Confirming rumours of a split with drummer Daniel Zimmermann, GAMMA RAY have issued a new video message introducing new skinbaser Michael Ehré (ULI JON ROTH, METALIUM). Check it out below:

No other details were provided as to why Daniel has left and as of yet, no official statement has been made by Daniel.

Gamma Ray (with Daniel) 2010

Mayhem is a US metal festival sponsored by Rockstar Energy Drink that has been around since 2008. It usually has a mix of current popular bands and some classic ones. One of the good things about Mayhem is that it always books large venues that are nearby for me, like Toyota Pavilion in Scranton, Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, and PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. If there are bands playing that I love, I can hit multiple shows. This year’s version has metal heavyweights Slayer, Motorhead, and Anthrax, which are 3 of my all-time favorite bands. Therefore, in addition to this show in Scranton, I caught the Camden one the week before as well. Today marks my 12th Motorhead show, 9th Anthrax show, and 5th Slayer show and I intend to keep adding to those totals!
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Italian metal band SECRET SPHERE sings worlwide management deal with Germany’s ROCK N GROWL MANAGEMENT.

Guitarist Aldo Lonobile says: “We are excited to welcome ROCK N GROWL to the SECRET SPHERE family and we look forward to making big stept in taking SECRET SPHERE to the masses. Our goal is get out and play to as many people as possible over the next few years, and with Axel’s experience and extensive network of contacts, we are confident we have the right guy beside us“.

SECRET SPHERE recently announced new vocalist Michele Luppi to the group’s ranks. Michele Luppi is one of the top class italian singer’s, well known for his past work with Italy’s Vision Divine, finnish power/progessive metal band Thaurorod and Italy’s Killing Touch.

The band’s current lineup consists of the following:

Aldo Lonobile – Rythm and lead guitar
Michele Luppi – Vocals
Andrea Buratto – Bass
Gabriele Ciaccia – Keyboards
Marco Pastorino – Rythm guitars
Federico Pennazzato – Drums

“Portrait of a Dying Heart“, the band’s seventh LP, is scheduled for a 2012 release date through Warner Music (Japan) and Scarlet Records (Rest of World).

SECRET SPHERE, a name guaranteed to make every metal freak’s heart beat faster with excitement and anticipation. Crediting bands like HELLOWEEN, ANGRA, DREAM THEATER and SAVATAGE as their biggest influences, SECRET SPHERE manage to honour the heritage of such big names while creating their very own brand of METAL.

www.secretsphere.org
www.facebook.com/secretsphere

OBSCENE EXTREME 2012:

RETURN TO BATTLEFIELD TRUTNOV

Trutnov, Czech  July 2012

by Ryan Bartek with pics by Curby

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Progressive power metal troupe, VISION DIVINE, recently posted a new track, “Mermaids From Their Moons,” from their forthcoming new full-length. Titled Destination Set To Nowhere, the 11-track concept album is scheduled to drop in North America on September 18, 2012 via Eagle Rock imprint Armoury Records. Featuring founding guitarist/songwriter Olaf Thorsen (Labyrinth) and singer Fabio Lione (Rhapsody, Rhapsody Of Fire, Kamelot live), the band’s seventh studio offering delivers a melting pot of epic metal anthems with a futuristic concept that follows a man’s journey through outer space in a quest to escape the social and political injustices of Earth.

In a 4.5/5 rating Metal Underground commended the band for their “beautiful classic progressive elements blended with driving riffs,” Metal Temple applauded VISION DIVINE for offering “an accessible showcase of musical prowess and utter creativity to step into what could be in the not so far future,” and crowned the release a candidate for album of the year, while Axis Of Metal notes: “VISION DIVINE really perfect that floating, futuristic atmosphere that bands like Pagan’s Mind, Manticora and Alchemist also feature heavily in their power metal.”

