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Video footage of SHINEDOWN vocalist Brent Smith and guitarist Zach Myers performing an acoustic version of the band's new song "Bully" at the studios of Kerrang! Radio can be seen below.

It's a month to go before SHINEDOWN releases its fourth studio album, "Amaryllis", but the band is giving fans a taste of what to expect. The quartet has posted samples of several tunes from the disc at its official web site, including the title track, "Adrenaline", "Unity", "Through the Ghost", "Nowhere Kids" and more. The Pulse Of Radio asked frontman Brent Smith how he feels the band has evolved musically on this record. "The musicianship got way stronger, the songwriting got way more sophisticated, and I think that overall we were able to push ourselves in a direction that was — I don't necessarily know if it was the obvious next step, but we enjoyed the journey with each other," he said.

"Amaryllis" arrives on March 27 and follows up SHINEDOWN's biggest success yet, 2008's "The Sound Of Madness".

That disc sold more than a million copies and produced six hit singles, including a number of rock radio chart-toppers.

The first single from "Amaryllis", called "Bully", is a Top Five hit at Active Rock radio.

SHINEDOWN announced on January 30 that it will lead the 2012 edition of the Avalanche Tour. The North American trek will kick off on March 27 in Anaheim, California, with ADELITAS WAY, NEW MEDICINE and ART OF DYING also on the bill.

Der Multi-Instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen hat ein Video zur Veröffentlichung des Cover Artworks seines kommenden Konzeptalbums "Lost In The New Real" ausgearbeitet. Die Platte wird in G/S/A am 20. April 2012 (in Europa am 23. April 2012) via InsideOutMusic erscheinen.

"LOST IN THE NEW REAL" Track List:

CD1:

001] The New Real
02] Pink Beatles In A Purple Zeppelin
03] Parental Procreation Permit
04] When I'm A Hundred Sixty-Four
05] E-Police
06] Don't Switch Me Off
07] Dr Slumber's Eternity Home
08] Yellowstone Memorial Day
09] Where Pigs Fly
10] Lost In The New Real
* Bonus CD Rom section: "Behind The New Real"

CD 2

01] Our Imperfect Race
02] Welcome To The Machine (Pink Floyd cover)
03] So Is There No God?
04] Veteran Of The Psychic Wars (Blue Oyster CultCover)
05] The Social Recluse
06] Battle Of Evermore (Led Zeppelin Cover)
07] The Space Hotel
08] Some Other Time (Alan Parsons Project Cover)
09] You Have Entered The Reality Zone
10] I'm The Slime (Frank Zappa Cover)
* Bonus CD Rom section: "The Artwork"

Die Spanische Symphonic Black Metal Band GOTHMOG hat Anfang Dezember mit Produzent Fernando Asensi in den Fireworks Studios mit den Aufnahmen des neuen Albums mit dem Titel "Aeons Of Deception" begonnen.

Es ist das erste Album mit dem neuen Sänger Elias Redón "Modgud" und dem neuen Keyboarder Jose Antonio Quiles "Aspherion." Der Mix und das Mastering wird von Dani G. Suárez in den Dynamita Studios in Asturias übernommen.

Die Beste Band der Welt meldet sich mit einem Song für und über Fans zurück! Seit heute gibt es das brandneue Video zur brandneuen Single "zeiDverschwÄndung" zu sehen. Ab heute Nacht gibt es die gleichnamige EP zu kaufen. Denn was gibt es Besseres zu tun, als Die Ärzte zu hör'n ???

Wie schon länger bekannt erscheint am Freitag den 13. April das neue und 13. Studialbum der die Ärzte. Doch damit nicht genug, denn bereits am 02. März wird es nun mit der EP "ZeiDverschwÄndung" neues aus dem Ärztekosmos geben.

We're pleased to present our new DVD - LIVE IN EUROPE. Featuring our exploits during the summer of 2011 when we played at major festivals such as Download and Graspop Metal Meeting, the DVD includes footage from our sets at Rock The Nation, our shows with Journey and Foreigner in Ireland and our triumphant return to Portugal. With a running time of 107 minutes the DVD also features a bonus section of our January 2011 performance as Special Guests of Thin Lizzy at London's Hammersmith Apollo.

Those of you attending our INDISCREET 25LIVE shows in Glasgow March 8th, Manchester March 9th and London March 10th will be able to get your hands on an advance copy from the merchandising stand at the shows. Don't worry if you are not able to come to any of the shows - exclusive signed copies of LIVE IN EUROPE will be available from our webshop from March 12th for £7.99 with free P&P.

LIVE IN EUROPE will go on general release via Riff City Films on 26th March 2012 and will be available from that date from all the usual stockists such as Amazon and play.com.

The lyric video for "Her Little 'Accident'", a brand new song from Los Angeles, California misanthropic sludge rockers -16-, can be seen below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds", which will be released on CD and LP in North America on April 24 and May 7 in Europe. The CD was recorded with the band’s friend and longtime engineer Jeff Forrest at Double Time Studios in San Diego, California and then mastered by PIG DESTROYER's Scott Hull at Visceral Sound Studios.The artwork was created by Orion Landau (RED FANG, RWAKE) and can be seen below.

The complete track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Theme From "Pillpopper"
02. Parasite
03. Her Little "Accident"
04. The Sad Clown
05. Ants In My Bloodstream
06. Broom Pusher
07. Opium Hook
08. Bowels Of A Baby Killer
09. Beyond Fixable
10. Only Photographs Remain

Commented -16- bassist Tony Baumeister: "We're very excited about the release of our new record. The addition of Mateo on drums opened a lot of doors for us creatively. We experimented with different time signatures, different tunings, and finally made the album we've wanted to make all along. The goal was to destroy our last record, and we feel like we achieved that. We can't wait for people to hear it, and can't wait to play these songs live. U.S. and European touring plans are in the works..."

Progressive atmospheric death metallers 7 HORNS 7 EYES have released an instrumental version of their single, "Divine Amnesty", for free download via Basick Records.

To download your copy, head over to this location. The track can also be streamed using the SoundCloud player below.

As a band that has never been interested in following the latest musical trend, 7 HORNS 7 EYES has fought the challenge of forging a distinctive musical identity by bringing a fresh sound to a genre that many would argue has gotten stale. Stripped of vocals, the instrumental track is rich with atmosphere and showcases the band's technical proficiency and tasteful restraint.

Guitarist Aaron Smith explains: "We think that 'Divine Amnesty' has a pretty cool flow and identity even without vocals, and want to let people soak it up it in a slightly different way! Hope you guys dig."

"Divine Amnesty" comes off 7 HORNS 7 EYES's debut full-length album, "Throes Of Absolution", which will be released in North America on April 24 via Century Media Records. The CD, which features a guest appearance by guitarist Jeff Loomis (ex-NEVERMORE), has been many months in the making.

The cover artwork for "Throes Of Absolution" was created by Travis Smith of Seempieces (OPETH, DEVIN TOWNSEND) and can be seen below.

A teaser trailer for "Throes Of Absolution" can be seen below.

The track listing for the CD is as follows:

01. Divine Amnesty
02. Phumis: The Falsehood of Affliction
03. The Hill Difficulty
04. Cycle of Self
05. Delusions
06. A Finite Grasp of Infinite Disillusion
07. Vindicator
08. The Winnowing
09. Regeneration

7 HORNS 7 EYES previously released a digital single, entitled "Convalescence", which can be purchased on iTunes. In addition to the title track, the single also features two tracks from "Throes Of Absolution" ("Vindicator", "The Winnowing").

"The Moneychangers", the new video from Raleigh, North Carolina legends CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, can be viewed below. (Note: Video stream may not be available to some non-U.S. residents.) The clip was filmed in Raleigh by Charles Cardello and features the band in a storyline that brings the song's lyrics out visually (even Jesus makes an appearance).

A couple of photos from the video shoot can be seen below.

"The Moneychangers" comes off CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's new self-titled album, which is being released today (Tuesday, February 28) in North America via Candlelight Records. The CD was recorded at Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in Northridge, California and was produced by the band in cooperation with longtime collaborator John Custer. It was mixed by John Lousteau (FOO FIGHTERS) and features artwork by Seldon Hunt (MELVINS, HIGH ON FIRE).

"Corrosion Of Conformity" is available on standard CD, deluxe digipak, and two exclusive vinyl formats.

Featuring the esteemed "Animosity" lineup of vocalist/bassist Mike Dean, guitarist Woody Weatherman, and drummer/vocalist Reed Mullin, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's album closes a six-year recording gap and completes over a year of concentrated writing and recording for the band.

"Corrosion Of Conformity" track listing:

01. Psychic Vampire
02. River Of Stone
03. Leeches
04. El Lamento De Las Cabras
05. Your Tomorrow
06. The Doom
07. The Moneychangers
08. Come Not Here
09. What We Become
10. Rat City
11. Time Of Trials
12. Canyon Man (deluxe/vinyl only)
13. The Same Way (deluxe/vinyl only)

Mullin co-founded CORROSION OF CONFORMITY in 1982 as a hardcore punk act alongside Weatherman and Dean before leaving the band in 2001 amidst health concerns.

ALTER BRIDGE will release its new DVD, "Live At Wembley", at the end of March. The disc contains footage of one of the biggest headline shows of ALTER BRIDGE's career, which took place on November 29, 2011 at Wembley Arena in London, England. The 2D version (complete with a live CD) will be released everywhere this month while the 3D version will come out in the summer of 2012. Longtime ALTER BRIDGE director Daniel E Catullo III ("Live From Amsterdam", "One By One", "Isolation", webisodes, etc.) was brought in to direct "Live At Wembley" by The Dude Films, a new production and distribution company with offices in Laguna Beach, California and Maui, Hawaii headed up by "One By One" executive producer Stuart Margolis and executive producer Chris LaBabera. Lionel Pasamonte, who produced the band's last DVD, "Live From Amsterdam", is producing with Catullo.

In a brand new posting on ALTER BRIDGE's official web site, Catullo states about the forthcoming DVD, "The worldwide release is now scheduled for all territories (U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia) for March 26, 2012. The U.S. and Canada moved to be in line with the rest of the world, rather than release on the 27th.

"In the U.S., the DVD will not be available at Target or Walmart. However, Best Buy and all other retailers will be carrying it. We are projecting that most of the retailers will sell out very quickly, as their initial orders are low. Therefore, the only way to guarantee you get your copy during release week is to order from Amazon.com or the EMI store. If you order on Amazon now, not only will you get an additional three bonus audio tracks, your product will be on your doorstep on release day.

"As we get more detailed release information, we will forward it on to you. We still do not have distribution set up in South America or Asia, but are diligently working on it."

ALTER BRIDGE's setlist for the Wembley show was as follows:

01. Slip To The Void
02. Find The Real
03. Ghost Of Days Gone By
04. Before Tomorrow Comes
05. Come To Life
06. All Hope Is Gone
07. White Knuckles
08. Brand New Start
09. Metalingus
10. Broken Wings
11. I Know It Hurts
12. One Day Remains
13. Coeur D'Alene
14. Buried Alive
15. Blackbird
16. Wonderful Life (Acoustic Version)
17. Watch Over You (Acoustic Version)
18. Ties That Bind
19. Isolation

Encore:

20. Open Your Eyes
21. Dueling Guitar Solos - Mark and Myles
22. Rise Today

A preview clip of "Slip To The Void" from "Live At Wembley" can now be seen below.

ALTER BRIDGE drummer Scott Phillips told Stereoboard that it's unlikely fans will hear from the band again until 2013, but that they shouldn't take that as a bad sign. Phillips explained, "We'll certainly be visible [in 2012], but it'll be on various projects and then probably 2013 will be the reunion there of ALTER BRIDGE and we'll diligently get to work on a new record and tour as soon as we can."

ALTER BRIDGE spent much of 2011 on the road behind its last album, "AB III", but 2012 will see singer Myles Kennedy return to work as the lead singer in Slash's band, while the other three members of the group will reunite with vocalist Scott Stapp for a new CREED tour and album.

Phillips said, "Each of us have our own thing. I think we've got a lot of different paths we're heading on in 2012," adding that in addition to working with CREED, guitarist Mark Tremonti is prepping his first solo album for release.

Last fall, ALTER BRIDGE released a special edition of "AB III" featuring three previously unheard songs and an hour-long documentary on the group's career.

"Access Hollywood" caught up with U.S. singer-songwriter, and "American Idol" finalist, Adam Lambert on the red carpet for the 20th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party and asked him about singing with QUEEN at United Kingdom's Sonisphere festival this summer. You can watch the short chat below.

Having last week announced a special one-off U.K. concert performing with Lambert at the Sonisphere festival on July 7, legendary rock band QUEEN has announced it will play an additional earlier date with the singer when QUEEN and Lambert appear at Moscow's Olympic Arena on June 30.

These two shows are the only concerts presently planned for QUEEN and Lambert in 2012.

The potent chemistry between QUEEN and Lambert broke the surface when at the invitation of Brian May and Roger Taylor, Lambert joined them for the closing showcase at the recent MTV Europe Music Awards where QUEEN were present to collect their "Global Icon" award.

During a recent interview with NME.com, Lambert insisted that he is not trying to replace the later Freddie Mercury. He said, "The way I look at it is I'm not trying to imitate or outdo him or compete in any way, that's not even in my mind at all, I think it's really an honor to be asked to sing the music that he and the band wrote and get up there and put on a good show. If people are too busy trying to compare, they're not going to enjoy the music."

Although Lambert did not rule out another collaboration with QUEEN in the future, he insisted that for now the Knebworth show is simply a one-off. He told NME.com, "One of the things [people have said] was, 'He's gonna be the permanent frontman of QUEEN.' And although that would be a beautiful experience, the tricky thing this year for me is I also have my album coming out, 'Trespassing', and that's gonna take a lot of work and time and energy. So it's really a one-off experience with the band, and I'm really excited for it. But I'm not joining the band and touring with them."

QUEENSRŸCHE lead singer Geoff Tate entered the studio yesterday (Wednesday, Febraury 29) to begin recording his second solo album. He says, "I'm very excited about this record and I' ll be sharing a lot more info about it in the weeks to come."

Tate released his first solo album in 2002 on Sanctuary Records. Self-titled, the LP was a huge departure from the work he had previously done with QUEENSRŸCHE.

Geoff played a handful of acoustic solo dates, billed as GEOFF TATE AND FRIENDS, beginning on January 26 at Anthology in San Diego, California. According to Tate, he performed "acoustic renditions of songs from my solo album as well as some of my favorite QUEENSRŸCHE songs."

Professionally filmed, multi-camera video footage of the San Diego concert can be seen below.

In a recent interview with AnthologySD.com, Tate was asked if he is looking into any future solo projects. "I am!" he replied. "I'm actually working on one right now that I hope to have wrapped up pretty soon. This show that I'm doing [on the solo tour] is an acoustic show with some friends of mine who are fantastic acoustic players. We're doing kind of a blend of my last solo album, some QUEENSRŸCHE songs, and we'll toss in some new ones that haven't been released yet. It'll just be a really fun night. Very homey, intimate, we'll probably take requests, things like that."

He added, "For the last couple of years, I've been doing more stuff outside of QUEENSRŸCHE in order to just stretch out. But I'll tell you, even though I've sang shows in front of hundreds of thousands of people and also intimate shows of a few hundred, but whenever I go out to an event or something and someone asks me to sing a song with them, I'm petrified! (Laughs) I don't know much material outside of my own material that I've written, and so if someone asks me to sing 'Danny Boy', I couldn't sing it! Not even if someone offered me a million dollars could I sing that song. So I'm trying to be a bit more versatile and learn more stuff."

According to Billboard.com, LIMP BIZKIT and Lil Wayne will release a new collaborative single, "Ready To Go", next week via LIMP BIZKIT's new label home, Cash Money, Lil Wayne's longtime record company. "It'll be a great way to let the world know that [the band] is a part of us," Cash Money Records co-CEO and founder Bryan "Birdman" Williams told Billboard.com. "It's rock, but it's hip-hop-rock. I think we got that hip-hop-rock swagger."

When LIMP BIZKIT's deal with Cash Money was announced last week, many wondered why the popular rap label would work with a band whose latest album, "Gold Cobra", has sold 69,000 copies in the United States since its June 2011 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. "LIMP BIZKIT, to me, is just a perfect match for us," said Birdman. "It was something that [Durst] was interested in doing, and I was already a fan, and I was like, 'Let's do it.' It's good for the brand, it will bring a different look for us, and we're definitely trying to expand on that side of music."

LIMP BIZKIT last year parted ways with Interscope, the label that released all of the band's records thus far through its subsidiaries Flip, Geffen and Suretone Records.

"As both an artist and someone who has signed artists, I can say without a doubt that Cash Money is at the top of their game," Durst said in a statement. "What attracted me to the label is not only their great taste and hustle, but their belief in their artists and the family atmosphere. Slim and Birdman allow their artists to be themselves and encourage creative output and continued development. I look forward to bringing my vision as a director as well as my voice to the label and to LIMP BIZKIT putting out some of our best music to date. . . This is the most at home, comfortable, and confident I have felt in the business."

"Gold Cobra" was LIMP BIZKIT's first CD to feature the original lineup of Fred Durst (vocals), Wes Borland (guitar), Sam Rivers (bass), John Otto (drums), and DJ Lethal since 2000's "Chocolate Starfish And Hot Dog Flavored Water".

Swedish metallers THE HAUNTED have launched a vocalist search following the departure of longtime frontman Peter Dolving. Serious applicants should send their submissions, including two songs from THE HAUNTED back catalog and a few words to describe themselves, to the e-mail address below. Images and links to performance video clips are much appreciated and will be most valuable in the screening process.

Dolving announced his exit from THE HAUNTED yesterday, writing on his Facebook page, "I have had it. I will NOT answer questions to why. It's no one else's business. I am looking forward to seeing you people at other shows with other projects."

Previously a vocalist for MARY BEATS JANE, Dolving joined THE HAUNTED in 1997 and sang in their debut self-titled album. In 1998, he left the group to concentrate on a band called ZEN-MONKEY but returned in 2003 following the departure of Marco Aro (the vocalist which took over Dolving's spot after Peter's 1998 exit). He has since appeared on the studio albums "Revolver" (2004), "The Dead Eye" (2006), "Versus" (2008) and "Unseen" (2011).

THE HAUNTED's seventh studio CD, "Unseen", sold around 1,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The effort landed at position No. 33 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.

"Unseen" was released on March 29, 2011 via Century Media Records. The CD was once again recorded with longtime producer Tue Madsen (MOONSPELL, DARK TRANQUILLITY, GOREFEST, SICK OF IT ALL) at his Antfarm Studio in Århus, Denmark.

News.com.au recently conducted an interview with SLIPKNOT drummer Joey Jordison. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On receiving odd gifts from fans:

Jordison: "I had a gift given to me from a young lady when I was touring with (ROB) ZOMBIE and I was like, 'OK, well, thank you' and I took it back and I opened it up and it had like a weird smell. But it's not what you think what it was, well, it was definitely odd. I used to work in funeral homes, that was my family's business for a long time, so it didn't spook me too much but I was wondering where this person got this from. [Basically, it was a whole person's arm.] It wasn't like an actual arm, just the bones. It was odd, but hey ..."

On touring the world and releasing four albums while dealing with the ongoing conflict that inevitably comes with a band of nine members:

Jordison: "I think it takes a certain type of person to take on such a vigorous touring schedule especially with a band like SLIPKNOT. We're not like a normal band; there's nine of us, the music is not easy to play, the way we perform with such energy really takes its toll on your body and then you've got masks and coveralls and blowing the stage up every other night on tour it does take a toll."

On the death of SLIPKNOT bassist, founding member and his best friend Paul Gray in 2010:

Jordison: "It's so tragic and it's horrible, but life has to go on and the last thing (Paul) would ever want is for us to throw in the towel. I miss my friend very, very much and no matter what he'll still be on every SLIPKNOT record, spiritually. And we have a lot that we've written together that hasn't seen the light of day yet, some monster riffs. I will miss him forever but you can't sit and wallow and make excuses for not continuing SLIPKNOT."

On SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor's ambivalent stance towards making a new album without Gray:

Jordison: "I've been in and out of the studio for about six months now that's on the SLIPKNOT record and also on some solo stuff as well. He (Taylor) does want to keep doing it."

On his solo project:

Jordison: "Yeah, I'm gonna be forming a band in the near future with a lot of the material I've been writing lately. I don't want to release too much but I have been in the studio and I think people will be pretty surprised at what I come up with. It's heavy! But (SLIPKNOT) is all I care about right now. We are one of a kind, for sure. No one will ever be like us."

Read more from News.com.au.

German metal queen Doro Pesch is putting the finishing touches on her new studio album for an October release through her new record label, Nuclear Blast Records. An EP will precede the full-length CD in May/June. She says, "[This] past weekend, I flew over to the U.S. to work on the last couple of songs for my new album. Just some last twists and pulls to be done — after three long years of hard work! But it all paid off in the end." She added, "I am considering having those 12-14 songs being mixed in Scandinavia for the first time. The producers there guarantee a massive, fresh and modern sound."
Doro will embark on a European headlining tour in the fall. The 19-date trek will kick off on November 15 in Kiel, Germany and will wrap on December 9 in Berlin.

The dates are as follows

Nov. 15 - Kiel, Germany - Max
Nov. 16 - Bremen, Germany - Aladin
Nov. 17 - Tilburg, Netherlands - O13
Nov. 18 - Antwerp, Belgium - Trix
Nov. 20 - London, UK - Garage
Nov. 21 - Paris, France - Divan Du Monde
Nov. 23 - Pamplona, Spain - Totem
Nov. 24 - Madrid, Spain - Arena
Nov. 25 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz 2
Nov. 27 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
Nov. 28 - Stuttgart, Germany - Longhorn/LKA
Nov. 30 - Memmingen, Germany - Kaminwerk
Dec. 01 - Wien, Austria - Scene
Dec. 02 - Budapest, Hungary - Club 202
Dec. 04 - Prague, Czech Republic - Retro Music Hall
Dec. 06 - Bochum, Germany - Zeche
Dec. 07 - Karlsruhe, Germany - Substage
Dec. 08 - Vacha, Germany - Vachwerk
Dec. 09 - Berlin, Germany - Huxleys Neue Welt

During a 2011 interview with Metal Kaoz, Pesch was asked about the progress of the songwriting and recording sessions for her next studio album. "I think we have completed 80 percent of the new record and there are some great songs coming up," she replied. "Actually, one song is dedicated to Ronnie James Dio and the working title is 'Hero'. That's a very special song. I was a big Dio fan and I know that there are so many fans out there are missing him so much, so definitely this song will be on the new record. Also they will be some speed metal songs, some anthems songs and, of course, some power ballads."

In conjunction with the Stateside release of the mammoth "25 Years In Rock" 2 DVD/CD set, Doro performed two special shows in New York City on September 9, 2011 and Chicago on September 11, 2011. Both nights included clips from the DVD, limited edition merchandise and an autograph session followed by a performance by the metal queen herself.

Released in Europe in 2010 (also via Nuclear Blast), the epic "25 Years In Rock" two-DVD/CD set includes Doro's 25-year anniversary show in its entirety as well as clips from her 2,500th concert and so much more.

"Fear No Evil", the latest album from Pesch, was made available in North America in June 2009 via AFM/Dismanic/Ryko Distribution.

"Not Supposed To Sing The Blues", the new single from Swedish hard rockers EUROPE, will be released digitally on March 9. The song comes off the band's ninth studio album, "Bag Of Bones", due on April 27 via earMusic/Edel. The CD, which features a guest appearance by blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION), was produced by Kevin Shirley, who has previously worked with IRON MAIDEN, JOE BONAMASSA, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, BLACK STONE CHERRY and JOURNEY, among others.

"Bag Of Bones" track listing:

01. Riches To Rags
02. Not Supposed To Sing The Blues
03. Firebox
04. Bag Of Bones
05. Requiem
06. My Woman My Friend
07. Demon Head
08. Drink And A Smile
09. Doghouse
10. Mercy You Mercy Me
11. Bring It All Home

Commented EUROPE frontman Joey Tempest: "Kevin Shirley did such a great job capturing the spirit of this band. He just let us do our thing and then pushed us and our songs to the max. Finally we express ourselves completely without restraint. Straight from heart and soul. It took some time but we have arrived!"

Added EUROPE guitar virtuoso John Norum: "Why drive VW beetle when you can drive a Rolls Royce?! 'Bag Of Bones' is a classic rock album with lots of class. Even my mom likes it!"

Regarding the new CD title, EUROPE drummer Ian Haugland said, "It's not [called 'Bag Of Bones'] because we all have lost tons of weight or found a new interest in archeology or dogs... It's just because it sounds f*ckin' cool!"

In a July 2011 press release, Tempest stated about EUROPE's new CD, "We still feel we have one hell of a rock record to make. Kevin's the man for the job. We love his work with BONAMASSA, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, and BLACK STONE CHERRY. He's the real deal. We're ready to do some serious damage."

Last year, EUROPE met up with Shirley in Stockholm to discuss the direction of the next album. Based on reactions from the fans and media, EUROPE's 2009 album, "Last Look At Eden", proved to be the band's most important record since "The Final Countdown". "I've been a big fan of EUROPE's work for many years," said Shirley. "The band is influential and highly underrated. I can't wait to make the upcoming album their most explosive to date."

The new material suggests a more straightforward rock approach evident in "Doghouse" — a new song EUROPE performed on their most recent U.K. tour (see video below). The song is also featured on EUROPE's "Europe: Live at Shepherd's Bush" DVD, released in August 2011 via earMUSIC CDs and DVDs.

earMUSIC last year released a limited deluxe book with pictures by Denis O'Regan. "Live Look At Eden" features exclusive live audio and the stunning performance at 2010's iTunes Festival in London.

Reactivated Massachusetts hard rockers EXTREME will pay their second album, "p*rnograffitti", in its entirety at four shows in Japan in April. The dates are as follows:

April 16 - Tokyo Dome City Hall - Tokyo, Japan
April 17 - Tokyo Dome City Hall - Tokyo, Japan
April 18 - Namba Hatch - Osaka, Japan
April 20 - Shibuya Kokaido - Tokyo Japan

Released in 1990, "p*rnograffitti" peaking at No. 10 on The Billboard 200 chart and was certified double platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) for shipments in excess of two million copies. Two singles from the LP — "More Than Words" and "Hole Hearted" — reached the Top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Two other tracks, "Decadence Dance" and "Get The Funk Out", reached the lower half of Billboard's rock chart.

EXTREME's "Take Us Alive" live CD and DVD came out on May 4, 2010 in the U.S. via Frontiers Records.

In 2008, following a 13-year hiatus, EXTREME returned to the stage for its "Take Us Alive" world tour, which encompassed 75 cities and multiple continents in support of the band's new record, "Saudades de Rock".

This recording captures EXTREME at the peak of its game with a renewed enthusiasm led by Gary Cherone's spellbinding stage performance and powerful vocals, Nuno Bettencourt's ferocious guitar, Pat Badger's flawless bass and Kevin Figueiredo's pounding drums and spot-on back-up vocals.

This brilliant performance was recorded on the last night of their tour at the House of Blues on August 8, 2009 in EXTREME's hometown of Boston.

The concert showcases material from all five EXTREME albums and exhibits the band's broad stylistic abilities. Features include a blistering rendition of the LED ZEPPELIN-minded "Comfortably Dumb", the scorching "Play With Me", the funked-up "Cupid's Dead" as well as the anthemic "Get The Funk Out". Songs like EXTREME's #1 hit "More Than Words" and the Top 5 single "Hole Hearted" highlight the crowds enthusiasm and loyal support their fan base has had for this beloved foursome.

Steven Sweet of California hard rockers WARRANT has released a digital EP, "A Cappella", featuring four songs performed by the drummer, involving only his voice and no instruments.

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Eleanor Rigby (THE BEATLES cover)
02. End Of The Road (BOYZ II MEN cover)
03. I'll Always Be Near
04. You Are So Beautiful (JOE co*ckER cover)

Audio samples of the "A Cappella" tracks can be heard in the YouTube clip below.