Kristyn Clark of Pop Culture Madness conducted an interview with SLAYER and EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt at a recent stop on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. You can now watch the chat below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On pulling double duty with SLAYER and EXODUS:

Gary: "Yeah, I've been busy. It has its challenges. The main challenges are the physicality of it all and juggling two bands and family. It makes it rough. But, you know, there's a lot shittier positions you can be in than play in two legendary thrash bands and be busy. I could be sitting at home wondering what I'm going to do. Which isn't bad. I'm lazy as hell when I'm at home. Everybody says I'm the hardest-working guy in metal, but at home I don't do anything; I don't wear shoes for five days."

On whether it's ever challenging to switch hats between EXODUS and SLAYER:

Gary: "I've gotta remember which songs I'm playing on a certain night. I know a pretty vast amount of the SLAYER catalog, and, obviously, my knowledge of the EXODUS one is even greater than that. You know, it's all thrash metal to me. As long as I do my homework and show up prepared for a SLAYER tour, I'm ready to go, and they know it. It's, like, I do most of my rehearsing at home. And when EXODUS has work that I can't do, we use Kragen Lum from HEATHEN. I call him my stunt double. They just did five, six weeks in Europe without me, which is, in its own way, sad and bittersweet. Especially when I hear from friends of mine who say, 'I just EXODUS at blah-blah festival,' and I'm sitting in Boise. It breaks my heart a little. When your baby has to move on without you, and I completely, one thousand percent support them and respect them and back them in continuing to work when I can't be there. I remember the first time anybody ever said that to me. I think it was Troy from MASTODON. We were in Europe, I was with SLAYER, and he goes, 'Yeah, we just played with EXODUS the other day.' And I was, like, 'That's the weirdest fucking thing I've ever heard in my life.' A guy who's been on every album and never missed a show, ever, and people tell you they just saw your band play. It's bizarre, but it's worked out well for all of us, and it's kept everybody busy."

On whether there is more pressure for bands to stay out on the road nowadays:

Gary: "Back in the '80s, EXODUS would do an album and we'd tour for a year and then we wouldn't tour for a year, and we wouldn't play. We were under no pressure to be back out on the road right away. We'd write an album, maybe do a couple of hometown shows, maybe fly in and play, like, when they used to have the New Music Seminar down in Los Angeles, or CMJ, or something like that. We'd go and play that. But, you know, it was not an issue to stay home for a year and not tour. And now, it's, like, even the biggest bands have to tour. Even METALLICA is over playing festivals every year in Europe."

On the challenges facing newer bands today:

Gary: "Some of these young pups, they're on the road constantly. I'm, like, 'Man, I don't know how you guys do it.' It's dedication; they're doing it out of love. But we didn't have that problem when we were younger, 'cause we actually sold albums."

On SLAYER's upcoming album, "Repentless":

Gary: "It's crushing. It's SLAYER. Although I think there's some new twists to it. When you say, 'It's SLAYER,' you want the fans to know that they're getting what they're expecting, but also, at the same time, they're not getting just a rehash of anything done before. There's some new things going on there, and some pleasant surprises. It's brutally crushing, and the production, I think, is the best on any SLAYER album I've ever heard."

Brent Hinds (MASTODON) and William Duvall (ALICE IN CHAINS) are among the musicians who make guest appearances on the debut solo album from Bevan Davies, the American musician best known as the drummer for the groups STILL RAIN, MADFLY, COMES WITH THE FALL and DANZIG. Also appearing on the CD are Nate Utz (THE BLONDZ), Tuk (BITERS), Roy Cathey (THE FIFTH, COLD SWEAT), Angela Wolfe (DIRTY POLLYANNA).

Davies stated about his solo CD: "Over a year ago, I set out to record an album that would allow me the opportunity to pay tribute to the incredible drummers who inspired me to pursue this rock 'n' roll dream I'm living. I am proud to announce that the album is finally finished and available.

"I've had the pleasure of working with some of the greatest musicians in the business along the way, and I assembled an all-star cast to record the album. It was a daunting task, to say the least, but well worth the effort.

"I hope you will all take the time to enjoy the album in its entirety. It has truly been a labor of love. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed creating it."

"Bevan Davies" track listing:

01. Kill The King
02. Light Up The Sky
03. Rip It Out
04. Time Of The Season
05. Cornucopia
06. Fireball
07. Strange Days
08. High Wire
09. Dreaming
10. Ready An' Willing
11. Bad Reputation

DuVall was Bevan Davies's bandmate in MADFLY and COMES WITH THE FALL. DuVall also produced the debut album from MONSTRO, the band featuring Davies and Kyle Sanders (HELLYEAH).

For more information, visit www.bevan-davies.com.
It's been a very busy year! I have finally completed something I've always wanted to do. Over a year ago, I set out to record an album that would allow me the opportunity to pay tribute to the incredible drummers who inspired me to pursue this rock n' roll dream I'm living. I am proud to announce that the album is finally finished and available here - www.BevanDaviesMusic.com

Posted by BEVAN DAVIES MUSIC on Wednesday, July 29, 2015

HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale talked with Milwaukee Journal Sentinel music writer Piet Levy before the band's July 1 headlining set on Summerfest's Harley-Davidson Roadhouse stage. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked if the title of HALESTORM's third album, "Into The Wild Life", is telling the truth about her own life, Lzzy said: "I think after… probably in the past two or three years, I've gone a little nuts. I'm trying to act my age this year. It's very difficult, actually, 'cause inside I'm perpetually 17. But then all of a sudden, you have these responsibilities. I'm 31 now. So that's a little bit of a relief."

