Legendary jewelers The Great Frog, synonymous with the rock and roll scene since 1972, are preparing to launch the first of four official IRON MAIDEN rings with "Powerslave Eddie" ahead of the band's "The Book Of Souls" 2016 tour.

The Great Frog, now in its 43rd year as the go-to brand for alternative, high-end jewelry, have handcrafted a series of four solid sterling silver rings to be released over the next 12 months in collaboration with IRON MAIDEN.

The first design in the collection, "Powerslave Eddie", is named after IRON MAIDEN's iconic mascot of the "Powerslave" album era and features the mummified Eddie on the band’s celebrated 1984-1985 "World Slavery Tour" artwork.

Each ring is unique and will be individually numbered with an authentication certificate signed by The Great Frog designer Reino Lehtonen-Riley included with every purchase.

The Great Frog have had a long-standing relationship with the band; in 1983 the London jewelers were asked by IRON MAIDEN's lead singer Bruce Dickinson to produce a one-off Eddie belt buckle ahead of the "Powerslave" tour. Unusually, this was carved straight into brass rather than traditional wax carving The Great Frog use to produce its jewelry.

With approval and close scrutiny from IRON MAIDEN's management, this has been a dream come true for lifetime IRON MAIDEN fan and The Great Frog owner Reino Lehtonen-Riley, who spent many childhood (and adult) years drawing the stunning IRON MAIDEN album cover art.

The Great Frog have previously launched official licensed rings with MOTÖRHEAD, SLAYER and ANTHRAX.

For more information, visit www.thegreatfroglondon.com.

German guitar hero Axel Rudi Pell will release his sixteenth studio album, "Game Of Sins" on January 15, 2016 (January 22 in the U.S.) through SPV/Steamhammer.

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 listin:

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

In the five-minute clip below from Louder Noise, former PANTERA frontman Philip Anselmo talks about the band's legendary appearance at the very first open-air rock festival to be held in the former Soviet Union.

In September 1991, only a few days after an attempted military coup failed to restore Communism to the newly democratic Russia and its affiliated nations, 500,000 rock music fans converged in Moscow to enjoy the very first open-air rock concert.

The evening kicked off with PANTERA taking to the stage. Anselmo did his very best to get the crowd going, but it seemed that the fans required little encouragement and obviously years of living in rock denial sent some into overdrive. Russian band E.S.T. was next up, but the evening really took shape with the arrival of THE BLACK CROWES.

A phenomenal performance from metal gods METALLICA is another high-point of this concert. Old-school classics "Enter Sandman", "Creeping Death" and "Fade To Black" deliver an eardrum battering and by the time the legendary AC/DC take centre stage, the evening has already cemented its place in rock history.

We've come full circle: Within Temptation's Sharon Den Adel is back! It was spring 2000 when someone played me a song featuring an amazing vocalist called Sharon Den Adel. I had just begun to work on what was to become the first Avantasia album "The Metal Opera". I contacted Sharon who was really cool and after listening to the song "Farewell" she agreed on singing a role on "The Metal Opera". She turned Farewell into a magical tune, and after the vocal session she sent me a letter - which I still have - saying "If you ever need me again you know where to find me!"

Now, 15 years later I took her up on the offer dating back to the year 2000. Смайлик «smile» I had this tune that was just right for Sharon, and she listened, and she liked it, and she agreed! And I am soooo grateful that she is back in Avantasia! You will hear it when 'Ghostlights' hits the stores on January 29! Sharon has such a wonderful distinctive voice, very emotional, beautiful, technical, she is so unique, and I am extremely happy that our paths have crossed once again! Sharon, ik dank u wel! You rock! - Tobi
For information visit avantasia.net

The Who Live In Hyde Park will be released on November 20th via Eagle Rock Entertainment. The formats are DVD+2CD set, Blu-ray+2CD set, DVD+3LP set and digital formats. The Deluxe Edition Blu-ray+DVD+2CD set will be out on December 4th.
 
Filmed on June 26th, 2015 as The Who celebrated their 50th anniversary, this stunning show with 65,000 fans in attendance at London’s famous Hyde Park is a triumphant return to their home city. This massive event formed a fitting culmination to The Who’s 50th anniversary celebrations and the set includes classics like “My Generation,” “Pinball Wizard,” “Baba O’Riley,” “Pictures Of Lily,” “I Can’t Explain,” “You Better You Bet,” “Who Are You,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “Join Together,” “The Kids Are Alright,” “I Can See For Miles,” and many more. This grand scale concert, complete with huge screens surrounding the stage and an exceptional light show, holds true to Pete Townshend’s promise at the start of the set: “You’re a long way away…but we will reach you!”
 
“The Seeker,” an extra song from Hyde Park, is part of the bonus features on the DVD and Blu-ray sets, as well as the stage screen films used at recent shows: a film by the band for “The Kids Are Alright” and “You Better You Bet” (both with Hyde Park audio) and “Squeeze Box” (with the original studio audio). The lavish Deluxe Edition comes packaged with an exclusive 60 page hardback photobook containing the DVD, Blu-ray & 2CDs.
 
This Hyde Park show was a true one-off, a mass coming together to mark this momentous moment in the history of one of the true greats, a band whose music has already stood the tests of time and will always be with us.

Tracklisting:

“I Can’t Explain”
“The Seeker” *  
“Who Are You”
“The Kids Are Alright”  
“Pictures Of Lily”  
“I Can See For Miles”  
“My Generation”  
“Behind Blue Eyes”  
“Bargain”  
“Join Together”  
“You Better You Bet”  
“I’m One”  
“Love Reign O’er Me”  
“Eminence Front”  
“Amazing Journey” / “Sparks”  
“Pinball Wizard”  
“See Me, Feel Me” / “Listening To You”  
“Baba O’Riley”  
“Won’t Get Fooled Again”
 
* included as bonus on DVD / Blu-ray



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San Antonio death metal deviants, Abhorrent, will untether their debut full-length this November via Willowtip Records. Titled Intransigence, the ten track cranium crusher was engineered, mixed and mastered by Mike Garrison at Sound Crater Recording with guitar and bass reamps by Greg Tomao at The Tomato Farm Studio and includes guest appearances by the Trevor Strnad (The Black Dahlia Murder), Matthew "Chalky" Chalk (Mephistopheles, ex-Psycroptic), Malcolm Pugh (Inferi, A Loathing Requiem) and Antonio Ascencio (Serocs).

"The Elegance Of Asymmetry" featuring The Black Dahlia Murder's Trevor Strnad is streaming below:

 
Abhorrent's wealth of riff-variations and athletic rhythmic assaults surge forward as brief glimpses into parallel dimensions that pass by with a relentless, deathlike certainty. Abhorrent is like the unprincipled, violent force of nature, realizing itself through pure will and power both in spite of death and echoing it vitriolically all the way to its demise.

Intransigence tracklisting:

“Passage
“The Elegance Of Asymmetry” (feat. guest vocals by The Black Dahlia Murder's Trevor Strnad)
“Ifrit” (feat. guest solo by Inferi's Malcolm Pugh)
“Reward System Malfunction”
“Clarity Of Will”
“A Lightness Of Mind” (feat. guest vocals by Mephistopheles' Matthew "Chalky" Chalk)
“Ill Conceived” (feat. guest solo by Serocs' Antonio Ascencio)
“Eternal Recurrence”
“Larva”
“Parasite”

“A Lightness Of Mind” featuring Matthew "Chalky" Chalk:

"Ifrit”:

Intransigence by Abhorrent

Pre-order at this location.
 
Abhorrent was formed in 2007 by guitarist Marlon Friday and drummer Lyle Cooper (ex-The Faceless). In 2009, a three-song demo was released before the band went on an indeterminate hiatus while members focused on other projects. In 2014, vocalist Nick Brown and bassist Erlend Caspersen joined and the band entered Sound Crater Recording to record their upcoming debut, Intransigence, which will see release via Willowtip Records on November 20th.

 



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Veteran New Jersey thrashers OVERKILL will play a special anniversary show at Turbinenhalle 2 in Oberhausen, Germany on April 16, 2016. The evening will see the band will play the records "Horrorscope" (which will be celebrating its 25th anniversary) and "Feel The Fire" (30th anniversary) in their entirety. And if that wasn't enough, the show will be professionally filmed and recorded for an upcoming DVD.

Comments OVERKILL vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth: "This April in Oberhausen, we will celebrate not one anniversary but three in one, by recording for DVD 'Horrorscope' and 'Feel The Fire' in their entirety, and 30 years touring Germany. Why Germany? Well this is where it all started for us, and truly our first home when it comes to live performance. It is not so much the celebration of the releases but more so one that celebrates our solidarity and commitment to the Deutsche metal scene from the beginning....so join us, be loud and above all BE metal! Over the wall boys and give 'em the cold steel!"

The exclusive pre-sale for the Oberhausen shows starts on November 9 at 9.00 a.m. CET.

Asked about OVERKILL's timeline for the follow-up to 2014's "White Devil Armory" album, Ellsworth told SkullsNBones.com: "We're shooting for October of 2016; I mean, that's our release date time. We're gonna start demoing stuff come early next year. We're gonna go to South America first, 'cause we just like doing that; I mean, it's just fun, it's off the hook down there. Then we have a tour through the U.K. and one special show we're gonna do in Germany. But, during that process, stufl will be recorded and written and re-written. So it's never this distinct timeline process for us. It's kind of us saying, 'Okay, let's start,' and then all the shit we've collected since 'White Devil Armory' starts showing itself, starts coming out. We planted the seeds, and now you see the leaves coming out of the ground. So it's not gonna be that hard process. I mean, it's not gonna be ever talk. It's just gonna be action versus reaction, like many OVERKILL records. I can't tell you it's gonna be the best thing since canned beer or sliced bread; it's just gonna be OVERKILL."

Ellsworth also talked about OVERKILL's longevity. He said: "This shit has transcended generation after generation after generation, and not on a large level. You get the masses in here, and the masses pollute it, you know what I'm saying? 'Who peed in the gene pool?' kind of a thing, you know? But I do think the idea is that when you can actually have a father, son, grandpa, or father and daughter listening to this stuff and saying, 'This is what it's all about,' for us, that's something that's pretty special. 'Cause we're metalheads before we're OVERKILL, you know what I mean? That's why it kind of works for us; we have the right priority there. So we appreciate, obviously, the support, but we're also supporters of such. So maybe that's the key to this — don't have that identity crisis, and be one of the dudes."

OVERKILL's first worldwide release on Nuclear Blast was a special box set comprised of the band's entire back catalog, made available on September 18. Titled "Historikill: 1995 - 2007", it contains 11 OVERKILL albums on 13 CDs and a bonus CD (containing demos, remixes and an unreleased cover song) in digi sleeves.

Occult heavy metal conjurors, Mirror, will unveil the cult crafting of their self-titled debut through Metal Blade Records on November 13th. The album’s lead track, “Mirror”, is streaming below:

The brainchild of bassist/diehard metal connoisseur/Satan's Wrath vocalist Tas Danazoglou, Mirror was forged in fire following a chance meeting with London-based producer (Cathedral, Angel Witch, Paradise Lost) and accomplished drummer, Jaime Gomez Arellano. The union ultimately led to the two embarking on a shared musical vision that encompasses a classic hard-rock/proto-metal sound with tasteful songwriting and musicianship. Satan's Wrath guitarist, Stamos K., was next to join, his musical instincts and considerable production experience suiting the band's ethos perfectly. Vocalist, Jimmy Mavromatis who, with his operatic tenor, rounded out the growing unit would subsequently join the ranks. The last addition was completed with the final addition of Los Angeles-based guitarist Matt Olivo whose infamy was earned as the co-founder of grindcore pioneers, Repulsion.

The recording of Mirror's self-titled debut began in London at Orgone Studios (Ghost, Paradise Lost, Cathedral) in the autumn of 2014 with Arellano handling production duties. The recording boasts strong melodic ideas with classic, heavy riffs inspired by the sounds of UFO, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple and the like.

Tracklisting:

“Mirror”
“Curse Of The Gypsy”
“Year Of The Red Moon”
“Heavy King”
“Madness And Magik”
“Galleon”
“Cloak Of A Thousand Secrets”
“Orion’s Sword”
“Elysian”

“Galleon”:

“Heavy King”:

 



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Helsinki, Finland-based melodic hard rock band, King Company, are expected to release their debut album in summer 2016.

Formerly known as No Man's Land, King Company features some well known names and faces of the Finnish hard rock and metal scene, including Pasi Rantanen (Thunderstone) on vocals, Antti Wirman (Warmen) on guitars, Jari Pailamo on keyboards, Time Schleifer (EnfΔrce)on bass and Mirka Rantanen (Kotipelto, Thunderstone) on drums.

But it’s not about the names here, but more about the music really. Excited with the first bunch of songs that were presented to Frontiers, President Serafino Perugino pretty much signed them after first listen. Judge yourself after hearing the grandiose sound of these two demo tracks:

"No Man's Land":

"Shining":  

"From the beginning our dream was to get a deal from Frontiers, because not only there are so many legendary rock bands in the same label, but most importantly they are really focused on our style of classic and melodic hard rock music,” says drummer Mirka Rantanen. “We feel that at Frontiers they really know how to push this kind of music for the people, they really like every band they have signed, and do this with a big heart like we do. Together we can show to the world that classic hard rock - or heavy rock, how ever you want name it - isn't really dead yet, it's still alive and kickin'! We are looking forward for the cooperation with Frontiers Records and can´t wait to begin this chapter. It will be a great moment to release our first album, so stay tuned.”

