Sweden’s Warfect are streaming the track “Anatomy Of Evil”, from their upcoming album Scavengers, out on May 13th via Cyclone Empire.

The third full-length-assault was self-recorded and singer/guitar-player Fredrik Wester took care of all producing, mixing and mastering duties in AudioDome studios. The cover artwork was again created by Andrei Bouzikov (Autopsy, Municipal Waste, Skeletonwitch).

Tracklisting:

“Purveyors Of Cadavers”
“Reptile”
“Anatomy Of Evil”
“Watchtowers”
“Suffocate The Chosen”
“Predators”
“The Resurrectionists”
“Skin Bound”
“Evil Inn”
“Savaged By Wolves”
“Into The Crypt”

“Anatomy Of Evil”:

Teaser:

Power Prog will release Latin American metal maniacs Wings Of Destiny’s upcoming album, Kings Of Terror, on Audio-CD, download card, digital download and stream on May 27th. The official worldwide release follows on June 24th with the widespread global availability as Audio-CD, as digital download and as stream via all major platforms.

With their second album and after some lineup changes, Wings Of Destiny have found their own style, which, and in every respect, stands out clearly from the genre competitors. Kings Of Terror has become much darker, harder and more intense than their already highly acclaimed debut album.

What has remained is once again strong songwriting, extraordinary instrumental feats and a smashing, unprecedented unique production. With Fabio Lione (Angra, ex-Rhapsody of Fire), a renowned guest and real metal size was obliged who gives an extra version of the track "Angels & Demons" his special mark and which provides us a great vocal duel with WOD's exceptional singer Anton Darusso. Once again the cover artwork was created by the sensational Caio Caldas (CadiesArt), who was already responsible for the optical subtleties of the debut album.

Kings Of Terror tracklisting:

“We Bring You The Night”
“Angels & Demons”
“Kings Of Terror”
“Eye Of The Storm”
“Sea Of Oblivion”
“Siren's Song”
“Holy Innocence”
“Lie To Me”
“Touch The Sky”
“Eternity”
“United We Stand”
“Angels & Demons” (Feat. Fabio Lione)

“Angels & Demons” lyric video:

 
Pre-order the album as CD (for a temporary reduced introductory price) or as high quality digital download in MP3, WAV, FLAC, ALAC and more, here.

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions have released the new album from death/thrash sci-fi slayers Mountain Grave, entitled Massive Structural Collapse, on CD and Digital formats. A full album stream can be found below.

An official album description states: “To boldly continue to go where no band has gone before... Mountain Grave return to Horror Pain Gore Death Productions with a masterfully crafted modern cosmic death/thrash dream! Weaving vicious riffs through multi-dimensional atmospheric terror at blistering speeds, Massive Structural Collapse effortlessly punches its way through your speakers and throws you in the cockpit to experience action packed interstellar insanity. This album marks the melding and also completion of the sound / story from The Ancient Disease EP, released back in 2012 on HPGD. Mountain Grave successfully combine the raw drama of Star Trek along with the warm cinematic impact of Star Wars, resulting in a fusion of extreme metal glory!”

Tracklisting:

“Approaching Thyone”
“The Final Dimensions Of Blight”
“Mechanized Colony”
“Surge Capacity”
“Lair Of The Wretcher”
“Primeval Affliction”
“Pursued By Wolves”
“Ebarru”

Album stream:

Massive Structural Collapse by MOUNTAIN GRAVE

Physical orders are available at Horror Pain Gore Death while digital orders can be found on Bandcamp.

 

"Hatred United / United Hate", the new video from San Francisco Bay Area metallers DEATH ANGEL, can be seen below. The clip was directed and edited by Tommy Jones for Videohammer Studios during the recording sessions for the band's new album, "The Evil Divide", and features renowned tattoo artist Bob Tyrrell. The song also includes a special guest guitar solo from Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA).

"The Evil Divide" will be released on May 27 via Nuclear Blast. The CD was once again recorded at AudioHammer studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, DEICIDE), who previously worked on 2010's "Relentless Retribution" and 2013's "The Dream Calls For Blood". Mastering duties were handled by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in New York City. The cover artwork was created by Tyrrell and can be seen below.

DEATH ANGEL guitarist Rob Cavestany said: "Both Mark [Osegueda, vocals] and I had been tattooed by Bob, and when the subject of album artwork came up, we approached him to create the design. We wanted an image that would represent the idea of 'The Evil Divide'; something beautiful, yet simultaneously wicked, hence the death moth. Bob realized our vision with mere pencil and paper, and now we proudly present to you the cover art for our eighth studio album, 'The Evil Divide'."

Osegueda told SFWeekly.com about working with Suecof again: "It's the third time we've used him, and we couldn't really be happier."

He continued: "This time, all the music was written and lyrics were written with the exception of one song, which I purposely saved to write on the spot.

"Sometimes you can get a great vibe from a studio and draw inspiration from that. That song came out great."

Mark added: "It's got the aggressiveness of the last two records, but our songwriting has improved dramatically. Really, it sounds like DEATH ANGEL should."

Regarding DEATH ANGEL's mindset going into the songwriting process for the new CD, Osegueda told Rock Hard magazine: "When we started working with Jason Suecof for the last two records, 'Relentless Retribution' and 'The Dream Calls For Blood', we thought we were gonna do two records intense like that and kind of go back [to the more] melodic [direction of 1990's] 'Act III', but the last two records, we've been loving so much writing that style, and the crowds have been enjoying them so much.

"In our minds, even if we think we're being more brutal than we've ever been, it's inevitable that we are obsessed with melody, so there's always gonna be melody that separates us from, say, different thrash bands or extreme bands, because we always veer to a melody and catchy hooks. No matter how brutal we think we're being, we like to throw in hooks, so we're just gonna carry on how we're doing now and try to pick as many of the young punters there and keep our stronghold on the old punters."

"The Evil Divide" track listing:

01. The Moth02. Cause For Alarm03. Lost04. Father Of Lies05. Hell To Pay06. It Can’t Be This07. Hatred United, United Hate08. Breakaway09. The Electric Cell10. Let The Pieces Fall

Bonus:

11. Wasteland

+ "Making Of" DVD

DEATH ANGEL released "A Thrashumentary" in July 2015 via Nuclear Blast. The DVD was directed, shot and edited by Tommy Jones (KATAKLYSM, SOILWORK, LAMB OF GOD, CARCASS, TESTAMENT) of Videohammer Studios. The release also includes a full live album titled "The Bay Calls For Blood".

Veteran British comedian and entertainer Bernie Clifton was recently left "fuming" when his new album To Dream The Impossible Dream went to press with the track listing for Abhorrent Decimation's Miasmic Mutation.

Inspired by the public reaction to his recent performance on BBC’s The Voice, where he sang a moving rendition of ‘The Impossible Dream’, the impossible to extinguish Bernie Clifton has released a collection of his favourite songs. But it was only when the singer was packing orders that he noticed the printing bungle.

“What a cock-up. It has been a nightmare to sort out and has cost me a fortune to reprint the 1,000 CDs. My act has never been described as an Abhorrent Decimation and I’m too scared to even listen to their songs."

However, despite his initial reaction Bernie has taken it light heartedly telling a BBC reporter, “We could go on the road, me and the lads. We could do To Dream the Impossible Miasmic Mutation.” Abhorrent Decimation vocalist Ashley Scott was then heard saying, “I definitely want to talk to Bernie about working together on something... it would be amazing.”

Bernie has since invited the band to his home in Sheffield for tea and bacon butties, to have a laugh about the whole thing and both parties were happy to pose for some pictures. Copies of the misprinted CD have also been signed and will be auctioned off in due course to raise money for a charity.

"What a wonderful blunder," Ashley said. "We can't control many things in this weird and wonderful life; fancy a death metal band getting such exposure from a national treasure in an ostrich suit." Bernie commented, ''Suddenly I feel my life is changing. If only my Auntie Nora was still around to see it."

Listen to Miasmic Mutation in full below:

Miasmic Mutation by ABHORRENT DECIMATION

IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson has weighed in on the strange situation regarding AC/DC and singer Brian Johnson. The legendary Australian rock band postponed the last ten dates of its recent North American tour after doctors told Johnson he faced "total hearing loss." AC/DC has since announced that it will use GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose as a "guest vocalist" when it resumes its tour next month, with Johnson apparently not returning to the band at all.

Speaking to Australia's Adelaide Now, Dickinson stated about the prospect of an Axl Rose-fronted AC/DC: "It's an odd situation. I hope Brian can get some respite for whatever his medical issue is. He's a lovely guy. There's just Angus [Young, guitar] in AC/DC now as far as original members. I hope Angus ends up holding up the amazing reputation and the name of AC/DC. "

Then, in an apparent reference to Axl Rose's reputation for stage tardiness, Dickinson added: "It'd be horrible to see it end with people not turning up on stage or being very late. I hope it works out okay for everyone."

