Red Fang, who play Rock On The Range today, add to their canon of comedic clips, debuting the video for “Cut It Short”. Whitey McConnaughy directed the clip, continuing the partnership that birthed videos for “Wires”, “Prehistoric Dog”, “Hank Is Dead” and most recently “Shadows”.

In the “Cut It Short” video, McConnaughy explores the inner dynamics of touring bands with hilarious accuracy.

Red Fang plays one additional North American date (May 26th at the Modified Ghost Festival II) before heading to Europe for a month of shows. The band resurfaces Stateside at Bumbershoot in September followed by a performance at Crucial Fest.

Tour dates:

May
19 - Columbus, OH - Rock on the Range
26 - Vancouver, BC - Modified Ghost Festival II

June
10 - Guilford, UK - Boileroom
11 - Donnington, UK - Download Festival
12 - Lille, France - L’Aeronef
14 - Orleans, France - Astrolabe
15 - Lyon, France - Epicerie Moderne
16 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
17 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop
19 - Berlin, Germany - Lido
20 - Vienna, Austria - Flex
21 - Orfu, Hungary - Fishing on Orfu
23 - Saarwellingen, Germany - Saarmageddon Festival
24 - Scheessel, Germany - Hurricane Festival
25 - Neuhausen, Germany - Southside Festival
28 - Roskilde, Denmark - Roskilde
29 - Nimjegen, Netherlands - Doornroosje

July
1 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Fuzz Jam Festival
5 - Biarritz, France - Atabel
6 - Viverio, Spain - Resurrection Festival
8 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzamatazz 2
9 - Ile du Gaou, France - Pointu Festival

September
1 - Seattle, WA - Bumbershoot
2 - Salt Lake City, UT - Crucial Fest

With song titles like "You're a Fucking Dick”, "Busted, Broke & American" and "All Out of Bubblegum" you would think that M.O.D. - shorthand for Method Of Destruction - and their founder and fearless leader (the artist formerly known as the legendary Billy Milano), aren't masking their intentions on their new album. In fact, it would be a logical assumption that Milano and co. are putting their unabashed and unedited thoughts and feelings out there for all to see and hear with their new album Busted, Broke & American - self-righteous and politically correct social justice warriors be damned! Busted, Broke & American will be released July 7th via Megaforce Records.  The album’s title track is available for streaming below.

As to be expected, Busted, Broke & American is fast, it's furious, and it makes no apologies. It also mixes hardcore, punk rock, and thrash and the end result is a thoroughly combustible collection of songs. The words "I'm sorry" are not a part of the album's vocabulary. At the center of the sonic storm remains Milano, who has never been known to shy away from speaking his mind.

Billy Milano, a voracious reader, avid cook and a Proud and Loud Republican, inadvertently resurrected his hardcore punk rock band in a time when he needed it most. You'd be mistaken to assume anything when it comes to Billy Milano. For M.O.D. and their new album, which finds the band returning to original label home Megaforce Records after two decades, there was no pre-determined mission. At all. It was born of love.

"I had taken off time with M.O.D. in 2009," Milano recalls. "We had done 100 shows for [2007's] Red, White & Screwed. I needed a break. My dog Buster, an American bulldog, got sick with cancer and I started to play guitar again while staying home with him. I started jamming again, anticipating something quick, but it wasn't."

Buster was a huge part of Milano's life, having toured with the frontman. As anyone that truly has forged a deep bond with a canine can relate to, Milano turned to his trusted instrument to help him endure the pain of watching his friend wind down his life. "I just started playing guitar, while sitting there, looking at him, giving him medicine," he says. "I wanted to run and play with my dog, and I couldn't. The only way to be with him was to sit there and play guitar. I had no goal to do a record. I just wrote all the material."

While Milano may be older and wiser these days, he's not any softer. He's admittedly still cynical, but has learned to temper it by being more caring and forgiving. Still, music remains something he loves doing and he still operates off the zero fucks given principle. "I don't give a fuck, but I like playing," he reasons. "I like making records. It's like cooking - it's an extension of me."

Busted, Broke, & American tracklisting:

“Eisenhower Was Right”
“The Final Declaration”
“You're A Fucking Dick”
“Busted, Broke & American”
“Fight”
“Hooligan”
“Billy Be Damned”
“Shattered Dreams & Broken Glass”
“They”
“All Out Of Bubblegum”
“Go Go Revolution”
“Kennedy Speaks”

“Busted, Broke & American”:

Napalm Records welcome a new family member to their ever-expanding artist roster, as Lord Of The Lost have signed a worldwide record deal with the Austrian rock & metal empire.

Founded in 2007 by Chris Harms, over the last decade this Hamburg-based dark metal group has become one of the most well-established and exciting acts the international scene has to offer. The band's sound has always been a heavy ride traveling through many diverse dark genres, while never standing still and constantly in the process of reinvention.

Lord Of The Lost features big melodies, aggression and emotions, fronted by Chris Harms' impressive vocal range of styles that can abruptly leap from a sonorous clear voice to brutal death growls and wild screams. With effortless grace, Lord Of The Lost have managed to establish their unique trademark sound while they create a contrast of musical extremes: Catchy ballads with hit-potential meet harsh metalcore-attacks, with no fear for excursions into the symphonic, industrial metal and heavy rock that goes straight into your heart and face.

With their relentless energy on stage Lord Of The Lost always deliver lots of sweat, sex and rock ’n’ roll making every single show a memorable and special event for their constantly growing fan base all over the world.

After their previous 2015 acoustic release Swan Songs, the quintet from the heart of St. Pauli, Hamburg, has now signed a worldwide deal with Napalm Records and will release a brand new acoustic and ensemble album titled Swan Songs II in the fall of 2017.

Says Chris Harms: "Progress means movement; and for us any movement can only head forward and upward. It's been an important step for us to continue our path of success together with a new, strong partner and we are proud that we have found this partner in Napalm Records! It could not be better for us!"

To celebrate the band's upcoming release, Lord Of The Lost will heavily hit the road this fall for an ensemble album release tour as well as in support of KMFDM in the UK and United States. Find the band’s live itinerary at this location.

Lord Of The Lost are:

Chris Harms - vocals, guitar, cello
π - guitar
Class Grenayde - bass
Gared Dirge - piano, synths, percussion, guitar
Tobias Mertens - drums

Pictured above: Lord Of The Lost with Senior Product Manager Billie Klein At the Napalm Records Berlin Office

German death metallers, Dawn Of Disease, are streaming the new song “Perimortal”, featured on their upcoming new album, Ascension Gate, set to be released on August 11th via Napalm Records. Listen to the track below.

Says the band: “Ascension Gate was created and given birth within a comparatively short lapse of time. Thus it embodies pure energy and raw intensity. In comparison to our former releases our fourth full-length album is different in many ways as it modifies and expanses the musical elements we used to employ before. Besides the typical Dawn Of Disease trademarks you will find more elaborate melodies that carry the listener through an atmospheric journey. Inspired by gloomy autumn days and the sheer endless darkness of winter Ascension Gate adds more depth and catchiness to our sound than ever before without neglecting a huge portion of blastbeating brutality. Regardless of this dark and melancholic leitmotif we can promise you one thing: Ascension Gate will bring you a very hot summer!“

Album artwork by Mark Cooper.

Tracklisting:

“Passage”
“Perimortal”
“Leprous Thoughts”
“Beneath The Waters”
“Ascension Gate”
“Akephalos”
“Fleshless Journey”
“The Growing Emptiness”
“Lucid”
“Mundus Inversus”

“Perimortal”:

After monstrous records such as Legends Of Brutality , Crypts Of The Unrotten and most recently their epic Worship The Grave released just last year, Dawn Of Disease set a new standard for the expanding Swedish death metal scene with Ascension Gate  - their fourth hail of bombs full of volatile riff power. This is the new era of modern death metal.

Coming August 11th via Napalm Records on CD, LP Gatefold and Digital Download, Ascension Gate will be available for pre-order soon.

In support of their upcoming album, Dawn Of Disease will appear on several festival stages this summer. Catch them live on the following dates:

July
8 - Ballenstedt, Germany - Rockharz Open Air

August
3 - Wacken, Germany - Wacken Open Air
10 - Schlotheim, Germany - Party.San Open Air
12 - Graz, Austria - Metal on the Hill
16-19 - Dinkelsbuehl, Germany - Summer Breeze

September
1-2 - Katzenbach, Germany - Metallergrillen Open Air

Dawn Of Disease are:

Tomasz Wisniewski - Vocals
Lukas Kerk - Guitars
Oliver Kirchner - Guitars
Christian Wösten - Bass
Mathias Blässe - Drums

earMUSIC recently announced that British rockers Status Quo will, on July 14th, release The Last Night Of The Electrics, a live set recorded at the band’s emotionally charged, barnstorming show at London’s O2 last year. A video for “Caroline”, the opening track from the set, is available for streaming below.

This fantastic concert will be released on a series of formats 2CD, DVD, Blu-ray, Limited Edition 180g Black Triple Vinyl with side 6 etched (double gatefold), earBOOK (with 2 x Audio CD, 1 x DVD & 1 x Blu-ray, coffee table book including approx. 120 pages) and Digital.

Francis Rossi said, “This release captures Quo on incredible form, at a concert that will live long in my memory. It was a difficult time, but we knew what we needed to do and we delivered. This was by no means business as usual, nor should it have been, but the energy of the music, the band and the crowd coming together was palpable”.

Having been envisaged as a swansong for the band’s legendary electric set, the 2016 winter tour turned into something very different as Rick Parfitt was forced to be absent having suffered the first of a series of health issues that would tragically end his life as the year closed. With the band having been urged by both Rick himself and the fans to carry on and keep the music blasting, they found yet another gear, and the show captured in front of a the loyal O2 crowd turned out to be very special indeed.

Tracklisting (slip in various ways across formats):

“Caroline”
“The Wanderer”
“Something About You Baby I Like”
“Rain”
“Softer Ride”
“Beginning Of The End”
“Hold You Back”
“Proposin’ Medley”
“Paper Plane”
“The Oriental”
“Creepin' Up On Youv
“Gerdundula”
“In The Army Now”
“The Caveman”
“Roll Over Lay Down”
“Down Down”
“Whatever You Want”
“Rocking All Over The Worldv
“Burning Bridges”
“Rock and Roll Music”/“Bye Bye Johnny”

“Caroline” video:

Trailer:

Status Quo are one of the world’s greatest rock bands. Their path has taken many a twist and a turn along the way. The events of last year were unparalleled in the band’s history but The Last Night Of The Electrics release sees them meeting difficult times head on, doing justice to their legacy and that incredible back catalogue. It’s the sound of Quo.

Pre-order at the following links:

- 2CD
- DVD
- LP
- Digital

New York death metal pioneers Suffocation will release their new album, ...Of The Dark Light, on June 9th via Nuclear Blast Records. A second video trailer for the album  is available for streaming below.

...Of The Dark Light was produced by Suffocation and tracked at Full Force Studios with longtime engineer Joe Cincotta (Obituary). Mixing and mastering was handled by world renowned producer/engineer Zeuss (Hatebreed, Arsis, Suicide Silence). Cover artwork was created by Colin Marks (Origin, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Kataklysm).

Comments founding guitarist Terrance Hobbs: "The moment we have been waiting for is here, our new album ...Of The Dark Light will finally be released through Nuclear Blast on June 9th, 2017! Over the last 4 year period Suffocation has taken its time to write this record and we couldn't be prouder. It is our most brutal record yet!

"Suffocation worked through the end of 2016 to hash out and lay down the tracks at Full Force Studios with Joe Cincotta and once again enlisted Zeuss to bring this creation to life! Myself, Frank Mullen, Charles Errigo, Eric Morotti and Derek Boyer have all pushed the limit of what Suffocation is and we hope you enjoy it!

"We also had the honor of having Colin Marks handling our artwork which is a new frontier for us and a different avenue and style to the traditional Suffocation records. We also included some backup vocals from Kevin Muller (The Merciless Concept) which for us makes this album very unique!  This will be our 10th studio release and we really hope you like ...Of The Dark Light! Keep the grind alive and hope to see you on the road!"

Pre-order ...Of The Dark Light in various bundles and formats, here. Receive the song "Your Last Breaths" instantly, when you pre-order the album digitally through iTunes or Amazon..

Tracklisting:

“Clarity Through Deprivation”
“The Warmth Within The Dark”
“Your Last Breaths”
“Return To The Abyss”
“The Violation”
“Of The Dark Light”
“Some Things Should Be Left Alone”
“Caught Between Two Worlds”
“Epitaph Of The Credulous”

“Return To The Abyss” lyric video:

“Your Last Breaths”:

Trailer #1:

Trailer #2:

Find the band’s live itinerary here.

Santa Cruz CA’s tech-death masters, Decrepit Birth, will release their first album in seven years, Axis Mundi, on July 21st via Nuclear Blast Records (North America) and Agonia Records (Europe). Listen to "Epigenetic Triplicity" from the upcoming album below.

Recorded at three different studios over the course of a year, Axis Mundi sounds incredible. The clarity, the power, the musicianship, and the brutality aren’t vying for attention. They’re in absolute harmony. The guitars - tracked by guitarist Matt Sotelo at his home studio - are razor sharp yet spine-snappingly heavy. The drums - tracked by Ryan Forsyth at Private Ear Studios in Winnipeg, Canada - are genre-defining, recalling what Sean Reinert, Gene Hoglan, and Steve Flynn did for Death and Atheist, respectively. And the bass - tracked by bassist Sean Martinez, also at his home studio - has a great deep-end against the ceaselessly wicked rhythms. Tracks like “Hieroglyphic”, “Spirit Guide”, and “The Sacred Geometry” wouldn’t have crushed skulls and blown minds if it wasn’t for the accomplished mixing and mastering of Stefano Morabito at 16th Cellar Studios.

The cover artwork was created by Dan Seagrave (Entombed, Suffocation).

Axis Mundi tracklisting:

“Vortex of Infinity - Axis Mundi”  
“Spirit Guide”       
“The Sacred Geometry”   
“Hieroglyphic”      
“Transcendental Paradox”              
“Mirror of Humanity”        
“Ascendant”         
“Epigenetic Triplicity”        
“Embryogenesis”

“Epigenetic Triplicity”:

Fans can pre-order the Axis Mundi in various formats and bundles at this location.

For the better part of their 16-year existence, California-based death metallers Decrepit Birth haven’t followed the rules. From debut album, 2003’s …And Time Begins, to new album, Axis Mundi, they’ve shuffled the tried and true tenets of death metal into something defiantly other. Certainly, the Surf City denizens have written and continue to write brutally brutal music, but after years of purveying labyrinthine riffs and blasts at light-suffering speeds, they’ve transcended, they’ve transformed, they’ve gone beyond. Decrepit Birth in 2017 aren’t entirely the same band that unfurled …And Time Begins in their twentysomethings.

Seven long years separate Polarity from Axis Mundi. The absence would kill the fan velocity of most bands. But not Decrepit Birth. Even after 2014’s The Summer Slaughter Tour - the last time the West Coasters were on tour - the group’s legion of freaks have stayed true to their death metal masters, pleading and pining with regularity on social media for new technically-proficient savagery. That wait will soon be over with Axis Mundi.

Decrepit Birth is:

Matt Sotelo (guitar)
Bill Robinson (vocals)
Samus Paulicelli (drums)
Sean Martinez (bass)

German rockers, Nitrogods, have released a video for “Boogeyman”, a track from their upcoming album, Roadkill BBQ, out worldwide via Steamhammer / SPV on May 26th. Watch the new clip below.

The German rock n’ roll three-piece recorded 14 brand new Nitrogods songs for album number three and on top of that... four great cover versions which will be pressed on an exclusive EP, only available in the Limited Edition box set.

Get the “Rancid Rock” single here, and pre-order the new album at this location.

Tracklisting:

“Rancid Rock”
“Roadkill BBQ”
“My Love's a Wirebrush”
“Boogeymqan”
“Bad Place Wrong People”
“Wheelin'”
“A Los Muertos”
“The Price of Liberty”
“Race To Ruin”
“I Hate”
“Father”
“Where Have the Years Gone”
“Russian Rocket” (Bonus Track)
“Did Jesus Turn Water Into Beer” (Bonus Track)

“Boogeyman” video:

“Rancid Rock” video:

Swedish metallers Dream Evil are streaming the new song “Creature Of The Night”, from their sixth album, aptly titled SIX, due out on May 26th via Century Media Records.

The band commented about “Creature Of The Night” as follows: “When we chose from all recorded songs the ones to be released on the main album, we summoned a Heavy Metal Jury which ranked the songs. From this ranking the top 12 songs were set for SIX. The song “Creature Of The Night” got the highest ranking from the H.M.J., so it was a no-brainer to have this song as a single.”

Next to the album’s standard version as CD and Digital Download, SIX is also being made available as 180gr. vinyl version with a poster and bonus CD as well as in the limited edition Mediabook CD format with two bonus tracks (“Under Attack” and “Nowhere To Run”) and three stickers.

Succeeding 2010’s In The Night release, SIX has been once again produced by Dream Evil guitarist Fredrik Nordström at his own Studio Fredman facilities, which is obviously the birth place of many modern metal masterpieces by bands such as In Flames, Arch Enemy, HammerFall, At The Gates, Dimmu Borgir, Powerwolf or also Architects and Bring Me The Horizon.

The cover artwork for the upcoming album was once again created by Gustavo Sazes (Arch Enemy, Amaranthe, Firewind).

SIX tracklisting:

“Dream Evil”
“Antidote”
“Sin City”
“Creature Of The Night”
“Hellride”
“Six Hundred And 66”
“How To Start A War”
“The Murdered Mind”
“Too Loud”
“44 Riders”
‘Broken Wings”
“We Are Forever”

"Antidote" video:

“Dream Evil” video:

Trailer:

Fresh from a successful tour of the western U.S., the Northern California-based death metal/core quartet Apothesary has finished recording their sophomore full-length. Titled Accept Loss Forever, the album, described by the band as an “ode to suffering,” will be issued by M-Theory Audio on July 7th. More details about the release will surface in the coming weeks.
 
Taking advantage of a break in the busy touring schedule of his other band Hatchet, guitarist Clayton Cagle and his Apothesary bandmates – guitarist/vocalist Jared Eandi, drummer Greg O'Neill and bassist Brittany Shankle – spent much of April on the road in support of their acclaimed 2016 EP Sensory Overload. The release was previously supported by a tour that saw the group play alongside the likes of Psycroptic, Motograter, Soil and American Head Charge.
 
That was all just a precursor for Accept Loss Forever, which Cagle describes as an emotional and cathartic album that painstakingly captures the group's evolution, musically and personally. “Accept Loss Forever is the true definition of 'coming of age,' as some of its material dates back to 2012 – when our average age was just 17 – and spans over half the life of the band,” he explains. “That makes these songs special, because they're the most accurate representation of our growth both as a band and as human beings. Every significant moment of our transition from adolescence to adulthood has a place on this record, and I don't know where I would be right now if I didn't have this outlet to help put life in perspective. It is my hope that the music on this record helps someone else in the same way it helped me, and the rest of Apothesary, to write. We can't thank the M-Theory team more for believing in us enough to make this release a reality.”
 
Apothesary self-released their first album, 2011's A Harsh Reality, while its members were still in high school. During summer breaks, the group embarked on DIY-booked tours to spread their name by playing shows with the likes of Killswitch Engage, Dark Tranquillity, Fear Factory, Dying Fetus, Helloween, Suffocation and Warbringer. The band has subsequently released two EPs, They All Carry Ghosts and Sensory Overload, that showcased new and old-school death metal influences blending to concoct something simultaneously brutal, melodic and adventurous.
 
Apothesary will next perform live on May 27th, when they will headline the seventh annual Metalfest of Middletown in Northern California. Later this summer, the group will share the stage with M-Theory label mates Helsott and Sicocis at Hollywood's legendary Viper Room. Additional tour dates will be announced shortly.

 

Boston death metal act Soul Remnants have signed a worldwide deal with Entertainment One Music / Lifeblood Inc. and is releasing an all new track today titled “Dissolving Into Obscurity".

"We are proud to releasing our new album Ouroboros through eOne Music / Lifeblood, Inc.  An insane amount of hard work and passion was poured into the creation of this record and we wouldn't have it any other way." says the band. "Ouroboros is as versatile as it is volatile.  Flowing seamlessly from track to track it runs the gamut from extreme technicality to filth ridden grooves, with plenty of other surprises to offer." 

Soul Remnants will release their second full length LP, Ouroboros, on July 21st. A concept album revolving around a futuristic, dystopian war amongst all mankind. The all new effort will the follow up to their second album, Black And Blood, released in 2013.

"Dissolving Into Obscurity" is being offered as an iTunes instant gratification track, meaning those who pre order the LP via iTunes will receive the song as an instant download. Digital preorders are available here.

Tracklisting:

“Mechanical Synapse Modulations”
“Regurgitated And Consumed”
“Depravity’s Lock”
“Walled City”
“Mental Tourniquet”
“Echoes Of Insanity”
“Dissolving Into Obscurity”
“Decomposition”
“False Kingdom Of Prophecy”

“Dissolving Into Obscurity”:

Denver, CO death metal trio Pile Of Priests have signed to Fatal Illness Management artist roster, which includes Vesperia, Malphas and D.V.T.

Eric Dow of Fatal Illness Management comments:

"I have had my eye on the Denver scene for a few years now and I am excited to be working with such a talented group from that awesome scene. Pile Of Priests definitely have the potential to go places and I want to help them succeed in all of their musical endeavors."

Pile Of Priests is currently working on completing their new EP entitled Tenebrous Labyrinth. The band originated in 2009 as death/thrash band and has since evolved into a progressive death metal band. They have executed a number of mini-tours throughout New Mexico, California, Wyoming, Kansas, and Nebraska and have had the honor of opening for Artillery, Vader, and Immolation. Led by Evan Salvador (vocals, guitars), Patrick Leyn (bass, backing vocals), and Evan Knight (drums, additional session guitars), Pile of Priests successfully and independently financed their debut album as well as booked an entire western coast tour in support of that record (Void to Enlightenment).

Pile Of Priests comments on the signing to FIM and upcoming EP:

"We here at Pile Of Priests are ecstatic to announce that we have begun working with Fatal Illness Management! Over the past month, Eric Dow has been prompt to answer all our questions as well as provide genuine insight of the industry. With full confidence in Eric (New Dad) and the Fatal Illness team, the band can confidently and professionally move forward. We like to also add that after our collective introspection of the last release Void To Enlightenment, we knew how we wanted to proceed next and quickly began writing new material. Now a year after touring for Void, our new EP titled Tenebrous Labyrinth is finally completed. As a power trio, we've agreed this record properly portrays our ideal sound. The weight of intensity it beholds really showcases some of our best material yet."

Secret Sphere have relased a lyric video for “Courage”, a track from the band’s ninth studio album, The Nature Of Time, to be released on June 2nd. The new clip is available for streaming below.

The new recording celebrates 20 years of hard work that started back in 1997 with the release of the band's widely praised debut album, Mistress Of The Shadowlight. Since then, Secret Sphere has evolved and developed their unique style into what has become a trademark sound, making them one of an elite group of bands putting the Italian metal scene on the global map. The addition of extraordinary singer Michele Luppi (also currently serving as keyboardist and background vocalist for the legendary hard rock act, Whitesnake) in 2012 brought the band to the next level. This was evidenced by his first release with the band, Portrait Of A Dying Heart, receiving wide fan and critical acclaim and landing on many metal journalists best releases of 2012 lists.

The new album, The Nature Of Time, proves to be the ultimate showcase of the band's skill in composing highly orchestrated songs and introducing their foray into a new age of heavy rock and metal music. High class songs with amazing choruses, big vocals, majestic orchestral arrangements, and amazing, mind-blowing, guitar heroics are the order of the day.

The Nature Of Time explores the "back to life" concept, an inward looking search of the self that can positively impact everyone's everyday life.

"The long writing process of this album has been a constant "re-living" of memories and feelings, that started with only instrumental pieces that were put together only in order to vent my then current state of mind: a way to express emotions purely, without any kind of "holding back," so to speak. I then talked to Michele and we decided these were the perfect basis for a new Secret Sphere record," states guitarist Aldo Lonobile.

"What can I say about this album? We spent a few months writing songs in a way that opened the doors to our new age of heavy rock... definitely a new beginning for each member of the band, a new approach that got inspired by the concept of the album itself. It's not easy to open and talk about love and kindness. We chose the most direct way, no masks, only passion, energy and light guided each note leaving any kind of fear behind. Eventually, with time, we became US, not individuals...THIS IS US. Some of these songs earned a very special place in my heart," concludes singer Michele Luppi.

The Nature Of Time tracklisting:

Chapter I - Genesis
“Intermission”
“The Calling”

Chapter II - The Seven Virtues
“Love”
“Courage”
“Kindness”
“Honesty”
“Faith”
“Reliance”
“Commitment”

Chapter III - The New Dawn
“The Awakening”

Chapter IV - The Way
“The New Beginning”

“Courage” lyric video:

“Faith”:

“The Calling” video:

Secret Sphere lineup:

Michele Luppi - Vocals
Aldo Lonobile - Guitars
Andrea Buratto - Bass
Gabriele Ciaccia - Keyboards
Marco Lazzarini - Drums

"Crooked Teeth", the ninth studio album from PAPA ROACH, can be streamed in its entirety in the YouTube playlist below. Released on May 19 via Eleven Seven Music, the disc is being 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 (see details below).

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 singer Jacoby Shaddix's remarkable rapping technique and the band's intense live energy.

"The first time we met up with RAS and Colin, they said that [2000's] 'Infest' was on constant rotation when they were growing up and they wanted to bring back some of that fire," says Shaddix. Adds Furlong, "The whole idea was to take the classic elements of PAPA ROACH that everyone loved and revamp them into a modern version of the sound through the creative process, and we ended up with a bold, courageous and more adventurous version of PAPA ROACH."

The Furlong/Brittain production team worked to bring in elements of music from different genres and parts of the world, and pockets of rhythm people associate more with rap or reggae, while still staying true to PAPA ROACH's sound. "The people who have wanted to hear me rap for years are gonna love some of the viciousness on this record," Shaddix proclaims.

From the instantly infectious nature of the title track to the atmospheric sheen of the moody ballad "Periscope" (featuring Skylar Grey) and the acoustic/ hip-hop rock mashup of "Sunrise Trailer Park" (featuring Machine Gun Kelly adding a verse to Shaddix rap) "Crooked Teeth" displays the various sides of PAPA ROACH and illustrates why they've managed to remain relevant while other musical trends ebb and flow. "We didn't go into this album with the intention of trying to write radio singles," guitarist Jerry Horton explains. "This collection of songs was really about bookending everything that we've done prior to this album and reintroducing PAPA ROACH to people who didn't realize the depth that we have," says drummer Tony Palermo.

In many ways making "Crooked Teeth" reminded Shaddix of the band's earliest days, well before they sold millions of albums and became a household name. "When we were in the rehearsal space I wasn't thinking about who I needed to impress, I was thinking about how much I love making music with the guys in this band." "It [the album] feels honest and pure and that’s all we could hope for," adds bassist Tobin Esperance.

