Patrick Prince of Goldmine magazine recently conducted an interview with IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris. An excerpt from the chat follows below.

Goldmine: Why did the band return to the recording studio in Paris [for "The Book Of Souls"]? Were you trying to recapture the same vibe as "Brave New World"?

Steve Harris: No, not at all. Basically, we knew it was a good studio. We felt comfortable there before. We knew the engineer there. We really like the sound in the room. And Bruce [Dickinson, vocals] wanted to be someone that was close to the U.K. and that was the obvious choice. It had nothing to do with the vibe of an album. When we make a new album, it doesn’t matter where it is. Even if we recorded somewhere before, it makes no difference to a new album, really.

Goldmine: You’ve claimed that the songwriting process was refreshing for this new album. Why is that?

Steve Harris: Normally, we would go into rehearsal where we would write and rehearse it and then we’d go and record afterward somewhere else. But this time we did it all in one place, so it was good because we’d write and rehearse a song and then put it straight down. Which makes a lot more sense, really, in a lot of ways. I mean, we actually really enjoyed it like that. But I think most people know that studios are so ridiculously expensive that most bands would rehearse in a rehearsal room first and that was normal. This time around we decided to go straight in there, and partly because there was going to be another band rehearsing (in the rehearsal room). We thought, we can’t be somewhere where we’d write a new album and have someone else listening to what we were doing next door, you know. [Laughs] So we decided to go straight into the studio, which is more private. It worked great. I think when we do another album, we’ll do the same thing again.

Goldmine: The opening track, "If Eternity Should Fail", reminds the listener of the influence that classic prog rock has had on your songwriting. In later years, do you think MAIDEN pushes itself creatively like those progressive bands did in the past — no-holds-barred, expansive and open?

Steve Harris: Well, that’s always been the case, really. We’ve always done what we wanted to do right from the first album, so there’s no difference there. It’s just that we do have difficulty writing short songs these days. I don’t know why that is. It’s just the way it evolved. There’s no real reason besides the fact that we do have all kinds of influences. Some of them being prog kind of stuff. But we’re not trying specifically to be like anything other than just writing what the songs we feel are right at the time. You know, we never really know what we’re going to write next. Which is part of the excitement when we go in and do a new album. No battle plan, we just go in and do it and what comes out, comes out. It’s only afterward, when we do interviews, when we try to analyze it. We don’t analyze what we do. We just do it.

Read the entire interview at Goldmine magazine.

Photo by John McMurtrie, courtesy of IRON MAIDEN publicity

Massachusetts metallers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE are continuing to record their next album for a tentative early 2016 release via Roadrunner Records.

In a new post on the band's Facebook page, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE writes: "It's been a while but have no fear we are making some real progress on the new album!

"If all goes well, we should have this wrapped up early winter late fall!

"So far every song has its own life and style; it's shaping up to be our most diverse record yet!

"Thank you all for your patience. We just want to make sure this record is everything we know it can be! We've put our blood, sweat and more blood into this one. We are stoked for you to hear it!"

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz recently told PureGrainAudio.com about the lyrical themes covered on the band's next album: "Honesty, [there aren't] too many concepts or themes yet. A lot of Jesse's [Leach, vocals] ideas are, again, kind of tying back to hanging on to the positive aspects of life through the negative aspects of life. There's a lot of that thus far. We're not completely, a hundred percent done with the record, so we don't have a lot of things."

Asked how the KILLSWITCH ENGAGE writing and recording process has changed over the years, Adam said: "We don't really change much with what we do, writing- and recording-wise. We still kind of do our own ideas separately, show 'em to each other. If we like 'em, cool. If not, we'll all get together and just kind of tweak the initial ideas, or just throw the song out, either way. And from there, we give all the ideas to Jesse, of course, and he'll come up with his lyric ideas. And then we just go from there. We get into the studio and get some sounds down and start embellishing from there, and the song kind of just grows up."

He continued: "I guess in the fifteen, sixteen years that we've been recording records, it's mostly just computer-based now instead of before. A lot of things were analogue and a lot of things outside of the computer. It's way different. I think it's the reason why a lot of recording studios have gone by the way of the dodo. People end up recording a lot of records on their own, with their own computers and all that stuff nowadays."

Adam added: "I feel like a lot of the metal records nowadays are feeling really, really sterile, because a lot of people aren't even recording drums. They'll just progam 'em, and then just go with that. And that seems crazy to me. That's not the band. If you are a bandmember, wouldn't you wanna be performing on the record? That's a part of you. That's what records are supposed to be. So we'll always be that kind of band, where people are using equipment, playing equipment and recording it. That's the soul of rock and roll, man. That's it."

A KILLSWITCH ENGAGE concert film shot on October 31, 2014 at The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts will be included on the band's next DVD release. The performance footage was filmed by the direction team of Ian McFarland and Mike Pecci (FEAR FACTORY, MESHUGGAH) using five Canon C300 cameras outfitted with Zeiss Prime Super Speed Lenses.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE has contributed a new song, "Loyalty", to the mixtape for HBO's hit fantasy series "Game Of Thrones".

DISTURBED frontman David Draiman was recently asked by Loudwire for his thoughts on the 2016 U.S. presidential race. He responded (see video below): "I think it's all entertainment. I don't know how you can take any of these guys seriously. You know, they're all full of shit — every last one of 'em."

He continued: "Every politician, in order to be a politician, has to be adept at the art of one and one thing only, and that is lying. Okay? They're all in bed with all the same power brokers. It doesn't change from presidency to presidency. It's all about whatever agenda happens to be carried on a social basis by any one individual. They all get married to all the same corporations. They're all in the pocket of all the same people who wield the power to begin with. So if anybody has any delusions of grandeur that anything is really going to change from one president to the next, you're fooling yourself. Change has to come from within. Change has to come from a much larger portion of society, whether it's Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton or that idiot with the fake hairpiece. It really doesn't make much of a difference to me."

Draiman added: "I hate all politicians equally. I think they're all full of shit. So I think that it is what it is. I just stand back and watch with my popcorn and enjoy the entertainment, 'cause I can't take it seriously."

Draiman recently decided to quit Twitter and other social media outlets after several contentious years. He explained explained: "The Internet, sadly has become a preying ground for trolls and just predators. And when you're in the position that I'm in and you have a wife and a child who had just come into this world not too long ago, you start wondering whether or not that continued interaction and some of the threats and some of the nonsense are worth it."

Draiman added: "I was never the guy who was going to try to use my social media to be a source of promotion for myself . . . It was always trying to use whatever kind of a voice in the position that I have been blessed with for good. To be able to try and educate people a little bit, make 'em laugh a little bit, make 'em open their eyes a little bit. And it just didn't seem to be making a difference."

Draiman concluded that social media "was taking away from my marriage, it was taking away from my time with my kid . . . I'm done being anybody's punching bag."

Draiman has in the past battled with Twitter trolls who have harassed him about his sometimes-controversial views regarding Israel and its ongoing conflict with the Palestinians. Draiman has had frequent heated exchanges with followers on Twitter, some of whom believe that Israel is not blameless in the ongoing conflict with Palestinians.

Draiman, the son of Israelis and the grandson of Holocaust survivors, spent much of the last few months linking to articles by conservative and pro-Israel blogs and has often used his fame to speak out against anti-Semitism.

DISTURBED's first new album since 2011, "Immortalized", was released on August 21.

Jo Schüftan of Horns Up Rocks! recently conducted an interview with bassist Dan Lilker (NUCLEAR ASSAULT, BRUTAL TRUTH, ANTHRAX, STROMTROOPERS OF DEATH). You can now watch the chat below. Asked about STROMTROOPERS OF DEATH frontman Billy Milano's recent announcement that the band would reunite in 2016 to celebrate this year's 30th anniversary of the group's classic debut album, "Speak English Or Die", Lilker said: "I know there's gonna be a reissue, but him talking about a live show is all a little premature, let's say. It's gonna be the 30th anniversary of 'Speak English Or Die', so there's gonna be yet another reissue. I say it with a slight air of cynicism. And, yeah, it'll be cool." He continued: "Billy might have made it seem like [a reunion show was confirmed], but he didn't consult anybody else that played in S.O.D. He just kind of announced something, and we went, 'Huh?' That's what happened." Asked if he would do the S.O.D. reunion show if everyone else agreed to it, Lilker said: "Yeah. I don't have any differences with anybody. It was never me. I would do it as long as I didn't have any other previous plans on that day. If anything else I have already confirmed is confirmed, I wouldn't do it, but if they say, 'Hey, what are you doing July blah blah blah this year,' I'd go, 'Okay. Fine.'"

In October 2011, ANTHRAX and STROMTROOPERS OF DEATH guitarist Scott Ian was asked by UnRatd magazine if there was any chance of another S.O.D. reunion, to which he replied: "No. I think I can safely say that, yeah. It was never supposed to be anything more than it was. As far as I'm concerned, we did too much with it. It started out as a comic book strip that I drew in the studio and then turned into this record that we made, but you know, that's all that it is for me. It's the opposite of THE DAMNED THINGS [a supergroup featuring Ian alongside FALL OUT BOY and EVERY TIME I DIE members]. For me, it was never meant to be a real band with a schedule and making records and touring. S.O.D. was supposed to be the 'anti' of that, it was supposed to just be about having fun and never having it turn into something real where all of a sudden it's not just fun anymore — it becomes a job, it becomes a business. And I'm glad everyone around the world got to see it at least once because in '99 and 2000 we played everywhere and I don't feel the need to go out and do that again."

STONE SOUR's next covers EP, "Straight Outta Burbank", has been completed for a tentative October or November release. The effort will include cover versions of songs by BAD BRAINS, THE ROLLING STONES, SLAYER, MÖTLEY CRÜE and IRON MAIDEN. Making a guest appearance on STONE SOUR's rendition of THE ROLLING STONES classic "Gimme Shelter" will be HALESTORM singer Lzzy Hale.

During a September 15 appearance on the Des Moines, Iowa radio station Lazer 103.3, STONE SOUR singer Corey Taylor stated about "Straight Outta Burbank": "It's done, it's mixed. We've got the album artwork all together. [It's] looking to come out either October [or] November. So that's where that's at. And it's awesome. It's really, really, really good."

He continued: "We're actually more into this one than we are [STONE SOUR's first covers EP, 'Meanwhile In Burbank…']. And that's nothing against the first one; the first one's super solid. This one, man, is so diverse, but it all feels really, really good. We're really stoked about it. We're doing everything from THE STONES to SLAYER. Like, it is on. It is so on, it's not even funny."

In a recent interview, Taylor said that the band's third covers EP — titled "No Sleep 'Till Burbank" — will also feature five songs, and will include new versions of tracks from the following artists: VAN HALEN, VIOLENT FEMMES, BUZZCOCKS, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and AC/DC.

Released this past April as a Record Store Day exclusive , "Meanwhile In Burbank…" contained songs originally done by BLACK SABBATH, JUDAS PRIEST, METALLICA, KISS and ALICE IN CHAINS.

Asked why STONE SOUR decided to release three separate EPs of covers, Taylor said: "This is something we've been talking about for years. And we decided, instead of putting it all on one, and trying to make that work, we were, like, 'Let's have fun with it.' It was kind of the same spirit of why we wanted to do 'em in the first place — is 'cause we wanted to have fun, just to kind of take the edge off, take the pressure off and just go in and have fun and kind of show the world what got us into making music in the first place. So we broke it up into three. That way, we could kind of play with the artwork, make it fun for the fans, and just have a good time with it. 'Cause we're making our nut on covers. But at the same time, when you do something like that, you wanna represent to the best of your ability. And by spacing it out and letting the fans get into five at a time, nothing gets lost in the shuffle. It just felt like by doing it that way, people would have time to digest each five before the next one comes on."

Regarding the "Burbank" tie-in in the titles of the three EPs, Taylor explained: "[Burbank, California is] where [STONE SOUR drummer] Roy [Mayorga] lives, and we did all the music in his home studio. So I was just, like, 'Dude, the title's gotta be, 'Meanwhile In Burbank…' And then it just became, like, 'How can we play on that?' 'No Sleep 'Till Burbank'… 'Straight Outta Burbank'… It was just hilarious. At one point, I wanted us to dress like a black metal band in his front yard and play volleyball. Because there's this giant palm tree in the front, and there's always sun and people walking their kids, or whatever, and we're dressed like MAYHEM. And we didn't have time, 'cause [STONE SOUR bassist Johny] Chow is out with CAVALERA [CONSPIRACY], and Roy's been doing some stuff. So we just didn't have that time where we were all in the same state. But I was, like, 'We've gotta remember that one, 'cause that could be rad.'"

On its last North American tour, STONE SOUR played a different cover every night, including songs that made the EP such as METALLICA's "Creeping Death", KISS's "Love Gun" and JUDAS PRIEST's "Heading Out To The Highway".

Taylor is currently on tour with his other band, SLIPKNOT.

Guitarist Christian Martucci joined STONE SOUR in late 2013 as the replacement for Jim Root, who was fired from the group after deciding he wanted to sit out the band's last tour in order to start work on the next album from SLIPKNOT, of which he is also a member.

Montreal extreme metallers CRYPTOPSY will release their new EP, "The Book Of Suffering Tome 1", on October 30. The disc was produced by Chris Donaldson at The Grid studio in Montreal, mixed by Jason Suecof at Audiohammer Studio and mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music.

It has been three years since CRYPTOPSY's last release and many fans have expressed their eagerness to hear new material.  This time, rather than a full album, CRYPTOPSY will release a series of EPs titled "The Book Of Suffering". This new approach will allow CRYPTOPSY to put out new music more often while remaining true to their standards of quality.

"The Book Of Suffering Tome 1" track listing:

01. Detritus (The One They Kept) 02. The Knife, The Head And What Remains 03. Halothane Glow 04. Framed By Blood

As of September 25, "The Book Of Suffering Tome 1" will be available to pre-order via CRYPTOPSY's Bandcamp page as well as on iTunes. Upon pre-order, fans will receive the exclusive single from the EP, "Detritus (The One They Kept)".

CRYPTOPSY will also premiere the video for "Detritus" on September 25. The clip was produced by Chris Kells from Front To Back Video Production.

CRYPTOPSY states: "We are extremely proud of the new material; it is some of the most brutal, dark and technical music we have ever created."

CRYPTOPSY will take part in the "Canadian Rampage" tour in from October 7 to October 16.

Band photography by Eric Sanchez

Toronto, Ontario, Canada metallers CAULDRON will release their fourth studio album, "In Ruin", on January 8 via The End Records. High Roller Records will make the album available in Europe on January 29.

The cover artwork for "In Ruin" can be seen below.

Comments CAULDRON's Jason Decay: "We wanted a basic, straight-to-the-point cover without going totally METALLICA 'Black' album; something that catches your eye when flipping through the record bin.

"I saw a decrepit and eerie looking statue hovering in a doorway upon the 'In Ruin' title. We expressed this to our friend Squid (who did the artwork), and I guess you could say it's a cross between 'Poltergeist', 'Alice In Hell' and 'Intravenus De Milo'?!"

For the CD, the trio returned to the Lincoln County Social Club recording studio in Toronto, where they recorded two of their previous albums, "Burning Fortune" (2011) and "Tomorrow's Lost" (2012).

Co-produced by Chris Stringer (RUSH, TIMBER TIMBRE), "In Ruin", scheduled for an early 2016 release, is sure to deliver more riffs, more attitude and more modern heavy metal classics while laying waste to all of the genre's imitators.

"In Ruin" track listing:

01. No Return / In Ruin 02. Empress03. Burning At Both Ends04. Hold Your Fire05. Come Not Here06. Santa Mira07. Corridors Of Dust08. Delusive Serenade09. Outrance

To celebrate the album release, CAULDRON will embark on a U.S./Canadian tour with ENFORCER, WARBRINGER and EXMORTUS in January/February 2016

The dates are as follows:

Jan. 05 - Gramercy Theatre - New York, NY Jan. 06 - The Backstage at Championship Bar - Trenton, NJ Jan. 07 - Trickshots - Clifton Park, NYJan. 08 - The Webster Underground - Hartford, CT Jan. 09 - Palladium Upstairs - Worcester, MA Jan. 10 - Foufounes - Montreal, QCJan. 11 - Salle Multi - Quebec City, QCJan. 12 - Ritual - Ottawa, Canada Jan. 13 - Hard Luck - Toronto, Canada Jan. 14 - The APK - London, CanadaJan. 15 - Montage Music Hall - Rochester, NY Jan. 16 - The Agora Ballroom - Cleveland, OH Jan. 17 - The Altar Bar - Pittsburgh, PAJan. 18 - Ace Of Cups - Columbus, OH Jan. 20 - The Token Lounge - Westland, MI Jan. 21 - Fubar - St Louis, MOJan. 22 - The Tree - Joliet, ILJan. 23 - The Metal Grill - Cudahy, WIJan. 24 - Triple Rock Social Club - Minneapolis, MNJan. 25 - Zoo Cabaret - Winnipeg, MB Jan. 27 - Nite Owl - Calgary, AB Jan. 28 - The Starlite Room - Edmonton, Canada Jan. 30 - Rickshaw Theatre - Vancouver, CanadaJan. 31 - Studio Seven - Seattle, WA Feb. 01 - Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR Feb. 02 - Thee Parkside - San Francisco, CA Feb. 03 - Whisky A Go Go - West Hollywood, CA Feb. 04 - Brick By Brick - San Diego, CA Feb. 05 - Club Red Theaters - Mesa, AZFeb. 06 - LVCS - Las Vegas, NVFeb. 08 - In The Venue - Salt Lake City, UT Feb. 09 - Bluebird Theater - Denver, CO Feb. 10 - Aftershock - Kansas City, KSFeb. 11 - Red 7 - Austin, TX Feb. 12 - 210 Kapone's Live - San Antonio, TX Feb. 13 - Scout Bar - Houston, TX Feb. 14 - Trees - Dallas, TX Feb. 15 - Siberia Nola - New Orleans, LA Feb. 16 - The Orpheum - Tampa, FLFeb. 17 - The Haven - Orlando, FL Feb. 18 - Masquerade - Atlanta, GA Feb. 19 - Expo Five - Louisville, KY Feb. 20 - Canal Club - Richmond, VA

CAULDRON was born out of the ashes of genre-defining, critically lauded GOAT HORN, the band known for being heavily influenced by BLACK SABBATH, VENOM and JUDAS PRIEST that called it a day in 2006.

