The official lyric video for "Clashings On Armour Plates", a brand new song by German a cappella metal band VAN CANTO — which consists of five singers and one drummer (no guitars, no bass, no keyboards) — can be seen below. The track is taken from the group's new album, "Voices Of Fire", which will be released on March 11 via earMUSIC.

"Clashings On Armour Plates" marks a new chapter in VAN CANTO's musical story: metal vocal musical. The first song of the album to see the light of day perfectly demonstrates that the six musicians of VAN CANTO are not only able to imitate instruments such as guitars, basses and keyboards but instead and first and foremost tell stories.

"Clashings On Armour Plates" showcases the band's variety with impressive and sometimes surprising vocal performances, a catchy sound to stick in your head for days to come, heavy drumming and a bombastic choir soundscape created by the London Metro Voices ("The Lord Of The Rings").

VAN CANTO has teamed up with German bestseller author Christoph Hardebusch ("Die Trolle"; English-language translation: "The Trolls") who is going to release his new fantasy novel, "Feuerstimmen", on March 17 on Piper Verlag. The audio book for which VAN CANTO set the 17 bard songs included in the story to music will be released on the same day.

Working hand in hand on this crossover media project, VAN CANTO and Christoph Hardebusch created a whole new world filled with competing kingdoms, epic battles, dragons, of course, the element fire and bards.

Coinciding with the album release, VAN CANTO is going to tour throughout Europe in March and April.

Fan-filmed video footage of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's January 2 concert at Gas Monkey Live! in Dallas, Texas can be seen below.

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY mainman Zakk Wylde will release "Book Of Shadows II" 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, to be announced soon.

Zakk will be in full participation in this year's NAMM convention taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California January 21-24. Zakk's newly minted line of guitars known as Wylde Audio will be on full display in Room 210-D and he will be signing from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, January 22.

ZAKK SABBATH, a BLACK SABBATH tribute band featuring Wylde, bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson (OZZY OSBOURNE, ROB ZOMBIE) and drummer Joey Castillo (DANZIG, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE) will play at The Grove of Anaheim on Saturday, January 23.

MÖTLEY CRÜE singer Vince Neil played a free show on Saturday, January 16 at Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut — his first official solo performance after the completion of the band's "The Final Tour".

"Thanks to all the fans that came out last night to #mohegansun Had a great time!" Neil tweeted after the concert. "Wolfs Den was rockin!!"

Neil's live backing band continues to consist of bassist Dana Strum and Jeff Blando (both of SLAUGHTER) and drummer Zoltan Chaney.

Neil's setlist for his solo shows includes CRÜE hits "Dr. Feelgood", "Kickstart My Heart" and "Girls Girls Girls". "We kind of have to," he said in a 2014 interview. "I'd be disappointed as a fan if I went and saw me and I didn't play some of the hits…. Every song you're going to know. It's rock 'n' roll."

The setlist was as follows:

01. Dr. Feelgood02. Live Wire03. Piece Of Your Action04. Looks That Kill05. Home Sweet Home06. Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)07. S.O.S (Same Ol' Situation)08. Whole Lotta Love / Heaven And Hell / Stairway To Heaven09. Kickstart My Heart10. Girls Girls Girls11. Wild Side

Neil last week played a private solo show at the second annual Cisco Enterprise Executive Connection in Maui, Hawaii.

MÖTLEY CRÜE played the final two shows of its 34-year career last month, and announced that a full-length concert film will be released this year. The movie will include exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of the last week of the band's five-continent tour, which began in July 2014.

Neil told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in a recent interview that he doesn't plan on slowing down anytime soon.

"I'm excited about the future," Vince said. "I've had a solo band for the last 15 or so years, maybe longer than that. And when MÖTLEY doesn't tour, I'm always on tour with my solo band."

He continued: "The thing is, though, it's exciting because, you know, MÖTLEY CRÜE takes up 99 percent of your time. And now you get MÖTLEY out of the picture, and now you can really focus on solo career and other businesses and anything you want to do. So it's kind of an exciting time, thinking about what I could do with all this time I have now. It's going to be sad that we're no longer playing together, but you know, it's progress, I guess."

Fan-filmed video footage of QUEENSRŸCHE's entire January 17 performance at Brewster Street Icehousein Corpus Christi, Texas can be seen below.

QUEENSRŸCHE singer Todd La Torre told "Rockin' Metal Revival" last month that the band was preparing a brand new setlist for its current headlining tour. He said: "We've changed the setlist a lot that we're working on now. There will be some staple songs that are probably always gonna remain in our set, but we will be playing some new stuff, from the new record. And I think we're throwing in a new one from the last record that we haven't played before."

He continued: "I think the proposed setlist that we've put together had around nineteen songs and then we were kind of choosing among those. So out of those songs, I can you that there's about twelve or thirteen that I've never done with the band. So it's gonna a revamped setlist. Some of the stuff is stuff that you haven't heard QUEENSRŸCHE do since the very beginning and the very early '80s. And then other stuff is stuff that I've not played with the band before but they were doing prior to me coming in the band. So it's a new setlist, and we're super excited to be playing new material off 'Condition Hüman' and then off the 2013 release."

Todd added: "Anything that we probably play that's not brand new is going to be from the first five or six records, just because… I think that the band overall just really feels that that is kind of more where their heart lies in the QUEENSRŸCHE catalogue. I mean, there are good songs and stuff on other records, but I think, collectively, when you talk to the bandmembers and you talk to the fans, the general consensus seems to be, like I say, from the EP up to 'Promised Land'. You know, somebody might like something off 'Tribe' or 'Hear In The Now Frontier', or whatever, but we really wanna be able to play what we wanna play, but also you try to think of the majority of the fans. There's always gonna be someone that isn't happy that you didn't play a particular song off a particular record, but you have to go with what is probably the biggest bang for the buck for the fans. And I think that we've put together a really great setlist… There's some other stuff off the EP and 'The Warning' and 'Rage For Order'. I'll feel really comfortable once we're kind of gelling with the material and we'll be performing it night after night and kind of lock in. It kind of takes a little bit to feel like you're really owning it inside. I mean, the fans might think it's great right out of the gate, but it just takes… It's a lot of repetition. We've done the same setlist for quite a while now, and it's just very natural to me and it feels super comfortable. This is a little outside of my comfort zone, because it's not stuff that I've conditioned myself to sing night after night after night after night."

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

The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums of the week based on multi-metric consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).

"Condition Hüman" was released on October 2 via Century Media.

Michigan darlings POP EVIL last week became the first band to sell out The Machine Shop in Flint, Michigan three nights in a row. In addition, the band got the chance of a lifetime to perform during a Detroit Pistons game against the San Antonio Spurs. POP EVIL played its two hit singles "Footsteps" and "Trenches", A recap of the event can be seen below.

POP EVIL vocalist Leigh Kakaty weighs in: "What a week we've had! First, it was a lifelong goal to play during a Pistons game. What incredible hospitality they gave us this past Tuesday. A proud moment for POP EVIL, for sure.

"The Machine Shop has been there for us since Day One. The Shop is our second home. Everyone involved at the venue we consider family.

"What a feeling to be the first artist to sell out three shows in a row.

"We wanted to challenge ourselves to do something different this time around, and with the help from our great fans, we have succeeded."

POP EVIL recently debuted its new music video for the song "Ways To Get High", which is currently approaching Top 5 at rock radio. The track is the second official single to come from the band's latest full-length album, "Up", which was released last summer. The clip was directed by longtime collaborator Johan Carlén, who has helmed the last handful of visually stunning music videos the band has released, including "Trenches", "Deal With The Devil", "Torn To Pieces" and "Footsteps".

Recorded at Studio Litho, Robert Lang Studios and London Bridge Studios with producer Adam Kasper (PEARL JAM, SOUNDGARDEN, FOO FIGHTERS), "Up" is "the sound of a rock band cementing a powerful identity that's steadily materialized over the course of three prior full-length slabs," according to a press release.

TOURNIQUET drummer Ted Kirkpatrick has assembled an all-star lineup to pay tribute to BLACK SABBATH as the legendary heavy metal pioneers get ready to embark on their final tour, "The End". Due on January 20 via Pathogenic Records, "The Doom In Us All - A Tribute To Black Sabbath" features the following tracks"

01. War Pigs

* Chris Jericho (FOZZY) - vocals* Scotti Hill (SKID ROW) - lead guitar* Doug Pinnick (KING'S X) - bass* Ted Kirkpatrick (TOURNIQUET) - drums, guitars 02. Lord Of This World

* Trevor McNevan (THOUSAND FOOT KRUTCH) – vocals* Bruce Franklin (TROUBLE) - lead guitar* Doug Pinnick (KING'S X) - bass* Ted Kirkpatrick (TOURNIQUET) - drums, guitars 03. Into The Void

* Corey Glover (LIVING COLOUR) – vocals* Doug Pinnick (KING'S X) - bass* Ted Kirkpatrick (TOURNIQUET) - drums, guitars 04. Electric Funeral

* Eric Wagner (THE SKULL, TROUBLE) – vocals* Doug Pinnick (KING'S X) - bass* Ted Kirkpatrick (TOURNIQUET) - drums, guitars 05. Children Of The Grave

* Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST) - vocals* Karl Sanders (NILE) - lead guitar* Doug Pinnick (KING'S X) - bass* Ted Kirkpatrick (TOURNIQUET) - drums, guitars

Check out a two-minute preview in the YouTube clip below.

MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist Mick Mars has returned to Blackbird Studio in Nashville, Tennessee to resume recording material for his debut solo release. Joining him during the sessions is former MÖTLEY CRÜE singer John Corabi, who was featured on the band's 1994 self-titled album.

Mars posted a couple of photos from Blackbird on his Facebook page and wrote: "What a great great time I'm having creating new, fresh, greasy LOUD-ASS, slamming music."

During a March 2014 appearance on Eddie Trunk's show "Trunk Nation" on SiriusXM's Hair Nation, Mars stated about his solo plans: "I can honestly say that I am going to release at least an EP. As far as a whole album right now, I won't release a whole album 'till I think every single one of my songs is an 'A' song. And I've got a shitload of songs, and they're all 'B' songs, 'C' songs… I'll give them to, like, baby bands coming up, TV commercials, movies, soundtracks, whatever the heck, but I will not put them on my record until I believe in my heart that they're 'A' songs, that when you hear them, you have to have all of them. You know what I mean? No fillers. If I hear a filler in there or anything I think is a filler? No. But then, who am I to judge? Then you release singles."

He continued: "I have about six songs… I mean, I have way, way more than that, but they're all, like… to me, they don't matter. They're laying there. I mean, stacks. And I have a studio in my house, of course, and I go down there almost every day. And just in the past week or so, I've written six new songs which I believe are pretty much on their way to being 'A' songs. But I just need someone to come in and help me, not arrange, by any means… I know what I'm hearing and I know what I wanna hear. It's, like, [I need] a guy to help me [lay vocals on top of it]… 'cause I'm not a singer."

Asked what he planned on doing after MÖTLEY CRÜE retired from touring, Mars told Edmonton, Alberta, Canada's 100.3 The Bear radio station: "A solo record. People have been asking me for that for years and years and years. And 'Why hasn't Mick written a book?' So that, of course, is gonna be in the works. I haven't started anything or figured out who I want to write with me, or help me write it. But doing that kind of a thing. Putting together, probably, a cool band with some cool friends of mine and stuff, and going out and doing some… you know, a few weeks here and a few weeks there, touring… but not as the MICK MARS BAND; I won't do that. [Laughs] You'll see, like, a name, and you'll go, 'Hey, who's that?' 'I don't know' That's the name of the band."

In a September 2012 interview with Jacky Bam Bam of the 93.3 WMMR radio station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mars spoke about his long-rumored solo album of R&B, soul, and blues songs, which he had asked American R&B and soul singer-songwriter Macy Gray to guest on. "I would love to have Macy Gray sing stuff for me," he said. "What I have in mind is not like your shuffle beat kind of blues, it's more of an Etta James kind of blues. If you listen to the first Paul Butterfield album, with Sam Lay playing drums, there's not a shuffle in it. He takes the drums and he does a whole different thing with them. I want lots of movement in the rhythm, so you can't help but move. Like a Macy Gray voice on it, or Andy Garcia — people like that are, to me, they're fabulous singers. Not that I wanna do a hodgepodge of singers and stuff, but to [have them] guest on a couple of songs would be very cool."

In another 2012 interview, Mars stated about MÖTLEY CRÜE's 1994 self-titled album: "I thought that was probably… To me, and I can only speak for me, I think that was probably the best album we've done. Musical-wise, the songs, I felt, were strong. And just musically, to me, it was, I guess, my BEATLES 'White Album'; that's kind of how I feel about that one. I'm not saying that any of my other albums are crummy or anything like that — I love every album that we did — but that one just has a special thing for me."

MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee echoed Mick's sentiments, telling Australia's Beat about the CD: "It's huge. Honestly, dude, it's one of my favorite CRÜE records. Sonically, the songs and the playing on that record is gnarly. We worked our asses off on that record. We had so much to prove: Vince was gone, we had a new singer who also plays guitar and writes and he brought a whole new element to this. But once fans are used to a certain thing, they just didn't want to know about any other version of MÖTLEY CRÜE. That's understandable, but when you break it down, that record still sounds rad today."

So soon after the split from Martin we are more than happy to introduce our new guitar player. With Michael Grabow we had the luck to find within one of the first candidates a technically skilled and interpersonal perfectly matching musician who shares the same passion for music like we do. He conviced us in the first auditions with his perfect feeling for melodies. He enriches the band with his character. From now on Michael will share the stage with us and he is also involved in the songwriting for the next album. So please welcome him!

The statement from Michael:
“I´m very happy to be admitted to DEAD ALONE and I´m looking forward to the creative journey with the other guys. I hope to weigh in my skills and to create something special. Cheers!”

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine says that the band's new album, "Dystopia", "wouldn't have turned out as good" as it did had MEGADETH gone through with its attempted reunion of the group's classic "Rust In Peace" lineup.

Mustaine tried to re-team with drummer Nick Menza and guitarist Marty Friedman for the making of "Dystopia", but instead ended up recording the album with longtime bassist David Ellefson and MEGADETH's latest additions, Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro, best known for his work with ANGRA, and LAMB OF GOD drummer Chris Adler.

Speaking to the Syracuse, New York radio station 95X this past week about the writing and recording process for "Dystopia" following the 2014 departures of drummer Shawn Drover and guitarist Chris Broderick, Mustaine said (hear audio at this location): "Well, we had a lot of fun making this record. It started… The embryonic stage of this record was with Chris and Shawn, but there was a lot of really sad stuff that had happened between those two guys and our management [at the time], and something that David Ellefson had said that caused them to leave."

He continued: "When we tried to go through with the 'Rust In Peace' lineup change, it just… it wasn't meant to be. So going through that whole upheaval; and two management changes over the course of a year, which is really difficult; my mother-in-law in the final stages of Alzheimer's [disease] and then her going missing for two months before we found her after she had died; that was a lot of crap to go through. So I'm in [my home state of] Tennessee trying to piece together the rest of the record, and I kind of went from this place where I was sad about all this stuff that was happening to where I got really motivated. For some stupid reason, I clicked on this motivational audio track that was online, and it just had all these really great quotes and stuff from fight flicks I'd watched as a kid and movies of battles and stuff. And I just thought, 'You know what? I'm not gonna let anybody tell me what I can and can't do. I'm gonna be the arbiter of the limitations in my life.' And that's when we set out to do this record."

Asked if would agree that there seems to be more excitement about "Dystopia" than there has been about a new MEGADETH record in a long time, Mustaine said: "I definitely agree with that. I think that it could be contributable to the lineup change; it could have been contributable to the decision to not go backwards in time; but I guarantee you that it wouldn't have turned out as good with Nick and Marty as it would have with Kiko and Chris. Because it's just… Going and seeing those guys [Nick and Marty], seeing where they were, seeing their condition and how they play now and what they play, it still would have been 'Dystopia', but it would have been a different record. And I think that the expectations of people would have been so high and so unrealistic."

He went on to say: "This is a fresh start for us. People were surprised. Everyone that heard that Chris was in the band was surprised. Everyone, when they found out about Kiko, they were, like, 'Who the hell is this guy?' And when they started looking him up, they were going, 'Mustaine did it again; he picked another winner.' And I'm just excited, because, you know, I don't think I'm special, I just know what I like, and I think that's why our fans have such a good relationship with me, because I'm just a normal dude that knows what he likes."

On the topic of whether there was an "adjustment period" following the addition of Kiko and Chris Adler to MEGADETH, Mustaine said: "It did change a lot of things. I think that, for whatever reason, when you have management… You know the NO DOUBT video, the 'don't speak one word,' [where] the dude kind of singles the chick out and the other three guys kind of get pushed off to the side of the road? That usually happens with just about every band that ever existed — where the manager will come in and they'll find the main songwriter and try and break 'em away from the band. And that happened with… Just about every manager we've ever had has tried to come in and separate me from the other guys in the group. That happened with the band when Nick and Marty were in the band, it happened when Chris and Shawn Drover were in the band. It's just one of those sad things that… The management comes in and they think that, 'We're really gonna focus on Dave,' and that's all cool, but, you know, we're a band. So when you start alienating other guys, it just causes unnecessary problems. Now, I look back at all of our alumni, and I have nothing but respect for all of 'em."

Menza claimed in a 2015 interview that the attempted reunion of MEGADETH's "Rust In Peace" lineup failed to materialize because Mustaine "didn't wanna show me any love at all."

The drummer said that he was approached by Mustaine and Ellefson to replace Drover at the end of 2014, and that he had started working out new tracks with the band. But the plan collapsed after he was offered a contract he described as "very unfair."

Speaking to Canadian journalist Mitch Lafon, Nick said: "I tried to make it happen by all my means and efforts, I tried to make it go down, but they just didn't wanna show me any love at all, is really what it boils down. You know, I don't need to do this. I wanted to."

He went on to say: "We should have done an album this time. I was ready. I was out there recording with Dave, new songs, and we played a bunch of old songs for a weekend in San Diego, and then no agreement was put on the table for me — nothing in writing. I'm, like, 'Dude, I'm not coming back until you give me a contract and some kind of agreement here.' And they wouldn't produce that. So… If you don't wanna split the profits with me on the tour, forget it. I've got other stuff I can do that's more exciting to me."

"Dystopia" will be released on January 22 via Universal Music Enterprises / Tradecraft / T-Boy Records. The follow-up to 2013's "Super Collider" was recorded last year in Nashville, Tennessee and was produced by Mustaine. The CD was mixed by Josh Wilbur, who has previously worked with LAMB OF GOD, ALL THAT REMAINS and GOJIRA.

Napalm Records power/melodic death metallers and 2013 International Wacken Battle winners, Crimson Shadows, have announced the departure of Jimi Maltais, and the addition of Blackguard's Paul ‘Ablaze’ Zinay as the band's new vocalist.

"With sadness, we would like to announce that Jimi Maltais and the band are parting ways. Jimi has provided the band with his crushing vocals and charisma for 10 great years but he is seeking other opportunities in his life. We would like to thank him for the awesome memories and effort he put forth with Crimson Shadows,” says the band.

Joining Crimson Shadows will be Paul Zinay of Montreal-based melodic death /power/folk metal band Blackguard. Zinay comments, "I’m elated to be joining my brothers in Crimson Shadows and share the burdens and triumphs of the eternal mile together. I’ve loved and respected this band since they started and to be asked to join their ranks is an honor and a privilege. Cheers to new and bright future for Crimson Shadows!"

Zinay will be joining Crimson Shadows just in time to record the band's follow up to their acclaimed label debut, Kings Among Men, for a Napalm Records release in late 2016 or early 2017.

“We are extremely excited to have Paul Ablaze join the ranks of Crimson Shadows. Having known Paul since early in our career as well as sharing the stage multiple times over the years, we know he is the perfect front man to lead the Crimson Warriors into battle. With his combination of intense vocals and high energy live performance this will open a new chapter for Epic Metal and dawn a new era for Crimson Shadows."

Fans of the band can see Jimi perform his last show as front man on January 30th at Spot One in Brampton, Ontario.



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The pre-sale for Hexvessel’s new album, When We Are Death, has started. Head over to CM Distro and get the album in the physical format of your choice:

When We Are Death is offered in the following formats:

Ltd. Deluxe Mediabook (with 32-page booklet, sturdy slipcase and one exclusive bonus track)
Deluxe LP (gatefold sleeve, 8-page LP booklet, CD plus bonus track)
Digital album

The LP version is available with the following vinyl colors:

Black vinyl: unlimited
White vinyl: limited to 100 copies, exclusively offered at CM Distro
Red vinyl: limited to 500 copies, exclusively sold by RED (US distribution)

When We Are Death tracklisting:

“Transparent Eyeball”
“Earth Over Us”
“Cosmic Truth”
“When I'm Dead”
“Mirror Boy”
“Drugged Up On The Universe”
“Teeth Of The Mountain”
“Green Gold”
“Mushroom Spirit Doors”
“Hunter's Prayer”
“Last Lovers In Hell” *

* bonus track on the Mediabook version and the CD included in the LP

Hexvessel have launched a brand new video for the song “Cosmic Truth”. Watch it below:

Also check out the recently released static video for “Earth Over Us”:

 



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After a period of inactivity since 2007’s The Blue, which involved the departure of longstanding member Giuseppe Orlando, Novembre returns with a new set of potent and poignant tracks, effortlessly transitioning between soothing, epic, melancholy and intense, from what is one of the originators of the whole atmospheric death/doom scene.

Headed by founding member and writer Carmelo Orlando, and with a reinvigorated musical alliance with Massimiliano Pagliuso, the lineup is completed by Fabio Fraschini (previously bassist on the Materia album), and David Folchitto on drums. There is also a special guest appearance from Anders Nyström of the Swedish Doom masters Katatonia, adding his own unique ‘cold’ touch to the album’s single track, “Annoluce”.

URSA was recorded at Blue Noise Studio, and PlayRec studio by Massimiliano Pagliuso, then mixed and mastered at Unisound Studios by Dan Swanö (Opeth, Katatonia, Bloodbath). Cover art comes courtesy of Travis Smith.

Carmelo Orlando comments on URSA: ”This album is a very important step in my life. It got me closer to what some may call ‘maturity’. I’ve been able to delve even deeper into the chasm of the subconscious and unearth gems I didn’t think existed. Lyrically and conceptually I explored new shores. I moved my ever-inwards headlights, and for the first time I dared to point them outwards, against the squalor of this Orwellian apocalypse we’re committing towards the Earth and its sons, on a daily basis, in quasi-total indifference. The album is indeed called URSA (the acronym for “Union des Républiques Socialistes Animales”), which was the title initially chosen for the French translation of George Orwell’s masterpiece novel Animal Farm.”

URSA is available to pre-order on CD & LP at this location. Pre-orders from the Peaceville Store receive a free 3-track EP including an alternate version of “Annoluce”, plus two exclusive tracks.

The seeds of Novembre were originally planted in September 1990 in Rome, Italy. Then known as Catacomb, their early recordings of unusual gothic doom metal were to quickly gain the band interest. It was around 1993 that the band decided that a name change was in order, and Novembre was born, evolving into one of the premiere European atmospheric doom bands.

Watch out for Novembre on tour in 2016.



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Spinefarm Records continues to expand its presence and to grow its roster by adding a diverse array of bands. The label is proud to welcome Royal Thunder (pictured above), The Browning, and Helhorse.

Royal Thunder's unique, genre-bending sound has been turning heads since guitarist Josh Weaver founded the band in Atlanta, Ga. His songwriting, plus bassist Mlny Parsonz's soul-searing vocals, have led to worldwide critical acclaim. Two full-length albums and a plethora of tours later, the quartet are set to begin their next chapter as part of the Spinefarm Records family.  

The band said, "We'd like to thank Relapse Records for all the years we had together. But now it’s time to move on. It takes a long time and a lot of hard work to obtain something good. And as a band, we have always worked hard, stayed true to ourselves and to one another. We are a family. We thank you Spinefarm for the opportunity to move on with you and be a part of your family! We look forward to many great years together! Bones!"

Their most recent release Crooked Doors landed on many of the world media "Best of 2015" lists. They continue to tour steadily in support of this critically adored album and will be hitting the road with Black Tusk in the US at the end of January. New songs are in the works and the future is more promising than ever.

The Browning have steadily made their presence known in the international metal scene since their album debut in 2011. The Kansas City band, centered around mastermind Jonny McBee, released the crushing Hypernova in 2013 and promptly hit the road across the UK, Europe and North America. Blurring the lines between multiple styles of electronic music, metalcore, and deathcore, McBee has firmly entrenched The Browning as musical innovators in an ever-expanding cultural crossover scene.

McBee says, "I am really proud of what The Browning has become. It's been a long, hard road. Signing with Spinefarm is a big step in the awesome direction this band is going and I cannot wait for the future. Excited for the world to hear this next album!"

They are currently working on their Spinefarm debut, which is planned for release this summer.

Five-man sludge merchants Helhorse hail from Denmark. With their raw and almost unholy, mixture of dirty metal, punk, and classic rock, Helhorse have positioned themselves on the Nordic rock/metal stage as a force to be reckoned with. Their third full-length offering will be released in 2016 via Spinefarm worldwide.

Of the signing, the band said, "We are thrilled to announce that Spinefarm will be our new label family. We feel this label has the integrity, muscle, and passion that Helhorse need. The future is looking really exciting for Helhorse and we can't wait to throw our new labor of love in your face, ears, and hearts."

Spinefarm Records Worldwide GM Jonas Nachsin comments, "We are excited to start the new year off with a bang by bringing on these three new exciting signings and continue to grow Spinefarm into a rising global force in rock and metal."

 



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UK metallers, Krysthla, have released a new lyric video for “An Ancient Hope”. The song is the final track on their debut album, A War Of Souls And Desires, and revered by many as their best yet - “An Ancient Hope” weaves a tapestry of mythical and modern day ideology with its lyrical messages and visual art.

Neil Hudson (guitars / backing vocals) explains, "The lyrical content of '“An Ancient Hope” is based on two things. The mythical tale of the Phoenix and the idea of something being destroyed to be remade whole again, and the political ideology of the Pharaoh Akhenaten. Both are woven together with the Sun at the centre of their being. The Phoenix is often used to describe powerful nations and empires rising and falling, bringing about radical change throughout the world which is something Akhenaten also saw as his own vision which he dedicated to his God ATEN. He removed all other Gods, liquefied the priesthood and popular religious beliefs and enforced a centralization of Government even moving the capital city. Many influential people withing the modern political world cite Akhenaten as a man born ahead of his time. I see the current political system and the world as a whole going through a slow burning process. It's being molded into a new form and has been for many many years. Some of the lyrics are taken from presidential inaugural speeches, as certain parts are referenced from some unusual sources and lean towards a degree of esoteric knowledge. No coincidence they are sworn in beneath an Egyptian phallic monument.

“The video contains imagery of Pharaoh Akhenaten worshiping his God ATEN, with a newly born multi armed demonic beast (political system) atop a sacrificial temple. Andy Pilkington at Very Metal Art took my brief of the topic relating to the track and nailed the feel and vibe of what the song needed visually.

“This new world blessed be. Indeed.”

With UK tour dates and major festivals announcements to come, Krysthla are ones to watch in 2016.

A War Of Souls And Desires is out now via PHD.

Krysthla is:
 
Adi Mayes - Vocals
Neil Hudson - Guitar
Noel Davis - Guitar
Carl Davis - Bass
Wayne Minney - Drums

(Photo - Marie Korner)



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Greg Lake is the co-founder of King Crimson and Emerson Lake & Palmer (ELP), and wrote the hit “Lucky Man” and co-wrote “I Believe In Father Christmas”.

This 2-CD set collects together both of Lake’s two solo albums, his first self-titled album (1981) and his second album Manoeuvres (1983). The set includes four bonus tracks, which have never been included on any reissue of the albums, only on separate rarities albums.

The first album and its three bonus tracks feature all of the members of Toto with the exception of Bobby Kimball as Lake handles all lead vocals. Both albums also feature appearances Gary Moore on guitar.

Both CDs have received a 2015 remaster, which has the personal approval of Greg Lake. The booklet includes extensive liner notes. This is a great and easy way to buy both of Greg Lake’s studio albums and all the rarities connected to these albums in one place.

Tracklisting:

Disc One: Greg Lake

“Nuclear Attack”
“Love You Too Much”
“It Hurts”
“Black And Blue”
“Retribution Drive”
“Long Goodbye”
“The Lie”
“Someone”
“Let Me Love You Once”
“For Those Who Dare”

Bonus Tracks:
“You Really Got A Hold On Me”
“You’re Good With Your Love”
“Cold Side Of A Woman”

Disc Two: Manoeuvres

“Manoeuvres”
“Too Young To Love”
“Paralysed”
“A Woman Like You”
“I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love Tonight”
“It’s You, You Gotta Believe”
“Famous Last Words”
“Slave To Love”
“Haunted”
“I Don'T Know Why I Still Love You”

Bonus Track:
“Hold Me”

In other news, on January 9th Greg received an honorary degree from the Conservatorio Nicolini in Piacenza, Italy. This was the very first honorary degree for music the prestigious university has ever awarded!

 



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Sweden's darkened hardcore outfit, Grieved, spent the summer recording their first full-length (and official Prosthetic Records debut) with acclaimed producer Lewis Johns at The Ranch (Funeral For A Friend, Gnarwolves). Consisting of ten tracks filled with fast, pounding riffs and heavy down-tempo sections, the album - the cover art for which appears below - will be released worldwide on January 22nd. Pre-order bundles featuring the album on CD or LP along with an exclusive t-shirt design can be purchased at the Prosthetic Records webstore. Listen to the new track, “Drain”, streaming below.

As with their previous EP Ageing and split releases with Runes alongside the band’s debut mini-album Samaritans, Grieved have brought the cold, dark streets of Sweden's capital into the veins of each track with their angst-filled, emotionally driven anger displayed by distorted killer riffs and impassioned lyrics. Take a listen for yourself as you stream their debut single, "Fogbound". Receive an instant download of “Fogbound” when you preorder the album digitally on either iTunes, Bandcamp, or Amazon.

Tracklisting:

“Oraque”
“Fogbound”
“June 22”
“Drain”
“Turn Cold”
“Losing Touch”
“Shattered”
“Synesthesia”
“Asunder”
“Reverie”

“Drain”:

“Oraque”:

“Fogbound”:

Teaser:

Grieved have previously been seen sharing stages with bands including Gojira and Feed the Rhino, as well as appearing at the prestigious Temples Festival (Sunn O ))), Converge) and a showcase at Copenhagen's Fashion Week with designer Ager Juel Larrson. The quintet will debut their new material to fans across Europe this year with a series of headlining shows of which are listed below.

Tour dates:

January
24 - Bristol, UK - Stag & Hounds
25 - London, UK - Old Blue Last
26 - Guildford, UK - Boileroom
27 - Birmingham, UK - Oobleck
28 - Glasgow, UK - Audio
29 - Leeds, UK - Key Club
31 - Tessenderlo, BE - The Box

February
2 - Bochum, DE - Matrix
3 - Tilburg, NL - Little Devil
4 - Stuttgart, DE - JH West
5 - Prague, CZ - Klub 007
6 - Berlin, DE - Privatclub
7 - Hannover, DE - Lux
8 - Hamburg, DE - Donner
11 - Stockholm, SE - Hangaren

(Photo: Morgan Sinclair)



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Melodic hard rock vocalist Johnny Gioeli is set to record his first career solo album, with the international release due this summer. In support of album production, Johnny has launched a Pledge Music campaign with at least 10% of the proceeds going directly to a children’s charity.   
 
Best known for Double Eclipse, the iconic debut album from Hardline, Johnny has since recorded some thirty albums with Hardline, Axel Rudi Pell band and Sega-themed Crush 40.  Now, he says “it’s time to record the solo album I’ve wanted to do, and fans have asked for so often”.  Gioeli says “this will not just be my album, it will be yours too.  I’m excited not only about recording my first solo album, but doing it through Pledge Music so fans can experience the whole process, live as it happens.” Some of the exclusives offered to fans will include a live performance (streaming) and an autographed CD featuring material that was previously unreleased, including “Colorblind” and “Love Leads The Way” which was previously available only on the Japanese version of Double Eclipse.
 
The album will release internationally on Frontiers Records. To participate in the Pledge Music campaign, please visit this location.



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Australian heavy metal act Elm Street has resigned with Massacre Records for a new album planned for a summer release.

With the success of the Heart Racer EP in May 2015, Elm Street's now ready to release the band's second album, titled Knock 'Em Out...With A Metal Fist. It will feature ten original songs, and will be produced by Ermin Hamidovic at Systematic Productions. Ken Kelly, who has already worked with bands like Manowar or KISS, will create the artwork.

 Elm Street stated that the ten songs will showcase the band's signature sound, along with added production elements, which will make this album a highlight in every true metalhead's collection.

Knock ‘Em Out…With A Metal Fist will be released on June 25 via Massacre Records.



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Mystic Prophecy will release their ninth studio album in March. The band around frontman and producer R.D. Liapakis has already finished the album recordings at the Music Factory & Prophecy Studio. R.D. Liapakis and Fredrik Nordström are currently adding finishing touches to the album at the Studio Fredman (In Flames, Sabaton, Arch Enemy).

 Vocalist R.D. Liapakis comments:

 "It's been the 6th time we're working with Fredrik. We go along well and respect his work. I can't wait to get feedback for the new album, because the expectations are high. I'm 100% sure that we won't disappoint any fan with WAR BRIGADE! Yes, the cat’s out of the bag, the new album's called War Brigade!”

 The band also revealed that the cover artwork will once again be created by Uwe Jarling, who is also responsible for the artwork for KillHammer, the German’s last album.

 European fans can look forward to March/April, when Mystic Prophecy will present the new album live on tour with Orden Ogan and Manimal. 

War Brigade will be released on March 18 via Massacre Records.



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A previously unreleased version of DANKO JONES's "Wild Woman", featuring a guest appearance by LACUNA COIL's Cristina Scabbia, has been made available on Spotify. The song is taken from the "Music For Boobies" compilation, which was released earlier this year via Keep A Breast and Rude Records. Danko comments: "It is an honor to have the one and only Cristina Scabbia of LACUNA COIL grace us with her vocals on our song, 'Wild Woman'. To have this happen while helping to raise awareness of breast health education and support makes this even more sweet. Check out the track. I think it's hot rockin'!"

Some of the hottest names in the alternative scene have joined forces with Keep A Breast and Rude Records earlier last year, creating the two volumes that make up "Music For Boobies", donating a mix of new and unreleased songs: duets, previously-released tracks connected to the Keep A Breast cause, as well as new remixed versions of their songs.

The release announcement last month came together with the first two instant-grat tracks announced: a brand-new, unreleased cover of the NEW RADICALS classic "You Get What You Give" from Arizona rockers THE MAINE (featuring Brennan Smiley) and ANGELS & AIRWAVES with a remix of their "Saturday Love". The compilation — which is released on worldwide digital outlets on March 18 — is available for pre-orders, including "Wild Woman" as instant-grat track in physical and digital.

Fifty percent of all proceeds garnered through the sale of the compilation will go to support Keep A Breast's ongoing efforts. Spread the word, and help raise funds and awareness in support of Keep A Breast's mission of empowering youth around the world with breast health education and support. "Music For Boobies" Volume 1

01. ANGELS & AIRWAVES - Saturday Love Remix02. FALLING IN REVERSE - Chemical Prisoner03. PARKWAY DRIVE - Vice Grip04. SLEEPING WITH SIRENS - Save Me A Spark05. AMERICAN HI-FI feat. Kay Hanley - Another Perfect Day (Acoustic)06. EMAROSA - A Hundred Crowns07. TOO CLOSE TO TOUCH - Pretty Little Thing08. MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK - Lose Control09. ALLISON WEISS - Who We Are10. ALVAREZ KINGS - Fear To Feel11. PATENT PENDING - It's All Good Today12. THE RAVEONETTES - Wake Me Up

"Music For Boobies" Volume 2

01. THE MAINE feat. Brennan Smiley - You Get What You Give02. SIMPLE PLAN - Astronaut03. ANTI-FLAG feat. Tim Armstrong - Brandenburg Gate04. KNUCKLE PUCK - Swing05. SUCH GOLD - When It Gives06. DANKO JONES feat. Cristina Scabbia - Wild Woman07. LETLIVE. - Banshee (Ghost Fame)08. BEAUTIFUL BODIES - War Inside Your Heart09. SKINNY LISTER - Trouble On Oxford Street10. ZEBRAHEAD - Blue Light Special11. ENTER SHIKARI - Dear Future Historians... (London Elektricity Remix)12. THIS WILD LIFE - No More Bad Days13. SIMONE DENNY - Breathe Again

More information can be found at musicforboobies.com.

LINKIN PARK has returned to the studio to continue work on the follow-up to 2014's "The Hunting Party" album.

The band's Mike Shinoda offered an update on the sessions during a live chat with fans earlier today (Friday, January 15). He said: "It's going well. It's gonna be [released] later… It's probably, like, second half of this year, I think. But we've started on it. We've got some songs [in the works]. They're mostly just like words and melodies at this point. All the guys are really… I think everybody is pretty happy with where things are at. [Guitarist] Brad [Delson] and [singer] Chester [Bennington] have been coming in with me a lot and it's like… I feel like it's really a good start. We don't have any names for the songs or anything like that. But we're back at the… We did our last two records here, I think… And, yeah, it's mostly just vocals and piano and guitar — like, acoustic guitar — and some samples and stuff at this point. And even as stripped down as that is, I think we're all really happy and we're really excited about where things are going."

LINKIN PARK began work on a new album late last year, with Shinoda telling NME: "I have no idea what it'll sound like yet. It won't sound like 'The Hunting Party'. We like to surprise people."

"The Hunting Party" was released in June 2014 and produced the hit singles "Guilty All The Same" and "Until It's Gone".

The album was described as something of a throwback to the hard-hitting rap-rock sound of the first two LINKIN PARK LPs — the group's 2000 debut, "Hybrid Theory", and 2003 follow-up, "Meteora".

Bennington spent a couple of years touring as the singer of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, although he and STP amicably split in November.

According to The Spirits Business, 288 bottles of the MOTÖRHEAD Limited Edition: Special Jack Daniel's Selected Single Barrel Whiskey — which were made available at $99 — sold out almost immediately.

U.S.-based retailer Atlantic City Bottle Company, which selected a Jack Daniel's barrel for release to "celebrate 40 years of the loudest rock band on this planet," describes the drink as “dark, oaky, but still some corn and sweetness with that signature Jack smooth charcoal smoky finish."

As previously reported, Food & Beverage Magazine officially named the industry standard call-out drink of Jack & Coke to "The Lemmy" in honor of MOTÖRHEAD legend Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister's favorite drink which he made famous on the Sunset Strip at the Rainbow Bar And Grill.

Lemmy, who celebrated his 70th birthday on Christmas Eve (December 24), learned two days later that he was afflicted with an aggressive form of cancer. He died on December 28 in Los Angeles.

MOTÖRHEAD was revered by both metal and punk fans, and Lemmy was considered an icon for his musical talent and his embodiment of the rock and roll lifestyle.

Lemmy had been dealing with serious health issues for the past two years, including getting a pacemaker in 2013 and suffering from a hematoma in 2014. But despite 40 years of hard living and drinking, he continued to tour and record at a feverish pace.

The band was forced to cancel or postpone a number of shows last year due to Lemmy's poor health, which also forced him to cut back on his drinking and give up smoking.