Guitar virtuoso Dave Kilminster, best known for his work with Roger Waters and Keith Emerson, has released an exciting new rock album, titled ...and THE TRUTH will set you free...This incredible project sees Dave reunited with drummer Pete Riley and bassist Phil Williams who toured with Dave as part of the Keith Emerson Band, and also recorded with Dave on his first solo rock album, Scarlet - The Director's Cut.

Says Dave about his new CD, “I returned from The Wall tour, both exhausted and exhilarated, and ready to direct all of that inspiration, passion and creativity into a new project. A year later, I held the master for this album in my hand... knowing it's undoubtedly the best solo work I've ever done.”

For the last eight years Dave was the featured lead guitarist with Roger Waters, joining Roger on his last two record breaking world tours; The Dark Side Of The Moon Live, and (the highest grossing tour by a solo act ever) The Wall Live.

Critics agree that David Kilminster is one of the most extraordinary talents to emerge from the UK. He is a sought after collaborator, band member and solo performer. After touring and collaborating a number of years with ELP legend Keith Emerson, fans will also know Dave from his work along side luminaries John Wetton, Carl Palmer, Geoff Downes, Guthrie Govan and John Young, among others.

Dave has released a series of instructional DVDs for Lick Library after the success of his global satellite series Killer Guitar. Dave also won the inaugural Guitarist Of The Year competition, run by Guitarist magazine.






Tracklisting:

"Messiah"
"Addict"
"Thieves"
"Circles"
"Save Me"
"Cassiopeia"
"The Fallen"
"Stardust"

Promo video:

React Records has announced the signing of Italian metalcore band Keep The Promise. Keep The Promise is a new modern hardcore-metal project of protest strongly wanted by M.V. (ex- frontman of Italian metallers Browbeat) that became a reality due to the support of a local metal act called To Shed Skin.

The debut album A Peaceful Mission Of War will be available in all digital stores on October 5th and in physical version from October 30th. Artwork by The Heartwork and Free Mind Time.


Recorded and mixed at Sliver Music Studio, A Peaceful Mission Of War is a real mix of modern impact and violence hardcore-metal with influences from ’90s NYhardcore style with politically engaged lyrics that denounce criminal abuses of Italian politicians, bloodthirsty dictators, religious fanatics, murderers of women and animal abuses.

Video teaser:

Kscope has announced that the UK's masters of modern progressive heaviness, TesseracT, will be joining the family.

Amos Williams, TesseracT bass player, commented on the signing: "Really looking forward to discovering the possibilities of working with such a creative label. We admire everything Kscope's done with bands like Anathema, Katatonia and Steven Wilson, and can't wait to see where they will guide TesseracT in this new chapter of the band. Very excited!"

Over the course of the last six years, TesseracT has been at the forefront of flourishing part of the ever-evolving metal scene. Originally formed as a studio project by guitarist Acle Kahney, TesseracT immediately eschewed all well-established notions of what metal should sound like and swiftly became a unique and daring entity. Kahney had recruited a line-up worthy of his ground-breaking compositions, and the band embarked upon a quest to inject some originality and excitement back into an often myopic and lazy British metal scene.

The longstanding line up of drummer Jay Postones, guitarist James Monteith and bassist Amos Williams has recently welcomed back vocalist Dan Tompkins, whose first show back with the band was on the main stage at this year's U.K. Sonisphere Festival. The band has already found a new creative energy having reunited with singer Dan Tompkins, and has already written half of its third album, the follow up to Altered State, slated for a 2015 release.






TesseracT's debut album One in 2011, featuring Dan Tompkins on vocals, received widespread critical acclaim, not least due to the album's staggering six-part centrepiece "Concealing Fate", which brilliantly showcased the band's pioneering sonic approach and unstoppable arsenal of off-kilter riffs, soaring melodies and disorientating atmospherics.

The primarily acoustic Perspective EP emerged in May 2012 to an effusive response from critics and fans alike, and shortly after the band's status as progressive metal's most fascinating new creative force was very publicly celebrated when TesseracT picked up the Best New Band trophy at 2012's inaugural Progressive Music Awards in London.

Not wasting any time, TesseracT released its second album Altered State in early 2013 again to worldwide media acclaim.

Fans can experience the band's thrilling live shows across Europe as it begins an extensive tour with co-headliners Animals As Leaders.

Q5, the band best known for its explosive 1984 debut album Steel The Light, and its 1985 follow-up When The Mirror Cracks, have returned to finally give its fans what they have long been asking for, a new CD.

Original members Jonathan K. (vocals), Rick Pierce (guitars) and Evan Sheeley (bass) reformed the historic band first to perform at Headbangers Open Air Festival in Germany, and most recently at the Sweden Rock Festival; performances intended to be “one-off” shows. However, the fan response was overwhelming, and it was clear that this was not the end.

Replacing former members Gary Thompson (drums) and guitar tremolo inventor Floyd Rose was not easy, but stepping up to the task are the brilliant guitarist/vocalist Kendall Bechtel (Fifth Angel, Sweet Sister Sam, Powertrain), and veteran drummer Jeffrey McCormack(Nightshade, Heir Apparent, Fifth Angel).

Q5 is back with an extraordinary new energy, and will put it to good use when they launch the new lineup at the Rock You To Hell II Festival in Athens, Greece on November 8th followed by work on their new CD, to be released in 2015.

Heavy metal legends BLACK SABBATH will begin work on a new studio album in 2015, to be followed by one final tour.

BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi, who has battled cancer since 2012, recently hinted that the group's July 4 gig at London's Hyde Park could have been the band's last because the touring can be tough on him. But frontman Ozzy Osbourne now says that the group will record another CD next year.

"The whole SABBATH experience this time around was great," Ozzy tells Metal Hammer magazine. "We all made friends, we didn't fuck around, we all knew that we had a job to do, and we did it. It was a lot of fun. So we're going to do one more album, and a final tour.

"Once the dust settled after the last tour we started discussing the idea, because we were getting asked about it all the time. I said to [wife/manager] Sharon, 'What's going on? Because if there's no more SABBATH, I want to get on with my own thing again,' and she came back and said, 'Let me look into it.' Three weeks later, I asked her about it again, and she said, 'Oh, I still have to talk to so and so...' and I said 'Sharon, I ain't fucking 21 anymore, if we're going to do I want to do it before I'm 70!' Time isn't on our side! So she made the call and came back and said, 'Yeah, the record company wants another album.' I believe [producer] Rick Rubin is going to do it with us again."

No new material has yet been written for what will be SABBATH's fourteenth studio album, but Osbourne says that sessions will begin early next year.

"It'll be sooner rather than later," the singer says. "Obviously a lot of it is coming down to Tony's health, he's obviously got his cancer treatment, but we'll get onto it next year. I don't know if we'll be writing in England or L.A., but I'll fly to the fucking moon for it if I have to!"

"13", the first SABBATH album since 1978 to feature Ozzy, Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler, was No. 1 in the U.S., the U.K. and nearly a dozen other countries.

Butler recently said that that the threesome already have a head start on a new record, explaining, "We've still got four tracks left over from ['13']. So maybe we'll fill in the other four or five tracks and put out another album — if it's right. We wouldn't do it just for the sake of it, or the money or whatever. But yeah, maybe."

Original BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward was on board for the reunion when it was first announced in November 2011, but backed out soon after due to contractual issues.

SABBATH has used Ozzy's regular touring drummer Tommy Clufetos since then for live work. RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Brad Wilk laid down the drum tracks on "13", which came out in June 2013.

Iommi revealed in January of 2012 that he had been diagnosed with lymphoma, which is described by the Mayo Clinic as "a cancer of the lymphatic system, the body's disease-fighting network." He had to go back to England every six weeks for treatment, forcing him and SABBATH to work around both the treatments and the recovery time needed afterward.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi has posted photos online from his first day on the job as a teacher at Coventry University in the U.K. Iommi began his stint as a professor of music last Wednesday (September 24) and posted pictures of a class session as well as an autograph line where he signed things for students.

Iommi was appointed Visiting Professor Of Music last June at the university, which awarded him with an Honorary Doctorate Of Arts in November of last year for his outstanding contribution to global music. He toured the facilities in May and spent some time during that visit talking with students and staff about his 50 years as a musician.

Department Of Performing Arts head Dr. Sara Reed said, "It is a tremendous honor to have Tony here with us as a Visiting Professor. His huge wealth of experience and musical knowledge is beyond value to our students."

Iommi will work this fall directly with students on their songwriting and composition skills.

SABBATH's successful world tour in support of its 2013 reunion album, "13", came to a close on July 4 with a massive gig at London's Hyde Park.

Iommi had to go back to England every six weeks for treatment ever since being diagnosed with lymphoma in 2012, forcing him and SABBATH to work around both the treatments and the recovery time needed afterward.



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Post by Tony Iommi.


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Post by Tony Iommi.

Canadian bashers Varga, who disbanded in 1998 and got back together in 2011, have been touring over the last year focusing their two comeback albums, Enter The Metal (2013) and Return Of The Metal (2014). During their September 13th show in Windsor, Ontario they did a rare performance of "Greed" from their official debut album, Prototype, released in 1993. Check out the clip below along with a live cover of Black Sabbath's "Symptom Of The Universe":



Varga have checked in with the following update:

"On September 13th while in Windsor, Sean Williamson (guitars) tripped on a curb outside our hotel, fell to the pavement and fractured his left hip. As a result he was admitted to the hospital in Windsor and underwent radical hip surgery that kept him in the hospital for the following 4 days. He’s been told that a complete recovery could take up to 3 months, however Sean feels that he is healing fast enough that this hopefully will not affect shows already in place.

Please check our page at VargaHQ for a make up date announcement in the near future."

Varga's schedule is now as follows. Stay tuned for updates:

October
10 - London, ON - APK
25 - Hamilton, ON - This Ain't Hollywood

For details and updates go to this location.

On Tuesday, July 22nd, Varga, released their 4th full-length studio recording; the follow-up to last October's Enter The Metal, with the sequel Return Of The Metal, via the band's own Vargantuan Music label. Digital downloads and CDs are available through iTunes, Amazon, and VargaHQ.com.

