By Carl Begai

While preparing for the release of the new Leaves’ Eyes album, King Of Kings, vocalist Liv Kristine announced some dates for what has become a traditional year end European solo tour. She then revealed that her former Theatre Of Tragedy bandmate, vocalist Raymond Rohonyi, would be joining her as a special guest for the duration of the tour, performing several songs from the band’s catalogue with her. A very surprising development considering the bad blood stirred up when Liv was fired from Theatre Of Tragedy in 2003 – she was replaced by Nell Sigland – and Rohonyi’s disappearance from the music scene when the band called it quits in 2010. The last time the duo shared the stage was 2002. During our interview for King Of Kings, Liv discussed how she reconnected with Rohonyi.

“Ray is back in Norway and moved to Trondheim recently with his Brazilian wife,” Liv explains. “At some point I tried to get in touch with him by phone, then via Facebook, and many weeks later he got back to me and said that he was back in Norway. We caught up a bit, and I asked him about rumours I heard that Theatre Of Tragedy would be having a reunion some time soon. Rumours that came with the Northern winds, let’s put it that way (laughs). I just wanted to know if I was in or not. Ray said that nobody had asked him so far about a reunion and wondered why I was asking. I told him I had a solo tour coming up and that I’d been playing Theatre Of Tragedy songs at a number of gigs, that the audience really seemed to love it, and then I asked him if he’d be my special guest. He was very happy about the offer and he said yes.”

“When The Sirens supported Nightwish in Trondheim recently I finally met up with Raymond again. We talked about everything, about the beginnings of Theatre Of Tragedy. It was good to clear the table and our history, because we were the ones who formed the band and came up with the whole Shakespearean thing. It was really good talking to him, and we parted in Trondheim on great terms. Alex (Krull / vocalist, husband) is happy everything is clear now and there are no hard feelings whatsoever. I’m really looking forward to the tour, and I think Raymond might be looking forward to it even more (laughs). He’s so excited.”

“So, there are indeed rumours that Theatre Of Tragedy will do a reunion,” Liv confirms, “but that’s not going to happen with me. I’m out of that, so the only way I can play those old songs is to invite Raymond on a solo tour. We start off in Russia with four shows and then we go to Europe, and there’s a show in London. It’s a short tour but it’s not about money. If it was about money we’d never do this. We’re making enough to cover the costs. The good thing is the band I’m bring along is The Sirens’ band, so they know most of my stuff already. Anneke (van Giersbergen) doesn’t need them at the moment so she said ‘You can have my band…’ (laughs). So, between having Raymond on the tour and The Sirens band it’s an awesome package.”

Go to this location for the complete story.

Liv Kristine has checked in with the following update:

"Good news - here's my setlist for my upcoming solo shows. Raymond from Theatre of Tragedy will be my special guest for the original Theatre of Tragedy duets. Get ready for a unique live experience! This is the first time we will share stage since 2002. Here are the already confirmed dates for my special shows in December. Stay tuned for further dates!"

Confirmed dates featuring Liv Kristine and Raymond Rohonyi are as follows:

December
10 - Yaroslavl, Russia - Gorka Club
11 - St. Petersburg, Russia - Phoenix club
12 - Moscow, Russia - Volta Club
13 - Samara, Russia - Zvezda
18 - Nagold, Germany - Alte Seminarturnhalle

More dates will be announced soon.

The confirmed setlist for the above shows is as follows:

"Commute"
"Image" 
"Siren" 
"Venus" 
"Vervain" 
"My Wilderness" 
"Panic" 
"A Hamlet For a Slothful Vassal" 
"Der Tanz der Schatten" 
"Black as the Devil Painteth"
"On whom the Moon Doth Shine"
"Machine"
"Silence" 
"Oblivious" 
"Stronghold of Angels"

Multifaceted six-piece modern metal act Octanic, who hail from Adelaide, Australia, are set to release their epic debut album, The Mask Of Hypocrisy, on the brand new Into Records label, distributed by Cargo, on Friday, November 13th.

Octanic, who have been compared with the likes of Children Of Bodom, Dark Tranquillity, In Flames and Soilwork, fuse diverse elements of hard rock, melodic death and modern metal with classical undertones, to create their own unique, distinctive musical concoction.

The Mask Of Hypocrisy, which was recorded at Adelaide’s Deep Blue Studios and mixed by Roy Z (Bruce Dickinson, Halford, Judas Priest) at Mountain View Studio, Los Angeles, is an addictive blend of majestic keyboards, bone-crunching rhythms and soaring lead solos, coupled with passionate vocals and compelling lyrics.

Octanic, who have carved out an enviable reputation for their captivating, energetic and charismatic live performances Down Under, have truly captured their live vibe on The Mask Of Hypocrisy. Often technically complex and intense, yet peppered throughout with exuberant, catchy melodies and soaring choruses, the varied metal crunch of The Mask Of Hypocrisy impresses and intrigues with every note.

Album opener “Aeternus Imperium” stridently sets the tone, combining classic metal with industrial keyboards and guitar, topped by vocalist Jason Shepherdson moving seamlessly between aggressive growls and melody, occasionally assisted by the Adelaide University Choral Society. “King For A Day” takes a melodic hard rock route, heavily underpinned by synth sounds, while “Addict”, following a traditional piano introduction, is a mesmerizing, groove laden delight.

Other standout tracks include “Deadworld”, a heavy, in your face number, which combines post apocalyptic themes with a glorious choral chant, and “Solus”, a catchy, melodious anthem featuring magnificent fluid guitar solos, soaring vocals and lush, tinkling ivories.

Watch the official video for "Deadworld" below:

Some of the world’s finest guitarists offer a master class in the arduous art and subtle science of playing Jeff Beck songs on Jeffology: A Guitar Chronicle, a collection of extraordinary cover versions of Beck’s best-known songs, played with all the fevered intensity and dynamic skill these virtuosos could muster. The album will be reissued with all new artwork by Deadline Music this October 2nd.

Founding member of platinum selling UK hard rockers Def Leppard, Phil Collen, offers a stunning and emotional interpretation of the gorgeous ballad “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers”, while blues man Walter Trout burns the house down with his rendition of “Blues Deluxe”. Former Ozzy axeman Jake E. Lee takes listeners on a face-melting ride through the blazing stunner “Rice Pudding” and main Crüe man Mick Mars provides the brilliant album closer.

Each performer brings their own unique guitar playing personalities to these compositions pulled from a wide range of Beck’s career, showcasing both Beck’s under-heralded accessibility as well as his inimitable stylistic panache. Guitar players of all stripes and skill levels will find plenty here to hone their chops on, while Beck fans the world over will not want to miss this thoroughly satisfying listening experience.

Tracklisting:

“New Ways” / “Train Train” - Warren DeMartini
“Led Boots” - Vivian Campbell
“Heart Full Of Soul” - Paul Gilbert
“Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers” - Phil Collen
“Blues Deluxe” - Walter Trout
“Headed For Backstage Pass” - Bruce Bouillet
“People Get Ready” - George Lynch
“Rice Pudding” - Jake E. Lee
“Shapes Of Things” - Stevie Salas
“Behind The Veil” - Steve Lukather
“Happenings Ten Years Time Ago” - Mick Mars

Buy the CD here. Buy the digital album here.

 

LAMB OF GOD's Randy Blythe joined French progressive metallers GOJIRA on stage at the Santiago Gets Louder festival in Santiago, Chile on September 27 to perform the song "Backbone". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

Blythe has since taken to Instagram to offer his account of the GOJIRA collaboration: "Have you ever been feeling kind of rough and run down, but your friends still want you to go out and do something with them? And even though you tell them, 'No, I'm kind of beat, I feel like crap, plus I have to go to work in a bit, so I'm gonna have to say no, dudes. Sorry.' And they STILL pressure you ('COME ON, dude! It will be AWESOME!') until you say, 'Okay, okay — screw it. You win. Let's go,' and then, of course, you have a GREAT TIME. That's what it was like before the show in Chile when my friend Joe asked me if I was gonna sing with his band, GOJIRA, during their set. I said, 'No, my stomach is screwed up. I'm tired. And I have to play after you guys.' Joe didn't do the typical thing and say, 'Oh, COME ON, dude!' He just smiled and said, 'Okay.' But THIS is how MY friends peer-pressure you into doing stuff anyway — they walk over to where you are side stage and play MASSIVELY HEAVY RIFFS DIRECTLY IN YOUR FACE until you say, 'Oh, screw it,' take off your glasses, put down the camera, and jump onstage to sing 'Backbone' with them. Freakin' crafty Frenchmen — you gotta watch out for 'em. And it was a good time!"

"GOJIRA freaking RULES. Best metal band I've heard in ages, bar NONE. Thanks, Joe!"

GOJIRA has spent the last few months in the studio working on the follow-up to 2012's "L'Enfant Sauvage" album for a tentative early 2016 release via Roadrunner.

LAMB OF GOD's seventh full-length album, "VII: Sturm Und Drang", was released on July 24 via Epic in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast Entertainment in all territories outside of North America.

Richmond, VA thrashers Iron Reagan have premiered a new music video for the song "Rat Shit”, off the band's 2014 full-length The Tyranny Of Will. The video is premiering as part of Vevo's Metal Monday series and can be viewed below:

Iron Reagan's new video arrives just in time for its mammoth tour plans, which will see the band on the road for a whopping three out of the next four months across the US, Canada, and Europe. Iron Reagan will be playing both legs of the Indie Merch Store-sponsored Indie Merch tour, which also features The Black Dahlia Murder alongside a veritable who's-who of up-and-coming metal acts including fellow Relapse grinders Maruta.

After finishing up in the US this January, the band will be heading to Europe with Ignite, Terror, Twitching Tongues, and several others as part of the Persistence Tour 2016. A full list of dates is available here.

 

SHINEDOWN's fifth studio album, "Threat To Survival", debuted at No. 6 on The Billboard 200 album chart late Sunday night (September 27), selling 65,000 copies in its first week of release. That's two notches below the band's last effort, 2012's "Amaryllis", which moved 106,000 copies in its first week to enter the survey at No. 4, a career high for the group.

SHINEDOWN's "Threat To Survival" debuted at No. 6 on The Billboard 200, having shifted 65,000 equivalent album units in the week ending September 24. That's two notches below the band's last effort, 2012's "Amaryllis", which moved 106,000 copies in its first week to enter the survey at No. 4, a career high for the group.

The Billboard 200 chart 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).

In terms of pure album sales, "Threat To Survival" opened at No. 5 with 61,000 copies.

Singer Brent Smith told The Pulse Of Radio that rock music never really goes away even if its sales go up and down. "It will always go in cycles," he said. "The thing that's never going to change and the beauty of it is, is that nothing will ever, ever take the place of drums, bass, guitar, badass vocals and a killer song. And that's what the heartbeat is of what rock 'n' roll truly, truly is."

"Threat To Survival" is the third SHINEDOWN album to enter the chart in the Top 10, following "Amaryllis" and 2008's "The Sound Of Madness", which debuted at No. 8.

The first single from the album, "Cut The Cord", recently reached the top of the rock radio airplay chart.

All 19 of SHINEDOWN's singles over the years have reached the Top 10 or higher.

SHINEDOWN will kick off a major U.S. tour on October 2 in Mobile, Alabama. They'll be joined by BREAKING BENJAMIN and SEVENDUST on most of the shows.

"Threat To Survival" track listing:

01. Asking For It02. Cut The Cord03. State Of My Head04. Outcast05. How Did You Love?06. It All Adds Up07. Oblivion08. Dangerous09. Thick As Thieves10. Black Cadillac11. Misfits

Norwegian progressive classic metallers Sahg announce a change in lineup, and welcome guitarist Ole Walaunet and drummer Mads Lilletvedt to the band. There will be a new Sahg album out in the spring of 2016.

Ole Walaunet is an experienced performer and is held in high regard in the Bergen metal scene, with past and ongoing involvement in bands like Grimfist, Deride, The Batallion, and God Seed. He is highly acclaimed for his skills as a guitar player and composer. Ole joined Sahg as a session guitarist on their European tours with Clutch and Sólstafir in 2014/2015, and is now a permanent member of the band.
 
“The last two years Ole shared more time on stage with us than our original guitarist, so this was a natural step to take when Thomas Tofthagen decided to leave Sahg, with no hard feelings from either side. We are thrilled to finally include Ole as a permanent member.” – Olav Iversen, Sahg

Mads Lilletvedt has a background from bands like Hellish Outcast, Byfrost and Solstorm. The previous drummer, Thomas Lønnheim, left the band due to personal reasons, and there is no bad blood between him and the band.

“Mads' expressive style of drumming brings a new edge to Sahg’s sound, and we are very excited to have him on board.” – Olav Iversen

With the new lineup, Sahg is currently working on some exciting material for a new album, due out on Indie Recorings in the spring of 2016. The follow up to 2013’s Delusions Of Grandeur, will continue in the vein of its predecessor, with atmospheric classic metal, tinged with prog and cosmic, doomy psychedelia.

Catch Sahg’s very first performance with the new lineup on Thursday October 1st at Trondheim Metal Fest in Trondheim, Norway

Sahg is:

Olav Iversen, vocals & guitar
Tony Vetaas, bass & vocals
Ole Walaunet, lead guitar
Mads Lilletvedt, drums

(Photo: Torbjørn Schei)

Toronto, ON based metal outfit, Exes For Eyes, has premiered their video for “My Life Vs. Your Vacation” featuring Lisa Sinner, which can be viewed below.

The video features clips of the bands road adventures including their epic group hug at this year's Heavy Montreal and is in support of their new album Tongues Like Figure Eights, which the band has challenged fans and the metal community to reach Platinum status by selling one million digital copies under #ThePlatinumProject. To date they have sold over 14,000 digital copies (with that number growing everyday).

To get your digital copy of Tongues Like Figure Eights, visit the following link here and watch #THEPLATINUMPROJECT promo video below:

Exes For Eyes will be on tour this November for dates across Eastern Canada. Dates on the poster below.

Stealing a classic riff is easy enough, but commanding the ineffable spirit of an era is something far trickier, and this is exactly what Norway's Flight have managed with their brand new platter on England's Bad Omen Records.

The four-piece's self-titled debut will be released on October 16th on CD, LP and digital download and distributed throughout North America via Prosthetic Records. The CD can be pre-ordered here. Stream the track "Flight" below.

Tracklisting:

“Flight”
“As Silence Falls”
“Lion's Den”
“Don't Lose It”
“Nightrider”
“Memories Sharp”
“Escape”
“Devil Woman”

“Flight”:

Above the time-honoured move of kicking off an eponymous debut album with an identically eponymous song, this youthful four-piece show themselves so adept at summoning the aura of the late New Wave Of British Heavy Metal in all its blue-collar, earthy glory that one could easily imagine this album sharing record rack space with "The Number Of The Beast," "Diver Down" and "Screaming For Vengeance."

Yet more than a love for the gritty riffing, earnest melodic vocals and twin harmony leads of the late-'70s and early-'80s, and beyond the fantasy landscapes and dangerous women of the lyrics, Flight is possessed of chutzpah, bravura and unpretentious zest that taps into something more enduring and primal. These songs are heavy metal as communion with a simpler time in the past, yet also proof positive that heavy rock as life-affirming escapism is as potent in the early years of the 21st Century as ever it was, and seems inexorably bound to remain just so.

Flight is:

Chris - Guitar,Vocals
Heavy-Kris - Guitar
Jonas - Bass
Kickan - Drums

HELLYEAH guitarist Tom Maxwell made his way to Dallas, Texas from his home base of Baltimore, Maryland yesterday (Sunday, September 27) to begin the songwriting sessions for the band's fifth album, tentatively due in early 2016. The new CD will once again be recorded with producer Kevin Churko, who previously worked with HELLYEAH on 2014's "Blood For Blood" album.

Maxwell wrote in a Facebook post: "Dallas bound to begin writing our next record. Not sure where it's going to go musically, but I'm sure it's going to be a great new chapter to follow up 'Blood For Blood'. Heavier, darker, moodier and full of piss n' vinegar. Let's do this!"

HELLYEAH drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, who has a home studio in Dallas, recently said: "We're gonna spend three months in the studio with [Kevin], and the record will probably be out around March or April next year. So we're gonna keep the pedal to the metal and keep kicking ass."

In a 2014 interview with This Is Not A Scene, Vinnie Paul stated about working with Churko on "Blood For Blood": "Kevin really knew how to get the best out of us, and it was really refreshing for me to be just 'the drummer' for a change. "

He continued: "Five years ago, I bought a house in Las Vegas and that's also the city where Kevin works from. So every now and again we've bumped into each other and we were discussing working together at some point. I'm big fan of his work with Ozzy Osbourne and all the other productions he has done, and he's a big fan of the things I've done. So when we got to the point in the band that we wanted to work with an outside producer, it was a no-brainer to work with him. He also got along great with Chad [Gray, HELLYEAH singer], which really smoothed the ride when it came down to record the vocals."

"Blood For Blood", was the band's first release since parting ways with guitarist Greg Tribbett and bassist Bob "Zilla" Kahaha in 2013.

The new members of HELLYEAH are bassist Kyle Sanders and guitarist Christian Brady.

"Blood For Blood" sold around 17,000 copies in its first week of release to land at No. 18 on the Billboard chart.

FIRESPAWN (formerly FIREBORN) — the new Swedish death metal project featuring Lars Göran Petrov (vocals; ENTOMBED) and Victor Brandt (guitar; ENTOMBED), Alex Friberg (bass; NECROPHOBIC), Fredrik Folkare (guitar; UNLEASHED, NECROPHOBIC) and Matte Modin (drums; DARK FUNERAL, DEFLESHED) — made its live debut on September 26 at the Mörkaste Småland festival at Metropol in Hultsfred, Sweden. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

FIRESPAWN will release its debut album, "Shadow Realms", on November 13 via Century Media. The cover artwork was created by Paolo Girardi, who is well known for his oil paintings for BLACK BREATH, POWER TRIP, INQUISITION and BLASPHEMOPHAGHER.

"Shadow Realms" will include 11 tracks of devil-worshipping death metal, taking inspiration from the musical vision of early MORBID ANGEL, DISSECTION and BEHEMOTH. Expect an extremely varied, dark and brutal album of real death metal, spreading the arcane tenets of Lucifer.

FIRESPAWN released a seven-inch EP, "Lucifer Has Spoken' on August 7, limited to 500 hand-numbered copies.

Hailing from Stockholm, FIRESPAWN is the unholy union of five death metal veterans with the aim to create blasphemous, sacrilegious and evil death metal, played by sharp minds with ancient souls. Comments Friberg: "We are stoked to be joining forces with Century Media. They are one of the biggest labels out there in extreme music and together we will spread the fire worldwide!" Adds Jens Prüter, head of A&R at Century Media: "Don't call it supergroup but this spawn of Satan combines the best of Stockholm death metal and it's great to see a bunch of old friends coming together for just one goal: to destroy. I know some of the guys for many years and it's an honor to help them spreading fire worldwide. Special thanks from my side to Costin Chioreanu and Paolo Girardi for helping out on the band's visual presentation, and my colleague Philipp Schulte for taking over the torch and bring you... FIRE! I'll see you burn!"

FIRESPAWN is:

Lars Göran Petrov (ENTOMBED) - VocalsVictor Brandt (ENTOMBED) - GuitarAlex Friberg (NECROPHOBIC) - BassFredrik Folkare (UNLEASHED, NECROPHOBIC) - GuitarMatte Modin (DARK FUNERAL, DEFLESHED) – Drums

Portland, OR hard rockers Red Fang have premiered a cover of the Elvis song “Can’t Help Falling In Love“ in preparation for their upcoming headlining fall US tour with Whores and Wild Throne. The song can be streamed below.

The band said about the song: ”We were asked to cover an Elvis song a while back and none of us are really Elvis fans so we were kind of at a loss. We had this dark and doomy jam we'd been kickin' around for a while and we thought 'what if we just record our own song and see if we can make the lyrics fit somehow?' And to our surprise it turned out pretty rad! Maybe Elvis is spinning in his grave, but I dig it."
 
“Can’t Help Falling In Love”:

The cover of "Can't Help Falling In Love" will appear alongside a cover of Fraggle Rock's "Why" on a limited edition 7" to be released by Volcom in conjunction with the band's upcoming US tour. 500 copies of the 7" on red/black splatter will be available exclusively via Volcom, while 500 copies on red vinyl and 1000 copies on black vinyl will be available with the band on tour.

Volcom 7" tracklisting:

“Why” (Fraggle Rock cover)
“Can't Help Falling In Love” (Elvis Presley cover)

“Why”:

Red Fang’s tour comes on the heels of the band's recent European and Australian tours, and includes appearances at Slipknot's Knotfest and Monster Energy's Aftershock Festivals. This tour marks the last shows the band will perform in 2015 before heading into the studio to begin recording its new full-length next year.

 

"Time to take a bow," writes To/Die/For bassist Samuel Schildt via a Facebook posting. "I've been thinking this for a while and from now on I will no longer be a part of To/Die/For. The decision wasn't easy but since I have other priorities in life and I can't give my 100% to the band, it's best for all of us that we part our ways.

There's no drama behind the decision and we will continue to be brothers and friends. This doesn't effect on upcoming shows and they will be handled with fill-in. I wish nothing but the best for the guys, we had some really good times but now it's time to move on. Keep on rocking and see you around!"

To/Die/For's tour schedule:

October
9 - House Of Rock - Kouvola, Finland       
30 - Finlandia-Klubi - Lahti, Finland     
31 - Tavastia - Helsinki, Finland 

 

 

Atlanta power trio Whores have signed a worldwide deal with eOne Music with plans to release an all new LP next year.

"We are over the moon to be working with eOne Music," says vocalist Christian Lembach. "They completely understand where we are coming from, and it is an honour to be under the umbrella of the biggest indie label in North America."

The yet to be titled new effort will be the follow up to the highly buzzed about LP Clean (2013), which was widely cheered by critics. Recorded by Ryan Boesch (Helmet, Tomahawk, Fu Manchu, Melvins), the record sold out within a month, prompting the band to quickly release a second pressing. Clean is now on its fourth pressing.

Portland, OR hard rockers, Red Fang, have announced a headlining US tour this October with support from Whores and Wild Throne.  A complete listing of dates can be seen on the flyer below.

Prior to those dates, Whores will perform at Hi Tone in Memphis, TN tonight and Wednesday at The Aquarium in Fargo, ND.

(Photo: Maximilian Ho)

British extreme metal icons CARCASS will release a special edition version of their latest album, "Surgical Steel", on CD and digitally on October 30, and on vinyl on November 20 via Nuclear Blast. The "Complete Edition" includes the whole album "Surgical Steel", along with the entire "Surgical Remission / Surplus Steel" EP.

Track listing:

01. 198502. Thrasher’s Abbatoir03. Cadaver Pouch Conveyor System04. A Congealed Clot Of Blood05. The Master Butcher's Apron06. Noncompliance to ASTM F899-12 Standard07. The Granulating Dark Satanic Mills08. Unfit For Human Consumption09. 316L Grade Surgical Steel10. Captive Bolt Pistol11. Mount Of Execution

Bonus tracks:

12. A Wraith In The Apparatus13. Intensive Battery Brooding14. Zochrot15. Livestock Marketplace16. 1985 (Reprise)

All the songs were recorded during the "Surgical Steel" sessions, which were helmed by producer Colin Richardson (NAPALM DEATH, BOLT THROWER, GOREFEST, CANNIBAL CORPSE, SINISTER, RODRIGO Y GABRIELA) and mixed/mastered by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, ACCEPT, EXODUS, TESTAMENT).

"Surgical Steel" sold around 8,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 41 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on September 16, 2013 in the U.K., September 13, 2013 in the rest of Europe and September 17, 2013 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. Asked about the progress of the songwriting sessions for CARCASS's follow-up to "Surgical Steel", CARCASS guitairist Bill Steer told Metal Wani: "It really hasn't been possible to work on much. We've been just out playing all year. In January, Daniel [Wilding], the drummer, and myself, we got together and we started working on some tunes. And it's sounding very good. But then we suddenly [started getting] back out there, [playing] festivals [and doing] little tours. You really need a decent chunk of time to focus on music, which hopefully will come up… yeah, maybe over Christmas, New Year period."

Even though a new CARCASS album is probably at least a year away from seeing the light of day, Steer said that he definitely wants to make a worthy follow-up to "Surgical Steel". "I would like to. I think everyone involved would like to," he said. "But it's not something we'd rush into, because we were very fortunate we had good will towards this previous record. I mean, I think it was deserved, 'cause it's a strong album, but it's still surprising how many people got behind it. I actually expected more criticism than we had. So I think now, with that level of expectation, you can't just come back with something of the same standard. It needs to be a little more special. We need to have something else to offer. And so we can't really repeat the same trick, I guess, if you know what I mean."

He continued: "But I like a challenge. I think Jeff [Walker, bass/vocals] does too. I don't think we would attempt something if we didn't think it was gonna be worthwhile. I just say, it will take time. It's something we couldn't take lightly. You don't wanna trash the band to make a CD and throw out a really weak album."

The Black Dahlia Murder's new album, Abysmal, serves to once again demonstrate why they are considered one of the most vital bands in contemporary death metal. The blistering new effort debuted at #45 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart, as well as making very impressive debuts across the globe.

See below for all first week charting specifics:

Billboard Top Hard Music Albums - #8
Billboard Independent Albums - #10
Billboard Rock Albums - #15
Billboard Top 200 Current Album - #28
Billboard Top 200 Albums - #45

UK Chart Positions:
#30 - Independent Album Chart
#20 - Rock & Metal Album Chart    

Germany:
#66 - German Control Charts

Holland:
#165 - National Chart

Canada:
#26 - Top 200 Music Chart
#7 - Hard Music Chart
#35 - Top Digital Chart

The album's bundle packages are now available at this location

Abysmal tracklisting:

“Receipt”
“Vlad, Son Of The Dragon”
“Abysmal”
“Re-Faced”
“Threat Level Number Three”
“The Fog”
“Stygiophobic”
“Asylum”
“The Advent”
“That Cannot Die Which Eternally Is Dead”

“Receipt” video:

Album stream:

Trevor Strnad (vocals) states: The new album, Abysmal, is true to The Black Dahlia Murder formula, but further down the evolutionary path we began with our Ritual release. It has bigger, more dynamic and developed songs. People can expect a more raw and natural sounding TBDM record. It's the most real and live sounding thing we've done since our debut. It has a real energy and urgency to it. We made a conscious effort of having a more lively and dynamic sound and I feel the result is truly excellent. What I hear is my band playing as they do live when I step off the stage at soundcheck. Therefore, this is the real TBDM incarnate. Expect a relentless world ravaging touring cycle from us for the next couple of years. You'd better start exercising your necks now!""

The Black Dahlia Murder recently announced the second headlining leg of the Indiemerch 2015 Tour, which kicks off November 27th and features Goatwhore, Iron Reagan, Entheos and Artificial Brain. TBDM and friends are stoked to help celebrate a decade of merchandise and mayhem. TBDM has been part of the IndieMerch family since the beginning and continues to crush with their new album, Abysmal, which is set for a September 18th release.

Vocalist Trevor Strnad had this to say about the upcoming trek: "It's a pleasure for us to be involved in IndieMerch's anniversary tour, they are the greatest merch company in the world and have been doing right by us for years. We've assembled quite a tour together showcasing some of the most killer bands out there from all walks of extremely heavy music. We are proud to be a part of it and we hope to see your smiling faces in the crowd each night!"

The tour will run in two parts featuring some of our favorite bands from each genre. On Part I (10/01 - 10/24) thrash masters Iron Reagan will provide the circle pits at maximum velocity, Harms Way will bring their brutally heavy style of hardcore, and opening act Maruta will set the tone for the night with their brand of death metal grindcore. Part II (11/27 - 12/20) will feature New Orlean's masters of the dark arts Goatwhore, even more thrash from Iron Reagan, the modern technical metal mastery of Entheos (featuring 3/5th of now classic IndieMerch band Animosity!), and Profound Lore death metallers Artificial Brain.

Head over to Facebook for all tour dates.

 

Breaking necks with their punishing riffs, incredible breakdowns backed by wrenching screams and a heavy brutal groove assault, Red Deer, AB's Leave The Living has posted their fourth lyric video, “Manifesto”, which features clips from the 1965 Italian horror film Nightmare Castle. The video is in support of their debut album Pacifist, released this past May and available both digitally and on CD here to follow up their 2012 self titled EP.  

Leave The Living will also be performing at the 2nd annual Celebration of Brutality for Halloween on October 31st, which features a night of 16 bands, Burlesque/Belly/Blood performances and more in Red Deer, AB at the International Beer Haus. For event info, please visit this location.

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.

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.

 

Inner Wound Recordings announce the signing of Warsaw, Poland-based prog band Votum to the label. Their upcoming album :KTONIK: will be released in early-2016. Release dates, tracklisting and album samples will be announced during the coming months.

Votum combines dark and vibrant atmosphere with metal traditions, bringing both force and ambience to play. The band is no stranger to musical diversity with subtle cinematic frailty and modern electronica. Dealing in powerful guitars and acoustic ballads Votum creates a very specific blend of fresh and unusual approach to progressive rock and metal.

:KTONIK: was recorded and mixed by David Castillo at Ghost Ward (Katatonia, Opeth, Bloodbath).

Votum is:

Bartosz Sobieraj - vocals, accustic guitar
Piotr Lniany - guitar
Adam Kaczmarek - guitar
Zbigniew Szatkowski - keyboards
Bartek Turkowski - bass
Adam Lukaszek - drums

 

Musicarchy Media has announced the signing of British prog/rock band Jade Vine, for the release of their sophomore album in February 2016.
 
Jade Vine’s debut album, Nothing Can Hide From Light, has been co-produced and supervised by Anathema’s guitarist, Daniel Cavanagh and was released in 2013. Highly praised all over Europe by both media and fans, this release brought the prog/rock outfit to tour the UK and Europe as headliner and in support of Anathema themselves.
 
Kiara Laetitia (label manager) had to say about the signing: “Jade Vine doesn’t sound like any band out there. Their influences range from Radiohead and Pink Floyd to Anathema and Pain Of Salvation, yet their sound is truly unique as it is filtered through the musicians’ cultural, political, social and auto biographical experiences. There is a sense of inwardness about this band that we at Musicarchy really dig”.  
 
Jade Vine will be back with a new exciting chapter, Mind Of A Man, which has been produced by Hugh Neal and Jade Vine at The Friary Studios in London UK and whose release date is set for February 2016.

Tracklisting:
 
“Can't See Why”
“Corpus Callosum”
“Mind Of A Man”
“Asy (Now Or Never)”
“Would You”
“Memory Strong”
“F.E.A.R”
“Wrong”

 

Italian progressive metallers Eldritch are going to release their 10th studio album Underlying Issues on November 6th via Scarlet records. The album consists of 11 brand new powerful and a bit more technical and progressive tracks that will keep up the same dark mood as the previous album Tasting The Tears. Underlying Issues has once again been recorded in two different studios, Bigwave Recording studios in Livorno, Italy for the drums, engineered by Niko Santaniello, and Eldritch’s very own bunker studios in Livorno, Italy, with the bands guitarist Eugene Simone also producing. Mixing and mastering will be held by Simone Mularoni (DGM) at his Domination studios in San Marino, Italy. The artwork will be done by Simone Bertozzi (Mnemic).



Underlying Issues tracklisting:
“Changing Blood”
“Danger Zone”
“Broken”
“All And More”
“The Face I Wear”
“To The Moon And Back”
“Bringers Of Hate”
“The Light”
“Piece Of Clarity”
“Before I Die”
“Slowmotion K Us”

Finland-based rockers, Von Hertzen Brothers, have released a video for “Sunday Child”, the track from their new album, New Day Rising, out now via Spinefarm Records.

"At the end of summer, we performed an exclusive show on a tiny islet located outside Helsinki," the band said about the clip. "This remote, rugged, and wide location, with its 150-year-old lighthouse, perfectly fit the atmosphere and story of our new single “Sunday Child”. With this in mind, the goal was to capture this magical late August day, from beginning to end."
 
VHB finished, "The music video that followed is like a diary or a photo album of that special day and our gig right by the open sea."

Mixed by Juno Awards winner Randy Staub (Metallica, Alice In Chains, etc.), New Day Rising blends the key elements of VHB's music-atmosphere, intelligence, epic feel, progressive leanings-with an even greater focus on melody and hooks. A New Day, indeed.

 

 

Tracklisting:

"New Day Rising"
"You Don't Know My Name"
"Trouble"
"Black Rain"
"Hold Me Up"
"Love Burns"
"Dreams"
"Sunday Child"
"The Destitute"
"Hibernating Heart"

“Hold Me Up” video:

“New Day Rising” video:

 

Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice spoke to ex-W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes about his new solo album, Shitting Bricks, his relationship with Blackie Lawless of  W.A.S.P., the famous pool scene in The Decline Of Western Civilization Part 2 and his memories with Randy Rhoads, Kevin Dubrow, Eddie Van Halen and auditioning for Ozzy Osbourne

On his new solo album Shitting Bricks which was released in May:

“Shitting Bricks I did it all myself. From working on the first solo album with Phil Taylor (ex-Motörhead) I learned how to program drums. I wrote the songs as I went, let it sit and work some more. Feedback has been good.”

On his opinion on death metal:

“I went out last night and saw some groups, there is this new thing called death metal. I couldn’t understand a damn word they sang. I had to ask all the singers are you singing in English or French. It tripped me out. They scream, real loud as hard as they can real low. I’ve never really seen it. I was in the washroom and the guitar player I play with came in and goes what are you doing, how you can sit there and watch this. I said, well I learn what not to do.”

On his time in W.A.S.P. in the beginning and relationship with Blackie Lawless:

"It seemed like it was all for one, one for all, everybody worked to the same goals. But deep down inside Blackie had his means of controlling everything and being the only guy, so that’s what he always wanted to do. He doesn’t want to work with other people. It’s obvious on the second album, The Last Command, he’s on the cover. And it’s all about him him him. I never heard from Blackie, hey Chris you did a good job. I always heard about how terrible I played. You want to know the honest thing about it, Blackie he was jealous of me."

Asked about the what pain he was covering up by drinking during The Decline Of Western Civilization:

“First I think I was drinking cause I was an alcoholic. And It was also being in W.A.S.P. being treated the way I was being treated all the time. You got to understand if somebody uses reverse psychology on you to hold you down so you don’t shine like they do. I was always held down all the time, anything I did I was always in trouble and you get tired of that.  Every bad thing that happened to W.A.S.P. was my fault, which most of the time it wasn’t.”

On his memories of Randy Rhoads and Ozzy Osbourne audition:

“Randy wore polka dots and bow ties. He was always a cool guy. A lot of my friends were his students. Randy was good but once he hooked up with Ozzy, that was it . It was a good combination. I auditioned that night when Ozzy saw Quiet Riot play. I went down to the studio, Dana Strum was driving Ozzy around finding musicians and I was one of them. And I auditioned Friday night at 8 o’clock up at the studio and as Ozzy came in I played some guitar, then he and Strum went to see Quiet Riot that night and Ozzy took him the next day.” 

According to The Pulse Of Radio, WE ARE HARLOT and former ASKING ALEXANDRIA frontman Danny Worsnop is now adding "actor" to his resume. Worsnop recently landed a role in the horror musical "Allelujah! The Devil's Carnival", the second film in the "Devil's Carnival" series. Worsnop told Alternative Press that his involvement began when he was invited to the first film's Los Angeles premiere by director Darren Lynn Bousman and screenwriter Terrance Zdunich.

Worsnop explained: "After the movie, we were talking, and they were like, 'We'd really like you to do the second one.' I was instantly very excited [but] by the time it got to figuring out when shooting times were, I was on tour. So we had to cancel it. And then, when I had a tour canceled last minute, I hit them up. So Terrance scrambled and wrote me into the script real quick."

Worsnop plays a character in the film known as "The Smith," saying: "He believes himself to be a lot smarter than the other minions of Hell, and he's very unimpressed by what they think are genius and foolproof plans and ideas. He sees through it all."

Worsnop has one previous film credit to his name, in a movie called "What Now". Worsnop told us about the experience: "It's a comedy, I wasn't in it for very long, but I can divulge that I was having a sex act performed on me in the part I was in, which I have deemed very appropriate. And I'm not quite sure the solidarity of my performance, as I was highly intoxicated when I showed up."

The singer says he "fell in love" with acting and secured a manager and agent after making "Allelujah!" so he could pursue more work in the field. He said: "The Rock is remaking 'Baywatch', I'd love to get a part in that."

Worsnop is currently working on his first solo album, which he says will lean in a country music direction.

Worsnop parted ways with ASKING ALEXANDRIA earlier this year. His last album with the band, "From Death To Destiny", featured the Top 10 rock radio hit "Moving On".

WE ARE HARLOT released its self-titled debut earlier this year and earned rock radio airplay with "Someday" and "Dancing On Nails".

Greece's Rock Overdose, had the chance to talk with a living rock ‘n’ roll legend with Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister. In this interview, Lemmy talks the recording procedure of the new album that Motörhead have released the band’s future plans and much more.

An excerpt below:

Rock Overdose: What are the band’s plans for the future? I know that the disc just came out, but what can the future behold for Motörhead and their fans?
 
Lemmy: “Touring! We are booked until March and then into the festival season – and in two years there will be another record.”

Rock Overdose: This year marks the 40th anniversary of the band’s existence. It certainly is a long journey through music, with music, for music. What are your fondest memories of your career? To what extent did Motörhead change your life?
 
Lemmy: “I don’t know if it ‘changed’ my life, since Motörhead and music are all I know. Before that, I was in other bands, as you know. Guess I would not know because Motörhead is my life. Call it career – only good memories.”

Trooper, the premium British beer created by Iron Maiden and handcrafted by Robinsons’ brewery in England is proud to present the Official Motörhead’s Motörboat Pre-Party on September 27th at the Clevelander Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, hosted by SiriusXM’s Jose Mangin. The following day (September 28th), the second annual Motörhead’s Motörboat sets sail from Port Miami aboard Norwegian Sky.

The Official Motörhead’s Motörboat Pre-Party presented by Trooper Beer starts at 8:00 PM on September 27th at the legendary outdoor pool and patio bar at the Clevelander Hotel in South Beach (1020 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach, FL 33139) and continues until 1:00 AM.

The party is free and open to the public (ages 21+), and will feature Trooper item giveaways, Trooper koozies for the first 50 guests to buy a Trooper beer, a trivia contest hosted by Rita Haney, swag including Iron Maiden’s new album, The Book Of Souls, plus other giveaways and a raffle to win a Big OBC (on board credit). Throughout the night, DJ Lippy Rage will be spinning British heavy metal classics from the likes of Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and more-including, of course, Iron Maiden and Motörhead.

Motörhead's Motörboat—fueled by Monster Energy—will embark on its second voyage from Port Miami September 28th on Norwegian Sky, with stops in The Bahamas at the private picturesque island of Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau, before returning to Miami on October 2nd.

Motörhead will be joined on The Loudest Boat In The Wörld by nearly two dozen bands and comedians, as Motörhead takes its 40th anniversary celebration to the high seas. The lineup for Motörhead’s Motörboat includes: Slayer, Motörhead, Anthrax, Suicidal Tendencies, Hatebreed, Exodus, Corrosion Of Conformity, Phil Campbell's All-Starr Band, Crobot, Motor Sister, KYNG, Brian Posehn, Fireball Ministry, Huntress, Big Jay Oakerson, The Shrine, Others, No Words, Budderside, Sonia Harley, and The Dead Deads. Recently added to the lineup are: Tim “Ripper” Owens, Mad Old Lady, Martyrd, Death Dealer, Dark Before Dawn, Santa Cruz, and Gabbie Rae.  Motörhead’s Motörboat will also feature The S.D.R. Show (with Ralph Sutton and Big Jay Oakerson) and will be hosted by SiriusXM’s Jose Mangin.

 

 

 

GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Richard Fortus will miss the upcoming Australian tour from his other band THE DEAD DAISIES due to what has been described as "a bit of a motorcycle accident."

Explained Fortus in a statement: "On September 17, 2015, I was involved in a motorcycle accident. As a result, I broke my shoulder blade, collar bone, six ribs, a toe, I have a bruised lung, lacerated liver and a concussion. Amazingly, my doctors have assured me that I will make a full recovery.

"I have never missed a show in my entire career, and, unfortunately, I will have to miss the entire Australian and New Zealand leg of this tour.

"I am devastated that I will not be able to play for the Australian and New Zealand fans who have been so supportive and loyal.

"I am healing quickly and getting stronger by the day.

"I'm looking forward to rejoining the DAISIES for the Kiss Kruise as well as the WHITESNAKE tour and our own tour of the U.K. and France.

"I'd like to thank everyone for their well-wishes and can't wait to be back in Australia very soon."

Fortus's replacement for THE DEAD DAISIES' Australian dates, which will see them supporting KISS, will be Richard Leslie, who stated about the task: "Richard Fortus is an amazing guitar player and I'm really thrilled to be asked to cover for him. I am going to have to pack an extra bag of socks, because his are extremely big shoes to fill!"

THE DEAD DAISIES are a powerful musical collective created by a rotating lineup that features some of the world's best rock musicians. Influenced by '70s and early '80s hard rock, THE DAISIES' sound is soulful and accessible-equal parts THE FACES, BAD COMPANY and FOREIGNER: muscular vocals, bluesy riffs, big choruses, powerful melodies and strong hooks.

THE DEAD DAISIES' second album, titled "Revolucion", was released in June via INgrooves.

Metal Wani editor in chief Owais "Vitek" Nabi recently conducted an interview with MERCYFUL FATE and DENNER/SHERMANN guitarist Hank Shermann. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below.

Asked if there is a chance that MERCYFUL FATE will record a new studio album or play any shows in the not-too-distant future, Shermann said: "Nothing has been completely planned at this point, but me and [MERCYFUL FATE frontman] King [Diamond] have been talking about, some years ago, that, at some point, when the opportunity is there, and the time is there, and it makes sense, and also for the many fans that really want to see and hear MERCYFUL FATE… I mean, we still have a contract with Metal Blade, we still have one album left. So I would personally love to do, let's say, a final, cool album. Maybe we could do some special selected shows — that could also be an option — but it needs to be [done at the right time.]. But, you know, I'm sure it will happen at some point. It would be a shame if it didn't."

He continued: "I would think it's more up to King Diamond, how his career goes with [the band KING DIAMOND]… He's doing the 'Abigial' tour now and they're looking into recording a new album and maybe tour with that. So it has to be in between, or certainly it's just there. And the good thing about all this, for the fans that want to hear about this, is that King is very active, doing really well now. Me and Michael [Denner, MERCYFUL FATE guitarist] is active and in good shape. Timi Hansen [MERCYFUL FATE bassist] is also in good shape; we just recently played a few jams with him. So we're not that old."

MERCYFUL FATE's last studio album, "9", was released in 1999.

MERCYFUL FATE will be remembered for its unquestionable mark on the history of metal with its innovative sound, complex arrangements, memorable melody, and its influence on bands that later took the genre to new heights.

In 1998, METALLICA paid tribute to MERCYFUL FATE by recording a medley of classic MERCYFUL FATE songs on the album "Garage Inc." Entitled "Mercyful Fate", the medley included parts from "Satan's Fall", "Curse of the Pharaohs", "A Corpse Without Soul", "Into the Coven" and "Evil".

Lars Ulrich of METALLICA (a fellow Dane) played drums on a new version of MERCYFUL FATE's "Return of the Vampire" on the "In the Shadows" album, which came out in 1993.

Shermann and Denner have created a new classic in the forthcoming EP "Satan's Tomb", coming on October 2 via Metal Blade Records. These songs were crafted with the MERCYFUL FATE worldwide legion of fans at the forefront of the duo's collective minds. From the first riff to the last wail, one cannot help but feel the magic newly recaptured once again.

The band, which is simply called DENNER/SHERMANN, calls into service a formidable group of allies who were capable of helping realize this menagerie of malice, was a task carefully orchestrated by these metal mad scientists. Shermann first called upon Marc Grabowski (DEMONICA) to handle the bass guitar, followed by the only drummer that made sense for many obvious aspects, the one known as Snowy Shaw (MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND, DREAM EVIL). Many voices were considered, but fate lead them to Sean Peck (CAGE, DEATH DEALER). He was not only a fan but had the versatile vocal skills to make the new songs come to life like their fans would expect.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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