A teaser for SLAYER's video for the song "Pride In Prejudice" is available. The clip was directed by BJ McDonnell, who previously worked with SLAYER on the "Repentless" and "You Against You" videos.

"Pride In Prejudice" was the last song that SLAYER guitarist Kerry King put together musically for the band's latest album, last year's "Repentless". "There were like six or eight other songs already done with keeper drums, keeper guitars, and keeper bass," he told ARTISTdirect. "There were no leads or vocals because I had just gotten done writing music. 'Pride' was the last one I made up that actually made the record. I was going to save that for the next record, because I was just done working at that point. Tom [Araya, vocals] wanted to work on it and I said, 'Sure, man, knock yourself out.' He basically did the vocals on his own."

He continued: "That clean intro, I was just waiting for Paul [Bostaph, drums] to come back inside. I think he was outside on the phone at rehearsal. I was just dicking around on guitar playing that clean part. He asked, 'What's that?' I said, 'I don't know. I just made it up.' That's how simple things become SLAYER songs. It's 'remember it, record it on something, and come back to it.' That song's 'BLACK SABBATH heavy.' That's what I call it, because it's just heavy as fuck."

"Tom had most of those lyrics for 20 years," he added. "I remember he wrote them for 'Divine Intervention'. They never panned out. They show up here on this song. Yeah, it's a new record, but that shit's twenty years old."

"Repentless" was released on September 11, 2015 via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2009's critically acclaimed, Grammy-nominated "World Painted Blood" was produced by Terry Date, who has previously worked with PANTERA, DEFTONES and SOUNDGARDEN. The artwork was created by Brazilian artist Marcelo Vasco in collaboration with Tom Araya and Kerry King.

"Repentless" debuted at No. 4 on The Billboard 200, having shifted 50,000 equivalent album units in the week ending September 17, 2015.

SLAYER's seven-week North American tour with ANTHRAX and DEATH ANGEL will kick off in Cleveland on September 9 and will hit both major and secondary markets across the continent.

Polish death metal veterans VADER will release their new studio album, "The Empire", on November 4 via Nuclear Blast. The cover artwork for the CD was created by acclaimed artist Joe Petagno, who has previously worked with PINK FLOYD, LED ZEPPELIN, MOTÖRHEAD, MARDUK, ILLDISPOSED and SODOM.

VADER mastermind Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek states: "Here is the cover art for 'The Empire' created by Joe Petagno himself! The whole design includes many details connected to the main theme influencing me before and during the process of recording: war and the 'cold crisis' around us today... There are also links to couple of famous movie series, which influence the generations and erupt with violence, hate and 'imperial tendencies'... Is this just a fantasy or maybe a sign of the 21st century generation? You have to answer that in your own... and the future will show us how real that feeling is."

"The Empire" was produced, mixed and mastered by Wojtek and Slawek Wiesawski at Hertz Studios in Bialystok, Poland.

"The Empire" track listing:

01. Angels Of Steel02. Tempest03. Prayer To The God Of War (album version)04. Iron Reign05. No Gravity06. Genocidius07. The Army-Geddon08. Feel My Pain09. Parabellum (album version)10. Send Me Back To Hell

The lyric video for the song "Prayer To The God Of War" can be seen below.

In a 2014 interview with Radio Metal, Wiwczarek spoke about the fact that VADER has been in existence for more than thirty years. He said: "On one hand, I was a bit surprised at how fast time is flowing, because we've been an active band for so many years and I didn't feel that way. It feels like I just started a year ago or something. [Laughs] There was plenty of hard work but so many albums recorded, so many fans, so many countries visited, so I'm kind of proud that although we came from Poland and knew hard times, we still did it as if we couldn't be stopped, thanks to our passion. Actually, passion was a fuel for us to break through all these problems in the past. We just love what we do. We love music. We love metal. We did it for thirty years, and we still have fans who really want to see us and waiting for us every year. That's the best. That's the biggest success for us."

A drum play-through video by Ariën Van Weesenbeek of Dutch symphonic metallers EPICA for the band's new song "Universal Death Squad" can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's seventh studio album, "The Holographic Principle", which will be released on September 30 via Nuclear Blast. The CD was produced by Joost van der Broek at Sandlane Recording Facilities and was mixed by Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, DESTRUCTION). The cover artwork was created by Stefan Heilemann.

"The first song we unleash upon you is 'Universal Death Squad'," states EPICA guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen. "This track is representative for 'The Holographic Principle', as it's a heavy and melodic album. The lyrics are dealing about advanced robotic legions with a self-determination to kill.

"We have chosen for a different kind of lyric-video concept in which EPICA plays the track in a rehearsal room.

"The song is very much fun to play and I expect this one will do very well on stage. Hope you'll enjoy it as much as we did creating it!"

"The Holographic Principle" can be pre-ordered in several different formats — including many special bonus features for fans:

* CD* 2-CD-Digi (including five-track acoustic bonus CD)* 2-LP (different colours)* Earbook (48p, including acoustic and instrumental bonus CDs)* Box (including earbook, 2LP pic, poster flag, holographic projector, Nuclear Blast mailorder only!)

"The Holographic Principle" track listing:

01. Eidola02. Edge Of The Blade03. A Phantasmic Parade04. Universal Death Squad05. Divide And Conquer06. Beyond The Matrix07. Once Upon A Nightmare08. The Cosmic Algorithm09. Ascension - Dream State Armageddon10. Dancing In A Hurricane11. Tear Down Your Walls12. The Holographic Principle - A Profound Understanding Of Reality Acoustic Bonus CD

01. Beyond The Good, The Bad And The Ugly02. Dancing In A Gypsy Camp03. Immortal Melancholy (Acoustic Version)04. The Funky Algorithm05. Universal Love Squad Instrumental CD

01. Eidola02. Edge Of The Blade03. A Phantasmic Parade04. Universal Death Squad05. Divide And Conquer06. Beyond The Matrix07. Once Upon A Nightmare08. The Cosmic Algorithm09. Ascension – Dream State Armageddon10. Dancing In A Hurricane11. Tear Down Your Walls12. The Holographic Principle - A Profound Understanding Of Reality

EPICA previously stated about the lyrical inspiration for "The Holographic Principle": "'The Holographic Principle' deals with the near future wherein virtual reality has taken off and allows people to create their own virtual worlds which can't be distinguished from 'reality as we know it.' This raises the question whether our current reality is a kind of virtual reality on itself, a hologram. This implies the existence of a higher reality which we currently do not have access to. The lyrics challenge you to think out of the box, to reconsider everything you thought to know for sure and to be open-minded towards recent revolutions in science. Fasten your seat belts and get ready for a ride as nothing appears to be what it seems in our holographic universe."

Reality Check TV has uploaded a new half-hour video report on the August 24 unveiling of a statute of Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister in front of the late MOTÖRHEAD frontman's favorite haunt, the legendary Rainbow Bar & Grill on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, California. Check it out below.

Los Angeles-based artist Travis Moore was selected to create a realistic depiction of Lemmy for the life-size cast bronze statue, which stands at just over six feet tall and will be permanently housed in a special shrine that was constructed in the patio bar area at the Rainbow.

Travis initially sculpted the likeness as an 18-inch maquette that was then transferred to a life-size sculpture, which was molded in wax and ultimately poured and cast in bronze.

A native of Texas, Travis did his part for free, but there were considerable costs associated with the actual process that ultimately made the statute a reality. A funding campaign was launched by Katon De Pena from classic underground thrash-metal band HIRAX, who raised about $23,000 to support the building of the statue.

Moore told Loudwire that he and the team behind the campaign tried to find an image that typified Lemmy to base the statue on.

"I know they were searching for that hat-coat combo," he said. "Photographer Robert John had taken so many good pictures of him and I think that was about the time that they were at the Grammys and 'Ace Of Spades' was re-charting. There was really a resurgence for him and you can see that it was a happy time and he looks healthy and good.

"We just wanted to stay away from portraying him in a way that wouldn't be proper, and he needed to be rocking, a tough-looking dude with a full face and that was the idea.

"There was initially some debate about would he be with a guitar? Would he be sitting at the bar? Would he have a bottle of booze? There were a lot of different options, and coincidentally, even the photo that Robert took, he's standing there smoking a cigarette. We took that out, more of a liability reason, because someone could break that joker off or get caught on that.

"We don't need lawsuits or anyone injured or definitely have the statue damaged on top of anything else. But there was a lot of consideration that went into this thing and everyone involved, their number one focus was honoring Lemmy."

Moore told Sky News about twenty people worked on the statue and it took around five months to build.

"I think it looks a lot like him. It's a compelling image," he said.

"I think it will offer some closure. I think Lemmy is finally home."

Katon said in January: "Lemmy was dedicated to us. Now is our chance to say 'thank you.' Travis will create the best Lemmy sculpture on the planet."

MOTÖRHEAD manager Todd Singerman told LA Weekly that he never interfered in Moore's design process. "This is for the fans. Nothing corporate," he said. "Not the label, nothing. This is a fan thing and we tried to stay out of the way." He added that there are plans to expand the tribute with a "Lemmy Lounge," which will temporarily live at the Rainbow and possibly become the actual bar inside a separate "Motörhead Bar & Grille," which Singerman said he's working on, along with a major Lemmy tribute concert and a MOTÖRHEAD museum that will house some of Lemmy's musical and military memorabilia.

Lemmy passed away at his home in Los Angeles on December 28, 2015, only four days after his 70th birthday. A memorial in his honor was held on January 9 at the Rainbow Bar & Grill, and it extended across much of the Sunset Strip.

"Stormbending", a brand new song from DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT, the band led by Canadian musician/producer Devin Townsend, can be streamed below. The track is taken from DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT's new album, "Transcendence", which will be released on September 9.

The follow-up to 2014's "Z2" double album (half of which was made up of the DTP full-length "Sky Blue"), "Transcendence" sees the award-winning Townsend exploring a relatively new way of working, collaborating with the entire DTP band during the writing stages of the record. "The result of this process is a record that I truly think the intention of is special," he says of the album. "I 'found' gas to put into the tank and am glad I did. I think the intention, the theme, and the participation of everyone involved allows this album to act like a fulcrum between the past few years and what I intend to do next with the symphony. I am very proud of it and everyone involved."

"Transcendence" will be available as a limited 2CD digipak (featuring an extra disc of eleven additional new tracks), standard CD jewelcase and gatefold heavyweight 2LP + CD with etching (on various colours), as well as digital download.

Townsend tells The Independent: "It's so easy to say, 'Everything's shit, man — it's all going to hell.’ Making a statement that is positive was really where I wanted the power of this record to be rooted. Not in a naive way, and not as a means of escape. I wanted to make something that's really beautiful, but strong.

"There's a ton of people that aren't giving up and you have to really fight to not give up, so this record is a celebration of that spirit.”

The "Transcendence" artwork was once again created by Anthony Clarkson, whom Devin has been working with for several years now.

"Transcendence" track listing:

01. Truth02. Stormbending03. Failure04. Secret Sciences05. Higher06. Stars07. Transcendence08. Offer Your Light09. From The Heart10. Transdermal Celebration DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT will team up with BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME for the "Transcending The Coma Tour" this fall. Support on the trek will come from FALLUJAH.

Sully Erna — founder, vocalist, guitarist and songwriter for the multi-platinum rock band GODSMACK — will release a new solo album, "Hometown Life", on Friday, September 30 via BMG.

Composed by Sully on piano and acoustic guitar and produced in his New Hampshire studio, "Hometown Life" offers a departure from the tribal, world music feel and experimentation on 2010's "Avalon"; the new album's ten songs are more accessible, sonically and musically precise.

The track "Don't Comfort Me", taken from "Hometown Life", can be streamed below.

"When I do a solo album, I write for myself," says Sully. "It's not for critics, radio or even fans. I like to explore different kinds of music that work together. A good song is a good song. I stopped categorizing a long time ago."

A personal, confessional, raw work which takes yet another stylistic left-hand turn from the music he has created as frontman for the multi-platinum rock band GODSMACK, "Hometown Life" offers a wide-ranging glimpse of Erna's eclectic musical tastes — from the singer-songwriter Billy Joel/Bruce Springsteen narratives of the title track and the bossa nova touch of "Take All of Me" to the breezy island feel of "Your Own Drum", the finger-snapping Motown bass lines of the bluesy "Turn It Up", the country flavors of "Different Kind Of Tears" and the wide-screen canvas of mini-symphonies "Blue Skies" and "Forever My Infinity". All of them are tied together with Sully's unflinching view of the emotional roller-coaster of his life, drawing us into an intimate space. "Hometown Life" explores Sully's diverse musical touchstones from James Bay, new country favorites like Chris Stapleton and Brantley Gilbert to soul legends Ray Charles, Etta James and Amy Winehouse.

For "Hometown Life", Sully worked with thesame musicians from "Avalon" with the exception of percussionist Niall Gregory. On two of the songs — "Different Kind Of Tears" and "Your Own Drum" — Sully collaborated with Nashville-based tunesmith Zac Malloy, who has also written for Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Jake Owen, Skillet and Daughtry. "It was cool to see the same exact players sound completely different on this album," Sully says. "It just goes to show their musicianship and versatility. They can really pull off anything I ask of them."

With Sully on piano, acoustic guitar and the stray bongo, "Hometown Life" was also a family affair, with his 71-year-old father Salvatore — who helped nurture his son's own musical interest early on — playing trumpet on "Turn It Up". It's a song Erna describes as a tribute to the power of music, a blueprint for how a song "makes you get off your seat, tap your feet, feel the energy and let it pass through you."

"It was a proud moment," says Sully, who also channeled his great-uncle, a famed composer from Sicily, in several of the songs which feature symphonic strings, like "Blue Skies", "Forever My Infinity", "Father Of Time" and "Falling to Black".

"Hometown Life" allows an inside glimpse at Sully's vulnerability on a personal level, and he attributes much of his honesty and inspiration for this album to the love of his life, Sarah.

"We've definitely gone through some complicated times and fought for what we have," he says. "And I'm really grateful to have her in my life. We have a very special and unique kind of relationship that most people can only dream of having. And I wouldn't put that second to anything!

"These songs are about exposing my inner thoughts, laying myself bare, being honest and expressing genuine emotions... about dark times and positive ones."

Some songs offer fatherly advice, like the percussion-heavy "Your Own Drum", an admonition to his teenage daughter to follow her own muse and not be afraid to be different, or trying to deal with life's hurried pace, as in the rhythmic tick-tock of "Father Of Time". On the soaring "Blue Skies", Sully reaches out to his loved ones and asks them to acknowledge the man and father he has become from the immature boy he once was.

As for how his solo career fits in with his "other band," Sully is circumspect. "GODSMACK is a very energetic, aggressive, powerhouse rock band," he says. "It's for those moments when you want to scream and stomp your feet. My solo stuff is a lot more vulnerable, the grown-up version of who I am and how I process. It's about finding acceptance for the things that don't go right in your life, being appreciative for all the memories, good or bad. Sometimes these experiences can be very painful, but I do get some beautiful songs out of it. I'm just happy to be blessed with a gift that enables me to channel this stuff and vent it through my music."

"Hometown Life" does just that, revealing sides of Sully Erna only hinted at in GODSMACK, "That's the whole point," he explains. "The people who have followed me and can appreciate it, I encourage them to explore. All my albums — including the ones with GODSMACK — are like musical journals, diaries of what I've gone through in my life at the time. I'd love to reach a whole new audience with this. Music has helped me get through some tough times. That's when I write, when something affects me emotionally, happy or sad."

