According to a new tweet from SKID ROW bassist Rachel Bolan, the band is several days into a writing and demoing session with the group's current touring lineup, which includes the South African-born, British-based singer ZP Theart (DRAGONFORCE, TANK, I AM I). Bolan says: "Things are going amazing!"

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.

"We haven't even discussed it yet," Sabo told News-Press.com this past October. "We just said, 'This feels really good and let's just do it.' It's who we are right now."

Theart's involvement with SKID ROW was exclusively reported by BLABBERMOUTH.NET on December 31, 2015. He stepped into the group following the departure of Tony Harnell, the TNT frontman who joined SKID ROW in April 2015 as the replacement for Johnny Solinger, the band's singer for fifteen years.

Sabo told News-Press.com that, Theart has been doing a great job on the road.

"He's come in," the guitarist said, "and he's a really great source of positive energy. He knew all of our songs coming in, and he knew them well. He started singing the crap out of all of them, and we were all very impressed."

Despite the fact that fans have been clamoring for a reunion of SKID ROW's most popular lineup for nearly twenty years, Sabo told The Aquarian Weekly a few months ago that SKID ROW had no intention of reconnecting with vocalist Sebastian Bach. "Happiness, to me, is my spirit and my soul is more important to me than having dollars in my wallet," he explained. "People may [not] believe that and that's okay. Anybody who knows me knows that to be true. I don't think you can place a price on happiness. We've been hit repeatedly over the years with, 'Why don't you do a reunion tour?' And you know what? I understand the question and I get it. I really do, and if I were on the outside, I'd be asking the same question, but no one feels comfortable with that idea."

Bach has publicly expressed his desire to reunite with his former bandmates, telling Loudwire earlier in the year: "I don't have any reason why not to do that. I have no animosity towards anybody in SKID ROW, and the fact that we're all, five of us, still alive in this world is a pretty amazing feat. So I would someday definitely like to hear the five guys who made those records play live together again. Yes, I would. 'Cause I'm a fan too." He added: "I'm up for it, if they are."

Day 4- writing/demos. Things are going amazing! @OfficialSkidRow @sNAKEsABO @ScottiHill @RobHammersmith @ZPTofficial #batsstudio #newmusic

— Rachel Bolan (@rbolanbass) December 3, 2016

SOUNDGARDEN frontman Chris Cornell has confirmed that the band hopes to record the follow-up to 2012's comeback album, "King Animal", early in 2017 with the goal of releasing the disc later in the year.

During a December 5 appearance on "Whiplash", the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie, Cornell was asked if there are any plans for the band to tour and release new music anytime soon. He responded (hear audio below): "Well, it'll be in 2017 — both those things, hopefully, will happen — barring any, sort of, unforeseen thing, which I don't… I don't see any reason why those two things won't happen. The next thing that I am committing myself to concentrating on a hundred percent is the next SOUNDGARDEN album."

SOUNDGARDEN guitarist Kim Thayil told The Pulse Of Radio that the band has come up with a lot of material but still wants more. "We've gotten together at least three times for these weeklong sessions of songwriting and jamming and rehearsing, so we've probably got a good dozen or so songs that are sort of demoed," he said. "And once we get maybe another eight or nine songs and we have a good body of work there, we'll start kind of going through it to see what we really enjoy playing. Then we'll get into the studio to make that record. We hope to do that sometime soon in 2017."

Work on a new record started in 2015, but SOUNDGARDEN took breaks while Cornell toured his "Higher Truth" solo effort and drummer Matt Cameron hit the road with PEARL JAM.

SOUNDGARDEN reunited in 2010 after a 13-year layoff, touring and then eventually writing new material that became the basis for "King Animal", its first new studio album in 16 years.

Meanwhile, released last month was a deluxe 25th anniversary edition of SOUNDGARDEN's third studio album, 1991's "Badmotorfinger". Thayil told The Pulse Of Radio that working on the reissue has given him a newfound appreciation for the LP. "This is a loaded album," he said. "Everything here is great. Almost everything on the album, we continue to play live because it's fun to play and they're audience favorites. So it was always perhaps my third or fourth favorite SOUNDGARDEN album, but right now it's occupied a space at the top, you know, followed by perhaps 'Superunknown'."

The limited-edition seven-disc Super Deluxe edition consists of four CDs, two DVDs, and one Blu-ray audio disc, featuring 79 previously unreleased tracks, videos and mixes. Among those are 15 previously unreleased studio outtakes and "Live At The Paramount", SOUNDGARDEN's first-ever complete concert album recorded at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle on March 6,1992.

Released on October 8, 1991, "Badmotorfinger" spawned three singles, "Jesus Christ Pose", "Outshined" and "Rusty Cage", and became SOUNDGARDEN's first million-selling LP.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, METALLICA frontman James Hetfield says that the band is frustrated with the current state of ticket scalping — or the more legitimate "secondary market" sales — and would like to see more action taken to curb it. Speaking with The Canadian Press, Hetfield remarked: "There's always going to be someone who has an agenda. They're going to scoop up as many as they can. Technology can help for sure. It's hard to believe something more can't be done."

Hetfield added in a reference to ticket resellers: "There's legal scalping out there too, which is frustrating. 'Hey, wow, we just sold 10,000 tickets — and where did they go? To one place? Interesting.'"

METALLICA has just released its tenth album, "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct", and plans to spend the next two years touring the world, so ticket scalping will be an issue.

Hetfield said about the problem: "We're aware of it and doing what we can. At the end of the day, the fans get screwed and we get screwed. It shouldn't happen. I would just say, 'Fans, beware. Be smart about it.'"

Hetfield told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that the business side of touring has gotten harder for the acts too. "For some reason, touring is really difficult, and that was the answer to, you know, 'everyone just download, you'll make your money on tour!'" he said. "And now, well, guess what, you don't. Groups are gonna, they have to join together as packages to go out, and it's a struggle, and I'm really grateful that I'm not a band starting out right now. It'd be very difficult."

"Hardwired... To Self-Destruct" went to No. 1 in 57 countries around the world after it was released on November 18.

METALLICA plans to tour extensively behind the new disc starting in early 2017.

BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi spoke to The Irish Times about his health, four months after revealing that his cancer was finally in remission.

"I went for a check four weeks ago and the doctor said that at the moment there is no activity where I had the cancer before, but there is activity in the throat," he said. "When I get back to England, I have to have an operation to remove this thing at the back of my nose. The doctors found a lump there and we don't know if it is cancer or what, but I feel okay at the moment."

