NEXT TO NONE, the band featuring drummer Max Portnoy, son of Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, THE WINERY DOGS), has inked a deal with InsideOut Music. The group's debut album, "A Light In The Dark", will be released in the summer. Prior to the CD's arrival, the band will be opening shows for English labelmates HAKEN on that band's April/May U.S. tour.

Based in Pennsylvania, NEXT TO NONE features Max Portnoy on drums, Ryland Holland on guitar, Kris Rank on bass, and Thomas Cuce on keyboards and lead vocals. The band has been honing its craft for several years, recording an independently released EP and playing various live gigs, including a slot at the Progressive Nation At Sea 2014 cruise. Later that year, the band went into the studio to record "A Light In The Dark" with producer Mike Portnoy. The CD features guest appearances by Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (GUNS N' ROSES) and prog legend Neal Morse.

Max Portnoy says: "It's so exciting to be signing with InsideOut... the home of the greatest prog bands in the world! We are honored to be part of the family."

Adds Mike Portnoy: "Producing the NEXT TO NONE album was like a trip back in time for me. I couldn't help but be reminded of recording my very first album with DREAM THEATER back in 1988.

"These boys have talent and maturity way beyond their years. It's obvious in their playing abilities, but I was most impressed with their writing and creative abilities.

"Six of the songs spread across the album tie together to create a conceptual piece... For a group of 15- and 16-year-olds to be thinking in big master strokes like that is absolutely incredible. They are doing things musically and thematically as teenagers that I wasn't exploring until I was in my mid-twenties and thirties!

"I must point out that THEY wrote all of the music and performed all of their instruments on the album. I do not want people to think that my role as producer had anything to do with those areas... it is all THEM! My main role was to help them explore the studio for the first time and help them learn the ropes in that department.

"I couldn't be prouder of this album and think that NEXT TO NONE represents the next generation of progressive metal."

"A Light In The Dark" track listing:

01. The Edge Of Sanity02. You Are Not Me03. Runaway04. A Lonely Walk05. Control06. Lost07. Social Anxiety08. Legacy09. Blood On My Hands



Upload your music for free at ReverbNation.com

PledgeMusic has announced its partnership with FILTER for the recording of the band's seventh studio record, to be released on Wind-Up. Shoving a fist in the face of tradition has been FILTER's modus operandi since the release of its self-produced debut album, "Short Bus". The CD's rough-around-the-edges production consisted of inebriated answering machine samples, lavish bass lines, and jagged guitars set to a backdrop of drum machines punctuated by the unfurling of Richard Patrick's vocal prowess and signature roar. Patrick, FILTER's magnetic, profoundly intelligent nucleus and front-man jubilantly admits that his creative process is unorthodox, whether he's staring down and conquering new technology or coalescing and co-conspiring with band-mates. Says Patrick of the new record: "It's going to be FAN-f**king-tastic!

"Joining up with PledgeMusic — it's going to be amazing to work with them.

"I hate crowdfunding shit. I think it's like begging, but PledgeMusic is something very different and much cooler.

"This isn't crowdfunding, this is partnering up with you, getting involved with you the fan, getting involved with you the supporter of awesome music. Our fans get to ride along with us and see what it's like for a FILTER record to be made." Fans will be given the opportunity to purchase exclusive items such as autographed CDs and signed vinyl, your name in a special "thank you" section of the liner notes, a Skype session with Richard Patrick, a mixing mastering session and lots of other great items. They will also get exclusive access to campaign updates and videos from Patrick and the band.

Go to www.pledgemusic.com/projects/filter to sign up and pledge your support. Patrick recently told All Access Live about FILTER's forthcoming album: "I'm developing a completely new sound for the band — [what I like to call] 'new industrial.'"

He continued: "I mean, I hate genres, and I guess creating a new genre is kind of where I'm at.

"FILTER's always been so hard to place. And for people, [some of them are], like, 'I like the rock,' and [others are, like], 'I like the mellow stuff.' And so this is a complete… There are several songs that sound straight-up industrial, like old FILTER, and I have to stay true to that sound as well, but it's so important to venture forward and recognize that we're in 2015."

Patrick added: "Oumi [Kapila, new FILTER guitarist] and I have hit up a good songwriting approach, and it's very… it's really a lot of sound design, a lot of new things that you haven't really heard FILTER do, and I don't think anyone's really done it. But… So it's a really, really different, original-sounding thing, and I really love it."

Guitarist Jonny Radtke announced his departure from FILTER in early March, explaining in a tweet that he has decided "to pursue other musical interests."

FILTER's sixth studio album, "The Sun Comes Out Tonight", was released on June 4, 2013 via Wind-Up Records.

Former MEGADETH drummer Nick Menza has released the following statement:

"To my fans, I hate disappointing all of you who have been asking and hopeful that Marty Friedman and I would rejoin [MEGADETH's] Dave Mustaine and David Ellefson to resurge the classic 'Rust In Peace' lineup.

"I was totally ready and excited to get back in MEGADETH. I went to Dave's house/studio in San Diego this past December and we jammed for the weekend and it was totally cool. We instantly fell right back into our musical groove together.

"We have great chemistry. It's a magical thing! And, yes, that's me, the 'mystery' drummer whose face is hidden in the YouTube videos Justis Mustaine [Dave's son] posted as seen below. "A few weeks after this, we all got together with our old manager Ron Laffitte for a dinner meeting at the Anaheim White House restaurant during NAMM. It was great seeing Ron and Marty. We all talked about the plans for a new record and touring and I made it known I was into rejoining and making this my priority. I was pumped, and even went as far as recording drums on five new MEGADETH songs Dave had sent me. "As soon as I got home and it was time to sit down and negotiate my terms in writing, I was offered a very unfair deal that was so wrong. They didn't feel I was worth anything to the band. Dave blocked my emails, changed his number and then, apparently, Ron Laffitte was fired as the band's manager. Here is one of my favorite bands and a huge part of my life achievements and I was shut out for wanting a fair deal. "I am really blown away how this band conducts business.

"A band is about a group of people who have respect for one another, sense of loyalty, camaraderie, and, most of all, honor and trust!

"I'm not a puppet. I have integrity, loyalty, and honor. That's who I am!

"There's much more to this story, and I could now add the final chapter to my book 'Nick Menza Megalife: Countdown To Resurrection', by J. Marshall Craig. "Despite this dark final chapter, I wish MEGADETH the heartiest of health, happiness and success with their future plans. As for me, I am moving on with a new band of other fellow former 'DETH members [James LoMenzo and Chris Poland], as well as a few surprise players, and producer ."

MEGADETH announced on April 2 that Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro, best known for his work with ANGRA, has joined the Dave Mustaine-led group as the replacement for Chris Broderick.

In addition to Mustaine, Ellefson and Loureiro, the recording lineup for MEGADETH's forthcoming album will include LAMB OF GOD drummer Chris Adler.

In a statement, Mustaine called Chris "a tremendous talent" and "an amazing person" who is "going to bring a new level of excitement and energy to MEGADETH that the fans are going to lose their minds over."

Adler was equally excited about playing with MEGADETH, saying: "I'm coming into this on fire. There is an incredible amount of respect, but the goal here is to make the very best thrash album we can — not just throw names in the CD booklet or be a 'yes' man. Together, I believe we can do something very special."

Drummer Shawn Drover quit MEGADETH last November "to pursue [his] own musical interests."

Frontiers Music Srl will release of HOUSE OF LORDS' tenth studio album, titled "Indestructible", on June 3 in Europe and June 7 in North America. The CD shows once again what HOUSE OF LORDS stands for: powerful and heavy songs, with major hooks and melodies and grandiose arrangements.

"The name 'Indestructible' was chosen because we all felt that we have been through a lot in our long careers and what better way to say, 'Hey, I'm still here' than by giving the CD a bold title," says HOUSE OF LORDS singer James Christian.

"Indestructible" features eleven brand new songs, which masterfully combine the best of heavy and melodic hard rock.

"The album is heavier in the beginning, but we love songs that are both melodic and heavy," continues Christian, "and the idea was to fill the best of both on one CD without sounding like two different bands. I think we have accomplished that. A good example would be the song 'Pillar Of Salt' especially gives a good representation of how the new album sounds: a combination of heavy, melodic, and thoughtful lyrics. This song is one of my favorites!"

Besides being HOUSE OF LORDS tenth studio album, the new record sees the HOUSE OF LORDS lineup celebrating its first ten years together.

"It is amazing to work with BJ, Chris and Jimi," says James Christian. "They are all very aware of what HOUSE OF LORDS represents and they are committed to making records that complement the history of the band. No matter which HOUSE OF LORDS album you listen to, there is a common thread, which comes from the fact that the four of us are musically in sync. This is the real reason why we have been able to produce records of this caliber."

HOUSE OF LORDS will appear at the Frontiers Rock Festival in Trezzo, Italy next Sunday, April 12 and start a European tour in September, with a very special surprise show to be announced soon.

"Indestructible" track listing:

01. Go To Hell02. Indestructible03. Pillar Of Salt04. 100 Mph05. Call My Bluff06. We Will Always Be One07. Die To Tell08. Another Dawn09. Eye Of The Storm10. Ain't Suicidal11. Stand And Deliver

An EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for the album is available below.

HOUSE OF LORDS is:

James Christian - Lead VocalsJimi Bell - GuitarChris McCarvill - Bass BJ Zampa - Drums

Slash has shot down as false a former GUNS N' ROSES manager's claim that an argument over the guitarist's collaboration with Michael Jackson is ultimately what fractured the relationship the ex-GN'R axeman and the band's lead singer Axl Rose.

In a recent interview with the Brazilian edition of Rolling Stone magazine, Doug Goldstein — who managed GUNS N' ROSES from 1991 to 2008 — said: "In 1991, we were on the road, and Slash went to my office and said, 'I'll be leaving tomorrow to play with Michael Jackson at a tribute concert.' I told him not to do it because Axl was molested by his father when he was two and he believed the charges against Michael Jackson."

He continued: "Everyone knew Eddie Van Halen received $1 million to play in 'Beat It'. So, I asked Slash, 'How much are you receiving?' and he said, 'I'll just get a big-screen TV.'"

Axl was very hurt when he learned about the collaboration. "When Axl found out Slash was going to play with Michael Jackson and that the payment was a big-screen TV, he was devastated," Doug said. "He thought Slash would support him and be against all abuse. From the point of view of Axl, that was the only problem. He could ignore the drugs and the alcohol, but could never the child abuse."

Slash played his final show with GUNS N' ROSES in July 1993, and by October 1996 he announced that he was no longer part of the band.

So what would it take to repair the rift between the guitarist and Axl? "Slash would have to apologize for the episode with Michael Jackson," Goldstein said. "And I really believe … I'd be the manager to reunite them. I don't think anyone else could do it."

In a brand new interview with "Elliot In The Morning", the morning radio talk show hosted by DJ Elliot Segal, Slash was asked if there is any truth to Goldstein's claims.

"You know what?! I've been hearing a lot about this particular interview from a lot of people that he really pissed off," Slash replied (hear audio below). "And I've heard that. And I don't think there's any truth to that. I mean, obviously, the band stayed together for years after that whole thing. And it wasn't a big deal at the time. And if it did piss anybody off, it was something that went away. So I don't think it had anything to do with the original GUNS N' ROSES' demise."

Slash also explained that he doesn't go out of his way to read any of Goldstein's interviews that have to do with GUNS N' ROSES. "I don't wanna read or hear that guy's B.S., so I just avoid it," he said. "That way I stay sane. [Laughs]"

In a brand new interview with San Jose Mercury News, METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett was asked when fans can expect to see the follow-up to the band's 2008 album, "Death Magnetic".

"You guys will see the album when it's done," he responded. "We have songs. I can verify that. We are working on music. I can verify that."

He continued: "It's so early in the project — things can shift drastically to the left or the right within a week's time. It's hard to comment on anything right now, because nothing is really permanent."

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich recently told RollingStone.com that the band has written close to 20 new songs for its long-awaited tenth studio album, and will get closer to entering the studio in the near future. Ulrich said, "We've got lots of songs, and we're honing them and tweaking them. It's pretty close." He continued, "In our world, there's been a distinct difference between the creative phase and the recording phase. With this project, we're trying to bridge the two a little more organically and not have there be such a great divide between the processes. We want to see if we can bring some of the creative curiosity, the impulsive stuff that happens when you're first playing a song into the studio."

Ulrich added that the band doesn't want to record in a way that feels "labored over and overthought."

