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."

STATUS QUO frontman Francis Rossi (pictured) has commented on the death of his bandmate, Rick Parfitt, describing him as "the archetypal rock star."

Parfitt died in Spain on Saturday at age 68. The guitarist suffered from a severe infection after experiencing complications with a pre-existing shoulder injury.

Rossi said in a statement: "I was not ready for this.

"Rick Parfitt had been a part of my story for fifty years. Without doubt the longest relationship of my life, this was also the most satisfying, frustrating, creative and fluid.

"From those early days, we worked together to create the QUO sound, look and hits. We spent years on the road, on the stage and in the studio, rarely far from each other, honing what we did. We were a team, a double act, a partnership and yet also two very different people, handling the pressures of growing older, constant touring, dealing with success and keeping the creative flame burning in different ways.

"He developed his own sound, his own style, casually inspiring a generation of players. "Rick was the archetypal rock star, one of the originals. He never lost his joy, his mischievous edge and his penchant for living life at high speed, high volume, high risk. His life was never boring, he was louder and faster and more carefree than the rest of us.

"There were any number of incidents along the way, times when he strayed into areas of true danger and yet still losing him now is still a shock.

"Even in a year that has claimed so many of our best, including now George Michael, Rick Parfitt stands out. I was not ready for this."

Parfitt had experienced a number of health setbacks over the years, including a quadruple heart bypass in 1997, a throat cancer scare in 2005 and a heart attack in 2011.

The guitarist reportedly quit drinking and smoking following the heart attack five years ago. Subsequent health scares had changed the way he lived his life even more, particularly the cardiac arrest he suffered earlier this year, which saw him collapsing on stage.

STATUS QUO was forced to cancel a number of shows in 2014 after Parfitt was told by doctors to rest following surgery to correct a problem with his previous heart bypass.

Parfitt and Rossi recently announced they were hanging up their electric guitars for good following one final tour.

In October, Parfitt said he would no longer be performing with the band after suffering a heart attack in the summer.

Freddie Edwards, the son of QUO bassist John "Rhino" Edwards, had been stepping in for Parfitt so that concerts did not have to be canceled.

Earlier this month Megadeth were nominated for a 2017 Grammy Award for "Best Metal Performance" for the title track of their latest album, Dystopia. This marks the band's 12th Grammy nomination, yet they have never won a Grammy.

Asked by FeMetal TV in the video below if he thinks the Recording Academy members understand the heavy metal genre, Megadeth bassist David Ellefson answered: "No, not really. The Grammys is a very broad entity, and they honor all kinds of different music. And certainly they're credible, and it's incredible to be nominated again and invited back. But do they fundamentally just understand every single genre? How could you?"

He continued: "Really, it's the voters. I stayed on as a voting member for a few years after we started getting nominations back in the '90s, and then I just kind of discontinued it. But it's recognition by your industry and by your peers for the work that you've done. And I assume it's nice to win [laughs] — hopefully we'll know one day."

"It's always nice to be nominated. And I think being nominated for a metal band, that says a lot. Because if you're a pop act, if you're Nashville, or an urban act, a Grammy can really put a lot of wind in your sails — to sell records, to bring notoriety, touring… on all aspects. I remember Norah Jones, the little girl with eleven or whatever Grammys she had, it changed her life. Whereas a metal band, we've been around many years — we've done the ground work, we've done the leg work, we've toured, we have a very intrinscic connection with our fanbase already."

Ellefson added: "The Grammy thing is obviously wonderful. But I think we are a genre… And there's a lot of genres there, because there's something like 100 categories; they only televise, like, 12 or 14 of 'em on TV, but there's another, literally, 60 [or] 70 categories that they give away from 1pm 'till 5pm before the televised section starts — Tejano music, things that I barely even have heard of. And they're honoring that. And that is the thing that I think is cool about the Grammys — they have really widened themselves out to honoring all of these different genres, and deservedly so. There isn't just one-size-fits-all in music, so it's cool that they honor that, and it's great that metal is one of those."

Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine released a statement earlier in December in which he expressed his gratitude for the band's latest Grammy nomination by saying: "Last time we were nominated, I was at the awards talking with Kenny G and I said how we'd been nominated a lot, but hadn't won it yet. He said, 'Don't feel bad. It took me 21 times to win my first one!'"

"This has been such an incredible year for Megadeth. With so many milestones, and so many individual and group awards, to now have this honor of being nominated again is the grand finale to the most perfect campaign. We are very appreciative and thankful to all of our peers and contemporaries that are voting for the 2017 Grammys."

The following artists are nominated in the “Best Metal Performance” category:

Baroness - “Shock Me” (Abraxan Hymns)
Gojira - “Silvera” (Roadrunner Records)
Korn - “Rotting In Vain” (Roadrunner Records)
Megadeth - “Dystopia” (UME)
Periphery” - “The Price Is Wrong” (Sumerian)

The 59th annual Grammy Awards will be held on February 12, 2017 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California and broadcast on CBS at 8pm ET.

 

 

According to The Pulse Of Radio, a rare early recording made by late ALICE IN CHAINS singer Layne Staley has been put up for auction on eBay. Seller Ron Holt posted that the tape was made in 1988 and is from a band called 40 YEARS OF HATE that he and Staley were in together prior to the formation of ALICE IN CHAINS. Although future ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist Jerry Cantrell was also part of the project, he did not contribute any guitar to the recordings on the tape.

There are six songs in total with Staley singing on them, and Holt noted that he is selling just the physical tape, not the publishing rights to the tunes, which he will consider separate offers for. He wrote: "The music was a mix of industrial, rock and funk rock. The songs were never fully recorded and exist here in an unfinished state." The bid at the time of this writing was $500, or a buyer could purchase the tape outright for $5,000.

Holt also noted that alternate mixes of the songs were leaked onto YouTube over the years, while one track, "It's Coming After", was recorded by Seattle act SECOND COMING.

Cantrell told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that Staley, who died in 2002, was a singular talent. "Layne was a very unique, one-of-a-kind guy," he said. "There's, like, a handful of those guys in music, for every generation, that are that unique and that hard to cop, but a lot of people try. [Laughs] But there's a lot of people that feel the weight of what that guy brought to music and have been influenced by it."

Staley's well-publicized battles with drug addiction brought ALICE IN CHAINS' career to a virtual standstill in 1996, with his death seemingly putting an end to the band as well.

But ALICE IN CHAINS regrouped in 2006 with vocalist William DuVall, who had been part of Jerry Cantrell's solo backing band. ALICE IN CHAINS has since cut two studio albums and may release new music in 2017.

Graham Bonnet says that he is not interested in hearing Ritchie Blackmore's revamped version of RAINBOW because the band doesn't include any of the other musicians who were originally part of the group.

Blackmore performed RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE material at three shows this past June. He was joined at the gigs by LORDS OF BLACK singer Ronnie Romero, STRATOVARIUS keyboardist Jens Johansson, BLACKMORE'S NIGHT drummer David Keith and bassist Bob Nouveau (a.k.a. Robert "Bob" Curiano, ex-BLACKMORE'S NIGHT).

Asked by Metal Express Radio if he had a chance to attend any of the RAINBOW shows this past summer, Bonnet said (hear audio below): "No. To be honest with you, I'm not really interested. It sounds a bit dumb and horrible, but I'm not interested in what Ritchie's doing."

He continued: "If he wants to get RAINBOW, or some of RAINBOW, back together, he should invite some of the original players from the RAINBOW lineup I was in. It should be somebody like Don Airey [on keyboards] and probably Roger Glover playing bass to give the people what they sort of remember from the '80s. At the moment, that was… To me, it looked like a session band. So I didn't listen to it. I thought, 'Is he kidding?'"