"Crooked Teeth" track listing:

Standard Edition (Digital, CD, Vinyl)

01. Break The Fall02. Crooked Teeth03. My Medication04. Born For Greatness05. American Dreams06. Periscope (feat. Skylar Grey)07. Help08. Sunrise Trailer Park (feat. Machine Gun Kelly)09. Traumatic10. None Of The Above

Deluxe Edition (Digital + CD Only)

Disc 1

01. Break The Fall02. Crooked Teeth03. My Medication04. Born For Greatness05. American Dreams06. Periscope (feat. Skylar Grey)07. Help08. Sunrise Trailer Park (feat. Machine Gun Kelly)09. Traumatic10. None Of The Above11. Richochet (bonus)12. Nothing (bonus)13. Bleeding Through (bonus)

Disc 2

01. Intro (Live at Fillmore Detroit)02. Face Everything And Rise (live at Fillmore Detroit)03. Getting Away With Murder (live at Fillmore Detroit)04. Between Angels And Insects (live at Fillmore Detroit)05. Where Did The Angels Go? (live at Fillmore Detroit)06. Broken Home (live at Fillmore Detroit)07. Burn (live at Fillmore Detroit)08. Forever (live at Fillmore Detroit)09. Scars (live at Fillmore Detroit)10. Lifeline (live at Fillmore Detroit)11. Infest (live at Fillmore Detroit)12. Kick In The Teeth (live at Fillmore Detroit)13. Broken As Me (live at Fillmore Detroit)14. Still Swingin' (live at Fillmore Detroit)15. To Be Loved (live at Fillmore Detroit)16. Last Resort (live at Fillmore Detroit)

Photo credit: Bryson Roatch

Frontiers Music Srl has announced the signing of KEE OF HEARTS, a new band project built around two true melodic rock superstars: Tommy Heart, singer of FAIR WARNING, and Kee Marcello, former EUROPE guitarist. With a lineup rounded out by Ken Sandin (ex-ALIEN) on bass and Italian drummer Marco Di Salvia (PINO SCOTTO), the guys started working on the album in late 2016. With their songwriting strongly focused on melodic rock songs, the album came to completion under the direction of producer Alessandro Del Vecchio and covers a wide spectrum of styles with a lot of attention given to crafting great hooks delivered by musicians that know how to deliver the goods. Musically, the band operates in a territory defined by Scandinavian AOR meeting German melodic hard rock with influences from the classic U.S. AOR giants (think GIANT, JOURNEY, etc.).

STONE SOUR's Corey Taylor and Christian Martucci paid tribute to Chris Cornell Friday night (May 19) at the Rock On The Range festival in Columbus, Ohio.

Tonight's headlining slot was to feature SOUNDGARDEN, but that band's appearance was canceled as a result of Cornell's tragic death.

Just before Taylor and Martucci's performance, LIVE played set that included a version of AUDIOSLAVE's "I Am The Highway" in the SOUNDGARDEN singer's honor.

The STONE SOUR members took the stage and performed a cover of PINK FLOYD's classic "Wish You Were Here", followed by a rendition of the Cornell-penned TEMPLE OF THE DOG song "Hunger Strike".

After Taylor and Martucci played, video and audio footage was displayed of Cornell's various projects, including his isolated vocals in the SOUNDGARDEN song "Black Hole Sun".

Cornell apparently committed suicide by hanging on Wednesday night (May 18) after SOUNDGARDEN played a show in Detroit. He was 52 years old.

Cornell's family issued a statement Friday questioning whether his death by hanging was intentional and if "substances contributed to his demise."

Chris and his wife Vicky had two children, 12-year-old Toni and 11-year-old Christopher, while Chris also had a 16-year-old daughter, Lillian Jean, from his first marriage to former SOUNDGARDEN manager Susan Silver.







Chris Cornell Tribute | Rock On The Range 2017
From the Rock On The Range family...we will always remember you. May you rest in peace.

Posted by Rock On The Range on Friday, May 19, 2017

THE CULT performed an emotional version of its song "Sound And Fury" live for the first time Thursday night (May 18) as a tribute to Chris Cornell, who was found dead earlier that day.

THE CULT singer Ian Astbury introduced the track, which appears on the band's 2016 album "Hidden City", by telling the crowd (see video below): "Today is a very hard day for us. Chris Cornell… If you've got tears, now is the time to let it go. Everything — fucking everything. All of it. All the shame, all the fucking regret, the things you didn't do, the people you didn't tell that you loved that left, the girl that left, the guy that left. Young brother, life, it's profound, it's fragile. You know, we all make choices.

"This is a song that we don't even know, really, but we're gonna do it tonight for Chris, for his family, for you guys, who are fans, friends. We're gonna try and see if this comes off. I'm gonna have to use the paper. This is for the Cornell family, for Susan Silver, for the children. This is 'Sound And Fury'."

Cornell apparently committed suicide by hanging on Wednesday night (May 18) after SOUNDGARDEN played a show in Detroit. He was 52 years old.

Cornell's family issued a statement Friday questioning whether his death by hanging was intentional and if "substances contributed to his demise."

Chris and his wife Vicky had two children, 12-year-old Toni and 11-year-old Christopher, while Chris also had a 16-year-old daughter, Lillian Jean, from his first marriage to former SOUNDGARDEN manager Susan Silver.

HEART singer Ann Wilson paid tribute to Chris Cornell by performing a cover version of the SOUNDGARDEN classic "Black Hole Sun" during an appearance on last night's (Thursday, May 19) episode of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

Cornell apparently committed suicide by hanging on Wednesday night (May 18) after SOUNDGARDEN played a show in Detroit. He was 52 years old.

Ann Wilson and her sister and HEART bandmate Nancy Wilson both issued statements on Thursday honoring their late friend.

"It's important now to keep thoughts of Chris positive," Ann wrote. "He is on his way. We loved him well, now wish him well on his journey. He was and is a beautiful soul." Nancy added: "No one is ever prepared to hear about a death in the family. And today Chris Cornell my brother from my Seattle music family is gone. I thought his voice would forever grace the world of music. Devastating."

Cornell's family issued a statement Friday questioning whether his death by hanging was intentional and if "substances contributed to his demise."

Finnish doom metal band Red Moon Architect has released their third album. It carries the name Return Of The Black Butterflies and is available worldwide via Inverse Records.

Its six tracks, clocking in at 49 minutes, perfectly represent the band's brutally heavy, atmospheric and beautiful soundscape. 

Red Moon Architect has also released a new music video for the title track, "Return Of The Black Butterflies". It tells a haunting story with over six minutes of crushing doom. 

Tracklisting:

"The Haunt"
"Tormented"
"Return Of The Black Butterflies"
"Journey"
"End Of Days"
"NDE"

For further information, visit Red Moon Architect on Facebook.

"Tormented" lyric video:

 

 

Atlanta's Death Of Kings have revealed "Sojourn", a blistering new song from their forthcoming album Kneel Before None, scheduled for release on June 2nd via Boris Records.

Catch Death Of Kings live at the following shows:

June
1 - Atlanta, GA - The Basement
9 - Knoxville, TN - Open Chord
10 - Louisville, KY - Haymarket Whiskey Bar
11 - Indianapolis, IN - State Street Pub
12 - Detroit, MI - New Dodge Lounge
13 - Pittsburgh, PA - Black Forge Coffee House
14 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie
15 - Boston, MA - O'Brien's Pub
16 - New York, NY - Blackthorn 51
17 - Richmond, VA - Strange Matter
18 - Charlotte, NC - The Milestone Club

Visit Death Of Kings on Facebook for further details.

