Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson recently spoke with Australia's News.com about the band's new album, The Book Of Souls, as well as his careers as a singer and airplane pilot. An excerpt from the interview is available below:

The band start touring The Book of Souls in February, a jaunt that will include their first shows in China and El Salvador. They’ll return to Australia in May. At the Paris listening party, fans wonder out loud how the band will accommodate the lengthy new songs when touring a 92 minute double album.

Dickinson says they’re in the midst of trying to work out those logistics themselves, but there’ll be one absentee.

“Three songs off the new album is not enough. There’ll maybe be four or five. But we won’t be playing 'Empire Of The Clouds'. It’s too ambitious and it’d dominate the set too much. That makes life a little bit easier. Some of the classics that we haven’t played for a couple of tours, we can bring some of those back. There’s a few songs people have been demanding for a couple of years, we might make a few people happy, they might get what they want. But you can’t do all of the tunes. Some songs we’ve been playing repeatedly over the past few tours so we can put those ones into mothballs for a while, make way for some other ones. We haven’t done the setlist in stone yet, we’ll put that out closer to the tour.”

Dickinson says the band take note of online feedback from fans.

“You get a feel of what the fans what, but you also have to go with what feels right for us and the effect we want to create as well. It’s important we’re not just a karaoke band. With the reaction to the new album, the excitement over it, and the last few albums, we’ve pretty much dismissed the idea of Iron Maiden being a nostalgia band; it’s just not the case.”

Go to this location for the complete story.

According to Billboard, Iron Maiden have achieved their best sales week in the US since Nielsen Music started tracking sales in 1991. The Book of Souls (75,000 units) debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, equalling their highest rank ever, first achieved in 2010 with The Final Frontier’s debut and peak at No. 4.

Billboard adds that The Book Of Souls is the sixth straight Iron Maiden studio album to show debut week sales growth. Their steady climb started with 1998’s Virtual XI (10,000 sales debut, up from the 6,000 of 1995’s X Factor) and then continued on with 2000’s Brave New World (38,000), 2003’s Dance of Death (40,000), 2006’s A Matter of Life and Death (56,000), 2010’s The Final Frontier (63,000) and now its new album.

The Book Of Souls landed straight in at #1 in the UK with combined sales of just over 60,000. The Book Of Souls also topped the UK's Official Vinyl Albums Chart.

The FOO FIGHTERS' HBO documentary series "Sonic Highways" took awards in two categories at the Creative Arts ceremony of the 67th Emmy Awards, which were given out Saturday night (September 12) in Los Angeles at the Microsoft Theater. "Sonic Highways" was honored for "Outstanding Sound Editing For Nonfiction Programming (Single Or Multi-Camera)" and "Outstanding Sound Mixing For Nonfiction Programming (Single Or Multi-Camera)."

"Sonic Highways" was also nominated for "Outstanding Informational Series" and "Outstanding Directing".

It competed in all those categories except "Informational Series" against "Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck", the documentary on FOO FIGHTERS mainman Dave Grohl's late NIRVANA bandmate.

Grohl confirmed in a recentinterview with NME that there will be a second season of "Sonic Highways". Grohl revealed, "There is gonna be another 'Sonic Highways' season. It might or might not be international. It might someday be international. It might only be England, or England and other places. Or maybe it's places in America, and people from other countries that are inspired by these places in America."

Drummer Taylor Hawkins told The Pulse Of Radio that the original idea for "Sonic Highways" possibly had the band visiting recording studios in other countries. "I mean, at first we talked about doing it at famous studios across the world, so like you know, obviously things like Abbey Road and Strawberry Studios or the Honky Chateau and seeing if any of these places were open and it all sounded like a good, fun trip down classic rock memory lane," he explained. "That was the first, initial idea."

The first season of "Sonic Highways", which aired last fall, followed the band to eight different iconic recording studios in eight different American cities, with each episode exploring the history of the studio and local scene.

The FOO FIGHTERS recorded one song in each studio, resulting in the "Sonic Highways" album.

Grohl told NME that the great thing about the "Sonic Highways" concept is that "it can be anywhere, because any city has some sort of musical history," citing the U.K. as one especially rich region in rock history.

The 11-time Grammy-winning band's first two Emmy victory/victories arrive on the eve of a four-night run of sold-out shows in the Southern California area. FOO FIGHTERS will play to some 60,000 fans over the course of the shows that kick off September 19 at the Honda Center in Anaheim and proceed through the band's latest capacity crowd doubleheader at L.A.'s Forum September 21 and 22, ultimately concluding with a second show at Anaheim's Honda Center on October 17 (which was moved from its original date of September 18).

ELIMINATE, the new band featuring former DARK ANGEL singer Don Doty, has parted ways with drummer Sasha Horn and has replaced him with Joe Cangelosi (WHIPLASH, KREATOR).

Says ELIMINATE in a statement: "It is with heavy hearts that we announce the departure of our brother Sasha Horn.

"Unfortunately, Sasha has other commitments to attend to and will not be able to join the band in the upcoming show and other ventures. We would like to thank our brother for all the hard work and dedication and wish him nothing but the best in his future ventures he will be sorely missed.

"With that, we would like to divulge the upside to this tragedy. Although we knew it would be difficult to replace Sasha, we think we have found a fantastic replacement.

"Ladies and gentlemen — drum roll, please — ELIMINATE would like to introduce our new skinbasher Mr. Joe Cangelosi. We are proud to welcome our new brother into the realm of the insane.

"In case you don't know him, Joe is no stranger to the thrash world. This East Coast veteran has played in such acts as WHIPLASH, KREATOR and Florida's MASSACRE, so everyone say hello and give him a warm thrashing welcome.

"This is the beginning of a new chapter and we are excited to embrace it."

ELIMINATE will make its live debut at Grindcore 2015 on Saturday, November 7 at Ukranian Cultural Center in Los Angeles, California.

ELIMINATE's lineup is as follows:

Don Doty (ex-DARK ANGEL) - VocalsJoe Cangelosi (WHIPLASH, KREATOR) - DrumsScott Owen (ex-HIRAX) - GuitarsHenry Elizondo (DEVASTATION) - GuitarJohn Signorelli (SUBVERSION) - Bass

Doty is not involved in DARK ANGEL's current reunion, which includes Gene Hoglan (drums), Eric Meyer (guitar), Jim Durkin (guitar), Ron Rinehart (vocals) and Michael Gonzalez (bass).

DARK ANGEL released two albums with Doty on vocals — 1984's "We Have Arrived" and 1986's "Darkness Descends" — before he exited the group and was replaced by Ron Rinehart (after a brief stint with Jim Drabos in 1987).

For more information on ELIMINATE, visit the band's Facebook page.

U.K. thrashers ONSLAUGHT have recruited guitarist Iain GT Davies as the full-time replacement for longtime absentee Andy Rosser Davies.

ONSLAUGHT guitarist Nige Rockett comments: "We are super stoked to welcome Iain as a full-time member of ONSLAUGHT. He's a great guitarist and a real cool guy who has fitted seamlessly into our long established lineup. [We are] really looking forward to getting him totally involved when we start work on writing the new album!"

Rockett continues: "Me and Andy met up for a few beers recently and he felt it was only fair to let us know that it would be impossible for him to return to the band as a touring musician and agreed it was best for everyone if we found a full-time replacement."

Happily, it's not a complete split and Andy will remain part of the team behind the scenes and will definitely be contributing material to ONSLAUGHT's next record.

ONSLAUGHT's sixth album, "VI", was released on September 20, 2013 via AFM Records. The follow-up to 2011's "Sounds Of Violence" was mixed by Thomas "Plec" Johansson (TIAMAT, SCAR SYMMETRY) at Panic Room studios in Skara, Sweden.

Italian doom metal masters Trinakrius were formed in 1995. With three albums already under their belt and a huge experience playing live the band is now back with their new album, Introspectum.
 
Trinakrius is clearly a heavy metal band but with cited main influences such as Black Sabbath, Candlemass and Cathedral one can easily tell that doom is in their blood. Their music is dark, often creating an eerie atmosphere while at other times offers faster galloping riffing. The band's new album, consisting of seven tracks and clocking at just over 40 minutes long, is pure doom heavy metal at its very best.

2015 finds the band with a completely new lineup, with only original founding-member Claudio Florio (drums) still present but this year also sees the return of original vocalist Francesco Chiazzese. With a superb new album the band is clearly stating that Trinakrius is here to stay for good.

Introspectum is scheduled for release worldwide on October 2nd on CD and digital and it is already available for pre-order at this location. The album’s opening track is available for streaming and as a free download at this location.

Tracklisting:

“I Would Like”
“Moments”
“The Crying Soldier”
“Living”
“Flight Of The Eagle”
“Within The Silence”
“Facing The Mirror”

Trinakrius is:

Francesco Chiazzese – vocals
Claudio Florio – drums
Valerio Frosini – guitars
Ivan Bologna - bass

 

Following the July 31 release of their debut album, "Greatest Hits Vol. 1" (Rise Records), the ball-crushing, ragtag team of TEENAGE TIME KILLERS took part in a once-in-a-lifetime and only U.S. performance last night (Saturday, September 12) at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, California.

The following musicians were scheduled to perform at last night's event:

* Randy Blythe of LAMB OF GOD* Corey Taylor of SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR* Tommy Victor of PRONG and DANZIG* Lee Ving of FEAR* Reed Mullin of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY* Mick Murphy of MY RUIN* Phil Rind of SACRED REICH* Neil Fallon of CLUTCH* Vic Bondi of ARTICLES OF FAITH* Aaron Beam of RED FLAG* Tony Foresta of MUNICIPAL WASTE* Clifford Dinsmore of BL'AST!* Tairrie B. Murphy of MY RUIN* Jonny Webber of THE GHOST OF SATURDAY NIGHT* Greg Anderson of GOATSNAKE* Pat Hoed of BRUJERIA* Karl Agell of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY* Trenton Rogers of CHAOTIC JUSTICE

Check out fan-filmed video footage below.

The long-gestating brainchild of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY founder/drummer Reed Mullin, guitarist Mick Murphy (MY RUIN, THE BIRDS OF SATAN) and producer John "Lou" Lousteau, TEENAGE TIME KILLERS' "Greatest Hits Vol. 1" is 20 concise seismic shocks created by an all-star line up of punk and metal legends spanning decades.

All instrumental tracks on "Greatest Hits Vol. 1" were recorded at Grohl's 606 Studios in Northridge, California. The album was produced by John "Lou" Lousteau, Reed Mullin and Mick Murphy, engineered and mixed by John "Lou" Lousteau at 606.

"Greatest Hits Vol. 1" track listing with guest credits:

01. "Exploder"

Vocals: Reed Mullin Featuring Pat Hoed (Bass), London May (Drums)

02. "Crowned By The Light Of The Sun"

Vocals: Neil FallonFeaturing Jim Rota (Guitar), Dave Grohl (Bass)

03. "Hung Out To Dry"

Vocals: Randy BlytheFeaturing Mike Schaefer (Guitar), Dave Grohl (Bass)

04. "Power Outage"

Vocals: Clifford Dinsmore Featuring Dave Grohl (Bass)

05. "Ode To Sean Hannity"

Vocals: Jello BiafraFeaturing Mike Dean (Bass)

06. "Barrio"

Vocals: Matt SkibaFeaturing Brian Baker (Guitar)

07. "The Dead Hand"

Vocals: Reed MullinFeaturing Woody Weatherman (Guitar), Dave Grohl (Bass)

08. "Egobomb"

Vocals: Corey TaylorFeaturing Dave Grohl (Bass)

09. "Plank Walk"

Vocals: Pete Stahl Featuring Greg Anderson (Guitar), Dave Grohl (Bass)

10. "Time To Die"

Vocals: Mike IX Williams Featuring Greg Anderson (Guitar)

11. "Days Of Degradation"

Vocals: Tommy Victor Featuring Dave Grohl (Bass)

12. "Clawhoof"

Vocals: Tairrie B. Murphy Featuring Dave Grohl (Bass)

13. "Big Money"

Vocals: Lee Ving Featuring Pat Smear (Guitar & Bass), London May (Drums)

14. "Devil In This House"

Vocals: Karl Agell Featuring Dave Grohl (Bass)

15. "Say Goodnight To The Acolyte"

Vocals: Phil Rind Featuring Jason Browning (Guitar), Dave Grohl (Bass)

16. "Ignorant People"

Vocals: Tony Foresta Featuring Greg Anderson (Guitar), Nick Oliveri (Bass)

17. "Son Of An Immigrant"

Vocals: Johnny WeberFeaturing Brian Baker (Guitar)

18. "Your Empty Soul"

Vocals: Aaron Beam

19. "Bleeding To Death"

Vocals: Vic Bondi Featuring Dave Grohl (Bass)

20. "Teenage Time Killer"

Vocals: Trenton RogersFeaturing Greg Anderson (Guitar), Pat Hoed (Bass)

Fan-filmed video footage of TREMONTI's September 11 performance in Orlando, Florida during the 2015 HardDrive Live Tour, sponsored by long-running new rock radio program "HardDrive", can be seen below.

TREMONTI's second album, "Cauterize", was released on June 9. "Cauterize" follows up TREMONTI's 2012 debut, "All I Was", and is the first of two new albums that TREMONTI has recorded. The second, called "Dust", will be out next year.

Mark Tremonti told The Pulse Of Radio that both sets feature the same level of quality material. "We went in there with the goal of recording 20 songs, and then when it came time to release the songs, I didn't want to put 13 songs on one record and then have seven B-sides," he said. "I wanted all these songs to be thought of as songs that were meant to be on an album. None of these are throwaway songs. So we cut 'em into two 10-song albums that are kind of two dynamic records. If there was two chill songs, one would go on the first, one would go on the second and so on."

Although VAN HALEN bassist Wolfgang Van Halen was part of TREMONTI's touring band in 2013 and played on the new record, he is sitting out TREMONTI's tour schedule because of commitments with VAN HALEN.

Tremonti's other band, ALTER BRIDGE, released its last studio effort, "Fortress", in 2013 and will get to work on album number five later this year.

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

The "Money Shot" title track can be streamed below.

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

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

Chicago death metallers BROKEN HOPE will release their first-ever concert DVD and Blu-ray, "Live Disease At Brutal Assault", on September 18 via Century Media.

"Live Disease At Brutal Assault" was filmed and recorded at the 19th annual Brutal Assault festival in Josefov, Czech Republic on August 8, 2014, where BROKEN HOPE shared the stage with DEVIN TOWNSEND, AMON AMARTH and other metal titans in front of 20,000 fans.

The official live video for the song "The Docking Dead", taken from "Live Disease At Brutal Assault" can be seen below.

"This video clip of 'The Docking Dead' from our 'Live Disease' concert DVD excites me and brings me right back to being on that Brutal Assault stage in front of 20-some-thousand death metal freaks," states BROKEN HOPE guitarist Jeremy Wagner. "I hope this video clip is a worthy sample of the visually and sonically epic brutality BROKEN HOPE unleashes throughout this entire concert DVD and companion live CD." This live concert Blu-ray and live album are historic firsts as BROKEN HOPE has never before released a live concert DVD or live album. The concert was filmed by a multi-camera crew on a dozen pro cameras and pieced together and edited by video-directing god Tommy Jones (SLAYER, TESTAMENT, LAMB OF GOD) while the audio was recorded by Thilo Fehlinger (EXODUS, DEATH ANGEL). Moreover, metal-art master Mark Rudolph (Decibel, Metal Hammer, CELTIC FROST) was commissioned to create all of the exterior and interior packaging and cover artwork. The end result of this collaboration is one of the most visually and sonically stellar death metal DVD concert and live album packages ever released. Says Wagner: "Playing Brutal Assault in 2014 was a dream come true. Being one of the main-stage acts at the fest in front of those thousands of insane fans was also a huge dream come true. And then... above all that... we had this epic moment captured by a pro video crew and also recorded by the best soundman in the biz, and it made for a perfect storm that enabled us to put it together to share with metal fans the world over to enjoy forever.

"We couldn't have done all this without the mega talent of Tommy Jones... Tommy took a million pieces of footage and numerous audio files, pieced them all together, aligned everything, edited it all, and made for us (and the world), an absolutely stunning concert DVD! We even added the BROKEN HOPE documentary film '25 Years Of Sickness - The History Of Broken Hope' to this Blu-ray. This film was released only in North America with 'Omen Of Disease'...now the entire world will have this amazing film — and in a hi-def Blu-ray format!

"Last thing I wanna say is: the skills of Thilo Fehlinger, Scott Creekmore and Chris Wisco made our first-ever live album a loud, clear, and sonically bombarding tour de force! This entire DVD/CD package is a monumental feather in our cap!" "Live Disease" video director Tommy Jones adds: "This BROKEN HOPE project has come out so sick! It has the quality and look of a high-end and polished commercial piece, but as a completely brutal, death metal concert experience. Definitely one of the coolest-looking live pieces I have been able to work on in the death metal genre. Really happy with how it all came together." "Live Disease At Brutal Assault" Blu-ray/DVD chapter listing:

* Intro* The Docking Dead* Dilation & Extraction* Into The Necrosphere* Gore Hog* Swamped In Gore* The Dead Half* I Am God* He Was Raped* The Flesh Mechanic* Incinerated* Felching Vampires* End Credits

Blu-ray/DVD bonus features:

* Behind The Scenes At Brutal Assault - The Interviews (with Jeremy, Damian, and Mike)* "The Flesh Mechanic" official video* "25 Years Of Sickness - The History Of Broken Hope"

"Live Disease At Brutal Assault" live album/CD track listing:

* Intro* The Docking Dead* Dilation & Extraction* Into The Necrosphere* Gore Hog* Swamped In Gore* The Dead Half* I Am God* He Was Raped* The Flesh Mechanic* Incinerated* Felching Vampires

BROKEN HOPE is:

Damian Leski - VocalsJeremy Wagner - GuitarsDiego Soria - BassMatt Szlachta - Lead GuitarsMike Miczek - Drums

AVATARIUM, the Swedish metal project whose recording lineup includes Leif Edling, founding bassist and main songwriter of Swedish doom metal legends CANDLEMASS, will release its new album, "The Girl With The Raven Mask", on October 23 via Nuclear Blast.

The second in a series of video clips featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the making of "The Girl With The Raven Mask" can be seen below.

Edling states about the CD: "I think we have created something unique this time with AVATARIUM. The songs are more written to be just songs and there are some really nice moments on the record that I personally love... the straightforward title track, the beautiful 'January Sea', the riff in 'Ghostlight' and the groove in 'Run Killer Run'. The organ and the Rhodes piano are ridiculously loud in the mix at times; even Dr. Carl agrees [laughs], but i think it gives even more edge to the songs! I hope people will dig 'The Girl With The Raven Mask' as much as I do myself, and if they don't, it's their problem. A band can't deliver more than we have done here, so it is an album close to perfection! When an album is perfect... shoot me!"

Jidell adds: "AVATARIUM have been taking another big step with this album and I can't wait for people to hear the songs and to play them live on our tour in November!

"It has been a lot of work but also a great pleasure to be the producer of this album, I'm very happy with the result and I feel very proud to be a member of this powerful and talented band!"

"The Girl With The Raven Mask" track listing:

Digipack:

01. Girl With The Raven Mask02. The January Sea03. Pearls And Coffins04. Hypnotized05. Ghostlight06. Run Killer Run07. Iron Mule08. The Master Thief

Bonus DVD (live at Hammer Of Doom festival in 2014):

01. Moonhorse02. Bird Of Prey03. All I Want04. Tides Of Telepathy05. Deep Well06. Pandora's Egg07. Avatarium

CD

01. Girl With The Raven Mask02. The January Sea03. Pearls And Coffins04. Hypnotized05. Ghostlight06. Run Killer Run07. Iron Mule08. The Master Thief

2LP

Side A:

01. Girl With The Raven Mask02. The January Sea

Side B:

01. Pearls And Coffins02. Hypnotized

Side C:

01. Ghostlight02. Run Killer Run

Side D:

01. Iron Mule02. The Master Thief

In a recent interview with Markus' Heavy Music Blog, Jidell stated about AVATARIUM's musical direction: "We all have a few bands in common that we like. But we also want to bring in our personalities into the music. The songs need to be 'us.' But it's also the way Leif writes the songs. He's thinking about my way of playing guitar and also about Jennie-Ann's [Smith] vocals. He is thinking about how I could continue working on the songs and how Jennie-Ann could. Leif is a very clever songwriter. Another thing is the fact that Jennie-Ann puts so much effort and energy into the vocals. She wants those to become her own. She tries to put all the feelings and emotions into the songs."

Asked if he is feeling any pressure trying to follow up AVATARIUM's 2013 self-titled debut, Jidell said: "I don't think like that. Of course there is a certain pressure if you get such a great response, but we try to focus in what we want to do. We try to be as good as we can while staying honest to ourselves and our music. Our aim is to do another great album followed by another great album and to be able to tour in between."

AVATARIUM released a vinyl/digital-only EP, "All I Want", on November 14, 2014 via Nuclear Blast.

Due to his health condition, Edling was unable to perform with AVATARIUM at the band's recent gigs. Filling in for him was Anders Iwers from TIAMAT.

AVATARIUM's self-titled debut album was released in Europe on November 1, 2013 via Nuclear Blast.

BEHEMOTH frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski joined MACHINE HEAD on stage last night (Sunday, September 13) at Klub B90 in Gdansk, Poland to perform the song "Davidian". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

MACHINE HEAD's latest album, "Bloodstone & Diamonds", sold around 18,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 21 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on November 10, 2014 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment, the CD was produced by Robb Flynn and Juan Urteaga, and like the last seven of eight MACHINE HEAD albums, was masterfully mixed by Colin Richardson. Additional tracking, editing, and mixing was done with Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, EXODUS, TESTAMENT, ARCH ENEMY) and Steve Lagudi.

MACHINE HEAD's shows in Los Angeles (February 20 at The Regent) and San Francisco (February 21 at The Regency Ballroom) were filmed for a new concert DVD.

MACHINE HEAD's last concert DVD, "Elegies", was recorded at the Brixton Academy in London, England in December 2004 and was made available in October 2005. In addition to concert footage, the DVD featured film clips and a short documentary about the making of the band's "Through The Ashes Of Empires" album.

On September 11, legendary hard rock singer Joe Lynn Turner (RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) performed at Perama, one of Greece's largest and most impressive caves. According to Rock Overdose, Turner, accompanied by George Gakis and his musicians, played an acoustic set during Ioannina Rock City Festival, an event whose primary purpose was to promote Ioannina's cultural landscape, since Ioannina is nominated for Europe's Cultural Capital in 2021.

Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

Joe was the singer of RAINBOW between 1980 and 1984 and he sang on the album "Difficult To Cure", which featured the band's most successful U.K. single, "I Surrender".

During Turner's time with RAINBOW, the band had its first USA chart success and recorded songs that helped define the melodic rock genre.

1990 saw reunited Turner with RAINBOW leader Ritchie Blackmore in a reformed DEEP PURPLE for the "Slaves And Masters" album.

BREAKING BENJAMIN's video for the song "Angels Fall" can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's latest effort, "Dark Before Dawn", which sold 141,000 copies in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 1. The sales number was the best single-week sales mark of the band's career, with 135,000 of those made for physical CDs.

BREAKING BENJAMIN's previous album, 2009's "Dear Agony", entered at No. 4 with first-week sales of 134,000 copies. The outfit's previous chart peak was No. 2 for 2006's "Phobia", although that disc sold less with 125,000 copies moved in the first seven days.

"Dark Before Dawn" features original frontman Ben Burnley leading an all-new lineup of the group, which has been expanded from a quartet to a five-piece.

Burnley fired two earlier members in 2010 over a legal battle, while a third member departed in 2013.

Burnley also struggled with a mysterious illness during the band's six-year hiatus, which he told The Pulse Of Radio might be the result of the excessive drinking he used to do. "I used to drink a lot, and I think it must have something to do with that because back in 2007, I stayed up drinking for three days straight — this is after already months and months of drinking heavily — and I woke up and I just felt really sick, like alcohol poisoned, and I was like, I should've probably gone to the hospital but I didn't, and I went onstage and when I went onstage I almost collapsed from being just so sick. And basically that was 2007 and it hasn't gone away."

Burnley unveiled BREAKING BENJAMIN 2.0 last year, with the lineup consisting of drummer Shaun Foist, bassist Aaron Bruch, former RED guitarist Jasen Rauch and ex-ADELITAS WAY guitarist Keith Wallen.

Official fly-on-the-wall footage of METALLICA's August 29 performance at Reading festival in Readng, England can be seen below. The 14-minute clip, which was shot by a MetOnTour reporter, includes footage of Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich and Robert Trujillo in the meet-and-greet, pre-show tuning-room footage, and "The Unforgiven" from the show.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Fuel02. For Whom The Bell Tolls03. Battery04. King Nothing05. Ride The Lightning06. The Day That Never Comes07. The Memory Remains08. The Unforgiven09. Sad But True10. Turn The Page11. Wherever I May Roam12. One13. Master Of Puppets14. Fade To Black15. Seek And Destroy

Encore:

16. Whiskey In The Jar17. Nothing Else Matters18. Enter Sandman

METALLICA currently has two dates on its calendar between now and end of September: a show in Quebec City, Canada and an appearance at the Rock In Rio festival.

The band has reportedly been working on its tenth studio album, which will follow up 2008's "Death Magnetic".

METALLICA has made available for purchase a limited-edition box set containing 50 CDs that chronicle the band's tours of Australia and New Zealand in 2010 and 2013. The set features recordings of 62 different METALLICA originals and covers from 25 different shows, each on two discs, and retails for a hefty $395.

Despite insisting that work has been proceeding on a new CD, METALLICA has spent a lot of time outside the studio in the last year, with activities that included a string of European all-request shows last summer, a week-long residency on "The Late Show With Craig Ferguson", and a Rock In Rio USA stint.

METALLICA has not revealed when it plans to begin recording or tentatively release the new album.

One Machine, the brainchild of acclaimed guitarist/songwriter Steve Smyth (Testament, Nevermore, Forbidden, Dragonlord, Vicious Rumors), will release their second album, The Final Cull, on September 18th worldwide via Scarlet Records. The band have released their sci-fi themed “Forewarning” music video.

Steve Smyth states, “The video depicts a wild ride into the not so distant future, where we find our rebel team entering a virtual world to reach their leader, the Hacker, only to be interrupted by the world leader the Cynic, busy blanketing all media with his driveling, meaningless rhetoric, with points inside his speech aimed at making our world seem hopeless without him and his leadership. In comes our hero the Hacker to spread the message of hope and independent thinking outside of conformity, and the war ensues, complete with a virus sent via virtual reality. Who will win? Watch and find out!”

Watch below:  

The band recently launched part one of a three part “Making Of The Final Cull” crowdfunding video series. Watch below.
 
This series includes snippets of new music, in addition to discussing new The Final Cull songwriting, recording and subjects in connection with One Machine’s IndieGoGo crowdfunding campaign and pre-order to help offset the costs incurred during the recording. The campaign also serves as the official album pre-order, which will be available in Digital Download, CD, Digipak, and special edition vinyl formats. In addition, the campaign itself offers many great donation perks. For more information, please visit this location.

Steve Smyth states: “In this first video, you’ll learn about our plan for using the money received, as well as the reasons behind why we chose to record live in the studio, as opposed to what has been the standard way for so long. Please head on over to our campaign and check it out, you’ll hear a bit of the new stuff as well!”

The band recently released the new album art, illustrated by Gustavo Sazes (Gus G. Morbid Angel, Arch Enemy).

“We are very happy to present our new album cover for The Final Cull, designed by the very talented Gustavo Sazes,” states Steve Smyth. “The cover concept behind The Final Cull is a bit of fantasy, a bit of reality crossed in between, as we present the idea of humanity being wiped out by the advancement of technology, at the hands of a small set of powerful human beings bent on power and control over all, even at the cost of the general population. The only useful and lasting valuable assets of humanity is the human soul, this last piece behind taken daily via technology, mind control, and psychological warfare. The scene of the cover is set in the near future, where human beings are rounded up and placed into tubes, which take the soul, to be placed in the “new” human beings, complete A.I. human replicas, and here is where the album begins… we hope you will join us down the dark path that is The Final Cull!”

Tracklistings for the two editions are as follows:

Digital Release:

“Forewarning”
“The Final Cull”
“Summoning Of The Soul”
“Screaming For Light”
“The Grand Design”
“New Motive Power”
“Ashes In The Sky”
“Born From This Hate”
“Welcome To The World”

CD Digipak and Limited Edition Vinyl:

“Forewarning”
“The Final Cull”
“Summoning Of The Soul”
“Screaming For Light”
“The Grand Design”
“New Motive Power”
“Ashes In The Sky”
“Born From This Hate”
“Welcome To The World”
“Computer God” (Black Sabbath)

"The Final Cull" lyric video:

The Final Cull was tracked at Death Island Studios, with Marco Angioni and Tue Madsen helming. Recording lasted for nine days solid, as the band put in 15-18 hour days on this record.

One Machine is:

Steve Smyth (guitar)
Jamie Hunt (guitar)
Chris Hawkins (vocals)
Stefano Selvatico (bass)

"Gift Of Pain", the new video from METAL ALLEGIANCE — the all-star metal band consisting of a rotating cast of musicians, including members of MEGADETH, TESTAMENT — can be seen below. The song is taken from METAL ALLEGIANCE' self-titled debut album, which will be released on September 18 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

Brought together by METAL ALLEGIANCE principal partner Mark Menghi, the project's original material came together from the creative minds of David Ellefson of MEGADETH, Mike Portnoy of THE WINERY DOGS, and Alex Skolnick from TESTAMENT, alongside Menghi. The four writers then reached out through their metal rolodexes to a diverse lineup of performers, each adding their own personal musical stamp to the collection of nine original songs.

"Metal Allegiance" contains appearances by:

* Philip H. Anselmo (PANTERA, DOWN)* Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX)* Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT)* D. Randall Blythe (LAMB OF GOD)* Rex Brown (PANTERA, DOWN, KILL DEVIL HILL)* Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (GUNS N' ROSES)* Phil Demmel (MACHINE HEAD)* Alissa White-Gluz (ARCH ENEMY)V* Matthew K. Heafy (TRIVIUM)* Gary Holt (EXODUS)* Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED)* Chris Jericho (FOZZY)* Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA)* Misha Mansoor (PERIPHERY)* Mark Osegueda (DEATH ANGEL)* Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH)* Doug Pinnick (KING'S X, KXM)* Troy Sanders (MASTODON)* Cristina Scabbia (LACUNA COIL)* Steve "Zetro" Souza (EXODUS)* Ben Weinman (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN)

Said Blythe: "When LAMB OF GOD asked Alex Skolnick to rip a guest solo on 'Ashes Of The Wake', it was a big deal to us to have one of the legends of our scene play on our record. Much to my amazement, years later he returned the request, and it's an even bigger deal to me to be asked on a peer level to contribute to a project with so many stellar players. I was honored to be chosen. 'Gift Of Pain' rips! Play it LOUD!"

From the blistering opening of album starter "Gift Of Pain" to the final notes of closer "Pledge Of Allegiance", it is clear this collective have created something special. The diversity of the individual tracks is apparent through each musical collaboration.

The standard edition CD of "Metal Allegiance" will feature the nine original songs. A digipak edition will be available that features an all-star tribute to Ronnie James Dio with a cover of his classic song "We Rock" as well as a 45-minute behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of the album. A double vinyl version will also be available that will feature all 10 songs as well.

"Metal Allegiance" track listing:

01. Gift Of Pain

Vocals: D. Randall BlytheLead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex SkolnickBass: David Ellefson Drums: Mike PortnoyAdditional Lead Guitar: Gary Holt

02. Let Darkness Fall

Vocals: Troy SandersLead, Rhythm & Acoustic Guitars: Alex SkolnickBass: David EllefsonDrums & Percussion: Mike PortnoyAdditional Bass: Mark Menghi & Rex BrownAdditional Screams: D. Randall Blythe

03. Can't Kill The Devil

Vocals: Chuck BillyLead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex SkolnickBass: David Ellefson Drums: Mike PortnoyAdditional Lead Guitar: Phil Demmel & Andreas Kisser

04. Dying Song

Vocals: Philip H. AnselmoLead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex SkolnickBass: Mark Menghi Drums: Mike Portnoy

05. Scars Vocals: Mark Osegueda & Cristina ScabbiaLead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David EllefsonDrums: Mike Portnoy

06. Destination: Nowhere

Vocals: Matthew K. HeafyLead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex SkolnickBass: David Ellefson Drums: Mike PortnoyAdditional Lead Guitar: Matthew K. Heafy

07. Wait Until Tomorrow

Vocals: Doug Pinnick & Jamey JastaLead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex SkolnickBass: David EllefsonDrums, Percussion & Additional Vocals: Mike Portnoy

8. Triangulum I. Creation II. Evolution III. Destruction

Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex SkolnickBass: David EllefsonDrums: Mike PortnoyAdditional Lead Guitar: Misha Mansoor, Ben Weinman, Charlie Benante, Phil Demmel, Matthew K. Heafy & Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal

09. Pledge Of Allegiance

Vocals: Mark OseguedaLead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex SkolnickBass: David Ellefson Drums: Mike PortnoyAdditional Lead Guitar: Charlie Benante, Gary Holt & Andreas Kisser

10. We Rock (DIO cover) (deluxe edition only)

Vocals: Mark Osegueda, Chris Jericho, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Alissa White-Gluz, Chuck Billy & Steve "Zetro" SouzaLead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex SkolnickBass: David Ellefson Drums: Mike PortnoyAdditional Lead Guitar: Andreas Kisser, Phil Demmel & Gary Holt Stemming from an initial idea in 2011, METAL ALLEGIANCE was born as a way to unite a collection of hard rock and heavy metal's most notable musicians in a setting born under one ideal, a love of music and performing. In 2015, that ideal still holds true and has become the foundation for everything METAL ALLEGIANCE; furthered with the release of the upcoming debut album. While the lineup may change, the passion, the energy and the emotion all remain the same. METAL ALLEGIANCE is more than just a record or a concert, it’s an experience and a lifestyle.

Rock legends IRON MAIDEN, whose new studio double album, "The Book Of Souls", just debuted at No 2 in Australia and New Zealand, will make a massively anticipated return to Australasia at the end of April on their enormous Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet Ed Force One, piloted by vocalist Bruce Dickinson and carrying band, crew and stage production and equipment.

Returning to New Zealand after seven years, MAIDEN will play two shows, April 29 in Christchurch at the Horncastle Arena followed by May 1 at the Auckland Vector Arena. MAIDEN will then continue to Australia, where they haven't played since 2011, to perform five shows. MAIDEN will then return to South Africa in May for two shows.

The dates are:

Apr. 29 - Christchurch Horncastle Arena, New ZealandMay 01 - Aucklane Vector Arena, New ZealandMay 04 - Brisbane Entertainment Centre, AustraliaMay 06 - Sydney Allphones Arena, AustraliaMay 09 - Melbourne Rod Laver Arena, AustraliaMay 12 - Adelaide Entertainment Centre, AustraliaMay 14 - Perth Arena, AustraliaMay 18 - Cape Town at the Grand Arena, South AfricaMay 21 - Johannesburg Carnival City Festival Lawns, South Africa

Support on the trek will come from THE RAVEN AGE, the band led by Steve's son George Harris.

Bruce comments: "We cannot wait to get back out on tour.

"When we start in the USA in late February, it will be 19 months since our last show at Sonisphere in the U.K., so we are raring to go.

"MAIDEN thrive on touring and getting out to our fans, it’s what we do best, so it will be a great feeling to board our new Jumbo Ed Force One with the crew and the gear and head round the globe and get back on stage for you guys.

"We haven't played in Australia and New Zealand for a number of years, so it will be a pleasure to play for our Antipodean cousins again, irrespective of who wins the dates with destiny at Twickenham in a few weeks’ time!

"Of course, we haven't decided on the set list as yet and won't until we start rehearsing, but we really look forward to playing a number of new songs live, especially as the recording was so much live. However, as it's been a while since we saw you all, I am sure we will include plenty of older fan favorites too. I think the fans will be delighted by what we have in mind. We are also in the middle of creating the new show and rest assured we are working hard to bring you all something spectacular, something with a lot of heart! You certainly deserve it for your patience."

Tickets for all shows go on sale at noon local time Thursday, September 24.

As usual, there will be an exclusive pre-sale for IRON MAIDEN Fan Club members, starting Thursday, September 17. Fan Club members will also be eligible in the draw to be "First To The Barrier".

"From The Pinnacle To The Pit", the new video from Swedish occult rockers GHOST, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's third album, "Meliora", which entered The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 8 with first-week sales of just over 29,000 units — nearly all from pure album sales. The set follows the No. 28-peaking "Infestissumam", which was released in 2013 and has sold almost 70,000 copes in the U.S. to date.

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).

"Meliora" was released on August 21 via Loma Vista Recordings. The CD was helmed by Klas Åhlund, a prolific songwriter, producer and guitarist who is also a member of the Swedish rock band TEDDYBEARS, and was mixed by Andy Wallace (SLAYER, NIRVANA, SEPULTURA, LINKIN PARK, GUNS N' ROSES).

One of GHOST's Nameless Ghouls told TeamRock that "From The Pinnacle To The Pit" is the album's "fist in the air" track. He said: "I felt there was a place for a track like this on the album, a track with this level of intent. Sometimes simplicity is a good thing, that straightforward punch to the nose."

He continued: "With the last album, some of the songs, even the more straight-ahead ones, weren’t always easy to bring into the live set, but with 'Pinnacle', once we started working on the demo, it just took on a life of its own."

"Feel The Misery", the video for the title track of MY DYING BRIDE's latest opus and 12th full studio album, can be seen below. The CD is set for release on September 18 via Peaceville Records.

Using The Raft Of Medusa by French romantic painter Théodore Géricault as visual inspiration as well as taking cues from the bands own bleak and foreboding music, MY DYING BRIDE's latest video — which was directed by James Sharrock (Invadetvproductions.com) and Ryan Mackfall — is a harrowing tale of tragedy and loss.

Filmed on the stunning Pembroke coast of South Wales and in particular, St. Govans Chapel, the scenes were set to play out the narrative as vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe takes the role of a lone musician and poet who stumbles upon a fallen maiden while combing the seascape for curiosities. Clearly the victim of a recent shipwreck, she is gathered up and removed to a suitable, sombre resting place, all the while the mournful "Feel The Misery" plays alongside, marrying the rich visuals with the melancholic song.

James explains: "The concept for 'Feel The Misery' has been in my head for a while. It is loosely based on the famous painting Raft Of Medusa by Theodore Gericault painted in 1819, and when I heard the song it invoked the creative idea I had been thinking about."

Bringing the video concept into context, James continues: "In May this year I read in the news reports of a 'ghost ship' carrying 350 starving Rohingya Muslims vanishing off Thailand. Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand refused to engage in search-and-rescue operations, instead pushing the boats back to sea, letting the people starve and refusing to accept the asylum seekers — similar to the story behind 'Raft Of Medusa'. It was only later in the year as we were filming the music video down around the Pembrokeshire coast that the media took a greater interest in the deaths of asylum seekers in the Med. The song has allowed me to bring to life not only issues that are currently facing us all, but a masterpiece that reflects a similar tragedy from centuries ago."

With crushing epic doom spanning eight tracks, and featuring the return of original guitarist Calvin Robertshaw to the fold, this is undoubtedly amongst the band's heaviest, darkest, and most majestic works to date, marking MY DYING BRIDE's 25th anniversary in punishing style, with the title track also set to feature as the album's debut video.

"Feel The Misery" sees a notable return to the band's old haunt, Academy Studios in Dewsbury West Yorkshire, for recording, where all of MY DYING BRIDE's classic early albums were produced. Mixing once more takes place at Futureworks in Manchester, U.K. with the band's longtime studio engineer/producer Rob "Mags" Magoolagan.

The band comments on the themes of "Feel The Misery": "Contained within are all the grandeur and mastery of the melancholic one would expect to find on a recording from this group of musicians. The crushing of hearts and the solemn farewells to friends and lovers twinned with the destruction of flesh and the passions of cruelty are laid neatly for the listener to devour and savor. Eight new compositions detailing the path of life through dark doors and the burdens we all must endure simply to make it to the end, MY DYING BRIDE have returned with a foreboding new album which may enlighten, delight and consume the soul in one epic sitting."

"Feel The Misery" will be released on CD, vinyl, plus a special edition 2CD/2x10" vinyl set in deluxe earbook format, with exclusive music and expanded booklet.

"Feel The Misery" track listing:

01. And My Father Left Forever02. To Shiver In Empty Halls03. A Cold New Curse04. Feel The Misery05. A Thorn Of Wisdom06. I Celebrate Your Skin07. I Almost Loved You08. Within A Sleeping Forest

MY DYING BRIDE has been the leading light of doom metal since its debut album, "As The Flower Withers", was released on Peaceville back in 1992. The band's heavy atmospherics and expertly crafted compositions make them among the most essential and legendary acts of the gothic doom/death genre.

France's Hard Force magazine recently conducted an interview with IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson. You can now listen to the chat in three parts below.

Speaking about whether he has any plans to work on a new solo album to follow up 2005's "Tyranny Of Souls", Dickinson said: "'If Eternity Should Fail', the opening track [of the new IRON MAIDEN album 'The Book Of Souls'], that was going to be the title track to my solo album. I had about six songs demoed, and Steve [Harris, IRON MAIDEN bassist] heard 'em last summer. And he went, 'That's a really cool song. Can we use that? That's gonna be the opening song on the album.' And I went, 'Yeah, okay.' And he was already writing, I think… He was already thinking of 'The Book Of Souls' as being the title, so he told me about the Mayan thing. And I'm, like, 'Yeah, that's cool. Okay. Yeah, I see where you're going.' But in my case, that song was written as part of a story. So the spoken word at the end is the beginning of a story that goes through the whole album. And one of the characters is Dr. Necropolis; he's the bad guy. And the good guy is Professor Lazarus; he raises people from the dead. So that introduces Necropolis in the spoken-word thing. And I asked Steve… I said, 'Look. Okay. I get having the song…' 'Cause it opens up with, 'Here is the soul of a man.' 'Yup. Get that. But what about the end?' I said, 'Will people understand what this is about? Because this is nothing to do with the Mayans or anything. This is to do with… I'd come up with a concept album that doesn't happen.' [Laughs] And he [went], 'No, no, no. It's just talking about souls and everything, and it sounds great.' I went, 'Okay.' [Laughs]"

Asked if he has already completed writing his next solo album, Dickinson said: "Not a whole one. I actually… One idea I had… And I don't know if I'm gonna do it yet… One idea I had was maybe in November or December or something, maybe to go out and start doing some writing and a little bit of demoing, just to try my voice out — under no stress, no jeopardy; just as an experiment to see what it sounded like. But we'll see. I mean, there's no way, even if I had a solo album finished and ready to go, it's not gonna come out next year, and it's probably not gonna come out the year after. So it's not to stress about it."

Released globally on September 4 through Parlophone Records (Sanctuary Copyrights/BMG in the U.S.), "The Book Of Souls" was recorded in Paris, France with producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley in late 2014, with the finishing touches added earlier this year.

"The Book Of Souls" includes "Empire Of The Clouds", an 18-minute track penned by Dickinson, who was recently given the all-clear after being diagnosed with a tumor on his tongue late last year.

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

Dickinson made his recording debut with IRON MAIDEN on the "Number of the Beast" album in 1982. He quit the band in 1993 in order to pursue his solo career and was replaced by Blaze Bayley, who had previously been the lead singer of the metal band WOLFSBANE. After releasing two traditional metal albums with former MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith, Dickinson rejoined the band in 1999 along with Smith. Since then, Dickinson has only released one more solo album ("Tyranny of Souls") but has previously said that his solo career is not over.

According to Billboard.com, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's has landed its third consecutive No. 2 album on The Billboard 200 chart with its latest release, "Got Your Six", having shifted 119,000 equivalent album units in the week ending September 10.

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 (as reflected on the Top Album Sales chart), "Got Your Six" is the top-selling album of the week, having sold 114,000 copies, which is also FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's best sales week ever, surpassing the 112,000 launch of 2013's No. 2-peaking "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell: Volume 1".

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH bassist Chris Kael said in a new interview with Uproxx that he had high hopes for "Got Your Six", and that topping The Billboard 200 chart was one of the group's goals. Kael explained, "We've had two Billboard No. 2 albums and I think a No. 3, as well, so with 'Got Your Six', I really want to call the Knuckleheads (hardcore fans of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH) to arms! Let's get this thing to No. 1."

Kael added: "We're very fortunate that, at a time when people aren't buying as many records as they used to back in the day, we still have a very supportive fan base hitting iTunes or buying physical copies of our music in record stores, and I fully expect that we're going to come out swinging and join our brothers in DISTURBED with a No. 1 album as well."

According to Billboard.com, IRON MAIDEN's "The Book Of Souls" debuted at No. 4 on The Billboard 200, having shifted 75,000 equivalent album units in the week ending September 10. That equals MAIDEN's highest rank ever, first achieved with 2010's "The Final Frontier".

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, "The Book Of Souls" landed at No. 3 on the Top Album Sales chart with first-week sales of 74,000 copies. This marks MAIDEN's best sales week since Nielsen Music started tracking sales in 1991.

"The Book Of Souls" is the sixth consecutive IRON MAIDEN studio album to show debut week sales growth. The band's 1998's "Virtual XI" set opened with 10,000 units, up from the 6,000 of 1995's "X Factor", and was followed by 2000's "Brave New World" (38,000), 2003's "Dance Of Death" (40,000), 2006's "A Matter Of Life And Death" (56,000) and the aforementioned "The Final Frontier" (63,000).

Released globally on September 4 through Parlophone Records (Sanctuary Copyrights/BMG in the U.S.), "The Book Of Souls" was recorded in Paris, France with producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley in late 2014, with the finishing touches added earlier this year.

"The Book Of Souls" includes "Empire Of The Clouds", an 18-minute track penned by IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson, who was recently given the all-clear after being diagnosed with a tumor on his tongue late last year.

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

During last night's Yahoo! live stream from Barclays in Brooklyn, New York, you may have noticed legendary rockers SCORPIONS were joined by a very special guest — 12-year-old guitarist Brandon Niederauer! The third-generation SCORPIONS fan accompanied his favorite band for a rousing performance of "No One Like You". As Niederauer headed to the stage, he shared: "'Rock You Like A Hurricane' was the first song and solo I ever learned and played in my first performance at age 8. The SCORPIONS' music is a big influence on my playing.” Niederauer hails from Long Island where he spent his formative years playing his Gibson Les Paul. He became a fan of SCORPIONS while playing video games.

The guitar prodigy will grace the Broadway stage this fall in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "School Of Rock" launching November 9.

SOULFLY has tapped Mike Leon (HAVOK) to play bass on the band's upcoming North American headlining tour, which is scheduled to kick off on September 30 in Los Angeles, California.

Handling bass duties for SOULFLY during the band's recent shows was mainman 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.

SOULFLY's tenth studio album, "Archangel", was released on August 14 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The CD was produced and mixed by Matt Hyde (SLAYER, BEHEMOTH, CHILDREN OF BODOM), and features stunning cover artwork by artist Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, HATEBREED, ICED EARTH, SODOM).

Former The 3rd And The Mortal soprano vocalist Kari Rueslåtten, who took a hiatus from music between 2005 - 2013, has posted the following message to Nightwish keyboardist/mastermind Tuomas Holopainen on Facebook:

"Tuomas Holopainen – you say my work with The 3rd and the Mortal inspired you to start Nightwish. I say – you inspired me to start making music again after many years astray. Two years ago today since the release of 'Why So Lonely', my comeback-song, where you so kindly and most beautifully play piano and keys!"

Kari Rueslåtten, Anneke van Giersbergen (The Gathering) and Liv Kristine Espenaes Krull (Leaves' Eyes, Theatre Of Tragedy) have joined forces and are now working together as The Sirens. Check out two original songs from the trio below:

KILLING JOKE are on a mission to take their music of resistance to a whole new level with their sixteenth studio album, "Pylon", due on October 23 via Spinefarm Records.

The band has shared the lyric video for "I Am the Virus", the lead track from "Pylon". Check it out below.

"I Am The Virus" is described by KILLING JOKE's Youth as "an intense, angry, uncompromising shout into the abyss" and it provides a typically bitter taste of the "delights" to come.

With the original lineup of Jaz Coleman, Geordie, Youth, and Big Paul continuing to hold firm, KILLING JOKE will headline shows around the world, starting with a U.K. run in October.

"Pylon" was produced in the U.K. and Prague by the band and Tom Dalgety, whose credits include the hugely successful "Royal Blood" album.

The album isn't designed to accompany a quiet night at home in front of the fire; "Pylon" is very much music-as-ritual. It's raw, uncompromising and precisely targeted lyrically, with the artwork put together by regular band associate Mike Coles, the designer behind the very first KILLING JOKE album.

About the album title, Youth said, "It's simple… Stark brutal industrial suicide… This is the third in a triptych of albums, 'Absolute Dissent', 'MMXII' and now 'Pylon'… heavy and uncompromising, bleak dystopian lyrics, as well as some visionary celebration… lots of black pain emotion. To be honest, we remain genre blind so our music will always cover a vast spectrum of influences, from disco right through to heavy metal and beyond."

While other bands of a certain vintage may struggle to hold their edge, KILLING JOKE are delivering the best and most relevant material of their career, with no mellowing or softening of the edges getting in the way. It's a line in the sand against mainstream music and corporate existence.

"I believe we delivered 15 tracks for the new album," ponders Youth, who actually raised that number to 16 with a last minute dub remix. "And it could have been a lot more."

"This record really showcases the power of KILLING JOKE," continues Jaz. "I remember we once jammed with German outfit CAN, and I don't remember hearing CAN…"

Difficult, perverse and willfully unpredictable, KILLING JOKE continue to be a group that actually stands for something; Youth will tell you it's "honesty, commitment and illumination," and the others will doubtless have ideas of their own, but one thing's for certain: what once seemed paranoid now seems downright prophetic, and for all of their adherence to darker hues, the future for KILLING JOKE seems bright… whether they like it our not.

All audio purchases of "Pylon" from PledgeMusic will receive the lead track "I Am the Virus" as an instant download.

The new album will be released in variety of formats, including deluxe double CD and a strictly limited double colored vinyl, with both versions featuring additional tracks.

The U.K. tour will be the start of an extensive period of touring that will see this most legendary and infamous band taking their own particular message to audiences around the world.

OPETH's "Deliverance & Damnation", a double album almost 15 years in the making, will be made available on October 30 via Music For Nations. Originally released separately in 2002 and 2003 respectively, these sessions were written and recorded together and it's time for Music For Nations to present the album as a complete piece.

Music For Nations will issue the double album in two beautifully reissued formats that includes new stereo and 5.1 mixes, with artwork redesigned by original designer Travis Smith; liner notes by Mikael Åkerfeldt and Jerry Ewing of Prog in a lavish four-disc bookset as well as triple vinyl on classic 180-gram black vinyl.

Mikael comments: "Myself and Martin Mendez are very excited to see the re-release(s) of 'Deliverance' and 'Damnation' coming out. The 5.1 surround mix for 'Damnation' was done a while ago by my buddy and co-producer for both albums, Steven Wilson, and I've been itching to have it released as it's simply stunning! My new-ish friend, Bruce Soord, has done a fantastic remix for 'Deliverance', literally giving new life to the record and making me start loving it. Finally! It was with pure excitement I went through the tracks, discovering them again. I'm especially impressed with the sound of Martin Lopez's drums but also baffled by how wicked and strange this album is. I'm scratching my head wondering how the hell we came up with these songs. On top of everything, our old-time head of art, Travis Smith, has touched up on the artwork having it looking great (bleak) too! Enjoy!"

Joel De'ath of Music For Nations adds: "What an honour to work with OPETH on these seminal albums, and to bring them together makes this all the more special. A career highlight."

"Deliverance & Damnation" four-disc bookset can be preordered at this location.

Disc 1 "Deliverance" - new stereo mix by Bruce StoordDisc 2 "Deliverance" - 5.1 mix by Bruce StoordDisc 3 "Damnation" - new stereo mix by Steve WilsonDisc 4 "Damnation" - 5.1 mix by Steve Wilson32-page booklet with liner notes by Mikael Åkerfeldt and Jerry Ewing, new photos and redesigned artwork by original artist Travis Smith

The "Deliverance & Damnation" triple LP can be preordered at this location.

Disc 1 "Deliverance" - new stereo mix by Bruce StoordDisc 3 "Damnation" - new stereo mix by Steve WilsonMastered by Jaime Gomez and released on 180-gram black vinyl. Redesigned artwork by original artist Travis Smith.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*Bonus track 3LP and digital only

On October 30th, Eagle Rock Entertainment and Zappa's Honker Home Video will issue the never-before-released Frank Zappa’s Roxy: The Movie on DVD and Blu-Ray with an exclusive Soundtrack included.
 
A Frank Zappa show goes way beyond a mere concert – it is an experience… a flight of improvisation, musicianship, and cerebral cynicism. An unparalleled Composer and Guitarist, Zappa redefined rock n roll paradigms by introducing into the mix his favorite influences from classical music, jazz, blues, doowop, traditional and non-traditional music. And he did so with unparalleled humor and audacity. But it was the music itself that influenced generations of musicians and, quite frankly, blew minds. Roxy: The Movie, filmed over three nights in December 1973, at the Roxy Theatre in Hollywood, CA, is a powerful display of this experience, and reveals what made him such a pioneering musical revolutionary.

 
Right from the top of the program, the film exudes the essence of Zappa, as we only see a dark room with a single light, and we hear him commiserating with the audience, as he stalls for time because of technical snafus that would ultimately force the film into hibernation for decades (make that eras in musical terms) while advancement in technology aligned allowing the Zappa Family Trust to bring this project to a patient and deserving audience. The curtain goes up and the magic unravels to reveal “Cosmic Debris” and we are up and away with one of the most enduring band line-ups under Frank Zappa's leadership.
 
“Frank broke all sound barriers in music and pushed musical event horizons to educate and entertain his audiences so they could experience real possibilities on a contemporary music stage – all without taking himself seriously. He always said he had ‘something for everyone from 8 to 13.’ Being a mom I can tell you, that is when your imagination is wide open and some of those ideas stay fixed and expandable in time and space forever,” says Gail Zappa.
 
"I'm beyond thrilled that Roxy The Movie is finally going to be available. It took a herculean effort to bring it to life. So much love, time, energy and attention to detail went into its resurrection. This movie rocks so hard, I think both old and new fans will agree,” says Ahmet Zappa. “Enjoy!"
 
Written, directed, conducted & performed by Frank Zappa, as well as originally produced by him, all these 40 years later Gail Zappa, Ahmet Zappa, and Jeff Stein, bring you now Roxy: The Movie. Starring Zappa, The Mothers, and the Music and the Musicianship. The film contains some of Zappa's most challenging instrumentals, expertly executed by himself (lead guitar, vocals), George Duke (keyboards, synthesizer, vocals), Bruce Fowler (trombone), Napoleon Murphy Brock (flute, tenor saxophone, vocals), Tom Fowler (bass guitar), Ralph Humphrey (drums), Chester Thompson (drums), and Ruth Underwood (percussion).
 
Released just in time for Frank Zappa's favorite holiday, Halloween. Roxy: The Movie is a stunning homage to one of unpopular music's most fearless musicians.

Trailer:

Vocalist Arthur Migotto, who also plays the roles of composer and producer, announces that he will leave veteran Brazilian classic metal group, Hazy Hamlet, by the end of the year. The successful partnership will stop amicably after 14 years.

Arthur held the first activities with the group in September 2001 when he replaced Mario Bertin three months away for voice treatment, and was invited to officially join the band in April 2002, with the departure of former vocalist.

The main reason for the breakup is the difficulty of Arthur Migotto to continue carrying out activities related to the band. The member moved from Maringa to Curitiba in October 2010 and the distance of more than 400km truly complicated the logistics and costs for rehearsals and events. In addition, the abrupt change of environment took the frontman to develop strong allergic reaction that degrades the performance of his voice, a problem from which he never fully recovered.

After departing Arthur Migotto will remain involved with the metal scene through audio productions, one of his passions related to music, and with the future releases of his label Arthorium Records.

Currently, Hazy Hamlet promotes its second full-length album, Full Throttle, released in November 2013, and will continue scheduling events until the end of the year, when the breakup is made official. The band will use the remaining time to reflect if it will seek a new singer for the role or officially cease its activities.