Bassist Robert Trujillo told The Pulse Of Radio that there's always a surplus of new song ideas coming out of frontman James Hetfield. "James usually comes up with a lot of stuff," he said. "He's the kind of guy where he plugs in his guitar, turns a volume knob or a, you know, a tone knob, and he comes up with, you know, the greatest riff that you can imagine. So in that case, there's no shortage of riffs and ideas."

Even though Ulrich warned that "life continues with family and personal events," he added that the band is "certainly down there [writing] pretty much every day."

METALLICA spent a lot of time outside the studio in 2014, with activities that included a string of European all-request shows last summer, appearing as guests of honor at a film festival, and playing a week-long residency on "The Late Show With Craig Ferguson".

SLAYER guitarist Kerry King has dismissed as "bullshit" a recent report that claimed the band's late axeman, Jeff Hanneman, was "physically present on one unnamed track" on SLAYER's forthcoming eleventh full-length album, tentatively due in August.

In an interview with Revolver magazine, SLAYER bassist/vocalist Tom Araya stated about the band's forthcoming CD: "The whole process of this album started three years ago, when Jeff was still a part of it. There is one track on there that we recorded with him, that he did play on, which was completely done except we hadn't finalized the vocals for it. So we were fortunate to have something that he had participated in."

But in a brand new chat with Loudwire conducted on Monday (April 6), Kerry shot down the claim that Jeff's playing can be heard on SLAYER's new CD. He said (see video below): "Jeff Hanneman isn't physically playing on this record. Somebody reported some bullshit. People say shit when they don't know what's actually going on. Even though Jeff's song, 'Piano Wire', which was [originally] recorded [during] the last album cycle ['World Painted Blood'], I played all the guitar [on it]. I've been doing that for years. Since he has no lead on that song, he's not on it."

During a November 2013 chat with Rolling Stone magazine, King spoke in more detail about the last track Hanneman wrote. He said: "Jeff gave us… There was a song leftover from the last album that Jeff finished as an afterthought that was called 'Piano Wire'. It wasn't on the album because it wasn't as good as the other songs. I knew Jeff was gonna work on the lyrics and get it done. He was always talking about reworking the song."

He continued: "When you try to make a song better, you pretty much have to deconstruct it to make it better. I know there are two other ones, which are incomplete things, which he had for 15 to 20 years. Those will come out. My big thing is that I don't want people to say, 'Oh, that's a bummer that this was Jeff's last song.' I want people to say, 'This is awesome that this was Jeff's last song.'"

The follow-up to 2009's "World Painted Blood" was recorded over a four-month period at Hollywood, California's Henson Studios with producer Terry Date, who has previously worked with PANTERA, SOUNDGARDEN and KORN, among others. The CD will be released on Nuclear Blast through the band's own label imprint, closing out a 28-year relationship with Rick Rubin and American Recordings. It will also be SLAYER's first album without Hanneman, who passed away in May 2013 from alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver. He is credited for writing many of SLAYER's classic songs, including "Angel Of Death" and "South Of Heaven".

Joining King and Araya during the sessions for SLAYER's new album are returning drummer Paul Bostaph, who replaced Dave Lombardo last year, and guitarist Gary Holt (also of EXODUS), who has been filling in for Jeff Hanneman on tour for the past four years.

Asked if he has found himself tempted to write the kind of songs that Jeff might have contributed to an album, Kerry told Metal Hammer magazine in an early 2014 interview: "I think that would be shooting myself in the foot. I can't pretend to be Jeff. We both learned from each other in 30 years of writing together. As far as going out of my way to write something that Jeff might've done? I won't do that. If it happens to end up sounding that way, good for me!"

Regarding what fans can expect from the new SLAYER material, King said: "I've got a surprising amount of heavy stuff for me. I do tend to lean on the fast side, but I have some exceptionally heavy tunes, Like, 'Wow, man, where did that come from?' I expect my stuff to be angry and fast, but it's all over the map. I'm stoked. We'll have enough so we can pick great stuff whether we use any of Jeff's material or not. It should add up to as good a record as we can hope for with one of our original songwriters being gone."

The official video for "Her Bullets Energy", a song from former KYUSS and current VISTA CHINO frontman John Garcia, can be seen below. The track, which features a guest appearance by guitarist Robby Krieger of THE DOORS, is taken from Garcia's self-titled solo album, which was released in August 2014 via Napalm Records. The CD was recorded at Thunder Underground studios in Palm Springs, California with producers Harper Hug and Trevor Whatever.

Said Garcia: "To have Robby Krieger from THE DOORS play on my first-ever solo record was surreal. Not only was it surreal, but to be the first artist ever to record in his brand new studio, Horse Latitudes, in Los Angeles made it even more special.

"I am honored, and humbled by his professionalism and talent and will never forget that experience for the rest of my life... It truly made the song 'Her Bullets Energy' better, not to mention the entire record."

"John Garcia" track listing:

01. My Mind02. Rolling Stoned03. Flower04. The Blvd05. 5000 Miles06. Confusion07. His Bullets Energy08. Argleben09. Saddleback10. All These Walls11. Her Bullets Energy

"When I was 19 years old living with Nick Oliveri in North Palm Springs off of San Rafael, I wrote 'Her Bullets Energy' with Nick. I knew that eventually I wanted to do this," Garcia told Coachella Valley Weekly.

"Throughout the years, ever since that first song was written, I've kept a collection of songs in what I call a safe deposit box which in reality was a cardboard box I just traveled with and moved with me.

"These songs that I have are not 'B' sides. They are not leftovers. These are songs that were special to me that I had a personal relationship with. As I got older, as I looked at them every single morning I got up, I started feeling exhausted and felt bad for these songs. I've always wanted to do it. At some point in time, it clicked. I was tired of saying 'yes' to everything and everyone else with the exception of these songs that were close to me. I said no more. I want to finally do this. This project is tangible. These songs are tangible."

SKID ROW fired singer Johnny Solinger (pictured) over the phone a few hours before announcing ex-TNT vocalist Tony Harnell as his replacement, the band revealed in a new interview.

Solinger, who joined SKID ROW in 1999, released a statement on Monday (April 6) claiming that he had "decided to leave SKID ROW to pursue [his] solo career."

However, during an appearance on yesterday's edition of Eddie Trunk's SiriusXM satellite radio show, "Eddie Trunk Live", SKID ROW guitarist Dave "Snake" Sabo and bassist Rachel Bolan disputed Solinger's version of the split, saying that it was them who "made the call and informed" Johnny that "we were making a change and we were gonna be going forward as SKID ROW with a new singer."

Asked about the circumstances that led to Solinger's exit from SKID ROW, Sabo said: "First of all, it's one of those things where there's no animosity with Johnny at all, from our standpoint. But it felt like it was just time for us to make a change."

He continued: "We have been feeling this way for a little while.

"We're thankful for the fifteen years that we had with Johnny. But it just felt like it was just time that we needed to make a change. And Rachel, Scotti [Hill, guitar] and I and Rob [Hammersmith, drums] spoke about it, and we just felt that if we're gonna do something, we should do it now."

Regarding the fact that Solinger announced that it was he who made the decision to leave SKID ROW, Snake said: "Contrary to what he may be saying — and this is not a 'he said, she said' thing — this is something that we had discussed for a while. And it was our decision and we made the call and informed him that we were making a change and we were gonna be going forward as SKID ROW with a new singer."

Added Rachel: "Without bagging on the guy… There's still a connection, hopefully, there with him, because we were all brothers at one time. It just became evident a while back — not a long while, but maybe a year or so — that it just… Everyone was going in a different direction, as far as him and the band. And we just wanted to be the best band we could be, and I think Johnny had a different idea for quality. So it was just one of those things, man. We talked about it and we wrestled over it, and we were, like, this is SKID ROW. This means a lot to us. We started this over 25 years ago. And it's something that sucks doing, but we're okay with doing it, 'cause this is SKID ROW. This is our lives."

Asked if there was ever a time where they felt things were "clicking" and "100 percent right" between Solinger and the rest of the band, Rachel said: "We were clicking big time. I thought we made a lot of great music together. And even with [the ongoing trilogy of] EPs, when we were in the studio, we were making great music. Snake and I would write, and everyone came in and really sunk in. I think it was when we were in the studio that it really became evident that we all didn't have the same heart and soul… We weren't all putting the same heart and soul into it. And it's just one of those things, man. It's rough to make a decision like this, but we did, and we have someone in place, and it's been awesome."

Added Snake: "This has nothing to do with Johnny not being a good person; he's a really good person, and we all got along well. There's no animosity at all from our end. And these are terrible decisions to make, man. They're awful. The guy's been with us for fifteen years, and we saw a lot of miles of road together, and I feel extremely fortunate to have spent that time in a band with him. And he's a great singer and he's gonna be fine. He's gonna pursue his solo stuff, I guess, and that's what he should do. And for us, we're moving forward. We're excited about the future. These things are never easy. They're life-altering decisions, you know. But it's a decision that had to be made, from our standpoint, and we made that decision. And we basically said to Johnny that we're making a chance and getting a new singer."

Sabo also revealed that SKID ROW's decision to fire Solinger came as a surprise to the singer and that Johnny received the call informing him of his dismissal from the group on Monday morning.

On the topic of how Solinger reacted to being fired from SKID ROW, Snake said: "There was no screaming and shouting. We were both very respectful to one another. And we should be. I mean, like I said, we've traveled a lot of miles together, and this is not something that is easy in any way, but yet it's something that was necessary."

Asked how parting ways with Solinger was different to the split with Sebastian Bach in 1996, Rachel said: "That was a completely different situation. There was a lot of bad blood there, and… Yeah, it was a completely different situation. This is something, like Snake said, there's no animosity. It's just… We all didn't have our eyes on the same prize at this point, and it interfered. It interfered with moving forward. And that's why we made a change."

Harnell will make his live debut with SKID ROW on May 23 at Dakota Dunes Casino in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

New Hampshire's post-black metal band, Vattnet Viskar, has set a June 16th (June 15th in Europe) release date for their sophomore full length album, Settler. Recorded at Earth Analog Studios in Champaign, IL with producer Sanford Parker (Minsk, Voivod), the album will have eight tracks that expand upon their sound.

The band is confirmed for this year's Maryland Deathfest and will be doing dates with California's Early Graves.

Tour dates:

May
16 – Manchester, NH – Milly’s Tavern
17 – Providence, RI – Parlour
18 – Allston, MA – Great Scott
20 – Philadelphia, PA – Ortliebs
21 – Brooklyn, NY – Saint Vitus
22 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live (Maryland Deathfest)

Vattnet Viskar is:

Nick Thornbury - guitar/vocals
Chris Alfieri - guitar
Seamus Menihane - drums
Casey Aylward - bass

The surviving members of the theatrical shock rock band GWAR have responded to the lawsuit filed by the father of Dave Brockie, the group's late founder, accusing them of stealing Dave's artwork, bass guitars and cremated remains, and refusing to return them to his family.

GWAR's official statement reads as follows:

"We have not yet seen the actual lawsuit papers, and thus cannot comment on the substance of the lawsuit brought against GWAR by Dave Brockie's father, William Brockie, but we can say that the claims in the Style Weekly article are false. We did not steal Dave Brockie's ashes, or anything else that belonged to him. In fact, all of the items mentioned in the article, including Dave's ashes have been available to his attorneys for weeks. At all times, and under very trying circumstances, we have acted in good faith to honor the wishes of our dear friend. Dave left no will or instructions for final arrangements, and so we have done the best we could to honor what we believe Dave Brockie would have wanted. "The accusation concerning Dave's ashes is particularly troubling for us. Following Dave's passing, the first thing we did was notify his father, who signed over Dave's body so we could have him cremated. We were told by Dave's father that he did not want to be involved in making Dave's final arrangements. For this reason, Slave Pit [GWAR's management company] assumed that responsibility, paying for his cremation, arranging two memorial services (one public and one private), and purchasing a plot for Dave in Richmond's famed Hollywood Cemetery. Dave's father did not attend either of the services held for his son in Richmond. "Over 30 years of working and living with Dave, several of us had heard him say that he wished for his ashes to be kept at Slave Pit, so he could 'keep an eye on GWAR' while we worked. In the weeks following his death, we developed a plan for a memorial fund that would raise money to honor Dave's memory with a statue in Hollywood Cemetery and work to continue his passionate support of the arts. We felt strongly that a portion of his remains should live at the site of his proposed monument in Hollywood Cemetery. When William Brockie later approached us, we released a portion of the ashes at his request, so he could spread them in the location where Dave's brother and mother's ashes were dispersed. "Concerning the other allegations in the article, there was certainly no effort on the part of anyone in GWAR, including drummer Brad Roberts, to steal or hide Dave's belongings and personal effects either from his home or office. Dave, like the rest of GWAR, was paid upfront for his final leg of touring with GWAR. The claim that we failed to pay his share of royalties from Slave Pit Inc. is false, and we have the records to prove that. We have been in correspondence with William Brockie and his lawyers for months. They have access to the band's financial records, and Dave's payments and share of royalties are clearly recorded. Likewise, William Brockie's attorneys have an itemized list of the small collection of Dave's art and belongings at Slave Pit. There was never an attempt on the part of Slave Pit to withhold these items from William Brockie. When his attorneys finally identified the particular things they wanted, we made arrangements to return them immediately. Dave's remains, as well as his belongings, including the instruments and the gold record mentioned in the article were given to our lawyers, who in turn notified the Brockie estate that they could retrieve them weeks ago. "The Dave Brockie Fund did indeed raise money toward our initial goal of building a monument to Dave in Hollywood Cemetery. Unfortunately, its mission has been put on hold because William Brockie's attorneys claim that the Brockie estate should have control of the Dave Brockie Fund and the money contained therein. If we are ultimately unable to use the funds for the purpose for which they are raised, the funds will be returned to all contributing donors. "Finally, our manager, Jack Flanagan has been unjustly accused of signing a bogus release. At the request of our attorneys, he signed some paperwork to make his position clear on what he thought Dave would have wanted, which is something that the law of Virginia specifically asks for, given Jack's relationship with the band and with Dave. There is nothing bogus about this. "Dave Brockie was our friend, peer, co-worker, and our family. We want to preserve the legacy of one of the greatest singers in rock and roll history. There is no 'conspiracy,' no bad faith, no theft, no graft, and no ill will.

"We trust our fans will see through this, and we will be able to get back to work on the one thing we all know Dave Brockie loved; GWAR."

Dave Brockie was found dead in his home in Richmond, Virginia on March 23, 2014. According to Virginia's State Medical Examiner's Office, he died from acute heroin toxicity by accidental means.

Dave Brockie, who fronted GWAR under the name Oderus Urungus was the band's last remaining original member.

According to NBC News, the surviving members of the theatrical shock rock band GWAR have been sued by the father of Dave Brockie, the group's late founder, accusing them of stealing Dave's artwork, bass guitars and cremated remains, and refusing to return them to his family.

In the lawsuit, filed Thursday (April 2) in state circuit court in Richmond, Virginia, William Brockie, the administrator of Dave Brockie's estate, states: "Immediately after Dave Brockie's death, the remaining active members of GWAR, led by [drummer] Brad Roberts [a.k.a. Jizmak Da Gusha], set out on a course of action to capitalize on the death of Dave Brockie.

"Mr. Roberts and-his cohorts took certain steps to attempt to wrongfully secure Dave Brockie's property and legacy — items that rightfully belonged to his Estate.

"Shortly after Dave Brockie's death, Brad Roberts contacted Mr. Brockie by telephone in an attempt to convince Mr. Brockie to relinquish his authority to administer his son's estate.

"Following up on this phone call, Slave Pit, Inc.'s lawyer sent Mr. Brockie a letter on April 25, 2014 for the purpose of wresting control of the Estate of Dave Brockie from Mr. Brockie.

"That letter falsely represented that Mr. Brockie had 'expressed that [he) cannot, take on this responsibility right now' and asked that Mr. Brockie accept Michael Derks and Jamison Land, two of the current band members of GWAR, as the co-administrators of Dave Brockie's estate.

"At no time did Mr. Brockie express the desire to not serve in the capacity of Administrator of his son's estate.

"While Slave Pit, Inc. was attempting to usurp Mr. Brockie's authority to act as Administrator of the Estate, Mr. Roberts was simultaneously taking steps to take possession of and abscond with Dave Brockie's personal effects and legacy.

"Dave Brockie's housemate at the time of his deathwas GWAR band member Jamison Land.

"Upon information and belief, promptly after Dave Brockie's passing, Mr. Land was contacted by Brad Roberts and Jack Flanagan, GWAR's manager, to gain access to Dave Brockie's residence.

"Upon information and belief, sometime after Dave Brockie's death but before May 22, 2014, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Land, and Mr. Flanagan, and others affiliated with GWAR took possession of and removed certain of Dave Brockie's personal items, including but not limited to his bass guitars, artwork, gold record, tour posters, antique firearm, and computer from his residence.

"Upon information and belief, these items were removed from Dave Brockie's personal residence and brought to Slave Pit, Inc. headquarters where they were comingled with Dave Brockie's other property, including original Art that he had kept at Slave Pit, Inc. headquarters.

"Dave Brockie's personal items were then padlocked in Dave Brockie's old office at Slave Pit, Inc. headquarters.

"Mr. Roberts controlled access to Dave Brockie's former office and thereby access to Dave Brockie's personal belongings.

"After Dave Brockie was cremated, Mr. Roberts was also able to secure possession of Dave Brockie's remains.

"When Mr. Brockie visited Slave Pit, Inc. headquarters to retrieve Dave's belongings and remains on May 24, 2014, he was denied admission to Slave Pit, Inc. headquarters.

"Having been denied access to his son's remains and property, Mr. Brockie was callously made to wait across the street from Slave Pit Inc. headquarters at the restaurant En Su Boca.

"Eventually, Mike Derks, a member of Slave Pit, Inc., came out of Slave Pit, Inc. headquarters and walked over to En Su Boca to give Mr. Brockie a small fraction of his son's ashes which were delivered in a used plastic bag with Discover credit card logo on it.

"To date, Mr. Roberts and Slave Pit, Inc. have retained the vast majority of Dave Brockie's remains and failed to return the ashes of Dave Brockie to his grieving father.

"Slave Pit, Inc. then proceeded, without permission from Mr. Brockie, to set up the Dave Brockie Memorial Fund which used and, as of the date of this filing, continues to use Dave Brockie's name and image, to raise funds to be used at the discretion of Slave Pit, Inc.

"Slave Pit, Inc. also produced t-shirts with Dave Brockie's name and image on them which it sold both on the GWAR website, www.gwar.net, and at the 2014 GWAR BQ — the annual music festival held at Hadad's lake in Henrico, Virginia on August 15-16, 2014.

"The first day of the 2014 GWAR BQ was in fact advertised as a Dave Brockie public memorial. Several thousand people attended. In addition to Dave Brockie t-shirts, GWAR merchandise as well as food and beverages were sold at this 'public memorial' for Dave Brockie.

"Neither Slave Pit, Inc. nor any other, entity related to GWAR has ever sought or obtained permission from Mr. Brockie to use Dave Brockie's name, image, or likeness.

"Instead, Slave Pit, Inc. has attempted to justify its use of Dave Brockie's name, image, and likeness by having various current and former members of GWAR, as well as its manager, Jack Flanagan, execute 'releases' in which they purport to be the 'consort' of Dave Brockie.

"Conveniently these purported 'releases' were dated March 24, 2014 — the day after Dave Brockie's passing."

William Brockie seeks $1 million in compensatory damages, punitive damages, and injunctive relief on claims of conversion, breach of contract, and unauthorized use of David Brockie's image.

Dave Brockie was found dead in his home in Richmond, Virginia on March 23, 2014. According to Virginia's State Medical Examiner's Office, he died from acute heroin toxicity by accidental means.

Dave Brockie, who fronted GWAR under the name Oderus Urungus was the band's last remaining original member.

Northern Finland death/thrash metal act Ravage Machinery has announced their full-length debut album Subordinates Of The Mechanism.

Subordinates Of The Mechanism was forged by Drop Hammer Studios (Torture Killer, Hateform) and mastered by Jens Bogren ( At The Gates, Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth). The album will be released on April 24th by One Man Army.

Tracklisting:

“Emancipate/Exterminate”
“Supremus Deus Machinarum”
“Evolution Of Malevolence”
“Miscarriage”
“The Utilitarian Nomad”
“Limits Of Systematic Madness”
“The Gallows Await”
“Mediacracy”
“Decapitation”

Album teaser:

Acid King, pioneers of the San Francisco doom scene and one of the genre’s first bands to be helmed by a woman, return from their self-imposed 10-year recording hiatus on April 14th with the release of Middle Of Nowhere, Center Of Everywhere. A full album stream can be found below.

“We had several songs in the works over the years that we spent most of our time touring Europe but in between working our day jobs, we didn’t put the effort into recording,” explained singer/guitar player Lori S. “I really wanted to accelerate the process and get new music out. It’s time. This music that we’ve been playing for so long, that was initially obscure and underground, seemed to grow over these past 10 years and the timing was right to release this now!”

The artwork for Middle Of Nowhere, Center Of Everywhere was done by famed tattoo artist, Tim Lehi. Lehi has done cover art and posters for High on Fire, Earthless and Witch.

 

 

Middle Of Nowhere, Center Of Everywhere was recorded at both Sharkbite and Tiny Telephone Studios in San Francisco, mixed at Different Fur Studios and produced by Acid King and Billy Anderson. The digital release will be released independently via Acid King while physical copies, both CD and vinyl, will be available via Svart Records.

Album stream:

Acid King bubbled up from San Francisco in 1993 through a fog of revved up riffs, thunderous drums, and a hypnotic vocal howl. They unleashed three EPs and three full-length albums, starting with Zoroaster in 1995, the 1999 full-length Busse Woods, and their most recent release, Acid King III, coming in 2005. Their seismic chemistry transfixed audiences everywhere from high-profile festivals such as Hellfest and Roadburn to now iconic shows alongside peers such as Sleep and Mystick Krewe of Clearlight.

Tour dates:

April
24 - Berlin, Germany - Desert Fest
25 - Lisbon, Portugal - RCA Club
26 - London, UK - Desert Fest
27 - Brussels, Belgium - Magasin4
28 - Paris, France - Glazart
29 - Athens, Greece - Kyttaro Club

May
1 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Heavy Days in Doomtown Festival
2 - Osnabruck, Germany - Bastard Club
3 - Frankfurt, Germany - Zoom
4 - Munich, Germany - Krahnhalle
6 - Linz, Austria - Kapu
7 - Vienna, Austria - Viper Room
8 - Budapest, Hungary - Roham
9 - Innsbruck, Austria - PMK

June
20 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel

* Dates from April 27 to May with Black Cobra

(Photo - Raymond Ahner)

Canadian death metal act Wretchedpain has released a new song and lyric video called “The Great Reawakening”.

It features guest vocals by the night Mark Hunter (Chimaira) and keys by Sean Zatorsky (Daath, Chimaira) who will be programming all the samples on their upcoming album.

Wretchedpain is:
Joey Glacken - vocals
Aaron Guthridge - guitar
Derek Nelson - guitar
Cale Costello - drums
Andrew Eckert - bass

Since 2008, the art of outstanding Icelandic/German pagan metallers, Arstidir Lifsins - Icelandic for "the seasons of life" - has always radiated the spirit of Old Norse history. Boasting members of Helrunar, Kerbenok, and Carpe Noctem, the curious collective's latest long player - the stunning Aldafǫðr Ok Munka Dróttinn ("Óðinn and the God of the Monks") - takes an in-depth look Scandinavian history and myth over its dramatic eighty-one-minute runtime. Composed and recorded in Germany and Iceland between May and November of 2013 and then mixed and mastered in December 2013 by the experienced hands of known producer Markus Stock at Klangsmiede Studio E (Empyrium, Helrunar, Secrets Of The Moon etc), Aldafǫðr Ok Munka Dróttinn is sung entirely in Old Norse-Icelandic, with added Skaldic stanzas from the world-known Icelandic sagas and serves as a true milestone in Old Norse-inspired metal music.

From ambient archaic folklore patterns supported by dark chants and classical instrumentation, to black metal elements presented in their finest Norwegian tradition and epic double-bass driven Viking metal parts, the musical abilities of Arstidir Lifsins are truly wondrous.

Sample the video for "Norðsæta Gætis, Herforingja Ormsins Langa" below.
 
