BLACK SABBATH stopped its show last night at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan after the fourth song to recognize guitarist Tony Iommi's 68th birthday. After band introductions, SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne led the crowd in a "Happy Birthday" song sing-a-long while a cake was brought out onstage. A video graphic that read "Happy Birthday Tony Iommi" was put on the stage screen.

Iommi said in a September 2015 interview that the band's current farewell tour, which began in January, is truly its last because he is not physically capable of doing it any longer. Speaking with the Birmingham Mail, Iommi explained: "I can't actually do this anymore. My body won't take it much more."

Iommi, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2012 and was treated all through SABBATH's extensive 2013 world tour, admitted that he was worried the rigors of the road could bring the disease back. He revealed: "I don't want that creeping back again, and all the traveling involved in SABBATH tours increasingly takes its toll. That's why we're going out on one last tour, to say our farewells. And then it very definitely is the end. We won't be doing it again."

The legendary guitarist continued: "Don't get me wrong, I still love gigging. It's all the traveling and the exhaustion that goes with it that's the problem. That side of things has a big impact on me… I love being up there onstage, playing with SABBATH. What I don't love is all the other stuff necessary to enable that to happen."

Iommi was also hospitalized last year with back problems, and he still requires blood tests every six weeks to monitor his lymphoma.

Ozzy told The Pulse Of Radio that Iommi never let his treatments slow him down during the making of SABBATH's comeback album, "13". "My hat goes off to him 'cause he really is Iron Man," the singer said. "I mean, that chemotherapy knocks you sideways, you know. I mean, when my wife had cancer a few years back, she was having three chemo things a month and it would knock the life out of… Literally every time she'd have a treatment, she'd have a seizure. It's scary stuff. But he came down, plugged in and carried on. He's my hero, I swear to God he is."

Iommi said that SABBATH's "The End" tour will encompass about a year, including breaks, and that the set list will trace "the band's career from our early days in Birmingham. All the fan favorites will be in there, and we're looking to include some songs we've rarely performed live, too."

Photo credit: Pam Vandervest


(Thanks: Bill Peters)

Kentucky based female fronted occult heavy metallers, Savage Master, will release their new studio album, titled With Whips And Chains, on April 22nd. The Skol Records / High Roller Records release will be available as a CD, LP, and digital download.

On With Whips And Chains, for which the cover artwork was painted by the legendary French artist Chris Moyen (Beherit, Blasphemy), the metal tyrant Stacey Savage returns with the crack of the devil's whip, claiming her rightful throne with her signature sensual devil's screech, and backed by blistering classic heavy metal riffs played by masked brutes. The album will be promoted on European Tour in April/May 2016, which will start with a special appearance at the Keep It True festival, and US tour in May/June.

Savage Master plays pure old school metal, which follows the tradition of acts such as Cirith Ungol, Bitch, early Judas Priest and Mercyful Fate, while their stage image is a tribute to classic horror movies such as Black Sunday (aka The Mask Of Satan), and the legendary Hammer Films productions.

(Photos - Hayley Fawn Hall/Band, Edward Neary/Stacey Savage)



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Eclipse Records has announced the signing of melodic death-metallers Mindshift (Stockholm, Sweden) to an exclusive, worldwide deal.

Mindshift is a Swedish melodic metal band which was founded in 2006 by guitarist Johan Lund. Over the years, the band went through various lineups (as most bands in their early stages do), and finally released their debut album No Regrets in early 2012. For Johan however, the original lineup never reached its full potential.  That all changed in the fall of that year when singer Marcus Mao Uggla (who played bass in Blowsight at the time) joined the band on vocals.  It was the moment when Mindshift took things to a new level. They quickly began writing new material, and a new era of Mindshift began.
 
By April 2013, Mindshift entered Soundfraction Studios, and recorded the four song EP Evilution, which would define the band’s direction and musical vision well into the future.  A few months after releasing the EP, Mao and Johan recruited drummer Fabien Fabbe Perreau (also from Blowsight), and the band recorded their five song EP In Time, which was released in January of 2014. Later that year, in the fall of 2014, Mindshift began recording songs for their second full-length album, Horizon and finally in the fall of 2015 after finishing the album and performing dozens of shows, the band caught the attention of Eclipse Records, which signed Mindshift to a worldwide multi-album deal.
 
On the signing, vocalist Mao says, “I’m proud to be a part of the Eclipse Records family. Having worked with them before, I know that they always give one hundred percent to their artists, and that’s so hard to find in a label these days.” Guitarist Johan continues, “We’re all looking forward to working with a label that’s actually as passionate about the music as we are.” Eclipse label head Chris Poland says "I've become a huge fan of Mindshift over the past six months, and I really think this band offers a fresh perspective on melodic metal, and they have huge potential to be the next big thing outta Sweden. All of us here at Eclipse are thrilled to be working with the band!"



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Less than a week after the release of the new Sin City Sinners album Let It Burn, vocalist Joshua Alan delivered the unexpected by announcing his departure from the group; his official statement reads as follows:

"Ladies and Gentlemen,

I regret to inform you all, that I have decided to step down as lead singer of the Sin City Sinners. I have learned a lot in my time with the Sinners, and have had the opportunity to share the stage with some of the greatest and most influential musicians in the business. There are no words to express my gratitude.This has been a very hard decision for me. I love the guys in the band, as they are all genuine, good guys, and very talented, and I of course, wish them all the best! But as of today, I can no longer front the Sin City Sinners.

I want to thank everyone who has supported me and stood by my side from the beginning, and I hope you can all understand my position.

See you on the road with Ratt!"

Listen to Joshua sing via the lyric video for "Living Like A Sinner" - the first single from Let It Burn:

Sin City Sinners were scheduled to perform tonight, February 19th, at Eastside Cannery in Las Vegas, NV - and the show will go on! In a rather ironic turn of events, former Ratt vocalist and Love/Hate frontman Jizzy Pearl will step in as the special guest lead singer.

Jason Green, who manages Sin City Sinners, offered the following: "Sin City Sinners is like the postal service, we always deliver. Some great guest singers coming up until our big announcement!"

Tracklisting:

"Living Like A Sinner"
"Puts Me Through Hell"
"Higher Than High"
"So Yeah!"
"Glad To Say Goodbye"
"If Mary Wanna"
"Social Disease"
"Star Crossed Haters"
"Get Over You"
"Let It Burn"

(Joshua Alan photo by Aaron Small)

 

 



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Quality fan-filmed video footage of DISTURBED performing its cover of SIMON & GARFUNKEL's "The Sound Of Silence" live on February 15 at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 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.

The official lyric video for "Perfectionist", a new song from the Minneapolis, Minnesota hard rock/industrial metal outfit AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's fourth album, "Tango Umbrella", which will be released on March 25 via Napalm Records. The cover artwork was created by Sam Shearon and can be seen below. Comments AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE's Chad Hanks: "'Tango Umbrella', sonically, feels like a combination of 'The War Of Art' and 'The Feeding'. It's a logical progression for us, as we continue experimenting with different feels, sounds, vocal styles, etc. It's heavy in every way possible, and I really think our fans are going to love it. We made the record we wanted to hear, and I feel like we definitely achieved that."

AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE's sound remains firmly rooted in catchy alternative metal, the NWOAHM, with industrial influences and groovy heaviness. "Tango Umbrella" track listing:

01. Let All The World Believe02. Drowning Under Everything03. Perfectionist04. Sacred05. I Will Have My Day06. A King Among Men07. Suffer Elegantly08. Antidote09. Prolific Catastrophe10. Down And Depraved

AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE released the "Shoot" EP in July 2013. The disc was recorded by Don Debiase at Studio D Productions in Cleveland, Ohio and was mixed by Dave Fortman at Balance Productions in New Orleans, Louisiana.

AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE split in August 2009 and reformed two years later.

Video footage of Greek guitar virtuoso Gus G. — well known in rock and metal circles for his work as Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist and as leader of his own band FIREWIND — performing at last night's (Friday, February 19) Guitar Gods Festival in Miami Beach, Florida can be seen below.

As previously reported, Gus G. will embark on a mini North American headlining tour from April 15 to April 24.

Gus said: "I'm very excited to play my first U.S. and Canada shows in support of my new album, 'Brand New Revolution'. I purposely decided to do select, VERY exclusive and intimate shows for my die-hard followers. I know it's been long overdue and I hope to see you all there for some loud, hot and sweaty rocking nights."

He added: "I will be playing mainly material from my two solo albums, but there will be some classic FIREWIND, Ozzy and BLACK SABBATH songs sprinkled into the set as well. These shows are not to be missed."

The dates are as follows:

April 15 - Rock Island, IL - RibcoApril 16 - Westland, MI - Token LoungeApril 17 - Bradley, IL - The Looney BinApril 19 - Clifton, NJ - DingbatzApril 20 - Ottawa, Canada - Brass MonkeyApril 21 - Toronto, Canada - The RockpileApril 22 - Long Branch, NJ - The Brighton BarApril 24 - Elmhurst, NY - Blackthorne 51

"Brand New Revolution" was released in Europe in July 2015 via Century Media. The CD was made available through Century Media in Australia and South America, Dismanic/eOne in North America and King Records in Japan. The cover artwork was once again created by Gustavo Sazes, who previously worked with Gus on the guitarist's debut album, "I Am The Fire", and also took care of artwork duties by such bands as ARCH ENEMY, KAMELOT and FIREWIND.

"Brand New Revolution" features guest vocal appearances by Jeff Scott Soto (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JOURNEY, TALISMAN), Elize Ryd (AMARANTHE), Jacob Bunton (ADLER, LYNAM) and Mats Levén (CANDLEMASS, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, TREAT).

"Brand New Revolution" was recorded with Jay Ruston (STONE SOUR, ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER) and mixed by Mike Fraser (METALLICA, AC/DC, VAN HALEN, AEROSMITH). Just as on "I Am The Fire", the core of Gus's recording group consisted of Jo Nunez (FIREWIND) on drums and Marty O'Brien (LITA FORD) on bass.

In a recent interview with Guitar World magazine, Gus said that "Brand New Revolution" came together "almost like two EPs in one, because it was done in two sessions. The first session was done in L.A. with a band in a live room, with Jay Ruston engineering, and we caught that live energy and atmosphere and vibe. The other half, I came back to Greece and we did it the more traditional way for me, where the drummer lays down the tracks first and then I do the bass and the guitars. So it's half and half."

According to Gus, "Brand New Revolution" is, first and foremost, a collection of songs; in fact, other than the opening number, a dazzling display of technical ferocity called "The Quest", there are no instrumentals on the record. "That's really what I was going for," Gus told Guitar World. "I'm actually getting a lot of pressure right now to put out an instrumental album, but I'm not the kind of guy who can write 10 or 12 of those. It'd probably take me 10 years to do a record like that. I like to write songs — I'm a band guy and I like to work with singers. I'm very old school. I just like three-minute, catchy songs. But they have to have cool guitar parts — that's the difference. If you know how to write a great song and you can put a killer solo to it, to me, that's it."

Singer Mike Howe played his first show with METAL CHURCH in more than twenty years last night (Friday, February 19) at D & R Theatre in Aberdeen, Washington. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

Howe, who previously fronted METAL CHURCH from 1988 until 1994, is featured on the band's new album, "XI", which will be released on March 25 via Rat Pak Records. The CD was produced by Kurdt Vanderhoof and co-produced by Chris "The Wizard" Collier.

"XI" is available for pre-order in various exclusive bundles at this location. A limited number of the deluxe international version are available on the web site and features a bonus disc of eight extra songs. Other bundles include guitar picks, stickers, a special-edition behind-the-scenes photobook, t-shirts and even a limited number of personal phone calls from Mike Howe himself. The album is also available for pre-order on Amazon, Google Play and via iTunes. Fans that order the digital version will receive an instant download of the song "Killing Your Time" from the new album.

In the summer of 2014, METAL CHURCH suddenly found themselves in need of a new singer. As fate would have it, guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof was already in talks with Mike for another project that he was working on with SAXON drummer Nigel Glockler, so he decided to ask Mike to rejoin METAL CHURCH. Mike agreed, but true to form, didn't want to make it official until he knew for sure that the integrity of the new material was there.

Said Mike: "Kurdt Vanderhoof got ahold of me in August of 2014, and he proposed [me] coming back to the band. He said Ronny [Munroe] left the band and he didn't really wanna carry on with METAL CHURCH unless maybe I would consider coming back. So I said, 'Well, I don't know. I'm open to it. But let's see what kind of music we can come up with.' So Kurdt went back to the studio and started writing songs in the vein of 'Hanging In The Balance', where we left off twenty years ago, and he sent them to me over the Internet. And I was, like, 'Damn! The guy still has it and he's doing great work.' So he sent me another batch, and that batch was just as good [as], if not better than, the other. So, from there, I said, ‘Well, I can’t say no to this. And let's just see how it goes.' And we started writing lyrics and getting together, and it's now morphed into this, being back in Aberdeen in the studio making the new METAL CHURCH record." METAL CHURCH 2016 is:

Mike Howe (vocals)Kurdt Vanderhoof (guitar)Jeff Plate (drums)Steve Unger (bass)Rick Van Zandt (guitar)

Rick Van Zandt had to go in for emergency eye surgery to repair a detached retina and is unable to join METAL CHURCH on the road for several weeks. He has been temporarily replaced by ex-FIREWOLFE guitar player Paul Kleff.

Former SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo will sit behind the kit for SUICIDAL TENDENCIES when the latter band hits the road as the support act for MEGADETH beginning on February 26 in Las Vegas, Nevada. SUICIDAL TENDENCIES says in a statement: "You know what that means... It's gonna be CYCO and BRUTAL!!!"

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES tour dates with MEGADETH, CHILDREN OF BODOM and HAVOK (except where noted):

Feb. 26 - The Pearl - Las Vegas, NV Feb. 27 - Comerica Theatre - Phoenix, AZ Feb. 28 - Hollywood Palladium - Los Angeles, CA Feb. 29 - Warfield Theatre - San Francisco, CA Mar. 02 - Domino Room - Bend, OR (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES headline show)Mar. 03 - The Showbox - Seattle, WA (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES headline show)Mar. 05 - South Okanagan Events Centre - Penticton, Canada Mar. 06 - Grey Eagle Event Centre - Calgary, Canada Mar. 08 - EnCana Events Centre - Dawson Creek, Canada Mar. 09 - Rexall Place - Edmonton, Canada Mar. 10 - Mosaic Place - Moose Jaw, Canada Mar. 12 - Myth - Maplewood, MN Mar. 13 - Aragon Ballroom - Chicago, IL Mar. 15 - Rapids Theatre - Niagara Falls, NY Mar. 16 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY Mar. 17 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY Mar. 19 - Sands Bethlehem Event Center - Bethlehem, PA Mar. 20 - Electric Factory - Philadelphia, PA Mar. 21 - House of Blues - Boston, MA

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' latest album, "13" sold around 3,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 187 on The Billboard 200 chart. The first studio album in 13 years from SUICIDAL TENDENCIES was produced by vocalist Mike Muir and Grammy-nominated engineer/mixer Paul Northfield (DREAM THEATER, HOLE, RUSH).

Lombardo is currently a member of DEAD CROSS, a new "punk" outfit also featuring members of THE LOCUST and RETOX.

DEAD CROSS recently spent time in the studio recording its debut album, due later in the year. The sessions were helmed by producer Ross Robinson, who has previously worked with KORN, DEFTONES, SEPULTURA and LIMP BIZKIT, among others.

French progressive metallers GOJIRA have finished mixing their long-awaited new album for a tentative spring release via Roadrunner. The follow-up to 2012's "L'Enfant Sauvage" was recorded at Silver Cord, the new New York-based recording studio designed and owned by the band's guitarist/vocalist, Joseph Duplantier, and was mixed with the help of Johann Meyer, GOJIRA's sound engineer.

In a 2015 interview with Rocksverige.se, Joseph Duplantier stated about the songwriting sessions for the band's new CD: "We record demos, we jam, we work really hard… super hard on the songs. We wanna put out our greatest album. We do things a little differently. We dump songs, we dump riffs, which we never did before. [In the past] we would prepare 12 songs, get in the studio and record them just exactly as they are on the demos. We decided to do it differently this time. So [on previous albums] we would push each song to its maximum until it becomes really good. But this time we wanna select them right away. [If we come up a riff that sounds slightly] boring [from the start], we [get rid of it] instead of [spending time] trying to make it more interesting. So we have at least 20 songs — like, the main ideas, the core of each one. We have a lot of material that we really love this time. It's kind of challenging for us, also, 'cause the style is changing a little bit. We have some PANTERA-ish kind of riffs, which is kind of new for us. But we wanna… Because we want to… We want [the riffs] to be a little punchier sometimes."

Despite the abundance of material, Duplantier said that GOJIRA's new album would likely contain only about ten tracks. "I want a short, very dynamic kind of album," he said. "But we have so much material; we could release three records or something. We believe in simplicity. When we release a record, we do it the old-school way. We could release a song once in a while and that's it. It would be better for these days to do it this way. I think that's what bands will do in the future. I think albums are dying. I think bands are going to work for a week at the end of a tour, release a song and go back on tour. And here you go — the fans are excited… But we're so old school. We still wanna have that big chapter in our career that we call albums that are so important. It's like a personal Bible that we're writing; it's very intense."

Duplantier also revealed that was is producing the new GOJIRA album himself. "I have to do it myself somehow," he said. "It makes me feel great. I love it. That's what I do. It's what I like. I wanna do it. So everybody's, like, 'Oh, you should work with a big producer.' I don't think so. It could be a very personal sound, it could be a very direct dialog with the fans, without the interaction of anyone. Even if it's a great person, this person is still between us and the fans."

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

In March 2015, GOJIRA released "Les Enfants Sauvages", a limited edition 5" x 7", 60-page hardcover photo book chronicling the band's journey around the world over the first two years since the release of "L'Enfant Sauvage". The images were taken around the globe, spanning over 150 shows on three continents, and were hand-selected by GOJIRA guitarist/vocalist Joseph Duplantier and his brother, drummer Mario Duplantier. The package also includes a live CD and DVD capturing the band;s performance at the legendary Brixton Academy in London, England.

Guitar icon Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE) played a special "An Evening With…" set last night (Friday, February 19) at the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

Wylde's new album, "Book Of Shadows II", will be released on April 8 via Entertainment One Music (eOne Music). Zakk's first solo release in 20 years is the highly anticipated follow-up to 1996's "Book Of Shadows", a classic album Wylde released between his work with Ozzy Osbourne that has since become a fan favorite. "Book Of Shadows II" was recently named as one of the "Most Anticipated Metal Releases of 2016" via RollingStone.com.

Wylde has been feverishly working on new material since he wrapped up BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's "Unblackened" spring tour last year. All songs on "Book Of Shadows II" were recorded and produced at Wylde's home studio, The Black Vatican, where several of Wylde's recent releases were made. The new effort will be followed by a wave of tour dates.

Legendary guitarists Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai, along with veteran bassist Rudy Sarzo, performed a cover version of the VAN HALEN classic "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" during last night's (Friday, February 19) Guitar Gods Festival, which was held in Miami Beach, Florida.

The brainchild of Yngwie's wife and manager April Malmsteen, Guitar Gods Festival was a wall-to-wall showcase of virtuosity featuring performances by Vai, IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain, Gus G., Sarzo and, of course, Malmsteen.

The centerpiece of the Guitar Gods Festival was the online competition where budding artists duked it out to determine the next "Guitar God," with the winners voted on by fans and an all-star panel of judges. Several finalists performed at the event: Brad Jurjens, Elmo Karjalainen, Tyler Morris, Jorge Almarales, Joey Lodes, Pareidolia, Robert Rodrigo, Janne Nieminen and Emil Pohjalainen, and judge favorites Mrs. Smith and Dario Pardini.

There was a $25 submission fee for entrants, with a portion of that fee going to benefit the April Malmsteen Foundation, a foundation that works to protect endangered species and their habitats around the globe.

Regarding how the idea for the festival came about, April Malmsteen told Seymour Duncan: "Years ago when I came up with the concept of this festival, I really wasn't looking at what was trendy. The idea just popped into my head simply because I saw a struggle among young musicians where in this day and age, it was hard to get into the music business and get exposure. I wanted to give an opportunity to up-and-coming musicians to ride on the wings of already-established artists. This particular event in Miami is as of now a one-off thing, but if it works, we'll definitely do more. I don’t see anyone else giving the same sort of avenue to new artists."

Vai, Malmsteen, Zakk Wylde, Nuno Bettencourt and Tosin Abasi will join forces for the "Generation Axe" tour beginning on April 5 in Seattle. The package is hitting the road for 26 performances in North America.

"The 'Generation Axe' show is a unique performance of five fiercely talented guitar players coming together to create a six-string extravaganza that is sure to amaze and delight," commented Steve Vai.

Rock singer and songwriter Ron Marks will shift gears from music and release a new comedy album titled "Sour Pup" for DSN Music.

Marks is best known as the former guitarist for the heavy metal group CELTIC FROST, and his own project SUBSONIC.

"Sour Pup" is just another example of the talent of Marks, who is most remembered as a hard rock and metal guitarist but has shown his wide range of diverse skills.

Marks has released two very assorted albums from SUBSONIC in recent years: the 30-track "Trifecta" in 2012, and the acoustic-driven "Honeycomb" in 2014.

In regards to his new comedy project, Marks states: "I've remained a huge fan of satire for many years. The works of Frank Zappa, Mark Twain and Leon Redbone being my biggest influences .

"Mockery is a great way to disarm the fears and empty values that we're supposed to fill our lives with. And 'Sour Pup' is my offering toward that end. I made it for fun."

Marks performed as lead guitarist for CELTIC FROST in 1987 and toured the U.K. and U.S. with the group in support of the "Into The Pandemonium" release. He is also credited as a co-writer on their 1990 album "Vanity/Nemesis".

"Sour Pup" is scheduled for a worldwide release via DSN Music on Tuesday, March 8, and will be available via online and mobile stores and streaming services, such as Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Rhapsody and eMusic.

Rush have released the following video, showcasing their classic track “Tom Sawyer” through the years of 2003-2015 from Rush In Rio, R30, Snakes & Arrows Live, Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland, Clockwork Angels Tour, and R40 Live.

Rush frontman Geddy Lee recently sat down with Music Radar and went through a track-by-track overview of the band's critically acclaimed fourth album, 2112, released in 1976. An excerpt is available below:

Lee: “It begins with the 'Overture', which – despite being the first thing you hear – was the last piece to be written, much like with any classical overture. We wanted to take the most important musical threads from each of the subsequent parts to create a ‘new’ piece of music that would represent the album as a whole. So that’s where it all starts.”

“And then 'The Temples Of Syrinx' sets the scene, because 2112 is about a totalitarian society that controls everything about your life, including the music that you hear. It manufactures it all, so that’s what we wanted to say with this track. It sets up the hierarchy in this futuristic world that we’ve arrived in.”

“'Discovery' is where the hero of the story finds a device in a cave. It’s a guitar, but he doesn’t know it because they don’t exist in his time period. So he picks it up and realises that it’s a device that can make music and create sounds. Previous to that point, everything he’d ever heard had been provided to him by the people that run his world.”

Go to this location for the complete list.



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Nuclear Blast Entertainment has announced the signing of depressive black metal sensations GHOST BATH. Originally released only in Europe, the band's latest album, "Moonlover" is now available digitally worldwide with an exclusive bonus track. A physical release in North America will follow in both CD and vinyl formats on June 10. "'Moonlover' is the first part of a trilogy of albums we plan to release," comments GHOST BATH mastermind Nameless. "It encompasses the human experience and dwells within the minds of those who walk the earth. It deals with a longing for death and an eventual journey to realize the death instinct, Thanatos. A sort of numb sadness drenches this albums tracks; melancholy, tragedy, and despair all take hold of 'Moonlover' at any given moment. "The bonus track, 'Ascension', is a transitional point for the band. The title refers to a journey into the heavens, a hint to where the next installment of our album trilogy will go. We feel that it envelopes the sounds of 'Moonlover', while also leading the listener to what will come next." To celebrate "Moonlover" finally being available in North America, the band has released a music video for the track "Golden Number". Check it out below.

"The music video for 'Golden Number' was birthed from a short story written by myself," continues Nameless. "It is an introduction into the band as a whole, revealing the definition of GHOST BATH; the act of committing suicide by drowning. Symbolism can be found throughout the video ritual, mainly, the symbolic and literal death of oneself as an ultimate solution to the unrelenting anxieties and stressors of waking life." "Moonlover" track listing:

01. The Sleeping Fields02. Golden Number03. Happyhouse04. Beneath The Shade Tree05. The Silver Flower Pt. 106. The Silver Flower Pt. 207. Death And The Maiden

Bonus track:

8. Ascension

GHOST BATH began in October of 2013 with the release of their self-titled EP on Solitude Productions (China). This was followed by their debut LP titled, "Funeral", which was released on Pest Productions (China) in June of 2014. "Moonlover", their latest LP was released originally on Northern Silence Productions (Germany) and is now being re-released through Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The album was produced by Josh Schroeder and Nameless and mixed by Josh Schroeder.

TESTAMENT guitarist Alex Skolnick is sitting out the first three shows of the band's North American tour with SLAYER and CARCASS due to scheduling conflicts with this weekend's Axes & Anchors cruise, where he is booked to perform. Replacing him for the tonight and tomorrow night's concerts in Chicago, Illinois as well as Monday night's gig in Nashville, Tennessee is Canadian guitarist Glen Drover (MEGADETH, KING DIAMOND), who has filled in for Skolnick in the past.

Commented Glen: "Sold-out show in Chicago tonight! SLAYER and TESTAMENT. I'm filling in for Alex for a few shows in TESTAMENT. First time playing onstage in years. It's going to be awesome!"

Added Alex: "Heads up: No Chicago / Nashville [for] me next [week]. Sorry [to] miss; was already booked. There'll be a good sub [and] I'll play Richmond [and] all the rest."

Skolnick will rejoin TESTAMENT on stage on Wednesday, February 24 in Richmond, Virginia.

TESTAMENT's U.S. tour with SLAYER and CARCASS is scheduled to end on March 26 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

TESTAMENT has set "The Brotherhood Of The Snake" as the tentative title of its eleventh studio album, due later in the year via Nuclear Blast. The CD's projected title track, which has already been recorded, is expected to be made available in the coming weeks.

Drover left MEGADETH at the end of 2007 and was replaced by Chris Broderick, who previously played with NEVERMORE and JAG PANZER.

Drover previously played with TESTAMENT in 2008, when Skolnick was on tour with TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, and again in 2010.

This spring, Alarion - the solo project of Dutch guitarist Bas Willemsen formerly known as Alerion - will release their debut album Waves Of Destruction through Freia Music. The album contains an hour of melodic, symphonic and intense music featuring appearances by many great musicians, whose identities will gradually be revealed in time. The following update has been posted:

"Erik Laan recorded piano and moog for two tracks of the album, as can be seen in the first teaser video (below). Erik was also the first guest musician invited to guest on Waves Of Destruction. He recorded his parts in the studio of his band Silhouette at his home. Bas first met Erik after a Silhouette show in 2012. He was impressed by Erik’s compositions for Silhouette and the influence his compositions and playing have in the band. It is an honour to have him as a guest on Waves Of Destruction."

Musicians also confirmed to appear on Waves Of Destruction include.

Bas Willemsen - guitars, keyboards, orchestration, bass
Tom Gorissen (Hymir) - keyboards
Nico Lammers - acoustic guitars
Ronald van Schaik - bass
Jeroen Nagel (Blind Justice) - drums

Check out the cover art for Waves Of Destruction below.

For more information go to the official Alarion website.



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Canadian tech death strategists, Unbreakable Hatred, has unleashed the shredding guitar play-through video to the track "Unpredictable Brutality". The tune comes by way of the band's crippling Ruins full-length released last summer via Unique Leader Records.

Unbreakable Hatred was forged by guitarist Philippe Drouin, his brother, drummer Dominic and vocalist/bassist Simon B. Lapointe. Manifesting a mutinous amalgam of old-school death metal brutality, modern technical wizardry and blistering groove, over the course of seven years, one previous full-length and a gaggle of touring, Unbreakable Hatred's relentlessly visceral sound expeditions and DIY drive has reaped the respect and adulation from some of extreme metal's most esteemed figureheads. Suffocation's Terrance Hobbs calls Unbreakable Hatred, "one of Canada's premier death metal acts," adding, "this trio of power lays waste to the listeners ear drums on every level and then some!" "Unbreakable Hatred blew us away each night with their energy and ripping songs," championed Misery Index's Jason Netherton, "it was a total pleasure to have them on our tour... Ferocious!" Cryptopsy's Flo Mounier concurs, "Unbreakable Hatred are definitely one of the new bands out there to be recognized! Once again proving that Quebec musicians are on top of their game!"



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"Anthem", the new video from VENOMOUS CONCEPT — the international grind punk "supergroup" featuring BRUTAL TRUTH vocalist Kevin Sharp and bassist Danny Lilker alongside NAPALM DEATH members Shane Embury (bass) and Danny Herrera (drums), plus guitarist John Cooke — can be seen below. The song is taken from VENOMOUS CONCEPT's third full-length album, "Kick Me Silly - VC III", which was released on January 8 via Season Of Mist.

"Kick Me Silly - VC III" track listing:

01. Rise02. Bust With You Debt03. Anthem04. The Potters Ground05. Human Waste06. Leper Dog07. Farm Boy08. Head On A Stick09. Pretend10. Johnny Cheeseburger11. Forever War12. Good Times13. Pretty On The Inside14. Holiday In Switzerland15. Fucked In The Czech Repub16. Neck Tie17. Frontal Lobe Disorder18. Daycare19. Quazimodo20. Burning Fatigue21. Rocket Science22. Pissing Match (bonus track)

VENOMOUS CONCEPT was conceived as something like a grind punk supergroup — if that term can even be applied to a bunch of people with clear counter culture preferences. The name was quite obviously chosen as a homage to the legendary POISON IDEA.

At the core of VENOMOUS CONCEPT, you will find BRUTAL TRUTH vocalist Kevin Sharp and Shane Embury, the iconic bass guitarist of NAPALM DEATH. The two musicians had bonded over beer and pizza as well as their mutual love of such punk heroes such as BLACK FLAG, SYSTEMATIC DEATH, GBH, SIEGE, and, of course, the aforementioned POISON IDEA. The duo soon set about plotting their own assault on the style. Armed with bucket loads of coffee, the pair roped in Danny Herrera of NAPALM DEATH on drums as well as MELVINS guitarist Buzz Osborne. A record deal was signed with Mike Patton and VENOMOUS CONCEPT's first album, "Retroactive Abortion" (2004), was followed by a a split CD with Japanese grind band 324 (2006) and another in 2008 with BLÖOD DÜSTER.

Osborne eventually went on a hiatus, but he has never left and there is always a chance for his return — schedules permitting. Shane switched to guitar, when longtime friend Danny Lilker joined on bass. Next, VENOMOUS CONCEPT brought in John Cooke of CORRUPT MORAL ALTAR on second guitar for touring. A second full-length titled "Poisoned Apple" was also released in 2008.

Finally and after too long of a quiet spell, the band decided that it was time for more pizza and beer (cue the A.O.D. classic). They got together with a bunch of ideas, which they had recorded in demo form here and there, on tour, and in various smelly rehearsal studios…

VENOMOUS CONCEPT recorded "Kick Me Silly - VC III" during 2014, which sees the band continue in their trademark hardcore punk styles — with the added bonus of compositions by Lilker and Cooke. You will find these fire-starters branching out dynamically in order to perfect their art of grinding rock!

VENOMOUS CONCEPT is:

Kevin Sharp: vocalsDan Lilker: bass guitarDanny Herrera: drumsJohn Cooke: guitar, backing vocalsShane Embury: guitar, backing vocals

Canadian rock legend Lee Aaron has checked in with the following update:

"Hey friends! Thought I'd share sneak peek #2 for the Fire And Gasoline album, as it was leaked last week and made it's way into some European webzine's anyway. Embracing the wave..."

p>Lee Aaron's new album, Fire And Gasoline, will be released on March 25th. The complete tracklist is as follows:

"Tomboy"
"Fire And Gasoline"
"Wanna Be"
"Bittersweet"
"Popular"
"50 Miles"
"Bad Boyfriend"
"Heart Fix"
"Nothing Says Everything"
"If You Don't Love Me"
"Find The Love"

Aaron's guitarist Sean Kelly (pictured above) recently checked in:

"Here is a promo clip for the album, I'm so honoured to get to make music with these fine folks, and really proud of the album we made! Please share with your rock n roll minded friends."



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Multi-instrumentalist / singer / songwriter Kristoffer Gildenlöw is gearing up for the release of his second solo album, The Rain. He will perform live on March 25th at Cultuurpodium Boerderij in Zoetermeer, Netherlands in support of the release. The album is due out via Melodic Revolution Records in April 2016.

Tickets for the show can be purchased here.

The live band line-up on the night will include:

Kristoffer Gildenlöw 
Paul Coenradie (Aniday, Valentine)
Dec Burke (Frost, Audioplastik)
Dirk Bruinenberg (Patrick Rondat, Elegy)
David Gutierrez Rojas (Kingfisher Sky)
Anne Bakker (Blaze Bayley)
Daniël Huijben (The 11th Hour)
Rick Snel (Déva Dyne)

Gildenlöw’s eleven year career as bass player in the progressive rock band Pain of Salvation set the wheels in motion for his solo career, which took flight with release of his debut album, Rust (2013), paving way for The Rain. In addition to vocals, Gildenlöw performs a wide range of instruments and uses carefully selected guest musicians - adding strings, accordion and church organ - to make this album come to life.

The Rain is a concept album that examines the life of a man in later stages of dementia who struggles with his own reality, perceived through the metaphor of rain and clouds.

The gentleness of the piano passages oppose the angst and turmoil which lie beneath. The gentle pace at which the album progresses is reflective of the destructive force of the disease upon the man, and you find yourself at the tipping point with the track, ‘Breath In, Breath Out’. It is through this lyrically beautiful song that the realization of the end becomes apparent; leaving the listener grasping for the beauty captured in the mind’s eye.

The tracklist for The Rain is as follows:

"After The Rain pt. II
"Holding On pt. I
"Seeking The Sun pt. I
"Seeking The Sun pt. II
"Worthy
"Holding On pt. II
"See it All
"Peripheral Memory
"Breathe In, Breathe Out
"In the Evening
"It Was Me
"Drizzle
"She
"All For You
"The Funeral pt. I
"The Funeral pt. II

For information and updates go to Gildenlöw's official website here.



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Italian hard rock quartet, A Perfect Day, recently signed a deal with Scarlet Records for the release of the band’s second album, The Deafening Silence, on March 18th. The first single taken from The Deafening Silence is “In The Name Of God” and the video  for the song can be seen below.

“We chose the song “In The Name Of God” as first video for the upcoming album, mainly for two reasons: the first one is about the lyrics; we would like to give our point of view on a highly current topic. The second one is about the music. “In The Name Of God” sounds awfully A Perfect Day”, states the band.

Formed in 2011, A Perfect Day is the brainchild of Andrea Cantarelli, guitar player and co-founder of Italian heavy metal band Labyrinth, and includes drummer Alessandro Bissa (Labyrinth), singer Marco Baruffetti, and bass player Gigi Andreone (Odd Dimension).

Produced in collaboration with Giovanni “Meniak” Nebbia (co-producer and sound engineer of Labyrinth, Vision Divine, Timo Tolkki), described as “the fifth member of the band”, the album offers a feast of listening experiences.

“We put the record together with a lot of confidence,” Cantarelli reveals, “and without the need to include commercially-driven songs. We did it for ourselves, something to be proud of ourselves for years to come. The Deafening Silence will take you on a ride that you will not forget!"

The Deafening Silence tracklisting:

“Intro: The Silent Prayer”
“A New Dawn”
“My Lonely Island”
“The Age Of Innocence”
“In The Name Of God”
“Before Your Eyes”
“The Deafening Silence”
“Angel”
“Mission: Annihilation”
“The Fooling Glass”
“Turning Back To You”

“In The Name Of God” video:

(Photo by: Emmanuel Mathez)



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Ontario, Canada-based prog/stoner/doom band, Sierra, is preparing to unveil 72, a sprawling, progressive, psychedelic EP with a very personal story line based on a hometown murder and long tale of injustice and revenge. As the record nears release, the band has sanctioned the creation of a video for one segment of the solitary twenty-three-minute track.
 
Produced by Phillip Cope (Kylesa), 72 tells the true story of a murder that took place in Sierra's hometown of Kitchener-Waterloo, back in 1972. A man, now in his sixties, told the band how his girlfriend was taken and murdered by a group of men on her sixteenth birthday, and as he was the last person seen with her alive, he was accused and harassed by the town and police for a solid year. It wasn't until one of the men killed himself and in a suicide note admitted what he had done that this man was cleared of all charges. 72 pays tribute not only to the bands love of all things progressive but also to a great friend of the band, and what he lost.
 
The band chose director Torin Langen's gritty style for the video of "Prologue 72”, and while the segment is based on the tragic tale the EP tells, out of respect to the victim the video is in no way a re-enactment of the events, but simply the directors inspired vision to help convey the song's depth.
 
The 72 EP will see self-release by the band on March 4th, on both CD and digital formats. Pre-orders are now available here.

72 tracklisting:

"Prologue 72”
"Dead or Dreaming”
"Seventies Pigs”
"Agatha”
"Black Fin”
"To Hear You”
"She Waits”

"Prologue 72” video:

 
Sierra has confirmed several new shows, including providing support for Indian Handcrafts at their record release show in Toronto on February 26th, and a show just days after the release of 72 in Waterloo with Hawkeyes and Public Animal. Additional shows will be announced soon.
 
Sierra Live:

February
26 - Velvet Underground - Toronto, ON (with Indian Handcrafts)

March
18 - Chainsaw - Waterloo, ON (with Hawkeyes, Public Animal)



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London based metallers, Karybdis, release their sophomore album, Samsara, today, February 19th. A full album stream can be found below.

A press release states: “Modern metal needs new heroes. As it becomes harder to spot diamonds twinkling in a murky, generic swamp of mimics and copycats, bands with the power, intelligence and style to drag the genre forward are more precious than ever. London’s Karybdis have long had something special about them: that hard-to-define essence of something better, something beyond.”

“Our previous album From The Depths got brilliant reviews in the press and online but we don't feel like enough people got to hear it and that's something we can't let happen with Samsara,” says bassist Jay Gladwin. “We are going to try and be everywhere in the UK next year and will be forcing ourselves down people's throats whether they like it or not. We believe we've written a very special album and now we need to make sure everyone hears it.”

Tracklisting:

“Rorschach”
“Forsaken”
“Constellations”
“Ascendancy”
“Mermaids”
“Samsara”
“Summon The Tides”
“Monster”
“Avarice”
“Absence”

Album stream:

“Avarice” video:

“Rorschach” lyric video:

 

 



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NoiseArt Records has announced the signing of the German melodic death metal heroes, Nothgard.

Founded in late 2008 by singer and lead-guitarist Dom R. Crey, the band stands out due to technical guitars, epic orchestral elements and intoxicating live shows. With their two releases, Warhorns of Midgard (2011) and Age of Pandora (2014), Nothgard have already got a large following. Their blend of melodic death metal with the mentioned epic elements and further influences out of Neo-Classic and Folk have quickly made them a favorite with fans and critics alike.

Mastermind Dom R. Crey states: "Wow, what else should I say... Basically these kind of statements tend to be the same all the time... The band says "we are very happy bla bla”, but let me tell you something:  Of course this is more than great but even more important is the fact, that I really think this will push Nothgard to a higher step. Not only because the label consists of highly professional working people but further more because it simply fits to the band, that's it.

“We have been talking about the plans of both sides for a couple of months and we finally decided that this is the best possible decision we can make. And of course we are very happy to work with NoiseArt Records, haha that's for sure! We are soooo looking forward to the release of our third album via NoiseArt and Universal! Believe me - it will be a f**** blast!"

The third Nothgard untitled studio album is planned for a release in September via NoiseArt Records. Stay tuned for more information.



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BraveWords is teaming up with Montreal’s Demise Of The Crown for the premier of their second single “Human Denial” from their upcoming self-titled debut album produced by Kevin Jardine (Uplift Studios, guitarist of Slaves On Dope) and mastered by Joao Carvalho (Protest The Hero, Alexisonfire, Rush). The album is due out on March 4th (preorder here) and features this Canadian power metal band's strong melodic death metal and hard rock influences fused with epic choruses, classic high ranged vocals plus explosive guitar solos that are reminiscent of Eddie Van Halen with undertones of Yngwie Malmsteen sure to leave fans humming.

"This track ‘Human Denial’ is one of the heavier songs on the album. The Limp Bizkit inspired intro riff was something I've been noodling around with, but never thought we would use, the rest of the song just unfolded from there. The lyrics have a lot of metaphors that hint at topics about revenge, torture, abuse and inhumanity. At the end there is a massive breakdown tempo change inspired by Pantera's ‘This Love’ and the guitar solo has a few country southern influences reminiscent of Dimebag" comments guitarist Manuel Iradian.

Tracklisting:

“We Are Invincible”
“Human Denial”
“Save Me”
“Sides Of The Wave”
“Don’t Worry”
“Cold Dead Eyes”
“Eons”



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Greek melodic metallers, InnerWish, will release their new album, entitled InnerWish, on March 18th in Europe and North America via Ulterium Records. The album will be available on CD, LP, tape and digital. Bickee Music will issue the album in Japan on March 30th.  A new lyric video for the album track “Needles In My Mind” can be found below.

The album was mixed by Fredrik Nordström and Henrik Udd at Studio Fredman (In Flames, Dimmu Borgir, Hammerfall) and mastered by Peter In De Betou (Arch Enemy, Opeth, Amon Amarth).

The artwork for the album was created by Felipe Machado Franco (Blind Guardian, Rhapsody Of Fire, Xandria) and the design was done by Jan Yrlund (Korpiklaani, Apocalyptica, Manowar).

The band comments on the new album: "This is the first album with our new lineup, and we hope this lineup will be unchanged for many years since we now feel stronger, more confident and sure about ourselves than ever before. For those reasons we chose InnerWish as the title of our new album, because it represents us in the most exact way. We are very proud of this album. It might sound very common, but it's the truth for us: this is the best InnerWish album so far! Heavy, aggressive, modern, melodic and diverse at the same time, with all the classical InnerWish elements, combined with some new ones. It might have been 6 years since the release of 'No turning back' but all the difficult times we've been through made us stronger and the result is this new, fifth album of InnerWish. We are back for good!"

Tracklisting:

“Roll The Dice”
“Broken”
“Modern Babylon”
“Machines Of Fear”
“Needles In My Mind”
“My World On Fire”
“Rain Of A Thousand Years”
“Serenity”
“Sins Of The Past”
“Through My Eyes”
“Zero Ground”
“Cross The Line”
“Tame The Seven Seas”

“Needles In My Mind” lyric video:

“Rain Of A Thousand Years”:



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Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame president and CEO Joel Peresman has denied that former DEEP PURPLE guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has been "banned" from attending the band's Rock Hall induction ceremony, insisting that Ritchie "is invited to come enjoy the evening and accept the award."

Blackmore claimed in a statement on his Facebook page that DEEP PURPLE's current manager has asked for the guitarist to be excluded from the ceremony in April. The statement read in part: "Ritchie was discussing the possibility of attending, until we received correspondence from the president of the Hall Of Fame, who said that Bruce Payne, management for the current DEEP PURPLE touring band, had said 'No.' Therefore Ritchie will not be attending the ceremony."

But in a new interview with RollingStone.com, Peresman explained that Payne is not in a position to prevent any inductee from attending the event. He said: "There is no way he is banned from the ceremony. That notion we would ever do that is patently untrue. We've never banned any inductee. He is invited to come enjoy the evening and accept the award."

Peresman also said that he reached out to managers for the current lineup of DEEP PURPLE and Blackmore to try and facilitate a one-off reunion at the ceremony. "DEEP PURPLE's manager Bruce Payne told me they were unwilling to perform with Ritchie," he said. "We've had many situations like this in the past and many times these things get worked out for one night, and then they go back to their neutral corners the next day."

Peresman relayed the band's position to Carole Stevens, who manages Blackmore. "I said to her, 'Maybe you can take the high road and reach out to them and see if something can be worked out as far as the performance goes,'" he said. "We would love to have them all play together. We always want to do that. We always want to see the actual inductees that haven't performed together in a long time, if they have the opportunity to come together for at least one night, to do that. We'd like to see it as an organization, and I'm sure fans would like to see it too."

The DEEP PURPLE members that are being inducted are: Ritchie Blackmore, David Coverdale, Rod Evans, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Glenn Hughes, Jon Lord and Ian Paice.

This year's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony will take place on April 8 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

HBO will air this year's ceremony on April 30.

DEEP PURPLE singer Ian Gillan has defended the band's decision to only perform with the group's current lineup at the upcoming Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction, explaining that "there is no slight intended nor any desire to upset anyone" with this move.

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony seemed like a rare opportunity for DEEP PURPLE to reunite with its founding guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who wrote many of the band's most memorable riffs, including "Smoke on the Water", but hasn't played with the group since 1993.

Now Gillan has confirmed that no such reunion will take place, saying that only "the living breathing DEEP PURPLE" will play at the event, which will take place on April 8 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Said Gillan in a statement: "We were faced with a hard decision when we heard about the Hall Of Fame inductions. It was a surprise to us that [current DEEP PURPLE guitarist] Steve Morse and [current DEEP PURPLE keyboardist] Don Airey did not qualify as inductees.

"Ian Gillan, Ian Paice and Roger Glover decided upon the offer of a compromise which has been agreed with the Hall Of Fame and enables us to turn up on the night.

"DEEP PURPLE inductees will accept the awards and then the living breathing DEEP PURPLE will perform.

"It should be stressed that there is no slight intended nor any desire to upset anyone regarding this decision; it is purely a mark of respect to Steve and Don.

"I spoke with David Coverdale last week and he expressed complete understanding of the way it was being handled. Thanks, David. You're a gent.

"Outside of this event, there are no circumstances under which a 'reunion' could or would take place.

"So, let's all get up there, shake hands, smile for the cameras and get it done with dignity and respect for all the existing and past members of a very special family."

The DEEP PURPLE members that are being inducted are: Ritchie Blackmore, David Coverdale, Rod Evans, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Glenn Hughes, Jon Lord and Ian Paice.

HBO will air this year's ceremony on April 30.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, BRING ME THE HORIZON singer Oli Sykes toppled COLDPLAY's dinner table during his band's performance at the NME Awards in London on Wednesday night (February 17). In footage filmed by fans, Sykes can be seen descending from a balcony area directly toward COLDPLAY's table then jumping onto it and eventually knocking it over.

The members of COLDPLAY don't even see Sykes coming at first, but then the singer uses COLDPLAY frontman Chris Martin as a support to boost himself onto the table. He then stomps onto its centerpiece and rocks back and forth until the table falls over, sending a lavish assortment of booze crashing to the floor as well.

Some fans saw the incident as Sykes attacking COLDPLAY after he said late last year that the cover of the new COLDPLAY album, "A Head Full Of Dreams", was too close for comfort to that of BRING ME THE HORIZON's 2013 effort, "Sempiternal".

But Sykes denied that, explaining later: "I had no sound in my ears so I thought 'Well, there might be sound out there.' There weren't sound out there, so when I came back there was a table, which I got on. There wasn't any sound on there, but it was a bit more energetic up there. It was in no way a protest against COLDPLAY."

Chris Martin told NME that he never heard of BRING ME THE HORIZON before, but said the incident "was great — very rock 'n' roll."

BRING ME THE HORIZON took home the NME Innovation Award at the ceremony and performed the track "Happy Song" from the band's latest album, "That's The Spirit".