Iron Maiden Bassist Steve Harris Releases Video for Solo Track ‘Us Against the World’

EMI Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris dropped his debut solo album ‘British Lion’ earlier this year. He released a video for ‘This is My God’ in October, and now he and his band have unleashed another music video, this time for the track ‘Us Against the World.’ Described by Harris as less of a solo project and more of a side project, the legendary bassist wrote the entire album with vocalist Richard Taylor. Guitarist and keyboardist David Hawkins also contributed to the majority of the material for ‘British Lion,’ with a numerous amount other unofficial musicians lending their talents to the album. The video for ‘Us Against the World’ is pretty low-budget, especially compared to Iron Maiden’s latest music video for ‘The Final Frontier’ in 2010, which looks like it cost as much as an entire independent film. ‘Us Against the World’ introduces new fans to the members of Harris’ band, giving the musicians, especially Taylor, a large amount of screen time. Apart from the simple nature of the video, it features the band playing in a dark room with small rays of light shining through, reminiscent of Korn’s landmark video for ‘Freak on a Leash.’ Check out Steve Harris’ new vid for ‘Us Against the World.’ Steve Harris, ‘Us Against the World’

Watch Gojira’s Duplantier Brothers Trade Instruments in Concert

Roadrunner Joe Duplantier is Gojira ‘s vocalist and rhythm guitarist, and his brother Mario is the band’s drummer. The two briefly switched roles at a recent show, and there’s video footage to prove it (watch below). A couple of weeks ago at the French band’s show at Exeter University’s Lemon Grove Club, the Duplantier brothers surprised their British fans by swapping instruments for part of a song. The video shows Mario playing guitar and delivering extreme metal vocals for about a minute and a half while Joe plays drums. Surprisingly enough, the band didn’t miss a beat. Mario’s guitar playing is decent (although he did break a string) and his guttural vocals are sufficiently evil. Joe seemed right at home behind the drum kit, as well. We know he can also play bass, as he did on Cavalera Conspiracy’s 2008 album ‘Inflikted.’ American fans will have a chance to see if the Duplantier brothers swap instruments again when Gojira kicks off a North American tour with Devin Townsend and the Atlas Moth in January 2013. In a recent interview with Full Metal Jackie about the trek, Joe Duplantier says the bands they have toured with over the years have influenced them. “They’ve had an influence on us – the way we behave onstage, the way we play, they way we approach the whole thing, sometimes it’s purely technical like the way they plug in their gear.” Duplantier continued. “So we always learn something from touring with people that’s why I’m so happy to tour with Devin, he’s such an incredible singer – one of my influences actually and he’ll be opening for us [Laughs] how crazy is that?” Gojira are touring in support of ‘L’Enfant Sauvage,’ which has been named one of Loudwire’s 10 Best Metal Albums of 2012 . Watch Gojira’s Joe and Mario Duplantier Switch Instruments

Hatebreed To Embark on 2013 U.S. Tour With Shadows Fall, Dying Fetus and The Contortionist

Hatebreed ‘s new album, ‘ The Divinity of Purpose ,’ will be released Jan. 25 in Europe and Jan. 29 in the United States, and now the band has announced a headlining U.S. tour kicking off in late January. Joining Hatebreed on the 2013 trek that kicks off Jan. 26 in Flint, Mich., are Shadows Fall ,  Dying Fetus and the  Contortionist . VIP packages and pre-sale tickets will be available tomorrow (Nov. 29) beginning at 1PM ET at this location . Hatebreed guitarist Frank Novinec says, “Don’t miss our first tour in support of our new album ‘The Divinity of Purpose.’ A variety of songs from our 6+ album career (new and old) and our trademark different set lists every night is what everyone can expect.” The Feb. 1 show in Los Angeles will be a special record release signing and concert event. Tickets purchased for the show at the Roxy will include a copy of ‘The Divinity of Purpose’ along with access to a special meet n’ greet/signing with the band which will take place at 5PM at Soundcheck Hollywood (located at 8872 West Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles). Before kicking off the North American tour next January, Hatebreed will play two Stillborn Fest shows in December then head to Europe in January 2013 where they will headline the EMP Persistence Tour. Hatebreed, Shadows Fall, Dying Fetus and the Contortionist Tour Dates 1/26/13 – Flint, Mich. – Machine Shop 1/27/13 – Joilet, Ill. – Mojoes 1/28/13 – Omaha, Neb. – Sokol Auditorium 1/30/13 – Grand Junction, Colo. – Mesa Theater 1/31/13 – Flagstaff, Ariz. – Orpheum Theater 2/1/13 – Los Angeles, Calif. – Roxy 2/2/13 – Chico, Calif. – Senator Theater 2/3/13 – Reno, Nev. – Knitting Factory 2/5/13 – Colorado Springs, Colo. – Black Sheep 2/6/13 – Wichita, Kan. – Cotillion 2/7/13 – Sauget, Ill. – Pop’s 2/8/13 – Lexington, Ky. – Busters 2/9/13 – Nashville, Tenn. – Marathon Music Works 2/11/13 – Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. – Revolution 2/12/13 – Jacksonville, Fla. – Freebird Live 2/13/13 – Jacksonville, N.C. – Hooligans 2/14/13 – West Springfield, Va. – Empire 2/15/13 – Allentown, Pa. – Crocodile Rock 2/16/13 – Syracuse, N.Y. – Westcott Theater 2/17/13 – Amityville, N.Y. – Revolution

Sevendust Announce Release Date for New Album ‘Black Out the Sun’

Sevendust via Facebook. Sevendust fans, rejoice! The hard rock act has announced they will release their ninth studio album, ‘Black Out the Sun,’ on their own 7Bros. Records label (through Warner Music Group’s Independent Label Group) on March 26, 2013. The album’s debut single, ‘Decay,’ will reach active rock airwaves and retail outlets Jan. 22, 2013. ‘Black Out the Sun’ was self-produced by the band — Lajon Witherspoon (vocals), Morgan Rose (drums and vocals), Clint Lowery (guitar/vocals), Vince Hornsby (bass and vocals) and John Connolly (guitar and vocals) — at The Architekt Studios in Butler, N.J., with the assistance of mixer and engineer Mike Ferretti. As for the sound of the new album, it’s going to be heavy. In Loudwire’s recent interview with drummer Morgan Rose , he chatted about the upcoming disc by dishing, “I know I’m gonna scream like a banshee on the next record, I don’t know how many more we got left in us – from now on it’s gotta be treated like it’s the last one in my book. I know it’s gonna be real heavy.” Sevendust are also set to tour in support of ‘Black Out the Sun,’ which is the follow-up to 2010’s ‘Cold Day Memory,’ and have announced a headlining U.S. tour with Lacuna Coil set for February of 2013. For a complete list of tour dates, click below: [button href=”http://loudwire.com/lacuna-coil-sevendust-early-2013-u-s-tour/” title=”Lacuna Coil + Sevendust 2013 U.S. Tour Dates ” align=”center”]

How to Destroy Angels Unleash ‘Ice Age’ Video

Facebook: How To Destroy Angels How to Destroy Angels are off and running with their new ‘ An Omen ‘ EP, and they’ve now unleashed a video for the standout track ‘Ice Age.’ The clip really is more of a short film, clocking in at just over seven minutes with the group isolated in a log cabin. John Hillcoat, director of such films as ‘The Road’ and ‘Lawless,’ shot the promo for the band, which finds the members primarily shot in dark profiles as singer Mariqueen Maandig sings longingly into the distance while looking outside of the cabin’s window. Meanwhile, Trent Reznor , Atticus Ross, and Rob Sheridan give the song a rustic feel with a beat up piano, lap steel guitar, and a board filled with distortion effects providing the background. As Maandig continues looking out the window we eventually see outside as the waves crash in from the ocean, but a series of visual effects begin to turn things dark, shadowy and blurry with the cold starting to set in. ‘An Omen’ has provided a re-introduction for the group, who added Sheridan to the lineup since their first EP back in 2010. The band’s first full-length record is expected next year. Watch How to Destroy Angels ‘Ice Age’ Video [button href=”http://loudwire.com/trent-reznor-how-to-destroy-angels-new-single-keep-it-together/” title=”Next: Listen to How to Destroy Angels’ ‘Keep It Together'” align=”center”]

Lacuna Coil and Sevendust Join Forces for Early 2013 U.S. Tour

Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com / Ethan Miller, Getty Images Lacuna Coil have enjoyed a solid year touring behind their ‘ Dark Adrenaline ‘ album and it looks as though 2013 will start off on a high note, as well. The band has just announced a February run with Sevendust that will keep them in the U.S. for the entire month. Lacuna Coil have been spreading the sounds of ‘Dark Adrenaline’ around the world this past year and is eager to continue their support back in America. The trek launches Feb. 2 in Winston-Salem, N.C. and continues through the Feb. 23 finale in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Tickets for the tour go on sale this Friday (Nov. 30). To help fans stay in the loop with the Italian rockers, the band launched their own social network-fan community  with the help of Mobile Backstage back in October right as they were starting their ‘Dark Legacy’ tour of Europe. The app has been available through the band’s website, Facebook page and for iPhone and Android. As for Sevendust, the band just announced a March 26 release for their ninth studio album, ‘ Black Out the Sun .’ The band will issue their lead single ‘Decay’ on Jan. 22, giving it enough time to catch hold at radio before the tour launches. Lacuna Coil/ Sevendust  2013 Winter Tour 2/2 — Winston-Salem, N.C. — Ziggy’s 2/3 — Jacksonville, N.C. — Hooligans 2/5 — Lancaster, Pa. — Chameleon Club 2/6 — Clifton Park, N.Y. — Upstate Concert Hall 2/7 — Portland, Maine — The Asylum 2/8 — Allentown, Pa. — Crocodile Rock 2/9 — Lynchburg, Va. — Phase 2 2/10 — Nashville, Tenn. — Marathon Music Works 2/12 — Fayetteville, Ark. — George’s Majestic Lounge 2/14 — Biloxi, Miss. — Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 2/15 — Broussard, La. — The Station 2/16 — Beaumont, Texas — Dixie Dance Hall 2/17 — Little Rock, Ark. — Revolution! Music Room 2/19 — Springfield, Ill. — Boondocks 2/21 — Bloomington, Ill. — The Castle Theatre 2/22 — South Bend, Ind. — Club Fever 2/23 — Cedar Falls, Iowa — Pepsi Pavilion [button href=”http://loudwire.com/lacuna-coil-co-vocalist-andrea-ferro-weds/” title=”Next: Lacuna Coil Co-Vocalist Andrea Ferro Weds” align=”center”]

10 Best Metal Albums of 2012

Liz Ramanand, Loudwire This year 2012 will be remembered as one that was incredibly rich with quality metal albums. With some of extreme music's most consistent bands having issued near-perfect additions to their discographies this year, many of the albums listed here could have easily come in at No. 1 if released in past years. Albums from Between the Buried and Me , Converge , Pig Destroyer and Gojira made 2012 an incredibly competitive year, and certainly one of the best so far in the 21st century. The year also saw stellar new releases from the likes of Down and Lamb of God , among others. For fans who lean more rock than metal, we've got a separate list for you. But here, we present our picks for the 10 Best Metal Albums of 2012: ? 10 'Blood for the Master' Goatwhore ? ? Coming in at No. 10 is Goatwhore 's blackened death metal gem 'Blood for the Master.' Released on Feb. 13, the band unleashed one of their heaviest and greatest career achievements early in the year. With 'Blood for the Master' fueling an ever-increasing fanbase, Goatwhore earned a place on this year's Summer Slaughter tour along with opening shows for High on Fire, Hate Eternal and 3 Inches of Blood, among others, in 2012. Listen to 'Collapse in Eternal Worth' ? ? 9 'Resolution' Lamb of God ? ? Lamb of God continued their streak of creating addictive “pure American metal” with 'Resolution.' The band stays the course with their latest album, with powerful consistency and flawless execution. While there is no mistaking the album's tracks as anyone but Lamb of God, the band experiments with some doom with 'Straight for the Sun' and spoken word parts with 'King Me.' Add pummeling tracks such as 'Desolation' and Ghost Walking,' and you've got a killer album. Listen to 'Ghost Walking' ? ? 8 'Down IV, Part 1 – The Purple EP' Down ? ? Although 'Down IV, Part 1 – The Purple EP' contains only six songs, the tracks within offer a sustaining energy that carries the weight of a full-length. The vocal prowess of Phil Anselmo remains powerful, especially when delving low into his range, while the rest of Down pump out monstrous sludge into the groove-driven 'Levitation' and the anthemic 'Witchtripper.' Listen to 'Witchtripper' ? ? 7 'Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light' Woods of Ypres ? ? The tragic death of Woods of Ypres mastermind David Gold in December 2011 was a massive loss to the metal world, and tragically, Gold did not live to see the release of 'Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light.' Gold harnessed immense depth and introspective thought, using death itself as the album's central theme. 'Woods 5' follows a man who sees death after being struck by lightning and finds neither a God nor an afterlife. Listen to 'Lightning & Snow' ? ? 6 'Book Burner' Pig Destroyer ? ? With an album so good even Larry King contributed to it (kind of), Pig Destroyer ended a five-year wait for new material in 2012 with 'Book Burner.' The addition of Misery Index drummer Adam Jarvis to the lineup delivered a much dirtier and twisted sound to the new record, displayed prominently in 'The Diplomat.' Along with the all-knowing guitarist / producer Scott Hull and tremendous guest vocalists accompanying J.R. Hayes, the grind of Pig Destroyer remains second to none. Listen to 'The Bug' ? ? 5 'L'Enfant Sauvage' Gojira ? ? Although Gojira already possessed mountains of fans and a solid discography, the band is widely considered to be the breakout metal act of 2012. The French metallers unveiled 'L'Enfant Sauvage' to universal acclaim, successfully balancing the band's key components of brutality, beauty and progression with flawless production attached. For songs like 'The Axe,' 'Explosia,' the title track and much more, we say 'merci beaucoup' to Gojira. Listen to 'L'Enfant Sauvage' ? ? 4 'De Vermis Mysteriis' High on Fire ? ? High on Fire gifted fans with the incredible trippy sludge-fest 'De Vermis Mysteriis' in 2012, which explores the story of Jesus Christ's time-traveling stillborn twin brother who drinks a serum to see the past through his ancestors eyes in order to discover how his brother became a religious icon. Still with us? Even if the concept goes over your head, the brilliance of tracks such as 'Fertile Green' and 'King of Days' will bring you to sonic enlightenment. Listen to 'Fertile Green' ? ? 3 'All We Love We Leave Behind' Converge ? ? Converge possess one of extreme music's most impressive discographies, and 'All We Love We Leave Behind' ranks among the band's crowning achievements. The group strides closer to their hardcore roots with 'Trespesses' and 'Sparrow's Fall,' continue the legacy of Kurt Ballou's ingenious shredding with 'Sadness Comes Home' and even create experimental beauty with 'Coral Blue.' Listen to 'Sadness Comes Home' ? ? 2 'Utilitarian' Napalm Death ? ? Many metalheads expected just another grind record with Napalm Death 's 15th studio album, 'Utilitarian.' Those people were wrong. 'Utilitarian' turned out to be not just a phenomenal album, but a monumental achievement for the British legends. Barney Greenway's unmatched voice remains terrifying and demented, while the band's songwriting created an avant-garde niche consisting of scattered saxophone solos and otherworldly clean vocals. Listen to 'The Wolf I Feed' ? ? 1 'The Parallax II: Future Sequence' Between the Buried and Me ? ? 'The Parallax II: Future Sequence' is metal music's greatest conceptual accomplishment of the year. Set in outer space, BTBAM have created the most complex music you'll ever zone out to, performed by the strongest group of pure musicians within the realm of metal. Much like the band's 2007 album, 'Colors,' the record takes unexpected twists and turns while sonic plates spin without the slightest wobble. For that, we crown it the Best Metal Album of 2012. Listen to 'Telos' ? ? What's Your Favorite Metal Album of 2012? Which one of our 10 picks is your favorite? Did we get the order right? Did we miss your favorite metal album of 2012? Tell us our hits and misses in the comments section below: [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-rock-albums-of-2012/” title=”Next: 10 Best Rock Albums of 2012″ align=”center”] ?