," Keenan recalls. "I said, 'Let's just go to Europe and see if it works.' So we went to Europe and then ended up going back four times in one year... We toured for a year and then started tracking about ten or eleven months ago."

Recording in North Carolina with longtime producer John Custer, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY cut "No Cross No Crown" in about forty days over the course of a year. "We took our time and didn't put any pressure on ourselves," Keenan says. "I'd go up from New Orleans and we'd do four or five days at a time, just hacking away at it. It was fun because we did it like a demo, but in a studio. We were writing and putting it on tape at the same time. We took what parts we thought were great from the old days and weren't scared to go backwards. It kinda wrote itself that way."

Some of these new jams sound like could've easily been on "Wiseblood" or "Deliverance", two of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's most revered records. On "No Cross No Crown", beefy Southern stompers like "The Luddite", "Little Man" and "Forgive Me" are interspersed with melancholy guitar interludes like "No Cross", "Matre's Diem" and "Sacred Isolation" — just like SABBATH used to do in the '70s. "We started doing that on 'Deliverance'," Keenan points out. "My theory on that is that if you're trying to make a record flow, you need to break it up a little. When you need a breather, write an interlude. I like writing those mellow pieces just to space things out and make the next thing come in heavier."

The album's iconic title comes from a recent tour stop in England. "We were playing this old church from like the 1500s that had been turned into a performing arts center," Keenan recalls. "The dressing room had stained glass windows and one of them showed this poor fella being persecuted. Underneath it said, 'no cross no crown.' So I just took that idea. We're not trying to be on a soapbox, but we used it as a catalyst to write songs around."

Which is to say that "No Cross No Crown" has a lot less to do with politics or religion than its title implies. "I think everyone needs to get away from that mindset in general," Keenan offers. "It just seems to be a mess out there nowadays. We need to get back to being humans and taking care of each other and simple things like that. For us, the terminology 'no cross no crown' is a theme. It's mentioned in like three songs throughout the album. We just weaved it through as we went."

"No Cross No Crown" stands as irrefutable proof of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's ability to overcome. "CORROSION OF CONFORMITY and the prior records I've done with them didn't just go away," Keenan observes. "It's an honor to be back out there and have an opportunity to do it again in a real way and not some washed-up reunion thing. Even before we wrote the record, we were out there for a year seeing there was a demand for it and that there was a void that we could fill. That's been CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's deal from day one. We're not chasing anybody around. We're not gonna worry about what the new trends are. CORROSION OF CONFORMITY is CORROSION OF CONFORMITY."

"No Cross No Crown" track listing:

01. Novus Deus
02. The Luddite
03. Cast The First Stone
04. No Cross
05. Wolf Named Crow
06. Little Man
07. Matre's Diem
08. Forgive Me
09. Nothing Left To Say
10. Sacred Isolation
11. Old Disaster
12. E.L.M.
13. No Cross No Crown
14. A Quest To Believe (A Call To The Void)
15. Son And Daughter

In advance of the release of "No Cross No Crown", CORROSION OF CONFORMITY will join BLACK LABEL SOCIETY for a mammoth North American live takeover. The tour begins December 27 in Denver, Colorado and will wind its way through nearly four dozen cities, the journey coming to a close February 27, 2018. Additional support will be provided by EYEHATEGOD and RED FANG on select shows.

Photo credit: Dean Karr

Although Slash is not going to be touring with GUNS N' ROSES again for another six months, the legendary axeman may not be recording material for his next solo album, as has recently been speculated.

ALTER BRIDGE singer Myles Kennedy, who also fronts Slash's solo band, MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS, was recently interviewed by radio personality Eddie Trunk and he was asked if there are any plans for SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS to work on the follow-up to 2014's "World On Fire" album. He responded: "[Slash and I] connect via text once in a while and just check in. But right now, for me, now that [ALTER BRIDGE] is paring down, it's just full steam ahead with [my debut] solo record. And then the plan is to, in 2019, with [ALTER BRIDGE] to get that rolling again."

Kennedy added that while making another MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS album is an idea that has "been talked about, the GUNS thing is doing so well" that "we'll just see how that all plays out."

According to Myles, he and Slash had about half an album's worth of new material in the works toward the end of the "World On Fire" touring cycle, but Slash's touring commitments with GUNS have prevented him from becoming involved in any other projects.

"We had some stuff brewing," Myles confirmed before adding: "These are wonderful problems to have in terms of just being able to be a musician and have these various outlets to create. So we'll see how it all plays out."

After Slash and the CONSPIRATORS toured "World On Fire", rumors about the long-awaited GUNS N' ROSES reunion tour began to circulate and were confirmed in early 2016.

The current GUNS trek — which features Slash and fellow original members Axl Rose and Duff McKagan — launched in April 2016 and has since grossed more than $400 million, with more European dates coming next summer.

"I think it's wonderful," Myles told Trunk. "I think it's been great for rock and roll in general. And I'm really happy for all those guys, 'cause it's been… What an epic adventure that's been."

Despite the success of the tour, there has been no indication that GUNS intends to record a new album anytime soon. The last GUNS studio album, "Chinese Democracy", came out in 2008 and featured only Axl Rose from the band's classic lineup. The last album on which Rose, McKagan and Slash appeared together was 1993's covers set "The Spaghetti Incident?"

Kennedy's debut solo album, "Year Of The Tiger", will be released on March 9, 2018 via Napalm Records. The effort was helmed by ALTER BRIDGE's longtime producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette.

ALTER BRIDGE is expected to take most of 2018 off from the road while the bandmembers focus on other projects.

Writing for the follow-up to 2016's "The Last Hero" will begin next year, with tentative plans to release the effort in 2019.

On February 2, symphonic metal pioneers THERION will finally release Christofer Johnsson's monumental brainchild "Beloved Antichrist", a sweeping rock opera loosely inspired by Vladímir Soloviov's "A Short Tale Of The Antichrist". The entire piece reaches an impressive length of three hours. The dramatic and epic opus comes to life through 27 different character roles, performed by long-time band members like Thomas Vikström, Lori Lewis and Chiara Malvestiti, amongst many others. The cover artwork was designed by Thomas Ewerhart and can be seen below.

THERION has just unveiled the album's first single, the impressive chapter "Temple Of New Jerusalem" from the second act of the opera. Watch the lyric video below.

Act I

01. Turn From Heaven
02. Where Will You Go?
03. Through Dust, Through Rain
04. Signs Are Here
05. Never Again
06. Bring Her Home
07. The Solid Black Beyond
08. The Crowning Of Splendour
09. Morning Has Broken
10. Garden Of Peace
11. Our Destiny
12. Anthem
13. The Palace Ball
14. Jewels From Afar
15. Hail Caesar!
16. What Is Wrong?
17. Nothing But My Name

Act II

01. The Arrival Of Apollonius
02. Pledging Loyalty
03. Night Reborn
04. Dagger Of God
05. Temple Of New Jerusalem
06. The Lions Roar
07. Bringing The Gospel
08. Laudate Dominum
09. Remaining Silent
10. Behold Antichrist
11. Cursed By The Fallen
12. Resurrection
13. To Where I Weep
14. Astral Sophia
15. Thy Will Be Done!

Act III

01. Shoot Them Down!
02. Beneath The Starry Skies
03. Forgive Me
04. The Wasteland Of My Heart
05. Burning The Palace
06. Prelude To War
07. Day Of Wrath
08. Rise To War
09. Time Has Come/Final Battle
10. My Voyage Carries On
11. Striking Darkness
12. Seeds Of Time
13. To Shine Forever
14. Theme Of Antichrist

THERION is currently working on the possibility of bringing the entire production to the stage. And while this monumental undertaking still simmers away in the production halls, the band has announced a pan-European tour taking them to 25 different countries, where they will perform some new and some classic THERION hits.

Neal Morse has released a poignant video for “He Died At Home”. The song is from his latest 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.

“He Died At Home” is about a mother’s grief over the loss of her soldier son. As Morse says, “I had been praying for a roommate of a friend of mine, who was a troubled ex-military guy. The day we were playing in Paris, I woke up to a text saying that sadly, he had died. As I began formulating ideas for a song about him, I remembered that many years ago, I had been at a meeting at a military base in Tennessee. They asked us to pray for their men because almost every week they were going to the funeral of those who had ‘died at home'."

“Because of the idea for the song,” he continues, “I was researching soldier suicides online and found an article in The Guardian about a young soldier named William Busbee. He came back from Afghanistan in 2012, and then committed suicide. The video director contacted Libby Busbee, his mother, who listened to the song and was so moved that she is contributing photos of William to put in a video we’ll be sharing very soon.”

The song also had quite an impact when it was premiered at Morsefest 2017, where it was very much the talk of the festival. Watch the new video 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"

"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

German symphonic metallers Xandria, who recently parted ways with singer Dianne Van Giersbergen, have released an animated video for "Ship Of Doom", a track from the band's Theater Of Dimensions album, released earlier this year. The video, created by Danny Stirn (Manic Molecule), can be seen below.

Theater Of Dimensions features guest appearances by vocalists Björn “Speed” Strid (Soilwork), Henning Basse (Firewind), Zaher Zorgati (Myrath), and Ross Thompson (Van Canto).

"Ship Of Doom" video:

“Call Of Destiny” video:

“We Are Murderers (We All)” lyric video featuring Soilwork’s Björn “Speed” Strid:

Finnish progressive melodic death metallers Damnation Plan have released their second music video Maze Of Despair off their latest album Reality Illusion (Inverse Records, 2017).

Damnation Plan songwriter, lyricist, drummer, director Jarkko Lunnas comments on the song and video:

"Some of the biggest battles we face happen inside our own minds. It's a survival story about leaving your past behind, shedding your skin, not letting your past drown you."

The band's second single, a modern metal version of the late Ronnie James Dio's "Don't Talk To Stranger" was featured on Spotify's Best New Metal Tracks at its release.

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions are set to release Pasung, the sophomore album from Doom/Sludge titans Beldam, January 26th on CD and Digital formats.  New song "Vial Of Silence" is streaming below. Preorders are available at this location.

Pasung is Beldam's second release on Horror Pain Gore Death Productions and their first with new vocalist/lyricist Randall Guidry. The band recently relocated to Seattle, continuing their vision to play skull-crushing, soul-wrenching, paint-peeling Sludge with blackened touches. With influences ranging from Sleep, EyeHateGod, Graves At Sea, The Melvins and Black Sabbath, Beldam combines a massive wall of guitars, thickened bass tones, bone-rattling drums and harsh vocals featuring lyrics building on the themes of death and despair. Pasung clocks in at 50 minutes of pure, unadulterated American Sludge. 

Pasung was recorded at The Bomb Shelter in Nashville, TN, April 5th-7th, with additional tracking on August 31st and September 1st, 2017. The album was engineered and mastered by Drew Carroll who recorded Beldam's original 5-song demo in 2015. All guitars and bass on the recording were performed by Grahm Reynolds with the exception of "One from the Stable." Cullen Wade handled the drums on the entire record. Pasung represents the truest Beldam. The band focused a significant amount of time on songwriting and pre-production to get the heaviest tones and thickest riffs possible. After parting ways with their original bassist and relocating to Seattle, Beldam is psyched to release Pasung to the masses and play as many shows as possible in its new Pacific Northwest home.

Tracklisting:

“Vial Of Silence”
“Sunken Sorceress”
“Shed The Coil”
“One From The Stable”
“Carrion Feast”
“That Which Consumes You”

“Vial Of Silence”:

In 2007, the kings of comedy rock Psychostick unleashed their fan loved holiday album The Flesh Eating Rollerskate Holiday Joyride. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Psychsotick are spreading the holiday cheer with the full album stream, which includes comedy skits and of course their classic xmas sing-a-longs such as "Jingle Bell Metal", "Holiday Hate", "Jolly Old Sadist", "Red Snow" and more.

And in case ya missed it... Psychostick put out their latest holiday cover for American Thanksgiving, "Give Thanks or Die", a parody of Slipknot's "Get This", which appears as a b-side from the band's 1999 self-titled album.

(Band Photo: Colt Coan)

Twentynine Palms, CA-based sludge/doom metal group Atala will release their upcoming full-length concept album, Labyrinth of Ashmedai, on January 26th, 2018 via Salt of the Earth Records. Pr-order the album here.

Two weeks ago, the band released their devastatingly heavy track "Death's Dark Tomb". Today, the band is following up with a drum playthrough of the track, featuring the rhythmic talents of Jeff Tedtaotao.

The concept of Labyrinth of Ashmedai is inspired by Asmodeus, or "Ashmedai", the biblical "king of demons". Conjuring grit-laced sludge inspired by their barren and often oppressive desert backdrop, Atala grips the listener with reflective, crushing doom atmospheres dripping with stoner rock and experimental influences to boot.

Conjuring grit-laced sludge inspired by their barren and often oppressive desert backdrop, Atala grips the listener with reflective, crushing doom atmospheres dripping with stoner rock and experimental influences to boot. As with their last record, Shaman's Path of the Serpent, Labyrinth Of Ashmedai was produced by Billy Anderson, recognized for his work with colossal bands such as Sleep, Melvins and Mastodon.

Atala draws inspiration from their local environment, but not in the way other bands from the area do. "Contrary to popular belief, we aren't from Joshua Tree, the tourist-trap," starts Kyle Stratton. "Unlike our silver spoon-fed, trust-funded neighbors, we're from the blue collar side of town. Twentynine Palms is a military base area - our surroundings inspire our music in a way that is pretty different from the way other local bands describe their own inspirations. It's not all meditation and serenity out here."

Stratton continues, "We feel more sullen in our outlook. Not only do we deal with weather reaching nearly 130 degrees, we see and experience the effects of true struggles - war, poverty, death, drugs, gang violence, prostitution and murder - quite often. Gun stores, casinos, churches, liquor stores, bars, wild animals and greed-based-politics just touch the surface of what our town offers. Without going into too much detail... it's no easy life for us out here. Our music is a mirror that reflects the truth of our personal life experiences."

Stratton says working with producer Billy Anderson gives Atala a great advantage, because not only does he bring out their best, he understands their background on a personal level. "Billy was born and raised in Twentynine Palms, so not only does he understand our feelings of despair, he understands the heaviness we are trying to express musically. He helped mold us; he knows how to package heavy in a palatable way. You can hear his industrial stylings and noise contributions adding to the experimental vibe we have on this record. Because we are so comfortable with him, he is able to push us and bring us to a higher level."

Labyrinth Of Ashmedai tracklisting:

"Grains Of Sand"
"Tabernacle Of"
"Death's Dark Tomb"
"I Am Legion"
"Wilted Leaf"
"Infernal"

"Death's Dark Tomb":

"Grains Of Sand" video:

"Tabernacle Of" video / Mini-documentary:

Atala is:

Kyle Stratton (Guitar and Vocals)
Jeff Tedtaotao (Drums)
Dave Horn (Bass)

Pagan metallers Asenblut will release their new EP, Legenden, on February 16th, 2018 on AFM Records. The EP takes a look at the early days of Aufbruch while taking a huge step forward at the same time: four songs from the band’s early days, re-recorded and refined in the most perfect way, again by Mr. Sebastian “Seeb” Leevermann (Orden Ogan) in his Greenman Studios. 

As a very special treat, the EP also includes a cover version of Manowar’s “God Or Man”.

Tracklisting:

“Die Legende” (2018)
“Heldenbürde” (2018)
“Asenblut” (2018)
“God Or Man” (Manowar cover)
“Von Des Verräters Untergang” (2018)

Once again, Canada’s molten cauldron of metal, its crucible of carnage, spews forth a new release from one of its fine bands, the splendidly named Vantablack Warship. Formed by veterans of the Quebec metal scene (Arseniq33, Ghoulunatics, Brutal Chérie, Foreshadow, Les Ékorchés, Buffalo Theory Mtl), this Montreal quintet conjures up images of a neon black pirate ship come to wage a metal storm on an unsuspecting Earth.

Metal legend Tony Dolan, AKA The Demolition Man of Venom Inc. recently described Vantablack Warship as a “Cool Slayer”.

Set to unleash their new album Abrasive Pulmonic Speak on January 26th, 2018 to follow their well celebrated 2015 self-titled EP, a second album teaser is streaming below.

The new album features eight tracks of just solid riffage from heavy hardcore speed demon ripping to sludgy down tunes all applied with dirty in your face vocals ready to destroy with its moshpit anthems. From tracks like “Blood On The Mat”, a graphic account of women in the UFC to “The Blackhole” about Raider Nation football fans and “Another Dead Rockstar”, not to be taken too literally, about washed up musicians still chasing the dream, but in the end sowing a path of disrepute and shame. These tracks all have a story to tell.

Guitarist Pat Gordon comments:

“Abrasive Pulmonic Speak, the title of our album is a testimony to the harshness of our lyrics and music. They are pretty hardcore! But it also refers to the title track, which is based on the works of Henry Miller. He was expatriated for some of his earlier works that he put into print that at those times people never dared say out loud.  We are trying to channel that but from another an angle which is the stereotype that comes with metal music, which, quite frankly is tired. We have metalheads that are well into their 60s and 70s today. It’s annoying that people see us as a subculture when in fact we are a very legitimate culture.”

For those in the Montreal area, Vantablack Warship will be hosting their CD launch show on February 10th at Katacombes with Floating Widget and Dizzygoth. 

“Vantablack Warship is a destructive machine live. Something to do with the heaviness of the sound! It echoes the decibel breaking Motorhead was known for with their loud amps. We are straight to the point non-stop metal! No dawdling around on stage and useless banter. We set a good atmosphere and interrelate well with the crowd. Vantablack Warship to the max!"

Tracklisting:

“Another Dead Rockstar”
“Black Tongue Bertha”
“Blood On The Mat”
“Kill The Kid”
“Ruderalis”
“Abrasive Pulmonic Speak”
“The Blackhole”
“Crisis”

Teaser II:

Teaser:

(Photo by: Wayne William Archibald)

Featuring vocalist Márton Székely, guitarist András Gábor, bass player Gergely Dobos and drummer Máté Gulyás, Ozone Mama’s soulful and riff-heavy music gives a fresh facelift to the rock and roll of the ‘60s and ‘70s. What’s more, this January, the Hungarian quartet will release their brand-new studio album Cosmos Calling on one of the finest heavy psych, stoner and doom labels on the planet. Ripple Music.
 
Acclaimed for their electrifying live performances, cranking out a bristling brand of high-octane rock, Ozone Mama hail from Budapest with a vintage sound swaddled in a modern vibe.

Their debut album The Starship Has Landed won a Fonogram Prize at the Hungarian Music Awards in 2012 and their follow up, Freedom EP (2013), received major airplay across European, American and Canadian radio stations.

Their last album, Sonic Glory (2016) saw the band receive their second Fonogram Prize in the category of ‘Hard Rock/Metal Album of the Year’ and capped off what had been an extremely busy time for the band, sharing stages across Europe with International headliners such as Monster Magnet (USA), Airbourne (AU), The Darkness (UK) and Kamchatka (SWE).

Ripple Music will release the band’s new album Cosmos Calling on January 19th, 2018.

Tracklisting:

“Evil Ways”
“Straight On Till Morning Light”
“Doppelganger”
“High Ride”
“Feel So Alive”
“Shout At The Sky”
“Cosmos Calling”
“Freedom Fighters”
“Cold Light Of Day”
“The Alchemist”
“Moon Pilot”

“Doppelganger”:

“High Ride”:

High Ride by Ozone Mama

Brian Tichy (The Dead Daisies, Billy Idol, Whitesnake, Foreigner, Gilby Clarke, Pride & Glory) has released an 11-track instrumental Christmas album, Merry Tichmas. A solo project in every sense of the word, all instruments were recorded, performed and produced by Brian Tichy. 

Although, one special guest does make an appearance: Derek Sherinian (Sons Of Apollo, Black Country Communion, Dream Theater, Billy Idol) plays piano, keyboards and bells of festivity on "The Little Drummer Boy".

Ahead of Santa's arrival, Tichy has shared a pair of tracks, the first being "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town". Check it out below as the talk box leads the way.

The second is an updated take on the Dr. Seuss classic "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch". 

"Having fun with big drum sounds and '70s guitar vibes," says Brian. "Lots of sleigh bells, lots of guitar color, not too heavy and no loss of festivity in the overdriven rock!"

Order your copy of Merry Tichmas now, on CD or digital download, at BrianTichy.com or Pledge Music.

Tracklisting:

"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"
"Winter Wonderland"
"You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch"
"Here Comes Santa Claus"
"The Christmas Song"
"It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year"
"A Holly Jolly Christmas"
"The Little Drummer Boy"
"Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree"
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"
"O Come, All Ye Faithful"

 

Heavatar, the classical inspired metal band revolving around Van Canto mastermind Stefan Schmidt (vocals, guitar), drummer Jörg Michael (former Stratovarius), Sebastian Scharf (lead guitars), Daniel Wicke (bass) and some of the greatest classical composers of all time are releasing their sophomore album, Opus II - The Annihilation, on February 16th via earMUSIC. A lyric video for the track "None Shall Sleep" is available for streaming below.

Unlike other classic-meets-metal projects, the purpose of Heavatar is not in just adapting classical compositions to new instrumentations. It is not writing a metal song and having some orchestra playing along. Heavatar’s music is an answer to the question “What would it sound like, if Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin and friends joined a metal band?”. The classical composer’s impact ranges from a single melody to a riff, a song structure, a harmony or even a lyrical inspiration - always picked up and thrown back by the band members, creating a unique, riff-oriented sound with some classical feel underneath. Puccini is spending some chords on the thrashy opener “None Shall Sleep”, Chopin adds some piano-based shuffle feel on “Hijacked By Unicorns” and Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Boellmann and Vivaldi are adding their style and ideas to other songs on “The Annihilation”.

Standing out as a true gem of the genre and beyond, the new album displays exciting guitar riffs, a great sense for storytelling, diversified yet catchy melodies and high velocity. If Opus I - All My Kingdoms was a stepping stone into the unexpected waters of classic inspired power metal, Opus II - The Annihilation is a cliff-dive into the same water that bravely challenges the very barriers and possibilities of it.

Opus II - The Annihilation will be released on February 16th on CD and Digital. Order the album digitally at iTunes, or physically via the Amazon widget below.

Tracklisting:

"None Shall Sleep"
"Into Doom"
"Purpose of a Virgin Mind"
"Hijacked by Unicorns"
"The Annihilation"
"Wake Up Now"
"A Broken Taboo"
"An Awakening"
"A Battle Against All Hope"
"A Look Inside"
"Metal Daze"
"The Look Inside" (Orchestral Version)

"None Shall Sleep" video:

 

 

Hyborian recently signed with Season Of Mist. The Kansas City-based heavy metal riff machine will reissue their debut album, Hyborian Vol. 1, through the label on February 23rd. Pre-order the album here, and watch a music video for the opening track “As Above, So Below”, below.

Hyborian Vol. 1 was recorded by the band at their self-built studio, mixed by Justin Mantooth at Westend Studios, and mastered by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East. It was originally released by the band (in conjunction with friends The Company KC) in March 2017 and tells the tale of an extra-dimensional, cloaked being called The Traveller.

The band explains the concept: "Hyborian Volume I is a collection of stories from the dawn of humanity, events that occurred before the advent of the written word. It is the first in a series of legends from different epochs as told by a figure named The Traveller. The Traveller is a being that exists outside of humanity's understanding of space and time. He is the source of all life in the universe, but is not omnipresent. He wanders the cosmos, visiting and recording times of great strife or hardship, great suffering or great triumph. We are his chosen mouthpiece on Earth, so we relate those stories, whether from far in the past or far in the future."

Hyborian Vol. 1 tracklisting:

“As Above, So Below”
“Maelstrom”
“Blood for Blood”
“Dead Lies Dreaming”
“Ajna”
“Dross”

“As Above, So Below” video:

Hyborian is:

Martin Bush - lead vocals, guitar
Ryan Bates - vocals, guitar
Justin Rippeto - drums
Anthony Diale - bass

Germany's Pyogenesis have released a video for "New Helvetia", a track from their new album, A Kingdom To Disappear, released earlier this year via AFM Records. The clip is available for streaming below.

The cover artwork for A Kingdom To Disappear was created by Stan W. Decker.

Tracklisting:

“Sleep Is Good” (Intro)
“Every Man For Himself…And God Against All”
“I Have Seen My Soul”
“It’s Too Late (A Kingdom To Disappear)”
“New Helvetia”
“That’s When Everybody Gets Hurt”
“We (1848)”
“Blaze, My Northern Flame”
“Everlasting Pain”

"New Helvetia":

“I Have Seen My Soul” video:

“Every Man For Himself…And God Against All” video:

Upcoming live dates:

January
12 - Hannover, Germany - Glocksee
13 - München, Germany - Backstage
18 - Zürich, Switzerland - Dynamo
19 - Würzburg, Germany - B-Hof
20 - Bochum, Germany - Rockpalast

February
1 - Osnabrück, Germany - Bastard Club
2 - Cottbus, Germany - Glad House
3 - Chemnitz, Germany - Talschock

March
2 - Siegen, Germany - Vortex
4 - Erfurt, Germany - Club From Hell
8 - Weinheim, Germany - Cafe Central
9 - Saarbrücken, Germany - Garage
10 - Mönchengladbach, Germany - Kultube
22 - Belfort, France - La poudrière
23 - Savigny-le-Temple, France - L’empreinte
24 - Nancy, France - Chez Paulette

June
2 - Duisburg, Germany - Rage Against Racism

Egypt's Crescent will release their new album, Order Of Amenti, on February 9th via Listenable Records. A lyric video for the album track "Beyond The Path Of Amenti" can be found below.

Order Of Amenti is a tribute to the Ancient Egyptian gods. It is their thought of contribution to Egypt and to the metal world as they have always wanted to create something to pay homage to their history and country. Mixed and mastered at Vamacara studio in France, the album artwork was created by Michal 'Xaay’ Loranc.

Tracklisting:

“Reciting Spells To Mutilate Apophis”
“Sons Of Monthu”
“Obscuring The Light”
“Through The Scars Of Horus”
“The Will Of Amon-Ra”
“Beyond The Path Of Amenti”
“The Twelfth Gate”
“In The Name Of Osiris”

“Beyond The Path Of Amenti” lyric video: