Professionally filmed video footage of DISTURBED performing its cover of SIMON & GARFUNKEL's "The Sound Of Silence" live on February 19 at Encana Events Centre in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada can be seen below.

DISTURBED frontman David Draiman told Philadelphia radio station 93.3 WMMR that the band has been "blown away" by the response to its version of "The Sound Of Silence". Draiman explained: "We're pretty blown away — and surprised, to be honest — by the amount of positivity that has surrounded the cover. Because it was definitely a left turn, and it was something that, to be perfectly honest, I wouldn't have intended to go to, stylistically, on my own."

Draiman said that performing the song live should be an interesting experience. "From a vocal standpoint, it's not as challenging as you might imagine, but from a production standpoint, that will be challenging," he said. "We've talked about bringing out either a string quartet or maybe trying to get local orchestras to maybe be a part of it or whatever the case may be. We've talked all kinds of things and it's a very significant production nightmare, but I think it's definitely one we're heading down the road for."

Draiman said that it took him three hours to record the vocals for the song — the longest vocal session of his career — and recalled hearing it three days later. He explained, "[I] was kind of tearing up listening to it, because it had been so long since I have allowed myself to go to that place vocally, and hearing it, and hearing it come out as well as I thought it did was not just gratifying, but like having a weight lifted off me."

"The Sound Of Silence" is taken from DISTURBED's sixth studio album, "Immortalized", which was released in August.

The album debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart, making it DISTURBED's fifth effort in a row to enter the chart at Number One, a feat shared only with METALLICA and DAVE MATTHEWS BAND.

DISTURBED kicked off a North American tour — its first in more than four years — on February 10 in Fargo.

RICHARDS/CRANE, a brand new project birthed from UGLY KID JOE frontman Whitfield Crane and guitarist/vocalist Lee Richards (ANOTHER ANIMAL, GODSMACK, DROPBOX), will release its debut album this May via Metalville Records. The self-titled effort will feature a collection of heartfelt, stripped down songs including the new single "Black & White", featuring Myles Kennedy (ALTER BRIDGE, SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS) originally released last year. The CD was produced by Dave Fortman (SLIPKNOT, GODSMACK, EVANESCENCE), who also added additional electric guitar, with additional guest appearances by drummer Shannon Larkin (GODSMACK, UGLY KID JOE) and bassist Jim Preziosa (DROPBOX).

In addition to the stunning performance by Myles Kennedy, who duets with Crane on the first single, guest vocals on the album include classical Indian artist Vishal Vaid, who has performed with the likes of Anoushka Shankar, Bill Laswell, Michael Franti and Karsh Kale.

Richards recalls: "This project came together on the heels of the ANOTHER ANIMAL project, which is where Whitfield and I first connected. We had written a bunch of acoustic tracks while on tour as the rest of the guys went back to the GODSMACK camp, Whitfield and I thought it would be a great time to record an acoustic-based album."

The video for "Black & White", directed by Dan Sturgess (BUTCHER BABIES, SKINDRED, COAL CHAMBER), was filmed on the streets of London and backstage at the Download festival in June 2014. The video features star-studded cameos from the likes of STEEL PANTHER, Benji Webbe (SKINDRED), Philip Anselmo (DOWN, PANTERA), Dee Snider (TWISTED SISTER), Chris Jericho (FOZZY), Dave "Snake" Sabo (SKID ROW) and Myles Kennedy, to name but a few.

Richards adds: "If I had to describe the sound of this record, I would almost describe it as '70s sounding with a lot of vocal harmonies as well as a lot of counter melody. Working with Whitfield is truly a pleasure as he has one of the broadest vocal ranges in the business and I've always loved the way our voices work together. He is truly one of the best frontmen in the business."

According to Billboard.com, AC/DC's three Midwestern U.S. arena shows in Fargo, North Dakota; St. Paul, Minnesota; and Chicago, Illinois were seen by 47,939 fans, generating $5.7 million in box office revenue and placing the trek at No. 1 on the weekly "Hot Tours" list of top-grossing tours.

The February 11 concert in Fargo was the best-attended show of the three, with 19,308 tickets sold, while the February 17 performance at Chicago's United Center was seen by only 13,773 fans. It should be noted, however, that the veteran rockers also played Chicago last fall when a sellout crowd of 29,732 packed the city's Wrigley Field.

AC/DC last month filed a lawsuit to get a judge's order that it can use to direct federal marshals, and authorize local and state police and agents hired by the company to seize bootleg T-shirts and similar items during the band's current U.S. tour.

AC/DC's latest leg of U.S. dates kicked off on February 2 in Tacoma, Washington and will conclude April 4 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

AC/DC's 2015 tour sold 2.31 million tickets for a total of $180 million in gross sales.

Guitarist Angus Young told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that AC/DC has never changed its approach to its live shows even as it's played bigger and bigger venues. "Somebody once had said, 'You know, people know what they like and like what they know,'" he said. "In the beginning, we were a, you know, just a rock 'n' roll band, and, you know, when you would play in bars and clubs and stuff, you know, this is what the audience was coming to hear you for."

AC/DC's sixteenth studio album, "Rock Or Bust", has sold more than 560,000 copies since debuting at No. 3 on the Billboard album chart back in December 2014.

It's the band's first album without founding guitarist Malcolm Young, who is suffering from dementia. He has been replaced by nephew Stevie Young.

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd was arrested in November 2014 at his home in Tauranga on charges of threatening to kill and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis.

Although Rudd played on "Rock Or Bust", he did not appear in photos or videos for the disc.

One-time AC/DC drummer Chris Slade officially joined the band's lineup for its performance at the Grammy Awards telecast. Slade is also behind the kit for the group's current world tour.

After reaching a new level of recognition with their last album "Ride On" and a position on the 2014 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, gritty southern metal four-piece TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION is back with its fourth full-length album, "Dark Side Of Black", due on April 22 via Carved Records.

Embracing southern roots while exploring a heavier sound than ever before, "Dark Side Of Black" achieves a murky, groovier feel while not straying too far from TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION's tried-and-true brand of rugged outlaw rock. The CD was recorded at Boot Hill Studio in Corinth, Texas and Valve Studios in Dallas, Texas with producer Sterling Winfield (PANTERA, HELLYEAH, DAMAGEPLAN). "'Dark Side Of Black' is our heaviest album to date for sure," states TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION vocalist Big Dad Ritch. "We've learned a lot having made four full-length albums prior. We're trying to use that knowledge we learned to make an album that can maintain what 'Ride On' and 'Peacemaker' bring to the table, yet we wanted it to lend itself more to the power that is the red dirt metal of 'Rollin'' and 'Pride Of Texas'. So it feels like 'Pride' meets 'Peacemaker'. Top-shelf TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION meets bottom-shelf liquor..." Although the members of TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION are experts at their trade, recording "Dark Side Of Black" wasn't easy at times. TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION drummer Timmy Braun went through a physical struggle while recording the album, having just recovered from a serious infection shortly beforehand. He feels, perhaps, that this struggle influenced his recording style overall. "About 'Dark Side Of Black', I have never had such a difficult time completing an album in my life," begins Braun. "I say that because my first session I had just got out of the hospital. It was difficult for me to walk let alone play a drum kit. After being in bed for literally two weeks, I felt a bit out of shape. Then for the second session, my hand was swollen to almost twice its size because of an injury! I couldn't make a fist, let alone play a drum kit. However, I'm hoping the vibe I was able to create will have a special flavor that I wouldn't have been able to offer had my life been in order, per se. In other words, tough times make for better art!" Guitarist Cord Pool adds: "Between tweaking our writing style and being influenced by personal things, 'Dark Side Of Black' leads the listener a step closer to the darker and heavier side of what we have to offer." "Dark Side Of Black" track listing:

01. Angel Fall02. Come Get It03. Dark Side04. Gods Are Angry05. Hit It06. Into The Wall07. Knee Deep08. Rise09. Shakin'10. Villain

San Diego-based deathgrind masters CATTLE DECAPITATION have announced the extension of their record contract with Metal Blade Records. The band comments: "Very proud to have fulfilled our initial contract with Metal Blade Records and seeing this band rocketing into the future! We're happy to announce that we've re-signed with Metal Blade Records for a few more albums and that we'll be continuing this awesome relationship we've built up with the most important heavy metal record label on planet Earth over the last 14 years! LOTS of worldwide touring coming up. See you all soon as we continue our campaign ushering in 'The Anthropocene Extinction'!"

CATTLE DECAPITATION will join SUFFOCATION on a European run, which will kick off next week. ABIOTIC completes the lineup that will destroy Europe under the banner of "The Tyrants Of Death". There will be a golden vinyl tour edition of "The Anthropocene Extinction" available, limited to 300 copies. Get your copy while you can.

This will be the first European tour of CATTLE DECAPITATION in support of "The Anthropocene Extinction", which came out last August via Metal Blade. The CD was once again helmed by Dave Otero (ALLEGAEON, CEPHALIC CARNAGE), who worked on 2012's "Monolith Of Inhumanity".

CATTLE DECAPITATION also enlisted a surprising array of guests to help achieve their vision. The one and only legendary Philip H. Anselmo lends his throat to "The Prophets Of Loss" while recent signee to his Housecore Records label, fellow San Diegan and friend of the band, AUTHOR & PUNISHER, brings forth the industrial damnation as an intro to the track "Plagueborne". Additionally, Germany's dark metal misanthrope, Mr. Jurgen Bartsch of the almighty BETHLEHEM, lends a spoken-word piece in his native tongue to the apocalyptic final track "Pacific Grim".

The record also sees the band extending their collaboration with illustrator Wes Benscoter, who's handled the artwork for every CATTLE DECAPITATION release since 2002's "To Serve Man".

Alzenau, Germany-based power metal act, Thornbridge, released their debut, What Will Prevail, produced by Orden Ogan vocalist Seeb Levermann, on February 19th via Massacre Records. A new video for the album track, “The Dragon’s Reborn”, can be seen below. The album's artwork was created by Juanjo Castellano Rosado, who was worked with other acts like Vomitory and Portrait.

Tracklisting:

“Intro”
“Blow Up The Gates Of Hell”
“The Dragon’s Reborn”
“What Will Prevail”
“Coachman’s Curse”
“Symphony Of The Battlefield”
“Eternal Life”
“Neverwinter Nights”
“Under The Ice”
“Tower Of Lies”
“Galley Of Horror”

“The Dragon’s Reborn” video:

The band’s aim is to bring back old-school power metal with epic songs full of hymn-like choirs, and polyphonic guitar melodies. The band have been around since 2008 and is back with its latest lineup, together since 2012.

What Will Prevail was recorded and mixed by Sebastian "Seeb" Levermann and mastered by Dennis Koehne. Philip Dennis "Sly" Schunke of Van Canto contributed guest vocals on the song "Eternal Life".



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UK classic rockers, Colour Of Noise, will release their new single, “Can You Hear Me”, on Friday, February 26th. The song is taken from proudly ballad-free self-titled debut album, available via Colour Of Noise/Townsendmusic. A new video for “Can You Hear Me” can be viewed below.

““Can You Hear Me” tells a story of a person who is lost and crying out for help. Depression takes many forms, and affects one in three of us. In fact, musicians are particularly prone to this,” says Bruce John Dickinson. “The song describes that feeling of not quite ‘getting through’, or not really being heard; not understanding fully why the world has turned so grey, or how pain has become an attendant part of every second in the day. Crying out for help and needing to be free from the weight of anxiety and depression. The video shows the band trying to reach the psychotherapist via different methods of communication and the frustration of this process. The psychotherapist only gives the vaguest indication of offering a solution, but we are left finally with an empty chair, and therefore no hope of redemption… leading to the conclusion that we must ultimately help ourselves.”

The album was produced by Gez Walton and Andy Nixon. All tracks recorded by Gez Walton at Stronghold Studios. Studio Assistant: Paul Lennox. Except “Head On” and “Great Day For Rock & Roll”, recorded by Nick Brineat at Rockfield Studios. Mixed by Mike Fraser (Aerosmith, AC/DC, Bad Company, Blue Murder, The Cult, etc.).

Tracklisting:

“Can You Hear Me?”
“Can’t Take It With You”
“Medicine Man”
“Head On”
“Drive It Like You Stole It”
“You Only Call Me”
“Heavy”
“Temptation”
“Rock Bottom”
“A Great Day For Rock And Roll”

“Can't Take It With You” video:

“Head On” video:



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German black metallers, Secrets Of The Moon, have released a music video (see below) for the track “Man Behind The Sun”, lifted from the band’s new album, Sun, released in December 2015 via Prophecy Productions.

Secrets Of The Moon named their sixth album after the sun, since it stems from the immediate experience of becoming and perishing, of ending and starting anew - not only in the musicians' private sphere but also within the band itself. In the wake of existential experiences, the new lineup created the band's boldest and most intense album to date. On Sun, black metal is less of a dogma but intuitively transferred into a context of universally dark music, expressing the artists' spiritual catharsis and growth without restrictions.

Tracklisting:

“No More Colours”
“Dirty Black”
“Man Behind The Sun”
“Hole”
“Here Lies The Sun”
“I Took The Sky Away”
“Mark Of Cain”

Bonus tracks (only included in art book and Complete Box):

“Man Behind The Sun” (alternative version featuring A∂albjörn Tryggvason and Rayshele Teige)
“Dirty Black” (SP Remix by Sanford Parker)
“Hole” (Statiqbloom Rmx by Fade Kainer)
“I Took The Sky Away” (swinging Into The Drt Rmx by Sun Of The Sleepless)
“Man Behind The Sun” (Remix by Vicotnik)
“Until The Sun”

“Man Behind The Sun” video:

“No More Colours”:

"Hole" lyric video:



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"Far Reach" (streaming below) is the first extract from Droid’s Disconnected EP, which will be released on CD featuring a completely restored sound, in March via Nightbreaker Productions.

The EP was released by Hard&Heavy Records exclusively on vinyl at the end of 2015. For the CD version, Alex Panza and Marco Panzanaro took care of a totally new mix and master at their Nebula Studio (Nightbreaker Production's Studios).

Tracklisting:

“Matricide”
“Breach Oblivion”
“Cosmic Debt”
“Chemical Fusion”
“Astral Revisions”
“Far Reach”

“Far Reach”:

Pre-order Disconnected for a special price at this location.



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Desaster's eighth studio album, The Oath Of An Iron Ritual, will be released on April 8th via Metal Blade. Pre-orders at this location.

Fans can expect a barrage of uncompromising metal that's been perfected by the German quartet over the last 27 years. Recorded together with Patrick W. Engel in their own rehearsal space, The Oath Of An Iron Ritual features 10 tracks with cutting riffs, pummelling drums, growling bass, and hellish screams.

Tracklisting:

“Intro (The Oath)”
“Proclamation In Shadows”
“End Of Tyranny”
“The Cleric's Arcanum”
“Haunting Siren”
“Damnatio Ad Bestias”
“Conquer & Contaminate”
“The Denial”
“The Oath Of An Iron Ritual”
“At The Eclipse Of Blades”

“Damnatio Ad Bestias”:

The history of Desaster goes back as far as 1988 when two young metal maniacs from Koblenz, Germany decided to follow the path once paved by bands such as Hellhammer and Destruction. The band played their first and now legendary live concert in 1989 - which also marked the official birth of Desaster. After making several line-up changes between 1990 and 1992, original member/guitarist Infernal soldiered on with vocalist Okkulto and bassist Odin.

Upon hearing the group's first two demos, The Fog Of Avalon (1993) and Lost In The Ages (1994), Merciless Records released a Desaster / Ungod split 7" in 1995, before Desaster's debut album, A Touch Of Medieval Darkness, was unleashed in 1996. Garnering respect in underground circles worldwide, the band then released their Stormbringer EP (1997) and welcomed new drummer, Tormentor, to complete their lineup.

Hellfire's Dominion - Desaster's second full-length - was released in 1998, containing the speed metal, fan favorite track, "Metalized Blood", which featured guest vocals from Pentacle's Wannes Gubbels, Violent Force's Lemmy, and Living Death's Toto. The follow-up to this highly successful album, Tyrants Of The Netherworld, arrived in 2000, and soon after, the band introduced new vocalist Sataniac, from German black-thrashers Divine Genocide.

After their fourth album, Divine Blasphemies (2002), Desaster joined Metal Blade Records, which released 2005's Angelwhore and 2007's Satan's Soldiers Syndicate - the latter offering an array of riff-heavy neck-breakers that proved that the band was more aggressive and murderous than ever. Even having reached their 20-year anniversary mark in 2009, Desaster showed no signs of slowing down and went on to release 2012's The Arts of Destruction to rave reviews.



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Digital Tour Bus has released this new episode of Bus Invaders. This time they take you inside the touring vehicle of the hard rock band, Escape The Fate, while on the Hate Me Tour.

Escape The Fate will be special guests of Hellyeah on the We're All In This Together Tour 2016, also featuring special guests New Years Day and From Ashes To New. The 18-date tour across the US will kick off on May 2nd in Baltimore, MD and ends June 5th in Las Vegas, NV.

Tour dates:

April
30 - Jacksonville, FL - Welcome To Rockville *

May
2 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage
3 - Clifton Park , NY - Upstate Concert Hall
4 - Lancaster, PA - Chameleon Club
6 - Concord, NC - Carolina Rebellion *
7 - Indianapolis, IN - The Vogue
9 - Nashville, TN - Cannery Ballroom
10 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Intersection
11 - Traverse City, MI - Ground Zero Nightclub
13 - Council Bluffs, IA - KIWR Rock Fest *
14 - Kansas City, MO - KQRC Rockfest *
15 - Somerset, WI - Northern Invasion *
17 - Flint , MI - The Machine Shop
20 - Fort Wayne, IN - Piere’s
21 - Columbus, OH - Rock on The Range *
22 - Knoxville, TN - The Concourse at the International
24 - Louisville, KY - Mercury Ballroom
25 - Arlington Heights, IL - H.O.M.E.
27 - Columbia, MO - The Blue Note
28 - Pryor, OK - Rocklahoma *
29 - San Antonio, TX - River City Rockfest *
31 - Denver, CO - The Summit Music Hall **

June
1 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex- Rockwell ***
3 - San Diego, CA - Riverside Municipal Auditorium ***
5 - Las Vegas, NV - The Foundry at SLS ***

* - Hellyeah solo/festival dates
** - New Years Day will not appear
*** - New Years Day and From Ashes To New will not appear



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Brazilian thrashers, Woslom, have revealed details for their upcoming third album, A Near Life Experience. The album will be released worldwide via Punishment 18 Records sometime in May, and in Brazil via Shinigami Records in April. Exact dates to be announced soon.

The cover art was created by Guatemalan artist Mario Lopez, who drew the attention of the band with his very organic style based more on hand drawings and less digital art.

“We knew the work of Mario Lopez in our last European tour, some bands who played with us like Bloodrocuted and Game Over made their cover arts with him. But it was the cover of Repulsor that caught our attention. We had to work with him on this new album”, says bassist André Mellado.

“It was a very smooth process, me and André gave the concept of what we wanted regarding the meaning of A Near Life Experience and Mario has brought a killer sketch, so was just put the details and work the colors”, added the frontman of the band, Silvano Aguilera.

A Near Life Experience tracklisting:

“Underworld Of Aggression”
“A Near Life Experience”
“Brokenbones”
“Lapses Of Sin”
“Redemption”
“Unleash Your Violence”
“Lords Of War”
“Total Speed Thrash”
“Thrasher’s Return” (Bywar cover)

A Near Life Experience was recorded a Acustica Studios, supervised and mixed by Danilo Pozzani. The mastering was provided by the renowned Brazilian company Absolute Master.

(Photo - Edu Lawless)



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Philadelphia’s Nothing have given their sophomore LP, Tired Of Tomorrow, a May 13th release date via Relapse Records and today have shared the first new music from the album, “Vertigo Flowers” (streaming below). The band has also revealed an in-studio trailer for an upcoming six-part documentary (to be released over the coming weeks) that takes a visceral look at the raw moments spent recording Tired Of Tomorrow, directed by Don Argott.

Tired Of Tomorrow will be available on CD / LP / Deluxe 2xLP (with two bonus tracks) / Cassette / Digital. Physical pre-orders and bundles are available via Relapse.com here, and digital downloads can be pre-ordered via Bandcamp at this location.

People often wonder why Nothing are so damn loud. In the case of many artists, the volume stems from a preoccupation with negativity, misanthropy and the human condition. But while Nothing's attitude lines up with these ideas, their personality isn't one that the band picked from a list of clichés. It's one moulded by their own experiences, from family troubles and personal tragedy to a string of bad luck that Murphy's Law would balk at. And that volume, rather than a selling point, is the only way the band has been able to translate the difficulty of real-life events into musical form.

Tired Of Tomorrow is a record born out of a chain of events that forced frontman Domenic Palermo to drastically re-think and re-shape his perspective about both life and music. Borrowing from personal memoir and external works alike, Nothing have worked the deepest influences of their youth and maturation into a package that's ultimately at its most relevant in the present day.

Tired Of Tomorrow was originally set for release via Collect Records, until the band discovered that the label had been funded by the now-infamous hedge fund manager Martin Shkreli, whose roster subsequently dissolved under the weight of the unsettling controversy surrounding him. Though the album was written before the Shkreli debacle, Palermo sees those events to only have strengthened the sentiments and ideas behind Tired Of Tomorrow, rather than confuse its message. It's a mess to think about, but as always, the contradictions and paradoxes of the kind Nothing harnesses ultimately lead to the greatest revelations, and the band's personal and tragic path has nonetheless led Nothing to produce deeply heartfelt and inspiring music. Whichever way you want to look at it, you can't deny that Nothing feels good.

The band’s 2014 debut LP Guilty Of Everything, a record inspired largely by the events surrounding Palermo’s incarceration in 2002 following an aggravated assault charge (to which he pleaded self-defense), garnered widespread critical acclaim. After having toured relentlessly across North America and Europe, playing with the likes of DIIV, Merchandise, Torche, Failure, Hum and many more, Nothing will announce tour dates for 2016 imminently.

Tired Of Tomorrow tracklisting:

“Fever Queen”
“The Dead Are Dumb”
“Vertigo Flowers”
“ACD (Abcessive Compulsive Disorder)”
“Nineteen Ninety Heaven”
“Curse Of The Sun”
“Eaten By Worms”
“Everyone Is Happy”
“Our Plague”
“Tired Of Tomorrow”

“Vertigo Flowers”:

Tired Of Tomorrow documentary trailer:



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Frontiers Music Srl will release PHANTOM 5's self-titled debut album on May 13.

PHANTOM 5 is the new band featuring former BONFIRE singer Claus Lessmann and producer and guitar player Michael Voss (CASANOVA, BONFIRE, MAD MAX, MICHAEL SCHENKER). They have enlisted a sort of "who's who" of German classic and melodic hard rock, with a lineup completed by Robby Boebel (FRONTLINE), Axel Kruse (JADED HEART) and Francis Buchholz (SCORPIONS).

Born as SUPREMACY, this new German melodic rock alliance, with five real aces on the pitch, could not disappoint. So, after the name change to PHANTOM 5, the new album started to take shape. Voss states: "For me, it sounds like we did a follow-up to the famous BONFIRE 'Fireworks' album with a touch of FRONTLINE meets JADED HEART groove… It is a driving monster, with huge walls of guitars, powerful soaking drums and fine catchy melodies… We took a trip back into the world of the eighties!"

Lessmann adds: "I am very proud of being part of a very fine piece of melodic rock and I hope that many people will like and love it the same way we do. Everything came together very naturally and I had the feeling that our flow of creativity never seemed to run dry, just like it should be. After the more than painful situation with BONFIRE, it was exactly the right thing, at the right time to do for me and it just felt and feels so damn right!"

Lessmann and Voss will appear at the Frontiers Rock Festival in the Acoustic Night reserved for VIP tickets purchasers on April 22.

"Phantom 5" track listing:

01. All The Way02. Blue Dog03. Someday04. Don't Touch The Night05. Renegade06. Flying High07. Since You're Gone08. They Won't Come Back09. Frontline10. We Both Had Our Time11. Why12. Sing Along (bonus track; digital version)

PHANTOM 5 is:

Claus Lessmann - lead vocalsMichael Voss - guitars, vocalsRobby Boebel - guitarFrancis Buchholz - bassAxel Kruse - drums

Entertainment One (eOne) has announced a partnership with metal label Lifeblood, Inc. to bring the Lifeblood Inc. imprint under eOne Music's umbrella. As part of this exclusive deal, all releases will be marketed and distributed by eOne Music on a worldwide basis.

Lifeblood was formed by three industry veterans: Trevor Phipps (UNEARTH), producer Shane Frisby (BURY YOUR DEAD, THE GHOST INSIDE, BECOMING THE ARCHETYPE) and entertainment attorney Alex Ploegsma. The first two signings under the new deal are the abstract death metal band THE SCHOENBERG AUTOMATON and metalcore act EARTHCALLER.

"Lifeblood represents another vehicle to bring great metal/rock artists to eOne," said Scott Givens, SVP of Metal, Entertainment One Music. "Their first round of releases are tremendous and there is much more to come."

"Finding a proper home and partner for LifeBlood was key and we couldn't be any happier to finalize our vision with eOne," said Frisby."With a roster that has included such an insane array of artists such as HATEBREED, CROWBAR, The Game, DJ Drama and more, it's truly a dream come true to work with such a diverse and multifaceted organization. The future is bright for LifeBlood and we are beyond excited for us to truly begin!"

"I couldn't be more excited to team up with my friends Shane and Alex on our new label and management venture," said Phipps. "I want to personally thank eOne Music for trusting in our ears and years of experience in many walks of the music business by giving us the opportunity to be part of their impeccable worldwide distribution and release music under the Lifeblood moniker."

Phipps' band UNEARTH is part of the eOne roster, and continues to build an impressive metal legacy after releasing genre classics "The Oncoming Storm" and "III: In The Eyes Of Fire". Prior to co-founding Lifeblood, Phipps ran Ironclad Recordings, where he developed young bands and partnered with different established companies for distribution, including Metal Blade Records.

"I have massive respect for what Scott and his team are doing over at eOne and it is extremely exciting to be partnering with them on this endeavor," added Ploegsma, "I am looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship and cannot wait to get EARTH CALLER and THE SCHOENBERG AUTOMATON out to the masses!"

MEGADETH lead singer and guitarist Dave Mustaine visited the School Of Rock's Frisco, Texas location on Friday, February 19. Mustaine gave musical guidance to School Of Rock students, working personally with the future rock stars to help advance their musical skills. Additionally, he joined students from School Of Rock Fort Worth on stage to perform a few MEGADETH tracks, both classic and new, for the rest of the school, contest winners from the Dallas-Fort Worth community, and the students' families.

During the question-and-answer portion of the event, Mustaine answered the following questions (see video footage below):

* What instruments do you play?* What song did you first learn to play?* Which bands should young musicians study?* How is the music business different today than when you first started?* What is your advice for kids wanting to pursue a career in music?* To achieve what you have done and continue to achieve, what is the one thing you do to consistently to make that happen?* What would you do differently?* Would you recommend signing to a major record label or an independent?* What do you do to keep your voice healthy? * What different types of music do play and listen to?* Are you a perfectionist and how does that affect your music?

A couple of Mustaine's answers follow below (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

Question: To achieve what you have done and continue to achieve, what is the one thing you do to consistently to make that happen?

Mustaine: "The one thing that I try and do consistently…. My life has changed a lot in the last… probably about twelve years. I led a very bad lifestyle, because I just didn't really have anybody to answer to; I didn't really care. So I made a lot of bad decisions — the things that I did to my body, the things that I did to my friends. I was kind of like a car with no brakes. And as I went farther along in my career, I started to realize that you need to take care of yourself. Those things that you put into your body, the way that you feed yourself, the sleep that you get, the practice that you do… If you practice too much, it's just as bad as not practicing enough. And I think the most important thing is that you have a really important… It's your decision — this is not me telling you to do this, but, for me, my relationship with God was the difference between being able to go out into battle on tour and be away from my family for as long as I am. So that may not be what you need — you may not believe like I believe — but I believe that everybody has to have something that they believe in that helps them get through the day, and for me it's Jesus."

Question: How is the music business different today than when you first started?

Mustaine: "The music industry has changed a lot. You guys… It's all about cellphones, it's all about digital downloads, stuff like that. And when we started, it's, like, vinyl, 8-tracks, cassettes, tapes… And that's something that, when you record, there's a difference between digital and analog sound; analog's a lot warmer, digital's a lot clearer. So that's one thing that's happened in the recording process. As far as the sales process, it's totally different, because record sales are almost invisible anymore. People, they will download your music for free and they expect you to give it to them; it's like a promotional thing. When I first started, record sales were really a big part of your band, part of your career. Now it's kind of like a calling card. MY first couple of records I put out had eight songs on them. This last record we put out had fifteen on it. That's terrible; that's two records we have to put out. And in territories like Japan… I love our Japanese fans, but we have to give them an extra song, because the domestic release in Japan… The record label there will put out the record, and the Japanese fans have a desire to have cool stuff from America, so they don't wanna buy the domestic album; they'll buy the international album. So in order for them to buy the domestic album, the Japanese release, they need something special, so you have to give them an extra song. And what ends up happening is you start writing records where you're making songs that you can give to people. Making a record that has fifteen great songs on it from one end to the other is very hard. So when you look at the music business nowadays, it's totally different."

Question: Are you a perfectionist and how does that affect your music?

Mustaine: "I'm a Virgo, so Virgos are perfectionists. If you ask any of the guys that have gotten fired or quit, they'll tell you that I'm a perfectionist. And I think that's good. In order to be a leader, you need to be willing to lead. The tip of the spear is sharp for a reason. And when things go wrong, I'm the guy that gets blamed. When things go great, everybody takes the credit. I have big, strong shoulders and I can take the blame. And I have a very big heart and I can share the accolades that come along with things when we get successful. And I think that's what makes a good leader — being able to share the good times with everybody, because we all wanna be loved, we all wanna be successful, and we all wanna be appreciated. And then when somebody's getting beat up, something's wrong, me getting in between. And I remember Phil [Anselmo] from PANTERA wanted to beat up Nick Menza, our singer [sic], and I have three black belts, and Phil doesn't scare me, so I got in between him and Nick, and said, 'You're not gonna touch Nick.' And that's what sometimes you have to do as a leader; you have to be the one that puts your height on the line."

School Of Rock continues to be an innovator in the musical education industry. The program takes students beyond the classroom and to some of rock 'n' roll's most famous stages, such as Chicago's House Of Blues and Lollapalooza. School Of Rock used this event to celebrate the opening of School Of Rock Plano, its ninth Dallas-Fort Worth area location.

THEM, the new U.S. metal band featuring bassist Mike LePond (SYMPHONY X) and drummer Kevin Talley (SUFFOCATION), has inked a deal with Belgium's Empire Records. A limited-edition tour CD called "Fear Them", will be available on THEM's U.S./Canadian tour as the support act for German power metallers HELLOWEEN and can also be purchased at THEM's Bandcamp page. "Fear Them" contains three tracks ("Forever Burns", "Dead of Night" and "Blood From Blood") from THEM's upcoming debut album, "Sweet Hollow".

A lyric video for the song "Blood From Blood" can be seen below.

Described in a press release as "a macabre tale of tragic loss, pain and suffering," "Sweet Hollow" will be released on CD, vinyl, limited-edition box sets and cassettes in the spring via all major online music outlets, including iTunes, CD Baby and Amazon, with European distribution through Soulfood.

THEM has launched a GoFundMe campaign offering unique, one-of-a-kind items to all their fans in the U.S./Canadian touring regions, and beyond.

THEM is:

Mike LePond (SYMPHONY X) - BassKevin Talley (SUFFOCATION) - DrumsMarkus Ulrich (LANFEAR) - GuitarMarkus Johansson (SYLENCER) - GuitarRichie Seibel (LANFEAR) - KeyboardsTroy Norr "KK Fossor" (COLDSTEEL) - Vocals

"Sweet Hollow" track listing:

01. Rebirth02. Forever Burns03. Down The Road To Misery04. Ghost In The Graveyard05. The Quiet Room06. Dead Of Night07. FestEvil08. The Crimson Corpse09. Blood From Blood10. The Harrowing Road To Hollow11. Salve12. When The Clock Struck Twelve

Canadian singer, songwriter, musician and artist Nicole Dollanganger has released her version of the TYPE O NEGATIVE classic "Christian Woman". You can now listen to it using the SoundCloud widget below. Also available is a fan-filmed video of Nicole performing the song live in November 2015.

The 24-year-old songwriter from Stouffville, Ontario, who first started making music in 2012, previously released a collection of MARILYN MANSON covers titled "Columbine".

In a 2015 interview with Nylon, Nicole said: "I love TYPE O NEGATIVE and Marilyn Manson — they're two of my biggest inspirations. Peter Steele of TYPE O NEGATIVE is gigantic, like a killing machine, but he could be quite soft, and he walked that line between soft and hard. Marilyn Manson has done the same."

The original version of "Christian Woman", which appears on TYPE O NEGATIVE's 1993 album "Bloody Kisses", is a song telling the tale of a 13-year-old Christian girl who was told sex is bad. She goes to sleep every night looking at the nearly naked son of God on her crucifix until she eventually begins to have sexual fantasies about Christ.

According to the Phoenix New Times, hardcore/metal crossover pioneers D.R.I. (DIRTY ROTTEN IMBECILES) are putting the finishing touches on a new EP, to be released later in the year. "[It's] just a handful of songs to test the waters," vocalist Kurt Brecht says. "We haven't put out anything new in so long, so we wanted to see how much interest there really is in it."

Regarding the musical direction of the new D.R.I. material, Brecht says: "It's more old-school hardcore. It's straightforward, without the metal guitar sound."

He adds: "I'm more into the hardcore myself, but it's okay if we keep the metal because we mix it all together."

Asked why it has taken so long for D.R.I. to record the follow-up to 1995's "Full Speed Ahead", Brecht says: "We'd taken a good amount of time off. And when we came back together, we had many offers to play, so we started doing that and have just been busy trying to make a living playing and touring. Bands like us make most of our money touring and selling merchandise at live shows."

D.R.I.'s current lineup still features original guitarist Spike Cassidy. Harald Oimoen has played bass for the band since 1999, while drummer Walter Ryan joined in 2015.

D.R.I.'s forthcoming EP is expected to include the song "As Seen On TV", which the band has been performing live. Brecht told BoulevardBrutal.com in a 2014 interview about the inspiration for his new lyrics: "It's a similar vein of lyrics, I'd say [to my other band PASADENA NAPALM DIVISION] — basically, just talking bad about society and human beings in general, that sort of thing, but never really offer any kind of solution… 'cause I can't think of one. Advertising, I talk shit about a lot… Mass marketing and stuff, even though I do it, so I'm a total hypocrite. I advertise the band, I sell our products at the shows and all that kind of stuff."

He continued: "For [the upcoming D.R.I.] EP, some of the lyrics — at least one of the songs — is, I think, one of my best lyrical tunes yet. It's called 'As Seen On TV' [see video below]. I won't tell you the lyrics right now, but it's basically about advertising, that sort of thing. I went to school for it, and that's why I talk about it a lot, 'cause I learned a lot [when I was there]."

In 2004, Cassidy was diagnosed with colon cancer. He underwent surgery (a one-foot section of large intestine was removed through an eight-inch incision in his stomach on March 27, 2006), radiation and chemotherapy and is said to be winning the battle against the disease.

D.R.I.'s classic 1987 album "Crossover" was reissued in April 2010 via Beer City Records. Available on LP, CD and as a digital download, the LP was remastered by Bill Metoyer, who was the engineer for the original recordings. The CD and digital version of the reissue include the original 13 songs plus 11 bonus tracks.

HELLYEAH will embark on the "We're All In This Together Tour 2016" in late April. Support on the trek will come from ESCAPE THE FATE, NEW YEARS DAY and FROM ASHES TO NEW. The 18-date tour across the U.S. will kick off on May 2 in Baltimore, Maryland and end June 5 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The tour will offer fans free music and exclusive content (tailored to individual platforms), alongside traditional ticket sales. With each ticket purchased, fans will receive a code redeemable for a free "We're All In This Together Tour 2016" sampler on iTunes. The sampler will include recent hits, as well as unreleased music, from each of the four artists on the tour.

HELLYEAH is simultaneously releasing a lyric video for "Human", the first new track from the band's forthcoming fifth album, due out later this year. FROM ASHES TO NEW will also offer an exclusive track "Who's Laughing Now", which does not appear on their debut album, "Day One", available February 26.

The dates are as follows:

Apr. 30 - Jacksonville, FL @ Welcome To Rockville *May 02 - Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore SoundstageMay 03 - Clifton Park , NY @ Upstate Concert HallMay 04 - Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon ClubMay 06 - Concord, NC @ Carolina Rebellion *May 07 - Indianapolis, IN @ The VogueMay 09 - Nashville, TN @ Cannery BallroomMay 10 - Grand Rapids, MI @ The IntersectionMay 11 - Traverse City, MI @ Ground Zero NightclubMay 13 - Council Bluffs, IA @ KIWR Rock Fest *May 14 - Kansas City, MO @ KQRC Rockfest *May 15 - Somerset, WI @ Northern Invasion *May 17 - Flint , MI @ The Machine ShopMay 20 - Fort Wayne, IN @ Piere'sMay 21 - Columbus, OH @ Rock on The Range *May 22 - Knoxville, TN @ The Concourse at the InternationalMay 24 - Louisville, KY @ Mercury BallroomMay 25 - Arlington Heights, IL @ H.O.M.E.May 27 - Columbia, MO @ The Blue NoteMay 28 - Pryor, OK @ Rocklahoma *May 29 - San Antonio, TX @ River City Rockfest *May 31 - Denver, CO @ The Summit Music HallJun. 01 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex- RockwellJun. 03 - San Diego, CA @ Riverside Municipal AuditoriumJun. 05 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Foundry at SLS

* Festival appearance

HELLYEAH recently posted a short studio teaser for its forthcoming fifth album. The CD was recorded atThe Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas, Nevada with producer Kevin Churko, who previously worked with HELLYEAH on 2014's "Blood For Blood".

HELLYEAH guitarist Tom Maxwell stated about the band's upcoming effort: "There's a lot of new stuff coming out that we've never tried before, and a lot of heavy shit…. It's gonna be moody, it's gonna be dark, it's gonna be crushing, it's gonna be heartbreaking, it's gonna be everything. So it's gonna be a proper take-off from our last record, but with a lot of new surprises, I think. And just kind of moving forward with the path that we've taken with 'Blood For Blood'. It's gonna be a really, really savage album, and I'm really excited. I can't wait for you all to hear it."

"Blood For Blood" was HELLYEAH's first album since parting ways with guitarist Greg Tribbett and bassist Bob "Zilla" Kahaha in February 2014.

The new members of HELLYEAH are bassist Kyle Sanders and guitarist Christian Brady.

"Blood For Blood" sold around 17,000 copies in its first week of release to land at No. 18 on the Billboard chart.

German gothic metal act CREMATORY has parted ways with longtime bassist Harald Heine and has replaced him with Jason Matthias. Heine, who was in CREMATORY for over 20 years, decided on short notice to give up music for personal and health reasons, to spend more time with his family and children.

CREMATORY will release its thirteenth studio album, "Monument", on April 15 via Steamhammer/SPV. A video for the CD's first single, "Misunderstood", was recently filmed and will be released in early March.

"Monument" track listing:

01. Misunderstood02. Haus Mit Garten03. Die So Soon04. Ravens Calling05. Eiskalt06. Nothing07. Before I Die08. Falsche Tränen09. Everything10. My Love Within11. Die Letzte Schlacht12. Save Me Infinitely more strongly than on its predecessor, "Antiserum" (2014), the twelve tracks on "Monument" are based on brute guitar riffs and hard-as-nails drum grooves, replete with sinister keyboard hooks and that mix of growls and clear vocals — some in English, some in German — that is so typical of this band. The group's fans will be thoroughly delighted with "Monument" and its dynamic sound. When work on "Monument" commenced in spring 2015, a personnel issue had to be settled in the CREMATORY camp: Matthias Hechler, guitarist, clear voice and a style-defining member for 17 years, had left the band for private reasons. That his departure went off without animosity or internal quarrels was confirmed by Matthias in an interview on the "Live At Wacken 2014" DVD. Following his decision, CREMATORY made a virtue out of necessity, enlisting two successors: Tosse Basler (SCAPEGOAT, AVALANCHE) joined the fold as rhythm guitarist and clear vocalist, and Rolf Munkes is CREMATORY's new lead guitarist.

"Tosse and Rolf have brought a breath of fresh air to the band. They've really inspired us with their powerful style and phat guitar sounds," rejoices drummer Markus Jüllich, who composed the songs again with producer Kristian "Kohle" Bonifer before going on to produce them together at the Kohlekeller Studio. The result is a gothic metal opus that positively bursts with energy, featuring twelve diverse numbers with different degrees of toughness, including double guitar parts and guitar solos. The opener, "Misunderstood", which is supported by the first video release, is probably the most metallic number of CREMATORY's career. Markus refers to the track as an "ideal introduction, not only to our new album but also to our upcoming shows." The ballad "Save Me", which Jüllich/Bonifer wrote some time ago and have now approved for release in view of the new lineup, presents a stark contrast.

"As far as I'm concerned, this number has an orchestral flair," Jüllich reckons. "It suits Tosse and his timbre perfectly." Talking of which: because of their new team, CREMATORY have honed the homogenous blend of frontman Felix Stass's raw growls and the clear voice of their new band member Tosse Basler even more finely than ever before. The album carries its symbolic title with justification and the twelve impressive songs are undoubtedly a real monument to this group's amazing creative powers. In line with this, the cover artwork is both classy and sublime: for the third time in succession, CREMATORY, worked with Hungarian artist Peter Sallai. As in the productional collaboration between Markus Jüllich and Kristian Bonifer, the band has relied on tried and tested collaborators without repeating or indeed copying themselves.

THROWN INTO EXILE, the Los Angeles-based metal act featuring former SCAR THE MARTYR and current ACT OF DEFIANCE singer Henry Derek Bonner, has signed with independent record label Urban Yeti Records. The band's lineup is rounded out by Mario Rubio (guitar), Ray Sanchez (guitar), Dave Corsile (bass) and Zac Morris (drums). The first track released by the band, "Declination", sets the tone for the group's upcoming album, which promises to be loud, fast and heavy.

Speaking on the origin of their name, Rubio comments: "Everyone, at some point in life, has felt singled out based on their views or opinions of something, hence THROWN INTO EXILE. Our songs deal with the realities of the world and what people deal with day to day." The band says their sound draws from several different genres including groove, thrash and melodic death metal.

Bonner adds: "This is something that Mario and I have worked hard on for quite some time. Practically two-plus years in the making. Within this time, the other guys have contributed a lot as well and I can say that we've become friends. I'm thrilled that the metal world finally gets to hear a proper full-length album and I'm proud of what THROWN INTO EXILE has accomplished."

THROWN INTO EXILE recently finished recording its debut album with producer Jake Pitts (BLACK VEIL BRIDES). Pitts states: "As a producer, you are supposed to help the band be the best version of that band they can be. THROWN INTO EXILE is filled with talented guys and the guitar players are riff machines and shred for days. It's been really cool to help take their ideas and really bring it all to life, even collaborate on some songs and be able to use that heavier side of my music personality."

THROWN INTO EXILE has patiently waited for the opportunity to sign with a label, having played at the 2013 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival and with numerous established artists, including FEAR FACTORY, TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL and SEPULTURA. Rubio remarks: "Signing a deal with a label that cares about your visions and goals and who knows how to get you to where you want to be is on another level. We couldn't be any more excited and happy to be a part of Urban Yeti, we are ready to work and be on the road."

THROWN INTO EXILE will release its debut full-length late spring/early summer this year and plans to tour in support.

On February 17, hundreds of rock fans turned up at the airport in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom to catch see IRON MAIDEN's new-and-improved branded private tour plane. A four-minute report from Made In Cardiff TV can be seen below.

The Boeing 747 jumbo is named Ed Force One after the band's mascot, Eddie, who has appeared on all of their album covers, and graces the plane's tail.

Ed Force One is being piloted on the band's world tour by MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson.

Dickinson addressed reporters on the tarmac of the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport shortly after landing the airplane on Friday, February 19. He explained MAIDEN's decision to upgrade to a 747: "The [757] is just not big enough for what we've got in mind in terms of a show. So what we've got on board at the moment is the stage show."

He continued: "I've actually been in Miami rehearsing for about two and a half weeks before this flight. So I actually flew back from Miami to pick up the airplane. And because it had been longer than a certain period, I had to jump back in the sim, do some landings and then fly the airplane over. So we pick up the rest of our equipment… In fact, we'll be spending tomorrow, basically, putting all the gear together and making sure it fits. Everything we need will be on the airplane, and all the technicians and baggage and everything else. We're going all around the world. I mean, we're doing some… I mean, [from] Perth, Australia to Cape Town [to] Shanghai to New Zealand. We're really going 'round the planet."

The 747 is the world's most recognizable airliner on account of its distinctive hump. With its impressive dimensions of 70.7m (232ft) length, 19.4m (63.6ft) height and a jaw-dropping wing span of 64.4m (211ft) this double-decker aircraft has a range of 13,450km (7,262nm).

IRON MAIDEN's world tour, in support of the band's latest album, "The Book Of Souls", will kick off on February 24 in Florida.

Support on the trek will come from THE RAVEN AGE, the band led by IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris's son George Harris.

MAIDEN's sixteenth — and first-ever double — studio album, "The Book Of Souls", was released worldwide on September 4, 2015 through Parlophone Records (BMG in the U.S.A). The CD was recorded in Paris, France with producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley in late 2014, with the finishing touches added last year.

IRON MAIDEN announced in May 2015 that touring plans to support the album wouldn't happen until this year to allow Dickinson time to fully recuperate after his successful cancer treatment.

'80s hard rock queen Lita Ford will release a new album, "Time Capsule", on April 15 via SPV/Steamhammer. The very special and unusual recording turns back the clock to a time when honest, down-to-earth rock music was still handmade and recorded without digital tricks and contraptions.

"Time Capsule" is a "throwback" record that boasts identifiable voices and brilliant players jamming without any planning or pressure. Some of the album's highlights: Billy Sheehan (bass), Rodger Carter (drums), Dave Navarro (mandolin), Jeff Scott Soto (vocals), Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander (backing vocals) and Gene Simmons (bass). "There was a shitload of these 24-track analog tapes in the closet in my house [in the islands]," Ford recalls. "This is some of the best work I've ever done and it was sitting there. I grabbed two suitcases and took them back to the United States."

Imagine Ford dragging a pair of suitcases full of analog tapes through the Caribbean dirt back to Los Angeles, so, as she recalls, "we could bake these fuckers," due to their age. "If you just put them on the reel, they would flake. I was chewing my fingernails, thinking, 'Please work!' And they did!" "Time Capsule" contains ten songs plus an intro and will be available as a digipak as well as an LP version and download. It's Ford's gift to fans who love the '80s, when thrilling vocal performances, raunchy riffs, and loud, growling guitars were as essential as oxygen. "Time Capsule" track listing:

01. Intro02. Where Will I Find My Heart Tonight03. Killing Kind04. War Of The Angels05. Black Leather Heart06. Rotten To The Core07. Little Wing08. On The Fast Track09. King Of The Wild Wind10. Mr. Corruption11. Anything For The Thrill

The song "Rotten To The Core" — featuring Gene Simmons on bass, Rodger Carter on drums and Bruce Kulick on additional guitars — can be streamed below.

Dey Street Books (formerly It Books), an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, has set a February 23 release date for "Lita Ford - Living Like A Runaway: A Memoir". In this 272-page hardcover book, which was originally expected in 2014, the former lead guitarist of THE RUNAWAYS opens up about the '70s and '80s music scene, and her extraordinary life and career.

Photo credit: Dustin Jack

Orange County, California-based rock band OF MICE & MEN and Rise Records have announced the release of "The Full Circle Story", a five-part documentary series that will stream on the group's web site every Monday beginning today. "The Full Circle Story" will only be viewable to those who sign up for OF MICE & MEN's all-new fan club, The Ampersand. A trailer for the series can be viewed below.

Directed by Jon Stone, "The Full Circle Story" was shot over the course of the past year, following the band as they traveled around the world performing sold-out shows for an international fanbase whose members number in the millions. Along the way, the quintet (vocalist Austin Carlile, guitarist Alan Ashby, drummer Valentino Arteaga, vocalist/bassist Aaron Pauley and guitarist Phil Manansala) released "Restoring Force", which hit No. 4 on The Billboard 200 album chart and No. 1 on both the Billboard Top Independent and Top Rock Albums charts, shared stages with artists such as METALLICA, LINKIN PARK and QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, blanketed rock radio airwaves, garnered critical acclaim and amassed over twenty million YouTube views and close to five million social media followers on the strength of an blistering sound and live show. "The Full Circle Story" places fans on both sides of the stage: capturing electrifying concert footage, then going behind the scenes for a rare glimpse at the inner workings of the band that's being hailed as "the leaders of metal's new revolution." Stone previously worked with OF MICE & MEN on last year's "Identity Disorder" video.

"'The Full Circle Story' offers the viewer an incredibly unique perspective—our perspective," says Pauley. "The five-part series takes the viewer on a wild international journey through our past few years, as seen through our eyes. It also showcases some of our favorite moments since the release of 'Restoring Force', complete with live footage from shows played around the world and interviews from the band. With the help of our friend Jon Stone, 'The Full Circle Story' captures what it's like to be in OF MICE & MEN, and we can't wait to share that experience with our fans in a way we never have before."

OF MICE & MEN will spend the summer on a 34-city tour with SLIPKNOT and MARILYN MANSON. "It's been an extreme past half year of broken ribs, head, hips, and tour dates," says Carlile. "After initial surgeries, followed by more medical exams and tests, and physical therapy multiple times a week, the last few months have been a real hurdle for me mentally and physically. Now that we've reached the other side, I'm ready to get the relentless machine that is OF MICE & MEN back on track. It will start in March with two and a half months in the studio recording our new album. Then a European festival run (taking in Slamdunk and Rock Am Ring/Rock Im Park). Next up we will be opening for SLIPKNOT and MARILYN MANSON all summer long in America, playing various American rock radio festivals along the way, including Chicago Open Air festival.

"We hope our new documentary series, 'The Full Circle Story', will hold you over for now. We put a lot of time and energy into it and hope you enjoy watching part of our Artemis journey and just how it all came Full Circle. See you on the road. Tell everyone you know, OF MICE & MEN is back."

Just a couple of weeks after announcing that his new album would be called "World On Fire" in an interview with Seymour Duncan and a subsequent press release about the launch of the "Generation Axe - A Night Of Guitars" tour, legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen appears to have decided against using the title for the upcoming CD. Speculation is that the name was scrapped due to the fact that GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash released an album with the identical title less than a year and a half ago — something that Todd Kerns, the bassist for Slash's backing band, MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS, humorously called Yngwie out on in a tweet over the weekend (see below).

A new statement on Malmsteen's Facebook page reads: "Yngwie Malmsteen's new album is not called 'World On Fire'. He has a song called that. Album title not yet released."

Yngwie's new studio album is tentatively due in April. He told Seymour Duncan about the CD: "I spent two years [working] on it, touring, recording, touring, recording. And that's much, much better, actually, in a way. Back in the day I would write the songs then rehearse them with some musicians, then go and do a backing track and we'd record it, mix it, learn the songs to go play them on tour, then do it all again. That way isn't necessarily conducive to making the best music, y'know what I mean? So in a very, very backhanded way, this weird twist of fate in the music industry has actually made it a more inspiring environment, for me at least. I can write anytime and record anytime. My recording studio is always open, 24 hours. I can just record when I want and it's a beautiful thing."

Asked what the new record sounds like, Malmsteen said: "It's a Malmsteen record. [Laughs] But I would say it's a little different. First of all, I do all the lead vocals on it. Any time I did lead vocals in the past, I was singing blues stuff. This time I decided to do lead vocals in my style of songwriting, so it's different in that way. It's a very hard-hitting album and some parts are very advanced, very complicated. But it's a broad record. It's definitely a must-listen-to! It's finished and it's been delivered to the label in Japan so I would expect it to be released in about two months from now."

Yngwie also confirmed that he laid down the bass tracks on his new album. "I play all the bass and most of the keyboards," he said. "And there's a string section and a choir. It's very neoclassical. It's super neoclassical!"

In addition to Malmsteen, the "Generation Axe" tour will feature performances by Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde, Nuno Bettencourt and Tosin Abasi. The trek will launch on April 5 in Seattle and will hit the road for 26 performances in North America.

Yngwie released a live album, "Spellbound Live In Tampa", and a live DVD, "Spellbound Live In Orlando", a little over a year ago. The two releases represent back-to-back Malmsteen shows.

The CD and DVD, both of which are named after Malmsteen's latest studio album, 2012's "Spellbound", were issued on September 17, 2014.

Omer Cordell, the mastermind behind Canadian metal project Trailight featuring vocalist Dave Padden (ex-Annihilator) and drummer Ryan van Poederooyen (Devin Townsend Project), has completed work on a single release cover of the Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds classic "The Weeping Song". It features Padden and Fear Factory frontman Burton C. Bell on vocals. It was released on February 22nd. Check it out below.

Cordell: "I can only think of a handful of people alive today who I consider to be the most prolific and inspiring artists who have influenced and inspired countless of people all over the world yet, in some way are considered to be unpopular. Who instead of following trends, the trends seem to follow them. Who continue to create their art without having to compromise their artistic vision and by doing so, they are able to create their own fusion and magic in music, words and visuals.And so, I wish to pay tribute to one of those people; one who I consider to be the most important artists of our time; the great Nick Cave. This is our version of 'The Weeping Song'

My endless gratitude to Dave Padden, Burton C. Bell, Cory McBain and Adrian Windsor for their great talent and hard work!"

Cordell recently spoke with BraveWords scribe Carl Begai about Trailight. Following is an excerpt from the interview.

“When I was first starting to think about doing this project, considering the vibe and riffs I was coming up with – ‘A Thousand Years’ was the first song I wrote – I knew who I wanted to play drums on it. Ryan has known me as a photographer for years, so when I called him up it was like ‘This may come as a surprise, but I’m making music now…’ (laughs). I asked if he’d be interested in playing on it and he wanted to hear the demos, but he had a bunch of touring to finish with Devin and then record the DVP double album. After that he had time to do my stuff.”

“Ryan came back from Devin’s album recording, learned my songs in about a week or 10 days, we had one day of pre-production where I had a chance to hear what he would be doing in the studio. Three days later we were in the studio and 10 hours later he was done recording. When we were finished I knew why I’d gotten Ryan to do it. He not only fits stylistically, he was also such an immense help with the whole process. I was basically flying blind. I’d been to the studios lots of times back when Strapping was around to take photos, but I’d never actually recorded in one before, so Ryan was helpful in guiding me.”

Cordell also took on outside help to produce The Primitive Mountain, a long and drawn out process that slowly deteriorated as the songs were being mixed. He eventually opted to take on the task of mixing and mastering himself; a daunting task on one hand, but the only option left if the album was going to live up to his expectations. Rather than a play-by-play of events, Cordell channels Metallica to sum up the situation.

“As far as the mix of the album, the first batch of songs that I sent you sound like St. Anger, and the final mixes sound like the Black album.”

Go to this location for the complete story.

Trailight recently released an official video for the song "Open Doors" from the debut, The Primitive Mountain:

The complete tracklist for The Primitive Mountain is as follows:

"Open Doors"
"Sentient Beings Pt. 1 - The Dim Future Of Our Distant Past"
"Sentient Beings Pt. 2 - All That We Are" 
"We Are The Ocean"
"Frail Human Form"
"The Primitive Mountain"
"Passer By"
"A Thousand Years"
"Navarino"
"Beyond The Rubicon"

Cordell released a 30 minute behind-the-scenes look at the production earlier this year, which can be viewed below. For information on Trailight go to this location.

Photo by Greg Rakozy



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UK-based metallists, Sworn Amongst, will be issuing their sophomore full-length, Under A Titan Sky, on February 26th. The video for “Wraith” is streaming below.
 
"Brutal, real, and unnerving!" is how the group's vocalist, Sy James, explains the hard to forget clip. "The video is a representation of those of us, or should I say all of us that live with our demons on any level! We are all responsible for the things that are buried deep within us no matter how big or small! The question is, 'So you control them, or do they control you'?"
 
The band - which also includes Jonny Barker (riffs’n’shreds), James Cooper (riffs), Jonny Harper (drums) - initially came to the fore when they won a Kerrang! unsigned competition, but since then have firmly established themselves on the live circuit, having played increasingly higher-up-the-bill shows at countless European festivals, as well as Download, Bloodstock and Hammerfest, and supported the likes of Anthrax, Sepultura, Meshuggah, Skindred, Evile and Sylosis.

The band are thrilled to be signed to the label SMG with worldwide relationships. “Sworn Amongst are extremely proud to have recently become part of the SMG roster,” says the band’s drummer Jonny Harper.  “The label has injected new life into the band and has given us their all, having worked tremendously hard to help further our name and expose our forthcoming releases to the world…and long may it continue!"
 
Soon, Sworn Amongst will be expanding their following globally, with the metallic onslaught known as Under A Titan Sky.

Tracklisting:

“Wraith”
“Torn Asunder”
“Degradation, Genesis”
“Under A Titan Sky”
“Ruins Of Our Own Construction”
“Kolin Nem”
“The Resistance”
“Through The Eyes Of The Decimated”
“Laments”
“Low”
“The Ash Of Your Demise” (Bonus track)

“Wraith” video:



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France’s BlackRain have launched an EPK (Electronic Press Kit) in support of their upcoming new album, Released, out via UDR Music on March 25th. The legendary Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, Cheap Trick) is on production duty once again on BlackRain’s fourth CD, Released.

Tracklisting:

“Back in Town”
“Mind Control”
“Killing Me”
“Run Tiger Run”
“Puppet On A String”
“Words Ain´t Enough”
“Eat You Alive”
“Home”
“For Your Love”
“Fade To Black”
“Electric Blue”
“Rock My Funeral”
“One Last Prayer”

EPK:

“Back In Town” lyric video:



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Tucson, AZ-based trio North have premiered a video for “Light The Way”, the title track from their upcoming new album. See the clip below:

Listen to the album track “Earthmind”:

In the decade-plus they’ve been a band, North has ebbed and flowed their way into becoming one of the most respected outfits in the underground metal scene. Despite a series of lineup changes and personal setbacks, North has returned stronger and more focused than ever on their debut full-length release for Prosthetic Records, Light The Way.

One week prior to the album's March 18th worldwide release, the band will play a hometown record release show at Tucson's Club Congress before embarking on a North American jaunt with Intronaut. A full listing of dates can be found listed below. Tickets are available here.

Originally starting off in 2005 as an instrumental act, North has continued to push the boundaries of the heavier side of post-rock. Formed by Evan Leek (bass) and Zack Hansen (drums) and rounded out by guitarists Ty Engle and Matt Mutterperl, the band’s first recordings were done in Hansen’s bedroom and self-released. With their debut 2006 EP Siberia, they soon made a name for themselves in the Arizona scene, supporting others in the genre such as Caspian, Tera Melos and This Will Destroy You on those bands’ southwestern tour stops.

Eventually, the group decided to expand the sound of the band, adding vocals on 2008’s What You Were, which was met with critical acclaim and expanded touring throughout the US. When it came time for the band to begin work on their next record, numerous line-up changes occurred. Writing stopped, started, stopped again and at times the band wondered if it would ever restart again. Amazingly enough, this turmoil produced their best material to date. The Great Silence, released in the summer of 2012, was a compelling fusion of post-rock and metal and garnered their finest reviews yet. The band toured for a year to support the album, but after two members left the group, North once again questioned its future.

The three remaining members, Leek, Hansen and Mutterperl, regrouped and sat down to write for the first time as a three-piece and found the chemistry the best it had ever been. Four tracks came together quickly, which was released as the Metanoia EP, and the guys did what they do best: play live. There seemed to be a genuine rebirth in the band as they embarked their most extensive touring to date. It was shortly after this that the group signed to Prosthetic Records – which reissued Metanoia and Siberia last year – and quickly began working on new material, not wanting to lose the momentum they were feeling. The two-track single, "Through Raven’s Eyes”, recorded in early 2015, saw the band at possibly its darkest and heaviest, musically speaking. Now, with Light The Way, North begins a new chapter – one that kicks off with the highest-profile shows of the band's career.

Tour dates:

March
12 - Tucson, AZ - Club Congress (Record Release Show)
15 - Los Angeles, CA - The Roxy
16 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
17 - Mesa, AZ - Nile Underground
18 - ALbuquerque, NM - Launchpad
19 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre
20 - Lawrence, KS - Aftershock
21 - Ft Worth, TX - Tomcats
22 - Austin, TX - Dirty Dog
23 - Houston, TX - Walters
24 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade
25 - Tampa, FL - Orpheum
26 - Jacksonville, FL - 1904 Music Hall
27 - Charlotte, NC - Rabbit Hole
28 - Washington DC - Rock And Roll Hotel
29 - New York, NY - Marlin Room at Webster Hall
30 - Boston, MA - Middle East
31 - Montreal, QC - Bar Le Ritz

April
1 - Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace
2 - Detroit, MI - Loving Touch
3 - Chicago, IL - Reggies Rock Club
4 - Minneapolis, MN - Skyway Theatre
5 - Winnipeg, MB - Goodwill
6 - Regina, SK - Exchange
7 - Edmonton, AB - Skylite
8 - Calgary, AB - Dickens
9 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre
11 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile
12 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre
13 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom Of The Hill



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