Veteran British metallers TANK have recruited PINK CREAM 69 vocalist David Readman to replace the recently departed ZP Theart, who is now a full-time member of U.S. rockers SKID ROW. Stated TANK guitarist Cliff Evans: "We're really pleased for ZP and hope that everything works out for him. He's always been a massive fan of SKID ROW, so it must be so cool for him to be able to front those guys on stage and sing the songs he's grown up with. We'll miss touring and recording with ZP but we wish him all the very best for the future." Added fellow TANK guitarist Mick Tucker: "We recorded one of our best albums with ZP ('Valley Of Tears') and shared the stage for many great shows around the world during the three years that we worked together. He will be missed, but, as usual, we thrive on a challenge and are constantly looking to up our game and push the boundaries that little bit further. We've always been an admirer of Readman's particular vocal style and range but never thought the opportunity would arise where it would be possible for us to work together." Said Readman: "It feels great to make music with a British band with a vast musical history. It's been over 20 years since I played in a British band, this is a sort of homecoming for me. Mick also lives in the Netherlands, so many connections. I couldn't miss this one." In recent years, TANK has been fronted by some of the best rock vocalists around, including former RAINBOW frontman Doogie White, who recorded the "War Machine" and "War Nation" albums plus Theart, who's featured on the aforementioned "Valley Of Tears". The addition of Readman means that TANK can once again move forward into unchartered territory and take its trademark style of British rock to a whole new level. Readman's first live appearances with TANK will take place at Pussy Galore in Hamburg, Germany on July 7 and the Rockharz festival in Ballenstadt, Germany on July 8. The first taste of the David Readman-fronted TANK is available in the YouTube clip below.

TANK's new lineup:

David Readman (vocals)Mick Tucker (guitars)Cliff Evans (guitars)Randy Van Der Elsen (bass)Bobby Schottkowski (drums)

Video of "I Want Out" and "Future World" from Helloween founding member Kai Hansen’s show at last year’s Wacken Open Air festival, is available for streaming below. Both songs are featured on Hansen & Friends - Thank You Waken Live, released on June 23rd, on the following formats: Digital, CD+DVD, LP, and Blu-Ray+CD.

Filmed and recorded on a muddy vibrant summer evening at last year’s Wacken Open Air Festival, Thank You Wacken is a unique snapshot in time as this was the first and only performance of Kai Hansen’s band, with whom he recorded and co-wrote his 2016 solo debut XXX – Three Decades In Metal.

He was joined on stage by Alex Dietz on bass (Heaven Shall Burn), Eike Freese on guitar (Dark Age), Michael Ehré (Gamma Ray) on drums, Corvin Bahn on keys (Crystal Breed), Clémentine Delauney (Visions Of Atlantis) and Frank Beck (Gamma Ray) on backing vocals.

A special treat was the performance of Michael Kiske (Helloween, Unisonic) who joined Kai on stage to perform Helloween classics that for a few minutes set Wacken on fire.

Tracklisting:

“Born Free”
“Ride The Sky” (Hellowen cover)
“Contract Song”
“Victim Of Fate” (Hellowen cover)
“Enemies Of Fun”
“Fire & Ice”
“Burning Bridges”
“Follow The Sun”
“I Want Out” (Hellowen cover)
“Future World” (Hellowen cover)
“All Or Nothing”
“Save Us” (Hellowen cover)

"I Want Out"

"Future World"

“Save Us”:

“Born Free”:

“Fire & Ice”:

SMASHING PUMPKINS drummer Jimmy Chamberlin has hinted at a 2018 reunion of the band's original lineup.

Founding member and main songwriter Billy Corgan has been touring under the SMASHING PUMPKINS name for several years with a newer lineup of musicians, although Chamberlin rejoined the band two years ago.

More significantly, Corgan confirmed last summer that he had repaired his friendship with original bassist D'Arcy Wretzky, after not speaking for nearly two decades. With Chamberlin back in the band already and guitarist James Iha joining them onstage for the first time in sixteen years in early 2016, a reunion of the group's original lineup appears to be imminent.

Chamberlin seemingly confirmed the PUMPKINS reunion rumors during a brand new interview with Justin Kaufmann, host of "The Download", which airs on WGN Radio in Chicago.

"We were talking about playing next year with the band and somebody asked me, you know, 'What's it like trying to coordinate that?'" the drummer said (hear audio below). "I said it's like 'Grumpy Old Men 3', only there's four grumpy old men and one's a woman.' [Laughs] So… that's how it's gotten to be."

Chamberlin also opened up about his complex relationship with Corgan, who once publicly called the drummer "a fucking liar."

"The two hours that we spend playing music together is the greatest thing in the world," Jimmy said. "It's the other twenty-two hours of the day that him and I are… He's got opinions, I've got opinions; we're both grown men, right?"

He continued: "D'Arcy, I think, summed it up the best when she said… When they asked her just an insanely rude and misogynistic question… They said, 'What's it like being a girl in the SMASHING PUMPKINS?' And she said, 'It's like being married to three guys you wouldn't even date.' [Laughs] So I think that's the best answer."

Chamberlin added: "Musically, we've never been at odds. I mean, I can honestly say that since 1988, I don't think Billy and I have ever argued about music one time. I can't think of one time where I played something and he was, like, 'What?' Or he played something and I was, like, 'Oh, don't…' Our musical relationship is that intact, which is… Even when I came back to do the [MARILYN] MANSON tour in [2015], we hadn't played since 2007. I mean, you're talking about going out and [playing in front of] eighteen thousand people. We rehearsed for five days — that was it. And after two days, we were ready to rock. I mean, it's just in your DNA."

Corgan told Chicago radio station WLUP earlier in the year that a reunion of SMASHING PUMPKINS' original lineup seemed more and more likely. Corgan revealed: "I just talked to guitarist James Iha the other day, things look good for us getting together to play. We're talking about it, we'll see."

But Corgan added: "The reunion thing is always a bit weird, because then people come in with their expectations. So my whole thing is if we're going to do it, I think we do it to make people happy, and not go against the tide of what people would want to hear and that type of stuff, but my interest in it is sort of limited. I'm not going to do it for fourteen years of my life."

Corgan went on to say: "We're not rushing to something. We have to repair some things between us and see what's out there for us, if those opportunities are even there."

The original SMASHING PUMPKINS lineup last played together on April 24, 1999 in Los Angeles.

Photo credit: Reverb.com

Interview (audio):

"Running Out Of Time", the new video from NIGHT RANGER, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's latest studio album, "Don't Let Up", which was released on March 24 via Frontiers Music Srl. The disc was made available in both a standard edition and a deluxe edition (featuring bonus track and bonus DVD — physical format only).

NIGHT RANGER truly epitomizes the sound of the '80s, while at the same time transcending it. Since their reunion in 1996, they have brought their guitar heavy, melodic brand of hard rock into the 21st century with their unparalleled talent, energy, and creativity.

"Don't Let Up" was produced by the band.

"The 'Don't Let Up' album is the result of five musicians living and breathing rock 'n roll 24 hours a day. 35 years on and NIGHT RANGER is once again ready to let the fans know 'it's only rock and roll, but I like it,'" says NIGHT RANGER bassist and vocalist Jack Blades of the new album.

NIGHT RANGER drummer and vocalist Kelly Keagy adds: "Working on the material for the new album "Don't Let Up" was a great experience once again. I always look forward to creating music with Brad, Eric, Keri, and Jack. I'm really looking forward to playing some of this material for the fans. It rocks!"

States NIGHT RANGER guitarist Brad Gillis: "It's always a pleasure releasing new material to keep the bands creative flow. As typical for NIGHT RANGER, we have all the elements that made us popular in the first place, including twin-lead-vocal tradeoffs with Jack and Kelly and dual guitar harmonies and solos with my new partner in crime, Keri Kelli. We've stacked the deck again with uptempo driving rock songs, midtempo tunes and a few acoustic ballad tracks. We're hoping this new album will be added to your existing NIGHT RANGER catalog!!!"

With more than 17 million albums sold worldwide, over 3000 live shows performed, and more than 1 billion in radio audience, NIGHT RANGER has both epitomized and transcended the arena rock sound and style of that era and beyond. With songs that have significantly impacted popular culture and continue to expand their ever-growing fan-base, NIGHT RANGER is proof that powerful songs, plus accomplished musicians is the perfect formula for continued success.