"For all those things we've ever done/Give us our chance to prove our love," sings Sully on the album's closing track "Falling To Black". He describes it as "a beautifully sad song," which offers a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel. The same could be said of "Hometown Life". As Sully himself puts it in "Your Own Drum": "There's no shadows/If you don't have light."

"Hometown Life" track listing:

01. Hometown Life02. Your Own Drum03. Different Kind Of Tears04. Take All Of Me05. Don't Comfort Me06. Turn It Up!07. Blue Skies08. Forever My Infinity09. Father Of Time10. Falling To Black

LINKIN PARK singer Chester Bennington offered an update on the progress of the band's next album. In a video message posted on LINKIN PARK's YouTube channel, Chester said: "I've been working really hard on some vocals for the last couple of months. And we've done some really great stuff in here. The songs are amazing. I'm really proud of what we've accomplished in the studio so far. We've got a lot of great material that I hope challenges our fanbase as well as inspires them as much as it has us. And so I'm really looking forward to you guys hearing the stuff. It's, like, super, super exciting."

LINKIN PARK singer Mike Shinoda recently said that the biggest challenge of recording this new disc was that "we approached the process differently."

LINKIN PARK guitarist Brad Delson added: "There's a certain amount of experimentation and failure, essentially trial and error that's baked into this process. We've made so many records and we clearly know how to make a record and we definitely didn't take the easy way out this time."

Delson continued: "The songs are shaping up so well, we just want them to be as phenomenal when we share them with you… as we imagine them in our heads."

Shinoda and Delson also revealed that LINKIN PARK has worked with outside songwriters on the new album, with Delson saying: "As much as we know how to approach songwriting, everybody does it differently so being able to like sit with someone and kind of pour ourselves into their process has been really exciting."

The yet-to-be-titled new LINKIN PARK album does not yet have a release date, but will follow up 2014's "The Hunting Party".

Former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted was interviewed on the August 29 edition of the SiriusXM satellite radio show "Eddie Trunk Live". A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On his decision to shut down the NEWSTED band in early 2014 and go silent for more than two years:

Jason: "All that time [recording and touring with NEWSTED] was incredible. All through that time, pretty much from fall of 2012 all the way through making the record, getting Mike Mushok [guitar] in the band with Jesus [Mendez Jr., drums] and Jessie [Farnsworth, guitar] and making all that music and taking it around the world and going to play Donington again and all that cool stuff happened. We went and did a European tour and then we went out with [MEGADETH's] Dave [Mustaine] and Dave [Ellefson] there for the Gigantour and had some fun in the States and did all that. We had such a great time with the guys that were assembled as the NEWSTED band; those were true musicians as brothers. That's the real deal. We got done with that tour about middle of August 2013, and I had come home from the tour and I wrote the second NEWSTED album. I made CDs for the boys, their copies for them to learn the eleven new [songs]. And so we were planning to do some other big shows, and there was all kind of cool offers coming through, and I was really trying to field it the best I could, wearing all the hats and all the shoes at the same time and everything. [I was] trying to get some help from certain management agencies, but it was quite difficult, and I have high expectations and conditions and standards and all that stuff. A couple of different elements came into play. The manager that had taken us on to take the NEWSTED band around the world, help us get all those gigs and everything, he had gotten on the ground floor with a band called FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE, who became gigantic in the country music world — beyond gigantic; like Grammies and holy business. I think they actually beat Elvis Presley's record for a single being on the charts for the longest of all time. So things like this. He came to us honestly and said, 'I'm not gonna be able to be in your corner anymore, because I have to go with these guys and do this. You understand?' I said, 'Yes, I understand.' So that came into play — a little bit of a wobbly situation there in the handling. And we booked to do the Australian shows, the Soundwave [festival] in February [2014] that [promoter] AJ Maddah had for, I don't know, a dozen years or so, he had it going.

"It's a very interesting story. AJ Maddah was one of the biggest promoters in the Pacific Rim for the last decade and a half or something like that. He started out as a young man. I didn't know this about him until he came to me at Donington, now called the Download festival. We were getting ready to play. I was in my last thirty minutes, getting ready for the stage, so all the doors [were] closed and nobody [could] come in. The boys were doing their thing. The manager comes in and says, 'There's somebody here I'd really like you to say 'Hi' to for a second.' So I come back out and get myself back together and presentable. And he says, 'Hey, man, I wanna take a second of your time. This is AJ Maddah from Australia, and he does Soundwave.' I said, 'Hey, man, nice to meet you.' He goes, 'Well, we've met before.' I said, 'Really?' He goes, 'When I was 16 years old, we followed METALLICA around when you guys came down to Australia to play,' and it was one of my very favorite places to play. And he said, 'You were so cool to us. You got us passes and backstage and you invited us to the next shows to follow you guys around, and we got to know Big Mick,' our sound guy, 'and all that stuff through time, and you guys were so cool to us. And I remember you asked me, Jason, what I was gonna do, and I told you I was gonna go in the music business. And you said to me, Jason, 'AJ, if you're gonna do that for real, bro, and you're being serious, get behind the lights. Get behind. You'll have a lot longer career if you handle the people going through the lights and you're behind. You'll have a better chance of making something happen.' So he was telling me all this, that 'you were so cool to me, and you told me to go in music that way, and now I'm the biggest promoter in the Pacific Rim.' And he says, 'I'm 40 now.' And I'm, like, 'Okay, dude.' And he says, 'I really like the NEWSTED band, and I'd like you guys to come down and play for Soundwave for me.' He's looking me in the eyes. And I'm, like, 'Of course, bro. Okay, after that story.' I thought this guy was gonna come here and say, 'Hey, my favorite song is this, and my little brother loves the band,' or something like that. But he drops this on me, and I'm, like,' Dude, what time do you want us there?' That's my attitude right there. I couldn't wait to take NEWSTED to Australia. He said, 'Man, I'll put you on the main stage. You're gonna be doing this and this and this.' He looked me in my face. And I said, 'All right.'

"In its day, [Soundwave] would draw fifty thousand [people] to Adelaide and seventy thousand to Sydney. And it would always have the most awesome acts of all diverse array of really popping stuff — dance stuff and heavy stuff and everything in between, and it was really successful for a long time, but logistically quite a nightmare. And he was trying to always call the biggest bands from the West to come out, the biggest bands from North America, the biggest bands all over the place, to try to get this thing together and get that many people to show up. So as the shows grew closer in February, all the logistics from their side started going quite haywire, and the promise, or the word, of a handshake, of him saying [we would get to play] the main stage and all these different things, that was changing rapidly, and I couldn't get straight answers from across the world. So getting those answers from that place a day and a half behind or ahead, all this communication became pretty much a headache. And I could not get any real answers of where I was gonna take my boys, when I was gonna take them, and who I was gonna be playing with and what time and on what stage. And I've been in this for long enough that I'm not gonna do that. We're sitting here, and they still don't know, so we're gonna go over there, and what happens when we get there, if they can't tell me now? So there was no way I was gonna take my boys into all that stuff, so I just pulled back from it, and they couldn't give me any answers, so I ended up pulling out of that thing. So after all of that weird political whatever the neck went on within that hubbub of that show, I got really disheartened. I had the record ready, I had it ready to record, and we were trying to make a decision right there. So that takes me into March of 2014. And I'm trying to decide whether I'm gonna put some more money in, get Mushok back out to live in Cali for another six weeks in a house with us and trying to make the record and do those things, or I'm gonna try to book some more shows or take a minute and get a proper manager. The agent was still trying to help in getting those gigs, but he really kind of got blown out because I pulled out of those Australian shows. It was my own money I had to pay back for forfeiting the contract and all that. Everything for the NEWSTED band or these labors of love is always my dime. I do it 'cause I choose to do it, with my money, but after a while, it gets to the point [where it's like], 'Hey, man, I need to make sense with the dough for us to get respect, keep the legacy going and all that at the same time, and I always had to consider that. And so, getting into March and April [of 2014], [I was] trying to figure out what I wanted to do with it. In the meantime, my mom got real sick. So as those weeks transpired through spring of 2014, everything changed priority-wise, perspective-wise, all that type of stuff, started switching. So everything, including the NEWSTED second album, including any kind of other things that were gonna come up and any other projects I had or any other plans that I had take the fifth, twelfth, eighteenth-row backburner so that we can do what we need to do.

"I was not interested in letting anybody know about anything. It was nobody's business, really, about any kind of social media things or what was going on within my people or any of that, and so I just didn't really wanna bother with any of that until I had the energy and presence of mind to be able to talk to you today about it and let people know that I always appreciated their encouragement and their positive vibrations they sent to me. People just have to understand that when these type of things come in your life that you really do get some heavy, heavy perspective. And so that's what changed for me."

On how his mother's illness and eventual passing in March of this year inspired his current acoustic-based projects:

Jason: "What transpired was I had to keep playing, and she knows I had to keep playing. So I picked up the acoustic and started doing what I was able to do when I was just hanging around her, and started learning my cowboy chords and started collecting my songs. This was about the beginning of summer of 2014. So I would play certain songs for her, kind of choking through 'em — a bass player playing heavy handed on the acoustic guitar and just banging these cowboy chords out and learning Johnny Cash and Neil Young and George Jones and some more popular things like that. And by now, a couple of years later, I've dug in a lot deeper than that, but it was originally inspired by that thing, where I'd play mom songs. And she wouldn't necessarily remember, the next day or the next couple of days, which ones I'd played for her, and so she would react to certain songs the same way each time she heard them as if she was hearing them the first time. And so that kind of showed me which ones to chase, that showed me which ones had the groove, which ones my voice fit with, and all that. That's how I started collecting my songs. I had to keep playing music, of course, but the way and the form that it had to take was me with an acoustic, one voice, working through those songs as I had to put everything else on hold."

On whether launching a new band like NEWSTED was harder than he thought it would be:

Jason: "Yes. I didn't really know what to expect, 'cause I'd only ever know one kind of thing, and we [METALLICA] were in the middle of helping pioneer it and kind of invent it as it went. And so making the rules and setting the standard is different than having to live by those rules later. And those rules kind of changed a bit or had to be altered or… No, no, that's not true. The rules are the same, but there are a lot more people having to follow those rules and willing to play for less money and do things for less money following those rules. So that's kind of what came down. There's so many bands. We were talking about Download earlier, or some of the other bigger festivals we went to, and places that I played with METALLICA at the end of the '80s, early '90s, all those festivals, where we would take five or six bands, if KISS or DEEP PURPLE was headlining and we were second or third down the bill and MÖTLEY [CRÜE] and BLACK CROWES and whoever else was on the bill — PANTERA or something — and then that five or six bands would bring sixty, eighty, one hundred thousand people to Donington. Six bands. And then when I went with NEWSTED to Hellfest in Clisson, France, over three days [they booked] sixty bands to bring sixty thousand people. Sixty! Ten times as many bands to bring the same amount of people. Ten times as many bands to share the money to logistically have to deal with this and be on nine stages and compete for that dollar. So those things are not anything I could have predicted like that; I just wasn't aware enough of those kind of things and didn't pay attention like that. And I look at that, we were very courageous and maybe a little stupid and ballsy all at the same time — naïve even — after that, because, like I said before, I was only conditioned to the higher-level stuff, second- and third- and top-on-the-bill type of thing. I kind of skipped over any of that van touring or any of that stuff. I went right into METALLICA from my truck, from FLOTSAM [AND JETSAM]. So I had to kind of go backwards, unlearn and relearn at that stage. People were incredibly respectful because of the part that I did play in the big monster and giving us good slots on some of those big festivals — playing right before [IRON] MAIDEN on a couple of things. I mean, there was some pretty cool stuff that I could have never predicted on a first time out. But it was much more difficult than I could have predicted."

Jason left METALLICA back in 2001 but was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, along with Ulrich, guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield, guitarist Kirk Hammett, and the man who replaced him, bassist Robert Trujillo, in 2009.

Newsted's latest endeavor is a pair of acoustic groups, including the CHOPHOUSE BAND (named after his four recording studio facilities around the U.S. and featuring a fluid roster of players), which has several shows scheduled in early September.

Drum-cam footage of MEGADETH drummer Dirk Verbeuren performing the song "The Threat Is Real" live at Oosterpoort in Groningen, The Netherlands on June 14 can be seen below. The clip was shot and edited by Sam Oerlemans.

In a recent interview with All About The Rock, Verbeuren stated about what it has been playing MEGADETH's classic songs on tour: "The current live set is based on [MEGADETH's latest album] 'Dystopia' and the early albums, from Gar Samuelson to Nick Menza. These guys really had their own style. Nick was actually one of my influences as a young drummer. Anyways, I had ten days to study eighteen songs. I tried to capture the intention behind the drum parts in order to respect the band's vision. Gar and Nick have a more old-school swing whereas Chris Adler's approach is more contemporary. I stay true to the originals while injecting some of my own groove and flair. Chris was very helpful in guiding me as to what the band would expect from me, which is super cool of him. It made the rehearsal and first shows a lot easier."

Asked what the most fun and favorite MEGADETH songs have been to play, Dirk said: "I really like the drum grooves in 'Wake Up Dead'. It's quite '70s-influenced with some cool accents and fills. 'Tornado Of Souls' and 'Poison Was The Cure' are a lot fun to play… In fact, anything off of 'Rust In Peace' is a blast. The songs from 'Dystopia' have enough double-kick action to keep me on my feet. We've also been adding some tunes from 'Killing Is My Business'; they're pretty intense with that old-school thrash vibe. But I enjoy playing more straightforward stuff like 'A Tout Le Monde' or 'Trust' as well. We usually play around twenty songs and every song has its place in the set."

MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson told myROCK about Verbeuren: "Chris Adler [LAMB OF GOD] is the highest caliber of the new school of heavy metal drumming, and then Dirk is kind of almost a half generation behind him, you know, coming up with new ideas — this whole grindcore thing that he does and his skill level. So just like with [current MEGADETH guitarist] Kiko [Loureiro], there isn't a higher level of caliber of musician to have in the band than the guitar position, and it's the same with the drums. I think if anything, it's more of a feel. I know when I came back into the group in 2010, one of my first really kind of deciding factors was, 'What is it gonna be like to play 'Rust In Peace' with [former MEGADETH drummer] Shawn Drover?', having recorded it and played it with Nick Menza. And as soon as I played with Shawn and it was very easy and he had a very comfortable feel, it made the whole experience just really enjoyable. And I think when Dirk came in on this tour, fast forward years later here now, he has a real energy and a sparkle about his… just a real pizzazz in his drumming that we felt immediately. And it's ironic that it's from his left hand with the snare drum. He's got a snare drum sound like some of these iconic drummers, like Alex Van Halen or Kenny Aronoff, a couple of American drummers that had these iconic… you hear 'em on the radio and you know it's them playing. And Dirk has a real charisma to his playing that I think has really brought a whole new sound even to MEGADETH."

TEMPLE OF THE DOG — the Seattle supergroup featuring SOUNDGARDEN's Chris Cornell, PEARL JAM's Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard and Mike McCready, and drummer Matt Cameron (who plays drums with both SOUNDGARDEN and PEARL JAM) — has released a newly remixed version of the band's song "Hunger Strike". Check it out below.

The new version of "Hunger Strike" appears on the reissue of TEMPLE OF THE DOG's self-titled debut album, which will be made available for its 25th anniversary on September 30 via UMe. The collection, newly mixed by Brendan O'Brien, will be available in four configurations, including a four disc Super Deluxe, a double LP, a two CD Deluxe, and a single CD.

Physical pre-orders are available along with a detailed list of the contents of each configuration here.

As previously reported, TEMPLE OF THE DOG has reunited and will tour for the first time ever since forming in 1990. The band will play five cities, Philadelphia, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle, in November.

TEMPLE OF THE DOG came together from the ashes of MOTHER LOVE BONE following the death from a drug overdose of its frontman Andrew Wood, Cornell's close friend and roommate. Cornell wrote future TEMPLE OF THE DOG songs "Say Hello 2 Heaven" and "Reach Down" to help process his grief, "but the songs didn't have any destination," he says. "I was compelled to write them and there they were – written in a vacuum as a tribute to Andy. My thought was that maybe I could record these songs with the remaining members of MOTHER LOVE BONE and that maybe we could release them as a tribute."

MOTHER LOVE BONE's Gossard and Ament began playing with McCready, and they brought in SOUNDGARDEN's Cameron to drum on demos. Because this was a collaboration, and a tribute, there was no commercial expectation for the TEMPLE OF THE DOG album. It would be, Gossard would later observe, "the easiest and most beautiful record that we've ever been involved with." Adds Cornell: "TEMPLE was about making an album simply for the joy of doing it. We weren't concerned what anyone outside of our group of friends would think of it. It was the first and maybe only stress-free album that we all made."

Gossard, Ament and McCready were also simultaneously forming a new band, which more than six months later would be known as PEARL JAM. A singer from San Diego named Eddie Vedder, who was vying to lead the project, came into the studio to sing background vocals on three of the TEMPLE songs. When Cornell thought another song, "Hunger Strike", needed a duet, Vedder was enlisted. "Hunger Strike" became a hit single, peaking at No. 4 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

TEMPLE OF THE DOG performed live only a handful of times, most notably in Seattle, in November and December of 1990. Those shows have become some of the most legendary Seattle concerts of all-time. Their 2016 shows mark the first time the band has ever toured. (Cornell joined PEARL JAM in 2014 at the Bridge School show and for two nights at PJ20 in Alpine Valley, WI, and the TEMPLE lineup played "Reach Down" and "Call Me A Dog" at Seattle's Benaroya Hall in January 2015.)

"This is something no one has ever seen," Cornell says of the official reunion. "We wanted to stop and recognize that we did this and pay homage."

Former ASKING ALEXANDRIA and current WE ARE HARLOT frontman Danny Worsnop has partnered with Earache Records for the release of his debut solo album, "The Prozac Sessions".

The singer told Alternative Press last year about the musical direction of his solo material: "[The solo album has] still got some of that typical snotty flair going. I'm still, for the most part, singing the blues. But I went into it with country in mind. I've always loved country. In England, I grew up as a country boy. I was in a small village of two hundred people. The lifestyle goes hand in hand with the music all over the world. [But writing] it just never crossed my mind. Obviously, of late, I've made a lot of life changes, where I'm exploring new things. So it seemed like an appropriate time. I had some time off, I was jamming on the guitar and I had some ideas, and I was, like, 'Fuck it, let's take this and run."

The songs on "The Prozac Sessions" were completed with songwriters like John Paul White (THE CIVIL WARS), while producer Jim Kaufman sat behind the boards.

"We're definitely going to push to radio a lot, do videos," Danny told Alternative Press. "[The solo project] is definitely something I'd like to make a lot of money doing and get to do more of. If it's not a success, I doubt I'll have much opportunity to do it again. [But] there's no plans to tour, per se. Maybe just shows here and there. So it's nothing that's... I know I've said this before, and it ended with me leaving the band. [Laughs]"

Danny said in an online post that every piece of artwork for his upcoming solo album "was so perfect" that he "decided to use them all, which means there will be four versions of the album, all with different visuals." He added: "I am thinking of writing a couple more songs so that each version will have a different bonus track."

More information, including audio samples, can be found at TheSnop.com.

Worsnop exited ASKING ALEXANDRIA in January 2015, explaining in a statement: "Over the last eight years together, we've done some amazing things and created something truly special. I now, same as then, want what's best for the band and at this point in time, that isn't me."

Danny has since been replaced by Ukrainian singer Denis Shaforostov, who gained notoriety posting ASKING ALEXANDRIA covers on YouTube and consequentially inked a deal with Sumerian in his band DOWN & DIRTY.

IRON MAIDEN and Robinsons Brewery have released their new brew, Trooper Red 'N' Black. Trooper Red 'N' Black is the third beer in the Trooper range following on from the stunning success of Trooper and last year's limited-edition Trooper 666.

The beer, designed once again by IRON MAIDEN vocalist and ale aficionado Bruce Dickinson together with Robinsons' head brewer Martyn Weeks, is a modern take on a recipe that dates back to the 1850s; a time when porter style beer was becoming increasingly popular in Britain.

At 6.8% in bottle or 5.8% ABV in cask, Trooper Red 'N' Black Porter is the first dark beer in the Trooper ranks and the strongest beer in the range to date.

Trooper Red 'N' Black is available now to purchase at selected Morrisons stores in the U.K. and online for the U.K. and select countries.

To find where to buy the beer in your country, visit ironmaidenbeer.com/buy-beer.

Dickinson explains: "I like tasting outside the box. Stouts and porters were virgin territory for me, so I just went by feel. Martyn and I hope we have created a new take on a classic beer and one which I hope will tickle the taste buds of ale fans in a pleasantly unexpected way."

Taking its name from both the color of the beer, which glows red when held up to light, and the song "The Red And The Black" from IRON MAIDEN's critically acclaimed 2015 album "The Book Of Souls", Trooper Red 'N' Black uses a blend of chocolate and crystal malts which help give the beer a roasted malt and caramel backbone. Robinsons yeast, the same strain which has been used in the Stockport brewer's beers since 1942, provides hints of both liquorice and honey to create a delicious warming brew.

John Robinson, brands manager for Robinsons Brewery, said: "With millions of pints sold in 55 countries worldwide, it's safe to say that Trooper remains a phenomenal success. Last year, we released Trooper 666 at the request of the fans and this year we are happy to be releasing another limited-edition beer that broadens the Trooper range in an ever-evolving and vibrant beer market."

German melodic death metallers, Nothgard, will release their third album, The Sinner‘s Sake, on September 23rd via NoiseArt Records. Special guests include Jeff Loomis from Arch Enemy, Jen Majura from Evanescence and Robse from Equilibrium. A music video for the track “Draining Veins” can be found below.

Founded in 2008 by singer and lead guitarist Dom R. Crey (from Equilibrium), Nothgard drag along the winning ways since their debut album Warhorns Of Midgard from 2011. The high technical quality of their guitar work and the epic orchestration of their melodic death metal elates fans and critics alike. In 2014, the band released another epic milestone of deadly metal, memorable melodies and influences from both neo-classical and folk music called Age Of Pandora. In the meantime, Nothgard became members of the NoiseArt Records family, who will escort their new masterpiece The Sinner‘s Sake on the band‘s way to the top of the melodic death metal throne.

Starting with an imposing blockbuster intro, The Sinner‘s Sake bestirs itself as a fantastic giant. Deadly rifs meet playful, catchy lead guitars, while the epic orchestration arranges for a cinematic atmosphere that will bring goosebumps to your skin. Completed by Dom R. Crey‘s raw vocals, Nothgard‘s sound is both stormy-spectacular and full of a sublime atmosphere. The top-class guest list on The Sinner‘s Sake adds another special mark to the album. None other than guitar virtuoso Jef Loomis (guest solo on “Iron Sights”), Jen Majura (guest vocals in “Sin Eater” and “Draining Veins”) and Robert “Robse” Dahn (additional growls in “Death Unites”) show up to leave their marks on the respective songs.

With The Sinner‘s Sake, Nothgard set of into the most spectacular chapter in the band‘s history so far. The songs that are spiced with cinematic elements will show Nothgard‘s intoxicating vibe on an entirely diferent level both in the stereo system and live on stage.

Tracklisting:

“Glittering Shades” (Intro)
“From Lambs To Lions”
“The Sinner‘S Sake”
“Iron Sights”
“Death Unites”
“Shadow Play”
“Descendants Of The Sun”
“Last Child Standing”
“Draining Veins”
“When Gods Cry”
“Sin Eater”

“Draining Veins” video:

In support of the upcoming release, the band will tour Europe this fall with German epic metal pioneers Equilibrium, Dutch folk metallers Heidevolk and German Black Forest metallers Finsterforst.

Tour dates:

September
22 - Nürnberg, Germany - Hirsch
24 - Leipzig, Germany - Hellraiser
25 - Prague, Czech Republic - Nova Chmelnice
26 - Wien, Austria - Szene
30 - Berlin, Germany - Bi Nuu

October
1 - Bochum, Germany - Matrix
2 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - Dynamo
11 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
12 - Vosselaar, Belgium - Biebob
13 - Colmar, France - Grillen
14 - Karlsruhe, Germany - Substage
15 - München, Germany - Backstage
16 - Dornbirn, Austria - Conrad Sohm

Dallas trio True Widow are streaming the new track “O.O.T.P.V.”, featured on their fourth album, Avvolgere, due out this September 23rd on CD/2xLP/DLX 2xLP/Digital via Relapse Records. Pre-order the album at this location.

The forthcoming LP perfects the formula that 2013's Circumambulation established: Avvolgere rocks and rolls with serene, rounded climaxes and steep, jangling choruses that engulf the listener with waves of downbeat, saccharine melodies and mesmerizing distortion. True Widow's signature alternation between male and female vocals helps further blur the boundaries between the heft of stoner rock, the droning atmosphere of shoegaze, and the twangy catchiness of blues and indie rock. It's both concise and circuitous - the album takes you on a journey that you can't ever quite predict or expect. Avvolgere is True Widow sounding more infectious and consummate than ever before.

The band recorded Avvolgere with Matt Pence, who recorded their 2013 release, Circumambulation, at his Echo Lab studio in Argyle, Texas earlier this year.

Avvolgere tracklisting:

“Back Shredder”
“Theurgist”
“F.W.T.S:L.T.M”
“The Trapper & The Trapped”
“O.O.T.P.V”
“Entheogen”
“To All That He Elong”
“Sante”
“Grey Erasure”

“O.O.T.P.V”:

“Theurgist” video:

“Entheogen”:

The band have also announced their first round of US dates in support of the new album, with the tour launching on October 13th in Phoenix.
 
October
13 - Phoenix, AZ - Last Exit
14 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
15 - San Francisco, CA - Brick & Mortar
17 - Portland, OR - Holocene
18 - Seattle, WA - Highline
19 - Boise, ID - Neurolux
20 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
22 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
23 - Kansas City, KS - Riot Room
24 - Norman, OK - The Opolis

November
3 - New Orleans, LA - Zeitgeist
4 - Birmingham, AL - Syndicate Lounge
5 - Orlando, FL - Will’s Pub
7 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
8 - Charlotte, NC - The Station
9 - Nashville, TN - The End
11 - Richmond, VA - Strange Matter
12 - Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery
13 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s
14 - Boston, MA - Great Scott
15 - New York, NY - Market Hotel
17 - Pittsburgh, PA - Cattivo
18 - Cleveland, OH - Malhall’s
19 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
20 - Detroit, MI - El Club
21 - Louisville, KY - Zanzabar
 
Lowlands open dates from October 13th - 24th.

(Photo: Stephanie Hageman)

The new and third full-length album from the deadly mastermind duo, Johansson & Speckmann, entitled Edge Of The Abyss, will be released via Soulseller Records on September 16th. The album track “You’ve Stepped On A Dime” is streaming below.

Master’s Paul Speckmann comments: “Rogga and I are looking forward to sharing Edge Of The Abyss with the masses. You can be sure that this third installment of the Johansson-Speckmann series is by far the best in the series, so go out and buy this masterpiece, you won't be disappointed!”

His partner in crime, Rogga Johansson (Paganizer, Ribspreader, Revolting and others), adds: “For the third time me and Paul have decided to write some awesomely ugly and heavy death metal for you all. If you liked the previous albums you will love this one, as its more of just everything you have come to know as Johansson & Speckmann. This time we are not only backed up by monster drummer Brynjar Helgetun but have also a lead guitarist in Kjetil Lynghaug, who delivers some sick solo work.”

The cover artwork was created by Roberto Toderico.

Tracklisting:

“Perpetuate The Lie”
“You’ve Stepped On A Dime”
“Misanthropy”
“Turn It Around”
“The Last Witness Is Barely Alive”
“The One They All Despised”
“The Edge Of The Abyss”
“A Concept”
“Already In Disguise”

“You’ve Stepped On A Dime”:

In a new interview with eonmusic, singer Rasmus Bom Andersen of New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) legends Diamond Head offers the first details on the band’s next album.

Asked if a new album will be coming soon, Rasmus states: “2017, yeah. We’re hoping to start actually, in 2017, to start writing some songs, and then god knows when we’ll see it.”

Are Diamond Head looking at returning to the whole album, tour, album cycle again? “I can’t stand still,” says the singer. “It’s like start me going and I’m just going to keep running, so I keep pushing forward and forward and forward. More Diamond Head music would be great for everyone.”

Read the full interview at eonmusic.

Prior to 2014, the thought of a new Diamond Head album was bleak. Guitarist and band founder Brian Tatler reveals, “I had no interest in doing another record but after working with Ras on the 2014 European tour that suddenly changed. I wanted to make a record with him. He’s a confident singer and he’s not trying to fill anyone’s shoes.”

Recording of the band’s latest album commenced last July with the band and engineer Adam Beddow at the helm. Tatler notes, “I gave Rasmus some music to listen to last January. He selected songs or riffs that he wanted to work on and we began rehearsing. We whittled things down to fourteen songs by April.”

Eleven songs were selected in the end for the album; all mixed by Dave Nicholls and mastered by John Davis at London’s Metropolis.

The album’s lyrical focus details political and environmental themes. Its opening and closing songs specifically draw attention to the world’s self-destructive path. Tatler comments, “the body of the album explores other subtopics in more depth along with songs dealing with lighter subjects that are not so heavy on the heart.” Rasmus Bom Andersen affirms, “we made the album with the band’s fans foremost in mind from start to finish. We wanted to write songs that would have ties to the best parts of all the early albums.”

Tracklisting:

“Bones”
“Shout At The Devil”
“Set My Soul On Fire”
“See You Rise”
“All The Reasons You Live”
“Wizards Sleeve”
“Our Time Is Now”
“Speed”
“Blood On My Hands”
“Diamonds”
“Silence”

Album stream:

Band lineup:

Brian Tatler - Lead, Rhythm Guitar
Rasmus Bom Andersen - Vocals
Karl Wilcox - Drums
Eddie Moohan - Bass
Andy Abberley - Rhythm, Lead Guitar

Witchcraft main man Magnus Pelander's solo project, Pelander, has revealed the artwork for his upcoming debut album, which is scheduled to be released on October 21st via Nuclear Blast. Time is now available for pre-order in various formats (CD digipak, black vinyl, clear vinyl) here, as well as digitally here.

Time will contain seven tracks with an approximate running time of 44 minutes.

Tracklisting:

“Umbrella”
“Family Song”
“The Irony Of Man”
“True Colour”
“Precious Swan”
“Time”
“Rebecka” (Bonus Track)

After his latest journey with Witchcraft, Nucleus, multi instrumentalist and lyricist extraordinaire, Magnus Pelander, returns to his solo career which without a doubt can be recognized as being tied to the cult doom/rock band, still exploring other paths and going full on acoustic.

Magnus Pelander comments: "At last my first solo album is done and soon to be released. I cannot believe this is true."

Commented Nuclear Blast A&R representative Markus Jakob: "We're thrilled to not only work with a gifted artist as Magnus on his main band but now also on his solo career. Both Witchcraft and Pelander have always stood for variety, artistic freedom and development which we're more than happy to support. Prepare yourself for another deep and intense look into the mind and musical vision of a genius!"

German symphonic metal outfit Aeternitas has revealed details about their upcoming album.

House Of Usher is a concept album based on the famous short story, The Fall Of The House Of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe. It was produced, recorded and mixed by Alexander Hunzinger at Serpina Studio, and mastered by Götz Kretschmann at Wonderlandstudio. Henning Basse produced the vocals at Vocalbase. The artwork was created by Kurt Wörsdorfer (aka Headcrime Artwork).

Tracklisting:

“Le Coeur”
“House Of Usher”
“The Prophecy”
“Roderick”
“Madeline”
“Fear”
“Forbidden Love”
“The Haunted Palace”
“Tears”
“Buried Alive”
“Can You Hear The Demons”
“The Fall”
“Falling Star”
“Open Your Eyes”
“Ethelred”

You can look forward to modern symphonic metal with complex orchestral arrangements and groovy rock parts, all held together by the strong and catchy voices of Alma Mathar and Oliver Bandmann.

House Of Usher will be released on October 21st via Massacre Records.

South Wales, UK death metal outfit, Venom Prison, have released a video for the track “Celestial Patricide”, featured on their upcoming debut full-length album, Animus, due for release in stores and online on October 14th via Prosthetic Records. The clip can be seen below.

Recorded by Tom Dring at Vagrant Recordings (Dragged Into Sunlight, Electric Wizard), Animus is 10 tracks of aural assaulting brutality. Venom Prison tackle subjects such as social Darwinism, misogyny, rape culture and the rejection of God and religion. As seen below, the artwork for Animus was created by German based legendary artist, Eliran Kantor (Testament, Sigh) who worked closely with Larissa to capture some of the themes of the album.

Vocalist Larissa Stupar elaborates: “The album's lyrics capture and portray various forms of fighting an oppressive force. One of them struck Eliran's eye as the most livid out of them all. In Perpetrator Emasculation a rapist is being force-fed his own genitalia. It's not a secret that death metal art and lyrical content often involve violence against women and we liked the idea of turning the tables. That lyrical segment depicts the title and theme of the record very well and the visual execution makes your flesh crawl with vengeance."

Tracklisting:

“Syllogism”
“Abysmal Agony”
“Celestial Patricide”
“Desecration of Human Privilege”
“Corrode The Black Sun”
“Immanetize Eschaton”
“The Exquisite Taste of Selfishness”
“Devoid”
“Perpetrator Emasculation”
“Womb Forced Animus”

“Celestial Patricide” video:

“Abysmal Agony”:

Trailer:

Italy’s Secret Sphere will release their first live album, One Night In Tokyo, on October 14th. The band has just launched a video for “X.” which can be seen below:

Secret Sphere are without a doubt one of the most well known metal bands in Japan, with a solid fan base there since their inception in 1997. All their albums have been released in Japan and in fact, it is the only country where you can find Secret Sphere’s very rare, original debut demo tape, officially released as a special edition item there. That says a lot about the respect and affection that the fans in the Land of the Rising Sun have for Aldo Lonobile’s band.

During the band’s last Japanese tour, in support of the Special Anniversary Edition of the band’s signature album, A Time Never Come, Secret Sphere had the chance to record their show in Tokyo in its entirety, which included all the band’s major hits: “Legend”, “Under The Flag Of Mary Read,” plus the melodic metal gems taken from the latest album, Portrait Of A Dying Heart. Featuring vocalist extraordinaire Michele Luppi (now also keyboard player with Whitesnake), the show was one for the ages.

The result is a genuine performance in a very warm atmosphere, a night to remember, where the band played all their classic songs with true passion. The same passion that you can expect from the band's next release, currently in the writing stages.

Aldo Lonobile says: “Since I started the band, the idea of recording our first live album in Japan, was the ultimate goal! All my musical heroes described their experiences in Japan with a happiness and a warmth that you could almost feel. That was the truth, among the most loyal fans in the world, and I am 100% happy that Frontiers liked the idea to release our first live album!”

To enhance the celebration, the band agreed to the label’s suggestion to release a brand new version of “Lie To Me”, featuring an outstanding duet between Michele Luppi and former Nightwish singer Anette Olzon. Released originally on Portrait Of A Dying Heart, the video reached almost 1M views and this new version shows a depth and a reach that makes it even better compared to the original.

One Night In Tokyo tracklisting:

CD1:
“Intro: A Journey Through Time”
“X.”
“Healing”
“Union”
“The Fall”
“Lie To Me”
“Wish And Steadiness”
“Legend”
“Under The Flag Of Mary Read”
“The Scars That You Can't See”
“Eternity”

CD2:
“Mr. Sin”
“Leonardo Da Vinci”
“Lady Of Silence”
“Dance With The Devil”
“Lie To Me” (Studio Bonus track – Duet with Anette Olzon)

DVD:
“Intro: A Journey Through Time”
“X.”
“Healing”
“Union”
“The Fall”
“Lie To Me”
“Wish And Steadiness”
“Legend”
“Under The Flag Of Mary Read”
“The Scars That You Can't See”
“Eternity”
“Mr. Sin”
“Leonardo Da Vinci”
“Lady Of Silence”
“Dance With The Devil”

Trailer:

Lineup:

Michele Luppi: Vocals
Aldo Lonobile: All Lead and Rhythm Guitars
Andrea Buratto: Bass
Marco Pastorino: Rhythm Guitars and Backing Vocals
Gabriele Ciaccia: Keyboards & Piano
Marco Lazzarini: Drums

Atlanta power trio Whores. are streaming the track “Playing Poor”, featured on their new LP, Gold, out on October 28th via Entertainment One (eOne), the first for their new label home.

The band’s debut LP was recorded at Parhelion Studios with producer Ryan Boesch (Helmet, Fu Manchu, Melvins). The artwork for Gold was created by Patrick Copeland.

Gold is the follow up to the LP Clean (2013). Also recorded by Boesch, the record sold out within a month, prompting the band to quickly release a second pressing. Clean is now on its fourth pressing.

"We've spent the ATL summer blasting feedback and pick slides in a sweaty, metal box," says frontman / guitarist Christian Lembach. "This is the result. Solid. Fucking. Gold."

The band will join Torche in supporting Red Fang later this fall. Dates will kick off on November 18th at Slim's in San Francisco, spanning coast to coast before wrapping up at the Showbox in Seattle on December 16th. "Red Fang and Torche are both huge inspirations, and we're flattered to be a part of this amazing tour," says Lembach. "Imminent tacos to follow."

"The band has also announced its plans to participate in the 2016 Aftershock Festival this October, playing alongside the likes of Slayer, Tool, Primus, Baroness and Deafheaven. Lembach adds, "Beyond flattered to be a part of Aftershock Festival this year. Our life partners in Red Fang played last year, and we're super humbled to be a part of this awesome lineup."

Tour dates:

September
1 - Nashville, TN - The End
3 - Louisville, KY - PRF BBQ at Cure Lounge

October
14 - New Orleans, LA - Gasa Gasa
15 - San Antonio, TX - Paper Tiger
16 - Ft. Worth, TX - Lola’s
17 - Oklahoma City, OK - The Blue Note
19 - Colorado Springs, CO - Flux Capacitor
22 - Sacramento, CA - Aftershock Festival
23 - Las Vegas, NV - Divebar
25 - Kansas City, MO - Record Bar
27 - Memphis, TN - The Buccaneer Lounge

November (with Red Fang and Torche)
18 - San Francisco, CA - Slim’s
19 - Pomona, CA - Glasshouse
20 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom
22 - San Diego, CA - Casbah
23 - Phoenix, AZ - Rebel Lounge
25 - Austin, TX - Mohawk
26 - Dallas, TX - Three Links
27 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Studio
29 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade (Hell)
30 - Durham, NC - Motorco

December
1 - Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel
2 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts
4 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair
5 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
7 - Pittsburgh, PA - Spirit Lounge
8 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
9 - Detroit, MI - El Club
10 - Chicago, IL - Metro
11 - Bloomington, IL - Castle Theater
13 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
14 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
15 - Boise, ID - Neurolux
16 - Seattle, WA - Showbox

Sweden's doom/crust/prog-infused death metal band, Usurpress, is set to release a brand new album, titled The Regal Tribe, on September 23rd via Agonia Records. The album track “Throwing The Gift Away” is streaming below.

The album's haunting cover artwork was created by renowned Dutch artist Marald van Haasteren (Bolt Thrower, High On Fire, Baroness, Kylesa) who was given a carte blanche with regards to the visual interpretation of the album’s lyrical concept. The Regal Tribe was recorded under the supervision of rising star producer Lawrence Mackrory (FKÜ, Darkane).

The Regal Tribe is the follow up to Ordained (2014) which saw Usurpress leave their deathcrust path for more uncharted territories. During the composing of the new album, the band was plagued by mental disorders/depressions and life threatening illnesses in the member’s immediate families, most notably vocalist/lyricist Stefan Pettersson’s battle with his bone marrow cancer. Therefore, The Regal Tribe is a heavier and darker, yet more varied, complex and thoughtful effort than their previous albums. This concept album is a tragic story about life versus death, about vanity and the relentless passing of time and is by far Usurpress’ most ambitious output to date.

Pettersson states: "We decided early on to discard the traditional way of songwriting/arranging and compose The Regal Tribe one piece at the time, starting with the first riff in the first song and ending with the last riff in the 10:th song. That way we hoped to avoid the album becoming repetitive and stale and instead more fluent and powerful. Listening back to the finished album, I’m convinced we did the right thing. This is the album we have always sought to do".

Since their formation in 2010, Usurpress have gained a reputation as a creative and hardworking band that in a relative short time already have built up an extensive back catalogue of albums, EP’s and splits. Their aim has always been to constantly evolve and expand their soundscape, always looking forward in a restless and tireless way.

Pettersson: "Although we are very proud of all our previous works, we never look back. Dwelling on the past does not interest us at all. We started to write The Regal Tribe a couple of weeks after Ordained was released and we started to draw up the blueprints for our next album before we started to record The Regal Tribe. This is how we do things, we don’t wait for inspiration, we get inspiration from creating".

The Regal Tribe is also the last Usurpress album to feature original drummer Calle Lönnberg who left the band shortly after the recording and was replaced by internationally renowned sticksman Mathias "Matte" Modin (Firespawn, Raised Fist, ex-Dark Funeral, ex-Defleshed).

Tracklisting:

“Beneath The Starless Skies”
“The One They Call The Usurpress”
“Across The Dying Plains”
“The Mortal Tribes”
“The Halls Of Extinction”
“Throwing The Gift Away”
“Behold The Forsaken”
“On A Bed Of Straw”
“The Sin That Is Mine”
“In The Shadow Of The New Gods”

“Throwing The Gift Away”:

“Beneath The Starless Skies”:

"Across The Dying Plains" lyric video:

Available formats:

- Digipack CD
- Black LP
- Green LP (limited to 100 copies)
- T-shirt in two versions
- Digital

Pre-orders are available at this location.

Lineup:

Stefan Pettersson - vocals
Påhl Sundström - guitar
Daniel Ekeroth - bass
Calle Lönnberg - drums

 

A brand new Tourniquet album is on the horizon. The music is written. "It's heavy and progressive. We think you're really going to want to hear this one,” states drummer/songwriter Ted Kirkpatrick.

Recording will take place in Florida over the next weeks and months. "We're aiming for very high production value as some of the music is quite involved. We want to thank everyone for getting this off to such a great start".

The album is tentatively set for a March 2017 release.

Past Tourniquet albums have featured stellar guest musicians including guitarists Marty Friedman, Pat Travers, Scotti Hill, Bruce Franklin, Karl Sanders, Chris Poland and vocalists Michael Sweet, Dug Pinnick, Chris Jericho, and Tim Ripper Owens.

To check out the rewards and pre-order, head here.

Former Abbath guitarist Per Valla’s new band, Valla, are streaming the new track “Suffocate All Light”, which features former Abbath drummer Kevin Foley (who played the role of “Creature” in that band).

Per Valla states, “Since meeting Kevin Foley about a year ago, we have been good friends and always thought it would be really cool to record something together. Now the time has finally come!”

Check out the previously posted track, “Oceans”:

(Photo - Valla Facebook)

Australian black metal duo Ruins are preparing their Listenable Records debut and fifth overall Undercurrent, due out on October 28th. BraveWords is serving up the first track of the album with “Shadow Of A Former Self”. Listen now!

Formed in 2002, Ruins are from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. They blend ominous dark-death metal dynamics; powerful, menacing, melancholic, yet eerily seductive black metal styles; diverse and intense rhythmic structures; and both venomous and summoning vocal presence.

The writing/recording nucleus of Ruins consists of guitarist/vocalist Alex Pope, formerly of the post-punk noise-rockers Sea Scouts; and drummer Dave Haley, currently also drumming with Psycroptic. Both have also recorded and performed with The Amenta, and various other groups and projects over the last decade. Dave’s brother Joseph Haley is delivering the darkest riffs on the new album.

The band states: “The new album Undercurrent is a new beginning.  A reexamination of the thematics in which we have worked for the first four albums. Ruins have achieved a higher order of refinement, after nearly three years in production. As the title suggests, it presents an ominous and foreboding sense, looming within a strict and powerful framework.”

In a flooded market, populated by predominantly superfluous material, Ruins returns with the vital, timeless and true feeling of black metal.

Pre-order Undercurrent here.

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

The first song from "The Serpent Only Lies", titled "Falling While Rising", can be streamed below.

"'Falling While Rising' is the epitome of CROWBAR," says frontman Kirk Windstein. "The song is heavy, powerful, emotional and full of massive riffs! Hope everyone enjoys it and is ready for the full record!"

"The Serpent Only Lies" track listing:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kadaver have released another video for the Berlin visual album concept. Watch “Reich Der Träume”, as well as three previously released videos below.

Commented the band about “Reich Der Träume”: "The song was originally written for Nico by Lutz Graf (LÜÜL), known for his work with bands like Ash Ra Tempel, Agitation Free and 17 Hippies. It is the first song Lupus sings German on. We liked the heavy mood of the song. Within the music as well as in the lyrics. It's one of the most beautiful Nico songs which unfortunately was barely recognized until now. We were very proud when we got LÜÜL's blessing to cover the song."

“Reich Der Träume”:

“Lord Of The Sky”:

"Pale Blue Eyes”:

"Filthy Illusion”:

Kadavar recently teamed up with Scion A/V Metal and Skybound Entertainment (The Walking Dead, Outcast) to release "Words Of Evil," a brand new, unreleased song.

Commented Kadavar singer Lupus: "Originally we had written the song for our album Berlin, but thought it would stick out too much and decided not to put it on the album. Nevertheless I think it is one of the best songs we've ever written. At least it is one of my faves. A lot of NWOHBM and straight to your face!"

Download the track via the Soundcloud player below:

(Photo - Kadavar.com)

In the new video below, Dutch classical guitarist Thomas Zwijsen offers a classiscal/acoustic fingerstyle guitar lesson for the Alice Cooper classic “Poison”. Get the free tabs at this location.

Zwijsen performs the Twisted Sister classic “We're Not Gonna Take It” in the clip below:

Below, Thomas performs the KISS classic “Detroit Rock City”:

Zwijsen performs the original song “Estuary” in the clip below. “Estuary" is composed by Zwijsen for classical/acoustic/Spanish/Flamenco/fingerstyle solo guitar.