 



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US/Canadian metal act Mind Assassin has announced that they will begin work on the follow-up to The Pay Off EP. The band will officially enter the studio on Saturday, November 7th. The new full-length is yet to be titled, but Mind Assassin have 10 songs prepared and ready to be tracked.

Sessions will take place at The Old School House Recording Studio in Hadley, Massachusetts and will be engineered by Jim Matus. First on the agenda will be the band’s new single, followed by the completion of the full-length.

The all new Mind Assassin single/album will be released via Alone Records in 2016 and will feature the debut of drummer Rik Charron (ex-Exciter) and bassist Glenn Sprague. More details coming soon.



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Coming off their support slot with Cannibal Corpse last week in Colorado Springs, CO, black metal brothers Jerred and Wyatt Houseman, known as Helleborus, are streaming their new track “Colored Spores Of Yuggoth”. The track is off the band's debut, The Carnal Sabbath, set for release in 2016. Listen to the new track below.

The Carnal Sabbath tracklisting:

“Helleborus Black”
“Coils”
“Edge Of Black Waters”
“Colored Spores Of Yuggoth”
“Draconian Discipline”
“The Poison Of Sleep”
“Temple Of Seventh Death”
“Gift Of Renewal”
“The Carnal Sabbath”

“Colored Spores Of Yuggoth”:



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Dark Essence records have announced the signing of Norwegian Viking metallers Mistur, and will be releasing the band's sophomore full-length album at a date as yet to be announced.

Hailing from the fjords and mountains of Sogndal, an area which has now taken on an almost legendary status in the world of Norwegian extreme metal, Mistur's sound mixes the melodic and the atmospheric together with the rawness of black metal. With their Viking-related lyrics written in Norwegian, Mistur is the perfect fit for a label that can boast of bands such as Taake and Helheim amongst its roster.

Formed as a metal project in 2004 by Espen Bakketeig and Andre Raunehaug, it quickly became apparent to the duo that there was a demand for the band to perform live, and a full lineup was put together. Mistur's first release was the 2005 demo Skoddefjellet, which immediately attracted the attention of both the public and the critics. This was followed by band's debut full-length album Attende, which appeared on the German label Einheit Produktionen in 2009.

Aside from Bakketeig (Vreid (live), ex- Sigtyr) on synths, vocals and programming, and Raunehaug (Emancer, ex-Sigtyr) on guitar, today's lineup includes Oliver Øien on vocals, Stian Bakketeig (Vreid, ex-Winder, ex-Cor Scorpii) on guitar, Ole Hartvigsen (Emancer, Kampfar) on bass, and Tomas Myklebust (Emander (live), Vreid (live), Galar) on drums.

Mistur are set to appear at Blastfest in Bergen on February 17th, and will join Dark Essence Records label-mates the 3rd Attempt, Lucifer’s Child and Orkan at the label night at Inferno Festival in Oslo on March 23rd.



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Singer Burton C. Bell of legendary pioneers of industrial-tinged extreme metal FEAR FACTORY says that the band would like to do a U.S. tour in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their highly revered second studio album, "Demanufacture", but that "promoters aren't interested."

FEAR FACTORY will embark on a European trek this month which will see the band playing "Demanufacture" in its entirety. They will also showcase songs from their new album, "Genexus", which came out on August 7 via Nuclear Blast.

Asked by Mick Stingley of Rreverb.com if there are any plans for FEAR FACTORY to come back around to the North America after the New Year, Bell said: "We'd like to. We're going to figure something out. We'd still like to do a 'Demanufacture' tour of the United States, but it's up in the air. The promoters aren't interested… It costs money. But hopefully we'll see that change in the next couple of months."

FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares recently told Metal Forces magazine about the band's plans to celebrate the 20th anniversary of "Demanufacture": "Can you believe that that record's already 20 years old? It just went by fast. We feel that because that record has fan favorites, it would be good to do a tour around that just for a whole new generation of people who never got to see us during that time and that tour. To just play it in its entirety, man. To show respect to what was a record that opened a door to metal. It basically gave a facelift to metal. Burt's vocal style is definitely something that is very, very common these days among other bands. We just wanna show people where it came from, where it started, so hopefully a new generation will get into FEAR FACTORY."

Bell told Spotlight Report in a 2013 interview that he felt "Demanufacture" was ahead of its time. He said: "[At the time of its release] it was a hit, but it was an underground hit; it never made the mainstream. It's one of those records that was scratching the surface, but never really crossed over. At the time, it was still too aggressive, still too out there. Ever since then, that album just inspired and influenced so many other bands that if people that never heard 'Demanufacture' would listen to it today, they'd think it's a contemporary album."

Photo credit: Stephanie Cabral

Swedish metallers, Violent Divine, will release their new album, Hyperactivity Disorder, on December 4th. A new music video for the album’s lead track, “For I Am Sin”, is streaming below.

Hyperactivity Disorder tracklisting:
                                                         
“For I Am Sin”
“Incubus”
“Restart My Heart”
“Beautiful Disaster”
“Temple Of Love”
“Fail”
“Worms Beneath”
“Drown”
“Heartbroken”
“Desolation Boulevard”
“Rain”
“Walking On Thin Ice”
“Bloodshared”
 
“For I Am Sin” video:

Violent Divine lineup:

Vocals: Mike
Guitar: Sean-Joel
Bass: Oscar
Drums: Simon



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Brazilian power/progressive metallers Angra have posted a new video, documenting their September 12th appearance at ProgPower USA in Atlanta, GA. Watch below:

Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider and German metal queen Doro Pesch joined Angra on stage on September 19th at the Rock In Rio festival in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil to perform the TS classics "I Wanna Rock" and "We're Not Gonna Take It". Professionally filmed video footage can be seen below:

 



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American progressive label collective, Laser's Edge Group, has completed a deal with long-running Detroit progressive hard rock quartet, Tiles, for the upcoming release of the band's mighty sixth studio full-length, the 2xCD Pretending To Run.
 
Since 1995, Tiles has issued six prior albums, including their debut on Dream Circle Records, a record on Standing Pavement Recordings, and four albums on Inside Out. The band's first studio album since 2008's Fly Paper, and their first for Laser's Edge, Pretending To Run clocks in with over ninety-six minutes of incredibly expansive, brand new material, spanning two discs. Pretending To Run is an ambitious and richly crafted concept album that spins the tale of a man blindsided and disillusioned by betrayal. Brooding and expressive, Tiles explores the dark subject matter by weaving stylistically diverse musical elements throughout their progressive hard rock platform. Lyrical string arrangements, haunting choir performances and reflective soundscapes coexist with hard rock heaviness to create a tapestry of emotional drama as the songs chart a path from isolation to redemption.
 
Pretending To Run was produced by Terry Brown (Rush, Fates Warning) and features a remarkable collection of guest musicians including Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), Mike Portnoy (Flying Colors, Winery Dogs, ex-Dream Theater), Adam Holzman (Steven Wilson Band), Mike Stern (Miles Davis), Kim Mitchell (Max Webster), Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree), Kevin Chown (Tarja Turunen, Chad Smith), Matthew Parmenter (Discipline), Mark Mikel (Pillbugs), Joe Deninzon, Max Portnoy (Next To None) and many others.
 
Laser's Edge released the following statement on bringing the band onto the label's roster: "Tiles has long been one of the standard-bearers of American progressive rock. I first saw the band perform back in 1999 and they've been on my radar ever since. It's a pleasure to add them to our roster and I'm looking forward to our collaboration. When I first heard Pretending To Run it was clearly and unmistakably Tiles but infused with a more expansive sound. The contributions from the guest artists take Tiles into new directions that will please their fans old and new."
 
Collectively issues Tiles in a statement about the signing, "We are extremely pleased to partner with the Laser's Edge to release our long-awaited new double album, Pretending to Run. For over twenty years, progressive rock and metal aficionados have come to rely on the label's discerning judgment for releasing the finest in new progressive music - so joining their roster is indeed a gratifying compliment! We are confident they will put the full force of their expertise into bringing Pretending to Run to the attention of progressive hard rock fans everywhere."
 
Pretending To Run will feature artwork by Hugh Syme and is scheduled for a March 4th release through Laser's Edge. Stand by for the album's tracklisting, cover artwork, production/studio videos, audio samples, several official music videos, Tiles tour dates and much more to be announced throughout the coming months.

(Photo - Anthony D'Angelo)



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Former BLEEDING THROUGH frontman Brandan Schieppati has launched a new solo project called THE IRON SON. Schieppati collaborated on the effort with friend and producer Mick Kenney of ANAAL NATHRAKH and was assisted in the studio by drummer Shannon Lucas (ex-THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, ALL THAT REMAINS).

THE IRON SON's first single, "Unleash Hell", features a guest appearance by MOTIONLESS IN WHITE singer Chris Motionless and can be streamed below. The track is taken from THE IRON SON's debut CD titled "Enemy", which will be released later this month via Pvre Evil Records, a new label partly owned by Schieppati.

Said Schieppati: "After a short layoff from the music industry, I decided to work on this band with friend and producer Mick Kenney to create this music.

"This band is a solo band but I will be having a solid lineup that will play shows with me.

"This is a total DIY project. Although I received a bunch of record label offers for this project, I decided to self-fund the band as well as being a part owner in the record label Pvre Evil Records along with [longtime friend] C.J. Ray.

"This music is for you and I. Not for people that just see it as $$$.

"I put my heart into this and the lyrics are straight to the point. It is a reflection on the darkest years of my life and recovery from addiction and mental illness."

Since the launch of his career in the late '90s, Brandan has truly starved and fought for his music to be heard. Despite the genuineness of his endeavors, Schieppati's reality was filled with day-to-day struggles, both financially and mentally, while others prospered off BLEEDING THROUGH's success. Adding insult to injury, these "persons" made little to no contribution. In order to stay the course with what he loved so much, Brandan was forced to hide the fact that he struggled with bipolar mood disorder. The progression of his diagnosis came to a head and practically drove him to deepest depths of inner despair. In 2011, Brandan opened his first gym called Rise Above Fitness in Huntington Beach, California. Since fitness is his second love, this new career allowed Brandan to move his attention and focus away from the music industry, resulting in much-needed rest and self-reflection. During this period of removal, Brandan's fire for writing and playing music was always burning.

In order to quench his thirst for expression, THE IRON SON has materialized out of his refreshed passion and sharpened view of the world. To bring this new sound to fruition, Schieppati teamed up with longtime friend and producer Mick Kenney of ANAAL NATHRAKH to create a sound that encapsulates his refreshed vision. THE IRON SON has also provided for an opportunity for Schieppati to have old friends and few of his favorite musicians contribute, further diversifying the sound. Having seen countless acts of ugliness in the music industry and in his personal life, Schieppati's lyrics come from a place most of us cannot vocalize. The passion behind his voice is driven by a need of redemption while exposing truth.

In an effort to ensure that THE IRON SON is uninhibited, Schieppati, along with Kenny and other longtime friend C.J. Ray, created Pvre Evil Records to support and build off this foundation and approach. The result is the undeniable fact that Brandan Schieppati is back doing what he does best, spitting venom through his lyrics and making the most heartfelt pissed-off music he can.

Massachusetts metallers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE are tentatively scheduled to release their new album in March via Roadrunner. The follow-up to 2013's "Disarm The Descent" is currently being mixed by KILLSWITCH guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, who also produced the new effort.

Said KILLSWITCH ENGAGE singer Jesse Leach in an Instagram post: "It is slowly starting to hit me that the record of my entire career is finished and soon to be revealed to the world. What a beautiful mix of anticipation, gratitude, vulnerability, joy and catharsis.

"I seriously cherish these days living inside a childhood dream and watching it become my reality daily. I have to remind myself that, despite my struggles and trials, my determination and circumstance have brought me to a place that far surpasses my hopes and desires.

"Counting my blessings and preparing for the journey ahead! So thankful and overwhelmed at the moment. You never know what possibilities await you as you rise to greet another day. Thankful, humbled and excited as the time approaches yet again for the unleashing of a collaborative effort of passion and expression."

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE drummer Justin Foley recently told Louder Noise that the band's next album will "definitely [be] a little different record than last time. Last time, it was really, really fast the whole way through. This one doesn't have quite the same speed to it, but has a different kind of heaviness to it, I think — a little bit of moodiness to it. I don't really know how to describe it yet."

He also talked about the new KILLSWITCH ENGAGE song "Strength Of The Mind", which the band has been performing live. He said: "I think that one is a good representation of stuff that we do. But I also think it's a song that would sound good live. It's a song that wasn't crazy, crazy fast, it wasn't crazy different from any of our stuff, so I think it was a good song to kind of ease into new material. I think live, it was the kind of thing that we could get it to sound tight fairly quickly, which is helpful, 'cause we didn't have a whole lot of time to get it ready for [the last] tour. So that kind of helped us influence picking that song."

"Disarm The Descent" sold around 48,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 7 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on April 2, 2013 via Roadrunner Records.

"Disarm The Descent" was KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's first album with Jesse Leach at the vocal helm since 2002's now-classic, genre-defining "Alive or Just Breathing".

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE contributed a new song, "Loyalty", to the mixtape for HBO's hit fantasy series "Game Of Thrones".

Republic Records will release the "Love The Coopers" official soundtrack album on Friday, November 13 through all digital retailers. Capturing the "Coopers" holiday theme, the soundtrack includes the studio reunion of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss on their Christmas original "The Light Of Christmas Day", their first recording since the 2007 album "Raising Sand". The collection also contains Otis Redding's "Merry Christmas Baby", SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER's "Carol Of The Bells" and seasonal classics from Bob Dylan, Nina Simone and more.

"Love The Coopers" official soundtrack album track listing:

* ROBERT PLANT & ALISON KRAUSS - The Light of Christmas Day * FLEET FOXES - White Winter Hymnal * OTIS REDDING - Merry Christmas, Baby * BOB DYLAN - Girl from the North Country * STING - Soul Cake aka “A Stoalin” * NINA SIMONE - To Love Somebody * BOB DYLAN - If Not For You * MOLLY JUNE & WES HUTCHINSON - Little Drummer Boy * SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER - Carol of the Bells * THE DODOS - Companion * SARAH JAROSZ - Ring them Bells * TAMIKA LAWRENCE, MOLLY JUNE & WES HUTCHINSON - O Holy Night* NICK URATA - Fear of Silence

About "Love The Coopers": When four generations of the Cooper clan come together for their annual Christmas Eve celebration, a series of unexpected visitors and unlikely events turn the night upside down, leading them all toward a surprising rediscovery of family bonds and the spirit of the holiday.

In a 2014 interview with Rolling Stone, Plant revealed that he had been talking with Krauss about recording a follow-up to "Raising Sand". "Alison called me six weeks ago," he says. "She said, 'Should we make a new record?'"

Plant previously tried to make a "Raising Sand" follow-up when he and Krauss finished their tour in 2009. The LED ZEPPELIN frontman entered a California studio with producer Daniel Lanois and attempted to write material he could sing with Krauss. "We walked away from that and took our toys back," said Plant. "Dan and I wrote about five songs in two or three days up in Silver Lake. They were pretty good, but they didn't really lend themselves to a vocal collaboration, so I took them away. And then Alison went back to the fat guys with beards [her longtime band UNION STATION] and she made a pretty good record within that genre."

Legendary all-girl British hard rockers GIRLSCHOOL will release their 13th studio album, "Guilty As Sin", on November 13 in North America via UDR Music in red colored vinyl, digital download and a deluxe ecolbook formats.

"Guilty As Sin" track listing:

01. Come The Revolution02. Take It Like A Band03. Guilty As Sin04. Treasure05. Awkward Position06. Staying Alive (BEE GEES cover)07. Perfect Storm08. Painful09. Night Before10. Everybody Loves (Saturday Night)11. Coming Your Way (bonus track) *12. Tonight (bonus track)

* only available on limited edition and digital album

The official lyric video for the song "Take It Like A Band" can be seen below. 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."

"Raise It Up", the new video from STILLWELL, the band featuring KORN bassist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu on guitar, P.O.D. drummer Noah "Wuv" Bernardo, vocalist Q-Unique (THE ARSONISTS) and bassist Pablo "Spider" Silva, can be seen below. The song is the title track of STILLWELL's second album, which will be released on November 13 via Rat Pak Records.

Fieldy told SiriusXM Octane that some people still have a hard time wrapping their heads around the fact that he is not playing bass in STILLWELL but is the sole guitarist in the band. He said: "I tell people that, and they still don't get it: 'I'm the guitar player, not the bass player.' I'll say it and still they're, like… I don't know… I never thought it would be so hard to explain to people that I'm playing guitar."

Regarding his decision to play guitar in STILLWELL rather than the instrument he is best known for, Fieldy said: "I started out as a guitar player anyways, so I wanted to go, 'How would songs turn out if I was a guitar player?' And it's completely different from KORN; it's so different. If you hear the new STILLWELL album, you're, like, 'Man, it's nothing like KORN.' And I wanted to really release that side of me, of that other character, if I was to play guitar."

According to Fieldy, STILLWELL's musical direction can best be described as "street rock and roll — like rock, but a little bit heavier, 'cause we have that street vibe to it. That's basically what it is. And Q is a rapper too, so there's some rap-rock-type stuff in there too, so it's kind of both. It's a blend of everything — a hybrid."

Wanting to raise the bar higher than their critically acclaimed 2011 release, "Dirtbag", STILLWELL reached out to producer Chris Collier for direction.

"When we connected with Chris Collier, that's when for me, vocally, everything changed," said Q. The band started demoing tracks in early 2014 and by year's end had reached the plateau they were looking for that redefined their sound.

"The one thing I can say, the difference between this record and 'Dirtbag', is you can definitely tell the maturity, the songwriting, the lyrics and the way the songs are put together, "said Wuv.

"Raise It Up" track listing:

01. Raise It Up02. Comin' Around03. Mess I Made04. Elephant In The Room05. Light 'Em Up06. Rug From Under Me07. Background, Front Row08. Eggshells09. No You Won't10. All City11. Take A Dive In The Fire

You can preorder "Raise It Up" at RatPakRecordsAmerica.com.

STILLWELL released "Surrounded By Liars", an EP containing six original versions of songs that appeared on the band's debut album, "Dirtbag", in November 2011. The six songs were "Trepidation", "I Can't Be Stopped", "Cyclone", "Hate To Say I Told You So (Magnetic Daze)" and "Surrounded By Liars", along with the very first STILLWELL song ever recorded, "Killing Myself To Live".

STILLWELL opened for DISTURBED and KORN on the entire second leg of the "Music As A Weapon V" tour in 2011.

Mike Hrubovcak, vocalist in the death metal bands MONSTROSITY and VILE, and an acclaimed artist, known for his over-the-top album cover illustrations created for the death metal underground through his web site VisualDarkness.com, has released an art book celebrating 20 years of horror: "The Artwork Of Mike Hrubovcak: A Collection Of Art Spanning 20 years (1996 – 2015)" . This extremely limited art book contains a collection of illustrations that were created for death metal acts such as SIX FEET UNDER, GRAVE, SINISTER, MORTICIAN, HATE ETERNAL, CATTLE DECAPITATION, AVULSED, MORTAL DECAY, GUTTURAL SECRETE, PATHOLOGY and many more.

Meant for the avid underground metal collector, this art book is limited to only 50 copies worldwide. Each copy is hand signed and hand numbered by the artist.

The size of the book is a square 8.5" x 8.5" with 40 pages of full color art featuring more than two hundred designs. The paper stock is 80# gloss interior and 100# gloss premium cover stock that is perfect bound and safely packaged and mailed via USPS First Class or USPS Media Mail, depending on the location.

