CINDERELLA frontman Tom Keifer was interviewed by Canadian rock journalist Mitch Lafon for a recent edition of the "One On One With Mitch Lafon" podcast (Facebook page). You can now listen to the chat using the Spreaker widget below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On CINDERELLA's future plans:

"I mean, the only thing I can say about that right now is there's no discussions or talks for anything in the future with CINDERELLA right now."

On when fans can expect to see the follow-up to Keifer's 2013 solo album, "The Way Life Goes":

"It's hard to say, because I take things one day at a time… I will say last year I started writing again, and it had been a while since I'd really written anything, because this record took so long and it was such a labor of love. You just kind of feel burnt when you spend a lot of time on a record, between the writing and the producing. So I always need to get away from it for a while. So, being on the road, playing some new music and actually getting response to it, and people accepting it is a good thing for you after you go through struggling to make a record. So that's been a positive thing. I kind of got inspired last year and started writing again. So I'm far from having a record complete, and I wanna collaborate with some other writers and stuff again, like I did with this record, but, so far, the process has started with me just writing myself… with a couple of other people too. But I haven't really dove back into the deep end of writing yet, but I'm getting there. And that switch can turn on very quickly, so that's why I say it's hard to say when. Right now we're kind of in it up to our eyes with touring and still promoting this and staying on top of keeping this vital, because it's something we still really believe in."

On how his voice is doing more than two decades after he was told that he would never sing again as a result of a partially paralyzed left vocal cord:

"The voice is as strong as ever now, but that said, the root problem, or the root cause of all the problems I had was a neurological condition that I was hit with in the early '90s. It's called a paresis, which is a fancy medical term for a partial paralysis. So I had a left-vocal-cord paralysis, which there's no cure for, medically — surgery or medicine, there's nothing they can do to cure it. And I was told I would never sing again. So it's a really serious thing to happen to a singer. And most people who get it don't sing again. And the doctor who delivered that news to me told me that if I had any prayer or chance of singing again that I would have to start working with speech pathologists and vocal coaches and try to retrain the vocal cord to respond properly. So, long story short, after years of battling and going to every which doctor, vocal coach, everything, trying to figure out how to get around this lame cord, I finally… Over the years, it's gotten stronger and stronger, and now it's probably as strong, on a good night, or stronger, than it's ever been. But that said, the condition's still there. So I have to do these exercises every day that take an hour and a half of therapy and exercises to keep it strong and remind that cord, because the root problem of it wanting to not work properly will always be there. But I found a workout routine for it that keeps it working. But I have to do it every day. Even on a show day, my warmups and therapy are probably as long as the show… It's still challenging. People come and hear me sing now, and they say, 'You sound better than ever,' and I'm so grateful to hear that. But it's not without a lot of effort each day and it's still not without a lot of risk, because when you sing with that kind of intensity and you're singing on something that has an inherent weakness… I pray a lot. [Laughs]"

Dallas, TX-based rockers, Murder FM, recently signed a record deal with Famous Records Global, founded by Will Hunt (drummer for Black Label Society, Dark New Day) and music industry veteran AJ Gallant.

Murder FM's new full-length release, Happily Neverafter, will be available in stores and online on August 7th via Famous Records Global/ Pavement/ MRI/ Red. The album features a remix of “We The Evil” by Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, a guest appearance by Will Hunt of Evanescence, a cover of "Burn" by The Cure (mixed by Matt Dalton), and mixed by legendary platinum producer, Beau Hill.

"Diggin these Murder FM boys! BIG things going on with them and this remix screams EVIL" - Tommy Lee, Mötley Crüe

"I have been watching and listening to the development of MFM for the last couple of years and this collection of songs really represents the best of the best, and is fresh and innovative...Play it LOUD and get your ass kicked..!!!!" - Beau Hill, Producer

"Murder FM have worked long and hard to get where we are, we never took no for an answer, we never gave up and we always stayed the course and believed in who we are as a band. We understood it's a marathon, not a sprint and we took the time to grow as artists, as a band and as a brand. We have enlisted Jason "Shakes" West of Wednesday 13 as our drummer and this is only the beginning and we could not be more stoked" - Norman Matthew, vocalist/guitarist of Murder FM

Updates to follow.

 

On July 31st, Warner Bros. and Rhino Records will release Alice Cooper - The Studio Albums 1969-1983, a 15 CD box set containing all of the albums that Cooper recorded with Warner Bros. Records.

The set is presented in a clamshell box and includes 15 albums, each one featuring the original artwork: Pretties For You (1969), Easy Action (1970), Love It To Death (1971), Killer (1971), School s Out (1972), Billion Dollar Babies (1973), Muscle Of Love (1973), Welcome To My Nightmare (1975), Alice Cooper Goes To Hell (1976), Lace And Whiskey (1977), From The Inside (1978), Flush The Fashion (1980), Special Forces (1981), Zipper Catches Skin (1982), and DaDa (1983).

Alice Cooper along with guitarists Glen Buxton and Michael Bruce, bassist Dennis Dunaway and drummer Neal Smith recorded seven albums together, including four consecutive platinum records that culminated with the #1 album Billion Dollar Babies in 1973. This line-up generated indelible hard rock classics like “I’m Eighteen”, “School’s Out”, “Elected”, “Hello Hooray”, and “No More Mr. Nice Guy”.

 

 

 

Legendary progressive-rockers, Spock's Beard, have announced that their brand new 12th studio album, The Oblivion Particle, is set for release on the August 21st, and you can view the artwork for it below.

According to bassist Dave Meros, it's not a matter of how much the new album recalls past Spock's material, but how much it differs. "I think the opening track, “Tides Of Time” is classic Spock's in terms of arrangement and style, but everything else is fairly different. That said, the whole album is still within the parameters of what people expect to hear from us."

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

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

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

The full list of dates are as follows:

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

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

San Francisco-based classic doom metallers Orchid have released a lyric video for “Sign Of The Witch”, the tile track of the band’s new EP, to be released July 17 via Nuclear Blast Records. Sign Of The Witch will contain four brand new tracks and will exclusively be available at the Nuclear Blast shop.

 

 

Sign Of The Witch tracklisting:

“Helicopters ”

“John The Tiger”

“Sign Of The Witch”

“Strange Winds”

“Sign Of The Witch” lyric video:

Sign Of The Witch marks the band's first release since 2013's The Mouths Of Madness, which hit the German charts on position #18 in its first week of sale.

Orchid tour dates:

June
19 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
20 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Metal Meeting
21 - Athens, Greece - Kytarro Live Club
23 - Barcelona, Spain - Boveda

Poland goregrind band Squash Bowels has released their first official DVD Grindvirus Syndrome – Live At OEF 2011.

DVD includes Obscene Extreme Festival 2011 and extras: Obscene Extreme 2004, Blood Supply – Live Video from Moscow, SWR Barroselas Metalfest 2005, Obscene Extreme 2006, Ostrava 2007, Fekal Party 2007

.

Full professional edition plus killer sound.

Trailer:

Relapse Records presents Forgive Yourself, the debut album from Publicist UK, a post-punk four-piece comprised of members of Municipal Waste, Revocation, Goes Cube, Discordance Axis, Burnt By The Sun and more. As one of the most intriguing cross-genre debuts in recent years, Forgive Yourself is a nine-song showcase sounding like Michael Gira (Swans) on a Saul Bellow bender whose dark and cerebral mood is lifted by the booming baritone of vocalist Zachary Lipez.

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

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

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

Tracklisting:

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

“Levitate The Pentagon”:

Wolfheart, the brainchild of visionary Tuomas Saukkonen, have pulled back the curtain surrounding their wintry and metallic second album, Shadow World, revealing the cover art, release date, tracklisting, and a three-minute album teaser.

In 2012, after years of pouring his creative juices to innumerable projects, like Before The Dawn, Dawn Of Solace, Black Sun Aeon, et cetera ad infinitum, Saukkonen, who was the mastermind of them all, decided to disband all of his groups and start from scratch. The result is one focused project and that's Wolfheart, which has steadily evolved into a touring, charting band.

The band's sophomore release, Shadow World, was recorded at Grindhouse Studio in Athens, Greece and at SoundSpiral Audio in Kouvola, Finland. It is the logical continuation of its predecessor, Winterborn. Shadow World features mesmerizing melodies graceful enough to stop the listener in their tracks, along with the most furious of frostbites to finish him or her off.

The freeze will begin moving in on July 10th, when the album's lead digital single and video, "Aeon Of Cold”, makes impact, dropping the mercury to sub-zero temperatures. The end of dog days comes on August 21st, when the Shadow World blankets the world with a new sort of Ice Age.

Shadow World tracklisting:

"Aeon Of Cold"
"Zero Gravity"
"Storm Centre"
"Last Of"
"All Winters"
"Nemesis"
"Abyss"
"Resistance"
"Veri"

Teaser:

With the release of All Out War's Dying Gods EP approaching on June 23 through Organized Crime Records, the band has just disclosed the New York metal/hardcore kings' enraged cover of "Arise", by the iconic Amebix.

 Engineered and produced by Steve Evetts (The Dillinger Escape Plan, Hatebreed, Turmoil) at West West Side Studios and mastered by Alan Douches from West West Side, the ferocious new Dying Gods will re-establish All Out War as one of the leaders of the scene, delivering their groove-laden anthems in ode to the destructive conduct of modern man, bridging searing metal leads with the harshest of hardcore's most dangerous breakdowns through five brand new original tracks and two cover tunes.

Lying just ahead of the album-closing remake of Carnivore's "God Is Dead" is the cover of Amebix' raging anthem, "Arise," delivering the seminal track from the UK crust punk icons with a mangling, charged-up gallop. The revisited rendition can now be heard for the first time a week ahead of the record's release.

Dying Gods tracklisting:

“Dying Gods”
“Vengeance Reigns Eternal”
“Nothing Left To Bleed”
“Servants To The Obsolete”
“Choking On Indifference”
“Arise” (Amebix cover)
“God Is Dead” (Carnivore cover)

“Arise” (Amebix cover)

Orders for Dying Gods can be placed through Organized Crime in multiple formats; the CD version with an exclusive bonus download of three tracks from the unreleased 1993 demo, and the vinyl in blood clear red, scorched earth sand tan, and smoke of destruction clear and black mix pressings including a digital download code.

Fan-filmed video footage of SLIPKNOT's June 16 performance at Ippodromo Delle Capannelle in Rome, Italy can be seen below.

SLIPKNOT's "Summer's Last Stand" tour kicks off on July 24 in West Palm Beach, Florida, wrapping up six weeks later on September 5 in Dallas. Joining SLIPKNOT on the road trip will be LAMB OF GOD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and MOTIONLESS IN WHITE. The summer jaunt follows a brief spring run that SLIPKNOT launched on April 25 at the Fort Rock festival in Fort Myers, Florida, ending on May 16 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

SLIPKNOT's new album, ".5: The Gray Chapter", sold around 132,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD arrived in stores on October 21, 2014 via Roadrunner.

A disgruntled former drumtech for SLIPKNOT last year revealed the identity of the band's newest members by posting a picture of a backstage call sheet on Instagram. The sheet, posted by Norm Costa, showed the names Jay Weinberg, their new drummer and Alessandro Venturella, the bassist. While the sheet didn't point out who is who, Venturella's identity was pretty much revealed on accident in SLIPKNOT's music video for "The Devil In I", where Venturella's hand tattoos were visible.

Part one of a video recap of ANGRA's recent Japanese tour can be seen below.

ANGRA's new album, "Secret Garden", was released on January 16 via earMUSIC. The CD was pre-produced by Roy Z (JUDAS PRIEST, BRUCE DICKINSON, HALFORD) and recorded and produced in Sweden by Jens Bogren (KREATOR, ARCH ENEMY, OPETH, DRAGONFORCE).

"Secret Garden" "brings together everything that has established ANGRA as one of biggest bands in its style: contemporary sound combined with inspired compositions," according to a press release. It shows the maturity of a band that, after 23 years on the road, continues with the same motivation and passion for music that drove the glorious beginning of the group. The compositions mend together elements that made the band known around the world, foregrounding the unity of seemingly distinct styles and combining in a unique way styles such as rock — in its various forms, classical music and Brazilian music.

"Secret Garden" is yet another masterpiece by the group and promises to become a great classic in the metal world. Like almost all of ANGRA's work, "Secret Garden" is a concept album which brings up the question: can something that does not exist to the eyes, or is not perceived by the senses, be considered as non-existent?

The songs tell the fictional story of scientist Morten Vrolik who fights to restore his happiness after a tragic accident that took the life of his wife. Faced with the harsh new reality, Morten is forced to revise his atheistic beliefs and values in order to recover a sense of personal contentment that was taken away by fate. The sudden change in his routine, the adaptability, synchronicity, loneliness, guilt, hope and the strength to rise anew are some of the topics discussed in the lyrics, always put to light under different perspectives — be they religious, scientific, philosophical or merely aesthetic.

ANGRA, the most representative band of the Brazilian power metal scene worldwide, is back with full power. Italian vocalist Fabio Lione embeds the music with his powerful voice and impressive performance whereas young prodigy Bruno Valverde impresses on drums, giving the group a more modern sound.

One of the great strengths of the album is the variety of great guest musicians: Simone Simons from the Dutch band EPICA divinely interprets the song "Secret Garden" while the great metal diva Doro Pesch sings an exciting vocal duet with Rafael Bittencourt on "Crushing Room". Actually, the various appearances of Rafael's lead vocals make for some of the strongest moments on this album, causing a contrast in tone and interpretation in comparison to Fabio. This also becomes evident in the cover that the band chose to record, "Synchronicity II" by THE POLICE.

The front cover and album design cleverly interlace the music and story into a beautiful artwork — created by designer Rodrigo Bastos Didier, representing the dreamlike moments of the album's story. The entrance to the secret garden, a representation of the unconscious and the whole atmosphere of mystery intend to bring to the fan an experience that transcends merely listening to the songs.

Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach stopped his band's June 10 concert in Seattle, Washington after a fan climbed up on stage and stole the group's setlist before jumping back into the crowd, in the process injuring a fellow patron. The incident in question, which was captured in the fan-filmed video below, occurred during Bach's performance of the song "American Metalhead" from his 2007 album "Angel Down". A man can be seen making his way onto the stage and grabbing a drink from the cabinet next to the drum riser before casually walking over to the front of the stage and removing the setlist which was taped to the monitor in front of Bach. A security guy is then seen grabbing the fan from behind and throwing him into the audience. Sebastian can then be heard speaking directly to the fan, saying: 'Are you fucking serious? You're an idiot!' He then addresses the club security, saying, 'Fucking call the cops on this fucking guy.' He went on to say: 'Stop the show. Why? Like, why? This chick is hurt. This chick is hurt.'" Bach then proceeds to wait on stage while the injured fan is presumably being tended to by fellow concertgoers.

Bach is continuing to tour in support of his latest solo album, "Give 'Em Hell", which sold around 4,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 72 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Bach's previous CD, "Kicking & Screaming", opened with 6,600 units back in October 2011 to land at No. 73.

The singer's 2007 effort, "Angel Down", registered a first-week tally of 6,400 back to enter the chart at No. 190.

"Give 'Em Hell" was released on April 22, 2014 via Frontiers Records.

As previously reported, Dey Street Books (formerly It Books), an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, has set a January 19, 2016 release date for Bach's much-anticipated autobiography, "18 And Life On Skid Row".

Fan-filmed video footage of SLAYER's entire June 16 peformance at The Paramount in Huntington, New York can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. World Painted Blood02. Postmortem03. Hate Worldwide04. Die By The Sword05. Chemical Warfare06. War Ensemble07. Mandatory Suicide08. Necrophiliac09. Spill The Blood10. Hell Awaits11. At Dawn They Sleep12. Altar Of Sacrifice13. Jesus Saves14. Disciple15. Seasons In The Abyss16. Snuff17. Dead Skin Mask18. Raining Blood19. Psychopathy Red20. South Of Heaven21. Angel Of Death

SLAYER's eleventh studio album, "Repentless", will be released on September 11 via Nuclear Blast. The artwork for the CD was created by Brazilian artist Marcelo Vasco in collaboration with the band's Tom Araya and Kerry King.

"We had a number of submitted ideas for the cover artwork," said Araya, "and we felt Marcelo's was the best. We made some suggestions and the result is an awesome album cover."

The "Repentless" title track will be available digitally virtually everywhere around the globe this Friday, June 19.

"'Repentless' is my Jeff [Hanneman] tribute," said King. "I call it the 'HannemAnthem.' It's my perspective of Jeff's perspective, it's what I think... If Jeff wrote a song for himself, 'Repentless' would be it."

The Metal Eagle Edition of "Repentless", is made of aluminum alloy, measuring 15" x 17" x 3" and weighing in at a hefty 7.8 pounds (yes, the final version is heavier than previously announced), the Metal Eagle Edition will house a deluxe digipak of the "Repentless" CD plus bonus material detailed below. The limited (only 3,000 copies worldwide) and numbered Metal Eagle Edition will be a direct-to-consumer item and available exclusively via the Nuclear Blast mailorder online store. The Metal Eagle will include the following exclusive items: * Deluxe digipak (folds out into "inverted cross")* Bonus Blu-Ray and DVD including "Slayer Live At Wacken 2014" and "Making Of Repentless Documentary"* Bonus live CD "Slayer Live At Wacken 2014"* Fold-out poster* Album sticker* Numbered certificate The highly anticipated "Repentless" is SLAYER's eleventh studio album, the first since 2009's critically acclaimed, Grammy-nominated "World Painted Blood" and the first with producer Terry Date (PANTERA, SLIPKNOT, SOUNDGARDEN). The band — Tom Araya (bass, vocals), Kerry King (guitar), Paul Bostaph (drums), and Gary Holt (guitar), who recorded lead guitar parts for about a half-dozen of the album's new tracks — started recording "Repentless" in March 2014, and made the track "Implode" available as a free download in April of that year. The band and Date continued to record between September 2014 and mid-January 2015 at Henson Studios in Los Angeles. For the album, "Implode" was completely re-recorded from the ground up, and "When The Stillness Comes", used as an instrumental track in a Scion commercial, got a revamped intro and all new vocals.

"Repentless" also includes "Piano Wire", an unfinished song from the "World Painted Blood" sessions written by Hanneman. About the track, Rolling Stone wrote that it "begins with an eerie guitar line before evolving into a full-on-doom (and classic SLAYER) riff onslaught." King put it this way: "When I hear it, I think 'Jeff.' It sounds like a Jeff Hanneman song."

The 12-track "Repentless" is, according to those who have heard it, a sonic assault of brutal, ominous, lightening-fast and heavy-as-hell music with lyrics that unmask what SLAYER knows best — the terror, the corruption and the societal turmoil that dominates our world.

"The new album sounds like SLAYER," said Araya. "In the past, our fans have always known what to expect, this time they don't. But we really like it, and I don't think the fans are going to be disappointed."

As is expected from SLAYER, the band will support the release of "Repentless" with extensive touring across the globe, beginning this summer when the band headlines the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. That tour kicks off June 26 at Sleep Train Amphitheater in San Diego, California.

Fan-filmed video footage of SKID ROW's June 13 performance at the Harleyfest in Sterling Heights, Michigan can be seen below.

The new SKID ROW lineup — featuring former TNT singer Tony Harnell — made its live debut on May 22 at Living Sky Casino in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Harnell officially joined SKID ROW in April as the replacement for Johnny Solinger, who was the band's frontman for the past fifteen years.

In a recent interview with Canadian rock journalist Mitch Lafon of the "One On One With Mitch Lafon" podcast, SKID ROW bassist Rachel Bolan stated about the band's split with Solinger: "It was evident [that it was time for us to go our separate ways]. There were certain things going on out on the road that kind of set us thinking… Things had been going on for a little bit."

He continued: "At certain times, you just get the feeling someone isn't putting a hundred percent into things. And SKID ROW is very important to the rest of us. And we wanted to carry on with quality performances and quality songs, so we decided to make a change."

Regarding how Tony Harnell came to be SKID ROW's new singer, Rachel said: "We've known Tony for years — literally, probably since the beginning of our career. And although I wasn't a big TNT fan, I was a Tony Harnell fan, as [were SKID ROW guitarists] Snake [Dave Sabo] and Scott [Scotti Hill]."

He continued: "When we made the decision to ourselves that we were gonna start looking, Tony's name came up. And I was, like, man, it's so funny, 'cause a couple of years ago, I was up in New Jersey for Christmas and I met with Tony in New York and I had dinner with him and another friend. And we just started talking. And he's, like… He goes… We'd known each for a long time, but at that point we hadn't spoken for a while. He's, like, 'I hear you guys are doing good things. How's it going?' I said, 'It's going pretty cool.' He goes, 'Man, you guys should have called me when you got a new singer [back in 1999].' And I guess that kind of popped up in the back of my head when we knew we were gonna make a change. And we immediately got in touch with Tony."

Asked if SKID ROW is working with Harnell on a "trial" basis or if Tony is "the guy" for the long haul, Rachel said: "He's the guy. I mean, that's where we're at in our heads. It's not a temporary thing. But, you know… [laughs] if get gets sick of us and leaves, then that'll be a different situation. But things are going really well now. And we're very excited. We're very excited about our future, very excited about getting on the road."

UK's Eradikator returns to Divebomb Records for the release of their new album, Edge Of Humanity, on July 17.

An official description 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

Swedish death metallers Cut Up have released their new video, for the track “A Butchery Improved”, from their debut album Forensic Nightmares, out via Metal Blade on June 26th on CD as well as on vinyl and digital.

Cut Up vocalist/guitarist Andreas Björnson recently stated: "After more than a year of hard work, patience and determination we can finally present to you all our debut album, Forensic Nightmares. As the title proudly states, we are giving you nothing but a violent dose of death metal with an excellent production. I am ridiculously proud of what we've created together and can't wait to hit stages around the world in support of the record. As a first taste of what we're all about, we're releasing the video to our song ‘Burial Time’. This song makes for a fitting representation of the album, seeing as it incorporates all the elements which makes Forensic Nightmares such a brutal force to be reckoned with. Stay tuned and we'll see you all in the front row within the near future!"

 

 

Forensic Nightmares tracklisting:

“Enter Hell”
“Burial Time”
“Remember The Flesh”
“A Butchery Improved”
“Brain Cell Holocaust”
“Forensic Nightmare”
“Camouflesh”
“Order Of The Chainsaw”
“Stab And Stab Again”
“Bunker Z 16”
“Dead And Impaled”

“Burial Time”:

Cut Up was founded by drummer Tobias Gustafsson and vocalist/bassist Erik Rundqvist in early 2014. After disbanding Vomitory by the end of 2013 after 24 years of death metal duty, the two felt it obvious to continue creating death metal together. Very soon, guitarist Anders Bertilsson and guitarist/vocalist Andreas Björnson were recruited and Cut Up was complete. Both Bertilsson - who was previously and most notably in Coldworker (2006-2013) - and Björnson - also known from Fetus Stench - share the same musical ideals as Gustafsson and Rundqvist as well as the passion to play live.

The next months followed with hard work, writing and rehearsing, and in November 2014 they entered the studio and recorded 11 songs for the debut album Forensic Nightmares.

Pre-orders are up at MetalBlade.com.

 

Hamilton, ON metal band Sarasin has signed a worldwide deal with Pure Steel Records.

A band statement reads: “Canadian heavy metal veterans Sarasin, are proud to announce the signing to Pure Steel Records!  The band’s first self-titled CD will be released worldwide with Pure Steel late summer 2016. We are proud to be affiliated to a label that is dedicated to keeping hard rock and metal alive! Very special thank you to Andreas and Stefan at Pure Steel for their belief and enthusiasm! Cheers from the boys in Sarasin!”

Lineup:

Michael Wilson (Bastards Inc.) – vocals
Roger Banks (24K , Naro, Jim Gilmour (Saga), Mark St John (KISS) , Billy Sheehan, Tony Levin, XXX Sublimator) – drums
Les Wheeler (Mystique, Tommy Gunn) – bass
Greg Boileau (Brighton Rock) – guitars

Pure Legend Records is presenting the debut In The Fullness Of Time by the British based band Nightmare World. Their first EP No Regrets, released in 2009 was well received by media and the fans. The recording of the first full album took some time, but now it is here, and it was worth the wait.

After the CD release in May, the album In The Fullness Of Time follows in a limited edition of 300 copies with Gatefold on black vinyl. The release date is July 31. The pre-order phase starts on July 17.

On In The Fullness Of Time, overwhelming power meets unforgettable hook lines. This is combined with great progressive elements, which creates a mixture you have to love, and with Pete Morten (Threshold, My Soliloquy) Nightmare World's got an extraordinary singer, whose voice gives the listener goosebumps.

Produced by Karl Groom (Threshold, Edenbridge, Dragonforce), and mastered by Peter Van’t Riet (Symphony X, Transatlantic, Epica), Nightmare World's debut full-length album is melodic heavy metal bliss from start to finish.

Tracklisting:

Side A
“The Mara”
“In Memoria Di Me”
“The New Crusade”
“No Regrets”
“Defiance”

Side B
“Burden Of Proof”
“The Ever Becoming”
“Damage Report”
“Euphoria”

“In Memoria Di Me”:

“Burden Of Proof”:

Legendary rock and roll drummer Ginger Baker, whose resume includes stints with CREAM, BLIND FAITH and PUBLIC IMAGE LTD, has slammed heavy metal as "an abortion," explaining that he finds "people that dress up in spandex trousers with all the extraordinary makeup incredibly repulsive."

Baker, who gained a reputation as the most uncontrollable musician on the scene, was the subject of a 2013 documentary, "Beware Of Mr. Baker", which painted the title character as a chain-smoking, profanity-spewing, mean-spirited, entitled, grouchy, vile and self-destructive man with otherworldly talent and tragic flaws.

Asked in a brand new interview with Jim Clash of Forbes.com what his take is on heavy metal, Baker responded: "These people that dress up in spandex trousers with all the extraordinary makeup — I find it incredibly repulsive, always have.

"I've seen where CREAM is sort of held responsible for the birth of heavy metal. Well, I would definitely go for aborting. [Laughs] I loathe and detest heavy metal. I think it is an abortion.

"A lot of these guys come up and say, 'Man, you were my influence, the way you thrashed the drums.' They don't seem to understand I was thrashing in order to hear what I was playing. It was anger, not enjoyment — and painful. I suffered on stage because of that [high amplifier] volume crap. I didn't like it then, and like it even less now.

"That whole Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame thing — at least half the people in there don't have a place in any kind of hall of fame anywhere, in my opinion."

Baker also offered his colorful take on LED ZEPPELIN's late drummer John Bonham, saying: "Years ago, John said, 'There are two drummers in rock and roll, Ginger Baker and me.' There's no way John was anywhere near what I am. He wasn't a musician."

He continued: "A lot of people don't realize I studied. I can write music. I used to write big band parts in 1960, '61. I felt that if I was a drummer, I needed to learn to read drum music. I was so good at side reading, a guy in one of the big bands told me to get two books. I studied them at the same time. One was about the rules of basic harmony, the other how to break them all. [Laughs]"

According to Rolling Stone, Baker "repeatedly sabotaged his success, reputation and personal life with a hair-trigger temper, poor financial choices and a preference for drugs and exile over attachment and responsibility," the consequences of which "dog him to this day."

In a Rolling Stone interview, BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi revealed that, when Bill Ward exited the band in 2012, producer Rick Rubin thought Baker would be a good replacement.

Iommi told the magazine: "I thought, 'Bloody hell?' I just couldn't see that." SABBATH ended up hiring RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE drummer Brad Wilk to play on their comeback album, 2013's "13".

Guitarist Trey Azagthoth of Florida death metallers MORBID ANGEL announced on June 15 that the band had reunited with Steve Tucker (pictured) and that they were working on material for MORBID ANGEL's next record. Later that same day, David Vincent, who rejoined MORBID ANGEL in 2004 after first parting ways with the band in 1996, issued a statement of his own claiming that he had not left the band and had not been asked to do so. Also on June 15, drummer Tim Yeung confirmed his exit from MORBID ANGEL, explaining in a statement: "There have been some lineup changes with MORBID ANGEL. Unfortunately, due to financial differences, I will not be continuing with [the band]… I wish Trey and MORBID ANGEL all the best. As for myself, I'm always up for the next opportunity life throws my way."

In a brand new post on his Facebook page, Tucker, who last year released the debut album from his WARFATHER project, addressed some of the confusion regarding the current status of MORBID ANGEL. He wrote: "Here are a few answers to questions that I keep getting asked…

"What's up with David? I don't have a fucking clue, and I don't think that I am the only one.

"Is [former MORBID ANGEL drummer] Pete Sandoval coming back? I fucking wish that would happen!

"Will there be both myself and David in MORBID ANGEL? Hahahahhahhahahaha. Sorry, man, I play death metal, so, NO.

"Who will play second guitar? Time will answer that one...

"And last but not least, will WARFATHER continue? Absolutely! We track the new album in three weeks at Mana Studios, with my brother Erik Rutan producing!"

In a 2014 interview with New Noise Magazine, Tucker was asked for his opinion on MORBID ANGEL's controversial 2011 album "Illud Divinum Insanus", which incorporated industrial and electronic elements into the band's traditional death metal sound.

"I really have nothing to say about that album," he replied. "However, fans have a right to an opinion. Regardless, I think MORBID ANGEL has made a career of doing what they want to do and not being worried about what people think they should do."

After starting out as vocalist/bassist for death/thrash act CEREMONY, Steve Tucker moved on to handle bass and vocals on MORBID ANGEL's "Formulas Fatal To The Flesh", "Gateways To Annihilation" and "Heretic" LPs. In 2009, Tucker was recruited to take part in the NADER SADEK album "In The Flesh" for release through then-brand-new label Greyhaze Records, and licensed to Season of Mist Records. The project also featured Flo Mounier (CRYPTOPSY), Rune Eriksen (MAYHEM, AVA INFERI) and more. During this time, Tucker struck up a relationship with Greyhaze Records, and together they joined forces to release the debut album from WARFATHER project, last year's "Orchestrating The Apocalypse".

"Illud Divinum Insanus" marked MORBID ANGEL's first CD to feature Vincent since 1995's "Domination".

The official video for the song "Dawkins Christ" from the reunited seminal Swedish hardcore band REFUSED can be seen below. The track is taken from the group's new album, "Freedom", which will be released on June 30 via Epitaph. The CD was produced by Nick Launay (ARCADE FIRE, Kate Bush, Nick Cave) except for the songs "Elektra" and "366", which were helmed and co-written by Shellback, the Swedish pop superproducer who has worked with pop superstars Taylor Swift, Britney Spears and Pink, among others.

Says the band about "Dawkins Christ": "The title refers to the famous biologist whose atheist theology has inspired a semi-cult who in turn sees him as a messianic figure, an irony that partly inspired the lyrics. The music draws from the film scores of Hans Zimmer and Ennio Morricone as well as pre-'Reign In Blood' SLAYER."

"Freedom" will get a limited-edition CD release featuring a 28-page hardbound book with a poster and gold foil stamping on the album cover.

"Freedom" track listing:

01. Elektra02. Old Friends / New War03. Dawkins Christ04. Françafrique05. Thought Is Blood06. War On The Palaces07. Destroy The Man08. 36609. Servants Of Death10. Useless Europeans

"It's not a reunion anymore," said REFUSED frontman Dennis Lyxzén in a statement. "This is one of the most radical things we've ever done, both musically and lyrically."

"Nobody wanted us to fuck with the image of the band who makes a great album and splits up," added drummer David Sandström. "Nobody wanted us to dilute it. That actually provoked us."

REFUSED last year parted ways with guitarist Jon Brännström. He revealed his exit from the group in an October 31, 2014 posting on REFUSED's Facebook page, where he wrote: "I was fired from REFUSED a while ago. I wasn't given a reasonable explanation and wasn't even invited to sit down and talk about it, so I'm not completely sure why they decided to go on without me."

Back in 2012, REFUSED embarked on a reunion tour where the band performed tracks from its classic 1998 album, "The Shape of Punk To Come", at festivals around the world. The final show of the trek took place on December 15, 2012 in REFUSED's hometown of Umeå, Sweden.

REFUSED's legacy was chronicled via the "Refused Are Fucking Dead" collection, which featured never-before-seen material and videos. In addition, REFUSED's landmark 1998 album, "The Shape Of Punk To Come", was remixed and remastered in 5.1 surround DVD audio format, and was re-released through Epitaph Records. Also re-released were remastered editions of REFUSED's "Songs To Fan The Flames Of Discontent" and "The EP Compilation" CDs.

Ohio metallers MISS MAY I will release their new studio album, "Deathless", on August 7 via Rise Records. Fans can pre-order the CD beginning today (Wednesday, June 17) at MissMayIMusic.com. All pre-orders will come with an instant download of the band's new track "I.H.E.", which can be streamed 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

Guitarist Marc Rizzo (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY) has released the third single from his fourth solo album, which was recently recorded with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris (SUICIDE SILENCE, ALL THAT REMAINS, SHADOWS FALL, SOULFLY). The track, titled "Spectral Intensities", is now available for download via iTunes, Google Play, Amazon and other digital retailers.

A preview of "Spectral Intensities" is available below.

New Jersey native Marc Rizzo embarked on his first U.S. solo tour in 2007. He released two solo albums with Shrapnel Records in 2006 and 2007, titled "Colossal Myopia" and "The Ultimate Devotion", respectively. In 2010, Marc issued his latest album on his own Phlamencore Records, entitled "Legionnaire".

Rizzo has been endorsed by the likes of Peavey, Yamaha and B.C. Rich, and had a B.C. Rich Stealth Pro seven-string signature guitar available for public purchase.

Rizzo is well known for his position in popular metal act SOULFLY, with whom he has released six records to date; "Prophecy" (2004), "Dark Ages" (2005), "Conquer" (2008), "Omen" (2010), "Enslaved" (2012) and "Savages" (2013). In addition, he is a member of CAVALERA CONSPIRACY with SEPULTURA co-founders Max and Igor Cavalera, with whom he collaborated on the project's debut album, "Inflikted", in 2008, the follow-up effort, "Blunt Force Trauma", and last year's "Pandemonium".

"Throwback", a new song from ACT OF DEFIANCE, the band featuring former MEGADETH members Shawn Drover (drums) and Chris Broderick (guitar), alongside ex-SCAR THE MARTYR singer Henry Derek Bonner, and SHADOWS FALL's Matt Bachand (bass), will receive its broadcast debut on June 23, exclusively on SiriusXM's Liquid Metal.

Speaking about how the ACT OF DEFIANCE material stacks up when compared to all of his previous studio recordings, Chris told Revolver magazine: "With the debut ACT OF DEFIANCE release, fans can expect mix of thrash metal with elements of other subgenres of mixed in. I think of it like we are the ambassadors of all types of metal. [Laughs] It has elements of classical music, but is really heavy at the same time. The cool thing about where we are at is that this is all about the music. We aren't worried about any amount of fame or income; we just wanted a chance to get our music out and just hope people dig it."

Chris also talked about the recording process for ACT OF DEFIANCE's debut album, which was tracked with with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris (ROB ZOMBIE, HATEBREED, SHADOWS FALL) for a summer release via Metal Blade Records. He said: "I have been meeting with Henry to track vocals pretty consistently for the past few months. From the demos to the final takes that we are now working on, and I feel like this has helped us in so many ways. For one, I have gotten to know Henry a lot better, and he is easy to get along with and has no ego whatsoever. Two, I feel like both of our skills have grown over this period. I have figured out how to communicate with him in terms of what I might be looking for out of his voice, and he is just singing his ass off!"

He continued: "I think people are really going to be surprised by what Henry brings to the table. The dude's metal range can go from Bruce Dickinson to Chuck Billy to Mikael Åkerfeldt to early Phil Anselmo, and he can even do Norwegian black metal-style vocals if we asked him to."

Broderick added: "I have met Matt numerous times and though he was a late addition to our ACT OF DEFIANCE party, he has been a huge help. He's a quadruple threat as a talented guitarist, bassist, singer and songwriter. Matt's bass lines have their own personality and individualism that we want in our music.

"Both Henry and Matt are recent additions to the writing process, but Henry has written a decent amount of the lyrics, and I can't wait to see what he and Matt bring creatively to the next CD."

A rough demo snippet of "Throwback" can be streamed below.

Regarding whether the musical ideas that are being used in the new band are things that were originally presented to MEGADETH and were turned down or if they are brand new compositions, Chris told SiriusXM's Jose Mangin: "Some of them were presented, but then some of them also… I'd be, like, 'Oh, this isn't appropriate for MEGADETH, their sound.' I have a tendency to write very complex stuff, and so I've gotta watch it when I write and submit for MEGADETH under that kind of… I wanna make sure it's not too complex and too crazy and all over the place. So those are the things that I would have held back."

A brand new recording of the classic METAL CHURCH song "Badlands", featuring the return of the band's singer Mike Howe, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track was laid down down earlier this month and features the lineup of Howe, Kurdt Vanderhoof (guitar), Jeff Plate (drums), Steve Unger (bass) and Rick Van Zandt (lead guitar). It was mixed by Chris "The Wizard" Collier.

METAL CHURCH is currently in the process of working on its new album, to be released later this year via Rat Pak Records.

Howe, who fronted METAL CHURCH from 1988 until 1994, officially rejoined the band in April.

In the summer of 2014, METAL CHURCH suddenly found themselves in need of a new singer. As fate would have it, guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof was already in talks with Mike for another project that he was working on with SAXON drummer Nigel Glockler, so he decided to ask Mike to rejoin METAL CHURCH. Mike agreed, but true to form, didn't want to make it official until he knew for sure that the integrity of the new material was there.

Said Mike: "I didn't want to come back to METAL CHURCH just for nostalgia. It had to be for the right reasons. It had to be the best stuff we've ever written together or it just wouldn't be worth it to anyone, especially the fans."

Soon after, Kurdt and Mike began exchanging ideas and writing new material with the band. The end result sounds like "classic Mike Howe-era METAL CHURCH," according to Vanderhoof. "It's both heavy and melodic. Mike sounds the same as he did 20 years ago.

He addws: "This is going to be truly epic!!"

Drummer Jeff Plate commentws: "Mike Howe is the ONLY singer for METAL CHURCH. He has a reputation of complete honor and respect. We can now take METAL CHURCH to the next level!"

Howe originally joined METAL CHURCH in the late '80s and released three albums with the band: "The Human Factor" (1989), "Blessing In Disguise" (1991) and "Hanging In The Balance" (1994). Mike was also the face of popular music videos "Date With Poverty" and "Badlands" that aired during MTV's heyday.

METAL CHURCH 2015 is:

Mike Howe (vocals)Kurdt Vanderhoof (guitar)Jeff Plate (drums)Steve Unger (bass)Rick VanZandt (guitar)

Deluxe editions of LED ZEPPELIN's final three studio albums: "Presence", "In Through The Out Door" and "Coda" will be released in July.

A video "unboxing" of the Super Deluxe edition of "Presence" is available below.

The reaction to the first six LED ZEPPELIN album reissues has been extraordinary, with albums charting in the Top 10 around the globe whilst also garnering 5-star reviews and other critical accolades along the way.

As with the previous deluxe editions, "Presence", "In Through The Out Door" and "Coda" have been newly remastered by guitarist and producer Jimmy Page and are accompanied by companion audio comprised of previously unreleased music related to the original release selected and compiled by Page.

"Presence", "In Through The Out Door" and "Coda" will each be available July 31 from Atlantic/Swan Song in the following formats:

* Single CD - Remastered original album. "Presence" and "Coda" will be packaged in a gatefold card wallet. All CD and LP versions of "In Through The Out Door" will be wrapped in a brown paper page replicating its initial release.

* Deluxe Edition (2CD and 3CD) - Remastered album, plus a second disc of unreleased companion audio. Coda will feature two companion audio discs.

* Single LP - Remastered album on 180-gram vinyl, packaged in a sleeve that replicates the LP's first pressing in exacting detail. All vinyl versions of "In Through The Out Door" will also include the water-sensitive insert that replicates the inner sleeve from the album's initial release.

* Deluxe Edition Vinyl – Remastered album and unreleased companion audio on 180-gram vinyl. "Coda" will feature two companion LPs.

* Digital Download – Remastered album and companion audio will both be available.

* Super Deluxe Boxed Set – This collection includes:- Remastered album on CD in vinyl replica sleeve.- Companion audio on CD in card wallet.- Remastered album on 180-gram vinyl in a sleeve replicating first pressing.- Companion audio on 180-gram vinyl.- High-def audio download card of all content at 96kHz/24 bit.- Hard-bound, 72-page book filled with rare and previously unseen photos and memorabilia.- High-quality print of the original album cover, the first 30,000 of which will be individually numbered.

Originally released in 1976, "Presence" was recorded during a whirlwind 18-day session at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany. The album — which peaked at #1 in both the U.S. and UK and was certified triple platinum — crackles with energy on ZEPPELIN classics like "Nobody's Fault But Mine" and "Achilles Last Stand" and delivers powerful jolts of the group at its visceral best.

The companion audio disc that accompanies "Presence" has five unreleased reference mixes from the sessions, which reveal works in progress. Along with alternate incarnations of "For Your Life", "Achilles Last Stand" and "Royal Orleans", there is also the previously unheard instrumental curiously titled "10 Ribs & All/Carrot Pod Pod (Pod)".

On its release in the summer of 1979, "In Through The Out Door" topped the U.S. and U.K. album charts and has since been certified six-times platinum. Sadly, it would be the last album that LED ZEPPELIN recorded prior to drummer John Bonham's passing the following year. Among the seven album tracks are "Fool In The Rain" and "All My Love", two songs that remain rock radio staples to this day.

The album's companion audio disc features an unreleased rough mix of every track from the original album, including early versions with working titles such as "The Hook" ("All My Love"), "The Epic" ("Carouselambra"), and "Blot" ("I'm Gonna Crawl").

The appropriately titled "Coda" was LED ZEPPELIN's final album of studio recordings. Released in 1982, it was comprised of eight unreleased tracks recorded between 1970 and 1978. It peaked at #6 on the album charts and has been certified platinum in the U.S.

The reissue campaign ends with a double-barrel blast of LED. "Coda" will be the only LED ZEPPELIN deluxe edition to include two companion discs, featuring 15 tracks recorded between 1968 and 1974. The oldest song in the collection is also perhaps the most interesting. The frenetic blues jam "Sugar Mama" was recorded in 1968 at Olympic Studios during sessions for the band's eponymous debut. The song was completed but never officially released until now. "Baby Come On Home" from the same session is also included in the set. Also included is the previously unreleased "St. Tristan's Sword", a rollicking instrumental recorded during the "Led Zeppelin III" sessions in 1970.

In 1972, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page took a fabled trip to India to perform with the Bombay Orchestra and now, for the first time, recordings from these sessions will be officially released with dynamic takes on "Friends" and "Four Hands" ("Four Sticks" from "Led Zeppelin IV"). Among the many other highlights featured here is an early version of "When The Levee Breaks" from 1970 titled "If It Keeps On Raining"; rough mixes of "The Wanton Song" and "In The Light", from the "Physical Graffiti" sessions at Headley Grange, the latter a different alternate version than the one included in the "Physical Graffiti" deluxe edition; and an instrumental mix of "Poor Tom" from 1970.

In 1968, Jimmy Page formed LED ZEPPELIN, one of the most influential, innovative and successful groups in modern music, having sold more than 300 million albums worldwide. The band rose from the ashes of THE YARDBIRDS, when Page brought in Robert Plant, John Bonham and John Paul Jones. In 1969, LED ZEPPELIN released its self-titled debut. It marked the beginning of a 12-year reign, during which the group was widely considered to be the biggest and most innovative rock band in the world.

LED ZEPPELIN continues to be honored for its pivotal role in music history. The band was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1995, received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005, and a year later was awarded with the Polar Music Prize in Stockholm. Founding members Page, Plant, and Jones, and along with Jason Bonham, the son of John Bonham, took the stage at London's O2 Arena in 2007 to headline a tribute concert for Ahmet Ertegun, a dear friend and Atlantic Records' founder. The band was honored for its lifetime contribution to American culture at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2012. In January of 2014, the band won their first ever Grammy Award as "Celebration Day", which captured their live performance at the Ertegun tribute concert, was named Best Rock Album.

"Presence" track listing:

01. Achilles Last Stand02. For Your Life03. Royal Orleans04. Nobody's Fault But Mine05. Candy Store Rock06. Hots On For Nowhere07. Tea For One

Companion audio

01. Two Ones Are Won (Achilles Last Stand - Reference Mix)02. For Your Life (Reference Mix)03. 10 Ribs & All/Carrot Pod Pod (Pod) (Reference Mix)04. Royal Orleans (Reference Mix)05. Hots On For Nowhere (Reference Mix)

"In Through The Out Door" track listing

01. In The Evening02. South Bound Saurez03. Fool In The Rain04. Hot Dog05. Carouselambra06. All My Love07. I'm Gonna Crawl Companion audio

01. In The Evening (Rough Mix)02. Southbound Piano (South Bound Saurez - Rough Mix)03. Fool In The Rain (Rough Mix)04. Hot Dog (Rough Mix)05. The Epic (Carouselambra - Rough Mix)06. The Hook (All My Love - Rough Mix)07. Blot (I'm Gonna Crawl - Rough Mix)

"Coda" track listing:

01. We're Gonna Groove02. Poor Tom03. I Can't Quit You Baby04. Walter's Walk05. Ozone Baby06. Darlene07. Bonzo's Montreux08. Wearing And Tearing

Companion audio

Disc One

01. We're Gonna Groove (Alternate Mix) 02. If It Keeps On Raining (When The Levee Breaks - Rough Mix)03. Bonzo's Montreux (Mix Construction In Progress)04. Baby Come On Home05. Sugar Mama (Mix) 06. Poor Tom (Instrumental Mix)07. Travelling Riverside Blues (BBC Session)08. Hey, Hey, What Can I Do Disc Two

01. Four Hands (Four Sticks - Bombay Orchestra) 02. Friends (Bombay Orchestra) 03. St. Tristan's Sword (Rough Mix)04. Desire (The Wanton Song - Rough Mix)05. Bring It On Home (Rough Mix) 06. Walter's Walk (Rough Mix)07. Everybody Makes It Through (In The Light - Rough Mix)

Photo credit: Atlantic Records / The Outside Organisation

Philadelphia black metallers I Am The Trireme have released a new track "Grey Fields Of Ash". The song comes from upcoming album Gnosis: Never Follow the Light, scheduled for release on June 30 via Horror Pain Gore Death Productions.

Few bands can match the ferocity and sheer brutal combination of melodic death and vile symphonic black metal that I Am The Trireme (pronounced "tri' reem") has conjured. IATT bring forth a relentless, fast paced, crushing wall of blackened brutality and haunting melodies. Listeners can expect to hear a searing, dark, aggressive blend of brutality and purely sinister blackened metal that is sure to leave them foaming at the mouth.

Gnosis: Never Follow The Light is a poignant passage through the stages of Enlightenment and Ascension. Each song has its own symbol and is comparable to the metamorphic phases of a Butterfly, or in a more morbid sense the five stages of grief. The album leaves room for the listener to use perception as a tool while reaching a common result. Sonically, Gnosis: Never Follow The Light cannot just be lumped into a generic collective genre, attesting to I Am The Trireme's struggle to avoid blending into a scene or live line-up. For IATT the album holds the symbol of constant suffocation and deprivation of carrying out a normal life. Indeed, the band has been completely consumed for two years in the creation of this masterpiece.

 

Tracklisting:

“Mettre Fin A Cette”
“Trusty Noose”
“Basking In The Essence Of My Sorrow”
“Grey Fields Of Ash”
“Thy Sombering Light”
“Ascending Into Oblivion”
“A Sullen Reflection Of Purity”
“Tamerlane (Chapter 1)”
“Tamerlane (Chapter 2)”

Video "Thy Sombering Light":

"A Sullen Reflection Of Purity”:

“Tamerlane (Chapter 1)”:

Following an announcement marking the signing of Melted Space in March, Sensory Records is now confirming the details for the impending release of The Great Lie, a massively ambitious metal opera project led by French composer Pierre le Pape.

A brief trailer for the album has been released, the video listing the full all-star cast of musicians involved in the album, which includes members of Morbid Angel, Mayhem, Dark Tranquillity, Orphaned Land, Shining, Ayreon, Sirenia and many more, in addition to the work of The City of Prague Philarmonic Orchestra!

Melted Space is the creation of French composer Pierre le Pape, who bears a master degree in classical music and movie scores, here creating a modern opera that takes over the classical codes, including numerous characters, scenario, powerful orchestral arrangements and varied ambiances, all set to skilled and catchy songwriting and amazing casting. The new Melted Space album, The Great Lie, features fourteen prestigious and unexpected singers, joined by seven talented guest musicians and The City of Prague Philarmonic Orchestra. Together, this cast has created an epic saga as powerful as moving, and by mixing the tradition of the classic opera with infectious heavy metal, The Great Lie promises to set a new milestone in the genre. The full cast of guests on the album includes David Vincent (Morbid Angel), Attila Csihar (Sunn O))), Mayhem), Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquillity), Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon), Ailyn Gimenéz (Sirenia), Kobi Fahri (Orphaned Land), Mariangela Demurtas (Tristania), Guillaume Bideau (Mnemic), Niklas Kvarforth (Shining), Sylvain Coudret (Soilwork), Adrien Grousset (Hacride), Christine Rhoades (Jeff Loomis), Manuel Munoz (The Old Dead Tree), Arnaud Strobl (Carnival In Coal), Clémentine Delauney (Visions Of Atlantis), Virginie Goncalves (Kells),

Initiated by pianist and composer Pierre Le Pape, Melted Space stands as the first French metal opera boasting the air of a huge choral fresco, bringing together numerous female and male singers and musicians from the international metal scene. Powerful metal meets the refined essence of movie soundtrack-style movements the band has seduced a wide audience. Melted Space's music is inspired by traditional symphonic metal but is also rooted in the black and death metal scenes, each coming to play depending on what action that is taking place within the story that Pierre is telling us.

Melted Space began as an instrumental project by Le Pape in 2007, yet under the thumb of his electro-acoustic teacher, he created a universe of its own which can be described as a potential ultimate step in Dante's Divine Comedy. The first record, 2009's There's A Place, was totally self-produced and while it was a completely instrumental album, it laid the foundations of the band's 2012-releaseed successor, From The Past, which really pushed the name further. Gathering twenty-six musicians, renowned female and male singers, From The Past received rapturous articles and one of the most enthusiastic welcomes. Following this success, Pierre didn't stop there and started to compose a mini-album entitled Between, which was released in May 2013 with Season Of Mist and PlasticHead handling French and European distribution. Melted Space had gone further again as Pierre hired two internationally-known singers to interpret his songs: Liv Kristine (Leaves's Eyes, ex-Theater Of Tragedy) and Ashmedi (Melechesh). Le Pape then hired five talented musicians to go on tour with him as main support act for The Old Dead Tree's last tour in October 2013, and the motivation since has now resulted in additional tour and festival dates, and now, the most ambitious album from the collective yet, with The Great Lie.

(Photo - Guillaume Bideau)