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.

Finnish trad-metal newcomers Legionnaire will release their full-length debut album, Dawn Of Genesis, on May 26th via Gates Of Hell Records (a Cruz Del Sur Music imprint). The album will be available on CD, vinyl, and digital formats. Order here. The album track “Dawn Of Genesis” is available for streaming below.

Legionnaire's music is based on powerful twin guitar harmonies, and medieval style epic melodies. While the lyrics often have influences from ancient or medieval mythology. fictional themes, including science fiction, are also present. Legionnaire creates an original, personal sound, though you can definitely hear tons of influences in their  music: old Scandinavian metal, classic NWOBHM-style galloping riffs, and an overall epic feel that brings to mind U.S. metal bands such as Liege Lord, Brocas Helm and obscure US epic metal release from the mid-80s. In a few words: traditional heavy metal.

Dawn of Genesis was mastered by Wicked Ischianus of Mausoleum Gate. With bands like Legionnaire, heavy metal will never die.

Tracklisting:

“Clairvoyance”
“Enigma Of Time”
“Shadow Upon The Metropolis”
“Millennium”
“The Guardian”
“Dawn Of Genesis”
“Black Harbinger”
“Olympian Aegis”

“Dawn Of Genesis”:

“Black Harbinger” lyric video:

Legionnaire consists of singer/lead/rhythm guitarist, Aku Tiensuu, Lead/rhythm guitarist Petri Ranta, Bassist Frans Kivelä and drummer Akseli Häärä. Aku, Petri and Frans are the three original members of the group. Akseli was asked to join Legionnaire in late 2014 to replace the original drummer, Heikki Härkönen. Before the first official release, full-length album Dawn Of Genesis, Legionnaire released two demo tapes, Legionnaire in 2014 and The Enigma Of Time a year after the first one, both on cassette format.

Lineup:

Aku Tiensuu - vocals / guitars
Frans Kivelä - bass
Petri Ranta - guitars
Akseli Häärä - drums

For one night only, on June 16th at Count’s Vamp’d in Las Vegas, Nevada – Todd “Dammit” Kerns, Brent Muscat, Michael “Doc” Ellis, and Rob “Boom Boom” Cournoyer – formerly known as Sin City Sinners, now going by the name Original Sin, will reunite for a very special show. The group will play their Exile On Fremont Street album live in its entirety, along with several other songs.

Speaking exclusively to Brave Words scribe Aaron Small, vocalist and guitarist Todd Kerns shares how this unexpected, but incredibly welcome reunion came to be – ten years after the guys first got together in 2007. “The funny thing about this is… these four individuals are in constant contact, and are friends; just like The Age Of Electric (one of Todd’s other bands) in a sense. Ellis and I have been playing in The Anti-Stars for… geez, I don’t even know when we started that? Last year at some point. Then Brent and Rob play in The Saints together, so it’s this funny kind of like, ‘We should get together sometime.’ Next thing you know, it’s the classic example of, ‘What are you doing here? What are you doing there?’ Honestly, we started to get people sniffing around, asking questions, and a lot of residency talk. You know my schedule, there’s no way I could really do a week to week to week thing just yet. So, let’s play a show, see how it goes.”

“It’s one of those things, there’s a lot of history there,” continues Todd. “There’s a lot going on – a lot of drama and weird stuff. Look, I just love these guys and I want to play Exile On Fremont Street live in its entirety, and a few of the other songs we used to play. To me, it’s always about music. It’s never about some sort of pseudo-political stance; I just want to play some music with some friends. And to put a smile on people’s faces, cause I know that a lot of people will be very excited to see that happen and to see these four guys together.”

As far as the name change from Sin City Sinners to Original Sin goes… “We’re calling it Original Sin mostly because it differentiates us from the past; it’s something kind of fresh for us.” And it sets this band apart from the currently active Sin City Sinners All-Stars, as well as Sin City Rejects. “Yeah, just separating ourselves from all this other stuff that, to be honest, is a bit confusing. I’m so out of touch with whatever version there is of the Sinners out there right now. Whatever’s going on, I don’t even know? Why would we go out and call ourselves Original Sinners Mach 1 or something? It just makes sense to do something fresh. That way, if we decide to release something, this is its own entity, just these four guys.”

And these are four very busy guys; Todd plays bass in a little band called Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators. “Muscat’s gone on to do a lot of other stuff, him and Zach (Throne) started this thing called Alley Cats; they’ve got a thing going on in Japan. Ellis has multiple things going on, Rob has multiple things going on too. So it’s been one of those really interesting things where everybody goes off in their own direction, and then comes back together with a bunch of other experiences; which is very familiar to me, cause I’ve been doing this for the past two years with The Age Of Electric. But coming back here (to Vegas), I really can’t think of a good reason not to do this. To me, anything that sounds like fun, and will get people smiling in the audience – that’s the most important thing.”

Back in their heyday, Sin City Sinners were known for having a big name guest star at almost about every show. Just open the Exile On Fremont Street booklet and there’s a list of well over 100 people that have joined the band on stage, including: Bruce Kulick (KISS), Vinnie Paul (Pantera), Sami Yaffa (Hanoi Rocks), David Ellefson (Megadeth), Stix Zadinia (Steel Panther), and adult film legend Ron Jeremy, to name but a very few. However, this show on June 16th will just be the original four – Kerns, Muscat, Ellis, and Cournoyer. “Yeah, absolutely. The band started with this jam aspect, which was a lot of fun, and we happened to be very good at it. But I was always focused on the importance of these four individuals being the main part of it. I feel that was our most successful lineup; it’s the one that people remember from those days. The guest thing is all fine and good, and I suppose if somebody’s in the building, then we’ll jam. But there won’t be anybody slated to guest. Zachary Throne is opening the show, Joshua Alan is opening the show – both of them were affiliated with the Sinners, and I’m sure they’ll get up on stage with us as well. Joshua was in the Let It Burn phase, and Zachary was in the Dive Bar Days Revisited phase; there’s a lot of history even there. In reality, the original four that we’re talking about aren’t the original four. The Dive Bar – the original wave of the Sinners had a bass player, Dee. I’m hoping he’ll be a part of it as well. But Ellis has been there in the highest profile phase of the band.”

Initially self-released in 2010 and long since out of print, the Exile On Fremont Street CD is being sold online for over $1000. Are there any plans for a re-release of this highly sought after album? “I would like to do that. I’m still very proud of that collection of songs and that piece of work we did. It’s just more a question of where to begin with that. At the moment I’m really focused on, let’s play a show for some people who want to show up and do it; then we’ll discuss all these other things. Cause there’s a lot of music we did that simply isn’t available, before it became contentious and just sort of all went on pause. It would be nice to see it resurface.”

Will Original Sin film and/or record this one-off show on June 16th at Vamp’d? “You know, I hadn’t really thought too hard on that, but that probably would be smart, wouldn’t it. We’ll probably record it. The filming of things is always a lot more involved, and it’ll be all over YouTube five seconds after we play. But actually professionally filming a show is so much more than, let’s film it! You need a film crew and a sound crew; but it is a distinct possibility, I think it’d be great. I was saying to the guys, ‘you have no idea what’s coming up or what could happen.’ One of us could get a gig and off we go. The four of us are here now, let’s make the most of it. This could lead to anything, and it always does. I just know the way these things work. Next thing you know you’re being offered this or that; a lot of which depends on my availability, and the others’ availability as well.”

For those unable to make it to Vamp’d in Las Vegas, NV on June 16th for Original Sin, Todd Kerns has two solo shows upcoming: May 19th in Los Angeles, CA at Genghis Cohen, and May 27th in Las Vegas, NV opening for Vince Neil at the Downtown Grand. Furthermore, Todd’s tribute to Canadian music, Toque, have a pair of gigs booked: June 29th in Dauphin, MB, at Dauphin Country Fest, and August 6th in Kenora, ON at Harbourfest.  

 

 

Virtuoso guitarist and visionary composer Steve Vai will release Modern Primitive on July 7th through Favored Nations Entertainment, the indie label he founded in 1999. Originally included as a companion disk to Vai’s 25th anniversary release of his seminal Passion and Warfare CD, Modern Primitive will be released by itself as the seventh installment of the Steve Vai Secret Jewel Box, an ambitious 10 CD box set that was originally released in December 2001. This stand-alone release of Modern Primitive will be a limited edition album and has been modified specifically for Vai’s Secret Jewel Box, making this an instant collector’s item for Vai fans around the globe. 

Modern Primitive is comprised of material that was written and partially recorded with Vai’s band, The Classified, back in the early '80s. The Classified consisted of Tommy Mars on Keyboards, Chris Frazier on drums, Stu Hamm on bass and Sue Mathis on vocals and keyboards that he formed after his first solo record Flex-Able (1983) and prior to the writing and recording of the music on Vai’s renowned, Passion and Warfare (1990). Vai completed the recording in 2016, 30 years after its inception. The album represents that missing link that exposes the colossal growth period between Flex-Able and Passion and Warfare.

“The music on Modern Primitive was written and recorded with virtually no expectations for its future,” Vai said. “As a result, there was an opening up to a powerful and personal creativity that allowed me to find the most stimulation music I could conjure. So far it’s my favorite album that I ever made.”

Modern Primitive tracklisting:

“Bop!”
“Dark Matter”
“Mighty Messengers”
“The Lost Chord”
“Upanishads”
“Fast Note People”
“And We Are One”
“Never Forever”
“Lights Are On”
“No Pockets”
“Pink and Blows Over: Part 1”
“Pink and Blows Over: Part 2 (Mars Attack)”
“Pink and Blows Over: Part 3 (Jazzbo Paddle-foot)”

Alex Stojanovic of Metal Master Kingdom conducted an interview with Mille Petrozza of German thrash metal veterans KREATOR on April 11 at the Opera House in Toronto, Ontario, Canada during this year's Decibel Magazine Tour with OBITUARY, MIDNIGHT and HORRENDOUS. You can now watch the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On becoming vegan in 2009:

Mille: "To me, I don't even think about it anymore. It's just something that I… It's a choice. I know a lot of people have problems if you preach the vegan life. Like, 'Get the fuck out! I eat my steak.' I don't wanna preach, though. If anyone wants to… Do whatever you want. To me, it's a choice that I made, and I don't feel powerless. I feel very powerful, and I feel very energetic. Talking about the vegan thing, if you become a vegan, you have to make sure that you don't become one of those fast-food vegans and you eat everything only because it's vegan and you eat worse than any other person. You have to make sure that you eat your vegetables and eat fresh. Eat clean — that's the bottom line."

On KREATOR's touring plans for the rest of 2017 and into 2018:

Mille: "Ahh… I need a break. [Laughs] There's something coming up in South America and Australia and Japan, some Asian cities. Yeah, there's a lot coming up. I'm at the point where I'm really looking forward to the six weeks off that we have. When this time is over, I will be very enthusiastic about going on tour in those cities, but at this point, I'm, like, 'Oh, fuck!' You get into this cycle. To me, this is not a job. I don't want this to feel like a job, and if you do it too much and if you do too many concerts in a row, sometimes you're, like, 'Ahhh…' And you don't wanna do that — you wanna give a hundred and fifty percent every night, you wanna keep the enthusiasm, you wanna keep the spark and the spirit, like really powerful. It's easy to get burnt out on the tours. So, yes, we need the time in between off where I don't do anything that's related to music."

KREATOR's latest album, "Gods Of Violence", was released on January 27 via Nuclear Blast Records. The cover artwork for the disc was created by renowned artist Jan Meininghaus, who also made the limited-edition artwork for KREATOR's last album, 2012's "Phantom Antichrist", and has lent his talents to bands like BOLT THROWER, ACCEPT and OVERKILL in the past. The exclusive North American cover was created by renowned artist Marcelo Vasco, who has previously worked with SLAYER, MACHINE HEAD, SOULFLY and HATEBREED.

Elliott Fullam of Little Punk People conducted an interview with METALLICA frontman James Hetfield before the band's May 14 concert show at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked to name his favorite thrash bands that are not part of the so-called "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal (METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX), Hetfield said: "Oh, my God! There's tons of them. Well, EXODUS for sure. We grew up with those guys in the [San Francisco] Bay Area. Oh, and we stole their guitar player; that too. [Laughs] But, yeah, I think they're great. TESTAMENT… A lot of bands in the Bay Area, a lot of thrash stuff. I just think even before that… Yeah, there's thrash… Punk rock was kind of the beginning of it for me. MOTÖRHEAD — kind of thrashy but rock and roll. But I loved G.B.H., or still do, and I love DISCHARGE a lot. That's kind of really cool thrash music to me."

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine in 2013 spoke to Radio.com about which band should have been included if the "Big Four" were expanded and considered the "Big Five". Mustaine said: "You know, people will say there's a whole another generation, like the 'Medium Four' [laughs], and I think there's a lot of great bands that fit that bill, too. But I think probably EXODUS, because there was nobody else at the time that had that kind of pull or that kind of importance in the metal community. Granted, it was with [late EXODUS singer Paul] Baloff, and Baloff had a voice that you had to have an acquired taste for, but you know, I liked him."

In a 2010 interview with Metal Asylum, EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt was asked if he feels the "Big Four" should have been expanded and considered the "Big Seven", including EXODUS, TESTAMENT and OVERKILL. "Well, I think it should be the 'Big Five' with EXODUS, because we were there at the start of thrash metal with METALLICA in the real early '80s," he said. "Same thing with MEGADETH because Mustaine was a part of METALLICA's birth and he also created MEGADETH. And SLAYER are SLAYER. ANTHRAX are also great and old friends, but if you listen to those first few records, they have definitely changed. TESTAMENT has every right to be part of the thrash metal legends, but it just came down to timing because they came later. And OVERKILL have been their since the beginning also. But I don't get hung up on that shit, because I know how it all started and I know where I was when the shit got created. We [EXODUS] certainly deserve to be part of the founding fathers, but you know who often gets excluded are the Germans — KREATOR, DESTRUCTION and SODOM. Everybody looks to America and forgets those guys. KREATOR, DESTRUCTION and SODOM all released records in the early '80s."

Back in 2014, METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett was asked by U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine if it's strange to him how much METALLICA has eclipsed the other "Big Four" bands in terms of commercial popularity. "I try not to spend too much time thinking about stuff like that because whatever I think of is still not going to be a satisfying enough explanation," he replied. "It's just the way things are and how the chips fell. EXODUS in the '80s had some bona fide problems, but I think their first album [1985's 'Bonded By Blood'] is just as good as [METALLICA's debut] 'Kill 'Em All'. We were just playing the music we wanted to hear because no one else was playing it and it wasn't being played on the radio. It was only a small group of people who knew about it and it was almost elitist in that 'No posers allowed!' thing."

METALLICA has uploaded a five-minute video recap of the band's May 14 concert at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey as part of the North American leg of the "WorldWired" tour. Also available is fan-filmed video footage of the show (courtesy of John Erigo).

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 23 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).

Guitarist Andreas Kisser of Brazilian/American metallers SEPULTURA was interviewed by Full Metal Racket at this year's edition of the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival, which was held April 21-22 at the Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked which is his favorite SEPULTURA album from the Derrick Green era of the band, Andreas said: "I never really divided our career like that — pre or post — because we have [had] a few changes. Of course, the singer was the most powerful, whatever, most radical change. But we are on our third drummer, I myself, I joined in '87, and we play songs from all over our career. We don't play only songs… like a political setlist, let's say, [or just] play the new stuff. But usually I like the newer material always. But I really feel this album [2017's 'Machine Messiah'] is our best work with Derrick. And Igor [Cavalera, original SEPULTURA drummer] was working with us ten years after Max [Cavalera, former SEPULTURA frontman] left the band. And I really like 'Kairos' [2011] a lot, because it was a very important album — first album with Nuclear Blast. It was the last album with Jean Dolabella on drums. So we had a few changes there that also changed and gave a new direction for the band. Everyone that came into the band brought something new. And that's something that we like to respect always — not try to copy formulas and try to fulfill expectations that are impossible to fulfill. Yeah, I think 'Machine Messiah' is one of our best works, period, in our career, for sure."

"Machine Messiah" was released on January 13 via Nuclear Blast. The disc was produced by the band and Jens Bogren (SOILWORK, OPETH, KATATONIA, AMON AMARTH) of Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden. The CD's cover artwork was created by Filipino artist Camille Della Rosa.

The world premiere of SEPULTURA's documentary, "Sepultura Endurance", will take place on Sunday, May 21 in Los Angeles. The special screening of the documentary at the Regent theater will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the band.

"Sepultura Endurance" shows the journey from SEPULTURA's humble rural beginnings to decades spent on the international stage, giving an in-depth look into how the band continues to thrive in a changing metal landscape. Crammed full of rare archival footage, and featuring interviews with legends like Lars Ulrich (METALLICA) and Scott Ian (ANTHRAX), and younger artists influenced by SEPULTURA, like SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor, "Sepultura Endurance" is the definitive document of the band's myths, struggles and heart.

The "Sepultura Endurance" screening will start at 1 p.m. PT.

IN THIS MOMENT's 2012 album "Blood" was certified gold for sales of half a million units on May 10 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America).

In February 2016, the RIAA began including on-demand audio and video streams and a track sale equivalent in determining which releases get the coveted album awards, a change that followed a similar tweak in 2013 to include on-demand streams for its Digital Single Award.

As part of the new rules, 1,500 streams count as an album unit. This move came on the heels of its 2013 alteration to its Gold Single award where it announced that 100 streams would count as a single download, and in January 2016 had upped that ratio to 150 streams in recognition of how streaming had grown.

"Blood" reached No. 15 on the Billboard album chart, while the title track — which itself was certified gold in March — became IN THIS MOMENT's first-ever Top 10 hit at rock radio.

IN THIS MOMENT will release its sixth studio album, "Ritual", on Friday, July 21. The disc will be released by Atlantic Records in partnership with Roadrunner Records.

Produced by longtime collaborator — and multiple Grammy Award nominee — Kevin Churko (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, OZZY OSBOURNE), "Ritual" includes a reimagination of the Phil Collins classic "In The Air Tonight" as well as "Black Wedding", which sees lead singer Maria Brink sharing the mic with legendary JUDAS PRIEST frontman Rob Halford. IN THIS MOMENT will promote "Ritual" by kicking off a major North American tour on June 20 at Peoria, Illinois's Limelight and featuring support by MOTIONLESS IN WHITE, VIMIC, LITTLE MISS NASTY and STARSET.

Relapse Records has announced the signing of extreme metal act EXPULSION. The newly formed group features members of REPULSION, EXHUMED, PHOBIA, INTRONAUT, GRUESOME and numerous others.

EXPULSION's debut album, "Nightmare Future", will be released on July 14 on CD/LP/digital. Hear the track "Altar Of Slaughter" now via YouTube below.

"Nightmare Future" was produced by Matt Olivo, mixed by TOXIC HOLOCAUST's Joel Grind and mastered by Maor Appelbaum (MAYHEM, FAITH NO MORE, HALFORD). Physical pre-orders and bundles are available at Relapse.com and digital downloads can be pre-ordered via Bandcamp.

