Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Danish rockers Volbeat have kept quiet for most of the latter part of 2012, but that’s partly because they’ve been working on new music. The group reveal in a new posting that they’re just about ready to share some of their fresh material and will test it out while playing dates in their home country early next year. The band has booked a five-stop Danish trek that will take place between Feb. 19-24 next year. This will mark the band’s first shows in Denmark after nearly two years of life traveling the world in support of their ‘Beyond Hell / Above Heaven’ album. The dates will take place in small clubs, making the experience of being the first to hear the new material all the more special. After the February string of shows, the group will kick off a North American tour in March before heading off to Europe over the summer months to partake in the festival season. As for the new album, there’s not a confirmed title or release date as of yet, but the band is expected to have the disc in stores at some point in 2013. Volbeat 2013 Danish Tour 2/19 — Copenhagen, Denmark — Store Vega 2/20 — Ringsted, Denmark — Ringsted Kongrescenter 2/22 — Odense, Denmark — Posten 2/23 — Aarhus, Denmark — Voxhall 2/24 — Aalborg, Denmark — Multisalen [button href=”http://loudwire.com/volbeat-michael-poulsen-talks-success-in-u-s-upcoming-album-more/” title=”Next: Volbeat’s Michael Poulsen Discusses U.S. Success” align=”center”]
Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com Avenged Sevenfold are starting to map out their 2013 plans that includes the likely release of a new album and a return to the road. One of the major stops on their upcoming itinerary will be at the Rock in Rio festival, which has become a favorite stopping place over the years. Singer M. Shadows told G1 that they’re anxious to join Iron Maiden and Metallica on the festival bill and will happily play alongside Maiden on the “Metal Day,” Sept. 22, 2013. The vocalist says, “I love Iron Maiden. We’ve done some touring with them in Europe. We are part of that case that each one has its specific fan base, but there are many people who like both the bands, who have the passion for metal [and] like this kind of sound. [We] can’t wait to be part of this festival. Luckily, I know the Brazilian fans of Iron Maiden like our music.” Avenged Sevenfold, a veteran of the 2008, 2010 and 2011 Rock in Rio festivals, says they may also use the festival as a springboard to play other shows in South America. Shadows says, “We’re talking to Metallica and Iron Maiden to [find out] what they will do before and after the Rock in Rio. So, there’s a chance to take the fall and make at least two more shows. We are still seeing [at this point].” The singer says the band is happy to have reached the stage that they are at, selling plenty of records despite not bowing to pop-rock to do so. Shadows explains, “It is possible and we’re not the only example. Iron Maiden and Metallica are two of the greatest bands of all time and [stayed away] from pop. Pantera did well on the charts and has one of the best selling albums of all-time. You have to build a fan club, have to do a good job in the alternative scene and then know how to grow it up. Pop music listeners will not buy our records. We just want to play heavy rock.” At present the band is working on a new record and they have the ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops II’ song ‘ Carry On ‘ keeping fans interested while they complete the upcoming disc. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/avenged-sevenfold-singer-m-shadows-were-introducing-new-drummer-to-pantera-metallica/” title=”Next: Avenged Sevenfold Introduce New Drummer to Pantera + Metallica” align=”center”]
Facebook: Suicide Silence The music world continues to mourn the loss of Suicide Silence ‘s Mitch Lucker , a rising star in the metal community who perished in a motorcycle accident on Halloween night earlier this year. In the wake of his death, a memorial show designed to raise funds for Lucker’s young daughter, Kenadee, was recently announced and now some of the talent has been revealed. According to a Facebook posting , the first three musicians to sign on for the “Ending Is the Beginning” show are Hellyeah and Mudvayne frontman Chad Gray , As I Lay Dying belter Tim Lambesis and All Shall Perish leader Eddie Hermida. The event is expected to honor the musical legacy of Lucker with guest vocalists taking turns joining the band onstage at the show. The event will take place at Pomona, California’s Fox Theater on Dec. 21, with the proceeds from the show going to a fund that will provide for the future education of the singer’s daughter. More guests are expected to be named in the weeks leading up to the show. Tickets for the event are currently available here . Even if you’re unable to attend the show, there are other ways to help out by either purchasing a shirt or making a donation at this website . [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-suicide-silence-songs/” title=”Next: Best Suicide Silence Songs” align=”center”]
Michael Loccisano, Getty Images It’s been a big year for Red Hot Chili Peppers that included their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . As a new member, Flea will take advantage of his freshly minted status in order to get the first look at the new class of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. According to the Hollywood Reporter , the bassist extraordinaire will be on hand this Tuesday (Dec. 11) to reveal which acts will join his band in the Rock Hall. The announcement ceremony will take place at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre on Dec. 11 at 11AM PT, with the actual induction also taking place at the same venue on April 18. This marks the first time that the Rock Hall induction ceremony has been staged in Los Angeles since 1993. Acts like Rush , Heart , Deep Purple , Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and Procol Harum are among the rock greats up for potential induction this year, alongside disco era favorites Donna Summer and Chic, rap icons Public Enemy and N.W.A., blues greats Albert King and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, singer-songwriter-composer Randy Newman, electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk and New Orleans R&B staples The Meters. The Red Hot Chili Peppers entered the Rock Hall this past spring with the Beastie Boys , Guns N’ Roses , Laura Nyro, Donovan , and The Faces / Small Faces . [button href=”http://loudwire.com/10-best-red-hot-chili-peppers-songs/” title=”Next: 10 Best Red Hot Chili Peppers Songs” align=”center”]
NewstedHeavyMetal.com Jason Newsted recently re-announced his presence online with a new website and followed that with the revelation that he was fronting a new band that also shared his name. Now the former Metallica bassist has checked in online to let fans know that things are moving along quickly and that his band is close to finishing a new record. In his latest Facebook posting , Newsted reveals, “I am very happy in my life now! I have a new band that bears my own name. We’re just finishing our first record. I’m feeling strong again playing bass and singing lead vocals and you all will be hearing it in one month’s time!!! New year, new band, new life!!! Bless you all and I can’t wait to share my music with everyone!!! I’m entrusting all of my friends to get the word out!!! Jason’s back!!!” Speaking about his new band in a recent interview , Newsted stated, “I’ve thought about this for a long time, putting my name on a project other than just coming up with a clever name, like Echobrain or Papa Wheelie or something. We have a lot of cool names for projects, but this is the first time with my name and really trying to get out to the people that I played for by the millions in the past with Metallica.” As for the music, he added, “Whatever it ends up being — if it’s five songs, 20 songs, 50 songs … I don’t even know what the heck I’m gonna do. I have so much music from over the years. I have a bunch of new stuff … I’m just trying to figure out exactly what I wanna unleash on everybody first. That’s kind of what it’s coming down to — the timing of things and how I wanna hit people with it.” In his Facebook posting, Newsted also commented on his time with Metallica, adding, “I want y’all to know that I am ultra proud of my time in the band … I am thankful for the wonderful experiences of our 15 years together and I will always be open to jammin’ with the boys.” [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-metallica-songs/” title=”Next: 10 Best Metallica Songs” align=”center”]
Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com Late last year, All That Remains singer Phil Labonte raised a few eyebrows when using the word “f–got” while talking about a song competition between his band and Black Veil Brides. At the time, he was referencing a photo split that featured himself and the glammed out singer of Black Veil Brides , Andy Biersack. The vocalist later clarified his comments and with some distance now between the remarks, he’s commented further on the outrage over his usage of the term. In a recent issue of Revolver (excerpted by ThePrp.com ), Labonte says, “I don’t worry what people think about me. I’ll call everyone in my band a f–got and some people who read that get really butt-hurt. I just don’t know why. What happened to ‘Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me’? I don’t advocate hurting someone’s feelings because of their sexual orientation, but at the same time, if it really offends you when someone says ‘f–got,’ you need to man up. It’s just a word.” At the time of the incident and pending backlash, Labonte criticized the metal media for latching onto one aspect and not telling the whole story, like his vocal support of gay rights. He adds in the new interview, “Passing laws against gay marriage is the most ridiculous thing that straight people do. That’s offensive to me, because they’re just people, and it certainly isn’t my right to go ahead and tell people how they can live or cannot live.” For all the hubbub over that incident last year, All That Remains have also done a lot of good. Just last month the band continued their support of the military by visiting a Marine Corps base around the Thanksgiving holiday. The group recently issued the video for ‘ Stand Up ‘ from their newly released ‘ A War You Cannot Win ‘ album. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/all-that-remains-phil-labonte-talks-military-religion-a-war-you-cannot-win/” title=”Next: Phil Labonte Discusses the Military + Religion” align=”center”]
Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com The best Slipknot songs are bred from the band's Midwestern roots, as the masked marauders from Des Moines, Iowa, have taken the blood, sweat and tears of their blue-collar upbringing and poured it into their music. Slipknot are a way of life for their fans — affectionately dubbed maggots — because they managed to distill fury into manic, artfully constructed, unforgettable songs that still bash you over the skull. They are masterful with their metal, but on a deeper level, it's their skillful playing, carves-space-in-your-cranium melodies and their full on assault on all senses that make Slipknot one of the most important metal bands ever. With great difficulty, we've made our picks for the 10 Best Slipknot Songs: ? 10 'Vermilion Pt. 2' From: 'Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses)' (2004) ? ? Slipknot are known for heavier-than-granite metal. But a fragile song like 'Vermilion Pt. 2' demonstrates an artistry not unlike, say, Radiohead. The band's mastery of dynamics is evident in this original and this sequel. Sometimes you need to show your softer side to further demonstrate just how aggressive you are. 'Part 2' is a testament to late bassist Paul Gray's rock solid songwriting, as well. Listen to 'Vermilion Pt. 2' ? ? 9 'Spit It Out' From: 'Slipknot' (1999) ? ? If you've seen Slipknot live, you know this is the song where Corey Taylor commands the entire crowd to sit on the ground and jump to their feet on his command. That's power. That's two decades worth of connection with the maggots, which has been drafted in blood, adrenaline, testosterone and any other bodily fluid, substance or hormone your sick mind can possibly imagine. Listen to 'Spit It Out' ? ? 8 'The Heretic Anthem' From: 'Iowa' (2001) ? ? Only in Slipknot's feral claws and paws could a lyric like “If you're 555, I'm 666″ still sound nastier than Regan's green vomit in 'The Exorcist.' It's true that 'Iowa' is the slaughterhouse of Slipknot records: every song drips blood, guts, venom, bile and vomit. That's a good thing when you're talking metal, and 'Heretic Anthem' captures all of those elements in one fell swoop. Listen to 'The Heretic Anthem' ? ? 7 '(sic)' From: 'Slipknot' (1999) ? ? Go watch 'Alien.' You know that scene where the alien bursts from Kane's chest? The graphic horror and vicious energy of that scene is bottled and captured by 'Sic,' thanks to the battering ram percussion, machine gunned riffs and Taylor's battle cry. This is music from and for the frontlines of a warzone. Here comes the pain! Listen to '(sic)' ? ? 6 'Left Behind' From: 'Iowa' (2001) ? ? 'Left Behind' is the lead single from 'Iowa' and it's one of Slipknot's standout songs as it shows off the band's attention to and knack for melody, without losing its meaty, metal edge. It's one of those beautiful moments where you can tap your toes to the music, all the while wanting to start a carnage-inducing moshpit. That's not easy to do, but in Slipknot's mitts, it seems so simple. Listen to 'Left Behind' ? ? 5 'Psychosocial' 'All Hope Is Gone' (2008) ? ? 'Psychosocial' is a chunky, choppy track, with an infectious chorus. That's not usually how one would describe an exhaustingly heavy metal track, but this is Slipknot we're talking about. Equally riffy and percussive, 'Psychosocial' is fueled by the pulse of the maggots. Listen to 'Psychosocial' ? ? 4 'People = S–t' From: 'Iowa' (2001) ? ? Slipknot weren't masking their intentions with 'People = S–t.' Only nine bandits from Iowa could effectively capture the dregs of humanity with a metal song so effectively. It's one of the best Slipknot songs thanks to the way it helps one achieve catharsis and an understanding of the depths to which your fellow man can sink. Listen to 'People = S—' ? ? 3 'Wait and Bleed' From: 'Slipknot' (1999) ? ? 'Wait and Bleed' is a standout track not only for its jostling construction, but for the fact that it lets vocalist Corey Taylor take center stage. His guttural growls could make the hairs on your neck stand bolt upright. As for his melodic croon? That's what set him apart. The band never, ever sounds soft. The melodic elements merely provided a foil to enhance the extreme parts. Listen to 'Wait and Bleed' ? ? 2 'Duality' From: 'Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses)' ? ? Slipknot's brutal, extreme nature is never in question, but with 'Duality,' the lead single from their third album, the masker marauders were able to perfect their formula of maelstrom with melody. Never did pushing your fingers into your eyes sound like such an appealing behavior. Listen to 'Duality' ? ? 1 'Surfacing' From: 'Slipknot' (1999) ? ? 'Surfacing' is your new national anthem. With the squealing opening, frenetic, chaotic percussion and Corey Taylor's ferocity, it's the definitive Slipknot song because it gives a comprehensive look over everything Slipknot is: feral, uncontainable, artistically elevated. There was never anything like Slipknot before them and even thought there have been copycats, there will never truly be anything that rivals or equals them. Listen to 'Surfacing' ? ? What Is Your Favorite Slipknot Song? You've read our list. Now it's time for your opinion. What Slipknot song was missing from the list that you thought should be there? What song should have been higher on the list and what song got too much credit? Share your thoughts on this list in the comments section below: ?