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EVERGREY Signs With AFM RECORDS

Swedish metallers EVERGREY have inked a deal with AFM Records. The band, led by frontman Tom S. Englund, is currently working on a brand new studio album, to be released later this year. Englund checks in from Division Two Studios, Sweden: "I am sitting here in what feels like the black heart of distorted guitars and heavy drums trying to sort what material to be chosen for the new EVERGREY album that will be brought to you by our new record label AFM! "While the music might be the most contemplated and dark pieces we have written, and while the sheer amount of music we have the pleasure to choose from is more than ever, we are super psyched and pleased to have chosen a label that believes in EVERGREY! "AFM are certain that we have a lot more to contribute to the world of music and we can promise you that they are right. On top of that, it is about damn time that our fans get some new and fresh metal! "While we at this moment are hindered to speak about the new members — this will be totally understandable when we announce it — they are known to some people and some might never have heard of them, BUT we can tell you that they are as excited as the rest of us and have already brought in 50% of the material written so this album will be a 100% band effort! "We will release two singles, one complemented with a video produced by our bud Patric Ullaeus and Revolver Film Company (DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE, KAMELOT). We will also film our every step of the recording process for you to enjoy at a continuous and steady pace on our different social media channels, making this the most accessible album we have made to date. We will also arrange interviews with each and every member during the recording process together with some really cool ideas for the booklet of the CD itself. More on this soon! "The album will be recorded in a few different studios and mixed in Denmark at Hansen studios by Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, AMARANTHE, EPYSODE, PRETTY MAIDS, DORO and more). "We are currently planning some cool release shows for different territories and honestly can't wait for YOU to hear our music, as we are thrilled, more than pleased and stoked with what we come up with! "And oh, yeah, the title is also set and will be revealed soon! "Watch out for A LOT more from us!" EVERGREY released "A Decade And A Half", a two-disc greatest-hits collection, in North America in November 2011 via SPV/Steamhammer. This deluxe package contained previously unreleased songs, live tracks and an extensive booklet. EVERGREY's latest album, "Glorious Collision", sold around 900 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 49 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. EVERGREY's most recent lineup included Englund and keyboardist Rikard Zander alongside new members Marcus Jidell (guitar), Hannes Van Dahl (drums) and Johan Niemann (bass).

WITHIN TEMPTATION: ‘Whole World Is Watching’ Video Featuring SOUL ASYLUM’s DAVE PIRNER

"Whole World Is Watching", the new video from Dutch symphonic rockers WITHIN TEMPTATION, can be seen below. "Whole World Is Watching", the third single from WITHIN TEMPTATION's new album, "Hydra", features a guest appearance by SOUL ASYLUM frontman Dave Pirner. It is a power ballad about facing and conquering your fears. "When we wrote 'Whole World Is Watching', Dave was at the very top of our list," said WITHIN TEMPTATION singer Sharon Den Adel. "He has such a captivating voice: it made the song exactly how it needed to be." "Hydra" will be released in North America on February 4. The album will be available in several luxury formats. The cover artwork was created by Romano Molenaar ("X-Men", "Batman", "The Unforgiving"). Pre-order "Hydra" via iTunes now, and you will instantly receive the first two singles: "Dangerous", featuring a guest appearance by former KILLSWITCH ENGAGE singer Howard Jones and "Paradise (What About Us?)" featuring ex-NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen. The digital premium album, complete with digi-booklet, will be available on iTunes and includes 18 audio tracks and a music video. The digital premium album features bonus "Evolution Versions" of four new songs, which contain audio commentary from guitarist Robert Westerholt and Sharon and give you unique access to the development of the songs, their lyrical inspiration and the sound of the initial demos and vocals. "Hydra" digital premium album track listing: 01. Let Us Burn 02. Dangerous (feat. Howard Jones) 03. And We Run (feat. Xzibit 04. Paradise (What About Us?) (feat. Tarja) 05. Edge Of The World 06. Silver Moonlight 07. Covered By Roses 08. Dog Days 09. Tell Me Why 10. Whole World Is Watching (feat. Dave Pirner) 11. Radioactive (originally performed by IMAGINE DRAGONS) 12. Summertime Sadness (originally performed by Lana del Ray) 13. Let Her Go (originally performed by PASSENGER) 14. Dirty Dancer (originally performed by Enrique Iglesias) 15. And We Run (evolution track) 16. Silver Moonlight (evolution track) 17. Covered By Roses (evolution track) 18. Tell Me Why (evolution track) 19. Paradise (What About Us?) (feat. Tarja) music video (exclusive to iTunes premium version) Aside from the digital premium version, "Hydra" will also be released in a deluxe box set including exclusive items many of you have been asking for, for a long time: "Hydra" deluxe box set * "Hydra" 18-track album including bonus tracks in the form of a media book with a hot foil print cover, featuring a 100-page booklet consisting of unique photos * Double gatefold black vinyl version of the album including bonus tracks * Instrumental version of the entire album * Songbook with sh

IN FLAMES: New Photos From The Studio

Swedish metallers IN FLAMES recently entered Hansa Studios (DAVID BOWIE, DEPECHE MODE, U2) in Berlin, Germany to begin recording their eleventh album for an early 2014 release. New photos from the studio — courtesy of the German magazine Metal Hammer — can be found at Metal-Hammer.de. IN FLAMES lead singer, Anders Fridén recently stated about working at the legendary facility where such milestones as David Bowie's "Heroes" and Iggy Pop's "Lust For Life" were created: "When I visited Hansa Studios earlier this year, I got goose bumps. There is so much history both inside and surrounding the studio and I want to be a part of that. Magic has been created here and hopefully that will affect us." IN FLAMES' "Deliver Us" single was recently certified platinum in Sweden for sales in excess of 40,000 copies. (Note: On-demand audio and/or video song streams are now counted towards the threshold required for gold and platinum certifications.) IN FLAMES has released a video for"Sounds Of A Playground Fading", the title track of its tenth studio album. The clip, which is made up of concert footage, was produced by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, SONIC SYNDICATE and KAMELOT, among others. "Sounds Of A Playground Fading" (Century Media) sold around 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 27 on The Billboard 200 chart. IN FLAMES' previous album, "A Sense of Purpose" (Koch) opened with 20,000 units to land at No. 28. This was slightly less than the opening tally of "Come Clarity" (Ferret), which shifted just under 24,000 copies in February 2006 to enter the chart at position No. 58. "Sounds Of A Playground Fading" was the first IN FLAMES album to be recorded without founding guitarist Jesper Strömblad, who quit the band in February 2010 in order to continue receiving treatment for his alcohol addiction. IN FLAMES guitarist Niclas Engelin sat out a few of the band's shows last year. His temporary replacement for those gigs was Patrik Jensen from THE HAUNTED.

CYNIC: ‘True Hallucination Speak’ Lyric Video Released

Legendary progressive rock innovators CYNIC — consisting of guitarist/vocalist Paul Masvidal, drummer Sean Reinert and bassist Sean Malone — will release their new album, "Kindly Bent To Free Us", on February 14 via Season Of Mist. The CD was produced by CYNIC at L.A.'s Perfect Sound Studios. The effort was engineered by Jason Donaghy (BAND OF HORSES, FEIST, ROB ZOMBIE, RYAN ADAMS), mixed by R. Walt Vincent (PETE YORN, LIZ PHAIR, TOMMY KEENE) and mastered by Maor Appelbaum (FATES WARNING, SEPULTURA, CATHEDRAL, INQUISITION, HALFORD). The artwork for "Kindly Bent To Free Us" was created by longtime and sadly late CYNIC artist Robert Venosa. "Kindly Bent To Free Us" track listing: 01. True Hallucination Speak 02. The Lion's Roar 03. Kindly Bent To Free Us 04. Infinite Shapes 05. Moon Heart Sun Head 06. Gitanjali 07. Holy Fallout 08. Endlessly Bountiful 09. Earth Is My Witness (deluxe CD book exclusive bonus track) The official lyric video for the song "True Hallucination Speak" can be seen below. About the new material, Reinert said: "It's a bold new sound for CYNIC and marks a gigantic leap in the band's progression. We've had a lot of time to let this material develop and gestate, and it finally feels ready to be unleashed on the world. I've been in trio mode with Malone and Masvidal flushing out a zillion and one details, and couldn't be happier about what's happening with these songs. They are truly alive!" In a February 2012 interview with Ireland's Molten magazine, Masvidal described the band's new music in the following way: "It's almost like, I don't know how to explain it, but if I had to put it in a box it's more sci-fi, futuristic and alien but at the same time very song-driven. It's kind of like, to me, coming into CYNIC's body more. It feels very modern and at the same time it just feels really cool. I'm big in the space. It's definitely new. It's not like anything we've done before. It's a new color, a new space. I think people will really take note of even the guitar stuff. I'm really shifting gears, I'm trying things in a different way and the way stuff is played. It's a new space for CYNIC, for sure. It definitely sounds like us, except completely new." CYNIC's latest EP, "Carbon-Based Anatomy", was released in November 201

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY: ‘Revolver Golden Gods Tour’ Dates Announced

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY will headline this year's Revolver Golden Gods Tour, presented by Epiphone. The trek will kick off on April 16 in Portland and wrap up on June 7 in Los Angeles. Support acts for the tour have yet to be announced. Revolver Golden Gods Tour dates: Apr. 16 - Seattle, WA - Showbox Sodo Apr. 17 - Portland, OR - Roseland Apr. 18 - Boise, ID - Knitting Factory Concert House Apr. 19 - Missoula, MT - Wilma Theater Apr. 21 - Billings, MT - Shrine Auditorium Apr. 25 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave Apr. 26 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works Apr. 29 - Ybor City, FL (Tampa) - The Ritz Apr. 30 - Lake Buena Vista, FL - House of Blues May 02 - Birmingham, AL - Iron City May 04 - Silver Spring, MD - Fillmore May 05 - Clifton Park, NY (Albany) - Northern Lights May 07 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory May 08 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium May 09 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom May 10 - New York, NY - Best Buy Theater May 12 - Norfolk, VA - Norva May 13 - Stroudsburg, PA - Sherman Theater May 15 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE May 17 - Ft. Wayne, IN - Piere's May 19 - Sioux Falls, SD - The District May 20 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues May 21 - St. Paul, MN (Minneapolis) - Myth May 23 - Grand Prairie, TX (Dallas) - Verizon Theater May 27 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues May 28 - Houston, TX - House of Blues Jun. 01 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theater Jun. 02 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex - Rockwell Jun. 04 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theater Jun. 05 - Las Vegas, NV - Brooklyn Bowl Jun. 06 - San Francisco, CA - Regency Ballroom Jun. 07 - Los Angeles, CA - Fonda Theater Tickets go on sale on January 31. The new BLACK LABEL SOCIETY studio album, "Catacombs Of The Black Vatican", will be released in Europe on April 7 via Mascot Label Group and one day later in North America through eOne Music. If you pre-order the CD on iTunes, you will get the new track "My Dying Time" instantly. The song is now available for streaming in the YouTube clip below. "Catacombs Of The Black Vatican" track listing: 01. Fields Of Unforgiveness 02. My Dying Time 03. Believe 04. Angel Of Mercy 05. Heart Of Darkness 06. Beyond The Down 07. Scars 08. Damn The Flood 09. I've Gone Away 10. Empty Promises 11. Shades Of Gray 12. Dark Side Of The Sun (bonus track) 13. The Nomad (bonus track) Check out the cover artwork below. BLACK LABEL SOCIETY recently amicably parted ways with longtime guitarist Nick Catanese and replaced him with Dario Lorina (LIZZY BORDEN). BLACK LABEL SOCIETY mainman Zakk Wylde recently told Guitar World magazine about Catanese's departure: "I had called Nick to tell him about the album and he told me that he was already knees deep into doing his own thing and wanted to stick 1,000 percent into it. I told him it was cool and that we loved him and that he'd always have a home here." He continued: "The thing is no one ever gets kicked out or fired. If you want to go, you're always able. Now we've got [guitarist] Dario Lorina in the band, and not only is he a kick-ass guitar player who can shred, but he's also a really cool dude." Asked how he hooked up with Dario, Zakk said: "We never do a cattle call or anything like that. With the amount of awesome players I know, it's more of a word-of-mouth kind of thing. I had him come out to the Vatican [Zakk's home studio] to meet him, and afterwards I said, 'Cool. If you want to do it, you're in.' It was as simple as that." Wylde also spoke about what fans can expect to hear on "Catacombs Of The Black Vatican". "I think everyone can expect a lot of fun and excitement," he laughed. "It was like what Chris Farley did in that one skit, where he was selling that hair-care product. Make sure you always use the word 'fun' when you describe it. [laughs]! "Someone asked me what the difference was between this new record and the other nine. I told them that it's basically all of the songs we used on the other nine records, except they've got different titles now. [laughs] It's fun and exciting for the whole family!" "Catacombs of the Black Vatican" is BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's first new studio album since 2009's "The Order Of The Black", which debuted at No. 4 on The Billboard 200 chart. BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's live DVD, Blu-ray, and Digital Video, "Unblackened", was released on September 24, 2013 by Eagle Rock Entertainment. Wylde's label home, eOne Music, also released the audio version of the "Unblackened" DVD under the same name.

MÖTLEY CRÜE Announces ‘The Final Tour’ Details

After more than three decades together, MÖTLEY CRÜE announced today their Final Tour and the band's ultimate retirement. The announcement was solidified when the band signed a formal Cessation Of Touring Agreement, effective at the end of 2015, in front of global media in Los Angeles today. Celebrating the announcement of this Final Tour, the band will perform on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" tonight and will appear on "CBS This Morning" tomorrow, January 29. With over 80 million albums sold, MÖTLEY CRÜE has sold out countless tours across the globe and spawned more than 2,500 MÖTLEY CRÜE branded items sold in over 30 countries. MÖTLEY CRÜE has proven they know how to make a lasting impression and this tour will be no different; Fans can expect to hear all the band's hits and look forward to mind-blowing, unparalleled live production. "When it comes to putting together a new show we always push the envelope and that's part of MÖTLEY CRÜE's legacy," explains Nikki Sixx (bass). "As far as letting on to what we're doing, that would be like finding out what you're getting for Christmas before you open the presents. We think in an age of too much information, we'd like to keep some surprises close to our chest until we launch The Final Tour." The Final Tour presented by Dodge and produced by Live Nation will kick off in North America on July 2 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and reach 72 markets before hitting international territories in 2015. To Live Nation, MÖTLEY CRÜE tours are not only box office successes but artistically their shows have set the bar for production and entertainment value. "There's no arguing that MÖTLEY CRÜE have been and always will be the definitive bad boys of rock and roll," says Rick Franks, Live Nation's regional president of North America Concerts. "But behind all those notorious stories is a legendary rock band that has revolutionized heavy metal and created some of the biggest hits in music history. They are a hugely successful global brand and a touring powerhouse. Everyone at Live Nation has a tremendous amount of respect for these hard-working and extremely talented gentlemen. The music industry will never have another MÖTLEY CRÜE." The Dodge brothers were a notorious duo, so it seemed only natural to partner with the World's Most Notorious Rock Band. "Whenever I talk to people about MÖTLEY CRÜE, the common thread is how cool and relevant the band remains even after 33 years," said Tim Kuniskis, president and CEO, Dodge brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "This irreverent 'staying power' resonates deeply with the Dodge brand as we turn the corner on our 100 year anniversary. What better way to celebrate the band's final tour and the 25th anniversary of 'Kickstart My Heart' than to do it together?" Fans can look forward to very special guest ALICE COOPER joining MÖTLEY CRÜE for an incredible package — Alice invented the genre and MÖTLEY CRÜE put steroids in it! "Real hard rock bands are hard to find these days," said Alice, "MÖTLEY has always gone on stage with one attitude and that's to blow the audience away. That's exactly how we do it. Putting MÖTLEY CRÜE and Alice Cooper together is going to be just what this summer really NEEDS. We're going to go out there and tear it up, and I can't wait to see MÖTLEY on stage. MÖTLEY CRÜE and Alice Cooper — A match made in... Armageddon?" As documented in the Cessation Of Touring Agreement the band signed at the press conference today, the band will not tour after this Final Tour. Band attorney Doug Mark of Mark Music & Media Law explains: "Other bands have split up over rancor or the inability of people to get along, but this is mutual among all four original members and a peaceful decision to move on to other endeavors and to confirm it with a binding agreement." Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, and Mick Mars will go their separate ways after the lengthy two-year touring cycle. Tommy Lee (drums) explains: "Everything must come to an end!! We always had a vision of going out with a big fucking bang and not playing county fairs and clubs with 1 or 2 original band members! Our job here is done!!!" Of the band's tumultuous history, Mick Mars (guitar) adds: "(It has been) more drama than 'General Hospital' — it keeps 'em watchin' and they keep comin' back." Vocalist Vince Neil says of the finality of the tour: "I'll miss playing with the guys but I won't quit playing rock and roll!! I feel there are a lot of great opportunities and exciting projects after MÖTLEY." The Final Tour will coincide with the film made from MÖTLEY CRÜE's New York Times best-selling book "The Dirt". Jeff Tremaine ("Bad Grandpa") has signed on to direct the opus that is set to debut in theaters globally in 2015, coinciding with The Final Tour. "The Dirt" is not only one of the best selling rock books of all time but also one of the greatest rock books of all time because of its brutal honesty, its unique voice, its multiple perspectives on the same events and its first-person inclusion of all members of the same band. Most rock memoirs are salacious mud-slinging accounts of a single person and MÖTLEY CRÜE was adamant to include the perspectives of all four of its members. Tremaine's intention is to make, not just a great movie about a band, but a great movie about four misfits who, despite themselves and everyone else, band together to overcome the odds and change the history of rock and roll. "'The Dirt' is a movie I've wanted to make ever since I read the book in 2002," says Tremaine. "I relate to the story on so many levels; my whole professional career has been about boys behaving badly, so I have a real connection to the material. It's awesome to be working with the band at such an exciting time in MÖTLEY CRÜE's history." The film will be produced by the members of MÖTLEY CRÜE, Rick Yorn, Julie Yorn, Erik Olsen and 10th Street Entertainment. Big Machine Records, home to country superstars such as Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw has teamed up in a joint venture with Mötley Records and Eleven Seven Music for the summer 2014 release of a country music tribute to MÖTLEY CRÜE. Big Machine founder and CEO, Scott Borchetta, is among the legion of country music fans who love MÖTLEY CRÜE. The country tribute album will show off the band's quality songwriting with these fresh takes on their classic hit songs. Among the artists already confirmed to be featured on the country tribute album is Florida Georgia Line. Borchetta says of the collaboration, "I have been a not-so-secret CRÜE fan from the beginning. When manager Chris Nilsson called with the idea for a tribute album on Big Machine Records, it was an immediate 'yes' from me! Our album will highlight just how great the MÖTLEY CRÜE song catalog is. At the end of the day, that's what will stand the test of time."

TANKARD To Enter Studio This Week

German alcoholic thrashers TANKARD will enter Studio 23 in Frankfurt, Germany this eek to begin recording the follow-up to their acclaimed 2012 album "A Girl Called Cerveza". Entitled "R.I.B." (Rest In Beer), the new CD will be released in the summer of 2014 via Nuclear Blast. Taking inspiration from the motto "never change a winning team," TANKARD is working with producer Michael Mainx (BÖHSE ONKELZ, DER W, D-A-D, DISBELIEF), who helmed the band's last effort. TANKARD has also chosen to use Patrick Strogulski, who created the artwork for "A Girl Called Cerveza" and is also a student of Sebastian Krüger, the artist that was responsible for TANKARD's previous album artwork up to the 2012 release. Comments Mainx: "Three times is the charm — I'm totally looking forward to have my hands on the controllers for TANKARD for the third time in year 2 after the band anniversary! Only a few more days left before we will take off recording 'R.I.B.' at Frankfurt studio. This is gonna be interesting..." Adds TANKARD vocalist Andreas "Gerre" Geremia: "We can hardly wait to be nailing down 10 new songs with Micha and are looking forward to a hopefully productive collaboration!"

METALLICA’s ROBERT TRUJILLO: It Was Our Manager’s Dream For Us To Connect Musically With LANG LANG

The four members of METALLICA were interviewed by Fuse News senior contributing correspondent Jack Osbourne (Ozzy Osbourne's son) on the red carpet at the 56th annual Grammy Awards, which was held last night (January 26) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. You can watch the chat below. Asked how METALLICA's performance of its classic song "One" with Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang at last night's ceremony came about, METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett said: "Lang Lang is the Grammy ambassador to China, and that had a lot with us hooking up with him." METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo added: "And one of our managers, his dream, as well, was for us to unite and connect with him musically, with Lang Lang." Prior to last night's show, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told Artisan News about playing with Lang Lang: "He's a very talented musician, he's a very dynamic musician, he projects himself very well. I mean, when he plays, he's really full of energy and he's got a lot of kind of showmanship and kind of energy that protrudes off the stage and right into people's hearts and souls. So I would like to think that it's a good collaboration." METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett told Rolling Stone that the band's performance at the Grammy Awards would be "completely insane." He explained, "Lang Lang has interjected himself into the song in a way I don't think anyone else has ever done in the course of our career. He's going to be playing major parts of the song. He's going to be playing through the melody." Hammett told The Pulse Of Radio that the song's arrangement highlighted Lang Lang's playing without changing the song. "We're not lightening up the song just for him," he said. "We're still hanging onto all the heavy parts and it's gonna be amazing. He's just an amazing pianist, and at one point he's going to be, like, weaving in and out of my guitar solo and playing parts of my guitar solo with me. That's gonna be interesting. I've never, ever experienced that ever before with anyone we've ever played with." "One" was the first single released from METALLICA's 1988 album "…And Justice For All", becoming the first song from the band to gain substantial commercial radio airplay. It was also the basis for the first music video the group ever did. METALLICA's feature film "Metallica Through The Never" will be released tomorrow (Tuesday, January 28) on Blu-ray, 3-D Blu-ray, DVD and digital. The film came out last September in 3D IMAX but earned less than $4 million in its U.S. box