Artist
Integrity have shared the official music video for the song "Hymn for the Children of the Black Flame," which is taken from their forthcoming 12th studio album, Howling, for the Nightmare Shall Consume. Check it out below.
Directed by Jimmy Hubbard (Mastodon, Baroness, The Obsessed), the black and white clip draws inspiration from vintage horror films, depicting a haunting ghoul who rises from her grave and stalks her unsuspecting human prey.
Vocalist Dwid Hellion said, "The horrifically stunning aesthetic of director, Jimmy Hubbard has taken us deep into the realm of forbidden nightmare and religious inversion. Hubbard has breathed a new hell into our song, 'Hymn for the Children of the Black Flame.'"
Howling, for the Nightmare Shall Consume, will be released on July 14th via Relapse Records. Mastered by Brad Boatright (Obituary, Toxic Holocaust), the album was mixed and recorded at Developing Nations Studio in Baltimore, Maryland and features cover art by Hellion. The record can be pre-ordered digitally here while physical versions are available at this location.
Over the last three decades, industrial-music icon Raymond Watts has played with KMFDM (including singing on their biggest hit "Juke Joint Jezebel"), toured with Nine Inch Nails and collaborated with fashion designer Alexander McQueen, and for most of that time, he's also kept his own project Pig alive and squealing with a litany of releases and tours. Today, Pig have dropped the latest entry in their discography, a new EP Prey & Obey — the follow-up to last year's The Gospel full-length — as well as the music video for its title track, which sees Watts reuniting with sometime partners in crime Marc Heal and Phil Barry of Cubanate.
"After the pure and pious exaltations of The Gospel, Prey & Obey is a return to the gristle and grime that is the staple diet of Pig," Watts comments. "More pork and less talk."
Prey & Obey can be purchased right here via Metropolis Records; Pig will hit the road on a North American tour later this month.
Pig Tour Dates:
6/28 Detroit, MI @ Smalls
6/30 Chicago, IL @Reggies
7/1 St Paul, MN @Amsterdam
7/2 Kansas City, MO @Riot Room
7/3 St Louis, MO @Crack Fox
7/5 Albuquerque, NM @Launchpad
7/7 Denver, CO @The Venue
7/8 Salt Lake City @Metro Music HAll
7/10 Seattle, WA @Highline
7/11 Portland, OR @Star Theater
7/13 San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge
7/14 Glendale, CA @Complex
7/15 Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room
7/16 Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
7/19 El Paso,TX @ Lowbrow Palace
7/20 Austin, TX @ Elysium
7/21 San Antonie, TX @Amp Room
7/22 Houston, TX @Numbers
7/23 Dallas, TX @House of Blues
7/25 Tampa, FL @Orpheum
7/26 Miami, FL @Churchills
7/30 Calgary, AB @Terminus Festival
8/1 Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn
8/2 Durham, NC @Motorco Music Hall
8/3 Richmond, VA @Fallout
8/4 New York, NY @Stimulate at Drom
8/5 Willmington, DE @Mojo13
8/6 Boston, MA @Brighton Music Hall
8/8 Montreal, QC @Piranha Bar
8/10 Niagara Falls, NY Evening Star Concert Hall
8/11 Cincinnati, OH @DF Nights
8/12 Pittsburgh, PA @Cattive
8/13 Cleveland, OH @ Phantasy Nightclub
Dallas-based metalcore quartet Fit for a King have premiered the official music video for the title track from their latest album, Deathgrip. Check out the clip below.
Directed by Kevin Johnson, the video was shot in stunningly scenic locations in Glen Rose, Texas and Flagstaff, Arizona.
"This song is one of the only true 'fiction' songs we've written," said vocalist Ryan Kirby. "It's about a person witnessing the end of the world, and their description of the event and how they're dealing with it.
"Working with Kevin again was a no brainer. We had such an incredible time doing the 'Dead Memory' video with him, and he is so creative with his editing and shots."
Fit for a King will be performing on 2017's Vans Warped Tour, which kicks off tomorrow, June 16th in Seattle, Washington at CenturyLink Field and will conclude on Sunday, August 6th in Pomona, California at Fairplex Pomona.
Tombs will release its forth studio album, The Grand Annihilation, tomorrow, Friday 16th via Metal Blade Records. In advance of the release, the band have issued a full stream of the album, which is produced by longtime Tombs producer Erik Rutan (Cannibal Corpse, Soilent Green, Belphegor, Hate Eternal). Check it out below.
"If you've been following Tombs, you probably know to expect the unexpected, and I always strive to present a full range of emotion on everything with the band's name on it," said vocalist Mike Hill. "That said, this is a very dark and introspective record that digs deep into the common ideas of mortality, infinity and cosmic mysteries. The lyrics on the new record are a celebration of freedom through embracing the dark side. Once you realize that you follow the dark path — the path of the individual — there is a certain feeling of liberation that accompanies it."
The Grand Annihilation can be pre-ordered in various formats at this location.
Stone Sour have shared the live studio video for "Mercy," the latest single from their forthcoming sixth studio album, Hydrograd. Check out the video below.
The clip was filmed at Sphere Studios in North Hollywood, California, where the band recorded Hydrograd with producer Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Killswitch Engage, Steel Panther).
Hydrograd is the first of original Stone Sour material to feature guitarist Christian Martucci and bassist Johny Chow, both of whom came aboard after the release of the band's double album, House of Gold & Bones. Speaking about their contributions during a recent interview with Revolver, frontman Corey Taylor said, "Those guys are just two of the most down-to-earth, positive guys you could ever imagine. Their whole thing in life is just fucking playing music and having fun and getting in front of an audience and kicking the shit out of them. To me, that's what being in a band is all about. I feel like people forget that sometimes and forget why they enjoy what they do and why they do it in the first place. And these guys are just a constant reminder of that. And like I said man, we had so much fun in the studio. We were all there early every day, we left late every day. I mean we were fucking bummed when we had to move out because we had so much fun. We were even there when we didn't have to be just to be there for everybody's parts to encourage them. We just got to be dorks together."
Hydrograd will be released on June 30 via Roadrunner Records. The album can be pre-ordered in various formats at this location.
On the 7th day of July 1777, Abigail LaFey was first born dead. Meanwhile, on the 16th day of June in 1956, legendary shock rocker and innovator Kim Bendix Petersen, who you know better as King Diamond, was born very much alive, with a spirit and imagination that would later serve as the basis for his groundbreaking contributions to heavy metal.
Prior to King Diamond's entry into the world of hard rock and heavy metal, artists such as KISS and Alice Cooper were shocking audiences around the world with corpsepaint and horror-themed theatrics. Taking a cue from his predecessors, Diamond experimented with dark and dramatical stage shows as far back as his time in Black Rose, a band he had joined almost a full decade prior to the formation of Mercyful Fate and from which Diamond recycled music for Mercyful Fate's debut album. What separated Diamond from his early role models was not just his bone-chilling and seemingly impossible falsetto vocals, but his blatant incorporation of Satanism and horror fantasy, making King Diamond an innovator in his own right.
Mercyful Fate's debut album, Melissa, is widely regarded as a seminal metal album. While the coupling of the galloping riffage and macabre imagery were integral towards setting the tone for the then-embryonic genre, the genuine conviction behind Diamond's rampant themes of occultism was the most essential ingredient. At the time, Venom were also heavily employing Satanic content in their lyrics, but Diamond injected an approach that was more authentic as he practiced Satanism and followed the culture's philosophies, something that was uncommon for musical artists at the time.
Diamond carried his persona over to his eponymous solo project, for which he began writing more about his own fantasies and encounters with the paranormal. He wrote epic concept albums with story-telling abilities that could rival the morbid musings of H.P. Lovecraft. Diamond also used his solo project to integrate more symphonic melodies to his music, sometimes even teetering on the lines between speed and power metal.
Today, we are celebrating the legend on his 61st birthday by reflecting on his early years. Below, you can watch a video of King Diamond performing Mercyful Fate's "Evil" live in 1986, only three years after the release of Melissa. Check it out.
Mastodon have announced a second leg of their North American tour with support from Eagles of Death Metal and Russian Circles. This fall run will kick off on September 23rd in Denver, Colorado at the High Elevation festival and will conclude on October 25th at Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver, British Columbia. The full itinerary, which includes a handful of festival appearances, can be seen below.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public this Friday, June 16th at 10:00 A.M. local time.
Sep. 23 - Denver, CO - High Elevation #
Sep. 26 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live
Sep. 27 - Charleston, SC - North Charleston Performance Arts Center
Sep. 29 - Knoxville, TN - Civic Auditorium
Sep. 30 - Louisville, KY - Louder Than Life #
Oct. 03 - Raleigh, NC - The Ritz
Oct. 04 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore
Oct. 06 - Atlanta, GA - The Fox Theater
Oct. 07 - Camden, NJ - Rock Allegiance #
Oct. 09 - Montreal, QC - Metropolis
Oct. 10 - Rochester, NY - The Armory
Oct. 11 - Grand Rapids, MI - 20 Monroe Live
Oct. 13 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom *
Oct. 14 - San Antonio, TX - Aztec Theater
Oct. 15 - Houston, TX - Houston Open Air #
Oct. 17 - Albuquerque, NM - Historic El Rey Theater
Oct. 19 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues
Oct. 21 - Sacramento, CA - Aftershock #
Oct. 23 - Boise, ID - Revolution Center
Oct. 24 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory
Oct. 25 - Vancouver, BC - Orpheum Theatre
# indicates festival date. All other dates are headline shows
* without Eagles of Death Metal
Five Finger Death Punch, Prophets of Rage, Stone Sour, Marilyn Manson and many more will play at this year's Monster Energy Houston Open Air. The festival will take place Saturday, October 14th and Sunday, October 15th at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman in The Woodlands, Texas. The full lineup of bands and vendors can be seen below.
The current music lineup for Monster Energy Houston Open Air is as follows:
Saturday, October 14th: Five Finger Death Punch, Marilyn Manson, Halestorm, In This Moment, Gojira, Of Mice & Men, Beartooth, Starset, Avatar, Code Orange, New Years Day, Greta Van Fleet, While She Sleeps
Sunday, October 15th: Prophets of Rage, Stone Sour, Mastodon, Suicidal Tendencies, Steel Panther, Zakk Sabbath, August Burns Red, Power Trip, Radkey, DED, Black Map, Palisades
Five Finger Death Punch guitarist Zoltan Bathory said, "Every time we've played Houston it's always been a great time. There are a lot of rock and metal fans there and we've always had massive crowds. So it was just a question of time for the city to get its own big rock festival. We are glad to see that it finally happened and are honored to be a part of it."
Festival founder Danny Wimmer added, "After a tough year, with nearby lightning creating challenges for Houston Open Air 2016, we're excited to return to the Houston area this year. As we said then — and reaffirm now — we're committed to building an incredible rock show for the Houston rock community. It's not our preference to stop a show, or inconvenience anyone by having them seek shelter or leave the facility, but we take dangerous weather conditions very seriously and will not compromise anyone's safety. Looking forward to bringing the rock back to Texas!"
Tickets go on sale Friday, June 16th at 10:00 A.M. CT via Houston Open Air's official website, Live Nation and Ticketmaster. Weekend passes start at just $66.66, and single day tickets start at $45.00. V.I.P. upgrades are $40.00 per day or $75.00 for the weekend. Each V.I.P. upgrade pass includes access to The V.I.P. Lounge (located in the Event Center) which features air conditioning, a live video stream of main stage performances, V.I.P.-only restrooms, dedicated concessions (for additional purchase), a V.I.P.-only entrance into the venue, and a commemorative Houston Open Air laminate.
Discounted online hotel rates will be available through Curadora. Visit this location for details.
Here are the preliminary Monster Energy Houston Open Air partner experiences, as well as food vendors, with more to be announced:
Eats: Monster Energy Houston Open Air will feature a Texas-sized food experience underscoring Houston's emergence as a great American food city. Initial food vendors for Monster Energy Houston Open Air include Brazilian Bistro, Cousins Maine Lobster, El Guajillo, Texas Taco Depot, and The Grove Truck.
Monster Energy Experience: Monster Energy will be keeping all fans fueled up and ready to rock by offering free sampling on their Monster Energy viewing deck. Enjoy Monster Energy drinks from one of the best seats in the house. Make sure to check back throughout the festival for a schedule of Monster Energy's interactive artist experiences.
Fxck Cancer / Dyin 2 Live: The Dyin 2 Live Dreams Program is a wish-granting organization whose purpose is to try and enrich the lives of those fighting cancer by offering them an experience that will bring hope and inspiration to their lives. In doing this, we hope it can help give them a chance to forget, even if it's only for a day, what they are battling. Through our extensive network of friends, supporters and affiliates, we are able to reach out to individuals and present them with one of a kind experiences and opportunities that arise. We feel a Dyin 2 Live Dream can offer a source of inspiration for those undergoing difficult medical treatments and be a positive force that offers a life-changing impact not only on them, but also the family to overcome their obstacles.
Take Me Home: Take Me Home (TMH) has been saving the lives of homeless animals since 2001. TMH was founded as an animal rights advocacy foundation saving orphaned animals and striving to end animal overpopulation. TMH works in conjunction with shelters and rescues throughout California and beyond to help save animals on death row, on the streets or in unsafe living conditions. Stop by their booth for custom gear and contribute to a great cause.
August Burns Red are hoping to score a spot as contestants on Family Feud, the ABC game show hosted by Steve Harvey. The band have compiled a three-and-a-half-minute long submission video, in which they set out to prove that they are a family, despite not being blood related. The hilarious clip can be seen below.
"We're trying to get on Family Feud! Here's our submission video. Share it so we can make this dream a reality. (Video by Jarrod Alonge)," said the video caption on the band's official Facebook page.
During the video's opening pitch, the band collectively stated, "Hey, we're the August Burns Red family from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and we want to be on Family Feud. We're a Grammy nominated metal band that's played six continents, over 40 countries and all 50 states. We started rock and rolling back in 2003 and we're about to play out 1,624th show tonight. Woo! Some people say you have to be 'blood' to be family, but that simply isn't true. If you don't believe us, take a look."
The video then depicts the band doing various activities together such as swimming, cleaning the tour bus and having movie night, among other things, all with a comedic twist. The band then show one another practicing for the game show by answering a series of bizarre questions.
August Burns Red will make appearances at the 2017 Rock Allegiance Festival in Camden, New Jersey on October 7 and Monster Energy Aftershock Festival on October 21 in Sacramento, California. Tickets are available at this location.
Slipknot will release Day of the Gusano, a 90-minute documentary film exploring the band's storied career as well as the integral role that their fans have played in their success. The film is set to premiere for "one night only" in thousands of theaters worldwide on September 6th. A trailer for Day of the Gusano can be seen below.
Directed by Slipknot Percussionist M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan, the movie documents the band's first ever visit to Mexico, which took place in December of 2015. In the film, the band discusses its highly anticipated performance in Mexico City and focuses on the importance and relentless dedication of their fanbase, who are affectionately referred to as "maggots," which is translated to "gusano" in Spanish. Day of the Gusano also features performance footage in surround sound.
Confirmed cities and ticketing for the screenings will be announced in July. Details will be made available at this location.
"Slipknot still has dreams for itself," said Clown "Finally playing Mexico was one of them. It's been a surreal life of rock & roll for Slipknot and the fact that the dreams still go on for us is simply incredible. Thank you."
Guitarist Jim Root added, "We had such a great time at Knotfest Mexico ... Not only with all the friends and bands that were there, but with the fans and the crowd we had to document it with. Now we get to share it with the world."
In conjunction with the movie announcement, Slipknot have launched an #AskSlipknot social media campaign. Fans can ask the band anything via Facebook and Twitter by using the hashtag #AskSlipknot. Select questions will be answered during a Q&A portion during the cinematic screening event. The deadline for submissions is June 13th.
