Leipzig, Germany-based progressive melodic death metallers, Disillusion, will reissue their album Back To Times Of Splendor on November 27th on vinyl.

It's the first time ever this album will be available on vinyl! The triple gatefold double-LP will be released in four different, limited editions (180 g black/orange/amber/Leafmeal).

The first three editions can be pre-ordered here.

The Leafmeal edition will be available exclusively at the Leafmeal Festival, taking place at the FZW in Dortmund, Germany on release date, November 27th, where the band will play a special Back To Times Of Splendor-show.

 

For the many fans of Hades Almighty the long wait is finally over as the band is set to release a new EP, the first studio release from the band since 2001. The three-track digi-EP, titled Pyre Era, Black!, will hit the streets on Dark Essence Records on October 23rd and serves as an introduction to a new era for the legendary Norwegian band, as well as a taste of what to expect from what will be the band's fifth full-length album, due for release next year. A full stream of the new EP can be found below.

Photography for the artwork for Pyre Era, Black! is by Christian Misje.

Tracklisting:

“Pyre Era, Black!”
“Funeral Storm”
“Bound”

Last year it was announced that founding member and vocalist/bassist Janto was quitting the band on the best of terms, and that co-founders, guitarist Jorn (ex-Dominanz, ex-Old Funeral, ex-Immortal, ex-Amputation) and drummer Remi, would be searching for a replacement. The replacement chosen turned out to be no stranger to black metal fans when it was revealed that Ask Ty (Kampfar, Krakow) would take on vocal duties and that once again Hades Almighty would be making its mark as one of the great Norwegian black metal bands.

Originally formed in 1992 as Hades, the band changed their name to Hades Almighty in 1998 due to the pre-existence of a US band of the same name. Things on the recording front have been quiet in the fourteen years since the release of Hades Almighty's fourth full-length album, The Pulse Of Decay, but the band itself has not let the grass grow too long under their feet by being relatively active on the live scene. Nor, it would seem, have they lost any of their studio skills as Pyre Era, Black! amply demonstrates.

It is an EP that hints at the pitch black, epic sound that originally made Hades Almighty so unique, but with additional new elements, not least the outstanding vocals of their new frontman that give the character and depth fans have grown to expect from the band. There are some who might have wondered how Ask Ty, well known for his drumming skills, would be able to handle vocals, but this is not his first outing behind the microphone, having performed vocals both in the studio and live for Kampfar and Krakow, and Pyre Era, Black! demonstrates just how versatile he is.

Hades Almighty's first live appearance with the new lineup will take place in the Netherlands at the Aurora Infernalis festival in Arnhem on the 24th of October, followed by an appearance at Bergen's Black Metal and Tattoo festival BlekkMetal in Bergen on the 13th of November.

Mark Fox is back together with Swiss hard rockers Shakra. Chris von Rohr said the following after former singer John Prakesh left the band in early 2014: “Let’s bring back together what belongs together”.

That being said, it took a while till the early disputes had been put aside but in late summer of 2014 it was clear to everyone that it’s time to do it again Since that point of time, the whole band shed blood, sweat and tears to finish their new album High Noon which will be out on January 29, 2016.

Shakra have signed with Universal Music for Switzerland while AFM will continue to release their albums in the rest of the world.

 
 

IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson was recently interviewed on 97.7 HTZ-FM (CHTZ), Southern Ontario's Best Rock radio station. You can now listen to the chat using the SoundCloud widget below.

Speaking about the fact that HPV, the human papilloma virus, was the cause of his tongue cancer diagnosis in December 2014, Bruce said: "Nobody knows why one group of people get this cancer and another group don't, given that an awful lot of people are exposed to this virus in their lifetime. Most people… It's a very, very easy virus to transmit, and they still don't fully understand, you know, all the way to transmission. Effectively, if anybody has ever had a verruca or a wart or anything like that, this is a related type of virus, and it's really easy to pick up. The point is, you don't know necessarily that you've got it, and your body normally gets rid of it — it deals with it, and it gets rid of it. However, for reasons not fully understood in guys over 40, it can persist, and in a proportion of those guys, the persistence can turn into cancer."

Dickinson also addressed some of the recent headlines that suggested he may have gotten tongue cancer from performing oral sex on women. He said: "I raised it the other day in an interview, and, of course, there were some really stupid, predictable headlines saying things that I did not in fact say. But the idea was not to give people the opportunity to [write] stupid headlines. I suppose it was probably naïve of me to raise the topic, but the idea was to make guys my age aware, if you get a lump in your neck, don't ignore it. Don't think it's antibiotics. If it doesn't go away, go see a doc. Even medical professionals, some of them are unaware of this kind of thing. I mean, a buddy of mine has just been diagnosed with this. Age 52, happily married, a fashion photographer, scared out of his wits, was misdiagnosed twice before somebody finally went, 'Hey, buddy. No no no no. You don't have a little cyst. You've got tongue cancer.'"

While most strains of HPV clear up on their own, the sexually transmitted virus is responsible for an array of cancers.

The Huffington Post reported in 2013 that oral sex is an avenue through which a person can contract HPV and especially the strains HPV-18 and HPV-16, the latter of which is responsible for half of oral cancer cases, according to the National Cancer Institute. HPV-16, HPV-18 and some less-common strains can also cause cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, anus and penis.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 79 million Americans are currently infected with HPV and approximately 14 million people become newly infected each year, making it the most common sexually transmitted infection in the nation.

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

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

Known for being progressive not only in their sound but in their music business acumen, PROTEST THE HERO have announced a unique distribution model for their upcoming six-track EP. Structured as a subscription service for fans, Pacific Myth officially launched last night and will deliver one track on the 15th day of each month over a six-month period of recording, as well as access to a gamut of original content not available anywhere else. Here is a message from the band regarding Pacific Myth: "If you know a bit about our band, you probably know that we like to stir the pot. We value that our fans have come to expect the unexpected from us.

"Here's the thing: we have done the full-length album and ensuing record cycle four times. Most record cycles are at least two years. That's two years of promoting 40-or-so minutes of music…music that may have been written two years before that! We have never been able to release what we want to release NOW. So that's exactly what this is. These are songs we love now, songs we are proud of now, and songs which are inherently more candid than our other material.

"The original dream was to create a subscription-like platform for our music where 'subscribers' could enjoy the scheduled arrival of a new PROTEST THE HERO tune every month, on the same day, at the same time. While we battled with the logistics of launching such a beast, Bandcamp came along and pretty much nailed it. So here we are!

"We believe this to be a sustainable model for what we do and a wonderful and honest way of getting more music made for you all. By subscribing to 'Pacific Myth', you will get a tune a month starting on October 15 as well as access to all the content we've collected along the way. It will include pictures, journals, lyrics, musical transcriptions, samples of music to come and some rookie-edited videos to keep you either entertained or appalled while you wait for the next month's material.

"Thanks for reading, listening and watching our careers thus far. Know that absolutely none of these projects would be possible without you. We dig ourselves further in your debt with each signup!"

The service will be structured in two tiers for fans to choose from. Tier 1 subscribers will access unlimited streaming and various audio formats of the monthly track, an exclusive instrumental mix, hi-res artwork, lyrics, and liner notes. Tier 2 subscribers will also receive access to a very special documentary series titled "Of Our Own Volition" filmed by award-winning director Marc Ricciardelli.

For more information, click here.

Singer Ian Gillan of legendary British hard rockers DEEP PURPLE — who have been eligible for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame for two decades now — says the people who run the Hall Of Fame organization are "bloody arrogant and rude."

PURPLE was recently nominated for Hall Of Fame inclusion for a third time, having been passed over in both 2013 and 2014.

Gillan told Classic Rock: "I have no respect for them. They're the kind of people that having seen 'A Hard Day's Night' decided that THE MONKEES would be America's equivalent to THE BEATLES. They've no idea what goes on in the big, wide world outside of their self-arbitrating surroundings. To me, those people are bloody arrogant and rude."

He continued: "I've heard that somebody on their committee dismissed us as one-hit wonders. I couldn't figure out whether that hit was 'Hush', 'Kentucky Woman', 'Black Night', 'Strange Kind Of Woman', 'Child In Time', 'Perfect Strangers', 'Knocking At Your Back Door' or perhaps even 'Smoke On The Water'."

Gillan added: "I'm very grateful for the other bands and artists that stood up for us with a view to our induction — that's nice of them. But I wish that the Hall Of Fame had had the discretion to ask us first. It's now become a debate in which we are too late to have the final word."

Gillan claimed that he had no idea PURPLE had been nominated again and only found out when Classic Rock spoke to him.

He said: “I'm sure that my mum would have been pleased and it all sounds very grand, but just take a look at who's in it. I once wrote a song called 'No Laughing In Heaven' which was about not wanting to go to heaven due to the company I'd be keeping, and with a few exceptions, the Hall Of Fame is pretty much the same thing."

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich recently told RollingStone.com that he still hopes DEEP PURPLE will eventually get recognized by the Hall. "I'm not gonna get into the politics or all that stuff, but I got two words to say: 'DEEP PURPLE,'" he said. "That's all I have to say: DEEP PURPLE. Seriously, people, 'DEEP PURPLE,' two simple words in the English language. But definitely, NIRVANA is a no-brainer for the first year and I'm glad that KISS is getting the long-overdue recognition that they deserved for everything that they pioneered, and then I got two words, 'DEEP PURPLE!' Did I say that already?"

At their own induction in 2009, METALLICA's James Hetfield included PURPLE on a list of acts they wanted to see in the Hall. "We're somewhat of a heavy band and we have a small list that we'd like to also put some nods out and maybe plant a little seed, it's a band called DEEP PURPLE, THIN LIZZY, TED NUGENT, IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, MOTÖRHEAD... who we would love to invite through the door now."

For the fourth consecutive year, the public will be able to vote alongside the more than 800 artists, historians and music industry insiders of the Rock Hall voting body. From now until December 9, fans can vote on RollingStone.com for the nominees they'd like to see inducted. The top five acts will comprise a "fan's ballot" that will count as one of the ballots that determine the class of 2016.

The last time PURPLE was denied entry, they were passed over for the likes of pop singer-songwriter Randy Newman and R&B singer Donna Summer.

To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. The 2016 nominees had to release their first recording no later than 1990.

Since the spring, NIGHTWISH's singer, the Dutch soprano Floor Jansen, has lent her face to Kalevala Koru jewelry. Now the collaboration is being taken one step further with the launch of the jewelry collection Evolution Series By Nightwish, created together with the band.

A video preview of the collection is available below.

"In spring, Floor Jansen became the wonderful face of our jewelry and now the cooperation is expanding into the NIGHTWISH collection," says Kalevala Koru CEO Riitta Huuhtanen. "At Kalevala Koru, we are really happy about this connection. It gives us international visibility with the world's best-known Finnish band."

The new jewelry collection accompanies the theme of the rich diversity of life — as on NIGHTWISH's latest album, "Endless Forms Most Beautiful". It is something that the band's founder, keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, emphasizes in the collaboration.

"From the start, it was important for the band that when we start to create a jewelry collection it should in some way reflect the theme of our new album," says Tuomas. "The message on the album is associated with the endless variety of all living things on our planet: we are one, made out of the same DNA, of the same matter. It's an extremely beautiful and humbling fact, which we wish to bring out in the album. The same theme is also present in the new jewelry collection."

Huuhtanen is confident that the new collection will be a success.

"NIGHTWISH is a well-known and popular band, both in Finland and internationally," she says. "We are looking forward to see how the fans and the general public will receive the collection."

The Evolution Series By Nightwish collection includes two different silver pendants and a bracelet. The larger pendant has been inspired by the form of the fossil of the ancient marine animal, the ammonite. The smaller pendant echoes the spiral form of DNA.

Launched to shops in mid-October, pre-sale of the jewelry collection started in the official NIGHTWISH shop on August 18, and in Kalevala's online store on September 1. The jewelry collection will also be sold on NIGHTWISH's European tour.

Kalevala Koru Oy is the largest jewelry manufacturer in Finland. All Kalevala jewelry products are manufactured in Finland. The extensive collection includes both timeless classics and modern designers' interpretations.

German thrash masters Exumer will enter the studio in Dortmund, Germany on October 19th to record the follow-up for Fire & Damnation, which was released worldwide via Metal Blade Records in 2012. The band will once again team up with producer Waldemar Sorychta (Sodom, Moonspell, Grip Inc.), who had produced the band's comeback album in 2011.

Vocalist Mem V. Stein comments: "We take our time to record/release our records in order to deliver the most exciting and quality products for our fans. We are fortunate enough that Metal Blade gives us the space, time and freedom we need to write the album we believe will advance the band the most. Having Waldemar back with us in the studio to produce the new record is such a huge plus, since he did a fantastic job on the last production. Anyone who liked our two records from the 1980s or our last album will not be disappointed with this new one as it delivers our signature brand of fast and aggressive thrash metal."

Exumer's new album is set to be released via Metal Blade Records in early 2016, and marks the fourth output in the band's 30 year history. Stay tuned for more details coming soon.

Road Rage 2016 tour dates:

January
28 - Boveda - Barcelona, Spain
29 - Centro Civicio Universidad - Zaragoza, Spain
30 - El Tren - Granada, Spain
31 - Lemon - Madrid, Spain

February
4 - TBA - Netherlands
5 - Club Bogaloo - Pfarrkirchen, Germany
6 - Schlachthaus - Dornbirn, Austria
7 - Blue Rose Saloon - Mailand, Italy
8 - Traffic Live Club - Rome, Italy
10 - Comet - Berlin, Germany
11 - Progresja - Warschau, Poland
12 - LDK - Lodz, Poland

June
13 - Sumpfblume - Hamelin, Germany
14 - Lukaz - Lunen, Germany

 

U.S. Army Sergeant Russell Toof from the 350th Public Affairs Detachment conducted an interview with PAPA ROACH guitarist Jerry Horton before the band's September 30 performance in Indianapolis. You can now watch the chat below.

Speaking about PAPA ROACH's plans for 2016, Horton said: "It's really kind of up in the air. We talked about taking a break for a while, but also writing. But at the same time, there might be a couple of tours that we wanna do. So we're really kind of seeing how everything is gonna pan out, just because we don't wanna commit to any one thing just quite yet."

According to Horton, PAPA ROACH has already begun compiling material for the follow-up to the band's eighth album, "F.E.A.R." (Face Everything And Rise), which was released in January. "We don't have [completed] songs [at this point], but there's always ideas floating around," he said. "There's riffs and stuff recorded already, but Jacoby [Shaddix, vocals] hasn't dug in yet. So it's just kind of music at this point."

"F.E.A.R." was recorded in Las Vegas, taking the band out of their Sacramento, California home base for the first time since 2006. PAPA ROACH worked with the father-and-son producing team of Kevin and Kane Churko on the new CD.

"F.E.A.R." followed up 2012's "The Connection", which was made as Shaddix was going through personal turmoil, including problems in his marriage and a struggle to stay sober.

Veteran German hard rockers SCORPIONS have canceled their previously announced November 3 club show in Berlin due to "technical problems." The concert was slated to be attended by 250 fans who participated in a competition to win these rare tickets.

A statement on SCORPIONS' Facebook page reads: "After their massive sold-out arena tour in North America, the band will have to play in Rome on November 9 and thereafter in Milano and Paris. Within the short timeframe between Las Vegas, Seattle and Rome, it unfortunately proved impossible to scale down the arena show and technical equipment needed to perform in a small club in such a way that the musical quality would be guaranteed, which is very important to the SCORPIONS. For this reason, the show in Berlin had to be withdrawn and the band would like to apologize for this.

"But here is the good news for the competition winners. They will be invited to the SCORPIONS concert in Berlin on March 23rd, 2016 in the Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin as VIP guests where they be able to have an early entry and can experience the final show preparation as well as the band's sound check. This way they can have a very special experience of this concert. The winners will be notified by e-mail within the next few days."

Founded in Hannover, West Germany in 1965, SCORPIONS were part of the first wave of metal in the 1970s with their debut album, "Lonesome Crow", released in 1972. The band rose to arena status with seminal releases "Lovedrive", "Virgin Killer" and "Animal Magnetism". In the '80s, SCORPIONS amassed a string of Billboard chart toppers from "Love At Fiirst Sting" and "Blackout", including Top 10 singles "Rock You Like A Hurricane" and "No One Like You", as well a string of successful singles such as "Send Me An Angel", "Still Loving You" and "Wind Of Change". The band was also ranked #46 on VH1's "Greatest Artists Of Hard Rock" and their hit "Rock You Like A Hurricane" also landed as #18 on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs". Celebrated across the globe, the iconic rock act have sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, and have received multiple honors including World Music Award winners, a postage stamp in Brazil, their Star on Hollywood RockWalk, Echo honors, most recently they were honored with the Lower Saxon State Award.

