U.D.O.'s North American Tour kicks off on April 9

Heads up U.D.O. fans the North American tour kicks of on April 9. There's only a handful of dates so check out the schedule. Also get ready for the May 31 release of Steelhammer the next studio release from U.D.O. and if thats not enough remeber that AFM has been rolling out the rereleases of some of the U.D.O. catalog. This month you will see "Live From Russia" and the "best of" anniversary edition.

U.D.O.- Steelhammer Tour 2013

April 09 - Amityville, NY - Ollie's Point

April 10 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre

April 11 - Poughkeepsie, NY - The Chance

April 12 - Montreal, QC - Foufounes Electriques

April 13 - St-Ferdinand, QC - Style Metal

April 14 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club

April 17 – Verona, WI – Heights Events Center

April 18 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's

April 19 - Detroit, MI - Harpo's

April 20 - Joliet, IL - Mojoe's

April 21 - Seattle, WA - Studio Seven

April 23 - West Hollywood, CA - Whisky A Go Go

TÝR to kick off Paganfest USA tour with Ensiferum on Saturday

TÝR, hailing all the way from the Faroe Islands, will once again return to North America. This time, they will be performing as part of Paganfest 2013 with Ensiferum, Heidevolk, Trollfest, and Helsott. The tour will begin on Saturday, March 30^th in Denver, CO, and wraps up on April 21^st in New York, NY at the Gramercy Theater. Tickets are on sale now, and the list of dates can be found below, as well as at facebook.com/tyrband. For a preview of what TÝR's dynamic live is like, check out their video for "Flames of the Free" on their official youtube channel HERE.

Following Paganfest, TÝR will begin recording their seventh full-length album. The title and art are yet to be announced and are to be considered works in progress, but vocalist/guitarist Heri Joensen has divulged that the album "is about women. Earthly women, valkyries and goddesses. It touches on subjects from nordic mythology such as the quest for fame, death in battle and valhalla."

Some of the song titles thus far include: "Mare Of My Night" and "Come My Valkyrie". TÝR has also confirmed that they will collaborate with producer Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Aborted, Mercenary) for the fifth consecutive album. Hansen has produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered the band's previous four albums: The Lay of Thrym, By the Light of the Northern Star, Land, and Ragnarock.

The unique approach of TÝR's music, melting traditional Nordic songs and dances with Celtic influences, doom, heavy, and progressive metal has found fans around the globe. "Hail to The Hammer" has become the hymn to the new generation of folk, pagan, and Viking metal fans.

Paganfest 2013 w/ Ensiferum, Heidevolk, Trollfest, Helsott

03/30    Denver, CO                  Summit Music Hall

04/01    Tempe, AZ                    910 Live

04/02    West Hollywood, CA     House of Blues

04/03    San Francisco, CA        DNA Lounge

04/04    Sparks, NV                   The Alley

04/05    Portland, OR                 Hawthorne Theatre

04/06    Seattle, WA                   Studio Seven

04/07    Vancouver, BC             Rickshaw Theatre

04/09    Edmonton, AB              Starlite Room

04/10    Regina, SK                    The Exchange

04/11    Winnipeg, MB               Osbourne Village Inn

04/12    Saint Paul, MN              Station 4

04/13    Chicago, IL                   Reggie's

04/14    Columbus, OH              Al Rosa Villa

04/15    Baltimore, MD               Soundstage

04/16    West Chester, PA          The Note

04/17    Toronto, ON                 Opera House

04/18    Montreal, QC                Metropolis

04/19    Poughkeepsie, NY         The Chance Theater

04/20    Worcester, MA              The Palladium - New England Metal and Hardcore Festival

04/21    New York, NY               Gramercy Theatre

https://www.facebook.com/tyrband

http://twitter.com/tyrband

Here We Go Again

   I've loved Def Leppard since the 80's. I have gotten something from everything the've released. Of all the gigs I have seen them the most, at a guess nearly 10 times and they always put on a great show. I had to laugh when I heard the selling point of their Las Vegas residency was the performance of Hysteria in full. So how is this a whole lot different then the 7 or 8 songs they perform from this at every gig? Don't believe me then check the setlists, they regularly play all of side one so that's 6 right there. Side 2 has the title track and Gods of War. The only songs I've not heard them play live from Hysteria are Love and Affection and Run Riot. I remember a drunken fan giving out to me because I had to take a piss and picked Love Bites to do it, "hey man it's Love Bites" and I said I'd heard them play it 6 or 7 times. Now if they'd brought out Let It Go or Another Hit and Run I'd have stood there and pissed in my pants.

  They just can't say they are not a nostalgia band anymore, they are and have been for many years. Is the new material any good though? In my opinion yes and Songs From The Sparkle Lounge was a strong release. I just won't get the chance to hear much of it live. You check the setlists throughout their residency, I bet most of the lesser played stuff will be from the first 3 albums. Oh and less of the shitty covers too. I don't go to a Leppard show to hear them play the fucking Who.

   Note to Phil Collen: any chance Mr. Campbell can shred a little at these shows. He needs the practice when he revisits the Dio stuff for the upcoming tour. He's a little rusty from strumming on the banjo for all these years. Well paid mind you.

Richie.

SVART CROWN To Release Profane May 21st In North America

French death/black metal outfit SVART CROWN has set May 21st as the North American release date for their third full-length, Profane.  

SVART CROWN is a that band has been willing to break the genre boundaries enhancing lethal grooves in a sadistic manner that won't leave any listener in a safe and comfy world. 

The main theme on Profane is full-introspection about humanity sickness and SVART CROWN deliver the soundtrack of a bleak world that has already ended to their eyes with this album. Album artwork was made by designer Stefan Thanneur (RUINS). Profane was recorded, mixed, mastered by Francis Caste (Kickback, Arkhon Infaustus, Phazm) at St Marthe studio in Paris. 

Manifestatio Symptoms

Genesis Architect

Intern . Virus . Human

In Utero: A Place Of Hatred And Threat

Until The Last Breath

Profane

The Therapy Of Flesh

Venomous Ritual

Ascetic Purification

Revelatio: Down Here Stillborn

Profane is the follow up the band's 2010 release, Witnessing the Fall. The album was met with a roaring response from fans and the media around the world. Since then, SVART CROWN shared stages with Shining, Enthroned, Melechesh , Ulcerate , Septic Flesh  and more across Europe and North America.

Watch SVARTCROWN's video for "Into a Demential Sea"  from Witnessing the Fall at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgnj0uiqB2A 

SVART CROWN - Witnessing the Fall . CD/TS pack / vinyl available from :

http://shop.listenable.net/product.php?id_product=1812 

http://shop.listenable.net/product.php?id_product=2877 

www.svartcrown.net 

www.svartcrown.bandcamp.com 

SVART CROWN on Facebook

Megadeth Update #11 from Vic's Garage

Megadeth has posted yet another update for their upcoming release Super Collider. This time you get to see Junior in action along with Chris and of course MegaDave.

Ripple Music to Release DEVIL TO PAY's Fate is Your Muse April 9th

Ripple Music will release Fate is Your Muse from Indianapolis heavy rockers DEVIL TO PAY on April 9th . The album will be available on CD, vinyl, and digital formats. Fate is your Muse is an introspective lyrical journey that careens from the metaphysical, to the absurd, to the pragmatic (and back again), all set to bone crushing heaviness wrapped in elaborate vocal melodies and elegant guitar phrases. Exploring topics such as reincarnation, the end of days, and the thin veil between reality and fantasy, the Indianapolis foursome create a rare musical experience; one that will have heavy rock fans returning for the primal emotional riffs, as well as the complex and heady lyrical content.

Wearin' You Down

Ten Lizardmen & One Pocketknife

Yes Master

Already Dead

This Train Won't Stop*

Savonarola

Black Black Heart

The Naked Truth

Mass Psychosis

Tie One On*

Beyond The Ether

*CD version only

DEVIL TO PAY released a video for the single "This Train Won't Stop," which was premiered by The Obelisk in conjunction with the end of the Mayan Baktun on December 21st. The lyrics are about the continual false prophesizing of the world's end. Check out the video at this location.

The band is hosting a listening party for Fate Is Your Muse at the Sound Square Brewery in Indianapolis on the 16th of March, which will feature the establishment's home brews, all of which will be named after DEVIL TOP PAY songs for the night. DEVIL TO PAY's album release party will be held at Radio Radio in Indianapolis on the 12th of April. 

Pre-order Fate is your Muse HERE.

www.deviltopay.net

www.facebook.com/deviltopay

www.twitter.com/devil_to_pay

www.reverbnation.com/deviltopay

www.ripple-music.com

BLOODSOAKED Announce European Tour

USDM Force BLOODSOAKED will invade Europe this April for the Rotting In Europe 2013 Tour that will see the brutalists split skulls across Germany, Poland and The Netherlands. Joining BLOODSOAKED will be be Bay Area Melodic Death sextet SHORT FUSE, Dallas-based blackened death act PSYCHIATRIC REGURGITATION, Boston thrash trio BLACK MASS and Chicago death horde HATE STORM ANNIHILATION.    The Rotting In Europe 2013 Tour will get underway on April 5th in Görlitz, Germany keep the bands out for ten days of pure devastation. Dates are as follows: April 5 - Görlitz (Ger) - Vierradenmühle April 6 - Warsaw (Pl) - Klub Progresja April 7 - Poznan (Pl) - Klub u Bazyla April 8 - Amsterdam (Nl) - The Cave April 9 - Winschoten (Nl) - Boelie's Pub April 10 - Arnhem (Nl) - Willemeen April 11 - Hamburg (Ger) - Bambi Galore April 12 - Freiberg (Ger) - Train Control April 13 - Weißenfels (Ger) - Schlosskeller April 14 - Cottbus (Ger) - La Casa For more details visit the Rotting In Europe 2013 Tour Event Page.  BLOODSOAKED's last recorded output came in the form of The Death of Hope, released in 2011 via Comatose Music. That album, along with 2009's Sadistic Greed...Grotesque Memories are streaming in full at www.bloodsoaked.stereokiller.com. www.bloodsoaked.net www.facebook.com/bloodsoaked666 bloodsoaked.bandcamp.com www.youtube.com/phasselbrack www.comatosemusic.com Links for the Rotting In Europe 2013 support acts can be found below: SHORT FUSE: www.shortfusemusic.com www.facebook.com/shortfusemusic www.youtube.com/shortfusevideos PSYCHIATRIC REGURGITATION: www.facebook.com/PsychiatricRegurgitationBand BLACK MASS: www.facebook.com/blackmassband www.blackmassband.bandcamp.com www.youtube.com/blackmassthrash HATE STORM ANNIHILATION: www.facebook.com/HateStormAnnihilation

Here's how it started........

      

   Ok ok enough of your Poisons and your Cinderellas, when are you going to get to the real good timeless shit. Sometime towards the end of '87 actually. Metallica this Metallica that Metallica everywhere and this was years before the Black album. Back then they could do no wrong in everyones eyes because they had the material to back it up. You don't need me to tell you how good this album is. I did get to see them play it all live a couple of years ago and it was one of the best gigs I'd ever been to. Seeing them rip through Disposable Heroes made it for me. Have to say that ....And Justice For All is my favourite album of all time.

   As for Megadeth well lets say we didn't get off on the right foot. They were the big news story in the first Kerrang I ever bought. I had to hear what all the fuss was about so I picked up Peace Sells and thought it was the biggest piece of shit I'd ever heard. Where were the hooks, the songs and the "vocals". I kept at it and at it and eventually something clicked. Riff after riff after riff. Similar to Metallica but different if that makes any sense. Love the cover. They are better then Metallica in the studio now.

Richie.

BEHEMOTH confirmed for Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Fest 2013

BEHEMOTH confirmed for Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Fest 2013

New album details to be announced soon

BEHEMOTH, Poland's preeminent metal export, will be releasing a new album in 2013. En route to releasing their tenth studio album, BEHEMOTH will perform throughout North America as part of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. They will perform on the Musician's Institute stage with Children of Bodom. The entire confirmed lineup can be found at rockstarmayhemfest.com. Information on BEHEMOTH's new album, including art, music, and behind the scenes studio videos will be unveiled within the next few months.

The LA Weekly heralded BEHEMOTH as "one of the most compelling live presences in metal" while maintaining the year-and-a-half hiatus (due to Nergal's battle with leukemia) served only to elevate the band's intensity, which North American fans most recently experiend during 2012's Decibel Magazine Tour. BEHEMOTH's latest full length album, Evangelion, achieved gold status in Poland and debuted at #56 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts in the US upon its release in 2009.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FEST 2013

06/29    San Bernardino, CA      San Manuel Amphitheater

06/30    Mountain View, CA       Shoreline Amphitheatre

07/02    Nampa, ID                    Idaho Center Amphitheatre

07/03    Auburn, WA                 White River Amphitheatre

07/05    Phoenix, AZ                  Desert Sky Pavilion

07/06    Albuquerque, NM         Isleta Amphitheatre

07/07    Englewood, CO                        Fiddler's Green Ampitheatre

07/10    Toronto, ON CA                       Molson Canadian Amphitheatre

07/12    Burgettstown, PA          First Niagara Pavilion

07/13    Scranton, PA                Toyota Pavilion

07/14    Darien Center, NY         Darien Lake Performing Arts Center

07/16    Mansfield, MA               Comcast Center

07/17    Bangor, ME                  Bangor Waterfront

07/19    Camden, NJ                  Susquehanna Bank Center

07/20    Saratoga Springs, NY    Saratoga Performing Arts Center           

07/21    Hartford, CT                 The Comcast Theatre

07/23    Holmdel, NJ                  PNC Bank Arts Center

07/24    Bristow, VA                   Jiffy Lube Live

07/26    Noblesville, IN               Klipsch Music Center

07/27    Tinley Park, IL              First Midwest Bank Ampitheatre

07/28    Clarkston, MI                DTE Energy Music Theatre

07/30    Atlanta, GA                   Lakewood Amphitheatre           

07/31    Tampa, FL                    Live Nation Amphitheatre

08/02    Austin, TX                     TBA

08/03    The Woodlands, TX      Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

08/04    Dallas, TX                      Gexa Energy Pavilion

https://www.facebook.com/behemoth

https://www.facebook.com/officialnergal

https://twitter.com/behemothband

http://www.behemoth.pl

SIX FEET UNDER announce new album, "Unborn"; to be released March 19th

Death metal behemoths SIX FEET UNDER are back, and with the seething UNBORN, the tenth full-length of their imposing career, they are out for blood. Led by the inimitable Chris Barnes, owner of one of the most powerful and instantly recognizable voices in the genre, the band are returning with an overhauled line up that sees them reinvigorated and churning out some of the most visceral music they have ever put their name to. 

In November of 2010 when vocalist and founding member Chris Barnes first started to get the idea of working with new writers for SIX FEET UNDER's next release, he contacted Rob Arnold, Jari Laine, and Ben Savage to share in the writing process. After just two years of writing and recording 20 plus tracks, and releasing UNDEAD in May of 2012, SIX FEET UNDER are now proud to unveil UNDEAD's demented fraternal twin...

"The journey to create, write, and record UNDEAD and UNBORN has been the most challenging and exciting musical endeavor and process I have ever been involved with," expresses vocalist and founder Chris Barnes. "Working with all these amazing writers and musicians like Ben Savage (Whitechapel) on songs like Neuro Osmosis and Fragment are some of the most dynamic, beautiful, and brutal songs I've ever had the pleasure of putting lyrics to." Barnes continues, "I believe Ben is a true innovator of the death metal genre. It was also a lot of fun working Jari Laine from Torture Killer again. We wrote a great album together a few years back called SWARM! –one of my favorite releases I've been involved with– and Jari is someone who I have really wanted to work with again ever since. I wanted to revisit collaborating with Jari because of how well we work together; proof of that on UNBORN are the hook heavy sounds of songs like Zombie Blood Curse and Incision."

UNDEAD proved to be one of SIX FEET UNDER's most critically acclaimed albums to date, and with a revamped and tour-hardened lineup rounded out by: guitarist Ola Englund, drummer Kevin Talley, bassist Jeff Hughell, and long-time guitarist Steve Swanson, UNBORN promises to elevate the band to even loftier heights.

The lyric video for Zombie Blood Curse, the first track to be loosed from UNBORN, is streaming now at metalblade.com/sixfeetunder. While there, fans can also pre-order their copies.

"this is the best thing SFU have recorded since Maximum Violence…[Chris Barnes] hasn't sounded this focused or committed in years." Decibel Magazine

"truly an unearthly noise and glorious in its heaving absurdity." Terrorizer Magazine – 4/5

http://www.metalblade.com/sixfeetunder

http://twitter.com/sixfeetofficial

Review - Helker- Somewhere In The Circle

   It was 2004 and I had travelled to Birmingham in England to see Rush. One of my friends asked me to listen to a new band's first release and my thoughts on it. After 30 seconds I took the headphones off and said who the fuck is the singer, he was fantastic. Well the band was Alter Bridge and the singer was Myles Kennedy. No new singer has had this effect on me until now.

   Musically the album sounds like Screaming For Vengence era Judas Priest topped off with the vocals of Diego Valdez. Similar at times to Ronnie James Dio he is at ease belting out songs like Just Be Yourself and Inside Of Me or slower stuff like Flying. The songs and playing are top notch, not too intricate and at 46 minutes the album flys by. Produced by Mat Sinner with guest vocals by Tim Owens and Ralf Scheepers this is easily going to be one of my metal albums of 2013 if not my favourite. Listen, just buy the bloody thing. I'm floored.

Richie.

http://www.helker.net/Home.html

http://www.afm-records.de/

Mustaine posts another studio update from Vic's Garage

Dave Mustaine has posted studio update number 10 on the progress of Super Collider.



The Megadeth channel as well as some other cool metal channels can be accesed right through Focus on Metal's own YouTube channel.

George Lynch Launches Fundraising Campaign For Documentary Film - "Shadowtrain: Under a Crooked Sky

Rock legend George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob) and Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker Mark Mclaughlin are currently working together on "Shadowtrain: Under a Crooked Sky," a stirring documentary that explores a hybrid way of life merging modern society with the ancient practices of people who have lived in harmony with the land for thousands of years; native American Indians.

The film follows Lynch and drummer/activist/artist Vincent Nicastro as they visit different reservations around the American Southwest with a trailer full of gear and group of musicians to get a firsthand look at effects of modern consumerism on our native population and the steps they're taking towards sustainability. 

While the documentary is nearly complete, the filmmakers are now seeking help in seeing their collective vision come to fruition. In order to see "Shadowtrain" become a reality, Lynch and Mclaughlin have launched an IndieGoGo Flexible Funding campaign where contributions can be made towards the completion of the film in exchange for autographed copies of George Lynch's most recent release Legacy, guitar lessons, a signed guitar and more. To donate to the making of "Shadowtrain: Under a Crooked Sky" visit the following link: www.indiegogo.com/projects/shadowtrain-under-a-crooked-sky

A trailer for the film, featuring Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine. The Nightwatchman) and Serj Tankian (System Of A Down), has been posted at this location.  

For more clips from the film and to learn more about the message behind "Shadowtrain: Under a Crooked Sky" and what you can do to help, visit www.shadowtrainmovie.com. When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty...  "Shadowtrain: Under a Crooked Sky" will illuminate the cost of the destruction of the Native American community; to both the indigenous population as well as to their European conquerors. The documentary will reveal the qualities inherent in indigenous people's world views that should be recognized and adopted if we all, collectively, intend to not only survive, but to find a way to live happier, more meaningful lives. While engaging a wide variety of opinions from notable activists, authors, artists, elders and shaman, politicians and government officials, clergy, teachers and everyday people, the film will reveal its message through a powerful music-driven road trip. The journey begins as renowned guitarist George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob), drummer, artist and activist Vinnie Nicastro and a musical band of politically engaged musicians climb into an old station wagon in the southwest desert. They pull a vintage horse trailer, retro-fitted to carry band equipment, solar panels, generators and camping gear. They travel the back roads, searching for a truth that can speak to power. They visit the Apache, Navajo and Hopi reservations in Arizona, Zuni and Tewa in New Mexico, Shoshone in Nevada, Utes in Utah and Colorado and then on to the Dakotas to visit the people and places that were (and still are) the epicenter of conflict between the native peoples and their European conquerors. The people they visit on the reservations will share how they have created sensible environmentally sustainable solutions that work in today's world. Simple and proven practices like passive solar water heaters on the Paiute reservation, active community gardens and other ideas will be explored. Then as Shadowtrain moves on to other reservations, they will help to integrate these workable procedures, pick up more ideas and carry them further.

www.shadowtrainmovie.com 

www.facebook.com/shadowtrain 

www.indiegogo.com/projects/shadowtrain-under-a-crooked-sky 

Clive Burr r.i.p

 Here's a great article about Clive Burr from Classic Rock Magazine from a couple of years ago.

http://archive.classicrockmagazine.com/view/february-2011/32/when-drummer-clive-burr-was-ousted-from-iron-maide

   Break out those first 3 Maiden albums and crank it up.

Richie

Mighty High and Ripple Music Join Forces to Auction Rare Test Pressing for Charity

Cosmic Lava proclaims that the latest Mighty High slice of primal rock mayhem is "angry, funny and a powerful jolt of rebellious energy." Downtuned Mag boasts that Legalize Tre Bags is "an addictive, vulgar, raw, filthy son of a bitch. A thirty-minute bad-ass, pure garage-punk 'n' roll fun ride." And Ringmaster spits out "Legalize Tre Bags is a raucous feast of punk, weed, and middle finger attitude -- most of all it's a deeply satisfying slab of rock n roll."

Now, continuing Ripple Music's tradition of auctioning off it's rare test pressings for charity, Mighty High and Ripple have joined forces to auction the only original test pressings of Mighty High's block-buster new album, Legalize Tre Bags, with all proceeds going to benefit Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for Cancer Research.

With cancer being a deeply personal issue for both the band and label, they couldn't be happier to support this cause.

Now, this isn't just any old test pressing auction. What's being auctioned is the incredible rare locked-groove version of the album, with a repeating belch at the end of side one that was deleted from the official release. This is the ONLY version that includes the original version of the album. Due to time and financial constraints, this idea had to be abandoned.

But that's not all! Included with the test pressing is the original cover art and a signed poster featuring the mind-bending art of Braino. (www.brainonyc.com)

You can find this rarest test pressing auction happening now on eBay.

  

Mighty High Test Press Auction

And don't forget the special Mighty High package, still available at the Ripple Music Store! This specially designed set was created to help fans get up to speed with the Mighty High story. The package includes every Mighty High release to date: Legalize Tre Bags black vinyl, the "Drops A Deuce" 7" vinyl, The Mighty High/Stone Axe split 7", the Heavy Ripples double 7" set featuring the Mighty High tune "Hempaphobic", and the bands first album, In Drug City, on CD. All of these are blessed with that wild, Crumb-inspired Braino artwork that Mighty High has become famous for. That's every Mighty High release on vinyl,  and the incredibly rare debut CD, all for one low price! Get the Mighty High Deluxe Set at THIS LOCATION. 

So, if snotty rebellion played gloriously loud, with a big nod towards the 70's legends of Motorhead, Grand Funk, and AC/DC is your thing, Mighty High may have just released your album of the year! And, this is your chance to own the rarest Mighty High album of all time, the locked-groove test pressing, while helping out a worthy cause!

The Mighty High Test Press Auction is going on HERE.

www.mightyhigh.net 

www.facebook.com/mightyhighbrooklyn

THE OMEGA EXPERIMENT To Release Self-Titled Debut On Listenable Records

Michigan prog metal duo THE OMEGA  EXPERIMENT will release their self-titled full-length debut on April 9th (North America) via Listenable Records.  Like their  fellow modern prog artists,  THE OMEGA EXPERIMENT create a massive sound with home equipment and have no fear of experimentation and rule breaking. The guitars are big and technical and layered with keyboard sounds reminiscent of Dream Theater and Queensryche. The vocals range from powerful lead lines, big harmonies and demonic screams in the vein of Devin Townsend and Mike Patton. The band's inspiration comes from guitarist/vocalist Dan addressing the last 10 years of his life, focusing on his excess and drug abuse which took him to a dark place and his determination to move onto a brighter future. The Omega Experiment was originally self-released by the band as a digital download via bandcamp and iTunes to much critical acclaim. Acclaim is something the band is no stranger to either, as they earned the praise of Devin Townsend on the very night the Karma EP was released in early 2011. Via Twitter, Townsend was quoted as saying, "Actually listening now...great great work man! Seriously great stuff Dan, I fully back it and appreciate the effort you've invested I wish all luck!" The EP later went on to receive over 2000 downloads. Selections from THE OMEGA EXPERIMENT's stellar discography are streaming at theomegaexperiment.bandcamp.com. Track Listing: 1. Gift 2. Stimulus  3. Motion 4. Tranquility 5. Furor 6. Bliss 7. Karma 8. Terminus 9. Paramount twitter.com/omegaexperiment www.youtube.com/user/theomegaexperiment?feature=watch www.facebook.com/theomegaexperiment www.listenable.net

RIVAL SONS: FOOTAGE FROM JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE PERFORMANCE AVAILABLE NOW

RIVAL SONS appeared as the musical guests on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' on Thursday, March 7th - performing two blistering songs for the studio audience.

The band appeared alongside the late-night talk show host, as well as LA Lakers basketball legend Kobe Bryant and British actor Dominic Monaghan, to perform their tracks "Keep On Swinging" and "You Want To".

Watch RIVAL SONS' live performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live:

"Keep On Swinging" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwW43MaPNDM

"You Want To" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p16PSwrcODc

RIVAL SONS drummer MICHAEL MILEY comments:

"Holy cow, ya, being on Jimmy Kimmel is monumental for us.  He's the number one late night show with a massive audience.  I mean, what up-and-coming band would not live to do that!  I feel honored.  Thanks to Jimmy and his peeps for working with us.  Thanks to all the fans who came out.  And hello and welcome to all the fresh virgin fans.  See you on tour!"

RIVAL SONS recently wrapped up a string of US and Canadian dates, and are due to return to Europe for a headlining tour on March 22nd.

See RIVAL SONS on tour at the following shows:

Mar. 22 - Bonn, Germany - Harmonie (WDR Rockpalast)
Mar. 23 - Aarhus, Denmark - Vox Hall
Mar. 24 - Malmo, Sweden - Malmo KB
Mar. 25 - Linkoping, Sweden - Linkoping Garden
Mar. 26 - Uppsala, Sweden - Uppsala Katalin
Mar. 28 - Hamburg, Germany - Mojo
Mar. 29 - Frankfurt, Germany - Zoom
Mar. 30 - Paris, France - Le Trabendo
Apr. 01 - Zurich, Switzerland - Komplex
Apr. 02 - Lyon, France - Ninkasi Kao
Apr. 04 - Treviso, Italy - New Age
Apr. 05 - Bologna, Italy - ZR
Apr. 06 - Arles, France - Cargo de Nuit
Apr. 08 - Utrecht, Netherlands - Tivoli
Apr. 09 - London, UK - Shepherds Bush Empire
Apr. 10 - Cardiff, UK - Solus
Apr. 11 - Birmingham, UK - Institute
Apr. 13 - Leeds, UK - Leeds Metropolitan University
Apr. 14 - Edinburgh, UK - Picture House
Apr. 15 - Preston, UK - 53 Degrees
Apr. 16 - Cambridge, UK - Junction

RIVAL SONS' new album, HEAD DOWN, is out now in Europe on CD and limited edition vinyl at http://bit.ly/jucwYJ and on iTunes at http://bit.ly/KMbFhR

HEAD DOWN is due to be released in the USA on March 19th via Century Media/Earache Records.

Get more RIVAL SONS news and info at:

Official site - http://www.rivalsons.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/rivalsons
MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/rivalsons
Twitter - http://twitter.com/rivalsons

SAVAGE MESSIAH TO PLAY HAMMERFEST VIP DAY THIS THURSDAY

British shred-heavy melodic metallers SAVAGE MESSIAH have been added to the line-up for the VIP day at Hammerfest in Wales this Thursday.

The band will be performing from 9:15pm to 10:20pm this Thursday, March 14th alongside SISTER SIN, SACRED MOTHER TONGUE, JAGUAR and more.  The festival will also feature the likes of KILLING JOKE, HATEBREED, DESTRUCTION, ENSLAVED, SAINT VITUS, CANDLEMASS, SODOM and NAPALM DEATH.

SAVAGE MESSIAH lead guitarist JOFF BAILEY comments:

"Absolutely thrilled to announce that Savage Messiah have been confirmed to play this year's Hammerfest on Thursday!  It's a real honour to be playing such a killer festival again and we can't wait to storm the stage and crack some fuckin' skulls!  Let's bang some heads, smash a few brewskies and thrash the living shite out of it... SAVAGE STYLE!  See ya in the pit!!!"

This year's Hammerfest is the fifth edition of the festival, and takes place from March 14th to March 16th in Pwllheli, Wales.  For tickets and more information, head to http://www.hammerfest.co.uk

See SAVAGE MESSIAH live at the following shows:

Mar. 14 - Pwllheli, UK - Hammerfest
Apr. 26 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - De Effenaar
May 26 - Mansfield, UK - Metal Gods Festival

SAVAGE MESSIAH's latest album, PLAGUE OF CONSCIENCE, is available now on CD and limited edition coloured vinyl LP.  Get the album in Europe at http://bit.ly/A9ClhQ

PLAGUE OF CONSCIENCE is also available on iTunes with an exclusive bonus track at http://bit.ly/zqbuz3

Watch SAVAGE MESSIAH's music video for the track, "All Seeing I", at http://youtu.be/H65BFopVO_0

Get more SAVAGE MESSIAH news and info at:

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

Here's how it all started

    

   These are the first 2 records I ever bought on vinyl. There was a specialist heavy metal record store called The Sound Cellar in Dublin which was a 100 miles from my town. Every couple of months a couple of us would save up some money and get the train and stock up. We were sick of getting puzzled looks from the local record stores when we asked could we order certain lps. Before they'd even check they'd say they couldn't get it. It was great to go into a shop where like music minded folk hung out and to have guys who knew what you were asking for. They always had thrash metal blaring on the stereo too.

   Nightsongs is a fantastic hard rock record and yes the cover is naff. Somebody Save Me is my favourite song of the band and in Tom Kiefer they have one talented musician. All 4 of their studio albums are solid. I've seen them live 3 times in the past 2 years and they are still great. I would love to hear some new music but there is a Tom Kiefer solo cd on the way.

  I lost count of how many guys thought Poison were women when I showed them the album cover. The image thing worked for them as they got noticed. It's an ok album and not a patch on Nightsongs. More style less substance. Saw them support Motley Crue a couple of years ago and in an hour set they had a drum solo and the worst guitar solo I've ever heard. Seven songs in an hour including 2 covers, now isn't that value for money.

Richie

http://www.cinderella.net/

http://www.poisonweb.com/

Mustaine checks in from Vic's Garage.

Dave Mustaine checks in with update #9 as Super Collider marches ever forward.

Megadeth also has some European tour dates and one US date scheduled

May 
22 - Bucharest, Romania - Arenele Romane 
24 - Oslo, Norway - Sentrum Scene 
26 - Groningen, Netherlands - De Oosterpoort 
27 - Brussels, Belgium - Ancienne Belgique 
29 - Fribourg, Switzerland - Fri-son 
31 - Madrid, Spain - Auditorio Miguel Rios 

June 
1 - Barcelona, Spain - Parc del Forum 
3 - Newcastle, England - O2 Academy Newcastle 
4 - Glasgow, Scotland - O2 Academy Glasgow 
5 - Manchester, England - Manchester Academy 
6 - London, England - O2 Academy Brixton 
8 - Milan, Italy - Fiera Milano Live Rho 
9 - Amneville, France - Snowhall Parc 

July 
20 - Cadott, WI - Chippewa Valley Rock Fest 

Head to this location for tour updates and for pre-sale ticket links. 

THE OCEAN launch new album teaser page

New music, pre-orders, and more coming March 11^th

After two years of relentless touring in North America, Europe, Russia, China, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and Australia, The Ocean have resurfaced with what could be their deepest and most trailblazing piece of work to date, Pelagial. The album is a progressive musical journey; written, recorded, mixed and to-be-performed-live as one single 53-minute piece of music. Mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Katatonia, Witchcraft) at Fascination Street Studios in Örebrö, Sweden, Pelagial is set to be released on April 26th / 29th (Europe) and April 30th (North America / world) through Metal Blade Records.

Pelagial will be released as a double CD, including a vocal and an instrumental version of the album. Instrumental samples of tracks, as well as the limited vinyl pre-orders, are up now on theoceancollective.com/pelagial, which also serves to showcase the concept behind Pelagial, as well as divulging more information about the album. The CD version will be released in a 10-panel digipak with epic artwork by Seldon Hunt.

A full new song, as well as pre-orders, will be officially launched at metalblade.com/theocean on March 11^th, 2013. Until then, fans can whet their appetites at theoceancollective.com/pelagial, 

https://www.facebook.com/theoceancollective

PITCH BLACK RECORDS celebrates 5 years - Free sampler available (download AND free CD)!

As part of our 5-year celebrations we are offering a free 20-track sampler containing a song from each of our releases since 2008 (totaling in over one hour of music). We are offering this as a free download BUT… we are also offering the same compilation (again, for free) on CD! More details on how to acquire either version (or both) are available on our official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/pitchblackrecords). 

We may be small but we definitely have a big heart when it comes to metal and metal fans and we hope this is evident throughout everything we do. We’re driven by the same passion and dedication as we were on day one and we don’t foresee this changing any time soon, so stick around, we’re still just getting started… 

We would also like to invite everyone to check out our just-released free mobile app. It is currently available for Android (Google Play - http://bit.ly/XDecvf) with the iPad and iPhone versions coming soon.

Worm Gear Zine Debuts New NECROCURSE Track

Extreme music journal Worm Gear Zine has posted an exclusive world premier of the song "The Devil Cobra" off  Grip of the Dead, the forthcoming debut full-length from Swedish morbid death metal rebels NECROCURSE.

The song, in all its hellish glory, has been posted at this location.

Grip Of The Dead will be out on March 11th in Europe and March 19th North America via Pulversied Records. The album contains eleven tracks of uncompromising and haunting Death Metal in the true spirit of the ancient dark Heavy Metal attitude. The vinyl version will include re-recorded version of the track "Souls Of A Thousand Funerals," from the Shape of Death MCD, as an additional bonus track. The vinyl version for Grip of the Dead will be a joint collaboration between Blood Harvest Records and To The Death Records. 

"While Necrocurse does not reinvent the wheel with Grip of the Dead, the band certainly displays their affinity with the old school on the album with each of the tracks being extremely well-executed, and is an album that would please fans of old school Swedish death." - Heavy Metal Tribune 

"Necrocurse's full-length debut Grip of the Dead is yet another entry into the cemetery sweeps, a compact, crushing revision of its more overt influences into something digestible to the nostalgia hunter who seeks a little gruesome authenticity in his death and black metal." - From the Dust Returned 

"Such a vibrant union between blunt underground intensity and a traditional metal style of melody... this album shows that the 2 styles NEED each other and empower the songwriting spark with enough fuel to grow into something memorable and worthy of a wider appreciation." - Worm Gear Zine

NECROCURSE Official Website

NECROCURSE Official Facebook 

www.pulverised.net

www.facebook.com/pulverisedrecords

WHITE WIZZARD CONFIRM WEST HOLLYWOOD SHOW WITH LIZZY BORDEN

Los Angeles heavy metallers WHITE WIZZARD have confirmed a show in West Hollywood with veterans LIZZY BORDEN.

WHITE WIZZARD - who are currently recording their new studio album, THE DEVIL'S CUT - will be supporting LIZZY BORDEN at the world famous Whisky A Go Go on the Sunset Strip on April 13th.

WHITE WIZZARD bassist and main man JON LEON comments:

"We are happy to announce White Wizzard will be playing direct support to the classic and amazing band Lizzy Borden at the Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood, April 13.  We go on at 11pm sharp.  If you are in LA make sure you buy tickets.  It's going to be an amazing show!!!"

THE DEVIL'S CUT is being recorded with producer RALPH PATLAN (MEGADETH, UFO, MICHAEL SCHENKER) at Phase Four Studios in Tempe, Arizona.  The album is the band's third full-length release, and their first to feature vocalist JOSEPH MICHAEL.  The album is due to be released later this year on Earache Records in Europe and via Century Media/Earache Records in the USA.

WHITE WIZZARD released a demo last year of one of the new tracks, called "Torpedo of Truth".  Listen to the track now at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r08i7qf56AM

WHITE WIZZARD's latest album, 2011's FLYING TIGERS, is available now on CD and coloured vinyl.  Get the album in North America at http://bit.ly/aHWjUL or in Europe at http://bit.ly/a6kLfN

FLYING TIGERS is also available on iTunes at http://bit.ly/HDKO3F

Get more WHITE WIZZARD news and info at:

Official site - http://www.whitewizzardofficial.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/WhiteWizzard
MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/whitewizzard

Helloween- Straight Out Of Hell

   The last Helloween album I paid my hard earned cash with was Chameleon. After hearing that crap I was done with the band. Touted as the next big thing after the 2 classic Keeper releases they lost the talents of Kai Hansen and produced a couple of stinkers. They soldiered on but I wasn't listening.

   I was pleasantly surprised by their last cd 7 Sinners, I had some money on a gift voucher and said what the heck, lets see if there's life left in these guys. It wasn't fantastic but it made me want to hear the new one which I have had on heavy rotation for a couple of weeks now. My verdict? Well it's better then 7 Sinners which I found a little too dark. This one is more like the classic stuff.

   The opening track Nabataea is fantastic, soaring vocals, guitars and drums everywhere and at over 7 minutes is the longest track on the cd. Other highlights are the mid-paced Live Now!, Burning Sun and Make Fire Catch Fly.

   Not every track works though. Far From The Stars just doesn't do it for me, maybe it's one fast track too many and the song Asshole is for want of a better word shit. Hold Me In Your Arms is the one ballad and although it is well written I can see a lot of metalheads reaching for the skip button. Andi Deris is a capable singer but sounds like he strains for the high notes at times. I also would like to have heard the bass guitar more prominent in the mix.

   Overall this is a very good album, fans of the band and power metal in general will lap this stuff up. The musicianship is stellar. The drummer can cancel his gym membership after recording this, he must have legs like tree trunks.

Richie.

http://www.helloween.org/

  

Progressive Death Metallers OKULAR Release Sexforce ; Full Album Stream At AxisOfMetal.com

Norwegian progressive death metal outfit OKULAR have self-released their sophomore effort, Sexforce, today. 

The album boasts nearly a full hour of face-melting progressive death and features guest contributions from BORKNAGAR's Vinstersorg and SUSPERIA's Athera. The CD comes with a 24-page booklet, including full lyrics and one hand-drawn illustration for each song.

The band has joined forces with AxisOfMetal.com for a full album stream of Sexforce. Check it out at this location. 

Order Sexforce at okular.bandcamp.com and facebook.com/okularmetal.

The brainchild of composer/lyricist Andreas Aubert and featuring members from ASPHERIUM and ZEROZONIC, OKULAR again offers the balanced blend of technicality, melody, and brutality first heard on critically acclaimed 2011 debut Probiotic, and yet Sexforce is somehow more accessible and compositionally dynamic than its predecessor. The album's appeal is further enhanced by the appearance of SUSPERIA's Athera who performs half of the lead vocals on 7 of the 13 tracks, while BORKNAGAR's Vintersorg makes a guest appearance on "The Greatest Offender." Lyrically, OKULAR presents poetry describing aspects of the human existence, in a vital and experientially-based form, rather than as philosophical discourse. In a ringing endorsement of Aubert's creation, BORKNAGAR's Øystein G. Brun describes OKULAR as a "death metal parallel" to his own band. It doesn't get much better than that.

Recorded, mixed and co-produced by Marius Strand at Strand Studio, Norway (THE WRETCHED END feat. Samoth from EMPEROR, CHROME DIVISION feat. Shagrath from DIMMU BORGIR). Mastered by Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering - California - U.S.A (SEPULTURA, HALFORD, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, DAATH, ARMORED SAINT etc.).

Andreas Aubert of OKULAR recently published an article about metal music seen from a psychological and meditative perspective. Does Vader have a song with Christian lyrics? Is an equivalent to headbanging used in Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam? Are extreme metalheads afraid of feminine qualities, and therefore also afraid of metalcore? Read the article "Death Metal - Urban Tantra?" to find out, featuring Paul Masvidal and others. 

LINK TO ARTICLE. 

"For those who love interesting death metal it is an absolute recommendation... Immaculately produced, has little to no trouble nestling itself in between the biggest names of brutal death metal. Okular makes technically challenging, brutal death metal, but at the same time they somehow managed to become more accessible." [83/100]- Lords of Metal

"Another impressing effort from one of the most exciting bands Norway has to offer... Sounds refreshingly different to more or less anything out there but at the same time the material is sufficient accessible to appeal to most fans of technical extreme metal." [9/10]- Arctic Metal

  

"A mightily impressive effort from Okular. Fans of acts like Obscura, Opeth, and Meshuggah can't go wrong here. An extremely powerful production and technically outstanding musicianship to top it all off."- Sea of Tranquility

"Okular are required listening for those who enjoy progressive death with dynamic songwriting ethics at hand." "Accessible in certain songs and then very complex in others, but therein lies the appeal to Okular." [8.5/10] - The Metal Pit   

For band bio and info visit www.okularmetal.com and  www.facebook.com/okularmetal/info.