VISION DIVINE:
Fabio Lione – Vocals
Olaf Thorsen – Guitars
Federico Puleri – Guitars
Alessio Lucatti – Keyboards, Piano
Andrea “Tower” Torricini – Bass
Alessandro Bissa – Drums

http://www.visiondivine.com
https://www.facebook.com/visiondivineofficial
http://www.eaglerockent.com
https://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Soilwork 2012 (Photo by Hannah Verbeuren)

Swedish melodic metal maestros, SOILWORK, are currently in the studio with producer Jens Bogren (OPETH, AMON AMARTH, BLOODBATH) recording the follow-up to their 2010 release The Panic Broadcast. The Soilworkers have been toiling away and burning many a midnight oil to bring us not just one CD of amazing music, but two! That’s right, SOILWORK’s upcoming album The Living Infinite will be a double album!

Commented vocalist Björn “Speed” Strid:

“So here’s the scoop. Me and the boys have been waiting to share this for quite some time now: The Living Infinite will be a double album! A REAL double album, in the true sense of the word, which means no fillers and no left-overs.

I’ve been wanting to do this for a while and I proposed the idea to the rest of the guys in the band, during our festival tour last summer. Everybody liked the title The Living Infinite and also the idea of working towards the goal of releasing a double album. David Andersson was already playing with us last summer, so he has also been a part of this goal from the start. I feel very excited and proud that we’ve managed to find the inspiration and dedication it takes to create somewhat of a conceptual double album, especially since it’s dealing with a lot of existential questions.

We would also like to reveal a brand new band shot by Hannah Verbeuren Photography. We are currently hard at work in the studio, putting this beast on tape. Things are sounding incredibly good so far. So excited about this and can’t wait to share the awesomeness with you all!”

The Living Infinite, will also mark the recording debut of long-time touring guitarist David Andersson (NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA).

The Panic Broadcast debuted on US Billboard charts at #88 upon its release in July 2010.

For more info visit: www.soilwork.org |www.facebook.com/soilwork | www.nuclearblast.de/soilwork

Burbank Leader has revealed more information about the arrest of former RAINBOW and DIO bassist Jimmy Bain on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs.

According to Sgt. Darin Ryburn of the Burbank, California police department, Bain, 64, was making a left out of the Fry’s Home Electronics store parking lot in his 1995 green Toyota Camry on to westbound Vanowen Street, near Hollywood Way, about 9 p.m. Tuesday night (August 28) when he pulled in front another vehicle, causing a collision.

Police officers administered a field sobriety test, but Bain “failed to satisfactorily pass it,” Ryburn told the Burbank Leader. They also discovered the musician was in possession of Vicodin pills without a valid prescription.

Bain, who had an outstanding felony warrant for drugs, was arrested on suspicion of DUI, possessing narcotic pills and the warrant, Ryburn said. He was released Wednesday after posting $60,000 bail.

The rocker is scheduled to appear in a Los Angeles County Superior courtroom on September 19.

Bain last month released the first video (see below) from his new band THE KEY. “Victims” is the title track from the group’s forthcoming debut CD and it features Mikkey Dee (MOTÖRHEAD, KING DIAMOND) on drums, Karl Cochran (ACE FREHLEY, JOE LYNN TURNER) on guitar and Bain on bass, guitar and vocals. Jimmy says, “We shot [the clip] during the ‘Occupy L.A.’ demonstrations, a cause I can really relate to.”

VAN HALEN has released the following statement:

“Eddie Van Halen underwent an emergency surgery for a severe bout of diverticulitis. No further surgeries are needed and a full recovery is expected within four [to] six months.

“VAN HALEN’s scheduled November 2012 tour of Japan is currently being rescheduled and the band looks forward to seeing and playing for their fans in 2013.”

According to WebMD, diverticulosis happens when pouches (diverticula) form in the wall of the colon. If these pouches get inflamed or infected, it is called diverticulitis. Diverticulitis can be very painful.

VAN HALEN recently canceled the 31 North American tour dates it initially postponed in May.

Both singer David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen denied rumors that they were fighting again on the road, with fatigue and an over-ambitious schedule given as the reasons for curtailing the group’s live work.

Eddie told Guitar World in a new interview that the band intends to stick around for a while, saying, “It feels more like a band and a family than it ever has . . . We’re all very opinionated about things, but it’s all for the benefit of the music.”

The band has been supporting its new album, “A Different Kind Of Truth”, VAN HALEN’s first album in 14 years and first with Roth since 1984.

Black Country Communion – Afterglow

Black Country Communion the Anglo-American rock group comprising vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze), drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner), Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Alice Cooper, Billy Idol) and blues-rock guitarist/vocalist Joe Bonamassa, release their third album, ‘Afterglow’, via Mascot Records on Monday October 29th.

Just like its two predecessors, ‘Afterglow’ was overseen by Kevin Shirley, whose catalogue of hit records for Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, Journey, The Black Crowes and many more has made him the hottest producer that rock music has to offer. Shirley – who had the idea of putting Hughes and Bonamassa together in a band together after seeing them jamming onstage in Los Angeles back in November 2009 – is the group’s unofficial ‘fifth member’.

The additions of Jason Bonham, esteemed son of Led Zeppelin’s John, who took his father’s place when the legendary group made musical history by reuniting at London’s O2 Arena in December 2007, and the in-demand Derek Sherinian, made them a force to be reckoned with. An air of expectancy and excitement greets the unveiling of ‘Afterglow’.

When issued in September 2010, BCC’s self-titled debut was described by Classic Rock magazine as “Possibly the best hard rock album of 2010”, whilst Mojo magazine awarded it 4 stars. Music Radar hailed the disc as “a potent and stomping collection of riff-heavy rockers that will undoubtedly stun listeners.”

During its first week of release in the UK the album hit the #1 spot in the Official Top 40 Rock Album Chart. It was voted #3 in Classic Rock magazine’s “Critics Album of the Year” poll, and listeners of Planet Rock Radio crowned BCC as the Best New Band of 2010.

Issued a mere nine months later, in time for a well received slot at the High Voltage Festival in London, ‘Black Country Communion 2’ was darker and deeper than its predecessor.  Once again it topped the UK’s Rock Album Chart. The band were also the recipients of the Best Breakthrough Act award at Classic Rock magazine’s prestigious Roll Of Honour ceremony. Acknowledging that more than a single listen was required to fully appreciate its “depth and artistry”, the same magazine rightly called ‘BCC2’ “one stone-solid classic song after another”.

This time with Bonamassa busy notching up the miles to promote his biggest solo record to date – ‘Driving Towards The Daylight’ reached Number Two in the UK’s Top 40 Album Chart – BCC (the distinctive name is a reference to the industrial area in the Midlands of Great Britain where both Hughes and Bonham were born and raised) had far more time to prepare ‘Afterglow’… and it shows.

“There were six months to write this album, and I’m really excited by the way it came out,” comments Glenn Hughes, the man responsible for the bulk of its contents. “I wanted to make a record that stood up to the first two, but not to repeat either of those records. There would be absolutely no point beginning it with a song like ‘Black Country’ [the distinctively energetic track that kicked off the debut].”

The band assembled to record ‘Afterglow’ in a studio in Westlake Village, about 70 miles outside of Hollywood, during five supremely productive days. Its 11 songs are set to delight all fans of high quality hard rock, also those that admire singers of distinction. Hughes is not known as The Voice Of Rock for nothing.

In terms of content, ‘Afterglow’ expands upon the progression that took place between ‘BCC’ and ‘BCC2’. Rich in hooks, melodies and choruses, it’s nonetheless another of those highly rewarding albums that bears additional fruit with repeated spins.

“I wanted this album to have more acoustic moments than the previous two,” explains Hughes. “I wanted to hear more of Derek [Sherinian] and I wanted the more angelic voice of Glenn as well as the more aggressive one which is there on songs like ‘Crawl’ and ‘Midnight Sun’. Above all, I wanted more drama.”

Hughes shares lead vocals with Bonamassa on the song ‘Cry Freedom’. “The vocal sound that Kevin got on this record is second to none – it’s his best work yet with BCC,” believes Hughes. “We butted heads a little on the first and second albums, simply because we’re both control freaks, but this was the record on which Kevin and Glenn became friends.”

Indeed, Hughes speaks of Shirley in the most glowing terms. “Kevin only needs three hours of sleep per night; he’s hyper and super-intelligent. He cracks the whip but he also knows exactly what he’s talking about when it comes to music.”

Black Country Communion hope to tour ‘Afterglow’ at the start of 2013.

Here’s a breakdown of the album’s contents in the words of Glenn Hughes:

BIG TRAIN
“It’s very quirky and British-sounding. Jason Bonham is an incredible timekeeper. I love the way he provides the engine room on that song.

THIS IS YOUR TIME
“Let’s give Jason Bonham a little more love. He writes his songs on an iPhone whilst driving his car, which is completely nuts. It really helps the groove factor. He emailed me some footage of him playing this song. He wrote the music and I wrote the lyrics. It has a huge chorus, too. Jason is not just a brilliant drummer – he’s a great songwriter.”

MIDNIGHT SUN
“I had my wallet stolen in a Starbucks and arrived late at the studio. When I got there the guys were fooling around with a song that sounds quite a lot like The Who, thanks to those Rabbit Bundrick-style keyboards. I picked up my bass and joined in. It’s quite a romp; there’s a definite vibe of Moon and Entwistle.”

CONFESSOR
“The first album had ‘No Time’, which was slow and groovy. I wrote ‘Confessor’ that way too, but when Jason heard it he insisted upon playing it – in his own words – like his dad would have done. We’re a democratic band and I went along with that. When he turbo-d it up it really came to life.”

CRY FREEDOM
“I sang this one alone originally until Kevin pointed out that the album didn’t have a song with split vocals. Joe and I sing well together. I’ve never had a problem sharing a microphone with other great singers. We really let rip off one another on this one, which has a ZZ Top/Humble Pie kind of a vibe.”

AFTERGLOW
“[At more than six minutes long] it’s an epic song. I was adamant that this album should have a proper title instead of a number. I played it to the band right at the end of sessions – purposely so. When they heard it on acoustic guitar, everybody agreed that it should name the album.”

DANDELION
“I wrote it slower than we recorded it; maybe I had too much coffee that day. Had we done it that way then maybe it would have sounded a bit dirge-like. Jason sets the tempos – he’s got a really good ear for the way that a song should sound.”

THE CIRCLE
“It’s one of my favourites on this record. It gives me the chance to use my ‘breathier’ voice. Kevin asked me to sing it an octave higher than I intended, and it worked. The high voice in the chorus is not my falsetto, it’s my upper register natural voice. I’m singing about being powerless; being in a dreamlike state. People have spoken about my voice and bass playing for so many years, I hope that this time they notice my lyrics because I’m very proud of them.”

COMMON MAN
“That’s another of the songs that came from Jason. When he sang me its melody acapella I could hear myself singing it. It could have been a song from Deep Purple’s ‘Stormbringer’ album; he wrote it for my voice.”

THE GIVER
“When you listen to the end of the song, if people are trying to figure out what key it’s in, I’m playing a capo [a device that raises the pitch of notes] on the fifth fret. When I wrote it, I deliberately held back from completing it because it needed Joe’s input. Kevin helped as well.”

CRAWL
“Some people may know that this song was going to be on ‘BCC2’ but we held it over because there simply wasn’t enough room. To me, it fits this album a lot better. It’s a really aggressive song – it’s dangerous and angry. I love it. It’s a great way to finish the record.”

Black Country Communion: Official Website

Black Country Communion: Facebook

Black Country Communion: Twitter

Black Country Communion: YouTube

You can now pre-order the new album, Legend, from Swedish psychedelic rockers WITCHCRAFT here: http://store.nuclearblastusa.com/Search/witchcraft. Check out several bundle package options which include such items as an exclusive t-shirt, digipak, colored double vinyl LP, and colored 7 inch vinyl.

WITCHCRAFT have also made a SongPier App for smartphones/tablets available for FREE. Visit http://songpier.com/witchcraft and save it to your homescreen. There you’ll find two tracks from the band’s upcoming album, Legend (“It’s Not Because Of You” and “Ghosts House”) as well as info on the band/album and band pictures.

The first single, “It’s Not Because Of You“, is now available for purchase digitally via iTunes (www.itunes.com/witchcraft).

Legend will be released September 21 (Europe) and September 25, 2012 (North America) via Nuclear Blast. The follow up to 2007′s The Alchemist was produced by the renowned Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (KREATOR, OPETH, AMON AMARTH, PARADISE LOST, KATATONIA).
For more info visit: www.witchcrafthome.com | www.facebook.com/witchcraft | www.nuclearblast.de/witchcraft

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Make sure to catch this mayhem on the road during our “FREAKSHOW TOUR” this fall. We have more great news coming up so make sure to keep an eye at: www.fatalsmile.com to keep you updated with the latest news.

Stay Fatal!!!

FREAKSHOW EUROPEAN TOUR:

Sept 01 – Kerrang! Club @ The Garage, London, UK (guest DJ´s)

Sept 07 – The Underworld, London, UK

Sept 08 – The Gasworks, Bradford, UK

Sept 09 – Corporation, Sheffield, UK

Sept 12 – The Yardbirds, Grimsby, UK

Sept 14 – Metal Gründau. Hessen, Germany

Sept 15 – Ballroom Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

Sept 21 – The Rock Temple, Kerkrade, Holland

Okt 06- Torpets Rock Club. Upphärad, Sweden

Oct 12 – Paunchy Cats, Lichtenfels, Germany

Okt 13 – Shout It Out Loud Fest @ RWE Halle, Mülheim/Ruhr, Germany

Okt 20 – Amager Bio, Copenhagen, Denmark

Okt 27 – Rockmässan @ Baltiska Hallen, Malmö, Sweden (Meet´n Greet)

Okt 28 – Rockmässan @ Baltiska Hallen, Malmö, Sweden (Meet´n Greet)

Nov 09 – Olsen på Bryn, Oslo, Norway

Nov 10 – Muddys, Spydeberg, Norway

Nov 16 – Rock At Sea / Viking Line @ Ålands Hav, Sweden-Åland

Lamb of God

MACHINE HEAD’s Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel, MEGADETH’s David Ellefson, Slash, and FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH Also Contribute

While LAMB OF GOD singer Randy Blythe is back home in America after five weeks in prison in the Czech Republic, his legal problems are far from over.  Manslaughter charges are still hanging over Blythe and at some point over the next few months he will have to return to Prague and stand trial.  Faced with continuing massive legal bills, LAMB OF GOD has decided to create an eBay auction of equipment and memorabilia to raise money for Randy’s legal bills. All equipment was either used on tour or in the recording studio or in a video.  The auction features items provided by all five members of LAMB OF GOD.

In addition, a number of musicians have offered equipment to be used in the auction.  Guitars have been donated by Machine Head’s Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel as well as Slash and Five Finger Death Punch. Megadeth’s David Ellefson and Five Finger Death Punch’s Chris Kael have each contributed a bass and the members of Five Finger Death Punch also have contributed a signed skateboard.

Justice Now, the site set up for donations, will remain open for those wishing to donate to Randy’s defense fund.  The band appreciates all of the support Randy has received since his arrest on June 28^th and is thankful for all of the donations that have been made in these tough economic times.  As stated before, without the fans, there is no LAMB OF GOD.

Click here for the link to the LAMB OF GOD Memorabilia site and here for the link to the Justice Now site.

PANIKK

The Slovenian Bay area thrash metal maniacs Panikk just finished the recording of their upcoming album which is scheduled to be released in early 2013 on Metal Tank Records under the name of Unbearable Conditions.

The band comment: we finally finished the recording of Unbearable Conditions. The overall recording went smoothly, in fast mood and with no dramatic issues. We already heard the very final result and the entire crew is both excited and thrilled about what months of recording gave birth to: a lethal dose of fast, old school and untamed thrash metal. We are pretty sure that all of you enjoying tunes from legendary acts such as VIO-LENCE, EVILDEAD, SEPULTURA, DEMOLITION HAMMER, FORCED ENTRY and ACID REIGN will dig our latest effort at 100%.

Below you can preview “Panic Attack”, the first single taken from the album.

Panikk – Panic Attack: http://youtu.be/mE0jsQQdrZk