Seventh Wonder's first live album, Welcome To Atlanta Live 2014, will be released on September 23rd. Pre-orders are available here. Listen to the track “Taint The Sky”, streaming below.

One of the major draws of the fifteenth edition of ProgPower USA, that was the opportunity to get to see Sweden's finest progressive metal band, Seventh Wonder perform their signature album Mercy Falls in its entirety. And judging by the crowd's reaction on that night, it was obvious that the fans had been waiting for this for a long time. Not content, the band played again the following day to a crowd of gold badge-holders and VIPs, including singer Tommy Karevik's mates from his other band Kamelot, and performed a bunch of songs from other albums which were not played the night before.

All in all it was a genuine and raw performance and this live album sums up very well all the best material included in Seventh Wonder's acclaimed first four albums and lets you know what to expect in terms of direction of new material to come. In fact, the band decided to round out this amazing release with two studio tracks. One is the awesome "Inner Enemy", already available on YouTube (streaming below). The other song, "The Promise", is an epic track of almost 10 minutes in length which highlights the multifaceted talents of this band.

Bass player Andreas Blomqvist says, "It has been a dream of mine for many, many years to be able to record and release a solid live product. Fans of music such as ours usually enjoy watching live performances, as the musicianship is often very much in focus. "Mercy Falls" was the perfect album to bring to the live setting, but we just never had a chance to pull it off before. Finally the stars aligned, and we made it happen. As icing on the cake, Frontiers stepped in to release it for us, which we are delighted about. We are very happy with the way it turned out, and the mix is nothing short of amazing! I am thrilled to be able to bring you guys this release and thankful that Frontiers chooses to prioritize this release right away, so that the fans starved for Seventh Wonder releases at last gets something solid to sink their teeth into while waiting for the upcoming studio album!"

This album aptly closes the first chapter of the band's history and works as a tasty appetizer for the new studio album planned for release in early 2017.

Welcome To Atlanta Live 2014 will be available in two physical configurations: a 2 DVD set and a very special, limited edition deluxe digibook containing 2 CDs and 2 DVDs. Final tracklisting below (CD version is only available in the deluxe edition 2CD/2DVD).

DVD1 - Mercy Falls Live
“A New Beginning”
“There And Back” (overture)
“Welcome To Mercy Falls”
“Unbreakable”
“Tears For A Father”
“A Day Away”
“Tears For A Son”
“Paradise”
“Fall In Line”
“Break The Silence”
“Hide And Seek”
“Destiny Calls”
“One Last Goodbye”
“Back In Time”
“The Black Parade”

Encore:
“Inner Enemy”
 
DVD2 - Bonus Tracks
“Taint The Sky”
“Banish The Wicked”
“Alley Cat”
“Walking Tall”
“The Edge Of My Blade”
“King Of Whitewater”
“Seventh Wonder Odyssey”
 
CD1 - Mercy Falls Live (Deluxe Edition only)
“A New Beginning”
“There And Back” (overture)
“Welcome To Mercy Falls”
“Unbreakable”
“Tears For A Father”
“A Day Away”
“Tears For A Son”
“Paradise”
“Fall In Line”
“Break The Silence”
“Hide And Seek”
“Destiny Calls”
“One Last Goodbye”
“Back In Time”
“The Black Parade”
 
CD2 - Bonus Tracks (Deluxe Edition only)
“Taint The Sky”
“Banish The Wicked”
“Alley Cat”
“Walking Tall”
“The Edge Of My Blade”
“King Of Whitewater”
“Seventh Wonder Odyssey”
“Inner Enemy” (new studio track)
“The Promise” (new studio track)

“Taint The Sky”:

“Alley Cat”:

“Welcome To Mercy Falls”:

Trailer:

“Inner Enemy”:

Seventh Wonder lineup:

Vocals: Tommy Karevik
Bass: Andreas Blomqvist
Guitar: Johan Liefvendahl
Keys: Andreas Söderin
Drums: Stefan Norgren

"Blood Moon", the new video from GIRAFFE TONGUE ORCHESTRA, the band featuring ALICE IN CHAINS singer William DuVall alongside members of MASTODON and THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, can be seen below. The track is taken from GIRAFFE TONGUE ORCHESTRA's debut album, "Broken Lines", which will be released on September 23 via Party Smasher Inc./ Cooking Vinyl.

DuVall recently told the Rock 98-9 radio station about "Broken Lines": "It's a serious, serious album, man. I could not be more proud of this thing. We just pushed each other to new heights all around, and it's amazing… It's such a dynamic record, and it's just so powerful. And these are some of the best lyrics that I've ever written, because I was pushed to write to this really cinematic soundtrack."

Regarding GIRAFFE TONGUE ORCHESTRA's musical direction, DuVall said: "It has a lot of what people might expect in terms of heavy, progressive… a lot of riffing, a lot of stuff going on… A lot of beats per minute, a lot of beats per second. I mean, Thomas, he can scramble the eggs like nobody else. So there is a lot of that. There's a feast for the senses. For all the musicians and musos out there, we've got you covered. But as much of that heavy, progressive stuff is there, there are also more, shall I say, straightforward, for lack of a better way of putting it, there's more straightforward tunes, but they still have the drive and the attitude and the go-for-the-throat quality. But, you know, a couple of them you might even be able to dance to as much as headbang to. We all have eclectic tastes, and we wanted to represent all of that."

GIRAFFE TONGUE ORCHESTRA — whose lineup also includes Ben Weinman of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, Brent Hinds of MASTODON, DETHKLOK bassist Pete Griffin and former THE MARS VOLTA drummer Thomas Prigden — made its live debut at this year's Reading (August 27) and Leeds (August 28) festivals in the United Kingdom.

Weinman told the "Rock Show" about GIRAFFE TONGUE ORCHESTRA: "This band has been the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life. Many times I considered just giving up on it, because it just seemed like it wasn't meant to be. From the very start, it was something that was just supposed to be fun and kind of casual, so, in essence, even if it didn't work out, that would have been fine. For some reason, Brent and I kept just wanting to continue to try to find the right kind of chemistry to make this happen, and William actually was the first guy we ever talked to about singing with this project when it was just me and Brent, interestingly enough."

From adventurous progressive-metal epics like "Crucifixion", "Broken Lines" and "Fragments & Ashes" to pounding rock anthems like "Adapt Or Die" and "Back To The Light" (featuring a vocal cameo from actress and singer Juliette Lewis), to future crossover classics like the gorgeous power ballad "All We Have Is Now" and the electrifying made-for-radio dance-rock of "Everyone Gets Everything They Really Want", and the equally propulsive "Blood Moon", GIRAFFE TONGUE ORCHESTRA's debut album promises to be one of the most exciting releases of 2016.

The GIRAFFE TONGUE ORCHESTRA name itself represents strength and ingenuity. Hinds explained: "During the time MASTODON was [in Australia] for Soundwave, I was at the zoo in Sydney and was checking out the giraffes. They are amazing animals. One just grabbed a bunch of bananas from my hand with its tongue and peeled them with it as well. By the time the bananas got to its mouth, they were ready to be eaten. I saw Ben who was at Soundwave too and said, 'Man, I think I found the name for our band,' and told him the story." Ben added: "That giraffe made it happen… like us, he figured it out." When asked about the genesis of "Broken Lines", DuVall shared: "Writing lyrics for these songs was somewhat like writing for film — the mood shifts rapidly and drastically within a song … sometimes the whole scene changes. There were a lot of times where, if you were trying to impose conventional rock songwriting standards on this, you'd be in a whole world of trouble."

As unconventional as the creation process was, what brought the core of the band together was simple — mutual admiration and friendship. "Brent, William, and myself have all been friends for a long time," said Weinman. "Finishing the GTO record with William completes the puzzle. He is a man of diverse talents, and this band gives him the opportunity to spread his wings."

"Broken Lines" track listing:

01. Adapt Or Die02. Crucificion03. No-One Is Innocent04. Blood Moon05. Fragments & Ashes06. Back To The Light07. All We Have Is Now08. Everyone Gets Everything They Really Want09. Thieves And Whores10. Broken Lines

Appearing on two tracks is QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE's Jon Theodore.

Kai Hansen, earMUSIC and Wacken Foundation are gearing up for the release of "XXX - Three Decades In Metal", the first solo album by Hansen, one of the most influential guitarists and singers to emerge from Germany during the first part of the '80s.

Hansen first made his name with the ground-breaking band HELLOWEEN (of which he is one of the founding members) and later with GAMMA RAY, one of the bands that contributed to define the genre power metal, bringing it to generation of devoted fans worldwide since its first album.

"XXX" is, in pure Hansen tongue-in-cheek style, a reference to over 30 years of involvement in the world of heavy rock, as explained with the album's sub-title, "Three Decades In Metal".

The album will be released tomorrow, September 16, via earMUSIC as 1CD, 2CD Special Edition including all 11 songs with Hansen on vocals, 2LP and digital.

"XXX - Three Decades In Metal" track listing:

01. Born Free02. Enemies Of Fun (featuring Ralf Scheepers & Piet Sielck)03. Contract Sun (featuring Dee Snider & Steve McT as The Manger)04. Making Headlines (featuring Tobias Sammet)05. Stranger In Time (featuring Michael Kiske, Frank Beck, Tobias Sammet & Roland Grapow - guitar solo)06. Fire And Ice (featuring Clémentine Delauney, Marcus Bischoff, Richard Sjunnesson & Michael Weikath - guitar solo)07. Left Behind (featuring Alexander Dietz & Clémentine Delauney)08. All Or Nothing (featuring Clémentine Delauney)09. Burning Bridges (featuring Eike Freese)10. Follow The Sun (featuring Hansi Kürsch & Tim Hansen - guitar solo)

Check out audio samples below.

Shot at Chameleon Studio in Hamburg where the album also was recorded, the video for "Born Free" perfectly captures the essence of the song. Starting with the line "Born in the city of Hamburg, in 1963…," Kai sets the direction for his solo debut — a reference, a bow to his home town which is also represented in the images. Hansen roars into the mic like his life depends on it — like a wild, unleashed beast — and breaks free with liberating screams. Add explosive guitar solos, heavy riffs and the stellar line up that is Alex Dietz (guitar player of HEAVEN SHALL BURN) on bass, Eike Freese on guitar and phenomenal drummer Daniel Wilding (CARCASS) to the mix, and you get everything you ever searched for in metal/hard rock.

Or as Hansen puts it in "Born Free": "It made me feel so groovy — it gave me instant heat."

"XXX - Three Decades In Metal" is a magical journey. It is the story of how powerful dreams can be. Dreams and passions big enough to bring a teenager from Hamburg who is in love with rock music, glam rock and the first heavy metal sounds from the practicing space in his bedroom and rehearsal rooms to the biggest stages in the world practicing, and ending up influencing and sharing the stage with the very same bands he admired in the first place.

Not strictly autobiographical, "XXX - Three Decades In Metal" is without doubt the story of Kai Hansen but it could very well represent the story of anybody who is not afraid to believe in dreams, with passion and dedication. It is the story of the ups and downs that everybody faces at some point during the journey of life: the lost-and-found-again friends, the glory, the tragedies and the joys.

After the achievements enjoyed by Hansen lately with UNISONIC and especially GAMMA RAY's recent work "Empire Of The Undead", Kai Hansen started working on the album with no precise commercial masterplan — just playing music with the same spirit as in the very beginning. This certainly was the reason for Hansen to communicate to his label the intention of donating the first advance payment he will receive for "XXX" — which in the meantime has shaped into a proper album — to the Wacken Foundation, a foundation which helps and supports young hard rock and heavy metal bands for over seven years now: musicians full of hopes and dreams, exactly as Hansen had in the beginning of the thirty years story told on this album... in the hope that one day, somebody could tell another thirty years long magic story, also thanks to this album.

"Seven Stars", the new video from U.S. progressive metal pioneers FATES WARNING, can be seen below. The clip was directed by David Brodsky for MyGoodEye.

FATES WARNING vocalist Ray Alder stated about the video: "We are happy to debut the new video for 'Seven Stars' from our latest album, 'Theories Of Flight'. This song is very special to me. The lyrics for this song were the first that I had written for the new album. I knew that my life was changing, I had met my lovely (now) wife who lived in Madrid, Spain and she was the inspiration for this song. I knew that I would be moving to Madrid soon, so the lyrics tended to come very organically. That theme would develop more as the writing progressed. Stories of change and moving on. Living life, really.

"I found the flag of Madrid quite interesting. Seven white stars surrounded by red...Hence the inspiration for the title. I figured I would give a little tour of the city in the video since I'm now here. Enjoy!"

FATES WARNING recently confirmed its first European tour in support of "Theories Of Flight". The trek will take place in January/February 2017 and will feature ARMORED DAWN in the opening slot.

"Theories Of Flight" was released on July 1 via InsideOut Music. The cover artwork for the CD was created by Michigan artist Graceann Warn.

Performed by the FATES WARNING lineup that returned to form with 2013's acclaimed "Darkness In A Different Light" release, "Theories Of Flight" was produced by guitarist Jim Matheos and mixed/mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (OPETH, SYMPHONY X).

Frank Aresti contributed a couple solos on the new record, but due to his current work commitments, he is not be able to tour with FATES WARNING. He is being temporarily replaced by Mike Abdow, who is described by Aresti as "a great guitarist and a great guy."

Fan-filmed video footage of AC/DC's September 14 performance at Madison Square Garden in New York City can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Rock Or Bust02. Shoot To Thrill03. Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be04. Back In Black05. Got Some Rock & Roll Thunder06. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap07. Rock 'N' Roll Damnation08. Thunderstruck09. High Voltage10. Rock 'N' Roll Train11. Hells Bells12. Given The Dog A Bone13. If You Want Blood (You've Got It)14. Live Wire15. Sin City16. You Shook Me All Night Long17. Shot Down In Flames18. Have A Drink On Me19. T.N.T.20. Whole Lotta Rosie21. Let There Be Rock

Encore:

22. Highway To Hell23. Riff Raff24. For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)

The rescheduled dates of AC/DC's North American tour — which are the band's first concerts here with GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose on lead vocals — kicked off on August 27 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.

In his review of the Madison Square Garden concert, Newsday's Glenn Gamboa wrote: "Questions about how well Rose could handle the material were quickly answered, as he powerfully delivered classics like 'Back In Black' and older cuts like 'Rock 'N' Roll Damnation' that the band rarely has touched since original lead singer Bon Scott died in 1980. However, make no mistake, Rose was not the focus of the 'Rock Or Bust' show. [Guitarist Angus] Young was. Rose would settle into the background when he wasn't singing, letting Young have the spotlight to himself."

Angus recently said that he has not made a decision yet regarding AC/DC's future once the current "Rock Or Bust" tour cycle ends. Following the 2014 retirement of his brother and co-founder Malcolm Young due to dementia, Angus also dealt with the exit of drummer Phil Rudd later that year because of legal problems, and more recently the departure of singer Brian Johnson because of hearing loss and bassist Cliff Williams's decision to retire after the tour ends.

Assuming neither Rudd nor Johnson return, Williams's exit means that Angus will be the only member remaining from the lineups that recorded classic albums like 1979's "Highway To Hell", 1980's "Back In Black" and 1981's "For Those About To Rock...We Salute You".

The official 360° lyric video for "Nostrum", a brand new song from Swedish extreme tech-metal pioneers MESHUGGAH, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, "The Violent Sleep Of Reason", which will be released on October 7 via Nuclear Blast. The CD was inspired by a Goya painting called "The Sleep Of Reason Produces Monsters".

MEHUGGAH drummer Tomas Haake told Rolling Stone about the song: "It ties in with the Biblical Apocalypse, the idea of a deity coming back to undo it all and taking to heaven the ones who are righteous. It's about a monster that's coming for us, or maybe an asteroid hurtling towards the earth. It's always been a weird conundrum for me how some people, even devout people, fear the Apocalypse whilst others welcome it. I've never understood that."

"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.

"Basically, the whole idea of why we chose the title is it kinda connects with the lyrical content of the album," Haake said. "Which is, to a fair degree, about current events and what you see is going on as far as terrorism today, extremist views on ideals, and religious dogma and the violent implications that you get from being asleep, so to speak, and not acting/reacting to what is going on in the proper way."

"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

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."

BLACK SABBATH will release "The Ultimate Collection" on October 28 via BMG. Curated in conjunction with the band, the 31-track collection features the band's classic songs, including "Paranoid", "Iron Man", "War Pigs", "N.I.B." and "The Wizard" as well as choice cuts from their classic albums and is the definitive accompaniment for all SABBATH fans as well as those with a love of hard rock.

Remastered by renowned engineer Andy Pearce (MOTÖRHEAD, DEEP PURPLE, LOU REED, IGGY & THE STOOGES), "The Ultimate Collection" is available in multiple formats. Alongside the 2-CD and digital/HD formats, a limited edition "Crucifold" edition will follow on November 18, a heavyweight 4 LP vinyl version produced in the shape of the cross.

CD Disc One track listing:

01. Paranoid02. Never Say Die03. Iron Man04. Black Sabbath05. Children Of The Grave06. Fairies Wear Boots07. Changes08. Rat Salad09. Sweet Leaf10. War Pigs11. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath12. Hole In The Sky13. Symptom Of The Universe14. Spiral Architect15. Rock 'N' Roll Doctor

CD Disc Two track listing:

01. Dirty Women 02. Evil Woman, Don't Play Your Games With Me03. A Hard Road04. Lord Of This World05. Into The Void06. Behind The Wall Of Sleep07. Snowblind08. Tomorrow's Dream09. The Wizard10. N.I.B.11. Electric Funeral12. Embryo13. Killing Yourself To Live14. Am I Going Insane15. Wicked World16. It's Alright

Vinyl track listing:

Side 1

01. Paranoid02. Never Say Die03. Iron Man04. Black Sabbath

Side 2

05. Children Of The Grave06. Fairies Wear Boots07. Changes08. Rat Salad

Side 3

09. Sweet Leaf10. War Pigs11. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

Side 4

12. Hole In The Sky13. Symptom Of The Universe14. Spiral Architect15. Rock 'N' Roll Doctor

Side 5

16. Dirty Women 17. Evil Woman, Don't Play Your Games With Me18. A Hard Road

Side 6

19. Lord Of This World20. Into The Void21. Behind The Wall Of Sleep22. Snowblind

Side 7

23. Tomorrow's Dream24. The Wizard25. N.I.B.26. Electric Funeral

Side 8

27. Embryo28. Killing Yourself To Live29. Am I Going Insane30. Wicked World31. It's Alright

Digital track listing:

01. Paranoid02. Never Say Die03. Iron Man04. Black Sabbath05. Children Of The Grave06. Fairies Wear Boots07. Changes08. Rat Salad09. Sweet Leaf10. War Pigs11. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath12. Hole In The Sky13. Symptom Of The Universe14. Spiral Architect15. Rock 'N' Roll Doctor16. Dirty Women17. Evil Woman, Don't Play Your Games With Me18. A Hard Road19. Lord Of This World20. Into The Void21. Behind The Wall Of Sleep22. Snowblind23. Tomorrow's Dream24. The Wizard25. N.I.B.26. Electric Funeral27. Embryo28. Killing Yourself To Live29. Am I Going Insane30. Wicked World31. It's Alright

BLACK SABBATH has announced that it will play its last show ever in the U.S. on November 12 at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. The gig will take place nearly five years to the day that the legendary act announced their reunion.

The group has also added two more headlining shows to its North American trek, on November 8 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma and November 10 at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

These dates and the previously announced headlining slot at at the Ozzfest Meets Knotfest weekend event on Saturday, September 24 in San Bernardino, California come at the end of the band's North American tour, which kicked off on August 17 in Wantagh, New York.

SABBATH will make their final visits to Mexico and South America at the end of the year as they wind down their farewell tour.

SABBATH will bring its storied career to a close in the band's native England, with seven shows booked there in January and February. The last two, on February 2 and February 4, will take place in SABBATH's hometown of Birmingham and will likely be their final shows.

The original lineup of SABBATH came together in 1969 with Ozzy Osbourne on vocals, Tony Iommi on guitar, Butler on bass and Bill Ward on drums. That lineup recorded and toured through 1978, and periodically reformed through the '90s and 2000s for live work.

They regrouped again in late 2011 for a new album and tour, although Ward dropped out after just a few months. The remaining trio issued the "13" album in 2013 and backed it with a successful world tour — despite Iommi being treated for lymphoma since 2012.

"Everyone Talking Over Everyone Else", the new video from Atlanta, Georgia's NORMA JEAN, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's seventh full-length, "Polar Similar", which came out on September 9 via Solid State Records.

First and foremost, "Polar Similar" is a reminder that NORMA JEAN is anything but rudimentary. "Sonically, we hoped to open minds to something different," explains lead singer Cory Brandan. "It seems like the world has found the cookie cutter, microwaved form of everything, and we pushed ourselves really hard to be something else." Decisions like recording at Pachyderm Studio (the same studio where NIRVANA recorded their boundary-pushing classic "In Utero") in Minnesota proves it. Each morning the band walked from the cabin to the backyard studio, turned on "The Shining", Stanley Kubrick's isolation-themed thriller, and used the space's legendary acoustics to record audio that would end up so powerfully raw, it would need no added effects.

Using the haunting chill of winter woods, the eerie acoustics from an indoor pool, and the unrelenting drive to capture natural, the band stayed put until their record — a vulnerable, haunting accomplishment — was complete. The finished product stacks itself atop an already impressive catalog of releases that yells just as powerfully, just as distinctly, and just as as profoundly as the ones preceding it. "Polar Similar"'s lyrical themes, however, set it apart.

Much of "Polar Similar" centers around abuse. Inspired by a tumultuous relationship Brandan experienced many years ago, this album is his most unguarded. "As a man, it wasn't easy to face the reality of that abuse. Decades out of that relationship, I think it's important to reach out to listeners who feel like I did then, who feel alone or different — like this has only happened to them — because the facts are one in three women and one in four men will find themselves in abusive relationships in their lives," he explains. "It's not just physical abuse either — physical abuse is the product of an already abusive relationship. The record deals with all this in emotional detail."

From the track "Everyone Talking Over Everyone Else", an anthem about clawing yourself out of the cave of abusive relationships, to the song "A Thousand Years A Minute", which looks inside self-harm, to "Reaction", a song dealing with the struggle to reach victims, "Polar Similar" exposes — honestly and powerfully — the varied perspectives of relational abuse.

Although each of NORMA JEAN's albums are fastened together by unyielding talent and ingenuity, their seventh release does stand out in motive. "I hope fans can be reached through this," notes Brandan. "It's hard to know when you're in an abusive situation; the most important thing is to know what the signs of abuse are and to take action."

The making of "Polar Similar" in a secluded studio in the woods, however haunting, became a sanctuary for a twenty year legacy — one with the ability to build such mammoth sound as to reach the ears of those who need to hear it most. Inspired by their isolated setting, NORMA JEAN made a powerful record to remind listeners that they aren't alone. "Polar Similar" track listing: 01. I. The Planet02. Everyone Talking Over Everyone Else03. Forever Hurtling Towards Andromeda04. 1,000,000 Watts05. II. The People06. Death Is A Living Partner07. Synthetic Sun08. Reaction09. III. The Nebula10. The Close And Discontent11. An Ocean Of War12. A Thousand Years A Minute13. IV. The Nexus

Photo credit: David Jackson

Legendary German alcohol-soaked thrash metal act TANKARD is currently working on material for the follow-up to its acclaimed 2014 album "R.I.B. (Rest In Beer)". The band will enter Gernhart Studios in Troisdorf with producer Martin Buchwalter (DESTRUCTION, ACCUSER, PERZONAL WAR, SUIDAKRA) in January 2017 begin recording its 35th-anniversary disc for a mid-year release via Nuclear Blast.

"R.I.B. (Rest In Beer)" entered the official chart in Germany at position No. 41.

The video for the "R.I.B. (Rest In Beer)" title track can be seen below. The clip was filmed in March 2014 under the direction of Jan Öhlenschläger in Frankfurt.

"R.I.B. (Rest In Beer)" was released on June 20, 2014 via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2012's "A Girl Called Cerveza" was recorded at Studio 23 in Frankfurt, Germany.

Seattle-based metallers DEMON HUNTER are putting the finishing touches on their eighth studio album, "Outlive", for a tentative spring 2017 release. The band has released two album covers, along with a trailer video, in anticipation for the upcoming release, which you can check out below. The album and other one-of-a-kind items are available for preorder at PledgeMusic.

Said DEMON HUNTER in a statement: "The last three years have been an absolute whirlwind. We've welcomed five (!) children into the DEMON HUNTER family, endured heartbreaking trials, and experienced joy beyond comprehension. 'Outlive' is a culmination of these peaks and valleys. It is a journey through adversity, survival, and overcoming the odds.

"They say the best stories are told by those who have lived a life worth commenting on, and we believe that our stories will resonate with each of you in some way.

"The relationship we share with you has always been uniquely special. You've come to expect a high level of quality from us and we intend to honor that promise. We've been working for months assembling every piece of the album and its presentation with dedicated attention to detail.

"The new album is scheduled for a spring 2017 release and we are going to make the journey from here to there as thrilling as possible. We are simply beyond excited to share every aspect of DEMON HUNTER's eighth chapter, 'Outlive', with all of you. Prepare yourselves and join us."

DEMON HUNTER's seventh album, "Extremist", sold around 18,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 16 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released in March 2014 via Solid State.



OUTLIVE - Pledge Music Preorders!
Preorder our brand new album. PledgeMusic.com/DemonHunter

Posted by Demon Hunter on Wednesday, September 14, 2016

See The Dead Daisies blast through Portland, Bridgeport, Richmond, and Huntington with KISS - and play a sweaty and packed headline show at Webster Hall in New York City, joined by former member Richard Fortus. It's all in there: Marco singing Aerosmith, the backstage sport of "box throwing" and Doug's kickass "pick bounce" technique.

Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 of The Dead Daisies' US Summer Tour Video Recap can be enjoyed below.

Tomorrow - September 15th - The Dead Daisies will headline the Whisky A Go-Go in Los Angeles, California.

Remaining 2016 tour dates are as listed:

October
9 - Loud Park 16 - Saitama, Japan  

November
4 to 9 - Kiss Kruise - Cozumel, Mexico   
12 - Lemon Tree - Aberdeen, United Kingdom    
13 - Classic Grand - Glasgow, United Kingdom    
14 - Corporation - Sheffield, United Kingdom    
15 - Riverside - Newcastle, United Kingdom    
16 - Picturedrome - Holmfirth, United Kingdom    
18 - Diamond Live Lounge - Doncaster, United Kingdom     
19 - Academy 2 - Birmingham, United Kingdom   
20 - Concorde 2 - Brighton, United Kingdom    
22 - Waterfront - Norwich, United Kingdom    
23 - Electric Ballroom - London, United Kingdom      
25 - Tivoli - Utrecht, Netherlands    
26 - Biebob - Vosselaar, Belgium     
28 - Z7 - Pratteln, Switzerland    
29 - Magazzini Generali - Milan, Italy    
30 - Backstage Halle - Munich, Germany    

December 
2 - Planet Rockstock - Trecco Bay, United Kingdom     
3 - Knust - Hamburg, Germany    
4 - Paradiso Nord - Amsterdam, Netherlands    
5 - Matrix - Bochum, Germany    
7 - Colos-Saal - Aschaffenburg, Germany     
8 - Le Trabendo - Paris, France    
10 - Sala Caracol - Madrid, Spain     
11 - LA2 Apolo - Barcelona, Spain    
13 - Omega Live - Toulon, France     
14 - Transbordeur - Lyon, France      
16 - New Age - Treviso, Italy     
17 - Container - Grottammare, Italy     
19 - Szene - Wien, Austria    
20 - Bluesiana - Velden, Austria 

Having set November 4th as the release date, Dark Essence Records have revealed the details of Vidsyn, the second full-length album from Slegest.  Recorded at the Conclave & Earshot and Systrond Studios,  Vidsyn was jointly produced by the band's founder and frontman Ese, and  Bjørnar E. Nilsen (Vulture Industries, Black Hole Generator), who also mixed the album.  Mastering is by Herbrand Larsen (Enslaved).  Guesting on the album is Grutle Kjellson (Enslaved).
 
The cover of Vidsyn once again has its roots in the art of Nikolai Astrup. Design is by Tom Korsvold and drawing is by Lars Hellebø.  

Vidsyn sees Slegest confidently building on the sound they developed on their debut full-length Løyndom.  As Ese explained recently:
 
"We will pick up where we left off with Løyndom - mid-paced heaviness in all its glory and filth. I have read blackened doom applied as a description to our music.  But really you need to add a good dose of rock and then you might get the idea of what we are all about. There is so much to explore in our world of heavy rock and we are proud of our new songs which, to our ears - and, after all, we are the blueprint - sounds bloody brilliant. The album will of course deal with death, and, since I write all the music and spend plenty of time thinking about death, I guess it is safe to say that we are most likely onto something.”

Tracklisting:

“I Fortida Sitt Lys”
“Som I Eit Endelikt”
“Du”
“Komfortabelt Nommen Midtvekes”
“Wolf”
“The Reanimator”
“Inn I Uvissao”
“Tenn Den Gamle Varde”

Slegest will hit the road in December of this year , joining Shining's 20th Anniversary tour, which also features Dark Essence label mates Taake, with whom the band has previously toured.  The prospect of sharing a stage with Niklas Kvarforth and Hoest, widely acknowledged to be two of the most accomplished and exciting front men in extreme metal, would seem daunting to most bands, but judging from the reviews Slegest has received for its live performances, and from the number of fans the lineup of Ese on vocals and rhythm guitars, Sør (Bäääv, Vonbråten) on lead guitars, Hövard (Bombeklüchter) on bass and Fjøsne on drums, has  picked up following those performances,  this is a band that is more than able to hold its own against the two titans. 
 
Before the start of the tour Slegest will launch the new album with a show at Krøsset in Oslo, where they will be joined by Alfahanne, and, given the dynamism and sheer entertainment value of the two bands, this will be an evening to remember.

New Zealand death metal innovators Ulcerate are streaming the track “Abrogation”, from their forthcoming fifth full-length album and follow-up to 2013's Vermis. Shrines Of Paralysis is due out via Relapse on October 28th. Preorders here.

Shrines Of Paralysis tracklisting:

“Abrogation”
“Yield To Naught”
“There Are No Saviours”
“Shrines Of Paralysis”
“Bow To Spite”
“Chasm Of Fire”
“Extinguished Light”
“End The Hope”

"Abrogation":

“Extinguished Light”:

Ulcerate have announced a headlining North American tour with Icelandic dissonance-mongers Zhrine and Montreal death metal quartet Phobocosm. Ulcerate will also be performing two exclusive dates in New Zealand at the end of October before the tour's kickoff. A full list of dates is available below.

October
21 - Auckland, NZ - Kings Arms
22 - Wellington, NZ - San Fran

November (with Zhrine and Phobocosm)
2 - Los Angeles, CA - Complex
3 - San Francisco CA - Elbo Room
4 - Portland, OR - Panic Room
5 - Seattle, WA - Highline
6 - Vancouver, BC - Astoria
8 - Oakland, CA - The Golden Bull
9 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
10 - Tempe, AZ - Yucca Tap Room
11 - El Paso, TX - Mesa Music Hall
12 - San Antonio, TX - Limelight
13 - Houston, TX - Acadia Bar
15 - New Orleans, LA - Siberia
16 - Gainesville, FL - Atlantic
17 - Tampa, FL - The Brass Mug
18 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
19 - Richmond, VA - Strange Matter
20 - Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery
22 - Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle
23 - Boston, MA - Great Scott
24 - Montreal, QC - Piranha Bar
25 - Toronto, ON - Coalition
26 - Detroit, MI  - Corktown Tavern
27 - Chicago, IL - Reggies
28 - Pittsburgh, PA - The Smiling Moose
29 - New York City, NY - Saint Vitus

LED ZEPPELIN will release an expanded version of its 1997 "BBC Sessions" on September 16. The updated set, retitled "The Complete BBC Sessions", was produced by Jimmy Page and features eight previously unreleased tracks — including "I Can't Quit You Baby", "You Shook Me" and the only recorded performance of "Sunshine Woman".

The official animated video for the BBC rendition of the song "What Is And What Should Never Be", featuring ZEPPELIN concert footage alongside "innovative animation," can be seen below.

"The Complete BBC Sessions" will be available in multiple formats from Atlantic/Swan Song on September 16: * Deluxe Edition (3CD) – Remastered original album plus a third disc of unreleased audio.* Deluxe Edition Vinyl (5LP) – Remastered original album, plus a fifth LP of unreleased audio, on 180-gram vinyl* Digital Download – Remastered album and unreleased audio will both be available.* Super Deluxe Boxed Set (3CD/5LP)– This collection includes: * Remastered album. 2 CDs, each in a replica sleeve.* Unreleased audio on CD in a separate card sleeve.* Remastered album on 180-gram vinyl.* Unreleased audio on 180-gram vinyl.* High-def audio download card of all content at 96kHz/24 bit.* 48-page book filled with photos of the band, the recording locations, BBC memorabilia, and session information.* High-quality print of the original album cover, the first 20,000 of which will be individually numbered.

"BBC Sessions" was originally released in 1997 and has been certified double platinum by the RIAA. "The Complete BBC Sessions" builds on that collection with a third disc that boasts eight unreleased performances. In addition, the set includes extensive session-by-session liner notes written by Dave Lewis. For the first time ever, it provides accurate details and notes about all of the band's BBC sessions. Musical highlights on this new collection include the debut of a long-lost radio session that has achieved near-mythic status among fans. Originally broadcast in April 1969, the session included three songs: "I Can't Quit You Baby", "You Shook Me" and the only recorded performance of "Sunshine Woman", which can be streamed below. Also included are two unreleased versions of both "Communication Breakdown" and "What Is And What Should Never Be". Separated by two years, the performances vividly demonstrate the young band's rapid evolution over a short period of time. Jimmy Page spoke about the band's growth in an interview with Guitar World. "The 'BBC Sessions' show in graphic detail just how organic the group was," he said. "LED ZEPPELIN was a band that would change things around substantially each time it played…We were becoming tighter and tighter, to the point of telepathy." Speaking with Wall Of Sound, John Paul Jones added: "We'd been on the road a lot by the time those sessions were recorded. The albums were always the starting point of the music, and then we'd take it out and expand it on the road. Then we'd come straight off the road into those BBC studios." Recalling the BBC experience in an interview with Mojo, Robert Plant said: "The whole thing was very quaint: the politeness of the audience, the technicians fumbling about, proper hallowed low-key introductions. Like there was some sort of holy moment about to occur." "The Complete BBC Sessions" CD track listing Disc One

01. You Shook Me02. I Can't Quit You Baby03. Communication Breakdown04. Dazed And Confused05. The Girl I Love She Got Long Black Wavy Hair06. What Is And What Should Never Be07. Communication Breakdown08. Travelling Riverside Blues09. Whole Lotta Love10. Somethin' Else11. Communication Breakdown12. I Can't Quit You Baby13. You Shook Me14. How Many More Times Disc Two

01. Immigrant Song02. Heartbreaker03. Since I've Been Loving You04. Black Dog05. Dazed And Confused06. Stairway To Heaven07. Going To California08. That's The Way09. Whole Lotta Love (Medley: Boogie Chillun/Fixin' To Die/That's Alright Mama/A Mess of Blues)10. Thank You Disc Three

01. Communication Breakdown *02. What Is And What Should Never Be *03. Dazed And Confused *04. White Summer05. What Is And What Should Never Be *06. Communication Breakdown *07. I Can't Quit You Baby *08. You Shook Me *09. Sunshine Woman * * Previously Unreleased

Ex-IN FLAMES guitarist Jesper Strömblad has slammed his former bandmates, saying that he is "happy" that he "left the sinking ship."

Strömblad, who quit IN FLAMES in February 2010 in order to continue receiving treatment for his alcohol addiction, made his latest comments in response to a 2014 interview with IN FLAMES members Anders Fridén (vocals), Björn Gelotte (guitar). In that video interview, which was conducted by Germany's Rock Hard magazine, Anders was asked what the songwriting process has been like for IN FLAMES now that there are only two main writers involved instead of three. Anders responded: "Both me and Björn complete each other really well these days. I know him, he knows me. And, yeah, it's a slightly different process being two songwriters than three, but I think it makes it… Maybe before there was more compromises. Today there's no compromises, 'cause [Björn has] gotta be happy and I've gotta be happy. Otherwise it's not getting done. We both need to agree that this is the best song ever until we write the next 'best song ever,' so to speak, and then continue."

Earlier today (Tuesday, September 13), Jesper took to his personal Facebook page to post a link to the Rock Hard interview and to add the following comment: "Anders says as it is breaking news. He [has] never been a songwriter. Trying to 'sing' with a vocal producer doing his best to polish the turd. And most importantly, I had no impact on the songwriting whatsoever *crying*... Sorry guys, I just could be quiet for once. Just happy I left the sinking ship."

After leaving IN FLAMES, Strömblad formed THE RESISTANCE with Marco Aro (vocals, THE HAUNTED) and Glenn Ljungström (guitar, ex-IN FLAMES). Strömblad announced his departure from that group in March of this year, with the band's bassist, Rob Hakemo, saying in an interview that Jesper "saved" THE RESISTANCE by quitting and explaining that the guitarist is "an alcoholic" and "drug addict" who "doesn't want to [get] sober." Rob added: "[Jesper] thinks that two weeks [sober] is good, and then he can drink some. And then he's gone for a month, and then he's back and he's not drinking [for a short while]. It's a sad thing, and we really tried to help him and wanted the best [for him]. So when he told us that 'I'm leaving the band,' we were relieved. We were really relieved."

"Battles", IN FLAMES' twelfth studio album — and its third since Jesper's departure — will be released on November 11 via Nuclear Blast in all territories excluding North America and Scandinavia and Eleven Seven Music Group in the U.S.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, Izzy Stradlin reportedly turned down a five-figure fee to play with GUNS N' ROSES at last April's reunion shows.

Writing for GN'R Truth, band insider MSL says Stradlin was offered the fee for each show he played.

MSL writes: "We know Izzy was in rehearsals at one point and was negotiating to appear at a few of the April gigs. Equal pay was never discussed. A 5-figure fee per cameo is what was being negotiated. But there is a lot of room for negotiation on a 5-figure fee. 10k? 99k? Whatever it was, they were far apart and Izzy bailed. He doesn't need their chump change and they don't need to throw away a bunch of money on a guy that isn't gonna sell many tix."

Earlier this month, Stradlin tweeted about the dispute, writing that the band didn't want to "split the loot equally."

The April gigs included a warm-up gig at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, two shows at the Las Vegas T-Mobile Arena, a pair at Foro Sol in Mexico City and the band's headlining appearance at Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival. It is unclear which shows Stradlin would have performed at and/or if he could have signed on for the 21-city reunion tour.

GUNS N' ROSES' two-month North American stadium tour grossed a massive $116.8 million with over one million tickets sold, according to Billboard.com. The "Not In This Lifetime" trek, which ran from June 23 through August 22 and included 25 concerts in 21 cities, earned a staggering amount for a rock band in 2016. The band grossed an additional $15 million earlier in the spring from the two shows in Las Vegas and another pair at Coachella.

The tour features three members of the classic GUNS N' ROSES lineup — guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan and singer Axl Rose — backed by drummer Frank Ferrer, guitarist Richard Fortus, and keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Melissa Reese.

Original drummer Steven Adler performed with the group at two shows in July and at the second Dodger Stadium concert on August 19, getting behind the kit for "My Michelle" and "Out Ta Get Me" at all three dates.

GUNS next heads to South America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand over the next few months.

Frontiers Music Srl has announced the signing of Kane Roberts to the label for the release of his next solo album, due sometime in 2017.

Kane says: "Once you strap on a guitar and make the hard-coded decision to play music in the face of everything you know and don't know, you find that 'the life' (of a musician) has its way with you no matter what and will tear you up if you try and wander too far away.

"I may have stepped into other enterprises and projects, but I was never far from the jet stream that I was lucky enough to have been a part of in the '80s and '90s. Now, because of the new songs inside of me, my guitar and the fans I'm in contact with, I know the creative fire will burn me down if I don't step back inside the flames. I believe the people at Frontiers Music Srl also feel that creative heat, the need to be an integral part of the music industry (their output is resoundingly prolific) and I don't know of a better place for me to record and release my new album.

"Over the last few years, the songs, the messages, and the fans have been burning a hole on my insides. This new album has been gearing up for a while and the songs and messages I'll be forging will emerge from the fire.

"Sorry it took me so long; all kinds of life happened that will definitely find it's way onto the record, and yeah, I'm gonna hit this one hard."

Kane has recorded a total of four solo albums so far (also including the PHOENIX DOWN project released on Frontiers in the late '90s).

Kane's name and abilities first came to prominence on Alice Cooper's "Constrictor" album, which was soon followed by his self-titled debut solo album in 1987. More albums and tours with Alice followed, making Kane a well-known face in the business especially for his guitar skills, but also for his body-builder image and his now iconic machine-gun guitar.

As a solo recording artist, he landed a few Top 40 hits, and his varied musical background includes recording, writing and touring with artists such as Rod Stewart, Alice Cooper Desmond Child, KISS, Diane Warren, ALICE IN CHAINS, BERLIN, GUNS N' ROSES, Garland Jeffries and more. He's also written or recorded music for films like "Light Sleeper", Penelope Spheeris's "Decline Of Western Civilization", "Friday the 13th IV Jason Lives", John Carpenter's "Prince Of Darkness", and more. In 1991, his second solo album, "Saints And Sinners", for Geffen Records included the Top 40 Billboard hit "Does Anybody Really Fall In Love Anymore?", originally written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora.

According to TMZ, former GUNS N' ROSES member Chris Pitman has filed a lawsuit against the band's lead singer, Axl Rose, over an unpaid debt for services the multi-instrumentalist provided to the group. Pitman claims that Rose wrote him a promissory note for $125,000 that he was owed for over a year's worth of work. In the suit, Pitman claims that Rose was supposed to pay up by October 2012, but has failed to do so. Pitman says that Rose now owes him more than $163,000 with interest.

Pitman joined GUNS N' ROSES in 1998 and remained in the band's lineup until earlier this year. During his time with the band, Pitman served as a second keyboardist, second bassist, provided backing vocals and added some percussion and programming during the group's shows. He also did some co-writing with the band over the years.

Pitman earlier in the year apologized for calling the GUNS N' ROSES reunion a "nostalgia tour."

In a social media post that was quickly deleted (but captured on Reddit), Pitman wrote: "This is a nostalgia tour, please don't mention those who are there the last 20 fkg years [sic] oh god no! ...(a money grab) FU."

Pitman later took to Twitter to say sorry to his bandmates, explaining: "I sincerely apologize to GNR,especially the band and crew,for stupid comments about upcoming tour, ..remember kids, dont drink n text!"

The musician joined GUNS N' ROSES in 1998, and is featured on every song on the band's sixth album, "Chinese Democracy". He was one of the longest-serving members of the group's pre-reunion lineup.

GUNS N' ROSES' two-month North American stadium tour grossed a massive $116.8 million with over one million tickets sold, according to Billboard.com. The "Not In This Lifetime" trek, which ran from June 23 through August 22 and included 25 concerts in 21 cities, earned a staggering amount for a rock band in 2016. The band grossed an additional $15 million earlier in the spring from two shows in Las Vegas and another pair at Coachella.

The tour features three members of the classic GUNS N' ROSES lineup — Rose, guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan — backed by drummer Frank Ferrer, guitarist Richard Fortus, and keyboardists Dizzy Reed and Melissa Reese.

JUNGLE ROT frontman Dave Matrise joined VOLBEAT on stage last night (Tuesday, September 13) at Riviera Theatre in Chicago, Illinois to perform the VOLBEAT song "Evelyn". Video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

In a 2011 interview with Straight.com, VOLBEAT vocalist/guitarist Michael Poulsen spoke about NAPALM DEATH singer Mark "Barney" Greenway's appearance on the studio version of "Evelyn", which is included on VOLBEAT's fourth album, "Beyond Hell/Above Heaven".

"Writing a song like 'Evelyn' was my way of showing people that it was not only the '50s elements we were inspired by, but we were actually growing up with a lot of great metal bands," Michael said. "And NAPALM DEATH was one of the first extreme metal bands I was listening to — I was listening to them when I bought my first guitar. So being able to have a singer like Barney from NAPALM DEATH on my record was a real accomplishment. It's great to see that it's actually possible for dreams to come true, in a way."

VOLBEAT's new album, "Seal The Deal & Let's Boogie", was released on June 3 via Republic Records.

VOLBEAT spent most of the summer in Europe, but returned last month for SEETHER's Rise Above festival in Maine on August 6, the Heavy Montreal event on August 7, and an opening slot for METALLICA at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on August 20.

VOLBEAT is in the middle of a short run of U.S. dates with AVENGED SEVENFOLD, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and AVATAR.

"Taking On The World", the new video from OPERATION: MINDCRIME, the band led by former QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate, can be seen below. The song, which was co-written by MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and features guest appearances by Blaze Bayley (IRON MAIDEN) and Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST), is taken from OPERATION: MINDCRIME's new album, "Resurrection", due on September 23 via Frontiers Music Srl.

The "Taking On The World" video was filmed last month at Bubba's Roadhouse Bar & Grill in Geoff's hometown of Monroe, Washington.

Asked about his experience working with Bayley and Owens, Tate said: "It was really interesting, 'cause I had never recorded them before or worked with their vocals before. So it was really interesting from an engineering standpoint to see the differences in our voices and the sound of our voices; they are three completely different things — different microphone needs, different EQ needs, all that kind of stuff. We're very different animals, really. But it was really fun working with that difference and making something out of three really distinctly different voices — very fun. And I look forward to touring with these guys and playing shows with them, because their personalities… [Laughs] We just spent three days together shooting a video for the song, and we had the best time — just the best time. They stayed at my house, and we drank a lot and told a lot of stories and laughed a lot. And that's great, when you can just click as people and have a good time without it being weird or forced or that kind of thing. I really adore both those guys; they're fantastic."

Tate said that he shared a special connection with Bayley, whom he described as "so loud; it's unbelievable how loud that guy is — just his speaking voice, like when you're in a car with him driving in traffic for an hour and a half. [Laughs] He's like an air horn, you know — so loud."

He continued: "He and I really share a passion for motorcycles, and so this video he was very excited about, 'cause there was a lot of motorcycles and hotrod cars in this video and he got to ride a bunch of different customized motorcycles in the video and he was real happy about that."

Geoff told The Monroe Monitor & Valley News that the "Taking On The World" video was filmed at Bubba's because he and his wife, Susan, enjoy going there for dinner, drinks and live music. As they were developing ideas for the clip, they realized Bubba's captured the exact essence of what they were trying to portray.

"It just kind of all seemed to fit," Geoff said. "It had the kind of atmosphere that we were looking for."

Bayley told The Monroe Monitor & Valley News that the idea of bringing three vocalists together in one song really intrigued him. "Tim has this very harsh edge to his voice — he's really a machine — and then I'm on the more emotional side of things," Bayley said. "Geoff sits there right in the middle being able to connect the two things, and musically I found that very interesting, so I really wanted to be a part of it."

"Resurrection" is the second part of Tate's musical trilogy. One year after the release of the debut album in September 2015, OPERATION: MINDCRIME continues in the spirit of the historic album of the same name, spawning concepts as grand as the music, and intertwining the intensity of the former QUEENSRŸCHE vocalist's iconic past with the provocative, progressive mindset that has made him one of music's most resolute forces and frontmen. "The album 'Resurrection' is the second part of our three album presentation or trilogy," explained Tate. "It continues the story that began on the first album 'The Key' with the near death experience of the lead character known as 'H' and his subsequent recovery of the missing encryption key. With the Key finally in his possession, 'H' has everything he needs to finally launch his long awaited project called 'The New Reality'. Or does he..." Tate continued: "I'm excited for people to hear and experience 'Resurrection' because I think it answers some of the questions that were posed in the first album, 'The Key'. Musically, it offers some of the most diverse and challenging material that I've ever written." "Resurrection" track listing:

01. Resurrection02. When All Falls Away03. A Moment In Time04. Through the Noize05. Left For Dead06. Miles Away07. Healing My Wounds08. The Fight09. Taking On The World (feat. Tim "Ripper" Owens and Blaze Bayley)10. Invincible11. A Smear Campaign12. Which Side You're On13. Into The Hands Of The World14. Live From My Machine Musicians featured on "Resurrection":

* Geoff Tate - Vocals, Keyboards, Saxophone* Kelly Gray - Guitar, Bass, Vocals* Scott Moughton - Guitar, Keyboards* Randy Gane - Keyboards* David Ellefson (MEGADETH) - Bass* John Moyer (DISTURBED) - Bass* Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO) - Drums* Scott Mercado - Drums* Brian Tichy (WHITESNAKE) - Drums* Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) - Vocals* Blaze Bayley (IRON MAIDEN, WOLFSBANE) - Vocals* Mark Daily - Vocals* Nick Greatrex - Guitar

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine celebrated his 55th birthday Tuesday (September 13) by hosting a "slip 'n' slide" party at his farm in Franklin, Tennessee. Joining him at the event were his wife and kids, as well as some of his business associates.

A seven-minute video clip shot at the party and posted to Mustaine's Periscope account can be seen below.

Mustaine and his family moved to Tennessee in October 2014 after living in Fallbrook, California for many years.

Commenting on MEGADETH's three-decade-plus existence, Mustaine told New Zealand's Stuff in a 2013 interview: "Time flies. 30 years seems like a long time, but boy, it's over so quick. Sometimes I sit back and think how many things have happened over the years, and I guess the thing that makes me feel the best is when I see how many people who'll say, 'We met at a concert,' 'We got engaged at a concert,' 'We got pregnant at a concert,' all these things that they share. These landmarks, these mementoes, they're really cool."

He continued: "I never thought I'd be doing this this long, [MEGADETH bassist] David Ellefson and I; it's crazy. And the fact we can have fun doing what we do, on top of that, just makes it so much more enjoyable."

MEGADETH's tour with AMON AMARTH, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, METAL CHURCH and BUTCHER BABIES kicks off on September 20 in Casper, Wyoming and runs through October 15 in Camden, New Jersey.

Frontiers Music Srl has announced the signing of Stephen Pearcy for the release of his fourth original solo album, "Smash".

Pearcy, best known as the original vocalist and founding member of the platinum rock band RATT, has been working hard to complete his highly anticipated disc while at the same time keeping busy performing shows across the U.S.

"I am very happy with the new music and the diversity of the songs," he says. "It's taken some time. I'm sure all the fans will be excited too. Also, to be involved with the Frontiers Music Srl family is way cool."

The good news is that the first taste of new music has been already made available! Check out "I Can't Take It" below.

Due in early 2017, "Smash" will be mixed and mastered by none other than the legendary Beau Hill, the producer of RATT's first four albums, among many other hit records.

Stephen will support "Smash" with live dates in the U.S. and internationally.

As previously reported, Pearcy will be rejoined by his former RATT bandmates Juan Croucier and Carlos Cavazo at his headlining appearance on October 30 at the Rock N Skull festival at The Tree Performing Arts Center in Joliet, Illinois.

Croucier previously performed with Pearcy in May at M15 in Corona, California.

Three members of RATT's classic lineup, Pearcy, Croucier and guitarist Warren DeMartini, reunited in July at the Los Angeles birthday party of former RIP magazine editor Lonn Friend. Also joining them at the event were former QUIET RIOT guitarist Carlos Cavazo, who played on RATT's last studio album, 2010's "Infestation", and ex-WHITE LION drummer Greg D'Angelo, a longtime member of Pearcy's solo band.

Notably absent was drummer Bobby Blotzer, who has been touring the U.S. for the last few months with his own version of RATT, featuring a rotating cast of musicians, including vocalist Josh Alan (ex-SIN CITY SINNERS).

Blotzer's new version of RATT played shows early last year under the name BOBBY BLOTZER'S RATT EXPERIENCE before the drummer announced that he was taking control of the RATT name.

DeMartini later filed a lawsuit against Blotzer, claiming that the drummer was falsely advertising his "tribute band" as the real thing. That dispute is still pending in California state court.

Blotzer and DeMartini are the only remaining shareholders in WBS, Inc., the company which manages the business and operations related to RATT.

British hard rock legends UFO are in the studio recording a "covers" album for a tentative early 2017 release. According to UFO guitarist Vinnie Moore, there are "just a couple acoustic guitar parts to finish," with the vocal sessions scheduled to begin "in a couple weeks."

UFO's upcoming CD will be the follow-up to the band's 22nd studio album, "A Conspiracy Of Stars", which was released in February 2015. That CD was recorded, produced and mixed by Chris Tsangarides, who has previously worked with JUDAS PRIEST, THIN LIZZY and JUDAS PRIEST, among others.

"A Conspiracy Of Stars" was recorded by UFO's current lineup, which includes original members Phil Mogg (vocals), Paul Raymond (keyboards, guitar) and Andy Parker (drums). They are joined by two American musicians, Moore (who has been a member of the group since 2003) and bassist Rob De Luca, who joined the fold in 2012.

The majority of the "A Conspiracy Of Stars" material was composed by Moore. The album also featured two songs written by Rob De Luca, one written by Paul Raymond, and a collaboration between Raymond and De Luca. All the lyrics were penned by Mogg.

Asked what it is like being the singer in a hard rock band once you reach your 60s, Mogg told The Guardian: "It's not as much fun. Travelling's a pain now. When you start, you're full of excitement and prepared to go anywhere, and you're not very interested in money — getting paid doesn't really matter as long as you're doing the gig. Whereas now it's: are we getting paid? How much are we getting paid? Because in the mid-'80s, I ended up completely skint."

He continued: "In the early '80s, we did four nights at Hammersmith [in London]. Nine months after that, when everything fell apart, I ended up having to go to the dole office. I'd never been before. There was a bloke in front of me in the queue. He looked and said: 'Aren't you with UFO?' I said: 'Yeah.' I was already very embarrassed going there. He said: 'What are you doing here?' I said: 'Same as you. I need some money.' I was absolutely brassic. At the same point, I ended up sleeping round a friend of mine's because I was so skint. That's when you think: 'Shouldn't I have some sort of a royalty?' A lot of that was us doing albums we thought somebody else paid for. Then when you look into it, you realize all that studio time, we were actually paying for. Nobody on management had taken the time to explain to the band: 'No, you're paying for it.' Which was stupid on our part."

Frontiers Music Srl has announced the launch of a new musical partnership between singer Anette Olzon and producer/songwriter/guitar player Jani Liimatainen for a new studio album, to be released in mid-to-late 2017. Anette is mostly known for being the immaculate voice on hit albums from NIGHTWISH such as "Dark Passion Play" and "Imaginareum". Jani has been busy in CAIN'S OFFERING alongside STRATOVARIUS singer Timo Kotipelto, but left a deep mark on the minds of all power metal fans thanks to his time in SONATA ARCTICA.

Anette and Jani are now working together on a record which promises to be a huge statement in the European metal scene for years to come! Jani says: "I have always been a big fan of Anette's voice and when the opportunity to work with her arose, writing and producing an album, it was something I just couldn't say no to!

"It has been a blast working on the songs already and I can't wait for the final result; this will be epic!

"The songs will be extremely melodic and to the point.

"My goal has been to write catchy songs with hooks that will haunt your dreams, and I think it's pretty much 'mission accomplished.' Stay tuned for something special!" Anette adds: "I am so looking forward to sing on an album with Jani and to finally work with Frontiers. I believe it will be a perfect match and I am really happy that Jani and Frontiers asked me to do this with them!" Frontiers president Serafino Perugino concludes: "I originally envisioned the musical alliance between those two musical giants and the fact that they liked the concept proposed makes me incredibly proud!

"Working with two high-class musicians like Jani and Anette is a true honor and we will do our complete best to please them and to release a record which will make all the melodic and power metal fans very happy!"

According to the New York Daily News, AC/DC celebrated the end of its "Rock Or Bust" world tour with a party at a New York City steakhouse on Monday, September 12.

The band and "roughly 100 guests" showed up at the Old Homestead Steakhouse for the celebration, which took place in advance of Wednesday night's performance at Madison Square Garden.

A source at the dinner told the paper that GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose sat with AC/DC guitarist and leader Angus Young, and told stories about how he used to stop at the restaurant after performing with GUNS N' ROSES and before hitting the area's nightclubs" — adding that the area was "rough and loaded with transvestites" back then.

AC/DC's itinerary has only two more dates: September 17 in Washington, D.C. and September 20 in Philadelphia.

The rescheduled dates of AC/DC's North American tour — which are the band's first concerts here Rose on lead vocals — kicked off on August 27 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Angus recently said that he has not made a decision yet regarding the band's future once the current "Rock Or Bust" tour cycle ends. Following the 2014 retirement of his brother and co-founder Malcolm Young due to dementia, Angus also dealt with the exit of drummer Phil Rudd later that year because of legal problems, and more recently the departure of singer Brian Johnson because of hearing loss and bassist Cliff Williams's decision to retire after the tour ends.

Assuming neither Rudd nor Johnson return, Williams's exit means that Angus will be the only member remaining from the lineups that recorded classic albums like 1979's "Highway To Hell", 1980's "Back In Black" and 1981's "For Those About To Rock...We Salute You".

APTV recently sat down with HALESTORM's Lzzy Hale and Joe Hottinger to learn how to play the band's hit song "Amen". Lzzy and Joe also told APTV how they learned to play guitar and what they use to create their signature sound on stage. Lzzy said that "you can't go wrong with a really good guitar and a good amp" while Joe stressesd the importance of a tuner. Check out the clip below.

HALESTORM is currently preparing to record a third covers EP to follow 2011's "ReAniMate" and 2013's "ReAniMate 2.0".

The band's first two albums, 2009's "Halestorm" and 2012's "The Strange Case Of…" were both officially certified gold in March by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales of more than 500,000 copies. The certifications came after RIAA started including on-demand audio and video streams and a track sale equivalent in gold and platinum album award.

"Into The Wild Life" debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 album chart, selling 56,000 copies in its first week of release — more than double the first-week haul of their second CD — but has not reached gold yet.

SERPENTINE DOMINION, the new band featuring KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, CANNIBAL CORPSE frontman George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher and ex-THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER drummer Shannon Lucas, will release its self-titled debut album on October 28 via Metal Blade.

In the new clip below, Dutkiewicz performs the song "On The Brink Of Devastation" from "Serpentine Dominion".

"Serpentine Dominion" track listing:

01. Intro02. The Vengeance In Me03. Vanquished Unto Thee04. Divide, Conquer, Burn, And Destroy05. Sovereign Hate06. On The Brink Of Devastation07. Jagged Cross Legions08. Prelude09. This Endless War

The origins of SERPENTINE DOMINION can be traced back to 2009's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, which boasted a lineup that included KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, CANNIBAL CORPSE and THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER. During that fateful summer, Dutkiewicz made a proposition to Fisher: "George, I want to write you a record." On the Mayhem fest tour, Lucas, who performed with THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER through 2012, was tapped to record drums on the album. Between 2009 and 2016, CANNIBAL CORPSE and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE released three albums each, so scheduling time to work on SERPENTINE DOMINION was no easy feat — but when their rigorous schedules allowed, SERPENTINE DOMINION began to come together, with KILLSWITCH ENGAGE vocalist Jesse Leach penning the lyrics, which touch on corruption within the government, religion, big business, and other timely issues. Ultimately, though, this debut is a pure passion project; it was written and recorded simply for why musicians get into music in the first place: fun.

"Serpentine Dominion" pre-order formats:

* CD* 180g black vinyl* olive-green marbled vinyl (limited to 300 copies!)* dark red marbled vinyl (limited to 200 copies!)* dark khaki marble vinyl (USA; limited to 250 copies!)* red/black marble vinyl (USA; limited to 250 copies!)

Dutkiewicz in 2013 spoke to Decibel magazine about how SERPENTINE DOMINION came together. He said: "When [KILLSWITCH] toured with CANNIBAL CORPSE and BLACK DAHLIA on the [Rockstar Energy Drink] Mayhem [Festival], I was just hanging out with George one night, and I was like, 'Dude, if I wrote you a bunch of songs to sing over, would you do it?' And he was like, 'Fuck yeah, man!'" he said.

Asked if this was material he had sitting around that he thought George would be good for, or if these were songs that were written specifically for George to sing, Adam said: "They were written specifically for him. He's one of my favorite singers of all time, and I thought there wouldn't be any harm in at least asking him. Once he said yes, it was like, 'Alright — let's go!'"

Regarding the musical direction of the new project, Adam said: "It's not straight death metal — there's some melodic elements in there — but it's much faster and more aggressive than KILLSWITCH is. And the drums are blazing, so Shannon is probably one of the only guys on the face of the earth who could pull this off."

Fisher told "The Jasta Show" last year that KILLSWITCH ENGAGE singer Jesse Leach ended up writing all the lyrics for SERPENTINE DOMINION. He explained: "I originally was going to write stuff [for the new band], and you know what? [Writing lyrics has] just never been my thing, and we were getting down to when I was supposed to go up there [and lay down my vocals]. And [Adam] just said, 'Look, I'll ask Jesse to write some stuff.' So he wrote it, and I just said I don't want no pro-religious crap 'cause I ain't about all that. Anyway, so it's more just about like getting revenge against corrupt motherfuckers and shit like that."

He continued: "And so [Jesse] wrote a bunch of lyrics and Adam arranged a lot of it, and then when I went up there, we recorded it in his bedroom of his house. And, basically, I would be, like, 'No, wait. We've gotta change this, fix that.' Maybe we'd tweak a word or take a word out or take a couple words out or take some lines out. We just basically fucked with it, you know? And I went up two [or] three different times [to work on the vocals]."

A year on from the death of drummer Martin “Kiddie” Kearns, who passed away on September 14th, 2015 from an undisclosed ailment. The UK death metal legends have now revealed that the band will not continue without Kearns.

Bolt Thrower updated their official website with the following announcement:

“On behalf of ourselves and Kiddie’s family, we would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and support over the last 12 months. Together with Kiddie’s family we made the conscious decision to keep his unexpected death a private matter, and to take time out to deal with it all.

“When Kiddie joined us back in 1994, although he was only 17, he instantly improved Bolt Thrower as a live band, and no one was more loyal to, and prouder to be in Bolt Thrower than him.

“We spent over 20 years together, touring the world, with 3 different vocalists, but he was so much more than just a drummer to us. So when we carried his coffin to his final resting place, the Bolt Thrower drummer position was buried with him. He was, and will now forever remain THE Bolt Thrower drummer, our Powerhouse and friend Martin “Kiddie” Kearns.

“As for the rest of us, Bolt Thrower has been our way of life for 30 years, never driven by money, fame or ego, but by our own personal principles and values that have guided us through life, and which bonded us as friends long before Bolt Thrower was even formed…”

They also included the following:

“We are not now that strength which in old days
moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

- Tennyson – 1833

On September 17th, 2015, Bolt Thrower confirmed Martin’s passing with the following:

“With the heaviest of hearts, and still numb from shock, we have to share the very sad news that on Monday, September 14th Bolt Thrower lost our powerhouse drummer, Martin ‘Kiddie’ Kearns.

“After the first rehearsal for our upcoming tour of Australia, Kiddie suddenly felt unwell which continued throughout the night, and the next day he passed away peacefully in his sleep.

“He was a fantastic Dad, husband, son, friend, but to us he was always ‘Kiddie’, the same 17 year old Coventry kid whose drumming style and personality blew us away when he first walked into our rehearsal room 20+ years ago.

“Kiddie enriched our lives, and the Bolt Thrower sound. He leaves a massive hole in the lives of everyone who knew him and will be very sorely missed by many.”

Kearns performed on 2001’s Honour – Valour – Pride and 2005’s Those Once Loyal.

Relapse Records will release Arizona's death metal newcomers Gatecreeper’s debut full-length, Sonoran Depravation, on October 7th on CD/LP/digital formats. The album was recorded at Homewrecker Studios in Tucson, Arizona by Ryan Bram and mixed by Kurt Ballou at Godcity Studios. The album track “Stronghold” is streaming below.

Formed in mid-2013 based on their mutual love for bands like Dismember, Entombed, Bolt Thrower and Obituary, Gatecreeper play monstrous, low-end, old-school death metal for a new generation.

Gatecreeper commented on signing with Replase and their new album: "We are very excited to be working with Relapse, a label that we have all been following for many years. It is a dream come true to release our first full-length on such a legendary and trustworthy label."

Tracklisting:

“Craving Flesh”
“Sterilized”
“Desperation”
“Rotting As One”
“Stronghold”
“Patriarchal Grip”
“Lost Forever”
“Flamethrower”
“Grotesque Operations”

“Stronghold”:

“Desperation” video:

“Craving Flesh”:

Gatecreeper lineup:

Sean Mears - Bass
Metal Matt - Drums
Eric Wagner - Guitars
Chase H. Mason - Vocals

Iconic, Grammy Award-winning superstar band, Bon Jovi, will release their new album, This House Is Not For Sale, on October 21st in partnership with Island/UMG. The single is available now via all digital retailers.

This House Is Not For Sale is Bon Jovi’s 14th studio album since their 1984 debut. It reunites the band with Grammy Award-winning producer John Shanks, who began working with the band in 2005, for the RIAA platinum Have A Nice Day album, which entered the charts at #1 in 15 countries worldwide.

This will be their first major release since What About Now (2013), which was the band’s third consecutive multi-platinum album to enter Soundscan at #1 (following Lost Highway in 2007, and The Circle in 2009).

Over an illustrious career spanning more than three decades since their formation in 1983, Bon Jovi has earned their place among global rock royalty. With over 130 million albums sold worldwide, an extensive catalog of hit anthems, and more than 2,800 concerts performed in 50 countries for more than 35 million fans, Bon Jovi is the consummate rock and roll band.

Tracklisting:

“This House Is Not For Sale”
“Living With The Ghost”
“Knockout”
“Labor Of Love”
“Born Again Tomorrow”
“Roller Coaster”
“New Year's Day”
“The Devil's In The Temple”
“Scars On This Guitar”
“God Bless This Mess”
“Reunion”
“Come On Up To Our House”

“This House Is Not For Sale” video:

“This House Is Not For Sale” making-of footage:

 

 

 

 

(Photo - Norman Jean Roy)