Comprised of members Joe Varga (bass and vocals), Adam Alex (guitar), Sean Williamson (guitar), and Dan Fila (drums), the veteran band (originally formed in 1989) has built a large and loyal following of heavy metal fans, particular in their home country, on the strength of such popular releases as 1994's Prototype (Zoo Records), which spawned the hits "Freeze Don't Move" and "Greed" earning the band a thumbs up on the then popular Beavis And Butthead MTV program. After over a decade apart, Varga reunited in 2011, and issued their awesome reunion effort, Enter The Metal (their first new studio album in 17 years). The album was produced by longtime friend and producer/engineer, Julius “Juice” Butty (Alexisonfire, Protest the Hero), and recorded at both Six Nations’ Jukasa Studio, and Butty’s own Silo Studios. As heard throughout Enter The Metal and Return Of The Metal, the long delay between releases has not dulled Varga's penchant for penning inspired and challenging heavy metal in the slightest.


Return Of The Metal tracklisting:

“Three Section Staff”
“Afterlife Comes”
“Disfigured Gargoyle”
“Evil Drifter”
“Money Talks”
“Far East Super Slaughter”

According to The Pulse Of Radio, THREE DAYS GRACE has released a new song called "I Am Machine", accompanied by a lyric video. The track is the second new track issued this year by the Canadian act, following the chart-topping "Painkiller" earlier this year. Both songs are expected to appear on the group's upcoming fifth album, which will now have a March 31, 2015 release date.

Drummer Neil Sanderson told The Pulse Of Radio what to expect from the new disc musically. "This record, we really wanted to go back to the raw, really aggressive, you know, sometimes rough around the edges and just bruteness," he said. "And that's kind of what's coming out and maybe it's a reflection of just where our heads have been at and the experiences that we've had."

The yet-to-be-titled new album will follow up 2012's "Transit Of Venus".

It's the first to feature new frontman Matt Walst, brother of bassist Brad Walst. Matt replaced original singer Adam Gontier in early 2013 and was officially made a member of the band last March.

The first new song written by the revamped band, "Painkiller", became the 12th No. 1 track of THREE DAYS GRACE's career at Active Rock radio this past summer.

Ceremonial death/doom ensemble, Atriarch, has unveiled the slow brooding audio treachery of "Allfather". The towering new hymn comes by way of the band's third full-length and first under the Relapse Records banner, An Unending Pathway, due for release October 28th.

Recorded at Type Foundry in Portland, Oregon, produced by Billy Anderson (Sleep, Eyehategod, Melvins) and the band, engine-eared and mixed by Anderson at Everything Hz, also in Portland, and mastered by Brad Boatright (Sleep, Beastmilk, Nails) at Audiosiege, on An Unending Pathway, Atriarch delivers catharsis through sonic ritual, churning an otherworldly fusion of death rock, doom, black metal, post punk and psychedelic drone/noise, their haunting atmospheres and avalanches of chest-heaving sludge at once compelling and overwhelming. Imagine Bauhaus as interpreted by Eyehategod, or Sisters of Mercy filtered through Neurosis, and only then can you begin to grasp the darkness that is Atriarch.

Norway's progressive extreme metallers ENSLAVED have entered the studio to begin recording their thirteenth album for an early 2015 release via Nuclear Blast. Main recordings for the as-yet-untitled CD are taking place at Duper and Solslottet Studios in Bergen, Norway, with additional tracking at Conclave & Earshot Studios (presided over by ENSLAVED members Larsen and Ice Dale), and Ivar Bjørnson's Peersonal Sound Studios. Additional experimentation and sonic exploration will be conducted deep in the woods of Valevåg south of Bergen where the band took a mobile studio to record the infamous "Thorn" seven-inch single in 2012. The effort is being produced by bandmembers Ivar Bjørnson, Grutle Kjellson and Herbrand Larsen together with Iver Sandøy. Mixing will be done by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden. Cover artwork will once again be created by longtime artist and "sixth ENSLAVED member" Truls Espedal, who has painted all of the band's album covers since 2001's "Monumension".

From his home in Bergen, Norway, ENSLAVED guitarist, songwriter, and founding member Ivar Bjørnson takes some time to provide the following update:

"My favorite time of year is whenever we enter the studio with ENSLAVED to record a new album. Now the season of creative madness, endless days, and bleeding fingertips is upon us again… O joy!

"As before, it is the unholy trinity that forms the first line of attack: I (guitar), Grutle (Kjellson, bass and vocals), and Cato (Bekkevold, drums), are recording the foundations of the album live, while Ice Dale (lead guitar) and Herbrand (Larsen, vocals and keys) will add their instruments and voice in their own studios after these initial core sessions. Then I will add some wackiness at my home studio, before we all get together again to finish it.

"I feel that I have delivered basic material that is rock solid.

"I have poured my very life and heart into these compositions while the rest of the band have refined it, shaped it, and delivered it like their very lives depended on it.

"It has been challenging to keep up the pace with the way the songs wanted to go; life flows its ways and takes its turns regardless of your artistic ambitions. However, the music led the way through the fog and I just followed, and never doubting the oncoming album for a second."

ENSLAVED's twelfth studio album, "RIITIIR", sold around 2,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 8 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

ENSLAVED's previous album, "Axioma Ethica Odini", opened with 1,400 units back in September 201

Swedish melodic rockers Grand Design have premiered the first video off their new album, Thrill Of The Night, which was released on September 26th via AOR Heaven. The song is entitled “Rawk 'N' Roll Heart Attack” and is as '80s as it can be. The video was directed and produced by Thomas Tjäder at Acromancy Media (Pretty Maids, Jorn, In Flames).



