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New album and tour possible with original Black Sabbath line up

In news that could potentially piss off any fan of Black Sabbath if it weren’t true, the original Black Sabbath line-up (Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward) has reformed.
Despite what Geezer Butler originally said, it has been confirmed that the four musicians have been secretly working on rehearsing for a tour and writing a brand new album. As stated by Iommi in an interview with bpm media (Sunday Mercury, Birmingham Mail): “We’re really looking forward to it and I think the stuff we’ve been writing is really good, it’s more back to the old original stuff.”

He also explained in the interview how Ozzy was the worst at keeping this project under wraps. “It’s all been very hush-hush. Ozzy’s been the worst at trying to hold it back. He’s doing a lot of TV and he’s being asked stuff about a reunion and he’s going ‘well I never say never’. He told me, ‘I don’t know what to say’.” Iommi was also concerned with the performance of drummer Bill Ward, due to his health conditions and a heart attack that he suffered: “He hasn’t been 100 per cent. He had an operation a few months ago, so we’ll see how he is.”

Textures unleash new single “Singularity”

Dutch metallers Textures, after quite a long wait, have finally come out with a brand new single titled “Singularity”. This single features a slightly altered line-up, i.e. Daniël de Jongh on Vocals, Bart Hennephof on Guitars, Jochem Jacobs on Guitars, Stef Broks on the Drums, Remko Tielemans on Bass and Uri Dijk on Synths.

“Singularity” starts off with a bang, quickly progressing into a familiar Textures pattern- very trademark mad Djenty riffing and pitch changes. Daniel’s (ex-Cilice) vocals are not too similar to Eric’s, but aren’t that different making it difficult to digest either. Filling in a vocalist’s shoes is always the most difficult, and there couldn’t have been a better choice than Daniel for this. From the growls to vocals, he nails it all. In short, Textures is back, sounding groovier, heavier and slicker than before! It seems like they’re ready to conquer 2011 with the new album!

Check out the new single on the official Textures Facebook page.

“Singularity” is the first single off their upcoming fourth album ‘Dualism’ which will be released via Nuclear Blast Records. The band supposedly took control of every aspect of the album. Everything was recorded at Split Second Sound, the new Amsterdam-based studio belonging to Jacobs, who produced the album. The band also handled all their own artwork and merchandising, which was designed by bassist Remko Tielemans.

Megadeth reveal new album title

Thrash metal God and frontman of Megadeth Dave Mustaine has revealed that their new album will be called 13. In a pre-show interview backstage at the Sonisphere festival in Knebworth, UK, Mustaine said of the new record, “I started playing guitar at 13 and this is our 13th record and I was born on the 13th. As soon as I said I was going to call it 13, I started noticing 13 everywhere.” The CD was recorded at Mustaine’s own California studio, Vic’s Garage, and produced by Johnny K, who’s worked with Machine Head, Disturbed and many other bands. Artist John Lorenzi, who designed the group’s last two releases, United Abominations and Endgame, as well as their Warchest boxed set, will be doing the artwork once again.

This is also the first record since founding member David Ellefson’s return to the band and the first with this line up consisting of Drover, Broderick, Ellefson and Mustaine.

Former Motorhead guitarist passes away

Lemmy’s longtime bass technician – former Motörhead guitarist Michael “Würzel” Burston died yesterday (Saturday, July 9). The cause of death was not revealed. Würzel was 61 years old. Before joining Motörhead in 1984, Burston had been a corporal in the Army, serving in Germany and Ireland with the 1st Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment, and had played in the bands Bastard and Warfare. Joining another relatively unknown guitarist, Phil Campbell, they played together at a Motörhead audition, and both were taken on. He left Motorhead in 1995. R.I.P.

Anthrax reveal tracklist for new album

Worship Music, the long-overdue new album from Anthrax will be released on September 13th through Megaforce Records (one day earlier internationally through Nuclear Blast Records).

Worship Music marks the band’s first proper studio release in eight years and was originally supposed to be released in 2009 as the debut of singer Dan Nelson. Instead, the album now marks the first new Anthrax record to feature vocalist Joey Belladonna in 20 years.

Guitarist Scott Ian recently tweeted: “Worship Music is finished. I just listened to it LOUD in sequence. Our 10th studio record is fucking killer. Sept 13 my friends. Cheers!”

The tracklist for the album is as follows-

01. Vampires
02. Crawl
03. The Devil You Know
04. The Giant
05. Fight ’em ’til You Can’t
06. Earth On Hell
07. New Noise [Refused cover]
08. Revolution Screams
09. We Die Young [Alice In Chains cover]
10. Down Goes The Sun

Behemoth back on track

Polish blackened death metal legends Behemoth are back in full force and ready to take the stage again! For the first time since Nergal’s hospital visit back in 2010, the band is rehearsing together again for the upcoming Phoenix Rising Tour, taking place in October.
Frontman Nergal comments: “Sooo, first rehearsals after the transplant are under our belts! I didn’t want to get overexcited at first, just wanted to see how things would go, but I have to tell you… the second rehearsal we fuckin’ nailed “Ov Fire And The Void”, “Lucifer”, “Conquer All” or “Antichristian Phenomenon” flawlessly! One of us even asked: “Did we really take a year off from each other?”
Haha… it was good times in great company! But the biggest surprise were the songs we NEVER played live ever and planning to do on the upcoming “Phoenix Rising Tour”. I won’t reveal any names yet, let it be a mystery til we hit the stage, all right?”

Rudra part ways with guitarist Devan

This piece of news has just arrived from the Vedic metallers.

“Our dear friend and bandmate, Devan (guitars) has decided to quit the
band due to personal reasons. His contribution to the sound of Rudra
cannot be understated as he has been part of Rudra since 2008 and the
last two albums bear testimony to the fact that he was a great
songwriter. His commitment, sacrifices and work ethics are things that
we will never forget and shall remain as pleasant memories.
Nevertheless everyone of us and our Management wish him and his family
well and the best.

In spite of the turn of events, RUDRA will continue on as always! The
Brahmavidya Tour 2011/2012 will go on as planned”

We wish Rudra and Devan good luck with their future endeavours.

Insomnium reveal new album title

Finnish melodic death metallers Insomnium have announced that the recording work for their new album is now complete. The CD will be called One For Sorrow and should be released somewhere in October.

One For Sorrow was recorded in Gothenburg, Sweden with sound engineer Daniel Antonsson (also known as the bassist of Swedish legends Dark Tranquillity). The album will be mixed by Samu Oittinen at Fantom Studio in Tampere, Finland in the next couple of weeks and should be completed by the end of the month.

Gene Hoglan, Chris Adler on new Testament album

Testament has just entered the studio with British producer Andy Sneap (of Megadeth, Arch Enemy, Nevermore and Machine Head fame) to begin recording their new album for a late 2011 release.

Drummer Paul Bostaph will be unable to participate in the recordings due to a “serious injury,” but will rejoin Testament for future touring activities. And here’s the best part. Playing drums on the follow-up to 2008’s ‘The Formation Of Damnation’ will be Gene Hoglan (ex-Dark Angel, Fear Factory, Dethklok) with Lamb of God’s Chris Adler set to make a special guest appearance on a couple of bonus tracks.

Hoglan previously played drums on Testament’s 1997 album, ‘Demonic’, but didn’t stick around long enough to do any touring with the band.

Regarding the musical direction of the new Testament material, the band’s vocalist, Chuck Billy, stated in a 2010 interview, “The new album will most likely be a culmination of ‘The Gathering’ and ‘The Formation of Damnation’, but we’re definitely not going to forget who we are or our roots. I think we’ve found a comfortable spot in our writing style.”

Courtesy: Blabbermouth.net

Warbringer announce new album title and track listing

Los Angeles thrashers Warbringer have completed work on their third album, “Worlds Torn Asunder”, for a September release via Century Media Records. The CD was produced by Steve Evetts (Symphony X, Sepultura, Hatebreed) and marks the recording debut of the band’s new drummer, Carlos Cruz (Hexen), who has “had a lot of input into the new material,” according to a press release.

Said frontman John Kevill: “With this record, we were trying to do two things — to make something that progressed in new directions from our previous work, but also to keep all the speed and intensity at the forefront. I really think we’ve pulled that off with this record.

“We have a great and diverse batch of songs. Musically I think we have songs on this record that move forward from the styles of both our previous records, and some that go in completely new directions that the band has never done before.”

Track listing :
01. Living Weapon
02. Shattered Like Glass
03. Wake Up… Destroy
04. Future Ages Gone
05. Savagery
06. Treacherous Tongue
07. Echoes From The Void
08. Enemies Of The State
09. Behind The Veils Of Night (instrumental)
10. Demonic Ecstasy