During last night's (Wednesday, November 30) GUNS N' ROSES concert in Mexico City, frontman Axl Rose invited fans to beat the crap out of a large piñata designed to look like president-elect Donald Trump.

"Let's bring up some people, and give them a fucking stick," Axl told the crowd. "I just want you to express yourself, however you feel."

A fan then came up and started hitting the piñata, causing Axl to react: "He's got it. Go ahead!"

Trump drew outrage during his campaign for his tough talk about America's southern neighbor, calling some Mexican migrants "rapists" and robbers and promising to build a border wall paid for by Mexico to stem illegal entries.

Axl recently took to Twitter to condemn Trump's choice for U.S. attorney general, Alabama senator Jeff Sessions, and to berate Trump for demanding an apology from the cast of the Broadway show "Hamilton" after vice president-elect Mike Pence was booed when he attended the musical

On Sessions, the singer wrote: "Good people don't listen to, acknowledge, nominate or elect people like Senator Jeff Sessions."

Sessions, who has been a key adviser to the Trump campaign, is known for his hardline stance against both legal and unauthorized immigration. He has seen as a controversial choice to head a department charged with protecting voting rights and running immigration courts.

Sessions was nominated by President Ronald Reagan as a federal judge in 1986, but the Senate rejected his bid after colleagues testified about racially offensive comments Sessions made as a U.S. attorney in Alabama.

As for the "Hamilton" incident, Pence was booed by the audience at the show several times last month. At the end of the evening, cast member Brandon Dixon read a respectful if pointed statement directed at Pence, saying: "We hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values, and work on behalf of all of us."

Trump took to Twitter to demand that the cast "apologize" for having "harassed" Pence. Rose wrote: "Do u ever stop whining? An apology? Seriously?! U won, this is the job, get on with it or get out of the kitchen."

Pence himself indicated on "Fox News Sunday" that he thought "Hamilton" was "incredible," and "wasn't offended" by either the boos or the cast statement.

Rose has acknowledged not voting in the past in a 2012 interview with Jimmy Kimmel, although he revealed that he leads Democratic. It is not known whether he voted in this year's contest between Trump and Hillary Clinton.

You don't need to be a die-hard '80s metal fan to know that the fruits of an artistic alliance between DANGER DANGER singer Ted Poley and guitarist/producer Steve Brown of TRIXTER is going to make melodic rock fans rejoice! The two musicians from New Jersey recently created TOKYO MOTOR FIST and the new band is ready to unleash on the world their self-titled debut album on February 24, 2017 via Frontiers Music Srl.

Indeed, TOKYO MOTOR FIST is exactly what you would expect: catchy and uplifting hard rock, the way is should be! You want big — we mean, BIG — hooks? You got 'em. What about major guitar riffs? Of course there's plenty of those. Killer rhythm section? Well, with Greg Smith (TED NUGENT, RAINBOW, ALICE COOPER) and Chuck Burgi (RAINBOW, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, JOE LYNN TURNER), you simply can't go wrong!

Ted and Steve have been friends for a long time. They were playing the same club circuit with their respective bands, DANGER DANGER and TRIXTER, when both bands were starting their careers. Over the years, they've had a great personal relationship and the idea of doing a record together has been in the cards for many years. Now, thanks to Frontiers, this concept has become a reality.

"To say that I'm excited for the world to hear TOKYO MOTOR FIST would be an understatement," says Steve Brown. "Working on this project with my rock and roll brothers Ted Poley, Greg Smith and Chuck Burgi was a total blast… We had fun and it shows in the performances and in the music! As a songwriter, I couldn't be happier with the way the songs came together. Fans of TRIXTER, DANGER DANGER, DEF LEPPARD, BON JOVI and CHEAP TRICK will get the best of all those worlds."

Poley adds: "Working with guys of this caliber was amazing. I was excited to collaborate with my longtime friend Steve Brown, who is not only a really great songwriter and guitarist but also an insanely cool producer! The band sounds great and very high energy. The vocals of Steve and I along with his SHREDDING guitar, combined with the world-class rhythm powerhouse section of Greg Smith and Chuck Burgi is amazing. What a cool band — the sound is HUGE. But it's the songs that drew me into making this album in the beginning and the record is full of catchy songs with massive choruses and great melodies and sounds BIG BIG BIG! I am beyond THRILLED with the final result and I hope you will be too."

"Tokyo Motor Fist" track listing:

01. Pickin' Up The Pieces
02. Love Me Insane
03. Shameless
04. Love
05. Black And Blue
06. You're My Revolution
07. Don't Let Me Go
08. Put Me To Shame
09. Done To Me
10. Get You Off My Mind
11. Fallin' Apart

TOKYO MOTOR FIST is:

Ted Poley - Vocals
Steve Brown - Guitar, Vocals
Greg Smith - Bass
Chuck Burgi - Drums

Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser, the Croatian cello duo known as 2CELLOS, has released a music video for their version of the QUEEN classic "The Show Must Go On" as a tribute to Freddie Mercury, who passed away 25 years ago.

The world may be coming to an end in their new video, but even that doesn't stop Luka and Stjepan from doing what they love to do the most — rock out on their cellos!

"We chose this song in celebration of the legendary Freddie Mercury," said 2CELLOS. "'The Show Must Go On' is a dramatic and larger-than-life song and we wanted our video and interpretation of the music to reflect that."

The track is available now via all digital music outlets.

2CELLOS, which is currently on tour in Australia, celebrated its fifth anniversary this summer. The duo rose to fame after releasing a rendition of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal".

At the start of 2017, 2CELLOS is expected to release its fourth studio album for Sony Masterworks/Menart. The effort will be dedicated to famous movie themes.

The video for "The Show Must Go On" was filmed in Zagreb at the Trešnja theatre and was directed by Zdenko Bašić.

In a 2014 interview with Thorium, Eicca Toppinen of Finnish cello rockers APOCALYPTICA stated about 2CELLOS: "That's kind of funny. These guys, they are talented and everything, but what has been funny also for me is to see that they are treated like they invented something. It's, like, 'c'mon, we did this 20 or 30 years ago. Where's the beef? You know. [Laughs] But I don't know why they became so big. Maybe because the time different, and there's YouTube…" APOCALYPTICA's Mikko Sirén added: "Elton John did a lot for them. I think they were supporting him. And they are great. They are talented musicians. Hats off to them." Toppinen continued: "Yeah, they are very good. No bad word about them. I think more it's funny for the media and for the people. But maybe [because we live in this] Internet time and YouTube time, [where] things spread so massively fast. It's so different than [it was] at the end of the '90s. You might get a video on MTV, in night rotation, [like] we did, but still, it's marginal [compared to the way it is today]"

He continued: "I saw the [2CELLOS] video. I checked it [out] — because of the social media, these kinds of video clips, they are spread, like, in one second. Everybody is sharing it: 'Oh, this is so great. This is so great.' And I checked the video, and I was, like, 'Ahhh…' This is, like, still working on the really old-school stereotypical thinking that having this baroque style of concert audience, and then, 'We're doing something really heavy.' [Laughs] But it's great. It's a lot of fun."

Spanish melodic progressive metal masters LORDS OF BLACK — who feature in their ranks new RAINBOW singer Ronnie Romero — recorded a cover version of the QUEEN classic "Innuendo" during the sessions for their second album, "II". The track, which was released as a bonus cut with the new disc, can be streamed below.

"II" was released on March 18 via Frontiers Music Srl.

LORDS OF BLACK is the band formed by Romero, renowned guitarist Tony Hernando and monster drummer Andy C. Their vision was to form a metal band with a modern approach blended with catchy, melodic and progressive elements.

After months of intense and hard work on the songs, LORDS OF BLACK independently released its acclaimed self-titled debut which was co-produced by Roland Grapow (MASTERPLAN, ex-HELLOWEEN). Metal Hammer Spain deemed it "the best metal album released in Spain this year."

LORDS OF BLACK supported the release with a series of very successful live shows, some of them as "very special guest" for high-profile international acts. Then the news of Ronnie Romero joining the new incarnation of RAINBOW broke out. This brought the band to the attention of the international media, with RAINBOW legend Ritchie Blackmore describing Romero's voice as "a cross between Ronnie James Dio and Freddie Mercury."

However, now LORDS OF BLACK are ready to conquer the world with "II", an album which will blow the minds of fans of modern melodic metal. Once again co-produced, mixed and mastered by Roland Grapow, the disc is not only the follow-up to LORDS OF BLACK's outstanding and acclaimed debut album, but is an album with superbly crafted songs that will instantly become absolute metal classics.

"The new album, being the follow-up to a first record that was so greatly received, had to get to a higher place," says Tony Hernando. "After an intense year of writing and producing, along with the live performances, we came up with songs that are still deep and complicated in some arrangements, but have been written with the live performance in mind… The quest was to come up with something that artistically was meaningful for us as musicians and at the same time could catch the attention of the listeners. We really hope you enjoy this new album and come with us for a great ride!"

Tracks like "Merciless", "Everything You're Not", "Insane", "New World's Coming" and "Shadows Of War" showcase the heavy and complex yet very melodic style of the band. The song "The Art of Illusions Part III: The Wasteland" is the conclusion to the trilogy that commenced on the debut album, while the song "Cry No More" is inspired and dedicated to the late, great, Phil Lynott.

Regarding how he landed the RAINBOW gig, the Chilean-born Romero told Rafabasa.com: "I don't know from how long they had me on their list, but they contacted me some months ago, at the beginning of summer, to tell me about a chance to an audition . I deeply remember that 'day one' and that first 'hi,' been doing your daily activities and receive an e-mail from Ritchie Blackmore himself is quite hard to assimilate, after a few days days, even weeks."

Romero also talked about Ritchie's description of his vocal style as "a cross between Ronnie James Dio and Freddie Mercury." He said: "I just think about how lucky I feel, not just to get the gig, but how the hell they found me. Having so many good singers worldwide. From the first contact, I just tried to give my best to get it. I always believed in myself, and with the support of my family and close friends, even more. About his words, I just can be thankful, he put the bar quite high with his description. [Laughs] But I'm also glad with his confidence on me to this huge task."

Reactivated Washington, D.C. doom metal overlords THE OBSESSED have released their first new recording since 1994. A re-recording of one of their earliest tracks, a 1983 song called "Sodden Jackal", it was released as part of the Adult Swim Singles series, and can now be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

THE OBSESSED is working on a new studio album, to be released next year via Relapse.

Guitarist/vocalist Scott "Wino" Weinrich, who has also played with SAINT VITUS, SPIRIT CARAVAN, THE HIDDEN HAND and SHRINEBUILDER, is joined in THE OBSESSED's current lineup by Bruce Falkinburg on bass and vocals, Brian Constantino on drums and Sara "Seraphim" Claudius (ex-ARMAGEDDON) on guitar.

Weinrich commented on THE OBSESSED's new record deal and the band's reformation: "The time is now for rebirth of THE OBSESSED. Fueled with the anger, wisdom and energy of all things past, this monumental achievement is the culmination of many years of dogged determination and the belief in the music.

"This music that we and many others find healing and inspirational. At last it sees the light, uncompromising and laden with passion and intensity that we'll immortalize on our new album."

Weinrich announced THE OBSESSED's return in March on social media, explaining in a statement: "All over the world I've listened to friends tell me, 'We want you to bring back THE OBSESSED,' so I have decided to resurrect THE OBSESSED." He added that he was "waiting for the right combination of ability, attitude and personality to accomplish this goal."

Forged in 1976 in Maryland, THE OBSESSED weathered various lineup shifts and an on-again-off-again status over the course of a winding, forty-year history. The band released three now-legendary full-lengths — 1990's "The Obsessed", 1991's "Lunar Womb" and 1994's "The Church Within" — as well as a gaggle of seven-inch singles and compilation appearances.

"The Church Within" was Wino's most critically hailed album. Despite being co-released by Hellhound Records and the major label Columbia Records, the music-buying masses were not ready to embrace doom in 1994 and instead fixated on buying records by rehashed pop-punk bands. Several factors led to "The Church Within" becoming THE OBSESSED's last full-length album. Despite not becoming a top-seller, the album remains hugely influential.

METALLICA played a special intimate club show this past Tuesday night (November 29) at the Opera House in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The band, which just released its tenth studio album, "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", donated the proceeds of its show at the 950-person venue to the Daily Bread Food Bank. The quartet also asked its fans to bring non-perishable food items, which were dropped off at the door.

Tickets, which were $25 for members of the band's fan club and $100 for the general public, sold out in minutes last week.

Benita Aalto, a spokesperson for Daily Bread, told CBC Toronto that the charity had no advance notice of METALLICA's plans but was thrilled when the news broke last week.

"This was a delightful surprise," she said.

According to TheStar.com, the Toronto concert saw METALLICA frontman James Hetfield playing the opening arpeggios to "Fade To Black" again "when the rattle of machine-gun fire on the PA signalled to everyone else in the room that 'One' was about to happen, a flub he good-naturedly acknowledged by reprising the intro yet again when the band returned to the stage for its encore."

"That song's so good, I just wanted to play it twice, you know?" he quipped.

"Hardwired… To Self-Destruct" debuted as expected at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 album chart on Sunday night (November 27), selling 291,000 copies in its first week of release. Both of the band's previous outings, 2008's "Death Magnetic" and 2003's "St. Anger", sold more copies in shortened sales weeks. "Death Magnetic" moved 490,000 copies in a three-day window, while "St. Anger" shifted 418,000 copies in a similar frame.

Frontiers Music Srl will release the brand new PLACE VENDOME album, "Close To The Sun" on February 24, 2017. One of the most popular projects put together over the years by Frontiers president Serafino Perugino, PLACE VENDOME was an idea sparked during a phone conversation between Serafino and former HELLOWEEN singer Michael Kiske, where they discussed their common passion for several melodic rock giants of the '80s. The Hamburg singer agreed to be part of a studio project where he would sing songs written especially for him by various writers with an AOR/melodic rock flavor. The amazing reception of the first PLACE VENDOME album released in 2005 planted the seeds for a second recording, "Streets Of Fire", which was recorded during 2008 and for a third album, "Thunder In The Distance", which was released in 2013. Being a project so close to Kiske's heart, it was agreed during 2016 that work on a new album would start with his UNISONIC bandmate Dennis Ward at the production helm, as usual. Of the album, Ward said: "Upon receiving the demos for the new songs intended for the new PLACE VENDOME record, I was a bit concerned because a few vocal styles seemed to go against what Michael Kiske is known for vocally. After talking together, we agreed to just let the melodies come out naturally, without trying to imitate or 'reproduce' the demos. Michael really stood up to this on the new album. He did 'his' thing, with no compromises. He managed to make the songs his own and brought all the songs to another level. I have a lot of respect for him because of this and now the album is much more than just another AOR album. That being said, I have to pay high respects to the other musicians on the album: Dirk Bruineberg proved again that he is a multi-talented drummer that can literally pull of any groove, any style of any era with the highest of expectations. Günter Werno is also a gem amongst a pile of stones. He really shines on this album and holds all the songs together, true to the PLACE VENDOME sound. Uwe Reitenauer is also a master of his instrument taking over duties that were critical and complicated to say the least. He has the perfect AOR tone and can implement it no matter what type of song you throw at him. The rest of the 'guests' that helped out made this album into a truly interesting compilation and also making this a milestone for PLACE VENDOME. That being said, it's the first PLACE VENDOME album where I feel that we have achieved our trademark sound. This is how we want to be heard and this is how we imagine ourselves to sound." Speaking of other album guests, once again Magnus Karlsson (PRIMAL FEAR) was one of the first to answer the call to participate and offered the awesome song "Falling Star" to the project. Jani Liimatainen (CAIN'S OFFERING, ex-SONATA ARCTICA) was the next contributor with the epic "Welcome To The Edge", the album's tour de force. Following LABYRINTH's reunion, guitarist Olaf Thorsen sat with ETERNAL IDOL, ANGRA and RHAPSODY singer Fabio Lione and offered "Helen" and "Riding The Ghost". Perugino then proposed that his favourite DGM song, "Hereafter", be included. This brought DGM's main composer, Simone Mularoni, into the picture, and he wrote the album's title track and "Across The Times". Alessandro Del Vecchio also offered two new songs, "Strong" and "Yesterday Is Gone", while SECRET SPHERE's guitarist Aldo LoNobile wrote "Distant Skies" and "Breathing". The full picture was finally completed with a new song written by Swedish melodic rock artist Michael Palace (PALACE, SKYLANDER), "Light Before The Dark". Kiske and Ward wanted to make the album a little bit special, so besides the "usual suspects" (including drummer Dirk Bruinenberg, VANDEN PLAS's ivory tinkler Gunter Werno and PINK CREAM 69's Uwe Reineauer on guitars), some guitar heavyweights appear on the recordings. The list includes Alfred Koffler and (of course) Uwe Reineauer of PINK CREAM 69, Magnus Karlsson, Michael Klein, Gus G. (OZZY OSBOURNE, FIREWIND), Simone Mularoni, and UNISONIC guitarists Kai Hansen and Mandy Meyer, among others. Kiske comments: "The production with my buddy Dennis was great, as always, but what I especially like about this album — beside the new microphone I used that Dennis has built me — is the various styles of the songs. It is all a still very AOR-produced album, but we also have progressive or 'wilder' elements here and there. It was (again) interesting to see how much the songs change until you finally reach the mixing stage." In a year that will see Michael Kiske rejoin with his old HELLOWEEN bandmates for a unique world tour, PLACE VENDOME's new album is the icing on the cake of a special and very rewarding period for the German singer. All in all, "Close To The Sun" is probably the most hard-rocking release ever from PLACE VENDOME and an absolute monster of an album! "Close To The Sun" track listing:

01. Close To The Sun02. Welcome To The Edge03. Hereafter04. Strong05. Across The Times06. Riding The Ghost07. Light Before The Dark08. Falling Star09. Breathing10. Yesterday Is Gone11. Helen12. Distant Skies Produced by Dennis Ward * Lead Vocals - Michael Kiske* Backing vocals - Dennis Ward, Michael Kiske // Additional Choirs on "Strong" by Alessandro Del Vecchio* Bass - Dennis Ward* Keyboards - Günter Werno* Drums - Dirk Bruinenberg* All Rhythm Guitars by Dennis Ward, except: "Welcome To The Edge", "Across The Times", "Close To The Sun", "Hearafter" - Rhythm Guitars by Uwe Reitenauer* Guitar solo by Michael Klein on "Yesterday Is Gone", "Distant Skies", "Strong", "Breathing".* Guitar solo by Uwe Reitenauer on "Close To the Sun"* Guitar solo by Alfred Koffler on "Welcome To The Edge"* Guitar solo by Magnus Karlsson on "Falling Star"* Guitar solo by Gus G. on "Light Beyond The Dark"* Guitar solo by Simone Mularoni on "Hearafter"* Guitar solo by Mandy Meyer on "Helen"* Guitar solo by Kai Hansen on "Riding The Ghost" and "Across The Times"

Renowned Dutch vocalist Anneke Van Giersbergen has announced the formation of a brand new band under the name of VUUR, created as a vehicle for the heavy progressive metal side of her career.

In early 2016, Anneke decided for the sake of clarity to narrow her musical focus, choosing to go in a folk acoustic direction as a solo artist and in a heavy progressive metal direction as a band vocalist. The name VUUR — translated from Dutch as "fire", which can also be interpreted to mean "passion" or "drive" — was chosen as a moniker to represent Anneke's metal side, with the idea that when fans buy a ticket with the VUUR name on it they will be getting her heavy progressive music, while an Anneke Van Giersbergen show will be entirely different. Thus, in order to give VUUR's kick-off the proper fanfare, Anneke has opted to take a break from performing in the first half of 2017.

"It's like I'm searching for contradictions," Anneke says of splitting her focus in two. "I want the heavy to be really heavy, and the soft acoustic stuff that I can do can be almost silent and inward. I'm trying to find those outer limits. I'm still writing and collaborating with different people, so VUUR's style is still kind of different from THE GATHERING and THE GENTLE STORM. You could say VUUR's music has the melancholy of THE GATHERING and lots of elements from THE GENTLE STORM, but it's a bit darker with fewer folk elements. It's still melodic and warm, but heavy."

The band shares some members with THE GENTLE STORM live band, and you can find the full line-up below:

* Anneke Van Giersbergen (ex-THE GATHERING) - lead vocals* Ed Warby (HAIL OF BULLETS, AYREON, ex-GOREFEST) - Drums* Jord Otto (MY PROPANE, ex-REVAMP) - Guitar* Ferry Duijsens - Guitar* Johan Van Stratum (STREAM OF PASSION) - Bass* Marcela Bovio (STREAM OF PASSION) – Vocals

Watch an introduction to VUUR below.

Anneke comments: "The band has a different name, because the music will be slightly different from THE GENTLE STORM, but most band members are still involved and the music will be heavy too, so in that perspective not a lot will change, especially in the live situation. I think people will really embrace VUUR as a live band because there are nothing but stars in this band. [Laughs] They're some of the best heavy metal players in Holland so I didn't want to let them go."

Look out for the first live announcements coming soon, with a debut full-length due in the fall of 2017.

Following its recent U.K. support-slot announcement for RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, which kicks off next Monday at London's O2 Arena, Japanese pop-metal sensation BABYMETAL has announced it will open for Los Angeles rock legends GUNS N' ROSES on a four-date tour of Japan in January 2017. These Japanese dates are an extension of GUNS N' ROSES' current "Not In This Lifetime" tour — the first to feature Slash and Duff McKagan reunited with singer Axl Rose since 1993.

Says BABYMETAL's Su-Metal: "I am really happy that we’ve been confirmed as support on the upcoming GUNS N' ROSES tour. And it's happening in Japan!! We're going to create a live performance that shows how wonderful Japan is together with everyone in the audience on that tour." The tour dates are as follows: Jan. 21 - Kyocero Dome OsakaJan. 22 - Kobe World Memorial HallJan. 25 - Yokohama ArenaJan. 29 - Saitama Super Arena BABYMETAL will release a new 13-track live album, "Live At Wembley", on December 9 via earMUSIC/Edel. A digital version will be made available on December 30. With a carefully selected track listing, the CD captures the spectacular performance recorded at BABYMETAL's first-ever U.K. arena show, "Babymetal World Tour 2016 Kicks Off At The SSE Arena, Wembley", which took place in London on April 2. The show saw BABYMETAL become the first Japanese artist in history to perform a headline show at The SSE Arena, Wembley. This concert garnered an attendance of 12,000 people, where BABYMETAL also broke the merchandise sales record of the venue, creating history once again.

The breakout all-girl-fronted Japanese heavy metal/teen-pop hybrid group features 18-year-old Su-Metal and 17-year-olds Yuimetal and Moametal, backed by a four-piece band, BABYMETAL's new album "Metal Resistance", released simultaneously worldwide on April 1, ranked No.15 on the U.K. official chart, the highest rank in the history of Japanese artists, as well as charting in the Top 40 on the U.S. Billboard chart, being the first Japanese artist in 53 years to have made the charts since Kyu Sakamoto. The 12-track second full-length CD, featuring tracks "Road Of Resistance", "Karate" and "The One", is available as a standalone CD, vinyl and limited-edition bundle package.

Following the release of the official video for the new album's lead single "Karate", BABYMETAL unveiled the second video for the new album, for the song "The One". The seven-minute live video features singer/dancers Su-Metal, Moametal and Yuimetal performing within a triangular enclosure that's suspended above an arena-size crowd at Yokohama Arena in Japan on the final date of the 2015 world tour. BABYMETAL made its U.S. late-night TV debut on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" in April, performing "Gimme Chocolate" off their debut album.

Japan's rising heavy-rock band CRYSTAL LAKE will release its new album, "True North", on Friday, December 2 via Artery Recordings. In anticipation, the band has debuted a video for its brand new song "Black And Blue". "Black And Blue" features guest vocals by Jesse McFaddin from fellow Japanese rock bands RIZE and THE BONEZ, and blends an eclectic mix of influences for a unique signature sound. "Based on our metal/hardcore music style, we used beat of funk/soul into heavy music and tried to write something new," says CRYSTAL LAKE guitarist YD. "We aim to emphasize the contrast of stillness and motion with bouncy riffs and beat and emotional melodies are. I am happy how this song turned out after trying hard to comprehend elements of the music I was influenced." "'No pain no gain' might be used for an idiom to explain how hard you must train to build your body for macho men but this song ain't about 'get up song for tough guys' at all," adds vocalist Ryo. "What I wanted to say was that blood, sweat and tears with 'pain' can be beautiful pieces of art. I really appreciate if you can feel the evanescence and beauty that created from the 'pain' that anyone, everyone has." The video for the song was directed by Kei Ikeda, who helped the band craft a cathartic and emotional trip that takes viewers from Japan to the U.S. with an explosive rooftop performance. "This music video is about letting the world know what we've felt growing up in our country, Japan and the music we have created," says YD. "We did shooting in two different cities, Tokyo and New York to make a film that proves there's no boundaries when it comes to creating music and art. The song has the subtle and profound atmosphere so we looked to express it with the lighting effect."

The Danish hard rock band - produced and mixed by Tue Madsen (Raunchy, Moonspell, Sick Of It All) has released a new video and single for “Into The Fire”. Black Swamp Water is old school hard rock and heavy metal with obvious references to the bands like Black Sabbath, Ozzy and Corrosion Of Conformity.

Black Swamp Water features Kim Langkjær Jensen, former drummer from death metal bands Dawn of Demise and Koldborn and lately Kim has been recording and playing live with Illdisposed. Other than Kim, the band consists of singer Bjørn Bølling Nyholm, bass player Jeppe Birch Friis, and the two guitarists Jan Geert and Martin Lykke Hansen.

Black Swamp Water:

Vocals: Bjørn Bølling Nyholm
Guitars: Jan Geert & Martin Lykke Hansen
Bass: Jeppe Birch Friis
Drums: Kim Langkjær Jense

Blending gloomy doom metal, raging death metal and melodic early ‘90s Gothic metal tinged vocals, Tethra will be the last nail on your cross.

Death-oriented guitar riffs, melodic hooks, subtle bass lines mix with charismatic vocals courtesy of the versatile frontman Clode, who switches from deep growling to pristine-clean vocals with ease.

Tethra’s upcoming full-length Like Crows For The Earth (to be released in 2017 via Sliptrick Records) reveals how much the band has evolved sonically. Elements such as acoustic breaks, striking solos and doom-influenced melodies are perfect examples, topped off by Clode’s unmistakable tone (whose signature screams and middle/high range vocals take us back to the early stages of his musical career).

In terms of song writing, the lyrics have become more intimate, focusing on topics such as loss, solitude and feelings of rejection. The album also deals with social issues, such as mankind’s indiscriminate exploitation of the Earth, metaphorically represented by the crow: if not stopped, this animal poses an undeniable threat to its ecosystem and is bound to destroy all other species.

The album was recorded and mixed by Matt Stancioiu (Labyrinth) at Elnor Studios and mastered by Greg Chandles (Esoteric) at Priory Studios.

Hungarian female-fronted metallers Ann My Guard have released a new video for "Callisto", the song is taken from their forthcoming album Ourania, due out on January 13th, 2017 via Rock'N'Growl Records. The video was made by Mihaszna film.

Eszter Anna Baumann comments on Ourania: "I wanted to make a record that fully represents what Ann My Guard is: I really like mixing the ethereal feminine vocals with heavy guitar riffs and dark melodies. I like contrasts. Moreover, I love to use mythical metaphors: while on the debut record, Innocence Descent I used the Moon representing the maturing of a woman, by Ourania I expressed more universal themes. As the lyrics of Asteria say: I just want to elevate you, underneath my starlit sky, I'll be set free... The aim of rock music for me is to elevate the listeners into another dimensions, not to pull them down. I think that's what we all need from music nowadays, right?"

Ourania was produced by Gabor Vari at Black Hole Sound Studio.

Tracklisting:

“Novae”
“Asteria”
“Callisto”
“Io”
“Breathe The Sun”
“Obsidian Tears”
“Serpent”
“Hekate”
“The Secret”

"Callisto":

Ann My Guard is:

Eszter Anna Baumann (vocals, bass)
Krisztián Varga (guitars)
Benjamin Bárkányi (guitars)
Norbert Tobola (drums)

Fake Idols have released the audio video for “GO”, a cover version of The Chemical Brothers' hit, included in the band's new album Witness, available on Scarlet Records.

Witness has been described as an adrenaline bomb, charged up with great rock/metal tunes and plenty of attitude. The album features very special guest appearances by Motörhead legend, Phil Campbell, and talented singer Damna (Elvenking/Hell In The Club).

Fake Idols lineup:

Claudio Coassin, vocals
Ivan Odorico, guitars
Cristian Tavano, guitars
Ivo Boscariol, bass
Enrico Fabris, drums

(Photo - Michele Salotto)

After a three year wait, Italian black/death metal band, Infernal Angels, will release their fourth full-length album, Ars Goetia, on January 20th. An album teaser is streaming below.

With Ars Goetia, their tribute to the Kings Of Hell, the band come back via My Kingdom Music for their most obscure and intransigent album, a black/death metal vortex, a must for all fans of Dark Funeral, Belphegor, Mor Dagor, and Mgla.

The cover art was created by the band's guitarist. Apsychos:

Tracklisting

“Amdusias: The Sound Of Hell”
“Vine: Destroyer Of The World”
“Asmoday: The Impure Archangel”
“Purson: Matter And Spirit”
“Bael: The Fire Devour Their Flesh”
“Paimon: The Secret Of Mind”
“Balam: Under Light And Torment”
“Zagan: The Alchemist”
“Belial: The Deceiver”
“Beleth: Lord Of Chaos And Spirals”

Teaser:

Special guests on the album will be three great characters of the Italian scene, Mancan from Ecnephias, Lorenzo Sassi from Frostmoon Eclipse and Snarl from Black Faith, who add new and obscure facets and atmospheres to the songs.

Electronic / rock pioneers The Album Leaf have shared a new music video for the track "Never Far" off their recently released first full-length in over 6 years, Between Waves. The gorgeously shot video, directed by Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead follows the famed cut-out Flat Stanley on a life-changing adventure across various parts of the globe.

Additionally, The Album Leaf kick off their West Coast headlining tour next week in Santa Ana, CA. Rituals Of Mine will provide support on select dates. 

Dates:

December
8 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room
9 – San Diego, CA – Irenic
10 – Visalia, CA – Cellar Door
12 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
13 – Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre
14 – Seattle, WA – Neumo’s
16 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent
17 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Catalyst Atrium 

Between Waves is out now via Relapse Records on CD/LP/DLX 2xLP/Digital. Physical orders can be placed at this location, and digital orders are available via The Album Leaf's Bandcamp page here. “New Soul” is also available on white 7" vinyl via The Album Leaf's store at this location.

With Gerald Broms' masterly portrayal of Krampus the Christmas demon, enshrining the cover, Sterbhaus is now releasing the digital Christmas EP Krampusnacht. With its dynamic, high-quality Metal Sterbhaus clearly shows what Christmas should be all about. As always with tongue in cheek wit but this time also with proper "slay bells" in spirit. 

In addition to the two original songs - title track "Krampusnacht" and the instrumental "Santa Claus In Satans Claws" a cover of Britain's finest Spinal Tap "Christmas With The Devil" can be found. Mix and master was handled by Jocke Skog (Clawfinger, Crucified Barbara, Entombed, Scar Symmetry, The Haunted). The EP will be available for free download annually from December 1st - December 31st.

Any attempt to download "Krampusnacht" post-Christmas will be followed by a ridiculous price-tag. Download the EP on Bandcamp.

Evil Masquerade have released a video for the 200-year old song, “Märk Hur Vår Skugga” (translation: Note How Our Shadow), written by Carl Michael Bellman (1740 – 1795) who is one of the most important Swedish troubadours and poets.

It's a very dark song about death and alcohol. The lyric tells about a funeral for a girl who drank herself to death with her male friends at the local bodega. The video is from the time before she died.

The track is sung by Evil Masquerade guitarist Henrik Flyman in his native language. It also appears on the band's new album, The Outcast Hall Of Fame. Watch via the YouTube clip below. Also streaming at Spotify.

The Outcast Hall Of Fame is available via Dark Minstrel Music. The album was produced by Henrik Flyman, and was mixed and mastered by Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Pretty Maids, Jorn). Featured vocalists include Mats Levén (Candlemass), Rick Altzi (Masterplan, At Vance), Apollo Papathanasio (Spiritual Beggars), and Nicklas Sonne (Defecto, Malrun). Backing vocals by Yenz Leonhardt (Stormwarrior, Lacrimosa).

The album’s front cover was once again painted by David Troest, who also did the artwork for the albums The Digital Crucifix and 10 Years In The Dark.

Tracklisting:

“The Outcast Hall Of Fame”
“Death Of God”
“Darkness (I Need You)”
“One Thousand Roses And A Lot Of Pain”
“Lost Inside A World Of Fear”
“The Spineless”
“Märk Hur Vår Skugga”
“On No Way To Broadway”

“Lost Inside A World Of Fear” video:

“Darkness (I Need You)” lyric video:

With the end of 2016 Alone Records keeps working on their next releases for 2017, this time with the last two studio albums (prior to Live at Rockefeller Music Hall ) from Norwegian masters of prog rock/metal Leprous on limited picture disc edition.

Coal and The Congregation meant the consolidation of Leprous as one of the top most influential prog bands in 21st century, with frontman and genius songwriter Einar Solberg as badge of identity. Both albums will be issued as double picture disc LP with trifold sleeve, each limited to 500 units worldwide. Release date is scheduled for February 17, 2017 by Alone Records.

Leprous will be touring Europe early next year with Devin Townsend and American proggers Between The Buried And Me from late January until mid-March 2017. UK dates will count on Tesseract instead of BTBAM.

Both versions of Coal and The Congregation will be up for preorder tomorrow December 1st at theAlone Records webstore at reduced price and limited bundles.

In other news, Leprous have announced a long overdue vinyl 2LP re-release of their groundbreaking 2011 album, Bilateral, which will be out on January 27th via InsideOutMusic, in good timing for their commencing tour campaign across Europe/UK. Look out for more details and pre-sale info soon.

European dates with Devin Townsend Project and Between The Buried And Me:

January
28 - Antwerpen, Belgium - Trix * No BTBAM
30 - Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg - Rockhal
31 - Paris, France - Bataclan

February
1 - Bordeaux, France - Rockschool Barbey
3 - Madrid, Spain - La Reviera
4 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz 2
5 - Marseille, France - Le Moulin
7 - Milan, Italy - Live Club
8 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
9 - Stuttgart, Germany - LKA Longhorn
10 - Munich, Germany - Backstage
12 - Zagreb, Croatia - Tvornica Club
13 - Budapest, Hungary - A38
14 - Vienna, Austria - Arena
16 - Prague, Czech Republic - The Roxy
17 - Leipzig, Germany - Täubchenthal
18 - Kraków, Poland - Kwadrat
19 - Warsaw, Poland - Stodola
21 - Hamburg, Germany - Grünspan
22 - Aarhus, Denmark - Voxhall
23 - Göteborg, Sweden - Pustervik
25 - Bergen, Norway - Blastfest
26 - Oslo, Norway - Sentrum Scene
28 - Helsinki, Finland - The Circus

March
1 - Seinajoki, Finland - Rytmikorjaamo
3 - Stockholm, Sweden - Berns
4 - Malmö, Sweden - KB
5 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Amager Bio
7 - Berlin, Germany - Columbia Theater
8 - Dortmund, Germany - FZW
9 - Tilburg, The Netherlands - 013
10 - Amsterdam, The Netherlands - De Melkweg

California technical death metal unit and recent Unique Leader signees So This Is Suffering will release their new full-length Palace Of The Pessimist next year. Set for a February 24th unveiling, the ten-track offering was captured at Interlace Audio and features artwork by Chris Panatier (Dopelord, Totem Skim).

"We're excited to be working with one of the top leading labels in extreme music," offers the band in a collective statement. "It's been a long journey and we want to thank our fans, friends, and family for their endless support along the way. This album is everything we all wanted, bone crushing and in-your-face with obese breakdowns, finger-licking riffs, and a bit of melodies for some soft listening. We can't wait for you all to hear it. It's an exciting time for us and the future of So This Is Suffering!"

Palace Of The Pessimist preorders will be available in the coming weeks. In the meantime, check out the visual accompaniment to ninth track "Dreameater" below.

Tracklisting:

“Sleeper Hold”
“Lecherous”
“Xenomorphic”
“Palace”
“Columbine”
“Surveil”
“Muerte Bella”
“Portraits Of Fixation”
“Dreameater”
“The Sum Of All Fears”

“Dreameater”:

Boston rockers Mass have released a four track holiday CD.

Mass do renditions of holiday classics from Grammy nominated writer’s David Foster, Mariah Carey, and Beale & Boothe.
 
This CD also features the first holiday original song by Mass called “Holden On To Christmas”. The majority of all CD sales go to the Toys For Tots organization. CDs available exclusively at Mass’ official website. Downloads are available on iTunes and other digital stores.

Tracklisting:

“Jingle Bell Rock”
“Where Are You Christmas”
“Grown Up Christmas List”
“Holden On To Christmas”

Trailer:

Late January 2017 sees the deluxe edition release of Fresh Cream, the debut album by British, blues boom, power trio, Cream.

The 3-CD + 1 Blu-Ray Audio disc come housed in a gatefold sleeve within a rigid slipcase and includes a 64-page hardback book, featuring new sleeve notes by respected Rolling Stone writer, David Fricke. The set comprises various alternate and new stereo mixes plus several, previously unreleased BBC sessions.

A special 6LP 180g Vinyl edition of Fresh Cream will also be released in April 2017.

Originally released in 1966, at the height of the UK blues bloom, Fresh Cream showcased the not inconsiderable talents of three of the then music scene’s brightest lights: Eric Clapton fresh from John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers; drummer, Ginger Baker straight from the Graham Bond Organisation and versatile bassist and musician, Jack Bruce who, at the time, had just left Manfred Mann. Collectively the three had decided to give up their roles as much sought after sidemen to form their own super group.

Coming together as Cream in the early summer of 1966, the trio moved at impressive speed to make the release of Fresh Cream in December of the same year. Highlights include the racing harmonica work-out and the call and response excitements on Muddy Waters’ Rollin’ and Tumblin’, a spine-tingling vocal on the Willie Dixon classic, Spoonful, as well as the self-penned Sleepy Time Time, which gave Clapton a free hand to wake up all and sundry. Their rousing treatment of the traditional standard, Cat’s Squirrel alerted listeners to just how well Clapton, Baker and Bruce musically complemented each other.

Fresh Cream is available to order now:

* 3CD + 1 Blu-Ray Audio
* 6LP 180g Vinyl

Complete tracklisting details at this location.

Italy’s Lionville will release their third album, A World Of Fools on February 24th.

Born as a project dedicated to pure AOR with a touch of Westcoast and melodic rock, Lionville draw musical inspiration from acts like Toto, Richard Marx, Giant, Bad English, Survivor Band, and Boulevard. The band was started by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer, and guitarist based in Genova, Italy and his brother Alessandro. After years of playing the local club circuit of Genova, Stefano formed Lionville with the encouragement and help of Pierpaolo “Zorro” Monti (Shining Line) and Alessandro Del Vecchio (Hardline, Revolution Saints, Ted Poley, etc.). With the involvement of singer Lars Säfsund (Work of Art), Lionville quickly took shape and became something very near and dear to everyone involved.

With two critically acclaimed releases - which came out in 2011 and 2012 - Lionville managed to find their place in the European melodic rock scene while also appearing at Firefest in Nottingham in 2012. With their combination of rockin’ AOR tunes and classic Westcoast AOR sounds, Lionville piqued the interest of Frontiers, who signed the band in early 2016.

“It’s a very important record for Lionville, since we are coming back after four years of silence,” says Stefano Lionetti. “I really wanted to make happy all the fans who waited so long for it. As a producer and songwriter I have done my best to create a high class record, but with the right variety. You will find classic melodic rock songs, a couple of ballads, songs in the style of the previous record and of course a lot of attention on the arrangements. I also wanted to have more of a band feel with this record and I am very proud of the final result.”

“These songs have been fun to sing and they’re really good,” adds Lars Safsund.

Recorded by a gifted cast of experienced studio cats and upcoming talents and produced by Stefano Lionetti, the new album, A World Of Fools finds a winning combination of very strong songwriting (courtesy also of Robert Sall, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Bruce Gaitsch, Soren Kronkvist, Gianluca Firmo, Thomas Vikstrom, and Ida West) and stellar musical performances, crowned by impressive lead vocals and an album mix that gives space to all the significant little details.

The Lionville team has high hopes that people will embrace their vision of a reinvigorated musical genre and everyone is looking forward to continuing the Lionville story with another awesome contribution to melodic rock music.

Tracklisting:

“I Will Wait”
“Show Me The Love”
“Bring Me Back Our Love”
“Heaven Is Right Here”
“A World Of Fools”
“One More Night”
“All I Want”
“Living On The Edge”
“Our Good Goodbye”
“Paradise”
“Image Of Your Soul”

EPK:

Lionville:

Stefano Lionetti: Guitars, Vocals, Keyboards
Lars Säfsund: Lead & Backing vocals
Michele Cusato: Guitars
Giulio Dagnino: Bass
Martino Malacrida: Drums

French extreme metallers, Betraying The Martyrs, have announced the release of their third studio album, The Resilient, out on January 27th via Sumerian Records. Following their recent single “The Great Disillusion”, Betraying The Martyrs have unleashed a dark music video for the new single, “Lost For Words”, streaming below.

Says the band: ”We are extremely pleased and proud to announce the release date of our third full-length album, The Resilient, out January 27th on Sumerian Records. After over a year and a half of hard work, taking into consideration our strengths and our weaknesses, looking back on our success and more importantly our downfalls, we can honestly say that this is by far the best material we have written since the beginning of this incredible journey. Betraying The Martyrs has been taken to a whole new level, we couldn't be more excited to share the result of everything we have lived since day one; we are back. Without further ado, we are pleased to present to you our new single and music video for “Lost For Words”.”

The Resilient tracklisting:

“Lost For Words”
“Take Me Back”
“The Great Disillusion”
“Dying To Live”
“The Resilient”
“Unregistered”
“Won't Back Down”
“(Dis)Connected”
“Behind The Glass”
“Waste My Time”
“Ghost”
“Wide Awake”

“Lost For Words” video:

“The Great Disillusion” video:

To coincide with the announcement, pre-order bundles and digital pre-orders have been made available along with their new singles “Lost For Words” and “The Great Disillusion”:

* iTunes
* Amazon
* GooglePlay
* CD/Merch Bundles

Betraying The Martyrs tour Europe as main support to Chelsea Grin on February 3rd through March 5th, where they’ll be joined by Make Them Suffer and Void Of Vision.

Tour dates:
 
February
6 - Cardiff, Wales - Clwb Ifor Bach
7 - Birmingham, England - O2 Institute 3
8 - Glasgow, Scotland - Cathouse
9 - Manchester, England - Sound Control
10 - London, England - O2 Academy Islington

"Doom Laden Progressive Wall Of Metal!" Sounds like the perfect definition of Arduini / Balich's debut album, Dawn Of Ages, which will be released via Cruz Del Sur Music on February 24th.

Arduini / Balich is the result of two very powerful figures in their own right of the metal scene. Victor Arduini needs no introduction being one of the founding members of Fates Warning, same can be said  for Brian "Butch" Balich, the mighty voice of Argus.

The story goes back in time to the end of 2013 when Arduini put a final word to his experience with Freedoms Reign. Victor needed more freedom to express his creativity, feeling his ideas weren't much fitting into the style of FR anymore.

"At that time I was at a creative peak. It seemed like I wrote new riffs every day which seemed heavier and darker than anything I've done before," commented Victor Arduini. "They were becoming more intricate and challenging which fuelled my passion to see how far I could take them. I was really close to the whole process and soon realized it had to be a project where I could have complete artistic control and produce an album that represented who I am as an artist, guitarist and musician."

In search of musicians who could get along with this challenge, Victor recruited Freedoms Reign's drummer Chris Judge and was on the lookout for a singer when his path crossed with Butch who had recently shared stages with him.

"I truly feel Brian's vocals are some of the best he's ever done. It's like when Dio went from Rainbow to Sabbath," Arduini stated. "Same voice but new music around it inspired new melodies and gave a different presentation. While it took longer than both of us expected for many reasons we reached the finish line and are both very proud of the music and our collaboration together. It is truly a joint collaboration and we hope our fans will enjoy what they hear."

Dawn Of Ages is one of the most ambitious records ever released on Cruz Del Sur Music. A monumental piece of music on the level of While Heaven Wept or Atlantean Kodex's releases (to name two Cruz Del Sur recording artists). A rollercoaster of emotions, an album that captures the collisions of two worlds, progressive and doom. The final result is a really amazing journey inside human soul. Through six original compositions that last for more than an hour, the audience will be captured and hypnotized by the eclectically familiar Victor's guitar melodies empowered by Butch's passionate interpretation. Indeed Dawn Of Ages is an album that could have been easily recorded in the mid/late 70s for the total dedication that transpires through each and every note of it. It is not an album that wants to please any old or new trend in metal, rather an intimate expression  of two musicians who have always put their passion for heavy music before anything else.

Dawn Of Ages will be released in a deluxe 6-panel digipack embellished by a wonderful, original Michael Cowell's (Alunah) artwork. The vinyl version will be released in a gatefold colored vinyl double LP with three incredible cover songs as a bonus. Uriah Heep’s "Sunrise", Beau Brummels’ "Wolf Of Velvet Fortune" and Black Sabbath’s "After All (The Dead)”.

Black Swamp Water, featuring former Illdisposed/Dawn Of Demise drummer Kim Langkjær Jensen, have released a video for “Into The Fire”, a track from their debut album, Chapter One, released back in August via Mighty Music/Target Group. The video can be found below.

Chapter One tracklisting:

“Leave Nothing Behind”
“Harmless”
“World On Fire”
“Interlude”
“Into The Fire”
“Black Swamp Water”
“Life Is Pain”
“The Only Road”
“Efuckingnough”
“Run”
“Let It Go”

“Into The Fire” video:

”World On Fire" performance video:

Black Swamp Water lineup:

Vocals: Bjørn Bølling Nyholm
Guitars: Jan Geert & Martin Lykke Hansen
Bass: Jeppe Birch Friis
Drums: Kim Langkjær Jensen

Live video of Luca Turilli's Rhapsody performing the track “Prometheus” at Masters Of Rock 2016 is streaming below. The original version of the track can be found on the Prometheus, Symphonia Ignis Divinus album.

Prometheus, Symphonia Ignis Divinus was chosen to be the first studio album in music history to be remixed in Dolby Atmos. Renowned producer/mixing engineer Chris Heil (Scorpions, David Bowi) mixed the entire masterpiece in Dolby Atmos - the mindblowing result will be submitted for the 2017 Grammy nominations. Prometheus, The Dolby Atmos Experience + Cinematic And Live will be released December 9th via Nuclear Blast.

A second video trailer has been released. See both trailers below:

Trailer #1:

Trailer #2:

Luca Turilli, responsible for composition and orchestra- and choir-arrangements states: "The new Dolby Atmos sound fits perfectly with Luca Turilli's Rhapsody music just as the Rhapsody music - emotional, visionary and cinematic in its nature - is perfect to showcase the potential of an amazing technology destined to revolutionize the field of immersive audio's experience. From a composer's point of view, Dolby Atmos is like the advent of a canvas with colors in three dimensional space. It enables me to place the band, orchestra and choir around me like I would in a real life situation, granting to the listener an emotional and breathtaking journey in a parallel dimension. Every instrument can finally breathe and live in three dimensions, turning the Dolby Atmos version of Rhapsody's music into a divine, musical experience of transcendence. No limits for creativity anymore. This new Dolby technology allows my heart and soul to finally express themselves with complete freedom and exciting force!"

But what actually is Dolby Atmos?

Cinemas discovered this new format and integrated loud speakers in their ceilings to place the listener into an 'acoustic honeycomb’.

"This novelty has now reached the home technology and we at Yamaha wanted to support the project of Luca Turilli's Rhapsody with an audio blu-ray-disc in Dolby Atmos“, Michael Geise from Yamaha explains. "It's a very thrilling challenge and makes this release a vivid and new experience. And since we are always looking for new contents, the cooperation with Luca Turilli was a great idea for us. Dolby Atmos is already included in our receivers and the customer can immediately use it - but so far only few releases support this new format and usually it is only available for films, not for music blu-rays. But now it is and we created a medium that could easily bring instruments to life, without any artificial effects. We had the know-how to turn this performance into a real live experience with our loudspeakers, receivers and the new sound bar that brings the musicians almost right into everyone's living room!"

Producer and mixer Chris Heil found Luca Turilli's Rhapsody almost by accident: "I heard excerpts from Prometheus, Symphonia Ignis Divinus in the studio right next to me and knew immediately that this was the material I wanted to use to showcase the potential of Dolby Atmos to the world. This kind of music is made for this format with its combination of band,orchestra and choir arrangements. I called Luca Turilli immediately to ask his permission to use the material and he immediately agreed.

The result of their two months long cooperation is a vivid combination of metal, filmscore and a wide variety of ethnic elements. "It is incredibly entertaining and inspiring to listen to the result. It's the first album in my 36-year career where I had to leave longer pauses between the tracks because you really need time to digest that bombastic sound. It's mindblowing," states Chris Heil. And Luca Turilli agrees: "Dolby Atmos will bring a revolution to the world of films and music and allows you to enjoy every release even more!"

Prometheus - The Dolby Atmos Experience (Audio Blu-ray) tracklisting:

“Nova Genesis (Ad Splendorem Angeli Triumphantis)”
“Il Cigno Nero”
“Rosenkreuz (The Rose And The Cross)”
“Anahata”
“Il Tempo Degli Dei”
“One Ring To Rule Them All”
“Notturno”
“Prometheus”
“King Solomon And The 72 Names Of God”
“Yggdrasil”
“Of Michael The Archangel And Lucifer's Fall Part II: Codex Nemesis”

“Rosenkreuz (The Rose And The Cross)”:

This unique package will be completed by two brand-new live CDs, which were produced by Luca Turilli and Alex Landenburg, mixed by Christian "Moschus" Moos at Spacelab Studio (Grefrath, Germany) and mastered by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studio (San Marino).

"Cinematic And Live is the first live product to be released by my Luca Turilli's Rhapsody band and represents the live album I always dreamed of. It was recorded in Italy, France, Germany and Spain in 2012 and 2016 and it almost includes all the songs played by Luca Turilli's Rhapsody until now. We recently played our show number 100 and this important release represents the perfect celebration for these last years of live activity around the world. Cinematic And Live features songs from both the Ascending To Infinity and the Prometheus cinematic tours and it includes over 120 minutes of Rhapsody music: the newest songs, the old classics and some titles from my solo discography, too. The mix of Christian "Moschus" Moos and the mastering of Simone Mularoni were the cherry on the cake for this live album sounding really powerful, soulful and emotional like no others, with the important live atmosphere adding a new and exciting dimension to Luca Turilli's Rhapsody's cinematic music!"

Cinematic And Live tracklisting:

CD1
“Nova Genesis”
“Il Cigno Nero” [Reloaded]
“Rosenkreuz (The Rose And The Cross)”
“Land Of Immortals”
“Aenigma”
“War Of The Universe”
“Of Michael The Archangel And Lucifer's Fall” [Extract]
“Excalibur”
“The Ancient Forest Of Elves”
“Son Of Pain”
“Prometheus”
Drum Solo
“Knightrider Of Doom”
“Warrior's Pride”

CD2
“The Astral Convergence”
“The Pride Of The Tyrant”
“Tormento E Passione”
“Demonheart”
Bass Solo
“Warrior Of Ice”
“Of Michael The Archangel And Lucifer's Fall Part II - Of Psyche And Archetypes”
“Dark Fate Of Atlantis”
“Dawn Of Victory”
“Quantum X”
“Ascending To Infinity”
“Emerald Sword”
“Finale”

Prometheus, Symphonia Ignis Divinus was composed and produced once again by Luca Turilli, responsible as always of all the orchestral and choral arrangements. It was recorded and mixed at the Backyard Studios of Sebastian Roeder (Bonfire a.o.) and mastered by Christoph Stickel (Michael Schenker’s Temple Of Rock a.o.) at MSM studios.

Seven months of composition, three months of production, over 50 days of mix, two choirs, several special guests, including Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), Dan Lucas (Karo) and David Readman (Pink Cream 69). Including 70 minutes of epic music, sounding cinematic, bombastic and dramatic as never before, the new Rhapsody masterwork will lead the listener to an emotional and memorable journey between quantum gates, parallel dimensions, myths and legends hiding cosmic truths, ancestral secrets and spiritual revelations.

Amsterdam-based metal band THE CHARM THE FURY has signed a deal with Nuclear Blast / Arising Empire. The group's sophomore album will be released in March 2017.

A teaser for follow-up to 2013's "A Shade Of My Former Self" is available below.

THE CHARM THE FURY has matured since their debut. With several of Europe's biggest festivals under their belts, they have transformed their sound into a startling slab of ultra-modern but utterly distinctive metal that shrewdly and honestly redefines what THE CHARM THE FURY is all about. Driven by a collective distaste for the state of the world in the 21st century, the band recorded an angry album underpinned by ferocious intelligence and a heartfelt desire to wake people out of their digital stupors.

With more details about the band's new album to come, the critical moment has arrived: THE CHARM THE FURY is armed, ready and hungry for the next big push. When it explodes in 2017, the smart money is on these diehard noisemakers claiming their rightful place among the new metal elite. They have the songs, the determination and the charisma to make it happen.

THE CHARM THE FURY is:

Caroline Westendorp - VocalsMathijs Tieken - DrumsRolf Perdok - GuitarMartijn Slegtenhorst - GuitarLucas Arnoldussen - Bass