World-renowned Chinese concert pianist, Lang Lang, who performed “One” with Metallica at the Grammy Awards in 2014, once again joined the band for a performance of the song during their January 18th concert at LeSports Center in Beijing, China. Pro-shot video of the performance can now be seen below:

Metallica are scheduled to perform at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards show, which will air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 12th at 8 PM, ET on CBS.

Says the band: ”First, it was a total honor to be nominated, but now this?!!? We’re beyond excited that we have been invited to perform on the 59th annual Grammy Awards telecast on Sunday, February 12, 2017. It’s been three years since we were lucky enough to participate in the awards show when we last performed with world-renowned Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang and we’re thrilled to be asked back. We have something very unique and special planned for this celebratory night, so tune in to watch on CBS-TV... check those local listings for your timezone and keep watching here for more information. "

Metallica frontman James Hetfield has narrated the new documentary, Addicted To Porn: Chasing The Cardboard Butterfly, from writer/director Justin Hunt. A trailer for the film can be found below.

Like it or not, porn is here and it is harmful. In this controversial film, award-winning filmmaker Justin Hunt dissects the impact of pornography on societies around the globe, from how it affects the brain of the individual, to how modern technology leads to greater exposure to youth, to watching it literally tear a family apart. In what may well be one of the most devastating issues in modern culture, this film will break down the damage that porn is doing to us a human race and leave you thinking that it's clearly time that we start taking porn addiction a bit more seriously.

Addicted to Porn' is both a micro and macro view of pornography in today's culture. Beginning with a brief history of sexuality in human beings and continuing on with how it affects the human brain, how modern technology, coupled with a lack of public education, is exposing youth to a level of sexuality that they're not prepared for, this film will open up audiences' minds to an entirely new perspective on what porn does to the individual, the family and society as a whole. With some of the world's leading minds on the issue, and narrated by Metallica frontman James Hetfield, this film is an authentic undertaking aimed at exposing people to the dangers of porn and the cycle of shame that can keep people addicted for a lifetime.

For upcoming screenings and more info, head to this location.

"Lucidity", the new video from SOEN, the progressive heavy rock group featuring world-renowned drummer Martin Lopez (formerly of AMON AMARTH and OPETH) and the dynamic voice of Joel Ekelöf (WILLOWTREE), can be seen below. The song is taken from SOEN's new full-length opus, "Lykaia", which will be released on February 3 via UDR Music.

Lopez tells Billboard: "This song represents a time in my life when I unconsciously walked towards self-destruction and celebrates, to an extent, the death of that lifestyle and the birth of a new era. It's dark but comforting. The music is soft and dreamy but carries the tension of a past-life full of mistakes."

"Lykaia" is a journey into earthier places — SOEN's most cohesive, powerful and congruent creative quest yet. For those who have followed SOEN's career thus far, the new album's concepts of journey and exploration are not new. 2012's "Cognitive" beat a firmly heavy, progressive metal path. 2014's "Tellurian" — with its PINK FLOYD explorative spirit and OPETH-like forceful power — saw SOEN start to stride freely into their own control and unique visions. The new album sees SOEN remain fascinated with the shadows and the darker edges of our world, with a particular focus on the various thoughts and concepts behind religion and ritualistic, belief-based behaviour in society. "Lykaia" pre-orders are now available in three formats — digitally, audio CD in digisleeve, and gatefold vinyl. Order now and receive "Sectarian" as an instant grat. Recorded at Ghost Ward, StudioGröndal and Deep Well in Stockholm, Sweden, with production duties handled by guitarist Marcus Jidell and the mix made by Stefan Boman, SOEN kept things as far away from the digital age as possible on "Lykaia", embracing warmth and organic recordings as the drive behind the technical working process. If the first two albums were harder, more technical, angular and perhaps cerebral pieces which demanded sharp focus, "Lykaia" presents a warmer, rounder, flesh and blood on the bones approach that allows listeners a dual entry to the eight tracks presented. The journey is no less dynamic, continuing the underscore of complex melodies with crushing power and no fear of walking proudly into more ambient spaces to explore the temperature. With "Lykaia", however, it is clear that SOEN have never felt more congruent or sure of themselves. "Lykaia" track listing:

01. Sectarian 02. Orison 03. Lucidity 04. Opal 05. Jinn 06. Sister 07. Stray 08. Paragon SOEN is:

Joel Ekelöf - VocalsMartin Lopez - Drums, PercussionStefan Stenberg - BassLars Åhlund - Organ, RhodesMarcus Jidell - Guitar

THE UNITY, the new band founded by drummer Michael Ehré and guitarist Henjo Richter (both of GAMMA RAY), has released its first digital single and lyric video for the song "Rise And Fall" via Steamhammer/SPV. It is described in a press release as "a real taster for all aficionados of powerful hard rock and technically accomplished melodic metal."

In addition to Richter and Ehré, THE UNITY consists of Gianba Manenti (vocals), Stef E (guitar), Jogi Sweers (bass) and Sascha Onnen (keyboards), all of them musicians that many fans have been familiar with since Ehré’s former band LOVE.MIGHT.KILL arrived on the scene.

"During many gigs and countless hours in the rehearsal room, Michael and I discovered that we are on the same wavelength, on a personal as well as on a musical level. So we came up with the idea of focusing that part of our creativity that goes beyond GAMMA RAY in another band," Richter explained. "UNITY features the perfect lineup for that."

THE UNITY's self-titled debut album will be released on May 5, followed by a tour with German hard rock legends SINNER and a release show in their German hometown.

MEMORIAM, the new Birmingham, United Kingdom-based death/grind metal band featuring Karl Willets (BOLT THROWER) on vocals, Frank Healy (BENEDICTION, CEREBRAL FIX) on bass, Scott Fairfax (CEREBRAL FIX) on guitar and Andy Whale (BOLT THROWER) on drums, will release its debut album, "For The Fallen", on March 24 through Nuclear Blast Records. It will contain eight tracks, including "War Rages On", "Resistance" (both featured on "The Hellfire Demos I") and "Surrounded (By Death)" (featured on "The Hellfire Demos II"). The album's impressive artwork was created by Dan Seagrave (BENEDICTION, DISMEMBER, HYPOCRISY, SUFFOCATION).

The first trailer for "For The Fallen", in which the members of MEMORIAM talk about how the band was formed, is available below.

Dan stated about the artwork: "Starting from the band's thoughts on visualizing a kind of funeral procession with a theme of combat, war and in conjunction with the title 'For The Fallen', as with all my works, I then attempt to make the information evolve in my mind's eye, and allow imagination to take over those elements but retaining the core concept. The painting thus depicts a funeral procession moving through a long-wartorn cityscape. Twisted shards of towers and buildings. A cathedral facade stands defiantly, yet riddled with destruction and decay. At closer insp,ection the structures all seem to be infected with an element of natural decomposition, as if organically inclined to fade with the demise of the season, the season itself lost in a timeless void. The figures appear as remnants of once soldiers, now strange in their gathered mass, drawn forwards by the drifting momentum of the procession. Unaware of their emaciated state they follow the commander. The commander's elongated appearance is tattered and almost creature-like, with the combat-style elements and gasmask falsely presenting as a costume. The procession appears almost ghost-like, ancient and serene, slowly moving through this eerie place as if forever. Far in the background there might still be a war happening, but perhaps in another time. As we view a sublevel of reality, lost in the present, captured in light, where the war had passed through and we are left in a ghost biology, where chemicals and history meet to create an inescapable surrealism."

To give a first taster of what to expect from this highly-anticipated record, the first single from "For The Fallen", "Reduced To Zero", can be streamed below.

Willetts stated about the track: "'Reduced To Zero' is a comment on the times that we live in. In a world that is dominated by fear, hatred and intolerance, the song is a direct result of Brexit and Trump and the general rise of right wing nationalistic xenophobia."

Pre-order "For The Fallen" now digitally and receive "Reduced To Zero" instantly.

"For The Fallen" track listing:

Digi

01. Memoriam02. War Rages On03. Reduced To Zero04. Corrupted System05. Flatline06. Surrounded (By Death)07. Resistance08. Last Words

LP

Side A

01. Memoriam02. War Rages On03. Reduced To Zero04. Corrupted System

Side B

01. Flatline02. Surrounded (By Death)03. Resistance04. Last Words

MEMORIAM was primarily developed to fill the void that was left following the tragic death of Martin "Kiddie" Kearns, the drummer from BOLT THROWER, back in September 2015. BOLT THROWER subsequently placed all activity on hold for the foreseeable future which gave Karl Willetts an opportunity to develop a new project with friends that had expressed interest in forming a band for some time.

MEMORIAM is an old-school death metal band, maintaining the standards set by their previous bands, focusing on the themes of death, loss and war. Initially, the bandmembers got together to play covers of songs that had influenced them throughout their careers within the death metal scene. However, it soon became apparent that the new songs that they created were of a superior standard.

Photo credit: Gobinder Jhitta

Australian extreme metallers THY ART IS MURDER have been rejoined by vocalist C.J. McMahon. To cement McMahon's return to his rightful throne, the band has released a brand new song titled "No Absolution". Check out the track below.

Guitarist Andy Marsh spoke on McMahon's return and the brand new track: "A little over a year ago, we were left in a pickle when C.J. had finally reached his breaking point — the physical, emotional and mental stresses of touring, and the lifestyle had taken its toll on him. After the dust had settled, we had time to speak amongst ourselves, and with him, and we were all able to get on the same page. He was able to take time off from the road and work consistently, tick off some life goals like getting married, and enjoy the routine and familiarity of life at home with his friends and family. Conversely, the rest of us kept going, touring relentlessly, playing bigger tours to more people than ever before, going to new countries for the very first time, and had a blast taking a few great vocalists and mates out for the ride with us while we weathered the storm and figured things out. Special thanks must go out to Monte Barnard, Nicholas Arthur, Lochlan Watt, and every other vocalist who took the time to apply in our discrete vocalist auditions. "After a few months away from the chaotic life on the road, C.J. reached out to us and we started maintaining more regular communication. He mentioned how he had started cleaning up, was focused on working hard and saving for his wedding and enjoying time at home, but he also mentioned he missed the shows, the friends, and us — his band. "After months of working things out, gaining his voice back, and mending wounded friendships, we are overwhelmed with excitement to announce that we have completed writing for a new record to be released later this year, featuring the one and only Christopher John McMahon. Welcome back, C.J.!"

In regards to the song "No Absolution", Marsh states: "'No Absolution' is a rich tapestry, intertwined in faith, scripture and doctrine, and a story about the process that we have endured throughout the last year. We recorded this during the session for 'Holy War' but quite simply ran out of time to finish writing lyrics and recording vocals for it in order to make the record. This song now stands alone, without a record or release — a gift from us to you, thank you for your continued support, we can't wait to show you what we're making for 2017."

McMahon rejoined THY ART IS MURDER on stage on January 14 at the Unify festival in Tarwin Meadows, South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. The singer addressed the crowd at the show, saying: "I was a drug addict, I was a broke musician, and I had some fucking issues. I got married, I did some fucking soul searching, and now I'm back to take over the world with my fucking brothers." Fill-in vocalist Lochlan Watt added: "C.J. is back where he belongs, I am so fucking happy for him and my boys right now. This was truly incredible to witness. Power and then some."

THY ART IS MURDER's third album, "Holy War", entered the official Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) chart at position No. 7 — the highest-ever position for an Australian extreme metal act. The Sydney-based band has generated controversy for the strong anti-religious stance of the title track's video, as well as the album cover which features references to a suicide bomber.

"Holy War" was released in Australia via UNFD and in other parts of the world through Nuclear Blast.

European diabolical death/black metal commandos BELPHEGOR have returned to the studio to record their as-yet-untitled eleventh album. The follow-up to 2014's "Conjuring The Dead" will be released in September through Nuclear Blast, followed by an intense touring cycle worldwide. BELPHEGOR frontman/founder guitarist Helmuth Lehner comments: "The drums and bass guitar have been executed masterfully by Serpenth (bass, screams) and German maniac drummer Bloodhammer. A new chapter, a new challenge." Serpenth added: "We've once again created an LP with two different tunings in the manner in which we did 'Pestapokalypse VI' (October 2006). We've added a lot of new elements and structures to our trademark sound and tuned the guitars down to achieve even more brutal and obscure effects. These are the most furiously heavy, fierce and superior nine sound collages we have ever written and recorded." A clip of BELPHEGOR playing "Totenkult - Exegesis Of Deterioration", recorded live inside their rehearsal bunker, can be seen below. This scorching death/black metal track will be included on the upcoming album.

On March 3rd, Finnish bashers Amorphis will release a tour edition of their latest album, Under A Red Cloud. It will feature a book containing lyrics from all Joutsen-era Amorphis albums and black and white illustrations by Pekka Kainulainen. The bonus disc contains nine live songs under the title An Evening With Friends At Huvila.

 

Tracklisting:

CD1
"Under The Red Cloud"
"The Four Wise Ones"
"Bad Blood"
"The Skull"
"Death Of A King"
"Sacrifice"
"Dark Path"
"Enemy At The Gates"
"Tree Of Ages"
"White Night"

Bonus:
"Come The Spring"
"Winter’s Sleep"

CD2 - An Evening With Friends At Huvila
"Enigma"
"Far From The Sun"
"Silent Waters"
"My Kantele"
"Silver Bride"
"Sampo"
"Alone"
"The Wanderer"
"Her Alone"

ONCE HUMAN, the band featuring former MACHINE HEAD and SOULFLY guitarist Logan Mader, has recorded a cover version of the MACHINE HEAD classic "Davidian", to be included as a bonus track on the Japanese edition of ONCE HUMAN's second album, "Evolution", which will be released on February 17 via earMUSIC/eOne.

A short video clip of the "Davidian" recording sessions can be seen below.

"Evolution" is not just the title of ONCE HUMAN's sophomore release, it's an armor-plated declaration. Having made waves with their 2015 debut, "The Life I Remember", the band has dramatically progressed beyond the melodic death metal sound of that release into something more complex, emotional, distinct, and devastatingly heavy.

"Having been focused on recording, producing and developing bands, I had not picked up the guitar out of passion for twelve years but as soon as I started writing with Lauren, I fell in love with what we were making, and I wanted to play in the band and get back on stage," states Mader, whose name will be familiar to metalheads not only for his production and/or mixing work on records from the likes of GOJIRA, FEAR FACTORY and DEVILDRIVER, but also as the original guitarist in MACHINE HEAD, and his late-'90s stint in SOULFLY.

"Our first record was getting the ball rolling, but now it's as if we're a totally different band. We really found our sound and our identity, it's quite unique and I think what we're doing is really on fire."

Armed with this track and the eight others comprising "Evolution", ONCE HUMAN intend to build on the groundwork laid down by the two tours they did in support of their debut, and make it damn clear that this is a band to be taken seriously.

"It's only been a little more than a year since we put out our first record, but we were so driven by the new sound that we forged that we needed to get back into the studio and capture it," Mader explains. "It was also important to prove to people that this is a real band. It's not just a project I felt like doing on a whim, this is a band that's going to have a full career, and now we're really getting started."

With the lineup rounded out by drummer Dillon Trollope, bassist Damien Rainaud and guitarists Skyler Howren and recent recruit Max Karon, everything about "Evolution" makes it clear that this is a band pushing itself to deliver something that truly stands apart. "Our first record was getting the ball rolling, but now it's as if we're a totally different band," says Mader. "We really found our sound and our identity — it's quite unique — and I think what we're doing is really on fire."

With the intensity and range of Hart's roar having drastically increased, she unleashes it across complex and constantly shifting time signatures, and thick, contorted riffs that land with sledgehammer force. However, this is not only about bludgeoning the listener into submission, the violence often juxtaposed with eerie atmospherics and dark melodies to create something with great depth.

"Evolution" track listing:

01. Flock Of Flesh02. Eye Of Chaos03. Mass Murder Frenzy04. Gravity05. Dark Matter06. Paragon07. Drain08. Killers For Cure09. Passenger



Davidian (Machine Head) cover by Once Human
Lauren Hart tracking her vocals on a cover of "Davidian" by the mighty MACHINE HEAD!! This is our special bonus track for Japan!!

Posted by Once Human on Wednesday, January 18, 2017

According to The Pulse Of Radio, LINKIN PARK singer Mike Shinoda appeared on a YouTube question-and-answer session at a recent music trade show to take some fan questions and discuss the band's upcoming seventh album, due out later this year. Speaking about the new disc, Shinoda said: "New LINKIN PARK is on the way. We are wrapping it up. I can't tell you when yet. That's a little bit of a surprise but not too long… I can't tell you what it sounds like. I can tell you you're going to be surprised. You gotta expect the unexpected. Don't expect what you've heard before."

After mentioning that he's gotten back to the gym after working 50-hour weeks in the studio, Shinoda continued: "All the making of the album, and the teasers and all that stuff, it'll happen when it happens. It could happen tomorrow, it could happen in a week, it could happen in three weeks. You never know. We're working on the art. We're working on everything that goes with it."

Shinoda also hinted that there might be some "featured artists" on the new CD, adding that the band also worked with "other people" during the writing process. But he added, "It's still us. It's self-produced . It's all us, curated by us at the very least. It's a LINKIN PARK record."

No release date has been confirmed yet for the new disc, which will follow up 2014's "The Hunting Party".

In the wake of one of the most controversial presidential elections in American history, Iron Reagan’s new album Crossover Ministry couldn’t have come at a better time. The band have teamed up with New Noise Magazine for an “Inauguration From Hell” cover feature (pictured below) illustrated by Matt Stikker (@bargainbinblasphemy) and today they’ve unveiled their exclusive track for New Noise’s flexi series; titled “Take The Fall” (listen below).

Pick up a copy of the magazine with the limited flexi disc, an 18x24 screen printed poster at this location. All poster proceeds go towards the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Iron Reagan recently released a video for “Bleed The Fifth”, a track from their third full-length album, Crossover Ministry, out on February 3rd via Relapse. Watch the new clip below.

Recorded by guitarist Phil “Landphil” Hall and mixed by Kurt Ballou, Crossover Ministry features 30 minutes of relentlessly catchy riffs and irresistibly mosh-ready breakdowns paired with lyrics that run the gamut from satyrical to serious.  In the wake of one of the most controversial presidential elections in American history, Crossover Ministry couldn’t have come at a better time.

Pre-order the new album at this location.

Tracklisting:

“A Dying World”
“You Never Learn”
“Grim Business”
“Dead With My Friends”
“No Sell”
“Condition Evolution”
“Fuck The Neighbors”
“Power Of The Skull”
“Crossover Ministry”
“More War”
“Blatant Violence”
“Parents Of Tomorrow”
“Bleed The Fifth”
“Megachurch”
“Shame Spiral”
“Dogsnotgods”
“Eat Or Be Eaten”
“Twist Your Fate”

“Bleed The Fifth” video;

“Grim Business”:

"A Dying World":

Infomercial:

Audio samples:

Crossover Ministry by Iron Reagan

Iron Reagan has also announced new Southeast US tour dates with support from Night Birds and label-mates Wrong on select dates following the North American tour with Power Trip. A full tour schedule can be found below.

February (with Power Trip)
22 - Nashville, TN - The End (no Power Trip)
24 - Houston, TX - Walter's
25 - New Orleans, LA - Siberia
26 - Birmingham, AL - Saturn
27 - Raleigh, NC - Kings *
28 - Richmond, VA - Broadberry *+

March (with Power Trip)
1 - Baltimore, MD - Soundstage *+
2 - New York, NY - Marlin Room +&
3 - Pittsburgh, PA - Spirit +$
4 - Cleveland, OH - Now That’s Class +$
7 - Boston, MA - Elk’s Lodge
8 - Montreal, QC - Les Foufounes Electriques
9 - Ottawa, ON - Brass Monkey
10 - Toronto, ON - Velvet Underground
11 - Detroit, MI - Marble Bar
12 - Chicago, IL - Reggie’s
13 - Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock
14 - Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews
16 - Kansas City, MO - Riot Room
17 - Oklahoma City, OK - 89th Street Collective

* with Genocide Pact
+ withConcealed Blade
& with Krimewatch
$ with Protester

March
22 - Orlando, FL - Will’s Pub (with Wrong)
23 - Miami, FL - Churchill’s (with Wrong)
24 - Tampa, FL - Crowbar (with Wrong)
25 - Greensboro, NC - Blind Tiger

(Photo - Dennis Williford)

Rare Black Sabbath live audio has been posted on YouTube. The clip below features the band performing at Rugman’s Youth Club in Dumfries, Scotland on November 16th, 1969. The setlist was as follows:

"Black Sabbath"
"Let Me Love You Baby"
"Song For Jim" - Drum Solo - Reprise
"The Warning" (Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation Cover)
"Wicked World"
"Behind The Wall Of Sleep"
"Early One Morning" (Elmore James Cover)
"N.I.B."
"Blue Blooded Man"

Ozzy Osbourne - vocals
Tony Iommi - guitar, flute
Geezer Butler - bass
Bill Ward - drums

Black Sabbath’s The End Tour, billed as the band’s farewell trek, wrapped its 2016 run through four continents in early December 2016 with a final stadium performance in São Paulo, Brazil, which leads the latest roundup of Billboard’s Hot Tours list.

The tour stopped in eight Latin American cities during November and December to cap a busy year on the road that began in mid-January with an opening North American leg. An Oceania trek in April and summer runs through Europe and the US and Canada preceded the tour’s final stretch of the year that included Mexico, Chile, Argentina and, finally, Brazil.

The São Paulo concert held at Estádio do Morumbi was the last of four Brazilian dates on the itinerary. The December 4th show was attended by 64,744 fans and racked up box office sales topping $5.5 million to rank as the tour’s highest-grossing engagement, based on reported Boxscores. Two nights earlier the band played in Rio de Janeiro at Praça da Apoteose, a square in the city that is often the site for major outdoor concerts. The Rio performance drew a crowd of 26,764, earning $2.1 million in ticket sales. Both events were produced by Brazilian concert promoter T4F-Time For Fun.

Read the full story at Billboard.com.

Remaining Black Sabbath tour dates:

January
20 - Dublin, Ireland - 3Arena
22 - Manchester, UK - Arena
24 - Glasgow, UK - The SSE Hydro
26 - Leeds, UK - First Direct Arena
29 - London, UK - The O2
31 - London, UK - The O2

February
2 - Birmingham, UK - Genting Arena
4 - Birmingham, UK - Genting Arena

Los Angeles-based thrash metallers WARBRINGER will release their fifth album, "Woe To The Vanquished", on March 31 via Napalm. The disc was produced and mixed by Mike Plottnikoff (FEAR FACTORY, IN FLAMES), mastered by Howie Weinberg (SLAYER, PANTERA), with cover art by Andreas Marschall (SODOM, BLIND GUARDIAN, OBITUARY).

"Woe To The Vanquished" track listing:

01. Silhouettes02. Woe To The Vanquished03. Remain Violent04. Shellfire05. Descending Blade06. Spectral Asylum07. Divinity Of Flesh08. When The Guns Fell Silent

Bonus 7" single track listing:

01. Evil Dead (DEATH cover featuring Chris Monroy of SKELETAL REMAINS) 02. Arc Lite (CORONER cover featuring Jadran "Conan" Gonzalez of EXMORTUS)

The video for the song "Silhouettes", directed by Orie McGinness (Enlighten Creative Studio) and produced by Shan Dan Horen (Shadow Born Group), can be seen below.

WARBRINGER singer John Kevill states: "This song, the album opener, is a blazing and intense number; we wanted the album to open with pure annihilation. I had the lyric in my head and the frantic riff under the verse since the beginning of 2014, and I am very pleased that it exists as a full song now.

"The idea for the song came from a particularly chilling detail found at Hiroshima and Nagasaki; when the atomic bombs went off the shadows of people whose bodies were vaporized still remain burned onto the walls and the ground where they once stood. To me, this is goddamn horrifying. I thought, 'What if the souls of those dead remain trapped in the shadows?'

"I wanted to have the song written from a future where civilization has failed, the Earth is in ruins and the few remaining survivors live a horrible existence. The untold millions of shadows from this future, burnt into stone, look back at us in the present time and judge us for bringing about the apocalypse that, though we saw it coming, we did nothing to avoid.

"The way I see it, we continue funding weaponry that keeps getting more and more devastating (search 'satan-2' if you think this issue is some relic), and leadership seems on a sharp downward trend as well. Not the ingredients for a positive outcome.

"Remember, it only takes one mistake, once, and everything everyone has ever built, written, painted, all music, all culture, every ounce of human achievement is gone, in a single blinding flash. Like it or not, this is the world we live in today, and entering 2017 the delicate balance tips and sways more and more."

"Woe To The Vanquished" will be made available as:

* Regular jewel-case edition * 1LP gatefold edition (black and other colored editions)* Super deluxe wooden box warchest edition (CD, exclusive 2 track 7” single, flag, band logo dog tags) only available via the Napalm Records webstores in the U.S. and Europe — strictly limited to 500 copies!

Kevill, who is studying to be a history professor, explains the "Woe To The Vanquished" title: "The title 'Woe To The Vanquished' comes from early Roman history — before they were the huge empire they became. In 390 BC, a host of Gauls led by a warlord called Brennus attacked Rome, and captured all the city except the Capitoline Hill. From this hill, the defeated Romans made a bargain, they would pay 1,000 pounds of gold for the Gallic army to leave the city with no further bloodshed. The Romans bring the gold before Brennus, who uses his own scales to measure it. On the Gaul's scales, the Roman's thousand pounds of gold measured to be less, which led the Romans to complain that the scale was rigged (it probably was). Responding to this, Brennus speaks 'Vae Victis' (Woe To The Vanquished) and throws his sword on the counterweight. Because the Romans lost, they have to pay the rigged sum of gold as well as the weight of the sword, to add insult to injury. The irony here is that vowing this type of humiliation would never happen again, Rome went on to become an ancient war machine conquering and subjugating most of the old world. On the record, 'Woe To The Vanquished' is spoken in an ironic, mocking tone — the defeated are trampled and time marches on, uncaring, and forgets they ever existed."

He adds: "One of the great things about heavy metal as a genre is you can express tougher subject material than 'I met a (boy/girl) and it was (happy/sad).' I looked for the most monolithic evil I could find to write about with this destructive, intense music... and I did not have to look any further than reality. Forget Satan, that's a children's story. Real evil is in the hearts of men."

Southern Californian rock trio, Radio Moscow, and Century Media Records have announced a worldwide partnership to release the band’s upcoming albums. Radio Moscow already started songwriting and will enter the studio soon to release their fifth full-length album in late summer 2017.

Guitarist and vocalist Parker Griggs comments: “Radio Moscow couldn't be more stoked to be joining the Century Media family! When we met these guys we spent hours nerding out on obscure classics from our favorite era of rock ‘n’ roll (1965-1974)... so we feel right at home! Excited to keep writing and working on the next Radio Moscow release on Century Media. Looking forward to 2017 with a new label and album! Peace n Love!”

Jens Prueter, Head of A&R at Century Media Europe adds: “A beautiful summer night at a club in the middle of Germany, some beers, a nice chat about weird 60s stuff and an amazing sweaty show: that’s a good start for a long time partnership. I’m very happy to welcome this highly talented band that is taking the roots to the roof!”

Trends come and go, but the idea of a bunch of guys getting together in a garage and playing the kind of music that makes the neighbours call the cops - that’s forever. And it’s that idea that’s crystallized in the form of Radio Moscow who took their name from an obscure 60s garage punk novelty single. The power trio led by the Stratocaster genius Parker Griggs have found THE formula: Crunching, heavy Sabbath-style chords topped with fiery solos that earn the right to be called Hendrixian. Radio Moscow plants their flag firmly in the territory where psychedelic rock and cranked-up blues meet. The sound is unabashedly retro (think Cream, Blue Cheer, Led Zep or Jimi Hendrix Experience), so it’s easy to see how it caught the ear of the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, who produced Radio Moscow’s 2007 self-titled debut.

With Brain Cycles, their second album, Radio Moscow proves that they’re not a cheap time machine but a direct descendant from the golden age of rock ‘n’ roll. In 2011, Griggs continued his psychedelic trip with The Great Escape Of Leslie Magnafuzz, followed by Magical Dirt in 2014.

Parker Griggs (vocals, guitar), Anthony Meier (bass) and Paul Marrone (drums) hit the road hard in the US and in Europe, touring with the likes of Graveyard, Witchcraft, Joe Bonamassa and Pentagram, followed by an appearance on the legendary German television program Rockpalast.

Coming off of what seems like endless touring proceeding and following the recording of the double-live gatefold Live! In California, Radio Moscow is ready to hit the studio again. Live!… was recorded absolutely live with no overdubs of any kind.

The band toured the US, Europe, South America, and Australia around the release of the live document, landing at such festivals as Desert Daze (US), the Void Fest (Ger), Electric Funeral (US), Burg Herzberg Fest (Ger), and the Orbital Festival in Santiago, Chile, to name a few.

The live album wrapped up the first chapter of the band’s career, playing highlights from their first four studio albums. The story continues with a new chapter in 2017.

Radio Moscow lineup:

Parker Griggs (vocals, guitar)
Anthony Meier (bass)
Paul Marrone (drums)

(Photo - Tyler Stewart)

Tomi Fooler’s “nerd metal project”, SkeleToon, have released an audio preview for their upcoming sophomore studio album, Ticking Clock, set for release on March 3rd via Revalve Records. An audio preview can be found below.

The new release is a 43-minute concept album featuring the following guests:

Jonne Järvelä (Korpiklaani) as "The Nightmare"
Piet Sielck (Iron Savior) as "The Father"
Jens Ludwig (Edgy) as "The Time"
Tomika Fulida (Lunamantis) as "The Last Star Shining"
Guido Benedetti (Trick Or Treat): Composer and guitars

Tomi Fooler reveals the album storyboard at this location.

Milan, Italy-based 5-piece, Destrage, released their new album, A Means To No End, last October via Metal Blade Records. In the video below by Camilla Boró (Sandhog Music Production), Matteo Di Gioia and Ralph Salati perform the album track ”Dreamers”:

Destrage recorded A Means To No End at RecLab Studios in Milan, reuniting with their longtime collaborator Larsen Premoli, and his assistant Alex D'Errico. While tracking, at the suggestion of drummer Federico Paulovich, they brought percussionist Alessandro "Pacho" Rossi into the fold. Having entered into the writing process with no plans beyond simply wanting to write good music, the finished product - which is mixed by Steve Evetts and mastered by Alan Douches - is somewhat revelatory, and will certainly grab the attention of anyone exposed to it. Known for their powerful live shows, these tracks are sure to sound incredible when blasted from titanic speakers as the band take them to the masses.

Tracklisting:

“A Means To No End”
“Don’t Stare  At The Edge”
“Symphony Of The Ego”
“Silent Consent”
“The Flight”
“Dreamers”
“Ending To A Means”
“Peacefully Lost”
“Not Everything Is Said”
“To Be Tolerated”
“Blah Blah”
“A Promise, A Debt”
“Abandon To Random”

“Don’t Stare At The Edge” video:

“Symphony Of The Ego” lyric video:

Lineup:

Paolo Colavolpe - vocals
Matteo Di Gioia - guitar
Federico Paulovich - drums
Ralph Guido Salati - guitar
Gabriel Pignata - bass

Disciples of the heavy metal code don't just love our music, we need it: to maintain our cultural, personal and - perhaps most importantly - cosmic equilibrium. As a result, there is nothing more essential to our musical lives than bands that tap into our beloved genre's purest essence and re-imagine that primal magic in brand new and gloriously vivid hues. Sweden's Saturn more than fit the bill.

Having already proved their worth and potential three years ago with their stunning debut album Ascending, this young band have evolved into something truly extraordinary this time round. In stark contrast to many retro-minded records currently doing the rounds, Beyond Spectra offers much more than affectionate pastiche and Luddite petulance. Instead, this is the sound of red-blooded heavy metal with its eyes focused on the depths of outer space, as the rampaging grooves and analogue hiss of prime '70s proto-doom, the swaggering boogie braggadocio of UFO and the stately grandeur of Sad Wings-era Priest collide in a mesmerizing shower of irresistible riffs, unearthly melodies and moments of shimmering psychedelia.

"How we have evolved since Ascending? Our guitarist Linkan cut off his dreadlocks and that generally contributed to a good vibe, ha ha!" guitarist Robin Tidebrink laughs. "More seriously, the production of Beyond Spectrais way better. It sounds fatter without losing that vintage feeling to it. I also think that we're starting to find our own sound. You could say that every new song that we write is more and more Saturn. I would also say that we're more comfortable in writing new songs and we know what kind of different elements to add to make it all sound like we want it to." 

Fans of Saturn's first album will not be freaked out by the band's great leap forward, but Beyond Spectra is plainly an album driven by a broader vision and an enhanced desire to forge a unique path. Songs like opening intergalactic rager Orbital Command and the sumptuous interwoven dynamics and dark drama of Nighttime Badger proudly proclaim their debt to the pioneering heavy metal greats of the '70s but there is so much energy, verve and ingenuity on display throughout that Saturn sound much more like the future than the past. That said, Beyond Spectra is also very much an album with its mind on the modern world too.

"The lyrical content on the album tries to explore and compare events in the world today from a historical point of view," says vocalist Oscar Pehrson. "Both from our personal perspective but also on a more global scale. The album title is a word play on trying to see the world in as many ways as possible and to be able to understand what is going on and where we are going.It is a serious topic but we're trying to add some humour and fiction to it as well. Music and comedy have the ability to be fun and still deliver a serious message." 

As much as they exist in the present day, it hardly needs stating that Saturnare huge fans of old school, analogue tones and the ageless allure of that classic '70s hard rock sound. For those with a similar passion for that bygone era, Beyond Spectra offers an object lesson in conjuring ancient vibes and emboldening them with fresh perspective.

"Everything was recorded through two old mixing tables that used to belong to Swedish Radio, the government controlled public service radio, and anything that you run through those tables will sound really warm and sweet," says Robin. "Another factor is that we didn't add lots of effects in post-production because we wanted a clean and simple sounding recording. We didn't do any overdubs on this album...and we didn't on Ascending either! It's kind of tricky, because when somebody goes off to do a solo and you only have one rhythm guitar it can sound kind of weak... but that's part of the charm! It's more honest in a way. I believe that's a huge factor in how the final record sounds."

The sound of yesterday, filtered through the limitless refractions of an unknown future but rooted firmly in the here and now, Beyond Spectra pulls off the neat and laudable trick of getting everything right and making it look easy, while also offering great substance to stir the soul and a few, jolting shots of originality and effortless cool. If you're lacking some steel in your aural diet, look no further. This band's fascinating voyage into virgin skies looks certain to provide all the nourishment you could ever need.

Tracklisting:

“Orbital Command”
“Wolfsson”
“Nighttime Badger”
“Linkans Delight”
“Electrosaurus Sex”
“Still Young”
“Force Of The North”
“Helmet Man”
“Silfvertape”
“Sensor Data”

Nuclear Blast will release Black Star Riders’ third studio album, Heavy Fire, on February 3rd. A fifth official album trailer has been released. Find all five trailers below.

2016 saw Black Star Riders return to the studio with producer Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, The Foo Fighters, Mastodon), at his studio just outside Nashville. The resultant album is Black Star Riders most accomplished work to date. From the immediate riffs of album opener “Heavy Fire” to the instant hooks of first single “When The Night Comes In”, from the dirty bass groove of “Thinking About You Could Get Me Killed” to the familiar and trademark dual guitars of Gorham and Johnson on “Testify Or Say Goodbye”, this is an album that will further cement BSR’s reputation as one of the world premiere rock acts.

"Angst, passion, power, glory, love, truth, lies, loyalty, questions that begged to be answered. There's a guitar army coming…and it's bringing the Heavy Fire.” – Ricky Warwick (vocals)

"Not many new bands get to record three albums these days. Without doubt this is BSR'S best album so far. We had a great time recording it and can't wait to play the new songs live on tour in March." – Scott Gorham (guitars)

Following on from their critically acclaimed albums All Hell Breaks Loose and The Killer Instinct, which have paved the way for Black Star Riders to be recognized as a power force in the modern day of rock n’ roll, Heavy Fire will be once again released by Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The band have also brought in Pledgemusic, one of the most innovative and successful platforms of the modern music world, to give fans extra special product and experiences to go along with the album’s release.

Formats: Limited Edition Digibook CD (including bonus track), CD, Vinyl, Vinyl Picture Disc, Digital Album

Mail order: Limited Orange & Clear Vinyl (Pre-order)

Tracklisting:

“Heavy Fire
“When The Night Comes In”
“Dancing With The Wrong Girl”
“Who Rides The Tiger”
“Cold War Love”
“Testify Or Say Goodbye”
“Thinking About You Could Get Me Killed”
“True Blue Kid”
“Ticket To Rise”
“Letting Go Of Me”

The Limited Edition Digibook CD will include the above tracklisting plus the bonus track “Fade”.

“Testify Or Say Goodbye” video:

“When The Night Comes In” lyric video:

Trailers:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Part 5:

Necrophagist's seminal, tech-death masterpiece, Epitaph, is once again available on vinyl for the first time since it's release in 2004. Uniting head-spinning musicianship, elaborate arrangements and an acute sense of dynamics within composition, Epitaph reset the bar for complexity and technique in modern-day death metal.

The official vinyl repress of Epitaph will see worldwide release on March 17th via Relapse Records. A trailer for the LP reissue can be viewed below.

Necrophagist mastermind Muhammed Suicemz commented on the reissue: "Epitaph is such an important album to me as it had a big impact on my life and it still does. I am really happy to see it released in vinyl format again after being out of print for so long and am especially excited about the vinyl colors of the limited editions, as they turned out beautifully."

Originally released in 2004, Epitaph quickly became the gold standard of progressive, technical death metal and has influenced countless bands since it’s release. Powerful riffs, mind-blowing sweeps and arpeggios collide with crushing percussion and intricately designed songs that are unequalled and uncompromising. The result is an unveiling of invincible technicality so sharp and precise, it bore a hole directly through the heart of the existing progressive death playbook.

Pre-order Epitaph here.

Nita Strauss, the Los Angeles-based guitar shredder for the ALICE COOPER band, has released a brand new solo single titled "Pandemonium".

Written, recorded and produced by Nita, the song features the axewoman on all guitar and bass, alongside Josh Villalta on drums and Katt Scarlett on keyboards.

The drums were recorded at Sable Studios while the track was mixed and mastered by Travis Huff at Nocturnal Studios.

The official video for "Pandemonium", produced by Flarelight FIlms, LLC and directed by Brian Cox and Corey Soria, can be seen below.

"Pandemonium" is featured on Favored Nations Entertainment's all-female compilation "She Rocks, Volume 1". This collection of kick-ass guitar goddesses is produced by author and former Guitar World editor Brad Tolinski with iconic guitarist Steve Vai as executive producer, and showcases eleven female guitarists, each a virtuoso in her own right. From the legendary Lita Ford to Sarah Longfield's jazzy riffin', to Orianthi's melodic stylings and the all-out shredding of Nita Strauss, these players each contribute their own voice to this carefully curated collection. "She Rocks, Volume 1" compilation will be released on January 20 via Vai's own Favored Nations label, and in cooperation with the Women's International Music Network, hosts of the famed She Rocks Awards. The compilation will be celebrated at the 2017 She Rocks Awards, taking place that evening in Anaheim, California during the annual NAMM convention.

Said Nita: "As you guys may or may not know by now, for the past year or so, I've been focusing on writing and putting my band together, and while I always thought about making a solo album, I thought my energy would be better spent right now focusing on giving the band my all and making those songs as great as they could be. But when Steve Vai asked if I'd be a part of this compilation, you better believe I jumped at the chance!

She added: "As a guitar player, even though I've always played in bands, most of my heroes have been solo players like Vai, [Joe] Satriani, Jason Becker, and, of course, the great Jennifer Batten, just to name a few. I am beyond excited to take my first step into the instrumental guitar world that I've always loved so much, and do it with the awesome players on this compilation."

"She Rocks, Volume 1" track listing:

01. Orianthi - "Transmogrify"02. Yasi Hofer - "Cosmic Stars"03. Kat Dyson - "U Know What I Like"04. Sarah Longfield - "The Taxi Time Travel Task Force"05. Lita Ford w/ LEZ ZEPPELIN - "The Lemon Song"06. Jennifer Batten - "In The Aftermath"07. Nita Strauss - "Pandemonium"08. Steph Paynes - "The Sun At Her Eastern Gate"09. Nili Brosh - "A Matter Of Perception"10. Gretchen Menn - "Scrap Metal"11. Yvette Young - "Hydra"

Strauss is a longtime Ibanez signature series endorsee who made her name with THE IRON MAIDENS, FEMME FATALE and LA Kiss.

In the video below, Ketzer performs "Godface" live in Berlin, Germany. The clip was filmed and edited by Macabre Pariah Production.

"Godface" is featured on Ketzer’s Starless album, released last year via Metal Blade Records.

Starless tracklisting:

“Starless”
“When Milk Runs Dry”
“Godface”
“Count To Ten”
“The Hunger”
“White Eyes”
“Shaman's Dance”
“Silence And Sound”
“Earthborn”
“Limbo”

“When Milk Runs Dry”:

“Starless”:

Slovenian thrashers, Panikk, have released the song “Eyes Don’t Lie”, from their upcoming second album, Discarded Existence, out on March 15th via Xtreem Music. The track is available for streaming below.

The artwork for Discarded Existence was created by Mario E. Lopez M. (Gravesite, Skeletal Remains, Evil Invaders).

Tracklisting:

“Instigator Of War”
“Sedated In Utopia”
“Under Pretence”
“Individual Right”
“Rotten Cells”
“Discarded Existence”
“Eyes Don't Lie”
“Reconstruction”
“Outro”

“Eyes Don't Lie”:

Teaser:

(Photo - Dominika Torkar)

Mighty Music has announced the signing of Italy’s Sawthis, who will release their fourth album through Mighty Music on March 24th. Check out the brand new video for “This String Is For Your Neck”, available for streaming below.

Strong live attitude and deep focus on the composition: this is the best definition of the modern thrashers Sawthis, the incredible quintet on the edge of the Italian metal scene.

Sawthis attacks this year with their fourth album, uniquely titled Babhell. It’s a fast paced powerful release to match a band that’s renowned for their hard work ethics and live onslaughts who’s previously shared the stage with the likes of Korn, Sepultura, Children Of Bodom, The Haunted, Lacuna Coil for dozens of incendiary shows and collecting many sold out shows all over Europe, UK and Russia.

Impressive atmospheres, crushing groovy riffs and intense melodies make Babhell with no doubt the best album of the band. Harmonic elements combined with an instinctive, direct and nervous approach generate an attentive and intimate listening: rage and happiness, resignation and reaction, love and hate live together into the sound of Sawthis, a multi-emotional status that generates Babhell.

This "multi-emotional chaos" is like a crowded square where each person is busy to express their views but without listening, a square where even the most beautiful point of view is confused into the total chaos. Ultimately in a world where everyone is talking and no one is listening, the dialogue is impossible and the thoughts become just noise like a Babel, a hellish Babel: Babhell.

Sawthis has something for everyone: these songs are well put together enough to keep your head banging and your ears delighted.

Whether by coincidence or design, YouTube user AmericanJackassI has posted live bootleg footage of the original Ratt line-up performing in Tokyo, Japan (1989) and Hollywood, CA (1990). Both are complete shows. The clips were uploaded on January 1st, 2017 in the midst of the current Ratt reunion legal dust-up that sees Stephen Pearcy, Warren Demartini and Juan Croucier back together and drummer Bobby Blotzer trying to make a go of it with his own incarnation of Ratt featuring a revolving door of musicians.

For more information on the court case go to this location.

Tokyo, Japan (1989) 

Setlist:

"City to City" 
"Bite the Hand That Feeds You"
"Slip of the Lip"
"Wanted Man"
"I Want A Woman" 
"The Morning After" 
"The Bottom Line"
"Lay It Down" 
"You're In Love"
- drum solo -  
"Back For More" 
"What's It Gonna Be" 
"Body Talk"
"Round & Round" 
"Way Cool Jr."
"You Think You're Tough" 
"Walking the Dog"
"Chain Reaction"

Hollywood, CA (1990)

Setlist:

"Shame, Shame, Shame"
"Lay it Down"
"You're In Love"
"Scratch That Itch"
"Slip of the Lip"
"Wanted Man"
"Lovin You's A Dirty Job"
"Givin' Yourself Away"
"The Morning After"
"Heads I Win Tails You Lose"
"Back For More"
"You Think You're Tough"
"Way Cool Jr."
"Round & Round"
"Walkin the Dog"
"Top Secret"

Ratt was:

Stephen Pearcy - vocals
Warren DeMartini - guitars
Robbin Crosby - guitars
Juan Croucier - bass
Bobby Blotzer - drums

THE MANTLE, the New York-based progressive metal band featuring Max Gorelick — the son of smooth-jazz saxophonist Kenny G — has just released its self-titled debut album via Bandcamp.

Instrumental music must do more than simply entertain — it must engage, captivate, and inspire. THE MANTLE is fully aware of this necessity. While Kenny G might not be regarded as the patron saint of heavy metal, he is the patron saint of writing instrumental music with an expressive capacity that far exceeds most vocal-driven acts (not to mention that he is the best-selling instrumental act of modern time). Kenny's son Max, along with fellow guitarist and songwriting partner Jake Miller, has discovered that the spirit of his music translates incredibly well to the realm of progressive metal. Human qualities like soulfulness, delicacy, and emotion that heavy metal often lacks are seamlessly woven into THE MANTLE's music, and, when paired with the band's unmatched technical prowess and songwriting expertise, culminate in a remarkably well-defined and promising debut album.

As the band puts it, THE MANTLE can be interpreted as something that frames the intensity and chaos of the world. It does so both aesthetically (like a mantelpiece) and structurally (like the earth's molten inner layer). But the mantle (the earth's layer) is chaotic and unpredictable; it's constantly changing states, liquefying and hardening, so its form is never truly defined. Similarly, music theory (the mantelpiece) tempers chaos, but doesn't completely negate it, and the fundamental nature of good music is to use music theory to properly frame that chaos.

THE MANTLE's awareness of this dichotomy allows the band to develop unparalleled concision and cohesion throughout its self-titled debut. THE MANTLE blends the vibrancy and technicality of ANIMALS AS LEADERS with the expressibility of PLINI and the organizational mastery of DREAM THEATER. Heavy polyrhythmic grooves are tied together with imaginative, ornamented riffs and meticulous percussion. Each song is powered, but not dominated by, mind-boggling lead guitar work and chaotic-yet-logical melodic interplay. The unpredictable songwriting keeps listeners guessing with its constant ebb and flow; it's dense and rocky but surges like liquid. And THE MANTLE even includes subtle nods to myriad forms of both jazz and extreme metal in its slyness and understated savagery.

Far more than shred for shred's sake, THE MANTLE ensures that every hook is memorable and that each song will resonate long after the album fades out. THE MANTLE generates its own narrative power; no lyrics needed. From the searing dissonances slipped under major melodies to the crushing heaviness of the epic 12-minute closer "A Sense Of Scale", THE MANTLE will surely establish Gorelick and the band as some of the premier songwriters of their era — within progressive and instrumental metal, without a doubt, but also across modern music at large.

Gorelick first got some attention for his guitar chops in 2012, when MEGADETH shared a video of him playing a solo, adding, "His dad may live in your elevator, but Kenny G's kid shreds!"

AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler performed at the post-wedding party of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup driver Kurt Busch and his new bride, polo player and model Ashley Van Metre.

At Bristol Motor Speedway last April, Busch chose AEROSMITH's "Walk This Way" as his song for driver introductions.

A member of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and noted car enthusiast, Tyler and his band played a pre-race concert at Bristol in 2015 as part of the Irwin Tools Night Race.

The 68-year-old rocker recently joined forces with a team of celebrities to donate one of his cars to the annual Barret-Jackson classic car auction.

All proceeds made from the sale of the AEROSMITH frontman's car will be donated to Janie's Fund, the charity set up by Steven in partnership with non-profit organization Youth Villages.

Howard Leese, guitar (Heart, BadCo, Rock Vault, Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame Inductee), Robin McAuley, vocalist (MSG, Survivor, Rock Vault), James Kottak, drums (The Scorpions, Kingdom Come, Montrose) and Jason Boyleston, bass (Paul Rodgers band, Starship w/Mickey Thomas, guitar, Rock Vault, guitar) announced the formation of Brigade, a new Los Angeles based rock band.
Brigade is scheduled to perform their first gig at the Ronnie Montrose Tribute Concert on Saturday, January 21, 2017, 7pm, Yost Theater, Santa Ana, CA. This tribute show, organized by former Montrose frontman Keith St. John, is part of the weekend of live entertainment during the annual NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) convention in Anaheim, CA.
"We are all excited about this new venture, our mutual love of Rock-n-Roll and our first appearance as a band at the Ronnie Montrose Tribute Show at NAMM,” said the Brigade members in a joint statement.
Brigade will be recording live in-studio later this year.
"We all love the live in-studio style of recording music, where everything is raw, honest and hopefully one-take," said the band.
Additional information including Brigade show dates and appearances will be announced shortly.
Band member endorsements include: Paul Reed Smith (Leese), Aquarian Drumheads, Ahead, Big Bang Distribution, CymPad, DW Drums and Zildjian (Kottak).

New Jersey metal act FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY will release a new album titled "The Great Collapse" on March 17 via Entertainment One/Good Fight Music in North America and SPV overseas. Artist Adam Burke was tapped to create the visually stunning cover art.

Guitarist and producer Will Putney stated about the effort: "'The Great Collapse' is a reflection on the current chaotic state of mankind's relationship with the world, and its effect both outward and inward. It's a dark and unsettling record that encapsulates a variety of approaches to aggressive music, and a definite expansion of our capabilities as a band."

"The Great Collapse" will be the FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY's fourth full-length record, continuing the momentum gained from a solid 200-plus days of worldwide touring backing the buzzworthy release of "Absolute Hope Absolute Hell" in late 2015, as well "The Depression Sessions", a split release with THE ACACIA STRAIN and THY ART IS MURDER in 2016.

"It's going to be the strongest record in our catalog," Putney said. "The overall mood and atmosphere of this album feels fully realized and emotionally stirring."

The crushing music of FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY is for any fan of extreme metal, as it's devoid of preachy politics or grandstanding soapboxing, but its sound and fury is absolutely unflinching in purpose. The band expertly blends excessive-force-fueled death metal with atmospheric groove and impassioned personal diatribes, reflecting back the dark state of current events.

"The Great Collapse" doesn't waste time with fantasy bullshit or cliché gore horror. FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY are metal guys, to be certain, but they grew up in the hardcore scene. They embrace the responsibility to put as much devoted purpose into their lyrics and message as they do into their dense, heady, songs, forging a magnificently powerful new post-deathcore.

"When I write a song, I'm trying to feel emotionally connected to it. I really don't like saying things that don't matter over music that I want to matter," said Putney. "We've always addressed serious topics going back to our first album. We aren't a politically charged band up on a podium yelling at people — anybody can relate to the aggression, anger, frustration, and sadness often communicated in our music. But we absolutely raise important questions in the lyrics. Those themes are there to discover."

Putney's fellow guitarist/cofounder, Patrick Sheridan, strongly agrees. He emphasizes that while the music of FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY may evolve, it will always be aggressive and will always have purpose. "We think it's important to carry that torch," he said. "Somebody's got to say something about the shit that's going on. If you're not using your music, which is a great platform, for something meaningful that you care about on some level, then you're kind of wasting it."

The six men of the New Jersey-based group — which includes vocalist Joe Badolato, bassist Peter Spinazola, third guitarist Tim Howley, and drummer Josean Orta — put maximum intentionality into everything they do. They are constantly challenging themselves as musicians, adding to the band's overall creative arsenal, connecting with audiences around the world, and supporting one another in the band as individual people.

According to Zillow, MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine has dropped another $700,000 from the asking price of his Fallbrook, California estate.

Mustaine put his house on the market in October 2015 for $5.375 million — more than five times what he paid for it three years earlier — but that price came down in June 2016 by almost a million and a half a million to $3.895 million. The property now sits at an even lower price of $3.195 million.

Mustaine and his family moved to Nashville in October 2014 after living in Fallbrook for a couple of years.

Speaking to MetalIreland.com, Mustaine stated about his California house: "Property like that, it's hidden, it's a bit off the beaten path, and we're not in a hurry to sell it. We want the right buyer too. We're obviously still quite attached to it. When we got it, it was abandoned, so we've completely restored it from the ground up. I mean, it has a vineyard on it, and that alone is worth the price of admission… It has a sort of 'Lord Of The Rings'… well, actually, no... more like 'The Hobbit' feel to it, with the thatched roof and everything."

On the topic of his move to Nashville, Mustaine said: "I've lived there four times before, because we did records there. So I've lived there for several months at a time… I want [my daughter] Electra to pursue her [country music] dreams. I can do my job anywhere, really… It's good for me, because my daughter is happy, and I think, if you love your children, you'll always want to protect and provide for them. And, like I said, I can pretty much do my job anywhere."

According to the Los Angeles Times, Mustaine's 9.5-acre country English-style home in the northern San Diego community was built in 1990 and includes vineyards, pastureland and a pond.

The 5,345 square feet of living space includes a paneled media room/den, a bar, an office, a gym, five bedrooms, five full bathrooms and two powder rooms. There is also a state-of-the-art sound and recording studio, a control room, a reception room and a producer's boarding room.

Public records published by Trulia.com indicate the home was last sold in December 2012 for $995,000.

You can take a virtual tour of the estate at this location.

Check out photos of the property at Los Angeles Times.

In a brand new interview with Noisey, Lars Ulrich was asked if he still finds playing in METALLICA inspiring. He responded: "Ten years ago or 30 years ago, it was different. Like, 'Oh my god, GUNS N' ROSES. Oh my God, who are these NIRVANA guys! OASIS!' You were hearing about it, and you wanted to meet them. Nowadays, there aren't any bands that have had that impact on me. The last time where I was like, 'Holy fuck! This really inspires me,' was this band called THE SWORD, from Austin, Texas. Stoner rock, kind of a modern BLACK SABBATH. Super cool. They showed up seven or eight years ago, and I just had to bring these guys on tour. There is a Norwegian band called KVELERTAK. These bands are few and far between nowadays. This is not a black-and-white statement. I know more about film than I do about music because I follow it more. That doesn't mean if something awesome came and slapped me in the face. then I wouldn't embrace it; it just shows up less and less."

Ulrich said in a 2015 interview that he believed that streaming services were the future of the music industry — although he also admitted that they would more effective for established acts than new ones. Speaking with the BBC, Ulrich said: "I believe streaming is good for music. People sit there and go, 'I'm not getting paid very much' — but streaming is a choice on all fronts."

He added: "Streaming probably does benefit artists with higher profiles. A lot of playlists that are being made available for people seem to feature higher-profile artists… There's less and less and less and less money being put into younger artists. And there's a danger of younger artists coming close to extinction."

But Ulrich also argued that streaming or any other music delivery service won't accomplish anything if the music itself isn't up to par, explaining: "I connect less because there's less great new music to connect with. A lot of the stuff is just regurgitated — this year's flavor. It's not leading-edge like THE BEATLES, Miles Davis or Jimi Hendrix."

METALLICA has shows booked in China, Singapore, Denmark, Mexico and South America over the next three months, but has yet to unveil its full 2017 tour plans, including its first North American tour in eight years.

The band's sole North American date so far is May 21 at the Rock On The Range festival in Columbus, Ohio.

METALLICA's latest album, "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", came out in November. The effort consists of two discs, containing a dozen songs and nearly 80 minutes of music.

Former SEPULTURA and current CAVALERA CONSPIRACY members Max Cavalera (guitar, vocals) and Igor Cavalera (drums) have weighed in on underdog Donald Trump's stunning upset of Hillary Clinton in the U.S. presidential election, saying that the real estate mogul is "the biggest joke ever" who never should have been allowed to run for the White House.

Trump shocked the political establishment and the world by becoming the 45th president in one of the biggest upsets in U.S. political history. He won with 306 electoral votes compared to 232 for Hillary Clinton. 270 were needed to win. Clinton, however, handily won the popular vote, despite losing the overall election.

Speaking to the Impact metal channel on November 21 in Budapest, Hungary, Max said about the U.S. election outcome (see video below): "[It's a] joke. It was two weak candidates. I think the Democratic [party] had somebody [running for the presidency] who was trying to [do the right thing], but had a history of untrusting kind of stuff. And the other side [had] Trump, which is the biggest joke ever. The guy is a liar and corrupt. I don't know… He has really screwed a lot of people in his lifetime and I think he's gonna do a lot of bad stuff."

Max, a Brazilian native who has lived in Phoenix, Arizona since the early 1990s, continued: "The way the country is heading now doesn't look good. There's a lot of anger. Yeah, it's bad. I think it's gonna be some tough four years. Because I think Obama was a really good president. People don't give him too much credit, but he did a lot of great stuff."

Igor, who lived in Southern California for several years in the 1990s but eventually moved back to Brazil before recently relocating to London, added: "As a person also, I really respect [Obama]. I have no respect at all for Trump as a person. Even for Hillary, no matter how bad things got, I know she can carry a conversation with some other people, whereas this guy… I don't know… For me, the biggest mistake was letting him run. With the history he had, he shouldn't be allowed to be running for president. And look where we are right now. So it's sad times, I think."

Igor also looked back on what already feels like a truly momentous year in the history of the early twenty-first century — from the United Kingdom's vote to leave the European Union, to the rise of radical Islamic terrorism and the election of a man once considered an eccentric outsider as the U.S. Commander-In-Chief.

"For me, I look at it, the whole world, it's crazy right now," Igor said. "First with the whole thing with Brexit, where, it seems like it sends, for me, a complete wrong message of closing things and going a bit right wing of keeping to yourself, which, for me, that's not the way I like to look at the world. And then, of course, the terrorist attacks, it's something that we need to live with it right now. And all the way to the U.S. elections, it's a whole chaos, you know — chaos everywhere. And to add to that, in Brazil also, we have a super-chaotic situation where they [impeached] the president, they did a massive scam to get this other guy in, who's also super corrupt. So it's, like, it doesn't look good anywhere I look."

Max and Igor will embark on another North American tour in February to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of SEPULTURA's classic album "Roots" by performing the LP in its entirety.