Heaven Below, the current project of Union Underground/Lita Ford guitarist Patrick Kennison has signed with EMP Label Group, the label of Megadeth bassist David Ellefson, distributed by eOne Entertainment, who will release the band’s upcoming LP Good Morning Apocalypse on October 14th. Check out the track “Renegade Protest Movement”, streaming at this location.

GMA, a mind-blowing masterpiece of an apocalyptic concept album, features guest appearances from Lita Ford, Jason McMaster (Dangerous Toys, Broken Teeth), Udo Dirkschneider (Accept), and Kobra Paige of Kobra And The Lotus.

Fronted by Kennison, who also handles guitar duties, Heaven Below has been breaking ground in LA for several years with their brand of progressive hard rock/metal, self-releasing three LPs and a series of EPs, spawning several active rock hits, including “When Daylight Dies”, and the band’s monstrous take on Rush’s “Subdivisions”, featuring a guest appearance from the one and only William Shatner.

Says Kennison, “Nearly 4 years ago the band and I decided that we’d like to start working on a concept record. We knew how ambitious it sounded to even consider that, but once several legendary artists offered to help make it become a reality, we knew we had something.”

He continues, “With over 30 songs written, we narrowed it down to the top 12. Udo Dirkschneider, Lita Ford, Jason McMaster, and Kobra Paige all stepped up to lend their amazing talents. We feel this album is a powerful culmination of old school metal meets current fresh metal. This kind of undertaking only comes along once in a lifetime, and we think we captured the moment on "Good Morning Apocalypse". The timing was perfect with EMP’s outside of the box approach to new music.”

EMP operations and A&R director Thom Hazaert says, “Me and Patrick go back a long time, and I was, and still am, a huge fan of The Union Underground. He is an extremely talented player (and vocalist), and Heaven Below was doing some amazing stuff, so it was a really great fit. I got the record from Patrick, sent it over to David, and we were both blown away. We are definitely blessed to continually find new amazing rock and metal artists who are pushing the envelope the way Heaven Below is.”

Tracklisting:

“Nefarious Angels” (feat. Jason McMaster)
“Renegade Protest Movement”
“Follow Me Under”
“Devilina And The Damage Done” (feat. Kobra Paige)
“Nightfall Comes To Life”
“Killing The Deadman”
“Running Under Satan’s Hand” (feat. Lita Ford)
“Death Battalion”
“Bonded By Blood”
“Black Sunrise / War Of The Gods” (feat. Udo Dirkschneider)
“Among The Wolves / Worldwide Suicide”
“I Would Do It All Again / Burials At Sunset”

Album sampler:

(Photo - Adam Hendershott)

According to Billboard.com, GUNS N' ROSES' North American "Not In This Lifetime" summer stadium tour grossed a whopping $116.8 million with over one million tickets sold, a staggering amount for a rock band in 2016.

The trek kicked off on June 23 and included 25 concerts in 21 stadiums, wrapping on August 22.

Out of the stadiums that hosted the band for two performances, the New York City market produced the top box office counts with ticket sales reaching $11.6 million at MetLife Stadium from 100,177 fans at two concerts. Meanwhile, Chicago's Soldier Field, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts and L.A.'s Dodger Stadium each topped the $8 million mark in revenue from their two-show stints.

Live Nation exec Bob Roux recently said that some less well-attended shows on the GN'R tour were the result of the band playing cities it wanted to play, rather than sticking to the highest population centers that would better guarantee sellouts.

GUNS N' ROSES' "Not In This Lifetime" stadium tour features classic lineup members Slash (guitar), Duff McKagan (bass) and Axl Rose (vocals) backed by drummer Frank Ferrer, guitarist Richard Fortus, keyboardist Dizzy Reed and new second keyboardist Melissa Reese.

Drummer Steven Adler performed with GUNS N' ROSES at two shows in July and at the second Dodger Stadium concert on August 19. Adler joined GUNS for "My Michelle" and "Out Ta Get Me" at all three dates.

Guitarist Izzy Stradlin remains the last member of the classic band to keep his distance from the current reunion. He tweeted earlier this week that he was approached about the reunion, but was not happy with the money he was offered.

Photo credit: Katarina Benzova

According to The Pulse Of Radio, a longtime key member of GUNS N' ROSES' management team, Beta Lebeis, posted a message on Instagram in which she responded to fans critical of GUNS singer Axl Rose doing double duty as the current touring frontman for AC/DC. Lebeis wrote: "Do them a favor, don't come or watch any shows. They don't need assholes like you around. You are an illness to both bands."

Lebeis said later in a second post: "I'm sure all of you wish Brian [Johnson, AC/DC singer] would be there, but Brian is sick and for God's sake, just appreciate what's up there and stop being so selfish. Grow up and stop complaining. This is also about Angus [Young] and his mates, have some respect for them. Brian chose to leave due to health issues and Axl is helping his idol. I guess haters will always be haters and have nothing better to do than shit on other people."

Axl Rose was recruited to sing for AC/DC on a series of European gigs and a current run of ten North American shows after severe hearing problems forced Johnson to stop performing live.

Rose's performances with AC/DC have been widely acclaimed by fans and the press.

Angus Young, the band's sole original member and leader, has said he's not sure what the future holds for AC/DC beyond the current tour. The group has gone through extensive lineup changes in the past two years due to illness and legal issues.

Rose will return to GUNS N' ROSES for a South American tour this fall.

An hour before UNLEASHED's headlining appearance at Kaltenbach Open Air festival in Spital am Semmering, Austria in August, Stormbringer took aside the band's frontman Johnny Hedlund to throw some words and phrases at him. You can watch the exchange below.

Asked for his opinion of Facebook, Hedlund said: "Well, let's just say five years from now, it'll be called something different, in my opinion. I recall when everybody said, 'MySpace,' and I said, 'Well, two years from now, it's called something different,' and I think that's the same with Facebook. It's about to die. Young kids don't use it that much anymore, at least where I'm at. So we'll see. It's still working as a channel for contact and promotion and stuff like that. I don't use it as much privately. I don't have time to sit down and tell everybody when I'm taking a shit. It's just nice to read about bands and what's happening in the scene, but that's that for me."

UNLEASHED's twelfth full-length album, "Dawn Of The Nine", was released in April 2015 via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2012's "Odalheim" was once again produced by the band's guitarist, Fredrik Folkare, at his Chrome Studios in Stockholm.

FOK! recently conducted an interview with drummer Michel "Away" Langevin of Canadian progressive sci-fi metal innovators VOIVOD. You can now watch the chat below.

Speaking about the band's latest release, the "Post Society" EP, Away said: "It does have ingredients from '80s and '90s and the Jason [Newsted, former VOIVOD bassist] years, but with a new twist. It's where we're heading for. And the reviews were really positive, so it's encouraging for us. So we are writing a concept album right now — like, ten new songs — for Century Media."

Away also outlined VOIVOD's plans for the coming months, saying: "We're coming back [to] Europe in October and November with ENTOMBED A.D. And then we're gonna work on the new album and try to deliver it to Century Media early next year. And then we have a busy schedule as well in terms of touring. We write on the road and record between tours, so it's like a machine, a factory. No choice. [Laughs]"

Asked if VOIVOD waits until the songs are fully worked out before entering the studio to record them, Away said: "Yeah. Nowadays we try to record three or four songs at a time and then go on the road and then write more on the road. We set up a small studio in the van or in the bus with a laptop. So we record a bunch of songs and put them together, but next album, since it's a concept album, we might have to record the whole thing all together to make it solid."

VOIVOD's will team up with ENTOMBED A.D. for a limited-edition split seven-inch EP, featuring the VOIVOD track "Fall" off the "Post Society" EP, which is so far unreleased on vinyl. The release will coincide with the start of the two bands' tour on October 28.

2013's "Target Earth", VOIVOD's first album of new material written without Piggy's left-over riffs, was almost universally hailed it as a triumphant return to form, a return to the "classic" VOIVOD sound, and the best thing they'd done in years.

Swabian death metallers Revel In Flesh will unleash their new and fourth full-length-onslaught, entitled Emissary Of All Plagues, on December 2nd via Cyclone Empire.

The album was produced by guitar master Maggesson at the band´s own Vault M. Studio. For mix and mastering they worked again with none other than Dan Swanö (Bloodbath, Edge Of Sanity, Nightingale) at his Unisound Studios.

The tracklist and cover artwork will be revealed follow soon.

Mainman Haubersson comments: “After intense months of working and recording we are damned excited about releasing “Emissary of all plagues” upon mankind! It's probably our darkest and most melodic output thus far! Expect a haunted trip to the darkside mixed with the previously known Revel In Flesh death metal brutality! We are looking forward to present those new tracks on stage as soon as possible! The restless servants of the Deathkult are back!”

Here´s what the Dan “the legend” Swanö has to say about Emissary Of All Plagues: “Another fantastic worship at the altar of SweDeath. To create the best album so far into their career is astonishing. Both me and the band feel this our best sonic co-operation so far, and to me personally, it is extra cool to finally have nailed what I believe to be the ultimate tribute to the SweDeath guitar tone! It takes more than just a HM2 pedal to get the right 'vomiting' to occur 'inside' the distortion! Make sure to check out the vinyl version for a full dynamic mix of this amazing slab of true fucking death metal!”

Athens based symphonic metallers Fallen Arise have parted ways with their singer, and announce the successor, Fiona Creaby:

“We would like to announce that Spyla is no longer with us, she decided to follow other activities and we wish her all the best! Our new singer is Fiona Creaby from the United Kingdom, singer also of Apparition.”

Fallen Arise now is:
Fiona Creaby – vocals
Gus – keyboards
Rudy R. Rallis - bass
Frangiskos K. - guitar
Thanos – drums
Vlassis K. - male vocals

Fiona, will begin with the band, touring in our South-Eastern European tour in October. The dates will be announced very soon.

Due to some personal reasons, the band's tour line up will be the following:
Fiona Creaby – vocals
Gus – Keyboards
Rudy R. Rallis – bass
Cheis Vaelor Chaldaios – guitar
Marios K. - drums
Vlassis K. - male vocals

Fallen Arise, formed in 2009, released their second full length album “Adeline” in October 2015, via Rock Of Angels Records (aka ROAR), combining a theatrical atmosphere with a progressive approach and a heavy-metal-alike heaviness. The album takes us back in time of the Victorian era of the 19th century (1837-1901), presenting us the decay of the human body and mind through fiction. The album was realized in the collaboration with an ensemble of 40 renowned musicians from the National Opera, the Athens State Orchestra, the Nerit Orchestra and the Piraeus Concert Band.

For The Outlaws, it's always about the music. Especially live music! For more than 40 years, the southern rock legend has celebrated triumphs, endured tragedies and survived legal nightmares to remain one of the most influential and best-loved bands of the genre. It’s a band of brothers bound together by history, harmony and the road. It’s about a group that respects its own legacy while refusing to be defined by its past. But most of all, it’s about playing live, playing for their audience.

The sextet proves just how well this combination works with Legacy Live, its brand-new double live CD, scheduled for release on November 11th (November 18th in North America) via Steamhammer/SPV.

“I want people to hear this album and see our show and realize that The Outlaws are still there,” says founding member and front man Henry Paul. “Our goal is to unite the fans and bring the group back into the limelight.”

Legacy Live consists of two CDs, full to the brim with classics such a “There Goes Another Love Song”, “(Ghost) Riders In The Sky”, “Green Grass & High Tides Forever” and “Freeborn Man” as well as more recent material like “It's About Pride”, “Hidin` Out In Tennessee” and “So Long”. A total of 20 songs, every one of which proves: the gritty southern rock by The Outlaws mark 2016 is as intense and passionate as it’s always been.

Tracklisting:

CD 1
“Intro
“There Goes Another Love Song”
“Hurry Sundown”
“Hidin' Out In Tennessee”
“Freeborn Ma”
“Born To Be Bad”
“Song In The Breeze”
“Girl From Ohio”
“Holiday”
“Gunsmoke”
“Grey Ghost”

CD 2
“South Carolina”
“So Long”
“Prisoner”
“Cold Harbor”
“Trail Of Tears”
“It's About Pride”
“Waterhole”
“Knoxville Girl”
“Green Grass & High Tides Forever”
“(Ghost) Riders In The Sky”

Lineup:

Henry Paul - guitars, vocals
Monte Yoho - drums
Chris Anderson - lead guitar, vocals
Randy Threet - bass, vocals
Dave Robbins - keyboards, vocals
Steve Grisham - lead guitar, vocals

Tour dates:

September
17 - Nashville, TN - City Winery
18 - Ft. Wayne, IN - Foellinger Theatre
22 - Carlisle, PA - Carlisle Theatre
23 - Mt. Pleasant, PA - Glass & Ethnic Fest

October
5 - Atlanta, GA - Atlanta Symphony Hall
7 - Newton, NJ - Newton Theatre
8 - Sellersville, PA - Sellersville Theatre
15 - Kerrville, TX - RevFest
22 - Panama City Beach, FL - 2016 Thunder Beach

November
5 - Sioux City, IA - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
9 - Shirley, MA - Bull Run Restaurant
10 - Hartford, CT - Infinity Hall
11 - Burgettstown, PA - Pepsi Cola Roadhouse
12 - New York, NY - BB Kings
19 - Mediana, MN - Median Entertainment Center

December
16 - Clearwater, FL - Capitol Theatre
17 - Orlando, FL - The Plaza LIVE Orlando

Metallica performed at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN on August 20th and subsequently made the show's audio available via their infamous LiveMetallica.com store. Using said audio, the folks at Master Of Collectors scoured YouTube and assembled a multi-angle (37 to be exact) 2.5 hour video of the full show. Check it out below.

Setlist:

“Creeping Death”
“For Whom the Bell Tolls”
“Fuel”
“King Nothing”
“The Memory Remains”
“The Unforgiven”
“Leper Messiah”
“Welcome Home (Sanitarium)”
“Sad But True”
“Wherever I May Roam”
“One”
“Master of Puppets”
“Battery”
“Fade to Black”
“Seek and Destroy”
“Hardwired”
“Whiskey in the Jar”
“Nothing Else Matters”
“Enter Sandman”

Hardwired…To Self-Destruct, the long awaited new Metallica studio album, and follow up to Death Magnetic, will be released on November 18th. The double CD will include nearly 80 minutes of music.

In the new album trailer below, a snippet of the new track “Moth Into Flame” can be heard at the 2 minute mark:

A music video for the album’s lead track and first single, “Hardwired”, as well as a nine-minute video featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the writing and recording sessions for "Hardwired”, can be found below. Check out the “Hardwired” single artwork...

Says the band: “Hardwired… represents the next phase of our journey as Metallica and we are so excited to share it with you. If anyone was tuned into radio station 93X in Minneapolis earlier today, you heard the world debut of the first track, “Hardwired”, and we’re hoping you’ll hear a lot more of it in the coming days. Produced by Greg Fidelman, along with James and Lars, this is our 11th studio album and is available for pre-order in a variety of configurations including 12 songs on a double CD, vinyl, digital download, as well as a deluxe version with the riffs that were the origins of the album. Everyone who pre-orders the album through Metallica.com will receive an instant download of the song “Hardwired”.

“We cannot wait to hit the road to play these songs live and get in your faces once again, so strap yourselves in… INCOMING!”

Tracklisting:

Disc One
“Hardwired”
“Atlas, Rise!”
“Now That We’re Dead”
“Moth Into Flame”
“Am I Savage?”
“Halo On Fire”

Disc Two
“Confusion”
“Dream No More”
“ManUNkind”
“Here Comes Revenge”
“Murder One”
“Spit Out The Bone”

Disc Three (Deluxe Edition Only)
“Lords Of Summer”
“Riff Charge” (Riff Origins)
“N.W.O.B.H.M. A.T.M.” (Riff Origins)
“Tin Shot” (Riff Origins)
“Plow” (Riff Origins)
“Sawblade” (Riff Origins)
“RIP” (Riff Origins)
“Lima” (Riff Origins)
“91” (Riff Origins)
“MTO” (Riff Origins)
“RL72” (Riff Origins)
“Frankenstein” (Riff Origins)
“CHI” (Riff Origins)
“X Dust” (Riff Origins)

“Hardwired” video:

Making of “Hardwired”:

Metallica have confirmed they will perform at the 30th Annual Bridge School Benefit in Mountain View, California, taking place October 22nd - 23rd.

Organized by musicians Neil Young and Pegi Young, the Bridge School Benefit Concert is an annual, all acoustic, non-profit charity event held every October at Shoreline Amphitheatre. All proceeds directly benefit the operations of The Bridge School.

Acts scheduled to perform at this year’s event include: Neil Young + Promise Of The Real, Metallica, Roger Waters, Dave Matthews, case/lang/veirs, Willie Nelson, My Morning Jacket, Norah Jones, Cage The Elephant and Nils Lofgren.

More details at this location.

Progressive metal act Cognition is set to release their second full-length studio album this fall. Scheduled for release November 11th, Procession Of Thoughts reflects an evolved and more mature sound from the Morgantown, West Virginia-based quintet. 

Procession Of Thoughts follows the band’s 2014 self-titled debut album that put the band on the metal scene's radar as a band to watch. Featuring vocalist Calvin Wilson, drummer Evan Michael, Joey Welsh on bass, and guitarists Jared Gaminde and Tyler Vincent, the band once again tapped producer Jeff Westlake of Ridgeline Production Studios (Hydrogyn, Tracy G and Craig Goldy of Dio fame, The Godz) who engineered and mixed Procession of Thoughts. 

“The process started in December of 2014 and finished in July of 2016. We sat down and put structure to what these guys brought to the table,” says Westlake. “This is a band in transition. They are learning every day and they have worked hard to be where they are. Development is so key and you rarely get to see it done this way anymore. The members of Cognition are getting the benefit of just that and to watch the growth is very satisfying.”

"As a band, Procession Of Thoughts represents a coming of age and a conscious reminder of what got us playing in the first place,” says guitarist Tyler Vincent. “We approached the writing process focused on delivering a cohesive album for the listener and not just ourselves. We believe our collective spirit is captured in each of the nine tracks and we can't wait for you all to hear it!"

Procession Of Thoughts will be released independently via iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and Google Play.

Tracklisting:

“Her Fire”
“Reconnect”
“Last Call”
“Shifting Perceptions”
“Throne Of The Crow”
“Desolation”
“Freakshow”
“Limitless”
“Eyes Wide Shut”

Upcoming shows:

September
17 – Beckley, WV – Mucheez Bar & Grill

October
5 – Fairmont, WV – The Lounge Bar & Grill
24 – Morgantown, WV – Mountainlair
29 – Fairmount, WV – The Dojo

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich has spoken with Rolling Stone about the band's tenth studio album, "Hardwired...To Self-Destruct", which is due out on November 18. Ulrich stated about the lyrical themes covered on the record: "There's a lot of dark stuff about relationships. Not just with other people, but the hidden personalities within."

The album's opening number, "Hardwired", premiered last month, with the short, fast tune possibly setting the tone for the rest of the record. Ulrich said: "Most of the songs are simpler. We introduce a mood and we stick to it, rather than songs we've done where one riff happens and we go over here and then over there and becomes a journey through all these different soundscapes. The songs are more linear."

Ulrich said that the band was possibly inspired by revisiting its earliest albums, "Kill 'Em All" and "Ride The Lightning", while preparing reissues of them. He remarked: "It wasn't until 2013 when we played it [in its entirety at the Orion festival in Detroit] that I realized 'Kill 'Em All' had a cohesiveness… The songs are longer but not quite as progressive. It's a world all its own. And I think there are some elements of that that rubbed off into this. I'd say there's a trace of residue from rediscovering 'Kill 'Em All' that crept into the songwriting."

"Hardwired...To Self-Destruct" follows up 2008's "Death Magnetic" and will contain 12 new songs and 80 minutes of music over two discs. The set will also be available on vinyl, as a download and also in a deluxe edition.

METALLICA headlined Minneapolis' new U.S. Bank Stadium on August 20, with guests VOLBEAT and AVENGED SEVENFOLD.

According to Curbed, musician and director Rob Zombie has spent $2.49 million for a mid-century home in Hollywood Hills, California. Zombie purchased the residence in April.

The official property description: "The Thorgusen Residence, 1953. Designed by Robert Thorgusen and landscaped by Garrett Eckbo 'The Forrest'. This mid-century work of art has been meticulously restored with some reinterpretation. Sitting on a secluded lot, the home's walls of glass and unique folded-plate, roof-line are hidden from street view. The private master suite with fireplace and the office/gym open to the garden. Dining room overlooks the pool. Living room has approximately 14-foot ceilings. Large family room opens to an indoor/outdoor koi pond. Additional features include: guest suite, Miele and Gagganau appliances, Crestron sound system and Fleetwood windows and doors. This extraordinary turnkey home is part of L.A.'s rich architectural history."

Check out pictures of the property at Curbed.

Zombie previously owned a Tudor-style mansion in Hancock Park. He sold it in 2014 for $3.65 million.

The rocker in June 2014 listed his 22.8-acre Woodbury, Connecticut estate for sale at $2.28 million.

Photos: Rob Zombie Bought A Gray Fortress In Laurel Canyonhttps://t.co/1YT8TTDnSB pic.twitter.com/8IKPQI9uTK

— LAist (@LAist) September 8, 2016

Having toured with METALLICA, WHITESNAKE, ALICE COOPER, SCORPIONS and many other artists since their inception in the early '80s, ARMORED SAINT has always been a highly regarded live act — not only in their hometown of Los Angeles, but also around the world. The only official release to capture this, however, is 1989's live album "Saints Will Conquer" — until now.

After reforming with their original lineup in 1999 (John Bush - vocals, Joey Vera - bass, Phil Sandoval - guitar, Jeff Duncan - guitar, Gonzo Sandoval - drums), and releasing subsequent albums, "La Raza" (2010) and "Win Hands Down" (2015), to critical acclaim, ARMORED SAINT has been delivering their heavy metal mastery around the globe, joining the likes of SAXON, METAL CHURCH — and even QUEENSRŸCHE in November/December 2016 — on the road. Of all of these performances, the band recorded their 2015 Wacken Open Air festival set as well as their headlining show in Aschaffenburg, Germany, with the intention of giving fans another live release that holds up to "Saints Will Conquer".

In conjunction with PledgeMusic, this special live album is now available in various formats and bundles, with every "pledge"/purchase receiving a digital download of the tracks, plus exclusive behind-the-scenes content (including footage from Wacken 2015, plus 2016's Ozzfest and QUEENSRŸCHE appearances, and more!).

ARMORED SAINT comments: "Why PledgeMusic? Our fans have been extremely supportive over the years. We want to share the process of realizing this project with you by giving you the chance to be a part of it, from start to finish. How does it work? You place your orders here and when the album is released, you will get your items in the mail. But throughout the process, you will have access to the regular updates that we will post on this page."

Pledge now and join the march of the almighty SAINT.

Photo credit: Stephanie Cabral

METALLICA is featured in "Kids React", a weekly Fine Brothers Entertainment show where kids aged 5-14 give their raw honest opinion about viral videos, politics, movie trailers, pop stars, YouTube stars and more.

In the latest "Kids React", kids are shows reacting to METALLICA's newest song, "Hardwired", as well as a selection of the band's hits from over the years, and the viewers get to see how the youth of today processes arguably the most famous metal band of all time. Do they know who they are? (One thought they were THE ROLLING STONES.) And what do they think finding out guys in their 50s are still playing this type of music?

According to The Daily Dot, Fine Brothers initially debuted "Kids React" on October 16, 2010. It instantly caught on with viewers. Each week, the Fine Brothers introduce the kids to a new trend or national news story and discuss it with them, and almost all of the topics typically coming straight from the YouTube comments.

In October 2011, Fine Brothers became one of the original 100 channels that received a total of $100 million in funding from Google.

In a recent interview with Exclaim!'s Aggressive Tendencies, HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta was asked to name the high points of the band's career so far. He said: "If I had to discuss specific highs of our career, I would say everything has been in the last couple of years. The best times are now. I'm very grateful of what's going on now."

He continued: "Last year, we did two stadium shows in Germany with METALLICA. James [Hetfield, METALLICA frontman] comes out and says, 'I wanna get a picture with the four singers' — me, Chuck Billy [TESTAMENT] and Zetro [Steve Souza] from EXODUS and James. And I thought, 'I'll go home now and retire. I don't have to ever tour again.' There you go. 'Cause, like, [these are] three guys who I had posters of on my wall."

Jasta added: "I remember staying up, seeing EXODUS videos on 'Headbangers Ball'. I remember going to see TESTAMENT… I was going to TESTAMENT shows on 'Demonic'…. In the mid-'90s and late '90s, on 'The Gathering', when it was in a slump, when thrash was long forgotten. I actually booked EXODUS with Paul Baloff at multiple shows on the reunion, on 'A Lesson In Violence', so then when Zetro rejoined the band, I was psyched. And then METALLICA, obviously… I mean, I physically fought people over the 'Black Album.' So I told Lars [Ulrich, METALLICA drummer] and James when I saw them, 'Who else is opening for you that would physically defend your honor?'"

Jasta spoke in more detail about the physical altercation over METALLICA's self-titled 1991 album during a recent interview with Pete Bailey. He recalled: "I remember the 'Black Album' came out. That was my first CD, one of my first CDs that I bought. And I had the long box. I took the bus down and I got it. And then this kid was talking shit — like, this older metalhead dude was talking shit — and I grabbed him and I had to hit him. I had to defend METALLICA. I've gotta tell James… I think I might have told Lars. I've gotta tell James that: 'Hey, next time you take one of these bands on tour, ask them if they've ever physically fought to defend your honor.' [Laughs]."

HATEBREED's latest album, "The Concrete Confessional", was released on May 13. The CD was produced and mastered by longtime collaborator Chris "Zeuss" Harris (ROB ZOMBIE, SUICIDE SILENCE, WHITECHAPEL) and mixed by Josh Wilbur (LAMB OF GOD, MEGADETH). Artwork was created by Marcelo Vasco (SLAYER).

#Jasta #ChuckBilly #JamesHetfield #Zetro pic.twitter.com/UawOCoEbYK

— Hatebreed (@hatebreed) June 2, 2015

Trap Them will release their new album, Crown Feral, on September 23rd via Prosthetic Records. The band's fifth full-length, and third for Prosthetic Records, features 10 chest-pounding tracks that feature the group's famed blend of metal, d-beat punk and darkened hardcore. The new single, “Revival Spines”, is streaming below.

Once again, the band enlisted unofficial fifth member Kurt Ballou (Converge, Skeletonwitch) at GodCity Studios in Salem, Mass. to capture their unrestrained and unapologetic sound. The album features cover art from Mattias Frisk.

Tracklisting:

“Kindred Dirt”
“Hellionaires”
“Prodigala”
“Luster Pendulums”
“Malengines Here, Where They Should Be”
“Speak Nigh”
“Twitching In The Auras”
“Revival Spines”
“Stray Of The Tongue”
“Phantom Air”

“Revival Spines”:

“Luster Pendulums” video:

“Hellionaires”:

Trap Them have also announced plans for a headlining North American East Coast tour with direct support from Nashville heavy hitters Yautja. The tour will kick off shortly after the band returns from their recently announced European tour with Okkultokrati andl labelmates Venom Prison.

 

The self-titled debut album from mind-melting metallic jazz trio Brain Tentacles is a journey in improvised and structured experimental sound from three venerable scene veterans. A video for the album track “Fruitcake” can be found below.

Featuring Bruce Lamont (Yakuza, Bloodiest, etc) on horns, voice, electric piano and synth, Dave Witte (Discordance Axis, Municipal Waste, etc) on drums, and Aaron Dallison (Keelhaul) on bass, voice, and synth, Brain Tentacles sees the three piece weaving their way through twisted, seizure-inducing compositions that call to mind the insanity of John Zorn's storied project Naked City and Mike Patton's most erratic experiments.

Brain Tentacles are masters of tension: the album moves unpredictably from mathy chaos to ponderous, juddering grooves that warp time in their wake, darting from one extreme to the other via insane rhythms and truly progressive, expansive songwriting. Occasional vocals (including a guest appearance from Oxbow's Eugene Robinson) lend an even sharper edge to the album, which is sure to blow away fans of instrumental and vocal-driven music alike.

Brain Tentacles is due out this September 30th on CD/LP/Digital via Relapse Records. Physical and digital pre-orders are available at this location. The album was produced by Sanford Parker (Minsk, YOB, etc) and features artwork by Jef Whitehead of Leviathan.

Tracklisting:

“Kingda Ka”
“Fruitcake”
“Cosmic Warriors Girth Curse”
“Hand Of God”
“Gassed”
“The Spoiler”
“Death Rules”
“The Sadist”
“Fata Morgana”
“Peace In War”
“Palantine”

“Fruitcake” video ;

"The Sadist”:

"Kingda Ka":

Additionally, Brain Tentacles will be supporting dissonant death metal legends Gorguts and stoner/prog heavyweights Intronaut on a month-long tour of North America this coming October. The tour will kick off in Boston on October 3rd and will trek through Canada to the US West Coast and back again.

Check out the tour poster below.

EMP: Underground, the extreme metal imprint of Megadeth bassist David Ellefson’s EMP Label Group, has announced the signing of dual-female-fronted death metal powerhouse, Your Chance To Die, featuring in its ranks ex-Cerebral Bore vocalist Som Plujimers, who will release their debut EMP Release Ex-Nihilo in spring 2017.

Founded by original members Coca (guitars) and Missi Avila (vocals), YCTD now includes musicians Ron Dalton and Coca Avila (guitars), Thomas White (drums), and second vocalist Som Pluijmers formerly of Cerebral Bore (vocals). With the current lineup solidified, the band has progressed into a melodic death metal machine; complete with symphonic elements, and featuring the dual-female vocal assault of Missi and Som.

On signing to EMPUG, frontpersons Missi Avila and Som Pluijmers said, “Your Chance To Die is honored to be a part of the EMP label group family. We are very excited about our future with EMP, the new record that we have written, and are very thankful for this amazing team we now have behind us. We have worked very hard on our new songs…to become a new band…with different, new, music…and now a great label. We are very excited to have finally have a team that believes in us to release the new album."

EMP’s A&R Director and Operations Manager Thom Hazaert says, “We are beyond thrilled to welcome YCTD into the EMP Family. They truly are bringing something new and interesting to the Extreme-Metal table, and we’re very excited that we’re able to partner with them to bring it to the World. Obviously, many in the extreme metal world are familiar with Som’s amazing work in Cerebral Bore, and I am confident soon YCTD will be a household name in that regard as well.”

YCTD has released 2 full-length records (Suscitacio Somnus 2011; The American Dream 2013), and are currently finishing up in the studio with producer Jamie King (Between The Buried And Me) working on their third full-length album, entitled Ex Nihilo, to be released by EMP Label Group in early 2017. It will be the first record to feature Thomas White and Ron Dalton, as well as the first with the dual vocals of Missi and Som.

YCTD has a long touring record, including opening national tours for bands like Origin, Wednesday 13, King Parrot, Arsonists Get all The Girls, and Beyond Creation. They are currently booked by Jacob Devries at Tone Deaf Touring Agency in the US, Mike van den Heuvel at Loud Noise agency in Europe, and managed by Mark Kloeppel of Extreme Management Group. They have toured as a headlining act in Central America and Mexico, and, most recently, toured Mexico as direct support to extreme metal titans Cryptopsy.

YCTD brings energy and passion to the stage, and is poised for world-wide momentum as they release their new record, Ex Nihilo, with EMP Label Group.

Andy Timmons Band is set to release their eighth album, Theme From A Perfect World, via their own custom label, Timstone Records, on September 30th. Co-produced by virtuoso guitarist Timmons and his longtime bassist Mike Daane, Theme From A Perfect World features 10 all-new tracks of melodic guitar instrumentals that Timmons hopes will touch an emotional chord in every listener.

“First and foremost, I’m really proud of these songs,” he says. “Some of them don’t even have a guitar solo per se - which is kind of unusual for an instrumental guitar record, but that underscores the importance of the idea that a good song has to be there right from the start. It has to be something that people identify with and find themselves wanting to listen to over and over.”

Theme From A Perfect World is comprised of 10 toe-tapping and fist-pump-inducing songs that warrant repeat listens, from the driving, rising force of “Ascension” to the crossover pop leanings of “Winterland” and “Sanctuary” to a pair of heartfelt, uplifting elegies, “That Day Came” and “On Your Way, Sweet Soul.”

In addition to Daane on bass, the album also features Rob Avsharian on drums as well as original Andy Timmons Band drummer Mike Marine, who appears on five tracks. “I think we’re just scratching the surface, as far as tapping into the music’s emotional content goes,” the guitarist says of the vibe he and his bandmates strove to achieve collectively on this record. “My playing and musical tastes have changed or matured in some way over the years, and here, we’re trying to be impactful emotionally and certainly melodically.”

Andy Timmons - who’s played with the likes of Danger Danger, Kip Winger, Simon Phillips, and Olivia Newton-John - says he wanted Theme From A Perfect World to be both modern and vintage at the same time. “Overall, Mike and I have always been fans of the classic records of the ’60s and ’70s,” he admits, “and there was an underlying credo of trying to live up to the music we loved and grew up with, both sonically and vibe-wise. That’s been a consistent theme throughout the history of the band. It was always the common thread.”

The more challenges the ace guitarist tackles as he composes new music, the more he learns - and the more he wants to share his findings with his audience, both new and old. “The interesting thing I’m finding about this instrumental music is a lot of the songs are very specifically influenced by life events, be it my life or that of somebody else near me,” Timmons reveals, “but there are some songs that were inspired by just a groove or jamming with the guys in the band.”

Timmons thinks he’s able to better express himself more instrumentally than verbally. “Spoken language is a very finite entity, and there are only so many ways we can express a feeling in that way,” he believes. “Whereas the notes within the music and how they’re presented can sometimes strike people a lot deeper. The cool thing is, it may mean something specific to me, but it can be interpreted in almost any way by each listener as a very personal experience.”

Theme From A Perfect World tracklisting:

“Ascension”
“Winterland”
“Theme From A Perfect World”
“Sanctuary”
“The Next Voice You Hear”
“Lift Us Up (Something Wicked This Way Comes)”
“That Day Came”
“Firenze”
“Welcome Home”
“On Your Way Sweet Soul”

Tour dates (with Travis Larson Band unless indicated otherwise):

October
1 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater (headlining, with Chris Duarte opening)
5 - Memphis, TN - Rock House Live
6 - Nashville, TN - Douglas Corner Café
7 - Atlanta, GA - AIMM/Atlanta Institute of Music
8 - Charlotte, NC - The Rabbit Hole
9 - Raleigh, NC - The Pour House Music Hall
11 - Charleston, WV - The Empty Glass
12 - Cincinnati, OH - The Mad Frog
13 - Indianapolis, IN - Radio Radio
14 - Detroit, MI - The Token Lounge
15 - Chicago, IL - Reggie’s Live
16 - Columbus, OH - Rhumba Café
18 - Akron, OH - Musica
19 - Buffalo, NY - Nietzche’s
20 - Rochester, NY - The Montage Music Hall
21 - Marlboro, NY - The Falcon
22 - Philadelphia, PA - The Voltage Lounge
23 - New York, NY - Iridium Jazz Club (headlining)
24 - New York, NY - Iridium Jazz Club (headlining)

(Photo - Simone Cecchetti)

British metal band Def-Con-One have released a free to download track, a a cover of the Sex Pistols classic, “Anarchy In The UK”. There is also a video available for the track, with all the footage filmed at this year’s Download festival where Def-Con-One headlined the Broadie takeover stage.

Says drummer Antton Lant: “We were just messing about one day at rehearsals when me and Steve started jamming out the track, then Davey and Johnny joined in and it was sounding great, We jammed thru it a few times then we decided to put it in our live set as a last track. The crowds went absolutely crazy for it. Quite a few people suggested we should record it and release it.

“After our performance at this year’s Download festival where we filled the tent, 7,000 crazy metal heads were screaming along to the track, we got hold of some footage from the gig so we’ve put the footage to the track.”

You can download the free track at this location. Check out the video below:

Def-Con-One are currently working on album number three, which is due out early next year.

Last month (August 2016), San Diego metallic-hardcore trio Poison Headache played their first live shows as a group, appearing at the Brick by Brick (San Diego, CA) and Chain Reaction (Anaheim, CA) with Rotten Sound. For fans that missed these two special dates, footage from the Chain Reaction performance is now online. Watch "Rot With Me" below:

Poison Headache has announced additional live shows for fall 2016, supporting Killswitch Engage and Noisem in San Diego, CA.

Tour dates:

September
14 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick (with Noisem)

October
13 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues (with Killswitch Engage)

Hertfordshire, UK metal outfit Aghast! have been making waves of late, first with the announcement of a new EP entitled Something Else, Something Rotten, which is also a collaboration with US based dubstep and D&B label Abducted Records and more recently with a UK tour in support of the new record.

With the band's upward trajectory Aghast! have gotten the attention of the New York based Extreme Management Group, a deal has been signed and this new found partnership has given the band a home on a roster with well known acts such as Suffocation, Cattle Decapitation, Cryptopsy, Origin, Decrepit Birth, Atheist, Rings of Saturn, Internal Bleeding and more.

Bassist Daniel Henderson comments, "We are delighted to be welcomed into the Extreme Management Group family! We look forward to grabbing this opportunity with both hands. It is an honour and a privilege to share a roster alongside many of the bands that inspired us to make music in our early years as well as some of our new favourites."

EMG's Matt Young adds, "We are excited to welcome Aghast! to the EMG roster. The band have proven in since their existence they are force to be reckoned with having already achieved great things. Aghast! joining the EMG roster will ensure their place in the international scene is solidified as they justly deserve. Exciting times ahead for both the band and management and you can be sure you'll be seeing much more of Aghast! in the future."

Today the band have also revealed the first in a series of teasers for the forthcoming EP where the viewer is taken behind the scenes in the recording of Something Else, Something Rotten.

Something Else; Something Rotten is out October 3rd via Abducted Records. Catch the band live across the UK. Dates on the flyer below:

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' music video for their new single, "Go Robot", can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's eleventh studio album, "The Getaway", which landed No. 2 on The Billboard Top 200, having shifted 118,000 equivalent album units in the week ending June 23. "The Getaway" debuted at No. 1 in Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands and New Zealand, with No. 2 debuts in the United Kingdom and Germany.

Shot over two days in Brooklyn, New York, the clip for the disco-flavored "Go Robot" was directed by Thoranna Sigurdardottir (Zelos, Noah). It was inspired by and recreates classic scenes from "Saturday Night Fever" and features the exact same locations used in the film. Dancer and performer Stephanie Crousillat (PUNCHDRUNK's "Sleep No More") makes a cameo.

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS frontman Anthony Kiedis said that the band scrapped at least two albums worth of songs and wrote new ones when it began working with producer Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton on "The Getaway". Speaking with Los Angeles radio station KROQ, Kiedis explained: "We had an unusually difficult experience making this record where we wrote 20 to 30 songs and it was all ready to go and we thought it was happening, and then Flea went snowboarding and broke his arm real bad."

Kiedis continued: "So we rethought everything and then we didn't have a producer and we were just sort of lost in space with all these songs… When all the dust settled, Brian Burton, a.k.a. Danger Mouse, emerged and said, 'Let's go make a record.' We were, like, 'Great! We have all these songs,' and he was, like, 'Leave those there. Let's go write new songs in the studio.' So the process began over again."

Kiedis said that although Burton had listened to all the songs the band had already prepped, "He just wanted to see what would happen when we went into the studio and started something fresh." The singer admitted that there was "pushback" at the first to the idea, but added, "The only way we saw this working was to have trust in him and get rid of our old ideas and our old way of doing things."

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS bassist Flea told The Pulse Of Radio that making "The Getaway" was more exciting than usual. "Making this one was a really great experience and a new experience," he said. "You know, we've worked with the producer Rick Rubin for the last 25 years and, you know, this is the first time we haven't been with him for so long. We worked with this guy Danger Mouse and it was a much different creative process. And I think it was really healthy for us and as a result, we have a record that I think is really showing some progress in our music-making style."

"Shifts", the new video from Swedish purveyors of dark progressive rock/metal KATATONIA, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's tenth studio album, "The Fall Of Hearts", which was released on May 20 via Peaceville. The follow-up to 2012's "Dead End Kings" was recorded at Stockholm's Studio Gröndahl & Tri-lamb studio, and was produced by Anders Nyström and Jonas Renkse. Mixing and mastering duties were carried out by Jens Bogren (OPETH, IHSAHN, DEVIN TOWNSEND) at Fascination Street Studios, with Karl Daniel Lidén (SWITCHBLADE, THE OCEAN, GREENLEAF) brought in as engineer. The dramatic-yet-desolate artwork was created by longtime KATATONIA designer and illustrator Travis Smith.

"The Fall Of Hearts" track listing:

01. Takeover [07:09]02. Serein [04:46]03. Old Heart Falls [04:22]04. Decima [04:46]05. Sanction [05:07]06. Residual [06:54]07. Serac [07:25]08. Last Song Before The Fade [05:01]09. Shifts [04:54]10. The Night Subscriber [06:10]11. Pale Flag [04:23]12. Passer [06:25]

Bonus tracks:

* Vakaren [04:54] (CD/DVD & Deluxe Edition)* Sistere [04:11] (LP & Deluxe Edition)* Wide Awake In Quietus [04:59] (Digital & Deluxe Edition)

KATATONIA spent the past four years since the release of "Dead End Kings" touring the world, as well as expanding its fanbase through two special albums on Kscope, the sister label of Peaceville. 2013 saw the release of "Dethroned & Uncrowned", which exploded the core of the songs on "Dead End Kings", creating new moods and textures. In 2015, they released the live acoustic album and concert film "Sanctitude". Both releases illustrate the band's journey toward this, their current more progressive sound.

"The Fall Of Hearts" is the first record to feature new drummer Daniel "Mojjo" Moilanen and with the addition of their recently recruited guitarist Roger Öjersson (TIAMAT), who came in just in time to sprinkle some blistering solos on the album, KATATONIA will continue to push their musical boundaries beyond their roots in the metal scene while drawing in new fans from across the musical spectrum like peers such as OPETH and ANATHEMA have also done, cementing KATATONIA's place as one of the most revered and cherished of all bands in the world of modern heavy music.

KATATONIA comments on "The Fall Of Hearts": "This album is probably everything we unknowingly ever dreamed of to release. It's a bleak but adventurous journey through our elements, we haven't held back, we have pushed to get forward and backward in the ever spiralling night of our musical legacy."

KORN, ASKING ALEXANDRIA, Devin Townsend, SABATON and KATATONIA are among the artists featured on "Decades Of Destruction", a compilation of covers which will be included with the 30th-anniversary issue of U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine.

Set to hit U.K. newsstands on September 13, "Decades Of Destruction" will feature the following songs:

* KORN - "We Care A Lot" (FAITH NO MORE cover)* ASKING ALEXANDRIA - "Duality" (SLIPKNOT cover)* DEVIN TOWNSEND - "Fast As A Shark" (ACCEPT cover) (feat. Wolf Hoffmann of ACCEPT and Fredrik Thordendal of MESHUGGAH)* NEW YEARS DAY - "mOBSCENE" (MARILYN MANSON cover)* SABATON - "Kingdom Come" (MANOWAR)* KATATONIA - "Night Comes Down" (JUDAS PRIEST cover)* CANE HILL - "We Die Young" (ALICE IN CHAINS cover)* HACKTIVIST - "Break Stuff" (LIMP BIZKIT cover)* WILSON - "Sleep Now In The Fire" (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE cover)* THE QEMISTS - "Blind" (KORN cover)* EMPLOYED - "Memphis Will Be Laid To Waste" (NORMA JEAN cover)* COUNTING DAYS - "Disciple" (SLAYER cover)* STONEGHOST - "I Disappear" (METALLICA cover)* MAMMOTH WEED WIZARD BASTARD - "Scum" (NAPALM DEATH cover)* NO CONSEQUENCE - "The Pot" (TOOL cover)

KORN's version of FAITH NO MORE's "We Care A Lot" was originally planned to be included on a full album of covers, which was said to be in the works more than a decade ago. Other tracks the band reportedly recorded included NINE INCH NAILS' "Head Like A Hole", PSYCHEDELIC FURS' "Love My Way", PUBLIC ENEMY's "Fight The Power" and CAMEO's "Word Up".

KORN's new album, "The Serenity Of Suffering", will be released on October 21. The follow-up to 2013's "The Paradigm Shift" was helmed by Grammy Award-winning producer Nick Raskulinecz, who has previously worked with FOO FIGHTERS, DEFTONES, MASTODON and RUSH, among others. The CD features a guest appearance by SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor on the song "A Different World".

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

Portland rockers RED FANG mess with the wrong comic book collectors in the band's new video for "Shadows", which debuted via Funny Or Die this morning and can be viewed below.

"We had the pleasure of working with Whitey [McConnaughy] again on another music video," the band's singer/guitar player Bryan Giles commented of the "Predator"-like clip. "It was a crazy adventure through the woods in rural Oregon. It has stunt men, real firepower and some great explosions! We had a blast on this one."

The video is the sixth to pair RED FANG and director McConnaughy; the first clip from the partnership was 2010's "Prehistoric Dog", which saw the Portland-based band challenge a local role playing troupe only to suffer the consequences. The most recent video from the band and McConnaughy is the 2013 clip featuring Fred Armisen and a horde of beer-thirsty zombies in "Blood Like Cream".

"Shadows" is taken from RED FANG's new album, "Only Ghosts", which will be released on October 14 via Relapse. The disc was produced by Ross Robinson, who has previously worked with SLIPKNOT, SEPULTURA and KORN, among many others. The effort was recorded earlier this year at Robinson's Venice, California studio.

In a recent Revolver magazine interview, RED FANG bass player Aaron Beam joked that the experience of working beachside was "pretty miserable," later adding that working with Ross encouraged the band to take a different approach to recording. "He really digs into the meaning behind the songs so that when you're recording, you're doing it with conviction and purpose," he said. "It's less about the little technical things. He's more concerned with getting a performance and focusing on what you're trying to give the world by making this music in the first place." Joe Barresi (QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, TOOL, MELVINS) mixed the album. "Working with Ross and Joe on this record was a huge leap forward for us," said the band. "The process was very challenging and rewarding, and I think we're a better band for it. This album expresses exactly where we're at. We're super proud of it and can't wait for people to hear it!"

RED FANG kicks off an extensive fall tour on September 26 with a month of European tour dates followed by another month of U.S. dates. Labelmates TORCHE will open on both runs, with WHORES joining the U.S. dates.

"Only Ghosts" track listing:

01. Flies02. Cut It Short03. Flames04. No Air05. Shadows06. Not For You07. The Smell of the Sound08. The Deep09. I Am a Ghost10. Living in Lye

Photo credit: Whitey McConnaughy

An unreleased live version of “What Is And What Should Never Be” recorded at the Paris Theatre, London on April 1st, 1971 is featured on the upcoming BBC Sessions release. The song is now available for streaming below (restricted to certain territories).

Nearly 20 years ago, Led Zeppelin introduced BBC Sessions, an acclaimed two-disc set of live recordings selected from the band’s appearances on BBC radio between 1969 and 1971. On September 16th the band will unveil The Complete BBC Session, an updated version of the collection that’s been newly remastered with supervision by Jimmy Page and expanded with eight unreleased BBC recordings, including three rescued from a previously “lost” session from 1969.

A video trailer for the Super Deluxe edition of The Complete BBC Sessions can be seen below:

The Guardian recently premiered an unreleased version of “Communication Breakdown” which was recorded on April 1st, 1971 at the BBC’s Paris theatre in central London, and broadcast on the BBC’s In Concert programme on April 4th, 1971. This version is two minutes longer than any of the versions that appeared on the original BBC Sessions album. Check it out here (restricted to some territories).

The Complete BBC Session will be available in multiple formats from Atlantic/Swan Song on September 16th:

* 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 30,000 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 Session 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.”

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. 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.”

In 1968, Jimmy Page formed Led Zeppelin, one of the most influential, innovative and successful groups in modern music, having sold more than 300 million albums worldwide. The band rose from the ashes of The Yardbirds, when Page brought in Robert Plant, John Bonham and John Paul Jones. In 1969, Led Zeppelin released its self-titled debut which was produced by Jimmy Page, as were all the subsequent albums. It marked the beginning of a 12-year reign, during which the group was widely considered to be the biggest and most innovative rock band in the world.

Led Zeppelin continues to be honored for its pivotal role in music history. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005, and a year later was awarded the Polar Music Prize in Stockholm. Founding members Page, Plant, and Jones, and along with Jason Bonham, the son of John Bonham – took the stage at London’s O2 Arena in 2007 to headline a tribute concert for Ahmet Ertegun, a dear friend and Atlantic Records’ founder. The band was honored for its lifetime contribution to American culture at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2012. In January of 2014, the band won their first ever Grammy award as Celebration Day, which captured their live performance at the Ertegun tribute concert, was named Best Rock Album. The last two years saw an unprecedented reissue campaign of all nine of the band’s studio albums, which achieved Top 10 chart status around the globe whilst also garnering 5-star reviews and other critical accolades along the way.

The Complete BBC Session CD tracklisting:

Disc One
“You Shook Me”
“I Can’t Quit You Baby”
“Communication Breakdown”
“Dazed And Confused”
“The Girl I Love She Got Long Black Wavy Hair”
“What Is And What Should Never Be”
“Communication Breakdown”
“Travelling Riverside Blues”
“Whole Lotta Love”
“Somethin’ Else”
“Communication Breakdown”
“I Can’t Quit You Baby”
“You Shook Me”
“How Many More Times”

Disc Two
“Immigrant Song”
“Heartbreaker”
“Since I’ve Been Loving You”
“Black Dog”
“Dazed And Confused”
“Stairway To Heaven”
“Going To California”
“That’s The Way”
“Whole Lotta Love” (Medley: Boogie Chillun/Fixin’ To Die/That’s Alright Mama/A Mess of Blues)
“Thank You”

Disc Three
“Communication Breakdown” *
“What Is And What Should Never Be” *
“Dazed And Confused” *
“White Summer”
“What Is And What Should Never Be” *
“Communication Breakdown” *
“I Can’t Quit You Baby” *
“You Shook Me” *
“Sunshine Woman” *

* Previously Unreleased

“Sunshine Woman”:

 

 

 

 

(Photo - Ron Rafaelli)

THE CIRCLE, the combo consisting of legendary rocker Sammy Hagar alongside Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham and Vic Johnson, performed at Red Rocks Amphitheatrein Morrison, Colorado on September 5. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

THE CIRCLE released a concert album, "At Your Service", in May 2015. Recorded live on tour in 2014, this release documents the blistering performance of a band on fire performing hits from Sammy's four decades of rock (MONTROSE, solo, VAN HALEN, THE WABORITAS, CHICKENFOOT) as well as classic tracks from the LED ZEPPELIN catalog.

Speaking to Ultimate Classic Rock, Hagar stated about THE CIRCLE: "I think THE CIRCLE is the band that I want to play with right now. It's the band that I choose to play with over any band. Even CHICKENFOOT is hard, because we only play CHICKENFOOT. So I miss playing 'When It's Love' and 'Right Now' and 'I Can't Drive 55' and 'One Way To Rock' and 'Heavy Metal' and 'Rock Candy'. I miss doing that, as much as I love CHICKENFOOT."

He continued: "THE CIRCLE is so satisfying that I don't even see a reason to make a record. We have so many great hits that we can choose from our catalog, all of those VAN HALEN hits, all of the Sammy solo, all of those MONTROSE hits, CHICKENFOOT hits, LED ZEPPELIN songs — we have that catalog to choose from for our shows, so to make a record would just be kind of a waste of time. I wouldn't say never, but first I'd like to put together the greatest set list that ever existed in rock 'n' roll, and I think we're pretty close to it right now with the one that we have, but it can even get better. There's a frikkin' goldmine to choose from of songs that I've written and sang in my life."

After his stint as lead singer of MONTROSE, Hagar launched a successful solo career before joining VAN HALEN in 1985. During his time with the band, they notched four consecutive No. 1 albums before breaking up in the mid-'90s.

Legendary bay area thrash metal giants Testament will release their 12th album, Brotherhood Of The Snake, on October 28th via Nuclear Blast. The band have released the first of several trailers for the upcoming album.

Watch vocalist Chuck Billy and guitarist Eric Peterson speak about the touring that lead up to recording and how that affected their song writing process:

The album is now available for pre-order in various physical formats (Digibook, Limited Box Set, Limited Mailorder Box Set, Vinyl) from Nuclear Blast here, as well as digitally here.

Berlin-based artist Eliran Kantor, who created the images that adorn Testament's previous two albums - Dark Roots Of Earth (2012), and The Formation Of Damnation (2008) - talks about the cover art he created for Brotherhood Of The Snake, which can be seen below.

"Eric (Peterson, guitarist) told me of the title, referring to a secret society group - and I wanted to focus on the occult aspect of it without leaning on the already available myths.I pictured a ritual involving blindfolded figures coming out of chalices of black oil, holding scythes forming the teeth of a three-headed snake.

Looking for ways to incorporate the masonic pyramid felt like a great opportunity to use the classic logo while adding something new to it, and also give it an active part in the plot. There are many tiny details adding to the atmosphere: red tongue bookmarks in the books, two more ancient-looking figures in the shadows hinting at the brotherhood's lineage, two serpent-shaped fountain tubes pouring the black oil etc etc. The latter two were suggested by the band."

Tracklisting:

“Brotherhood Of The Snake”
“The Pale King”
“Stronghold”
“Seven Seals”
“Born In A Rut”
“Centuries Of Suffering”
“Neptune's Spear”
“Black Jack”
“Canna-Business”
“The Number Game”

“Brotherhood Of The Snake” lyric video:

The Brotherhood Of The Snake was recorded under the watchful eyes of producer Juan Urteaga (Exodus, Machine Head), guitarist Eric Peterson and singer Chuck Billy; it was mixed and mastered by well-known metal producer Andy Sneap (Accept, Megadeth).

Commented Peterson in another interview: "It's very diverse, but it's very epic. There's nothing on there that breeds commercial. And I think for thirty years of recording music and trying different formulas and stuff, I think we've found a formula that is very metal. I think for the metal fan that is looking for something for the nook and crannies… not just your normal, 'Oh, it's got a thrash beat and a riff.' There's a lot going on here."

In another interview, the songwriter stated: "It's different. This one is more thrash. I mean, this has got some of the fastest stuff that we have ever played. Usually, we have one or two thrash songs, and then we have some mid-tempo, and then we have a slow, heavy one, and then up-tempo kind of stuff. Half of the new record is thrash, which we've never done before."

He continued: "It's kind of like Demonic and The Gathering, but a little bit wiser, I think. Chuck's not singing so death. I mean, he does some death stuff but he's singing more like he did on the last record and then with the craziness of The Gathering or even heavy stuff like Demonic."

Testament will support The Brotherhood Of The Snake on a European tour with Amon Amarth this fall; a complete listing of dates can be found here.

(Photo - Gene Ambo)