Legendary guitarist Steve Vai, Colombian singer Juanes and EAGLES guitarist Steuart Smith performed "Hotel California" in front of EAGLES' Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit at the 39th annual Kennedy Center Honors, which aired last night (Tuesday, December 27) on CBS.

The event, which celebrated James Taylor, Al Pacino, Mavis Staples, Argentine pianist Martha Argerich and the EAGLES, featured several other performances of EAGLES tunes, including Vince Gill's reading of "Peaceful Easy Feeling" and Bob Seger's "Heartache Tonight".

"Hotel California" saw Vai and Smith — who was hired by the EAGLES in 2001 to replace Don Felder — splitting the first half of the song's signature guitar solo before jumping right into the dual-guitar section at the end.

The show, which was filmed earlier this month, was hosted by Stephen Colbert.

All the performers joined together at the end to sing "Life In The Fast Lane", with Vai playing a guitar solo while his arms were wrapped around Colbert.

Vader frontman Piotr “Peter” Wiwczarek has posted the following year-end message for the band's fans:

"Vadermaniax! THX so much for your support in 2016! That was another one busy, crazy and satisfactory year. We have played over 70 shows, from which 1/4 were festivals. We released also new album – The Empire, which has so good response from you. However, the new year is coming and we are pretty much ready for 2017. This 'imperial year' starts in few months for Vader. We have many surprises for all of you for the whole coming season. Stay Vaderized and have much fun in New Year 2017!"

Vader have released their new studio album, The Empire, via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to their 2014 album, Tibi Et Igni, was recorded at Hertz Studios in Bialystok, Poland and produced by Wojtek and Slawek Wiesawski. A second track-by-track video for the album can be found below.

Canadian documentary filmmaker Sam Dunn at Banger Films has posted his take on the new album for his latest instalment of Overkill Reviews. Check it out below:

The Empire tracklisting:

“Angels Of Steel”
“Tempest”
“Prayer To The God Of War” (album version)
“Iron Reign”
“No Gravity”
“Genocidius”
“The Army-Geddon”
“Feel My Pain”
“Parabellum” (album version)
“Send Me Back To Hell”

Track By Track #1:

Track By Track #2:

“Send Me Back To Hell”:

“Angels Of Steel” lyric video:

“Parabellum”:

“Prayer To The God Of War” lyric video:

Photo by Monika Wawrzyniak

Former Scorpions drummer James Kottak has revealed in a number of Facebook postings that he had over $50,000 worth of gear stolen from his storage unit. According to Kottak, a number of leather/stage clothing, over 13 guitars, and all his Gold and Platinum album awards were stolen. If anyone has any information on please Kottak privately on his Facebook page.

In addition to the Scorpions, Kottak also used to drum for Kingdome Come, McAuley Schenker Group, Warrant, and Wild Horses. 

Kottak was dismissed from the Scorpions to battle his alcoholism and was replaced with Motörhead’s Mikkey Dee. Kottak made a posting this posting in November:

“Hello to all my family, friends, and freaks,

“I want to send a HUGE thank-you from the bottom of my heart for the thousands of messages of hope and positivity during my time of healing! I am humbled and honoured by your love and gracious offerings. I am healthy & happy living in the now…grateful for yesterday, excited for the future.

“As one chapter of my life closes…a thousand new doors of adventure have opened. I have been given the ultimate gift of life with my personal REboot. To quote one of my fav songs ‘Tomorrow is a Brand New Day’. With the support of Athena and my three wonderful kids, today IS the first day of the rest of my life!

I look forward to reconnecting and seeing you all SOON! Rock & Roll Forever!”

James Kottak’s new homepage and online store can be found at this location.

The new lineup of ROSS THE BOSS, the band led by former MANOWAR and current DEATH DEALER guitarist Ross "The Boss" Friedman, will perform at the Hall Of Heavy Metal History induction ceremony on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at the Anaheim Expo Center in Anaheim, California.

Joining Friedman in the group's incarnation are SYMPHONY X bassist Mike LePond, former MANOWAR drummer Kenny "Rhino" Earl and LET US PREY vocalist Marc Lopes.

ROSS THE BOSS will embark on the "Discipline Of Steel" tour in 2017, with European dates set to be announced soon.

Lopes commented: "So I guess this makes it official. Yup, got myself a most METALLLLLLL singing gig with the legendary Ross Friedman — ROSS THE BOSS band, alongside Mike LePond from SYMPHONY X and Kenny 'Rhino' Earl, ex-MANOWAR.

"We will be criss-crossing the globe in 2017 on the 'Discipline Of Steel' tour. Classic MANOWAR set starting at the Hall Of Heavy Metal History induction event in Anaheim, California on January 18th.

"All dates will be announced soon.

"My gratitude to all involved. I have no words, my friends. The Godz have blessed this dreamer.

"I promise to deliver this classic material with the utmost respect to its source and with pure power and brutality.

"And yes, LET US PREY is still fully functioning and I will have a very metal announcement on that in the coming days as well."

One of the great metal guitarists, Friedman first made his name with THE DICTATORS, before briefly teaming up with French band SHAKIN' STREET. But in more recent times, he became renowned for his work with MANOWAR. A founding member, Ross recorded six albums with the band, before leaving after 1988's "Kings Of Metal". Since then he's worked with MANITOBA'S WILD KINGDOM, BRAIN SURGEONS and THE SPINATRAS. Now he's back doing what he does best — playing loud, true heavy metal with DEATH DEALER and ROSS THE BOSS.

Photo credit: Scott Braun

Rock'N'Growl Promotion announce the signing of the US power metal band, Reverence. Rock'N'Growl Promotion is the new representation for all European Live Bookings of the band and Rock'N'Growl partner Hydra Productions will handle live dates in Benelux and France.

Reverence’s new untitled album will be released sometime in 2017 and some US and European dates will be announced very soon. The band recently released a new 2016 version of their song, “Until My Dying Breath”, which can be streamed below:

Reverence, is a Detroit Michigan based power metal band and features members from Savatage, Tokyo Blade, Wind Wraith and J.Rad. The band’s debut CD, When Darkness Calls, was released through Razar Ice Records in 2012, recorded at Metro 37 Studios and mixed/mastered at Sight 16 Studios (Tokyo Blade, TwoThirtySeven, Paris Blue, Coldsnap) in Albuquerque, New Mexico and produced by Sid Garcia. The bands second release, Gods Of War, was released through Avalon/Marquee Records in October 2015 and worldwide in November 2015 through Razar Ice Records.

Reverence is:

Bryan Holland - Guitars
Scott Oliva - Vocals
Pete Rossi - Guitars
Russell Pzutto - Bass
Doc ‘Killdrums’ Wacholz - Drums
Tony Rossi - Guest/Live Drums

The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences has announced X Japan’s “La Venus” as one of the songs in contention for a nomination for this year's "Best Original Song" at the 89th Academy Awards. Yoshiki - songwriter, drummer, classically-trained pianist and the creative force of X Japan - wrote "La Venus" for We Are X, the music documentary on the iconic Japanese rock group.

The nominations for the 89th Oscars will be announced Tuesday, January 24th. The Oscars will take place Sunday, February 26th, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 PM, ET/4 PM, PT. "La Venus" the single will be released via Sony Legacy Recordings and available everywhere in early 2017.

"Sony Music Entertainment's Legacy Recordings is thrilled to be releasing the new single, “La Venus” from X Japan's feature documentary, We Are X," says Adam Block, President of Sony Legacy Recordings. "It's a beautiful, powerful track from a stunning film that we hope will be considered for a nomination for best song from a feature film at this year's Academy Awards."

Watch as Yoshiki describes "La Venus" and its role in the film We Are X:

We Are X is a transcendent and beautifully shot rock & roll story about the Japanese rock band X Japan, one of the biggest rock bands in the world. X Japan has sold over 30 million singles and albums combined - captivating such a wide range of admirers as Sir George Martin, KISS, Stan Lee, and the Japanese Emperor - while pioneering a spectacle-driven style of visual rock called Visual Kei, a one-of-a-kind cultural phenomenon.

Directed by acclaimed documentarian Stephen Kijak (Stones in Exile, Scott Walker: 30 Century Man), and produced by the Oscar-winning production team  behind  Searching for Sugar Man, We Are X is an astonishingly intimate portrait of a deeply haunted - but truly unstoppable - virtuoso and the music that has enthralled legions of the world's most devoted fans. The film continues to expand nationally in new cities every week; see the current list of playdates, here.

On January 12th and 13th, Yoshiki will bring his classical show, Yoshiki Classical: Featuring Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, to Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage in New York. For the Carnegie Hall concert, Yoshiki will perform his original compositions alongside the world-renowned Tokyo Philharmonic; he will also play several traditional classical pieces.

(Photo - Tanya Braganti)

Northern Irish heavy metal band, Fireland, have released their brand new full-length studio album, Fireland III - Believe Or Die.

This new album marks a sea change in the band's history, with the sound moving towards a more modern and powerful European sound. Riffs and melodies remain at the forefront, as you’ve come to expect from the band. The subject matter of the songs encompasses subjects such as personal loss, sacrifice, revenge, rebirth, a wide range of forces, both good and evil, and of course, love and hate, making the album as diverse lyrically as it is musically.

It features a sequel to the 2008 debut album's fan favourite, Fallen. It sees our intrepid hero make the ultimate sacrifice to rescue his beloved wife from the dark forces that have taken her from him. This is one of the album's more epic (in all senses of the word) moments, clocking in at 9:30 in length, allowing the members to stretch their legs musically and artistically.

Work on the album started in 2010, but it was put on ice while sole original member Steve Moore was making waves with his other band, Irish metal favourites Stormzone. With the coup of acquiring the services of David Brown of Chaos Frame on vocals in mid-2016, recording began in earnest over an intensive four month period.

Engineered, mixed and mastered by Steve Moore at FireMachine Studio, it was, and continues to be, entirely self-funded and self-produced. And proudly so.

Tracklisting:

“John Rock”
“Believe Or Die”
“My Enemy's Enemy”
“Ironclad”
“Burning Scarecrow”
“Hell Hotel”
“Fallen II”
“Murderhole”
“Hate Will Live On”
“Rise Again”

Formed in 2003, Fireland are a twin lead guitar heavy metal band, drawing on all the influences over forty years of heavy metal. Based in Northern Ireland, the band will not let their location on the outskirts of Europe stand in the way of bringing their own brand of riff-based, powerful and melodic metal to the rest of the world.

To date, the band has played with metal legends such as DragonForce, Blitzkrieg, Jeff Scott Soto, Blaze, Doro, Rose Tattoo and Girlschool. In other bands, the members have toured with Saxon, Stryper, Hell and Kreator, and performed at festivals such as Wacken Open Air, Sonisphere, Bloodstock Open Air, Hard Rock Hell and Leyendas del Rock.

Unleashing their latest album, Reach For The Sky, for North America via Test Your Metal Records this past November, Japanese heavy metallers, Solitude, have released a new lyric video for the track “Blow” (streaming below).

The track is one of eight fist pounders off the band's third album that was issued in Japan in 2015 by Spiritual Beast and follows 2009's Brave The Storm (Spiritual Beast) plus 2001's Virtual Image (Spiritual Beast). Reach For The Sky was mixed by Magnus “Mankan” Sedenberg, who has previously worked with Bullet and Crucified Barbara along with artwork by Velio Josto (Warlord, Medieval Steel, Ostrogoth etc).

Tracklisting:

“Venom’s Angel”
“Blow”
“Reach For The Sky”
“Don’t Need Mercy”
“Escape For The Crime”
“You Got My Mind”
“On The Edge Of Sorrow”
“December”

“Blow” lyric video:

“You Got My Mind”:

Legendary US power thrashers, Hexx, have inked a new two album record deal with Germany’s High Roller Records. The band is currently working on twelve new songs with producer Bart Gabriel (Crystal Viper, Burning Starr, Mythra), who also produced band's latest single, "Tyrants Of Steel" (split with Ruthless).

The new album will showcase the band's return to their roots, and the style they are known for from their early classic albums Under The Spell and No Escape. The album will be entitled Wrath Of The Reaper, and has been scheduled for the release in the spring/summer of 2017.

Hexx, led by founding member and guitarist Dan Watson, features amazing new vocalist Eddy Vega and Bob Wright (from Brocas Helm) on second guitar. The lineup is completed by Mike Horn (who joined Hexx in 2013) on bass guitar, and John Shaffer (who played in Hexx between 1986 and 1995, and returned in 2014) on drums.

In addition to releasing the "Tyrants Of Steel" single, in 2016 Hexx also reissued their early albums Under The Spell and No Escape in the form of a 30th Anniversary 2CD/DVD box set via Metal Blade Records, and the 1991 technical epic Morbid Reality via Dark Symphonies Records.

Hexx, originally formed in 1983 (previously known as Paradox) is acknowledged as one of the most original metal acts to hail from the 1980’s San Francisco Bay Area metal scene which also is home to Metallica, Exodus, Possessed and Death Angel.

(Photo - Frank Ranney)

Massacre Records has announced the signing of the Spanish melodic death metal outfit, Jotnar.

Jotnar offers a redesigned and modern sound with strong and aggressive rhythms, smooth melodies, catchy choruses and insane growls. They recently released the video for the title track of their album, Connected/Condemned, which you can find below.

The band made it’s live debut in late 2008, and underwent several lineup changes, which led to today's lineup, consisting of vocalist Mario Infantes, guitarists Ben Melero and Elhadji N’Diaye, bassist Octavio Santana and Jose Rodriguez.

The quintet has already played with bands such as Korn, Amon Amarth, Sabaton and Machine Head, and played at festivals like MetalDays, Rock Bitch Boat and Villa De Bilbao.

Jotnar’s debut studio album, Connected/Condemned, is scheduled to be released worldwide on April 21st via Massacre Records. The cover art was created by British artist Russ Mills.

Connected/Condemned tracklisting:

“Connected/Condemned”
“Remaining Still”
“Missing Shadows”
“Broken Esteem” (feat. Björn “Speed” Strid - Soilwork)
“Suicidal Angel”
“Live Together Die Alone”
“Starved Of Guidance”
“I, The Paradox”
“The Sentence”
“Invisible Trace”
“The Loneliness' Legacy”
“Say It Right” (Nelly Furtado cover)
“Envy World”
“The Portrait” (feat. Jennie Nord - Ultimate Fate, Santi Suarez - Sphinx, Bruno Pardini)

Album teaser:

“Connected/Condemned” video:

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine promoted the band's December 16 acoustic show at the Hard Rock Cafe in Boston with an appearance earlier that day on "The Hill-Man Morning Show" on the WAAF radio station. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.

Asked how long he thinks he can keep touring with MEGADETH, Mustaine said: "Well, for me, it's not so much a desire to go out there and continue to live the façade that I'm a prepubescent teenager still. My biological clock is ticking, because of just the wear and tear on me from headbanging and playing at that speed, that hard, that long for as many years as I have. My hands, they're pretty riddled with arthritis right now. And my neck, it's no secret, I've had surgery on my neck and there's a lot of stuff going on from the headbanging over the years. So I don't think it's gonna be as long as the forever-lasting farewell tour from KISS, stuff like that. But, you know, it's cool. In a situation like KISS, I think they're great entertainers, so I'm glad that people get to see them."

Back in August, Mustaine told a fan on Twitter that he hoped he had "two more" MEGADETH albums in him before he retired.

Before he had his neck surgery, the MEGADETH mainman hinted that retirement was within sight, explaining in a 2009 interview that "it has to do with the limitations of my body. I've got stuff going on with my neck. I try not to make it obvious, but the range of motion in my neck is becoming very limited. I don't think it has as much to do with wear and tear as it does with the lack of preparation. There were so many years where I would go out there and just start headbanging. I didn't think about, 'Okay, Dave, you're an elite athlete, you do metal callisthenics with your left hand, so why don't you limber up the rest of your body?' I've really started to take a different approach to my health, my fitness… my life. I've been on a really strict regimen and I try to take really good care of myself so I can play better."

He continued: "My monitor guy told me, 'I don't see how you can do four [gigs] in a row.' I was thinking, 'Dude! I used to do five in a row. What are you talking about?' I just had to put my foot down and say no more fives."

MEGADETH recently completed a month-long U.S. tour with AMON AMARTH, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, METAL CHURCH and BUTCHER BABIES.

The band is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, "Dystopia", which came out in January.

Professionally filmed video footage of METALLICA performing the songs "Creeping Death" and "Blackened" on December 17 at the Fox Theater in Oakland, California can be seen below.

As previously reported, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told Canada's iHeartRadio that the band hopes to bring back its Orion Music + More festival during the upcoming tour cycle for its new album, "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct". Ulrich explained: "We sort of put that on the backburner when we dove into the record. But I think that we're gonna tour for years on this record. We just put most of '17 together, but we'll be out on this baby at least up through '19, would be my guess. So I think we'll try to get another Orion in."

METALLICA staged two editions of the Orion festival, in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 2012 and then on Belle Isle in Detroit in 2013. The latter event drew 40,000 fans over two days to see METALLICA, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, DEFTONES, SILVERSUN PICKUPS and more. But frontman James Hetfield said last year that the band "lost millions" in staging the festival, making a return unlikely.

Nevertheless, Hetfield told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that he enjoyed Orion. "I had a blast," he said. "I had a really good time. I loved the island, loved the city, loved the people — super friendly, really grateful. We loved it. I think it went smoother than the previous one. I just think — it's just, it's the money part, man, at the end of the day."

Ulrich added in his interview that the band could look at launching Orion in Europe, Canada or Mexico.

Asked if METALLICA would think about making the festival more metal-centric and less diverse than in the past, Ulrich answered: "Anybody that knows the members of METALLICA knows that our tastes are far and wide and we're not… we don't live and breathe metal 24 hours a day. And I know people, maybe, were a little bit surprised at that, but the people that really know METALLICA know that that's not really our thing so much. So we'll see how it plays out."

METALLICA will launch a world tour in support of "Hardwired...To Self-Destruct" early next year. Ulrich guessed that Orion could come back in 2018 or 2019.

During the recording session for Bloodbath's debut EP, 2000's Breeding Death, Opeth mastermind Mikael Åkerfeldt straight up vomited on a wall — giving a whole new meaning to that record's "Ominous Bloodvomit" song.

Broke and bored, the members of the yet-to-be-formed Bloodbath supergroup had attended a birthday party, where the idea came up to record the music they'd grown up around in the Stockholm death metal scene, like Entombed and Dismember. Åkerfeldt recently recounted the experience for Exclaim! TV's Aggressive Tendencies when Opeth played Toronto's Massey Hall this fall.

"I remember vomiting on a wall in the house where we recorded right before I'm going in to do the vocals, so as I was screaming I had the taste of vomit in my mouth, which is very suitable for recording like that," Åkerfeldt says. "In those days, we did it for fun.… It's become a real band; it's become a headline act, so that kind of speaks volumes on — the goal with that band is not, anymore, to vomit on a wall and record an EP."

He also explains his two departures (and returned in the first place) from the band he calls "just a piss take on our version of death metal — Swedish death metal, late '80's style — but with fun lyrics. I mean, the lyrics are ridiculous, to be honest."

In another Aggressive Tendencies video below, Åkerfeldt speaks about his early years when he wasn't interested in listening to anything not heavy, which he called "a valuable couple years." A little later, he was young and "had no money at all," so he went to second-hand shops — everyone was buying CDs, so vinyl was cheap — and bought albums of bands who looked like Black Sabbath, resulting in finding groups like Yes, Van de Graaf Generator and King Crimson.

"That was, like, the beginning of the end, you could say, of my interest in death metal because I'd discovered a style that was so much more than what death metal could ever give me."

Opeth's transition away from death metal was completed with Heritage. He reveals that he wrote music in a similar vein to that albums predecessor, Watershed, before deciding he couldn't continue on in that vein.

"I couldn't write songs like that that would be better. I tried, and I felt nothing for those songs, but I was fooling myself a little bit, I guess, thinking like, okay, even if we put out this record with these types of songs that are kind of lesser version of Watershed, it will still be pretty good. But we don't go for pretty good; we go for ourselves, between the guys in the band, we want to be like, 'Wow, that was amazing!'"

As he later reveals, "It was either Heritage or nothing."

Fortunately, nothing wasn't the result, and Opeth have released two albums since that one: Pale Communion and this year's Sorceress. He explains the new production style utilized on those, while also going into the latter's title track and his decision to contrast its fusion opening with the "most stupid, meat and potato thing I can come up with," the chugs of which no doubt will appease fans of their heavy material.

German metal queen Doro Pesch has released a video to celebrate the life and legacy of her colleague and very close friend, MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy Kilmister.

The clip for the song "It Still Hurts" — which she recorded with Lemmy in 2012 — features footage and many pictures taken over several decades of the two metal legends working together and sharing the spirit of heavy music.

Doro stated about the video: "It's been exactly one year since the world of rock lost on of its greatest characters — and one of my best friends — Lemmy Kilmister. One year and we miss him so much. Therefore it was our great wish to release this video with a compilation of our greatest moments that we had together. Here it is. In memory of Lemmy, one of the greatest rock'n'roll heroes! It still hurts! R.I.P., my dear friend — we love you."

Earlier this year, Doro spoke to the Charlotte Observer about her friendship with the late MOTÖRHEAD frontman. She said: "Lemmy was an angel to me. He saved my life because he worked with me [at] the time my dad died in 2000. I was devastated and heartbroken and one day later the phone rang and it was it Lemmy. I didn't even want to answer. I wrote him a letter months before, to management saying [that] we are labelmates now and I was wondering if we could do a song together. I'd forgotten about it."

Doro wasn't sure if she could continue making music, but Kilmister insisted she come to Los Angeles to record a duet. She spent three weeks recording two duets with him and KISS's Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer.

"Between Lemmy and [Ronnie James] Dio, I lost the most important people in my life in music, the closest friends," she said. "Life is not forever."

Lemmy, who celebrated his 70th birthday on December 24, 2015, learned two days later that he was afflicted with an aggressive form of cancer. He died on December 28, 2015, at his home in Los Angeles.

The MOTÖRHEAD frontman had dealt with several health issues over the past few years, including heart trouble, forcing him to cut back on his famous smoking and Jack Daniels habits.

The band canceled a number of shows last year, although they did manage to complete one final European tour on December 11, 2015.

In a 2015 interview with Kerrang! magazine, Lemmy was asked how it makes him feel when people call him a legend. He responded: "As long as they don't believe it, that's alright." He continued: "Who wouldn’t want a hero somewhere in their lives? And it might as well be me, 'cause I don't take the piss out of them for it, and I don't laugh at them because of it." But he added, "I'm not a legend. I never thought of myself as being special in particular. Maybe I make brilliant music, but that's about it."

Queen guitarist Brian May has issued a statement on the passing of pop icon George Michael, who was found dead in his UK home on Christmas day, having passed away peacefully in his sleep, aged 53.

George Michael performed with the surviving members of Queen at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium in April 1992, singing their classic, “Somebody To Love”. Video footage from both the performance and rehearsals can be seen below.

In tribute, Brian May states: ”I don't have the words. This year has cruelly taken so many fine people way too young. And George? That gentle boy? All that beautiful talent? Can't begin to compute this. RIP George. Sing with Freddie. And the Angels."

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).

"Suicide Silence" track listing:

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.

Fan-filmed video footage of former QUEENSRŸCHE and current OPERATION: MINDCRIME vocalist Geoff Tate performing an acoustic set at Backstage in Munich, Germany on December 27 can be seen below.

"Resurrection", the second album from OPERATION: MINDCRIME, was released on September 23 via Frontiers Music Srl. The album is the second part of Tate's musical trilogy. He explained in a recent interview: "It continues the story that began on the first album 'The Key' with the near-death experience of the lead character known as 'H' and his subsequent recovery of the missing encryption key. With the Key finally in his possession, 'H' has everything he needs to finally launch his long awaited project called 'The New Reality'. Or does he..." The singer continued: "I'm excited for people to hear and experience 'Resurrection' because I think it answers some of the questions that were posed in the first album, 'The Key'. Musically, it offers some of the most diverse and challenging material that I've ever written."

Asked about the viability of making albums in an age where anything that isn't instant invariably struggles to gain currency with the masses, Tate told "The Classic Metal Show": "Oh, I don't know, really, about that. My records are paid for upfront. So I get paid for them. The company that buys them, they have to recoup that money back by their ability to sell them, I suppose."

He continued: "I love making new music, and I'll always write new material and perform it. That's what I love most in life."

Tate did acknowledge, however, that diminishing record sales have resulted in record companies investing less funds into breaking younger artists and promoting new releases.

"There isn't the economy to support record companies anymore, or the families of the people that work at record companies," he explained. "That industry is completely gutted from what it was."

He added: "It's like everything. Times change, the world moves on, and you have to adapt to the new and changing world. It's very similar to people lamenting the loss of their jobs overseas to different places. Well, that's just the way things work, and you have to adapt and you can't keep pining away for the way things used to be; you have to create what's now and be part of the conversation and be part of the changes that need to be made.

"I see a lot of times people just get really hung up on the way things used to be and they start dreaming and pining away for life the way it used to be, and it's never gonna be that way again."

On December 18th, Children of Bodom performed at the Irving Plaza in New York City. The show was pro-shot and streamed courtesy of Live Nation. It can be viewed below.

The setlist on the night was as follows:

"Needled 24/7"
"Follow The Reaper"
"Living Dead Beat"
"Trashed, Lost & Strungout"
"Morrigan"
"In Your Face"
"My Bodom (I Am the Only One)"
"Everytime I Die"
"Silent Night, Bodom Night"
"I Worship Chaos" 
"Angels Don't Kill"
"Lake Bodom"
"Children Of Decadence"
"Hate Me!"
"Downfall"

Children Of Bodom's debut album, Something Wild, was released 20 years ago and thus the mighty Hate Crew were born. Finland's melodic death superstars will take to the road in 2017 to celebrate 20 years of life in the form of a mind blowing classic setlist.

For an entire month, Children Of Bodom will bring their reaper sound over Europe, so make sure to catch them on one of the dates listed below. Tickets will go on sale on December 14th.

Alexi Laiho recently told OC Weekly: “I don’t know yet if we’re going to play the whole album or probably just a lot of rare songs from it we never play live. We might do a mix of our first two albums. It will be weird, it will be a trip but fans will dig it. I am thinking instead of playing a whole album, we will play the most obscure tracks.”

Tour dates:

March
8 - Capitol - Hannover, Germany
9 - Longhorn - Stuttgart, Germany
10 - Den Atelier - Luxembourg, Luxembourg
11 - Academy 2 - Manchester, England
12 - Shepherd’s Bush Empire - London, England
14 - Le Cargo - Caen, France
15 - L’Echonova - Vannes, France
16 - La Nef - Angouleme, France
17 - Disney - Le File 7 - Magny-Le-Hongre, France
18 - Le Metaphone - Oignie, France
20 - Komplex - Zurich, Switzerland
21 - Theaterfabrik - Munich, Germany
22 - Live Club - Milan, Italy
23 - Tvornica Kulture - Zagreb, Croatia
25 - Arena - Vienna, Austria
26 - Strasse E - Dresden, Germany
27 - Astra - Berlin, Germany
30 - Pustervik - Gothenburg, Sweden

April
1 - Pumpehuset - Copenhagen, Denmark
2 - KB - Malmö, Sweden
3 - Rockefeller - Oslo, Norway
4 - Debaser Strand - Stockholm, Sweden

Children Of Bodom recently released a special lyric video for the song "My Bodom (I Am The Only One)”, taken from the band's latest studio album, I Worship Chaos. On October 20th, fans were encouraged via social media to submit photos of themselves with the band for a chance to be in an upcoming video. Over 300 photos were selected to be featured in the "My Bodom (I Am The Only One)" lyric video.

Alexi Laiho comments, "This is the coolest and my favourite lyric video by far because we actually had a chance to include COB fans from all over the globe in it. It’s the least we can do to show our gratitude, love and appreciation of the madness they bless us with night after night. I can’t wait to play the song live on the upcoming tours!"

Swedish classic heavy metal band, Starblind, will release their third album in 2017 via Pure Steel Records. The band have released a teaser video, which you can find below.

Says the band: “Starblind is back! New singer. New album. Same heavy metal as before. Please welcome Marcus Sannefjord Olkerud to the Starblind family! Here is a sneak peek of what’s to come in 2017….”

Starblind lineup:

Marcus Sannefjord Olkerud - vocals
Björn Rosenblad - guitar
Johan Jonasson - guitar (ex-Dethronement, ex-J.J. Glitter, ex-Bacon Warriors, ex-Danger)
Zakarias Wikner - drums
Daniel Tillberg - bass (ex-Sadauk)

Slamophiliac - the pseudonym of slamming brutal death metal producer and musician Darryn Palmer. Starting in 2013 as a joke band, Slamophiliac took a turn for the serious after the label Brutal Gear agreed to release the debut album, Aborted Into Absolute In-existence. Shortly after, CDN Records picked up Slamophiliac and have released several albums since.

Are you sick of the usual gore-infused tropes found within this sub-genre? Well, let this newest of releases, entitled Perihelion, take you on a mind-altering trip that features seven highly-abstract, theoretical-filled songs straight from the mind of a true slamtellectual. Sure, it's high-brow... but not at the expense of sheer brutality!

The album will be released on January 1st. Purchase at CDN Records.

Tracklisting:

“Extirpate Morality”
“Insignificancy Of Objective Ideals”
“Metaphysical World Of Abstract Constructs”
“Eternal Disappointment”
“Denial Of Self”
“Contempt Of Irrational Thought”
“Total Annihilation Eminent”

“Extirpate Morality”:

Guests:

Roberto Granados (The Roberto Granados Autonome Project)
Bryon Johnson (Insidious Asphyxiation/Molested)
Bob Shaw (Brain Spasm)
Cory Bouillon (CradleOfIncest)
Zack Glaeser (Travesty Of Mankind)
Zack Shaw (Phalloplast/Ectomyectomy)
Rich Farringer (Urethreal Injection)

Credits:

All songs written, arranged and performed by Slamophiliac
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Dazz
Cover art by Mark Cooper
Logo by Brutal Disorder Designs
Layout by Dazz

Italian progressive metal band, Frozen Sand, have set January 19th as the international release date for the new album, Fractals: A Shadow Out Of Lights. An official album trailer can be found below. You can pre-order the album here.

Frozen Sand is a dreamy musical entity begotten by the collision between the art of storytelling and the great auditory power of progressive metal music. Such an experimental project was shaped in winter 2010 by five young Narrators, all coming from different backgrounds and experiences, but united by friendship, enthusiasm and a deep passion to share: music. Everything began in a small provincial town located in the foothills of the Italian Alps, where the lakes opaquely mirror the shapes of those historical villages of which the slopes are speckled. The zealous dream soon took a shape, gradually concretizing into notes… words… emotions.

Nowadays, after six years of musical experience, three EPs and more than 60 gigs behind, the first major work of Frozen Sand is about to be released. Perfectly balanced and diversified, the artistic streak and the technical skills of five Narrators have finally molded a full-length album, which is part of a complex saga: Fractals Of Frozen Lifetimes.

It is a sparkle of a dream… an endless journey through the abyss of human imagination… a huge project whose music is spaceless and stories are timeless.

…Now the story is about to begin

Tracklisting:

“A Melody Through Time And Space”
“Perfect Inspiration”
“Everlasting Yearning”
“Sail Towards The Unknown”
“Yell Of Hesitation”
“Rule This World”
“You - Partial - Perfection - Daylight”
“Silent Raven”

Trailer:

New Haven-based metal titans, Dead By Wednesday, have released a new lyric video for "I Will Define", featuring Waylon Reavis of A Killer’s Confesstion. The clip can be found below.

Comments the band: “For your viewing pleasure here's a special Christmas gift in celebration of the upcoming 2017 tour with A Killer's Confession and Dead By Wednesday. Taken from our latest album, The Darkest Of Angels, out on EMP Label Group, this is a bonus track called "I Will Define" featuring Waylon Reavis! Shout out to Sick Eye Entertainment for making this kick ass lyric video too!!”

Upcoming Dead By Wednesday live dates:

January
13 - Toad’s Place - New Haven, CT
27 - The Tank American Legion Post 185 - Agawam, MA
28 - The Warehouse - Clarksville, TN

February
9 - Piper’s Sports Bar and Grill - Greenacres, FL
10 - Ashley’s SportsPage - Satellite Beach, FL
11 - The Haven - Orlando, FL
25 - Lucky 13 Saloon - Brooklyn, NY

Greek prog metal/rock band, Need, have released a lyric video for “Alltribe”, a track from their fourth album, Hegaiamas: a song for freedom, to be released on January 17th.

Music-wise, the song explores new soundscapes for Need, something that’s always the band’s purpose when writing new material, while lyric-wise it’s a journey for freedom through the exploration of one’s self. The video was made by by Haris Kountouris and HK Visual Creations.

Hegaiamas: a song for freedom was produced by Need and mixed/mastered by Hector.D at HD Studios. Cover artwork by Nick "Eyejacker" Panagiotopoulos.

Tracklisting:

“Rememory”
“Alltribe”
“Therianthrope”
“Riverthane”
“Tilikum”
“I.O.T.A.”
“Hegaiamas”

“Rememory” video:

“Tilikum”:

Trailer:

Need is a prog metal/rock band based in Athens, Greece. Formed in 2004 they have three more albums and have toured Europe twice, having shared the stage with the likes of Jon Oliva's Pain, Symphony X, Candlemass and more while they've also performed the 15th edition of ProgPower USA in 2014, at Sonisphere Festival 2011 opening for Iron Maiden, Mastodon, Slipknot and more.

 

Italian modern/gothic metal band, Revenience, have release their new video for the track “Revenant”, taken from the album Daedalum, released earlier in the year via Sliptrick Records.

The video has been an ambitious undertaking for the band, shooting in difficult and exotic locations to provide a portentous, epic, movie-like feel. The song itself is a moody, sumptuous ballad featuring lead vocalists Debora Ceneri’s soaring vocals and the band in reflective yet powerful mode perfectly embodying the feel of the visuals. Watch below.

Story synopsis: In a not so distant future, after a unspecified disaster that has put humanity on the edge of extinction - a small group of survivors live in harsh condition dealing with primal experiences. Their only concern is to stay alive, even if they are somehow trying to cling to remnants of their civilization (reading, painting, religion, etc). It is at this moment, that a mystical entity, with a red and black robe and a mysterious box, appears. Everyone feels its presence and they turn and follow it as if hypnotized.

Then, the box is opened, unveiling its content: a daedalum. Spinning the daedalum causes a quantum leap, funneling the survivors into another dimension, where they experience, once again, a glimpse of civilization through music, art, elegance and beauty – a show in a baroque theater – all overseen by the mystical entity. Then the daedalum stops spinning and they are pulled back to their miserable reality. But the daedalum is still there, left by the entity as a gift. So they can spin it again and perhaps find hope for a better future.

In celebration of their 25th anniversary in 2017, Kataklysm will perform their albums, Shadows & Dust and Serenity In Fire, on a string of European dates in October.

Says the band: “Happy Holidays from Kataklysm to all our friends around the world! We are taking this opportunity to give you some great news, we are excited beyond words to bring this to you and we thank you for the 25 years you have given us, we are here to serve our fans the metal and we are prepared to do it for much longer, we love you all , enjoy the holidays!!”

A Moment In Time tour dates:

October
5 - Hannover, Germany - Capitol
6 - Leipzig, Germany - Hellraiser
7 - Antwerpen, Belgium - Trix
8 - Hambrug, Germany - Grunspan
10 - London, England - 02 Academy Islington
12 - Stuttgart, Germany - LKA
13 - Luzern, Switzerland - Schuur
14 - Bochum, Germany - Matrix
15 - Nurnberg, Germany - Hirsch
17 - Prag, Czech Republic - Roxy
18 - Vienna, Austria - Simmcity
19 - Lindau, Germany - Vaudeville
20 - Lausanne, Switzerland - Les Docks
21 - Munich, Germany - Backstage

James Hetfield spoke to Revolver magazine about where METALLICA's latest album, "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct", fits in with what the band has done in the past. He said: "It's documenting exactly where we are right now. I don't want to compare it to previous stuff — that stuff is what it is, and this stuff is what it is." But, he added, "maybe the initial intention was 'simplicity' — I wanted more simplicity, so I kept saying, [METALLICA's debut album, 1983's] 'Kill 'Em All'. The Black Album [1991] is more simple than some of the others, song-wise; but the production of that record is quite complex and really layered. I wanted the new one to have a little more layers than 'Death Magnetic' [2008], but I also wanted it to be more simple — and I wanted it to be more palatable to the ear. I think 'Death Magnetic' is very, very powerful, and I love it, but it abuses the ear quite a bit. This record sounds loud and powerful, but in a warmer way."

Much of the credit for "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct"'s beefier sound goes to producer Greg Fidelman, who previously engineered "Death Magnetic" (produced by Rick Rubin) and co-produced 2011's "Lulu" (METALLICA's controversial collaboration with Lou Reed). The band recorded the effort at its headquarters, a building owned by METALLICA in San Rafael, just north of San Francisco.

"Since Greg walked into our lives in 2007, he's been on every project — 'Death Magnetic', 'Through the Never' [the band's 2013 concert film], the DEEP PURPLE, RAINBOW and IRON MAIDEN covers we did, the Lou Reed record," METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich explained to Revolver. "So I think by the time that Rick [Rubin] was not, uh, involved, he maybe felt a little freer to make METALLICA sound the way that he felt it should sound."

"We really enjoyed his sonics and the approach he had on the movie," Hetfield added. "The 'Through The Never' stuff sounds really, really warm and powerful, so it's easy to turn up. That's what we were going for this time, and Greg stepped up…

"I've gotta give him credit, because it's not easy to hang out with us," Hetfield laughed. "It can be pretty rough jumping into the mix between Lars and I. He did a good job of being the swing vote, or the referee, or whatever you want to call it. I mean, this guy is pretty mellow, and he's able to get his opinion across without being a dick about it. Not that you have to totally walk on eggshells around us, but I think Lars and I backed off quite a bit. There was a lot less… I wouldn't say arguments, but disagreements on how things should go, because we really trusted him."

"Hardwired… To Self-Destruct" debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 album chart, selling 291,000 copies in its first week of release. The effort consists of two discs, containing a dozen songs and nearly 80 minutes of music.

The deluxe version of "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct" also features a live set recorded at Rasputin's in Berkeley, California on Record Store Day 2016 and a concert version of the song "Hardwired" recorded at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

Swedish metallers CIVIL WAR have vowed to carry on with a new singer following the "surprise" departure of their original frontman, Patrik Johansson.

The band — which features former SABATON members Rikard Sundén (guitar), Daniel Mullback (drums) and Daniel Mÿhr (keyboards) — said in a statement: "As some of you probably already noticed, our vocalist Patrik suddenly left the band without any further notice. It came as a really big surprise to us all.

"We just had a meeting and we came to the conclusion that CIVIL WAR will go on, and all planned gigs and festivals will be done as planned!

"We'll take the holidays now to let all this sink in and then we'll start the hunt for a new singer after that."

Johansson released his own statement in which he said: "Okay, to avoid misunderstandings: I have left CIVIL WAR. They need to tour more and I am not the guy for that due to my work and family situation.

"I have given them some of my best songs and almost five years of my life. I love them, but all things have an end.

"I wish that they can get a new singer that can carry on my legacy and the spirit of CIVIL WAR.

"If no new singer can be found in time, I will, of course, do the booked shows if they want.

"I will now focus on ASTRAL DOORS and perhaps more important to make a follow-up to LION'S SHARE's epic 'Dark Hours'!!"

CIVIL WAR's third album, "The Last Full Measure", was released on November 4 via Napalm.

Asked if the SABATON connection has made it easier for CIVIL WAR to get tours and recognition in the metal scene, Johansson told Sound The Charge! web site: "Of course, this whole SABATON thing has made it easier for us to achieve fame. No doubt about that. On the other hand it is tough for us to convince the 'real' music fans that we actually are a good band since most of the real metal fans hate SABATON. So it's both good and bad."

Fan-filmed video footage of LAST IN LINE's December 3 performance at Limelight in Belfast, Northern Ireland can be seen below.

LAST IN LINE is the band featuring DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell alongside fellow founding DIO member Vinny Appice, plus singer Andrew Freeman, who has previously fronted HURRICANE and LYNCH MOB.

LAST IN LINE's debut album, "Heavy Crown", was released on February 19, 2016 via Frontiers Music Srl. The CD was recorded at a Santa Clarita, California studio with producer Jeff Pilson, a veteran bassist who has played with DIO, FOREIGNER, DOKKEN and T&N, among others.

LAST IN LINE recruited Phil Soussan (OZZY OSBOURNE, BEGGARS & THIEVES, Steve Lukather) to play bass for the group for all dates in support of "Heavy Crown". Also joining them at the shows is virtuoso keyboardist Erik Norlander (Lana Lane).

Freeman previously played with Soussan in the acclaimed Las Vegas rock and roll production "Raiding The Rock Vault".

Appice and Soussan had done a number of shows together as members of the all-star jam band BIG NOIZE.

Original LAST IN LINE bassist Jimmy Bain passed away in late January at the age of 68. He was reportedly suffering from lung cancer at the time of his death.

In a recent interview with Rock Today, Campbell spoke about LAST IN LINE's decision to carry on as a band, with Soussan taking Bain's place. He said: "Jimmy was a great riff writer, and [the band] really meant so much to him, and that's the only reason why I feel we can continue to do this, because when Jimmy passed away, the initial effect on me was, 'Fuck it! That's it. We're done.' We'll put the [first LAST IN LINE] record out and that's the end of it, but on reflection, Jimmy put so much into this record, as indeed we all have, that we owe it to him and we owe it to ourselves and our legacy to work this record."

He continued: "We did have a tour planned for immediately after the record was released, but we obviously canceled that tour. We ended up doing some of the key shows a couple of months later like the Frontiers festival in Milan and we did the Rocklahoma festival at the end of May, but on reflection, it was important to us. It meant too much. The response to the record also helped fuel that decision, because people did genuinely respond to it and say, 'Hey, this is a great record. It's what we've been waiting for years,' so that obviously buoyed us a lot and we licked our wounds and picked it up and we were very fortunate that we got Phil Soussan, who's about as close as you can get to someone who plays in that style that Jimmy does."

Vivian added: "Phil knew Jimmy for years and years. We were all friends. He played for Ozzy for years and years. He gets what it's like to play that kind of aggressive, time-keeping percussive bass guitar like Jimmy did, so it's never going to be quite the same. No two people ever play the same — guitar, bass players, singers — we're all unique like our finger prints and that's what makes great bands and the chemistry as the interaction of these individuals. It's as close as we're going to come playing with someone like Phil Soussan and we owe it to Jimmy and his memory and the musical legacy that we have together. We finally decided we have to continue to do this, but it was a painful decision."