According to a Billboard.com source, Rose initially met with AC/DC members in Miami and Atlanta back in March. It was then that the decision was made to have Rose join AC/DC on tour. There was also talk of having other singers alternate with Rose, including ex-SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach and Nic Cester of the Australian band JET.

Fan reaction to Rose replacing Johnson — even temporarily — has been largely negative. The fan site AC/DC Italia announced it was shutting down in protest, while AC/DC biographer Jesse Fink called it "the worst decision AC/DC has ever made. Fans are pretty disgusted... AC/DC is all about the money now."

AC/DC guitarist Angus Young made a guest appearance with GUNS N' ROSES at the Coachella festival in California earlier in the month, to tie in with the official confirmation of Rose's involvement.

Swedish metallers SABATON have entered the studio to begin recording their new album, "The Last Stand", for an August 19 release via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2014's "Heroes" is once again being produced by Peter Tägtgren (PAIN, LINDEMANN, HYPOCRISY) and it will "mark a brand new chapter in SABATON history," according to a press release.

Says SABATON bassist Pär Sundström: "We once work again with Peter Tägtgren in his newly upgraded and top-class Abyss studio in Sweden to record, produce and mix the album. The mastering will be done by Jonas Kjellgren who also works in the same building in nice Pärlby on the countryside of Sweden. Both 'Carolus Rex' and 'Heroes' was done in the same way and we feel very comfortable to return to the same place and people again. Fans will recognize the sound of the album as SABATON, but we really feel we took it a step forward this time."

The artwork for "The Last Stand" was created by Peter Sallaí, who has worked with SABATON since "Carolus Rex". Sundström explains: "We had the idea to make an image reflecting soldiers of different times representing the different historical battles we sing about on the new album. This only reveals a small part of the album topics though."

States SABATON vocalist Joakim Brodén: "The concept of a last stand has always fascinated me, and both me and Pär were 'all in excited' about the subject so it was an easy choice to make."

Adds Sundström: "We have always several ideas for albums to work with. Since there are countless different views and angles of war, we will, unfortunately, never run out of ideas. We kinda felt that the last stand was something perfect for SABATON. Something we really wanted to do. 'Heroes' was a perfect theme and 'The Last Stand' is right down our alley too. It was exciting to do the research."

Brodén recently told Spark TV that the band's upcoming album won't a continuation of the lyrical themes covered on "Heroes". "We were thinking about it, actually, because that was, for us, to research and to write the lyrics, that was one of the most interesting albums to do, from that point of view," he said. "And we tried, I think, two or three different themes, but we still couldn't get the same feeling, personally, as we did for 'Heroes'. We were actually considering doing that, but then we found a topic that… it's touching on the same subject, [but] a little bit different."

Asked whether SABATON's next CD will be about "evil guys" or villains, Joakim said: "No, no, no, no, no, no, no. We actually wanted to do that before, but our lovely record label didn't like that idea, and I can see the point in a way. Obviously, people in different places [have] different sensibilities about things. When we did 'Heroes', we wanted to also do a second CD that was called 'Commanders'. And in Sweden, it wouldn't be a big problem to put a song about Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin… you know, get all the crazy guys in there. The problem could be, though, that in other parts of the world… I'm guessing it would probably okay in the Czech Republic; you seem to be quite easy about these things. But I'm guessing Germany, America, doing these things… also maybe Russia wouldn't like us digging into those things. And we wouldn't want to make people really sad or end up on a 'banned' list. It would be kind of stupid for us."

SABATON released a special, three-disc limited-edition deluxe version of "Heroes" in the U.S. and Canada in April 2015 via Nuclear Blast. Limited to 5,000 copies, this deluxe edition includes two discs of live audio recorded on the 2014 Sabaton Cruise in addition to the original ten "Heroes" album tracks.

German metal queen Doro Pesch celebrated the 30th anniversary of performing live during 2013 and 2014 by touring the world extensively for a year and by playing three official anniversary shows.

The tour kicked off impressively in front of 85,000 people at the world's biggest metal festival, Wacken Open Air, followed by two sold-out nights in her hometown, Dusseldorf, where she also started her outstanding career.

And everyone came to party with Doro: Phil Campbell (MOTÖRHEAD), Biff Byford (SAXON), Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE), Blaze Bayley (ex-IRON MAIDEN), Joakim Brodén (SABATON), Hansi Kürsch (BLIND GUARDIAN), Udo Dirkschneider, Uli Jon Roth, LORDI as well as many more amazing guests — the list of stars who celebrated the metal queen on stage comes across like a "Who's Who" of the rock and metal scene.

Three decades of Doro — three unforgettable nights — forever captured on three DVDs and two Blu-rays; including an two-hour-plus great music movie, which delivers deep insights behind the scenes and inside the heart of Doro. Nuclear Blast will release this incredible Doro anniversary package, titled "Strong And Proud - 30 Years Of Rock And Metal", on June 24. It is a fantastic memory for everyone who has seen Doro live worldwide during her anniversary and a revelation for all fans of good, hard rock music and classy live performance with blood, sweat and tears.

Says Doro: "We spent endless hours, days and nights working on the DVD, because we wanted to present a real highlight for all rock and metal fans for the 30th anniversary. We took care of every detail. It began already with the bombastic stage in Wacken, we worked one year on its design. In Dusseldorf, we even celebrated two nights in a row. One 'Classic Night' with a 40-piece orchestra and one 'balls to the wall' rock show on the second evening. It continued subsequently nonstop — with an anniversary tour, with led us to Russia, South America and my second home, the USA, among others."

"Strong And Proud - 30 Years Of Rock And Metal" contains 38 songs in total, a full load of rock and metal, including all Doro classics, many old WARLOCK hits and ingenious cover versions of songs such as "Fear Of The Dark" (IRON MAIDEN) and "Balls To The Wall" (ACCEPT). The filming and cutting is phenomenal, and the sound crystal-clear. Once again, the packaging was drawn by Doro's favourite artist, Geoffrey Gillespie.

Additionally, "Strong And Proud - 30 Years Of Rock And Metal" offers a unique music movie with a two-hour plus documentary, "Behind The Curtain, Inside The Heart Of Doro". It gives the spectator deep and detailed insights into the world of Doro.

Says Doro: "There's always great impressions from all over the world and never before seen pictures from our life behind the stage. The camera team accompanied us for over one year everywhere and captured very emotional, intimate and human situations."

"Strong And Proud - 30 Years Of Rock And Metal" will be released in the following formats:

- 2Blu-ray-Digi- 3DVD-Digi- CD- Earbook- 2LP (black) in gatefold- 2LP (blue) in gatefold (mailorder + wholesale)- 2LP (silver) in gatefold (mailorder exclusive)- Earbook in tote bag (mailorder exclusive)

DVD1

30 Years Anniversary Show - Wacken Open Air

01. Intro02. Wacken Anthem (We Are The Metalheads)03. Burning The Witches04. East Meets West (feat. Chris Boltendahl)05. Raise Your Fist In The Air06. Hellbound07. Revenge08. Earthshaker Rock09. Breaking The Law (feat. Phil Campbell)10. All We Are (feat. Eric Fish, Joakim Brodén & CORVUS CORAX)

30 Years Anniversary Show - Classic Night

11. Touch Of Evil12. On The Run13. Fear Of The Dark (feat. Blaze Bayley)14. The Night Of The Warlock15. You're My Family16. Above The Ashes17. Beyond The Trees18. Hero19. Princess Of The Dawn (feat. Udo Dirkschneider)20. Dancing With An Angel (feat. Udo Dirkschneider)21. Hard Rock Hallelujah (feat. LORDI)22. Love Me In Black23. Für Immer (Mix Clip Classic Night/Rock Night)

30 Years Anniversary Show - Rock Night

24. Raise Your Fist In The Air25. Save My Soul26. Running From The Devil27. Without You28. East Meets West (feat. Sabina Classen)29. Rock Till Death (feat. Hansi Kürsch)30. Bad Blood (feat. LORDI)31. Denim And Leather (feat. Biff Byford)32. Out Of Control33. Wacken Anthem (We Are The Metalheads)34. Metal Racer35. Herzblut36. Burn It Up37. Balls To The Wall (feat. Udo Dirkschneider)38. All We Are

DVD2

01. Behind The Curtain, Inside The Heart Of Doro (Documentary)

DVD3 - Bonus Concert Movie

30 Years Anniversary Show - Classic Night

01. Celebrate02. Burn It Up03. Breaking The Law04. All We Are05. Metal Racer

30 Years Anniversary Show - Rock Night

06. True As Steel07. Evil08. Egypt (The Chains Are On) (feat. Chris Caffery)09. Revenge10. Hellbound11. You've Got Another Thing Comin' (feat. Biff Byford)12. Fight13. Drum Solo14. Ich Will Alles (feat. Andy Brings)15. Metal Tango16. Unholy Love