SCORPIONS' "Return To Forever 50th Anniversary Tour", featuring longtime members Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs, alongside James Kottak (drums) and Paweł Mąciwoda (bass), kicked off in May 2015 with dates on four continents. For these milestone shows, SCORPIONS have built a career-spanning setlist of their hits, anthems, ballads and vintage classics.

MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee was unable to perform at the band's concert Saturday night (October 17) in Manchester, New Hampshire because he is suffering from tendinitis.

Lee also missed Wednesday's (October 14) show in Buffalo, New York, and Friday's (October 16) gig in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Filling in for him has been Alice Cooper's drummer, Glen Sobel. It is not clear if Lee will perform during Sunday's concert in Bangor, Maine.

Lee said in a statement that he was unable to play after sustaining an injury of "severe inflammation" to his left wrist.

"I am told this injury is temporary and that I will be back on stage very shortly," he said. "I'm doing everything in my power to speed up the healing process. I hate not being able to play for you guys!"

The 53-year-old drummer tweeted earlier in the week that he was in pain and unable to hold a drumstick but promised that he would rejoin his bandmates at the end of each show to play piano with his "good hand" for the finale of "Home Sweet Home".

MÖTLEY CRÜE's "The Final Tour" kicked off last year and will end New Year's Eve at the Staples Center in Los Angeles after one last round of North American gigs.

While announcing the first details of "The Final Tour" at a Los Angeles press conference in January 2014, the four members of MÖTLEY CRÜE revealed that they took the unusual step of having their lawyer draw up a formal "cessation of touring" agreement that goes into effect at the end of 2015 and prohibits the members of the group from going on the road again under the MÖTLEY CRÜE banner. The 2014 leg of "The Final Tour" was one of last year's top-grossing tours, selling close to a million tickets across 72 cities and grossing more than $45 million.

Former ALL THAT REMAINS bassist Jeanne Sagan has joined CROSSING RUBICON, the Connecticut hard rock band fronted by her fiancé, lead vocalist Scotty Anarchy (a.k.a. Scott Wawrzyniak).

CROSSING RUBICON's new album, "No Less Than Everything", will be released in early 2016. The CD's first single, "Unhinged", can be streamed below.

Anarchy had this to say about the new track: "Ever had one of those days when you wanted to punch someone in the head and crush their skull? Yeah, well, this is what the song is about."

CROSSING RUBICON is known for its intense touring schedule, which has included dates with the likes of MÖTLEY CRÜE, QUEENSRŸCHE, CROSSFADE, NONPOINT, SAVING ABEL, POP EVIL, REV THEORY, TANTRIC and BEATALLICA. The band's sound is described in a press release as "a throwback to metal of the '80s and early '90s mixed with modern rock." CROSSING RUBICON was formed in 2009 by Anarchy. The group's current lineup is rounded out by guitarists Zach Lambert and Steven Riccio, and drummer Brandi Hood.

CROSSING RUBICON's debut EP, "In Pains Of Sleep", came out in 2012.

Sagan left ALL THAT REMAINS in September to pursue personal interests. She has since been replaced by Aaron Patrick (BURY YOUR DEAD, DEVILDRIVER).

Former OBITUARY bassist Frank Watkins has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 47 years old.

Watkins left OBITUARY in 2010 on acrimonious terms and was eventually replaced by Terry Butler.

Watkins started playing music at the age of 12 and joined OBITUARY in 1989, after the recording of the band's debut album, "Slowly We Rot". His first album with the group was their landmark 1990 LP, "Cause Of Death". OBITUARY broke up in 1997, but Watkins reteamed with his bandmates in 2003, and stayed with the group through the recording of 2009's "Darkest Day" LP.

Frank was also involved in managing, mentoring and guiding other bands and musicians through his management company Back From the Dead Productions, which he launched in 2007.

In late 2007, Watkins became the bassist of Norwegian black metal band GORGOROTH, and in 2009 he participated in the recording of the GORGOROTH album "Quantos Possunt Ad Satanitatem Trahunt". He made his live debut with the band at the Hole In The Sky festival in Bergen on August 29, 2009. This was the first concert GORGOROTH had performed since September 2007.

In an interview with Metal Maniacs published online in August 2009, Watkins explained that for his work with GORGOROTH he had taken the stage name "Bøddel", which means "Executioner" in Norwegian.

Watkins told Noisecreep in a 2009 interview that he once worked as a mortgage broker. "I had a mortgage company for a while and mortgages went out the window in America and it's all corporate," he said. "I worked for Wells Fargo for a long time and realized I could do this myself. I don't need a bank to pay me, so I just opened my own. Just as the mortgage industry dropped, OBITUARY said, 'Let's play again.' I let the company fizzle out in 2008. I decided to do music full-time since I could try and implement the business sense that I have and all the nightmares I suffered through in the music business!"

Watkins said that he honed his sharp-as-a-steak-knife business sense "probably from fighting with promoters at shows. All the shit we did in the band! When I started as a stock broker, I had gotten off a tour and OBITUARY decided we were not gonna do anything for a while. I saw my friend driving a Porsche in my neighborhood at the grocery store, and I was like, 'How do you afford that?' And he said he was working as a stock broker, so I told him to get me a job. I learned how to sell on the phone. It was hardcore and military-style shit. It was insane, but taught me a lot of negotiation skills."

Quality fan-filmed video footage of KORN's October 8 performance at the House of Blues in Boston, Massachusetts can be seen below.

KORN launched a North American tour earlier in the month on which the band is performing its self-titled 1994 debut album in its entirety at every stop to commemorate the 20th anniversary of its release. The trek kicked off on October 1 in Chicago, winding down a month later on October 30 in Oakland.

A previously unexplored mixture of bass heavy musicianship sprinkled with electronic effects and hip-hop influences, KORN's debut is credited with launching the nu-metal movement of the 1990s, in the process influencing a host of other bands like COAL CHAMBER, SEPULTURA, MACHINE HEAD and LIMP BIZKIT.

Singer Jonathan Davis told The Pulse Of Radio not long ago how he thinks KORN has changed in the more than two decades since they recorded their debut. "When we did the first KORN record, the self-titled, we were kids, man. We were just crazy-ass kids, getting drunk every day, just making music, living a dream and it was just insanity. And which I loved — I don't regret it one bit. But now I think where we're at 20 years later, I think it's more about making music and impacting people's lives and helping people."

KORN's self-titled debut went on to sell more than 10 million copies worldwide and featured the band's first classic, "Blind".

MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine spoke to Australian Associated Press about his attempt to reunite the band's classic "Rust In Peace" lineup, featuring Nick Menza on drums and Marty Friedman on guitar, following last year's departures of Shawn Drover and Chris Broderick.

"It's no secret that the whole 'Rust In Peace' reunion lineup thing was being attempted," he said. "I didn't want that to happen. I know when something's good and when something's beyond its usefulness to us because the horse is dead."

He continued: "In no way is this meant to be offensive to Shawn or Chris, but we've definitely upgraded talent-wise, personality-wise, friendship-wise."

Mustaine also shot down the widely held belief that MEGADETH is a dictatorship, explaining that his goal at the end of the day is just to be a good leader.

"A lot of people think that the way we do things is always my way but it's not," he said. "Sometimes I've chosen the right way, sometimes the way that I've chosen was not the right way. Basically, treat people the way you want to be treated ... If you're a good leader and you love your people, they'll do it."

MEGADETH's current lineup includes Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro, best known for his work with ANGRA, and LAMB OF GOD drummer Chris Adler.

In a 2014 interview with Loaded Radio, Mustaine spoke about Friedman and Menza coming back to MEGADETH. "That makes as much sense as somebody saying, 'Put a rotten tooth back in your mouth,'" he explained. "Don't get me wrong, but I've seen stuff that Menza's been saying [in interviews and online postings], and it's unfortunate. And I know that Marty's happy doing what he's doing. And frankly, if I wanted to get them back in the band, I would have worked it out, but I don't want 'em in the band. I think that Shawn is, all around, if you add all the parts up, is way more what I want in my life and my band, and the same thing with Chris."

Mustaine was similarly full of praise for Broderick in early 2008, just a couple of months after the guitarist first joined MEGADETH. Mustaine told Metal Edge at the time: "Chris is a phenomenal player… I told him, 'I feel kinda like Ozzy [Osbourne] felt when he discovered Randy [Rhoads].' I feel that kind of excitement right now."

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

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

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

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

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

QUEEN will be honored with the "Living Legend Award" at the 11th annual Classic Rock magazine awards — the Classic Rock Roll Of Honour — set to take place on November 11 at The Roundhouse in Camden, London.

The prize will pay tribute to QUEEN's long-lasting legacy in rock music.

Classic Rock editor Siân Llewellyn commented: "I don't think there could be a more perfect year for us to honour QUEEN with the Roll Of Honour's headline award.

"Almost four decades to the day that one of rock's defining songs made its phenomenal presence known, we get to celebrate the incredible, unparalleled career of the band that made it and who changed the world’s soundscape forever."

Previous "Living Legend Award" recipients include Gregg Allman, ZZ TOP, Jeff Beck, RUSH, Iggy Pop, Ozzy Osbourne, Jimmy Page, Alice Cooper and Lemmy.

This year's Classic Rock Roll Of Honour will be hosted by Chris Jericho. Voting in the publicly voted categories ("Best New Band", plus "Band"," Album", "Film" and "Reissue" of the year) is open until October 27.

QUEEN members Brian May and Roger Taylor, along with "American Idol" finalist Adam Lambert — who has been singing for QUEEN on their tours, filling in for his idol Freddie Mercury — recently completed a South American run of dates.

Gainesville, Florida's Joey Siler, creator of the acclaimed "Cooking Hostile" animated series, has put on his Halloween hat for a LAMB OF GOD parody cartoon featuring the band's "Redneck" and "Now You've Got Something to Die For" classics. The music is performed and recorded by Chris Senter. Vocals and sound effects by Scott McKay. Lyrics and animation by Joey Siler.

Siler, who also fronts the PANTERA tribute band GOOD FRIENDS & A BOTTLE OF WHISKEY, gained notoriety with "Cooking Hostile", which was based on a completely off-the-wall premise: PANTERA frontman Philip Anselmo hosting his own cooking show . The program took snippets of some of PANTERA's best-known songs and changed the lyrics to ones that were more cooking-centric.

Other metal- and rock-related videos you can watch on Siler's YouTube channel include the KITTEN IN CHAINS "Cat In The Box" parody along with the first episode of "Secret Metal Mysteries".

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons has once again defended his controversial "rock is dead" comment, blaming the technology and fans for the current state of affairs.

Simmons told Esquire magazine in September 2014— in an interview conducted by his son Nick — that "rock did not die of old age. It was murdered. Some brilliance, somewhere, was going to be expressed and now it won't because it's that much harder to earn a living playing and writing songs. No one will pay you to do it."

Simmons went on to elaborate that as a result of file-sharing and other issues, record label support for rock music was not available like it was when KISS was coming up, concluding, "It's finally dead. Rock is finally dead."

In a brand new interview with New Zealand's The Sound radio station, Simmons stood by his comments, explaining: "The next KISS of the next BEATLES or whoever it is is not gonna come along, because there is no infrastructure. Here… Let's play a game. From 1958 until 1988 is thirty years. What have we got? Well, let's see… We have Elvis Presley, THE BEATLES, THE [ROLLING] STONES, Jimi Hendrix… the biggest bands of all time. And then in disco, you had Madonna, Donna Summer… all that. The biggest of all. And then in pop, you had Michael Jackson, THE JACKSON 5… all that stuff… and U2. And in heavy metal, you had METALLICA and IRON MAIDEN and all that stuff. Okay. And Prince and all that… From 1988 until today… give me the new BEATLES and the new STONES. Give me just one. You can't. Rock is dead. And the reason for that? Downloading and filesharing. When you stop charging for things, it becomes worthless. And there's gonna have to be a business model that's gonna have to change. 'Cause there are great bands out there, but there's no support system."

He continued: "You know, there's a ten-thousand-hour principle [the principle which holds that 10,000 hours of 'deliberate practice' are needed to become world-class in any field]. There's a book about that. Before THE BEATLES went into the studio to become THE BEATLES, they played clubs for ten thousand hours. That's years. You have to do something for thousands and thousands of hours before you get any good on it. Nowadays, instant gratification means you can hum in your shower, then wind up on 'The X Factor' and you're on television and you get a recording contract. But almost none of these singers who get recording contracts become huge. And that's because the taller the tree, the deeper the root that needs to be in the ground to hold up all that weight. So if you have a tree with no roots [makes falling hand motion]."

Simmons added: "I love the new pop singers. I love Taylor Swift and Katy Perry. I've met them both. They're all great and talented… What's gonna happen when you're 40 and 50? Will it still work? That's the test of time."

A number of hard rock and heavy metal musicians have weighed in on the topic in a variety of interviews over the last nine months, with some digging a little deeper into Simmons' full remarks and others just glossing over the headline. SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR singer Corey Taylor told a radio station last year: "Nothing against Gene. I understand what he was trying to say. His way of making albums and making music and getting things out there is dead. But you just kind of have to roll with the technology, you have to rise with the times, you have to learn to use those to your advantage. You can't just sit back and just kind of do album-tour-album-tour — there's so much that goes into it now."

Fan-filmed video footage of OPETH's October 14 performance at TivoliVredenburg Utrecht, The Netherlands during the band's "25th Anniversary Tour" can be seen below.

Asked for his opinion about some fans' position that OPETH guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt should have started a side project under a new name instead of taking the band completely away from the death metal-tinged sounds of OPETH's early albums, Åkerfeldt told Lady Obscure: "Well, I mean… It doesn't really work like that, does it? First and foremost, people can have their opinions. It doesn't mean we'll follow it. We love our fans, [and] we respect them, but we're a band first and foremost. I never felt that… Whatever we do with this band, whatever ends up being OPETH is OPETH, because it's us. And that argument kind of fails in that sense… How does that work with Joni Mitchell [or] David Bowie? For solo artists who have a sound. Should they change their name? It's just a random and, I think, a bit ignorant and stupid comment, to be honest. I think it's easier if [the fans] just stop listening to it. I think the best solution is that they stop listening to it if they don't like it."

During an interview with Australia's The Rockpit, Mikael spoke about the sharp musical turn OPETH took with 2011's "Heritage" album and its follow-up release, 2014's "Pale Communion". He said: "I do understand and appreciate that 'Heritage' was a little bit of a shock to fans who are more into the heavy, death metal type of sound, and maybe it's a bit much to expect them to take it all in so we got a bit of shit for that record. I love that album with a passion, because, for me, it was natural, but I have seen that with the coming of the 'Pale Communion' record that people come up to me and say, 'I did not like 'Heritage' when it came out, but when you put out 'Pale Communion', I finally understood 'Heritage' and now I'm starting to like it.' So I'm hoping it's going to escalate into a love for that record."

He continued: "People have been more gentle with us with 'Pale Communion' coming out, but there is still... Like, I don't have social media, I don't correspond with the fans in that sense, so I don't really get a lot of the confrontations about what the hell we are doing. My overall response to that question would be that people might be getting used to and maybe understand a little bit better about what we are trying to do. And, for me, that is good, of course. I never had a problem. For me, it was never a big step. For everybody in the band, it was not a massive thing for us to do 'Heritage', but I do accept that it might have been too curvy of a curveball for people who are not in the band, but now it's starting to calm down a little bit."

THE WINERY DOGS recently took part in an interview and an acoustic performance of their song "Fire" at the studios of the New York City radio station Q104.3. Check out video footage below.

THE WINERY DOGS is the power trio featuring drummer Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, ADRENALINE MOB), legendary bassist Billy Sheehan (MR. BIG, TALAS, DAVID LEE ROTH) and guitarist/vocalist Richie Kotzen (MR. BIG, POISON).

The band's sophomore album, "Hot Streak", debuted at No. 30 on The Billboard 200 chart, having shifted 13,000 equivalent album units in the week ending October 8.

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

"Hot Streak" was released on October 2 in North America on Loud & Proud Records via RED (a division of Sony Music Entertainment) and in the rest of the world via earMUSIC. It was preceded by the first single, "Oblivion", which was made available on August 25 at radio. A double vinyl edition of the new album is also in the works and is due out in early November.

"Hot Streak" shows the powerfully pedigreed trio's initial burst of collective chemistry was no accident, from the strum and headbang of "Captain Love" to the propulsive uplifting vibe of "The Bridge" to the introspective acoustic harmonic convergence of "Fire". If these three DOGS thought they captured lightning in a supper dish the first time around, "Hot Streak" barks ups the aural ante into exciting new territory. "I feel we've taken the band to another level," explains Kotzen. "The compositions are stronger on this album. I feel more connected lyrically and musically to what I did on this record than on the last one. We've widened the musical scope of the band on this record and moved it forward." Portnoy adds: "Everything on this album was more of a collaboration than on the first album. There's just a natural chemistry. The three of us really mesh very, very well, both musically and personally. The mission of this band is to write catchy songs, and not have the musicianship overpower that." "I'm glad we're not playing it safe and just doing songs that automatically fit in the category of what we did on the first record," Sheehan concludes. "Some of them are a little different, and we definitely took chances. And you have to do that — otherwise, you don't grow."

Legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore will perform RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE material at what will probably be four shows next year in Europe. According to SWP.de, one of those concerts will be held on June 18, 2016 at the Monsters Of Rock festival in Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany.

Tickets for the Monsters Of Rock festival go on sale on November 6.

Blackmore recently told Billboard.com about his plans to revisit RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE classics: "I'm now 70, so I just felt like playing some rock 'n' roll for a few days. We're going to do four or five dates" — most likely in England, Germany and Sweden — "of just playing the old rock stuff, PURPLE stuff and RAINBOW. I'm doing it for the fans, for nostalgia, and the singer I found is very exciting; he's a cross between [Ronnie James] Dio meets Freddie Mercury. So this will mean exposing a new singer to the masses, and I'm sure he'll become pretty famous because of his voice."

Blackmore declined to reveal the other musicians that will participate in the shows because contracts are still being negotiated, but said that none will be known names from his previous groups. He plans to film and record the performances for future release.

Blackmore quit rock and roll in 1997 to form a medieval folk band called BLACKMORE'S NIGHT with then-girlfriend and now-wife Candice Night. Since then, BLACKMORE'S NIGHT has released nine studio albums, with a new CD, "All Our Yesterdays", having arrived on September 18.

Over the past few months, RAINBOW has been the frequent subject of reunion rumors, with singer Joe Lynn Turner — who fronted RAINBOW from 1980 until 1984 and was a member of PURPLE from 1989 until 1992 — repeatedly claiming that Ritchie was "intching" to play rock music and insisting that he was in talks with the guitarist about a renewed collaboration.

If Mastodon and Baroness gave birth to a bastard child, that child's name would be Canada's Adrenechrome. Hailing from Orillia, ON this quartet offer a blend of groovy progressive thrashy heavy metal that's ready to smash your headbanging into overdrive.

Three years since releasing their 2012 debut Hideous Appetites, these mosh thirsty bangers are ready to release their sophomore follow-up Tales From Adrenechrome on November 27th. With its epic album artwork by graphic artist Clöwnbäbÿ, Tales From Adrenechrome features seven hot pocket tracks exposing you to the horrors of their metal crypt.

Leading up to its release the bands first single “God Sized Shadow” is now streaming (listen below). "I think this is our most "song" like offering to date with a little black metal in the middle”, comments vocalist / guitarist Chris Friesen.

Tracklisting:

“A Familiar Face”
“Lockstep”
“Black Brubeck”
“God Sized Shadow”
“The Heart And The Feather”
“Hideous Appetites”
“The Led Elephant”

“God Sized Shadow”:

Tales from Adrenechrome by adrenechrome

Pre-order at this location.

(Photo - Dave Saunders)

British metallers, Conan, will release their new album, Revengeance, worldwide on January 29th, 2016 via Napalm Records.

Revengeance kicks in with warm, fuzzy, low-tuned guitars. Conan is capable of unleashing a raging maelstrom of sludge, crust-caked doom, and mammoth droning. Even though they are on their third album, the band remain as pissed off as ever. The album is the end result of mixing monolithic bad tempers, powerhouse eternal riffs, and arson-like vocals.

The band comments: "Revengeance is a collection of songs that we (Jon, Chris and Rich) are really proud of. These tracks were written in the period between October 2014 and September 2015 and we're excited to get them out into the open. The album will contain one or two surprises but one consistent factor is our eternal devotion to heaviness. We are looking forward to playing these songs live at a venue near you, see you there......"

Revengeance tracklisting:

“Throne Of Fire”
“Thunderhoof”
“Wrath Gauntlet”
“Revengeance”
“Every Man Is An Enemy”
“Earthenguard”

Fan-filmed video footage of the final show of KAMELOT's European headlining tour on Friday, October 16 at 013 in Tilburg, The Netherlands can be seen below.

KAMELOT guitarist Thomas Youngblood recently told PowerOfMetal.dk has finalized contractual plans for a new concert DVD. He said: "Now we have to figure out where we're gonna do it and whether it's gonna be part of a tour or it's gonna be a one-off concert, like we did before. That's all being planned right now, so we're not totally sure yet. But hopefully next year we'll be able to shoot that and [get it out] to the fans."

Regarding what KAMELOT singer Tommy Karevik has added to the band's sound since joining the group in 2012, Youngblood said: "He's an amazing frontman, a killer songwriter, great with lyrics, a team player. And I think he's injected a new spirit into the band, in terms of his energy and youth. I mean, I couldn't have scripted it better, honestly. During [the making of the latest KAMELOT album] 'Haven', he was crucial with his lyrics and his vocal melodies and some of the music."

"Haven" sold around 7,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release.

The CD was made available on May 5 in North America and May 8 in the rest of the world (excluding Asia) via Napalm Records as part of an exclusive licensing deal through the band's Kamelot Music LLC.

Produced by Sascha Paeth and mastered by Jacob Hansen, "Haven" features guest appearances by Alissa White-Gluz (ARCH ENEMY, ex-THE AGONIST), Troy Donockley (NIGHTWISH) and Charlotte Wessels (DELAIN). The g cover and artwork was created by Stefan Heilemann and additional art/layout was done by Gustavo Sazes.

KAMELOT will return to the road for the second leg of its North American tour in November and December.

Fan-filmed video footage of HELLOWEEN's October 16 performance at Metro Theatre in Sydney, Australia can be seen below.

HELLOWEEN will return to North America to play select shows in Febraury and March 2016.

HELLOWEEN's 15th studio album, "My God-Given Right", was released on May 29 via Nuclear Blast. The CD was recorded between October 2014 and February 2015 at the band's MiSueno Studio on the isle of Tenerife with producer Charlie Bauerfeind (GOTTHARD, HAMMERFALL).

According to singer Andi Deris, the band insists on a simple motto: "Back to the roots — but with new songs." He continues: "More than ever, our fans want to sing and rock out along with us. This simply works best with the use of distinctive choruses and '80s hooklines."

Guitarist Michael Weikath clarifies: "It is not our mission to just relive the '80s at all cost — to our own surprise, the whole dynamic of this working concept took on a life of its own."

Both Weikath and Deris stress that the album title is self-explanatory. "Surely there'll be haters again that will presume that we have nothing better to do than to keep recycling the past instead of moving on into the 21st century," the guitarist says. "But such critics have followed us all along and never impressed us. We've always had a liberal attitude towards heavy metal: to do anything we want — and not follow the directions the know-it-alls would have pushed on us. We remained unfazed and acted out our vision of 'anything goes' in the songwriting process to 'My God-Given Right' because we believe that it is our god-given-right (no pun intended) to do as we please and fulfill our musical vision without any boundaries."

The "My God-Given Right" video was directed by Oliver Sommer of AVA Studios.

The "My God-Given Right" artwork was once again created by graphic guru Martin Häusler (BON JOVI, QUEEN, GOTTHARD) and is also available as a 3D lenticular print.

On Thursday, October 15, IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain was interviewed by Andy Preston of the 98.7 The Gater radio station in West Palm Beach, Florida. You can now watch the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On IRON MAIDEN's new album, "The Book Of Souls":

"I think this album is the New Millennium 'Number Of The Beast'. I think 'Number Of The Beast' was really one of the greatest… Out of those three records, [it] was the greatest album, and it really established MAIDEN. And then, of course, they got a new drummer coming into the band out of that — a very good-looking fellow, I must say.

"People paraphrase it and go, 'Oh, Nicko always says it's the best album he's ever made. But this is definitely, without a doubt, hands down, the best record we've ever made."

On whether IRON MAIDEN's "The Book Of Souls" tour will see the band performing "Empire Of The Clouds", the 18-minute track penned by singer Bruce Dickinson:

"I'm pretty sure we won't do it. Primarily… Not because of the length of the song… There's a lot of orchestration, and Bruce's piano playing… [inhales deeply] Let's say it's not really ready to be played live. The thing is, what I'd like to see MAIDEN do before we step back from the touring schedule that we usually do, I'd like to see us do like what Jon Lord [DEEP PURPLE] did years and years back with the London [Symphony Orchestra], when he played the [Royal] Albert Hall, is do IRON MAIDEN songs with an orchestra. I'd love [to do it], because there's a lot of stuff there. 'Alexander The Great' is a track that everybody's been moaning [that] it's been never played live. I'd like to do things like that. Everything that we haven't covered I'd like to see us do an orchestral version of. Perhaps that will happen one day. I think ['Empire Of The Clouds'] will probably be performed somewhere along the line, whether it's in an IRON MAIDEN formula, or whether it'll be Bruce doing something with that song with someone else, perhaps. But I don't think we can really see play that one live, 'cause there's so much going on. Michael Kenney [who has been playing keyboards on MAIDEN's records and world tours] does a lot of the fill-ins on songs where we've had… There's something probably on 'The Red And The Black', if we do that live, Michael would do that, or if we did something which has got some orchestration on it, which you can do with a keyboard, Michael Kenney would do it. But this you can't do; you can't do that. Plus there's a lot of percussion instruments on there as well and whatnot, so it really wouldn't be something… And it's eighteen minutes long. I mean, you could do two songs in there [instead of 'Empire Of The Clouds'], couldn't you?"

MAIDEN's sixteenth — and first-ever double — studio album, "The Book Of Souls", was released worldwide on September 4 through Parlophone Records (BMG in the U.S.A). The CD was recorded in Paris, France with producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley in late 2014, with the finishing touches added earlier this year.

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

One of the leading and most influencial Dutch extreme metal bands Pestilence is digging deep into the roots of their past on November 30th.

Formed in 1986 by guitarist and vocalist Patrick Mameli and drummer Marco Foddis. Pestilence released seven full length albums over the years including milestones such as the legendary Testimony Of The Ancients, Consuming Impulse, Spheres and their debut album Maleus Malefaricum.

The Dysentry Penace album contains both demos recorded in the late 80’s. First four tracks are taken from their debut demo Dysentry from 1987. Late 1987 Pestilence recorded their second demo The Penance. It was their first recording with legendary Martin van Drunen on vocals (Asphyx, Hail of Bullets).

Bonus to the album are two live tracks, recorded when Pestilence played their first festival in Eibergen in Holland in 1988 (together Kreator, Death Angel, Holy Moses and Thanatos amongst others). The album comes with very special liner notes from Patrick Mameli. Cover art is a remake and artistic impression of the original two demo covers made by Roberto Toderico (Sinister, Soulburn, Asphyx).

All ten songs are remastered by Dan Swano at Unisounds Studios (Edge Of Sanity, Opeth, Hail Of Bullets).

The Dysentry Penace tracklisting:
“Against The Innocent”
“Delirical Life”
“Traitors Gate”
“Throne of Death”
“Into Hades"
“Before The Penance”
“Affection”
“Fight The Plague”
“Before The Penance” (live)
“Fight The Plague” (live)