Speaking about life on the road these days, Lzzy said:"For me, personally, I think… Really, I guess, it's kind of on me. Our schedule has gotten really nuts, and so I've kind of discovered in the last few months to a year that if I wake up hung over and can't find my pants, and I'm having a bad singing night or have to cancel a show, that's not just on me anymore, that's on… Well, it's on me, but it doesn't just affect me. That means that a lot of people don't get paid, and we have to re-route the system. So it's kind of… I don't know. I'm feeling the pressure, I think, as of lately."

Asked what the stupidest thing was that she has done, Lzzy said: "There was one time… And hence the pants inside joke we have right now. There's something about a bottle of tequila that… and this has only happened to me three times in my life… but every time that I share a bottle of tequila with somebody, I do end up misplacing my pants. Now, I don't get naked, like the song says, but I will somehow lose my pants and place them somewhere during the night, whether that be… once it was in the refrigerator… I woke up and my pants were in the refrigerator. The next time they were stuffed under a bunk mattress. And then the third time they were in somebody else's bag. I think it was my brother's backpack."

HALESTORM recently tied THE PRETTY RECKLESS's record for the most No. 1 songs on by an act with a female vocalist on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Songs chart.

HALESTORM's "Amen" jumped 4-1 on the August 1 Mainstream Rock Songs chart, tying the mark established by THE PRETTY RECKLESS when "Follow Me Down" became its third No. 1 on the chart dated May 2.

Previous HALESTORM chart-toppers were "Apocalyptic" (March 28) and the 2013 single "Freak Like Me".

HALESTORM and THE PRETTY RECKLESS are the only two female-fronted bands to lead Mainstream Rock Songs since Alannah Myles's "Black Velvet" topped the chart in 1990, according to Billboard.com.

"Into The Wild Life" was released on April 14. The CD follows up HALESTORM's Grammy-winning 2012 sophomore effort, "The Strange Case Of…"

METALLICA headlined this year's edition of Lollapalooza, which kicked off its 11th year as a destination festival on Friday (July 31) at its longtime home, Chicago's Grant Park.

The band closed the show on Saturday (August 1).

"The METALLICA family is here," frontman James Hetfield told the crowd, according to Billboard.com. "How many are virgins here?" A sizable crowd roars in response. He chuckled. "If you don't know what to do, just look at the people who have been here before… they'll show you to have some fun here!"

METALLICA'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 runs 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.

ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian says that bands won't be able to make records anymore and tour as much as they used to due to the continuing alteration of the way fans consume music.

Despite the fact that Spotify, iTunes and other digital outlets have made music easier to purchase, more mobile and cheaper than ever, people either pick and choose the odd single to buy, or they stream music on services such as Spotify or YouTube, often free of charge.

During an appearance on the July 27 edition of Eddie Trunk's SiriusXM satellite radio show, "Eddie Trunk Live", Ian lamented the state of the music industry, saying it's harder than ever to make money from album sales, and rejected the popular notion these days that music should be free.

"Music's never been cheaper now," Ian said. "I'm talking about the cost to buy a CD. You can get a brand new record from your favorite band for ten dollars, basically. And even that's high, 'cause most bands will sell 'em cheaper, especially the first or two the records are out. So, for ten bucks you can get a new record. I mean, it wasn't that long ago that CDs cost $18.99 at the Virgin Megastore. Records cost half what they used to cost, and people aren't buying them as much, which is crazy to me. It's never been cheaper. What more do the people want?"

He continued: "I get it. I understand there's a thing called the Internet and people have the ability to steal music. So I understand why it's happening, but you would think that people would just have the attitude, 'I'm gonna support music, I'm gonna support the bands I love, because if I don't support this, well, the bands I love aren't gonna be able to make records anymore and they're not gonna be able to tour as much anymore. So it's this weird conundrum that everybody is finding themselves in in the last few years. I get it.'

Ian added: "Look, if I was a kid, and it was 1977 and I had a way to get KISS albums for free, I'm pretty sure I probably would have jumped on that bandwagon. But for me to get a free KISS album in 1977 would have meant having the balls to walk into a record store, take a vinyl album, stick it under my shirt and walk out without getting caught. There was a consequence to that. So it's a completely different thing [today]. There's no consequence to stealing music online … or anything: movies, or books, or anything. Maybe until there's a proper consequence and people actually realize they're breaking a law, then maybe it will change. But, I mean, it's, like… C'mon, man! Seriously? Ten dollars for a CD? That's asking too much?"

Ian also spoke about the fact that more consumers are streaming music over the internet to their smartphones or computers, instead of owning collections of songs.

"I'm not against streaming," he said. "I also do look forward and understand that it's the way of the future; it's the way things have been going for years and years and years. From the days of cassette Walkmans back in the '80s, the technology has been pushing forward to make music more portable. And this is just the next wave of it, really."

He continued: "As kids, we didn't look at your Walkmans, we didn't look at them as a threat to the way of life for the music industry, but if you go back to that time, to the older generations, to them, [they were thinking], 'What the fuck is a Walkman? You're gonna walk around and listen to music in headphones while you're on a subway train going to work? What kind of shit is this?' So it's the same thing. It's really the same thing."

Ian added: "I mean, who knew that this is where it was gonna end up? And not even end up. Where is it gonna be fifty years from now? Then you'll just have a chip inside, planted in your neck, with the whole catalog of all the hit music in history, and you just think about it and the song comes in your head. Eventually, maybe it's gonna go there. You just have to buy the chip for, like, a million dollars."

ANTHRAX is currently putting the finishing touches on its long-awaited follow-up to 2011's "Worship Music" album for an early 2016 release. The CD, which is once again being produced by Jay Ruston (STONE SOUR, STEEL PANTHER), will include such songtitles as "The Battle Chose Us", "You Gotta Believe" and "The Evil Twin".

ANTHRAX recently completed a six-week North American tour with VOLBEAT. The band's setlist included the new song "Soror Irrumator (Lords Of The Rock)", ANTHRAX's contribution to the the second installment of "Catch The Throne: The Mixtape", for HBO's Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning series "Game Of Thrones".

Fan-filmed video footage of RIOT V, the new band featuring the remaining members of legendary metal pioneers RIOT, performing their song "Warrior" with Akira Takasaki and Masayoshi Yamashita of LOUDNESS on June 25 at this year's edition of the Rock Fest Barcelona festival in Barcelona, Spain can be seen below.

RIOT V released its debut album, "Unleash The Fire", last October via SPV/Steamhammer. The CD marks the first release from RIOT without the late, great founding guitarist Mark Reale, who passed away in early 2012 and was limited on his participation on 2011's reunion album "Immortal Soul" because of his health issues. The band was encouraged at the request of Mark and the Reale estate to forge ahead in his honor and has dedicated this new offering to him.

"Unleash The Fire" promises to please fans of the "Thundersteel" era of RIOT, as main songwriter and longtime Reale music collaborator Don Van Stavern does much of the writing, as he did on "Thundersteel" and "The Privilege Of Power". Don is joined by longtime RIOT bandmate, songwriter and Reale's guitar partner of over 20 years, Mike Flyntz, to create what they feel is something they are proud to call a RIOT record. The RIOT V lineup is completed by powerhouse vocalist extraordinaire Todd Michael Hall (BURNING STARR, REVERENCE), Frank Gilchriest (VIRGIN STEELE, RIOT's "Army Of One") and former Mike Flyntz guitar student and resident shredder Nick Lee.

Former SEPULTURA drummer Igor Cavalera joined SOULFLY, the band led by his brother, and fellow CAVALERA CONSPIRACY and ex-SEPULTURA member, Max Cavalera, on stage on July 25 at O2 Academy Islington in London, England to perform the SEPULTURA classic "Roots Bloody Roots". Fan-filmed video footage of Igor's appearance can be seen below.

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).

After Max exited SEPULTURA, there was a rift between him and Igor, one that was eventually repaired through the redemptive power of music. Some time had passed and Max and Igor were unable to resist the musical pull in their magnetic fields and their musical collaboration was renewed. The duo are back for round two with CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, which released its debut album, "Inflikted", in March 2008 and follow-up effort, Blunt Force Trauma", in March 2011.

CAVALERA CONSPIRACY's third album, "Pandemonium", was released last November via Napalm Records. The CD was produced by John Gray, who has previously worked with SOULFLY.

Max and Igor played together for the first time in 10 years at the 10th annual D-Low Memorial Festival on August 17, 2006 at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe, Arizona.

Toronto-based progressive groove metallers My Hollow have released their debut full-length, On Borrowed Time. A full album stream can be found below.

On Borrowed Time arrives three years after 2012 debut EP Cold Dark Days. The momentum built quickly with the band's release of an official video for the EP's title track in 2013. With momentum building My Hollow then entered the Wacken Metal Battle in 2014 for a chance to perform at the prestigious Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany. The band made it past all preliminary rounds and made it to the finals at The Opera House in Toronto and finished as one of the Top 5 metal bands in Canada.

Album artwork by Jennifer White:

On Borrowed Time tracklisting:

“On Borrowed Time”
“As Seams Seep Red”
“Cold Dark Days”
“History Of Violence”
“Life In The Shadows (Interlude)”
“King With No Castles”
“Wade Through The Thorns”
“We Cross The Sun”
“Blood Seeds”

Album stream:

On Borrowed Time by My Hollow

“On Borrowed Time” video:

 

Greece-based dark melodic doom metallers, Lachrymose, will release their new album, Carpe Noctum, on August 28th via Pure Steel. The pre-order phase will start on August 14th.

Main protagonist Blackmass might be well known in the black/death-scene as the mastermind of Rotting Flesh. Enhanced by the talented female singer Hel, bass player Kerk and drummer Mancer (also playing in Rotting Flesh), they have just recorded ten dark metal tunes together with producer Chris Fielding (Primordial, Electric Wizard). Some decent doom metal elements powered by sophisticated melodies: on Carpe Noctum the Hellenic quartet mix up exciting metal harmonies with high, operatic female vocals.

Tracklisting:

“Precipice Of Bliss”
“Fales God”
“Pinnacle Of Faith”
“Black Legend”
“My Shadow (A Revelation)”
“Face Of Horror”
“Carpe Noctum”
“In A Reverie” (feat. Thomas Vikstrom)
“Thyella”
“Fade”

Band lineup:

Blackmass - vocals, guitars
Hel - vocals
Mancer - drums
Kerk – bass

(Photo: Stelio Alevropoulos)

STEEL PANTHER started out as a glam rock parody group called METAL SKOOL that performed an insanely popular night on the Sunset Strip. Every musician and A-list celebrity in Los Angeles wanted to sit in on their crazy, anything-goes shows.

Because of their raunchy videos, they've become legitimate Internet stars on YouTube and have traveled the world bringing their personas to countries that probably weren't aware of the tongue-n-cheek nature of their performances. Yes, there's a bass player who holds a mirror on stage to always check his hair and a lead singer who invites his fans to come on stage and go topless for romantic love songs.

Playboy gave free rein to director Sean Barrett, the creator of Andy Milonakis's surreal hip-hop videos and a STEEL PANTHER superfan, to reimagine the song "Party Like Tomorrow Is The End Of The World". He created a video where a badass Playmate space goddess (Miss September 2009 Kim Phillips) is bent on destroying STEEL PANTHER and lobs comets at them, all while they try to accept their fate along with their dinosaur, viking and pigeon friends.

A kick-ass video featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the making of "Party Like Tomorrow Is The End Of The World" can also be seen below.

Newly founded Argento Records has confirmed the label's first title, with the impending release Circle Of Molesters, the second LP from Trieste, Italy's corrosive sludge quartet, Grime.

Their sound is rooted into rotten burial grounds and their songs are the sound of a decaying swamp filled with trash. Their slow and heavy groove is filthy and vicious, guitar riffs are sharp and covered with rust, drums and bass hit with the unstoppable power of a mud avalanche. And their only goal is bringing destruction to a town near you.

Following the release of their independent debut EP in 2011 and their dominating 2013-released debut LP, Deteriorate (Forcefield Records/Mordgrimm), Grime oozes forth with their most brutalizing display of gutter-born, diseased sludge metal yet with Circle Of Molesters. Like a volcano rupturing megatons of rotting flesh, for nearly forty minutes the band's gnarly scourge will suck you into the darkest depths of suffocating death, yet all the while taking their petulant tonal attack to new heights, integrating more body-mangling dynamics than ever.

Bringing this auditory destruction to life, the band enlisted the recording and mixing work of sound engineer Lorenzo Stecconi (Ufomammut, Amen Ra, Zu) and final mastering duties to Brad Boatright (Sleep, Corrosion Of Conformity, Nails) at Audiosiege, both factors helping shape every bit of the band's tonal wrath to thundering clarity.

Based out of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Argento Records was founded by Michael Bertoldini (The Secret) and Clio Leeuwenburgh (Headspin Records). The label will unleash Grime's Circle Of Molesters upon the masses on September 1st, through digital delivery and 12", pressed on 180-gram vinyl - 200 on black, 150 on red, and 150 on clear/smoke - in a full-color gatefold with lyric insert, The album's artwork and layout by Jason Barnett featuring photography by Paolo Podzinkova.

A trailer for Circle Of Molesters can be found below.

Circle Of Molesters tracklisting:

“Intro (Obscuration)”
“Get Immortal”
“Verge Of Wrath”
“Decay In Hades”
“Sulphorous Veins”
“Accelerating Transition”
“Salvation Come From Below”
“Orgiastic Rite”

Trailer:

Stand by for audio samples from Circle Of Molesters, preorders for the album and more to be issued in the coming days.

Having toured Europe with Cough and -16-, and having raided notable festivals including Heavy Days in Doomtown, Roadburn and Desertfest London, Grime has also played two festivals in Russia with Suma. Watch for new tour dates from the band to be announced in the near future.

Grime is:

Marco - Vocals/guitar
Paolo - Bass
Ans - Guitar
Chris - Drums

Los Angeles quintet Before The Mourning are streaming their debut album lead-off track “The Deception”. The group’s debut offering, Etherial End, will be released through Street Smart Recordings on August 21st.

Adam Ryan (vocals) states: "This song was created just like the rest of the tracks on our album. It’s usually all of us in a room bouncing riffs and ideas off one another until something we all can agree on is playing through the speakers in our home studio. Lyrically, this song is about a screwed up love triangle. It's about all the different deceptions used by everyone involved. Mostly behind the backs of one another. It centres around a woman who is still in love with her ex, but is with a man who isn't what he appears to be. The chorus starts off aimed at the woman, but half way through turns into a blunt statement to the deceptive boyfriend. The bridge is one final plea asking someone to help her get away from this guy before something really bad happens.

"We opened the album with this track because of its overall energy, and attitude. It's major key, almost happy sounding intro is a complete 180 from the rest of the track, as it then drops into a heavy driving groove which doesn't let up for the rest of the song. I think this song helps represent our overall sound because we don't stick to one style for every track we put out. We want to keep it heavy, but also full of melody and groove."

“The Deception”:

The band will be on tour across North America with Fear Factory from August 23rd – September 16th.

Dates (with Fear Factory, Once Human, The Bloodline) include:

August
23 - Flagstaff AZ - The Green Room       
25 - Lubbock, TX - Jakes  
27 - Corpus Christ, TX - House of Rock
28 - Houston, TX - Scout Bar       
29 - Pensacola, FL - Vinyl
30 - Ft Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room         

September
1 - St Pete, FL - The State     
2 - Orlando, FL - Venue 578     
4 - Atlanta GA - Masquerade    
5 - Wilmington, NC - Ziggy’s    
8 - Little Rock, AR - Juanita’s    
9 - Clarksville, TN - Warehouse Live    
11 - Louisville, KY - Trixie’s         
13 - Bloomington, IL - Castle Theater     
15 - Oklahoma City, OK - Farmers Market
16 - Gallup, NM - The Juggernaut Music

Wacken Metal Battle Canada have announced that this year's international champions are Canada's best! Vesperia have been crowned the 2015 international champions of 11th annual Wacken Metal Battle during the world's largest metal festival Wacken Open Air (July 30 - August 1) in Wacken Germany, which has an attendance of over 80,000 people. Vesperia beat out 30 other competing countries (full list here) to win over international judges and fans. Plus it also marks out of the last 3 years Canada has participated in the competition, they have taken 1st place with Crimson Shadows winning in 2013.

"We are extremely excited to accept the title of the 2015 international Wacken battle champions. There have been many ups and downs on this trip so far, but we have encountered so many amazing people, bands, press and organizers. Thank you SO MUCH for making this happen for us!" comments bassist/ vocalist Morgan Rider.

Top 5 Standings:

1st Place: Canada – Vesperia
2nd Place: Israel – Walkways
3rd Place: Middle East – Blaakyum
4th Place: United Kingdom – Metaprism
5th Place: Denmark – Savage Machine 

As 1st place winners, Vesperia will receive the following:

Wacken Foundation – The Wacken Foundation will support the first placed band with a trophy money of 5000€.
Vision backdrops
Stage kit
5 x 3 m backdrop
2 sideups 85 x 200 cm

Bass drum print
Pearl – Complete Pearl VBA kit
Washburn – Washburn PXS20FRTBB
Randall – Randall RD5H
Markbass – Little Mark III
Carl Martin – CARL MARTIN Single Plexitone
Paiste – Alpha Brillant Metal Set 14/17/18/20+10Splash*
Marshall – Marshall Fridge

Vesperia was crowned 2015 Canadian champion after performing in the national final alongside Medevil (Vancouver), Bleed (Edmonton), Endless Chaos (Winnipeg), Midnight Malice (Toronto), Nordheim (Quebec City) who represented the top six metal talents out of 120 competing bands from ten participating cities across Canada. The final took place on June 6th at Opera House in Toronto, ON and was judged by Annihilator's Jeff Waters and Mike Harshaw, Lindsay Schoolcraft (Cradle of Filth), Tim Henderson (BraveWords), David Bottrill (Producer, Mixer) and Noel Peters (Inertia Entertainment).

Israel-based thrash metallers, Hammercult, are streaming the new track “Spoils Of War” (below), from their brand new studio album, Built For War, out via Steamhammer / SPV on the following dates:

Europe / Germany: August 28th
US / Canada: September 4th

Built For War will be available in three different physical formats (tracklistings below):

1. Jewelcase CD
2. Ltd. Edition digipac CD + DVD (live in Tel Aviv)
3.) Ltd. Edition LP version - coloured 180gr. vinyl (red), printed inner sleeve, 1 vinyl only bonus track, CD in paper sleeve included (Ltd. to 500 copies worldwide!)

Vocalist Yakir Von Hammer states: “Every song on the album is the kind of pumping anthem which Hammercult are known for – but this time we’ve taken the songs to different places, with a more melodic and more original approach which really stands out. The vocals on Built For War are very unique and range from screams to growls, hardcore shouts to clean vocals – which I honestly believe has never been done before by a single performer. If I had to summarize Built For War in a single sentence it would be ‘Destruction meets Manowar in an explosive mix of extreme music and true metal’.”

Digi tracklisting:

CD
“From Parts Unknown (Intro)”
“Rise Of The Hammer”
“I Live For This Shit”
“Spoils Of War”
“Ready To Roll”
“Raise Some Hell”
“Blackened Blade”
“Let It Roar”
“Ode To Ares (Interlude)”
“Altar Of Pain”
“Blood And Fire”
“Saturday Night Circle Pit Fight”
“Road To Hell”

DVD (live in Tel Aviv 2014)
“Hymn To The Steel”
“Steelcrusher”
“Diabolic Overkill”
“Metal Rules Tonight”
“Into Hell”
“Black Horseman”
“We Are Hammercult”
“Let The Angels Burn”
“Stealer Of Souls”

CD tracklisting:
“From Parts Unknown (Intro)”
“Rise Of The Hammer”
“I Live For This Shit”
“Spoils Of War”
“Ready To Roll”
“Raise Some Hell”
“Blackened Blade”
“Let It Roar”
“Ode To Ares (Interlude)”
“Altar Of Pain”
“Blood And Fire”
“Saturday Night Circle Pit Fight”
“Road To Hell”

LP tracklisting:

Side 1
“From Parts Unknown (Intro)”
“Rise Of The Hammer”
“I Live For This Shit”
“Spoils Of War”
“Ready To Roll”
“Raise Some Hell”
“Blackened Blade”

Side 2
“Let It Roar”
“Ode To Ares (Interlude)”
“Altar Of Pain”
“Blood And Fire”
“Saturday Night Circle Pit Fight”
“Road To Hell”
“Evil Has No Boundaries” (Vinyl only bonus track, Original by Slayer)

“Spoils Of War”:

Teaser video:

Relapse Records and Publicist UK are presenting the music video for “Away”, directed by award-winning filmmaker, Heather Crank. The new track taken from the band's forthcoming debut album, Forgive Yourself. Out on Friday, August 21 through Relapse Records, the full-length from the post-punk four-piece comprised of members of Municipal Waste, Revocation, Goes Cube, Discordance Axis, Burnt By The Sun & more is a nine-song showcase sounding like Michael Gira (Swans) on a Saul Bellow bender and presents itself as one of the most intriguing cross-genre debuts in recent years.

Originally conceived as a long-distance experiment, Publicist UK quickly and effortlessly became a fully functioning band. Featuring Dave Witte (Municipal Waste, ex-Burnt by the Sun, Discordance Axis, Melt-Banana), Zachary Lipez (ex-Freshkills), Brett Bamberger (Revocation, ex-East of the Wall), and David Obuchowski (Goes Cube, Distant Correspondent), many expected speedy, aggressive metal. Instead, the band defied expectations with Forgive Yourself by creating nine rousing songs that are as moody and melodic as they are heavy and driving. After writing and rough-recording songs from the band members’ respective homes in Virginia, New York, New Jersey and Colorado during its early days, Publicist UK released two demos. Shortly thereafter, the band signed to Relapse Records and recorded its full-length in New Hampshire at The Wild Arctic Studio with producer Dean Baltulonis.  

Obuchowski commented "We went into the studio full of inspiration and energy, intent on getting straight to work---no experimenting, no messing around,” said guitarist David Obuchowski. “Dean had the same mindset, and the album was recorded at a breakneck pace and completed in a matter of days. We feel like Dean captured not only the atmosphere and mood but that urgency too."

With the forthcoming release of Forgive Yourself, Publicist UK will be making numerous appearances across North America in support of it. Tour dates to be announced soon. Pre-order the album here.

Tracklisting:

“Cowards”
“Slow Dancing To This Bitter Earth”
“Levitate The Pentagon”
“Blood Relative”
“I Wish You’d Never Gone To School”
“Canary”
“Telegraphing”
“You Are The Stars”
“Away”

“Cowards”:

“Levitate The Pentagon”:

 

Kansas City-based death/thrash metal band, Ares Kingdom, have revealed the artwork for their upcoming album, The Unburiable Dead, due for release in September via NWN! Productions on LP, Die Hard LP, CD, and picture disc formats. The album was recorded at the band’s Very Metal Sound studio in suburban Kansas City.

Ares Kingdom recently announced that rhythm guitarist Doug Overbay is taking an indefinite hiatus from the band in order to address health issues. The band is continuing as a three piece with Alex Blume - vocals/bass, Mike Miller - drums, and Chuck Keller - guitars. The lineup change will have no effect on any upcoming shows.

Ares Kingdom formed in 1996, the year following the end of Mike and Chuck's previous band Order from Chaos. AK’s first four years were spent as a two-piece. In 2000, Doug joined as bassist, followed soon by Alex as vocalist. In 2006, Doug switched to rhythm guitar while Alex assumed bass duties.

The band signed to NWN! Productions in 2004 and has released two full-length albums, Return To Dust (2006) and Incendiary (2010), plus a compilation CD Firestorms And Chaos (2008), an album of covers entitled Veneration (2013), and two 12" maxi singles, “Firestorm Redemption” (2006) and “Failsafe” (2007).

In addition to their upcoming third full-length, The Unburiable Dead, the band is set to release a special live picture disc entitled Chaosmongers Alive: 8/21/2006 as part of NWN! Productions' Onward // Ascendant warehouse fund campaign.

 

Intromental has announced the signing of New York / New Jersey based female fronted power metal act, Midnight Eternal.

“With their epic song writing, heavy sounds and beautiful melodies, the band took us by surprise and made us realize that this was exactly the kind of band we needed on our roster.”

Midnight Eternal was created in March 2014 when two members of Operatika (Richard Fischer and Boris Zaks) invited Daniel Prestup (Rivera Bomma, Spider Rockets) and Mike LePond (Symphony X) to join them to record a two-song single. During the recording the band acquired the talents of vocalist Raine Hilai based on her previous work in theatre and her solo endeavour. The planned two-song single quickly evolved into the formation of a full-time band when it became apparent the group had something special on their hands. Shortly thereafter, Greg Manning (of Spider Rockets, Zamora) joined the band as permanent member taking over bass duties, with Mike LePond taking a featured role.

 

 

Recently the band completed work on a new music video for the song "When Love And Faith Collide".  The song is taken from their forthcoming debut, which is set for release later this year. Featuring dark, futuristic themes that explore modern society, the current state of the music industry, and the struggle between art and fame, this compelling and thought-provoking video was directed by award-winning filmmaker Rodrigo A. Orozco and produced by Mind-Bending Pictures.

Vocalist Raine Hilai states: "It was important to us that our first video would convey a strong message, and we are extremely pleased with the result. Our director, Rodrigo, delivered a visually striking, high-concept performance video (with a twist!) and we hope that audiences will enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it."

Midnight Eternal made their live debut in April of 2014 supporting Adrenaline Mob.  Later that year the band performed at the Women of Metal Fest I in Pittsburgh, PA. They continued their upward trajectory by being featured on the 2014 ProgPower USA compilation as well as numerous radio stations and publications. Since then the band has also shared the stage with influential and established acts including Sonata Arctica, Doro, Delain, Xandria, The Agonist and Quiet Riot.

It was recently announced that Midnight Eternal will be performing alongside Kamelot and Dragonforce at NJ's Starland Ballroom on November 21st. Tickets for this highly anticipated show can be purchased directly from the band here.

 

 

The current lineup of Midnight Eternal includes Raine Hilai (lead vocals), Richard Fischer (guitars, backing vocals), Daniel Prestup (drums), Greg Manning (bass, backing vocals), and Boris Zaks (keyboards). The band is currently busy recording their self-titled, full-length debut album, which will be released in 2015.

An early highlight in Pagan's Mind's career was playing the ProgPower USA festival in 2003, the American edition of what many consider to be the best niche festival in the world. Hard on the heels of the release of Celestial Entrance (their sophomore release), the praise they received in Atlanta was unlike anything the band had ever experienced before. Pagan's Mind played the festival again in 2007 (also appearing as the house band for the legendary All Star Jam), and in 2009 returned for the festival's 10 Year Anniversary under the moniker Returning Heroes.

On September 11th, 2014, another historical performance took place at Center Stage, featuring Celestial Entrance in its entirety plus an additional set of True Norwegian Hard-Hitting In-Your-Face Space Metal, including the instrumental piece “Full Circle”.  It is this piece which comprises the theme of the show you are about to witness.

And now the band will release this concert on October 16th as a 2CD/DVD digipak version, Blu-ray/2CD version, 2LP Gatefold version and download through Steamhammer /SPV.

Tracklisting / Content:

2CD / DVD

DVD
“Approaching”
“Through Osiris' Eyes”
“Entrance Stargate”
“…Of Epic Questions”
“Dimensions Of Fire”
“Dreamscape Lucidity”
“The Seven Sacred Promises”
“Back To The Magic Of Childhood I: Conception”
“Back To The Magic Of Childhood II: Exploring Life”
“In Brilliant White Light”
“Aegean Shores”
“The Prophecy Of Pleiades”
“New World Order”
“Intermission”
“Enigmatic Mission”
“Live Your Life Like A Dream”
“Hallo Spaceboy”
“Full Circle”
“Walk Away In Silence”
“Eyes Of Fire”
“God's Equation”
“United Alliance”

CD1
“Approaching”
“Through Osiris' Eyes”
“Entrance Stargate”
“…Of Epic Questions”
“Dimensions Of Fire”
“Dreamscape Lucidity”
“The Seven Sacred Promises”
“Back To The Magic Of Childhood I: Conception”
“Back To The Magic Of Childhood II: Exploring Life”
“In Brilliant White Light”
“Aegean Shores”
“The Prophecy Of Pleiades”

CD2
“New World Order”
“Intermission”
“Enigmatic Mission”
“Live Your Life Like A Dream”
“Hallo Spaceboy”
“Full Circle”
“Walk Away In Silence”
“Eyes Of Fire”
“God's Equation”
“United Alliance”

Blu-Ray / 2CD

Blu-Ray Disc
“Approaching”
“Through Osiris' Eyes”
“Entrance Stargate”
“…Of Epic Questions”
“Dimensions Of Fire”
“Dreamscape Lucidity”
“The Seven Sacred Promises”
“Back To The Magic Of Childhood I: Conception”
“Back To The Magic Of Childhood II: Exploring Life”
“In Brilliant White Light”
“Aegean Shores”
“The Prophecy Of Pleiades”
“New World Order”
“Intermission”
“Enigmatic Mission”
“Live Your Life Like A Dream”
“Hallo Spaceboy”
“Full Circle”
“Walk Away In Silence”
“Eyes Of Fire”
“God's Equation”
“United Alliance”

CD (as above)

Double Gatefold LP, coloured blue vinyl:

LP 1
Side 1:
“New World Order”
“Intermission”

Side 2:
“Enigmatic Mission”
“Live Your Life Like A Dream”
“Hallo Spaceboy”

LP 2
Side 1:
“Full Circle”
“Walk Away In Silence”

Side 2:
“Eyes Of Fire”
“God's Equation”
“United Alliance”

Band lineup:

Nils K. Rue – vocals
Jorn Viggo Lofstad – guitars
Ronny Tegner – guitars
Steinar Krokmo – bass
Stian Kristoffersen - drums

Blood Red Throne has checked in with the following update:

"Here you have a song from the upcoming Blood Red Throne album being released later this year. The video might offend some, but it’s only pure Norwegian quality death metal. Enjoy!"
 

The song "Patriotic Hatred" is taken from the upcoming Blood Red Throne album, Union Of Flesh And Machine. It will be released in November 2015 by Candlelight Records.
 

Cryptopsy will be touring Europe this summer, with Blood Red Throne and Psycroptic as alternating support. The tour schedule is as follows:

August 
2 - Musikhuset Posten - Odense, Denmark              
3 - B58 Metalclub - Braunschweig, Germany              
4 - 11er Club - Frankfurt, Germany          
5 - Keller Club - Stuttgart, Germany              
7 - Sachsischer Bahnhof - Gera, Germany              
10 - Little Devil - Tilburg, Netherlands         
11 - Bierkeller - Bristol, UK         
12 - Owl Sanctuary - Norwich, UK 
13 - Audio - Glasgow, UK    
14 - The Dome - London, UK
15 - Ieperfest - Ypres, Belgium

For information on Blood Red Throne go to this location.

Fan-filmed video footage of VAN HALEN's July 30 performance in Bangor, Maine can be seen below.

VAN HALEN is performing a set featuring a number of rarities from the band's catalog that have not been heard live in decades. The Bangor show opened with "Light Up The Sky" from 1979's "Van Halen II" and also featured deep tracks like "Feel Your Love Tonight" from its self-titled 1978 debut, "Drop Dead Legs" from "1984", "Dirty Movies" from 1981's "Fair Warning" and "In A Simple Rhyme" from 1980's "Women And Children First".

According to The Pulse Of Radio, "Light Up The Sky" has not been played live in 35 years until now, while "Drop Dead Legs" and "Dirty Movies" had never been performed in concert until the opening show of the tour in Seattle on July 5.

Other album cuts aired during the concert included "Women In Love" and "Romeo Delight" in addition to hits and fan favorites such as "Runnin' With The Devil", "Unchained", "Panama", "Jump", "Hot For Teacher", "Everybody Wants Some!!" and "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love".

The tour is VAN HALEN's first since an aborted North American run three years ago in support of its then-new studio album, "A Different Kind Of Truth".

VAN HALEN plays in Boston, Massachusetts on Saturday (August 1) and will spend the whole summer on the road, winding down on October 4 in Los Angeles.








(Thanks: NJthrasher)

Former ACCEPT and current U.D.O. singer Udo Dirkschneider will embark on a special tour next year during which he will perform ACCEPT songs one last time before he closes the chapter for good.

The 62-year-old German singer revealed his plans at a press conference in the VIP tent of this weekend's Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany.

During this ACCEPT "farewell" tour — which he will perform under the DIRKSCHNEIDER banner (not U.D.O.)— Dirkschneider will only showcase songs from the Udo era of ACCEPT. The German rock staple will close a huge chapter of music history forever. In the early '80s, the Solingen-raised singer skyrocketed to worldwide acclaim with the band ACCEPT and with his unmistakable voice, he had several hits such as "Balls To The Wall" and "Princess Of The Dawn". Now he has announced that he will perform these much-loved hits on this special tour one more time before he removes them from the setlist forever.

"I still love singing these songs live," Dirkschneider says. "The songs still are an important part of my catalog and still suit my voice very well. But at some point in your life, it's just time to close the chapter. There has been so much talk and speculation about ACCEPT, so I just want to give my last definitive musical statement about it and give my fans a chance to see me perform a complete concert of these songs one last time on stage."

After this tour, Udo will only play songs from his extensive library of U.D.O. material. Following his dismissal from ACCEPT in the late '80s, he garnered many classic hits with his new band in a long and successful career, such as "Animal House", "Timebomb" and "Man And Machine". "There is enough high-quality [U.D.O.] material to fill a two-hour set with no problem," says Dirkschneider. "U.D.O. has been the band where I belong for 18 years and I want to pay tribute to them from now on."

In a January 2015 interview with the "Lokaos Rock Show", Udo was asked how it felt for him to see ACCEPT continue with a new singer (ex-TT QUICK frontman Mark Tornillo) as his replacement. He responded: "What can I say? I mean, I [went to see] a show of ACCEPT in Hamburg [in October 2014], and I was a little bit disappointed. It was without any emotion. For me, there was no band on stage. Playing-wise, it was okay, but it was without any emotion. It was automatic — like, do it and then go."

Pressed by The Rock Online if he is bothered by the fact that ACCEPT took the pole position in Germany for the first time with an album (2014's "Blind Rage") that features Mark Tornillo on vocals, Udo responded: "Let's say it this way. I mean, I know the business, I know how everything works, you know. I mean, they were changing the release date [of the album in order to insure that it would place high on the chart]. Normally, it was planned [to be out] one month before [in July 2014], but it was the same time that JUDAS PRIEST was coming out [with 'Redeemer Of Souls']. I mean, I know the business behind [the decision to push the release date back]. You know, and then they moved it to August. August, normally nothing is happening [in terms of big releases coming out]. [It was a] really clever [move] by the record company. I mean, I know how much albums it sold to [land] on the first… to be Number One in Germany. So that's the whole thing behind the scenes. I mean, of course, it's good if they have a Number One. It's, like, yeah, the press [reacts very enthusiastically]: 'Wow...!'"

Udo also revealed more details behind his decision to purchase a ticket to see the most recent touring lineup of ACCEPT perform live on October 4, 2014 at Docks in Hamgburg, Germany during the European leg of the "Blind Rage" tour.

"Yeah, I can tell this: I mean, I was in Hamburg. I was waiting for the guy to pick me up for the mixing [of the new U.D.O. album 'Decadent']," he said. "And then I was buying a ticket — this is true — I was buying a ticket to see the [ACCEPT] show in Hamburg at the Docks. Yeah, really! [laughs] And it was, for me, very interesting."

He continued: "I wanted to see it once live, you know, what they're doing on stage. And let's say it in this way: I was… I cannot really explain it. It was like something like… It was, for me, nothing… like there was no band on stage, you know. For me, it was like they were playing everything without emotion. They [didn't] look [at] each other. It was something, you know, it was like just, 'Okay, here we go... Be finished and go!' And, okay, in a way… It was sold out. But I thought the reaction of the people... Let's say, the most reaction was when they did the old songs. Of course. So, but, you know, and the singer [Mark Tornillo]… In a way, he's a good singer, but when he has to sing all the old ACCEPT stuff, I feel very sorry for him. This is a nightmare.

"I don't wanna say anything bad, you know, but it was really, like… I was, like, really, 'What are they doing there!?' I mean, I thought they really [would perform]... yeah, let's say, really with energy and really with, you know, emotion. But this was like something… Okay… There was nothing… There was not a band, for me, on stage. So, but now I saw this, and I wish them all the best."

Udo added: "For me, it was really important to… I wanted really… I had the chance [and] wanted to see [the current version of ACCEPT perform] live. And it was very important for me. And now I know what I wanna know from this band, you know, and then I say, 'Okay, I saw it with my own eyes, I hear everything.' That's it."