New England-based hard rock/metal act, Mammothor, are preparing their new album, Devotion Lost, for an April 28th release. Recorded at New Alliance Audio in Cambridge, MA (Godsmack, Powerman 5000), mixed and engineered by Kyle Paradis (I Was Awake), and slated to be mastered by Jay Frigoletto (Alice in Chains, Shinedown, Tesla, Nonpoint) at Mastersuite, Devotion Lost is 12 tracks of full-on East Coast rock fury, including the first single “Faith Healer”, being released in April.

Devotion Lost sees Mammothor, long a staple in the New England Rock scene who have shared stages with the likes of Living Colour, Saving Abel, Fuel, Powerman 5000, Orgy, Eve 6, Hinder, Ted Nugent and more, vocalist Travis Lowell, Josh Johnson (guitar), Dana Sharpton (guitar), Dusty Mulholland (bass – studio only), and Nick Raby (drums) straying drastically at times from their blues rock roots and delving into bold, progressive new territory.

Opener "Howling Baying Jackal" recalls classic heavy metal in the vein of Iron Maiden, followed up by "Skin" an edgy alt-metal burner, with a dark, chanting core. The lyrics to “Skin” additionally provided inspiration for the eye catching album art on Devotion Lost, created by Italian graphic designer Maurizio Piccinelli.

First single “Faith Healer” sees the band settling into a more classic hard-rock style with a tune that’s radio-ready while still maintaining a dark, progressive metal edge. The back-to-back duo of “Shadows Of Oblivion” and “Elusive Engineer” sees Devotion Lost making perhaps the most stark stylistic shift; from screaming vocals and guitar driven heavy metal on “Shadows” to a melodic, moody ballad in the form of “Engineer”.

The album is rounded out by “Blood-Soaked Candy Heart”, “a twisted love story,” according to vocalist Travis Lowell, followed by the band’s re-imagining of their previous track “Tyrannicide”, and the crushing, “Pillar Of Simeon”.

Tracklisting:

“Howling Baying Jackal”
“Skin”
“Anatma”
“Faith Healer”
“Shadows Of Oblivion”
“Elusive Engineer”
“This Is Not An Exit”
“Generation Thief”
“Blood-Soaked Candy Heart 10 Launch Pad”
“Tyrannicide”
“Pillar Of Simeon”

The new Nitrogods album, Roadkill BBQ, will be released worldwide via Steamhammer / SPV on May 26th.

The German rock n’ roll three-piece recorded 14 brand new Nitrogods songs for album number three and on top of that... four great cover versions which will be pressed on an exclusive EP, only available in the Limited Edition box set.

This is the first time that SPV release a box set for the band and they put some real cool and worthy extras together for the fans. All details and the complete tracklistings will be announced soon.

Roadkill BBQ will come in these physical configurations:

1. CD digipak
2. Ltd. Vinyl Edition incl. CD
3. Lmited Edition Fan Box containing the album, the exclusive bonus EP and some more great extras

Dark Horizon have released a video for “Sea Sirens Voices” (Hollywood Version), featured on the recently released digital version of Metalhead, the limited edition EP pressed in 300 copies in March 2016. Find the video below.

This release, published by Tanzan Music, contains the unreleased track "I Wanna Be A Metalhead”, "Sea Sirens Voices” (Hollywood Edition) taken from the forthcoming new album Aenigma (Underground Symphony) and the covers "Lucifer's Hammer" (Warlord) and "Free" (Heavy Load).

Tracklisting:

“I Wanna Be A Metalhead”
“Lucifer’s Hammer”
“Sea Sirens Voices” (Hollywood Version)
“Free”

“Sea Sirens Voices” (Hollywood Version) video:

Lineup:

Roberto Quassolo - vocals
Daniele Mandelli - guitar
Alessandro Battini - keyboards
Luca Capelli - drums
Paolo Veluti - bass

Brazilian female-fronted progressive power metallers VANDROYA will release their new album, "Beyond The Human Mind", on April 28 via rough Inner Wound Recordings.

With a more evident progressive influence but without giving up the weight and virtuosity of power metal, the new album brings a more mature band, a more balanced sound and reflects the musicians technical and artistic evolution since the debut album, "One".

The "Beyond The Human Mind" album concept revolves around the journey we all go through in search of fullness and inner peace.

The cover artwork was created by Felipe Machado Franco (BLIND GUARDIAN, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, ICED EARTH).

Led by vocalist Daísa Munhoz, VANDROYA is ready to take the next step and make a mark in the metal scene with "Beyond The Human Mind".

"Beyond The Human Mind" track listing:

01. Columns Of Illusion 02. The Path To The Endless Fall 03. Maya 04. Time After Time 05. Last Breath 06. I'm Alive 07. You'll Know My Name 08. If I Forgive Myself 09. Beyond The Human Mind

VAMPS, the visually arresting Japanese rock band featuring Hyde (L'Arc-en-Ciel) and K.A.Z. (Oblivion Dust), will return to the U.S. this spring to join I PREVAIL and STARSET on their upcoming May U.S. tour. U.K. newcomers AS LIONS will also join select dates, with opener COVER YOUR TRACKS rounding out the tour lineup.

VAMPS vocalist Hyde states: "Playing with some of the most exciting rock bands out there, I PREVAIL and STARSET, is an honor and we're very much looking forward to this tour. We had a great North American tour last fall, but time was limited so we're thrilled to come back this spring and hit more cities."

Adds VAMPS guitarist K.A.Z.: "We can't wait to see all of our loyal U.S. fans and make new ones. Every time we've come to the United States, we've received a tremendously warm welcome so we're stoked to play some brand new songs from our forthcoming album to all of you for the first time. See you at the shows!"

Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 24 at 12 p.m. EST.

VAMPS has just completed recording its next full-length album, "Underworld", with writer/producer Kane Churko (IN THIS MOMENT, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, OZZY OSBOURNE, PAPA ROACH) for an April 26 release. Check out an exclusive music preview below.

Says the band:" 'Underworld' is not a place that we can see with our eyes, 'the physical world,' but the dark side that's hidden beneath the surface, 'the shadow world,' where VAMPS' true nature lies — a concept that brought this album to life."

Last fall, VAMPS crashed North American soil for select headline dates which included stops in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Toronto and Mexico City in support of two new songs: "Inside of Me" featuring Chris Motionless from MOTIONLESS IN WHITE, and "Rise Or Die" which was co-written with EMIGRATE/RAMMSTEIN guitarist Richard Z. Kruspe.

"Inside Of Me" was the first VAMPS track to ever receive airplay on SiriusXM Octane and impressively won the weekly Octane Twitter poll by a landslide. The song has since become the band's biggest streaming success to date.

"Underworld" track listing:

01. Underworld02. Calling03. Break Free04. Don’t Hold Back05. Bleed For Me06. In This Hell07. Inside Of Me (feat. Chris Motionless08. Rise Or Die (feat. Richard Z. Kruspe)09. Sin In Justice10. B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Blood)11. Rise Up






We’re excited to tour the U.S. with I Prevail and Starset this May! Tickets on sale Friday. Check out this exclusive preview for some newmusic from our forthcoming album - out this Spring! More info: http://bit.ly/2m9d9dN

Posted by VAMPS on Wednesday, February 22, 2017

SEETHER, one of hard rock's most successful and enduring outfits, returns on May 12 with its seventh full-length studio album, titled "Poison The Parish". The first release via frontman Shaun Morgan's new label imprint Canine Riot Records, "Poison The Parish" is among the heaviest and emotionally pure efforts of the band's illustrious career. The album's epic lead single "Let You Down", premiered yesterday. The track's beautifully shot, horror-inspired video was unveiled today via VEVO; watch it below.

Recorded at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, "Poison The Parish" marks the first album produced in its entirety by the band's lead singer and songwriter, Shaun Morgan. Playing with a newfound ferocity and purpose, the new material gelled quickly, providing Morgan's dense, melodic grooves and brooding subject matter a gritty luster and room to breathe. Fifteen years deep into an incredibly consistent and rewarding career, SEETHER continues to thrive, pushing its creative boundaries while remaining true to its fiercely loyal, worldwide fan base. "Poison The Parish" is SEETHER at its very best, a gripping and self-assured affirmation of a quintessential hard rock band in peak form. SEETHER also just announced the fifth annual Rise Above Fest, the largest suicide awareness event in the world, which will be held Saturday, July 22 and Sunday, July 23 at Darling's Waterfront Park in Bangor, Maine. This year's performers include KORN, SHINEDOWN, STONE SOUR, SKILLET, HALESTORM, FALLING IN REVERSE, and more.

Morgan, Rise Above Fest's founder, was honored last year with the "Artistic Expression" award from the National Council for Behavioral Health at the Awards Of Excellence in Las Vegas. "Poison The Parish" track listing: 01. Stoke The Fire02. Betray And Degrade03. Something Else04. I'll Survive05. Let You Down06. Against the Wall07. Let Me Heal08. Saviours09. Nothing Left10. Count Me Out11. Emotionless12. Sell My Soul

Photo credit: Marina Chavez

"The Cell", the new video from French progressive metallers GOJIRA, can be seen below. The clip, directed by Drew Cox, sees GOJIRA delivering a pummelling and dynamic performance captured by a thermal-imaging camera.

GOJIRA was nominated in two categories at this year's Grammy Awards: "Best Metal Performance" for the song "Silvera", and "Best Rock Album" for "Magma".

GOJIRA frontman Joseph Duplantier told the AFP news agency about being nominated for a Grammy: "We started playing pretty intense thrash and death metal and I've been mostly growling for the last twenty years, so I wasn't expecting any kind of award. I never even thought of the concept of being nominated for the Grammys."

He added that the Grammy nods would not affect GOJIRA's musical and lyrical approach on the eventual follow-up to "Magma", which was a more commercially viable effort than the band's previous releases.

"We're super excited and surprised, but it's not like God telling you you're good and the others are not good," he said. "It's the Grammys."

METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett recently praised GOJIRA, saying that they were "the best thing I've heard in a long time. I love their new album," he said. "I think it's an incredible piece of art. It's heavy, it's vibey, it's moody. It has all the things you want to hear — great complex rhythms, great drumming, great riffs, great songs."

"Magma" was released last June via Roadrunner Records. The follow-up to 2012's "L'Enfant Sauvage" was recorded at Joseph's Silver Cord Studio in Queens, New York.

Asked what the title of GOJIRA's new album, "Magma", means to him, Joseph told Kerrang!: "To me, 'magma' is the primal energy. It's the blood of the earth. It's hot. It's dangerous. It is the guts. It's this music. It's the music we play. It's fusion. It's fire. It's electricity. It's… everything that we're trying to express with this music. That's what it means to me, 'magma.'"

AYREON, the highly acclaimed project from singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer Arjen Lucassen, has released the official lyric video for the song "Everybody Dies", taken from the upcoming album "The Source". Check it out below.

"The Source" is an exciting new chapter in the AYREON saga, with contributions from renowned vocalists like James LaBrie (DREAM THEATER), Simone Simons (EPICA), Floor Jansen (NIGHTWISH), Hansi Kürsch (BLIND GUARDIAN), Tobias Sammet (EDGUY, AVANTASIA), and Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X). "The Source" will be released on April 28 through AYREON's new label Mascot Label Group/Music Theories Recordings.

