ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante (pictured below) has commented on the passing of SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who died at about 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 2 near his Southern California home. He was 49. Hanneman was in an area hospital when he suffered liver failure.

Said Charlie: "Jeff had a great fucking laugh; I heard it quite a bit throughout the years. The man who wrote such lyrics as 'feel the knife pierce you intensely' had a great sense if humor. I will remember him for the music he gave and the intensity he brought our metal world."

Hanneman had been on hiatus from SLAYER since early 2011, when he contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating disease that doctors believed might have been caused by a spider bite. Hanneman almost lost his arm, and was briefly placed in a medically induced coma. After a series of skin grafts, he had been working on his physical rehabilitation. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his sister Kathy and his brothers Michael and Larry.

WHITESNAKE's new two-CD live album, "Made In Britain/The World Record", will be released in Japan on June 19 via Ward Records. Disc 1, "Made In Britain", includes the best takes of the shows in Britain in June 2011 and Disc 2, "The World Record", contains the rare tracks from the shows in Europe and America on the "Forevermore" tour.

Asked about the decision to release two separate live albums — "Made In Japan" and "Made In Britain" — several months apart, WHITESNAKE frontman David Coverdale told Sweden's Metalshrine: "We didn't plan the Japanese project. You know, the Japanese tour was booked and we were invited to headline at Loud Park and I hadn't headlined a Japanese music festival since 1984, so that was a very exciting premise for me. They made a very generous offer and then asked if they could film three songs for a TV special. We said OK and my co-producers, Doug Aldrich and Michael McIntyre, and I, mixed the three songs and obviously watching the video and going crazy. It looked fantastic and we had them send over the rest of the footage and thought, 'This could be a fabulous follow-up to 'Still Of The Night'.' And where we are now, featuring new songs for the first time. The record company we work with, Frontiers, they were absolutely positive in their response, so we added that to the mix.

"What we're doing with the 'Made In Britain' CD, is giving it a different sonic identity. The CD from 'Made In Japan' is a soundtrack and the bonus stuff features behind-the-scenes, soundcheck stuff we recorded in different Japanese venues. Having fun with some our songs, like trying an unplugged version of 'Good To Be Bad' and 'Tell Me How' from the 'Forevermore' album. Stuff that people normally don't get to hear. For the second CD, it's 'WHITESNAKE the world record.' We're taking songs from all over different cities, like Oslo and there might be a Sweden Rock. I'm not sure if we legally can do that. Stuff from Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Rio. It's two entirely different projects, and for the end of the year, we're hoping to achieve a limited-edition box set for Christmas, called 'Forevermore - The Complete Collection', which will have everything 'Forevermore'-related plus outtakes, alternate mixes, acoustic versions of songs, behind-the-scenes footage. Really cool stuff.

"Made In Britain/The World Record" track listing:

Disc 1 - "Made In Britain"

01. Best Years
02. Give Me All Your Love Tonight
03. Love Ain't No Stranger
04. Is This Love
05. Steal Your Heart Away
06. Forevermore
07. Love Will Set You Free
08. My Evil Ways
09. Fare Thee Well
10. Heart Of The City
11. Fool For Your Loving
12. Here I Go Again
13. Still Of The Night


Disc 2 - "The World Record"

01. Bad Boys
02. Slide It In
03. Lay Down Your Love
04. Pistols At Dawn
05. Snake Dance
06. Can You Hear The Wind Blow
07. Fare Thee Well
08. One Of These Days
09. The Badger
10. The Deeper The Love
11. Soldier Of Fortune
12. Burn / Stormbringer
13. Ain't Gonna Cry No More (Acoustic) *

* Bonus track for Japan

Extreme pagan metallers FORTID have begun work on what will be the band’s fifth full-length album. Recording is set to take place in the early summer, and, whilst not wanting to give too much away, the band have revealed that all the lyrics for the album will be in Icelandic and that they already have a lot of material, more so than for previous albums. The as yet untitled album will be the follow up to 2012’s Pagan Prophecies.
Formed in Iceland in 2002 by Einar Thorberg as a solo project, Fortid’s reputation was firmly established following the release of three full-length albums. Collectively known as the Völuspá Trilogy, the three albums, Thor’s Anger, The Arrival of Fenris and Fall of the Ages, were released between 2002 and 2010. Between the release of the second and third parts of the Trilogy, Thorberg moved to Norway where he recruited a permanent line up and Fortid became a fully functioning studio and live band. Aside from Thorberg on guitars and vocals Fortid’s current lineup includes Øystein Hansen (ex-THORNBOUND) on guitars, Rikard Jonsson (FORSEFED HORSEHEAD, ex DEJECT) on bass and Daniel Theobald (CURSE, DEN SAAKALDTE, ETHERIAL FOREST, SARKOM) on drums.
Fortid is set to play the remaining three dates of the Northern Darkness Tour in May along with Sweden’s GRÁ and Finland’s ANTAGONIST ZERO.

Dates are as follows:

May
9 - PRKL Club - Helsinki, Finland
10 - Taidetehdas - Porvoo, Finland
11 - Club Tapper - Tallinn, Estonia

More information about Fortid can be found on the band’s Facebook page here.

Live footage of the Fortid playing the track 'Ragnarök Army from the East' from the album Völuspá Part III Fall Of The Ages can be seen below:

Finland-based dark rockers VERGIL will release their new album Life Is A Slow Death on May 31st. The album was recorded at MSP studio in Riihimäki, Finland and was mixed and mastered by Olli Haaranen (COLOSSEUM, YEARNING) at Gloomsound studio, Helsinki, Finland. The album will be distributed in Europe by My Kingdom Music and in US by CD Baby distribution.

Check out the album art and tracklisting below.
Life Is A Slow Death tracklist:

'Hurt Still Stains Thee'
'Life Is A Slow Death'
'Gates'
'Nepenthean Kiss'
'The Vanity'
'Enlightened'
'Tomorrow Will Be Worse'
'Beatrice'
'Nightingale'

The title track from the album can heard below:
For more details on Vergil visit Facebook.

Long-running Gothenburg-based progressive heavy metal band DESTINY have been reunited with their drummer Kane after fifteen years.

According to a band update, "Kane first joined Destiny in 1994. Then known as Håkan Svantesson he recorded the album The Undiscovered Country (released in 1998) before quitting both Destiny and playing the drums. Some years later Kane once again picked up his drums and made a serious comeback playing with bands like EVIL'S EVE and FRETLESS amongst others. When Roger Christiansson a couple of weeks ago suddenly and unexpectedly decided to leave Destiny, Kane was the obvious first choice to replace him. After just a few rehearsals Kane had picked up most of the songs for the new live set and agreed to rejoin Destiny. Destiny today consist of singer Jonas Heidgert, bassist Stefan Björnshög, guitarist Michael Åberg, keyboardist Carl Dahlberg and drummer Kane."
Destiny is celebrating its 30th Anniversary with the digital worldwide release of their back catalog via 44 Skull Records and a new album called The Incompatibility Of Philosophical Terminology. Another completely new album, Global Warming, is almost completed and will be released in 2014.
For more details visit Destinymetal.com.

PRIMAL FEAR frontman Ralf Scheepers has checked in with the following update:

"I'm taking the opportunity to wish my best friends from the band VOODOO CIRCLE much success and fun for their forthcoming tour! Next Saturday we will share the same stage in Schiffweiler close to Saarbrücken, Germany.

In other news I will team up with Mat Sinner (Primal Fear/bass) after their tour to write some new lyrics and vocal melodies. Once again, we all knew it will be really hard to top our last album Unbreakable, but from what we have so far as new material it will be simply amazing and yes, we WILL top last one! Cheers!"
As previously reported, Frontiers Records and Primal Fear have renewed their partnership for another multi album deal which will include two more studio albums and one further Live CD and DVD. The band is already in advanced stages for the songwriting of the next studio album, which will be recorded during the summer of 2013 and released in early 2014.

Primal Fear bass player, songwriter and producer Mat Sinner said: "We're very excited about the final news that we will renew our contract with Frontiers Records for some more albums. My personal thanks go out to Serafino and Mario for their patience to deal with me. The band is very happy to continue with Frontiers Records after the release of our worldwide most successful album "Unbreakable" and their great work. We plan to enter the recording studio during the summer to record a new, ass kicking, pure metal album!"

Frontiers Records President Serafino Perugino added: "Working with Mat, Ralf and the other guys from Primal Fear is truly a professional delight. Not only they are among some of the true living talents of Heavy Metal music, but also outstanding professionals who live up to their word and to the expectations that all the fans have from them. Long Live Primal Fear!"

Chicago metallers CRUSADER have released the album art work for the forthcoming album, Onward To Battle. The artwork was painted by local Chicago area artist Eugene Jaworski, who has done covers for bands like RISE AGAINST and 88 FINGERS LOUIE. Check out the artwork below:

The band hit the studio in early January 2013 to record their follow up to the EP Rise Of Yhe Templars. Crusader does not have a release date, but are aiming for late May/early June for this epic release.

For more info visit Facebook.

According to an update from STONE SOUR, members of their official fanclub can now listen to the 2005 demo of 'Through Glass'. Log-in or join here here to listen.

Check out the album version of the song below:
On July 15th, Da Capo Press will publish the second book from SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman COREY TAYLOR entitled, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Heaven (Or, How I Made Peace With The Paranormal And Stigmatized Zealots And Cynics In The Process).

The 256 page hardcover is available for pre-order via the Amazon link below. A paperback version will go on sale in June 2014.
In this book, Corey Taylor undertakes something never before attempted in the history of rock superstardom: he takes you with him as he journeys undercover through various ghostbusting groups who do their best to gather information and evidence about the existence of spirits. Some are more credible than others, and, frankly, some are completely insane, but all are observed with appropriate seriousness as Taylor attempts to better understand some of the spooky things that have happened to him in his life, especially that night at the Cold House. But that’s not all, folks. Taylor once again gives you a behind-the-scenes tour of his crazy life and the many beyond-the-grave events he’s encountered. (You’ll be shocked how often Slipknot has been invaded by the supernatural.) Taylor also touches on his religious background and how it led him to believe in much more than the Man in the Sky.

Melodic progressive power metal act ARTIZAN will release their new album, Ancestral Energy, on May 10th via Pure Steel Records. The album artwork was created by Eliran Kantor, who has accumulated an extensive body of work including pieces for TESTAMENT, HATEBREED, SIGH, ATHEIST and AGHORA. Check it out below:
Tracklisting:

'I Am The Storm'
'The Raven Queen'
'The Guardian'
'The Death Of Me'
'Deep Ocean Dreams'
'You Can’T Take The Metal'
'Ancestral Energy'

'I Am The Storm' is streaming below:
An official promo trailer can be viewed below:
According to a press release, "Ancestral Energy will definitely surprise its listeners. The melody lines are more sophisticated and will carry you away; the arrangements are more intense, but will still keep you feeling uplifted. Songs like the opener 'I Am The Storm', 'Deep Ocean Dreams' or the single 'The Death Of Me' will have you singing them out loud, but every time you hear them you will find something new; these songs simply do not wear off. The monumental title track, which includes a very well-done guest performance by ex-ICED EARTH singer Matt Barlow, is clearly a masterpiece and not only showcases Braden and Barlow's vocal prowess, but presents all the band's strengths as a whole. And the variable drumming of Ty Tammeus is something which you won't find so easily with other bands. Productions these days often seem only to sound like compressed plastic or an imitation of music from 40 years ago. This latest release by Artizan shows you how it's done properly! Ancestral Energy has a production which is authentic and natural, but also powerful and balanced. That's how melodic metal is supposed to sound in the year 2013!"
The band recently released an advance single and video for Ancestral Energy. The single, titled ‘The Death Of Me’, showcases all of the elements Artizan established on their first album Curse Of The Artizan. ‘The Death Of Me’ can now be downloaded via the Soundcloud stream below:
Ancestral Energy was recorded at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida with legendary metal producer Jim Morris.

Visit Artizan on Facebook.

PTSD have released the official video for the track 'Event Horizon', featured on their new album, A Sense Of Decay, to be released on May 20th via My Kingdom Music. Watch the new clip, as well as a lyric video for the track, below:
A free download of 'Event Horizon' is available at this location.

A Sense Of Decay tracklisting:

'Event Horizon'
'A Reason To Die'
'Parasomnia'
'Staring The Stormwall'
'Suicide Attitude'
'A Sense Of Decay'
'Breathless'
'Solar Matter Loss'
'By A Thread'
'Heavy On My Heart' (Anastacia cover)
'...If?'
'Event Horizon' (Forgotten Sunrise rmx)

The album artwork can be seen below:
Recorded with the presence on drum of Marco Minnemann (KREATOR, NECROPHAGIST, EPHEL DUATH, etc.) and mixed and mastered by Jim Caruana (AEROSMITH, LENNY KRAVITZ), A Sense Of Decay will include a remix performed by Forgotten Sunrise and a cover of the ANASTACIA anthem 'Heavy On My Heart', performed with the new drummer Marco Lancs.

Watch the official album teaser below:
More on PTSD at this location.

Leipzig, Germany-based VICTORIUS will release their second self-produced album, The Awakening, via Berlin based Sonic Attack Records, the new label of former Noise Records Boss Walterbach, and an off-shoot of his new management firm. Produced by FREEDOM CALL guitarist Lars Rettkowitz, The Awakening is a "a convincing work of energetic, technically advanced pure metal," according to a press release.

The Awakening release dates:
Europe: June 24th
Germany: June 21st
US/Canada: July 16th
The Awakening tracklisting:

'Age Of Tyranny'
'Starfire'
'The Awakening'
'Lake Of Hope'
'Under Burning Skies'
'Black Sun'
'Demon Legions'
'Through The Dead Lands'
'Call For Resistance'
'Kings Reborn'
'Metal Heart'



Victorius line-up:
David Baßin - vocals
Andreas Dockhorn - bass
Patrick Ziege - drums
Sebastian Rasch - guitar
Dirk Scharsich - guitar

Relapse Records has announced the long awaited reissue of New York death metal legends SUFFOCATION’s debut release Human Waste on vinyl for the first time in over ten years!
The EP, originally released in 1991 as the first CD ever released on Relapse Records, is now available once again on wax. This edition marks the first time the band’s much sought after Involuntary Slaughter and Reincremation demos are available on vinyl.

Human Waste, a seminal release in the death metal pantheon, proved to be the catalyst that launched the career for one of death metal’s most influential bands in addition to solidifying Relapse as one of the most important labels in extreme music.

The limited edition repress will be available in stores on June 25th and is currently available for pre-order via Relapse at this location. Pressing information is as follows:

First Press:
400 x Blood Red (Relapse Mailorder Only)
600 x Blue
1000 x Black
100 x Clear (not available to the public)

Suffocation recently released their seventh full-length, Pinnacle Of Bedlam, and will be touring Europe from May 9th to June 8th with CEPHALIC CARNAGE, HAVOK and FALLUJAH. A complete list of dates can be found below.

May
9 - Geneva, Switzerland - L'Usine
10 - Essen, Germany - Turock
11 - Brussels, Belgium - Magasin 4
12 - Drachten, Holland - Poppodium Iduna
13 - London, UK - O2 Academy Islington
14 - Brighton, UK - Audio
15 - Manchester, UK - NQ Live
16 - Dublin, Ireland - The Pint
17 - Glasgow, UK - Classic Grand
18 - Plymouth, UK - White Rabbit
19 - Nantes, France - Ferrailleur
20 - Paris, France - Glazart
21 - Rotterdam, Holland - Baroeg
22 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Pumpehuset
23 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Truckstop Alaska
26 - Helsinki, Finland - Nosturi
28 - Hamburg, Germany - Logo
29 - Berlin, Germany - Lido
30 - Cracow, Poland - Kwadrat
31 - Wroclaw, Poland - Liverpool Club

June
1 - Leipzig, Germany - Conne Island
2 - Darmstadt, Germany - Steinbruch Theater
3 - Wien, Austria - Viper Room
4 - Ljubljana, Slovenia - Gala Hala
5 - Bologna, Italy - Freakout
6 - Rome, Italy - Traffic Live
7 - Aarau, Switzerland - Kiff
8 - München, Germany - Backstage

Former MISFITS vocalist MICHALE GRAVES "wanted to share with you that I am creating a new album based on the reception of the Vagabond album and the reception I am getting on tour – for the acoustic songs I am doing live. All of this is centered on the acoustic show I did for Joe Misfit and Maggie Misfit at their lovely home (home of the Joe Misfit Collection) last December. More info to come shortly.”
Catch Michale Graves live at the following venues:

May
2 - Vaudville Mews - Des Moines, Iowa
3 - Donnie's Homespun - Springfield, Illinois
4 - Whites Bar - Saginaw, Michigan
5 - I-Rock Nightclub - Detroit, Michigan
7 - Cobra Lounge - Chicago, Illinois
8 - The Demo - St. Louis, Missouri
10 - New Daisy Theatre - Memphis, Tennessee
14 - Berlin Music Pub - Fort Wayne, Indiana
15 - Smith's Downtown Tap and Grill - Mishawaka, Indiana
16 - Aldos - Altoona, Pennsylvania
17 - The Cup - Staten Island, New York
18 - The Brighton Bar - Long Branch, New Jersey
19 - 10th Street Live - Kenilworth, New Jersey
24 - The Dover Brickhouse - Dover, New Hampshire
25 - The Boneyard - Atlantic City, New Jersey

Cyprus-based metallers ARRAYAN PATH return with their new, fourth album, titled IV: Stigmata.

According to a press release, IV: Stigmata is a more fierce and dark album and it is a concept album dealing with religion. Everything that has defined Arrayan Path over the years however – superb and very melodic compositions, passionate performances and excellent atmospheric parts and some of the best metal vocals ever – are all there, unfolded through the album’s 12 tracks.

The album’s production, mixing and mastering was handled once again by the very capable Vagelis Maranis (ex-SANVOISEN) who also created some beautiful choirs using just his own voice. More guest appearances on the album include vocals by Jimmy Mavrommatis (ARMAGEDDON), guitar solos by Kikis Apostolou (Armageddon), Alexis Kleidaras (ex-DECEPTOR) and George Kousa.
IV: Stigmata will be released worldwide on June 10th and it will also be available through all major MP3 stores. The CD version includes a bonus track, 'Mystic Moon', which is a re-recording of the opening song of the band’s first demo. Another bonus track ('Charming Paranoia') will be available as an exclusive download. A special edition of the album (limited to 50 numbered copies) will include the new album as a CD/cassette bundle with both covers signed by singer Nicholas Leptos.

The song, 'Midnight And The First-born Massacre', is already available for streaming and free download below, while all album pre-orders from the Pitch Black Records online store here will receive access to 'Charming Paranoia', the bonus download track of the album.

IV: Stigmata tracklisting:
'Clepsydra'
'The Bible Bleeds'
'Midnight And The First-born Massacre'
'Judas Iscariot'
'Stigmata'
'Cursed Canaan'
'Pharaoh’s Wish'
'Harbingers of Death'
'Disguising your Soul'
'The Storyteller'
'Mystic Moon' (Bonus Track)
'Charming Paranoia' (Bonus Download Track)

'Midnight And The First-born Massacre':
Arrayan Path is:
Nicholas Leptos – vocals
Socrates Leptos – guitars
George Kallis – keyboards
Paris Lambrou – bass
Stefan Dittrich – drums

The fourth album from Japan’s death/doom metal kings COFFINS will finally arrive this summer in the form of The Fleshland, the band’s maiden LP under the banner of Relapse Records.

The Fleshland will be the first proper studio album from Coffins since their commended Buried Death album, released by 20 Buck Spin in 2008, undoubtedly making it one of the most awaited death/doom albums of 2013. Recorded late 2012/early 2013 at Tokyo’s Noise Room Studio with engineer Shigenori Kobayashi, and produced by Bungo Uchino and the rest of Coffins, The Fleshland shows the revamped and expanded band lineup smashing down everything in their path, having upped the lineup from a trio to a quartet with a new drummer and full-time vocalist since Buried Death. Nine grisly numbers thunder with the unbeatable mid-paced Coffins stomp, laying down over forty-five minutes of bruising low-end sludge-infiltrated, plodding doom with possibly the best production values in the band’s meaty catalog of carnage.

Relapse will roll out The Fleshland via CD, download and mammoth 2xLP, the bloodsoaked opus now locked for a North American release date of July 9th. In addition, a deluxe black and white artwork edition on 2xLP, Cassette and CD will be made available only via Relapse direct.

The album’s cover art, created once again by Chris Moyen, can be seen below:
The Fleshland tracklisting:

'Here Comes Perdition'
'Hellbringer'
'The Colossal Hole'
'No Saviour'
'The Vacant Pale Vessel'
'Rotten Disciples'
'Dishuman'
'The Unhallowed Tide'
'Tormentopia'

Check out an album trailer below:
Coffins lineup:

Bungo Uchino - guitars/vocals
Takuya Koreeda - bass/vocals
Ryo Yamada - vocals
Satoshi Hikida - drums
More on Coffins at this location.

Stockholm, Sweden based rockers DYNAZTY check in with the following updates:

"As you probably know by now Joel Fox Apelgren (bass) recently left the band. This is not the only change happening in the Dynazty camp right now. We recently also parted ways with both our management and record company. A conscious choice on our part. The management will be strictly handled by ourselves from now on.
A new album is in it's final stages of the writing process and will be recorded this summer. The album will have a release date once we've found a record deal that we are 110% certain will be absolutely right for us. This new album will musically see us embark in a slightly different journey than before, updating ourselves to where we sonically want to be right now. Thank you for your time and feel free to share if you'd like! Godspeed!"

(Photo by Karl Nordgaard)

Swedish hard rockers IMPERA have tapped producer/engineer Lars Chriss (LION’S SHARE) to mix their sophomore studio CD, Pieces Of Eden, tentatively due in September.

A video clip of the band in the studio can be seen below:
Impera is:

Tommy Denander (TOTO, PAUL STANLEY, MICHAEL JACKSON, ALICE COOPER) - Guitar
Matti Alfonzetti (JAGGED EDGE, SCOTT GORHAM, SKINTRADE, ROAD TO RUIN, RED WHITE & BLUES) - Vocals
J.K. Impera (BRUCE KULICK, GRAHAM BONNET, VINNIE VINCENT, JOHN CORABI, BRIAN ROBERTSON) - Drums
Mats Vassfjord (VINNIE VINCENT, JOHN CORABI, SCAAR, GRAND DESIGN, LANEY'S LEGION) - Bass
Impera is described as "the perfect amalgamation of everything that makes rock roll with the punches. A guitar player who, seemingly effortlessly, delivers stunning solos and riffs of that classic, timeless grit you thought were killed off by grunge. Pounding bass that will put you through the wall. Blistering drumming that's as solid as it is technically challenging. And on top of all that, add a vocalist that sings circles around the competition."

More on Impera at this location.

Inner Wound Recordings will release Swedish melodic hard rock band SAFFIRE's debut album, From Ashes To Fire, on May 17th in Europe and North America.
From Ashes To Fire was mixed by Fredrik Nordström & Henrik Udd at Studio Fredman (AT THE GATES, IN FLAMES, HAMMERFALL) and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (SYMPHONY X, OPETH, KREATOR). The artwork for the album was created by Anders Fästader at A Trailermade Production (H.E.A.T., HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, THE POODLES).
From Ashes To Fire tracklisting:

'Magnolia'
'Kingdom Of The Blind'
'Freedom Call'
'End Of The World'
'What If'
'A Symphony Unheard'
'Paralyzed'
'Modus Vivendi'
'The Betrayer's Fate'
'She Remains A Mystery'
'Say Goodbye'
'The Redemption'
'Stormy Waters'

The new video, for the track 'Magnolia', can be seen below:
Check out an album teaser for From Ashes To Fire below:
For more details visit Saffire.se.

Mighty Music has announced the release of the debut album, From Illusion To Despair, from Belgian metal band FADING BLISS. The album is an exciting journey into the early 90s gothic doom scene with role models like PARADISE LOST, MY DYING BRIDE and ANATHEMA, and will be released June 24th.
The history of Fading Bliss started in November 2009, when Olivier (DEWBACK, REDRUM 4) decided to start a new project combining gothic and doom metal influences, and paying somehow tribute to the early 90s bands Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, THEATRE OF TRAGEDY and alike.

In August, 2010, the band entered the Noise Factory Studio with Gérald Jans (CHANNEL ZERO, MACHIAVEL, EPYSODE) and recorded their first self-titled demo. Featuring four tracks, this demo showed the personality of the band, ranging from aggressive and melodic songs to slower and darker tunes.

The following months, Fading Bliss played a few shows and kept on writing new tracks, further developing their sound trademarks, and adding even more depth and darkness to their music. Over these new tracks, eight were chosen to be featured on the forthcoming debut album. The recordings happened between March and June 2012, again in Noise Factory studio, which resulted in From Illusion To Despair. The album includes a guest appearance by Paul Kuhr (NOVEMBERS DOOM) on the track 'A Walk Through Despair'.



From Illusion To Despair tracklisting:

'Illusion'
'Fading Bliss'
'1462 - Part I'
'Chant De Ruines'
'She Evil'
'1462 - Part II'
'The Pretender'
'A Walk Through Despair'

An album trailer can be found below:

Los Angeles, CA-based rockers HEAVEN & EARTH's new studio album Dig was released on April 23rd, via Quarto Valley Records. The band has released the uncensored version of the video for the new song 'No Money, No Love', which can be viewed via Facebook here.
Dig tracklisting:

‘Victorious’
‘No Money, No Love’
‘I Don’t Know What Love Is’
‘Man & Machine’
‘House Of Blues’
‘Back In Anger’
‘Waiting For The End Of The World’
‘Sexual Insanity’
‘Rock & Roll Does’
‘A Day Like Today’
‘Good Times’
‘Live As One’

The album is currently streaming in it's entirety at this location.

Heaven & Earth recently released their official video for the single ‘No Money, No Love’. The video features performance footage of the band, along with an old hotel packed with a motley crew of midgets, magicians, and scantily clad temptresses. The video was directed by acclaimed photographer Glen Wexler, who has worked with VAN HALEN, BLACK SABBATH, and MICHAEL JACKSON. Check out the clip below:
For more info visit Facebook.

On May 2nd, STONE SOUR performed at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards, cranking out a three song set consisting of 'Gone Sovereign', 'Absolute Zero', and a cover of BLACK SABBATH's 'Children Of The Grave'. Check out the pro-shot video below:
On July 15th, Da Capo Press will publish the second book from SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman COREY TAYLOR entitled, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Heaven (Or, How I Made Peace With The Paranormal And Stigmatized Zealots And Cynics In The Process).

The 256 page hardcover is available for pre-order via the Amazon link below. A paperback version will go on sale in June 2014.
In this book, Corey Taylor undertakes something never before attempted in the history of rock superstardom: he takes you with him as he journeys undercover through various ghostbusting groups who do their best to gather information and evidence about the existence of spirits. Some are more credible than others, and, frankly, some are completely insane, but all are observed with appropriate seriousness as Taylor attempts to better understand some of the spooky things that have happened to him in his life, especially that night at the Cold House. But that’s not all, folks. Taylor once again gives you a behind-the-scenes tour of his crazy life and the many beyond-the-grave events he’s encountered. (You’ll be shocked how often Slipknot has been invaded by the supernatural.) Taylor also touches on his religious background and how it led him to believe in much more than the Man in the Sky.

Quality fan-filmed video footage of IN-GRAVED, the new band led by former PENTAGRAM and PLACE OF SKULLS guitarist Victor Griffin, performing two new songs - 'Love Song For The Dying' and 'The Fall' - at this year's Desert Fest (Thursday, April 25) in Berlin, Germany can be viewed below.
In-Graved recently released its self-titled debut album in Europe last March via Finnish label Svart Records and in North America through Veritas Vinyl. The band and touring line up features Griffin, TROUBLE's original drummer Jeff "Oly" Olson (RETRO GRAVE) on Hammond organ, drummer Pete Campbell (60 WATT SHAMAN, PLACE OF SKULLS), and bassist Guy Pinhas (THE OBSESSED, ACID KING, GOATSNAKE).
In-Graved is scheduled to perform at the Days of The Doomed Festival in Milwaukee, WI Saturday, June 22.

Guest appearances on the debut album are bassists Ron Holzner (TROUBLE, EARTHEN GRAVE, DEBRIS INC), Greg Turley (PENTAGRAM), Marty Swaney (DEATH ROW, PENTAGRAM), Dan Lively (SWEET CICADA), Anne Griffin, and keyboardist Mike Puleo (ORODRUIN).

It was announced back in February 2012 that Norway's THEATRE OF TRAGEDY, who spawned the career of LEAVES' EYES vocalist Liv Kristine and officially called it quits in October 2010, were working on remastered re-issues of their first three albums: the self-titled debut, Velvet Darkness They Fear, and Aegis. Initially meant to be released in late 2012, Massacre Records have announced July 5th as the official release date for all three albums in digipack CD and double vinyl LP formats.

The re-releases will feature rare bonus material, new liner notes penned by BW&BK's Carl Begai including comments from the band members.
Stay tuned for updates.

Theatre Of Tragedy released their Last Curtain Call DVD/CD set and two-CD on May 20th, 2011. It features 18 tracks spanning the band's entire career. Full length clips of the songs 'Image' and 'Machine' are now available for viewing below.

The concert film has a running time of 94 minutes and includes a half hour On The Road movie from the last tour of the band, footage from the last ever rehearsal 01.10.10 (with fans attending) as well as in-depth interviews with all band members shot in January 2011. The concert film features both stereo and 5.1 surround sound. Audio was mixed by Alex Møklebust and mastered by Chris Sansom at Propeller Mastering. In addition there is a live CD included with the band's pick of their live favorites.
The tracklist for the DVD is as follows:

'Hide And Seek'
'Bring Forth ye Shadow'
'Lorelei'
'Frozen'
'Ashes and Dreams'
'A Rose for the Dead'
'Fragment'
'And when He Falleth'
'Venus'
'Hollow'
'Storm'
'Image'
'Cassandra'
'A Hamlet for a Slothful Vassal'
'Fade'
'Machine'
'Der Tanz der Schatten'
'Forever Is The World'
The tracklist for the double-CD is as follows:

CD 1:
'Hide And Seek'
'Bring Forth Ye Shadow'
'Frozen'
'Ashes And Dreams'
'A Rose For The Dead'
'Fragment'
'And When He Falleth And Venus'

CD 2:
'Hollow'
'Storm, Image'
'A Hamlet For A Slothful Vassal'
'Fade'
'Machine'
'Der Tanz Der Schatten And Forever Is The World'

For more info visit Theatreoftragedy.com. A DVD teaser is available below:

EMI has released a new set of MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP live material titled Walk The Stage: The Highlights. The live collection presents a single disc highlight of the 2009 four-CD release, collecting together live MSG classics from five different shows including Hammersmith Apollo, Reading Festival and Osaka Festival Hall in 1980 through 1982. The set is now bolstered with the previously unreleased track ‘Lost Horizons’ from a 1980 Manchester Apollo show which didn’t appear on the original release.

Walk The Stage: The Highlights tracklisting:

‘Armed And Ready’
‘Looking Out From Nowhere’
‘Lost Horizons’ (previously unreleased)
‘Cry For The Nations’
‘Attack Of The Axeman’
‘Tales Of Mystery’
‘Ready To Rock’
‘Victim Of Illusion’
‘Into The Arena’
‘Never Trust A Stranger’
‘Rock You To The Ground’
‘Bijou Pleasurette’
‘Feels Like A Good Thing’
‘Doctor Doctor’

It's been over two years now since Canadian traditional heavy metal maniacs EVIL SURVIVES released their sophomore album Powerkiller on Heavy Artillery Records. Since the release and heavy touring across North America in 2010 and 2011, the band have parted ways with original vocalist Karl 'Axe n Smash' Warkentin. After an exhaustive search for a Dickinson to call their own - Evil Survives has officially announced the search is over. Pete Klassen has taken the reins.

According to a press release, Klassen brings a global-metal element to the table, hailing from Calgary but currently living in Tokyo and being involved with the Japanese heavy metal scene working for an independent label and translating touring/management contracts for Hokkaido heavy metal legends SABER TIGER.

After tracking instruments in several sessions over the past nine months, Evil Survives is currently putting the finishing touches on the upcoming third full length called Painslave. The album was engineered and mixed once again at Private Ear Studios by longtime ES audio-sensai John Paul Peters (PROPAGANDHI, COMEBACK KID), and co-produced - as always - by Satan herself.
'Destroyer', the first single from the upcoming full length will be made available for free download on Bandcamp.

Destroyer describes Napoleons fateful 1812 Russian campaign, the notorious burning of Moscow and the crippling miseries of the winter retreat.

The new track – the world premier of singer Pete Klassen - will be unleashed online May 31st at 11:58pm sharp.

For more details on Evil Survives visit Facebook.

WHITE WIZZARD will release their new album; The Devils Cut, on June 3rd in Europe via Earache Records and June 25th in North America via Century Media/Earache Records. The band has now released a new song from the album, ‘Kings Of The Highway’, and can be heard below:

The Devils Cut is the band's third full-length release, and features artwork by Cameron Davis, who is known for his work as lead character designer and illustrator for the Guitar Hero video game series. View the artwork for The Devils Cut below:

White Wizzard bassist and mainman Jon Leon comments: "It was great to work with the amazing artist Cameron Davis again, who also did the art for our album Over The Top. Cameron and I live in the same building here in LA and he is a really talented guy. When he presented me the piece for the album cover, I knew right away it was the one. It has amazing imagery and depth and is very artful, while making a tongue-in-cheek statement poking some fun at organized religion, which is something I feel strongly about."

"Some of my lyrics on this album and previous albums focus on not letting religion and the cult of group belief blind you from the preservation of thinking for yourself and being an individual, so it ties into that very well, as the statement of the piece is how religion is imprisonment for the soul and how, even within its own confines, it forces its believers into blind group submission. I think any of us that went to catholic school as a child can relate to that nun!!! It has 'classic metal cover' all over it and it just blew my mind."

"I look forward to this imagery being out there and am proud to have it be a part of White Wizzard. To have art of this quality to convey the visual aspects of the band is just fantastic."

See White Wizzard live:

May
8 – Fullerton, CA – Slide Bar (with CAULDRON)

For more info visit Facebook.

Nashville-based Mind’s i Entertainment has signed Australia’s DATURA CURSE to a multi-year management agreement.

The band's debut album will be out in June and check in with the following update: "Excited to say we have the legend of melodic death metal Fredrik Nordström mixing our debut album for us. He is known for creating albums with IN FLAMES, SOILWORK, ARCH ENEMY and CIPHER SYSTEM to name a few. Mixing starts on May 23. Very excited with the material we have and can't wait for you all to hear it. We also have Seth Siro Anton doing the artwork for us again as we were extremely happy with his work on Reason(s)."
“We are proud to be working with this awesome band.”, states Mark Warner, President of Mind’s i Entertainment. “They bring together melodic and hard metal in a very special way. We have some amazing plans for Datura Curse. They are excellent musicians and a great group of guys.”

For more details visit Datura Curse on Facebook.

Hells Headbangers announces June 21st as the international release date for INSANITY's Death After Death vinyl reissue. Hailing from California, Insanity's roots stretch back to the mid '80s, when death metal was just beginning to get a toehold in the underground. While the band would hone their twistedly memorable/memorably twisted craft across a clutch of demos during that decade, it wasn't until 1994 when Insanity would release their debut album, Death After Death. By then, black metal was taking over the underground and death metal was on a slow, steady decline, but Insanity stuck to their guns and produced an alternately crazy/catchy slab of old-school death metal that somehow maintained a forward-thinking outlook.

With solos flying out of control yet retaining a dark melodicism, and riff/battery doing much the same - serpentine, obtuse structures retaining a memorable flow - had Death After Death been released five years earlier as originally intended, Insanity would be held in the same reverence as DEATH, ATHIEST, and MORBID ANGEL were in the late '80s. Now, Hells Headbangers unleashes Death After Death on gatefold vinyl and with new artwork by Drew Eliot - resurrection never sounded so deathly!

Death After Death tracklisting:

‘Attack Of Archangels’
‘Fire Death Fate’
‘In Memory’
‘Rotting Decay’
‘Morbid Lust’
‘Blood For Blood’
‘Possession’
‘Death After Death’