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)

"Legion Of Lies", the new video from ACT OF DEFIANCE, the band featuring former MEGADETH members Shawn Drover (drums) and Chris Broderick (guitar), alongside ex-SCAR THE MARTYR singer Henry Derek Bonner, and SHADOWS FALL's Matt Bachand (bass), can be seen below. The track is taken from ACT OF DEFIANCE's debut album, "Birth And The Burial", which will be released on August 21 via Metal Blade Records.

"Birth And The Burial" track listing:

01. Throwback02. Legion Of Lies03. Thy Lord Belial04. Refrain And Re-Fracture05. Dead Stare06. Disastrophe (A New Reality)07. Poison Dream08. Obey The Fallen09. Crimson Psalm10. Birth And The Burial

Pre-order the album at MetalBlade.com.

In a time of endless sub-genre classifications being thrown at bands, ACT OF DEFIANCE cut to the quick, offering 100-percent in-your-face, uncompromising metal. "If you invited fans of all kinds of metal — from thrash to Scandinavian metal to modern American metal — and had them all in a mosh pit, ACT OF DEFIANCE would be their soundtrack," asserts Broderick.

Having a deep-seated respect for each other, Broderick and Drover share a very complementary writing style, instinctively getting where the other is coming from.

"Shawn knows metal inside and out," says Broderick. "He's always been a metalhead, so we come from the same musical background, and we get that world. We didn't really talk about what we might do next until after we had both left MEGADETH, and we were like, well, we came up with all of these great riffs for MEGADETH that were never used, so we decided to use some of those for the basis of what we were going to do with ACT OF DEFIANCE. Out of that spawned a burst of creativity and a lot of newer material, and it was all really exciting and what we really wanted this band to be."

Drover is very much on the same page, believing the two have a special chemistry that goes beyond their musical collaborations. "Having the same vision of what we want to do musically, from a business perspective, and in terms of what we want to achieve with this band, is a really important factor," he says. "It means we can concentrate on making the best music and we can and look at the overall picture, instead of squabbling about who should get more songwriting credit and unimportant crap, which often leads to the demise of so many bands. As far as we are concerned, the body of music we create is what matters."

While Bachand is better known for his work on six rather than four strings, coming into the band he stepped up straight away, impressing Broderick and Drover with his adaptability and playing style. "I'd met Matt many times before and he's a great guy and an all-around great musician," Chris says. "He plays bass like a bass player, which was awesome for me, because when I demoed the songs it was pretty much laying down the bass just so it had some lower notes and then moving on! But he came in and he spent the time and made them into really nice bass lines that added an extra dimension to the songs, which not all guitarists can do, and he really gets what we're trying to achieve with this band."

The final piece of the puzzle fell into place with Henry Derek Bonner, who was recruited following an extensive search. Determined that the band needed to be fronted by a vocalist who was not limited to the standard practice of screamed vocals or clean vocals, they demanded versatility, and Derek delivered. "We started from a list of I'd say 30 vocalists, and we worked that down to a shortlist, and we sent everyone on that a demo to lay some vocal tracks over, and when they all came back we knew Henry was our guy," Drover enthuses. "He can do the super-heavy, growling vocals, he can do the really melodic clean vocals, but he can also do everything in between, and he has the ability to really build and shift within that range," adds Broderick. "The other really cool thing I really like is that his really heavy singing still has pitch to it. There are these really melodic lines even in his heaviest vocals."

It takes only one exposure to "Birth And The Burial" to become abundantly aware that this is not the sound of a bunch of guys screwing around. Kicking things off with first single "Throwback" they throw down the gauntlet, the track erupting in a cascading lead before launching into a breakneck thrash attack, sounding very much like four guys ready to fight, its massive chorus only upping the ante. The merciless intensity displayed is a mode they return to often, "Thy Lord Belial", "Dead Stare" and "Disastrophe" particularly upping the adrenaline and sure to cause mosh pit carnage. However, groove and dark melody are as important as flat out riffing, kicking up plenty to inspire mass headbanging and fist-in-the-air excitement, and they also have their more brooding, atmospheric moments, "Poison Dream" and "Obey The Fallen" possessing a somberness alongside their compelling sonic violence. Fans of Broderick's previous work are aware of his incredible talent when it comes to shredding, and on "Birth And The Burial" he unleashes some of his most breathless and compelling soloing to date, finding the perfect marriage between technicality and melody.

"I really loved the luxury of being able to look at the rhythm behind the solo and have it support the kind of soloing I wanted to do," he says. "What I really like to do is listen to the rhythm and imagine what I want to hear, whether it's a harmonic, rhythmic kind of sixteenth note kind of thing, or a melody that is really haunting and eerie. After I flesh some of that out I let my inspiration take me as I'm creating the solo. I've never been one to typically improv a solo and say that's it, and I wanted every one on this record to really have a life of its own."

Thematically, the band explore their own personal experiences, focusing on some of the harder truths, the aggression of the music the perfect vehicle for expressing such sentiments. "'Poison Dream' is about somebody being consumed by a dream of fame or power or money, and how they will sacrifice anything to get that, while 'Legion Of Lies' is about a person who is constantly casting out negativity and betrayal and trying to deceive those around him, but we hope that fans will take these lyrics and put their own personal meaning to them," Chris says. "You never want to make them so specific to any particular situation, and I think a lot of these experiences are really relatable."

The album title is lifted from the anthemic closing track of the same name, focusing on a person burning their bridges with friends and those they have worked with in past, and asking them to look for forgiveness before it's too late. "The line 'you reap what you sow, the birth and the burial' — to me, that really sums it up, because what you do in life will reflect in the time that you die, and I thought that was really cool in the way it tied into the record," Broderick says.

With recording split between three studios in three different states, Broderick handled vocal and guitar production at his own Ill-Fated Studio in Los Angeles, Chris "Zeuss" Harris (ROB ZOMBIE, REVOCATION, MUNICIPAL WASTE) worked with Drover tracking the drums in Dexter's Lab in Milford, Connecticut, while Bachand laid down his bass at ManShark, in Southampton, Massachusetts. While the band had a lot of work to do, when they headed into the studio things ran very smoothly.

"We had pretty much everything demoed by the time we started recording," Chris says. 'We would change things as we were doing the final takes, but for the most part we knew exactly what we were playing, and from there it was a case of making sure we got really good takes." With artwork courtesy of Travis Smith (AVENGED SEVENFOLD, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) and their logo and emblem the work of Van Williams (formerly of NEVERMORE and currently of GHOST SHIP OCTAVIUS) the band focused on ensuring every element of their presentation had meaning to it, wanting to offer fans the proverbial full package, and they have every intention of being around a while.

"I want ACT OF DEFIANCE to be a hard working, heavy metal road-dog band, and we really do have what's almost a blue collar sensibility and perspective," Drover states plainly. "We know we are going to have to earn this and that we can't rest on what any of us have done previously, and that is something we are more than willing to do. Believe me."

Band photo credit: Stephanie Cabral

Swedish death metal veterans GRAVE have completed recording their new album, "Out Of Respect For The Dead", for an October release via Century Media.

Three years have passed since the release of GRAVE's last opus, "Endless Procession Of Souls", that was followed by a European headlining tour together with SONNE ADAM, the release of the vinyl-only "Morbid Ascent" EP and another tour with labelmates ENTOMBED A.D.

Since fall 2014, GRAVE has been working on the follow-up to "Endless Procession Of Souls". And it has turned out to be one of the angriest and most evil albums of the band's career.

A track from the new CD, "Redeemed Through Hate", can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

GRAVE is:

Ola Lindgren - guitar, vocalsMika Lagrén - guitarTobias Cristiansson - bass, vocalsRonnie Bergerstål - drums

Swedish rockers GRAVEYARD will release their fourth full-length album, "Innocence & Decadence", on September 25 via Nuclear Blast. The CD was recorded at Atlantis Studios in Stockholm, Sweden with Janne Hansson (ABBA, THE HIVES, OPETH) and Johan Lindström (TONBRUKET).

"Innocence & Decadence" will be released in various formats (vinyl look digipak, digital download, black/clear/splatter/orange/green/bi-coloured vinyl as well as a t-shirt/CD bundle). Pre-order your copy here.

The official trailer for "Innocence & Decadence" is available below.

Commented the band: "Got a new album coming your way in September called 'Innocence & Decadence'. It's gonna be an album filled to the rim with a little bit of this — and for all of those who might wonder or worry, there will be quite a lot of that on it as well.

"We've had a great time recording the album at the 'gemytliga' Atlantis Studios in Stockholm together with Janne Hansson and Johan Lindström. And after kinda being away from our daily routine as a touring band and the thrill of a new album on its way... we wanna leave you with.

"Good to be gone, great to be back and let there be September!"

Find the stunning cover artwork for "Innocence & Decadence" below.

SLIPKNOT performed Tuesday night (August 4) in Mansfield, Massachusetts without the band's bass player, Alessandro "Vman" Venturella, who was rushed to a hospital two days earlier just six songs into the group's concert in Hartford. According to reports, Venturella was at the venue for last night's concert and played bass from behind the stage, but did not join his bandmates during the show.

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

Speaking to Mistress Carrie of the Worcester/Boston, Massachusetts radio station WAAF on Monday (August 3), SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor stated about Venturella's condition: "I can say that Alex is okay. We're being told that it was a dehydration problem that led to… Basically, he just kind of lost consciousness. The doctor said he's okay. He's been discharged from the hospital. He's gonna need plenty of rest, but we are not planning on canceling any shows. So, right now, we're just kind of looking at… basically, trying to balance what we need to do for the fans against what we need to do for Alex's health. We're just kind of playing it by ear right now. Luckily, we [had] a day off [on Monday], so he [could] kind of get some rest and get some fluids and everything. He's got a whole regimen that the doctor wants him to do and make sure he's taking care of himself. But the good news is that he's okay, [and] he's feeling better. And it just comes down to making sure that you take care of yourself."

SLIPKNOT guitarists Jim Root and Mick Thomson reportedly handled most of the bass duties on the band's latest album, ".5: The Gray Chapter", with some help from Venturella and former touring bassist Donnie Steele. Taylor spoke to the "Talk Is Jericho" podcast about how SLIPKNOT eventually decided to hire Venturella to finish out the record and join the band on the road. He said: "[The way] Vman [came into SLIPKNOT] was a little different [from the way drummer Jay Weinberg did], because we had a couple of people that we were looking at and that we had actually worked with, and it just wasn't vibing. Nothing against them technically — it just wasn't vibing. And I think Jim was actually the one who said, 'For now, let's bring Vman in. He can handle it.' 'Cause the dude is a ripper. A lot of people don't know that. We met him through MASTODON, so we've known him a long time, and Jim knew just how good he was. So he came in, and he just started handling it. And he's so easy to hang out with. He's such a great dude. And it just got better and better and better and better and better. And the question got brought up towards the end of the album. It was, like, 'What are we gonna do live?' And we were, like, 'What do you mean? He's coming with us.' It was a slower burn for him, because we had tried a couple of other people. But it worked so well that it was just, like, 'Okay, this is it.' And then it was trial by fire, 'cause now you're jumping out of the airplane. The first gig was Knotfest in front of 25,000 people. That was their first gig. But it came off, man, and it's just gotten better. It never gets easier, but it's gotten better."

SLIPKNOT's original bassist Paul Gray passed away in May 2010 from an accidental overdose of drugs.

SLIPKNOT's "Summer's Last Stand" tour kicked off on July 24 in West Palm Beach, Florida and is scheduled to hit Holmdel, New Jersey on Wednesday night (August 5).

Fan-filmed video footage of FLOTSAM AND JETSAM's July 28 performance at Sticky Fingers in Gothenburg, Sweden can be seen below.