30 Years Anniversary Show - Wacken Open Air

17. Metal Tango (feat. Eric Fish & Frau Schmitt)18. Drum Solo19. Für Immer (feat. Uli Jon Roth)

Rock Hard Festival 2015

20. Hellbound21. Für Immer

Russia Tour 2015

22. Touch Of Evil23. I Rule The Ruins

CD + Digital:

01. On The Run02. Save My Soul03. Raise Your Fist04. Fear Of The Dark05. Revenge06. Earthshaker Rock07. Without You08. Rock Till Death09. Egypt (The Chains Are On)10. Für Immer11. Hellbound12. Balls To The Wall13. You're My Family14. All We Are

Blu-ray 1

30 Years Anniversary Show - Wacken Open Air

01. Intro02. Wacken Anthem (We Are The Metalheads)03. Burning The Witches04. East Meets West (feat. Chris Boltendahl)05. Raise Your Fist In The Air06. Hellbound07. Revenge08. Earthshaker Rock09. Breaking The Law (feat. Phil Campbell)10. All We Are (feat. Eric Fish, Joakim Brodén & CORVUS CORAX)

30 Years Anniversary Show - Classic Night

11. Touch Of Evil12. On The Run13. Fear Of The Dark (feat. Blaze Bailey)14. The Night Of The Warlock15. You're My Family16. Above The Ashes17. Beyond The Trees18. Hero19. Princess Of The Dawn (feat. Udo Dirkschneider)20. Dancing With An Angel (feat. Udo Dirkschneider)21. Hard Rock Hallelujah (feat. LORDI)22. Love Me In Black23. Für Immer (Mix Clip Classic Night/Rock Night)

30 Years Anniversary Show - Rock Night

24. Raise Your Fist In The Air25. Save My Soul26. Running From The Devil27. Without You28. East Meets West (feat. Sabina Classen)29. Rock Till Death (feat. Hansi Kürsch)30. Bad Blood (feat. LORDI)31. Denim And Leather (feat. Biff Byford)32. Out Of Control33. Wacken Anthem (We Are The Metalheads)34. Metal Racer35. Herzblut36. Burn It Up37. Balls To The Wall (feat. Udo Dirkschneider)38. All We Are

Blu-ray 2

01. Behind The Curtain, Inside The Heart Of Doro (Documentary)

30 Years Anniversary Show - Classic Night

02. Celebrate03. Burn It Up04. Breaking The Law05. All We Are06. Metal Racer

30 Years Anniversary Show - Rock Night

07. True As Steel08. Evil09. Egypt (The Chains Are On) (feat. Chris Caffery)10. Revenge11. Hellbound12. You've Got Another Thing Comin' (feat. Biff Byford)13. Fight14. Drum Solo15. Ich Will Alles (feat. Andy Brings)16. Metal Tango17. Unholy Love

30 Years Anniversary Show - Wacken Open Air

18. Metal Tango (feat. Eric Fish & Frau Schmitt)19. Drum Solo20. Für Immer (feat. Uli Jon Roth)

Rock Hard Festival 2015

21. Hellbound22. Für Immer

Russia Tour 2015

23. Touch Of Evil24. I Rule The Ruins

"Prayers For The Damned", the new double album from SIXX:A.M., the band featuring MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx alongside guitarist DJ Ashba and vocalist James Michael, can be streamed in its entirety using the YouTube playlist below. The CD is being released today (Friday, April 29) via Eleven Seven Music.

It's a universal truth that true artists will always busy themselves creating, and that truly great artists will always find an audience for that work. It is little surprise then that despite storied individual histories playing in and working with some of the most iconic bands ever to have stalked the planet, Sixx, Ashba and Michael find themselves on the brink of unleashing yet another rock monster onto a burgeoning fan-base, that has already taken them firmly to their hearts.

"Prayers For The Damned", the fourth studio album from a trio, represents the band's most ambitious, complete and adrenaline-soaked effort to date. The album also boasts first-class production and mixing by Michael and original artwork from Ashba, proving that this collection of music is a true labor of passion. "When we toured our last record (2014's 'Modern Vintage'), it was the first time we had really been a band that existed outside of the studio," confesses Michael. "Playing those songs we finally realized how much fun this band is and finally admitted to ourselves that, yes, we are a proper live band. DJ took the decision to leave GUNS N' ROSES and Nikki wrapped up MÖTLEY CRÜE. There are no distractions anymore and we're all 100% dedicated to SIXX:A.M. now."

"We've been together for seven years and I believe we've just got tighter and tighter in that time," adds Ashba. "For me, on our last tour, something clicked inside. What touched me most was seeing what our songs had some to mean to people." "It's absolutely time for us to treat this band with the time and energy it deserves," echoes Sixx. "It's a gang, a tribe and we're incredibly proud of that." But if SIXX:A.M.'s tour schedule cemented what many already knew — that this is a truly special band capable of breath-stealing brilliance — it also reminded the band of the abiding power of pedal-down rock'n'roll. "'Prayers For The Damned' includes some of the heaviest songs I've ever been involved with writing," smiles Sixx. "These are the songs that are designed to get a reaction from a live crowd as much as they are going to sound brilliant over your stereo." To that end, the first single, "Rise" is a full-blooded head-banger, which distills all of hard rock's most joyously unrestrained traits and garnishes them with a chorus that stretches to the stratosphere and back with consummate ease — truly an anthem that would grace any stadium or festival field the globe over. Michael explains the song's message: "Throughout history, some of the most dramatic changes have occurred when people reject the status quo and demand change. 'Rise' is about how we find ourselves at a global tipping point and how it is our duty as citizens of this world to come together, communicate with one another and rise up to demand more of ourselves and our leaders." Elsewhere, the depth and quality of the musicianship on offer on the likes of the groove-laden "You've Come To The Right Place" and the deliciously smouldering title track is of the sky-high standards you'd expect from three musicians whose reputations speak entirely for themselves. "James and DJ are two of the most talented musicians I have ever met," enthuses Sixx. "Every day we went into the studio they would be pushing me further and harder to get the best from myself and the performances they have delivered on this record are exceptional." "I feel like, as a guitar player, this is the album I have always dreamed of making," adds Ashba. "There are techniques and styles on here that surpass anything I've ever even attempted with this band. We felt it was really time to experiment, we never want to make the same record twice — and this is us doing what we do best, heavy songs with a deep, meaningful lyricism." Indeed, while "Prayers For The Damned" is characterized by towering riffs and broad brushstrokes of melody, it's also an album possessed of philosophically hopeful overtones. "A song like 'Rise' speaks to the fact that you don't have to look very far around the world to see people standing together and rising up against some oppressive force," offers Sixx. "We're not a political band but we certainly do believe in a unity between people. The only time when things make a change for the positive is when people put their differences aside, rise up and stand together. A big part of our message is, and will always be finding hope in dark subject matters, taking universal messages and rendering them in a way which people can ascribe their own meanings to and relate to their own life experiences. That is something that resonates with our crowd and gives us the strength of connection we do." If "Prayers For The Damned" sees the trio casting their glance out onto the world we live in more than ever before, there is still a deal of the personal introspection the band have come to be renowned for represented here. The ebbing slow burn of "Better Man", for example, sees Michael facing the demons of self-doubt we all experience with typical honesty, all against the most epic of instrumental backdrops. The bottom line is that SIXX:A.M. are coming back swinging with a collection of songs that will fire up both the head and heart in equal measure — a band who, after a longer gestation period than most, are now finding their true sound and producing art that refuses to be led by anything but their own desires. "What we have all done in the past has liberated us to do exactly what we want now," smiles Ashba. "'Prayers For The Damned' is nothing more than the three of us expressing ourselves as friends who love making music together. My favourite thing about this band is everyone involved is a true artist: it's honest and it's pure and I think people see, and instantly relate to, that." "This time around we have really found what the voice of SIXX:A.M. is and I hope that when people listen to them they will hear their voice too," adds Sixx. "For any fans who listened to 'Modern Vintage' and were wondering, 'Where does SIXX:A.M. go next?', this record will be a comprehensive answer." Heavy, emotional and firmly firing on all cylinders, this megastar trio are about to secure themselves as a modern hard rock force to be reckoned with — a band who, four albums in, are only just getting started. "The future of this band is incredibly, incredibly bright," closes Michael. "And we are about to pull the trigger."

"Prayers For The Damned Vol. 1" track listing:

01. Rise02. You Have Come To The Right Place03. I'm Sick04. Prayers For The Damned05. Better Man06. Can't Stop07. When We Were Gods08. Belly Of The Beast09. Everything Went To Hell10. The Last Time (My Heart Will Hit The Ground)11. Rise Of The Melancholy Empire

"Everything You've Got", a brand new song from legendary hard rock vocalist Joe Lynn Turner's (RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) SUNSTORM project can be streamed below. The track is taken from SUNSTORM's fourth album, which will be released on May 13 via Frontiers Music Srl.

SUNSTORM is Joe Lynn Turner's successful AOR/melodic rock project, something that came about for the first time in 2006 when Frontiers president Serafino Perugino wanted to dig up some unreleased gems that Turner wrote during the late '80s and early '90s.

The very good reviews and acclaim which surrounded the debut self-titled release was the fuel that ignited three more records, until the project was momentarily shelved when Joe started working on the RATED X supergroup with Tony Franklin and Carmine Appice.

After the release of the RATED X album, Joe wanted to go back to the more melodic material of SUNSTORM, but also wanted to retain some of the harder edge which the RATED X album had. So he asked producer and songwriter Alessandro Del Vecchio (HARDLINE, EDGE OF FOREVER) to come up with some new songs in that vein. Del Vecchio joined forces with Simone Mularoni, guitar player of Italian prog metallers DGM. Together they developed songs which were exactly what Joe wanted, so it was a natural process to move forward and record another SUNSTORM album. As usual, other songwriters, such as Soren Kronqvist and Daniel Palmqvist completed the array of individuals involved.

Joe Lynn Turner said: "This new SUNSTORM album is the best of the series! We went harder... stronger... and heavier than ever before without losing the integrity of what the project is about... I call it melodic metal! The songs are very well crafted, the messages are profound, the performances amazing.. and the sound is incredible! All involved can be very proud of such a great music. I urge anyone who loves great music to check out 'Edge Of Tomorrow'; you won't be disappointed!"

"Edge Of Tomorrow" track listing:

01. Don't Walk Away From A Goodbye02. Edge Of Tomorrow03. Nothing Left To Say04. Heart Of The Storm05. The Sound Of Goodbye06. The Darkness Of This Dawn07. You Hold Me Down08. Angel Eyes09. Everything You've Got10. Tangled In Blue11. Burning Fire

Joe Lynn Turner recently traveled to Vikos Gorge in northern Greece to film a video for the song "Edge Of Tomorrow" with director Menelaos Sykovelis.

Regarding why he chose Vikos Gorge as the location for his new video, Joe told Epirus Gate (see clip below): "'Edge Of Tomorrow' is basically a lyric about the apocalypse that's happening right now and the geopolitical situation in our world. So I came to Greece, and I came to Vikos canyon, the deepest and longest canyon in the world, the canyon of the Gods. This is where all of civilization started. With the golden eagle that Zeus would use and have on his hand, he flies with us. He represents the freedom that people should have instead of the enslavement which the world has become from the geopolitical powers."

He continued: "When I spoke to the producer and director, Menelaos, who, actually, his name comes from the king of Sparta… He's a visionary and an incredible artist, and he knew that this particular location was where we should do this, where we should show the world what is happening in symbology, in symbolic form.

"So watch this video, set yourself free and know that Vikos canyon, the canyon of the Gods, is here for you. See the spectacular, most amazing place on Earth."

SUNSTORM is:

Joe Lynn Turner: Lead VocalsAlessandro Del Vecchio: Hammond Organ, Keyboards, Backing Vocals Simone Mularoni: GuitarNik Mazzucconi: Bass Francesco Jovino: Drums

Frost*, the brainchild of keyboard player and songwriter Jem Godfrey, will release of their new album, Falling Satellites, on May 27th. A new lyric video for the album track “Heartstrings” can be found below.

Joined by guitarist and vocalist John Mitchell (Lonely Robot, It Bites), drummer Craig Blundell (Steven Wilson) and bassist Nathan King (Level 42), Falling Satellites is the band's first album in 8 years and the follow-up to Experiments In Mass Appeal.

Comprising 11 songs, the final six forming a 32-minute long suite, this album also sees a guest appearance from Grammy-nominated guitar legend Joe Satriani, who Godfrey played with on the G3 tour in 2012.

Jem had this to say about the album: "It's been a long time coming, but we got there in the end. I think this is our strongest album to date and moves the sound forwards whilst still referencing what's gone before. It's also great to have finally co-written some songs with John in a Frost* context. The end results were better than either of us could have imagined, we just can't wait to get out and play it all live now."

The album will arrive on limited edition CD digipak (incl. 2 bonus tracks), gatefold 2LP + CD & digital download.

Tracklisting:

“First Day”
“Numbers”
“Towerblock”
“Signs”
“Lights Out”
“Heartstrings”
“Closer To The Sun”
“The Raging Against The Dying Of The Light Blues”
“Nice Day For It...”
“Hypoventilate”
“Last Day”
“Lantern” (bonus track)
“British Wintertim”e (bonus track)

“Heartstrings” lyric video:

The band will also head out on tour in the UK in support of the new record, including an appearance at Ramblin Man Fair in July.

Confirmed dates:

June
17 - Voodoo Rooms - Edinburgh, UK
18 - Montgomery Hall - Wath-Upon-Dearne, UK
19 - The Robin 2 - Bilson, UK

July
23 - Ramblin' Man Fair - Maidstone, UK
29 - Thekla - Bristol, UK
30 - 02 Islington Academy - London, UK
31 - The Portland Arms - Cambridge, UK

Frost* is (above left - right):

Jem Godfrey - Vocals, Keys, Railboard, Guitar
Craig Blundell - Drums
John Mitchell - Guitars, Vocals
Nathan King - Bass

FOUR BY FATE, the band featuring John Regan, Tod Howarth, Rob Affuso and Patrick James Gasperini, will release its debut album, "Relentless", on June 3 via Amazing Record Co. in Europe and The End Records in America.

The songs "Moonshine", "I Give" and "Amber Waves" are available now for streaming and for instant download with the full-album pre-order.

The seeds for the group's formation were planted in 1986 when Regan and Howarth were on tour together; Regan playing bass with John Waite and Howarth singing and playing keyboards with CHEAP TRICK. The tour brought the pair together as friends and musicians and many months later Regan asked Howarth to join him in FREHLEY'S COMET, a band fronted by Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee, the legendary KISS guitarist/singer Ace Frehley.

In 2014, Regan and Howarth joined forces again on a new project — FOUR BY FATE. Enter Gasperini, a New York guitarist/singer and prolific songwriter. With a solid East Coast resume, he adds ripping guitar hero presence and big tunes. Shortly after, the band invited powerhouse percussionist Rob Affuso (SKID ROW) to complete the final foursome.

Adding further rock pedigree, other contributors to the FOUR BY FATE story include Stet Howland (drummer for W.A.S.P.), Sean Kelly (guitarist for HELIX and Nelly Furtado) and AJ Pero (drummer from TWISTED SISTER), who recorded six tracks on the album before he tragically passed away in early 2015 (this is thought to be his last recording).

Says the band, "We have traveled a long road that had more than its share of challenges...but we stayed the course, and that road has led us home. We are proud to announce our alliance with Andreas Katsambas and his brilliantly creative team at The End Records as our partners. Andreas is a visionary who shares our passion for music and independence, and to be a part of this family and its great roster of artists is very exciting. We are looking forward to bringing you our debut album, 'Relentless', this June."

German metal band, Rage, will release their new album, The Devil Strikes Again, on June 10th via Nuclear Blast Records. A lyric video for the album track “Spirits Of The Night” can be found below.

The Devil Strikes Again will be released in various formats: CD / Digibook (2CD)/ Deluxe Digibook (3CD) / 2LP. Pre-order the new album at this location.

Tracklisting:

CD/LP:
“The Devil Strikes Again”
“My Way”
“Back On Track”
“The Final Curtain”
“War”
“Ocean Full Of Tears”
“Deaf, Dumb And Blind”
“Spirits Of The Night”
“Times Of Darkness”
“The Dark Side Of The Sun”

Bonus (Digibook/ Deluxe / LP)
“Bring Me Down”
“Requiem”
“Into The Fire”
“Bravado” (Rush Cover)
“Slave To The Grind” (Skid Row Cover)
“Open Fire” (Y&T Cover)

CD Live 2016 (Deluxe only)
“Black In Mind” (live)
“Sent By The Devil” (live)
“End Of All Days” (live)
“Back In Time” (live)
“Down” (live)
“My Way” (live)
“Until I Die” (live)
“Don't Fear The Winter” (live)
“Higher Than The Sky” (live)

“Spirits Of The Night” lyric video:

“My Way” video:

Studio trailers:

Part 1:

Part 2:

The official lyric video for the song "The Bliss" from Danish/American rock 'n' rollers VOLBEAT can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's sixth full-length album, "Seal The Deal & Let's Boogie", which will be released on June 3 via Republic Records.

Fans who pre-order the album will receive an instant download of the first single, "The Devil's Bleeding Crown".

"The Devil's Bleeding Crown" pairs a galloping guitar riff with propulsive thrashed-out grooves. The band performed it only once in entirety last summer in Odense, Denmark and had fans waiting for more. The track quickly builds into an anthemic refrain meant to be chanted at festivals worldwide. It's classic VOLBEAT through and through.

Earlier this month the band teased album details to their dedicated fans by creating an online treasure hunt. Clues for the album title were left in streaming playlists, listed on their social media channels, and in the Rebels & Angels community forum. Once fans uncovered the words from the album title, they entered those words on the VOLBEAT web site to reveal the characters from the album cover art which also unlocked the album pre-order. They also unveiled a video teaser for the album.

Produced by longtime collaborator Jacob Hansen and co-produced by frontman Michael Poulsen and lead guitarist Rob Caggiano, "Seal The Deal & Let's Boogie" includes a total of 13 new tracks, reflecting their signature hybrid of rock prowess, metal power, blues soul, and rockabilly swing.

On the new album, Poulsen says: "After months writing and recording, we're thrilled to finally be able to unleash 'Seal The Deal & Let's Boogie' into the world. Play it loud!"

Like the band's last effort, 2013's "Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies", there's a loose concept to the new disc, as Caggiano explained. "There's definitely some stuff that kind of weaves in and out of the record," he told The Pulse Of Radio. "You know, the last album was leaning heavily towards like the Western stuff and, you know, outlaws and cowboys and that kind of thing, and this is a whole different thing. There's definitely some cool characters and some voodoo stuff on this record, which I always found fascinating."

In addition, VOLBEAT has announced that longtime friend Kaspar Boye Larsen is assisting as bass player for the band's U.S. shows. He actually stepped in before to help the band out on bass during their very first European tour in 2006. Recognizable to the fan family, he's supported VOLBEAT as an opening act in previous bands such as THE HITCHCOCKS and THE KANDIDATE.

"Seal The Deal & Let's Boogie" track listing:

01. The Devil's Bleeding Crown02. Marie Laveau03. The Bliss04. The Gates of Babylon05. Let It Burn06. Black Rose07. Rebound08. Mary Jane Kelly09. Goodbye Forever10. Seal The Deal11. Battleship Chains12. You Will Know13. The Loa's Crossroad

VOLBEAT last year signed a North American management agreement with Q Prime, the New York-based music management firm founded and run by Cliff Burnstein and Peter Mensch.

German Celtic metal act SuidAkrA’s newest album, Realms Of Odoric, will be released in the US on May 20th. A new lyric video for the track “The Hunter’s Horde” can be found below.

Lone Star Metal is offering a limited edition pre-order with an exclusively designed shirt you can only get with the pre-order at this location.

SuidAkrA recently checked in with the following announcement:

"Ultimate Odoric Package online now for only €25 (plus shipping). This package is strictly limited to only 50 copies worldwide and contains the following items:

- SuidAkrA - Realms Of Odoric digipack including bonus track
- Realms Of Odoric front artwork sticker
- Realms Of Odoric orchestral album (project featuring Arkadius and Kris Verwimp); DVD limited digipak and contains a 28 pages A5 landscape format booklet with extensive illustrations for each song.
- Odoric: The Wall Of Doom comic

Each copy signed by Kris Verwimp. These are the last copies of the original version Which was released in 1996, and is out of stock for years."

Go to this location to order.

Realms Of Odoric will be presented with extensive epic artwork by artist Kris Verwimp.

Tracklisting:

“Into The Realm”
“The Serpent Within”
“The Hunter's Horde”
“Creeping Blood”
“Undaunted”
“Lion Of Darcania”
“Pictish Pride”
“On Roads To Ruin”
“Dark Revelations”
“Braving The End”
“One Against The Tide”
“Cimbric Requiem”

Bonus track (Digipak version)
“Remembrance”

“The Hunter's Horde” lyric video:

“Pictish Pride” video teaser:

(Photo - SuidAkrA Facebook)

Brazilian singer and composer Edu Falaschi (Almah, ex-Angra) has set the release date for his upcoming acoustic solo album, Moonlight. The album will be released on May 20th worldwide via Pride & Joy Music (Europe), Test Your Metal Records (North America), King Records (Japan), and Substancial Music (Brazil).

BraveWords is premiering the brand new lyric video for the song “Arising Thunder” below:

Moonlight presents acoustic versions of the most significant songs from Falaschi’s career in Angra and Almah, all the material was rearranged for the voice accompanied by piano, guitar and orchestra in order to present an outstanding mixture of rock, jazz, classic and popular music.

Moonlight was recorded in São Paulo and Jundiaí (Brazil) at WINK Studio and mixed and mastered by Caio Cesar. Falaschi here performs together with several respected Brazilian musicians such as Tiago Mineiro (piano) who represents Brazilian jazz and popular music scene; maestro and violinist Adriano Machado (strings arrangements), creator and conductor of the Symphonic Orchestra Villa Lobos. Also, there are two special guests – João Frederico Sciotti known as “Derico” (flutes and saxophone) and Sandami (percussions).

The cover artwork was created by Brazilian designer Gustavo Sazes (Almah, Kamelot, Sepultura, Arch Enemy, Morbid Angel, Manowar, etc.).

Tracklisting:

“Nova Era”
“Bleeding Heart”
“Arising Thunder”
“Rebirth”
“Breathe”
“Angels And Demons”
“Spread Your Fire”
“Wishing Well”
“Heroes Of Sand”

“Nova Era” video:

Fan-filmed video footage of PRIMAL FEAR's April 28 performance at Stage 48 in New York City can be seen below.

PRIMAL FEAR's latest album, "Rulebreaker", was released on January 29 via Frontiers Music Srl. The effort was made available in CD, deluxe CD/DVD and — in collaboration with Soulfood Music in Germany — on vinyl and a special super-limited vinyl edition featuring an eagle sculpture on the vinyl.

Singer Ralf Scheepers said: "We have so much energy, fantastic melodies and a hell of a drum groove on each and every song. There is no doubt that the fans will love it as much as I do! And again we have achieved to combine bombastic and atmospheric orchestral sounds with soaring heavy metal riffs and licks, together with ear-splitting screams and also emotional sequences. We have kept the promise of being a heavy metal band with all the trademarks for which people love PRIMAL FEAR." After the massive "Delivering The Black" world tour, PRIMAL FEAR started the songwriting in spring 2015 and recorded at Hansen Studios in Denmark, with producer/bassist Mat Sinner and engineer Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, PRETTY MAIDS, AMARANTHE). Mat Sinner added: "We learned a lot during the 'Delivering The Black' sessions and the following world tour. We tried to put this know-how and all the positive energy into the songs and production of 'Rulebreaker'. Working the second time with Jacob Hansen and even recording in his studio, gave another dimension to our sound, plus the recording comeback of founding member Tom Naumann was the right move."

British melodic rockers, Vega, will release their new album, Who We Are, on May 13th. The album track “Explode” is now streaming below.

Vega is really one of the few bands who successfully manage to mix in their music the heritage of the great melodic rock bands of the 80’s and 90’s with a very contemporary approach to songwriting and production. Vega is indeed one of the few bands that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and give you that butterflies in your stomach excitement as you listen to the songs on an album for the first time. And with their fourth studio album, Who We Are, Vega manage again to create a magic formula with 11 concise and riveting songs that rock from start to finish and will leave you wanting more.

“We always try to push the envelope with each record that we do and this one is no different. We have put in all of our different musical influences into every song and what has come out of it is undoubtedly Vega but a Vega that is bigger than ever!” says singer Nick Workman.

Brothers Tom and James Martin say: “We're thrilled with how this record came out. We were in a fortunate position where we could fly Harry Hess over from Canada to produce the record. We spent the best part of 3 weeks with Harry at Monnow Valley Studios in Wales perfecting this record. There was laughter, blood, sweat and tears along the way and even a hospital visit, but what a great time we had! And to be recording where the likes of Queen, Led Zeppelin Official, Oasis and Black Sabbath have recorded was incredibly inspiring.”

“The ballad “Nothing Lasts Forever” is a stand out for me,” adds keyboard player James Martin. ”It's a huge piano ballad with Queen and The Beatles influences and Harry really went to town on the production of this song.”

Tom Martin says: "This is probably our most diverse record and that's what we tried for when choosing the songs. Each song has its own identity and we probably have the heaviest and softest songs we have ever recorded and everything in between. That gives you an idea of how strong the material is on this record."

Vega will embark on a tour upon the new album’s release with UK rock veterans Magnum. Who We Are truly sees the band taking their song writing and performance to the next level. Be sure to catch the guys on tour.

Who We Are tracklisting

“Explode”
“We Got It All”
“Every Little Monster”
“Nothing Is Forever”
“White Flag”
“For Our Sins”
“Generation Now”
“Ignite”
“Savin' Grace”
“If Not You”
“Hurts So Bad”

“Explode”:

“We Got It All”:

“Every Little Monster” lyric video:

Vega lineup:

Nick Workman - Vocals
Tom Martin - Guitars
Dan Chantrey - Drums
James Martin - Keyboards
Marcus Thurston – Guitars

Scott Ian spoke to News-Press.com about the fact that he is arguably the most well-known and most recognizable guy in ANTHRAX, thanks mainly to his goatee which, some people have joked, actually lays claim to its own zip code.

"I wish everybody that recognized me would buy the record. Then we'd be as big as Adele," laughed Ian.

"I get recognized everywhere in public… But nine times out of ten, it's people who recognize my face but they really have no clue. I wish there was a way to make this happen: 'Oh, you want a picture? Okay, well buy the record right now and we'll take a photo.' You know, what do I get out of it?"

According to Ian, he can easily deduce if the person approaching him is a fan of ANTHRAX or just someone looking for a photo opportunity.

"Trust me: I can tell the difference between a person who's really into the band and someone who's walking up to me because they probably saw me on VH1 for half a second and they think they're about to meet somebody famous," he said. "And I do my best not to destroy their hopes and dreams in those situations.

"If it's a fan, it's a completely different story. The experience will probably be much better for that person. And people may think, 'Well, how can you tell?' Trust me: You can tell.

"When someone's asking, 'I recognize you. Where would I know you from?' And I'm like, you know what, it's really not my responsibility to answer that question. It's not up to me to finish that sentence. It's up to you.

"I just feel like if you are going to approach somebody — which is something I never do — but if you are going to approach somebody, you should know who you're talking to. I don't think that's a lot to ask."

During a recent interview with Radio.com, Ian elaborated on what it's like constantly being recognized in public, especially at events where he is surrounded by other fans of rock music.

"Sometimes the last thing I wanna do is be around other people, and other times if I'm going to something, I just wanna go see it," he said. "And most of the time, if I'm going to see a band, and you're watching a band play, and people are coming up and trying to talk to you, and I'm like, 'You didn't buy a ticket to come talk to me, you came to see the band, just like me. I'm trying to listen to IRON MAIDEN right now. Can we talk later or something? Yeah, I'm trying to hear them play.'

"So yeah, most of the time I'm like anyone else. I see myself that way. I know that's not the reality, 'cause I understand people recognize me and they're a fan, and they wanna have that moment, and I totally understand that."

Ian, who is probably best known by most non-metal fans as a regular commentator on various VH1 shows, including the "I Love The 70s", "I Love The '80s" and "I Love The '90s" series, "100 Most Metal Moments" and "Awesomely Bad Number One Songs", admitted in a 2014 interview with Metal Insider that he may have everexposed himself a little bit by appearing on so many programs on the Viacom-owned cable television network. "Maybe at a point in time, yeah, I had done a lot of stuff," he said. "Especially on VH1, because it seemed like every other week I would get an email saying, 'We've got another stupid list show. Do you want to come talk about stupid shit?' To sit for an hour and talk about stupid trivia from the '80s or '90s or whatever it may have been — the best or worst songs of this time, or whatever stupid show it was — for an hour out of your day, and what they would pay me to show up and do that, it was kind of like a no-brainer for me. I sit around and talk about that stupid shit with my friends anyway, so if you want to pay me to talk trivia, hey, I'm not going say no. [Laughs] I think the ideas for those list shows eventually dried up; there's only so many you can do. I guess give it another year and they'll just start repeating them again, the same exact shows with a different title."

ANTHRAX's latest album, "For All Kings", came out on February 26 via Megaforce in North America and Nuclear Blast in Europe.

According to The Canberra Times, young Australian heavy metal fan Callum McPhie, who performed an Ozzy Osbourne song on the reality television talent show "Australia's Got Talent", got to meet the BLACK SABBATH singer before the band's concert in Sydney.

The 11-year-old, along with his dad Doug McPhie and mom Melissa Freeman also attended a soundcheck prior to the gig and sat in premium seats for the show at Sydney Olympic Park on April 23.

Ozzy's daughter Kelly, who is one of the judges on "Australia's Got Talent", arranged the VIP treatment after being impressed by Callum's performances on the program.

Ozzy gave Callum a hug and said he was well aware of the young guitarist's talent.

"He said he knew who I was and his daughter Kelly had told him all about me," Callum said.

"I felt absolutely, not shocked, just super-happy that Kelly had come through and let me meet Ozzy."

Several weeks ago, Kelly confirmed that she got her father to check out Callum's version of Ozzy's "Crazy Train". She said: "I showed my dad and he was in shock and he couldn't believe it."

McPhie's reaction was predictably enthusiastic. "I can't believe that, when I first learnt this song, one of the first songs I ever learnt, I never expected that Ozzy Osbourne might hear it. Wow."

The fast-tracked high school student recently told Fairfax Media he wanted to be an astrophysicist as well as a musician.

Ozzy Osbourne meets Canberra's heavy metal kid Callum McPhie https://t.co/p4DnQqf3HM

— Business Lunchbox (@bizlunchbox) April 29, 2016

Avantasia wrapped up their Ghostlights world tour in São Paulo, Brazil on April 24th. Frontman Tobias Sammet, guitarist Oliver hartmann and backing vocalist Amanda Somerville have all checked in with brief updates:

Sammet: " The indoor shows are done! Thirty-three shows in Europe, Asia, Canada, USA and Latin America, 20 sold out, around the globe! You rock! And in June the festival season will start for Avantasia. I'll never forget this tour: 8 weeks, 3 continents, countless shows sold out. We have the greatest fans and greatest crew in the world! AND, I have been allowed to be on stage with the loveliest and greatest musicians in the world."

Hartmann: "After I've been constantly on the road with Avantasia for more or less 10 weeks it's good to be back home again. Somehow. Besides office stuff and loads of laundry I also switched on the power in my home studio to start working again on the songs for the next Hartmann album and on the files for the drum recordings which will be done by Dennis Ward (Unisonic/Pink Cream 69) at HOFA Studios in a few weeks. Stay tuned for more news coming soon!"

Somerville: "Thanks to everyone for making this tour such an exhilarating trip - whether you were in the front, back, sides or online cheering us on, you made everything possible and are the reason we pour our hearts out to you on stage! I love you all so very much!"

Cradle Of Filth backing vocalist/keyboardist Lindsay Schoolcraft has used her downtime from touring the band's latest album, Hammer Of The Witches, for a trip to the studio. She has checked in with a cover of the Vast song "Flames", released under the Schoolcraft banner.

"I consider this the greatest love song ever. I finally mustered up the ovaries of steel to cover it."

Australian Music Network recently caught up with Schoolcraft. Following is an excerpt from the interview.

Lindsay: "There are things I can talk about because I’m allowed to talk about them. Of course, Cradle of Filth: we haven’t started yet, but we’ve discussed doing the next album together. So I’ve been given a grace period; I have until June, and then in June I’m going to start composing for Cradle of Filth again, which I’m looking forward to, because it’s going to be the same collaborative effort of the band as we had last time, but this time we’re actually going to meet for a week in Europe and sit down together and do it the way what we feel were the greatest Cradle albums were done—where all six of us are in a room, we’re focussed and we’re making these big songs happen. So that I’m looking forward to.

When it comes to Schoolcraft, before starting, I have to say I’m really, really passionate about organic instruments and about the string sections and having everything authentic. I feel that in today’s world, production is so polished and too clean, and all my favourite music was—not to say terribly produced—but it had some raw authentic qualities to it. And with Schoolcraft, I am redoing some of my old works, and I’m working on new works, and I want the real, live strings. And I’ve found a way to do it within a budget that works, because let’s be honest, this isn’t exactly something that is super affordable. But I believe you have to do your art right, or don’t do it at all.

I’m working on an EP right now with a local band here in Canada. They’re called Darkstone Crows. They’ve got more of a very raw kind of Alice in Chains-vibe, but the singer sounds like Stevie Nicks, and they’re fantastic at what they do. We found a way to make our two styles work together, so I’m doing one EP with them at the moment. We’re still trying to get it together, and we’re taking our time with it. Usually I’d be like, rush, rush, rush, get out a Schoolcraft song right now, but I want to do it right. I’m not going to make people wait years and years and years, but I am going to make sure that I’m happy with it before I put it out there. Because if you rush things, then you’ll look back that them later and think, I could’ve done this a little bit differently. I don’t want to live like that anymore, especially as an artist."

Click here for the complete interview. For information on Darkstone Crows go to this location.

Cradle Of Filth will be returning to Belarus and Russia in May with support from Xandria. Dates are posted below, tickets went on sale March 2nd.

Check out fan-filmed video of the band's complete Orlando show on February 2nd below.

Cradle Of Filth have released a music video for the track "Blackest Magick In Practice" (streaming below). The clip was directed by Sam Scott-Hunter and the song is taken from the groups latest tome of horror and romance, Hammer Of The Witches.

Comments the director: "There’s dark madness in this video. “Blackest Magick In Practice” is a deeply tragic tale of lost love. It’s the grief stricken insanity of trying to bring back that loved one from the dead; desperately trying to hold onto that person who’s gone, even if that leads down a dark and gruesome path. I don’t want to give it all away, but I will say that the hardest part of the production was getting hold of a human ear.

"I wanted to convey the power of the band too, in amongst the romance, madness and magick. Behind the imagery of the lyrics is a great and powerful metal band of amazing musicians, and I hope people can feel the intensity of the band when they watch this. It is intense viewing. There should be a bit of madness in the video, because there’s madness in this song."

Cradle Of Filth's latest album, Hammer Of The Witches, was brought to fruition in Britain's Witch County, in darkest rural Suffolk at the reputedly haunted Grindstone Studios. The album's title is named after the Malleus Maleficarum, a medieval document of guidelines regarding the persecution and torture of witches - but Cradle Of Filth’s title version is more retributory: It's the Hammer Of The Witches; the hammer is in the witches' hands and it's payback time.

Unquestionably one of the greatest and most influential British metal bands of all time, Cradle Of Filth have cast a commanding and macabre shadow across the metal scene for nearly a quarter of a century. Armed with their trademark, cross-pollinated assault that taps into myriad strands of sonic extremity and morbid opulence they have steadily conquered the entire world, unleashing a malevolent slew of classic albums along the way. From the raw and rambunctious savagery of their 1994 debut The Principle Of Evil Made Flesh to the wickedly monstrous, technicolor bombast of 2012's The Manticore & Other Horrors, the Cradle ethos and aesthetic has had a huge impact on the evolution of metal, the band's insatiable appetite for performing live and frontman Dani Filth's unerring charisma and sense of occasion ensuring that they have established a powerful and enduring connection with Hell-bound acolytes everywhere.

Photo by Melissa Matheson Photography

Modern progressive/experimental metal group Valleys have returned from their 18-day Experiment One: Asylum Tour. With the success of their new album and with the incredible feedback presented by this tour, Valleys have announced they are ready to start writing for the next record.

On February 5th, 2016, Valleys lost vocalist, MIkey Clement, to a horrific car accident. This unfortunate event set off a massive change in the band. Bassist, Brandon Clement, brother of Mikey, decided to leave the band as well. Now the band is set as a four piece. The tragic passing of Mikey and the sudden departure of Brandon left a big toll on the remaining members of Valleys. However, the band vows to push forward in tribute and memory of Mikey.

The writing process for the new record will take a while, but the band is planning to release an EP in late 2016 before continue progress on the follow up to Experiment One: Asylum, slated for a 2017 release.

(Photo - Will Page Photography)

Metal Blade Records has announced the worldwide signing of Poison Headache, a metallic-hardcore trio hailing from San Diego, CA. Set to release their self-titled debut on June 3rd, Poison Headache has now launched their first single, "Sin Eater", streaming below.

With Poison Headache, fans can expect a 10-song monster: a heaving, teeth-bared mass of anger, violent intent, aggression, and terrible certainty - mixed by Taylor Young (Nails, Twitching Tongues) and mastered by Brad Boatright (Black Breath, Inverloch, Sleep) of Audiosiege Mastering. One part Entombed Wolverine Blues, one part Motörhead “Ace Of Spades”, and one part Converge “Jane Doe”, Poison Headache is crossover for the new age.

Poison Headache comments: "Big thanks to Brian Slagel and the MB team for their support of our debut album. It is an honour to have our music released through such a driving force in the metal community."

Poison Headache tracklisting:

“Sin Eater”
“Pity The Backseat”
“Rot With Me”
“Conspirator”
“Gray Skies”
“Benumbed”
“Death's Design”
“Hail, Colossus”
“Never. Again.”
“Discloser”

“Sin Eater”:

Toronto based heavy metal trio Black Absinthe are surfacing from the basement to unleash new tunes from their debut album Early Signs Of Denial, produced by Dave Baksh (Cross Dog, The Mahones), plus mixed and mastered by Frank Gryner (Rob Zombie). Set for release on May 13th, the album is the band's first professional recording to follow their three self recorded EPs Live At Coalition (2014), Noise Complaint (2014) and Augusta (2012).

Black Absinthe's powerful heavy riffs and bass lines are reminiscent of classic thrash and new wave British heavy metal with a range of progressive to classic rock influence. The band has premiered their new single "Now" via the SoundCloud audio player below.

Bassist Kyle Scarlett comments on “Now”: “'Now' is one of our favorites to play of the new songs. We wanted to build a song around a solid open chug you hear in a lot of NWOBHM. The chorus veers off from the old school metal vibe and comes back full force with some screams. The solo section was a lot of fun to work on in the studio, did a lot of layers and got it sounding mean. All in all a solid rager that gives ya little sections to breathe! To add, the lyrics are about the philosophy of time, thinking of what you want, but at the cost of what you have to do to get it."

The title Early Signs Of Denial is a conceptual connection to the themes of fear, corruption, and overcoming disparity, which is explored in the album's songs. The record has emphasis of crushing modern tone, polished instrumental sections, soaring vocals and a blending of contemporary and classic metal. With each track, this unique record represents different aspects of Black Absinthe’s diversity in song writing. The band does not tread lightly over their new wave of British heavy metal song style or their technical and progressive metal influences. Artwork and tracklisting are as follows:

"The Wild"
"Is This Life"
"Berj Khalifa"
"Pigs"
"Now"
"Winter"

Black Absinthe is: Kyle Scarlett - bass, Jack Cerre - vocals / guitar, Austin Henderson - drums

Catch Black Absinthe live:

May
13 - Oshawa, ON - The Atria
14 - Toronto, ON - Coalition (CD release show)

 

 

 

Today, cult black metallers True Black Dawn premiere the new track "Come The Colorless Dawn" via the SoundCloud audio player below. The track hails from the band's long-awaited new album of the same name, Come The Colorless Dawn, set for international release on May 17th via W.T.C. Productions. Hear the first track to be revealed from Come The Colorless Dawn now.

It's been 15 long years since Finland's True Black Dawn released an album. Back then, the band were monikered simply Black Dawn before a no-name American band threatened legal action and forced a change to True Black Dawn. During the '90s, the band had made its name in the black metal underground with a handful of demos, most significantly 1993's War Against Christians. But come time for their debut album, 2001's Blood For Satan became an immediate classic in that underground with its cryogenic distillation of filth and fury, a horrific and histrionic beast of dead-cold dread. Very much "just" a black metal record but by no means hindered by this stark and simple fact, Blood For Satan helped kickstart Finland's dominance of the black metal scene during the new millennium.

Alas, the band were forced to changed their name to True Black Dawn and it would be four years before a new recording appeared, as part of a three-way split with Finnish compatriots Enochian Crescent and O. Here, as part of O.B.C., True Black Dawn delivered seven strange and defiant tracks that proved more than a moniker change was afoot. In a number of ways, these songs aimed for the unorthodoxy at the heart of true black metal, and were successful in defiling a "clean slate," as it were; tellingly, their contribution to the split was titled Boogeyman Unbound. Collectively, these songs displayed the band's daring nature that would manifest in each recording sounding distinct from the one that preceded it.

And then, as defiantly as they entered this seemingly new era, True Black Dawn just disappeared. Whispers of activity abounded, but nothing concrete appeared for a long time. A show in their hometown of Helsinki at the Black Flames of Blasphemy Festival, and then their first performance outside the country at 2014's Incubate festival in the Netherlands... something was stirring.

Indeed, the beast has finally awoken, and True Black Dawn have named it Come The Colorless Dawn. The title is significant both for the band's rebirth but also for their adherence to the iron-fisted tenets of pure, traditionalist, resolutely Satanic black metal. Sonically, the band - led by founding vocalist Wrath and guitarist Syphon - offer up a chalice that tastes like the Blood of Satan, but more so tastes of a different and equally potent vintage, once again upending the rulebook by defying what came before. Bookended by the traditional intro and outro, the nine black metal tracks comprising Come The Colorless Dawn explode into being with that same ancient fire, but then twist toward thornier, moodier corridors they perhaps wouldn't have been able to locate in their earlier years. Likewise, the new album strips back the berzerker rawness of the debut for a well-rounded soundfield where each instrument is heard clearly and filthily, allowing space and spaciousness to seep through these spiraling screeds of horror and infect on a level that's less immediate but longer-lasting. Then again, three new members comprise this new guise of True Black Dawn - drummer VnoM, bassist Cult, and guitarist TG - and their understanding of what made Blood For Satan so special is immediately apparent. And much as as Come The Colorless Dawn truly sounds like the successor to that debut album, it more so thrusts a defiant fist of newness forward.

For those that say "true black metal is dead," W.T.C. Productions proudly presents evidence to the contrary on May 17th. That it hails from a band who were around during the original early '90s wave but who were then reinvigorated by new blood just proves that the art of black metal is more than just "music," and rather an eternal flame of empowered (and empowering) darkness, boundless and unbound. Come The Colorless Dawn, there shall be True Black Dawn. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting:

“Intro”
“Come The Colorless Dawn”
“The Light Goes Out”
“Cinereous”
“The Ring-Pass-Not”
“Downwards The Serpent Spiral”
“Strange The Shaded Sky”
“The Sectile Shadow”
“Eyes Of The Cadaver”
“Into The Tomb Of Her Mirror”
“Outro”

 

Back with a vengeance, Minneapolis-based technical death metal surveyors Reaping Asmodeia will take a short break from tracking their forthcoming release to hop onboard the first leg of 2016's Metal Alliance Tour featuring Dying Fetus, The Acacia Strain, Jungle Rot and Black Crown Initiate. The band's dates on the tour will begin tomorrow (April 29th) in Baltimore, MD and drop them off a week later in their hometown of Minneapolis, MN.

