Los Angeles thrashers VIKING have released a rough, pre-release mix of the song "An Ideal Opportunity" from their the long-awaited comeback album, "No Child Left Behind". The track features drummer Gene Hoglan (DETHKLOK, ex-DARK ANGEL, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD), bassist Michael Gonzalez (ex-DARK ANGEL), and original VIKING member Ron Daniel Eriksen on vocals and guitar.

According to a press release, "An Ideal Opportunity" thunders throughout with Hoglan's ferocious double kicks from the start, and periodically breaks into the frantic thrash metal speeds listeners have grown to expect from VIKING. The heavy riffing, screams, and solos also mean old-school thrashers won't be disappointed with the new offering. Lyrically, the tune addresses suicidal thoughts from a first-person perspective.

In a recent interview with The Metal Crypt, Eriksen said of the song, "'An Ideal Opportunity' has probably the most transparent lyrics I've ever written. I've struggled with major depression my whole life — it's just something that happens chemically — and I've learned to recognize it for what it is. It's like a storm front that moves in and covers me in darkness for a few hours or a few days and then fades away and I'm fine. One day I decided that if I was going to have to put up with this crap, at least I could get a song out of it. The next time the storm started moving in, I started writing down everything I was feeling."

Clinical depression affects over 350 million people worldwide. Though not completely understood, its causes often involve genetic, biological, and environmental factors. Chemicals called neurotransmitters can be abnormally imbalanced, affecting moods. In the new song, Eriksen describes this as being "blinded by chemicals coming from inside me. Black clouds of darkness — oppressive and hovering."

VIKING also recently released on its Facebook page a partial preview of the cover art for "No Child Left Behind". In a gritty '90s-esque graphic novel style, it depicts a horde of Vikings invading a burning village. With the three-layered photo, they offered this description: "This is just a portion of the album cover for 'No Child Left Behind'. On the left is the original ink, on the right a preliminary quick color. In the center is where we are so far with the final coloring."

No release date for "No Child Left Behind" has yet been announced. Bandmembers have previously stated that they are still deciding on whether to release it independently or to sign on with a record label.

Founded in the spring of 1986 in Los Angeles, VIKING released two full-length albums on the Metal Blade label, 1987's "Do Or Die" and 1989's "Man Of Straw".

Long hailed as one of the most rare and hard to find speed/thrash metal albums by collectors, "Man Of Straw" was re-released in 2006 via Lost And Found Records. This fully licensed CD release was remastered and contained rare and never-before-heard bonus tracks.

In early 2011, Ron Daniel Eriksen and Matt Jordan (drums) resurrected VIKING after a 20-year hiatus.

Video footage of Hoglan in the studio with VIKING can be seen below.

"Divide And Conquer", the new video from Swedish death metallers EVOCATION, can be seen below. The clip was filmed by German director Carlo Oppermann in an abandoned hospital in Offenbach, Germany.

"Divide And Conquer" comes off EVOCATION's fourth studio album, "Illusions Of Grandeur", which was released in September via Century Media Records. The CD includes "ten tracks of supreme Swedish death metal, a perfect mélange of Stockholm rawness and Gothenburg epics," according to a press release.

"Illusions Of Grandeur" was recorded at IF Studios (IN FLAMES, THE HAUNTED) and Evocation Studios with producer Roberto Laghi (IN FLAMES) and mixed at IF Studios by Laghi. It was mastered at Bohus Sound Studios by Dragan Tanaskovic. Cover artist Xaay, who previously worked with EVOCATION on the "Apocalyptic" album, has proven to be the best choice for the job, delivering a dark and desolate yet beautiful piece of art for the new album. As a very special guest, Johan Hegg of AMON AMARTH laid down vocals on the song "Into Submission".

"Illusions Of Grandeur" was released on CD, limited-edition digipak CD (including three studio bonus tracks) and on LP (including a big-size poster of the album artwork).

"Illusions Of Grandeur" track listing:

01. Illusions Of Grandeur
02. Well Of Despair
03. Divide And Conquer
04. Perception Of Reality
05. Metus Odium
06. I'll Be Your Suicide
07. Crimson Skies
08. Into Submission
09. The Seven Faces Of God
10. Final Disclosure
11. Shades Of Shame (digipak bonus track)
12. Dark Day Dawn (digipak bonus track)
13. Dead Without A Trace (digipak bonus track)

EVOCATION recently announced the addition of bassist Gustaf Jorde (RAUBTIER, DEFLESHED) to the group's ranks.

The band's third album, "Apocalyptic", came out on October 29, 2010 via Cyclone Empire Records.

SONS OF AEON, the new Jyväskylä, Finland-based metal band featuring members of GHOST BRIGADE, SWALLOW THE SUN, CODE FOR SILENCE and ENDSTAND, will release its self-titled debut album via Lifeforce Records on the following dates:

January 18, 201: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland + Digital worldwide
January 21, 2013: Rest of Europe
January 22, 2013: North America
March 11, 2013: Limited vinyl version

A song from the upcoming CD, "Faceless", can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Commented SONS OF AEON guitarist Wille Naukkarinen: "I always thought the standard band biographies were a waste of time and space, so when the time came to write one for SONS OF AEON, I decided to skip it for now and tell you about our band from a little bit different, more personal and hopefully more interesting perspective.

"I grew up on Nineties death metal. It was interesting to me because that was the era when death metal really started evolving and bands started showing different colors instead of all just being part of the same grey mass. Seemed like the un-death metal-ish elements fascinated me more than the other, 'normal' side.

"EDGE OF SANITY would write straight up goth hits like 'Sacrificed' or 'Black Tears' where as bands like ENTOMBED and XYSMA discovered a more vintage rock sound and incorporated that into their music. CARCASS released the more commercial, yet soulful 'Heartwork', AT THE GATES delivered the goosebump-choruses with 'Terminal Spirit Disease'. NAPALM DEATH caused some confusion with the brilliant 'Diatribes' and CATHEDRAL… well, they just did what the hell they wanted and released several great albums, 'Ethereal Mirror' leading the way.

"BOLT THROWER were always true to themselves and their punk-attitude left its mark to this young teenager forever. And even a small detail like the dude from GOREFEST wearing a 'Fuck Racism' T-shirt in 'False'-era photos made a huge impact on me and my friends. Death metal became more than just brutal music. It literally changed something in us.

"Then there was this local band called PARAXISM. They were this strange mix of challenging, yet melodic quality death metal spiced with electric violins and a moog. It was something I had never heard before. Their '93 demo is still the most important extreme metal release for me and played a huge part in my youth.

"Come to think of it, it's actually pretty odd that I never had a band like this before. I played in a stoner rock band for ten years and then we formed GHOST BRIGADE seven years ago. But I guess it was always in the back of my head to do something like this one day.

"And that 'one day' didn't happen overnight; to be able to write and perform this kind of music took us three years. It was almost like learning to play guitar all over again. There were countless moments when I just wanted to give up. Luckily, I didn't.

"With a few exceptions, I'm not personally interested in today's extreme metal. I like my metal with nuances and soul. Math-based, vacuum-packed bursts of anger just don't do the trick for me. I like when the drums are played by a musician and not a computer and albums that sound like they are a result of team work, instead of just being solo efforts of five different musicians. Technical abilities or robot-like preciseness are not a synonyms for quality in my books. And, off the record, having famous guest musicians in your album just for the sake of selling a few more copies is just lame.

"Why I am writing this is because on some strange spiritual level, I find similarities between some of the Nineties groups and SONS OF AEON. Just like with these bands, there is something 'adventurous' and child-like innocence in us.

"It's hard to explain the heart and soul of SONS OF AEON in few sentences, because I feel that the core idea lies more in constant sense of change and exploring, rather than just being a part of a certain genre and settling in. I think that once you hear the album, my words start to make sense. There is everything from old-school death metal to chilled out melancholia and from dark hardcore to mid-tempo metal and they're all equally important parts of what this band is about.

"I feel fortunate to be a part of this."

SONS OF AEON is:

Tony Kaikkonen (CODE FOR SILENCE) - Vocals
Tapio Vartiainen - Guitar
Wille Naukkarinen (GHOST BRIGADE) - Guitar
Tommi Kiviniemi (GHOST BRIGADE) - Bass
Pasi Pasanen (PLUTONIUM ORANGE, ex-SWALLOW THE SUN) - Drums

Former HANOI ROCKS frontman Michael Monroe has completed recording his new solo album in Stockholm, Sweden for an early 2013 release. He states, "We laid down 12 killer tracks and now the record just needs to be mixed. Can't wait to hear it when it's finished! We're all really excited about it!"

Michael's latest CD, "Sensory Overdrive", was released in the U.S. and Canada in August 2011 via Spinefarm/Universal. The CD, which was made available in Europe in March 2011 via Universal Music subsidiary Spinefarm Records, featured guest appearances by MOTÖRHEAD's Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister and three-time Grammy-winning country/folk singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams.

"Sensory Overdrive" was recorded in Los Angeles with legendary producer Jack Douglas, who has previously worked with AEROSMITH, JOHN LENNON, CLUTCH, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT and NEW YORK DOLLS, among many others.

Monroe in June 2011 recruited Dregen (real name: Andreas Tyrone Svensson) of Swedish sleaze rockers BACKYARD BABIES to be the guitarist of Monroe's solo band following the departure of Ginger (THE WILDHEARTS).

GUNS N' ROSES launched its first-ever Las Vegas residency on October 31 when the band played the first of 12 shows at the Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The "Appetite For Democracy" lasted through this past Saturday, November 24, with the band playing a setlist exclusively created for these shows.

The concerts featured the current lineup of the band, of which singer Axl Rose is the only original member.

Fan-filmed video footage of GUNS N' ROSES' final two Joint performances (on November 23 and November 24) — featuring a guest appearance by the band's former guitarist, Izzy Stradlin — can be seen below.

Both Izzy and Rose skipped the band's April 2012 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Stradlin issued a statement the week before the induction, thanking his bandmates, the Hall Of Fame for "the acknowledgment of our works over the years," and the fans who "have supported GUNS N' ROSES from day one."

According to a posting on GUNS N' ROSES' official Twitter, the November 21 performance at the Joint was filmed in 3D, presumably for future release.

GUNS N' ROSES drew criticism earlier in the month from Clark County commissioners after they were told about an ad for the group's Vegas concerts which depicts what appears to be a sexually assaulted woman beneath the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign.

The image, which is said to be a watered-down version of the banned cover for the band's classic 1987 debut, "Appetite For Destruction", was being used in mainstream advertising, including newspaper promotions and taxicab placards.

Brazilian female-fronted metallers SHADOWSIDE will support legendary German bands HELLOWEEN and GAMMA RAY on the "Hellish Rock Tour Pt. II". The 37-date trek will kick off on February 28 in Barcelona, Spain and will make stops in Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, France, Belgium and United Kingdom before wrapping on April 21 in Schwandorf, Germany.

"Hellish Rock Tour Pt. II" dates are as follows:

Feb. 28 - Razzmatazz 1 - Barcelona, Spain
Mar. 01 - La Riviera - Madri, Spain
Mar. 02 - Santana 27 - Bilbao, Spain
Mar. 04 - Z7 - Pratteln, Switzerland
Mar. 05 - Alcatraz - Milão, Italy
Mar. 06 - Estragon - Bologna, Italy
Mar. 09 - [to be announced]- Athens, Greece
Mar. 10 - Principal - Thessaloniki, Greece
Mar. 12 - Refresh the Venue - Istanbul, Turkey
Mar. 15 - Arena Armeec - Sofia, Bulgaria
Mar. 16 - Arenele Romane - Bucharest, Romania
Mar. 18 - Media Park Club - Ljubljana, Slovenia
Mar. 19 - Pesca Music Hall - Budapeste, Hungary
Mar. 21 - Sport Hall - Bratislava, Slovakia
Mar. 22 - Tesla Aréna - Praga, Czech Republic
Mar. 23 - Hala Euronics - Zlín, Czech Republic
Mar. 24 - Sport Hall - Brezno, Slovakia
Mar. 26 - Studio - Krakow, Poland
Mar. 27 - Stodola - Warsaw, Poland
Mar. 29 - The Circus - Helsinki, Finland
Mar. 30 - Pakkahuone - Tampere, Finland
Mar. 31 - Teatria - Oulu, Finland
Apr. 02 - Rockefeller - Oslo, Norway
Apr. 04 - Arenan - Stockholm, Sweden
Apr. 05 - Nöjesfabriken - Karlstad, Sweden
Apr. 06 - Lisebergshallen - Gothenburg, Sweden
Apr. 08 - Olympia - Paris, France
Apr. 09 - Garage - Saarbrücken, Germany
Apr. 10 - Neue Stadthalle - Langen, Germany
Apr. 12 - Allgäu Event Center - Kaufbeuren, Germany
Apr. 13 - Ruhrcongress - Bochum, Germany
Apr. 14 – PPM Fest - Mons, Belgium
Apr. 16 - HMV Forum - London, UK
Apr. 18 - Docks - Hamburg, Germany
Apr. 19 - Music Hall - Geiselwind, Germany
Apr. 20 - Volksbankmesse - Balingen, Germany
Apr. 21 - Oberpfalzhalle - Schwandorf, Germany

SHADOWSIDE's third album, "Inner Monster Out", was released in May via Inner Wound Recordings. The CD was produced, mixed and mastered at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden by Fredrik Nordström, who has previously worked with AT THE GATES, IN FLAMES, DARK TRANQUILLITY, ARCH ENEMY, SOILWORK and BRING ME THE HORIZON, among others. It features guest vocals from Björn "Speed" Strid (SOILWORK), Mikael Stanne (DARK TRANQUILLITY), and Niklas Isfeldt (DREAM EVIL).

SHADOWSIDE vocalist Dani Nolden previously stated about the band's new CD, "'Inner Monster Out' is about letting your hidden persona show through, and about everything we always classify as not normal in human beings. The lyrics deal with everyone's fears, reactions, perversions, personality disorders and although it can be seen as a dark album, it also makes it clear that we all have a little bit of crazy and disturbed in a certain way. It's a musically intense album, with lots of angry guitars, bringing together the best of 'Dare To Dream' and 'Theatre Of Shadows', but with new and better things that we didn't try before. I'm especially proud and happy about the result we achieved on this album... we wrote and recorded songs that we like to hear and play and it's by far our best material so far."

"Angel With Horns" video:

ANTHRAX has tapped former TESTAMENT/SLAYER and current ANIMETAL USA drummer Jon Dette to sit behind the kit for the veteran thrash metal band's European tour as the support act for MOTÖRHEAD, which kicked off on November 5 in Wolverhampton, England. Dette is "kicking ass" as a temporary replacement for longtime ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante, who "is home taking care of personal stuff," according to ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian.

Said Dette: "I've been bestowed the great honor to fill in for Charlie while he takes care of some things back home."

Fan-filmed video footage of ANTHRAX's November 21 concert at Zénith in Paris, France can be seen below.

Dette joined SLAYER in 1996 when Paul Bostaph left to work on his side project, THE TRUTH ABOUT SEAFOOD. Dette performed with SLAYER at the 1996 Ozzfest to promote the band's covers album, "Undisputed Attitude".

Prior to joining SLAYER, Dette appeared on TESTAMENT's "Live At The Fillmore" album, which came out in 1995.

Benante and his wife were arrested on July 27 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Elkhart, Indiana for domestic battery in front of a child. The drummer later issued a statement through his attorney claiming that he "was assaulted several times during an altercation that sent him to the emergency room with a gash at the back of his head that required several staples to close."

Charlie and ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello (who is Benante's nephew) missed several shows on ANTHRAX's North American tour in February in order to spend time with Charlie's mother, who was terminally ill. On February 4, Benante informed fans via his official web site that his mother passed away.

More recently, Benante was forced to miss a number of shows on this past summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival while he was recovering from a minor hand injury. Filling in for him was SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner.

Multi-camera video footage of the Edmonton, Alberta, Canada-based metal band THE ORDER OF CHAOS performing the song "Victim Of Circumstance" on Septemer 13 at K17 in Berlin, Germany can be seen below (courtesy of Hardline TV). The clip was filmed during the group's European tour with HELSTAR and EMERALD, which consisted of 15 shows in nine countries.

"Victim Of Circumstance" comes off THE ORDER OF CHAOS's two-song EP, "Sexwitch", which was released in Europe on August 28 a seven-inch vinyl limited to 500 copies through Killer Metal Records. It is also available for purchase on CD and digital download through iTunes, Bandcamp, and the band's web site.

THE ORDER OF CHAOS features in its ranks current INTO ETERNITY touring singer Amanda Kiernan.

In a February 2012 interview with The Regina Leader-Post, Amanda stated about her decision to join INTO ETERNITY, "I couldn't pass up on the INTO ETERNITY thing because I could never sit at home and wonder what could have been."

She added, "Some of [my THE ORDER OF CHAOS bandmates] might not understand, but I think that in the long run, this will be very good for THE ORDER OF CHAOS. They're a little jealous and upset. But I think I just need to prove to them that I'll work 100 percent at both bands."

Acclaimed hard rock vocalist John Corabi — best known for his vocal work with MÖTLEY CRÜE, THE SCREAM and UNION — joined the Dutch KISS tribute band KISS ON THE ROCKS on stage on November 10 at Turbinenhalle in Oberhausen, Germany to perform several KISS classics. Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

Commented KISS ON THE ROCKS: "Yes, people, dreams do come true. One more for us [on November 10]. We performed at the German Kiss Expo in Oberhausen, in the famous Turbinenhalle with no one less than John Corabi!

It's always a pleasure performing in Germany, and Turbinenhalle had been high on our list for years. But to perform with one of our heroes, Mr. John Corabi, was just amazing.

"John joined us for soundcheck and later on performed 'Strutter', 'She' and 'Come On And Love Me' for an outrageous crowd of KISS and MÖTLEY CRÜE fans. John did an amazing acoustic set promoting his new album as well."

Corabi's all-new acoustic release, "Unplugged", is available on Rat Pak Records. The effort offers five new original tracks, seven re-recorded classic songs and in addition, features an exclusive 2012 behind-the-scenes interview with John. The album features John Corabi on vocals/guitar, Cheney Brannon (formerly of COLLECTIVE SOUL) on percussion/vocals, Topher Nolen on bass/vocals, D.A. Karkos on guitar/vocals, Matt Farley on percussion/vocals and Bruce Kulick (KISS, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD) on guitar (on "Hoolgan's Holiday" and "Man In The Moon").

Guitarist Rick Wartell, of Chicago-based doom legends TROUBLE, has posted what could be the artwork for the band's forthcoming new album, possibly titled The Dark Riff, and due for release in summer 2013. Check it out below:
The band recently checked in with an update on their forthcoming ninth studio album: "Things are starting to pick up in our camp so we decided to put up a quick page to fill you guys in on what's happening with us. Look for the new site to coincide with our upcoming release this spring.

We just would like to give you a quick update on what's going on in Trouble world. The songs are coming along just great! We have some final guitar stuff to finish up and the vocals aren't far behind. We are very impressed with the talent Kyle (Wartell, guitar) has brought to Trouble and those are just the demos! Trouble fans will be pleased to say the least!

We are all very excited about this new album and look forward to seeing you all in the spring / summer of 2013. Please like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for all the latest news! Thank you for your patience and loyalty over the years!"

Trouble lineup:

Kyle Thomas - vocals
Bruce Franklin - guitar
Rick Wartell - guitar
Shane Pasqualla - bass
Mark Lira - drums
More on Trouble at this location.

German death metallers FRAGMENTS OF UNBECOMING will release their fifth album, "The Art Of Coming Apart", on November 30 via Cyclone Empire. According to the band, the CD "will contain eight brutal Swedish death metal songs and two instrumentals." The group adds, "The songs sound awesome after being mixed in Soundtunnel Studio by Ingo Maier and mastered by Dan Swanö."

"The Art Of Coming Apart" track listing:

01. The Art Of Coming Apart
02. Barren And Bleak
03. Four Winters
04. Hours Of Suffering
05. Memorial Stone
06. A Silence Dressed In Black
07. Sundown (instrumental)
08. Trapping The Unseen
09. Seasons Of Tranquillity
10. Fathomless (Epilogue)

A three-minute YouTube clip containing a snippet of the album's title track and the acoustic song "Sundown" is available below.

FRAGMENTS OF UNBECOMING's fourth album, "The Everhaunting Past / Chapter IV - A Splendid Retrospection", came out in October 2009 via Cyclone Empire. The CD's cover artwork was once again created by Sascha Ehrich.

FRAGMENTS OF UNBECOMING in 2009 announced the addition of bassist Christopher Körtgen (SMILODON, CHAOS HD) to the group's ranks.

The band's third album, "Sterling Black Icon", was released in March 2006 via Metal Blade.

On February 1st, 2013, Massacre Records will issue a digital only, 18-track, SINSITER compilation titled Years Of Massacre. It will include nine tracks that have never been previously available for download. The cover art and tracklisting are as follows:
'Republic Of The Grave'
'Summit Of Sacrifice'
'If It Bleeds...'
'Into The Blind World'
'The Sin Of Sodomy'
'The Hornet's Nest'
'Transylvania (City Of The Damned)'
'My Casual Enemy'
'Blood Ecstasy'
'Spit On Your Grave' (WHIPLASH cover)
'Succubus' (MASSACRE cover)
'Swing Of The Axe' (POSSESSED cover)
'Dethroned Emperor' (CELTIC FROST cover)
'Face Fate, (BLOOD FEAST cover)
'The Grey Massacre'
'Afterburner'
'Altruistic Suicide'
'Men Down'

Sinister's Years Of Massacre will be available to download via iTunes and Amazon.

High Wycombe, U.K.-based quartet THE WILD LIES will release a brand new EP, "Jacks Out The Box", on January 14, 2013. The five-song effort is described in a press release as "a blend of hard rock fused by intricate grinding riffage colliding with stadium-rock chorus melodies."

"You got to hear this!" the band declares. "It's a great balance of old school with a new modern edge! We've all pushed ourselves so hard with this EP. We are really happy with end result! Check it out!"

The video for first single, "Relive The Ride", can be seen below.

You can see THE WILD LIES supporting JETT BLACK at High Wycombe Student Union Bar on December 15.

THE WILD LIES is:

Lead Vocals: Matt James
Guitar/Backing Vocals: Rob Gamble
Bass: Dylan Smith
Drums: Ralph Morris

Norwegian power metallers MEMORIZED DREAMS are back.

Following the recording sessions for what was supposed to the band's sophomore album, "End Of Innocence", MEMORIZED DREAMS took a long break, resulting in the depature of singer TJ Cobra, who left to start his own band GRIMSKULL.

The "End of Innocence" album was never finished or released.

MEMORIZED DREAMS' new lineup:

Eddie Lionheart - Vocals
Frode Hovd - Guitar
Kenneth Skarsvaag - Bass
Ruben Lien - Guitar
Robert Myrhaug - Drums
Stian Rødsjø - Synths

MEMORIZED DREAMS is currently in studio working on a new six-song promo, consisting ot both new and old material, which will be mixed by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios in Denmark.

A pre-production teaser video of a new track called "Guardians" is available below.

MEMORIZED DREAMS' debut album, "Theater of Life", was released in April 2004 through Sound Riot.

ICED EARTH guitarist/mainman Jon Schaffer will be featured as guest vocalist on Syrian thrashers ANARCHADIA's upcoming album, "Let Us All Unite", performing alongside the band’s singer, Nour, on a track entitled "True World Order".

Stated Jon: "I have always been impressed with the efforts and music from metal bands coming from the Middle East and when I got the invite to guest on ANARCHADIA's album, I was immediately into it. I am hoping these guys will go far in their career; they certainly deserve it."

Added ANARCHADIA: "No words can express how honored we are to work with a heavy metal icon such as Jon who happens to be a very cool and down-to-earth guy and a true metal brother. Cheers, guys. [We] hope you will dig the new stuff!"

PLAGUE OF STARS, the new project featuring Minneapolis, Minniesota-based singer Melissa Ferlaak (AESMA DAEVA, VISIONS OF ATLANTIS, ECHOTERRA) alongside guitarist Will Maravelas (WE ARE LEGION), has inked a deal with Minneapolis independent label Zerobudget Records. The band's debut album, "When Morning Came", is tentatively scheduled for release in June 2013.

PLAGUE OF STARS' current lineup us rounded out by bassist Christopher Quinn (AESMA DAEVA, A WHISPER IN THE NOISE, DODD) and drummer Aaron Lanik (WE ARE LEGION).

A press release states: "Initially concocted were two surprising reactions, 'In The Pines' which replicated earlier known reactions produced by Lead Belly and 'When Morning Came', an original design that surprised those who came in contact with it. These two strains of the virus would soon be engineered to include multiple strains of the infection to be released into the public in June 2013 following a top secret campaign by private donors, who believe this biochemical weapon is the answer to the struggles we currently face. The plague to be remembered in history….if history continues to exist….the PLAGUE OF STARS."

Minneapolis, MN based dark metallers COLD COLOURS have released their new video, for The Great Depression album track, 'Daylight'. Watch the video below:
The Great Depression was released in September 2011 via Sleaszy Rider Records.
Tracklisting is as follows:

‘Deny, Embrace, Define’
‘Desire (The Fallen Will)’
‘A Tired Masquerade’
‘Daylight’
‘Days Of Ire’
‘Redemption’
‘Deceiver’
‘Lost Inside’

More on Cold Colours at this location.

Finland's groovy death/thrashers RE-ARMED are currently recording their next album, Rottendam, and it will include seven songs along with a few stranger introduction parts. Follow the recording sessions and tell the band if there is some weird "spirit" tormenting them... studio diary part one can be viewed below:
Re-Armed released their debut album, Worldwide Hypnotize, in January and the band toured through Europe in the summer with SUFFOCATION and ORIGIN. Now, it is time to open a new bottle and pour a new round, but way harder booze!

HOLMES AND SLICE have released a full preview of the song 'Clinch' from their upcoming album, The Adventure Begins. Recorded in Tampa, Florida, Poland and Italy, the album includes 12 tracks of neo-classical shred metal infused with elements of rock and blues. Listen now:



Led by guitarist Rick Renstrom (WAR OF THRONES, LEASH LAW) and bassist Rich Marks (War of Thrones), along with keyboardist Mistheria (BRUCE DICKINSON) and drummer Atma Anur (MACALPINE, JOURNEY), the band has created a sound that not only pays tribute to the past, but also brings the genre into the modern age with style and flair.

The band came up with the concept of being Shred Metal Super Heroes and teamed up with comic book artist Sandra Lanz to transform the band into their alter egos. A full length comic book and live action webisode is currently in production to bring these characters to life. An early preview can be seen below:
The Adventure Begins is slated to release early summer 2013 with physical and digital versions, along with plans for touring in the fall.

Poland's MOONRISE have released their third album, Stopover - Life, via Lynx Music. The album was recorded this summer in keyboardist/guitarist Kamil Konieczniak's Island Music Studio. Stopover - Life features new lead singer Marcin Jajkiewicz, who joined the band in 2011.

Cover artwork for the album was designed by ?ukasz Konieczniak. Check it out below:
Stopover - Life tracklisting is as follows:

'Stopover - Life'
'Surrender To Win'
'Start Up Song'
'Let It Flow'
'Flying In Empty Lands'
'Blind Faces'
'Guardian Angel'
'Unravel Your Soul'
'Mr Strange'

The track 'Flying In Empty Lands' can be heard below:
Band lineup:

Kamil Konieczniak - keyboards, guitars, bass, loops
Marcin Jajkiewicz - vocal
Marcin Kruczek - guitars
Dariusz Rybka - saxophones
Grzegorz Bauer - drums

British metal band ABSOLVA is to record a live DVD at their headline performance at Wizzfest, in Belgium, on March 23rd, 2013. The DVD is to feature their live set at Wizzfest, plus bonus footage. Songs to be included will be chosen from their current Flames Of Justice album in addition to brand new material which the band is to work on following completion of the current UK and European tour dates. The band's live itinerary can be found here

Absolva released their Flames Of Justice album on November 5th. Formed in the wake of FURY UK bassist Luke Appleton joining American metal goliaths ICED EARTH, frontman Chris Appleton and Martin McNee put Absolva together in May 2012, which marked the beginning of an incredible few months for the band.
Tracklisting:

'Flames Of Justice'
'Hundred Years'
'Code Red'
'It Is What It Is'
'Breathe'
'State Of Grace'
'From Beyond The Light'
'Free'
'Love To Hate'
'Only When It's Over'
'Empires'

More on Absolva here.

Danish metallers ELECTRIC HELLRIDE release their debut album, Hate.Control.Manipulate, on November 26th via Mighty Music.
Hate.Control.Manipulate was recorded and mixed by Jacob Bredahl (HATESPHERE, THE KANDIDATE) in Dead Rat Studio.
Tracklisting is as follows:

‘Adabiatic Wrath’
‘Hatred Propaganda’
‘Take Control’
‘Flesh Into Ash’
‘Sulfur’
‘The Needles Craves’
‘Wreckage Of A Mortal Man’
‘Exhaling Chaos’
‘Until The End’
‘Reload To Shoot Again’

Check out the new video for 'Hatred Propaganda' below:
More on Electric Hellride here.

Boston-based female-fronted rock band LEAVING EDEN have just been nominated for the 55th Annual Grammy Awards. Fronted by distinctive female vocalist, Carole Gynan, their upcoming new album, Between Heaven & Hell, is a brilliant fusion of heavy rock, pop and acoustic tracks. The album is produced by the legendary London-based producer Stuart Epps (LED ZEPPELIN, THE ROLLING STONES, THE BEATLES), and features Mick James (Criss Angel Mindfreak).

Leaving Eden have released the new single, '50 Bullets', to be featured on Between Heaven & Hell. The video for the track can be seen below:
Leaving Eden have the following live dates scheduled:

November
24 - Carousel Lounge - Salisbury Beach, MA
30 - Carousel Lounge - Salisbury Beach, MA

December
1 - Rockafella’s - Salem, MA
7 - Prime Time Sports Bar & Grill - Seabrook, NH
15 - Finnegan’s Wake Restaurant & Pub - Walpole, MA
21 - The Village Square - Hampstead, NH
22 - Wicked Twisted - Nashua, NH

January
18 - Whippersnappers - Londonderry, NH

March
8-17 - Daytona Bike Week - Daytona, FL
22 - Whippersnappers - Londonderry, NH

Maby
10-19 - Bike Week Spring Rally - Myrtle Beach, SC
24-26 - Carousel Lounge - Salisbury Beach, MA

June
21 - Whippersnappers - Londonderry, NH

Music Theories Recordings, a division of Mascot Label Group, released MR. BIG guitarist PAUL GILBERT's 12th solo album Vibrato on October 15th. The album includes four new guitar and vocal compositions, four instrumentals, and three live cover songs from Gilbert’s 2010 Fuzz tour including YES’ Roundabout, MUDDY WATERS’ I Want To Be Loved and AC/DC’s Go Down.
Vibrato tracklisting:

'Enemies (In Jail)'
'Rain And Thunder And Lightning'
'Vibrato'
'Put It On The Char'
'Bivalve Blues'
'Blue Rondo A La Turk'
'Atmosphere on the Moon'
'The Pronghorn'
'Roundabout'
'I Want To Be Loved'
'Go Down'

Check out the new video for 'Enemies (In Jail)' below:
Gilbert recently announced tour dates for Japan:

"I will be bringing the same amazing band that played on my Vibrato album to do three live shows in Japan this coming January 2013. Thomas Lang on drums, Kelly LeMieux on bass, Emi Gilbert on keyboards, Paul Gilbert (me) on guitar. They'll be lots of playing, lots of singing, and lots of songs from the new Vibrato album and many more surprises.

January
15 - Tokyo - Akasaka Blitz
16 - Tokyo - Akasaka Blitz
18 - Osaka - Matsushita IMP Hall

For more information go to this location.

See you there!"

ASYLUM PYRE have revealed the tracklisting for their upcoming album, Fifty Years Later, which is released today, November 23rd via Massacre Records.
Tracklisting:

‘Will You Believe Me?’
‘Dead In Copenhagen’
‘The Frozen Will’
‘These Trees’
‘The Herd’
‘Fisherman's Day’
‘Against The Sand’
‘Any Hypothesis’
‘Just Before The Silence’
‘Fifty Years Later’

Fifty Years Later was recorded and mixed by Didier Chesneau at the MII Recording Studio in France and mastered by Bruno Gruel at Elektra Mastering in France.

Listen to the track ‘These Trees’ below:

Australia’s DEATH AUDIO has released the following video for the song 'Fallen Souls' from their just-released, self-titled debut album, The band sends the following message along with the video:

"You should always feel safe and good about yourself. Don't ever let anyone put you down. Believe in yourself and reach out for your dreams. Because dreams do come true if you work hard enough. Don't ever let anyone put you down, use music as a weapon!"
Death Audio contains the following ten tracks:

‘Down’
‘Black Rose’
‘Fallen Souls’
‘Memories’
‘Reasons’
‘Obstructions’
‘This Moment’
‘Place The Blame’
‘Shadow’
‘The Escape’

Italian hard rockers VOODOO HIGHWAY have signed a two-album deal with the German label, Dust On The Tracks Records. Work on the band’s second LP, Showdown, is complete and it's worldwide release is scheduled for March, 2013.
Audio samples of the forthcoming second album, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below:
Showdown was produced/mixed by Italian producer team Dysfunction Productions (Anthony Phillips, John Wetton, Logan Mader) and mastered by US senior mastering engineer Ue Nastasi (GOJIRA, AC/DC, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) from Sterling Sound Studios. The album artwork for the effort feature the hand of UK graphic designer Mr. Storm Thorgerson, who has previously worked with PINK FLOYD, LED ZEPPELIN, BLACK SABBATH, DREAM THEATER, AUDIOSLAVE among many others.
The band comments, “Please pump up the volume to the top and enjoy this taste of rock n’ roll!”

Voodoo Highway is a powerful new quintet featuring Federico Di Marco (vocals), Filippo Cavallini (bass), Matteo Bizzarri (guitars). Alessandro Duò (keys) and Vincenzo Zairo (drums).
For more details on Voodoo Highway visit Facebook.

THE ADDICATION have announced they will release their self-titled debut album on December 21th, via Inverse Records.

According to a press release: “By blending traditional thrash metal with some beautiful melodies and dark themes, The Addication manage to produce a package which sounds original and fresh, but also remind the listener of the band's influences.”
Tracklisting is as follows:

‘Burned Down’
‘From The Ashes’
‘New Beginning (Era Of New Blood)’
‘Last Seconds On Earth’
‘Rust’
‘My Testament’
‘Out From The Inferno’
‘No More Hero’
‘Last Sunrise’

Band lineup:

Kenny Jones - vocals
Hank J. Newman - guitars
Hector Jimenez – guitars
Marc F. – bass
Arnold Hackman - drums

Frontiers Records released A PERFECT DAY's self-titled debut album on November 19th in North America. The album will be out in Europe tomorrow, November 23rd. The band's new video is now available. Watch 'Silent Cry' below:
The concept of A Perfect Day came about when Andrea Cantarelli - guitarist and co-founding member of the Italian heavy metal band LABYRINTH - presented the new songs and riffs he was working on to his bandmate Roberto Tiranti. The musical direction was evidently different from what they have been developing on Labyrinth’s recent releases, more in line with hard rock rather than power metal.

Roberto immediately loved the music that Andrea played him and started to work on songs and melodies which during 2011 and 2012 brought life to the debut album which finally sees the light of day now on Frontiers Records.

“Labyrinth is my band, but now it is not enough” says Cantarelli. “APD is what I need today. I need another band, a real band in order to express my creative juices. Musically speaking we are now in Hard Rock territory, however I have tried to give the sound a more dynamic and modern edge, not far away from acts like ALTER BRIDGE or STONE SOUR.”
But melody still plays a leading role in A Perfect Day music. Although, on the one hand, melodies are sometimes very relaxed, they are in contrast, with the wall of sound created by the heavy guitar riffing.

A Perfect Day lineup is completed with Alessandro Bissa (Labyrinth, VISION DIVINE) on drums.
A Perfect Day tracklisting:

'Another Perfect Day'
'Now And Forever'
'Long Road To Ruin'
'Alone And Free (Rockblind)'
'Silent Cry'
'Under The Same Sun'
'Here We Are Again'
'Waiting On The Edge'
'Warm Embrace'
'We Only Say Goodbye'

'Silent Cry' is streaming via the Frontiers Records webradio at this location.

An EPK (Electronic Press Kit) for the album can be seen below:

Quality fan-filmed video of Canada's KOBRA AND THE LOTUS performing at Trix in Antwerp, Belgium on their European support tour with STEEL PANTHER has surface on YouTube. The band's set included a cover of IRON MAIDEN's 'Wicker Man', which begins at the 9:00 minute mark in the clip below:
On August 19th, Kobra And The Lotus shot the video for '50 Shades Of Evil', taken from their new self-titled album, in Toronto at the Berkley Church on Queens Street West. A photo gallery from the shoot is now available at this location.
Kobra And The Lotus are gearing up for a string of UK tour dates supporting BUCKCHERRY, which will take place prior to their US tour with SONATA ARCTICA. Dates are as follows:

November (with Buckcherry)
23 - Roadmender - Northampton, UK
24 - Waterfront - Norwich, UK
25 - Manchester Academy 2 - Manchester, UK
27 - The Cockpit - Leeds, UK
28 - Corporation - Sheffield, UK
29 - O2 Academy - Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK

December (with Buckcherry)
1 - Garage - Glasgow, UK
2 - Hard Rock Hell - Pwlheli, UK
3 - Trinity Arts Centre - Bristol, UK
5 - Wedgewood Rooms - Portsmouth, UK
6 - Electric Ballroom - London, UK
7 - Concorde 2 - Brighton, UK

December (with Sonata Arctica)
11 - Opera House - Toronto, ON
13 - Peabody's - Cleveland, OH
14 - Harpo's - Detroit, MI
15 - Mojoes - Joliet, IL
17 - Bluebird Theater - Denver, CO
20 - Whisky A Go Go - West Hollywood, CA
Kobra And The Lotus guitarist Jasio Kulakowski recently checked in with the following update:

"Hey guys! Our new single '50 Shades Of Evil' dropped on iTunes today. If you buy it, you'll get two bonus tracks; one is on the Japanese-only release 'Calm Before The Storm', and the other is an acoustic cover of DIO's 'Rainbow In The Dark', which I had the pleasure of producing and mixing! Hook yourself up, we really appreciate the support."

Go to this location to check out audio samples and to purchase.