Manos Spanos

KATATONIA: ‘Viva Emptiness’ To Be Remixed, Remastered And Performed Live In Its Entirety

Fresh from their appearance at Download festival, KATATONIA, the Swedish purveyors of dark rock/metal, have been revealed as very special guests on PARADISE LOST's "Tragic Illusion" 25th-anniversary tour in October alongside LACUNA COIL. Concurrently, also celebrating their own 10th anniversary for their masterful sixth album "Viva Emptiness", KATATONIA will perform the album in its entirety each night to make these shows even more special. Originally released in 2003, "Viva Emptiness" is regarded by many, including the bandmembers themselves, as being among KATATONIA's finest albums. The CD cemented the band's reputation as a major force, combining refined metal with doom and gloom angst-laden rock. To coincide with the shows and the album's 10th anniversary, "Viva Emptiness" will be entirely remixed and remastered by David Castillo, plus enhanced with new artwork courtesy of Travis Smith, for a re-release on November 4 via Peaceville.

BLACK SABBATH’s ’13’ Sells More Than 150K Copies In U.S., Tops BILLBOARD Chart

"13", the first BLACK SABBATH record in 35 years to feature singerOzzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler all playing together, sold 155,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart. The record arrived in stores on June 11 via Vertigo/Universal Republic. This marksBLACK SABBATH's return to Vertigo, their original label, and the group's first studio album together since 1978's "Never Say Die!" "The news is absolutely amazing — we couldn't have imagined this would happen," says Tony Iommi. "We have the greatest fans." "There have been so many amazing highlights in our long career," saysOzzy Osbourne. "To finally have our first #1 album in the U.S. is another incredible milestone for BLACK SABBATH. Thank you to all of our fans for their support and loyalty." Geezer Butler says, "I'm absolutely stunned. Thank you all worldwide for being the best, and most patient, fans ever."

DREAM THEATER Singer JAMES LABRIE: New Solo Track ‘Agony’ Available For Streaming

"Agony", a brand new solo track from DREAM THEATER frontman James LaBrie, can be streamed below. The song comes off LaBrie's new solo album, "Impermanent Resonance", which will be released on August 6 in North America and July 29 in Europe via InsideOut Music. The follow-up to 2010's "Static Impulse", "Impermanent Resonance"was once again conceived with LaBrie's songwriting partner for over a dozen years, Matt Guillory. Guillory not only took the leading role in composing the material, he also handled all of the keyboards and background vocals. The album's lineup is intact from the previous recording, featuring Marco Sfogli from Italy on guitar, Ray Riendeau (HALFORD, MACHINES OF LOVING GRACE) on bass and Swedish drummer Peter Wildoer(DARKANE, MAJESTIC), who was a finalist in the DREAM THEATER drum auditions. Additionally, former SOILWORK guitarist Peter Wichers came into the fold to contribute songwriting and studio guitars. "To me, this album incorporates and continues with the styles and musical direction that we have created with the previous releases," says James LaBrie. "The difference being that the music on this disc is to me a true telling of the songs evolving and taking on a sense of identity that is every band's ultimate goal. It is powerful, memorable, hook-driven and above all extremely musical. It shows how the writing and the band itself have matured. I truly feel that this is our quintessential album."

GORGUTS: New Album Cover Artwork, Track Listing Revealed

Canadian technical death metallers GORGUTS will release their fifth album,"Colored Sands", on August 30 in Europe and September 3 in North America via Season Of Mist. The effort will be made available will be available as a digipak CD limited to the first pressing, regular black LP, transparent clear LP and red/yellow colored LP. "Colored Sands" track listing: 01. Le Toit Du Monde 02. An Ocean Of Wisdom 03. Forgotten Arrows 04. Colored Sands 05. The Battle Of Chamdo 06. Enemies Of Compassion 07. Ember's Voice 08. Absconders

KREATOR: ‘Dying Alive’ Track Listing Revealed

German thrash metal veterans KREATOR will release their new concert DVD/Blu-ray, "Dying Alive", on August 30 via Nuclear Blast. The set features the band's sold-out homecoming show in Oberhausen, Germany on December 22, 2012 after an extensive 45-day European tour in support of KREATOR's "Phantom Antichrist" album. The packed and sweat-driven show was filmed by 24 cameras, as well as guitar and even mosh-pit cams. The DVD/Blu-ray contains footage of the Oberhausen concert, a behind-the-scenes documentary as well as video clips. Approximate total running time: 115 minutes. "Dying Alive" will be issued in the following formats: * Blu Ray + 2CD * DVD +2CD * Earbook (DVD, Blu-ray, 2CD + Bonus CD) * Earbook (DVD, Blu-ray, 2CD + Bonus CD) + 7" Vinyl (Nuclear Blast mailorder only) * Limited 2CD incl. live bonus tracks

FIREWIND: ‘Head Up High’ Performance From ‘Apotheosis – Live 2012’ Available For Streaming

Greek melodic metallers FIREWIND, who feature in their ranks current OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Gus G., will celebrate their 10th anniversary by releasing a live album on June 24 via Century Media Records in Europe. Entitled "Apotheosis - Live 2012", the CD will contain 17 songs recorded at special anniversary shows in Greece as well as all over Europe during the band's "Few Against Many" tour in 2012. With a playing time of 69 minutes, the effort is a great overview of the band's career so far, which consists of seven studio albums. It also marks FIREWIND's final release with singer Apollo Papathanasio, who decided to leave the group at the end of last year. He has since been replaced by Kelly Sundown Carpenter (ADAGIO, BEYOND TWILIGHT) as session frontman for all 2013 live activities. The cover artwork for "Apotheosis - Live 2012", which will be released as a digipak in its first limited-edition pressing, was designed byFIREWIND's longtime partner in all design matters, Gustavo Sazes(ARCH ENEMY, ANGRA, DREAM EVIL) based on live photography byHans-W. Rock.

SLAYER: JEFF HANNEMAN Photos From ‘Murder In The Front Row’ Book Posted Online

SPIN.com is honoring the life of SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman with a gallery of early photographs by Harald Oimoen, from the D.R.I. bassist's book "Murder In The Front Row: Shots From The Bay Area Thrash Metal Epicenter". The photos capture several live and candid moments from the rise of U.S. thrash metal circa 1984, including Hanneman andSLAYER performing outdoors on a plywood stage; SLAYER's very first face-to-face encounter with the members of METALLICA; Oimoen's classic sleeve photo from SLAYER's "Hell Awaits" album; and a moving portrait of Hanneman and his eventual substitute in SLAYER — Gary Holtof EXODUS. The gallery of photos from the book can be viewed at this location. "Murder In The Front Row" is a stunning volume that collects over 400 amazing color and black-and-white photos from the time when localsEXODUS and Los Angeles transplants METALLICA reigned in small clubs like the Old Waldorf, The Stone, and the infamous East Bay bastion of heaviness, Ruthie's Inn. Thrash metal upstarts SLAYER and MEGADETHfound a second home in the Bay Area, while a homegrown breed of tempo-crazed teenagers like LEGACY, POSSESSED, DEATH ANGEL, HEATHENand VIO-LENCE brought Bay Area thrash metal to critical mass. Hanneman passed away on May 2 from liver failure at the age of 49.

ALICE IN CHAINS: ‘The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here’ Album Sampler Posted Online

ALICE IN CHAINS has uploaded an 18-minute YouTube clip containing audio samples of all the tracks that appear on the band's fifth studio album, "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here". Check it out below. "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" sold 62,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 2 on The Billboard 200 chart. The disc follows up 2009's "Black Gives Way To Blue", which was the group's first all-new collection of material in 14 years. That CD opened with 126,000 units back in October 2009 to debut at No. 5. ALICE IN CHAINS was last in the Top Two with its self-titled 1995 set, which debuted at No. 1 on that year's November 25 chart, according toBillboard.com. It would be their final studio release with singer Layne Staley, who died in 2002. Although "Black Gives Way To Blue" was a huge comeback success for the band, guitarist/singer Jerry Cantrell told The Pulse Of Radio that they wiped the slate clean when it was time to make something new. "You should start from a zero every time, and we started from a zero with this record just like we've done with every record we've made," he said. "You've got a blank canvas, and you and your band are in the room and there's the canvas and there's no other pictures of the old albums hanging up. You know, those are put away in a closet somewhere, so you're not thinking about them or drawing from them or trying to repeat them or whatever. It's impossible to do that. That is what it was, now what do we do?"

CLUTCH Drummer Checks In From European Tour (Video)

Drummer Jean-Paul Gaster of Maryland rockers CLUTCH has uploaded a new video update from the band's current European tour. Check it out below. Says Gaster: "The European tour is going great. Over here, I play my silver sparkle GMS drum kit. I purchased this kit just in time to take on tour to support SEPULTURA on the U.S. leg of their 'Chaos A.D.' tour. Since then, I've played about 1600 shows on these drums. They have also appear on our self-titled album, 'Elephant Riders', 'Pure Rock Fury' and 'Blast Tyrant'. The shells are 8 maple with 45 degree edges. The tone is boomy and has good deal of thuddy attack. The entire kit now resides in the U.K. Before these drums arrived in the U.K., I had to rely on rental gear. It's a great feeling to get to the first gig of a European tour and pull these trusty old drums out of their cases. They sound great even if they have been sitting for months untouched." CLUTCH's new album, "Earth Rocker", sold 22,000 copies in its first week of release to debut at position No. 15 on The Billboard 200 chart. Released via CLUTCH's own Weathermaker Music label, "Earth Rocker"entered the German Media Control chart at No. 71. In the U.K., the CD landed at No. 50 on the regular chart, No. 3 on the Rock/Metal Albums chart and No. 11 on the Independent Albums chart.

Video: PARADISE LOST Joined By LACUNA COIL Singer For ‘Say Just Words’ Performance

British gothic metal pioneers PARADISE LOST celebrated their 25th anniversary with a very special show at the Metal Hammer Golden Godsawards, which was held last night (Monday, June 17) at London's esteemed Indigo2 venue (headlined by the other British legends MOTÖRHEAD). PARADISE LOST invited their friends Cristina Scabbia (LACUNA COIL) — who sang "Say Just Words" in a duet with PARADISE LOST frontman Nick Holmes — and Gus G. (FIREWIND, OZZY OSBOURNE) who joined PARADISE LOST to pay tribute to the godfathers of metal, BLACK SABBATH, for an "Into The Void" cover version. Video footage of the "Say Just Words" performance featuring Cristina Scabbia can be seen below. In a statement released last week, Holmes stated about the Metal Hammer Golden Gods show: "[I am] really looking forward to singing with Cristina. I think it will be a lot of fun. She has an amazing voice, and I'm looking forward to being completely overshadowed!"

Manos Spanos

Manos Spanos (Metalpaths' co-editor-in-chief), eight years in this site but still can't be characterised as a metalhead.