Reaping Asmodeia's forthcoming effort will be titled Impuritize and is expected to be released later this summer via Prosthetic Records. Vocalist Steven Lane announced a surprise for pining fans, "Since we are starting the Metal Alliance Tour this Friday, we wanted to give you guys something off our new album early 'The Clemency Guise', in its most basic form."

Marking the first new material from the band's current recording session, a rough, unedited version of 'The Clemency Guise' can be heard streaming below as well as purchased for digital download via Bandcamp.

The Clemency Guise (rough mix) by Reaping Asmodeia

Lane gave insight into the track's significance, stating "'The Clemency Guise' is about a transformation by tragedy that brings a realization that our quest for happiness is misguided by comfort and security. With a new understanding, we can bring others to enlightenment through torture using torment as a gateway." 

Catch Reaping Asmodeia live as part of the Metal Alliance Tour:

April
29 - Baltimore, MD - Soundstage
30 - Lowell, MA - Mill City Ballroom

May
1 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theater
2 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Ballroom
3 - Chicago, IL - Reggie’s
4 - Minneapolis, MN - Cabooze

 

 

NIGHTWISH keyboardist and main songwriter Tuomas Holopainen has confirmed to Roppongi Rocks in a brand new interview that the band will take what is planned to be a year-long break during all of 2017. "That's the plan, yes," he said. "The last show for this tour is going to happen in October. Then all of 2017 off and back with a vengeance in 2018."

Regarding what he might be doing during NIGHTWISH's time off, Holopainen said: "I don't think I will be doing music. That's the idea of the break. I haven't really given it that much thought. I just enjoy the idea of getting to be at home, doing the gardening, taking care of the horse, just be steady for a while."

Singer Floor Jansen, who made her live debut with NIGHTWISH in 2012 but didn't officially join the band until the following year, was less forthcoming about her plans. She said: "I'm thinking about some ideas but I've nothing official really to share yet." When asked if her REVAMP band is perhaps part of what she is currently considering, she responded: "That's part of the thinking."

Holopainen was also reluctant to share any of NIGHTWISH's plans for when the band returns to live action in 2018. "It's a bit too far away to reveal anything but we know pretty much what the plans are until 2020 or so," he said.

Jansen recently shot down speculation that NIGHTWISH's upcoming break has something to do with tension between members of the group. She told AXS: "Even though we will have this year off, it doesn't have anything to do with how things are in the band. I've seen some people starting to gossip online of why we [would] take a year off. We'll take a year off because we can and because we want to. That's all there is to it. It has nothing to do with how things are in the band. And it also doesn't mean that we haven't been thinking about what's coming next; we have a lot of cool stuff coming up. So we hope that, after this break, people will still be equally excited to come out and see whatever we've got cooking up in our kitchen for them."

NIGHTWISH's 26-date headlining tour of North America launched on February 19 in Sayreville, New Jersey and closed out in Tampa, Florida on March 23. Support on the tour came from Dutch symphonic metallers DELAIN and Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA.

The Scottish town of Kirriemuir will this weekend pay homage to one of gods of rock 'n' roll, as it unveils a life-sized statue of Bon Scott, the influential frontman of world-conquering band AC/DC. Keen to recognize the Scottish roots of the talismanic lead singer — voted No. 1 on a list of the "100 Greatest Frontmen Of All Time" by Classic Rock magazine — the bronze statue will be revealed during the tenth annual Bon Scott international festival, Bonfest, by event organizers DD8 Music. It follows a two-year crowdfunding campaign, which drew support from AC/DC members themselves, as well as thousands of the band's loyal fans worldwide. The Angus town was home to a young Ronald Bedford Scott until the age of six, when his family left Scotland for Fremantle, Western Australia. Scott was invited to join the band by Glasgow-born brothers and founding members Malcolm and Angus Young in 1974, and achieved international stardom before his death at the age of 33 in 1980. To mark the occasion, several of Scott's contemporaries are scheduled to attend Bonfest, along with almost 4,000 avid AC/DC fans from across the globe. During the festival, tribute acts from all over Europe will bring Kirriemuir to life with the sounds of one of its most celebrated sons. DD8 Music development worker Graham Galloway said: "In 2008, Bon's Australian home town, Fremantle, unveiled a statue of him. At that point we started thinking it might be good to have one here where he started his life. "The unveiling will take place on Saturday, 30th of April, and will be carried out by some very special guests: Mark Evans, bass player on four of the Bon-era albums; Tony Currenti, drummer on AC/DC's first album; and Mary Renshaw, Bon's seamstress and 'soulmate.' "We are looking at a total attendance of 3,700 and are expecting fans from all over the world to travel. We have confirmed travellers from the USA, Canada, Spain, Italy, Norway, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand. All in all, it is shaping up to be an amazing weekend." The event will be supported by EventScotland's National Funding Programme in its tenth-anniversary year, which has allowed for the erection of a big top festival site and a street party to take place. Bonfest is also supported by Angus Council. Stuart Turner, head of EventScotland, said: "We are delighted to support the life and work of one of Scotland's most influential and best-loved musicians with our funding of the tenth edition of Bonfest. "I'm sure that the newly-unveiled statue will serve as further incentive for AC/DC aficionados to make the journey to Kirriemuir in the future to see where Bon spent his formative years, but also to experience all that wider Angus and Scotland have to offer." To find out more about Bonfest, visit www.bonfest.com.

Individual members of AC/DC past and present have offered their support previously, with former bassist Mark Evans saying in 2012, "It's so amazing that Bon is getting honored like this, especially since Scotland is such an important place in the history of AC/DC. Bon already had a street named after him in Kirriemuir and now this!"

The statue will be the second of Scott, who was born in Kirriemuir in 1946 but moved with his family to Australia in 1952. An Australian statue honoring Scott has already been on display since February 2008.

The singer died in 1980 at the age of 33 from alcohol poisoning. He sang on AC/DC's first six studio albums, including "High Voltage", "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap", "Let There Be Rock" and "Highway To Hell".

AC/DC guitarist Angus Young told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that the band almost didn't get past Scott's death. "Bon was the big… He was a full-on frontman, plus he had this great character, you know. I mean, he just lived that rock 'n' roll life. With Bon, what you saw was what you got, and, yeah, it was pretty, pretty tough."

In a brand new interview with Free-Times.com, QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Michael Wilton spoke the ill-fated band meeting in Brazil in April 2012 that ended in verbal and physical abuse between the group's then-vocalist Geoff Tate and the rest of QUEENSRŸCHE.

"People see you onstage having a fun time, but behind the scenes, everything has to be cohesive," Wilton said. "You have to be a brotherhood as well as shrewd businessmen and entertainers."

QUEENSRŸCHE hired Todd La Torre to replace Tate in 2012 and has released two albums with the ex-CRIMSON GLORY frontman: 2013's "Queensrÿche" and 2015's "Condition Hüman".

"It was a hundred percent totally and completely a rebirth of QUEENSRŸCHE," Wilton said of La Torre's addition to the lineup. "Todd's energy and his songwriting ability are a shot in the arm. He's a shot of adrenaline for the band. It's something that was needed in a stale situation. It's been four years since the change, and everything we wanted to do, all the goals that we set, we've completed them and we're moving straight ahead."

Wilton also talked about the fact that both Tate and the other members of the classic lineup of QUEENSRŸCHE were allowed to tour and make albums under the band name for about a two-year period after they split into two separate camps. The legal dispute was eventually settled, with Tate's band now performing under the name OPERATION: MINDCRIME.

"At that point, there was confusion in the trenches," Wilton told Free-Times.com. "For the layperson who doesn't really follow us that much, they see the symbol, our Tri-ryche, and they see the name QUEENSRŸCHE, and to them, that's enough. That kind of obliterated the confusion, though you still have bits and pieces of confusion. We're constantly dealing with that, but it's like debris after a war."

Wilton recently told Kitsap Sun that QUEENSRŸCHE's songwriting approach is more collaborative after parting ways with Tate and adding La Torre.

"It's [now] a democracy in the writing," Wilton said. "Everybody has the ability to write songs now and they all get worked on. They're not cherry picked. They all get worked on, to the point where everybody says, 'Okay, this one's good. This one, I don't know.' It's just a whole different scenario now."

Wilton also said that the renewed creative passion within the band is translating into QUEENSRŸCHE's live shows.

"It's just a whole different scenario now. Now, when we're playing live, the fans know we're giving it," he said. "We're out there performing, and it's a shame we have to prove ourselves every night. But you know what, if we prove ourselves one show at a time, so be it. We'll just keep doing it. And we've been doing that for the last two years and winning fans over."

"Condition Hüman" debuted at No. 27 on The Billboard 200 chart, having shifted 14,000 equivalent album units in the week ending October 8, 2015.