In celebration of his new book, Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal, author Greg Renoff is streaming a “mega-rare, newly unearthed recording, live at Pasadena High School on April 25, 1975” of the classic Queen song "Now I'm Here”, which can be found on their third album from 1974, Sheer Heart Attack.

Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal solely focuses on Van Halen's incredible rise during the '70s. 

This book is absolutely loaded with wild and interesting details on Van Halen's beginnings that even the most knowledgeable fans have never heard. A vivid and energetic history of Van Halen's legendary early years. It's a must-have!

Six years in the making, this is the first book to reveal the debauched details of the band's beginnings, from gonzo backyard parties to neon nights of rock glory on the Sunset Strip.

Drawing on more than 230 original interviews - including with former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony and power players like Pete Angelus, Marshall Berle, Donn Landee, Ted Templeman, and Neil Zlozower - Van Halen Rising is the first book to tell the untold story of how these rock legends made the unlikely journey from Pasadena, California, to the worldwide stage.

As for photos, it contains over 30 never before published photos dating back to the days of Mammoth and Red Ball Jet. All from the mid to late '70s.

Van Halen Rising traces VH's transformation from a backyard party band to a stadium act that captivated the rock world in 1978.

After years of gigging everywhere from suburban backyards to dive bars, Van Halen - led by frontman extraordinaire David Lee Roth and guitar virtuoso Edward Van Halen - had the songs, the swagger, and the talent to turn the rock world on its ear. The quartet's classic 1978 debut, Van Halen, sold more than a million copies within months of release and rocketed the band to the stratosphere of rock success. On tour, Van Halen's high-energy show wowed audiences and prompted headlining acts like Black Sabbath to concede that they'd been blown off the stage. By the year's end, Van Halen had established themselves as superstars and reinvigorated heavy metal in the process.

If you've ever wondered what it was like to see Van Halen play a massive backyard party, host a rowdy wet-t-shirt contest, perform on the legendary Sunset Strip, and blow rock legends Black Sabbath off the stage, this is the book for you.

Author Greg Renoff is offering signed copies exclusively at Van Halen Store. Pre-order now and your choice of a signed or unsigned copy will be in your hands next month!

 

 

On October 18th, Danzig headlined the Blackest Of The Black show in Montreal, QC at Metropolis. Properly accredited photographers were issued passes to shoot opening bands Superjoint, Veil Of Maya, Prong, and Witch Mountain. But there was a strict "No Photo" policy in effect once Danzig took the stage.

One fan in attendance, named Neil Dalton, posted the following message and subsequent photo on his Facebook page:

"So I went to Danzig last night. Including the 100 dollars I spent on his merch plus the tickets time off work and traveling to Montreal to see him this is the price you pay for taking a photo of Danzig. He called me up on stage got got his pussy security guards to rough me up and held me back so he could hit me himself. Cops can't do fuck all because we're both not Canadian and they did it off camera and said I fell. Could all my friends please share this because I want the world to know what a pussy the guy is. Superjoint fucking ruled tho."

Dalton has followed up his initial post with a new message:

"Holy shit, I didn't expect this Danzig incident to go so viral and to get so much support. I am so grateful to all the people asking am I ok and sharing it. My Facebook is blowing up, and understandably. 

Firstly, I do want to clarify a few things that have become a concern for some people... 

I was taking a few photos that night, I wasn't filming as Danzig said. And I am not a professional/amateur photographer (I believe this was a misprint), and I was using my own phone to take the pictures. Also, with my previous post I can see how it seemed to jump away from the witness statements. When I originally posted, he called me up on stage and his security guards dragged me off; it was 2 separate incidents I was referring to. 

1) Danzig did call me out while he was on stage and said he would 'break my fucking neck' 

2) When I was dragged off it wasn't through or up on stage, I was not on stage at all that night. They dragged me out the back way when I was brought out the side by security and got a beat down by two of his security guards.

I returned back to the venue because thats where my friends were and was in disbelief of what happened, got spotted and brought out the side again for the same treatment, but this time Danzig himself came out himself to punch and kick me. There are police reports and paramedic reports to verify all this and a few have messaged me saying they witnessed it. 

With the internet I already know I'm going to get 'You deserved it, you're a pussy, I bet you were being a drunk dick trolling bullshit,' but really, don't bother. Anyone that knows me knows I'm a huge metal fan, have spent hundreds and thousands over the years to see and support what I love. I own every Misfits/Danzig record out there and travelled 6 hours to see this show and had no intentions for this to happen, and I wish it didn't. 

I have a fucking Misfits tattoo, for fuck sake, so why would I lie or make this shit up? I live and breathe metal. I'm not looking for my five minutes of fame and I'm not looking for a payday. 

Point of all this is; I was a huge fan of Danzig. Most people know this kind of incident has happened before with Danzig, and honestly, it's not right and people need to know what he's like to his fans who got him to where he is. Feel free to share this.

Thanks again to everyone who's supporting me with this it means so much."

Remaining dates on Danzig's Blackest Of The Black Tour are as listed:

October
20 - Portland, ME - State Theatre
21 - New York, NY - Best Buy Theatre
23 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theatre
24 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave
25 - Omaha, NE - Sokol Auditorium
27 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theatre
29 - San Jose, CA - City National Civic
31 - Los Angeles, CA - Microsoft Theatre

California thrash band Omicida is comprised of White Wizzard alumni Giovanni Durst on drums and Erik Kluiber on lead guitar, Devil You Know guitarist Roy Lev-Ari, as well as bassist Roman Kovalik, and Toronto based singer Giovanni Barbieri, making his debut in the video for "Disobey" as the group's new vocalist.

Barbieri adds, "This is the style of metal that I favoured growing up as a kid. Ever since bands like Slayer, Anthrax, Death Angel, Testament, Sacrifice, Vio-Lence, and Exodus came out, I have always wanted to be a part of a band like this. When I got that email from Omicida informing me that I made the cut, asking me if I'd like to be the vocalist, there was no hesistation, it was like a dream come true, this is what I had wanted my whole life."

Omicida's Certain Death EP is available now. The artwork and tracklisting follow.

"Cult Of Fear"
"Certain Death"
"Disobey"
"Star Striped Death"
"Into The Abyss"
"Strike Back"
"The Unbroken Seal"

 

 

On November 10th, Extreem Music will issue Forsaken Lands, the second album from Swedish death metal band Corrosive Carcass.

Forsaken Lands includes 10 songs with a heavy production that blends brutal and crushing parts with excellent melodies and killer dual guitar work. The cover art, pictured below, was created by artist Juanjo Castellano.

Tracklisting:

"Blood Ritual"
"The Ghoul"
"Prosecuted At Birth"
"...And So She Dies (In Sacrifice)"
"Of The Flesh"
"The Seven Princes"
"Residual"
"Memories"
"The Prophet"
"Forsaken Lands"

Enjoy an advance listen to "The Ghoul" via the SoundCloud audio player.

 

Rob Zombie and former Marilyn Manson guitarist, John 5, is set to celebrate 11 years of solo work with a Greatest Hits album (Volume One). The album will include a live DVD, featuring footage of John 5 in concert.

Speaking with Guitar International’s Robert Cavuoto, John describes the upcoming release: “The best of CD is simply the songs the fans want and the ones I love from my instrumental career. I wanted to do something special with this release, so I included a physical DVD. It has some very cool interviews clips, as well as, one of my instrumental concerts with no editing or mixing, just like you’re at the show. Remember the Metallica film, Cliff ‘Em All? Well, it’s in the same vein. I’ve done about 20 instrumental shows and someone at the Michigan show had a camera and just started to film from the crowd, which makes this DVD so awesome.”

Read the complete interview at this location.

John 5 will also be releasing three brand new singles, the first of which comes out this month. The album will be available digitally on iTunes and Amazon from October 31st, and the physical copy with the DVD from the official John 5 store from Black Friday (November 27th).

Greatest Hits Vol 1 tracklisting:

"Needles, Ca"
"Feisty Cadavers"
"Damaged"
"Sin"
"The Werewolf Of Westeria"
"Black Widow Of La Porte"
"Welcome To The Jungle" (Guns N' Roses cover)
"Sounds Of Impalement"
"The Nightmare Unravels"
"Steel Guitar Rag"
"Welcome To Violence"
"Beat It" (Michael Jackson cover)
"Noche Acosador"
"Jerry's Breakdown"
"This Is My Rifle"

In live news, John 5 has announced the Mad Monster Tour featuring his band John 5 And The Creatures. Select dates will also feature former Misfits member Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein and his band, Doyle. John 5 And The Creatures kick off the tour with a special show in Ramona, CA on November 4th. Tickets are available now on john-5.com.

Tour dates:

November
4 - Ramona, CA - Ramona Mainstage
5 - Los Angeles, CA - Whiskey A Go Go **
6 - Las Vegas, NV - Count’s Vamp’d **
7 - Phoenix, AZ - Marquee Theater **
8 - Ventura, CA - Discovery* *
10 - San Francisco, CA - DNA Lounge* *
12 - Orangevale, CA - Boardwalk **
13 - Fresno, CA - TBD
18 - San Antonio, TX - Sam’s Burger Joint
19 - Dallas, TX - Trees
20 - Tyler, TX - Click’s
21 - Houston, TX - Scout Bar

** dates with Doyle

 

 

Norway's Dark Essence Records has announced that they have signed Greek progressive black metallers, Hail Spirit Noir.

Formed in Thessaloniki in 2010, Hail Spirit Noir's lineup is composed of Haris (Katavasia, Transcending Bizarre?) on Synths, Theoharis (Transcending Bizarre?, Rex Mundi) on guitars and vocals, and J Demian (Blackdrawn, Dol Ammad, Wardrum, Transcending Bizarre?) on bass and acoustic guitars.

The band's debut full-length album, Pneumam was released on Code666/Aural Music in 2012, followed by the sophomore album Oi Magoi in 2014.

Describing their sound as "retro, yet modern", Hail Spirit Noir are currently working on their third full length album, which will be released on Dark Essence Records on a date as yet to be specified. Will it be, in the band's own words, "a psychoprog black metal album of trippy melodies and satiric ecstasy" like their last album? Watch this space.

Meriden, Connecticut old school thrash metal band, Shallow Ground, will be releasing their second CD, Embrace The Fury, on November 13th in Europe via Germany based Killer Metal Records, and independently throughout the rest of the world.

Shallow Ground guitarist Tim Smith has checked in with the following update: "We are beyond excited for the release of Embrace The Fury. This is a pure thrash record but at the same time there are a few surprises for the fans. The songwriting & production quality are miles ahead of anything we've done to this point. We couldn't be happier with the record and we can't wait for everyone to hear it!"

Killer Metal Records label boss Jens Hafner states: US Thrashers Shallow Ground return with their second album Embrace The Fury. If you like to thrash with class, you should check out the band from Connecticut! This is old school thrash metal in the Bay Area style at its best!”

Embrace The Fury tracklisting:

“Once Again”
“Khan”
“Brace For Impact”
“Human Flame”
“Eye Of The Storm”
“F.I.U.”
“Class Warfare”
“Looking Glass”
“Slayer Of The Gods”

“Slayer Of The Gods”:

Upcoming Shallow Ground live dates:

November
7 - The Wreck Room - Peterborough, NH
20 - The Webster - Hartford, CT (with Exodus)
22 - Stafford Palace Theater - Stafford, CT (with Kamelot)

Shallow Ground lineup:

Keith Letourneau (Guitar / Vocals)
Tim Smith (Guitar)
Mark Chrzaszczewski (Bass)
Kurt Ragis (Drums)

Chilean thrashers, Nuclear, have announced the October 23rd release of a 3CD box set, Captive In Terror: Three Ways To Kill Yourself via Candlelight Records.

The box set contains the band's first three albums of Hell-fueled thrash metal ferocity, two of which had been out of print. Included are 2006's Heaven Denied, 2008's Ten Broken Codes, and 2010's Jehovirus.  

In other news, Formula For Anarchy, the ferocious new album from Nuclear, is out now. Purchase or stream tracks at this location.

Formula For Anarchy is Nuclear’s latest studio album and the first under UK-based extreme label Candlelight Records. The band got the attention of the  label during their 2014 tour in Europe next to the American bands Hirax and Bonded By Blood and finally inked a deal for three records. Nuclear’s fifth album marks a new beginning for the Chilean thrashers.

The band had this to say about the new assault: “It is by far the most uncompromising and violent material we have ever written - we are pretty sure both old and new school thrasher will dig it."

Check out the official video for "Self-Righteous Hypocrites" below:

Paris-based Soror Dolorosa (English: Sister Pain) belong to the most visionary contemporary groups in the blend of gothic/death rock and cold wave. The band name comes from the novel Bruges-la-morte by Flemish symbolist writer Georges Rodenbach, which is marked by nostalgia and mourning, thus perfectly encapsulating Soror Dolorosa's aesthetic aspirations.

Says Prophecy Productions: “The quintet surrounding charismatic front man Andy Julia already impressed us with its earlier releases - the Severance EP (2009), Blind Scenes (2011) and No More Heroes (2013) – as well as several energetic live performances, so we are very happy to welcome Soror Dolorosa to Prophecy's artist roster. At the moment, the band is working on its ambitious third (double) album, Apoll", for the first time implementing elements from new wave, shoegaze and impressionist acoustic parts to their trademark sound.”

Apollo as well as reissues of Soror Dolorosa's entire back catalogue are tentatively scheduled for release in 2016.

Vocalist Andy Julia on the conclusion of the contract: "Prophecy is the best label for us to realize such ambitious project, they know how to promote music as a major art, producing absolute beautiful pieces of sound with their bands - and this for many years. It seems that there is a scene in France that grew from the partnership with Prophecy with bands like Alcest and Les Discrets, our heartbrothers; and today, we can say that we're a part of it."

Horror-punk icon Glenn Danzig has told the Cleveland Scene that he doesn't like touring anymore even though he's on the road this fall with "Blackest Of The Black" tour, a heavy metal package tour that pairs him with SUPERJOINT, VEIL OF MAYA, PRONG and WITCH MOUNTAIN.

"I love being on stage and that's the great part of touring," he explained. "I'll always do that. It's the bouncing around on a bus. That's the part I hate."

He continued: "I'm a workaholic. When you're on the road, you don't have all your stuff with you and you can't work.

"A long time ago, I stopped touring and my manager asked if I would tour if they let me fly home once in a while. We did a few West Coast tours and it worked. We tried it on a national level and it kind of works, so that's why we started doing shows again.

"If I retired, I would find other things to do. I just keep doing what I do."

Danzig added: "At some point, I'll stop touring. That's for sure. After this tour, I'll take a break for a while. Then, we'll see. There are comics and all that good stuff to keep me busy."

Glenn will release his long-awaited covers record, "Skeletons", on November 27 in North America via Nuclear Blast Entertainment/Evilive Music. The record can now be pre-ordered at this location.

A labor of love that dates back to 1979, "Skeletons" sees Danzig pulling back the curtain behind his influences with a collection of ten covers spanning artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, ZZ TOP, and AEROSMITH to BLACK SABBATH, THE TROGGS, THE EVERLY BROTHERS, and more.

The first official photo of the new METAL CHURCH lineup — featuring the band's returning vocalist Mike Howe — can be seen on this page.

Howe, who fronted METAL CHURCH from 1988 until 1994, officially rejoined the band in April.

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

Said Mike: "I didn't want to come back to METAL CHURCH just for nostalgia. It had to be for the right reasons. It had to be the best stuff we've ever written together or it just wouldn't be worth it to anyone, especially the fans."

Soon after, Kurdt and Mike began exchanging ideas and writing new material with the band. The end result sounds like "classic Mike Howe-era METAL CHURCH," according to Vanderhoof. "It's both heavy and melodic. Mike sounds the same as he did 20 years ago.

He adds: "This is going to be truly epic!!"

Drummer Jeff Plate commentws: "Mike Howe is the ONLY singer for METAL CHURCH. He has a reputation of complete honor and respect. We can now take METAL CHURCH to the next level!"

Howe originally joined METAL CHURCH in the late '80s and released three albums with the band: "Blessing In Disguise" (1989), "The Human Factor" (1991) and "Hanging In The Balance" (1994). Mike was also the face of popular music videos "Date With Poverty" and "Badlands" that aired during MTV's heyday.

Audio snippets of two new METAL CHURCH demo tracks, "Find Your Way" and "Killing Your Time", are available in the YouTube clip below. Both songs will be included on METAL CHURCH's forthcoming album, to be released in early 2016 via Rat Pak Records. The tracks feature the lineup of Mike Howe (vocals), Kurdt Vanderhoof (guitar), Jeff Plate (drums), Steve Unger (bass) and Rick Van Zandt (lead guitar).

METAL CHURCH 2015 is:

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

Independent record label Victory Records has had its catalog of music pulled from streaming music service Spotify as a result of what Victory claims is "Spotify not properly paying publishing revenues due to Victory Records' artists in blatant violation of U.S. copyright laws."

According to Victory, Spotify hasn't paid publishing royalties to songwriters and composers related to thousands of recordings that U.S.-based Spotify users have listened to a total of 53 million times in the last few years.

Said Victory in a statement: "Late yesterday, Spotify sent over a document giving them mechanical clearance to use our music. We could not sign said document for a variety of reasons, most importantly that it would put us in direct violation of our agreement with Audiam. Spotify knows we are in business with Audiam and were essentially asking us to breach/ignore that agreement.

"The issue of nonpayment for songwriters and composers is a widespread problem and not exclusive to Victory Records' artists. "The bottom line is that artists and songwriters are not being paid and fans of Victory's artists cannot listen to the music."

A Spotify spokesman told The Wall Street Journal the streaming service decided to pull the Victory Records catalog because the label's associated companies had not provided sufficient data to substantiate their royalty claims.

"Given that we don't have that information, we felt we had no choice but to temporarily take down their content until we can come to a resolution," the spokesman, Jonathan Prince, told The Wall Street Journal.

A spokesman for Audiam Inc., a small technology company which aims to "get music publishers, labels and artists paid for the digital use of their music in YouTube, Spotify, Beats, Rhapsody, Google Play and more," disputed Prince's claim, telling The Wall Street Journal: "Five months ago Audiam provided Spotify all the detailed songwriter information for the over 3,000 sound recordings they had not paid on."

Audiam CEO Jeff Price estimates composers miss 17% of what they're entitled to.

Any songwriter can use Audiam, although the company's more well-known clients include METALLICA and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS.

In the past two years, Audiam has collected and paid out millions of dollars, including royalties generated but unpaid as far back as 2007.

Audiam keeps a portion of what it collects.

Cliff-Burnstein, co-founder of Q Prime Management (METALLICA), and Victory owner Tony Brummel were part of a group of individual strategic investors who raised an additional $1 million in funding for Audiam last year.

According to Billboard, some of those investors already contributed to the $2 million the company had previously raised since its launching in the first quarter of 2013.

"Peter And The Wolf In Hollywood", narrated by legendary rocker Alice Cooper, a brand new recording of Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev's children’s classic "Peter And The Wolf" — now coupled for the first time with a specially-written prequel (pre-story) — will be released on November 13 via Deutsche Grammophon.

The concept developed by the New York production company Giants Are Small extends for the first time ever the "Peter And The Wolf" we all know by a 30-minute prequel with the full blessing of the Prokofiev Foundation to a one-hour piece of family entertainment

The best-loved story is now placed in an urban contemporary setting — Los Angeles — with a thrilling plot full of suspense and humour. The imaginative pre-story places "Peter And The Wolf" in Hollywood, while weaving together excerpts from some of the greatest symphonic masterpieces by Wagner, Mahler, Elgar, Puccini, Mussorgsky, Prokofiev, Schumann, Satie, Zemlinsky, Grieg, Smetana.

The story in a nutshell: Young, orphaned Peter comes to live with his "hippy" grandfather in L.A. and is having the time of his life; suddenly, this special trip is interrupted by a Fox News "breaking news" bulletin: A Wolf Has Escaped From The Zoo!

A tumultuous series of events involving Peter, his Grandfather, the duck, a cat, a little bird, the police and insatiable paparazzi (as the "hunters"), and, of course, the Wolf, lead us directly into the famous original story by Prokofiev: "And so Peter opened the gate and went out into the big green garden ..."

By discovering the hero in himself Peter captures the beast and becomes Hollywood's unintended celebrity. Performed by Germany's National Youth Orchestra, and under the baton of excellent, young conductor Alexander Shelley, this is a fresh, energetic and extremely powerful interpretation made for the young and the young at heart.

Alice is delighted with the story’s modern-day twist. "I love the fact that it's moved on, and that Peter has come to Los Angeles to meet his grandfather, who turns out to be an old hippie!" he says. "That gives the story a fresh dynamic. And I like that he's not in the least bit terrified by the wolf, when everybody else is freaking out."

Shelley was recently named the Music Director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, 2015/16 being his first season at the helm.

In 2013, Claudio Marino from the Stockholm, Sweden-based film production company Artax Film started the "Blood And Spirit" trilogy that seeks to capture the souls of artists and those who tread their own path to personal enlightenment and creative wealth. The first part, "Ink, Blood And Spirit" was a biographical portrait of the self-taught tattooer and artist "Little Swastika", whose work is well known worldwide. He has made a name for himself with his unique, bold and controversial style, while he also wants to show that the swastika has a totally different meaning than the last 70 years would have us believe. The second part, "Fight, Blood And Spirit", is a portrait of the Swedish prizefighter Magnus "Jycken" Cedenblad who fights for the number one mixed martial arts organization, the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Coming this fall, "Music, Blood And Spirit" will focus on the life and work of WATAIN mainman Erik Danielsson.

Although mainstream now, the black metal music scene was a small but violent underground movement in the mid-'90s. With the inception of VENOM and BATHORY, the second wave of black metal hailed from Norway and was the result of a lot controversy. Danielsson is the creative mind behind WATAIN, a Swedish black metal band reaping success not only among fans but also in the public eye.

Danielsson comments: "While 'Music, Blood And Spirit' is in no way a WATAIN project, but rather someone else's portrait of me as a person, Claudio's stern and solemn approach to his work reminded me much of how we do things with WATAIN. I can recommend the movie to everyone who wants a different angle on my person than what they might be used to, since the focus here lies on what motivates and drives me personally, rather than WATAIN itself."

You can watch video teasers below.

The first announced screening is happening at the Leafmeal Festival on November 27 at the FZW in Dortmund, Germany (along live acts CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX, LONG DISTANCE CALLING, SULPHUR AEON, CHAPEL OF DISEASE, DISILLUSION, HEXVESSEL, DEAD LORD, BOMBUS and more). More screenings will be announced soon. Check www.artaxfilm.com for updates and more info.

Professionally filmed video footage of BRING ME THE HORIZON performing the track "Happy Song" at this year's Leeds Festival can be seen below.

"Happy Song" 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 singer 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).

"Death Rate", a song from CRUCIBLE, the new project featuring members of Detroit-based bands WE CAME AS ROMANS, ASSASSINS, and TAPROOT, can be streamed below. The track features a guest appearance by former BLEEDING THROUGH frontman Brandan Schieppati.

CRUCIBLE consists of Dave Stephens (WE CAME AS ROMANS) on vocals, Andrew Glass (WE CAME AS ROMANS) on bass, Lou Cotton (WE CAME AS ROMANS) and Todd Jansen (ASSASSINS) on guitars, and Nick Freddell (TAPROOT) on drums. Each member was longing to play something heavier than his primary band could offer, so they created this side project.

CRUCIBLE entered the studio with Nick Sampson to record a six-song EP that will be released on November 7 on iTunes, Spotify, and various other outlets. To accompany the EP release, they will play their first show at the Crofoot in Pontiac, Michigan on November 14. Online merchandise will be available soon at Merchnow.com as well as at the band's upcoming shows.

CRUCIBLE is currently booking a tour in January and will be announcing the dates shortly.

FAITH NO MORE's new music video for the song "Sunny Side Up" can be seen below. The clip, which was directed by filmmaker Joe Lynch ("The Movie Crypt" podcast, and films "Everly" and "Knights Of Badassdom"), arrives as the band wraps up a whirlwind year. "Sol Invictus" (Reclamation Recordings/Ipecac Recordings), FAITH NO MORE's first new album since 1997's "Album Of The Year", arrived in May, debuting at No. 6 on The Billboard 200 chart and landing at similar spots worldwide (including No. 2 in Australia, No. 4 in Germany and No. 6 in the U.K.). The months surrounding release found the band headlining a number of festivals, including Sonisphere, Download, Riot Fest, Bumbershoot and Rock In Rio. Returning to late night television for the first time since the mid-'90s, FAITH NO MORE took the stage on "The Tonight Show", "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and "Last Call With Carson Daly".

Regarding FAITH NO MORE's musical approach on "Sol Invictus", bassist Billy Gould said: "What I can say is that I think through our experience as musicians over the years, I think what we're doing reflects where we've gone since we made our last record as FAITH NO MORE. I think this kicks things up a notch. And I think there's parts that are very powerful and there's parts that have a lot of 'space.' Everything we do, with our chemistry, the way we play; it's always going to sound like us. It's just what we do, that makes us feel good."

Gould added: "When we split up, we explored what we could do on our own. During that time, we each developed what was a natural part of ourselves. Now, coming back, we have a wider perspective so we can do things we didn't even think of back in the day. If we were to decide to do country-western music, it would still sound like a FAITH NO MORE album. Together we have a strong collective identity, and when we work together it makes its own animal."

Asked if FAITH NO MORE wanted to retain creative control by deciding not to align itself with a major label for the release of the band's comeback album, "Sol Invictus", Gould said: "Well, yes, kind of. We were free. We didn't have to go to a major, and we could kind of call our own shots and do it how we wanted to. And I think it just took all the edge off these other things and these details that we had to do that, when you add other people into the mix, you're getting pressured, you're getting asked to do things you don't wanna do. Also, one of the things it took us so long to think about making a new record is because it's not just making a record; it means you're gonna have to tour, it means you're gonna have to start doing press, it means you've gotta start doing all this. There's a lot of shit that comes with that. And when you do it with a major, there's nobody that you can talk to about accountability as far as... I don't know… something simple, like, 'You want us to do a video? Who wants us to do a video?' 'Well, the guy down in that office down there.' I never met him before. In this kind of situation we have here, we know everybody, we can talk to everybody. And it's, like, 'We need this video. We need it for this.' 'Okay. Let's make it happen.' And we know that the content that comes out of is our content, how we want it, and not some guy in an office who thinks they know who we are who's giving this in front of all these people and embarrassing us, for example. Which happened a lot, actually. Even though we had a great label back in the day, but it's an office of people who are not in our band, who [don't] know us as well as we know ourselves."

"Alive", the new video from ESCAPE THE FATE, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's new album, "Hate Me", which will be released on October 30 via Eleven Seven Music.

When a band has had as storied and, at times, controversial a first decade in the limelight as ESCAPE THE FATE, there is often a temptation to focus on that past, rather than concentrating on the future. Yet as they stand on the cusp of releasing their fifth, and arguably most significant studio album to date, the upcoming chapters of the Vegas quartet's career not only look bright, but are set to resolutely be their best yet. "This new album is, without any question in my mind, the best thing that has ever borne the ESCAPE THE FATE name by a distance,"enthuses frontman Craig Mabbitt with no hint of hesitation. A remarkable statement given the last two ESCAPE THE FATE records gatecrashed the Billboard Top 30. "Sonically we've always been a diverse band who have everything from ballads to really heavy songs — and our fans expect that — but I think on this album we've gone full force with it. The heaviest songs are the heaviest we've ever written, and the poppy songs are the poppiest we've ever done. We came to this kind of ‘Who cares what people think of us'realization this time around — we're amplifying everything that we love about this band in all directions and it has been incredibly liberating." Indeed, with the group (completed by drummer Robert Ortiz and guitarists Thomas "TJ" Bell and Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft) now blessed with the most stable and creatively fertile lineup they've enjoyed in years, ESCAPE THE FATE are gearing up to show the world the scale of the talents that, in truth, they have long possessed. "We wrote probably 50 or so songs in total," explains Thrasher. "There are songs on this record that I've worked on in private for years but have only just come to fruition. There's probably half a decades work wrapped up in this thing!" "It has bee a real team effort this time around," continues Mabbitt. "We have all worked on lyrics, all contributed to the songwriting process. We're the most unified as a team I think we've ever been, certainly in my history in the band. I actually wish we hadn't done a self-titled album already because I think this is our most definitive statement yet." A significant part of fine-tuning statement has been the introduction of Grammy-nominated producer Howard Benson (PAPA ROACH, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, MÖTÖRHEAD) to proceedings. "He pushed us incredibly hard to expand ideas beyond where we initially thought they could go," says TJ. "He's a master at looking at a song and picking out the smallest details of what could be improved but doing so in a way which makes sense for the overall tone of the record." "He challenged me more than anyone ever has in a studio environment," concurs Thrasher. "From technique to tone he fine tuned everything we were doing and made sure we were giving 110%. I won't lie, it was stressful at times but he is a great producer — you only need to look at his track record to see that!" Indeed, for new new blood Thrasher — both playing and writing extensively on his first ESCAPE THE FATE album, it has been an opportunity to really earn his stripes. "I wanted to show exactly what I can do," explains the axeman. "Having been a session player for years but always loving this band's output, there was a responsibility on my shoulders to prove myself. I tried to take everything I'd learnt over all the years of playing and pour it all into these songs. And what's great is that the guys gave me all the support I needed — it's been one of the most free and enjoyable writing environments I've ever enjoyed." The end result of this hard-fought creative battle is a collection of songs spilling over with stadium-wrecking hooks, as well as significant slice of the jackhammer punch fans of the band have come to know and love. Perhaps most crucially though, there is an abiding sense that this is ESCAPE THE FATE at their most bruisingly motivated. "Lyrically, a lot of these tracks are based around the hate we've received over the years and just embracing that and using it to our own advantage," says Mabbitt. "I've had to step up to the plate lately, for the fans as much as anything else, because they take the name ESCAPE THE FATE very seriously and I owe them something for that, for all the support they've shown us over the years. It's very humbling for me to be able to listen to this collection of songs and think about where we've come from and what we've been through to get to this point." To that end, first single, the anthemic "Alive", comes replete with a lead-heavy dual guitar attack and a sky-scraping solo, underpinned with a soul-baring vocal performance that underlines, emboldens and italicises both the band's survival instinct and their indefatigable determination to emerge victorious. From there, the lung-bursting chorus of "Remember Every Scar" serves as a powerful lament to life at the bottom of the bottle while the likes of "Breaking Me Down" and "Let Me Be" revel in a dynamic rise and fall which sees the band on taking their sound to a place that is sure to raise the eyebrows of both fans and critics alike. Naturally, those with a penchant for the heavier stuff are amply catered for too, "Just A Memory"'s thrash-and-burn-a-circle-pit-starting sonic landmine to match anything in the band's catalogue to date: truly, this is a group at their most diverse and powerfully self-assured. "Like I say,"smiles Thrasher, "I think there genuinely is something in there for everyone." And so, what we are about to witness is a re-incarnated, reborn, rejuvenated ESCAPE THE FATE firing on all cylinders once more. With a stint on this summer's Warped Tour already under their belts and the promise of a global touring schedule to come, this is a band who, after a ten-year tenure, are still as hungry as they've ever been. "It's the start of a new era for us,"confirms Mabbitt. "We're getting back on our feet, putting our middle finger up to the world and proving ourselves individually and collectively. Everyone in this band now wants the same thing: we want to play our music for as many people as possible and be a unit, a gang. We've been envious of bands who have always had that but now we have that and it's a wonderful feeling." The message from the ESCAPE THE FATE camp is louder and clearer than it has even been in the past: "We're coming for everyone and we aren't taking any prisoners," concludes Mabbitt.

"Hate Me" track listing:

01. Just A Memory02. Live For Today03. Remember Every Scar04. Breaking Me Down05. Alive06. Get Up, Get Out07. Hate Me08. Les Enfants Terribles (The Terrible Children)09. I Won't Break10. Let Me Be

Wisconsin-based newcomers PRODUCT OF HATE will release their debut album, "Buried In Violence", on February 5, 2016 via Napalm Records. The CD was mixed and mastered by James Murphy, known for his work with DEATH, TESTAMENT and OBITUARY. The artwork was designed Colin Marks of Rain Song Design.

"When you see the album art, right away you know what to expect: dark, brutal, and unforgiving," says PRODUCT OF HATE vocalist Adam Gilley.

"The artwork was designed around the lyrics from our song 'Buried In Violence'. It became the title track."

Napalm Records A&R representative Demetri Benoist added: "We are really looking forward to the release of PRODUCT OF HATE's debut album, 'Buried In Violence'! These guys are going to take the metal world by storm in 2016!"

"Buried In Violence" track listing:

01. Kill. You. Now.02. Annihilation03. ...As Your Kingdom Falls04. Blood Coated Concrete05. Monster06. Buried in Violence07. Vindicare08. Nemesis09. Revolution of Destruction10. Unholy Manipulator11. Perry Mason

PRODUCT OF HATE is:

Adam Gilley - VocalsCody Rathbone - GuitarGene Rathbone - Lead GuitarMark Campbell - BassMike McGuire - Drums

Bassist Terry Butler (OBITUARY, DEATH, MASSACRE) and vocalist Ed Webb (MASSACRE, GENERICHRIST) have joined forces with drummer Greg Gall (SIX FEET UNDER, BLOOD DIVISIONS) and guitarist Matt Bishop (LIVIDITY, HORRIFIC DEMISE) in a new band called HIDEOUS.

Said Terry: "Ed Webb and myself are stoked about working with Matt Bishop and Greg Gall in a new band called HIDEOUS! We have a full album written and are currently demoing out three songs. Fans of traditional death metal and thrash will enjoy our musical style. We are not trying to reinvent the wheel here, just [play] metal we enjoy and have fun playing. We hope to have a full-length album out out early next year."

Added Bishop: "I'm beyond excited to bring some killer death metal to the masses with my brothers Terry, Ed and Greg!!!! Can't wait for all to hear what we have been working on!!!"

MASSACRE's reunion came to an abrupt end last year after the group's tour in support of the "Back From Beyond" album was "cut short by a series of events that could not be overlooked."

"Back From Beyond" was released on March 24, 2014 in Europe and April 1, 2014 in North America via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded and mixed by Tim Vazquez of CGM Studios in Altamonte Springs, Florida. The cover artwork was created by Toshihiro Egawa (CRYPTOPSY, KRISIUN, DEVOURMENT).

PUSCIFER, the Arizona-based electro-rock band fronted by TOOL's Maynard James Keenan, will release its third full-length album, "Money Shot", on October 30 via Puscifer Entertainment.

The official video for the "Money Shot" title track can be seen below. The clip was directed by Tim Cadiente and PUSCIFER, and it features the Flying Caliente Brothers, Clifton Collins Jr. ("Westworld", "Pacific Rim") and Jacob Vargas ("Sons Of Anarchy", "Traffic").

"Tossing out a few more cryptic Luchador-flavored bread crumbs with this one,” says Maynard James Keenan. "Confused? Don't tweak your noodle. As with all of PUSCIFER's and Billy D's journeys, linear has no place here. Just embrace the chaos and enjoy the ride."

To promote the "Money Shot" release, PUSCIFER will return to the road, kicking off a six-week outing on November 1 at the Monster Mash festival in Phoenix. "As is the Modus Operandi of PUSCIFER, there will be a whole new show to accompany the 'Money Shot' release. We've been leaving a few clues here and there as to what it may entail," said Maynard James Keenan. "As usual, we prefer to Show rather than Tell. Odds are if you've been a fan of the diverse nature of our performances in the past, you'll want to go ahead and place those bets." It's no surprise that Keenan choose to debut the electro rock band-meets-comedy troupe on a Las Vegas stage (PUSCIFER's first shows were at The Pearl Theatre in the Palms Casino). In the intervening years, we've met a cadre of characters including Billy D and Hildy Berger, Major Douche, Peter Merkin and spent time around a campfire, with an Airstream trailer in the background, as audiences enjoyed a Sonoran sunset. PUSCIFER, who thrive on the element of surprise, have revamped their stage show, with no spoilers to share, we can only say it exceeds the production seen in recent outings. The live lineup for the "Money Shot" tour includes Keenan, Mat Mitchell, Carina Round, Jeff Friedl, Mahsa Zargaran and the newest addition, Paul Barker (MINISTRY, LEAD INTO GOLD). "Money Shot" physical pre-order packages are available now via Puscifer.com. The various offerings include both signed and unsigned copies of the new album as well as an instant download of "Grand Canyon". "Money Shot" track listing:

01. Galileo02. Agostina03. Grand Canyon04. Simultaneous05. Money Shot06. The Arsonist07. The Remedy08. Smoke And Mirrors09. Life Of Brian (Apparently You Haven't Seen)10. Autumn Photo credit: Tim Cadiente

Multi-camera fan-filmed video footage of U.S. progressive metal pioneers FATES WARNING performing on October 18 at Agora in Cleveland, Ohio can be seen below.

FATES WARNING has started work on its twelfth studio album, to be released next year via InsideOut Music.

FATES WARNING guitarist and main composer Jim Matheos comments: "I'm happy to announce that all the music for FW12 is now written. Still some work to do on lyrics and final arrangements, but the plan is for us to start tracking in December with a release date planned for the first half of 2016."

FATES WARNING's current U.S. tour in support of the band's most recent album, "Darkness In A Different Light", will run through November 2.

FATES WARNING's eleventh studio album, "Darkness In A Different Light", sold around 2,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD was issued in North America on October 1, 2013 via InsideOut Music.

Featuring founding guitarist Jim Matheos alongside classic-lineup members Ray Alder (vocals) and Frank Aresti (guitar), longtime bassist Joey Vera and drummer Bobby Jarzombek, "Darkness In A Different Light" was produced by Matheos and mixed by longtime FATES WARNING engineer Phil Magnotti. The effort was mastered by Maor Appelbaum (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, SEPULTURA, ANVIL) at Maor Appelbaum Mastering in California. The cover artwork was designed by Conte di San Pietro.

Fan-filmed video footage of JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE — which features Jack Russell on vocals alongside former GREAT WHITE bassist-turned-guitarist Tony Montana (as a guitar player and keyboardist), bassist Chris Tristram, lead guitarist Robby Locher and drummer Dicki Fliszar — performing a cover version of the LED ZEPPELIN classic "Going To California" on October 16 at Ramona Mainstage in Ramona, California can be seen below (clip filmed and uploaded by Alex Vigil).

Back in February, JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE released a new song in the style of the bluesy hard rock stomp that made Russell a rock icon in the first place. Available for purchase as a digital single on iTunes, "Hard Habit" is taken from the band's forthcoming studio album, "The Gauntlet", which is scheduled for release next year.

Regarding the musical direction of what will eventually be released as the JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE debut, Russell told SleazeRoxx.com: "We want the new material to blow people's ears back. It has the elements of the best GREAT WHITE music ever written, but there's an edge. Tony brings that validity, while Robby and Dicki add a new life. It's going to surprise people."

Added Montana, "It's got the classic sound. The first element is Jack's voice.

"No other band sounds like this one ever did or does now.

"When I was 17 years old, I remember walking around the UCLA campus listening to the band's first EP. I was a fan before I ever joined the band. We're going to maintain that same integrity going forward."

He continued: "The band was always a standout from the era it came from. It was never a hair band. Listen to the music, and that's evident. Everything was based in blues. We want to add to that legacy with new material preserving those timeless elements."

Russell concluded, "This is fun, first and foremost. I feel like I'm 27 again. I hope it sounds like GREAT WHITE — but for [2015]."

In March, 2012, Russell sued his former bandmates Mark Kendall, Michael Lardie and Audie Desbrow over their continued use of the GREAT WHITE name after Russell had taken a leave of absence from the band for medical reasons. The band countersued, and the parties were involved in contentious litigation for more than a year. After three days of closed-door mediation before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carla Woehrle, the parties reached a comprehensive agreement. While many of the terms of the agreement remain confidential, it was revealed in August 2013 that the current GREAT WHITE band would continue to use the name GREAT WHITE and Russell would perform under the name JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE.

Juno Award-winning rock outfit Monster Truck, have just unveiled their brand new single, “Don’t Tell Me How To Live”. The track, which is streaming below, will appear on the band’s forthcoming sophomore album, due out in early 2016 via Dine Alone Records in Canada, and elsewhere via Mascot Records/Mascot Label Group.

“Don’t Tell Me How to Live” will be available to purchase via iTunes and on all streaming services on October 23rd.

Hamilton’s prodigious sons Monster Truck, are one of the biggest groundswell stories in Canadian rock in the past few years, with two crushing No.1 singles at Canadian Rock radio, a 2013 Juno Award for ‘Breakthrough Artist Of The Year’ and 2014 Juno Award nomination for ‘Rock Album Of The Year’, under their belt. Their critically acclaimed full-length, Furiosity, debuted at #13 on the Top 200 SoundScan chart, hit #3 on the German Rock/Metal chart and landed the band features in countless tastemaker publications, as well as a Bandit Rock Award nomination for ‘International Breakthrough Artist’ in Sweden.
 
Monster Truck’s unabashed dedication to creating killer riffs and putting every ounce of themselves into their show night after night, has created quite an impression not only with fans across the globe, but iconic rock bands as well. In recent years, the band has been championed by the likes of Slash and Alice In Chain’s Mike Inez, has toured extensively in Canada, the US, Europe and the UK, touring alongside such iconic acts as Alice In Chains, Slash, Nickelback, Deep Purple, ZZ Top, Buckcherry, Alter Bridge, Kid Rock, The Sheepdogs, and Vista Chino (Kyuss) and has performed at a number of popular festivals including Download Festival, Bonnaroo, Welcome to Rockville, Rock on the Range and Edgefest.

Ohio-based pagan/melodic death metal band, Hammer Horde, will release their new album, Fed To The Wolves, on December 1st via Storm Surge Records. The album artwork by Kris Verwimp, and the tracklisting can be found below.

Tracklisting:

“Starborn
“Tale Of The Wayward Voyager”
“Fed To The Wolves”
“Unholy Harbingers Of War”
“Hail And Kill” (Manowar cover)
“Ortum Aurorae”
“The Scourge Of Man”
“As Embers Fade”

Stay tuned for updates.

Windhand share a new evil video just in time for Halloween. The story goes: It's Halloween, 1987. Four best friends are out trick-or-treating on their BMXs. Four older bullies in a muscle car have an appetite for something more sinister than candy.

The “Two Urns” video, directed by John Nunn and Mikael Simpson, with cinematography by Chris Newhard, can be seen below:

Windhand’s third full-length, Grief's Infernal Flower (out now), was produced by Jack Endino (Nirvana, High On Fire, Soundgarden) and is a massive, heavy, personal and modern testament to the power of doom and stoner metal's legacies. One sees the urgency the band have displayed over their career reflected in their music - long-canonized tropes are reimagined and reinvented, Windhand convey an irrepressible sense of motion even within the slowest of songs.

Front woman Dorthia Cottrell firmly establishes herself as one of today's most powerful vocalists by perfectly balancing beauty with enormous force, and the twin-guitar attack of Garrett Morris and Asechiah Bogdan weaves together nine songs of perfect riffs and fuzzed-out bliss. That often-delicate splendor is all tempered by the colossal rhythmic mastery of bassist Parker Chandler and drummer Ryan Wolfe, whose lower-register expertise serves as the backbone of the new record. Though the first two Windhand albums were underground classics, Grief's Infernal Flower stands to see Windhand cementing themselves as one of the premier metal bands of our time.

Grief's Infernal Flower tracklisting:

“Two Urns”
“Forest Clouds”
“Crypt Key”
“Tanngrisnir”
“Sparrow”
“Hyperion”
“Hesperus”
“Kingfisher”
“Aition”

“Crypt Key” video:

“Hyperion”:

Windhand tour dates:

October
21 - New York, NY - Gramercy #
22 - Buffalo, NY - Waiting Room #
23 - Pittsburgh, PA - Smiling Moose #
24 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle #
27 - Seattle, WA - Neumos #
28 - Vancouver, BC - Astoria  #
29 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios #
30 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel #
31 - San Diego, CA - Night of the Shred ^

November
1 - Los Angeles, CA - Roxy #
2 - Mesa, AZ - Club Red #
3 - Albuquerque, NM - Sister #
4 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater  #
6 - Dallas, TX - Dada #
7 - Austin, TX - Fun Fun Fun Fest Nites #
8 - Little Rock, AR - White Water Tavern #
11 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups #
12 - Ferndale, MI - Loving Touch #
13 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop #
14 - Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery #
15 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts #

# - with Danava and Monolord
^ - with Monolord

 

 

Windhand is:

Garrett Morris (Guitars)
Parker Chandler (Bass)
Dorthia Cottrell (Vocals)
Asechiah Bogdan (Guitars)
Ryan Wolfe (Drums)

FLYING COLORS, the band featuring Mike Portnoy (drums, vocals), Dave LaRue (bass), Neal Morse (keyboards, vocals), Casey McPherson (vocals, guitars) and Steve Morse (guitar), will release the electrifying "Second Flight: Live At The Z7" on November 13 via Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group on multiple formats (4K UltraHD, Blu-ray, DVD, LP + MP3, CD, iTunes, Headphone Surround, iTunes, Pono).

A performance clip of the song "Kayla" from "Second Flight: Live At The Z7" can be seen below.

On only the eighth show of their 2014 fall tour, FLYING COLORS took to the stage at Switzerland's storied Z7 venue and captured on film captured a breathtaking live performance. "It was especially exciting because we had just performed many of these songs for the first time, days before," explains Steve Morse. With their critically acclaimed sophomore album "Second Nature" out for only a week, the concert recorded an exceptional rarity: band and audience, together, discovering an album for the first time. That freshness is palpable in every frame of this Ultra-HD/Blu-ray/DVD release. With every crowd reaction you are transported there, becoming part of the event.

FLYING COLORS also explored technological innovation with the album, with unique ways for fans to experience it. Viewers can listen in 5.1-Surround from the two best seats in the house: behind the front-of-house soundboard, or right in the front row. In another first, an audio-only version of the concert is available in Headphone Surround, which recreates the front-row surround mix entirely in headphones. The headphone mix will be available in formats up to uncompressed 24 bit / 192 KHz from HD audio distributors, such as Pono. For the warmest sound and highest possible fidelity, every one of the show's mixes was mastered to 2" analogue tape, and digitised separately for each audio format, by mix/mastering engineer Rich Mouser (TRANSATLANTIC, WEEZER).

The audio itself underwent a new audio engineering process, Harmonic Phrase Analysis, developed specifically for the show at Manchester Metropolitan University in England. The technology reduces the unwanted processing normally associated with contemporary live recordings, imparting a more organic feel to the sound field. The video was mastered by famed special effects company Cinnafilm, using their revolutionary Dark Energy technology (IMAX). The result is unparalleled realism from the concert's 24 cameras, as well as eye-popping Ultra-HD versions of the concert.

"Second Flight: Live At The Z7" showcases a new level of musical prowess from the group, captures the candid energy of a new band, and lets fans experience them in innovative ways. It reflects the many hues and colors of the band members' individual-and collective-unique creative expression. Casey McPherson recounted, "We had a blast playing these tunes and can't wait for you to hear them… you can feel the excitement!" before going on to joke, "I'm still trying to learn Steve's guitar parts, though."

Summarizing the experience, Dave LaRue offered: "FLYING COLORS is like no other band to perform with. This tour was all about the joy of playing together, and sharing new songs with fans. Everyone felt something special that night, and I'm so glad we captured it."

FLYING COLORS' debut in 2012 auspiciously challenged conventional wisdom about fusing complex music with mainstream songwriting. Teaming the talents of such heavyweights as guitarist Steve Morse (DEEP PURPLE, DIXIE DREGS), drummer Mike Portnoy (TRANSATLANTIC, THE WINERY DOGS, ex-DREAM THEATER), keyboardist/singer Neal Morse (solo artist, TRANSATLANTIC, ex-SPOCK'S BEARD), bass wizard Dave LaRue (DIXIE DREGS, JOE SATRIANI, STEVE VAI), with new pop singer/songwriter Casey McPherson, the band quickly established itself as one of rock's most melodic enigmas.

The mission was to join virtuoso players, a pop singer/songwriter, and the right producer-to create sophisticated music that was accessible. In 2009, executive producer Bill Evans brought the idea to Morse, Portnoy, Morse, LaRue, and music producer Peter Collins. Having helmed enduring works by progressive artists (RUSH, BRIAN WILSON), as well as mainstream ones (ELTON JOHN, BON JOVI), the renowned Collins was a perfect fit. The band was incomplete, though, even after Evans and Collins considered over 100 singer/songwriters.

Then Mike Portnoy one night on tour heard Casey McPherson's "Colder Months" in rotation on his iPod. McPherson had recently released "New Morning" (Hollywood Records), dominating the Billboard Top 10 for 17 weeks, and VH1's Top 20 Countdown for four months. Portnoy realized, soon followed by everyone else, that McPherson brought the perfect tone to FLYING COLORS.

"Second Nature" was released in September of 2014, debuting in multiple Top 10 charts worldwide. In addition to numerous other accolades, the album received a Prog Award nomination for "Album Of The Year," with FLYING COLORS being nominated for "Band Of The Year." Adorned with artwork by Hugh Syme (AEROSMITH, STONE SOUR, RUSH), mixed by prog rock stalwart Rich Mouser, and bookended by two tracks of truly epic stature — "Open Up Your Eyes" and the anthemic "Cosmic Symphony" — "Second Nature" was a fitting release for the band's sophomore outing.

In late 2012, the band toured the United States and Europe, dazzling fans with FLYING COLORS originals and selections from the catalogues of the five members.

"Second Flight: Live At The Z7" is the follow-up to the band's previous Blu-ray/DVD, the #1 European-charting "Live In Europe".

"Second Flight: Live At The Z7" track listing:

01. Overture02. Open Up Your Eyes03. Bombs Away04. Kayla05. Shoulda Coulda Woulda06. The Fury Of My Love07. A Place In Your World08. Forever In A Daze09. One Love Forever10. Colder Months11. Peaceful Harbor12. The Storm13. Cosmic Symphony14. Mask Machine15. Infinite Fire16. Peaceful Harbor (Orchestral Version)*

*Bonus track 3LP and digital only

Having laid low since the end of 2014, just last month Northern Irish death metallers Rex Shachath suddenly announced their return with a brand new record, which will be out November 20th via French label Great Dane Records.

Entitled Revocation Of The Blood Elect, this new EP might not be what people are expecting if they're familiar with the band's debut offering Sepulchral Torment. Since that release the band have had time to coalesce and where Sepulchral Torment had more of an 'old school' sound, Revocation Of The Blood Elect is an entirely new animal. Tackling social issues such as the state of modern society and man's exorbitant desire for wealth at the expense of our natural world, the band have harnessed a sound more befitting to such issues on their forthcoming record. Old school ideals kneaded with modern death metal notions on a much more up to date and punchier production is what we have here. Revocation Of The Blood Elect carries a sound as big if not bigger than its message.

Now we can unveil the first taste of what to expect from the EP as the band unleash a brand new music video for title track.

Vocalist Dave Connolly comments of the track, “This song sees those in positions of power overthrown and put to the sword by man who has endured the oppression of those who would see humanity and the natural world struggle beneath them while they profit from the destruction of man and the earth.”

Artwork (as seen below), was completed by UK artist Godmachine famed for his work with bands such as Suicide Silence, Bring Me The Horizon, Cannibal Corpse and Job For A Cowboy to name a few. The EP was recorded, mixed and mastered by Joe Thompson at Sonic Forge Studio, Cardiff, Wales.

Tracklisting:

“Atonement Through Atrocity”
“Impious Axiom”
“Revocation Of The Blood Elect”
“Within The Temple Of Disgust” (Featuring Ben McCrow)
“Colossus Rise”

Pre-Order Revocation Of The Blood Elect here.