SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor has confirmed that the band is considering writing and recording a double concept album to follow last year's ".5: The Gray Chapter".

".5: The Gray Chapter" was released in October 2014 following a six-year hiatus during which founding SLIPKNOT bassist Paul Gray died and original drummer Joey Jordison was dismissed. Since the CD's release, several of the SLIPKNOT band members, including guitarists Jim Root and Mick Thomson, have expressed hope that the group could record the follow-up effort sooner than expected, with Root claiming in recent interviews to have already begin compiling ideas for SLIPKNOT's next release.

SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan recently told BBC Radio 1's "Rock Show" that he would love to see the band record a double concept album in the vein of PINK FLOYD's "The Wall" and THE BEATLES' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", with a movie to go along with the project. He said: "I've been on Jim, and I'm just, like, 'Man, we've gotta write an art record. We've gotta write our 'Wall'… 'Sgt. Pepper's'… whatever you wanna say. And that's where I'm at. We've got so many records on our record deal. We've done five. I'd love it if we could do a double album, just… interludes… Have a concept, [and] maybe make a movie. I mean, things that have all been done, things that have all been done before, but… you know, our way, our interpretation. That would be a grand slam for the Clown. Don't get me wrong: we'd still do our thing. We're still gonna be SLIPKNOT."

During the question-and-answer portion of his solo concert at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, California on Sunday, July 19, Taylor was asked if SLIPKNOT will keep going once the tour cycle for ".5: The Gray Chapter" has been completed. He said (see video below): "Oh, absolutely. You're fucking right we're gonna keep going."

He continued: "I will give you a little glipse of the future of SLIPKNOT right now. First of all, more than likely, we will continue to work with the two new people who we made '.5: The Gray Chapter' with, who, I'm sure you've read, is Jay [Weinberg, drums] and Alex [Alessandro 'Vman' Venturella, bass]. We're going to tour until June next year. We're gonna go around the world again and then we are definitely gonna come back to the States and try to hit some of the other places that we didn't get to hit. That will more than likely wrap up the tour cycle. I will then go and do STONE SOUR. Clown has got a couple of movies that he wants to direct. And let me tell you something: they just put together an initial cut of his first movie, 'Officer Downe', and I guess it is blowing people away, so I'm so fucking proud of him. Everybody else is gonna kind of do their thing in SLIPKNOT, I'm gonna do STONE SOUR, and then we will reconvene, and I know, a couple of the guys, we've been talking about a double concept album, which I don't know if we could... But it's an interesting idea. So they told me to start thinking of an idea for a story. So we'll see what happens."

As previously reported, Taylor said in a recent interview with RockSverige.se that SLIPKNOT will take a "couple of years off" after completing the tour cycle for ".5: The Gray Chapter". Taylor explained, "We're gonna finish touring and then we're gonna take a couple of years off again to let everything chill. I'm gonna go do my thing, [and] everybody else's gonna go do their thing... then, in a couple of years, we'll get back together and see what happens again."

Taylor's "thing" is STONE SOUR, which has two more covers EPs in the works following this spring's "Meanwhile In Burbank… Taylor told The Pulse Of Radio that he's written "about eight songs" for the follow-up to the band's 2012 double concept album, "House Of Gold And Bones". He said: "I've got a bunch of new songs, bunch of new music written. Everybody in the band has stuff. So we're gonna start kind of putting that together early next year, kind of just trying to get demos together to see where we're at. And then maybe in the fall go in and start making a new album."

Following the "Meanwhile In Burbank…" EP, STONE SOUR plans to release two more EPs of cover songs in the near future, with the first one titled "Straight Out Of Burbank" and the second called "No Sleep 'Till Burbank".

STONE SOUR's last collection of original music, "House Of Gold And Bones", was a double concept album released in two parts in 2012 and 2013.

SLIPKNOT's "Summer's Last Stand" tour kicks off on July 24 in West Palm Beach, Florida, wrapping up six weeks later on September 5 in Dallas.

Brazilian legends in the matters of speed and brutality combined, Rebaelliun, are back.

Says Hammerheart Records: “We team up again, after working together 15 years ago. In October Hammerheart will release a 7” with the two tracks that started it all in 1999: The “At War” CD-single will be reissued as a 7” EP.”

A new album (for now it seems to titled The Hell’s Decrees) will be recorded this winter, with a release date for May 2016 (details to follow). This will be followed by touring and festival performances.

The two albums Burn The Promised Land and Annihilation will be reissued in deluxe CD versions, digitally, and as vinyl re-ssues, more news along the way.

 

Le Projet, the rock band comprising Kevin Martin, Adam Kury and Brian Quinn of Candlebox, Morgan Rose of Sevendust, and Lenny Cerzosie of The Infinite Staircase, has announced the release of their fifth single, “Wait For It”.

Available at all major online retailers starting today, “Wait For It” was recorded at Think Loud Studios in York, PA. The single marks the latest release by Le Projet and is just one of the tracks that will be on the band’s album.

"My favorite thing about “Wait For It” is how experimental the process was. Nobody was worried about who got to play what or who's ideas made the final cut. It was genuinely a group experience. Our goal was just to have fun writing authentic, original music,” said Lenny Cerzosie. “This song has a completely different feel from our other singles, while still maintaining the Le Projet vibe. From the out set, we all agreed that we weren't going to take ourselves too seriously but we were going to write serious music. I think that's evident in “Wait For It”.”

To date, Le Projet has released four singles: “Head Down”, “Little Sh*ts”, “Save Yourself”, and “Refugee” that are also available at all major online retailers.

American new wave of traditional heavy metal band, Corners Of Sanctuary, announce the release of their brand new EP, titled Prelude To War (The Japan Demo) as a free download on their official website. Get it here.

The release includes the following songs:

“A Fist Full Of Vengeance”
“Victoria”
“Battle”
“Hell And Back”
“Bleed With Me”
“On The Hunt”
“Juggernaut”
“Blood Quest”

All tracks are in MP3 format and the EP's artwork is included as part of the free download.

Barcelona, Spain-based Obsidian Kingdom have released the following update in regards to their next studio album:

“Our sophomore full-length is finally written. We will start recording at Orgone Studios in London with Jaime Gómez Arellano (Paradise Lost, Ulver, Primordial) as producer before the end of summer, and it will be out on Season Of Mist in 2016. We just wanted you to know that we can hardly wait for you to experience our new songs.

You will also spot a few different faces in our latest portrait (above), as recently pictured by the gifted photographer Taya Uddin. We kindly ask you to give a warm welcome to our new, young and talented members: Seerborn Ape Tot on guitars and Om Rex Orale on bass. You'll meet them both in person before soon…

Enjoy the last days of summer.”

Stay tuned for updates.

German nautical doom lords, Ahab, will release their new album, The Boats Of The Glen Carrig, on August 28th via Napalm Records. The album will be available as limited edition 6-page Digipak with bonus track, 2LP Gatefold edition, strictly limited Wooden Box Edition and Ultra Deluxe Canvas Edition. A new video for “Like Red Foam (The Storm)” can be found below.

The Boats Of The Glen Carrig tracklisting:

“The Isle”
“The Thing That Made Search”
“Like Red Foam (The Storm)”
“The Weedmen”
“To Mourn Job”
“The Light in the Weed (Mary Madison)” (Bonus Track)

“Like Red Foam (The Storm)” video:

Track-by-track video:

Ahab recently checked in with the following update: "Exclusively in the Napalm Records store there will be an Ahab Box. It includes the new album The Boats Of The Glen Carrig, a flag, a patch and the 7" vinyl single of our cover song 'The Turn Of A Friendly Card by Alan Parsons Project. You remember: he guy who recorded Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon. The song is sung by Olav Iversen courtesy of Sahg."

Check out an edit of the track below:

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

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

Tracklisting:

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

Sovran is available as:

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

 

Akron, Ohio-based rock band, Red Sun Rising, have a music video for “The Otherside”, the track featured on their debut album, Polyester Zeal, which is scheduled for release on August 7th via Razor & Tie.

Tracklisting:

“Push”
“Amnesia”
“The Otherside”
“My Muse”
“Emotionless”
“Blister”
“Worlds Away”
“Unnatural”
“Awake”
“Bliss”
“Imitation”

“The Otherside” video:

Polyester Zeal was produced by powerhouse producer Bob Marlette (Black Sabbath, Shinedown, Seether).

Preceding Mad Architects forthcoming sophomore full length album, Hang High, a single with the title track is now available on all popular digital platforms worldwide.

What we can expect from the new creation by Mad Architect is an even broader musical spectrum than before. Heavy songs, melancholic songs, hippiemetallic songs, spooky songs. A total of 13 songs woven into a unique album concept.

Playing melodic metal from the dark side (from Gothenburg, Sweden that is), Mad Architect was brought to life in 2011 by guitarist Magnus Daun. A studio project also featuring the incomparable creative force Snowy Shaw (King Diamond, Dimmu Borgir, Therion, Sabaton). Previous releases are Dreamworld (EP 2012), “Mad Architect" (Single, 2013), Journey To Madness (Album, 2013). The forthcoming new full length album Hang High is to be unleashed through Wunderwurld Music on October 31st, Halloween.

Hang High was recorded, mixed and mastered at Sound Industry Studios with Arnold Lindberg (In Flames, Kamelot, Evergrey, Denner/Shermann) at the helm. The first single "Hang High" is streaming below:

More album details to follow, but it can already be revealed that there will be a strictly limited edition double-LP, available exclusively through Snowy Shaw’s webshop. Pre-orders of the vinyl edition can be made here.

Mad Architect is:

Vocals: Snowy Shaw
Guitars: Magnus Daun
Drums: Snowy Shaw
Keyboards: Magnus Daun
Bass: Snowy Shaw

Although Mad Architect at present is to be considered a studio project, "Hang High" will be performed live at Snowy Shaw’s gig in Gothenburg, Sweden, on August 12th.

 

British metalcore act BRING ME THE HORIZON will release its fifth album, "That's The Spirit", on September 11 via Columbia Records. Eleven tracks were laid down for the CD, which was produced by BRING ME THE HORIZON keyboardist/vocalist Jordan Fish.

"That's The Spirit" track listing:

01. Doomed02. Happy Song03. Throne04. True Friends05. Follow You06. What You Need07. Avalanche08. Run09. Drown10. Blasphemy11. Oh No

The "That's The Spirit" cover art can be seen below. Also available is the newly released video for the song "Throne".

BRING ME THE HORIZON frontman Oli Sykes told NME.com about the new album title: "It's a celebration of depression, a way of making light of it. 'That's The Spirit' — it's quite a depressing phrase when you think about it — the sort of thing you only ever use when you know there's no positive answer to the situation."

Recording sessions for "That's The Spirit" took place at Black Rock Studios on the Greek island of Santorini. The CD will include the track"Drown", which was released as a "tester" single, plus "Happy Song", described by Sykes as an "unofficial title track."

Speaking about the much wider palette of influences which have gone into the making of BRING ME THE HORIZON's new CD, Sykes said: "This time round, the challenge wasn't just for people to be impressed that a screamer's learned to sing. We had to come back with something that would be impressive for people who had no idea of the history of the band."

Regarding the fact that BRING ME THE HORIZON chose to have Fish helm the new effort, Sykes said: "Producers are fine. But they want to justify the importance of their jobs sometimes, so they say things to you like: 'Oh, I know — why can't you do it in the swimming pool?' We know enough now that we were, like, 'It's not that hard. Let's just lay everything down the best way we can, and get on with it.'" "Plus," added Fish, "they cost a lot of money."

BRING ME THE HORIZON's "Live At Wembley" concert DVD was released in June. The set was filmed last December in London when the Yorkshire-based band headlined that city's most prestigious venue, Wembley Arena.

DEEP PURPLE performed its classic song "Smoke On The Water" this morning (Thursday, July 23) on NBC's "Today" show at New York City's Rockefeller Plaza. You can watch video footage of the band's appearance below.

DEEP PURPLE's next album will once again be helmed by Bob Ezrin (KISS, PINK FLOYD, PETER GABRIEL, ALICE COOPER, KANSAS), who produced the band's latest CD, "Now What?!"

"We've kept in touch with Bob," DEEP PURPLE bassist Roger Glover told Ultimate Classic Rock. "Bob has actually become a very good friend. He really enjoyed making the record with us, so it's a no-brainer really that we're going to do it again."

"Now What?!" sold 4,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 115 on The Billboard 200 chart. The album was released in North America in April 2013 via earMUSIC, the Hamburg, Germany-based international rock label which is part of Edel Group.

Frontiers Music Srl will release the tenth studio album from British rockers PRAYING MANTIS, titled "Legacy", on August 21.

The "Legacy" song "All I See" can be streamed below.

The early reactions to the new songs have been outstanding and there is a real buzz beginning to emerge that this could arguably be the best album that MANTIS have ever made! Bold words to be sure, but this is more than mere record label hyperbole...

"Legacy" is the first recording to feature the two new members from the Netherlands, John "Jaycee" Cuijpers and Hans in't Zandt (vocals and drums respectively), who have truly provided a new dimension to the writing process and musical performances. Together with the prolific songwriting talents of Chris Troy and guitarists Tino Troy and Andy Burgess, they have been instrumental not only in the writing of the new songs, but in providing a new vision in terms of the sound engineering and production. The recording of the album was carried out in various recording studios in Belgium, Netherlands and U.K.

As per the previous record, "Sanctuary", the mixing of the new album was done by Andrew Reilly in his studio in Atlanta. The first single, "Fight For Your Honour", will be accompanied by a video shot while the band performed the song for the first time at their acclaimed performance at the Frontiers Rock Festival II in Milan, Italy.

One of the most influential and famous artists in the rock field, Rodney Matthews (MAGNUM, DIAMOND HEAD, ALLEN/LANDE), has been commissioned to do the artwork for the album in the same style and stunning quality that so many fans loved on the original MANTIS albums like "Time Tells No Lies" and the later album "Predator In Disguise".

PRAYING MANTIS are a well-established band of melodic hard rockers. They were formed by brothers Tino and Chris Troy in 1973 and together with bands like IRON MAIDEN, DEF LEPPARD, SAXON, and others they spearheaded the NWOBHM movement. While they did not see the same dizzying heights of success as some of their contemporaries, PRAYING MANTIS nonetheless became one of the most influential bands of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). The band has remained active over the years and still record and play live regularly.

An EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for the album is available below.

"Legacy" track listing:

01. Fight For Your Honour02. The One03. Believable04. Tokyo05. Better Man06. All I See07. Eyes Of A Child08. The Runner09. Against The World10. Fallen Angel11. Second Time Around

PRAYING MANTIS is:

Tino Troy - GuitarChris Troy - BassJohn Cuijpers - VocalsAndy Burgess - GuitarHans in't Zandt - Drums

Impericon.com recently met up with LAMB OF GOD singer Randy Blythe and asked him "25 important either-or questions." Check out the clip below.

LAMB OF GOD's new album, "VII: Sturm Und Drang", will be released on July 24 via Epic in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast Entertainment in all territories outside of North America. The CD was once again produced and mixed by Josh Wilbur with engineering by Wilbur, Nick Rowe and Kyle McAulay, and was recorded at NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood, California and Suburban Soul Studios in Torrance, California.

LAMB OF GOD has announced the variety of bundle options available for the pre-order of "VII: Sturm Und Drang". They range from the "everything bundle" (including the deluxe CD or LP, a 7" vinyl single of bonus tracks, a signed album art lithography, a t-shirt, hoodie, cassette and sticker set and retails for $175) to the standard digital download (which retails for $11.98).

Regarding the "VII: Sturm Und Drang" album title, LAMB OF GOD guitarist Mark Morton told the Swiss TV show "Living Room": "When Randy [Blythe, vocals] and I were putting the lyrics together for this album, we were discussing what the themes were. And we were trying to find a phrase that best encompassed the common threads that ran through the lyrics of all the songs. And it just happened to be that 'Sturm Und Drang' represented that inner conflict and the pressure and the turmoil and the chaos and how one responds to those things. If it had been a French phrase, we would have probably named it that. But it just happened to be German."

The album's first single, "Still Echoes", was made available on May 18 via all digital retailers and streaming services.

The official video for the song "The Black Sheep" from Montreal-based death metallers KATAKLYSM can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's new album, "Of Ghosts And Gods", which will be released on July 31 via Nuclear Blast. The cover artwork for the follow-up to "Waiting For The End To Come" was created by up-and-coming dark and macabre artist Art By Surtsey and can be seen below.

Says KATAKLYSM frontman Maurizio Iacono: "'The Black Sheep' is a song we feel represents anyone who follows his/her own path despite facing critics and hate for being different then the norm. I'm sure many metalheads will relate; we surely do."

According to KATAKYSM, the "cover art echoes a sinister artwork depicting the reality of humanity's beautifully disturbing existence and its impending death through the mortal and the everlasting. The background shows an ancient Incantation written in Aramaic."

"Of Ghosts And Gods" track listing:

01. Breaching The Asylum02. The Black Sheep03. Thy Serpents Tongue04. Soul Destroyer 05. Vindication06. Marching Through Graveyards 07. Shattered 08. Hate Spirit09. Carrying Crosses 10. The World Is A Dying Insect

Guitarist Jean-François "JF" Dagenais tracked drums, guitars and bass for the album, while vocals were recorded by producer Mark Lewis (WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, CANNIBAL CORPSE). The effort was mixed and mastered in the U.K. by British producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, TESTAMENT, EXODUS, AMON AMARTH).

Says the band: "KATAKLYSM has been full of inspiration and are in full determination mode lately; a rejuvenated band that is out to conquer the world with no sign of stopping!

"This promises to be the album that will once and for all establish KATAKLYSM as one of the top pioneers of the genre!

"The latest material will be touching on some new ground while maintaining the aggressive edge the band has always been known for.

"The chemistry with new drummer Oli Beaudoin is incredible, and the four horsemen promise some crushing new material coming your way. Death metal hymns are arriving!"

KATAKLYSM had one of the busiest year in its entire career supporting "Waiting For The End To Come". The band launched a successful run in Australia and Japan and made its way to many other countries, including some first-time stops in places like Brazil and South Africa, among others.

"Waiting For The End To Come" was released in October 2013 via Nuclear Blast.

Children Of Bodom are set to release their ninth studio album, I Worship Chaos, worldwide on October 2nd via Nuclear Blast Records. The band have released a trailer in which bassist Henkka explains the concept behind cover artwork:

Pre-orders for I Worship Chaos are underway. The album will be available in following formats:

- CD + DVD digibook (incl. bonus DVD and three bonus tracks!)
- CD
- 2LP (black, clear, silver, yellow, picture)
- digibook + canvas (mail order edition)

Pre-order your copy at this location.

COB frontman, guitarist, and mastermind Alexi Laiho commented on the new album: “We are close to putting the finishing touches on the new COB record I Worship Chaos and as much fun (but most importantly raw, literally bloody knuckled hard work) it has been making it, I’m more than happy and even more anxious to share this chaos with the rest of the world.  So people, put your shades and helmets on, it will get very dark and it might hurt, in a perfect COB fashion of course!”

Returning to Finland’s Danger Johnny Studios (located at a top secret, undisclosed location in Helsinki) to record I Worship Chaos, the album was produced by COB and Mikko Karmila, who worked with the band on their earlier albums Halo Of Blood, Hatebreeder, Follow the Reaper and Hate Crew Deathroll. The album was mixed and mastered at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland.

Tracklisting:

“IHurt”
“My Bodom (I Am The Only One)”
“Morrigan”
“Horns”
“Prayer For The Afflicted”
“I Worship Chaos”
“Hold Your Tongue”
“Suicide Bomber”
“All for Nothing”
“Widdershins”

*The deluxe version of I Worship Chaos will include bonus tracks.

“Morrigan”:

Check out a message from the studio from Alexi and Janne:

In support of I Worship Chaos, Children Of Bodom will join forces with Lamb Of God to tour Europe this fall.

COB fronter Alexi Laiho comments: “We're all super psyched to hit the road with Lamb Of God this fall as we have a long history of touring and kicking some serious ass all over the globe with those guys! This is something you might not wanna miss, trust me!“

Opening support will come from Sylosis. For a few dates in the UK and Ireland, this touring package will team up with mighty Megadeth.

 Tour dates:

October (with Sylosis)
25 - Gdansk, Poland - B90
26 - Krakow, Poland - Fabryka
27 - Brno, Czech Republic - Club Fleda
29 - Marseille, France - Espace Julien

November
4 - Bordeaux, France - LeRocher De Palmer
5 - Lyon, France - Le Transbordeur
6 - Paris, France - Le Bataclan
7 - Strasbourg, France - Le Laiterie

November (with Megadeth, Lamb Of God, Sylosis)
9 - Dublin, Ireland - 3Arena
11 - Glasgow, Scotland - Braehead Arena
12 - Manchester, England - O2 Apollo Manchester
14 - London, England - The SSE Arena Wembley
15 - Birmingham, England - Birmingham o2 Academy

November (with Lamb Of God, Sylosis)
17 - Stuttgart, Germany - LKA Longhorn
18 - Tilbourg, Netherlands - 013
19 - Oberhausen, Germany - Turbinenhalle
20 - Wiesbaden, Germany - Schlachthof
22 - Zurich, Switzerland - Komplex
23 - Lausanne, Switzeland - Les Docks
24 - Milan, Italy - Alcatraz
25 - Munich, Germany - Kesselhaus
26 - Vienna, Austria - Gasometer
28 - Leipzig, Germany - Haus Auensee
29 - Brussels, Belgium - Ancienne Belgique
30 - Hamburg, Germany - Docks

December (with Lamb Of God, Sylosis)
1 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Store Vega

December (with Sylosis)
5 - Södra Hammarbyhamnen, Sweden - Fryshuset
6 - Oslo, Norway - Rockefeller Music Hall

Other Children Of Bodom tour dates include:

July
31 - Ratinan Stadion - Tampere, Finland (with Nightwish)

August
1 - Kuopio Rockcock - Kuopio, Finland

October
10 - Loud Park - Saitama-Shi, Japan

Legendary progressive-rockers Spock's Beard will release their brand new, 12th studio album, The Oblivion Particle, on August 21st. The new lyric video for the track “Minion” is streaming below:

The Oblivion Particle is the follow-up to 2013's Brief Nocturnes And Dreamless Sleep. The album finds the band answering the needs of their creations by utilizing the considerable versatility of each member. In addition to Ted Leonard's soaring vocals and Dave Meros' distinctive bass, Alan Morse adds autoharp, banjolele, electric sitar and mandolin to his array of instruments, drummer Jimmy Keegan takes over lead vocals on "Bennett Built A Time Machine" and Ryo expands his arsenal of keyboard sounds throughout the album. In addition, virtuoso Kansas violinist David Ragsdale lends his touch to the album's majestic closer, "Disappear”.

Tracklisting:

“Tides Of Time”
“Minion”
“Hell's Not Enough”
“Bennett Built A Time Machine”
“Get Out While You Can”
“A Better Way To Fly”
“The Center Line”
“To Be Free Again”
“Disappear”
“Iron Man” (special edition bonus track)

As with the previous album Brief Nocturnes And Dreamless Sleep, The Oblivion Particle was recorded at The Mouse House and produced by Rich Mouser, Alan Morse and John Boegehold, a band collaborator of many years.

The band also recently announced European tour dates in support of the album. The band will be joined by young UK act Synaesthesia and Hungarian band Special Providence.

The full list of dates are as follows:

September
16 - Spirit of 66 - Verviers, Belgium
17 - De Boerderij - Zoetermeer, Netherlands
18 - Framus & Warwick Music Hall - Markneukirchen, Germany
19 - Progresja - Warschau, Poland
20 - Metro Club - Brno, Czech Republic
21 - Ship A38 - Budapest, Hungary
23 - Legend - Milan, Italy
24 - Kantine - Augsburg, Germany
25 - Sudhaus - Tübingen, Germany
26 - Alte Seilerei - Mannheim, Germany
27 - Essigfabrik - Köln, Germany
29 - Rescue Rooms - Nottingham, UK
30 - Assembly - Leamington Spa, UK

October
1 - The Classic Grand - Glasgow, UK
2 - O2 Academy Islington - London, UK
3 - Club Academy - Manchester, UK

Former Amaranthe growler Andy Solveström has launched a new melodic death metal band called Reaching Fall, featuring members hailing from Borlänge and Gothenburg, Sweden. The band was formed in 2013 when Mika Itäranta and Martin Haglund - both former members of Astral Doors - started to discuss a metal project. Some demos were sent to Solveström and the writing of vocal lines and lyrics kicked off. Solveström then asked Camodi bandmate Niclas Bergstrand to handle the clean vocals while he focused on the growls. The band is currently writing songs for their debut album.

 

The band recently challenged their growing fanbase to push the like count on their official Facebook page past the 500 mark. A day later Reaching Fall posted the new song "These Darkened Days", found below.

Check out the new song "All This Time", released a couple weeks ago, below. A previously released studio outtake clip is also available.

Solveström left Amaranthe in 2013 following the recordings for the band's second album, The Nexus. He was replaced by Scarpoint screamer Henrik Englund.

SLAYER drummer Paul Bostaph spoke to RiffYou.com about how the death of the band's co-founding guitarist Jeff Hanneman affected the recording sessions for SLAYER's upcoming eleventh album, "Repentless".

"It was very hard and a constant reminder that we lost our friend," said Bostaph. "That being said, he was there the whole time. I always thought about Jeff as I recorded this album. There wasn't a moment where he wasn't on my mind. This performance meant a lot to me. His presence was there. We pushed through it without forgetting about our friend."

Asked if SLAYER thought about hanging it up after Hanneman's death, Bostaph said: "I can only speak for myself — I didn't know what was going to happen, but I never felt at any time, in my heart, that SLAYER would be done. I felt like Jeff wouldn't have wanted us to quit, because this was his band. Period. That being said, we have to carry on with honor. Nobody ever foresees losing a friend. When that happens, you have choices: you can give up or you can carry on, and that's what we're doing. Was it an easy decision to carry on? I don't think it was an easy decision, but here we are."

Bostaph also talked about his latest return to SLAYER in 2013 after previously leaving the group twice. He said: "I was with them for such a long time before — who we are, fundamentally, as people hasn't changed. Really, that's where you start with any relationship. It was like riding a bike again. My past experience gave me a real big advantage to know what to do [when in the studio.] I was able to draw from previous experiences with SLAYER and bring everything back again. There aren't any expectations [placed on you by SLAYER's Tom Araya or Kerry King]. Either you get it, or you don't."

In January 2011, Hanneman contracted necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, from a spider bite in his backyard.

Hanneman eventually died in May 2013 from alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver. He is credited for writing many of SLAYER's classic songs, including "Angel Of Death" and "South Of Heaven".

Due on September 11, "Repentless" will mark SLAYER's first effort without both co Hanneman and original drummer Dave Lombardo, who was fired from the group in February 2013.

Some of the best artists from Lion Music's roster interpret the music of one of the greatest composers ever, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, in new exciting arrangements on the label's latest compilation:

An audio teaser for the album is available below.

"This is the second release in a series of three where some of our best artists cover the music of some of our favourite classical composers."

The tracklist is as follows:

Lord of Mushrooms - "Die Zauberflöte" (Ouverture)
Lars Eric Mattsson - "Die Zauberflöte  - Ach, Ich Fühl's, Es Ist Verschwunden" 
Mistheria - "Dies Irae" (from Requiem)
Pier Gonella (Mastercastle) - "Eine Kleine Nachtsmusik" (1st Movement C)
Ashent - "Piano Concerto No.23 In A Major" (K 488 Adagio)
Boguslaw Balcerak’s Crylord - "Lacrimosa" (Requiem)
Marcel Coenen - "Turkish March"
Charly Sahona (Venturia) - "Piano Concerto No 21" (Andante)
Robert Rodrigo (Airless) - "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" (Movement 4)
Patrik Carlsson - "Allegro Con Brio" (Symphony no 25, G min K 183)
Grönholm - "Piano Concerto No. 5 In D Major" (K. 175, 2nd movement)

Executive Producer: Lars Eric Mattsson

MÖTLEY CRÜE's "The Final Tour", which kicked off last year, will end New Year's Eve at the Staples Center in Los Angeles after one more round of North American gigs.

Speaking to Clubhead TV about what he plans to do once the CRÜE has retired from the road, drummer Tommy Lee said (hear audio below): "Right now, I haven't really told anybody about my future plans, but just know that I've got plans, and I've been writing a bunch of music and kind of putting aside. I think I'm gonna take a little break, first of all, when we get down with the tour, 'cause this will be, by the time we're done with it, close to a two-year tour with MÖTLEY. So I'll take a little bit of time off, but, knowing me, I won't be able to sit around very long. I'm gonna start getting it together for some time in 2016. Just know that I've got a whole brand new thing planned that I've got going."

Asked if he will be embarking on another DJ tour or if he will incorporate more live performance into his next project, Tommy said: "It will definitely [be] more live performance-driven, but it will be super-heavy electronics and what have you. But, yeah, definitely it will be something visual, for sure. That's really important and I just feel like it's missing in the sport of electronic music — it's missing terribly — so I'll try to bring some new shit to the party."

While announcing the first details of "The Final Tour" at a Los Angeles press conference in January, the four members of MÖTLEY CRÜE revealed that they took the unusual step of having their lawyer draw up a formal "cessation of touring" agreement that goes into effect at the end of 2015 and prohibits the members of the group from going on the road again under the MÖTLEY CRÜE banner.

Asked what the main reason was that MÖTLEY CRÜE decided to call it quits, Lee told Newsday.com: "We have musical peers that we've watched fade out by playing in clubs and county fairs. There was no way we were going to let this band hobble around on three legs. We chose the route that every professional actor, athlete and musician should do — leave the legend intact and bow out at the top. It's such a respectful way to do it. This way you leave all your fans with great memories. It's been such a crazy tour so far. Everywhere we are playing it's been maxed out to the rafters. I got perma-grin; it's insane."

In a brand new interview with Jump Metal, Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro — best known for his work with ANGRA — was asked what it has been like joining MEGADETH as the replacement for Chris Broderick. He responded: "Yeah, it has been great to work with [Dave] Mustaine [MEGADETH mainman], [David] Ellefson [MEGADETH bassist] and Chris Adler [LAMB OF GOD drummer, who played on the upcoming MEGADETH CD and is playing select shows with the group]. I recorded the [new MEGADETH] album and now I'm learning the new songs… Sorry… I'm learning new songs for me, but the old [MEGADETH] songs for the show we're gonna have in ten days [on July 18] in Quebec at the summer festival [at the Festival D'été De Québec, also known as by its acronym FEQ, or Quebec City Summer Festival in English], and then we're gonna have some touring this year. So I'm learning the old stuff, the previous material as well."

He continued: "It's quite challenging… [doing the] double shift, double work with ANGRA and [MEGADETH]… I just came from a tour with ANGRA and I have to go straight to learn the [MEGADETH] songs. During the [ANGRA] tour, I was already listening and trying to learn the old material from MEGADETH."

Kiko added: "It's amazing [to be part of MEGADETH]. It's a great opportunity, it's a great band, great guys, great music. I'm very honored to be in MEGADETH and that the guys have chosen me to be the guitar player. It's a band that always had a great spot for guitar players. They always had great guitar players since the beginning: Chris Poland, Marty Friedman, Chris Broderick... some great guitar players. So I'm honored to be part of this legacy."

In a recent interview with Revolver magazine, Mustaine stated about Loureiro: "Finding Kiko was really a mind-blower. It was the first time since Marty Friedman joined the band that I was really intimidated as a player. He's such an amazing talent, and he's been coming in with all of these fresh ideas." Mustaine has also called Loureiro the "best guitarist we've ever had," adding that he was a good fit personality wise. "Chris [Broderick] and I had a good chemistry, but we weren't really as close as I would have wanted us to be," Mustaine explained. "Kiko, I feel like I've known him for years."

Interview (audio):

Italian power metal act Kaledon’s best known album, Legend Of The Forgotten Reign – Chapter 4: Twilight Of The Gods is what you call a true epic/power metal masterpiece. Originally recorded at Outer Sound Studios in Rome, Italy by Giuseppe Orlando (November) in 2006, the album came out in Europe on Hellion records, in America on Universal Metal Production and in Asia on HotRockin. 

Along with the speedy and melodic epic power metal that’s such a staple of Kaledon’s sound, this record displayed a newfound sense of melodic structure as far as introducing more memorable melody lines and melodic hooks than ever before. The new version of the album, which will be released on August 21, has been completely remastered and restored by Orlando and features two songs re-recorded by the band’s current line-up. The beautiful and completely renovated artwork was handled by Felipe Machado Franco (Blind Guardian, Rage, Rhapsody Of Fire).

“Into The Fog” (2015 version):

Italian gothic doom metal act Lightless Moor have started to record their sophomore album Hymn For The Fallen at RealSound Studio (Parma). The album will be released through Wormholedeath Records.

Statement from the band:

"Hymn For The Fallen is a wave of gothic doom with dark atmospheres, electronic sounds and orchestral touches mixed with powerful riffs into the melancholic depths of reality. 
Ilaria's new modern style of singing mixed with the operatic style harmonizes perfectly with Federico's screaming/growling and his clean vocals parts. 

“The album is for every creature and every person who has been forgotten and oppressed: the fallen ones. An hymn to give voice to whom lost it and can't express themselves anymore, to bring to consciousness their broken stories and so let them climb out of the abyss and built their lives with renewed strenght and hope.  A special thanks for the artwork goes to Phobos Anomaly Design and to Carlo Bellotti who trust in us once again". The album will be produced by Wahoomi Corvi and RealSound Studio (Parma)."

Hymn For The Fallen will be released this autumn/winter.

Tracklisting:

“Fairytales Of Lies”
“Deadly Sin”
“The Unlocked Door To The Other World”
“The Rain That Clears My Sins Away”
“Qualcosa Vive Attraverso”
“The Greatest Lie”
“When My Mind Sleeps”
“King With The Sulphur Crown”
“In Death She Comes”
“A Dream Written In The Sand”
“The Cascade And The Shadow”
“White Rose”
“Deviances” 

Recently formed, internationally-based and extremely diverse collective, Vly, has signed with Laser's Edge for the release of their debut album early this fall. Amongst the quintet's ranks, several members of the outfit have previously spent time in Crippled Black Phoenix, one from Änglagård, and all currently hold rank in Diet Kong, Typical Reptiles, Karl Demata Band, Il Tempio Delle Clessidre, Bernie Torme', Shark Island, White Willow and Necromonkey.

Vly began as strangers sending 1's and 0's across the Atlantic Ocean. British-based guitarist Karl Demata had a vague idea and a few demos, when a friend put him in touch with New York singer/artist Keith Gladysz. Keith began working on the demos, adding a more melodic, dream-like and decidedly indie sensibility.

"It was a new way to work", says Gladysz. "The music and collaborative art I've made always started with people I knew, and creating naturally came out of that understanding. That's not the case with Vly. We managed to make an album without ever meeting. There was no gauge or reference point except for the music. It was a total shot in the dark."

The sound of Vly hits elements of progressive rock, classic rock, folk, early-Floydian psychedelia, intimate pop melodies, massive walls of epic guitar riffage, post-classical, post-rock and electronic music. And it's the diverse background of the members that lead to the breadth of their sound. The progressive sentiment of Italian keyboardist Elisa Montaldo quickly attracted the ear of Demata.

"The first time I heard Elisa play," says Karl, "I knew we had to be in a band. Her innate melodic approach and instinctual understanding and knowledge of 'anything prog' is simply remarkable." "Karl asked me to join the project at the very beginning," Elisa picks up, continuing, "My idea of prog is somehow more vintage, more typical '70s Italian style. After various experiments on arrangements and sounds, I went to Karl's studio to record most of the keyboards, where we found the right balance."

Connecting with strangers and expanding circles of mutual friends became the pattern for Vly. Demata next recruited experienced bass player Chris Heilmann, whom he'd worked with previously in Crippled Black Phoenix. Chris provided a solid backbone with a more classic rock attitude.

And Demata doesn't hold back when talking about Sweden-based musician Mattias Olsson. "He is simply a genius. And he's never predictable as a drummer. Mattias also contributed some vintage keys and odd analog noises, which have a definitive effect on the band's sound. A common friend described him as a 'lateral thinker', and I can't think of a better way to describe him."

Vly makes good on the futuristic dreams of the late 1990s, when promises of international recording sessions via the Internet excited incredulous musicians. Now that it's a reality, the method may be less glamorously sci-fi than one had hoped; still, they get the job done. "I always disliked the clichés about music as a universal language, and more recently about the Internet bringing people together," explains Gladysz. "I'm even more uncomfortable with those sentiments now, since Vly proved them true."

Vly's debut album, I / (Time), will see release through the Laser's Edge imprint September 2015. The album was engineered and produced by Karl Demata, with additional production by Keith Gladysz and Mattias Olsen, and mastered by Bob Katz. Additional info on the album will be released through the Summer months, including audio samples, an official video, and upcoming European tour dates.

Vly lineup:

Keith Gladysz (Diet Kong, Typical Reptiles) - vocals
Karl Demata (ex-Crippled Black Phoenix, Karl Demata Band) - guitars, synths, programming
Elisa Montaldo (Il Tempio Delle Clessidre) - keyboards and synths
Chris Heilmann (ex-Crippled Black Phoenix, Bernie Torme', Shark Island) - bass
Mattias Olsson (ex-Änglagård. White Willow, Necromonkey) - drums, keyboards

(Photo: Angie Heilmann)

The official lyric video for the song "Berlin Model 32" from Swedish hard rockers BLACK TRIP can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's second album, "Shadowline", which will be released on August 28 in Europe and September 4 in the USA through Steamhammer/SPV as a digipak CD and colored vinyl LP and download.

BLACK TRIP's first all-killer-no-filler album "Goin' Under", released in 2014 (2013 in Scandinavia), was soaked in the true spirit of the NWOBHM and showed that great heavy metal music still can be made. With bands like IRON MAIDEN, SAXON, THIN LIZZY and '70s-era SCORPIONS amongst their influences, BLACK TRIP really paid both homage and respect to the classic metal sound that runs through the veins of every metalhead, and yet they have their own distinct sound and direction. Now, two years on from that critcally acclaimed debut they are about to release their second album, "Shadowline", which vocalist Joseph Tholl describes as "a bigger, more diverse and more personal album, but still dark, heavy metal rock". Guitarist Peter Stjärnvind adds: "The album whilst heavy is also groovy and catchy and just makes you feel happy in a really good way." Joseph continues: "When 'Goin' Under' was being shaped, it was, basically, just me and Peter. But during that time we got offered gigs here in Sweden before we even had a band, so very quickly we had to get the other guys on board so we could play these gigs and record the album. Me and Jonas [Wikstrand; drums] didn't know the other guys that well so we've all been on this journey, getting to know each other and growing together as a band.

"We all love heavy metal, that's the common bond that binds us, but we all have our different tastes and different musical backgrounds because me and Jonas are from a different musical generation than Peter, Sebastian and Johan.

"With the writing and recording of 'Shadowline', we have grown together and it really feels like we have become a band now. We've influenced each other and we've begun to understand what our potential is, what we can do and what we can't do. Every band member has contributed in one way or another to the shaping of this album and following on from what we did on 'Goin' Under' this was a very natural step for us.

"With the first album, we were establishing the foundations of our sound, now with 'Shadowline', we have started to build the framework of the band." Speaking about the influences for "Shadowline", it's clear the whole process isn't an exact science for BLACK TRIP. Peter doesn't plan the songs, he just lets the mood take him and whatever comes out comes out. Two bands he has listened to constantly during this time are GEORDIE, particularly the album "Don't Be Fooled by the Name" and BLUE ÖYSTER CULT. "It's all about those little details and feelings that just blow you away!" says Peter enthusiastically. "Shadowline" was recorded and mixed by Nicke Andersson (ENTOMBED, HELLACOPTERS, IMPERIAL STATE ELECTRIC) at his studio The Honk Palace in February/March 2015. All being fans of his bands and his musical taste and approach to sound, they felt he was someone they could trust to get the very best in the studio. The recording went really smoothly and Andersson has definitely captured the sound and feel of the essence of what BLACK TRIP are all about.

Says Joseph: "Nicke was totally on our wavelength from the start and during the recording process it felt like he was more or less one of us." Peter adds: "His all-around input was just great. He would suggest simple things, like going from a 4/4 time to double time on the hi-hat to give that extra drive. He really brings the best out of you in the studio and recording guitar solos with him was a delight. He is always encouraging you to do your best." Digipak track listing: 01. Die With Me 04:1202. Danger 04:5603. Shadowline 03:5704. Berlin Model 32 04:0905. Over The Worldly Walls 03:5206. Clockworks 03:5407. Rooms 00:4608. Subvisual Sleep 03:0409. Sceneries 03:2810. The Storm 05:2311. Coming Home 03:30

Vinyl track listing

Side 1

01. Die With Me 04:1202. Danger 04:5603. Shadowline 03:5704. Berlin Model 32 04:0905. Over The Worldly Walls 03:52 Side 2

01. Clockworks 03:5402. Rooms 00:4603. Subvisual Sleep 03:0404. Sceneries 03:2805. The Storm 05:2306. Coming Home 03:30

To coincide with the release of the new album, BLACK TRIP will finally hit the road for its first European tour dates outside of Sweden, something the band is hugely excited about.

The Dangerous Minds web site has pointed out "remarkable" similarities between the signature riff in BLACK SABBATH's classic song "Paranoid", the title track of its 1970 album, and the opening to "Get Down" a song recorded by the four-piece Michigan garage-rock combo HALF LIFE in 1969.

"Paranoid" was recorded in June 1970 at Regent Sound Studios and Island Studios in London, England and the album's title track was written as an afterthought. Drummer Bill Ward explained: "We didn't have enough songs for the album, and Tony [Iommi, guitar] just played the guitar lick and that was it. It took twenty, twenty-five minutes from top to bottom." In the liner notes to SABBATH's 1998 live album "Reunion", bassist Geezer Butler recounted that they wrote the song "in five minutes, then I sat down and wrote the lyrics as quickly as I could. It was all done in about two hours." The single was released in September 1970 and reached number four on the U.K. charts, remaining BLACK SABBATH's only Top Ten hit.

HALF LIFE recorded "Get Down" in a single take on June 27, 1969 at GM Studios in East Detroit, but the song failed to gain any traction on Detroit radio. The track is now available as part of the compilation "A-Square (Of Course): The Story Of Michigan's Legendary A-Square Records", which also features other rare recordings from the Ann Arbor-based label from bands like the legendary MC5 and THE SRC (THE SCOT RICHARD CASE).

As Dangerous Minds points out, it is highly unlikely that Tony Iommi, one of the most influential guitarists of all time, lifted the epic riff for "Paranoid" from a little known garage-band from Saginaw, but the similarities are still uncanny.

You can check out both songs below.

When Jeff Hanneman of SLAYER passed away in May 2013, he left behind thousands of fans, as well as fellow musicians whom he influenced via his distinctive thrash metal playing style. Jeff also left behind a number of his personal instruments, so in conjunction with his estate, ESP is helping with the auction sale of some of his most prized instruments. A portion of the proceeds will go to a charitable cause that Jeff strongly supported: the Wounded Warrior Project.

Each instrument described at ESPGuitars.com is a one-of-a-kind custom guitar that was in Jeff's personal collection, and he is known to have played all of them on various SLAYER tours and recordings. But wait, there's more: each guitar is in the original case that Jeff owned and used to store and tour with these guitars, and some of the offerings have more inside the case than you'd imagine. Each guitar auctioned will also include a certificate of authenticity from the Hanneman estate. Visit the auction page links for detailed images of each guitar.

Jeff Hanneman died from alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver. He is credited for writing many of SLAYER's classic songs, including "Angel Of Death" and "South Of Heaven".

The guitarist, who passed away in Los Angeles on May 2, 2013, had actually not been playing with SLAYER for more than two years since he contracted necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, from a spider bite in his backyard in January 2011. The infection ravaged the flesh and tissues of Hanneman's arm, leading to numerous surgeries and skin grafts that forced him into semi-retirement.

Hanneman's last appearance with SLAYER was in April 2011, when he played an encore with the band at the "Big Four" concert in Indio, California.