The official lyric video for "The Ride Majestic", the title track of the tenth studio album from Sweden-based melodic death metal experts SOILWORK, can be streamed below. The CD will be released worldwide on August 28 via Nuclear Blast.

SOILWORK vocalist Björn "Speed" Strid states: "'The Ride Majestic' was one of the first songs we wrote for this album. The intro sets a certain melancholic mood and after that it's all pure melodic mayhem. There's a very epic and anthemic feel to it, which suits the album title perfectly. The lyrics deal with the fear of dying and the art of remaining sane while you're still alive. Not wanting to miss a thing, wanting to embrace every moment, and being able to bring it all back on your dying day, with a snap of your fingers. It's also a tribute to the ones we've lost and the comfort of hoping that they will catch us when we fall, on the other side. We believe that, if there is an afterlife, this song would be the soundtrack to that journey. It deals with the acceptance of life and death and possibly everything between and beyond."

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

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

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

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

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

Ohio metallers MISS MAY I will release their new studio album, "Deathless", on August 7 via Rise Records. Fans can pre-order the CD at MissMayIMusic.com. All pre-orders come with an instant download of the band's new track "I.H.E.", the official video for which can be seen below. "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," says MISS MAY I vocalist 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

The first trailer for SOULFLY's tenth studio album, "Archangel", is available below. Due on August 14 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment, the CD was produced by Matt Hyde, who has previously worked with SLAYER and CHILDREN OF BODOM. The cover artwork was created by artist Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ICED EARTH, SODOM).

The lyric video for the song "We Sold Our Souls To Metal", taken from "Archangel", can be seen below.

States SOULFLY mainman Max Cavalera: "This lyric video is a celebration of all forms of metal. This song was written as an anthem for metalhaeds all over the world! We gathered footage and photos from our tribe, showing how free the spirit of metal really is. Respect!"

Max previously told Metal Wani about the mindset that is required to write a track like "We Sold Our Souls To Metal": "It just happens. You can't explain it. It's one of those things… [When] you play it, it has an instant reaction on the listener."

He continued: "I was very curious about that, so I was playing around with the song, playing it for people, to see what kind of reaction it gets. And almost everybody, the reaction was, like, 'This is so crazy. I can't wait 'till you guys play this live.' It's got this kind of New York hardcore chant that we do in the chorus — like, gang vocals. It's really, really fun, and everybody gets to sing together. That's why I was thinking that it's gonna become an anthem — the chorus, all the fans are gonna sing it together, and it's saying something. 'Cause, 'we sold our souls to metal,' I think every metalhead feels like that — that we did kind of a pact and we sold our souls for this music that we love so much. So it's something that I think [they'll] sing that with some kind of pride. I think it's gonna happen when that song comes out, at least. And then it ends [in a] very PINK FLOYD [-like way], which is really strange; I don't know why we did that. I still don't know if it was the right thing, but it came out like that. Marc [Rizzo] just did some really crazy guitars at the end of it that is just, like… It goes from total metal into crazy PINK FLOYD, but it works. I mean, it's really wild. And we like wild stuff. I always was drawn to weird, weird stuff, and that's definitely weird, in a good way."

Pre-order "Archangel" in a bundle or by itself in multiple formats and from this location.

"Archangel" track listing:

01. We Sold Our Souls To Metal02. Archangel03. Sodomites (feat. Todd Jones of NAILS)04. Ishtar Rising05. Live Life Hard! (feat. Matt Young of KING PARROT)06. Shamash07. Bethlehem's Blood08. Titans09. Deceiver10. Mother Of Dragons (feat. Richie Cavalera of INCITE, Igor Cavalera of LODY KONG, Anahid M.O.P.)

Bonus tracks for CD/DVD special edition:

11. You Suffer (NAPALM DEATH cover)12. Acosador Nocturno13. Soulfly X Bonus DVD: "Live At Hellfest 2014" (special edition only)

01. Cannibal Holocaust02. Refuse/Resist03. Bloodshed04. Back To The Primitive05. Seek 'N' Strike06. Tribe07. Rise Of The Fallen08. Revengeance09. Roots Bloody Roots10. Jumpdafuckup/Eye For An Eye

In regards to the band and the album cover, artist Eliran Kantor states: "I've been a fan of Max's music ever since discovering 'Beneath The Remains' in high school. When my wife and I got married, 'Territory' was even played at the dance party part of our wedding.

"Max asked me to do a traditional piece depicting Archangel Michael — and I tried to go beyond the straight-up neo-classical style as that has been perfected centuries ago, so I mixed in SOULFLY's own visual world: hence the wings and spear being shaped like the SOULFLY tribal icon, the cliff with the ocean view just like on the first record, and the Brazilian flag being the core of it's color scheme." Speaking about "Archangel", Max told RockRevoltMagazine.com: "It's a very biblical, very mystic, very exotic kind of a album. This is a totally different vibe [from 2013's 'Savages']. There's songs like 'Sodomites', about the destruction of Sodom; there's songs like 'Shamash', about the Akkadian god of the sun; 'Ishtar' (since retitled 'Ishtar Rising'), which is the Babylonian queen; 'Titanomachy' (since retitled 'Titans'), which is about the war of the titans. So there's really more mystic, exotic sounds and songs and lyrics. So it's really cool. It's really artistic, the new SOULFLY, which I like about it."

In an interview with Metal Wani, Max called "Archangel" "an interesting record." He explained: "It's one of those [records] that come out once in a lifetime, an album like that comes out — really crazy sounds and very different dimensions. It's more experimental than the other stuff. It's still heavy as hell, and it's still fast. And Zyon's [Cavalera, Max's son] playing drums on it. He's actually playing really good. He reminds me of a young Dave Lombardo [SLAYER]. The fills that he's doing [are] really amazing; he surprised everybody in the studio. Matt Hyde is producing; he worked with SLAYER before. So it's really cool; a really good team."

SOULFLY will embark on a North American headlining tour at the end of September. Joining them on this epic campaign are Swedish melodic death metal visionaries SOILWORK, Polish technical death metallers DECAPITATED, and hot newcomers SHATTERED SUN.

SLAYER's Kerry King says that there is a distinct lack of guitar heroes in the hard rock and heavy metal scene, with many of today's musicians lacking the "vibe" that is needed to inspire others.

King, who co-founded SLAYER in 1981 with fellow guitarist Jeff Hanneman, bassist/vocalist Tom Araya and drummer Dave Lombardo, tells LA Weekly in a new interview: "During the decade before SLAYER, and decade after, there were guitar heroes … Ted Nugent, Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, Dave Murray, Glenn Tipton, Tony Iommi. Later on, there was Yngwie Malmsteen. You had guys in the '90s like Zakk Wylde and Dimebag Darrell … people that you would aspire to be."

He continued: "We were at a festival in South America a few years ago and we were watching a video feed of the band that was playing onstage. I was watching the screen and I just did not get why this band was popular at all. I pulled [EXODUS/SLAYER guitarist] Gary Holt aside. I pointed at the screen, and asked him, 'Hey, Gary, would you aspire to be these guys?' He said, 'Not at all.' It was because they were the most boring and lethargic guitar players I had ever seen. I would never want to be these guys. I'm looking at a lot of these bands and it looks like it's the road crew soundchecking to me. There's no vibe. There's nothing that gives you aspirations to be awesome."

Kerry, whose out-of-key lead guitar playing was described by one fan as "hitting random notes really quick while destroying your whammy bar," told Music Radar in a 2009 interview that "there's nothing that says playing out of key is wrong. Of course, if you're thinking of what's traditionally accepted and bound by the 'rules of music,' you might disagree. But, to me, anything that sounds good is right. Or anything that sounds weird is right. Bend the rules."

He continued: "I never would have written some of my cooler riffs if I got all hung on what notes are in tune or what notes go together."

King added: "Bottom line: whenever somebody says 'You can't do that, because it's musically incorrect,' just give 'em the middle finger and say, 'Fuck it, I like it.'"

SLAYER's new album, "Repentless", will be released on September 11 via Nuclear Blast.

OPERATION: MINDCRIME, the new project led by former QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate, will release its debut album, "The Key", on September 18 via Frontiers Music Srl.

Perhaps one of Tate's most ambitious recordings to date, "The Key" examines what one might do if they discovered "the key" to changing the way we view the world, the way we look at time, the way we travel, and could essentially change the human condition... for better or for worse.

Fresh from the creative mind of Geoff Tate, "The Key" features a dozen songs (see entire track listing below) and marks part one of an epic musical trilogy that initiates that very question within a web of international politics, the world economy and social ethos.

A trailer featuring snippets of four songs from the album ("Burn", "Re-Inventing the Future", "Life Or Death?" and "The Fall") is now available below.

OPERATION: MINDCRIME is described as a creative platform that continues in the spirit of the historic album of the same name, spawning concepts as grand as the music, and intertwining the intensity of the former QUEENSRŸCHE vocalist's iconic past with the provocative, progressive mindset that has made him one of music's most resolute forces and frontmen.

"Musically, this album is quite adventurous," says Tate of "The Key". "Of course there are key elements in the music, melody and phrasings that are really identifiable, but throughout my career I've opened my eyes and ears to new standards and arrangements, and that's what keeps things fresh and exciting as an artist — we've thrown out the rules for this record, and it's been really liberating. I'm a fan of old prog, and that music didn't stick to rules. It's inspiring and enjoyable to be able to explore, and it's great being in a position to write without constraints."

The results are a series of albums that don't languish in nostalgia, instead offering listeners an opportunity to delve into a world of ideas and inspiration that Tate has been nurturing for the better portion of the last decade. Instead of asking, "Who killed Mary?", OPERATION: MINDCRIME now asks, "What are the implications of changing the world?"

"Like every album I've ever done, people will hear and experience it differently, and that is something that I look forward to," continues Tate. "Music is an intimate experience — your inspirations are unique to you, and will be heard differently through every set of ears and experiences - but isn't that really what makes art exciting? It inspires us all in different ways and for different reasons, and this album is no different. There are quite a few sections of this album that help propel the story with segues and dialogue, but the lyrics don't lay out a breadcrumb trail and tell the story in a linear fashion, there's a puzzle. We have several characters, and three other people singing lead vocals on the first album. That made it even more fun for me and helps give the album its own special character.

"Musically, there's quite a smorgasbord, we've played with sound and established a sound palate — heavy guitar, obviously, cool drumming... all the music is very sophisticated, and there are interesting time changes, the band is playing with different countings and we switch throughout each piece. We can perform the verse in one feel, the bridge in another, and transition to a new chorus, very challenging stuff and lots of different sounds that people probably haven't heard on one of my albums before - new and different guitar sounds and vocal treatments, very dynamic stuff."

Joining Tate on "The Key" are a hard-hitting cast of familiar faces and new collaborators: bass players David Ellefson (MEGADETH) and John Moyer (DISTURBED, ADRENALINE MOB), drummers Simon Wright (AC/DC), Scott Mercado (CANDLEBOX) and Brian Tichy (BILLY IDOL, OZZY OSBOURNE), guitarists Kelly Gray (QUEENSRŸCHE) and Scott Moughton (Geoff Tate's solo band), keyboardist Randy Gane (MYTH) and vocalist Mark Daly (THE VOODOOS).

Tate makes one point exceptionally clear — OPERATION: MINDCRIME isn't a band, it is a musical project of like-minded people uniting to achieve a common goal. While the songwriting rests predominantly on the shoulders of Tate, Gray and Gane, it's up to every contributor to add their influence and help color the landscape.

"The songs on these records tell a story, and each song is a scene or chapter — every scene is different," Tate says. "The words tell the story, the musical bed, the chord progressions and melodies, they set the pace. That's how I envisioned this album in total, very theatrical and definitely cinematic.

"How do we describe passion?" Tate asks in conclusion, cautiously answering his own question: "Music is a personal journey, and all you can do is write what moves you. That's what passion is - it's so difficult, yet it's such an important human emotion. There are moments on this record that really impact me, the questions raised and the music those questions are set to... I don't know if it will have that same effect on everyone else, but that's where my passion and their passion meet. I do this because I love doing it. I love touring and I love playing live, performing with like-minded people in front of like-minded audiences, and being there in the moment together when all of our passions collide."

"The Key" track listing:

01. Choices
02. Burn
03. Re-Inventing The Future
04. Ready To Fly
05. Discussions In A Smoke Filled Room
06. Life or Death?
07. The Stranger
08. Hearing Voice
09. On Queue
10. An Ambush Of Sadness
11. Kicking In The Door
12. The Fall

Italy’s Resurrecturis will release their new album Nazienda on September 25 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:

 

 

Metal vocalist Norman Skinner (Hellscream, Niviane, ex-Imagika) has announced his global search for musicians to join the new Skinner lineup.

With 12 studio albums, countless shows, and tours under his belt, San Francisco Bay Area metal veteran Norman Skinner has made a name for himself as a force to be reckoned with in the metal world. Dubbed the “Metal Chameleon” by members of the press, Norman possesses a very wide range and utilizes it in a unique style to effortlessly switch between the beautiful and the brutal.

Skinner was formed from the fallout of the now defunct American power/thrash band Imagika in late 2010. After four very successful albums with Imagika, Norman parted ways with the group and went on to construct a new band using his namesake, Skinner.

Signed to Dead Inside Records in 2014 Skinner released their full length album Sleepwalkers to fans worldwide. The album was an instant hit and garnered the band a great deal of attention. The band released two videos for their songs “Sleepwalkers” and “Orphans of Liberty” that can be viewed below. Unfortunately just as momentum was on the rise for Skinner, 2015 would mark the end of the first chapter for this power/thrash band as many of the members parted ways due to life changes and to pursue other musical endeavours.

Norman Skinner comments: Unfortunately keeping a solid lineup together is never an easy task and member changes are an all too common occurrence these days. Life changes… people change and priorities change. All you can do is roll with the punches and come back stronger than ever. To do just that I realized I could no longer rely on the small talent network in my local area. There are so many incredible musicians in this world and I want to find the right guys to create our next phenomenal release.”

Interested musicians can contact Norman at Skinnermetal@gmail.com or through Dead Inside Records at deadinsiderecords@deadinsiderecords.com.

On September 18, Frontiers Music Srl will release "All Our Yesterdays", the tenth studio album from BLACKMORE'S NIGHT, the renaissance-inspired rock band formed by Ritchie Blackmore and his wife Candice Night.

"All Our Yesterdays" will be released on a variety of formats: CD, CD/DVD and digital versions on September 18 and in LP and box set configurations on October 16. Pre-orders for the CD and CD/DVD versions are available on Amazon.com.

* CD/DVD Deluxe edition includes the full album plus a DVD with music videos for "All Our Yesterdays" and "Will O' The Wisp", plus an extensive interview with Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night on the making of the new album

* 2LP vinyl edition with a gatefold sleeve

* Box Set Limited Collector's edition includes CD/DVD deluxe edition, 2LP, tshirt (L size ONLY), poster, lithograph BLACKMORE'S NIGHT vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Candice Night says: "There's a theme to 'All Our Yesterdays'' chosen songs that focuses on the attitude of living in the present, and looking toward the future, because we are, indeed, enriched by our past. My main theme and inspiration has always been nature and folklore from around the world."

Candice Night and Ritchie Blackmore's lives and creative journeys have taken them through different characters and songs from a variety of times in history. That is part of the attitude in the song "Where Are We Going from Here", about a traveling minstrel's journey through life and age.

The title track (and also the first single and video), "All Our Yesterdays", echoes the sounds of Candice's Russian roots, while a new song written by Germany's George Hesse is an old-style, fiddle-driven instrumental with the Welsh title "Allan yn y Fan" (meaning "Out There"). Ritchie's heritage includes family from Wales.

The album also includes stunning instrumentals: the acoustic guitar piece "Queen's Lament" and the dramatic "The Darker Shade of Black" that spotlights violin and guitar.

Elsewhere on the recording, "Earth Wind and Sky" is a delicate ode to nature. "The Other Side", a latter-day folk dance joins two jigs that Candice sings: "Coming Home" and the supernatural-themed "Will o' the Wisp".

"All Our Yesterdays" gets further inspiration from Candice and Ritchie's home town, where they take part in community folk nights during which the neighbours share guitars and songs, and sing melodies that have come from a variety of times in their own history. That's how they fell in love with songs of various radio formats of years gone by. The album includes the Linda Ronstadt hit "Long Long Time" (penned by Gary White); the Mike Oldfield song "Moonlight Shadow"; and an inspiring Maypole Dance treatment of Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe".

BLACKMORE'S NIGHT is a true musical and spiritual collaboration between vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Candice Night and her husband, legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. The two met in 1989 when DEEP PURPLE challenged Candice's then-radio station to a charity soccer match. In 1993 she sang on RAINBOW's "Difficult To Cure" tour. They co-wrote four songs for RAINBOW's "Stranger In Us All" and in 1997 they formed BLACKMORE'S NIGHT; they continue to play Faire Festivals all over the world.

BLACKMORE'S NIGHT is:

* Ritchie Blackmore - electric/acoustic guitars, mandola, hurdy gurdy, nickelharpe* Candice Night - vocals, chanter, cornamuse, shawms, rauschpfeife* Bard David of Larchmont - keyboards* Earl Grey of Chimay - Bass and rhythm guitar* Lady Lynn - harmony vocals, shawm, flute, recorder* Troubadour of Aberdeen - drums

Metal Blade Records has announced the addition of Ketzer to it's ranks. Ketzer (German for "heretic") is a highly professional and extreme metal outfit hailing from Cologne, Germany and ready to set the world afire with this just recently closed pact (in blood).

Comments Ketzer: "In the last few years, working on new songs has been our journey, and it has been an intense one. Musically and conceptually we put everything back to zero. We found an element that gives our music something primal, something natural. It is the deep connection between all of us through making music together. It feels like sharing a fleshless body. Far back in time, dancing to drumbeats around a fire, entangled in trance, it was all about the magic of one moment. We chase those moments and hope to share them with people all over the world. Metal Blade, as a label that has evolved constantly in its history without ever forgetting their groundbreaking beginnings, will give us the opportunity to reach everyone of you out there. There are many exciting things about to come along our way in the future and we are glad and grateful for being able to take this journey together with Metal Blade from this day on."

Ketzer's debut album Satan's Boundaries Unchained is one of the most critically acclaimed black/thrash records of the past years. With the second album entitled Endzeit Metropolis, they have progressed in their musical direction once more. After the release of two full-length albums and playing three extensive tours throughout Europe and the United States, the band is far from reaching its peak.

Ketzer's new album will see the light of day towards the end of 2015 on Metal Blade Records.

Ketzer is:

Gerrit - Vocals
Marius - Guitars
Chris - Guitars
David - Bass
Sören - Drums

(Photo: Alina Cuerten)

Planet Mosh conducted an interview with guitarist Brian Tatler of NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) legends DIAMOND HEAD before the band's June 27 concert in Belfast. You can now listen to the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On DIAMOND HEAD's plans to record a new studio album:

"We started in January, writing, and we're gonna start recording next Sunday, the 5th of July. I'm not sure how long it's gonna take — probably about two months, something like that, on and off. So we've been looking at mixing it in September. And so it should be ready after that, but then, of course, you've gotta get it out. We're not sure how we're gonna release it. And artwork… and there's all these little… mastering… details that can slow you down."

On the songwriting process for DIAMOND HEAD's new CD:

"I'll tell you what we've kind of done this time. Definitely with [former DIAMOND HEAD singer] Nick [Tart], we adapted the DIAMOND HEAD sound a little bit to complement Nick. Because, you know, the singer's gotta sound good; it's no good if he's not comfortable with the songs. So, when [Danish singer] Rasmus [Bom Andersen] joined, he went over all the material and very respectfully learned the parts how they were written: the phrasing, the timing, the tuning… everything as close as possible. Then, when we started to talk about doing a record, he said we should do it sort of like the old style, where you are all in the room together, you write it in the room, you're not sending files. You know, people can do albums with Pro Tools. We did our last album like that, [by] sending the files. The drums were done in America… So we were not in the same room. And this time we wanted to do it like that. So we've been working on the tracks in the rehearsal room around by where we live, in the Midlands, and it sounds so much better for it. It was the old way we used to do it, and we kind of got a brief that, ideally, it should sound like DIAMOND HEAD; I mean, it's pretty obvious, really. But it's very easy to follow trends and think, 'This one's a bit modern,' and 'We're trying to do this,' and, 'We're trying to do that.' But, I think, ultimately, I try to make a record that sounds like DIAMOND HEAD and doesn't sound like anybody else. It makes perfect sense to me."

On whether he thinks METALLICA would be around today if it weren't for DIAMOND HEAD:

"I've had this conversation before, and I always think that they'd still have done it, but they'd just sound different. It wasn't only DIAMOND HEAD [that influenced them]. They also liked MOTÖRHEAD, they liked IRON MAIDEN, they liked SAXON, they liked… a lot of bands… TYGERS OF PAN TANG, for example. I mean, we were just lucky that they liked us, they liked the way we arrange, they liked that first album, 'Lightning To The Nations'. And Lars [Ulrich] has always said they got the arrangement ideas from DIAMOND HEAD — the longer songs; not just quick… 'Cause MOTÖRHEAD did, kind of, quick songs, didn't they?! Powerful and fast, and I think they liked that. But they also liked the expanse to make a song six or seven or eight minutes long. 'Am I Evil?' is nearly eight minutes long, isn't it?!"

On whether some people mistakenly think that DIAMOND HEAD covered METALLICA's "Am I Evil?" and not the other way around:

"We've heard that. I've heard people say it. And they have to be put right, they have to be educated. But, you know, METALLICA have sold millions and millions of copies of 'Am I Evil?' whereas we haven't, so their version is much more well known than ours. In the same way that Patti Smith's version of 'Because The Night' is more famous than Bruce Springsteen's version, isn't it?!"

As Detroit, Michigan's WALLS OF JERICHO prepares to enter the studio to record its Napalm Records debut and first album in over seven years, the band has announced a way for its fans to be a part of the process. WALLS OF JERICHO is asking its fans to record themselves saying the phrase "I Am Relentless". The band will then take these clips and make them part of an intro for a song on the new album. Please email the audio clips to [email protected]
/* */ They can be iPhone or smartphone voice recordings.

The song is attached to the Relentless Foundation, whose mission is to build relationships, change lives by uniting strong men and women with even stronger children.

The Relentless Detroit Foundation was created to raise money, awareness and support for local Michigan families with children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. The Foundation raises the bulk of the money donated by hosting a yearly power lifting meet. Power lifters from the United States and Canada come together for this event after spending months training and raising funds to support the families involved. This event is modeled after a powerlifting fundraiser that takes place annually in Minnesota.

Relentless Detroit and Relentless Minnesota work closely to support each other during both events.

Leading up to the Relentless Detroit powerlifting meet, other fundraisers are coordinated by Relentless Detroit supporters. These events help cover operating costs associated with the meet, in addition to funds for the families. The events that take place outside of the two-day powerlifting meet also facilitate relationships between the lifters, families and everyone involved. Their goal is to not only raise money for these families, but also help strengthen and add to their existing support system.

Seemingly overnight, stylized bands playing strains of melodic hardcore have sailed up the pop charts. But for WALLS OF JERICHO things have played out a bit differently. During the scene's ascension, the band's members have all but shunned the idea of a genre tag or an "image" and have instead focused their energies on making music that will survive strictly on its musical merits.

Most bands in the world can be lumped into one category or another, they are shuffled, redefined, and in that way they begin to lose the qualities that could make them important or meaningful. The greatest bands, the most influential or memorable, are the ones who don't try to fill the role set for them, who don't pursue anything other than the desire to make music, and the need to express that art to an audience. From the start this has been the mindset of WALLS OF JERICHO.

WALLS OF JERICHO is:

Candace Puopolo Mike Hasty Aaron Ruby Chris RawsonDustin Schoenhofer

According to Billboard.com, TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider has recorded four songs with Grammy, Oscar and Emmy Award winner Damon Ranger, whose credits include Katy Perry's "Roar" and working with Kanye West.

"[Ranger] approached me and said, 'Hey man, I think we can reintroduce you to a new audience. You're iconic. You're the voice of rebellion. You could be singing a rock 'Roar' for a new pop audience,'" Snider said. "I'm into trying new, challenging things, so I said 'What do you got in mind?' and we did these tracks. I didn't touch them as a writer; [Ranger] said, 'Do you want to write?' 'Absolutely not. I don't know how to write new songs. I know how to write old songs.' [Ranger] has a grand plan of taking me from Active Rock to FOO FIGHTERS rock to pop-rock to stadium rock."

He continued: "Do I think it's gonna happen? Doubtful. It's kind of long shot when you do something like that, but if it works that would be a whole different thing for me to step into that area as a contemporary artist with music being played on contemporary radio, not oldies stations for classic rock stations but actually connecting with people on a contemporary level. Now that would get me interested. That would be a new challenge."

In other news, Billboard.com is premiering a new Dee Snider rock song called "To Hell And Back", which the singer recorded with his solo band, including former SILVERTIDE guitarist Nick Perri. The track will be included in a new album that Dee is currently working on that will also feature material from Snider's past, including his worldwide hits with TWISTED SISTER.

Said Dee: "'To Hell And Back' represents my first truly new, original musical offering since the '90s. When my friend and co-writer, guitarist Nick Perri, presented me with the riff and music bed for this song, I found true inspiration to write for the first time in decades. Lyrically, the song raises a bold middle finger to those who whine and complain about the difficulties of life, but have no real clue what difficult is. As I say in the song, 'Don't tell me your sad story. Don't say your world is black. Just spare me your vainglory. I've been to hell and back!'"

AUDIOTOPSY, the new band featuring guitarist Greg Tribbett (MUDVAYNE, HELLYEAH), drummer Matt McDonough (MUDVAYNE), vocalist Billy Keeton (SKRAPE) and bassist Perry Stern, will release its debut album, "Natural Causes", on August 28 via Napalm. The CD was produced by the AUDIOTOPSY bandmembers at The Porch Studio in Orlando, Florida with engineer Tim Laud.

Says Greg: "The focus was to write solid, hooky, big riff songs. We didn't want to sound or look like every other band. It's not supposed to be regular. We're all building this vision together." Merging intricate instrumentation with a seamless knack for melody, they conjured up a style as heavy as it is hypnotic. "We got a vibe going", adds Greg. You could call it 'progressive hard rock.'"

The opening track from "Natural Causes", titled "Headshot", can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below. The song pairs a slithering riff and steamrolling percussion with an anthemic punch. "It's from the point of view or the eyes of, not necessarily a soldier, but anybody who's in battle and in the trenches," states Billy. "Metaphorically speaking, it's life through the eyes of somebody fighting a battle." "Natural Causes" track listing:

01. Headshot02. All We Know03. LYLAB04. The Calling05. H2O (Interlude)06. Swim07. Disguise Your Devils08. Burn the Sky09. Distorted10. Darken the Rainbow11. Frozen Scars12. Natural Causes (Outro)

HELLYEAH and MUDVAYNE singer Chad Gray told Songfacts in a recent interview that he doesn't know if the latter group will ever work together again. Asked if there was a chance for MUDVAYNE to regroup, Gray said, "I don't know if the full band will. Who knows — they might be putting something else together. We were talking for a while and that whole Greg thing went down and everything kind of fell apart." "The Greg thing" was the departure of Tribbett from HELLYEAH in 2013. Gray called his connection with Tribbett "the only truly solid relationship in [MUDVAYNE], although Matt and I are still great, Ryan [Martinie, bass] and I still briefly talk. I mean, the only way I personally would want to do MUDVAYNE is if everybody licked their wounds and got over it."

Gray said that there were "a lot of things" that tore MUDVAYNE apart, adding, "Maybe MUDVAYNE was the martyr for people that stopped supporting music. You sell 159,000 records the first week, and then the next record is like, 'Whatever, fuck it.'"

Gray admitted to Revolver recently that Tribbett's exit from HELLYEAH "was like losing a great friend… He has always been my right-hand man."

MUDVAYNE posted a message on Facebook one year ago saying that the band had not broken up and would be "back in action" at some point.

It's been more than five years since MUDVAYNE released its self-titled fifth album, which was barely promoted and sold weakly upon release.

AEROSMITH's Tom Hamilton was initially diagnosed with throat cancer in 2006. After the disease went into remission, it returned in 2011. Recently Hamilton gave fans an update on his health. According to The Pulse Of Radio, he told the Long Island Pulse: "My doctor thought I was pretty much done with the cancer that I had in '06 and then it came back a few years later. I was faced with losing my way of life… if not my life. But there's a guy here in Boston that Adele [mentioned when she got her Grammy], Steven Zeitels, who does novel surgeries and was able to do a procedure that got the cancer out of my throat without having to ruin the rest of it."

He continued, "I just saw him the other day and he said, 'You beat this one. You can keep coming to see me if you want, but I don't think you need to worry about this cancer coming back.' I said, 'I'll come back to see you every six months from here until eternity, if it's alright with you!'"

In the past, Hamilton told The Pulse Of Radio that successfully battling cancer gave him a new appreciation for life. "Y'know, one of the ironic things is that, and it's kind of a cliché, y'know, about the little things in life, but I'm constantly noticing little pleasures like that," he said. "And because — y'know, I'm pretty sure I'm cool, but you never know, you might go in there and they'll say, 'Oh, there's some kind of trouble going on,' so you really do put a priority on enjoying the stuff that's right in front of you."

Tom's replacement at the AEROSMITH shows that he missed while receiving cancer treatment was David Hull, who has stood in for Hamilton on previous AEROSMITH tours.

AEROSMITH's latest effort, 2012's "Music From Another Dimension!", debuted at No. 5 on The Billboard 200 album chart, selling 63,000 copies in its first week of release. The group's previous collection of new songs, 2001's "Just Push Play", entered the chart at No. 2 with sales of 240,000 copies.

COHEED AND CAMBRIA will release its new album, "The Color Before The Sun", on October 9 via 300 Entertainment. The band is giving fans an early listen, streaming the song and lyrics for "You Got Spirit, Kid" below, with the digital download of the single available globally on July 10. "The Color Before The Sun" is the outfit's eighth studio album and their first non-conceptual release, with the previous offerings forming the larger story of "The Amory Wars", a science-fiction saga depicting the story of COHEED AND CAMBRIA Kilgannon. "The Color Before The Sun" was recorded at St. Charles Studio in Nashville, and produced by Jay Joyce (CAGE THE ELEPHANT, ERIC CHURCH, HALESTORM). "The Color Before The Sun" marks the first time Claudio Sanchez is exposing his raw feelings, narrated from his own perspective. "I kind of want people to know that COHEED can write that sort of record," he explained of the album's departure from "The Amory Wars". "I've always said in the past that there's never been a limitation on the band. It makes no sense to me to draw a line in the sand and never cross it." The New York-based band's album arrives via the recently formed label, 300 Entertainment who pride themselves on being an independent, creative driven record label that focuses on intense artist development. 300 Entertainment co-founder Lyor Cohen offers: "COHEED AND CAMBRIA have created a lane and legacy for themselves that is very much their own. Their DIY approach fits the ethos of 300. They've taken some brave artistic steps on this forthcoming new album and we are looking forward to sharing it with the world." Funny Or Die recently shared an unexpected new song from the band, with the quartet putting Supreme Court Justice Scalia's dissenting opinions from the Affordable Care Act and Same-Sex Marriage rulings to music. The video, which has been viewed over 250,000 times, was not only picked up by music and comedy outlets but led a chorus of tweets and re-tweets from politicos, including Michael Moore, Paul Begala and Chris Hayes. COHEED AND CAMBRIA return to the road in August with several festival appearances including headlining spots at Riot Fest and Fun Fun Fun Fest as well as a trio of special European performances of "In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3".

Photo credit: LeAnn Mueller

Death metal horde WARFATHER, the project fronted by MORBID ANGEL bassist/vocalist Steve Tucker, will enter Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida this week to begin recording its sophomore album. The as-yet-untitled follow up to 2014's "Orchestrating The Apocalypse" will be released via Greyhaze Records. WARFATHER's new CD will be produced by former MORBID ANGEL guitarist Erik Rutan, marking the first time Tucker and Rutan have officially worked together since MORBID ANGEL's "Gateways To Annihilation" album. WARFATHER saw Tucker back to fronting a death metal outfit after over a decade since his departure from MORBID ANGEL, and over two years since his participation as a vocalist and writer in the well-received Nader Sadek project.

Tucker said: "WARFATHER is more than just a metal band; it is a belief system and a meeting of the minds, the ones that can see what is truly happening in the times we are living in. [It] is a warning to the eyes that choose to be blind, and a call to arms to the minds that do feel the coming changes. It is pure blackened, apocalyptic death metal."

"Orchestrating The Apocalypse" was recorded and mixed at Cincinnati-based TME studios by Tucker and mastered by Maor Applebaum at Maor Applebaum Mastering.

MORBID ANGEL guitarist Trey Azagthoth announced on June 15 that the band had reunited with Steve Tucker and that they were working on material for the group's next record.

The reigning kings of technical, historically-themed brutality NILE will release their new album, "What Should Not Be Unearthed", on August 28 via Nuclear Blast. Produced by NILE and mixed by Neil Kernon, the CD's artwork was handled this time by Michal "Xaay" Loranc and can be seen below. Pre-order your copy here.

"What Should Not Be Unearthed" track listing:

01. Call To Destruction02. Negating The Abominable Coils Of Apep03. Liber Stellae Rubeae04. In The Name Of Amun05. What Should Not Be Unearthed06. Evil To Cast Out Evil07. Age Of Famine08. Ushabti Reanimator09. Rape Of The Black Earth10. To Walk Forth From Flames Unscathed Comments NILE mastermind Karl Sanders: "All of us in NILE are happy to announce our upcoming newest album, 'What Should Not Be Unearthed'. It's our eighth official album, and this time we believe we have a truly crushing disc to bring to metal fans.'

"The focus this time around is on brutally heavy metal riffing and songwriting; kind of like of an 'Annihilation Of The Wicked' approach but very streamlined to achieve maximum destructive impact."

He continues: "Our last record, 'At The Gates Of Sethu', was super surgically clean and very 'musicianship oriented' whereas the new disc is a polar opposite; 'Unearthed' is aimed straight at utter metal heaviness and memorable songwriting.

"Although 'Unearthed' is still full of the kind of undeniable musicianship people have come to expect from NILE over the years, it's the songs themselves that will hit listeners over the head this time around."

Sanders adds: "These songs will be a blast to play live, and we are stoked at the opportunity to bring these songs to metal fans everywhere. See you on tour!” States Xaay about the artwork: "At first, I would like to express that it was great experience to work on another NILE cover / artwork again. I'm really grateful having been a big fan of the band for all these years.

"The story behind the title goes deeply beneath everything we have already known, and we may not be ready to face. With the art I excavated the theories of an elder ancient civilization which could give the origin to ancient Egypt. That's why you can find a new ingredient in the band imagery, pointing at some higher obscure intelligence, eroding and covered with time. That trace of a dismal legacy is resembled in the outer structure which radiates from the block, sealing the unknown, and it's only an adumbration of what we will meet, once it is removed.

"The pyramid-shaped seal in the center doesn't contain a recipe for some Camel Stew or a Pharaoh's dining menu. An experienced eye will notice hieroglyphs taken from the 'Book Of The Dead', or the Seven Islands of Amentet glyph — depicting the ancient Underworld, and describing the elder reign of God-kings, which had ended circa. 9850 B.C. (perhaps some similarity with that of Atlantis?). But the main thing we should not miss here is a winged scarab sign in the exact center. We all know this most common Egyptian artifact giving protection... so the message is pretty clear... I hope it may become another fine element in band's repository for the NILE-themed tattoos.

"To sum it up: this album is definitely not a box of candies. Keep in mind that opening the package means you will deal with the deadliest essence... However, it will be a hard task to hold on to your curiosity. Well... it's a new NILE!"

French progressive metallers GOJIRA have postponed their next three shows after the mother of the band's guitarist/vocalist Joseph Duplantier and drummer Mario Duplantier passed away unexpectedly last night. Affected dates are: Luxembourg on July 6, Martigny on July 7 and Prattein on July 8.

Says GOJIRA in a statement: "Best efforts will be made to reschedule these dates, and refunds will be available at point of purchase.

"We sincerely thank all of you for your understanding and support during this difficult time."

Joseph previously told RockSverige.se that fans can expect to see the next GOJIRA album sometime in early 2016. He explained: "We were [originally] aiming [to release it in] October this year, but we had to push the recording. I think the difficulty was… Mario [Duplantier, drums] brought a lot of ideas on the table… very challenging drum patterns. It's less complicated than before. It's more… I wanna say it's more straight to the point. That's what we were doing since we started. We're getting rid of layers and complicated things, just to keep the core of the idea. There's always an idea behind a song, and sometimes it gets too crowded. So we're trying to keep the core of each idea. So the energy that Mario has, it's a big signature for our band, GOJIRA — the drum patterns and the double-kick stuff. And I have my own impulse. So it's mainly Mario and me composing… I think the fans know that. And one of the biggest difficulties is to come together on these songs and to create something that, okay, we both feel like, 'This is it. This is the song.' It took a while to get there. Sometimes, on previous albums, Mario wouldn't be totally satisfied — like three [or] four songs — and for me, I [would be] like, 'Eh, this song is just like a drum solo with guitars on it.' And this time, I think we really found something — a balance. [It's] very powerful and exciting. We're very excited about the new record."

GOJIRA's fifth album, "L'Enfant Sauvage", sold almost 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 34 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"L'Enfant Sauvage" (which translates to "The Wild Child") was recorded at Spin Recording Studios in Long Island City, New York with co-producer Josh Wilbur (LAMB OF GOD).

Danbury, Connecticut-based heavy metal band, Sacred Oath, will release their seventh studio album, Ravensong, on September 18th via the Angel Thorne Music label. This is the band’s first worldwide release under their new distribution deal with ILS/Caroline/Universal.

“We got adventurous on this one,” says singer-guitarist Rob Thorne, “but it’s still very much an Oath record – melodic and dark. I’d have to say it was the best experience I’ve had making an album since we did the Sacred Oath album in 2009.”

Ravensong is a return to the same lineup that recorded World On Fire in 2010: Bill Smith (guitar), Brendan Kelleher (bass), Kenny Evans (drums), and Rob Thorne (vocals, guitar). The band’s last album Fallen (2013) featured the original members from their 1988 debut A Crystal Vision as part of a 25th anniversary celebration.

Cover art for Ravensong was illustrated by the band’s drummer Kenny Evans, who also did the cover for A Crystal Revision back in 1998. “Rob called me about an idea of a raven silhouette for the cover and I asked him if I could take a crack at it,” said Kenny. “It worked out very well. I guess we’ll hear what people think soon enough. It’s certainly a different kind of cover for Sacred Oath, but that was what we were going for.”

All 10 songs were written by Thorne, which is not typical for the band, though he has been the primary songwriter since the beginning. The album clocks in at over 52 minutes in length.

Tracklisting:

“Death Kills”
“Taken”
“Necrodancer”
“Ravensong”
“So Cold”
“Live And Burn”
“Culture Of Sin”
“Heaven-Sent, Hell-Bent”
“When All Is Said & Done”
“Brighter Than The Sun”

Ravensong will be available worldwide via Caroline/Universal as a digipack CD with 12-page booklet insert, mp3 download, and also “Mastered for iTunes” with PDF booklet download.

Sacred Oath recently began performing live again this past June after more than three years away from the concert stage. Tour dates are expected throughout 2015 in support of the album. The next show is in New Jersey on July 11th with former Mercenary label-mates, Attacker.

 

Heavy metal group Them, featuring Symphony X’s Mike Lepond on bass, and Suffocations’s Kevin Talley on drums, will release their debut single on Halloween 2015.

The band’s debut album, Sweet Hollow, will  be a conceptual tale of pain, agony and death. Sweet Hollow will be released in January 2016. Check out some teaser clips below.

Them lineup:

Klaus Konig, Fossor - Vocals
Mike Lepond - Bass
Kevin Talley - Drums
Markus Ullrich - Guitars
Markus Johansson - Guitars

 

My Ruin guitarist Mick Murphy has checked in with the following update:

New free digital seven song Neanderthal EP, Rock Formation, coming July 17 at Bandcamp. All my Neanderthal releases on Bandcamp have now been made available for free so go download some instrumental rock! If you feel like paying for your music (crazy, I know) there is an option to name your price and donate to the cause (which is much appreciated), but otherwise that shit's FREE! Thanks!"

Check out the previous Neanderthal release, Hangtime, below:

Hangtime by NEANDERTHAL

My Ruin vocalist Tairrie B. Murphy recently posted the following message to her fans online:

"I founded my first band (Manhole) back in '93 after seeing Ice-T perform with his band Body Count. The power of the heavy riffs against his rap vocals spoke to me in a revelatory way and I soon decided to change my path in music which ultimately led me to My Ruin and has come full circle to lead me to back to my rap roots today. I love this video because it reminds me of where I came from. Thank you to those who have been with me since the beginning and to those who are re-connecting all these years later to follow me on my new journey."

Released to popular and critical acclaim, and available now for free download Bandcamp.com, "Beware The Crone" follows My Ruin vocalist Tairrie on a dark and witchy journey back to her hip hops roots with an old-school West Coast influence.

And now comes the stunning official video, beautifully shot in black and white with bewitching, esoteric visuals. Says Tairrie of her vision for the video: "It's been a while since I recorded a hip hop album, let alone a video with me rapping. Like the songs themselves, I didn't want to mimic what so many other women in music seem to be doing at the moment. I'm not a fan of bright colourful imagery or over-the-top sexuality. I wanted there to be a strong and empowering, yet darkly visceral and magical sensibility to the visuals."

Directed by Tairrie B herself, the mystic maven explains of the filming process: "I shot many of the scenes myself and others were filmed by my good friends Jill and Gary Bandfield of TourBusLive.com - talented husband and wife photographers. They understood where I wanted to go visually so I asked them to collaborate with me in bringing a few songs from my new album, Vintage Curses, to life."

"We shot all the nature scenes in the back woods of Griffith Park which is one of my favourite places to hike in Los Angeles and somewhere I have loved since I was a child. The rest of the video was filmed in Hollywood, in our studio and our home."

"Beware The Crone", is now available for free download via Bandcamp. Check it out via the player below.

Vintage Curses will be released on August 14th. For additional information and updates check out Tairrie's new Facebook page here.

Beware The Crone by TAIRRIE B

Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman has announced his first tour of North America since 2003 — a 21-date headlining run that will kick off September 9. The trek marks the latest leg of Friedman's ongoing world tour in support of "Inferno", his solo album that so far has seen him complete a record-breaking tour across South America; perform extensively in Europe with acts such as Gus G. (FIREWIND, OZZY OSBOURNE), ARCH ENEMY and KREATOR; and play multiple high-profile gigs in his current home country of Japan, including a set at the country's largest heavy metal festival, Loud Park.

Friedman commented on his imminent return to his home continent: "On the rare occasion that I stop and think I about it, I realize I've done an insane thing: I left a successful international band to concentrate my efforts on the domestic music scene of a country thousands of miles from my home. Different culture, different language, different planet. Since I went to Japan, so many Americans have supported me, and while many doubted I would ever play live in my homeland again, now it's happening. Choosing the setlist and doing prep for this tour has been a blast. Words can not describe how excited I am about finally touring North America!"

The upcoming North American leg of the "Inferno" tour will start in Friedman's former hometown of Baltimore and wrap up on the West Coast on October 3. Support will be provided by the Los Angeles-based extreme shred outfit EXMORTUS. General admission and VIP packages will go on sale this Friday (July 10) at 10 a.m. local time.

The dates are as follows:

Sep. 09 - Baltimore, MD - SoundstageSep. 10 – New York, NY - Gramercy TheatreSep. 11 - Pittsburgh, PA - Altar BarSep. 12 - Philadelphia, PA - Northstar BarSep. 13 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music HallSep. 15 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland BallroomSep. 16 - Toronto, ON - Virgin Mobile Mod ClubSep. 17 - Detroit, MI - Token LoungeSep. 18 - Chicago, IL - Reggie's Rock ClubSep. 19 - St. Louis, MO - FubarSep. 20 - Kansas City, MO - Riot RoomSep. 22 - Denver, CO - MarquisSep. 23 - Salt Lake City, UT - Liquid JoesSep. 25 - Seattle, WA - El CorazonSep. 26 - Vancouver, BC - RickshawSep. 27 - Portland, OR - AladdinSep. 29 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music HallSep. 30 - Hollywood, CA - Whisky-a-Go-GoOct. 01 - Anaheim, CA - House of BluesOct. 02 - Las Vegas, NV - Backstage BarOct. 03 - Ramona, CA - Mainstage

"Inferno" sold around 2,100 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 186 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released on May 26, 2014 via Prosthetic Records (except in Japan, where the album was made available through Universal Music). The CD was the 52-year-old musician's first collection of material recorded for the U.S. market since 2003's "Music For Speeding". Among the guest collaborators that appear on the effort are CHILDREN OF BODOM's Alexi Laiho, REVOCATION's Dave Davidson, acoustic flamenco-metal hybridists RODRIGO Y GABRIELA and Friedman's pre-MEGADETH bandmate in CACOPHONY, Jason Becker.

Speaking to Guitar World magazine, Friedman said: Each of the guests on this record took a song from scratch — they would write it and then I would arrange it and add my parts to it. That way we were both invested in it and it's a little bit of a deeper experience."

Friedman described the new album as the most "Marty" record has has done in years. "I figured if I was going to come back to America, I was going to come back big and give people something they want out of me," he told the magazine. "And I know that what they want is not some avant-garde thing. What they want is just the most intense writing and playing I can do."

When Grammy-winning, Golden Globe- nominated singer/songwriter and rock icon Chris Cornell was about to release his 1999 solo debut on Interscope/A&M/Geffen, he was dissuaded from his first choice for the title, "Euphoria Mourning", and reluctantly dubbed it "Euphoria Morning". Now, 16 years later, Universal Music Enterprises is correcting that admitted misjudgment, re-releasing the re-mastered album under its original name on August 14, for the first time on vinyl as well as reissuing digitally and on CD. "Euphoria Mourning" will be pressed on 180-gram vinyl and include a download card featuring 320 kbps MP4 audio ripped directly from the vinyl.

"The title of the record has been restored to its original spelling, which was changed before release after I listened to some bad advice," says Chris. His first release outside of his work as lead singer with SOUNDGARDEN, "Euphoria Morning", as it was then called, was a collaboration with Alain Johannes and Natasha Shneider of the band ELEVEN, who appeared on the album, co-wrote five of the tracks and were credited as co-producers, engineers and mixers with Cornell. The album's first single, "Can't Change Me", was nominated for "Best Male Rock Vocal Performance" at the 2000 Grammy Awards. "Flutter Girl" was reportedly an outtake from SOUNDGARDEN's 1994 album, "Superunknown", while Cornell revealed later on during a 2007 solo tour that "Wave Goodbye" was written as a tribute to Jeff Buckley, who tragically drowned in Memphis in 1997. "Can't Change Me", the first single, peaked at #5 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and #7 on the Modern Rock Tracks tally. "Euphoria Mourning" track listing: 01. Can't Change Me 3:2002. Flutter Girl 4:2303. Preaching The End Of The World 4:4004. Follow My Way 5:0705. When I'm Down 4:1806. Mission 4:0307. Wave Goodbye 3:4308. Moonchild 4:0109. Sweet Euphoria* 3:0710. Disappearing One 3:4511. Pillow Of Your Bones 4:2712. Steel Rain 5:42

Cornell has announced a North American solo acoustic tour for fall 2015. The multi-city trek will give fans the chance to see Chris perform in an unplugged, up close and personal setting and will include songs spanning his entire career. Chris will also introduce songs from his new studio album, "Higher Truth", produced by Brendan O’Brien (BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, PEARL JAM, NEIL YOUNG) and scheduled for release on September 18.

After SOUNDGARDEN disbanded in 1997 at the height of the group's success, Cornell embarked on a solo career, releasing "Euphoria Morning" in 1999 and debuting a softer sound both live and on the record. But when that album failed to take off, he accepted an offer in 2001 to join with the instrumental members of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE after vocalist Zack de la Rocha exited that group. The new act, called AUDIOSLAVE, released its self-titled debut in 2002. AUDIOSLAVE was a huge success from the start and released two more albums, 2005's "Out Of Exile" and 2006's "Revelations". But by the time "Revelations" came out, Cornell was already looking at other projects and recorded the theme song, "You Know My Name", for the 2006 James Bond comeback film "Casino Royale". In early 2007 he officially left AUDIOSLAVE to revive his solo career, while the rest of the band reactivated RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE.

Cornell issued his second solo album, "Carry On", in 2007 and the controversial "Scream" in 2009. The latter album was produced by Timbaland and found Cornell attempting to pursue an urban/pop direction, making him the focus of ridicule from musicians like Trent Reznor.

Rumors of a SOUNDGARDEN reunion had been percolating for several years and became a reality in 2010, with the band getting back together for a few shows at first, then full-fledged tours and eventually a brand new album in 2012, "King Animal".

Cornell told The Pulse Of Radio that he sees working with SOUNDGARDEN again as having a positive influence on his solo career. "One thing about a solo artist is you can just be in a room way too long with yourself and your own thoughts and your own songs, and it feels really good to be working with Ben [Shepherd, bassist] and Matt [Cameron, drummer] and Kim [Thayil, guitarist] again, and it's actually a really nice reprieve also from just being alone, doing what I do. It's helping with the balance, I think, too."

FIRESPAWN (formerly FIREBORN) — the new Swedish death metal project featuring Lars Göran Petrov (vocals; ENTOMBED) and Victor Brandt (guitar; ENTOMBED), Alex Friberg (bass; NECROPHOBIC), Fredrik Folkare (guitar; UNLEASHED, NECROPHOBIC) and Matte Modin (drums; DARK FUNERAL, DEFLESHED) — will release its debut album in November via Century Media. A seven-inch EP, "Lucifer Has Spoken', will precede the CD on August 7 and will be limited to 500 hand-numbered copies.

The cover artwork for "Lucifer Has Spoken" was created by Paolo Girardi who is known from his detailed Hieronymous Bosch-inspired cover artworks for INQUISITION, POWER TRIP and others. The seven-inch artwork just shows a part of a huge piece that will be unveiled when further news on the album is due.

A teaser clip for "Lucifer Has Spoken" is available below.

Hailing from Stockholm, FIRESPAWN is the unholy union of five death metal veterans with the aim to create blasphemous, sacrilegious and evil death metal, played by sharp minds with ancient souls. Comments Friberg: "We are stoked to be joining forces with Century Media. They are one of the biggest labels out there in extreme music and together we will spread the fire worldwide!" Adds Jens Prüter, head of A&R at Century Media: "Don't call it supergroup but this spawn of Satan combines the best of Stockholm death metal and it's great to see a bunch of old friends coming together for just one goal: to destroy. I know some of the guys for many years and it's an honor to help them spreading fire worldwide. Special thanks from my side to Costin Chioreanu and Paolo Girardi for helping out on the band's visual presentation, and my colleague Philipp Schulte for taking over the torch and bring you... FIRE! I'll see you burn!"

FIRESPAWN is:

Lars Göran Petrov (ENTOMBED) - VocalsVictor Brandt (ENTOMBED) - GuitarAlex Friberg (NECROPHOBIC) - BassFredrik Folkare (UNLEASHED, NECROPHOBIC) - GuitarMatte Modin (DARK FUNERAL, DEFLESHED) – Drums

The Dead Soul Communion is the brand new project from ex-Devilment founding member and guitarist Daniel Finch. The band consists of: vocalist Martin Walkyier (Sabbat, Skyclad), drummer Simon Dawson (Steve Harris' British Lion, Dearly Beheaded), and bassist Kev Jackson (Synaptik, Inner Sanctum).

The group was formed in January 2015 after Daniel left Devilment in late 2014, following the release of their debut album on Nuclear Blast Entertainment, and a tour with Lacuna Coil and Motionless In White. Follow The Dead Soul Communion on Facebook.

Check out episodes one and two of The Dead Soul Communion's introductory videos - Guitar Set Ups, and How Things Have Moved On.

The music of The Dead Soul Communion is said to be groove-based metal with a dark, epic feel; taking influences from Metallica, Soilwork, Marillion, and Paradise Lost. The band is currently locked away in a studio recording their debut demo. The band has already gained both record label and management interest. Their debut album is slated to be released in early 2016, with European Festival dates planned during the summer of 2016.

 

Underground Symphony has announced a deal with Enzo Donnarumma for the In The Name Of The Father album release.

Enzo And The Glory Ensemble is the most ambitious Christian metal opera of all time, proposing 12 prayers in symphonic metal approach, with fine orchestral arrangements, ethnic influences and progressive shades.

The songs of “In The Name Of The Father” is played by many stars from the metal world: Marty Friedman, Kobi Farhi (Orphaned Land), Ralph Scheepers (Primal Fear), Mark Zonder (Fates Warning, Warlord), Gary Wehrkamp and Brian Ashland (Shadow Gallery) and Nicholas Leptos (Warlord).

This metal opera is a masterpiece for all fans of Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody, Myrath and Symphony X.

The album, mixed by Gary Wehrkamp (Shadow Gallery) at New Horizon Studios, will be available in the next few months under Underground Symphony Records in deluxe digipak edition. Updates to follow.

Formed in 2008 by Taake's live guitarist Gjermund Fredheim and ex-Byfrost drummer Rune Nesse, and with a lineup that now includes former Grimnorth bassist Sindre Hillesdal and frontman Einar Fjelldal (ex-Gravemachine), Norwegian black metallers Orkan are set to release a new full-length album, Livlaus, via Dark Essence Records on September 11th.

As a taste of what to expect from an album that includes guest appearances from Taake's Hoest and Helheim’s V'gandr, the track "Livlaus del 2: Dødens Dal" can be heard below.
 
Unlike Orkan's debut full-length Crimson Canvas, which was, according to the band, "a self-financed, thrashy album", Livlaus has a much darker, uncompromising feel, with atmospheric melodies, haunting vocals and intense blastbeats. The concept of the album was inspired by the forests and sulphur mines found around Drummer Rune Nesse's hometown of Stord, on the west coast of Norway, and deals with a lost soul trying to find peace in the Kingdom of the Dead.
 
With a black metal sound that features elements of thrash and other etreme genres, the seven-track album was recorded live in the studio and no editing was carried out on the basic tracks. Vocals and effects were added later.
 
Artwork for the album is by Tom Korsvold:

Livlaus tracklisting:

“Fanden På Veggen”
“Brende Bruer, Svart Metall”
“Livlaus Del 1: Evig”
“Livlaus Del 2: Dødens Dal”
“Livlaus Del 3: Tusen Sjeler”
“Uforgjengeleg”
“Skodde”

“Livlaus Del 2: Dødens Dal”:

 

Wacken Metal Battle Canada winners Vesperia are streaming the new song “Iron Saga” exclusively at BraveWords below. The band's The Iron Tempests EP is due out July 10th.

The Iron Tempests sspan around 18-24 minutes long and was co-produced with the effort of Ryan Bovaird, frontman of Canadian melodeath band Hallow's Die. The EP artwork was also created by none other than Vesperia's frontman Morgan Rider at his own White North Studios.

 

 

The Iron Tempests tracklisting:

“Iron Saga”
“The Western Tempests”
“In The Hall Of The Mountain King”

Vesperia recently put the finishing touches on their brand new music video for the as-of-yet unreleased song, “The Western Tempests”. The band recently emerged from the famous Camp 30 - which is a dilapidated and abandoned prisoner of war camp in Bowmanville, Ontario.

"The new music video for ‘The Western Tempests’ is dark. Very dark," comments band bassist and frontman, Morgan Rider. "We built the story of the video around the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Spending from sundown to sunup over two weekends to give the video its clutching darkness and disturbing atmosphere have definitely given us the result we were looking for."

Shots from video shoot:

 

 

Recently announcing dates for both Eastern and Western Canada this coming June and July with select dates supported by Winnipeg's melodic death metal band Laika, Vesperia has also announced a special self-hosted tour kickoff party that will take place prior to their West Coast leg of their tour. On Friday, July 10 their tour kick off show will take place at the newest live music venue in Oshawa, ON at The Moustache Club, located in the heart of downtown at 15 Simcoe St N on the second floor.

 

 

Vesperia’s summer tour schedule:

July

10 - Oshawa, ON - The Moustache Club
11 - Sudbury, ON - venue TBA
12 - Winnipeg, MB - The Zoo (w/ Laika)
13 - Saskatoon, SK - Venue TBA (w/ Laika)
14 - Edmonton, AB - DV8 (w/ Laika)
16 - Calgary, AB - Distortion (w/ Laika)
18 - Armstrong, BC - Armstrong Metalfest
21 - Brandon, MB - North Hill Inn
23 - Sault Ste. Marie, ON - Algonquin Hotel
25 - TBA, ON - Venue TBA