Guitarist Toby Knapp is gearing up for his first live performance since 2009, which will coincide with the release of an Onward DVD of rare live footage through Shredguy Records.

"This is my last trip into the Onward archives”, the guitarist recently revealed. "We had two good studio albums and two full length albums of demo material, some vinyl reissues and now this live footage completes the catalog".

The DVD captures highlights throughout Onward's brief tenure between the years 2000 and 2003. "It contains Onward's first gig in Billings, Mt. before our first album was out and our final show at the Key Club in Los Angeles, plus two really good shows in between”, states Knapp.

To celebrate the release of the DVD scheduled for the fall, Knapp will return to the stage after a long hiatus from live performance. "I have a full set of material but no actual band, all the drum and bass tracks have been pre-recorded. I figured if I don't start playing now, I might not perform live again. If this goes well I will go ahead and continue with the live one man band thing because it's easy to rehearse and prepare if I'm the only one accountable.”

Knapp's set consists of several medleys he created that showcase material from his 1993 debut album Guitar Distortion released on Shrapnel Records, various Onward riffs plus homages to Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore and Yngwie Malmsteen. Knapp is also working on his third Waxen album and second to be released by Moribund Records.

The show will take place November 14th at the Railyard in Billings, Mt. with Ground Into Dust, Nequiter and others from the area. "I was invited to headline, but this is their scene and these bands have been very active. I've been out of the loop for years and since I'm using pre-programmed tracks, I don't feel I should headline anything. I respect them and am just happy they invited me to play.”

 

Stoke-on-Trent, UK-based metal trio, Sworn To Oath, reveal their new video for “Gave In To God”, the final single to be taken from their debut album Pillars, which is out now via Transcend Music.

The band have also announced a short run of UK headline dates for November and December, including a London headline show at The Garage on December 2nd. They will be joined on the dates by their as yet unnamed new guitarist following the departure of original member Dave Leese earlier this year.

Frontman Thomas Shaw says; "“Gave In To God” is a pretty dark track and it's based around the story of a man who burnt out his eyes to feel closer to God. It's going to be our last single from Pillars before we start work on the follow up to our debut. It's been a tough couple of months for us what with losing a founding member, but we're fighters and it hasn't taken us long to bounce back, we can't wait to be back on tour and introducing the new guitarist!"

Tour dates:

November
21 - Mansfield, UK - Intake Club
22 - Leeds, UK - Milos
26 - Stoke, UK - Underground
27 - Coventry, UK - Kasbah
29 - Manchester, UK - Star & Garter
30 - Sheffield, UK - South Sea

December
2 - London, UK - Garage (Upstairs)

Tickets are on sale now at ticketweb.co.uk and seetickets.com.

Canadian metal legends Annihilator have released the official video for the song "Snap", taken from their new album Suicide Society. Check it out below:

Suicide Society is Annihilator's 15th studio album. A full album stream can be found below.

As usual, guitar wizard Jeff Waters handles all songwriting duties, plays all guitar & bass, engineers, produces, mixes and masters Suicide Society… and Waters is also back commanding lead vocal duties, as he did on the critically acclaimed King Of The Kill (1994), Refresh The Demon (1996), Remains (1997) and other Annihilator albums over the years.

With Suicide Society, Annihilator goes headfirst into some of the most technically perfect, crisp, and crushingly taut, riffage Waters has ever produced. Although Waters’ vocals keep traces of stylings from his King Of The Kill album, they now evoke a surprising blend of legends such as Staley, Osbourne, Hetfield and Mustaine. This, in a twisted way, mirrors Waters’ signature blend of riffing, drums grooves and bass; all drawing from multiple sources and genres.

Waters has built a worldwide reputation as being a premier guitarist and songwriter; the conciseness and arrangement of “Creepin’ Again” is both an air-guitarist’s dream and a sharp reminder of this. The gloriously-brutal thrash of “My Revenge” calls up a vintage of ’85 with the technical chops of 2015. The neo-classic title track defiantly expresses anger at the state of world affairs, while offering up hope in closing. With the multi-layered power of the anthem “Snap”, Waters illustrates the diversity of Annihilator’s sound, without sacrificing one decibel of attack.

“Metal fans will likely sport evil, satisfied grins on their faces, when they hear this record”, chuckles Waters, “but in the words of Joe Perry: “Let the Music Do the Talking”!”

Tracklisting:
"Suicide Society"
"My Revenge"
"Snap"
"Creepin’ Again"
"Narcotic Avenue"
"The One You Serve"
"Break, Enter"
"Death Scent"
"Every Minute”

Album stream:

EPK:

"Creepin' Again" lyric video:

On September 30, Jimmy Cabbs recently conducted an interview with former SEPULTURA and current SOULFLY frontman Max Cavalera in Los Angeles, California. You can now watch the chat in two parts below.

Asked if he is worried that SOULFLY's new album, "Archangel", will be misunderstood because of its numerous biblical references, Cavalera said: "Being metal, we're always under scrutiny, and we're always being judged by society, so you kind of get used to that — the kind of feeling that you get at an airport sometimes. I'm sitting there and I see the looks of people, and you know what they're thinking, which is not always nice. And you always get searched for security… Random selection… right. [Laughs] It's always you.

"But I don't know… I think the work on 'Archangel' is very… I'm not a Christian band, we're not a Christian group, and we're not pushing or selling religion to anybody. In fact, a lot of my favorite bands are stuff like WATAIN and BEHEMOTH, and they're pretty much Satanic, and I wear their shirts all the time. So I don't really care for that.

"I just wanted to make something different and exciting, so I was reading the stories and they were really… Some of the Old Testament stories are so good for metal; it's perfect. They work really, really great. I even took phrases from the Old Testament in [the song] 'Sodomites'.

"I've done almost kind of everything. I did a political phase with 'Chaos A.D.' and tribal phase with 'Roots' and slavery with 'Enslaved'. And 'Dark Ages' is about the death of Dimebag [PANTERA] and that dark time.

"If I have a chance to do something new and exciting, why not? I go for it; I just jump right into it and try to do my best, but really have a mentality of non-preaching kind of style. I'm not preaching to anybody what they should be or what they should not be — that's not my business. I'm just making it into a song that I hope will be a kick-ass song, and that's all I want: a good song, a powerful song that people can embrace… sing along. [It's] one of my favorite things — working on the choruses — strong choruses. They're hard to come by — they don't come by all the time — but when it clicks, it clicks, and you get the whole crowd singing. Man, that's the best feeling in the world."

SOULFLY has tapped Mike Leon (HAVOK) to play bass on the band's current North American headlining tour, which kicked off in Los Angeles.

Handling bass duties for SOULFLY during the band's recent shows was Max Cavalera's son Igor, who also sings for the Phoenix, Arizona band LODY KONG.

Former STATIC-X bassist Tony Campos left SOULFLY in May and is now touring with FEAR FACTORY.

SOULFLY will embark on another U.S. tour with CROWBAR this November, following the Max Cavalera-fronted band's North American run with SOILWORK, DECAPITATED and SHATTERED SUN. Continuing with them on their campaign across the continent is SHATTERED SUN, along with the Phoenix, Arizona-based metal act INCITE.

King 810 will give two previously unreleased tracks from their “Memoirs Of A Murderer” sessions a release on October 30th. A 10″ vinyl pressing is being prepped with two-songs on the a-side and an etching to be featured on the b-side. Vocalist David Gunn said of the songs:

“Last year we recorded some 25 songs for “Memoirs.” Some of the pieces we’re most proud of didn’t make the album. These are two of those works. “devil don’t cry” in it’s original string quartet form and a song called “bad man” which is one of my favorite KING songs. Both songs feature a UK singer named RosieMay whom we heard sing and were lucky enough to meet, become close to and ultimately work with.

This will drop appropriately enough on Devil’s Night.”
Pre-orders for the release, titled “That Place Where Pain Lives…” can be found here.

"The Five Count" radio show in Mankato, Minnesota recently conducted an interview with former FOREIGNER singer Lou Gramm. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On his current relationship with FOREIGNER leader, guitarist Mick Jones:

"We are on good terms. We speak to each other on a regular basis. We patched up the friendship before that [Songwriters] Hall Of Fame show [in June 2013]. And it was the first time that we played together in over ten years. So the relationship is good, and I'm very pleased that it is, 'cause we've done so much together and spent so much time together. It would be a shame to go through the rest of your life on a bad relation, you know."

On whether it's hard to maintain his singing voice after all these years:

"Well, it's not incredibly tough. You just have to have common sense. Obviously, no drugs, no alcohol, and a lot of water. And keeping it limber by doing scales or singing songs to yourself. If you don't sing at all for two weeks, when you finally open your mouth, everything's tightened up in there. I draw a comparison to a baseball pitcher. You have to keep the arm limber, and if it gets tired, then you've gotta give it a little rest. But you can't rest it so much that when you use it again, it feels like you can't do the job."

On whether there are plans for him to release any new music:

"I have a bunch of songs, and what we're gonna do with 'em, we're not sure. But I'm hoping that there'll be an album, or at least an EP, by sometime early next year."

