Finnish metal sextet AMORAL will release its seventh studio album in early 2016. "In Sequence", the follow-up to the critically acclaimed "Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows", will be made available in Japan on January 29 via Ward Records, and in the rest of the world on February 5 through Imperial Cassette (Gordeon Music, GSA).

The first single from "In Sequence", a song called "Rude Awakening", can be streamed below.

Said AMORAL guitarist and founder Ben Varon: "We went into making the seventh album with an Yngwie Malmsteen state of mind: more is more! Once we got our original singer Niko Kalliojärvi back in the band — expanding the group into a six-headed monster, with two vocalists and three guitar players — it was time to start the writing process, which was one of the most inspiring ones for me so far. More guitar parts, more keyboards, more back and forth between clean and growling vocals."

Another angle used to get a fresh touch for "In Sequence" was the decision to invite a whole bunch of guest musicians — including percussionist Teho Majamäki, INDICA singer Jonsu and ACYL singer/mastermind Amine Benotmane — to play on the album, which was a first for AMORAL.

Stated Ben: "The album is filled with stellar guest performances from many talented musicians, who added percussion, female vocals, analog syths and ouds to the songs, amongst other things. The guests definitely helped take the songs to the next level."

He added: "To me, 'In Sequence' is the logical follow-up to 'Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows', on which we took our love for grandieuse prog to new hights. 'In Sequence' continues on that path, though the return of Niko gives the new material some of that old school AMORAL vibe. And I think this one turned out a touch heavier as well, not least because of the real-life based concept of the album."

MANOWAR has released a video for the song "The Heart Of Steel MMXIV", taken from the band's thirteenth studio album, "Kings Of Metal MMXIV", released in February 2014. It's a re-recording of MANOWAR's 1988 LP "Kings Of Metal".

MANOWAR's upcoming "Gods And Kings" world tour will celebrate "Kings Of Metal MMXIV", which many fans haven't had a chance to experience live yet, as well as the upcoming anniversary of "Gods Of War", which was unleashed on the world in 2007. The setlist will be packed with fan favorites from both albums, plus many other classics and special surprises.

MANOWAR last year postponed a U.S. tour "due to scheduling conflicts" with the band's return to the studio to begin work on its next album.

"Kings Of Metal MMXIV", a re-recorded special version celebrating the 25th anniversary of MANOWAR's classic album "Kings Of Metal", was made available last year. The new recordings feature guitarist Karl Logan's and drummer Donnie Hamzik's contributions, who, after having played these classic hymns many times live, finally had the opportunity to add to their legacy by including their own signature sound and performance. The new album also featured movie and theater legend Brian Blessed ("Hamlet", "Flash Gordon") narrating "The Warrior's Prayer MMXIV".

MANOWAR released highlights of its "The Lord Of Steel World Tour" on a live EP, featuring performances from the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Italy, Russia and Sweden. The disc was mixed and mastered at MANOWAR's own studios Hell and Haus Wahnfried by Joey DeMaio personally with longtime MANOWAR engineer Dirk Kloiber.

TRIVIUM has tapped Chicago native Paul Wandtke as the band's new touring drummer.

Wandtke made his live debut with TRIVIUM earlier today (Saturday, December 5) at Knotfest in Toluca, Mexico.

Wandtke has previously drummed for the hit musical "Rock Of Ages" and sat behind the kit for KILL HANNAH during the band's main-support run with the SMASHING PUMPKINS.

TRIVIUM in May 2014 parted ways with drummer Nick Augusto due to personal differences. Stepping in for him on TRIVIUM's recent dates and on the band's latest album, "Silence In The Snow", was the group's drum tech, Mat Madiro.

"Silence In The Snow" debuted at No. 19 on The Billboard 200 chart, having shifted 18,000 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).

"Silence In The Snow" was released on October 2 via Roadrunner. The follow-up to 2013's "Vengeance Falls" was produced by Michael "Elvis" Baskette (SLASH, ALTER BRIDGE, THE AMITY AFFLICTION) and was mixed by Josh Wilbur (GOJIRA, LAMB OF GOD).

Video footage of SCORPIONS' December 4 concert at Zénith in Toulouse, France can be seen below.

SCORPIONS performed in Paris, France on November 24, marking the first time the band has played the city since an extremist group orchestrated a terror attack on Paris that left 130 dead.

The sold-out concert at the Bercy arena included an emotional moment when SCORPIONS drummer James Kottak beat the rhythm of the French national anthem, "La Marseillaise", which the crowd sang a capella.

Speaking to Christian Platz of Agentinnen.net, SCORPIONS guitarist Rudolf Schenker stated about the band's decision to carry on their French tour: "We called the French promoter and asked him what he thinks. And he said the people will go to the concert. Maybe five percent [will decide against] coming [to the gig] because [of continued terror threats] and stuff like this, but it would be very important if we go back to a normal life. And also, for us, it was important to please our fans. Because, we said, 'Okay, after this tragedy, we have to stick together and music is a bridge which can help people to overcome this tragedy.' It was like that — people were singing together. And it was not an easy decision, but, for us, it was important, especially [since] we have a very strong connection to France and [we wanted] to please [the fans] and be there. It was an amazing concert, and also Strasbourg and Lille, all the French concerts were fantastic. The people are looking for a new future and they wanna really go over it. And I think music is the best bridge to help people, and that's what we felt when we played there."

SCORPIONS singer Klaus Meine told DPA ahead of the concert: "Our France tour is overshadowed by these sad and terrible events. Of course we're also here to deal with the situation... this tragedy, respectfully."

He added: "We all feel threatened, we all feel attacked. This has hurt all of us."

However, he explained that people shouldn't live their lives on the knife's edge, somehow persuaded that a terrorist's bomb or bullet has their name on it.

"It's a rock show," he said. "We simply want to have a wicked night with our fans and make a statement in favor of life."

The new fully authorized SCORPIONS documentary "Forever And A Day" wrapped up its theatrical run and came out on DVD, Blu-ray, and digital platforms on November 27 (in German with English subtitles). The movie takes a look at the German hard-rock legends' long career, while focusing on the band's "Final Sting" trek, which initially was intended to be a farewell tour.

SCORPIONS recently completed the 2015 U.S. leg of their 50th-anniversary tour, which also is in support of their latest studio album, "Return To Forever".

Fan-filmed video footage of ACT OF DEFIANCE, the band featuring former MEGADETH members Shawn Drover (drums) and Chris Broderick (guitar), alongside ex-SCAR THE MARTYR singer Henry Derek Bonner, and SHADOWS FALL's Matt Bachand (bass), performing on December 2 at Scout Bar in Houston, Texas can be seen below.

ACT OF DEFIANCE's debut album, "Birth And The Burial", was released on August 21 via Metal Blade Records. The CD recording was split between three studios in three different states: Broderick handled vocal and guitar production at his own Ill-Fated Studio in Los Angeles, Chris "Zeuss" Harris (ROB ZOMBIE, REVOCATION, MUNICIPAL WASTE) worked with Drover tracking the drums in Dexter's Lab in Milford, Connecticut, while Bachand laid down his bass at ManShark, in Southampton, Massachusetts.

Regarding how ACT OF DEFIANCE secured the services of Bonner, Broderick told The Age Of Metal: "Well, when Shawn [Drover, ex-MEGADETH drummer] and I first came up with the idea of actually forming a band, the first thing we started thinking about was who we were gonna have as the frontman. So we got a list of about thirty different people that we… Well, some were shooting for the stars, other [singers on the list] were unknowns. We were very open to the idea of anybody. We kind of got those lists and we narrowed them down based somewhat on logistics and stuff like that. Then we narrowed it down to, like, five that we thought we really liked, and Henry, of course, was on that list. We e-mailed demos out to them, and when Henry's came back, we knew he was the right fit."

On the topic of playing smaller venues with ACT OF DEFIANCE compared to how it was with MEGADETH, Broderick said: "I think it's exactly what we expected in a way. I think the one thing we didn't expect was the amount of work that it takes. When you're designing your own merch and you're working on getting your RV ready and all these other just thousands of logistics, getting those things ready. So it is a lot of work at this level, but definitely we're willing to take it on, and we're having fun so far."

ACT OF DEFIANCE kicked off its North American tour on October 22 at Count's Vamp'd in Las Vegas, Nevada.

New MEGADETH guitarist Kiko Loureiro performed a couple of IRON MAIDEN classics — "2 Minutes To Midnight" and "Wasted Years" — during this past Wednesday's (December 2) "Ultimate Jam Night" at Lucky Strike Live in Hollywood, California. Joining him on stage were Tim Yeung (MORBID ANGEL, DIVINE HERESY, WESTFIELD MASSACRE) on drums, Courtney Cox (THE IRON MAIDENS) on guitar, Kirsten Rosenberg (THE IRON MAIDENS) on vocals and Jerry Montano (DANZIG, HELLYEAH, NOTHINGFACE, DEATH DIVISION) on bass. Video footage of the performance can be seen below (courtesy of California Rock News).

In a recent interview with Jump Metal, Loureiro was asked what it has been like joining MEGADETH as the replacement for Chris Broderick. He responded: "Yeah, it has been great to work with [Dave] Mustaine [MEGADETH mainman], [David] Ellefson [MEGADETH bassist] and Chris Adler [LAMB OF GOD drummer, who played on the upcoming MEGADETH CD and is playing select shows with the group]... It's amazing [to be part of MEGADETH]. It's a great opportunity, it's a great band, great guys, great music. I'm very honored to be in MEGADETH and that the guys have chosen me to be the guitar player. It's a band that always had a great spot for guitar players. They always had great guitar players since the beginning: Chris Poland, Marty Friedman, Chris Broderick... some great guitar players. So I'm honored to be part of this legacy."

Mustaine told Revolver about Loureiro: "Finding Kiko was really a mind-blower. It was the first time since Marty Friedman joined the band that I was really intimidated as a player. He's such an amazing talent, and he's been coming in with all of these fresh ideas." Mustaine has also called Loureiro the "best guitarist we've ever had," adding that he was a good fit personality wise. "Chris [Broderick] and I had a good chemistry, but we weren't really as close as I would have wanted us to be," Mustaine explained. "Kiko, I feel like I've known him for years."

MEGADETH's fifteenth studio album, "Dystopia", will be released on January 22, 2016. The follow-up to 2013's "Super Collider" was recorded earlier in the year in Nashville, Tennessee and was mixed by Josh Wilbur, who has previously worked with LAMB OF GOD, ALL THAT REMAINS and GOJIRA.

Heidi Shepherd, one of the two vocalists for the five-piece Los Angeles-based heavy-metal ensemble BUTCHER BABIES, joined Swedish melodic metallers AMARANTHE on stage on November 27 at Ace Of Spades in Sacramento, California to perform the AMARANTHE song "True". Video footage of her appearance can be seen below (courtesy of Capital Chaos TV).

AMARANTHE has just returned to the U.S. on an epic headline tour with BUTCHER BABIES in tow.

Speaking about AMARANTHE's upcoming follow-up to 2014's "Massive Addictive" album, guitarist Olof Mörck told Louder Noise: "As soon as we're done with something, we start to figure out the next level, when it comes to the live show and for the next record and that whole thing. So, absolutely, as soon as we stopped and we finished 'Massive Addictive', we started to plan the next album. So it's gonna be… It's definitely gonna be next year. I'm always a little bit careful about saying too much, because if something gets pushed back, then everyone can become really disappointed. But in terms of the release windows and how often we have releases, for us, we're not really forcing anything; it's more the opposite. We're always trying to hold back. And when we started to write for the upcoming album, it was almost a year of not writing any music. So we're really, really excited to be working on that right now."

AMARANTHE released a digital-only compilation of B-sides on October 30. "Breaking Point - B-Sides 2011-2015" features eight tracks.

BUTCHER BABIES' second album, "Take It Like A Man", was released on August 21 via Century Media. The CD was produced by Logan Mader, who has previously worked with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, DEVILDRIVER, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY and GOJIRA.

BLACK VEIL BRIDES have entered the studio to begin pre-production on their fifth album. The band is once again working with with GOLDFINGER frontman and producer extraordinaire John Feldmann, who helmed BLACK VEIL BRIDES' 2013 effort "Wretched And Divine: The Story Of The Wild Ones".

A few photos of BLACK VEIL BRIDES in the studio with Feldmann working on the follow-up to the band's 2014 self-titled album can be seen below.

BLACK VEIL BRIDES vocalist Andy Biersack recently told Jägermeister UK about the group's songwriting process: "Everybody writes in their own way, I think, everywhere we are, whether it's guitar players having a riff, or one of us having an idea here and there. But I think we generally write when we're together, or when we're in a position of being in a studio situation. Our one guitar player, Jake [Pitts], has a home studio. So does [the other guitarist] Jinxx [Jeremy Ferguson]. It's about writing riffs, coming up with ideas — melodies, lyrics, those kinds of things — and then when we're together, compiling them that way. We're not a band that's sitting in a dressing room, smacking our knees and humming along and singing a song that way."

Biersack also expressed a desire to not set any deadlines while writing and recording the follow-up to "Black Veil Brides". He said: "I think at this point, we've never had an opportunity, in all of our career, to make a record that had some time behind it. Every record that we've done has been a really quick turnaround, and that's not by design — that's because, times being what they are, the record label goes, 'Have us a record now.' And we go, 'We wanna do this crazy concept record.' And they go, 'Well, you have two months to do it. So good luck with that.' Now, we've kind of… By virtue of the fans, we've got an opportunity to take a little bit of time. I don't think we'll be the band that you'll see years go by without a record, but I don't think that you're gonna see another BLACK VEIL BRIDES record in four months. The goal is by the beginning of [2016] to be working on something new, and then to perfect it. And we'll release it when we think it's ready."

BLACK VEIL BRIDES released its first-ever concert DVD and Blu-ray, "Alive And Burning", on July 10. The cover artwork for the set was designed by the band's longtime friend and previous album cover illustrator Richard Villa.

"Black Veil Brides" was helmed by producer Bob Rock, whose resume includes albums by METALLICA, MÖTLEY CRÜE, THE CULT and many others.

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, will release its third full-length album, "Kick Me Silly - VC III", on January 8, 2016 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)

The track "Rise" can be streamed below.

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

Candice Night - known to many as the front woman of Blackmore's Night and the Princess of Magiquest in Great Wolf Lodges throughout the world. Her music is synonymous with soothing vocals; her presence with angelic beauty. As hypnotic as the ocean, as timeless as the night sky, she mesmerizes with the mere sound of her magical voice.

With her second solo offering, Starlight, Starbright, Night's vocals, bring you to a peaceful place; a place of beauty and dreams. Inspired by her children, she began creating this CD while she was pregnant. "I felt so completely full of love and part of this bigger picture, this miracle." Night remembers, "I wanted to celebrate this incredible life that was occurring inside of me. I've never felt so spiritual." When her children were born she sang to them each night to lull them to sleep, and each morning awakening them with song. 

Candice created this CD not only for her own children, but for all of us who wish to relax into the journey through dreamland after the sun sets. Night calls it "music to dream by." Enjoy the video for "Lullaby In The Night":

On Starlight, Starbright you will find new original melodies, some solo by Night, some co-written and played with Night's husband, legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. "Once In A Garden" is a video starring Candice and her children, as well as a wonderful group of other children playing pretend as children do. It's a beautiful song about their innocence that the video encapsulates perfectly.

Included also are old and new favorites rerecorded with the Candice Night magic woven into them. You will find renditions of John Denver's "Annie's Song", Plumb's "In My Arms", as well as Disney favorites "So This Is Love" and "Baby Mine" to soothe your soul. Close your eyes, lay back, and enjoy. Further details can be found here.

 

 

 

 

 



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ANTHRAX will release its long-awaited new album, "For All Kings", on February 26, 2016 via Nuclear Blast.

The band has just uploaded a new trailer. Watch Joey Belladonna, Jonathan Donais, Frank Bello, Charlie Benante and Scott Ian talk about what fans can expect from ANTHRAX's upcoming album below.

"For All Kings" will be available on the following formats:

* Boxset (including a digipack, picture-2LP, poster, card, slipmat)* 2CD digipack (including a bonus live CD)* 2LP (black vinyl in gatefold)

Nuclear Blast mailorder exclusive:

* Nuclear Blast boxset (including a digipak, poker cards, buttons, dice)* 2LP (clear, blue, yellow vinyl in gatefold)* CD + 2LP Bundle (CD+ black vinyl bundle)

"For All Kings" track listing:

CD1

01. You Gotta Believe02. Monster At The End03. For All Kings04. Breathing Lightning05. Suzerain06. Evil Twin07. Blood Eagle Wings08. Defend/Avenge09. All Of Them Thieves10. This Battle Chose Us11. Zero Tolerance

CD2 (Bonus Live CD)

01. Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't02. A.I.R.03. Caught In A Mosh04. Madhouse

2LP

Side A

01. You Gotta Believe02. Monster At The End03. For All Kings04. Breathing Lightning

Side B

01. Suzerain02. Evil Twin03. Blood Eagle Wings

Side C

01. Defend/Avenge02. All Of Them Thieves03. This Battle Chose Us04. Zero Tolerance

Side D

- Etched -

Pre-order "For All Kings" here.

The cover artwork for "For All Kings" can be seen below.

Says ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante: "The cover art for this record is again done by Alex Ross, who is probably one of the greatest artists living. And he did our previous covers."

He continues: "My idea for this one was to show this hall and these huge statues of these kings — who, of course, are us — and trying to tie in the last album cover with these creatures who are drawn into this room with our ANTHRAX 'A.' This one, you'll see those creatures in this hall kind of trying to reach up at these kings. We tried to tie in the last two album covers with this album cover. And when you see it, it's beautiful. It's grandiose. It just has this beautiful look to it. And, yeah, it's gonna be a great album cover."

Beginning in the fall of 2014, ANTHRAX — Charlie Benante (drums), Scott Ian (rhythm guitar), Frank Bello (bass), Joey Belladonna (vocals), and lead guitarist Jon Donais — took their time in the studio recording the follow up to their Grammy-nominated, critically acclaimed 2011 album, "Worship Music". The band recorded some 20 original songs, almost twice as many as they had ever brought into the studio in the past. In terms of how the new music sounds, Bello said, "The thing about ANTHRAX...we have this heavy, thrashy music and Joey's powerful and melodic vocals. I love heavy music, but I also love melody, so the challenge is to blend them together so they sound like ANTHRAX. I think we've done a really good job of that on the new album."

The official lyric video for the song "Evil Twin", taken from ANTHRAX's new CD, can be seen below. The clip is a compelling barrage of places, victims, actions, and some of the infamous zealots and others who have perpetrated violent extremism on innocents around the world, aptly exemplifying the song's powerful message.

"Evil Twin" is now available digitally, and can be purchased via Apple Music, iTunes and Amazon.

Musically, "Evil Twin" is a full-on thrash-metal tune that blasts off with a raging guitar riff, accelerates expeditiously and is completely uncontrollable.

"Yeah, that opening riff is really evil," laughed Benante. "We had done a lot of touring with DEATH ANGEL and EXODUS, so I was in a really thrashy state of mind when I starting writing the riffs for that song. I think along with Scott's lyrics and Frank's melodies, we came up with a really great, old-school thrash metal feel."

As Bello put it, "it's a song that begs to be played live."

Lyrically, the track unapologetically denounces the self-righteous religious extremists who spread their bloody terror under the guise of a Holy War.

You represent your discontentSlaughtering the innocentInsolenceYou're no martyrs

"I was very affected by the Charlie Hebdo massacre as I have been with all of the shootings that have taken place at schools and movie theatres," said ANTHRAX's lyricist Scott Ian. "I can't figure out what would cause someone to think that was the right thing to do. 'I'll show the world, I'll make my God happy.' It's just such bullshit. I'm not bagging on religion, that's not my intent, but people who go to that extreme, who feel they have become judge, jury and executioner over their fellow man because you or I don't believe the same thing they do, I think that's the 'Evil Twin' of humanity. Writing words about that is my only catharsis."

ANTHRAX recently joined "Big Four" comrades SLAYER on a seven-week European tour that kicked off on October 25.

DEAD CROSS, the new "punk" outfit featuring former SLAYER and current PHILM drummer Dave Lombardo alongside members of THE LOCUST and RETOX, made its live debut this past Tuesday, December 1 at the Casbah in San Diego, California. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

DEAD CROSS's lineup is as follows:

Dave Lombardo (PHILM, ex-SLAYER) - DrumsJustin Pearson (THE LOCUST, RETOX) - BassMike Crain (RETOX) - GuitarGabe Serbian (THE LOCUST, RETOX, ex-CATTLE DECAPITATION) - Vocals

DEAD CROSS has yet to record any music, but Lombardo described the band's sound to Noisey: "It's just straightforward brutal punk— metal-esque, but it's definitely not metal. I think it definitely leans more towards the punk style, because I feel that the way things are in the world, a punk attitude is definitely necessary to help you along with the shit that's going on. There's no time to sing, 'We Are the World', or all this bullshit, we're all pissed right now, and there's no better way to release anger than to be in a punk band and write punk music."

Regarding DEAD CROSS's recording plans, Lombardo told Noisey: "I don't know exactly when we'll be able to release anything, but I'd love to get something out by the end of the year, two singles just to release something, and then do a full-length next year. The level of musicianship we have is very high, so I dont think it'll be too much of a problem to create music and put something out. These guys are driven like I am. I've learned a lot from being in this industry, and sometimes it's a lot better when you grab the bull by the horns yourself and don't wait around for other people."

Video footage of HALESTORM performing an acoustic version of the song "New Modern Love" live at Atlantic Records' recording studio in New York City this past April can be seen below.

Lzzy recently said on Twitter that the lyrics to "New Modern Love" were inspired by the "very strange, new modern relationship" she has with her "significant other," presumably referring to HALESTORM guitarist Joe Hottinger.

HALESTORM's Josh Smith in October confirmed the long-standing rumor that Lzzy and Joe have been involved in a romantic relationship. Asked by Tommy Carroll of the 103.9 The Bear radio station in South Bend, Indiana if it's true that Lzzy and Joe are "an item," Smith responded: "It's quite possible. It's on and off. Right now, I think it's off. That's all I'm gonna say."

The bassist continued: "They're pretty open about their relationship. They don't talk about it openly, but, you know… At the end of the day, we're all like family, and that's more or less the road we take is… You know… Whatever the case may be relationship-wise, it's not gonna break up our band, and that's the… I guess, the big thing is the band is the marriage here."

Lzzy was asked in an interview earlier this year if she finds it difficult to maintain a relationship while on the road. Hale replied: "In a relationship, you have to literally have everything out there to this other person, and they have to do the same thing with you, or it's not gonna work. I've never been a jealous person either, and as of right now, I'm dating someone who is the same way. So we have a very amazing trust thing going on."

She added: "I think you have to work hard, no matter what, at a relationship, but, really, the first couple of steps — laying everything out there — has been total saving graces for me and my relationship."

Lzzy and her brother Arejay (drums) formed HALESTORM in 1998 while in middle school. Hottinger joined the band in 2003, followed by Smith in 2004.

HALESTORM's third studio album, "Into The Wild Life", was released in April.

@sgiambrone my very strange, new modern relationship I have with my SO. #LzzyLyrics

— Lzzy Hale (@LZZYHALE) November 21, 2015

Norwegian grindcore innovators Beaten To Death present their brand new music video for “I Keep Stalling”, a song taken from the band’s third album Unplugged, issued in early October via Mas-Kina Recordings.
 
The video for “I Keep Stalling” was filmed by Per Georg Krokstad and edited by Mika Martinussen, check it out below.

“I guess this is one of the more melodic songs on Unplugged – even the vocals have sort-of a one-note melody going at one point. I’m not entirely sure, but I think the song is about never having enough time to get stuff done,” says bassist Mika Martinussen about this new video.

 

 

 



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Bulgaria's Enthrallment are streaming their new album, Eugenic Wombs, which contains nine new tracks and will be available tomorrow, December 4th, via Germany's Rebirth The Metal Productions. Listen to the album below.

Eugenic Wombs tracklisting:

“Deserved Fears”
“Few Are Those Who Find It”
“Last Judgment Waltz”
“Totally Dismembered”
“Defame The Incarnation”
“Inspired Lunatic”
“Path To Silence”
“Nature Dose Not Allow Doubling”
“Enslaved by Your Own Seed”

Album stream:

Trailer:



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"Blackest Magick In Practice", the new Sam Scott-Hunter-directed video from British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH, can be seen below.

Comments the director: "There's dark madness in this video. 'Blackest Magick In Practice' is a deeply tragic tale of lost love. It's the grief stricken insanity of trying to bring back that loved one from the dead; desperately trying to hold on to that person who's gone, even if that leads down a dark and gruesome path.

"I don't want to give it all away, but I will say that the hardest part of the production was getting hold of a human ear. I wanted to convey the power of the band too, in amongst the romance, madness and magick.

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

"Blackest Magick In Practice" is taken from CRADLE OF FILTH's eleventh studio album, "Hammer Of The Witches", which was released on July 10 via Nuclear Blast. The CD marks the first release with CRADLE OF FILTH's new lineup, which includes new guitarists Ashok (of Czech groups ROOT and INNER FEAR) and Richard Shaw (of English acts EMPEROR CHUNG and NG26).

Asked what inspired the songs for "Hammer Of The Witches", CRADLE OF FILTH singer Dani Filth told HorrorNews.net: "It was an amalgam of lots of different things, I suppose. When I began writing the album, I had a new clip of about four songs before I started coming up with an idea. You could say it is well hilted in the medieval. I mean, there is a track called 'On Christian Soldiers', which is about the first crusade and draws comparison with modern day — as do a lot of the songs, but I think the medieval scenario is the vibe that suits the material. I was working one day in my office and I have a library of books. I saw the 'Malleus Maleficarum', which is the medieval, gothic book about witchcraft that translates to Hammer Of Witches, meaning it was a tribunal, like a punishment for witches, and the book itself was like a weapon against witchcraft. Obviously, hundreds of thousands people throughout Europe were put to death throughout the inquisition period and this book was partly responsible for that, I should imagine. But, anyway, we saw it as the weapon being in the witch's hand. It is retribution, revival, reprisal, revolution and revenge. We can say that, because we are not a Christian band. So that was our interpretation of that. Then those things of revenge, revival, demonology, witchcraft which were also influenced by the area in which I live in England, which is known as a witch county."

Regarding whether he looks at "Hammer Of The Witches" as CRADLE OF FILTH's finest effort so far, Dani told RockSverige.se: "That's a little hard to say. We never come out of the studio unless we are 100 percent happy. We're really proud of this one. Whether it's our finest album? Well, at least for the last ten years, I would say. That seems to be the premise and the opinion of the journalists I've spoken to. Whether it's our best overall, I don't know. It needs to sink in and people need to hear the album with the special-edition tracks as well. Those particular songs didn't even know they were gonna be special-edition songs. The track list wasn't carved in stone 'till close to the end of the mix, actually. It was a band thing and we had to have two songs as bonus material and everybody had good points about all of them, but two didn't make the grade. But somebody might prefer one or both of the songs. Unfortunately, it's the way it is. We actually turned down three songs that were written for the album. We made a conscious decision not to spread ourselves too thinly. One of the tracks was one of my favorites, but that just proves there's democracy in this band. Everybody contributed and that's testament to that the album is killer."

CRADLE OF FILTH will embark on the "Inquisitional Tourture" North American headlining tour in January. Support on the trek will come from BUTCHER BABIES and NE OBLIVISCARIS.

BARONESS will release its fourth album, "Purple", on December 18 through Abraxan Hymns).

The song "Morningstar", taken from "Purple", can be streamed below.

The "Purple" cover artwork was created by BARONESS frontman John Baizley. Baizley has done the artwork for all of BARONESS's releases as well as fine art and album art for bands including SKELETONWITCH, BLACK TUSK, KVELERTAK and KYLESA.

"Purple" was helmed by producer Dave Fridmann (FLAMING LIPS, SLEATER-KINNEY, MGMT), who recorded the album at his Tarbox Road Studios in Cassadaga, New York. Baizley told Rolling Stone about working with Fridmann: "Yeah, I loved 'The Soft Bulletin' [by the FLAMING LIPS] — that was a record that really proved to me the impact that a producer could have on a band. Same thing with the 'Yoshimi' record that came after that; they were just unbelievably rich sonic masterpieces. I loved the way he produced the first MGMT record, too. But there are also bands he's worked with — and I'm not going to name names — that frankly, I don't like; but I love the records he did with them, because there's just an incredibly rich and creative sonic thing happening. If you can make a band that I'm not a fan of sound good, and keep me interested in listening to them, then you are doing something terrific from a production standpoint."

Pre-order packages for "Purple" — which feature an instant download of "Chlorine & Wine" as well as a limited-edition colored vinyl version of the new album, two picture discs, t-shirts and other unique items — are available now. Digital pre-orders, which also include an instant download of "Chlorine & Wine", are available via iTunes, Amazon and Google Play.

BARONESS is John Baizley (guitar, vocals), Pete Adams (guitar, vocals), Nick Jost (bass, keyboards) and Sebastian Thomson (drums).

German guitar hero Axel Rudi Pell will release a new digital single, "The King Of Fools", on December 6. The song is taken from his sixteenth studio album, "Game Of Sins", which will be made available on January 15, 2016 (January 22 in the U.S.) through SPV/Steamhammer.

The official lyric video for "The King Of Fools" can be seen below.

Says Pell about the song: "'The King Of Fools' is about a pimp, the King of his neighborhood. Little girls should be aware of him, he teaches sin!

"It's a typical Axel Rudi Pell riff-rocker, melodic and straight with a catchy hookline."

When Axel Rudi Pell celebrated his first 25 years as a solo artist with a three-hour-plus show in Balingen, Germany on July 11, 2014, he not only awed the 15,000 fans in front of the stage. Released on April 24, 2015, the live recording of this once-in-a-lifetime concert, dubbed "Magic Moments", went straight to No. 1 in the German and Swedish DVD charts, #4 in Switzerland, #7 in Austria, and #17 in the Netherlands. Anybody expecting Axel to rest on his laurels after that spectacular feat doesn't know the man and his work ethic.

Already collecting ideas in the summer of 2014, he ensconced himself in the studio again in fall 2015. "Everything went according to plan," he smiles. So nothing went wrong? Nothing new on the Axel Rudi Pell front? Again, the objective observer doesn't know Axel. Anyone assuming that he would invite his numerous festival guests on his next studio album for another anniversary celebration knows nothing about the man. Axel Rudi Pell can do it on his own. And he wants to do it on his own. "I never even thought of having guest musicians on this album," he explains. And why should he? Since Bobby Rondinelli (ex-RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT) joined the Axel Rudi Pell fold in 2013, the band sounds tighter than ever because "Bobby fits like a glove." Pell points out that Rondinelli is the perfect drummer who always knows exactly what to play; on "Game Of Sins" even more so than on the predecessor album "Into The Storm" (released in 2014, # 5 in Germany). So it comes as no surprise that Axel's 16th studio recording featuring original material is a definite winner. "Everybody involved agrees," he grins. "There's not a single filler on the album." Which apparently was not the case on some of his previous offerings, as he admits with a smirk. "Game Of Sins" is way harder, grittier, the songwriting even more accomplished, experience meeting excellence again.

Especially sound-wise, Axel Rudi Pell appears to have made a quantum leap. "Looking back, I have to admit that the drums on the last album stayed too much in the background," a fact which has changed for the better: they sound much fuller and much more aggressive this time around and have been adapted to suit the new songs. Having said that, this album is a must-have not only for air drummers — riff fetishists and solo aficionados will also love Axel Rudi Pell's new material. And it's no secret that vocalist Johnny Gioeli counts among the best of his profession. All in all, "Game Of Sins" presents a band at the peak of its powers. Although the sleeve and the intro "Lenta Fortuna" (Latin for "bad luck") may suggest that this is a concept album about gambling — it is not. "Game Of Sins" is Axel Rudi Pell at his best: the sirens in the metallic opener "Fire" are a perfect wake-up call, "Sons In The Night" with its "Sons Of Anarchy"-inspired lyrics pays tribute to the NWOBHM. The title track is the longest number on the album, nine minutes of those epic structures and Arabian scales which Pell is so fond of. "Falling Star" once again refers to the early '80s.

Is there an Axel Rudi Pell album without a ballad? They may well be one day, but as long as Axel writes beautiful specimen such as "Lost In Love", there's bound to be one. Among the recording's highlights features "The King Of Fools" with its his five minutes of pure emotion, a perfect symbiosis between steeliness and melody, with an unbelievable performance by Gioeli, but don't forget to listen to Axel's guitars on the verses! "Till The World Says Goodbye" again presents Pell in his element: an epic, almost dark and doomy ballad, a moving soundtrack for the Judgment Day. "Breaking The Rules" is another melodic rock song, before the regular album finishes with a slow number called "Forever Free". But the crowning glory is included in the digipak format: Axel Rudi Pell is the first musician to successfully deliver a real hard-rocking version of the almighty Bob Dylan/Jimi Hendrix classic "All Along The Watchtower"; which has been his heart's desire for a long time, as Axel explains. "That song is far from easy to arrange, but the result is definitely worth the effort." Or, to be more precise: "Everything went according to plan."

"Game Of Sins" track listing:

01. Lenta Fortuna (intro) (01:2402. Fire (05:3403. Sons In The Night (05:0704. Game Of Sins (08:4305. Falling Star (05:1406. Lost In Love (06:0707. The King Of Fools (04:5808. Till The World Says Goodbye (07:4009. Breaking The Rules (05:0710. Forever Free (08:2911. All Along The Watchtower (06:03 (digipack bonus track)

"Game Of Sins" will be released in the following configurations:

* Digipack incl. 1 bonus track and poster* Jewel case clear tray edition* 2LP gatefold, 180 g, black vinyl, CD in paper sleeve* Download version * Limited boxset including digi, 2LP, miniature replica Fender guitar 1:4 including ARP gift box case, poster, sticker, photocard

Axel Rudi Pell lineup:

Johnny Gioeli - Lead and Backing VocalsAxel Rudi Pell - Lead, Rhythm and Acoustic GuitarsFerdy Doernberg - KeyboardsVolker Krawczak - BassBobby Rondinelli - Drums

Atmospheric extreme metallers, Martyrium, have revealed the artwork and tracklisting for their new opus, which will be entitled Destiny Wore A Bondage Mask. The artwork was created by the talented Michal ‘Xaay’ Loranc who is well known for his digital works for Nile,  Behemoth, Devilish Impressions, and other metal giants.

In words of the band: "The idea was inspired by the secret voices inside the uncommon mind which reveal that the only way to freedom is through perpetual submission to abuse."
 
The sound in this album is a blend of carefully selected arrangements which consists of heavy tight riffing, guttural growls, malefic screams, a variety of clean vocals together combined with dramatic orchestral scores spiced up with punchy industrial elements.

Tracklisting:
 
“Through Masochistic Submission To Confinement”
“Oraculum Strigoi”
“The Sacrament”
“Night Penetrated Mare”
“Where No Shadows Cast The Fire Light”
“Inside The Confessional”
“A Seance For The Forgotten Realm”
“Nyctophilia ”
“Angelus Mortem”
“Filth To Filth”
“Necropendulum”
“Demonica Saint”
“Masters Of Gor”
 
The album was recorded at Spinesplitter Studio produced by David Depasquale from Spinesplitter Studio (Malta) and Brett Caldas-Lima from Tower Studio (France) mixed and mastered by MartYriuM, David Depasquale from Spinesplitter Studio and Brett Caldas-Lima from Tower Studio.
 
The release date is expected for February/March of 2016. More details to follow.



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"Mockingbird", the new video from the Swedish punk/metal outfit IRON LAMB, can be seen below. The clip was made by Super Lino Puro Productions, which has previously worked with such acts as SISTER and GRGA.

"Mockingbird" is taken from IRON LAMB's second full-length album, "Fool's Gold", which was released in January 2015 via High Roller Records.

Formed in 2009 out of the ashes of renowned bands REPUGNANT, GENERAL SURGERY, DISMEMBER and BOMBSTRIKE, IRON LAMB's current lineup consists of Daniel Bragman (vocals), Johan Wallin (guitar), Daniel Ekeroth (bass), Jens Bäckelin (guitar) and Thomas Daun (drums). If you compare IRON LAMB's new record to the band's decidedly raw debut, "The Original Sin", you will undoubtedly arrive at the conclusion that "Fool's Gold" is a more rounded effort. Johan says: "Some people who have listened to it feel that it's more mature. I don't like that word, but I guess they have a point." IRON LAMB is not out to copy anybody, but just like Alan Davey's GUNSLINGER, they live and breathe the spirit of 1977-era MOTÖRHEAD. "That feeling ain't going nowhere, that's for sure," explains Johan. "Fast Eddie Clarke obviously has been a huge influence on us as a band, both for riffs and lead guitar work. I never liked Phil Cambell. To be honest, I don't like anything about him. Not his playing, not his guitar sound, not his look."

Norwegian black metallers IMMORTAL — now consisting of lyricist/guitarist Demonaz (real name Harald Nævdal) and drummer Horgh (real name Reidar Horghagen) following last year's split with frontman Olve Eikemo (a.k.a. Abbath) — are working on material for the band's next album, to be released via the Nuclear Blast label.

Demonaz, IMMORTAL's founding member, has created the material based on his visions of Blashyrkh for nearly 25 years.

Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Northern Chaos Gods", "Called To Ice" and "Blacker Of Worlds".

Abbath last year claimed that he rightfully attempted to secure exclusive rights to the IMMORTAL name and logo after Demonaz and drummer Horgh effectively quit the legendary Norwegian black metal group.

Say Demonaz and Horgh: "The conflict was not about anyone leaving the band, as Abbath claimed. It was all about his personal problems. He had cancelled rehearsals and ruined the band's progress for a very long time. We were forced to confront him about it.

"Abbath recently told Australian website that we wanted things solely on our own timetable and that we claimed he needed rehab.

"The band had to reschedule rehearsals all the time because of him. Even then, he did not show up. He told the band, friends, and family that he needed to go to rehab again. He had got help from a clinic before. We offered to wait for him to recover this time also. Sadly he changed his decision.

"Instead of trying to solve his problems, he went behind our back and secretly applied for a trademark ownership of the bands logo and name. It was hard to believe that his problems had led him to such a point.

"When his attempt to get the rights was discovered by the band, he all of a sudden went solo. His accusations against the band in media changed from day to day. The fans started to question his version and wanted us to speak about what really happened. Unfortunately, we had to wait until the case was all closed, to make a statement.

"His trademark application was denied and the case closed by Patentstyret in November, 2015. One of the reasons was because he had only contributed as a co-writer of music in IMMORTAL. Nor did he contribute any lyrics or titles to the band's albums. The fact is that the music has always been a result from the band as a unit.

"IMMORTAL will record the new and long awaited album in 2016, which will be released by Nuclear Blast Records.

"We are well prepared and looking forward to present the new material to the fans.

"We did not want to rush things, but take the time to deliver another high quality IMMORTAL album."

Abbath previously told told U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine: "I didn't want to go solo in the first place. I wanted the best for IMMORTAL. I didn't want it to end this way. First of all, I just wanted my music out. I wanted to record the [next] album [because] it's been so many years since 'All Shall Fall'. And both Demonaz and Horgh, they have kids and families now, and it just hit that point where I couldn't work the way they wanted to work any more. I wanted things on my terms and they wanted things on their terms, and it was very difficult."

He continued: "I wanted to rehearse at least three times a week, but often it was only once a week and things went so slow. I sat there with all this material, I kept the rehearsal space and recorded the stuff on click track, but it was a very strained atmosphere and the Last time we worked together was in early June last year."

The trademark application from Eikemo was denied on July 21, 2015 and he has snce launched his own band called ABBATH. "IMMORTAL never stopped; we just had to go through a long legal process before we could go out in the media with the news," Demonaz and Horgh said in a statement.

"IMMORTAL is much more than just a band, and much more than just a form of music. The departure of one member cannot change that, no matter. We will continue what we believe in, and the power of 'Blashyrkh' shall live on."

Asked if the decision to part ways and seek out new band members was inevitable, Abbath said: "I was forced to do it this way. I wanted IMMORTAL to continue, but not the way it was. The dialogue has not been there and it's also my mistake. I should have brought up this shit a long time ago, but IMMORTAL, after Demonaz's problems with his arms, it never became a band after that."

He continued: "IMMORTAL is a very special situation. [Demonaz] hasn't been in the band, but then I always wanted to do the best for everybody, to have the band spirit, and that's why when we decided to start IMMORTAL again, we tried to get the spirit back, and bring him on tour, and just share our thing and be a band and have a kick-ass time. But it never worked out. The chemistry wasn't there with the IMMORTAL guys and hadn't been for a while."

Abbath added: "I believe in my music and I believe in my expression, but time flies and we grow apart. Maybe in the future we can go back again, I don't know, but right now I just want to do my thing and just be ABBATH and have people around me who support that."

Bass duties for ABBATH are being handled by a man familiar to metal fans across the world — Tom Cato Visnes, more widely known as King Ov Hell and main composer for several GORGOROTH albums as well as his own bands OV HELL, with singer Shagrath from DIMMU BORGIR, and GOD SEED, with exceptional black metal vocalist Gaahl.

IMMORTAL's core trio consisting of Abbath, Demonaz and Horgh had been together since 1996 and has been responsible for crafting the band's last five albums: "Blizzard Beasts" (1997), "At The Heart Of Winter" (1999), "Damned In Black" (2000), "Sons Of Northern Darkness" (2002) and the 2009 reunion album "All Shall Fall".

BLIND GUARDIAN guitarist Marcus Siepen has left SINBREED, the German power metal band featuring BLIND GUARDIAN drummer Frederik Ehmke.

Says SINBREED in a statement: "There has not been — and there is not — any kind of dispute. In fact, since his main band BLIND GUARDIAN is touring that much, it was simply not possible for him to focus 100 percent on SINBREED, like he did the past years.

"We are very thankful for having Marcus as a bandmember in our ranks for the last more than three years and we wish him nothing but the best."

Adds Siepen: "Back in 2012 when I joined SINBREED, we had just finished a world tour for BLIND GUARDIAN's 'At The Edge Of Time' album, so the timing was perfect for me. BLIND GUARDIAN would not be active for quite some time, which gave me the freedom to focus on something else without any problems. And I enjoyed every second of it. Suddenly playing with different people was a great experience for me that taught me a lot. At that time, SINBREED has not been signed to any label; we were free to do whatever we wanted so we played all kinds of gigs and at some point just started to work on new songs. This has also been a great experience and we had a lot of fun putting together the 'Shadows' album which even got us a record deal. And all this still happened while BLIND GUARDIAN were not active."

He continues: "At the end of last year, we all met and talked about how to continue with SINBREED. For me, it was obvious that we would have to take a break because for the next two years I would be completely busy with BLIND GUARDIAN, our 'Beyond The Red Mirror' album was about to be released, so the whole promotion machinery was working at full throttle already and we were about to go on tour again, a tour that would (will) keep us on the road until around fall of 2016. I just didn't see any way to fully be there for SINBREED during this period because obviously BLIND GUARDIAN would be my only focus, just as SINBREED has been in the years before.

"Unfortunately, but understandably, taking this break was not what the others had in mind. Of course, they wanted to get ahead with SINBREED and also our label wanted to have a new album, so it was obvious for me that I had to come to a decision about how I wanted to go on.

"I know there are people that can handle being in more than just one band without bigger problems; they can switch between those bands easily. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people. I am not really able to do multitasking when it comes to bands, when my focus is on BLIND GUARDIAN, there is no room in my head for another band, just as there was no room for anything else while I was focusing completely on SINBREED. I knew I wouldn't be able to give 100 percent for SINBREED any time before the end of 2016, no matter if it was about songwriting, recording or playing live, and giving less than 100 percent is not an option for me."

SINBREED is currently working on a new album for an early 2016 release. The band says: "The new album will include all the trademarks we developed on 'When Worlds Collide' and 'Shadows', plus a few things you may not have seen coming (piano, anyone?)."

SINBREED's brand of power metal is described as a "blistering combination of speed, melodic and aggressive arrangements combined with high and soaring vocals."

"Shadows" lyric video:


"Call To Arms" lyric video:


"Bleed" video:

Former STONE TEMPLE PILOTS and VELVET REVOLVER singer Scott Weiland was found dead on his tour bus in Minnesota. He was 48 years old.

A source connected to Scott's band THE WILDABOUTS told TMZ Scott was was discovered unresponsive on their bus Thursday night around 9 p.m. — shortly before the group was to go on stage at the Medina Entertainment Center in Medina.

Weiland's wife, Jamie Weiland, confirmed his death to the Los Angeles Times, saying, "I can't deal with this right now… it's true." Weiland's manager, Tom Vitorino, also confirmed that the singer died Thursday.

A posting on Scott Weiland's Facebook page reads: "Scott Weiland, best known as the lead singer for STONE TEMPLE PILOTS and VELVET REVOLVER, passed away in his sleep while on a tour stop in Bloomington, Minnesota, with his band THE WILDABOUTS. At this time we ask that the privacy of Scott's family be respected."

JANE'S ADDICTION guitarist Dave Navarro was the first fellow musician to respond to Weiland's death. He tweeted: "Just learned our friend Scott Weiland has died. So gutted, I am thinking of his family tonight." That tweet later appeared to have been removed.

MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx tweeted: "Sad to hear about Scott's passing.I hope it wasn't drugs.The saddest part of the story is his kids and family being left behind. RIP"

Alice Cooper tweeted: "Deeply saddened by the passing of singer #ScottWeiland. What a voice we've lost. Thoughts and prayers to his family"

VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Dave Kushner tweeted: "RIP Scott Weiland"

BLACK VEIL BRIDES vocalist Andy Biersack tweeted: "So sad to hear about Scott Weiland. Massive fan of his voice & presence. I once sang 'Slither' onstage during my 1st battle of the bands. RIP"

Taylor Momsen of THE PRETTY RECKLESS tweeted: "Rock and Roll lost a soul tonight"

SHINEDOWN guitarist Zach Myers tweeted: "When on top of his game... Scott was the best since Mercury... Period"

Former MEGADETH drummer Nick Menza wrote on Facebook: "I'm truly saddened to read that Scott Weiland has passed. I toured with Scott for a month and a half in early March of 1993. STP was the support act for MEGADETH at that time. I use to go and sing ZEPPELIN songs during their sound checks almost every day, Weiland never did soundchecks. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and fans. R.I.P. Scott Weiland."

Weiland had a history of drug abuse. He was arrested in 1995 for attempting to buy crack cocaine before being arrested again two years later for heroin possession. In 1999, the singer was ordered to spend a year in a county-jail recovery center due to a probation violation. He also entered rehab following a DUI arrest in November 2007.

STP fired Weiland in February 2013 after reuniting with him in 2010 for a series of tours and one self-titled album. The band had previously been on hiatus since 2002, primarily due to the singer's struggles with drugs and alcohol. STONE TEMPLE PILOTS then recruited a new frontman, Chester Bennington of LINKIN PARK, and released one critically acclaimed EP, "High Rise".

Speaking to a Canadian reporter last year, Weiland denied that his "demons" were still a factor as he continued to tour with THE WILDABOUTS. "Past demons are past demons; that's stuff that I dealt with 14 years ago," he said. "I mean, I guess Keith Richards [of THE ROLLING STONES] gets asked about [his past drug use], so why shouldn't I? But it's not something that I think about, ever. Those days of my dope abuse, and use, are long since by me."

Weiland was harshly criticized following several performances on his recent tour, with one review calling his performance "sluggish" and another stating flat-out that the vocalist "appears to have crashed and burned. Badly."

A fan-filmed April 28 video of "Vasoline" in Corpus Christi went viral, showing Weiland launching into a painfully out of tune and apathetic vocal performance that was called "unacceptable" and "heartbreaking" by fans on YouTube.

A rep for Weiland issued a statement explaining that Weiland was tired and had had a couple of drinks before the show, in addition to his earpiece audio issues.

THE WILDABOUTS guitarist Jeremy Brown died in March. The cause of his death was released in May by the Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. The report stated that Brown's death was an accident, and the result of intoxication from multiple drugs.

Weiland and his band THE WILDABOUTS were on the road promoting his new album, "Blaster", which came out on March 31.

Weiland is survived by two children, Noah and Lucy, whom he had with his ex-wife Mary Forsberg, and his current wife, whom he married in 2013.

Powerhouse American vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) joined HEAVY AS TEXAS — the band featuring former PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS guitarist Marzi Montazeri — on stage on Novemebr 21 at the BFE Rock Club in Houston, Texas to perform classic songs from VAN HALEN, IRON MAIDEN, PANTERA and BLACK SABBATH. Video footage of the concert can be seen below (video by Afshin Farzadfar).

Montazeri recently described HEAVY AS TEXAS as "a southern groovy band." He told the "Do You Know Jack?" radio show: "It's got extreme levels to it, but it's not just an all-out extreme band, to label it that. I always called it 'heavy Texas blues and beyond.' The 'beyond' part is all the psychedelic stuff, man."

He continued: "You know, growing up with [BLACK] SABBATH and [LED] ZEPPELIN and PINK FLOYD. And then getting into other bands, growing up… I saw a movie my dad took me to called 'Thief' with James Caan and I just remember seeing that movie and thinking, 'Damn, man, the soundtrack was so killer.' I'd come to find out it was a band called TANGERINE DREAM. So a lot of those bands kind of played a big role… I always loved the long epic rock songs. And a lot of '70s, late '60s influence, so that is the core of HEAVY AS TEXAS. But then you add to it the tone that I have today and the way we write today, and it's kind of different."

Marzi stated about his split with the ILLEGALS: "I haven't spoken to any of 'em, and I found out through the Internet that I wasn't in the band. But we're gonna leave it at that, man. I wish them the best. And I'm doing my thing, and there's no hard feelings on my camp or me, period. And if anything, I appreciate the fact that Philip gave me a chance so that the rest of the world could know who I am. That's that, man."

In issue 218 of U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine, IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson recalled the "weird" experience of seeing THE IRON MAIDENS, the world's first female tribute to IRON MAIDEN, performing live.

Dickinson told Classic Rock: "I've seen THE IRON MAIDENS in Mexico. We all went. We were watching them and I said to Steve [Harris, IRON MAIDEN bassist], 'This is a really weird question, but looking at them, would you fuck yourself?' And he went, 'I don’t know, but we've all been thinking it.' It was very, very weird."

Formed in 2001, the Los Angeles-based THE IRON MAIDENS is fronted by Kirsten Rosenberg, who goes by the stage name Bruce Chickinson.

Nita Strauss, who made a name for herself recently as Alice Cooper's guitarist, had established her credentials as a member of THE IRON MAIDENS, working alongside guitarist Courtney Cox.

Dickinson also reiterated the importance of making new music for a band like MAIDEN. He said: "The only difference between us and and IRON MAIDEN cover bands is that we do new IRON MAIDEN albums. Funnily enough, while that's a joke, it's also a good point."

He continued: "Without doing new albums, you just become a karaoke band of yourself. And that's not a good enough reason for me to give up a big chunk of my life to go on tour. Hey, the money's great. It's not enough. There needs to be more than that, because this band is so important to so many people."

IRON MAIDEN's new album, "The Book Of Souls", was released on September 4 through BMG in the U.S.A. (Parlophone Records in the rest of world).

The band announced in May that touring plans to support the album wouldn't happen until 2016 to allow Dickinson time to fully recuperate after his successful cancer treatment.

Former STONE TEMPLE PILOTS and VELVET REVOLVER frontman Scott Weiland was recently interviewed on Canada's "The Todd Shapiro Show". You can now listen to the chat below.

Asked for his opinion on the current terror threat to the world posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Weiland said: "Fuck ISIS. And if they come after me, I'll fucking pull out my Glock 17 [semi-automatic pistol]."

Weiland and his band THE WILDABOUTS are on the road promoting his new album, "Blaster", which came out on March 31.

THE WILDABOUTS have had several lineup changes since last year. Weiland fired his longtime guitarist and business partner Doug Grean in early 2014, while drummer Danny Thompson left to focus on his work with the ALAN PARSONS LIVE PROJECT. Meanwhile, guitarist Jeremy Brown stepped up to take a bigger role following Grean's dismissal, but Brown's sudden passing in March forced the band to hire Nick Maybury.

The cause of Brown's death was released in May by the Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. The report states that Brown's death was an accident, and the result of intoxication from multiple drugs.

Tomorrow's (Friday, December 4) KING DIAMOND show at the House Of Blues in Houston, Texas has been canceled because the band's lead singer and namesake is "suffering from a severe case of acute laryngitis." This is the second KING DIAMOND concert in a row to be scrapped due to the vocalist's illness, following last night's (Wednesday, December 2) cancelation of the show at Brady Theater in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

An official statement from the KING DIAMOND camp reads as follows: "Houston, we are very sorry to inform you that there is unfortunately no chance for KING DIAMOND to perform at the House of Blues this Friday the 4th of December, due to the acute laryngitis, which caused the cancellation in Oklahoma this Tuesday.

"An unforeseen effect of the anesthetic used in the examination this past Monday has delayed the healing process.

"King has for once been silent, trying his damnedest to bring enough vocal cords back to complete the rest of the tour.

"There is still hope for Dallas on Saturday, but do keep an eye on our Facebook just in case.

"Again, Houston, we are very very sorry. You know how much we love playing for you."

For ticket refunds, please contact your place of purchase.

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

KING DIAMOND is performing its classic second album, 1987's concept effort "Abigail", in its entirety on the band's current U.S. tour. Support on the trek, which began on October 29 and will run through December 5, is coming from legendary San Francisco Bay Area thrash metallers EXODUS.

In a 2014 interview with Revolver magazine, King stated about his group's current lineup: "As a band, we look better than we ever have before and we sound better than we ever have before. For me personally, my voice has never been this good. It's been about four years since the triple bypass. A lot of stuff had to be done. I'm breathing differently and I had to learn how to breathe again because they collapse your lungs for the operation. The rehab and everything else, you know, and cutting smoking out — that really has done something to my voice that blew me away. I cannot believe that today it is easier for me to sing all those notes than it was. I feel confident going on tour, knowing we're going to give our fans something they will never forget. I know they will never forget this. There's so much to take it that it's a heavy impression to give."

Only MOTÖRHEAD could name a premium cider Snaggletooth. Created in tribute to and in celebration of loudest rock music on the planet, it is now available in Sweden from Systembolaget.

This unique sweetened dry British apple cider is crafted with a juice blend of the finest Dabinet, Michelin and dessert apple varieties to give a perfectly balanced, refreshing taste. The Snaggletooth MOTÖRHEAD cider packs a real punch. It is suitable for vegetarians, vegans and coeliacs.

MOTÖRHEAD has previously launched band-themed beer, wine, vodka and whisky.

The band's frontman, Lemmy, told The Guardian earlier in the year that he has changed his lifestyle by swapping from Jack and Coke to vodka and orange, apparently to help with his diabetes. "I like orange juice better," he said. "So, Coca-Cola can fuck off."

MOTÖRHEAD manager Todd Singerman told Decibel magazine in a 2014 interview: "[Lemmy has] been trying to substitute it with wine. That was the compromise with the doctors: trade the Jack for the wine. He thinks wine's better than Jack, but it's still got tons of sugar. He doesn't tell them he's drinking two fucking bottles either. These are the battles we're up against. He doesn't grasp that he’s just trading one demon for the other."

Fan-filmed video footage of GIRLSCHOOL's November 24 performance at Jahrhunderthalle in Frankfurt, Germany during the band's European tour as the support act for MOTÖRHEAD and SAXON can be seen below.

GIRLSCHOOL's 13th studio album, "Guilty As Sin", was released on November 13 in North America via UDR Music in red colored vinyl, digital download and a deluxe ecolbook formats.

Produced by Chris Tsangarides (JUDAS PRIEST, THIN LIZZY) at the Ecology Room Studios in Kent, England, "Guilty As Sin" includes ten tracks of the driven, melodic yet gloriously riff-heavy rock'n'roll that Kim McAuliffe (vocals and guitar), Enid Williams (vocals and bass), Jackie Chambers (lead guitar and backing vocals) and Denise Dufort (drums) are world famous for. Featuring raw, energetic, killer cuts such as "Take It Like A Band", "Treasure" and "Come The Revolution", "Guilty As Sin" is soaked in the late-night spills 'n' sweat of beer, cigarettes, denim and leather — a timeless evocation of how it feels to throw away all life's B.S. and get down'n'dirty with loud, crunchy yet catchy rock 'n' roll. There's also time for two storming cover songs (including the superb, swaggering rock version of THE BEE GEES' '70s disco classic "Stayin' Alive").

Speaking to rock journalist Mitch Lafon about the songwriting process for "Guilty As Sin", Williams said: "There are three main writers in the band, and we all wanna put our material on the album, which is great, because it makes you up your ante and you wanna do your very best. So we're all kind of working hard to get tracks that we love on [there]."

She continued: "To be very general, Kim tends to like… real, just the heart of GIRLSCHOOL. So on the album, there's quite a few tracks that she's written with Jackie, and some of them are real fast, double-bass-drum kind of tracks that you would associate with the early part of GIRLSCHOOL. And then there's always a few tracks that are kind of rock and roll, really. Again, Kim loves authentic… She likes to keep recreating, but really staying with how GIRLSCHOOL is, as she understands it, whereas I'm always much more experimental. And I keep reining it in a little bit, but I'm always the one that wants to try to push new boundaries. So I've written a couple of songs by myself and a couple with Jackie. They're still GIRLSCHOOL, because we're still playing them and it's still one or two of the writers of GIRLSCHOOL, but they're not necessarily exactly what you would expect."

Enid added: "The way that it all came together, the producer was quite ill, and we really got things going quite late in the day. And so we went back over the stuff we'd done in the past. And we had a few ideas that we'd been knocking around. We thought, 'Hold on. Let's give this a go.' I had a set of lyrics from the past. And we threw all this stuff together, and what we've come up with is really… It's very much a classic rock album, but covering a whole… almost a history of rock music that we've loved, really.

"It's hard to compare things, but some of heads-down rock and roll might have a touch of AC/DC or ZZ TOP or whatever, and as soon as you've got double-bass drums, it's back to the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. But then there's a few songs, like a slower, not-quite ballad, but we don't generally do slower songs. And the odd hint of Iggy Pop or [David] Bowie in there. It's almost like a homage to the rock music that we've loved and have touched upon over the decades all coming together. But we didn't sit down and make that plan. But, like I said, because of having three different writers with three different… We like a lot of the same music, but, as I said, I tend to go left field, and Kim likes to find new ways of doing what is GIRLSCHOOL as understood by most people.

"We go for what excites us, what we're passionate about. And I think it's quite good to have a mix of stuff. But it's always with GIRLSCHOOL at its core."