Master of horror, Rob Zombie, is known for instilling fear into millions. Rolling Stone sat down with him to find out what’s the one thing that scares him. Check out the video below, and read more at RollingStone.com.

Rob Zombie has released a video for “The Life And Times Of A Teenage Rock God”, the track from his new new album, The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser, released on April 29th, via UMe/T-Boy Records. The new video can be found below.

“The Life And Times Of A Teenage Rock God” video:

“In The Age Of The Consecrated Vampire We All Get High” video:

"Well, Everybody’s Fucking In A U.F.O." video:

Rob Zombie and Korn have unveiled details behind their co-headlining summer 2016 tour. Produced by Live Nation, the two influential bands will launch this summer's most anticipated metal music tour on July 19th at Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre in Englewood, CO and will visit 26 North American cities including: Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, Seattle, Las Vegas and more.

A complete list of dates, venues and cities is below. In This Moment will join the tour as special guests.

Tour dates:

July
19 - Englewood, CO - Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
20 - Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheate
22 - Albuquerque, NM - Isleta Amphitheater
23 - Phoenix, AZ - Ak-Chin Pavilion
24 - Irvine, CA - Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
26 - Nampa (Boise), ID - Idaho Center Amphitheater
27 - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre
29 - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
30 - Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino

August
2 - Austin, TX - Austin 360 Amphitheater
3 - The Woodlands, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
4 - Dallas, TX - Gexa Energy Pavilion
6 - Noblesville, IN - Klipsch Music Center
7 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center
9 - Maryland Heights, MO - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
10 - Kansas City, MO - Cricket Wireless Amphitheater
21 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
23 - Toronto, ON - Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
24 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Blossom Music Center
25 - Burgettstown, PA - First Niagara Pavilion
27 - Syracuse, NY - Lakeview Amphitheater
28 - Boston, MA - Xfinity Center
30 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center

September
1 - Hartford, CT - Xfinity Theatre
2 - Camden, NJ - BB&T Pavilion
3 - Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live

 

 

Rob Zombie’s anxiously awaited new horror movie, 31, will be released on September 16th. An official video trailer for the film can be seen below.

From the visionary mind of the man who brought us House Of 1000 Corpses, The Devil's Rejects and Halloween comes the horrific story of five carnival workers who are kidnapped the night before Halloween and held hostage in a large compound. At the mercy of their captors, they are forced to play a twisted game or life or death called 31. For the next 12 hours they must fight for their lives against an endless parade of homicidal maniacs.

Official trailer:

According to Bloody Disgusting, after previously receiving an ’NC-17’ rating, it seems that enough alterations were made for the rating board to issue a more theater-safe ‘R’, although it’s still going to feature, “strong bloody horror violence, pervasive language, sexual content and drug use.”

On January 23rd, 31 made its world premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The clip below features Rob's introductory remarks and the complete Q & A session after the showing. Note that it contains spoilers:

31 stars Sheri Moon Zombie, Malcolm McDowell, Richard Brake, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Jeff Daniel Phillips, and Meg Foster.

The official trailer has been unveiled for "Ozzy & Jack's World Detour", the new show produced by the History channel starring Ozzy Osbourne and his son Jack. The ten-episode series is set to kick off on July 27 at 10:00 p.m. and will feature the duo traveling the world together, exploring the history behind some of the planet's most storied sites, while checking out some lesser known locations along the way.

During the course of the hour-long, non-scripted series, father and son — self-proclaimed history nerds who have apparently waited years to take this trip — will visit locales like Mount Rushmore, Stonehenge, the Alamo, Roswell, the Jamestown Settlement and Sun Studios. They'll also stop at places like a missile silo, England's famed Bletchley Park and a private museum of working artillery tanks.

Ozzy admitted a while back that doing the show has helped fill some gaps in his own knowledge of history. "Anything past World War II, I'm clueless," he told The Pulse Of Radio. "I'm kind of up on World War II 'cause I was born a couple of years after. So I know quite a lot about World War II and Hitler and the Nazis and all that. But anything from before or after I don't know anything about. So we're going to Mount Rushmore, we're going to the abandoned silos where you guys, America used to have their Minutemen missiles and all that. It's quite educational for me, actually."

Ozzy has not starred in a regularly scheduled TV series since the MTV reality show "The Osbournes" ended a four-season run in 2005. A variety show called "Osbournes Reloaded" ended after one episode on Fox in 2009.

Ozzy and BLACK SABBATH are currently in the midst of the European leg of the band's farewell "The End" tour.

He and wife/manager Sharon Osbourne separated last month over Ozzy's alleged affair with a celebrity hairstylist. Us Weekly reported that Ozzy told Sharon he will "go to any lengths necessary to repair the damage" caused by the alleged tryst.

In the official video interview below, California-based metal outfit Carnifex discuss favourite zombie movies and the zombie apocalypse.

Carnifex will release their new album, Slow Death, on August 5th via Nuclear Blast Records. The record was produced and recorded by Carnifex and Mick Kenney (Anaal Nathrakh, Bleeding Through), and co-produced by Jason Suecof (Death Angel, Chelsea Grin, Job For A Cowboy).

In the new video below, vocalist Scott Ian Lewis discusses the album artwork:

Slow Death was mixed by Mark Lewis (The Black Dahlia Murder, Whitechapel, Devildriver, Deicide) at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida. Cover art for the album was created by renowned artist and longtime collaborator, Godmachine.

Episode #1 of the new video series, Slow Death: In The Studio, can be seen below:

"Album number six, over 10 years as a band and we have more fire and passion than ever," comments Scott Ian Lewis. "This album will reshape our genre and be looked back on as an album that started a new movement for aggressive, dark metal. We're going to show those who love us and those who hate us just how far reaching our ambition is."

Slow Death tracklisting:

“Dark Heart Ceremony”
“Slow Death”
“Drown Me In Blood”
“Pale Ghost”
“Black Candles Burning”
“Six Feet Closer To Hell”
“Necrotoxic”
“Life Fades To A Funeral”
“Countess Of The Crescent Moon”
“Servants To The Horde”

“Drown Me In Blood” video:

Teaser:

Carnifex is:

Scott Lewis - Vocals
Shawn Cameron - Drums
Jordan Lockrey - Guitar
Cory Arford - Guitar
Fred Calderon - Bass

Atmospheric blackened metal outfit, Wayfarer, are streaming their forthcoming sophomore effort, Old Souls, out on June 17th via Prosthetic Records. Listen below.

Recorded at Flatline Audio with Shane Howard (Martriden, Khemmis) while being mixed and mastered by Dave Otero (Cattle Decapitation, Cobalt), the album features seven tracks clocking in at almost 50 minutes long. The album's cover artwork was created by Colorado artist and knifesmith Adam Gersh.

Wayfarer’s debut album, Children Of An Iron Age was met with worldwide critical acclaim. Asked how Old Souls differs, guitarist and vocalist Shane McCarthy commented: "This record is a darker and much more focused effort from us. Writing the album was a very cohesive and involved process as a whole band this time around. It has moved further and further away from any particular genre trappings and stepped closer into what we feel our sound is; which is always shifting, always evolving. Life is too short to write music that already exists. We can't wait to get this out there."

Following the release of Old Souls, the band will head out on the road with Maine’s Falls of Rauros, joining them in Canada is Numenorean. A tour flyer can be found below.

Tracklisting:

“Ever Climbing”
“Frontiers”
“Old Souls’ New Dawn”
“Catcher”
“Deathless Tundra”
“The Dust Lakes”
“All Lost In Aimless Chaos”

Album stream:

(Photo - Alvino Salcedo)

Bi-coastal black metal / hard rock band, Eerie, will release its self-titled debut album, Eerie, on July 29 via Tee Pee Records. Featuring a monster mash of musicians including guitarist Tim Lehi (Draugar, Twilight), bassist Dave Sweetapple (Witch), drummer Moses Saarni (Futur Skullz) and vocalist Shane Baker (Pins Of Light, Alaric), Eerie plays haunting, biting metal. 

Recorded in Oakland, California's Earhammer Audio by producer Greg Wilkinson (Graves At Sea, Vastum), the record delivers a lycanthropic lashing. The skeleton of Eerie's sound rises from the casket of traditional black metal, but the band injects the putrid corpse with a solid steel 70's heavy-prog backbone, giving life to monstrous music and a fantastic horrorscope of sound.

"I've known Tim for a long time through the art / tattoo world and he's done graphics for Witch," comments Sweetapple. "Then a few years ago we worked together on a music project called Vardlokk, along with Grutle from Enslaved. Ever since that happened we had been talking about doing another band without knowing a specific direction to go. One day he sent me a bunch of phone recorded demo ideas that he and Moe (drummer) were playing around with. The structure was fairly black metal in parts, as well as the style of the guitar and drums. While being a fan of much early black metal, that style is not something that comes naturally to me when playing. Similar to the Witch songs, I figured out a bunch of "Scooby Doo-style" bass lines and flew to Oakland to start recording the full length with Greg Wilkinson. The basics were recorded for almost a year before Shane came along and added the vocals. Once that happened it moved well away from the black metal realm with vocals that were quite clear and in my opinion, some sort of channeling of early Killing Joke style mixed with his other band Pins Of Light. We are all pretty pleased with how it turned out."

Eerie features inhuman album art by legendary tattoo artist (and Eerie guitarist) Tim Lehi, who has previously commissioned works for High On Fire, Leviathan, Acid King, Saviours and more.

Tracklisting:

“Hideous Serpent”
“Yeti”
“Master Of Creation”
“Immortal Rot”
“Blood Drinkers”

   

Kadaver have released the third video for the Berlin visual album concept. Watch “Lord Of The Sky” below.

Together with long-time friend and collaborator Nathini van der Meer, who has created artwork and videos for them in the past, they are working on their first "Visual Album" - 12 short films accompanying each of the albums' songs, to be released once a month throughout the entirety of the year.

Comments the band: "The song is about freedom, about watching your city and your life from a certain distance - from the bird's-eye view. Just like we see our city from that perspective when we're on tour. Problems and tasks just seem to vanish the more you recede from ground. At the same time you need to push your wings against the wind to gain altitude and not get off course. The hopes, memories and expectations with which you leave your city you will always keep."

"The video is also about things that simply don't change," adds Nathini. That's why we chose to use this old man who's just doing his thing for like forever. He goes to work every day, does his job and probably doesn't realize that his surroundings are changing and becoming crazier and crazier. He lives in the bird's-eye perspective and keeps a certain distance to things."

Watch the first two videos for the Berlin visual album concept below:

"Pale Blue Eyes”:

"Filthy Illusion”:

Kadavar recently teamed up with Scion A/V Metal and Skybound Entertainment (The Walking Dead, Outcast) to release "Words Of Evil," a brand new, unreleased song.

Commented Kadavar singer Lupus: "Originally we had written the song for our album Berlin, but thought it would stick out too much and decided not to put it on the album. Nevertheless I think it is one of the best songs we've ever written. At least it is one of my faves. A lot of NWOHBM and straight to your face!"

Download the track via the Soundcloud player below:

Valient Thorr have released a lyric video for “No Count Blues” a track from their Napalm Records debut and seventh full-length release, Old Salt, due for release on July 29th.

They came from Venus to destroy the cities. Valient Thorr is a wild ass rock ’n roll band said to hail from inside of the planet Venus. Since crash landing on Earth in the year 2000, they've played well over 1,500 shows all over the world. They've toured with visionaries from Motörhead and Joan Jett to contemporary heroes like Mastodon, Gogol Bordello, and Clutch. Since 2005 they have put out six full-length records and two seven inches! And just so you don't think we're blowing smoke, look them up! This is only the cusp of the feats of greatness this hard working, sweat drenched band has accomplished!

Valient Himself commented on the new album: "Old Salt wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for Eidan Thorr. He helmed this beast & put the wheels in motion. What is it about? If you ask me it's about stepping into the future as an artist while trying to anticipate what comes next using that old man logic that comes with age- that no one ever tells you about until it's time to say "if I'd known then what I know now". All the best old storytellers aren't just weaving you yarns. They are recounting from experiences. And believe me, we've had plenty of those in the last few years."

Pre-order your copy of Old Salt in exclusive bundle packages here.

Old Salt tracklisting:

“Mirakuru”
“Lil Knife”
“Cut And Run”
“No Count Blues”
“The Trudge”
“Worm Up”
“Spellbroke”
“Linen Maker”
“The Shroud”
“Looking Glass”
“Jealous Gods”

In support Old Salt, Valient Thorr are on the road in North America on the 15 Years On Earth Tour. Joining them on the road are Pears, Black Wizard and label-mates Hammer Fight. The tour runs through July 13th in Baltimore, MD.

 

 

Valient Thorr - 15 Years On Earth Tour:

June
15 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar
16 - Glendale, CA - Complex
17 - Reno, NV - Shea's Tavern
18 - Sacramento, CA - Starlight Lounge
19 - San Francisco, CA - DNA Lounge
20 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios
22 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon Lounge
23 - Vancouver, BC - SBC
24 - Edmonton, AB - Starlight Room
25 - Calgary, AB - Palomino Smokehouse
27 - Winnipeg, MB - Pyramid Cabaret
30 - Fort Wayne, IN - Brass Rail

July
1 - Louisville, KY - Haymarket Whiskey Bar
2 - Columbus, OH - Shrunken Head
3 - Ferndale, MI - Zeke's
5 - Toronto, ON - Hard Luck
6 - Montreal, QC - Bar Le Ritz PDB
8 - Buffalo, NY - The Studio at Waiting Room
9 - Providence, RI - Firehouse 13
10 - New Haven, CT - Café Nine
11 - Brooklyn, NY - Black Bear Bar
12 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts
13 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Sound Stage

Former SLIPKNOT drummer Joey Jordison has revealed that he has been fighting transverse myelitis, an inflammatory disorder that temporarily robbed him of the ability to play drums.

Ever since SLIPKNOT parted ways with Jordison in December 2013, both sides were silent and evasive about the reason why the split occurred.

While accepting the the "Golden God" award at tonight's (Monday, June 13) Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards event in London, England, Jordison gave an emotional speech in which he spoke about his exit from SLIPKNOT for the first time. He said: "Towards [the] end of my career in SLIPKNOT — and I want you all to give praise to them as well. We accomplished a lot in life, every one of them, and I wish them nothing but luck and the best of praises. Cause what we created in the basements of Des Moines, Iowa will never be matched. It's one thing that is fucking absolutely fucking unbeatable. I love those guys very much… Towards the end of my career in SLIPKNOT, I got really, really sick with a horrible disease called transverse myelitis. I lost my legs. I couldn't play anymore. It was a form of multiple sclerosis, which I don't wish on my worst enemy. I got myself back up, and I got myself in the gym, and I got myself back in fucking therapy to fucking beat this shit. And if I could do it, you could do it. It's the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, more than fucking anything."

He continued: "To people with multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis, or anything like that, I am living proof that you can fucking beat that shit. And fucking metal and all of these fans will do it for you. This is the fucking world right here. You can beat this shit; no joke. Just the fact that metal lives in your heart, you can fucking accomplish anything."

You can watch the speech at around the 16:30 mark in the below video.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, transverse myelitis is a neurological condition produced by abnormal inflammation in the spinal cord, resulting in a block of the nerve impulses and neurologic symptoms. Transverse myelitis is a rare disease, with a frequency estimated to be five new cases for every one million people.

Back in 2014, SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor told Metal Hammer that firing Jordison after 18 years was "one of the hardest decisions" the group ever made, adding that Jordison is "in a place in his life" which is "not where we are." Taylor said he could not get into specifics for legal reasons, but admitted, "It's when a relationship hits that T-section and one person's going one way and you're going the other. And try as you might to either get them to go your way or try and go their way, at some point you've got to go in the direction that works for you. This is me speaking in the broadest terms, with respect to Joey. I guess to sum it up, it was one of the hardest decisions we ever made."

Taylor said that the band is "happy right now and we hope that he is . . . he's just in a place in his life, right now, that's not where we are."

The singer would not answer whether drug use played a role in Jordison's dismissal, and confessed that he had not been in touch with his former bandmate. Taylor said, "I haven't talked to Joey in a while, to be honest. That's how different we are. It's not because I don't love him and I don't miss him. And it is painful; we talk about him all the time, but at the same time, do we miss him or do we miss the old him? That's what it really comes down to."

SLIPKNOT's new drummer is Jay Weinberg, son of longtime Bruce Springsteen drummer Max Weinberg.

Jordison's new band called VIMIC will release its debut album, "Open Your Omen", later in the year via Roadrunner Records. Joey is joined in that group by singer Kalen Chase Musmecci, who has toured with KORN as a backing vocalist and percussionist, and Joey's former SCAR THE MARTYR bandmates Jed Simon (guitar), Kyle Konkiel (bass) and Matthew Tarach (keyboards).

Jordison is also involved in a brand new extreme metal supergroup called SINSAENUM. His bandmates in that project are MAYHEM and SUNN O)))'s Attila Csihar along with former DÅÅTH and CHIMAIRA vocalist Sean Zatorsky, DRAGONFORCE bassist Frédéric Leclercq on guitar and SETH's Heimoth on bass.

Dead Ringers, Horeseback's newest full-length album, is a lush, heady, and singular blend of organic and synthetic textures. The new LP sees the one-man Chapel Hill, NC experimental project continuing to evolve while staying true to their distinctive sound.

Written, produced, engineered, and mixed by the mastermind Jenks Miller, Dead Ringers finds Horeseback weaving a bright web of drone, krautrock, shoegaze, metal and psychedelic elements, driven by wispy guitars, synths, beats, and clean vocals, and bolstered by dense layers of hypnotic resonance. The music is heavy yet light, stretching across eight tracks (including one mammoth 17-minute epic). Taking influence from the doomiest grooves and the nuance of minimal electronics, Dead Ringers is the most cohesive representation of Horeseback's musical vision to date.

Hear the first new song from Dead Ringers, "Shape Of The One Thing”, now streaming below.

Dead Ringers is set for release this coming August 12th via Relapse on CD/2xLP/Digital. Physical pre-order packages are available via Relapse.com here; digital pre-orders can be found via the band's Bandcamp page here.

Dead Ringers tracklisting:

“Modern Pull”
“Shape Of The One Thing”
“A Bolt From Blue”
“The Cord Itself”
“Lion Killer”
“In Another Time, In And Out Of Form”
“Larkspur”
“Descended From The Crown”

“Shape Of The One Thing”:

The first "Metal Meltdown" concert series event kicked off at The Joint at the world famous Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas on May 30, 2015. Legendary, selling rockers TWISTED SISTER performed an explosive 90-minute concert of their biggest hits spanning their 40-year career. The show was dedicated to the honor of TWISTED SISTER's iconic drummer A.J. Pero, whose tragic, sudden death just two months prior to the filming of this event shocked the music world. The band announced that not only were all the remaining concerts being performed in 2015 dedicated to the memory of A.J. Pero, but that 2016 would mark the 40th and final year of the band's legendary live performances. They recruited renowned drummer and friend of A.J. Pero, Mike Portnoy (THE WINERY DOGS, DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD) to take the reins, and his very first TWISTED SISTER appearance was captured by the "Metal Meltdown" camera crew. TWISTED SISTER fans will now get to witness that special concert produced by the award-winning production company Rock Fuel Media in association with Loud & Proud Records. Directed by Brian Lockwood (BON JOVI, METALLICA, MÖTLEY CRÜE), "Metal Meltdown - Featuring Twisted Sister Live At The Hard Rock Casino - Las Vegas" features that complete concert, as well as "Rockshow", a bonus documentary that takes fans through the band's 40-year ride from local club outcasts to world domination with exclusive interviews, archive footage from the '80s, photo gallery. It was mixed in 5.1 Surround Sound. Set for release July 22, the retail package includes both Blu-ray and DVD formats as well as an audio CD. As TWISTED SISTER guitarist Jay Jay French explains: “The decision to continue performing all the summer shows in 2015, not to mention the concert that this performance celebrates, was in jeopardy over the days immediately following A.J.'s sudden death. We needed time to re-group and re-focus. Everyone was great. All the promoters of the huge European summer festivals that we were set to headline and Barry, the producer of this concert, said, 'We understand. You all (meaning the band) have to do what makes you comfortable. Whatever the band decides has to be honored and respected.' "In the end, I believe we did what A.J. would have wanted us to do and Mike Portnoy was a very big part of that decision in both an emotional and artistic way. This performance captured herein just two months after A.J.'s death really was about our way to help memorialize the great A.J. Pero. The front four (Dee, Eddie, Mark and I) have had no one but A.J. behind us since 1982. This concert has A.J.'s influence permeating through our bloodstream in ways that I will never forget and when we cut to A.J.'s drum solo on the rear projection screen, We were all emotionally overwhelmed. Not since our reunion for New York Steel in 2001 (to honor and raise money for the families of the NYC police and fire department who died on 9/11) have I been moved to tears." Award-winning producer Barry Summers of Rock Fuel Media commented: "TWISTED SISTER was the first live club band I ever saw in 1979 at Emmett's Inn in New Jersey, and they literally blew my mind. We actually revisited Emmett's and filmed a scene for the 'Rockshow' documentary. It has been a real dream come true to produce this amazing concert film for such an iconic and influential band. The tribute to A.J. Pero makes this film that much more special. We're excited to give the fans the highest quality concert film and live recordings ever released in the year of TWISTED SISTER's final farewell.” Other bands filmed in Las Vegas as part of the "Metal Meltdown" include EXTREME, SKID ROW and GREAT WHITE. Stay tuned for details on those releases. "Metal Meltdown - Featuring Twisted Sister Live At The Hard Rock Casino - Las Vegas" track listing: 01. What You Don't Know02. The Kids Are Back03. Stay Hungry04. The Beast05. Shoot ‘Em Down06. You Can't Stop Rock ‘N' Roll07. I Believe In Rock ‘N' Roll08. Under The Blade09. I Am (I'm Me)10. We're Not Gonna Take It11. The Fire Still Burns12. The Price13. Burn In Hell14. A.J. Pero Tribute15. I Wanna Rock16. Come Out and Play17. S.M.F.

The reissue of Enslaved’s Vikingligr Veldi will coincide with the band’s 25 European Tour and will be available in a limited Enslaved 25 webshop edition and a regular edition this September.