Since then, CAULDRON has released the "Into The Cauldron" EP (now long out of print), as well as three full-length albums: "Chained To The Nite" (2009), "Burning Fortune" (2011), "Tomorrow's Lost" (2012) and the "Moonlight Desires" EP (2014).

The band has toured the world with the likes of MUNICIPAL WASTE, DEATH ANGEL, NEVERMORE, DIAMOND HEAD, ENFORCER, and in the summer of 2013, were invited to play METALLICA's Orion Music + More festival in Detroit.

"Burning Fortune" was nominated for a Juno Award in 2012 while the video for the single "All Or Nothing" has been viewed over 460,000 times on YouTube to date and was featured in the video game "Rock Band".

Photo credit: Brittany Deck / BKHphoto

Glenn Danzig will release his long-awaited covers record, "Skeletons", in November via Evilive Music. The CD, which was recorded with PRONG guitarist/vocalist Tommy Victor and former TYPE O NEGATIVE drummer Johnny Kelly, will include the former MISFITS frontman's take on songs by BLACK SABBATH ("N.I.B."), ZZ TOP ("Rough Boy"), THE TROGGS ("A Girl Like You"), THE EVERLY BROTHERS ("Crying In The Rain") and others.

A preview of the "Skeletons" cover artwork, featuring Glenn and model Kayden Kross in "Skullface," can be seen below.

Asked how he decided which songs to cover on "Skeletons", Glenn told LasVegasMagazine.com: "I just start thinking of what songs I want to record, especially for the covers record. What do I want to cover? Can I bring a new element to it? Can't just be songs I like. It's got to be songs I like and that I think I can give a new direction to, and bring a new dimension to."

He continued: "That's my attitude with covers. Unless you're going to do something different with it and give it a new life, or give it a new dimension, leave it alone. It's going to be judged against the original anyway. If you just try to record it exactly like the original, everyone's just going to like the original better because they've heard it a million times. Also, why cover it if all you're going to do is just cover it? At least that's my opinion, and that's why if I'm going to cover a song, I'm going to give it a new life, new dimension, new feeling. Do something different with it."

Danzig also spoke about some of the other tracks that were recorded for "Skeletons". "[There is an] Elvis cover, of course. It wouldn't be a DANZIG covers record unless there was an Elvis and a SABBATH track. The Elvis cover I did was 'Let Yourself Go'. There's two biker movie theme songs from the old A.I.P. (1950s-1970s low-budget, independent film company American International Pictures) movies that I covered, 'Devil's Angel' and 'Satan's Sadists'. Then there's a RASCALS cover on there, an AEROSMITH cover. A lot of people have been like, 'Wow, this is all over the place,' but it gives insight into some stuff that I listen to."

According to Glenn, the full skull makeup which he wore for the first time since his MISFITS days nearly 40 years ago for the "Skeletons" photo shoot was inspired by legendary singer-songwriter David Bowie.

"One of my favorite covers records is David Bowie's 'Pinups' and I wanted to do a take on that and the record is called 'Skeletons' so I decided I'd do the skull face," he told OC Weekly.

Photo credit: Corey Soria

Shadowside vocalist Dani Nolden has checked in with the following news:

"We're working on the new album and once again, we will record it in Gothenburg, Sweden, with producer Fredrik Nordström, who worked with us on the Inner Monster Out album. More details and the recording date will be announced soon!"

Nordström, one of the guitarists in Dream Evil, is perhaps better known as a producer and has worked with bands including At The Gates, In Flames, Sinergy, Arch Enemy, Soilwork and Dark Tranquillity.

For information and updates on Shadowside go to their official Facebook page here.

In 2014, Shadowside released a video for the song "Habitchual", one of the main songs from the album Inner Monster Out.

The rustic Historical Center of Santos was the chosen stage. The story is about the suffering of people enslaved by all kinds of addictions such as technology, drugs and sex. The main actress on the video is Rida Principessa.

Production and direction of the video was designed by Studio Kaiowas. In charge of co-direction and script was Vitor Telles, graduated from the first class of Cinema of Unimonte (Monte Serrat University), who developed this material for his term paper.

New Jersey death metallers, Fit For An Autopsy, have released a new lyric video, for the track “Murder In The First”. The new song is the third track the band has released from their forthcoming new LP, due October 2nd via eOne / Good Fight Music.

The band previously released a lyric video for the track “Saltwound”.

The group recently released their music video for the song "Absolute Hope Absolute Hell”, the title track from their forthcoming new LP. "Being able to bring a visual representation of our art to the fans is a big deal to us," says guitarist and producer Will Putney.

Directed by Max Moore, this is the first music video the band has ever done. Putney continues, "Working with Max Moore allowed us to do that easily. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome and are really excited to finally release Fit For An Autopsy’s first ever music video."

Guitarist and producer Will Putney summed up the new album best, saying, "It's our new and fresh approach to aggressive music, not a half-hour of blast beats and breakdowns."

While some heavy music fans love cliche, there has to be something more to add depth, breadth, scope, and staying power, and Fit For An Autopsy used that as a guiding principle for Absolute Hope, Absolute Hell. During the writing process, the band expanded their musical horizons and had the confidence to know that they possessed the skills to do something both different and inspired. That may sound very conceptual and esoteric, but once you turn the knobs as far to the right as they will go for Absolute Hope, Absolute Hell, which was self-produced at The Machine Shop, it will all become clearer.

Tracklisting:

“Absolute Hope Absolute Hell”
“Wither”
“Saltwound”
“Murder In The First”
“Storm Drains”
“Ghosts In The River”
“Mask Maker”
“Hollow Shell”
“Out To Sea”
“False Positive”
“Swing The Axe”

Teaser:

The band is gearing up for quite a touring cycle through the end of the year into 2016. The first batch will be with label-mates Unearth in Canada. Click here for all tour dates.

(Photo: Bobby Bates)

Shatter Messiah guitarist Curran Murphy has issued the following update. 

"Mastering and sequence for the fourth Shatter Messiah album is complete! There are also three bonus tracks from a writing and recording session from over two years ago that we will be releasing and that you can get your hands on very, very soon. Artwork and photos will be getting wrapped up today and sent off to Sleazy Rider. Get ready!"

This update was following by a message to the fans from Shatter Messiah drummer Robert Falzano:

"Okay, so I'm sitting here proofing and trying to relearn the new Shatter Messiah material in preparation for some possible live dates....

First of all, Curran did an EXCELLENT job producing and mastering this new record, which should be out in October (I believe) on Sleazy Rider Records.

Second, this material is friggin' ridiculous! WTF were we thinking when we wrote this?!?!?

Third, Curran tells me 'try to relearn it on a 5 piece kit!' HA HA HA! More than half of this material is insanely bizarre poly-rhythmic Terry Bozzio style drums parts written for a 48+ piece drum set! So I can 'realistically' play 6 out of 11 tracks on a 5 piece kit. F.M.L."

Stay tuned for updates and a Falzano status report as he relearns the material....

Shatter Messiah's first two albums Never To Play The Servant and God Burns Like Flesh were released by Dockyard 1 and their third album, Hail The New Cross, was released in October 2013 by Mausoleum Records.

Greek black metal legends, Varathron, are gearing up to release a new seven-track EP, called The Confessional Of The Black Penitents, this October 23rd on Agonia Records. The Confessional Of The Black Penitents features three brand new tracks and four songs recorded live, with a total playing time of 40 minutes.

The live tracks were recorded in Larisa (Greece) on May 16th, 2015 and mastered by Achilleas Kalantzis (guitars). Tracks 2 and 3 have been recorded and mixed at Infinite Loop Music Studio (Greece) and mastered by Tom Kvålsvoll at Strype Audio (1349, Arcturus, Darkthrone, Emperor, Code, Ulver) in Norway.

The front cover artwork and layout include paintings by Carlos Schwabe (July 21, 1866 - January 22, 1926); a Swiss Symbolist painter and printmaker.

The band commented: "Infernal warriors we salute you! The Abyssic Black Cult strikes again! "The Confessional... " is the closing chapter of "Untrodden.." era. Featuring three brand new tracks of amazing occult atmosphere. For the first time we also include four live tracks from our show in Greece in 2015. Classic masterpieces from the dark past like "Unholy Funeral" and "Cassiopeia's Ode" will be unleashed upon you!”

The EP will be available in:
- limited eko-pack (1000 copies),
- gatefold black MLP,
- gatefold colour MLP with poster (limited to 166 copies),
- digital formats,
- t-shirt and hsw.

Pre-orders here.

Tracklisting:

“The Confessional Of The Black Penitents”
“Sinister Recollections”
“Utter Blackness”
“Unholy Funeral” *
“Cassiopeia's Ode” *
“Descent Of A Prophetic Vision” *
“Kabalistic Invocation Of Solomon” *

* recorded live

“Sinister Recollections”:

Varathron's early albums are considered to be the cornerstones of the Hellenic black metal scene, alongside the releases of Necromantia and Rotting Christ, with whom the group shared members as well as similar fascination towards early style. Since their inception back in 1988, the band's trademark are mid-paced riffs that have a classic, old-school feel strengthened by a progressive view, as well as epic atmospheres that only few can match.

Band's last full-length album, Untrodden Corridors Of Hades, had its premiere in November 2014, after a five year break. More news on The Confessional Of The Black Penitents will follow shortly.

 

Bangalore-based stoner/doom metal quintet Bevar Sea will release its sophomore album Invoke The Bizarre worldwide on October 31st. Pre-order the album at Bandcamp. The track “Bury Me In NOLA” is now streaming below.

In November 2014, after a 10-day whirlwind session at Adarsh Recording Studio in their hometown, the band completing the challenging task of following up such a well-received debut album. Invoke The Bizarre sees a musically maturing Bevar Sea in exploration of new sonic territories while remaining rooted in stoner and doom metal. The album was then mixed and mastered by Matt Lynch from LA's Mysterious Mammal Recording between April and August 2015.

Invoke The Bizarre tracklisting:

“Bearded And Bizarre”
“Bury Me In NOLA”
“Sleeping Pool”
“Where There’s Smoke (There’s A Pyre)”
“Heathen”
“Grand Alignment”

“Bury Me In NOLA”:

“Where There’s Smoke (There’s A Pyre)”:

“Sleeping Pool”:

Five days ahead of its September 25th release, Mantric, the Norwegian progressive metal trio comprised of former members of Extol, are streaming their new album Sin in it’s entirety (listen below).

Sin will be released on vinyl and digital download through Loyal Blood Records. The follow-up to the band’s debut album The Descent, released in 2010 by Prosthetic Records, was recorded between Subsonic Society Studio with Tommy Akerholdt (Turbonegro) overseeing the drums/guitars tracking and Cipralexed Studio with Tor Magne Glidje handling bass, guitars, synths and vocals recordings. The nine-track album was later mixed and mastered by Jack Shirley at The Atomic Garden in San Francisco.

Pre-orders for "Sin" are available at this location.

The cover artwork was designed by Linda B Rønning.

Tracklisting:

“FaithFaker”
“On The Horizon”
“Give Me Eyes”
“Arrogance vs. Anxiety”
“Die Old”
“Maranatha”
“Anhedoniac”
“In The Shadow Of My Soul”
“Black Eyes”
 

Mantric is an experimental prog trio from Oslo, Norway comprised of three-fifths of underrated metal innovators Extol, vocalist/guitarist Ole Sveen, guitarist/vocalist Tor Glidje and bassist/vocalist John Mjåland. The three have been playing together for more than 20 years now, first in progressive black-metal group Lengsel, then in prog-metal innovators Extol, having contributed to the band’s classic and final album “The Blueprint Dives”, before disbanding in 2007.

Formed in that same year, Mantric pick up where they left off on The Blueprint Dives, determined to push boundaries and avoid easy categorization. The band’s debut album under the name Mantric, The Descent, was released in 2010 and clearly reflects such unbreakable artistic vision, fusing a unique, experimental metal and post-punk sound with some challenging and powerful proggy tones, though this new incarnation sounds more refined and cultivated than before.

Now five years later, Mantric are set to return with their second full-length titled Sin, a defining step forward in their evolution as a band that have always followed their own path and as individual artists that have always aimed higher than the vast majority of their peers.

(Photo - Fred Arne Wergeland)

Spin recently caught up with Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson to discuss the band's new album, The Book Of Souls. An excerpt from the interview is available below:

Spin: It’s really fascinating how Maiden’s music has spread all over the globe.

Dickinson: "Obviously, we’re very pleased, and the new album I think it’s gonna cement the relationship we have with all the fans, especially new ones who’ve joined us in the last 4-5 years."

Spin: Do you feel a responsibility to get younger people into Maiden?

Dickinson: "I don’t see it as a responsibility, I just see it as something that hopefully comes naturally. People who like what we do find out about the new record."

Spin: You do see old-schoolers taking kids to their shows now.

Dickinson: "Occasionally, you might see somebody like that. But if that’s taking place, I don’t think it’s taking place nearly as much as people think it is. Our audience, the core audience that really keeps the live scene alive, is 15-to-25-year-olds. The front rows of our shows in most places in the world are populated by much, much younger kids."

Spin: That’s pretty important.

Dickinson: "You see, as a band, you get feedback from the audience and it spurs you onto greater things on stage. If I turned up and the audience was a bunch of people my age I think I’d go home and shoot myself."

Spin: I suppose that goes to a bigger question – how has Iron Maiden continued to stay relevant for so long?

Dickinson: "Because we do what we do honestly. We don’t pander to commercialism, we ignore fashion, we don’t know how to be cool, and we don’t care. And it’s all about the music."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Iron Maiden’s The Book Of Souls World Tour will open in the US in late February with Ed Force One flying in for three shows before, in early March, heading into Central America visiting Mexico, followed by a much anticipated first ever concert in El Salvador and a return to Costa Rica. Ed Force One then proceeds into South America for concerts in Argentina, Chile and a number of shows in Brazil before flying back to the USA at the end of March for ten more cities covering the USA and, of course, Canada in the first two weeks of April.

A long awaited return to Japan follows later in April, and then the band are delighted to be playing their first ever shows in China before heading to New Zealand and Australia for a comprehensive tour during the first half of May. Shows in South Africa, Maiden’s first visit there with Bruce, will be the last port of call before Ed Force One heads to Europe for a very extensive tour starting in late May and finishing in early August. This will the first time Ed Force One has ever been used on any European Tour dates (other than Bruce’s Fan Club trips to shows) and will provide transport there for at least for the first few weeks.

Dates announced so far can be found here (with ticket links). Check out a new video ad for the tour, streaming below:

Iron Maiden’s The Book Of Souls has given BMG’s recorded music operation its best first-week album sales in the US market since the Bertelsmann-owned firm relaunched as an independent in 2008, reports Music Business Worldwide.

According to Nielsen Soundscan, the record sold more than 75,000 units in its opening week, landing at #4 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the SoundScan albums chart (which excludes streaming data). That’s the UK metal group’s best sales performance since Nielsen Soundscan began monitoring the industry in 1991.

BMG, which announced its entry into the frontline of the US recorded music business less than 18 months ago, acquired Iron Maiden’s recording rights following its buyout of Sanctuary Records in 2013.

Read more at Music Business Worldwide.

Iron Maiden are back at the top of the Official Albums Chart in the UK this week with The Book Of Souls, reports OfficialCharts.com.

The veteran heavy metal rockers’ 16th studio album lands straight in at #1 with combined sales of just over 60,000. The band, led by Bruce Dickinson, last topped the charts in summer 2010 with The Final Frontier.

The Book Of Souls also tops this week’s Official Vinyl Albums Chart. The record gained attention after Tesco trialled sales of vinyl with the LP in their 55 biggest stores this week; though it proved equally as popular in independent record shops, also entering at #1 on this week’s Official Record Store Chart.

Iron Maiden’s recently released new video for "Speed Of Light" racked up over 3.2 million views in just three days, and is now pushing the 4 million mark. Written by guitarist Adrian Smith and vocalist Bruce Dickinson, "Speed Of Light" is taken from their new double album The Book Of Souls, due for global release on September 4th through BMG in North America. New behind-the-scenes footage on the video can be seen below.

The video was produced and directed by Llexi Leon with animation and visual effects by The Brewery Production Company. A huge Iron Maiden fan, this is Llexi Leon’s first music video. Creator of the cult comic book series Eternal Descent – an IP that digitally animated a cast list of metal and hard rock luminaries, Leon has further expanded into the video gaming industry. He chose to collaborate with The Brewery who’s previous film credits include 2010’s punk-rock inspired Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll with Andy Serkis, 2012’s music festival themed Spike Island with Emilia Clarke & more recently were providing VFX for the Sky Atlantic biopic on Ian Fleming.

The video is an homage to four decades of video gaming juxta-posed alongside Iron Maiden’s 40 years of incredible visual canon centring on their talisman, Eddie, as he travels through space and time to complete his Herculean task.

Behind-the-scenes footage:

“Speed Of Light” video:

The Book Of Souls was recorded in Paris with their longstanding producer Kevin “Caveman” Shirley in late 2014, with the finishing touches added earlier this year. However, the band decided to delay its release so that vocalist Bruce Dickinson, who was recently given the all-clear from a tumour, would have time to recuperate sufficiently to join in the preparations for the album’s launch.

The stunning cover art was created by Mark Wilkinson who has worked with the band previously, and because this 11 track album has a total running time of 92 minutes, it is Iron Maiden’s first ever double studio album. There’s a broader split on the song-writing compared to previous Maiden records, with bassist and founder member Steve Harris contributing to seven of the tracks; six of them with Maiden’s guitarists and one sole composition. This is also the first time since 1984’s Powerslave that an Iron Maiden studio album also features two tracks written solely by Bruce Dickinson, one of which is the longest song Maiden has ever recorded! And also two Dickinson/Smith collaborations.

Steve comments: “We approached this album in a different way to how we’ve recorded previously. A lot of the songs were actually written while we were there in the studio and we rehearsed and recorded them straight away while they were still fresh, and I think that immediacy really shows in the songs, they have almost a live feel to them I think. I’m very proud of The Book Of Souls, we all are, and we can’t wait for our fans to hear it, and especially to take it out on the road next year!”

Bruce continues: “We’re really excited about The Book Of Souls and had a fantastic time creating it. We started working on the album in late summer 2014 and recorded it at Guillame Tell Studios in Paris, where we’d done the Brave New World album back in 2000 so the studio holds special memories for all of us. We were delighted to discover the same magical vibe is still alive and very much kicking there! So we immediately felt at home and the ideas just started flowing. By the time we’d finished we all agreed that each track was such an integral part of the whole body of work that if it needed to be a double album, then double its going to be!”

Legendary rocker Alice Cooper has voiced all the characters for upcoming audiobook "Peter And The Wolf In Hollywood". The tale is based on Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev's children's composition "Peter And The Wolf".

Alice is delighted with the story’s modern-day twist. "I love the fact that it's moved on, and that Peter has come to Los Angeles to meet his grandfather, who turns out to be an old hippie!" he says. "That gives the story a fresh dynamic. And I like that he's not in the least bit terrified by the wolf, when everybody else is freaking out."

"Peter And The Wolf In Hollywood" is set in modern-day Los Angeles and anchored with a thrilling prequel — set off by the wolf’s escape from the local zoo — that takes Peter on a journey of robot building, a helicopter chase, and some melancholic introspection, all before he enters the forbidden meadow where he finally captures the wolf.

The result is an album and a groundbreaking app with a humorous and fresh take on Prokofiev's much-loved classic, exploring themes of family and friendship, courage and heroism, and set against the backdrop of today's media-saturated celebrity world.

On September 10, QUEEN members Brian May and Roger Taylor, along with "American Idol" finalist Adam Lambert — who has been singing for QUEEN on their tours, filling in for his idol Freddie Mercury — took part in a press conference ahead of their Rock In Rio performance in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. You can now watch the chat below.

Speaking about the similarities and differences between Mercury and Lambert, May said: "Well, there are differences, you know, but I think perhaps the greatest thing about Freddie is his connection with people, with an audience, and Adam has that. And I don't think that's something you can learn; I think it's something which you either perhaps have in you or not. You have to dedicate yourself, and Adam, like Freddie, is dedicated to his art. But without that — whatever that wonderful talent is — I don't think it would happen. When Adam walks onto a stage, it's not Freddie, and it's not him trying to be Freddie, but when Adam walks on and when Freddie walks on, something happens; there's some kind of catalytic action that happens between people, and it's a very rare and special thing. So I would say that's something that Adam and Freddie share, and I know that Freddie would agree with that. I mean, without even speaking about the voice. I mean, the voice… they both had, and have, incredible voices — the kind of voice that you don't find in a billion people. And, of course, the voice is very special, but it's not enough. You have to have the will and the spirit to use that wonderful instrument that you've been given to make that connection."

Lambert, May and Taylor first shared the stage during "American Idol" in May 2009 for a performance of "We Are The Champions". They teamed up again in 2011 at the MTV European Music Awards in Belfast, Ireland for an electrifying eight-minute finale of "The Show Must Go On", "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions" and in the summer of 2012, Lambert performed a series of shows with QUEEN across Europe as well as dates in Russia, Ukraine and Poland. They also performed three sold-out gigs at London's Hammersmith Apollo.

After completing QUEEN's most recent European tour in January, May described Lambert as the only singer the band had found capable of filling Mercury's shoes. "Adam is the first person we've encountered who can do all the QUEEN catalogue without blinking," said May. "He is a gift from God."

Lambert, for his part, downplayed the Mercury comparisons, saying: "There's never going to be another, and I'm not replacing him. That's not what I'm doing. I'm trying to keep the memory alive, and remind people how amazing he was, without imitating him. I'm trying to share with the audience how much he inspired me."

Lambert released his third studio album, "The Original High", on June 16 through Warner Bros.

September Mourning have released their "Eye Of The Storm" lyric video. Presented by TBoy Records and Mortem Media, "Eye Of The Storm" is the lead single from the band's upcoming debut EP, Volume I (produced by Sahaj Ticotin and Howard Benson) and debut comic book, A Murder Of Reapers, which is available worldwide on September Mourning's official website through Top Cow Comics.

"Eye Of The Storm" lyrically blends the purpose of September with an overall message to her Children of Fate: "be strong in your battle to stand against any fears you might have in life knowing that you will never be left standing alone" - September (September Mourning).

September Mourning is currently playing a string of U.S. headline dates before joining Mushroomhead on October 3rd in Greencastle, Pennsylvania for The Devils Be Damned Tour and then playing this year's Aftershock Festival on October 24th in Sacramento, California. More information on September Mourning's tour schedule can be found on the band's Facebook page.

Eye Of The Storm tells a story in 6 songs, an epic tale of “heartbreak, loss, pain, joy, love, redemption, but most of all, courage…” September Mourning revives the concept of rock star meets superhero. If Marilyn Manson and X-Men's Storm had a kid, it would be September Mourning, who also cites influences as varied as Paramore, Motionless In White, David Bowie, and My Chemical Romance.

“For me, the project is a story, a theatrical art piece,” September explains. “Music is the backbone, but for this to work, it has to include the imagery and the narrative all symbiotically linked into the whole. Music taps into your innermost being. There’s something very intimate and personal about it.”

The character of September Mourning is a human-reaper hybrid, who feels the need to give some human souls a second chance, and thus toys with Fate. To expound on this narrative, September is working with iconic comic book artist Marc Silvestri, who started out on the original X-Men comics and went on to form Top Cow Productions (Witchblade, The Darkness). Together, they are putting together the story of September Mourning in graphic form, to accompany, and enhance the musical message.

Having toured with Marilyn Manson, September Mourning has already built up an impressive fan base, which she calls her “Children of Fate,” constantly encouraging them to have “the courage to embrace their passion… to allow yourself to follow your heart and not be a slave to your fears. To know that the only boundaries that exist in our lives are the ones we allow.”

Band Lineup:
September - vox
Shadou - bass
Riven - guitar
Wraith - guitar
Stitch - drums

 

 

 

Polish ritualistic black metallers Mord’A’Stigmata are ready to unveil their upcoming EP, entitled Our Hearts Slow Down, in its entirety. The EP is coming out this Friday, September 25th, through Poland’s legendary Pagan Records. It comes after their recent Polish Satanist Tour with Behemoth; their Bewitching The Polonia tour with Morowe and Thaw; and, of course, their 2013 full-length Ansia which was one of the best-selling black metal albums of that year in Poland. Our Hearts Slow Down is now available to stream in its entirety below.

The release will be available as a 6-panel digipack CD with a 12-page booklet designed by Black Moon Design. Pre-orders are available via the Pagan Records webshop. A vinyl version will also be available at a later date.

Our Hearts Slow Down tracklisting:

“The Mantra Of Anguish”
“Those Above”
“Our Hearts Slow Down”

EP stream:

Mord’A’Stigmata was established towards the end of 2004 in Bochnia, Poland, by a group of individualists fascinated with spiritualism and death. From the very beginning, the musicians’ aim has been to create music differing from other extreme metal bands. This resulted in a synthesis of a variety of black metal sub-genres. The debut album, Überrealistic, was released in 2008 which was followed by the sophomore full-length, Antimatter, in 2011. From 2013 Mord’A’Stigmata started working with Pagan Records, who released their third album, Ansia. The cooperation continues with the latest ritual, Our Hearts Slow Down, set for release this month.

The band will hit the road in Poland this November together with Blaze Of Perdition and Moanaa for nine dates across the country.

 

Venice Beach, California’s purveyors of psychedelic violence, The Shrine, have unveiled details about their upcoming Century Media Records debut, Rare Breed. Oozing with old-school flair, punk aggression and unbridled rock ‘n’ roll fury; Rare Breed has been set for European release on October 30th and North American release on January 15th, 2016 (with extended content). Album artwork for Rare Breed, done by Kris Kirk, can be seen below.

With anticipation for the album’s release already at a fever pitch, The Shrine give the band’s growing legion of fans a taste of things to come with the premiere of the video for “Death To Invaders”.

The Shrine guitarist/vocalist Josh Landau commented on the video, "“Death To Invaders” is pretty much the shortest straight ahead fast song on the album. The title was inspired from the old Dogtown graffiti at POP Pier, but the lyrics kinda don't have anything else to do with that.”  

Fresh off of a headlining tour of Japan, The Shrine is gearing up for a 16-city trek of epic proportions with Clutch and Corrosion Of Conformity, followed by an European tour with Kadavar and Horisont in November/December. Before striking out on what promises to be this fall’s most debaucherous rock ‘n’ roll road show, The Shrine will hit the high seas and join the likes of Motorhead, Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies and more on Motorhead’s Motorboat  Cruise.

“We just returned from Japan where they absolutely worship rock and roll. California is burning and we're taking off on a heavy trip around the USA,” said Landau about the upcoming tour. “We couldn't be more stoked that Lemmy is back on stage and we're playing Motorhead's Motorboat. We have our new jams from ‘Rare Breed’ and we're kicking them out."

Tour dates here.

 

The release of Find Me's new album, entitled Dark Angel, is scheduled for December 4th in Europe and North America.

Find Me is a collaboration between Swedish musician, songwriter and producer Daniel Flores (Issa, The Murder of My Sweet, Seventh Wonder) and singer Robbie LaBlanc from Blanc Faces. The partnership was put together by Serafino Perugino with a vision to unleash another AOR behemoth. Find Me’s debut album, Wings Of Love received excellent reviews and left fans begging for more music from the duo. No demands could have been easier to fulfill as the two guys just love working together and finding the right songs for the group from contributors the likes of Alessandro Del Vecchio, brothers Tom and James Martin (Vega, Issa), Soren Kronqvist (Sunstorm), Niclas Olsson (Alyson Avenue) or Philip Lindstrand (Strong) is never a problem.

“Serafino of Frontiers and I searched for new songs and fresh ideas from writers from all over the world”, tells drummer and producer Daniel Flores. “I personally was searching for a musical challenge and Serafino with his golden ears is always looking for the next big song. It’s the combination of the two mentalities, with Robbie’s ability to sing and work on melodies that made this album what it is.”

According to Robbie LaBlanc: “Daniel really understands how to create an awesome AOR record. He allows me some flexibility in the melodies and is a pleasure to work with and a true pro.”

The result is once again a delightful and massive melodic rock record, chock full of mighty anthemic AOR songs with Robbie’s soaring lead vocals and amazing performances from Daniel Flores and guitarist Philip Lindstrand! Sonically, this powerhouse album sits in between the classic sound of Journey and Giant and newcomers like W.E.T and Eclipse.

“To be honest, in the first album, all involved tried to find the right combination of all the elements we love in AOR music” adds Daniel. “Now we feel more confident on what people will like. Productionwise everything just came naturally in place in this recording. Also Robbie sings even better than on last record and that's no small accomplishment really.”

“I feel I connected with these songs really nicely” adds Robbie. “It's funny of all the demos I received from Daniel I think we only changed one key. It's like they were written right for me!”

“I hope we get to give the AOR fans the same feelings they got when they discovered this music for the first time,” concludes Daniel, “We try to remind people of how the old records where done in this style, with the same mentality and complete devotion but with the cutting edge sound and quality engineering that technology has brought to date. Also, we hope to have chances to play for the fans live next year.”

Tracklisting:

“Nowhere To Hide”
“Let Love Rule”
“Forever”
“Another Day”
“Dark Angel”
“Bleed In The Rain”
“Face To Face”
“Where Do I Go”
“Midnight Memories”
“Don't Slip Away From Me”
“Did You Feel Any Love”
“I'm Free”

Trailer:

Find Me is:

Robbie Lablanc - Lead and background vocals
Philip Lindstrand - Rhythm and lead Guitars, Bass
Sören Kronqvist - Keyboards
Daniel Flores - Drums and Keyboards

Additional musicians:

Angelica Rylin - Vocals on "Another day"
Christopher Vetter - Lead guitars and Clean Guitars

Backing vocals: Robert Lablanc, Philip Lidstrand, Thomas Vikström, Angelica Rylin, Redas Jefisovas and Daniel Flores.

Stockholm, Sweden-based rockers, Siena Root, have issued the following band update:

“As Jonas Åhlén decided to step aside after this summer, Siena Root are excited to present our new lead voice. The search is over for our fifth member and a new era begins with true Siena Root legacy!

“Siena Root are pleased to welcome our new voice, Samuel Björö. Samuels stinging voice is matched  by his wonderful character, full of energy and with a mighty spirit. He comes to us from the deep woods of the very north of Sweden.  As much as we welcome him on board onto the root rock train, he's equally eager to start the ride with us!”

(Photo - adelephotographic.com)