After a seven-year hiatus, Italian metallers LABYRINTH will return with a brand new studio album, "Architecture Of A God", on April 21 via Frontiers Music Srl.

The song "A New Dream", taken from "Architecture Of A God", can be streamed below. In the spring of 2016, the band's founding members, Andrea Cantarelli and Olaf Thorsen received a call from Frontiers asking them to discuss with vocalist Roberto Tiranti the possibilities of a reunion with a return to their classic sound to mount a comeback for the band. After much discussion, the guys agreed to make an album and also to make a very special appearance at the the first annual Frontiers Metal Festival, where they performed their signature album, "Return To Heaven Denied", in its entirety. [Said performance is being prepared for a future home video release.] Olaf says: "This has been easily the most difficult and challenging album I ever worked on.

"To be honest, when Frontiers contacted me, insisting to make this reunion happen, I was skeptical and worried. We couldn't simply make a new album; it wouldn't have been honest to the fans, to ourselves.

"Of course, this is as easy to say as also unbelievably tough to make real: we have so many good albums out there, looking at us from their past and which people still keep in their minds and hearts. That's why we decided to strengthen our lineup, joining with nobody else but the best musicians we believed they would have fitted perfectly into our perspective of the music we were about to write." Andrea adds: "The making of this album has been a fantastic journey. We brought back a lot of classic elements of our music, mixing it with something new and I'm so enthusiastic about the final result." Roberto Tiranti makes it short: "Just when you thought you already gave everything you could, expressing every possible musical aspect of your way of intending music for a band like LABYRINTH, then comes 'Architecture Of A God' to remind you that nothing is impossible!" With a new lineup rounded out by drummer extraordinaire John Macaluso (TNT, RIOT, ARK), Oleg Smirnoff (VISION DIVINE, EDRITCH) on keyboards, and Nik Mazzucconi on bass, LABYRINTH are truly coming back stronger than ever and have offered up a superb self-produced album. "Architecture Of A God" (mixed by DGM's Simone Mularoni) is a record that encompasses all the elements the band is known for: fast power metal songs with unforgettable hooks, epic prog-infused metal songs, and some great melodic numbers that compose a record which is easily going to be another milestone for the Italian metal masters! "What we have in our hands, now, it's 'Architecture Of A God': by far, the most mature and complete album we ever wrote," concludes Thorsen.

"There's no will to challenge our glorious past, but I'm really confident that, once released, this album will set a new standard for our music!"

"Architecture Of A God" track listing:

01. Bullets02. Still Alive03. Take On My Legacy04. A New Dream05. Someone Says06. Random Logic07. Architecture Of A God08. Children09. Those Days10. We Belong To Yesterday11. Stardust And Ashes12. Diamond LABYRINTH 2017 is:

Roberto Tiranti - lead vocalsOlaf Thorsen - lead guitarsAndrea Cantarelli - lead guitarsNik Mazzucconi - bass guitarOleg Smirnoff - keyboardsJohn Macaluso - drums

Finnish folk metallers ENSIFERUM recently entered the Astia studio in Lappeenranta, Finland to record a few demo songs for their upcoming seventh full-length album, due in September via Metal Blade Records. The quintet will soon return to the Astia to begin tracking the disc, which will be produced once again by Anssi Kippo (CHILDREN OF BODOM, IMPALED NAZARENE, ENTWINE).

ENSIFERUM bassist Sami Hinkka comments: "So, as some of you might have already noticed from our social media channels, we are getting ready to go record the next ENSIFERUM album pretty soon.

"Just a few weeks ago, we recorded demo versions with Anssi Kippo, who also recorded and produced 'One Man Army'. The demo session went smoothly, and working with Anssi is always such a pleasure because he is so full of creative ideas and positive attitude.

"The goal for the new album will be to capture ENSIFERUM's live energy on the songs, and we also plan to use analog recording as much as possible to guarantee the best possible sound.

"The song material will include familiar elements, but like we always love to do, we will also take ENSIFERUM's mighty warship to unexplored seas of musical madness."

Before the album's release, European fans will be able to catch ENSIFERUM at various festivals this summer.

Former PANTERA bassist Rex Brown has signed a worldwide deal with Entertainment One (eOne), with plans to release a debut solo LP later this year. The yet-to-be-titled full length will be the first time in Brown's career in which he will serve as both lead vocalist and guitarist in a band. "I've been working on these songs for a long time," says Rex.

"I am thrilled to have such an influential artist like Rex join the growing Entertainment One rock family," says Scott Givens, SVP Entertainment One. "He's influenced not just our other artists, but myself as well. It's an honor for all of us to work with him."

Brown wields a six-string guitar as confidently as he wore the bass in PANTERA and DOWN. His engaging voice crackles with easygoing spirit and truth-telling power. It's a crunchy drawl that's down-to-earth, grippingly relatable, charmingly welcoming, and gritty, somewhere between the achingly resonant spiritual shamanism of Tom Waits and the instantly recognizable everyman AM radio vibes of Tom Petty and THE HEARTBREAKERS.

After a season away to gather his wits about him, rediscover his own roots, and assemble a group of players ready to help him execute his vision for the days ahead, Rex Brown re-emerges with a semi truck's worth of rock n' roll tunes as honest and sincere as they come. The new album is the sound of the man's own truth, forthright and ego-free. As he likes to say, "You're only as good as your word and your word better be good."

Rex's solo album is full of mojo and the force of character, determination, and nerve. He tracked lead vocals, rhythm guitars, and bass, working with his primary collaborator and old friend Lance Harvill, a Nashville-based guitarist and songwriter, on the album's songs. "Lance was and is my main man on this. Everything we did was finely tuned, both musically and brotherly."

Drums were tracked by Christopher Williams, himself no stranger to diverse tastes, from funk music to punk. His talent has been utilized by country music star Lee Greenwood, the reconstituted BLACKFOOT and most recently, power metal legends ACCEPT. The album was produced by New Yorker-turned-Nashville-transplant Caleb Sherman, a multi-instrumentalist with work on records by LITTLE BIG TOWN and PORTER BLOCK, among others. "Caleb produced the project from a musician's standpoint," adds Brown. "Not just a typical producer's standpoint, which was something I definitely needed. Between Caleb and Lance, we were a force to be reckoned with. They really pulled out the best in me." Peter Keyes, known for his work with LYNYRD SKYNYRD, can also be heard on a few tracks. All bass tracking came from Rex himself as well.

"My motto these days is 'Shake some shit up,'" Brown declares. "I've had my ups and downs, like anybody in this business. I wanted to feel like a true artist again, where I can write and record songs without worrying about any of the bullshit. This is just something else I'm doing for fun, man. And musical freedom. Fun has to come into it or I'm not going to do it. I've had a tremendous career and now I feel like I'm twenty-five years old again. This has given me that freedom I needed."

"I've got so much more in me," he enthuses. "I'm just getting my feet wet."

Brown previously described his solo album as "a rock and roll record. It's not your standard fare or typical metal thing," he told Metal Hammer magazine. "I was always a big [LED] ZEPPELIN fan and even though it has its little fringes of it... It's a new journey that sounds like anywhere from FOGHAT to old Tom Waits. I'm a child of the '70s and I love those kind of songs."

After leaving DOWN in 2011, Rex went on play with KILL DEVIL HILL, which has released two albums so far: "Kill Devil Hill" (2012) and "Revolution Rise" (2013).

Italian death metal group Devangelic has revealed the details of sophomore album Phlegethon. The album will be released October 27th on Comatose Music.

The artwork was created by American artist Ken Sarafin (Sarafin Concepts) and is based on Dante's Inferno; the concept revolves around a journey through the darkest and most brutal elements that characterize the masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance Poet.

Phlegethon will consist of 100% pure US style brutal death metal mixed with unrelenting guitar riffs, dark atmospheres, intense blasting and ultra guttural vocals. The album will be mixed/mastered by Sasha Borovykh at TsunTsun Productions. Comatose Music will open pre-orders in the coming months.

Phlegethon tracklisting:

"Plagued By Obscurity"
"Mutilation Above Salvation"
"Of Maggots And Disease"
"Malus Invictus"
"Abominated Impurity Of The Oppressed"
"Condemned To Dismemberment"
"Wretched Incantations"
"Manifestation Of Agony"
"Decaying Suffering"
"Asphyxiation Upon Phlegethon"
----
"He Who Sleeps" (Morbid Angel cover) *
"Abominated Impurity Of The Oppressed" (Promo 2016) *

* The limited digipak version will be released with two bonus tracks.

 

"Sign Of The Crimson Storm", the new video from RIOT V, the band featuring the remaining members of legendary metal pioneers RIOT, can be seen below.

Originally recorded for RIOT's "Thundersteel" album in 1988, this song has been a staple of RIOT V live setlists over the past two years.

Footage and audio was taken from the RIOT V performance at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan during the Middle Of The Mitt Music Festival on September 10, 2016.

RIOT V's debut album, "Unleash The Fire", was released in October 2014 via SPV/Steamhammer. The CD marked the first release from RIOT without the late, great founding guitarist Mark Reale, who passed away in early 2012 and was limited on his participation on 2011's reunion album "Immortal Soul" because of his health issues. The band was encouraged at the request of Mark and the Reale estate to forge ahead in his honor and has dedicated this new offering to him.

"Unleash The Fire" promised to please fans of the "Thundersteel" era of RIOT, as main songwriter and longtime Reale music collaborator Don Van Stavern did much of the writing, as he did on "Thundersteel" and "The Privilege Of Power". Don is joined by longtime RIOT bandmate, songwriter and Reale's guitar partner of over 20 years, Mike Flyntz, to create what they feel is something they are proud to call a RIOT record. The RIOT V lineup is completed by powerhouse vocalist extraordinaire Todd Michael Hall (BURNING STARR, REVERENCE), Frank Gilchriest (VIRGIN STEELE, RIOT's "Army Of One") and former Mike Flyntz guitar student and resident shredder Nick Lee.

RIOT V is working on the follow-up to "Unleash The Fire" and preparing for live dates later in 2017.

Mortiis is offering a second single and free download, “The Great Leap”, remixed by industrial metal godfathers Godflesh. The track is taken from the upcoming The Great Corrupter remix album, penned for release on April 21st April via Omnipresence Production.

Mortiis comments: “Godflesh was groundbreaking in bridging the gap between industrial and extreme metal in the ‘90s. Having their take on our song is simply amazing. Without Godflesh, a lot of fans would not have opened their minds to different genres of extreme music.”

The track is available as a double single to download here, and also includes a remix of “Hard to Believe” by Chris Vrenna (Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson).

Previously, Mortiis offered fans the first glimpse into The Great Corrupter with a free download of the ferocious “Doppelganger”/”The Shining Lamp Of God,” remixed by German industrial legends Die Krupps and club heroes Leæther Strip, respectively. The single is still available at the Mortiis´ Bandcamp site, here..

The Great Corrupter is a collection of tracks from Mortiis’ The Great Deceiver album, deconstructed and masterfully “corrupted” by Chris Vrenna, Rhys Fulber, Die Krupps, John Fryer, Godflesh, Merzbow, Apoptygma Berzerk, In Slaughter Natives, Raison D´Etre, Je$us Loves Amerika, PIG, and many more. The record will also contain unreleased material from the original recording sessions.
 
Each of the record’s formats will be as its own art package with collectible artwork, including limited edition colored vinyl and a limited edition DVD sized double-CD Digipak with additional exclusive remixes and many other extras.
 
Ahead of the release of the album, Mortiis will embark on a nine-date UK co-headline run this March with PIG, aka industrial pioneer Raymond Watts, ahead of the album’s release.

VIP packages for Mortiis’ Swine And Punishment tour include a copy of the ”lost" album, The Unraveling Mind, numbered in Mortiis’ own blood.

For the first time ever, Mortiis will offer an incredible VIP package, including a copy of The Unraveling Mind, to fans in the UK this March. The package will offer a Meet And Greet with the band, where fans will be able to take photos, have merchandise signed and ask all those long-pondered questions.

Additionally, the VIP package will include a copy of The Unraveling Mind, recorded in 2006 for an underground horror movie and unreleased until now. This release is strictly limited to 250 copies, split between five different vinyl colours. The first 50 copies, on red marbled vinyl, will be hand-numbered in Mortiis’ own blood. After the first 50 are sold out, fans can choose from the other four colours. Other goodies will include a flyer and sticker pack, an art print limited to 100 copies and a collector’s VIP laminate.

The four other colours, will also be available worldwide via the Mortiis webstore, and pre-orders are taken now.

Tour dates:

March
10 - Nottingham, UK - Rescue Rooms
11 - Glasgow, UK - Ivory Blacks
12 - Newcastle, UK - Think Tank
13 - York, UK - Fibbers
14 - Sheffield, UK - Plug
15 - Manchester, UK - Ruby Lounge
16 - Bristol, UK - Fleece
17 - Norwich, UK - Epic Studios
18 - London, UK - Garage

Royal Thunder have released a video for "April Showers”, a track from their new album Wick, due out via Spinefarm on April 7th. It's a delightfully creepy visual that matches the music's gloomy milieu. The video is available for streaming below.

The album is available for pre-order here and here.

Royal Thunder's unique, genre-bending sound has been turning heads since guitarist Josh Weaver founded the band in Atlanta, GA. His songwriting, plus bassist Mlny Parsonz's soul-searing vocals, have led to worldwide critical acclaim.

"Wick is different, a bigger jump as far as our sound goes. But it's still us - it's just the sound of Royal Thunder's evolution," said Weaver.

"Out of all of the albums, Wick was the hardest one to make. It was a fight, but to hear it now, to see it finished, is so gratifying. Finally it's over, it's amazing to be done with it. I'm looking at it, going we're done, it's over, be free,” said Parsonz.

Wick will carry the band's ambition and imprint out into the world. Prepare to be moved.

Wick tracklisting:

“Burning Tree”
“April Showers”
“Tied”
“We Slipped”
“The Sinking Chair”
“Plans”
“Anchor”
“Wick”
“Push”
“Turnaround”
“The Well”
“We Never Fell Asleep”

“April Showers” video:

Tour dates:

March
3 - Asheville, NC - Broadways
8 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus
9 - Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery
10 - Richmond, VA - Strange Matter

April (with Brant Bjork and Black Wizard)
9 - Sacramento, CA - Blue Lamp
10 - San Francisco, CA - Slims
11 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater
12 - Vancouver, BC - SBC
13 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
14 - Boise, ID - The Shredder
15 - Salt Lake City, UT - In The Venue
16 - Denver, CO - Marquis Theater
17 - Kansas City, MO - Riot Room
18 - Chicago, IL - Beat Kitchen
19 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Ballroom
20 - Baltimore, MD - Soundstage
22 - New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge
23 - Boston, MA - Middle East
25 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
27 - Austin, TX - Barracuda
28 - Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey Bar & Grill
29 - Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad
30 - Mesa, AZ - Club Red

May (with Brant Bjork and Black Wizard)
1 - Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex

Swedish prog ensemble, Carptree, have released their new video for “Fleeting Deep”. The track comes from their forthcoming album, Emerger, to be released on April 7th.

Carptree is a Swedish progressive symphonic rock duo made featuring Carl Westholm (keyboards, composer, producer) and Nicklas Flinck (vocals, composer, lyrics). Although Carptree is a duo they are almost always accompanied by the No Future Orchestra (NFO); A group of people from known and unknown other Swedish acts, who add their personal touch, more or less frequent. This is also the basis for other important people (OIP) who are also a part of the creative process in the making of a Carptree album.

Says the band, “This album was a really slow starter, we started already in 2014 with some of the songs, the first two song was 'Fleeting Deep' and 'Ultimately Lifeless' which both have taken a lot of different shapes along the process. 'Between Extremes' is also a song that has been around in different shapes for many years, first we recorded it in 2009, but was not happy and cut it down to a short version which ended up on Nymf 'Between Extremes, Prelude', then rewrote it and planned to release it as a single in 2012 but was not happy with the result. So again we rewrote it and when we recorded it with Jesper Skarin on the drums and Carl rerecorded everything with just his Fender Rhodes and organ and we were finally happy with it. That's why we wanted to release that song already in May 2016 as a Maxi single to give that special song a chance to stand on it's own.”

As always the duo used the No Future Orchestra on the new album, which is a loosely connected group of musicians very important to Carptree. Also on this album Jesper Skarin joined in on drums and percussion and Carl has played some bass and guitars. Except the mellotrons that are taken from a sampler software, all instruments and amplifiers on this album are analogue just as the mix and mastering.

On the CD there will be eight songs including a remixed version of “Dwindle Into Greatness” (The B-side of the Maxi single released in May 2016) as a bonus track. The vinyl version will have the other seven tracks and will be released approximately one month after the CD on the FOSFOR Creation label. (Two versions, Black and transparent Marine blue).

Martin Burger King is the new Buffalo Grillz album, recorded, mixed and mastered at Kick Recording Studio. The album tries to mix the typical north European grindcore sound of band like Nasum and Rotten Sound to the ferocity of American grindcore. The right album if you want 30 minutes of no compromise and no way to survive.

The new album will be out on March 3rd on CD, LP, Digital via Subsound Records, and tape (a very limited edition) produced by Time To Kill Records. Martin Burger King will be distributed worldwide.

Pre-orders available: CD/LP, Tape.

Tracklisting:

“GG Aulin”
“Lenny Grindvizt”
“66Seitan”
“Martin Burger King”
“Beverly Grillz 90666”
“Carne Diem”
“Fiat Factory”
“Creadle Of Findus”
“Scooby Doom”
“Fiorella Mannaiav
“Ponzio Pilates”
“Campari Sodom”
“Pus Sprengsteen”
“Le Bestie Di Santana” (Outro)

“Beverly Grillz 90666”:

(Photo - Serena Dattilo Photographer)

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions have signed Canada's evil black metal desecrators, Ordoxe, and are set to release their new album, Towards Eternity, on March 31st on CD and digital formats. A description follows.

Ordoxe make their Horror Pain Gore Death Productions debut with the new album entitled Towards Eternity. Formed in 1989, Ordoxe hail from Quebec, Canada and perform melodic black metal with elements of thrash, death and doom metal. Towards Eternity is the fourth album in the Ordoxe catalog and delivers a fierce, judicious mix of dark arts, bliss, grim moods and evil ambiences. For fans of Behemoth, Cradle Of Filth, Dark Funeral, Destroyer 666, Dissection, Enthroned, God Dethroned, Naglfar, Rotting Christ and Satyricon

Pre-order the CD for only $10 with free shipping at this location. Pre-order the digital download for only $6.66 here.

Tracklisting:

“We Are Eternal”
“The Auspicious One”
“Trépas I”
“Your Sorrow, My Sorrow”
“Sword Of Damocles”
“Soyez Illuminés”
“A Passage In Time”
“Trépas II”
“The Essence Of Life”
“Trépas III”

“We Are Eternal”:

Melodic metal band Pyramaze will release their new album, Contingent, on April 28th in Europe and North America through Inner Wound Recordings.

With their milestone fifth album, Contingent, Pyramaze have grown and matured into a band that is capable of satisfying their fans while simultaneously continuing to break new ground. The incorporation of modern cinematic film score elements mixed with progressive metal riffs and melodies will leave the listener breathless! Huge, sweeping, hard-hitting, and poignant, Contingent is an epic post-apocalyptic conceptual piece inspired by current events, the human spirit to overcome struggle and diversity, and the brotherhood that lies there in. Produced, mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Amaranthe, Epica, Evergrey).

"Divided by oceans, bound together by brotherhood, we must become that which divides us.... we are Pyramaze, and we are the Ocean!"

Check out an album teaser below.

Contingent tracklisting:

“Land Of Information”
“Kingdom Of Solace”
“Star Men”
“A World Divided”
“Nemesis”
“Contingent - Part I: The Campaign”
“20 Second Century”
“Obsession”
“Heir Apparent”
“Contingent - Part II: The Hammer Of Remnant”
“Under Restraint”
“The Tides That Won't Change”
“Symphony Of Tears”

Teaser:

Pyramaze lineup:

Terje Harøy - Vocals
Jacob Hansen - Guitars, Bass
Jonah W. - Keyboards
Toke Skjønnemand - Guitars
Morten Gade Sørensen - Drums

Brazil-based animator Val Andrade, who made a splash several years ago with his unique cartoons based on Iron Maiden's catalogue of songs, has created a new clip for "Holy Smoke", taken from the band's No Prayer For The Dying album released in 1990. Check it out below along with other examples of Andrade's work.

 

 

 

The fourth book based on Iron Maiden albums, No Prayer For The Dying is on sale. Author and huge fan Stjepan Juras has a plan do write a book about each Iron Maiden album.

A press release states: “No Prayer For the Dying may not have lived up to the fan’s expectations, but honestly, which of the previous Maiden albums - apart from the debut one - was ever anything like the fans expected it to be? But in this case, the expectations were reversed: Riggs’s imaginative visuals replaced by a solution so simple he never even bothered to sign it; the extravagant melodic epics Maiden was famous for, replaced by short songs of largely social, political and cynical nature; Adrian Smith replaced by Janick Gers, all the lavish concert scenery replaced by walls of Marshall Cases. Was this the way Maiden regarded metal music of the nineties? Did they think that only by stripping themselves raw they would be able to compete with the upcoming Nirvana, Metallica, G’n’R, Pantera and all the other ordeals that were to follow?

“The band could never lose until they started looking back and had they not done so, they would have been invincible. Their fans could feel their fear. This book is a story of an album underestimated by so many, liked by even less… And yet in Juras’ opinion, the album that is perhaps the most responsible for Iron Maiden being as great as it is today.”

First edition of this book with special T-shirt gift SOLD OUT in just one day. On sale is a very special, personalized, hard cover book with unique and one of kind dust jacket, showing Eddie writing your very own name on a gravestone directly from the grave. Please note that there’s only room for one name and one surname on the gravestone. Any fan who want to order fully customized book have a chance to do that in next few days, because custom edition with buyer's name on book cover will be sold out soon too. Order at this location.

Australian pop sensibilities combined with modern progressive heaviness – the cult force that is Voyager are back with their sixth album, entitled Ghost Mile.

Voyager's sensationally anthemic sixth opus has an amalgamation of everything the band does best- huge soundscapes, pop and prog sensibilities with catchy and thought-inducing instrumentals. The album was mixed by Matthew Templeman and mastered by Simon Strutters and maintains the production that was such a successful selling point for their album, V.  

You can check out the band’s last single "Misery Is Only Company" below, which features on Ghost Mile. Fun fact - this track was played during the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards in 2016.

 

Ashley Doodkorte (drums): "The tracks on Ghost Mile embrace some of the more idiosyncratic aspects of our playing and songwriting - all of us are pushing our instrumentation to places they haven't visited as much in the past, while still maintaining the hallmarks of our sound - and the results continually surprise and delight us! Like never before, this new album really feels like the sum of all of our influences, ideas and personalities."

Maintaining their adamance for fan loyalty and interaction, Voyager have launched a Pledge Music campaign where fans can pre-order the new album, which is set for a May 12th release. Pledgers will have access to exclusive information and signed merchandise by the band. Any pledges will contribute to the completion of the production and manufacturing of the album which is set to be their best yet. Fans can pledge here.

The band say this about the campaign: "We're stoked to have a platform where people can not only contribute to the recording and production of the album, but can get their hands on some exclusive Voyager goodies! We're also looking forward showcasing all the little videos and progress updates we have planned for this album production cycle with our Access Pass holders.”

For information and updates on Voyager go to this location.

Band Members:

Danny Estrin - vocals/keytar
Scott Kay - guitars
Simone Dow - guitars
Alex Canion - bass
Ashley Doodkorte - drums

French black metallers, Aosoth, are in the process of recording their fifth studio album, and today they have released a second video trailer. See two trailers below.

Aosoth started recording their new album in July, 2016. It’s release date has been scheduled for sometime in 2017 via Agonia Records, while it’s title is yet to be revealed.

Trailer #1:

Trailer #2:

The band's two-track IV EP was released last October via Agonia Records. It serves as bridges between their fourth full-length record IV: Arrow In Heart (2013), and the upcoming album. More details will follow soon.

 

Totally Driven Radio, the weekly radio podcast heard live every Thursday night from 8 – 11 pm EST on the Totally Driven Entertainment Radio Network, recently featured Roxy Petrucci, drummer of Vixen, Madam-X, and her new project with her sister Maxine and Mark Slaughter, VIP Aftershow

Topics of discussion in the interview below include

* VIP Aftershow, how the whole thing came together
* Why they did the song to pay tribute to Lemmy
* How she had a missed opportunity to play drums on a Motorhead album
* The new song also with Mark Slaughter “Full Metal Jacket”
* Name change from THE Aftershow to VIP Aftershow
* Future plans for VIP Aftershow
* Madam-X, and what is taking so long for the new album
* Future plans with Madam X
* Future plans with Vixen

The world premiere of the new Madam X song "Monstrocity" can be heard on the Spreaker audio player below at the 88:45 mark

 

Listen to "Totally Driven Radio #222" on Spreaker.

VIP Aftershow, featuring the powerhouse sister team Roxy Petrucci (drums) and Maxine Petrucci (guitar), have released a lyric video for their debut track, “Kilmister”, released through Afterlife Music Publishing back on December 28th.

The track, a tribute to late Motörhead leader Lemmy Kilmister, features a guest appearance by Mark Slaughter (Slaughter) on vocals and Michael Pisculli on bass.

Afterlife Music Publishing was formed to release "one-off" music collaborations with various artists, solely dedicated to creating “No Rules, Bare Bones Rock-N-Roll”. Future releases and lineups to be announced.

(Photo - Scott Sprague and Haris Cizmic)

AEROSMITH drummer Joey Kramer says that when it comes to playing live, his band is in a league of its own. He tells Classic Rock magazine: "First of all, as far as AEROSMITH goes there is no band that has been around for almost fifty years that still has the original five guys in the band.

"Everybody is always raving about THE [ROLLING] STONES, saying THE STONES this and THE STONES that. I've never cared for THE STONES. They never had anything to offer me musically, especially in the drumming department."

He continues: "THE STONES is not the original band and I do not care for them. I think if you came to see an AEROSMITH concert, people would realize that we play so much better than them that it's silly because they're not so good live.

"Yeah, they are what they are and all of that, but I don't think there's a band out there today that does what we do."

Asked if there are any bands capable of replacing AEROSMITH as stadium fillers and festival headliners, Kramer responds: "I don't. When the bands that are around now are finished, I think it will be the end of a very long era. I'm talking about bands like us, AC/DC and VAN HALEN."

Last fall, AEROSMITH announced what was being billed as the band's "farewell" tour of Europe — with an opening stop in Israel thrown in for good measure.

In addition to Israel, AEROSMITH's spring and summer dates will hit Georgia, Russia, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, England, Ireland, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland. Singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry announced the tour via a fake newscast video featuring "The Toxic Twins" portraying cable TV anchors.

SABATON drummer Hannes Van Dahl will sit out a few shows on the band's European tour while he awaits his first child with his partner of the last few years, NIGHTWISH singer Floor Jansen. Fillling in for him will be Daniel Sjögren (TWILIGHT FORCE, BLOODBOUND).

Says Hannes: "Time has come for me to travel homewards for a short while to be with and for my family, home in the north.

"My family on the road will have the miles pass underneath the busses and trucks as usual and the show will go on!

"So, I hereby introduce you to a dear friend of ours: Daniel Sjögren! He is the sweetest of dudes and an excellent drummer! He was kind enough to help us out and will sit on my drum throne for a few shows until I’m back with my road family, brothers and sisters all over the world again!

"Daniel has been rehearsing with Hannes and the band for the last four weeks.

"I'm a bit jealous of all you guys who [are] going to see him kill it every night.

"Please give him your awesome warm 'SABATON Battalion' support, have fun and I'm looking forward to seeing you all very soon again!"

Asked by Spain's Metal Journal whether his family situation will have an impact on his ability to tour with SABATON, Hannes said: "Well, you know, as far as I'm concerned, nothing will really change, 'cause this is what I do, an this is… this is what I do to make a living. People have had kids before in this business. So, to stop any worries — 'cause I know a lot of people are worried [about me] quitting the band — I will stay in the band. And as far as I can say, when it's time, I need to go and be there with my family. But when I've done that, I'm going back to touring. So I won't leave. I will be there."

Jansen herself has spoken about the challenges of raising a child while being in a touring band like NIGHTWISH. She told Finland's Radio Rock last fall: "Of course, it's a very challenging combination, and I was very happy that the way [NIGHTWISH is] today — or, actually, have always been — it's a very open group; we can talk about things. And the guys, actually, were curious. A few months ago, we started talking about it, like, 'So, 2017… How about kids? Yeah?' So it's great to think about things together: how can we combine it? Also 'cause my partner is in a successful band, touring a lot. Yeah, then you need the cooperation of the people that you are family with also. So I am not afraid that won't work. It will be a challenge, for sure, but, yeah, a little SABATON or NIGHTWISH daycare program sounds lovely, doesn't it? [Laughs]"

Jansen also dismissed rumors that she will leave the band after welcoming her first child. She told Mariskal Rock TV: "No, I won't [quit NIGHTWISH]. I love this way too much; don't worry. You don't even have negative speculations one way or another. Things are great, and let's keep on doing this forever."

SABATON's eighth album, "The Last Stand", was released last August via Nuclear Blast.

Van Dahl joined SABATON in November 2013 after previously playing with another Swedish band, EVERGREY.

SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor believes that METALLICA was "disrespected" at this year's Grammy Awards.

METALLICA's collaboration with pop superstar Lady Gaga at the 59th annual event in Los Angeles on February 12 turned into something of a disaster when the Grammy sound crew did not turn frontman James Hetfield's mic on, forcing him to share the mic with Gaga after the first verse and chorus.

As a further humiliation, presenter Laverne Cox did not even introduce METALLICA by name. At the end of the song, a visibly angry Hetfield hurled his guitar at a road crew member while kicking over his mic stand.

During an interview on the "ETC Show", Taylor offered his opinion of METALLICA's appearance on the Grammys, saying: "I feel bad for METALLICA. Honestly, because at this point in their career they shouldn't have been disrespected like that. The fact that… They shut [Hetfield's microphone] off. METALLICA doesn't have control of that."

He continued: "The thing that people have to remember... I'm gonna give you a little background. All of METALLICA's people are not allowed to work on live performances on television. None of us are. They have a sound producer and a whole crew of people who work on those shows, and then your people work right behind them, all right? But you're not allowed to touch anything, which is horseshit, because stuff like this then happens. The fact that then they weren't introduced? It was just, 'Oh, here's Lady Gaga…' Oh, by the way, she's fucking with METALLICA, you dick."

Taylor added: "I have a lot of very strong opinions about the Grammys anyway, [but] that really cemented it for me. We don't need your respect. We don't need you to make us feel like we accomplished something, 'cause all you do is open our mouths and shit in it, and I'm tired of tastin' it. So, fuck you, dude. And by the way, I've won one, so it's not a big deal. They don't even really listen to this shit. They go, 'Oh, I recognize that name. There you go.'"

Taylor's latest comments echo those he made a year ago when he said that he didn't "have time" for the Grammy Awards, explaining that the annual show was nothing but "a popularity contest" among aging music industry insiders, many of whom have had a long history of ignoring hard rock and heavy metal. He said: "To me, the real reflection of where you're at is [performing live], and that's all it is. Walking on that stage and seeing a massive audience lose their minds — that's what it's all about. You can take those statuettes all day long; I don't care. It's cool to win, but I'm not gonna fucking die if we don't win a Grammy, you know."

Although SLIPKNOT has been nominated for more than ten Grammy Awards, it has won only one — picking up the "Best Metal Performance" gong in 2006 with the single "Before I Forget".

During a 2014 appearance on the Nerdist podcast, Taylor took issue with the Grammys and their voting process, saying: "Old people vote [on those awards]. I'm convinced that's the reason we won, is because an old person went, 'SLIPKNOT! I read a magazine article about them. They've been around. Here you go. Take it. The kids are gonna be real happy.' 'Cause you look at it, and you're, like, fuckin' JUDAS PRIEST won one for a live version of a song they released 40 years ago, and the live version was released 20 years before that. And they only re-released it because of a box set. And they gave it to them? I'm, like, 'Fucking what?'"

He went on to say: "It doesn't mean anything. I mean, that's like trying to hit a fucking needle with another needle. You have one metal category, you have one basic rock category, and you've got bands like FUN winning it. And I'm, like, 'Really? Show me on the doll where FUN is a rock band.'"

To date, Taylor's other band, STONE SOUR, has received three Grammy Award nominations for "Best Metal Performance" for the singles "Get Inside", "Inhale" and "30/30-150".

METALLICA was up for a Grammy this year for "Best Rock Song" for the track "Hardwired" from its new album, "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", but lost to the late David Bowie's "Blackstar".

Season Of Mist has announced the signing of 1349. The Norwegian black metal stalwarts have already been signed to this label in the U.S. and now extend the deal to a worldwide representation.

Regarding their signing, 1349 comment: "We are currently in the early creative stages of our new art offering and we are exited to confirm that we have extended our agreement with partners Season Of Mist — this time handling the release worldwide."

When 1349 rose from the ashes of ALVHEIM in 1997, the band was driven by a deep desire to keep the black metal flame burning in all its rebellious glory. The Norwegians set out with the declared aim to remain true to the original spirit of their scene, which they saw heading into all the wrong directions.

Conceived around the founding members, which consisted of vocalist and first drummer Ravn, guitarist Tjalve and Seidemann on bass, 1349 completed their lineup with the addition of guitarist Archaon in 1999 and SATYRICON drum legend Frost, after the latter recorded a demo and the debut album with the band in 2001.

When their debut, "Liberation", was finally unleashed in 2003, 1349 took the world by storm with their intense blend of old-school black metal soundscapes and ultra-fast aggression. Further assaults followed in rapid succession. "Beyond The Apocalypse" (2004) and "Hellfire" (2005) cemented the Norwegians' reputation as one of the strongest acts in the already peaked scene, where they managed to carve out a claim for their own.

Founding member Tjalve decided to focus on his band PANTHEON I and 1349 have since continued as a four-piece — occasionally adding renowned guest guitarists. Extensive touring aided the growth of a massive following, which started to seriously reach across the Atlantic, when 1349 opened for reunited metal legends CELTIC FROST in North America in 2006.

In an impressive demonstration that dedication to the origins and early principles of black metal does not have to mean nostalgia and stagnation, 1349 considerably widened their sonic palette with the next full-length, "Revelations Of The Black Flame" (2009), which was co-mixed by CELTIC FROST mastermind Tom Gabriel "Warrior" Fischer.

Their newly found darker and more ambient side, was further explored and interwoven with the earlier sonic approach, which 1349 dub "aural hellfire" on the following "Demonoir" (2010). Extensive touring and performances at prestigious festivals around the globe filled the period from 2010 to 2012.

"Massive Cauldron Of Chaos" (2013) was the next milestone in the Norwegian's merciless advance, scoring excellent reviews and sparking more festival shows as well as extended touring, which also brought 1349 for the first time to Australia and New Zealand. Now the band is preparing to unleash more "aural hellfire" onto the expecting world via Season Of Mist.

1349 is:

Seidemann: bass
Ravn: vocals
Archaon: guitars
Frost: drums

1349 band photo by Jorn Veberg

Metal Blade Records has announced the signing of Finnish cinemascopic metallers CRIMFALL.

CRIMFALL comments: "We are beyond excited for this opportunity to work with the legendary Metal Blade. It makes all these years we wrestled with the third album worthwhile as we can finally share the fruits of our labor through the most dedicated and respected label. CRIMFALL never does anything half-assed so be sure we go all in with this album as we see this as a massive opportunity to raise the stakes to the sky-high level."

CRIMFALL took its shape in 2007 from the mind of Jakke Viitala. He gathered talented musicians to drive forth his lifelong vision of music that would respect no boundaries. CRIMFALL has released two albums since then, 2009's "As The Path Unfolds..." and 2011's "The Writ Of Sword".

Wearing many a mask, CRIMFALL's movie metal eludes easy descriptions. The influence of ancient grim-frost North and its traditional roots meet echoes of black metal, but it is all iced with massive orchestration and epic movie soundtrack atmosphere. The melodies convey atmospheres of majesty, adventure and times long forgotten, as the interplay of Mikko's demonic screams and Helena's heavenly vocals bring forth the raw, natural feelings and underline the cycle of seasons and the contrast of ascending lights and falling shadows.

With their third album, "Amain", CRIMFALL has combined the best of the first two albums with new elements. Set to be released in summer 2017, a first teaser for "Amain" can be viewed below.

CRIMFALL is:

Mikko Hakkinen - Vocals
Helena Haaparanta - Vocals
Jakke Viitala - Guitars
Miska Sipilainen - Bass
Janne Jukarainen - Drums

George Pogacich has produced a high-quality, multi-camera video clip of former QUEENSRŸCHE and current OPERATION: MINDCRIME frontman Geoff Tate performing the QUEENSRŸCHE classic "Take Hold Of The Flame" on February 23 at The Token Lounge in Westland, Michigan. Check it out below.

Tate's current "The Whole Story 'Rÿche' Acoustic Tour" sees him performing songs from all 17 albums he has done throughout his illustrious 35-year career. Geoff is backed during the show by a seven-piece acoustic band of musicians from the United States and Ireland and features three guitar players, mandolin, cello, saxophone, violin and multiple percussion instruments to produce high-energy acoustic versions of some of the Tate's former band's most recognized songs, including "Silent Lucidity", "Jet City Woman", "Empire", "I Don't Believe In Love" and "Eyes Of A Stranger".

Tate told Centre Daily Times about his acoustic tour: "I've done acoustic tours before, but nothing quite like this. This is a storytelling tour and I've got 35 years of music, touring and stories to accompany all of that. I thought that it would be kind of interesting to tell stories about the songs and what was going on at the time when they came out, either with me personally, with the band or what was going on in the news at the time and how they influenced the albums."

According to Tate, stripping down songs involves so much more than just replacing the electric guitar with an acoustic.

"An acoustic presentation goes back to the roots of the song," he explained. "Every song I've ever written has either started on an acoustic guitar or a piano and with this tour, I am just reverse engineering the song back to where it started. I think that a song is a song, and you can take just about any song and reformat it with different instrumentation. As long as you have a vocalist, it's going to be identifiable to the audience.

"It's been really fun reworking the music to fit acoustically," he continued. "You have to approach it differently and figure out what the song's strength is. Is it the melody? The rhythm? And then, how do you showcase those things? It really is a different way of thinking and presenting the music."

"Resurrection", the second album from OPERATION: MINDCRIME, was released last September via Frontiers Music Srl. The album is the second part of Tate's musical trilogy.

Andreas Kisser says that he doesn't care what Max Cavalera says about SEPULTURA, explaining that his former bandmate is entitled to his opinion.

Max recently slammed the current lineup of SEPULTURA, implying in an interview that the band hasn't written any high-quality material since his exit from the group more than two decades ago. "Tell me one great song they have written since I left," he told Metal Rules. "Name one great album they have put out after that. I haven't seen anything. I don't know one name of one song as popular as 'Roots Bloody Roots'. So, it just tells me like whatever they are doing, I don't know how they keep on going. I don't think it's working at all. But somehow they keep on going, somehow. It's crazy to me."

Asked to comment on Max's statement, the SEPULTURA guitarist told Adam Drygalski before the band's February 15 concert in Warsaw, Poland (see video below): "I just don't care, man. It's his opinion. Who cares? I mean, so what if he thinks that? Many people think the same. So what?"

Kisser also defended SEPULTURA's decision to keep going for more than thirty years, despite the fact the band's current lineup doesn't include either of the Cavalera brothers (Max and drummer Igor Cavalera) who co-founded the group.

"I'm very proud of what we achieved with SEPULTURA," he said. "That's why we celebrated thirty years of the band and not only twenty or fifteen years or something. We take SEPULTURA as a whole career. On our set, we play songs from every album, regardless of the formation or the label that we were [on]."

He continued: "We lost members during different times. I joined the band in '87, Derrick [Green, current SEPULTURA vocalist] is twenty years in the band. Why would it be a curse? It's something very fantastic that we achieved together.

"I think members have different choices — they left the band to do something different — and we kept going on, especially me and Paulo [Xisto Pinto Jr., bass], and Igor, after Max left the band, for ten years. Igor left in 2006, and we got Jean Dolabella [former SEPULTURA drummer], and now we have Eloy Casagrande for five years already. It's a process of growing up as people, as persons, as musicians, as professionals in the music business.

"We are, I think, in our best times now. I think it's the best formation. We have a great label, we have great managers working with us, we have amazing fans that kept the band together. And we're very happy, believe it or not. [Laughs] We enjoy our life, we enjoy our band, and it's a privilege to be a part of a band like SEPULTURA. We play seventy-six countries in thirty-three years, and regardless of the formation, here are are doing stuff, [with] a great new album that has been [met with a] very positive reaction. We have a movie talking about the SEPULTURA history coming out this year as well. We have many products in Brazil, like beer, wine, hot sauce and all types of different products with the brand SEPULTURA name. You know, I cannot complain. All the difficult times and the difficult tasks that we achieved or we had in our lives were great learning experiences. We are better people and better musicians because of that. Without all the trouble, all the problems we had, we wouldn't be here today. So we embrace everything that happened with SEPULTURA, good and bad. The same with fans — we love how diverse the SEPULTURA fans are. They don't think the same, they don't have the same opinion. We love the haters. They are a great part of our history, and we are all a part of a great family, like it or not."

Kisser added: "In the end, the word that describes SEPULTURA is 'respect' for everything that happened to this band and still is happening to the band. The past is a great thing for us. It really inspired us to do what we do today all the time."

In 1996, Max left SEPULTURA after the rest of the band fired his wife Gloria as their manager.

The current SEPULTURA lineup released its latest album, "Machine Messiah", on January 13 via Nuclear Blast.

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES frontman Mike Muir has paid tribute to actor Bill Paxton, who died on Saturday at the age of 61. The "Titanic" and "Apollo 13" star had complications following a heart surgery.

Muir wrote on the band's official Facebook page: "I'm extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Bill Paxton, someone I was lucky enough to know and call a real friend. I met him when I was 16 as we both worked delivering the [Los Angeles] Times in the morning. We were the only 'young ones' there as most of the people were at least 40.

"Bill had moved out to Santa Monica to be an 'actor.' I told him I was gonna start a band.

"He was just an incredibly cool, friendly, optimistic guy that never got discouraged when he couldn't get even an audition for the smallest roles.
But every morning at 2 a.m., he came into work with a smile. He loved music too, so we'd sometimes go to punk rock shows and then go straight from the Starwood or Whisky to delivering the morning paper to Northside SM.

"So many great stories and times I will never forget.

"I'm so sad for his family and their loss.

"It always hurts when someone passes away, especially when it's too soon and without warning. And the older you get the more often it happens. And each time it does, people think of the good things to say and remember them by.

"The special thing about Bill is I have never heard anyone that knew him, from before his success or during it, that ever had anything but great things to say about him. Truly an amazing person, who literally followed his dream and never gave up.

"Lastly, someone just sent me this photo [see below]. That's the way I remember Bill, not 'cause he's wearing [a SUICIDAL TENDENCIES] shirt, but that smile. And, of course, he was an amazing actor and director...but more importantly he was as good a person as they come!

"Rest in peace. You will be missed but never forgotten. So proud of you and thankful that I knew you."

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, "World Gone Mad", which came out at the end of September.

Bonfire have released a video for “Praying 4 A Miracle”, featured on their new album, Byte The Bullet, out on March 24th. Find the new video.

In 2016, Hans Ziller made a pledge to make Bonfire great again. He recruited a new face to the line-up, German vocalist Alexx Stahl. With Bonfire veterans guitarist Hans Ziller, guitarist Frank Pane and bassist Ronnie Parkes, in the addition to Alexx Stahl and drummer Tim Breideband, Bonfire now have the fire and energy they were so well known, a force to be reckoned with once again.

Bonfire recorded Byte The Bullet at Flatliners Studios in their hometown of Ingolstadt, Germany.

Tracklisting:

“Power Train”
“Stand Up 4 Rock”
“Praying 4 A Miracle”
“Some Kinda Evil”
“Lonely Nights”
“Byte The Bullet”
“Locomotive Breath”
“Reach For The Sky”
“Sweet Surrender”
“Friedensreich”
“InstruMetal”
“Too Far From Heaven”
“Without You”
“Sweet Obsession”

“Praying 4 A Miracle” video:

“Locomotive Breath” video:

“Locomotive Breath” making of:

On September 17th 2016, In This Moment played Tokyo, Japan. The band has uploaded live footage of the songs "Black Widow", "Blood", and "Sick Like Me" from that evening's set.

In This Moment be hitting the road with Motionless In White, Avatar, and Gemini Syndrome as support this April and May.

Tour dates:

April
7 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave / Eagles Club
8 - Green Bay, WI - The Sandlot Entertainment Complex
9 - Maplewood, MN - Myth Nightclub 16+
11 - Omaha, NE - Sokol Auditorium and Underground
12 - Kansas City, MI - Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
14 - Indianapolis, IN - The Egyptian Room
15 - Columbus, OH - Express LIVE
16 - Toronto, ON - The Danforth Music Hall
18 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
19 - Albany, NY - The Palace Theatre
21 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live
22 - Stroudsburg, PA - Sherman Theatre
23 - Worcester, MA - Worcester Palladium
25 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
26 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore Detroit
28 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade

May
2 - Birmingham, AL - Iron City Bham
3 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogart's
5 - Nashville, TN - War Memorial Auditorium

Operose are a new symphonic progressive metal band from the United Kingdom, comprising of rising opera sensation Jennifer Coleman, and neo-classical guitar virtuoso Joe McGurk (Opposing Motion). The forthcoming debut album, Footprints In The Hourglass, also features Opposing Motion drummer Kevin Deplanche and is mixed and mastered by heavy metal legend Dennis Ward, showcasing the unique collaboration across eight varied tracks.

Jennifer Coleman is a Theo Max van der Beugel Scholar studying on the 2nd year of the Masters at the Royal College of Music in London under the tutelage of Janis Kelly. Jennifer has won numerous awards including an RCM Award supported by a Big Give Award, the Mavis Bennett Award for Grand Opera and the John Lightfoot Award for Musical Theatre at Maidenhead Music Festival. Most recently, Jennifer won a Musical Odessey Prize while taking part in masterclasses with the acclaimed British soprano Susan Bullock in Nafplio, Greece. She was awarded commended in the 2016 RCM Lieder competition, and a finalist in the RCM English Song Competition.

Joe McGurk is the guitarist and co-founder of progressive metal band Opposing Motion, along with drummer Kevin Deplanche. The band had a well received debut album in 2013 released through iconic label Lion Music, after a successful debut EP. Joe McGurk has also released solo work, most notably the instrumental album Elements, which received a host of great reviews when released through Lion Music in 2015, as well as composing tracks for film and television.

Operose is a unique blend of soaring vocals and guitars over a symphonic, classical backdrop telling the tale of the tragic Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice through the eyes of Eurydice.

Footprints In The Hourglass tracklisting:

“Empty Mirrors (Death Of Eurydice)”
“Footprints”
“River Of Memories”
“The Long Grass (Seconds Apart)”
“Remember Me”
“Moments”
“The Faded Portrait Of Affection”
“Stand Among Angels”

“Footprints” lyric video: