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.

Rolf "Rock'n'Rolf" Kasparek of German power metallers RUNNING WILD has revealed the band lineup for the group's performance at this year's Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany. Joining Kasparek at the concert will be Peter Jordan on guitar, and RUNNING WILD's latest additions, Ole Hempelmann on bass and Michael Wolpers on drums.

Says Rolf: "We're looking forward to rock Wacken with you on the 31st of July. Also we will play a brand new song from our forthcoming studio album, exclusively for you! See you on board!"

RUNNING WILD's Wacken performance will take place on July 31 from midnight until 1:30 a.m. on the Black Stage.

RUNNING WILD's latest album, "Resilient", was released on October 4, 2013 in Germany and October 7, 2013 in the rest of Europe via Steamhammer/SPV.

"Resilient" was produced by Rock'n'Rolf himself, supported by Niki Nowy during the mixing and mastering process, as well as Katharina Nowy and Peter Jordan, who contributed a number of guitar solos. For the first time, Rolf worked with precise vocal lines during the demo recordings.

Photo (from left to right): Ole Hempelmann (bass), Rolf "Rock'n'Rolf" Kasparek (vocals, guitar), Michael Wolpers (drums), Peter Jordan (guitar)

The first in a series of trailers for "Hammer Of The Witches", the eleventh studio album from British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH, is available below. The CD will be released on July 10 via Nuclear Blast.

"Hammer Of The Witches" will be made available on jewel case CD, limited-edition digipak, mail-order edition and 2LP vinyl.

"Hammer Of The Witches" track listing: 01. Walpurgis Eve02. Yours Immortally…03. Enshrined In Crematoria04. Deflowering The Maidenhead, Displeasuring The Goddess05. Blackest Magick In Practice06. The Monstrous Sabbat (Summoning The Coven) 07. Hammer Of The Witches08. Right Wing Of The Garden Triptych09. The Vampyre At My Side10. Onward Christian Soldiers11. Blooding The Hounds Of Hell Limited-edition digipak cd and vinyl bonus tracks:

12. King Of The Woods13. Misericord

Behind-the-scenes footage from the making of "Right Wing Of The Garden Triptych", the new video from British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH, can be seen below. The clip was directed by Sam Scott-Hunter (DEVILMENT, SLIPKNOT, THE 69 EYES), who also took the band's promotional photos. As well as featuring Dani Filth and his troop of reprobates, model and Kinbaku enthusiast Gestalta also makes an appearance.

Commented CRADLE OF FILTH frontman Dani Filth: "The video for 'Right Wing Of The Garden Triptych' was an immense thrill to film as it was undertaken in a jet-engine testing hangar at a former U.S. Military base close to my home town of Ipswich, followed by an equally surreal afternoon spent under the aerobatic flightpath of the Imperial War Museum. Directed by Sam Scott-Hunter, the video is a realised phantasmagoria of horror and hell-bound heartistry, fully encapsulating the beautality of the first single from 'Hammer Of The Witches', and if my flagrant play-on-words doesn't pique your interest, then the fact that it features a renowned rope bondage queen and the band in full swing just possibly might."

Regarding the "Hammer Of The Witches" cover, Filth said: "The artwork for 'Hammer Of The Witches' was created by Latvian artist Arthur Berzinsh and is a lavish walk-through of the lyricism, drawing on rich renaissance themes and displaying them in beautiful-yet-unsettling scenarios. Half of the detailed pieces are totally original for the release, others are Berzinsh classics cunningly tailored to the themes of the album, which are themes rife with heady witchcraft, be it persecution, retribution or unfettered spiritual liberation. The female form is rampant throughout the artwork, unashamedly displayed in its classical rendition of beauty... and horror." Arthur Berzinsh is best known for his defiant neo-symbolism raster graphics and oil paintings, postmodern interpretations of classic myths and refined hooliganism in the playground of contemporary art. He has been proclaimed as a "sacred monster of Latvian postmodernism." And rightly so, his visually expressive and mannerly works tend to trigger emotions which can make thoughts fidget and wriggle, unable to find a comfortable position among the impressions gathered. His creative work is characterized by a varied range of voluptuous erotica, intensified imagery, dream-like scenes and decorativeness weighed down by visual metaphors and contrasts teetering on the edge of symbolism. Arthur Berzinsh explains his artwork and concepts: "In terms of mood, I was looking for the inspiration of this set in the spirit of Faustian romanticism, the ambivalent art of renaissance that reanimated motives of pagan mythology after the Middle Ages, and, of course, the darkly beautiful and charming spirit of Goetia traditions that is filled with the atmosphere of hermetical rituals.

"My personal conceptual leitmotif that inspires me is a conflict between the free-thinking and totalitarianism, where the raw power always gains the upper hand over individualism.

"The act of art is a theurgical act that creates existence in the Platonic reality — reality of ideas. So, at least in this Platonic dimension let’s give the suppressed ones a chance to get their revenge.

"For me, the Goat of Mendes on the cover symbolizes the scapegoat who's tired of his humiliating role and wants a payback. This character is an archetypical symbol of libido and other primordial forces and instinctive aspects of a human being. And these forces always have been a menace for those who want to reign over the others, like it's schematically represented in George Orwell's '1984'." "Hammer Of The Witches" will mark the first release with CRADLE OF FILTH's new lineup, which includes new guitarists Ashok (of Czech groups ROOT and INNER FEAR) and Richard Shaw (of English acts EMPEROR CHUNG and NG26).

Dani Filth recently told Australia's "Rabid Noise" podcast about the band's upcoming album: "It's sounding amazing. It's gone back to the twin-guitar harmonies — very fast and ornate and atmospherically sppoky, but [with] lots of melody. I think it's gonna surprise a lot of people."

CRADLE OF FILTH is:

Dani Filth - VocalsRichard Shaw - GuitarAshok - GuitarDaniel Firth - BassMartin Skaroupka - DrumsLindsay Schoolcraft - Keys, Female Vocals

Canadian rock legends RUSH will have both of their hometown Toronto performances — on June 17 and June 19 at the Air Canada Centre — professionally filmed and recorded. It is the first time the band will have filmed a hometown concert in almost 20 years — since the recording of RUSH's 1997 show at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre on the "Test For Echo" tour. Prior to that, they recorded the legendary "Exit…Stage Left" at Massey Hall in 1980.

Fans who have their coveted tickets to the sold-out shows in Toronto are encouraged to represent and wear RUSH shirts, bring signs and come ready with their "outside" voices.

RUSH released its 20th studio album, "Clockwork Angels", in 2012 on Anthem/Roadrunner Records. The critically acclaimed collection debuted at No. 1 in Canada and No. 2 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The "R40 Live" tour will wrap on August 1 in Los Angeles, California at the Forum.

Asked how he is feeling about the idea of retiring from the road, RUSH guitarist Alex Lifeson told The Canadian Press: "I have such mixed feelings about it. In one way, I feel relief. I think that 40 years is a long time to be touring the way we tour. I really like being home with my grandkids. At 61, I don't feel there's anything we need to prove."

He continued: "I still love playing. But in [drummer] Neil's [Peart] case, for example, his job is really tough. Playing the way he does is very, very difficult on his body. He has chronic tendonitis in his arms and he's had problems with his shoulders.

"It's just getting to the point, no matter how much we love doing it, that it's much more demanding and much more difficult."

Lifeson added: "I've always hated the idea of being one of those guys who's just up there, old and barely able to move — just doing it for fear of not doing it, or not making an extra buck or whatever.

"If this is the last major tour that we do, [I want to] go out with flying colors, where everybody remembers the show they went to as the best RUSH they've [seen].

"That's a nice legacy to leave behind — rather than the worn-out shadow of something you once were." Out now is "R40", a RUSH video box set on six Blu-ray discs or 10 DVDs. The collection includes live footage from all four decades of the band's career, including over two hours of previously unreleased material, a rare performance of "2112" in its entirety, three previously unreleased tracks from 1974, and more.

Audio snippets of the songs "Skills In Pills" and "Golden Shower" from LINDEMANN, the new project featuring vocalist Till Lindemann of German industrial metallers RAMMSTEIN and Swedish producer and multi-instrumentalist Peter Tägtgren (HYPOCRISY, PAIN), can be streamed below. The tracks are taken from LINDEMANN's debut album, "Skills In Pills", which will be released on June 23 via Warner Bros..

"Skills In Pills" will be made available in the following formats:

* Standard Edition (2-panel digipack, 28-page booklet)* Special Edition (Blu-ray-packaging, 28-page booklet, bonus track "That's My Heart")* Super Deluxe Edition (large-size book, hardcover, 80 pages, telescope-carton, CD+bonus track "That's My Heart")* Vinyl (gatefold sleeve, 28-page booklet, bonus track, includes album-download code)* Digital

In a recent interview with Revolver magazine, Lindemann stated about his decision to sing in English on "Skills On Pills": "At first, I didn't like the English sound of my voice, and so it took some time getting into it, because I never really did it before and wanted to experiment. But now I've become very proud of the way it sounds. I wanted to use this language to represent English-speaking people. Nobody speaks German outside of Germany. So I wanted to provide more access to my thoughts and lyrics to the people in Chile and Russia and France or whatever. It's a new horizon right now.'

He continued: "I think the whole aesthetic of the [LINDEMANN] music is totally different [to that of RAMMSTEIN]. It's more gothic, filled with more melodies, and isn't as harsh music as RAMMSTEIN. RAMMSTEIN's music demands German lyrics. But I feel that Peter and I found a great way to frame the English vocals. It's a big difference. Doing this with English, it was like a totally new garden was opened. In German, there are only so many things you can write about. With English, I opened the gates and I entered the garden, and I plucked my cherries. Everything was totally new."

LINDEMANN's "Praise Abort" video is the creation of director (and longtime RAMMSTEIN collaborator) Zoran Bihac, and showcases the song's dark, gruesome lyrics with a little help from some swine friends.

Speaking to U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine, Tägtgren stated about how his collaboration with Lindemann came about: "It started around 1999 or 2000, after we got to know each other. Till was helping me put vocals on one of my albums, but it never happened because we were so busy all the time. But we kept in contact, and two summers ago, RAMMSTEIN were in Sweden and Till invited me over; we talked a bit before he went on stage, and he said that RAMMSTEIN were going to have a break for two years and we should do something."

He continued: "I was starting to think of doing another PAIN album, but as soon as Till came in, that's when I really started to work. I figured I'd just keep on writing. I started triggering his ideas and he started triggering mine. All of a sudden there was no PAIN album!"

"Skills In Pills" track listing:

01. Skills In Pills02. Ladyboy03. Fat04. Fish On05. Children Of The Sun06. Home Sweet Home07. Cowboy08. Golden Shower09. Yukon10. Praise Abort11. That's My Heart

Now that he has repaired his friendship with Billy Corgan of the SMASHING PUMPKINS, Marilyn Manson has set about rebuilding the bridge with another old pal, KORN singer Jonathan Davis. According to The Pulse Of Radio, the pair were close at one point but had a falling out sometime after 2002, allegedly over drugs.

But now the relationship appears to be on the mend, with Manson telling Metal Hammer, "Jonathan and I used to be really close. We hadn’t seen each other in quite some time. Now he and I are talking about doing something completely unexpected together."

Manson did not elaborate on what they might work together on. He and Davis last joined forces in 2002 on a song called "Redeemer" for the soundtrack of the movie "Queen Of The Damned".

Manson and Corgan recently buried the hatchet and renewed their friendship after years of being estranged.

Their friendship went south in the '90s when Manson was dating actress Rose McGowan and Corgan sent a letter to Manson warning him about the actress.

When they ran into each other recently after 15 years, Manson said, "I had forgotten how close we were, having not seen him in so long."

The pair have since shared the stage a few times, and now Manson and the PUMPKINS will head out on a co-headlining North American tour beginning on July 7 in Concord, California and winding down on August 8 in Cincinnati.

Legendary Canadian thrash/heavy metal masters, Annihilator, will release their brand new (and 15th) studio album, Suicide Society, on September 18th via UDR Music, worldwide.

As usual, guitar wizard Jeff Waters handles all songwriting duties, plays all guitar & bass, engineers, produces, mixes and masters Suicide Society… and Waters is also back commanding lead vocal duties, as he did on the critically acclaimed King Of The Kill (1994), Refresh The Demon (1996), Remains (1997) and other Annihilator albums over the years.

Waters on his return to vocal duties: “Dave (Padden/vocalist from 03-14) and I have, essentially, been Annihilator since 2003 but he resigned last December, citing having had enough of touring, being away from home and other commitments. I thank him for his 11 years with Annihilator. That said, Annihilator and I are known for never giving up and, occasionally, coming up with something even better than its former offering(s): this is undeniably the case with Suicide Society!”

Waters later elaborated on his initial statement: "Those who expect a King Of The Kill vocal are in for something interesting! I intentionally tried to avoid the cliché metal vocal/rock stuff I did then (but didn't realize I was doing it then!) and weed out the bad in my voice and style; try to find the good stuff and only do those things! I guess you will be the judge but I am stoked!"

With Suicide Society, Annihilator goes headfirst into some of the most technically perfect, crisp, and crushingly taut, riffage Waters has ever produced. Although Waters’ vocals keep traces of stylings from his King Of The Kill album, they now evoke a surprising blend of legends such as Staley, Osbourne, Hetfield and Mustaine. This, in a twisted way, mirrors Waters’ signature blend of riffing, drums grooves and bass; all drawing from multiple sources and genres.

Waters has built a worldwide reputation as being a premier guitarist and songwriter; the conciseness and arrangement of “Creepin’ Again” is both an air-guitarist’s dream and a sharp reminder of this. The gloriously-brutal thrash of “My Revenge” calls up a vintage of ’85 with the technical chops of 2015. The neo-classic title track defiantly expresses anger at the state of world affairs, while offering up hope in closing. With the multi-layered power of the anthem “Snap”, Waters illustrates the diversity of Annihilator’s sound, without sacrificing one decibel of attack.

“Metal fans will likely sport evil, satisfied grins on their faces, when they hear this record”, chuckles Waters, “but in the words of Joe Perry: “Let the Music Do the Talking”!”

Tracklisting:

“Suicide Society“
“My Revenge“
“Snap“
“Creepin’ Again“
“Narcotic Avenue“
“The One You Serve“
“Break, Enter“
“Death Scent“
“Every Minute“

Audio clips:

Metal fans all across the world are aware of Annihilator’s stellar, energetic and “real” live shows. Drum monster Mike Harshaw continues on for his fourth year with the band, one familiar name returns and another is born: bassist Cam Dixon (from King Of The Kill era) returns to the fold and guitarist Aaron Homma makes his debut with the band.

Aside from the band’s upcoming, scheduled devastation at some of Europe’s mega-summer festivals, Annihilator will be headlining Europe this fall on their Europe In The Blood tour 2015. Talks are underway to bring the band to South America, Japan and likely North America in 2016.

On May 26, KFMX host Wes Nessman conducted an interview with IN THIS MOMENT singer Maria Brink at the 2015 Big Purple Party in Lubbock, Texas. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below.

Asked how it feels to be the current "go-to" singer for modern rock acts looking to collaborate with female vocalists, Brink responded: "You know, it's an honor. I think that's kind of part of some of the realization I've been having lately with some of these bands. And there's another band [that I recently worked with]. It's somebody I really, really liked a lot always and was inspired by…" After denying the group in question was SHINEDOWN, she went on to state: "I can't say [who it is]. But anyway, what I'm saying is FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, PAPA ROACH and this other band, it's cool. Even to perform [the PAPA ROACH song 'Gravity'] with [PAPA ROACH singer] Jacoby [Shaddix]… I remember back when I first listened to them [PAPA ROACH] and my career hadn't done anything yet. I was just getting ready to move to California to try to find my dream. So if somebody would have said, 'You'll be up there in front of these crowds with Jacoby,' or all these things that are happening… It's surreal. It's a blessing. And I try to stay in that gratitude and not lose the magic by being a perefectionist or all those things. I try to really appreciate it."

IN THIS MOMENT's fifth album, "Black Widow", sold 36,000 copies in the U.S. during its first week of release to debut at No. 8 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band released "Rise Of The Blood Legion – Greatest Hits (Chapter 1)" on May 5 in celebration of their first decade of work. The album includes material from IN THIS MOMENT's first four studio albums, including "Prayers", "The Promise", "Blood" and "Adrenalize". Material from "Black Widow" album does not appear.

In addition, the album comes with a DVD featuring some of their greatest video hits.

German nautical doom act Ahab have checked in with the following update:

"Quite some messaging going around with the guys of Giant Squid (a San Fransisco based band) about our album artwork. They thought our cover artwork of The Boats Of The Glen Carrig is too close to the one of a re-issue of the Ichthyologist. Unfortunately we didn't know the band or the cover. That being said: we still do not think there's much more similarity than a hand being turned into a sea-animal (two different ones, by the way)
.
Anyway, we hope this settles the argument because we (and I guess also Giant Squid) do not like bitching with fellow artists.

Now it's up to you, what to think of it."

Giant Squid posted the following message online, which Ahab gladly reposted as per their request on their Facebook page.

"Been talking with Ahab, who say they and the artist were officially and completely unfamiliar with both Giant Squid, and the Ichthyologist. So there you go. Let's chalk it up to crazy coincidence, kindred spirits thinking alike, if you will.

I love Ahab. One of my favorite bands going today. Divinity of Oceans is almost perfect and is one of the only albums from a band I've just spontaneously acclaimed out of the blue on this page. The Giant was great too, and I'm sure this new album will crush. And, as an illustrator, that album art is amazingly well done, truly beautiful. Except... eeesh, that sure reminds me of a cover of a certain landmark album by a certain band. Anyone else feeling me on this? Seems I'm not the only one calling it out in the comments. Eh, whatever I guess.

Remember that one time we wrote an album about the New Jersey shark attacks, and then another band did it two years later. Yeah, me too. Sigh..."

Check out "La Brea Tar Pits (Pseudomonas Putida)" from Giant Squid below, featuring the artwork from Ichthyologist

WSOU conducted an interview with NIGHTWISH keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen before the band's April 9 concert at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. You can now listen to the chat using the SoundCloud widget below.

Asked what it feels like to have influenced countless newer female-fronted symphonic metal bands, Tuomas responded: "Well, I don't really think about that, because we have our heroes as well. NIGHTWISH wouldn't exist without bands like THE 3RD AND THE MORTAL or METALLICA or film-music composers like Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard… These are, like, my biggest heroes, so we have our idols as well, and if we have been able to influence some other bands, that's just flattering. But I've never come across a copycat band or anything like this. And I'm a big fan of these symphonic metal bands myself, and I listen to them a lot at home."

NIGHTWISH has announced a 26-date headlining tour of North America for 2016, launching in Sayreville, New Jersey on February 19, hitting six Canadian cities plus Pittsburgh, Anaheim, and New Orleans, then closing out in Tampa, Florida on March 23. Support on the tour will come from Dutch symphonic metallers DELAIN.

NIGHTWISH last month released a new single, the title track of the band's latest album, "Endless Forms Most Beautiful", as a limited-edition MCD, 10-inch vinyl and as a download. As previously reported, the NIGHTWISH show in Vancouver, British Columbia on April 25 at The Orpheum was filmed for a future DVD release.

"Endless Forms Most Beautiful" was made available on March 27 in Europe and March 31 in the U.S. via Nuclear Blast.

The "Élan" four-track single, which arrived on February 13, features the album version of the title cut, a radio edit and an alternate version of "Élan", as well as the non-album bonus track "Sagan".

The cover artwork for "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" was created by the band's longtime collaborator Toxic Angel. Famed evolutionary biologist and atheist writer/leader Richard Dawkins appears as a guest on the effort.

Longtime NIGHTWISH drummer Jukka Nevalainen sat out the recording sessions for "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" due to health issues. He has since been replaced by Kai Hahto (WINTERSUN, SWALLOW THE SUN, TREES OF ETERNITY).

After 40 years rattling teeth, bones and ears with their legendary rock 'n' roll, you might excuse MOTÖRHEAD if they wanted to ease off. Put their feet up. Relax a little. But that's just it… this is MOTÖRHEAD. And instead, MOTÖRHEAD gleefully say a loud and hearty "bollocks" to that sort of feeble-minded thinking with their 22nd studio album, "Bad Magic", due on August 28. Bristling with thunderous attitude, pioneering spirit and some of the fiercest rhythms and riffs that'll beat your ears into submission this year, "Bad Magic" is a massive kick in the teeth for anyone who dared believe it might be otherwise. Indeed, if those people still remain, they would do well to grab some big fat earplugs, fall to their knees and pray like buggery, because big-rig head crushers like "Thunder And Lightning" and the especially l-o-u-d "Teach 'Em How To Bleed" show that MOTÖRHEAD are as strong, mean, loud, relentless, uncompromising and goddam heavy as ever. Drawing on their own vast catalogue of road-warrior freewheeling rock'n'roll spirit, "Bad Magic" also strides confidently into some of the earlier attitudes of Motörmusic. Written and recorded in the studio together, for the first time in the Kilmister/Campbell/Dee era, the more "live" approach to creating "Bad Magic" has obviously paid dividends in this regard. There is the driving malevolence of "Choking On Your Screams", with Lemmy in magnificently omnipotent vocal mood, "Electricity" carries a hefty chunk of punk attitude married with some of Phil Campbell's best lead work in years, while "Shoot Out All Of Your Lights" is all devilish, greasy biker-borne-screw-you-and yours, Mikkey Dee's tribal drums pounding out a great path for more Kilmister proclamations. The boys even enjoyed a guest appearance from QUEEN's Brian May on "The Devil", adding a scintillating solo on this thunderous Motörstomper. Produced at NRG Studios with long-time producer Cameron Webb, "Bad Magic" came together after a couple of years which saw MOTÖRHEAD enjoy their most successful international era in over two decades off the back of their last release "Aftershock". Lemmy also finally decided to face the fact he is flesh, blood and mortal like all of us, adjusting his lifestyle to kick the ass of health issues and re-emerging stronger, leaner and meaner than ever. His own personal performances on "Bad Magic" rank as some of the most wide-ranging and unique he has delivered in years, and on the ballad "Until The End", Lemmy opens up with equal levels explanation and intent on the simple but important matters which life conjures for us all. Add to all of this a wonderfully executed, gritty delivery of THE ROLLING STONES classic "Sympathy For The Devil", and it will be clear to anyone with a pair of ears that "Bad Magic" is MOTÖRHEAD's finest work in over two decades. You can also expect the road to get its ass-kicked by MOTÖRHEAD once again in the last half of 2015! Starting in mid-August, there will be a North American tour with ANTHRAX which ends with the now-legendary Motörboat cruise between September 28 and October 2 from Miami, Florida to Nassau in the Bahamas, also featuring SLAYER and ANTHRAX among a bumper lineup of bands. And MOTÖRHEAD's 40th-anniversary European winter tour will start on November 15 at Le Zenith in Paris, ending on December 6 at the Hartwell Arena in Helsinki, Finland. More dates will be announced soon.

"Bad Magic" track listing: 01. Victory Or Die02. Thunder & Lightning03. Fire Storm Hotel04. Shoot Out All Of Your Lights05. The Devil06. Electricity07. Evil Eye08. Teach Them How To Bleed09. Till The End10. Tell Me Who To Kill11. Choking On Your Screams12. When The Sky Comes Looking For You13. Sympathy For The Devil (THE ROLLING STONES cover)

A new trailer for SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS' forthcoming DVD, "Live At The Roxy 25.9.14", is available below.

On September 25, 2014, shortly after the release of their "World On Fire" album, SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS took the stage at the legendary Roxy Theatre on Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. The atmospheric venue, steeped in rock history, gave fans a brilliant opportunity to experience the band up close as they delivered a set packed with more recent solo tracks, including several from the new album, and classics from Slash's earlier career with GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER. The intimate setting inspired the band to deliver a scintillating, dynamic performance, due for release on June 16 on 3LP set, as well as 2CD, DVD and Blu-ray.

"Live At The Roxy 25.9.14" track listing:

01. Ghost 02. Nightrain 03. Back From Cali 04. You Could Be Mine 05. Rocket Queen 06. Bent To Fly 07. Starlight 08. You're A Lie 09. World On Fire 10. Anastasia 11. Sweet Child O' Mine12. Slither13. Paradise City

Additional tracks:

01. Stone Blind02. You're Crazy03. Wicked Stone 04. 30 Years To Life

Speaking about his working relationship with his backing band THE CONSPIRATORS — Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums), Todd Kerns (bass) and Frank Sidoris (touring guitarist) — Slash told Australia's Moshcam: "It's just something that clicked right from the very beginning. Initially, Myles and I just had that spark, sort of a creative connection, from the very, very beginning. And that's something that's established; it always happens when we work together. And then, with Brent and Todd, it's the same kind of thing where we just have a really great writing and performing and recording chemistry, where everybody just really digs what we are about individually and collectively, and it just works."

Asked if he thinks more in terms of being a solo artist or as a bandmember, Slash said: "I don't think I ever really thought in terms of solo artists, per se. Ever since I first started playing guitar, I've always been drawn to the band dynamic. But being in a position to steer it where I want it to go, and be more of a captain of the ship was how it first started. And at this point, now that we've been working together for a while, it definitely has turned very much into a band. But all if do is spearhead it."

Slash recently told Classic Rock magazine that he has "already started working" on material for the follow-up to "World On Fire".

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

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

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

Slash's self-titled debut album scored the highest new entry on The Billboard 200 chart in April 2010, with first-week U.S. sales of around 60,000 copies.

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

An EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for LYNCH MOB's new album, "Rebel", is available below. The CD will be released in August via Frontiers.

The first song and video from the album will be premiered next week.

In a recent interview with Myglobalmind, LYNCH MOB guitarist George Lynch stated about the band's musical approach: "I think LYNCH MOB tends to have that core sound which is the desert, loose-based, rock sound with a mystical component to it. I think that's… we inherently know that. So we always use that as our foundation, almost unconsciously, and anything that flows from that, we can go off and play the different directions and try different things, but within the context of the foundational components that make the band what it is, what it's known for. And that flows from the chemistry between Oni [Logan, vocals], myself and our history. So it's not something that we even decide to do; it just sort of happens right back from when we formed a band together. We just have a style that, even if we're in a room and I go, Okay, I'm going play this weird riff that has nothing to with anything that you'd think we'd' be about' [chuckles], it ends up becoming exactly what we're about. [laughs] That's what's neat about it. It's not like we'd have to really try to be who we are. We are who we are, and everything we play sort of conforms to that within the context of our mutual little musical struggle. We're sitting in a room together, writing. There's a chemistry there."

Asked about Logan's latest return to LYNCH MOB in time for the recording sessions for the band's 2014 EP, "Sun Red Sun", Lynch told "The Classic Metal Show": "I've loved Oni's voice and I've loved his lyrics and I love things about him, things that he does, but again, I've been frustrated my whole life with singers in general. And I just got to the point now where I just kind of let it go. I'm not trying to control the universe. I just do what I do. If people wanna work with me, they work with me. If not… I try to do the right thing. I treat everybody fairly. So Oni's back. Things are going well right now… Right now everything is wonderful. We're in our honeymoon period. It's kind of like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton; we just keep getting married over and over again. We get divorced so we can get married again."

"Sun Red Sun" featured a cover of BAD COMPANY's "Burnin' Sky", and included four remastered bonus tracks from the original "Sound Mountain Sessions" EP: "Slow Drag", "World Of Chance", "City Of Freedom" and "Sucka".

**June 4 Update**: Ozzy Osbourne has denied buying a new home in Beverly Hills, California. He tweeted earlier today: "I bought a house? That's news to Sharon and me."

The original article follows below.

According to TMZ.com, Ozzy Osbourne has purchased a home for $10 million in one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Beverly Hills, California. The English-style 5,680-square-foot estate has a Playboy-esque grotto that's covered in roses and ivy, five bedrooms, five and a half baths and a two-story guest house with its own garage.

Ozzy and his wife/manager Sharon have reportedly been renting around Los Angeles since selling their previous California residence in 2013 to Jessica Simpson for $11.5 million.

Earlier this year, Osbourne was forced to shell out $27,000 to have a colony of bats removed from his estate in Buckinghamshire, England. The bats were discovered while Ozzy was having the house renovated in May 2014, with work halted until Ozzy could comply with the Wildlife And Countryside Act of 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats Species Regulations of 2010.

Ozzy infamously bit the head off a dead bat 33 years ago at a concert in Des Moines, Iowa.

Ozzy is scheduled to take part in a month-long residency in Las Vegas called Hell Gate this fall.

I bought a house? That's news to Sharon and me.

— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) June 4, 2015

An EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for "The Life I Remember", the debut album from ONCE HUMAN, the new band featuring former MACHINE HEAD and SOULFLY guitarist Logan Mader, is available below.

When people think of Logan Mader, they remember the flying dreads, a flying V, and deadly volume, performing with the likes of MACHINE HEAD and SOULFLY. It's hard to believe, but it's been 12 years since Mader set foot onstage. Now an in-demand music producer/mixer who has worked with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, GOJIRA and PERIPHERY, he had written off the performing part of his life and settled behind the scenes.

Still, something within him stirred. Former Roadrunner A&R chief and current Nuclear Blast Entertainment head Monte Conner sent newcomer and multi-instrumentalist Lauren Hart to Logan Mader for a production deal. A creative spark between the two forged the nexus of ONCE HUMAN, as Hart moved from guitars to vocals, unsheathing a throat-scarring level of vocal brutality that completely contradicts her soft appearance. Unexpectedly, the result brought Mader back to creative life as both artist and performer.

"The creative chemistry was so on fire and the music really spoke to me. In all of my years producing, I've never been so attached and excited about a developing project," Mader said.

He continued, "It's a mix of brutal metal and melodic epic, with cinematic textures. It's unique and really has its own identity."

Mader is not closing his studio doors for producing, however. "I can do it all," he said. The rhythm section of ONCE HUMAN consists of Damian Rainauld on bass and Ralph Alexander on drums; both are newcomers, yet are insanely talented. ONCE HUMAN has inked a worldwide deal with earMUSIC, which will be unveiling the "The Life I Remember" on September 4.

The lyric video for the "The Life I Remember" title track is available 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 and performed this past Saturday, May 30 as part of the "Metal Meltdown", an all-new rockin' series in The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Fan-filmed video footage of the Vegas concert can be seen below.

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."

METALLICA has joined forces with ESPN and Circuit Of The Americas to assist the victims of the recent floods in Texas by donating all money raised from the sale of downloads of the band's show at the X Games to the American Red Cross of Central Texas. All formats of the download, including the high definition versions, are being offered at LiveMetallica.com for the very deeply discounted price of $5.00 each through July 15. Click here to pre-order the show.

The historic flooding in Texas and Oklahoma has killed at least 23 people since May 23, when huge amounts of rain fell in the two states. Latest reports say that four people died in the flash floods in Houston, and between 800 and 1,400 homes have been damaged.

METALLICA will perform at the 2015 X-Games, set to take place between June 4 and June 7 in Austin, Texas. METALLICA will headline on June 6. Other artists playing at the extreme sports showcase include Nicki Minaj, Talib Kweli, Kid Ink, PENNYWISE, JOYWAVE and more.

METALLICA frontman James Hetfield told skateboarding legend Tony Hawk in a previously released clip: "It only makes sense that people who grew up on METALLICA are wanting to continue to skate and do the cool things that they do."

Hetfield continued, "We're pretty jazzed. We're excited to get there and X-Games has been going on for a while; it's about time! The music does something to you. When athletes are already really good and the music takes them to another place, you can't explain that."

Bassist Robert Trujillo added, "It always seemed like the skaters and the surfers were really connected to the music of METALLICA… There's a connection to those type of people. It's similar energy. You see at these events they're playing a lot of hard rock metal and punk rock."

Despite insisting that work has been proceeding on a new album, METALLICA has spent a lot of time outside the studio in the last year, with activities that included a string of European all-request shows last summer, a week-long residency on "The Late Show With Craig Ferguson", and the Rock In Rio stint.

More festival dates are on the schedule for this summer, including two shows in Montreal and a headlining slot at Lollapalooza in Chicago at the end of July.

Detroit's Wulfhook have joined the Divebomb Records roster and will see the release of their debut album, The Impaler, on July 17th.

Wulfhook, having formed in 2009, is a five piece American heavy metal band from Detroit, Michigan. They have impressively self-financed three remarkable demos including 2012’s stellar Sacrifice, which are the recordings that lead to their deal with Divebomb Records.

Their debut album, The Impaler, is a culmination of years of hard work and overcoming unforeseen adversities along the way. The end result, which was mixed by Jamie King at his Basement Studios, is nothing short of magnificent. The Impaler, simply put, is an unrelenting sonic attack that reveals a band that is completely unaffected by what’s popular or what other musicians are doing and is zeroed in on exactly what will make Wulfhook stand out in the over-crowded underground scene. No tongue in cheek retro throwback, just straight up heavy metal.

Tracklisting:

“The Impaler”
“Brutal Nightmare”
“Through The Darkness”
“Bridge Burner”
“Samara’s Well”
“Eternal”
“Sacrifice”
“Devil’s Harlot”
“Tormentor”
“Atomic Punk”

“Brutal Nightmare”:

Forth Worth, TX's ominous and experimental post-everything duo, Pinkish Black, have completed the recording of their upcoming third full-length and Relapse Records debut. Recorded at Echo Lab studios in Argyle, TX this past February, the album will see afFall release.

Additionally, Pinkish Black have announced a series of summer tour dates with Norwegian noise-rockers Årabrot. The dates kick off in Austin, TX on July 14th and a complete listing of dates including a Texas show with Neurosis is listed below.

Consisting of Jon Teague (drums/synths) and Daron Beck (vocals/synths/keyboards), Pinkish Black formed in 2010 from the ashes of The Great Tyrant and have released two records.

Additionally, Relapse will release the final works by their original group, The Great Tyrant, entitled The Trouble With Being Born, alongside the release of the new album. More details on that will be announced shortly.  

Pinkish Black tour dates:

July
14 - Austin, TX - Holy Mountain (with Årabrot)
15 - New Orleans, LA - Siberia (with Årabrot)
16 - Atlanta, GA - 529 (with Årabrot)
17 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 (with Årabrot)
18 - Richmond, VA - Strange Matter (with Årabrot)
19 - New York, NY - The Studio at Webster Hall (with Årabrot)

August
16 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live (with Neurosis, Brothers Of The Sonic Cloth)

Fan-filmed video footage of AC/DC's June 2 performance at Estadio Vicente Calderón in Madrid, Spain can be seen 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.

Godhunter vs. Destroyer Of Light: Endsville, a collection of brand new end-time material from both acts, is being finalized for co-release between the two acts this summer. Additionally, the bands will collaborate on a major widespread tour together, with tour dates listed below.

Godhunter vs. Destroyer Of Light: Endsville bears twenty minutes of new material and a cover track from each band. Tucson/Vancouver-situated sludge faction, Godhunter, captured the tunes for their platter at WaveLab Studios in Tucson by Dana Fehr (North, Juarez), the newest in a steady line of titles since their 2014-released debut LP, City Of Dust, including their GH/OST:S split LP with Secrets Of The Sky and The Outer Dark collaborative 7" with Amigo The Devil. The adjoining slab by Austin-based psychedelic doom outfit, Destroyer Of Light, follows the band's 2012-released self-titled debut album and 2014's Bizarre Tales Vol. II EP, recorded at Orb Recording Studios in Austin, engineered and mixed by Matt Meli. The entire album was then mastered by James Plotkin.

The two 12" EPs will be united in a gatefold setup on two different colors of vinyl, in addition to a digital release, the cover artwork to feature custom sculpture art by Bestia Dentro and photography by Andrew Weiss. Endsville will see a collaborative release through Godhunter co-owned Battleground Records and Destroyer Of Light's Heavy Friends Records on July 28th.

Directly in conjunction with the release of Endsville, Godhunter and Destroyer Of Light will collaborate on a major widespread tour together, which will see them both raiding the East Coast US for the first time. While previously only the rough skeletal city itinerary of the trek has been announced, this week nearly every one of the twenty-five venues on the tour has been declared. The tour includes both bands' participation in the first Death To False Metal Festival in Hamden, Connecticut on August 14th and 15th with Whiplash, Krieg, Secrets Of The Sky, Valkyrie, Imperial Triumphant, Nightbitch, Immortal Bird, Secret Cutter and more.

 

 

Endsville 2015 Tour:

July
29 - Club Congress - Tucson, AZ
30 - Yucca Tap Room - Tempe, AZ
31 - The Sandlot - El Paso, TX

August
1 - The Launchpad - Albuquerque, NM
2 - Seventh Circle - Denver, CO
3 - The Hideout - Omaha, NE
4 - Triple Rock - Minneapolis, MN
5 - TBA - Chicago, IL
6 - Fat Guy Fest - Kalamazoo, MI
7 - Fifth Quarter - Indianapolis, IN
8 - Magnolia Bar - Louisville, KY
9 - Pour House - Raleigh, NC
10 - The Empty Glass - Charleston, WV
11 - Gooski's - Pittsburgh, PA
12 - Mohawk Place - Buffalo, NY
13 - Saint Vitus Bar - Brooklyn, NY
14 - KoTo - Salem, MA
15 - The Outer Space & Ballroom - Hamden, CT @ Death To False Metal Fest
16 - Kung Fu Necktie - Philadelphia, PA
17 - TBA - Baltimore, MD
18 - Thomas Creek Brewery - Greenville, SC
19 - The Basement - Atlanta, GA
20 - Vino's - Little Rock, AR
21 - Saturn Bar - New Orleans, LA
22 - Holy Mountain - Austin, TX

 

Due to some musical and personal differences the Dutch death/trash band KhaoZ and both vocalist Johan and guitarist Erik-Jan decided to part ways. KhaoZ wants to thank both musicians for the six years of hard work, and a hell of a good time.   

The change in line-up will come with some musical changes. KhaoZ was known for their dual vocals by Johan (screams) and Olav Bus (grunts). Olav will combine Johans parts with his own, which will create a new sound for KhaoZ. Michel Alderliefsten is the remaining guitarist and will fill in the blancs Erik-Jan has left for him.   

The new line-up can be viewed above (from left to right): Edwin Nederkoorn (drums), Michel Alderliefsten (guitars), Olav Bus (vocals) and Robin Zwiep (bass guitar).

The band recently released a new CD with the German record company Godeater Records called I, Creator of Damnation. The band will continue to promote this album, starting with the CD-presentation at the Boothill Saloon at Amersfoort on June 19th, and headlining the Dutch festival 'Willems Wondere Weiland' on July 4th.

During 2015 and at the end of 2014 KhaoZ already performed in the new line-up at several shows. He're is an idea of what the band sounds like nowadays:

Norwegian Avant-garde rockers Virus have signed a deal with Karisma Records that will see the label release the band's fourth full-length album. Alongside a recent busy touring schedule, Virus have been writing and honing material for the new album which will be titled Memento Collider and the band is currently at work on it in studio. Memento Collider is scheduled for release this winter, and more details will follow.

Virus was formed in 2000 from the ashes of ‘90s avant-garde black metal project Ved Buens Ende by Carl "Czral" Michael Eide with the idea of creating a new kind of experimental metal / rock. With Czral on guitars and vocals, he brought with him bassist Petter "Plenum" Berntsen and drummer Einar "Einz" Sjursø and the band recorded their only demo that same year.

Having been picked up almost immediately by Jester Records, Virus released their debut album Carheart in 2003, but Czral's accident in 2005, which hospitalized him for a year, resulted in the band going on hiatus until the release of their sophomore album The Black Flux on Season Of Mist in 2008. An album, incidentally, that earned them the title of Album of the Year in several publications, as did 2011's follow up album The Agent That Shapes The Desert, which was released on the band's own label Virulent Music.

Virus' live debut came in 2011, and aside from club appearances and tours in both Europe and the US since then, the band has appeared at a variety of prestigious festivals.

Fan-filmed footage of Virus performing a new song from the upcoming album in New York:

Klonosphere Records announces the signing of Kaets, a young thrash/death metal band from Châtellerault, France. The quintet are currently finalizing the recordings of their debut album, Human Machine, which is set for release in September and will feature ten new songs, including the first single “My Creation”, now streaming below.

A pre-order campaign is underway to help fund the recordings of Human Machine. More details can be found here.

Formed in 2009 by vocalist Ludo and guitarist Vivien, Kaets is a young quintet from Châtellerault, France, whose sound can be described as a mix of modern thrash-metal with some hard-hitting and groovy death-metal. Following several lineup changes, the group finally stabilized in 2012 with the addition of bassist Samuel, guitarist Benjamin and drummer Sylvain and recorded their first demo entitled Funny Things Of Life, which received some enthusiastic reviews in the French press and allowed them to open up for bands like Klone, Zuul Fx and Beyond The Styx.

Marquee Records have delved into the album crypts and are emerging with speed metal classic: Abattoir’s Vicious Attack.

Los Angeles in the mid 1980’s will always be remembered for its heyday of the Sunset Strip music scene. But a fierce LA band by the name of Abattoir also made a definite impression in their own right. The big break came when they released the track “Screams From The Grave”, featuring John Cyriis who would later join Agent Steel, via Metal Blade Records compilation series Metal Massacre IV. A local radio DJ soon placed the song on regular rotation during his weekly show, The Mighty Metal Hour on KMET, and from there the band's career skyrocketed. Abattoir went from playing to crowds of 150 to 600 plus, well beyond many club capacities.

Spearheaded by guitarists Mark ‘The Shark’ Caro and Juan Garcia`s heavy bone-crushing riffs, the fierce rhythmic backbone of drummer Robert Wayne, bassist Mel Sanches and topped off by the blood-curdling screams of new vocalist Steve Gaines, Abattoir set out to follow up on their marginal success and record their first demo on a $3,000 budget. The finished effort was appropriately titled, Vicious Attack, and renowned metal label Combat Records, home to Megadeth, Possessed and Exodus, and a label that would go on to sign metal greats such as Death and Nuclear Assault, loved it so much they offered to press and release it without any further enhancements (other than omitting Garcia and Wayne from the album's credits who had since moved on, and instead displaying a photo of the new line-up completed by guitarist Danny Oliverio and drummer Danny Anaya, later of MX Machine).

Abattoir quickly gained widespread acclaim for both the album and their energetic, and at times unpredictable, live performances. The band soon graced the pages of national metal magazines such as Rip, Metal Hammer, Kerrang! and Metal Forces furthering the band`s indelible reputation. The Vicious Attack album sold exceptionally well for an indie label debut and helped set the standards for many with its raw speed metal and street-level aggression. Some records you can walk away from unscathed, but this one leaves its mark.

30 years later, having been originally released in 1985, Marquee Records are planning a reissue of the classic debut on June 22. Preorders are being taken at this location.

“Screams From The Grave”:

Brian Tichy, creator of the "Randy Rhoads Remembered" celebration events and producer of the "Randy Rhoads Remembered Vol. I" CD (currently receiving stellar reviews), and his partner Joe Sutton held a "Randy Rhoads Remembered: Rhoads Across America" tour date on May 28 at 1150 Oak Bar And Grill in Cranston, Rhode Island. Fan-filmed video footage of the entire concert can be seen below. Check out photos and a review at HeavyMetalHill.com.

The following musicians took part in the event, among others:

* Dewey Bragg (KILL DEVIL HILL) – Vocals* Chas West (RED DRAGON CARTEL, BONHAM) - Vocals* Stephen LeBlanc (JASON BONHAM'S LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE) - Keyboards* Marzi Montazeri (PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS)* Mike Orlando (ADRENALINE MOB) - Guitar* Jeff Watson (NIGHT RANGER) - Guitar* Phil X (BON JOVI, THE DRILLS) - Guitar* Kelle Rhoads (Randy's brother) - Vocals* Phil Soussan (OZZY OSBOURNE) - Bass* Brian Tichy (OZZY OSBOURNE, WHITESNAKE) - Drums, Guitar

After another packed "Randy Rhoads Remembered" show at the Observatory in Santa Ana, California on January 23 during the NAMM weekend and the release on that same day of the highly praised "Randy Rhoads Remembered Vol. I" CD, Tichy and Sutton received so much positive feedback from artists and fans alike, they knew a tour celebrating the life of Randy Rhoads and supporting "Randy Rhoads Remembered Vol. I" would allow them to continue to develop the idea they, along with all the other performers, were so passionate about. It would also make it possible for many others to experience this event rather than only watch audience footage on the Internet.

Tichy said: "I love Randy Rhoads! He came into my life right at the same time I was learning guitar: 1980. He made me want to learn every note he played. I was already a drummer, but the guitar was right there with the drums, and a lot of that initial inspiration came from Randy's playing on 'Blizzard Of Ozz'. I didn't know what I was doing, but I really wanted to play like Randy Rhoads."

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/randyrhoadsremembered.

Bulgarian metal opera/art project, Pagliacci, has released a video for their debut single, "Black Flowers". The song will be a part of their upcoming concept album, The Village Of Madmen.

"Black Flowers" chronicles, “the dramatic end of Harlequin's quest in search of his lost love climaxing in his encounter with madness. Or enlightenment. Or both.”

Pagliacci is founded by two of the members of the symphonic metal act Allegorist – Zhivko Koev (keys, music, lyrics) and Katerina Simeonova (vocals). The duo is also part of Vivaldi Metal Project – an all-star symphonic metal undertaking boasting members of YES, Scorpions, Helloween, Symphony X, Rhapsody Of Fire and others.

“Black Flowers” features guest appearances by Ghost Warfare’s Dimitar Naydev (vocals), Allegorist’s Yordan Yordanov (guitars), Dez Marinkov (drums) and Vassil Valchev (bass).