Mick Jones told The Pulse Of Radio that upon forming FOREIGNER in 1976, he knew that Lou Gramm would prove to be invaluable with a signature voice — with the songwriting chops to match. "I knew he had written, he was a writer too, and always felt that, y'know, it was important that the singer in any band had something to do with, [laughs] obviously, creating the songs, 'cause they're gonna sing them," he said. "Lou came up with some great titles; I think 'Head Games', I think 'Hot Blooded', too. And he developed into a really good writer."

PowerOfMetal.dk recently conducted an interview with KAMELOT guitarist Thomas Youngblood. You can now watch the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On what KAMELOT singer Tommy Karevik has added to the band's sound since joining the group in 2012:

"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."

On how important it is to stick to the traditional KAMELOT sound while composing new material:

"We don't really think about the 'sound' — I mean, it comes out automatically, because I'm still part of the core songwriting and there are certain elements that we will always have within KAMELOT. But with 'Haven', and, to a certain degree, [2012's] 'Silverthorn', we wanted to build on that sound and go a little bit more modern with different techniques. 'Haven' has a different mixing process and the mastering, different elements within the songwriting."

On KAMELOT's plans to release a new concert DVD:

"We just pretty much finalized contractual plans for a DVD, so 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."

"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 is currently on a massive world tour, with a number of shows scheduled for October as part of the band's biggest European headlining tour to date. KAMELOT will then return to the road for the second leg of its North American tour in November and December.

Eagle Rock Entertainment will release RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's "Live At Finsbury Park" on DVD, Blu-ray and digital formats on October 16.

Filmed in high definition at London's Finsbury Park on June 6, 2010, this concert, which includes "Killing In The Name", "Bulls On Parade", "People Of The Sun", "Guerrilla Radio", "Bullet In The Head", "Bombtrack", "Sleep Now In The Fire" and a cover of THE CLASH's "White Riot", comes with an interesting back story… In late 2009, a successful campaign was launched by English DJ Jon Morter and his wife Tracy to promote an alternative to the omnipresent "X-Factor" winner being the Christmas No. 1 hit in the U.K. singles chart. The track they nominated was RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's "Killing In The Name". The band supported the campaign, donated the proceeds from the sales to charity and lead singer Zack de la Rocha promised that RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE would perform a free concert in the U.K. to celebrate the achievement. This is that concert. As bonus features, "Live At Finsbury Park" includes the "Behind The Scenes At Finsbury Park" feature and an interview with Jon and Tracy Morter. Sonically blending elements of heavy metal, punk and hip-hop with social consciousness, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE earned acclaim as the thinking man's rock band. With de la Rocha's vicious lyrical delivery and guitarist Tom Morello's guitar innovations (at times "scratching" riffs akin to a DJ) backed by heavy bombastic rhythms, RAGE delivered scathing commentary about corporate America, government oppression, and other problems of the world at large, amassing a rabid fan following in the process.

"Live At Finsbury Park" track listing: 01. Testify02. Bombtrack 03. People Of The Sun 04. Know Your Enemy 05. Bulls On Parade 06. Township Rebellion 07. Bullet In The Head 08. White Riot 09. Guerrilla Radio 10. Sleep Now In The Fire 11. Freedom 12. Killing In The Name

The "Testify" performance clip from "Live At Finsbury Park" can be seen below.

ALTER BRIDGE will enter the studio in January to begin recording the follow-up to 2013's "Fortress".

The band's guitarist, Mark Tremonti, who is on tour with his solo group, tells "Metal Hammer Magazine Show" on TeamRock Radio that he will follow up the studio sessions with ALTER BRIDGE by releasing the third TREMONTI album "Dust" — which was recorded during the sessions for this year's "Cauterize" — and hitting the road again with his solo band, before reconvening with ALTER BRIDGE — which includes singer Myles Kennedy, who is also a member of SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS — to tour for that band's fifth CD.

Says Tremonti: "We're gonna go in the studio in January, February and March to finish the fifth ALTER BRIDGE album. It takes three or four months to set up an album, so after we've recorded the ALTER BRIDGE record, me and Myles will go off and tour for four months doing TREMONTI and Slash, then come back for a fall ALTER BRIDGE fiesta."

Regarding what fans can expect from the next ALTER BRIDGE album, Tremonti says: "It could go in any direction. I've got a ton of ideas in all different styles. Last time, it was just one heavy idea after another and hopefully this time we can branch out and bring something new to the table."

"Fortress" featured the Active Rock Top 15 single "Addicted To Pain".

According to The Pulse Of Radio, SOUNDGARDEN singer Chris Cornell said in a new interview with Status magazine that he thinks the band has been underrated over time. Cornell explained: "I could say that maybe in some levels, SOUNDGARDEN is underrated. If I could say all the arrogant things about my band, I think that out of all the rock bands that probably came out in the same era, we're one of the most experimental. I could say that we were the most varied in our songwriting. I think we were way more adventurous from one album to the next."

Cornell told The Pulse Of Radio not long ago that SOUNDGARDEN's songwriting has always made the band unique. "We were never an easy band to mimic," he said. "There's a lot of bands influenced by us, but I don't think you could sit down and point to three or four bands over the history of the last 20 years that really just tried to cop what we did and then came out. 'Cause it wasn't possible."

Cornell recently revealed that work is well underway on the next SOUNDGARDEN disc, saying, "We have a bunch of new songs, and we're working on them, and things are going really great. It's really fun, and we're definitely on the ground and running towards the next SOUNDGARDEN record."

SOUNDGARDEN's last effort, "King Animal", came out in November 2012.

"Higher Truth", Cornell's fourth solo studio album, arrived on September 18.

KISS frontman Paul Stanley was interviewed by the Australian radio station 612 ABC Brisbane ahead of the band's headlining tour of the country. You can now listen to the chat using the SoundCloud widget below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On whether he ever gets tired of the touring lifestyle:

"We have a spectacular existence. My life is amazing. And, you know, you could get paid a whole lot less for digging ditches, and that's hard work. This is glorious. I've had an incredible career and life being in KISS and making people happy and having people make me happy. So, a very long answer to a short question: no, I'm not tired at all. I'm reveling in this glorious life."

On his persona when he is off stage:

"Well, everybody, I think, subscribes to the idea that there's a time and place for everything, and for me to be at the dinner table yelling 'rock and roll' and smashing chairs, or something like that, would be kind of silly and inappropriate. So I just love being home, being with my family, being with my children. I take 'em to school, or pick I them up, and I have a spectacular wife and good friends. So life is about that. That's how I unwind, but it's also the foundation of everything."

On whether his family ever joins him on the road:

"It's not really necessary, because I don't tour for any length of time at this point. We may go out for two or three weeks at a time, and then I'll be home for a month or two. So, when possible, yes, but they also have their lives, and to pull my kids out of school just because I miss them would be selfish and also detrimental. So I just try to limit the length of our tours, and it means travelling a bit more to go home and spend time there and then go back out."

On whether he feels that he has achieved that elusive work-life balance:

"I do. I do. Sometimes at night, it's a bit of a struggle to not be home with my little ones or with my wife, but, all things being said, I have a blessed life. It's balanced well and I get to be creative and to spend a lot of my time with my fans and with the people who've made this life possible. And, additionally, I get a large amount of time to be home. I spend more time with my children than most dads do who work 9 to 5. I'm with my kids every day, seven days a week, when I'm home, and take 'em them to school or pick 'em up. So I think the balance is pretty good."

On whether he ever gets asked to perform at his children's school:

"Actually, it's very funny, because there's usually a fundraiser at my kids' school for the parents once a year. And I play, and Dave Grohl plays; I see Dave almost ever yday. So it's a very lucky school. When you have me playing and the FOO FIGHTERS, it's pretty cool. So, yes, I do get asked and I gladly do it. To be able to give back to a school that makes such a great educational home for my kids is a small, small price and something I enjoy doing. Look, anytime, at this point in my life, I can help somebody else and better someone else's life, ultimately is a gift to me. It's something that comes back. It's like paying it forward."

Canadian rock legends RUSH have revealed their first offering from the forthcoming "R40 Live" concert film — "Roll The Bones", a song from their fourteenth studio album "Roll The Bones" that was originally released in 1991.

This "R40 Live" version of "Roll The Bones" was recorded in the band's hometown of Toronto on June 17 and June 19 during the sold-out shows at the Air Canada Centre on the "R40 Live" tour and was mixed by David Botrill (TOOL, MUSE).

"Roll The Bones (R40 Live)" features an array of special guests in the rap part of the song: Jay Baruchel (SHE'S OUT OF MY LEAGUE), Les Claypool (PRIMUS), Peter Dinklage ("Game Of Thrones"), Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, AUDIOSLAVE), Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS), "The Trailer Park Boys", and Jason Segel and Paul Rudd ("I Love You, Man").

It is the first time the band put the "Roll The Bones" song back in the setlist since the "Snakes & Arrows" tour in 2007/2008. During the "R40 Live" tour, "Roll The Bones" gained new life and became a fan favorite with an arena sing-along to the chorus "Why are we here? Because we're here — Roll The Bones."

The RUSH "R40 Live" concert film will be released on November 20. More details will be revealed soon.

RUSH's "R40 Live" tour wrapped on August 1 in Los Angeles, California at the Forum.

Asked how he is feeling about the idea of retiring from the road, RUSH guitarist Alex Lifeson told The Canadian Press: "I have such mixed feelings about it. In one way, I feel relief. I think that 40 years is a long time to be touring the way we tour. I really like being home with my grandkids. At 61, I don't feel there's anything we need to prove."

He continued: "I still love playing. But in [drummer] Neil's [Peart] case, for example, his job is really tough. Playing the way he does is very, very difficult on his body. He has chronic tendonitis in his arms and he's had problems with his shoulders.

"It's just getting to the point, no matter how much we love doing it, that it's much more demanding and much more difficult."

Lifeson added: "I've always hated the idea of being one of those guys who's just up there, old and barely able to move — just doing it for fear of not doing it, or not making an extra buck or whatever.

"If this is the last major tour that we do, [I want to] go out with flying colors, where everybody remembers the show they went to as the best RUSH they've [seen].

"That's a nice legacy to leave behind — rather than the worn-out shadow of something you once were."

Due to "irreconcilable differences with band ownership," vocalist Waylon Reavis has severed all ties with MUSHROOMHEAD and the group's record label, Filthy Hands. Waylon is thankful for the opportunity MUSHROOMHEAD has provided him the last 11 years and will now be concentrating his time and efforts on another project.

MUSHROOMHEAD's current lineup still includes two vocalists, J Mann and Jeffery Nothing.

The band's eighth studio album, "The Righteous & The Butterfly", sold around 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 20 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on May 13, 2014 via Megaforce Records, the CD was recorded in Cleveland with longtime co-producer Bill Korecky and consists of 14 tracks, ranging from songs about survival and balance ("Devils Be Damned", "Qwerty", "Son Of 7") to emotionally charged anthems ("For Your Pleasure", "Worlds Collide") to a riff-heavy rendition of Adele's No. 1 hit "Rumor Has It".

The album's title, "The Righteous & The Butterfly", is a dedication to original guitarist J.J. Righteous and the band's former photographer (and drummer Steve "Skinny" Felton's wife) Vanessa Solowiow, who both passed away too soon.

"Oblivion", the new video from THE WINERY DOGS, 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), can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's sophomore album, "Hot Streak", which 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 is 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.

After playing over 100 shows in support of their self-titled debut album, THE WINERY DOGS have just returned to the road to promote "Hot Streak". Their first round of U.S. headlining tour dates kicked off October 3 in Ridgefield, Connecticut at the Ridgefield Playhouse. Shows around the globe are already being planned for 2016. "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." "Hot Streak" track listing: 01. Oblivion02. Captain Love03. Hot Streak04. How Long05. Empire06. Fire07. Ghost Town08. The Bridge09. War Machine10. Spiral11. Devil You Know12. Think It Over13. The Lamb

BLOOD FEAST has inked a deal with Hells Headbangers for the release of the band's third full-length album, "The Future State Of Wicked".

Fans old and new will not be disappointed, as much of the new effort is reminiscent of the "holy trinity" of releases from the band's early days — "Kill For Pleasure" (1987), the " Face Fate" EP (1988) and "Chopping Block Blues" (1990). All the speed, brutality, and twists 'n' turns BLOOD FEAST is known for are intact and in your face — nine of the 10 songs being written by original guitarist Adam Tranquilli — yet updated with modern production. Joining Adam are vocalist Chris Natalini and bassist Tom Lorenzo, along with some new blood in Joe Moore (drums) and CJ Scioscia (guitar).

BLOOD FEAST was formed by Adam Tranquilli, Gary Markowich (vocals), Kevin Kuzma (drums), and Lou Starita (bass) in 1985 as BLOOD LUST. They quickly wrote and recorded their classic four-song demo, "The Suicidal Missions". Shortly after, they became a five-piece with the addition of Michael Basden on guitar. The band was then approached by New Renaissance Records to contribute songs to their "Thrash Metal Attack" ("Menacing Thunder") and "Speed Metal Hell 3" ("The Suicidal Missions") compilations. This prompted the name change to BLOOD FEAST. New Renaissance then offered the band a record deal, which led to the recording of the classic "Kill For Pleasure" album and a U.S. tour with DEATH ANGEL. The "Face Fate" EP quickly followed.

Shortly after writing and recording their proposed second album, Adam left the band. The remaining four members then re-recorded these songs, which became the album "Chopping Block Blues". The band broke up shortly after the album's release in early 1990.

The five-man BLOOD FEAST reunited for an appearance at the New Jersey March Metal Meltdown in 1999, but further activity was not to be. A second reunion began in 2007, albeit only with original members Tranquilli and Kuzma. Both Lorenzo and Natalini came on board in 2010, just in time for the band's first appearance at Headbangers Open Air in Germany (they were invited back in 2013). During this stretch, Adam began writing new material, with the band even playing an early version of "INRI" at select shows.

The current incarnation of BLOOD FEAST began to take shape in March of 2014, with the addition of guitarist CJ Scioscia. When drummer Joe Moore joined a few months later, the unit was complete and immediately set to work on Adam's stockpile of new material. Two of these songs ("Off With Their Heads" and "The Burn") have become staples of the current live set. Such performances have become more frequent, culminating with an appearance at the True Thrash Fest 2015 in Osaka, Japan with EXCITER, HOBB'S ANGEL OF DEATH, and GAME OVER and, most recently, Hells Headbangers' Hells Headbash 2 in Cleveland, Ohio.

BLOOD FEAST is currently finishing up "The Future State Of Wicked" at LCBW Recording in Watchung, New Jersey. A release is expected next year through Hells Headbangers. BLOOD FEAST is:

Adam Tranquilli - guitarChris Natalini - vocalsTom Lorenzo - bass guitarJoe Moore - drumsCJ Scioscia - guitar

SLIPKNOT's music video for "XIX", the opening track from the band's 2014 album, ".5: The Gray Chapter", can be seen below.

SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn Crahan constructed the song as a three-minute eulogy for the band's founding bassist Paul Gray, who died in May 2010 of an accidental overdose of morphine and the painkiller fentanyl. Crahan spoke the song's opening words, "This song is not for the living; this song is for the dead." But it's the lyrics that frontman Corey Taylor wrote that drove him to tears: "Walk with me, just like we should have done right from the start.... Walk with me, don't let this fucking world tear you apart."

"I don't usually let people see me cry," Crahan told Rolling Stone magazine. "It's too hard. But when I heard what Corey Taylor sang on the song 'XIX', I cried and cried and cried. It hurt so bad."

Taylor explained the song's title to Kerrang!: "It's pronounced 'XX', but it's supposed to represent a couple of different things," he said. "It's the 19th year of the band's existence, and it's also a metaphor for stage two, because track one on the 'Iowa' album was '515', and this is 'XIX', So in Roman numerals it's almost like a double of that. So it represents a new start, and seeing where the road leads to."

Taylor added: "Lyrically, it's really about getting back up on your feet after getting smashed in the mouth, basically. It's just kind of the start of, you know, what would become to me the second stage of the band's career."

Corey told Kerrang!: "What you hear on the record is what we did on the very first demo. It's all me, all raw, in one take, the first time we recorded it."

The last single released from "The Gray Chapter" was called "Killpop".

SLIPKNOT's "Summer's Last Stand" tour kicked off on July 24 in West Palm Beach, Florida, and wrapped on September 5 in Dallas.

The official lyric video for the song "Enter Dreamscape" from PHANTASMA, the new symphonic rock musical of Charlotte Wessels (DELAIN), Georg Neuhauser (SERENITY) and Oliver Philipps (EVERON), can be seen below. The track is taken from the PHANTASMA's debut album, "The Deviant Hearts", which will be released on November 20 via Napalm Records.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PHANTASMA lineup:

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

Album guests:

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

Photo by Fabio Interra

Finnish melancholy death-doom metal masters SWALLOW THE SUN will release a triple album titled "Songs From The North I, II & III" on November 13 via Century Media.

Incorporating dark menace and gradations of death, black and funeral doom, each of the three albums of "Songs From The North I, II & III" embodies the band's unofficial band motto: "Gloom, Beauty & Despair."

"Songs From The North I" continues in the vein of the albums before it — first-rate death-doom in the typical style of SWALLOW THE SUN.

"Songs From The North I" track listing:

01. With You Came The Whole Of The World's Tears02. 10 Silver Bullets03. Rooms And Shadows04. Heartstrings Shattering05. Silhouettes06. The Memory Of Light07. Lost & Catatonic08. From Happiness To Dust

The official lyric video for "Heartstrings Shattering" can be seen below.

"Songs From The North II" is a beautiful, acoustic foray representing the group’s ability to unplug and revel in the darkness.



"Songs From The North II" track listing:

01. The Womb Of Winter02. The Heart Of A Cold White Land03. Away04. Pray For The Winds To Come05. Songs From The North06. 66°50 'N, 28°40 'E07. Autumn Fire08. Before The Summer Dies

"Songs From The North III" is the most extreme album, a complete ride into SWALLOW THE SUN's most horrific abyss of finely-crafted, conscience-crushing funeral doom.

"Songs From The North III" track listing:

01. The Gathering Of Black Moths02. 7 Hours Late03. Empires Of Loneliness04. Abandoned By The Light05. The Clouds Prepare For Battle

"Songs From The North I, II & III" will be available as special edition 3CD box containing three digipaks and a booklet, limited deluxe edition 5LP+3CD Box with each album in a gatefold sleeve and as digital album.

SWALLOW THE SUN's main songwriter and guitarist Juha Raivio comments on the triple-album concept: "Making a triple album in this godforsaken digital and modern day and age... Many will say it's madness. I say it is to bring worth, heart and respect back into the music and to the album format where it belongs. This should never turn into a shallow fast food industry where music is only downloaded one song at a time.

"These albums hold life, death, gloom, beauty and despair in their deepest levels and forms. The three chapters are different but connected, one long journey through these songs written up here in the North.

"Music is holy, albums are holy. See you on the other side friends."

SWALLOW THE SUN is:

Juha Raivio - guitarMarkus Jämsen - guitarMikko Kotamäki - vocalsMatti Honkonen -bassAleksi Munter - keysJuuso Raatikainen – drums

"Black Winged Torment", the new video from Austrian death/ black metal metallers BELPHEGOR, can be seen below. The cli was filmed and edited in Aveiro, Portugal by director Guilherme Henriques.

"Black Winged Torment" is taken from BELPHEGOR's tenth album, "Conjuring The Dead", which was releaseed on August August 11 in Europe via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2011's "Blood Magick Necromance" was recorded at Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida with producer Erik Rutan (HATE ETERNAL, MORBID ANGEL, CANNIBAL CORPSE). The cover artwork was created by Greek artist Anthon Siro Seth, who previously worked on BELPHEGOR's "Pestapokalypse VI" album in 2006.

"Conjuring The Dead" track listing: 01. Gasmask Terror02. Conjuring The Dead03. In Death04. Rex Tremendae Majestatis05. Black Winged Torment06. The Eyes07. Legions Of Destruction08. Flesh, Bones And Blood09. Lucifer, Take Her!10. Pactum In Aeternum

Commented BELPHEGOR guitarist/vocalist Helmuth Lehner: "The spectacular cover, the offensive lyrical content, the Death Musick. BELPHEGOR's nine new sound collages are a new dimension of intensity and dynamics." Added Seth: "Once you can customize the basic principles of Renaissance painting and deriving energy/data from chaotic reservoir of unconscious... you get BELPHEGOR's 'Conjuring The Dead' cover art."

BELPHEGOR will join forces with U.S. death metallers VITAL REMAINS and Polish death/black metal group HATE, as well as Liverpool-based symphonic black metallers ETHEREAL, for a European tour in December. The run of dates includes 17 shows in nine countries, kicking off in Aalen on December 2.

Vocalist Sigurd "Satyr" Wongraven of Norwegian black metallers SATYRICON has been diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Satyr revealed the news via his Instagram account, where he wrote: "I got extremely sick eight days ago and was rushed to hospital. Scans have shown that there is a blind passenger in my head. Most likely it is benign. I can live with it as long as it does not grow bigger. Removing it is extremely complicated and should only be done if it grows into a size where it is a matter of life and death."

He continued: "We all get our set of cards and this happened to be one of mine. There are so many people who have to deal with much worse things than I do, so I do not feel sorry for myself. I have a great family, lots of friends, SATYRICON, Wongraven Wines and many people who support my endeavours all over the world.

"I will spend the next two weeks trying to get my strength back, then try to starting writing on the new Satyricon again and pick up where I left on all my wine projects."

SATYRICON self-titled studio album was released in September 2013 in Norway via Indie Recordings, and in the rest of Europe through Roadrunner Records. The CD, which was made available in North America via Nuclear Blast Entertainment, was produced by Satyr and was recorded in Norway, and mixed by Adam Kasper. The effort features a guest appearance by Sivert Høyem, the Norwegian singer best known as the vocalist of the rock band MADRUGADA.

SATYRICON's "Live At The Opera" DVD was released earlier in the year via Napalm Records.

"The Way We Die", the new video from DEVIL YOU KNOW — the creative union of Howard Jones (ex-KILLSWITCH ENGAGE), Francesco Artusato (ALL SHALL PERISH) and John Sankey (DEVOLVED) — can be seen below. The song is taken from DEVIL YOU KNOW's sophomore album, "They Bleed Red", which will be released on November 6 via Nuclear Blast. The clip features a slew of Burning Angel porn stars and was shot by renowned director Corey Soria (DANZIG, HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD).

Sankey states: "There's nothing more rock 'n' roll than spending the night at a Hollywood strip club partying and getting wild with a bunch of sexy porn stars, so when it came time for us to decide on a concept for our latest video shoot, that's exactly what we did. What metalhead doesn't want to see hot tattooed girls dancing and stripping while listening to heavy guitar riffs, thunderous bass, pummeling drums and HoJo singing about 'The Way We Die'? It's the perfect heavy metal storm!"

He continues: "The infamous Burning Angel girls were a blast to hang out with and we had a whole lot of fun letting them entertain us for the evening. Howard got to do some 'pole fishing,' Francesco was making it rain, Ryan was getting plenty of attention at the pool table and I got a bit too busy with some of the ladies in the corner and eventually got us all kicked out. No regrets! We had no interest in doing another performance video with us jamming out, since we did that last album and wanted to shake things up. This was all about us having fun, getting crazy, living the dream and sharing it with the world to enjoy."

Produced by Josh Wilbur (AVENGED SEVENFOLD, LAMB OF GOD, KILLER BE KILLED), "They Bleed Red" is a breakneck paced trip through DEVIL YOU KNOW's broken psyche, struggles with anxiety, and ultimate triumph against adversity, all laid upon a foundation of high-level artistic achievement and vitriolic full throttle heavy metal fury.

"They Bleed Red" track listing:

01. Consume The Damned02. The Way We Die03. Your Last Breath04. Stay of Execution05. Break The Ties06. Shattered Silence07. Let The Pain Take Hold08. Master of None09. Searching For The Sun10. How The End Shall Be11. Broken By The Cold

Bonus tracks

12. Eye of The Tiger (cover)13. I Am Alive14. We Live

DEVIL YOU KNOW's debut album, "The Beauty Of Destruction", sold around 6,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 45 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was produced by Logan Mader (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, GOJIRA, DEVILDRIVER, SOULFLY) and mixed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, SOULFLY). Artwork for the album was created by noted painter and illustrator Travis Smith (OPETH, DEVIN TOWNSEND).

DEVIL YOU KNOW's lineup is completed by BLEEDING THROUGH bassist Ryan Wombacher.

Brazilian female-fronted metallers SHADOWSIDE have announced the addition of Swedish bassist Magnus Rosén (ex-HAMMERFALL) to the group's ranks.

Magnus was part of HAMMERFALL from 1997 to 2007, during which time he did several world tours and recorded several albums with the band. He also worked on music with Jorn Lande (ex-MASTERPLAN) and Tony Martin (ex-BLACK SABBATH).

Rosén, who just released his tenth solo CD titled "The World Changes", says: "I've been away from the metal stage for more than eight years! Metal has a very nice energy that I miss and love, and I think SHADOWSIDE has just that kind of nice metal that fits my style! And at the same time I always liked Brazil/South America. After nine times with mixed HAMMERFALL tours and solo bass tours in this part of world, I know for sure of my feelings and I am looking forward to join the band SHADOWSIDE. So when I was asked to join and play with SHADOWSIDE, so was the desire great to once again set a high volume, smoke, light, and good metal music. The band have nice feelings in the metal music that I like. I got few new song ideas from the band and I think these songs and music are powerful and will be loved by the people out there. So I can't wait to get the wheels moving forward with the band."

SHADOWSIDE singer Dani Nolden adds: "Magnus is someone we admire greatly and it is an honor to work with him, not only because of his great skills as a bass player but also because he has an incredible experience with many different and special projects. We felt he would be a perfect match for us and we're thrilled that he accepted our invitation to join SHADOWSIDE. Now we can't wait to start the recordings and get this show on the road. It's going to be amazing!"

Rosén is already participating in the songwriting process for the new SHADOWSIDE album, which is set to be recorded between June and August 2016 in Gothenburg, Sweden. Once again, Fredrik Nordström (AT THE GATES, IN FLAMES, ARCH ENEMY, SOILWORK, DARK TRANQUILLITY) will be in charge of the album production.

SHADOWSIDE's current lineup is completed by guitarist Raphael Mattos and drummer Fabio Buitvidas.

Magnus Rosén photo by Gabriel Henningson