Asked how his cancer diagnosis has changed his perspective on life, Iommi said: "I was knocked for six when the doctors told me that it was, that it was stage III cancer. It really did change my life as far as what I have to do now. I have to live what life I've got because I have been on the road nearly 50 years. I need to be at home more and I need to pay more attention to my friends and family."

Iommi went on to say that "the lowest moment" for him was being diagnosed. He explained: "You automatically wind yourself up saying, 'That's it then,' but that is not always the case. When they tell you, you think, 'Oh God.' That was a low time. I have had a few low times in my life like everybody has, but that was one that stuck in the head.

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

"It is very sad that we are going to finish touring, but I hope that we will do something else," Iommi told The Irish Times. "I'm not going to tour the world again, but it would be nice even if we did the occasional one-off show or an album."

Pressed on where there is a possibility of a new album, Iommi said: "We haven't talked about it. This is my view thinking it would be nice. At the moment, I think there is a call for a bit of time off, really. I think anything is possible. It is down to how everyone feels and if people want to do it."

Iommi recently told Ultimate Classic Rock that he plans to stay busy with music even after SABBATH plays its final shows. He said, "I'm not going to leave the music business. I still want to write and play and I'll be doing some TV for something over here in England called 'Guitar Star'. But I love the playing, I love gigs, I just can't travel anymore."

SABBATH played the last U.S. shows of its career last month, on November 8 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, November 10 in Houston, Texas and November 12 in San Antonio.

Thrash metal pioneers MEGADETH have been nominated for a 2017 Grammy Award for "Best Metal Performance" for the title track from their new album, "Dystopia". MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine stated about the latest nod: "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." Also nominated in the "Best Metal Performance" category are BARONESS ("Shock Me"), GOJIRA ("Slivera"), KORN ("Rotting In Vain") and PERIPHERY ("The Price Is Wrong").

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

The Grammys are voted on by approximately 13,000 Recording Academy members, who are comprised of artists, songwriters, producers and engineers. More than 21,700 recordings were submitted for Grammys consideration this year. For 2017 awards, music must have been released between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2016, in order to be eligible.

Holland's FaceCulture recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt of Swedish progressive metallers OPETH. You can watch the full chat below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On attempting to balance the creative aspect of OPETH with touring demands:

Mikael: "I don't necessarily like that there's no equilibrium between the creative work and touring. Even in the middle of a creative process, there's always tours and plans, like, 'How are we going to present this live?' It's disturbing to me. I've changed a lot, I think, but it takes a long time for yourself to discover that. You do things just out of routine. You do the record, then you go on tour. I'm one of those guys who listens to signals, like if I start disliking something, there's a chance I walk away, not saying I'm going to split up or leave the band, but re-arrange the priorities. For me, of course, my private life has become more of a priority. It's always been a priority, but more so that I want to spend more time at home, and spend more time writing. The touring part gets in the way of that."

On having a "fearless" attitude toward songwriting:

Mikael: "Once the 'Heritage' record was done, we were excited about it. We're always excited about a new record, but that was a step sideways, or something completely different to what we've done before. We were excited to see how that would go down. I guess we still wanted some type of gratification that we can do these things and still maintain our crowd. Yes, we did, but we also got a lot of people who didn't like it. Then, it becomes a priority. It's about proving them that yes, it does work and proving it's still OPETH. It's always been difficult for me ever since I had my children to leave and go away on tour and come back home. When the kids are really young, you come back and they are shy and don't recognize you, which as you could imagine, is horrible. Now my kids are older, but still, when we went on the U.S. tour and I explained to them, 'I'll be away for quite a long time,' and they are holding the tears back, even when they are 12 and 9, like they are now. Besides, I wasn't fully convinced that I wanted to go. There was a lot of things working against that decision, but I went out and did my job."

On if his children understand what he does for a living:

Mikael: "Yes, but they're indifferent. I think they're indifferent to what I do. They're not indifferent to the fact that I'm away. With time, they'll probably understand that I did this not for my own ego — part of it is for my ego and what I want to do — but I also do it for them. There is a big paradox, a massive paradox about doing something for someone that you love so much. You love your children, which also means you're going to be away from them. But they understand to a certain extent, they're used to it, but it's still horrible. I can't put it any other way. It's still horrible going away from them. I hate it."

On how making a new album means he'll have to leave his children to go on tour:

Mikael: "It almost stops me from wanting to get on with the creative side because I know the toll that comes with the press trips and the pressure, and you have to get everything done within time, and you have to work on a deadline, then you have to go on tour. So yes, it's bittersweet to come up with what you think is great music knowing that with this music, there's a chance it might make you even more in demand and popular. There's bigger demands and offers you can't refuse and that kind of stuff. It's weird. But like I said, I listen to what I feel inside. I've become better at saying 'No,' much to the agony of our management and perhaps the record label and the people we work with, who are also doing this for a living, who are also supporting their families by being away and working. I'm not so afraid, like an offer that comes up might be great, but I can turn it down now knowing it's not the end of the world, even that exact same offer might come back at a time where it's more convenient to go out. I also stopped the long touring cycles. We tried to keep it around three weeks. With that said, the first tour was five and that was one of the offers I couldn't say no because BLACK SABBATH were playing their last show in Los Angeles and we were asked to support them. It's like, 'You can't say no to that.' They're my favorite band; they're the reason why I started. The money was also good and we were going to be there anyway a week or two later, so I said yes. That ended up being a long tour. It's very easy to be manipulated to thinking you're doing the right thing or doing what you decided on, but then, it's like oh my God, you're back on the same old tracks. If I'm going to do this, it's part of the job, simple as that. I just want to scale it down a little bit and do less shows."

On how he felt once the band's new "Sorceress" album was completed:

Mikael: "I noticed two things: First, I was really happy with my vocals for two reasons: One, because I thought they sounded great. Secondly, because I managed to detach myself from the vocalist. I didn't listen to me, I listened to a singer. That's important for me. I don't want to hear myself in the mix, but I think I did a good job singing on the record. The songs, like I love change, but it doesn't have to be a massive change on each record or song, but there was change on this record. There was a couple of songs that I felt I've never done before, I've never done anything similar to that before. We can also jump between genres of music and make it sound genuine, like if we're trying to play something that's supposed to sound a bit jazzy, for instance, we can do it. It doesn't sound like a bunch of metal guys trying to play jazz, not that we have full-on jazz anyway. If it's psychedelic rock, it sounds like a psychedelic rock song, and if it's heavy, it sounds heavy, and it sounds real as far as I'm concerned. I don't think a lot of bands have the strength that we do; we can jump between genres and make it sound genuine."

"Sorceress" was released on September 30 via Nuclear Blast and the band's imprint label Moderbolaget Records.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, DISTURBED frontman David Draiman said in a new interview with Billboard.com that it's "strange" to be competing against Beyoncé in the "Best Rock Performance" category at this year's Grammy Awards. DISTURBED is nominated for its live performance of "The Sound Of Silence", while Beyoncé is up for her track "Don't Hurt Yourself", which features Jack White.

Draiman remarked: "I have mad respect for all the artists in this category, including and especially Jack White. Is it strange [to be up against Beyoncé]? I think the reason you asked the question is because it is. It definitely stands out — like, one of these things is not like the other, you know? But what are you going to do?"

The other nominees in the category include TWENTY ONE PILOTS for "Heathens", David Bowie for the title track from his "Blackstar" album and ALABAMA SHAKES for a live rendition of their song "Joe".

Draiman added that the relative lack of rock categories at the Grammys, as compared to the pop, rap and country genres, is what has led to such a varied group of nominees. He explained: "If you look at every other genre, there are so many categories and sub-categories. For rock, this is all we've got, so everything ends up being jammed into these four categories."

He added: "Is it diverse? Absolutely. It's too diverse! When you can have, with all due respect, a Beyoncé and a DISTURBED in the same category, something has gone wrong. Not taking anything away from her whatsoever, we're just very different from each other."

Draiman told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that he wasn't even sure where his band fit into the modern metal scene. "I don't know that the metal that we were spawned from really exists anymore," he said. "Bands like IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, METALLICA, BLACK SABBATH, none of the bands which are called metal, or which are really referred to nowadays as metalcore, are really anything like these bands. So I don't even know that we fit in what is called metal today."

"The Sound Of Silence", a cover of the SIMON & GARFUNKEL classic, appears on DISTURBED's 2015 album "Immortalized" — although their Grammy nomination is for the band's performance of the song on "Conan".

DISTURBED's last Grammy nomination was in 2009, when it was up in the now-retired "Best Hard Rock Performance" category for "Inside The Fire".

Washington State quintet, The Drip,recently announced their debut full-length of merciless, grindcore ferocity, titled The Haunting Fear Of Inevitability. New track "Anathema" is streaming below.

Guitarist Bobby Mansfield commented on the new track: "The process of becoming a monster and the path of the dark arts and occult that lead to it. A crushing track from our new record."

Fusing together the rawest elements of crust, powerviolence, d-beat, and grind, The Drip rips and ravages through thirteen frenzied tracks, full of slaughterhouse riffage, lightning fast blastbeats, and pulverizing breakdowns. Produced by Joel Grind of Toxic Holocaust and mastered by Brad Boatright (Skeletonwitch, Gatecreeper, Weekend Nachos), The Haunting Fear Of Inevitability is a new declaration of intensity that is sure to set the underground ablaze.

The band commented on the impending release, "The Haunting Fear Of Inevitability represents our progression, and continues to blur genre lines, and define our sound. Laying down the ground work for our future material to come."

January 13th, will see the worldwide release of The Haunting Fear Of Inevitability via Relapse Records on CD/LP/Digital formats. Physical and digital preorders and bundles are available via Relapse.com here and digital also via iTunes, Amazon (widget below), Google Play, and others.

The Haunting Fear Of Inevitability tracklisting:

“Blackest Evocation”
“Anathema”
“Gruesome Poetics”
“Dead Inside”
“Covered In Red”
“Terror War Industry”
“Painted Ram”
“Wretches”
“In Atrophy”
“The Answer”
“Exile”
“Consigned To Fate”
“Bone Chapel”

"Anathema":

“Painted Ram”:

The Drip lineup:

Shane Brown - drums
Brandon Caldwell - vocals
Bobby Mansfield - guitar
Talon Yager - bass
Blake Wolf - guitar

 

 

(Photo - Orion Landau)

Y&T has shared the first teaser clip for the band’s documentary On With The Show. Head to documentary’s Kickstarter page that showcases the teaser video and also a message from the documentary team.

Y&T frontman Dave Meniketti has announced the Meniketti Wines website . If you're of proper age to buy alcohol and you'd like to know when these fine wines become available, drop by the new site and sign up to receive email updates. The 2014 vintage Contagious Chardonnay and two different 2014 Forever Pinot Noirs should be ready by late January.

Y&T will ring in the New Year with a show at Ace Of Spades in Sacramento, CA on New Year’s Eve.

For more on Y&T’s tour schedule, head to the band’s official website.

Metal Blade Records has announced the worldwide signing of Chicago-based metal/hardcore unit, Harm's Way. Currently writing the follow-up to 2015's Rust, Harm's Way is expected to release their fourth full-length and Metal Blade Records debut in 2017.

Harm's Way comments: "We are very excited to be working with Metal Blade Records. Their longstanding history in the alternative music community speaks volumes. To join a roster of such highly influential artists is truly an honor. We look forward to the next steps we will be taking as a band on both personal and artistic levels."

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel adds, "Super excited to be working with Harm's Way! We welcome them to the Metal Blade family. I have been a fan since Chris Santos turned me onto them!"

Harm's Way has emerged from the wreckage of past genres to set a new standard in contemporary heavy music. With their latest offering, Rust, the four-piece brilliantly combines industrial repetition (ala Godflesh) with the aggressive attack of metal/hardcore. Rust continues down the path that Harm's Way started when they formed in 2006, before releasing 2009's Reality Approaches, 2011's Isolation, and several EPs. Fans can expect another seminal album with the group's upcoming, currently untitled record - which will surely raise the bar for heavy music once again.

Stay tuned for more news about Harm's Way coming soon.

(Photo - Vince Edwards)

Florida metallic doom trio Weltesser are streaming “Rats”, the fist single from their upcoming album, Crestfallen, which will be released via Prosthetic Records on February 10th. The six track album will be streaming two weeks prior (January 27th) exclusively via the band's official Bandcamp page here. Listen to “Rats” below.

Self-produced and engineered by Dan Byers, Crestfallen clocks in at just over 30 minutes of sickening, metallic doom. Having shared the stage with bands such as Primitive Man, The Body, Jucifer, Celeste and many more, they quickly became the go-to unsigned band in Florida for nationally touring acts. Their sound is inspired by Dystopia, His Hero is Gone, and Laudanum, lending a humble maturity beyond three years.

The LP version will be available in “Dab Slab” clear yellow swirl limited to retail only, while a clear/black resin smoke colour will be made available from the band’s Bandcamp page and the Prosthetic web shop in the coming weeks.

Tracklisting:

“Regret”
“Guide”
“Living To Try”
“Terminal”
“Rats”
“Crestfallen”

“Rats”:

Fueled by sour diesel and misery, Weltesser is comprised of Ian Hronek (Rotting Palms, Landbridge) Nate Peterson (Rotting Palms, Sky Burial) and Mike Amador (Landbridge), who formed the band in Saint Petersburg, FL over Sabbath worship and Monolord. Roughly a year after their inaugural demo release - a syrupy four track cassette.
 
Tour dates:

December
17-18 - Orlando, FL - Florida Is Loud Fest (with Yautja, Knife Hits)

UK-based extreme metallers, Anaal Nathrakh, released their new album, The Whole Of The Law, via Metal Blade Records back in October. Today, the two-piece is launching the video for the album track, "We Will Fucking Kill You", which was directed and edited by the Widow Brothers, who interpreted the themes of the song and the cover artwork for the clip. Watch the new video below.

Anaal Nathrakh was created for one purpose - to be the soundtrack for Armageddon, the audial essence of evil, hatred and violence, the true spirit of necro taken to its musical extremes. Since 1999, they have gained a reputation for embodying precisely these things - and now, with their new record, The Whole Of Te Law, Anaal Nathrakh has reached the very height of their twisted powers. Order the album here.

Tracklisting:

“The Nameless Dread”
“Depravity Favours The Bold”
“Hold Your Children Close And Pray For Oblivion”
“We Will Fucking Kill You”
“..So We Can Die Happy”
“In Flagrante Delicto”
“And You Will Beg For Our Secrets”
“Extravaganza!”
“On Being A Slave”
“The Great Spectator”
“Of Horror, And The Black Shawls”
“Powerslave” (Bonus Track)
“Man At C&A” (Bonus Track)

“We Will Fucking Kill You” video:

“Extravaganza!”:

“Depravity Favours The Bold”:

Greg Lake, who fronted both King Crimson and Emerson, Lake and Palmer, has died aged 69.
One of the founding fathers of progressive rock, the British musician is known for songs including In The Court Of The Crimson King and I Believe in Father Christmas.
He died on Tuesday after "a long and stubborn battle with cancer", said his manager.
The news comes nine months after Lake's band-mate Keith Emerson died.
Keyboardist Emerson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, coroners in the US said.
Lake's manager Stewart Young wrote on Facebook: "Yesterday, December 7th, I lost my best friend to a long and stubborn battle with cancer.
"Greg Lake will stay in my heart forever, as he has always been."
'Greatest music made for love'
Born in Bournemouth, Lake was given his first guitar at the age of 12 and took lessons from a local tutor called Don Strike.
He formed a close friendship with fellow student Robert Fripp, with whom he formed King Crimson in 1969.
Their debut album In The Court Of The Crimson King, featuring songs including 21st Century Schizoid Man, set a standard for progressive rock and received a glowing, well-publicised testimonial from The Who's Pete Townshend.
But their success was shortlived. Within a year, founding member Mike Giles quit and Lake refused to work with the band - although he stayed around long enough to sing on their critically-reviled second album, In The Wake Of Poseidon.

Finnish maniacs Corona Skies have released a video for “The Social Network”, a track from their new album, Fragments Of Reality, out now worldwide through Mighty Music (ex. Japan, via Bickee Music). The new video can be found below.

This six-piece - dubbed the bastard child of Dragonforce and Sonata Arctica - delivers a unique mix of smashing guitar riffs, hyper-skilled keyboard athleticism on rock solid rhythm section, completed with powerful multi-layered vocals. With the current lineup, the band has been around since 2009 and played dozens of shows in Finland.

Since releasing a self-financed EP in 2011, the band’s songwriting and musicianship have evolved into a whole new level which can be heard on the debut album, Fragments Of Reality. From ambient, atmospheric soundscapes to hard-shredding solos and huge orchestrations, the versatility of the album really emphasizes what this band is all about. Although the music itself cannot simply be described in terms of a single genre, some elements from classic hard rock, power metal, progressive metal and thrash metal are definitely there.

Tracklisting:

“Rite Of Passage”
“Big Boys’ Blues”
“The Social Network”
“Falling Sky”
“Delirium Disco”
“Business Suits You”
“Summer Bum”
“The Sea Of My Mediocrity”
“Only The Gods Are Lonely”

“The Social Network” video:

“Delirium Disco” video:

“Falling Sky” video:

Year The Goat will release their Song Of Winter EP on 7” gold vinyl, via Napalm Records on December 9th. A lyric video for “Song Of Winter” can be found below. Order your copy of the vinyl EP at this location.

Says the band: “"For many years Francoise Hardy has been part of our playlist while on the road. As soon as “Song Of Winter” played the thought that we really should do a cover of it at some point always presented itself. Lyrically we find it going very well with the theme of our first album and also with the one we’re planning at the moment. The B-side on the other hand lyrically draws more towards our second album, The Unspeakable. One could probably say that the wonderful and talented Francoise Hardy is helping us build a bridge between our last album and the one to come."

Tracklisting:

Side A:
“Song Of Winter”

Side B:
“Strange Shadows”

Nuclear Blast Records have released this new video, offering a look at the special version of the Nightwish live DVD/Blu-Ray/CD, Vehicle Of Spirit, out December 16th (Europe) and January 6th (North America).

After touring for a year and a half throughout almost every corner of the world and leaving fans of all nationalities breathless, the time has come for Nightwish to immortalize their Endless Forms Most Beautiful tour on DVD.

Vehicle Of Spirit features not only two full concerts, but also plenty of bonus material. Pre-order various formats here. A second trailer can be found below.

"The title Vehicle Of Spirit came from a friend of Troy's, who after seeing our show a few years ago defined Nightwish as 'A vehicle of spirit that defies category'. That beautiful description has followed us ever since, and felt like a perfect match as the DVD title," states keyboardist and songwriter Tuomas Holopainen.

Sold out arenas and spectacular shows with never before seen pyro effects, wind machines, video screens and of course Nightwish's incomparable melodies are the elements that made their latest tour so unique. Special highlights for the band have been two particular shows though:

The one in London, where they not only played their hymns such as 'Élan' and the majestic 'The Greatest Show On Earth' to more than 12,000 fans, but also welcomed the world famous scientist Richard Dawkins live on stage with them. Richard Dawkins´ works had a massive impact on the thematical orientation of their latest studio album Endless Forms Most Beautiful. Finland's Tampere show however was a home run for the band and never before Nightwish had such an immense stage production with them:

"I would say the main part of the DVD are those two shows, both Wembley and Tampere. Wembley is mentioned first due to its recognizability and legendary status. I remember the show being very special, both a goal achieved, and a starting point. The crowd was heartwarming. The presence of Richard Dawkins on stage was just mind-blowing. The overall experience was a once-in-a-lifetime thrill ride! The show in Ratina Stadion, Tampere, was a home crowd specialty (for 4/6th of the band) with the biggest stage production we've ever had. A lovely atmosphere throughout the concert, with many same faces in the front row as there were 15 years ago. Heartfelt."

When it comes to the fine artwork of the DVD, Nightwish decided to walk different paths this time and come up with a little alternative idea, as Tuomas explains:

"We didn't want to include a traditional band shot for the cover, as on the previous DVD release Showtime, Storytime. So we started brainstorming on different options and the idea of a classic silent movie era Hollywood visuals quickly came up. With those classic slogans the cover has a little tongue-in-cheek-touch to it, but it's still classy and eye catching in its simplicity and originality."

Trailer #1:

Trailer #2:

“Stargazers”:

“Alpenglow”:

“Shudder Before The Beautiful”:

Legendary New Jersey thrashers OVERKILL will release their new studio album, titled "The Grinding Wheel", on February 19, 2017 via Nuclear Blast. The disc was produced by OVERKILL and mixed by Andy Sneap (TESTAMENT, EXODUS, ACCEPT). The artwork was created again by Travis Smith (NEVERMORE, OPETH, SOILWORK, DEATH).

"The Grinding Wheel" track listing:

01. Mean Green Killing Machine02. Goddamn Trouble03. Our Finest Hour04. Shine On05. The Long Road06. Let's All Go To Hades07. Come Heavy08. Red White And Blue09. The Wheel10. The Grinding Wheel

The second trailer for "The Grinding Wheel", in which the members of OVERKILL talk about the album's lyrics, is available below.

OVERKILL frontman Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth recently told the Croatian metal portal NoiseEyes.com about the delay in getting "The Grinding Wheel" released: "It was simplicity. It was a matter of internal mix-ups. We thought we had the entire month of August to mix, when we really had none of the month of August to mix. When Nuclear Blast [OVERKILL's record label] called us, and said, 'Where's the music?' We said, 'Fifteen more days.' We were really close with the mix, but this was our first time working with [producer/mixer] Andy Sneap and he told us, 'Hey, man, it's close, it's 90 percent, but let's do another twelve days when I get back from a business trip. D.D. [Verni, bass], Dave [Linsk, guitars] and I discussed it, and asked: Do you take the great product? Or do you take the money? That's the way we thought about it. We took the dignity over the money with regard to pushing the release back. I always think of every record as your best opportunity to prove yourselves. If you go out pushing that record out, thinking it's 90 percent, then it fucking is 90 percent. It was a real simple mix-up with regard to time. We blame ourselves for 50 percent and Nuclear for the other 50 percent. No, 51 percent for them, 49 percent for us. [Laughs]"

Regarding the musical direction of the new album, Bobby said: "First and foremost, production. Andy has done some great work with different bands in the genre from ACCEPT to ARCH ENEMY. He's really the metal go-to guy. But we wanted to use his abilities, but we wanted to use them with regard to how we saw the record being. One of the things we saw in modern metal is a guitar tone that doesn't have a cohesive relationship with the drums. We wanted more organic drums to start with, and we wanted a guitar tone that came somewhere out of the high technology of the '90s. So it's really kind of a throwback with regard to our thinking, so if you're thinking a drum sounding like a drum and the guitars sounding more in the vein of 'Horrorscope' for us, where it wasn't just top end, but top end and low end with a little bit of mids carved out of them. I think that's the thing I noticed the most about it. "

He continued: "With regard to songwriting, we had done three records, 'Ironbound', 'The Electric Age' and 'White Devil Armory', that were for us, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. [Laughs] Or sisters! There's something about them where there was a formula that we were, I think in our opinion, neglecting some of the other tools that we've accumulated over the years. 'The Grinding Wheel' is much more diverse. There's an epic feel to some of the songs. There's a sludgy, slower feel. There is 'Our Finest Hour', which has been released, which could fit on one of those other three records but everything else doesn't seem like it would fit on these records. I think it's a wider OVERKILL, but press play when you get it. I think that's the best way for people to decide. Everybody has got to be a critic. That's the idea of being a music fan. I'm a music fan, but I'm also a critic. I love or I hate, or it's okay. It'd rather be loved or hated, not 'Ah, it's okay, whatever.'"

OVERKILL and NILE will join forces for a U.S. tour in February/March 2017.

NIGHTWISH singer Floor Jansen says that her recent derogatory comments about SLAYER were taken "out of context" and "used for pathetic 'shock purposes.'"

Last week TeamRock reported how Jansen called SLAYER "dreadful," "unbelievably boring" and "terrible" when asked to name the most metal album she owns.

She gave the original comments in Metal Hammer magazine's regular light-hearted feature "The Metal Test".

After SLAYER fans reacted angrily to her comments, Jansen took to her Instagram account to respond. She wrote: "Apparently I unleashed the fury upon metal earth when I was asked a question about the most metal album I own. Thinking SLAYER's music is not my thing doesn't mean I don't respect the band for what they are and what they've done. I just won't play it. As I can imagine they won't listen to mine either for that matter.

"The reactions this triggered online saddens me. We are all entitled to our own opinion. But this sentence about my metal albums was put out of context, blown up and used for pathetic 'shock purposes.' Does that mean I need to keep my mouth shut next time, no. Does it mean I need to be offended by so many whom I didn't offend? No... I don't like SLAYER. Shall we get over that now?"

Jansen revealed in September that she was four months pregnant. The singer's partner is SABATON drummer Hannes Van Dahl.

Jansen, who officially joined NIGHTWISH in 2013, recently shot down speculation that NIGHTWISH's upcoming year-long break in 2017 has something to do with tension between members of the group. The vocalist also dismissed rumors that she will leave the band after welcoming her first child.

Professionally filmed video footage of METALLICA performing the song "Fade To Black" during their special intimate club show on November 29 at the Opera House in Toronto, Ontario, Canada can be seen below. Also available is a Banger TV report on the concert.

The band, which just released its tenth studio album, "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", donated the proceeds of the show at the 950-person venue to the Daily Bread Food Bank. The quartet also asked its fans to bring non-perishable food items, which were dropped off at the door.

Tickets, which were $25 for members of the band's fan club and $100 for the general public, sold out in minutes.

Benita Aalto, a spokesperson for Daily Bread, told CBC Toronto that the charity had no advance notice of METALLICA's plans but was thrilled when the news broke.

"This was a delightful surprise," she said.

According to TheStar.com, the Toronto concert saw METALLICA frontman James Hetfield playing the opening arpeggios to "Fade To Black" again "when the rattle of machine-gun fire on the PA signalled to everyone else in the room that 'One' was about to happen, a flub he good-naturedly acknowledged by reprising the intro yet again when the band returned to the stage for its encore."

"That song's so good, I just wanted to play it twice, you know?" he quipped.

"Hardwired… To Self-Destruct" debuted as expected at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 album chart on November 27, selling 291,000 copies in its first week of release. Both of the band's previous outings, 2008's "Death Magnetic" and 2003's "St. Anger", sold more copies in shortened sales weeks. "Death Magnetic" moved 490,000 copies in a three-day window, while "St. Anger" shifted 418,000 copies in a similar frame.

Hanging Garden's new music video for “Towards The Sun” is streaming below. The track features Mikko Kotamäki (Swallow The Sun) on guest vocals and is taken from the band's Hereafter EP.

“Today is independent Finland's 99th birthday. The attitudes and the general mood of public discourse is in a sad state, riddled with hate and xenophobia. Finland, as we wish you a brighter tomorrow, this song is dubbed “Towards The Sun”.”

Hanging Garden’s Hereafter EP is now available on CD digipak and digital via Lifeforce Records. A music video for the title track can be found below.

Tracklisting:

“Penumbra” feat. Mikko Kotamäki (Swallow The Sun)
“Sirkle Of Onan” feat. Victor Wegeborn (The Moth Gatherer)
“Hereafter”
“Where The Tides Collide” feat. Alexander Högbom (October Tide, Centinex)
“Towards The Sun” feat. Mikko Kotamäki (Swallow The Sun)

“Hereafter” video:

“Sirkle Of Onan” lyric video:

“Penumbra” lyric video:

Teaser:

Not one to shy away from any political or social cause that he wholeheartedly believes in, legendary rocker Dee Snider is now showing his support for the thousands of men and women at the Standing Rock Indian reservation in North Dakota who are protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline. In a video for "So What" that premiered earlier today, Dee and son/director Cody Snider beautifully exhibit the faces of the courageous men, women and children that are fighting for their land and offers a glimpse at the resistance and tribulation they are faced with as they stand their ground. The song can be found on Dee's new solo album, "We Are The Ones", which was released October 28 on Red River Records (distributed by BFD/RED). As Snider recently told the New York Post's Page Six: "To see U.S. government state and local authorities, along with hired private security, use this type of extreme violent force against unarmed American citizens in peaceful prayer is the saddest, most disturbing thing I have ever experienced. I'm glad we were there to capture the truth for all to see."

Produced by Damon Ranger, "We Are The Ones" is described by Dee as "an album that is think part FOO FIGHTERS, part IMAGINE DRAGONS, part THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS." He added: "Forget anything from the past. Most of my heavy metal fans are gonna hate it; I've abandoned my past to move forward."

Regarding the decision to make a contemporary rock record, Dee told Salon: "[Damon is] the one who approached me and said, 'Dee, I think there's an album for you, a contemporary album, a mainstream rock record, a metal-rock record that will speak to people today…' I said, 'Really. Me. This guy? A 61-year-old guy.' He says, 'Absolutely, Dee. You're timeless. And you represent something, a spirit, and I think the right songs…" And I heard his stuff that he's worked on before and I said, 'There are songs out there that are inspirational.' You see that sometimes they just get lost, and one of the things that gets lost is the fun of rock and roll. Don't forget, rock and roll, first and foremost, it's supposed to be fun. It's supposed to be [an] escape. It shouldn't be super-heavy. At the same time, as 'Louder Than Words' is showing, it can be inspirational."

Fan-filmed video footage of PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS (formerly PHIL CAMPBELL'S ALL STARR BAND), the band featuring MOTÖRHEAD guitarist Phil Campbell alongside his sons Todd, Dane and Tyla, plus vocalist Neil Starr, performing a couple of MOTÖRHEAD classics earlier today (Tuesday, December 6) at Backstage in Munich, Germany as the support act for SAXON can be seen below.

PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS released its self-titled debut five-track EP on November 18 via Motörhead Music. Produced by Todd Campbell at the band's own Stompbox Studios in Wales, U.K., and mixed by MOTÖRHEAD producer Cameron Webb, "Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons" loudly shoves you head-first into its raw, gritty, classic and instantly accessible rock 'n' roll charms. Whether it's the speedy biker-charged refrain of "No Turning Back", the crunchy catchy jump of "Big Mouth" or the beautiful-yet-bombastic balladry of "Life In Space", "Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons" brings uniquely organic life and verve to every last riff and stomp, with Starr's sensational vocals ensuring this EP will be the surprise of the 2016 rock 'n' roll release calendar.

Neil Starr recently told Kaaos TV about PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS' debut EP: "The reason it's an EP is we can get that done quicker. We wanted to give people some music to hear that was our own music, some music of our own that we can play live as well. So the idea was to get something done as quick as possible. It keeps the fans interested in the band, because there's new songs to keep it fresh. And it's great for us, 'cause we get to write more songs all the time. Todd, who's in the band, has his own recording studio, so it's really easy for us to just go in and do what we wanna do whenever we want, which is great."

Regarding the musical direction of PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS' original material, Neil said: "You know what you're gonna get, because Phil Campbell is the riff god. So you hear these MOTÖRHEAD riffs; Phil wrote a lot of those songs. So there's elements of that gonna be coming through in the music. Obviously, personally, I wouldn't ever want to try and be like Lemmy and his style that he does, because that's one person who does that, and that's him. You don't try and do that. I bring my own style to the band, but, obviously, yeah, there's lots of really great riffs in the songs, like you would expect from a band that's got Phil Campbell in it. It's just rock and roll music, I guess."

Alice Cooper has begun recording demos for his next studio album, which may or may not feature contributions from the surviving original members of the ALICE COOPER band: bassist Dennis Dunaway, guitarist Michael Bruce and drummer Neal Smith.

During an interview with The Arizona Republic about this year's annual Christmas Pudding event, Cooper revealed that he started tracking demos for his new disc on December 5 with longtime producer Bob Ezrin once again behind the boards.

"We're recording demos right now," he said. "We're writing and recording demos. We have three songs from the original band that we're gonna look at and see if we can turn them into something. If not, we tried. But Neal and Mike and Dennis and I wrote songs together. And what we always do, we know the best ten songs are gonna make the album. It doesn't matter where they came from. I'm gonna always write the lyrics. And I'm gonna always arrange it. And Bob's always gonna produce it. If the song comes from Neal, Mike and Dennis, great! I would love that. We have those songs sitting there. We just have to see if they fit in."

Cooper added that there is "not really much of a concept" for his forthcoming effort. "It's gonna be a pure riff-rock-and-roll album," he said. "If anything, we gonna try and make it as close to 'Killer' and 'Love It To Death' as possible."

As previously reported, Cooper reunited with Dunaway, Bruce and Smith for a surprise set at one of Dunaway's book signings in 2015, and a special seven-inch single containing two songs from the performance was made available last month for this year's Record Store Day Black Friday.

Ezrin produced Alice's original multi-platinum "Welcome To My Nightmare" album in 1975, as well as Cooper's most recent effort, 2011's "Welcome 2 My Nightmare".

THUNDER will release a brand new studio album, "Rip It Up", on February 10, 2017 through earMUSIC. The disc, the band's eleventh, features eleven brand new songs recorded in 2016, and is proof positive that this is a band that exists only to push itself and aim higher. Following on from the Top Ten success enjoyed by previous release "Wonder Days", "Rip It Up" — as the title suggests — sees Danny Bowes, Luke Morley, Ben Matthews, Chris Childs and "Harry" James stretching themselves musically, lyrically and creatively. Frontman Danny said simply: "After the positive reaction to 'Wonder Days', we were very happy, and it justified the approach we took in the writing and recording. We decided to push it further on all fronts this time, to see what happened, and I think it shows in the writing and the individual performances. We couldn't have made this album 10 or even 5 years ago, we weren't good enough! We're really looking forward to playing the new tunes live alongside the more established ones." Fans don't have to wait long, the band will embark on a nationwide U.K. tour in March, with full details and ticket links on the band's web site. This album comes nearly three decades into their career and, if 27 is normally famed and feared as the rock milestone at which many of the great and the good have had their creative flames extinguished, then THUNDER have arrived with a bulging bag of tunes, a notebook of great lyrics, a jerrycan of petrol, and a match. There are rockers, like the incendiary title track, ripsnorters like "She Likes The Cocaine", while songs like "Right From The Start" take the pace down, but turn the intensity up. While the album closes out with the stylish blues-tinged melancholia of "There's Always A Loser", it's clear that the band have continued with their winning ways. After a summer of great gigs including killer performances at Ramblin' Man and Steelhouse festival, the quintet know what works and how to pace a set of songs. Title track "Rip It Up" is more than just a great and contemporary rock track, it's a statement of intent. THUNDER, as Danny sings, "Don't do subtle, don't rely on luck," there's quality in depth and style to burn here. THUNDER have never sounded so intent or intense and, whilst this album cleaves to what made the band's fans fall in love with them originally, there's risk taking and ambition aplenty here. THUNDER have no interest in taking the easy way. "Rip It Up" track listing:

01. No One Gets Out Alive02. Rip It Up03. She Likes The Cocaine04. Right From The Start05. Shakedown06. Heartbreak Hurricane07. In Another Life08. The Chosen One09. The Enemy Inside10. Tumbling Down11. There's Always A Loser

DISTURBED was the most played act of 2016 at the Active Rock radio format, according to industry metrics released by Mediabase, which monitors and analyzes airplay in over 180 U.S. and Canadian markets on both terrestrial and satellite radio. The band's success was bolstered by several chart-topping singles from its 2015 comeback album, "Immortalized", including its massive hit cover of SIMON & GARFUNKEL's classic "The Sound Of Silence".

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

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

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

In addition to DISTURBED, the top five most played artists at the format included FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH at No. 2, SHINEDOWN at No. 3, BRING ME THE HORIZON at No. 4 and RED SUN RISING in fifth place.

The official video for "The Sound Of Silence" has had more than 147,500,000 plays on YouTube, while the band's Grammy-nominated live performance of the track on "Conan" also racked up another 37,249,832 views. The song also has more than 91 million streams on Spotify.

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

Former BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION singer London LeGrand has launched a revamped version of the band, now renamed BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION GÖTEBORG, in which he is joined by guitarist John "JB" Bergqvist (DISREGARD), drummer Peter "Pan" Ottosson and bassist Rodolfo "Rude" Montenegro.

Based in Gotheburg, Sweden, BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION GÖTEBORG has been writing new music and is now ready to get its "heavy and dirty rock and roll" to the people. According to the band, "a crazy show is promised and they make you dance like never before!"

Bergqvist described BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION GÖTEBORG's sound in a recent interview as "traditional hard rock with metal influences and elements of punk."

The new band has two shows in Sweden scheduled for February and March, with plans to release an album in 2017.

BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION was formed more than a decade ago by MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx and L.A. GUNS guitarist Tracii Guns. The band's debut album, "Here Come The Brides", was released in March 2004 and peaked at No. 92 on The Billboard 200 chart. Sixx left the group before the recording of a follow-up effort, "Runaway Brides", which came out in 2005.

In a 2008 interview, LeGrand admitted he would like to see a BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION reunion, but with Sixx back in the band. "It would be amazing," he said. "I don't know. In order to really give 110% to the fans, and they deserve it, we would need to have Nikki in the band. He is a huge part of the group. I think Nikki feels the same way.

"All of us from those days have had time to think. We realize that we were at different parts of our lives and that isn't who we necessarily are now. Maybe it makes us realize how much we should have appreciated it.

"I know that if the BRIDES got together at this point in my life we would have been a closer band. The communication would also have been better. The songs would have been a lot better.

"I would love for it to get back together. I am not sure it will, but I know that my phone number is the same and if anyone wants to give me a call, I would love to hear their voice."

For more information on BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION GÖTEBORG, visit the band's Facebook page.

Beast Incarnate is the impending new long player from Malta-based brutal death metal merchants Beheaded.

Set for release next month via Unique Leader, the infernal, eight-track production draws upon the brutal and melodic approach to the band's 2012-issued, critically-championed Never To Dawn long player. Recorded at MKII Recording Studio (Italy) and mixed and mastered by Ronnie Björnström (Teadeat, Bone Gnawer, Aeon, Those Who Bring The Torture) at Enhanced Audio Productions Sweden, Beast Incarnate comes shrouded in the cover art of Gabriel Alegria Sabogal, welcomes the addition of new recruits -- drummer Davide Billia and guitarist Simone Brigo - and truly stretches the boundaries of Beheaded's signature sound to meet new extremes.

As a precursor to its release, Beheaded's is streaming the visual companion to the record's title track, the band issuing of the clip, "When music is enriched with literature, imagery, colors, and visuals that reflect its essence, it is able to deliver a deeper, more profound immersive visual and aural experience. That is precisely what the video for the album title track 'Beast Incarnate' does. Using all these elements we have worked very closely with Very Metal Art in graphically creating and capturing the character and lifeblood of Beast Incarnate. The music video comes to outline the attributes of Mediterranean death metal - hard hitting and drilling in the psyche. Musically drawing upon the very roots of the band's earliest material and molded from a quarter of a century since Beheaded's inception. Beast Incarnate cements twenty-five years of extreme music with an imprint of the band's present signature sound."

Beheaded's Beast Incarnate will be released on January 27th, 2017 via Unique Leader Records.

Beast Incarnate tracklisting:

"Beast Incarnate"
"The Horror Breathes"
"Crossing The House Of Knives"
"Reign Of The Headless King"
"The Black Death"
"Cursed Mediterranean"
"Fid-dlam ta' dejjem"
"Punishment Of The Grave"

"Beast Incarnate" video:

"The Horror Breathes":

The Horror Breathes by Beheaded

Death metal supergroup Echelon, featuring Dave Ingram (Hail Of Bullets, ex-Bolt Thrower) on vocals, Rogga Johansson (Paganizer, Down Among The Dead Men) on bass, Johan Berglund (Ribspreader, Demiurg) on bass, Kjetil Lynghaug (Johansson & Speckmann, Paganizer) on lead guitar, and Travis Ruvo (Cropsy Maniac, Akatharta) on drums, are streaming the new track “Lex Talionis” (listen below).

“Lex Talionis” is the third track from the band’s second album, The Brimstone Aggrandizement, to be released on December 22nd via Indian record label Transcending Obscurity. The album artwork was specifically commissioned from the artist Propraetor.

New death metal supergroup Echelon carry on where another supergroup Stench Price left, employing the services of Dave Ingram (Hail Of Bullets, ex-Bolt Thrower, ex-Benediction), Rogga Johansson (Paganizer, Demiurg, Putrevore), Johan Berglund (Ribspreader, The Grotesquery), Kjetil Lynghaug (Johansson & Speckmann, Paganizer) and Travis Ruvo (Akatharta, Cropsy Maniac). Expect death metal that is stupendous, old school and fleshed out, emphasizing on crushing British brutality coupled with classic Swedish melodic sensibilities and riffing power. Care has been taken to ensure that the nostalgic value remains foremost, as the music traverses through many winding yet memorable songs, with impeccable compositions by the riff-master Rogga and probably one of Dave Ingram's finest vocal performances of his career. This is a varied, bombastic album that will go down as one of the strongest albums of this era.

Tracklisting:

“Plague Of The Altruistic”
“The Forbidden Industry”
“Lex Talionis”
“Of Warlocks And Wolves”
“The Brimstone Aggrandizement”
“Vital Existence”
“The Feared Religion”
“Monsters In The Gene Pool/Sonic Vortex”

"Lex Talionis":

“Plague Of The Altruistic”:

Order the new album at this location.

Florida power metal act, Seven Kingdoms, have released the video for "Neverending" from their forthcoming full length album, Decennium. This 10-year anniversary album follows up the successfully crowdfunded In The Walls EP, and will feature the two new songs from the EP along with eight brand new tracks. The crowdfunding campaign for Decennium will start on December 9th and run until the middle of January. Decennium is to be released at the end of January 2017.

The CD pressing will be limited to 1,000 copies with the double vinyl LP limited to 250. Each album and vinyl will be hand numbered, signed and feature the Edition 1 labeling on the back, and a holographic Edition 1 for 'Total Package' and  '+' backers. There will be no digital downloads available for this album until later in 2017.

Dusan Markovic created the amazing artwork for Decennium. The vinyl edition will be a triple gatefold with an included poster of the full cover and extra art inside. Fans will be able to order their copies of the album, vinyl, and other supporting merchandise via Decennium's Kickstarter Campaign when it launches on December 9th. Perks start shipping in late January / February 2017.

Decennium tracklisting:

“Stargazer”
“Undying”
“In The Walls”
“The Tale Of Deathface Ginny”
“Castles In The Snow”
“Kingslayer”
“The Faceless Hero”
“Neverending”
“Hollow”
“Awakened From Nothing”

"Neverending" video:

 
Decennium was recorded with Jim Morris (Iced Earth, Savatage, Death) and Phil Pluskota (Abiotic, King Conquer) at North Avenue Studios and Morrisound Recording. Seven Kingdoms mixed the album at Morrisound Recording and was mastered by Jacob Hansen (Avantasia, Evergrey, Volbeat).
 
Commented Seven Kingdoms guitarist Camden Cruz: "We are finally here! We are very excited to get this Campaign started and to begin getting the whole thing out for everyone all over the world to enjoy! We are very, very happy with the album. This is undeniably the best product the band has put fourth yet. If you liked the In The Walls EP, you will only be even happier with Decennium. We will have a slew of new stuff available on the Crowdfunding Campaign and hope that all of you will join us in celebrating the 10-Year-Anniversary of the band in 2017!"
 
Seven Kingdoms will embark on full length North American tour with Evergrey, Need and Ascendia in May and June 2017 to support the new album. More shows are being added; catch them live at the following confirmed shows.
 
May
6 - The Haven - Orlando, FL
7 - The Orpheum - Tampa, FL
9 - Scout Bar - Houston, TX
10 - Gas Monkey - Dallas, TX
11 - The Rock Box - San Antonio, TX
13 - Joe's Grotto - Phoenix, AZ
14 - Brick By Brick - San Diego, CA
15 - LVCS - Las Vegas, NV
20 - Studio Seven - Seattle, WA
21 - The Rickshaw Theater - Vancouver, BC
22 - Dickens Pub - Calgary, AB
23 - Exchange - Regina, SK
25 - The Cabooze - Minneapolis, MN
26 - Reggie's - Chicago, IL
30 - L'Anti Quebec city

More dates to be announced.