Newly formed black metal duo/recent Relapse signees Poison Blood will unleash their debut, self-titled EP next week. A collaboration between Horseback’s Jenks Miller and Krieg’s Neill Jameson was born out of Miller’s desire to write music that was an outlet for a more straightforward kind of aggression, Poison Blood‘s eponymous debut EP is a short but furious chronicle of cold, reptilian sonic terror. New track “Circles Of Salt” is streaming below.

Neill Jameson comments on "Circles of Salt":

“‘Circles Of Salt’ is probably the one track on the record that truly strays away from the source material by being closer in feeling to some of the weirder black metal that came out in a pre-Xasthur age. Because of this I wanted to approach it in a less direct way than anything else on the record and, like I said, with it having more of an old depressive feeling to it I thought about what I would do if I were recording it in the mid to late 1990s, which is that I'd give it more of a Forgotten Woods vocal style and have it mixed backwards from how I recorded it to give it a more paranoid frenetic feeling with undertones of Danzig IV. The title itself is a nod to The Banner but also fits the mood of the song, a somewhat morose comfort which lends itself to protection from the misplaced and unrealistic optimism of the naive world."

Poison Blood is out worldwide on August 11th on CD/LP/Digital via Relapse Records. Physical pre-orders and exclusive bundles are currently available via Relapse.com at this location and digital pre-orders are available via Bandcamp here.

The album artwork was created by Viral Graphics.

Poison Blood tracklisting:

“The Scourge And The Gestalt”
“Deformed Lights”
“Myths From The Desert”
“A Cracked And Desolate Sky”
“The Flower Of Serpents”
“Shelter Beneath The Sea”
“From The Lash”
“Circles Of Salt”

"Circles Of Salt":

“Deformed Lights”:

“The Scourge And The Gestalt”:

Belgian dark rock outfit Diablo Blvd has announced the launch of two brand new music videos. “Animal” and “Sing From The Gallows” are the first two singles taken from the new album, Zero Hour, which is scheduled for a physical release in the U.S. via Nuclear Blast/Metalville on September 22nd.

Zero Hour is a dark eleven-track groove monster with haunting melodies, huge guitar riffs, driving bass and pounding drums. Taking their inspiration from both classic metal acts like Type O Negative, Metallica and Black Sabbath and eighties new wave bands like Killing Joke, Sisters Of Mercy and Gang Of Four - Diablo Blvd craft a unique sound ideally suited for these dark times. 

Diablo Blvd main man Alex Agnew had to say on the announcement, "I once heard somebody say that in troubling times like these, there can never be enough bands using their music and lyrics as a platform to object and to protest. It’s safe to say that Zero Hour is our contribution to that statement and although I realize there’s too much beyond our control, it would be an even bigger crime not to speak about it.”

Agnew continues, “The idea behind the album title is that the protective shell we live in can no longer hide what is really going on. The world outside is catching up to us. Just like on the album cover (see below) where a beautiful sculpture is burning on the inside, we have to realize that what we once knew is no longer there. It’s just a matter of time before we will experience some kind of ‘reset’ whatever that may be. Both ‘Animal’ and ‘Sing From The Gallows’ deal with subjects of politics, classical religions and newer versions of mass manipulation and how it messes up our everyday lives. These 2 tracks formed the blueprint of what Zero Hour is all about and that’s exactly why we decided to release these videos at the same time. Together they form one story and an intense first introduction to our soundtrack for the End Times!"

Together with renowned Belgian producer and artist Dag Taeldeman they managed to create a new sound on this album, which is mixed by Jay Ruston and mastered by Paul Logus (Steel Panther, Anthrax, Stone Sour).

Tracklisting:

“Animal”
“Sing From The Gallows”
“Life Amounts To Nothing”
“God In The Machine”
“You Are All You Love”
“The Song Is Over”
“00:00”
“Like Rats”
“Demonize”
“The Future Will Do What It’s Told”
“Summer Has Gone”

“Animal” video:

“Sing From The Gallows” video:

Billboard has posted a live in-studio acoustic performance of “Floral And Fading” and “Circles” from Pierce The Veil. Also included is a special acoustic cover of Julia Michael’s “Issues”.

 

Pierce The Veil have unveiled a music video for the single, “Floral And Fading” back in February. To celebrate the video, the band hosted a special release event last night in association with Spotify and KROQ at Paramount Drive-In Theatre in Paramount, CA. The band held a Q&A broadcast on Facebook Live for fans worldwide, before an acoustic set and private screening of the video on the drive-in big screen for lucky winners, launching simultaneously with the worldwide premiere of the video online for fans around the world.

The video also had its broadcast premiere with MTV, playing every hour on the hour on MTVU, MTV Live and MTV2. The track is taken from the band's latest album, Misdaventures, which debuted at #4 in the Billboard Top 200 last year, with 54,000 copies sold in the U.S. in its first week.

"We weren't really sure what kind of song we were making when we recorded “Floral & Fading”,” frontman Vic Fuentes explains. "It was sort of a studio experiment that ended up being one of my favorites on the album. It's a love song to my girl about ignoring all the internet hate we got when we first started dating and focusing on each other instead."

 

Like a merciless dagger onto the scene comes Sicarius with their murderous, bloodthirsty and ultra-violent black metal assault. Founded 3 years ago, Sicarius, meaning contract killer or assassin in Latin, drew influence and pay homage to classic, black metal bands, yet also inject a modern high-velocity method to deliver their brand of bludgeoning and savage music.

“I witnessed Sicarius perform at a small show featuring some other M-Theory Audio acts including Helsott and Empyrean Throne,” explains M-Theory Audio label head Marco Barbieri. “I was unfamiliar with the band previously but within minutes of taking the stage the group commanded my attention. Not only with their look, but more so for their performance which was raw, violent and reckless. The ‘danger’ aspect is something that escapes most rock and metal these days, but with Sicarius I was intrigued which ultimately lead to this signing.”

“We at Sicarius are absolutely thrilled to be a part of the M-Theory team and to work with a leader of such a high caliber like Marco. The man is a visionary to say the least, and has worked with countless black metal acts that have influenced Sicarius in many facets,” explains guitarist Argyris. “Since forming this outfit the biggest goals have been to write music that we want to listen to, and to carry the torch of the classic bands from the late ‘80s / early ‘90s such as Rotting Christ, Mayhem, Bathory and Gorgoroth.  We hold the utmost respect and confidence in this label and the team that operates it. After meeting with Marco I am very privileged to share our vision for Sicarius under the banner of M-Theory Audio and together unleash uncompromising black metal violence upon the world.”

Sicarius have created a reputation for themselves in Southern California appearing on live shows with Vader, Helheim, Uada, The Noctambulant, Imperial Triumphant and more, as well as in underground circles with their previous EP, Scorch the Earth. Watch for more info soon regarding their recently recorded new full-length album, Serenade Of Slitting Throats, to be released this fall on M-Theory Audio.

M-Theory Audio is the new label helmed by Marco Barbieri, former president of Century Media Records and Nuclear Blast America with a staff whose resumes include Prosthetic, Epitaph and Victory Records. M-Theory Audio features a burgeoning roster including such notable acts as Nomadic Folk Metal group Tengger Cavalry, Pagan metal warriors Helsott, doom/psychedelic outfit Blackfinger (featuring former Trouble vocalist Eric Wagner and Dream Death guitarist Terry Weston), female-fronted symphonic metal band Graveshadow and traditional metal band White Wizzard.

Sicarius live dates:

August
18 - The Union - Los Angeles, CA (with Marduk, Incantation, Abysmal Dawn)
24 - The Bancroft - Spring Valley, CA (with Panzergod)

September
30 - Extermination Fest @ The San Antonio Rose - Vernon, CA

Night Legion, the new high energy Australian power metal band featuring members of Dungeon, Death Dealer, Blasted To Static and Darker Half, have released a trailer for their upcoming self-titled debut album, out on October 20th via Massacre Records.

Filmed during Night Legion's headlining show at the Under The Southern Cross festival in Sydney, Australia, Night Legion’s video for "Hell Below" (watch below) recalls the legend of a swashbuckling adventure and tale of blood and gold. The video includes enhanced special effects from video king Owe Lingvalle (Hammerfall, Lordi).

The track "Hell Below" is a preview of the upcoming debut albumm and showcases the incredible cover artwork by fantasy artist Dusan Markovic.

Night Legion bring aggressive high screaming molten metal music infused with melodic vibes for fans of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and classic power metal. Stay tuned for updates.

Hailing from Poland, epic black/death metallers Devilish Impressions will release their new album, The I, on September 22nd via Lifeforce Records. The album will be available as CD digipak, limited vinyl LP and digital download. Check out a second teaser video, available for streaming below.

Recorded at various studios, including Dobra12 (drums) and Icaros Studio (guitars) the disc was mixed and mastered at Impressive Art Studio by Przemyslaw Nowak who also handled vocals recording sessions and guitars’ re-amping. The album’s artwork, design and layout were created by Infected Minds.

The album features special guest appearances by Mercyful Fate/King Diamond guitarist Mike Wead and by vocalist / guitarist Ares of Norway’s dark metal masters Aeternus. Other artists who also contributed to the record are shamanic ritual meditative experimental act Bon and Impressive Art Studio’s owner Przemyslaw Nowak, who came up with interludes, additional background tunes and effects.

“It’s been a really long way to be finally able to wrap it all up, countless nights spent on writing the music and lyrics first, then working on the album’s pre-production, followed by what seemed to be never-ending, proper recording sessions, and tones of work that had to be done for the band afterwards. We really wanted this new album to become something really special and therefore, to avoid any haphazard decisions, we let them come out of us smoothly, without putting ourselves under any external tension and stuff. Did it pay off? Well, we’ll see… We surely worked our asses off, pushed things back and forth to get the best out of it. As a result we’ve got something we are damn proud of, something that we believe surpasses on all possible levels everything we’ve done in the past. I simply believe we’d outdone ourselves and recorded something that will cause your hearts beat faster…,” comments Quazarre, the band’s composer, vocalist and guitarist.

The title chosen, The I, for the record is not only a phonetic acronym of the band’s name, but above all it reflects the manifesto they stand for since the Horde’s inception in the year 2000 - the notion of freedom of choice and will. A supremacy of an individual over any external factors being imposed on us by others, with special emphasis on religion and its convictions, dogmas and paradigms. The I is a rebellious manifesto targeted against all those who stand opposed to anything that drives us towards individual perfection.

CD digipak tracklisting:

“The I”
“The Dove And The Serpent”
“Eosphoros”
“Blood Imprinted Stigma”
“Ipse philosophvs, daemon, Devs et omnia”
“Czern i Biel”
“The Fatal Messiah”
 
Vinyl tracklisting:

“The I”
“The Dove And The Serpent”
“Blood Imprinted Stigma”
“Eosphoros”
“Ipse philosophvs, daemon, Devs et omnia”
“The Fatal Messiah”

Teaser #1:

Teaser #2:

Hallowed - a new collaborative brew between Iron Maiden and Robinsons Brewery - is now available to pre-order direct from Robinsons’ online shop (with exclusive benefits).

Fans that pre-order the beer will reap the following rewards:

- Be the first in the world to taste Hallowed: exclusively receive beer a month before anyone else.
- Money-can’t-buy merch: receive official Hallowed merchandise which can’t be purchased anywhere else: includes bespoke Hallowed sticker and Hallowed keyring bottle opener. Perfect for collectors!
- Double up for twice the fun and enjoy extra free stuff: In addition to better value delivery*, fans who order 2 cases of Hallowed will also receive a free Trooper lanyard bottle opener.
* You can get 2 cases of beer shipped for the same delivery cost so double up for twice the beer fun!
- If that wasn’t enough to tempt you, all fans that pre-order Hallowed, also go into a prize draw to win a custom made, one-off, Hallowed bar runner signed by Bruce Dickinson.

Designed once again by Iron Maiden vocalist and ale aficionado Bruce Dickinson together with Robinsons’ Head Brewer Martyn Weeks, Hallowed marks a break from tradition. At 6.0% ABV in 330ml bottle, Hallowed is the first Belgian style beer in the Trooper ranks and one of the first beers to be brewed by Robinsons that uses Belgian style yeast.

John Robinson, Trooper Brand Manager, explains: “Crystal Rye gives Hallowed a blood red hue and a smooth dry finish. The Belgian style yeast we have used in this brew along with Noble hops combine to deliver a complex pallet of subtle banana and a sweet plum finish.”

Hallowed's innovative bottle label pays tribute to Belgian beer, presenting Iron Maiden's iconic mascot Eddie, robed in traditional monk's clothing: a nod to the Trappist monastic brewing tradition in Belgium.

To be the first to get your hands on Hallowed, follow this link and click the BUY NOW button and we’ll have Hallowed on your doorstep from the 1st September or as soon as possible afterwards.

Hallowed will hit selected supermarket shelves and pubs from 1st October. We get asked all the time about exactly when and where Hallowed will be available to buy - we’ll let you know via the website and social media in due course… for now you can guarantee your beer delivery for 1st September by pre-ordering your beer order online.

- List of countries Robinsons delivers to
- List of Robinsons importers
- Buy beer direct from abroad

Fans looking to buy Hallowed direct from North America can pre-order the beer here.

Following the success of the four 7” singles box sets from The Who, Maximum As & Bs presents all of the bands A sides, B sides and EPs in one place for the very first time. The 5 CD set, due for release on October 27th via UMe/Polydor, features 86 tracks from the Brunswick, Reaction, Track and Polydor labels.

Maximum As & Bs includes classic hits such as “Pictures Of Lily,” “I Can See For Miles,” “Magic Bus,” “Pinball Wizard,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “Substitute,” “I Can’t Explain,” “Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere,” “My Generation,” “Squeeze Box,” “Who Are You,” “You Better You Bet,” “Real Good-Looking Boy” & the band’s last recorded track to date, “Be Lucky.” The set includes rarely heard B sides and EP tracks along with the group’s first single, as the High Numbers – “Zoot Suit” b/w “I’m The Face”.

The box set features five CDs, in separate wallets, housed in a rigid, lift-off-lid style box along with a 48-page booklet, with track-by-track annotation by acclaimed Who writers with period photos & memorabilia.

Pre-order via the following links:

- Digital
- Amazon Physical
- Amazon Digital
- Google Play

August 18th sees the reissue for the first time in a decade and a half of Pete Townshend’s critically acclaimed demo and outtake collections Scoop, Another Scoop & Scoop 3. These albums give a unique insight into Townshend’s creative process and feature early versions of future Who classics including “Eminence Front,” “The Real Me,” “Long Live Rock,” “The Magic Bus” as well as many other Who hits. These double-CD and vinyl sets have been newly remastered at Abbey Road with the LPs remastered at half speed and pressed on pink (Scoop), yellow (Another Scoop) and light blue (Scoop 3) vinyl.

Also coming exclusively on vinyl on October 27th, are Meaty, Beaty, Big & Bouncy and Live At Leeds, The Who’s first singles collection from 1971 and what the New York Times referred to as “Quite simply, it is the best live rock album ever made” respectively. Both albums have been cut at Abbey Road with half-speed mastering process and will be released on October 27th on heavyweight 180-gram vinyl.

Melodic hard rock band, Ten, have released the fourth single and second music video from their brand new (13th) studio album, Gothica, which was released on July 7th. Inspired by Robert Luis Stevenson’s classic science gothic novel Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886), “Jekyll And Hyde” is a classic rock track, which lyrics describe Mr. Hyde’s search for his next victim in the dark streets, lit only by the light of the moon. Watch the video below.

Gothica was produced by Gary Hughes and mixed and mastered by Dennis Ward. Ten’s longstanding professional association with Dennis has been ongoing since he mixed their 2011 album, Stormwarning.

Additionally, the album features stunning original artwork by Stan W. Decker, depicting a beautiful enchantress reading incantations from a book whilst summoning shadowy characters from its pages. Stan has cleverly illustrated the piece in order to portray the characters emerging from the books pages as the actual characters from the songs on the album. The atmospheric sleeve photography is once again provided by the remarkably talented Adrian Ashworth.

Tracklisting:

“The Grail”
“Jekyll And Hyde”
“Travellers”
“Man For All Seasons”
“In My Dreams”
“The Wild King Of Winter”
“Paragon”
“Welcome To The Freak Show”
“La Luna Dra-cu-la”
“Into Darkness”

“Jekyll And Hyde” video:

“Travellers” video;

“La Luna Dra-cu-la” lyric video:

“Paragon”:

Ten is:

Gary Hughes - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Guitar, Bass and Programming
Dann Rosingana - Guitar
Steve Grocott - Guitar
John Halliwell - Guitar
Steve McKenna - Bass Guitar
Darrel Treece-Birch - Keyboards
Max Yates - Drums and Percussion

Additional Backing Vocals - Karen Fell

In a brand new interview with Guitar World, former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman was asked if he minds being thought of as a shredder. He responded: "I'm not a shredder. That is a lame-ass term and I fucking hate ever being called it, at any tier. A shredder, at least to me, is a guy who plays fast meaningless shit all the time. Shredders are the guys in your friend's basement who play insanely fast, and it just looks so mind-blowing and amazingly cool with their fingers flying all around the neck, but if you close your eyes and actually listen, what you hear is a pile of shit. You all know what I'm talking about."

He continued: "I beg you all not to be impressed with fingerwork, and be impressed by how the music you are hearing makes you feel.

"Listen, slang terminology has different meanings for different people and I certainly don't have the right to tell you that the term 'shredder' is good or bad. If you like 'shredding' and you think I'm a 'great shredder.' then I love ya! We are buds! Apparently since I have been out of the U.S., that term has taken on a new life and I'm not really sure what it means anymore. I just know that the term and the sound that it conjures up in my mind makes me want to dry heave."

Friedman was also asked at which point as a guitarist he started to feel that he had his own sound, or at least a tone similar to what he is known for. He said: "I'm not sure what I'm known for, but even as a teen, I knew that for better or worse I was gonna always sound like myself. Even while I am constantly evolving, somehow it still sounds like me. I am thankful for that. That said, I don't agree with a lot of my previous work. Some of it is really good, but as my playing evolves, I find that I am getting closer and closer to my potential, and on some of my older stuff, I think I was doing many things that I would not do now. I put a lot more care into everything, as you can definitely hear on 'Inferno' and 'Wall Of Sound'. It still sounds like the same guy as I was before, but a much, much deeper and richer version. Notice I didn't say 'better' — that is for you to decide. If you lost your virginity to one of my songs, there is nothing I could play now that is gonna top that for you."

Friedman's new album, "Wall Of Sound", will be released on August 4 via Prosthetic Records. The disc was produced by Friedman, engineered by Paul Fig (GHOST, RUSH, ALICE IN CHAINS) and mixed by Jens Bogren (KREATOR, OPETH, SEPULTURA). Legendary QUEEN producer Mack came on board to handle the mixing on two tracks, "Streetlight" and "For A Friend".

Marty's new CD was recorded in part at Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in California with engineer Paul Fig (ALICE IN CHAINS, RUSH, DEFTONES) and was previously described by Friedman as "a way more intense version" of its predecessor: "deeper, sadder, happier and more aggressive."

Like "Inferno", Friedman's new album features several guests, including prog-thrashers MUTOID MAN, Jørgen Munkeby of the Norwegian avant-garde jazz-metal outfit SHINING and Jinxx of Los Angeles theatrical rockers BLACK VEIL BRIDES.

On July 29th, Metallica performed at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. fan-filmed video of the entire show is availabel below. The setlist on the night was as follows:

"Hardwired"
"Atlas, Rise"
"For Whom the Bell Tolls"
"Fuel"
"The Unforgiven"
"Now That We're Dead"
"Moth Into Flame"
"Wherever I May Roam"
"Halo on Fire"
"Motorbreath"
"Sad but True"
"One"
"Master of Puppets"
"Fade to Black"
"Running with the Devil"
"Seek and Destroy"
"Battery"
"Nothing Else Matters"
"Enter Sandman"

Upcoming Metallica North American tour dates are listed below. Find the band’s complete live itinerary at this location.

August
4 - Phoenix, AZ - University of Phoenix Stadium*+
6 - San Diego, CA - Petco Park*+
9 - Seattle, WA - Centurylink Field*+
11-13 - San Francisco, CA - Outside Lands
14 - Vancouver, BC - BC Place*+
16 - Edmonton, AB - Commonwealth Stadium*+

* With Avenged Sevenfold
^ With Volbeat
+ With Gojira

Limited edition Metallica concert posters went on sale Thursday, July 27th at 1 PM, PDT via Metallica.com.

The official screen printed concert posters from every stop on the third leg of the North American WorldWired Tour. These seven posters featuring artwork by Jeff Soto (Orlando, Montréal), Mark 5 (Miami), Munk One (Atlanta), Ames Bros (Detroit, Québec City), and Acorn (Toronto).

“We have a limited number available, so mark your calendars and be in the Met Store at 1 PM, PDT on Thursday, July 27th to get yours while you can!”

* Posters are exclusive to Fifth Members. Limit one (1) of each product per customer.

Sebastian Bach is selling his original 1995 Skid Row Subhuman Race - Subhuman Beings On Tour Jacket via eBay. The auction ends Monday, August 7th.

"This was given to the band members in either the United States or Japan, I can't remember," says the item's owner Sebastian Bach. "Never worn. 22 year old embroidered black denim Lee jacket in brand new condition. Will sign if requested. Size: adult medium."

Sebastian Bach will be appearing at the upcoming Rock And Roll Fantasy Camp featuring Judas Priest, from September 14th to 17th. Imagine yourself not only jamming with the Metal Gods from Judas Priest, but you will also rock out with Sebastian Bach from Skid Row. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to jam and perform with these rock idols at one amazing Rock And Roll Fantasy Camp.

Sebastian Bach has sold in excess of 20 million records worldwide as lead singer with his former band, Skid Row and as a solo artist. Since departing the band, Bach has produced chart topping records and performed with Axl Rose from Guns N´ Roses, in addition to touring as a solo act. Far from just being a multi-platinum recording artist, the singer/songwriter/actor/entertainer has expanded his career over the past decade to include episodic television with a 5-season recurring role on the CW´s hit series Gilmore Girls, starring roles on Broadway (Jekyll & Hyde, The Rocky Horror Picture Show) and national touring companies (Jesus Christ Superstar), and has appeared regularly on MTV and VH1.

Register now and you will jam with Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner, Ian Hill and Scott Travis of Judas Priest and Sebastian Bach of Skid Row at the private Rock And Roll Fantasy Camp facility, participate in a Q&A sessions,  take pictures, get autographs, then hit the legendary stage at the Whisky A Go Go with the members of Judas Priest. Live out a true rock and roll dream only found at Rock And Roll Fantasy Camp.

Over the course of four metal filled days, campers will be placed into bands led by rock star counselors including Craig Goldy (Dio) Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Whitesnake), Vinny Appice (Dio, Black Sabbath), Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper) and many more. Musicians will hone their stage presence, learn to play some of metal music’s greatest songs, get tips on playing as a band and hear stories of life on the road from their rock star counselors. Attendees will also attend master classes and jam rooms with these renowned musicians and then perform live with their band and the members of Judas Priest in front of a packed house at the infamous Whisky A Go Go on the Sunset Strip.

Call 888-762-2263 extension 7 for all the details, there is a package for everyone!

Swedish black-metal trio Astrophobos have just shared a new digital single titled “Simulacrum”, released via the band’s own label Triumvirate Records.

Recorded by Astrophobos at Triumvirate Studio, mixed and mastered by Devo Andersson at Endarker Studio, this new track - just like the band’s previous Enthroned In Flesh EP - also features Fredrik Widigs from Marduk on session drums.

Simulacrum by Astrophobos

Astrophobos is currently writing the follow-up to their 2014 debut album Remnants Of Forgotten Horrors, tentatively set for release early next year.

For further information, visit the official Astrophobos Facebook page.

 

New York City-based progressive outfit, Edensong, has issued a new live video of their epic "Down The Hours”, which was filmed at the band's performance at Terra Incognita Festival in Quebec earlier this year.

Issues guitarist/vocalist James Schoen, "It was an honor to get the chance to return to Terra Incognita for Edensong’s second performance at the festival. The audience in Quebec is so incredible and 'Down The Hours' was one of our favorite moments from the show. Quebec is also home to Godin Guitars who make the amazing xtSA that I use live and which enables me to quickly shift between (and combine) acoustic and electric guitar sounds. These guitars, along with our Hearback PRO monitoring rig from Hear Technologies, really help us bring this music to the stage and recreate Years In The Garden Of Years faithfully in concert."

Sign up to Edensong’s mailing list and receive a free audio download of "Down The Hours" live from Terra Incognita.

Stay tuned for some major updates from the band in the weeks ahead.

British rockers ENTER SHIKARI will release their new album, "The Spark", on September 22.

The official video for the first single from the disc, "Live Outside", can be seen below.

"The Spark" is an ambitious, inspiring piece of work that poignantly reflects their legendary career rise to have become one of the biggest and most exciting bands the U.K. has ever seen. Following four seminal albums, of which three have been Top 10 overseas, "The Spark" is produced by David Kosten (EVERYTHING EVERYTHING, BAT FOR LASHES), and is SHIKARI's most melodic and personal album to date; a soundtrack to our tumultuous world, a record for everyone who's filled with frustration but hasn't lost the capacity for hope. "The spark is a new connection, a new beginning," says maverick frontman Rou Reynolds. "It can be short and insignificant, but it can create something so significant. The spark is that light at the end of the tunnel — when everything seems to be falling apart, but you’re able to see some sort of path out of the dark."

In 2015, the ground started to fall from under Rou Reynolds's feet. He had been having occasional panic attacks for years, but hadn't put a name to the problem until that brutal summer. Frayed by touring and heavy professional expectations, he started self-medicating, which backfired massively. The world was also spinning on its axis. Brexit. Trump. Terrorism. The steady dismantling of the NHS. The biting effects of austerity. The kind of social issues that have been ENTER SHIKARI's lifeblood for almost a decade now. "The Spark" track listing:

01. The Spark02. The Sights03. Live Outside04. Take My Country Back05. Airfield06. Rabble Rouser07. Shinrin-yoku08. Undercover Agents09. The Revolt Of The Atoms10. An Ode To Lost Jigsaw Pieces (In Two Movements)11. The Embers

ENTER SHIKARI's only announced U.S. show will take place on Saturday, September 30 at an all-ages matinee album release party happening at Brooklyn's Rough Trade (64 N. 9th St. Brooklyn, NY 11211). Entry is limited to those who preorder "The Spark" in the store.

Photo credit: Jennifer McCord

Norwegian black metallers SATYRICON will release their ninth studio album, "Deep Calleth Upon Deep", on September 22 via Napalm Records. Recorded in Oslo, Norway and Vancouver, Canada, during early 2017 and mixed together with revered studio guru Mike Fraser (who previously worked on SATYRICON's 2006 album, "Now, Diabolical"), "Deep Calleth Upon Deep" is not just a new collection of songs from one of extreme music's most enduring and reliable bands: this is a wholesale reinvention and a brand new era in SATYRICON history.

"Deep Calleth Upon Deep" track listing:

01. Midnight Serpent02. Blood Cracks Open The Ground03. To Your Brethren In The Dark04. Deep Calleth Upon Deep05. The Ghost Of Rome06. Dissonant07. Black Wings And Withering Gloom08. Burial Rite SATYRICON vocalist Sigurd "Satyr" Wongraven, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2015, says: "Approaching this release, what I always kept in mind is that either this is the beginning of something new or it's gonna be my last record. If this is going to be the last, then it needs to be something special. If there are more records, then I'd better make sure that this is so different from the last one that it feels like a new beginning. I think it's really, really dark, very spiritual and filled with confidence and energy." "Deep Calleth Upon Deep" is a profound statement about the essence of SATYRICON's music and the eternal value of art itself. Satyr continues: "The way that I see it is that for any art, be it SATYRICON or any other form of art with substance, in order for you to be able to inhale and completely understand it, it will take a little bit of you as well. If you get it all after a couple of listens, you know that it probably won't stay with you. So the title is saying, 'From the depth of the people making this record to the depth of the listener...' If you want to take part in this journey, you should be prepared to dig deep down in the darkest corner of your soul with us." The "Deep Calleth Upon Deep" front cover is an obscure drawing from 1898 by perhaps the greatest Norwegian artist of all time, Edvard Munch.

SATYRICON drummer Kjetil-Vidar "Frost" Haraldstad recently told "The Jasta Show" about "Deep Calleth Upon Deep": "This is an album that we have been really working a lot with for a long time. It's all about getting the right expression for each and every song.

"It has never been anything that we've discussed in the band, but at least I personally feel that every song has a life of its own, a very strong and unique identity," he continued. "This album is really about giving life to those eight songs that constitute it.

"Like with every SATYRICON album, I guess it's very, very diverse, and this is more true than ever with the new one," he said. "In particular, when it comes to this identity bit, I feel the songs, even if they fit extremely well together in a compilation of songs, each and every one, it's very, very different from the others — almost like human beings are different from each other."

According to Frost, the more varied approach of SATYRICON's 2013 self-titled album was a musical precursor to the exploratory nature of the band's upcoming disc.

"I realize that the previous albums opened lots of doors for us," he said. "There was a reason that we chose to name the [last] album after the band itself. Basically, we felt that somehow SATYRICON became a very complete band with that album. We managed to bring that dynamic element into the band that somehow had been missing a little, and we felt that when that was there, it was like we had all the basic components that should constitute SATYRICON. And as those doors were opened with that album, we then found ourselves in a situation where we were, like, roaming about in those different rooms. And this new album is a result of discovering and searching through and basically exploring new territory and making it ours."

SATYRICON has already announced a European tour for September/October to coincide with the release of "Deep Calleth Upon Deep".

Black Label Society guitarist Dario Lorina has issued a guitar playthrough video for the song "Guardian", from his 2017 Death Grip Tribulations instrumental album, available now on Shrapnel Records.

Dario’s new record is a powerful show of songwriting infused with shred guitar, vintage modern influence, and a richly musical band consisting of long time musical partner Dan DC Conway (drums), fellow Black Label Society band mates John JD DeServio (bass) and Jeff Fabb (drums), former Lizzy Borden band mate Marten Andersson (bass), and features a song with guitarist Phil Campbell (Motörhead, Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons). Engineered and mixed by Fred Archambault (Alice Cooper, Avenged Sevenfold), this record is a sheer embodiment of this high caliber guitarist's vast skill set.

“Death Grip Tribulations makes it clear that Dario Lorina has become a force to be reckoned with, as at 27 years of age he draws from experience far beyond his years, creating a collection of songs built on forceful rhythms, strong melodies and an arsenal of advanced guitar chops.” - Mike Varney, Shrapnel Label Group

Metal guitar young blood, Dario Lorina began his professional career in 2006 at age 16 as the touring guitarist with the late Jani Lane (Warrant).  At age 19, he joined veteran metal act Lizzy Borden whom he toured with for four years. Dario released his first instrumental record on Shrapnel Records in September 2013. January 1st, 2014 he joined Black Label Society and has since been touring worldwide with BLS and Zakk Wylde, performing on both guitar and keys, most recently on Zakk Wylde's latest Book Of Shadows II tour.  

"Death Grip Tribulations" official video:

For further information, visit DarioLorina.com.

 

German symphonic metallers, Beyond The Black, performed at Germany’s Wacken Open Air in the summer of 2016. Video footage of the band’s full performance is now available for streaming below.

Setlist:

“Lost In Forever”
“Beyond The Mirror”
“Songs Of Love And Death”
“Afraid Of The Dark”
“Shine And Shade”
“Whole Lotta Love”
“Written In Blood”
“Love Me Forever”
“In The Shadows”
“When Angels Fall”
“Hallelujah”
“Running To The Edge”

In 1983, Star Licks Productions created a series of instructional videos featuring well-known musicians demonstrating their unique musical styles and techniques. The portfolio debuted with a wide-ranging group of players including Steve Lukather of Toto, Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, guitarist Albert Lee, and acclaimed guitarist/educator Wolf Marshall.

In one of the videos, Queen’s Brian May discussed his equipment and techniques, and demonstrates a number of his guitar solos. He covers both famous and lesser known Queen songs, including “Brighton Rock”, “Tie Your Mother Down”, “Somebody To Love”, “It's Late”, “Dead On Time”, “Put Out The Fire”, “It's A Hard Life”, “Keep Yourself Alive”, “Jesus”, “Father To Son” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”.

Watch a clip featuring “It's Late” below.

The programme was produced and directed by Mark Freed and Robert Decker, and recorded at Sarm West, London, England. The video was originally released in 1983 and later reissued in 1993/4.

Note from Brian: “Mark initially came to me with an idea for making audio cassettes of guitarists explaining their techniques. It seemed a good one and we arranged to meet and make it happen. But I said ... if we’re going to the trouble of recording this stuff, why not film it as well, and make it into a Video Cassette ?! So we made a ‘pilot’ video, and people liked it, and this became the template for a whole collection of videos which, I think, stand up very well to this day. Maybe we should do an update?!”

Subscribe to Brian May’s channel here.

Queen + Adam Lambert Tour Dates 2017:

July
31 - Washington D.C. - Verizon Center

August
2 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
4 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
5 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center

November
1 - Prague, Czech Republic - O2 Arena
2 - Munich, Germany - Olympiahalle
4 - Budapest, Hungary - Sportarena
6 - Lodz, Poland - Atlas Arena
8 - Vienna, Austria - Stadhalle
10 - Bologna, Italy - Unipol Arena
12 - Luxembourg, Amneville - Galaxie
13 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Ziggo Dome
17 - Kaunas, Lithuania - Zalgiris Arena
25 - Dublin, Ireland - 3 Arena
26 - Belfast, Ireland - SSE Arena
28 - Liverpool, England - Echo Arena
30 - Birmingham, England - Barclaycard Arena

December
1 - Newcastle, England - Metro Radio Arena
3 - Glasgow, Scotland - The SSE Hydro
5 - Nottingham, England - Motorpoint Arena
6 - Leeds, England - First Direct Arena
8 - Sheffield, England - Motorpoint Arena
9 - Manchester, England - Arena
12 - London, England - 02 Arena
15 - London, England - The SSE Arena, Wembley

STEELHEART — the brainchild of Miljenko Matijevic, whose powerful voice and multi-octave range is the heart and soul of the band — will release its new album, "Through Worlds Of Stardust", on September 15 via Frontiers Music Srl. The official video for the second single from the disc, "You Got Me Twisted", can be seen below.

Says Miljenko: "I cannot express how excited I am for you all to hear this new album. Our focus was to bring back the magic in the music with songs that have been lived, loved, laughed and struggled. I best describe this album as 'deep, sexy, loving, twisted, romantic, and hungry rock 'n' roll.' The record was recorded throughout parts of the world, including a live string section recorded in Stockholm, Sweden. I truly hope you enjoy this album as it was created from the heart and no corners were cut. Love you all; we look forward to seeing you on the road." Although they were lumped in with the glut of long-haired hard rock bands emerging in the early '90s, STEELHEART was always more forward thinking than their peers and the 2017 version of the band has a contemporary and edgy feel, while still retaining the patented powerful vocals of Miljenko. On "Through Worlds Of Stardust", Miljenko has fused his past, present, and future together, creating an undeniable piece of hard rock music. Certainly fans of the band's first three classic albums will be happy to hear those powerful pipes back in action, but fans of modern hard rock acts like HALESTORM, SHINEDOWN, ALTER BRIDGE and other melodic-minded rock heavyweights will find much here to love. STEELHEART released their self-titled debut album in 1990 and, based on the buzz around the hit single "I'll Never Let You Go", was a smashing success (for example, 33,000 albums were sold in one day in Japan) and quickly reached platinum sales. STEELHEART's sophomore album, "Tangled In Reins", was released in 1992 to critical acclaim and rave reviews, but moderate success in terms of sales in the U.S. (by early '90s standards) due to the well documented rise of grunge music; however, East Asia was a different story, where the band was widely embraced yet again. In the midst of promotion of the album, a serious accident happened on Halloween night in 1992, when an improperly secured lighting truss hit Matijevic on the back of the head, breaking his nose, cheekbone, jaw, and twisting his spine. Almost impossibly, Matijevic managed to walk off the stage of his own strength before being rushed to a hospital. STEELHEART, as it was known, ended that night. Four years later, Matijevic formed a new version of STEELHEART with Kenny Kanowski (guitars), Vincent Mele (bass), and Alex Makarovich (drums) to record and release his third album, "Wait". The album was very different musically from the previous two albums, but featured the song "We All Die Young" (millions of streams and counting on Spotify) which was later included as a re-recorded version in the movie "Rock Star", which saw Matijevic providing the singing voice for Mark Wahlberg's character. The movie soundtrack was performed by Matijevic (and Jeff Scott Soto) on vocals along with Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne's then-guitarist and frontman of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY), Jeff Pilson (DOKKEN, FOREIGNER), and Jason Bonham. "Through Worlds Of Stardust" track listing:

01. Stream Line Savings02. My Dirty Girl03. Come Inside04. My Word05. You Got Me Twisted06. Lips Of Rain07. With Love We Live Again08. Got Me Runnin'09. My Freedom10. I'm So In Love With You Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Guitars, Ebow Guitars: Miljenko Matijevic Musicians on the album:

Guitars: Uros RaskovskiBass: James "Rev" Jones, Sigve Sjursen, Jesse SternDrums: Mike Humbert, Randy CookePiano: Daniel Fouché, Ed RothGuest guitar solo and part rhythm on "My Dirty Girl" by Kennet KanowskiStrings composed and conducted by Glen GabrielOrchestrated by Anthony WeedenPerformed by Stockholm Strings

Florida death metallers OBITUARY have released the official live video for the song "Sentence Day" off the band's self-titled full-length album. The video was filmed in stunning 4K by Magnetar Studios at several locations on the band's headlining tour with GRUESOME earlier this year.

OBITUARY commented on the video: "We are super excited to bring you guys another music video from the new album. This video was extra fun for the band as we invited James [Pesature of Magnetar] to ride along with us for a couple shows and get onstage/offstage. His entire crew met up with us and filmed a show with multi-camera angles. 'Sentence Day' is one of our favorite songs on the album and definitely a fan favorite so we are proud to bring you guys this video. Enjoy!"

OBITUARY and EXODUS will join forces for another epic "Battle Of The Bays" this fall! The two American legends went to war in Europe last year and are now bringing the battle to America, this time with support from POWER TRIP and DUST BOLT. The co-headlining tour kicks off September 14 in Durham, North Carolina and ends on October 15 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

OBITUARY's new, self-titled album was released on March 17 via Relapse.

Picking up where 2014's "Inked In Blood" left off, OBITUARY show no signs of slowing down as they continue to reign as kings of death metal. Recorded at the band's home studio in Tampa, "Obituary" is a ten-track tour de force of bone-pulverizing death metal that is as heavy, uncompromising and infectious as anything they've released in the group's historic, nearly 30-year career.

The band took part in the 2017 Decibel Magazine Tour with KREATOR, HORRENDOUS and MIDNIGHT. The tour kicked off on March 17 in Charlotte, North Carolina and ran through April 15 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON have released an audio/visual clip for "Streambreather", a song from their latest album, "Emperor Of Sand". The video, created by Aaron Hymes, can be seen below.

"Emperor Of Sand" debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 album chart, making it their third Top 10 album. The follow-up to 2014's "Once More 'Round The Sun" was recorded at The Quarry Recording Studio in Kennesaw, just outside MASTODON's hometown of Atlanta, with producer Brendan O'Brien (PEARL JAM, NEIL YOUNG, AC/DC, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE), who first worked with MASTODON on their seminal 2009 album "Crack The Skye".

"Emperor Of Sand" finds MASTODON returning to a deeply imaginative and complex conceptual storyline that ponders the nature of time. Threading together the myth of a man sentenced to death in a majestically malevolent desert, the band conjures the grains of a musical and lyrical odyssey slipping quickly through a cosmic hourglass.

"'Emperor of sand' is like the grim reaper," says drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor. "Sand represents time. If you or anyone you know has ever received a terminal diagnosis, the first thought is about time. Invariably, you ask, 'How much time is left?'"

"We're reflecting on mortality," adds bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders. "To that end, the album ties into our entire discography. It's 17 years in the making, but it's also a direct reaction to the last two years. We tend to draw inspiration from very real things in our lives."

For the past few months, rumors have been circulating about a new secret project including former DREAM THEATER members Mike Portnoy and Derek Sherinian. Now, the time has come to make the grand and highly anticipated introduction to their new band, SONS OF APOLLO. Reuniting to form SONS OF APOLLO, Portnoy and Sherinian have joined forces with Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (ex-GUNS N' ROSES), Billy Sheehan (THE WINERY DOGS, MR. BIG, DAVID LEE ROTH) and Jeff Scott Soto (ex-JOURNEY, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN'S RISING FORCE). Their debut album, "Psychotic Symphony", will be released October 20 on InsideOut Music. An album teaser can be seen below.

"Psychotic Symphony" was produced by the dynamic production duo of Portnoy and Sherinian, also affectionately known as "The Del Fuvio Brothers," which is the nickname given to them over 20 years ago during their time together in DREAM THEATER. SONS OF APOLLO got together very organically, as Portnoy explains: "Derek and I reunited shortly after I left DREAM THEATER in 2010 and we put together an all-instrumental touring band with he and I, Billy Sheehan, and Tony MacAlpine. That was my first time working with Derek since the '90s when he was in DREAM THEATER and it was just great to be working with him again. Ever since that tour, which was really just a one-off live thing, he has been nudging me to start a real, original, full-time band. The timing just had never been right, because I had too many other things on my plate. Long story short, the time was finally right to take the bait and put together a band." "Mike and I work at a relentless pace in the studio," continues Sherinian. "The music is modern, but we have an old-school soul. What is unique about SONS OF APOLLO is that we have true rock 'n' roll swagger along with the virtuosity — a lethal combination!” But what to call the next great supergroup? "Derek was mainly the one behind the name," says Portnoy. "I have a list that I keep on my phone of about a hundred different band names, which I constantly have to refer to every time I have a new band every year. [Laughs] So, I pulled up the list and APOLLO was one of the names on the list. It was a word that both of us really liked. We started fiddling with different variations of the word. One of the original band names we were working with was APOLLO CREED, the character from the 'Rocky' movies, but after lots of different discussions on different variations, Derek suggested SONS OF APOLLO and it seemed to stick. Apollo is the God of music so with that in mind it seemed like a fitting name." Mike Portnoy, Derek Sherinian and Billy Sheehan previously toured together in 2012 and 2013 as PSMS (along with guitarist Tony MacAlpine), playing all instrumental versions from each of their previously recorded music. SONS OF APOLLO is the next logical progression by adding a vocalist and creating all-original material. The band incorporates the progressive style and individual technical prowess that Portnoy and Sherinian shared together in DREAM THEATER combined with the swagger and groove of VAN HALEN, DEEP PURPLE and LED ZEPPELIN. "I have known Mike and Derek for a long time, so when they came to me with SONS OF APOLLO, I jumped on this straight away," says Thomas Waber, label manager/A&R international of InsideOut Music. "However, the album they ended up recording exceeded my already high expectations by a long mile! We couldn't be happier about it!" SONS OF APOLLO will hit the road in 2018 for their first worldwide tour. "This is a real band," Portnoy declares. "This is going to pick up for me and Billy where THE WINERY DOGS left off, in terms of this being the next logical full-time thing for us. I'm not saying THE WINERY DOGS have broken up, because we haven't, we're just on a break. SONS OF APOLLO is absolutely going to be a full-time band and we plan on touring all over the world all throughout 2018 and, honestly, it is the priority for all five of us." Sherinian agrees: "We will go on a worldwide crusade in 2018 to bring SONS OF APOLLO to as many people as possible. Apollo was the God of music, and we are his mighty offspring!"

Canada's ragga-metal kings Zeroscape have released the video for their new single "Lies Out, Lights Out". The song will be featured on their new album Finish Dem, due to be released September 12th via Boonsdale (Canada) / Bad Reputation (international). 

Frontman Binski comments:

"Zeroscape never really officially ended. We just took a break, so when we came back it was like we never missed a beat. The stuff where we left off from, the music we were writing, it's just more enhanced. It's way tighter because we grew naturally into our sound. We're gonna record the sound that we made, that is ours. The sound that's gonna take over." 

Zeroscape is: 

Binski - vocals)
Speshalizt - guitars
JJ - drums
Matt - bass

Photo by Remy Tartaglia / John Bridge

 

British rock legends UFO will release their first-ever covers album, paying homage to a dozen of their personal favorites. "The Salentino Cuts" includes several unexpected choices such as MAD SEASONS' "River Of Deceit", John Mellencamp's "Paper In Fire" and Bill Withers's "Ain't No Sunshine" alongside more traditional but nonetheless thrilling versions such as THE YARDBIRDS' "Heartful Of Soul", ZZ TOP's "Just Got Paid" and lots more!

UFO's current lineup features original members Phil Mogg on vocals and Andy Parker on drums. Keyboardist/guitarist Paul Raymond joined the band in 1976. Lead guitarist Vinnie Moore has been a permanent member of the group since 2003, and American bassist Rob De Luca joined the fold in 2012.

Vinnie says: "Making this covers record was a blast for me. I thoroughly enjoyed putting a little of my own spin on these tunes that I grew up with. I played ZZ TOP and Robin Trower songs about a gazzilion times onstage over the years. it was great to actually get to record some of my old faves."

"The Salentino Cuts" will be released on September 29 and will be available on both CD and two limited vinyl pressings, one splatter vinyl and one white vinyl.

"The Salentino Cuts" track listing:

01. Heartful Of Soul02. Break On Through (To The Other Side)03. River Of Deceit04. The Pusher05. Paper In Fire06. Rock Candy07. Mississippi Queen08. Ain't No Sunshine09. Honey-Bee10. Too Rolling Stoned11. Just Got Paid12. It's My Life

In September & October, UFO will embark on a monster tour of North America with fellow classic rockers SAXON.

UFO released its last studio album, "A Conspiracy Of Stars", in 2015.

A video for “Hunter Of The Heart”, a track from Swedish hair metal outfit Crazy Lixx’ new studio album, Ruff Justice, is available for streaming below.

The new record, released back in April, celebrates Crazy Lixx’s 15th anniversary as a band and offers 10 hair/sleaze/80s metal gems that harken back to the height of the hard rock era. The new songs draw inspiration from not only music, but also from 1980’s horror and action flicks and stand as a glowing reminder that pretty much everything was better in the 80s. With its big choruses, memorable hooks and riffs, impressive guitar solos, and a massive production by Danny Rexon and Chris Laney, this album is sure to resonate with old fans and new listeners alike.

Ruff Justice is the first Crazy Lixx album to feature the new lineup with Chrisse Olsson and Jens Lundgren handling axe duties.

Ruff Justice tracklisting:

“Wild Child”
“XIII”
“Walk The Wire”
“Shot With A Needle Of Love”
“Killer”
“Hunter Of The Heart”
“Snakes In Paradise”
“If It's Love”
“Kiss Of Judas”
“Live Before I Die”

“Hunter Of The Heart” video:

“Walk The Wire”:

“Wild Child” video:

“Snakes In Paradise”:

“XIII”:

Lineup:

Danny Rexon - vocals
Joél Cirera - drums
Jens Sjöholm - bass guitar
Chrisse Olsson - guitar
Jens Lundgren - guitar

"Plagued By Obscurity”, the opening track on Italian death metal group Devangelic’s upcoming sophomore album, Phlegethon, is available for streaming below. The album will be released October 27th on Comatose Music.

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

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

Phlegethon tracklisting:

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

"Plagued By Obscurity”:

Bay Area rock outfit, Black Map, have debuted an all new music video for their track "Ruin”, from their In Droves album, released earlier this year.

"The lyrics are from the perspective of someone who thinks they see the world collapsing around them," says vocalist/bassist Benjamin Flanagan, "and wondering the whole time what the true nature of their reality is."

The video was directed by Frank Door and the second video we've seen from the power trio's new LP.

Flanagan continues, "When we shot the video it was important to have something with tension and unnerving to match the subject matter of the song. We shot the footage all in one long day at Mt. Davidson in San Francisco. The actor is a 6-year old kid Frank found who got to run around the woods wielding an axe in a giant custom crow mask. This video will probably mark the only time in our career you will ever see anyone in Black Map wearing make up."

Black Map released In Droves back in March via Entertainment One (eOne). The band has been steadily touring all summer on headliner dates, festival dates and support dates on the Chevelle tour. Black Map recently performed a highlighted set at Chicago Open Air earlier this month, and will perform at Rock Allegiance, Louder Than Life, Houston Open Air and Aftershock festivals scheduled for later this year.

All tour dates here.

(Photo - Jen Cash/Calibree Photography)

To celebrate 50 years of Pink Floyd releasing music that changed the world, The Sword guitarist Kyle Shutt has produced a heavy metal cover of their seminal album, The Dark Side Of The Moon.

Titled, Doom Side Of The Moon, the resulting band and album features Shutt and a host of celebrated musicians including his bandmates from The Sword, bassist Bryan Richie and drummer Santiago Vela III, vocalist Alex Marrero (Brownout / Brown Sabbath), saxophonist Jason Frey (Black Joe Lewis / Hard Proof), and keyboardist Joe Cornetti (Croy & The Boys). Engineered and mixed by Stuart Sikes (White Stripes, Rocket From The Crypt), the LP will be released on August 4th, the date which marks the 50th anniversary of the release of the British band's debut album, The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn.

In celebration, Doom Side Of The Moon today releases a full album visualizer, allowing fans to kick back and take in the record in its entirety while watching the record's cover artwork journey through both space and time. Light up and tune in:

Doom Side Of The Moon previously unveiled dazzling videos for it's amped-up versions of the Pink Floyd classics "Money" and "Time". Check them out below:

On August 5th at Emo's in Austin TX, fifty years to the day after the release of Pink Floyd's debut album, Doom Side Of The Moon will perform their take on the record, in its entirety, along with other Pink Floyd favorites all set to a spectacular laser light visual experience performed by The Mustachio Light Show (Levitation / Desert Daze / NRMAL). Reverend Guitars, with whom Shutt recently released a signature guitar, will sponsor the event. Tickets are on sale now at this location.

Doom Side Of The Moon will be released independently in North America, with physical copies available exclusively from the band's webstore. A deluxe pre-order bundle includes a silk screened poster (designed by Weird Beard 72) signed by the band, an exclusive commemorative baseball t-shirt, CD and LP with download code. Upon ordering you will be shipped a limited edition cassette single for "Money" directly from Shutt himself. Doom Side Of The Moon will be made available digitally via Amazon and iTunes.

American symphonic metal force, Seven Spires, are streaming their upcoming concept album, Solveig, ahead of this Friday’s official release. Listen to the album here.

With its new theatrical piece, Solveig, Seven Spires is about to pull off a major coup in the ever-growing symphonic metal scene. This debut album, which is to be released worldwide on August 4th via SAOL, indeed succeeds in establishing as of now the four-piece orchestra as an essential figure of tomorrow's extreme soundscape.

The wide stylistic range embraced by Seven Spires' art of musical storytelling relentlessly attests of the outstanding abilities of the band's members. Going astray from melancholic power metal to melodic death metal with fierce forays into black metal, the quartet's versatility never fails to make a deep impression on the listener. Their signature blend of melody, theatrics and high-caliber musicianship is tastefully bittersweet, chaotic at times and comforting at others.

Solveig tells the story of a lost soul and his journey through a Demon's sunless neo-victorian underworld. Despite small glimmers of hope, it is a grim tale with a heavy focus on escapism, death and decadence. The love for Romantic composers and epic film scores the four young graduates/students of the prestigious Berklee College of Music have shows in their ambitious and emotionally moving dramatic vision.

Frontwoman Adrienne Cowan leads the band with an iron will and a golden voice. She employs a combination of her classical training and self-taught extreme vocal techniques to "deliver every bit of recorded promise live". Therefore, the strict operatic singing that is often found in the symphonic corner of metal is more of a spice than a staple for Seven Spires.

The band ventured to Gate Studios in Wolfsburg, Germany to put the finishing touches to Solveig in the company of the illustrious Sascha Paeth (Avantasia, Kamelot, Rhapsody), who stated that Seven Spires is "one of the few new real personalities in metal". As a matter of fact, a band that has been sharing the stage with big names such as Arch Enemy, Amaranthe and Apocalyptica - among many others - in its first three years of existence has to be taken seriously in the challenging environment of the current metal scene.

Solveig tracklisting:

“The Siren”
“Encounter”
“The Siren” (Reprise)
“The Cabaret Of Dreams”
“Choices”
“Closure”
“100 Days”
“Stay”
“The Paradox”
“Serenity”
“Depths”
“Distant Lights”
“Burn”
“Ashes”
“Reflections”

“The Paradox” video:

“The Cabaret Of Dreams” video: