Life Sentence, SATAN’s first full-length since 1987′s Suspended Sentence, will mark the 30th anniversary of the band’s highly-acclaimed 1983 debut Court In The Act. The album feature the same line-up that appeared on that now-classic piece of metal history.

The cover art for the album (pictured below) was drawn by famed artist Eliran Kantor (SODOM, TESTAMENT, HATEBREED – www.elirankantor.com) and depicts a similar graphic concept as Court In The Act. Mixed by Dario Mollo at Damage Inc. Studio in Italy and tracked late last year at First Avenue in Newcastle, Life Sentence is a very strong uptempo heavy metal album that will undoubtedly become a metal classic.

- Worm Gear Zine

 SATAN are a heavy metal band originating from Newcastle, England in 1980, known as part of the NWOBHM movement. Though generally obscure throughout their career, the band is considered influential for playing a form of proto-thrash metal that was fairly advanced by the standards of the early 1980s. SATAN remained inactive until re-assembling for a one-off gig at Germany’s Wacken Open Air in 2004, and finally reunited in their original Court In The Act line-up for 2011′s Keep It True festival. The band performed at several European festivals in 2011 and 2012 and have announced more festival shows and new album for 2013, to mark the 30th anniversary of their debut release.

www.satanmusic.com

(Reuters) – Tim Lambesis, lead singer for the heavy metal band As I Lay Dying, has been arrested over accusations he sought the help of an undercover detective to have his estranged wife killed, police said.

Lambesis was taken into custody on Tuesday in Oceanside, California, after he solicited help from the detective, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. Police had previously learned Lambesis was seeking someone who could commit the slaying, the department said.

A representative for the As I Lay Dying’s record label could not immediately be reached for comment, and it was unclear if Lambesis had an attorney.

The band’s 2007 album “An Ocean Between Us” debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200 list, and ranks as one of their top-selling releases. Last year, As I Lay Dying put out its sixth album, “Awakened.” Lambesis is a founding member of the band, which was formed in San Diego. (Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Mohammad Zargham)

Repost from Reuters..

Legendary British band SATAN have released a brand new track off their forthcoming new album Life Sentence. The song, “Siege Mentality,” is now streaming at this location.

Life Sentence, SATAN’s first full-length since 1987′s Suspended Sentence, will be available in North America on May 21st via Listenable Records. The album will mark the 30th anniversary of the band’s highly-acclaimed 1983 debut Court In The Act. Life Sentence will also feature the same line-up that appeared on that now-classic piece of metal history.

The cover art for the album (pictured below) was drawn by famed artist Eliran Kantor (SODOM, TESTAMENT, HATEBREED – www.elirankantor.com) and depicts a similar graphic concept as Court In The Act. Mixed by Dario Mollo at Damage Inc. Studio in Italy and tracked late last year at First Avenue in Newcastle, Life Sentence is a very strong uptempo heavy metal album that will undoubtedly become a metal classic.

Pre-orders are available at http://shop.listenable.net/category.php?id_category=137

“The 80s NWOBHM legends return with an absolute beast of a comeback”
- Metal Hammer

“With the original lineup all in place, Satan’s high-flying, expertly-phrased melody lines and riffing have returned as if reappearing, modified DeLorean-style, from the past.”

- Worm Gear Zine

SATAN Line-up:
Brian Ross – vocals
Steve Ramsey – Guitar
Russ Tippins – Guitar
Graeme English – Bass
Sean Taylor – Drums

www.satanmusic.com
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www.facebook.com/officialsatanpage

After years of up-and-downs in their career (mostly downs), Twisted Sister released a Christmas album, A Twisted Christmas, in 2006. Holiday-themed releases are something that should be left to the Rod Stewart-and-Barry Manilow’s of the world, not a heavy-metal band. Now, as a follow-up, Twisted Sister has released a live DVD entitled A Twisted X-Mas, Live in Las Vegas.

Maybe I am being a musical Scrooge here but this live outing is embarrassing. I could accept a metal band covering a Christmas song (or grudgingly two), in a bit of “wink-wink-nod-nod” fun. But the fact, more than half of this set list is composed of Christmas tunes, the joke quickly becomes, well, not-so-funny. Worse, is the fact that the band interlaces the holiday nonsense with their own material, making for an off-kilter balance of good and bad. Old-school TS selections, such as “Shoot ‘em Down,” “You Can’t  Stop Rock and Roll,” and ”Burn in Hell” are awkwardly sandwiched between “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause,” “Silver Bells,” and “Deck the Halls”.  TS were once (still are?) a hard-hitting metal band until they became a parody with their cartoon antics on MTV back in the early ’80′s. This live DVD, therefore, displays both of these sides of Twisted Sister: aggressive at times, downright dumb at others.

The show begins with fumbling elves, scurrying about the stage, dropping presents down cardboard chimneys – you know, like the makings of a really bad Andy Williams Christmas television special from the ’70′s.  Then, one by one, each band member comes out through some vortex-like door, until finally, Leader-of-the-Pack Dee Snider, comes out on a sleigh dressed as….you guessed it…Santa Claus, led by foxy vampy chicks. The band then kick off the show with Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, and the pacing never recovers. It’s hot-and-cold, as TS alternate between a silly Christmas tune, and one of their own rocking original compositions.  Most people don’t wish to hear Christmas tunes, to begin with, never mind delivered in such a forced, contrived manner by a hard rock act. The band themselves, Snider aside, seem confused, as if they, too, are cringing a bit at such nonsense. Oh, and for good measure, we get “treated” to one of the most boring drum solo’s I have ever heard in my life.

Undoubtedly, Snider came up with this concept, and convinced Jay Jay French, Mark Mendoza, AJ Pero, and Eddie Ojeda to go along with the idea. Maybe it sounded interesting, on paper, but the execution just does not flow smoothly. The band only look comfortable when performing their own material, and seem to take a step (or two) back, during the nauseating Yuletide nonsense. Getting Twisted Sister back together, for a reunion, works fine for me, but the holiday aspect of it just boggles my rationale of thinking. I wouldn’t mind the band dropping the trademark neon-glow costumes and garish make-up, either, if only because, as the band ages, it looks more and more ridiculous.

Don’t get me wrong; when TS are delivering their own material, they remind me how big of a fan I am of their earlier material. But the interruption of this material with  Noel-niceness never comes off aggressiveness, or sinister (which it should, for the sake of irony). It is all just downright dumb.

In all fairness, I do recommend this DVD (believe it or not) to all TS fans, all of whom I assume will skip over the ho-ho-ho silliness, and focus on what Twisted Sister can (potentially) do best, and that is, deliver some fierce, melodic metal.

According to Metal Underground and several other news sources  it’s reported that  Suicide Silence front man Mitch Lucker has passed away. PE.com reports:

Mitch Lucker, singer for the Riverside heavy metal band Suicide Silence, died Thursday morning, Nov. 1, after being in a motorcycle crash Wednesday night in Huntington Beach. The Orange County coroner’s office said Lucker was pronounced dead at 6:17 a.m. Thursday at UCI Medical Center in Orange County. The victim had the same name and date of birth as the singer, officials confirmed.

Coroner’s officials said Lucker was hospitalized after a motorcycle accident shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday. Huntington Beach police were investigating the crash and expected to release details Thursday morning.

The band’s main website has been down today, presumably due to high traffic. Update: The band’s label released this sad news moments ago:

“It is with great sadness and regret this morning that we have to report that Mitch Lucker, vocalist of SUICIDE SILENCE, passed away a few hours ago due to injuries sustained during a motorcycle accident.

“Nuclear Blast would like to offer our condolences to his family, friends, band members and fans worldwide who are affected by this loss.

“He left us doing what he loved to do most. He was 28 years old and will be sorely missed.

“Fans are encouraged to share their memories, photos of Mitch and condolences on the band’s officialFacebook profile.”

Suicide Silence’s Facebook page has also now been updated with this message:

“There’s no easy way to say this. Mitch passed away earlier this morning from injuries sustained during a motorcycle accident. This is completely devastating to all of us and we offer our deepest condolences to his family. He will be forever in our hearts. R.I.P. Mitchell Adam Lucker – We Love You Brother.”

Read the full article at PE.com.

Oktober Guitars today announces they will be giving away a new guitar, every six months.  Oktober has teamed with legendary heavy metal band Raven for the first guitar, which will be the Mark Gallagher Tele.  Musicians and fans within the USA can enter to win with details on the Oktober Guitars Facebook fan page. Winner will be selected on Septmeber 28, 2012.

Fans will have a chance to win by clicking on the unique link and visiting the Oktober Guitars Facebook fan page, give the page a “like” and completing a short entry form.  The winner will be selected at random, and then announced on Facebook and Twitter.

The Mark Gallagher Tele is modeled after the legendary Raven guitarist’s old warhorse guitar.  The MGT Guitar Giveaway is the first campaign of many to come that will allow customers and fans a chance to become a part of the Oktober Guitars lifestyle.

To enter, please visit

http://www.facebook.com/OktoberGuitarsFanPage#!/OktoberGuitarsFanPage/app_403359706360567

For more information please visit www.oktoberguitars.com

The heavy metal band Stryper, live at the Java Rockin’ Land festival in Indonesia. Recorded in front of an enthusiastic crowd in 2010, this is the definitive Stryper DVD. Celebrating almost 30 years of incredible melodies and musicianship, Live In Indonesia features hits and rarities delivered in impeccable sound and video.

“This show was an unexpected, but welcomed, addition to our tour schedule,” said Michael Sweet (singer, guitarist, songwriter). “It was added last minute and we scrambled to make it happen, but I’m glad it worked out. It was an opportunity to go to a primarily Muslim country and share our faith. Java Rockin’ Land was a highlight moment of our career and I’m thrilled that we were able to capture its on video. It’s definitely one of the better live performances by the band in a long time, and the fact that it was captured on video makes it even more exciting. I think the fans are going to really enjoy it.”

“Live In Indonesia At Java Rockin’ Land” DVD Track Listing:

Sing Along Song
Murder By Pride
Loud ‘N Clear
Rock That Makes Me Roll
Reach Out
Calling On You
More Than A Man
Honestly
Open Your Eyes
All For One
To Hell With The Devil
Soldiers Under Command

Click here to purchase.

Altar Of Oblivion’s Grand Gesture of Defiance will be released on September 11, 2012. Label owner Tim McGrogran has this to say about the album:

“Altar Of Oblivion is by far the very best Heavy Metal band to come out of Denmark since Mercyful Fate. I wouldn’t say they sound like Mercyful Fate all that much apart from their very acrobatic / theatrical vocalist that has a King Diamond-esque style. If you’re looking for an emotional Heavy Metal ride, look no further than this band, they reach for the sky and touch the soul on so many different levels. The style is still very similar to their first album which is a blend of Doom Metal like Candlemass and catchy machine gun riffing with big choruses and memorable songs. Old fans will not be disappointed, new fans will be floored. Altar Of Oblivion deliver another masterpiece!”

Stream the album cut “The Graveyard of Broken Dreams” at this location.

1. Where Darkness Is Light

2. The Graveyard Of Broken Dreams

3. In The Shadow Of The Gallows

4. The Smoke-Filled Room

5. Sentenced In Absentia

6. Final Perfection

www.facebook.com/pages/Altar-of-Oblivion/139296410507

www.shadowkingdomrecords.com

shadowkingdomrecords.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/ShadowKingdomRecords