On Friday, April 1st Guns N’ Roses played their first live gig of 2016 on the hallowed ground where they started, The Troubadour (West Hollywood, CA). The band hit the stage shortly after midnight and ripped through a set of Guns N' Roses classics along with some covers and a couple surprises, namely songs from the band's Chinese Democracy record that did not feature Slash on the original recordings.

Hot Topic have posted the video below with the following words: “Couldn’t make it to the super-secret Guns N’ Roses reunion show at the Troubadour in LA? Watch Slash’s opening solo and imagine what could’ve been.”

Two legends of rock music, Alice In Chains and Lenny Kravitz, are set to join Guns N' Roses on their historic Not In This Lifetime Tour.

Alice In Chains joins the tour from opening night, Thursday, June 23rd in Detroit, MI at Ford Field and will perform through the tour's second Chicago date at Soldier Field on Sunday, July 3rd. Lenny Kravitz will then join the tour from Tuesday, July 19th starting at the first Boston, MA date at Foxboro Stadium and perform through the tour's second date at East Rutherford, NJ on Sunday, July 24th.

Demand for tickets to the Not In This Lifetime Tour continue at an unprecedented pace as additional shows were recently announced including Chicago (July 3rd), Boston (July 20th), New York City (July 24th) and two brand new dates in Los Angeles (August 18th, 19th). A full list of tour dates is below.

One million fans and counting will be part of the most celebrated music event of the past few decades when the tour of the summer kicks off on Thursday, June 23 in Detroit. Guns N' Roses launched their return in spectacular fashion beginning with the Troubadour in Los Angeles on April 1st for their first live performance in more than 20 years followed by back-to-back arena shows in Vegas filling the house to the rafters, then Coachella for two weekends (April 16th and April 23rd) including a trip south of the border for two sold out stadium shows in Mexico on April 19th - 20th. April saw almost a half million fans alone in North America!

Alice In Chains’ most recent release was the Grammy-nominated album The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here, which entered Billboard’s Top 200 at #2 and debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Alternative Albums Chart. Over the course of their remarkable career, Alice In Chains has garnered multiple Grammy nominations, sold more than 20 million albums worldwide and amassed a diehard international fanbase whose members number in the millions. They remain one of the most successful and influential American rock bands of all time.

Regarded as one of the preeminent rock musicians of our time, Lenny Kravitz has transcended genre, style, race and class into a 20-year musical career, one which revels in the rich influences of '60s and '70s soul, rock and funk. Having sold over 38 million albums worldwide, Kravitz’s talents as a writer, producer and multi-instrumentalist have resonated through ten studio albums into a timeless catalog. He has won four consecutive Grammy Awards, setting a record for the most wins in the “Best Male Rock Vocal Performance” category. Lenny Kravitz’s appeal has also been recognized by his peers; his collaborative efforts are as varied as his own influences, having worked with Madonna, Drake, Aerosmith, Jay-Z, Mick Jagger, Miguel, and Alicia Keys. His most recent studio album Strut was released in September 2014 via Roxie Records. Lenny Kravitz is currently in the studio recording a new release that is set to debut next year.

Guns N' Roses' are Axl Rose, Duff McKagan (bass), Slash (lead guitar), Dizzy Reed (keyboard), Richard Fortus (rhythm guitar), Frank Ferrer (drums), and Melissa Reese (keyboards).

Following the group's 1985 formation, Guns N' Roses injected unbridled, unrivalled, and unstoppable attitude into the burgeoning Los Angeles rock scene. The spirit went on to captivate the entire world with the release of their 1987 debut Appetite For Destruction - the best-selling US debut ever, moving 30 million copies globally. In 1991, the seven-time platinum Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II occupied the top two spots of the Billboard Top 200 upon release.

Over the course of the past decade, Guns N' Roses have performed sold out shows and headlined festivals worldwide following the critically acclaimed release of 2008's RIAA platinum-certified Chinese Democracy. Six studio albums later, Guns N' Roses are one of the most important and influential acts in music history and continue to set the benchmark for live performances connecting with millions of fans across the globe.

Tour dates:

June
23 - Detroit, MI - Ford Field*
26 - Washington, DC - FEDEXFIELD*
29 - Kansas City, MO - Arrowhead Stadium*

July
1 - Chicago, IL - Soldier Field*
3 - Chicago, IL - Soldier Field*
6 - Cincinnati, OH - Paul Brown Stadium
9 - Nashville, TN - Nissan Stadium
12 - Pittsburgh, PA - Heinz Field
14 - Philadelphia, PA - Lincoln Financial Field
16 - Toronto, ON - Rogers Centre
19 - Foxboro, MA - Gillette Stadium**
20 - Foxboro, MA - Gillette Stadium**
23 - East Rutherford, NJ - MetLife Stadium**
24 - East Rutherford, NJ - MetLife Stadium**
27 - Atlanta, GA - Georgia Dome
29 - Orlando, FL - Camping World Stadium
31 - New Orleans, LA - Mercedes-Benz Superdome

August
3 - Arlington, TX - AT&T Stadium
5 - Houston, TX - NRG Stadium
9 - San Francisco, CA - AT&T Park
12 - Seattle, WA - CenturyLink Field
15 - Glendale, AZ - University of Phoenix Stadium
18 - Los Angeles, CA - Dodger Stadium
19 - Los Angeles, CA - Dodger Stadium
22 - San Diego, CA - Qualcomm Stadium

* - with Alice In Chains
** - with Lenny Kravitz

Get tickets at GunsNRoses.com.

(Photo - GunsNRoses.com)

Back after a successful tour with Axel Rudi Pell and the release of the new studio album, Tales From Beyond, North German melodic metallers Mob Rules hit the stages this fall again. On their headlining tour, the band will play this time a comprehensive set of new songs and especially band classics – this is why the tour is titled Beyond The Classics. The program will include tracks of all previous eight albums and beside some surprises, the fans will also have the opportunity to directly affect the setlist via Facebook by voting their "favourite songs" personally.

"In our concerts we often note that our audience is mixed,” says singer Klaus Dirks. "Besides many longtime fans of the first hour, we have many new fans and their favourite songs and albums are quite different. This time, we want to offer a perfect mix: new material, proven classics and songs we have never played before."

Tour dates:

October
1 - Wetzikon, Switzerland - Hall Of Fame
2 - Weiher, Germany - Live Music Hall     
4 - Munich, Germany - Backstage
5 - Siegburg, Germany - Kubana
6 - Wilhelmshaven, Germany - Pumpwerk
7 - Roselare, Belgium - De Verlichte Geest    
9 - Bochum, Germany - Matrix

Evil Masquerade have confirmed Nicklas Sonne as a full time member. You can hear him singing on the brand new Evil Masquerade album 'The Outcast Hall Of Fame' together with Mats Levén, Rick Altzi and Apollo Papathanasio.

"Nicklas did his first show with the band in the UK a couple of weeks ago where they headlined the Breaking Bands Festival. Everything worked out really well and now it's official; Nicklas Sonne is a permanent part of the band."

Evil Masquerade recently released a video for the track “Lost Inside A World Of Fear”, featured on their new album, The Outcast Hall Of Fame, out now via Dark Minstrel Music.

The new album was produced by Henrik Flyman, and was mixed and mastered by Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Pretty Maids, Jorn). Featured vocalists include Mats Levén (Candlemass), Rick Altzi (Masterplan, At Vance), Apollo Papathanasio (Spiritual Beggars), and Nicklas Sonne (Defecto, Malrun). Backing vocals by Yenz Leonhardt (Stormwarrior, Lacrimosa).

The album’s front cover was once again painted by David Troest, who also did the artwork for the albums The Digital Crucifix and 10 Years In The Dark.

Tracklisting:

“The Outcast Hall Of Fame”
“Death Of God”
“Darkness (I Need You)”
“One Thousand Roses And A Lot Of Pain”
“Lost Inside A World Of Fear”
“The Spineless”
“Märk Hur Vår Skugga”
“On No Way To Broadway”

Trailer:

Solution .45 will release their new album Nightmares In The Waking State – Part II worldwide on August 26th via AFM Records. The album will be available on CD, limited vinyl, as well as most digital platforms.

The cover art was done by Par Olofsson. The layout and design was done by Seiya Ogino (Ogino Design) and Christian Älvestam.

Tracklisting:

“Dim Are The Pathways”
“The Faint Pulse Of Light”
“Mind Mutation”
“Built On Sand”
“Inescapable Dream”
“The Curse That Keeps On Giving”
“Chain Connector”
“What Turns The Wheels”
“Misery Mantra”
“Heavy Lies The Crown”

Devil Gone Public are streaming their new song, “Euthanation”, featured on their upcoming new album, Smokehound, out on July 29th.

Formed in Sarasota, Florida in 2008, Devil Gone Public united under the guidance and mentorship of Brian Johnson (AC/DC). The band spent a lot of their early years jamming with the likes of Johnson, Scotti Hill (Skid Row) and Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn (Booker T, The Blues Brothers), which led to the band performing extensively in support of Brian Johnson, alongside the likes of Mötley Crüeand Godsmack before disbanding in 2012.

Having reformed in 2014 independently of Johnson, Devil Gone Public are now gearing up to release their debut album, Smokehound. The band’s debut is a consummate collection of visceral yet refined tracks, which effortlessly fuses elements of groove metal, stoner rock, southern metal and sludge. The lead track, “Euthanation”, is the perfect introduction to the new album; combining Red Fang meets Mastodon-esque guitar riffs with powerful and sneering vocals calling to mind the sounds of Lamb Of God and He Is Legend.

Elsewhere on the album, “Blood Debt” edges towards the frenzied southern influence of Every Time I Die, coupled with a very subtle hardcore influence that could be likened to that of The Chariot. Whilst closing track, “Galactic Amnesia”, takes its cues from rhythmic and grinding desert cruisers such as Kyuss and Goatsnake, with huge churning guitars colliding with unrelenting bass lines and rhythms supplementing dynamic vocals throughout.

Smokehound is an album that you can easily draw comparisons to; however, through its combination of exhilarating vocals, crushing instrumental sections and dark unforgettable breakdowns, Devil Gone Public are able to create an individual sound for themselves which is just as beguiling as it is impressive.

When creating and recording their debut the band also brought in Rob Caldwell (Iron Reagan, Goatwhore) to produce the album, as well as enlisting the talents of Jake Duncan (Maylene and the Sons of Disaster) to lay down guest guitar parts.

Speaking about the album, Garrett Moore (lead vocals) said: “This album comes from a culmination of our various musical backgrounds and influences, having grown up on classic rock, our roots are deep in rock n’ roll and that has a lot to do with our style and sound. When we set out to create this album with Rob Caldwell, we knew we wanted to write a heavy, groovy, sludgy metal record and spent a lot of time trying different tones and worked hard to make it something we're all proud of.”

As a debut full-length album, Devil Gone Public have shown a lot of promise for what is yet to come, despite this being their first full-length album in their eight year existence. This is an album that will appeal to many different listeners from the metal world and is one that is both familiar and individual all at once. It’s time to start paying attention to Devil Gone Public, because after eight years they are ready to prove that sometimes it really is worth the wait.

Tracklisting:

“Aether Way”
“Euthanation”
“Satan, Hold My Hand”
“Smokehound”
“Blood Debt”
“Poison The Well”
“Chillin, Killin”
“Language Of Fear”
“Galactic Amnesia”

“Euthanation”:

Devil Gone Public lineup:

Garrett Moore - Lead Vocals
Red - Guitar
James Hyde - Bass/ Vocals
Brandon Thrift - Drums
Austin Bowman – Guitar

Project Terror, featuring ex-Vicious Rumors vocalist Ronnie Stixx, have competed the writing for their second release, Apocalypse Rising, which has a much darker sound then the previous release, Conquistador, but very catchy. 

The band has announced 19-year-old Gabe Henry from Oklahoma as bassist and San Antonio, TX’s Zeh Salinas as the new drummer.

Stixx says the search “was a long and stressful one, but we are finally back on track with life and energy with the material already written for the second release. It makes things a lot easier to begin tracking Apocalypse Rising; we are projecting the release by December.”

The album will include the following tracklisting:

“The Mirror”
“Angel Of Sin”
“Rise Your Fist”
“Medusa Kiss”
“My Last Dying Breath”
“Project Prophecy (part 1)”
“Apocalypse Rising”
“Kingdom Of The Son”
“Ancient Prophesies”
“Hail To The King”

+ bonus tracks.

Stay tuned for updates.

 

Greek progressive black metal band Aenaon has completed the recording of their third album titled Hypnosophy. The cover art was done by Polish painter Łukasz Wodyński.

Hypnosophy will be released in CD, vinyl, limited box and digital format this fall on code666, a sublabel of Aural Music Group.

Tracklisting:

“Oneirodynia”
“Fire Walk With Me”
“Earth Tomb”
“Void5. Tunnel”
“Thus Ocean Swells”
“Phronesis – Psychomagic”

Teaser:

Legendary finish dark metal group Mustan Kuun Lapset suddenly resurrected last year from the depths of abyss since ending their career in 2007.

The time has come for a new MKL material and the band has released a new EP via Inverse Records named Kuolemanvirt" which is available in all digital music services worldwide.

Kuolemanvirta is the first official MKL release since the compilation album 14 Talvea (Roihu records, 2011) and the last studio album Viimeinen laulu kuolemasta (Stay Heavy Records, 2007).

Mustan Kuun Lapset will celebrate the release of Kuolemanvirta in Nummirock, which is one of the biggest open air metal festivals in Finland.

Listen to the EP via the YouTube playlist below:

Voted Best Metal Band for four years running (Austin Music Awards, 2012-2016), Dead Earth Politics continue to prove their longevity and power. Having received many accolades on their previous album, the band's relentless work ethic will be made even further evident upon release of their upcoming EP. The EP is scheduled for release later this summer.
 
In support of their forthcoming EP, Dead Earth Politics will hit the road this summer. The tour kicks off July 29th in Lake Charles, LA and runs through August 13th winding up at the band's hometown haunt The Dirty Dog Bar in Austin, TX.

"I am really excited to finally venture out on our first full tour since road to GWAR B-Q in 2015. I'm stoked to be visiting old friends in places we love visiting and meeting new friends in new cities," says front man Ven Scott.

Forged from the soul of the Austin metal scene, Dead Earth Politics is a blade that cuts like no other. Said to fit easily on any bill ranging from Iron Maiden to Black Sabbath to Lamb Of God, they are the band that truly unites sub-genres.  

Having marked their tenth year, they continue to relentlessly scribe stellar music - and the sky remains the target.
 
With passion coursing through their veins and dedication in their hearts, Dead Earth Politics strives for perfection in their craft.

Dates:

July
29 – Lake Charles, LA – Luna Live
30 – Metairie, LA – Twist Of Lime
31 – Montgomery, AL – Head On The Door

August
1 – Louisville, KY – Highlands Taproom
3 – Richmond, VA – Wonderland
4 – Asheville, NC – The Boiler Room
5 – Hickory, NC – The Wizard Saloon
10 – Albany, GA – The Oglethorpe Lounge
11 – Oceans Spring, MS – Juke Joint
12 – Houston, TX – Acadia Bar & Grill
13 – Austin, TX – Dirty Dog Bar

Relapse Records announce the signing of Arizona's death metal newcomers, Gatecreeper. Formed in mid-2013 based on their mutual love for bands like Dismember, Entombed, Bolt Thrower and Obituary, Gatecreeper play monstrous, low-end, old-school death metal for a new generation.

The band recently completed their debut full-length entitled Sonoran Depravation, which will see its release via Relapse this fall. The album was recorded at Homewrecker Studios in Tucson, Arizona by Ryan Bram and mixed by Kurt Ballou at Godcity Studios.

Gatecreeper commented on the signing and their new album: "We are very excited to be working with Relapse, a label that we have all been following for many years. It is a dream come true to release our first full-length on such a legendary and trustworthy label."

Gatecreeper have previously released a self-titled EP (2014) and a split with Take Over And Destroy (2015) in addition to a split with Young and In The Way and a four way split with Homewrecker, Outer Heaven and Scorched earlier this year. All of their titles are available for streaming via Bandcamp here.

Upcoming tour dates:

July
17 - Tucson, AZ - Club Congress (with Dragged Into Sunlight, Primitive Man and Cult Leader)
19 - Phoenix, AZ - Masters Chambers (with Undergang, Spectral Voice, and Freedom)

October
29 - Mesa, AZ - Within These Walls Fest (with American Nightmare, Judge, Tony Molina, etc.)

Gatecreeper lineup:

Sean Mears - Bass
Metal Matt - Drums
Eric Wagner - Guitars
Chase H. Mason - Vocals

Brooklyn’s Family has been wowing audiences since 2011 with its unique and earnest blend of classic rock meets modern heaviness, alongside a healthy dose of behind-the-beat New Orleans groove and progressive rhythmic patterns. The band has embraced an amorphous collective approach, enduring lineup shifts that have continuously evolved its sound. Throughout the process, previous members have maintained involvement, contributing to live performances and forming offshoot bands together.

Prosthetic Records will release Family’s sophomore album, Future History, on July 15th. Pre-order the album at this location, and check out the first official video trailer for the upcoming release below.

Tracklisting:

“The Dark Inside”
“Evacuation”
“Day Vision”
“The Trial”
“Prison Hymn”
“Floodgates”
“Transmission”
“Funtime For Bigboy”
“Night Vision”
“Precedent”
“Last Looks”
“Bone On Bone”

Trailer #1:

Teaser video:

Family will hit the road this summer on a full US tour (including an appearance at the Psycho Las Vegas festival). The band has previously appeared with acts including Intronaut, Scale the Summit, The Ocean, The Atlas Moth, Weedeater, Full of Hell, Jucifer, Lazer/Wulf, Meek is Murder, Primitive Weapons, and many more.

Tour dates:

July
20 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fire
21 - Allentown, PA - Alternative Gallery
23 - Frederick, MD - Guido’s
25 - Richmond, VA - Strange Matter
26 - Raleigh, NC - Slim’s
27 - Atlanta, GA - 529
28 - Charlotte, NC - The Milestone
29 - Asheville, NC - The Odditorium
30 - Birmingham, AL - The Nick

August
1 - Austin, TX - Dirty Dog Bar
3 - New Orleans, LA - Siberia
4 - Dallas, TX - Tomcats
5 - Little Rock, AR - Vino’s
6 - Nashville, TN - The East Room
7 - Indianapolis, IN - 5th Quarter Lounge
8 - Cincinnati, OH - Northside Yacht Club
9 - Louisville, KY - Highlands Tap Room
18 - Chicago, IL - Beat Kitchen
19 - St. Louis, MO - The Firebird
20 - Kansas City, MO - The Riot Room
21 - Denver, CO - 3 Kings
22 - Albuquerque, NM - Burt’s Tiki Lounge
24 - Phoenix, AZ - Yucca Tap Room
27 - Las Vegas, NV - PSYCHO Las Vegas @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

September
2 - Portland, OR - High Water Mark
3 - Vancouver, BC - The Astoria Lounge
4 - Seattle, WA - The Highline
6 - Boise, ID - Wastelander Studios
7 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge

ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann will release his second solo album, titled "Headbangers Symphony", on July 1 via Nuclear Blast.

The first trailer for the CD is available below.

Wolf Hoffmann has a passion. His life-long love and dedication to heavy metal music is documented in dozens of albums spanning four decades with his long time heavy metal band ACCEPT. But beyond heavy metal, Wolf has an incessant craving for the classics, yes, the ones written decades and centuries ago.

Classical music has always been an influence — albeit limited — on ACCEPT's Teutonic approach to rock and heavy metal. However, it wasn't until 1997 during a extended hiatus from ACCEPT, that Wolf Hoffmann finally had the chance to fully explore and fulfill this interest by recording his first astounding solo album "Classical", a record filled with his rock-guitar-driven interpretations of some of classical music's most loved compositions.

"I have always incorporated classical music in my songwriting with ACCEPT, especially with 'Metal Heart', but I constantly felt there was so much more that I could do and I did not want to overload ACCEPT or force it in any way," he said. "I always knew I could make a whole record of it and that's how the first record 'Classical' was born. Even today, fans tell me that they are still listening to it, that's why it is so fantastic now to do another one."

"Headbangers Symphony" track listing:

01. Scherzo (L. v. Beethoven) 02. Night On Bald Mountain (M. Mussorgsky) 03. Je Crois Entendre Encore (G. Bizet)04. Double Cello Concerto In G Minor (A. Vivaldi)05. Adagio (T. Albinoni)06. Symphony No. 40 (W. A. Mozart )07. Swan Lake (P. Tchaikovsky) 08. Madame Butterfly (G. Puccini)09. Pathétique (L. v. Beethoven)10. Meditation (J. Massenet)11. Air On The G String (J. S. Bach)

You can now listen to Wolf's interpretation of Ludwig van Beethoven's "Scherzo" in the YouTube clip below.

Continued Hoffmann: "I am just so excited about 'Headbangers Symphony'. It has taken a long, long time but here we are, it's done, finally!" Wolf is just bursting with vigor as he talks about his latest labor of love. But why now? "It's truly coincidental," he said. "After we completed the last ACCEPT tour, I finally had the time to finish it. I started this a few years ago. The early recordings have been sitting in my archives in my home studio for years, almost completed. The reality was that with the continued success of ACCEPT, I was only able to work on it when ACCEPT was not recording or touring."

The prevalent early challenge was to pick the most suitable compositions. This was an exploratory process that only increased Wolf's adoration for the classics. "I always listen to classical music; it's always playing throughout my house," he said. "I have a huge collection of classics and as I listen — often at random, I take notes if something truly strikes me. When I notice that this or that could work in a translation to rock or heavy metal, I remember it and I pursue it! This has been going on for a long time!"

There are several reasons for the necessary experimentations that faced Wolf. Most classical compositions were written to be performed by a full orchestra. The fluid timing, those multiple, complex layers and sections that stretched out for lengthy periods, classical music was simply never designed to be played to the rigid beat so prevalent in rock 'n' roll.

"Headbangers Symphony" showcases an overabundance of highly skilled improvisations. Wolf took the main pieces, and then wrote riffs that fit them. Lastly, in the grand hard rock tradition, he layered a guitar solo over it. He shaped the sound into a quite adventurous elegance, but the key themes of the originals remained.

The first volume had a focus on the better known pieces; the second, "Headbangers Symphony", takes a similar approach. "In general, it does follow the same path," admitted Wolf, "but this time I did try to add a couple lesser known compositions. Mostly though, listeners will say, hey, I know that melody… so it's pretty much the same path as the 'Classical' record. It was my desire to record melodies I like and melodies people recognize."

Now that the album is done, Wolf is proud looking back and is pleased with this true labour of love; something he has wanted to do since the first record, "Classical", came out almost twenty years ago. While ACCEPT's Peter Baltes added several impressive bass lines, and other notable guest musicians made an appearance as well, the bulk of the work was completed by himself and Italian musician and arranger Melo Mafali.

"There are two major categories," Wolf elaborated. "First, the heavier stuff like Beethoven, the bombastic, full force epics on which you can simply shred along. Of course then there are the ballads, slower compositions that bring out the deeper feelings in each listener."

The highlights on "Headbangers Symphony" are plentiful and easy to pinpoint. The album kicks off with "Scherzo" from the well-known "9th Symphony" by Ludwig v. Beethoven. Many listeners might recognize the opening riff from the ACCEPT song "Teutonic Terror". "Back in 2009," Wolf explained, "when we started working on the songs for the 'Blood Of The Nations' album, I played the classical demos to our producer Andy Sneap. He liked that riff a lot and insisted on using it for the album. So we wrote 'Teutonic Terror' using this 'borrowed' riff."

Other highlights follow in rapid succession: "Night On Bald Mountain" by Russian composer Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky is a very dramatic dark song on the theme of a witches' Sabbath, a perfect fit for Wolf's "metal treatment." "Symphony No. 40" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart will be immediately recognizable. "It's a little more uptempo, pretty happy, typical for Mozart. Not mean and heavy as most of the other stuff," Wolf pointed out. Additional highpoints include Wolf's interpretations of such masterworks as Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake", "Pathétique" also from Ludwig v. Beethoven, "Méditation" from the opera "Thais" by French composer Jules Massenet, and, of course, the aforementioned "Madame Butterfly".

All in all, the eleven compositions on "Headbangers Symphony" paint the perfect portrait of Wolf's lifelong passion for the classics and his adoration for heavy metal. "I worked so much and so long on this until I felt it was ready," he said. "Now it is and I am thrilled and proud. This is my baby, my labor of love, ready for me to set it free."

SCOUR, the new extreme metal "supergroup" featuring Philip Anselmo (PANTERA, DOWN, SUPERJOINT) alongside members of CATTLE DECAPITATION and PIG DESTROYER, has released another track, titled "Tear Gas". The song is taken from SCOUR's self-titled debut EP, which will be released on July 15 via Anselmo's Housecore label. The six-track effort was mixed by Dave Otero (CEPHALIC CARNAGE, CATTLE DECAPITATION, COBALT, KHEMMIS) and will be made available on CD and vinyl formats.

Comments Engemann of the track, "'Tear Gas' was the final song written for the debut EP. It was completed backstage on the CANNIBAL CORPSE/CATTLE DECAPITATION tour last year. Every day Jarvis and myself would 'scour' for an isolated, quiet spot to set up my portable recording studio. I remember specifically Rob Barrett walking in during the tracking of this song, and gave his nod of approval. [Laughs] This song has a chorus section at the end that is unique to this album. Once it was finished, I sent it to Philip to write the lyrics. Of course, The Kid completely just nailed the chorus. 'Let the war be waged...'"

"Scour" track listing:

01. Dispatched02. Clot03. Crooked04. Codes05. Tactics06. Tear Gas

Comments Anselmo: "Doing the SCOUR project was a blast. The track 'Dispatched' was the first one I attacked, as it was the first one sent to me. Lyrically, I leave it to the listener to evaluate, as usual. The way I saw it, the songs were short, and extremely straight-forward, so I didn't want to clutter 'em up with too much. Therefore, I had to pick particular lyrics that seemed provocatively absurd enough, and to perform them as raw as deemed fit. Hope all true extreme music lovers enjoy the stuff as much as I did performing it. A huge cheers to all the awesome collaborators on this project… Much love to all."

SCOUR is:

* Phillip H. Anselmo (PANTERA, DOWN, SUPERJOINT) - Vocals* Derek Engemann (CATTLE DECAPITATION) - Guitar* Chase Fraser (ANIMOSITY) - Guitar* John Jarvis (PIG DESTROYER) - Bass* Jesse Schobel (STRONG INTENTION) - Drums

In a 2015 interview with Hellbound.ca, Anselmo stated about the new project: "[There's] one of the fellows from CATTLE DECAPITATION, but it's predominantly, in my ear, modern-ish black metal-sounding, thrashy black metal-type stuff. I'm going to put my own spin on it. I don't have to sound like your boy from GORGOROTH [laughs] to get the point across, man. There's other ways of singing over that style of music, and I shall employ many styles."

Back in 2012, Anselmo told Terrorizer magazine about his varied musical taste: "I am a lover of all sorts of music but really my heart is ... really I love extreme music, underground music, whether it be grindcore, death metal, thrash, black metal, [or whatever other] subgenre, and I find beauty in a lot of this stuff."

An official SCOUR Facebook page has been launched at this location.

Finnish melodic deathsters INSOMNIUM will release their new album, "Winter's Gate", on September 23 via Century Media. A concept album made up of one epic 40-minute song, the effort is built around a short story, "Winter's Gate" ("Talven Portti" in Finnish), written by vocalist and bassist Niilo Sevänen, recipient of numerous Finnish awards and nominations. The compelling short story is about a group of Vikings who set out to find a fabled island west of Ireland, despite the treacherous winter drawing near.

The cover artwork for "Winter's Gate" was created by Teemu Tähkänen and can be seen below.

The full story will be released together with the album as a book with translations in English, Finnish and German, and illustrated by the artist Teemu Tähkänen.

"Winter's Gate" is currently being mixed by Dan Swanö at Unisound AB studio in Sweden.

INSOMNIUM's latest album, "Shadows Of The Dying Sun", was released in April 2014 in North America via Century Media. All the drums were recorded at studio SF Sound with Kimmo Perkkiö while the rest of the instruments were laid down at studio Korkeakoski with Teemu Aalto. André Alvinzi of Fascination Street Studios took care of the mix, with Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers overseeing the mastering. The artwork was once again created by Wille Naukkarinen.

The official video for "Generation Idiot", a brand new song from NONPOINT, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, "The Poison Red", due later in the year via Spinefarm Records. The CD was recorded at Uptown Recording Studio in Chicago with producer Rob Ruccia.

"The Poison Red" is the first NONPOINT album to feature lead guitarist BC Kochmit, whom frontman Elias Soriano has described as "Eddie Van Halen's illegitimate child."

Soriano said the song was inspired by Internet culture, which breeds digital "zombies."

"Over the past five years, I began to notice people, myself included, getting lost in a few of the simple things — life, art, passions," he explained. "Everything became a reality TV blog with pictures and comments, likes and dislikes, online bullies and online tough guys. And no one is talking anymore. Everything is texts, e-mails, replies and denies. They're all anchors. They all suck the life out of life. It creates zombies with unhinged appetites. It's a real zombie apocalypse and, motherfucker, I'm grabbing a machete and a shotgun."

"The Poison Red" track listing:

01. Generation Idiot02. Foaming At the Mouth03. Bottled Up Killer Bees04. Rabbit Hole05. Chasing White Rabbits06. Standing In the Flesh07. Divided.. Conquer Them08. Radio Chorus09. Spanish Radio Hour10. El Diablo11. No Running Allowed12. Promises13. Be Enough14. My Last Dying Breath

Soriano added about their new disc: "This record tells a lot of stories: going from guts to glory; chasing impossible dreams down the rabbit hole; harsh and honest words with consequences attached; uncovered rules for the weak, made by the wicked and heartless; recalling fight or flight moments with a deep breath. And it all starts with a warning to all the world's generations past, present and future to look up, look forward and live their lives loose from social media shackles, online bullying, the devaluation of art and music, and to not be absorbed by the dramatic, megalomaniacal side of politics. Life is right outside of your phone and newsfeed. Go live it and play this record while you do. It'll all start to make sense."

From their 2000 debut, "Statement", through 2014’s "The Return", NONPOINT have stayed the course, continuously crafting smart rock anthems with the kind of hooks that take up residence in your brain for days. The band is a staple performer at all the core U.S. festivals, such as Rock On The Range, Carolina Rebellion, and Rocklahoma, and has enjoyed several Top 20 rock radio singles. NONPOINT's 2014 single, "Breaking Skin", was the most played track of the year on SiriusXM’s Octane channel.

Nuclear Blast Entertainment is very pleased to announce the signing of Swedish progressive legends, OPETH. Always an unstoppable force for uniqueness amid a sea of generic swill, OPETH have been setting the rulebook ablaze, and ploughing a uniquely progressive and exploratory furrow for over 25 years now. Neither conforming nor exhibiting any desire to be restricted to a single genre, OPETH, quite simply, have a time honored tradition of blowing our minds with both class and forward thinking. All these years later, nothing and everything has changed once again with their forthcoming album »Sorceress«.

"We're happy to confirm that we have indeed signed a deal with Nuclear Blast Entertainment and will be putting out our 12th studio album »Sorceress« via our own imprint, Moderbolaget Records," states Mikael Åkerfeldt. "The decision was made in Markus Staiger's (Nuclear Blast kingpin) ridiculously potent Porsche going at 150 mph somewhere in the south of Germany. We're happy to be part of the NB team and look forward to a fruitful relationship."

Nuclear Blast owner, Markus Staiger, continues:
"I am honored that OPETH have joined the Nuclear Blast family. Mikael Åkerfeldt and his fellow bandmates have demonstrated time and time again that OPETH are a band that never release an album that sounds the same. You never know what their new music will sound like! Nuclear Blast has been following the musical journey of OPETH from the beginning with »Orchid« to landmark albums like »Still Life«, »Deliverance«, »Damnation« and »Blackwater Park«, right up to 2014's »Pale Communion«! The band have become one of the most challenging artists in rock music today. It is not often that we get to work with musicians of their caliber and I'm thrilled to have such a unique genre-leader on the label. The future for OPETH and Nuclear Blast looks very bright."

Monte Conner, Nuclear Blast Entertainment president adds:
"OPETH are a band that have continually evolved and moved forward at every stage. Always innovating and always continuing to challenge themselves as players and writers. They are simply fearless. I can't wait to hear what they come up with next! It's an amazing feeling to be reunited with one of my favorite bands and I look forward to my colleagues here at Nuclear Blast being able to have their own OPETH experience and role in the band's continuing journey. I want to thank Mikael Åkerfeldt and OPETH for putting their faith and trust in everyone here at Nuclear Blast."

OPETH are currently in the studio with Tom Dalgety putting the finishing touches on Sorceress. A release for the album is tentatively scheduled for the fall via Moderbolaget Records / Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

The official video for the song "Apage Satana" from Greek extreme metallers ROTTING CHRIST can be seen below. The clip was directed and produced by Jon Simvonis (Magnum Production Studios), who previously worked with the band on the "666" video.

Commented ROTTING CHRIST frontman Sakis Tolis: "Dear friends, following a string of lyric videos specifically designed to illustrate tracks taken from 'Rituals', we are now presenting you the first official clip for our latest album.

"We chose to work again with the amazing Jon Simvonis, who already directed our video for the song '666'.

"The concept for this new video is based on the ritual of exorcism and connected to the idea of a soul's transition to the other side.

"We sincerely hope that you will enjoy the journey to the other bank of the river with 'Apage Satana'!"

"Apage Satana" is taken from ROTTING CHRIST's new album, "Rituals", which was released on February 12 via Season Of Mist.

"Rituals" track listing:

01. In Nomine Dei Nostri02. Ze Nigmar03. Elthe Kyrie04. Les Litanies De Satan (Les Fleurs Du Mal)05. Apage Satana06. Tou Thanatou07. For A Voice Like Thunder08. Konx Om Pax09. Devadevam10. The Four Horsemen11. Lok'tar Ogar (bonus track)

For almost 30 years, ROTTING CHRIST have blazed a trail for the black metal genre to follow. From their primitive early material through to 2012's epic "Kata Ton Daimona Eaytoy", their pioneering spirit has been a flame of inspiration in an increasingly reductive genre. Now the renowned band return with new album "Rituals", a diverse collection of new songs influenced by rites and myths from all around the globe. "Rituals" highlights their unique power and magic, and is the darkest and most personal-sounding ROTTING CHRIST album to date. As "Rituals" illustrates, there is a reason that ROTTING CHRIST are an international heavy metal institution.

Sakis Tolis in collaboration with his brother Themis on drums achieve a perfect balance of amalgamating their classic and unique style of riffing and rhythm with exciting new elements sprinkled in to keep their material exciting and fresh. Carefully chosen guests are being added for better effect, including the spoken words of Nick Holmes (PARADISE LOST) on "A Voice Like Thunder" and SAMAEL's Vorph mesmerizingly quoting from Charles Baudelaire's "Les Fleurs Du Mal" throughout the song "Les Litanies De Satan". Goosebumps moments such as these are liberally sprinkled throughout the record, which manages the feat to sound rock solid and made out of one heavy piece as well as diverse and far ranging at the same time. The experienced is enhanced by Jens Bogren's equally clear and transparent yet also massive as well as sombre mix and mastering at his widely renowned Fascination Street Studios (AMORPHIS, BORKNAGAR, MOONSPELL, DEVIN TOWNSEND).

ROTTING CHRIST is:

Sakis: vocals, guitarsThemis: drumsVan Ace: bassGeorge: guitars

Guest musicians (in order of appearance):

* Magus (NECROMANTIA) - "In Nomine Dei Nostri"* Danai Katsameni (NATIONAL HELLENIC THEATER) - "Elthe Kyrie"* Vorph (SAMAEL) - "Les Litanies De Satan (Les Fleurs Du Mal)"* Nick Holmes (PARADISE LOST) - "For A Voice Like Thunder"* Kathir (RUDRA) - "Devadevam"

Pitchfork.com is reporting that former Pyrexia frontman Erick Shute has been arrested for a triple homicide. On the evening of June 13th, Shute allegedly shot three West Virginia men – Jack Douglas, Travis Bartley (24), and Willie Bartley (53) – near Great Cacapon, West Virginia, in what Morgan County Sheriff Vincent Shambaugh told the Journal News “was a property dispute over some firewood, or something of that nature.” A fourth person, who has not been identified, escaped unharmed. Shute then fled the scene before he was apprehended late last night in Chester County, Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania Police Department. 

In a since-deleted Facebook post provided to New Jersey Advance Media, Shute writes that his act “was self defense” and that his victims “stole over $20,000” of his property.

In 2009, Shute encountered controversy in Salem County, New Jersey for hanging an American flag upside down as a “signal of distress” for the country. At the time, he said, “We went to other countries to fight corrupt governments now we face our own from home.” Then in 2011, a New Jersey grand jury indicted him on charges of attacking a police officer and resisting arrest.

Read the complete report here.

Pyrexia has since posted the following message on their official Facebook page.

"As we watch this event unfold , we are shocked and saddened to learn that our former singer Erick has been involved in what seems to be a shooting by his own hands. Although all the details have yet to unravel, and he hasn't been an active member of Pyrexia for some time now , we have been rocked by this horrible news. There's no question the man had obscure views and was an odd and quiet person at times , but you try and accept a persons shortcomings or different viewpoints. No one saw this in him."

Erick Shute sang on two Pyrexia albums, 2007’s Age of the Wicked and 2013’s Feast of Iniquity.

"American Idol" finalist Adam Lambert — who has been singing for QUEEN on their tours, filling in for his idol Freddie Mercury — was asked by Absolute Radio at this past weekend's Isle Of Wight festival if he has found a balance between paying respect to Freddie and adding his own flavor to QUEEN. He responded (see video below): "That was my big mission when we started [playing together] four years ago. And that's what I didn't know about. That was the most nerve-wracking part about all of this: Can I do these songs? Am I gonna pull it off? And I think when we started four years ago, we figured it out, and luckily, fans were very repective, critics were receptive. And so, now it's exciting, 'cause I get to go on stage out of pure joy. I don't feel the nerves now. I feel excited every night to connect with whatever audience we have in front of us and to give them a show. It's all about bringing these songs back to life, paying respect to Freddie, who was incredible — he was an incredible writer, a vocalist, a performer. I think the thing that I've realized is that I'm a fan just like everybody in the audience, so we're in the same boat, really. We're getting to celebrate together."

Lambert also expressed his satisfaction over the fact that he has been able to perform with QUEEN while also pursuing a successful solo career. He said: "I feel like the luckiest guy in the world, because I get to do both parts of my career; I get my solo career, doing current pop-dance music about my life, kind of looking forward, and then I get to moonlight with QUEEN, who are one of the greatest rock bands of all time. I get to sing some of the greatest music ever written for fans that are obsessed with this band. So both sides of my artist are very satisfied."

During a separate interview with Metro, Lambert addressed rumors that he may collaborate with QUEEN on new music in the not-too-distant future. He said: "I heard that same thing. I don't know where [the rumor] came from. You know, I say never say never. We're all very open-minded. Nothing has been presented at this point. We all have a lot of projects going on, a lot of things in the pipeline. I'm really just focused on all the things in my life that I get to juggle."

After completing QUEEN's European tour in January 2015, guitarist Brian May described Lambert as the only singer the band had found capable of filling Freddie Mercury's shoes. "Adam is the first person we've encountered who can do all the QUEEN catalogue without blinking," said May.

Lambert released his third studio album, "The Original High", in June 2015 through Warner Bros.

Legendary German guitarist Michael Schenker (SCORPIONS, UFO) was recently interviewed on the SiriusXM satellite radio show "Eddie Trunk Live". A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On the recent release of the 50th-anniversary deluxe editions of SCORPIONS' classic albums:

"It's not 50 years. It's actually 50 years in 2020. I would count when the first SCORPIONS album was made, not when the first time somebody had an idea, 'Oh, I'll make a band called the SCORPIONS,' They played the hit parade [with] completely different people in the band; [it had] nothing to do with the SCORPIONS who recorded the first album. So it's rubbish to have a SCORPIONS box 50-year celebration. It's not 50 years yet. 50 years is in 2020."

On the personal issues he has with his brother, SCORPIONS guitarist Rudolf Schenker:

"I'm happy that Rudolf enjoyed his success. I always supported Rudolf's success. I always said to people, 'As long as Rudolf is happy…' He got what he wanted, I got what I wanted, [and] that's all fine.

"Look, you put all the pieces together. [SCORPIONS] released a 50-year box; it's not 50 years. Then they tell the people they're gonna stop playing [Editor's note: Referring to SCORPIONS' 2010 announcement that they would retire at the end of a world tour], and then all of a sudden they make a record [2015's 'Return To Forever']. It's all bullshit. They have become numb and dumb, and old and bald. It has nothing to do with music anymore.

"You know, Rudolf never knew how to write music. [On] 'Lonesome Crow', I was the only songwriter; I wrote basically all the music. And Rudolf learned everything from me that I did. I'm seven years younger than him. When I was 23, Rudolf was 30 and they hadn't even started in America. When he was 33 years old, 'Blackout' became a hit.

"When I left the SCORPIONS, I went to UFO, and basically the SCORPIONS copied everything UFO did. If you listen back to the records, you can hear very clearly that always every time we did a record…. They even hired the same art designer. Rudolf completely adopted my image and he is going overboard with it. He wants to distort reality and wants people to think he is the one who was… He wants to distort. He's playing a game — a really stupid game. If you study this whole thing, you will clearly understand what happened.

"Why would Rudolf ask me if he can play the black-and-white guitar? And why would he ask me if I would give my songwriting credit of 'Coast To Coast' to him? And then he plays those two songs on every concert for the next 35 years. Figure it out. I was generous enough to give him that, because he's my brother. But I'm finding out that they fabricated a story on what happened [during] the 'Lovedrive' period, which is a lie."

On whether he has been in contact with Rudolf directly since he has publicly voiced his displeasure over the way Rudolf has treated him:

"He's a wannabe and a trick master. I am not going to talk to anybody about this. Rudolf knows exactly what he did wrong, and only Rudolf himself can fix it for himself. My side of the street is clean; I don't have to talk to anybody. But if you are so addicted to success and if you have screwed up in such complicated ways to become a success — if you have to cheat and stuff like that, or fabricate in order to get to where you wanna get — it's nothing to do with me. I play music; I'm an artist. For me, it's all about music. SCORPIONS don't write their own songs. They have lost it completely. For the last 23 years, they're cutting out [former SCORPIONS drummer] Herman [Rarebell]. Herman and Francis [Buchholz, former SCORPIONS bassist], they are responsible with them for the '80s commercial success that they had, the political success that they had with 'Wind Of Change'; Herman and Francis were part of it. They're cutting them out wherever they can. They don't make them part of awards — nothing. They are just three greedy people. For the last 23 years, they haven't done anything that is worth talking about. All they have done is they've been milking the past, they've been milking — in the last 23 years — what they have achieved with Herman and Francis in the band. There's nothing else they have done. And maybe people are afraid talking about it. But the fact is they are fooling the people."

"I'm very disappointed in Rudolf. I'm not bitter about it. I'm not gonna poison myself. My side of the street is clear. I'm just very disappointed. And Rudolf has to figure out what to do with his life. It's on his shoulders. He knows exactly what he did. And so I stay away from him as far as I can, because I don't know what else he's got up his sleeve to justify things. He's a trick master, and he's a wannabe. And that's it. He can do whatever he wants. He can enjoy his life on every level that he wants. But I stay away from him. I'm his younger brother. He's basically bullying me and he's doing with me whatever he wants."

MICHAEL SCHENKER'S TEMPLE OF ROCK's November 19, 2015 concert at Joy Eslava in Madrid, Spain was professionally filmed and recorded for a new CD, DVD and Blu-ray, "On A Mission: Live In Madrid". The effort was released on April 27 in Japan, April 29 in Europe, and May 6 in North America via Inakustik.

According to areport by KSHE 95, KISS are looking for some special roadies for their upcoming Freedom To Rock tour.

The band has teamed up with Hiring Our Heroes and the Veteran Tickets Foundation to hire a currently serving member of the National Guard or Reserve to be a Roadie For The Day for each date on the tour.

KISS is also donating some tickets to veterans in each community and will distribute those tickets through VetTix.org..

Veterans and their family members will also have the chance to purchase discounted tickets through Vet Tix. The offer isn't available in every city on the tour -- head to KissOnline.com for details.

The Freedom to Rock tour starts on July 4th in Tuscon, Arizona. Go to this location for the band'scomplete schedule and ticket information.

KISS’ Paul Stanley co-hosted the latest episode of the Phone Booth Fighting podcast, recorded at his home in Beverly Hills, CA. During the podcast the subject came up of whether original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley could return the band because of their renewed friendship.

Stanley said: “I don't see it. And, to me, that makes it even better. The fact that you can have people in your life, and maybe who they are and what they are in your life changes over time. Because I'm happy to see Ace and would love to see him… We text. He was on the radio last week, and I texted him, 'I'm listening.' It doesn't need to go further than that, but the fact that it's there is a terrific thing. Reading into it, and where's it gonna lead, and maybe…? There is none of that. There is just the joy and satisfaction in reconnecting — in a different way, perhaps. But it doesn't negate our differences, and that's okay. You can have people in your life. There are things we don't agree about and never will, (and) that's okay. Maybe it goes back to what I said earlier: the best relationships understand the limitations of the relationships."

Listen to the podcast at this location.

Frehley recently released, via 95.5 KLOS, a brand new video interview shot on set immediately after the video shoot for his cover of Free’s 1970 hit “Fire And Water” featuring none other than KISS frontman Paul Stanley. The six minute clip is the first time the two have been interviewed on camera in over 15 years. The last time the two sat for an interview was during the KISS farewell tour in 2002 in Australia.

The video notches itself into rock and roll history as the first time both Frehley and Stanley appear in a music video since KISS’ music video for “Psycho Circus” released in 1998. It’s also the first time in 14 years that the two shared a stage since KISS’ appearance at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Finally, it’s the first time Frehley has released a music video since 1989, which was Frehley's cover of "Do Ya" released by both The Move and ELO.

Iceland's Secret Solstice festival has unveiled an incredibly impressive lineup this year featuring 177 acts, including DEFTONES who are scheduled to headline the main event. However, the alt-metal band's lead signer will also wow a handful of guests at a hyper-special side event with an acoustic set, in what will become one of the planet's most unique settings. Chino Moreno has just been announced as the artist to play "Secret Solstice Presents Inside The Volcano" within Iceland's Thrihnuagigur volcano on June 18. The event will mark the first time in history an artist has performed publicly inside a volcano, which is sure to be an incredible experience for only 20 paying ticket holders. Although there have been several live performances on top of volcanoes around the world — Hawaii and the Gran Canaria as examples — Secret Solstice's event is a world first for being held inside a volcano, not on one. Guests will be lowered 400 feet inside the Earth, where the performance will be held inside the volcano's dormant magma chamber. The event sold out in mere days, even before any announcement of an artist was made. For this small number of ticket holders — all of whom are flying in to Iceland from abroad — this will surely be the performance of a lifetime, especially now with the DEFTONES frontman being revealed as the performer. The festival has also revealed Icelandic act SNORRI HELGASON will play a few tracks acoustically as well, opening the performance for Moreno. And for those that may have some worries about being played to within a volcano, the festival says there's very little chance of a fiery end to the gig. The last time Thrihnuagigur erupted was before humans even had a strong grasp of forging bronze, around 4,000 years ago according to geologists. Hot off the release of their eighth studio album, "Gore", Moreno and DEFTONES will be in Iceland performing for the first time ever during the summer solstice weekend, when the sun never fully sets. This epic setting will provide a stunning natural backdrop for their show, that's sure to be a standout of the festival weekend in the small North Atlantic island nation. Secret Solstice 2016 is held between June 16 and June 19, with DEFTONES filling the top slot on Saturday, June 18. A small number of tickets to the main event in Reykjavík are still available from 24,900kr (approx £139/$203/€178) via SecretSolstice.is.

Guitarist/vocalist Joseph Duplantier of French progressive metallers GOJIRA was interviewed by Kerrang! magazine at this year's edition of the Download festival, which was held June 10-12 at Donington Park in Leicestershire, United Kingdom. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked what the title of GOJIRA's new album, "Magma", means to him, Duplantier said: "To me, 'magma' is the primal energy. It's the blood of the earth. It's hot. It's dangerous. It is the guts. It's this music. It's the music we play. It's fusion. It's fire. It's electricity. It's… everything that we're trying to express with this music. That's what it means to me, 'magma.'"

Joseph also talked about how he comes up with all those heavy GOJIRA riffs. He said: "I don't know if we have a formula or a secret to write some of our riffs. But I wanna say that we connect ourselves to a certain energy, we put ourselves in a certain state of mind naturally. The kind of music we wanna hear, the kind of riffs we wanna hear are intricate and heavy and spiritual and there's a part of mystery in it. So we put ourselves in this kind of state of mind. But, really, we have visions when we play. When I've got my guitar, I'm already in a certain mood, and then everything that comes out will be in that specific mood. Yeah, I guess we're really connected to all… everything that's nature… Ideas like infinity, outer space, black holes [are] very inspiring for heavy riffs."

"Magma" will be released on June 17 via Roadrunner Records. The follow-up to 2012's "L'Enfant Sauvage" was recorded at Joseph Duplantier's Silver Cord Studio in Queens, New York.

GOJIRA's fifth album, "L'Enfant Sauvage", sold almost 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 34 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Canadian metal legends Annihilator have posted the following update:

"First Annihilator 'Alison Hell' recording live in Val D'or, Quebec, April 16th, 1986. This was a live off the board recording of the band (Jeff Waters - guitar, John Bates - vox, Dave Scott - bass, Paul Malek - drums) and the first full recording of this legendary song. As you can hear, they are kids! Sloppy, messy and full of mistakes but that is how history is made! Note the lyrics and arrangements changed years later, as Jeff Waters changed them to the version we've all heard on the Alice in Hell record 1989."

 

Annihilator previously checked in with the following:

"Well, it’s been 15 studio CDs, more than 1000 shows around the world and we’re planning some awesome things for our fans. Despite the sad state of the music business, Annihilator have never given up and hope we’ve given you some good music and good times along the way!

Now, we urgently need your help to raise money for touring, shows, the live acoustic DVD, the mini documentary DVD and the live concert DVD we are planning. Although we have a very supportive label and touring agency, these ambitious plans cost a lot more money than any of us have. See the expense list below and we're sure you'll understand.

In return for your contributions, we’ve come up with some amazing things to offer you: From Jeff’s custom Chevy Camaro muscle car, to watching an Annihilator live-streamed rehearsal, hanging out at Jeff’s home and studio, getting some of his guitars, free concert tix for life, and more… See the gallery section for pics of the perks. We hope you love these killer packages as much as we loved making them!

Obviously, not everyone will be able to afford or will want the car package but hopefully it has pointed you to the Live Rehearsal Stream Package and the others.

Thanks for your time and hopefully your contributions!"

Go to this location to check out the crowdfunding campaign.

Bang Your Head!!!, The annual gathering in Balingen, Germany (now a three day event), have announced Annihilator as their final act, which also includes headliners Slayer, Twisted Sister and Iced Earth.

The festival will take place July 14th - 16th with performances also scheduled from Testament, Carcass, Dirkschneider, Uriah Heep, Grave Digger, Candlemass, Metal Church, Dragonforce, Nazareth, The Dead Daisies, Great White, Girlschool and many more.

More festival details at this location.

James Hetfield has confirmed that METALLICA has completed the recording phase of its long-awaited tenth studio album for a late 2016 release. He told NBC Sports on June 6 before Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final between the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins in San Jose, California (see video below): "We're mixing it now, so hopefully by fall it'll be out and hitting people's ears. We're super stoked about it. It's been a long time coming, and, you know, this is what we do. We love playing. And the next album is exactly what it's supposed to be. So we're excited about it."

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich said in a recent interview with Metal Forces that June is the month in which the band will begin deciding on what to call the album and how they plan to release it to the public. The disc will follow up 2008's "Death Magnetic" and marks the longest gap between studio albums in the band's 33-year recording history.

METALLICA worked on the disc on and off over the past two years, in between other projects. Ulrich told The Pulse Of Radio that the band prefers that approach. "If we had to sit there and, 'Okay, boys, now you write for the rest of the year and then you spend the next year after that recording' — I would pull what seven hairs I have left, I'd pull those out and rather just stab myself in the eye with nails or whatever," he said. "I just, I couldn't do it. I mean, we love the position that we're in to be able to come and go between all these different projects. That's what keeps us alive."

METALLICA has been recording at its headquarters in San Rafael, California with Greg Fidelman, who was the engineer on "Death Magnetic".

The band in 2014 released a new song, "Lords Of Summer - First Pass Version", on iTunes via Blackened Recordings. Ulrich told Rolling Stone that the track, which was first performed in March of that year at a concert in Bogota, Colombia, was "fairly representative of where our creative headspace is at right now. It's one of those things that's like, 'Here, we're writing and we're creating.'"


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MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson answered a number of fan-submitted questions via Periscope earlier today (Tuesday, June 14). You can now watch the session below.

MEGADETH played its first show with drummer Dirk Verbeuren (SOILWORK) on May 20 at the Rock On The Range festival in Columbus, Ohio.

He was recruited to play drums for the band while Chris Adler is busy touring with LAMB OF GOD.

Verbeuren was recommended for the MEGADETH job by Adler, who called Dirk "probably [one of the] top three drummers in the world."

MEGADETH filmed a video for the song "Post American World" late last month. The track is taken from the band's latest album, "Dystopia", which came out in January.

Maniacal Publishing has announced its first release. Realm Of The Damned is a unique graphic novel from the creative team of writer Alec Worley and illustrator Simon "Pye" Parr (2000 AD). The 144-page saga was created by Steve Beatty of England's Werewolf Publishing.

Set for release on October 19, Tenebris Deos is the first of four planned installments of the exciting horror tale. Raw, fast-paced, and bristling with atmosphere, classic gothic monsters are unleashed for a modern rampage of redemption and damnation. It is a bloody and blasphemous epic that features appearances from heavy metal titans BEHEMOTH, EMPEROR and MAYHEM.

Maniacal Publishing founder Greg Ross (founder of legendary punk label Go-kart Records) comments: "When my friend Steve (Beatty) told me about Realm Of The Damned, I literally begged him to let me release it in North America. It's one of the most exciting projects I have ever been involved with and I can't wait for people to see it."

"I'm super excited to see Realm Of the Damned released in the U.S. via Maniacal Publishing and to be working with Greg again," adds Beatty, owner of Werewolf Publishing and former co-owner of Candlelight Records. "Realm Of The Damned has been a huge success in Europe so far with our first pressing selling out. It's fantastic to see it coming stateside for the growing legion of undead fans. Enjoy the darkness America."

Realm Of The Damned is set in a dystopian world run by vampires. To make things worse, the most brutal vampire ever is brought back to life. There is no one left to protect us from what lurks in the dark. There's no Hellboy, no Mulder and Scully, no Torchwood or Men In Black coming to save us. The monsters have won. Our world now belongs to them.

The Vatican's last line of paranormal defense, the Congregation, has finally been overrun by the supernatural forces of darkness. Our heroes are all dead; only the damned remain. Among them is Alberic Van Helsing and the creatures that were once his prey. When an apocalyptic evil is resurrected in the forests of Norway, it falls to Van Helsing to become the hunter once again if mankind and monsters alike are to see the dawn.

Realm Of The Damned is rumored to portray biographic events featuring the black metal band SONS OF BALAUR. Their debut full-length album will be released this fall on Season Of Mist.

A representative for the Swedish club where FILTER was scheduled to perform last night has called into question the band's claim that it was forced to cancel the concert after receiving death threats.

FILTER was scheduled to play at Sticky Fingers in Gothenburg Monday night (June 13) as part of a European tour with COMBICHRIST, but called off the performance just hours before taking the stage. A FILTER spokesperson told TMZ that last week's shooting death of Christina Grimmie, a former contestant on NBC's "The Voice", during a post-show meet-and-greet and the mass shooting in Orlando played a role in FILTER's decision to scrap the Gothenburg concert.

"Threats were made to FILTER's well being that were not taken lightly," frontman Richard Patrick said in a statement. "We felt it necessary to cancel and are so sorry to our fans.

"After an extremely violent weekend in the United States, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the innocent victims in Orlando as well as Christina Grimmie's friends and family."

The FILTER spokesperson told TMZ the threats were sent electronically, mentioned specific members and listed the venue.

But now, a representative for the club says that he believes FILTER called off the concert after one of the bandmembers was caught smoking inside the venue. According to Andreas Leijon of Sticky Fingers, an employee of the club told the musician to put out the cigarette and jokingly added "or the owners will kill us." This caused the group to "overreact" and cancel the performance, fully knowing that such a move would make headlines back home in the United States.

"Had there been any danger [to the people inside the club or any of the musicians], we would have closed the club immediately and not allowed any of the other bands [on the bill] to perform," Leijon told Aftonbladet.

Police spokesperson Ulla Brehm said that a threat was reported at Sticky Fingers at approximately 9:30 p.m. Monday night.

"I can confirm that we sent a police car [to the club], interviewed the involved parties and took the complaint," she said.

The threat is alleged to have been made by a man in his 40s. "It was a threat made inside the venue and it was perceived to be serious enough that the police was called," Brehm said.

FILTER is scheduled to perform in Stockholm tonight (Tuesday, June 14).

The band is continuing to tour in support of its seventh album, "Crazy Eyes", which was released on April 8 via Wind-Up Records.