The release date of the new Zandelle album Perseverance on CD is July 24 via Pure Steel Records. The preorder phase will start on July 10 in their webshop.

A description reads:

“The US power metal band Zandelle now has worked together with Pure Steel for many years. Already the last studio album Flames Of Rage (2009) and the 2-CD-compilation Shadows From The Past has been released through Pure Steel Records.

“After a few years the quintet got back to the studio again and still knows how to deliver the goods to the old fan base. With eleven new tracks Zandelle still deliver melodic, powerful Power Metal, which sometimes reminds back to Helloween. But still the typical US-American steel is driven by a powerful keyboard. Of course, the dynamic production is a typical brand mark of this 20-year old band.”

Perseverance tracklisting:

“Resurgence”
“Unending Fortitude”
“Lycanthrope”
“Shadow Slaves”
“End Game”
“Beyond The Point”
“Innocence Lost”
“Midnight Reign”
“Perseverance”
“Avenger Of The Fallen”
“Revengeance (From The Ashes)”

Bucharest’s Bloodway has announced the title of their debut full-length album will be Mapping The Moment With The Logic Of Dreams and will be released on CD on September 25 by I, Voidhanger Records.

For promoting the new material, Bloodway will play a concert series in Romania, together with Valborg (Germany) and Perihelion(Hungary). The mini-tour will go under the name of Horrors Of The Unknown Over Romania 2015.

Dates:

September
25 – Cluj – Flying Circus
26 - Râmnicu Vâlcea – Aby Stage
27 – Bucharest – Fabrica*
30 – Constanta – Goblin*

October
1 – Craiova – Perdido Station*

*no Perihelion

Live video of new song “Walking Past Near The Lighthouse”:

More details on the new Bloodway album will be revealed soon.

Greek black 'n' roll machine Dodsferd have completed recordings for their tenth full-length to date, Wastes Of Life. The album will be released later this year by longtime label Moribund Records, and follows the band's 2013 album The Parasitic Survival Of The Human Race. Mixing and mastering of Dodsferd's Wastes Of Life will soon be started at the same studio where it was recorded, at D Studio in Athens, Greece, by Michael Karpathiou.

Founding Dodsferd vocalist/guitarist Wrath reports the following: "My new album is one of my most soul-destroying albums. It has nothing to do with religious trends and worships of all kind. It’s an ode to the fall of man and the end of this world. I would like to thank and pay my respect to Michael Karpathiou (acoustic guitars, lead guitars, solos, and extra bass lines) and Chris Tzortzis (contrabass, cello, and violin) for their contributions, with their excellent musical skills, on my new album. They don’t have any relation with the black metal scene, in order to help my band gain any popularity with their contribution. Dodsferd need no one to do that. I don’t follow any kind of trends, and I hate the things that the masses follow and tend to do."
 
The cover art was created by S.D. from Vision Black and Razorbleed Productions:

Wastes Of Life tracklisting:

“Wastes Of Life”
“Sterile Death, Without Mourning”
“The Dead Have No Speech For”
“To The Fall Of Man”
“Graves Of Your Creator”

Eradikator are a four-piece thrash metal band from Birmingham UK, the birthplace of heavy metal. Wearing their influences proudly on their sleeves, Eradikator set out fast and intense thrash metal with a strong melodic sensibility, very much in the vein of ‘80s Metallica, Exodus, Megadeth and Testament.

Produced by the legendary Russ Russell, their new album ‘Edge of Humanity’ is 46 minutes of ferocious riffs and big melodies guaranteed to get any metal fan’s blood rushing. Add modern production and the result is an album that fans of the golden age have been waiting for since Metallica gave up thrash for corporate stadium rock.

The band are raising funds to give the release the support it deserves, and are offering a range of packages ranging from exclusive merch to lessons to a gig in your very own home. To make a pledge, head to PledgeMusic.

An official description of the band and Edge Of Humanity below:

“Eradikator are a four piece thrash metal band from Birmingham, England, the birthplace of heavy metal monsters such as Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Napalm Death.  No strangers to Divebomb Records, Eradikator have returned to the label after the successful release of their debut album, Dystopia, via the label’s Bootcamp Series which not only reissues obscure lost treasures of the past, but also is a showcase for new artists through alternative promotion helping to support them while they get a foothold within the industry.

“Picking right up where Dystopia left off, the new album, Edge Of Humanity, was conceived with the help of producer Russ Russell (Napalm Death, Dimmu Borgir, Exploited). Drawing on all their life and musical influences thus far, Eradikator set out to steamroll through barriers plaguing new school thrash bands.  Rather than simply cranking out up-tempo riffs and barrage of double kick drums to get fans excited, Eradikator constructed thoughtfully crafted material choosing to reward listeners with an album that showcases their maturity and evolution as a band, while never giving up on the key elements that makes heavy metal great.”

Edge Of Humanity tracklisting:

“Mesmerised”
“Man Behind The Mask”
“Edge Of Humanity”
“Astral Body”
“Seasons Of Rage”
“Fortress Unknown”
“The Great Deception”
“Dead Hands Of The Past”
“Kairos Passing”

“Mesmerised”:

Edge Of Humanity by ERADIKATOR

When Krakow walked into the Solslottet and Duper Studio with producer Iver Sandøy to record what would become amaran, their third full-length album, they had a total of ten tracks in mind - seven of which made it onto the finished album.  The remaining three tracks proved to be perfect examples of the more aggressive and direct side of the band, but did not really fit in with the overall atmosphere of the album, so they were put to one side, ready to be used when the time was right, whilst everyone sat back and watched the plaudits come rolling in when amaran hit the streets in February on Dark Essence Records.
 
And the time is now right to let the fans hear those three, never-before heard, tracks.  Dark Essence will release them, together with the track "genesis" from amaran August 7 as a 7" EP, which will be strictly limited to 300 copies, as well as in digital format.  The EP, which is titled genesis will hit the streets just in time for the band's appearance at Oslo's Øya Festival on Saturday, August 15, and is now available to pre-order from this location.

Artwork for genesis is by Thomas Hooper:

genesis tracklisting:

“genesis”
“blood is god”
“conjuring”
“demise”

“blood is god”:

Fan-filmed video footage of WHITESNAKE's June 11 performance at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, California can be seen below.

WHITESNAKE's new touring lineup — David Coverdale (vocals), Joel Hoekstra (guitar), Reb Beach (guitar), Michael Devin (bass), Tommy Aldridge (drums) and Michele Luppi (keyboards) — made its live debut on May 28 at Northern Quest Casino in Airway Heights, Washington.

Singer David Coverdale is celebrating his past in the present with last month's release of WHITESNAKE's 12th studio album, "The Purple Album". The new set is billed as "a re-imagination of classic songs from David Coverdale's time as the lead singer for DEEP PURPLE's Mark III and Mark IV studio albums." PURPLE classics revamped for the new set include "Stormbringer", "Lady Double Dealer", "Soldier Of Fortune" and "Sail Away". Coverdale was DEEP PURPLE's frontman from late 1973 to early 1976 and sang on the albums "Burn", "Stormbringer" and "Come Taste The Band". Coverdale explained that shortly before DEEP PURPLE co-founder Jon Lord's 2012 death, he was eyeing a DEEP PURPLE gig featuring all the band members throughout the lineups. The Pulse Of Radio asked Coverdale what if any relationship he has with the frontman he replaced — the great Ian Gillan. "Ian was one of the nicest blokes I met," he said. "I'd flown over to [England to] do a charity show for Roger Glover at the [Royal] Albert Hall — a thing called 'Butterfly Ball' [in 1975] — and Ian was there and we ended up carousing for, like, four days and nights. I ended up sleeping from the moment the plane took off from Heathrow back to Los Angeles. Woke up as we landed. The perfect journey! [Laughs] But, yeah, I have absolutely no problem sharing a microphone with Ian. None. Y'know? To me, it would be the ultimate expression of gratitude to breathtaking loyalty from PURPLE fans. It's amazing. It truly is."

The deluxe edition of "The Purple Album" features two bonus tracks, four music videos and a "Behind The Scenes" featurette on the recording of the album.

Former PANTERA and current DOWN frontman Philip Anselmo's SUPERJOINT RITUAL project — now known simply as SUPERJOINT for legal reasons — played its first-ever European show at this year's Hellfest on June 21 in Clisson, France. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below (courtesy of Spain's GoetiaMedia.com).

SUPERJOINT will embark on its first tour in over a decade this summer. Presented by Anselmo's own Housecore Records, "The It Takes Guts Tour" will commence on July 10 in Oklahoma City and ravage its way through more than a dozen cities. Support will be provided by punk metal/noise rock misfits CHILD BITE and Australian grind miscreants KING PARROT, both members of the Housecore Records family.

Now featuring Anselmo, guitarists Kevin Bond (CHRIST INVERSION, ARTIMUS PYLEDRIVER) and Jimmy Bower (DOWN, EYEHATEGOD), drummer José Manuel Gonzalez (WARBEAST, PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS) and bassist Stephen Taylor (PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, WOVEN HAND, 16 HORSE POWER), the long-anticipated trek follows SUPERJOINT's crushing performance closing out the second stage of last year's edition of the Housecore Horror Film Fest. Comments Anselmo: "We're touring with SUPERJOINT again, because we feel like it, it's fun, and we're handsome. And the big plus here is getting to tour with KING PARROT and CHILD BITE, as they are handsome fellows also as well as live forces to be reckoned with. Leave your corpse paint at home. No image required for this one. Bring a date and some sips, and let the music do the rest! Hail Columbia!"

SUPERJOINT RITUAL's sophomore album, "A Lethal Dose Of American Hatred", was released in July 2003 via Sanctuary. Anselmo described his band's songs as "short blasts of hardcore blood" and said, to those who weren't around to witness AGNOSTIC FRONT and early SLAYER, "We're givin' you a fuckin' beautiful example of what it was like."

Fan-filmed video footage of BUTCHER BABIES' entire performance at this year's edition of Hellfest, which was held June 19-21 in Clisson, France, can be seen below.

BUTCHER BABIES will release their sophomore album, "Take It Like A Man", on August 21 via Century Media. The CD was produced by Logan Mader, who has previously worked with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, DEVILDRIVER, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY and GOJIRA.

"We all come from different places and backgrounds, but every member of this band had to fight to be the person he or she is today," said BUTCHER BABIES co-vocalist Carla Harvey. "That's the whole basis for the record. It's not a gender thing. It's the inner strength you have to find in order to pull your boots up and keep moving forward, whatever the situation may be."

While penning lyrics, Shepherd and Heidi Shepherd also opened up like never before. Blatant, brutal and (sometimes) belligerent honesty was the only rule.

"You have to dig to get that emotion out," explained Harvey. "Metalheads can sense authenticity. They know when you're real. Everything we write comes straight from the heart and our own experiences. It's not cookie-cutter bullshit."

That openness has already turned countless fans into believers. "Take It Like A Man" espouses an inspiring final word.

"We want to coerce feeling," Shepherd said. "If you're a musician who does that, you've succeeded. We just want to inspire anyone who listens to us — and melt their faces off."

Regarding the musical direction of BUTCHER BABIES' forthcoming CD, Carla said: "The majority of the album is very aggressive thrash metal. On this album, we wanted to go back to our roots, which were aggressive thrash, and ninety percent of the album is that."

Added Heidi: "But the thing is we're not ever gonna sacrifice who we are for that. What we're attempting with this is to bring back the metal and the aggression into radio. So we kind of… We merged the two worlds. And radio stations who have heard it so far are impressed and we're very excited for that."

BUTCHER BABIES are:

Heidi Shepherd - VocalsCarla Harvey - VocalsHenry Flury - GuitarJason Klein - BassChrissy Warner - Drums

Fan-filmed video footage of MÖTLEY CRÜE's June 5 performance at this year's edition of the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg can be seen below.

MÖTLEY CRÜE first announced plans for their two-year "Final Tour" by signing a Cessation Of Touring Agreement at a press conference in Los Angeles in January 2014, solidifying the end of their touring career with their last show ever on New Year's Eve at Staples Center in their hometown of Los Angeles. Since the announcement the band has been touring tirelessly to say goodbye to fans around the world.

MÖTLEY CRÜE's "The Final Tour" kicked off last year and will end New Year's Eve at the Staples Center in Los Angeles after one more round of North American gigs. The 2014 leg of "The Final Tour" was one of last year's top-grossing tours, selling close to a million tickets across 72 cities and grossing more than $45 million.

"MÖTLEY CRÜE's 'Final Tour' has been a massive global success and a true testament to the popularity of this legendary rock band," says Rick Franks, Live Nation's regional president of North American concerts. "New Year's Eve 2015 will mark the end of an era in rock history but there's no doubt that MÖTLEY CRÜE's music will influence generations of artists for years to come.”

HELLYEAH guitarist Tom Maxwell spoke to Seattle Sound Live about the injury that forced him to sit out the final dates of the band's recent European tour.

"It was at the end of the night, in Munich, Germany hanging out with Ivan [Moody] from FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, Vinnie [Paul Abbott, HELLYEAH drummer] and a couple of other people. Christian [Brady, HELLYEAH guitarist] was also there hanging out in VIP after watching KISS. I left, walking towards the bus, and got picked up by one of those golf carts that you are always seeing running around that transport people backstage. I hopped on for a ride, and all I remember is a quick swerve. I don't know if the driver was swerving to get out of the way or to avoid hitting something, but it was just enough for me to lose my balance and get thrown off. It wasn't a violent throw, but enough that all my weight of my body concentrated on my right leg and I went into shock after that. I remember going to the hospital, being told I had to have surgery, with a variety of breaks and fractures one part of my ankle was in pieces. They had to put five screws on one side and six on the other and a plate to hold it together. I woke up the next day and the band descended to the next city because they had another show to do. So it was pretty terrifying being all alone in a foreign country."

He continued: "Most of Germany and most of Europe speak English and multiple languages. It's only in America that we are never interested in learning foreign languages, it's like a lost art when people come here. I was lucky enough to have English-speaking nurses and even the ones that didn't, you kind of know with human interaction and with hand signs and stuff like that. The doctors speak really good English. But it was just freaky, man, spending three days in the air. And, actually, that's when I had a moment to breathe a sigh of relief — once I was on the plane and actually taking off, heading towards Baltimore.

Asked if it was hard to take that time off from HELLYEAH, Maxwell said: "Yeah, there was a lot of guilt, a lot of what-if s going on in my mind. The band was all of a sudden forced to play as a four-piece. I have to hand it to Christian, and that's kind of a reassurance of how badass he is and that we made a right decision to get this guy, because he is so awesome and how he managed within a blink of an eye to convert a two-guitar band into one, you know what I mean?! He really had to step up and showcase, and he did it. I felt really comfortable because I knew he could do it. [I felt] just a sense of relief. Of course I wanted to be back but, I was kind of forced to take time off, I just couldn't do it without doing more damage to my leg. Even right now, I still have at least 10 days left to rest easy before I get back on stage."

Maxwell also revealed that HELLYEAH recently recorded acoustic versions of three songs from the band's latest album, "Blood For Blood". He explained: "We are going to release it eventually — as soon as Chad [Gray] finishes up the vocals — but it turned out fucking insane. We did 'Blood For Blood', we did 'Moth', the proper acoustic version of it, and then we took a different approach to 'Say When'. We broke it down into some kind of psychotic nightmare version of the song and kind of tribal. Once it's finished, and once Chad does the vocals, we will just have to figure out how to package it — maybe with the next record or something; maybe release it in between albums. I don't know how we are going to do it, but I dug it and it came out fucking cool. [It was the] first time we've ever done anything like this."

He added: "It just proves no matter how heavy you are, if you can apply your music in the right way, you can twist the songs to fit what you want them to do. It can work."

"Blood For Blood", was the band's first release since parting ways with guitarist Greg Tribbett and bassist Bob "Zilla" Kahaha in 2013.

The new members of HELLYEAH are bassist Kyle Sanders and Christian Brady.

"Blood For Blood" sold around 17,000 copies in its first week of release to land at No. 18 on the Billboard chart.

Slash and his band — MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS — are scheduled to stay on the road until the end of the year, after which they will take a short break before beginning work on the follow-up to their 2014 album "World On Fire".

"We're working on new material for the next record," Slash tells Billboard.com. "When this tour's over we'll start going in and doing some pre-production and probably go into the studio some time in mid-to-late spring and record."

Regarding how the new songs are shaping up, Slash says: "They sound very rhythmic and that's definitely something that, for me personally, I'm going for. We'll see what that turns into. It changes. It sort of evolves; you start out with one idea and that sort of morphs into another idea. At this point it sounds like it's going to be really awesome, so I'm excited about it."

Slash recently told Classic Rock magazine about his songwriting approach: "On the road is the platform that I find is the easiest for me to work on new material," he said. "It's easier here than it is for me to do when I'm at home. So I just get going. I take my phone and I record ideas on the phone and then we jam stuff at soundchecks; when we have soundchecks. So we compile a bunch of ideas, and then when the tour is over, we go home and, sort of, hash them out."

"World On Fire" sold around 29,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 10 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on September 16, 2014 via Slash's own label Dik Hayd International distributed through Roadrunner Records (Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America).

"World On Fire" is the second album to feature Slash's regular backing band, MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS, and follows up 2012's "Apocalyptic Love", which sold around 38,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 4 on The Billboard 200 chart.

On Slash self-titled solo effort he employed a different vocalist on each track, before settling on ALTER BRIDGE member Kennedy for both touring and eventually recording.

Highly respected album cover artist Ioannis (Deep Purple, Sepultura, Uriah Heep, Yngwie Malmsteen, Dream Theater, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Biohazard, Styx,)  checks in from his studio:

"Hello to all my Fates Warning friends and supporters, I am happy to announce that I will be redesigning the new expanded limited edition package of A Pleasant Shade Of Gray to be released in the fall, it will feature a lot of extra music by the band, and also a number of never before seen images. It was a joy to reconnect with this project after so many years, to listen to the music again and have a chance to develop the themes more properly this time around. I promise you a lot of surprises and some great work. I have also completed a very limited edition portfolio along with other special items that you may purchase at this link."

 

 

Roger Waters, the creative genius behind musical pioneers Pink Floyd, in association with Fathom Events and Picturehouse Entertainment, is set to bring his groundbreaking masterpiece, Roger Waters The Wall, to cinemas across the globe on September 29th at 8pm local time for one night only.

‘The Wall Live’ - the biggest worldwide tour by any solo artist in history - now comes to select movie theatres as a groundbreaking concert film, written and directed by Roger Waters and Sean Evans. “Roger Waters The Wall” is a film that unfolds on many levels: an immersive concert experience of the seminal 1979 Pink Floyd album, road movie of Waters’ reckoning with the death of his father in World War II, and a stirring film that highlights the human cost of armed conflict. Additionally, this event will feature an exclusive “in conversation” with Roger Waters and Nick Mason, where the Pink Floyd rhythm section will reunite over the breaking of bread and the answering of questions sent in by fans.

Tickets for U.S. showings of Roger Waters The Wall are available now at participating theater box offices and online at FathomEvents.com. The event will be presented in more than 300 select U.S. movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations visit this location (theaters and participants are subject to change).

Roger Waters The Wall had its premiere at last year's Toronto Film Festival. Beyond the outstanding music, Waters reflects on the impact of war on his own family as he embarks on a deeply personal pilgrimage. Woven throughout the film, the journey offers a revealing, candid portrait of a man who has been through enough, and lived in the world long enough, to be passionately and unapologetically anti-war.

The concert portion of the film was shot in 4K and mixed in Dolby Atmos during Waters’ sold-out 2010-2013 The Wall Live tour. This concert production featured a massive 500-foot iteration of one of the most iconic pieces of rock 'n' roll staging – the famed “wall.” Seen by over 1.5 million fans across North America, 1 million fans across Latin and Central America and 1 million fans across Europe, that total of more than 4 million fans worldwide, makes Waters’ the biggest worldwide tour by a solo artist, ever.

Roger Waters said, “I hope these worldwide screenings this coming September 29th will be a good opportunity to remember, not just our fallen loved ones, but all the other guys’ fallen loved ones. Ashes and diamonds foe and friend we were all equal in the end.”

John Rubey, Fathom Events CEO, said, “Moviegoers will get a unique opportunity to see a new take on a beloved musical masterpiece this September. Along with our partners at Picturehouse, we are pleased to bring Roger Waters’ vision to fans in the best possible sound and picture.”

Marc Allenby, Director of Distribution at Picturehouse Entertainment, said, “The team at Picturehouse Entertainment are thrilled to be bringing Roger Waters The Wall to cinemas around the world. This very special concert has already touched millions of fans worldwide and we are looking forward to building on this success to make a truly exceptional cinema event.”

 

 

 

 

Chicago-based metal powerhouse Trials will release their third full-length, This Ruined World,  on July 24th on CD and digital formats.

Following a pair of independent releases - Witness To The Downfall (2011) and In The Shadow Of Swords (2013), Trials has returned with their most evolved effort to date. Featuring nine tracks of intricately-woven, relentless and forward-thinking metal, This Ruined World blends aggression and progression for devastating results. Diehard DIYers, Trials is a band determined to blaze its own path, free from label interference. This unwavering dedication to substance over style has never been more apparent than it is on This Ruined World. 

"This Ruined World contains some of the darkest, most complex music that we have made yet. We put a lot of blood and sweat into this project, and ended up with a record that represents us at our very best," stated guitarist / vocalist Mark Sugar.

The album was recorded by Pete Grossmann at Bricktop Recording (Weekend Nachos, Hollow Earth) and mixed by Quentin Poynter at Gunpoint Recording (The Skull, Veil Of Maya), with art work courtesy of Eva Bialecki (Jar'd Loose).

Tracklisting:

"Truth Defiled"
"Don't Believe The Word"
"Digging My Own Grave"
"Disgraced And Erased"
"Blink Of An Eye"
"Beat The System To Death"
"They Hide Behind The Law"
"Inheritance"
"This Ruined World"

Stream album track "Don't Believe The Word" and the band's cover of Strapping Young Lad's "Far Beyond Metal" via the audio player below, or at this location.

Don't Believe The Word (Digital EP) by Trials

 

 

VISION OF DISORDER will enter Frankie Nasso's Staten Island-based Nova Studios on July 5 to begin tracking the follow-up to 2012's "The Cursed Remain Cursed". The album will be produced by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (AGNOSTIC FRONT, CROWBAR, HATEBREED, WHITECHAPEL) and mixed by Cameron Webb (IGNITE, PENNYWISE). A late autumn release via Candlelight is expected. "We are so very happy to see the songs starting to come together," says vocalist Tim Williams. "The new songs are dark, heavy, and melodic in a way only VISION OF DISORDER can deliver." Working songtitles set to appear on the still-to-be-named album include "Razed To The Ground", "War On The Police" and "Nightcrawler". VISION OF DISORDER's latest album, "The Cursed Remain Cursed", was released in September 2012 via Candlelight Records. The CD was produced by Will Putney (SHADOWS FALL, SUICIDE SILENCE) and mixed by Cameron Webb (MOTÖRHEAD, SOCIAL DISTORTION).

VISION OF DISORDER toured with some of metal's biggest names during the late 1990s — including PANTERA, BLACK SABBATH, TYPE O NEGATIVE, ANTHRAX and BAD BRAINS — before calling it quits in 2001, and then reuniting in 2008.

VISION OF DISORDER is vocalist Tim Williams, guitarist Mike Kennedy, bassist Mike Fleischmann and drummer Brendon Cohen.

According to The Pulse Of Radio, an orthopedic surgeon says that FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl may not be able to walk normally for months after breaking his leg in a fall from a stage in Sweden earlier this month. Orthopedic trauma surgeon Andy Murphy, who works at Nuffield Health Plymouth Hospital in England and also happens to play in a FOO FIGHTERS tribute band, gave his professional opinion to NME, saying, "He's not going to be able to walk normally, without a brace, for at least six weeks. And for a man who spends most of his time running around a stage at full speed, it will probably be a couple of months before he's back to that level of action on the road."

Murphy described the nature of Grohl's injury, explaining, "Dave sustained a nasty fracture of the distal fibula, the small bone on the outside of the ankle. X-rays show the fracture was displaced and needed surgical fixation. He has a low profile locking titanium plate and screws holding the fractured bone together. His treatment looks excellent."

Grohl was photographed in London a few nights ago, looking determined to stay mobile but also clearly experiencing some pain and discomfort.

The FOO FIGHTERS were forced to cancel all the remaining dates on their European tour due to Grohl's injury, which occurred on June 12 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Scrapped were two headlining dates at London's massive Wembley Stadium, along with a third headlining slot at the U.K.'s prestigious Glastonbury festival plus shows in Scotland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

At press time the band has not changed or canceled any shows on its upcoming North American trek, which is scheduled to begin on July 4 in Washington D.C.

In the August 2015 issue of Guitar Player magazine, MASTODON's Brent Hinds offered his thoughts on his band being lumped in with all the other "heavy metal" groups. "I never really liked heavy metal in the first place," he said. "I came from Alabama playing country music, surf rock, rockabilly, and stuff like that. I just went through a phase in my 20s where I thought it was rebellious to play heavy metal. And then I met Brann [Dailor, MASTODON drummer] and Bill [Kelliher, MASTODON guitarist], and they were really, really, really into heavy metal. And ever since then, I've been trying to get MASTODON to not be such a heavy metal band, because I fucking hate heavy metal, and I don't want to be in a heavy metal band."

Hinds also seemed less than excited at the prospect of handling interview chores for the band, telling the magazine: "It would be nice if magazines and all interviews would just go fall off the face of the earth along with all the cigarette smoke and all the other fucking things I hate in life. I don't like doing interviews, I don't read interviews, I don't need to know how people go about doing things. It frustrates me to do interviews, because I have to talk about things I've talked about over and over and over and over again. So, no, there's nothing that we can talk about that involved MASTODON that I'll get excited about. After 15 years of doing this every fucking day of my life, the last thing I want to do is talk about doing it."

MASTODON's latest album, "Once More 'Round The Sun", sold around 34,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 6 on The Billboard 200 chart. The record arrived in stores on June 24, 2014 via Reprise Records.

"Once More 'Round The Sun" was recorded in Nashville with Grammy Award-winning producer Nick Raskulinecz, who is known for his work with RUSH, DEFTONES, FOO FIGHTERS and ALICE IN CHAINS.

Canadian rockers NICKELBACK are forced to cancel all remaining dates of the second leg of the 2015 "No Fixed Address" North American tour due to lead vocalist Chad Kroeger being diagnosed with an operable cyst on his voice box. Kroeger will undergo surgery in three weeks following vocal rest ordered by doctors. Ticket refunds will be available at the point of purchase. NICKELBACK cancelled shows over the weekend, hoping the additional rest and treatment would help, but an unfortunate diagnosis from Kroeger's doctor revealed a more serious scenario.

"I am sorry I have to interrupt the party this summer and I am definitely not thrilled with the prospect of being silent for many weeks to come when I could be out there playing for our fans," said Kroeger. "I am relying on my doctor and his team to help get my voice back in good form as quickly as possible." Kroeger's medical team anticipates a full recovery and the "No Fixed Address" tour will resume with their previously scheduled European run, in Helsinki, Finland on September 30. NICKELBACK is expected to return to North America in 2016.

NICKELBACK's latest album, "No Fixed Address", sold around 80,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 4 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on November 17, 2014.

The 11-song set is the first through the Canadian act's new deal with Republic Records.

NICKELBACK has sold more than 50 million records worldwide since breaking through with its 2001 album, "Silver Side Up".

Known for supporting legendary bands KISS and DEF LEPPARD on KISS's massive 40th-anniversary North American tour last summer, Canada's explosive hard rockers KOBRA AND THE LOTUS will soon release a brand new EP. Due out August 28, the "Words Of The Prophets" EP (Titan Music) was produced by the Grammy-nominated Johnny K (MEGADETH, DISTURBED, THREE DOORS DOWN) and will feature cover songs by great Canadian artists.

KOBRA AND THE LOTUS's video for the band's cover version of ALANNAH MYLES's 1989 smash hit "Black Velvet" can be seen below.

Of the new release, frontwoman Kobra Paige commented, "KOBRA AND THE LOTUS is a riff-loving, vocal-whaling, storm-bringing band. We couldn't do what we do without paying homage to the true roots that were laid down before us.

"'Words Of The Prophets' is a tribute to those great Canadian classic rock influences that have set the foundation for music magic since we first heard these songs playing on the radio as little kids. They carry a ton of nostalgia, inspire ambitious journeys, and we hope to rub some of that off on you!"

KOBRA AND THE LOTUS's most recent album, "High Priestess" (Titan Music), was also produced by Johnny K and delivers a blend of fiery vocals (courtesy of lead singer Kobra Paige), heavy riff-laden melodies and ferocious musicianship. DecibelMagazine.com declared it "a stunning slab of beating, bleeding traditional metal heart and unadulterated bombast refracted and heightened through a dynamic prism of those very things that are actually right with modern metal." Led by frontwoman, the classically-trained vocal powerhouse and Calgary native Kobra Paige, KOBRA AND THE LOTUS has been making a name for themselves worldwide with extensive touring and two well-received albums. "Words Of The Prophets" track listing:

01. Lay It On The Line (TRIUMPH)02. Sign Of The Gypsy Queen (APRIL WINE)03. Black Velvet (ALANNAH MYLES)04. Let It Ride (BTO)05. Spirit Of The Radio (RUSH)

Canadian grindcore outfit Fuck The Facts have posted a new playthrough video by drummer Mathieu Vilandré, performing their new track “Solitude”, which is off their upcoming album Desire Will Rot.

Fuck The Facts will be hitting the road at the end of August till mid-October for dates in Canada and US to promote their new album, Desire Will Rot, due out August 25the via their indie label Noise Salvation.

"We're going to do our best to bring this new album to as many places as possible and deliver the grind to you in person. See you soon, friends and stay tuned for more dates with a full USA tour and shows in Europe to follow this tour," comments guitarist Topon Das.

Desire Will Rot will be released on 12'' vinyl, CD, cassette and digital download.

Desire Will Rot tracklisting:

“Everywhere Yet Nowhere”
“Shadows Collide”
“The Path of Most Resistance”
“La Mort I”
“La Mort II”
“Prey”
“Storm of Silence”
“Solitude”
“False Hope”
“Circle”
“Nothing Changes”

"Solitude":

Desire Will Rot by Fuck The Facts

Desire Will Rot tour dates:

August
20 - Kingston, ON - The Mansion
21 - Montreal, QC - Obscene Extreme Fest

September
1 - Binghamton, NY - Fitzie’s Irish Pub
2 - Cleveland, OH - Now That’s Class
3 - Chicago, IL - Livewire
4 - Appleton, WI - The Poison Estate
5 - Minneapolis, MN - The Triple Rock
6 - Fargo, ND - The New Direction
7 - Billings, MT - Railyard
8 - Great Falls, MT - Machinery Row
9 - Spokane, WA - Pinnacle Northwest
10 - Seattle, WA - Highline
11 - Victoria, BC - Logans Pub
12 - Vancouver, BC - Hindenburg
13 - Kamloops, BC - TBA
14 - Calgary, AB - Tubby Dog
15 - Edmonton, AB - The Armoury
16 - Saskatoon, SK - Amigos Cantina
17 - Regina, SK - The German Club
18 - Winnipeg, MB - Ozzy’s
19 - Thunder Bay, ON - Black Pirates Pub
20 - Sault Ste Marie, ON - Oddfellows

October
2 - Peterborough, ON - The Spill
3 - Ottawa, ON - House Of Targ
14 - Quebec City, QC - Scanner Bistro
15 - Fredericton, NB - The Capital
16 - Halifax, NS - Gus’ Pub
17 - Charlottetown, PE - The Sportsman
18 - Moncton, NB - Esquire Tavern
19 - Rimouski, QC - Cactus Show Bar

Philadelphia's Ecstatic Vision are streaming their upcoming Sonic Praise album, to be released on June 30th via Relapse Records.

Recorded at various studios throughout Philadelphia, the group's debut is an acid-tinged mix of trance inducing, primitive African tribal and heavy psych a la Hawkwind, Goat and Amon Düül II.  The band formed in early 2014 and has already played numerous high profile shows like Pallbearer, Georgia's Meltasia Festival alongside Black Lips, Nik Turner's Hawkwind and toured North America with YOB and Enslaved.  

 

 

Sonic Praise tracklisting:

“Journey”
“Astral Plane”
“Don’t Kill The Vibe”
“Sonic Praise”
“Cross The Divide”

Album stream:

Physical pre-order is available at Relapse.com and digital preorder at Bandcamp.

(Photo: Orion Landau)

As with a choice few truly great bands, the first self-financed cassette recording by Cathedral - made available in October 1990 - was a pioneering underground masterpiece in its own right; the sound of a young band exploring its newfound chemistry, finding confident variations on a flawless list of influences and cultivating a sound and style that would prove hugely inspirational throughout the 1990s and beyond, being a major influence on everyone from Electric Wizard through to Reverend Bizarre.

On July 10th, Rise Above Records will reissue this classic demo as an exclusive LP format, which can be pre-ordered here. The CD/DVD version will be released July 24th and can be pre-ordered on Amazon.

A clip of live footage recorded in Groningen from 1991 of the song "All Your Sins”, taken from the DVD portion of the In Memoriam CD/DVD package, can be seen below:

 
Where most demos are little more than a dry run for the first album, In Memoriam still has its own distinct and important identity in the Cathedral canon. The debut LP that followed, Forest Of Equilibrium, has a sombre, devout, melodic and mystical grandeur all of its own - but In Memoriam has a far murkier, earthier, more deathly intent. Creepy, cryptic and bowel-looseningly heavy, it represents the first time that the doom metal stylings of Trouble, Saint Vitus, Pentagram and Witchfinder General had been rendered in a new, more extreme metallic form.

 

 

At the beginning of the new decade, it was really only Cathedral who were proud to assert the influence of true doom metal - a perennially unfashionable genre, but especially in a turn-of-the-decade metal scene so obsessed with speed, technicality, brutality and modernity.
 
The CD edition comes with a bonus DVD, featuring a rare live performance from 1991. It also incudes a booklet with extensive notes and rare photos. The vinyl edition comes as a double 180gm LP set in gatefold sleeve and full sized eight-page booklet.

Tracklisting is as follows:
 
Demo 1990:
"Mourning Of A New Day"
"All Your Sins"
"Ebony Tears"
"March"
Live Holland / Belgium 1991
"Intro / Comiserating The Celebration"
"Ebony Tears"
"Neophytes For Serpent Eve"
"All Your Sins"
"Mourning Of A New Day"

DVD Live in Groningen (NL) May 1st 1991:
"Intro / Comiserating The Celebration"
"Ebony Tears"
"Neophytes For Serpent Eve"
"All Your Sins"
"Mourning Of A New Day"

 

 

Hailing from Kotka, Finland, female-fronted quintet Crimson Sun play modern melodic metal with an in your face attitude. Crimson Sun have signed with Canadian label Maple Metal Records to release their debut album, Towards The Light, on August 3rd worldwide. As part of the deal Maple Metal Records will re-release the band’s 2013 EP The Border, recorded with the same lineup as the new album.
 
Towards The Light was recorded last Fall at Deep Noise Studios, Kouvola, Fi with Saku Moilanen, and the mastering was done by Jacob Hansen (Epica, Volbeat, Amaranthe, Primal Fear)in Denmark. The album cover art is by renowned Serbian artist Slobicus Doomicus. An official video for the title track Towards The Light will be streamed online to coincide with the albums release.
 
Jacob Hansen has shared his comments on Towards The Light: “I really enjoyed the songs and the band. To me, this band could easily become ‘the Next Big Thing’! The song structures and overall sound is catchy, as well as being heavy. Fine tuning this combination could mean big business!”

Towards The Light tracklisting:

“The Storm”
“Eye Of The Beholder”
“Awaken”
“Towards The Light”
“The Herald”
“Portrait Of A Ghost”
“Enter The Silence”
“The Spark”
“Clockwork Heart”
“Memories Burning”

Album teaser:

Intro video:

Crimson Sun was founded in 2001 by guitarist Joni Junnila, and the band went through various member changes before settling down with the quintet that recorded their EP The Border in 2013. Crimson Sun will be supporting Finnish metallers Poisonblack on a mini-tour in August, with some fall dates to be announced soon with other artists.

Dates:

August
14 - Dark River Festival 2015 - Honkala, Finland
15 - Virgin Oil - Helsinki, Finland

Crimson Sun is:

Sini Seppälä - Vocals
Joni Junnila - Guitars
Jukka Jauhiainen - Bass
Miikka Hujanen - Keyboards
Antti Rantavuo - Drums

The debut album of blackened hymns by The Clearing Path, entitled Watershed Between Earth And Firmament, have caught the attention of Avantgarde Music, who will now back the soloist-borne act for a physical version of the record's release.

A dense, thirty-minute release, Watershed Between Earth And Firmament is the recorded maiden voyage for The Clearing Path - the solo project of one Gabriele Gramaglia - conceived following the demise of the artist's former outfit, ThySolace. Comprised of six widely conceptual yet crisply-recorded movements, the album draws energetic production and energetic qualities from the scathing punk/hardcore persuasion of Converge, Tragedy and His Hero Is Gone, yet wholly envelops them into a modernized, blackened delivery fans of Blut Aus Nord, Enslaved and Deathspell Omega alike can attach to.

Mastered by Marco Gervasio and fitted with custom artwork painted by Luca Devinu/Blessend, the record was initially set for an independent digital release, yet upon recent announcements on the incoming record, underground heavyweight Avantgarde Music - responsible for releases from Mayhem, Taake, Abigor, Carpathian Forest, Evoken, Darkspace, Thaw and more - has picked up the album for a fully distributed CD version of the album.

"Holy Waters”, the opening track to this brutalizing opus, is streaming below:

Also hear the album's "Sacred Mountain”, streaming below:

Watershed Between Earth And Firmament will see digital release via the band on July 11th with a CD version to be delivered via Avantgarde Music shortly after.

Fully written, executed, recorded and mixed by Gabriele Gramaglia, The Clearing Path's Watershed Between Earth And Firmament is a concept album about spiritual renaissance inspired by the beauty of mountainous landscapes of the Italian Alps north of his homeland, conceived in reflection about one of the darkest periods in his life. The record stands as a turning point, in the search for the light to find the path back to normalcy, metaphorically describing a trek from the slopes of a majestic mountain to its summit in which, after many efforts and obstacles, some semblance of solace is found.

(Photo - Virginia Sarediy)

 

KISS closed out their 40th Anniversary European Tour in Madrid, Spain on June 22nd. Video footage from the grand finale, from KISSOnline, can be seen below:

Magic - KISS Kronicles 1973 To 1983 is a new 500 page book chronicling KISS' first 10 years day by day in exhaustive detail, with hundreds of rare unpublished photos and new information.

Magic - KISS Kronicles 1973 To 1983 is a book that provides a day by day account of KISS’ first ten years. Photo sessions, recording sessions, rehearsals, concerts, interviews, TV appearances, band/management meetings, record company meetings, band member travels and other personal activities will all be chronicled in unprecedented detail. This information has been researched and compiled from a variety of sources including all printed material on KISS from the past 42 years (books, magazines, newspapers, fanzines), official Aucoin management paperwork, official Casablanca paperwork, official recording studio log books, hundreds of audio and video interviews, as well as new interviews with photographers, roadies, record executives, costume designers and fans. No other KISS book has ever gathered this much information and organized it in a precise timeline. Every day, every verifiable fact, every KISS fan's dream.

"Magic" will also present an extensive and complete study of KISS makeup, costumes, jewelry, hair styles, musical equipment and stage designs. From the clubs to Creatures, drums to dragon boots, stars to guitars, each variation of KISS' visual impact will be explained in exhaustive detail.

"Magic" will be VERY photo intensive with over 300 rare, never before published images from professional and amateur photographers alike. There will be a story and detailed information to accompany each photo. Please understand, each image will be carefully chosen for MAXIMUM impact. As a photo collector/researcher for 30+ years I feel I am uniquely qualified for this task.

The book itself will be 500 pages, full color, glossy finish, hard cover, 9x12" and stunning. It will be published by Christmas 2015.

Hundreds of newly discovered facts and details will be revealed, myths will be explained and mysteries will be solved. I am absolutely committed to making this book the most honest and detailed KISS book ever. Just to be clear, this book will definitely not focus on the dirt. It will be strictly a reference book for who, what, where, when, why and how with as many rare, gorgeously sick photos as I can possibly fit into it. Magic - KISS Kronicles 1973 To 1983 promises to be THE definitive story of KISS’s original make up period – the Magic years from 1973 to 1983.

Check out sample pages at this location.

 

Tampa, Florida-based metal act, Dark Sermon, will release an all new album, The Oracle, on August 21st via eOne Music / Good Fight Music. The new single, "Rat King”, is streaming below.

"It discusses how misguided, filthy, backwards, and wholly underdeveloped the kingdom of man is currently, especially when compared to its true potential," says frontman Johnny Crowder. "As a species, humans have a lot of work to do in order to grow and ascend."

The band has also revealed the album artwork for The Oracle (seen below), created by artist Shaun Beaudry of Mister Beaudry Illustration. Crowder continues, "The album art portrays the Divine Feminine in her human form. She speaks with the stars and sacrifices herself in martyrdom, understanding that blood is the only channel the children of Earth are willing to comprehend."

Tracklisting:

“Ode To The Black Widow”
“In Each Hand, A Talisman Of Sacred Stone”
“Children Of Gaia”
“The Myth Of Sanity”
“Rat King”
“Starve”
“The Eyeless Needle”
“Both In Equal Parts”
“The Wraith”
“Gargantua”

“Rat King”:

Behind-the-scenes studio video:

Italian rock/metal band, Secret Rule, have released a new video for the track “Reena”, the fourth clip from the band’s Transposed Emotions album. The new clip represents in particular the melodic side of the band, preceded by the heavier elements in their previous videos.

Transposed Emotions was released on February 16th via Rocksector Records. The album was recorded in 2014, produced, mixed and mastered at Antfarm Studios (Denmark) by Tue Madsen (Halford, The Haunted, Mnemic, Hatesphere, Ektomorf).

 

 

 "I Don't Wanna Be" video:

"Secret Place” video:

"True Friend" video:

Formed at the beginning of 2014, the band is fronted by the powerful and crystal clear vocals of Angela Di Vincenzo (Kyla Moyl, and most recently a guest with Kaledon), masterminded by lead guitarist Andy Menario (Martiria) who has worked with a host of luminaries including Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio), Jeff Pilson (Dokken, Foreigner),  and Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot). The lineup is completed by bassist Michele Raspanti (Graal) and drummer Ruben Ramirez (Myr).

 

 

 

Windhand return with their third full-length, Grief's Infernal Flower. The album was produced by Jack Endino (Nirvana, High On Fire, Soundgarden) and is a massive, heavy, personal and modern testament to the power of doom and stoner metal's legacies. One sees the urgency the band have displayed over their career reflected in their music - long-canonized tropes are reimagined and reinvented, Windhand convey an irrepressible sense of motion even within the slowest of songs.

Front woman Dorthia Cottrell firmly establishes herself as one of today's most powerful vocalists by perfectly balancing beauty with enormous force, and the twin-guitar attack of Garrett Morris and Asechiah Bogdan weaves together nine songs of perfect riffs and fuzzed-out bliss. That often-delicate splendor is all tempered by the colossal rhythmic mastery of bassist Parker Chandler and drummer Ryan Wolfe, whose lower-register expertise serves as the backbone of the new record. Though the first two Windhand albums were underground classics, Grief's Infernal Flower stands to see Windhand cementing themselves as one of the premier metal bands of our time. The album will be released via Relapse Records on September 18th.

Grief's Infernal Flower tracklisting:

“Two Urns”
“Forest Clouds”
“Crypt Key”
“Tanngrisnir”
“Sparrow”
“Hyperion”
“Hesperus”
“Kingfisher”
“Aition”

Windhand tour dates:

July
28 - AS220 - Providence, RI
29 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East Upstairs
30 - Montreal, QC - RRROOAAARRR
31 - Toronto, ON - The Garrison

September
18 - Richmond, VA - Strange Matter

October
21 - New York, NY - Gramercy #
22 - Buffalo, NY - Waiting Room #
23 - Pittsburgh, PA - Smiling Moose #
24 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle #
27 - Seattle, WA - Neumos #
28 - Vancouver, BC - Astoria  #
29 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios #
30 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel #
31 - San Diego, CA - Night of the Shred ^

November
1 - Los Angeles, CA - Roxy #
2 - Mesa, AZ - Club Red #
3 - Albuquerque, NM - Sister #
4 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater  #
6 - Dallas, TX - Dada #
7 - Austin, TX - Fun Fun Fun Fest Nites #
8 - Little Rock, AR - White Water Tavern #
11 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups #
12 - Ferndale, MI - Loving Touch #
13 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop #
14 - Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery #
15 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts #

# - with Danava and Monolord
^ - with Monolord
 
Windhand is:

Garrett Morris (Guitars)
Parker Chandler (Bass)
Dorthia Cottrell (Vocals)
Asechiah Bogdan (Guitars)
Ryan Wolfe (Drums)

After the rerelease of their second album and a storming start to 2015, Mothership – the hard rocking supersonic/intergalactic Texan trio – are pleased to announce the arrival of Mothership Live Over Freak Valley this coming November on Ripple Music.
 
Recorded at their debut European appearance at the iconic German rock festival, brothers Kyle and Kelly Juett along with Judge Smith have captured their steaming hot stew of UFO and Iron Maiden inspired metal; southern Molly Hatchet and ZZ Top swagger, and deathly Sabbathian doom. A concoction that should by all accounts prove too heavy to handle on record, but as fans will soon discover, Mothership Live Over Freak Valley will deliver the filth and fury of the full Mothership live experience.

 
Since 2013 the band has travelled non-stop, playing live across the USA, Canada, United Kingdom and Europe; taking to festival stages, nightclubs, and under the sun at whatever motorcycle parties they could find. They are for all intents and purposes a heavy rock juggernaut that has only just begun to tear a hole in the cosmos. And guess what? They have no plans of slowing down for anyone.

Over the coming months Mothership also embark on The Drunk As Sh*t Tour with fellow rockers Crobot and Wilson where the band will have CDs of Mothership Live Over Freak Valley on sale ahead of its official vinyl release on Ripple Music at the end of the year. The full list of dates are below, as well as a stream of the live version of “Serpents Throne”.

Mothership live:
 
July
10 - Blue Fox Billiards, Winchester, VA 11 - Ziggy's By The Sea, Wilmington, NC
14 - Trick Shot Billiards, Clifton Park, NY 15 - The Studio at Webster Hall, New York, NY 17 - Chameleon Club, Lancaster, PA
18 - The Met, Pawtucket, RI
19 - The Lost Horizon, Syracuse, NY
21 - The Outpost, Kent, OH
23 - Frankie's Inner-City, Toledo, OH 24 - Cheers Pub - South Bend, IN 25 - The Stache @ The Intersection, Grand Rapids, MI 26 - Alrosa Villa, Columbus, OH 28 - Venue 3405, Joplin, MO 31 - Q&Z Expo Center, Ringle, WI
August
1 - Pov's 65, Spring Lake Park, MN
7 - Bourbon Theatre, Lincoln, NE**
8 - Black Sheep, Colorado Springs, CO ** 9 - The Bluebird Theater, Denver, CO ** 18 - Rockbar Theater, San Jose, CA **
 
** with Crobot only

“Serpents Throne”: