Century Media Records recently asked British gothic metal pioneers PARADISE LOST a number of questions while hanging out at Tom Bergin's Tavern in Los Angeles. Check out the footage below.

"Fear Of Impending Hell", the new video from PARADISE LOST, was directed and produced by the band's own Steve Edmondson (bass) and features live-performance and behind-the-scenes footage. The song comes off PARADISE LOST's new album, "Tragic Idol", which sold around 900 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 32 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.

Released on April 24 (one day earlier internationally) via Century Media Records, "Tragic Idol" was recorded in part at The Chapel studios in Lincolnshire, England and features cover art by by Parisian designer Valnoir, who has previously worked with MORBID ANGEL, LAIBACH, ULVER and WATAIN, among others.

PARADISE LOST is currently on the road in North America as part of the "Epic Kings & Idols Tour" with DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT and KATATONIA.

Interview:

On September 19th, vocalist ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN performed at The Bordserline in London, England on her continuing Everything Is Changing tour. Fan filmed video featuring Anneke covering the EURHYTHMICS classic 'Here Comes The Rain Again' and joining the audience during 'Hope Pray Dance Play' is available below:
Her schedule is now as follows:

September
22 - ABC2 - Glasgow, United Kingdom
23 - Academy 3 - Birmingham, United Kingdom

October
13 - Nijmeegse Kunstnacht - Nijmegen, Netherlands (solo acoustic show)
31 - IF Performance Hall - Ankara, Turkey

November
1 - Jolly Joker - Istanbul, Turkey
2 - Eightball Club - Thessaloniki, Greece
3 - Kyttaro Live - Athens, Greece
10 - Moskva Concert Hall - Moscow, Russia
11 - Glav Club - Saint Petersburg, Russia
16 - Burgerweeshuis - Deventer, Netherlands
17 - De Kelder - Amersfoort, Netherlands
22 - Paard van Troje - Den Haag, Netherlands
23 - W2 - 'S Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
24 - ECI Cultuurfabriek - Roermond, Netherlands
30 - Vera - Groningen, Netherlands

Anneke signed a deal with Holland's PIAS Records last year and released her new album, Everything Is Changing, on January 20th. The tracklist for Everything Is Changing is as follows:

'Feel Alive'
'You Want To Be Free'
'Everything Is Changing'
'Take Me Home'
'I Wake Up'
'Circles'
'My Boy'
'Stay'
'Hope, Pray, Dance, Play'
'Slow Me Down '
'Too Late'

The official video for the song 'Take Me Home' is available below.

Texas-based metal veterans HELSTAR have commenced the songwriting process for their new CD. The band states, "We can promise you one thing: HELSTAR will write and deliver the best album we can produce within our power. We hope to begin recording in the spring of 2013."

HELSTAR will release "30 Years Of Hel", a DVD containing footage of the band's March 24, 2012 30-year-anniversary hometown show at Warehouse Live in Houston, on October 2 in North America (August 31 in Europe) via AFM Records. The DVD+2CD set will include footage of the band performing songs spanning its entire career, including material from the often-overlooked "Multiples Of Black" release. The package will also feature interviews with each bandmember, as well as with the entire group, conducted by "Robb's MetalWorks" and focusing specifically on this milestone.

The "Toward The Unknown" performance from the "30 Years Of Hel" DVD can be seen below.

HELSTAR released its latest album, "Glory Of Chaos", in November 2010 via Germany's AFM Records.

Formed in Houston in the early '80s, HELSTAR cut its teeth playing backyard parties and small club gigs. It soon became apparent that HELSTAR had much more to offer then its contemporaries. Combat Records snapped up the band and released HELSTAR's debut, "Burning Star", in 1984. Next came "Remnants of War", followed by HELSTAR's breakthrough album, "A Distant Thunder", in 1988. The success of "A Distant Thunder" ultimately set up HELSTAR's most critically acclaimed album, 1989's "Nosferatu".

DVD preview clip:

SOLDIERFIELD have announced the addition of drummer Jeff Singer to the band's ranks. Jeff has 20 years experience touring and recording with the likes of PARADISE LOST, BLAZE, KILL II THIS, CHINA BEACH, and will now be in charge of the heavy weapons both on the band's soon to be announced live shows and on the full-length album due in early 2013.
Soldierfield will release their debut EP, Bury The Ones We Love, on October 29th via Metalbox Recordings.

The track ‘Feel Alive’ can be heard below:
Soldierfield lineup:

Vocals: Leigh Oates (ORDER OF VOICES, RISE TO ADDICTION)
Guitars: Andy Trott
Guitars: Steve Wray (Rise To Addiction, Blaze)
Bass: Simon Priestland
Drums: Jeff Singer (Paradise Lost, Blaze, Kill II This, China Beach)

More on Soldierfield at this location.

