US metallers ASKA's Nine Tongues album will be reissued on CD and released for the first time on vinyl, on May 3rd via Pure Steel Records. The limited vinyl edition contains 500 pieces (100 orange, 400 black), gatefold, OBI strip. The pre-order phase will start on April 19th.
Pure Steel states: "After releasing the last two Aska albums - Avenger (2000) and Absolute Power (2007) - as LPs, we have now decided to do the same with the 97’ album Nine Tongues. This will be the first release of this album on vinyl. As usual, it will be a limited edition of 500 numbered copies in a gatefold-cover with OBI-strip.
The album was originally released on the very small label Ema Records in 1997, a time when classic heavy metal was supposed to be dead. Nine Tongues offers good heavy metal with some rather rocky parts, which will definitely find its fans today. The songs are enriched by George Calls distinctive and lyrical, but also a bit rough voice. The production is genre-typical and gives the sound a good facade.

Tracklisting (CD):

'The Stalker'
'Leprosy'
'Question'
'Little Sister'
'Blood Of The Wolf'
'Captain Crunch'
'Killashandra'
'Liquid Courage'
'Nightmare'
'The Dream'
Tracklisting (LP):

Side A:
'The Stalker'
'Leprosy'
'Question'
'Little Sister'
'Blood Of The Wolf'
'Captain Crunch'

Side B:
'Killashandra'
'Liquid Courage'
'Nightmare'
'The Dream'

WINGER frontman Kip Winger has revealed that he will be joining classic prog-rockers, ALAN PARSONS LIVE PROJECT, on the road in Europe this summer. He'll be singing vocals on the dates below. Alan Parsons is best known for his behind-the-scenes work on PINK FLOYD's The Dark Side Of The Moon and THE BEATLES' Abbey Road and Let It Be classics. The Alan Parsons Project had a string of hits including: 'I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You' (1977), 'Damned If I Do' (1979), 'Games People Play' (1980), 'Eye In The Sky' (1982) and 'Don't Answer Me' (1984).
Alan Parsons Live Project featuring Kip Winger on vocals:

July
18 - GruVillage Grugliasco, Italy
19 - Castello Scaligero Villafranca
22 - Campo Centrale – Centrale del Tennis – Foro Italico
25 - Rock of Ages Festival - Seebronn-Germany
26 - Chateau De Beaufort - Beaufort, Luxembourg
29 - Musical Dome Köln - Cologne, Germany

August
1 - Open-Air-im-Park - Bad Krozingen, Germany
5 - BR Radltour - Erlangen, Germany

On April 24, U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine will release an exclusive, collectable hardback edition of issue 184 published to mark the release of DEEP PURPLE's new album, "Now What?!". A limited edition with a foil cover, it contains 12 pages of additional DEEP PURPLE content, including question-and-answer sessions with all five members of the band and an extended Buyers Guide by long-term fan and PURPLE expert Geoff Barton.

DEEP PURPLE's 19th studio album, "Now What?!", 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 CD 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".

The first taste of "Now What?!" was the release of a double A-side single on March 29 (as a limited and numbered vinyl seven-inch, CD single and digital download).

Seven-inch vinyl (limited to 1000 numbered copies)

Side A:

01. Hell To Pay (radio edit)

Side B:

01. All The Time In The World (radio mix; edit)

CD Single

01. All The Time In The World (radio mix; edit)
02. Hell To Pay (radio edit)
03. Perfect Strangers (bonus track live)
04. Rapture Of The Deep (bonus track live)

AEROSMITH's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry will be inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall Of Fame and perform on the Bowl's opening night of the 2013 season on Saturday, June 22.

Tyler and Perry first appeared at the Hollywood Bowl in May 1999, with subsequent appearances in 2002, 2006 and last year's sold-out concert.

Following their induction during this season's Hollywood Bowl opening-night event, Tyler and Perry will perform with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, led by Thomas Wilkins.

The Hollywood Bowl has been home to musicians, conductors, singers, dancers, actors, and composers of the highest caliber since its beginnings in the early 1920s. Performing at the Hollywood Bowl is regarded by many as an honor in itself, but the luminaries honored here are further distinguished by their induction in the Hollywood Bowl Hall Of Fame.

The Hollywood Bowl Hall Of Fame recognizes artists whose achievements embody the spirit of the Bowl.

Founded in 2000, the Hollywood Bowl Hall Of Fame celebrates those consummate creators and performers, who, through their talent and effort, have established themselves as true superstars — with appearances on screen, stage, recordings, and at the Bowl — whose contributions to the arts have made them part of the fabric of American culture.

Grand Rapids, Michigan hard rockers POP EVIL will release their new full-length album, "Onyx", on May 14. The CD's first single, "Trenches", is available for streaming on the band's Facebook page.

"Onyx" track listing:

01. Goodbye My Friend
02. Deal With The Devil
03. Trenches
04. Torn To Pieces
05. Divide
06. Beautiful
07. Silence & Scars ?
08. Sick Sense
09. Fly Away
10. Behind Closed Doors ?
11. Welcome To Reality ?
12. Flawed

A two-minute video clip of POP EVIL recording "Trenches" at Groovemaster Studios in Chicago with producer Johnny K can be seen below.

The message of "Trenches" applies to the world of art as well as the world of sports, the military, or anyone struggling with the economic downturn, like POP EVIL's home state of Michigan.

"It's about our battles," vocalist Leigh Kakaty says. "Not focusing on the things we can't control, if we really want to be a band that stands the test of time we have to write the music that connects. We have to dig our way out of the trenches."

During a slump in the music industry, POP EVIL is living proof that you can still make a living following your dreams. "It's a matter of time before rock and roll is in the forefront again and we want to be part of that," Kakaty says.

After three Top 5 songs at rock radio, a fourth in the Top 10, a half million digital singles sold and over 1,000 shows a few short years into their impressive career, POP EVIL's return with "Onyx" is a swaggering, fist­pumping, ball­busting ride through American rock. The grandiose melody of the '70s, the danger of the '80s, the emotion of the '90s and the loudest of modern riffs all have a home in POP EVIL, who fashion a fresh sound that looks to the future through the prism of rock's past.

Melodic progressive power metal act ARTIZAN will release its new album, "Ancestral Energy", on May 10 via Pure Steel Records. The cover artwork for the CD was created by Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with TESTAMENT, HATEBREED, SIGH, ATHEIST and AGHORA.

A trailer for the album can be seen below.

Commented ARTIZAN founder/drummer Ty Tammeus: "Eliran has impressed me with his previous illustrations; he is a young, gifted artist, who will inject his unique talents into a masterpiece for the new ARTIZAN album. I am amazed how he has completely immersed himself into our music, and the story of our characters, to develop a concept for the album cover unlike anything I have ever seen."

"Ancestral Energy" was recorded at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida with legendary metal producer Jim Morris. Ex-ICED EARTH singer Matt Barlow makes a very special guest appearance on the CD's title track.

ARTIZAN's new song "The Death Of Me" can be streamed below. According to a press release, the track "showcases all of the elements ARTIZAN established on their first album, 'Curse Of The Artizan'." Fantasy artist Marc Sasso created artwork for the "The Death Of Me" single which displays the Artizan character with Sasso’s unique conception of the Grim Reaper.

German metallers FREEDOM CALL will release an anniversary album, "Ages Of Light", on April 26 in Germany, April 29 in the rest of Europe and May 7 in North America via SPV/Steamhammer.

"Ages Of Light" is a best-of double album filled to the brim with 18 of the most important songs from the band's history, plus a bonus CD entitled "Masqueraded", featuring six FREEDOM CALL tracks in a new, unusual guise. There is a ska version of "Metal Invasion", "Mr. Evil" as a melodic reggae track, "Hero On Video" as a speed ska number and "Rockin' Radio" (which is also supported by a video clip) in a killerbilly version.

"Those 18 numbers are usually celebrated at our gigs, or even requested with a vengeance," explains mainman Chris Bay.

"Masqueraded" is complemented by FREEDOM CALL in campfire strumming style (including music sheet/tablature) and "Age Of The Phoenix" in a power swing outfit. It would hardly be possible to present these tracks more colorfully. Bay says: "Our intention with 'Masqueraded' was to inspire musicians and music fans to create their own, personal version of one of our songs — irrespective of musical style — and send it to us."

"Ages Of Light" combines not only the essence of the best songs from the seven FREEDOM CALL studio recordings to date, but also marks a meeting of various former and current band members. Along with Chris Bay and guitarist Lars Rettkowitz, three different drummers can be heard on the bonus tracks: founding member Dan Zimmermann, along with his successors Klaus Sperling and Ramy Ali, whom fans know from the most recent FREEDOM CALL tour. The two bassists, Samy Saemann and original bandmember Ilker Ersin, and guitarist Cédric "Cede" Dupont, who was part of FREEDOM CALL between 2001 and 2005, are also featured.

"It was great fun to work with old and new friends alike at the studio, turning previously typical FREEDOM CALL numbers into unusual songs," Bay explains, stressing that the group will commence work on a new studio album after the spring tour. "But first we want to celebrate our anniversary in style!"

"Ages Of Light" track listing:

CD 1 "Ages Of Light"

01. We Are One
02. Tears Falling
03. Freedom Call
04. Farewell
05. Metal Invasion (live)
06. Warriors
07. Land Of Light
08. Hunting High And Low
09. Mr. Evil
10. Far Away
11. Blackened Sun
12. Thunder God
13. Tears Of Babylon
14. A Perfect Day (live)
15. Hero On Video
16. Power & Glory
17. Rockstars
18. Back Into The Land Of Light

CD 2 "Masqueraded"

01. Metal Invasion - Metal Folk Version
02. Mr. Evil - Melodic Reggae Version
03. Hero on Video - Speed Ska Version
04. Rockin' Radio - Killerbilly Version
05. Freedom Call - Camp Fire Strumming Version
06. Age of the Phoenix - Power Swing Version

"Room 24", a brand new song from Danish metal rock 'n' rollers VOLBEAT, is available for free download at this location. The track, which features a guest appearance by legendary Danish heavy metal singer King Diamond, comes off VOLBEAT's fifth studio album, "Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies", which will be released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on April 5, in the rest of Europe on April 8, and in North America on April 9 via Vertigo/Republic Records/Universal Music.

Comments VOLBEAT guitarist/vocalist Michael Poulsen: "I'm a huge fan of MERCYFUL FATE and KING DIAMOND. Having King on the record is a huge privilege. Normally, it's not something he does. He wrote his own lines, and it is half my lyrics and half his. It's a weird, scary story, and he's the perfect person for it."

Poulsen joined KING DIAMOND on stage at last year's Sweden Rock Festival to perform a cover version of the MERCYFUL FATE classic "Come To The Sabbath". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

"The show was fantastic and King sounded better than ever," Poulsen stated last June.

"I have been a huge KING DIAMOND / MERCYFUL FATE fan since my school days in Denmark. He was the first frontman in a metal band that I really became a fan of. At a very early age, I was already on my knees for Ronnie James Dio and Tony Iommi. But when the Danish newspapers started to write about KING DIAMOND and his new record, 'Them', I knew that I was about to discover something unique and special.

"A few minutes after reading the newspapers, I jumped on my bike and headed to my local record shop. 15 minutes later, I was holding the record in my hands and a new young KING DIAMOND fan was born and I have been following him and buying all his records since.

"I remember asking my dad if I could have some money for a KING DIAMOND concert ticket, he said, 'Sure, but how will you earn the money for the train ticket and merchandise?' he asked smiling. I responded I would figure it out, smiling.

"I ended up selling my BMX Raleigh bicycle, my dad got a little pissed about that in the beginning, but he ended up thinking that was real dedication and a good smart move from my side, because now he also had to buy me a new bike so I could get to school. Even my first tattoo was a MERCYFUL FATE cover ('Don't Break The Oath'). I was still in school and not old enough to get a tattoo, and I was begging the local tattoo artist to give me this tattoo. In the end, he said, 'Okay I'll do it if you. Come NOW, but don't tell anyone.' I said, 'I cannot do it now because I'm about to have my exam in school in less than an hour.' He didn't care, so I said, 'Fuck school, I'm on my way.' I didn't take my exam, but I got something that was so much more important to me, my first tattoo.

"The first time I met King in person was around 1996 or 1997, at that time, I had released my first two metal records and some demos with my previous band, DOMINUS. As an eager fan, I was telling him how much he inspired me. And now here in 2012 he still inspires me a lot in VOLBEAT.

"King has been to a few VOLBEAT shows in the U.S. to check us out and hang out and also to say hello to his good friend, Hank Shermann (MERCYFUL FATE), who [helped] VOLBEAT on our U.S. tour, which also is a great compliment for me and VOLBEAT.

"If you, as a reader, haven't met King in person, then let me tell you about him, he's the most dedicated man to his music and one of the nicest guys in this scene I have ever met. I am proud to calling him my friend."

Quality video footage of ADRENALINE MOB's March 30 performance at The Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, California can be seen below (courtesy of Carsten Steinhausen of Metal Assault).

ADRENALINE MOB released "Covertá", an eight-track EP featuring cover versions of some of the group's favorite songs, on March 12. Longtime fans of drummer Mike Portnoy are aware of the multiple cover CDs he has released with DREAM THEATER and with Neal Morse. "Covertá" is the first CD of covers recorded by ADRENALINE MOB.

In a recent interview with Classic Rock Revisted, Portnoy stated about "Covertá": "From the moment we had the idea to the moment we delivered it to the record company, the entire cycle was about two weeks. From conception to delivery, it was really quick. We had the idea and we went into the studio and we literally banged it out. My drums are all one take. It was pretty much in real time. We got everything tracked and Michael [Orlando, guitar] did a great job mixing. It was really only a couple of weeks from start to finish."

"Covertá" track listing:

01. High Wire (BADLANDS)
02. Stand Up And Shout (DIO)
03. Break on Through (THE DOORS)
04. Romeo Delight (VAN HALEN)
05. Barracuda (HEART)
06. Kill The King (RAINBOW)
07. The Lemon Song (LED ZEPPELIN)
08. The Mob Rules (BLACK SABBATH)

"Omertá" sold around 6,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 70 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was released in Europe on March 19, 2012 in Europe via Century Media Records and in the U.S. on March 13, 2012 through the newly formed Elm City Music in conjunction with EMI Label Services.

The 11-song effort — which was produced by ADRENALINE MOB and mixed by Jay Ruston, who has previously worked on ANTHRAX's "Worship Music" and STEEL PANTHER's "Balls Out" — includes a blistering reinterpretation of DURAN DURAN's classic "Come Undone" featuring guest vocals by Lzzy Hale of HALESTORM.

"Unclear", the new video from Italian heavy rockers FALLINGICE, can be seen below. The clip was produced by Spettacolab s.r.l. and directed by Fabrizio Trigari who has previously collaborated with such artists as AFTERHOURS, BLUVERTIGO, ALMAMEGRETTA, FRANCESCO RENGA and LACRUS. The story, written by Vincenzo Scardapane, was shot in New York with American actors, while the band's performance was filmed in Italy.

FALLINGICE's music has been described as "incorporating the heavy metal riffs of GODSMACK with the grunge sounds of artists such as NIRVANA and PUDDLE OF MUDD, but adding a distinctive Italian twist to the mix to create a unique sound of their own."

"Unclear" comes off FALLINGICE's debut album, "Meatsuit", which was released via Ukdivision Records. The CD was recorded with producer Alessandro Paolucci (RAW POWER) at West Link Recordings in Pisa, Italy, mixed by David Lenci (LINEA 77, CHARLOTTE HATHERLEY, ONE DIMENSIONAL MAN) at Red House Recordings and mastered at Precision Mastering in Hollywood, California by Tom Baker (HELMET, NINE INCH NAILS, MARILYN MANSON, DEFTONES, ALTER BRIDGE).

"Meatsuit" track listing:

01. Unclear
02. Another Day
03. Inner Confusion
04. Soap Bubble
05. Breathing Machine
06. Hands In Chains
07. Desired
08. Teenage Boy
09. Memories
10. Too Bored To Die
11. My Cold Heart

For more information, visit www.fallingice.net.

Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers DELAIN will release a special album, "Interlude", on the following dates:

May 1 - Spain, Sweden, Norway
May 3 - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Benelux
May 6 - Rest of Europe
May 7 - USA, Canada

"Interlude" is described in in a press release as "a fantastic blend of brand-new songs, special versions and mixes of popular DELAIN tracks, covers, and the beautiful single 'Are You Done With Me'. Thanks to the new mix, the well-known anthem shines with a new-found splendor. The album includes a special DVD featuring exclusive live footage and clips from the band's career. 'Interlude' is not only a must for loyal DELAIN fans, but also for those who have not experienced the music by DELAIN so far. It is the perfect introduction to the world of DELAIN and the starting point to an emotional and bombastic journey!"

CD track listing:

01. Breathe On Me
02. Collars And Suits
03. Are You Done With Me (new single mix)
04. Such A Shame
05. Cordell
06. Smalltown Boy
07. We Are The Others (new ballad version)
08. Mother Machine (live)
09. Get The Devil Out Of Me (live)
10. Milk And Honey (live)
11. Invidia (live)
12. Electricity (live)
13. Not Enough (live)

Bonus DVD:

01. Invidia (Video Live @ Metal Female Voices Fest)
02. Electricity (Video Live @ Metal Female Voices Fest)
03. We Are The Others (Video Live @ Metal Female Voices Fest)
04. Milk and Honey (Video Live @ Metal Female Voices Fest)
05. Not Enough (Video Live @ Metal Female Voices Fest)
06. Backstage Footage
07. Get The Devil Out Of Me (video)
08. We Are The Others (video)
09. April Rain (video)
10. Frozen (video)

Check out audio samples below.

QUEENSRŸCHE members Geoff Tate, Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, DIO, WHITESNAKE, QUIET RIOT) and Robert Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, HURRICANE) took part in an interview and acoustic performance of the song "Eyes Of A Stranger" this morning (Friday, April 5) on "The Heidi & Frank Show" on KLOS 95.5 FM radio station in Los Angeles, California. You can now watch video footage of their appearance below.

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.

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

"Frequency Unknown" is packaged with bonus tracks — four QUEENSRŸCHE classics, newly recorded, including the smash hit single "Silent Lucidity".

"Frequency Unknown" track listing:

01. When Lightning Strikes
02. Running Backwards
03. Fallen
04. Life Without You
05. In The Hands Of God
06. Cold
07. The Weight Of The World
08. Slave
09. Dare
10. Everything

Bonus tracks: (2013 versions)

11. Silent Lucidity
12. Empire
13. Jet City Woman
14. I Don t Believe In Love

The official lyric video for the song "Enchanted By The Moon" from Finnish melancholic dark metal forerunners AMORPHIS can be seen below. The track comes off the band's eleventh album, "Circle", which will be released on April 19 via Nuclear Blast Records. Production and mixing duties for the follow-up to 2011's "The Beginning Of Times" were handled by HYPOCRISY and PAIN mastermind Peter Tägtgren, who has previously worked with such bands as CHILDREN OF BODOM, CELTIC FROST, IMMORTAL and DIMMU BORGIR. The recordings took place at Petrax Studio (NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM, KORPIKLAANI) in Hollola and 5K Studios in Helsinki. The cover artwork was created by Tom Bates (BLEED FROM WITHIN, DEVIL SOLD HIS SOUL) and can be seen below.
Commented AMORPHIS vocalist Tomi Joutsen: "The mystic, androgynous person on the cover represents a spiritual guide. This character was sent from another time and place to help the album's protagonist find a new path for his life."

"Circle" track listing:

01. Shades Of Gray
02. Mission
03. The Wanderer
04. Narrow Path
05. Hopeless Days
06. Nightbird's Song
07. Into The Abyss
08. Enchanted By The Moon
09. A New Day
10. Dead Man's Dream (bonus track)

The album's limited digibook version will come with a bonus DVD containing the following:

* The Making Of "Circle"
* Nightbird's Song (video clip)

The official lyric video for the song "Hopeless Days" can be seen below.

Apart from the CD+DVD digibook version, "Circle" will be available on CD (without the bonus track), black 2LP in gatefold, brown 2LP in gatefold and as a bulging limited box, including three bonus tracks and a wristband — exclusively via the Nuclear Blast mail order.

A short summary about the album's concept/story that spreads throught out the lyrics by Pekka Kainulainen, who wrote the lyrics for most recent AMORPHIS albums: "The protagonist has been dealt a bad hand at birth. He’s always felt himself an outsider with strong potential to become marginalized. Through an accident, after a crisis, he finds a connection with his inner powers. A guide is sent to him, from some other time and place. He gets a chance to take hold of his own life and change his destiny. From the past of Carelian Finland he finds his own spiritual tribe and the power to turn the course of his doomed life. This is a story of survival."

Joutsen added about the album title: "'Circle' represents integrity. Back in the days, when there was something special to talk about, wise men used to sit in circle. Not everyone was invited to join them. But in this story, the protagonist was invited among the wise men's circle."

Regarding the direction of the new AMORPHIS material, the band's guitarist and founding member Esa Holopainen said: "While promoting 'The Beginning Of Times', we started to feel that we were giving the same explanations over and over again when people asked about the studio process and how the songs came about. Even though the music was very strong, the making process didn't offer any surprises and appeared to be quite secured. Now the addition of a new dimension to the developing process has inspired us to focus on our material even more. The songs are extremely strong, bombastic and skull-pummelling."

"The Beginning Of Times" entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 16 — the best chart position ever scored by an AMORPHIS album in that country. The CD also landed at position No. 1 on the Finnish chart.

On March 23, Dutch female-fronted symphonic metallers EPICA celebrated their 10th anniversary with a special performance titled "Retrospect". Joining them on stage was a 70-piece symphonic orchestra and choir, making it the band's most ambitious project ever. People from over 45 countries attended the show, which was also broadcast live online in HD quality via LiveMusicStage.

"Everything we have done and achieved in these last 10 years [came] together on the 23rd of March," said EPICA guitarist Mark Jansen. "With a big orchestra, our music comes to life exactly the way it's meant to be. Very rarely can we realize all of it and that makes it so special."

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

EPICA's fifth full-length album, "Requiem For The Indifferent", sold 4,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 104 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"Requiem For The Indifferent" was released on March 9 in Europe and four days later in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Gate Studio in Wolfsburg, Germany under the watchful eye of Sascha Paeth.

On May 3rd, Pure Steel Records will reissue HALLOWEEN's Horror Fire album, for the first time on vinyl and as download. The limited vinyl edition contains 500 pieces (100 orange, 400 black), gatefold. The pre-order phase will start on April 19th.
Says the label: "After the vinyl re-releases of Victims Of The Night and No One Gets Out, we are planning to re-release the penultimate Halloween studio album, Horror Fire (2006), on vinyl. The album, which was originally released on the band’s private label Motor City Metal Records, will be released as double-LP with a gatefold-cover as limited edition (500 copies)."
Horror Fire tracklisting:

Side A:
'I Am'
'Wake Up Screaming'
'Halloween Night'
'The Crush'
'Exist'

Side B:
'Candles'
'The Seer'
'The End And The Beginning'
'Nobody's Home'
'Rage'

Side C:
'Ways Of Man'
'Head Against The Wall'
'Coming To Life'
'Sin'
'Go To Hell'

Side D:
'Fire Still Burns'
'The Battles'
'Fighting Words'
'H.F.B.D.T.Y.'

The official lyric video for the song "Bound For Glory" from BLACK STAR RIDERS — the new band formed by THIN LIZZY alumni Ricky Warwick (vocals), Scott Gorham (guitar), Damon Johnson (guitar), Marco Mendoza (bass) with new addition Jimmy DeGrasso (ALICE COOPER, MEGADETH, DAVID LEE ROTH, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES) on drums — can be seen below.

BLACK STAR RIDERS will release its debut album, "All Hell Breaks Loose", via Nuclear Blast Entertainment on the following dates:

* May 21 - Japan
* May 22 - Sweden
* May 24 - Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Norway
* May 27 - U.K., France, BeNeLux, Poland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Greece
* May 28 - U.S., Canada, Italy, South America

The "All Hell Breaks Loose" artwork features a painting by Gil Elvgren (March 15, 1914 - February 29, 1980), the legendary U.S. painter best known for his work on pin-up girls, advertising and illustration.

The artwork ties directly to the origins of the album title. Warwick explains: "I was watching a documentary about World War II bombers and saw the name painted on the side of one of the aircraft. The name just resonated with me and it seem to encapsulate the turmoil that we, as a society, are currently experiencing. The past few years have been such a wild ride and now with the release of the album, it sounded like a bad-ass album title that summed up what BLACK STAR RIDERS is all about."

About the single, Warwick states: "'Bound For Glory' — a song for the lost but never lonely, walking tall in the face of everyday adversary. Everyone has a story to tell. Revolution begins in the mirror!!!" Gorham adds: "When it came time to pick one of these songs as a single, we had a really hard time. There are so many really great tracks here and everyone had their favorites. But in the end, we all agreed that 'Bound For Glory' is the perfect choice and represents what BLACK STAR RIDERS is all about."

"All Hell Breaks Loose" was recorded and mixed by producer Kevin Shirley (LED ZEPPELIN, IRON MAIDEN, AEROSMITH, RUSH) at his The Cave studios in Malibu, California. Mastering duties were handled by Bob Ludwig (JIMI HENDRIX, RUSH, KISS, LED ZEPPELIN) at Gateway Mastering Studios in Portland, Maine.

"All Hell Breaks Loose" track listing:

01. All Hell Breaks Loose
02. Bound For Glory
03. Kingdom Of The Lost
04. Bloodshot
05. Kissin’ The Ground
06. Hey Judas
07. Hoodoo Voodoo
08. Valley Of The Stones
09. Someday Salvation
10. Before The War
11. Blues Ain't So Bad

The album will be released as a standard CD and also as a special-edition digipak featuring a bonus track, "Right To Be Wrong", and a "making-of" DVD.

A 24-minute collection of video reports featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the making of "All Hell Breaks Loose" can be seen below.

In October 2012, THIN LIZZY announced that they would not be recording new material under the THIN LIZZY monicker. The last incarnation of the band — Gorham, Brian Downey, Wharton, Warwick, Johnson and Mendoza — would be looking to form a new project.

According to a press release, Brian Downey decided to not become involved with BLACK STAR RIDERS because he didn't want to commit to the touring cycle a new album would entail and Darren Wharton wanted to concentrate on DARE and other music and film projects.

"Brian and Darren just don't want to be on the road 150 days a year. anti that's completely understandable," Warwick tells Classic Rock magazine. "But we do. We work very well together, and there's no better man than Jimmy to gel it together. This is a kick-ass band."

The BLACK STAR RIDERS album will feature material the band wrote while touring as THIN LIZZY and the sound retains that classic feel but is very much its own as well. The BLACK STAR RIDERS record is the next step in the evolution of the THIN LIZZY story.

"There's no way it could sound like THIN LIZZY with [late THIN LIZZY frontman] Phil [Lynott]," Gorham tells Classic Rock. But Johnson disagreees. "I think Scott is too dose to it," he says. "Ricky or I would bring in a song idea, and as soon as Scott starts playing on it, it sounds like THIN LIZZY, whether Scott realizes it or not. Everybody who's heard the new music says it has that dassic THIN LIZZY vibe. No, it can't sound like the original band. But that classic LIZZY vibe is absolutely there."

"I'm not gonna pull any punches here," says Warwick. "It sounds like classic THIN LIZZY brought up to date. l've been singing Phil's songs every night for two years, and although it sounds a bit crass because the man's not here, I feel like I've had these lessons from getting so deep into his work. Phil's songwriting, his lyrics, his phrasing, his pitching, his delivery — it's genius. And that's really helped me as a writer."

It was Warwick who named the new band BLACK STAR RIDERS, after an outlaw gang in the 1993 western movie "Tombstone". As Johnson tells Classic Rock: "Scott said from the very beginning that we did not want a name that was specifically related to THIN LIZZY, because this band has to stand on its own."

"Legion Of The Black", the movie from Los Angeles theatrical rockers BLACK VEIL BRIDES, will be released this June as part of "Wretched And Divine: Ultimate Edition". The band's latest CD, "Wretched And Divine: The Story Of The Wild Ones", will be repackaged in a large black box with all-new artwork, three new songs and the "Legion Of The Black" movie as well as a book of unreleased photographs and other awesome goodies.

BLACK VEIL BRIDES screened "Legion Of The Black" at the Silent Movie Theater in Los Angeles, California in December.

Directed by Patrick Fogarty, written by Andy Biersack, Patrick Fogarty and Richard Villa III, "Legion Of The Black" tells the visual story of "Wretched And Divine: The Story Of The Wild Ones". The film follows a group of rebels known as "The Wild Ones" as they defend their hearts, minds and bodies against F.E.A.R.

"Wretched And Divine: The Story Of The Wild Ones" sold 42,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 7 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on January 8 via Lava/Universal Republic, the CD was produced by by John Feldmann (PAPA ROACH, THE USED, ATREYU) and is a full-fledged concept effort. The cover artwork for the album was created by the band's longtime friend, artist Richard Villa.

Finland-based progressive atmospheric metallers ODDLAND have launched a guitar playthrough for the track 'Lines Of Silver Blood', featured on their The Treachery Of Senses album.

The band comments: “We decided to do the guitar playthrough on this song because it probably has some of the most technical guitar parts of the album. We figured people might be interested to see how they're played. The live guitar tracks were recorded on top of the album version, and Ville (our drummer) was in charge of shooting and editing the whole thing. Have a look, won’t you!"
The Treachery Of Senses is out now in Europe via Century Media Records. The album will be released on May 8th in North America as a digital download only. The Treachery Of Senses was produced by Dan Swanö (ex-EDGE OF SANITY, BLOODBATH, NIGHTINGALE) and features stunning artwork from Elton Fernandes who provides the perfect artistic vision for the album.



The Treachery Of Senses tracklisting:
'Above And Beyond'
'Flooding Light'
'In The Eyes Of The Mourning'
'Aisle Of Array'
'Past The Gates'
'Still The Spirit Stays'
'In Endless Endeavour'
'Sewers'
'Lines Of Silver Blood'
'Ire'

Check out an album teaser below:
Check out the song 'Flooding Light' on SoundCloud below:
Furthermore, Oddland has announced more European live dates in April. Confirmed dates include:

April
26 - Deventer, Netherlands - Walhalla
27 - Amstelveen, Netherlands - Headway Festival (with Leprous, Freak Kitchen and more)
28 - Eisden, Belgium - Jan Hertog
30 - Uelsen, Germany - UJT

California-based djent/progressive metal outfit LIFEFORMS will release its new album, "Multidimensional", via Lifeforce Records on the following dates:

* Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Digitally worldwide: May 10
* Rest Of Europe: May 13
* North America: May 14

Another track from the CD, "Home", can be streamed below.

"Illusions" introduced the Sacramento quintet to the scene of djent, prog and claiming deathcore. With their second EP "Synthetic", LIFEFORMS enlarged the experimental side of their creativity and established the basis for their very own interpretation of "extreme crossover." But have you been prepared for an album such as "Multidimensional"? No, and the title of band's debut for Lifeforce Records wasn't chosen by accident! There is so much to discover on the album.

First and foremost, you will be impressed by the heavy approach of LIFEFORMS — no matter if you are looking on the coltish polyrhythm, the humming bass drops, the boisterous breakdowns or the overall atmosphere. But the songs of "Multidimensional" are not heavy for the sake of it, and there is so much more to them. A catenating songwriting and idiosyncratic catchiness is important to the Californians to keep the songs reproducible, conclusive and interesting. "Multidimensional" even proves that music in between djent, prog and claiming deathcore can be catchy on a superior level. Don't be surprised to discover quotes of easy listening, too. LIFEFORMS aren't limited to their creative devices.

Former WHITE LION singer Mike Tramp will release new solo album, "Cobblestone Street", in North America on May 7 via Deadline Music, a subsidiary of Cleopatra Records. The effort will be made available in Europe on April 8 via Target Records in the following formats: CD, limited digipack CD (with two bonus tracks), LP and digitally.

"Cobblestone Street" is a departure from the sound that most people would expect from a singer that has been around since WHITE LION crashed on to the hard rock scene in the '80s. Rock fans have gotten to know Mike Tramp as a legit rock singer and frontman that looked like he was born to be just that. Therefore many might find it surprising that Tramp's roots and musical upbringing lie deeply buried in folk music.

Heavily influenced by fellow Danish artists with acoustic guitars and international stars like Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen, Tramp says that all of his songs through 35 years on the music stage, have always come from sitting with the old faithful acoustic guitar playing and singing. That WHITE LION songs like "When the Children Cry", "Broken Heart" and "Wait", and FREAK OF NATURE's "Rescue Me" later have ended up as epic rock classics is just a question of arranging them in that way with the band in the rehearsal room, but all songs have always been fit to play around the campfire or in the back of a shady bar.

What seems like the most natural thing for an artist, can sometimes be the opposite for both fans and critics! Still, Mike Tramp has full confidence in the fans that have followed and grown with him through the past 25 years and know that they will stand by his side and enjoy his new solo album, although they might be in for a big surprise from the former WHITE LION and FREAK OF NATURE frontman.

Tramp says that he is so at home with the new album, and in lack of better words, it's really like coming home after a long journey that has taken him around the world over the past 30 years.

"I am not lost, I am not confused, I am not taking a break," he says. "This is the album I have waited a long long time to record, because I didn't have the guts to do it earlier on. Still, it's not just a matter of doing an album like this and then returning to the screaming Marshall amplifiers, thundering bass and drums like canons. This is where I am, and this is where I am going to stay as a solo artist, and anytime the urge to play loud rock'n'roll awakes in me, it will be some kind of band project where I am just the singer and part of the package."

Last year, Tramp traveled across Europe playing 40 shows, while driving and doing everything by himself.

"This is the most rewarding and fulfilling tour I have ever done, and that coincides with an album that represents all of that, and is just real completion to what I have worked so hard to accomplish."

"Cobblestone Street" was recorded over a week in Medley Studio in Copenhagen, Denmark in summer of 2012, with just Mike and his good friend engineer/co-producer and multi-instrumentalist Søren Andersen.

"Some of the songs I wrote 20 years ago, and some songs just the week before I recorded them, but they are all a 100% representation of who Mike Tramp is," Mike says.

Tramp says he hadn't really planned to do an album, but one day called up Søren Andersen and said he had a lot of songs that he wanted to hear come out of the speakers. "I showed up in the studio and Søren said, 'Why don't you just sit down with the guitar and mic and recorded the songs the way you wrote them, kinda like your big hero Dylan did long time ago?' At the end of the day, we had recorded the first four songs, with Søren adding some keyboards and percussion. It was a wonderful feeling sitting there in the couch listening to the songs that were rough and naked, but at the same time so complete."

Tramp says he feels that "Cobblestone Street" is like a movie, a movie about his own life in great details. Once it ends, you will know who Mike Tramp is.

"Cobblestone Street" track listing:

01. Cobblestone Street
02. Caught In The Storm
03. New Day
04. Ain't The Life I Asked For
05. Revolution
06. We'll Be Alright
07. Angel Or Devil
08. Find It In Your Heart
09. What Are You Gonna Do
10. Once

European bonus tracks:

11. More To Life Than This
12. '92

North American bonus track:

11. When The Children Cry (2013 Acoustic Version)

Video footage of Tramp performing an acoustic version of the "Cobblestone Street" title track for France's RockNLive.org can be seen below.

BLACK SABBATH's new album, "13" — the first in 35 years to feature bassist Geeezer Butler, guitarist Tony Iommi and singer Ozzy Osbourne — will be released on June 11 via Vertigo/Universal Republic in the U.S. and Vertigo in all other territories. The drum tracks on the group's first LP with Osbourne since 1978 were laid down by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE sticksman Brad Wilk following original drummer Bill Ward's decision to bow out of the reunion.

Speaking to Australia's Triple M radio station, Ozzy stated about SABBATH's new CD: "The album is mindblowing, [that's] how good it is. I'm so over the moon about the way the album turned out. We wrote 16 songs … and I put it on my CD player, expecting me to be unhappy with the end result, but this big grin came on my face and my hair on the back on my neck [stood up] … It's better than my wildest dreams; it's so good."

He continued: "People have been quoting me that this album was quite possibly the most important album of my career. What I meant by that is I didn't want it to sound like a follow-up to 'Never Say Die!', 'cause that was when we were dying out within the band."

Osbourne, Iommi and Butler recorded the album primarily in Los Angeles with producer Rick Rubin. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include three seven-plus-minute behemoths "End Of The Beginning", "God Is Dead" and "Epic", as well as a track about killing pedophile priests ("Dear Father") and another about the scourge of methamphetamine addiction ("Methademic").

"Rick Rubin, I'd run into him from time to time over the years, and he goes, 'Any chance of SABBATH reforming, if you do, I would love to produce the album,'" Ozzy said. "And he did such a great job on the album. I know if you're a SABBATH fan, you will not be disappointed. It's so SABBATH-y, it's scary. It's the album we should have made after [1973's] 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath'."

He added: "Believe me, I'm the guy that goes, 'Ah, there's a mistake there.' I look for the mistake. If there's one mistake, I'll find it. But this album is great, perfect. It's very, very heavy, there's no getting away from the fact that it is BLACK SABBATH, and you can hear every instrument and everything clearly. It's so heavy. I'm so excited about it."

"13" is available for pre-order on a variety of formats via BlackSabbath.com.

Pre-order options:

* Standard CD album
* Deluxe double CD album in a deluxe soft-pack (includes a second disc of exclusive bonus audio material)
* Vinyl: a 12-inch heavyweight (180g) vinyl album in a gatefold sleeve
* Super Deluxe Box Set: a limited-edition 12-inch clamshell box set which contains: deluxe double CD album, 12-inch heavyweight (180g) vinyl album in a gatefold sleeve, exclusive DVD containing "Black Sabbath - The Reunion" documentary, plus five behind-the-scenes videos, download card containing exclusive track-by-track interview with BLACK SABBATH, "13" exclusive photographic prints and handwritten album lyrics.

In addition, anyone who pre-orders any of these formats via BlackSabbath.com will be entered into a drawing to win a pair of VIP tickets to an official "13" album launch event in London, including a meet-and-greet with the band, flights and accommodation. Additional details and full terms and conditions on the contest can be found at BlackSabbath.com.

SABBATH will launch a world tour in support of the album later this month in New Zealand, Australia and Japan, with North American dates to follow in July and August.

SABBATH, with Ward initially on board, announced its current reunion in November 2011, six years after they had last played together.

However, plans for extensive touring were curtailed by the January 2012 revelation that Iommi had been diagnosed with an early stage of cancer.

He received treatment throughout the year, with the band initially beginning its recording sessions in London so that the guitarist could be near his doctors.

SABBATH did play three shows last year, a warm-up gig in Birmingham, England, a headlining spot at the U.K.'s Download festival in June, and a second headlining set at Chicago's Lollapalooza in August. All three featured Ozzy's touring drummer Tommy Clufetos on drums.

Interview (audio)

As part of this year's Soundwave Festival, metal kingpins METALLICA performed in Perth, Australia on March 4th. Audio of the show is now available for download here.

Main set:
‘Hit The Lights’
‘Master Of Puppets’
‘Ride The Lighting’
‘Harvester Of Sorrow’
‘Welcome Home (Sanitarium)’
‘Through The Never’
‘Of Wolf & Man’
‘Sad But True’
‘Fade To Black’
‘The Memory Remains’
‘One’
‘For Whom The Bell Tolls’
‘Blackened’
‘Nothing Else Matters’
‘Enter Sandman’

Encore:
‘Creeping Death’
‘Metal Militia’
‘Seek & Destroy’

Tuning room video of 'Through The Never', 'Of Wolf & Man' and live footage of 'Metal Militia' can be viewed at Metallica.com.

LYNCH MOB Unplugged (Live From Sugar Hill Studios) was recorded at historic Sugar Hill Studios in downtown Houston, Texas during the filming of 'Slow Drag', the video from the band’s Rat Pak Records release, Sound Mountain Sessions. The full, uncut performance with an interview can be viewed below:



Produced by renown Houston engineer Dan Workman, Unplugged features rare acoustic versions of 'Wicked Sensation', 'River Of Love', 'Where Do You Sleep At Night', 'All I Want' and also includes a 15-minute bonus interview track. The entire performance was also filmed by producer Ross W. Wells (Zen Film) for an upcoming episode of Live From Sugar Hill Studios due out in early 2013 and is sponsored by Vitamin Water.



Tracklisting:

'River Of Love'
'Where Do You Sleep At Night'
'All I Want'
'Wicked Sensation'
Bonus Interview Track

Lynch Mob Unplugged features George Lynch (guitars), Oni Logan (vocals), Robbie Crane (bass), Brian Tichy (guitars) and Tyson Sheth (percussion).

German power metal band SCANNER will have their first two albums, 1988’s Hypertrace and 1990’s Terminal Earth, reissued on CD by Divebomd Records for Record Store Day on April 20th. Both albums have been out of print for a long time and will be limited to 1000 copies containing brand new mastering as well as a new interview with band founder, Axel Julius.

Hypertrace tracklisting:

‘Warp 7’
‘Terrion’
‘Locked Out’
‘Across The Universe’
‘R.M.U.’
‘Grapes Of Fear’
‘Retaliation Positive’
‘Killing Fields’
‘Wizard Force’
Bonus track:
‘Galactos’

Terminal Earth tracklisting:

‘The Law’
‘Not Alone’
‘Wonder’
‘Buy Or Die’
‘Telemania’
‘Touch The Light’
‘Terminal Earth’
‘From The Dust Of Ages’
‘The Challenge’
‘L.A.D.Y.’



To order the reissues, visit this location.

Poland's biggest rock band, COMA, have released two new music videos. The first is the official music video for ‘Song 4 Boys’, from their recent album Don't Set Your Dogs On Me (earMusic/Eagle Rock Entertainment). The second is live footage and a behind-the-scenes look at Coma on the road, including a live version of ‘Dance With A Queen’.
Check out ‘Song 4 Boys’ below:
Coma on the road and live footage of ‘Dance With A Queen’:

For more info visit Facebook.

Puerto Rican heavy metal band AURA AZUL recently released their second album Beyond The Doors Of Time on Total Steel Records on March 18th. The album features Edgar Lopez on vocals (singing student of METAL CHURCH's Ronny Monroe) and Wampa Zayas (ex-OMEN) on drums.



Beyond The Doors Of Time tracklisting:

‘Heritage’
‘Dying Shelter’
‘Beyond The Doors Of Time’
‘The Tree Of Your Soul’
‘Albatross’
‘The Isle Of Medusa’
‘Relying On The Light’
‘We Are Back’
‘The Penitent Man’

For more info visit Facebook.

Spanish melodic death metal group DARKNESS BY OATH has released a new video for the song ‘N.D.E’, taken from their latest album Near Death Experience.

Check out the video below:

Darkness By Oath finished their third album Near Death Experience in November 2011. The album was recorded and mixed by Tristan Iñiguez in Auryn Studios. It contains 11 tracks and including guest appearances by Anders Björler (AT THE GATES, THE HAUNTED) and Mario Illiopoulos (NIGHTRAGE). The album was released by Cyclone Empire on March 23rd, 2012 and in North American on April 8th, 2012 by Metal Blade Records.

For more info visit DarknessByOath.com.

Quebec City-based heavy / power metal band SUDDENFLAMES have posted footage of their full performance at Capitole de Quebec in 2012. The show, dubbed Death Might Be Live, can be seen below:
While waiting for the release of their brand new studio album in 2013, SuddenFlames and Unicorn Digital is presenting a remastered digipak edition of the album, Death Might Be Late.
The sound of SuddenFlames is influenced by traditional power metal bands like GAMMA RAY, HELLOWEEN and HAMMERFALL. The members of the band are big fans of old school metal like IRON MAIDEN and JUDAS PRIEST and one can hear it. Melodies and musical structure are typically European but with a strong American thrash sound

The digipack collectors edition can be ordered at this location.

Swedish female fronted melodic metal band END OF SEPTEMBER have released a digital single for the track 'Left In This World'. The track is lifted from the band's self-titled debut album, released in Europe and North America last year through Ulterium Records. The digital single also includes the bonus track, 'Left In This World' (Acoustic version).
End Of September live dates include;

April
30 - Vappugospel - Kouvola, Finland

July
4 - Seaside Festival - Risoya, Norway

More on End Of September at this location.