 

 

After three studio albums, The Dead Daisies will release their first live album, Live & Louder, on May 19th via Spitfire Music / SPV. In the video below, sneak a peek at the strictly limited edition boxset.

"It isn't sold out yet, but it will be very soon, so make sure to grab your copy in time," says the band. "We're more than proud of this beautiful box and you can really see that it was made with much blood, sweat and tears."

"With You And I" is the first official single off Live & Louder, the high-octane live album from The Dead Daisies, recorded last year in Europe, scheduled for a May 19th release via Spitfire / SPV. You can pre-order it now at this location.

"We’re quite happy how this staple of our setlist turned out," says The Dead Daisies. "Sounds like a band firing on all cylinders, don’t you think? That happens when we’re all having fun at a show, so thanks to all that come to rock with us. We hope all you new and old fans alike will get a kick out of this - now crank it!"

The Dead Daisies’ awesome live juggernaut is set to storm into North America in August for a dozen prime live dates as part of their Live & Louder World Tour, in support of the release of their landmark Live & Louder album on Spitfire Music / SPV / eOne on May 19th. Heralded as The Dirty Dozen Tour, the trek is set to kick off in Chicago, IL on August 10th and will wrap in Las Vegas, NV on August 27th.

The Dirty Dozen Tour is inspired by the classic 1960s movie of the same name. “Rehearse them, Excite them, Arm them - then turn them loose on the Fans!”

It will be the band’s first North American Headline Tour where demand has been steadily building after 2016’s smash success of their third album Make Some Noise.

Lead singer John Corabi - “We're all very excited for our very first North American headline run. We're kicking it all off on August 10th in Chicago and ending it in 'Sin City' Las Vegas! You guys have been amazing with all of your support and requests for shows here, so we're giving it to you 'Live And Louder', and 'down and dirty' on The Dirty Dozen Tour 2017! See ya on the road kids!”

Before being turned loose on North American audiences, the troops will be fresh from playing some of the most prestigious and high profile UK and European rock festivals coupled with a series of headline club shows, dates in Japan to then make their long-awaited debut in South America. From South America it’s back to one of Europe’s largest festivals Woodstock Poland, to be part of a “Concert Inspired by Freedom” which will see the band perform with a 60-piece Orchestra.

Special guests on this North American run will be The Dives, which the band made instant friends with on the previous years’ KISS Kruise and who will add their own blend of signature rock and roll to the fiery package.

Confirmed dates for The Dirty Dozen Tour are as listed:

August
10 - Arcada Theatre - Chicago, IL
11 - Shelter at Saint Andrews - Detroit, MI
12 - Lee’s Palace - Toronto, ON
16 - House Of Independence - Asbury Park, NJ
17 - Highline Ballroom - New York NY
18 - Rams Head Live - Baltimore, MD
19 - Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
20 - The Basement East - Nashville, TN
23 - Gas Monkey - Dallas, TX
25 - El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
26 - House Of Blues - San Diego, CA
27 - Counts Vamp’d - Las Vegas NV

Live & Louder, will be available in multiple deluxe formats and perfectly captures the awesome vibe of their supreme, sweat drenched, roof-raising live sets, recorded on a heady high at the end of an unbelievable 2016. The result, once again mixed by Anthony Focx (Aerosmith, Bad Company), is an absolute stunner!

Lead guitarist Doug Aldrich has some choice words about the upcoming live album - "Live & Louder really helps define The Dead Daisies’ sound. Like bands I've been involved with co-producing (Whitesnake and Dio), we have a great team that makes sure our sound is consistent and we are always looking to pump it up. Onstage I just play guitar but our crew and production team are very instrumental in capturing what happens on stage. Now get out there and go Live & Louder with us this summer!”

Tracklisting:

"Long Way To Go"
"Mexico"
"Make Some Noise"
"Song And A Prayer"
"Fortunate Son"
"We All Fall Down"
"Lock’N'Load"
"Something I Said"
"Last Time I Saw The Sun"
"Join Together"
"With You And I"
"Band Intros"
"Mainline"
"Helter Skelter"
"American Band"
"Midnight Moses"

Exclusive Bonus 7″ in Limited Edition Box Set:

"My Generation"
"American Band"
"Maggie May"
"Ramble On"

Lead singer John Corabi: “We’re extremely excited and proud of Live & Louder! A lot of the fans have been writing to us and saying how much they LOVED our records but were even more blown away by the band live. The album shows the world how truly loud and supportive The Dead Daisies fans are! Turn It Up!!!!”

Live & Louder formats:

• Digipak (Contains CD & DVD & massive photo booklet. The DVD features an exclusive Live & Louder Documentary, a massive “Make Some Noise World Tour” Documentary, all music videos of the Make Some Noise album cycle and a picture gallery)

• Vinyl (Double 180g Multicolor Vinyl, Gatefold, Printed Inner Sleeves, 4-Page Booklet, CD in Paper-Sleeve)

• Limited Edition Box Set (contains Digipak with CD & DVD, Double 180g 12” Vinyl, Exclusive Colored-Vinyl 7” Single, Poster, Sticker, Button, Patch, PhotoCard)

• Digital Download & Stream

The Live & Louder World Tour 2017 will visit the following countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, United Kingdom, Holland, France, Belgium, Hungary, Czech Republic, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Poland, Canada and the US.

Tour dates:

June
2 - Rock Hard Festival - Gelsenkirchen, Germany
3 - Rock In Vienna - Vienna, Austria
4 - Substage - Karlsruhe, Germany
5 - Druso - Bergamo, Italy
6 - Dynamo - Zürich, Switzerland
8 - Amager Bio - Copenhagen, Denmark
9 - Sweden Rock Festival - Solvesborg, Sweden
11 - Download Festival - Donnington, United Kingdom
12 - Liquid Room - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
14 - Boerderij - Zoetermeer, Netherlands
16 - Le Forum - Vaureal, France
17 - Hellfest - Clisson, France
18 - Graspop Metal Meeting - Dessel, Belgium
20 - Hirsch - Nürnberg, Germany
21 - Hellraiser - Leipzig, Germany
23 - Harley Days Festival - Hamburg, Germany
25 - Bluesiana - Velden, Austria
26 - Bluesiana - Velden, Austria
27 - Rockhouse - Salzburg, Austria
28 - A38 - Budapest, Hungary
29 - Lucerna Music Bar - Prague, Czech Republic

July
1 - Freigericht Rockt Festival - Freigericht, Germany
5 - Shibuya Club Quattro - Tokyo, Japan
6 - Umeda Club Quattro - Osaka, Japan
12 - Opera de Arame - Curitiba, Brazil (special guest to Richie Kotzen)
13 - Carioca Club - Sao Paulo, Brazil (special guest to Richie Kotzen)
15 - Vorterix - Buenos Aires, Argentina
16 - Teatro Vorterix - Rosario, Argentina
18 - TBA - Santiago, Chile

August
3 - Woodstock Poland - Kostrzyn, Poland
10 - Arcada Theatre - Chicago, IL
11 - Shelter at Saint Andrews - Detroit, MI
12 - Lee’s Palace - Toronto, ON
16 - House Of Independence - Asbury Park, NJ
17 - Highline Ballroom - New York NY
18 - Rams Head Live - Baltimore, MD
19 - Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
20 - The Basement East - Nashville, TN
23 - Gas Monkey - Dallas, TX
25 - El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
26 - House Of Blues - San Diego, CA
27 - Counts Vamp’d - Las Vegas NV

For additional information visit thedeaddaisies.com. To read BraveWords scribe Aaron Small's review of Live & Louder, click here.

The Dirty Dozen Tour Trailer:

“Make Some Noise” live video:

Live & Louder Trailer:

Shadow Kingdom Records has announced the signing of the UK's Horrified. The first fruit of this union shall be the band's forthcoming third album, Allure Of The Fallen, which will be released this Fall.

A work of towering, melodic death metal majesty, Allure Of The Fallen is the record by which Horrified continue their ascent and truly stake their claim as the genre's elite - and render a new modern classic to the canon. Hailing from Newcastle upon Tyne, Horrified was born in 2012 with humble beginnings. An acolyte worshiping the altar of old-school death metal, founder and creator Dan Alderson would later transform the project into a full band.

Like so many of their predecessors, Horrified took a sidestep and evolved into melodic and grandiose territory, adding twin-guitar harmonies and increasing its scope into epic territory without sacrificing their original vision of savage OSDM. After releasing two full-length albums on various labels, assaulting UK underground audiences with tight, energetic live performances and taking their aural onslaught to European audiences, Horrified took steps up from the underground with wide, positive acclaim for the second full-length album Of Despair.

But now, with the impending release of third album Allure Of The Fallen, Horrified has been reborn into something far more vast than ever originally imagined. Comprising six expansive tracks in an epic 46 minutes, Allure Of The Fallen finds the band in an enviable state of maturity, exuding class and power in equal measure, their ever-winding but never-extraneous compositions truly taking the listener on a journey into what real - and really melodic - death metal can encompass. Thus, Horrified's signing to Shadow Kingdom for the album's release is a logical alliance to bolster the band's ever-growing evolution and constant broadening of vision, scope, and horizons. Patient but never slumbering, Horrified arises from the ashes of a barren landscape, shrouded in majesty, resurrected in ancient art. This is the Allure Of The Fallen: pay witness to the dawn of majesty.

Album release date, cover art, tracklisting, and first track premiere to be announced shortly. Until then, visit Horrified on Facebook.

 

Dead Asylum will release sophomore album Death Always Wins on June 2nd. On the follow-up to 2013 debut General Carnage, the Vancouver, Canada band has sharpened the songwriting to a fine point and bolstered its established muscular attack with a harder rhythmic punch and an even deadlier arsenal of riffs.

Enjoy a stream of album opener "Defiance" via the Soundcloud audio player below:   

With an unexpected combination of thrash and melodeath elements reminiscent of the Gothenburg Sound (At The Gates, Arch Enemy), Dead Asylum's Death Always Wins is one killer listen. The songs on Death Always Wins range from thrashy headbangers, to technical compositions, and chantable, heavy metal anthems. While it might seem like their sound covers the spectrum of metal, everything is tied together by brutal dual vocals and melodic leads. Lyrical themes include revolution and political uprising, the apocalypse, and-as the band name alludes-twisted facets of the human psyche. The band's famously intense live shows are about to get fiercer when the new material is left beaten and bloodied on the stage.

Death Always Wins was tracked at Jam Factory Studios in Port Coquitlam, BC; recorded and edited by Roger Mowat; and mix/mastered by Chris Holmes. Pierre-Alain (3mmi Design) was responsible for the album art.

Tracklisting:

“Defiance”
“Death Always Wins”
“Between Me And The Grave”
“Bury The Living”
“Forgotten Sacrifice”
“Bred To Die”
“Welcome”
“Inmate 666”

Drummer Samantha Landa in many ways defines Dead Asylum's unbridled energy and inability to ever just stand still. Landa performed with Brazilian thrashers and Napalm Records artist Nervosa for three months throughout North America and Europe in 2016, including on a tour package that also featured Destruction, Flotsam & Jetsam, and Enforcer. And all the while ran her online business from the road.

Previously, Landa even served as a Pool Girl on the annual 70000 Tons of Metal cruise.

Dead Asylum will hit the road for the American SaniTOURium Tour, beginning in August. Confirmed dates thus far can be found below.

“Death Always Wins” lyric video:

“Forgotten Sacrifice” video:

German Power metal band ORDEN OGAN premieres the first video clip taken from the upcoming album „Gunmen”. The group’s new music video, filmed for the song “Gunman”, was once again directed by Rainer “Zipp” Fränzen, who works with the band since 2012’s “To The End” album and its video releases “The Things We Believe In” and “Land Of The Dead”.

“The creation of the “Gunman” clip was once again real team work”, band leader Seeb Levermann states. "The new ORDEN OGAN album "Gunmen" is set in a dark fantasy Wild West environment, so obviously we had to go to Monument Valley (Utah) to shoot there. There is no other place in the world that is more "Wild West”. We shot at the classic Monument Valley scenery as well as at the famous John Ford’s Point and also did horseback rides.”

The second extensive part of filming took place in Germany, but also here the band tried something new. “A Western city in an adventure park proved to be the perfect location”, Seeb smiles. “Things came full circle here, because we’ve also recorded the drums for “Gunman” there - to be more specific - in the “Western Saloon” of the “Fort Fun” adventure park. We wanted to have this huge 80ies snare ambience that you can only get from big rooms. When the Wild West concept took form, we learned about the Saloon (in Fort Fun), did some test recordings there and were totally blown away. The hall sounds amazing and "Gunmen" may be my best sounding mix so far."

The “Gunmen” album consists of 10 songs, incl. a guest appearance by former Leaves’ Eyes/Theatre Of Tragedy vocalist Liv Kristine on the track “Come With Me To The Other Side”.
“Gunmen” was once again produced by the band’s guitarist/vocalist Seeb Levermann, who just recently has also completed mix & mastering of the upcoming Rhapsody Of Fire release “Legendary Years”.

“Gunmen” will be released on July 7th, available as CD, ltd. Digipak (incl. “Live At Wacken 2016” bonus DVD), ltd. colored Vinyl (red and silver), ltd. Picture Vinyl and ltd. “coffin” box set (incl. ltd. Digipak, a figure of the band mascot "Alister Vale" (ca. 15 cm tall) and more).

BLOODCLOT, the project featuring John Joseph of the CRO-MAGS, plus former members of QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE (Joey Castillo, drums; Nick Oliveri, bass), and DANZIG (Todd Youth, guitar), will release its new album, "Up In Arms", on July 14 via Metal Blade Records. The cover artwork for the disc can be seen below.

The song "Kali", taken from "Up In Arms", can be streamed below.

BLOODCLOT has confirmed a near-three-week U.S. tour with NEGATIVE APPROACH. ] In addition to being the leader of one of the most influential hardcore bands of all time — the CRO-MAGS — Joseph is an author, an outspoken advocate of plant-based nutrition, and a competitive Ironman tri-athlete. Youth — who played in AGNOSTIC FRONT at the age of 12 — has played guitar with a myriad of artists, including DANZIG, Glen Campbell, MOTÖRHEAD, Ace Frehley, and many more. Additionally, Nick Oliveri has played bass in QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, alongside one of the most sought-after drummers in the scene, Joey Castillo — who has also sat behind the kit for DANZIG and EAGLES OF DEATH METAL.

These four renowned musicians came together when CRO-MAGS guitarist AJ Novello was unable to play a show, and John Joseph called Todd Youth to fill in for him. The two rekindled their friendship and enjoyed playing together so much that a decision was made to reform BLOODCLOT (whose origins date back to a 1981 BAD BRAINS tour). Todd began the songwriting process, and soon after, Joey Castillo and Nick Oliveri were recruited to join the band. With the new lineup in place, and songs to record, Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel offered BLOODCLOT a worldwide deal.

BLOODCLOT is:

John Joseph (CRO-MAGS) - Vocals Todd Youth (ex-DANZIG) - GuitarsNick Oliveri (ex-QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE) - BassJoey Castillo (ex-QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, ex-DANZIG) - Drums

Photo credit: Wass Photography, Dustin Jack Photography, Lloyd Nickell, Tony Virgadamo

The official lyric video for "Great Heathen Army", a brand new song from ICED EARTH, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's new album, "Incorruptible", which will be released on June 16 via Century Media. The cover artwork for the disc (as well as additional illustrations to every song) was created by David Newman-Stump from Skeleton Crew Tattoo (pencil illustrations) and Roy Young (colors).

"Incorruptible" track listing:

01. Great Heathen Army (5:21)02. Black Flag (4:56)03. Raven Wing (6:25)04. The Veil (4:47)05. Seven Headed Whore (3:00)06. The Relic (Part 1) (4:59)07. Ghost Dance (Awaken The Ancestors) (6:35)08. Brothers (4:45)09. Defiance (4:08)10. Clear The Way (December 13th, 1862) (9:30)

"Incorruptible" will be available in the following formats:

* Deluxe CD digipak with extensive booklet, fold-out poster and slipcase (only available in Europe)* CD digipak (only available in the USA)* Strictly limited artbook with 36-page booklet with introduction, additional artworks, sketches and comments by Jon Schaffer to each individual song, CD and double 10" vinyl, worldwide limited to only 3000 copies* Deluxe 2LP version in various vinyl colors (see below for exact color split) with gatefold sleeve, 4-page lyric sheet, 180-gram vinyl, black anti-static inner sleeves, etching and 12-page LP-booklet with artworks to each of the 10 songs* Standard CD jewel case* Digital download / stream

The 2LP version of "Incorruptible" is offered in the following vinyl colors:

* Black vinyl: unlimited and offered through all retail channels* Dark-green vinyl: limited to 200 copies, exclusively available in the U.K.* Yellow vinyl: limited to 200 copies, exclusively available in France* Clear vinyl: limited to 100 copies, exclusively available at Century Media's European online store* Lilac vinyl: limited to 200 copies, exclusively available at Nuclear Blast* Silver vinyl: limited to 200 copies, exclusively available at EMP* Transparent-red vinyl: limited to 500 copies, distributed through RED in the USA* White vinyl: limited to 300 copies, exclusively offered in the USA through F.Y.E.* Transparent-orange vinyl: limited to 200 copies, exclusively sold by ICED EARTH on tour

The artbook version of "Incorruptible" will be offered in the following vinyl colors:

* Transparent-red vinyl: main version, available through all retail channels* Clear vinyl: limited to 100 copies, exclusively available at Century Media's European online store* Golden vinyl: limited to 200 copies, available at various online stores* Black vinyl: limited to 200 copies, available at various online stores* Silver vinyl: limited to 200 copies, exclusively available at Nuclear Blast* Transparent-orange vinyl: limited to 200 copies, exclusively sold by ICED EARTH on tour

Regarding how "Incorruptible" compares to previous ICED EARTH albums, guitarist and main songwriter Jon Schaffer told Metal Wani: "They're all kind of their own thing, but I have a very strong gut feeling about this, and so does everybody in the band, that this is one of the really special ones. So I put it up there with 'The Dark Saga' [1996], 'Something Wicked This Way Comes' [1998], 'Dystopia' [2011] — it's in that league of records — so it's really gonna be something special, man. I know musicians always say that, but there is something going on here, so it's cool. We're all very excited about it."

On the topic of the concept for the lyrics on "Incorruptible", Schaffer said: "There is no concept on this record; it's just ten individual tracks not related to each other. Actually, on 'Plagues Of Babylon' [2014], it was only the first six that were related to the 'Something Wicked' story; it was like a zombie apocalypse within the 'Something Wicked' framework. But this album, it's just ten individual songs. We have one called 'Clear The Way', which is about the Irish Brigade at the Battle Of Fredericksburg — very tragic, actually — but that's a big epic, like ten minutes; and then we have one called 'Black Flag', which is a pirate song. It's quite a… I think I pulled it off pretty well with the lyrics, to be able to tell such a big story in a very short amount of time. I think it's gonna be a highlight of the record. And then on [the last European] tour, [we opened] the show with a new song that will be the opener on the album — it's called 'Great Heathen Army' — that's got a Viking kind of a vibe to it. So there's a lot of different things, and none of it's really related. There's one called 'Raven Wing'… I can't really think of all of them righ now… 'Seven Headed Whore' — that's one that's actually pretty brutal; it's like a total kick in the balls. But, you know, there's a lot of varied emotions on this, and it's cool stuff, man."

Asked about singer Stu Block's contribution to "Incorruptible", Schaffer said: "Well, he came at the end of… for about the last month or so of pre-production… maybe a little bit more… five weeks… and we worked on his vocal parts. We do it like Stu and I normally do it. Some of the stuff we write together. I mean, I write the musical arrangements and do all that — he doesn't play any instruments — but he comes in… At the end of the writing process is when we focus on his parts. And the lyrics that we worked on together, on a song called 'Brother', which is about our brotherhood, [between] Stu and I and within the band… We've gone through a lot of shit together and we've had a lot of great times together, but the bond is very strong, and that's clear. So it's just a song, really, for us. And then he wrote the lyrics for 'The Great Heathen Army'. I'm trying to think… I can't think of 'em, man; I have to look at the list [of songs]. But usually, he goes to an area and works, and I go in my area and work. And, like I said, on some songs we collaborate sometimes. On this one, the only we did was 'Brother'… We work in the way we always work. And it's a very cool chemistry."

ICED EARTH took a break from touring in 2015, primarily due to Schaffer's second cervical fusion surgery.

Longtime ICED EARTH drummer Brent Smedley returned to the band for the current recording and touring cycle. Smedley had to step down due to personal family reasons in 2013 shortly before the recording of "Plagues Of Babylon".