Toundra is about to enter the studio to record their fifth studio album following the success of IV which reached an historic #2 in the Spanish charts. The new album, which will come out on InsideOut/Century Media, is still without name but already has a release date confirmed April 27th, 2018.

The band states, "2017 marked our 10th Anniversary; we spent the first half of it celebrating it onstage throughout Europe and the second one writing our fifth album. We will be recording it in Catalonia with Santi García and we have the feeling that it will turn out being a re-visitation of our origins as a band. We are coming back, and we hope you are glad about it."

The first run of European tour dates have been announced and tickets are on sale.

It has been an intense 3 years since the band got signed with Superball/Century Media in 2014, with whom they put out their most recent a lauded album, IV, (January 2015), after the first three albums that were released independently. Since then the band has performed over 100 concerts in 17 different countries with their instrumental sound combining progressive and post rock making them one of the leaders in there genre.

Nashville metal squad Dark Hound have released the second single from forthcoming album Dawning. "Carnival Of Youth" is now available for ravenous consumption below.

Nashville? Yes. Country music? Not even close. Pure, powerful, and undeniably metallic, Dark Hound have upped the ante with forthcoming album Dawning, which will be released January 19th, 2018.

Tracklisting:

“The Ashes Of Your Worth”
“Guilt Tripper”
“Carnival Of Youth”
“The Answer”
“Crisis Of Hope”
“Thrown To The Wolves”
“Stripped Away”
“Balancing Act”
“The Jagged Edge”
“Thrashgasm”
“Here Lies Truth”

“Carnival Of Youth”:

“The Ashes Of Your Worth”:

Swedish black metal band Grafvitnir have announced the December 15th Carnal Records release of new album Keys To The Mysteries Beyond. New track, "Eye Of Lucifer" is streaming below.

The driving force behind the band is, and has always been, Occultism and the never-ending quest for the enigmatic emerald of Lucifer. Just like razor sharp claws of a Werewolf move and twists against whirling moonlit Night Skies, the ice-cold blades of Occultism will tear the illusion of the demiurg's false Creation apart and fiercely widen the cracks and crevices to the ancient kingdom of Beyond. 

With the band's fifth album, Grafvitnir are back from the frostbitten shadows of Scandinavia to eternally ignite the concealed spiritual Fire of the descendants of the Serpent, and to obtain the ancient Keys To The Mysteries Beyond.

Tracklisting:

“Nidhögg”
“Keys To The Mysteries Beyond”
“Vargavinter”
“Crossing The Abyss”
“Eternity’s Glistening Black”
“Journey Into Storms”
“Unleash The Storm Of Nothingness”
“Eye Of Lucifer”
“Whispers Of The Primordial Sea”
“Glimpses Of The Unseeable”

"Eye Of Lucifer":

“Nidhögg”:

Bassists Alliance Project has announced the release of Crush this Friday, December 15th. The album is a genre-busting debut record that showcases the versatility of the bass guitar and the professionals who have honed their craft for years. From prog metal to funk and experimental, the ten original instrumentals on Crush give listeners with varied musical tastes plenty to digest, from rock-steady riffs and intriguing grooves to mind-bending solos and intense showcases of technique.

Seven-string bassist Jeff Hughell has emerged from the world of death metal to co-lead the Bassists Alliance Project and co-produce their debut album. Hughell is best known as the bassist of Six Feet Under, which recently released their critically acclaimed 12th studio album. A veteran player and solo artist with more than 20 years’ experience, Hughell embarked on a brand-new project that incorporates many influences. He teamed up with fellow bassist and progressive rock composer Alberto Rigoni of the Vivaldi Metal Project and Ardityon, and the Bassists Alliance Project was born.

Hughell and Rigoni composed most of songs on Crush, and combine talent on three tracks, including the title track that features bassist Adam Nitti. The album also includes collaborations with 10 other fiercely talented bassists: Michael Manring, Tony Grey, Scott Reeder, Brandino, Steve DiGorgio, Mark Michell, Ryan Martini, Colin Edwin, Dmitry Lisenko and Leonid Maksimov. The masterful Phil Cage drums on all tracks except the punchy “Tapping Wires,” where Maxim Rubtsov sits in. The album was mixed and mastered by Zack Ohren at Castle Ultimate Studios in Oakland, CA.

The musicians in the Bassists Alliance Project represent different countries, different generations and different influences, but on Crush, they come together for one impressive musical journey. To listen and download the album, visit their Bandcamp page or you can purchase or stream on iTunes, Amazon, Google, and most other music sources.

“Evolution Theory” video:

Warrel Dane, the legendary vocalist of Sanctuary and Nevermore, has passed away, having suffered a heart attack Wednesay (December 13th) in São Paulo, Brazil. Dane was in Brazil working on his second solo album, Shadow Work. Dane's bandmates past and present, as well as former tour mates, have taken to social medai to express their sadness at losing him.

 Lenny Rutledge (Sanctuary): "Today I wake up to the news that Warrel Dane has died. I don’t even know what to say. My friend, brother and musical companion for over 30 years has passed away. I’m in total shock right now. I’m sorry for any close family or friends that had to hear the news on Facebook."

Björn Strid (Soilwork): "Rest in Peace, Warrel Dane. Peter Wichers once said said it best: He’s a fantastic singer but an even better poet. I can only agree. Our first real European Tour with Soilwork, was together with Nevermore in 2001. So many great memories and heartfelt conversations I had with Warrel on that tour (I’m sure I was not the only one). I also recall being very inspired just by hearing his voice on the soundchecks on that tour. The sports arena in Tirgu Mures, Romania, sticks out. He will truly be missed."

Curran Murphy (ex-Nevermore): "Me in 1997 on The Politics Of Ecstasy tour. This was my first time in Europe and the start of my music career. I know where I come from and how lucky I was to play guitar for this band, I worked very hard to be worthy of these four talented musicians. My heart breaks looking at this frozen moment. Thank you Vicky Heßl for this pic."

According to Brazil's UOL, Dane's guitarist, Johnny Moraes, says he was with Warrel when he began to feel bad around midnight.

"He tonight had a heart attack. It was in the flat where he stayed for the recording of the record, when it happened. I got to do cardiac massage, we called the SAMU (Mobile Emergency Care Service), who arrived very fast, but when they arrived, he had already died," said Johnny.

According to the guitarist, Dane already suffered from health problems. "His health was already very weak because of diabetes and his problems with alcoholism. He was already facing many health problems."

The report reveals that Warrel Dane had a long-standing relationship with the Brazilians, not only because of the shows. Since 2014 he has been recruiting Brazilian musicians to do some solo touring. Since Nevermore dissolved, he went on to do two European tours with the Brazilian musicians and then decided to record the new album with them.

