Arte conducted an interview with guitarist John Petrucci and vocalist James LaBrie of progressive metallers DREAM THEATER at this year's edition of the Wacken Open Air festival, which is taking place this weekend in Wacken, Germany. You can now watch the chat below.

Speaking about DREAM THEATER's follow-up to 2013's self-titled album, Petrucci said: "We've been in the studio since January. In fact, this tour has broken up our time in the studio. In fact, we're doing some work here on the road as well. We're very busy in hotel rooms, [doing] some last-minute writing and getting some things done. But, yeah, we've been in the studio since January. It's going great. We'll be wrapping up probably in the fall and it'll come out early next year."

On the topic of DREAM THEATER's three-decade-long career, Petrucci said: "It's amazing. Not a lot of bands can say that they've been together for that long. And it's still going incredibly well. We definitely feel like the best is yet to come, and we built something that's really special. So it's amazing. I mean, John [Myung, bass] and I, we've played together since we were, like, 12 [or] 13 years old, and I'm still standing on stage with John on bass, looking across. It's a wild feeling."

Added LaBrie: "It's pretty amazing to be in the kind of industry that we are and to say that we've been around for thirty years and we're still relevant today. You know, the fact is that we still feel that we're evolving as a band. We're continuing to grow musically, and we see that our audience and our fan base is continually being cultivated. So, just to be in a situation as that says so much. It's so much to be grateful for."

"Dream Theater" sold around 34,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 7 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD, which arrived in stores on September 24, 2013 via Roadrunner, earned DREAM THEATER its second Grammy nomination, for "Best Metal Performance" for the single "The Enemy Inside".

The new CHASTAIN album "We Bleed Metal" will be released worldwide on November 6. It will be made available on CD and vinyl as well as all digital formats. Guitarist David T. Chastain states: "This is a continuation of the 'Surrender To No One' sound with, hopefully, some improvements all the way around. [Singer] Leather [Leone] has never sounded better and I believe this is my most shredtastic CHASTAIN lead guitar playing since 'The 7th Of Never' era." Drummer Stian Kristoffersen (PAGAN'S MIND) and bassist Mike Skimmerhorn return once again to complete the lineup.

The CHASTAIN albums "Surrender To No One" and "We Bleed Metal" will be released in vinyl format later in the year on Pure Steel Records.

The CHASTAIN classic albums "The 7th Of Never" and "The Voice Of The Cult" were recently reissued on CD by Divebomb/Tribunal Records. These reissues were nicely redone with new mastering, packaging, interviews, old reviews and more.

The "uncut" version of CHASTAIN's comeback album, "Surrender To No One", was made available on digital format on Leviathan worldwide.

The Leather-fronted version of CHASTAIN recorded five CDs in the mid-to-late 1980s: 1985's "Mystery Of Illusion", 1986's "Ruler Of The Wasteland", 1987's "The 7th Of Never", 1988's "The Voice Of The Cult" and 1990's "For Those Who Dare". After the "For Those Who Dare" tour, David and Leather amicably went their separate ways but kept in touch over the years before reuniting in 2013.

Leather in 2012 released the debut album from her SLEDGE LEATHER project, "Imagine Me Alive". The CD was inspired in 2010 when Leather called Sandy Sledge to collaborate on the Ronnie James Dio track "Egypt" for a demo tribute recording. Due to the overwhelming response for more material, SLEDGE LEATHER was born and performed at Germany's Keep It True festival in April 2011.

"Absolution", a brand new song from Swedish occult rockers GHOST, can be streamed at this location. The track is taken from the band's third album, "Meliora", which will be released on August 21 via Loma Vista Recordings. The follow-up to 2013's "Infestissumam" was helmed by Klas Åhlund, a prolific songwriter, producer and guitarist who is also a member of the Swedish rock band TEDDYBEARS, and was mixed by Andy Wallace (SLAYER, NIRVANA, SEPULTURA, LINKIN PARK, GUNS N' ROSES).

"Meliora" track listing:

01. Spirit02. From The Pinnacle To The Pit03. Cirice04. Spöksonat05. He Is06. Mummy Dust07. Majesty08. Devil Church09. Absolution10. Deus In Absentia

The cover artwork for the CD can be seen below.

GHOST's June 3 warm-up show at at Doom in Linköping served as the group's live debut with their "new" singer, Papa Emeritus III, the three-month-younger brother of GHOST's previous frontman, Papa Emeritus II.

Asked if there is any kind of special audition process for picking a new Papa Emeritus, a nameless ghoul from GHOST told Music Radar: "Fortunately for us, we don't have to do auditions where you put people through the paces. We just expect somebody to be on time, in tune and somewhat glad. Usually we don't see much of our Papas — 'cause they're hanging out with the mamas. [Laughs] They tend to appear as we go on stage and disappear just as quickly. We don't socialize or fraternize that much, which is cool. I don't know him very well, really. He's very new to me."

Regarding whether the fact that the various Papas are "emeritus'" means that they never really go away, the nameless ghoul said: "Well, that's the ironic thing. 'Emeritus' in the tradition of popes means that you're dead — you never get that title until after you've died. Benedictus was the first pope in something like 400 years who was named 'emeritus' while he's still alive. He got to retire with that title. So our Papa Emerituses get to retire, but they're still here."

GHOST will embark on the "Black To The Future" North American headlining tour in the fall. The procession will begin at The Fillmore in Washington, D.C. on September 22.

TERROR has released the music video for the song "Mind At War", giving another peek into the band's new album, "The 25th Hour".

Frontman Scott Vogel says of the track: "When Nick [Jett, drummer] first showed me this song, I immediately thought it had a D.R.I. 'Four Of A Kind' crossover feel to it, which I love and is pretty fresh for TERROR. Lyrically, everyone can relate to this. All our minds are at war within ourselves and this fucked up world. We needed a visual that bought to life the dark side of our thoughts and the Tom Soares legendary production really shows on this track."

"The 25th Hour" is scheduled for release on August 7 via Century Media.

For another taste of TERROR's most venomous and angriest album to date, check out the track "The Solution" below. Vogel states about the cut: "This is the hardest-hitting song that we've had in a while. The lyrics are about children that had grown up in households that are negative, violent, and destructive to their innocence. As the cycle continues, they soon will too become bitter and aggressive in their lives."

"Deathless", the new album from Ohio metallers MISS MAY I, can be streamed in its entirety via the YouTube playlist below. The CD will be released on August 7 via Rise Records.

"Deathless" was produced by Joey Sturgis (OF MICE & MEN) and Nick Sampson (ASKING ALEXANDRIA) and was recorded at The Foundation Recording Studio in Connersville, Indiana. The band's fifth record follows their 2014 breakout, "Rise Of The Lion", which debuted at No. 21 on The Billboard 200 chart. "We are very excited about this release," said MISS MAY I singer Levi Benton. "Not only have we been working on this record for almost a year, but we recorded it with our old friend Joey Sturgis who did our first two records and really brought out the best in us. This record is about how the last two years have tested us on many levels and how we have come through it all stronger and better. That's where the title comes from, because we are deathless." MISS MAY I's new record is not only a turning point for the band's career, it's also a return to form. Since their inception in 2007, they've steadily amassed a worldwide army of fans with four records, the last three of which have charted higher with each consecutive release. With "Deathless", the band has never sounded more aggressive while remaining as accessible as always. "Deathless" track listing:

01. I H.E.02. Trust My Heart (Never Hope To Die)03. Psychotic Romantic04. Deathless05. Bastards Left Behind06. Arise07. Turn Back The Time08. Empty Promises09. The Artificial10. Born From Nothing

According to journalist Gary Graff, a "confirmed source" with GUNS N' ROSES has clarified the status of Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, saying that the guitarist is indeed out of the band — and has been for some time.

The source tells Graff: "Bumblefoot quit last year. I don't understand why he continues to be evasive on his status with the band — he quit in South America. He told [GUNS N' ROSES lead singer] Axl [Rose] he was done and [the second GN'R Las] Vegas [residency] would be his last run with the band."

Thal recently revealed that he was focusing on his solo career after spending eight years playing in the Axl Rose-fronted band. Thal, however, stopped short of saying that he was no longer a member of GUNS N' ROSES, which has caused some fans to criticize him for not coming clean about where he stands with the group.

Asked by Graff earlier this week to clarify his status with GUNS N' ROSES, Thal said: "That is the thing I am not to elaborate on. I think there's enough clues out there for you to figure out what I'm up to now."

He continued: "I'm a real busy guy and really enjoying everything I'm doing, and I think that everything I'm doing has a future and a bigger plan — the solo stuff, the other bands, the producing, the charity and educational things I'm doing. These are all the things I love that I've really missed, and I'm very happy to be putting my time back into that. It's really what I should be doing."

Bumblefoot joined GUNS N' ROSES in early 2006 as the replacement for Buckethead. He made his live debut with the band at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on May 12, 2006.

Back in 2013, Bumblefoot expressed his frustration over the fact that GUNS N' ROSES had not made any new music since the release of 2008's "Chinese Democracy". He said: "If something came out at this point, it would be very old material that is just being released now. So it would be unheard material, but to me, I don't consider that a new record, I consider that just releasing old material from a band that doesn't exist anymore. And we need to make an album of this band right now." He added: "I'm all about making music; that's why I make music — to make music. So I'd like to really do that. I would be very happy if GUNS N' ROSES could do that…. I wanna make some music with these motherfuckers. It's a damn good band and we should really have the opportunity to give what we can to all [the fans], and make some music for [the fans]."

Bumblefoot released a new solo album, "Little Brother Is Watching", in February. The disc was composed, produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Bumblefoot at his studio in New Jersey, and also features drummer Dennis Leeflang.

Another GUNS N' ROSES guitarist, D.J. Ashba, issued a statement on Monday (July 27) saying that he was leaving GUNS N' ROSES. His statement read in part, "It is with a very heavy heart and yet great pride that I announce that I've decided to close this chapter of my life and encapsulate the wonderful times that I've shared with GUNS N' ROSES into fond memories. I have reached a point in my life where I feel its time to dedicate myself to my band SIXX: A.M., my adoring wife and family, and to the many new adventures that the future holds for me."

Ashba added: "I want to take a moment to thank Axl from the bottom of my heart for not only the most incredible experience of my life, but for truly believing in me. You are a true friend and a champion of mine and I am forever grateful. And even as I move on to pursue other endeavors, I will always remain one of your biggest fans. I also would like to thank each and every one of you fans for your love and support throughout the years."

Ashba said earlier in his statement that working with GUNS N' ROSES was "the most incredible journey I could have possibly imagined."

On October 16, British heavy metal legends SAXON will release their 21st studio album, "Battering Ram", in North America via UDR Music.

On "Battering Ram" — with Biff Byford singing as well as he ever has, Paul Quinn and Doug Scarratt making full use of the term "shredding" with their guitars and the lock-steady rhythm of Nibbs Carter's bass and Nigel Glockler's drums — the future and the past crash together in an ear-scintillatingly engaging, raucous, melodic-yet-classically heavy ten-song collection which will instantly be hailed as a SAXON classic. The title track, with its delectable twin guitar assault heralding the album's commencement, gives the listener an instant crack around the chops, whilst traditionalists will be delighted to hear such a perfect marriage of old, classic SAXON with the newer, fresher invective in such riff-fronted fare as "Destroyer" and "Stand Your Ground", but there are still moments of space and exploration which fans will love.

"This one's a natural progression from 'Sacrifice'," says Byford, "There's a bit less rock 'n' roll and a bit more 'heavy' on it. We wanted to keep focused on a style rather than moving around too much."

Produced by Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, TESTAMENT, EXODUS, ACCEPT) at his Backstage Recording Studios in rural Derbyshire, SAXON were able to hone in and whittle down any excess, finding the sonic space and balance to let "Battering Ram"'s riffs and melodies get the necessary space to scream front and center, Sneap bringing a crispness to the sound which evokes memories of the early '80s without for one moment sounding dated.

"Yes, Andy has been in charge of everything with this album, I keep on overview of it all, but he's done a great job and we're both pleased with the results. We have a great partnership," adds Byford.

Lyrically, "Battering Ram" covers a variety of social situations, like the screaming fans who rage at the gig barriers ("Battering Ram") or engaging in some good old fashioned myth ("The Devil's Footprint" — a 200-year-old tale of people waking up in winter snowfall to see unexplained hoof prints which they followed, looking for an answer in vain).

"When I'm writing lyrics I like to switch back and forth between complex things, reality and rock'n'roll," says Byford, "I thought the whole folklore behind 'The Devil's Footprint' made it great material for a metal song, being that it's both historic and mythical.

"With 'Queen of Hearts', I wanted to write something around Lewis Carroll's 'Alice In Wonderland', and it's about the chess game that happens in the story. I wanted it to have prog-feeling in the way of its ambiance and mood. Then you have songs like 'Destroyer' and 'Hard And Fast' which are '80s-inspired songs with that modern slant on it. I'm a big fan of Marvel comics, and I wanted to write a song around the character Destroyer, and with 'Hard and Fast', it's, as the title suggests, about driving fast! I do like to tie the lyric into the song, so if it's going to be a song about driving fast, well, it has to be a fast, hard song!"

There is also the album's closing cut, haunting, gripping, melancholic tale of the First World War, "The Kingdom Of The Cross", where a poem unfurls the feelings and horrors which comprised this most brutal of global conflicts. "This year is the centenary of the end of the First World War. Nigel had a piece of music which he played on a synthesizer for a couple of years that I really liked. We had an actor (and singer), David Bower from the band HELL, read the poem and I sang the choruses. I didn't want it to be typical SAXON, so it is just keyboards, bass, me and Dave."

The official video for the CD's title track can be seen below. In this no-nonsense, sharp clip, Biff and the boys are captured at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, U.K, throwing down a thunderous performance. "Battering Ram" is available for pre-order now via iTunes, with "Battering Ram" as the instant grat track. Coming soon, "Battering Ram" will be available for pre-order via Amazon and various formats will include CD in ecolbook, 180 gram vinyl, limited edition boxset (containing CD, vinyl and a bonus CD with the band performance of their "Denim & Leather" tour "Saxon Over Sweden 2011", featuring 18 tracks).

"Battering Ram" track listing:

01. Battering Ram02. The Devil's Footprint03. Queen Of Hearts04. Destroyer05. Hard And Fast06. Eye Of The Storm07. Stand Your Ground08. Top Of The World09. To The End10. Kingdom Of The Cross

In celebration of the release of "Battering Ram", SAXON will play select dates with MOTÖRHEAD, and others with ARMORED SAINT, in the U.S. beginning August 19.

Last night, at the Wacken Open Air (W:O:A) music festival in northern Germany, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA (TSO) and SAVATAGE wowed 80,000-plus attendees with a never-before-attempted music festival performance. Following a 40-minute SAVATAGE set and a 40-minute TSO set, TSO and SAVATAGE band members, across two of the festival's main stages, performed a perfectly coordinated set of fan-favorites. This ambitious feat, both musically and logistically, was helmed by Paul O'Neill. Al Pitrelli led TSO on the "True Metal Stage" and Jon Oliva headed SAVATAGE on the "Black Stage." Beyond the unprecedented act of two bands hitting the stage at the same time, this show was also memorable as it marked progressive metal originators SAVATAGE's first show in over a decade, TSO's first European festival show, as well as the only live appearances of both bands in Europe in 2015.

The closeness of these two bands is well-known to those versed in rock/metal lore. TSO was founded in 1993 by producer/composer/lyricist Paul O'Neill, who brought together SAVATAGE's Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli to fulfill a vision for a group that could meld the sound of classical and fury of rock music with Broadway's storytelling to create a unique amalgamation O'Neillcalls "rock theater." Since gaining massive popularity after beginning touring in 1999, TSO has grown to include additional members of SAVATAGE within its ranks.

Prior to the festival, the bands issued this joint statement: "All of us in TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA and SAVATAGE cannot believe the luck that has given us the opportunity to take a break from recording the new (TSO) album 'Letters From The Labyrinth', so that we can meet up in Wacken, Germany and together, look back at how we got here, as well as forward to possibly catch a glimpse of what might be. This is a once in a lifetime show for SAVATAGE and TSO that we hope you will never forget."

At 9:45 p.m., SAVATAGE, including members Oliva, Pitrelli, Johnny Lee Middleton, Chris Caffery, Jeff Plate, Zak Stevens, Bill Hudson, plus several backing musicians (including TSO's Vitalij Kuprij), ripped through such SAVATAGE songs as "Gutter Ballet", "Hall of the Mountain King", "Edge of Thorns", "Jesus Saves" and more.

As the SAVATAGE set came to a close, guitarist Pitrelli raced to the other stage to join TSO for a fierce performance including songs from their upcoming release "Letters From The Labyrinth" — "Prometheus", "Toccata/Carpimus Noctem" from the platinum-certified "Night Castle" and more. For TSO's first set, the band consisted of John O.Reilly and Jeff Plate (drums), David Z and Middleton (bass), Angus Clark and Caffery (guitars), Mee Eun Kim and Derek Wieland (keyboards), Asha Melvana and Roddy Chong (strings). Vocal duties were handled by Jeff Scott Soto, Kayla Reeves and Andrew Ross, with the group bolstered at times with dancers, background vocalists and more.

At 11 p.m. came the portion of the performance that left the crowd astonished: all band members took to their respective stages and began an hour-long simultaneous performance playing the same songs concurrently. They stormed through the set containing such songs as SAVATAGE's "Turns To Me", a rousing version of "Believe" with a duet featuring Oliva and Robin Borneman along with TSO favorites including "A Last Illusion", "Requiem", "Beethoven" and "King Rurick" from TSO's forthcoming release. A united TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA featured four guitarists, four keyboard players, two drummers, two bassists, a string section, and multiple vocalists (including the addition of TSO's Russell Allen and SAVATAGE's Stevens to the above). It was a sight to behold, with several generations on stage: from teenagers taking their first steps on an international rock stage to seasoned veterans who have toured the world.

Throughout the two-plus hours, along with an unprecedented sonic storm, fans were treated to an incredible pyrotechnic display estimated to have cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. As anyone on site could attest, it was an unparalleled auditory and visual experience.

Florida metallers TRIVIUM will release their new album, "Silence In The Snow", on October 2 via Roadrunner. The follow-up to 2013's "Vengeance Falls" was produced by Michael "Elvis" Baskette (SLASH, ALTER BRIDGE, THE AMITY AFFLICTION) and was mixed by Josh Wilbur (GOJIRA, LAMB OF GOD). The album is further heralded by its first official music video; the sweeping "Silence In The Snow", which can be seen below.

Long known as one of modern metal’s most potent live acts, TRIVIUM will celebrate "Silence In The Snow" with an epic worldwide schedule highlighted by the upcoming 2015 HardDrive Live Tour. The dates — which see TRIVIUM co-headlining alongside TREMONTI — get underway September 9 at Fort Lauderdale, Florida's Culture Room and then continue through mid-October. The band will then head straight to San Bernardino, California for an October 24 main-stage performance at the upcoming Knotfest, headlined and curated by TRIVIUM's labelmates SLIPKNOT. In the meantime, the Orlando, Florida-based band will spend the remaining summer lighting up Europe, including headline appearances at such hard rock and metal festivals as the U.K.'s Bloodstock, Belgium's Alcatraz, Germany's Summer Breeze, and France's Motocultor. TRIVIUM's seventh studio album, "Silence In The Snow" stands as a long gestating creative milestone for the acclaimed band. The collection had its genesis moment back in 2007 and was directly influenced by the time TRIVIUM spent touring alongside the legendary HEAVEN & HELL that year. Ultimately, it would take eight years before they felt equipped to tackle the challenging work of weaving their classic influences into a modern record. Fueled by the inspiration of true classic metal — spanning BLACK SABBATH and RAINBOW, IRON MAIDEN and JUDAS PRIEST, PANTERA and SLAYER, MEGADETH and METALLICA — TRIVIUM challenged themselves to attain similar levels of greatness, taking on vocal coaches and guitar lessons to further their creative evolution. The result is extraordinary, bridging the history of hard rock and metal while simultaneously powering it forward into the future on tracks like the epic "Blind Leading The Blind" and the upcoming first single "Until The World Goes Cold". "Silence In The Snow" track listing:

01. Snøfall02. Silence In The Snow03. Blind Leading The Blind04. Dead And Gone05. The Ghost That's Haunting You06. Pull Me From The Void07. Until The World Goes Cold08. Rise Above The Tides09. The Thing That's Killing Me10. Beneath The Sun11. Breathe In The Flames

TRIVIUM in May 2014 parted ways with drummer Nick Augusto due to personal differences. Stepping in for him on TRIVIUM's most recent dates was the band's drum tech, Mat Madiro.

TRIVIUM's last album, "Vengeance Falls", made Top 10 chart debuts in Japan, Australia, Germany and Austria as well as a Top 15 debut in Canada and a Top 25 debut in the United Kingdom. This marked the acclaimed metallers' second consecutive Top 15 debut in the U.S. and highest-career debuts around the globe — including a No. 2 debut in Japan.

"Vengeance Falls" sold 17,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The record — which was produced by David Draiman (DISTURBED, DEVICE) — arrived in stores on October 15, 2013 via Roadrunner.

"Better Place", the first video from SAINT ASONIA, the new act featuring ex-THREE DAYS GRACE frontman Adam Gontier and STAIND guitarist Mike Mushok, can be seen below. The clip was filmed in Los Angeles with director Paul Brown, who has previously worked with MARILYN MANSON, THREE DAYS GRACE, EVANESCENCE, SLIPKNOT, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and MÖTLEY CRÜE, among others.

Speaking about the video shoot, Gontier told Styles and Kaytie of the 92.7 QLZ radio station: "It was a great experience. I'm pretty proud of it myself. I co-directed the video with the director Paul Brown. And Paul is someone that I've worked with in the past, and he does great, great stuff. I wrote the treatment and got a chance to co-direct the video, which is something I have always wanted to do. I'm really, really proud of it."

Gontier also spoke about his decision to take on directorial duties for the video himself. He explained: "When you put a single out, you get treatments from a lot of different directors, and we had a few treatments come in, but at the same time, I felt like, just being so close to the song and what it means to me, I felt like maybe I could write something that works best for the song, and it turned out that we gave that a shot and it worked. So it was a really, really cool experience. I learned a lot and hopefully I'll get a chance to do it again in the future."

Regarding the "Better Place" video concept, Gontier said: "It's basically looking out at a few different people in different situations in their lives where they just finally, sort of, stop getting stepped on and end up in a better place. There's a few different ways that people will interpret the video, but it's a really, really cool idea and it's something that I don't think has really ever been done. So, yeah, I'm excited for people to see it and [to see] their reaction, for sure."

"Better Place" is taken from SAINT ASONIA's self-titled debut album, which is being released today (Friday, July 31) via RCA.

Produced by Johnny K. (SEVENDUST, DISTURBED, MEGADETH), the majority of "Saint Asonia" was co-written by Gontier and Mushok.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, SAINT ASONIA started out as just Gontier and Mushok writing music together with no plans beyond that. But Gontier told The Pulse Of Radio that the moment arrived when they knew SAINT ASONIA could be a band. "When we got into the studio to record a couple of songs, we recorded three songs, and when they were done, I think that was probably the moment where we were like, 'Okay, so we've just recorded three songs, they turned out really good, we have another 10, let's do this,'" he said. "Obviously, Mike being basically on hiatus from STAIND for who knows how long, it just seemed to make sense."

SAINT ASONIA also includes STUCK MOJO and DARK NEW DAY bassist Corey Lowery and FINGER ELEVEN drummer Rich Beddoe.

The group played its first live show at Rock On The Range in Columbus, Ohio in May.

Gontier has kept a low profile since leaving THREE DAYS GRACE in December 2012. The band replaced him with Matt Walst and recently released a new album called "Human".

Mushok's band, STAIND, has not released new music since 2011 and has no plans to return to the studio. Mushok played briefly in 2013 with ex-METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted in his self-named band.

Beddoe exited FINGER ELEVEN in late 2013.

Lowery's resume includes stints with STUCK MOJO, SWITCHED, STEREOMUD, DARK NEW DAY and most recently EYE EMPIRE.

Band photo credit: Travis Shinn

California metallers HUNTRESS will release their third studio album, titled "Static", on September 25 release via Napalm Records. The highly anticipated record was produced by Paul Fig (Grammy-nominated engineer who has previously worked with ALICE IN CHAINS, DEFTONES, TRIVIUM, GHOST) and Jim Rota (FIREBALL MINISTRY, executive producer for "Sonic Highways" series and producer of "Sound City" movie), and was engineered and mixed by Fig.

The official lyric video for the "Static" song "Flesh" can be seen below.

Said HUNTRESS vocalist Jill Janus: "'Flesh' is catchy and hard rock, it's lusty and bloody, a blackened-party metal make out song.

"When my bandmates brought me the killer composition, I wrote the lyrics as my storyline unfolded like bizarre film noir. A female serial killer who would transform into a demonic seamstress, preying upon women. She desires their flesh for fashion.

"Once again, I've collaborated with the immensely talented Vance Kelly to bring my story to life. Our telepathic artistic connection has created a twisted romantic lyric video for a summer of lust. Enjoy!"

HUNTRESS has teamed up with Pledge Music to offer pre-sales of the new album. When you order "Static", the band's Pledge Music page is "unlocked," giving fans an exclusive pass to HUNTRESS content. Unique pre-sale packages have been created just for their fans.

In true HUNTRESS fashion, the band filmed a hilarious promotional video. You can watch it now on the Pledge Music page and get the new album today.

Vance Kelly (SLAYER, ALICE IN CHAINS, EVANESCENCE, GHOST) has once again delivered stunning album artwork for HUNTRESS. The band's creative unity with Kelly remains strong, with Vance having also created album covers for HUNTRESS's previous CDs "Spell Eater" and "Starbound Beast".

Janus comments: "The evolution of HUNTRESS bleeds into 'Static', our third and most prolific album. It is the heaviest and catchiest record we've written.

"The process of writing and recording was new and exciting, at times very difficult for all involved, having to record in between relentless touring.

"Never have I been so honest in my approach to songwriting; I reveal lifelong personal obstacles that I previously feared weaving into my lyrics.

"I'm so pleased to reveal the cover art for 'Static' by my treasured art warlock Vance Kelly."

HUNTRESS will hitting the high seas this September as part of the Mötorboat cruise. The band will appear alongside heavyweights MÖTORHEAD, SLAYER, and ANTHRAX, just to name a few. Expect high-energy sets from HUNTRESS featuring favorites off the first two albums and new headbangers from "Static". The cruise takes place September 28 – October 2. Additional tour dates in support of "Static" will be announced soon!

"Static" track listing:

01. Sorrow02. Flesh03. Brian04. I Want To Wanna Wake Up05. Mania06. Four Blood Moons07. Static08. Harsh Times On Planet Stoked09. Noble Savage10. Fire In My Heart

Bonus tracks:

11. Black Tongue12. Vultures Can Wait (7" vinyl exclusive)

HUNTRESS is: Jill Janus - VocalsBlake Meahl - GuitarsEli Santana - GuitarsTyler Meahl - Drums

Century Media Records recently started a collaboration with Anders Fridén (IN FLAMES) and his label Razzia Notes.

BLACK TEMPLE, from Helsingborg, Sweden, will be the first release Razzia Notes licensed to Century Media for all territories outside of Scandinavia and North America.

BLACK TEMPLE's debut album, "It All Ends", will be released on August 28 via Century Media (world excluding North America, Scandinavia) and Razzia Notes (Scandinavia). The album will be available as limited-edition digipak, LP+CD (including bonus track "Skullfucker") and as digital album.

A new lyric video for the track "Oncoming Fire" can be seen below.

"It All Ends" is an intense story with impressive dynamics. With Magnus Lindberg (CULT OF LUNA) in the producer's seat, the band — which has been called the country's most violent live act — explores new territory in their musical landscapes: a primitive primordial drive fights it out with immediate melodies, performed with an ever present sense that each note can be the last. The end may be near, but "It All Ends" is just the beginning.

Anders Fridén comments: "First time I heard BLACK TEMPLE, I freaked and I said to myself, 'I gotta work with these guys somehow.' The whole expression of their music is a perfect introduction to Razzia Notes and our new collaboration with Century Media.

"Do yourself a favor and get a copy of 'It All Ends'. It's a monster of an album."

Jonas, BLACK TEMPLE singer and bass player, comments: "To become labelmates with three of my favorite bands at the same time is a bit like a wet dream... I mean, c'mon — DARK FUNERAL, MARDUK and WATAIN... And this is just the top layer, in my opinion, of what this behemoth of a label has released through the years. Simply — such a great honor!"

BLACK TEMPLE will support IN FLAMES on their European tour this fall and will soon kick off a Scandinavian tour with THE SWORD.

The official lyric video for the song "Fire It Up" from Grammy Award-nominated, multiplatinum hard rock titans DISTURBED can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's sixth studio album, "Immortalized", which will be released August 21 through Reprise Records. Lead single "The Vengeful One" is out now, along with the accompanying animated video from award-winning filmmaker Phil Mucci, and "Immortalized" is available for pre-order everywhere. The upcoming release follows 2010's gold-certified "Asylum", DISTURBED's fourth consecutive #1 on the Billboard Top 200, and the group's subsequent break, which gave members David Draiman (vocals), Dan Donegan (guitar), Mike Wengren (drums) and John Moyer (bass) the necessary reprieve to make this imminent and deliberate return.

Draiman says that as much as 95 percent of the music he's written for the band has been created while he was high. Speaking with Revolver, Draiman revealed that "Fire It Up", which opens with the sound of a bong hit, was inspired by the singer's routine. He explained: "There was a big fat bowl before that one. 95 percent of the songs I've written in my life, I've written them while high. That's the god's honest truth."

Draiman continued: "I'll have a very skeletal musical idea in my head, and then I'll light one up, go in the shower and let the steam kind of build up. It helps me relax, and I can see the gaps. I can see the holes in the rhythm and the melody and I'll know where I can go, and what the possibilities are. It helps me be able to perceive everything a little bit more clearly."

Draiman told The Pulse Of Radio that "Fire It Up" was inspired by a recording session where he sang DISTURBED's new cover of SIMON AND GARFUNKEL's "The Sound Of Silence" while high. "I was done with the day and I wanted to relax, so I went ahead and I smoked a bowl," he laughed. "[I] came back and was high out of my mind and no, no, by no means ready to track vocals by any stretch of the imagination. And they all encouraged me to go into the vocal booth, and I was pretty blown away. I hadn't heard my voice that vulnerable in a very, very long time."

Draiman added that "Fire It Up" is more lighthearted than usual for DISTURBED, remarking: "Yeah, that's me saying it: There' s a song on this DISTURBED record that's fun… And God knows there's certainly enough people out there that appreciate the enlightening aspects of smoking marijuana."

"Immortalized" ends a four-year hiatus for the band and features the current Top 10 rock single, "The Vengeful One".

DISTURBED will play its first show in four years on August 21 at the House of Blues in the band's hometown of Chicago.

Fan-filmed video footage of IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris's solo/side project BRITISH LION performing two brand new songs, "Spitfire" and "Bible Black", on July 29 at The Square in Harlow, 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!"

After 17 years with German gothic metallers CREMATORY, guitarist Matze decided to leave the band in early 2015 to concentrate on his private life and to explore new musical horizons. He has since been replaced by two musicians: Tosse Basler, who has been in the music business for over 30 years and has played in bands like POISON ASP, FORTY SHADES, SCAPEGOAT, AVALANCHE and EVOLUTION, on rhythm guitar and clean vocals; and Rolf Munkes, who also has over 30 years of experience in the business, on lead guitar. Rolf is also a producer at his Empire Studios, were he has worked with such acts as MAJESTY, Tony Martin (ex-BLACK SABBATH), Neil Murray (ex-WHITESNAKE, Gary Moore), Don Airey (DEEP PURPLE) and Doogie White (MICHAEL SCHENKER'S TEMPLE OF ROCK).

CREMATORY will hit Kohlekeller Studio in September to record its new album with producer Kristian Bonifer. A spring 2016 release is expected.

CREMATORY's latest album, "Antiserum", came out in March 2014 in North America and February 2014 in Europe via Steamhammer/SPV. The effort was released as a deluxe box set (including a flag, patch, poster, sticker, postcard), digipak (including two bonus tracks), 2LP gatefold colored vinyl version (including two bonus tracks), standard version and download.

Photo from left to right: Rolf Munkes (guitar), Tosse Basler (guitar)

A video surfaced on Thursday (July 30) of a thousand musicians, dubbed "The Rockin'1000," playing the FOO FIGHTERS hit "Learn to Fly" as a way to ask the band to come and play in Cesena, Italy. FOO FIGHTERS responded via their Twitter account, writing, "Che bello, Cesena," which translates to "How lovely, Cesena" or "How nice, Cesena." The band, however, did not commit to performing in the town.

A previous fan attempt to get the band to play in Richmond, Virginia, by raising money through the sale of tickets, was met with success as the band performed there last September.

Meanwhile, frontman Dave Grohl denied rumors that the FOO FIGHTERS were already signed up to headline next year's Glastonbury Festival in the U.K. after missing last month's event due to Grohl's broken leg.

Grohl told Q magazine, "I read all of those articles saying we confirmed for next year and just laughed. Total fucking bullshit. Of course, I'd love to come back and play Glastonbury! But don't believe everything that you read, kids…"

The FOO FIGHTERS will begin the next leg of their North American tour on August 12 in Edmonton, Canada. After breaking his leg in a stage fall in Sweden last month, Grohl has played the first part of the trek while seated on a light-up throne with his leg in a cast.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, a previously unheard demo recording by late NIRVANA frontman Kurt Cobain will turn up on the soundtrack of the documentary "Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck" when it is released in theaters next Friday (August 7). Director Brett Morgen told Billboard that he added the song, which features Cobain singing in a falsetto, to the movie without having to make any changes to the film. "Montage Of Heck" had a brief theatrical run last spring before premiering on HBO in May.

Morgen did not want to say where in the film the song appears, explaining, "I don't want to get people out there bootlegging it on their cell phones."

The track, like many of the songs used for the movie from the cassettes in Cobain's personal archive, does not have a title, although it might have been recorded in 1991.

Although "Montage Of Heck" played on HBO and has been nominated for seven Emmy Awards, Morgen said it was "built as a theatrical experience, so we decided we would bring the film back into theaters."

Morgen built the movie around recordings taken from 107 cassettes that Cobain recorded over a period of many years, equaling around 200 hours of audio, as well as previously unseen artwork by the singer/guitarist.

Morgen told The Pulse Of Radio that he could not believe how much material Cobain created in his relatively short life. "I'd never met anyone who was as prolific as he was," he said. "I mean, given his short life span and that a lot of that time, he didn't have a secure home, the amount of materials that we have present a guy who just never stopped creating, and that is beyond inspirational."

Morgen was given complete access to Cobain's personal archives by his widow Courtney Love and daughter Frances Bean Cobain.

Fresh off the heels of their first main stage festival performance at the UK’s annual Ramblin’ Man Fair and sharing stage with stalwart acts such as Scorpions and Dream Theater, the members of hard rock act Toseland - featuring James Toseland (vocals), Zurab Melua (guitar), Ed Bramford (guitar), Roger Davis (bass) and Joe Yoshida (drums) - are elated for the release of their debut album, Renegade, set to hit shelves in North America this fall.

Scheduled for release on September 18th via Metalville Records, Toseland’s first full-length effort titled Renegade, which has sold over 10,000 copies in the UK alone, is an album packed with powerful rock songs – from the balls out album opener “Life Is Beautiful” to “Crash Landing” and title track “Renegade”, showing this is a band who know how to rock a melody.

If the name seems familiar, it is because Toseland are a band fronted by two-time World Superbike Champion James Toseland. Throughout his career as a motorbike racer, music has been central to James’ life – so much so that he performed live at BBC’s Sports Personality Of the Year. When James was forced to retire through injury a journey into music started…

After a friend had recommended they might work well together, James met up with Toby Jepson (Little Angels) in March 2012. Jepson had no idea of Toseland’s past but they clicked - personally and musically.

Having an idea of the sound they wanted along with the foundation of several songs, the writing process was quick and the pair soon laid down instrumentation at Vale Studios with Jepson producing (credits include The Answer, Saxon and The Virginmarys) and Steve Harris (Foo Fighters, U2) as engineer. James plays all piano on the album and vocals were recorded in five days at Jepson’s studio in Scarborough.

“I'm so excited that my debut album, Renegade, is going to be released through Metalville Records in America!,” says James. “We are hopeful that America will connect with our music as the band and myself would love to perform there. We can't wait to hear their feedback on the album.”

Having already forged themselves a name as a powerful live act; 2013 -2014 saw the group cross the UK with a series of headline shows and supports (to Reef, The Darkness, and Little Angels) and festival dates (Download, Planet Rockstock and the Moto GP at Silverstone).

Tracklisting:

“Life Is Beautiful”
“Gotta Be A Better Way”
“Singer In A Band”
“Crash Landing”
“Just No Way”
“Comin To Get Ya”
“Good Eye Blind”
“Kingdoms”
“Burning The System”
“Emergency”
“Renegade”
“Hearts And Bones” *
“The Closer I Get” *

* Bonus tracks from the Hearts And Bones EP

“Renegade” video:

“Crash Landing” video:

A brand new cover of Attitude Adjustment’s “Working Class Pride" has been made available by Italy’s Resurrecturis. The band dared a very intense take on an old 80's American hardcore classic that in the hands of the Italian monsters turns into a savage ride with tinges of grindcore and black metal fury.

The song was recorded live at Lullaby Studio during one band rehearsal and was completed with the addition of vocal lines by former Resu-vocalist Ivan Di Marco (now with HC legends Straight Opposition) and bass tracks by Marco Morosini (ex-Eversor, ex-The Miles Apart, now with old school death metallers, Mannaia).

"Since our forthcoming album, Nazienda, deals with work and office life, I thought "Working Class Pride" by Attitude Adjustment fitted perfectly with what we were working on. It's a pretty old song that not many younger kids are familiar with. But it's a fantastic tune and the lyrics are also great and pretty unusual when it comes to 80's US HC. We sped up the song a bit and added some contemporary undertones, to make it sound more interesting. Besides we were very glad to spend some time with two friends from the old days who also happen to be respected personalities of the Italian HC scene." - Carlo Strappa / Resurrecturis

"Working Class Pride" can be heard below. For the moment there are no plans for an official physical release. Resurrecturis also took the time to create a customized Attitude Adjustment-inspired logo which, in true punk fashion, is ironic and meaningful at one time.

Resurrecturis will release their new album, Nazienda, on September 25th via Mighty Music.

The album-title, “Nazienda”, a neologism that merges the words “nazism” and “azienda” (Italian for company, corporation), sets a tone that is tragic and ironic at the same time. Just listen to the song “10:30 Animals In The Meeting Room”: solid and fierce metallic extremism with crazy animal verses going cuckoo.

The songs run through the routine of a typical working day, each number even bearing an indication of the hour in the title: from the irritating buzz of the alarm early in the morning until the character slips into unconsciousness on the couch in front of the TV. In-between a flood of annoying phone calls, company meetings, work on the PC, solidarity among colleagues and introspective reflections.

The album was produced and engineered by Alessandro Vagnoni (Dark Lunacy, Bologna Violenta, Infernal Poetry, Darkside). Nazienda - Graphic Novel written by Carlo Strappa and drawn by Albano Scevola also available.

Front cover by Italian artist Daniele Cudini:

Nazienda tracklisting:

“6:29 Sleeping With Your Hair Spread Over My Chest”
“6:30 The Alarm”
“07:12 On The Way To Work”
“08:01 The Number You Have Dialed”
“10:30 Animals In The Meeting Room”
“13:00 Lunch Break Alienation”
“14:16 Col-League-S”
“16:00 The Thought That Something Went Wrong With My Life”
“16:59 Never Happy”
“19:12 Two Half Lives Don’t Make One”
“23:31 Falling Asleep On The Couch”

“19:12 Two Half Lives Don’t Make One” lyric video:

 

 

Hailing from the capital of Germany, five-piece wrecking crew Toxpack have announced a worldwide signing with Napalm Records. Featuring some of the heaviest streetpunk/streetcore in the world and already with plenty of miles on their backs, Toxpack is now ready to take the next step together with Napalm Records.

Founded in 2001 the band quickly found its own path and stayed strongly focused with shows all over Europe, chart entries and intensive work on their music, releasing seven studio albums so far. Their latest album Friss (2014) entered the German Media Control album charts at #16.
Now, it’s time for something bigger, for something even more powerful and intense.

Toxpack on the singing with Napalm Records: "2016 marks the 15th anniversary of Toxpack! There’s definitely some heavy streetcore on the way on this highly promising journey! We’re totally stoked to have finally found a strong partner with Napalm Records, which absolutely marks a new milestone in the Toxpack history!”

DEFTONES are completing the mixing process for their as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2012's "Koi No Yokan" album for a tentative September 25 release. The band's keyboardist/DJ Frank Delgado told Diffuser last week about the songwriting process for the new CD: "This one was different. This one was a lot of starting and stopping, which I think is something we would've been scared of before."

He continued: "For the last couple of records, we went in and we started writing and we didn't stop until we finished the record. This one we took our time and it was a good pace. Everyone needed that break to breathe, to go home to family. Now we're ready to be able to work like this. It allowed us to think about things longer as opposed to get something done by a deadline."

Delgado added: "We're actually really good when we get together and find something that's cool. It's just a matter of hanging out long enough and waiting for it to happen. You can't really force it, know what I mean? You can make your environment as comfortable as possible. Sometimes a lot of things come fast and sometimes it doesn't."

DEFTONES drummer Abe Cunningham concurred, telling Diffuser: "As long as the goal is there with everyone to complete something. Before, it's kind of typical with any band where you have your allotted time — here's a month or a month and a half — to be creative even if you're not. This was a nice way to just have breathers with family and just be normal."

Asked how the new DEFTONES album represents an evolution for the band, or if it calls back to previous CDs, Cunningham said: "I don't think you can help sounding like yourself, and there's nothing wrong with sounding like yourself. We love sonics and we love the whole spectrum of it. From the very get-go, our first album had little bits and these things became more prevalent later on in our records, you know? It's a heavy guitar-based band but with so much more."

Added Delgado: "If the songs come out heavy or if they come out softer, there's never been any set precedence of what we need to do or what we think is lacking, or what we think people want. It's literally just trying to make stuff that we like. It's selfish but that's kind of what's been happening."

As previously reported, DEFTONES has tapped Jerry Cantrell (ALICE IN CHAINS) to lay down a guest guitar solo on the band's new album. Cantrell told Metal Hammer about how his contribution came together: "DEFTONES and I have known each other for years, and we're also under the same management. Chino [Moreno, DEFTONES singer] sent over the song file and I thought it was really great, cool and moody, so I worked on it that night and threw something down. He sent me a file of them jamming the song live, I sent it back with the idea I laid down, and Chino thought it was perfect. I waited until they got back in the studio and then came in and laid it down. So, it was pretty easy, and I think it's going to be a great song."

He added: "Chino's a really talented guy and an amazing frontman, and they're a band that has a sound that's uniquely their own."

According to Moreno, sixteen songs were written for DEFTONES' new CD, which was once again produced by Matt Hyde (SLAYER, CHILDREN OF BODOM, MONSTER MAGNET, WINDS OF PLAGUE).

On July 26, Planet Mosh TV conducted an interview with German metal queen Doro Pesch at this year's edition of the Steelhouse Festival at Hafod-y-Dafal Farm, near Ebbw Vale in South Wales. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked when fans can expect to hear the follow-up to her 2012 album "Raise Your Fist", Doro said: "We will finish a new DVD. That's the 30th-anniversary DVD. The whole year we filmed. And it's called 'Strong & Proud'. That will be released in March next year, I think the 4th of March. And we're working on a new album, but [it will be] maybe one more years until it's all done."

She continued: "We were on tour and on the road non-stop. When you're doing a festival or when you're playing a gig, I always concentrate on making the people feel good that day and you are in a totally different mindframe to do a record. I have to take a little time off touring. But touring is, to me, the best — I love it the most. But we have some great songs in the making. So maybe this year we wanna put out a single. I think there's a killer song. I wanna do a video of that song, maybe like a little mini-movie or something. Since I'm from the '80s, I want all these big videos, and maybe we have to do some crowdfunding or something, because nobody wants to have a video anymore. I think the record company doesn't want [to pay for it]. But I wanna do it. I think the song calls for [a video like that]. So maybe [we'll release] an EP or a single this year. But next year [we'll put out] the [full-length] record, and a DVD. And there'll be a live CD as well and three DVDs, or two Blu-rays. So it's a big thing, [with], any guests. Of course, Biff [Byford] of SAXON is on it. And so many friends."

Dubbed "50 minutes of expertly crafted Teutonic metal" by Outburn, which crowned Doro "...the classiest lady in metal," "Raise Your Fist" boasted guest appearances by MOTÖRHEAD's Lemmy Kilmister and OZZY OSBOURNE/FIREWIND guitarist Gus G., and artwork by British artist and longtime Doro collaborator Geoffrey Gillespie. An import version of Doro's "Raise Your Fist - 30 Years Anniversary Edition" is available via the Nuclear Blast webshop and includes new and rare tracks plus a bonus CD titled "Powerful Passionate Favorites" comprised of cover versions of DIO, LED ZEPPELIN, METALLICA and KISS songs.

Bob Suehs of Rock N Roll Experience conducted an interview with new RED DRAGON CARTEL singer Shawn Crosby (ex-JONES STREET) on July 23 at Fish Head Cantina in Halethorpe, Maryland. You can now watch the chat below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On how he got the singer gig in RED DRAGON CARTEL:

"Well, it's a long story. I thought I was retiring. I was in L.A. for thirty years, and I moved back to my hometown in Virginia. Anthony Esposito, the bass player for LYNCH MOB [and RED DRAGON CARTEL], called me up and said [RED DRAGON CARTEL] got rid of their singer and they needed somebody quick. So, I opened a skateboard shop in Alexandria, Virginia and closed it up and came out on tour, and I've been on tour since. So… I've known him since way before he was in LYNCH MOB back in the day."

On whether he is RED DRAGON CARTEL's permanent singer now:

"I don't know. We'll see. They say, 'Fifth time's the charm,' you know. I was really good friends with Ray Gillen [late BADLANDS and BLACK SABBATH singer]. I helped him… We used to write lyrics together a lot and stuff, and it's really just good to be able to walk in his footsteps now. It's very spiritual for me, and I'm having a great time doing it. My favorite stuff to sing is all the BADLANDS stuff. It's my gig. I love that stuff. Yeah, if it goes all well… you know."

On how he got to know Ray Gillen:

"I was one of the first guys he met when he moved out to L.A. from New York, and we just became hardcore friends. I used to work on Melrose, and I used to make guitar straps for John Sykes and all the heavy hitters back then. And Ray came in one day, and we just hit it off as singers together. We'd just write every day. He'd bring a notebook to work, and we'd sit and park and write stuff on my break and stuff, and that's how we became friends. Nd I would go to the rehearsals. And my band JONES STREET back then opened for them a bunch of times — BADLANDS — so we just always stayed tight."

On whether he has a handwritten letter from Ray Gillen that carries with him on the road:

"I do. It's… One day he came in and I wasn't there — I was on a lunch break — and he [wrote], 'Hey, Shawn. I don't know if you've checked out the new CD. If not, I'll bring one by for ya. I hope your singing's going great.' And it said, 'Ray Gillen.' And I found it in my storage literally a week — exactly a week — before these guys [RED DRAGON CARTEL] called me. And I just said, 'Ah, this is cool. I forgot I had this. I'm gonna bring it to the house.' And then Anthony called me [about the RED DRAGON CARTEL gig]. And I keep it with me on the road. So…. it's very cool."

On whether RED DRAGON CARTEL mainman Jake E. Lee (ex-OZZY OSBOURNE, BADLANDS) is easy to work with:

"Jake is amazing. He's a quiet guy; he keeps to himself. [He's] an amazing person. The whole band's almost like a family. I just feel like… I've known Anthony forever. I didn't know the other guys, but it just all has meshed really well together. You know, 'cause you do have to spend 23 more hours off stage with these people. And that's the hardest thing to do — to be able to not get in anybody's face and everything. On a tour bus, it can get that way, but… we're having a great time.'

On whether he intentionally tries to look like Ray Gillen on stage:

"It's funny, 'cause I've been a blond almost my whole life, even though my hair is dark. And when I got divorced, I said, 'I'm gonna [make] a change.' That was, like, five years ago. I've always worn heavy shirts, like Ray did, and the jeans. That's just [my look]. I did not fathom at all — 'cause I'm five-seven; Ray was, like six-two — so… I did not fathom at all that I would be getting the 'He's channeling Ray.' 'Cause that's not it at all. Ray and I were great friends. I had blond hair the whole time. I just went black when I got divorced and said, 'I wanna do a new look.' And it's funny, because the new look… The black hair… I've got quarter Navajo in me, so I've got very dark hair. And once I got older, I just said, 'I don't wanna keep doing the blond thing. It's, like, a midlife crisis.' So I went black, and I've been getting great stuff ever since. So I should have done that a long time ago. But, yeah… [I'm] nowhere near trying to channel Ray whatsoever. I've been channeling him, but not on purpose. It just happened to fall that way. And the way that photographs have caught me is kind of cool that they caught me that way, but it wasn't intentional… I love Ray. He was one of my… He's still my favorite singer of all time. So to be able to… like I said, to be able to sing his music, as well as being with Jake, it's just great. I personally wish we could do all BADLANDS material, 'cause I can sing that all day long."

RED DRAGON CARTEL most recently played several shows with Canadian singer Paul D'Eath (CITIZENS UNITE, MUSHROOM TRAIL). Prior to that, the band was fronted by Chas West (Jason Bonham, LYNCH MOB, 3 LEGGED DOGG), Michael Beck and Darren James Smith, the latter of whom handled lead vocals on RED DRAGON CARTEL's self-titled debut album.

Beck made headlines in April when he sang the lyrics to Osbourne's "Now You See It (Now You Don't)" while the rest of RED DRAGON CARTEL played "The Ultimate Sin" at their first show together in Miami, Florida. Beck later blamed the mixup on the fact that he "had no monitors at all" and he "couldn't hear anything."

RED DRAGON CARTEL in March announced the departure of bassist Greg Chaisson, who exited the group because he could "no longer take any more time away from [his] regular job."

RED DRAGON CARTEL's debut CD sold around 5,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 69 on The Billboard 200 chart.

RED DRAGON CARTEL's setlist includes new material like the singles "Feeder" and "Deceived", as well as major hits from Jake E. Lee's glorious past: "Bark At The Moon", "The Ultimate Sin" and "Rock 'N' Roll Rebel" (all originally recorded by OZZY OSBOURNE), as well as "Shine On" and "High Wire" (BADLANDS).

Interview:


Performance footage:

As soon as AEROSMITH wraps up its tour in early August, the band's guitarist, Brad Whitford, will finish work on his second album with Derek St. Holmes, the voice of such early TED NUGENT songs as "Stranglehold" and "Dog Eat Dog".

The first WHITFORD-ST. HOLMES album came out in 1981.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, Whitford and St. Holmes reconnected after Whitford moved to Nashville, where St. Holmes lives.

In a video below posted on AEROSMITH's web site, Whitford says he and St. Holmes cut nine tracks in two days with bass player Charlie Anderson and TESLA drummer Troy Luccketta.

Whitford and St. Holmes plan to play shows in November.

AEROSMITH is expected to tour again in 2016.