Reactivated California thrash metal pioneers DARK ANGEL are continuing to work on material for their long-awaited comeback album. The band's first CD since 1991's "Time Does Not Heal" will feature the lineup that has performed sporadic live shows since reuniting in 2013: Gene Hoglan (drums), Eric Meyer (guitar), Jim Durkin (guitar), Ron Rinehart (vocals) and Michael Gonzalez (bass).
Speaking to Agoraphobic News, Hoglan stated about DARK ANGEL's next disc (hear audio below): "We are in the process of writing it. My schedule is pretty crazy, so trying to devote as much time as I would love to to writing it has been a challenge. But we're in the process of writing it. And there's no timeline to when it's gonna be completed. And I appreciate everybody's patience. I can only imagine people [going], 'Where's that new DARK ANGEL [album] you promised a few years back?' But we're trying to work on it. I'm gonna make it fucking the most ball-crushing record possible."
According to Hoglan, he and his DARK ANGEL bandmates "have a great time" when they get together to play live shows. "This is my family too," he said. "We're all brothers. We get back together and have a good family reunion and play some metal."
Gene told KNAC.COM earlier in the year that he had "five or six songs ready to go" for DARK ANGEL's next album. "The stuff Jim's writing is deadly," he said. "And I'm trying to carry forth the youthful energy and aggression of 'Darkness Descends' with a little bit of what we were doing with 'Time Does Not Heal' and some cool-ass 'Leave Scars' thrown in. It sounds like DARK ANGEL, but I'm trying to err on the side of hyper-aggression, and that's cool with me. You never go wrong going heavier. So write a shit-ass heavy fucking record, that's gold in my book."
DARK ANGEL released two albums with Don Doty on vocals — 1984's "We Have Arrived" and 1986's "Darkness Descends" — before he exited the group and was replaced by Ron Rinehart (after a brief stint with Jim Drabos in 1987). The band issued two more studio LPs — 1989's "Leave Scars" and 1991's "Time Does Not Heal" — before calling it quits in 1992. Rinehart, Hoglan and Meyer reassembled DARK ANGEL more than a decade ago but were forced to abandon their reunion plans after health issues reportedly put Rinehart's singing career on hold.

Rawk - The Art of Jason Newsted is underway at the Cultural Council in Lake Worth, Florida. The Grammy Award winner gave a tour for media on Thursday, reports Alanna Quillen of West Palm Beach TV Channel 5.

Newsted played bass for Metallica for nearly 20 years, and started creating art in 2004. He incorporates his musical influences into his art exhibit, which features an array of paintings and sculptures.

"The paintings look like the music sounds. It's the same energy, same heart, same brain, same hands that make the music. Direct transference," he said.

Newsted's works are for sale and proceeds will benefit  two charities: Little Kids Rock, which promotes music education in schools, and the Perry J. Cohen Foundation that honors the life of one of the Jupiter teens lost at sea. The money will be used to help build an outdoor classroom, the Perry J. Cohen Wetlands Laboratory, at Jupiter High School.

Read more at this location, and watch a video preview below.

 

Norwegian pioneers of progressive extreme metal In Vain, have released an animated lyric video for “Seekers Of The Truth”, the first single from their upcoming album Currents, to be released on January 26, 2018 via Indie Recordings.

Guitarist Johnar Håland comments: “On Currents you will find a variety of epic, long and complex songs, and on the other side of the spectrum; short, catchy and more immediate tracks. ‘Seekers Of The Truth’ falls in the latter category. Costin did a great job of visualizing the lyrical content and we are very pleased with his creative work.”

The video was done by In Vain’s cover designer, Costin Chioreanu, who provides his thoughts on the creative process behind the video: “'Seekers Of The Truth' is by far not a random lyric video. Pushed by the message of the song, I wanted to add a new dimension to the whole presentation, which can be discovered in the message of the illustrations. For me, the lyrics of this song are talking about one of the vital issues of nowadays society, an issue which is felt just by a very few. Those are the seekers, who are still living out there, among this terrifying crowd of people who switched their reality with a common illusion, agreed and imposed by the system. So, with all these dramatic moments I tried to catch in my illustrations for this video, I hope I could make the message of the band more powerful, and I hope it will be reached by those who need it to go on."

Currents will be released in two editions. The special edition will feature two bonus tracks and extended packaging; pre-orders can be placed here.

 

Two-time Grammy nominees August Burns Red are excited to kick off the holiday season with their reimagined version of the classic Christmas song "Last Christmas". August Burns Red have made a highly-anticipated annual tradition of releasing Christmas covers, with last year's being "What Child Is This? (Greensleeves)" and the beloved Home Alone theme song the year prior. "Last Christmas" will be available for purchase digitally tonight at 9pm PST / Midnight EST on iTunes. 

"This year I sat down with the intention of writing something upbeat, melodic, and shredtastic," says bassist Dustin Davidson. "When I decided to cover 'Last Christmas' I kept in mind that most people only know the chorus of the song. I didn't want to recreate something word for word, or note by note, so I took the main hook and built a bunch of original ideas around it. The lyrics to Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' are very sad, so if you're feeling lonely this holiday season, I hope this cover finds you well."

This week, August Burns Red were announced as nominees for the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in the Best Metal Performance category for their song "Invisible Enemy", taken from the band's latest full-length album Phantom Anthem. This marks the second Grammy nod for Lancaster, PA's August Burns Red, as they were nominated in the same category in the 58th Grammy Awards for their song "Identity" from 2015's Found In Far Away Places.

The 60th Annual Grammy Awards will take place in New York City on Sunday, January 28th, 2018, with winners being announced live from Madison Square Garden. 

August Burns Red will kick off their headline Phantom Anthem Tour in January. Tickets are available now at AugustBurnsRed.com. Full tour routing below. August Burns Red have had a busy 2017, having toured The U.S. and Europe in support of the 10th anniversary of their Messengers album, and performing at major festivals, including Rock Allegiance Festival and Aftershock.

Tour dates:

January
5 - Montreal, QC - Metropolis/ M-Telus 
6- Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall
7- Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
9 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
10 - Pontiac, MI - The Crofoot 
11 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
12 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave
13 - Minneapolis, MN - Cabooze
14 - Winnipeg, MB - The Garrick
16 - Edmonton, AB - Union Hall
17 - Calgary, AB - The Palace
19 - Vancouver, BC - Vogue Theater
20 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox
21 - Portland, OR - Roseland
23 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades
24 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues
25 - Los Angeles, CA - Belasco Theater
26 - Phoenix, AZ - The Marquee
27 - Albuquerque, NM - Historic El Rey
29 - Denver, CO - Summit Music Hall
30 - Lawrence, KS - Granada Theater
31 - St. Louis, MO - The Ready Room

February 
1 - Memphis, TN - New Daisy
2 - Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey Live
3 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live Ballroom 
4 - Austin, TX - Emo's 
6 - Tampa, FL - The Ritz Ybor
7 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
8 - Orlando, FL - The Beacham
9 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade (Heaven)
10 - Greensboro, NC - Arizona Pete's
11 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works
13 - Norfolk, VA - the Norva
14 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Sound Stage
15 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
16 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
17 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
18 - Philadelphia, PA - Theater of Living Arts

Entombed A. D. conquered the main stage at Germany's Wacken Open Air 2016, and delivered the finest old school death metal. Professionally filmed video footage from the performance can be seen below.

Songs:

"Second To None"
"Dead Dawn"
"Wolverine Blues"

Gothenburg, Sweden’s Bombus have released a two track single entitled “Call You Over” featuring the song “I Call You Over (Hairy Teeth, Pt. II), which is taken from their latest album Repeat Until Death, and another, previously unreleased track called “Black Stakes”. They also launched a brand new video for “I Call You Over (Hairy Teeth, Pt. II)” (watch below).

The band comments, “Friends of Bombus! Repeat Until Death is coming full circle and we have already entered the studio for the recording of our fourth studio album! What better way to celebrate this than with the release of a new single and a video! ‘I Call You Over (Hairy Teeth, Pt. II)’ is taken from Repeat Until Death. The video is made by the ingenious and extremely good looking Adam Holmquist who also did the video for ‘Deadweight’. ‘Black Stakes’ is a previously unreleased, cool and quirky lil’ track. This release is dedicated to Amélie de Moy - who appears in the video - and Nicklas Högberg at Live Nation who both sadly passed away fucking way to soon. That fucking sucks... But we really hope you all enjoy this release and we will see all y’all soon! Hail, kill and don’t forget to wear white Speedos! Peace out!“

The digital single including the previously unreleased track “Black Stakes” is available on all download and streaming platforms. Click here to direct you to selected download and streaming services.

Beasto Blanco, the band fronted by long time Alice Cooper bassist Chuck Garric, will release Live From Berlin on January 19th via Rat Pak Records.

Live From Berlin was recorded at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany during the 2016 sold-out Böhse Onkelz tour. The release features songs from both their debut release Live Fast Die Loud (2013) as well as their 2016 self-titled sophomore release Beasto Blanco.

Frontman Chuck Garric comments, "It was an honour to be invited to tour with the legendary Bohse Onkelz. Every show was sold out, every night a feast of rock ‘n’ roll. The music was loud the crowd was louder! Berlin was a special night and we want to invite you to the party!”

Calico Cooper adds, “Beasto is a band that’s driven by the crowd. The more they scream for it the more we give it and Berlin was howling, it was an electric show!”, and guitarist Brother Latham states, “Blood, and sweat, it makes for any great story…this one, for sure will be written in the books. Berlin knocked us up beyond our wildest potential, living up to our motto Live Fast Die Loud!”

Influenced by bands such as White Zombie and Motorhead, Beasto Blanco’s music is a potent mix of heavy riffs, driving bass and melodic choruses. Live From Berlin” is available for pre-order in various bundle configurations including vinyl, cassette, deluxe jewel case, hand autographed and an Ultimate Fan Bundle where you can receive a personal phone call from Chuck Garric. Click here to pre-order.

Tracklisting:

"Il Nostro Spirito"/"Beasto Blanco"
"Freak"
"Motor Queen"/Drum Solo
"Grind"
"Machine Girl"
"Death Rattle"
"Honey"
"Feed My Frankenstein"
"Sadhana"/"Breakdown"

Former TRIVIUM members Travis Smith and Brent Young have rejoined forces in a new Florida-based hard rock band called BLACKNOVA. The new group is writing and recording its debut EP for a tentative spring 2018 release. The debut single, "Eclipse From Within", will be accompanied with a music video.

The formation of BLACKNOVA began in 2015 when Smith met fellow musician Rob Adams — with both of them having musical backgrounds, they hit it off quickly and became fast friends. They soon began discussing the idea of building their own music studio for post-work jam sessions/music recording. After a bit of searching, they acquired and converted a storage facility, creating their own custom studio space over the course of six months. The vision of the studio was to be a place that was inviting, comfortable and ultimately embracing creativity. Travis's childhood friend Brent Young soon joined in on the studio sessions as the second guitarist and after only after a few sessions, it was apparent the trio had great musical chemistry.

The band's initial intentions were simply to get together, play music they loved and have fun. At the outset, their focus was not about playing out and touring. However, the more music they wrote, the more their priorities began to naturally shift towards these goals. The final stage in the band's growth came when they decided to make a change in the lineup. After trying out a few singers that didn't quite seem to fit, Young decided to go back to bass guitar and step up to the role of lead vocals. The group agreed that having a three-member band was a vital element to achieving BLACKNOVA's sound, and this final shift in roles completed the lineup.

BLACKNOVA's style has been described as hard rock, heavy metal, progressive rock and groove rock. The band is influenced by musical groups such as DREAM THEATER, ERRA, SEVENDUST, TOOL, MACHINE HEAD, SHINEDOWN, GUNS N' ROSES, METALLICA, IRON MAIDEN and MEGADETH.

BLACKNOVA is:

Rob Adams - guitars, backing vocalsTravis Smith - drumsBrent Young - lead vocals, bass guitar

FEARED, the death metal outfit featuring current and former members of THE HAUNTED, DÅÅTH, SUFFOCATION and CLAWFINGER, has released an animated music video for "Your Black Is My White" off the band's forthcoming sixth album, "Svart". The clip, featuring drawings by Johan Ejerblom (ArtByEjerBlom) and directed by Hugo Andersson, can be seen below.

Commented guitarist Ola Englund: "The video for 'Your Black Is My White' is about Frida, a married woman who suffered a tragedy of losing her daughter in a drowning accident. Now she struggles through life living in two worlds, reality and nightmare. The accident is tearing apart on her relationship. In the video, the world shifts, and in the end, reality is the nightmare and her everyday perfect life is her dream. Video producer Johan Ejerblom really did a great job capturing the FEARED vibe."

Due on December 8, the follow-up to last year's critically acclaimed "Synder" was mixed by Mark Lewis (CANNIBAL CORPSE, TRIVIUM, WHITECHAPEL) and features the artwork of Sylvain Lucchina.

FEARED is led by THE HAUNTED guitarist Ola Englund .

"Svart" track listing:

01. När Allt Blir Svart02. King of the Dead03. Hate Mantra04. My Next05. In I Dimman06. Your Black Is My White07. Engines Of Death08. The Mare09. Blodspår FEARED is:

Mario Ramos - VocalsOla Englund - GuitarsJocke Skog - BassKevin Talley - Drums

Oriental metal pioneers, Orphaned Land, have released a second teaser for their new studio album, Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs, out on January 26th via Century Media Records. Find two teasers below, and pre-order the album here.

For the new album, Jens Bogren once again took over mixing and mastering duties of what turned out to be the band’s best and biggest production so far. Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs will feature a guest appearance of guitar virtuoso Steve Hackett as well as guest vocal appearances by no other than Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian) and Tomas Lindberg (At The Gates). The great album artwork was created by Valnoir.

Singer and frontman Kobi Farhi comments: “We are thrilled and so happy to finally reveal you the great artwork of Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs! Our music has always been a combination of anger, tragedy, protest and joy. We can't wait for you to hear the 13 brand new tracks of this album. As always it will be very eclectic, no song sounds like the other and the whole album is a one big musical journey. We feel that this album takes our feelings to a new level of anger, protest and tragedy. The cover speaks for itself and it was made as tribute to the way governments design their money. Enjoy!”

Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs tracklisting:

“The Cave”
“We Do Not Resist”
“In Propaganda”
“All Knowing Eye”
“Yedidi”
“Chains Fall To Gravity”
“Like Orpheus”
“Poets Of Prophetic Messianism”
“Left Behind”
“My Brother's Keeper”
“Take My Hand”
“Only The Dead Have Seen The End Of War”
“The Manifest - Epilogue”    

Teaser #1:

Teaser #2:

To celebrate the release of the new album, the band will be touring Europe again in early 2018.

Kobi comments: “We are impatiently waiting to hit the roads and stages and play our new songs for you all. We feel that we have an amazing album on our hands. Join our ride and see you all very soon!”

Orphaned Land will be supported by In Vain, Subterranean Masquerade and Aevum. Dates below.

February
24 - Willemeen - Arnhem, Holland
25 - Turock - Essen, Germany
26 - Underworld - London, UK
27 - Petit Bain - Paris, France
28 - Le Ferrailleur - Nantes, France

March
2 - Copérnico - Madrid, Spain
3 - Bovedo - Barcelona, Spain
4 - Secret Place - Montpellier, France
6 - Jungle - Cologne Germany
7 - Bi Nuu - Berlin, Germany
8 - Randal  Club - Bratislava, Slovakia
9 - Flying Circus - Cluj Napoca, Romania
10 - Zet Pete - Krakow, Poland
11 - Dürer Kert - Budapest, Hungary
13 - Backstage - Munich, Germany
14 - Dagda Live Club - Borgo Priolo, Italy
15 - Jailbreak Live Club - Rome, Italy
16 - The Manoir Pub - St. Maurice, Switzerland
17 - Galvanik - Zug, Switzerland
18 - Chez Paulette - Pagney, France

Orphaned Land is:

Kobi Farhi - Vocals
Chen Balbus - Guitars
Idan Amsalem - Guitars
Uri Zelcha - Bass
Matan Shmuely - Drums

(Photo - Zohar Ron / Zoharon - Photography)

British heavy metal legends SAXON will release their 22nd studio album, "Thunderbolt", on February 2 via Militia Guard (Silver Lining Music). The follow-up to 2015's "Battering Ram" was once again helmed by producer Andy Sneap, who has previously worked with JUDAS PRIEST, MEGADETH, ACCEPT and TESTAMENT, among others. The disc will feature original artwork by longtime SAXON collaborator Paul Raymond Gregory.

The official video for the "Thunderbolt" title track, featuring footage from SAXON's pyro-filled performance at Wacken Open Air and a host of other live gigs, can be seen below.

Frontman Biff Byford says: "['Thunderbolt' is] a storming, smashing, thundering collection of tracks we've been crafting with producer Andy Sneap and it's finished ready to be unleashed. Stand clear and fasten your seat belts!"

Three weeks later, the band will embark on the first leg of the "Thunderbolt" 2018 European tour. SAXON will be joined by fellow English rockers DIAMOND HEAD and metal trio ROCK GODDESS will perform on the scheduled U.K. dates, with very special guests MAGNUM on the U.K. Hull date only. However, SAXON doesn't stop there — dates for "Thunderbolt" tour part two will be announced in early 2018.

"Thunderbolt" will feature the song "They Played Rock And Roll", written about and dedicated to MOTÖRHEAD. Byford previously said that he gave the track that title because "that's what Lemmy used to say every night [from the stage]." He added: "It's basically about early MOTÖRHEAD — '79/'80 MOTÖRHEAD, like around 'No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith', 'cause that's the tour we were on, that one. So, yeah, it's about the band, really, and their music."

According to Biff, "They Played Rock And Roll" will be musically similar to Lemmy and Co. He explained: "I asked Nibbs [Carter, SAXON bassist] to write me some music that was like MOTÖRHEAD, and he did. So it sounds very MOTÖRHEAD-ish, but not MOTÖRHEAD, if you know what I mean."

Regarding the "Thunderbolt" album title, Byford said: "'Thunderbolt' is about Greek gods, so I read up on Greek mythology. There's not really that much. Homer had some writings… I made most of it up, but it's based on Zeus and Poseidon and Hades, so it's got a bit of good and a bit of evil in it, so it's pretty cool. Obviously Zeus's sign was a thunderbolt and his sign was an eagle holding a lightning bolt."

Like "Battering Ram", SAXON's upcoming effort will feature Byford alongside Paul Quinn and Doug Scarratt on guitar, Nibbs Carter on bass and Nigel Glockler on drums.

"Thunderbolt" track listing:

01. Olympus Rising02. Thunderbolt03. The Secret Of Flight04. Nosferatu (The Vampires Waltz) 05. They Played Rock And Roll06. Predator07. Sons Of Odin08. Sniper09. A Wizard's Tale10. Speed Merchants11. Roadie's Song12. Nosferatu (Raw Version) (not available on vinyl)

Indonesian president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo will file a report with the country's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) regarding the METALLICA "Master Of Puppets" box set he received from Danish prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.

Since the gift technically constitutes a form of gratification, it must legally be reported to the KPK, according to Coconuts Jakarta.

The law is to prevent politicians from receiving gifts that could be considered a form of bribery.

"The President is planning to report the gift of the METALLICA vinyl records to the KPK," presidential spokesperson Johan Budi said.

Back in May 2013, Widodo was forced by KPK to turn over his autographed METALLICA bass guitar to the government, while authorities determined whether the instrument was merely a gift or a violation of ethics rules. Widodo received the bass from METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo, but had to give it up to the state within 30 days, according to laws regarding gifts to state officials.

Rasmussen presented Jokowi with the "Master Of Puppets" box set during a state visit on Tuesday (November 28) at the Bogor Palace in Indonesia. In return, Jokowi, gave Rasmussen a rencong (traditional dagger from Aceh).

Jokowi's copy of the "Masters Of Puppets" box set came with the signature of METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich, who said he was thrilled Jokowi had accepted the gift.

"This is way cool… I signed [a 'Master Of Puppets'] box set for Danish prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen to give to Indonesian president Joko Widodo who is well known as a huge fan of rock music and came to see us in Jakarta in '13," Lars wrote on Instagram. "Music really does connect people!"

The 56-year-old Widodo, who served as governor of Jakarta before being elected president in 2014, attended METALLICA's August 2013 concert in the city — 25 years to the day after the release of the band's fourth album, "…And Justice For All", and more than 20 years after their tumultuous first show in Indonesia.

Widodo has also professed love for other heavy metal bands like MEGADETH, LAMB OF GOD and NAPALM DEATH in the past.

This is way cool… I signed an MOP box set for Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen to give to Indonesian President Joko Widodo who is well known as a huge fan of rock music and came to see us in Jakarta in ‘13… music really does connect people!!! ???? @larsloekke @jokowi #masterofpuppets

A post shared by Lars Ulrich (@larsulrich) on Nov 28, 2017 at 9:56am PST

Indonesia’s president @jokowi seemed eager to dig into his diplomatic gift from Denmark: A #MasterOfPuppets box signed by #heavymetal fans’ all-time favorit drummer @larsulrich @metallica pic.twitter.com/Epcq2paywh

— Lars Løkke Rasmussen (@larsloekke) November 28, 2017

According to Billboard, six songs from Australian hard rock legends AC/DC have landed on the Hot Rock Songs chart following the death of the band's co-founder and longtime rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young.

"Thunderstruck" is at No. 6, with 6,000 downloads sold (up 73 percent) and 4.1 million U.S. streams (up 33 percent) in the week ending November 23, according to Nielsen Music; "Back in Black" is at No. 11 with 3,000 downloads sold and 3.1 million U.S. streams; "You Shook Me All Night Long" is at No. 15 with 3,000 sold and 2.5 million streams; "Highway To Hell" is at No. 18 with 3,000 sold and 2.5 million streams; "T.N.T." is at No. 23 with 2,000 sold and 1.6 million streams; and "Hells Bells" is No. 24 with 2,000 sold and 1.5 million streams.

Meanwhile, AC/DC's "Back In Black" sold 7,000 equivalent album units in the week ending November 23. Of that total, 3,000 are from pure album sales, an increase of 127 percent.

Malcolm was remembered as "quiet, humble and understated" at his funeral in Sydney, Australia on Tuesday (November 28), according to ABC News. Hundreds of people gathered at St. Mary's Cathedral for the service, including AC/DC guitarist and Malcolm's brother Angus Young, former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd and ex-AC/DC bassist Mark Evans. Eulogies were read by Bradley Horsburgh and David Albert, who described Young as a "quiet, humble and understated man."

The Albert family had managed AC/DC for more than four decades.

One of Malcolm Young's guitars was carried into the church for the service, while guitar picks inscribed with his date of birth and death were handed out with the official funeral programs.

After the service, a pipe band played a medley of songs as the funeral procession left St. Mary's, including the guitar solo from AC/DC's "It's A Long Way To The Top", as well as "Waltzing Matilda" and "Road To Gundagai".

Malcolm, who co-founded AC/DC with Angus in 1973, died on November 18 at the age of 64 after suffering from dementia and failing health for several years.

Malcolm and Angus's older brother George passed away earlier this month, while original AC/DC singer Bon Scott died in 1980.

An unfinished demo song that will be included on the forthcoming 13th album from MALEVOLENT CREATION can be streamed below. The disc will feature the band's current lineup, consisting of founding guitarist Phil Fasciana alongside new additions Lee Wollenschlaeger (vocals, guitar), Phil Cancilla (drums) and Josh L. Gibbs (bass).

Fasciana stated about MALEVOLENT CREATION's latest incarnation: "After receiving so many great videos and songs from singers wanting to take over the vocal position after the departure of original vocalist Bret Hoffman, I finally have found the right man for the job.

"I received a few songs from Lee Wollenschlaeger and his solo project IMPERIAL EMPIRE and was so impressed that after a lot of conversations and hearing his own compositions and demos of him singing MALEVOLENT CREATION songs, I could not deny his talent.

"The demo song posted below is one of his songs that I really liked and told him we could work with his song for the next MALEVOLENT CREATION album and let people hear our new vocalist and his talent. He is also playing guitar in the band, which makes us now a four-piece.

"To prove my commitment to him that he is now the vocalist, I posted this demo song that he wrote and that is being re-recorded as we speak so he can re-write the lyrics and I can lay down a couple guitar solos for this song.

"We will be posting some more music with Lee Wollenschlaeger singing MALEVOLENT CREATION songs, and between the music i have written for the next album and his music, as well as our bassist and drummer who both write music as well, we now have a band that is dedicated to record the heaviest MALEVOLENT CREATION album yet.

MALEVOLENT CREATION's new lineup:

Phil Fasciana - GuitarLee Wollenschlaeger - Vocals/Guitar Phil Cancilla - Drums Josh L. Gibbs - Bass

MALEVOLENT CREATION's latest album, "Dead Man's Path", was released in 2015 via Century Media.

Fan-filmed video footage of HIM's entire November 26 concert at Stadium in Moscow, Russia can be seen below.

The band's setlist was follows:

01. Buried Alive By Love02. Heartache Every Moment03. Your Sweet Six Six Six04. The Kiss Of Dawn05. The Sacrament06. Tears On Tape07. Rip Out The Wings Of A Butterfly08. Gone With The Sin09. Soul On Fire10. Wicked Game (CHRIS ISAAK cover)11. Killing Loneliness12. Poison Girl13. Bleed Well14. Heartkiller15. Join Me In Death16. It's All Tears (Drown In This Love)17. In Joy And Sorrow18. Right Here In My Arms19. The Funeral Of Hearts

Encore:

20. Rebel Yell (BILLY IDOL cover)21. When Love And Death Embrace

HIM is continuing its farewell tour, closing the final chapter on the band's 26-year career.

"After quarter of a century of love and metal intertwined, we sincerely feel HIM has run its unnatural course and adieus must be said in order to make way for sights, scents and sounds yet unexplored," said HIM frontman and main songwriter Ville Valo. "We completed the pattern, solved the puzzle and turned the key. Thank you."

Formed in 1991 by Valo, guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström and bassist Mikko "Migé" Paananen, HIM truly stand out as one of the rock world’s most unique acts. Beautifully blending metal, goth and hard rock with deep, thoughtful and moving lyrics, HIM offered the world a new take on the metal genre, which became known as Love Metal (also the title of their fourth album).

Over the course of eight studio albums, HIM captured the hearts and minds of fans across the globe, drawn by their irresistible and inimitable style. Under the banner of their Heartagram logo – a potent symbol encapsulating the juxtaposition of the light and dark, the fierce and forlorn, and the evil and love found in their music — HIM filled venues and crashed charts the world over, collecting numerous awards, gracing countless magazine covers and becoming the first Finnish act to achieve gold status in the USA.

Now, four years after the release of the band's last studio album, "Tears On Tape", HIM is saying farewell, taking in 14 countries across 35 shows for its final goodbye.

HIM in 2015 parted ways with its longtime drummer, Mika Kristian Karppinen (a.k.a. Gas Lipstick), and replaced him with Jukka "Kosmo" Kröger (formerly of HERRA YLPPÖ & IHMISET).

San Francisco Bay area metallers MACHINE HEAD will release their ninth studio album, "Catharsis", on January 26, 2018 via Nuclear Blast. The effort will be made available in several formats, including a CD/DVD digipak edition which contains footage of the band's 2015 concert at San Francisco's Regency Ballroom.

A performance clip of the song "Now We Die", taken from the above-mentioned 21-track DVD, can be seen below.

The follow-up to 2014's "Bloodstone & Diamonds", "Catharsis" was produced by MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn and recorded, mixed, and co-produced by Zack Ohren (FALLUJAH, ALL SHALL PERISH) at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California. Mastering was handled by Ted Jensen (HATEBREED, ALICE IN CHAINS, DEFTONES) at Sterling Sound in New York. Cover photography was created by Seanen Middleton.

Flynn told Jason Ellis of SiriusXM that "Catharsis" is a simpler and more straight-forward effort than some of MACHINE HEAD's past outings. "I've been telling everybody, 'Keep your expectations low for the heaviness,'" Robb said. "It's a very grooving, very melodic record, and it's kind of freaked people out — understandably, I guess."

Asked how "unheavy" "Catharsis" really is, Flynn said: "It's got some pretty melodic moments, man. This isn't us at our heaviest. To me, if 'The Blackening' was us at our most thrashing and most heavy, this is probably us at our most grooving and most melodic. And it's still heavy, it's great songs, it's just… it's a new trip, and I dig it, man."

According to Flynn, MACHINE HEAD had "no plan" while composing the songs for "Catharsis". "We just start writing," he explained. "There's never a plan. We just started writing, and it came out the way it came out, and it was just cool. That was the shit that got our dick hard, and we were, like, 'Fuck! Let's go with it.'"

He added: "To me, Keith Richards summed it up best. We're just a vessel and we're just channeling what's going through us."

Pointing out that "Catharsis" is a 15-song collection of music with a running time of around 75 minutes, Flynn admitted that "it's a big commitment" for the listener. But, he added, "The majority of the record is short songs. And it was nice. It was just, like, the first two songs we wrote were just short and sweet and heavy, and we were, like, 'Fuck! It doesn't need to go on for six more minutes or have 20 other changes.'"

As for what brought about the slight change in direction for MACHINE HEAD's new album, Flynn said: "I don't listen to a whole lot of metal — I'm being straight with you. To me, a lot of it doesn't interest me, a lot of the lyrics don't interest me. I listen to a lot of hip-hop. I grew up on a lot of hardcore, punk rock, hip-hop, and I just love… Love it or hate it, I love just the fucking direct, ignorant-ass lyrics of hip-hop. It's very clear, it's very blunt; there's no metaphors. Metal's full of metaphors. We've been singing about the same shit now for 30 fucking years and I get a little bored with it. And with this record, I really wanted to just strip it down and make really clear, really simple, really blunt… Especially my choruses, just really clear… Like, you know what the fuck I'm talking about exactly when I'm talking about it. And it's cool. Like real vulgar language and coarse language, and it's a good vibe, man."

Flynn went on to say that he was inspired by the idea of changing up the formula and taking MACHINE HEAD down a new path without veering too much from the band's established sound.

"How the fuck do you blow people away? How do you say something different?" he asked rhetorically. "'Cause there's the two sides — there's the type of bands that are, like, 'We wanna be AC/DC. Never change. It's always the same.' And then there's THE BEATLES, which is probably the most evolution that's ever happened over the course of 10 years in music history. And I don't wanna say we've changed that much, 'cause I never think that we have, but I love the evolution. I love trying to find some new thing that keeps you going."

"Catharsis" track listing:

01. Volatile02. Catharsis03. Beyond The Pale04. California Bleeding05. Triple Beam06. Kaleidoscope07. Bastards08. Hope Begets Hope09. Screaming At The Sun10. Behind A Mask11. Heavy Lies The Crown12. Psychotic13. Grind You Down14. Razorblade Smile15. Eulogy

The album is available for pre-order at this location.

MACHINE HEAD recently filmed the official video for the "Catharsis" title track. The clip is expected to make its online debut on Friday, December 8.

The North American tour in support of "Catharsis" will kick off on January 25 in Mesa, Arizona.

Swedish black metal band Grafvitnir have announced the December 15th Carnal Records release of new album Keys To The Mysteries Beyond. A promo video for the album's opening track, "Nidhögg," is available 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”

“Nidhögg”:

"For No Master", a brand new song from the legendary death metal unit MORBID ANGEL, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's ninth studio album, which will be released on December 1 via Silver Lining Music and JVC in Japan. Titled "Kingdoms Disdained", the record reunites founding guitarist Trey Azagthoth with bassist/vocalist Steve Tucker. Just one play of "Kingdoms Disdained", and you'll realize that this is the only true current aural document of a world sinking into uncharted despair. "The album title says it all," says Tucker. "Everybody's fed up and nobody can figure out how to fix it. We've got all these miniature wars in neighborhoods, cities, countries, and we've got people with varying opinions causing chaos, yet everyone is doing what they feel is right. Which all makes it feel like the world has reached a point of utter madness and confusion." As if fate constructed the moment, these forefathers of death metal found themselves witnessing the storm's eye as they prepared to create "Kingdoms Disdained", deciphering it with their ferocious music via long-held Sumerian-based beliefs. "It's been written but nobody pays attention, because we erase our history," adds Tucker. "We don't understand much about the Sumerian texts because things got erased, buried, and broken up. And for years, Trey and I talked a lot about the idea of those Gods waking up and coming back to show us that they're angry." Recorded at Mana Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida and produced by MORBID ANGEL with Erik Rutan (CANNIBAL CORPSE, HATE ETERNAL, SIX FEET UNDER, BELPHEGOR), Azagthoth, Tucker and drummer Scotty Fuller (ANNIHILATED; formerly of ABYSMAL DAWN) created eleven pieces of devastatingly dynamic death metal. Compositions such as "Garden Of Disdain", "Architect And Iconoclast" and "The Pillars Crumbling" supremely illustrate Azagthoth's incredible creative alchemy with Tucker as well as his own incomparable guitar work. "We're always trying to paint pictures; to create images," notes Tucker, "and I think this album is a fair image of the world today, but taken from a different perspective; the perspective of those Gods who built this, who may be resting now but are starting to wake up." "Kingdoms Disdained" features artwork courtesy of Irish mixed-media artist Ken Coleman, who created a series of pieces that further augment the stories being told. The effort will be available on CD, vinyl, and digital formats. "Kingdoms Disdained" track listing:

01. Piles Of Little Arms 02. D.E.A.D.03. Garden Of Disdain 04. The Righteous Voice 05. Architect And Iconoclast 06. Paradigms Warped 07. The Pillars Crumbling 08. For No Master09. Declaring New Law (Secret Hell) *10. From The Hand Of Kings11. The Fall Of Idols

* Not available on the vinyl format

MORBID ANGEL in January announced the addition of Dan Vadim Von (guitarist/frontman of the American death metal band VADIMVON) to the band's lineup on second guitar. He joined the group as the replacement for Norwegian guitarist Destructhor (a.k.a. Thor Anders Myhren), who left the band two years ago.

Former MORBID ANGEL frontman David Vincent recently joined forces with several other musicians — including ex-MORBID ANGEL drummer Tim Yeung — to perform classic MORBID ANGEL songs under the I AM MORBID banner.

MORBID ANGEL's controversial 2011 album, "Illud Divinum Insanus", marked the group's first CD to feature Vincent since "Domination".

Italy's Cadaveria have revealed the cover artwork and the release date of the 2017 edition of Far Away From Conformity, the second album of Italian horror metallers, originally released in 2004. The album will be out on December 8th, in all digital stores and on CD, with a new graphic design. It comes out in deluxe digipack version with a twelve-page booklet via Sleaszy Rider Records. The colored vinyl version will be released via Shadows Records in a limited edition of 300 hand-numbered copies worldwide. The vinyl LP will be out on January 12th, 2018, exactly 14 years after the first release. 

This is not just a reprint: the nine songs of Far Away From Conformity, including Blondie's cover “Call Me”, have been completely remixed and remastered for the occasion. In addition, a bug in the backup of the original recordings made in 2003, had caused the loss of some vocal tracks and it requested Cadaveria’s recent effort to re-record her voice for the songs “Blood And Confusion” and “The Divine Rapture”. 

Preorders available at this location.

Tracklisting:

“Blood And Confusion”
“Eleven Three O Three”
“Irreverent Elegy”
“The Divine Rapture”
“Omen Of Delirium”
“Call Me” (Blondie cover)
“Out Body Experience”
“Prayer Of Sorrow”
“Vox Of Anti-Time”

 

Danish prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen presented Indonesian president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo with a signed box set of METALLICA's seminal third album "Master Of Puppets" during a state visit earlier today (Tuesday, November 28) at the Bogor Palace in Indonesia. In return, Jokowi, gave Rasmussen a rencong (traditional dagger from Aceh), according to The Jakarta Post.

"Prime Minister Rasmussen understands my favorite [music]," Jokowi said of the "Masters Of Puppets" expanded reissue, which was made available earlier in the month.

The LP has been remastered for the most advanced sound quality and was made available in various physical configurations, including Standard LP, Standard CD, three-CD Expanded Edition, and Limited Edition Deluxe Box Set. It was also made available available digitally as a Standard CD, a three-CD Expanded Edition and a Digital Deluxe Box Set.

Bonus content in the set ranges from previously unreleased demos, rough mixes, interviews and live tracks to a 108-page hardcover book, DVDs, handwritten lyrics and more.

Jokowi's copy of the "Masters Of Puppets" box set came with the signature of METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich, who was born in Denmark. The album itself was recorded in Copenhagen between September and December 1985.

The 56-year-old Widodo, who served as governor of Jakarta before being elected president in 2014, attended METALLICA's August 2013 concert in the city — 25 years to the day after the release of the band's fourth album, "…And Justice For All", and more than 20 years after their tumultuous first show in Indonesia.

"I am happy and satisfied with the concert," Widodo said after the performance. "No one got out of control. We showed them that Jakarta citizens are all dignified. We could rock the night away in an orderly fashion."

Back in May 2013, Widodo had to turn over his autographed METALLICA bass guitar to the government temporarily, while authorities determined whether the instrument was merely a gift or a violation of ethics rules. Widodo received the bass from METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo, but had to give it up to the state within 30 days, according to laws regarding gifts to state officials.

Widodo has professed love for heavy metal bands like METALLICA, MEGADETH, LAMB OF GOD and NAPALM DEATH in the past.

Indonesia’s president @jokowi seemed eager to dig into his diplomatic gift from Denmark: A #MasterOfPuppets box signed by #heavymetal fans’ all-time favorit drummer @larsulrich @metallica pic.twitter.com/Epcq2paywh

— Lars Løkke Rasmussen (@larsloekke) November 28, 2017

According to TMZ, GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash sold his mansion in the Mulholland Estates, a guard-gated community in the Beverly Hills area of Los Angeles, to rapper Big Sean for $8.7 million.

Slash put the house on the market in June 2015 for $10.995 million, but that price came down in April 2016 by half a million to $10.495 million and in August 2016 by another million to $9.499 million.

The 10,971-square-foot, three-story Tuscan Villa-like home on Clerendon Road offers complete privacy and luxury, and is an entertainer's dream come true. Interior features include a dramatic two-story entry, state-of-the-art theater, massive double center island kitchen, amazingly unique lower level nightclub/entertainment room with an elevated DJ booth and custom LED lighting, and a soundproof recording studio that can be easily converted back to a guest suite. Boasting explosive canyon and city light views, it also provides a private balcony, tremendous walk-in closet and an awesome bathroom with steam shower and a custom over-sized spa tub with special unique lighting. You will also find a huge bonus/game room, library and more. The family room has a large walk-in wet bar, custom beamed ceilings and French doors that open to backyard.

Slash and his then-wife Perla bought the home in 2009 for $7.3 million. Their neighbors at the time reportedly included Vanna White, TV judge Greg Mathis, reality TV queen Paris Hilton, British pop star Robbie Williams and actor Charlie Sheen.

Slash filed for divorce from Perla in December 2014 after 13 years of marriage, citing "irreconcilable differences." He asked for joint custody of their two sons, 15-year-old London and 13-year-old Cash.

The reunited GUNS N' ROSES, featuring Slash, singer Axl Rose and bassist Duff McKagan, will complete a North American arena tour tomorrow (Wednesday, November 29) at The Forum in Los Angeles.

Tanith is a new four piece band based in Brooklyn NY, featuring Satan guitarist Russ Tippins on vocals and guitar. 

"With two singers and twin guitars we play old-school heavy rock influenced by the sounds and imagery of the 1970s such as BOC, Wishbone Ash and Uriah Heep,” says the band.

 

Tanith's debut 7" “Citadel” can be streamed via the Bandcamp player below; the vinyl version will be available soon.

CITADEL by Tanith

(Photo by: Hugh Pool)

Australia’s Thy Art Is Murder released their latest album, Dear Desolation, last August via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. Today, the band has released a unique playthrough video for the album's title track. Watch guitarist Sean Delander shred through the song below:

The Depression Sessions EP featuring Thy Art Is Murder, The Acacia Strain and Fit For An Autopsy, is available for the first time on CD for Record Store Day last week. Fans can also order online here. The pressing will be limited to 2,000 copies worldwide, so get yours before they're all gone.

The Depression Sessions tracklisting:

Thy Art Is Murder - “They Will Know Another”
The Acacia Strain - “Sensory Deprivation”
Fit For An Autopsy - “Flatlining”
Thy Art Is Murder - “Du Hast” (Rammstein cover)
The Acacia Strain - “Black Hole Sun” (Soundgarden cover)
Fit For An Autopsy - “The Perfect Drug” (Nine Inch Nails cover)

MASTODON, MESHUGGAH, AUGUST BURNS RED, BODY COUNT and CODE ORANGE are among the nominees for the 60th annual Grammy Awards, which will be held on Sunday, January 28, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York Cit and broadcast on CBS at 7:30 p.m. ET.

METALLICA's " Atlas, Rise!", AVENGED SEVENFOLD's "The Stage", FOO FIGHTERS' "Run" and NOTHING MORE's "Go To War" were also nominated in the "Best Rock Song" category, while MASTODON's "Emperor Of Sand", METALLICA's "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", NOTHING MORE's "The Stories We Tell Ourselves" and QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE's "Villains" were nominated in the "Best Rock Album" category.

CHRIS CORNELL's "The Promise", FOO FIGHTERS' "Run" and NOTHING MORE's "Go To War" were nominated in the "Best Rock Performance" category.

Best Metal Performance

AUGUST BURNS RED - "Invisible Enemy"BODY COUNT - "Black Hoodie"CODE ORANGE - "Forever"MASTODON - "Sultan's Curse"MESHUGGAH - "Clockworks"

Best Rock Performance

LEONARD COHEN - "You Want It Darker"CHRIS CORNELL - "The Promise"FOO FIGHTERS - "Run"KALEO - "No Good"NOTHING MORE - "Go To War"

Best Rock Song

METALLICA - "Atlas, Rise!"K. FLAY - "Blood in the Cut"NOTHING MORE - "Go To War"FOO FIGHTERS - "Run"AVENGED SEVENFOLD - "The Stage"

Best Rock Album

MASTODON – "Emperor Of Sand"METALLICA - Hardwired... To Self-DestructNOTHING MORE – "The Stories We Tell Ourselves"QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE – "Villains"THE WAR ON DRUGS – "A Deeper Understanding"

Any category with more than five nominees means there was a tie.

The Grammys are voted on by approximately 13,000 Recording Academy members, who are comprised of artists, songwriters, producers and engineers. More than 22,000 recordings were submitted for Grammys consideration this year. For 2018 awards, music must have been released between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017 in order to be eligible.

Tuomas Holopainen's three-track demo earned him his first record deal with his freshly founded band NIGHTWISH back in 1996. Today, 20 years later — with over 2,000 shows played and more than eight million records sold — NIGHTWISH is the biggest European symphonic metal band. Reason enough for Nuclear Blast to celebrate this huge anniversary by releasing a 2CD compilation titled "Decades" on March 9, 2018. This release will be accompanied by a nine-month tour across the globe. After kicking off with 34 concerts in North America in March-April, the journey will continue with dozens of European festival and headline shows. On this tour, NIGHTWISH will also be presenting a special se list, featuring rare material from the early years of their career. That's why these evenings will not only be special events for the fans, but also for the band themselves. Be prepared to hear a lot of old school material!

Tuomas states: "July 6th, 1996 was the exact date marked on my family's summer cabin guestbook. On that date, by a campfire, a decision was made to form a band of three members, playing atmospheric acoustic music led by a female voice. 15 months later, this group would release its debut album, and more than two decades later, it would release a compilation including songs from eight studio albums and from the very first demo which gave the band its name.

"The infinite freedom and potential I found from songwriting back in the days took me right back home, offering a place to feel free and meaningful. So the roller coaster ride begun, adventures from all sides of the spectrum ahead, making a pit stop at this place and age from where we're greeting you now. Looking back, the voyage has been nothing short of spectacular.

"The best part of it all, though, are the people. The fellowship of the band, past and present, the crew and the management. The relationships created, whether it's the fans in the front row, guest musicians, other bands, promoters, media, record label staff, or even your own heroes you never thought you'd meet. I've met my best friends through music, as well as faced the most unfortunate ordeals, but it's all been for the love of life and adventure, for learning, and for a meaning. The sense of privilege I feel looking into the past, the present, and future is immeasurable by words. It's something that can only be expressed through poetry and music. A journey of two decades has taken our wonderful Edema Ruh this far, and the beauty of the future is, that it remains an untold story.

"In a few months, we'll celebrate the journey so far in the form of a nine-month nostalgia tour, including material from all of our eight studio albums. We shall meet you all soon, and it will be wondrous as never before!"

"Decades" European tour:

Nov. 02 - S - Gothenburg - Partille ArenaNov. 05 - D - Berlin - Max-Schmeling-HalleNov. 06 - D - Hamburg - Barclaycard ArenaNov. 07 - B - Antwerp - Lotto ArenaNov. 09 - D - Oberhausen - König-Pilsener-ArenaNov. 10 - F - Paris - AccorHotels ArenaNov. 11 - CH - Geneva - ArenaNov. 13 - SK - Bratislava - Incheba Expo ArenaNov. 14 - D - Munich - OlympiahalleNov. 16 - D - Leipzig - ArenaNov. 17 - PL - Krakow - Tauron ArenaNov. 20 - H - Budapest - ArenaNov. 22 - CH - Zurich - HallenstadionNov. 23 - D - Nuremberg - ArenaNov. 24 - D - Stuttgart - Schleyer-HalleNov. 27 - D - Saarbrücken - SaarlandhalleDec. 04 - I - Milan - Medionalum ForumDec. 05 - D - Frankfurt - Festhalle

Former CANDLEMASS singer Messiah Marcolin joined the Chilean doom metal band PROCESSION on stage on November 20 at Nambucca in London, England to perform the CANDLEMASS classic "Solitude". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below. Messiah previously performed the same song with PROCESSION in 2011 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Marcolin exited CANDLEMASS for the presumably final time in 2006, one year after the release of the band's self-titled album. He was later replaced by Robert Lowe (SOLITUDE AETURNUS), who sang on the band's "King Of The Grey Islands" (2007), "Death Magic Doom" (2009) and "Psalms For The Dead" (2012). CANDLEMASS's frontman for the past five years has been Mats Levén, who previously recorded and toured with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and THERION.

Messiah told Metal Rules that he was "very honored" by new bands who cite CANDLEMASS as an influence on their music. "If anyone wants to be inspirited by CANDLEMASS, it is the most respectable thing what a band ever can get," he said. "I love WITCHFINDER GENERAL which are very BLACK SABBATH influenced and PENTAGRAM, which is fucking great. The first PENTAGRAM album is great, and, of course, TROUBLE is influenced by BLACK SABBATH, and CANDLEMASS is also influenced by BLACK SABBATH — the whole fucking world is influenced by BLACK SABBATH. But, I mean, CANDLEMASS made its own style — we don't sound exactly the same, but the heaviness is the same, but the music is different. We created our own style, doom metal stuff and all the other bands which have taken it after, it is a great honor."