The band doesn’t hide the Leppard spots, which also shows on the album artwork by CA Beckston. Thrill Of The Night will also be released in Japan later this year, by Rubicon Music. The Japanese version will feature two previously unreleased bonus tracks, one being a cover of “Fallen Hero”, paying tribute to the late Vixen guitarist Jan Kuehnemund.

Dark oppressive modern death metal band Deep In Hate has released a lyric video for "The Cattle Procession", a song taken from the group's latest and third full-length, Chronicles Of Oblivion, released in June.

The lyric video will plunge viewers into the concept behind the album: a dark future that sees our so-called civilization evolve into (even) more tyranny, more oppression. Not really a "concept album," Chronicles Of Oblivion has this main theme being explored on all songs, with a different aspect of it being the main theme of each track. So, after entering the "New Republic" and facing the "Altars Of Lies," enter "The Cattle Procession".

"Tabula Rasa", the new video from SOEN — the Swedish progressive rock band featuring drummer Martin Lopez (ex-OPETH, AMON AMARTH), vocalist Joel Ekelöf (WILLOWTREE), guitarist Joakim Platbarzdis and bassist Stefan Stenberg — can be seen below. The song is taken from the group's sophomore studio album, "Tellurian", which will be released on November 4 via Spinefarm Records.

Says Platbarzdis: "It is finally time for the first video from our forthcoming second album, 'Tellurian', to surface. The video features the song 'Tabula Rasa', and gives a glimpse into our common frustrations with the world, the way it's run today and how the effects of it exclude no one..." The "Tabula Rasa" video was directed by Kirke Ailio Rodwell, whose work displays a flair for style, attention to detail and one-of-a-kind perspective. He says: "In a way, the video summarizes life, with its moments of zest and sadness.

"It was such a great experience to work with SOEN, who trusted me and my team to capture the extremes of life. They are talented musicians and have visions that closely coincide with my own — which is rare and truly special for me."

As "Tellurian" makes plain, SOEN is not concerned with the simple or the shallow; their musical journey takes an altogether more ambitious path, and the result is an expansive body of work, wrapped up in the stunning art of Mexican painter José Luis López Galván, that consistently challenges without being "clever-clever" or tough to enjoy.

The melodies are intricate, the playing muscular and the choruses soaring; overall, the feel is one of a band whose intent is very much in synch with the sort of core values — skilled musicianship, emotion over precision, importance of album artwork — that seem to be back in vogue.

Produced by Platbarzdis, mixed by the legendary Grammy Award-winning David Bottrill (TOOL, SMASHING PUMPKINS, MUSE, KING CRIMSON) and mastered at Bob Ludwig's Gateway setup in the U.S. by Adam Ayan, also a Grammy winner, "Tellurian" sees SOEN taking the approach of their "Cognitive" debut (2012, Spinefarm) and pushing the boundaries in terms of musical scope, the whole thing shot through with the confidence of a band who have found their voice.

Rhythmic, experimental and flowing, and with the "muso" side never taking precedence over a good song and a telling chorus, "Tellurian" ("relating to, or inhabiting the earth") will appeal to anyone with an ear for quality playing, and there's further reward to be had below the surface, with the lyrics taking a more direct route than on "Cognitive", and the construction of the material — including first single/video "Tabula Rasa" ("Clean Slate") — allowing room for the raw emotion to shine through.

"Tellurian" track listing:

01. Komenco02. Tabula Rasa03. Kuraman04. The Words05. Pluton06. Koniskas07. Ennui08. Void09. The Other's Fall



http://www.universalmusic.fr/videos/getIframe/21068?w=480&h=360&autoplay=false

Allen Kovac's Eleven Seven Music Group has announced the signing of ART OF DYING. The band — Jonny Hetherington (vocals), Jeff Brown (drums), Cale Gontier (bass) and Tavis Stanley (guitar) — has just completed work on its new album in New Jersey with producer David Bendeth (BRING ME THE HORIZON, BREAKING BENJAMIN, OF MICE & MEN) for an early 2015 release.

Though the members of ART OF DYING are Canadian, the epicenter of the band's success has been in the U.S., with their album "Vices And Virtues" (2011, Reprise/Intoxication) spawning the hit singles "Die Trying" and "Get Thru This", both of which charted on U.S. mainstream, rock and alternative radio, and contributed to the band selling over 250,000 digital singles and 50,000 records.

"We're thrilled to join forces with Eleven Seven and Allen Kovac," says Hetherington.

"It's an honor to become label mates with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, PAPA ROACH and MÖTLEY CRÜE, bands that have inspired us over the years.

"Eleven Seven's passion for rock is fierce which is exactly the kind of energy that ART OF DYING fans have come to expect."

He adds: "I can't tell you how excited we are about the new music! Making this album was one of the most intense experiences we've ever been through, so we kept things pretty tight lipped in order to focus all of our energy into every lyric, note and beat of the creative process.

"We've seen all of the calls for new music coming in from our fans on our social media channels, and now I'm thrilled to say the record is done, and the wait is almost over!

Kovac states: "Having come off a #1 rock single and making their first album for Eleven Seven produced by David Bendeth, we are exceptionally lucky to have ART OF DYING join our roster."