While AYREON's "Forever/Planet Y" saga seemed to have reached its conclusion with the album "01011001", it's clear that Lucassen's creative muses had other plans. The new AYREON album "The Source" revisits the "Forever" saga, adding a whole new chapter to Lucassen's impressive body of work. With its top-flight cast of singers and musicians, compelling songs, overwhelming sound, and intriguing story, "The Source" offers everything that has gained Lucassen dedicated fans worldwide since he laid the foundations of AYREON back in the mid-'90s.

The story of "The Source" is set six billion years in the past relative to Earth. It begins on Planet Alpha, a world in the Andromeda system where computer intelligence has far surpassed that of humanity. Alpha is facing a massive global crisis, with ecological and political catastrophes threatening all human life. The Alphans (our human ancestors) try to save their planet by entrusting the global computer mainframe — The 'Frame — to find a solution. Given total control of the planet, the 'Frame reaches the logical conclusion that its creators are the cause of all the trouble. The only way to solve Alpha's problems is to exterminate humanity. This leaves the Alphans no other option than to try and escape their horrific fate. But their escape comes at a terrible price. It's the beginning of a story that contains everything that has made the Ayreon epics so endlessly fascinating all these years.

The international status of AYREON enables Arjen Lucassen to write his characters with some of the most respected singers in rock in mind: James LaBrie (DREAM THEATER), Tommy Giles Rogers (BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME), Simone Simons (EPICA), Mike Mills (TOEHIDER), Floor Jansen (NIGHTWISH), Hansi Kürsch (BLIND GUARDIAN), Michael Eriksen (CIRCUS MAXIMUS), Tobias Sammet (EDGUY, AVANTASIA), Nils K. Rue (PAGAN'S MIND), Zaher Zorgati (MYRATH), Tommy Karevik (KAMELOT) and Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X). Special contributions were offered by guitarists Paul Gilbert (MR. BIG), Guthrie Govan (THE ARISTOCRATS, ASIA, STEVEN WILSON), Marcel Coenen and keyboard player Mark Kelly (MARILLION).

Watch the epic 12-minute video for album opener "The Day That The World Breaks Down" below.

Just as on his previous albums, "The Source" has Arjen Lucassen playing a wide variety of instruments, while the inimitable Ed Warby (ELEGY, GOREFEST, HAIL OF BULLETS) once again masterfully handles the drums.

2017 will be a particularly exciting year for AYREON fans thanks to a unique chance to actually see AYREON live. Limited to three exclusive performances, "The Ayreon Universe" will take place in September in the prestigious 013 venue in Tilburg, Holland. This unprecedented live event features the best of twenty years of AYREON music, brought to life by a top cast of musicians such as Floor Jansen (NIGHTWISH), Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X), Damian Wilson (THRESHOLD), Hansi Kürsch (BLIND GUARDIAN), Tommy Karevik (KAMELOT), Jonas Renkse (KATATONIA), Anneke van Giersbergen, and various others. The reclusive Arjen Lucassen himself is also expected to make a rare appearance on stage. The tickets for all concerts — 9000 in total — sold out within a day, proving once again that the AYREON magic is still very much alive and kicking.

"The Source" track listing:

CD1

Chronicle 1: The 'Frame

01. The Day That The World Breaks Down02. Sea Of Machines 03. Everybody Dies

Chronicle 2: The Aligning Of The Ten

04. Star Of Sirrah 05. All That Was 06. Run! Apocalypse! Run! 07. Condemned To Live

CD2

Chronicle 3: The Transmigration

08. Aquatic Race 09. The Dream Dissolves 10. Deathcry Of A Race 11. Into The Ocean

Chronicle 4: The Rebirth

12. Bay Of Dreams 13. Planet Y Is Alive! 14. The Source Will Flow 15. Journey To Forever 16. The Human Compulsion 17. March Of The Machines

Rob Zombie has has lent his voice to "Guardians Of The Galaxy 2".

Rob confirmed his involvement in the sequel to the 2014 comedic superhero flick via his Instagram account.

Zombie posted a picture of him with the film's director, James Gunn, and wrote: "With James Gunn at Disney recording a voice for 'Guardians Of The Galaxy 2'."

Gunn later tweeted: "It isn't a James Gunn film without Rob Zombie's voice!"

In the first "Guardians" film, Zombie voiced the Ravager's own navigation system. Zombie also lent his voice to other characters in Gunn's films: he voiced a doctor in "Slither" and even sounded off as God in "Super".

Last July, Jimmy Urine of electro-punks MINDLESS SELF INDULGENCE revealed that he will have a part in the upcoming "Guardians Of The Galaxy" sequel. Urine was cast in the role of Half-Nut, a member of the Ravagers.

AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler last year publicly expressed an interest in being a part of "Guardians Of The Galaxy 3" — even though a third instalment wouldn't arrive before 2020 at the earliest.

Gunn responded: "Yes, I did hear that Steven Tyler wants to be in 'Guardians Of The Galaxy'. The answer is, Steven, yes I am listening. And I'm a big fan of Steven Tyler's. I had the pleasure of directing his daughter Liv in 'Super' in 2010 in which she was fantastic, and I met him for a few seconds at a screening of that movie. He's a cool guy. And, of course, I would love to work with Steven Tyler sometime."

"Guardians Of The Galaxy 2" is due in theaters on May 5.

A video for Black Sabbath's "Killing Yourself To Live" has been created using the album track and footage from the Santa Monica Civic show in 1975. Check it out below.

Rare Black Sabbath live audio was recently posted on YouTube. The clip below features the band performing at Rugman’s Youth Club in Dumfries, Scotland on November 16th, 1969. The setlist was as follows:

"Black Sabbath"
"Let Me Love You Baby"
"Song For Jim" - Drum Solo - Reprise
"The Warning" (Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation Cover)
"Wicked World"
"Behind The Wall Of Sleep"
"Early One Morning" (Elmore James Cover)
"N.I.B."
"Blue Blooded Man"

Ozzy Osbourne - vocals
Tony Iommi - guitar, flute
Geezer Butler - bass
Bill Ward - drums

Bobby Blotzer will undergo lumbar spine surgery at the end of March.

The original RATT drummer revealed the news in a Facebook post, explaining that one of the spine's five intervertebral segments has collapsed, with another one soon to follow.

According to Blotzer, he has been getting epidural spine injections for six years and had a nerve-burning procedure done, neither one of which has successfully ended his chronic pain problems.

Blotzer, who had a spinal fusion surgery for the C6-C7 vertebrae in his neck four years ago, said that he will go under the knife two days after his version of RATT performs at the Prairie Knights Casino & Resort in Fort Yates, North Dakota on March 18.

Blotzer did not disclose who will front his version of RATT at the North Dakota concert, having recently parted ways with singer Joshua Alan, who had been with the group since its late 2015 inception.

The drummer also promised that he would "mop up [the] litigation" he is currently embroiled in with his former bandmate over the rights to the RATT name and that he would return to the road "with RATT around late June."

Blotzer has spent the last year and a half battling the other three members of RATT's classic lineup in court. At the same time, he has been hitting the road with his version of RATT, which, in addition to Alan, most recently included guitarists Mitch Perry (TALAS, HEAVEN, STEELER, MSG, LITA FORD) and Stacey Blades (L.A. GUNS) and bassist Brad Lang (Y&T).

Back in November, a California judge ruled against Blotzer with respect to whether bassist Juan Croucier had committed trademark infringement by using the RATT name and logo to advertise his band RATT'S JUAN CROUCIER in the fall of 2015. The judge furthermore decided that the corporation WBS, Inc. — of which Blotzer and guitarist Warren DeMartini were thought to be the sole shareholders — did not have ownership interest in the RATT marks and that the name and brand was still owned by the members who were part of the original RATT partnership agreement.

In addition to claiming to have expelled Blotzer from the partnership following the November court ruling, DeMartini, Croucier and singer Stephen Pearcy said that Blotzer could now only refer to himself as a "former member of RATT," as per the partnership agreement.

Blotzer's attorney later filed a request for reconsideration, and a hearing was held on January 23 in a downtown Los Angeles federal courtroom at which point the judge took the matter under submission. Less than two weeks later — on February 3 — U.S. District Judge Dean D. Pregerson issued an order denying Blotzer's request.

The RATT version featuring Pearcy, DeMartini, Croucier and later-period RATT guitarist Carlos Cavazo (ex-QUIET RIOT) made its first official return to the stage on February 11 at the Treasure Island Resort Casino in Welch, Minnesota.




Hey all : I got this MRI last week. Having some bad shite coming to the roads end on my back.

Alot of people that...

Posted by RATT on Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Sólstafir will release their new album Berdreyminn on May 26th via Season Of Mist. More information coming soon.

Tracklisting:

“Silfur-Refur”
“Ísafold”
“Hula”
“Nárós”
“Hvít Sæng”
“Dýrafjörður”
“Ambátt”
“Bláfjall”

(Photo by: Falk-Hagen_Bernshausen)

A playthrough video for the song "Schizomaniac" from death metal veterans SIX FEET UNDER can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's twelfth studio album, "Torment", which will be released on February 24 via Metal Blade.

There's plenty of classic SIX FEET UNDER groove to be had on "Torment", but fans will note a much more aggressive approach, and even more modern blast beats throughout. This is a cantankerous SIX FEET UNDER with absolutely nothing to prove. This is SIX FEET UNDER at its most deadly.

"Torment" was brought to life by Chris Barnes with bassist/guitarist Jeff Hughell (BRAIN DRILL) shouldering the load of writing the music, along with heralded drummer Marco Pitruzzella (BRAIN DRILL, ANOMALOUS, SLEEP TERROR). The combination of Barnes's multi-decade death metal experience and the speed and precision of Hughell and Pitruzzella's relative youth go a long way to cementing this as a solid foundation for high-level death metal. This is immediately apparent in the first track "Sacrificial Kill" and expanded further right away in the second track "Exploratory Homicide". Both Hughell and Pitruzzella are allowed to play their style of metal with a unique SIX FEET UNDER flair. That's what makes "Torment" a unique and welcome addition to the band's stories catalog.

Barnes states about "Torment": "I've been lucky to have a lot of standout albums in my career. That's only because I've had a great many talented writing partners and musicians to collaborate with. Our new album, 'Torment', to me, is one of those albums. Jeff Hughell has provided the flammable material for me to write some explosive lyrics and vocal parts to.

"I know people always say, 'This is my best album ever,' and I won't say that, because everyone has their own favorites, but I do enjoy creating new music, and I feel as though with this one we expressed concisely and to the fullest the duality of our music. I have also found it important over the years, going back to the start of my career, that the artwork for our albums gets to express, on some level, what the experience is within. To do that this time around, we were able to incorporate an amazing new artist, Septian Devenum, to take on the task of visually bringing this album to life.

"Every song on the album is depicted with a piece of artwork that explores the lyrical content of each song, similar to what we did for the packaging for our album 'Bringer Of Blood'.

"'Torment' has been a great album to work on and help create, we hope all of our fans appreciate it."

"Torment" track listing:

01. Sacrificial Kill02. Exploratory Homicide03. The Separation Of Flesh From Bone04. Schizomaniac05. Skeleton06. Knife Through The Skull07. Slaughtered As They Slept08. In The Process Of Decomposing09. Funeral Mask10. Obsidian11. Bloody Underwear12. Roots Of Evil

SIX FEET UNDER's new album was mixed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris and was previously described by Barnes as "the most brutally intense, groove-laden masterpiece we've ever put together!"

SIX FEET UNDER in December completed the "X-Mas in Hell Tour 2016" in Germany where the band celebrated the 21st anniversary of its debut album, "Haunted", by performing the LP in its entirety.

Relapse Records has announced the vinyl reissues of Dying Fetus's five most recent full-length albums, including Reign Supreme (2012), Descend Into Depravity (2009), War Of Attrition (2007), Stop At Nothing (2003) and Destroy the Opposition (2001). This will be the first repressing of each album since their initial release.

All five LPs will be pressed on black vinyl along with a special clear with blood red splatter edition limited to 300 copies each worldwide. Each album will contain special bonus tracks from the original recording sessions that were previously never available on vinyl.  

Watch a trailer for the reissue below:

The Dying Fetus vinyl reissues are due out March 24th via Relapse Records. Pre-orders are available and full details on each reissue are available now through Relapse.com at this location. Stream these albums along with the band's full catalog via Bandcamp here.

Additionally, Dying Fetus recently completed recording their highly anticipated eighth full-length album, which will see a summer release via Relapse. More details will be announced shortly.

Dying Fetus will embark on a full European tour with Hatebreed this spring. The band will also play a special show in Philadelphia, PA where they will shoot footage for an upcoming music video with director Mitch Massie (Cattle Decapitation, The Dillinger Escape Plan).

Dying Fetus Tour Dates:

March
17 - Philadelphia, PA - Voltage Lounge

April (with Hatebreed)
12 - Koln, Germany - Essigfabrik
13 - Magdeburg, Germany - Factory
14 - Warsaw, Poland - Progresja
15 - Berlin, Germany - Astra
16 - Schijndel, Netherlands - Paaspop
17 - Solothurn, Switzerland - Kofmehl
18 - Saarbrucken, Germany - Garage
19 - Nurnberg, Germany - Hirsch
20 - Munchen, Germany - Backstage
21 - Bologna, Italy - Zona Roveri
22 - Innsbruck, Austria - Hafen
23 - Lindau, Germany - Club Vaudeville
25 - Besancon, France - La Rodia
26 - Munster, Germany - Sputnikhalle
27 - Aarhus, Denmark - Train
28 - Oslo, Norway - Parkteatret
29 - Sweden - TBA

May
25 - Vancouver, BC - Modified Ghost Festival II

(Photo - John Fisk)

My Dying Bride has been the leading light of doom metal since the debut album As The Flower Withers was released on Peaceville Records back in 1992. Influenced by acts such as Celtic Frost and Candlemass, the band's heavy atmospherics have carved a huge worldwide following over the years and they remain at the pinnacle of the genre and one of the most instantly distinguishable metal bands.

Songs Of Darkness, Words Of Light was the band's eighth studio album and was originally released in 2004. With My Dying Bride's perfected blend of guitar and sombre atmospherics creating an unmistakable ensemble of epic crushing doom metal, and featuring some of the band's most dark and sinister material to date, the album was also notable for its more sensitive and reflective side, as evident on the track “Catherine Blake”, and fan favourite, “My Wine In Silence”.

This edition of Songs Of Darkness, Words Of Light is presented on 180gm heavyweight vinyl, with gatefold sleeve. Order at this location.

Tracklisting:

Side A:
“The Wreckage Of My Flesh”
“The Scarlet Garden”

Side B
“Catherine Blake”
“My Wine In Silence”

Side C
“The Prize Of Beauty”
“The Blue Lotus”

Side D
“And My Fury Stands Ready”
“A Doomed Lover”

“The Wreckage Of My Flesh”:

Atmospheric black metallers, Fen, are streaming the video “II (Penance)”, the second track from their fifth full-length album, to be released via Code666 on March 10th.

Titled Winter, and produced by of Jaime Gomez Arellano at the Orgone Studios in London (Ulver, Altar Of Plagues, Grave Miasma, Primordial, Solstafir), the six-track album promises to be a colossal piece of work for the English three-piece, at once rich in sound, beguilingly delicate, and yet laced with darkness.

Consisting of six songs that are thematically and compositionally linked, each piece on Winter flows into the next, and, ideally, the whole record is intended to be listened to in one sitting to allow the full journey to be absorbed. Musically, the band have sought to push themselves further than ever before and Fen’s trademark use of atmospheric black metal and delicate, spacious cleans,has been married with aspects of ‘70s progressive rock, shoegaze and doom metal, with the intention of rendering Winter as involving and as immersive a listen as possible.

Winter will be available in Standard CD, Double Black Vinyl limited to 300 copies, and Digital formats.In addition there will also be available a Special Collectors Box limited to 199 copies which will include the standard CD, an additional bonus CD, the DLP with Side A/Side B in a smashed splatter effect of transparent aquamarine and opaque cream, an exclusive T-shirt and poster, and a certificate of authenticity signed by the band.

Frontman The Watcher has summarized the album thus:  “With Winter we wanted to ‘return to the roots’ of the band so to speak but not in the clichéd, nostalgic way many bands do – instead, we wanted this record to represent the ‘essence’ of Fen in terms of tone, atmosphere and above all concept. This album therefore very much describes a journey towards sanctity and redemption across a landscape steeped in mystery, hints of forgotten darkness and sorrows long since drowned in the distant past. It represents the culmination of over 18 months of writing and rehearsing, pushing ourselves harder and harder as musicians – it is a lengthy and self-indulgent record for which we make no apology for. Indeed, it is a fitting tribute to mark ten years of the existence of Fen.”

Artwork by Grungyn.

Tracklisting:

“I (Pathway)”
“II (Penance)”
“III (Fear)”
“IV (Interment)”
“V (Death)”
“VI (Sight)”

Bonus (available on all limited formats)

“The Keening Soils”
“Sight (Reprise)”
“Penumbral Whispers”
“Temples Beyond The Shoreline”

"II (Penance)" video:

“I (Pathway)”:

Austin, Texas, metal group Dead Earth Politics will release its debut Pavement Entertainment album The Mobius Hammersmith on March 3rd, featuring the single “Runescarred.” Preorders are available on iTunes.

The band has been in the metal scene since 2005, rising to fame with its Mark The Resistance EP in 2006 and following up with its stellar The Weight Of Poseidon LP in 2010.

Dead Earth Politics is thrilled to be back in the studio recording The Mobius Hammersmith. Vocalist Ven Scott says, “Mobius is by far the most progressive EP we put out to date, yet somehow it is our heaviest. I'm proud as hell of it because we continue to blend every idea we have without forcing a set of preconceived parameters. We just. Make. Art.”

On the new single, Ven adds, “‘Runescarred’ is the flagship tune that perfectly illustrates the heaviness we want to put forth and still allows breathing room for out-of-the-box creativity.”

Tracklisting:

“Runescarred”
“The Mobius Hammersmith”
“Balancing Broken Scales”
“Wretched Things”
“Broad Wings & Distant Shores”
“Redneck Dragonslayer”
“Ice & Fire (Men Become Gods)”

“Runescarred” video:

Striker returns in 2017 with their fifth self-titled studio album, due out on February 24th, along with a tour across Europe till mid April (dates listed here). The album is streaming in full below.

The band comments on the upcoming release: "This is our no bullshit album. We cut out everything that wasn't absolutely necessary and kept everything short and to the point. We pray at the altar of heavy metal everyday, and there are some musical ideas that persist through time and some that don't. We focused in on what keeps listeners coming back and got rid of everything else. You can't climb Mount Everest dragging any useless shit with you; if you want to make it to the top, only bring with you what is absolutely necessary: Lethal Amounts of Shred."

Tracklisting:

“Former Glory”
“Pass Me By”
“Born To Lose”
“Cheating Death”
“Shadows In The Light”
“Rock The Night”
“Over The Top”
“Freedom's Call”
“Curse of The Dead”

Album stream:

“Born To Lose”:

Tokyo Motor First have launched a new EPK (Electronic Press Kit) introducing the band members. Watch below:

You don't need to be a die-hard '80s metal fan to know that the fruits of an artistic alliance between Danger Danger singer Ted Poley and guitarist/producer Steve Brown of Trixter is going to make melodic rock fans rejoice! The two musicians from New Jersey recently created Tokyo Motor Fist and the new band is ready to unleash on the world their self-titled debut album on February 24th.

Indeed, Tokyo Motor Fist is exactly what you would expect: catchy and uplifting hard rock, the way is should be! You want big - we mean, BIG - hooks? You got 'em. What about major guitar riffs? Of course there's plenty of those. Killer rhythm section? Well, with Greg Smith (Ted Nugent, Rainbow, Alice Cooper) and Chuck Burgi (Rainbow, Blue Oyster Cult, Joe Lynn Turner) you simply can't go wrong.

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

"To say that I'm excited for the world to hear Tokyo Motor Fist would be an understatement," says Steve Brown. "Working on this project with my rock and roll brothers Ted Poley, Greg Smith & Chuck Burgi was a total blast....We had fun and it shows in the performances and in the music!  As a songwriter I couldn't be happier with the way the songs came together. Fans of Trixter, Danger Danger, Def Leppard , Bon Jovi and Cheap Trick will get the best of all those worlds."

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

Tokyo Motor Fist tracklisting:

“Pickin' Up The Pieces”
“Love Me Insane”
“Shameless”
“Love”
“Black And Blue”
“You're My Revolution”
“Don't Let Me Go”
“Put Me To Shame”
“Done To Me”
“Get You Off My Mind”
“Fallin' Apart”

“Love”:

“Put Me To Shame”:

“Shameless”:

“Love Me Insane”:

Tokyo Motor Fist lineup:

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

Germany's Lunar Shadow are set to release their debut album, Far From Light, via Cruz Del Sur Music on February 24th in Europe and March 10th in North America. Preorders are available at this location. The new song, "They That Walk The Night”, is streaming below.

Far From Light delivers eight brand new songs with a playing time of over 60 minutes. Epic, melodic, thoughtful, and proudly regressive.

Tracklisting:

“Hadrian Carrying Stones”
“They That Walk That Night”
“Frozen Goddess”
“Gone Astray”
“The Hour Of Dying”
“The Kraken”
“Cimmeria”
“Earendil”

“They That Walk The Night”:

“Hadrian Carrying Stones”:

Led by guitarist Max "Savage" Birbaum, Lunar Shadow have worked their way to the debut LP with patience and extreme dedication. After the release of their first EP Triumphator in 2015, the band played a number of select live shows, including the Harder Than Steel Festival and gigs with Atlantean Kodex, Dark Forest, and Argus.

One year later and there are tales of strange sounds in the hills. Chariots are being prepared for war. The women and children are fearful. Lunar Shadow have returned.

 

On March 24th, Blood Divisions - a collaborative project of heavy metal musicians with proceeds going to Rock And Rescue - will release their new EP, Cardinal One, via Metal Blade Records. Featuring cover songs of classic tracks as well as original material, Cardinal One can be pre-ordered at this location. The album track, a cover of UFO's "Hot ’N’ Ready" can be streamed below.

Founded by core members Chris Jericho (Fozzy, WWE), David Austin (Nasty Savage), and Ed Aborn (Intersonic Cyber Symphony), Blood Divisions features a roster of supporting musicians who are current or former members of bands such as Obituary, Death, Nasty Savage, Six Feet Under, Iced Earth, Sebastian Bach, Deicide, Massacre, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and more. The result is a mixture of classics injected with new energy and original music in the mould of Florida's heavy metal roots.

"Blood Divisions is the perfect heavy metal snack mix," says singer and Executive Producer Chris Jericho (Fozzy, WWE). "It's a complete blend of balls out thrash, virtuoso technique and 70's hard rock melodies. It's an honour to be a part of this project, as I'd be a fan even if I wasn't in the band! Plus I love machine elves."

"The project began purely as a creative outlet to have some fun and pay homage to some of the bands that influenced or inspired us," adds Ed Aborn (Intersonic Cyber Symphony). "Once we began, though, friends from the Florida metal community started to reach out and ask if they could join in. Eventually we decided to make it semi-official and do it all for charity."

David Austin (Nasty Savage) comments: "Absolute pleasure working with all my friends on here. For them to take their time out of their busy schedule and to do something for free for charity means everything to me. Hopefully I get to do it all over again!!!!"

For more information about Rock And Rescue and how you can donate, visit this location.

Cardinal One tracklisting:

“The Morgue” (Nasty Savage cover)
“Hot ’N’ Ready” (UFO cover)
“March Of The Machine Elves”
“Top Of The Bill” (Scorpions cover)
“Return To The Garden Of Temptation”
“No Sympathy” (Nasty Savage cover)

“Hot ’N’ Ready” (UFO cover):

On March 10th, Nova Collective (featuring members of Between The Buried And Me, Haken, Trioscapes, Cynic) will release their debut album, The Further Side, via Metal Blade Records.

For a preview of The Further Side, a full band playthrough video for the new single, "Ripped Apart aAnd Reassembled", can be viewed below:

Nova Collective's music can be described as fusion, weaving progressive rock influences with world music, jazz and classical, to create something entirely new that is pure aural candy for prog/jazz fans. For another preview, a full-band, live performance video for the single "Dancing Machines" can be viewed below:

The album can be pre-ordered here in the following formats:

- CD
- Black 180g LP
- Clear-red marble LP (limited to 200 copies)
* digital options are also available

Nova Collective began in 2014 when bassist Dan Briggs (Between the Buried and Me, Trioscapes) and guitarist Richard Henshall (Haken) began exchanging emails about music; before long, a few demos were fleshed out into full arrangements. Drummer Matt Lynch (Trioscapes, Cynic) and keyboardist Pete Jones (ex-Haken) came on board shortly after to finish writing the album. The Further Side was written on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, with Briggs and Lynch in America and Henshall and Jones in England, sharing session files until the group could get together at the beginning of 2015 to record with engineer Jamie King (Between the Buried and Me, The Contortionist). Mixed by Rich Mouser (Neal Morse, Transatlantic), it is immediately clear that The Further Side is a labor of love for all involved, and that enthusiasm shines throughout.

Nova Collective lineup:

Dan Briggs - Bass
Matt Lynch - Drums
Pete Jones - Keyboards
Richard Henshall - Guitar

Polish black/death metal tyrants and recent Agonia Records signees, Azarath, have released a lyric video for the track “At The Gates Of Understanding”, featured on the upcoming In Extremis album. The clip is available for streaming below.

On April 7th, the band (featuring drummer Inferno of long-time Behemoth fame) will return with their most furious sonic statement to date, In Extremis. The eerie painting that adorns the album's cover was made by Marta Promińska (Hypnagogic Painting).

Meaning "at the point of death" or "under extreme circumstances" in Latin, In Extremis is yet another apex reached by Azarath. Offering a vehement ride through the netherworlds, the effort arrives six long years after its predecessor, Blasphemers' Maledictions (2011), and places the band back at the fore of the genre, with strong ties to the group's early cult albums. Black as a night and dense as tar, In Extremis offers a whirlwind of chaotic currents ready to overwhelm.

Recorded in various locations between March and November 2016, the opus was mixed and mastered by Haldor Grunberg at Satanic Audio. Graphic design and layout were done by Mentalporn (Behemoth, Origin, Decapitated) with calligraphy provided by Ihasan Art and additional work by Holy Poison Design.

Tracklisting:

“The Triumph Of Ascending Majesty”
“Let My Blood Become His Flesh”
“Annihilation (Smite All The Illusions)”
“The Slain God”
“At The Gates Of Understanding”
“Parasu Blade”
“Sign Of Apophis”
“Into The Nameless Night”
“Venomous Tears (Mourn Of The Unholy Mother)”
“Death”

“At The Gates Of Understanding” lyric video:

In Extremis will be available in a variety of formats:

- Digipack CD with 36 page booklet
- Limited to 100 copies gatefold red LP with 20 page booklet
- Limited to 150 copies gatefold white LP with 20 page booklet
- Limited to 250 copies picture LP with 20 page booklet
- Standard black LP with 20 page booklet
- T-shirt (2 versions)
- Hooded sweatshirt
- Full zip hooded sweatshirt
- Digital format

Pre-orders are available here.

Following the album's release, Azarath will play at Inferno Festival (Norway) and Party.San Festival (Germany). The record release show will take place in Warsaw (Poland) a few weeks after album's release date.

Lineup:
Inferno - drums
Bart - guitars
Necrosodom - vocals/guitars
Peter - bass

Originally formed in 2001, Barcelona, Spain’s Moonloop have kept on impressing the press and local fans with their own mix of progressive and death metal. Often tagged as a non mimicking but challenging combination of Opeth’s catchy arrangements and musical sensibilities and Gojira / Death heavy menacing yet melodic powerful guitar grooves and bashing drums.

Moonloop are now unveiling a new song off their forthcoming album Devocean, set to be released on March 24th through Listenable Records. The album track, “Zeal”, is now available for streaming below.

Eric Baulenas (vocals/guitar) gives an insight on the lyrical process: "When I was writing the lyrics, I was inspired by a great quote from Khalil Gibran (a Lebanese poet) which says: "Zeal is a volcano, the peak of which the grass of indecisiveness does not grow…. The experience of losing yourself might be painful, but brings new eyes, and then you learn the lesson for being able to reborn from your own ashes.”

Moonloop is a band with the broadest opportunities for evolution, consistently forward thinking yet retaining the death metal roots in their songwriting. Devocean is undoubtedly the band 's most accomplished adventure.

Devocean will be available in limited edition transparent blue vinyl of 300 copies worldwide and digipack. Pre-order now at this location.

Tracklisting:

“Megalodon”
“Zeal”
“Gallery Of Dminished Nightmares”
“Expired Kings”
“Medusa”
“Oceans”
“Interglacial”
“Origin”

“Zeal”:

Lineup:

Eric Baulenas: Vocals, lead & rhythm guitars
Juanjo Martin: Rhythm guitars & background vocals
Raul Payan: Drums
Vic Granell: Bass

Australia's Maniacs TV last year conducted an interview with IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain. The chat, which has just been posted on YouTube, can be viewed in two parts below.

Speaking about MAIDEN's devoted following, Nicko said: "Seeing so many of our fans out there… It is the MAIDEN army.

"I mean, every band in the world says their fans are the best, but I know for a fact that ours are truly the best fans in the world. And there's a passion and a love, and it's one big family."

He continued, addressing the fans directly: "I hope that you continue to love what we do as much as we love what we do. And this tour, I've gotta say thank you to you all, because without doubt, we're having the best time that I think we've ever had as a band touring, and playing these songs — these six songs that you probably know by now off the new record — and some old stuff… Old stuff… There's some old shit — thirty-five years old, some of these songs. And we really love this tour and what we do, and you make it all very, very special for us to get up there every night and play these songs for you."

IRON MAIDEN's hugely successful "The Book Of Souls" world tour will return to North America for an extensive series of arena and amphitheater shows in summer 2017. The mammoth tour opened in Florida in February 2016, playing fourteen sold-out shows in the U.S.A and Canada along with a further 58 concerts in 34 other countries around the globe.

Support on the trek will come from GHOST. There will also be some further bands added to the show at San Bernardino.

"The Book Of Souls" is MAIDEN's first ever double studio album and their most successful chart-wise to date, debuting at the No. 1 spot in over 40 countries around the world and No. 4 in the U.S.A.

John Petrucci says that there are "no plans" for DREAM THEATER to reunite with drummer Mike Portnoy for a show or a tour.

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 later revealed that he tried to rejoin DREAM THEATER, only to be rebuffed.

During a February 8 question-and-answer session in Tilburg, The Netherlands, Petrucci and DREAM THEATER keyboardist Jordan Rudess were asked by a fan if they would be willing to play with Portnoy again, possibly at a show celebrating a band anniversary. The guitarist responded (see video below): "There's no plans to do anything like that. Mike's great, and he's doing many, many projects right now."

Rudess jokingly added: "He's too busy for us."

Continued Petrucci: "Yeah, he's in twenty bands. I don't think he has time. But, yeah, this tour celebrating 'Images [And Words]', we won't be having any past member guests."

DREAM THEATER is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its milestone RIAA-gold-certified album "Images And Words" on a European tour, which kicked off on January 30 in Rome, Italy. Each performance sees the iconic progressive rock band delivering an unparalleled live set of "Images And Words" in its entirety along with fan favorites from their renowned catalogue.

In a 2016 interview with Metal Rules, Portnoy stated about his time with DREAM THEATER: "I'm proud of everything I did for those 25 years. That was my life for a quarter of a century, my half of lifetime. DREAM THEATER was my baby. I formed it from the beginning, out of college and I lived a lifetime with them. So I'm proud of every one of those albums and every one of the shows. I left behind a legacy and there is a lot of people that still talk about seeing me with them. I don't count on that happening. I wouldn't count on it. I wouldn't bet money on it. If it happens, then, sure, I'm up for it. Because I'm a very sentimental person and I still love the guys and I love the fans. But I surely don't count on it and I don't plan on it, and I'm happier than ever with everything I'm doing now."

Pain mainman Peter Tägtgren has posted a new message regarding any possibility of Hypocrisy recording any new material. The band’s last album was 2013’s End Of Disclosure. Tägtgren says he has a “hard time being motivated of writing new songs for that band.”

He says, “I feel that after 26 years of building up the band to its status today in the world, then I think...where do we go from here?

“I'm really happy to see Horgh is busy with new Immortal and that will buy some time to figure out what to do in the best of interest of Hypocrisy and what is respectful to our loving fans all over the globe…

“Do we have to release a new album? Can we just do some tours or festivals til/if the motivation is back? I don't know…I just don't wanna be a part of a half lame & stressed album…”