Spain-based thrash/death metallers ALTAR OF SIN have recruited a permanent second guitarist named Neura, who previously played in BRAMS and XUQUER, and is now contributing to build that massive wall of sound for Alter Of Sin on their devastating live performances.
Altar Of Sin have released an official video for the song 'Voodoo Hell (Blessed By The Devil)', featured on their second album, Tales Of Carnage First Class. Check it out below:
More on Altar Of Sin at this location.

Portuguese gnostic /progressive metallers DARKSIDE OF INNOCENCE are currently working on their third album. The band have recorded a single, entitled ‘Sephiroth’.
An update from singer/composer Pedro Remiz states: "A lot has been happening in the world of Sophia since the latest release Xenogenesis (Infektion Records). The band is getting back on track as I’m finding new members to perform live and compose the new album. Also and meanwhile, as many of you know, we were writing a new single entitled 'Sephiroth'. Well I can say gladly, that the single is already done, produced and waiting to kick some asses worldwide. However, what’s preventing us from releasing it yet, is the fact we’re preparing a video clip with Gente Malvada Produções, which is already making some interesting progress. So, to announce it officially here’s 'Sephiroth'’s first preview."
Updates to follow. More on Darkside Of Innocence at this location.

HARDBANGER – the new project by French producer Brew Varea (DAGOBA, BLAZING WAR MACHINE, MEPHISTO) – have announced the release of their new music video for the track ‘She Says’.

The track was produced by brew varea (DAGOBA,MEPHISTO). Mastering was completed by Dave Collins (LINKIN PARK,SOUNDGARDEN). The video was edited by Brew And Gray and shot by Gray And Ghyis (MEPHISTO,FIVF).

Watch the video below:
The band announced in July that they were in a studio to record material for a new album.

A short studio video taken during the recording of guitars and vocals for the upcoming new single can be seen below:

CULLOODEN – lead by CLOUDSCAPE drummer Fredrik Joakimsson – has released the following update on their new album:

"The last pieces of the Cullooden album are more or less completed, finally! (It only took us five years). The songs will soon be mixed at the Number one studio in Sweden of course, RoastingHouse! Below you'll find the tracklist of the upcoming masterpiece:

‘Heaven Feels So Hollow’
‘Drowning In Silence’
‘An Interesting Fact’
‘Take Hold Of Your Fear’
‘Endless Tears’
‘Star Of The Night’
‘The Progress’
‘Embrace Your Destiny’
‘Welcome To Wonderland’
‘My Only Desire’

Australian prog-rock heavyweights VOYAGER have released the video for their track ‘Seize The Day’, off their latest album The Meaning Of I.

Using a collection of smartphone recordings from fans on March 2nd in their hometown of Perth, WA and fans from across the globe, Voyager have put together the best footage submitted by these fans, to create the video.

Director of the video Ben Berkhout commented: “This video began as a viral campaign where Voyager fans where offered the opportunity to film the band live at The Amplifier. The catch was, it could only be shot on a Smartphone and thus began the Seize The Day Smartphone Video Shoot in early March 2012.

We got such a great response from the fans and with the confirmation of a North American Tour with RHAPSODY OF FIRE, we thought we'd harness the power of social media and the gift of Danny's gab to open up an invitation to the rest of the world to enter their own videos. It could be lip-sync, some crazy interpretive dance, driving, eating, swimming, juggling, star jumping, head-banging, rocking out or simply lying on a bed wearing a wrestling mask threatening a cat with a water pistol... anything! As long as you had a good time making it! And so it evolved into... Voyager – ‘Seize The Day (official By The Fans video).

As the Director and Editor I got to see everything in it's entirety, all 100+ hours of craziness, and I had a ball cutting every funny second of it!

I'm so stoked to have seen the dedication from all the fans out there around the world!

Congratulations to all of you who submitted videos and congrats on being a part of this amazing social experiment, you did an amazing job and you should all be very proud!”

Watch the video below:
Voyager will be heading out on an east coast tour of Australia in November in support of their new album. Tour dates are below:
November
1 – Newcastle, Australia - Hamilton Station Hotel
2 – Sydney, Australia - Steel Assasins Festival
3 – Wollongong, Australia - Perpetual Tides Festival
4 - Sydney (West), Australia - Westfest, Lucky Australian Tavern
9 – Melbourne, Australia - The Workers Club
10 – Canberra, Australia - BastardFest

On March 23rd, 2013, internationally renowned metal band EPICA will celebrate their 10th anniversary with a special performance, entitled Retrospect, which will take place in the Klokgebouw in Eindhoven, in their home country the Netherlands. According to a new update from the band, "In less than one week 1,000 tickets have been sold for our Retrospect show. This is gonna be a night to be remembered!"
Until October 1st there is an "early bird" discount on both regular and VIP tickets for the show. Special VIP-tickets are available as well and cost €65 + service costs. VIPs will get early access to the venue and exclusive VIP goodies.

From October 1st the price will increase by €4 for both normal and VIP tickets. Go to this location to purchase.

Retrospect will be Epica’s most ambitious project to date, joined by a 70-piece symphonic orchestra and choir, international guests and lots of special effects.

Watch an online message from the band below:
Epica's South/Latin American current tour schedule is as follows:

September
21 - Teatro Universidad - Medellin, Colombia
22 - Downtown Majestic - Bogota, Colombia
25 - Teatro Flores - Buenos Aires, Argentina
26 - Teatro Caupolican - Santiago, Chile
28 - Via Funchal - Sao Paulo, Brazil
29 - Fundicao Progresso - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
30 - Opiniao Bar - Porto Alegre, Brazil

October
2 - Teatro Plaza- Montevideo, Uruguay
3 - Club Sport Colombia de Fernando de la Mora - Asunción, Paraguay
5 - Auditorio Blackberry - Mexico City, Mexico

Swedish melodic metallers HAMMERFALL will release a concert DVD+2CD and Blu-ray+2CD, "Gates Of Dalhalla", on November 30 via Nuclear Blast. The set will feature the band's extraordinary 135-minute 15th-anniversary show that took place on July 28 on the historic open-air stage Dalhalla, built in an old quarry near the small Swedish village Rättvik. The footage was captured by Swedish director Patric Ullaeus of the Revolver Film Company AB, who has previously worked with IN FLAMES, DIMMU BORGIR, EUROPE and LACUNA COIL, among many others.

Commented HAMMERFALL guitarist Oscar Dronjak: "The set contained 26 tracks and lasted two hours and 15 minutes, by far the longest and most comprehensive gig of our entire career! We played songs from every album and then some. There were lots of guests and pyros, and we had 80 Marshall cabinets and the big shield with the HF logo carved out in the middle hanging brought out of storage, all set in an extremely unique venue. You really have to see it to understand. This concert really captured the essence of HAMMERFALL live in 2012 very well!"

Special guests during the concert included original HAMMERFALL members Jesper Strömblad (IN FLAMES) and Mikael Stanne (DARK TRANQUILLITY), as well as ex-HAMMERFALL guitarist Stefan Elmgren.

Added Oscar: "Everything concerning this release is special: the venue, the occasion, the setlist, the guests. If you are going to celebrate something, do it properly, and this is exactly what we have done. HAMMERFALL with extra everything, 100% live, 0% bullshit."

The setlist for the concert was as follows:

01. Patient Zero
02. Heeding The Call
03. Any Means Necessary
04. B.Y.H.
05. Riders Of The Storm
06. Let's Get It On
07. Crimson Thunder
08. Renegade
09. Blood Bound (special guest: Stefan Elmgren)
10. Last Man Standing (special guest: Stefan Elmgren)
11. Fury Of The Wild (special guest: Stefan Elmgren)
12. Drum Solo: Anders Johansson
13. Always Will Be
14. Dia De Los Muertos
15. Steel Meets Steel (special guest: Mikael Stanne)
16. Threshold
17. The Dragon Lies Bleeding (special guest: Jesper Strömblad)
18. Let The Hammer Fall
19. När Vindarna Viskar Mitt Namn (special guest: Roger Pontare)
20. Something For The Ages
21. The Templar Flame
22. Oh Fortuna (special guest: Team Cans)
23. Glory To The Brave (special guest: Team Cans)
24. One More Time (special guest: Team Cans)
25. Hammerfall
26. Hearts On Fire (featuring all special guests)

The members of HAMMERFALL announced in March that they were take an extended break immediately following their festival appearances this summer.

"It has been an unbelievable first 15 years, to say the least," said guitarist Oscar Dronjak, "and now we are taking a pause to ensure that we have another 15 years ahead of us."

There will be no HAMMERFALL activities in 2013, but the band promises to return strong the following year. "The plan is to use the year off to recharge our batteries and come back more vital than ever with a new album in 2014," explained singer Joacim Cans.

HAMMERFALL's new album, "Infected", sold around 1,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD debuted at No. 16 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.

HAMMERFALL's previous CD, "No Sacrifice, No Victory", opened with 1,400 units to land at No. 38 on the Top New Artist Albums chart.

"Infected" entered the official chart in Sweden at position No. 2 (right behind LADY GAGA!). The CD was released in Europe in May 2011 and was made available in North America in June via Nuclear Blast Records. Laying down the foundation themselves in their own studio in Sweden, the members of HAMMERFALL then traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to finish it up with acclaimed producer James Michael (MÖTLEY CRÜE, SCORPIONS, MEAT LOAF). He also mixed the album, giving it a decisive updated edge without losing any of the essence of the band's sound.

HAMMERFALL was among the five final nominees that competed for the "Best Hard Rock/Metal" honor at the Swedish Grammis awards (Swedish Grammy equivalent), which was held February 14, 2012 at Kungliga Operan in Stockholm.

German rockers CROSSPLANE recently signed a worldwide deal with 7hard.

For their song, 'Rollin'', Crossplane had some well-known support: Tom Angelripper (SODOM, ONKEL TOM) and Christof Leim (THE NEW BLACK, SINNER) contributed vocals and guitar solo. A video trailer can be seen at this location.

Since their inception in 2009, Crossplane gained attention with their self-released EP, Highspeed Operation. The band fronted by Onkel Tom guitarist Celli played shows all over Germany, expanding the band from a local to a national act.

Crossplane is:

Celli: Vocals / Guitar
Dirk: Bass
Alex: Guitar
Matthias August: Drums

More on Crossplane at this location.

Belgian metallers KOMAH are back with a second full-length album, entitled Between Vice And Virtue. The follow-up to the band's debut, Straight Line, was recorded and mixed in 2011 by Charles Deschutter at Rec 'N' Roll Studio in Belgium. The new album will hit stores this fall.
What people can expect from Komah is a pure discharge of an agressive groove and powerful energy, a brutal rage in the compositions, tons of modern heavy riffs and a real surgical precision... to become an addict.

In waiting for the official release of Between Vice And Virtue, 'The Birth', a first excerpt of this upcoming album, is streaming below:
More on Komah at this location.

After three albums - Mirrorion (2006), Scorpion Milk (2006), and Ai Ma Ra (double-CD, 2009) - on the acclaimed Finnish underground label Aural Hypnox, ARKTAU EOS return with not one but two albums, simultaneously on Svart Record: Ioh-Maera, a CD-only release out October 26th, and Unworeldes, a vinyl-only release out November 3rd.
Ioh-Maera CD tracklisting:

'Unbinding Kaamos'
'Noxfaros'
'Sunken Luminaries'
'Ioh-Maera'
'Otherstone Refraction'

Unworeldes LP (vinyl only) tracklisting:

'The Cypress Watcher'
'Cove Of The Seven-Winged'
'Black Leaf Gaze'
'Geometry Of Emptiness'

More on Arktau Eos at this location.

German power metallers REBELLION have set October 26th as the release date for their new album, Arminius - Furor Teutonicus, via Massacre Records. The album's cover artwork by Felipe Machado can be seen below:
Complete album details to follow.

Rebellion will release a digital compilation, entitled The Best Of Viking History, on October 5th. The compilation will be available for a special price on iTunes, Musicload, Amazon and other digital download stores only.

The Best Of Viking History is available for streaming now at this location.

Tracklisting is as follows:

‘Ynglinga Saga (To Odin We Call)’
‘Blood Rains (The Saga Of King Olaf Trygvason)’
‘Canute the Great (The King Of Danish Pride)’
‘Harald Hadrade’
‘Sweden’
‘Kiew’
‘Taste Of Steel’
‘God Of Thunder’
‘The Uprising’
‘Arise’
‘Odin’
‘Runes’
‘Ragnarök’
‘Einherjar’

Rebellion will also be playing a string of dates this November. Tour dates are as follows:



November
1 – Köln, Germany - Blue Shell
3 – Oberhausen, Germany - Helvete Metal Club
10 - Hamburg - Ballroom
16 – Kerkrade, The Netherlands - The Rock Temple
17 – Bremen, Germany - Meisenfrei
24 - Primasens, Germany - Zur Schwemme

BEYOND ALL RECOGNITION are streaming a preview of their entire debut album, Drop=Dead. Check it out below:



Drop=Dead will be released on September 28th via Napalm Records.



Tracklisting is as follows:

‘Characters’
‘What We´ll Die To Defend’
‘True Story’
‘Drop = Dead’
‘Arriving With The Sun’
‘Brace Yourself’
‘Smoke And Mirrors’
‘B*tch Please’
‘Legends’
‘End Of Recognition’
‘Smoke and Mirrors’ (Dirty And Twisted Remix)

French progressive metallers HACRIDE have released new pro-shot footage from their performance at Le Confort Moderne in Poitiers, France on March 9th 2011. In the video the band perform the track ‘My Enemy’. Check it out below:
Hacride entered the studio in June to record their new album which will be released in 2013.
Hacride will head out on a tour of France in October with KLONE and TREPALIUM. Hacride's complete live itinerary can be found at this location.
For more details on Hacride visit Facebook.