ILL NIÑO's video for the song "I'm Not The Enemy" can be seen below. Shot on the streets of Los Angeles, the clip tells a bold story of youthful injustice, overcoming social stereotypes and the dreams of constructing a better life.

Says ILL NIÑO vocalist Cristian Machado: "We wanted something traditional and classic that represented the everyday struggle between the good side of society, the bad side of society, and the judged side of society."

The "I'm Not The Enemy" video was produced by Scott Hansen (OTEP, A DAY TO REMEMBER) and co-directed by ILL NIÑO bassist Lazaro Pina. The song highlights the band's distinctive dual guitar strike and groove-laden percussion while Machado scathingly questions authority: "I'm the bad guy in the backseat. Am I the enemy?"

"I'm Not The Enemy" is taken from ILL NIÑO's new album, "Till Death, La Familia", which was released on July 22 via Victory Records. Pina recently stated about the CD: "We're definitely bringing it up to 2014 and kind of creating our own thing. Hearing Cristian singing like he's never sung before and even innovating a new heavy style of singing and a new melodic style of singing. It's going to be interesting. I think that the fans'll appreciate it and hopefully some new ones will come on board and say, 'Hey. I really dig this band; I like what they've been doing throughout the years.' It is… I think it's a courageous record. It definitely does not sound like any other previous record. It's definitely ILL NIÑO demonstrating an additional style."

He continued: "You've got to keep innovating yourself, and if you don't innovate yourself, you're playing the same thing. We've been doing this for a long time, we're entitled to get a little crazy and experiment with different ideas."

ATKINS MAY PROJECT, the band featuring original JUDAS PRIEST singer Al Atkins and Christian guitarist and music artist Paul May, will release its third album, "Empire Of Destruction", on September 29 via Gonzo Multimedia.

Like its predecessors, "Empire Of Destruction" comes once again straight out of the heart of "Black Country" in the United Kingdom, the "Home Of Metal". The album continues its classic rock theme with enough metal moments to melt your face off, yet features an abundance of imagination and class to intrigue even the most progressive of tastes.

Says Al: "From 'A World At War' to 'Whisper To The Wind', it will take you on a journey of battle fields to sombre tears..."

Adds Paul: "Our first album, 'Serpents Kiss', set the bench mark for the second, 'Valley of Shadows', a mature classic metal affair, that in turn set a much higher new bench mark for 'Empire Of Destruction', which has evolved into something I believe will stand the test of time, an to be album to proud of.”

The first 1,000 CDs comes with a limited-edition DVD.

"Empire Of Destruction" track listing:

CD

01. Dog Eat Dog02. Whisper To The Wind03. A World At War04. The Midas Touch05. Here Comes The Rain06. Darkness Within07. Reckless Child08. Paranoia

DVD

* Welcome To The Nightmare* Fight* The Shallowing (unplugged)* The Darkness Within* Enslaved To Love* Interview with Paul May and Al Atkins

A "shortened" version of the song "Here Comes The Rain" can be streamed below.

ATKINS MAY PROJECT's first CD, "Serpent's Kiss", was released in 2011 via Gonzo Multimedia. A follow-up effort, "Valley Of Shadows", came out in 2012.

Atkins is the co-writer of several PRIEST songs which are included on the band's first two albums, "Rocka Rolla" and "Sad Wings of Destiny", both of which eventually went gold. Atkins co-penned the heavy metal classic "Victim of Changes", which was a combination of Rob Halford's song "Red Light Lady" and Atkins' own "Whiskey Woman". He also co-wrote "Winter", "Never Satisfied", "Dreamer Deceiver" and "Caviar and Meths".

In 1989 Atkins released his debut solo album, "Judgement Day", to great acclaim. But it was "Heavy Thoughts" and "Victim of Changes" (the latter being his collaborative album with ex-JUDAS PRIEST drummer Dave Holland) that brought him strong sales and critical acclaim around the world.

JUDAS PRIEST bassist Ian Hill penned the foreword to Al Atkins's autobiography, titled "Dawn of the Metal Gods: My Life in Judas Priest and Heavy Metal". The book, which was written with Neil Daniels — a freelance rock writer and heavy metal fan who befriended Atkins during the writing of Neil's book "The Story Of Judas Priest: Defenders Of The Faith" (Omnibus Press) — was released in 2009 via Iron Pages.

BE LUCKY is THE WHO’s first new material in eight years. The track was produced by Dave Eringa best known for his work with the Manic Street Preachers and Wilko Johnson & Roger Daltrey.



Recorded at the end of the summer at British Grove and Yellow Fish Studios BE LUCKY features long time Who live players Zak Starkey (drums) and Pino Palladino (bass) with the keyboards being provided by ex Style Council and Dexys sideman Mick Talbot. In keeping with their ongoing support for Teenage Cancer charities, the band have donated their royalties from the song to Teen Cancer America, a charity founded in 2011 by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend.



THE WHO HITS 50! is released on 3 November to coincide with the band’s 50th anniversary tour of the same name which starts in Glasgow on 30 November and ends at The O2 Arena in London on 18 December.



You can pre-order the 2 CD version of THE WHO HITS 50! here:

Pre-Order Here (UK): Amazon.co.uk

Pre-Order Here (US): Amazon.com

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South West UK metal juggernaut Engraved Disillusion will release their second album and follow-up to 2011’s Embers Of Existence entitled The Eternal Rest, independently on October 31st. The band's new video for "Embrace The Flames" can be found below.

