Reformed 80s hard rock/heavy metal legends, Q5, have signed with Frontiers Music Srl.

Q5 was formed in 1983 by members of two popular Seattle bands: vocalist Jonathan K and guitarist (famous guitar tremolo inventor) Floyd Rose from The C.O.R.E. and Rick Pierce (guitar), Evan Sheeley (bass) and Gary Thompson (drums) from TKO. Q5 released its first album, Steel The Light, in 1984, receiving immediate critical acclaim, and landing them tours with Twisted Sister, Y&T and Lita Ford. The success of Steel The Light led them to eventually sign with Polygram/Squawk for their 1985 sophomore release, When The Mirror Cracks, but due to personal differences, the original lineup dissolved shortly after this release.

In 1991, Jonathan K and Rick Pierce started a new project called Nightshade with drummer Jeffrey McCormack and bassist Anthony Magnelli and released their first album, Dead Of Night. This album was partially comprised of material that was to be the third Q5 release, and it received worldwide critical acclaim. In 2009, when Nightshade was slated to perform at the Headbangers Open Air Festival in Germany, with Evan Sheeley on bass, the promoters asked if they would perform a second set as Q5 and the band agreed to do it. The fans response was overwhelming to say the least!

In 2014, Q5 was asked to perform at Sweden Rock Festival, a performance that the band had agreed would be a "one off" show, but at the completion of the performance, it was obvious that this was not an ending, but merely a beginning. Upon returning to Seattle, the band secured drummer Jeffrey McCormack (former Heir Apparent, Fifth Angel) again, and guitar virtuoso Dennis Turner to complete the lineup.

Steel The Light continues to be discovered and gain new fans all over the world. Critics are still touting the album as a "classic" and a "must have in any metalhead's collection". Bands such as Great White, Wolf, October 31 and many others have covered songs from the album, and fans are writing from all corners of the globe, eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the Q5 story...That chapter begins NOW!

“We are truly honored to be with Frontiers!” says drummer Jeff McCormack!

With a super strong lineup, a new label and an album slated for release in early 2016, Q5 is poised to take its rightful place in the hard rock / heavy metal history books.

This month, three albums by UK act Architects will be finally released on vinyl for the first time since their original release and various pre-ordering options are now available.

Since their formation in 2004, Brighton, England quintet Architects have been on a continual ascendancy from the depths of the UK’s metal and hardcore underground to leaders of the scene. Today, they are signed to world famous punk institution Epitaph Records and it was about time these modern classics of British metal/hardcore come out on vinyl as the band’s unique trademark mix of anthemic hardcore, complex metal riffing, inimitable groove and heaviness demands and deserves it.

All three albums will be released as standard LP on 180g vinyl with full-colour lyric sheet and labels as well as original artwork and also contain the particular album on CD as bonus.

Out on August 21st  in Europe:

Ruin - black LP+CD
Ruin - green LP+CD - 100 copies, exclusive to Green Hell mailorder
Ruin - clear LP+CD - 200 copies, US edition – presale starts soon

Hollow Crown - black LP+CD
Hollow Crown - green LP+CD - 100 copies, exclusive to Green Hell mailorder (EU)
Hollow Crown - red LP+CD - 200 copies, US edition – presale starts soon

Out on August 28th in Europe:

The Here And Now - black LP+CD
The Here And Now - green LP+CD - 100 copies, exclusive to Green Hell mailorder (EU)
The Here And Now - orange LP+CD - 500 copies, US edition – presale starts soon

Pre order your copy on black vinyl now via CMDistro.com, here.

The limited green vinyls can be pre-ordered at the following links:

- Ruin
- Hollow Crown
- The Here And Now

The US editions will be up for pre-ordering soon, stay tuned for further announcements.

Eagle Rock Entertainment has announced the release of Emerson, Lake & Palmer Live At Montreux 1997 on 2CD and digital formats, on September 11th.
 
This is the first ever release of the audio from this concert, which includes ELP classics from across their career including “Karn Evil 9” (“Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends”), “Hoedown,” “Take A Pebble,” “Lucky Man,” “Tarkus,” “Pictures At An Exhibition,” and “Fanfare For The Common Man.” Live At Montreux 1997 also boasts rare tracks that have never appeared on ELP studio albums such as “Touch And Go,” “Creole Dance,” and “Carmina Burana.”
 
In addition to the incredible set list, the included booklet features individual sleeve notes from Keith Emerson, Greg Lake and Carl Palmer.
 
Emerson, Lake and Palmer, known to all as ELP, were progressive rock’s first supergroup. Keith Emerson (keyboards) came from The Nice, Greg Lake (guitar, bass & vocals) from King Crimson and Carl Palmer (drums) from Atomic Rooster. Formed in 1970 they were an instant success and went on to have a series of huge selling albums throughout the seventies before splitting up in the early eighties. Reunited in the early nineties, they produced a new album, Black Moon, and began to tour again. In 1997 they embarked on a world tour which included this superb performance at Montreux on July 7th.

Tracklisting:

Disc One:
“Karn Evil 9 – 1st Impression, Part 2”  
“Tiger In The Spotlight”                
“Hoedown”  
“Touch And Go”
“From The Beginning”
“Knife Edge”
“Bitches Crystal”  
“Creole Dance”
“Honky Tonk Train Blues”  
“Take A Pebble”  
 
Disc Two:
“Lucky Man”
Medley: “Tarkus” / “Pictures At An Exhibition”  
Medley: “Fanfare For The Common Man” / “Rondo” / “Carmina Burana” / Carl Palmer’s Drum Solo / “Toccata In D Minor”
 

Swedish gothic metallers Draconian are back with a new masterpiece. Today the sextet has launched a teaser for the upcoming studio album, entitled Sovran, set to be released on October 30th via Napalm Records. The formation revolving around top-notch frontman Anders Jacobsson and new singer Heike Langhans delivers first-class songs that continue to prove the band's supremacy within the darkly genre.

The album artwork was created by Chioreanu Constin (Arcturus, Primordial, At The Gates , Arch Enemy).

Tracklisting:

“Heavy Lies The Crown”
“The Wretched Tide”
“Pale Tortured Blue”
“Stellar Tombs”
“No Lonelier Star”
“Dusk Mariner”
“Dishearten”
“Rivers Between Us” (featuring Daniel Änghede, Crippled Black Phoenix on vocals)
“The Marriage Of Attaris”
“With Love And Defiance” (Bonus Track)

Teaser:

Sovran is available as:

- Die Hard Fan Collectors Box: 6 Page Digipack, old school band logo pendant & album cover flag Limited worldwide to 300 copies and exclusively available via the Napalm Records Webstore
- Ltd. First Edition 6 Page Digipack & Bonus Track
- Ltd. to 100 copies in Gold 2LP Gatefold Edition & Bonus Track
- Black Vinyl 2LP Gatefold Edition & Bonus Track  

 

Hyaena is the new, long-waited album of progressive death metal legends Sadist. 

Produced and mixed by Tommy Talamanca at Nadir Music Studios in Genova, Italy, Hyaena is a compelling mix of the band's traditional death metal and progressive influences with ethnic and tribal sounds, centered around an intriguing concept about one of Africa's most fascinating predators, whose legend says is ridden by the devil. This is without any doubt the band's most mature, diverse and experimental album to date, in which every detail has been meticulously looked after, musically and visually. The cover artwork, tracklist and a videoclip for the first single 'The Lonely Mountain' will be released soon. 

Hyaena features a very special guest appearance by percussionist Jean N’Diaye, who will also follow the band on stage on the next tour, and will be available starting from October 16th on Scarlet Records.

Sadist recently launched a video teaser for Hyaena, their seventh studio album, featuring a medley of some new tracks.

For information and updates on Sadist go to this location.

(photo by Svetlana Fomina)

Emerging south west UK metal outfit, End Of Daze will release their debut album, Ascension, on September 14th. The album cut “The Skies Above” can now be heard streaming below.

Guitarist Jack Wood comments, "This song was one we really enjoyed writing, as there is a lot of melody and we all had a chance to be a part of the chorus. The chorus melody on guitar was the first thing written for this song, but we had it for months just waiting to use it. One day at practice we came up with the chord progression to go behind it and so I took the idea home and finished the whole song. I brought it to practice the following week, where everyone in the band had their input. Later, our producer Pash Stratton got in contact with David Seymour of the band Griever to do some guest vocals, he was very happy to do it for us, and he made the song levels above the original idea we had for the song."

Vocalist Harry Shooter adds, "When I wrote the lyrics to “The Skies Above”, I didn't really think much of it at the time and it was only a few weeks later when I started reading them that I realised that I was writing about some of the feelings I have about what goes on in our world today and how'd I'd rather see the world without all the war and corruption that all the people I care about could enjoy it (as I'd hope everyone else would too). I guess I wanted the lyrics to be reliable and nice to listen too, because you do get a lot of lyrics in metal about killing things and death and all that jazz and don't get me wrong I'm more than game for that! But I firmly believe metal is about expression and that’s what I do with my lyrics."

Hailing from Weymouth, End Of Daze are a passionate young quintet who combine elements of their collective favourite genres. From the melodic guitar work of bands such as Iron Maiden to the pure hate spouted from Australia’s Thy Art Is Murder, from the ever-evolving sounds of Slipknot to that of metalcore kings Parkway Drive. The result is a high energy and melodic sound driven by powerful verses, hard hitting breakdowns and blistering lead guitar work.

Recorded at SVM Studio in Poole with producer Pash Stratton, Ascension tells stories of personal experiences and incites strength in the face of adversity; big choruses and huge guitar driven passages is the end result.

Harry Shooter comments, "We had an amazing time in the studio and we're all so glad to finally have something to show for all our work. 'The Tables Have Turned' was probably the most fun to record because we wrote it in the studio... We each had as much input as the other which was different for us because for most of the songs, our guitarist Jack [Wood] would have written all the musical elements alone before bringing a first draft of a song to the practise room for us to refine."

Ascension tracklisting:

“Intro”
“Waiting”
“My Awakening” (Featuring Elona Holt)
“On Your Knees”
“The Tables Have Turned”
“The Skies Above” (Featuring David Seymour)
“With Bloodied Hands”
“Whispers”
“Renegade”

“The Tables Have Turned” lyric video:

On August 28th, måsstaden, the much celebrated 2011 debut album by Swedish modern progressive metal act Vildhjarta, will be released on vinyl for the first time ever.

Created in close cooperation with the band, this LP edition features 180g vinyl and an LP-sized booklet allowing you to delve into the amazing, conceptual art by Rickard Westman illustrating each song. The additional bonus CD offers a real treat for all Vildhjarta fans as it includes the previously unreleased instrumental version of the album inviting you to throw yourself into a maelstrom of polyrhythms, jarring riffs and Meshuggah-like heaviness.

måsstaden is available in the following vinyl colours and limitations:

- black LP+CD & LP-Booklet
- blue LP+CD & LP-Booklet à limited to 100 copies / EU-exclusive
- green LP+CD & LP-Booklet à limited to 200 copies / US-exclusive

The European pre-order via CMDistro is online now, click here. The North American pre-order will kick off soon, stay tuned for more info on that.

On August 21st, Century Media Records will reissue the classic 2011 debut album by UK prog-metal band, TesseracT, on vinyl. The album’s original vinyl version released in 2012 sold out long ago, these days achieves prices beyond 100 Euro and due to the constant high demand, a reissue was long overdue.

The album’s 2015 edition widely resembles the original with its partial glossy printed cover yet comes on a single 180g vinyl LP and trades in the previously instrumental bonus CD for the full regular album to not spoil the exclusivity of the first press.

Tracklisting:

Side 1
“Lament”
“Nascent”
“Sunrise”
“April”
“Eden”

Side 2 - Concealing Fate
“Acceptance”
“Deception”
“The Impossible”
“Perfection”
“Epiphany”
“Origin”

CD
“Lament”
“Nascent”
“Acceptance” - Concealing Fate Part One
“Deception” - Concealing Fate Part Two
“The Impossible” - Concealing Fate Part Three
“Perfection” - Concealing Fate Part Four
“Epiphany” - Concealing Fate Part Five
“Origin” - Concealing Fate Part Six
“Sunrise”
“April”
“Eden”

“Nascent” video:

“One” will be released in the following vinyl colours & limitations:

- black LP+CD – not limited, available worldwide
- clear LP+CD – limited to 100 copies; CMDistro.com (EU) exclusive!
- blue LP+CD – limited to 800 copies; distributed via RED Music in North America
- red LP+CD – limited to 200 copies; US exclusive

TesseracT  have announced an all new LP titled Polaris, due out September 18th via their UK label home Kscope and a partnership with eOne Music in North America. Ahead of the release, the band are giving fans worldwide a chance to hear a new album track “Messenger.” The single is available for iTunes purchase and as an instant gratification track for those who pre order the album. Vocalist Dan Tompkins comments on the track:  

"The concept of our new album, Polaris is simple; it is about the transient nature of universal truth. There is no such thing as an absolute fixed human concept that will forever be the truth. Perhaps that is a message most of us can't or don't want to listen to but 'Messenger' highlights an ever growing awakening from the onslaught of the social conditioning we’re exposed to everyday from the media. The truth constantly obscured and the public subdued by 'Casting fear into doubt.'"

"TesseracT has been through a roller coaster of a ride since our first EP," says the band. "We seemed to always have been filling the holes in our ship's hull to stop this ship from sinking, as we raced around the world time and time again."

The new LP will followup to the Altered State LP that was released in 2013. The new album will be the band’s third studio album and first for Kscope and eOne.

“Polaris, is a different scenario. The first chance for us as a group to stop and take stock of what we are right now, to explore a TesseracT of melody, dynamics, and singular focus. For the first time, too, we feel free from the bounds of genre specific expectations."

Tracklisting:

“Dystopia”
“Hexes”
“Survival”
“Tourniquet”
“Utopia”
“Phoenix”
“Messenger”
“Cages”
“Seven Names”

Trailer:

Over the course of the last six years, TesseracT have been at the forefront of the ever-evolving metal scene. Originally formed as a studio project by guitarist Acle Kahney, TesseracT immediately eschewed all well-established notions of what metal should sound like and swiftly became a unique and daring entity. Acle had recruited a line-up worthy of his groundbreaking compositions and the band embarked upon a quest to inject some originality and excitement back into an often myopic and lazy British metal scene. The longstanding line up of drummer Jay Postones, guitarist James Monteith, bassist Amos Williams have recently welcomed back vocalist Dan Tompkins, whose first show back with the band was on the main stage at last year’s UK Sonisphere Festival.

The debut album One received widespread critical acclaim, not least due to the album’s staggering six-part centerpiece "Concealing Fate”, which brilliantly showcased the band’s pioneering sonic approach and unstoppable arsenal of off-kilter riffs, soaring melodies and disorientating atmospherics. The primarily acoustic Perspective EP emerged in May 2012 to an effusive response from critics and fans alike and shortly after, their status as progressive metal’s most fascinating new creative force was very publicly celebrated when TesseracT picked up the Best New Band trophy at 2012’s inaugural Progressive Music Awards in London. Not wasting any time the band released their second album Altered State in early 2013 again to worldwide media acclaim.

Having found a new creative energy after reuniting Tompkins, the highly anticipated new opus will be an evolution from Altered State. Fans can expect more experimentation with sounds and tones, and deeper exploration into the core attributes that define TesseracT’s trademark sound.

 

During his recent 18 & Live US tour, vocalist Sebastian Bach documented various points of the jaunt, offering up behind-the-scenes video, meet & greet footage, live video, and soundboard recordings. Check out two new live clips posted by Bach below:

Bach recently announced live dates for Australia and New Zealand this September as part of his 18 And Live World Tour 2015. He recently spoke with Spotlight Report about the upcoming trek and his career in music. An excerpt from the interview is available below.

SR: Give ‘Em Hell has been a huge hit. It’s still really heavy, but more melodic. Was that something you intended before you started production?

SB: "No. It’s so hard to explain to somebody who doesn’t make records what making records is. You go into a room with nothing, right? And you’re supposed to come out of there a couple of weeks later with like 13 tunes that blow the whole world away!"

SR: No pressure.

SB: "Yeah. It’s like, go try it. It’s not easy. It’s a fuckin’ crazy process of heartache and trial and tribulation and hurting people’s feelings. It’s not an easy thing. You know, nothing good comes easy. But when I feel proud of an album, I am confident that when you press play, it’s going to whoop your fuckin’ ass. And every time, I’m like, 'Damn! This is some heavy shit!'"

SR: It’s a fantastic album. What feedback have you had, personally?

SB: "The songs that people are really relating to are ‘Temptation’ and ‘All My Friends are Dead.’ ‘Push Away’ we did a couple of times live and everybody loves that song live. And I can hit those notes live, which I don’t understand whatsoever. I thought, ‘There’s no way I can do that song live’, but for some reason, I can do it. Then, when I go on iTunes, it has the ratings of the most downloaded tunes of your album and the most downloaded song is 'Hell Inside My Head', so who knows. That’s the most downloaded tune. It’s weird. I’ll take it."

Go to this location for the complete interview.

Bach's tour chedule is as follows:

September
18 - Christchurch, New Zealand - Bedford 
19 - Auckland, New Zealand - The Studio
22 - Brisbane, Australia - Tivoli Theatre
23 - Sydney, Australia - Metro Theatre 
25 - Melbourne, Australia - Forum Theatre
26 - Adelaide, Australia - The Gov 
27 - Perth, Australia - Astor Theatre

A TV spot has been released for the tour, which can be viewed below:

Tickets are available at this location

Jack Antonio conducted an interview with KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch on the July 18 episode of "Do You Know Jack?" radio show. You can now listen to the chat using the Mixcloud player below.

Speaking about the progress of the songwriting sessions for KORN's follow-up to 2013's "The Paradigm Shift" album, Welch said: "We started writing a few weeks ago, and we have a bunch of ideas, so it's really coming out quickly. It's pretty danged heavy. I mean, we're really pleased with what's going on. But, you know, we're five guys in the band, so we just… we just want everyone to be happy with the album. We want everybody to be smiling at the end of the process. So we do have other things to consider. But, yeah, we're gonna come out heavier than anyone's heard KORN in a long time, I think. And just the beginning stages [of the writing process] are proof of that to me. So I'm excited."

Asked if performing KORN's self-titled debut album in its entirety at some of the recent shows influenced the heavier direction of the band's new material, Welch responded: "I think it's helped being on the SLIPKNOT tour last year and seeing the crowd and just seeing Jonathan [Davis, KORN singer] carry the… you know, lead the arena… in all the arenas we played. I think it sparked and reminded everybody in the band what KORN started out to be. And it's cool to go do other things, but, you know… I think it was all a journey, and that journey's leading us back to some of the more heavier roots and stuff this time. So… Who knows? Next record, who knows what'll happen."

Welch also talked about his forthcoming fourth book, "With My Eyes Wide Open", which is tentatively due in May 2016. He said: "You know what? It's really a funny book, and then it gets really deep. So it's, like, the first half, it seems to be funny, and then we start digging into some stuff. So it's basically just… it's about the hidden years when I left KORN and all the craziness and stupidity that I went through. But then also the funny times, like raising my daughter, and then going throughout the years, and then the whole KORN reunion thing, and then me nearly losing my daughter to a lot of self-harm and suicidal thoughts. She's okay now, but I lost her there for a little bit. So I go through all that, and she everything. It's a real and raw book. It's just… Gosh, my life is just so intense, you know, so it's good to write about, I guess. "

Welch's previous books include 2008's "Save Me From Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs, And Lived To Tell My Story", a young adult variation on that called "Washed By Blood: Lessons From My Time With Korn And My Journey To Christ" and 2010's "Stronger: Forty Days Of Metal And Spirituality".

Welch left KORN in 2005, got sober and embraced Christianity, saying that as a single father he did not want his daughter around the rock and roll lifestyle. He pursued a solo career for several years before rejoining KORN onstage in 2012 at a festival. He reunited with the group permanently in 2013 and recorded his first album with them in 10 years, "The Paradigm Shift".

Fan-filmed video footage of Berlin, Germany-based heavy metal blues rockers LUCIFER performing the song "Sabbath" on July 31 at Echoplex in Los Angeles, California can be seen below.

LUCIFER's debut album, "Lucifer I", was released on June 16 via Rise Above Records.

Following the premature demise of THE OATH, Johanna Sadonis wasted no time in creating a new beast to go beyond previous limitations.

Having released its debut single, "Anubis" earlier in 2015, LUCIFER has generated a significant buzz and the anticipation for "Lucifer I" was high. With the addition of Garry Jennings (ex-CATHEDRAL, DEATH PENALTY) as co-songwriter and studio guitarist, LUCIFER has moved forward into a realm of rock music which is very rare and very special in this time. Genuine, classic, heavy, studied and passionate are just a few words that instantly spring to mind upon first listen. LUCIFER's instinctive take on the very soul of early heavy metal is the electrified essence of rock'n'roll at its nascent purest. This is magic rock — heartfelt and holistic. Eschewing the now well-worn clichés of the "occult-rock explosion" in favour of a truthful and tempestuous re-imagining of classic '70s proto-metal and turbocharged blues, the eight songs on this band's debut album crackle and fizz with burgeoning energy and the compelling conviction of music made for all the right reasons. Although still firmly rooted in the fertile soil first cultivated by BLACK SABBATH, DEEP PURPLE, LED ZEPPELIN and BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, LUCIFER exist in a proudly liberated and limitless sonic realm, where the heaviest blues rock is a mere starting point for the band's skyward creative trajectory. "Lucifer I" track listing:

01. Abracadbra02. Purple Pyramid03. Izrael04. Sabbath05. White Mountain06. Morning Star07. Total Eclipse08. A Grave For Each One of Us

Leeds, U.K.-based rockers GENTLEMANS PISTOLS, who feature in their ranks CARCASS guitarist Bill Steer, have inked a deal with Nuclear Blast. The band's third album, "Hustler's Row", will be released on October 16.

Says GENTLEMANS PISTOLS vocalist and guitarist James Atkinson: "'Hustler's Row' is a cathartic journey through the last five years of my life. The album begins with questions of where my life is going and ends with me heading straight down 'Hustler's Row'; on a turbulent voyage of the sweetest sufferings and the most inexpensive of thrills. The artwork is by John Pearson and it encapsulates everything I put across in the title track, that 'Hustler's Row' is a place for freaks, losers, lovers and those searching for something more from life. So we invite you to join us on the 'Row'…"

The artwork shows a grisly dystopian vision of a British street, overflowing with violence, gloom and insanity. Rabid dogs and Hitchcock-esque ominous birds loom over the flailing limbs and blood red lettering spelling out "Hustler's Row".

"Our old guitarist, Chris Rogers, lived on a street called Hustler's Row in Leeds," adds Atkinson. "It's actually a really nice place, but, to me, the name evoked an image of a place of desolation and despair, so the lyrics I wrote have no connection to that street at all. It was Bill that thought it would make a good album title and it seemed to make sense as it is the final song on the album too."

"Hustler's Row" formats and track listings:

CD

01. The Searcher02. Devil’s Advocate On Call03. Time Wasters04. Private Rendezvous05. Stress And Confusion06. Personal Fantasy Wonderland07. Lady Teaser08. Dazzle Drizzler09. Coz Of You10. Hustler’s Row

Vinyl

Side A

01. The Searcher02. Devil’s Advocate On Call03. Time Wasters04. Private Rendezvous05. Stress And Confusion

Side B

01. Personal Fantasy Wonderland02. Lady Teaser03. Dazzle Drizzler04. Coz Of You05. Hustler’s Row

Says the group: "The album was recorded by singer/guitarist James Atkinson at Mutiny Studios in Bradford and reflects nearly five years of experience for the band: good times, bad times, boredom, exhilaration, heartache, frustration and wonder.

"With this album, we tried to make a record that we would want to listen to; one that was heavy but melodic, intense but catchy, thoughtful but unruly. A record for reprobates and romantics, for gentlemen and hustlers.ˮ

GENTLEMANS PISTOLS have been causing a stir on the underground for a while now with their debauched lyrics, melodic groove and general Yorkshire rock 'n' roll swagger. Formed as a three-piece back in 2003, the band has gone through a variety of lineup changes throughout its career and has now stabilized as a four-piece. GENTLEMANS PISTOLS' last album, "At Her Majesty's Pleasure", was released to great acclaim in 2011.

The band has performed at U.K. and international festivals such as Desertfest, Hammerfest, Long Division and Fuji Rock festival in Japan, and has previously toured with the likes of WITCHCRAFT, LEAF HOUND and PENTAGRAM.

In a 2013 interview, Steer stated about GENTLEMANS PISTOLS: "It's a very fun thing to do and very different from CARCASS in a lot of ways." GENTLEMANS PISTOLS are:

James Atkinson - vocals/guitarsBill Steer - guitarStuart Dobbins - drumsRobert Threapleton - bass

Fan-filmed video footage of SKID ROW's July 31 performance at the Skogsröjet festival in Rejmyre, Sweden can be seen below.

The new SKID ROW lineup — featuring former TNT singer Tony Harnell — made its live debut on May 22 at Living Sky Casino in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Harnell officially joined SKID ROW in April as the replacement for Johnny Solinger, who was the band's frontman for the past fifteen years.

In a recent interview with Canadian rock journalist Mitch Lafon of the "One On One With Mitch Lafon" podcast, SKID ROW bassist Rachel Bolan stated about the band's split with Solinger: "It was evident [that it was time for us to go our separate ways]. There were certain things going on out on the road that kind of set us thinking… Things had been going on for a little bit."

He continued: "At certain times, you just get the feeling someone isn't putting a hundred percent into things. And SKID ROW is very important to the rest of us. And we wanted to carry on with quality performances and quality songs, so we decided to make a change."

Regarding how Tony Harnell came to be SKID ROW's new singer, Rachel said: "We've known Tony for years — literally, probably since the beginning of our career. And although I wasn't a big TNT fan, I was a Tony Harnell fan, as [were SKID ROW guitarists] Snake [Dave Sabo] and Scott [Scotti Hill]."

He continued: "When we made the decision to ourselves that we were gonna start looking, Tony's name came up. And I was, like, man, it's so funny, 'cause a couple of years ago, I was up in New Jersey for Christmas and I met with Tony in New York and I had dinner with him and another friend. And we just started talking. And he's, like… He goes… We'd known each for a long time, but at that point we hadn't spoken for a while. He's, like, 'I hear you guys are doing good things. How's it going?' I said, 'It's going pretty cool.' He goes, 'Man, you guys should have called me when you got a new singer [back in 1999].' And I guess that kind of popped up in the back of my head when we knew we were gonna make a change. And we immediately got in touch with Tony."

Asked if SKID ROW is working with Harnell on a "trial" basis or if Tony is "the guy" for the long haul, Rachel said: "He's the guy. I mean, that's where we're at in our heads. It's not a temporary thing. But, you know… [laughs] if get gets sick of us and leaves, then that'll be a different situation. But things are going really well now. And we're very excited. We're very excited about our future, very excited about getting on the road."

Fly-on-the-wall footage of METALLICA's August 1 performance at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, Illinois can be seen below. The 19-minute clip, which was shot by a MetOnTour reporter, includes guitarist Kirk Hammett, bassist Robert Trujillo and drummer Lars Ulrich in the meet-and-greet, pre-show tuning-room footage, and "Wherever I May Roam" and "Am I Evil?" from the concert.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Fuel02. For Whom The Bell Tolls03. Wherever I May Roam04. King Nothing05. Disposable Heroes06. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)07. Cyanide08. The Unforgiven09. Sad But True10. One11. Master of Puppets12. Creeping Death13. Fade to Black14. Seek and Destroy

Encore:

15. Whiskey In The Jar16. Am I Evil?17. Nothing Else Matters18. Enter Sandman

As many as 300,000 people were expected to attend the three-day music event, which ran through Sunday.

METALLICA last appeared on the Lollapalooza bill back in 1996, when it was still a traveling festival. That year's lineup also featured SOUNDGARDEN and the RAMONES.

Lollapalooza was launched in 1991 as a farewell tour for JANE'S ADDICTION.

JANE'S ADDICTION singer Perry Farrell and the promoters turned it into a yearly traveling festival and showcase for a wide range of alternative music acts.

The tour's popularity declined later that decade, with the 1997 edition the last for several years.

Lollapalooza resurfaced one more time as a traveling festival in 2003 before morphing into a destination event and making Chicago its permanent home two years later.

SOUNDGARDEN vocalist Chris Cornell told U.K.'s Total Guitar magazine in a recent interview that he would be open to an AUDIOSLAVE reunion. Cornell said, "I think it would be great. We did a lot of songs, and with the benefit of not having done anything with those guys for so long, I can't imagine what it would be. It would be a really amazing experience just to get back and work with the same guys again."

Cornell continued, "We were certainly a prolific group of people; we wrote three whole albums in around five years, maybe less. And these were albums that were raw, and we had extra material, and we just never seemed to have trouble ever trying to agree on what would come out of the songs."

He added, "They were great guys, and I really enjoyed the experience that I had with them, so yeah, I would always be open to doing something."

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and AUDIOSLAVE guitarist Tom Morello told Radio.com recently that he would love to play again some day with Cornell, saying, "I love Chris and consider him a great friend."

AUDIOSLAVE came together in 2001 when Cornell teamed with the instrumental members of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE.

After the break-up of SOUNDGARDEN in 1997, Cornell attempted a solo career which didn't catch fire at the time.

AUDIOSLAVE made three albums, a self-titled 2002 debut, 2005's "Out Of Exile" and 2006's "Revelations", before Cornell left the group in 2007.

He eventually reunited with SOUNDGARDEN in 2010, while RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE intermittently performed live between 2007 and 2011.

Morello told The Pulse Of Radio not long after AUDIOSLAVE's demise that he had no hard feelings against Cornell for quitting. "You know, Chris I consider a good friend and I love that guy, you know, and we went through a lot together, both musically and personally," he said. "And it was, you know, my belief that the band's friendship and roots were deep."

CANDLEBOX has inked a deal with Pavement Entertainment. The band is currently writing and recording the follow-up to 2012's "Love Stories And Other Musings" album with producer Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland for an early 2016 release.

"CANDLEBOX is excited about being part of the Pavement Entertainment team. They have great roster of artists and all of us at CANDLEBOX are looking forward to a successful 2016," states frontman Kevin Martin.

"CANDLEBOX was, and still is, one of my favorite bands that emerged from the '90s," states Pavement Entertainment vice president and A&R man Tim King. "They are a band that has continued to stay true to their roots while still meeting with great success over three decades and multiple generations of fans."

CANDLEBOX is reigniting the flame this summer as it embarks on a summer and fall tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band's sophomore album, "Lucy". Released in 1995, "Lucy" was the successful follow-up to CANDLEBOX's debut and achieved gold certification thanks to songs like "Simple Lessons", "Best Friend" and the title track. The tour, which kicked off on July 23 in Lake Charles, Louisiana and run through the fall, will feature hits from "Lucy" as well as fan favorites. In other news, CANDLEBOX has confirmed a lineup change. After twenty-plus years of rocking the road and creating great music together, Peter Klett and Scott Mercado have decided to take a break from touring with CANDLEBOX. Parting ways amicably, Klett and Mercado have decided to devote their careers full time to LOTUS CRUSH and their other side projects. "I'm stoked that Pete and Scott are having such great success with LOTUS CRUSH and their other projects. I wish them nothing but the best," said Kevin Martin, lead singer for CANDLEBOX. Klett added: "It's time; there is nothing greater than playing music you've created in front of fans who love it with their heart and soul. That is what we have done with CANDLEBOX for 20-plus years. The wonderful people who have embraced us have done it with class. For that, Scott and I are extremely grateful."

The CANDLEBOX lineup continues with current member Adam Kury on bass and guitar, drummer Dave Krusen, who played with CANDLEBOX from 1996-2001 and was in PEARL JAM and was featured on the iconic "Ten" album, Mike Leslie and FOSTERCHILD guitarist Brian Quinn, who was labelmates and friends with Martin for years.

Finnish funeral doom duo, Tyranny - featuring within its ranks current and former members of Corpsessed and Wormphlegm among others - will unleash their first new studio offering in a decade this fall via Dark Descent Records.

Titled Aeons In Tectonic Interment, the record offers up five diseased psalms of slow, tortured, epically bowel-rupturing grimness. Composed, performed and tracked by members Matti Mäkelä and Lauri Lindqvist with additional percussion by Jussi-Pekka Manner and mastered by D. Lowndes at Resonance Sound Studio (Absu, Pallbearer, Profetus, Sigh, Wodensthrone etc.), Aeons In Tectonic Interment is at once spiritual and ill-omened; a fifty-one-minute soul-searing sound apocalypse where misanthropy, suffering and imminent ruin become one achieving purification through sonic decay.

Tracklisting:

“Sunless Deluge”
“A Voice Given Unto Ruin”
“Preparation Of A Vessel”
“The Stygian Enclave”
“Bells Of The Black Basilica”

Teaser:

 
Aeons In Tectonic Interment will see release via Dark Descent Records on CD, double LP and digitally on September 18th, with pre-orders and track samples to be revealed in the coming weeks.

(Photo - Peter Troest)

Modern melodic metal band, Every Hour Kills, has released their "Almost Human" music video from their upcoming self-titled EP, which comes out on September 18th.

The video, which was directed by Doug Cook is part of an online voting competition where the winning videos receive one of two $30,000 grants to produce a music video + documentary, receive training and mentorship opportunities, and distribution on TELUS Optik TV On Demand and online. You can vote for Every Hour Kills’ "Almost Human" here.

“The song is about addictions, vices and demons. Everybody has them in some form. Sometimes when you deal with these trials you feel isolated and alone, like an alien among your own kind. Like you're not quite human... The video concept illustrates this by showing the band in a cold, isolated environment being filmed only by futuristic robotic security cameras. They are forced to perform and give every ounce of energy they have to even have a chance of being set free…” - Sacha Laskow

 

Three years after releasing their self-titled studio album, Saint Diablo have finished their sophomore album, entitled Devil Horns And Halos, which was produced by Tim “Rumblefish” Gilles (Anthrax, Ill Nino) at Big Blue Meenie studios in Jersey City, NJ. The album will be released worldwide via Eclipse Records on November 13th.

The new album features ten ferocious metal tracks which capture the band’s abilities as songwriters and performers like they’ve never been showcased before. “Saint Diablo has written the best record of their career yet”, says producer Tim Gilles. “We’re definitely making a statement with this album!”
 
The cover art was designed by Jordan Stanley (Stanley Studios), and it conveys elements and themes of various songs within the album.

Tracklisting:

“Devil Horns And Halos”
“Survive This”
“Meet My Maker”
“Dark Horse”
“Ancient Astronauts”
“Trust Me”
“Last Fight”
“My Time”
“Adios En-Amigos”
“Reincarnation”
 
Catch Saint Diablo live:

August
27 - Fredericksburg, VA - Hard Times (with Superbob)

November
11 - Richmond, VA - The Canal Club (with Prong)

Saint Diablo is:

Tito Quinones (vocals)
Justin Adams (guitar)
Brian Bush (drums)
Tyler Huffman (bass)

 

In 1972, on the Sunset Strip at a club called the Rainbow Bar & Grill, the Hollywood Vampires were born in the upstairs bar. It was a gathering place for the rock stars living in or passing through L.A. "To join the club, one simply had to out drink all of the members," says Alice Cooper, a founding member of the Vampires. "I would walk in on a typical night," Alice says, "and John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Keith Moon — who would usually be in a costume like a maid or a chauffeur — Bernie Taupin, Jim Morrison and Mickey Dolenz would be there. The next week might be Bernie Taupin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Mickey Dolenz."

Three years ago, Alice and good friend Johnny Depp got together and decided the spirit of the Hollywood Vampires should live again (minus the drinking). An environment for great artists to hang, laugh and play together. The Hollywood Vampires live again with the release of the HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES album. Alice and Johnny were joined by Joe Perry, who is an old friend of both of them, and the recording began: a tribute to the original Hollywood Vampires.

For the next two years, Alice, Joe and Johnny, joined by producer Bob Ezrin and an amazing group of modern day vampires, including Perry Farrell, Dave Grohl, Sir Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, Slash, Robbie Krieger, Zak Starkey, Brian Johnson and Kip Winger, recorded tracks by their dead friends and heroes. Also included are two original songs that tell the story of the Vampires, one of which, "Raise The Dead", has an intro by Sir Christopher Lee, recorded just prior to his death.

The album package, an antique book, was created by noted men's fashion designer (and rock fan) John Varvatos in his signature vintage style. Alice and Varvatos, both Detroit natives, have been partners in fashion for several years with Alice lending his classic rock style as a brand ambassador.

A sneak peek at the liner notes, penned by original Hollywood Vampire Bernie Taupin, "I'm not here to defend their vices. Over-indulgence of any sort does not ultimately constitute for a healthy mind and body. And while on the periphery of those involved, wives may have come and gone, career choices may have been deemed dubious, and heartbreak in some cases stalked a dark corridor, but in the lair of the Hollywood Vampires only joy and laughter reigned."

"I'm not completely sure what constituted bad behavior back then, but in this lair it existed in a bubble, a hermetically sealed dome of fun. It may not have been the round table at the Algonquin, but these were witty, intelligent guys who often got raucous and loud, but rest assured there were no bystanders or animals hurt in the making of the Hollywood Vampires."

All artist proceeds will be donated to MusiCares.

"Hollywood Vampires" will be released on September 11.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. The Last Vampire02. Raise The Dead03. My Generation04. Whole Lotta Love05. I Got A Line06. Five To One/Break On Through07. One/Jump Into The Fire08. Come And Get It09. Jeepster10. Cold Turkey11. Manic Depression 12. Itchycoo Park 13. School's Out/Another Brick In The Wall Pt. 214. Dead Drunk Friends

Pre-order here.

* "The Last Vampire"

Narration: Sir Christopher LeeKeyboards and Sound Design: Johnny Depp, Bob Ezrin and Justin Cortelyou

* "Raise The Dead"

(Johnny Depp, Bruce Witkin, Tommy Henriksen, Alice Cooper, Bob Ezrin, Rob Klonel)Vocals: Alice CooperGuitars: Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen, Bruce WitkinDrums: Glenn SobelBass: Bruce WitkinBackground Vocals: Alice Cooper, Tommy Henriksen, Bob Ezrin

* "My Generation"

Vocals: Alice CooperGuitars: Johnny Depp, Tommy HenriksenBass: Bruce Witkin Drums: Zak StarkeyBackground Vocals: Tommy Henriksen,

* "Whole Lotta Love"

Vocals: Brian Johnson, Alice CooperGuitars: Joe Walsh, Johnny Depp, Orianthi, Tommy Henriksen, Bruce WitkinHarmonica: Alice CooperDrums: Zak StarkeyBass: Kip WingerProgramming: Tommy HenriksenBacking Vocals: Alice Cooper, Tommy Henriksen

* "I Got A Line"

Vocals: Alice Cooper, Perry FarrellGuitars: Joe Walsh, Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen, Bruce WitkinDrums: Abe Laboriel Jr.Bass: Kip WingerBackground Vocals: Perry Farrell, Tommy Henriksen, Bob Ezrin

* "Five to One/Break On Through"

Vocals: Alice CooperGuitars: Robby Krieger, Johnny Depp, Tommy HenriksenDrums: Abe Laboriel Jr.Farfisa: Charlie JudgeBass: Bruce Witkin

* "One/Jump Into The Fire"

Vocals: Alice Cooper, Perry FarrellGuitars: Robby Krieger, Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen, Bruce WitkinDrums: Dave GrohlBass: Bruce WitkinKeyboard: Bob Ezrin, Bruce WitkinProgramming: Tommy Henriksen

* "Come And Get It"

Vocals: Paul McCartney, Alice CooperGuitars: Joe Perry, Johnny DeppPiano: Paul McCartneyDrums: Abe Laboriel Jr.Bass: Paul McCartneyBackground Vocals: Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper, Abe Laboriel Jr., Bob Ezrin

* "Jeepster"

Vocals: Alice CooperGuitars: Joe Perry, Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen,Drums: Glenn SobelBass: Bruce WitkinProgramming: Tommy HenriksenBackground Vocals: Bob Ezrin

* "Cold Turkey"

Vocals: Alice CooperGuitars: Joe Perry, Johnny Depp, Tommy HenriksenDrums: Glenn SobelBass: Bruce WitkinProgramming: Tommy HenriksenBackground Vocals: Alice Cooper, Tommy Henriksen

* "Manic Depression"

Vocals: Alice CooperGuitars: Joe Walsh, Johnny Depp, Tommy HenriksenDrums: Zak StarkeyBass: Bruce WitkinPiano: Bob Ezrin

* "Itchycoo Park"

Vocals: Alice CooperGuitars: Johnny Depp, Tommy HenriksenDrums: Glenn SobelBass: Bruce WitkinProgramming: Tommy HenriksenBackground Vocals: Alice Cooper, Tommy Henriksen, Bob Ezrin

* "School's Out / Another Brick In The Wall Pt. 2"

Vocals: Alice Cooper, Brian JohnsonGuitar: Slash, Joe Perry, Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen, Bruce WitkinDrums: Neal SmithBass: Dennis DunawayBackground Vocals: Kip Winger, Bob Ezrin

* "Dead Drunk Friends"

(Johnny Depp, Bruce Witkin, Tommy Henriksen, Alice Cooper, Bob Ezrin)Vocals: Alice CooperGuitars: Johnny Depp, Bruce Witkin, Drums: Glenn SobelProgramming: Tommy HenriksenBass: Bruce WitkinPiano: Bruce Witkin, Bob EzrinBackground Vocals: Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp, Tommy Henriksen, Bruce Witkin, Bob Ezrin

In a brand new interview with Sticks For Stones, SOULFLY mainman Max Cavalera was asked if he has heard any of the SEPULTURA albums that were recorded following his departure from the group. "Fuck no!" Max responded. "I don't give a shit about SEPULTURA or what they're doing, you know. I just heard from fans that people don't like their albums, and they're shitty, and the band's just going down and down, and, I don't know… I really can't care, can't care less what they're doing. It don't concern me at all. I've got my things going, and, for me, it's just so sad to see a band that was so important and special in the '90s turn to shit like that so fast. But you know, whatever, that's what they're doing, but I've got my things, I've got my things to do, and, you know, I'm proud of what I did with them. We did great records and we did cool stuff, and that's there forever, you know, and I'll leave it at that."

Asked if he would still call his former bandmates in SEPULTURA friends, Max said: "Not really, 'cause there is a lot of animosity and, you know, bad vibes in that camp, and a lot of bad things happened between us and them. So, yeah, I wouldn't, man. You know, I really don't care. Like, you know, life goes on. For me, it's, like, I'm more focused on the moment, what I have in front of me and I have a lot in front of me. A lot of projects. I'm super excited for this new SOULFLY record, I'm excited for another KILLER BE KILLED record, and it's going to be great… So, you know, I've got to move on forward."

In 1996, Max exited SEPULTURA after the rest of the band fired Max's wife Gloria as their manager.

Igor left SEPULTURA in June 2006 due to "artistic differences." His departure from the band came five months after he announced that he was taking a break from SEPULTURA's touring activities to spend time with his second wife and their new son (who was born in January 2006).

Speaking about the prospect of a reunion of SEPULTURA's classic lineup, SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser told Capital Chaos TV on May 12: "I respect our past, but I'm not locked there; I'm not a prisoner of my past. I live the present very strongly, very intensively… But I respect the past and live the present intensively so we have a future, and not really be there trying to replicate or reproduce or copy stuff that it doesn't happen anymore.'

He continued: "I have great memories working with [Max and Igor], and we really did something really special, but they chose to leave a long time ago — Max in 1996, Igor ten years later, in 2006 — and I guess they're happy with their choice, and we had to deal with the good and the bad stuff of that choice. Max, when he left, he took the management, he took all the structure that SEPULTURA took ten years to build he took all the structure that SEPULTURA took ten years to build — the bridges of trust and confidence with the label and booking agent and the press. And it really showed us the bad guys of the situation, and Max took advantage [playing] the victim and stuff. But we passed over that. It's something that was really healthy for us, because we learned so much about business and management, and how to take care of your own stuff. And we are in a much better place now; I mean, there's no doubt about it. At the same time we were playing arenas and selling lots of albums [at the end of our time with Max], our situation backstage was pathetic; it was like a kindergarten, [like] kids fighting for candy. It was a very stupid situation. But, like I said, we are in a much better place, and now we can enjoy ourselves and go on stage and look to each other's face and really respect each other on stage. We're not doing it for money only."

Kisser added: "People [who are pushing for] a reunion, whatever, have this concept of SEPULTURA playing for money, and it's not gonna happen. I'm not gonna be a part of something that's gonna cheat our fans and that's gonna cheat myself. I'm not leaving my house, my family and my kids just to be a clown on stage. I'd rather be what I am, and if you like it, fine; if you don't like it, fine as well. I mean, you're free to do whatever you want; we're not forcing anyone to like or hate us."

KING DIAMOND will perform its classic second album, 1987's concept effort "Abigail", in its entirety on the band's upcoming U.S. tour in the fall. Support on the trek, which will begin on October 29 and run through December 5, will come from legendary San Francisco Bay Area thrash metallers EXODUS.

KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque told Artisan News about the making of the "Abigail" album (see video below): "I've actually got some great memories [from the recording sessions for the LP]. I remember the whole studio thing pretty well, actually. Back in… I think we started back in December 1986 to record it, after we got back from some touring and stuff, and some writing too, and rehearsing, of course. [It was a] very cold winter back in Copenhagen, you know. We spent about two months, I think, with the recording and the mixing. And the whole recording process, I thought, was very, very creative, and I think we just captured an amazing atmosphere on the whole album, which still, when you listen to it today, is, like, 'Wow!' You get back to the feel you had for it while you recorded it. So it's still a very cool and special album to me."

KING DIAMOND tour dates:

Oct. 29 - Denver, CO @ The FillmoreOct. 31 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The ComplexNov. 02 - San Francisco, CA @ The WarfieldNov. 05 - Los Angeles, CA @ The WilternNov. 08 - Tucson, AZ @ The Rialto TheatreNov. 09 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of BluesNov. 13 - San Antonio, TX @ The Aztec TheatreNov. 15 - New Orleans, LA @ The Civic AuditoriumNov. 16 - Atlanta, GA @ The TabernacleNov. 21 - New York, NY @ Best Buy TheatreNov. 24 - Boston, MA @ OrpheumNov. 25 - Philadelphia, PA @ The FillmoreNov. 27 - Chicago, IL @ Aragon BallroomNov. 28 - Detroit, MI @ The FillmoreNov. 30 - Minneapolis, MN @ MythDec. 02 - Tulsa, OK @ Club BradyDec. 04 - Houston, TX @ House of BluesDec. 05 - Dallas, TX @ House of Blues

The general on-sale for tickets begins Friday, August 7 at 10 a.m. ET.

KING DIAMOND in 2002 released an album called "Abigail II: The Revenge", which was said to feature a storyline that was the sequel to the original "Abigail" LP.

La Rocque last month said that KING DIAMOND hasn't officially started working on material for the follow-up to the band's 2007 album "Give Me Your Soul...Please", but he talked about a possible direction for the next CD. He said: "Hopefully the sound of the album is gonna be better. I don't really know about the story or… I've got some riffs and such that I wrote a few years back, actually, but I have to go back and check that to see if that still can be used. I don't know about that, because we get new ideas all the time. So we'll see about that. But I'm sure we're gonna have some fresh, good ideas for the next album, that's for sure. And when that's gonna happen, we don't really know."

Fan-filmed video footage of IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris's solo/side project BRITISH LION performing a brand new song, "Spitfire", on August 4 at Live Rooms in Chester, United Kingdom can be seen below.

BRITISH LION's debut album sold around 3,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 3 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

"British Lion" was released in the U.S. on September 25, 2012 via Universal Music Enterprises (UMe). Mixed by Kevin Shirley — whose credits include IRON MAIDEN as well as Led ZEPPELIN, JOURNEY and RUSH, among many others — the CD, which features Harris alongside vocalist Richard Taylor, guitarists Graham Leslie and David Hawkins and drummer Simon Dawson, presents a different side of the bassist's musical visions.

"British Lion" comprises ten songs that Steve and his collaborators have been working on between IRON MAIDEN tours and releases and is described by Harris as "'70s-influenced, British-sounding hard rock." "I'd say it's more mainstream rock than metal... and quite commercial… but good commercial," he said. "There's all kinds of stuff going on, with nods to THE WHO and UFO and some classic British rock bands, but it's not the progressive rock album some might be expecting."

BRITISH LION has just embarked on a 22-date U.K. tour. Support on the trek is coming from THE RAVEN AGE, the band led by Steve's son George Harris.

Said Steve: "As MAIDEN fans know, the band is unable to tour this year so I thought I'd do some BRITISH LION live dates and make it a full U.K. tour this time round so we could get to places we didn't get a chance to play during the previous tours.

"We have a lot of fun doing the BRITISH LION shows and we're playing clubs again to keep that same vibe and intimacy which the fans seem to love as much as we do.

"We have some new songs in the setlist, so are really looking forward to getting out there and seeing everyone!"

A three-minute video clip of the members of KORN performing and talking about their song "Daddy" from their self-titled debut album can be seen below.

KORN performed its self-titled debut album from front to back for the first time in the U.S. on March 14 at the Brooklyn Bowl in Las Vegas. The performance commemorated last year's 20th anniversary of the 1994 record's release, and featured just the second-ever live airing of "Daddy", which was last played in concert in 1995. The song was written about singer Jonathan Davis's experiences with being molested as a child.

"It was crazy, 'cause the song 'Daddy', we started playing that…. We hadn't played that since, like, 1994-1995, just 'cause Jonathan's really… it's really emotional for him," KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch told Metal Hammer. "But he said he still gets emotional doing it some nights, but he just… he says, 'I'll do it for the fans.' And, I mean, every night there's somebody crying in the front row, 'cause there's a lot of people that have been abused. It's really special to play that song. It's a dark song — it feels dark and everything — but it's kind of like therapy, I think, for people."

KORN officially announced the details of a fall North American tour on which the band will perform its self-titled 1994 debut album in its entirety at every stop. The trek kicks off on October 1 in Chicago, winding down a month later on October 30 in Oakland.

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

Guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer told Loudwire how it felt to revisit the material from the band's first album, saying: "You can tell we were just kids and we were developing, uncovering and polishing a sound that we didn’t know was going to take off so much."

KORN's self-titled debut was released on October 11, 1994.

It went on to sell more than 10 million copies worldwide and featured the band's first classic, "Blind".

The album is credited with launching the nu-metal movement of the 1990s, setting the template for albums from bands like DEFTONES, LIMP BIZKIT, COAL CHAMBER and others.

Brazilian metallers Almah, led by ex-Angra singer Edu Falaschi, have entered the studio to record their fifth, as-yet-untitled album, the follow-up to 2013’s Unfold. Almah’s drummer Pedro Tinello has begun recording drums at the studio IMF in São Paulo.

The album is set for release in early 2016, the material will be produced by Edu Falaschi and co-produced by his brother and IMF studio owner Tito Falaschi.

Edu Falaschi has the following to say: “I'm looking forward to showing the new songs to all the fans! This fifth album is really emotional, it's getting powerful and full of positive emotions! I feel it like I felt in the Rebirth times! Perhaps the fans will feel the same!”

Almah was established in 2006 by Edu Falaschi who was Angra’s frontman at that time and released four studio albums. The latest studio effort Unfold was released at the end of 2013 via Scarlet Records. Unfold World Tour started at Rock In Rio 2013 festival, passed through various countries in South America and Europe and will be finalized on September 10th at ProgPower Festival in USA where Almah is going to share stage with Saxon, Dragonland, Armored Saint at kick-off show.

Almah is:

Edu Falaschi – vocals
Marcelo Barbosa – guitars
Raphael Dafras – bass
Diogo Mafra – guitars
Pedro Tinello - drums

Chilean thrash metal band Warchest are streaming their new album, Downfall in full. The album was released in North America via Digmetalworld Records and it will be distributed via MVD Entertainment Group by the second half of this year. Listen to Downfall below.

Warchest’s second full length album was recorded at Pignoize by Jose Tomas Garcia. The drum tracks were recorded at AudioCustom by Cristian Olivares, both in Santiago, Chile. The album was mixed and Mastered also by Jose Tomas Garcia. The art cover was created by the Colombian artist Sergio Gaviria at Division Designed in Cali Colombia.

Downfall tracklisting:

“My Hell”
“New Anarchy”
“Downfall”
“21st Century Violence”
“Blind Man Stands”
“Insurrection”
“Parasite”
“Fake Disciple”
“Riots To Destroy”

Downfall by WARCHEST

“New Anarchy” lyric video:

Warchest is:

Christian Peláez: Guitars/Vocals
JT: Bass
Christiansen Oros: Drums
Tomás Kelly: Guitars

 

Norwegian progressive death metal band, Defect Designer, have released a new music video, for their track “StarDust”. Check it out below:

The band are streaming their second full-length, Ageing Accelerator, out now via Sleaszy Rider Records. Order at Bandcamp.

Born out the darkness of Siberia and re-located on the shores of Oslo, Norway in 2012, Defect Designer returns in 2015 with their new album Ageing Accelerator features a brutal recording lineup that includes drummer Flo Mounier (Cryptopsy), guitarist Stelios Mavromitis (SepticFlesh live guitarist),  Martin Storm-Olsen (ex-Trollfest) on guitars and clean vocals, Christos Antoniou (SepticFlesh) for sampling and orchestration along with Dmitry Sukhinin on vocals, bass and guitars.

"After the first lineup dissolved I was so desperate that I wrote to few people and got the recording lineup," explains Dmitry Sukhinin. "SepticFlesh's Seth proposed his brother Christos to help with orchestration, Christos proposed SepticFlesh's live guitar player Stelios to do guitars, Flo from Cryptopsy did the drums, cause actually he was my main drum inspiration. I did bass, and during the recording I met Martin who was in Trollfest before, he did clean vocals and some solos along with my solos. Then the real line up started to build up and we have Anders from Blood Red Throne. As for me, I also play in Oslo jazz death metal Diskord."

 

 

Defect Designer tracklisting:

“Corpsewatcher”
“Yellow Grimace”
“The Terrible”
“I Remember You Dead”
“Flies On Your Lips”
“Crusaders”
“Berenice”
“Communist Architectonics”
“Temple Of Artemis”
“StarDust”

Album stream:

Ageing Accelerator by Defect Designer

"Crusaders" video:

“Yellow Grimace” lyric video:

(Photo - Polina Helvete Kulikovskikh)

 

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

Check out the new video for “Crypt Key”:

Front woman Dorthia Cottrell firmly establishes herself as one of today's most powerful vocalists by perfectly balancing beauty with enormous force, and the twin-guitar attack of Garrett Morris and Asechiah Bogdan weaves together nine songs of perfect riffs and fuzzed-out bliss. That often-delicate splendor is all tempered by the colossal rhythmic mastery of bassist Parker Chandler and drummer Ryan Wolfe, whose lower-register expertise serves as the backbone of the new record. Though the first two Windhand albums were underground classics, Grief's Infernal Flower stands to see Windhand cementing themselves as one of the premier metal bands of our time. The album will be released via Relapse Records on September 18th.

Grief's Infernal Flower tracklisting:

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

“Two Urns”:

Windhand tour dates:

September
18 - Richmond, VA - Strange Matter

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

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

# - with Danava and Monolord
^ - with Monolord

 

 

Windhand is:

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

(Photo - Jordan Vance)