Legendary heavy metal band BLACK SABBATH will release its much-anticipated new album, "13", in June via Vertigo/Universal Republic in the U.S. and Vertigo in all other territories. The drum tracks on the group's first LP with Ozzy Osbourne since 1978 were laid down by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE sticksman Brad Wilk following original drummer Bill Ward's decision to bow out of the reunion. Osbourne, Tony Iommi (guitar) and Geezer Butler (bass) recorded the album primarily in Los Angeles with producer Rick Rubin. Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "God Is Dead", "End Of The Beginning" and "Age Of Reason", the latter two of which stretch out to as long as eight minutes. "I wanted to make an album that stood alongside their first four albums," Rubin tells RollingStone.com. "The first album wasn't a straightforward heavy metal record. You could hear the jazz influence, so that was the goal, and to capture that live interaction." Ward in May 2012 announced again that he was declining to join his former bandmates for its scheduled 2012 dates, as well as the recording of the new album, due to a contractual dispute. After SABBATH shot down Rubin's suggestion to replace Ward with Ginger Baker (CREAM) ("I thought, 'Bloody hell?'" Iommi tells the magazine. "I just couldn't see that."), Rick suggested Wilk. Iommi tells RollingStone.com that Ward's demands came out of the blue. "I didn't know Bill was having these issues when we got together — he never even mentioned it to us," he says. "It was quite confusing. We wanted him involved, but it was just getting too hard." Adds Osbourne: "You can't go, 'Well, I don't like it.' You get off your ass and get your shit together. The life of a bohemian rock star is fucking long over." Iommi was diagnosed with cancer at the end of 2011, and his treatments forced BLACK SABBATH to cancel all but three tour dates in 2012 after announcing their reunion in November 2011. "Things are fairly good, dare I say, at the moment," Iommi tells RollingStone.com. "I'm still here and it's okay. We had to do this album now. Christ, if it happened in another 10 years, I don't know if we'd be around." Osbourne, who describes the new SABBATH album as "Satanic blues," also spoke about one of the band's new tracks, the provocatively titled "God Is Dead". "It starts off, 'God is dead,'" Osbourne says, "but at the end it says, 'I don't believe that God is dead.'"
 

Joe Wade of the Daily Nebraskan recently conducted an interview with drummer Daniel Svensson of Swedish metallers IN FLAMES. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Daily Nebraskan: I've heard that IN FLAMES doesn't write songs on the road. Why is that?

Daniel Svensson: Yeah, we tried but we can't. We focus so much on the tour and it feels like we want to close this chapter before starting a new one. We tried once when we had a lot of touring, but it didn't really work out so when we tour, we tour, and when we write music, we write music. It works best for us.

Daily Nebraskan: Is there a difference between the sound of heavy metal from America as opposed to the sound from Europe?

Daniel Svensson: I don't think the differences are as big anymore as it was 10 or 15 years ago. I think European bands are more melodic, it's like more melancholic in a way and American bands are a little bit more hardcore, so to speak. But all these differences are evening out. It's so much easier now to listen to the bands. You don't have to run out to the record store and buy albums, you can sit at home and explore in front of the computer.

Finnish epic metallers WINTERSUN have issued the following update:"After some festival and summer show announcements, we thought we might also give you a heads up regarding [the next WINTERSUN album] 'Time II'. "2012 was a really great year for us, the release of 'Time I' was a huge success and we did two successful tours and many sold-out shows. But we are aiming even higher and take WINTERSUN to the next level in 2013! "We have three official webstores up and running (Europe, Finland, North America) and we hope you guys like the available items. There'll be constant updates and new products and we will also have interesting competitions and specials coming up on our pages, so be sure to check it all out. "We are starting the mix of 'Time II' and it will be released early 2014. The album will continue where 'Time I' left, but it will be an upgrade in production; it will be equally epic, if not more. It will contain some 'fast stuff' and some guitar shredding (including seven solos), like some of you metalheads and guitar wankers have been wishing for. It will also contain some of the most beautiful music ever written that will bring a tear to your eye. "We are playing some huge summer festivals in Finland and in Europe (including Tuska, Nummirock, Metalfest, Beastival, Hellfest) and for the first time going to Spain. We are also taking part in Emma Gaala (Finnish Grammy) in March for the nomination of 'Metal Album Of The Year'. We know it's going to be an exciting year. It is because all of you who have supported us during the years we have been able to grow and continue to do what we love."Thank you for all the support! "Stay tuned for some further exciting live news soon! We hope to see all of you on the road and during the festival season 2013!"Emma Gaala (Finnish Grammy equivalent) will be held on March 1 at Barona Areena in Espoo, Finland. WINTERSUN's "Time I" will be going up against MOKOMA ("180 Astetta"), NIGHTWISH ("Imaginaerum"), TERVEET KÄDET ("Musta Hetki"), and STAM1NA ("Nocebo")."Time I" sold nearly 4,000 copies in its first week of release in the United States to land at position No. 109 on The Billboard 200 chart.WINTERSUN recently headlined this year's edition of the Heidenfest tour. Support on the trek came from KORPIKLAANI, VARG, TROLLFEST and KRAMPUS.

There’s no excuse to miss Devildriver on their upcoming European tour. We've got the full rundown of dates right here!

DEVILDRIVER Co-Headliner Cannibal Corpse: Support by The Black Dahlia Murder and Winds of Plague

09.02.13 FI - Oulu / Teatrie Oulu
10.02.13 FI - Tampere / Pakkahoune
11.02.13 FI - Helsinki/ Nosturi
13.02.13 SE - Stockholm / Gota Kallare
14.02.13 SE - Gothenburg / Brewhouse
15.02.13 DK - Copenhagen / Amager Bio
16.02.13 DK - Aarhus / Train
17.02.13 DE - Hamburg / Gruenspan
19.02.13 NL - Tilburg / O13
20.02.13 DE - Cologne / Essigfabrik

The Devin Townsend Project are showing no signs of slowing down, as they have announced some headline shows in Scotland, N. Ireland and Eire to fit in around around the London Brixton Academy show announced a short time ago.

The confirmed headline dates are as follows:
30/04/13 – Glasgow – The Garage
01/05/13 – Aberdeen – The Garage
04/05/13 – Dublin – Academy
05/05/13 – Belfast – The Stiff Kitten

On the 3rd May 2013, the band will join forces with tech-metal behemoths Meshuggah for a huge co-headline show at Brixton Academy where DTP will close the nights proceedings, with Periphery opening up the night.  Devin had this to say about the not-to-be-missed show:

‘Well this is an intense turn of events... it's no secret how much love and respect I have for Meshuggah. They are an anomaly in life, let alone in music, as being a perfectly developed entity that only evolves as a result of there being nothing but honesty in their vision. If you have not experienced Meshuggah live, I truly believe you have not witnessed the elite that this genre has to offer, and to be playing alongside of them again is an honour that I don't take lightly. Periphery are a band and a musical entity as well in which I cannot say enough good things about. The potential that band of humans demonstrates together is truly unlimited, and they have a perspective on music that very few folks do, unlimited scope and astounding musicianship. Their new record is beautiful and the people in the band are a constant source of inspiration to me.

...To be allowed to participate in this bill is humbling beyond all explanation, and the Brixton academy is a historic venue that has been on my 'bucket-list' to play. By being the best version of myself that I can be we hope to do this show the justice it deserves. An honour and a privilege. We hope to see you there, and the three bands will do you proud. Peace.  - Devin.’

Rock influenced black/doom metal masters FORGOTTEN TOMB are due to kick off a headlining European tour on the 24th of April (Wednesday) at United Club in Torino (Italy). The tour will play in cities across Italy, Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal, UK, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Austria. During the event FORGOTTEN TOMB will celebrate a significant occasion as well as promote its latest album; an album that according to Pitchfork finally "hit their groove", "And Don't Deliver Us From Evil" (out October 2012 on Agonia).The celebration in turn is connected with the 10 years anniversary of "Springtime Depression" -  selected shows will feature a special set, on which this particular record will be performed in its entirety. "Springtime Depression" has been lately reissued and remastered on Digipack and Vinyl on Agonia Records. Premiere track off "And Don't Deliver Us From Evil" album can be streamed at this location: https://soundcloud.com/agoniarecords/forgotten-tomb-deprived FORGOTTEN TOMB will be supported by Swedish doomsters ISOLE and epic metallers EREB ALTOR. Promoters interested in booking one of the remaining shows should get in touch at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Following the release of their latest album ‘Deathlike’ via Prosthetic Records this week, Satanic Texans ANCIENT VVISDOM have just unleashed a video for the title track.

Vocalist Nathan Opposition comments: “We decided to do a video for Deathlike to portray the many emotions of life. When you watch it, there are moments of despair and courage, there are moments of panic and of triumph. The visual heightens the Deathlike experience and shows the viewer a side of Ancient VVisdom not yet seen.”

Check out our review of 'Deathlike' here: http://www.soundshock.com/index.php/cd-reviews/4696-ancient-vvisdom-deathlike-album-review

Hollands best kept secret is revealing exciting news as The Charm The Fury set to announce joining forces with Listenable Records that will see their next album released in Europe to highly anticipated fans. The female fronted quintet not only offer something creatively different with their female screamer but a collection of high energy monstrous anthems that have hooked the industry with full effect, the debut release 'The Social Meltdown' saw a frenzy of hype surround the band with extensive coverage across National Radio including BBC Radio One and in Europe's acclaimed Music Magazines including Metal Hammer and Kerrang. The Charm The Fury graced stages with the likes of i Killed The Prom Queen, Oh Sleeper and Textures during 2012, not to mention a memorable performance at Groezrock Festival that raised the bar and offered a greater platform to reach new fans. Already nailing support tours and shows across Mainland Europe and the UK, it is no wonder the band are rapidly progressing as one of the industries hottest new artists. The Dutch collective are in the process of nailing down the last parts of the forthcoming full length album which is set be on shelves and available across the Continents by Autumn 2013 and promises to deliver further progression in not only sound and maturity but within the boundaries that continue to be pushed further and further. The new full length will include some very special guest vocal appearances and track after track that will grab you by the throat and leave you begging for more! Caroline Westendorp, lead vocalist adds: "It is so exciting to see how fast the band has grown in such a short space of time, reactions have been so positive and it is great to welcome the two labels on board and make the next release a real big deal across seas. You can expect some cool surprises in the new record and we cannot wait to show the fans what we have in store for them."

Swedish death metal monsters HYPOCRISY have just confirmed more tour dates for 2013.The official release shows of the new album 'End Of Disclosure' are going to take place on March 22 in Stockholm/Klubben and March 23 in Göteborg/Brew House, before the band make their way to UK shores in April.The band has also posted a tour trailer for the upcoming European tour, which you can check out here:

End Of Disclosure Tour 2013
HYPOCRISY (swe)
+ HATE (pl)
+ ESSENCE (den)
16.04. UK London, Camden Underworld
17.04. UK Dublin, Button Factory
18.04. UK Glasgow, Audio

Hardcore icons, HATEBREED have lined up a UK tour in support of their critically acclaimed sixth studio album, 'The Divinity Of Purpose', which hits stores last week.   Having delivered a blistering set at last year's Bloodstock Open Air festival, with many folks deeming them one of the bands of the weekend, HATEBREED's live show is definitely one to catch. HATEBREED's firebrand frontman, Jamey Jasta is looking forward to the UK jaunt, commenting: ""We're excited to get back to the UK to do a career-spanning headline set and support our new album, "The Divinity Of Purpose."  It's been too long since we last visited your shores and we're headed out out on a worldwide tour, so this is your only chance to see us!  Don't fuck it up!" Catch Jasta and his cohorts at the following shows:

Sun 28th Apr - BRIGHTON Concorde 2
Mon 29th Apr - CARDIFF Solus
Tue 30th Apr - MANCHESTER Academy 2
Wed 1st May - GLASGOW O2 ABC 2
Thu 2nd May - SHEFFIELD Corporation
Fri 3rd May - WOLVERHAMPTON Slade Rooms
Sat 4th May - LONDON O2 Islington Academy