Dutch symphonic metal band Epica is set to unleash their new record, The Holographic Principle, this Friday (September 30th). Check out this unboxing video for the yearbook edition of the new album:

Fans that pre-order The Holographic Principle now on iTunes will receive instant downloads of three brand new songs: "A Phantasmic Parade", "Universal Death Squad" and "Edge Of The Blade". Go to this location to pre-order.

The Holographic Principle was produced with Joost van der Broek at Sandlane Recording Facilities. Mixing was handled by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Destruction). The cover artwork for the new album was created by Stefan Heilemann.

Tracklisting:

“Eidola”
“Edge Of The Blade”
“A Phantasmic Parade”
“Universal Death Squad”
“Divide And Conquer”
“Beyond The Matrix”
“Once Upon A Nightmare”
“The Cosmic Algorithm”
“Ascension - Dream State Armageddon”
“Dancing In A Hurricane”
“Tear Down Your Walls”
“The Holographic Principle - A Profound Understanding Of Reality”

“Edge Of The Blade” video ;

“Universal Death Squad” lyric video:

To celebrate the new album’s release, Epica will be available to answer the fans' questions via Facebook Live.

Schedule as follows:

Coen: 2:30 - 3:30 PM, EST
Simone: 3:30 - 4:30 PM, EST
Mark: 4:30 - 5:30 PM, EST

Epica will be playing on their own Epic Metal Fest at the 013 in Tilburg, Netherlands on Saturday, October 1st. They invited Katatonia, their label mates Fleshgod Apocalypse and (also landsmen) Textures to take part in this special event.

Additionally, Stream Of Passion, The Agonist, Mayan, Myrath, Evil Invaders and last but not least Off The Cross will be attending Epica’s release show. On Saturday, October 15th the Brazilian edition of Epic Metal Fest will take place in Sao Paulo. Paradise Lost, Finntroll, Xandria and The Ocean will join Epica for this first edition. More info and tickets at this location.

Epica will return this fall for the North American Principle Tour in support of The Holographic Principle. Epica will be joined on this trek by Italian symphonic death metal kings Fleshgod Apocalypse, Russian Pagan warriors Arkona, and their good friends in The Agonist.

The first three dates will see Germany’s Xandria as a replacement for Arkona. Tour kick off will be on November 4th in Quebec City and will conclude December 3rd in Worcester, MA.

Epica’s front woman Simone Simons commented on the tour: “The time has finally come to visit North America again. We are super excited to show you guys our kick-ass new material of which we are extremely proud! We hope to welcome you all to experience The Holographic Principle extravaganza!”

Tour dates:

November (with Fleshgod Apocalypse, Xandria, The Agonist)
4 - Imperial Theater - Quebec City, QC
5 - Corona - Montreal, QC
6 - Phoenix Concert Hall - Toronto, ON

November (with Fleshgod Apocalypse, Arkona, The Agonist)
8 - Concord Music Hall - Chicago, IL
9 - Cabooze - Minneapolis, MN
11 - Saskatoon Event Center - Saskatoon, SK
12 - Marquee - Calgary, AB
13 - The Ranch - Edmonton, AB
15 - Vogue Theatre - Vancouver, BC
16 - Studio 7 - Seattle, WA
18 - Social Hall - San Francisco, CA
19 - The Regent - Los Angeles, CA
20 - Vinyl at Hard Rock Hotel - Las Vegas, NV
22 - Summit Music Hall - Denver, CO
23 - Granada Theater - Lawrence, KS
25 - Gas Monkey Live - Dallas, TX
26 - Empire Control Room - Austin, TX
28 - State Theater - St Petersburg, FL
29 - Masquerade - Atlanta, GA

December (with Fleshgod Apocalypse, Arkona, The Agonist)
1 - Soundstage Baltimore, MD
2 - Webster Hall - New York, NY
3 - Palladium - Worcester, MA

(Photo - Epica Facebook)

Faith No More have released a music video for the track “Cone Of Shame”, from the album Sol Invictus (Ipecac Recordings/Reclamation Recordings). The video, directed by Gore Cvetanovski, can be seen below.

“This is one of those tracks that had to be a video, really, because it lends itself so much to visual imagery,” Bill Gould explains. “Given the song’s sense of Americana, it would have been easy to shoot this in Arizona or New Mexico, but having been to Macedonia several times, there’s a vibe there that I felt wouldn’t be out of place as a backdrop to this song.  Goce Cvetanovski, as a director, understood this immediately; he knew exactly what to do with it, and along with an amazing cast, has managed to create something very dark, and beautifully cinematic.”
 
“Cone Of Shame” was the third song previewed from Sol Invictus, initially debuted at a 2015 Japanese concert. A limited edition “Cone Of Shame” 7” will be available on November 25th with pre-orders available soon.

Sol Invictus, Faith No More’s first new album since 1997’s Album Of The Year, debuted at #6 on the Billboard Top Albums chart and landed at similar spots worldwide (including #2 in Australia, #4 in Germany and #6 in the UK).  

“Separation Anxiety” video:

“Sunny Side Up” video:

A teaser for "Echolocation", the forthcoming debut album from GONE IS GONE, the new project featuring MASTODON's Troy Sanders, AT THE DRIVE-IN's Tony Hajjar, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE's Troy Van Leeuwen and guitarist-keyboardist Mike Zarin, is available below.

GONE IS GONE's self-titled debut EP was released on July 8 via their imprint label Black Dune Records in partnership with Rise Records/BMG.

Asked where the band's name came from, Sanders told NME: "We were honing in on things that were very human, relatable, real, and as far away from anything pretentious as possible. We were discussing subject matter of frailty and things that every human can relate to — love, loss, life, experience and opportunity and all things frail and fragile. The phrase 'what's done is done' or 'what's gone is gone' — you need to seize these opportunities now and make the most of it, reward yourself and fulfill yourself while the time is now.

"We think it's relatable and we're not trying to be anything that we're not. The level of pretentiousness is below zero — it's minus eleven, it's out of the fuckin' picture. This band was organically created and it's formed and has got to where it is now very naturally. It's all from the heart and it means the world to us."

Sanders also called GONE IS GONE "therapeutic." He explained: "I've learned it's a very healthy thing to do to jam with other people. Whether it's sitting for 30 minutes in someone else's practice room and just jamming with somebody, or learning a cover song together, or writing something together — any kind of collaboration I think is a healthy thing. You pull different positives from different people.

"For the bulk of the past 16 years, I've been very fortunate and proud to be in a band called MASTODON that followed the traditional cycle of write, record, tour-tour-tour, write, record, tour-tour-tour. It's worked out fantastic for us and I love every minute of it. However, when I get these brief periods away, and I'm doing something else that's creative musically, it just brings a refreshing feeling over me that hits a reset button. Every time I go back into the MASTODON world, I'm in such a great place mentally to dive headfirst in and give it all I've got."

GONE IS GONE made its live debut on April 27 at the Dragonfly in Los Angeles and completed a handful of dates in July.

For more information, visit www.GoneIsGoneOfficial.com.

New Orleans sludge masters CROWBAR will release their eleventh album, "The Serpent Only Lies", on October 28. The cover artwork was created by renowned artist Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with bands like HATEBREED, SOULFLY and KATAKLYSM.

The second song from "The Serpent Only Lies", titled "Plasmic And Pure", can be streamed below.

"The Serpent Only Lies" track listing:

01. Falling While Rising02. Plasmic And Pure03. I Am The Storm04. Surviving The Abyss05. The Serpent Only Lies06. The Enemy Beside You07. Embrace The Light08. On Holy Ground09. Song Of The Dunes10. As I Heal

CROWBAR frontman Kirk Windstein said about the CD: "I intentionally went back and listened to a lot of old CROWBAR stuff, like the self-titled and 'Broken Glass' albums, to get a feel for what my mindset was 20-plus years ago. I also went back and listened to the bands that influenced CROWBAR in the beginning, like TROUBLE, SAINT VITUS, MELVINS, and the first TYPE O NEGATIVE record. So it was kinda me doing my homework."

The result is an album that stands toe-to-toe with those early CROWBAR classics while maintaining the lumbering hooks of mid-period standouts like 1998's "Odd Fellows Rest" and 2000's "Equilibrium". "Even lyrically, the approach was a little more old-school," Windstein offered. "Some of the songs have less lyrics to let the riffs breathe a little more, which I had kind of gotten away from over the years. It was a conscious thing to go back to that.”"

The tour cycle for "The Serpent Only Lies" marks the return of original CROWBAR bassist Todd "Sexy T" Strange, who left the band back in 1999 but now joins Windstein, drummer Tommy Buckley and guitarist Matt Brunson in forging CROWBAR's future.

"Todd helped start the band, so having him back is important to me and, I think, the fans," Windstein said. "It's a great feeling to be standing onstage next to him. It's a breath of fresh air for the band and makes us stronger.

"Having this be our eleventh record, we're very fortunate because so many bands don't last this long," Windstein added. "My whole outlook on music as a career is the MOTÖRHEAD outlook, which is that slow and steady wins the race. If you continue to put out killer records, continue to kick ass onstage every night and continue to treat your fans with respect, that's the stuff people will remember."

The final trailer for "The Violent Sleep Of Reason", the new album from Swedish extreme tech-metal pioneers MESHUGGAH, is available below. The CD, which will be released on October 7 via Nuclear Blast, was inspired by a Goya painting called "The Sleep Of Reason Produces Monsters".

MEHUGGAH drummer Tomas Haake comments: "Looking back at the albums, the music and songs that we grew up with that we really loved in metal were always recorded live and they have that live vibe to it.

"There is certain energy that comes with recording live compared to recording drums first and fixing whatever need to be fixed so it sounds perfect then recording guitars on top of that. There is nothing wrong in doing it like that, but we felt like we wanted to take a step back towards how we were doing things in the early '90s and kind of go a little old school in that sense. We wanted the challenge that comes with that."

Haake told Metal Hammer that MESHUGGAH recorded "The Violent Sleep Of Reason" live in the studio — marking the first time they have done that "in 20-25 years." He said: "It was time limitations that stopped us doing it before. And it's been interesting.

"If you put it all together using computers, then you often have to fix problems after the fact. I've gone back to records where I've not known every drum part. And once you do that, you can start with drums and then just add layers of guitars and then bass and it all sounds perfect.

"'Obzen' and 'Koloss' are great albums, but, to me, they are a little too perfect. It didn't really capture what we sounded like honestly. But where we recorded live, you get to hear the push and pull, one person might be a little ahead and the other might be a little behind. If you kill that, you can kill the energy."

He added: "So for us it was just about going back to those albums that inspired us when we were growing up, that were important to us in our formative years, and all of those bands had that energy. The albums in the '80s and early '90s had the rawness that I'm talking about — that's what we wanted to recapture."

"The Violent Sleep Of Reason" was produced by the band and was engineered by Tue Madsen of Puk Studios in Kaerby, Denmark.

For "The Violent Sleep Of Reason" cover, MESHUGGAH once again enlisted Keerych Luminokaya who created the artwork for "Koloss" and "The Ophidian Trek" as well as the new images for each of the seven albums and three EPs featured in the "25 Years Of Musical Deviance" box set.

"The Violent Sleep Of Reason" track listing:

01. Clockworks02. Born In Dissonance03. MonstroCity04. By The Ton05. Violent Sleep Of Reason06. Ivory Tower07. Stifled08. Nostrum09. Our Rage Won't Die10. Into Decay

"The Impossible", the new video from Swedish metallers EVERGREY, can be seen below. The clip was directed by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE and KAMELOT, among others.

"The Impossible" is taken from EVERGREY's new album, "The Storm Within", which was released on September 9 via AFM.

Says the band: "'The Impossible' is the third of a series of videos we have shot for 'The Storm Within' album. Working very closely with Patric Ullaeus and Revolver Film Company, our aim was to recreate the eerie and desolate sense we had while writing the songs for this — the tenth EVERGREY album. One could say this is our first real attempt at inviting everyone into the cinematic world where we have been in mind and thought throughout this year while writing. We think the imagery speaks for itself. This is just the beginning. The storm is coming."

While this may come off as music industry lip service in honor of the quintet, anyone who has followed EVERGREY will find it impossible not to become completely enthralled by the music on "The Storm Within" within the space of the first listen. The band's trademark progressive, dark and melancholic elements are as strong as ever, the album ranks as one of the most progressive record they've created in terms of performance, but EVERGREY managed to put it in a package that is more accessible and direct compared to any of their nine previous outings. Frontman/founder Tom S. Englund credits EVERGREY's learning-by-doing over the past two decades for the feel of "The Storm Within", in particular their all-important "Hymns For The Broken" record from 2014, which saw a revitalized EVERGREY lineup return with a new energy.

"We went from having no intention of making an album at all to having all the inspiration in the world on 'Hymns For The Broken'," says Englund. "Honestly, we've never felt better. 'The Storm Within' is a massive album. There are no fillers on it and we've never been about that. I think the inspiration speaks for itself."

EVERGREY's lyrics have always matched the depth and intensity of their music, and the concept behind "The Storm Within" is no exception. Englund considers the storyline behind the lyrics to be one of the biggest concepts EVERGREY has ever tackled, based on something that everyone can relate to; having someone, losing them, and having to pick yourself up and move on. He goes so far as to call it the band's first "love" album, but it's not a subject that should be taken lightly in the EVERGREY universe.

"As usual, the lyrics are based on someone or some event in my life," says Englund. "When we were making this album a lot of these relationship issues were going on around me; people losing a partner or a loved one and grieving. 'The Storm Within' is about a search for identity, trying to make yourself full when you feel half empty, and I placed that storyline in an interstellar world."

Musically, "The Storm Within" plays to EVERGREY's trademark prog metal attack but it's loaded with double-take moments. Lead-off track "Distance" is a surprise lead single (and first video), the melodically and lyrically stunning "Passing Through" is destined to become a fan favourite, "My Allied Ocean" is one of EVERGREY's most aggressive songs to date, and the epic title track makes for the perfect album closer in the tradition of Devin Townsend or RUSH. The addition of NIGHTWISH vocalist Floor Jansen on "In Orbit" is the icing on an already filling cake.

"That was actually my wife (Carina Englund) thinking for me," Englund says of Jansen's involvement. "Floor is a personal friend and major EVERGREY fan, so it was over a glass of wine between her and my wife, who asked her if she wanted to do the song. 'In Orbit' is a powerhouse of a song and it would be easy to make it the first single, but it's not the first impression we want to make. That said, it would be stupid not to release it as a single, and if we could get Floor to do the video, that would be a home run."

Speaking of Englund's better half Carina, she reprises her ongoing role as EVERGREY's secret weapon on every album since they began, contributing vocals this time out to the song "The Paradox Of The Flame". In addition, EVERGREY renewed their partnership with critically acclaimed video director Patric Ullaeus for "The Storm Within", fulfilling the band's vision of creating the most cinematic album in their catalogue. Three stellar clips were shot and, in a huge promotional push, are slated to hit the internet leading up to the official album release.

Englund is proud to have "The Storm Within" represent EVERGREY's all-important 20th anniversary, although he freely admits he didn't take note of the landmark occasion until the album was well underway.

"I had a goal when I started EVERGREY; I wanted to make 10 albums and that would fulfill my life plan. That's not something I ever thought I would accomplish. It's quite an amazing thing to be a band for 20 years and release albums that aren't sub-par. When I realized we'd done 10 albums in 20 years, it was mind-boggling. I'm proud to say that out of all the albums we've released over the last 20 years, we've never released one that we didn't feel was the best we could do at that time. That goes for every song, every note, everything. That's why we don't do anything half-assed."

"The Storm Within" track listing:

01. Distance02. Passing Trough03. Someday04. Astray05. The Impossible06. My Allied Ocean07. In Orbit (feat. Floor Jansen)08. The Lonely Monarch09. The Paradox Of The Flame10. Disconnect11. The Storm Within

EVERGREY is:

Tom S. Englund - vocals, guitar Henrik Danhage - guitar, backing vocals Rikard Zander - keyboard, backing vocalsJonas Ekdahl - drums Johan Niemann - bass, backing vocals

Pennsylvania based atmospheric tech-death group Burial In The Sky have premiered "Galaxy of Ghosts". The song is the first single to be released from their forthcoming debut album, Persistence Of Thought, due for release on Friday, November 4th.

As of late, the state of Pennsylvania has been churning out a lot of quality new death metal such as Rivers Of Nihil, Black Crown Initiate, and Alustrium. Now you can add another name to that list, Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania natives Burial In The Sky.

The band came to life in 2013 when guitarists (and multi-instrumentalists) William Okronglis and James Tomedi decided to form an ambitious new project after already spending years playing music with each other prior to Burial In The Sky. Joining them on Persistence Of Thought is none other than world class drummer extraordinaire Samus Paulicelli (Decrepit Birth, ex-Abigail Wiliams) whose expert skills perfectly complements the stunning atmospheric technical death metal that James and William write.

Fans of Rivers Of Nihil and Fallujah would be wise to keep an eye on the band, although Burial In The Sky is far from being a derivative copy of either. Burial In The Sky’s album, Persistence Of Thought, is set for release on Friday, November 4th. The first single from the album will be released on Wednesday, September 28th.

Persistence Of Thought tracklisting:

“Entry I”
“Entry II”
“Entry III”
“Anchors”
“Galaxy Of Ghosts”
“Dimensions Divide”

"Galaxy Of Ghosts":

Promo video:

Persistence Of Thought lineup/additional credits:

William Okronglis - vocals, rhythm guitar, bass, keys, and percussion
James Tomedi - lead guitar, bass, keys, mandolin, slide guitar, and percussion
Samus Paulicelli - session drums

* Additional synths performed by Danny Greene

Vocals and all instruments played by William and James recorded at BITStudio
Drums written, performed, and engineered by Samus Paulicelli in Winnipeg, Canada
Re-amping, mixing, and mastering done by Numbskull Audio Production, Cambridgeshire, UK
Album art by Nathan Lee

Negură Bunget's new album, ZI (English for 'Day' or 'Say') is the second part of the group's ambitious Transilvanian Trilogy, released on the heels of 2015's celebrated album, TAU (English for 'Your' or 'Thy'), a record accurately hailed as "earthshaking" as it focused on unique native, natural landscapes and the mystique, legends, lore and meanings behind them. The new album will be out September 30th via Prophecy Productions. A new video for "Stanciu Gruiul" is streaming below.

The band recently released stunning, ten minute long "album film", titled simply, ZI. The artistic short, beautifully shot in the Transylvanian forests, blends excerpts from each of the album’s six tracks. View ZI now, below:

In creating its most luminescent recording to date, Negură Bunget has further immersed itself in the traditions and practices of local Transilvanian inhabitants, exploring their connection with nature, and the way this relationship has shaped spiritual horizons. Within this framework, ZI closely examines the core of the most important traditions and rituals connected with the well-being of this community. Life events such as funeral ceremonies, soil tillage, and human growth and evolution (i.e. youth to teen to man to warrior, through to outcast) are spotlighted, in what is undoubtedly some of the most heady, thinking-man's metal produced in recent memory.

Musically, ZI builds upon the hallmarks of Negură Bunget's impressive catalog; the juxtaposition and interweaving of grim black metal elements, ambient soundscapes and acoustic counterparts based on native Romanian folk music, giving life to panoramic atmospheres, intensity and power unequaled in the band's rich discography.

An impressive musical statement and crucial bridge between root-bearing beginning and impending finale of the trilogy (scheduled to be released in early 2018), ZI is a mystical, tension-building recording that mirrors the size and scope of the deep forest fog for which the band is named.

The album was recorded at Negura MUSIC studio January-June 2016. Produced and mixed by Negură Bunget and Mihai ‘Mtz' Neagoe. Mastering by Alin Luculescu. Cover design by Daniel Dorobanțu. Outfit design by Anita Ramona.

Tracklisting:

“Tul-ni-că-rînd” (Horn-ing)
“Grădina stelelor” (Garden of Stars)
“Brazdă dă foc” (Furrow of Fire)
“Baciul Moșneag” (The Old Shepherd)
“Stanciu Gruiul” (Stanciu Gruiul)
“Marea Cea Mare” (The Vast Sea)

Bonus CD (only artbook)

“Tul-ni-că-rînd” (remixed version by Daniel Dorobanțu)
“Brazdă dă foc” (remixed version by Silent Strike)
“Schimnicește” (remixed version by Tibor Kati & Ionuț Cârja)
“Baciu moșneag” (remixed version by Adrian “Oq” Neagoe & Tragacanth)

Bonus DVD (only artbook)

ZI - album short film
“Tul-ni-că-rînd” - visual
“Stanciu Gruiul” - visual

The album will be available in the following editions:

- CD digipak with extra hard cover
- Gatefold LP (180g vinyl, white) incl. special vinyl mastering, poster, printed inner sleeves and PVD protection sleeve (500 copies)
- 2CD+DVD Artbook, hardcover, 28x28 cm, 72 pages with additional artwork, texts and English translations of the lyrics plus bonus CD with two songs and bonus DVD with three videos (1.000 copies)
- the band are also offering some custom handmade editions through their fundraising campaing, where they build a box on your suggestions

Pre-orders:

- custom editions, signed versions, here.
- regular editions, here.

"Stanciu Gruilu" video:

“Tul-ni-ca-rind” video:

The band will present the new album live, along with a special anniversary set in a complex tour plan that will spread over the second part of 2016 and all over 2017, with some support for the crowdfunding campaign they have set-up in order to help accomplish their goals. They will start in September with a European tour.

Find the band’s live itinerary at this location.

International metal project Them, consisting of stellar musicians from around the globe, has unveiled a lyric video for the track “Dead Of Night”, which is taken from the upcoming debut albumSweet Hollow” - to be released on 30th September via Empire Records.

Them was originally formed in 2008 by vocalist Troy as a King Diamond tribute band, performing for three and a half years with over 20 shows including performances with Mike Wead and Hal Patino from King Diamond. After returning from several other projects, Troy started to create a concept idea in 2014 and molded a story, band, album and show around it. The result is the band's debut concept album Sweet Hollow, which offers top-notch heavy metal and chronicles the bizarre journey of a man caught between unfortunate circumstance and unspeakable evil.

Tracklisting:

“Rebirth”
“Forever Burns”
“Down The Road To Misery”
“Ghost In The Graveyard”
“The Quiet Room”
“Dead Of Night”
“FestEvil”
“The Crimson Corpse”
“Blood From Blood”
“The Harrowing Path To Hollow”
“Salve”
“When The Clock Struck Twelve”

“Dead Of Night” lyric video:

Lineup:
Troy Norr "KK Fossor": Vocals (Coldsteel)
Mike LePond: Bass (Symphony X)
Kevin Talley: Drums (Suffocation)
Markus Ulrich: Guitars (Lanfear, Septagon)
Markus Johansson: Guitars (Sylencer)
Richie Seibel: Keyboards (Lanfear)

Swedish pop metallers performed at Namba Hatch in Osaka, Japan on September 21st supporting Helloween. Fan-filmed video from the show is available below.

Amaranthe are gearing up for the release of their new album Maximalism. The record is due out via Spinefarm Records on October 21st. Amaranthe embark on a headline European tour in October/November with Sonic Syndicate and Smash Into Pieces guesting on all shows. US and UK tour dates will be revealed shortly.

September
30 - St. Petersburg, Russia - Zal Ozhidaniya

October
1 - Moscow, Russia - Red
2 - Ekaterinburg, Russia - Teleclub
25 - Hamburg, Germany - Klubsen
26 - Nijmegen, Netherlands - Doornrosje
28 - Vosselar, Belgium - Biebob
29 - Bochum, Germany - Matrix
30 - Geiselwind, Germany - Music Hall    

November
1 - Frankfurt, Germany - Nachtleben (acoustic)    
3 - Paris, France - Le Petit Bain
5 - Lyon, France - Le Ninkasi Kao
6 - Marseille, France - Le Moulin Club
8 - Bilbao, Spain - Santana 27    
9 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz 2
10 - Madrid, Spain - Arena

THE PRETTY RECKLESS's music video for the band's scorching single "Take Me Down" can be seen below. The track, which recently landed No. 1 on the Rock Radio chart, marking the band's fourth consecutive No. 1 single, is the first single from THE PRETTY RECKLESS's highly anticipated third studio album, "Who You Selling For", due out October 21 on Razor & Tie. The "Take Me Down" video, shot by Meiert Avis, sees frontwoman Taylor Momsen and the band at Water Music Studios in Hoboken, New Jersey, where the album was recorded. Avis has directed videos for artists such as Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, U2 and Avril Lavigne, among many others throughout his illustrious career, spanning over four decades. The video, shot in black and white with subtle glimpses of red, shows Momsen in top form with her voice as powerful as ever. The '60s-tinged rock guitar and Taylor's soulful, smoky delivery makes "Take Me Down" a complete, blistering track that further cements the band at the forefront of rock.

Asked if "Who You Selling For" is autobiographical, singer Momsen told the Baltimore radio station 98 Rock: "Well, I think all of our records, in one sense, are autobiographical. I mean, I write them, so I'm writing about my experiences and my life and what I have observed and what I know. So I think this coming record is the next evolution of the band, so we're really excited for everyone to hear it. It's very diverse and eclectic, I guess is a good word to describe it. But, of course, it's personal. I mean, I write it."

Regarding whether there are any topics that are "off limits" during the songwriting process, Taylor said: "No. If you limit yourself, you immediately are stunting yourself. You can't limit yourself when it comes to writing. There's nothing that you don't explore."

"Who You Selling For" was produced by THE PRETTY RECKLESS's longtime collaborator Kato Khandwala. The songs were written by Momsen and guitarist Ben Phillips.

Momsen recently told Kerrang! magazine about "Take Me Down": "It's a classic rock 'n' roll tune, which was inspired by the Robert Johnson story of going to the crossroads and selling his soul for rock 'n' roll — which I kind of did in one way. [Laughs] I gave my life to the music; I gave everything else up for it. And it's a simple story about giving your life to something you love so much and you need it so bad that you're willing to sell your soul for it."

THE PRETTY RECKLESS will hit the road this fall in support of the album, beginning October 20, playing major markets in the U.S. before wrapping up on December 6 in Los Angeles.

KORN's new song "A Different World" can be streamed below. The track is slated to be the next single from the band's upcoming album, "The Serenity Of Suffering", following the current Top Five track "Rotting In Vain". "A Different World" also features a guest appearance from SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor.

KORN singer Jonathan Davis spoke about getting Taylor to appear on the track. "We were trying to figure out who we wanted to collaborate with, and I'm like, 'You know, that's the one, that's the guy,'" he said. "And I texted him, I'm like, 'Do you want to be on a new KORN track?' He's all, 'Hell yeah! When and where, what do I do?' So he did great on the song. I already did my parts, I'm like, 'Do what you do, man.' And I like the way he did it, the approach: he starts creeping in underneath the song, you can start slowly hearing his voice under mine, and it crescendos up into the middle part where he sings, and then it's just full-on at the end, so the song came out great."

Taylor said that he became involved in "A Different World" after receiving "a phone call, like, 'Hey, do you wanna do this?' And I was on the plane the next day. I flew in, and I hadn't even heard the music. I was, like, 'Yeah.' 'Cause as a fan and as a friend, it was just something that we had been talking about for years. And all the stars aligned and I got to do this track. And it is heavy, dude. It is so righteous. People are gonna lose their minds.

"This whole [new KORN] album, and I'm gonna brag now, because I've heard eleven songs of this, it is such a great throwback to the first three KORN albums and mixed with that maturity that they have now. Like, it's, really, really heavy. People are gonna lose their minds. It's that good."

Due on October 21, "The Serenity Of Suffering" marks the band's return to Roadrunner, which previously released 2010's "Korn III - Remember Who You Are" and 2011's "The Path Of Totality".

The cover art for "The Serenity Of Suffering" was created by acclaimed artist Ron English. It depicts a teenage KORN fan at a dystopian acid-nightmare funfair who is clutching a disembowelled and skeletal version of the doll who adorned 1999's "Issues".

KORN has hit the road this fall with co-headliners BREAKING BENJAMIN for the "Nocturnal Underground Tour". The trek kicked off on September 24 in Fargo, North Dakota and will run through late October.

"Sorceress", the twelfth album from Swedish progressive metallers OPETH, can be streamed in its entirety using the SoundCloud widget below. Due on September 30, the band's first effort for Nuclear Blast via OPETH's imprint label Moderbolaget Records is proof chief architect Mikael Åkerfeldt has a near-endless well of greatness inside. From the album's opener "Persephone" to "The Wilde Flowers" and "Strange Brew" to the album's counterpart title tracks "Sorceress" and "Sorceress 2", OPETH's new full-length is an unparalleled adventure, where visions cleverly and secretly change, colors mute as if weathered by time, and sounds challenge profoundly.

For "Sorceress", OPETH returned to Rockfield Studios in Wales, also home to pivotal releases from QUEEN, RUSH and JUDAS PRIEST, where the Swedes had tracked "Pale Communion" in 2014 with Tom Dalgety. The band spent twelve days recording at the countryside venue among its serene and inspiring surroundings. The result is nothing short of a powerful and intriguing record that will add yet another layer to the band's celebrated career.

"The new album 'Sorceress' is our twelfth studio album since our beginnings in 1990," says Åkerfeldt. "I find it difficult to understand that we've been going on for twenty-six years, let alone that we've made twelve records now, all of which I am very proud of. 'Sorceress' is no exception.

"I love this album, as does the whole band. I wrote the music during five-six months and we spent only twelve days recording it at Rockfield studios in Wales.

"I find that once again we've taken a step forward. Or sideways, Or backwards. Somewhere!? It's different! It's extremely diverse. And if I may say so myself, extremely good. I feel the right to say that since I like to think I know this band better than anyone on the planet. Also, I always manage to detach myself from the record and listen as a fan.

"It's a fine little record. My favorite in our discography right now. Of course. That's how it should be, right? It's both fresh and old, both progressive and rehashed. Heavy and calm. Just the way we like it. Hopefully there'll be others around the globe sharing this opinion. It was a joy to make it. A fucking joy to record it, and a sheer joy listening to it. So there you have it!" "Sorceress" track listing:

01. Persephone02. Sorceress03. The Wilde Flowers04. Will O The Wisp05. Chrysalis06. Sorceress 207. The Seventh Sojourn08. Strange Brew09. A Fleeting Glance10. Era11. Persephone (Slight Return)

OPETH's North American headline tour kicked off with a performance at Ozzfest Meets Knotfest on September 24 in San Bernardino, California. The tour, with THE SWORD as support, will continue through October 26 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Band photo credit: Stuart Wood

DEFTONES have announced that they have partnered with San Diego's Belching Beaver Brewery to create a new beer called Phantom Bride IPA — a hoppy West Coast style India Pale Ale loaded up with Mosaic, Amarillo, Simcoe, and Citra hops, all handpicked by DEFTONES frontman Chino Moreno. "Really excited to see our Phantom Bride IPA hit the shelves," said Chino. "As a huge beer connoisseur, it was a privilege collaborating with Belching Beaver on the flavor profiles and coming out with a beer that I would put right up with any of my favorites. Good stuff!" The beer ships from the brewery to distribution outlets in Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Hawaii, and California today and will be available to retailers and consumers where all great craft beer is sold, including BevMo!, on October 3. Phantom Bride IPA will be available on draft and in 22-oz. bottles. It is brewed and bottled by Belching Beaver Brewery, Vista or Oceanside, California. San Diego County. The beer is named after the multiplatinum, Grammy Award-winning alt-rock band's latest single "Phantom Bride", from their current album "Gore", which is currently Top 10 at Rock Radio.

Lucky fans in the Fullerton, California area will get a chance to taste the Phantom Bride IPA on tap for a limited time at a special kick-off event on October 5 starting at 8 p.m.

When: October 5Where: Slidebar122 E Commonwealth AveFullerton, CA 92832Time: 8 p.m. *band will not be present at this event DEFTONES is vocalist/guitarist Chino Moreno, guitarist Stephen Carpenter, keyboardist/samplist Frank Delgado, drummer Abe Cunningham and bassist Sergio Vega.

Long-running German metallers GRAVE DIGGER have set "Healed By Metal" as the title of their new album, due on January 13, 2017 via Napalm Records.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Healed By Metal02. When Night Falls03. Lawbreaker04. Forever Free05. Call For War06. Ten Commandments Of Metal07. The Hangman's Eye08. Kill Ritual09. Hallelujah10. Laughing With The Dead

Digipack bonus:

11. Kingdom Of The Night12. Bucket List

Check out the cover artwork below.

The band is currently supporting fellow Germans BLIND GUARDIAN on a North American tour.

GRAVE DIGGER's last CD was "Exhumation - The Early Years", a 35th-anniversary album containing re-recorded versions of the band's "absolute classics with a dynamic and powerful sound of 2015," according to a press release.

In a 2014 interview with Metal Blast, Boltendahl stated about GRAVE DIGGER's longevity: "This is the kind of music that I wanted to do when I was 12. When I was 18, I wanted to be a metal star. I worked hard for that, and I've always believed in the music I make. We've always gone our own way through the metal scene, and that's what has allowed us to be here. We are here, stronger than ever!"

Boltendahl also credited GRAVE DIGGER's strong work ethic for giving the band the inspiration to keep going, even in the hardest of times.

"We are Germans; we are very hard-working guys," he said. "We have a very straight kind of thinking, so if we start with something, we really want to carry on with it until the end. That's the magic of GRAVE DIGGER; we're always working hard. Our career goes up and down, we have good times and bad times, but we never think about stopping. We always want to give people the best we can do."

GRAVE DIGGER's last collection of all-new material, "Return Of The Reaper", was released in July 2014 via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded at Principal Studios (KREATOR, IN EXTREMO, GRAVE DIGGER) in Senden, Germany.

Vocalist Joe Lynn Turner, best known for fronting Ritchie Blackmore's RAINBOW during that band's creative peak in the 1980s and later as the frontman for Yngwie Malmsteen, has been called The Man With The Golden Voice, and it's easy to understand why; nearly everything Turner records sounds blessed by the gods of hard rock. His commanding presence, powerhouse range, and emotional resonance has made him the go-to vocalist for a number of artists. Now some of this session work is collected on a brand new collection of studio recordings called simply "The Sessions" and released on October 7 via Deadline Music. The CD release contains superb, supercharged versions of rock classics from "Lunatic Fringe" to AC/DC's "Back In Black", THE DOORS' "Riders On The Storm" to QUEEN's "Fat Bottomed Girls". The album also features guest appearances by Michael Schenker (UFO), Steve Lukather (TOTO), Steve Morse, Phil Collen (DEF LEPPARD), Brad Gillis (NIGHT RANGER), and more!

"The Sessions" track listing:

01. Stone Cold (with Vivian Campbell)02. Lunatic Fringe03. Let the Music Do the Talking (with Al Pitrelli, Carmine Rojas & Pat Torpey)04. Mirror Mirror (with Icarus Witch)05. Hellraiser (with Steve Lukather, Billy Sherwood, Jay Schellen & Paul Taylor)06. 14 Years07. Dance The Night Away (with Reb Beach)08. Back in Black (with Phil Collen)09. All Shook Up (with Michael Schenker)10. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You (with Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Tony Franklin & Doane Perry)11. All Day and All of the Night (with Brad Gillis, Rudy Sarzo & Simon Wright)12. Bloody Well Right (with Dave Kerzner)13. The Seeker (with Leslie West)14. Jungle Love (with Steve Morse)15. Two Minutes To Midnight (with Richie Kotzen)16. Fat Bottomed Girls (with Reb Beach)17. Riders On The Storm (with Tony Kaye & Steve Cropper)

Buy the CD at this location.

Joe Lynn Turner recently slammed Ritchie Blackmore for the guitarist's decision to go out and perform classic DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW material with a new group musicians instead of reforming RAINBOW with a more "authentic" lineup.

Regarding why he thinks Ritchie has chosen to go out with a whole new RAINBOW lineup instead of bringing back some of the musicians who played on the band's classic records, Joe said: "The first thing I think I can say is that he's been misguided by people around him. That's what I really believe. I believe he's been misguided, and I believe he trusts these people and I think that he made a mistake doing this."

He continued: "I wanted an authentic reunion. I wanted guys from Doogie [White] and Graham [Bonnet] and [bassist] Bob Daisley and [drummer Bobby] Rondinelli, and all these guys, and I wanted to have a RAINBOW extravaganza, because there are a lot of fans that love RAINBOW that still haven't even seen RAINBOW, and this would be the ticket for them — you know, maybe a two-hour extravaganza. So I guess the people, his advisers or whoever, could not sell him that particular [idea], or maybe they never even told him that. I actually have a feeling that he was not full of the information at the time, because certain things have come to pass that sort of indicated that he didn't know about it, to me."

Joe was the singer of RAINBOW between 1980 and 1984 and he sang on the album "Difficult To Cure", which featured the band's most successful U.K. single, "I Surrender".

During Turner's time with RAINBOW, the band had its first USA chart success and recorded songs that helped define the melodic rock genre.

Vocalist Fabio Lione has announced his departure from the Italian metal band RHAPSODY OF FIRE.

In a post on Facebook, Lione stated: "Dear all, fans, promoters, colleagues. I anticipated this to all band members in the last [three to four] months and now I sadly announce my final decision to part ways with RHAPSODY OF FIRE.

"Ain't no words to describe what this band represents to me, and I'm proud to have been part of such a big chapter of the power metal bible.

"It's time for me to write a new chapter of my life, as a musician and as a man.

"I wish RHAPSODY OF FIRE all the best, may their magic go ahead stronger than ever.

"Thank you Alex and Holzy, for this 20 years, ..Thanks you, Roberto, for your friendship and Alessandro for your sincere attitude and honesty."

Lione joined RHAPSODY OF FIRE in 1995, just after the "Eternal Glory" demo and before the release of the band's debut album, "Legendary Tales". He has made a total of eleven full-length studio albums with the band.

Fabio's new band, ETERNAL IDOL, will release its debut album, titled "The Unrevealed Secret", on December 2 via Frontiers Music Srl. Lione is joined in the group by the experienced Italian guitar player Nick Savio (ex-HOLLOW HAZE), young vocal rising star Giorgia Colleluori, Camillo Colleluori (both also from HOLLOW HAZE) on drums and Andrea Buratto (SECRET SPHERE, HELL IN THE CLUB) on bass.

During Monday's (September 26) Town Hall event at SiriusXM's New York studios, METALLICA revealed that the song "Murder One" from its forthcoming "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct" LP is a tribute to late MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy Kilmister and uses many of his songtitles in the lyrics.

"MOTÖRHEAD had a lot to do with METALLICA sitting here right now," METALLICA frontman James Hetfield said, according to Rolling Stone. "But just Lemmy as an entity, as kind of a father figure, he helped us a lot. He was unafraid. And he was a character. And he was himself. And we all respected that so much. He did his own thing to the last breath. No matter who you are, how could you not be inspired by that?"

"In the summer of 1981, I followed MOTÖRHEAD around on tour," METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich addd . "That was what made me want to be in a band. When I came back to Southern California and called up James and said, 'Listen, we've got to give this a shot,' ... MOTÖRHEAD is the catalyst."

Shortly after Lemmy's passing, Ulrich penned a lengthy tribute to the MOTÖRHEAD mainman in which looked back on the influence Lemmy had not just on METALLICA but also on him personally.

"I was down at [Lemmy's] 70th party [on December 13, 2015 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood], and I got a chance to sit with him for about ten minutes, just him and me. I told him that his obligation to the rock and roll community was to live forever because his birthday party was like a hard-rock class reunion," he wrote in part. "Everybody was there because Lemmy's one of the few people we can all agree on who is just the coolest guy ever. We would all show up. I told him it was his obligation to live forever, because he was the reason we could all get together and celebrate hard rock and celebrate MOTÖRHEAD and see familiar faces because we're all so scattered now. Obviously I could tell that he was in deteriorating health but we had a close bond, one that didn't necessarily need to be reaffirmed or articulated. The less we said the more we knew the connection was there."

Lars added: "Whenever METALLICA played L.A., [Lemmy] would always come and watch us, and whenever MOTÖRHEAD was up here, we'd always go and see them play. We probably crossed paths 50 to 100 times in the last 20 years, and he came and played with us onstage multiple times. It was a bond that deep and it goes back to the crazy summer of 1981.

"I will always appreciate and forever cherish all the great times we had together, but especially those early days. We were so vulnerable, so moldable because a significant part of who we've become, both in the band and as people, is directly due to not just him but all the rest of the people who were inspired and drank from the same bottles and shared the same stories and same space. His spirit will always live in us."

MOTÖRHEAD won the "Best Metal Performance" Grammy in 2005 for its cover version of the METALLICA song "Whiplash".

At a 1995 gig at the Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood, members of METALLICA celebrated Lemmy's 50th birthday by taking the stage as a wigged tribute band dubbed the LEMMYS.

In a 2011 interview with Metal Insider, Lemmy said: "You can't top METALLICA. They're really a fucking excellent band. I'm delighted that they said that I was one of their influences. Like, they have all of their influences, and you can't hear the influences in them, which is great. They've become their own people, and that's great. I like them a lot. I've spent a lot of time with those boys."

In their 26 years together, the only thing as steady as Opeth's quality has been their growth. 2011's Heritage signaled the most tectonic shift, with Sweden's premier progressive death metal act suddenly vaporizing the bear-roar vocals and leaning all the way into their prog side. 2014's Pale Communion continued the adventure masterfully, and this Friday's Sorceress, Opeth's 12th studio album, is—spoiler alert—equally stellar.

Fuse spoke with 42-year-old vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt about why he's never written lyrics in Swedish, seriousness vs. fun in metal, and exactly how unamused his daughters are with his stardom.

Fuse: Congratulations on Sorceress. Have you felt the need to beckon fans along as your sound has changed, or are you not really fussed with it, just leave them to pick up the trail or leave it?

Mikael Åkerfeldt: I'm not really bothered. I mean, I love our fans, what can I say? We've been around for 26 years and I'm not sure how many fans have been there since the beginning. Overall we have respect for them, but it kind of ends when it comes to what we're gonna do on the creative side. We just do what we want to do, basically. It's been the same since the beginning, and I figure that's our style. We don't necessarily use this band to try to gain popularity or to be successful. That's nice, of course—it's easy for me to say that now that I'm fairly successful, but we've never done music for that reason. I don't really care what fans think, but I love it if they like it.

There a big divide in metal between being serious and being fun. Your albums have always been pretty straight-faced, but at your shows you seem to be having a great time, you're chatty, there's a lighter atmosphere in the room. Is that dichotomy something you've looked at over the years?

I've been exposed to that quite a few times. I've been forced in photo sessions to look serious—and equally I've been forced to look like, "Give us a funny face." And I don't like either. When we're playing live, I want it to be fun, because I get tense. I'm a bit nervous when I walk up onstage, and that type of talk works as a means for me to calm down. And somehow everybody calms down. It feels like if I say something stupid onstage, it kinda brings it from those types of superstar, hero type figures that some people think we are, to just being a couple guys onstage, which makes me much more comfortable.

Besides, if we get rid of that type of rock-star thing, they will forgive us for fucking up onstage too [laughs]. But for sure, to answer your question, yes, I've seen that type of distance between the serious metal people who would never smile because it's not cool enough, and the other side.

Do you see Opeth on one side or the other?

We're somewhere in between, I guess. We don't really think too much about it. The music is always gonna be serious. There's some humor on the records, I guess, musically and in the artwork, at least on the later records. The music is very serious for us. I don't make fun, ha-ha type music. I've never been interested in that type of stuff. But you mix it up a little bit.

Do you ever write lyrics in Swedish and translate them?

I don't think I've written a lyric in Swedish ever, to be honest. I might have tried back in the day at some point, to write something that I fully understood in Swedish, and then translate it into English, but it didn't come out right. My lyrics overall, I guess they're quite pretentious at times, but I don't feel so pretentious when I write in English. If I write in my native tongue, it's like, "Oh my god, who the fuck do I think I am?" So it's very difficult for me. And I might write equally stupid and cringe-worthy lyrics in English, but at least I'm not completely aware of it, because it's not my first language.

But I think most Opeth fans would agree that in this band music comes first and lyrics second. Of course, part of the music is what I'm singing—if I'm having a vocal line, it's helpful if the lyric I'm singing is good. I think our fans who have English as their native tongue are quite forgiving. I might have like grammatical errors or write something superbly pretentious and stupid, and they're like, "Aww, it's fine, he's Swedish, they don't know better."

The Gothenburg bands, you guys and Meshuggah sucked me into metal as a kid. I always wondered how and why you were all writing songs in English in the early '90s.

Swedish...I mean, our language is... you know, the fucking Muppets made fun of Swedish forever, the Swedish Chef and all that stuff. These bands you mentioned, we're all pretty much the same age, born in the '70s and grew up with metal and fell in love with metal. And every single band we listened to, it didn't matter if they came out of Germany or from Switzerland or Sweden, everybody was singing in English. So I don't think anybody really even discussed whether we're gonna sing in Swedish or in English. It was a set decision before anybody even talked about it: The lyrics are gonna be in English. And Swedish people are generally quite known for speaking English quite well. When I went to school, ages ago now, I started learning English in second or third grade—third, I think—and same for everybody from my year. So everybody's quite advanced.

So this one's called Sorceress. Do you have an iconic sorceress in your head?

Not an iconic one. In the U.S., touring back in the day, I used to pick up '60s [and] '70s horror films from Amoeba Records, especially, in L.A., pick these DVDs up for fairly cheap. So I used to watch those, but it was the whole imagery of that, and that word resonated with me for some reason once I wrote it in a lyric. I figured that's a good title, actually. But I wouldn't say I have a particular sorceress in mind, it's more of a collective word for...I don't want to say evil women, but I'll say evil women anyway.

You're playing Radio City Music Hall in New York this weekend, the day after the album drops. That's a prestigious place.

It is. I mean, we're doing some of those prestigious places, and we've done some in the past, too. I think it's cool. That's actually a decision from the management—they want to book us into these venues as a promotional tool to a certain extent, but also what happened as we played Royal Albert Hall and stuff like that, it kind of opens the gate for bands like us, if you know what I mean. We have, if I may say so myself, pioneered some of these venues when it comes to more heavy music, and after us there's a shitload of bands coming in. I'm pretty sure we're gonna see that more and more. Not just Radio City Music Hall, but especially Sydney Opera House, which was difficult for us to get. We asked them before and they said no, like, "Bands of your kind don't play the Opera House." But now they've somehow said yes.

Do you have a different feeling when you're backstage there or when the show's getting close? Do you feel out of place at all, is it just another show?

I always feel out of place. But that's a paradox, because those posh, nice venues, they usually have shit dressing rooms. Like, tiny fucking shit dressing rooms you can barely get in with the whole band. And once you step out onstage it's all beautiful, but backstage it's usually quite miserable.

Do you mean you only feel out of place at these fussier venues, or in general?

No, all venues. But I feel out of place on the subway. I'm perhaps not normal that way. But, yeah—I don't feel I belong anywhere, really.

What are some situations people might be surprised to know you find uncomfortable?

Well, the stage is one. Oh, there's one place I feel actually comfortable, in my home, of course. Or in my girlfriend's home, and in the studio. I love being in the studio. But onstage, not comfortable really. Backstage, on the tour bus where there's lots of people, especially if you're on tour and there's lots of people who know who I am, I get uncomfortable. But I also get uncomfortable where there's lots of people who don't know who I am, so I guess...[laughs]. I think I might I have to go to some therapy.

What do your daughters think of your music?

They're indifferent. They don't necessarily like my music—I think my youngest daughter said it bluntly, like, "I don't like your music." Ah, I love you too.

My older daughter I think is secretly proud. She usually checks out which song is the most popular on Spotify, the song that has the most plays, or whatever. But none of them are interested in our music, really. I brought them out to shows, festivals, and I can be onstage and I have them get a seat on the side of the stage so they can watch. And then I start playing, and I feel like, "Okay, we're doing well, it's sounding good, Daddy's cool." And I look over to them and they're just looking down into their cell phones. They don't think I'm cool at all. And they think my music sucks. But I make good pancakes.

Did you ever think about being a parent and a musician at the same time, what it would be like?

No, it was a scary thought. When I was younger and I was a musician, I felt like a kid, or I felt childish, because I didn't have much education to fall back on, I didn't have a good job, I didn't make any money. So I felt like a child for longer than the people in my school. Having kids felt a bit like on the same level as going to Mars, pretty much. But then my best friend had a child, which is my godson, actually, and that set off, as it usually does, it kind of set off a trend. I saw that he was fucking more miserable than I was, and I figured, if he can do it, I can have kids. And lo and behold.

SOUNDGARDEN guitarist Kim Thayil says that the band has "rough demos of a dozen or so songs" for the follow-up to 2012's comeback album, "King Animal". The group started work on a new record last year, but took a break while frontman Chris Cornell toured last fall and earlier this year in support of his latest solo effort, "Higher Truth".

Speaking to "Whiplash", the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie, Thayil said about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the next SOUNDGARDEN record (hear audio below): "Right now, there are some other projects that are taking up bandmembers' time. Matt's [Cameron, drums] got some PEARL JAM touring and projects. Matt and Chris [Cornell, vocals] together, of course, are working on this TEMPLE OF THE DOG [reunion] thing.

"Over the past year, we've had a number of songwriting and jam sessions, SOUNDGARDEN, getting together to simply exchange ideas and document and record them. So we have some rough demos of a dozen or so songs. We'll continue to do this as everyone's schedule lightens up and opens up. And hopefully by next year we'll find ourselves in the studio fleshing out these ideas."

Thayil also talked about how SOUNDGARDEN's creative process for making a new album has changed from when the band first achieved success.

"The most exciting thing was having the new material be as fresh, and to add to the new material with the individual musical experiences we've acquired over the past decade or so," he said. "That kept everything with the same songwriting and personnel dynamic, that's augmented that personal dynamic with these new ideas and new music and new experiences that we've acquired over the past decade or so."

he continued: "With any relationship — with family or loved ones or boyfriend and girlfriend — sometimes after a period of time, you grow apart; you grow apart when you're together, you grow apart when you're away. But after this long period of time, we're still sort of where we're at with each other, and that's been a very positive thing. Probably because over those years when the band was not together, we were all still in touch and all still sharing similar social circles and the same friends, so we were always constantly doing things together and running into each other. It was just a matter of getting the four of us all on the same page and willing to put our nose to the grindstone and do the work that was required to keep the SOUNDGARDEN machine going the way it was when we split in the late '90s. I think the added maturity and growth is probably a bonus as well."

SOUNDGARDEN reunited in 2010 after a 13-year layoff, touring and then eventually writing new material that became the basis for "King Animal", its first new studio album in 16 years.

In addition to "King Animal", SOUNDGARDEN has issued a live CD, a greatest hits compilation and a two-disc collection of B-sides, outtakes and rarities.

"Whiplash" airs every Monday night from 10:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on the Los Angeles radio station 95.5 KLOS. The show can be heard on the KLOS web site at 955klos.com or you can listen in on the KLOS channel on iHeartRadio. Full Metal Jackie also hosts a nationally syndicated radio program, which can be heard all over the country.

To see a full list of stations carrying Full Metal Jackie's show and when it airs, go to FullMetalJackieRadio.com.

X Japan drummer/founder Yoshiki Hayashi recently spoke to South China Morning Post about the band's forthcoming English language - their first - and the award winning We Are X documentary. Following is an excerpt from the story:

Though X Japan have been performing around the world since reuniting in 2007, Hayashi admits they are not widely recognised outside of Asia. That may change now, as the new album will be sung in English – breaking down the language barrier that critics believe has stopped the band reaching a wider audience.

“There are still a lot of challenges ahead. I don’t know how many people in the West are ready for artists such as us, coming from the East. There are still walls between the East and the West, a culture barrier. Being an artist from Asia, to go overseas and to perform in Western countries, it’s not easy.”

He reckons X Japan is helping pave the way for the next generation of Asian artists.
“We want to break that wall for new artists so they can become popular anywhere in the world.”

Go to this location for the complete report.

Drafthouse Films has announced today that they will release Stephen Kijak's We Are X in New York and Los Angeles on October 21st, followed by nationwide expansion. Since its premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival--where it was awarded the Special Jury Prize for editing--the film has continued to garner critical acclaim due to its remarkably candid portrayal of its enigmatic subject, Yoshiki, leader of the Japanese band X Japan.

Since then, We Are X  has played to sold-out audiences on the festival circuit, including at the 2016 SXSW Film Festival and was the most tweeted about topic during the week of SXSW only after the festival's keynote speaker, President Barack Obama. Audiences at both the Sundance and SXSW screenings were treated to exclusive performances by Yoshiki, and similar eventized concert presentations of the film are planned for its theatrical release.

"You will not believe the trials and tribulations that the arena-filling, mega-band X Japan have faced in their 30 year career," says Drafthouse Films founder Tim League. "This documentary will leave you equally breathless and uplifted.  It is the best music doc of the year, and we are honored to bring it to American audiences."

"After spending two years making this film, we are really delighted that the uniquely experienced Tim League, Tom Quinn and Drafthouse Films will be masterminding its theatrical life in the U.S.," says John Battsek of Passion Pictures. "Their passion and commitment to the film mirror ours and we are excited to work with them through the film's release."

From the production team behind the Oscar-winning Searching for Sugar Man comes We Are X, a transcendent rock & roll story about X Japan, the world's biggest and most successful band you've never heard of...yet.

Under the enigmatic direction of drummer, pianist, composer and producer Yoshiki, X Japan has sold over 30 million singles and albums combined--captivating such a wide range of admirers as Sir George Martin, KISS, Stan Lee, and even the Japanese Emperor--and pioneered a spectacle-driven style of visual rock, creating a one-of-a-kind cultural phenomenon.

Chronicling the band's exhilarating, tumultuous and unimaginable history over the past three decades--persevering through personal, physical and spiritual heartache--the film culminates with preparations for their breathtaking reunion concert at New York's legendary Madison Square Garden. Directed by acclaimed documentarian Stephen Kijak (Stones in Exile, Scott Walker: 30 Century Man), We Are X is an astonishingly intimate portrait of a deeply haunted--but truly unstoppable--virtuoso and the music that has enthralled legions of the world's most devoted fans.

The film was produced by John Battsek of Passion Pictures, producer of two Academy Award winning documentaries (Searching For Sugar Man, One Day in September).

Guitarist and composer Steve Vai is among the inductees for this year's class of the Long Island Music Hall Of Fame. This year's class of inductees also includes legendary music executive Charles Koppelman, singer/songwriter Garland Jeffreys, film composer Carter Burwell, hip-hop performer Big Daddy Kane, legendary songwriters/instrumentalists Santo & Johnny, early jazz specialist/bandleader Vince Giordano, and Westbury Music Fair, now the NYCB Theater at Westbury. The LIMHOF will also present the 2016 Harry Chapin Award to Steven Van Zandt for his dedication to music education on Long Island and across the country. Additionally, LIMHOF honors the 2015 and 2016 Music Educators of Note — Long Island public or private school educators who have demonstrated an exceptional and long-term commitment to music education, as well as Long Island music students.

All of the inductees were selected from LIMHOF's evolving and growing list of involved people, artists, groups and entities that were born, raised, were founded, or have resided on Long Island for a significant portion of their career or existence.

On Thursday, November 3, 2016, the sixth induction awards ceremony and fundraising gala with a star-studded red carpet event will take place at The Space at Westbury, 250 Post Avenue, Westbury, New York.

In addition to tributes, performances and introductions by the class of inductees, the induction ceremony will host a variety of celebrity appearances, musical performances and visits from former inductees.

"On behalf of myself and the entire Board of Directors of the Long Island Music Hall Of Fame, we are thrilled to have a new class of inductees join a long list of incredible people who have made their mark on the music industry," said Joe Jankowski, executive director of the Long Island Music Hall Of Fame. "This induction ceremony is set to be one of our best yet and as always, we have quite a few surprises up our sleeves."

"I am very pleased that the Long Island Music Hall Of Fame has chosen The Space at Westbury for its prestigious induction ceremony. We look forward to hosting this extraordinary event," said Cyrus Hakakian, founder and owner of The Space at Westbury.

General seating starts at $95 ($75 presale) and are available through Ticketmaster. Premium VIP table seating and sponsorships are available, which includes an exclusive VIP pre-induction awards dinner party, performances, and awards ceremony.

STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor has confirmed to Matt Pinfield in a new interview that the band has written and demoed eighteen songs for its sixth studio album, with plans to hit the studio in January for a likely mid-2017 release.

"I am so stoked," Corey said. "Oh, my god. We're gonna go in in January to record for a couple of months [and] hopefully get it out late spring, early summer of next year. And it'll be the first album that we're doing with [Johny] Chow, our bass player, and Christian Martucci, our new guitar player. And it is fantastic. I mean, we've already got eighteen songs written. And it is some of the best material we've ever written. It is so good, and it is such a great amalgam of all of these different styles that we just absolutely love. It's got a little bit of the heavy, like we like to do, but it's also way more hard rock — way more rock 'n' roll and hard rock than heavy. I mean, there's even a little bit of punk in there. And there's an energy there that is gonna decimate and blow away a lot of stuff that comes out next year. That's how excited I am."

The recording sessions for the next STONE SOUR album will take place at Sphere Studios in Los Angeles. "We're gonna record it the old-fashioned way," Taylor explained. "We're gonna get us all in the room. We're gonna record it together; we're gonna have that energy bouncing off of each other. It's gonna be a modern throwback, let's put it that way, and it's gonna destroy people."

He continued: "We're gonna co-produce ourselves with a good friends of ours named Jay Ruston, who has done a lot of work with a lot of different people. He has produced and mixed STEEL PANTHER, ANTHRAX [and] a bunch of different other people. He also mixed the two 'House Of Gold And Bones' albums that we put out, and he mixed the two covers EPs that STONE SOUR put out as well. So we have a great relationship with him, and he's somebody we really trust and we absolutely love to work with. So we're really looking forward to going in with him and really making a kick-ass rock 'n' roll album."

Corey added: "We're really excited, man. Just the demos alone are so good that it's just, like, 'Dude, this is gonna destroy!'"

STONE SOUR, has released two EPs of cover songs — "Meanwhile In Burbank…" and "Straight Out Of Burbank" — and was slated to issue a third, titled "No Sleep 'Till Burbank", but those plans now appear to have been scrapped.

STONE SOUR last year named Christian Martucci as the permanent replacement for Jim Root, who was dismissed from the band in late 2013 after he decided to sit out the group's last tour in order to begin working on the new SLIPKNOT album. Martucci was recruited to play on that tour and was confirmed as a permanent member in March 2015 in a Facebook post.

Root did not speak kindly of STONE SOUR in interviews after he was fired, saying, "Some of the guys in STONE SOUR, I think they just want to be a radio band and write strictly for radio and try to be more of a poppy rock band. And that's not really what I'm into. There's at least one guy in the band that's only concerned about money. I really have no desire to associate with people like that anymore."

Root played on all five STONE SOUR studio records to date, including 2010's "Audio Secrecy" and the band's last collection of original music, "House Of Gold And Bones", a double concept album which was released in two parts in 2012 and 2013.

Interview (audio):

According to Billboard, "Popestar", the new EP from Swedish occult rockers GHOST, sold 21,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The effort landed at position No. 1 on both Billboard's Top Rock Albums and Hard Rock Albums charts.

Meanwhile, the new GHOST original song "Square Hammer", which is featured on "Popestar", has entered multiple Billboard charts, including Hard Rock Digital Song Sales at No. 7 (3,000 downloads sold), No. 33 on the Mainstream Rock Songs airplay chart, No. 36 on Rock Digital Song Sales and No. 41 on Hot Rock Songs.

"Popestar" was released on September 16. The effort includes covers of songs from bands like ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN and EURYTHMICS along with "Square Hammer".

"Popestar" was helmed by English producer Tom Dalgety, who has previously worked with ROYAL BLOOD and KILLING JOKE, among others.

A Nameless Ghoul told myROCK about GHOST's new EP: "The EP will sort of connect with 'Meliora', so it's not [going to feature] a new Papa [Editor's note: In a parody of the Catholic Church's tradition of papal succession, GHOST singer Papa Emeritus is purportedly replaced by a new Papa for each GHOST album.], it's not a new album; it's gonna be like an extension of 'Meliora'. That is gonna prolong the tour. So we're gonna do an American tour in the fall, and then we're gonna come back to Europe in the beginning of next year and do a bigger, sort of final 'Meliora' show. And in between now and then, we will work on the new album, and after the European tour in the beginning of [2017], we're gonna go into the studio and record a new album."

GHOST kicked off the "Popestar" U.S. tour on September 16, with dates scheduled through November 12 in Brooklyn, New York.

Sharon Osbourne says that she and Ozzy have worked out their issues after he had an extramarital affair earlier in the year.

Sharon spoke about the state of her marriage during an appearance on last night's episode of "Conan".

The couple reportedly split up earlier this year after his infidelity, but Ozzy has since been in therapy for sex addiction.

Asked by host Conan O'Brien if she and Ozzy "worked it out and talked about it," Sharon replied: "It wasn't as easy as that, but we worked it out."

"It's tough, you know, when you're an addict," Sharon added. "He likes too much alcohol, he likes too much drugs, he likes too much sex. Everything is too much, so it's tough for somebody that suffers with that."

According to The Pulse Of Radio, Ozzy last month apologized to the women with whom he has had extramarital sexual relationships and admitted to undergoing therapy for sex addiction. Ozzy's statement came out in the wake of the first interview given by Michelle Pugh, the celebrity hairstylist whose four-year affair with the BLACK SABBATH singer was discovered by Sharon and nearly ended their 33-year marriage.

In an interview with People, Pugh revealed: "When I say he gave me the greatest love of my life, I mean it. He made me feel like the most beautiful and worshipped woman in the world." She added that Ozzy was "unhappy" in his marriage and that she connected with the singer on an "emotional level."

The response issued by reps for Ozzy said: "Over the last six years, Ozzy Osbourne has been dealing with a sex addiction. He is sorry if Ms. Pugh took their sexual relationship out of context. He would like to apologize to the other women he has been having sexual relationships with." The statement added: "Ozzy has gone into intense therapy. Ozzy is mortified at what his behavior has done to his family. He thanks God that his incredible wife Sharon is at his side to support him.”

Ozzy reportedly pursued Pugh for a year after she first colored his hair in late 2011.

Sharon reportedly learned of Ozzy's affair by having a private investigator look into his activities. A source told In Touch that Sharon "found out that Ozzy was spending a lot of money. She wanted to know what he was buying and who he was buying it for. The investigator discovered that he was basically living a double life."

Ozzy is in the midst of a year-long farewell tour with SABBATH and has also reportedly been working on a new solo album.

Ozzy's cheating may also have legal ramifications. His four-year affair with Pugh may end up costing his daughter, Kelly Osbourne, a decent chunk of change. Michelle has filed a lawsuit against her for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and public disclosure of public facts. The former "Fashion Police" co-host tweeted Michelle's phone number after news of the fling first broke and wrote, "Anyone looking for cheap chunky LOW-light and blow out and a blow*** call..." Michelle is seeking an unspecified amount in compensatory and punitive damages as well as "other relief."

"The Hunt", the new video from Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based melodic death metallers THE AGONIST, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's upcoming album, "Five", which will be released on September 30 via and Napalm Records. The CD was recorded with producer Mike Plotnikoff, who has previously worked with BUCKCHERRY, OTEP, HALESTORM, DROWNING POOL, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, 3 DOORS DOWN, FEAR FACTORY, FLYLEAF and SKILLET, among others.

"Five" track listing:

01. The Moment02. The Chain03. The Anchor and The Sail04. The Game05. The Ocean06. The Hunt07. The Raven Eyes08. The Wake09. The Resurrection10. The Villain11. The Pursuit of Emptiness12. The Man Who Fell to Earth13. The Trial14. Take Me to Church (HOZIER cover) (bonus edition only)

Said THE AGONIST guitarist Danny Marino: "We are so anxious to release this record to our fans and the rest of the world!

"This album represents another shift in the evolution of THE AGONIST!

"Vicky [Psarkis, vocals] and I went even deeper into what makes a song really connect.

"I'm very proud of everyone's hard work making this the most diverse and interesting record for us to date!

"It was a great learning experience working with Mike Plotnikoff and fully immersing ourselves in the recording process 24/7.

"Just as much as we are excited to release this album, we are psyched to get back out on the road and connect directly with our fans! Europe gets the first taste before we unleash on North America this November with EPICA." Psarkis added: "Being in THE AGONIST for over two years now and after releasing my debut album with the band and numerous tours, I can say that 'Five' is the record where I believe that we finally found our sound!

"There's a certain confidence that comes with experience and there's something about being fully comfortable that can take your approach towards songwriting to a whole other level.

"Working on the lyrics and vocals on this album was an incredibly natural process.

"Halfway into the pre-production, we realized that a lot of our songs seemed to be telling a story and hearing the album in its entirety is like escaping into our world."

Norwegian rockers KVELERTAK have released the official music video for "Svartmesse", from their celebrated new LP "Nattesferd" which arrived this past May. The clip, which was directed by Torjus Førre Erfjord of Raindog Films, can be seen below.

The band commented on the videos creation, stating: "It's made by our good friend Torjus Førre Erfjord who has previously made the videos for 'Blodtørst' and 'Evig Vandrar'. As well as featuring his own unique style of animation, this video has a darker and more sinister tone that goes hand in hand with the lyrics of the song."

Next month KVELERTAK will embark on a Nordic headline tour which gets under way October 13 in their home country of Norway. Following the Nordic dates, KVELERTAK will then embark on a headline tour of Europe which gets under way November 16 in Berlin and features support from SKELETONWITCH.

Recorded live in Oslo, Norway's Amper Tone Studio, "Nattesferd" was produced by KVELERTAK and mixed/engineered by Nick Terry (LINDSTRØM, TURBONEGRO, THE LIBERTINES). It is the first of KVELERTAK's albums to be recorded in their home country of Norway. "Nattesferd" follows 2013's "Meir" which made a stunning international impact, earning the six-piece numerous "Best of 2013" honors.

KVELERTAK is Erlend Hjelvik (vocals), Vidar Landa (guitar), Bjarte Lund Rolland (guitar), Maciek Ofstad (guitars), Marvin Nygaard (bass) and Kjetil Gjermundrød (drums).