AC ANGRY is confirmed as special guest of Airbourne in Luxembourg

The German heavy rockers AC ANGRY have got a very special reason to celebrate. They have the honour to be picked as special guest by Airbourne for their show in the Rockhal in Esch-sur-Alzette. Therefore the Luxembourgers will experience a sudatory Heavy Rock spectacle on July 17th which couldn’t be any better. 

Be there when the two bands raise the roof and save your tickets for the concert now!

We wish you a hell of fun with AC ANGRY's music video with sexy hells angels and the marvelous “Hellrock Anthem“: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM0DKCCAnTQ

Tour Dates:

22.08.2014 D-Cuxhaven, Watt ‘n’ Rock Festival w/Sodom, Torfrock, Megaherz …

17.07.2014 LUX-Esch-sur-Alzette, Rockhal w/Airbourne

05.07.2014 D-Offenwarden, Rock for animal rights w/Hells Balls, Eternal Reign, Ivory Tower …

EXORCISM 'Voodoo Jesus' Bass Video Released

Heavy doom metallers EXORCISM have posted a new video for the song “Voodoo Jesus“, the clip featuring EXORCISM bass player ‘Lucio Manca‘. EXORCISM released their debut album ‘I Am God‘, April 25 via GoldenCore Records/ZYX Music. The video can be viewed below: http://youtu.be/XDUFybxzmgU Lucio Manca commented: ‘I can’t wait to play with EXORCISM live, this project is very important for me. I hope to see you at our first shows June 15 in Majorca/Spain, June 21 Dokk’em Open Air in Netherlands and 22 June, Tongeren in Belgium‘. Csaba Zvekan‘s powerful voice is the wildcard; his aggressive and bluesy approach fits well with EXORCISM‘s style and really helps to carry the music. Regardless, there’s a very strong BLACK SABBATH influence throughout. To further narrow it down, the best comparison in terms of style and subject matter would be the Tony Martin years – with a touch of the Ronnie James Dio eras. (KNAC.COM) EXORCISM‘s lineup includes: Csaba Zvekan – Vocals (RAVEN LORD, ZVEKAN, ex-KILLING MACHINE), Joe Stump – Guitars (RAVEN LORD, HOLYHELL), Garry King – Drums (ACHILLEA, ZVEKAN), Lucio Manca – Bass (RAVEN LORD, ex-SOLID VISION) As previously reported, EXORCISM will play June 15, EsGremi in Majorca/Spain,  DOKK’EM Open Air, June 20, in Dokkum, Netherlands, with Vicious Rumors + Lord Volture, June 22 in Tongeren, Belgium and at MetalWar Fest, September 5 in Budapest, Hungary. www.exorcism13.com www.facebook.com/exorcismband www.youtube.com/user/ExorcismMetal

LORD VOLTURE Signs With Mausoleum Records

Dutch power metallers LORD VOLTURE have inked a two-album deal with Mausoleum Records. The group’s yet untitled third album, is scheduled for a release this fall.

The band has to say: “We are very honoured and happy to be affiliated with an established label with such a rich history as Mausoleum Records. We look forward to a cooperation with them and with their support we are sure the new Lord Volture album will drop like a bomb!”

The new album was produced/recorded by Bart Hennephof (Textures) and Yuma van Eekelen (Pestilence) at Split Second Sound Studio, Amsterdam, and Final Focus Studio, Tilburg, the Netherlands. Mixed by Stephen van Haestregt (Within Temptation, Ambeon) and mastered by Peer Rave at Swamp Studio, Raamsdonk, the Netherlands.

LORD VOLTURE is:

David Marcelis – Vocals
Paul Marcelis – Guitars
Leon Hermans – Guitars
Simon Geurts – Bass
Frank Wintermans – Drums

‘The majesty of a lordship, the power and velocity of an electrical charge and the beastly ruggedness of a scavenging vulture’

LORD VOLTURE are a heavy metal outfit in the tradition of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Iced Earth, hailing from the Netherlands and led by vocalist David Marcelis. After an explosive take-off in 2010 with the release of debut album ‘Beast Of Thunder’ (feat. Jeff Waters of Annihilator) the band rapidly rises to find themselves in the frontier of Dutch Heavy Metal. With their sophomore release ‘Never Cry Wolf’ (feat. Sean Peck of Cage) in 2011 the band set their definitive style while increasingly gaining recognition everywhere they’re heard. The album thunders through the global metal community and reviewers worldwide count the album among the best releases of 2011. This massive exposure opens doors to many festivals and support slots and, as a result, LORD VOLTURE have shared the stage with Primal Fear, Firewind, Tim Ripper Owens,Blaze Bayley, Vicious Rumors, Tokyo Blade, Enforcer, Steelwing, Attacker, and numerous others, while touring through the larger part of Europe.

A new head-on LORD VOLTURE metal album has been recorded and is ready for release this year. Sharper than ever, the band are ready to unleash their third chapter of high-pitched power vocals and mind boggling guitar solos onto the world. For all who bear a heart of steel, LORD VOLTURE is a definite MUST!

www.lordvolture.com
www.facebook.com/lordvolture

Focus on Metal 184 with Joe Satriani & Marty Friedman is now online

Episode 184 - The Joe and Marty Show

Guitar, guitar and more guitar this week as we bring you Joe Satriani and @Marty Friedman. Joe just released his biography "Strange Beautiful Music" and Marty has just released his first domestic release in a long time, "Inferno".

Our track of the week is from Maxxxwell Carlisle from his release "Speed Force". Get yourself a copy at : http://maxxxwell.com/

Grab it now from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, The Cast Iron Ring or on iTunes

And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

HORRID: "Blood on Satan's Claw" Streaming at Crown of Viserys

Metal hub Crown Of Viserys is streaming "Blood on Satan's Claw" off of Sacrilegious Fornication, the new album from Italian old-school death blasphemers HORRID. 

A ripping and relentless slab of true death metal in vein of DEICIDE and AUTOPSY, "Blood on Satan's Claw" is now playing at this location. 

Sacrilegious Fornication is out now on Dunkelheit Produktionen on CD and digital formats. To order, visit the links below:

www.dunkelheit.cc

dunkelheitprod.bandcamp.com

Italy's HORRID have cultivated their bleak style of cult death metal since 1989. The band's newest album, Sacrilegious Fornication, stays true to their roots without sounding rehashed in any way.  The evil ones rage through their rolling and martyring tracks in a brute and insanely sinister way. The music is variable yet disturbingly morbid. The genre has not produced something of similar quality in years! Fans of Satanic Death Metal can revel in HORRID's pure and unrelenting blasphemy.

The album was recorded at Sweden's Sunlight Studios (KATATONIA, TIAMAT, ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER) by Thomas Skogsberg and mastered in the Occultum Studio in Biella, Italy. Sacrilegious Fornication contains an exclusive HELLHAMMER cover ("Massacra") and a special guest appearance by Johan Johannson (INTERMENT). Artwork comes courtesy of Cristophe "Thorncross" Moyen.

"Sacrilegious Fornication brings to the forefront that classic death metal feeling from the beginning of the nineties with raw riffs and mid tempo (for the standards of today) rhythm session." - Dark Souls United 

KILL RITUAL 'The Eyes Of Medusa' To Receive Vinyl Release

“The Eyes Of Medusa“, the second album from SF Bay Area Metallers KILL RITUAL featuring former members of Imagika and Dark Angel, will be released on limited-edition vinyl on June 27 via GoldenCore Records/ZYX Music. “The Eyes Of Medusa” CD came out on April 4 via GoldenCore Records/ZYX Music. The cover artwork was created by Jobert Mello of Sledgehammer Graphix, who has previously worked with SABATON, PRIMAL FEAR, GRAVE DIGGER and many more. Recordings were done at Fossil Sound; San Jose CA and Fang Studio; San Mateo CA. Production/engineering was again handled by KILL RITUAL guitarist Steven Rice. Mix and master completed by Steven Rice & Andy LaRocque (KING DIAMOND). Tracklisting: 01. The Eyes Of Medusa 02. Hair Trigger 03. Never Get Me 04. Ride Into The Night 05. Weight Of The World 06. Writing On The Wall 07. Just Another Sin 08. My Little Sister 09. Unleashed 10. Agenda 21 KILL RITUAL are: Josh “Crimson” Gibson – Vocals Steven Rice – Guitars (ex Imagika) Danyael “Laughing” Bear – Bass (ex Dark Angel) Gee Anzalone – Drums (Brain Damage) Formed in late 2010 by former IMAGIKA lead guitarist Steven Rice. KILL RITUAL was completed by former DARK ANGEL bassist Danyael Williams, Bay Area vocalist Josh Gibson and Italian drummer Gee Anzalone (BRAIN DAMAGE). www.facebook.com/KillRitual www.killritual.com

Strange Highways Exit 6 With Jerry Best Is Now Available

Episode 183 - Strange Highways Exit 6 - Jerry Best

It's been four years since we lost Dio and it's a tribute to the man that the metal community still holds him in in the highest regard. In honor of Ronnie, this week we are running the sixth installment of our Strange Highways project. This time we talk with Jerry Best who played in Freak of Nature, the opening band for the Strange Highways European tour. Jerry also went on to play in the Dio band for the Angry Machines album and tour.

Find out more about Jerry Best at: http://jerrybest.com/

Grab it now from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, The Cast Iron Ring or on iTunes

And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

JUDAS PRIEST SET "MARCH OF THE DAMNED" AS LEADOFF SINGLE FROM FORTHCOMING ALBUM, 'REDEEMER OF SOULS'

For the past few weeks, metalheads worldwide have undoubtedly been enjoying the "sneak peak" title track from Judas Priest's forthcoming 'Redeemer of Souls' album. And on Monday, May 19th, the official leadoff single from the album, "March of the Damned," will be released to rock and metal radio, and will be available for purchase via all digital sales providers. Additionally, on the same day, preorders for the full album will be made available through iTunes: http://smarturl.it/redeemerofsouls-albm As the band themselves said about "March of the Damned," "Our passion for heavy metal has never diminished, and this track sounds off with real conviction!" Listen to the new song here: http://youtu.be/HJhm2vZFj2k. 'Redeemer of Souls' will be made available from Epic Records on Tuesday, July 15th, 2014, as both a standard version and a deluxe edition with five bonus tracks. When asked what fans can expect from Priest's 17th album overall, guitarist Glenn Tipton replied, "Sometimes in the past we may have come under fire for being too adventurous musically - so we have listened!! From start to finish 'Redeemer of Souls' is 13 songs of pure classic Priest metal!!" Comprised of Rob Halford (vocals), Glenn Tipton (guitar), Richie Faulkner (guitar), Ian Hill (bass), and Scott Travis (drums), Judas Priest is responsible for some of heavy metal's all-time classic songs ("Living After Midnight," "Breaking the Law," "You've Got Another Thing Coming," etc.) and albums ('British Steel,' 'Screaming for Vengeance,' 'Painkiller,' etc. And soon, fans will discover that Priest has assembled another metal classic, with the "March of the Damned" single and 'Redeemer of Souls' full-length. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION VISIT: www.judaspriest.com www.facebook.com/OfficialJudasPriest

SUPER MASSIVE BLACK HOLES: "Calculations of the Ancients" Out Now

Calculations of the Ancients, the new album from Canadian Experimental Metalists SUPER MASSIVE BLACK HOLES is out now on CD and digital formats. Minotauro Records is offering the CD version in limited edition mini LP format (pictured below). To order, visit the links below:

Digital (stream and purchase) - minotaurorecords.bandcamp.com

CD - www.minotaurorecords.com

Intriguing, thought-provoking and memorable, SUPER MASSIVE BLACK HOLES plays a mix of genres that will make you scratch your head and tap your foot, all the while banging your head into solid objects. Seamlessly blending Death Metal, Rock, Jazz-Fusion, Prog, Blues, and a variety of others, SUPER MASSIVE BLACK HOLES will expand your mind and prove that new and interesting music is alive and well.

"The Canadian band have put together songs centered around science themes (almost like an episode of The Big Bang Theory) and enveloped them in musical passages that mix Death Metal, hard rock, Jazz-Fusion, Prog, Blues, ambient, math rock, and well, you name it." - Sea of Tranquility 

www.facebook.com/smbhmusic 

www.smbhmusic.com

minotaurorecords.bandcamp.com 

www.minotaurorecords.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Minotauro-Records/310550442387530

Morbid Slaughter: "Wicca" 7-inch available for pre-order

Wicca, the forthcoming 7-inch vinyl EP from Lima, Peru's MORBID SLAUGHTER, is now available for pre-order through Boris Records.  

The EP is limited to 500 copies and comes with free digital download. Wicca will ship on its official release date of May 31.  

To order visit www.boris-records.com. 

  

Wicca is streaming in full at borisrecords.bandcamp.com.  

MORBID SLAUGHTER is set to take the world by storm with their sick thrash/black metal attack. Dealing with the themes of horror, witchcraft and murder, MORBID SLAUGHTER's new 7" EP, is a sick and tortured listen. The title track "Wicca" starts things off with old-school thrash mixed with vocals that are straight out of a Romero film. "The Nightly Breath of God" follows suit with another necro scum-filled thrash assault on your already-dulled senses. If these two tracks are any indication, MORBIDSLAUGHTER is set to become your next favorite blackened thrash band. Beware their fury.

For fans of SABBAT, SADISTIC RITUAL, CARPATHIAN FOREST, ONSLAUGHT, and SARCOFAGO.

"With blackened vocals and furious throwback Thrash, (with a hint of punk groove), Morbid Slaughter have reminded me, once again, that Metal is still being created justly, with 100% allegiance to the dark and subterranean world of Metal. Buy this new offering from Morbid Slaughter and let their Blackened ways elate you or scare the pent-up fecal matter out of your intestines; it's a grand Metal feeling either way. Metal be thy name." - Metal Odyssey 

www.facebook.com/MorbidSlaughterOfficial     borisrecords.bandcamp.com   www.boris-records.com  www.facebook.com/borisrecordsatl

Deathgasm Records Releasing "Imago" from Swedish Death Metallers Mordbrand on May 20

After several splits and EPs, Imago, the debut full-length CD from Sweden's MORDBRAND will finally be unleashed May 20 on Deathgasm Records. 

Imago consists of nine tracks of dark, haunting Swedish Death Metal. The album also features guest leads by Eric Cutler (AUTOPSY) and CC DeKill (GRAVEHILL), as well as artwork once again by the master Juanjo Castellano. A vinyl LP version of Imago will be released through Deathgasm and Doomentia Records in the coming weeks; stay tuned!

GunShyAssassin.com has posted An exclusive stream of album cut "Join them in Thralldom." Check it out HERE.    

Pre-orders for Imago are up at:

http://deathgasm.net/product_info.php/products_id/12162

"They offer the finest Swedish Death Metal." - Voices from the Darkside

"A Three-man death metal juggernaut. Good songwriting and authentic performance still win." - No Clean Singing

Revelate

Join them in Thralldom

That which Crawls

Their Name are Myriads

Hoarding the Grotesque

Bastion of Blood

The Spawning (Born of Rot)

Imago

Sever the Limbs that Grace

www.facebook.com/pages/Mordbrand/121721747901195

www.deathgasm.net

BONDED BY BLOOD KICK OFF UK TOUR THIS SUNDAY

Pomona, California's BONDED BY BLOOD are due to kick off a headlining UK tour this Sunday, 18th May, immediately after completing a European tour with classic thrashers HIRAX.

The UK trek starts off at the Boston Music Rooms in London, and features support throughout the tour from FLAYED DISCIPLE and SEPREVATION.

BONDED BY BLOOD bassist JESSIE SANCHEZ recently commented:

"Our fans overseas never disappoint and we want to express our thanks by giving them a new set with a few surprises.  This is going to be a tour you won't want to miss and it's an exclusive treat to our fans in the UK.  See you in the pit!!!"

See BONDED BY BLOOD on tour in the UK at the following shows:

BONDED BY BLOOD w/ FLAYED DISCIPLE, SEPREVATION
May 18 - London, UK - Boston Music Rooms
May 19 - Bristol, UK - Exchange
May 20 - Cardiff, UK - Full Moon
May 21 - Glasgow, UK - Audio
May 22 - Manchester, UK - Star and Garter
May 23 - Nuneaton, UK - Queens Hall
May 24 - Brighton, UK - The Lecturn

BONDED BY BLOOD's latest album, THE AFTERMATH, is available now worldwide.  The album was recorded with producer and former MACHINE HEAD/SOULFLY guitarist LOGAN MADER (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, DEVILDRIVER, GOJIRA).

Get THE AFTERMATH now on CD in Europe at http://webstore.earache.com/bonded-by-blood or get the album on iTunes at http://bit.ly/LObJrg

Watch BONDED BY BLOOD's music video for the track "Crawling in the Shadows" at http://youtu.be/VvxQAhNRpDs

Get more BONDED BY BLOOD news and info:

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/officialbondedbyblood
Twitter - http://twitter.com/bondedbybloodLA

A.Z. TRIUMPHS WITH NEW BUZZ-WORTHY ALBUM

The title of A.Z.'s sophomore full-length, 'Brutally Beautiful,' could not have been better titled. Upon listening to the disc, you will automatically pick up on the fact that the band are masters at penning tunes that manage to be heavy yet melodic at the same time. Case in point, such instant A.Z. classics as "Reflux," "Drive the Nails," and "Lucky Day," among countless others. The band - which consists of Clark Walker (vocals/guitar), Josh Smith (guitar), Josh Thompson (guitar), Buck Gillispie (bass), and Drew Hobbs (drums), and whose name is an abbreviation for "Absolute Zero" - issued 'Brutally Beautiful' this past Valentine's Day, and the feedback from fans has been outstanding, as evidenced by comments the band has received upon posting the new album on YouTube: "'Brutally Beautiful' is exactly that!!! Seriously wicked album!! LOVE IT!!!" "I could never say enough about this album" "Finally had the chance to listen all the way through...the energy on this is great, never let's down. Can't wait to have you guys on the show and dig into this!" Influenced by a wide variety of modern day and classic hard rock/heavy metal bands (Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Staind, Sevendust, Mudvayne, etc.), it all comes together within the grooves of 'Brutally Beautiful.' And Walker has a few personal favorite tracks of the bunch - "'Drive the Nails' and 'Lucky Day' would be two of my top song picks for A.Z.. They both tap into the raw emotion and anger that I know fans can connect with on many different levels. 'Drive the Nails' is about being hurt, being abused, being mistreated, but in the end all this misfortune makes you stronger as a person. Coming out on the other side better, stronger, more focused than before. 'Lucky Day' is about someone's luck finally turning on them after a long run of mistreating and taking others for granted. Two songs that most everyone can relate in one form or another." And in addition to the strong tunes, A.Z. also brings the thunder live, and the band will be criss-crossing America through the summer and into the fall.  And fans can expect to witness the new tunes being taken to a whole other level, when A.Z. rocks a venue near you soon. A.Z. is wall-to-wall heaviness, in store for those courageous enough to brave the music of A.Z. Hard rock and heavy metal fans will find plenty to adore in A.Z.'s music, plenty of reasons to raise the horn fingers. Exquisite guitar riffs, metallic melodies, and blazing chunks of musical energy all come blistering out of the speakers in a fury of rock-n-roll. 'BRUTALLY BEAUTIFUL' TRACK LISTING: 1. Four Brothers 2. T-rex 3. Drive the Nails 4. Reflux 5. Sunlight 6. Lucky Day 7. Who Will Save You? 8. Dinorar 9. Pteradactlelypse 10. Three Days 11. Never Broken 12. 36 & 4 13. Smoke 14. Six Feet Away 15. Sin Again 16. Mums 17. Better Place FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: http://www.azband.com (Official Band Site) http://www.youtube.com/azbandalabama http://www.twitter.com/azband http://www.cdbaby.com/artist/az http://www.reverbnation.com/bandaz http://www.last.fm/music/AZBAND http://www.facebook.com/azalabama http://www.instagram.com/azband http://www.azband.bandcamp.com http://www.gofundme.com/58edmo

Review - Winger- Better Days Comin' (Frontiers Records)

  

With this band it was always about the music. I didn't get overexposed because MTV Europe hardly ever played them. Mainstream they were anything but. I loved the songs and the playing. Everything that mattered really, even to the band. All the rest was fluff and that's what killed them. Every album they've done has been solid and this is no exception.

  It's been five years since Karma that was seen as a welcome return to a more rocking style after Winger 4. Many fans felt the former was more a Reb Beach album and the latter a Kip album. Yet Karma had progressive elements throughout too with the rockers up front. This one is probably the bands most experimental album. Even the straight up rockers like the opening track Midnight Driver Of A Love Machine or Queen Babylon aren't immediate. The title track sounds like a funky 70's thing and has nothing like it in the bands back catalogue.

   The best track is Tin Soldier. Expertly crafted with great vocals from Kip and a fantastic solo from Reb Beach. If I had any complaint and its a small one is the lack of an up tempo track towards the end. So Long China moves along nicely and Storm In Me has a nice heavy riff that suffers somewhat with the distorted vocals in the chorus. Ever Wonder and Be Who You Are Now are very Kip solo sounding. Again solid tracks but a little keyboard heavy. Closer Out Of This World is a great song in the vein of Headed For A Heartbreak or Witness. Reb lets to really rip here.

   I can't stop playing this and these guys are one of my favorite bands from the eighties. It's a definite grower. The band sounds great and Kip's voice is still fantastic which can't be said of some other singers in their 50's. They really are a misunderstood band and Bret Michaels this most definitely isn't. Buy the deluxe version for the extra track and a very decent half-hour or so making of documentary.


Richie.

Review - Joe Satriani- "Strange Beautiful Music" (Ben Bella Books)

 I can't play guitar, not a note and yet I love Joe Satriani's playing. Maybe it's down to the simple fact that I'm a hard rock kinda guy but there's more to it then that. His music just sounds so damn good. Anyone who isn't touched by Always With Me, Always With You or Flying In A Blue Dream has a wooden heart. When The Extremist came out I thought it was one of the best albums I had ever heard and yet sounded nothing like most of the stuff in my collection. Like where's the singer to glue it all together and yet I still got it.

There was a little resistance on my part to dive into this. Simple reason really, I thought here's where he will get too technical on me. Maybe part of me thought this would be 250 odd pages of sheet music. I'm glad to report it isn't for the most part. What Joe and collaborator Jake Brown have done is produce a book that will appeal to all fans. There are great contributions throughout the book from past musicians and producers that have worked on his albums. Funnily enough it is often these guys that get into the technical stuff.

   So what I really learned from the book is the lengths Joe has gone to try different things in what most people would call a small niche market. He has recorded albums with various musicians from all genres of music, done albums quickly, took time with others, rented studio time and discarded most of it, done a mostly techno album in a producer's living room and so on. He really has tried to push the envelope for instrumental guitar music and succeeded probably beyond even his wildest expectations. What I'm never going to understand are his explanations for how and why a song sounds the way it is especially when it comes to instrumental stuff. He says that in the song Borg Sex he wanted one of the guitars to sound like a female Borg and others like a male Borg. I was like.....huh? One of these stories you had to be inside his head to get it.

   The live stuff for the most part is ignored except for the first G3 tour. I would loved to have heard more about the shows he did with Deep Purple. Also included are the 2 Chickenfoot albums which add a nice break from the solo stuff with contributions from all members. Plus a couple of chapters pre-Not Of This Earth and a nice forward from Brian May. Oh and for all you gear freaks there's a list of all the equipment he used to record each album. Nice.

Richie.

The Winery Dogs- Tupelo Music Hall, Londonderry, NH, 5/6/14

   I was new to the venue and couldn't believe how small it was. I stood at the very back, right near the front. The stage would have challenged Mike Portnoy's drum kit from his Dream Theater days. I couldn't tell how big his kit was as it was kept under wraps until show time but I knew it wasn't the three bass drum multi-faceted beast I was used to seeing him pound years ago. Everything was stripped down. Minimal lighting, no screens or special effects, just three musicians at the top of their game.

   With a very well received album from last year I was curious to see it performed live. I knew they were going to play all of it so that element of surprise was lost. I'm not the kind of guy who checks set lists before going to a concert so I was interested to see what extras they would add. Opening  Elevate and following with the Japanese bonus track Criminal it was obvious that these guys really enjoy playing with one another a fact not lost on the crowd who lapped it all up. Mike Portnoy was the first to speak thanking everyone for coming out and then it was heads down again with another batch of killer tunes.

   As for the solo spots well Billy Sheehan's bass solo was incredible and any wannabe bass player in the crowd probably shook their head and later trudged home and threw their instrument in the bin thinking they could never be that good. Richie Kotzen's spot was the highlight of the night for me. He may be underrated as a singer but that is changing rapidly. With just an acoustic guitar he sang one of his solo songs called Doin' What The Devil Says To Do and you could hear a pin drop in the place. The guy might not converse much with the crowd but boy does he show some emotion with that voice.

   The band finished strong with I'm No Angel, Oblivion and an extended Desire before the inevitable and well deserved encore. I thought they'd played the whole album until I heard the opening chords of Regret followed by a balls out rocking version of Shy Boy sung by Portnoy and Sheehan that had everyone off their seats. Miss them on tour at your peril.

Richie.

  

Comatose Music to Release "Resurrection Denied" from Rome's Devangelic on June 24

From the holy city of Rome, Comatose Music presents the blasphemous creation known as DEVANGELIC whose debut full-length Resurrection Denied will be released June 24.  

Featuring members from PUTRIDITY, VULVECTOMY, and COPROPHILIAC, they aim to perform the most furious death metal possible influenced by the likes of DISGORGE, GORGASM and CONDEMNED. With Resurrection Denied you can expect nine tracks of inexorable guttural brutality against everything that is sacred! Recorded at 16th Cellar Studio. Artwork by Toshihiro Egawa.

Check out the promo video for "Desecrate the Crucifix" at this location. 

Pre-order info for Resurrection Denied can be found HERE.

Eucharistic Savagery

Crown of Entrails

Disfigured Embodiment

Unfathomed Evisceration

Entombment of Mutilated Angels

Perished Through Atonement

Desecrate the Crucifix

Apostolic Dismembering

Devouring the Consecrated

www.facebook.com/devangelic.official

www.youtube.com/user/devangelicvideo

www.reverbnation.com/devangelic

devangelic.bandcamp.com

www.comatosemusic.com 

 www.facebook.com/comatosemusiclabe

BATTLEROAR: "Blood of Legends" Out Now on Cruz Del Sur Music

Blood of Legends, the highly-anticipated fourth studio album from Greek Heavy Metal force BATTLEROAR is out now on Cruz Del Sur Music.  

Blood of Legends is available on digital, CD and limited-edition double gatefold vinyl. To purchase or stream the album in its entirety, visit:

cruzdelsurmusic.bandcamp.com/album/blood-of-legends 

Going strong for 13 years now, BATTLEROAR represents the peak, the most sublime act of the Greek Heavy Metal movement. Commitment to the cause, dedication and inspiration have brought the band to the highest place among Greek fans, as well as being one of the most-respected Epic Metal acts in Europe.    

Blood of Legends breaks six years of silence for the band since releasing To Battle and Beyond. During that period BATTLEROAR has experienced the departure of three key members, all of whom have been replaced with three equally accomplished musicians that have brought new blood, creative ideas, and renewed inspiration for the group. Recorded at Devasoundz studio in Athens, Blood of Legends is an album of pure Epic Metal. Full of compelling atmosphere with lyrics deeply absorbed in Greek mythology, and supported by violins and soprano vocals, Blood of Legends is a welcome return! 

"This album is basically a riff monster, slamming you first with a wall of guitars and then firing off bunches of heavy metal solos." - DangerDog.com

"Every time I walk away from the damn-near perfect sixty minutes of Blood of Legends, I can't shake the feeling that I've just heard the purest distillation of something essential. If a band like Battleroar has to toil in relative obscurity, then we should sing their hymns of iron and wine all the louder, all together." - Last Rites

www.battleroar.com

www.twitter.com/battleroar

www.facebook.com/BattleroaR

www.cruzdelsurmusic.com

HOLLYWOOD MONSTERS - Featuring Vinny Appice, Tim Bogert, Don Airey, Signs With Mausoleum Records

Classic hard rockers HOLLYWOOD MONSTERS, featuring Tim Bogert (Vanilla Fudge, Cactus), Don Airey (Deep Purple, Whitesnake, Michael Schenker), Vinnie Appice(Dio, Black Sabbath), signs a record deal with Mausoleum Records. The new album, ‘Big Trouble‘, to be released on 23th May via Mausoleum Records.  A brand new song “Move On” can be streamed using the Soundcloud player. The album cover can be viewed below.

https://soundcloud.com/thehollywoodmonsters/move-on-feat-vinny-appice-tim-bogert-don-airey-steph-honde 

“Big Trouble” track listing:

01. Another Day In Grey – Pt 1
02. Move On
03. Big Trouble
04. The Only Way
05. The Cage
06. The Ocean
07. Oh Boy!
08. Underground
09. Village Of The Damned
10. Song For A Fool

Bonus track

11. Fuck You All

Your favourite Classic Hard Rock artists together! Ever track a bone shaking experience when old and new friends get together for a blast of hard rockin’ musical mayhem!

Hollywood Monsters are:

Steph Honde – Vocals, Guitars, Piano, Bass
Paul Di’Anno – Vocals (track 11)
Denis Baruta – Guitars (tracks 5, 9 & 11)
Tim Bogert – Bass (tracks 1, 2 & 10)
Olivier Brossard – Bass (track 11)
Vinny Appice – Drums (all tracks except 7, 10 & 11)
Don Airey – Hammond B3 (track 2)
Emmanuel Lamic – Drums (tracks 10 & 11)
Laetitia Gondran – Drums (track 7)

Hollywood Monsters are the brainchild of vocalist, guitarist, composer, Stéphane “Steph” Honde, a French expatriate, who’s been living in California since 2012.

Honde first became noticed when fronting Mamooth, subsequently garnering a well-deserved reputation as a guitar virtuoso when playing in Café Bertrand, a French rock group he joined in 2004. The band toured, playing humongous stadiums such as the Stade de France, with an audience capacity in excess of 80.000 – performing with classic rock giants such as AC/DC and Deep Purple, the latter for whom they opened on thirty-six dates across Europe in November 2006, and another 12 in March of 2007.Honde recorded two albums with Café Bertrand – both critically acclaimed and commercially successful – “Les Airs Empruntés” (2005) and “L’Art Délicat du Rock’N’Roll” (2008), before leaving the band in 2011.

Honde then embarked on a length tour with Paul Di’Anno, oriignal voaclist with Iron Maiden before absconding to California.

Once in Los Angeles Stéphane Honde befriended Tim Bogert, coaxed him out of retirment and convinced Bogert to play on his debut album…and voilà, the Hollywood Monsters were born.

Stéphane Honde recently signed an agreement with Mausoleum Records for the release of the debut album entitled “Big Trouble” by his new band: Hollywood Monsters, scheduled for release in May 2014.

The talented Hollywood Monsters line-up on “Big Trouble,” besides Tim Bogert (Vanilla Fudge, Cactus – on bass, additionally welcomes the performances of some more of Stéphane’s talented pals, including: Don Airey (Deep Purple, Whitesnake, Michael Schenker and dozens more – on keyboards), and Vinnie Appice (Dio, Black Sabbath– on drums), the latter for whom Stéphane had written the song “Village Of The Damned” as an hommage…before ever meeting Vinnie!

www.facebook.com/HollywoodMonsters

Shadow Kingdom Records Releasing 'The Lost Legacy' 2CD Retrospective from Sweden's Zone Zero on July 8

Shadow Kingdom Records has announced the Release of a 2CD career retrospective package from Swedish '80s Heavy Metal group ZONE ZERO on July 8.  

Comprised of live recordings, rehearsal tracks and studio cuts - including three more recent songs recorded in 2008 - this collection captures the magic of a band heavily influenced by the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, but somehow fell through the cracks of that burgeoning scene. Shadow Kingdom Records now seeks to turn the unknown into the known with The Lost Legacy.

Shadow Kingdom Records owner Tim McGrogran comments on the package:

"It would be a rare case if anyone were even aware of Zone Zero as they only put out one Single and a few demo tapes in the early 80s before disbanding. In the land of early Swedish Heavy Metal, the very first and most important band was without question Heavy Load, who started in the late 70s. With that said, Zone Zero does have a very strong Heavy Load influence and were also influenced by Judas Priest and the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. There were quite a few bands that popped up in the early 80's in Europe that could have easily been a part of the N.W.O.B.H.M. but they weren't because that period of time only included England. This package includes their entire career, which started in 1980 and includes the band re-uniting for 3 brand new songs that were recorded in 2008."

Stream tracks from The Lost Legacy at:

shadowkingdomrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-lost-legacy

CD1:  

1. Judgement Day 1981 [Live, Borlänge]  

2. Demon from Kingdom of Death 1981 [Live, Borlänge]  

3. Magic Woman 1981 [Live, Borlänge]  

4. Only Survivor 1981 [Live, Borlänge]  

5. Wannabe 1981 [Live, Borlänge]  

6. Genocide Patrol 1981 [Stereo-Stig, Smedjebacken]  

7. Win or Die 1982 [Parda studio, Stockholm]  

8. Evil Dream 1982 [Parda studio, Stockholm]  

9. Demon from Kingdom of Death 1982 Björbostudion, Gagnef] 

CD2:  

10. Innocent 1983 [Björbostudion, Gagnef]  

11. Zone Zero 1983 [Björbostudion, Gagnef]  

12. Riding on the Wind 1983 [Björbostudion, Gagnef]  

13. Revenge 1983 [Björbostudion, Gagnef]  

14. Breaker of the Chains 1983 [Rehearsals, Djurås]  

15. Searching for the Metal 1983 [Rehearsals, Djurås]  

16. Someone's Calling my Name 1983 [Rehearsals, Djurås]  

17. Tarakian 1983 [Rehearsals, Djurås]  

18. I Want the Metal Back 2004 [Bedroomstudios, Gothenburg]  

19. Chasing Victory 2008 [Bedroomstudios, Gothenburg]  

20. Miss You 2008 [Bedroomstudios, Gothenburg]  

21. Twilight of the Gods 2008 [Bedroomstudios, Gothenburg]

ZONE ZERO on Facebook 

store.shadowkingdomrecords.com 

 www.shadowkingdomrecords.com 

shadowkingdomrecords.bandcamp.com 

www.facebook.com/ShadowKingdomRecords 

SAVAGE MESSIAH TO HEADLINE UK'S MAMMOTHFEST

London metallers SAVAGE MESSIAH have been announced as headliners for this year's Mammothfest in the UK.

Mammothfest is Brighton's only dedicated metal festival, and is back for another year with headliners SAVAGE MESSIAH and MARTYR DEFILED, along with main support META-STASIS and INGESTED, with more bands due to be announced soon.  The festival takes place at Green Door Store in Brighton on 30th and 31st August.

SAVAGE MESSIAH frontman DAVE SILVER comments:

"We're really excited to announce that we'll be headlining this year's Mammothfest!  This will represent our first ever festival headlining set on English soil, and we shall be pulling out all the stops to make this an extra special event!  Make sure you get tickets early and support UK heavy metal, and let's make this one to remember!  We'll see you in the pit!!!"

Tickets for Mammothfest are available now at just £15 for the weekend for early buyers, with the price due to increase after the next set of acts are announced.  

Get your tickets now at http://www.mammothmetalfestival.co.uk

View the Mammothfest flyer at http://bit.ly/1jlpmm8

See SAVAGE MESSIAH live at the following shows:

May 17 - San Antonio, Ibiza - Hard Rock Hell Road Trip
Jun. 28 - South Lanarkshire, UK - Les-Fest
Jul. 19 - Manchester, UK - SOS Festival
Aug. 16 - Kettering, UK - Alt-Fest
Aug. 30 - Brighton, UK - Mammothfest
Dec. 13 - London, UK - Underworld (w/ LAWNMOWER DETH, EVIL SCARECROW)

SAVAGE MESSIAH's new album, THE FATEFUL DARK, is out now worldwide.  Get the album on CD and vinyl from the Earache Webstore in Europe at http://webstore.earache.com/savage-messiah or in North America at http://uswebstore.earache.com/savage-messiah

Watch SAVAGE MESSIAH's new music video for the track "Hellblazer", featuring famed London contortionist PIXIE LE KNOT (GAME OF THRONES Season 3, THE DEVIL INSIDE), at http://youtu.be/qMLgbl7yU98

Get more SAVAGE MESSIAH news and info:

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/SavageMessiahMetal
Twitter - http://twitter.com/savagemessiah

ZEPHANIAH releases cover for upcoming 2nd cd "REFORGED"

Recently reformed Ft. Wayne, Indiana shred power metal band ZEPHANIAH, have released the cover for their upcoming 2nd cd titled "REFORGED" with artwork created by New York state based freelance illustrator Kip Ayers.

Zephaniah's new 2014 lineup consists of original members, Justin Zych (Viking, Vindicator, Valhalla) on guitar, Logan Detwiler (Valhalla) on vocals, Ian Bender (Beneath It All) on bass, and new members, Tony Rudny (Beneath It All) on guitar and Cody Johns (Viking, 80000 Dead) on drums.

ZEPHANIAH has checked in with the following studio update:

Cody just finished tracking drums this weekend! An intense two days of blasting and thrashing! Our producer has never seen sixteenth note double kicks line up so perfectly! More updates to come!

ZEPHANIAH recently re-released their 2008 earthshaking debut cd "Stories from the Book of Metal" due to popular demand from their ever expanding fan base.

The band will triumphantly return to the stage to headline the USA's Warriors of Metal Fest VII from June 26-28, 2014 in Columbus, Ohio where the band will play their entire debut cd Stories from the Book of Metal” from start to finish.

For the latest news on the band, visit their official sites:

Official Website

Facebook

CLASSIC JUDAS PRIEST METAL ON THE WAY WITH NEW ALBUM REDEEMER OF SOULS

There are only a select number of bands that have accomplished what Judas Priest has throughout their career (as well as having served as a stylistic influence on such a wide variety of bands). Soon the group - singer Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis - will be offering up more classic Judas Priest metal with the release of 'Redeemer of Souls' To be released in the US on July 15th, 2014 via Epic Records (as a standard version and a deluxe edition with five bonus tracks), 'Redeemer of Souls' is Judas Priest's latest collection of epic metal - "raising the bar is consistent for us and 'Redeemer' hits the ground running" - it matches up perfectly to earlier Priest classics as evidenced by the album's leadoff single 'March of the Damned'  ("we are forging ahead, slamming the pedal to the metal!") - the band mean business once again. "We feel 'Redeemer of Souls' reinforces our passion for what we believe in from the Judas Priest style heavy metal." The album also marks Richie Faulkner's studio debut with Priest and is the co-writer of the material along with Glenn Tipton and Rob Halford. First bursting onto the scene with 1974's 'Rocka Rolla' Judas Priest is responsible for some of heavy metal's all-time great albums - 1980's 'British Steel', 1982's 'Screaming for Vengeance', 1990's 'Painkiller' etc - and anthems 'Breaking the Law', 'Living After Midnight', 'You've Got Another Thing Coming' etc - as well as trailblazing metal's now instantly identifiable look - leather and studs - 2014 marks the 40th anniversary of the band. And while fans are undoubtedly starved for more Priest (their last studio album 'Nostradamus' was released in 2008) the band themselves are eager for the world to hear their latest studio triumph. "Classic combination of all the statements we love to create with raging guitar riffs and solos, thundering drums, thick grooves of bass and vocals tearing it all up!" REDEEMER OF SOULS - tracklisting as follows: DRAGONAUT REDEEMER OF SOULS HALLS OF VALHALLA SWORD OF DAMOCLES MARCH OF THE DAMNED DOWN IN FLAMES HELL & BACK COLD BLOODED METALIZER CROSSFIRE SECRETS OF THE DEAD BATTLE CRY BEGINNING OF THE END Bonus tracks: SNAKEBITE TEARS OF BLOOD CREATURES BRING IT ON NEVER FORGET FOR FURTHER INFORMATION VISIT: www.judaspriest.com www.facebook.com/OfficialJudasPriest