Argentinean rock journalist Lucas H. Gordon, who currently resides in Hollywood, California, recently conducted an interview with former KINGDOM COME/WARRANT guitarist Rick Steier. You can now watch the chat below.

Speaking about the Lenny Wolf-fronted band whose 1988 self-titled debut album was certifield gold in the U.S. for sales in excess of 500,000 copies, Steier said, "I don't know if you've heard. The buzz is that KINGDOM COME is getting back together for a reunion tour… They want the original members. Derek Shulman, who worked for PolyGram and actually signed KINGDOM COME back in the '80s, I think probably James [Kottak; former KINGDOM COME and current SCORPIONS drummer] ran into him on the road, 'cause James does the most travelling, being with the SCORPIONS. So he talked with Derek and had thrown around the idea and then Lenny got on board and said, 'It's great,' and they e-mailed me and blah blah blah. So it's in the works. If it happens, it happens. It's be fun. But if it doesn't, life goes on, right?!"

He continued, "I just ran into J.B. [Johnny B. Frank], the [original KINGDOM COME] bass player. We were at the SCORPIONS show together. It was at the Staples Center. So I ran into him. I hadn't seen him in awhile.

"So we have the nucleus [of the original KINGDOM COME lineup for a potential reunion]. [But] nobody's been able to talk to Danny — Danny Stag was the lead guitarist at the time.

"They're kind of making all the connections. I'm kind of sitting back and waiting. I think [Danny] is somewhere back where he grew up in Pittsburgh. I don't know if they've been able to get hold of him. I'm just kind of staying off to the side waiting for the word.

"What [the reunion] would entail would be doing a whole new CD featuring the original guys. And who knows?! I don't know if it would do well here, based on the musical climate here, but in Europe I think they're still into that metal sound."

The original KINGDOM COME lineup recorded and released two albums — 1988's "Kingdom Come" and 1989's "In Your Face" — before all members other than Wolf quit the group.

With a new, mostly German lineup, KINGDOM COME remains active, with several subsequent releases and tours in Europe under their collective belts.

In a March 2011 interview with The Great Southern Brainfart. KINGDOM COME singer Lenny Wolf was asked if he was hurt by the criticism that his band received early on for sounding like LED ZEPPELIN. "I was a young man, a singer who hardly spoke English and our band just exploded," he said. "We were excited and at first the press celebrated us. I remember [U.K.'s] Kerrang! [magazine] said, 'Finally, there's a band like 'the big magic Z!'' and we were all very happy. I must admit that there were some similarities, but in no way did we even get close. Every band, especially young bands, are influenced by somebody and those influences will surface when you start writing your own stuff. In the beginning, we took it as a compliment then all of the sudden some press person overheard Danny saying, 'Who's Jimmy Page?' He was saying it out of context like, 'Oh no, not this question again.' so he printed that one line: 'KINGDOM COME guitarist announces he's never heard of Jimmy Page.' This is so far out and ridiculous but the way the media works. The press loves victims. They love kicking you when you on the ground and they'll kick you even more. That's just the way it is. We also learned that bad press is better than no press and once I realized that, I just ignored it and I didn't care anymore. Fortunately, the music does all the talking and if the music gives you goosebumps and the music moves you than don't worry about it . . . We took it as a compliment and were excited. We were playing in London the night before Robert Plant was playing and we went down to see him. He was goofing with us, having fun and he was so relaxed. Robert Plant is like above all. He's really above everything. He was joking with us and it was really great. It really made me sad when I noticed Jimmy Page, who was one of my heroes, starting to whine about little KINGDOM COME who was never really a threat at all."

During a recent interview with PsychoBabbleTV.com, '80s hard rock queen Lita Ford performed a special acoustic version of the biggest hit of her career, the Ozzy Osbourne duet "Close My Eyes Forever", with an Ozzy impersonator. You can watch video footage of the performance and the interview below.

Lita recently revealed that "Close My Eyes Forever" came about by accident during a night of drinking and getting stoned when she was being managed by Ozzy's wife, Sharon. She recalled to Metal Underground: "'Close My Eyes Forever' was a mistake. It was just me and Ozzy and Sharon hanging about in the recording studio. They showed up one day and had a housewarming present for me: a life-size duplicate of Koko, the gorilla from the San Diego Zoo. It was freaking huge — I had to strap it in the front seat of my jeep to get it home. Ozzy stayed, Sharon got bored and left, and me and Ozzy had a couple of drinks and we were jamming. We started singing, messing about and we wrote 'Close My Eyes Forever'. Next thing I knew the sun was coming up. I looked at him and went, 'Uh-oh, we're in trouble.' Sharon had been waiting all night. We were a long way from where Ozzy had to go. He said, 'Can you drive me home?' I said, 'No, I can't.' We were stoned out of our minds. He got into a cab and I strapped Koko into my jeep and drove home — just barely made it. And then we had this hit song."

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

Nuclear Blast Records has announced the signing of San Francisco-based doom rockers ORCHID to a worldwide deal.

Commented the band: "After many months of talking to different labels about our future, we're very excited to announce that we've decided to join forces with Nuclear Blast. We've been working on new material on and off for the last year and we're feeling really good about the new songs. It seems like they're a continuation in the same tradition of the material on our first full length, 'Capricorn', but also, show some new sides of our music that should surprise everyone and show that ORCHID isn't a band that just wants to keep making the same album over and over. We're really excited for everyone to hear it!"

Commented Nuclear Blast head of A&R, Andy Siry: "Ever since we first heard of ORCHID and witnessed their perfect way of bringing back the glorious days of rock music, we knew we had to work with this amazing band. After meeting them on their most recent European tour we literally were blown away by their stunningly intense performance! So here we are, proud as fuck, welcoming one of the most hopefully and authentic bands to the Nuclear Blast family. Every single one at the label loves ORCHID and so will you! Check them out!"

Since its inception in 2006, ORCHID — which features in its ranks well-known tattoo artist Theo Mindell on vocals — has achieved massive global awareness with their stunning releases "Through The Devil's Doorway" (EP, 2009) and "Capricorn" (full-length, 2011).

ORCHID is:

Theo Mindell: Vocals
Carter Kennedy: Drums
Mark Thomas Baker: Guitar
Keith Nickel: Bass

Rock guitar legend Tommy Bolin will be honored with a box set release of his lauded solo release "The Definitive Teaser" — a three-CD collection featuring a remastered version of his classic album along with two CDs of outtakes and alternates. The project was produced by Greg Hampton and Johnnie Bolin.

In the annals of rock history, Tommy Bolin occupied a brief, but shining stint as a brilliant guitarist who wowed those in the know with his mastery of many genres — rock, fusion, funk, reggae and heavy metal among others. Along with a much-lauded solo career that pushed the boundaries of rock/jazz fusion, Bolin played with THE JAMES GANG and DEEP PURPLE, setting him up for major solo guitar stardom, which was cut short by his untimely death in 1976.

Along with the three-CD "Teaser" box set, 429 Records will release a five-CD set, "The Definitive Teaser Collector's Edition" which will also include the two-CD deluxe version of "Great Gypsy Soul" — a collection of Bolin songs recorded by a top-notch roster of players who signed on to pay tribute to Bolin. Produced by Greg Hampton and Warren Haynes, it's a remarkable project that brings together major players who actually perform alongside Tommy Bolin's playing and vocals from the recording outtakes to "Teaser". Peter Frampton, Warren Haynes (a key supporter of the project), Nels Cline, Steve Lukather, Steve Morse, Brad Whitford, Joe Bonamassa, John Scofield, Derek Trucks, Glenn Hughes and Myles Kennedy all contribute to this amazing project. "The Definitive Teaser" and "Collector's Edition" will be released by 429 Records on July 31.

Tommy Bolin was the quintessential guitar prodigy who focused his talents within the burgeoning rock/metal scenes of the early '70s as well as mastered a highly lauded jazz fusion technique catching the attention of rock tastemakers and guitar legend peers. It was just a matter of time before Bolin was making a name for himself playing on projects as diverse as Billy Cobham's "Spectrum" project (considered one of the great jazz fusion recordings of all time), replacing Joe Walsh in THE JAMES GANG, playing session work on seminal fusion projects by MOXY and Alphonse Mouzon, to replacing Ritchie Blackmore in DEEP PURPLE. With the release of his second solo album "Private Eyes", what should have been a red letter moment for Bolin, opening up for Jeff Beck in Miami, sadly turned tragic as Bolin was found dead of an overdose shortly after the gig.

Says Warren Haynes: "Many of the guests added after the fact have a close personal connection to Tommy — all share in acknowledging his place in rock history. Watching (and hearing) it all come to fruition some 35 years later was a journey of its own — well worth the travel."

"The Definitive Teaser" track listing:

Disc 1

"Teaser" Remastered

01. The Grind
02. Homeward Strut
03. Dreamer
04. Savannah Woman
05. Teaser
06. People, People
07. Marching Powder
08. Wild Dogs
09. Lotus

Disc 2

Alternates and Outtakes

01. Teaser
02. Flying Fingers
03. Cookoo
04. Wild Dogs
05. Chameleon

Disc 3

01. Crazed Fandango
02. People, People
03. Smooth Fandango
04. Marching Powder
05. Homeward Strut
06. Oriental Sky (Lotus)

Deluxe version of "Great Gypsy Soul" track listing:

Disc 1

01. The Grind (w/ Peter Frampton)
02. Teaser (w/ Warren Haynes)
03. Dreamer (w/ Myles Kennedy and Nels Cline)
04. Savannah Woman (w/ John Scofield)
05. Smooth Fandango (w/ Derek Trucks)
06. People People (w/ Big Sugar and Gordie Johnson)
07. Wild Dogs (w/ Brad Whitford)
08. Homeward Strut (w/ Steve Lukather)
09. Sugar Shack (w/ Glenn Hughes and Sonny Landreth)
10. Crazed Fandango (w/ Steve Morse)
11. Lotus (w/ Joe Bonamassa, Glenn Huges and Nels Cline)

Disc 2 - Bonus CD

01. Flying Fingers (w/ Oz Noy and Nels Cline)
02. Marching Bag - Movement One (w/ Nels Cline, Bolin, Greg Hampton, John Scofield, Sonny Landreth)
03. Marching Bag - Movement Two (w/ Nels Cline, Bolin, Steve Lukather, Derek Trucks, Peter Frampton)
04. Marching Bag - Movement Three (w/ Gordie Johnson, Bolin, Nels Cline, Oz Noy, Steve Lukather, Steve Morse, Joe Bonamassa)
05. Marching Bag - Movement Four (w/ Nels Cline, Bolin, Warren Haynes, Joe Bonamassa, Oz Noy, Brad Whitford, Peter Frampton)

For more information, visit www.429records.com.

Slovenian occult heavy metal act VIGILANCE has inked a deal with Metal Tank Records. The band's follow-up to 2011's "Steeds Of Time" "will crush everything in [its path] with its excellent mixture of genuine traditional speed heavy metal filled with profound devotion for primordial and ritualistic occultism," according to a press release.

Commented the band: "We are thrilled to announce that we are returning to Zalokar studios. The time is at hand to record the successor of our debut album, 'Steeds Of Time'. We have been working harder than ever before so you can expect nothing but fast, dark and untamed heavy metal."

Long-running metal band WILD DOGS has returned to its original four-man format after recruiting bassist Craig "Mondo" Lower. The group is rounded out by Matt McCourt on vocals, Robert Robinson on guitar and Troy Stutzman on drums.

After an appearance at Portland's three-day Black Circle metal festival with HIRAX, there has been a newfound appreciation for one of the originators of old-school shred metal.

Matt is planning a return to Europe — Germany, Holland and "whoever else will book us," he says — in the spring of 2013 with a set that is comprised of songs from WILD DOGS' first two albums (both of which were released through Shrapnel Records) and a couple DR. MASTERMIND and MAYHEM tunes. (Mondo was a memeber of the live DR. MASTERMIND group in 1986 with Deen Castronovo and Kurt James.)

WILD DOGS has released six albums, three live albums and one DVD.

The band rose to local and regional recognition in the 1980s as a pioneer of metal in the Pacific Northwest, and received international acclaim after the release of its second album.

McCourt is the only original and constant member of WILD DOGS. Several attempts to reunite most of the original bandmembers have failed, most recently in July 2010.

McCourt has kept the group active for 31 years, playing local and regional shows and international festivals with various musicians.

Los Angeles-based progressive melodic death metallers DREAMING DEAD have announced the addition of guitarist Chris McCarthy to the group's ranks. The band states, "After many tiring years of continuous search, we are very pleased to announce the addition of guitar guru and long time friend Chris McCarthy to DREAMING DEAD's lineup. We feel his contribution will take the band's live sound and songwriting to new and exciting levels. Expect devastating new material in 2013."

DREAMING DEAD's sophomore album, "Midnightmares", was released on April 20. The follow-up to 2009's "Within One" "showcases DREAMING DEAD's ability to meld elements of black, death, thrash and Chuck Schuldiner-inspired progressive metal into one thought-provoking and intense sonic assault," according to a press release.

"Midnightmares" was recorded in part at DREAMING DEAD's home studio, with vocals, drums and mixing completed at North Hollywood's Architeuthis Sound. The cover artwork for the CD was created by renowned artist Travis Smith (OPETH, KING DIAMOND, DEVIN TOWNSEND).

DREAMING DEAD is:

Elizabeth Schall - Vocals/Guitar
Juan Ramirez - Bass
Michael Caffell - Drums/Vocals
Chris McCarthy - Guitar

Metal Blade Records has announced the signing of Dutch death metallers ANTROPOMORPHIA. The band's new album, "Evangelivm Nekromantia", will be released on October 22 in Europe (one day later digitally in North America).

ANTROPOMORPHIA was created under the influence from bands such as HELLHAMMER, CELTIC FROST, INFERNÄL MÄJESTY and BATHORY in a tiny town in Holland in 1989.

Over the years, they became more and more brutal, released several demos and the "Necromantic Love Songs" MCD in 1993, but went on a hiatus in the late '90s since their other bands became more important.

Fast forward to 2009 when other projects moved into the background and ANTROPOMORPHIA was reactivated. The lineup is still the same — original members Ferry Damen (vocals, guitar), Marc van Stiphout (bass) and Marco Stubbe (drums).

In early 2011 ANTROPOMORPHIA made its first live appearance since 2001 at the Neurotic Deathfest, where they put up a convincing brutal show.

At the end of 2011, most of the new album was recorded, resulting in "Evangelivm Nekromantia", a CD consisting of nine tracks, divided into three chapters of each three songs. Lyrically, it is driven by nekrophilae, murder, necromancy and necrolesbian lust. It was mastered at Necromorbus Studios by Tore Stjerna.

Comments ANTROPOMORPHIA on the deal with Metal Blade and what to expect from "Evangelivm Nekromantia": "We are very proud to have our album coming out through such a renowned metal label as Metal Blade. Metal Blade has a rich history and houses some amazing bands so to become a part of that family feels great. We've been working on this conception for almost a year. Dedicated to composing a new sort of disturbing death metal darkness exceeding most of the one-dimensional releases you got to hear most of these days!"

ANTROPOMORPHIA is:

Ferry Damen (vocals, guitar)
Marc van Stiphout (bass)
Marco Stubbe (drums)

BIG NOIZE, the band featuring Vinny Appice (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL) on drums, Phil Soussan (OZZY OSBOURNE, BILLY IDOL, VINCE NEIL) on bass and Carlos Cavazo (QUIET RIOT, RATT) on guitar, was joined by singer Sebastian Bach (SKID ROW) for their July 14 performance at the Kavarna Rock festival at Kaliakra Stadium in Kavarna, Bulgaria. Bach was filling in for regular BIG NOIZE singer Joe Lynn Turner (RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), who was apparently unable to make the gig.

BIG NOIZE's setlist included cover versions of the following songs, among others:

* "Shot In The Dark" - OZZY OSBOURNE
* "Bang Your Head" - QUIET RIOT
* "Rainbow In The Dark" - DIO
* "The Last In Line" - DIO
* "Heaven And Hell" - BLACK SABBATH
* "The Mob Rules" - BLACK SABBATH
* "Kicking & Screaming" - SEBASTIAN BACH
* "I Remember You" - SKID ROW

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

Formed in 2007, BIG NOIZE performs classic-rock hits, has played a select number of dates over the years, including the M3 Rock Festival, domestic dates, dates as far as Europe, Spain, Brazil and even a special trip to Kuwait and Iraq, to entertain the brave men and women of our military forces.

While some classic rock musicians have formed successful "all-star" bands, what is unique about BIG NOIZE is its heritage and concept. All members have a related and connected past. The artists they are associated with have featured many of the same musicians and shared the same fans: OZZY OSBOURNE, DIO, BLACK SABBATH, QUIET RIOT, RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE. A BIG NOIZE concert is a tribute to the bands that the members were integral parts of and a reunion for their extensive and loyal fan base. The setlist is a powerhouse of anthems that topped rock and pop charts in the '70s and '80s and reads like a classic radio playlist.

South German metallers BLACK ABYSS have inked a deal with Apostasy Records. The band's next album will be released before the end of the year.

BLACK ABYSS has played countless shows in nearly all of Europe. They have thus far released three albums: "Why" (1998; Mainstreet Records), "Land Of Darkness" (2000; B.O. / Last Episode Records) and "Angels Wear Black" (2004; Massacre Records).

BLACK ABYSS is:

Olli Hornung - Vocals
Oliver Hedrich - Guitars
Martin Gerosa - Guitars
Felix Schurr - Bass
Andy Heidmann - Drums

Metal guitar master Joe Stump (HOLYHELL, REIGN OF TERROR) will release his ninth solo album, "Revenge Of The Shredlord", on August 17 via Lion Music. The CD was engineered and mixed by Grammy Award winner Ducky Carlise (BUDDY GUY, JOHNNY WINTER) and mastered by Maor Appelbaum (HALFORD, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, ARMORED SAINT, ANGRA, SEPULTURA) at Appelbaum Mastering.

Commented Joe: "The new record's heavy, very dark and classically influenced, with the usual mix of strong melodies and fierce metal riffage that are a constant on all my previous releases. This is without a doubt my best effort, both sonically and guitar-playing-wise. I can't wait 'till it's unleashed."

"Revenge Of The Shredlord" track listing.

01. The Ritual Begins
02. Man Your Battlestations
03. Pistoleros
04. Shredlord's Sonata
05. Master's Prelude
06. In The Master's House
07. The Black Knight's Castle
08. Enter The Coven
09. Evil Beasts Below
10. Strat Outa Hell
11. White Knuckle Mayhem
12. The End Approaches

The song "Pistoleros" can be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

Stump's last solo album, "Virtuostic Vendetta", was released in April 2009 via Lion Music.

"Pistoleros" audio stream:

A five-and-a-half-minute "pre-production teaser" containing demo recordings for "Neogenesis", the fifth album from Swedish death metal masters DIABOLICAL, is available in the YouTube clip below.

"Neogenesis" is currently being recorded at Necromorbus Studio (WATAIN, UNANIMATED, DESTRÖYER 666) in Alvik, Sweden. The CD is once again being produced by the band's vocalist/guitarist Sverker Widgren.

Commented DIABOLICAL vocalist and guitarist Sverker Widgren: "The recording is well under way and the reults are very pleasing so far, to say the least. However, it will take a while before we can share any of the actual album material, so we figured we can share some of our demo / pre-production material with all of you out there. I think it will be obvious to everyone now why we are very thrilled about the new album and it is our hope that you can join us in the excitement."

DIABOLICAL guitarist Carl Stjärnlöv explains the album title: "Apart from being a physiological term, the title 'Neogenesis' translates to 'new beginning.' The word originates from greek and latin and it marks a new beginning for DIABOLICAL in many ways. Furthermore the title has a much more profound significance to the theme and concept of this album."

"Neogenesis" track listing:

01. Into Oblivion
02. Metamorphosis
03. Oracle
04. Ex
05. World in Silence
06. Reincarnation of the Damned
07. Fields of Nihil
08. Dialogue with the Dead
09. Wolves' Choir
10. The Age to Come
11. Humanitas

DIABOLICAL's most recent album, "Ars Vitae", came out in February 2011 via Abyss Records.

The band's third full-length CD, "The Gallery of Bleeding Art", was released in November 2008 through ViciSolum Productions.

KORN recently recorded two songs at the legendary BBC Maida Vale Studios in London, England for an exclusive BBC Radio 1 "Rock Show" session which aired in early April as part of Daniel Carter's program. KORN guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer was also interviewed about the session and the band's recent tour. Check out video footage below.

KORN's latest album, "The Path Of Totality", saw the band teaming up with dubstep producers and DJs to add a whole new electronic layer to their sound.

Much of the material for the album was recorded at singer Jonathan Davis' home studio, and he laid down vocals at home or in hotel rooms while on tour.

Davis said that title refers to the fact that "in order to see the sun in a full solar eclipse, you must be in the exact right place in the exact right time. That's how this album came together . . . I'm not sure it could ever happen again."

The album was released in two configurations: as a standard 11-song CD and a special edition CD that included bonus tracks as well as a DVD of "The Encounter", a full-length video concert of KORN's mind-blowing, once-in-a-lifetime performance in the middle of a 900-foot-long crop circle in a wheat field in Bakersfield. The complete concert, previously seen in 2010 on TV and online in an abbreviated form, was offered in its entirety to those who purchase the deluxe version.

Interview:

"Deliver Me", a brand new song from CITY OF FIRE — the band featuring Burton C. Bell (FEAR FACTORY), bassist Byron Stroud (3 INCHES OF BLOOD, FEAR FACTORY, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD), guitarist Terry "Sho" Murray, and drummer Bob Wagner — can be streamed on the group's official Facebook page. The CD was recorded at The Factory studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and is tentatively due later in the year.

In a recent interview with The Sanctuary Of Rock, Bell stated about CITY OF FIRE's forthcoming CD, "The writing process is very similar to other bands. The guys had music ideas and were recorded on a demo. I would sit with Terry in the studio and just sing out ideas. I usually have some words to 'throw down' and I try to incorporate them into the song. A lot of times, I just say things that come out, like speaking in tongues.

"There is no theme, but everything we were writing about was happening in our lives, so that is why we call the album 'Trial Through Fire'.

"It was a very difficult writing process. We were all going through personal issues, and also the band was dealing with business issues.

"I am very proud of the work we have done. We 'found' our sound on this record."

He added, "The main difference [between the recording process for 'Trial Through Fire' compared to that of CITY OF FIRE's 2010 self-titled debut] was that we knew what we wanted to achieve. We knew what are strong points were with the band's music. We all had a great understanding of the band itself. Terry has a great sense of what my voice can do, so he and the guys were able to write the music that suited everyone. We were very 'cohesive' as a band. We knew everyone's strong points."

Funding for the new CITY OF FIRE CD was aided by the PledgeMusic.com project, which encourages fans to contribute funds to the recording of albums and the artists themselves to donate to charity as a part of their fundraising.

Said Burton: "That was our [manager's idea]. She found success in it with another band she has worked with. It was a fantastic idea. Not only did it generate the funds we needed, it also created a grass-roots fan base that is important for a new band. It created a personal network between the band and our new fans, and they are a very happy, as we are."

CITY OF FIRE's "Bad Motivator" video can be seen below. The clip was filmed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with director Cody Calahan, who previously co-created, produced and directed a pilot for a television show called "The Rusty Kitchen".

Commented Burton: "The video was created through the program MuchMusic in Canada — it is Canada's MTV. Every year, they give grants to new bands to make a video. We applied and got the grant. The video was made through all Canadian videographers, directors etc. . . It was the first time I met Cody Calahan, and I look forward to working with him again. He is very ambitious and I like his creative ideas."

O2 Academy has uploaded multi-camera video footage of AXEWOUND performing the song "Cold" on June 6 at O2 Islington Academy in London, England. You can check it out below.

AXEWOUND is the new 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.

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

During the time off between BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE albums, Tuck grew restless. Recruiting Bowld, routinely touted as the best session drummer in the U.K., and engineer Martyn "Ginge" Ford (BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, TRIVIUM), Matt set to creating monster riffs and intricate metal melodies at the Atrium recording studios in Cardiff, Wales. The project proved fertile ground for Matt to explore the darker, heavier side of his appetite for metal, and soon enough Matt was recruiting co-conspirators to the cause, including Synyster Gates of AVENGED SEVENFOLD delivering a finger-burning guitar solo on standout track "Vultures".

Choosing a vocalist to match the intensity of the music was easy, says Matt. "The first phone call I made was to Liam [Cormier, of CANCER BATS]. We've toured the world together and I've always admired the furious energy he brings to a performance." Liam flew over from his native Canada to join Matt and Jason at the studio and began recording his trademark searing vocals that took the then-unnamed project to the next level. "That was when it really hit me," continues Matt, "we had something special here, way more than just a studio project. We've gotta take this show on the road!" Guitarist Mike Kingswood (GLAMOUR OF THE KILL) and Joe Copcutt (ex-RISE TO REMAIN) were handpicked to join the lineup and a metal supergroup AXEWOUND was born.

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

A 10-minute video clip featuring highlights of legendary British occult metal act HELL's July 21 performance at the Zwarte Cross festival in Lichtenvoorde, The Netherlands can be seen below.

HELL's latest album, "Human Remains", entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 46.

Cited as a huge indirect influence, and as one of the true founding fathers of occult metal, HELL formed in 1982 from the carcasses of U.K. metal bands RACE AGAINST TIME and PARALEX, whose "White Lightning" EP was listed by METALLICA as a favorite, and which was subsequently included on the Lars Ulrich, Geoff Barton "NWOBHM '79 Revisited" sampler album.

Despite over five years of constant touring, the band was cruelly overlooked by the '80s music press, who just didn't get it. HELL were too different, too extreme, too musically intelligent and far too thought-provoking for all but the most enlightened to understand them. The final crushing blow came when their long-awaited 1986 album deal with Mausoleum collapsed as the label went bankrupt, followed by the tragic suicide of singer/guitarist Dave Halliday in 1987. The remaining members drew a line in the sand and stopped playing overnight.

A teenage Andy Sneap was a permanent fixture on the front row of almost every show HELL played and was also taught to play guitar by Halliday. He then went on to form SABBAT and become a renowned metal producer. Upon meeting again, the remaining members of HELL — Kev Bower (guitar/keyboards), Tony Speakman (bass) and Tim Bowler (drums) — talked with Andy about re-recording the old material to release in conjunction with the old demos. With Sneap replacing Halliday on guitar and David Bower on vocals, the band has recorded 10 HELL classics from the '80s.

THE SANITY DAYS — the project featuring four former members of legendary Bristol thrash metallers ONSLAUGHT who have teamed up to play music from the band's most commercially successful album, "In Search of Sanity" — performed at the Metal Assault II Festival on January 14, 2012 at Posthalle in Würzburg, Germany.

The group's setlist was as follows:

01. In Search Of Sanity (ONSLAUGHT song)
02. Shellshock (ONSLAUGHT song)
03. Blood Upon The Ice (ONSLAUGHT song)
04. Welcome To Dying (ONSLAUGHT song)
05. Lightning War (ONSLAUGHT song)
06. Rock You To Hell (GRIM REAPER cover)
07. Atomic Punk (VAN HALEN cover)
08. See You In Hell (GRIM REAPER cover)
09. Let There Be Rock (AC/DC cover)

Professionally filmed video footage of the "In Search Of Sanity" performance can be seen below.

THE SANITY DAYS is intended as a bit of fun for the musicians and an opportunity for fans to hear music that no longer features in ONSLAUGHT's live repertoire.

THE SANITY DAYS was launched by Steve Grice, former drummer and founding member of the ONSLAUGHT, who played on all ONSLAUGHT albums thus far. He is joined in the new project by former ONSLAUGHT guitarist Alan Jordan (2007's "Killing Peace"), bassist Jase Stallard (1985's "Power From Hell" and 1986's "The Force"), and ex-GRIM REAPER singer Steve Grimmett, who fronted ONSLAUGHT for the 1989 album "In Search Of Sanity".

Released on London Records in 1989, "In Search Of Sanity" was the last album ONSLAUGHT recorded before it disbanded. Despite reaching the U.K. Top 50, its mainstream production proved controversial among bandmembers and fans alike. "We were always pleased with the songs, though," states Grice. "Over the past few years, people have nagged me to play tracks from the 'Sanity' album, but we always struggled to get them sounding right without Steve Grimmett's involvement."

Former GRIM REAPER frontman Grimmett lent his powerful voice to ONSLAUGHT for just this one album and now returns as a member of THE SANITY DAYS. "It's been a long time since I sang any songs from 'In Search of Sanity', but this was an opportunity I couldn't turn down," he says. "I have also been asked to play these songs, but it never seemed the right thing to do after ONSLAUGHT got back together."

"I'm really excited to be involved with Steve Grice again, and playing with Al and Steve Grimmett makes it extra special to me," says Stallard. "For the past six years I have been watching ONSLAUGHT's progress, thinking to myself how much I would love to get out and play again. Now this chance has arisen, I intend to enjoy every second of it."

American/German/Swedish symphonic metallers KAMELOT have posted the first in a series of webisodes featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the band's recent European festival appearances. Check it out below.

KAMELOT's new album, "Silverthorn", will be released on October 26 (Germany), October 29 (rest of Europe) and October 30 (North America) via Steamhammer/SPV. The CD will mark the band's first release with new singer Tommy Karevik, the 30-year-old Swede who previously fronted SEVENTH WONDER (a group that he is still a member of).

In a brand new interview with RockLiveBG, KAMELOT keyboardist Oliver Palotai stated about the band's new vocalist, "[Tommy] was already with us on some tour dates as a guest singer, and he was singing on one or two songs. And in the past year, we were considering which singer to take. I was strongly on Tommy's side because he made a huge impression on me. Personality. of course. is really important. and he is a little bit introverted and I like this 'Scandinavian feel' about him and he fits KAMELOT really well."

He continued, "The final decision for him was sending in vocals, lyrics and recorded melody on a ballad that I wrote which is on the album. And it was so great and impressive. We all had goosebumps and when we heard that for the first time we knew immediately that was 'it.' He wrote most of the vocal melodies in the album also."

On the topic of the upcoming CD, Palotai said, "The cover was done by Stephan Heilemann. He also did covers for EPICA and my other band, SONS OF SEASONS. He is one of my best buddies, living in the neighborhood, and in my opinion, he is one of the greatest designers in the whole world. The amount of songs is ... I think 9 or 10 without the interludes. . . It's a concept album and it has a story. In the special edition you will get a little book where the story is described. All the songs will be around the story. It will be something like [2005's] 'The Black Halo'.

Regarding how the upcoming CD compares to 2010's "Poetry For The Poisoned", Oliver said, "To be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of 'Poetry For The Poisoned'. For me, 'The Black Halo' is a bit like a reference also when I produce bands in my studio. So we wanted to go back to 'The Black Halo' but also include modern elements, which we included since then. You will never hear from a band, Our new record sucks,' but this record is a real killer and brings KAMELOT back on track. It is exactly what I wanted, and I'm really happy with it. I hope the fans will like it as well."

KAMELOT guitarist Thomas Youngblood previously stated about Karevik: "We had around 800 candidates for the vacant position, among them a number of really renowned musicians, and having to reject them really wasn't easy."

In KAMELOT's search for a new singer, Youngblood found YouTube to be an amazing tool. "I listened to a clip of a studio production featuring Tommy and have to confess that his performance really amazed me," he said. "His approach to melodies and themes suits KAMELOT perfectly, and during our European shows we had plenty of opportunity to find out what a great guy he is."

Tommy first appeared as one of the guest singers on KAMELOT's very successful 2011 Pandemonium World Tour.

Youngblood on the style and content of the forthcoming KAMELOT concept album: "The new songs sound more symphonic and melodic than our last two studio recordings. The material brings to mind albums such as 'Karma' (2001) and 'The Black Halo' (2005). In addition, this will be the best production that KAMELOT have ever delivered. Because while other acts tend to opt for low-budget productions due to the difficult market situation, we have gone the opposite way: the new album will be a real statement, in terms of our compositions as well as in terms of our sound."

KAMELOT will support Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH on a North American tour in September and October.

Fan-filmed video footage of PAIN's July 20 performance at the Zwarte Cross festival in Lichtenvoorde, The Netherlands can be seen below.

PAIN's seventh album, "You Only Live Twice", was released in June 2011 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Regarding the album's cover artwork, PAIN mainman Peter Tägtgren previously said, "I really wanted something 'Nightmare Before Christmas' meets 'Alice In Wonderland' kind of feeling but with our mascot, the Painhead in it. And Heile created that after what I wanted. And he did it in his own way. It really has this kinda Tim Burton feel to it. It will be really crazy with a big backdrop. We also gonna do some inflatable stuff with our Painhead. Its gonna be our Eddie, like IRON MAIDEN has it."

On the topic of the CD's title, Tägtgren stated, "[The title] has nothing to do with James Bond. I am sure I will hear this for the rest of my life! The title song is mainly about people struggling. Don't you wish you had another chance? Don't you wanna live twice? Like you're always jealous of other people. How good their life is or they won on lotto or anything. It's about jealousy in general towards other people that surrounds you. About not being satisfied with what you have. Trying to create this fantasy world that you can live twice kind of…"

For a list of upcoming PAIN shows, go to this location.

Fan-filmed video footage of EXODUS's July 20 performance at the Zwarte Cross festival in Lichtenvoorde, The Netherlands can be seen below.

When asked whether EXODUS has plans to record the follow-up to 2010's "Exhibit B: The Human Condition" album, bassist Jack Gibson told Peek From The Pit last month, "We're way overdue to do it. We've just been so busy. Actually, we've been getting great tour offers over and over, and we just keep wanting to take them, and that, coupled with the fact that Gary [Holt], our main guitar player and songwriter, is out playing with SLAYER, he's filling in for [SLAYER guitarist] Jeff [Hanneman] on this whole [SLAYER tour]. Nobody really knows how long that's gonna take, how long Jeff's gonna take [to recover from contracting necrotizing fasciitis, likely caused by a spider bite, in January 2011]. I mean, it was pretty severe what happened to him, from what I understand. So we just haven't had the time, to be perfectly honest. I know that Gary has songs, and Lee [Altus, guitar] has some stuff — they've been coming up with stuff — [but] we just really haven't had the time to sit down and hammer it all out and then record it. That takes a few months together to make that happen, and we just haven't had the time, basically. But there is gonna be another album, for sure. The way that our writing has been going and our albums have been going, it's gonna be great — I know it. What I've heard Gary noodling with. Me, him and Tom [Hunting, drums] have kind of just fooled around with it here and there, and man, it's gonna be good. Gary, he's the main driver, and [the songwriting] keeps evolving. It's one of the things I really like about the band — the music keeps getting good; it doesn't just stay the same or we don't rewrite the last one. We kind of throw the last one out and do something new each time. So I expect the same and more from the next album."

"Exhibit B: The Human Condition" was released in North America on May 18, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The CD sold around 4,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 114 on The Billboard 200 chart.

EXODUS' previous album, "The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A", opened with 3,600 units back in October 2007.

In a brand new interview with the Miami New Times, MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist Mick Mars was asked if sex and life is different now that he has entered his 60s. "Well, yes," Mars replied. "Lots of things change. One doesn't. I'm still no gentleman. I'm still as big an asshole as ever. Lewd and aggressive."

He continued, "But honestly, there's one thing that's really different for me ... Being sober. And it's really helped. The playing is better. The songs are better. There are some people who drink their whole lives. But thankfully, I was just like, 'Ah, I'm over this shit. Over the drug thing. Over the booze thing. Over this other thing.' It's great to be clear-headed, instead of just sitting around going, 'Huh?' like a dummy.

"I don't smoke. I don't drink. I don't have many vices, except playing my guitar too much. I guess I'm kind of a boring guy these days. But that's how I'm gonna keep going with MÖTLEY CRÜE as long as I can.

"And even after that, I'll just keep playing and writing for TV commercials, movies, old bands, new bands, baby bands, whatever, right until it's all over. There's no way I can keep touring for the rest of my life, because I don't wanna be 75 on the road like an old goat with his head hanging down.

"But one way or another, I'll keep rockin' 'till I fall down. Definitely."

According to The Pulse Of Radio, SMASHING PUMPKINS founder and frontman Billy Corgan has a message for young musicians who want to be the next Trent Reznor or Kurt Cobain: forget about it. Corgan told the Daily Beast that most alternative acts will never escape that scene because influential sites like Pitchfork.com set the rules. He explained, "If you're 20 years old and you aspire to be like me or Kurt Cobain or Courtney Love or Trent Reznor, you're not going to make it that way. You won't succeed. Let's say you're the next Kurt Cobain. You will be appropriated on your first album by the Pitchfork community. Your record company will rally round that idea because that's your marketing platform. But the minute you're in that world you're frozen."

Corgan continued, "Those Pitchfork people are very much about social codes, about whether you're wearing the right t-shirt. That orthodoxy is no different than the rigidity of the football team at school. You can't break the social order if you're preaching to the choir — and the choir already has cool haircuts!"

The PUMPKINS mainman added, "You've got to want to subvert the social order of the high school. That's why NIRVANA was so fucking dangerous. They had the jocks listening to them. Kurt Cobain used to talk about how weird it was to be performing, and see the people who used to beat him up cheering along."

Corgan concluded by asking, "Where's the rebellion right now? There's almost no music about what's going on politically, which is crazy because this is the craziest political time I've ever lived in . . . Where are the bands of dissent?"

Corgan and the PUMPKINS released their seventh studio album, "Oceania", in June. It debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard album chart, selling 54,000 copies in its first week of release.

The PUMPKINS have yet to announce tour plans behind the new disc, although they are expected to tour the U.S. this fall.

The official lyric video for "Native Blood", a brand new song from San Francisco Bay Area metallers TESTAMENT, can be seen below.

TESTAMENT frontman Chuck Billy previously stated about the track, "[It's] basically a song about my Native heritage. It's almost like a protest song, that the Native Americans have a voice that needs to be heard — that's the chorus of the song."

Behind-the-scenes footage from the video shoot for "Native Blood" can be seen below. The clip was shot last month on an Indian reservation in Hopland, California. Guitarist Eric Peterson told Greece's Rock Overdose webzine, "It's about people who were oppressed in life. We haven't done [a video] in a while, so we're kind of excited about that."

"Native Blood" is available now as a digital download as well as on limited seven-inch vinyl in various colours. The single contains an exclusive Spanish-language version of the title song as the B-side.

"Native Blood" comes off TESTAMENT's new album, "Dark Roots Of Earth", which will be released in North America on July 31 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was produced, mixed and mastered by acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap (ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE, ACCEPT, EXODUS). Special bonus tracks were recorded, mixed and mastered by Juan Urteaga (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS, TED NUGENT, NIGHT RANGER) at his Trident Studios. The cover artwork for the effort (see below) was painted by Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with ATHEIST, SIGH, ANACRUSIS and GWAR, among others.

"Dark Roots Of Earth" jewel case CD track listing:

01. Rise Up
02. Native Blood
03. Dark Roots Of Earth
04. True American Hate
05. A Day In The Death
06. Cold Embrace
07. Man Kills Mankind
08. Throne Of Thorns
09. Last Stand For Independence

"Dark Roots Of Earth" CD/DVD track listing:

01. Rise Up
02. Native Blood
03. Dark Roots Of Earth
04. True American Hate
05. A Day In The Death
06. Cold Embrace
07. Man Kills Mankind
08. Throne Of Thorns
09. Last Stand For Independence

Bonus:

10. Dragon Attack (QUEEN cover)
11. Animal Magnetism (SCORPIONS cover)
12. Powerslave (IRON MAIDEN cover)
13. Throne Of Thornes (extended version)
+ Bonus DVD

"Dark Roots Of Earth" vinyl track listing:

Side A:

01. Rise Up
02. Native Blood
03. Dark Roots Of Earth

Side B:

04. True American Hate
05. A Day In The Death
06. Cold Embrace

Side C:

07. Man Kills Mankind
08. Throne Of Thorns
09. Last Stand For Independence

Side D (Bonus):

10. Dragon Attack (QUEEN cover)
11. Animal Magnetism (SCORPIONS cover)
12. Powerslave (IRON MAIDEN cover)