This purchase includes a free download of Mike Hrubovcak's latest AZURE EMOTE album (his personal musical project).

***Explicit content warning: This art book contains extremely graphic material that is considered obscene and/or offensive to most. You must be 18 years of age or older to buy!***

Order your copy here.

Hailed as one of the most innovative and intimate documentaries of all time, experience Kurt Cobain like never before in the only fully authorized portrait of the famed music icon in "Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck". Acclaimed filmmaker Brett Morgen expertly blends Cobain's personal archive of art, music, never-before-seen movies, animation and revelatory interviews from his family and closest friends. Wildly creative and highly praised, the documentary follows Kurt from his earliest years in this visceral and detailed cinematic insight of an artist struggling to come to terms and make sense of his place in the world. "Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck", will be released by Universal Music Enterprises in multiple formats, including the Super Deluxe Edition as well as in Blu-ray, DVD and digital video formats. The soundtrack album, "Kurt Cobain - Montage Of Heck: The Home Recordings", will also be released on CD and digitally on November 13. A 2LP vinyl edition of "Kurt Cobain - Montage Of Heck: The Home Recordings" will follow on December 4. In addition, a seven-inch single featuring "And I Love Her" and "Sappy (Early Demo)" is also scheduled for release on November 20.

Standard edition:

01. The Yodel Song02. Been A Son03. The Happy Guitar04. Clean Up Before She Comes05. Reverb Experiment06. You Can't Change Me/ Burn My Britches/Something In The Way07. Scoff08. Desire09. And I Love Her10. Sappy11. Letters To Frances12. Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle13. She Only Lies

Deluxe edition:

01. The Yodel Song02. Been A Son (early demo)03. What More Can I Say04. 1988 Capitol Lake Jam Commercial05. The Happy Guitar06. Montage Of Kurt07. Beans08. Burn The Rain09. Clean Up Before She Comes (early demo)10. Reverb Experiment11. Montage Of Kurt II12. Rehash13. You Can’t Change Me/Burn My Britches/Something In The Way (early demo)14. Scoff (early demo)15. Aberdeen16. Bright Smile17. Underground Celebritism18. Retreat19. Desire20. And I Love Her21. Sea Monkeys22. Sappy (early demo)23. Letters To Frances24. Scream25. Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle (demo)26. Kurt Ambiance27. She Only Lies28. Kurt Audio Collage29. Poison’s Gone30. Rhesus Monkey31. Do Re Mi (medley)

"Been A Son" can now be streamed below.

"Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck Super Deluxe Edition" and "Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck: The Home Recordings" both include the highly anticipated soundtrack, an aural complement to the documentary in both concept and experience. Comprised from various early and raw cassette recordings made by Kurt alone, the soundtrack allows a rare, unfiltered glimpse into Cobain's creative progression from early song snippets and short demos to musical experiments and ultimately, pieces of songs or lyrics that eventually appeared on later NIRVANA albums.

"Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck Super Deluxe Edition" will include the two-hour-plus full-length feature film and 48 minutes of bonus interviews on Blu-ray and DVD, a 31-track deluxe soundtrack on CD and cassette, a 160-page hardbound book with extended interviews and images from the Cobain archive, a puzzle with a collectable storage container, movie poster, postcards and bookmark. The 31-track deluxe soundtrack CD is exclusively available in the Super Deluxe Edition and showcases tracks from the documentary including spoken word, demos and full songs.

"Kurt Cobain - Montage Of Heck: The Home Recordings" soundtrack will be released in two stand-alone physical formats: a 31-track deluxe album available on 2LP vinyl and a standard edition 13-track CD. The standard soundtrack focuses on the music discovered on Cobain's personal cassettes. The soundtrack will also be available in standard and deluxe digital editions.

The documentary, "Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck", is an authentic and unflinching look into Kurt's life, art and mind through his own unique lens. Following Kurt from his earliest years in Aberdeen, Washington, through the height of his fame, the film creates an immersive cinematic insight into an artist who craved the spotlight even as he rejected the trappings of fame. Brett Morgen who wrote, directed and produced the documentary began working on it in 2007 when Cobain's family approached him with the idea and offered him unrestricted access to all of Cobain's personal and family archives. The documentary features Cobain and Courtney Love's only daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, as a co-executive producer on the film and includes footage from various NIRVANA performances as well as unreleased home movies, recordings, artwork, photography, journals, demos, and songbooks.

The title, "Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck", takes its name from a musical collage that was created by Cobain with a four-track cassette recorder in 1988, of which there are two versions; one is about thirty-six minutes long and the other about eight-minutes long. Several of the film's scenes were animated by Stefan Nadelman and Hisko Hulsing. The film was co-produced by HBO Documentary Films and Universal Pictures International Entertainment Content Group.

"Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck", also internationally billed as "Cobain: Montage Of Heck", had its world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. It was released in theaters across the globe by Universal Pictures and premiered on television in the United States in May, following a limited theatrical run. Following its initial global success, Abramorama re-launched Brett Morgen's critically acclaimed documentary, "Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck" in select theaters across the country on August 7.


Standard edition:



Deluxe edition:

THE CULT has completed work on its tenth album for a February 5, 2016 release. More details will be made available soon.

The band played its first show with new bass player Grant Fitzpatrick on October 28 at Stubb's Bar-B-Q in Austin, Texas. Video footage of the performance can be seen below.

THE CULT is preparing for a run of six dates with spiritual cousins and legendary iconoclasts PRIMAL SCREAM. Kicking off on November 12 at Portland, Oregon's Crystal Ballroom, the trek will see both bands will be celebrating their unified solidarity and their forthcoming albums.

The details are as follows:

Nov. 12 - Crystal Ballroom - Portland, ORNov. 14 - Showbox Showdo - Seattle, WANov. 15 - Queen Elizabeth Theatre - Vancouver, BCNov. 17 - Warfield Theater - San Francisco, CANov. 19 - House of Blues - San Diego, CANov. 20 - Palladium - Hollywood, CA

THE CULT's last album, "Choice Of Weapon", sold around 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 34 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was made available on May 22, 2012 via THE CULT's new label Cooking Vinyl.

"True Friends", the new video from BRING ME THE HORIZON, can be seen below. The clip was directed by the band's lead singer, Oliver Sykes, and features British actor Steve Oram ("Sightseers", "Bad Education", "The World's End").

"True Friends" is taken from BRING ME THE HORIZON's fifth studio album, "That's The Spirit", which debuted at No. 2 on The Billboard 200 album chart, selling 62,000 copies in its first week of release. The total number broke down to 55,000 physical copies of the CD and 7,000 streams. The chart and sales numbers were career highs for the British act, whose previous album, 2013's "Sempiternal", debuted at Number 11 with 27,000 copies sold — the group's previous career best.

"That's The Spirit" marks a surprising change in BRING ME THE HORIZON's sound and Oliver Sykes told The Pulse Of Radio how it came about. "Really, we were wrapping up 'Sempiternal', and we just felt like we'd progressed a lot just in that short space of time since releasing 'Sempiternal' and touring it, so, yeah, I guess when we finished the campaign, we just really felt like we had a big opportunity. Like, 'Sempiternal' really got us out to the public a lot more than the previous record and stuff, and it felt like people were waiting to see what we did next and people were really hungry for it, you know what I mean? So we just wanted to take the opportunity and really smash it out of the park, I guess."

"That's The Spirit" not only marks a change in the band's sound but also has a concept behind it.

Sykes explained recently: "It's a celebration of depression. A way of making light of it. That's the spirit — it's quite a depressing phrase when you think about it — the sort of thing you only ever use when you know there's no positive answer to the situation."

BRING ME THE HORIZON recently launched a North American headlining tour that stops in Denver, Colorado on Tuesday (October 20).

"Queen Of Fire", the new video from Finnish melodic metallers BURNING POINT, whose current lineup includes singer Nitte Vänskä (ex-BATTLE BEAST), can be seen below. The song is taken from BURNING POINT's new, self-titled album, which came out on June 12 in Europe and July 7 in the U.S. via AFM Records. The CD includes five brand new songs and six re-recorded tracks from the band's first three albums.

Comments BURNING POINT guitarist Pete Ahonen: "It was clear from the start that we wanted this album to be the absolute best representation of the new improved lineup, as well as a breath of new life to some of the old BURNING POINT classics! This self-titled album is a perfect example of where we come from, where we are and to where we are heading to."

"Burning Point" track listing:

01. In The Shadows02. All The Madness (2015)03. Signs Of Danger (2015)04. Find Your Soul05. Heart Of Gold (2015)06. My Darkest Times07. Dawn Of The Ancient War (2015)08. Into The Fire (2015)09. Queen Of Fire10. Blackened The Sun (2015)11. I've Had Enough (Into The Fire) (KISS cover)

Ahonen, who had handled vocals and guitar for BURNING POINT since the band's inception, last year decided to step down from the singer position and continue playing guitar for the group.

Said Nitte in a statement: "These guys are awesome and the music, just great! I love all the BURNING POINT songs!

"I've been away from the world of heavy metal for a while now, but now with these guys, I am back!"

Vänskä quit BATTLE BEAST in August 2012 via an e-mail in which explained that she would focus on her family life. She has since been replaced by with Noora Louhimo.

Nitte rejoined BATTLE BEAST on stage on March 18 at Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland to perform three songs: "Victory", "Show Me How To Die" and "Enter The Metal World".

BURNING POINT's last album, "The Ignitor", came out in June 2012 via Scarlet Records.

PHANTASMA, the new symphonic rock musical of Charlotte Wessels (DELAIN), Georg Neuhauser (SERENITY) and Oliver Philipps (EVERON), will release its debut album, "The Deviant Hearts", on November 20 via Napalm Records.

Audio samples of all 13 tracks that are set to appear on the CD can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

PHANTASMA was born from the longstanding ambition to create a story-driven concept record of Georg Neuhauser, vocal force behind Tyrolean symphonic metal outfit SERENITY. He found his partner in crime with multi-instrumentalist composer, producer and vocalist Oliver Philipps (EVERON) who gladly embarked on this new mission that allowed him to reconnect with being a musician in the first place, as a welcome change from working for other bands, which he has done extensively over the years, providing the rich sound connoisseurs of the genre have come to expect from him.

As Oliver worked with DELAIN since their debuting record, a request at Charlotte Wessels's address was made to complete the dynamic trio of PHANTASMA. To introduce Charlotte Wessels to any connoisseur of symphonic metal would be like carrying coals to Newcastle — she is, after all, since 2005 the vocal figurehead of Dutch grandees DELAIN. It is therefore not only surprising, but also gratifying that Charlotte now even found some leisure time, to lend not only her voice to PHANTASMA but also her debut novella "The Deviant Hearts" —- which was written specially for the project.

Thomas Caser, Napalm Records vice president, comments: "We are thrilled to announce the signing of PHANTASMA which is one of the most exciting projects of the genre. Charlotte, Georg and Oliver have created a magical album and a fantastic concept and story to come with it. This is a must-have for all fans of this music!"

PHANTASMA states: "We have truly enjoyed giving a shape, face and sound to 'The Deviant Hearts'. It was an inspiring and exciting process and we can not wait to share the result of our efforts with you through the upcoming release with Napalm Records."

With PHANTASMA, Charlotte can let her beautiful and variable voice run free like the wind — sometimes tender like on "Runaway Grey", plaintive on "Let It Die", and the duet "The Lotus And The Willow" — makes Charlotte's passion for Nick Cave abundantly clear, matching even the intensity of "Where The Wild Roses Grow". Meanwhile, Georg's dedication to classic rock acts like QUEEN and MEAT LOAF shine through in tracks like "Crimson Course" and "Novaturient".

Giving a face to several characters in the story are noted guest vocalists Tom Englund (EVERGREY), who performs on tracks such as "Enter Dreamscape" and "The Deviant Hearts". Cloe Lowery (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) shines on the heart-wrenching ballad "Try" alongside Dennis Schunke (VAN CANTO) who can be heard also on "Carry Me Home". Georg, Oliver, and Charlotte themselves finish the vocal palette while the sound is completed by Jason Gianni (DAREDEVIL SQUADRON, NEAL MORSE BAND, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) on drums, Randy George (NEAL MORSE BAND, AJALON) on bass and Tom Buchberger (ex-SERENITY) guesting two songs on guitar. Milan-based artist Marco Mazzoni provides the haunting cover art and illustrations to the story, creating an eerie visual world with his elaborate style.

"The Deviant Hearts" will be available in the formats listed below:

- Limited-edition earbook, bonus track, 48-page booklet including novel "The Deviant Hearts" + 2 bonus CDs including "The Deviant Hearts" audiobook read by Charlotte Wessels- Limited-edition 6-page digipack and bonus track — 100-page booklet including novel "The Deviant Hearts" and digipack sleeve- Regular jewel case edition- Digital download

"The Deviant Hearts" track listing: 01. Incomplete02. The Deviant Hearts (Give Us A Story)03. Runaway Grey04. Try05. Enter Dreamscape06. Miserable Me07. The Lotus And The Willow08. Crimson Course09. Carry Me Home10. The Sound Of Fear11. Novaturient12. Let It Die13. Symphony Of Light (bonus track)

PHANTASMA lineup:

Charlotte Wessels - VocalsGeorg Neuhauser - VocalsOliver Philipps - Guitars/Keys/Vocals

Album guests:

Tom S. Englund (EVERGREY) - VocalsDennis Schunke (VAN CANTO) - VocalsChloe Lowery (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, CHAMELEON) - VocalsJason Gianni (DAREDEVIL SQUADRON/ NEAL MORSE BAND/ TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) - DrumsRandy George (NEAL MORSE BAND, AJALON) - BassTom Buchberger (ex-SERENITY) - Guitar

Photo by Fabio Interra

Fan-filmed video footage of KING DIAMOND's November 2 performance at The Warfield in San Francisco, California can be seen below.

As previously reported, Philadelphia (November 25 at The Fillmore) and Detroit (November 28 at The Fillmore) have been selected as the cities on the "Abigail In Concert 2015" tour at which KING DIAMOND will film the live shows for the band's forthcoming DVD. The massive, multi-camera shoot will be directed by Denise Korycki (CANNIBAL CORPSE, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE), and will also 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.

KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque told Artisan News about the making of the "Abigail" album: "I've actually got some great memories [from the recording sessions for the LP]. I remember the whole studio thing pretty well, actually. Back in… I think we started back in December 1986 to record it, after we got back from some touring and stuff, and some writing too, and rehearsing, of course. [It was a] very cold winter back in Copenhagen, you know. We spent about two months, I think, with the recording and the mixing. And the whole recording process, I thought, was very, very creative, and I think we just captured an amazing atmosphere on the whole album, which still, when you listen to it today, is, like, 'Wow!' You get back to the feel you had for it while you recorded it. So it's still a very cool and special album to me."

KING DIAMOND in 2002 released an album called "Abigail II: The Revenge", which was said to feature a storyline that was the sequel to the original "Abigail" LP.

La Rocque in July said that KING DIAMOND hasn't officially started working on material for the follow-up to the band's 2007 album "Give Me Your Soul...Please", but he talked about a possible direction for the next CD. He said: "Hopefully the sound of the album is gonna be better. I don't really know about the story or… I've got some riffs and such that I wrote a few years back, actually, but I have to go back and check that to see if that still can be used. I don't know about that, because we get new ideas all the time. So we'll see about that. But I'm sure we're gonna have some fresh, good ideas for the next album, that's for sure. And when that's gonna happen, we don't really know."

Canadian rock legends RUSH will release their "R40 Live" concert film later this month.

A performance clip of the song "Tom Sawyer", taken from "R40 Live", can be seen below.

All roads have led to this. Forty-one years in the making, RUSH's "R40 Live" tour took a very real journey back through time. Beginning with the grand design: a state-of-the-art stage set that pivots, rolls and dives, and brings "Clockwork Angels" in to bombastic, colorful life before marching stridently back in time (through theatre stages, a panoply of band and fan shots, the accrued memories of a life spent playing live) to a mocked-up school gym and the band playing there; a solitary bass amp set on the chair behind Geddy Lee, a mirror ball spiraling crazily above, casting thin rods of light like a light rain across the crowd, "Working Man" coming to a shuddering halt as the band's beginning becomes their end.

RUSH recorded and filmed "R40 Live" over two sold-out shows in the band's hometown of Toronto at the Air Canada Centre on June 17 and June 19, 2015 in the middle of their "R40 Live" 35-date North American tour.

"R40 Live" had the trio of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart, performing a career-spanning live retrospective, celebrating their 40-plus years together. The epic live shows by the Rock And Roll Hall Of Famers were captured with 14 cameras to present the band feature-film style.

The center-point of this tour was the remarkable setlist, coupled with their idea of a "de-evolution" set design. When the band opened the show with cuts "Headlong Flight" and "The Anarchist" from their most recent studio recording, 2012's "Clockwork Angels", they did so with all the bells and whistles from that extensive tour. They worked backwards through their catalogue as the show progressed, the innovative set design making for constant visual eye-candy, as stagehands exchanged the gear and props on stage to resemble the era-correct tour staging in accordance with the songs being played.

The first set featured the infamous dryers on stage while they played "Roll The Bones", "Subdivisions", and for the first time ever live, "Losing It" featuring violinist Ben Mink, who appeared on the original studio recording from 1982's "Signals".

The second set opened with classics "Tom Sawyer", followed by crowd favorite "The Spirit Of Radio", but also included "Jacob's Ladder", which hasn't been performed live since 1980 on their "Permanent Waves" tour. The last few songs of the "R40" were set against the persimmon curtained theatre-looking stage, with the crowd raising their lighters and camera phones to "Closer To The Heart", and then Alex and Geddy appeared with their signature doubleneck guitars as they played "Xanadu", into the epic "2112" and encored with "Lakeside Park/Anthem" and "What You're Doing/Working Man".

The concert film also includes the the band's renowned tour videos, highlighted by "Roll The Bones (R40 Live)", that features an array of special guests in the rap part of the song: Jay Baruchel (SHE'S OUT OF MY LEAGUE), Les Claypool (PRIMUS), Peter Dinklage ("Game Of Thrones"), Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, AUDIOSLAVE), Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS), "The Trailer Park Boys", and Jason Segel and Paul Rudd ("I Love You, Man"). It is the first time the band put the song back in the setlist since the "R30" tour, a full decade ago. During the "R40 Live" tour, "Roll The Bones" gained new life and became a fan-favorite with an arena sing-along to the chorus "Why are we here? Because we're here — Roll The Bones."

Singer/bassist Geddy Lee explained how the large group of cameo appearances came about: "We had this older video of an animated skeleton doing the 'rap' part of 'Roll The Bones', and felt it was time to update the concept for this tour. So after a lot of joking around with our show design team, we thought it would fun if we called upon some of our well-known pals and see if they wanted to have some fun with the lyrics. There were so many good and funny moments that it was hard to choose, some really hilarious and outrageous stuff! I'm so glad it worked out as it brought a big smile to the faces in the audience (and to us) every single night!"

"R40 Live" audio was produced by RUSH and David Botrill, and mixed by David Botrill (TOOL, MUSE); the film was directed by Dale Heslip, and produced by Allan Weinrib. The live photograph on the cover of "R40" was shot by baseball Hall Of Famer Randy Johnson, who captured the band in a rare moment when both Geddy Lee and Alex LIfeson were on Neil Peart's drum kit riser.

"As a friend and fan of RUSH, and the passion I have for photography to capture moments, it's great that both can blend together in a lasting impression, here for the world to see," commented the self-described 6' 10" ninja in the photo pit," who was on a portion of the tour in his new role as photographer.

"R40 Live" will be released on November 20, 2015, and will be available in the following configurations:

* 3-CD/1 Blu-ray set* 3-CD/1 DVD set* 3-CD set (audio only)* Single-disc Blu-ray* Single-disc DVD

Pre-orders from the band's site feature each configuration bundled with a special "R40" All Over t-shirt.