Former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick presents “The Monday Blues” saying, “Since the Holidays are sadly over, enjoy my riffs and here's to a fabulous 2017!”

In other recent news, Bruce Kulick performed the American national anthem at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA on December 23rd when the Los Angeles Clippers played the Dallas Mavericks. Video from the performance is available below.

And Kulick played 10 KISS songs on December 6th at Ultimate Jam Night's tribute to KISS at the world famous Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California. Live video footage shot by Johnny Angel of “I Still Love You“ with Bruce Kulick, Debby Holiday, Matt Starr, Jorgan Carlsson and Alex Kane can be seen below, along with more footage from the night.

Kulick, also known for his membership in Grand Funk Railroad, was a member of KISS from 1984 – 1996 during its so-called “no makeup” era. His performance of 10 KISS songs at Ultimate Jam Night was the most played in one show since his inclusion in the band.

Over 50 artists including Ace Frehley bassist Chris Wyse, L.A. Guns guitarist Michael Grant, Gov’t Mule bassist Jorgen Carlsson, Autograph vocalist Simon Daniels, drummer Jason Sutter of Marilyn Manson, guitarist Nikki Stringfield of the Iron Maidens and Ira Black of Westfield Massacre performed tunes from KISS’ entire career.

Divebomb Records has reissued I Hate Therefore I Am, the debut album from classic thrash metal act, Cyclone Temple. The reissue features a separate companion CD of unreleased demos/live tracks entitled Land Of The Greed, Home Of The Depraved.

The special deluxe 2CD set is limited to 500 units worldwide and available only via Divebomb Records store, CDBaby and limited DIY partners.

Additionally, 500 copies of I Hate Therefore I Am (album only CD) will be available via Amazon (widget below), Best Buy and other big box retailers beginning January 13th.

I Hate Therefore I Am tracklisting:

“Why”
“Sister (Until Will Meet Again)”
“Words Are Just Words”
“Public Enemy”
“In God We Trust”
“I Hate Therefore I Am”
“March For Me – Die For Me”
“Born To Lose”
“Silence So Loud”

I Hate Therefore I Am by CYCLONE TEMPLE

Bonus CD tracklisting:

Land Of The Greed, Home Of The Depraved (Demo - 1989)
“Sister (Until We Meet Again)”
“In God We Trust”
“March For Me - Die For Me”
“Public Enemy”
“Why”
“Drug Of The Masses”
“Born To Lose”
“Silence So Loud”

Building Errors In The Machine (Demo - 1991)
“Drug Of The Masses”
“Down The Drain”
“Me, Myself & I”

Live Hatred (Captured at Alrosa Villa - Columbus, OH)
“I Hate Therefore I Am”
“Words Are Just Words”
 
Land Of The Greed, Home Of The Depraved by CYCLONE TEMPLE

 

 

 

Florida death metal veterans, Killing Addiction, have returned with a new four-song EP, titled Shores Of Oblivion. The EP was recently released via Xtreem Music and can be streamed in its entirety below. Order the CD here.

On Shores Of Oblivion, Killing Addiction exemplifies a style that spans death metal (Death, Morbid Angel), grindcore (Napalm Death, Carcass), and thrash (Slayer, Kreator). Equally heavy is a lyrical approach that deals in themes both political and philosophical.

After its 1989 formation, right in the thick of the influential Florida death metal scene, Killing Addiction released a demo and EP prior to the release of its 1993 full-length debut, Omega Factor. After another EP and a split release, the band called it quits in 1998, then reformed in 2006, eventually releasing sophomore full-length Fall Of The Archetypes on Xtreem Music in 2010 (also released as a limited-edition, six-song EP). The When Death Becomes an Art 7" EP followed in 2015 (Inverse Dogma Records).

Momentum gained and all cylinders firing, Killing Addiction wasted no time in releasing Shores Of Oblivion last fall, but the season was a bittersweet one for the band, as founding member Chad Bailey passed away in September. The band is slowly moving forward in an effort to continue the work and vision he helped create.

Tracklisting:

“Engine Of Ruin”
“Cult Of Decay”
“Extinction Agenda”
“Into Shadow”

Shores of Oblivion by KILLING ADDICTION

"Engine Of Ruin" promo video:

Lavadome Productions have announced another outburst of massive death metal destruction in the form of Execration Diatribes, the debut album from Portuguese trio, Pestifer.

The album contains nine raging compositions of the finest death metal havoc and will be released on February 14th. The new song, "Mars Exult”, is available for streaming below. Pre-order the album here.

Tracklisting:

“March Of The Dead Orchestra”
“Mars Exult”
“Brutal Eruption Of Chaos”
“Dark Dimensions”
“Enslavement Of God”
“Awaken By Death”
“Nothing Remains”
“Riding The Storms Of Hate MMXVI”
“Confront Death”

“Mars Exult”:

Pestifer is:

Pedro Silva - Guitars and Vocals
Jorge Marinho - Bass
Diogo Pereira - Drums

(Photo - João Fitas)

A Killer’s Confession, the new project of former Mushroomhead vocalist Waylon Reavis, has announced dates for their first US tour, dubbed The Year Of The Killers, and featuring EMP labelmates Dead By Wednesday, plus Kissing Candice, and Erasing Never. Dates are listed below.

January
27 - Jacksonville, NC - Hooligans
28 - Clarksville, TN - The Warehouse
31 - Orlando, FL - The Haven

February
1 - Spartanburg, SC - Ground Zero
2 - Reading, PA - Reverb
3 - Queens, NY - Blackthorn 51
4 - Providence, RI - Fete Music Hall
8 - Toronto, ON - The Coalition
9 - Rochester, NY - Pineapple Jack's
10 - Akron, OH - The Empire
11 - Fort Wayne, IN - The Hub
12 - Covington, KY - Madison Live
13 - Johnson City, TN - The Hideaway
15 - Cudahy, WI - The Metal Grill
16 - Mansfield, OH - Whiskey Warehouse
17 - Chicago, IL - Portage Theater
18 - Detroit, MI - The Token Lounge

AKC has also revealed the cover art for their debut full-length LP, Unbroken, being released in March via EMP Label Group/Amped. The intense album was rendered by legendary comic/horror artist “Mister Sam” Shearon, responsible for artwork for Rob Zombie, Fear Factory, Rammstein, Iron Maiden, Arise In Chaos, Clive Barker (Books of Blood, Hellraiser), IDW Publishing (KISS, The X-Files) and more. The album is available in several pre-order configurations now from empmerch.com.

The debut single, “A Killer’s Confession”, featuring Brian “Head” Welch from Korn, was released to metal radio in November. A lyric video can be seen below:

DISTURBED's video for the title track of the band's 2015 comeback album, "Immortalized", can be seen below. The clip was filmed in several venues across North America, Australia, and New Zealand in late 2016.

DISTURBED was the most played act of 2016 at the Active Rock radio format, according to industry metrics released by Mediabase, which monitors and analyzes airplay in over 180 U.S. and Canadian markets on both terrestrial and satellite radio. The band's success was bolstered by several chart-topping singles from "Immortalized", including its massive hit cover of SIMON & GARFUNKEL's classic "The Sound Of Silence".

The other No. 1 singles from Immortalized included "The Vengeful One", "The Light" and "Open Your Eyes".

In addition to being the most played artist, DISTURBED also had the second most played track at Active Rock with "The Sound Of Silence".

DISTURBED singer David Draiman told The Pulse Of Radio that he still hasn't gotten his head around the success the cover has had. "It doesn't stop being surreal," he said. "Every single step of the way, it's another incredible surprise, it's incredibly gratifying, and it's succeeded way above and beyond our expectations."

"The Sound Of Silence" was certified platinum last June for sales or downloads of more than one million copies, while "Immortalized", DISTURBED's fifth No. 1 album in a row, hit gold in September for 500,000 copies sold.

AT THE GATES members Tomas Lindberg (vocals) and Adrian Erlandsson (drums) have joined forces with Jonas Stålhammar (guitar; THE CROWN), Fredrik Wallenberg (guitar; SKITSYSTEM) and Andreas Axelsson (bass; DISFEAR, TORMENTED, EDGE OF SANITY) in a brand new band called THE LURKING FEAR.

According to the new group's official mission statement, "THE LURKING FEAR is bringing sheer, natural weirdness and horror back to the scene, as we want our death metal ugly, twisted and possessed.

"Riffs should stir up real feelings of repulsion, and disgust deep down in your soul, and vocals should sounds like hounds of hell howling at the moon."

THE LURKING FEAR is:

* Tomas Lindberg (AT THE GATES) - Vocals* Jonas Stålhammar (THE CROWN) - Guitar* Fredrik Wallenberg (SKITSYSTEM) - Guitar* Andreas Axelsson (DISFEAR, TORMENTED, EDGE OF SANITY) – Bass* Adrian Erlandsson (AT THE GATES, THE HAUNTED) - Drums

Art by Branca Studios

Former Iced Earth frontman Matt Barlow has checked in with the following update:

"Brothers and sisters! I wanted to give all of you guys a first look at the press release for my new project I am working on with Jonah Weingarten (Pyramaze). I am really excited about this project and the song writing for the record is nearly complete. 2017 is looking up!"

From the visionary minds of legendary metal vocalist Matt Barlow (Ashes of Ares, Iced Earth, Pyramaze) and composer, keyboardist and pianist Jonah Weingarten (Pyramaze, Structure of Inhumanity, solo artist) comes Sentinels. Combining sweeping motion picture style orchestral arrangements, modern classical piano, thunderous percussions, and the dynamic and powerful vocals of Barlow, Sentinels has set out to create something truly unique and groundbreaking. With musical and thematic elements inspired by the great drama, sci-fi, and fantasy films of the last 30 years — combined with duo's obvious enthusiasm for all things heavy metal — Sentinels works to embody the very essence of the word "epic." The full length debut album is set to be mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Amaranthe, Volbeat, Pyramaze) Winter of 2017.

Sentinels is:
Matt Barlow: Vocals - Lyrics - Choirs
Jonah Weingarten: Keyboards - Piano - Percussion - Orchestration

Check out the official Sentinels website at WeAreSentinels.com.

Greek bashers The Silent Wedding are gearing up for the release of their new album, Enigma Eternal. They have released an official lyric video for the song "A Dream of Choices" featuring Evergrey vocalist Tom Englund, which can be viewed below. 

The cover artwork for Enigma Eternal was created by Travis Smith. A release date for the album will be announced soon.

The tracklist is as follows:

"A Living Experiment"
"Shadows And Dust"
"What Lies Beyond"
"Insanity"
"The Endless Journey"
"A Dream Of Choices" 
"Loneliness"
"Under The Veil Of Grey"
"Catharsis"
"Closer To The End"
"Silence"
"Hands Of Fate"

Evergrey recently released a video for “In Orbit” featuring Nightwish singer Floor Jansen, a track from their new album, The Storm Within, released back in September via AFM Records. The new clip, directed by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, can be seen below.

The Storm Within album details follow…

The Storm Within tracklisting:

“Distance”
“Passing Trough”
“Someday”
“Astray”
“The Impossible”
“My Allied Ocean”
“In Orbit” (Featuring Floor Jansen)
“The Lonely Monarch”
“The Paradox Of The Flame” (Featuring Carina Englund)
“Disconnect”
“The Storm Within”

“In Orbit” video (featuring Floor Jansen):

“Passing Through” lyric video:

TAU CROSS, the veteran punk / metal collective revolving around AMEBIX bassist / frontman Rob "The Baron" Miller, VOIVOD drummer Michel "Away" Langevin, and members of MISERY and WAR//PLAGUE, has completed recording its sophomore full-length album, tentatively titled "A Pillar Of Fire". A summer 2017 release via Relapse Records is expected.

The new disc was recorded across many different locations in the same manner as the band's eponymous debut. The drums were tracked Montreal, guitars in Minneapolis, bass in Seattle and Minneapolis, and vocals on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.

Miller commented: "This approach can be challenging given the location of the band members, but it is a necessity that we have tried to turn into a strength. Video conferencing and messenger services have been helpful in guiding the process to completion.

"The album was mixed at Smiddy studios on the isle of Skye by James Adams, who has also taken on duties as our keyboard player. We have had contributions from Themis for some of the ambient sounds on the album, a hurdy-gurdy from Tanner Anderson and even bagpipes from 16-year-old Scottish virtuoso Brighde Chaimbeul, so there are some interesting textures, with an emphasis on the lyrical content. As usual, we have constructed a few intriguing landscapes for the listener to engage with."

"A Pillar Of Fire" unearths some of the preoccupations of both The Baron and Away: mythological motifs, ultra-terrestrial hypotheses, surreal social political landscapes and the endless search for meaning in a controlled universe.

TAU CROSS refuses to be pigeonholed, affirming the respective legacies of its members hurdy-gurdy the band delves into the realms of gothic rock, industrial, early doom, post-punk, and prog rock alongside its crust and thrash roots. The band’s self-titled debut was recorded in 2014 and released in May 2015.

California deathcore masters SUICIDE SILENCE will release their new, self-titled album on February 24 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The CD was produced by Ross Robinson, who has previously worked with KORN, SLIPKNOT, LIMP BIZKIT and SEPULTURA, among others, and was mixed by Joe Barresi (KYUSS, MELVINS, TOOL, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE).

A short teaser clip for "Suicide Silence" is available below.

The track listing for the disc is as follows:

01. Doris02. Silence03. Listen04. Dying In A Red Room05. Hold Me Up, Hold Me Down06. Run07. The Zero08. Conformity09. Don't Be Careful, You Might Hurt Yourself

Speaking about the recording process for SUICIDE SILENCE's new CD, vocalist Hernan "Eddie" Hermida told Revolver magazine: "Well, working with Ross was a delight. As many people like to talk on the Internet that he's not a delight, I will tell you firsthand, a coffee in the morning and a little bit of soul searching in the afternoon is never a bad cup of tea."

Added guitarist Mark Heylmun: "But, on the other end, Dan Kenny, our bass player, was just talking about recording with Ross with Dino [Cazares] from FEAR FACTORY, who… they've been around together forever. And Dan was, like, 'I'm not gonna lie. If we record another record with Ross, I'm scared, because I know what he'll get out of me.' 'Cause he'll get everything… Whatever it is that is inside you he'll get out, and it's always for the better. And the best pieces of art and the best creations come from pain and from honest things that you need to fucking get out. But it was fucking amazing… [And] Joe Barresi mixed it, so that's fucking awesome. [He was] sick to work with. [he] fucking dealt with us while were on tour, sending us mixes, and we were listening to all of it."

On the topic of the musical direction of SUICIDE SILENCE's new album, Heylmun said: "It's going to completely change everything you probably ever will think, and have thought, or ever will fucking feel about SUICIDE SILENCE."

Added Hermida: "The best way I've described it is, take a bullet train — one of those Japanese bullet trains — that goes, like, three hundred miles an hour, and then turn the steering wheel as fast you can, and there we are. And whatever comes up is whatever comes up; we're not worried about it. We're just here to have you guys listen to what we believe is good music for ourselves, for our lives, for our souls."

Heylmun previously told Wall Of Sound that SUICIDE SILENCE's intention was "to try everything" while making the new album. He explained: "If there is an idea, try it. Don't be afraid, you know? Don't let the fear of trying something different stop you from opening up a can that might be the… exact soup you wanna taste, I don't know. [Laughs]"

He continued: "There's lots of food metaphors when it comes to music: we're making a sandwich and one person has to show up with the vegetables and another person has to show up with the meat, but some people don't eat meat, so you gotta show up with the right cheese. And some people don't like cheese… [Laughs] I don't know.

"We always want to work together to encourage everyone to be the best that they can be. So that's especially where we're at, having gone through a lot, and having a new member come in and having to rebuild that whole camaraderie of being creative. We're all just trying to give to the music, and give to each other and give, give, give, give, give. Because we gotta get shit out and give this fucking music, this fiery piece of nothing, this magical thing that doesn't even exist until we create it. Just throw down and give it all you can and encourage each other to give all you can and encourage each other to give it everything you possibly can. So that's what the new record is going to be like."

"You Can't Stop Me", SUICIDE SILENCE's first album to feature Hermida, was released in July 2014 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

#FBF When you’re in that moment, it feels like it’ll last forever... pic.twitter.com/uUfLrPjmtX

— Suicide Silence (@suicidesilence) December 30, 2016

The video for the song "Coming Home" from PAIN, the Swedish metal band led by multi-instrumentalist and producer Peter Tägtgren, can be seen below. The song is the title track of the band's new album, which was released on September 9 through Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2011's "You Only Live Twice" features cover artwork by Stefan Heilemann.

"Coming Home" track listing:

01. Designed To Piss You Off02. Call Me03. A Wannabe04. Pain in the Ass05. Black Knight Satellite06. Coming Home07. Absinthe Phoenix Rising08. Final Crusade09. Natural Born Idiot10. Starseed

Since the beginning of his career in the early '90s, the Swedish allrounder has enjoyed diving into the extreme and has grown to be an untameable force. But this is exactly what makes him so fascinating. Taboos, creative stagnation, or genre boundaries have never existed in the world of the forty-six-year-old mastermind. And, of course, Peter Tägtgren wandered the same unexplored paths when the time came to forge "Coming Home", the eighth studio release of the industrial institution PAIN. However, the path was long and winding and therefore, the writing process for the follow-up of "You Only Live Twice" wasn't all fun and games, but Peter Tägtgren is well prepared for the fight:

"Sometimes you pull your hair out and lay sleepless all night long, because you can't figure out this one chorus or don't know how to finish a certain song," admits the singer and guitarist."That's just me: When I dive into it, there's no ending in sight. It's a self-destructive mechanism. But I want perfection — or I don't want it at all."

Therefore, it is no wonder, that PAIN delivers a revolutionary mix of styles on this new release — bizarre alternative metal meets electronic melodies — and, in addition, the band weave some spectacular orchestral arrangements into the tracks on "Coming Home", without risking any cheesy moments or overloading the songs. The result is ten highly addictive hymns with massive depth and experimentation. With the orchestrated portions, PAIN entered a new era and seeked assistance from CARACH ANGREN's Clemens "Ardek" Wijers, who added some magical final touches to Tägtgren's bombastic songwriting. But the album also has time to breathe with beautiful acoustic guitar intros appearing hand in hand with stormy moments, showing the band at the zenith of their creativity.

"Coming Home" includes drummer Sebastian Tägtgren, Peter's seventeen-year-old son who delivers an impressive guest appearance on the title track as well as SABATON's Joakim Brodén who joins the team for some typically raw warrior vocals on "Call Me".

But a PAIN release wouldn't be a typical masterpiece without some thought-provoking topics and tales: On the callboy-singalong "Call Me" and "Final Crusade", the band crawls through the deepest corners of society and the human mind, while "Absinthe-Phoenix Rising" is based upon an incident in Leipzig during PAIN's tour with NIGHTWISH, where the band was attacked and beat up after leaving an Absinthe bar. And of course, lovers of mystery and conspiracy theories also get their money's worth with "Black Knight Satellite". "Nikola Tesla, who invented the lightbulb, electricity, and other stuff, thought that he heard beeping sounds from space," Tägtgren elaborates of the track's inspiration, "It was around the year 1899 and it seemed like a message to him, a hidden code. He was the first one to discover it, but in the 1950s, when humans started to go into space, they heard the same noises and found out: There is some signal from a satellite out there… but it isn't ours. And as they started their research, they found out, that people had been talking about this phenomenon for around thirteen-thousand years. The story of this so-called 'Black Knight Satellite' is very fascinating to me. Whether it's true or not, I don't know. But it definitely inspired me to write these lyrics."

Guitar shred lord Joe Stump has posted video of himself playing the track "Neo-Classical Shredfest Number IV" from his latest solo record, The Dark Lord Rises. Check it out below.

Prior to the 2015 release of The Dark Lord Rises, Stump spoke with BraveWords scribe Carl Begai about the album:

"It's a killer with some very heavy stuff; thrash, speed, power, and even a black metal-tinged track, along with of course the badass Blackmore rocking shit and Yngwie induced neo-classical  fret frying. Also, a beautiful ballad dedicated and inspired by Gary Moore that's one of the best things I`ve ever recorded as far as that emotional side of my playing goes."

The cover art for The Dark Lord Rises can be viewed below.

The tracklist is as follows:

"Hostile Takeover"
"Stratomaster"
"Out For Blood"
"The Black Knight Returns"
"Tortured Soul"
"The Dark Lord's Allegro"
"Staring Into The Abyss"
"Concerto No. 2 In B-Minor"
"Neo Classical Shredfest Number IV"
"Battle Tested"
"Brothers In Shred" (bonus)

Former Eclipse Eternal frontman Voldamares recently announced the formation of his new band, Hexeklad. He has checked in with the following update:

"Currently we are in the process of mixing/mastering for our album, Spirit Of The Stone, and we hope to have it completed in early 2017. Once we are satisfied that it is as perfect an album as what we think it is then we will begin looking for a label that will be able to give it the exposure that we think it deserves. Also, we are currently in the midst of gathering forces, bringing in like-minded individuals to form a live lineup. Yes, we are coming for you. What was once heading towards a recording only project has evolved and is branching out, spreading its limbs towards the skies that all may see and bear witness. We have not been idle. We hope to have a sample for you to listen to next week. Till then, keep the fires lit and the mead flowing."

A previous update reads:

"Our main accomplishment this year is that we have completed the recording of our debut album, Spirit Of The Stone. A dark folk/black metal album that is the amalgamation of all the best of all the bands we’ve worked with before along with our current main influences which range from Dissection to Moonsorrow, from Primordial to Hypocrisy to Insomnium. Thrashy at times, folky at times, black metal throughout, the songs are dark yet empowering, melodic yet deep and full of meaning. This album is our crowning achievement this year.

Aside from including all previously mentioned main members, this album also includes drums by former member Sterling Dale, bass by Alex Snape (Unbowed), keyboards by Carver (Eclipse Eternal) and on several tracks, cello by Raphael Weinroth-Browne (The Visit, Musk Ox).

This album has been many years in the making so we are extremely proud of having completed it. We hope to have a sample for you to listen to next week when we will also give you an update on what our future plans are. Till then, keep the fires lit and the Mead flowing."

Hexenklad is:

Timothy Johnston (Voldamares) - vocals
Michael Grund - guitars
John Chalmers (The Ancient One) - guitars

Go to this location for information and updates on Hexenklad.

Photo by Victoria J. Polsoni

Italian hard rock band, Concrete Jellÿ, will release their new album, Getting Noticed, via Sliptrick Records on February 7th.

Concrete Jellÿ were founded in 2014 in Trieste. The forthcoming album, Getting Noticed, was recorded live in the summer of 2016 and the inspiration for the story-line came from the many good (and bad) things experienced during their relentless live activity both offstage and on.

The sound of the album is the result of the different influences within the band members, ranging from the spaciness of 70’s rock to prog rock and everything good in between. Getting Noticed will be available in all the usual formats. More details to follow.

Swedish symphonic black/death metallers, Katharos, have signed with Sliptrick Records. The band’s debut album, Exuvian Heraldry, will be released on March 1st.

Katharos present symphonic black/death metal from Sweden in the vein of Emperor, Dimmu Borgir and Death. Katharos’ debut album Exuvian Heraldry, brings together the Scandinavian black/death-sound with epic symphonic arrangements and a complexity that rewards multiple listens. Heavy guitar riffs are accompanied with battle drums and carried along by majestic choirs and synths with lyrical themes bridging philosophy and religion.

Exuvian Heraldry will be available in an exclusive vinyl version and for digital download (no CD).

Tracklisting:

“Abadonnas Intåg”
“Thy Fortress Of Regrets”
“Svaneti”
“De Cinere”
“Schaktet”
“Damnatio Memoriae”
“Awakening Of The Converted”

Fan-filmed video footage of VIMIC's December 30 performance at the Aztec Theater in San Antonio, Texas as the support act for HELLYEAH can be seen below.

VIMIC is the new band featuring former SLIPKNOT drummer Joey Jordison alongside singer Kalen Chase Musmecci, who has toured with KORN as a backing vocalist and percussionist, and Joey's former SCAR THE MARTYR bandmates Jed Simon (guitar), Kyle Konkiel (bass) and Matthew Tarach (keyboards). VIMIC has also welcomed new guitarist Steve Marshall to the band.

VIMIC has signed a management deal with Nashville powerhouse CTK Management, where Jordison has reunited with former member of SLIPKNOT's original management team Danny Nozell, and is represented by United Talent Agency's Neil Warnock internationally and Tim Borror in North America. Additionally, the band is readying the release of a new album for 2017, "Open Your Omen", which will be released on Jordison's joint venture record label, with the first video and single to be released later this month.

Often referred to as one the best drummers in the world by fans, musicians and media thanks to his unique style, sound and lightning fast technicality, Joey Jordison has, in addition to co-founding SLIPKNOT, worked with some of the biggest selling acts in hard rock and heavy metal, including METALLICA, KORN, ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON and many more. Before his departure from SLIPKNOT in late 2013, Jordison had been quietly struggling with the career-threatening neurological condion acute transverse myelitis, an inflammation of the spinal cord which damages nerve fibers, which ultimately led to Jordison losing the use of his legs. Never one to quit or back down from a fight, Joey overcame the impossible through months and months of rehabilitation, regaining the strength to walk again. He is feeling stronger than ever and is eager to show the world what is possible.

"The riffs, lyrics, and drums of 'Open Your Omen' will tell you a lot," Jordison says. "I did this record when I was coming out of the acute transverse myelitis condition. It's literally what saved me and helped me get back to where I'm healthier than ever. These guys and this album pushed me to not only relearn how to walk, but how to play the drums again. 'Open Your Omen' is the rebirth of the rest of my life."

Jordison and VIMIC's first priority is getting in front of the fans, who have been sending letters, approaching Joey on the street and posting on social media asking when they will be able to see the iconic drummer live.

Former MARILYN MANSON and current ROB ZOMBIE guitarist John 5 will release a new album, "Season Of The Witch", on March 3, 2017.

The disc — the first to be billed as a JOHN 5 AND THE CREATURES album — will coincide with the brand new CREATURES tour starting on March 3 in Seattle.

A teaser clip for "Season Of The Witch", directed by Josh Hasty — who, as Rob Zombie and John 5 fans are aware, directed the recent "In Hell Everybody Loves Popcorn" behind-the-scenes making-of documentary for Zombie's movie "31" — is available below.

John 5 recently told Reverb about his solo performances: "It's completely instrumental, and it's really fun. We play all different styles of music: Western swing, Spanish-style flamenco, heavy stuff. So it's cool because you never know what style is going to come next."

John 5's solo band THE CREATURES includes Ian Ross on bass and Rodger Carter on drums.

John has had an illustrious career collaborating with chart-topping artists such as LYNYRD SKYNYRD, Ricky Martin, and Rod Stewart. John has performed on critically acclaimed world tours with Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie. Later, John ventured into the world of film score composing for Rob Zombie's "The Lords Of Salem". In 2004 he branched out into a successful solo career and has since released eight studio albums.

Teaming up with Australian director Gareth McGilvray, Elm Street have released their new single "Face The Reaper" taken from the album Knock 'Em Out...With A Metal Fist.

With a minute long ambient intro, the band tears into a heavy metal frenzy proving their energetic brand of traditional metal, and showcasing the newest addition to the band, Nick Ivkovic on bass guitar.

Face The Reaper will paint the path for the band's 2017 world tour, kicking off in Australia during February; the dates will be announced soon.

To read BraveWords.com scribe Mark Gromen's review of Knock 'Em Out...With A Metal Fist, click here.

 

 

Norwegian horror thrashers, Critical Solution, released a teaser for their upcoming third conceptual album. Listen below.

The band also confirms they will shoot their first music video in mid-February for a late February-early March release. As previously reported the video for the song "Barbara The Witch" will be a horror filled introduction to the brutal concept of the album.

The new album was recorded and mixed at SonicTrain Studios with long-time producer Andy LaRocque at the helm. The as yet untitled album will include very special guest appearances by Arthur Brown “The God Of Hellfire”, and Snowy Shaw.

According to Curbed San Francisco, METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett is selling a house in Sea Cliff, a neighborhood in northwestern San Francisco, California, for $16 million.

Hammett's name apparently does not appear on the deed for the Spanish Colonial-style home, which last sold in 2010 for $8 million. When you adjust for inflation, that itself was roughly double its 2003 sale price of $3.1 million.

The four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bathroom, three-story house is said to be the fourth most expensive, publicly listed home in the entire city. Back in 2009, Hammett sold a home in Pacific Heights for $7.6 million after owning it for sixteen years. He bought that 8-bedroom, 8.5-bathroom, 10,100-square-foot, four-story mansion in 1993 for a mere $2.56 million.

METALLICA's latest album, "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct", debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 album chart, selling 291,000 copies in its first week of release.

METALLICA will head out on a major world tour in support of the set next year, with North American dates rumored to begin in the spring.

According to a new Instagram post by FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH guitarist Jason Hook, the band has completed work on its new album, due later in the year.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH in November released a snippet of a brand new song via video containing highlights from the road.

The band recently signed a North American deal with Rise Records. FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's first album with Rise, the BMG-owned rock label, will be released following the completion of the group's obligation to its current label, Prospect Park.

Hook said last summer that FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH doesn't like to take look long between albums. "We're workaholics," he said. "We went right back in the studio. Every time we talk about taking a break, it just doesn't feel right. Sitting around it just feels like we could be doing something. We're always concerned that we might lose momentum or that people will stop caring. I think we're overachievers by nature."

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH guitarist Zoltan Bathory echoed those comments, telling the Minnesota radio station 93X: "Everybody [in this band] is a workaholic. This is what we do. In fact, I can't really go on vacation and shut down my phone. I can't do that. You know what I mean?! And that's just what it is. We all have a studio at home, and then we have Kevin's [Churko, producer] studio in Las Vegas, so he's there. So somebody is always working on something. And I think it's about efficiency. If I'm working on something in the studio, then Jason and Jeremy [Spencer, drums] are working in theirs. And then when I'm going home and working on some pre-production of mine, then they're in the studio. So we're always just kind of bouncing around."

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's latest album, 2015's "Got Your Six", was officially certified gold on August 8, 2016 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of 500,000 copies.

Effective February 1, 2016, the RIAA started including on-demand audio and video streams and a track sale equivalent in determining which releases get the coveted album awards, a change that follows a similar tweak in 2013 to include on-demand streams for its digital single award.

Germany's Pyogenesis will release their new album, A Kingdom To Disappear, on February 24th via AFM Records. A lyric video for “Blaze, My Northern Flame” can be found below.

The cover artwork was created by Stan W. Decker.

Tracklisting:

“Sleep Is Good” (Intro)
“Every Man For Himself And God Against All”
“I Have Seen My Soul”
“It’s Too Late (A Kingdom To Disappear)”
“New Helvetia”
“That’s When Everybody Gets Hurt”
“We (1848)”
“Blaze, My Northern Flame”
“Everlasting Pain”

“Blaze, My Northern Flame” lyric video:

Album teaser:

The band will be on tour right after the album's release, confirmed dates on the A Kingdom To Disappear Tour are as listed:

March
2 - Hamburg, Germany - Knust
3 - Leipzig, Germany - Moritzbastei
4 - Annaberg-Buchholz, Germany - Alte Brauerei
5 - Berlin, Germany - Bi Nuu
9 - München, Germany - Strom
10 - Regensburg, Germany - Eventhall Airport
11 - Düsseldorf, Germany - Tube
12 - Frankfurt, Germany - Nachtleben
30 - Bern, Switzerland - Rössli
31 - Milano, Italy - Legend Club

April
1 - Tröplach, Austria - Full Metal Mountain
2 - Wien, Austria - Viper Room

Suspiria Records announces their new signing, Norunda. A message from the label follows.

“Norunda is a metal band created by Rubén Cuerdo (ex-Blast Off). The group has influences from the old-school thrash metal with some progressive parts and catchy choruses, adding some blues-flavored voices added to demolishing drums that enhances every rhythmic detail of the compositions.

“Norunda are about to release Irruption, which will be one of the sensations of 2017. The band is completed by the producer (Angelus Apatrida, Mutant, Agónica, Bloodhunter, Blast Off, Khuda, Nebora, Switchtense, Hills Have Eyes). Pedro Mendes, also a W.A.K.O. and Sullen member, and Marcelo Aires, specialized percussion musician who is also actively enrolled in bands such as Sullen, Pãodemónio, Colosso, Pinturas Negras, The Ominous Circle, W.A.K.O. and Gaya Quintet.

“The year of Norunda is coming, stay tuned…”

Austin Carlile, the vocalist and founding member of California's OF MICE & MEN, has left the band.

The singer, who suffers from Marfan Syndrome (which affects his connective tissue and causes weakness in his heart, lungs, ears, joints and muscles) and is now unable to scream as a result of his longstanding health issues, said, "I realized that I had to step away from OF MICE & MEN."

In a lengthy, emotional statement, he also paid tribute to those who have supported, or been involved with, OF MICE & MEN from the start, including the four remaining members of the group, who he says will carry on as a quartet.

"I never thought in a million years I would be sitting in Costa Rica writing this. I never thought I would start a successful band," he wrote. "I never thought I'd open for MARILYN MANSON and SLIPKNOT for an entire summer. I never thought I would go on a world tour with LINKIN PARK and sing 'Faint' on stage with them all around the globe, I never thought I‘d become friends with Mike Shinoda and he'd help me write songs for an album of ours that sat at the No. 4 spot on the Billboard top charts. I never thought I would befriend bands like AVENGED SEVENFOLD, METALLICA, and KORN. I never thought i would sing 'Ball Tongue' on stage with KORN. I never thought my band would play, much less headline Warped Tour, play giant radio festivals all over the world with some of my favorite artists, or tour in Germany, or anywhere in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brazil, Chile, Canada, the United Kingdom, Scotland, Holland, Norway, or Italy, etc.

"The first time I ever left the States was because of this band that I started in a tiny barred window studio apartment... I never thought people would ask to take selfies with me inside the Roman Collesium, on the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or even the mall I worked at in Ohio where OF MICE & MEN was born eight years ago with the help of my friends in THOUGH SHE WROTE. Kameron Bradbury now in BEARTOOTH on guitar, recording our first song together in a local studio for just $50. I never thought putting the song 'Seven Thousand Miles For What' on MySpace would reach over a million plays in a week, and that I'd sign a record contract of my own just days later. I never thought i‘d pack my things up and drive to California for the first time to find permanent band members. I never thought all my wildest dreams and more would eventually come true...

"I also never thought my fibrostic connective tissue disorder marfan syndrome would cause touring to be so hard and painful for me. I always thought the pain would get better one day, or that i would get better too. But this never happened; that day has still yet to come. From multiple surgeries, caused from touring over multiple years, and after cancelling a European tour halfway through, this October 2016 finally brought me to my knees. My greatest fear had become a reality... I had three tears in my dual sac surrounding my spinal cord, and we discovered that every time I would push down to scream, spinal fluid would rush though the tears which was causing me the violent pain every time I'd perform. It was causing my muscles to seize up, and body to contort on stage, and making me lethargic and sore every hour of the day.

"My doctors and team of specialists had warned me for years of the detriment of my career to my health, but I pushed through anyways. I always pushed through. I had to push through. This is what I love, music is where i found myself. But these three tears in my spine, plus a fourth that occurred the year prior, were signs that i was absolutely not able to scream anymore. My team advised me that if I continued to do so, it would cause 'permanent and irrevocable damage to my spinal cord and nervous system.' After learning this, I realized that I had to step away from OF MICE & MEN. No longer able to scream most of our old material, or continue to scream on anything new, I cannot continue on.

"This has been the hardest thing that has happened in my life for a very long time, but thankfully the band, my family, and closest friends stand behind me and understand. They have all personally seen how much pain I have had to endure and especially the past two years as my spine was tearing apart but I kept going, I gave it my all, and cannot express this enough.

"The band will now still continue on just the four of them, and I wish them the best of luck without me heading into 2017.

"I will be here in Costa Rica, where I have now moved, continuing to heal, rest, and write.

"I will not stop playing music. I am still able to sing and I'm hungry for what is next to come even though I have no idea what that may be.

"I feel God placed me at this crossroads for a reason, and with the closing of one door, another will open. I'm taking this as an opportunity to grow closer to him, as he is the reason I never gave up or ended my life years ago while facing my various troubles.

"I have decided to listen to my specialists, and God telling me it's time to do something new. I have to do this for myself, my health, my body.

"I'm so thankful my spinal injuries weren't worse, for I could have easily been paralyzed permenantly.

"I have now made the choice to use my life, my story, and my voice for his glory. To help show his love and grace I have experienced firsthand to anyone else searching for the same hope.

"OF MICE & MEN offered hope to thousands, but there is no true hope unless through Jesus Christ (yashua). I have now dedicated my life to sharing this with the world, which needs it so badly right now more than ever.

"Some ask how I am not mad at God for taking ali. This from me and putting me through so much pain and loss... My answer is simple: it is my path to follow, my story, and my life is not my own, but a gift from god in the first place.

"This seems like the perfect opportunity for me to use my story to hopefully inspire others who have experienced pain, hurt, depression or loss in their own lives.

"We all have our stories, we all have certain things we have overcome. We have done this together, you helped make my dreams come true, and I want to thank you all for the immense support over the years. Now I must do what i have to.

"I wanted to keep this news in 2016, because 2017 is going to be a new year, with new chapters.

"Remember, your days are like pages, chapters unread, you have to keep going, keep turning, keep reading... Because your book has no end. Just like the ampersand tattoo on my thumb, we will not fade.

"You are in my heart and I‘m ready to start a new journey with all of you remaining by my side. I can do nothing alone, and I'm grateful I won't have to because of you.

"Thank you. To everyone who has ever been a fan or a part of OF MICE & MEN, from the start, Kameron, Joey, Luke, Ethan, Jared, Jaxin, Phil, Aaron, Joel, Justin, Jon, Shayley, Tino, and Alan, for everything, thank you. Here's to 2017.

"God bless! X -Austin Carlile"

Blood Of VanGogh have released an official video for their new song "Lies", found below. They have also issued the following message:

"We are very excited to release our first single off the new album. We will be releasing one song at a time. First single/video featuring the incredible Ronny Munroe (Metal Church) on lead vocals."

For information and updates on Blood Of VanGogh, go to this location.

in 2015, Metal Church recently announced the return of legendary frontman Mike Howe, who first took the place of original singer David Wayne in the mid-'80s. Munroe, who fronted the band from 2003-2014, commented on the return of Howe to the band: 

“Congratulations to Mike Howe in his new appointment as the new lead vocalist of Metal Church. Wishing him and the band all the best moving forward!”

In the summer of 2014 Metal Church suddenly found themselves in need of a new singer. As fate would have it, guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof was already in talks with Mike for another project that he was working on with Saxon drummer Nigel Glockler, so he decided to ask Mike to rejoin Metal Church. Mike agreed, but true to form, didn’t want to make it official until he knew for sure that the integrity of the new material was there.

In Mike’s own words, "I didn't want to come back to Metal Church just for nostalgia, it had to be for the right reasons, it had to be the best stuff we’ve ever written together or it just wouldn't be worth it to anyone, especially the fans.”

Soon after, Kurdt and Mike began exchanging ideas and writing new material with the band. The end result sounds like “classic Mike Howe-era Metal Church, it’s both heavy and melodic”, says Vanderhoof, who further states, “Mike sounds the same as he did 20 years ago, this is going to be truly epic!!”

Drummer Jeff Plate comments, “Mike Howe is the ONLY singer for Metal Church. He has a reputation of complete honour and respect. We can now take Metal Church to the next level!”

Mike Howe originally joined Metal Church in the late 80s and released three albums with the band: The Human Factor, Blessing In Disguise and Hanging In The Balance. Mike was also the face of popular music videos “Date With Poverty” and “Badlands” that aired during MTV’s heyday.

In a brand new interview with Mark Strigl for the Talking Metal podcast, The Compulsions frontman Rob Carlyle spoke publicly for the first time about dismissing drummer Frank Ferrer and guitarist Richard Fortus, both of Guns N' Roses, and enlisting former Guns N' Roses axeman, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, to record upcoming Compulsions material.

On his decision to recruit Bumblefoot, Carlyle said: “I was looking around for another guitar player and I was like, ‘you know what? Who’s somebody that’s super badass? Number 1. You know, the music always comes first. [And] what’s a name that would raise eyebrows?’ And Bumblefoot definitely fits that bill.”

When describing what it’s like to work with Bumblefoot, Carlyle stated: “He’s a perfect gentleman, sick player and it’s been working out great.”

On his reasons for dismissing Ferrer and Fortus, Carlyle explained: “What was a little tough was some of the attitudes and behaviours behind the scenes were pretty fucking harsh sometimes and after a while they just became more trouble than they were worth. There’s really no other way for me to put it… and it’s a shame because the music [we made together] is great.”

When comparing Ferrer’s and Fortus’ work in other bands to their work with The Compulsions, Carlyle said: “I pretty much know most of their musical history, their careers, what they’ve done and I don’t think they hold a candle to what we’ve done and I think [The Compulsions] was just kind of squandered.”

He also added: “But I’m moving forward. I have a whole new lineup of guys that I’m working on pulling together and hopefully the guys that are on the majority of this new album, I can continue working with in the future.”

The Compulsions’ sophomore album, 2015’s Dirty Fun, boasted the talents of Carlyle, Ferrer, Fortus and bassist Sami Yaffa (ex-Hanoi Rocks, ex-New York Dolls).

Both the Dirty Fun album and subsequent record release shows in New York City and West Hollywood garnered rave reviews from the music press.

For over a decade, The Compulsions have drawn extremely favourable comparisons to legendary artists such as AC/DC, Aerosmith, Faces, New York Dolls, The Rolling Stones and more.

You can listen to Carlyle’s interview at this location (beginning at around the 21:10 mark).

(Photo - Delissa Santos)