AMON AMARTH European tour with Huntress to kick off this week - Win a chance to meet AMON AMARTH with Metal Hammer

Swedish heavy metal icons AMON AMARTH will be returning to Europe already thist week for a month long tour in regional UK, regional France and Spain/Portugal.

Amon Amarth comments: "UK, Portugal, Spain and France…get ready this January for a Viking invasion! We'll be making an extensive UK expedition where we'll be pillaging smaller clubs in virtually every nook and cranny of the country. We're also making a more in depth raid of France, Spain and Portugal. Finally! As support on this mission we're bringing our friends in Huntress and up-and-comers Savage Messiah. Don't miss this awesome night of metal and we will take no prisoners!"

In conjunction with Metal Hammer magazine, Amon Amarth are offiering the chance to win a copy of the super deluxe “Loki Head” box version of “Deceiver of the Gods’ which the band will present to you in person at the UK show of your choice. For your chance to win – enter at this location

AMON AMARTH + Huntress + Savage Messiah

15/01/15 FR - Lille - Le Splendid 16/01/15 UK - Brighton - Concorde 2 17/01/15 UK - Plymouth - The Hub 18/01/15 UK - Bristol - Thelka 19/01/15 UK - Nottingham - Rescue Rooms 21/01/15 UK - Norwich - Waterfront 22/01/15 UK - Colchester - Arts Center 23/01/15 UK - Oxford - Academy2 24/01/15 UK - Stoke - Sugarmill 25/01/15 UK - Manchester - Academy2 27/01/15 UK - Glasgow - Classic Grand 28/01/15 UK - Leeds - Stylus 29/01/15 UK - Newcastle - Uni 30/01/15 UK - Lemmington - Assembly 31/01/15 UK - Southampton - 1865 02/02/15 FR - Rouen - Le 106 03/02/15 FR - Reims - Le Cartonnerie 04/02/15 FR - Nancy - L´Autre Canal 05/02/15 FR - Nimes - La Paloma 06/02/15 ES - Bilbao - Santana 27 07/02/15 ES - Barcelona - Razzmatazz1 08/02/15 ES - Madrid - La Riviera 10/02/15 PT - Lisboa - Paradise Garage 11/02/15 PT - Porto - Hard Club 12/02/15 ES - Santiago - Captol 14/02/15 FR - Clermont-Ferrand - Le Cooperative De Mai 15/02/15 FR - Strasbourg - Laiterie

AMON AMARTH launched their new music video last autumn, the title track to their 2013 album, "Deceiver of the Gods." The video features clips from the upcoming film, Northmen - A Viking Saga, which stars Tom Hopper, Ryan Kwanten, Ken Duken, and features Johan Hegg as Valli. It's no surprise, given the level of talent and eye-catching visuals of the film that this is the most remarkable AMON AMARTH video to date.

Greek Thrashers Biotoxic Warfare Unleash New Single From 'Lobotomized'

In order to whet appetites, Biotoxic Warfare have released a single from their upcoming album ‘Lobotomized’ which is released this coming Monday 19th January via Slaney Records. The track, also named ‘Lobotomized’ is a meaty introduction to the band’s debut full-length release.



Since their formation little over two years ago and having already supported the likes of Enforcer and Suicidal Angels and released one highly lauded EP, ‘Baptized in Blood and Greed’ [2013], Biotoxic Warfare are emerging from the Greek underbelly as a force to be reckoned with. This is demonstrated in full on their debut album release, ‘Lobotomized’.

‘Lobotomized’ is a blistering aural attack from the start and does not let up the onslaught through the album’s eight tracks. Talking of the album, the band had this to say -

“The sound of ‘Lobotomized’ is mostly influenced by the European Thrash Metal scene (Kreator, Sodom) with a mix of old school American Death Metal (Obituary, Death, Morbid Angel). It also combines dark melodies, shredding guitar solos, technical riffing and many well-combined fragments of the whole extreme metal spectrum.

“Lyrically the album opposes strictly to any religious fanatics and cults who use their lies to control every human being with ambitions to reign upon arrogance and false reality created by religions worldwide since the dawn of time. The lyrics call the people to rise against their oppressors, stand out for what they believe and break the chains that bond both mind and soul.”

And this is what the press is saying –

“If ‘Lobotomized’ is a sign for all the good albums that are to come in 2015, then I cannot fucking wait…an amazing start to the year’s metal releases.” 10/10 Metal Addicts

The band recorded the album at their home studio and went on to have it mixed and mastered by Vaggelis Theodorakis (Revolted Masses). ‘Lobotomized’’s artwork, designed by Roberto Toderico, encapsulates the messages from within the album. The band describe the artwork as depicting “the massive lobotomy and brain washing that terrorizes our society by any organized religion party, and aims to a global propaganda in order to control and twist the freedom of thinking and acting for yourself.”

'Lobotomized' Track Listing

1. Mors Indecepta 2. Proclaim The Gospel Of Lies 3. Baptized In Blood And Greed 4. Dysphoric Reality 5. Lobotomized 6. Lust For Hate 7. Parasitic Life 8. As We Rot (Promises Of Heaven)

Band Members

Mike – Vocals George – Lead Guitars Stelios – Rhythm Guitars Panagiotis – Bass Orestis – Drums

UK Guitar Legend Chris Spedding Announces Brand New Album Featuring A Slew Of Special Guests Including Johnny Marr & Bryan Ferry

UK Guitar Legend Chris Spedding Announces Brand New Album Featuring A Slew Of Special Guests Including Johnny Marr & Bryan Ferry!

Also includes Robert Gordon, “The God Of Hellfire” Arthur Brown, Glen Matlock, Deadwood actor Ian McShane and more!

Los Angeles, CA - Step right this way, folks, for the experience of a lifetime as guitar hero Chris Spedding showcases his newest, coolest action-packed, thrill ride - Joyland! Packed with more exhilarating highs and heart pounding surprises than any rollercoaster on the planet, Joyland is Spedding’s latest studio effort, his first since 2011 and his 13th original studio album overall in a career that now spans over 4 decades. Featuring 11 brand new compositions, a slew of pure rock riffs and tons of toe-tapping grooves, Joyland will be open to the public starting early 2015 courtesy of Cleopatra Records.

Adding to the excitement, Spedding has called on a number of friends and associates to help bring his newest creation to life. The album kicks off with a haunting spoken word piece voiced by the unmistakable tones of famed actor Ian McShane (HBO’s Deadwood), followed by a stunning, spine-tingling vocal performance by the God Of Hellfire himself, the one and only Arthur Brown. Former Sex Pistol Glen Matlock joins Spedding on the first of two stellar instrumental cuts, the other featuring none other than Smiths’ guitar god Johnny Marr - talk about a clash of titans! More astounding vocal performances arrive from Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry and rockabilly crooner Robert Gordon, both of whom make a perfect foil for Spedding’s vibrant guitar playing. Rounding out this stellar list of guests are a couple of Spedding’s old bandmates from the 1972 group Sharks, Andy Fraser and Steve Parsons, as well as newcomer Lane and another Roxy Music alum Andy Mackey. With this all-star gang of superb musicians on board, better hang on to your hats, kids, this is bound to be one wild ride!

1. Joyland with Ian McShane 2. Now You See It with Arthur Brown 3. Café Racer with Glen Matlock 4. Gun Shaft City with Bryan Ferry 5. Heisenberg with Johnny Marr 6. I Still Love You with Robert Gordon 7. The Pied Piper with Andy Mackey 8. Go Down South with Steve Parsons 9. Shock Treatment with Andy Fraser 10. I’m Your Sin with Lane 11. Message For Stella with Steve Parsons 12. Boom Shakka Boom

To purchase the CD
To download from iTunes

MOTOR SISTER to release 'Ride' March 6th on Metal Blade Records

MOTOR SISTER to release 'Ride' March 6th on Metal Blade Records

Featuring: Jim Wilson, Scott Ian, Pearl Aday, Joey Vera and John Tempesta!

First single streaming - pre-orders available now!

MOTOR SISTER is comprised of a veritable super group; a team of musicians whose collective musical pedigrees speak for themselves. Mother Superior founder, guitarist, and vocalist Jim Wilson fronts the band, with Anthrax's Scott Ian on guitar, Pearl Aday on backing vocals, Joey Vera on bass, and John Tempesta on drums. The group was originally assembled to jam for Scott Ian's fiftieth birthday party. Thanks to Scott's wife Pearl Aday, who has been working on her solo career with Mother Superior front man Jim Wilson for years, all it took was a quick phone call and the stage was literally set for Scott's dream gig. "I wanted to cherry-pick a set list of my favorite Mother Superior songs and get these guys together and have the concert at my house," Ian says of the event that eventually led to an album.

Enthralled at the idea of making a record of his favorite Mother Superior songs, Ian emailed producer Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Steel Panther) and asked if he thought it was possible to recapture the same spontaneous energy MOTOR SISTER generated at their makeshift gig, and if an album could be recorded quickly. "He said, 'Yeah, we can make the record in two days and we can make it sound really good.' So that's what we did," Ian says. "A week and a half later, we made the record in LA over a two day period. We recorded the whole thing live in the studio and the set-up was at my house."

"[Mother Superior] frontman Jim [Wilson] was totally into the idea. Pearl was a huge Mother Superior fan from way back and was in. I asked my good friends Joey Vera (Fates Warning/Armored Saint) and John Tempesta (White Zombie, The Cult) to be a part of it because I knew they were both big fans as well and with no hesitation they said, 'We're in.'"

Wilson, too, was stoked by the opportunity to dust off some songs he hadn't played since his LA rock trio broke up in the early 2000's after releasing eight albums and playing as Henry Rollins' backing band. "I definitely didn't need any arm-twisting," he says. "I was totally flattered and thought it was a great idea. I figured it would be fun and it was a great opportunity for a new chapter to be established in order to move forward."

The recordings from those two days are what became to be known as MOTOR SISTER's "Ride". Today, the first single from those sessions, "This Song Reminds Me of You," is available for to stream, along with a featurette video on the formation of the band and the process behind the record, at metalblade.com/motorsister.

"Ride" will be released March 6th in Europe on Metal Blade Records.

Ride Track Listing:

1. A Hole 2. This Song Reminds Me of You 3. Beg Borrow Steal 4. Fool Around 5. Get That Girl 6. Head Hanging Low 7. Fork in the Road 8. Little Motor Sister 9. Pretty in the Morning 10. Whore 11. Doghouse 12. Devil Wind

Colin Jeffs to sit out Aversions Crown European dates

Unfortunately due to medical issues affecting his voice, Colin Jeffs will be sitting out Aversions Crown's European tour with Within the Ruins and I Declare War. However the brutal deathcore six-piece from Brisbane will still play all dates scheduled with Mark Poida from Melbourne's awesome 'I, Valiance' filling in for Jeffs on vocals.

“Sadly Colin is sitting out our European tour with Within The Ruins and I Declare War for health reasons. Lucky for all of us, the total beast Mark from I Valiance will be covering for us. We played at Unify Festival in Australia with him a few days back and he CRUSHED it. Watch out Europe!” - Hayden Lee, guitar.

The band's UK dates start next week supporting 'Within The Ruins' and ‘I Declare War’.

Aversions Crown recently unleashed the official video for ‘Avalanche’ which features live footage from the bands recent spell of touring epic new album ‘Tyrant’.



Tyrant; the follow-up to the band’s 2011 debut Servitude was created in the oppressive heat of Brisbane’s summer with THY ART IS MURDER’s Andy Marsh producing and Mark Lewis (WHITECHAPEL, CARNIFEX) of Audio Hammer mixing. With a thematic fixation on dystopian nightmares and hostile extraterrestrial encounters, the relentless barrage AVERSIONS CROWN churn out across these ten songs will soundtrack either a solid Halo session or the coming invasion. It was released via Nuclear Blast in November 2014.

Aversions Crown will play the following UK Dates:

Jan 19th - London Underworld Jan 20th – Glasgow,Ivory Blacks Jan 21st – Leeds, Key Club Jan 22nd- Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach

DEMONICAL to tour Europe with Gehenna and I Saw Red

Swedish death metallers DEMONICAL will be taking their critically-acclaimed live show to the streets together with Norwegian black/death legends Gehenna and Finnish death metal newcomer I Saw Red. The ten date "Unravel Europe Tour" will take them to Germany, Holland, Belgium, Czech Republic and Poland.

GEHENNA + DEMONICAL + I SAW RED - Unravel Europe tour 2015

30.04 (GER) Greifswald - Klex 01.05 (GER) Bitterfeld - Festung 02.05 ((NL) Leeuwarden - Poppodium Romein 03.05 (NL) Rotterdam - Baroeg * 04.05 (BEL) Waregem - Gasolina 05.05 (GER) Weinheim - Cafe Central 06.05 (GER) Aalen - Rock It 07.05 (CZE) Prague - Modra Vopice 08.05 (POL) Poznan - Club U Bazyla 09.05 (GER) Erfurt - From Hell

* with Schirenc plays Pungent Stench and Bölzer.

DEMONICAL will also be appearing on several summer feativals in 2015, including Summer Breeze (Germany), Metalhead Meeting (Romania) and Barther Metal Open Air (Germany). More news will follow soon.

CREATIVELIVE Presents "FL Studio Synthesis Master Class with SEAMLESSR" Free Live Course

Revolutionary live online learning platform CreativeLive will be hosting FL Studio Synthesis Master Class with exceptional EDM composer SEAMLESSR. The live, free, interactive lesson will run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. PST on Jan. 16-17.

Click to RSVP!

Engage in the ultimate FL Studio lesson with SEAMLESSR! FiXT artist and EDM mastermind SeamlessR will be diving deep into the world of FL Studio during his free, live course hosted via CreativeLive!

SeamlessR is slated to discuss topics such as high-level synthesis concepts, principles, and applications. He will also dive into common electronic sound design challenges while covering the four major types of synthesis: subtractive, fm, additive and wave table.

Through his ingenuity and knowledge of FL Studio, SeamlessR will guide viewers through the stock instruments that come with FL Studio (Harmor, Sytrus, Harmless, Sawer, etc) and popular third-party plug-ins.

Stephen O'Leary stands on the brink of a chart- shattering presence in the electronic music world. The young producer has garnered a huge following on his YouTube channel where, for the past two years, he has uploaded a steady stream of in-depth production software tutorials that detail how to create the latest, greatest sounds in EDM and have included appearances by the likes of Savant, Xilent, and Varien. Stephen's techniques eventually made their way to high places, as he learned when none other than world-renowned megastar BT contacted him. "I didn’t know who he was," recalls Stephen, who for years had played guitar and aimed to become a metal recording engineer.

A quick Google clued Stephen in, and before long he was collaborating with BT as SeamlessR on a remix of Celldweller's "Unshakeable". The collaboration brought Stephen to the attention of FiXT, and now SeamlessR is poised to become the next break-out hit from the hybrid label.

SeamlessR released "The R Is Silent" via FiXT Music last November.