Los Angeles, CA based mega rock band, DC4, is the newest addition to the HighVolMusic roster. Formed in 1994 and founded by The Duncan Clan guitarist Jeff Duncan (Armored Saint), drummer Shawn Duncan (Odin), bassist Matt Duncan and completed by guitarist Rowan Robertson (Dio, Bang Tango), DC4 have issued four albums with the fifth to be released early summer 2017.

The new project is being produced by legendary producer Bill Metoyer (Armored Saint, Fates Warning, W.A.S.P., Slayer) with recording sessions on April 16th - 18th in Las Vegas, NV.

"We're very happy and excited to be with HighVol. The label has the same passion and integrity for rock n' roll as we do. DC4 and HighVol are a perfect match!" - Jeff Duncan

"I am very excited to be working with everyone at HighVolMusic!! I am also very stoked to record the new DC4 record with my brothers and Rowan!! This is a double dose of awesomeness!!" - Shawn Duncan

"Shawn and I began dialog in 2016 about working together. We kept in contact throughout the year which really opened the door. Jeff was in town on tour with Armored Saint in December 16'. We met and discussed the possibility of working together again also. We talked about the details, the vision, and how it should be and it was just a very natural and comfortable situation. The decision was easy and I am totally blown away and humbled to be working again with what I feel are rock n roll legends. To say that I am totally stoked about working with DC4 is an understatement. The guys are the ultimate professionals and they just totally kick ass!" - Bill Chavis, HighVolMusic

Studio updates and release details to come.

Since the release of their new album, Proponent For Sentience, this past September, Allegaeon has shared the stage with the likes of Black Sabbath, Disturbed, Megadeth and more at Ozzfest Meets Knotfest, as well as joined label-mates Battlecross and Necromancing the Stone for the annual Winter Warriors Tour.

Today, the group is launching a new video for "Of Mind and Matrix”, the fourth video from Proponent For Sentience. Directed, edited, and animated by Nick Hipa (Wovenwar), "Of Mind And Matrix" can be viewed below:

Next month, Allegaeon will join label-mates Whitechapel, Cattle Decapitation, and Goatwhore for a special US tour that celebrates Metal Blade Records' 35th anniversary. See below for all dates.

February
22 - Brighton Music Hall - Boston, MA
23 - Theatre of Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA
24 - The Fillmore - Silver Spring, MD
25 - Irving Plaza - New York, NY
26 - House of Blues - Cleveland, OH
28 - St. Andrew's Hall - Detroit, MI

March
1 - Deluxe @ Old National Centre - Indianapolis, IN
2 - Bogart's - Cincinnati, OH
3 - Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY
4 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
5 - Riot Room - Kansas City, MO
6 - Summit Music Hall - Denver, CO
8 - Belasco Theater - Los Angeles, CA
9 - House of Blues - San Diego, CA
10 - The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA
11 - Ace of Spades - Sacramento, CA
14 - House of Blues - Houston, TX
15 - House of Blues - Dallas, TX
16 - House of Blues - New Orleans, LA

What began as a steadfast expression of the human condition comes Madison, WI atmospheric doom metal outfit Bereft with their unique style of powerful metal unbound to any genre. The group have announced their debut full-length album will be titled Lands and is scheduled for worldwide release via Prosthetic Records on March 31st. 

The album cover artwork, as showcased below, was completed by Sam Alvarez (Bongripper).

Pre-orders, which includes a blood red vinyl variant limited to 300 copies total, will be launched on February 14th via store.prostheticrecords.com as well as all digital providers. In the meantime, listen to a sample of "Lands" in the below video trailer.

Lands tracklisting:

“We Wept”
“The Ritual”
“In Filth”
“Waining Light”

Trailer:

Weaving elements of doom and black metal into exhaustive, dynamic songs, Bereft were eager to bring Lands vision to life and headed to Backroom Studios in Rockaway, NJ to track the album with Kevin Antreassian (Dillinger Escape Plan).

Having recently parted ways with their drummer, founding members Zach Johnson (vocals/guitars), Alex Linden (vocals/guitars) and bassist Cade Gentry enlisted the help of Michael Kadnar (Downfall of Gaia, Black Table, The Number 12 Looks Like You) to record drums for the new album. "The recording sessions couldn't have gone smoother", commented Kadner, "I've been a big Dillinger Escape plan fan for years, so it was pretty surreal to work with Kevin. He's a phenomenal engineer and also the most down to earth, funny and welcoming dude you'll meet.”

Following the completion of recording, Bereft began the  search for a permanent drummer. It didn't last long, however, when long-time friend and gear-head Jerry McDougal joined. “We’ve known Jerry for a few years.” informed Johnson. “He has been nothing but stunning behind the kit. His work as alter ego Satyrnine Amplification has been increasingly helpful for our sound as a band and we're ecstatic about his presence and talent in our collective.”

McDougal adds, “I first met the guys at a rehearsal complex we shared. They caught wind of my gear-headed nature, which struck up some great conversations. One thing lead to another and here we are. I feel extremely honored and grateful to be part of Bereft, and can’t wait to see what crazy adventures await us on the road.”

Having previously been seen across the US with acts such as Agalloch, Gloom, Downfall of Gaia, So Hideous and North, in support of their introductory 2014 EP, Lost Ages (via War Crimes/Silent Pendulum), Bereft are excited to get back on the road and will next appear at The Red Zone Madison in Madison, WI on February 11th. Further dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

German grindcore goats, Milking The Goatmachine, will release their new album, Milking In Blasphemy, on March 31st via NoiseArt Records. Today the band presents the third trailer for the upcoming release. Three trailers can be found below.

Tracklisting:

“Farm Of Northern Darkness”
“Nemesis Bettina”
“Straw Bale Apocalypse”
“Milking In Blasphemy”
“Add The Horn Of Winter”
“Freezing Hoof”
“Goats In A Throne Room”
“Where Fat Angels Cry”
“Milk Churn Funeral”
“GoatEborgian Hunger”
“Sliden Christi”
“Wolves Upon The Cross”
“Goat Mans Child”
“Endzitze”
“G.O.A.T.M.A.C.H.I.N.E
“In The Shedside Eclipsen”

Trailer #1:

Trailer #2:

Trailer #3:

US hard rock/metal band, Halcyon Way, are set to begin the recording process for the follow-up release to 2014’s Billboard charting album, Conquer.

The band will be heading to Audiohammer Studios in Orlando, Florida on January 27th to complete the drum tracking, with producer Mark Lewis (Devildriver, Death Angel, Whitechapel) at the helm. This is the band’s first recording with new drummer Aaron Baumoel and the record should be released by fall of 2017.

“The band is super hyped about our new material. We wrote about 27 songs, somehow pared it down to 17, and we will choose from that group what makes the final cut. The new songs are very heavy, very catchy, and very thrashy. We’ve spent a lot of time on the road over the last few years and we think they’re going to go over great not only on the album but live as well. Aaron has been killing it in preproduction and we think the fans are going to love what he brings to the table as a drummer,” said guitarist Jon Bodan.

Conquer, the band’s most successful release to date landed on the Billboard Heatseeker charts at #41 upon release, and the first single/video from the album, “Web Of Lies”, spent six weeks in the CMJ radio Hard Music Top Ten.

The band is fresh off of a December tour of Russia with Sabaton, and has also hit the road with bands such as Queensrÿche, Saxon, Fates Warning, Skid Row, and many others, playing to fans across four continents.

Based in Atlanta, Georgia and founded in 2001, Halcyon Way is the ultimate example of blue-collar work ethic, self-reliant bootstrapping, and hard work and perseverance in spite of nearly insurmountable odds. The band has released three albums worldwide through Nightmare Records/Sony RED, and performed in a dozen countries and counting.

Halcyon Way‘s sound cannot be neatly slotted into any sub-category of metal; but it can be described as heavy, catchy, technical, and above all, focused on mature songcraft.

Iron Shield Records has set March 10th as the release date for Satan Worship’s new album, I’m The Devil. The pre-order phase will start on February 24th. The material for I’m The Devil was recorded between 2014 and 2016, eight tracks of pure Satanic metal!

Tracklisting:

“Holy Blasphemy”
“I'm The Devil”
“Azrael's Hand”
“The Girls Of Manson Family”
“Satanik Possession”
“Zodiac Overkill”
“The Black Flame”
“Black Death”
“Under Sign Of The Reaper”
“The Last Days Of Paul John Knowles”

Satan Worship now have a full lineup with Leatherface Perkele (vocals/bass), Max The Nekromancer (guitars) and Marc Reign (drums), and they are already working hard, recording new music for their next album.

Italy’s Aborym are streaming their new album, Shifting.negative, ahead of it’s release on January 25th via Agonia Records. Listen to the full album below.

The follow up to 2013 Dirty was recorded with an all  new line-up consisting of founder Fabban, multi-instrumentalist Dan V, bassist and guitarist RG Narchost, guitarist Davide Tiso (ex-Ephel Duath, Gospel Of The Witches), keyboardist Stefano Angiulli and several guest musicians (including Sin Quirin of Ministry fame).

Shifting.negative was mixed and mastered by Grammy-award winning Marc Urselli at Eastside Sound Studios (Lou Reed, John Zorn, Mike Patton) in New York, who commented on the album: "I've known Fabban and Aborym for over 20 years so it's nice that we finally get to work together on an Aborym record and this is the most forward thinking of all the Aborym records for sure! It's definitely a break from the past and a step forward into the future of a band that has never stood still and never wanted to sound like everything else that's out there. They continue to evolve with every record! This is a great sounding album that blends all of their metal and industrial influences and represents a new milestone in the history of such a well respected and established group. I'm excited to be a part of it".

Guido Elmi (Vasco Rossi's legendary producer and manager) is responsible for the album's post-production. Fabban commented: "We are working with a real professional, a true legend, probably our biggest fan and a great friend. Please join us in welcoming mr. Guido Elmi. No need to say Guido is Vasco Rossi’s producer & manager over the past 30 years and he has worked as producer with dozens of artists including Stadio, Skiantos, Gaznevada, Steve Rogers Band, Clara & Black Cars and many others. Today he's also a singer and songwriter".

Shifting.negative was engineered by Emiliano Natali (Fear No One Studios), Teo Pizzolante (Braingasm Lab) and Luciano Lamanna (Subsound Studios). Its cover artwork was made by French artist David Cragne (Asymetric Entity).

The list of guest musicians involved in the creation of the album includes: guitarist Sin Quirin (Ministry), Ricktor (The Electric Hellfire Club), Pier Marzano (Koza Noztra), drummer Andrea Mazzucca, vocalists Victor Love (Dope Stars Inc., Victor Love), Cain Cressall (The Amenta) and Nicola Favaretto N-ikonoclast. Further there's Greg Watkins (Static of Masses, Order Sixty Six) and Luciano Lamanna on modular synths, Kelly Bogues (Zogthorgven) delivering additional ambient noise, Joel Gilardini (The Land Of The Snow, Mulo Muto, Black Machineries) on additional treated guitars, electronics & (D)ronin, Ben Hall (Silent Eretic) on power-electronics and Tor Helge Skei (Manes) on ambient-electronics. There's also Tokyo based artist Youko Heidy responsible for experimental noise and FX and Leja Siv Harju who wrote the lyrics to "Going New Places".

Tracklisting:

“Unpleasantness”
“Precarious”
“Decadence In A Nutshell”
“10050 Cielo Drive”
“Slipping Throught The Cracks”
“You Can’t Handle The Truth”
“For A Better Past”
“Tragedies For Sales”
“Going New Places”
“Big H”

Album stream:

Artwork documentary:

"Precarious" video:

Available formats:

- Limited Box CD (includes jewelcase CD with two bonus tracks, rounded embroidered patch and wine coaster).
- Limited to 500 numbered copies black vinyl.
- Limited to 100 handnumbered copies brown vinyl.
- T-shirt.
- Digital.

Pre-orders: physical / digital.

Vitja have released a video for “No One As Master No One As Slave”, a track from their sophomore album, Digital Love, which is set for release on March 3rd via Century Media. Watch the new clip, produced by Iconographic, below.

Digital Love was recorded and produced over the course of a year at Sureshot Studios by Vitja, Daniel Keller and Andreas Vieten and mixed/mastered by Aljoscha Sieg at Pitchback Studios.

If you pre-order a digital copy of Digital Love via iTunes or Amazon you get access to “Scum” and “No One As Master No One As Slave” immediately.

Vitja is the Russian equivalent to the first name Viktor which translates to “winner”. After already creating an underground buzz in their native Germany with their album Echos and the Your Kingdom EP, the four-piece from Cologne and Muenster is set out to win over the rest of the world.

Tracklisting:

“Scum”
“D(e)ad”
“No One As Master No One As Slave”
“Roses”
“Digital Love”
“Six Six Sick”
“The Golden Shot”
“Heavy Rain”
“Find What You Love And Kill It”
“In Pieces”
“The Flood”
“I'm Sorry”
“New Breed”

“No One As Master No One As Slave” video:

“Scum” lyric video:

“New Breed” video:

After playing more than 300 shows already, it is time for Vitja to headline their first club tour throughout Germany. Special guests will be Breathe Atlantis, Improvement and Die Heart.

Tour dates:

April
14 - Berlin, Germany - Privatclub
15 - Hannover, Germany - Lux
16 - Cologne, Germany - MTC
20 - Wiesbaden, Germany - Schlachthof
21 - Stuttgart, Germany - Club Zentral
22 - Munich, Germany - Backstage
28 - Hamburg, Germany - Logo
29 - Dresden, Germany - KONK Club
30 - Muenster, Germany - Sputnikhalle

Vitja are:

David Beule - vocals
Mario Metzler - bass
Vladimir Dontschenko - guitar
Daniel Pampuch - drums

NWOBHM band, Sacrilege, have released a video for "Lies". The song will be featured on their upcoming new album, The Court Of The Insane. This version is for the video, a different version of the song will be on the new album.

Sacrilege lineup:

Bill Beadle - vocals, guitars
Jeff Roland - bass, back vocals
Neil Turnbull - drums
Tony Vanner - lead guitar

Vescera recently signed a worldwide deal with Pure Steel Records, and have now released a promotion trailer for the upcoming album, Beyond The Fight.

The US/Italian connection between well-known metal shouter Michael Vescera and ex-Nitehawks members Mike Petrone and Frank Leone, added by drummer Fabio Alessandrini, will release their debut album, Beyond The Fight, in April. More details to follow.

Lineup:

Michael Vescera (Obsession, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, ex-Loudness, Animetal USA, ex-Roland Grapow, ex-Dr Sin) - vocals
Mike Petrone (ex-Nitehawks) - guitars
Frank Leone (ex-Nitehawks) - bass
Fabio Alessandrini (Annihilator) - drums

Fan-filmed video footage of BLACK SABBATH's January 20 concert at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland can be seen below.

BLACK SABBATH will bring its storied career to a close in its native England, with seven shows booked there in January and February. The last two, on February 2 and February 4, will take place in SABBATH's hometown of Birmingham and will likely be their final shows.

Asked if he has regrets about anything that transpired during SABBATH's nearly five-decade career, singer Ozzy Osbourne told Kerrang! magazine: "You're talking about my fucking diary! I've made a fucking idiot of myself so many times. I don't drink anymore. I haven't drunk for four years, I haven't got stoned for four years, but back in the day when I did get stoned, I was constantly making a fucking idiot of myself, falling on my arse or some crazy fucking thing."

Guitarist Tony Iommi said: "You always think there's loads of things you could've done, but would you be where you are now if you'd done them? I could say, 'Oh, I wish I hadn't done all those drugs in the early days,' but there must have been a reason, somewhere along the line, why you do these things, so you learn something and go on to the next stage. I can complain about things, but there's been a reason for it."

Stated bassist Geezer Butler: "It's hard to say because I believe in fate, and the whole thing has been guided by something else beyond us. There are things I could be unhappy about — the way we got ripped off in the '70s and stuff like that — but it's all worked its way out. Things happen for a reason, I really believe that, and there's nothing I can change about anything, so I don't really regret anything. And we've always maintained our friendship. It's almost like friends going on tour together. We went through such a lot together; we've got really strong bonds together."

BLACK SABBATH played its last show ever in the U.S. on November 12 at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. The gig took place nearly five years to the day that the legendary act announced their reunion.

The original lineup of SABBATH came together in 1969 with Osbourne on vocals, Iommi on guitar, Butler on bass and Bill Ward on drums. That lineup recorded and toured through 1978, and periodically reformed through the '90s and 2000s for live work.

They regrouped again in late 2011 for a new album and tour, although Ward dropped out after just a few months. The remaining trio issued the "13" album in 2013 and backed it with a successful world tour — despite Iommi being treated for lymphoma since 2012.

Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman and his solo band performed on Friday, January 20 at the City National Grove Of Anaheim in Anaheim, California as the support act for METAL ALLEGIANCE. You can now watch fan-filmed video footage of his set below.

Friedman recently completed work on the follow-up to his 2014 album "Inferno" for a tentative early 2017 release via Prosthetic. The new disc was mixed by Swedish producer Jens Bogren, who performed the same duties on "Inferno" and has also worked with such acts as KREATOR, SEPULTURA, DRAGONFORCE and PARADISE LOST.

Regarding the musical direction of Friedman's new album, the guitarist stated: "This time it's even more ambitious than that album was, a bit more dense, and, with any luck, more exciting for those of you who will hear it."

He added: "There will be 11 or 12 songs in total. Sometimes a song you really love doesn't make it to the album because it doesn't fit nicely in the sequencing. Either way, we're pushing 60 minutes, so it won't be a short album."

Marty's new CD was recorded in part at Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in California with engineer Paul Fig (ALICE IN CHAINS, RUSH, DEFTONES) and was previously described by Friedman as "a way more intense version" of its predecessor: "deeper, sadder, happier and more aggressive."

Like "Inferno", Friedman's upcoming album will feature several guests, including prog-thrashers MUTOID MAN, Jørgen Munkeby of the Norwegian avant-garde jazz-metal outfit SHINING and Jinxx of Los Angeles theatrical rockers BLACK VEIL BRIDES.

Regarding how the collaboration with Jinxx came about, Friedman told Guitar World: "I'm a big fan of Jinxx and BLACK VEIL BRIDES. He came to my show in L.A. in 2015. Right after that, I was told that he plays violin. I didn't even know that! Then light bulbs went off. I thought now's the chance to really turn some heads by doing something that's a little bit, well, a lot, unexpected to my fans and his fans."

You don't need to be a die-hard '80s metal fan to know that the fruits of an artistic alliance between DANGER DANGER singer Ted Poley and guitarist/producer Steve Brown of TRIXTER is going to make melodic rock fans rejoice! The two musicians from New Jersey recently created TOKYO MOTOR FIST and the new band is ready to unleash on the world their self-titled debut album on February 24 via Frontiers Music Srl.

The song "Put Me To Shame", taken from "Tokyo Motor Fist", can be streamed below. Indeed, TOKYO MOTOR FIST is exactly what you would expect: catchy and uplifting hard rock, the way is should be! You want big — we mean, BIG — hooks? You got 'em. What about major guitar riffs? Of course there's plenty of those. Killer rhythm section? Well, with Greg Smith (TED NUGENT, RAINBOW, ALICE COOPER) and Chuck Burgi (RAINBOW, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, JOE LYNN TURNER), you simply can't go wrong! Ted and Steve have been friends for a long time. They were playing the same club circuit with their respective bands, DANGER DANGER and TRIXTER, when both bands were starting their careers. Over the years, they've had a great personal relationship and the idea of doing a record together has been in the cards for many years. Now, thanks to Frontiers, this concept has become a reality. "To say that I'm excited for the world to hear TOKYO MOTOR FIST would be an understatement," says Steve Brown. "Working on this project with my rock and roll brothers Ted Poley, Greg Smith and Chuck Burgi was a total blast… We had fun and it shows in the performances and in the music! As a songwriter, I couldn't be happier with the way the songs came together. Fans of TRIXTER, DANGER DANGER, DEF LEPPARD, BON JOVI and CHEAP TRICK will get the best of all those worlds." Poley adds: "Working with guys of this caliber was amazing. I was excited to collaborate with my longtime friend Steve Brown, who is not only a really great songwriter and guitarist but also an insanely cool producer! The band sounds great and very high energy. The vocals of Steve and I along with his SHREDDING guitar, combined with the world-class rhythm powerhouse section of Greg Smith and Chuck Burgi is amazing. What a cool band — the sound is HUGE. But it's the songs that drew me into making this album in the beginning and the record is full of catchy songs with massive choruses and great melodies and sounds BIG BIG BIG! I am beyond THRILLED with the final result and I hope you will be too." "Tokyo Motor Fist" track listing: 01. Pickin' Up The Pieces02. Love Me Insane03. Shameless04. Love05. Black And Blue06. You're My Revolution07. Don't Let Me Go08. Put Me To Shame09. Done To Me10. Get You Off My Mind11. Fallin' Apart TOKYO MOTOR FIST is:

Ted Poley - VocalsSteve Brown - Guitar, Vocals Greg Smith - BassChuck Burgi - Drums

David Ellefson (MEGADETH), Tony MacAlpine, Jill Janus (HUNTRESS), Nita Strauss (ALICE COOPER) and Glen Sobel (ALICE COOPER) performed a cover version of the IRON MAIDEN classic "The Number Of The Beast" at the 42nd weekly "Soundcheck Live" on January 18 at Lucky Strike Live in Los Angeles, California. Check out video footage below High-quality photos are available at California Rock News.

"Soundcheck Live" is a weekly live music night that brings together the industry's top musicians alongside emerging talent to create a vibrant social experience driven by the artists.

Over the last year, Lucky Strike Live has gone through profound changes in becoming a live music and entertainment venue. The venue is known for the 2016 launch of a weekly Wednesday night series, "Soundcheck Live" where the night is formatted into three riveting acts including Meet The Cast, Guest Curated and ending with an "All Together Now" jam session, completely unrehearsed. The intimate music stage has had special guest performances by the likes of Gene Simmons, Johnny Depp, Sebastian Bach, Linda Perry, Phil X of BON JOVI, Gilby Clarke of GUNS N' ROSES, Robbie Krieger of THE DOORS and Jackson Browne.

Metallica performed in Singapore at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on January 22nd. Fan-filmed video from the show is available below. The setlist on the night was as follows:

"Hardwired"
"Atlas, Rise!"
"For Whom the Bell Tolls"
"Fuel"
"The Unforgiven"
"Now That We're Dead"
"Moth Into Flame"
"Wherever I May Roam"
"Confusion"
"Halo on Fire"
"Sad But True"
"One"
"Master of Puppets"
"Fade to Black"
"Seek & Destroy"

Encore:
"Fight Fire With Fire"
"Nothing Else Matters"
"Enter Sandman"

Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR have hired Schola Cantorum, one of the leading chamber choirs in Norway, to lay down some guest vocals on the band's upcoming album, due later in the year via Nuclear Blast.

In a 2014 interview with Finland's Radio Rock, DIMMU BORGIR guitarist Sven Atle Kopperud (a.k.a. Silenoz) stated about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's follow-up to 2010's "Abrahadabra": "We always take our time [in the studio]. If we're gonna rush things, then it's not gonna be something we can stand behind anyway, so we just have to take the time it takes to make it."

He added: "I think we always need a sort of break. Maybe not this long, but after each album and touring cycle, I think every band should take a short break at least, because you need to get away from each other, just to regroup and get perspective."

DIMMU BORGIR will release its highly anticipated double DVD, "Forces Of The Northern Night", on April 14 via Nuclear Blast. The set will contain two of the band's live performances: their legendary show in Oslo, presenting DIMMU BORGIR on stage with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and a bombastic choir, as well as their entire performance at Wacken Open Air festival in 2012 in Wacken, Germany with almost a hundred musicians on stage. Both concerts present a spectacular sound scenario of raging black metal in front of an epic orchestral landscape plus the band's unique visuals.

In addition to the two concerts, "Forces Of The Northern Night" will include a bonus documentary feature.

DIMMU BORGIR's most recent touring lineup included Geir Bratland (APOPTYGMA BERZERK, THE KOVENANT) on keyboards and Terje Andersen (a.k.a. Cyrus; SUSPERIA) on bass.




"VOICES OF THE APOCALYPSE" ......

It's a wrap...Recording sessions with Schola Cantorum choir now complete 👌🏻😈🤘🏻Excellent teamwork : Jock Loveband ,Gaute Storaas ,Gerlioz ,Shagrath #DimmuBorgir2017

Posted by Dimmu Borgir on Sunday, January 22, 2017

On August 19, 2015, SLIPKNOT invited fans to film the band from their point of view at the Red Rocks show in Morrison, Colorado. The footage has been compiled and is currently being edited for a series of clips, including for the song "Killpop", which can be seen below.

SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan recently confirmed to Metal Insider that he and guitarist Jim Root will get together in early February to begin writing new music, but will not book any studio time just yet to start recording the follow-up to 2014's ".5: The Gray Chapter". That disc ended a six-year drought between SLIPKNOT albums during which founding bassist Paul Gray passed away in 2010 and drummer Joey Jordison was dismissed in 2013.

With SLIPKNOT closing out the touring cycle for ".5: The Gray Chapter", singer Corey Taylor has just regrouped with his other band, STONE SOUR, to record a new set, "Hydrograd", for a mid-2017 release.

Crahan, meanwhile, is pursuing a career as a feature film director. His first effort, "Officer Downe", arrived in theaters and on-demand platforms in November.

Disturbed continue to upload video from their UK tour, this time stage view footage live in Nottingham. Check it out below along with previously released footage of the band performing their hit cover song of Simon & Garfunkel’s "The Sound Of Silence" live in Sheffield.

Disturbed are are nominated in the “Best Rock Performance” category with “The Sound Of Silence” (Live On Conan) for the 59th Grammy Awards, which will air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 12th at 8 PM, ET, on CBS. Disturbed are up against Alabama Shakes (“Joe” Live From Austin City Limits), Beyonce featuring Jack White (“Don’t Hurt Yourself”), David Bowie (“Backstar”), and Twenty One Pilots (“Heathens”).

Veteran rockers WARRANT have set "Louder, Harder, Faster" as the title of their new album, due later in the year via Frontiers Music Srl. The disc was recorded with producer Jeff Pilson, a veteran bassist who has played with DIO, FOREIGNER, DOKKEN and T&N, among others, and is currently being mixed by Chris "The Wizard" Collier (FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, PRONG, LAST IN LINE).

Speaking to "The Rock Brigade" podcast, WARRANT singer Robert Mason stated about the long-awaited follow-up to 2011's "Rockaholic" (hear audio below): "Our songs are turning out really cool. I'm pretty freakin' proud of this. I'm about as proud of this, vocally and performance-wise, as I was… I mean, the 'Rockaholic' record I love — still do — but the CRY OF LOVE record that I did a bunch of years ago, I'm still fiercely proud of those vocal performances. And it's not a reflection about the songs or the style or anything like that. It's just… For my two seconds of being selfish, 'cause I'm a lead singer and that's what people expect of me anyway, I'm really proud of the vocal performances on this record. And, obviously, we all do our part."

On the subject of the new WARRANT album title, Mason said: "Here's the way that came about. On stage, since probably '09, '10, '11… I don't remember when; maybe it was after our record [was released]. But as a thing to say between… It kind of just came out of my mouth one day — 'louder, harder, faster' — and I screamed it into the microphone and we started the next song. It was kind of one of those dumb things lead singers say to break up the dead air between songs in live shows. And it kind of stuck in my head and I started doing it. It was a thing I kind of started saying. And one day I had a riff in my hands and a guitar in my house, or in a hotel room, and then it turned into, 'Oh, guys, by the way, I wrote this song. It's called 'Louder, Harder, Faster'.' And I think I half-drunkenly said in a hotel bar one night, maybe three or four years ago, 'Oh, by the way, the record should be called 'Louder, Harder, Faster', 'cause I have this fucking song.' And, you know, that's what cocky lead singers say to their guitar players. And I think Joey Allen [WARRANT guitarist] was, like, 'Yeah, yeah. Blah blah blah. I'll believe it when I hear it.' So there you go. When we came up with the songs for this record, it just kind of became obvious that that was the… If you're gonna name it after one of the songs, there you go."

Regarding the musical direction of WARRANT's new album, Mason said: "I wanted to come out with a record that… And I know it almost sounds pompous to say, so I really hope people take this in the right spirit. True fans maybe will. My initial vision for this was, musically and sonically, between the big-anthem, memorable, hooky kind of stuff of 'Cherry Pie' [1990] and then the little bit darker, little bit harder of 'Dog Eat Dog' [1992]. And it kind of like… Towards the writing of it, [Jerry] Dixon's [WARRANT bassist] got a real pop sense, I just wanna do rock and scream. I talked with Joey early on, and I'm, like, 'Dude, I want this thing to just crush. We're not getting any younger. How many more years can we do a real serious rock record before it's comical because we're 70?' You know, like, really?"

WARRANT guitarist Erik Turner spoke to the "Talking Metal" podcast last fall about how the band's new material was shaping up. He stated at the time: "I would call it a cross between classic '70s hard rock and '80s hard rock that we're known for, from everything that I'm hearing from the demos. It's pretty rocking stuff, but it has that melodic sensibility. We all grew up on pretty much the same bands. Robert's heavily influenced by not only '80s rock bands but guys like BAD COMPANY, Paul Rodgers, Steve Marriott… So a little more grit, a little more blues, rock, I would say, with some good melodies… That's how I would describe it."

At the helm for "Rockaholic" was mega-producer Keith Olsen (OZZY OSBOURNE, WHITESNAKE, SCORPIONS), while the mixing duties were handled by Pat Regan (KISS, DEEP PURPLE, TED NUGENT).

WARRANT solidified its current lineup in 2008 when Mason joined the four original WARRANT members: Turner, Dixon, Allen and drummer Steven Sweet.

Former WARRANT singer Jani Lane suffered from "acute ethanol poisoning" when he died in August 2011 at a Comfort Inn motel room in Woodland Hills, California. The singer had battled alcoholism for years and also had a history of alcohol-related arrests.

Gavin Rossdale has confirmed that he has completed work on the new BUSH album, to be released later in the year.

The disc was mastered on January 17, less than an hour before Rossdale was interviewed by The New Music Buzz on the red carpet of the premiere of the "The Space Between Us" movie at ArcLight in Hollywood (see video below).

When asked about the sound of the follow-up to 2014's "Man On The Run", the 51-year-old rocker told Metro: "My whole career I've been trying to make music that's a hybrid of rock and electronic. I'd say it's a textured, approachable and commercial record. People are going to fucking love it."

The BUSH frontman was recently named a mentor on the U.K. version of the popular singing reality show "The Voice".

Asked why he took on the job, Gavin, who was previously married to Gwen Stefani, said: "I thought it would be interesting to find a superstar in England.

"'The Voice' around the world hasn't managed to produce anyone, so It's a challenge.

"And I wanted to be back in England — it gives a different slant to my already manic life."

"Man On The Run" was released in October 2014. It followed up BUSH's 2011 comeback effort, "The Sea Of Memories", which was the first all-new BUSH album in a decade.

BUSH recorded "Man On The Run" at Studio 606, the private studio owned by FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl.

Bay Area band Cultural Warfare are a unique combination of traditional metal and aggressive, melodic thrash metal topped by the powerful vocals of Jacques Serrano (Taunted). The group will be releasing their Future Kill EP this Friday, January 27th on M-Theory Audio. Produced by Juan Urteaga (Machine Head, Testament, Exodus), mastered by Maor Appelbaum (Fates Warning, Faith No More) and featuring cover art by Brian Lewis (DevilDriver, Black Label Society), this specially priced five-song EP showcases a promising young band's abilities.

In tandem, Cultural Warfare release a lyric video for the EP’s title track, “Future Kill”, following up on the popular “Defy The Blade” lyric video that initially caught the M-Theory Audio label’s attention.

“We are very excited to release our next video, ‘Future Kill’, from our EP of the same name,” explains drummer Kevin Doughty. “‘Future Kill’ is essentially a spin on a futuristic World War 3. The apocalypse or the almighty Cultural Warfare! Politics, division, false media, and corruption will lead us to this if we do not take a stand. This song is also a precursor to our full-length that we will release by the end of the year. That album will have songs that describe our world in a post-apocalyptic environment and what the human condition will be. It will also show the perseverance of humanity to rebuild the human race. Enjoy the new clip, and we’re excited to be releasing our EP, this Friday. The Future Kill is upon you!”

Future Kill will be available online at all outlets, and physical copies of the CD can be ordered directly from the label at this location.

Hailing out of Oakland, California, Cultural Warfare is made up of four seasoned musicians with one common goal. Former Taunted members vocalist Jacques Serrano and bassist Pete Aguilar join forces with Cultural Warfare alum guitarist Billy Garoutte and drummer Kevin Doughty to form the heaviest lineup of CW to date. All four members having long standing roots in the Bay Area back to the golden age of thrash metal, Cultural Warfare understands as well as anyone the rich history and lineage that bands like Metallica, Exodus, Death Angel, Testament, Forbidden, and Vio-lence started in the '80s.

 

 

Queens, New York deathcore act Footage Of A Yeti have released their new album Purging The Human Condition.

Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Kevin Antreassian of Backroom Studios (The Dillinger Escape Plan), Purging The Human Condition features a total of seven tracks including titles such as, “D.R.E.A.M. [Death Rules Everything Around Me]”, “Death Prayer”, and “Wretched World.”

To celebrate its release, members Mike Pellegrino (lead vocals), Vincent Heffron (guitar), John Alaimo (guitar), Brian Ginzberg(drums) and Jesse Heimowitz (bass) have premiered the “Wretched World” video, directed by Nicholas Prainito.

Tracklisting:

“D.R.E.A.M. [Death Rules Everything Around Me]”
“Purging The Human Condition Part 1”
“Purging The Human Condition Part 2”
“Wretched World”
“Hellgate”
“Deceiver Deceiver”
“Death Prayer” (featuring Tyler Shelton of Traitors)

“Death Prayer”:

In live news, Footage Of A Yeti will return to the road next month, confirmed shows are as listed:

February
3 - Fearcliff Sk8 Park - Woodbridge, VA
4 – Swayzes - Marietta, GA
6 – HBGB - Brunswick, GA
7 - Uncle Lou's Pub - Orlando, FL
9 – The Juke Joint – Ocean Springs, MS
10 – The Atomic Pop Shop - Baton Rouge, LA
11 - Grizzly Hall - Austin, TX
12 – Boozers Bar – Corpus Christi, TX
13 – Freakshow Studio – Dallas, TX
15 – Malverne City Park, Malverne, AZ
17 – Triad Underground – Jamestown, NC
18 – 37th & Zen – Virginia Beach, VA

(Photo credit: Brenda Cespedes)

 

Melodic metal band, Starchild, have launched a trailer video for their upcoming studio album, set for release in spring 2017. Watch the trailer below and stay tuned for complete details, coming soon.

Starchild lineup:

Sandro Giampietro - vocals/guitars
Kai Stringer - guitars
Aiex Landenburg - drums
Benedikt Zimniak - bass

"Desolation Architect", a brand new song from LOCK UP — the international grindcore "supergroup" featuring Kevin Sharp (BRUTAL TRUTH, PRIMATE, VENOMOUS CONCEPT), Anton Reisenegger (PENTAGRAM, CRIMINAL), Shane Embury (NAPALM DEATH, BRUJERIA, VENOMOUS CONCEPT) and Nick Barker (CRADLE OF FILTH, DIMMU BORGIR) — can be streamed below. The track is taken from LOCK UP's forthcoming album, "Demonization", which will be released on March 10 via Listenable. The disc was recorded at Parlour Recording Studios in Kettering, U.K. with longtime friend and acclaimed producer Russ Russell (THE EXPLOITED, NAPALM DEATH, EVILE, THE BERZERKER, DIMMU BORGIR).

Wonders Embury in considering the track's theme, "From conception to dissolution, what do we leave behind? Or what can we? If our lives could be compared to a canvas of artwork, how defined and inspirational will it be to our next of kin? Was it fulfilled and true? Can they learn from the mistakes we all make?"

"Demonization" track listing:

01. Blood And Emptiness02. The Decay Within The Abyss03. Locust04. Demonization05. Demons Raging06. Desolation Architect07. Instruments Of Armageddon08. Sunk09. The Plague That Stalks The Darkness10. Foul From The Pure11. Mind Fight12. Void13. Secret Parallel World14. We Challenge Death

"Demonization" is the first LOCK UP album to feature "vokillist" Kevin Sharp, who replaced Tomas Lindberg (AT THE GATES) in 2014.

Kevin made his live debut with LOCK UP at Manizales Grita Rock festival in Colombia in October 2014.

"Demonization" has been long in the making for a variety of reasons. Logistically, the band is based in different corners of the globe. Life invades at any given moment, disrupting the thought process as it does for anyone. At the same time, the realities/brutalities of life have also inspired the band's creative process in many ways.

Lyrically, this record deals with the rise and the fall and the rise again of the human consciousness: The struggle to resist the powers that be, the addiction of escape, the turmoil of reality, and how to survive the carnage and come out stronger....the reborn phoenix!

Musically, Reisenegger's riffs scream out in every mutated direction — fast, heavy and darkly colorful manifesting a true homage to the underground from which the band members all originate while simultaneously setting new standards in extremity. Barker's drumming surpasses lightning speeds of precision. The chaos is joyfully indefinable as he charges through the compositions like a bull to the red flag of hate. Embury's bass tones once again invoke rapid, low-end bestial movements to carry the lost souls across The River Styx! And Sharp, what needs to be said? Nearly thirty years of guttural exorcisms that continue to inspire the world underdogs. It just doesn't get any better that this.

Sainted Sinners are fronted by the unique, soul-driven voice of American born vocalist David Reece (Accept, Bonfire) and highly gifted guitar player Frank Pané. Rounding out Sainted Sinners are keyboard player Ferdy Doernberg (Axel Rudi Pell), and the dynamic rhythm section of two former Purpendicular members Malte Frederik Burkert on bass, and Hungarian drum maestro Berci Hillman.

El Puerto Records will release the band's self-titled debut album on February 24th. To tide fans over, the first official trailer can be viewed below.

Tracklisting:

"Knight Of The Long Knives"
"Beauty In The Beast"
"Maybe She's Got Balls"
"We're All Sainted Sinners"
"Blue Lightning Man"
"The Love That I Have Found"
"Did You"
"In Need"
"Evangeline"
"Shine Diamond Girl"
"Truth Is A Lie"

(Photo by Matt Bischof)

 

French extreme metallers, Betraying The Martyrs, will release their third studio album, The Resilient, on January 27th via Sumerian Records. Following recent singles “The Great Disillusion” and “Lost For Words”, the band has issued a track by track preview.

Says the band: ”We are extremely pleased and proud to announce the release date of our third full-length album, The Resilient, out January 27th on Sumerian Records. After over a year and a half of hard work, taking into consideration our strengths and our weaknesses, looking back on our success and more importantly our downfalls, we can honestly say that this is by far the best material we have written since the beginning of this incredible journey. Betraying The Martyrs has been taken to a whole new level, we couldn't be more excited to share the result of everything we have lived since day one; we are back.”

The Resilient tracklisting:

“Lost For Words”
“Take Me Back”
“The Great Disillusion”
“Dying To Live”
“The Resilient”
“Unregistered”
“Won't Back Down”
“(Dis)Connected”
“Behind The Glass”
“Waste My Time”
“Ghost”
“Wide Awake”

“Lost For Words” video:

“The Great Disillusion” video:

To coincide with the announcement, pre-order bundles and digital pre-orders have been made available along with their new singles “Lost For Words” and “The Great Disillusion”:

* iTunes
* Amazon
* GooglePlay
* CD/Merch Bundles

Betraying The Martyrs tour Europe as main support to Chelsea Grin on February 3rd through March 5th, where they’ll be joined by Make Them Suffer and Void Of Vision.

Further tour info can be found at this location.

 

A mere two months after the release of their sophomore album, II - The Mephisto Waltzes, Witch County nefarious frights Devilment have begun work on the follow-up. 

"In the cold depths of deepest, bleakest Suffolk, Devilment 3 breathes its first breath," reads a statement from the band. "With Dani away on Cradle Of Filth album duty, Devilment guitarist, Colin Parks, has begun work on the first three tracks of the new album.

The rest of the band will soon be unleashed on these foundations to help make it uniquely Devilment, with an even heavier yet equally melodic sound to the last outing, these are shaping up nicely.

Live dates for 2017 are to be announced soon with shows slithering through as we speak."

In the meantime, enjoy the official video for "Hitchcock Blonde" from II - The Mephisto Waltzes.

 

The new studio album from Unruly Child, entitled Can't Go Home, will be released on February 24th. The new song “Point Of View” is available for streaming below.

Marcie Free (vocalist - King Kobra, Signal), Bruce Gowdy (guitarist - Stone Fury, World Trade), and Guy Allison (keyboardist - Lodgic, World Trade, Doobie Brothers) together with the original rhythm section from the first record, drummer - Jay Schellen (Hurricane, World Trade, current touring member of YES) and bassist - Larry Antonino (Pablo Cruise), are back again with an awesome rock album, which will please old and new fans alike.

"Early in 2016, we decided to make time and give it a go once again with all five Unruly Child members," says Guy Allison. "The new album, Can't Go Home, has now become my favourite set of Unruly Child Band songs and performances ever. True story!"

The group has generated an exciting new album reflecting its musical roots in contemporary and classic rock sensibilities. With the return to the original line-up from the debut album, they have discovered that while time may pass, some things never change...

"We are so excited with this new album coming out in February," adds Marcie Free. "And if you find that you still got the heebie-jeebies after that and are in need of another transfusion of Unruly - try a shot of our new box set coming out too!  It's got practically everything we've ever done in it and that should hold over even the most shakiest UC junkies for at least as long as it takes before we hit your area for some live shows!  So come on get on board baby!  The UC Train is about to blast off!!"

The band is, in fact. also working on a box set release of their independent albums, which will see the light of day in spring on Frontiers. "We put together all the earlier material that's out of print (the first album non-withstanding - you know, lawyers!) together in one package - one box set - to make available to our fans," concludes Guy. News about the box set release will be coming soon.

With so much excitement centered around their new record, it has sparked talk of touring...Will they hit the road? News will also be coming on that front very shortly.

Can't Go Home tracklisting:

“The Only One”
“Four Eleven”
“Driving Into The Future”
“Get On Top”
“See If She Floats”
“She Can't Go Home”
“Point Of View”
“Ice Cold Sunshine”
“When Love Is Here”
“Sunlit Sky”
“Someday Somehow”

“Point Of View”:

“She Can't Go Home”:

“Can’t Go Home”:

Lineup:

Marcie Free - Vocals
Bruce Gowdy - Guitars
Guy Allison - Keyboards
Larry Antonino - Bass guitar
Jay Schellen - Drums

Greek heavy metal band, Diviner, have released a video for “Riders From The East”, a track from their debut album, Fallen Empires, released last November via Ulterium Records.

Fallen Empires is a very strong heavy metal album that keeps the legacy from the genre but at the same time sounds new and inspired. Perfect for fans of bands like Accept, Dio, Judas Priest and Iced Earth. Mastered by Peter In de Betou (Arch Enemy, Opeth, Amon Amarth).

Fallen Empires tracklisting:

“Fallen Empires”
“Kingdom Come”
“Evilizer”
“Riders From The East”
“The Legend Goes On”
“Come Into My Glory”
“Seven Gates”
“The Shadow And The Dark”
“Sacred War”
“Out In The Abyss”

“Evilizer” video:

“Come Into My Glory” lyric video:

Diviner is:

Yiannis Papanikolaou (Rock ’N’ Roll Children, ex-Innerwish) - Vocals
Thimios Krikos (Innerwish) - Guitar
George Maroulees (4bitten) - Guitar
Herc Booze (SiXforNinE) - Bass
Fragiskos Samoilis (Innerwish) - Drums