Bonnet added: "I haven't listened to it. I have no opinion on it. That's it, really. I'm sure he's not interested in what I do either. But he's got his own career. He has his own BLACKMORE'S NIGHT thing, I think. He's gonna stick with that, I think. That's his baby. That's what he's always wanted to do, something like that, for years."

In 1979, Bonnet auditioned for the frontman position in RAINBOW. With his James Dean image, the choice of Bonnet to replace Ronnie James Dio was subject to some questions. However, once the band heard Bonnet sing, they knew they had their man. With Bonnet at the mic, they recorded the "Down To Earth" LP, which became one of RAINBOW's most successful releases.

Graham moved on from RAINBOW in the early '80s to work on his solo career. He also played with MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, recorded several albums with ALCATRAZZ and had a short stint with IMPELLITTERI.

RAINBOW has announced a four-show tour of the U.K. in June 2017. The very special opening night will see them headlining the second annual Stone Free Festival at The O2, London, which will be Blackmore's first London show since 1995, with further dates in Manchester, Glasgow and Birmingham.

Joe Hottinger and Lzzy Hale of HALESTORM, Eric Brittingham of CINDERELLA and Rachel Bolan of SKID ROW joined THEE ROCK N' ROLL RESIDENCY on stage on December 13 at TailGate Brewery in Nashville, Tennessee to perform cover versions of KIX's "Blow My Fuse", BLACK SABBATH's "Heaven And Hell" and RAMONES' "Psycho Therapy". Video footage of their appearances — courtesy of professional rock photographer Chad Lee — can be seen below.

HALESTORM will release its third covers EP, "ReAniMate 3.0: The CoVeRs eP" on January 6, 2017 via Atlantic. Produced by Nick Raskulinecz (FOO FIGHTERS, ALICE IN CHAINS, KORN), the six-song set will feature an eclectic mix of songs from artists like METALLICA, SOUNDGARDEN, JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS, SOPHIE B. HAWKINS, TWENTY ONE PILOTS and WHITESNAKE. HALESTORM's take on the latter band's classic "Still Of The Night" is available for streaming now and as an instant download for fans who pre-order the EP.

"ReAniMate 3.0: The CoVeRs eP" follows HALESTORM's previous covers EPs, 2011's "ReAniMate" and 2013's "ReAniMate 2.0".

According to a recent tweet from Bolan, SKID ROW is writing and demoing new material with the group's current touring lineup, which includes the South African-born, British-based singer ZP Theart (DRAGONFORCE, TANK, I AM I).

Even though SKID ROW has been playing shows with Theart since the beginning of this year, guitarist Dave "Snake" Sabo recently stopped short of calling him the band's official new frontman.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, BREAKING BENJAMIN guitarist Jasen Rauch and his wife Heather suffered a tragic loss over the Christmas holiday as their son was born prematurely and unfortunately did not survive. Rauch wrote: "These last 24 hours have been some of the hardest I think I've ever faced. Most of you know Heather and I were expecting our newest little baby Rauch next summer. We couldn't have been more excited and thankful. Unfortunately, our Christmas took a turn on us this week. Little Henry Mitchell Rauch was delivered and went to be with Jesus earlier this morning."

Rauch added: "It's a loss neither of us know how to even begin to process. We are both so thankful for the support from friends and family that has been pouring in from around us. As sad as it has been, I want to focus on how incredible Henry was… I know he's looking down on us now smiling and telling us it's going to be okay. Mommy and Daddy love you, Henry. You'll be with us always."

The Rauchs already have one son named Mitchell. Jasen also has two daughters from a previous marriage.

Jasen Rauch was formerly the lead guitarist for RED. He did some songwriting work for BREAKING BENJAMIN and joined the band officially in late 2014, appearing on the group's 2015 comeback album, "Dark Before Dawn".

BREAKING BENJAMIN will hit the road this January for a short run of dates starting on January 10 in Silver Spring, Maryland, and ending on January 28 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Greek guitar virtuoso Gus G., well known in rock and metal circles for his work as Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist and as leader of his own band FIREWIND, spoke to Metal Wani about the possibility of a new solo album from the BLACK SABBATH singer once the legendary heavy metal band has completed its "The End" tour in early 2017.

Asked if he will be part of Ozzy's next solo record, Gus — who joined Osbourne's band in 2009 and appeared on his eleventh studio album, "Scream" — said (hear audio below): "I should hope so. I haven't heard any news regarding when we're going to be doing this, because I think he's still on tour with SABBATH. And I know he's been hinting a little bit to the press that he wants to do another solo record, but who knows when that will be? I think that's more of a question for him instead of me."

Pressed on whether he will have time to work on Ozzy's next solo album in between his touring commitments with FIREWIND and as a solo artist in the first few months of 2017, Gus said: "Hey, man, if the Ozzman calls, you have to make time. You have to be stupid not to make time for him."

Ozzy recently told SiriusXM that he has no intention of retiring once SABBATH has completed its farewell tour. He said: "I've been writing with Billy Morrison [who currently plays guitar in Billy Idol's band and co-wrote songs on Idol's latest album] and [Idol] guitarist] Steve Stevens. [Steve is] not gonna be in my band, he's with Billy Idol. But he's a friend of [Morrison's] and [Morrison] plays with Billy Idol. I said, 'I've got some ideas,' and we worked it out. There's one song that right now is called 'Crack Cocaine'. It's like a bluesy thing."

Asked when fans can expect to see his next solo album, Ozzy replied: "I don't wanna say when [it will be out]. I can't be working the SABBATH thing and my own thing at the same time. I tried that with the Ozzfest; it didn't work."

Ozzy told Metro back in August that he was "playing around with some song ideas" for his next solo album. He added: "Once BLACK SABBATH is off the road, I will be heading into the studio with my band to get the songs recorded. Once it's all in the can, you can be sure to see me back on the road again."

Ozzy's wife and manager Sharon Osbourne told Rolling Stone that the 68-year-old singer will carry on as a solo artist after BLACK SABBATH's farewell tour comes to an end. "We'll continue until Ozzy finishes, and Ozzy won't be long behind them when he calls it a day," she said.

"It's not going to be within the next year, but it's coming up," she said. "I don't want Ozzy singing 'Crazy Train' at 75. I think it's best you go out before you hit that 70 and go out on top."

Ozzy has not released an all-new solo album since "Scream", having spent the last few years touring with BLACK SABBATH and recording that band's "13" album.

In the following video, Sixx:A.M. guitarist DJ Ashba will teach his wife Naty the very basics of playing guitar. In exchange, Naty will give DJ Spanish lessons.

Sixx:A.M.'s Nikki Sixx, James Michael and DJ Ashba are featured in the clip below speaking with WDHA-FM 105.5 FM's Terrie Carr They discuss their new album, Vol. 2, Prayers For The Blessed, and the band's future plans.

Sixx:A.M. recently released Vol. 2 Prayers For The Blessed, via Eleven Seven Music. Written and recorded at the same time as Vol. 1, Prayers For The Damned, issued earlier this year, the album acts as a companion piece to the first chapter while simultaneously elevating the band's sound in every area.

The band’s latest single “We Will Not Go Quietly” is currently storming the rock charts in the US and Canada, and is featured as the opening theme song for season 2 of A&E’s gritty drama series Gangland Undercover. The official video for “We Will Not Go Quietly” was helmed by iconic director Wayne Isham (Michael Jackson, Muse), and was filmed during their recent Canadian arena tour stop in Edmonton, Alberta, offering viewers a “show-day-in-the-life-of” the band, in addition to their powerful on-stage energy. Watch the video below.

Based out of Los Angeles, CA, Witherfall is the collective brainchild of guitarist Jake Dreyer (Iced Earth, Kobra And The Lotus, White Wizzard), singer Joseph Michael (White Wizzard) and the late Adam Sagan (Circle II Circle, Into Eternity). With Dreyer and Michael having previously worked together in White Wizzard and Sagan collaborating on with Dreyer on the critically acclaimed debut instrumental EP, In The Shadows Of Madness - which included a featured track for the popular video game franchise, Rockband - the trio combined forces to begin writing for the new project in 2013.

Eager to resonate their ideas, Witherfall headed to Phoenix, AZ to self-produce their debut album, Nocturnes And Requiems, with engineer Ralph Patlan (Megadeth, Brian "Head" Welch, MSG) in late 2014. The album was then sent on to New York City for mixing and mastering by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (Rob Zombie, Queensrÿche, Hatebreed) at Planet Z. Resulting in eight masterfully executed tracks featuring the group's dynamic blend of darkened melodic and progressive metal, Nocturnes And Requiems is scheduled for release on February 10th, 2017. Preorders are live at Witherfall’s official website.

Nocturnes And Requiems is dedicated to the life of Adam Sagan who passed on December 7th, 2016 during the final stages of production. The band collectively commented, "This, as we know, is the last piece of work that Adam contributed and played on. Adam’s talent, passion and personality is woven throughout every part of this record as he was easily 1/3 of the creative force. Nocturnes And Requiems was a name that Adam eerily came up with one evening when we were figuring out album titles would not have sounded the way it does now without his immense contribution on and off the drums. Adam, we love you and it's a tragedy that you were not able to see this release. You will always and forever be a member of Witherfall. Rest In Peace man."

Witherfall has revealed the album's debut single, "End Of Time", which can be seen / heard in the below lyric music video, as well as the unedited album version. Showcasing the melancholic cover artwork painted by Kristian Whalin (Bathory, The Black Dahlia Murder, Wintersun), "End Of Time" presents a unique approach to the idea of a modern metal song with memorable melodic hooks, big choruses and dynamically aggressive vocals combined with virtuosic guitar playing reminiscent of the legends of the neoclassical shred guitar scene and a progressive rhythm section featuring modern extreme drumming techniques and fusion influenced bass lines.

Tracklisting:

“Portrait”
“What We Are Dying For”
“Act II”
“Sacrifice”
“The Great Awakening”
“End Of Time”
“Finale”
“Nobody Sleeps Here Anymore”

“End Of Time” lyric video:

“End Of Time” album version:

 

 

 

 

French metal act Sortilege formed in 1981, released their debut self-titled EP in 1983, and the debut album Metamorphose one year later. Both releases quickly gained cult status, and are known nowadays as some of the the most important heavy metal releases from France.

In the first months of 2017, No Remorse Records will reissue both titles. The Sortilege EP, which will hit the streets on January 30th, will be extended to a size of a regular album, as it will include four bonus tracks, taken from the band's demo tape from 1982. The reissue will be available as a CD and limited edition LP.

Listen to "Gladiateur" from the Sortilege EP:

Two weeks later, on February 13th, the Metamorphose album will be released as a double CD, with the original version of the album and the previously unreleased first mix version on disc one, and the rare English version of the album (originally released as Metamorphosis) on disc two. The double LP version will include the original version of the album, as well as the previously unreleased first mix.

Listen to "D'Ailleurs" from the Metamorphose album:

Both the Sortilege EP and the Metamorphose album will be also available as strictly limited box set editions, including the CD, exclusive vinyl LP (different color than the regular edition, available in the boxset only), t-shirt, poster and a patch. Both reissues have been remastered by Bart Gabriel (Cirith Ungol, Satan's Host, Crystal Viper) and got special “old school and dynamic” treatment.

Pre-orders can be placed at this location.

 

Doug Kolk of KTLA-TV conducted an interview with METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett prior to the band's December 15 concert at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, California. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked if it was important for METALLICA to revisit its thrash metal roots on the band's latest album, "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct", Hammett said: "Well, you know, what's important to us is making the best album we can. And whether it turns out the way you're describing it, or if it turns out the way 'Hardwired… To Self-Destruct' turns out… I mean, we just try it and make the best album we can and put as much effort and sweat and everything else into it to make sure that it's a good document to just kind of let people know that that's where our heads are at musically and creatively at that given time."

Regarding METALLICA's status as the only heavy metal band that has managed to achieve mainstream success without alientating some of its most loyal fans, Hammett said: "I don't know how we did it [laughs], but we managed to do it, and I'm very thankful about that. At a certain point, it really did seem like people were climbing the fence to come over to us rather than us climbing the fence to go over to them. And we feel very fortunate that that kind of situation happened to us rather than some other sort of situation that might have felt uncomfortable or whatnot. But, you know, I'm glad that we can connect with as many people as possible through our music — beyond the labels, beyond the genres — just based on pure human emotion and connectivity, I'm glad that we can do that on a mass scale."

"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.

London based, five-piece hard rock act Damn Dice has released a new single / video "Home", taken from the band's debut album The Great Unknown.

Formed in 2011, Damn Dice are at the forefront of The UK’s underground rock scene. With their adrenaline fuelled performance and larger than life stage show, they have quickly earned a loyal and expanding fan base. After the release of their six-track EP and a UK and European tour supporting L.A. Guns, Damn Dice released their debut full-length album The Great Unknown in 2015, and are currently working on their second effort. The band's next show is March 10th at the Hard Rock Hell AOR Festival in The UK.

"Rock (Like You Mean It)" video:

"What Now?" lyric video:

"Driven" video:

Finland's riotous rockers Steve'N'Seagulls have released a video for their take on "Self Esteem" by The Offspring. It was filmed "Fall 2016, somewhere in the USA."

 

In live news, Steve'N'Seagulls are gearing up to bring their brand of hillbilly hard rock to The US in February in support of their new album, Brothers In Farms. Their schedule is as follows:

February
1 - Somerville, MA - Once Ballroom
2 - Philadelphia, PA - Milkboy
3 - New York, NY - The Studio at Webster Hall
4 - Washington, DC - Rock N Roll Hotel
5 - Pittsburgh, PA - Rex Theatre
6 - Chicago, IL - Beat Kitchen
7 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club
9 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
10 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
11 - Boise, ID - Neurolux
12 - Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern
13 - Portland, OR - Dante's
15 - San Francisco, CA - Swedish American Hall
16 - Los Angeles, CA - Resident
17 - San Diego, CA - The Casbah
18 - Phoenix, AZ - The Rebel Lounge
19 - Tucson, AZ - Maloneys Live
21 - San Antonio, TX - Carlos Alvarez Studio at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
22 - Austin, TX - Grizzly Hall
23 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada
24 - Fayetteville, AR - George's Majestic Lounge
25 - Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge

Steve'N'Seagulls have released a video for their cover of the Guns N’ Roses hit “November Rain”, featured on their new album Brothers in Farms (Spinefarm Records), which sees the band offering their unique takes on classics from Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, and more. Watch the new video below.

Brothers In Farms tracklisting:

"Aces High"
"Sad But True"
"Wishmaster"
"It's A Long Way To The Top"
"You Could Be Mine"
"November Rain"
"In Bloom"
"Symphony Of Destruction"
"Fill Up The Tank"
"Burn"
"The Pretender"
"Self Esteem"
"Out In The Fields"
"Born To Be Wild"

"November Rain" video:

"Aces High" video:

Finnish death metal band Purtenance, whose relationship with Xtreem Music label owner Dave Rotten began in 1991 with the release of their debut 7" EP and later their cult album Member Of Immortal Damnation, have inked a new deal with Xtreem Music for the release of their upcoming recordings.

Purtenance became a five-piece band again in late 2015 and have been playing shows and writing new material for a new mini CD to be recorded in early 2017. The band will also see their 1992 debut album Member Of Immortal Damnation re-issued on CD, LP, and cassette to commemorate the 25th anniversary of this gem.

While the band hasn't been very prolific playing outside of Finland; only one show in Madrid in October 2013, the next one will be at 2017's edition of the Obscene Extreme Fest in July.