Finnish melodic extreme metal quintet, A Lie Nation, will release their second EP, called Begin Hate, on April 5th via Inverse Records.

Begin Hate is rough, yet melodic, extreme metal with an original touch that fuses elements from black and death metal with rock-like straightforwardness. The four song EP is a study of negative mindscapes of the human species and it spans from extreme aggression to apocalyptic and self-destructive atmospheres. Heavy hitting rhythms and razor sharp vocals are balanced out with intriguing melodies and smoothly grinding bass lines. Begin Hate does not bow to anyone or anything, but is sure to leave a mark with its energetic destructiveness.

Begin Hate was recorded during 2016 in Oulu, Finland. Recording, mixing, mastering and the cover art has been fully produced within A Lie Nation.

Tracklisting:

“Rot Of The Spirit”
“Shooting The Messenger”
“Into Black Divine”
“A Burn Afar”

“Shooting The Messenger” video:

Lineup:

Markus Leinonen, drums
Joonas Kokkoniemi, bass guitar
Joni Moisanen, guitar
Miikka Pyykkönen, vocals
Jussi Tuomisto, guitar

Eternal Rest introduce the first song and video, “Extinguished”, from the band’s crushing new album, A Death In The Darkness, out March 24th via Truth Inc Records. Pre-orders for the album are available now at this location.

A Death In The Darkness was mixed and mastered by Joe Cincotta at Full Force Studio NY (Obituary, Suffocation) and features a guest appearance by the mighty Joe Haley of Psycroptic.

Tracklisting:

“The Garment Of Death”
“Abolished”
“Scorned In Fractured Light”
“If My Dreams Wore A Crown”
“Heralds Of Woe”
“Halls Of Misery”
“Enlightened By Darkness” (featuring Joe Haley, Psycroptic)
“Atop The Towers”
“Extinguished”
“The Nectar Of Evil”
“Curse You All”

“Extinguished” video:

London, England-based rock legends, Thunder, featuring Planet Rock's own Danny Bowes, performed the Wonder Days album track “The Rain” live at Planet Rock's studios in front of a tiny audience of competition winners. Watch the performance below:

Thunder released their new studio album, Rip It Up, on February 10th via earMUSIC.

About the new album, the band shared: “It was recorded in three sessions (March, June and August) and it's a real step up in every direction. There are 11 brand new cracking tunes, all written as ever by Luke (Morley). He also produced it, and our old mate Nick Brine recorded it at Rockfield in Monmouth (as with Wonder Days). This time we made a few changes, with some new mixing ears wrapped around it in the form of the talented Clint Murphy at Modern World, and Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound, who mastered it in New York USA. The album artwork was done by a fantastic Norwegian artist (yes he's an artist) called Magnus Gjoen. His work focuses on how things are not always what they seem, which we think is a bit like us.”

Rip It Up tracklisting:

“No One Gets Out Alive”
“Rip It Up”
“She Likes The Cocaine”
“Right From The Start”
“Shakedown”
“Heartbreak Hurricane”
“In Another Life”
“The Chosen One”
“The Enemy Inside”
“Tumbling Down”
“There's Always A Loser”

Trailer:

“Rip It Up”:

“No One Gets Out Alive” studio session:

Thunder continues: “Check out all the formats and the bundles in all their splendiferous glory, on our newly sexed-up online store.”

Next Step is a rock/metal band from Madrid, Spain. They will release their new album Legacy on March 17th.

In July 2016, the band released a music video for the song “Eternal”, which not only showed the maturity they were achieving in their compositions, but also served as a presentation for what was to come with their first album, receiving great critics from national and international media.

Their sound resembles the character of modern American rock and metal bands such as Alter Bridge, Trivium, Black Stone Cherry or Shinedown.

Legacy, as its own name indicates, is Next Step's particular legacy, their footprint. This work has Next Step’s purest essence, both musically and lyrically. It’s an album composed with great care and cooked in low fire that creates a dynamic and with this album the band feels fresher than ever.

A hologram of the late Ronnie James Dio made its U.S. debut last month at the 28th annual Pollstar Awards at the The Novo (formerly Club Nokia) in Los Angeles, California. Created by Eyellusion, the appearance of the heavy metal icon took place during a performance by DIO DISCIPLES, which pays tribute to Ronnie and is fully supported by his widow/manager, Wendy.

DIO DISCIPLES features former DIO members Simon Wright (drums), Craig Goldy (guitar) and Scott Warren (keyboards) alongside vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) and bassist Bjorn Englen (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN). They are joined by singers Oni Logan (LYNCH MOB) and Joe Retta (SWEET, HEAVEN & EARTH).

The Dio hologram was first introduced at last year's Wacken Open Air festival in Germany.

Jeff Pezzuti, CEO of Eyellusion, recently spoke to AXS.com about plans for a tour featuring the hologram, which will showcase various eras of the legendary metal singer's career.

"The tour is currently being routed and we are hoping to make an announcement for an end of year kickoff in the coming months," he said.

"This is not just about the U.S. It is truly a world tour. Ronnie's fans are spread around the world and we intend to bring this exciting show to as many as we can.

"The show will not only feature Ronnie and his band but also live singers like Tim 'Ripper' Owens and others to complete the overall show vision. The show will feature effects and stage design that Ronnie made famous in the '80s and will also incorporate new technology into what will be some pretty awesome special effects. It will be a fun experience for all ages, and a way to experience the incredible catalog [RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH, DIO] that Ronnie made famous. We will feature both the expected songs, as well as some crowd favorites that will be surprises."

Asked how the fans reacted to seeing the Ronnie James Dio hologram at the Pollstar Awards, Jeff said: "We opened the Pollstar Live! awards on February 2, with the Ronnie James Dio hologram performing with the DIO band. The band, which features Craig Goldy, Simon Wright, Scott Warren and Bjorn Englen, were on point and the performance of 'We Rock' wowed the audience. The room was electric and I was immediately swamped, post-performance, from audience members discussing how impressed they were.

"While we are proud of this performance, it's actually the last time we'll show this version of the Ronnie hologram.

"One comment we kept getting is that people that had seen our Wacken performance video online said that it's nothing compared to actually being in the room and seeing and feeling it — that is what makes people believers.

"We were so happy with the Pollstar Live! experience as an event, and tremendously proud of the panel and awards performance we put together.

"This is the most Ronnie has been talked about since before he passed away.

"We're accomplishing our original vision of making the artists that are so important to the fabric of rock and roll relevant again.

"Looking over at Wendy during the performance and seeing the smile on her face just really says it all."

Wendy, who manages DIO DISCIPLES and is affiliated with the Eyellusion team, said last year that she was blown away by the initial public appearance of the Ronnie James Dio hologram. "When I first experienced the full production of Ronnie performing with his band as a hologram, I couldn't believe my eyes and ears," she said. "We have been able to get Ronnie back up on stage where he belongs, ensuring that his music and memory live on."

Goldy defended DIO DISCIPLES' decision to perform with the Dio hologram, saying: "We know how much the fans miss Ronnie and the special and unequaled element that he brought to his live performances. Being able to recreate that same kind of magic for his fans at Wacken was incredible. For so many years, Ronnie always invested big in his live shows as his way to give back to the fans, and that is exactly what we aimed to do with this latest performance. We can't wait to bring this experience to even more of his fans and perhaps even a newer generation when we bring this incredible live experience on the road."

Mike Portnoy is making a record with as yet-undisclosed progressive metal supergroup.

The former DREAM THEATER drummer revealed the news via a post on his Facebook page. He shared a photo of himself in the studio and wrote in the accompanying caption: "Hmmmm....what have we here?? I'm in L.A. recording an album with something NEW... Sorry, this is all you're gonna get outta me on this for a while... More will be revealed at a later date... stay tuned! #ProgMetalSupergroup Coming soon..."

Asked in a 2014 interview how he goes about handling the changes in playing styles between his many different bands and projects, Portnoy said: "Well, I'm just a big music fan of every style, so it's very natural for me to play different styles with different bands and different musicians, and switch it from day to day, just because I'm a fan. It's very comfortable for me. I'm just such a fan of so many kinds of music that I could change hats from day to day, even from hour to hour. [Laughs]"

Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER more than thirty years ago, abruptly quit the band in September 2010 while on tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD. He has since been replaced by Mike Mangini (ANNIHILATOR, EXTREME, JAMES LABRIE, STEVE VAI).

Portnoy revealed a few years ago that he tried to rejoin DREAM THEATER, only to be rebuffed. He explained the move in a 2015 interview by saying: "I was doing whatever it would take to keep peace and keep things going smooth. And at that point, they were just only speaking through their lawyer. But it's a 25-year relationship coming to an end, so, obviously, it goes very, very deep, not only personally and emotionally, but also legally, and all the red tape that's involved with something like that. So it was a tough time, a tough period, and, luckily, we all got through it. But, yeah, I don't wish that kind of stuff on anybody in a band. It's tough."




Hmmmm....what have we here??I'm in LA recording an album with something NEW...Sorry, this is all you're gonna get...

Posted by Mike Portnoy on Wednesday, March 1, 2017

England's finest doom export Alunah are back with their fourth album, Solennial, which will be released on March 17th via Svart Records. To celebrate the band's upcoming release and to offer some taste of Solennial, Alunah have now released a brand-new and artwork-inspired video for the track "A Forest".

Says Sophie Day, vocalist and guitarist of Alunah, "'A Forest' was originally released by The Cure in 1980 and has been covered by quite a few artists; it's now been given the Alunah treatment. It's the only cover we've recorded - a decision we made after playing it live for a couple of years, and always to a great reception. This video was also a perfect chance to show off Adrian Baxter's stunning artwork for Solennial."

The new album was recorded and mixed by Chris Fielding at Skyhammer Studio, mastered by Greg Chandler at Priory Recording Studios.

Solennial tracklisting:

“The Dying Soil”
“Light Of Winter”
“Feast Of Torches”
“The Reckoning Of Time”
“Fire Of Thornborough Henge”
“Petrichor”
“Lugh's Assembly”
“A Forest”

"A Forest" video:

“Fire Of Thornborough Henge” video:

The release date of the Indian Nightmare album Taking Back The Land on CD is April 14th on Iron Shield Records.

The band was formed on the spring of 2014, after Poison from Mexico and Dodi from Indonesia decided to create a fully energetic band from the hearth hailing the purest evilpunk spirit crossing through the rawest early metal, fighting and dying for metal/punk. After some changes in the lineup end of 2014 the name was changed to Indian Nightmare including the current members Lalo (drums), Cedro (Bass) and Butch (Guitars).

All members have been active in the scene for more then 10-15 years and by bringing all their influences and knowhow together Indian Nightmare has become the ultimate speed/metal/punk tribe of the endless.

Tracklisting:

“Intro (Battle)”
“Mengapa”
“Unexpected Decay”
“Circles Of Fire”
“Fire Meets Steel”
“Welcome To The World”
“Riders Of Doom”
“Warlords”
“War – Metal – Punx”
“Betrayers”

Irish heavy/power metal band Conjuring Fate has signed a worldwide deal with Pure Steel Records. The band will release their debut album Valley Of Shadows on June 9th via Pure Steel Records. Guest appearances include Scott Holderby of Mordred, Neil Fraser of Rage Of Angels and Steve Moore of Stormzone. 

Band statement:

“Conjuring Fate have been gigging for quite a few years now. We have built up a steady fan base and reputation among our homeland here in Ireland and the UK. As an independent act we have played some amazing shows with acts such as Diamond Head, Dragonforce, Mordred, and Blaze Bayley amongst others. And although we are grateful and have sold merchandise all over the world, we felt that we needed that bit of extra backing and help. So we have to say that we are exceptionally happy to be working with German label, Pure Steel Records! They are a label who really care about all things heavy metal. We hope that with their help we can push our new album Valley Of Shadows even further than we have previously! We will be playing some shows through Ireland and the UK. We will then hit up parts of Europe. We hope you are ready for THE FATE!”

Lineup:
Tommy Daly (ex-Fireland) – vocals
Phil Horner – guitars
Karl Gibson – guitars
Steve Legear – bass
Bogdan Walczak – drums

Greek bashers The Silent Wedding are gearing up for the release of their new album, Enigma Eternal, on March 10th by FYB Records. A new video for the track "Silence" is streaming below. 

The cover artwork for Enigma Eternal was created by Travis Smith. Preorders can be found at FYB Records.

The tracklist is as follows:

"A Living Experiment"
"Shadows And Dust"
"What Lies Beyond"
"Insanity"
"The Endless Journey"
"A Dream Of Choices" 
"Loneliness"
"Under The Veil Of Grey"
"Catharsis"
"Closer To The End"
"Silence"
"Hands Of Fate"

"Silence" video:

"A Dream Of Choices" lyric video featuring Evergrey's Tom Englund:

 

Dust Bolt have released a one shot video of vocalist/guitarist Lenny performing “Exit”, taken from the band’s latest album Mass Confusion, as an acoustic version. “Exit” is the first Dust Bolt song appearing with acoustic guitars and clean vocals and shows a different and so far new side of the band. The shot was taken on a day off during the band’s tour for the album at a small art studio close to their hometown.

Mass Confusion is out worldwide via Napalm Records. Order here.

Mass Confusion tracklisting:

“SickxBrain”
“Mass Confusion”
“Allergy”       
“Turned To Grey”
“Blind To Art”   
“Mind The Gap”  
“Exit”
“Empty Faces”
“Taking Your Last Breath”
“Portraits Of Decay”
“Masters Of War”
“Into The Void” (LP Bonus Track)

“SickxBrain” video:

“Mass Confusion” video:

“Into The Void”:

Album preview:

New York band Pirosaint have split with singer Billy Vanders during the vocal recordings for its new album. 

The band comments: “Unfortunately, after two years of work we were getting nowhere with him. We wish him the best on his future endeavors. He is a great guy, we hope for the best on his future. 

“We know that it has been a long time. The music for this record has been recorded already for quite some time already and we are not sure why we haven’t found the right guy, with the right attitude for the music that we do. We are only looking to do what we like to do… so, we will continue to push forward. Pirosaint will continue looking for the right fit for the band, for now that is all what we can do.” 

Drummer Ignacio Orellana comments: “After two years of back and forth we decided to let him go. For quite some time he wanted to bring a hardcore vibe that we never wanted for this band; in the end we are a death-thrash metal band. He was singing for the wrong music style so, after all this time he became a wrong fit for our band”. 

The band Pirosaint was formed in Santiago de Chile in 1988 and reformed in 2011 in New York, this year its 1997 EP New God turns 20 years old. Listen on Bandcamp.

Swedish musician Martin Persner has released a two-minute video message claiming to have played guitar for the band GHOST under the name Omega. In the clip, which can be seen below, Martin says: "Hi, my name is Martin, and I've been a part of the rock band GHOST for seven years. Some of you people know me as Omega or Quintessence or a Nameless Ghoul or a fucking asshole for that matter.

"Since July of last year — 2016, that is — I'm no longer a part of GHOST, as some of you have noticed. The reasons why we'll take at another date, not today.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to say thank you so much to everyone that has supported us, and me, and having come to the shows and all the tours and everything. I'm very, very happy and humbled for having been able to do this. And I'd like to say a massive thanks to every one of you from the bottom of my heart.

"A long time ago, there was a band called MCC, MAGNA CARTA CARTEL. MCC went to sleep seven years ago as GHOST emerged. There really wasn't much time for MCC and hasn't been for a long, long time. Now things have changed and it's time that MCC wakes up and rises up again."

Up until now, none of the GHOST bandmembers' real names have ever been revealed, although singer Papa Emeritus is believed to be Swedish rock musician Tobias Forge, who writes almost all of the group's music and does most of the act's interviews disguised as a member of his backing band of Nameless Ghouls.

Since none of the musicians in the band are ever identified, personnel changes in the group have gone unannounced. It is believed, however, that the lineup has changed a few times over the years, including at the end of 2016, when Forge is rumored to have fired all five of the Nameless Ghouls following the completion of GHOST's North American tour. As a result, GHOST's upcoming European headlining trek — which kicks off at the end of March — will apparently mark the live debut of GHOST's new lineup, featuring Forge as the sole remaining member from the band that previously toured in support of "Meliora" and last year's "Popestar" EP.

During a recent interview with Metal Wani, the GHOST leader touched on the subject of lineup changes and how they have affected the band's sound over the years.

"From a practical point of view, you're interested in, on the one hand, preserving the sound, or the elements that make up the sound, and you still wanna progress," he said. "I think one of the secrets behind our preserving ability is the fact that we don't necessarily have to have the same six people in the room to make that sound, which helps.

"It's always a blessing and a curse when you have some of these classic bands over the course of rock and roll history, where in order for them to sound like that exact band, you need those four individuals, and if one is missing, it does not sound like that," he continued. "And, fortunately, we don't have that problem. Because performing GHOST and recording GHOST has never really been the same thing. So that we can preserve our sound; we don't have to rely on… if some people come and go, which is good. QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE is the same thing. Everything goes through Josh's [Homme] hands, and therefore it sounds like QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, regardless of who he brings in and out of the band, which is, I guess, a similar situation."

MAGNA CARTA CARTEL has just released its first new music in eight years.

"Sway" is the first track from an upcoming MCC release, due later this year. Like many before it in the world of music, it is a song about love and hate with lyrics dealing with two different persons perspective — and the lack of the same.

"Sway" was recorded last October at Studio Underjord and Secret Location Studios and was engineered by Joona Hassinen and produced by Niels Nielsen and MCC.

"Sway" will also be released as an exclusive 500-copies-only seven-inch vinyl single on April 20.

Fan-filmed video footage of California crossover thrash/hardcore punk legends SUICIDAL TENDENCIES performing on March 1 at White Oak Music Hall in Houston, Texas can be seen in the YouTube playlist below (consisting of twelve clips).

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' latest album, "World Gone Mad", was released last September. The follow-up to 2013's "13" disc was the band's first to feature former SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo and guitarist Jeff Pogan, who replaced Nico Santora in May 2016.

Lombardo told Metal Wani about "World Gone Mad": "I think it's very typical and very traditional SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. It's that style. It's [SUICIDAL TENDENCIES frontman] Mike Muir and he was a very special style in which he writes his music and his lyrics and his structures. And I love it; I love it. It takes me back to how it all started, which was that punk attitude. I'm very happy to be a part of his organization. I feel very welcomed. I feel very much appreciated, and there's a lot of respect amongst the musicians, and camaraderie. We have a really good time together. We hang out as a band, which is important; I feel it's very important."

In an interview with Jump Metal, Muir stated about Lombardo's musical contribution to the new SUICIDAL TENDENCIES album: "It's interesting, because a lot of people, obviously, associate [Dave] with the SLAYER sound. On some of the SUICIDAL songs, it's different musically, and you can see how really a tremendously diverse drummer that he is. I think some of the songs, obviously, people that love his drumming, they're gonna hear it and they're gonna really, really, I think, enjoy it. He's really excited about it. He's getting to play some different kind of things, and it just brings a whole different intensity and rhythmic feel to the band. And he's definitely got the Cuban thing going on, that Latin flavor, where he gets to do a little bit more in SUICIDAL than he did in SLAYER. I think you hear it and you definitely know it's Dave, but it definitely takes us to another level."

Maryland doom legends THE OBSESSED will release their first studio album in over twenty years, "Sacred", on April 7 via Relapse Records. The song "Punk Crusher", taken from "Sacred", can be streamed below. "Sacred" will be made available on CD, LP, deluxe double LP, and digital formats. Physical preorders and bundles are available via Relapse.com here and digital downloads can be preordered by Bandcamp at this location. The deluxe 2xLP bundle includes an enamel logo pin, signed art print, and two bonus tracks.

With renewed energy and purpose, THE OBSESSED sounds heavier and more relevant than ever before. On "Sacred", the band doubles down on enormous, heaving riffs and pummeling low-end across twelve tracks of eternal doom. Rounded out by guitarist/vocalist Scott "Wino" Weinrich's lyrical honesty and iconic throaty vocals, "Sacred" is an album that further pushes THE OBSESSED into the annals of heavy metal history, well worth the two-decade-plus wait. "Sacred" track listing:

01. Sodden Jackal02. Punk Crusher03. Sacred04. Haywire05. Perseverance Of Futility06. It's Only Money07. Cold Blood08. Stranger Things09. Razor Wire10. My Daughter My Son11. Be The Night12. Interlude13. On So Long (bonus)14. Crossroader Blues (bonus)

Weinrich, who has also played with SAINT VITUS, SPIRIT CARAVAN, THE HIDDEN HAND and SHRINEBUILDER, is joined in THE OBSESSED's current touring lineup by Reid Raley on bass, and Brian Constantino on drums.

Weinrich announced THE OBSESSED's return in March 2016 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.

Reactivated Brooklyn hard rock veterans LIFE OF AGONY will release their new album, "A Place Where There's No More Pain", on April 28 via Napalm. The band's fifth studio LP will mark LIFE OF AGONY's first release since singer Mina Caputo (formerly known as Keith Caputo) came out as transgender in 2011.

The official video for the "A Place Where There's No More Pain" title track can now be seen below. The clip was directed by Leigh Brooks of Firebelly Films and was shot predominately in Hamburg, Germany with a few shots from the London show on LIFE OF AGONY's recent European tour.

"We were looking to capture the raw energy of our live show with the new video for 'A Place Where There's No More Pain'," says LIFE OF AGONY bassist Alan Robert. "As a longtime LIFE OF AGONY fan, director Leigh Brooks instantly knew exactly what we were going for. He's been a fan since the early nineties and we finally met at the Electric Ballroom gig in London last year. He shot that show and we immediately became friends. He's a super-talented guy with great vision and a deep passion for this band. He and his crew got pretty banged up shooting this one. [Laughs] They got right in the pit with their equipment — the poor guys! Leigh was one of the very first people outside of the band to hear the new music and he was completely psyched to be involved."

"A Place Where There's No More Pain" track listing:

01. Meet My Maker 02. Right This Wrong 03. A Place Where There’s No More Pain 04. Dead Speak Kindly 05. A New Low 06. World Gone Mad 07. Bag Of Bones 08. Walking Catastrophe09. Song For The Abused 10. Little Spots Of You

"We have a long history of connecting to our fans on an emotional level through our words and music," added Robert. "And that's why I think there's something really relevant and timeless about the message behind the title track, 'A Place Where There's No More Pain'. It's about facing your problems head-on in order to find peace within yourself. A topic that really hits home for a lot of our fans struggling with their own demons. The opening line, 'running away only makes it worse,' couldn't be more true, because sooner or later those problems will catch up with you, and when they do, you gotta be strong enough to deal with them."

In support of "A Place Where There's No More Pain", LIFE OF AGONY will hit the road this spring in the Northeast United States. The first short run of dates kicks off April 27 in Allston, Massachusetts and runs through April 29 in Poughkeepsie, New York. The second jaunt begins May 12 in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania and runs through May 20 in Sayreville, New Jersey. LIFE OF AGONY returned to the stage and performed on multiple festival dates in Europe over the summer of 2014. The band's famed "River Runs Red" lineup, consisting of vocalist Mina Caputo, guitarist Joseph Zampella (a.k.a. Joey Z), bassist Alan Robert and drummer Sal Abruscato, was excited to take the stage together once again after a three-year hiatus.

Robert previously stated about "A Place Where There's No More Pain": "This record is a monster and we're so psyched to finally share it come April. It's got such an energy to it. Raging guitar riffs, heartfelt lyrics and killer grooves.

"We definitely turned things up a few notches in 2017, and it feels great. And I gotta say, we've never been so focused as a band. Before we even wrote the first note, we all knew what kind of record we wanted to make. You can hear that drive and intensity in the tracks and you can feel the momentum building."

Photo credit: Tania Gomez

"Inception", the official prequel to 1988's classic debut "Refuge Denied" from the legendary U.S. metal act SANCTUARY, has just been released via Century Media Records. "Inception" contains presumed lost 1986 studio recordings, which guitarist Lenny Rutledge discovered recently and which were magically restored, remixed and remastered by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (QUEENSRŸCHE, HATEBREED).

The third trailer for "Inception" is available below.

Recorded in March of 1986 ("Soldiers Of Steel", "Battle Angels") at Triad Studios in Redmond, Washington and Studio One in White Center between April and July 1986, "Inception" offers such previously unreleased highlights as "Dream of The Incubus" and "I Am Insane" as well as several classic "Refuge Denied" songs that are burning with fervor and intensity. Apart from being expanded by art courtesy of Ed Repka, "Inception" is filled to the brim with tons of rare photos, flyers, early art designs, sketches plus detailed liner notes allowing you to delve deep into SANCTUARY's history.

"Inception" will be released as gatefold LP on 180-gram black and limited colored vinyl, including an extensive LP-size booklet, poster, and the album on CD as additional extra. Apart from that, it will be available as a special-edition CD digipak and digital album.

Rutledge comments: "I found the masters in my barn. The second floor of the barn is on top of our current recording studio and is very rough and open to the elements. The ground level is where we recorded the bulk of 'The Year The Sun Died'. We found the masters in an unknown box in the barn, full of water and just wasting away." Zeuss explains further how the "Inception" album was realized: "I got a call one day and Lenny said that he had discovered these tapes and had them transferred to digital. I was in the area and stopped over to check it out. The recordings were still in decent shape.

"We agreed that we wanted it to sound as good as possible without taking away from the original vibe and vision of what the band had back then.

"After a year of mixing on and off, we were able to resurrect these original demos.

"I hope everyone enjoys these recordings as much as I did working on them, especially being a huge fan myself." Lenny concludes: "For me personally, I just wanted fans to be able to hear proper versions of the demos. They had a certain energy that was captured during the early days, maybe even more so than 'Refuge Denied'.

"It's no secret that you can find these on the Internet, but the quality is horrible.

"I think most people are under the impression that these are remastered or re-recorded versions of 'Refuge…', but this is all a prequel!" "Inception" track listing:

01. Dream Of The Incubus02. Die For My Sins03. Soldiers Of Steel04. Death Rider / Third War05. White Rabbit (JEFFERSON AIRPLANE cover)06. Ascension To Destiny07. Battle Angels08. I Am Insane09. Veil Of Disguise

Swedish melodic death metallers DARK TRANQUILLITY will release a seven-inch single featuring the two songs — "The Absolute" and "Time Out Of Place" — which have so far only been released as bonus tracks of the limited-edition CD version of their latest album, "Atoma". These cuts are the most experimental and daring numbers ever from the DARK TRANQUILLITY camp, featuring a very different approach to their usual brand of melodic death metal. You can listen to a medley of the two songs below.

"The Absolute" single will be released on March 24 and is now available for pre-order in the following vinyl colors and limitations: * Black - limited to 500 copies* Red - limited to 100 copies, exclusively available at CMDistro EU* White - limited to 200 copies* Blue - limited to 200 copies, only available at the merch stand on the band's upcoming European tour Pre-order your copy here.

DARK TRANQUILLITY has announced further European headline shows right after their tour with AMON AMARTH and OMNIUM GATHERUM. They will be accompanied by German melodic death metal outfit NAILED TO OBSCURITY and also on some dates by OMNIUM GATHERUM or WOLFHEART.

"Atoma" was recorded at Rogue Music in Gothenburg, the studio owned by DARK TRANQUILLITY keyboardist Martin Brändström. Mixing duties were handled by David Castillo, known for his work with bands such as KATATONIA, OPETH and CANDLEMASS. The cover artwork was once again created by the band's guitarist Niklas Sundin.

French black metal newcomers VI, featuring current and ex-members of Aosoth and Antaeus, are streaming a new song from their upcoming EP re-release. De Praestigiis Daemonum will arrive on March 31st on Agonia Records. The EP has been remastered by M. (Mgła) in No Solace Studio. Adrian Baxter prepared a new cover artwork. Listen to the opening track "Et maintenant je lui appartiens ainsi ma chair mon sang et mes actes lui sont dédiés" below.

The line-up of VI is shaped by INVRI (Aosoth, ex-Antaeus) on guitars and vocals, BST (Aosoth, ex-Antaeus, The Order Of Apollyon) on bass and Blastum (ex-Aosoth, ex-Antaeus, Merrimack) on drums. Their music bestirs within the characteristic black metal niche developed by the said bands, with the addition of expanded guitar work, choirs and subtle sample parts. VI describes their music as "extreme, devoted black metal with illuminated chaos".

INVRI commented on the re-release:

"This first offering always meant a lot to us. This is where it all started. We keep listening to it wondering how we managed to release such a beast. 10 years later, we still don’t get it. All went so fast, from the composing to the unexpected acclamation. It took years to compose something else, it was so intense and natural that we feared we could never do better. Re-releasing this EP is the opportunity for all of you to put your hands on it, and it was a good opportunity for us to refresh that old demon we cherish so much".
     
“Working with Adrian Baxter, Kontamination Design and No Solace was such an experience. One more time with this release, everything went fast. All this worldwide team managed to provide a brand new face in only few days and we feel honored to see how much efforts have been put into this release while, few years ago, only a bunch of maniacs believed in us.
     
“We would like to thanks the Agonia team, for being a part of those. This release will now never die and will rise, and will shine upon us for the next decade and more to come.”

The EP is available in the following formats:
-Gatefold black LP
-Gatefold gold LP
-Digital

Preorders available at  Agonia Records.

Iconic Bay Area rockers Y&T are putting the finishing touches on their documentary, "On With The Show", to be released before the end of the year.

Says the band: "We're still at it, in between the flooding, mudslides, and power outages we've been experiencing here at our studio in the Santa Cruz mountains.

"The film is progressing beautifully, and the reviews from the principals involved — Dave [Meniketti, Y&T frontman] and the band, Jill [Dave's wife], and a few other choice insiders — have been glowing and encouraging.

"We're currently knee-deep into the '80s heyday, as we chronologically forge ahead in putting this epic story together.

"We promise this will be worth the wait.

"Release has been pushed back, as we have admittedly underestimated the scope of this project. Our goal now is to complete it and hand over the finished film late this summer.

"We know the anticipation must be tough to tolerate, and we are grateful for your continued patience!"

Y&T previously said that the upcoming documentary would be built out of the hundreds of hours of personal footage shot over the years. It is set to cover the band's earliest days of rehearsing in drummer Leonard Haze's grandmother's house, then move through the first two albums, touring with JOURNEY, BOSTON and QUEEN, to their big breaks with AC/DC, OZZY OSBOURNE and DIO. It is also designed to be a tribute to Haze, who died last September, and bassist Phil Kennemore, who passed away in 2011.

Meniketti explained about the band's decision to produce the documetary without outside involvement: "In the past, we'd ask a record company or a big corporation for funding — and in exchange, sign away our rights and artistic control."

Go to the documentary's Kickstarter page to see an excerpt from the film.

Y&T, rounded out by guitarist John Nymann, drummer Mike Vanderhule and bassist Aaron Leigh, will undertake a short tour of Southern California this week before heading over to Japan for a pair of shows.

The dates are as follows:

March 02 - The Canyon - Agoura Hills, CAMarch 03 - Saint Rocke - Hermosa Beach, CAMarch 04 - The Coach House - San Juan Capistrano, CAMarch 05 - The Rose - Pasadena, CA

Y&T's live album, "Live At The Mystic", was released in November 2012 via Frontiers Records.

The band's first studio album in 13 years, "Facemelter", came out in Europe on May 21, 2010 via Frontiers.

East coast shock rockers, American Grim, have released a video for “Burn Hollywood”, streaming below.

"It's amazing that what you see in the entertainment industry is not at all genuine," says the band. Directed by Ryan Grim, this is the second music video we've seen from the band on this LP. "It's mostly knockoff imitations of what's already been done. If you're unique, you're a risk, and there's very few risk takers these days. It's a process I refuse to take part in. The closer I get to following in others footsteps, the sicker I get. I want to burn it down, Hollywood and all.“

The band recently announced their worldwide deal with Entertainment One (eOne Music) / Rocktagon Worldwide Music and released their first full length, Freakshow, on February 24th. “I can't begin to express how excited we are to debut this project at eOne,” says vocalist Ryan Healy. “We've worked relentlessly among ourselves, as well as with our producer Zardonic, to build an album we're confident has a great shot at striking a nerve in rock.”

Healy continues, “There's an astounding problem in America with political correctness and all these taboo issues that are far more real than people think, all being swept under the rug.  We have an entire generation of kids overly medicated and under educated that no longer know the difference between their own opinions and the manipulation of mass media. Freakshow isn't just an album, it's the current state of America, and we're looking forward to taking it on across the country.”

For the album artwork, the band commissioned artist Tyler Reitan.

Tracklisting:

“Concrete Jungle”
“Freakshow”
“Only One”
“Burn Hollywood”
“Drugs Like Candy”
“The Guns”
“I Want Out”
“Fight Night”
“Doctor Doc”
“Idols”
“Get Loud”
“Bodies All Around”

“Concrete Jungle”:

“Idols”:

“Freakshow” video:

Swiss death metal sextet, Conjonctive, have released a music video for the track “Down Into The Abyss”, off the band’s forthcoming second full-length, In The Mouth Of The Devil, due out on March 10th via Tenacity Music. Watch the video, directed by Brice Hincker, below.

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Vladimir Cochet at Conatus Studios, In The Mouth Of The Devil follows-up the band’s debut album Until The Whole World Dies, released in 2013. The new album is available for pre-order at this location.

Tracklisting:

“Purgatory”
“You're Next”
“Let Blow The Grim Wind”
“Falling In The Mouth Of The Devil”
“Down Into The Abyss”
“The Cult Of The Shining Planet”
“Burn Your Eyes”
“Hills Of Abomination”
“Defeat The Red Sun”
“Constellations & Black Holes”

“Down Into The Abyss” video:

“Let Blow The Grim Wind” playthrough video:

“Falling In The Mouth Of The Devil”:

Finnish theatrical metal newcomers, Lost In Grey, shied the public so far. Founded back in 2013, the Finnish sextet around frontman Harri Koskela entrenched themselves over the course of the last years to give their debut album The Grey Realms (out March 3rd) the final polishing.

Today, the band presents a new video trailer for the upcoming record. In this trailer, Jonne Järvelä (Korpiklaani, Jonne), Emil Pohjalainen (Amberian Dawn, Thaurorod) and Jan Hein (Kambrium) share their thoughts and impressions of The Grey Realms.

The band states: "Greetings all thee! As Friday, March 3rd is almost here, we have one more sneak peek to share. We ourselves have said so much already, thus, we invited some friends and colleagues to share their thoughts and impressions of The Grey Realms. We are honoured to have Jonne Järvelä, Emil Pohjalainen and Jan Hein as guests on this video."

The Grey Realms is due for release on March 3rd via NoiseArt Records. Pre-order the album here.

Tracklisting:

“Waltz Of Lillian”
“Road To Styx”
“Dark Skies”
“Revelation”
“The Order”
“New Horizon”
“The Grey Realms”
“Silence Falls”

“New Horizon” lyric video:

“Dark Skies” video:

Interview Trailer #1:

Interview Trailer #2:

Interview Trailer #3:

Interview Trailer #4:

Trailer #1:

Trailer #2:

Jay Jay French says that IRON MAIDEN did not want to perform after TWISTED SISTER at some of the European festivals last year.

In 2016, TWISTED SISTER embarked on one final tour, titled "Forty And Fuck It", in celebration of its 40th anniversary. These shows featured the band's "core lineup" of vocalist Dee Snider, guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda and bassist Mark Mendoza, along with drummer Mike Portnoy.

During an appearance earlier today (Wednesday, March 1) on "Trunk Nation", Eddie Trunk's show on SiriusXM channel Volume (106), French talked about TWISTED SISTER final performances at some of Europe's biggest hard rock and heavy metal festivals, several of which are usually held over two or three days.

"The best time for a bill, headliner, is always ten o'clock at night, because if you're playing the graveyard shift, which is the midnight shot, I don't care who you, really, the energy is out of the room for the most part," the guitarist said. "So, you know, IRON MAIDEN and these bands are massive bands, right? They always want us to close all the European festivals for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is they don't wanna go on at midnight to two o'clock in the morning. And also, they don't wanna follow TWISTED SISTER either, 'cause we suck out most of the oxygen in the room."

He continued: "The truth of the mater is, if you watch the videos of our live shows in Europe with these hundred-thousand-people crowds, the fans are singing [TWISTED SISTER's] 'We're Not Gonna Take It' in between other bands' songs, when they're on. It's a very disconcerting feeling for them; they've gotta feel like crap. So IRON MAIDEN twice [last] year said, [adopts British accent] 'Oh, you know, we've got to make another festival tomorrow. Can you close?' Like, two of the really big festivals. And we said, 'Fine. If you want us to do it…' They did not wanna follow us. And the thing is, they show up with fifteen semitrailers, right? Like, fifteen! We show up with two duffel bags with six guitars and a backdrop."

TWISTED SISTER's original run ended in the late '80s. After more than a decade, the band publicly reunited in November 2001 to top the bill of New York Steel, a hard-rock benefit concert to raise money for the New York Police And Fire Widows' And Children’s Benefit Fund.

Asked if TWISTED SISTER's retirement will stick, French told Billboard last fall: "If you asked me in 1988 if I thought we'd ever play again, I would have said to you, 'Never, ever would this band play again,' and we did. I always hate to go 'never,' because there could be a benefit that needs our services or something like that. Outside of that, I don't see a scenario where the band would play anymore. But again, you know… who knows?"

THE PRETTY RECKLESS performed the song "Take Me Down" on last night's (Tuesday, February 28) episode of Conan O'Brien's nighttime talk show, "Conan". You can now watch video footage of the band's appearance below.

THE PRETTY RECKLESS continues its ascent on the rock charts with the release of its new single, "Oh My God". "It's just me and the band, pouring ourselves into the song, and into the camera. It's subtle — you have to really watch it to understand all the layers — but it's honest, and that to me always yields the best art," says lead singer Taylor Momsen.

"Take Me Down", nominated for "Rock Song Of The Year" at the upcoming iHeart Radio Music Awards taking place March 5, was the first No. 1 rock single from THE PRETTY RECKLESS's latest album, "Who You Selling For". This milestone marks the fourth consecutive No. 1 for the band, which broke records as the first female-fronted band to have three chart toppers in a row with "Heaven Knows", "Messed Up World" and "Follow Me Down" (all from 2014's "Going To Hell") – a feat that has not been accomplished since THE PRETENDERS in 1984, over thirty years ago.

Produced by longtime collaborator Kato Khandwala, "Who You Selling For" expands the band's sound to encompass soul, blues and rock and roll. The songs were written by Momsen and guitarist Ben Phillips. Momsen's dark lyrics and raw, charismatic vocals are on full display and the band delivers at full intensity with a level of musicianship that raises the bar.

THE PRETTY RECKLESS will continue to tour throughout the year in support of the album, hitting major markets and festival shows, including Rock On The Range, Carolina Rebellion and Rocklahoma in the U.S. as well as European and South American dates.

2016 was a triumphant year for DELAIN with the release of their EP "Lunar Prelude", their latest full-length, "Moonbathers", relentless touring and the celebrations of their tenth anniversary in a sold-out Paradiso, which will appear on live DVD/Blu-ray.

Celebrating what has been an incredible year and making 2017 a worthy successor, DELAIN is thrilled to announce a very special run of shows for October 2017, dubbed the "Danse Macabre" tour.

Joining the band for this exclusive set of dates is longtime friend and collaborator, NIGHTWISH lynchpin Marco Hietala. Having contributed to most of DELAIN's records with guest appearances and after worldwide requests from fans, DELAIN and Hietala will now storm the stage together on the "Danse Macabre" tour.

These shows will feature a specially selected set list of rarely heard DELAIN songs, a sneak preview of new material, special effects and much more. "Danse Macabre" promises to be a spectacular evening with DELAIN!

Tickets go on sale Friday, March 3.

The dates are:

Oct. 26 - Paris, France - AlhambraOct. 27 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7Oct. 28 - Bochum, Germany - ZecheOct. 29 - Munich, Germany - BackstageOct. 31 - Utrecht, Netherlands - TivoliNov. 01 - London, UK - Koko

As previously reported, DELAIN and HAMMERFALL will join forces for a co-headline North American tour in the spring.

DELAIN will be touring on the heels of "Moonbathers". This tour will be the first time that DELAIN has played selections from the new album. Fans can expect all the DELAIN classics that they have come to love over the years as well. This will also be the first time that fans will be treated to a proper DELAIN headline show.

"Moonbathers", mastered by Grammy Award winner Ted Jensen, will satiate your hunger for the symphonic greatness, catchy hooks and a solid dose of metal that the band is known for. It showcases DELAIN from both their most extravagant and sensitive sides as they explore all things nocturnal through an especially varied set of tracks, including a surprising cover of classic rock legends QUEEN as well as a reappearance of Alissa White-Gluz (ARCH ENEMY) as a special guest on opening track "Hands Of Gold".

U.K. doom metallers MY DYING BRIDE have inked a deal with Nuclear Blast for their thirteenth studio album.

For 27 years, MY DYING BRIDE from West Yorkshire has been the voice of the hopeless and broken, combining haunting sounds with crushing misery and melancholy. With their signature sound, they've shaped the doom metal scene like barely any other act and integrated both soft violin melodies and violent death metal growls into their music, while always staying strictly loyal to themselves. And since the early nineties, the band's masterminds and founding members Andrew Craighan and Aaron Stainthorpe forged beautiful grief into twelve studio albums with songs of epic length.

Stainthorpe comments: "It is with great pleasure that MY DYING BRIDE can announce they will be joining forces with the formidable Nuclear Blast Records in early 2017 and have already begun working on material for the next LP and singles.

"It is no secret that Nuclear Blast have continued to expand greatly over the years, signing epic bands from all corners of the world and giving them the chance they deserve to make something of themselves in the ever expanding metal scene. And it's time that MY DYING BRIDE came along for the ride.

"We are hoping that this wedding between a very solid label and a well-established act will bear fruit of mighty proportions in the exciting years to come."

Since MY DYING BRIDE rarely leaves its damp catacombs to perform live rituals, each show is a highlight in itself and on April 22, the Brits will expose their legendary album "Turn Loose The Swans" in its entire length at Roadburn festival. Together with Shaun "Winter" Taylor-Steels on drums and a special backdrop lighting, the band will haunt the Dutch stage and deliver a truly unique experience.

Peaceville Records celebrated the 25th anniversary of MY DYING BRIDE with a deluxe 92-page 12-inch hardback book on the rise of the U.K. doom metal legends. The book contains five discs of rarities, early works, newly unearthed and never-previously-heard pre-production demos, band track favorites, and live audio.

California metallers DEVILDRIVER are working on an album of outlaw country covers, to be released later in the year. According to singer Dez Fafara, the effort will include thirteen "insanely heavy, swinging badass outlaw tracks by some of the best outlaw country artists," including Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, George Jones and Johnny Paycheck and Steve Earle. Produced by Steve Evetts, the album will include appearances by "fifteen high-caliber guests," among them LAMB OF GOD guitarist Mark Morton.

Said Fafara: "So just to be fucking clear, it's never been done; we are the first! We have been working on this for a year! Get ready — you've never heard anything like this!"

DEVILDRIVER guitarist Neal Tiemann told Guitar World about the band's approach on the covers album: "I think the point is to keep the memorable melodies and lyrics intact while providing and alternate and heavier music bed. It's easy to get carried away in one of our own riffs, so we've been sure to keep refocusing on the essence of the original material."

The project started out in early 2016 when Fafara was thinking about remaking punk classics. "I loved the idea of focusing on a single genre, but I felt that country was a better way to go, because the songs would give us more ideas to work with," explained DEVILDRIVER guitarist Mike Spreitzer.

Added Tiemann: "While the theme is centered in outlaw country, we're adding some numbers that go against the grain, rather than fit inside those genre barriers."

DEVILDRIVER's latest album, "Trust No One", was released in May 2016 via Napalm Records. The follow-up to 2013's "Winter Kills" was once again produced by Mark Lewis (ARSIS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEICIDE, SIX FEET UNDER) with assistance from Jason Suecof (AUGUST BURNS RED, DEICIDE, DEATH ANGEL).

The first official photo of POWERFLO — the new band featuring BIOHAZARD's Billy Graziadei and former FEAR FACTORY bassist/guitarist Christian Olde Wolbers alongside Sen Dog from CYPRESS HILL, Rogelio Lozano from DOWNSET, and Brazilian drummer Fernando Schaefer — can be seen above.

POWERFLO is putting the finishing touches on its debut album for a tentative late spring release via New Damage Records. The effort was mixed by Jay Baumgardner and was mastered by Maor Appelbaum.

Regarding how the name for the new project came about, Christian told The New American Media at this year's NAMM show (see video below): "Basically, Sen Dog was spitting his game on some of the heavy riffs and shit. And he was, like, 'Do you like this?' And Roy, the other guitar player, said, 'Yeah. A power flow. That's good.' So that's where it kind of came from."

During the same interview, Graziadei described POWERFLO's musical direction as a cross between IRON MAIDEN, BLACK SABBATH and CYPRESS HILL, and expressed hope that the new project would hit the road later in the year.

In February 2016, BIOHAZARD parted ways with its frontman of five years, Scott Roberts. A replacement singer has not yet been announced.

Olde Wolbers hinted in an interview last fall that he would join BIOHAZARD as the band's new frontman, but the group has not confirmed his involvement.

The last BIOHAZARD album, 2012's "Reborn In Defiance", featured Evan Seinfeld on lead vocals.

BODY COUNT frontman, hip-hop legend, actor and director Ice-T has posted a brand-new, in-depth podcast focusing solely on the band's new album, "Bloodlust", which is set for a March 31 release via Century Media Records.

The podcast, which can be heard using the SoundCloud widget below, features 30-second snippets of all the songs that will appear on the album, along with Ice-T's in-depth explanations of each track.

"Bloodlust" was recorded with producer Will Putney (MISS MAY I, UPON A BURNING BODY), who also helmed 2014's "Manslaughter". The new CD features guest appearances by Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, SEPULTURA), MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine and LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe. The effort also contains BODY COUNT's medley of the SLAYER songs "Postmortem" and "Raining Blood".

"Bloodlust" track listing:

01. Civil War (feat. Dave Mustaine)02. The Ski Mask Way03. This Is Why We Ride04. All Love Is Lost (feat. Max Cavalera)05. Raining Blood / Postmortem (SLAYER medley)06. God, Please Believe Me07. Walk With Me… (feat. Randy Blythe)08. Here I Go Again09. No Lives Matter10. Bloodlust11. Black Hoodie

Ice-T recently told Revolver magazine about "Bloodlust": "Making records is a very interesting process. You work really hard on something and finish it and then you'll be, like, 'Yo, that sounds like somebody else's record.' Or, 'Hey, didn't we just make that record three days ago?'

"One time we did two songs in a row and afterwards I looked at them and said, 'That's the same riff in each song.' So we had to pick one. But in the end, we came up with some very aggressive and cool music."

He added: "I like to start with hot metal tracks that you can listen to without a word on them and go, 'Wow, that was just like fire!’ The music tells me what the song is about, and that's when the words start coming to me. Then it's up to me not to fuck it up."

As for the choice of album title, Ice-T said: "Bloodlust is part of the human makeup. Murder is about as normal as love. It's in our nature to want to get violent and kill, but we know there are consequences. That's why we like violent movies, video games and combat sports. It's in our DNA. It's what we are."

"Manslaughter" sold around 3,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 102 on The Billboard 200 chart. The record arrived in stores on June 10, 2014 via Sumerian.

BODY COUNT's current lineup includes guitarist Juan Garcia (a.k.a. Juan Of The Dead; AGENT STEEL, EVILDEAD), who made his live debut with the group in November 2013 at the Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, Texas.