Aldafǫðr Ok Munka Dróttinn tracklisting:

I:
“Kastar Heljar Brenna Fjarri Ofan Onundarfirðinum”
“Knorr Siglandi Birtisk Á Löngu Bláu Yfirborði”
“Þeir Heilags Dóms Hirðar”
“Úlfs Veðrit Er Ið CMXCIX”
“Máni, Bróðir Sólar Ok Mundilfara”

II:
“Tími Er Kominn At Kveða Fyrir Þér”
“Norðsæta Gætis, Herforingja Ormsins Langa”
“Bituls Skokra Benvargs Hreggjar Á Sér Stað”
“Sem Lengsk Vánar Lopts Ljósgimu Hvarfs Dregr Nærri”

"Norðsæta Gætis, Herforingja Ormsins Langa" video:

Divided into nine individual hymns on two CDs (or limited LPs), Aldafǫðr Ok Munka Dróttinn is currently available via Ván Records.

Sworn In release their new studio album, The Lovers/The Devil today, April 7th, on Razor & Tie. The album was produced Will Putney (Amity Affliction, For Today, Miss May I). Order the album here. A full album stream can be found below.

The Lovers/The Devil is the follow up to Sworn In's 2013 debut album, The Death Card, which debuted on the Billboard Top 200 chart. The Lovers/The Devil, in short, is a concept record delving into the darkness of a destructive relationship. The CD is split into two halves, the first dubbed "The Lovers" and the second called "The Devil."

The Lovers tells the story of the man feeling obsessed, psychotic, depressed, and drowning in unrequited love. This half of the CD covers the desperate romantic who lives inside his own head because the real world has become too unbearable. But such is life and this character reaches a breaking point. And with that, comes the split of the record.

The Devil charts the course of the role reversal, where the man snaps and becomes the cold, bitter, and numb person that drove him mad, while the female occupies the position the male just went through.

However, the record does not glorify self-destructive love; rather, it chronicles that situation and can be interpreted in any way that feels personal to the one listening.

 

 

The Lovers/The Devil tracklisting:

“Sweetheart”
“Sugar Lips”
“I Don’t Really Love You”
“Oliolioxinfree”
“Waltz”
“Pins And Needles”
“Lay With Me”
“Weeping Willow”
“Pocket Full Of Posies”
“Sunshine”
“Scissors”
“Sour”
“Love Drunk”

Album stream:

 

Toronto-based death / black metal band, Visions Of The Night, has released a new music video for the song “Utilizing Hate As A Motivational Force”, from their latest CD, Guerrillas Within Their Midst.

 

 

The song features drums by Todd Hansen (King Parrot, The Berzerker) and explores the biological side of the human condition.

 

Porcupine Tree bassist Colin Edwin is involved with the new project, O.R.k., also featuring Lorenzo Esposito Fornasari on vocals, Pat Mastelotto on drums, and Italian guitarist Carmelo Pipitone.

 

 

The group will release their new album, entitled Inflamed Rides, independently, and have launched a pre-order at this location.

Stay tuned for updates. In the meantime, check out a video for the band’s track “Pyre” below, as well as a stream of the song “Jellyfish”.

“Pyre” video:

“Jellyfish”:

 

Florida's 21st Century rock outfit, Message To Venus, has launched a lyric video for its latest single, "Over And Done". Currently at #60 on BDS Mainstream Rock Indicator Chart and #47 on RadioContraband's Under The Radar Chart, "Over And Done”, which will appear on the band's upcoming debut album Victims & Villains later this year, can be purchased on iTunes.

 

 

Vocalist/guitarist, Jandre Nadal, commented: “”Over And Done” is a song about the internal struggle we all go through at some point in life - an escape from yourself, from being your own enemy."

The band recently shot a music video for "Over And Done" with director Andrés Ramirez Molina which will surface in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, Message To Venus is preparing for a performance at WJRR's Earthday Birthday, set to take place on April 25th in Orlando, Florida with the likes of Slash, Bush, Rise Against, Nothing More, Flyleaf and more.
 
Message To Venus begins 2015 with a successfully crowdfunded new album, Victims & Villains, and several tours already in the books. Fans who contributed to the Indiegogo campaign last year have already received their copies of the new record, along with other crowdfunding 'perks' including a limited-edition Message To Venus comic book and more.

"We're blown away by all the support we received through our Indiegogo campaign," said guitarist John Feliciano. "Fans really embraced the new album and comic book projects. We can't thank everyone that contributed enough!"

 

 

Victims & Villains was recorded in the band's native San Juan, Puerto Rico with producer, Leo Alvarez.

An additional Victims & Villains track, "Hollow”, can be streamed below. "Hollow" can be purchased on iTunes.

 
The upcoming album follows the 2011 EP, The Envelope, which, along with lead single, "Universal You”, drew praise from established artists such as Godsmack and Halestorm while receiving weekly spins at SiriusXM Octane, MusicChoice and more.
 

Finland-based hard rockers, Block Buster, have released a new maxi single, ”Ain't On The Chain”. The band's third release takes moods and riffs on a higher level than ever before, which show a direction for the upcoming debut album. Listen to ”Ain't On The Chain” below:

Lately, Block Buster has been sharing stages with bands like Lost Society and Santa Cruz, and their spring tour calendar says there's more shows
coming up with the latter of the two.

 

 

Crossfire Across The Nation 2015 Spring Tour

April
17 - Seinäjoki, Finland - Rytmikorjaamo (with Santa Cruz)
18 - Kajaani, Finland - Rock House Kulma (with Santa Cruz)
24 - Joensuu, Finland - Kerubi (with Santa Cruz)
25 - Jyväskylä, Finland - Katse
30 - Kuopio, Finland - Pannuhuone

May
9 - Lappeenranta, Finland - Lucky Monkey's

 

Ulterium Records recently announced the signing of the melodic metal band, Within Silence, to the label. Their debut album, Gallery Of Life, will be released on May 8th in Europe and on May 12th in North America. Check out the band’s new lyric video for “Road To The Paradise” below.

Strong musicianship and the ability to write interesting songs with memorable melodies makes Within Silence a band to be reckoned with for years to come. Their debut album Gallery Of Life got everything from up-tempo power metal tracks like “Silent Desire” and “Emptiness of Night” to pounding metal tracks like “The Last Drop Of Blood” to epic metal songs like “Road To The Paradise”.

Gallery Of Life will be a perfect album for fans of bands like Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius and Theocracy and fans of melodic metal in general. The artwork was created by Jan Yrlund at Darkgrove Design (Delain, Apocalyptica, Korpiklaani).

 

 

Gallery Of Life tracklisting:

“Intro”
“Silent Desire”
“Emptiness Of Night”
“Elegy Of Doom”  
“The Last Drop Of Blood”
“Love Is Blind”    
“Anger And Sorrow”   
“Judgement Day”
“The World Of Slavery”
“Road To The Paradise”  
“Outro”

“Road To The Paradise” lyric video:

Teaser:

Gallery Of Life can be pre-ordered at the Ulterium Records Store.

 

Fresh from releasing their debut EP, the five-track Clangores Plenilunio on Avantgarde Music, Italian black/folk metallers, Selvans, have announced that they have begun recording the band's first full-length album. Work on the album is expected to be completed by the summer, and released on Avantgarde Music in late 2015.
 
To be titled Lupercalia, the album will be made up of five suites lasting in total around an hour. The suites have been inspired and influenced by ancient Italian history and folklore. It will be very much a continuation of what was started with Clangores Plenilunio, whose music is filled with the Italic spirit and redolent with its mysticism.

 

 
Selvans rose from the ashes Draugr , who called it a day after ten years at the top of the Italian scene. The band's lineup is composed of former Draugr members Selvans Haruspex on keyboards, traditional instruments, vocals and programming, and Sethlans Fulguriator on guitars and bass. The two musicians form the core of Selvans and bring in session musicians for live appearances. Clangores Plenilunio is the band's tribute to founder member and friend, the much respected drummer Jonny Morelli, whose tragic death in a motor bike accident meant the EP was to be his last ever contribution to the music world.
 
A never-before heard track from Lupercalia will be debuted live on May 3rd when Selvans supports Necrophobia at Tipografia in Pescara, Italy.

 

 

 

"Lupercale", a track from Selvans' Clangores Plenilunio EP can be heard below:

Clangores Plenilunio by Selvans

 

It's not a  secret that Hamburg is the capital city of German power and heavy metal, and gave birth to such legendary acts like Helloween, Gamma Ray, Running Wild and Iron Savior.

On May 29th, Skol Records will reveal one of the best kept secrets of Hamburg's scene, and an album that will match these legendary names: Illuminati, debut album of Gothic Fate. The band was active between 1998 and 2005, and recorded two demos and full studio album titled Illuminati in 2004, which remained unreleased and unknown until now.

 

 

Gothic Fate feature in its rank Uwe Wessel, bassist known from Gamma Ray, with whom he recorded albums such as Heading For Tomorrow and Sigh No More, as well as bunch of singles and the legendary "Heading For The East" video. Illuminati has been recorded and mixed by Wolfgang Budde, and recently mastered by Bart Gabriel. The album includes 13 songs, and excerpts from few of them can be heard in the following album teaser:

Moribund Records has issued the following statement following widespread reports that three members of Wormreich were killed in a car accident on Monday, April 6th on I-85 southbound near Maysville Road in Jackson County, about 65 miles northeast of Atlanta:

"It is with heavy hearts that the staff of Moribund Records confirms that two members of Moribund recording artists Wormreich have been killed in a van crash early this morning while on tour, and one member remains in critical condition. Wormreich were in the midst of a North American tour with comrades Kult ov Azazel and Khaotika, driving southbound along I-85 in northeast Georgia when the driver of the 15-passenger van apparently fell asleep and the van veered off the highway, striking a tree on the passenger side. In the wreck, Wormreich guitarist Ian Andrew McKinney (aka Nazgul Vathran) and bassist Paul Truesdell were killed, while drummer Christopher P. Pezzano (aka Profana) was seriously injured and remains in critical condition, requiring surgery."
 
A Facebook statement from Wormreich founder/vocalist/guitarist Christopher Earl Pyle (aka Vulk) reads: 

"This morning I lost my brother and best friend, along with two awesome people that I was lucky to have even known for a short while. Two of my other brothers remain in critical condition. Somehow I was spared with only superficial wounds and a dislocated shoulder. This is not the end of Wormreich. It's always been my vision, but more importantly, it is for those whom I have lost today that it MUST continue. Please send healing energy to the members of Wormreich, Khaotika, and their families. Ave."
 
The entire staff of Moribund and the BraveWords crew sends their deepest and most sincere condolences to the families of Wormreich as well as those of Kult ov Azazel and Khaotika.
 
For updates from Wormreich watch their official Facebook page here.

On May 2nd, former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes, and his new band Mean Man, will release their new album, Shitting Bricks. This will coincide with a show at Le Ferrailleur in Nantes, France. Get all the details in the video below:

Earlier this year, Chris Holmes issued a video for the song "Let It Roar", which appears on Shitting Bricks.

 

 

 

Sweden has been a fertile ground for metal of all varieties for multiple decades, and there appears to be no sign that this will change anytime soon. The variety and quality of bands is staggering, and Metal Blade Records is prepared to help add The Great Discord to the list of one of Sweden's finest new groups. The band's cornerstone is with the enigmatic vocals of Fia Kempe. Her tone and delivery is immensely emotive and is augmented by a band whose sound is impossible to describe. It's technical, heavy, and yet not so much to overwhelm those not anointed in metal. What's important is that The Great Discord offer a truly unique twist on both metal, and what is to be expected from a female-fronted band.

Duende will be available worldwide via Metal Blade Records on June 2nd in North America, June 1st in the UK / Europe, and May 29th in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Listen to "Eigengrau" now:

The relationship between Kempe and drummer Aksel Holmgren has stood for many years, connecting on a deep personal level when it comes to music, though it was only when they came together to form The Great Discord in 2013 that their collaboration began. Sharing an interest in progressive music, they count the likes of Genesis and King Crimson as well as contemporary acts such as Meshuggah and The Dillinger Escape Plan among those who have inspired them.

While music pundits and critics will fall over themselves trying to label the unique and intriguing sounds contained within Duende the band are more interested in presenting their music to the world, with the hope of making a profound musical connection with the likeminded. Having been working toward the completion of the record for nearly two years the band have perhaps only just arrived at the beginning, and the ambitiousness of their music is further reflected in their goals. "We obviously want to take over the world," Kempe smiles. "We really believe in our vision, we really believe in the concept behind everything that we do. We want to entertain people. We want them to come to our shows and experience everything that we have visualized for this band, and we want them to relate to the emotion that we're putting into our songs, to be able to find something in The Great Discord that they cannot find anywhere else."