Filmed on a runway at the former Royal Air Force station, RAF Culmhead, in Somerset England, "Embrace The Flames" is not just the first taste of the new album but also the first featuring new vocalist Matthew William Mead. The video was filmed and directed by Marianne Harris who has previously worked with bands including Slipknot, Bullet For My Valentine and The Darkness.



The Eternal Rest was recorded at Thin Ice Studios with Karl Groom (Dragonforce, Threshold) during the summer of 2014 and features ten tracks of epic, diverse and at times unrelenting metal. The addition of new vocalist Matthew William Mead and bassist Aaron Preston has allowed the band to diversify and bring new elements to their sound, namely the inclusion of clean vocals.

Guitarist Toby Stewart comments, “When we started writing the album we made sure to write exactly what we wanted to do even if it took us in some different directions to our other releases. We felt a bit tired of bands having to make the music people expect them to when they’re capable of a lot more. The initial word that we had in our heads when writing album was 'epic'. We wanted a huge melodic sound. We feel the songwriting has gone up another level and we've achieved exactly what we wanted to on this album.”

Artwork was completed by Colin Marks at Rain Song Design (Strapping Young Lad, Saille, Exodus, Scar Symmetry).

British melodic rock giants, Ten, will release their new album, Albion, on November 21st via Rocktopia Records/Cargo Records. Limited advance copies of Albion will be available to buy at their UK Firefest Performance, October 24th, and at the album pre-listening party on October 23rd at The Royal Suite, the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Nottingham. Albion is the first of two new albums that Ten will release through Rocktopia Records, with a second album due for release in the first half of 2015.






Tracklisting:

"Alone In The Dark Tonight"
"Battlefield"
"It's Alive"
"Albion Born"
"Sometimes Love Takes The Long Way Home"
"A Smuggler's Tale"
"It Ends This Day"
"Die For Me"
"Gioco D'Amoure"
"Wild Horses"

Ten have also announced the launch of their new updated official website. In celebration of their new album Albion they are launching an all new social media compatible site. It comes complete with links to all the Ten Fan Sites around the world. The new website will be the Mother site, providing up to date news and links translated into every language imaginable, including Greek, Spanish, Italian and Japanese.

Ten recently announced two new members. The band has revamped its lineup with the addition of guiarist Dann Rosingana and guitarist Steve Grocott.

For years Gary Hughes has toyed with the idea of bringing even more power and width into the Ten live sound. They are two highly skilled individuals and the aim is to bring twin lead guitar back into play whilst not detracting from the solid and powerful backdrop which is trademark Ten.

Gary commented: "The arrival of Dann and Steve will enable the band to play more of the layers in Ten's studio sound live on stage."






Dann is a very gifted guitar player with a very bluesy edge. Combining speed and melody perfectly in his solo work. He was born Barrow-in-Furness Cumbria, and has been playing guitar since the age of 10. Dann also plays keyboards and sings. His previous Bands include: Shellshocked, A2Z, Hysteria and Yorkshire based club band, Jagged Edge.






Steve is an incredibly versitile guitar player. Combining stunning technical ability with harmony and melody. Creating light and shade in breathtaking abundance with his solo work. Steve hails from Staffordshire and has been playing guitar since the age of 12. His previous bands include AOR band Sevendayz.

Albion is the first of the two new albums to feature lead guitarwork by Dann and Steve.

Ten veteran, the formidable John Halliwell, once again provides the power guitar backdrop and both new additions will share the lead duties and twin together to bring a new dimension to the solo aspect of Ten live sound.

Ten are:

Gary Hughes - Vocals
Dann Rosingana - Guitars
Steve Grocott - Guitars
John Halliwell - Guitars
Steve Mckenna - Bass
Darrel Treece-Birch - Keyboards
Max Yates - Drums

Beginning with their October UK appearance at Firefest, Ten will emerge as a new look 7-piece, for the first time featuring the triple guitar attack that will bring a new dimension to the established British melodic rock giants.

Fast-rising progressive death metal sensations, Black Crown Initiate, have released their first ever music video, for the single "Withering Waves", featured on their debut LP, The Wreckage Of Stars, tomorrow in North America, and available across UK/EU territories on October 27th via eOne Music / Good Fight Music.



Every once in a while there comes along an album either so brutal it blasts your face off, or so delicious it delights and tickles the ears. Even rarer is an album that manages to seamlessly combine the two, melding gorgeous musicianship with awe-inspiring power. Most bands might achieve this once or twice in their career; so for a band to achieve this on the debut is an impressive feat, and one which demands to be noticed.

The Wreckage Of Stars, the first LP US prog metal stars Black Crown Initiate is such a debut. Perhaps the strongest new album from the strongest new outfit you shall hear all year, The Wreckage Of Stars is the next step in the whirlwind musical journey of the Pennsylvanian band in their short 2-year history.

The Wreckage Of Stars is at times devastatingly heavy, combining thunderous percussion with nightmarishly fast and fierce guitar work and black-metal inspired vocals. Look further and a listener will hear moments of brilliance and beauty, from the stunning bass solo on the album’s opener “Great Mistake” to the Opeth-reminiscent opening and clean vocals of “Malignant”.

Finnish folk metallers ENSIFERUM have been locked away for three weeks in Astia Studio in Lappeenranta, Finland with producer Anssi Kippo. Drums, bass, and most of the guitar parts for the band's next CD have been recorded. At the end of last week, guest musician Timo Väänänen tracked some takes with his kantele, and over the weekend, vocalist Petri Lindroos began tracking vocals.

ENSIFERUM bassist Sami Hinkka comments: "For last few days, Mahi and Pete have sweated their asses off while recording guitars. Songs sound, like our friends in UK would say, bloody awesome! Today (Friday, September 26) we recorded kantele and some special guitar tracks. Tomorrow it's time to set up a microphone and start to record vocals. Things are proceeding as planned."

ENSIFERUM's next album is tentatively scheduled for release in early 2015 on Metal Blade Records.

ENSIFERUM's most recent album, "Unsung Heroes", was released on August 27, 2012 via Spinefarm. The CD was produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, SENTENCED) at Petrax studio (CHILDREN OF BODOM, NIGHTWISH) in Hollola, Finland and other locations in the Hämeenlinna area.

ENSIFERUM is:

Petri Lindroos - vocals/guitarMarkus Toivonen - guitar/backing vocalsSami Hinkka - bass/backing vocalsJanne Parviainen - drumsEmmi Silvennoinen - keys/backing vocals

Heavy metal all-star band METAL ALLEGIANCE — featuring members of PANTERA, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX and TESTAMENT – played a set of heavy metal's most influential and recognizable songs during MOTÖRHEAD's Motörboat cruise, which took place last. Taking part in the performance were singers Philip Anselmo (DOWN, ex-PANTERA), Joey Belladonna (ANTHRAX), and Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT), guitarists Chris Broderick (MEGADETH), Jon Donais (ANTHRAX, SHADOWS FALL), Scott Ian (ANTHRAX), Mark Zavon (KILL DEVIL HILL), bassists Frank Bello (ANTHRAX), Rex Brown (KILL DEVIL HILL, ex-PANTERA) and David Ellefson (MEGADETH), and drummers Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) and Mike Portnoy (THE WINERY DOGS, ex-DREAM THEATER).

Fan-filmed video footage of METAL ALLEGIANCE's set can be seen below.

The first annual MOTÖRHEAD's Motörboat sailed from Miami, visiting the ports of Key West , Florida and Cozumel just off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula for the September 22-26 cruise on the Carnival Ecstasy. "The Loudest Boat In The World" featured MOTÖRHEAD, ANTHRAX, METAL ALLEGIANCE, TESTAMENT, DOWN, HIGH ON FIRE, KILL DEVIL HILL, Zakk Wylde, JIM BREUER BAND, DANKO JONES, FIREBALL MINISTRY, WILSON and CILVER, as well as a spoken-word performance by legendary heavy metal musician, author, and television personality Scott Ian. While onboard, guests had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interact with band members and will see unforgettable performances on various stages throughout the ship.

Prior to the cruise, event producer Alan Koenig of ASK4 Entertainment said. "The whole reason to do these music cruises is to give fans an experience that they can't get anywhere else — and bringing METAL ALLEGIANCE onboard with metal's most loyal fans fits that bill." Added Ellefson: "METAL ALLEGIANCE is a great way to continue our brotherhood of all things metal." "I always love getting together with my brothers and throwing down. The ALLEGIANCE jam is sure to be the best jam I've been involved with yet," said Philip Anselmo. Rex Brown said: "We have jammed at some big metal events in the past, but METAL ALLEGIANCE is gonna blow EVERYONE on the Motörboat cruise right out of the water!!! Let her rip!" Portnoy agreed: "I've been honored to have been part of some previous metal jams over the years and there's something very special and (Goddamn) electric that happens when you put this group of guys together in a room or on a stage. Myself and my brothers in metal on the Motörboat are metal lovers through and through and we love to get together to jam, have fun and pay tribute to the music that we all love so much."



Another epic metal extravaganza w @metalallegiance last night...check out this setlist! What a blast... \m/ pic.twitter.com/dcsfdDNs7I

— Mike Portnoy (@MikePortnoy) September 26, 2014

Australia-based female fronted prog/power metal act, Divine Ascension, have released a lyric video for "Stronger", a track from their second full length release, entitled Liberator, out worldwide on November 21st through Vicisolum Productions. The band have been hard at work, carving out their latest offering during most of 2013 and can now share the fruits of their labor when the Swedish label brings the album to the masses later this year.

Divine Ascension enlisted the mixing and mastering expertise of Jens Bogren (James LaBrie, Soilwork, Symphony X, Devin Townsend, Opeth) to piece together the many progressive layers and elements that lie in wait for those who get their hands on a copy.






Comment from the band: "We are extremely excited about working with Vicisolum to bring you our new release, Liberator, in November. We know it has been a long wait for some of you who have been eager for something new since our debut release, As The Truth Appears, in 2011, and can only say that it will be worth the wait."






Liberator tracklisting:

"Dawn Brings No Mercy"
"Stronger"
"Liberator"
"My Contender Lies"
"Sorrow's Sacrifice"
"Crystal Tears"
"Machine"
"Red Sky"
"The Final Stand"
"Hideaway"
"Memoria's Longing"

"Stronger" lyric video:

White Empress, the new band founded by former Cradle Of Filth guitarist Paul Allender, is streaming their debut album, Rise Of The Empress, a day ahead of it's September 30th release via Peaceville Records in conjunction with PledgeMusic.

Rise Of The Empress can be pre-ordered now through the Peaceville web store at this location, or digitally through iTunes here.

Formed by guitarist Paul Allender and with a full band lineup, this new venture into the metal landscape under the moniker of White Empress exudes the depth and ferocity of his prior work whilst pushing new boundaries. Allender's signature razor-sharp riffing and epic, melodic twists and turns compliment the sumptuously alluring and often demonic voice of Mary Zimmer (Luna Mortis) to create a master class in savage, yet uplifting metallic darkness.

The album was recorded in White Empress' studio and has been mixed and mastered by veteran producer, Kit Woolven (Thin Lizzy, Cradle Of Filth). With Allender's relentless guitar and Zimmer's diverse vocals, ranging from operatic to death metal screams, White Empress is exploring new areas of metal.






Tracklisting:

"Rise Of The Empress"
"The Congregation"
"A Prisoner Unleashed"
"Darkness Encroaching"
"Sven's Tower"
"Erased And Rewritten"
"The Ecstatic And The Sorrow"
"Dethroned"
"Obsession With The Empress (Human To Divine)"
"Ours To Burn"
"Exile (The Empress Returns)"
"Fall Of The Old Guard"

Six-headed death machine, Aversions Crown, will unleash their Nuclear Blast Entertainment debut, Tyrant, on November 14th in Europe/Australia, November 17th in the UK, and November 24th in North America. A new lyric video for the album track "The Glass Sentient" can be found below.

Formed in 2010 in Queensland’s Brisbane, the same sunny stretch of Australian coastline as Portal and The Amity Affliction, Aversions Crown developed their pummeling blend of mechanized brutality and haunting atmospherics by utilizing three guitarists brandishing 8-string guitars. Appearing live as a wall of muscle, guitars and flailing hair, the band have logged serious road miles across Australia, Europe and the United Kingdom with acts like Thy Art Is Murder, The Acacia Strain, Oceano, All Shall Perish, Cattle Decapitation and appearances at Warped Tour.

Tyrant, the follow-up to the band’s 2011 debut Servitude, was created in the oppressive heat of Brisbane’s summer with Thy Art Is Murder’s Andy Marsh producing and Mark Lewis (Whitechapel, Carnifex) of Audio Hammer mixing. With a thematic fixation on dystopian nightmares and hostile extraterrestrial encounters, the relentless barrage Aversions Crown churn out across these ten songs will soundtrack either a solid 'Halo' session or the coming invasion. The striking artwork was created by Swedish visionary Pär Olofsson, who has worked with acts like Pyscroptic, Aborted, Abysmal Dawn and The Faceless.






Tracklisting:

"Hollow Planet"
"The Glass Sentient"
"Conqueror"
"Vectors"
"Earth Steriliser"
"Avalanche"
"Xenoforms"
"Overseer"
"Controller"
"Faith Collapsing"

Italian brutal death metal act, Carnality, have signed a deal with Memorial Records for the release of their new album, entitled Dystopia, available from October 15th on all digital stores. The distribution of the physical version in Italy and UK is planned for November.

Recorded at Domination Studios by Simone Mularoni, Dystopia is the direct evolution of the previous full-length sound’s with a certain and well-studied usage of melody, especially in guitar solos, to enrich a strong and fierce technical brutal death metal, denoting influences that comes from Nile, Job For A Cowboy and Behemoth.

The first band feedback about Dystopia: “Our new record is a concept album set in a dystopic future in which society is not based on work anymore, and the only necessary activities are carried out by convicts deprived of their emotions, feelings and need to live in relation with others through genetic modification and nanotechnology. The concept is not limited to the lyrics, but is also extended to the musical section, rich of apocalyptic and oppressive atmospheres that will be your eternal partner during the listening. The struggle against tyranny has begun, will you enjoy the battle or you'll kneel?”






Dystopia tracklisting:

"Abyssus Abyssum Invocat"
"Doomsday"
"Fall Of The Human Ratio"
"The Right Of Oblivion"
"God Over Human Ruins"
"A Sysyphus Drama"
"Lord Of Drones"
"Silent Enim Leges Inter Arma Pt.1: A Simulacrum Of Humanity"
"Silent Enim Leges Inter Arma Pt.2: Resignation"
"Silent Enim Leges Inter Arma Pt.3: The Gift Of Anomie"

Trailer:

Momentum keeps building for the UK's latest technical death metal outfit, Cognizance, as they just released a brand new lyric video for the song, "The Succession Of Flesh", which features guest vocals by Suffocation's Frank Mullen and a guest guitar solo from Eyal Levi.



"The Succession Of Flesh" is from the bands latest EP, titled _Inceptum, which is set to be released in the fall of 2014.

Cognizance has been adding to their brutal arsenal with the recent inclusion of drumming phenom Alex Rüdinger (The Faceless, Conquering Dystopia) on this release. In addition Tommy Jones of Videohammer Studios (Testament, Suffocation, Death Angel), has been documenting the evolution of both the band and the making of _Inceptum. The entire EP was tracked by acclaimed producer Eyal Levi (Daath, Monuments, Arsis).





The album artwork was created by Dan Mumford (The Black Dahlia Murder, Parkway Drive) and will be available with limited edition prints along with the release.