NIGHT RANGER has earned widespread acclaim, multi-platinum and gold album status while leaving their indelible mark on the music charts with a string of best-selling albums ("Dawn Patrol", "Midnight Madness", "7 Wishes", "Big Life" and "Man In Motion"), its popularity fueled by an impressive string of instantly recognizable hit singles and signature album tracks.

NIGHT RANGER is Jack Blades (bass, vocals), Kelly Keagy (drums, vocals), Brad Gillis (lead and rhythm guitars), Eric Levy (keyboards), and Keri Kelli (lead and rhythm guitars).

"Don't Let Up" track listing:

01. Somehow Someway02. Running Out Of Time03. Truth04. Day And Night*05. Don't Let Up 06. Won't Be Your Fool Again07. Say What You Want08. We Can Work It Out09. Comfort Me10. Jamie11. Nothing Left Of Yesterday

* Bonus audio track on deluxe edition

* Bonus DVD: Band Interviews; "Running Out Of Time" (video); "Day And Night" (Video)

Dan Lorenzo (Hades, Non-Fiction, The Cursed) recently teamed up with Nathan Opposition (Ancient VVisdom) to form a musical project called Vessel Of Light. The duo will enter Spider Studios in Cleveland to record their debut this summer. Lorenzo has issued the following update:

"I just got home from Cleveland and my first two rehearsals with Nathan Opposition. It was pretty magical. We already have seven songs written. I'm going back to record with Nathan the end of July to record". 

Lorenzo previously stated: "I really haven't played guitar too often over the decade since Blitz (Overkill) and I released The Cursed Room Full Of Sinners CD in 2007. I've had a few bands ask me to join them, but that has never really interested me.

“Back in December, I went to Austin and before I arrived I was Googling 'Stoner rock' or 'Doom bands from Austin' or something like that and I came upon the video for Ancient VVisdom's "The Opposition". I literally watched the video about twenty times over the next couple of days. I have a Jesus tattoo. I met the Pope. I go to church and the lyrics were not what I'm into, but I couldn't deny it was one of the catchiest vocal lines I'd ever heard in my life. Then I listened to their song "Deathlike" multiple times.

“I decided to write about the band  in NJ's Steppin' Out magazine) and I mailed Nathan Opposition (Ancient VVisdom's singer) a magazine and I think an old Hades CD. We started communicating by email and then on the phone. I had no intentions of asking him to write with me because my musical career is long over. I'm considerably older than him and I honestly wasn't playing guitar much, but when Nathan asked me if I wanted to write together I couldn't say no."

Nathan Opposition says, "Lorenzo and I became friends due to my inability to not be susceptible to flattery. Turns out he's a really cool guy who writes awesome riffs too. Randomly one day I ask him about the band we are starting in joking fashion. I guess it was the right timing and the right person because we immediately agreed we should actually start a project. Before I knew it he was sending me CDs of riffs and I had lyrics flowing like a faucet."

Lorenzo will handle all guitars and bass on the recordings and Opposition will play drums and sing all vocals. Stay tuned for updates.

Los Angeles based thrashers Mindwars (featuring former Holy Terror guitarist Mike Alvord) are working on their third album. Recording are underway between Europe (Number 8 Studio in Turin, Italy) and the US (Los Angeles and Santa Ana,CA.). More details soon to be announced. Some footage from the studio is available below.

Mindwars’ previous album, Sworn To Secrecy, was mixed and mastered by Bill Metoyer (Armored Saint, COC, Fates Warning) at the Skull Seven Studios in Los Angeles.

“Scalp Bounty” video:

"Cradle To Grave" video:

(Photo - Alex Solca)

Renowned Danish composer and classically trained multi-instrumentalist, Myrkur, ascends with Mareridt's debut single today. “”Måneblôt" is a tale which portrays a nightmare engaging a woman, girl, animal, violence, sun and fire worship and the pagan ritual, Blót," Myrkur explains.

“Mareridt” (translation: Nightmare) is a rich juxtaposition of the dark and the light; the moon and the mother earth; the witch and the saint. Myrkur explores deeper into the mysterious and the feminine with 11 tracks that further progress her visionary blend of metal with gorgeous, stirring melodies, dark folk passages, choral arrangements and superb, horrific beauty.

Further taking Myrkur to new artistic heights are lyrics in multiple languages, an unforgettable collaboration with Chelsea Wolfe and an array of special instrumentation including violin, mandola, folk drums, nyckelharpa (an ancient Swedish key harp), and Kulning (an ancient Scandinavian herding call). Mareridt is a profound manifestation of nightmares that demonstrates Myrkur as one of the truly exceptional artists of our time.

"I wanted to make an album that I always needed to exist but never did," she explains. "So, I wrote it myself."

Myrkur found herself plagued by insufferable nightmares and sleep paralysis. "I was in one of the worst times of my life," she recalls. "I was afraid to sleep."  She reluctantly lived in her subconscious and tried all the movements that would normally center her: being in nature, swimming, sitting outside and carving wood, but nothing changed.

"You know how they say that when you have been through trauma or abuse, you tend to recreate the situation in an attempt to take ownership of it?" she says. "I think I was doing that. I was trying to solve things [in my nightmares] that I could not solve in real life. Things I could not run away from."

Myrkur knew she had to start listening. She stopped trying to shove the nightmares away, and embraced them. She kept a notebook by her bed and documented everything from the recurring symbols, archetypes and animals that crawled around her head. She obsessed over Nordic fairy tales, mythology and folklore. She pulled meaning from Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid to verses from the Bible, and connected these stories to the spiritual solace she found outside her house. Once the songs started coming, they didn't stop. Myrkur would bring a small, string instrument into the forest to write. "It's very giving," she says. "Your environment becomes part of the song, and the songwriting. I just love that. Nature changed this record." She was manic, writing any moment she was awake, expelling the subliminal material like an exorcism.

"This record is very connected to my true self, without an ego or persona," Myrkur says. "I am interested in human spirit, when it goes beyond the layers. When I get to that place, I feel invincible."

Mareridt was recorded between Copenhagen and Seattle with producer, Randall Dunn (Earth, Marissa Nadler, Sun O))), Boris). Like a marriage of King Diamond's Them with Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, Mareridt is a carefully composed concept freed from genre. It flows between English and Danish, from guttural growls charged with testosterone, to emotive feminine hymns and Kulning. The compositions sweep into one another like a soundtrack designed to guide the listener through emotional turmoil. One minute the songs are fighting back, the next lulling you to submission. Lyrically, Myrkur hatches open the folklore of her Nordic heritage, applying the ancient fables to her personal piety. Mareridt toys with juxtaposition and finds life between theoretical opposites. Timeless, triumphant, powerful and hypnotic, Mareridt is a sonic nightmare that you never want to escape.   

Relapse offers an exclusive, one time pressing deluxe 2LP on red inside clear with blue splatter and custom Myrkur logo etching on side D; limited to 900.  The deluxe version also features alternate cover art painted by Norwegian painter Odd Nerdrum and contains core album on LP 1 plus 5 bonus tracks on LP 2 (not available on CD or single LP versions). Pre-order Mareridt now via Relapse.com.

Mareridt will be released on September 15th. Artwork and tracklisting below.

Tracklisting:

“Mareridt”
“Måneblôt”
“The Serpent”
“Crown”
“Elleskudt”
“De Tre Piker”
“Funeral” (featuring Chelsea Wolfe)
“Ulvinde”  
“Gladiatrix”  
“Kætteren”
“Børnehjem”
“Death Of Days” *
“Kvindelil” * (featuring Chelsea Wolfe)
“Løven” *
“Himlen blev sort” *
“Två Konungabarn” *

* Digital / Deluxe 2xLP Bonus Track

“Måneblôt”:

Live dates:

July
21 - Katowice, Poland - Metal Hammer Festival
22 - Sheffield, UK - Tramlines Festival

August
17 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus
18 - Las Vegas, NV - Psycho Las Vegas

October
26 - Stockholm, Sweden - Close-Up Baten Cruise

November
4 - Leeds, UK - Damnation Festival
17 - London, UK - Heaven #
18 - Leeuwarden, Netherlands - Neushoorn #
19 - Lille, France - Maison Folie Beaulieu #
20 - Paris, France - Alhambra #
21 - Rennes, France - Antipode MJC #
23 - Bilbao, Spain - Santana27 #
24 - Madrid, Spain - Caracol #
25 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz2 #
27 - Milan, Italy - Circolo Magnolia #
29 - Munich, Germany - Theaterfabrik #
30 - Salzburg, Austria - Rockhouse #

December
1 - Bologna, Italy - Locomotiv #
7 - Budapest, Hungary - A38 #
8 - Vienna, Austria - Arena #
11 - Prague, Czech Republic - Roxy #
12 - Berlin, Germany - Heimathafen #
13 - Cologne, Germany - Kantine #
15 - Rotterdam, Netherlands - maasSilo #
16 - Brussels, Belgium - VK #
18 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Pumpehuset #
20 - Stockholm, Sweden - Debaser Strand #

# - with Solstafir

(Photo - Daria Endresen)

Experimental prog-rock/metal group, In The Presence Of Wolves, will release of their new EP, Of Two Minds, Stages 1-2: The Ape And The Cage, this Friday, June 30th. The EP is available for pre-order now via Bandcamp. The new track, “White Noise”, is available for streaming below.

