Danish thrashers Impalers are set to release a new EP entitled Styx Demon: The Master Of Death via Evil EyE Records on January 16th. The EP comprises new tracks "Megalodon" and "Styx Demon". It also boasts a killer cover version of Misfits' "Death Comes Ripping" and an awesoome cover of Iron Maiden's "Prowler".  

Formed in 2007, Impalers are a teutonic thrash steamhammer combining sniper precision riffs with a minefield of politically charged lyrics in the vein of Sodom, Kreator, Destruction and Metallica amongst others. 

Impalers frontman Soren Crawack made the following statement regarding the new EP. "This series of EPs effectively serve the function of bridging the gap in-between full-length albums and critically provide the band with a platform to show where are musically at a certain point in time, as we continually evolve our sound. We had so much fun jamming on the songs that inspired us to play music in the first place and we hope our fans enjoy the EP as much as we did recording it." 

The Styx Demon: The Master Of Death EP was produced, mixed and mastered by Marco Angioni at Death Island Studios, while the EP's artwork was designed by Mario Lopez.

CD and digital download pre-order packages are available at the Evil EyE Records store.

 

Finnish aggressive metal quartet Beating Dead Meat will release their second album, With Full Force, tomorrow, December 23rd via Inverse Records. 

Their crushing, straightforward and intense album also contains an excellent Pantera tribute: "The Great Northern Djentkill". Listen to the single "No Compromise" now on Spotify.

Tracklisting:

"2016"
"Straight To Hell"
"No Compromise"
"Dream For The Weak"
"The Few And The Proud"
"Posers"
"The Powers That Be"
"A Failure By Default"
"With Full Force"
"The Great Northern Djentkill"

Check out the lyric video for "No Compromise":

Beating Dead Meat is:

Iikka Jääskeläinen - vocals
Niko Junnilainen - guitars
Anssi Saastamoinen - bass
Joona Komulainen - drums

For further details, visit the band's official Facebook page.

 

Like all musicians and bands, the members of Infectus 13 have their favorites bands and musicians that inspired them, and whom they looked up to in their formative years, and to this day, still look to as part of the reason they become who they are as musicians.

Over the last couple of years, when not all I13 members were available for writing sessions and working up new original material, Sid Falck (ex-Overkill) used some of the downtime to lay down drum tracks to a very big handful of songs, which he felt were both fun to cover, as well as a way of paying homage to some of the music, he and his fellow I13 members, have mutually enjoyed from other bands and musicians over the years.

Originally meant as bonus material for their now further delayed debut album, it was decided that since all the drum tracks had already been recorded, the rest of the guys would start finishing up the rest of the instrument and vocal tracks, then mix and release the songs over the next 6-8 months, while I13 founder, Sid Falck, is recovering from his back fusion surgery.

Infectus 13 have now released the first cover song, their take on Mötorhead’s “The Hammer” (streaming below). The song features a very special guest appearance by John Gallagher of Raven on bass.

All the songs, including “The Hammer”, were recorded as close to the original versions as possible, as a sign of respect to the various original artists and their recordings.

Says the band: “We can report that Sid Falck underwent the 3-hour fusion surgery on December 15th, 2016. Early indications are, that the interbody fusion and the insertion of the screws and rods went well. Sid is under severely limited mobility restrictions while new bone growth from bone marrow extracted during the surgery, placed on a growth medium then placed along the vertabraes takes hold. Sid is currently at home resting.”

For more news regarding the next release, go to this location.

Brazilian thrashers, Woslom, have released a new music video for their fan favourite, “Underworld Of Aggression, off their latest album, A Near Life Experience, released earlier this year via Shinigami Records for Brazil and the rest of the world through Italian label, Punishment 18.

The video was recorded during the band’s European tour and captures behind the scenes in Germany, Russia and Switzerland, along with clips from Brazil’s Maximus Fest. The video was directed and edited by Diogo Alvino.

A Near Life Experience was recorded at Acustica Studios and mastered at Absolute Master. The cover was made by the artist Mario Lopez.

A Near Life Experience tracklisting:

“Underworld Of Aggression”
“A Near Life Experience”
“Brokenbones”
“Lapses Of Sin”
“Redemption”
“Unleash Your Violence”
“Lords Of War”
“Total Speed Thrash”
“Thrasher’s Return” (Bywar cover)

(Photo - Edu Lawless)

Los Angeles, California-based melodic death metal band, Dreaming Dead, will release their new album, Funeral Twilight, on February 20th via Hammerheart Records. The new song, “Buried”, is available for streaming below.

Formed in 2006 by frontwoman Elizabeth Schall and drummer Mike Caffell, Dreaming Dead continues to capture the attention of audiences and listeners across the globe. Whether through pummelling fans as a live act, or releasing fist-pumping albums, Dreaming Dead is consistently in the business of turning heads.

With two previously released full-length albums under their belt, Within One and Midnightmares, Dreaming Dead currently prepares to release their third full-length album, titled Funeral Twilight.

The band lineup continues with the usual suspects Elizabeth Schall (also active in Cretin), Mike Caffell (also active in Terrorizer LA), Chris McCarthy (also active in Murder Construct) and William Toledo.

“Hammerheart Records heard the new recordings and these are excellent! So we decided to join forces.”

Michael Landauer (a.k.a. Mick Zane), one of the founding members of '80s metal masters MALICE, died earlier today. He was battling what he was told was an inoperable brain tumor and was said to be receiving the same new miracle drug that recently helped former president Jimmy Carter cure his brain cancer.

HELSTAR singer James Rivera, who played with Landauer in the last incarnation of MALICE, posted a touching tribute to the guitarist on Facebook, writing: "Well, I guess the year just couldn't come to end and not have death take away another friend, metal colleague too close to home once again. A bandmate, Mick Landauer, I actually recorded with and toured with on a professional level passed away this morning.

"We did the best we could, along with Mark Behn, Jay Reynolds, Pete Holmes, Robert Cardenas and Joe Floyd, with trying to revive the legendary MALICE and probably would have gotten even further with another release or two and who knows what we would be doing by now.

"In some sense, I am starting to become numb to such news like this, because it seems it's happening more and more for some odd reason. Or is it just the mere fact us legendary metal heroes who started in the '80s that are still marching on just have got to that age where the bolts and screws are slowly falling off?

"Either way, the numbness has worn off and the deep sorrow has hit like a ton of bricks and I'm trying to hold back the tears as best as I can to finish this.

"I just want to say to all of my metal colleagues I have worked with in the past and that still have your health even though we may not talk daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly, don't think for one moment I do not still love you and would be crushed to hear such news like this about any of you.

"The magic that was made even if it was for one album, show or shows develops a love that will never die. Family love!

"I will miss you, Mick, and my heart goes out to your lovely wife and children. Rest in peace, my brother, and I'll see you on the other side some day.

"'When the Winds of Death' blow on me but for now I guess I will have another 'Angel of light.'"

Since relocating with his friends and bandmates from Portland, Oregon to Hollywood, California in the early '80s to take MALICE to the next level, Mick had been a rock solid part of the Sunset Strip metal scene.

MALICE's latest album, "New Breed Of Godz", was released in May 2012 through SPV/Steamhammer.

The band's two Atlantic releases — "In the Beginning" (1985) and "License to Kill" (1986) — are available Stateside on WEA label Wounded Bird and have continued to sell over the years.

Fan-filmed video footage of ABBATH, the band led by ex-IMMORTAL frontman Olve Eikemo (a.k.a. Abbath), performing on December 10 at the Aztec Theater in San Antonio, Texas can be seen below.

ABBATH recently began rehearsing for its upcoming album in the group's hometown of Bergen, Norway. The follow-up to this year's self-titled debut will be released sometime next year via Season Of Mist.

Bass duties for ABBATH are being handled by a man familiar to metal fans across the world — Tom Cato Visnes, more widely known as King Ov Hell and main composer for several GORGOROTH albums as well as his own bands OV HELL, with singer Shagrath from DIMMU BORGIR, and GOD SEED, with exceptional black metal vocalist Gaahl.

Abbath told New Noise Magazine that he had no intention of ever leaving IMMORTAL. "I never thought for a minute about going solo with ABBATH," he said. "I was kind of forced, forced into making other decisions about things. I thought, okay, if I'm going solo or whatever the fuck, I'd need the right guys to play with."

He added: "I don't see ABBATH as a band. That's my name. It's no SABBATH or ABBA, you know? I said, 'If someone could come up with a logo, then I'd consider it.' Suddenly, it was there and I said, 'Yes, let's proceed!'"

Regarding the circumstances that led to his split with IMMORTAL and the formation of his new group, Abbath said: "I thought it was about fucking time [to release a new album], you know? I said to the guys in IMMORTAL, Demonaz and Horgh, 'C'mon, let's finish rehearsing, let's do this album now.' I had all my ideas, the pre-production was all there, but they… They didn't have the time. At one point, we split. We didn't socialize. We became strangers more and more. They weren't there and I felt alone. I was working, I was waiting. There was this, 'Should I go on with this new album or will no one hear it, because it was supposed to be IMMORTAL?' No! It's my music! They're my ideas. IMMORTAL, it's in my heart, but when I can be Abbath, I feel IMMORTAL. If there's someone I'd really like to apologize to, it's Apollyon, [ex-IMMORTAL bassist and AURA NOIR leader]. When we did that comeback thing we did, we couldn't have done that without him. If there's someone I miss, it's Apollyon."

He continued: "I was lucky to meet with the right people, and out of the fucking chaos comes something else. For me, it's the beginning of something new. Not something bigger, I don't need to be bigger. I need to be fit, fit for a fight. I want to be a survivor in this scene, I want to be up there doing my shit when I'm 72. We're on a fucking campaign now."

German thrash titans KREATOR have released the second video trailer for their upcoming album, "Gods Of Violence". Watch KREATOR mainman Mille Petrozza talk about working with producer Jens Bogren, the featured guests and the album's production process.

"Gods Of Violence" will be released on January 27, 2017 via Nuclear Blast Records. The cover artwork for the disc was created by renowned artist Jan Meininghaus, who also made the limited-edition artwork for KREATOR's last album, 2012's "Phantom Antichrist", and has lent his talents to bands like BOLT THROWER, ACCEPT and OVERKILL in the past.

The exclusive North American cover was created by renowned artist Marcelo Vasco, who has previously worked with SLAYER, MACHINE HEAD, SOULFLY and HATEBREED.

The track listing is as follows: 01. Apocalypticon02. World War Now03. Satan Is Real04. Totalitarian Terror05. Gods Of Violence06. Army Of Storms07. Hail To The Hordes08. Lion With Eagle Wings09. Fallen Brother10. Side By Side11. Death Becomes My Light

The video for the "Gods Of Violence" title track can be seen below. The clip was filmed with renowned video production company Grupa13, which has previously worked with AMON AMARTH, BEHEMOTH and ELUVEITIE.

KREATOR will tour Europe in support of the new CD beginning in early February. Petrozza and his crew will be accompanied by a varied as well as iconic billing. Brazilian-American extreme metal pioneers SEPULTURA are direct support to the headliners, followed by visionary Swedish melodic death metallers SOILWORK and Belgium's finest death/grind outfit ABORTED.

Speaking about the five-year gap between 2012's "Phantom Antichrist" album and the upcoming "Gods Of Violence", Mille told Metal Wani: "It didn't seem that long, to be honest, because we have been touring so much. And I think in order to come up with something relevant and something exciting, it's definitely important to take some time off, and hat's what we did. After the extensive touring cycle for 'Phantom Antichrist', we just took almost… not two years off — we played a couple of festivals — but, basically, we didn't do much in '15 and until now [in] '16; those two years were free of any long touring. And so, yeah, being able to do this was a luxury, but was also necessary in order to come up with something great."

Mille also talked about the songwriting process for "Gods Of Violence", explaining: "We just wanted to write new songs that are just, 'Wow!' I think that's basically what we had in mind. One thing that we were all conscious about was that we needed to come up with an album that blows everyone away. So whatever it takes, we do. That's the only conscious decision that we made — to come up with something exciting; that's the key."

Regarding KREATOR's decision to return to Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden to record "Gods Of Violence" with Jens Bogren (OPETH, AMON AMARTH, KATATONIA), Mille said: "It was fantastic. We had a great time. We knew the location, we knew the studio, and it was really cool. And it was summertime this time, so it was a lot easier, really. It was nice."

KREATOR will headline next year's edition of the annual Decibel Magazine Tour. Support on the trek will come from Florida death metal legends OBITUARY, old-school Ohio brutalizers MIDNIGHT and celebrated progressive death prodigies HORRENDOUS (with regional openers in select markets to be announced next year).





North American cover (by Marcelo Vasco):



International cover (by Jan Meininghaus):

Hailing from Minneapolis, MN, technical death metallists Reaping Asmodeia have set a release date for Impuritize, their Prosthetic Records debut, on February 24th.

Mixed and mastered by Zach Ohren (Fallujah, First Fragment), the album combines sheer brutality with meticulous technicality to craft one of the finest extreme death metal albums of the year.

The album's artwork was created by Eddie Danger of Unlimited Visual (Born Of Osiris) and can be viewed below. A teaser clip featuring samples of some of the the album tracks is also available Stay tuned for pre-order details in the coming weeks.

Tracklisting:

“The Clemency Guise”
“Defenestration”
“Of Talons And Teeth”
“Hidebound”
“Carnal Declivity”
“Irreversible Evolution”
“Virulent Exposure”
“Collage Of Toxins”
“Ritual Of Ignorance”

Teaser:

Reaping Asmodeia have announced an advance listening party for Impuritize, and the official  premiere for the sickening and disturbing video for their track "Of Talons And Teeth”, directed by Anthony Cousins. The event will take place at their hometown bar Bauhaus Brew Lab on January 10th and will include raffles, give-aways and great beer on hand. For further event information, head here.

Reaping Asmodeia linup:

Steven Lane -Vocals
Alex Kelly - Guitar
Daniel Koppy - Drums
Roman Pinter - Bass

MUTINY WITHIN will release its third full-length album, titled "Origins", on February 10, 2017.

The first single from "Origins", a track called "Archetype Of Destruction", can be streamed below.

Commented MUTINY WITHIN bassist Andrew Jacobs: "At the end of last year, we found some old demos we thought had been lost, which led to a discussion about putting together an EP.

"We planned on releasing the demos along with a couple of new songs but once we got started, we had more and more ideas for new songs and the plan quickly evolved into making an EP of brand new tracks.

"Our fans have stuck by us through so much, and as we kept working, we felt we were selling them short with just an EP, so we pushed on and turned it into a full album.

"We've now been in the studio for almost a year and have put together what we think are our best songs to date. It's MUTINY WITHIN but evolved, more extreme, longer songs, but still with everything that made people excited about us. My favorite part; it's all real. The drums, the vocals, the shred, and most of all, the passion we've always had for our music... We tried to capture the energy as if we were on stage and we've done that.

"We're so excited about the results and have no plans on stopping now.

"We owe our fans everything and we hope they continue to enjoy listening to us for a long time to come."

Pre-orders are available at www.mutiny-within.com.

MUTINY WITHIN made waves in the metal community early in its career by joining the Roadrunner Records roster and touring endlessly on the heels of its self-titled debut album. Having half the lineup live across the great Atlantic pond and experiencing serious financial difficulties due to the rampant piracy in the music industry, MUTINY WITHIN was forced to go on hiatus in 2011. That was the end of the touring band, but not the end of their music. A second album in the form of the independently produced "Synchronicity" followed in 2013.

The wait is over and Arvas is set to release their new album Black Path on March 24th, 2017 and it is time for; uncompromising and unique black, death/thrash metal.

There are catchy songs like “Ferocious Stigma”, and the high-black/thrash metal track “Unhallowed Grace” as well as Arvas’ very own version of “Evil” by Mercyful Fate and much more.

Black Path was recorded, produced and mixed by V-Rex at Equinox Starlite Studios in Kristiansand, Norway and mastered by Dan Swanö (Dissection, Dark Funeral, Opeth, Marduk, Edge of Sanity etc.) at Unisound Studio, Germany/Sweden.

Tracklisting:

“Blackpath”
“The Ferocious Stigma”
“Unhallowed Grace”
“I Am Thy Grief”
“Hellhunts”
“In Solitude I Dwell”
“This Scarred Soul”
“Murder Is Patience”
“Bergdjaevul”
“…For The Fallen Shall Arise”
“Evil” (Mercyful Fate cover)

Just about 2 months to February 24th, 2017, the day My Kingdom Music will release Sacred / Scared the debut album of the female fronted extreme metal band 5Rand.

Recorded at Kick Recording Studios (Rome, Italy), engineered and mixed by Marco Mastrobuono (Fleshgod Apocalypse, Hour of Penance) and mastered at Finnvox (Helsinki, Finland) by Mika Jussila (Nightwish, Amorphis, Children Of Bodom), it will stand at the deep heart of each listener with the alienating extreme sound of their proposal in the best Arch Enemy, In Flames, Gojira tradition.

Cover by Emanuele Lombardi:

Tracklisting:

“Behind The Doors Of Sin”
“Erase”
“Fuck – Simile”
“Paint Of Pain”
“Cordyceps”
“Blessed”
“Preacher Of Lies”
“Drowning Into Insanity”
“The True Death Show”
“Narcolepsycho (Silent Scream)”

“Preacher Of Lies” live video:

On March 24th, Grumpynators will release their second album: City Of Sin - the successor to the debut: Wonderland. The band now reveals the tracklist and the first single: “Take The Last Dance With Me” which will be released February 3rd on 7” vinyl (single and video release at Zeppelin Rock Bar, Copenhagen February 2nd). 

“This is the difficult second album” says guitarist, Christian Noergaard and continues: “It has been vital for us to make this record a lot stronger than the debut. This is one of the reasons why we choose to work with Jacob Hansen”. 

Michael Andersen, A&R at Mighty Music follows up: “I think that Grumpynators is entering a whole different league with this album both in a songwriting and vocal context”.
 
The 12 track album is a product of a joint work process between the four musicians in the band and Rob Caggiano as guest guitarist on “Far Away”, a song where he in cooperation with the band have played solo, fills and themes. The drums, guitars and bass are recorded by Jakob Gundel at Gainfactory Studio - vocals, production, mix and master have been done with Jacob Hansen (Dizzy Miss Lizzy, Volbeat, Pretty Maids).

Wonderland secured the band a Gaffa Award for Danish Hard Rock Release Of The Year, and got the band nominated at High Voltage Award but the highlight in 2016 was playing at this year’s Copenhell - opening the Pandemonium Stage.

Tracklisting:

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

Johnny Lokke has released a new song and is joined by all-star cast bassist Giovanni Sena (Age of Artemis), guitarist Vincent O. (Atrium), lead guitarist Carlos Arcay (Yidorah) and drummer Solomon DeWitt. Lokke is getting ready to enter the studio to begin recording the follow-up to his 6th release Promises And Lies and wanted to put out a song to let everyone know that more music will be coming.

"For the last few years I've been on the other side of the window, recording, producing and mixing other bands' music, and it really got me itching to make some of my own. All that time I've been writing, and I have about 15 new songs, so I put the other stuff on hold and I'm going to start recording release number seven right after Christmas. I thought I better do something to warm up and get in the swing of things, so I called up a few friends around the world and we threw down ‘Johnny's Back’ to kind of sum up where I am now! It was a great way to kick everything off and I can't wait to get started."

Download the track for free on Bandcamp.

ANTHRAX will embark on its first full European headline tour in more than a decade in February. All shows will see the band celebrating the 30th anniversary of the release of its classic "Among The Living" by performing the LP live in its entirety along with fan favorites from throughout the band's rich 35-year career.

In support of this upcoming trek, ANTHRAX will release a limited tour edition of its latest studio album, "For All Kings", on February 17. In addition to the regular album, it will include "Vice Of the People" (previously only available in Japan) as well as a bonus disc of demo versions of several of the album's songs.

ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante commented on the "For All Kings" tour edition: "We've included some of the demos from 'For All Kings' in this package. We wanted to show the evolution of the songs. The idea of a song can start from a guitar riff or a thought in your head. It then takes shape and goes from my music to Scott's [Ian, guitar] lyrics to Frank [Bello, bass] and Joey's [Belladonna, vocals] ideas and melodies to Jon's [Donais] lead guitar. This is our way of making ANTHRAX music — ENJOY!"

"For All Kings" tour edition track listing:

CD1 - "For All Kings"

01. You Gotta Believe02. A Monster At The End03. For All Kings04. Breathing Lightning05. Suzerain06. Evil Twin07. Blood Eagle Wings08. Defend/Avenge09. All Of Them Thieves10. This Battle Chose Us11. Zero Tolerance12. Vice Of The People (bonus track)

CD2 - Demos

01. Breathing Lightning02. A Monster At The End03. This Battle Chose Us04. Soror Irrumator05. Vice Of The People

ANTHRAX has sold in excess of ten million units, received multiple gold and platinum certifications, six Grammy nominations and a host of other accolades from the media, industry and fans. In 1991, their music helped break down race and genre barriers when they collaborated with PUBLIC ENEMY on "Bring The Noise". And, of course, along with METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH, ANTHRAX helped pioneer the thrash/metal genre as a member of the "Big Four".

"For All Kings" sold 34,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 9 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Finnish folk metallers KORPIKLAANI have released a video for their latest digital single, "FC Lahti". The song is a very special track written in support of the 20th anniversary of the band's local football team, FC Lahti, which plays in Finland's premier football division Veikkausliiga.

The "FC Lahti" video contains footage from KORPIKLAANI's appearance at this year's edition of the Czech Republic's Masters Of Rock festival.

KORPIKLAANI's Jonne Järvelä states: "When I was asked if KORPIKLAANI would want to support the local football team playing at the top level in Finland, my answer was definitely yes.

"My first idea on how to take this forward was the thing that is important to us as a band, to write a song, a new official anthem for FC Lahti, and here it is now.

"Lyrics are not just about football, but also about love for your hometown without forgetting its history.

"I wish the fans of FC Lahti and everyone else too will like the song."

Tomi Honkanen, the managing director (president) of FC Lahti, adds: "FC Lahti and KORPIKLAANI are two strong brands that generate strong emotions in Lahti and internationally.

"At FC Lahti, we highly value that KORPIKLAANI wears our colors and brings our great FC Lahti to the world. Lahti rocks!"

Order the song "FC Lahti" here.

KORPIKLAANI's latest album, "Noita", was released in May 2015 in North America via Nuclear Blast. Recorded at Petrax Studio with Aksu Hanttu producing, recording and mixing again, it is the band's first CD to feature new accordion player Sami Perttula, who played a very active role in the folk arrangements along with fiddler Tuomas Rounakari.

Ånge, Sweden-based aggressive rock act, Corroded, have signed a multi-album deal with the ever expanding Despotz Records label. The band's new album, Defcon Zero, will see a worldwide release in the spring of 2017 and the deal includes the band's back catalogue: 2009's Eleven Shades Of Black, Exit To Transfer from 2010 and State Of Disgrace (2012). All three albums will see vinyl releases and finally be available digitally outside of Sweden.

The band states: "We are totally stoked to announce that we've now got Despotz as a new label partner. They have brought hard and heavy music to the public for a few years now.. We're looking forward to this cooperation as together with Despotz we will reach the next level. So CorrodedHeads stay tuned for the new single from our upcoming record.”

Corroded has topped the Swedish charts with every release to date. Musically the band is a crossbreed of metal and classic rock and they spend their lives on the road, having toured across Europe and hitting festival stages across the continent. The band's track, "Age Of Rage" (from Exit To Transfer) was used in the launch of the video game Battlefield - one of the game industry's most successful franchises - which pushed the song to gold status in Sweden in 2011.

Carl-Marcus Gidlof of Despotz Records says, "“Corroded have worked hard to build a faithful and broad support for their music, and we will now work together to take this out to the world, where we'll be using our strong reach both digitally and physically. We (Despotz Records) have had contact with Corroded for a while now and are very happy they chose to include us in their team, and it will be an honour to welcome them into the Despotz-family."

In a brand new interview with FoxNewsMagazine.com, MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine was asked what the difference is between a good band and a great band. He responded (see video below): "There are tons of people who play music that don't have the gift. You will see bands consist of a lot of different aggregates; sometimes there'll be several people that play music but no musicians. Or you'll have several musicians and… several people who play music and one musician. Or [as it] continues to go up, we have a bunch of musicians and then you get a star. Or, in our situation, where we have several stars and somebody that… me being a living legend — and I don't say this because I believe it, but because of the status and stuff — it's, like, having a bunch of stars and a superstar in a band, it changes things. Not only do people listen differently, but it also gives you a lot of other opportunities for you to reach people and help change their lives."

Mustaine's latest comments echo those he made to the Brazilian news portal R7 in October 2013. He stated at the time: "We [MEGADETH] have legendary status; some people never get that. MEGADETH does. I have legendary status myself too, which… sometimes a band will, but members won't. And that is an amazing thing for me. Plus being a New York Times best-selling author when I failed English in high school is hilarious."

MEGADETH recently completed a month-long U.S. tour with AMON AMARTH, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, METAL CHURCH and BUTCHER BABIES.

The band is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, "Dystopia", which came out in January.

LINKIN PARK singer Chester Bennington says that "there is no way" his band won't eventually be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Hame.

Chester made his comments during an appearance on the "Karlson & McKenzie" show on Boston's WZLX 100.7 FM radio station to promote his East Coast tour with KINGS OF CHAOS, the part-time all-star rock 'n' roll collective that also includes former and current members of GUNS N' ROSES and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS.

Asked if he can one day see LINKIN PARK being inducted into the Rock Hall, Chester said (hear audio below): "A hundred percent. There's no way that we can't be. Biggest-debuting album of the 21st Century. I mean, how can you not get in?"

Pressed on whether he thinks LINKIN PARK will get inducted in its first year of eligibility, Bennington responded: "Ahhh… I have no idea."

Bennington also weighed in the 2017 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees, a list which includes JOURNEY, YES, ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA (ELO), PEARL JAM, Joan Baez, Tupac Shakur, with CHIC's Nile Rodgers tapped for the Award For Musical Excellence.

"There isn't a single artist in that list that I disagree with — honestly," Chester said. "Tupac was the most surprising to me, but, nonetheless, I do see the cultural and musical connection that he's made.

To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. The 2017 nominees had to release their first recording no later than 1991.

LINKIN PARK's debut album, "Hybrid Theory", arrived in 2000 and in August 2012 joined the ten-million-sellers club.

"Hybrid Theory" debuted at No. 16 on The Billboard 200 chart dated November 11, 2000 and eventually peaked at No. 2 on January 12, 2002.

"Hybrid Theory" became the No. 1 selling album of 2001 in the U.S. with 4.8 million sold. Since then, LINKIN PARK has notched five No. 1 albums, including 2012's "Living Things".

Opening at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, LINKIN PARK's latest album, 2014's "The Hunting Party", was the band's first studio album not to start at No. 1 since "Hybrid Theory".

BraveWords is premiering a new track from Enemy Remains, featuring original Fates Warning drummer Steve Zimmerman. Get up and get down with the new headbanger “Trust In No One”!

 

Global Music Award-winning heavy metal group Enemy Remains recently announced the upcoming release of their new album, No Faith In Humanity, hitting digital and physical retailers on January 20th, 2017 (preorder via iTunes). 
 
Guitarist Tommy Blardo states, “‘Trust In No One’ was written as a fast, driving aggressive style with the roots of our progressive side on the verses and very hooky choruses. Lyrically, the track conveys the idea that only YOU can control the path you’re on and to never rely on false promises. Only you can make a difference in your own life!”

No Faith In Humanity features pre-production by Jeffrey Weed (Trivium, Korn) and Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Sepultura, Halford). The album was recorded, engineered and mixed by Nick Bellmore (Toxic Holocaust, Jasta, Kingdom of Sorrow) at Dexters Lab Recording, and mastered by Chris Zeuss Harris (Rob Zombie, Queensrÿche, Hatebreed).

Previously, Blardo stated, “I think our fans are going to be very surprised with the new direction of the band. On this release, we’re very focused on vocal melodies and driving songwriting, while still finding room for those anthem-like choruses. Don’t worry though, being driven by Steve, we’re definitely keeping the progressive sound we’ve always been known for. We worked really hard on the new album and we’re excited to share it with our fans.”
 
In anticipation of the upcoming release, Enemy Remains will perform their first local event of 2017 on January 13th at Toad’s Place in New Haven, CT. The band will perform as part of a two-day fest, also featuring Alcoholica (classic Metallica tribute from CT with all original line up feat. Kai Blackwood, Ross Ragusa, Ron Celentano, & Opus Lawrence), Sworn Enemy, Dead By Wednesday, Revenge Against God, The Shape and Devil Inside.
 
Also just announced, Enemy Remains will perform with Nonpoint on February 8th at The Webster in Hartford, CT. The second stage opens at 5:00 PM and the main stage opens at 7:00 PM.

No Faith In Humanity tracklisting:

“Colony”
“Trust In No One”
“Divided By Hate” (feat. Nick Bellmore [Toxic Holocaust, Jasta, Kingdom of Sorrow])
“Civilization”
“No Faith In Humanity” (feat. Joey Concepcion [Armageddon, Dead By Wednesday] & Jeff Curtis [Obsession & StikPin])
“Breathe Again”
“Empty Inside”

“No Faith In Humanity” video featuring Joey Concepcion (Armageddon, Dead By Wednesday) on guitars, and Jeff Curtis (Obsession, StikPin) on bass:

Enemy Remains is:
Steve Zimmerman - Drums 
Bob Bryk - Keyboards 
Tommy Blardo "The Beast" - Guitars/Vocals 
Frank Morin - Vocals 
Jeff Curtis - Bass 
Scott Kadish - Guitars

Thrash-metal stalwarts, Havok, have announced the details for their upcoming new studio album, Conformicide. The Denver/US based group will unleash their fourth full-length record on March 10th via Century Media Records, along with touring in both North America and Europe next year to support the release.

Conformicide is the follow up to the band's 2013 effort, Unnatural Selection. Discussing what fans can expect from the new record, David Sanchez (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) comments: “Conformicide is our most dynamic, heavy, thoughtful, musical, and sonically-crushing album so far. All four members feel that this is the best Havok album to date. There are a lot of “truth bombs” being dropped on this record and the music absolutely rips!”

Building on Sanchez's comments, Reece Scruggs (lead guitar) adds: “This album swings for the fences in every way. Sonically stunning, technically proficient and lyrically pissed, we've never been represented at our best until this moment in time. We cannot wait for the world to react to Conformicide."

In the shop for almost three years, Havok’s Conformicide is undoubtedly their “Master Of Puppets” or “Rust In Peace” moment. True, the Denver-based rippers have bled out guts, brains, and cash on previous albums Unnatural Selection (2013), Time Is Up (2011), and Burn (2009), but none of them compare to the ear-destroying, mind-flaying Conformicide.

“Conformicide is faster and way angrier than Unnatural Selection,” says vocalist/guitarist/founding member David Sanchez. “On this album, the music is very layered and dynamic and the lyrics say a lot about the current state of the world."

As previously mentioned, Havok will return to the road in 2017 with extensive touring planned in both North American and Europe. Expressing the band's level of enthusiasm to bring their fans an even heavier and more energized live show than ever before, Sanchez states, "We can’t wait to perform some new music live and present a show that people won’t forget!  Expect to see Havok like you’ve never seen before. We’re ready to destroy!"

North American Headline Tour with Exmortus, Extinction A.D.

February
8 - Chicago, IL - Reggie's Rock Club
9 - Detroit, MI - Small's
10 - Toronto, ON - Rockpile West
11 - Quebec City, QC - L'Anti
12 - Montreal, QC - Les Foufounes Electriques
13 - Somerville, MA - Once Ballroom
14 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus
15 - Philadelphia, PA - Voltage Lounge
16 - Rochester, NY - Montage Music Hall
17 - Dayton, OH - Rockstar Pro Arena
19 - Oklahoma City, OK - Thunder Alley

European Headline Tour with Warbringer, Gorod & Exmortus

April
1 - Edingburgh, UK - Heavy Scotland Festival * Havok only!
2 - Manchester, UK - Rebellion   
3 - Birmingham, UK - Mama Roux’s  
4 - London, UK - Underworld  
5 - Hasselt, Belgium - Muziekodroom   
6 - Tilburg, The Netherlands - 013   
7 - Hamburg, Germany - Logo  
8 - Aarhus, Denmark - Royal Metal Festival  
9 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Sticky Fingers  
11 - Helsinki, Finland - Tavastia  
13 - Stockholm, Sweden - Fryshuset Klubben  
14 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Pumpehuset   
15 - Berlin, Germany - Cassiopeia  
16 - Markneukirchen, Germany - Framus & Warwick Concert Hall  
17 - München, Germany - Feierwerk  
19 - Vienna, Austria - Arena  
20 - Ljubljana, Slovenia - Orto Bar  
21 - Brescia, Italy - Circolo Colony  
22 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7  
23 - Saarbrücken, Germany - Garage  
24 - Nantes, France - Ferrailleur   
26 - Madrid, Spain - Caracol  
27 - Barcelona , Spain - Salamandra 1  
28 - Puget, France - Le Rats  
29 - Paris, France - Petit Bain  
30 - Essen, Germany - Turock

(Photo - Havok Facebook)

Fan-filmed video footage of KINGS OF CHAOS's December 17 performance at Wellmont Theater in Montclair, New Jersey can be seen below.

KINGS OF CHAOS is the part-time all-star rock 'n' roll collective that includes former and current members of GUNS N' ROSES, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS and LINKIN PARK.

Following a mini-residency at the House Of Blues in Las Vegas December 1-3, KINGS OF CHAOS's East Coast run features former GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER drummer Matt Sorum, LINKIN PARK vocalist Chester Bennington, Robin Zander of CHEAP TRICK, Billy Gibbons of ZZ TOP, Steve Stevens, guitarist for BILLY IDOL, and Robert DeLeo, bassist of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS.

Sorum, the creative force behind KINGS OF CHAOS, says: "KINGS OF CHAOS always delivers a badass lineup, and this tour will not disappoint. Where can you hear some of the most iconic songs in rock history packed into one show, performed by the actual artists who created them? Every night is a celebration of rock and roll."

Asked how he manages to manage all the big personalities involved with KINGS OF CHAOS, Sorum told the Windsor Star: "You know what? It's really a fun, easy gig. There's really no agenda behind it except to play a cool show… I've played with all these guys before. It's super easy-going. Everyone gets on the airplane, drives out to the gig, sets up the gear, and rocks. There's really no drama around it at all."

Regarding how important ego management is in keeping a band together, Sorum said: "From my experience, I mean… It's been a bit of a wild ride. Hence the name KINGS OF CHAOS. [Laughs] But at the same time, I don't know if I would've wanted it any other way. You know, I see bands with lead singers who are really nice. Squeaky clean. And I really don't feel I'm getting that wild, rock 'n' roll sensibility that I want."

He continued: "I love Dave Grohl [FOO FIGHTERS frontman], don't get me wrong. But he's a drummer who got out front with a guitar. Is there any danger in it? Not really. If you go to a FOO FIGHTERS show, you're gonna see a band play their set, and everything is gonna go down nice, and he'll thank the crowd, and everyone's gonna go home and go, 'Wow, that was a really nice rock 'n' roll show.'

"Not everything went perfect in any of the bands I've been in, but I know one thing: People on their way home were going, Holy shit, what was that?'"

Regarding the future of KINGS OF CHAOS, Sorum told Robin Leach: "We'll see where KINGS OF CHAOS takes us. It could turn into a band, it could be an album, we don't know yet. I'm thinking about making some original music with it. Seeing if a singer will want to come in and be a permanent member.

"Right now I just want to have fun. I just want to keep it loose, very spontaneous, go out and play for people and have them enjoy the music. I haven't thought too far down the road yet, except maybe to record original music.

"People ask, 'Why would you want to record original music; nobody is buying records anymore?' I go, 'Well, that's not a very good attitude.' The only thing you can do is make music for yourself, and you hope that people gravitate toward it. However, they are going to gravitate toward it. You are playing music because you love it, not because people are going to buy it. I made a solo record last year, and I think it sold five copies. I didn't (care). I love doing it."

'Tis the season to headbang..... Asher Media Relations has released the next volume of its annual holiday sampler Happy Metal Annihilation Vol.6. The compilation features over 40 tracks and nearly four hours of mosh pit ready tunes from bands Asher Media Relations has worked with during 2016. Tracks range from metal, rock and all sub-genres in-between. Get ready to annihilate your holiday fun.

Bands featured on compilation:

A Devil’s Din, Adolyne, Anion, Black Absinthe, Buffalo Theory MTL, Celestial Ruin, The Chronicles Of Israfel, Dark Messiah, Dead Ranch, Demise Of The Crown, Double Experience, Endemise, Fractal Cypher, Godstopper, The Great Sabatini, Hard Charger, Heart Avail, Helleborus, Hopeless Youth, Howling Giant, Illyrian, Jupiter Hollow, Keychain, Kratornas, Krepitus, Like Animals, Lucid AfterLife, Malacoda, Medevil, The Mountain Man, Necronomicon, Ominous Eclipse, Omnisight, The Press Gang, Projekt F, Protokult, Protosequence, Rapheuemts Well, Red Cain, Sanktuary, Sludgehammer, Striker, Tactus, Tales Of The Tomb, Terrifier, Uforia, Van Halst, Vinyl Hero, and Vow Of Thorns

Download the compilation for free on Bandcamp.

For nearly a decade, Montreal, QC based PR firm Asher Media Relations and staff have followed one rule and one rule only, that is getting artists the media attention that they deserve. Developing PR campaigns for image awareness and media support, AMR showcases & represents talented artists to all media outlets ranging from Print, Radio, Online & Television across Canada to around the world.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, AVENGED SEVENFOLD has posted a tribute online to long-running heavy metal magazine Metal Hammer, along with its sister publications Classic Rock and Prog magazine, following the news earlier this week that their parent company, Team Rock, had gone into the British equivalent of bankruptcy. Some 73 staffers have lost their jobs just before Christmas with no severance pay, with the future of the 35-year-old Metal Hammer and the other publications in doubt.

After explaining that years ago magazines were the only means through which the members of AVENGED SEVENFOLD, then just fans themselves, could find information about their favorite acts, the band wrote: "Now that [Metal Hammer] is gone, it pushes metal and rock even further away from the average consciousness. Some believe in keeping heavy music underground, we don't. This music means so much to so many including us. Our music should be inclusive and losing Metal Hammer is a major blow to all of us."

A crowdfunding site has been set up to raise money for the staffers who lost their jobs, with AVENGED adding: "We have met many great people through the years at Team Rock and we are sure they will find great jobs soon enough. For now though, we hope you can help out the people who have dedicated their lives to promoting our favorite type of music through this crowdfunding site. These are good people that don't deserve this just before Christmas. We have donated £1000 and hope you can give a little if you can find the means."

The campaign, started by ORANGE GOBLIN frontman Ben Ward, has raised nearly $77,000 at press time, donated by over 2,700 supporters. The campaign has reached 309 percent of its initial goal of $25,000.

A skeleton crew of just seven remains on duty at Team Rock while a team of administrators make a decision to sell, liquidate or restructure the company.

"Phantom Self", the new video from Brazilian/American metallers SEPULTURA, can be seen below. The Mauricio Eça-directed clip delivers haunting images and sociocultural criticism.

"Phantom Self" is taken from SEPULTURA's new studio album, "Machine Messiah", which will be released on January 13 via Nuclear Blast. Inspired by the robotization of our society, the disc was produced by the band and Jens Bogren (SOILWORK, OPETH, KATATONIA, AMON AMARTH) of Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden. The CD's stunning cover artwork was created by Filipino artist Camille Della Rosa.

"'Phantom Self' starts with a short intro based on the Brazilian rhythm 'Maracatú', originally from the Northeast region of Brazil", explains SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser. "We mixed this very Brazilian sound with violins performed by a Tunisian violin ensemble, the Myriad Orchestra. This was a suggestion from Jens Bogren, the producer of the album, who worked with this orchestra before and he thought it could be a nice combination. We used the violins on different parts of the song and that opened a lot of new possibilities, especially for my guitar parts."

He continued: "It was great to have that conversation between guitar and violins, making the part even more special.

"It's a very heavy song, with a lot of groove, one of the most complete songs we ever worked with, and it's taking SEPULTURA to a new level!"

Adds SEPULTURA singer Derrick Green: "The lyrical idea came from an article that Andreas sent me. It was about a young man who had everything going for him and unfortunately was in a horrific car accident in the '70s. After the accident, he lost his entire idea of who he was. No one could figure out what was going on inside his mind. He would have glimpses of his former self but doctors realized that chemical elements of his mind had shifted. He had become an entirely different person within himself.

"There is this element of change that exists within all of us. This ability is important for our evolution as human beings to move forward even after traumatic events."

"Machine Messiah" track listing:

01. Machine Messiah02. I Am The Enemy03. Phantom Self04. Alethea05. Iceberg Dances06. Sworn Oath07. Resistant Parasites08. Silent Violence09. Vandals Nest10. Cyber God

Regarding how SEPULTURA ended up working with Jens Bogren on the new CD, Kisser told SVT.se: "We did like a small research on different producers that we didn't work [with] before; we wanted to work with somebody new. And the Swedish music and scene and the bands like MESHUGGAH, OPETH and many others inspired us to come here and to work with him. He also worked with KREATOR, a band from Germany, and ANGRA, another band from Brazil, friends of ours, and I was really impressed with the way he worked [with] both bands."

According to Green, "Machine Messiah" sees him and his bandmates continuing to take their sound in new, previously unexplored directions, something that has become somewhat of a SEPULTURA trademark.

"This album, it's exciting, because I think a lot of fans don't have any idea what to expect, but they know that a SEPULTURA album is always different from the last," Derrick said. "I think that makes us better musicians, and I think that's what our fans expect."

After completing a comprehensive European tour with Century Media Records labelmates ENTOMBED A.D., Canadian progressive sci-fi metal innovators VOIVOD are wrapping up a busy year of promoting their "Post Society" EP, and are now launching a promotional video clip for its title track.

The clip, which was shot by Dirk Behlau of the Beastwood Film Production (SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, DARK TRANQUILLITY, ARCH ENEMY) during VOIVOD's appearance at the Leafmeal festival in Germany, can be seen below.

While continuing work on VOIVOD's upcoming studio album, drummer Michel "Away" Langevin checked in with a comment about the "Post Society" video and looked back on the band's very successful 2016.

"This video is the best ending of a very productive and crazy year!" he said. "It started in February-March with a North American East Coast tour with VEKTOR, EIGHT BELLS and BLACK FAST. Then the West Coast and across Canada in May-June with CHILD BITE and KING PARROT. We were joined by Jason Newsted in San Francisco for a two-basses rendition of the song 'Voivod'.

"Shortly after getting back home, we drove down to Montebello, Quebec, to perform at the ever-growing Amnesia Rockfest, where I watched a very tight and energetic show by our friends D.R.I.

"In July, we flew to the Hell And Heaven Fest in Mexico City, where we shared the stage with SEPULTURA and witnessed an intense performance by SUICIDAL TENDENCIES with Dave Lombardo on drums! My highlight was watching TWISTED SISTER in the middle of tens of thousands of people singing 'We're Not Gonna Take It'. We also visited the pyramids of Teotihuacan.

"In August, it was time to go to Europe for a few festivals and club shows. We got a great crowd reaction at Into The Grave festival in The Netherlands, where we ran into our old pals CARCASS.

"In October, we flew to St. John's in the Canadian Maritimes to play our first show ever in Newfoundland. The next day we played the Halifax Pop Explosion in Nova Scotia, came back home right on time to repack and flew to Europe again for a fun tour with ENTOMBED A.D.! We made a stop at the Leafmeal festival in Dortmund, Germany, where we shot the 'Post Society' video with Dirk Behlau / Beastwood Film Production.

"We wrote some songs on the road, demoed them between tours, and now we will spend the winter writing some more, just to make sure there will be a brand new VOIVOD album in 2017.

"Thanks for coming to the shows.

"Enjoy the video, which is very representative of the good time we have on stage, and see you next year!"

After hinting last week that he might get some new NINE INCH NAILS music out before the year's end as promised, Trent Reznor is making good on his word. A new five-song NINE INCH NAILS EP called "Not The Actual Events" has just been released digitally, on one-sided vinyl and as a "physical component."

The fifth and final song from "Not The Actual Events" — a track called "Burning Bright (Field On Fire)" — can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Reznor said about the disc: "It's an unfriendly, fairly impenetrable record that we needed to make. It's an EP because that ended up being the proper length to tell that story." The statement added that the EP will be "unrecognizable" from Reznor's recent soundtrack work with collaborator Atticus Ross, who is now a full-time NIN member.

"Not The Actual Events" track listing:

01. BranchesBones02. Dear World,03. She's Gone Away04. The Idea Of You05. Burning Bright (Field On Fire)

Although the band's web site doesn't explain exactly what the "physical component" is, the image looks like a black rectangle.

The web site offers only a vague description that reads: "The intention of this record is for it to exist in the physical world, just like you. Choosing this package gets you the digital files and we will ship the proper physical component to your house for you to deal with." The physical product will be out the week of January 1.

NINE INCH NAILS also announced the release of the four-LP vinyl set "The Fragile: Deviations 1". This "unique version" of the 1999 album contains 37 instrumental, alternate and unreleased songs, many of which reportedly have never been released elsewhere. It's due out in spring of 2017.

Reznor said about this set: "'The Fragile' occupies a very interesting and intimate place in my heart. I was going through a turbulent time in my life when making it and revisiting it has become a form of therapy for me."

Reznor explained a while back that "The Fragile" was the culmination of a series of records that charted his mental state at the time. "I can look back now with clarity and see my first album was kind of 'me against the world,'" he said. "And the second EP and then 'Downward Spiral' and 'The Fragile', self-loathing kind of entered the picture, and that also what was happening in my own head."

For the new version of "The Fragile", Reznor said, "As an experiment, I removed all the vocals from the record and found it became a truly changed experience that worked on a different yet compelling level… The result paints a complimentary but different picture we wanted to share."

Reznor also revealed that he will issue "definitive editions" of all of NIN's major releases on vinyl starting next year.

Florida metallers TRIVIUM are rumored to have parted ways with their drummer of the past twelve months, Paul Wandtke.

Although there has been no official confirmation on the matter, Wandtke's replacement is believed to be Alex Bent (BATTLECROSS, DECREPIT BIRTH), the California-based musician who has previously played with TESTAMENT as the fill-in for that band's longtime drummer Gene Hoglan. Bent is also a member of TESTAMENT guitarist Eric Peterson's DRAGONLORD project, whose long-awaited third album, "Dominion", is expected to arrive next year.

Wandtke made his live debut with TRIVIUM on December 5, 2015 at Knotfest in Mexico.

He previously drummed for the hit musical "Rock Of Ages" and sat behind the kit for KILL HANNAH during the band's main-support run with the SMASHING PUMPKINS.

Wandtke joined the Florida outfit on the recommendation of DREAM THEATER's Mike Mangini and replaced Mat Madiro, who departed due to reasons of "creativity."

TRIVIUM frontman Matt Heafy told Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show earlier in the year that even after playing with Wandtke for only a few months, it felt as if the drummer had been part of the group for years.

"For the first time in our careers, everything we're playing sounds like the record," he said. "And I'm not putting that as a fault upon any of the previous drummers, but I'm putting that as a fault of the previous three lineups.

"The four of us, at each point in time when we had to make a drummer change, because our band wasn't able to either perform well or create good music or really be functional as a unit anymore… So, thankfully, with someone like Paul, who comes to the table with a full set of a musical pedigree, it allows us to play anything. And we're playing music from records two through seven right now. I finally retrained myself how to scream again, so everything is exactly as it was."

Heafy added that finding the right drummer to fill the drum position was vital, as TRIVIUM didn't have the time to being someone up to speed.

"[Paul's] an amazing drummer," Matt told Full Metal Jackie. "He's what we've always been missing. We've been missing someone who can keep up with us musically and creatively and someone who already has stage presence. So he comes to the table completely prepared; it's as if he's been with us the whole time."

Heafy also joked about TRIVIUM's comparisons to SPINAL TAP, the fictional but fiercely beloved mock metal band featured in the 1984 mockumentary film "This Is Spinal Tap". SPINAL TAP has gone through a seemingly endless series of drummers, each of whom has died under bizarre circumstances.

"A lot of people joke [about the] SPINAL TAP [comparisons], and it's funny, when we first announced Mat [Madiro], I posted a picture of one of the SPINAL TAP drummers and said, 'This is our new drummer,' and I had the guy's name, but people didn't get the joke."

Madiro was the featured drummer on TRIVIUM's latest album, "Silence In The Snow", which was released in October 2015 via Roadrunner. The follow-up to 2013's "Vengeance Falls" was produced by Michael "Elvis" Baskette (SLASH, ALTER BRIDGE, THE AMITY AFFLICTION) and was mixed by Josh Wilbur (GOJIRA, LAMB OF GOD).