Brazil's Wikimetal podcast recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Mia Coldheart of the Swedish all-girl hard rock quartet CRUCIFIED BARBARA. You can now stream the podcast using the Mixcloud player below. (Note: The Coldheart interview begins around the 11-minute mark.)

CRUCIFIED BARBARA's third studio album, "The Midnight Chase", was released on May 23 in Japan and May 28 in Europe. A North American release via Nuclear Blast is expected this summer. The CD was recorded at Music-A-Matic Vintage Recording Studio in Gothenberg, Sweden with sound engineer Henryk Lipp and producer Chips Kiesby.

Commented guitarist/vocalist Mia Coldheart: "I've never felt this good about anything we've made before. I'm so damn proud of the new songs and the sound is better than ever. We can't wait to go on tour and perform them live!"

Formed in Stockholm in 1998 by bassist Ida Evileye (now-wife of MESHUGGAH drummer Tomas Haake) and guitarist Klara Force, CRUCIFIED BARBARA plays a fiery brand of rock 'n' roll tinged with metal and lashings of punk, pop, thrash, and whatever else dares to cross their path. Ida Evileye dominates her trusty Sandberg bass, Klara Force rocks steady on her '76 Gibson Explorer, Mia Coldheart belts out her unapologetic vocals while riffing all over her Gibson Gothic Flying V, and Nicki Wicked pounds on her hot pink sparkle Yamaha Maple drum kit until you're splayed across the floor with a bull's-eye knock-out punch that'll make you spit your teeth out. Now you know what happens when MOTÖRHEAD mates with THE RUNAWAYS.

No strangers to hard work or success, CRUCIFIED BARBARA's debut single from their 2005 debut, "In Distortion We Trust", climbed to #8 on the Swedish pop chart. They played Australia, toured across Europe opening for MOTÖRHEAD, SEPULTURA, IN FLAMES, and DORO, and earned a prestigious slot alongside BLACK SABBATH, VELVET REVOLVER, and SYSTEM OF A DOWN at the U.K.'s Download festival. With all that touring, it would be four years before the band got around to recording their second album, 2009's "'Til Death Do Us Party". Next thing you know, there they were on national television performing at the 2010 edition of Melodifestivalen, the Swedish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest.

So how did they get their name? The band members attended Denmark's legendary Roskilde Festival and came across something very unexpected in a nearby forest: a blow-up doll (generically called "Barbara" throughout Sweden) attached to a crucifix. And no, they didn't identify with the victim, they claimed the power of the aggressor right on the spot and have never looked back.



"Into The Fire" video:

Photo credit: Tallee Savage / www.savagebeauty.se

Quality video footage of FEAR FACTORY's entire May 21 concert at Ace Of Spades in Sacramento, California can be seen below.

FEAR FACTORY's new album, "The Industrialist", will be released in North America on June 5 via Candlelight Records. The CD is a conceptual record based around a story written by vocalist Burton C. Bell. Lyrics to the album's ten songs divulge the narrative as discussed recently by Bell with Decibel magazine. The album's artwork was created by American designer Anthony Clarkson with additional direction from the band. The album will be available on three formats — standard CD, a limited edition deluxe digi-book (featuring two additional songs), and 180-gram double vinyl.

Bell notes, "The protagonist (The Industrialist) is the incarnation of all industries in the form of an automaton. The mechanical, technological, and scientific advances through the industrial age led to the creation of The Industrialist. In the story, the automaton becomes sentient as it collects memories with each passing day. Through observation and learning, it gains the will to exist. What was meant to help man, will eventually be man's demise."

"The Industrialist" again pairs FEAR FACTORY with producer Rhys Fulber. Mixed by Greg Reely (PARADISE LOST, SKINNY PUPPY, MACHINE HEAD), with additional tracking by Logan Mader (GOJIRA, DIVINE HERESY), the album is the second written by Bell and guitarist Dino Cazares since reuniting in 2009 after a seven-year split. Cazares says, "Collaborating with Burton again on the new album was like magic. Everything just fell into place naturally. It felt good to recapture the true sound of FEAR FACTORY, taking it back to where it all started while raising it to new levels." Regarding Fulber, Cazares says, "Rhys has been our secret member. He is the one producer who has been able to understand what we have been trying to accomplish from the beginning and has opened our eyes to new things without sacrificing our original sound. His production and keyboard talents has made FEAR FACTORY stand out amongst the many bands of our genre."

"The Industrialist" track listing:

01. The Industrialist
02. Recharger
03. New Messiah
04. God Eater
05. Depraved Mind Murder
06. Virus of Faith
07. Difference Engine
08. Dissemble
09. Religion is Flawed Because Man is Flawed
10. Human Augmentation
11. Blush Response (Difference Engine) *
12. Landfill *

* Available on deluxe digibook only

"Recharger" can be purchased via iTunes.

FEAR FACTORY recently enlisted Matt DeVries as the band's new bass player. DeVries, previously of CHIMAIRA (where he played guitar) and most recently SIX FEET UNDER, joined FEAR FACTORY as the replacement for Byron Stroud (now with 3 INCHES OF BLOOD).

FEAR FACTORY has tapped Mike Heller (MALIGNANCY, SYSTEM DIVIDE) as its new touring drummer.

Reverend Ryno of the South Bend, Indiana radio station 103.9 The Bear conducted an interview with vocalist Ivan Moody of Las Vegas metallers FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH at this year's Rock On The Range festival, which was held May 18-20 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. You can now watch the chat below.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH has confirmed the dates for Trespass America, the new summer festival tour the band is launching this year. The trek kicks off on July 13 in Broomfield, Colorado, hitting 31 cities before winding down on August 28 in Los Angeles. KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, POP EVIL, TRIVIUM, GOD FORBID, EMMURE and BATTLECROSS will round out the lineup of the metal-centric package.

The trek is a joint venture with Europe's Metal Hammer magazine, which is sponsoring a U.S. tour for the first time.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH is touring behind its third album, "American Capitalist", which came out last fall and looks likely to be the Las Vegas-based act's third consecutive gold album.

Tommy Carroll of the South Bend, Indiana radio station 103.9 The Bear conducted an interview with "American Idol" finalist James Durbin at this year's Rock On The Range festival, which was held May 18-20 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. You can now watch the chat below.

When asked about his soulful singing style, Durbin said, "I listen to a lot of different music, a lot of rock. Just from the ages… HUMBLE PIE, Steve Marriott. He just got inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame [as part of the SMALL FACES], actually… [LED] ZEPPELIN, QUEEN… I love THE DARKNESS, man. AEROSMITH, THE BEATLES, especially. Look at Axl Rose. He's got soul. He may be a dick, but he's got soul. You can't deny that. And talent. But he's a dick, definitely."

James Durbin's debut album, "Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster", sold around 28,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 36 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD, which was released on November 21, 2011 via Wind-Up Records, contains contributions from songwriters James Michael (SIXX: A.M., MÖTLEY CRÜE) and Marti Frederiksen (AEROSMITH, BUCKCHERRY, OZZY OSBOURNE), along with Swedish rock band HARDCORE SUPERSTAR.

Durbin's current touring band includes former IN THIS MOMENT drummer Jeff Fabb and guitarist Blake Bunzel.

Interview:



"Stand Up" video:

Capital Chaos has uploaded multi-camera video footage of DECREPIT BIRTH's May 9 performance at The Plea For Peace Center in Stockton, California. Check it out below.

DECREPIT BIRTH's third album, "Polarity", sold around 1,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 18 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.

"Polarity" was released on July 27, 2010 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD artwork was completed by cult artist Dan Seagrave (MORBID ANGEL, ENTOMBED, SUFFOCATION).

Drums for "Polarity" were tracked at Sharkbite Studios (MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS) in Oakland with producer Zack Ohren (ALL SHALL PERISH, SUFFOCATION, IMMOLATION) while the rest of the recordings were overseen by guitarist Matt Sotelo before the entire effort was mixed by Ohren at Castle Ultimate Studios.

This past Friday's (May 25) TRIVIUM concert at Exit/In in Nashville, Tennessee was streamed live at Livestream.com. You can now watch the entire performance (including the pre-show soundcheck) below.

TRIVIUM's latest album, "In Waves", sold 22,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 13 on The Billboard 200 chart — the highest U.S. chart entry of the band's career. The group's previous CD, "Shogun", opened with just under 24,000 units back in October 2008 to debut at No. 23. The effort followed up "The Crusade", which registered a first-week tally of 31,000 copies in October 2006 to enter the chart at No. 25.

"In Waves" was recorded primarily at Paint It Black Studios in Orlando, Florida (with only the drums having been tracked at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida) with the production/mixing team of Colin Richardson (MACHINE HEAD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, SLIPKNOT, FEAR FACTORY) and Martin "Ginge" Ford, along with engineer Carl Bown. A two-disc special edition is also available. It features five bonus tracks, plus a DVD with a 40-minute, behind-the-scenes documentary, as well as an exclusive concert filmed in a warehouse located in Orlando, Florida, which is the band's stomping grounds. This concert features the first performances of tracks from "In Waves", along with TRIVIUM classics.