Dane released his first solo album, Praises To The War Machine, in 2008. Now, he was already in the advanced stages of the recordings for his new album

"The record had almost all the instruments completed and we started to record the voice. Much of it was done," said Johnny. The musicians are already thinking about how to use the material for a posthumous tribute. "Maybe we can count on guests. But there's nothing official about it."

BraveWords offer our condolences to Warrel's family and friends. Stay tuned for further updates on this situation.

"Less Than A Human", the new video from POWERFLO — the band featuring BIOHAZARD's Billy Graziadei and former FEAR FACTORY bassist/guitarist Christian Olde Wolbers alongside Sen Dog from CYPRESS HILL, Rogelio Lozano from DOWNSET, and Brazilian drummer Fernando Schaefer — can be seen below. The song is taken from POWERFLO's self-titled debut album, which was released on June 23 via New Damage Records.

Directed by Graziadei, the "Less Than A Human" clip captures live footage from POWERFLO's recent treks with P.O.D., ALIEN ANT FARM, FIRE FROM THE GODS, BRUJERIA and more. Billy commented: "We made a lot of friends around the country during these past tours. We filmed this video on the road to showcase what we do best… kicking ass and taking names!"

Melding hip-hop, metal, punk, and rock into a potent offering, POWERFLO draws on its powerhouse resume to collectively smash boundaries. The album is produced by Josh Lynch and Billy Graziadei, mixed by Jay Baumgardner (GODSMACK, PAPA ROACH, HELMET) and mastered by Maor Applebaum (FAITH NO MORE, HALFORD, ADRENALINE MOB) at Maor Applebaum Mastering.

The origins of POWERFLO can be traced back over more than two decades as the members of the band would collaborate on numerous occasions. In addition to both CYPRESS HILL and BIOHAZARD appearing on the landmark platinum-selling "Judgment Night" soundtrack, Sen Dog delivered a cameo on BIOHAZARD's "State Of The World Address" in 1993, while Christian both guested on CYPRESS HILL's chart-topping 2000 double-album "Skulls & Bones", which Roy also guested on, and 2001's "Stone Raiders" in addition to performing with the group countless times. In 2015, longtime friend Roy played demos for Sen on a ride to the airport. The music immediately spoke to the rapper and thus POWERFLO was born.

Band photo credit: Travis Shinn

"Wars To Walk Away From", the new video from Alaska's 36 CRAZYFISTS, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's latest album, "Lanterns", which was released on September 29 through Spinefarm Records. It is their second release for the label and the follow-up to 2015's "Time And Trauma".

About the video, singer Brock Lindow said: "We had a blast doing our new video for 'Wars To Walk Away From' in the early hours of a nice, brisk fall morning in Virginia with director Justin Reich and his killer crew. We captured the live sense of the band as we ripped through a song about the journey of leaving what's behind you as far as you can and envisioning what's in front of you with Northern eyes..."

Lindow told AXS about the "Lanterns" album title: "The title came about through the vision I had of a man walking towards the vast mountains right south of where I live in Anchorage. Walking towards this vast landscape towards these massive mountains with hope in his heart. That lantern in his hand being symbolic of that hope, and that sense of a light source after coming through a very dark time of my life."

Regarding his band's musical evolution on "Lanterns", Lindow said: "Well it's just the next chapter of the band, another album of life being lived. Lessons learned and experience throughout. Hopefully we have grown as musicians since '94, and we have a better idea after each album on who we are, our signature sound and what sets us apart from other bands."

Photo credit: Bobby Bates

Throughout history, the San Francisco Bay Area has long been deemed as the epicenter for thrash metal, whereas Los Angeles has invariably been considered the stomping ground for glam and hair metal. True, San Francisco has birthed many exceptional thrash bands since the early '80s, but the fact remains — Los Angeles is the rightful birthplace of three of the "Big Four" thrash bands and is the breeding grounds for unconventional thrash/punk-metal bands. From legendary thrash icons METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH, to punk/metal renegades SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and combative thrash stalwarts DARK ANGEL and HIRAX, they all generated from this pretentious, megalopolis hellhole we call Los Angeles.

MetalRock Films is thrilled to release a new two-part "Inside Metal" documentary DVD series exploring this topic, titled "The Rise Of L.A. Thrash Metal". The first DVD in the two-part set is set for release on January 19, 2018. Directed by Bob Nalbandian with narration by David Ellefson of thrash legends MEGADETH, the documentary focuses on the Los Angeles thrash metal uprising of the early/mid-'80s and acts as a follow-up to the first two "Inside Metal" titles, "The Pioneers Of L.A. Hard Rock & Metal" and "L.A. Metal Scene Explodes".

As followers of the "Inside Metal" series know, each documentary includes exclusive, in-depth content and interviews with heavy metal icons and those who helped build the scene. Those featured on the DVD include (alphabetically):

* Ann Boleyn (HELLION, New Renaissance Records)
* Bill Metoyer (Producer)
* Brian O'Brian (A LA CARTE)
* Brian Slagel (Metal Blade Records)
* Brian Tatler (DIAMOND HEAD)
* Chris Poland (MEGADETH, OHM:)
* Craig Locicero (FORBIDDEN)
* Dave Lombardo (SLAYER, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES)
* David Ellefson (MEGADETH)
* Diego Negrete (MX MACHINE)
* Eric Peterson (TESTAMENT)
* Ernie C (BODY COUNT)
* Felice Lococo & Kurt Markham (OVERKILL L.A.)
* Frank Bello (ANTHRAX)
* Gene Hoglan (DARK ANGEL, TESTAMENT)
* Greg Durschlag (THE WEASELS)
* Jay Reynolds (MALICE)
* Joey Vera (ARMORED SAINT)
* John Bush (ARMORED SAINT, ANTHRAX)
* John Gallagher (RAVEN)
* Juan Garcia (AGENT STEEL, ABATTOIR, BODY COUNT)
* Katon DePena (HIRAX)
* Kevin Estrada (Photographer)
* Lars Ulrich (METALLICA)
* Lloyd Grant (DEFCON)
* Malcolm Dome (Journalist)
* Marty Friedman (HAWAII, CACOPHONY, MEGADETH)
* Mike Inez (ALICE IN CHAINS)
* Monte Pittman (PRONG, MADONNA)
* Peter Baltes & Wolf Hoffmann (ACCEPT)
* Phil Sandoval (ARMORED SAINT)
* Phyllis Pollack (Journalist)
* Rocky George (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES)
* Scott Peterson (CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER)
* Steven Craig (former manager of SLAYER & DARK ANGEL)
* STRYPER (Robert Sweet, Michael Sweet, Oz Fox, Tim Gaines)
* Tracey "Spacey T" Singleton (SOUND BARRIER, GANGLAND)
* Tracy Barnes (Radio PD)
* Vincent Price (STEEL PROPHET, BODY COUNT)
* William Howell (KNAC Radio Host a.k.a. DJ Will, former A&R Capitol Records and Metal Blade Records)

Take a look at an exclusive clip of Gene Hoglan discussing the very first time he met James Hetfield in 1981 in the clip below. You can also watch an official DVD trailer.

Each special guest on the DVD provides unique and first-hand insight into the birth and rise of one of heavy metal's originating genres. This is a must-see DVD for anyone with a passion for heavy music, and makes a great gift. Pre-orders are available now via Amazon.

Nalbandian says: "'The Rise Of L.A. Thrash Metal' is the third installment in the 'Inside Metal' series and perhaps the most compelling, as this title delves deep into the dark history of thrash metal with the birth of METALLICA and SLAYER and ensuing Los Angeles thrash bands MEGADETH, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and DARK ANGEL, as well as many others that are documented in this two-part film. We at MetalRock Films felt it was important to uncover this rich history of underground thrash metal told from the eyes of some of the biggest metal artists today!"

Part two of "The Rise Of L.A. Thrash Metal" will be released later in 2018.

"The Rise Of L.A. Thrash Metal" was produced by Nalbandian, Carl Alvarez and Joe Floyd, executive-produced by Warren Croyle and edited by Curtis Don Vito.

VENOM — the legendary, hugely influential British heavy metal trio notorious for causing outrage and panic, and molding the history of darker music — will digitally release a new, three-track EP, titled "100 Miles To Hell", through Spinefarm Records on December 22. It will be available via D2C basis on January 19 in the U.S.

"100 Miles To Hell" features three brand new studio recordings: "We The Loud", "Beaten To A Pulp" and the title track. It marks the first "fresh" VENOM material since the "From The Very Depths" studio album, which arrived in 2015.

This limited-edition EP will be available on three different formats: 12-inch vinyl (complete with giant poster); cassette and download; and an exclusive T-shirt, which can also be acquired as part of the bundle, while supplies last.

In terms of music, lyrics, and artwork, the "100 Miles To Hell" package is cast in the classic VENOM mold, pushing all of the buttons (and turning all of the crosses) you'd expect from a band led into action by vocalist/bassist/producer and original VENOM titan, Conrad "Cronos" Lant — an iconic performer whose ability to fuse the attitude of punk with the power of metal has long been a signature of the nefarious VENOM sound.

Cronos recently spoke to Metal Rules about the evolution of VENOM's songwriting. "The thing is we, as a band, we are evolving the black metal thing," he explained. 'Because, for me, it has to be exciting, it has to be new, it has to be dangerous. It has to stay in motion. It has to make me excited to do it. I couldn't just do the 'Welcome To Hell' night after night; it would be too boring. So, they know I like to be challenged. I need to create new shit, and I like to twist VENOM a lot and cut and pull it. I like to create an album that people kind of go, 'That wasn't expected.'

"For a band that's been going this long, if we're not going to continue to evolve, I think we're dead," he continued. "But you don't want to forget where you came from. [You want] to be able to play songs from back in the day, so that the people in the audience can hear them and hear the song that they love — played the way that it was played. I think it is special."

Cronos went on to say that his current VENOM bandmates — guitarist Rage, a.k.a. Stuart Dixon, and drummer Danté, a.k.a. Danny Needham — "have got two [VENOM] albums under the belt now, that they can call their own. So, when they play their songs up on that stage, they can push and pull the bits they want, and they can play them in their style. But when we play the old songs, we kind of try to play them as near to the original we possibly can so, that the people in the audience hear a great version of the song rather than a changed version of the song. Because why change a great song?"

VENOM is not to be confused with VENOM INC., the band featuring original VENOM members Jeff "Mantas" Dunn (guitar) and Anthony "Abaddon" Bray (drums) alongside ex-VENOM bassist/vocalist Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan.

"From The Very Depths" was released in January 2015 via Spinefarm.

Chester Bennington and Tom Petty were among the top 10 global searches of 2017, as reported by Google in its annual "Year in Search" feature.

Google's latest list of the most popular searches, which was released today (Wednesday, December 13), breaks down results into categories like people, how to, and losses. To compile the ranking, Google looked at its trillions of searches, filtered out spam and repeats, and identified queries that had the largest uptick in traffic compared with the previous year.

Petty came in at No. 7 on the list for overall global search trends, while Bennington landed at No. 9. Predictably, the searches peaked for both artists around their deaths.

Petty, Bennington and Chris Cornell topped the most-searched "losses" of 2017. Elsewhere, Bennington's band, LINKIN PARK, took the No. 2 spot on the "musicians and bands" list.

After Cornell died in May, Bennington wrote a letter thanking him for inspiring him and hoping he would find peace in "the next life."

Chester died on July 20, which would have been Cornell's 53rd birthday.

The two singers bonded when they toured together nearly a decade ago.

Petty died on October 2 at UCLA Medical Center, one day after suffering cardiac arrest at his Malibu home.

MANOWAR has been forced to cancel its two concerts in Stuttgart, Germany because bassist Joey DeMaio has taken ill.

"Unfortunately, due to food poisoning and dehydration, Joey DeMaio is under doctor's care and has been ordered not to travel or perform at this time," MANOWAR said in a statement. "Therefore the last two shows of the 'Final Battle' world tour 2017 will be rescheduled.

"Joey is expected to make a full recovery and with proper rest and treatment, he will be back to lead the battle once again.

"Fans with tickets for the Stuttgart shows on December 15 and 16, 2017, please be patient and hold on to your tickets while we work to reschedule these shows as soon as possible."

The New York-based veteran metal act announced in May 2016 that it would call it quits after one last tour, explaining that its most recent trek — "Gods And Kings" — was a groundbreaking moment in the band's career and the group aimed to go out on a high.

MANOWAR frontman Eric Adams, whose real name is Lou Marullo, spoke about the group's's final trek in a recent interview with "Outdoor Adventures With Jayson". The 63-year-old singer admitted that it was "kind of a Catch-22 thing" knowing that he would never perform with MANOWAR again. "I'm gonna miss the big stage — of course I am — but all good things have to come to an end at some point," he said.

As for his future plans, Adams said: "MANOWAR has decided to call it a day, and who knows what's gonna happen after that? I might continue to sing. I might just grab my bow and get out in the woods a little more often than I did before. But we'll see. The future's still yet to be told."

MANOWAR's most recent studio effort was 2014's re-recording of the band's 1988 album "Kings Of Metal".

DeMaio will embark on "The Blood Of The Kings" spoken-word tour in November 2019.

Former LEAVES' EYES and THEATRE OF TRAGEDY frontwoman Liv Kristine has joined MIDNATTSOL as the band's second singer. MIDNATTSOL features Liv's younger sister, Carmen Elise Espenaes.

Commented MIDNATTSOL: "Some time ago, we discussed with Liv that she would support us on our upcoming album as a special guest. Working together, we found out that not only the result is awesome — we also have a lot of fun together. The logical consequence was that we pick up Liv as a permanent member of the band. So she is now the official second singer in MIDNATTSOL.

"We have already recorded Liv as the second voice on some songs for the next album. Liv will also have her own parts in some songs, so these songs will be more like a duet of the two sisters. We think the results will blow you away.

"As Liv is now a permanent band member, we plan to play upcoming concerts together with her. We are very happy and it means a lot to us to have such an amazing singer and fantastic person in our MIDNATTSOL family."

A snippet of a new MIDNATTSOL song called "Purple Sky" is available below.

MIDNATTSOL's upcoming album will be the band's first since 2011's "The Metamorphosis Melody".

More recently, Carmen was involved in a project called SAVN, also featuring two members of THE SINS OF THY BELOVED.

Liv was fired from LEAVES' EYES in early 2016 and was replaced by Elina Siirala. Liv was previously married to LEAVES' EYES' co-vocalist Alexander Krull.

A video clip of TROUBLE guitarist Bruce Franklin performing a cover version of SOUNDGARDEN's "Tighter & Tighter" as a tribute to Chris Cornell can be seen below. All vocals, guitar and bass were handled by Franklin while Robert Broz played the drums. The audio and video was recorded at Alpha Sound Services in Geneva, Illinois.

TROUBLE's first studio album in six years, "The Distortion Field", landed at position No. 25 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

Released in Europe in August 2013 via FRW Records, the 12-song follow-up to 2007's "Simple Mind Condition" was helmed by veteran producer Bill Metoyer (SLAYER, W.A.S.P., ARMORED SAINT, DARK ANGEL, SACRED REICH, CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER, D.R.I.) and marked the recording debut with TROUBLE of lead singer Kyle Thomas following the departure of the group's frontman of four years, Kory Clarke (of WARRIOR SOUL fame).

Cornell was found hanged in his room at the MGM Grand Detroit hotel on May 18, following a SOUNDGARDEN show at the city's Fox Theatre. The death was ruled a suicide.

But his family has questioned the medical examiner's ruling, saying that he had a prescription for Ativan and that a higher than recommended dosage may have caused him to experience suicidal thoughts.

The toxicology report later said that Chris had the equivalent of four Ativan pills, as well as several other prescription drugs, in his system at the time of his death.

LINKIN PARK will release a concert album titled "One More Light Live" on December 15. Recorded on the band's "One More Light" world tour, it features 16 songs, including "Crawling", "Numb", "What I've Done", "Heavy" and the title track from the group's latest studio album, "One More Light". The live set will arrive five months after the passing of singer Chester Bennington, who died on July 20 at his Los Angeles area home after committing suicide at the age of 41.

To promote "One More Light Live", LINKIN PARK has just released a performance clip of the song "Sharp Edges". Check it out below.

The band said in a statement: "We dedicate this live album to our brother Chester who poured his heart and soul into 'One More Light'. After we finished recording the album, we joked with Chester that — since he had delivered so many stunning performances in the studio — he had set the bar extra high to produce that alchemy on stage each night. Not surprisingly, he welcomed the challenge."

The statement added: "The shows we played together during the early summer of 2017 were extraordinary. Chester shared with us that he felt this was the best tour we had ever done. The camaraderie and joy we experienced on stage reflected our deep connection with each other, with our fans, and with the music."

The band concluded: "For those of you who attended this tour in person, we thank you. For those who could not, we hope this live album gives you a glimpse into how magical these shows were for the six of us."

Bennington himself told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that he always wanted to give fans a different experience when they came to see the group. "There's one of two ways that bands get perceived when they're seen live," he said. "I think that one way is 'Wow, that is something like they do on the record.' And it can be disappointing. And the other is the music is actually a little better or different than I thought it was. And I like it more. And I think that's the way people view what we do live."

LINKIN PARK paid tribute to Bennington on October 27 with an emotional three-hour show that featured numerous guests joining the band onstage at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Among the artists who performed with the band were BUSH's Gavin Rossdale, Jonathan Davis of KORN, Alanis Morissette, the instrumental members of NO DOUBT, Oli Sykes of BRING ME THE HORIZON, BLINK-182, M. Shadows and Synyster Gates of AVENGED SEVENFOLD and many more.

LINKIN PARK has yet to announce whether the band intends to continue without Bennington.

WHITESNAKE revisited the music that singer David Coverdale recorded with DEEP PURPLE with the release of "The Purple Album" two years ago. The LP, and the tour that followed, offered fans new modern interpretations of PURPLE classics like "Burn" and "Mistreated". Highlights from the historic tour will be featured in a new live collection, including double-disc versions that feature audio, video and a selection of bonus material.

"The Purple Tour (Live)" will be available on January 19 as CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray sets. Additional formats include a double-LP, single CD, and digital version.

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

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

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

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

The "Fool For Your Loving" performance from "The Purple Tour (Live)" can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray track listing:

01. Burn
02. Bad Boys
03. Love Ain't No Stranger
04. The Gypsy
05. Give Me All Your Love
06. Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City
07. Mistreated
08. You Fool No One
09. Soldier Of Fortune
10. Is This Love
11. Fool For Your Loving
12. Here I Go Again
13. Still Of The Night

DVD/Blu-ray Contents:

Concert Video in 5.1 and Stereo

* "Burn" - Music Video
* Band Interviews

Bonus 5.1 High Resolution Live Audio:

* You Keep On Moving
* Lay Down Stay Down
* Lotsanotes
* Stormbringer

CD track listing:

01. Burn
02. Bad Boys
03. Love Ain't No Stranger
04. The Gypsy
05. Give Me All Your Love
06. Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City
07. Mistreated
08. You Fool No One
09. Soldier Of Fortune
10. Is This Love
11. Fool For Your Loving
12. Here I Go Again
13. Still Of The Night

LP track listing:

Side One

01. Burn
02. Bad Boys
03. Love Ain't No Stranger
04. The Gypsy

Side Two

01. Give Me All Your Love
02. Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City
03. Mistreated

Side Three

01. You Fool No One
02. Soldier Of Fortune
03. Is This Love
04. Fool For Your Loving

Side Four

01. Here I Go Again
02. Still Of The Night
03. You Keep On Moving - LP Bonus Track

"Fault Line", the new video from former PANTERA bassist Rex Brown, can be seen below. The track is taken from Rex's debut solo album, "Smoke On This", which was released on July 28 via Entertainment One (eOne). The disc marks the first time in Brown's career in which he serves as both lead vocalist and guitarist in a band.

Rex worked on "Smoke On This" with his primary collaborator and old friend Lance Harvill, a Nashville-based guitarist and songwriter. "Lance was and is my main man on this," Brown said. "Everything we did was finely tuned, both musically and brotherly."

Drums were tracked by Christopher Williams, himself no stranger to diverse tastes, from funk music to punk. His talent has been utilized by country music star Lee Greenwood, the reconstituted BLACKFOOT and most recently, power metal legends ACCEPT. The album was produced by New Yorker-turned-Nashville-transplant Caleb Sherman, a multi-instrumentalist with work on records by LITTLE BIG TOWN and PORTER BLOCK, among others. "Caleb produced the project from a musician's standpoint," added Brown. "Not just a typical producer's standpoint, which was something I definitely needed. Between Caleb and Lance, we were a force to be reckoned with. They really pulled out the best in me." Peter Keyes, known for his work with LYNYRD SKYNYRD, can also be heard on a few tracks. All bass tracking came from Rex himself as well.

Brown's solo debut strips away any boundaries and preconceived notions, reveling in a newfound freedom to express all of the various shades of the man whose name is out front. The song "Fault Line" helped him find his voice. "That was the very first one I sang," Brown said. "After I got that one, I knew that I could do it, and Lance was my biggest motivator in finding that voice. Up until that point, I just wasn't sure."

After leaving DOWN in 2011, Rex went on play with KILL DEVIL HILL, which has released two albums so far: "Kill Devil Hill" (2012) and "Revolution Rise" (2013).

The second trailer for "The Age Of Absurdity", the upcoming debut album from PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS (formerly PHIL CAMPBELL'S ALL STARR BAND), the band featuring MOTÖRHEAD guitarist Phil Campbell alongside his sons Todd, Dane and Tyla, plus vocalist Neil Starr, can be seen below.

The disc was recorded at Rockfield Studios and Longwave Studios in Wales and produced, engineered, and mixed by Romesh Dodangoda. The record was then passed over to the acclaimed Abbey Road Studios in London for mastering.

The album will feature eleven songs and one bonus track and will be released on January 26, 2018 via Nuclear Blast. The album will be available in various formats, with pre-orders launching soon.

Commented Phil Campbell: "I am really excited for the fans to hear our debut record. Every part of the process was done in Wales, from the writing, to the recording and even the artwork!

"The album title, 'The Age Of Absurdity', was inspired by the crazy world we live in today. The world to me seems to be a bit of a theater show, so the album artwork idea just seemed to fit so well with the whole concept and album title."

Added Starr: "Writing and recording this album was a lot of fun. We got to record at Rockfield Studios where so many great artists had been over the years — it really was inspirational. Hearing the blistering riffs that the Campbell family seem to churn out effortlessly made me ensure I pushed myself to the limits when writing the melodies and lyrics. It's an album that I, and the rest of the band, are very proud of and can't wait to share it with the world!"

"The Age Of Absurdity" track listing:

01. Ringleader
02. Freak Show
03. Skin And Bones
04. Gypsy Kiss
05. Welcome To Hell
06. Dark Days
07. Dropping The Needle
08. Step Into The Fire
09. Get On Your Knees
10. High Rule
11. Into The Dark
12. Silver Machine (HAWKWIND cover feat. Dave Brock of HAWKWIND)*

* only to be included in the first pressing of the CD version of the album

The cover art was created by Matt Riste and can be seen below.

PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS' last release was a digital-only live EP, "Live At Solothurn", which came out in June.

Video footage of SEETHER frontman Shaun Morgan performing acoustically at the studios of the 105.7 The Point radio station in St. Louis can be seen below.

SEETHER is continuing to tour in support of its seventh full-length studio album, titled "Poison The Parish", which was released on May 12. The first release via frontman Morgan's new label imprint Canine Riot Records was recorded at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, Tennessee with Morgan taking the reins as producer. He told Billboard of manning the boards: "Ultimately, at the end of the day, I didn't want anybody else to answer to. For me, it was kind of a liberating experience, because I was making an album where I was getting it to sound like I always wanted it to sound like."

Morgan added that he learned much from SEETHER's previous producers: Jay Baumgardner, Bob Marlette, Howard Benson and Brendan O'Brien. "They're all great in their own right," said Morgan. "Of all the producers I learned the most from, [it was] definitely Brendan O'Brien. I learned from him what to do and I learned from the other guys what not to do, so with that kind of knowledge and having done six albums at that point, I figured I had enough information that I could try it myself."

SEETHER has logged more than twenty top 10 hits on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Songs chart, including the No. 1s "Remedy", "Fake It", "Country Song", "Tonight" and "Words As Weapons". They have also notched four top 10s on the Billboard 200 and have accumulated U.S. album sales of 4.5 million, according to Nielsen Music.

This February, Listenable Records will unleash Under The Mountain, the debut full-length from Scotland-based metal/doom rockers King Witch. A new video for “Beneath The Waves” is streaming below.

Elaborates vocalist Laura Donnelly, “'Beneath The Waves' was inspired by stories such as Moby Dick and explores man's need to destroy anything and everything beautiful, dangerous, and unfamiliar... and the retribution dealt in return. This track felt like a natural choice for the video - soaring vocals, massive drums and some huge riffs!"

Under The Mountain was recorded and produced by guitarist Jamie Gilchrist at their underground studio in their home city of Edinburgh, mixed and mastered by Tom Dring at Vagrant Recordings (Dragged Into Sunlight, Acolyte) in Southport and comes swathed in artwork created by vocalist Laura Donnelly. The record serves as King Witch's follow-up to their debut EP, Shoulders Of Giants, and boasts nine riff-laden tracks offset by the powerful yet bewitching vocals of Donnelly. Influenced by everything from Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin to Mastodon and High On Fire, Under The Mountain is as melodic as it is monolithic, taking its listener on a journey from soulful doom to full-tilt metal mayhem.
 
Formed in early 2015 in a dark cavern beneath the streets of old Edinburgh, King Witch manifests a potent and heavy brew of old school metal and the meatiest of '70s classic rock. In a time where many seek to stick rigidly within the confines of their chosen genre, King Witch simply writes the songs they want to play.
 
Under The Mountain is scheduled for a February 9th, 2018 release via Listenable Records. Preorders can be found at Listenable.net.

Tracklisting:

“Beneath The Waves”
“Carnal Sacrifice”
“Solitary”
“Under The Mountain”
“Approaching The End”
“Ancients”
“Hunger”
“Possession”
“Black Dog Blues”

"Beneath The Waves" video:

(Photo by: Alan Swan)

Hollywood rockers, Society 1, returned with their new album Rise From The Dead in 2017 on DSN Music. The eighth video off of the album, for the track "Souls On Fire" is available for streaming below.

Matt Zane says: "The song was meant to be something positive for once but just took a sinister turn with time. Initially about the communion of souls and inner power illuminated with a symbolic burning fire the video is more reminiscent of being trapped within an eternal hell. That's eventually what the real world situation the song was written about was like as well. If it wasn't so painful it would be amusing."

In an effort to try and redirect the release of the video into a positive experience, Society 1 had a massive party in the hills of Los Angeles at a private mansion. Participants of the invite only event were encouraged to dress provocatively and even in costume. Multiple pictures were taken and can be seen below for the first time.

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

Today, the band is following up on last week's release of the slow and low track "Death's Dark Tomb" with an insider's look at their guitar setup. Check out Atala's quake-inducing rig via their new "Rigged" video from Gear Gods, below.

Frontman/guitarist Kyle Stratton says, "The gear I use is really important to my sound. I have my Gibson SG modified for drop C sharp tuning and installed Lace Sensor Pike pickups. Through my pedal board, I have an Electro Harmonics Freeze pedal, a Electro Harmonics 720 Looper, and a Boss Digital Delay, to my splitter. After my splitter, one side goes to an Orange 50 watt Rocker Reverb MK III amplifier dirty channel with massive gain and no reverb. The other side of the splitter goes through an Electro Harmonics Big Muff then to an Orange 50 watt Rocker Reverb MK II amplifier. This amp is also on the dirty channel with a bit less gain and some reverb to add coloring. Each amp goes through its own Orange half stack with Vintage 30 speakers.  My rig is an extension of my soul."

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)

Scotland-based hard rockers, The Amorettes, have signed a worldwide record deal with German label, SPV/Steamhammer, and will release their new album early in 2018.

“This is great news for The Amorettes,” says guitarist/vocalist, Gill Montgomery. “SPV have a tremendous reputation for supporting their artists, so this move makes so much sense.”

“This is the next big step for the band, and we can't wait to see what the future holds with SPV,” says bassis Heather McKay.

“To be on the same label as an icon like Lita Ford, and so many other fantastic bands is unreal,” continues Drummer, Hannah McKay. “We are really looking forward to working together with SPV to take our music further afield.”

Over the last couple of years, a heavy touring schedule with the likes of Thunder, Black Star Riders, Europe, Danko Jones, Ash, Airbourne, The Dead Daisies, Black Stone Cherry and festival appearances including Download, T-In The Park, Rock And Blues, Steelhouse, Bloodstock, Planet Rockstock, Hard Rock Hell, Wildfest, Nordic Noise and more, has enabled The Amorettes to build a strong and loyal fan base across the UK, Europe, and further afield.

This work ethic of “One gig at a time”, and “take it to the people” brought The Amorettes to the attention of SPV/Steamhammer Records.

"I always have an affinity for girl bands like Rock Goddess and Girlschool from the UK, or Vixen and Phantom Blue from the USA,” says Olly Hahn, head of SPV/Steamhammer, “And that's why I'm really happy that The Amorettes are now part of the Steamhammer family. The band worked hard the last years and I'm sure that with the new album, and the team behind the band, everything will pay off!"

“We can't thank Olly and his team enough for the belief they have in the band,” continues Montgomery, “and we look forward to a long and rewarding relationship together. We're really excited by our new album, and can't wait for everyone to hear it.”

The Amorettes first exploded on to the International rock scene in early 2015 with the release of their, Chris Tsangarides produced, album, Game On, and an exhaustive touring schedule that took this high-octane Power Trio all across the UK and Europe. The acclaimed follow-up, White Hot Heat, was produced by Luke Morley of UK Arena Rock act, Thunder, engineered by Nick Brine (Coldplay, Ash, Snow Patrol, Bruce Springsteen, The Darkness, and more), and mastered by Pete Maher (U2, The Rolling Stones).

Thy Antichrist is an existentialist black metal band showcasing extreme elements that’s been making tidal waves in the underground metal community since 1998 and has been building an important fan base around the world.

In 2016, these US based black metallers found a home with the reputable Extreme Management Group, as well as joined the roster of well-known booking agency, Continental Concerts. With a stout history and commanding presence, Thy Antichrist has tremendous potential for further growth going with the recent worldwide signing with Napalm Records.

Napalm Records is more than proud to welcome such a hardworking, ambitious and promising band to the roster and to unveil first album details of the bands Napalm Records debut, Wrath Of The Beast.

The band comments on the new album: “We read Aleister Crowley’s wicked spell to awake an ancient evil pharaoh from the ashes of time, to condemn this modern world of chaos by the cursed hands of man. We invoke the Wrath of the Beast, the eclipsing star that rises from the east!”

The band has created a teaser for the new album, which can be found below.

Wrath Of The Beast will be available in jewel case CD, gatefold LP, and digital formats. Pre-order at this location.

Wrath Of The Beast tracklisting:

"Desolation"
"Metal To The Bone"
"The Great Beast"
"A World Burnt To Ashes"
"No Place Like Hell"
"Nightmares"
"Crown Of Lies"
"Skeletons Of Disgrace"
"Walking Through The Soul"
"The Last Breath" - Instrumental Outro

Teaser:

Thy Antichrist has handcrafted a sui generis style into their live performance and music respecting the old traditional metal influence of different metal genres such as thrash metal, heavy metal, death metal and of course the black metal touch. The band has taken to the masses with notable festival appearances with some of metals biggest names. Thy Antichrist has without a doubt connected with fans and created a loyal fan base eager to see what’s coming next. Keep your eyes and ears open.

Tour dates (with Septicflesh and Dark Funeral):

February
22 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent
23 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
24 - Las Vegas, NV - Beauty Bar
25 - Oakland, CA - Metro Opera House
26 - Portland, OR - Rock Hard PDX
27 - Seattle, WA - Studio Seven

March
1 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
2 - Kansas City, MO - Riot Room
3 - Ringle, WI - Q & Z Expo Center
4 - Chicago, IL - Reggie’s
5 - Columbus, OH - Alrosa Villa
6 - Lakewood, OH - The Foundry
7 - Detroit, MI @Harpo’s
8 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club
9 - Montreal QC - L’Astral
10 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theater
11 - Worcester, MA - Palladium
12 - Baltimore, MD - Soundstage
13 - Spartanburg, SC - Ground Zero
14 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
16 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall
17 - Ft Worth, TX - Rail Club
18 - Austin, TX - Come and Take it Live!
20 - Phoenix, AZ - Club Red

Thy Antichrist lineup:

Antichrist 666: Terryfying Vocals of Tragic Existence and Tragic Poetry.
Abyssus: Six Strings of Human Suffering.
Frost Giant: Bassist of Cold and Tragic Whisperings.
Oricuss: Apocalyptic Thunders of Chaos. Drums.

This Friday (December 15th), hard rock outfit Audrey Horne will release a music video for "Audrevolution", a track from their upcoming Blackout album, out on January 12th via Napalm Records. Watch a teaser below:

Blackout is 12 ultra-catchy, fist-pumping songs that will reduce venues in Europe to piles of dust. Find the album artwork by Asle Birkeland, tracklisting with all available formats and upcoming tour dates below.

Blackout will be available in the following formats:

- Ltd Digipack incl 2 Bonus Tracks
- 1LP Gatefold + 7inch incl 2 Bonus Tracks
- Digital Album 10 Tracks

Make sure to get your hands on this beauty with the start of the exclusive pre-order right now.

Blackout tracklisting:

“This Is War”
“Audrevolution”
“Blackout”
“This One”
“Midnight Man”
“Light Your Way”
“California”
“Satellite”
“Naysayer”
“Rose Alley”
“Juggernaut” (Bonus Track)
“The End” (Bonus Track)

"This Is War" video:

Tour dates:

January
18 - Berlin, Germany - Musik & Frieden
19 - Arnhem, Netherlands - Willemeen
20 - Paris, France - Le Petit Bain
21 - Frankfurt, Germany - Nachtleben
22 - Cologne, Germany - Jungle
24 - Oberentfelden, Switzerland - Börömpömpöm
25 - Munich, Germany - Kranhalle
26 - Dresden, Germany - Beatpol
28 - Hamburg, Germany - Hafenklang     
    
Audrey Horne lineup:

Torkjell Rød - Vocals
Arve Isdal - Guitars
Thomas Tofthagen - Guitars
Espen Lien - Bass
Kjetil Greve - Drums

(Photo - Bent René Synnevåg)

The official video for the song "The Sound Of A" from legendary rocker Alice Cooper can be seen below. The track has a special meaning; it is, in fact, the first song that Cooper wrote entirely on his own back in 1967. The song was forgotten until Dennis Dunaway, the bass player of the original ALICE COOPER band, rediscovered it and played it to Alice, after which the two of them updated the song and then recorded it for the "Paranormal" album. With its psychedelic sound, swirling guitars and the mysterious Hammond organ, it is one of the most hypnotic songs on "Paranormal".

"The Sound Of A" is going to be released on February 23, 2018, only a few days after Cooper's birthday. In addition to the title track, the single (available as limited-edition CD single, 10-inch white vinyl) includes four previously unreleased live songs recorded in Columbus, Ohio on May 6.

Earlier this December, Alice received with the Best International Artist award at the 19th annual SSE Scottish Music Awards held in Glasgow which every year raises funds for the Nordoff Robbins Scotland music charity (this year, over £148,000 were collected for the music therapy activities).

In July 2017, Alice Cooper released "Paranormal", his first studio album in six years. Produced by Bob Ezrin, it was immediately saluted as a classic album, strong of the collaboration with iconic guests such as ZZ TOP's Billy Gibbons, U2's Larry Mullen and DEEP PURPLE's Roger Glover.

The album landed at No. 4 on the German and Australian official album charts, No. 6 in the U.K. and in Sweden and overall it reached the highest chart positions for Alice in several decades.

Cooper just finished a hugely successful world-wide tour, over 100 shows played on all five continents. Alice reunited with original ALICE COOPER band members Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith and Michael Bruce during select shows in USA and U.K. The ALICE COOPER band split in 1974, after releasing some of the most iconic rock albums of all time. After the band's split, Alice went on to continued success as a solo artist.
 
Track listing for CD

01. The Sound Of A
02. The Black Widow (Live)*
03. Public Animal #9 (Live)*
04. Is It My Body (Live)*
05. Cold Ethyl (Live)*

Track listing for 10-inch vinyl

Side A

01. The Sound Of A
02. The Black Widow (Live)*

Side B

01. Public Animal #9 (Live)*
02. Is It My Body (Live)*
03. Cold Ethyl (Live)*

Los Angeles metal titans WINDS OF PLAGUE have debuted an all-new music video today for their track "Nameless Walker". The song is taken from the band's latest LP, "Blood Of My Enemy", which was released on October 27 via Entertainment One Music (eOne) / Good Fight Music.

"Blood Of My Enemy" is the follow-up to the "Resistance" LP, which was released in 2013.

Vocalist Johnny Plague states: "Over a year ago, I started making weekly trips up to a small apartment in North Hollywood on my days off to work on music for WINDS OF PLAGUE with Noah Sebastian from BAD OMENS. It was strange at first since past WINDS OF PLAGUE records were worked on in larger recording studios or rehearsal spaces and now here I am sitting on the floor of this bedroom working on record number six."

He continues: "Although it was different and humbling, it proved to be the unedited creative environment we needed for this record. We had no time limits, no 'suits' giving their input. It was just a few friends sitting in a room together, having a good time creating music. Something I haven't been able to experience in a very long time.

"Sometimes to move forward you have to take a few steps back.

"I can confidently say this is the most satisfied I have been with a WINDS OF PLAGUE record. I feel producers Noah Sebastian and Joakim Karlsson have helped us to further develop our unique approach to symphonic deathcore with distinct epic orchestral-backed choruses walking the fine line of brutal and melodic."

WINDS OF PLAGUE teamed up with artist Pär Olofsson to create the stunning cover art seen below.

Says Johnny: "'Blood Of My Enemy" takes us back to the iconic samurai theme. The imagery is inspired by a lyric from the title track, 'I will give my life on the battlefield, drowning in the blood of my enemy,' which represents to me a 'I will fight to the end' state of mind. Pär Olofsson brilliantly portrays the aftermath of an epic war showing an almost celestial spark of life amongst the carnage."

"Blood Of My Enemy" track listing:

01. A New Day
02. Nameless Walker
03. Kings Of Carnage
04. Soul Eater
05. From Failure, Comes Clarity
06. Blood Of My Enemy
07. Snakeskin
08. Never Alone
09. 5150
10. Either Way You Lose
11. A Walk Among The Dead
12. Dark Waters

"The Ignorant Point", a brand new song from PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, the project led by the former PANTERA and current DOWN/SUPERJOINT frontman, can be streamed below. The track is taken from PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS' sophomore album, "Choosing Mental Illness As A Virtue", which will be released on January 26, 2018 via Anselmo's Housecore Records in the U.S. and Season Of Mist in other parts of the world. The disc is the follow-up to PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS' debut, "Walk Through Exits Only", which came out in 2013 to mostly positive reviews.

Anselmo states about the tune: "'The Ignorant Point' is a tip of the hat to today's top-notch, morally sincere, trustworthy news agencies, web sites, bloggers etc. that have kept the public in such great spirits with their dedication to truth and honesty. Burp. Keep up the good work, bullshit artists. We've got our collective eyes on you."

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

"Choosing Mental Illness As A Virtue" track listing:

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

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

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

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

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

"Walk Through Exits Only" sold around 8,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 35 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was produced by Anselmo and Michael Thompson, and recorded over a couple of years at Philip's New Orleans studio, Nodferatu's Lair.

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

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

PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS lineup:

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

A video recap of the November 2017 South American tour by Dutch symphonic metallers DELAIN can be seen below.

DELAIN will spend most of 2018 away from the road as it works on the follow-up to 2016's "Moonbathers" LP. "We want to keep low key and a low profile because we want to focus on making the new album — to write it and record it," keyboardist Martijn Westerholt told music journalist Joel Gausten in a recent interview. "There were some tours offered, but we declined because we really have to focus on new stuff." Singer Charlotte Wessels added: "We're going to be doing a lot, but you won't be seeing much of it."

Westerholt also confirmed that DELAIN's next album will mark the first time guitarist Merel Bechtold will be involved with one of the band's full-length recordings from the start of the creative process. "That's true, but in our case, it's never a big issue," he said. "To be frank, Charlotte, [studio collaborator] Guus [Eikens] and I already do everything, and we do try — and are very open — to welcome band members to participate on it. But this train is rolling with or without them — preferably with them. But for us, it's not a big issue. We do like to have them involved and stimulate that. For example, Timo [Somers, guitar] did a lot of guitar arrangement on our previous album. I don't think people will hear a big difference. With all due respect to Merel — because she's great — it's not the way DELAIN works, so to say. But I do hope that she will contribute, and she surely has the talent for it. She's very creative, so let's see what happens."

DELAIN spent the last year celebrating its tenth anniversary — from the release of "Moonbathers" and an anniversary edition of its debut disc, "Lucidity", to extensive headline tours across Europe and North America to gracing some of the world's biggest festival stages — and capped it off with the release of its first-ever live DVD/Blu-ray package.

Issued on October 27, "A Decade Of Delain: Live At Paradiso" was filmed at a sold-out gig at Amsterdam's legendary Paradiso on December 10, 2016. DELAIN was joined on stage throughout the evening by Alissa White-Gluz (ARCH ENEMY), Liv Kristine, Burton C. Bell (FEAR FACTORY), and many other special guests and collaborators.

DELAIN recently completed the "Danse Macabre" tour, featuring special guest and frequent collaborator Marco Hietala from NIGHTWISH on all dates.

DELAIN will embark on a full North American tour with KAMELOT and BATTLE BEAST in the spring of 2018.

"Zombies", the new video from '90s progressive metal adventurers GALACTIC COWBOYS, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's first album in seventeen years, "Long Way Back To The Moon", which was released on November 17 via Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group. The group's reunited original lineup — lead vocalist Ben Huggins, drummer/vocalist Alan Doss, guitarist/vocalist Dane Sonnier and vocalist/bassist Monty Colvin — descended upon Doss's studio in Houston, Texas in early 2016 to write and record.

GALACTIC COWBOYS has always been a musical enigma. Hailing from Houston, Texas, the band combined melodic thrash, progressive metal, and BEATLES-esque harmonies into a genre of its own creation. Blending these considerable musical chops with a quirky sense of humor, the band quickly distinguished itself from anyone else in the world, garnering fans amongst some of music's biggest stars. Their first time around, though, they were the right band at exactly the wrong time. On this outing, they shoot for the moon again, and celebrate the journey back.

The COWBOYS' most notable fanbase became other musicians—an exclusive club that included other 1990s musical misanthropes such as JELLYFISH, KING'S X and Kevin Gilbert. Reflecting both the musicality and diversity of the band, GALACTIC COWBOYS toured with two hard rock/metal legends, ANTHRAX and DREAM THEATER.

Said former DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy: "The GALACTIC COWBOYS were (and still are) one of my favorite bands to emerge from the '90s. Great songwriting, killer players and euphoric harmonies. They were always criminally underrated and overlooked, which led to their premature demise in 2000. My last seventeen years have had a hole in my musical palate without them and I couldn't be happier at the announcement of their return! Welcome back boys... I missed you!"

The eleven new tracks (and two bonus tracks) included on "Long Way Back To The Moon" harken back to the COWBOYS' iconic songs, but are infused with a contemporary hard rock sound. In the tradition of ALAN PARSONS PROJECT, Steven Wilson and PERIPHERY, the album is completely organic: engineered, produced, mixed, and mastered by the band — even all the artwork. One trapping of contemporary production set aside by the band was an over-reliance on studio trickery — no Pro Tools, drum triggers or even vocal tuning. Just real music by real musicians.

The album's sound is alternately heavy, whimsical, charging, and crunching, combining inescapable atmosphere with the drive of a band on a mission. Old fans will feel at home, but hard rock fans who have never heard GALACTIC COWBOYS before will also be instantly hooked. As with all GALACTIC COWBOYS albums, the songs are emotional in topic, and often including a large dose of ironic humor. Each song is performed, sung, and written with intense passion.

Said Colvin: "It was an absolute pleasure getting back together with the guys to record this album. I think we've all grown as musicians and as people since we first got together in '89, and I think our fans will really love this new stuff."

The song "Zombies" is a tongue-in-cheek study on finding love on the last day of human existence, blended with social commentary regarding modern society's obsession with its electronic screens. Timely topics continue with "Next Joke": from kids' sports in which everyone gets a trophy to Disney telling kids to wish upon a star and all their dreams will come true, our unrealistic expectations have set us all up for failure: the joke is on us. "Internal Masquerade", the album’s first single, examines the turmoil endemic to the human experience and the difficulties in keeping self-generated darkness at bay, themes revisited in darker "Blood In My Eyes".

A special treat for fans both old and new is "In The Clouds", the album's leadoff track and also the first GALACTIC COWBOYS song ever written. Penned in 1989 by Doss and Colvin after the demise of their previous outfit, THE AWFUL TRUTH, the song explores leaving the banal confines of this world behind and ascending to a higher plane of existence. It's also the song Huggins sang to earn his spot in the band!