Spawned from the cerebral mind of grind legend Matt Olivo (REPULSION), EXPULSION combines grind, punk and crust into a caustic musical vomit guaranteed to stack the corpses high. Olivo's partner in grind Matt Harvey (EXHUMED, GRUESOME) was recruited over beers in a sweaty L.A. apartment to bring his classic brand of oratory assault. The additions of veterans Danny Walker (drums; INTRONAUT, EXHUMED, PHOBIA) and bassist Menno Verbaten (LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH) complete the fit-to-burn outfit. Expect nothing but the best of throat-shredding vocals, relentless blast beats, buzzsaw riffs and raw bass tones. EXPULSION will leave you horrified with their vile brand of classic, '80s sickness! "Nightmare Future" track listing:

01. Total Human Genocide02. Altar Of Slaughter03. Mask Of Fear04. Nightmare Future05. Funeral Bells06. Compulsions07. Comatose

EXPULSION is:

Matt Harvey - VocalsMatt Olivo - GuitarDanny Walker - DrumsMenno Verbaten - Bass

CELTIC FROST will reissue its four seminal Noise Records albums on June 30 via BMG on deluxe hardback CD and 180-gram double album sets, complete with posters and 10-inch spine bound book. All tracks have been fully remastered and these releases contain previously unreleased and rare tracks. These are the definitive CELTIC FROST reissues. Pre-order now from PledgeMusic. Heroes of the extreme metal scene, there has always been so much more to CELTIC FROST's music. From "Morbid Tales", through "To Mega Therion", onwards to "Into The Pandemonium" and finally "Vanity/Nemesis", this is a band who refused to conform or follow any specific musical direction. They experimented, took risks and in the process have left behind a remarkable catalogue which is timeless and extraordinary. When you hear these albums, you'll appreciate why succeeding generations of diehard fans and cutting edge bands are so heavily inspired and influenced by CELTIC FROST. It almost seems churlish to regard CELTIC FROST as one of the great extreme metal bands, because they were so much more than that. It's better to hail them as among the finest extreme and experimental bands of the 1980s. Refusing ever to do what was expected or demanded, the band constantly changed musical direction, always brought in surprising influences, and kept people guessing as to where they might venture next. Their catalogue of albums is formidable and unmatched. Each is not only unique, but part of an entire tapestry that only now can be appreciated for being a remarkable part of music history. Despite, or maybe because of, constant turmoil on so many fronts, CELTIC FROST achieved an artistic level few others would even have dared to dream of aspiring towards. They climbed high because they were never afraid to fall. Which is why the band are now rightly regarded as icons, and iconoclasts. Debut album "Morbid Tales" was originally released in 1984, and quickly became known as the work of agitated and agitating talents. This record was a huge influence on the burgeoning death and thrash scenes at the time: a master-class of riff tirades and unholy sentiments. This reissue includes previously unheard and restored rehearsals from 1984. Both the 180-gram 2LP and CD versions include extensive booklets plus a poster. CELTIC FROST's second album, "To Mega Therion", was released in 1985 and showcased an ominous pall of doom and gloom, enmeshed in a sound both primitive yet also Wagnerian in its vast scope. This reissue includes the "Emperor's Return" EP as well as a remix of "Visual Aggression". Both the 180-gram LP and CD versions include extensive booklets. The band's third album, "Into Pandemonium", was originally released in 1987. The record represented a turning point for a whole genre, being extremely ahead of its time. Not only did it have maniacal rhythms, but introduced electronica into extreme metal. On every level, it was a remarkable record, full of visionary ideas and ideals. This reissue includes alternate versions of tracks from the album and a cover of a Dean Martin song. Both the 180-gram LP and CD versions include extensive booklets. CELTIC FROST's fifth studio album, "Vanity/Nemesis", was released in 1990. It featured a twisted cover of David Bowie's "Heroes" and it saw the band going in a much more thrash-oriented direction. The restless energy percolates throughout, as CELTIC FROST continued to leave fans aghast at their soundscapes and adventurous perceptions. The reissue includes tracks from the "Wine In My Hand" 12-inch EP, and both the 180-gram LP and CD versions include extensive booklets. "Morbid Tales" track listing

01. Human (Intro)02. Into The Crypts Of Rays03. Visions Of Mortality04. Dethroned Emperor05. Morbid Tales06. Procreation (Of The Wicked)07. Return To The Eve08. Danse Macabre09. Nocturnal Fear

* Bonus Tracks

10. Morbid Tales (1984 Rehearsal)11. Messiah (1984 Rehearsal)12. Procreation (Of the Wicked) (1984 Rehearsal)13. Nocturnal Fear (1984 Rehearsal) "To Mega Therion" track listing:

01. Innocence And Wrath02. The Usurper03. Jewel Throne04. Dawn Of Meggido05. Eternal Summer06. Circle Of The Tyrants07. (Beyond The) North Winds08. Fainted Eyes09. Tears In A Prophet's Dream10. Necromantical Screams

* Bonus Tracks

11. Circle Of The Tyrants ("Emperor's Return" EP)12. Visual Aggression ("Emperor's Return" EP)13. Suicidal Winds ("Emperor's Return" EP)14. Journey Into Fear ("Emperor's Return" EP Recording Sessions)15. Visual Aggression (1988 Remix)16. Return to the Eve (1985 Studio Jam) "Into Pandemonium" track listing:

01. Mexican Radio02. Mesmerized03. Inner Sanctum04. Tristesses De La Lune05. Babylon Fell (Jade Serpent)06. Caress Into Oblivion (Jade Serpent II)07. One In Their Pride (Porthole Mix)08. I Won't Dance (The Elders' Orient)09. Rex Irae (Requiem)10. Oriental Masquerade

* Bonus Tracks

11. Sorrows Of The Moon12. The Inevitable Factor13. In The Chapel In The Moonlight14. One In Their Pride (Re-Entry Mix)15. The Inevitable Factor (Alternate Vox) "Vanity/Nemesis" track listing:

01. The Heart Beneath02. Wine In My Hand (Third From The Sun)03. Wings Of Solitude04. The Name Of My Bride05. This Island Earth06. The Restless Seas07. Phallic Tantrum08. A Kiss Or A Whisper09. Vanity10. Nemesis

* Bonus Tracks

11. Heroes12. A Descent to Babylon (Babylon Asleep)

California rockers BUCKCHERRY have parted ways with guitarist Keith Nelson and drummer Xavier Muriel. Replacing them on the band's summer tour dates will be Kevin Roentgen and Sean Winchester (EVERCLEAR), respectively.

The news of Nelson and Muriel's exit from BUCKCHERRY was confirmed by the band's guitarist Stevie D., who recently launched a new group called JOSH TODD & THE CONFLICT with BUCKCHERRY singer Josh Todd.

Stevie wrote in a statement: "As most of you may already know, Josh and I have just completed the debut album from our other band, JOSH TODD & THE CONFLICT, which is set to drop in September. We look forward to seeing all of you on the road very soon — keep your eyes peeled for upcoming dates, we'll be adding them shortly. And, as most of you may already also know, BUCKCHERRY has recently gone through some big changes.

"As we wish the very best for Keith and Xavier in all of their future endeavors, we want you to be the first to know that we'll be showing up in a huge way for all the BUCKCHERRY dates this summer with the help of a couple of our dearest friends, Kevin Roentgen and Sean Winchester.

"Josh, Kelly [LeMieux, bass] and I can't even begin to thank you ALL enough for your continued love and support. Our fans are the very best, and we are humbled and forever grateful."

Muriel apparently referred to his exit from BUCKCHERRY when he wrote in a tweet on Sunday (May 14): "A Heartfelt Thank You to all the fans of the last 11 years.. couldn't have done it without you!!!! What a ride.... Until next time. X"

The digital deluxe edition release of BUCKCHERRY's album "Rock 'N' Roll", was made available in January 2016 via F-Bomb/Caroline. The new deluxe edition featured the record's original track list as well as the newly released version of "The Feeling Never Dies", a brand new song titled "Getting Started" and a B-side called "Cannonball".

Legendary bass player Rudy Sarzo has joined the new thrash band launched by former ANTHRAX guitarist Dan Spitz and ex-JOURNEY drummer Deen Castronovo.

Since the early 1980s, Sarzo has played with some of the biggest bands and artists in hard rock and heavy metal, including OZZY OSBOURNE (alongside renowned guitarist Randy Rhoads), QUIET RIOT, WHITESNAKE, DIO and Geoff Tate's version of QUEENSRŸCHE, not to mention a five-year stint with hard rock juggernauts BLUE ÖYSTER CULT.

Sarzo in 2006 published "Off The Rails", a book about his time with Osbourne and Rhoads.

During an appearance on "Talking Bollocks", the monthly metal podcast hosted by ACID REIGN frontman-turned-stand-up-comedian Howard H. Smith, Spitz stated about his new band: "We have a singer; I just can't say who it is yet. But it's pretty monumental. It's killer. And it's not a project; it's a band. And, of course, Deen is one of the world's most incredible drummers walking the planet. You first think of him as [having played in] JOURNEY. Deen's also a lead singer. He sings three or four of the JOURNEY songs live as he plays [the drums]. He sings the ones that Steve Perry wouldn't even sing live. He's quite an incredible singer. He's the lead singer for REVOLUTION SAINTS and just a great guy and a monster, monster, monster drummer. He got his start in SOCIAL DISTORTION, and he's just a metalhead, really. [He spent] seventeen years in JOURNEY, he played for Ozzy [Osbourne], he played on early Ted Nugent albums. I mean, it goes on, dude. He's pulling out stuff, and I'm, like, 'Are you kidding me, dude? I used to sit and just do bong hits and blast my guitar listening to that album. Are you crazy? I didn't know it was you.' [Laughs]"

Asked if the vocalist in Spitz's and Castronovo's new band has a thrash background, the guitarist said: "I'm not gonna say anything. 'Cause what I create is always new. Was [ANTHRAX's] Joey Belladonna a thrash singer when I found him in a JOURNEY cover band in upstate New York? We can take someone like Joey and get him to sing and fit in. I don't hold any barriers to anybody."

According to Dan, "the whole cycle" for his new band with Deen "will be starting in the beginning of July as far as all [of us being] in one room." He added that he has already completed writing "about an album and a half" worth of material for the project, with plans to have "about two albums' worth" of songs to choose from.

Spitz, a born-again Christian and Messianic Jew who frequently cites his faith as an influential component to his life, explained that he decided to launch a new group with Deen because "it's just time now to play again… I have a lot more music in me. I don't know where or what. I don't ask questions and I don't sit around the table and whatever. However God gets it to fall into place, it is what it is, and away we go."

After leaving ANTHRAX for the first time, Spitz became a world-renowned, prize-winning watchmaker who hand-lathed his own replacement parts for antique watch restorations.

METALLICA performed the song "Now That We're Dead" on last night's (Monday, May 15) episode of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" on CBS. You can now watch the band's appearance below.

This was not be the first time that METALLICA has appeared on a talk show hosted by Stephen Colbert. The band previously sat down for an interview and performed on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" in September 2013.

"Now That We're Dead" is taken from METALLICA's latest album, "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", which came out in November.

The North American leg of METALLICA's "WorldWired" 2017 tour kicked off in Baltimore on May 10 and is hitting stadiums in 25 cities before winding down in mid-August. Support on the quartet's first North American trek since 2009 is coming mainly from AVENGED SEVENFOLD and VOLBEAT, with GOJIRA taking over for the latter group for the last six shows.

The first European leg of "WorldWired" kicks off on September 4 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and stretches through November. After a break, the trek will pick up again on February 10, 2018 in Bologna, Italy, and continue through May, finishing up in Helsinki, Finland.