Lion Music has announced the signing of the reactivated '90s Italian heavy metal band HEADLESS. The group's new album, "Growing Apart", contains ten songs shaped around the "licensed signature drumming" of Scott Rockenfield's (QUEENSRŸCHE, SLAVE TO THE SYSTEM) and melodic vocals of Göran Edman (JOHN NORUM, YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN), which fuse hard rock and heavy metal with progressive elements.

"Growing Apart" will receive a digital release on June 7. Physical-CD release details will be announced soon.

The first single from "Growing Apart", "Primetime", was released on December 14, 2011, and can be purchased on iTunes and Amazon. The second track, "Sink Deep In A Fairy Tale", was mastered in Hollywood, California by Warren Sokol and was issued on February 14, 2012. It can be downloaded from iTunes and Amazon.

HEADLESS is:

Walter Cianciusi - Guitar
Dario Parente - Guitar

For more information, visit www.headless.it.

Ohio metallers SKELETONWITCH have entered GodCity Studios in Salem, Massachusetts in April with producer Kurt Ballou (CONVERGE, KVELERTAK, BLACK BREATH) to begin recording their fifth album for a fall release via Prosthetic Records.

Last month, SKELETONWITCH headlined Pitchfork's "Show No Mercy" showcase at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, where they debuted a brand new song. You can view their entire performance below.

The band, which spent most of 2012 touring (including a rigorous 10-week headlining run during which they played 63 shows in 65 days), will headline the Calgary Metal Fest in June.

SKELETONWITCH recently completed the "U.S. Abomination" headlining tour with support from MUTILATION RITES and HAVOK.

The follow-up to 2009's "Breathing The Fire", SKELETONWITCH's latest album, "Forever Abomination", was recorded at a Los Angeles studio with producer Matt Hyde (SLAYER, MACHINE HEAD, KREATOR). The effort included the track "The Infernal Resurrection", the demo version of which appears as the B-side on the final seven-inch of a limited-edition vinyl trilogy. This marked SKELETONWITCH's first recording with the group's new drummer, former DEMIRICOUS skin-pounder Dustin Boltjes.

The vinyl reissues of the SKELETONWITCH's breakthrough releases "Breathing The Fire" and "Beyond The Permafrost" are now available from the Prosthetic store. Both are available in three variants — splatter, half-and-half and 180-gram black wax — and feature gatefold Stoughton "tip-on" record jackets. The black vinyl versions of both albums were made available in select retail stores in April 2012.

British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN will make a brief return to the USA this September, playing seven specially selected shows en route to Latin America where they will once again headline at the legendary Rock In Rio Festival, Brazil, on September 22, their show there having recently sold out to 70,000 fans in just a couple of hours

These will begin with a first-ever visit to Raleigh, North Carolina, for the opening show on September 3 at the Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion followed by taking metal back to country music capital Nashville, Tennessee where MAIDEN haven't played in over twenty years, at the Bridgestone Arena on September 5. There will also be shows in Kansas City, Missouri, Sprint Center on September 7, St Louis, Missouri, Verizon Wireless on September 8 and the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 12, all of which MAIDEN last visited way back in 2000 on the "Brave New World" tour. Plus a return to Austin, Texas for a show at the 360 Amphitheater on September 10, the first time the band have played in that city since the original "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son" tour twenty-five years ago!

Very special guests on all these dates will be MEGADETH.

Before they finally head south towards Brazil, MAIDEN will also headline a very special event at the San Manuel Amphitheater, San Bernardino, California. The Battle Of San Bernardino will take place on Friday, September 13. ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT, OVERKILL and SABATON will join tour special guests MEGADETH for this performance only, making for a big, loud and exciting day out for metal fans in Southern California.

Commented IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson: "As MAIDEN fans know, we're going back to Brazil to headline Rock In Rio again, so we thought that on our way down south we should certainly stop off and do a few more shows in the U.S if we possibly could. We especially wanted to try and play some more cities we've not visited for a while, so we're really excited about seeing our fans again in places we've not been to in over a decade, and in some cases over two decades, and for our first-ever visit to Raleigh! We'll be bringing with us the same full production we had on the Maiden England tour in North America last year so fans can expect to see the huge lightshow, stage set, various incarnations of Eddie, plenty of pyro and all kinds of other exciting stuff."

Added MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris: "We know how popular the History Of Maiden tours are with fans of all ages and we love visiting cities we haven't been to in many years as it gives us a chance to play to new audiences. We had a huge amount of fun with the setlist for this Maiden England tour when we opened in North America last year as we got to play songs we had not played in a very long time, like 'Seventh Son', 'The Prisoner' and 'Afraid To Shoot Strangers', as well as fan favorites like 'The Trooper', 'Aces High', 'The Clairvoyant', 'The Number Of The Beast', 'Wasted Years' and 'Run To The Hills'. That opening leg of the tour was so enjoyable for the whole band, we're really looking forward to coming back to see our fans again and a lot of new faces too!"

Sep. 03 - Raleigh, NC - Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion
Sep. 05 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
Sep. 07 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
Sep. 08 - St Louis, MO - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Sep. 10 - Austin, TX - Austin 360 Amphitheater
Sep. 12 - Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay Events Center
Sep. 13 - San Bernardino, CA - San Manuel Amphitheatre

Tickets for the Las Vegas and San Bernardino shows go on sale on April 12. Tickets for Raleigh, Nashville, St Louis and Austin go on sale on April 13. Tickets for Kansas City go on sale on May 17.

Members of GUNS N' ROSES, VAN HALEN, QUEEN and RATT have reacted on Twitter and Facebook to the passing of British sound engineer and record producer Andy Johns who passed away yesterday (April 7) at the age of 61. No cause of death was immediately available, although Johns had been hospitalized for "liver trouble," according to Rolling Stone magazine.

Johns had worked on well-known rock albums such as LED ZEPPELIN "IV", THE ROLLING STONES' "Exile On Main Street", along with revered material from VAN HALEN, HUMBLE PIE, ERIC CLAPTON, CINDERELLA and CHICKENFOOT, among many others.

Slash (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER): "RIP Andy Johns. One of the great engineer/producers of our time; FREE, ZEPPELIN, ROLLING STONES, the list goes on. He will be sorely missed."

Michael Anthony (CHICKENFOOT, VAN HALEN): "Just heard about the passing of my friend and producer, Andy Johns. Words cannot express my sadness upon hearing this. Those of us who had the pleasure of knowing and working with Andy, you know what I'm saying. I loved you brother. Annette, you are in my thoughts and prayers."

Tracii Guns (L.A. GUNS): "There is something intangible that makes a recording magical. Andy Johns in many cases was the intangible ingredient whether he was simply running the tape machine, placing a microphone in a kitchen or a stairwell (just for the hell of it) or he could have been the producer or mixer, or maybe just the stories he would tell during the sessions. Whatever it was that Andy brought to the table, it didn't exactly matter because he possibly just simply had a 6th sense for making a recording undeniably comfortable to listen to.

"It's simply shameful that our industry does not recognize the pain that many artists, engineers, writers, roadies — in fact, anyone involved with creating music for people that touches them for an eternity. Andy provided such a huge percentage of the music we have all heard on classic rock radio stations most of our lives. A person like Andy did not deserve to struggle in any way in his adult life as he made so many people's lives happier because of his contributions. I do know he was too young to die.

"Andy was not just some producer guy, He, along with only a couple of other guys, made recordings that in music history will probably be as timeless as 'Moonlight Sonata' i.e. he watched and hit the record button for Jimmy Page on 'Stairway To Heaven'.

"I won't ramble more, but I am very hurt and sad that Andy Johns is dead.

"On a personal note, he was able to get things out of me on the L.A. GUNS 'Waking The Dead' album that I didn't know I had inside and I will always be grateful to have known him and to have the honor of working with him."

Michael Wilton (QUEENSRŸCHE): "RIP Andy Johns. thanks for the amazing music you gave us all."

Doug Aldrich (WHITESNAKE, DIO): "Andy Johns was a rock star. The real deal. He was a huge inspiration to me. He would be there 'till the end to make sure the song was right. RIP."

Chad Smith (CHICKENFOOT, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS): "RIP Andy Johns..made some of my favorite all-time records."

Lita Ford: "My beloved friend has passed away! The GREAT record producer Andy Johns!!! LED ZEP, ROLLING STONES, many greats will miss you terribly !!!! No one was like my jolly ol' Andy! Deepest sympathy to his wife, Anet , children and family! ANDY!!!! NO! Please come back...... :-( xoxo Lita."

Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH): "RIP Andy Johns... Friend and producer of HUGHES THRALL, engineer for the STONES, LED ZEP and FREE... Larger than life. You are loved, Andy."

Stacey Blades (L.A. GUNS): "My friend, my mentor and inspiration Andy Johns passed away today. A true legend in the record biz. I'll miss you old friend."

Juan Croucier (RATT): "RIP legendary producer/engineer Andy Johns, an amazing talent. You'll be missed by so many. God bless."

Brian May (QUEEN): "Ouch. So sad to hear of the passing of Andy Johns … Great record producer. Lovely guy — patient, skilled, funny, encouraging, sharp ... all the qualities you want in someone who is getting your music on to tape. I remember him as one of the Olympic Studios team in Barnes … playing around with varying tape speeds and early phasing … with George Chiantz. He went on to become one of the very top rock producers in the world. Condolences to all the family. Andy was such a great guy. RIP"

Steve Lukather (TOTO): "Very sorry to hear about the loss of an old friend and legend Andy Johns.. RIP Andy."

Peter Frampton: "Andy Johns engineer/producer and longtime friend has left us and way too soon. He worked with HUMBLE PIE on our first two albums. Better known for LED ZEP and STONES' classic albums. And 'Songs For A Tailor' by Jack Bruce. A big fav of mine. So many other amazing sounding records were recorded/produced by Andy. My thoughts are with his family and especially his brother Glyn. We will all miss Andy. RIP."

Kevin Shirley (producer): "Very sad to learn of the passing of Andy Johns today. Too young to go. Andy is a bona fide legend. I met him in New York with Pat and Zoe Thrall when he was very condescending to me at Ruby Foo's over some cold sake, but after listening to some work became somewhat of a fan (according to my friend Pat Thrall, who witnessed him listening to one of my AEROSMITH mixes for hours). Andy's legacy is huge."

ILL NINO: "Tonight we mourn the death of rock n' roll's greatest engineer Andy Johns. We are blessed to have worked with Andy for the entire recording of 'The Undercover Sessions'. His legacy is defined by some of rock's greatest moments such as early LED ZEPPELIN, early ROLLING STONES, VAN HALEN and OZZY OSBOURNE. Rest in peace, Mr. Johns. your work inspired a generation and changed the world."

Max Duhamel, drummer of the Montreal based death metal powerhouse KATAKLYSM, is taking a break from the band to deal with issues related to alcohol abuse.

Says Max in a statement:"It is with an a extremely heavy heart that I announce today that I will not be performing on the new KATAKLYSM album.

"I have been struggling with many personal issues the last year, but lately the main one has been alcohol. It's been affecting my body in a very negative way to the point that when I came home after the EX DEO tour we just did, I tried to stop drinking for few days and it's been very hard without having any withdrawl symptoms. I've also lost a lot of weight, as some of you noticed recently, and I'm not in good shape.

"I've heard the new material my brothers have written and it's truly incredible stuf; it’s really some of the best music the band has ever done. It's going to be a very demanding album and my state of mind and body is not ready to confront this big task right now. I need to clean my body and my mind and come back focused to KATAKLYSM and I don't know how long this will take. The guys have reached out to help in any way they can, which I can't thank them enough. I'm truly blessed to have them as a family.

"So, as I start my road to recovery, I send this message to all of you and thank you for all the support. It's time to take my life in my hands and take responsibility.

"I will not be attending the Juno Awards ceremony in two weeks for EX DEO nominations, but I will close my contract with the shows in May that are left, Extremefest, Beastival in Germany and Metalfest Czech Republic will be my last shows until I'm ready again to come back in full form. You guys deserve the best of me."

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.

Texas-based thrashers WARBEAST have released a horror-flick inspired music video for the track "Blood Moon". The song comes off the band's new album, "Destroy", released last week via Housecore Records. The clip, which tells the terrifying story of Gnmange, a tormented werewolf, and his need to exist, was directed by Mike Holderbeast of Cement Level Studios NOLA, known for his recent work with DOWN on their music video for the track "Witchtripper". The video features the acting talents of WARBEAST guitarist Scott Shelby and slayed victims Amber Michelle and Sarah Vaz, and features special effects work by Molly Federline.

As the star of the video, Shelby was able to experience all of the video's special effects and behind-the-scenes tricks first-hand.

"First, Mike came to our rehearsal space at Zativa Studios in Texas," Scott explains. "There, we filmed the jamming parts of the video in front of black screens and green screens. Next came the werewolf part, which had me going to New Orleans to Mike's place. I followed his directing tips in order to become and transform into the Beast with professional makeup artist and lots of blood. We filmed in the French quarters and step by step did the transformation — ripping flesh, growing teeth, and turning into the Beast which had been caged and taunted by two beautiful women. The beast eventually slaughters both of them in this classic horror film metal video!"

He adds: "'Blood Moon' is a special song to me because I wrote it years ago. Bringing it back to life with WARBEAST is an honor and long overdue. Plus, Bruce put his horror movie lyrics to it, which are the icing on the cake. This is a great song and a dream come true for Bruce and I. Mike Holderbeast is a master at his art as you will see in this awesome video. Enjoy and slash and thrash!"

Casey Orr (RIGOR MORTIS, GWAR) will join WARBEAST as their fill-in bassist while on the road this spring with GWAR. The band's tour dates with GWAR and WILSON kick off in Tucson, Arizona on April 10. The 16-day run, dubbed the "Fate Or Chaos Tour", will continue through the month of April until it closes in Jacksonville, Florida on April 25.

States WARBEAST vocalist Bruce Corbitt: "Obviously, we are all psyched to have Casey on board for this upcoming tour with GWAR and WILSON. I've always respected Casey's professionalism, abilities and musicianship from our many years together in RIGOR MORTIS. This will be a natural and comfortable fit for WARBEAST. Plus he's still buds with all of the guys in GWAR, so this tour will be a blast… to say the least."

Adds Orr: "I am very excited to accept the challenge of playing bass for the mighty WARBEAST! I'm looking forward to crushing skulls with my brothers in the Beast, and I'm totally stoked to be bringing the thunder on the road this April, supporting my Scumdog family — GWAR. Texas thrash will destroy!"

"Destroy" was produced by former PANTERA frontman, and Housecore owner, Philip H. Anselmo, and engineered by Stephen "The Big Fella" Berrigan at Anselmo's Nodferatu's Lair studios in Louisiana in May and July 2012. The effort was mixed by Anselmo and Berrigan. The album artwork and concept were designed by "Carcass" John Fossum with graphic and technical adviser John Deleon.

WARBEAST recently released a split album with Anselmo, entitled "War Of The Gargantuas". The split, released via Housecore, includes two songs from each artist. This album serves as the first release of any solo work by Anselmo during the span of his nearly 30-year legacy. Also, the two WARBEAST tracks on the split feature former bassist Alan Bovee before his amicable departure from the band.

Italian guitarist Aldo Giuntini is back with his new GIUNTINI "Project IV" album, due on May 24 via Escape Music. Handling all vocals once again on "Project IV" is none other than Tony Martin (ex-BLACK SABBATH), with the help of Ezio Secomandi (on drums), Dario Patti (on keyboards) and Fulvio Gaslini (on bass).

"I wanted to have Tony again," explains Aldo, "because he is my favorite voice and I think that the blend of our styles is just perfect!"

Regarding the six-year gap between the last two GIUNTINI albums, Aldo says: "My way of writing and producing the songs needs a lot of time. One could say I am a perfectionist, but when I have musical ideas for my guitar, I often have the other guys working with their own inputs: Also I need to have Tony Martin to work on the lyrics at the end, so this takes away a lot of time."

He adds: "'Project IV' continues the line of 'Project II', 'III', musically and I'm sure that who loved my second, and third work will appreciate the 'IV' album in the same way and more, since the production work is a lot improved this time and produced by Dario Mollo (MOLLO / MARTIN)."

According to a press release, "The sound of Giuntini's work is a combination of the warmth and the power of BLACK SABBATH's 'Headless Cross', 'Tyr', RAINBOW's 'Long Live Rock & Roll' and 'Rising' and DIO's 'Holy Diver' with energetic sound of LOUDNESS, the Japanese metal heroes! Giuntini's guitar playing is mainly influenced by Akira Takasaki, Vivian Campbell, Edward Van Halen, Jake E. Lee, John Norum and, of course, Yngwie Malmsteen."

GIUNTINI "Project IV" track listing:

01. Perfect Sorrow (3:08)
02. Born In The Underworld (5:17)
03. Shadow Of The Stone (3:58)
04. Cured (4:08)
05. I Don't Believe In Fortune (4:03)
06. If The Dream Comes True (4:45)
07. The Rise And Fall Of Barry Lyndon (4:33)
08. Bring On The Night (4:20)
09. Not The Jealous Kind (4:32)
10. Saint Or Sinner (3:57)
11. Last Station: Nightmare (5:19)
12. How The Story Ends (4:24)
13. Truth Never Lie (5:12)

Norwegian jazz-metal band SHINING have unveiled a video for "I Won't Forget", the first single from their upcoming album "One One One". The clip's science-fiction-inspired look gels naturally with the futuristic production of the audio track and creates a music video that perfectly portrays the unique aesthetics of the Blackjazz Rebels.

"We are extremely happy and excited to finally be able to show you our new video," says SHINING frontman Jørgen Munkeby. "The song 'I Won’t Forget' is my absolute favorite of all the tracks we’ve ever made, and to be able to top this track off with such a beautiful, crisp and clean science fiction video is a dream come true."

Director Kyrre Larsen, from the Blæst production company, comments: "Since I first heard [SHINING's 2010 album] 'Blackjazz'. I've somehow associated the sound of SHINING's music with science-fiction. I tried to create a sense of this in the video for 'Fisheye' in 2012. 'I Won't Forget' builds on that video, but I wanted to take things one step further — and also avoid the style of imagery usually associated with heavier music."

SHINING — whose unique "blackjazz" hybrid of extreme progressive metal, experimental jazz-fusion and industrial precision has earned extensive international acclaim — will release "One One One", its first studio album in three years, this spring. The CD, which is available now for pre-order, will be released by Prosthetic Records in North America digitally on April 23, with physical releases on CD and gatefold LP to follow soon after. A teaser for the forthcoming music video for first single "I Won't Forget" can be seen below.

Mixed and co-produced by Sean Beaven (NINE INCH NAILS, MARILYN MANSON, SLAYER) and mastered by Tom Baker at Precision Mastering (AVENGED SEVENFOLD, DEFTONES, MINISTRY), "One One One" sees SHINING expanding on the musical palettes introduced on 2010's landmark "Blackjazz". That album — hailed by the New York Times as "a radioactive alloy of jazz and black metal" — scored a Norwegian Spellemann nomination (the Norwegian equivalent to the Grammy Awards), cracked the Norwegian Top 10 and saw the group tour around the globe, from high-profile U.S. events like South By Southwest and CMJ to the large stages of European summer festivals. One such performance was captured on "Live Blackjazz", an ambitious CD/DVD released on 11.11.11 that saw the group perform the album in full before a sold-out crowd in their home country.

SHINING has already performed "One One One" live in its entirety in Norway, after which they were awarded the prestigious Statoil scholarship — essentially a grant to be used toward international touring. Accordingly, the band is already making plans to return to America, where their 2012 South By Southwest performance earned rave reviews ("SHINING are true rock stars...the best thing about the entire festival up until that point," wrote MetalSucks).

It will be the latest step on an unorthodox career path that began with two acoustic jazz albums released at the turn of the century. From there, SHINING began to incorporate progressive rock and experimental metal influences on their next two releases, after which they famously collaborated with progressive black metal Vikings ENSLAVED on a concerto commissioned by a top European jazz festival. That union helped to influence the musical direction of "Blackjazz", which in turn begat "One One One".

"While 'One One One' is meant to complete the 'Blackjazz Trilogy,' it's also definitely the catchiest and most immediate music we've ever recorded, thereby paving the way for another bright and brand new version of ourselves," says SHINING frontman Jørgen Munkeby. "The idea this time around was to make a series of jazz-metal hits with no fillers, hence the name of the album, and I believe we've managed to do just that. I have never been as proud of an album as I am with this one."

"One One One" track listing:

01. I Won't Forget
02. The One Inside
03. My Dying Drive
04. Off The Hook
05. Blackjazz Rebels
06. How Your Story Ends
07. The Hurting Game
08. Walk Away
09. Paint The Sky Black

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE will release its sixth studio album, "…Like Clockwork", on June 4 via Matador Records, which is part of Beggars Group, the largest independent label group in the world. Described by QUEENS principal Joshua Homme as "an audio documentary of a manic year," "…Like Clockwork" is the band's first full-length collection of all-new material since 2007's "Era Vulgaris", as well as the group's debut release on new label partner Matador. The group was previously signed to Interscope.

"…Like Clockwork" was produced by Joshua Homme and QOTSA and recorded by Mark Rankin at Pink Duck Studios in Burbank, California. The CD includes drums by Dave Grohl (FOO FIGHTERS, NIRVANA), Joey Castillo and Jon Theodore, and guest appearances by Sir Elton John, Trent Reznor (NINE INCH NAILS), Mark Lanegan (SCREAMING TREES), ex-QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE bassist/vocalist Nick Oliveri, Jake Shears (THE SCISSOR SISTERS), James Lavelle and Alex Turner.

"…Like Clockwork" track listing:

01. Keep Your Eyes Peeled
02. I Sat By The Ocean
03. The Vampyre Of Time And Memory
04. If I Had A Tail
05. My God Is The Sun
06. Kalopsia
07. Fairweather Friends
08. Smooth Sailing
09. I Appear Missing
10. …Like Clockwork

"My God Is The Sun" is available for streaming in the YouTube clip below.

An iTunes pre-order for "…Like Clockwork" will include an instant download of "My God Is The Sun" and is set to launch at midnight tonight.

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE's current touring lineup includes THE MARS VOLTA drummer Jon Theodore.

Grohl played drums on the QUEENS' 2002 album, "Songs For The Deaf", and did go on a short club tour with the group before returning to active duty with the FOOS — who took QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE out as support.

Grohl stepped in for the recording sessions after the group parted ways with longtime drummer Joey Castillo.

"Era Vulgaris" came out in June 2007 and entered the Billboard chart at No. 14.

Vindsval, BLUT AUS NORD founder and mastermind, is currently working on the successor to the legendary THE EYE's first album Supremacy, released back in 1997. The maestro comments: "The songs and every riff are structurated on deep and eerie synth waves. This second album will be a logical continuation of Supremacy. With these new compositions, I want to capture both the essence and the spirit of this ethereal, cold and hypnotic, old black metal."
This highly-anticipated new album should be released in the first quarter of 2014. In the meantime, to quench your thirst, you can get your hands on the recent reissue of Supremacy, on sale all in digipack CD and gatefold 12" LP.

Sweden’s SHINING has revealed the artwork for the upcoming split with MORTUARY DRAPE, as well as posting a teaser for the Shining track. Titled, In The Eerie Cold Where All The Witches Dance, and set for release on Primitive Art Records, the 7” vinyl will contain an exclusive track from each of the bands. The two tracks will only be released on the split and will not appear on any album.
Commenting about the Shining track on the original announcement of the split, frontman and founder Niklas Kvarforth said: “In 1998 a song was written which was intended for inclusion on our first album. However, somehow we were not able to record it properly, which forced us to re-record 'Endless Solitude' instead. At the next Abyss session we faced the same problem and after that, the then-titled 'One With The Endless', was left out as we were certain the song had a curse written all over it. Quite recently, we gave it a third shot, and this time the curse was embraced instead of the opposite. A strange phenomena reinventing itself in every way possible, and, for some odd reason, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t write any suitable lyrics, and once again considered leaving it be. I did however have a very close friend of mine in the studio who not only came up with a new lyrical theme for the song but was also given my full blessings to sing it."

The teaser for the Shining track can be heard below:
Updates to follow.

Cutter of Envision Radio Networks' "Hangar 19" recently conducted an interview with former PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN and current HELLYEAH drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott. Asked what would have to happen to get him and ex-PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo to sit down and talk again, Vinnie said: "I just don't have any interest in it, man. I'm happy doing what I do, I'm enjoying being in a band where everybody really enjoys being around each other, likes each other. And I just don't have any interest in living in the past, man. I wanna move forward in my life and that's all there is to it."

Late PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott's longtime girlfriend Rita Haney in 2011 called on Vinnie Paul Abbott and Anselmo to settle their differences in honor of Dimebag, who was shot and killed by a crazed gunman while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at a Columbus, Ohio rock club in December 2004.

Vinnie, who is Dimebag's brother, and Anselmo have not spoken since PANTERA split in 2003. But the relationship got even more acrimonious when Vinnie indirectly blamed Philip for Dimebag's death, suggesting that some remarks the vocalist had made about Dimebag in print just weeks earlier might have incited Dimebag's killer.

In a recent interview with Brazil's Wikimetal podcast, Anselmo was asked about the possibility of a PANTERA reunion with Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE) filling in for Dimebag on guitar. "Honestly — and I've spoken with Zakk about it as well — we're very aware of the public perception out there, but honestly, until I speak with Vinnie Paul, which has not yet happened, and it doesn't look like it's going to happen, nothing can happen," he replied. "Honestly, I tell you, my phone is on the hook, my e-mail is wide open, my door is wide open. I would love to talk with Vince. Honestly, if there were no more bad feelings and we could talk, and we could come to an understanding, I think it would mean not only a lot for me and myself — it would mean the world to me — but it would mean a great deal to the fans out there as well. I think people don't want to see this arguing anymore. It's time for some peace. It's time for some brotherhood. And honestly, we should be setting an example instead of being the opposite. And I'll just say that my door is wide open, and so far, Vinnie's door is closed, and it's a shame."

Legendary guitarist Joe Satriani will release his 14th studio album, "Unstoppable Momentum", on May 7 through Epic Records. The CD was recorded at Skywalker Sound in the Bay Area and produced by Satriani and Mike Fraser (AC/DC). The album features an amazing array of talented players, including Vinnie Colauita (STING, JEFF BECK) on drums, Chris Chaney (JANE'S ADDICTION) on bass and Mike Keneally (DETHKLOK) on keyboards.

The first single from the CD, "A Door Into Summer", is available for streaming below.

Fans are encouraged to pre-order "Unstoppable Momentum" via Sony Music and Satriani's own website store. When pre-ordering through the Epic Records store, fans will be given the chance to bundle new signed copies of the album with exclusive t-shirts and guitar straps. At Satriani.com, fans will receive an exclusive, never-before-seen art book featuring years of drawings, doodles and sketches that Satriani has done over the years.

"Some of my drawings have made their way on to guitars, straps and picks, LP and CD booklets, t-shirts, hats, keychains, etc…and even my live stage productions," explains Satriani. "This book represents my first effort to finally compile my oddly drawn friends into one place, a wildly colorful portfolio of sorts. A collection of drawings meant to inspire and entertain."

After returning from the South American G3 tour last October, Satriani got down to writing new music over the next two months. As he recalls, "A very prolific and cathartic two months followed resulting in a bundle of new music I was very excited to get recorded!"

Eleven songs were selected to record, all "heading in different directions and touching on a variety of musical influences." With that in mind, Satriani decided to assemble a new studio band. "The idea was to crank up the energy level of the sessions, and allow for more individual expression of the material from each player. The chemistry with Mike, Chris and Vinnie was fantastic and we blazed through all of the tracks with everyone laying down amazing performances."

For two decades, Satriani has traveled the world, playing to sold-out crowds as both a headliner and as founder of the all-star "G3" guitar extravaganza. His studio and live recordings have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide to date and of his many solo albums, two have gone platinum and four others went gold, with 15 Grammy nominations between them. His side project, CHICKENFOOT, featuring former VAN HALEN frontman Sammy Hagar, former VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony, and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' drummer Chad Smith saw their debut album certified gold and their second studio album debuted at No. 9. In late 2010, music sensation Nicki Minaj sampled the classic Satriani track "Always With Me Always With You" in her song "Right Through Me" from her multi-platinum debut album. In 2011, Satriani recreated his national anthem performance for the opening day of the Oakland A's historic 2002 season in the Brad Pitt movie "Moneyball".

"Unstoppable Momentum" track listing:

01. Unstoppable Momentum
02. Can't Go Back
03. Lies And Truths
04. Three Sheets To The Wind
05. I'll Put A Stone On Your Cairn
06. A Door Into Summer
07. Shine On American Dreamer
08. Jumpin' In
09. Jumpin' Out
10. The Weight Of The World
11. A Celebration

"Novum Initium", the new album from multinational melodic metallers MASTERPLAN, will be released on May 17 via AFM Records.

The first trailer for the CD can be seen below.

"Novum Initium" track listing:

01. Per Aspera Ad Astra
02. The Game
03. Keep Your Dream Alive
04. Black Night Of Magic
05. Betrayal
06. No Escape
07. Pray On My Soul
08. Earth Is Going Down
09. Return From Avalon
10. Through Your Eyes
11. Novum Initium
12. 1492 (digipack bonus track)
13. Fear The Silence (digipack bonus track)

The "Novum Initium" digipack cover artwork can be seen below.

The band in February filmed a video for the song " Keep Your Dream Alive" in the Luftverteidigungsbunker Erndtebrück, also called "Bunker Erich."

A photo of MASTERPLAN's new lineup can be seen below. Joining drummer Martin "Marthus" Skaroupka (CRADLE OF FILTH) are vocalist Rick Altzi (AT VANCE, SANDALINAS, THUNDERSTONE), who replaces Jorn Lande, and bassist Jari Kainulainen (STRATOVARIUS, SYMFONIA, DEVIL'S TRAIN).

In a recent interview with Metal Shock Finland, MASTERPLAN guitarist/leader Roland Grapow stated about the band's new CD: "We are not leaving the MASTERPLAN path too much, but everything we have — the melodic part and a little bit progressive — I would say we're a little bit more powerful and I'm also mixing the album this time. I want to get a little bit more modern, as the sound we have was created ten years ago. We're still having the typical sound with melodies, but the drummer is amazing and plays a lot of crazy shit!"

MASTERPLAN's new lineup:

Rick Altzi - vocals
Roland Grapow - guitars
Axel Mackenrott - keyboards
Jari Kainulainen - bass
Martin "Marthus" Skaroupka - drums

In an August 2011 interview with the Czech web portal Kultura21.cz, Grapow stated about MASTERPLAN's numerous lineup changes: "I think it's always difficult in this band, I guess. If you see, the first album just came out after a big turbulence — leaving HELLOWEEN, Uli [Kusch, drums] and me. I think this band always needs some very bad moments to some great songs. [laughs] And it looks like MASTERPLAN, basically, is my main band, and whoever will sing and whoever will play in the band, I'm happy with. But, basically, at the moment, I'm thinking the main songwriters are Axel now and me. So whatever happens, this band will continue. It's very important for me to show that we still have the power and the ability to write beautiful melodies and some aggression and rock and metal songs. Whatever we do, we want just to make good-quality stuff."

MASTERPLAN's last CD, "Time To Be King", was released on May 21, 2010 through AFM Records. The CD's first single, "Far From The End Of The World", was issued on April 16, 2010.

Quebec-based metallers RIOTOR will enter the studio on June 29th to record their second album, entitled Rusted Throne. Eleven songs will be recorded, including 'Rusted Thrones', 'Into The Riot', 'Desintegrator', 'Learning To Hate', and 'Narcotic Death'.

"Expect a total devastation as usual from your favorite Canadian thrashers for the fall of 2013."

Check out the song 'Desintegrator' at this location or via the widget at the bottom of the page.

More on Riotor at this location.

Email newsletters for bands at ReverbNation.com

Audio samples of all the tracks that will appear on "Now What?!", the 19th studio album from British hard rock legends DEEP PURPLE, can be streamed at Amazon.co.uk. The CD will be released via earMUSIC, the Hamburg, Germany-based international rock label which is part of Edel Group, on the following dates:

* Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Finland, Spain: April 26
* UK, France, Benelux, Poland, Czech Republic, Norway, Denmark: April 29
* North America, Italy: April 30
* Sweden: May 1

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. A Simple Song
02. Weirdistan
03. Out Of Hand
04. Hell To Pay
05. Body Line
06. Above And Beyond
07. Blood From A Stone
08. Uncommon Man
09. Après Vous
10. All The Time In The World
11. Vincent Price

"Now What?!" will also be released in a limited quantity with a bonus track and a bonus DVD featuring DEEP PURPLE in conversation plus additional audio material. This edition will be available in a digipak with a cut out front cover. "Now What?!" will also be released as double vinyl LP containing a bonus track, as in the limited-edition CD.

After various songwriting sessions in Europe, the band recorded and mixed the album in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Bob Ezrin (KISS, PINK FLOYD, PETER GABRIEL, ALICE COOPER, KANSAS). The CD contain 11 tracks, including "Out Of Hand", "Weirdistan", "Uncommon Man" and "Above And Beyond". The latter song references the band's late keyboard player, Jon Lord, in the lyric "Souls having touched are forever entwined."

According to a press release, "Now What?!" was recorded with no musical rules… and it shows a modern and fresh production… to the point that DEEP PURPLE have never sounded so close to the spirit of the '70s in the last 20 years as they do now. The CD has the excellence and elegance of "Perfect Strangers" and the wild freedom of "Made In Japan".

Texas heavy rockers DROWNING POOL played a intimate acoustic show on March 19 at the Musician Rehearsal Center in Sparks, Nevada. You can watch video footage of their performance below.

DROWNING POOL's fifth studio album, "Resilience", is scheduled for release on 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.

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.

UK prog-rockers hAND have announced that they have signed to Brutal Elite Records for the release of their upcoming third album Kintsugi.

The four piece are due to head to Seriously Heavy Studios in July to begin recording the new album. After meeting up with producer Nick Hemingway the band excitedly wrote on their news feed, "After talking things over with Nick we can't tell you how hyped we are about this album; we reckon it is going to sound a bit different to the last two production wise, we have so many ideas already!"
Having digitally released their second album Breathing through Brutal Elite Records, the band felt it was a positive and natural progression to fully sign to the label.

A free sampler of some of the bands previous work is available to download here including demo versions of upcoming tracks.

For more details visit Handtheband.com.

The official video for the song "Adrenalize" from Southern California's IN THIS MOMENT can be seen below. The track comes off the band's fourth album, "Blood", which sold around 20,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 15 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Commented IN THIS MOMENT: "We are thrilled to finally unleash the 'Adrenalize' video on the masses. We created something that surpasses our highly successful video for 'Blood' and now that we have your attention we are going to make you feel filthy, captivated, and at the same time disturbingly aroused. Love or hate us, we guarantee you will keep coming back for more."

Released on August 14, 2012 via Century Media Records, "Blood" was once again produced by Kevin Churko, who has previously worked with OZZY OSBOURNE and FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, among others.

IN THIS MOMENT began work on the new album just a few months following the departures of drummer Jeff Fabb and guitarist Blake Bunzel, who left the band in 2011 in order to join the backing group of "American Idol" finalist James Durbin. Fabb and Bunzel have since been replaced by Tom Hane (THYATEIRA) and Randy Weitzel (FLATLINE, 3/13, AMERICAN MASSACRE), respectively.

"Blood" was released in December as a double-disc set through Hot Topic. The special package contained the full original "Blood" album on one disc, and a second disc that featured a cover of the NINE INCH NAILS classic "Closer", as well as four additional new remixes of songs on "Blood":

* "Blood (Sluggo Remix)"
* "Adrenalize (Mr. Kane Remix)"
* "Whore (Nikka Bling Remix)"
* "The Blood Legion (Mitch Marlow Remix)"

"Adrenalize" video:

The official video for "Dead City Radio And The New Gods Of Supertown", the first single from Rob Zombie's eagerly awaited new album, "Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor", can be seen below. Zombie himself directed the clip, which is described by the rocker as "pretty fucking cool.' He adds: "For all of you hoping for an old-school, weirdo-style Zombie video… well, you are gonna get it. Big time!"

"Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor" will be released on April 23 on Zodiac Swan/T-Boy/Ume. The CD was produced by Bob Marlette, who has previously worked with everyone from BLACK SABBATH and ALICE COOPER to WILSON PHILLIPS and LYNYRD SKYNYRD.

Asked what the story is behing the album's title, Rob told Revolver magazine: "There's no real story behind it. I just thought of it one day. With every album I've ever made, we'll get it basically one hundred percent done and everyone will go, 'OK, what's the title?' And I'm like, 'I don't know what the fuckin' title is yet. It hasn't hit me.' And then one day I'll just blurt out, 'La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1!' or 'Hellbilly Deluxe!' It's the same with this one. I have it written down somewhere, but I don't remember doing it."

He added: "Truthfully, the whole record was conceived as a concept album. But I'm not really selling it that way. I was getting obsessed watching things like 'Tommy', 'The Wall', 'Quadrophenia', where you have a movie to go with the album and it's a whole big concept. So I thought I'd write this album with that in mind: That maybe one day — it could be a year, it could be 10 years — I could turn the concept of this record into a movie. That being said, nothing about the concept of the record will make any sense to anyone until it's a movie. The band doesn't even know the storyline. No one does, except me. But I won't discuss it because it'll all make sense someday. Or it won't. [laughs] lt doesn't matter. The songs work fine even if you don't know the concept."

Regarding his decision to include a a heavy-duty cover of GRAND FUNK RAILROAD's "We're An American Band" on "Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor", Rob said: "I've never recorded a cover song as a solo artist, and I only recorded a few with WHITE ZOMBIE [KISS' 'God Of Thunder', BLACK SABBATH's 'Children Of The Grave' and KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND's 'I'm Your Boogie Man']. But you always wanna add new songs into your live show, so [Zombie's guitarist] John 5 and I would always sit in the back of the bus listening to stuff we could cover, but it was always like, 'Nah, that one's not right.' Cover songs are tricky. You gotta find just the right one. 'We're An American Band' hit us because it just felt so much like our life. We're a quintessential American band — everything that's right or wrong in Americana in one band. It wasn't like we were trying to say anything deep or meaningful. [laughs] It was just like, 'Yeah, we're in a rock band. Fuck you — it's awesome.'"

"Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor" track listing:

01. Teenage Nosferatu Pussy
02. Dead City Radio And The New Gods Of Supertown
03. Revelation Revolution
04. Theme For The Rat Vendor
05. Gong Gang Gong De Do Gong De Laga Raga
06. Rock And Roll (In A Black Hole)
07. Behold! The Pretty Filthy Creatures
08. White Trash Freaks
09. We're An American Band (GRAND FUNK RAILROAD cover)
10. Lucifer Rising
11. The Girl Who Loved The Monsters
12. Trade In Your Guns For A Coffin

Zombie told The Pulse Of Radio what goals he set for himself in making the new album. "I wanted someone to hear it and go, 'Wow, I haven't heard that before,'" he said. "I wanted it to be just different. We really went out of our way with the sounds, so every song has a very different sound, a very different guitar sound, drum sound, just everything, where the sound, the actual sound becomes very important. You know, after all these years you want to still try to feel that you can break through new, creative areas in your own mind, and that's really what we're just trying to do, you know."

"Daughters Of The Sea", a brand new song from Swedish epic doom metallers MEMORY GARDEN, can be streamed below. The track comes off the band's fifth album, "Doomain", which will be released on April 15 in Europe and April 16 in North America via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at Annoying Sound Factory and SolnaSound Recording by the bandmembers themselves, with a little engineering assistance from Mike Wead (KING DIAMOND) during the lead guitar sessions. The mix was handled by Dan Swanö (EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE) at Unisound studios in Örebro, Sweden.

"Doomain" track listing:

01. The Evangelist
02. Latent Lunacy
03. Daughters Of The Sea
04. Barren Lands
05. Violate & Create
06. Doomain
07. The King Of The Dead
08. A Diabolical Mind
09. Misfortune

Comments the band: "The recording of 'Doomain' must be the most relaxed album session we've ever done.

"We recorded most of the album ourselves in our own studio and took the time we wanted and needed to get it done. Dan Swanö helped us getting the rig together and he provided us with the tools to do it and from there we did it ourselves. The lead guitar sessions were done at SolnaSound Recording by Simon and Mike Wead. When it all was done, it was sent to Dan Swanö and Unisound for mix and mastering. The final album is amazing and we are so thrilled to get it out to all of you"

Regarding the CD title, the group states: "We wanted a short and effective title to this album. It's a little game of words referring to the style of music we play 'doom metal' and the actual word 'domain.'

"We see this album as a statement of what MEMORY GARDEN stands for music-wise and this album is certainly down our alley, it's in our Doomain."

MEMORY GARDEN was formed in 1992 in Sweden and has since then released four albums, two of them under the flag of Metal Blade Records ("Verdict Of Posterity" in 1998 and "Mirage" in 2000).

MEMORY GARDEN is:

Stefan Berglund - Vocals
Simon Johansson - Lead Guitar
Andreas Mäkelä - Guitars
Johan Fredrikson - Bass
Tom Björn - Drums

"Daughters Of The Sea" audio stream:

"Monstrance Clock", a brand new song from the mysterious Swedish buzz band GHOST, can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below. The track comes off the group's sophomore album, "Infestissumam", which 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.

The Geoff Tate-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE has just hit the road to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the band's epic 1988 release, "Operation: Mindcrime", performing all fifteen songs from the album along with other well-known hits and rarities from the catalog they've compiled over the past 30 years. The trek kicked off this past Saturday, April 6 at Peppermill Casino in Wendover, Nevada and featured the following setlist:

01. I Remember Now
02. Anarchy-X
03. Revolution Calling
04. Operation: Mindcrime
05. Speak
06. Spreading The Disease
07. The Mission
08. Suite Sister Mary
09. The Needle Lies
10. Electric Requiem
11. Breaking The Silence
12. I Don't Believe In Love
13. Waiting For 22
14. My Empty Room
15. Eyes Of A Stranger

Encore:

16. I'm American
17. Best I Can
18. Jet City Woman
19. Silent Lucidity
20. Neon Knights (BLACK SABBATH cover)
21. Empire

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

Although a lineup for Tate's QUEENSRŸCHE was originally announced in the fall of 2012, things have changed. The band now features Tate along with bassist Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, DIO, WHITESNAKE, QUIET RIOT), guitarist Kelly Gray (QUEENSRŸCHE 1998-2001), keyboardist Randy Gane and new additions, guitarist Robert Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, HURRICANE) and drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO, RHINO BUCKET).

Deadline Music/Cleopatra Records has released "Cold", the new single from the Geoff Tate-fronted version of QUEENSRŸCHE, via iTunes. The track, which was mixed by Anthony Focx (NEWSTED, AEROSMITH, NIGHT RANGER, TED NUGENT), will also be released as a special limited-edition seven-inch vinyl single with a newly recorded version of the QUEENSRŸCHE classic "Silent Lucidity" — mixed by Jürgen Engler (DORO, DIE KRUPPS) — on the B-side.

"Cold" comes off QUEENSRŸCHE's new album, "Frequency Unknown", which is scheduled for release on April 23 via Deadline Music/Cleopatra. The CD was produced by Jason Slater at a studio in Northern California.

"Frequency Unknown" is packaged with bonus tracks — four QUEENSRŸCHE classics, newly recorded, including the smash hit single "Silent Lucidity". Guest musicians on the CD include K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST), Chris Poland (MEGADETH), Ty Tabor (KING'S X), Paul Bostaph (SLAYER, TESTAMENT, EXODUS), Lita Ford, Brad Gillis (NIGHT RANGER), Dave Meniketti (Y&T) and Craig Locicero (FORBIDDEN).

Guitarist ANDY TIMMONS (ex-DANGER DANGER) released his latest album ANDY TIMMONS BAND: Play Sgt Pepper at the end of 2011. Check out a promo clip for the track 'She's Leaving Home' posted in March 2013:
The album's tracklist is as follows:

'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'
'With A Little Help From My Friends'
'Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds'
'Getting Better'
'Fixing A Hole'
'She's Leaving Home'
'Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!'
'Within You, Without You'
'When I'm Sixty-Four'
'Lovely Rita'
'Good Morning, Good Morning'
'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)'
'A Day In The Life'
'Strawberry Fields Forever'

Black metallers KOLDBRANN have released the second official video from their new album, Vertigo, which entered the charts in their homeland of Norway at #20 recently.
Filmed and edited by Effektor, the 'Drammen' clip features a guest solo by Destructhor of MYRKSKOG and MORBID ANGEL.
Another video from Vertigo for 'Totalt Sjelelig Bankerott', directed by Effektor and featuring guest vocals by Erlend Hjelvik from KVELERTAK, can be seen below:
More on Koldbrann at this location.

Brazilian traditional heavy metal quintet FIRE STRIKE - formed by female vocalist Aline Nunes vocals, guitarrists Henry / Helyad, bassist Edivan and drummer Jean Praelli - are about to issue their first album titled Lion And Tiger, which will be released by independent label 13 Records.
Lion And Tiger features the following tracks (not in this order):
'Night Fever'
'The True Dream'
'Streets Of Fire'
'Master Of The Seas'
'Lion And Tiger'

Lion And Tiger was self produced and the front cover was done by the great artist Celso Mathias. The band will begin pre-production for the recording of their first official video clip for the track 'Streets Of Fire' soon.

For more details visit Facebook.

Scottish ambient act RAMAGE INC. has released their new album Feel The Waves which can be downloaded via Bandcamp. Mainman Bryan Ramage put together the solo band and also sings for the Dutch metal band Celice and a press release recommends the album for fans of DEVIN TOWNSEND.

Check out a video of the album launch below:



Feel The Waves tracklisting:

‘By The Way Side’
‘Scape’
‘Gave Up My World’
‘As The Wind Blows’
‘So Far Away’
‘Feel The Waves’
‘Horizon’
‘Sin’
‘Ups & Downs’
‘Dreamer’
‘Don’t Bring Me Down’
‘Majestica’
‘Weakness’
‘Starfield’

For more info on Ramage Inc. visit Facebook.

According to Noise11.com, producer/engineer Andy Johns, who worked on classic albums like LED ZEPPELIN IV and the ROLLING STONES Exile On Main Street, has died.
Johns came from a family of sound engineers. His older brother is Glyn Johns (THE WHO, EAGLES, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin) and his nephew is Ethan Johns.

Andy Johns began his career as a tape operator in Olympic Studios in London working with ROD STEWART, JETHRO TULL and HUMBLE PIE.

Johns worked with the Rolling Stones from 1968-1973 and captured the sounds for Exile On Main Street from Keith Richards’ mansion in the South of France in the early '70s.

He then moved to Los Angeles and worked with OZZY OSBOURNE, JOE SATRIANI and VAN HALEN.