A teaser for "Honor Never Dies", the new video from Connecticut hardcore/metal masters HATEBREED, can be seen below. The full clip will make its online debut on Monday, May 20. The song comes off the band's latest album, "The Divinity Of Purpose", which sold 17,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 20 on The Billboard 200 chart.
The band's previous, self-titled CD opened with 15,000 units back in 2009 to enter the chart at No. 37.
HATEBREED's "Supremacy" album premiered with around 27,000 copies in September 2006 to land at No. 31. This number was roughly in line with the first-week tally registered by its predecessor, "Rise Of Brutality", which shifted more than 32,000 copies in November 2003 to debut at No. 30.
HATEBREED's covers album, entitled "For The Lions", sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release in May 2009 to debut at position No. 58 on The Billboard 200 chart.
"The Divinity Of Purpose" was released on January 29 in North America via Razor & Tie and on January 25 in Europe through Nuclear Blast. The CD was co-produced by HATEBREED, Chris "Zeuss" Harris (SUICIDE SILENCE, ALL THAT REMAINS, SHADOWS FALL) and Josh Wilbur (LAMB OF GOD, AVENGED SEVENFOLD), with Wilbur also handling mixing duties. The cover artwork was created and illustrated by Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ATHEIST, SIGH, ANACRUSIS, GWAR) and can be seen below.
Last night (Saturday, May 18), the three non-singing members of STONE TEMPLE PILOTS made their first public appearance since firing vocalist Scott Weiland at the 2013 KROQ Weenie Roast in Irvine, California, where they were joined on stage by LINKIN PARK frontman Chester Bennington. The group played a surprise set during the event and also took the opportunity to debut a new track called "Out Of Time".
A teaser video featuring Bennington in the studio with STONE TEMPLE PILOTS can be seen below. Also available is a full-song stream of "Out Of Time".
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS guitarist Dean DeLeo told KROQ: "Chester has a one-of-a-kind voice that we've admired for a long time. We know LINKIN PARK will always be his priority, but we thought it would be cool to try something together. We managed to find the time to record a song and we're all really happy with the result."
Added Bennington: "I've loved STP since I was 13 years old and they've had a huge influence on me. When the opportunity came up to do something creative with them, I jumped at the chance. The guys in LINKIN PARK have been incredibly supportive of me undertaking this project while I've continued to work on new music with LP."
STP officially fired Weiland in February after weeks of rumors about his status, issuing a terse statement that read, "STONE TEMPLE PILOTS have announced they have officially terminated Scott Weiland." No further details have since revealed.
This was the second time that the band has parted ways with its often troubled frontman, following a split in 2002.
Weiland, who was about to launch a solo tour at the time of his dismissal, denied at first that he had been fired, saying that STONE TEMPLE PILOTS legally could not exist or use that name without all four members of the group in the lineup.
He reiterated that view during an interview with a Nevada radio station, saying, "I started the band . . . there's things in place, like certain clauses that are in place that keep that from happening."
On March 25, HeavyMetalArtwork.com conducted an interview with Austrian/Greek symphonic metallers VISIONS OF ATLANTIS in London, England. You can now watch the chat below.
VISIONS OF ATLANTIS released its new album, "Ethera", on March 22 via Napalm Records. The CD was produced and mixed by Frank Pitters and Jakob Grabmayr at the Wildonemusic Studios. The mastering duties were handled by Mika Jussila at Finnvox in Helsinki, Finland.
Regarding the new album title, VISIONS OF ATLANTIS said, "'Ethera' is a word mix out of 'ether' as the quintessence of this band, the energy between the five band members, the fifth album and 'era,' leading VISIONS OF ATLANTIS to some new and interesting musical and lyrical shores while still remaining typically VISIONS OF ATLANTIS!"
"Ethera" track listing:
01. The Ark 02. Machinage 03. Avatara 04. Vicious Circle 05. Hypnotized 06. Tlaluc's Grace 07. Burden Of Divinity 08. Cave Behind The Waterfall 09. A.E.O.N. 19th 10. Bestiality Vs. Integrity 11. Clerics Emotion
A preview of the new album is available in the YouTube clip below.