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM singer Eric "A.K." Knutson told From Hero To Zero last month about the band's forthcoming follow-up to 2012's "Ugly Noise": "We're working on a new record now, and most of it's been done… actually, some at Mike's [Gilbert, guitar] house, some at Steve's [Conley, guitar] house, some at my house… So it's actually coming along very nicely… We go home [to Arizona] in a couple of weeks [following the completion of the European tour], and I finish the vocals for the new record, which we don't have a title for yet. The new record has songs that sound like they came from the '80s, some songs that sound like they came from the middle of our career, and some songs that sound like they're brand new, and they're all on one record together. So it's kind of difficult to come up with a concept or a name for it. So we're not quite sure what we're gonna do there yet. But the music is basically done; I just need to go home [and] finish vocals, and then we come back to Europe for another four or five weeks, and hopefully have the album out before the end of the year."

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM last year parted ways with guitarist Edward Carlson and bassist Jason Ward and replaced them with Steve Conley and Michael Spencer, respectively. The band also recruited SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner after Kelly Smith left the group in November 2014 to focus on caring for his family.

Spencer stated about the new FLOTSAM AND JETSAM material: "There's a great, old-school thrash vibe going on with the direction of the songs and what originally influenced the band, mixed with a little of what we like about today's sound, in metal."

"The Ride Majestic", the tenth studio album from Sweden-based melodic death metal experts SOILWORK, will be released worldwide on August 28 via Nuclear Blast.

In preparation for the CD's release, SOILWORK has created a two-part mini-documentary inviting fans and newcomers alike to take an inside look at the band's history. Check out part two below.

Joining SOILWORK on tour in support of the effort will be new bassist Markus Wibom, formerly of Helsingborg hardcore group HEARTS ALIVE. Wibom replaces longtime bandmember Ola Flink, who has amicably left the group to focus on other endeavors. Wibom has been a personal friend of the band for many years and has previously toured with SOILWORK as a guitar tech and lighting designer. Wibom made his live debut with SOILWORK in Stockholm on April 30. Vocalist Björn "Speed" Strid states: "We all, sooner or later, come to a crossroad in our lives when our focus of being fueled by the past is just as strong as our visions of the future and we have to make that incredibly hard decision. Where do I go now?

"Flink will forever be a symbol for SOILWORK and of all we were and still are about. That being said, we all could sense that he eventually would come to the above mentioned crossroad. He understandably and respectfully chose to step down. "So, where do WE go now? Let me introduce you to one of the finest and most stand-up people I know: Markus Wibom. He's been a longtime friend and is an overall multi-instrumental amazing musician. He's been with us before, on past world tours. He's also an amazing character and I couldn't think of a better person to fill Flink's shoes, which indeed are very big… literally. (Markus's shoe size is actually even bigger, if anybody wants to know)

"Anyway, as much as I will miss Flink, I'm just as excited to tour the world with one of my absolute best friends.

"Thank you, Flink; you will forever rule. Thank you, Markus, for taking this on. I know you will blow people's minds, once the world tour of 'The Ride Majestic' commences.

"Please give Markus a very warm welcome, everyone!" Wibom adds: "It's a great honor and a true pleasure to play with such skilled musicians and amazing people! It's going to be awesome to share the stage with those guys after all these years on the road together, and with the new record coming up — it absolutely kills!" Catch Wibom out on tour with SOILWORK on the band's upcoming European headline tour, dubbed "The Tour Majestic", with support from HATESPHERE. The European dates will follow SOILWORK's upcoming U.S. tour with SOULFLY, DECAPITATED and SHATTERED SUN.

Duff McKagan (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER, LOADED, WALKING PAPERS) is currently at Jupiter Recording in Seattle, Washington laying down tracks for a new studio album. Joining Duff for at least some of the sessions are longtime DUFF MCKAGAN'S LOADED bassist Jeff Rouse, former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Izzy Stradlin and STONE SOUR drummer Roy Mayorga.

A couple of video clips from the studio can be seen below.

Speaking about his recent three-song EP, titled "How To Be A Man", which features a guest appearance by former GUNS N' ROSES axeman Izzy Stradlin, Duff told the Rock It Out! Blog: "I had a really good time just creating… I've played on a bunch of Izzy records over the last fifteen years, and it was just really nice to be in the studio with him for a couple of days. I really trust whatever he does. If he says, 'I've got a bridge. I've got a part,' I know he's got a part. It's not, like, 'Oh, let me hear it.' It's, like, 'Okay, he's got the part. Good. That's taken care of.' And, yeah, I'd like to do more music with him — always; for the rest of my life."

"How To Be A Man" is a companion piece to McKagan's new book, "How To Be A Man (And Other Illusions)", both of which were released on May 12. The EP also features contributions from ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist Jerry Cantrell, STONE SOUR drummer Roy Mayorga and drummer Taz Bentley.

The "How To Be A Man" book is the follow-up to McKagan's critically acclaimed New York Times best-selling memoir "It's So Easy (And Other Lies)".

Among the topics in the book are communication in relationships, albums men should listen to, and world travel tips such as "Don't smoke crack on a leased private jet — the smell gets into everything."

McKagan said that the book is a spinoff of a column with the same name that he wrote at Seattle Weekly for five years. He described the book as "a how-to guide of things I've learned about life — being a dad, being a husband and being in a rock band."

Video footage of L.A. GUNS performing the song "Wheels Of Fire" on July 31 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California can be seen below (filmed by Jake Perry).

The current lineup of L.A. GUNS includes singer Phil Lewis (GIRL, TORME), guitarist Michael Grant (ENDEVERAFTER, ASSASSINS), drummer Steve Riley (W.A.S.P., STEPPENWOLF) and bassist Kenny Kweens.

L.A. GUNS announced in September 2014 that bassist Scotty Griffin and the band "decided to part ways," adding that the group was welcoming back Kenny Kweens as Scotty's replacement.

Several hours after his exit from L.A. GUNS was made public, Griffin took to his Facebook page to refute the band's claim that the split was amicable. He said: "I was kicked out, plain and simple. Or, as it was exactly worded, 'Phil has decided the band is going to move forward without you.'"

He added: "Why it was posted as 'Scotty Griffin and the band have decided...' is beyond me. I was never part of this decision. I never knew this decision was being made, and I never wanted, nor ever said I wanted to leave L.A. GUNS."

Due to "extenuating circumstances and musical differences," guitarist Stacey Blades announced his departure from L.A. GUNS in December 2012.

Blades played on four L.A. GUNS albums: "Rips The Covers Off" (2004), "Tales Trom The Strip" (2005), "Loud And Dangerous: Live From Hollywood" (2006) and "Hollywood Forever" (2012). He also authored a book, "Confessions Of A Replacement Rockstar", which was published in 2009.

L.A. GUNS' last studio album, "Hollywood Forever", was released in June 2012 via via Cleopatra Records. The CD was recorded with legendary producer, and old friend, Andy Johns, who had previously worked with LED ZEPPELIN, THE ROLLING STONES, CINDERELLA and VAN HALEN, and who collaborated with L.A. GUNS on their previous three albums.

Juan Croucier (RATT), Pete Holmes (BLACK 'N BLUE), Mike Moore and Toni Aleman have joined forces in a new project called RATT'S JUAN CROUCIER. The band will exclusively play songs from the RATT catalog.

Having solidified the core of RATT'S JUAN CROUCIER (lead vocals, bass and drums), Juan and Pete set out to find the right guitar players for the group. After extensive auditions resulting from hundreds of submissions, they found two very talented guitar players in Mike Moore and Toni Aleman. Sharing the same passion, commitment and vision, they have been diligently rehearsing a set of over eighteen songs.

"We have left no stone unturned," said Croucier. "We've been working long and hard. It's all about the live show. We take this very seriously. Mike and Toni are simply killing it! There is a unique chemistry between the members of this band that is often so elusive. Our attention to detail has culminated in a fresh, energetic and modern twist on RATT's classic catalog of songs. I believe that anyone who loves RATT will really enjoy this band too. I can't wait to get out there and bring it to the people. After all, they are the ultimate judges of our art."

RATT'S JUAN CROUCIER will begin performing in September and is currently booking shows.

For more information, visit RattsJuanCroucier.com.