The astonishing new layout was done by Z. Bielak (Ghost, Mayhem, etc.) and includes four brand new illustrations specially made for this legendary album.

Z. Bielak has stayed true to the ideals of the era (it was originally scheduled for release in 1993); this 2LP gatefold with illustrated pockets has been respectfully remastered for vinyl by Iver Sandøy; preserving every bit of original dynamics.

"We have been waiting since the day we recorded it, and at last it is happening! It has been a challenging journey, and it has demanded a lot of patience and understanding from all parts involved. The day we hold the finished product in our hand will be as sacred a day for us as the day we finished recording it". - Ivar and Enslaved

Enslaved’s 1st full-length album was co-produced with the legendary Pytten in Grieghallen, Bergen, Norway. This album has lyrics in Icelandic, and is a tribute to the Norse landscape, history and mythology. The songs are matching these themes with long horizontal songscapes, dense atmospheres and winds from the past.  

More details will be revealed soon.

Currently announced tour dates, with more to follow, are listed below.

September
29 - Aarau, Switzerland - KiFF
30 - Stuttgart, Germany - Club Cann

October
15 - Berlin, Germany - BiNuu
16 - Warsaw, Poland - Progresja
17 - Wroclaw, Poland - Firlej
18 - Prague, Czech Republic - Nova Chelmnice
19 - Munich, Germany - Backstage
20 - Vienna, Austria - Szene
22 - Brasov, Romania - Club Rockstadt
24 - Ljubljana, Slovenia - Kino Siska

November
2 - Toulouse, France - Metronum
3 - Rennes, France - Antipode
4 - Paris, France - Divan du Monde
5 - Leeds, England - Damnation Festival
9 - Hanover, Ljubljana Musikzentrum
10 - Dresden, Ljubljana Beatpol

Enslaved discuss their 25th anniversary celebrations in the video below:

Lebanon’s leading Heavy Metal band Blaakyum will release their much anticipated new album Line Of Fear as CD (with one bonus track) and digital on June 25th. The cover artwork was made by Stan-W Decker (Masterplan, Vanden Plas, Resurrection Kings, Stryper).

The bonus track on the CD edition, "Riot Against Riot", is a narration on Lebanon’s recent anti-corruption protests that the band members were part of and that were met with violent crackdowns by the police.

The album theme emerged from the band's experiences with social and political oppression in Lebanon, from being jailed just for being into heavy metal to being ruled by a corrupt and violent government. All songs are about freedom of thought and artistic expression.

Blaakyum's sound is a unique blend of thrash, heavy and groove metal infused with Middle Eastern and Levantine folk music vibes. The band are the pioneers of "Middle Eastern Thrash" and they not only make thrash metal sound oriental but also make Middle Eastern musical elements sound Thrashy. The song "Freedom Denied" samples Middle Eastern folklore music and uses oriental percussions (tabla) as another thrash metal instrument. This unique thrashy tabla sound is also in the title track “The Line Of Fear” as well as on the genre-defying “Baal-Adon”.

Blaakyum are right now on the Line Of Fear tour that kicked off in Dubai with a headlining show on June 3rd and that will take the band to perform at Tuska Open Air Festival, on July 1st, followed by a 16-day tour in support of Onslaught across Europe.

Blaakyum won last year’s Wacken Open Air Metal Battle in third place worldwide, cementing the reputation of the band from a small country in a turbulent region that has defied all odds to live and breathe heavy metal.

Tracklisting:

“Crossing”
“The Line Of Fear”
“Wicked Revelation”
“Destined To Rise”
“Baal Adon”
“Religion Of Peace”
“Freedom Denied”
“I Am Who I Am”
“Riot Against Riot” (bonus track)

Swedish metallers SOILWORK will release a special collection of rarities titled "Death Resonance" on August 19 via Nuclear Blast. The cover art was created by MNEMIC guitarist Mircea Gabriel Eftemie (VOLBEAT, CARCASS, SCAR SYMMETRY, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) and can be seen below.

Commented SOILWORK singer Björn 'Speed' Strid: "The cover for 'Death Resonance' is made by Mircea Eftemie and in many ways he has managed to capture what we went through while recording 'The Ride Majestic': the sorrow, the close encounter with death, the aftermath and also the existential cogitation that came with it. It links those albums together, even though 'Death Resonance' contains unreleased material from 2005 onwards. The cover almost seems like a link between life and death and not only captures where the band is right now, but also where we've been and what lies ahead."

"Death Resonance" track listing:

01. Helsinki (new song)02. Death Resonance (new song)03. The End Begins Below The Surface ("The Ride Majestic" Japan bonus track)04. My Nerves, Your Everyday Tool ("Beyond The Inifite" Japan-only EP)05. These Absent Eyes ("Beyond The Inifite" Japan-only EP)06. Resisting The Current ("Beyond The Inifite" Japan-only EP)07. When Sound Collides ("Beyond The Inifite" Japan-only EP)08. Forever Lost In Vain ("Beyond The Inifite" Japan-only EP)09. Sweet Demise ("The Panic Broadcast" Japan bonus track)10. Sadistic Lullabye (re-recorded, "The Panic Broadcast" Japan bonus track)11. Overclocked (2016 mix, "Sworn A Great Divide" Japan bonus track)12. Martyr (2016 mix, "Sworn A Great Divide" Japan bonus track)13. Sovereign (2016 mix, "Sworn A Great Divide" Japan bonus track)14. Wherever Thorns May Grow (2016 mix, "Stabbing The Drama" Japan bonus track)15. Killed By Ignition (2016 mix, "Stabbing The Drama" Japan bonus track)

SOILWORK's tenth studio album, "The Ride Majestic", was released worldwide on August 28, 2015 via Nuclear Blast.

The band's drummer, Dirk Verbeuren, is currently touring with MEGADETH while Chris Adler is busy on the road with LAMB OF GOD.

While Verbeuren is playing with MEGADETH, his seat in SOILWORK is being occupied by Bastian Thusgaard of THE ARCANE ORDER.

Joining SOILWORK on tour in support of "The Ride Majestic" is new bassist Markus Wibom, formerly of Helsingborg hardcore group HEARTS ALIVE. Wibom replaced longtime bandmember Ola Flink, who amicably left the group to focus on other endeavors. Wibom had been a personal friend of the band for many years and previously toured with SOILWORK as a guitar tech and lighting designer.

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame members HEART return July 8 with "Beautiful Broken", their sixteenth album and their first on Concord Records. HEART has sold over 35 million records, and this anticipated album is their first in four years. "Beautiful Broken" finds Ann and Nancy Wilson exploring new songs, but taking some of their favorite "cherry picks" from their catalog and rerecording and rethinking them. The title track and first single features a dynamic guest vocal contribution by METALLICA's James Hetfield with Ann Wilson. A preview clip is available below.

"There is really a seventies feel to this record both in the sound, and the way we got to the emotional core of each song," says Nancy Wilson. "We picked songs that we always wanted to re-do, plus we've added three new tracks. On both new and old, we have the band playing together the way we used to. This is classic HEART."

The seven tracks that were pulled from the HEART catalog were tunes both Nancy and Ann wanted another shot at, due many times to how they were initially produced. Songs like "City's Burning", "Down On Me", and "Sweet Darlin'" have always been live favourites of the sisters, and of HEART's fan base, but they had somewhat languished. "Those songs may have fallen through the cracks, in a way, because of where radio was at the time when they were first released," Ann Wilson says. "Rediscovering those songs, I found ways they emotionally still speak to me." Two songs are from "Passionworks", two from "Private Audition", and two are from "Bebe Le Strange".

"Beautiful Broken"'s title track had been a bonus song off "Fanatic", HEART's last album, but this version is essentially an entirely new song with barnburner vocals-and even some lyrics-added by METALLICA's James Hetfield. "It blows the previous version out of the water," says Nancy. "James just took the song on, and what he added was perfect with a bite and a rock accent."

"Beautiful Broken" was co-produced by Nancy Wilson with HEART's bassist Dan Rothchild. Rothchild had previously produced BETTER THAN EZRA's platinum-selling "Deluxe", but he also comes from rock royalty: his father was legendary DOORS producer Paul Rothchild. "Beautiful Broken" was recorded at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, the same studio the DOORS cut their best work. "There were eerie echoes in the hallway," Nancy says.

Rothchild said his goal was to capture the human feel of Heart live in the studio. "On these classics, some of which had suffered from eighties-era over-editing-production-curse, we stripped the paint off and found the beauty underneath," he says.

For Ann, the album allowed her to revisit, and re-sing, songs she felt "never reached their full development." For Nancy, the lyrical HEART came alive: "I felt these songs were poetic pieces that were lost in translation with the sounds of the eighties, which was harder and more digital. We wanted to drape them in velvet, and make them shine."

One example of is "City's Burnin'", originally on the 1982 album "Private Audition". "The first time we recorded that was in 1981," says Ann, "and it was in a key that was a bit 'show-offy,' and sped-up. On 'Beautiful Broken', we put the key in the right place, and the song really bore fruit."

Nancy Wilson sings one of three new songs, "Two". The song had a different genesis than many HEART classics, as Wilson first heard it on a demo made for a television show her husband Geoff was working on. She reached out to the song's writer — R&B sensation Ne-Yo — and asked if he'd consider giving her the song. "I went to work begging for the song," she says. "Ne-Yo said, 'sure.' It ends up he's a HEART fan. He may still release his own version at some point, but to me the song feels like mine now.

One of the unique aspects to "Beautiful Broken" is the string arrangements on four songs done by legendary arranger Paul Buckmaster. Buckmaster's resume includes work with THE ROLLING STONES and Elton John ("Levon"). "We were talking about how we wanted 'Paul Buckmaster-type' strings at one point," Nancy said. "So then we decided to call Paul himself."

Buckmaster's work on "Sweet Darlin'" is, in particular, a standout, but only because the strings highlight Ann's powerful vocals. Ann had always wanted another shot at "Sweet Darlin'" so it was an ideal choice for "Beautiful Broken". "To me the original sounded somehow incomplete," Ann says. This version, with Buckmaster's strings, finishes the song properly, but it also showcases how Ann's voice has remained strong over the decades.

Ann and Nancy Wilson formed HEART when the idea of two women leading a rock band was still groundbreaking. From the moment 1976's "Dreamboat Annie" was released, they became stars. With hits like "Magic Man", "Crazy On You", "Barracuda", "Alone", "What About Love" and "These Dreams", the band became one of the biggest hit-makers in the seventies and eighties. In 2012, their memoir "Kicking & Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul and Rock & Roll". became a New York Times bestseller, and in 2013 they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. They have sold more records than any sister act in the history of popular music, but they've done so keeping their vision - that women can both rock and put forth emotional intimacy — central to their sound.

"Beautiful Broken" follows in that tradition, an album with pure rock power on the title track, but also tender sexual yearning on "Language Of Love". It's a contrast that has always been the essence of HEART. "We still make records like we always have, and they are always impossibly romantic, because Ann is always an impossibly romantic singer," Nancy says. "In a world where there is less poetic lyric writing, we've always tried to plant a flag for poetry."

That may seem "broken" in a way, in a world of machine-created pop music, but it is also certainly a beautiful vision. This year HEART will bring that vision to half a million fans during their summer concert tour, and "Beautiful Broken" extends that relationship with radio-ready songs, and deep album cuts.

British gothic metal pioneers PARADISE LOST have signed a worldwide deal with German-based metal powerhouse Nuclear Blast.

Formed in Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1988 and still boasting four of its five original members, the band is widely credited with co-founding the gothic metal genre with its sophomore album, "Gothic" (1991). Through the years, PARADISE LOST has changed its style effectively and reinvented itself again and again. They elbowed their way from their original melodic death metal sound on their debut, "Lost Paradise" (1990) to the classic "Icon" (1993) and more experimental "One Second" (1997). Finally they went back to the roots with their most recent release, "The Plague Within" (2015), achieving some of the best reviews of their career. PRADISE LOST vocalist Nick Holmes commented: "PARADISE LOST's career has run alongside Nuclear Blast Records since the label began in the late '80s. And as huge fans of original death metal, we still have the majority of the label's first releases from those very early days. It's pretty incredible to see how the label has become a real force in metal music over the years, both in Europe and America and now, nearly 30 years later, in a new chapter for the band, it's exciting for PARADISE LOST to be a part of Nuclear Blast!" Nuclear Blast owner Markus Staiger adds: "As a fan from day one I've been following PARADISE LOST ever since their death metal era, but have also enjoyed watching them grow into something even bigger and so unique. They defined and later on re-defined the gothic genre and always delivered the most dark and memorable songs. It's a great pleasure to finally welcome the band to the ever-growing Nuclear Blast family! Needless to say that we're very much looking forward to this partnership!"

In a 2015 interview with Isolation Grind, Holmes stated about "The Plague Within"'s heavier sound compared to that on some of PARADISE LOST's earlier albums: "We just tried to capture the spirit of the old days without forgetting everything else that has happened over the last 20 years. I don't think the album is back to our roots as such, as we couldn't have written an album like this 25 years ago."

Nick also talked about the progression of PARADISE LOST's sound, calling it "just evolution. Certain albums have taken us in significant directions, I guess 'Icon' was probably the first album to do that, and we continued that style until 'One Second'. It's too early to see if ['The Plague Within'] will be a new progression." PARADISE LOST 2016 is:

Nick Holmes - VocalsGreg Mackintosh - Lead GuitarsAaron Aedy - Rhythm GuitarsSteve Edmondson - BassWaltteri Väyrynen - Drums

Saban Films has released the official trailer for Rob Zombie's latest horror-thriller, "31". Written and directed by Zombie, the film premiered at Sundance earlier this year and will be made available on September 16.

"31" stars Sheri Moon Zombie ("The Devil’s Rejects"), Golden Globe nominee Malcolm McDowell ("A Clockwork Orange") and "The Lords Of Salem" actors Jeff Daniel Phillips and Meg Foster. The film follows five carnival workers who are kidnapped and held hostage in an abandoned, Hell-like compound where they are forced to participate in a violent game, the goal of which is to survive twelve hours against a gang of sadistic clowns.

"'31' is a treat not just to horror fans, but fans of true auteur filmmaking," Saban Films president Bill Bromiley said. "The film is executed in true stylistic Zombie fashion. Rob is an unrivaled talent, and we are thrilled to bring his bold new film to audiences across the continent."

"After meeting with Saban, it was obvious that this was the perfect home for '31'," Rob Zombie said. "They have a true understanding of the genre and how to handle it. I am very excited to work with them."

Bow and Arrow Entertainment financed the film and co-produced with Spectacle Entertainment Group.

Zombie previously told a fan on his Facebook page that an unrated cut of "31" will be issued on DVD. Zombie presented the film three times to the MPAA ratings board, which slapped it with an NC-17 twice and finally gave it an R after he made some trims to the film's violent content.

Zombie himself had stated that he thought it was likely that that edits would need to be made to try and fit the MPAA's strict guidelines.

Rob Zombie's new album, "The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser", was released on April 29 via UMe/T-Boy Records. The CD was produced by Chris "Zeuss" Harris and features Zombie alongside guitarist John 5, bassist Piggy D and drummer Ginger Fish.

Nylon Maiden, headed up by Dutch classical guitarist Thomas Zwijsen - known for his acoustic renditions of some of metal’s greatest songs and arrangements of Iron Maiden tracks - will release the new album, Preserved In Time, this month. In the video below, Zwijsen performs “Blood Brothers” with former Iron Maiden singer Blaze Bayley:

In the video below, Blaze Bayley and Thomas Zwijsen talk about the new CD:

The video below features an acoustic cover of Iron Maiden’s “Lord Of The Flies”, from the X Factor album, performed live at the Eindeloos Eiland Festival in The Netherlands by Blaze Bayley and Thomas Zwijsen.

Nylon Maiden’s Preserved In Time  promises to be Zwijsen’s ultimate Iron Maiden tribute album. It makes the classical guitar world a bit more metal by adding 16 Iron Maiden songs (and two Bruce Dickinson songs) to its repertoire.

Zwijsen’s long-time collaborator Blaze Bayley is one of the returning guest musicians on this album, performing two tracks from his Iron Maiden days, as well as a unique version of “Blood Brothers” off the Brave New World album! This is the first time Blaze performs an Iron Maiden song from the post-Blaze era. It gives Iron Maiden fans an idea of what it would have sounded like if Blaze had stayed with the band.

Tracklisting:

Disc 1
“If Eternity Should Fail”
“Stranger In A Strange Land”
“Judgement Of Heaven” (with Blaze Bayley & Anne Bakker)
“Ghost Of The Navigator”
“Powerslave” (Thomas & band)
“Burning Ambition”
“Tears Of The Dragon” (Bruce Dickinson song)
“Blood Brothers” (with Blaze Bayley)
“When The Wild Wind Blows” (Thomas & band)

Disc 2
“Afraid To Shoot Strangers”
“Como Estais Amigos” (with Blaze Bayley & Anne Bakker)
“Wrathchild”
“Tears Of A Clown”
“Jerusalem” (Bruce Dickinson song)
“For The Greater Good Of God”
“Reach Out”
“Fear Of The Dark”
“Rime Of The Ancient Mariner” (Thomas & band)

Zwijsen comments: “In our attempt to choose the best track listing for the most fulfilling, surprising and complete Iron Maiden tribute album, we simply couldn't fit all the songs on a single CD, so we decided to make it a double CD this time. Many of the songs were requests from people on YouTube. If this were to be the setlist at an Iron Maiden concert, I’d be very happy!”

People who pre-order the album get some cool extras:

- Their names printed in the booklet of the album, preserved in time!
- The album signed by Thomas
- A free specially designed stainless steel Nylon Maiden dog tag.

“Rime Of The Ancient Mariner” video:

“When The Wild Wind Blows” video:

“Powerslave” video:

“If Eternity Should Fail”:

"Afraid To Shoot Strangers”:

“Tears Of The Dragon”:

“Ghost Of The Navigator”:

“Powerslave” bass solo preview:

Legendary British hard rockers DEEP PURPLE have canceled the two shows they were scheduled to play in Sweden this week (Tuesday, June 14 at Gröna Lund in Stockholm and Wednesday, June 15 at Liseberg in Gothenburg) after one of the bandmembers became ill. No further details have yet been made available by the group or the promoter.

DEEP PURPLE recently finished recording its new album for a late 2016 release. The follow-up to 2013's "Now What?!", which was tracked earlier this year at a studio in Nashville, Tennesse, was once again helmed by Bob Ezrin, who has previously worked with KISS, PINK FLOYD, PETER GABRIEL, ALICE COOPER and KANSAS, among others.

DEEP PURPLE bassist Roger Glover recently talked about the band's writing process, telling Ultimate Classic Rock: "We jam and jam and jam, and if we find something that we like to play or that works well or inspires us, then we'll try to knock it into some kind of arrangement. Then, once we've got that, Ian [Gillan, vocals] and I will figure out what the song's really all about, and write the lyrics and all of that stuff."

DEEP PURPLE's first new album in eight years, "Now What?!", topped charts in Germany, Norway and Austria and peaked at No. 19 in Britain.

"Now What?!" sold 4,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 115 on The Billboard 200 chart. The album was released in North America in April 2013 via earMUSIC, the Hamburg, Germany-based international rock label which is part of Edel Group.

DEEP PURPLE — which has been eligible for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame for two decades now — finally entered the Rock Hall as part of the class of 2016. The band's first three lineups were inducted, including drummer Ian Paice, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, late keyboardist Jon Lord, and various singers and bassists — Rod Evans; Ian Gillan and Roger Glover; and David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes.

Fan-filmed video footage of KING DIAMOND's entire June 11 concert at Metro Areena in Espoo, Finland can be seen below (filmed by Pumpkin Priest).

The setlist for the show was as follows:

01. Out From The Asylum02. Welcome Home03. Sleepless Nights04. Halloween05. Eye Of The Witch06. Melissa07. Come To The Sabbath08. Them09. Funeral10. Arrival11. A Mansion In Darkness12. The Family Ghost13. The 7th Day Of July 177714. Omens15. The Possession16. Abigail17. Black Horsemen18. Insanity

KING DIAMOND's November 25, 2015 and November 28, 2015 live shows in Philadelphia and Detroit, respectively, were flmed for the band's forthcoming DVD. The set is being helmed by director Denise Korycki (CANNIBAL CORPSE, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE), and will include additional footage from multiple shows throughout the band's most recent North American trek.

KING DIAMOND performed its classic second album, 1987's concept effort "Abigail", in its entirety on the band's latest U.S. tour.

"Dreams Of Horror", a 2xCD collection of KING DIAMOND songs, newly enhanced into ultimate editions by King Diamond and Andy La Rocque themselves, sold around 1,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release.

Released in November 2014, "Dreams Of Horror" is the only "best-of" album covering the band's entire career. King Diamond and Andy La Rocque meticulously mastered and enhanced these 23 songs into the ultimate editions, chosen by the band from both the Roadrunner and Metal Blade catalogs.

Swedish bassist Pontus Egberg (THE POODLES, LION'S SHARE, ZAN CLAN) joined KING DIAMOND following the departure of Hal Patino.

King, 59, whose real name is Kim Bendix Petersen, underwent open-heart triple-bypass surgery in November 2010. He has since completed his cardiac rehabilitation program and has stopped smoking entirely, changed his diet and is getting regular exercise.

Legendary German guitarist Michael Schenker played a very special show, Michael Schenker Fest, at this year's Sweden Rock Festival, on June 11 in Sölvesborg, Sweden. The concert featured appearances by three MSG singers: Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet and Robin McAuley. They were joined by Ted McKenna on drums, Chris Glen on bass and Steve Mann on guitar/keyboards.

Combined, these men are responsible for such albums as "Michael Schenker Group" (1980), "Assault Attack" (1982) and "Save Yourself" (1989).

The setlist was as follows:

01. Into The Arena02. Attack Of The Mad Axeman (Gary Barden on vocals)03. Victim Of Illusion (Gary Barden on vocals)04. Rock My Nights Away (Gary Barden on vocals)05. On And On (Gary Barden on vocals)06. Cry For The Nations (Gary Barden on vocals)07. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie (Gary Barden on vocals)08. Armed And Ready (Gary Barden on vocals)09. Coast To Coast10. Desert Song (Graham Bonnet on vocals)11. Dancer (Graham Bonnet + McAuley/Barden on vocals)12. Assault Attack (Graham Bonnet on vocals)13. Save Yourself (Robin McAuley on vocals)14. My Heart (Robin McAuley on vocals)15. Shoot Shoot (Robin McAuley on vocals)16. Doctor Doctor17. Rock Bottom

In a 2014 interview with Songfacts, Schenker stated about his "Assault Attack" album: "Well, 'Assault Attack' was basically the time after Gary Barden. Peter Mensch was managing me. He suggested I should have a different singer, so that's what he confronted me with. And so, who? He came up with David Coverdale and Graham Bonnet. And I decided Graham Bonnet. I think also it had to do with Cozy Powell, because he had joined the band, too, and maybe he would prefer to have a different singer. So somehow we ended up with Graham Bonnet and we did the recording with Martin Birch, who was doing IRON MAIDEN at the time. When we had our first concert in Sheffield, Graham got kind of... weird. And that was it. It was like 15 minutes of life with Graham Bonnet, and that was the end. And then two days later we had a concert in Reading, a headliner at a festival, and we asked Gary to help out. So then I carried on with Gary and I kind of slipped from Peter Mensch, and then I did a last album with Gary in '83, 'Built To Destroy', and Gary was actually not doing very well anymore. And then Chris Glen, the bass player, he kind of disappeared. I said to myself, 'It was time for something new.'"

Asked about he possibility of writing new music with Bonnet, Schenker said: "You know what? It would be interesting to see if we can put something together live, because 'Assault Attack' never got toured. It was an idea if Graham was well enough and the opportunity and the moment in time would allow something like that to happen, it would maybe be a creative thing to do. But at this point we never quite got to it."

Reformed 80s hard rock/heavy metal legends, Q5, will release their third album, entitled New World Order, on July 8th. You can pre-order the album now via Amazon.com (widget below) or iTunes. Listen to the new song “We Came Here To Rock” below:

Q5 was formed in 1983, comprised of members of two popular Seattle bands: vocalist Jonathan K and guitarist (plus famous guitar tremolo inventor) Floyd Rose from The C.O.R.E. and Rick Pierce (guitar), Evan Sheeley (bass) and Gary Thompson (drums) from TKO. The band released its first album, Steel The Light (on Music For Nations) in 1984, receiving immediate worldwide critical acclaim, and landing them touring spots with Twisted Sister, Y&T and Lita Ford. The success of Steel The Ligh" led them to eventually sign with Polygram/Squawk for their 1985 sophomore release, When the Mirror Cracks. Due to personal differences, the original lineup dissolved shortly after this release.

In 2014, Q5 was asked to perform at Sweden Rock Festival, a performance that the band had agreed would be a "one off" show, but at the completion of the performance, it was obvious that this was not an ending, but merely a beginning. Upon returning to Seattle, The band secured drummer Jeffrey McCormack (former Heir Apparent, Fifth Angel) and guitarist Kendall Bechtel (former Fifth Angel) and began rehearsing formally as Q5. The band's relaunch debuted at the Rock You To Hell Festival in Athens, Greece followed by a headlining performance in Cyprus. The band then returned to Seattle to begin work on music for a new album. Kendall Bechtel, however, was unable to stay with the band due to personal reasons, so the band secured guitar virtuoso Dennis Turner to complete the lineup.

So, while the band’s debut album, Steel The Light  continues to grow in popularity all over the world, the fans are writing from all corners of the globe, eagerly inquiring about the next chapter in the Q5 story. That chapter begins NOW. With their new lineup solidified, and a new album slated for release, Q5 is poised to take its rightful place again in the hard rock/heavy metal hierarchy.

New World Order tracklisting:

“We Came Here To Rock”
“One Night In Hellas”
“The Right Way”
“New World Order”
“Tear Up The Night”
“Halfway To Hell”
“A Prisoner Of Mind”
“Unrequited (A Woman Of Darkness And Steel)”
“Just One Kiss”
“Fear Is The Killer”
“Land Of The Setting Sun”
“A Warrior’s Song”
“Mach Opus 206” (Instrumental)
“Get Next To You” (Bonus Track)

“Halfway To Hell”:

“The Right Way” video:

Trailer:

Q5 lineup:

Jonathan Scott K.: Vocals, Background Vocals
Rick Pierce: Lead Guitars, Rhythm Guitars
Dennis Turner: Rhythm Guitars, Lead Guitars, Background Vocals
Evan Sheeley: Bass Guitar, Backgr. Vocals
Jeffrey Mccormack: Drums And Percussion, Background Vocals

 

 

PlayThisRiff.com, which is owned and operated by Bob Balch from Fu Manchu, has released a new instructional video featuring Tracii Guns.

Says Bob Balch: “In this guitar lesson video, Tracii Guns will discuss the recording process for the L.A. Guns record Cocked And Loaded. He'll also show us the main riff in the L.A. Guns song "Never Enough."

Check out the lesson at this location.

Vocalist Phil Lewis and guitarist Tracii Guns spear-headed the classic lineup of Hollywood sleaze rockers L.A. Guns. Together, they were forefront on the self-titled debut (1988), Cocked & Loaded (1989), Hollywood Vampires (1991), and Vicious Circle (1994).

After travelling separate paths, Phil and Tracii reconvened to release Man In The Moon (2001) and Waking The Dead (2002), only to head down different highways once again.

Now the pair have reunited - backed by bassist Johnny Martin and drummer Shane Fitzgibbon - for a handful of concerts; confirmed dates are as listed below.

July
7 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - El Teatro Flores
8 - Rosario, Argentina - Teatro Vorterix
10 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Manifesto Rock Bar

September
17 - Irvine Meadows, CA - Hair Nation Rock Fest

October
27 - Joliet, IL - Rock N Skull Fest

Steve Hackett’s The Total Experience Live In Liverpool will be released on 2CD+2DVD Digipak, Blu-Ray, and Digital album (audio only) via InsideOut Music on June 24th. A video for “Wolflight” from the upcoming release can be seen below:

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of his first solo album, Voyage Of The Acolyte, and following his latest Wolflight, the Acolyte To Wolflight With Genesis Revisited 2015 tour was Steve’s effort to represent the many chapters of his career. Featuring two sets - one highlighting his solo work, the second paying tribute to Genesis - the two hour performance was greeted with enthusiasm by both fans and critics.

This release captures the whole show. Two versions will be available; a 2DVD/2CD set and also a stand-alone Blu-ray edition. All copies pre-ordered via HackettSongs will be signed by Steve.

“The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway” video:

Trailer:

Much to the excitement of prog fans worldwide, The Neal Morse Band will be releasing a new live 2CD/DVD set and Blu-ray on August 5th, titled Alive Again. Riding on the tremendous success of their breakthrough album, The Grand Experiment, The Neal Morse Band set out on a tremendously successful world tour in the spring of 2015. Neal Morse and Mike Portnoy have teamed up with Randy George, Eric Gillette, and Bill Hubauer to create one of the greatest progressive rock bands of all time. Full stop. Alive Again will be available as a DVD/2CD set and a standalone Blu-ray and shows the band at the top of their form performing for a rousing audience in The Netherlands on March 6th.

Says Neal, “The Alive Again tour and this DVD/Blu-ray is one of the finest we have ever done. In my humble opinion… It's really great! I think you all are really going to dig it. Check it out and you'll understand how amazing this band is! I love it!”

“The Neal Morse Band is a force of nature. They have evolved into a great live band, one that is as good as there is in music and they really shine on this live set. The performances here are jaw-dropping and might have you giving a standing ovation from your couch.” - Roie Avin, The Prog Report

To the delight of his passionate and growing fan base, there seems to be no end in sight for the magical music and masterful musicianship that flows from the mind and hands of Neal Morse and his band of virtuosos!

Tracklisting:

CD 1
“Alive Again” Intro        
“The Call”        
“Leviathan”        
“The Grand Experiment”    
“Harm's Way”     
Bill's Keyboard Solo     
“The Creation”     
“There Is Nothing That God Can't Change”     

CD 2
“Waterfall”     
Eric's Gtr Solo       
“In The Fire”     
“Alive Again”     
“Rejoice”        
“Oh Lord, My God”     
“Reunion”    
“King Jesus”     

To purchase Alive Again 2CD/DVD set or Blu-ray head to this location.

(Photo - John Zocco)

Multi-national, award winning progressive metal outfit Skyharbor have released an official video for the new song "Blind Side". It features footage shot on their 2015 tour with Tesseract, The Contortionist and Erra.

Blind Side by Skyharbor

Back in July 2015, Skyharbor announced another line-up change, having recently parted ways with drummer Anup Sastry:

"Hello everyone,

After months of deliberation, Dan (Tompkins) has decided to step down as our frontman and singer. This has been the hardest decision we have ever had to make in our history as a group, and it comes after months of discussion about the future of Skyharbor. We owe you an explanation, and we hope this following makes it clear as to why we reached this decision.

In a nutshell, things have developed with this group far quicker than any of us expected, and we have been getting some amazing opportunities to take our music around the world. We have been lucky enough to be able to play sporadically in India, Europe and the UK, but we have always wanted to take our music further afield to territories such as North America and Australia, and for longer periods than Dan could commit to. As many of you will know, Dan is a husband and a father, and touring for long periods of time with little financial security made it very difficult for the band to be active, and Dan felt strongly that he was holding us back from good opportunities.

Keeping this in mind and the fact that Dan rejoined TesseracT last year, we realised we had to make a choice - we could continue with Dan but as a studio project only, or we could move forward with a dedicated and focused lineup to help Skyharbor grow freely and achieve what we all hope to achieve with it. All 5 of us have collectively and amicably decided that the latter option was the best for the band.

We love Dan as a brother, and are incredibly proud of the two albums we've created with him and the times we have shared on the road. Words cannot describe how grateful we are for all he’s done for this band, and the passion and dedication he put into each show. He will be sorely missed, but will always remain close to us.

Which brings us to the good news:

We are very happy to welcome Eric Emery to Skyharbor as our new full time singer. Eric is a fantastic talent and we are all very excited to write and play music with him. When we reached out to Eric in the hopes of finding someone to fill Dan's shoes, we were all delighted by the quality of his audition and his enthusiasm to fill the spot. As a Grammy nominated engineer, Eric brings to the band not just his voice but his music production experience and knowledge, and we look forward to performing live with him, starting with our first US and Canada tour later this year, details of which we will announce shortly.

As tricky as the last few months have been, we truly believe that everything has worked out for the best. We couldn't be more confident in our new lineup and our future.

We'd like to thank you all for the constant messages of support and requests to see us perform all over the world. You inspire us to continue taking this band forward. We hope for your continued support and understanding through this transitional period and hope that you enjoy the exciting new phase of music that we will be sharing with you very soon. See you on the road!

Following is Tompkins' statement regarding his departure:

“I’m incredibly sad to be parting ways with my amazing friends Keshav, Devesh, Krishna and Aditya. We have collectively come to the decision that it is in the best interest of the group that I step down as the frontman of Skyharbor. From the very start I have put my heart and soul into the project but circumstances have made it clear that I am holding the band back from opportunities too good to miss. We all agree this is the best thing for everyone. We will always be close friends and I wish them only the best for the future.”

And finally, a video message from new Skyharbor frontman Eric Emery:

Skyharbor released their sophomore album, Guiding Lights, on November 10th, 2014 via Basick Records.

Guiding Lights offers 10 tracks of exhilarating and heady progressive music, weaving a sonic tapestry of technically beautiful and imaginative melodies around crunchy metal riffs and sweeping, atmospheric vocals. The album was funded by fans after a fast paced and successful PledgeMusic campaign and has been mixed and mastered by legendary Australian producer Forrester Savell (Karnivool, Animals As Leaders, Dead Letter Circus).  

Comments guitarist and songwriter Keshav Dhar: "We are thrilled to announce that our second record is officially complete, and it is titled Guiding Lights. We have worked incredibly hard over the last two years on making this album the most spectacular effort we could create, and we thank our AMAZING fans for helping bring it to life and take it to the next level! We can't wait for you to sink your teeth into it!"

The album release rounds out a fantastic year for Skyharbor, which has seen appearances at Download Festival, Graspop and a European tour, as well as a nomination for Global Metal Band at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods. On top of this the band released their first single/video for "Evolution" in June 2014 which can be viewed below.

Guiding Lights follows on from the 2011 debut, Blinding White Noise: Illusion & Chaos, which won the band fans worldwide, including Lamb Of God who handpicked the band to support them in India and saw the band picked to play at festivals across the globe whilst also resulting in awards for Best Song, Best Album and Best Band at the Rolling Stone India Metal Awards.

Tracklisting:

"Allure"
"Evolution"
"Idle Minds"
"Miracle"
"Halogen"
"New Devil"
"Patience"
"Guiding Lights"
"Kaikoma"
"The Constant"

"Evolution" lyric video:

Indie Recordings have announced their latest signing, Australian black metal tour de force, King. The band’s debut album, Reclaim The Darkness, will hit shelves on August 23rd. Pre-order here, or via iTunes.

Says the label: “Their melancholic black metal, while preserving the spirits of old, carves a new path; epic while remaining raw, majestic while retaining a primitive atmosphere.”
 
The band states: ”We are thrilled to announce King’s signing to the Indie Recordings. It is an honour to be on such a celebrated label, alongside many highly regarded artists as well as some of our personal favourites."

Updates to follow.

German melodic death metal heroes, Nothgard, will release their new album in September via NoiseArt Records. The third studio album is entitled The Sinner's Sake. The cover artwork was created by acclaimed Hungarian cover-artist Péter Sallai (Sabaton, etc.).

Mastermind Dom Crey states: "We are very happy and proud of the artwork for our upcoming album The Sinner's Sake. The result proves that we took the right decision when we hired the Hungarian cover-artist Péter Sallai once more. Péter worked with big names like Sabaton and also did our predecessor album-artwork for Age Of Padora. He is a great guy and an even better artist, always trying to offer the band the maximum of heartblood and passion. And believe me… probably we were not the easiest clients, haha… We hope our fans like the cover as much as we do."

In support of this upcoming release, the band will tour Europe this fall to present the new material to the fans. Together with German epic metal pioneers Equilibrium, Dutch folk metallers Heidevolk and German Black Forest metallers Finsterforst.

Tour dates:

September
22 - Nürnberg, Germany - Hirsch
24 - Leipzig, Germany - Hellraiser
25 - Prague, Czech Republic - Nova Chmelnice
26 - Wien, Austria - Szene
30 - Berlin, Germany - Bi Nuu

October
1 - Bochum, Germany - Matrix
2 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - Dynamo
11 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
12 - Vosselaar, Belgium - Biebob
13 - Colmar, France - Grillen
14 - Karlsruhe, Germany - Substage
15 - München, Germany - Backstage
16 - Dornbirn, Austria - Conrad Sohm