VISIONS OF ATLANTIS' "Maria Magdelena" EP was released in October 2011.
Louder Than Hell recently conducted an interview with vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway of British grindcore pioneers NAPALM DEATH. You can now listen to the chat using the SoundCloud widget below.
NAPALM DEATH is currently taking part in Decibel magazine's second annual national tour alongside the preeminent gore institution CANNIBAL CORPSE and New York death metal stalwarts IMMOLATION.
NAPALM DEATH's latest album, "Utilitarian", sold around 2,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The CD debuted at No. 14 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.
NAPALM DEATH's previous album, 2009's "Time Waits For No Slave", opened with around 1,800 units to land at No. 19 on the Heatseekers chart.
"Utilitarian" was released on February 27, 2012 in Europe and February 28, 2012 in North America via the band's longtime partner, Century Media Records. The cover artwork perfectly fits the album's theme and was created by the Danish artist Frode Sylthe, who is also responsible for THE HAUNTED's "rEVOLVEr" artwork.
Neuweltmusic conducted an interview with New York death metal veterans SUFFOCATION on May 16 at The Pint in Dublin, Ireland You can now watch the chat below.
SUFFOCATION has recruited John Gallagher (DYING FETUS) to handle lead vocals on a number of shows this spring. Gallagher is filling in for SUFFOCATION's regular vocalist, Frank Mullen, who is unable to make the dates due to personal commitments.
"I'm stoked to be performing on several shows with longtime friends and my brothers in metal, SUFFOCATION," said Gallagher a couple of monts back. "It's going to be a blast and since I'll JUST be singing the vocals, they are going to be super sick and guttural. So make sure to come out and party with us and witness the brutality!"
"Pinnacle Of Bedlam", the new album from SUFFOCATION, has entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 58. The CD was released on February 19 via Nuclear Blast Records. The artwork was handled this time around by Raymond Swanland and can be found below.
As previousy reported, "Pinnacle Of Bedlam"sold 3,200 copies in the United States during its first week of release to land at position No. 152 on The Billboard 200 chart. The effort landed at position No. 2 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.
"Pinnacle Of Bedlam" was produced by the band at Full Force Studios in New York with longtime collaborator Joe Cincotta. The mixing and mastering of the effort was handled by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, ARSIS, SUICIDE SILENCE).
"Pinnacle Of Bedlam" features 10 genre-defining-bone-crushing tracks and also marks the return of drummer Dave Culross, who previously played on the "Despise The Sun" EP. Founding member and former drummer Mike Smith also makes a special guest appearance on the re-recorded "Breeding The Spawn" track "Beginning Of Sorrow".
Louder Than Hell recently conducted an interview with bassist Jerry Montano (HELLYEAH, DANZIG, NOTHINGFACE) about DEATH DIVISION, his new band also featuring drummer Tim Yeung (MORBID ANGEL, DIVINE HERESY, HATE ETERNAL, NILE), vocalist/guitarist Sean De La Tour and lead guitarist Rick Di Marco. You can now listen to the chat using the SoundCloud widget below.
DEATH DIVISION has been confirmed for this year's edition of Gigantour, the critically acclaimed package festival founded in 2005 by MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine. Also scheduled to appear on the bill are headliners MEGADETH, along with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, HELLYEAH, DEVICE and NEWSTED.
DEATH DIVISION is managed by Dave Mustaine's son, Justis Mustaine.
In a recent interview with the Colorado Springs, Colorado radio station 94.3 KILO, Mustaine stated about DEATH DIVISION: "One band that I did hear recently that I really liked was the opening band on Gigantour. It's an unknown band. The bass player from DANZIG and the drummer from MORBID ANGEL formed this band called DEATH DIVISION. And they're opening up Gigantour. My son manages them and if Tradecraft [Mustaine's label imprint] could sign anybody, I would sign them. They're that good. When I heard them, I said, 'Well, who's their label?' And Justis said they don't have a label. And I said, 'Really? Well, you know what? They can open Gigantour if they want to.' And they're on it. And the band's got one of the best guitar players I've heard in a very, very, very long time."
DEATH DIVISION has been working with Carin Cronacher of Hazmat Design (OZZY OSBOURNE, ROB ZOMBIE, ALICE COOPER) on the group's official logo and artwork.
For more information, visit the DEATH DIVISIONFacebook page.
CBS8.com has uploaded a three-minute video report on AS I LAY DYING frontman Tim Lambesis's bail review hearing, which took place yesterday afternoon (Friday, May 17) in Vista Superior Court in Vista, California. Check it out below.
Lambesis, who was charged last week with trying to hire a hitman to kill his estranged wife, had his bail lowered from $3 million to $2 million.
Lambesis, who has said he considers himself to be a Christian and acknowledges that he finds inspiration for lyrical content from biblical texts, was arrested on May 7 in an Oceanside, California bookstore. He faces nine years in state prison if convicted.
Prosecutors initially requested that Superior Court Judge Martin Staven set Lambesis' bail at $20 million, saying the singer remains "substantially motivated to kill his wife."
During yesterday hearing — which was initially scheduled for 1:30 p.m. but was postponed to 3:00 p.m. — the singer's defense attorney, Tom Warwick, blamed Lambesis' steroid use for the alleged murder-for-hire plot. He also revealed that Lambesis is going through steroid withdrawal while in custody.
Lambesis' family is unable to make bail, so he will remain in jail, Warwick said. The lawyer had asked for bail of $250,000.
According to NBC San Diego, Lambesis' attorney said the "gym culture" led to "changes in [the singer's] physiological and mental status," with Tim's bodybuilding obsession causing him to go from 170 to 220 pounds after first taking supplements, then steroids. "[He] was not the same person. He was irritable and lost God."
Lambesis is now said to be off steroids, going through withdrawal, and in total isolation in jail for protection from other inmates. He’s also getting personal counseling from a jail chaplain.
"It has been a terrible tragedy," Warwick said. "He was a very caring, gentle man [before taking steroids] and we need to get him back."
Prosecutors allege Lambesis had twice told a man at a gym that he wanted his wife killed, then met with an undercover detective known as "Red", and gave the agent an envelope containing $1,000 in cash, photographs of his wife, and the security gate code to her house. He also allegedly told the agent the dates he would be with the couple's three adopted children, in order to give himself an alibi.
"When specifically asked do you want her dead, he said, 'Yes that's exactly what I want,'" Deputy District Attorney Claudia Grasso told the judge. "The victim now is terrified and living in seclusion."
In court on Friday, Grasso said that Lambesis did not flinch when told the hit on his wife would cost $20,000. "He was very willing to pay that," she said, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Lambesis, who was originally booked into jail on suspicion of two felonies — conspiracy and murder-for-hire — was ordered to wear a GPS monitor and turn in his passport and was warned by the judge that, if he is released from jail, he must stay away from his immediate family. The conspiracy charge was dropped before Lambesis was arraigned.
Lambesis' wife, Meggan, filed papers in September 2012 in San Diego Superior Court seeking a dissolution of the couple's marriage.
Jon "Fatguy" Marté of the Alabama radio station WVNA-FM (105.5 FM) conducted an interview with STONE SOUR and SLIPKNOT vocalist Corey Taylor earlier today (Saturday, May 18) at the Rock On The Range festival at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. You can now listen to the chat using the SoundCloud widget below.
"House Of Gold & Bones - Part 2", the second part of STONE SOUR's two-album series, "House of Gold & Bones", sold 35,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 10 on The Billboard 200 chart. The record arrived in stores on April 9 via Roadrunner
The "House Of Gold & Bones" albums were recorded at Sound Farm Studios just outside of the band's native Des Moines, Iowa with producer David Bottrill (TOOL, MUSE) at the helm.
STONE SOUR has issued a new music video for "Do Me A Favor", the first official single from "House Of Gold & Bones - Part 2". A four-issue comic book series adapted from singer Corey Taylor's story is coming out this spring, with the first issue having arrived on shelves on April 17 and the second one due later this month.
Brazilian metallers EMINENCE will release their fourth full-length album, "The Stalker", in August. The artwork for the CD, which includes a guest appearance by SEPULTURA bassist Paulo Xisto Pinto Jr., was created by Viktor Koen. The effort was produced by Tue Madsen (DARK TRANQUILITY, HEAVEN SHALL BURN).
"The Stalker" track listing:
01. Self Rejection 02. Unfold 03. 3 Times 6 04. Atmosphere (intro) 05. Veins Of Memories 06. The Stalker 07. Eyetricity 08. Satellite (intro) 09. Critical Path 10. No Code 11. Visions Of Hate
A trailer for the CD can be seen below.
EMINENCE made its U.S. live debut last October aboard The Star of Palm Beach at Pier 40, West Houston St. at West Side Highway, in New York City.
EMINENCE's moat recent CD, "The God Of All Mistakes", was released in March 2008 via Locomotive Records.
EMINENCE is:
Alan Wallace - Guitar Bruno Paraguay - Vocals Andre Marcio - Drums Thiago Correa - Bass
MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine was interviewed for the cover story in the June 2013 issue of U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Metal Hammer: Is there a tiny part of you that enjoys provocation?
Mustaine: No, I don't say things to get a reaction. The stuff that I write about is important to me. Some of the subjects on "Peace Sells…" are still relevant, particularly environmental issues. And the personal stuff is relevant. I've written songs about loss and pain — everyone goes through that so, no, I'm not being provocative. We actually have fun songs too. If you're pissed off, the title track on "Super Collider" or "Symphony Of Destruction" might make you feel better.
Metal Hammer: Your mischievous sense of humour and interview rhetoric seems like it has always bordered on the self-destructive?
Mustaine: Yeah, and it doesn't translate well, does it? Probably the biggest thing that has harmed my career is being misunderstood, but is it better to be understood or to understand? I understand much more now, so I'm less inclined to be preaching or complaining about being misquoted now. There are people who love me and people who don't, but everyone's entitled. I have love in my heart for both. I don't get mad about the people who dislike me. You can get obsessed with that. Someone doesn't like me? Tough shit for me!
Metal Hammer: You seem fairly approachable today.
Mustaine: I am approachable! But I have a terrible reputation. There was a guy who used to manage me, and when we had a falling out, I think he started rumours about me being difficult. But we became friends again, and reconciled. And that was all part of a process of reconciliation, including with METALLICA and [MEGADETH bassist David] Ellefson, too. And do you know what? When that happened, my injured arm and injured thumb started working again. Crazy, huh?
You can purchase a copy of the magazine at this location.
Artisan News recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Michael Poulsen of Danish/American metal rock 'n' rollers VOLBEAT. You can now watch the chat below.
VOLBEAT will take part in this summer's Monster Energy's Rock Allegiance Tour alongside HIM, ALL THAT REMAINS and AIRBOURNE.
"The fans have made our North American visits thus far this year great fun and truly memorable," Poulsen said in a statement. "We are looking forward to headlining Monster Energy's Rock Allegiance festival tour this summer, and sharing the stage with HIM, ALL THAT REMAINS and AIRBOURNE."
VOLBEAT's fifth studio album, "Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies", sold 39,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 9 on The Billboard 200 chart. The record arrived in stores on April 9 via Universal Republic
VOLBEAT has released the video for "Cape Of Our Hero", the first single from "Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies". The song has just hit rock radio, while the clip tells the story of a young man who looks back at his youth and remembers his father as the most heroic figure in his life. Poulsen told The Pulse Of Radio that the song was very personal to him. "I lost my father four, five years ago and I believe that every man in this universe, you know, they have their heroes and most of us are looking at our dad as a big hero," he said. "And so, of course, I'm singing about a little boy who lost his father, and then at the same time he loses his belief in his superheroes."
Former ANTHRAX member Rob Caggiano, who was a producer on the new disc, recently joined the band as its new guitarist. He replaces guitarist Thomas Bredahl, who was given his walking papers in November 2011.
The new disc follows up 2010's "Beyond Hell/Above Heaven", which featured three No. 1 rock radio hits, "A Warrior's Call", "Still Counting" and "Heaven Nor Hell".
AndrewHaug.com, Australia's first-ever dedicated 24/7 rock and metal online radio station launched by Andrew Haug, the former host of Triple J Australia's "The Racket" radio show (originally "Full Metal Racket"; 2001-2011), conducted an interview with Kirk Windstein (DOWN, CROWBAR, KINGDOM OF SORROW) on March 2 at the Adelaide stop of this year's Soundwave festival in Australia. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below.
KINGDOM OF SORROW's touring lineup for this year's Soundwave festival featured the core duo of vocalist Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED, JASTA) and guitarist/vocalist Kirk Windstein (DOWN, CROWBAR) alongside guitarist/backing vocalist Charlie Bellmore, bassist Chris Beaudette (NIGHTBITCH) and drummer Nick Bellmore (TOXIC HOLOCAUST).
KINGDOM OF SORROW's sophomore album, "Behind The Blackest Tears", sold around 3,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 144 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 2 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.
KINGDOM OF SORROW's self-titled album opened with 6,000 copies back in February 2008 to land at No. 131.
"Behind The Blackest Tears" was released in the U.S. on June 8, 2010 via Relapse Records. The CD was recorded at Dexter Lab Recordings in Milford, Connecticut with engineer Nick Bellmore and was mixed and mastered by Chris "Zeuss" Harris at Planet Z Recordings in Hadley, Massachusetts.
Decibel magazine’s July issue (on newsstands in June) features a nine-page tribute to late SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman in the form of a moving retrospective obituary, some of Hanneman's most biting quotes, and a litany of heartfelt remembrances from EXODUS, Philip Anselmo (DOWN, PANTERA), AT THE GATES, TESTAMENT, CANNIBAL CORPSE and countless other contemporaries, including METALLICA guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield.
"I'm grateful to have been in the same lifetime as Jeff," Hetfield tells Decibel. "We share common ground. One being shy kids that found music to speak for us. Also grateful to have shared the stage at the 'Big Four' celebrations. Ironically, one of the best metal riffs ever, 'Angel Of Death', has taken him to yet an even better place. With love and respect in our hearts, R.I.P., Jeff Hanneman."
Hanneman passed away on May 2 from liver failure at the age of 49.
Members of SLAYER released a statement on May 9 saying that Hanneman died of alcohol-related cirrhosis.
Hanneman had actually not been playing with SLAYER for more than two years since he contracted necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, from a spider bite in his backyard in January 2011. The infection ravaged the flesh and tissues of Hanneman's arm, leading to numerous surgeries, skin grafts and intense periods of rehab that forced him into semi-retirement and left him near death at several points.
Hanneman's last appearance with SLAYER was in April 2011, when he played an encore with the band at the "Big Four" concert in Indio, California.
MEGADETH's new song "Kingmaker" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Super Collider", which is scheduled for a June 4 release via MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine's new label, Tradecraft, distributed by Universal Music Enterprises (UMe).
"Super Collider" track listing:
01. Kingmaker 02. Super Collider 03. Burn! 04. Built For War 05. Off The Edge 06. Dance In The Rain 07. Beginning Of Sorrow 08. The Blackest Crow 09. Forget To Remember 10. Don't Turn Your Back… 11. Cold Sweat
The album will be available as a limited-edition CD with 3-D cover and bonus tracks, regular CD, regular LP, limited LP plus seven-inch vinyl and as a digital download.
In a recent interview with the "Shockwaves"/"HardRadio" podcast, Mustaine stated about "Kingmaker": "[That song] is about the epidemic we're having in our nation right now with hillbilly heroin, with everybody taking pain pills.
"It's no secret that I had surgery on my neck. I think that when I showed up at the 'Big Four' show [at the Yankee stadium in September 2011] with a neck brace on, people kind of figured out that there was something wrong with me. It turns out that I had a broken bone in my neck and a shard of my vertebrae got into my spinal cord and was causing me tremendous pain for a very long time. I had started taking pain pills and became chemically dependent on it.
"With my substance-abuse history, it was really hard for me to go from being an addict and an alcoholic and then getting set free from all that stuff. 'Cause I went to the whole twelve-step thing, which was really beneficial for me, but unfortunately, for me it wasn't an anonymous program; I would go in there and whatever I would say, people would talk about. So it really violated my anonymity. It's also a program that is based on God, but when I would talk about God in there, they would say, 'Ah, G.O.D. stands for Group Of Drunks.' And it's, like, 'No, it doesn't. Can't you spell, you retard? That's why you're in here.' But at the time, it was very influential in my life and very important and I respect it tremendously and I wish anybody who needs a twelve-step program will find one...
"The song 'Kingmaker' is about how people are running from their problems… And there's a lot of that on this particular record — just looking at, like, 'Here's what I've got. What are you gonna do with it?' It's talking a lot about this generation, how people, their lives are falling apart and they just take pills. Instead of sucking up and doing what I did and going and getting the surgery and getting off the medication, they'll continue to just trudge it out until the end of their life where they just take pills until their body is eaten… And the other thing that's part of that song is talking about how when you take these things how they make you feel different. Some people, they get into that 'cause they like the way it makes you feel, 'cause it makes you kind of feel warm and fuzzy. In the song, it talks about wanting to fly and being ten feet tall. Booze does that to some people. And this is just something that, I think, if there is a way that I can help educate a lot of our fans, especially the younger ones that still have their whole life ahead of them, it's not as glamorous as you think it is to go down that path of just checking it out and drugging yourself up and not facing reality…
"Part of what 'Kingmaker' means to me is that I am able to look back now on this whole episode of my life, being a slave to Big Pharma. You have no idea what a pain in the ass it was. In order to travel to go overseas, and I needed the medication with me, to know that if my backpack would have been stolen and my medication would have been gone, that I would have gone into serious withdrawals and been hospitalized and the tour would have been over. That kind of stuff; it's horrifying. And my heart goes out to the people that are stuck in that vicious circle and slavery to narcotics. Granted, you need it if you're in pain, but…"
As previously reported, MEGADETH will guest on the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" with host Bob Coburn on Monday, June 17 at 8:30 p.m. PT / 11:30 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to speak with MEGADETH by calling 1-800-344-ROCK (7625). The show will be streamed on the "Rockline" web site for two weeks beginning the afternoon after the live broadcast.
"Super Collider" is MEGADETH's first release since the band's recent split with Roadrunner Records.
Jon "Fatguy" Marté of the Alabama radio station WVNA-FM (105.5 FM) conducted an interview with vocalist Anders Fridén of Swedish metallers IN FLAMES on May 17 at the Rock On The Range festival at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. You can now listen to the chat using the SoundCloud widget below.
IN FLAMES' tenth album, "Sounds Of A Playground Fading" (Century Media), sold around 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 27 on The Billboard 200 chart.
IN FLAMES' previous CD, "A Sense of Purpose" (Koch) opened with 20,000 units to land at No. 28. This was slightly less than the opening tally of "Come Clarity" (Ferret), which shifted just under 24,000 copies in February 2006 to enter the chart at position No. 58.
"Sounds Of A Playground Fading" was the first IN FLAMES album to be recorded without founding guitarist Jesper Strömblad, who quit the band in February 2010 in order to continue receiving treatment for his alcohol addiction.