Of Two Minds, Stages 1-2: The Ape And The Cage is a two-in-one part EP in an eventual multi-release story that explores ITPOW's personal confrontations with mental illness, emotional struggle and the five stages of grief. The EP tells the story of twin brothers, one with paranoid schizophrenia and one without. The sane brother deals with the first two stages of grief as he investigates the reasons behind his twin taking his own life.

Vocalist/bassist Vini Stamato explains that "White Noise" is one of the more important tracks in relation to the concept of Of Two Minds...: "Conceptually, this is the last track that represents our main character's denial stage of grief and in reality, this marks a major change in the ITPOW song writing style. When we started writing this album, we knew that we wanted to focus more on the song writing aspect of our music and not just how many technical curveballs we could throw at our listeners. This track was delicate from the beginning. Opening the track with a common time signature allowed us to focus more on melody but it also presented us with more of a challenge in regards to selecting the perfect melody for the song itself. Writing the non-instrumental passages for this track was like walking on egg shells.

“Fortunately, the majority of the song came together when I was home sick from work for a few days. In those few days, most of the vocal melodies were finalized and also the majority of the middle instrumental section was constructed. One of the parts that we had the most fun writing for this track was the outro. That was pretty much a straight, solid hour of Chris and I hashing out the entire section step by step and seeing what pieces fit where. We were extremely surprised to find how well this section translates live. When we get to this part in our set, the entire room goes silent as we play. We were floored the first time this happened. I remember thinking to myself, 'oh wow. I think we created a moment'."

At the helm on Of Two Minds, Stages 1-2: The Ape And The Cage was producer Kevin Antreassian of Backroom Studios, otherwise recognized as guitarist for kings of metallic chaos, Dillinger Escape Plan. The album was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music.

Of Two Minds, Stages 1-2: The Ape And The Cage tracklisting:

“As We Speak Pt. 1”
“The One Who Fell To Earth”
“White Noise”
“The Ape And The Cage”
“M.U.A. (Manipulation Under Anesthesia)”

“White Noise”:

"The One Who Fell To Earth”:

"The One Who Fell to Earth" guitar playthrough:

Calgary, AB progressive death metal band Divinity have posted more lyric videos in support of their new album The Immortalist that was unleashed on May 26th. 

The band comments on the tracks:

"‘PsyWar’: This was a song that had a concept before the music was written.  We knew we needed to create a groovy song with a real sinister message.  Once the main riff was written, the rest wrote itself.  I am very proud of the final song as it relays the message that we all live in a world of psychological warfare where the elite rulers have fabricated a narrative that we have come to accept as normal.  Through media and mainstream news, they have convinced us of all kinds of false beliefs, and they have found a way to get their wars and their ways of normalizing violence and all the terrible things that would normally be completely unacceptable.  We have been fully and completely brainwashed to accept atrocities and lies, as truth.  Now that we are so conditioned to accept this as normal, we won’t question authority, meaning they can do whatever it is they want, without a backlash from the public.

“‘Distorted Mesh’: This song started as a riff of Sean’s, which I took and spiced up and sped up.  The song concept was loosely inspired by the movie"Insidious, where the demon lives in the underworld and emerges only to find his victims, and take them into the other world to torture.  Our current world is a very scary place these days, where lies and distortions of the truth are the new norm.  We are all connected to each other in this madness, but the things that connect us are distorted and manipulated by evil entities who have succeeded in making us thoughtless slaves.  There is no way out of this nightmare that is our modern world's reality."

Orders of the album are at Divinity.ca, iTunes, and Amazon plus an exclusive digipak CD available on their website for those who want to support the band directly.

The Immortalist is a culmination of 5 years of hard work and dedication to their craft.  The album features 12 tracks that include their two previous EP releases The Immortalist, Pt. 1 – Awestruck and The Immortalist, Pt. 2 –Momentum with their 3rd EP The Immortalist Pt. 3 - Conqueror now finished completing the trilogy series for one huge full length album. All the tracks on the album are remixed and remastered by the talented Chris Donaldson (Cryptopsy, The Grid Productions) to make the songs more cohesive and work as a full-length album experience. This album also features Bjorn ‘Speed’ Strid of Soilwork on vocals for the song “D.M.T.”. Divinity is also offering fans an exclusive digipak CD available on their website for those who want to support the band directly.

The bands comments on release:

"Closure is such great thing! We’ve finished our third EP for The Immortalist trilogy concept and have decided to take all three EP’s and turn it into a full-length album."

Tracklisting:

“Manhunt”
“Atlas”
“Hallowed Earth”
“D.M.T.”
“PsyWar”
“Distorted Mesh”
“The Dead Speak From Behind”
“Lucid Creator”
“The Reckoning”
“All Seeing Eyes”
“Momentum”
“Conqueror”

"Atlas" video:

“Manhunt” video:

Album teaser:

Over the past couple years Metal Blade Records has reissued a whole bunch of Riot albums on digi-CD and vinyl.

On June 30th the next three titles will be added to the rich catalogue of this fabulous band. Inishmore, Shine On and Sons Of Society are two studio albums and a live album that can easily be described as melodic power metal gems. Metal Blade is streaming two tracks from each reissue - "Liberty" and "Angel Eyes" from Inishmore, "Bloodstreets" and "Soldier" from Shine On, and "Twist And Fate" and "Dragonfire" from Sons Of Society.

Inishmore will be available on digi-CD with four bonus tracks (“15 Rivers”, “Red Reign”, “Danny Boy” and “15 Rivers” (acoustic demo) as well as on vinyl in four different versions (180 g black/night blue violet marbled/lime green/clear dawn red (US-exclusive)).

Shine On will be available on Digi-CD with the Live At Club Citta January 31st, 1998 DVD as bonus. The DVD features a full live show as well as extra live clips and video clips, 31 titles in total.

Sons Of Society will be available on Digi-CD with five bonus tracks (all instrumental rough mixes of album songs) as well as on vinyl in four different versions (180 g black/clear orange-red/purple blue/orange-brown (US-exclusive)).

All three albums have been remastered by Patrick Engel for the best sound quality ever. The vinyl versions include 350 g covers, an insert and a free poster each, the digi-CDs poster booklets.

Preorders are available at Metal Blade.

Dirty Thrills are a young, exciting and charismatic London-based hard rock quartet who play bluesy rock 'n' roll with an appealing filthy edge, churning out endless crowd pleasers that make guitar music sound sexy again. With lung-busting, powerful vocals from front man Louis James, killer guitar riffs from Jack Fawdry and solid low-end grooves from the rhythm section of Aaron Plows and Steve Corrigan, each member's wide-ranging influences also combine to produce a pool of sound similar to current rock icons such as Queens Of The Stone Age, The Black Keys and Rival Sons.

Dirty Thrills are set to release their new album, Heavy Living, on September 15th. A video for the first single from the album, for the track "Law Man”, is available for streaming below.

Dirty Thrills formed after a drunken night of jamming in a quiet village pub in Wiltshire, but what started out as an inconspicuous session swiftly birthed an ambitious group with the drive and determination to bring the glory days back to the rock scene. Having released and toured a self-titled debut record in 2014, the band recently signed to Frontiers Music Srl and played the UK's Camden Rocks and Wildfire Festivals in June as part of the build-up to their new single, “Law Man”, which Louis James describes as a song "about one man's fight for freedom, only to be struck down by a figure of austerity." They will also be performing at Ramblin' Man Fair in late July, while a full UK tour will follow the mid-September release of their brand new album, Heavy Living, which was recorded at Monnow Valley Studio in Rockfield, Monmouth and produced/mixed by James Loughrey (The Darkness, Skindred, Sumo Cyco).

Heavy Living tracklisting:

“I'll Be With You”
“Go Slow”
“Law Man”
“Hanging Around”
“Lonely Soul”
“No Resolve”
“Interlude”
“The Brave”
“Rabbit Hole”
“Drunk Words”
“Get Loose”

“Law Man” video:

Dirty Thrills lineup:

Louis James - Lead Vocals, Harmonica
Jack Fawdry - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Steve Corrigan - Drums
Aaron Plows - Bass

Wolves In The Throne Room re-imagine black metal as an ode to rain storms, wood smoke and the wild energies of the Pacific Northwest. Now, a portal into their mythic ethereal heathen landscape opens once again. On September 22nd the band will release Thrice Woven on their own label, Artemisia Records. It is a glorious return to the blazing and furious black metal that they alone can create.

The album begins with "Born From The Serpent’s Eye" a true thrashing black metal epic that is bisected with a haunting northern lament sung by Swedish star Anna von Hausswolff. The band worked with metal documentarians Peter Beste and Nico Poalillo to create a video for this track which captures a bonfire-lit performance in the forest near their Olympia compound. More on this very soon; to tide us over, check out a trailer below that hints at what's to come.

"The Old Ones Are With Us" opens with the crackling of a fire and the voice of Steve Von Till (Neurosis) invoking the springtime thaw. It then storms into a dirge inspired by 90’s Finnish doom with lyrics that celebrate Imbolc, the holy day which marks the end of winter and the first stirrings of spring. Figures from Norse mythology intertwine with personal heartbreak and rebirth in the bleak "Angrboda". The song is named after a frost giantess who birthed Fenrir Wolf, a beast who was destined to destroy the world and murder the gods.

Fenrir Wolf also appears on the cover of Thrice Woven in a painting by Russian occult artist Denis Forkas. Forkas’ obscure medieval painting techniques perfectly compliment the music of Wolves In The Throne Room, you can explore the glimmering painting at the bottom of this post.

A raven’s wings stir the air in the interlude "Mother Owl, Father Ocean". Anna von Hausswolff returns in a duet with Turkish harpist Zeynep Oyku, forlorn industrial atmospheres haunt the mix, Hausswolff’s lyrics, sung in Swedish, echo over a barren grey seascape. "Fires Roar In The Palace Of The Moon" is the classic Cascadian black metal epic, the third eye opens to see holy rivers being born from the ice on the tallest peaks, the lyrics offer blessings to the waters of the earth as they flow from the high places to the source of darkness, the ocean.

When the band returned to the road in summer 2016 long-time touring guitar player Kody Keyworth was welcomed as a full member of Wolves In The Throne Room. On Thrice Woven, Kody contributes raven’s screams and some of the most brutal and dark riffs. The live lineup also features Peregrine Somerville (Sadhaka) playing third guitar and Brittany McConnell (Wolvserpent) on keyboards and percussion. The effect of three guitars on stage is mesmerizing and reflects the dark psychedelia of the band’s albums.

Look for Thrice Woven to be available on September 22nd and stay tuned for more news from Wolves In The Throne Room to surface soon.

Thrice Woven tracklisting:

“Born From The Serpent's Eye”
“The Old Ones Are With Us”
“Angrboda”
“Mother Owl, Father Ocean”
“Fires Roar In The Palace Of The Moon”

Teaser:

(Band photo - Peter Beste)

Unparalleled Universe, the new album from iconic US death metallers Origin, is set to be released this Friday, June 30th, via Agonia Records (Europe / Rest Of World) and Nuclear Blast Records (North America). A playthrough video for the album track “Accident And Error” is available for streaming below.

For 20 years, Origin has engaged a full-blown sensory assault of tight, taut, and technical death metal amplified by flashes of grindcore and groove. However, 2017’s Unparalleled Universe sees the quartet - Paul Ryan, John Longstreth (drums), Mike Flores (bass, vocals), and Jason Keyser (vocals) - strengthen that blueprint with a handful of surprises.

"It feels like an Origin album, but it’s unparalleled to what you might expect if you haven’t heard us for 10 or 15 years" says Ryan. "To me, it’s a true reflection of ourselves. I compare it to an action movie. Our earlier material is filled with action from beginning to end. Now, the idea is to add a little more depth and dynamics. You could say there are some twists in the plot musically".

Origin began compiling ideas for what would become Unparalleled Universe while touring in support of their 2014 sixth offering, Omnipresent. Along the way, the record snatched their highest position on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart, bowing in the Top 10. Meanwhile, it garnered acclaim from metal press and successful tours with everyone from Aborted and Exhumed to Immolation and Marduk over the last three years. They’ve also shined on the Summer Slaughter Tour in 2009 and 2014. On the road with Belphegor last year, the members debuted a skeleton of the first single "Accident and Error" in front of packed crowds.

"We would ask the audience to give us title ideas, but we could never discern what they were actually saying" laughs Ryan. "Riffs typically start on tour, and I keep them in my back pocket. That’s the way it is. Ultimately, Unparalleled Universe begins another era for Origin. In the end, we’re still writing death metal songs, but we’re adding new dimensions. We’re still Origin".

Unparalleled Universe was recorded and mixed at Chapman Studios in February 2017 alongside longtime collaborator and engineer Robert Rebeck (Tech N9ne). The band emerged with ten new songs including a cover of Brujeria's "Revolución", that were mastered in March 2017 by Colin Marston at Menegroth - The Thousand Caves (Altar of Plagues, Jarobe, Krallice) and wrapped in a cover prepared by Filip Ivanovic (Dismember, Cryptopsy, Heavy Montreal, Gorguts).

Tracklisting:

“Infinitesimal To The Infinite”
“Accident And Error”
“Cascading Failures, Diminishing Returns”
“Mithridatic”
“Truthslayer”
“Invariance Under Transformation”
“Dajjal”
“Burden Of Prescience”
“Unequivocal”
“Revolucion”

“Cascading Failures, Diminishing Returns” lyric video:

“Accident And Error” lyric video:

In-Studio videos:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Unparalleled Universe album formats:

- Digipack CD
- Limited BOX CD (including beer opener with album cover, flag with band logo and alternative CD version of the album)
- 12” gatefold LP (black)
- 12” gatefold LP (gray)
- 12” gatefold LP (splatter) - Agonia Records Webshop exclusive
- 12”gatefold picture LP
- Digital

Pre-order here.

Lineup:

Paul Ryan - guitar and backing vocals
John Longstreth - drums
Mike Flores - bass and backing vocals
Jason Keyser - lead vocals

Massacre Records has announced the signing of German epic black metal band, Imperious.

The band was founded by vocalist, bassist and main composer Sertorius in 2009, and with the addition of both guitarists Iluaar and Kalmesh they form the trio Imperious. Their intention and goal is to create music based on historical, lyrical and poetic sources.

Their debut, Varus, was released in April, 2011 via Heretic Visions Productions and Twilight Distribution. Following the closure of their label, Imperious focussed on a new project: translating Homer’s Odyssey into a musical concept, and they succeeded.

Imperious' two albums, Tales Of Woe - The Journey Of Odysseus - Part I: From Ilion To Hades and Tales Of Woe - The Journey Of Odysseus - Part II: From Hades To Ithaca, are set to be released this fall via Massacre. Stay tuned for updates.

Stass is the new band created by Crematory vocalist Felix Stass and Paganizer guitarist Rogga Johansson. They have released an official lyric video for their first single, "Warriors Land”, available for streaming below.

Stass was formed after Felix and Rogga met at a Paganizer gig in Germany in 2012. Paganizer was playing a mini-tour and at a gig in Ludwigshafen near Mannheim where Felix resides, they bumped into each other. Sharing a mutual love for metal and drinking as well as eating, there couldn’t be much question that they would enjoy each others company. After keeping in touch and Felix guesting on a song on the second Megascavenger album they both thought it would be cool to work on a whole album together, combining their talents in the best possible way. And then the idea of Stass was born. To make an album together that showcases both the heavy and the dark and also the melodic sides to both their main bands Crematory and Paganizer.

A total of fifteen songs were written and recorded and produced by Demiurg bassist Johan Berglund, who also plays bass on the album. On lead guitars Paganizer’s Kjetil Lynghaug stepped in and excels in some awesome solo work. The album that contains ten of the fifteen written songs is a vortex of melodic dark death metal, oozing of the vibe and the voice of Crematory but merged with the heaviness of Swedish death metal.

The debut album, The Darkside, will be released on September 15th via Mighty Music. The album was ecorded at The Rotpit, Sweden and Empire Studios, Germany, mixed and mastered by Johan Berglund at MountainCove Studios. Artwork by Mark Erskine.

You can watch the official lyric video for “Warriors Land" below:

Stass lineup:

Felix Stass - Vocals
Rogga Johansson - Guitars
Kjetil Lynghaug - Lead Guitars
Johan Berglund - Bass
Erik R Bevenrud - Drums

Night Legion, the new high energy Australian power metal band featuring members from Dungeon, Death Dealer, Blasted To Static and Darker Half, has announced the release of their new video for the song "Hell Below". The clip is available for streaming below.

Filmed during Night Legion's headlining show at the Under The Southern Cross festival in Sydney, Australia, "Hell 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 their upcoming self-titled debut album being released in October via Massacre Records (Germany) 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.

Toronto's Protokult returns to unleash their long-awaited music video "Oy Kanada" with BraveWords being the perfect host for a folk-thrasher take on the Canadian national anthem and a video concept that shines light and tips its hat to the diverse multicultural metal community throughout the land.

The band comments:

"This is who we are and where we live and it's a mighty fine time and place to show love for metal, this is our Canada! And yes, our beer is better than yours!"

Fearlessly fusing metal subgenres, “Oy Kanada” marks the return of Protokult to the front line after unleashing their third studio recording and 2014 album No Beer In Heaven, a release that's an adventurous, heavy and experimental trek, diving into themes of drinking, history and human endeavor.

Doug Aldrich says that Ronnie James Dio and Gene Simmons should both be credited for popularizing the famous rock n' roll "devil horns."

The late BLACK SABBATH and RAINBOW singer is frequently recognized for making the hand gesture mainstream — a staple at rock concerts for decades — which the KISS bassist/vocalist filed an application to trademark on June 9, only to abandon it less than two weeks later.

Aldrich, who played with Ronnie in DIO and famously auditioned for KISS in 1982, was asked by Spain's GoetiaMedia.com for his thoughts on whether Dio or Simmons came up with the "devil horns." Doug said (hear audio below): "I would have to say… It's very difficult, because they're both friends of mine. Ronnie, obviously, is not here. I would have to say it's very difficult. I don't know who did it. I would reckon that Ronnie did it earlier than Gene, but I would reckon that Gene equally could have come up with it. So I think it's 50-50. But I think that when people think of the devil horns, they think of Ronnie the most."

He continued: "Ronnie told me the story. He said it was his grandmother [who] used to… It was called the 'evil eye'; he would do it. And people always do the devil horns and they face it to themselves — like a backwards devil horn — but that's not what you're supposed to do, 'cause the devil horn is supposed to keep bad people away. You have to point it to them — that's what Ronnie always did. Ronnie never turned it around backwards. You notice that? 'Cause his grandmother told him — that you point it at the people who've got the bad spirit, and it keeps the bad spirit away from you, it protects you. So Ronnie would always do that."

Aldrich added: "I feel like Ronnie put it really from his heart, through his arm into his hand, and he would send out this positive thing to his people. And at the same time, I've seen Gene do that sign since I was a kid. So I don't know, man, who did it. But it's business, so whoever is lucky enough to get the trademark, that's really cool. Why not? Gene can have it. But maybe Ronnie's family should have it. Maybe they should split it."

Ronnie James Dio, who reportedly didn't start using the hand gesture on stage until after joining BLACK SABBATH in 1979, himself declined to take credit for the symbol, explaining in a 2001 interview: "I doubt very much if I would be the first one who ever did that. That's like saying I invented the wheel. I'm sure someone did that at some other point. I think you'd have to say that I made it fashionable. I used it so much and all the time and it had become my trademark."

Dio ― who said his Italian grandmother often invoked the horns to ward off the malocchio (the evil eye), bad luck or malevolent spirits ― also took issue with Simmons.

"Gene Simmons will tell you that he invented it," Ronnie once said. "But then again, Gene invented breathing and shoes and everything else."

Ronnie James Dio's widow Wendy also criticized Simmons for attempting to trademark the hand sign. She told TheWrap: "To try to make money off of something like this is disgusting. It belongs to everyone — it doesn't belong to anyone. It's a public domain, it shouldn't be trademarked."

Most music fans have slammed Simmons for the trademark request, saying the symbol has become ubiquitous and means different things to different people.

When asked if it was Ronnie James Dio who actually started it, Simmons told Classic Rock magazine: "Well, I've heard Ronnie say that to my face and I said, 'God bless you.' I mean him no ill will, but I think he's wrong. Mine came from Spider-man doing his hand signal, as a homage to him. If you see me in photos, I'm sticking out my thumb. That's the sign in sign language which means 'I love you.'"

KLAQ's Lisa Sanchez recently conducted an interview with the four members of PAPA ROACH. You can now watch the chat below.

When asked why they think the "nu metal" genre — which PAPA ROACH got lumped into in the late 1990s — got such a bad rap from fans and music critics alike, PAPA ROACH frontman Jacoby Shaddix said: "A lot of people didn't like [LIMP BIZKIT frontman] Fred Durst — really and truly. That was real bad. and everybody was hating on him. And he was kind of, like, 'Why do you wanna hate me?' And so, he was kind of the poster boy for the genre, and so if people wanted to take pot shots at it, it was easy. But I got nothing but love and respect for him. And for us, it's, like, at the time, we were the bands that were just selling millions of records, and when you're selling millions of records, people wanna… When you're on the top, everybody wants to throw rocks. You know what I'm saying? So, kick rocks, punk!"

Shaddix, however, made it clear that PAPA ROACH would never attempt to rehash its earlier sound in an attempt to recapture the band's past glories.

"For me, P-ROACH, it's always about progression and evolution," he explained. "So we're not trying to bring back the old days at all, but we definitely went back and, I guess, brought some of the old-school elements into the music, but without trying to just go, 'All right. Now we're old school again.' 'Cause we've gotta maintain a progressive vibe. But there are some rad bands that were influenced by the nu metal genre back in the day, like BRING ME THE HORIZON, OF MICE & MEN… I mean, countless other bands."

PAPA ROACH's ninth studio album, "Crooked Teeth", was released on May 19 via Eleven Seven Music. The disc was made available digitally and physically, as a standard (10 tracks) and deluxe (10 tracks + 3 brand new tracks + 16 Live tracks Live at the Fillmore Detroit) editions.

Written and recorded in a cramped North Hollywood studio, "Crooked Teeth" was produced by first timers Nicholas "RAS" Furlong and Colin Brittain, with the exception of "Born For Greatness", which saw the band collaborate with writer/producer Jason Evigan (Jason Derulo, Demi Lovato, Zedd, MAROON 5) for this positive, pulsating anthem. Furlong and Brittain, who grew up listening to PAPA ROACH, inspired the band to revisit some of the traits that personally endeared the band to them, most notably Shaddix's remarkable rapping technique and the band's intense live energy.

Corey Taylor has once fired back at Chad Kroeger after the latter blasted STONE SOUR as "NICKELBACK Lite" and called out Taylor for alleging saying that it was "easy" to write a hit song.

Asked about the remarks on the KISW 99.9 radio station at this past weekend's Pain In The Grass event in Auburn, Washington, Taylor said (see video below): "I'm not talking about that dickhead. Why do I give a shit what Chad Kroeger says?

"I'll tell you what. This is how I figured it out. Chad Kroeger is to rock what KFC is to chicken.

"Is that wrong? I feel like I'm not wrong.

"I'll still eat it, but I'm not gonna feel good about it. It tastes like the same thing."

Taylor previously denied saying it was easy to write a hit song. "I don't know what the hell planet he's living on," Corey told Arizona radio station KUPD. "Apparently it's Planet Kroeger, and there must be good weed there, 'cause he's an idiot."

Taylor claimed that he was "cued up to say some stuff" about Kroeger but added, "I don't have to say a damn thing — he is not a liked person. That's all we have to say about it."

Yet Taylor continued anyway, taking issue with Kroeger saying that Corey's other band, SLIPKNOT, "had to put on masks and jump around" as a gimmick to sell records and concert tickets. Taylor responded, "You can run your mouth all you want. All I know is I've been voted 'Sexiest Dude In Rock' wearing a mask. You've been voted 'Ugliest Dude In Rock' twice without one."

Taylor emphasized that he had no issues with the other members of NICKELBACK, saying, "Everybody else in that band I'm very, very cool with; I've hung out with them. It's just 'Face Like A Foot' who I can't really hang out with. He's got a face like a foot. Am I wrong?"

In an interview posted earlier in the month with Sweden's Metal Covenant, Kroeger said that STONE SOUR was "trying to be NICKELBACK," adding, "Corey Taylor has said some really nasty things about me before in the press. He talks about how easy it is to write a hit song. Well, show me. Show me. Write one. I have yet to hear one. They're okay. But they're not as good as NICKELBACK. They sound like 'NICKELBACK Lite.'"

NICKELBACK just released its ninth album, "Feed The Machine", on June 16, while STONE SOUR's new LP, "Hydrograd", arrives on June 30.

Gregor Mackintosh has revealed that "Fear Those Who Fear Him", the third album from his VALLENFYRE project, will likely be the band's final release.

The PARADISE LOST songwriter and guitarist broke the news during an interview with Metal Covenant to promote the follow-up to 2014's "Splinters", which came out in early June.

Asked by the site if it would it be rude to suggest that his heart was kind of with VALLENFYRE but that his common sense was with PARADISE LOST nowadays, Gregor said: "Um, VALLENFYRE is like my Saturday night out. Yeah, I have fun with it. I can't deny that, but I can't say that I take it too seriously. Again, like with PARADISE LOST, the music is quite serious, but it's like, you know, having a few drinks and going down to the pub with your mates type of thing. But I wouldn't say the heart, no. Because I don't intend… You know… We're 90 percent sure now that we'll never record anything else with VALLENFYRE. So we'll leave it as a trilogy. So if that's where the heart was, I left it behind me."

Mackintosh went on to say that this was the first time he was publicly discussing VALLENFYRE's future — or lack thereof — as a recording act. He explained: "It was just I was talking to Hamish [Hamilton Glencross, bass and guitar] about it the other day and we just seemed to think that as a trilogy record it makes sense."

Recorded by the band's new core lineup consisting of Mackintosh (vocals and guitar), Glencross (guitar and bass) and Waltteri Väyrynen (drums), "Fear Those Who Fear Him" was once again produced by Kurt Ballou (CONVERGE, NAILS) at GodCity Studio in Salem, Massachusetts and mastered by Brad Boatright (OBITUARY, BEASTMILK, YOB) at Audiosiege Mastering in Portland, Oregon. The cover artwork was created by Hal Rotter.

"Fear Those Who Fear Him" was released as gatefold LP+CD on limited colored and regular black 180-gram vinyl, as special edition digipak (international version), jewelcase CD (Canada, USA, Mexico only) and on all digital / streaming platforms.

Inspired by the likes of HELLHAMMER, CELTIC FROST, AUTOPSY, ANTISECT, DISCHARGE, NIHILIST, ENTOMBED, early NAPALM DEATH, early BATHORY and CONFLICT, VALLENFYRE have forged a trademark sound between rotting death metal driven by a chainsaw-like guitar sound, filthy doses of crust and early grind as well as crushing, depraved doom. Onstage, VALLENFYRE performs as a quintet with live members Sam Kelly-Wallace (rhythm guitar) and Chris Casket (bass) completing the lineup.

"Fear Those Who Fear Him" track listing:

01. Born To Decay02. Messiah03. Degeneration04. An Apathetic Grave05. Nihilist06. Amongst The Filth07. The Merciless Tide08. Dead World Breathes09. Soldier Of Christ10. Cursed From The Womb11. Kill All Your Masters12. Temple Of Rats

Mackintosh said: "Most bands refine their sound over the first two or three albums. Becoming more technically adept and honing their craft. VALLENFYRE have done almost exactly the opposite. We have devolved, made things simpler and crush most of the melody under swathes of rotting noise. From 'A Fragile King' to 'Splinters' and now to 'Fear Those Who Fear Him', we have become more savage, more raw and less compromising!"

"The Rise Of Chaos", the official music video for the title track of the new album from German/American metallers ACCEPT, can be seen below. The disc will be released on August 4 via Nuclear Blast.

ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann told Spain's MariskalRock TV about "The Rise Of Chaos": "It was recorded by the same team as the last three albums — it was Andy Sneap producing and Mark Tornillo on vocals and Peter Baltes [bass] and myself in the band. We have two new members, but other than that, it was recorded and written exactly the same way as all the other previous three albums. [It was] recorded mainly in Nashville, mixed in England. And, yeah, we took all of last year to write the songs, and I think it sounds [like] typical ACCEPT."

Regarding the "The Rise Of Chaos" title, Wolf said: "The title just seemed to come out of nowhere. It really seems to fit the times that we live in. It really means the world is getting more and more chaotic, and that's what we feel like. So when we had the [title track], it seemed to just fit the times that we live in. It's not really about any chaos in particular, but if you look at politics nowadays, there's chaos; if you look at the global warming or the climate change, that's chaotic; or a lot of the Syrian crisis and the refugees in the world, there's so much chaos around us. So that's what it is about."

Hoffmann told Finland's Kaaos TV that ACCEPT's goal is to continue writing music as if it sounded like it was created thirty years ago. "Absolutely, and if you want it to sound like it sounded back then, you've gotta use what you know worked back then," he said. "That's how we've been doing it back then, so we're doing it still the exact same way. My goal is always to write songs that I could have written 30 years ago, just never did. I want it to sound somewhat old-school and '80s, only with a modern touch and modern sound, fresh ideas and all of that. But, really, the core of the music should be like back in the '80s."

The cover artwork for "The Rise Of Chaos" was created by the Hungarian artist Gyula Havancsák and can be seen below.

The follow-up to 2014's "Blind Rage" is the first ACCEPT album to feature the band's latest additions, guitarist Uwe Lulis (GRAVE DIGGER, REBELLION) and drummer Christopher Williams.

ACCEPT parted ways with guitarist Herman Frank and drummer Stefan Schwarzmann in December 2014.

"The End Of The End" chronicles the final tour from the band that spawned the metal genre — BLACK SABBATH. On February 4, 2017, SABBATH stormed the stage in their hometown of Birmingham, to play the 81st and final triumphant gig of "The End" tour. This monumental show brought down the curtain on a career that spanned almost half a century.

The sold-out performance marked the culmination of a global tour that saw the band play to over one and a half million fans. With their inception in 1968, BLACK SABBATH pioneered a sound that would form the basis of heavy metal, and to this day continues to influence bands the world over.

The film brings fans the up close and personal story of the final, emotionally charged concert, as the band perform hits, including "Iron Man", "Paranoid", "War Pigs" and many more. Join SABBATH in the studio, as they deliver unique and exclusive performances of some of their favorite songs not played on the tour, and catch an intimate glimpse into the band's world; the music, relationships and banter, alongside personal anecdotes.

The band said: "To bring it all back home after all these years was pretty special. It was so hard to say goodbye to the fans, who've been incredibly loyal to us through the years. We never dreamed in the early days that we'd be here 49 years later doing our last show on our home turf."

"The End Of The End" offers you the chance to witness for yourself BLACK SABBATH's incredible swansong. As Ozzy Osbourne says: "What a journey we've all had. It's fucking amazing." This is the final word from the greatest heavy metal band of all time.

Marc Allenby from Trafalgar Releasing said: "Trafalgar Releasing are excited to be expanding our music events with the legendary band, BLACK SABBATH, and their final ever historic show. We look forward to collaborating with Eagle Rock and BLACK SABBATH's management on 'The End Of The End'."

For one night only on September 28 2017, over 1,500 cinemas worldwide will be showing a specially edited version of "Black Sabbath: The End Of The End".

The film will be distributed to cinemas worldwide by Trafalgar Releasing on September 28 and will include the incredible final gig as well as unprecedented behind the scenes access to the band, filmed by director Dick Carruthers ("Led Zeppelin: Celebration Day", "Imagine Dragons: Smoke + Mirrors Live"). "The End, Live In Birmingham" will be released in various formats later this year.

Tickets are now on sale worldwide with more cinemas to follow soon. If "Black Sabbath: The End of the End" is not screening in a specific area, fans can make a request for via "Demand It" it by filling out a form on the web site, and Trafalgar Releasing will do their best to bring the event to a cinema near them.

For details of cinemas taking part in this very special one-night-only event and ticket information, visit www.blacksabbathfilmtickets.com.

Southern Lord recently announced the label's new partnership with legendary New York City-based noise rock group UNSANE for the September 29 release of the band's eighth studio album, "Sterilize". The disc closes a five-year gap since the 2012 release of UNSANE's "Wreck" LP through Alternative Tentacles.

"Sterilize" track listing:

01. Factory02. The Grind03. Aberration04. No Reprieve05. Lung06. Inclusion07. Distance08. A Slow Reaction09. Parasitic10. Avail

UNSANE makes a vicious return with "Sterilize", a record that recalls the most defining elements of the band's seminal "Scattered, Smothered, And Covered" and "Occupational Hazard" albums, surging with the band's unrelenting singular sound created by guitarist/vocalist Chris Spencer, bassist/vocalist Dave Curran and drummer Vinnie Signorelli. "Sterilize" showcases the group sounding as dense and damaging as ever, and sees them remaining as necessary as ever, nearly three decades since they began.

"Sterilize" was produced by UNSANE, recorded by Dave Curran at Gatos Trail Studios in Yucca Valley, California, mixed by Andrew Schneider at Acre in New York City, and mastered by Carl Saff at Saff Mastering in Chicago.

Since 1988, UNSANE has been delivering caustic grooves and foundation-crumbling riffs. As a power trio, they honed in on their hammering, power-press rhythm section, searing Telecaster howl, and distorted vocals that resemble a chainsaw cutting a steel beam. The band's gnarled blend of punk, metal, noise, and hardcore assisted in pioneering a more aggressive, less studied version of noise rock, one that blended the scum/art industrial sturm und drang of FOETUS, THE SWANS, EINSTURZENDE NEUBAUTEN and SONIC YOUTH with a decidedly more straightforward hardcore idiom. While developing the blueprint for noise bands to follow, UNSANE cut a remarkable swath through underground music, inspiring a devoted, cult-like following around the globe, and helped to define the "AmRep sound" alongside other forerunners of the style, TODAY IS THE DAY, THE JESUS LIZARD, HELMET, TAD, COWS, HALO OF FLIES and MELVINS. Ahead of the the release of "Sterilize", UNSANE has announced a run of U.S. tour dates from July 15 through August 3, booked around the band's performance at AmRep Bash 17 in Minneapolis, with FASHION WEEK providing support for the trek. UNSANE is:

Chris Spencer - guitar/vocalsDave Curran - bass/bocalsVinnie Signorelli - drums Photo credit: Dan Joeright

"Down Life's Page", a new song from ALL 41, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's debut album, "World's Best Hope", which will be released July 7 via Frontiers Music Srl.

ALL 41 is not just another project born of Frontiers president Serafino Perugino's imaginative A&R mind, but is a project very close to the hearts of each musician involved. With none other than the amazing Terry Brock (GIANT, STRANGEWAYS) on lead vocals, Robert Berry (THREE, ALLIANCE) on bass and lead vocals, Gary Pihl (BOSTON, SAMMY HAGAR, ALLIANCE) on guitar, and Matt Starr (ACE FREHLEY, MR. BIG) on drums, ALL 41 is a project born of passion and fire.

Pihl says: "It started with some great-sounding songs in a rough 'demo' form, but every time I got a new version with each musician's real performance on it, I got stoked! We're all bringing our 'A' game to the band. I can't wait to do some gigs with these guys! Robert and I go way back, and Terry and Matt are, like, the best players ever!" Berry adds: "So many times musicians get together and struggle to find common ground in style and substance. When Serafino, president of Frontiers, called me with the lineup for ALL 41, I had no idea that he had put together perfectly matching musical pieces. From playing bass to Matt's solid drums, trading vocals with Terry's soaring voice, to the warmth and feel of Gary's own style of powerful-yet-melodic guitar playing, this band came together like missing puzzle pieces. I can't wait to get it on to the concert stage." "What a great bunch of musicians to work with and such talented, classy guys. I am proud to be associated with this project and I am so proud of my great friend and collaborator Alessandro Del Vecchio for his incredible work!!!! Thank you Serafino, Mario and Frontiers for ANOTHER amazing opportunity....GRAZIE MILLE AMICI," says Brock, with drummer Matt Starr adding, "I had a lot of fun making this record. There are some amazing songs and everybody really played great!" Musically, these guys gel incredibly well and have come up with a superb debut album which mixes MR. BIG's most melodic moments together with the more keyboard-laden years of VAN HALEN along with obvious nods to STRANGEWAYS and ALLIANCE. The dual lead vocals are an amazing plus for this absolutely beautiful record, not to mention the excellent production which highlights the unforgettable melodies. Track listing:

01. After The Rain02. Cyanide03. Down Life's Page04. Mother Don't Cry05. Show Me The Way06. Walk Alone07. Don't Surrender (To Love)08. Hero In Your Life09. Never Back Down Again10. Who Knows11. The World's Best Hope

THE WINERY DOGS, the power trio featuring drummer Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, ADRENALINE MOB), legendary bassist Billy Sheehan (MR. BIG, TALAS, DAVID LEE ROTH) and guitarist/vocalist Richie Kotzen (MR. BIG, POISON), will release "Dog Years: Live In Santiago & Beyond 2013-2016" on August 4 via Loud & Proud Records.

"Dog Years: Live In Santiago & Beyond 2013-2016", which will be available in both standard and deluxe editions, is a collection of live concert footage, music videos, and an EP of previously unreleased studio tracks. Pre-orders are available now on Amazon for the deluxe and standard editions. A standard two-disc edition of "Dog Years: Live In Santiago & Beyond 2013-2016" will be available which includes one Blu-ray disc of the 100-minute concert, eight music videos from the band's two albums, and the "Dog Years" EP on CD. A special edition five-disc package will consist of one Blu-ray disc, one DVD of the live concert material and the eight music videos, the "Dog Years" EP on CD, as well as two CDs of the live concert audio.

A performance clip of the song "Elevate", taken from "Dog Years: Live In Santiago & Beyond 2013-2016", can be seen below. "Dog Years: Live In Santiago & Beyond 2013-2016" track listing:

Live In Santiago - May 27, 2016: 01. Oblivion02. Captain Love03. We Are One04. Hot Streak05. How Long06. Time Machine07. Empire08. Fire09. Think It Over10. Mike Portnoy Drum Solo11. The Other Side12. Billy Sheehan Bass Solo13. Ghost Town14. I'm No Angel15. Elevate16. Regret17. Desire Music Videos: * Elevate* Desire* Time Machine* I'm No Angel* Oblivion* Captain Love* Hot Streak* Fire "Dog Years" EP: 01. Criminal02. The Game03. Solid Ground04. Love Is Alive05. Moonage Daydream

THE WINERY DOGS last year completed a tour in support of its second album, "Hot Streak", which was released in October 2015 in North America.

"Hot Streak" debuted at No. 30 on The Billboard 200 chart, having shifted 13,000 equivalent album units in the week ending October 8, 2015.

In a recent interview with Myglobalmind, Kotzen said about THE WINERY DOGS' current status: "[There is] nothing [planned] at the moment, I don't foresee anything happening for a couple of years.

"It's an interesting thing, with THE WINERY DOGS I wasn't looking to join a band for the rest of my life," he continued. "My idea was to take a break from being Richie Kotzen and do something more collaborative. I thought it would be fun to do the first WINERY DOGS CD and tour to some key market shows and that would be the end of it. We ended up getting a great response and toured for over a year. People loved the CD so much that we got back in the studio to do the second one.

"For me, it's time to come home and do what I've always done. I have been making Richie Kotzen records since I was 18; it's a source of survival, sanity, art, and everything you want to call it. I know the other guys have something very exciting in the works which people will love. It may fill a WINERY DOGS void."

Kotzen added: "I'm not saying it's over; you never know in a couple of years from now we may get back together and do something. What I am saying is THE WINERY DOGS are the furthest thing from my mind right now with a new [solo] CD out."

British metallers, Absolva, will release their new double album, Defiance, on July 28th. You can pre-order the album at absolva.com. A lyric video for the new song “Rise Again” is available for streaming below.

The new songs bear all the characteristics well recognized in great Absolva tracks, including insanely catchy choruses. Chris Appleton continues to excel, now with an unmistakable lead vocal which gains increasing respect year-on-year, whilst his guitar work is expressive and passionate, as well as viciously fast at times, and testament to the heart of guitarists he's worked and toured with such as Michael Schenker (MSG, UFO), Dave Meniketti (Y&T), Doug Scarratt (Saxon).

The rhythm guitar work of Luke Appleton (permanent bassist with Iced Earth) complements his brother's lead work perfectly. Luke combines sledgehammer power with surgical accuracy which locks in sensationally with the band's rhythm section. Drummer Martin McNee is like a a rock drummer within a metal drummer's skin, so we get the soul of Bill Ward (Black Sabbath) infusing the heart of Charlie Benante (Anthrax) or Brann Dailor (Mastodon). Meanwhile, bassist Karl Schramm is increasingly referred to as 'the new Steve Harris' and although the quality of his fingerstyle playing owes much to his Iron Maiden hero's technique and sound, on this new record he stamps his own authority.

Defiance is a double album with 12 new recordings on Disc One, whilst Disc Two (bonus disc) opens with “Harsh Reality”, originally released as a single in 2016, followed by three songs and a drum solo which were recorded live at Huskvarna Festival in 2016, plus new acoustic versions of three songs from the band's back catalogue. The content of the album was inspired by fan suggestions and is a generous offering.

Luke Appleton says: “We especially wanted to offer our fans something special, a little extra content, and having asked them what they wanted, this combination of new material, plus live and acoustic versions is what many people said. We also especially wanted to dedicate the album to Wizz Wizzard who passed away late last year and was a great friend, supporter and singer in his own right, so the inclusion of the song 'Reflection' which he and I originally performed together was a very natural thing to do and for me is one of the stand-out tracks.”

Disc One was recorded in January-February 2017 at Axis Studios, Doncaster, England, mixed, mastered and produced by Matt Elliss.

On Disc Two, “Harsh Reality” was recorded at Axis Studios, Doncaster, England, mixed, mastered and produced by Matt Elliss in August 2015. The live tracks were recorded by Thimmiy Mueller at Huskvarna Rock and Art festival, Sweden on 1st October 2016 then mixed and mastered by Chris Appleton.The acoustic tracks were recorded, mixed and produced by Chris Appleton and Luke Appleton at Rocksector Records HQ, Manchester, England in February 2017.

Coverart design is by Caio Caldas at Cadiesart, whilst the original ‘alien womb’ logo design is from Mike Collins at Lungfull Design.

Tracklisting:

Disc One
“Life On The Edge”
“Defiance”
“Rise Again”
“Fistful Of Hate”
“Never Be The Same”
“Alarms”
“Connections”
“Midnight Screams”
“Life And Death”
“Eclipse”
“Who Dares Wins”
“Reflection”

Disc Two
“Harsh Reality”
“Hundred Years” (live)
“Live For The Fight” (live)
Drum Solo (live)
“Code Red” (live)
“Never A Good Day To Die” (acoustic)
“It Is What It Is” (acoustic)
“Never Back Down” (live)

“Rise Again” lyric video:

Absolva will be touring to promote Defiance. Find the band’s live itinerary at this location.

(Photo - Christophe Ochal)

From the producer of Guitars For Wounded Warriors, multi-Emmy award winning guitarist/composer Brian Tarquin has a new project featuring a host of superstar guitar virtuosos out on Cleopatra Records on July 7th. Band Of Brothers, was formed with singer Phil Naro (Talas, Julian Lennon, Peter Criss) and drummer Reggie Pryor (Albert King). Tarquin produced, engineered and co-composed the album with Phil Naro, which features guest appearances by Jeff Scott Soto (Journey, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Steve Morse (Deep Purple), Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal (ex-Guns N' Rose), Trey Gunn (King Crimson), Jeff Watson (Night Ranger), Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake), Gary Hoey, Tony Franklin (Jimmy Page, Blue Murder) and Tina Guo (Al Di Meola).

The album features exclusive tracks inspired by those military soldiers who have fought for their country. Partial proceeds from the sales go to the Fisher House Foundation, who supplies housing to veterans' families while they are hospitalized. What better way to celebrate July 4th than with superb tribute to our veterans!

Says Brian, “My dad was a Marine in WW2 so I am very mindful of the sacrifice that men and women under go to keep us free. This is how I can show my appreciation to them through these compositions of music.”

Here's what the guest artists have to say about Band of Brothers:

“I got involved with Brian because he was making music for good causes. During the process, I discovered that he is a great guy to work with and is very versatile at all parts of this music business. Here's to the power of music making positive things happen!” - Steve Morse (Deep Purple)

“I'm very happy to be involved with the Band of Brothers project. It is humbling to be included in this cast of musicians and extremely worthy cause.” - Trey Gunn (King Crimson)

“Great rocking tunes, where we all have a chance to shine and stretch. AND for a good cause - it doesn't get any better than that.” - Tony Franklin (Jimmy Page, Blue Murder)

“I'm so happy to be a part of the Band of Brothers project, Brian Tarquin does a great job putting together the best musicians to help veterans and he's a killer player himself! Bravo!” - Gary Hoey

“I get to sing, perform, record, tour & EXIST because of my American brothers and sisters who gave their lives up for me...I can’t think of anything I can offer to show my appreciation therefore in song, this is my THANKS to them!” - Jeff Scott Soto (Trans-Siberian Orchestra)

“Song sounds great! Through music, Brian Tarquin shines a light on the immeasurable gratitude and debt we owe to our veterans. Phil Naro is a fantastic singer and adds a whole new height to these songs - proud to be on this album!” - Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal  (ex-Guns N' Roses, Art Of Anarchy)

“I have always believed in the power of collaboration and I firmly believe Brian Tarquin & myself have that perfect songwriting chemistry. The Band of Brothers is abundance of substance & emotions tied in along with great musicianship from all over the world. This Band of Brothers will not remain silent.” - Phil Naro (Talas, Julian Lennon)

“Oh I love how this turned out! It's an honor to be included on this album with amazing musicians for a great cause!” - Tina Guo (Al Di Meola)

“I was honored and humbled to be asked by Brian to participate on this project. It's a great lineup, and for such a worthy enterprise. I truly hope it helps further the needed support for our troops and veterans, and also brings attention to the difficulties facing our boys in uniform once they get home. Please support this project!” - Jeff Watson (Night Ranger)

For more details click here.

Tomi Fooler’s “nerd metal project”, SkeleToon, have released a lyric video for “Drowning Sleep”, featured on their sophomore studio album, Ticking Clock, out now via Revalve Records. The track features Jonne Järvelä (Korpiklaani) as "The Nightmare”.

The new release is a 43-minute concept album featuring the following guests:

Jonne Järvelä (Korpiklaani) as "The Nightmare"
Piet Sielck (Iron Savior) as "The Father"
Jens Ludwig (Edgy) as "The Time"
Tomika Fulida (Lunamantis) as "The Last Star Shining"
Guido Benedetti (Trick Or Treat): Composer and guitars

Tomi Fooler reveals the album storyboard at this location.

Audio preview:

Finnish bashers, Wintersun, will release their new album, The Forest Seasons, on July 21st via Nuclear Blast. Pre-order via the band’s IndieGoGo page, and check out a new guitar playthrough video for the album’s opening track below. Watch a new guitar play-through for the song “Awaken From The Dark Slumber (Spring)” below:

Tracklisting:

“Awaken From The Dark Slumber (Spring)”
Part I – The Dark Slumber
Part II – The Awakening
“The Forest That Weeps (Summer)”
“Eternal Darkness (Autumn)”
Part I – Haunting Darkness
Part II – The Call Of The Dark Dream
Part III – Beyond The Infinite Universe
Part IV – Death
“Loneliness (Winter)”

“Awaken From The Dark Slumber (Spring)” guitar playthrough:

The band recently commented on the new album: “Yes, you guessed it! This album is our version of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, but it hasn't got anything to do with Vivaldi musically or with classical music. It is 100% original and solid Wintersun material! It is something new and different. Let's just say it has a bit more darker tone overall.”

Wintersun recently have announced that their new second guitarist is is 27-year old Asim Searah. Asim was born in Pakistan and moved to Finland at the age of 18 to pursue a career in music and has been playing in several bands and projects since then.

Says the band: “We've known him for a long time and we knew he is a great singer, but we didn't realize how talented and skillful guitar player he is. Asim was actually the first who sent us an audition video, which surprised us very positively. After the video auditions and two rounds of live auditions we realized he was exactly what we were looking for. He is very motivated and passionate with a good heavy metal attitude - a great guitar player and vocalist to improve the live sound of Wintersun even further!”

Asim comments: "It's an honour to be a part of a band that I have looked up to for many years. It's definitely a dream come true and I'm super excited to share the stage with Wintersun!"