Canadian metallers WRETCHEDPAIN have checked in with the following update:
"We are proud to finally announce what we have lined up for the recording sessions our new EP. We're going to have J-F Dagenais of KATAKLYSM handling all of the mixing and mastering duties to make this thing as big and brutal sounding as possible! As for engineering, on September 29th we'll be hitting the studio with Brian Toye at We Make Records. He did a great job tracking a demo for us and we think he'll do a killer job tracking the EP. We also have a lot of big show/tour news coming up and of course some guest appearances on the EP to announce. So stay tuned!!! For now, here's a sample of an unmixed demo to keep you tied over!"
For information on Wretchedpain and updates go to this location

On November 6th, The End Records, as part of a joint venture with Sony UK/Search & Destroy, will release the debut full-length album from the United Kingdom’s own WHILE SHE SLEEPS, titled This Is The Six.

Produced by Carl Brown (FIGHTSTAR, RISE TO REMAIN), the twelve song opus is genre-defying, drawing from the contemporary intensity and unshakeable authenticity of post-hardcore, the progressive song-structure and unrelenting aggression of metal, a keen ear for melody and a raw impenetrable passion that makes it relatable to anyone with a love for guitar driven rock music.
“I want this to be an eye-opener for America,” says guitarist and founding member, Mat Welsh. “We want this to be an album that people can grow up to. We’ve grown up to landmark albums by SLIPKNOT, THRICE and bands that meant the world to us and we want this album to mean the world to people."

Proud to plant the flag for British rock on whatever continent the band find themselves, vocalist Lawrence Taylor adds, “We’ve got an album that we really think can shake things up and we’ve got a sound that’s ours and that we want to take and make successful all over the world.”

With a sold out headline tour, and a tent-swelling set at last year’s Sonisphere festival under their belts, the bustling brood have rapidly and justifiably become one of the highest regarded rock bands in Britain.
This Is The Six tracklisting:

'Dead Behind The Eyes' (featuring Andrew Neufeld of COMEBACK KID)
'False Freedom'
'Satisfied In Suffering'
'Seven Hills'
'Our Courage, Our Cancer'
'This Is The Six'
'The Chapel'
'Be(lie)ve'
'Until The Death'
'Love At War'
'The Plague Of A New Age'
'Reunite'

Videos for: 'Our Courage, Our Cancer', 'This Is The Six', and 'Seven Hills' can be seen below:
For more information on While She Sleeps, visit their official Facebook page.

MAJESTY's Shake The Ground DVD features the band's complete comeback show recorded in September 2011. It was filmed in HD and mixed with bombastic 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround sound to bring the unique magic of a Majesty show on your TV screen.
The official release date of the DVD will be October 15th, however it will be sold exclusively at Germany's Metal Union Festiva, taking place September 29th, as a special edition for a fan-friendly price. The special edition is strictly limited and includes the DVD, a Majesty non-woven bag and a Shake The Ground poster.

Here is the complete tracklist of the DVD:

Intro
'Metal Law'
'Hail To Majesty'
'Metal On The Road'
'Freedom Warriors'
'Reign In Glory'
'Hephaestus Vigour' (Drum Solo)
'Fields Of War'
'Hellforces'
'Snow Is On The Mountains'
'Heavy Metal Battlecry'
'Own The Crown'
'Strings On Fire' (Guitar Solo)
'Into The Stadiums'
'We Will Rider'
'Son Of Metal'
'Sword And Sorcery'
'Epic War'
'Keep It True'
'Metal To The Metalheads'

Swedish death metal act FETUS STENCH - who released their debut full-length, Stillbirth in June via Abyss Records - have issued the following update:

"Our lead guitarist, Christoffer Ilberg, has decided to quit Fetus Stench due to lack of motivation. We bid him farewell and great success in his future endeavours. We played the norwegian gigs as a trio and it felt great so we will not look for a replacement. We now join the ranks with bands like KRISIUN, MOTÖRHEAD, DYING FETUS etc. by becoming a three-piece."
Fetus Stench is:
Emil Wiksten - drums
Andreas Björnson - guitars/vocals
Kristian Karlsson - bass.

Bologna, Italy-based rockers HORROR VACUI will release their new album, In Darkness You Will Feel Alright, via Horror Pain Gore Death Productions, this Halloween.
Tracklisting:

'Intro'
'Black Rivers'
'I Like It When A Soldier Dies'
'Corvus Corax'
'Everytime'
'In Darkness You Will Feel Alright'
'Yersinia'
'Arabian Spring'
'Leave Me Alone'
'Outro'
'A Destructive Game' (demo)
'I Like It When A Soldier Dies' (demo)
'Black Rivers' (demo)
'Everytime' (demo)
'Insanity' (demo)
'In Darkness You Will Feel Alright '(demo)

'Corvus Corax' is streaming below:
More on Horror Vacui at this location.

Combining many sub-genres of music, mainly from rock and metal, WARNOT is melodic, raw, symphonic, theatrical, doomy and progressive; "His Blood Is Yours" is an epic rock/metal adventure ride that rings fresh.

Guitar player/composer Björn Eliasson picked up his axe in the Eighties and started his first band in 1988. In the early Nineties, he joined Patrik Svärd (CLOUDSCAPE) and formed a band dubbed DOCTOR WEIRD.

Conceived in 2001, CLOUDSCAPE released its self titled debut in 2004 and followed it up by "Crimson Skies" (2006) and "Global Drama" (2008)..

In late 2009, Björn decided to leave CLOUDSCAPE to focus on his passion in his own musical project. Writing songs based on his visions, exploring limitless feelings and atmospheres, which have become WARNOT.

Björn worked on "His Blood is Yours" without stress of deadlines, only pure inspiration and a strong vision to create something truly unique. Choosing to work with many guest vocalists, Björn also sings on the album and flavors it with his unique, ground breaking voice complementing the other exceptional guest singers that have contributed to the album.

The vocalists:

* Thomas Bursell (SECOND HEAT, Helsingborg Symphony Choirs)
* Mike Andersson (CLOUDSCAPE, FULL FORCE, STAR ONE, SILENT MEMORIAL)
* Sussi Sorensen (BO WILSON BAND)
* Bjorn Persson (DOCTOR WEIRD)
* Sara Andersson (Helsingborg Symphony Choirs)
* Bjorn Eliasson (CLOUDSCAPE)
* André Mollestam (GROWLS)

Due on November 6 via Nightmare Records, "His Blood Is Yours" will feature the following track listing:

01. Raptures Of The Deep
02. The Crow Will Die
03. My Darkest Hour
04. A Late Night Dance With Death
05. Secrets Of Mythology
06. His Blood Is Yours
07. RIP
08. New York
09. The Patriot
10. I Am A Ghost
11. The Wrong Path
12. Sirens

Scranton, Pennsylvania-based metalcore sextet MOTIONLESS IN WHITE will release its sophomore album, "Infamous", on November 13 via Fearless Records. The CD's first single, "Devil's Night", will be available for download on Tuesday, September 25.

A preview of "Devil's Night" is available in the YouTube clip below.

"'Infamous' pays a lot more attention to real life, this time," explains MOTIONLESS IN WHITE lead singer Chris Motionless. "It's not about movie characters like a lot of [2010's] 'Creatures' was."

He continues, "I don't want to make music to just exist, I want to make music that makes a fucking difference. So this record is straight up, non-fiction and reflects how I feel about things being sung through not only my eyes, but those of fans and people in general.

"As much as I love not taking music entirely seriously all the time, I do feel at this point, we have an obligation to remain a band that's doing something positive and putting out the right kind of message."

He concludes by issuing this warning: "You have NO idea what you are about to hear, in the best way possible."

"Infamous" track listing:

01. Black Damask (The Fog)
02. Devil's Night
03. A-M-E-R-I-C-A
04. Burned At Both Ends
05. The Divine Infection
06. Puppets 2 (The Rain) (feat. Björn "Speed" Strid of SOILWORK)
07. Sinematic
08. If It's Dead, We'll Kill It (feat. Brandan Schieppati of BLEEDING THROUGH)
09. Synthetic Love
10. Hatefuck
11. Underdog
12. Infamous

The official lyric video for "Veilburner", a brand new song from Norwegian progressive extreme metallers ENSLAVED, can be seen below. The track comes off the band's twelfth studio album, "RIITIIR", which will be released in Europe on September 28 and in North America on October 9 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The track listing for the "RIITIIR" European and North American digipak is as follows:

01. Thoughts Like Hammers
02. Death In The Eyes Of Dawn
03. Veilburner
04. Roots Of The Mountain
05. Riitiir
06. Materal
07. Storm Of Memories
08. Forsaken

The track listing for the "RIITIIR" 2LP double-gatefold is as follows:

Side A:

01. Thoughts Like Hammers
02. Death In The Eyes Of Dawn

Side B:

01. Veilburner
02. Roots Of The Mountain

Side C:

01. Riitiir
02. Materal

Side D:

01. Storm Of Memories
02. Forsaken

A track-by-track review of "RIITIIR" is available at Terrorizer.com.

"It has been only two years since we last released an album [2010's award-winning 'Axioma Ethica Odini'], and we've been touring Europe and North America several times since then," reflects ENSLAVED guitarist, songwriter, and founding member Ivar Bjørnson. "Some might think that this schedule, and the fact that we celebrated our 20th anniversary last year, should result in some time off in the end. Nah. Like a space vessel that gains momentum by entering slingshot-orbits on its way through space, we seem to gain speed, direction, and strength on our journeys, through new releases and subsequent tours.

"Describing the sound on the new album is both easy and hard," Bjørnson continues. "It is easy because it sounds like ENSLAVED, whatever that means. It is hard because there are so many layers and different focal points. I have a feeling that it has a deeper complexity than our previous efforts, but at the same time, I do find it more catchy and moving. Then again, I am the opposite of objective in this, so again I'll leave it up to the people outside the band to make up their mind."

ENSLAVED's last two CDs — "Vertebrae" (2008) and "Axioma Ethica Odini" (2010) — were released via Indie Recordings in Europe and Nuclear Blast in North America.

A three-minute promotional video for "Death Is The Only Mortal", the new album from Western Massachusetts metallers THE ACACIA STRAIN, can be seen below. Due on October 9 via Rise Records, the CD was produced by guitarist Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz at his Western Massachusetts studio.

"Death Is The Only Mortal" track listing:

01. Doomblade
02. Our Lady Of Perpetual Sorrow
03. Go To Sleep
04. Brain Death
05. The Mouth Of The River
06. Dust And The Helix
07. Victims Of The Cave
08. Time And Death And God
09. The Chambered Nautilus
10. House Of Abandon

Regarding the decision to have Laskiewicz helm the new album, Bennett previously said, "You all love DL, so it makes sense for us to go ahead and do the album this way and keep it heavy right from the source of where this all comes from."

THE ACACIA STRAIN will join forces with VEIL OF MAYA for a co-headline fall tour in November/December. Support on the trek will come from UPON A BURNING BODY, VOLUMES and TWITCHING TONGUES. The trek, presented by All In Merchandise, will be preceded by THE ACACIA STRAIN's short record-release tour that runs from October 4 to October 14.

Audio samples of the tracks that will appear on "2 Big 2 Fail", the sophomore album from LOVE.MIGHT.KILL, the German/Italian melodic metal band led by drummer Michael Ehré (GAMMA RAY, FIREWIND, ULI JON ROTH, METALIUM), can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. Due on October 19 in Europe via Massacre Records, the follow-up to last year's "Brace For Impact" was once again produced by Ehré and mixed and mastered by Markus Teske at his Bazement Studios.

"2 Big 2 Fail" track listing:

01. Save My Soul
02. XTC
03. Burn The Night
04. The One
05. Restless Heart
06. Home
07. The Great Escape
08. Too Big To Fail
09. We Fall
10. The Big Screen Pleasure (And Pain)
11. Alone
12. The Perfect Mistake

The first single from the album, "Restless Heart", will be released digitally on September 21.

The "XTC" video can be seen below. The clip was directed by guitarist Stefan Ellerhorst and shot by Rico von Hollen, with Jochen Donauer taking care of the editing duties.

While "Brace For Impact" was composed by Michael and Jan, LOVE.MIGHT.KILL now has three more "fantastic" songwriters in its ranks, having been joined by Christian Stöver (guitar), Stefan Ellerhorst (guitar) and Sascha Onnen (keyboards).

LOVE.MIGHT.KILL is:

Jan Manenti - Vocals
Michael Ehré - Drums
Stefan Ellerhorst - Guitar
Christian Stöver - Guitar
Jogi Sweers - Bass
Sascha Onnen - Keyboards

For more information, visit www.lovemightkill.com.

"ExorChrist", the new video from AXEWOUND — the project featuring Matt Tuck (BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) on guitar and vocals, Liam Cormier (CANCER BATS) on lead vocals, Mike Kingswood (GLAMOUR OF THE KILL) on guitar, Joe Copcutt (RISE TO REMAIN) on bass, and Jason Bowld (PITCHSHIFTER, KILLING JOKE) on drums — can be seen below. The song comes off the band's debut album, "Vultures", which will be released in the U.S. on October 2 via The End.

It takes just one listen to AXEWOUND's "Post Apocalyptic Party", the ferocious track they released as a free introductory download back in May, to make their intentions abundantly clear. Which is to say, they are a metal band… proudly, defiantly and unbendingly so.

Their pedigree is inarguably first class — since they feature guitarist/vocalist Matt Tuck from BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and singer Liam Cormier of Canadian hardcore bruisers CANCER BATS, prime movers both in two of the most exciting bands to have emerged onto the metal scene in recent years.

The lineup is completed by drummer extraordinaire Jason Bowld (PITCHSHIFTER), guitarist Mike Kingswood (GLAMOUR OF THE KILL) and ex-RISE TO REMAIN bassist Joe Copcutt. Not surprisingly, they have already been branded a "supergroup" in the press.

AXEWOUND see themselves in more precise terms. This, they say, is an outlet for them to make music that is more extreme than they can and do in their regular bands. Their inspirations for doing so hark back to a golden generation of metal acts — to such heavyweight names as PANTERA and SLIPKNOT.

"Those were the bands that I adored growing up," says Matt Tuck. "They each had that 'don't-give-a-fuck' attitude. AXEWOUND is about us taking the same opportunity to do exactly what we want. Musically, lyrically, it is what it is — no boundaries or limits."

The roots of AXEWOUND go back to 2010, when Jason Bowld filled in for BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE drummer Michael "Moose" Thomas on a brace of shows. He and Tuck kept in touch and last year began discussing working together on a project separate from the hugely successful Welsh metallers. They eventually got together in December 2011 to write the songs that make up AXEWOUND's debut album, "Vultures".

Cormier was the obvious choice to front and pen lyrics for these songs. He and Tuck had been friends for years, CANCER BATS having supported BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE on numerous tours.

"There was no one else I even had in mind," says Tuck. "Liam's voice alone is just so vicious."

The "Vultures" album was recorded in Cardiff at the start of this year, regular BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE collaborator Martin "Ginge" Ford engineering the sessions. From the outset, the aim was to work quickly and instinctively. In the event, they recorded 11 songs in 11 frenetic days.

"It was very intense, very demanding but that's how we wanted it to be," reasons Tuck. "No pre-writing, no rehearsing… just booking a studio and going in and doing a song a day. We wanted to capture something that happened right there and then."

Says Cormier: "The record is great because it's been made by a bunch of friends who are just enjoying themselves playing together and doing something that's different to what they normally do."

By any measure "Vultures" is a terrific debut. It is, as was intended, a thoroughly uncompromising beast: standout songs "Burn Alive" and the title track being driven by venomous riffs, the former in particular echoing the sort of thrilling assault administered by the likes of SLAYER and SEPULTURA in their pomp. Yet Tuck's melodic gifts are in ready supply too on hulking tunes like "ExoChrist" and the epic "Collide".

"Doing what I do in BULLET, I know what people want in every sense from a band like this," he says. "Whether they are fans of hardcore metal or of classic melodic metal. We've tried to encompass all of that into one brutal, nasty machine."

There is as well a sense of weight and substance to AXEWOUND. Tracks like "Victim Of The System", "Blood Money And Lies" and "Church Of Nothing" reflect on the state of things right now.

"Liam's a very switched on guy," considers Tuck. "He knows what's going on in the world. Some of the things he's written about here, you're not hearing from any other metal band these days."

Says Cormier: "I love that there's a political side to what we're doing. It's not specific but it is saying that the world is fucked. That attitude completely fits with the music."

Interest in AXEWOUND has been rabid enough for them to be featured on the cover of Kerrang! magazine and will intensify through a spate of live and festival dates this summer. The release of "Vultures" at the end of July will assuredly bring it to fever pitch.

Of course, with Matt Tuck also currently finishing up the writing of BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's next record, it remains to be seen if AXEWOUND is to be repeated. But for now — and as the band would have it — it is what it is: a glorious one-off.

"This is what comes out when I'm given free rein," concludes Tuck. "It was the right time to let my hair down… and let Satan compel me."

"Vultures" track listing:

01. Vultures
02. Post Apocalyptic Party
03. Victim Of The System
04. Cold
05. Burn Alive
06. ExorChrist
07. Collide
08. Destroy
09. Blood Money And Lies
10. Church Of Nothing

AXEWOUND made its live debut on May 31 at Tivoli in Utrecht, Holland as the support act for KILLSWITCH ENGAGE.

AXEWOUND is:

Matt Tuck (BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) - Guitar, Vocals
Liam Cormier (CANCER BATS) – Vocals
Mike Kingswood (GLAMOUR OF THE KILL) - Guitar
Joe Copcutt (RISE TO REMAIN) - Bass
Jason Bowld (ex-PITCHSHIFTER) - Drums

"ExorChrist" video: