Norwegian death metallers BLOOD RED THRONE will release their new, self-titled album on May 21 via Sevared Records. The CD was recorded by Audun Grønnestad at Mayhem Music Studios and was mixed and mastered by Martin Berger Enerstvedt at Skar Productions. The cover art was created by Rafael Tavares and can be seen below.

"Blood Red Throne" track listing:

01. Soulseller
02. In Hell I Roam
03. Hymn Of The Asylum
04. Primitive Killing Machine
05. Deatholation
06. Torturewhore
07. Exoneration Manifesto
08. Dødens Makt
09. March Of The Undying

A teaser for the album is available using the SoundCloud widget below.

BLOOD RED THRONE in December 2011 parted ways with vocalist Osvald "Vald" Egeland and bassist Erlend Caspersen and replaced them with Yngve "Bolt" Christiansen (GODDAMN) and Ole "Bent" Madsen (HORIZON ABLAZE), respectively.

BLOOD RED THRONE's sixth album, "Brutalitarian Regime", was released in August 2011 via Sevared Records.

BLOOD RED THRONE is:

Daniel "Død" Olaisen - Guitar
Yngve "Bolt" Christiansen - Vocals
Ole "Bent" Madsen - Bass
Ivan "Meathook" Gujic - Guitar
Emil Wiksten - Drums

Norway's KEEP OF KALESSIN has released a new EP, "Introspection", via all digital music services, including iTunes, Spotify and WiMP.

"Introspection" is the first of several new EP's and singles that will be released throughout the year prior to the arrival of the band's new album in October. The new EP marks the transition from the old and into a new era for the band, with mainman/guitarist Arnt "Obsidian C." Grønbech now also handling the vocal duties after the band parted ways with singer Torbjørn "Thebon" Schei in March.

In addition to the title track, "Introspection", for which a video was released on YouTube just over a week ago, there are two new tracks on the EP: "Flight Of The Hatchling" and an extreme version of "The Dragontower".

Comments Obsidian C.: "The new digital era opens some opportunities for bands and releasing digital EP's makes it possible for such a diverse band as KEEP OF KALESSIN to release some tracks and new versions of tracks that would not necessarily fit on an album.

"'Introspection' is a very personal song for me and deals with some issues, I guess, many can relate to when they start questioning themselves and what's really important in their lives.

"As a musician, you're always sacrificing personal life for the band and lately I've been wondering if it's all worth it. Girlfriends, friends and family have always come second and I guess it's only natural that some priorities change as you grow older. So... basically I guess this is my midlife crisis caught on tape.

"'Flight Of The Hatchling' is our first instrumental song and shows the band from a very different side. As the title suggests, this is our own type of 'Flight Of The Bumblebee' kind of song, even though it's not a cover version, but a song entirely written by me.

"We also added a version of 'The Dragontower', which I've wanted to release for some time now. The only change to this version is in fact how the drums are playing and shows that the song is very much KEEP OF KALESSIN and now sounding more like 'The Divine Land'- or 'Ascendant'-type of songs.

"On 'Reptilian', we had mostly blastbeat songs and the reason why we chose the 'slower' version of 'The Dragontower' was simply to make it stand out and to give the album more diversity. The extreme version is the same tempo and same recordings as previously released except from the drum tracks which have been re-recorded with more of Vyl's furiosity."

KEEP OF KALESSIN will embark on a tour of Europe in May with FINNTROLL.

FREEDOMS REIGN, the band led by Victor Arduini, original guitarist and founding member of FATES WARNING (having played on 1984's "Night On Brocken" and 1985's "The Spectre Within"), will release its self-titled debut album on April 30, to celebrate the Walpurgis Night that originally influenced FATES WARNING to release their "Night On Bröcken" debut exactly 29 years ago. The CD was recorded at Dexters Lab Recording in Milford, Connecticut with Nick Belmore (TOXIC HOLOCAUST) and will be made available via Cruz Del Sur Music.

The first single from the CD, "Shadows Of A Doubt", can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Keeping his original, charismatic and unmistakable guitar style untouched, Arduini returns under the spotlights with fresh enthusiasm and dedication, producing a notable effort of true American-styled heavy metal with a classic OZZY OSBOURNE/BLACK SABBATH flavor.

FREEDOMS REIGN was introduced to Cruz Del Sur by long-time friend and "occasional A&R" Tom Phillips (WHILE HEAVEN WEPT) who said about FREEDOMS REIGN's music: "I think FREEDOMS REIGN would be a welcome addition for anyone into classic heavy rock, early FATES fans, those into both the recent proto-metal movement, and the wave of classic metal bands that evolved on the outer fringes of the doom scene!"

In addition to Arduini (guitar/vocals), FREEDOMS REIGN features Tommy Vumback (guitar), Michael Jones (bass) and Chris Judge (drums).

FREEDOMS REIGN has been active in the Connecticut metal scene since 2011. The idea behind the band's formation was to simply make some great music that returned the musicians involved to their roots and could deliver on their commitment to making some old-school metal that would be relevant in today's scene.

Sean Dudley of Australia's TheMetalForge.com recently conducted an interview with BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

TheMetalForge.com: How does it feel to have the original band (minus Bill Ward) back together again? Has that feeling changed at any time the band has come back together since the good old days?

Geezer: Well, we have been together, off and on, since 1997, but it is particularly exciting this time because we finally have a new album recorded. You have to feel extremely comfortable with each other to write and record an album, since we have seen each other almost every day for the last two years, but we persisted and we have done the almost impossible.

TheMetalForge.com: What considerable changes have you noticed, in terms of songwriting and also gelling as a band from the early days of BLACK SABBATH until now?

Geezer: In the early days, we would jam until one of us, usually Tony [Iommi, guitar], hit on a riff. On this album ["13"], Tony had recorded two or three CDs' worth of riffs, so we decided on what we were doing before we started jamming on it. A couple of the new songs were spontaneous while we were jamming, like the old days, but we needed a starting point for this album, and Tony had more than enough choices.

TheMetalForge.com: Remembering to back in the '60s, in your own words, explain how much the technology has changed in terms of recording/producing/mastering albums? How easy/hard was it to record the albums throughout the subsequent decades with the technology at the time?

Geezer: The first and second albums were recorded on two four-track machines — the first album in two days, the second in five days — so it was basically like doing a live gig in the studio. We didn't know anything about recording, as we had never been in a studio before, except for one two-track demo we did. We were just happy to have our songs recorded. As technology advanced, it was almost a curse to have so many tracks to record on; we lost focus of what the band was supposed to be about. It was great for experimenting, but we wasted a lot of time (and money) just pissing about in the studio on the later albums. These days, it's great, because you can have the equivalent of a major studio on your laptop, so you can save a lot of time and heartache by recording your ideas at home and then playing them to whoever you are working with, to get instant feedback. There is nothing to replace jamming live together, but it is great to have a reference point, to give direction.

TheMetalForge.com: After being in the music business for so many decades, are you still as passionate and excited as you were back at the start? Explain how it feels now long after the band was created to go on stage in front of thousands of fans compared to a few in pubs back in the day.

Geezer: It sounds contrived, but I still get the same rush going on stage now as I have always done, whether it is one hundred people, or one hundred thousand. We did a gig back in our home town in Birmingham last year, and it was the best gig I can ever remember. The atmosphere was pure magic; it was as if the band and the fans became one entity. Fantastic gig.

Read the entire interview at TheMetalForge.com.

It's a struggle for some bands to get started, while others appear to seamlessly come together. With years of perspective and experience, the three members of PYRITHION have created a dark and intense death metal record almost overnight. The individual members' prior success aside, the music speaks for itself.

In an exclusive studio video, shot and edited by Ryan Glisan, fans can catch a glimpse of what it's like to record inside Lambesis Studios. The new video can be seen below:
Singer Tim Lambesis, who is best known for his work as the front man of AS I LAY DYING, explains: "I have wanted to do a heavier and more traditionally metal band for a while. Being that I own a recording studio, I thought a great place to start was by asking my engineer who the best guitar player is that he has recorded. I wanted to team him up with one of my favorite guitar players growing up."

Shortly thereafter, Ryan Glisan from ALLEGAEON and Andy Godwin (ex-THE FAMINE, EMBODYMENT) began sending ideas back and forth. Those ideas would form the foundations of the first three Pyrithion songs.

Glisan elaborates further on the band's expedited origin, "When Tim first reached out to me to ask if I was interested in starting a new project, I was really intrigued as to where the overall sound would go. Given the short time frame we had to work with, the "newness" of all the members, and an uncertainty of an overall direction, I wasn't initially 100% confident in how the end product would turn out. After spending a weekend collaborating, recording these initial 3 songs, and beginning to write new songs going forward, I can say with absolute confidence now that this band will be a major force in the metal scene."
Pyrithion's debut release, The Burden Of Sorrow, stands as a showcase of what the members are capable of putting together over what merely amounted to an extended weekend. The total potential in Pyrithion is incredible and there is much anticipation for how the band will continue to develop as they prepare for a full length record.

Watch the lyric video for 'The Invention Of Hatred' below, and pre-order your copy at this location.

The Burden of Sorrow will be released worldwide on Metal Blade Records on April 16th.

More on Pyrithion at this location.

Portland's ELITIST have officially changed their name to BASTARD FEAST. Taylor Robinson (guitar), Joshua Green (vocals), Nickolis Parks (drums), Justin Yaquinto (guitar), and Jesse Aspy (bass) are currently writing new material for a forthcoming release on Season of Mist Underground Activists.
Regarding the name change, guitarist Taylor Robinson said: "Bastard Feast represents us upping the ante on the evil, disgusting music we make. The name Elitist has been buried and Bastard Feast is the portal through which we will now dispel our hatred".

In June 2011, Bastard Feast released the album Fear In A Handful Of Dust. The full-length is available on Season Of Mist’s e-shop, as well as digitally and at this location (with updated artwork, see below).
Regarding Fear In A Handful Of Dust’, Bastard Feast said: "This is for those of us who observe and recognize the evidence of evil in faith, hypocrisy of government and the poisons of herd mentality. We'll scream our message of discontent from bloody throats and open wounds."

Fusing an unhealthy dose of death metal with the heavier elements of doom, a dissonant take on hardcore, and the visceral, morose aspects of black metal, Bastard Feast have followed their DIY ethos, touring the United States relentlessly both on their own, and with such notable bands as GAZA, LANDMINE MARATHON, and THE ACCUSED, and more.

More on Bastard Feast at this location.

UK-based progressive rock band THE CUSTODIAN formed in late 2012, and the band is already primed to release their debut offering, Necessary Wasted Time, on June 18th via The Laser's Edge.
The band is lead by British musician Richard Thomson, better known as the vocalist of progressive metal group XERATH. The project was initially started in a bedroom in Warwickshire and has now, after several years of lying dormant due to other commitments, become a fully fledged band ready to take the prog rock world by storm.

Thomson, commented on the band's signing to The Lasers Edge: "We are extremely proud to be joining The Lasers Edge family. Not only is their roster exceptional but working with Ken and the team has been a superb experience for us. They take huge pride in what they do and more importantly the enthusiasm they have for the development of their bands is fantastic. We look forward to making some great music with them and bringing it out on the road as soon as possible! "

Label head Ken Golden explained how the signing of The Custodian came about: "An unexpected e-mail from a mysterious band named The Custodian caught my attention. I started to listen to their debut album Necessary Wasted Time... and I kept listening... and listening. In short I became addicted. Rich Thomson and crew are creating the type of forward thinking music that helps define the fabric of The Laser's Edge. I'm very excited to present The Custodian to a worldwide audience."

The band takes influence not only from prog rock, but anything and everything else that fits. Expect lots of beautiful acoustic passages, warm synth, tasteful leads, complex drumming and great production.
The album was recorded by the band in their home studio, mixed by Danish producer Jacob Hansen and mastered by Bob Katz. The artwork was created by British artist Colin Marks of Rainsong design.
The Custodian are:

Richard Thomson: Drums, Vocals, Synth
Michael Pitman: Bass, Vocals
Owain Williams: Lead Guitar
Nariman Poushin: Electro Acoustic Guitar

More on The Custodian at this location.

Italy's Soundsblog.it recently conducted an interview with one of the nameless ghouls from the mysterious Swedish buzz band GHOST. You can now listen to the chat below.

On being called GHOST B.C. in America for legal reasons:

"B.C. is obviously a pun on 'Before Christ', but it's just an amendment. In our world, we're just gonna be called GHOST, and when we refer to our records, it's gonna be the Scandinavian version, saying GHOST only, and we are never ever ever ever ever ever gonna call ourselves GHOST B.C. in any way. It's like saying 'I'm going out and buy a Ferrari STE' — you don't do that, you just say, 'I'm gonna buy a Ferrari.' The B.C. is silent, and as soon as we can, it's gonna be taken away forever."

On GHOST's touring plans:

"I know that some people complain about us not playing with other doom bands, but that's because we don't look at ourselves as a doom-only band. We are not looking to be just
a band that plays doom festivals, because we are not only a doom band. We love a lot of doom — a lot of our music style comes from CANDLEMASS, ST. VITUS and PENTAGRAM and DEATH SS or bands like that — but we cannot choose just to play with bands like that, because our agenda is to become a band that has a huge production, a big-theater band, and if we wanna become a big-theater band, we cannot limit ourselves to play 200-capacity clubs — that would be suicide. We could not achieve our goals that way. In that sense, we are lucky to be able to now play with bands like METALLICA, IRON MAIDEN and MASTODON, a lot of bands that we do like and that we feel we have very much in common with."

"Serenity Now", the first video from GET INVOLVED!, the new band featuring former members of THURSDAY, FROM AUTUMUN TO ASHES, GLASSJAW, JUDGE and DEATH IN THE PARK, can be seen below.

The idea for a new musical project has been in the works since all members played in their respective groups. Once Todd Weinstock (GLASSJAW) realized that schedules had opened up in these prolific musician's lives, it was time to get the ball rolling. Weinstock then reached out to Brian Deneeve (FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES) along with Tucker Rule (THURSDAY) who had been touring tirelessly as hired musicians to start on a heavy rock-influenced band. Together they recruited Lars Weiss (JUDGE) and Derrick Karg (DEATH IN THE PARK) and GET INVOLVED! was formed.

All members of the new group have been long standing friends, all having been raised in the tri-state area. The friends have all toured with one another, collaborated on music together and have braved the changing music industry but never have all five guys been able to all come together and create an entirely new group. GET INVOLVED! share a love of punk rock, hardcore, new wave and metal. They all have their own unique take on these various musical styles and together combine their various aesthetics to create a modern and forceful take on heavy music.

"We all talked about working together for a while, but all of us have been so busy touring and recording seperately that it was only a pipe dream," said Weinstock. "We finally found ourselves living close by and having regained the passion to play heavy music decided to make this a reality. We even enlisted producer Ross Robinson (AT THE DRIVE IN, GLASSJAW, THE CURE, SEPULTURA) to bring this project full circle."

GET INVOLVED! has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to record and release an EP slated for summer/fall 2013.

Helmed to record and mix the CD is Ross Robinson. Some of the rare opportunities for pledging include an internship at Robinson's studio while the record is being recorded, music lessons and signed albums.

"Kickstarter allows a band to create and produce music together through generous help from their audience and therefore allows us as a band to do what we do.. and that's make music," said Rule.

Melodic metallers ANGELS OF BABYLON have inked a deal with Scarlet Records for the release of their long-waited second album, "Thundergod".

Founded by former MANOWAR drummer Kenny "Rhino" Earl in 2008, ANGELS OF BABYLON released its debut album, "Kingdom Of Evil", in 2010. The CD featured another heavy metal legend, David Ellefson (of MEGADETH fame), on bass guitar.

"Thundergod" is as a collection of epic, melodic and heavy songs that will inspire and arouse the imagination, a timeless piece of work that any real heavy metal fan will treasure for many years to come.

Says Rhino: "This record is a real labor of love. It is epic and memorable.

"I don't like to write the standard macho metal songs.

"People may or may not be surprised that there are songs written from the heart.

"I never compromise my art.

"Also, there is no quantizing, no triggers; this album is 100% organic.

"Melody, emotion and energy... this is the focal point of all of our songs.

"I like my lyrics to be more about fantasy, real life experiences and historic events rather than going too dark and sinister. Although you might find a shadow here and there.

"The song 'Thunder God' is dedicated to my friend Scott Columbus. May you keep your hammer high!"

ANGELS OF BABYLON is:

Diego Valdez - Vocals
Rhino - Drums
Ethan Brosh - Guitar

Max Duhamel, drummer of the Montreal based death metal powerhouse KATAKLYSM, announced yesterday (Monday, April 8) that he was taking a break from the band to deal with issues related to alcohol abuse.

The other members of KATAKYSM have since released the following statement regarding the matter: "We as a band of brothers stand by Max's decision to get better and to rise from his demons. We all have them; some of us try to hide them and pretend they dont exist, some of us have the courage to confront them, Max has shown strength to fight his. We stand by him and hope that he returns home when he is ready. In the meanwhile, I want everyone to know for those who haven't seen the 'Iron Will' documentary that this band's story is one of drama, pain and the long road to victory...

"We will practice what we preach on our albums. We will come out swinging hard and strong with this new album. We will find a suitable replacement and we will announce him in the next few weeks. We will not disappoint any of you.

"We have read the messages of encouragements you have posted. We have the best fans... and in these classic words, 'the show must go on.'"

KATAKLYSM has set "Waiting For The End To Come" as the title of its new album, tentatively due in late 2013/early 2014 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2010's "Heaven's Venom" will be recorded by KATAKLYSM guitarist Jean-François Dagenais, who has previously worked with MALEVOLENT CREATION, MISERY INDEX and DESPISED ICON, among others, and mixed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (SUFFOCATION, HATEBREED, ARSIS).

KATAKLYSM's multidisc DVD, "The Iron Will: 20 Years Determined", entered the German chart at position No. 98. The set depicts the ups and downs of KATAKLYSM's long, turbulent career, as well as footage of the band's performance at last year's Summer Breeze festival, which took place August 18-20, 2011 in Dinkelsbühl, Germany. The cover art for the release was created by artist Colin Marks (ORIGIN, EXODUS, NEVERMORE).

KATAKLYSM's latest album, "Heaven's Venom", sold around 2,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 8 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

Stern Pinball, Inc., the world's only maker of real pinball games, has announced the imminent arrival of the METALLICA pinball machine. The newest addition to the iconic Stern collection honors one of the most legendary heavy metal bands the world has ever seen.

"Metallica Pinball" will feature over thirty years of iconic music, including the following classic songs:

* Creeping Death
* For Whom The Bell Tolls
* Fuel
* Master Of Puppets
* The Unforgiven
* Seek And Destroy
* Battery
* Sad But True
* Enter Sandman
* One
* Fade To Black
* The End Of The Line

A trailer for the "Metallica Pinball" can be seen below. More information will be made available soon.

The METALLICA game continues both the Stern Pinball and the Stern family tradition of producing quality pinball machines for young and old. The company traces its lineage to Philadelphia in the 1930s when Sam Stern entered the business of operating pinball games. Stern passed his lifelong enthusiasm for the game and the business of pinball to his son, Gary Stern, who founded Stern Pinball. Today pinball remains one of America's favorite pastimes.

"Infestissumam", the sophomore album from the mysterious Swedish buzz band GHOST, can be streamed in its entirety at Pitchfork.com. The CD will be released on April 16 via Loma Vista Recordings, the new record label founded by Tom Whalley in partnership with Republic Records, a division of Universal Music Group.

According to SPIN.com, the release date of "Infestissumam" was pushed back a week after four compact disc manufacturers allegedly refused to print a piece of artwork that was meant for the deluxe version of the new CD. The manufacturers all took issue with the sacrilegious imagery, inspired by the work of Gustave Dore, which showcases what looks like a forest nymph orgy.

"We kept on getting turned down because of the CD art, which is basically a 16th century illustration of an orgy," a source close to the band told SPIN.com. "[The bandmembers] weren't surprised. The comment was 'Well, I thought this would have happened sooner.' The artwork was meant to provoke some sort of thought, but it's been one obstacle after another."

The controversial art can still be found on both the vinyl and European copies of the "Infestissuman" CD. "Vinyl manufacturers don't have a problem with the artwork. Neither does Europe," the source told SPIN.com.

"Infestissumam" track listing:

01. Infestissumam
02. Per Aspera Ad Inferi
03. Secular Haze
04. Jigolo Har Megiddo
05. Ghuleh / Zombie Queen
06. Year Zero
07. Idolatrine
08. Body And Blood
09. Depth Of Satans Eyes
10. Monstrance Clock

GHOST was forced to modify its name in the U.S. to GHOST B.C. for "legal reasons."

The band's debut album, "Opus Eponymous", was released in late 2010 in Europe and in early 2011 in North America via Rise Above Records.

ICED EARTH's first officially filmed headline show, "Live In Ancient Kourion", will hit stores on April 15 in Europe and April 16 in North America via Century Media. This incredibly powerful package will come to you in various configurations and, a first for Century Media Records, also on Blu-ray disc. The limited-edition deluxe book features the main show and a plethora of bonus content on DVD and a Blu-ray disc, as well as the entire concert on a 2CD set (4 discs in total). You can also enjoy the audio version of the full concert in a 3LP gatefold vinyl package or as a 2CD set. A standard DVD and digital audio download will also be available.

A performance clip of the song "Stormrider", taken from the forthcoming set, can be seen below.

The setlist for ICED EARTH's August 19, 2012 concert was as follows:

01. Dystopia
02. Burning Times
03. Angel Holocaust
04. Slave To The Dark
05. V
06. When The Night Falls
07. I Died For You
08. Invasion
09. Motivation Of Man
10. Setian Massacre
11. Stormrider
12. Pure Evil
13. Wolf
14. Dark City
15. End Of Innocence
16. Dracula
17. Ten Thousand Strong
18. End Of Innocence
19. Anthem
20. Decleration Day
21. Days Of Rage
22. Melancholy (Holy Martyr)

Encore 1:

23. In Sacred Flames
24. Boiling Point
25. Damien
26. Watching Over Me
27. Dantes Inferno
28. Iced Earth

Encore 2:

29. The Hunter


Since ICED EARTH's latest album, "Dystopia", was released in October 2011, the band has been on the attack in a big way, playing more shows in the past year than in the previous ten years... combined.

Comments ICED EARTH guitarist/mainman Jon Schaffer: "I feel this is a testament to a new beginning, a new energy and a rock solid determination that will see us taking the music of ICED EARTH to every corner of the globe; spreading the awareness of our brand of metal in a way that hasn't been done before. I've never been more proud of this band, our crew, and the people behind the scenes that are responsible for much of our success."

Early on in the world tour, the band decided that they wanted to capture this newfound energy and passion on film. The biggest question was deciding where to film. There were so many great shows and audiences around the world that it was very challenging to decide which city to choose for this special event. When the offer came in to film at the ancient Kourion Theater in Limassol, Cyprus, they were immediately attracted to that idea. The history and culture there, as well as the Cypriot audience, which the band experienced in December 2011, solidified the decision to film the DVD in Cyprus. Filming and recording a two-and-a-half-hour show in an amphitheater that is 6000 years old and is not set up for a rock concert, paired with 40-degree-Celsius heat, were just some of the obstacles to overcome. But the finished product makes up for any of the challenges that the band and crew faced on that special night.

"Stormrider" performance (video):

Swedish/German extreme metallers ARCH ENEMY have released the following statement:

"It is with great disappointment that we have to cancel our shows at European festivals this summer. The reason for this being private family matters that demand our full attention, making it difficult to fulfill our commitments in that time frame. We are currently looking into the possibility of rescheduling these festival slots for next year.

"We would like to thank the festival promoters, and, of course, the fans for their understanding and continued support. We will use this downtime to finish up the work on our upcoming DVD/Blu-ray and continue with the songwriting process of the next ARCH ENEMY album. We look forward to seeing you all in 2014! Metal on!"

ARCH ENEMY's upcoming DVD and Blu-ray will include footage that was shot on the band's recent tour of South America and Mexico. German production company Filmefahrer Pictures, known for its work on "2012 - The Movie" and THE VERY END's music video for "A Hole In The Sun", filmed the shows, conducted interviews with the bandmember and shot backstage footage, fans and other incidentals during the tour.

ARCH ENEMY's ninth album, "Khaos Legions", sold around 6,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 78.

The band last year year amicably parted ways with guitarist Christopher Amott and replaced him with American musician Nick Cordle (ARSIS).

Fan-filmed video footage of the Todd La Torre-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE performing on April 6 at Casino Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada can be seen below.

QUEENSRŸCHE has inked a deal with Century Media Records for the release of the band's new studio album. Due on June 11, the CD marks the debut release from the lineup comprised of La Torre (vocals; ex-CRIMSON GLORY), Michael Wilton (guitar), Parker Lundgren (guitar), Eddie Jackson (bass) and Scott Rockenfield (drums). The drums for the album were recorded at London Bridge Studios in Seattle, Washington with producer James "Jimbo" Barton — the man who engineered and mixed the band's classic 1988 LP, "Operation: Mindcrime", and its 1990 follow-up, "Empire", and co-produced 1994's "Promised Land". The rest of the music and vocals were laid down at several different facilities on the West Coast.

In a recent interview with Metal Assault, QUEENSRŸCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield stated about QUEENSRŸCHE's renewed collaboration with Barton: "It's a great thing — we're really excited about it, he's really excited about it. We've wanted to work with him for a while, but for whatever reason, we just hadn't gone there yet. This is a great time for us to do that, though. We all discussed who we wanted to do the record with, and he was one of the first names that came up. It was easy for us to pick up the phone and call him. It was like our relationship picked up right where it left off, so it's gonna be a lot of fun. He's a very creative guy that did some great records with us in the past. I think that's one of the most important things when it comes to why we want to work with him."

Asked if fans will see a return to the progressive metal sound QUEENSRŸCHE had in the '80s, Scott said: "What we're trying to do, and what has been really interesting since Todd has jumped into the band, we're trying to revisit the old QUEENSRŸCHE catalog — stuff off of the EP and "The Warning". That's always been a part of what we are, so yeah, definitely! I think in my opinion, we're really revisiting that vibe of why that music was special back then for us. There will be a modern flair to it, though, just because we're in the modern age. The fun thing about Jimbo being a part of it is that he can help tie together the two sides. He does come from our past and some of the great records and some of the great sounds that we're known for, but he's also living in the modern age and doing some interesting things as well. I think it's going to be a really great QUEENSRŸCHE record. People are going to go, 'Wow, that's QUEENSRŸCHE! That sounds just like what we've known them to be, and what we would expect them to now be.' That's what I think peple will get out of it."

'80s hard rock queen Lita Ford took part in an interview and acoustic performance prior to her appearance at Rock 107's 33rd annual birthday bash on March 28 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. You can now watch the footage below.

SPV/Steamhammer has announced plans to release a new live album from Lita Ford. More details about the effort, which is due later this year, will be made available soon.

Lita last year filmed a video for the song "Mother" in Joshua Tree, California. Directing the clip was Ford's former THE RUNAWAYS bandmate Victory Tischler-Blue, whose film "Edgeplay" was based on her tenure in the 1970s all-girl teenage rock act.

"Mother" is dedicated to Lita's estranged sons, Rocco and James (father is former NITRO singer Jim Gillette). "I wrote this song for [my sons]," Lita told the Deciblog. "I wrote this song to tell them how much I love them and to tell them that I didn't mean for this to happen [for Lita to be forced to live apart from her kids following her divorce from Gillette. — Ed.] and that it's not my fault. I didn't do this to them, although they think I did. I miss them, I love them. They're my life."

"It was hard to write," she told Examiner.com. "It was hard to record. It's hard to listen to. I find myself skipping over it sometimes, depending on how much makeup I have on that day. If I'm all made up, I'm like, 'Oh, can't cry right now!' I've done interviews where big, grown men tell me they've come away from it in tears. That's huge. That's what I wanted — for people to feel my pain. But it is a great song."

"Living Like A Runaway" was released on June 19, 2012 in North America. The effort was made available in four configurations: a double LP, limited-edition CD, standard CD and digital download. The artwork for the album was created by famed rock photographer Mark Weiss.

Video footage of Texas heavy rockers DROWNING POOL performing an acoustic version of the song "In Memory Of" at the studios of the French radio station OÜI FM can be seen below.

"In Memory Of" was released in August 2012 to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the passing of the band's original singer, Dave Williams.

Williams died on tour in 2002 after singing on the band's debut, "Sinner". He was replaced by Jason "Gong" Jones, who also contributed to one record, "Desensitized", before being shown the door in 2004.

DROWNING POOL's fifth studio album, "Resilience", is being released today (Tuesday, April 9) via Eleven Seven Music. The band teamed up with producer Kato Khandwalla at House of Loud Studios in New Jersey, as well as John Feldmann (THE USED, STORY OF THE YEAR), and completed the album in Dallas.

The band says of "Resilience": "Ultimately, it isn't a new beginning or an end. It's a continuation of the DROWNING POOL legacy — and a fitting one at that."

"Resilience" track listing:

01. Anytime Anyplace
02. Die For Nothing
03. One Finger And A Fist
04. Digging These Holes
05. Saturday Night
06. Low Crawl
07. Life Of Misery
08. Broken Again
09. Understand
10. Bleed Wth You
11. Skip To The End

Bonus tracks:

12. In Memory Of
13. Blindfold

DROWNING POOL bassist Stevie Benton recently spoke to AOL's Noisecreep about the latest addition to the group lineup: singer Jasen Moreno. Moreno, who previously fronted fellow Texas band THE SUICIDE HOOK, is DROWNING POOL's fourth and newest frontman. Jasen replaces vocalist Ryan McCombs, who exited the group at the end of 2011 after a six-year stint in the lineup.

Asked how DROWNING POOL's chemistry has been affected by the singer changes over the years, Benton said: "Well, it's a forced form of band evolution, I would say, certainly not something you strive for and not something that I would advise other bands to do, because it's a lot of extra work and it's hard on you at times, but for us, we still had a such great time with Dave [Williams, DROWNING POOL's original singer] and such great vibes still remains and we've been trying to recapture that ever since then. It feels cheap to stick with a chemistry that just doesn't feel right and so maybe that's why we've had a lot of turnover. We knew if we switched singers again that a lot of people would look at it and make comments, but for us it seemed like it was worth it to take that shot at capturing the best chemistry we ever had. So we did. Look, sometimes you have to shift gears and I'm sure some of our ex-singers feel the same way: 'I can't wait to get the hell out of here.'"

He added: "One thing we have learned is that each singer has strong points and weak points and we've learned to craft the sound of the band that will benefit the singer at the time. It can be tricky at times to learn the nuances of it, but this time around, one fortunate thing is Jasen, our new singer, is a Dallas guy, we've know him for years and so it's not like having a stranger coming in. We had a great idea about him though, who he is and what he is about, and so we've been able to hit the ground running."

Moreno made his live debut as a member of DROWNING POOL on July 8, 2012 at a club in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

"The Artist Spotlight" has uploaded multi-camera video footage of a recent performance by San Diego metallers AS I LAY DYING. Check it out below.

AS I LAY DYING and THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA have just completed a North American co-headline tour. The trek got underway February 22 at Ventura, California's Majestic Ventura Theater Half House and continued through early April. THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA and AS I LAY DYING were accompanied on the epic tour by FOR TODAY and THE CHARIOT.

AS I LAY DYING's sixth album, "Awakened", sold around 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 11 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on September 25 via Metal Blade Records, the CD was produced by Bill Stevenson, who has played drums for both the DESCENDENTS and BLACK FLAG and is one of the most highly renowned producers in rock. His production credits include work on records by RISE AGAINST, NOFX, PROPAGANDHI, THE CASUALTIES, ANTI-FLAG and many more. The album was mixed by Colin Richardson (MACHINE HEAD, NAPALM DEATH, SLIPKNOT).

The cover artwork for "Awakened" was created by Metastazis with Tiffanie Uldry.

After finishing off a very eventful and busy past year of promotions for their previous album release, "Bilateral", acclaimed Norwegian progsters LEPROUS entered the studio to start recording their follow-up effort.

Entitled "Coal", the new CD will be released on May 20 in Europe and May 28 in North America via InsideOutMusic.

A track from the CD, "Chronic", can now be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

Comments LEPROUS singer/synth player Einar Solberg: "With our upcoming album, 'Coal', I feel we are one step closer to a personal expression. Heidi Solberg Tveitan and Vegard Tveitan of Mnemosyne were the producers of this album, together with LEPROUS. They helped us a lot with reaching the full potential of the songs, and the album would not be equally good without their expertise. Jens Bogren and Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios mixed the material and have made this album shine like nobody else could.

"I see less interest in defining music than in creating music, but I will give a short overview on what to expect...

"'Coal' is a more melancholic and darker album than the more playful 'Bilateral'. By darker I don't mean more aggressive, but more severe. There is still a big range in the dynamics, but no jumping between different moods within a song. We cannot wait to show this album to the world!"



Photo by Bjørn Tore Moen

SIX FEET UNDER frontman Chris Barnes spent time last week at DOI Digital Audio studios in Tampa, Florida laying down vocals on a "brutal side project" called IHATE for an October release.

A photo from the studio can be seen below. Also available is the previously released video for the song "Stretcher", which features Barnes on vocals.

SIX FEET UNDER's tenth full-length album, "Unborn", was released on March 19 via Metal Blade Records. The follow-to to 2012's "Undead" was mixed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who has previously worked with SUICIDE SILENCE, ALL THAT REMAINS, SHADOWS FALL and SOULFLY, among others.

CIVIL WAR — the new Swedish metal band featuring former SABATON members Rikard Sundén (guitar), Daniel Mullback (drums), Daniel Mÿhr (keyboards) and Oskar Montelius (guitar) alongside singer Patrik Johansson (ASTRAL DOORS, LION'S SHARE) and bassist Stefan "Pizza" Eriksson (VOLTURYON) — will release its full-length debut, "The Killer Angels", on June 11 via Despotz Records. The group states: "The album deals with a lot of stuff: heroes, traitors, battles and heavy metal....and yes: we have a song called 'Gettysburg'."

"The Killer Angels" track listing:

01. King Of The Sun
02. First To Fight
03. Saint Patrick's Day
04. Rome Is Falling
05. Sons Of Avalon
06. I Will Rule The Universe
07. Lucifer's Court
08. Brother Judas
09. My Own Worst Enemy
10. Gettysburg
11. March Across The Belts (bonus track)

A teaser for the song "I Will Rule The Universe" can be seen below.

CIVIL WAR's debut EP was released on November 13, 2012 via Despotz Records.

According to Sundén, CIVIL WAR's sound is "more old-school hard rock," with "a little less keyboards" than that of SABATON. He says, "With Patrik's vocals on top, it becomes a different thing, but there are some parallels [to our previous band]."

Regarding how CIVIL WAR came together, b>Mullback told the Swedish-language newspaper Dalarnas Tidningar (DT), "It came pretty naturally. We always thought Patrik had a good voice and he accepted our offer when we asked him to join the band."

"I had no hesitation about getting involved," Patrik said. "ASTRAL DOORS certainly has a solid fan base, but we are a little more underground. I see this as an opportunity to reach a wider audience."

The four ex members of SABATON were never involved in the songwriting process with their former band since those duties were usually handled by vocalist Joakim Brodén. But in the new group, everyone is contributing ideas.

"This has been a reawakening of sorts," Mÿhr said. "I have never been in a situation where there has been so much creativity."

On the topic of whether CIVIL WAR will continue SABATON's tradition of focusing on war-related themes in its lyrics, Mÿhr said, "No, we won't. Now the lyrics can be about anything. [CIVIL WAR was just] a good name that sounded good."

The official video for the title track of "Seasons Will Fall", the sixth studio album from CIRCLE II CIRCLE, the band led by former SAVATAGE frontman Zak Stevens, can be seen below.

"Seasons Will Fall" was released on January 25 via earMUSIC, the Hamburg, Germany-based international rock label which is part of Edel Group.

Formed in 2001, CIRCLE II CIRCLE has always reinvented itself throughout the years, constantly maintaining the signature sound that fans around the world love. The turning point for the band came in 2012 with CIRCLE II CIRCLE's monumental performance of the entire SAVATAGE album "The Wake Of Magellan" at the world’s largest heavy metal festival, Wacken Open Air in Germany. What followed was a sold-out European club tour.

"Seasons Will Fall" is CIRCLE II CIRCLE's strongest album to date from both a musical and production standpoint. It blends Stevens' history and unique "SAVATAGE style" with the fresh sounds he developed with his current outfit. From the howling guitar riffs on "Diamond Blade" and "Killing Death" to the energetic sound of "Never Gonna Stop", it contains everything you want from a heavy rock album.

In a recent interview with Metal Babe, Stevens said about the CD, "The record is sounding really great and the goal of this album from the beginning was for it to be the best CIRCLE II CIRCLE to date. Of course, that's a lofty goal, but I really think we've done it here with 'Seasons Will Fall'."

He added, "From the beginning, we wanted it to have some elements of all five previous releases, along with some entirely new sounding stuff. So that's basically what we've done with 'Seasons Will Fall'. We're really happy with how it turned out."

Asked if there is a certain theme or concept that this CD focuses on, Zak said, "Being that it's not a concept album, the record focuses on a variety of different subjects. What I notice right away in the music and the lyrics is the amount of introspection of everyday life. Because of this, it really reminds me of our first album, 'Watching In Silence'. It really has that sort of feel to it. It also reminds me of 'Burden Of Truth' in some ways, too, but this one's definitely not a concept album in that sense."

"Seasons Will Fall" track listing:

01. Diamond Blade
02. Without A Sound
03. Killing Death
04. Epiphany
05. End Of Emotion
06. Dreams That Never Die
07. Seasons Will Fall
08. Never Gonna Stop
09. Isolation
10. Sweet Despair
11. Downshot
12. Only Yesterday

CIRCLE II CIRCLE is:

Zak Stevens - Vocals
Mitch Stewart - Bass/Vocals
Bill Hudson - Guitar/Vocals
Christian Wentz - Guitar/Vocals
Henning Wanner - Keyboards/Vocals
Adam Sagan - Drums

Norwegian black metallers DJEVEL (Norwegian word for "devil") will release their second album, "Besatt Av Maane Og Natt", on May 31 via Aftermath Music. The CD was recorded this past winter at Caliban Studios.

"Besatt Av Maane Og Natt" track listing:

01. Besatt Av Maane Og Natt
02. Aapne Graver Og Tomme Kister
03. Marefar
04. Tornekroner Og Geitehorn
05. Blant Fjell Og Falne
06. Stjernesluker
07. ...Og Englene Dinglet Fra Galgene
08. Saa Tok Alt Slutt

The recording lineup for "Besatt Av Maane Og Natt" is as follows:

* T. Ciekals (NETTLECARRIER, ex-LJÅ) - Guitar
* Erlend Hjelvik (KVELERTAK) - Vocals
* Dirge Rep (NETTLECARRIER, ORCUSTUS, ex-ENSLAVED, ex-GEHENNA) - Drums
* Mannevond (KOLDBRANN, NETTLECARRIER) - Bass

DJEVEL released a seven-inch vinyl single, "Besatt Av Maane Og Natt", on August 24, 2012. This very limited EP features two demo songs from the band's forthcoming album.

DJEVEL's debut album, "Dødssanger", was released last year via Aftermath Music. The cover artwork was created by DJEVEL's T. Ciekals and Truls Espedal, who has previously worked with ENSLAVED.

DJEVEL was formed in June 2009 when T. Ciekals decided to disband his previous group, LJÅ. With a lot of material already composed for the next LJÅ album, he decided to put all this and more into DJEVEL. Initially DJEVEL was supposed to be a one-man project but it has slowly grown into something resembling a band.

013-04-09 04:00 - Nuclear Blast is very stoked to announce the signing of ASHES OF ARES - the new formation of Matt Barlow (ex-ICED EARTH), Van Williams (ex-NEVERMORE), Freddie Vidales (ex-ICED EARTH).

ASHES OF ARES is a band which represents the culmination of experiences, trials and tribulations of founding members Matt Barlow, Van Williams and Freddie Vidales. Within months of their departures from the iconic metal bands ICED EARTH and NEVERMORE, the trio came together with a renewed drive to create a sound which is a true collaboration of their personal influences, ideas and visions. Armed with the knowledge acquired through years of the writing, touring and recording cycle, and with the support of an army of loyal fans across the globe, ASHES OF ARES is poised to carve out a new legacy and stand alongside those who have helped pave the way.

The band comments the unholy alliance like this: “We are proud to announce that we have signed with Nuclear Blast records! We're really looking forward to working with them in bringing our music to the world. It's great to be added to the ranks of the already impressive roster of bands that Nuclear Blast represents. We will be entering the studio at the beginning of April under the masterful watch of producer Jim Morris of “Morrisound Recording”. We and Nuclear Blast are aiming for a release date late in the summer of 2013. This will be followed by a European tour with POWERWOLF. It's a new beginning for ASHES OF ARES, and we couldn't ask for a better label than Nuclear Blast to go into battle with. Attack!”

Nuclear Blast A&R Jaap Wagemaker adds: “After we received their first demo we were totally blown away by the power of their music! We are all huge fans of classic NEVERMORE and classic ICED EARTH and we knew that just like us their fans are waiting eagerly to hear this! Their new band is named after the Greek god of war and together we will go forward into to battle conquering the hearts of metal fans worldwide! At the moment the band is hard at work forging their debut album which will see the light in the late summer this year. If you can’t wait that long, make sure not to miss them at the legendary “Rock Hard Festival” this year. ASHES OF ARES: welcome to the Nuclear family!”

ASHES OF ARES is:
Matthew Barlow - Vocals
Freddie Vidales – Guitar/Bass
Van Williams - Drums

ASHES OF ARES Live:
May 17, 2013 Gelsenkirchen (Germany) @ Rock Hard Festival

Candlelight Records has set a June 4 North American release date for "The Hundredth Name", the full-length debut from Las Vegas-based epic doom band DEMON LUNG. The eight-song album was recorded with Adam Myatt and Billy Anderson (NEUROSIS, THE MELVINS, SLEEP) and features artwork by English illustrator Tom Bates (VISION OF DISORDER, AMORPHIS).

"The Hundredth Name" is a conceptual album, as previously confirmed by drummer Jeremy Brenton. Its story line follows "the long-begotten son of Satan, who's been sent to earth to assemble the three parts of the devil's bible so that we can speak the name of God in reverse and undo creation." Songstress Shanda Fredrick states: "We have had the concept idea for the album for a few years. We have just been waiting until we signed to a proper label to finish writing it.

"Working with Billy was a dream come true for us. He has been like a fifth member of the band, a mentor, and just an all-around awesome friend. He helped us craft something that we are very proud of."

Formed in 2011, DEMON LUNG features guitarist Phil Burns and bassist Patrick Warren, with Fredrick and Brenton. The band has a singular EP, "Pareidolia" (Bandcamp 2012), currently available. The recording was favorably received by international media. "Earthy-yet-horror-themed doom metal a-la CANDLEMASS," said Metal Hammer. "Their hazy atmosphere and unorthodox way of playing guitar in a doom metal band is an interesting approach that doom fans should immediately check out," noted Metal Archives. "Their music is clearly from the soul," added Ave Noctum. In their still short history, the band has performed alongside PENTAGRAM, HIGH ON FIRE, JUCIFER, WITCH MOUNTAIN and CASTLE, among others.

"The Hundredth Name" track listing:

01. Binding of the Witch
02. Devil's Wind
03. Eyes of Zamiel
04. A Decade Twice Over A Day
05. Heathen Child
06. Hex Mark
07. Hallowed Ground
08. Incantation (The Hundredth Name)

DEMON LUNG is confirmed for the third installment of the Doom In June Festival (also featuring THE SKULL, MANILLA ROAD, KARMA TO BURN, ANCESTORS, LAS CRUCES, CASTLE and more).

"The Mystery Of Time", the new album from EDGUY mainman Tobias Sammet's AVANTASIA project, has registered the following first-week chart positions:

Sweden: #9
Finland: #9
Norway: #19
France: #51
Netherlands: #85
UK: #97, #6 (Rock Chart)
Japan: #17 (International chart)

"The Mystery Of Time" was released on March 30. The effort was made available as a regular CD, limited-edition vinyl and limited-edition hardcover book with a 28-page booklet containing ten regular songs and two bonus tracks ("The Cross And You", "Death Is Just A Feeling"). The cover artwork was hand-painted by world acclaimed British fantasy artist Rodney Matthews. Among Rodney's most famous artworks are not only album covers for rock legends such as MAGNUM, THIN LIZZY, ASIA and NAZARETH, he has also designed the characters for the TV series "Lavender Castle" and created the covers for novels by British fantasy author Michael Moorcock and many more.

"The Mystery Of Time" features guest appearances by Michael Kiske (UNISONIC, HELLOWEEN), former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick, drummer Russell Gilbrook of URIAH HEEP, AYREON mastermind Arjen Lucassen (also ex-BODINE, VENGEANCE), Ronnie Atkins of Danish hard rock veterans PRETTY MAIDS and MR. BIG frontman Eric Martin.

The new AVANTASIA CD was recorded in part at VOX Klangstudio in Bendestorf, Germany with producer Sascha Paeth (KAMELOT, EDGUY, EPICA, RHAPSODY).

"The Mystery Of Time" track listing:

01. Spectres
02. The Watchmakers' Dream
03. Black Orchid
04. Where Clock Hands Freeze
05. Sleepwalking
06. Savior In The Clockwork
07. Invoke The Machine
08. What's Left Of Me
09. Dweller In A Dream
10. The Great Mystery

"Sleepwalking", the new video from AVANTASIA, can be seen below. The clip was filmed in a magical forest in Germany on a snowy winter's night and it features a duet between Tobias and female vocalist Cloudy Yang..

Comments Tobias: "It was far below freezing. And there we were, standing in the snow storm for hours, walking through a haunted forest. It felt a bit like 'Sleepy Hollow' meets 'Brothers Grimm', but the pictures that came out were really great and compensated for the torture."

About the song itself, Tobias says: "'Sleepwalking' is the most enchanting pop song I've ever written. Yes, it's a pop song, and I am the first to admit it. I love stuff like A-HA, CUTTING CREW, ENYA and SARAH BRIGHTMAN.

"You know, the whole album is a journey.

"Someone said that 'The Mystery Of Time' is the most adventurous AVANTASIA album to date. What makes AVANTASIA what it is is its diversity. We have five double-bass songs, two big epics, a beautiful flamboyantly orchestrated ballad, and monumental mid-tempo groovy stuff with big choirs.

"AVANTASIA has always been defined by its diversity and mingling of styles. It is an epic metal record and there are so many different things to be discovered, you have to give the album at least ten listens to discover half of what's going on.

"'Sleepwalking' are four wonderful minutes out of 60 minutes, but there is not one song on the album that can represent AVANTASIA on its own, it's the full 60 minutes you have to pay attention to, to grasp the magic of this piece!"