Thick and Nuber of the Columbus, Ohio radio station 99.7 The Blitz conducted an interview with ANTHRAX vocalist Joey Belladonna at this year's Rock On The Range festival, which was held May 18-20 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. You can now watch the chat below.

When ANTHRAX was given the choice of playing this summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival main stage or the festival's Jägermeister Stage, the band opted to headline the latter, and to do something special for the crowd.

Explained ANTHRAX's Charlie Benante, "We decided to pattern the Mayhem set on the kind of shows the RAMONES used to do: a high-energy, non-stop barrage of hit, hit, hit, hit, hit. No lulls, no filler, totally in your face. We're going to be playing a supersonic-paced set loaded with the best of our best."

"We really like the idea of not 'playing to seats,'" added Scott Ian, "and we want our crowd to have the freedom to move around, to go crazy with us. Plus, we've been on the road together now for about two years, so we're tighter as a band than we've ever been. Our Mayhem set will be a fun, fast and furious 45-minutes, so they'd better have the EMTs on hand."

Since vocalist Joey Belladonna rejoined the ANTHRAX lineup two years ago, ANTHRAX has made one of the most impressive comebacks in rock 'n' roll. As one of the "Big Four," the original architects of speed and thrash-metal, ANTHRAX joined METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH during the summer of 2010 on a series of "Big Four" shows in ten European cities, followed by a "Big Four" show outside of Los Angeles at the Coachella site (April 2011), and the big "homecoming" event for the New York-born-and-bred band members at Yankee Stadium last September.

The band released "Worship Music" on September 13, 2011, its first new album in eight years and the first with Belladonna on vocals in twenty years. "Worship Music" debuted at No. 12 on The Billboard 200 chart, received stellar reviews that included being named one of the best albums of the year in countless media outlets.

"A Silhouette", the new video from the Denmark-based symphonic metal band EVIL MASQUERADE, can be seen below. The song comes off the group's fifth album, "Pentagram", which was released on May 21 via Dark Minstrel Music. The CD was once again produced by guitarist Henrik Flyman and mixed by Tommy Hansen (JORN, HELLOWEEN) at Jailhouse Studios in Denmark.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Pentagram
02. A Silhouette
03. Perfect Disgrace
04. The Spirits of the Dead
05. Moonlight Fantasy
06. Unholy Water
07. Pray For Mercy On Our Souls
08. Soul Taker
09. On a Bed of Thorns
10. Strangers Might Fool Ya
11. When the Fire Dies
12. The Golden Ratio

A video teaser for "Pentagram" can be seen below. Also available is the final CD artwork.

The music on "Pentagram" is described as heavily influenced by such bands as DIO, BLACK SABBATH and RAINBOW.

EVIL MASQUERADE is:

* Henrik Flyman (MOAHNI MOAHNA, ZOOL, WUTHERING HEIGHTS) - Guitar
* Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS) - Vocals
* Dennis Buhl - Drums
* Thor Jeppesen - Bass
* Artur Meinild - Keyboards

EVIL MASQUERADE's fourth album, "Fade To Black", was released in January 2009 via Escape Music. The follow-up to 2006's "Third Act" was mixed and mastered by Tommy Hansen and featured a guest appearance by former RAINBOW keyboardist Tony Carey.

WMMR's Preston and Steve conducted an interview with Los Angeles glam-metal jokesters STEEL PANTHER at the annual MMRBQ on May 20 at Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, New Jersey. You can now watch the chat below.

STEEL PANTHER's sophomore album, "Balls Out", sold nearly 12,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 40 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released on November 1 via Universal Republic Records, the follow-up to 2009's "Feel The Steel" contains 14 soon-to-be classics such as "Just Like Tiger Woods", "Gold Digging Whore" and "Weenie Ride". The album also features cameos by Dane Cook on the album opener "In The Future" and NICKELBACK frontman Chad Kroeger and EXTREME axeman Nuno Bettencourt show up on an instant classic "It Won't Suck Itself". "Balls Out" was produced by Grammy-nominated producer/mixer Jay Ruston who produced the band's "Feel The Steel" debut and is known for his work with ANTHRAX, MEAT LOAF, THE DONNAS and MORRISSEY, to name a few.

When asked what lessons STEEL PANTHER learned from its 2009 debut, "Feel The Steel", that he and his bandmates applied to this new album, guitarist Satchel told Guitar International, "It's funny because we haven't learned any lessons from our first record. We don't even think of it as our sophomore album, we think of it as our second debut release. Many bands will try to make a different-sounding record for their second release, but we couldn't really get any better than our first record. Our first record was awesome, so we decided to go in and make the same record for our second album, just better. We didn't really grow as writers. We didn't grow as musicians. In fact, I think I got a little bit worse . . . But because of that it's much better. It's kind of like a fine wine. If you let it sit there and let it get moldy, that's what they do with wine, right? Then you let the mold fester in the bottom of the bottle, that's what our music is like on this record. We're like a moldy cheese that's been left out in the sun all summer. You wouldn't think that it would taste good at the end of the summer, but surprisingly, it does. That's us in a nutshell."

STEEL PANTHER is Michael Starr (vocals), Satchel (guitar), Lexxi Foxx (bass) and Stix Zadinia (drums).

TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider was recently interviewed on "Better", a nationally syndicated lifestyle TV show. You can watch video footage of his appearance on the program in two parts below.

Dee's new studio album, "Dee Does Broadway", was released on May 8 via Razor & Tie. The CD features Dee's powerful voice and theatrical persona as he exudes his rock ' n' roll take on several Broadway classics. The new album coincided with the release of his first-ever autobiography, "Shut Up And Give Me The Mic" (Gallery Books) on May 8.

"Dee Does Broadway" features several special guest stars, including Broadway and television icon Bebe Neuwirth on the DAMN YANKEES song "Whatever Lola Wants", Broadway legend Patti LuPone on a "West Side Story" medley "Tonight/Somewhere", pop icon Cyndi Lauper on SWEET CHARITY's "Big Spender", Clay Aiken of "American Idol" on the GUYS AND DOLLS classic "Luck Be a Lady Tonight", the stars of the Broadway hit musical "Priscilla Queen Of The Desert" (Will Swenson, Tony Sheldon, and Nick Adams) on SOUTH PACIFIC's "There Is Nothin' Like A Dame", Mark Wood of the TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA playing violin on the "Phantom Of The Opera" ballad "Music Of The Night", as well a special rendition of "The Joint Is Jumpin" from "Ain't Misbehavin'" with Dee's oldest son, Jesse "Blaze" Snider. Songs are also featured from classic Broadway shows including "Cabaret", "Chicago", "The Threepenny Opera", "Anything Goes" and "Sweeney Todd".

Snider's first-ever autobiography, "Shut Up And Give Me The Mic", was released on May 8 via Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.

Filled with entertaining anecdotes and candid confessions, "Shut Up And Give Me The Mic" takes you through the good times and bad with a heavy metal star who worked as hard as he played, and who did it all for his wife, four kids, and millions of fans. As lead singer and songwriter of TWISTED SISTER, Dee Snider became the poster boy for heavy metal, hair bands, and the wild side of rock. Now, in his twisted new memoir, he reveals the real stories behind the crazy makeup, the big hair, and badass hits like "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock". In his journey from every parent's worst teenage nightmare to Renaissance man, Dee avoided the usual pitfalls associated with rock stars. But that didn't stop Tipper Gore and the Parents Music Resource Center from targeting him — a fight that led him to testify before Congress with Frank Zappa. He may have been slapped with a Parental Advisory warning label, but, through it all, Snider stayed positive and focused on being the best he could be.

Part 1:



Part 2:

HADES singer Alan Tecchio has released the following statement regarding the band's previously announced appearance at this year's edition of the Headbangers Open Air festival, set to take place July 26-28 in Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany:

"I just wanted to clear the air on the upcoming HADES gig at the Headbangers Open Air festival in Germany. Get it — clear the 'air'... LOL.

"Anyway, unfortunately, [HADES guitarist] Dan Lorenzo decided not to play the show and no one else in the band wanted to do it without him since he is the band's founder. I felt the same way initially. However, since the promoters had already been advertising us for over eight months, I felt an obligation to deliver on our promise to play. We finally came to an agreement that our set will be billed as 'A Night Of Hades Music With Alan Tecchio & Friends' and we will exclusively play music from the first two HADES records.

"In all fairness, bassist Kevin Bolembach, who has been in HADES now for the past few years, will be on bass and Ron Lipnicki from OVERKILL (who was also on one HADES CD — 'DamNation') will be on drums, so there is at least some related HADES history there for two of the players and myself.

"Personally, I hate it when I see a band and there is only one original member left so I came as close to getting former members as I could.

"On guitar, Jack Frost [SEVEN WITCHES, ex-SAVATAGE] immediately offered to help since I am in the early stages of writing a new SEVEN WITCHES CD with him anyway. He suggested his friend and bandmate in a local cover band, Sean Tarr, as the second guitarist. I checked out Sean at a gig and he really blew me away. So that took care of the axemen.

"We have not started rehearsals yet so I cannot say how we sound at this point, but I am confident we will be able to pull the gig off.

"Hopefully the fans will now understand the story behind this strange lineup."

Lorenzo issued a statement earlier in the month saying that he was pulling out of the Headbangers Open Air gig because it would have required of him "to work at least an hour or two a day for months to play the songs adequately." He added, "Playing 25-year-old songs just isn't where my head and heart is this year."

A four-minute interview with CHICKENFOOT can be seen below.

CHICKENFOOT's sophomore album, "III", sold 42,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 9 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's self-titled debut opened with 49,000 units back in June 2009 to debut at No. 6.

"III" was produced by Mike Fraser (AC/DC, METALLICA) and is the much-anticipated follow-up album to the successful eponymous debut of a rock band packed with successful veterans.

Featuring guitar hero Joe Satriani and former VAN HALEN members Michael Anthony (bass) and Sammy Hagar (vocals), CHICKENFOOT's touring lineup includes legendary drummer/musician Kenny Aronoff, who is filling in for Chad Smith while Smith hits the road with his main band, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS.

According to JonLord.org, former DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord will make his first live appearance this year on July 6 during a special performance of the Durham Concerto in Hagen, Germany.

The concert is rounding off Jon's stretch as this year's "composer in residence" with the Hagen Philharmonic Orchestra near Dortmund. To this end, the orchestra has been performing several of his pieces over the past few months, most recently a breathtaking performance of "From Darkness To Light", which was broadcast by German radio WDR3 on May 15.

About that performance, Jon later wrote to Hagen's conductor Florian Ludwig: "It was a truly wonderful and emotional experience sitting in my house in England and listening to the glorious sounds you were making in Hagen — wanting to be there and yet in a way happy that you could not see me with the tears in my eyes. The piece means a very great deal to me, and you played it as if you had looked into my heart and soul and found what I was thinking and feeling as I wrote it."

For the concert on July 6, and subject to the continued progress of his recovery from cancer, Jon will play Hammond organ on his Durham Concerto and piano on a further selection of his solo pieces mixed with works by other composers connected to Jon and his music.

SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser joined German thrash veterans KREATOR on stage this past Friday (May 25) at the Rock In Rio Lisboa festival in Lisbon, Portugal to perform the songs "Extreme Aggression" and "People Of The Lie". Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below.

KREATOR's new album, "Phantom Antichrist", will be released on June 1 in Europe and June 5 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden with renowned producer Jens Bogren (OPETH, KATATONIA, SOILWORK, DEVIN TOWNSEND, AMON AMARTH).

SEPULTURA is touring in support of its 12th studio album, and Nuclear Blast Records debut, "Kairos", which hit stores in July 2011.

Sebastian Bach spent time in California earlier this week shooting a new episode of the Showtime hit TV show "Californication". Bach says, "I had an incredible time shooting the show! David [Duchovny] was a truly awesome guy as was the whole cast and crew. Including my buddy Steve Jones of the SEX PISTOLS!"

Bach previously said that he "play[ed] a guitar player" on the show. He added, "My role on the show is killer and interesting and I am honored to be part of 'Californication''s sixth season!"

"Californication" is an American dramedy television series that centers on novelist Hank Moody (David Duchovny), who moves to California and suffers from writer's block, which complicates his relationships with his longtime girlfriend Karen (Natascha McElhone) and daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin). The show has been nominated for and has won several awards, including winning one Emmy Award (nominated for two others) and one Golden Globe Award (nominated for three others).

"Boss's Daughter", the new video from Grand Rapids, Michigan hard rockers POP EVIL, can be seen below. Featuring the likes of Playboy playmate Jessa Hinton and the song's co-writer Mick Mars of MÖTLEY CRÜE, the clip was directed by Nathan "Karma" Cox, who has previously worked with LINKIN PARK, BLACK VEIL BRIDES and MARILYN MANSON, among many others.

Fast cars, hot women and good ol' American rock and roll are three main ingredients that make up POP EVIL, and all of the above hits you square in the jaw in this new video.

"This video is the best depiction of the energy we bring during our live performance," says POP EVIL frontman Leigh Kakaty. "Mick and Jessa were terrific to work with! Nathan and his crew made a killer all-American rock and roll video."

POP EVIL's latest album, "War Of Angels", came out last July to much critical praise. The CD was helmed by Grammy Award-nominated producer/engineer Johnny K, who has previously worked with MEGADETH, DISTURBED and SOIL, among others.

The band will embark on the "Trespass America Festival" tour in July/August with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, TRIVIUM, EMMURE, GOD FORBID and BATTLECROSS.

POP EVIL is Leigh Kakaty (lead vocals), Chachi Riot (drums), Davey Grahs (guitar) and Matt DiRito (bass).

Boulevard Brutal recently conducted an interview with drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz of Florida death metallers CANNIBAL CORPSE. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.

CANNIBAL CORPSE's twelfth studio album, "Torture", sold 9,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 38 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous CD, "Evisceration Plague", also opened with 9,600 units to land at No. 66. That was more than 50 percent higher than the opening tally of CANNIBAL CORPSE's 2006 CD, "Kill", which entered the chart at No. 170 after shifting more than 6,000 copies.

"Torture" was again produced by HATE ETERNAL's Erik Rutan at his own Mana Recording Studio in St. Petersburg, Florida as well as Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, and features the maniacal cover art by longtime CANNIBAL CORPSE artist Vincent Locke.

While "Torture" marks the latest progression in the band's sound, it also witnesses a return to what drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz accurately terms "the frenzied attack of 'Butchered At Birth' (1991) or 'Tomb Of The Mutilated' (1992)," infusing the band's advanced musicianship with the raw savagery that haunted their earlier releases, and in the process conceiving the definitive CANNIBAL CORPSE record.

Interview (audio):

WMMR's Pierre Robert conducted an interview with the Jacksonville, Florida-based hard rock/post-grunge band SHINEDOWN at the annual MMRBQ on May 20 at Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, New Jersey. You can now watch the chat below.

SHINEDOWN's fourth studio album, titled "Amaryllis", sold 106,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 4 on The Billboard 200 chart.

SHINEDOWN landed the biggest debut of its career in July 2008 when its third album, "The Sound Of Madness", sold 50,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at No. 8 on the Billboard Top 200. This marked the first Top 10 album of the band's career.

"Amaryllis" arrived in stores almost four years after the band issued "The Sound Of Madness".

The first single from "Amaryllis", "Bully", topped the rock radio charts. The new single is called "Unity".

The million-selling "The Sound Of Madness" yielded six chart-topping singles like "Second Chance", "Devour", "If You Only Knew" and the title track. It debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200, spending 120 weeks on the album chart.

SHINEDOWN recently headlined the 2012 edition of the Avalanche Tour, with ADELITAS WAY, NEW MEDICINE and ART OF DYING also on the bill.

WatchMojo.com recently conducted an interview with vocalist Marc Hudson and bassist Frédéric Leclercq of British epic power metallers DRAGONFORCE. You can now watch the chat in two parts below.

DRAGONFORCE's new album, "The Power Within", sold 5,800 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 74 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous CD, "Ultra Beatdown", opened with 24,000 units back in September 2008 to land at No. 18.

DRAGONFORCE has just returned to North America for a spring tour. This outing marks the band's first trek with brand Hudson, who also makes his recorded debut on "The Power Within".

The tour kicked off April 21 at the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival and will make several stops on the East Coast before winding through Canada and into the Midwest before wrapping out west on May 11 in Anaheim, California.

"The Power Within" was released in the U.K. on April 16 via the band's own Electric Generation Recordings, distributed by Essential Music.

Interview:





"The Power Within" preview:

Matthew Gacek of Rock Scarz magazine recently conducted an interview with vocalist Burton C. Bell of Los Angeles cyber metallers FEAR FACTORY. You can now watch the chat below.

FEAR FACTORY's new album, "The Industrialist", will be released in North America on June 5 via Candlelight Records. The CD is a conceptual record based around a story written by vocalist Burton C. Bell. Lyrics to the album's ten songs divulge the narrative as discussed recently by Bell with Decibel magazine. The album's artwork was created by American designer Anthony Clarkson with additional direction from the band. The album will be available on three formats — standard CD, a limited edition deluxe digi-book (featuring two additional songs), and 180-gram double vinyl.

Bell notes, "The protagonist (The Industrialist) is the incarnation of all industries in the form of an automaton. The mechanical, technological, and scientific advances through the industrial age led to the creation of The Industrialist. In the story, the automaton becomes sentient as it collects memories with each passing day. Through observation and learning, it gains the will to exist. What was meant to help man, will eventually be man's demise."

"The Industrialist" again pairs FEAR FACTORY with producer Rhys Fulber. Mixed by Greg Reely (PARADISE LOST, SKINNY PUPPY, MACHINE HEAD), with additional tracking by Logan Mader (GOJIRA, DIVINE HERESY), the album is the second written by Bell and guitarist Dino Cazares since reuniting in 2009 after a seven-year split. Cazares says, "Collaborating with Burton again on the new album was like magic. Everything just fell into place naturally. It felt good to recapture the true sound of FEAR FACTORY, taking it back to where it all started while raising it to new levels." Regarding Fulber, Cazares says, "Rhys has been our secret member. He is the one producer who has been able to understand what we have been trying to accomplish from the beginning and has opened our eyes to new things without sacrificing our original sound. His production and keyboard talents has made FEAR FACTORY stand out amongst the many bands of our genre."

"The Industrialist" track listing:

01. The Industrialist
02. Recharger
03. New Messiah
04. God Eater
05. Depraved Mind Murder
06. Virus of Faith
07. Difference Engine
08. Dissemble
09. Religion is Flawed Because Man is Flawed
10. Human Augmentation
11. Blush Response (Difference Engine) *
12. Landfill *

* Available on deluxe digibook only

"Recharger" can be purchased via iTunes.

FEAR FACTORY recently enlisted Matt DeVries as the band's new bass player. DeVries, previously of CHIMAIRA (where he played guitar) and most recently SIX FEET UNDER, joined FEAR FACTORY as the replacement for Byron Stroud (now with 3 INCHES OF BLOOD).

FEAR FACTORY has tapped Mike Heller (MALIGNANCY, SYSTEM DIVIDE) as its new touring drummer.

Interview:



"Recharger" performance:

RockNLive.org recently conducted an interview with legendary guitarist Michael Schenker. You can now watch the chat below.

Michael Schenker May 13 concert at O13 in Tilburg, Holland was reportedly filmed for DVD release.

Schenker's "Temple Of Rock" European tour marked the first time Schenker's band featured two fellow ex-SCORPIONS members — Herman Rarebell (drums) and Francis Buchholz (bass). Vocalist Doogie White (ex-RAINBOW and YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) and keyboardist Wayne Findlay completed the lineup.

The European concerts featured a plethora of hits spanning Michael Schenker's colorful career. Songs that were performed by the "Temple Of Rock" lineup included UFO's "Rock Bottom" and "Doctor Doctor", MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP's "Armed and Ready" and "Into The Arena", SCORPIONS classics "Another Piece Of Meat" and "Rock You Like A Hurricane", plus new songs from the recently released "Temple Of Rock" album "Miss Claustrophobia" and "Before The Devil Knows You're Dead".

Fan-filmed video footage of Schenker's May 5 concert at Sala Totem in Pamplona, Spain can be seen below.

Interview:



Performance:

Matt Bishop conducted an interview with guitarist Bill Kelliher of Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON at this year's Rock On The Range festival, which was held May 18-20 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. You can now watch the chat below.

MASTODON is touring in support of its latest album "The Hunter", which was released by Reprise Records in September. The band's latest trek kicked off on April 4 in Portland, Maine, and visited more than 30 cities in the U.S. and Canada before wrapping up with a hometown show at Atlanta's Masquerade Music Park on May 12. These shows featured Swedish metal band OPETH as co-headliners, with special guest GHOST providing support on all dates.

MASTODON last month released a split seven-inch single with Canadian singer-songwriter Feist to celebrate Record Store Day. This very exclusive and highly anticipated pressing features MASTODON covering the Feist song "A Commotion", while Feist covers MASTODON's "Black Tongue".

MASTODON was among the nominees for the 54th annual Grammy Awards, which was held on February 12 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The band's Grammy nomination was for "Curl Of The Burl", the first single from MASTODON's new album, "The Hunter".

MASTODON received its first Grammy nomination in 2006 for the single "Colony Of Birchmen", from the band's Reprise Records debut album, "Blood Mountain".

WMMR's Pierre Robert and Matt Cord conducted an interview with Slash and Myles Kennedy at the annual MMRBQ on May 20 at Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, New Jersey. You can now watch the chat below.

Slash's second solo album, "Apocalyptic Love", is likely to sell between 30,000 and 35,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, according to industry web site Hits Daily Double. The estimate was based on one-day sales reports compiled after the record arrived in stores on May 22 via Slash's own label Dik Hayd International distributed through EMI.

Slash's self-titled debut album scored the highest new entry on The Billboard 200 chart in April 2010, with first-week U.S. sales of around 60,000 copies.

In the U.K., "Apocalyptic Love" was released on May 21 in exclusive Classic Rock Fan Pack form — providing a unique collectable package containing the studio album with bonus tracks alongside a specially created magazine with unseen behind-the-scenes content put together by Classic Rock. The Fan Pack format also comes with free gifts, including a pin badge and artwork poster and is available to buy via more than 2000 retail outlets on newsstands nationally as well as the traditional high street and online music retailers. Roadrunner Records simultaneously released the record digitally. The standard physical release of the Slash album will follow through Roadrunner Records on June 18.

"Apocalyptic Love" track listing:

01. Apocalyptic Love
02. One Last Thrill
03. Standing In The Sun
04. You're A Lie
05. No More Heroes
06. Halo
07. We Will Roam
08. Anastasia
09. Not For Me
10. Bad Rain
11. Hard & Fast
12. Far And Away
13. Shots Fired

Parker Yowell of Sick Drummer Magazine conducted an interview with drummer Simon McKay of Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based melodic death metallers THE AGONIST prior to the band's May 15 concert in Baltimore, Maryland. You can now watch the chat below.

THE AGONIST's long-awaited third studio album, "Prisoners", will be released on June 4 in Europe and June 5 in North America via Century Media Records. The CD was produced by Christian Donaldson (CRYPTOPSY) and mixed by Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, DARK TRANQUILLITY, SUICIDE SILENCE) and it "picks right up where 2009's 'Lullabies For The Dormant Mind' left off, with soaring melodies over complex metal passages that fans of thinking-man's metal can appreciate," according to a press release.

In regards to the album artwork, THE AGONIST frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz states: "We wanted to really include a chaotic visual to reflect the chaotic sound of the band, but we also wanted to show that the lyrics on this album are a lot more introverted…The human face was left non-descript on purpose — it doesn't belong to any particular person, but we could call him the Lonely Solipsist."

"Prisoners" track listing:

01. You're Coming With Me
02. The Escape
03. Predator & Prayer
04. Anxious Darwinians
05. Panophobia
06. Ideomotor
07. Lonely Solipsist
08. Dead Ocean
09. The Mass Of The Earth
10. Everybody Wants You (Dead)
11. Revenge Of The Dadaists

In a recent interview with MetalConcerts.net, Alissa White-Gluz stated about the musical direction of the follow-up to 2009's "Lullabies For A Dormant Mind", "I wouldn't say it's heavier or more melodic. I think it sounds more mature. It has the same sort of schizophrenic side that 'Lullabies' has, but it also has some other I guess what you would call classic influences. Like, there's some PANTERA influence, there's some RADIOHEAD influence. I mean, there's a lot of influences that we didn't really have before."

Interview:

Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt of Boston hard rockers EXTREME performed the national anthem yesterday (Saturday, May 26) at at Fenway Park during the Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays game. Field-level video footage of the performance can be seen below. The clip was filmed by Darren Parker, who has proclaimed himself one of Nuno's biggest fans. The band and fans know him as NunoFreak. Darren has an inoperable brain tumor, rendering him unable to work as his medical bills are mounting.

A fundraiser is being held on June 23 at Sleep's Bar & Grill in Bluffs, Illinois which will include an auction, donations and freewill. Darren's dream was to have Nuno show up, but, unfortunately, Nuno will be in London on tour with Rihanna. Bettencourt came up with a solution to help.

Last week, Nuno surprised Darren by calling him on the phone and invited him to be his special guest with Gary for the Red Sox game. This generous offer included Darren to be on the field when they performed the national anthem. After the performance, Nuno gifted him one of his Washburn Nuno Bettencourt N4 guitars so Darren can auction it on eBay to help cover his medical expenses. The Red Sox has kindly agreed to let Darren come in the afternoon to watch soundcheck and then stay in the park to watch batting practice. "We are making this real special for him," stated Bettencourt. After the phone call with Nuno, Darren sent management an e-mail saying that he "literally had to pull the car over on the side of the road for 20 minutes to just process the conversation he just had with Nuno."

For more information on the fundraiser, visit Darren's web site.

Former DIO and current DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell will perform a couple of songs with Los Angeles glam-metal jokesters STEEL PANTHER this coming Monday, May 28 at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, California. Vivian says, "Those guys are great and I'm really looking forward to playing with them again."

Vivian previously performed DEF LEPPARD's "Rock Of Ages" and DIO's "Rainbow In The Dark" with STEEL PANTHER at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, California in January. Video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

Campbell revealed late last month that he is planning to join forces with three other original DIO members to play "some gigs" that will see the musicians performing material from the early DIO records that Campbell appeared on. Campbell, Vinny Appice (drums), Jimmy Bain (bass) and Claude Schnell (keyboards) will be accompanied by singer Andrew Freeman, who has previously fronted HURRICANE and LYNCH MOB.