Former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted says that the technical issues the band faced during its collaboration with Lady Gaga at this year's Grammy Awards made the performance "more powerful."

METALLICA's appearance with Gaga at the 59th annual event in Los Angeles on February 12 turned into something of a disaster when the Grammy sound crew did not turn frontman James Hetfield's mic on, forcing him to share the mic with Gaga after the first verse and chorus.

As a further humiliation, presenter Laverne Cox did not even introduce METALLICA by name. At the end of the song, a visibly angry Hetfield hurled his guitar at a road crew member while kicking over his mic stand.

Asked for his opinion on some METALLICA fans' criticism of the band's decision to work with Lady Gaga, Newsted told the "Metal Injection Livecast": "I think that doubting METALLICA ever is not really that smart anytime, for whatever reason. It's kind of [like] they keep getting back up again ready for another fight. It's pretty impressive. I've been in, out of it, back, inside of it and whatever, man, I've seen it from all places, and it's nothing but respectable."

He continued: "Yes, I did see the performance. Yes, I watched them as their brother, I watched them as a supporting spectator person that's in the camp. So, as a fan, I was really pissed off at how… the disrespect because of the equipment. That's not okay with me. That shit's not okay with me. But for them taking a chance, just like they have with anything, whether we agreed with it or not, it's not really for us to say. If they wanna take that chance with somebody that's as talented and powerful as Lady Gaga, then they should be doing it. They are the same caliber she is. She was lucky to be there with them.'

Newsted added: "We could discuss this and all blah blah blah, but the victory of that performance was that because the gear failed, James and [Lady Gaga] were able to rise to a place as the experienced superstar performers that they are, feed off each other on that moment, forced into that moment. And it made it a more powerful performance than they could have planned if they had rehearsed it twenty fucking times. They rose to the occasion and they pushed each other to a further place than they would have ever on their own. It was fantastic… I thought that was a huge, huge, huge shiny crown that came out of that. It showed what the people are made of. A large percentage of the persons in that room that are performers would have been in a puddle on the floor when that shit was presented to them, when that adversity was presented to them."

Shortly after this year's Grammy Awards, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told Rolling Stone that Gaga was the "quintessential perfect fifth member of this band," saying, "Her voice, her attitude, her outlook on everything is so awesome. [The performance] was so effortless and organic and she just has the spirit of hard rock and metal flowing through her veins. It comes really easy for her. There's nothing contrived; she just has this super warm, easy energy."

METALLICA was up for a Grammy this year for "Best Rock Song" for the track "Hardwired" from its new album, "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", but lost to the late David Bowie's "Blackstar".

Newsted will debut his first major international exhibition of his contemporary art, titled "Rawk", at the third edition of Art New York at Pier 94, opening Wednesday, May 3, and continuing through Sunday, May 7, to kick off New York Art Week.

Rob Herrera of Front Row Live conducted an interview with SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR singer Corey Taylor on the red carpet of the inaugural "Strange 80s" benefit concert, which was held on Sunday, May 14 at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles, California. You can now watch the chat below.

Regarding STONE SOUR's decision to record its new album, "Hydrograd", live in the studio, Taylor said: "We haven't done it since the first album, to be honest. It was awesome, dude. There's an energy to everything that you just can't get when you're staring at a computer screen. And you're vibing on each other, and all those little pieces of ear candy are coming out and you're reacting to different things. Man, it is a whole other beast when you can do it. So, kids, practice, and be able to do it well, I guess. Or better than me anyways."

Corey also talked about STONE SOUR's musical approach on "Hydrograd", which STONE SOUR bassist Johny Chow previously described as "a straight rock and roll album." Taylor said: "We just wanted to kind of go back to the basics. There's still elements of the heavy stuff, but at the same time, there's just such a great rock and roll abandon going on that I just feel like nobody's really doing right now. And in a lot of ways, a lot of people are afraid to use the term 'rock,' which is stupid — pull your head out of your ass. And it's, like, they won't say it, they won't feel it, they won't give in to it, so they're not gonna be it. And we're, like, 'Screw that! We're totally a rock band. And if you don't like it, shove it up your ass.' So that's what we do."

"Hydrograd" will be released on June 30 via Roadrunner. The disc was recorded at Sphere Studios in North Hollywood, California with producer Jay Ruston, who has previously worked with ANTHRAX and STEEL PANTHER.

STONE SOUR tracked a total of 18 songs from which 15 will make the CD.

The Paul Brown-directed video for "Fabuless" was filmed on April 18 in Los Angeles.

STONE SOUR will play the Rock On The Range Kick-Off Party on Thursday, May 18 at Express Live! in Columbus, Ohio. The event will start the Rock On The Range weekend, with METALLICA, SOUNDGARDEN and KORN headlining this year's festival.

STONE SOUR will also be special guests of KORN on the latter act's "Serenity Of Summer" trek, which starts on June 16 in Salt Lake City and wraps on August 2 in Cleveland.

Currently celebrating their 20th anniversary, Italian metal icons LACUNA COIL and the band's longtime label, Century Media, have decided that it is time to enter another chapter in their relationship. Both parties are pleased to announce that LACUNA COIL have just signed a new deal with Century Media.

LACUNA COIL lead vocalist Cristina Scabbia shared her feelings on the band's continued partnership with their longstanding label: "I am so excited to have signed with Century Media again. Nowadays it is so important that, whichever label is backing up an artist or a band, one has full trust in the artistic and musical vision. I know that LACUNA COIL and Century Media will continue to work hard together to make common goals happen faster and more successfully.' Andrea Ferro (vocals) adds his thoughts: "We are really excited about starting this new adventure with Century Media Records. We've had some great 20 years together that helped us become an internationally successful band. Like in every relationship, there have been ups and downs, but overall we've worked with some great people who have always been willing to grow up with the band and together we have achieved really amazing goals. Here's to another chapter about to start and more successful stories!"

Antje Lange, general manager international of Century Media Records, also commented on the label's new deal with LACUNA COIL, saying: "Century Media Records is very happy that LACUNA COIL have renewed their contract with us and we are very much looking forward to the next albums from this exceptional Italian band. Century Media appreciates the continuous trust of the band. The recent album 'Delirium' charted in 12 countries and the band is touring around the globe."

In addition to re-signing with Century Media, LACUNA COIL recently announced that they will be joining Dutch symphonic metal giants EPICA on the North American leg of the band's "The Ultimate Principle" tour. The month-long September trek marks the band's first U.S. tour dates in over a year, as they continue to support their latest full length studio album, "Delirium". Joining LACUNA COIL and EPICA on "The Ultimate Principle" tour are INSOMNIUM and ELANTRIS.

"Delirium" was released last May through Century Media. The CD was recorded at BRX Studio in Milan between December 2015 and February 2016. The effort was produced by LACUNA COIL bassist and main songwriter Marco "Maki" Coti-Zelati, with engineering by Marco Barusso and additional assistance from Dario Valentini. Coti-Zelati also created the artwork for "Delirium", which is based on an atmospheric session captured by Italian photographer Alessandro Olgiati.

LACUNA COIL has recruited Diego Cavallotti as a fill-in guitarist for the band following the departure of Marco "Maus" Biazzi.

Biazzi left LACUNA COIL in January 2016, explaining in a statement: "I felt I couldn't add more in this project any longer so I decided to leave my second family, LACUNA COIL, to take a different path for a new challenge in my life.

LACUNA COIL in February 2014 parted ways with guitarist Cris "Pizza" Migliore and drummer Cristiano "Criz" Mozzati.

Dutch progressive metallers TEXTURES have announced their breakup.

The band says in a statement: "Ladies and gentlemen, there is no easy way to say this, so here it is: TEXTURES comes to an end.

"Personal motives have led to this decision and it has not been made in haste. These personal reasons made it harder to be the productive band TEXTURES always has been in the past and which this band needs to be. Without this dedication, TEXTURES would merely be a shell of what it used to be.

"Break-ups are never easy and always bring difficulties. Unfortunately, we have to announce that our anticipated sixth album, 'Genotype', will not be released and so there will be no double album. At least not for the coming years...

"The breakup of TEXTURES doesn't mean that there is any hardship within the band. We still have a strong connection with current and former members and this decision won't lead to any tensions whatsoever. Furthermore, the individual band members will continue to make music and pursue new musical endeavours. Keep your eyes and ears open...

"Thanks to all the friends, fellow musicians and other colleagues we have had the pleasure to meet along the way. And, of course, special thanks to all the fans who have supported us throughout the years. It is your dedication, appreciation and continued presence at our shows all over the world that made this journey one to remember for a lifetime. We hope to see you all very soon on our farewell tour.

Before the band's story comes to an end, TEXTURES will play a series of farewell shows later this year.

TEXTURES' latest album, "Phenotype", came out in February 2016 via Nuclear Blast. The effort was described in a press release as "a song-based, 60-minute-long album which presents an eclectic overview of what modern metal offers."

Photo credit: Tim Tronckoe

Yoshiki of X JAPAN underwent surgery for cervical artificial disc replacement on Tuesday, May 16 at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. The operation was concluded successfully. Diagnosed as having "cervical foraminal stenosis" (radiculopathy of the left arm and herniated discs at the C5-C6 levels) due to his intense drumming style, his artificial disc replacement surgery required several hours of highly intricate skills by Dr. Neel Anand. Yoshiki is currently in stable condition. According to the doctor, he will have difficulty using his voice for a while after the surgery. He should regain his regular voice within the coming months as recovery progresses. The incision is expected to heal partially over the next six weeks, and 90 percent recovery is expected over the next six months. However, the length of time it will take for Yoshiki to see improvement on the nerve pain that runs down his left arm is still unknown. Ordinarily, Yoshiki should remain in the hospital for at least a few days after the surgery. After waking up from general anesthesia and under heavy analgesics, he expressed that he wanted to record a song he was writing from up until the night before surgery. Persuading his doctor into releasing him from the hospital a few hours after surgery, he headed for the studio and stayed there for half an hour. However, since his condition after surgery was too extreme, his staff and the accompanying nurse managed to get him back home to rest under his physician’s care. In regards to the "X Japan World Tour 2017 We Are X" scheduled in July, the Yoshiki Premium Dinner Show dates in August and September, and other X JAPAN world tour dates, decisions will be made based on his recovery. The band's management hopes to make announcements as soon as possible.

The setlist for MORBID ANGEL's upcoming tour will not include any material from the David Vincent era of the band, it has been revealed. Speaking to Orlando Weekly, MORBID ANGEL's current frontman, Steve Tucker, who is back for his third spell with the group, was asked if the trek — which kicks off on May 23 in Orlando, Florida — will see the band performing any songs from its recently completed new studio album. "Probably one or two new songs; the album's almost done, but we don't want to put out too much with YouTube putting it up the next day," Tucker explained. "The setlist will be different, too — in the past, we've covered all of MORBID ANGEL's discography, but this time we went with the discography between Trey [Azagthoth, guitar] and I. I'm really excited about the fact that every song we play is a song I was a part of. There are some MORBID ANGEL classics that aren't there, but we made our own classics."

MORBID ANGEL's new disc was recorded at Mana Recording in St. Petersburg, Florida with producer — and former MORBID ANGEL guitarist — Erik Rutan. Tentatively due in the fall via UDR Music, the LP will mark the band's first release with drummer Scott Fuller (ANNIHILATED, ex-ABYSMAL DAWN) who joined MORBID ANGEL last year following the departure of Tim Yeung. It will also be MORBID ANGEL's first album to feature Tucker since 2003's "Heretic".

Tucker told "The Metal Magdalene With Jet" show about MORBID ANGEL's approach on the upcoming album: "It was really just about writing music — it was just about writing a MORBID ANGEL album. Nobody said, 'Hey, we wanna go in this direction,' nobody said anything. I mean, there's obvious things there. I've said it before — I'm a death metal guy, so, for me, it's gonna be a death metal album; if I'm on it, it's death metal. So it was just about making a MORBID ANGEL album. It was really about coming in with something new, something fresh, but yet it still being MORBID ANGEL. Really, honestly, we didn't approach this any differently than any of the other albums I was involved in except for maybe [1998's] 'Formulas Fatal To The Flesh', which 'Formulas', Trey wrote all the music, all the lyrics and things like that. But this was done more similar to maybe [2000's] 'Gateways To Annihilation', where everybody had their contribution. Trey wrote a bunch of songs, I wrote songs, Scotty contributed some ideas. There was a lot of back-and-forth. In the end, it has to become a MORBID ANGEL song. And at this point, I feel that it's very much a MORBID ANGEL album."

MORBID ANGEL in January announced the addition of Dan Vadim Von (guitarist/frontman of the American death metal band VADIMVON) to the band's lineup on second guitar. He joined the group as the replacement for Norwegian guitarist Destructhor (a.k.a. Thor Anders Myhren), who left the band a year and a half ago.

MORBID ANGEL's first U.S. tour of 2017 will feature support from SUFFOCATION, REVOCATION and WITHERED.

The tour will commence in Orlando at the Beachum and continue around the country until June 27, in New Orleans at the House Of Blues.

Former MORBID ANGEL frontman David Vincent recently joined forces with several other musicians — including Yeung (drums) — to perform classic MORBID ANGEL songs under the I AM MORBID banner.

MORBID ANGEL's controversial 2011 album, "Illud Divinum Insanus", marked the group's first CD to feature Vincent since "Domination".

Professionally filmed video footage of METALLICA performing the song "Halo On Fire" on May 14 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey as part of the North American leg of the "WorldWired" tour can be seen below.

METALLICA's setlist was as follows:

01. Hardwired02. Atlas, Rise!03. For Whom The Bell Tolls04. Fuel05. The Unforgiven06. Now That We're Dead07. Moth Into Flame08. Wherever I May Roam09. Halo On Fire10. Whiplash11. Sad But True12. One13. Master Of Puppets14. Fade To Black15. Seek & Destroy

Encore:

16. Fight Fire With Fire17. Nothing Else Matters18. Enter Sandman

METALLICA was joined in East Rutherford, as they will be on most of the rest of the trek, by VOLBEAT and AVENGED SEVENFOLD.

The North American run will hit stadiums in 22 more cities before ending in mid-August. METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told Rolling Stone that the band was genuinely surprised to learn they could still play stadiums, saying, "It was like, 'Holy fuck, people really still care about this band in ways that you stopped taking for granted literally decades ago. It was very inspiring and kind of eye-opening."

He added: "Full stadium runs can sometimes be a little intimidating. There's all these things to worry about like, 'You should really try to play maybe only on the weekend,' and, 'Where do you play on Tuesday?' and some of those practicalities can get a little bewildering. We just threw caution to the wind. Doing a stadium run seemed like the perfect thing on the back of how well this record has been received and all the good will that's out there in METALLICA's world right now."

The next stop on the tour is The New Coliseum Presented By NYCB in Uniondale, New York on Wednesday (May 17).

Quality multi-camera video footage of Joe Lynn Turner's April 28 performance at the Token Lounge in Westland, Michigan can be seen below (video produced by George S Pogacich).

Joe Lynn Turner last year slammed Ritchie Blackmore for the guitarist's decision to go out and perform classic DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW material with a new group musicians instead of reforming RAINBOW with a more "authentic" lineup.

Regarding why he thinks Ritchie has chosen to go out with a whole new RAINBOW lineup instead of bringing back some of the musicians who played on the band's classic records, Joe said: "The first thing I think I can say is that he's been misguided by people around him. That's what I really believe. I believe he's been misguided, and I believe he trusts these people and I think that he made a mistake doing this."

He continued: "I wanted an authentic reunion. I wanted guys from Doogie [White] and Graham [Bonnet] and [bassist] Bob Daisley and [drummer Bobby] Rondinelli, and all these guys, and I wanted to have a RAINBOW extravaganza, because there are a lot of fans that love RAINBOW that still haven't even seen RAINBOW, and this would be the ticket for them — you know, maybe a two-hour extravaganza. So I guess the people, his advisers or whoever, could not sell him that particular [idea], or maybe they never even told him that. I actually have a feeling that he was not full of the information at the time, because certain things have come to pass that sort of indicated that he didn't know about it, to me."

Joe was the singer of RAINBOW between 1980 and 1984 and he sang on the album "Difficult To Cure", which featured the band's most successful U.K. single, "I Surrender".

During Turner's time with RAINBOW, the band had its first USA chart success and recorded songs that helped define the melodic rock genre.

Blackmore was joined at last year's RAINBOW gigs by LORDS OF BLACK singer Ronnie Romero, STRATOVARIUS keyboardist Jens Johansson, BLACKMORE'S NIGHT drummer David Keith and bassist Bob Nouveau (a.k.a. Robert "Bob" Curiano, ex-BLACKMORE'S NIGHT).

Death metal overlords DYING FETUS have premiered the music video for "Panic Amongst The Herd", another track off their eighth studio album, "Wrong One To Fuck With". The clip was directed, animated and edited by Mount Emult.

"Wrong One To Fuck With" will be released on June 23 via Relapse.

On their first new release in over five years, the seasoned veterans manage to further stretch their creative and technical boundaries across ten complex tracks of pulverizing death metal, filled with more dynamic intricacies, brutal breakdowns and varied vocal patterns than ever before. Now over twenty-five years into their distinguished career, DYING FETUS cement their legacy with "Wrong One To Fuck With" and uphold their position as one of the most dominant forces in death metal today.

The first press of "Wrong One To Fuck With" on CD includes an expanded, deluxe packaging and the exclusive bonus track "Induce Terror".

"Wrong One To Fuck With" track listing:

01. Fixated On Devastation02. Panic Amongst The Herd03. Die With Integrity04. Reveling In The Abyss05. Seething With Disdain06. Ideological Subjugation07. Weaken The Structure08. Fallacy09. Unmitigated Detestation10. Wrong One To Fuck With

DYING FETUS is currently touring Europe with HATEBREED.

Photo credit: John Sisk

BODY COUNT, the metal band fronted by hip-hop legend, actor and director Ice-T, has partnered with renowned graphic artist Tommy Ruffin to create a new animated, violent music video for "The Ski Mask Way". The song is featured on BODY COUNT's latest album, "Bloodlust", which was released on March 31 via Century Media Records.

Ice-T stated about the track: "I was noticing people on the streets showing off their expensive jewelry and money on social media. They are just making themselves a target for the robbers out there just watching their Instagram to see what they are flaunting. In L.A., they call Instagram 'Jacker's Uber,' seeing what clubs people are at and livestream the robbers to their front door."

"Bloodlust" was recorded with producer Will Putney (MISS MAY I, UPON A BURNING BODY), who also helmed 2014's "Manslaughter". The new CD features guest appearances by Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, SEPULTURA), MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine and LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe. The effort also contains BODY COUNT's medley of the SLAYER songs "Postmortem" and "Raining Blood".

Ice-T recently told Revolver magazine about the "Bloodlust" album title: "Bloodlust is part of the human makeup. Murder is about as normal as love. It's in our nature to want to get violent and kill, but we know there are consequences. That's why we like violent movies, video games and combat sports. It's in our DNA. It's what we are."

Known for being one of the most incendiary and influential bands in hardcore and modern metal history, apocalyptic heavy music icons INTEGRITY return with their highly anticipated twelfth studio album, titled "Howling, For The Nightmare Shall Consume". A conceptual foretelling of the final days of Armageddon, "Howling..." is a manifestation of pentecostal nightmares and religious depravities, wrought with fire and brimstone sermons and occult prophecies bathed in waves of destruction. Now with almost thirty years of creating dark and terrifying anthems under their belt, INTEGRITY has honored its past musical legacy while fearlessly moving forward into unchartered territory on what is undoubtedly its most elaborate and ambitious effort to date.

"Howling, For The Nightmare Shall Consume" was recorded and mixed at Developing Nations Studio in Baltimore with mastering handled by Brad Boatright (OBITUARY, TOXIC HOLOCAUST, FULL OF HELL). The album will see its release on CD/2xLP/Deluxe 3xLP/CS/digital via Relapse Records on July 14. A music video for the song "I Am The Spell", directed by frontman Dwid Hellion, can be viewed below.

Physical pre-orders and exclusive bundles are currently available via Relapse.com while digital pre-orders are available via Bandcamp. The deluxe 3xLP contains three additional bonus tracks, a 12-page LP-sized booklet featuring expanded artwork and a double-sided slipmat. The digital version will include four additional bonus tracks.

Additionally, INTEGRITY recently announced a European tour this June followed by a Japanese tour in October. "Howling, For The Nightmare Shall Consume" track listing:

01. Fallen To Destroy02. Blood Sermon03. Hymn For The Children of the Black Flame04. I Am The Spell05. Die With Your Boots On06. Serpent of the Crossroads07. Unholy Salvation of Sabbatai Zevi08. 7 Reece Mews09. Burning Beneath the Devils Cross10. String Up My Teeth11. Howling, For The Nightmare Shall Consume 12. Viselle De Drac (Digital / Deluxe Vinyl Bonus Track)13. Entartete Kunst (Digital / Deluxe Vinyl Bonus Track)14. Deathly Fighter (Digital / Deluxe Vinyl Bonus Track)15. The Perfect Silence (Digital Bonus Track)

Photo credit: Jimmy Hubbard

The song "Ferryman" from THE FERRYMEN, the new project featuring guitarist Magnus Karlsson (MAGNUS KARLSSON'S FREE FALL, PRIMAL FEAR), vocalist Ronnie Romero (LORDS OF BLACK, RAINBOW) and drummer Mike Terrana (TARJA, RAGE, AXEL RUDI PELL, VISION DIVINE), can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's self-titled debut album, which will be released on June 2 via Frontiers Music Srl.

The songs for "The Ferrymen" were written by Karlsson in Sweden during the summer of 2016. Once Romero was sent the music via their main bands' shared label home Frontiers, he immediately wanted to be part of the project. Terrana was the last piece of the puzzle and he recorded his drums in Italy, where he currently resides. The resulting album is a shot of adrenaline for all lovers of melodic metal! Musically, you can expect maximum melodic metal fusing the songwriting and epic structures of the great ALLEN/LANDE records (for which Magnus Karlsson was the main architect of the first three widely praised releases) with the Ronnie James Dio-esque vocal approach of Romero. (Let's not forget that Romero was hand-picked by DEEP PURPLE (1968-1976) and RAINBOW's legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore to be the lead vocalist for RAINBOW's recent reunion shows, so the Dio comparison is more than accurate!) Says Magnus: "When I wrote this record, having Ronnie singing, I had no limits in mind with the lyrics. Ronnie could sing everything and I am also very proud of the songs." Adds Romero: "I am used to working with LORDS OF BLACK in a certain straight style, but this record was very different and it was very exciting for me." "Overall, I think it is one of the coolest and grooviest records I've ever done," concludes Terrana, a drummer with more than a hundred records under his belt! With stunning artwork courtesy of Stan W. Decker and an outstanding mix courtesy of Simone Mularoni (of Italian prog metal masters DGM), "The Ferrymen" is an album which will take the metal world by storm in 2017. "The Ferrymen" track listing: 01. End Of The Road02. Ferryman03. Fool You All04. Still Standing Up05. Cry Wolf06. One Heart07. Darkest Hour08. How The Story Ends09. Enter Your Dream10. Eyes On The Sky11. Eternal Night12. Welcome To My Show

In the leather-bound history of heartfelt rock 'n' roll, not only will Michael Monroe have at least one chapter all to himself but his name will be colorfully threaded throughout, such has been his impact, his appeal, and his ongoing never-surrender story; a powerful, inspirational tale told in detail on "The Best" — the first official collection of his (ongoing) solo musical exploits, featuring prime tracks from 1987 right up to 2017. It arrives June 30 via Spinefarm. "This album is a great representation of my 30-year solo career, including four songs from the Little Steven-produced DEMOLITION 23 album, which has been unavailable for over 20 years, plus some special rarities and previously unreleased bonus tracks." Icon, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, media personality, flamboyant force of nature, and one of rock's most celebrated and uber-kinetic frontmen, Michael has been a name and a (much-photographed) face on the scene since 1979, when he played a central role in the formation of HANOI ROCKS — the legendary Finnish glam-punk heroes who came within a rolling paper's width of taking the world by glitter-storm. Were it not for cruel and fickle fate, HANOI — who disbanded for the first time in 1985, then finally in 2009 — might have ended up as an arena act. But whatever obstacles were thrust in their path, they were never less than the real deal, and major names like GUNS N' ROSES were ready to acknowledge their influence and their worth. GN'R would go on to issue the European HANOI catalogue in the U.S. via their Uzi Suicide imprint. Over his three-decades-plus in the spotlight, Monroe has befriended and performed with a whole host of artists and acts, including the aforementioned GUNS N' ROSES and Slash; Lemmy, Alice Cooper, AEROSMITH, Little Steven and Ian Hunter. The frontman has shared stages and studios with them all, but since that first break-up of HANOI in the mid-'80s, he's essentially been pursuing his own path, and it's this solo activity that forms the basis of "The Best". It's almost two hours' worth of career-spanning music, re-mastered by Svante Forsbäck and sequenced by the great man himself. As well as key, high-profile numbers such as "Dead, Jail Or Rock 'N' Roll" (from second solo album, 1989's "Not Fakin' It", the promo clip for which features an onstage cameo from Axl Rose) and "'78" (from 2011's "Sensory Overdrive", voted "Album of the Year" by Classic Rock magazine), this two-CD set also showcases some "from the vaults" moments for collectors and completists, with bonus tracks and previously unreleased songs strategically placed to make the journey both scenic and surprising. "There's a couple of extra special tracks like 'It's A Lie', sung as a duet with Stiv Bators (DEAD BOYS, LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH) back in 1985, and a never-before-released second version of the STEPPENWOLF cover 'Magic Carpet Ride', featuring Slash, left over from the 'Coneheads' soundtrack project that Slash did with me in 1993. And since Slash has the biggest heart of gold in rock 'n' roll, he was kind enough to allow me to use it on this album. God bless him!," said Monroe. Two other previously unreleased songs are "Fist Fulla Dynamite" and "Simpletown", outtakes from the "Blackout States" album (2015); plus there's the new single "One Foot Outta The Grave" — an anthem of pure defiance — to bring things nicely up to date, showing the artist's continued commitment to a genre.

Fan-filmed video footage of STEEL PANTHER's May 11 performance at the House Of Blues in Las Vegas, Nevada can be seen below.

STEEL PANTHER's latest album, "Lower The Bar", was released on March 24 via Kobalt Music Recordings. The disc was co-produced with regular collaborator Jay Ruston, and includes eleven songs recorded at studios in north Hollywood and Sherman Oaks, with an additional two tracks on a Best Buy deluxe edition.

STEEL PANTHER frontman Michael Starr told Billboard about the follow-up to 2014's "All You Can Eat": "I think we've expanded. Our style is still the same formula, I guess, but we've changed it up a bit. I could say that we used to sing about pussy and partying; now we're singing about partying and pussy, but the reality is we did switch up a few things. It's a really solid, fun, intelligent party record. We're just maturing as a band after being on the road for years together and living together. It shows."

He continued: "It's hard to put into words without sounding like a typical review, but it feels different to me. It feels like we're doing some melody lines we normally wouldn't do on a couple of sings, different kinds of moods and not necessary just 'Dr. Feelgood'. There's some different stuff in there, but everything's open for interpretation. Hopefully we connect with it."

For the uninitiated, STEEL PANTHER was formed in 2000 and is Michael Starr (vocals), Satchel (guitar), Lexxi Foxx (bass) and Stix Zadinia (drums). Hailing from Los Angeles, the epicenter for rock n' roll in all its debauchery and glamour, STEEL PANTHER has established themselves as the world's premier party band, melding hard rock virtuosity with parody and criminally good looks.

Due to a "sudden serious health issue," drummer Joe Hasselvander will be unable to join his RAVEN bandmates on their upcoming tour.

Says the group: "As you can imagine, the health and well being of our good mate and partner in mayhem is paramount in importance. However, in order to meet our obligations to our fans, we will still be playing all upcoming shows with the assistance of some amazing fill-in drummers who have stepped up to the plate to help the show go on.

"[On] Thursday [May 18] in Chicago, Jimmy Mess from TATTOOED MILLIONAIRES will do the honors, and the shows this weekend on the East Coast we are extremely honored to have FEAR FACTORY drummer and all-around metal legend Mike Heller behind the kit. And for the European tour, KILL RITUAL drummer Dave Chedrick will do the honors.

"Please join with us in wishing Joe best wishes and a speedy recovery."

RAVEN's latest album, "ExtermiNation", was released in April 2015 via SPV/Steamhammer.

Considered part of the "New Wave Of British Heavy Metal" movement of the early '80s, RAVEN — led by Newcastle natives/brothers John Gallagher (vocals/bass) and Mark Gallagher (guitar) — is perhaps best remembered for its trailblazing tours in America in the early ’80s that gave groups like METALLICA and ANTHRAX their first taste of the road.

RAVEN's albums "Rock Until You Drop", "Wiped Out" and "All For One" virtually invented both the speed metal and power metal genres, with the band consistently pushing the envelope while retaining its unique sound and attack — both in the studio and in their true element: onstage.

In 2016 renowned Dutch vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen announced the formation of a brand new progressive metal band under the name of VUUR. She has posted some rehearsal footage on Instagram as the band gears up for a string of summer dates. The schedule is as follows: 

June
9 - Neushoorn - Leeuwarden, Netherlands (warm-up show)
30 - Tuska Open Air - Helsinki, Finland

July
14 - Masters of Rock - Vizovice, Czech Republic
15 - Dynamo Metal Fest - Eindhoven, Netherlands


With their debut album well under way, VUUR have announced that they will be main support to Dutch symphonic metal band Epica on The Ultimate Principle tour this coming November in Europe.

Anneke had this to say: "Right after the release of our debut album this fall, VUUR will hit the road on our first European tour as direct support for the mighty Epica. Also part of this amazing line-up is Tunisian progressive metal band Myrath. We are recording the album as we speak and we really can't wait to play these songs live! We are looking forward to this tour and seeing you. Get ready for an amazing night and purchase your tickets here.”

Tour dates:

November
9 - Klub Studio - Krakow, Poland
12 - Kesselhaus - Berlin, Germany
13 - Markthalle - Hamburg, Germany
14 - Essigfabrik - Cologne, Germany
15 - La BAM - Metz, France
17 - Stereolux - Nantes, France
18 - Krakatoa - Bordeaux, France
25 - Le Moulin - Marseille, France
26 - Le Transbordeur - Lyon, France
29 - Bakcstage Werk - Munich, Germany

December
3 - L'Aeronef - Lille, France

The band recently offered a glimpse into the recording process of their debut album at Sandlane Recording Facilities in Rijen, the Netherlands. You can watch a behind the scenes video below.

In the video Anneke reveals that the lyrical content of the album is inspired by the many cities she has visited while being on the road.

Anneke comments: "For a long time I've wanted to make a kind of concept album about the cities we've visited, because we tour so much and see so many countries and cities.  I often have a strong feeling for a city. It can be anything - sometimes I visualize a city as a man or a character, or sometimes something happened in that city and I want to write about that."

VUUR's debut full length is due in the fall of this year.

Melbourne, Australia’s Contrive are back and now officially a two-piece band comprised of founding members, identical twin brothers Paul and Andrew Haug. The band’s long standing bassist Tim Stahlmann decided to stand down due to family commitments but rest assured, Tim’s bass lines will still be heard on the new record. The band’s new and third album is titled Slow Dissolve with a release date to be announced soon. The album mix was recently completed and the band is shooting video from a track off the album. Check out the artwork for Slow Dissolve:

Contrive is currently putting finishing touches to Slow Dissolve. The mixing duties were handled by Mike and Dave Young from Young Bros Productions; Dave is also the guitarist for The Devin Townsend Band.  

An update from Contrive drummer Andrew Haug: "This new record has definitely been a rollercoaster ride of sorts which began back in May 2015. Shortly after tracking drums, Paul and I lost our father suddenly, which has been devastating beyond measure. During this time Tim had also decided to move on. So we thought, do we enlist another bassist or simply use the technology and move forward as a two-piece band? We decided the latter, which in hindsight has made a lot of sense. In actual fact, this is kinda full circle for us as when Paul and I started Contrive, our very first live gig back in October 2000 we performed as a two-piece due to struggling to find a fitting bass player. Rehearsals of the new tracks in this current lineup phase have been going amazingly well; you can expect to see us on the road later this year. I think this record will surprise and hopefully please some of you Thanks again for your patience can & support."

Visit Contrive on Facebook for further details.

(Photo Credit - Ian Iaidlaw)

    

London-based extreme death metal group Abhorrent Decimation are prepared to release their most inspired, charismatic and dominating material to date in the form of their upcoming sophomore album, The Pardoner, hitting digital and physical retailers worldwide on July 28th, via Prosthetic Records. Preorder links and the first single from this record will become available on Friday, June 2nd.  
 
The ten track, 50 minute opus was recorded, mixed and mastered by bassist David Archer at Audio Empire. The intricate artwork for The Pardoner was created by German illustrator Karmazid, based on a visual concept by Vocalist Ashley Scott.
 
Conceptually, the album is an in-depth exploration into "The Pardoner", English poet Geoffrey Chaucer's most depraved and deceitful character from The Canterbury Tales. "The Pardoner" is a religious fraud and hypocrite who preaches against the love of greed, yet whose own love of wealth enabled him to profit off the sins of others. He claimed to work on behalf of the clergy, selling spiritual forgiveness for one's sins in the form of his pardons, which included forged "official letters" from high ranking church officials absolving one of their sins and bones and crystals blessed with healing powers. In Chaucer's story, "The Pardoner" tells a harrowing tale of three men whose materialism becomes the death of them.
 
Vocalist Ashley Scott comments on the lyrical content of the album: "Lyrically, the album opens with a scene setter. 'Pardoners' would often operate with a partner called a 'Soothsayer'. A 'Soothsayer' would visit a town prior to 'The Pardoner's' arrival. It was his job to stir locals up regarding their sins and the repercussions thereof. He would advise people that if they could find a 'Pardoner', they should do so and atone for their sins by buying a pardon or indulgence.
 
“Tracks 2 to 7 are the story 'The Pardoner' tells of the three men, avarice and Death. In many places throughout tracks 2 to 7, I actually use Middle English turn of phrase. In some places, I have used my own interpretation and translations of Chaucer's work and in other places; I introduced some of my own narrative and details. The idea was to create an obvious storytelling feel to this section, with word play and rhyme playing a major role in what I did, as I wanted to ring as true to the original as possible. Track 8 is my own conclusion of the inexorable nature of death and greed. Track 9 is an instrumental and then the record closes with Track 10, The Pardoner. A sort of self damning, confessionary monologue." 
 
Stay tuned for more coming from Abhorrent Decimation leading up to the release of The Pardoner in July.

Tracklisting:

“Soothsayer”
“Heretic Sacrifice”
“Votive Offerings”
“Granted Indulgence”
“Black Candle Gathering”
“Conspire”
“A Glass Coffin Burial”
“The Scythe In The Dark”
“Host”
“The Pardoner”

Spanish atmospheric metal band, Foscor, have released a video for “Altars”, a track from their new album, Les Irreals Visions, out on June 9th via Season Of Mist. Pre-order the album at this location. Watch the new video below.

Tracklisting:

“Instants”
“Ciutat Tràgica”
“Altars”
“Encenalls De Mort”
“Malfiança”
“Espectres Al Cau”
“De Marges I Matinades”
“Les Irreals Visions”

“Altars” video:

Les Irreals Visions documentary:

“Ciutat Tràgica”:

According to The Pulse Of Radio, SEETHER's recent single "Let You Down" is apparently drawing some comparisons to TOOL's "Stinkfist", with a number of fans pointing out similarities between the two songs. "Let You Down" is the first single from SEETHER's just-released new album, "Poison The Parish", which came out this past Friday (May 12). "Stinkfist" is from TOOL's second album, "Ænima", and was released as a single in 1996, while the video was nominated for a Grammy Award.

SEETHER frontman Shaun Morgan explained to The Pulse Of Radio what the song "Let You Down" was about. "I stopped doing cocaine and all those kinds of things about a year and a half ago — maybe just almost two years ago — and it gave me a whole new clarity on life and things that I see and the way I perceive the world, and I think it's me reaching into that time of my life and almost apologizing [laughs] or just laying it out that it's, you know, this is what it was," he said.

"Poison The Parish" is the first release via Morgan's new label imprint, Canine Riot Records, with distribution via Concord Music.

SEETHER recently launched the North American leg of its "Poison The Parish" world tour, which includes headline shows and major festival appearances throughout the spring and summer of 2017.

SEETHER has recruited SEVENDUST guitarist Clint Lowery to play second guitar on the tour, which will also feature opening acts LETTERS FROM THE FIRE, THROUGH FIRE, KALEIDO and BIG STORY.

The first official trailer for W.A.S.P.'s upcoming 25th anniversary release "Re-Idolized" can be seen below.

In 1992 W.A.S.P. released "The Crimson Idol". It's the story of Jonathan Aaron Steele, an abused child looking for love. Discovering music years later, he rises to international superstardom. Later followed by a catastrophic fall.

2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the original release, which is still considered to be the best album of W.A.S.P.'s career, and one of the greatest concept albums of all times. "The Crimson Idol" undoubtedly belongs in every metal head’s record collection. The album about the anti-hero Jonathan Steele was originally intended to be accompanied by a movie, with several hundred hours of film that were shot to create approximately 50 minutes of movie footage.

This film has never been released — until now!

Napalm Records has announced "Re-Idolzed", the 25th anniversary of the iconic hit album plus the original "The Crimson Idol" movie on DVD and Blu-ray. For the first time ever as originally intended — film and soundtrack united — released as one product!

"Re-Idolized" will be available on Blu-ray, DVD, CD, and vinyl later this year.

"The Crimson Idol" tells the twisted tale of a suicidal rock and roll icon and the perils that come with fame. With guitarist Chris Holmes no longer a member of W.A.S.P., Blackie Lawless recorded "The Crimson Idol" with guitarist Bob Kulick and drummers Stet Howland and Frankie Banali. Voted one of the Top 20 conceptual albums of all-time by Metal Hammer magazine, "The Crimson Idol" is obviously more of a soundtrack than, say, a straight rock 'n' roll album.

Issued internationally in 1992, "The Crimson Idol" was not made available in the United States until 1993 and it gave W.A.S.P. the band's first U.S. radio hit single with "Hold On To My Heart". Ironcally enough, it was the way Capitol Records handled the push (or lack thereof) on "Hold On To My Heart" that made Blackie decide to leave the label.

"The main theme of 'The Crimson Idol' which is a haunting acoustic guitar riff was in a [pre-W.A.S.P. band] SISTER song called 'What I Am'," Blackie said. "I've always been very economical with my songwriting. If something wasn't working out I'd scrap it. But if something was a good idea but not ready, or didn't quite fit what we were doing at the time, I'd go back to it later and re-work it."

During an interview with RIP magazine, Lawless had this to say about the album: "'The Crimson Idol' is an enormously complicated story. There are ten songs on it and each one is a euphemism for something else. Nothing on this album is really what it appears to be at first glance. Everything is a symbol for something else. The story was written from a satirical point of view. That means that wherever a person is at their life and whoever's viewpoint they're listening to in the story are going to determine the story they're going to get. If you're 18 and you listen to it, you're going to see one thing. If you go back and listen to it five or ten years later, you're going to get a completely different story. I didn't want to create fast food for the ears. I wanted something that I thought was going to have longevity."

Blackie also spoke about "The Crimson Idol" in a 2010 chat with Metal Asylum. He stated at the time: "'The Crimson Idol' was about a kid who was a musician and gets famous and all this stuff, and he finds out fame really isn't what he is looking for, but, really, 'Crimson Idol' is about love. It's a real simple story, and at the time when I did it, I thought it was more complex than it was. But looking back on it, you can see what it really boils down to, and I'm not diminishing the value of the album because it is real powerful. Part of the reason it worked is because its something everyone can relate to. Especially that whole idea of not getting what you want from your parents, or being loved in general; that's what struck a nerve in people. And at the time, I was almost writing it as a footnote, but when I look back, it was much bigger in the story than I gave it credit for."

Video footage of STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor performing an acoustic version of the band's new track "Song #3" at the studios of the Berlin, Germany radio station Star FM can be seen below. The tune is taken from the band's upcoming album, "Hydrograd", which will be released on June 30 via Roadrunner.

"Hydrograd" was recorded at Sphere Studios in North Hollywood, California with producer Jay Ruston, who has previously worked with ANTHRAX and STEEL PANTHER.

The band tracked the album live in the studio, cutting a total of 18 songs from which 15 will make the CD.

Head on over to StoneSour.com for an instant-grat download of "Song #3" and "Fabuless" when you pre-order "Hydrograd".

Taylor recently said about the full-length follow-up to "House Of Gold & Bones": "It is the best stuff that we've ever written. It's got a lot of different directions, but at its core it's very hard rock, almost in a modern/classic sense. There are some hints of punk in there. There's some cool hard rock/heavy metal. There's just all of these really cool elements that we've never maybe allowed ourselves to kind of go to."

Bassist Johnny Chow described the disc as "a straight rock and roll album" in an interview with Detroit radio station WRIF, adding, "It's just very groove-oriented, very melodic (with) big choruses. We've got some mellower songs on there too, which are equally just as amazing and have a lot of groove to them."

Chow called the record a "bit of a departure" from previous STONE SOUR albums.

STONE SOUR has had eight Top 10 songs on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Songs, dating back to "Bother" in 2002. The band has landed three top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 and has sold 2.1 million albums in the United States to date, according to Nielsen Music.

STONE SOUR will play the Rock On The Range Kick-Off Party on Thursday, May 18 at Express Live! in Columbus, Ohio. The event will start the Rock On The Range weekend, with METALLICA, SOUNDGARDEN and KORN headlining this year's festival.

STONE SOUR will also be special guests of KORN on the latter act's "Serenity Of Summer" trek, which starts on June 16 in Salt Lake City and wraps on August 2 in Cleveland.

GOATWHORE will release its new album, "Vengeful Ascension", on June 23 via Metal Blade Records. The band's seventh full-length was captured at Earth Analog in Tolono, Illinois with longtime soundman and comrade Jarrett Pritchard (1349, GRUESOME), breaking a four-album tradition of working with Erik Rutan.

"Working with Rutan was awesome," says GOATWHORE frontman Ben Falgoust. "We did some great records with him. But you come to a point where you're like, 'All right. Let's try something new.' It was part of trying to remove ourselves from a comfort zone and a risk thing we needed to take. Plus, we really wanted to hit the essence of where we are live and what better way to harness that than by having our live sound guy involved. Jarrett is knowledgeable with the studio stuff. He also knows how we sound coming out of a PA and we really wanted to get closer to that."

The resulting ten-track, forty-one-minute production — mixed by Chris Common (TRIBULATION, PELICAN) and mastered by Maor Applebaum (FAITH NO MORE, HALFORD, TODAY IS THE DAY) — marches in, clutches its listeners by the throat and refuses to loosen its grip until the abrupt conclusion of "Those Who Denied God's Will". A sonic manifestation of war, chaos, desolation, and emotional conflict, seamlessly bridging twenty years of the band's signature brand of audio venom, it's a record that finds its members at their most accomplished both individually and as a cohesive unit. Guitarist Sammy Duet's dense, sub nuclear riff work and possessed solo blitzes are at their most devastating, spiraling flawlessly and instinctually around drummer Zack Simmons's and bassist James Harvey's hammering rhythms, while Falgoust's distinctly commanding roar, his acidic prose, more enunciated than ever before, complimenting the apocalyptic proceedings.

"Each song is a representation of GOATWHORE. From day one until now. It really shows our evolution as a band," the frontman reflects."I don't think that this band has reached its peak yet. I mean, I think we're closer now than ever but we're still growing; we're still evolving."

"Vengeful Ascension" will be available on CD, vinyl (in multiple limited color variations), and digital formats. Various pre-order options are currently available at: metalblade.com/goatwhore. Stay tuned for the official "Vengeful Ascension" video clip, directed by James Foster, to be unveiled in the coming days.

While hardly a concept record in the traditional sense, "Vengeful Ascension" loosely revolves itself around Luciferian notions in title and spirit where the symbol of Lucifer serves not as a fiendish, all-destroying demon but rather an emancipator or guiding light. It's a theme of struggle and transcendence derived from John Milton's "Paradise Lost" epic, and one that has appeared, whether directly or indirectly, within GOATWHORE works of the past.

"There's that whole idea of Lucifer being the anti-hero," elaborates Falgoust. "He's cast out from this place in Heaven to the depths of nothing. He keeps trying to ascend to the top again but no matter what, there's always this significant force trying to destroy him at any point and banish him back to Hell. If you look at it from an everyday aspect in life, it's the idea of people, hitting the bottom of the barrel or you know, things just aren't going right in life... emotion plays a huge part in how people react. Whether it's based on love or hatred or sadness or whatever, there's always an aspect of emotion that drives people to an extent. So the whole idea of a 'Vengeful Ascension' is built on being at the bottom, working your way to the top, and realizing along the way that there are other facets to the journey aside from just pure retribution. Within negativity there can exist a positive angle as well."

"Vengeful Ascension" serves as the soundtrack to that luciferious rise straight off with the combative, ritualistic drum onslaught of opening hymn, "Forsaken". Wholly immersive, each track is alarmingly palpable in subject and corresponding execution. The tense, clandestine battery of "Chaos Arcane", based on HP Lovecraft's book "Nyarlathotep" — a story which attempts to recount the inexplicable sense of fear in expectancy of an unknown evil — conveys that sensation of impending doom through sound in a way only GOATWHORE can. "Mankind Will Have No Mercy", a pseudo tribute to BOLT THROWER, seethes under the weight of its own wartime sentiment, while the rapid-fire, punkish urgency of "Under The Flesh, Into The Soul", a first-person account of irrepressible resentment, sounds utterly enraged. And with an average runtime of just four minutes, no one song ever overstays its welcome.

"Vengeful Ascension" track listing:

01. Forsaken02. Under The Flesh, Into The Soul03. Vengeful Ascension04. Chaos Arcane05. Where The Sun Is Silent06. Drowned In Grim Rebirth07. Abandon Indoctrination08. Mankind Will Have No Mercy09. Decayed Omen Reborn10. Those Who Denied God's Will

Swedish death metallers, Entrails, will release their new album, World Inferno, on June 16th via Metal Blade Records. The new single, “Serial Murder (Death Squad)”, is available for streaming below. Pre-order the album at this location.

Comments Entrails guitarist Jimmy Lundqvist: "I am damn proud to finally unleash this nasty beast, A new chapter is written for Entrails to satisfy all old school maniacs out there. Having new blood in the band, Martin and Tommy, helped making this fifth album the rawest and heaviest to date. Prepare yourself to stretch out your neck in full headbanging!"

The recordings for World Inferno started in December 2016 in Lundqvist's Bloodshed Studio. Dan Swanö once again handled the mixing and mastering for the album.

Dan Swanö comments on World Inferno as follows: "I don't know if I had said this before, but I say it again. Every time I start thinking about putting together some new SweDeath project, Entrails show up at my doorstep with a new album to mix, and every time I think "Fuck!! - What's the point in making my own project when this is so fucking good, and exactly what I wanted to do…" And if I felt there were some details to improve upon from our previous work together, they fix that and then some, and return with an album even stronger than the previous one. What the fuck is going on in Linneryd!? Are Jimmy cloning death metal warriors in some barn over there or what!? To sum it up. Yet another amazing slab of SweDeath coming your way from Entrails! Beyond. Blown. Away!"

Tracklisting:

“World Inferno”         
“Condemned To The Grave”         
“Serial Murder (Death Squad)”         
“The Soul Collector”    
“Dead And Buried”         
“Insane Slaughter”         
“Into Eternal Fire”         
“Suffer”         
“The Hour Of The Casket”         
“The Blood Breed”

“Serial Murder (Death Squad)”:

“The Soul Collector”:

Entrails lineup:

Jimmy Lundqvist: Guitars
Tommy Carlsson: Vocals/Bass
Pontus Samuelsson: Guitars
Martin Michaelsson: Drums

This June, By Norse will release the debut album, Hydrogen, from BardSpec, the ambient project/band featuring Enslaved composer/guitarist Ivar Bjørnson and Today Is The Day's Steve Austin. A David Hall-directed video for the track “Gamma” can be seen below.

Comments Bjørnson of the band's latest single, "'Gamma' is a meditation on the magic of science, or perhaps the science of magic. The mysteries of the atom and nuclear physics have fascinated me deeply as long as I can remember. Enlightened humans have known for thousands of years that the concept of 'god' dwells within the corporal being, and with the atom bomb the proof was definite... to me at least. As scientist in charge [American theoretical physicist and professor of physics Julius Robert] Oppenheimer said, watching the first test atom bomb go off: 'I have become Shiva: Destroyer Of Worlds.' The other aspect of radiation is its communicative powers; of carrying information over enormous distances. We learn things about the universe and its early days from watching bursts of Gamma Ray make its way through the universe. Musically speaking it is one of the heavier songs, which I managed to sneak in a little Sigur Ros tribute into as well."

Hydrogen will be released on June 23rd across all formats. The six-panel CD digipak is available as a limited first pressing of 1,000 and includes bonus track "Teeth”. The double-gatefold LP is limited to 500 on black vinyl; the digital format will also include the bonus track. Access the "Fire Tongue" radio edits now via iTunes and Apple Music.

Pre-orders for the the limited CD, LP, and shirt are available at the following locations: North America, Europe.

Having launched at Roadburn in 2015, BardSpec has since evolved into a fully-fledged band, with Steve Austin on guitars/effects, David Hall presenting the live visual aspect of the project, with the layout created by Josh Graham (Soundgarden, Neurosis, IIVII, etc.).

BardSpec combines stirring, hallucinatory synth-sounds with mercurial guitar effects and hypnotic rhythms that navigate illusory landscapes. Field recordings, and other found-sounds also drift and evaporate into the ether. Working intuitively with these elements and with sharpened senses, attuned to inner impulses, this is immersive music that can exist anywhere and anytime within the minds of the listener.

Whilst BardSpec might essentially be the same brain and personality making the music, compared to Enslaved, it is a widely different entity. Thematically and sonically, BardSpec is about minimizing, subtracting, and meditating upon the simplest essence of "things;" the single points exemplified through song titles like "Bone," "Salt," and so on, the basic elements and foundations that make up the whole. There is an element of "space" in the music and the artwork, as a representation of the inner workings of the mind and the subconscious.

Inspired by the German masters Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schultze, and Conrad Schnitzler in addition to contemporary ambient music like Norwegian one-man-band Biosphere and abstract modern electronic music like When (Norwegian also), as well as the electronic/industrial-driven metal like Godflesh. Ivar describes the appeal and trance-inducing aspects of such music to him, "I remember listening to Richard Burmer and his album Mosaic from 1984. I thought I fell asleep but I was in a semi-lucid state where I still registered music - but not much else. At the end of side A there's an explosion so violent and extreme that I jumped two feet into the air and was totally shocked. The weird thing is, I couldn't remember it being there. When I revisited the music again it was just a little 'thud.' I was just experiencing a trance so deep into the music that this deviation from the pattern and frequencies in the foregoing half hour of monotony totally shocked me. I loved it!"

Hydrogen tracklisting:

“Intro - Deposition”
“Bone”
“Fire Tongue”
“Gamma”
“Salt”
“Teeth” (bonus track)

“Bone”:

“Fire Tongue” video:

A special record release show to showcase the album is scheduled for June 29th at Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn, New York.

(Photo - Christian Misje)

Former Guns N’ Roses and current Art of Anarchy guitarist, vocalist, and producer Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal has signed a deal with EMP Label Group, who will re-release his 2015 independent solo release, Little Brother Is Watching, on CD and vinyl double LP on August 25th.

Little Brother Is Watching is an eccentric, upbeat collection of epic, modern rock with haunting melodies, huge choruses and witty lyrics about life in the digital age and beyond, specifically, Thal’s own life and coming to terms with what we all face - beginnings, endings, and moving on. The album was composed, produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Bumblefoot at his studio in New Jersey, and includes a crowd of 100 fans stomping, chanting and singing backing vocals recorded at a listening party in New York. The day after its initial release, the album went as high as #4 on the Amazon.com Rock charts in Europe.

Little Brother features the singles “Little Brother Is Watching” and the epic “Don’t Know Who To Pray To Anymore”, with a video filmed in three countries with 12 sets and 50 actors, including the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the Fortress of Klis and Diocletian Palace in Croatia, and being granted exclusive access to ancient Roman ruins by the Jordanian border with the distinction of being the only music video to ever have been shot there.

EMP Label Group’s Thom Hazaert says of the collaboration, “Myself and Ron have been working together for years now, even pre-EMP, through the original release of Little Brother, and discussing various scenarios for a wider retail release. Obviously, Ron and David (Ellefson) have a great relationship, and eventually the stars aligned and we are extremely proud to welcome Bumblefoot to the EMP family!”

Thal echoes those sentiments. “A great pleasure to officially join the EMP family! We're starting off with the vinyl release of the Bumblefoot Little Brother album, and we'll grow from there. Looking forward to a bright future together.”

Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, producer and world-renowned guitar virtuoso, with over 20 years of releasing music, playing international festivals and headlining tours, and gracing magazine covers as a solo artist. As lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses (2006 - 2014) Bumblefoot toured sold-out shows all over the world, headlining festivals with crowds up to 150,000. Bumblefoot's unique 'fretless guitar' can be heard throughout GNR's 2008 Chinese Democracy album and the 2012 concert DVD Appetite For Democracy.

Bumblefoot is also a founding member of rock group Art Of Anarchy (featuring vocalist Scott Stapp and Disturbed bassist John Moyer), whose latest album The Madness landed in the Top 20's at Rock radio and #2 at Billboard's Heatseeker chart earlier this year.

Thal is also an accomplished composer whose music is often heard in TV, film and videogames including the theme song to VH1's That Metal Show and the film score to the horror movie The Evangelist (released May 2017). Bumblefoot also works with US Embassies around the world on cross-cultural music programs, has his own line of award-winning hot sauces, and works with dozens of international charities visiting orphanages and children's hospitals around the world with guitar in hand.

(Photo - Kevin RC Wilson)

Finnish AOR hopefuls The Nights have released this new video, featuring an acoustic performance of the debut single, “Welcome To The Show”, lifted from the band’s self-titled debut album, due for release in August.

The Nights is a new band formed in the summer of 2015 by Sami Hyde (vocals) and Ilkka Wirtanen (guitar). Both Sami and Ilkka have successful careers in music, in Finland and abroad.

Sami has been a singer for many acts and projects, including the Tony Mills Band in 2008 which also included Geoff Nichols (Black Sabbath) on keyboards and Neil Hibbs (Shy) on guitar. He has also written songs for many artists, including The Magnificent ("If It Takes All Night", "Lost", and "Drive").

Ilkka Wirtanen is best known for his work as a producer with international acts like glam metal band Reckless Love, for whom he has produced four albums and co-written many of their popular songs, including "Hot" and "Night On Fire". He has also produced several other rock bands (Baton Rogue Morgue, Hellcity Punks) and worked as a mixer for international acts (S.E.X. Department).

The Nights was formed because Sami and Ilkka felt a common need to write songs that, “make you feel good and also give tribute to our everlasting heroes in music, for example TNT and Yngwie Malmsteen.” Frontiers interest was piqued by their songs featuring a superb mixture of classic pop melodies and modern melodic rock/metal production and the band was signed.

Tracklisting:

“Welcome To The Show”
“Nothing But Love”
“Juliette”
“I Will Never Stop Loving You”
“In A Blink Of An Eye”
“Hold On”
“Elegy (You Should Be Here)”
“Take Me To Heaven”
“You Belong To Me Tonight”
“I Wanna Be Your Superhero”
“We Can Rule The World Tonight”

“Welcome To The Show”:

Italian folk/power metal band, Wind Rose, will release their new album, Stonehymn, on May 26th in Europe and North America via Inner Wound Recordings. A music video for the album track, “To Erebor”, is available for streaming below.

Having toured with bands like Wintersun, Eluveitie and Ensiferum, and with two successful albums under their belt, Wind Rose are ready to take things to the next level with the release of their third album Stonehymn, an album filled by the epic, powerful and folk inspired brand of power metal the band is known for.

Stonehymn was mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni (DGM, Ancient Bards, Secret Sphere) and the artwork was created by Jan Yrlund (Apocalyptica, Korpiklaani, Tyr).

Stonehymn tracklisting:

“Distant Battlefields”
“Dance Of Fire”
“Under The Stone”
“To Erebor”
“The Returning Race”
“The Animist”
“The Wolves’ Call”
“Fallen Timbers”
“The Eyes Of The Mountain”

“To Erebor” video:

“The Wolves’ Call” lyric video:

Wind Rose are confirmed for Masters of Rock 2017, that takes place in Vizovice, Czech Republic July 13th - 16th. Other bands confirmed for the festival are Sabaton, Running Wild, Kreator, Edguy, Epica and more.

 

Swedish black metal band Svartsyn are streaming the track “Black Thrones Of Death”, featured on the band’s upcoming new album, In Death, set for release on June 9th via Agonia Records. Listen to the song below.

In Death is the successor to Black Testement from 2013. The album was recorded in the Belgian Mortsella Studio in March and December 2016, and in January 2017. Mixing and mastering took place at Clintworks Studio (Amon Amarth, 3 Inches Of Blood, Misery Index). The cover artwork was created by Chadwick St John (Arckanum, Horna, The Piper graphic novel).

Svartsyn plays dark, grim and misanthropic black metal. The music operates from mid-paced to fast and sinister tempos, featuring a dynamic melodic range injected into an overall feeling of obscurity and brutality. Originally formed as Chalice in 1991, and renamed to Svartsyn three years later, the band can be considered as a one man project led by Ornias. He sang and played all instruments on In Death, except for drums. Along its career, the band put out a number of albums celebrated in the underground black metal scene, including the 1998 debut album The True Legend.

Ornias comments: "The new record completes and combines the Black Testament and the Nightmarish Sleep albums. My revelations. My deathwork.”

Album formats:

- Jewelcase CD
- Limited Red LP and regular black LP
- Two different black t-shirts with white and silver/grey print.

Tracklisting:

“Seven Headed Snake”
“Dark Prophet”
“With Death”
“Inside The White Mask”
“Wilderness Of The Soul”
“Black Thrones Of Death”
“Exile In Death”

“Black Thrones Of Death”:

“Seven Headed Snake”:

Pre-orders available on Agonia Records.