PLW has inked a deal with Mighty Music. The group's debut album, "No Highness Below The Crown", will be released on August 12 on vinyl, CD and download. A European tour will follow the album's release.

According to Sea Shepherd, the Sea Shepherd crew was recently honored to host AEROSMITH's Joe Perry and Steven Tyler on board Sea Shepherd's fleet in Williamstown, Melbourne, Australia. Steven and Joe were treated to an in-depth tour of three of Sea Shepherd's ships, the Sam Simon, Bob Barker and Steve Irwin, currently docked in Sea Shepherd's new ships operations base. The crew swapped various campaign and marine conservation topics over lunch with Steven and Joe, which followed an experience in one of Sea Shepherd's fast boats used to pursue the illegal Japanese harpoon whale poaching ships. Bob Barker ship manager Andrea Gordon stated: "Having Steven and Joe on board was such an uplifting experience for the crew after Operation Zero Tolerance. Our crew were touched by their words of encouragement, passion and support for the work Sea Shepherd does. By selflessly speaking up for marine species, they're shining a much needed spotlight on the serious state of the oceans." Steven Tyler stated: "Oceans and water is uncharted territory for human beings, they don't even know the beauty underneath there with a mask and a snorkel, I mean, very few do, it's certainly getting fished to death. The waters in Lake Sunapee, way up in New England are now depleted, the frogs are going, honey bees are going. I was just fortunate enough to just buy a house in Maui and the reefs out in front of my house, I live on Ahihi Bay, which is a fish sanctuary, and the reefs are going away. It's a very delicate ecosystem, you know, once a little bit goes awry, it all does, it's all connected." Joe Perry stated: "I always heard about Malibu and all the movie stars that live out there and I found out you've got to get a tetanus shot if you go swimming in it. You know, it's pretty screwed up. The laws are in place, but as we know, most of the governments are run by the big business. There is not enough money in it for different countries to send police out for whales and fish. When it starts to hit them in the pocket book, then maybe they will do something, but right now it's up to guys like you, who are true vigilantes, you take the bull by the horns and do it and come what may and you put your lives in danger and for something you believe in. I just wrote a song about one-man freedom fighters is another man's terrorist and you guys are freedom fighters and it's great to know you and we will help with your work as much as we can."



THE DARKNESS will celebrate the tenth anniversary of their first album, "Permission To Land", by performing the CD in its entirety on their upcoming U.K. tour.

After a night out, many people come home with ringing in their ears. This is tinnitus. The loud music and shouting in each other's ears to be heard over the noise have taken their toll. Your ears have been overloaded and need plenty of rest. You risk damaging your hearing permanently with this. Because of that, Alpine has developed earplugs specifically suitable for parties and gigs. PartyPlug earplugs attenuates the music to a safe level, without spoiling your enjoyment. Moreover, you can actually hear other people talking despite the loud music better with PartyPlugs in your ears. This is possible thanks to the earplugs' special AlpineAcousticFilters. PartyPlug earplugs are made from AlpineThermoShape which moulds to your ear canal in response to the warmth of your body. They are very comfortable and you will soon forget that you are wearing them. At last, safely able to enjoy music even more with PartyPlugs in your ears!.

CHILDREN OF BODOM's eighth album, "Halo Of Blood", is being released on June 11 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. For the recording of the LP, CHILDREN OF BODOM has teamed up with recording engineer Mikko Karmila, who worked with the band on their fan-favorite albums "Hatebreeder", "Follow The Reaper" and "Hate Crew Deathroll", as well as Swedish producer Peter Tgtgren (MARDUK, AMON AMARTH), who oversaw production of both vocals and keyboards on the record. The album was mixed at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki.
"Halo Of Blood" track listing:
01. Waste Of Skin
02. Halo Of Blood
03. Scream For Silence
04. Transference
05. Bodom Blue Moon (The Second Coming)
06. The Days Are Numbered
07. Dead Man's Hand On You
08. Damage Beyond Repair
09. All Twisted
10. One Bottle And A Knee Deep
There's also a cover of the Loudness song 'Crazy Nights' recorded for the Japanese market, including a solo by Annihilator's Jeff Waters. Unlike other Dutch media previously reported, this track will not feature on the album, or any of the special editions available in Europe.



THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN is canceling their summer European festival and club appearances due to an injury sustained by guitarist and co-founder Ben Weinman on his right hand and wrist. He will spend June recovering.

THE JOKERS have inked a deal with Steamhammer/SPV. The band's second album, "Rock 'N' Roll Is Alive", will be released on September 2 in Europe and September 10 in North America.

Static-X mainman Wayne Static confirmed that after almost two decades of work, the US metal four-piece has finally reached the end. According to singer/guitarist, the disputes between himself and the band's former bassist Tony Campos over the rights to the use of Static-X name have gone way too far, forcing him to disband the four-piece. As Static explained it, Campos has the rights to half of the group's name, and although the two initially managed to reach an agreement, the hernia the frontman developed stirred up the tension, causing it to reach the breaking point.

Napalm Death frontman Barney Greenway recently gave a strong support to gay marriage, calling it one of the basic human rights that nobody has the right to ban or interfere with.
I've got a very basic view on this; it's a human rights issue," Greenway said. "I think it's a civil right issue; I would draw a parallel to the civil rights issue in the States. It's exactly the same thing. People have got the right to do whatever they'd like with their lives if it's a basic human principle and they're not hurting anybody else. It's basically nobody else's f--ing business who anybody gets married to." The singer then made a jab at the views church has regarding the gay marriage, saying, "Nobody has the right to dictate the way that these things go. The churches might think they do, but that's all mundane crap anyway, in my eyes. Nobody has the right to tell anyone else what to do in the fundamentals of life. I just find it quite ludicrous, to be honest, that people are debating this or trying to set a legal precedent. It's about two human beings doing something that's a perfectly human being thing to do that makes them happy and people should basically f--ing stay out of it. It shouldn't even come to a matter of legalization. It's a basic, fundamental human right. I can't see where the legal issue is that says that two people of the same sex can't get married. I don't understand what laws have been broken. You could start getting really stupid with this and start talking about 'God's natural law,' which I think is utterly ridiculous."



Mastodon drummer Brann Drailor recently confirmed that the band is hoping to enter the studio this September and start working on a follow-up to their 2011 record 'The Hunter'.

Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell has officially revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer. The original Dio guitarist posted an announcement saying that the surgical biopsy we underwent in March confirmed that he has Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, Campbell is determined not to let the cancer and chemotherapy get in the way of his career, as he will still embark on a summer tour with the band.

METALLICA pulled off the surprise of all surprises on Saturday at their Orion Music + More Festival. During a slot that was scheduled for the mystery band DEHAAN, Metallica themselves appeared onstage and ripped through their 1983 debut album Kill 'Em All in its entirety.



Last week, California Assembly member Jim Frazier (D-Oakley) honored CHUCK BILLY, an Antioch resident and the vocalist for TESTAMENT on the State Assembly floor for the positive influence he has made in the Native American community and on the general public. On January 14th, 2013, Chuck Billy earned the distinction as the first Native American entertainer to be permanently featured in the memorabilia display at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Chuck was also among those recognized in the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian's exhibit, Up Where We Belong: Native Musicians In Popular Culture. "The world of music is inhabited by creative and talented individuals whose work enhances the quality of life for all who are fortunate enough to have entered their sphere of influence," said Jim Frazier. "Not only does Chuck Billy embody all of these admirable qualities, he also personifies the strength and enduring spirit of Native Americans." Chuck Billy, a descendent of the Pomo Native Americans, was born in Oakland and spent much of his youth on the Hopland Indian Reservation north of San Francisco. He is best known as the vocalist for Testament, where he plays several songs including 'Trail of Tears', 'Allegiance', and 'Native Blood', in honor of his ancestral lineage.

WHITE WIZZARD have confirmed the first dates for a European headlining tour, which kicks off on September 27th in Brighton, England. The band will be hitting the road in support of their new studio album, The Devil's Cut, starting off with a string of shows in the UK. The band will then be moving on to continental Europe, with dates due to be announced soon. Tour dates: September 27 - Brighton, UK - Prince Albert. 29 - Wolverhampton, UK - Little Civic. 30 - Sheffield, UK - Corporation. October 2 - Glasgow, UK - Audio. 3 - Manchester, UK - Alter Ego. 4 - Norwich, UK - Waterfront. 5 - Cardiff, UK - Bogiez. 6 - London, UK - Borderline.

108 ROCK STAR GUITARS by photographer/author Lisa S. Johnson is a collection of stunningly personal and intimate portraits of the cherished guitars owned by the gods of rock. It is a music and fine-art photography aficionado's backstage pass to witness up-close these six-stringed works of art belonging to LES PAUL, ERIC CLAPTON, KEITH RICHARDS, JIMMY PAGE, LOU REED, CARLOS SANTANA, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, NANCY WILSON, BONNIE RAITT, RICK NIELSEN, SLASH, JACK WHITE, BILLY GIBBONS, ACE FREHLEY and many others. The book will be available at booksellers and online everywhere September 16th. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Les Paul Foundation. "I remember the first black-and-white pictures Lisa took of my guitars... they were wonderfully evocative," writes the late legendary musician and inventor Les Paul in the book's foreword. "I never could have guessed that she would one day produce the extensive, impressive collection of photographs presented here-images unlike any I have ever seen. Lisa's passion for her subject is evident on every page of this magnificent book." In addition, Glitterati will issue a deluxe, limited edition of 540 signed and numbered copies, packaged in a die-cut collector's box. Those books will include a hand-woven, silk chiffon scarf in deep purple, featuring the book cover design. Both editions will include a 16-page booklet, The Inspiration Behind 108 Rock Star Guitars, with additional behind-the-scenes photos and stories as well as a guitar pick printed with one of three custom holographic foil designs.

Coming this month in the UK via Plexus Publishing is the new book, CEMETARY GATES: SAINTS & SURVIVORS OF THE HEAVY-METAL SCENE, by Mick O'Shea. The following describes the upcoming illustrated paperback: Between genius and madness, this world and the next, there's nothing but the faintest flicker of a pulse and the cemetery gates. Packed with as many egos as one book can hold, Cemetery Gates is the read that takes you inside the minds of the most twisted icons of heavy metal. Presenting, for their sins, the wild men of metal (many of them hitherto written out of music history): RONNIE JAMES DIO, BON SCOTT, JOHN BONHAM, PETER STEELE, CLIFF BURTON, DIMEBAG DARRELL, PAUL GRAY, LAYNE STALEY, JIMMY 'THE REV' SULLIVAN, LEMMY KILMISTER, OZZY OSBOURNE, NIKKI SIXX, DAVE MUSTAINE, AXL ROSE, TRENT REZNOR, SLASH, MARILYN MANSON, VARG VIKERNES, COREY TAYLOR. Whatever their deadly sin - be it lust, greed, abuse of winged creatures or murder most foul - these prodigiously talented hellraisers have all come dangerously close to the edge. Tragically, not all of them have returned. Between tragic saint and raucous survivor, the line remains perilously thin. "People ask me how I'm still alive and I don't know what to say", Ozzy once shrugged. Cemetery Gates provides the heaviest answer you'll find this side of heaven."

PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, featuring vocalist Phil Anselmo (DOWN/ex-PANTERA), will release the new album, Walk Through Exits Only, on July 16th via Anselmo's Housecore Records (MRI/Megaforce). Walk Through Exits Only will be available digitally, on CD and on vinyl. You can now listen to samples of all the songs on the upcoming album here.

GAMMA RAY have checked in with the following update: "We're glad to finally be able to present our new Official Gamma Ray website! Many months, weeks, days and especially nights passed by with a lot of energy drinks on one side and little / no sleep on the other side. We hope you'll like the new website and visit it very soon. Join our new community and feel free to update your profiles to communicate with other fans worldwide. Feel free to give us feedback via e-mail, forum or guestbook!" Check out the new website at at this location.

Video Torn Apart:http://youtu.be/Ns32w6Pd46A(available in 1080HD)

VALIENT THORR made a video for the track, 'Torn Apart', taken from the band's new album, Our Own Masters, which was released June 17 via Volcom Entertainment. The band will start their Euro tour in Italy at the Rock Im Ring festival and will be on the road til August 10. Here is the full list of dates:
12.07. Italy - Bozen/ Ritten, Rock Im Ring
13.07. Switzerland - Winterthur, Gaswerk
15.07. Germany - Aschaffenburg, Colos Saal
16.07. Germany - Osnabrck, Bastard
17.07. Germany - Hamburg, Hafenklang
18.07. Germany - Berlin, Festsaal
19.07. Poland - Warshaw, Days of Ceremony
21.07. Finland - Helsinki, Nosturi
23.07. Sweden - Linkpping,
24.07. Sweden - Stockholm, Debaser
25.07. Denmark - Kopenhagen, KB
26.07. Germany - Kiel, Schaubude
27.07. Germany - Neuensee, Rock Im Wald
29.07. Germany - Munich, Backstage Free and Easy Festival
31.07. Austria - Innsbruck, PMK
01.08. Italy - Milan, C. Magnolia
03.08. Italy - Sanguinetto (Verona) Spakemotutto Festival
07.08. UK - Cardifff, The Moon Club
08.08. UK - London, Underworld
09.08. Belgium - Ieper, Ieperfest 2013
10.08. France - St Maurice de Gourdans (Lyon), Sylak Festival



Guitarists including Richard Fortus, (Guns 'n' Roses and Thin Lizzy), Scott Holiday (lead guitarist and founder member of Rival Sons) and Dave Catching (Queens of the Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal) have decided to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Jimmy Page, by choosing to use the Rotosound Vintage Fuzz Pedal. The recent reissue of the Rotosound Vintage Fuzz Pedal uses the same essential 1960's design, combined with modern components. The up to the minute technology gives an improved consistency and stability whilst by staying faithful to the original germanium workings, the authentic tone flavour and yesterday's mojo are preserved. Made in the UK, it remains one of the simplest and easiest pedals to use, it is robust and hard wearing encased in a traditional press steel box. If you would like to see what all the fuss is about, check out the Rotosound Fuzz Pedal at this location.

Rockschool