Video footage of the reunited original lineup of Canadian thrash metal pioneers EXCITER — guitarist John Ricci, drummer/vocalist Dan Beehler and bassist Allan Johnson — performing on June 6 at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg can be seen below.

Speaking to the "Talking Metal" podcast last year, Ricci stated about how he mended fences with the other original members of EXCITER: "Well, we haven't even spoken about [the issues that caused to have a falling out back in the day]. [laughs] When we had our [initial] meetings, those topics never even came up. We basically said, 'What happened in the past happened. It's water under the bridge.' But [before we had our initial meeting to discuss the reunion], I very rarely spoke to Allan. I mean, we had no reason to speak to each other for anything, really. But things happened through word of mouth and the media, and 'He said this' and 'He said that.' You don't know what to believe. I mean, are they actually saying things, or is it just fabricated? So at the time, that's the way I felt."

He continued: "I had no idea in 2014 we'd get back together. I'm completely surprised myself. But I think Dan and Allan — and I can't speak for them — they might have a certain level of frustration as well that they really wanted to get back with me and continue the music that we made. 'Cause the three of us have incredible chemistry when we play our instruments. A lot of great bands — I'm not saying we're a great, fantastic band — but a lot of classic rock and metal bands, they have incredible chemistry when you put certain individuals together. So I think Dan and Allan, over the years, realized that, and they probably thought, 'Let's get back together with John and just keep going, having fun and playing our music.'"

Asked if there is still a friendship between the original members of EXCITER or if they are working together purely as business partners, Ricci said: "Our first meeting, when we sat down, we did not discuss business, we just reminisced and talked about the old days and all the fun times that we had. 'Cause, I mean, we toured quite a bit. In 1985, we did a MOTÖRHEAD tour across the U.S., coast to coast, we also did a MEGADETH tour, coast to coast, we played shows with MERCYFUL FATE, we did a couple of shows in upstate New York with ANTHRAX when we were signed with Megaforce. We had a really good time and everything. So our first meeting was just four hours of… You know, we were sitting at a bar, just drinking beer and talking about the old times. So yeah, we're still friends."

He continued: "Our level of dedication to EXCITER, no one has ever questioned it. Yes, we have a difference of opinion on certain business issues, but when it comes to music, we're exactly on the same wavelength — like, our headspace is exactly the same, musically speaking. And it makes it so much easier when you're writing songs, that everyone recognizes everyone else's vision; you don't have to shove down their throat. But, I mean, on the other hand, for the past 20 years I've been continuing EXCITER, in most cases I handle all the band's business dealings. So the same thing will stay — I will be handling a lot of the business stuff. But because we're the original three guys, everyone's opinion counts when it's time to make decisions; I'm not just gonna be railroading those decisions — I'll ask Dan and I'll ask Al their opinion — and we'll move forward with whatever opinion we take."

The original EXCITER lineup recorded three classic albums in the 1980s — "Heavy Metal Maniac" (1983), "Violence & Force" (1984) and "Long Live the Loud" (1985) — before Ricci left he group and was replaced by Brian McPhee.

EXCITER's latest album, "Death Machine", which featured Ricci as the sole remaining original member, was released on October 29, 2010 via Massacre Records.

Fan-filmed video footage of EXODUS's June 6 performance at the FortaRock festival at Goffertpark in Nijmegen, The Netherlands can be seen below.

Guitarist Gary Holt was unable to join his EXODUS bandmates for the FortaRock appearance due to his commitments with SLAYER. Replacing him at the event was HEATHEN's Kragen Lum.

EXODUS and TESTAMENT recently joined forces for the "Dark Roots Of Thrash II" tour. The trek conquered North America for five weeks, beginning April 1 in San Francisco, and included select TESTAMENT and EXODUS festival performances. Support on the tour came from Texas melodic metal assailants SHATTERED SUN.

EXODUS's latest album, "Blood In Blood Out", sold around 8,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 38 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released in North America on October 14, 2014 via Nuclear Blast, the CD art was illustrated by Swedish artist Pär Olofsson, known worldwide for his incredible renderings that have graced the covers of countless heavy metal albums, including EXODUS' "Let There Be Blood".

"Blood In Blood Out" is EXODUS' first album since the departure of the band's lead singer of nine years, Rob Dukes, and the return of his predecessor, Steve "Zetro" Souza, who previously fronted EXODUS from 1986 to 1993 and from 2002 to 2004.

Dubai's Mainstage Events recently conducted an interview with former JUDAS PRIEST and ICED EARTH singer Tim "Ripper" Owens. You can now watch the chat below.

Asked what it was like parting ways with JUDAS PRIEST in 2003 after a seven-year stint with the band, Owens said: "It was all right. We knew if was gonna happen — I did, at least. And you know what? It wasn't upsetting. I had just recorded an ICED EARTH record, and it kind of felt like my time in JUDAS PRIEST was probably over. And [I was] kind of wishing it was over, in a way, to move on to ICED EARTH and do other things. And it was definitely best for JUDAS PRIEST, it was definitely best for Rob Halford, and it was definitely best for me. I would have never quit JUDAS PRIEST; I would have stayed in it forever, because I love the guys and I love what I was doing with 'em. But, as a career, to do things for my career, I had to move on. So it was okay. It was something that… It didn't offend me when JUDAS PRIEST let me go. I think it offended some family and friends and stuff at the time, but it didn't change my relationship with JUDAS PRIEST either, not has it changed with Rob Halford; we're all still good friends."

Owens recorded two studio albums with JUDAS PRIEST — 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — before the band reunited with Rob Halford.

In a recent interview with CantonRep.com, Tim was asked if he thinks metal fans who didn't accept him fronting JUDAS PRIEST are able to view that period more fondly now that time has passed.

"I think some," he responded. "Some will never give it a shot. The funny thing about me is I'm a JUDAS PRIEST fan from the old school. If I had listened to 'Jugulator' or 'Demolition' and saw it live, I'd have said, 'This is pretty good.' Some fans look at those records and go, 'I'll never accept it.' And that's cool. I understand it 100 percent. When you think of JUDAS PRIEST, you think of Rob [Halford], Glenn [Tipton], K.K. [Downing] and Ian [Hill]."

Regarding whether there is anything he would've done differently in his PRIEST days if he had the chance, Owens said: "I can't really regret anything I did, because it's allowed me to do everything I'm doing now. I probably would've never done the motorcycle thing, though. It wasn't my idea. The band said, 'Listen, it's not a Rob thing, it's a JUDAS PRIEST thing.' But it was a Rob thing. I knew he was gonna come back to the band someday, and I miss being around them and touring, because we had so much fun. But I look at my schedule, the months coming up I'm just slammed with stuff. My experience in PRIEST paved the way for all of this."

Celeb Car Crash, winners of the Red Bull Tour Bus Contest and currently on the road with Lacuna Coil, recently signed a worldwide deal with Sliptrick Records, starting off with the release of the three tracks EP ¡Mucha Lucha!. The EP was produced at Red Bull London Studios and will be followed by a full-length album due to be out this fall.

Their new video “Because I’m Sad” is set for a premiere date of June 9 via Red Bull Music. The video was produced by The Jack Stupid Production and directed by Matteo di Gioia of Destrage.

¡Mucha Lucha! official trailer:

 

According to The Guardian, 33 people were injured after lightning struck the Rock Am Ring festival in western Germany.

At 1:00 am. Saturday morning, approximately an hour after MARILYN MANSON's set, lightning struck the event in the town of Mendig, injuring eight people from the festival's production teams.

Large lightning-proof tents tents were opened to shelter the campers before a second bolt struck at 4 a.m., injuring 25 people in one of the campsites.

No one suffered a direct hit and those injured were sent to hospital for observation.

Organizers confirmed the festival will go ahead as scheduled.

Around 90,000 are reportedly attending this year's Rock Am Ring, which ends on Sunday with appearances by SLIPKNOT, FOO FIGHTERS, MOTÖRHEAD and IN FLAMES, among others.

ACDC-abruzzo.blogspot.com has uploaded video footage of AC/DC's June 5 performance at Letzigrund Stadion in Zurich, Switzerland. Check it out below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Rock Or Bust 02. Shoot To Thrill 03. Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be 04. Back In Black 05. Play Ball 06. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap 07. Thunderstruck 08. High Voltage 09. Rock 'N' Roll Train 10. Hells Bells 11. Baptism By Fire 12. You Shook Me All Night Long 13. Sin City 14. Shot Down In Flames 15. Have A Drink On Me 16. T.N.T. 17. Whole Lotta Rosie 18. Let There Be Rock

Encore:

19. Highway To Hell 20. For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)

AC/DC's sixteenth studio album, "Rock Or Bust", has sold around 529,000 copies since debuting at No. 3 on the Billboard album chart back in December.

It's the band's first album without founding guitarist Malcolm Young, who is suffering from dementia. He has been replaced by nephew Stevie Young.

AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd was arrested last November at his home in Tauranga on charges of threatening to kill and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis.

Although Rudd played on "Rock Or Bust", he did not appear in photos or videos for the disc.

One-time AC/DC drummer Chris Slade officially joined the band's lineup for its performance on the February 8 Grammy Awards telecast. Slade is also behind the kit for the group's current world tour.

The band will return to North America later this summer for 13 more tour dates, starting on August 22 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts and wrapping up on September 28 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Flamenco guitarist Ben Woods has posted a video for his rendition of the Judas Priest classic, "Breakin' The Law". Check it out below. The track is taken from Woods' latest album, Flametal Priest, featuring flamenco arrangements of some of Priest's best known songs.

The Flametal Priest tracklist is as follows:

"The Ripper"
"Dissident Aggressor"
"Beyond The Realms Of Death"
"Breakin' The Law"
"Heading Out To The Highway"
"The Hellion / Electric Eye"
"You Got Another Thing Coming"
"Turbo Lover"
"Painkiller"
"Judas Rising"

Over the past few weeks fans of Sweden's Alfahanne have been having a bit of fun by entering a competition to win a copy of the band's next album by guessing who the guests will be on the upcoming release. With two guests and two winners already announced, the band and their label, Dark Essence Records, have now announced that the third guest will be Kvelertak frontman Erlend Hjelvik. He will be joining Shining's Niklas Kvarforth, and Sorhin's Nattursth on what will be the self-styled Alfapocalyptic Rockers' sophomore full-length album, which is due for release in the autumn.

With only one more guest left to announce, and one CD left to win, the clues to the final Guess the Guest competition are as follows:

1)  This guest is the vocalist for one of the top Finnish black metal bands which was originally formed in 1993

2) The meaning of the Finnish name of this guest's band is "abyss"

3) When one of the early vocalists with this guest's band left, he became the musician that is known today as Satanic Warmaster's Werwolf.

4)  This guest will be appearing at the Tuska Open Air Festival Pre-Party this year, fronting another of his bands, Turmion Kätilöt,  the day before Alfahanne themselves are due to appear at the festival

Anyone wishing to enter should email their guess and their name and address to Alfahanne's management on info@pthomasmanagement.com (use Alfahanne Competition in the Subject line) or drop the band a private message on Facebook by June 11. The winner will receive a copy of the new album as soon as it is released.

Season Of Mist has announced the signing of Swedish black metal cult Craft. The band are currently writing material for a new album to be released by Season Of Mist in 2016.

Regarding the signing, the band comments: "We are determined to create something severely misanthropic and cold with our upcoming album and our future live shows. We are working even harder to alienate and make it unpleasant for the listener, and that's something everyone will see and understand during our time with Season Of Mist."

Craft embody the black metal virtue of raw spiritual energy expressed through violent, ripping guitar-work and unholy rhythms enhanced by demonic vocals. The Swedes have long enjoyed a massive cult status within underground circles, yet also gained strong acclaim and recognition by mainstream metal media and critics.

Founded over 20 years ago, Craft first made waves in the Swedish underground scene through their misanthropic approach to uncompromising black metal. The band first gained notoriety through the release of their landmark album, Total Soul Rape in 2000, and further evolved their approach to extreme metal through the release of Terror Propaganda in 2002, and Fuck The Universe in 2005. Following a six-year hiatus, the band returned in 2011 with their latest album, Void.

After two decades in obscurity, Craft played their first-ever live show in their home country of Sweden in 2014. Fully reinvigorated, the band have now announced festival appearances including this year's Hellfest in France on June 20th, and Under The Black Sun Festival in Germany on July 3rd.

 

This summer, German melodic death metallers Scarnival will release their debut album via Kernkraftritter Records. The Art Of Suffering will be out on August 7 and preorders are up at this location. The band has released a new video for the title track, which can be seen below.

The new album will also feature a guest appearance from Björn "Speed" Strid on the song “Watch Me”.

The Art Of Suffering tracklisting:

“The Art Of Suffering”
“God Given”
“The Easy Solution”
“Hindsight”
“Losing Identity”
“Watch Me”
“The Hunt”
“Rewind”
“Pathetic”
“Eternal Salvation”
“One Morning Left”
“Lies"

Video "The Art Of Suffering":

Making of "The Art Of Suffering" video:

Loud Rage Music announces the signing of Bucharest, Romania-based metallers, Hatemode.

Hatemode was founded in 2013 by mature and experienced musicians known from their previous work in well-respected bands like Abigail, Lost, Rising Shadow, Tiarra, Interval, Erase and Reborn. From the initial lineup, only Catalin "Flama" Scanteie and Valentin Stoica are still active in the band, and together with Alex Ungureanu, Gabriel Maria and Alex Igor are bound for a long journey in discovering and offering their own dark and rough "world", filled with powerful and contrasty emotions.

The band is currently in studio working on their debut album set to be released later on this year through Loud Rage Music, a release that will be followed by an intense live gigs circuit including international festivals (alongside monsters of the genre like Primordial, Dark Funeral, Satyricon, Dream Theater, Soulfy, Within Temptation) and a European tour by the end of the year.

Hatemode is here to conquer, and conquer it will!
 

Italian horror death metal dealers Gravesite have finished the recordings of their debut album to be entitled Horrifying Nightmares... and the cover artwork made by Mario E. Lopez M. as well as full tracklist and an exclusive advance song have been released.

Gravesite was formed in 2014 by members from other bands like Haemophagus, Undead Creep and Cancer Spreading among others and released a demo entitled Obsessed By The Macabre signing to Xtreem Music for their debut album Horrifying Nightmares... which is formed by nine tracks of an old fashioned death metal.

Horrifying Nightmares… tracklisting:

“Intro/Anguished Sleep”
“Submerged In Vomit”
“Horrifying Nightmares Of Flesh And Blood”
“I Want To Rot”
“The Painter Of Agonies”
“Where Mortals Fear To Thread”
“Curse Of The Red Moon”
“Worship Death In All Its Forms”
“Suscipe Mortem”

“Submerged In Vomit”:

Release date for Horrifying Nightmares… is set for July 1 through Xtreem Music.

Loud Rage Music announces the signing of Occult black metal band, Ordinul Negru, from Romania. Ordinul Negru was established by Fulmineos in 2004 and designed into old and traditional black metal spheres, influenced by various underground acts from the 90s era.

The concept of the project is to seek for the dark essence of things, occult manifestations and inside human behaviors towards the unknown.

The band's upcoming album, their seventh, entitled Sorcery Of Darkness will be released in the fall of 2015 by Loud Rage Music, and will be a massive change in sound and attitude but will have the same dedication towards the black cult. The raw, primeval and abrasive sound was replaced by a more daring and modern approach, although trying to keep a spontaneous expression without exaggerate editing and post-processing.

Stay tuned for updates.

Teen prodigy progressive band, Next To None, recently signed to InsideOut for the release of their debut album, A Light In The Dark, on June 30th in North America and June 29th in Europe. The album track “You Are Not Me” is streaming below.

Drummer Max Portnoy had this to say about the track: “”You Are Not Me” is one of our heavier songs that shows more of a modern metal side, it is also probably one of the first songs in prog metal history to feature a beer keg being hit with a bat!"

Max Portnoy and guitarist Ryland Holland talk with Metaholic Magazine and AXS.com about the and having drum legend Mike Portnoy produce the record.

Based in Pennsylvania, Next To None features Max Portnoy on drums, Ryland Holland on guitar, Kris Rank on bass, and Thomas Cuce on keyboards and lead vocals. The band have been honing their craft for several years, recording a self-released EP and playing various live gigs, including a slot at the Progressive Nation At Sea 2014 cruise.

Later that year, the band went into the studio to record their debut album. At the ripe young ages of 15 and 16, they emerged with an album they and producer Mike Portnoy (Transatlantic, Flying Colors, ex-Dream Theater) are extremely proud of. A Light In The Dark also features guest appearances by Bumblefoot (Guns N' Roses) and prog legend Neal Morse.

Drummer Max Portnoy says, "It's so exciting to be signing with InsideOut... the home of the greatest prog bands in the world! We are honored to be part of the family."

Says producer Mike Portnoy, "Producing the Next To None album was like a trip back in time for me. I couldn't help but be reminded of recording my very first album with Dream Theater back in 1988. These boys have talent and maturity way beyond their years. It's obvious in their playing abilities, but I was most impressed with their writing and creative abilities. Six of the songs spread across the album tie together to create a conceptual piece... for a group of 15 & 16-year-olds to be thinking in big master strokes like that is absolutely incredible. They are doing things musically and thematically as teenagers that I wasn't exploring until I was in my mid twenties and thirties!

I must point out that THEY wrote all of the music and performed all of their instruments on the album. I do not want people to think that my role as producer had anything to do with those areas... it is all THEM! My main role was to help them explore the studio for the first time and help them learn the ropes in that department. I couldn't be prouder of this album and think that Next To None represents the next generation of progressive metal."

 

 

A Light In The Dark tracklisting:

"The Edge Of Sanity"
"You Are Not Me"
"Runaway"
"A Lonely Walk"
"Control"
"Lost"
"Social Anxiety"
"Legacy"
"Blood On My Hands"

Digital-only bonus tracks:
"Fortune Cookie"
"Deafening"

Bad Seed Rising, the Maryland based rock band that formed at the Frederick, MD Let There Be Rock School, have released a brand new music video for their song “Bad Seed Rising”. The track, which is taken from their first EP, Charm City, is the featured end title song in the new Melissa McCarthy blockbuster comedy, Spy.

The video, which was filmed in the band’s hometown of Baltimore and directed by Aaron Marsh, is enhanced with exclusive footage from the film and can be seen now at EW.com.

Bad Seed Rising will continue on the road with RED until June 24th and then support POD for two shows in Wisconsin. Future touring plans will be announced soon. For more information head here.

 

The German grindcore goats, Milking The Goatmachine, have released a third album preview for their upcoming studio album, Goatgrind, which will be released June 26th via NoiseArt Records. Check out three clips below:

Part 1:
 

Part 2:

Part 3:

Goatgrind artwork and tracklisting follow.

Goatgrind tracklist:

“Goatgrind”
“Farm Of The Mutilated”
“Blow Your Sneakers”
“Fear The Goathammer”
“#Idiot”
“U.H.T. Milk Is Murder”
“Mrs. Goat_ re (Nanny Of The Damned)”
“Talk To The Hoof”
“No More Space In Herd”
“Shadows And Crust”
“The Goatastic Four”
“Burn Your Shed”
“Sound Of Breaking Horns”
“Wolf Expander”
“Wheels Of Fire” (Manowar Cover)
 
The lyric video of the song "#idiot" can be seen below. The band states: “#Idiot is a very emotional song for us, full of love, hate, sadness and madness. It isn’t about fiction persons, it is about real lifeforms from our personal environment. With this song, we want to thank people (or not) for their loyalty (or not!)!”

Former Runaways singer, Cherie Currie, has announced her first-ever UK dates as a solo artist, featuring Shameless Alexx Michael on bass. The eight shows in November will mark her first UK gigs since she fronted the iconic girl band.

Currie recalls: "In 1976 The Runaways came and we were called punk, but we didn't even know what punk was until we landed in Europe and you guys taught us punk. I'd never seen the pins in the faces and the mohawk and all that. I loved it – except when you guys tried to turn our car over and threw a knife when we were at the Apollo Theatre in Glasgow. But hey, that's okay. It was still a learning experience. I can't wait to play for you guys again."

Currie released her solo album, Reverie, this year, her first since 1980's Messin' With The Boys.

Tour dates:

November
11 - Edinburgh, Scotland - Bannerman's
12 - Grimsby, England - Yardbirds
13 - Manchester, England - TBA
14 - Newcastle, England - TBA
15 - Sutton, England - Diamond
16 - Bristol, England - TBA
17 - Bilston, England - Robin 2
18 - London, England - Underworld

Cherie Currie is rocking again with Reverie, her first solo album in 35 years. Reverie features four songs co-produced by the Runaways' controversial late svengali Kim Fowley and covers of two Runaways songs – "Is It Day Or Night" and "American Nights" – featuring vocals by former Runaways guitarist Lita Ford.

 

Thrawsunblat, the Canadian blackened folk metal brainchild of former Woods Of Ypres guitarist Joel Violette and Immortal Bird vocalist/drummer Rae Amitay, have checked in with the following update:

"Hey folks, been a little while! We've locked ourselves underground and have been working on the album non-stop. We're happy to announce that Adam Gillis, who provided us with the new Thrawsunblat logo last year, will be contributing his talents to the album art of Thrawsunblat III: Metachthonia. Beyond stoked for you folks to see."

They have now revealed the artwork and tracklist for the album, which is available below:

"Fires That Light the Earth"
"She Who Names The Stars"
"Dead Of Winter"
"Hypochthonic Remnants"
"Rivers Of Underthought"
"In Mist We Walk"

Thrawsunblat released their second album, Wanderer On The Continent Of Saplings, on March 13th, 2013. A full length clip of the song "Once Foreveined" has been posted online and is available for streaming below.

The tracklist for Wanderer On The Continent Of Saplings is as follows: 

"Lifelore Revelation" "Once Fireveined" 
"We, The Torchbearers" 
"Goose River (Mourners' March)'"
"Bones In The Undertow" 
"Wanderer On The Continent Of Saplings"
"Maritime Shores" 
"View Of A Million Trees" 
"Borea (Pyre Of A Thousand Pine)" 
"Elegy Across the Silence" 
"Song Of The Nihilist" 
"I Am the Viator'"

SOULFLY's tenth studio album, "Archangel", will be released on August 14 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The CD was produced by Matt Hyde, who has previously worked with SLAYER and CHILDREN OF BODOM. The cover artwork was created by artist Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ICED EARTH, SODOM) and can be seen below.

"I am so proud to be releasing SOULFLY's tenth album," comments SOULFLY founder/vocalist/guitarist Max Cavalera. "I feel it is my most mystic album since 'Prophecy'. The guest collaborations have always been a trademark of SOULFLY and 'Archangel' is no different! We can't wait to play this live for the worldwide tribe!"

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

"Max asked me to do a traditional piece depicting Archangel Michael — and I tried to go beyond the straight-up neo-classical style as that has been perfected centuries ago, so I mixed in SOULFLY's own visual world: hence the wings and spear being shaped like the SOULFLY tribal icon, the cliff with the ocean view just like on the first record, and the Brazilian flag being the core of it's color scheme."

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

"Archangel" track listing:

01. We Sold Our Souls To Metal 02. Archangel03. Sodomites (feat. Todd Jones of NAILS)04. Ishtar Rising05. Live Life Hard! (feat. Matt Young of KING PARROT)06. Shamash07. Bethlehem's Blood08. Titans09. Deceiver10. Mother Of Dragons (feat. Richie Cavalera of INCITE, Igor Cavalera of LODY KONG, Anahid M.O.P.)

Bonus tracks for CD/DVD special edition:

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

01. Cannibal Holocaust02. Refuse/Resist03. Bloodshed04. Back To The Primitive05. Seek 'N' Strike06. Tribe07. Rise Of The Fallen08. Revengeance09. Roots Bloody Roots10. Jumpdafuckup/Eye For An Eye Speaking about "Archangel", Max told RockRevoltMagazine.com: "It's a very biblical, very mystic, very exotic kind of a album. This is a totally different vibe [from 2013's 'Savages']. There's songs like 'Sodomites', about the destruction of Sodom; there's songs like 'Shamash', about the Akkadian god of the sun; 'Ishtar' (since retitled 'Ishtar Rising'), which is the Babylonian queen; 'Titanomachy' (since retitled 'Titans'), which is about the war of the titans. So there's really more mystic, exotic sounds and songs and lyrics. So it's really cool. It's really artistic, the new SOULFLY, which I like about it."

Max told Groovey.TV about the new CD's musical direction: "It's very influenced by the stuff I listen to right now — 1349 and BELPHEGOR, BEHEMOTH… I've been listening to a lot of death metal. Don't ask me why. I don't know why. I just fucking love the extremity of it. So, yeah, it's gonna be a really cool record. It's our tenth record. And I'm very excited for this album. And then I will tour for 'Archangel' probably for the next year and a half, two years, non-stop."

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

Max also talked about the new SOULFLY song "We Sold Our Souls To Metal", which he previously described as a "metal anthem." Asked about the mindset that is required to write a track like that, Max said: "It just happens. You can't explain it. It's one of those things… [When] you play it, it has an instant reaction on the listener."

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

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

Swedish thrashers RAISE HELL are back with a new new lineup and a highly anticipated comeback album. Due on August 21 via Black Lodge Records, "Written In Blood" is described in a press release as "an awesome mix of thrashing, screaming vocals with ripping guitar riffs and pounding drums as heard in 'Dr. Death', 'Six Feet Under' and 'We Arise'. This, combined with the heavier, more melodic songs 'A Blackened Resurrection', 'The Bell Of The Reaper' and 'In Cold Blood', gives the album another dimension. It's both harder and faster than the latest releases — exploding with energy, it won't leave anyone untouched! "Written In Blood" track listing:

01. Dr. Death02. Six Feet Under03. Fallen Domination04. Demon Mind05. A Blackened Resurrection06. The Bell of the Reaper07. We Arise08. Thank you God09. In Cold Blood10. Final Hour RAISE HELL's current lineup includes former DESTRUCTION drummer Sven Vormann.

RAISE HELL is: Jimmy Fjällendahl - VocalsJonas von Wowern - GuitarsNiklas Sjöström – BassSven Vormann - Drums

Richmond, Virginia metallers LAMB OF GOD will release their new album, "VII: Sturm Und Drang", in July via via Epic in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast Entertainment, with whom the band signed a record deal for all territories outside of North America. The CD was once again produced and mixed by Josh Wilbur with engineering by Wilbur, Nick Rowe and Kyle McAulay, and was recorded at NRG Recording Studios in North Hollywood, California and Suburban Soul Studios in Torrance, California.

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

"VII: Sturm Und Drang" track listing:

01. Still Echoes02. Erase This03. 51204. Embers05. Footprints06. Overlord07. Anthropoid08. Engage The Fear Machine09. Delusion Pandemic10. Torches

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

LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe told Billboard.com that the subtitle of "VII: Sturm Und Drang" — which is German for "storm and stress" — indirectly refers to his experience of being arrested at the Prague, Czech Republic airport on June 27, 2012 and being accused of shoving a local fan off the stage during LAMB OF GOD's May 2010 concert in the city. The man, who is said to have stormed the stage three times during the show, reportedly suffered a brain hemorrhage that resulted in his death nearly a month later. Blythe was eventually acquitted of all charges after a panel of Czech judges ruled that concert promoters — and not Blythe — were largely to blame for the fan's death.

According to Blythe, he wanted the title to reflect the new album's lyrical themes, which deal with the psychology of humans reacting under extreme conditions. "I was, like, 'Maybe the Germans have something,' because they're great at cramming complex concepts into, like, one word, like 'schadenfreude' and 'zeitgeist,'" he said. LAMB OF GOD guitarist Mark Morton, whose mother is German, came across the title while researching German vocabulary. ["Sturm Und Drang" was used as the name of a German literary movement of the 18th century, and it refers to a state of uneasiness and usually resentment brewing to an eventual explosion.]

"I didn't set out to write this record about my perception of how people handle stress and difficulties … but as I was writing, it kind of started coming to me," said Blythe, who wrote ninety percent of the album's lyrics. He also went on to describe "VII: Sturm Und Drang" as "the most cohesive record we've done in a long time" and not as "schizophrenic" as some of LAMB OF GOD's previous albums.

Blythe told RollingStone.com that "Still Echoes" "is a history of [Prague's] Pankrác Prison," where he was incarcerated for over a month. The first line of "Still Echos" reads: "A thousand heads cut clean across their necks, right down the hall from me." Blythe says: "There was a guillotine right down the hall from me, from when the Nazis had the prison. From 1943 to 1945 they executed almost 2,000 people by the guillotine, because it was cheaper than shooting and quicker than hanging … They call it the Pankrác 'Saw Room' or the 'Axe Room. I sat there at night, and I’d think about all those dudes that got their heads chopped off— men and women — in that place not too far from me."

Frontiers Music Srl will release the comeback album from former ANGEL singer Frank DiMino, titled "Old Habits Die Hard", on July 3 in Europe and July 10 in North America.

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

While Frank is undoubtedly DIMINO's mastermind, "Old Habits Die Hard" sees him collaborate with some heavyweights of the Las Vegas music scene, where he currently resides. Under the production of Paul Crook (MEAT LOAF, ANTHRAX), the album sees the participation — among others — of Oz Fox (STRYPER), Eddie Ojeda (TWISTED SISTER), Rickey Medlocke (BLACKFOOT, LYNYRD SKYNYRD), Pat Thrall (HUGHES/THRALL), Jeff Duncan (ARMORED SAINT), Jeff Labansky, former ANGEL bandmates Punky Meadows (on guitar) and Barry Brandt (who co-wrote with Frank the song "Even Now") and many others.

Frank says: "It all started because of the relationships between Ken Ciancimino, Paul Crook, myself and the musicians that appeared on the album. I started writing songs with Oz Fox and Jeff Labansky and then Paul suggested we use John Miceli (drums) and Danny Miranda (bass) as our rhythm section and Justin Avery for keys and background vocals because of his relationship from playing with them for MEAT LOAF. When the recording started, our friends wanted to be part of it and one after the other Pat Thrall, Punky Meadows, Eddie Ojeda, Rickey Medlocke and Jeff Duncan provided their amazing musicianship to the album. I feel truly honored to have had all these great musicians be a part of this project!"

Frank DiMino was the frontman for ANGEL in the second half of the '70s. The band was discovered by KISS bass player Gene Simmons who got them signed to Casablanca Records, where they released five critically acclaimed studio albums and a live LP. After the band's demise, DiMino went on to collaborate with UFO's Paul Raymond and worked as a singer on soundtracks, scoring a platinum album for the inclusion of his song "Seduce Me Tonight" with CYCLE V on the "Flashdance" soundtrack.

"Old Habits Die Hard" is going to take many by surprise, as it is definitely not a nostalgia fest, but really a rather compelling and inspired hard rock release. Frank says: "I'm excited to reach new fans as well as many ANGEL fans. There is certainly a connection between then and now, and that is still about making a great record with great musicians!"

"Old Habits Die Hard" track listing:

01. Never Again02. Rockin' In The City03. I Can't Stop Loving You04. The Rain's About To Fall05. Even Now06. Tears Will Fall07. Mad As Hell08. Sweet Sensation09. Tonight's The Night10. The Quest11. Stones By The River

The video for "Rockin' In The City" can be seen below.

DIMINO recording lineup:

* Frank DiMino: Lead Vocals* Oz Fox, Paul Crook, Jeff Labansky, Pat Thrall, Punky Meadows, Jeff Duncan, Eddie Ojeda, Dylan DiMino, Rickey Medlocke: Guitars* Justin Avery: Organ, Background Vocals* Danny Miranda, Paul Crook: Bass* John Miceli: Drums

"Stay Crazy", a brand new song from German power metallers HELLOWEEN, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band's 15th studio album, "My God-Given Right", which was released on May 29 via Nuclear Blast. The CD was recorded between October 2014 and February 2015 at the band's MiSueno Studio on the isle of Tenerife with producer Charlie Bauerfeind (GOTTHARD, HAMMERFALL).

According to singer Andi Deris, the band insists on a simple motto: "Back to the roots — but with new songs." He continues: "More than ever, our fans want to sing and rock out along with us. This simply works best with the use of distinctive choruses and '80s hooklines."

Guitarist Michael Weikath clarifies: "It is not our mission to just relive the '80s at all cost — to our own surprise, the whole dynamic of this working concept took on a life of its own."

Both Weikath and Deris stress that the album title is self-explanatory. "Surely there'll be haters again that will presume that we have nothing better to do than to keep recycling the past instead of moving on into the 21st century," the guitarist says. "But such critics have followed us all along and never impressed us. We've always had a liberal attitude towards heavy metal: to do anything we want — and not follow the directions the know-it-alls would have pushed on us. We remained unfazed and acted out our vision of 'anything goes' in the songwriting process to 'My God-Given Right' because we believe that it is our god-given-right (no pun intended) to do as we please and fulfill our musical vision without any boundaries."

HELLOWEEN recently released the first single from "My God-Given Right", the speed metal hymn "Battle's Won". In addition to the digital download, a limited-edition two-track vinyl single was made available on April 24, also featuring the album cut "Lost In America".

"My God-Given Right" track listing: 01. Heroes02. Battle's Won03. My God-Given Right04. Stay Crazy05. Lost In America06. Russian Roulé07. The Swing Of A Fallen World08. Like Everybody Else09. Creatures In Heaven10. If God Loves Rock 'N' Roll11. Living On The Edge12. Claws13. You, Still Of War The limited digipak (with special 3D cover) and the vinyl version feature two bonus tracks:

14. I Wish I Were There15. Wicked Game The digital version contains three bonus tracks:

14. I Wish I Were There15. Wicked Game16. Free World The limited earbook features a bonus CD with four bonus tracks:

01. I Wish I Were There02. Wicked Game03. Nightmare04. More Than A Lifetime The "My God-Given Right" video was directed by Oliver Sommer of AVA Studios.

Comments Sommer: "The story tells itself with the first look on the artwork: it seems to be a film still and you only have to press the 'play' button. So the female protagonist flees — reminiscences to different (post)apocalyptic films and stories are deliberated — from an army of robotic pumpkin soldiers through an empty world. On the other side, the band performs in frightfully beautiful, rocked out ambience. When the tough girl realizes that she won't escape, she turns around and kills her chasers with a grenade which looks like the torch from the Statue of Liberty… It is immersed in snow on the cover artwork and in sand in the clip."

He continues: "Our post-apocalyptic world is a white desert, which exists in reality in Germany. The industrial disaster area, our hero is fleeing in and the band is performing in, is an incredible and giant area of the ex-steelworks (heavy metal!) Maxhütte — both locations are real wastelands!" The "My God-Given Right" artwork was once again created by graphic guru Martin Häusler (BON JOVI, QUEEN, GOTTHARD) and is also available as a 3D lenticular print. Says Häusler: "We tried to build a world of ideas, keeping the 'classic HELLOWEEN' elements, like the pumpkins on the one hand and a complete new look on the other, just like we did it the years before, working on a HELLOWEEN artwork.

"A first inspiration came from the album title, 'My God-Given Right', and some of the song titles, like 'Swing Of A Fallen World', 'Lost In America', 'Battle's Won', etc.

"During my research, I stumbled upon the blockbuster 'Day After Tomorrow' and the idea of just leaving the world to the 'pumpkins' was born.

"The most challenging part of this artwork was to have both the limited edition and the 11-inch earbook provided with a 3D lenticular cover (a full 3D cover, visible without 3D glasses). That's the reason the entire artwork was done 'in one piece,' using a 3D program…We did not want one of those 'cheap' lenticular covers, done by converting a 2D version, but the best possible real 3D result. So don’t get any other versions — this will be a true collector's item!" Adds Andi Deris: "I never know how, but somehow we did it once again… The album really rocks and kicks some major asses!!! We had the best folks with us to make this possible: producer Charlie Bauerfeind and Martin Häusler, who made a massive 3D artwork this time WITHOUT stressing the whole color range." States Michael Weikath: "This proves what a bit of snow not only is able to but really causes! I personally hate snow and the cover shows that too much of everything is never good. Just like Andi Deris, I'm very happy about the new album."

Fan-filmed video footage of Yngwie Malmsteen's June 4 performance at Powerstation in Auckland, New Zealand can be seen below.

In a recent interview with Australia's The AU, Malmsteen was asked about the emotional aspect of his art, as opposed to using only using the technical side of his music to move people so profoundly.

"Well, it's funny, because a lot of people misunderstand that," he said, "Because if you have the technical ability on an instrument, you can actually express yourself emotionally much more efficiently. In other words, if you have the knowledge of exactly what scales, or you know exactly what the vibrato should be, and how to express that note… that only comes with a lot of knowledge and technique of the instrument."

He continued: "A lot of people don't expect that because I always use technique, but it's also how you convey and relate the feeling. So, if you have a feeling and you play it in a tune, it's only for you, no one else can really understand what you mean. Whereas if you have the ability on the instrument, then the emotions could be much stronger, more well put out and more projected, because of that. So whether you play fast or slow, it doesn't really matter. Your ability will take care of the conveyance of the emotion in the music. It's the same thing with Ernest Hemingway, or anybody who does something and tries to express something. The art form has to be proficient."

Yngwie is currently working on a new studio album for a late 2015 release. He told Australia's 3D Radio about the recording process for the CD: "Well, it's changed somewhat because [I have] my [own] recording studio now. And it's in my house. And it's not like a home studio; it's a full-blown studio. And it's in here. And I go in here and I see what happens. If I like what I hear, then I use it. If I don't like it, I don't use it. And in the past, I used to do demos. I would do demos, and rehearse it with the band and you rent the studio and go in and record it and so forth. It was a very different process because by the time it was actually recorded, it had gone through so many stages that the spontaneity was gone. Now, it's here now; it's here now. And it's a lovely thing."

Yngwie released a live album, "Spellbound Live In Tampa", and a live DVD, "Spellbound Live In Orlando", last summer. The two releases represent back-to-back Malmsteen shows.

The CD and DVD, both of which are named after Malmsteen's latest studio album, 2012's "Spellbound", were issued on September 17, 2014.

Swedish metallers AMARANTHE recently took part in an acoustic performance at the studios of SiriusXM's Octane. You can now watch video footage of their appearance below.

AMARANTHE's third album, "Massive Addictive", was released on October 21, 2014 via Spinefarm Records. The CD was tracked at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, EPICA) at the helm.

In a recent interview with The Grim Tower, AMARANTHE drummer Morten Løwe Sørensen stated about "Massive Addictive": "While other songs are more metal than anything else we have done, it's not as fast paced as our previous two albums, and a bit more groovy. Every song is distinctively different from the others, but it's not a concept album this time like on previous albums. Somehow I almost see the two first albums as part of a whole, while 'Massive Addictive' is a step in a little bit of a different direction maybe… You can easily hear that this is AMARANTHE, but it does contain new elements and a different approach than our earlier material."

Regarding the songwriting and recording process for "Massive Addictive", Morten said: "We recorded with producer Jacob Hansen, as we have on our previous albums, but we wanted a bit of a different production this time. The songs this time leave more room for everything to be heard, since it's not quite as hectic as before. So we could go for a bigger and more open sound. Everything went pretty smooth, actually, even though we had been touring all the time and actually had to write a big part of the album either on the road or in the studio while recording. We had a pretty clear vision of how we wanted the album to turn out, but also left room for a lot of creativity in the moment. All in all, it has been a pretty rewarding experience this time."

Video footage of the reunited seminal Swedish hardcore band REFUSED performing a brand new song, "Elektra", at Vacation Vinyl in Los Angeles, California 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.

"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."

"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

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.