Lava/Universal Republic Black Veil Brides kick off 2013 with the release of their third studio album, a concept record titled ‘Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones.’ With 19 tracks, this massive opus begins with ‘Exordium,’ one of several spoken word cuts on the disc. It speaks of religion, God, inner strength and more. ‘In the End’ is the first single off the album and leads a series of anthems such as ‘I Am Bulletproof,’ ‘ New Years Day,’ ‘Devil’s Choir,’ and ‘Nobody’s Hero.’ Throughout the album, guitarists Jake Pitts and Jinxx provide stellar riffs, while Ashley Purdy delivers pounding bass lines and Christian Coma offers some thunderous drum patterns on the skins. Despite the heaviness, there are also flashes of beautiful orchestration album, especially on the instrumental piece ‘Overture.’ Frontman Andy Biersack shows off his softer side in tracks like ‘Done for You’ and ‘Lost It All,’ the latter of which features Biersack’s girlfriend, Juliet Simms, a finalist on ‘The Voice’ and member of the band Automatic Loveletter. Black Veil Brides also call on some of their other comrades, such as the Used’s Bert McCracken, who offers his raw vocals on the track ‘Days Are Numbered,’ which features a ‘Crazy Train’ like riff throughout. Wil Francis (also of William Control) is the voice of Fear on the record’s powerful spoken word tracks ‘F.E.A.R.: Transmission 1: Don’t Stay’ ‘ F.E.A.R. Transmission 2: Trust,’ ‘F.E.A.R. Transmission 3: As War Fades’ and ‘ F.E.A.R. : Final Transmission.’ In our interview with Biersack, he talks about the ‘F.E.A.R.’ tracks by saying, “I’ve sort of just like the whole Orwellian, dystopian future – I like the idea that it doesn’t seem to crazy or far off that there could be someone who is this omnipotent, omniscient power that tells you what to do.” Biersack continues, “I like the idea of having the narrative told through the perspective of the bad guy more than anything else. You rarely ever hear something narrated through the villain’s perspective and it was fun.” Other notable tunes on the album include the title track, ‘Wretched and Divine,’ which maintains a balance of heaviness and melody, and ‘We Don’t Belong,’ which has soft yet menacing vocals in its verses, mixed with a catchy chorus. Biersack shows a bit of vocal range with ‘Resurrect the Sun,’ where he starts off soft and almost lullaby-like, but then belts out the chorus. Meanwhile, ‘Shadows Die’ is a rollercoaster of emotion and tempo that is one of the best, if not the best track, on the album. For a relatively young band that has achieved a rabid fan base in such a short time, Black Veil Brides could have rested on their laurels and delivered a standard rock album. However, ‘Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones’ is an ambitious effort that shows the band is willing to take chances in their fast-rising career. ? [button href=”http://loudwire.com/black-veil-brides-singer-andy-biersack-everybody-is-wretched-and-divine/” title=”Next: Andy Biersack Talks ‘Wretched and Divine'” align=”center”]
Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Here’s a look at the top stories of the day on Loudwire and around the Web: – Killswitch Engage have finally revealed the name of their next album, when they expect to release the first single and more juicy details about one of this year’s most anticipated albums. [ Loudwire ] – Alter Bridge have begun working on their fourth studio album. Find out more details here. [ Loudwire ] – Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine has gone on another online rant, this time about aircrafts spraying toxic chemicals into the atmosphere. He also took a shot at CNN for not getting their facts right. [ Loudwire ] – Want to see Marilyn Manson live in concert? We’re giving away a pair of tickets to one of his Winter 2013 tour dates. Enter to win here. [ Loudwire ] – Hatebreed gave come out with a blazing new video for ‘Put It to the Torch.’ Watch all the fire, violence and blood here! [ Loudwire ] – Scorpions cancel their retirement plans and intend to continue rocking like a hurricane. [ Ultimate Classic Rock ] – New film ‘Imagines’ has been greatly inspired by Beatles legend John Lennon. Find out more here. [ Ultimate Classic Rock ] – The Black Keys and The Flaming Lips have announced a tour together in Spring 2013. [ Diffuser.fm ] – Royal Thunder premiere ‘Blue’ video + announce North American and European tour dates. [ Rock Music Report ]
Metal Blade When it comes to extreme metal, very few bands evoke fanatical buzz like Polish blackened death metal ambassadors Behemoth . After conquering North America last year, finally returning to our continent for the first time after frontman Nergal ‘s 2010 cancer diagnosis, Behemoth bassist Orion has let slip that the band will return once again for the 2013 Mayhem Festival. Last year’s Mayhem Festival lineup was unprecedented, featuring Slipknot , Slayer , Motorhead , Anthrax and many more. With Ozzfest only materializing as a one-off event occasionally, Mayhem Fest has arguably become the must-see tour for metalheads and the must-play tour for bands worldwide. Although it hasn’t been confirmed, Behemoth bassist Orion recently told Metal Storm that fans can expect the act to play Mayhem in 2013. “I don’t think it is confirmed yet, but we are coming back to the States this summer to play on the Rockstar Mayhem Festival,” says the Behemoth bassist. “This will be the very first thing we will do before the new record comes out. After that we plan on doing some other festivals, but they are not confirmed yet neither. We have done quite a few European festivals [in 2012] and I am not sure if it would be the best thing to do before the album comes out.” As for the health of Behemoth frontman Nergal, Orion offered a joyous update on the leukemia survivor’s current condition. “He doesn’t have any special needs now,” begins Orion, “he is just the same person he used to be before. He is actually doing better than ever as far as I can tell. I would have to say we don’t have to do anything to accommodate to the situation at all. Everything just seems to be going up for us and the entire situation is moving forwards and we just follow it.” Check out the full interview with Orion at MetalStorm.net . [button href=”http://loudwire.com/behemoth-nergal-meets-bone-marrow-donor-who-saved-life/” title=”Behemoth’s Nergal Meets Bone Marrow Donor Who Saved His Life” align=”center”]
Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Pantera / Down singer Phil Anselmo fans will get a taste of his solo material Tuesday, Jan. 8, with the release of the split EP titled ‘ War of the Gargantuas ‘ with Warbeast . But, Anselmo s ays that his two songs on the split are not in the same vein as his upcoming solo album. “I think those songs are still a far cry from the full-length that will be coming out this upcoming summer though,” Anselmo tells ArtistDirect.com . “To me, they’re more in line with the straight ahead songs I’ve come up with. Be prepared for a different listen when you hear the upcoming full-length. I wanted to do something different with a lot of f–king energy that would, I guess, come off as faster or more energetic than your basic fast playing at a million miles an hour with blast beats.” When it comes to his lyrical approach, Anselmo said it’s much more direct than his band Down . “With the Down lyrics, the listeners can take them and interpret them in their own ways. With the solo s–t, I’m being very direct. There isn’t any wordplay. There isn’t any hidden message. It’s all right there in front of you. There it is.” For more from Anselmo, read the full interview at ArtistDirect.com . And listen to samples from the Anselmo / Warbeast split EP here . Meanwhile, Down and Warbeast kick off a U.S. tour Friday in Houston, Texas. Down are touring in support of ‘Down IV Part I – The Purple EP,’ which was released in September. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/down-new-musical-directions-recording-while-still-alive-being-handsome/” title=”Watch Loudwire’s Video Interview With Down” align=”center”] ?
You lucky, lucky people! We’ve got a great contest to offer all of our readers, and we’re sure that you’ll want to throw your name into the proverbial hat. The winner of this contest will snag a pair of tickets to see Marilyn Manson live on his upcoming 2013 winter tour. Marilyn Manson is heading out on tour once again, and is set to invade North America with rock anthems draped in the vocalist’s infamous stage show. The 2013 trek will kick off on Jan. 18 in Milwaukee, creep into the Northeast and Canada, before heading down the West Coast and wrapping Feb. 23 in Las Vegas. The Butcher Babies will serve as support on the trek. Marilyn Manson’s self-professed 2012 comeback album, ‘Born Villain,’ has received praise for its creativity and craftsmanship, even snagging a 2013 Grammy nomination for ‘No Reflection’ in the Best Hard Rock / Metal Performance category. If you don’t have a copy of the album yet, pick up ‘Born Villain’ at iTunes . The winner of the Marilyn Manson contest will receive two tickets to one of the upcoming winter shows (see tour dates below). For a chance to win, simply enter your email address and the city of the show you’d like to attend (tickets only – travel and accommodation not included). With the tour coming up shortly, the contest only runs through Sunday, Jan. 13, so enter below! For those of you who want to ensure yourself entrance into one of Manson’s shows, tickets are available for purchase through his official website . Marilyn Manson 2013 Tour Ticket Giveaway Enter your e-mail address below for a chance to win two tickets to see Marilyn Manson live. Please specify your choice of show in the field below. Travel and/or accommodations not included. Contest ends on Jan. 13, 2012, at 11:59PM ET. By entering this contest, you will automatically start receiving daily newsletters from Loudwire. Email List Date and City of Preferred Show Marilyn Manson Winter 2013 Tour Dates: Jan. 18 – Milwaukee, Wis. @ Eagles Ballroom Jan. 19 – Cincinnati, Ohio @ Bogart’s Jan. 20 – Columbus, Ohio @ The LC Pavilion Jan. 22 – Detroit, Mich. @ The Fillmore Jan. 23 – Cleveland, Ohio @ House of Blues Jan. 25 – Wallingford, Conn. @ The Dome Jan. 26 – Boston, Mass. @ House of Blues Jan. 28 – Montreal, Quebec @ City Metropolis Jan. 29 – Oshawa, Ontario @ General Motors Centre Jan. 30 – Hamilton, Ontario @ Hamilton Place Theatre Feb. 01 – Sudbury, Ontario @ Sudbury Arena Feb. 04 – Winnipeg, Manitoba @ MTS Centre Feb. 05 – Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan @ Mosiac Place Feb. 06 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan @ TCU Place Feb. 08 – Calgary, Alberta @ Stampede Corral Feb. 09 – Edmonton, Alberta @ Shaw Conference Centre Feb. 11 – Vancouver, British Columbia @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre Feb. 12 – Seattle, Wash. @ Showbox SoDo Feb. 13 – Portland, Ore. @ Roseland Theatre Feb. 15 – Modesto, Calif. @ Modesto Centre Plaza Feb. 17 – Reno, Nev. @ Grand Sierra Resort Feb. 19 – San Francisco, Calif. @ Warfield Theatre Feb. 20 – Anaheim, Calif. @ The Grove of Anaheim Feb. 21 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Club Nokia Feb. 23 – Las Vegas, Nev. @ House of Blues [button href=”http://loudwire.com/best-marilyn-manson-songs/” title=”10 Best Marilyn Manson Songs” align=”center”]
Frazer Harrison / Ethan Miller / Kevin Winter, Getty Images / Liz Ramanand, Loudwire It’s time to get those devil horns out of hibernation and get ready to rock again in 2013. Some of metal’s top acts are making sure to get things cranked back up to 11 in clubs, theaters and arenas over the next few months and we want to know which tour that you most want to check out. Veteran rockers Anthrax will team up with thrash icons Exodus , High on Fire , Municiple Waste and Holy Grail on the Metal Alliance trek, but they have plenty of competition for your metal attention. Cradle of Filth will headline a package tour featuring The Faceless , The Decapitated and The Agonist . Meanwhile, In Flames will get things rolling again by headlining a multi-band trek that also features Demon Hunter , All Shall Perish and Battlecross. And Hatebreed ‘s forthcoming trek finds the band sharing the bill with Shadows Fall , Dying Fetus and The Contortionist . There are also a number of bills that feature two main acts. For instance, The Devil Wears Prada and As I Lay Dying connect for a pretty impressive double bill of blistering licks. Down and Warbeast figure to be one of the hot tickets of early 2013. Every Time I Die has booked dates with the Acacia Strain . Thrash metal vets Testament team up with Overkill . And for those who like their metal a little proggy, then check out the Coheed & Cambria / Between the Buried and Me double bill. Plus, 2012′s breakout band Gojira is hitting the road with Devin Townsend. In addition, the always excellent Meshuggah are crossing the pond for another North American tour to kick off the year. So there you have it — some of the bigger metal tours kicking off 2013. Here’s your chance to tell us which trek you’ll be lining up to get tickets for. Vote for your most anticipated 2013 metal tour in the Readers Poll below: Sorry, you need to have javascript running to see this poll. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/most-anticipated-early-2013-rock-tour-readers-poll/” title=”Previous Readers Poll: Most Anticipated Early 2013 Rock Tour” align=”center”]
A&M / Octone Hollywood Undead continue to step up their game with the release of their third album, ‘ Notes From the Underground .’ The disc not only shows the wealth of talent the rap-rock collective has, but also the eclectic tastes they possess, as well. The 11-track album provides a variety of styles even though they’ve enjoyed their biggest successes to date with harder-edged rap-rock tracks. For those looking for what they’ve come to expect from Hollywood Undead, the lead single ‘ We Are ‘ is the perfect way to introduce the new album. With military-like drums providing an ominous opening, the band blasts into an anthemic track about fighting for your dreams no matter what obstacles may fall in your way. Hollywood Undead also deliver a pair of obvious radio-ready singles with two different slants. ‘Dead Bite,’ which opens the album, is more of a sinister track, complete with a demented child’s prayer that goes, “ Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the dead bite .” From there, the various members riff on personal conflicts, with Charlie Scene going so far as to rap about chloroforming his prey. The song offers several clever lines and a chorus that’s sure to get stuck in your head. Meanwhile, ‘Another Way Out’ is a full-on foot-tapper, with the band speeding up the beats-per-minute into what could easily become a club track. In fact, the song is so infectious you might overlook its stalker-y perspective on an obsessive relationship. ‘Notes From the Underground’ also features a handful of tracks that shows the band’s desire to push their boundaries. ‘From the Ground’ is as schizophrenic of a song as you will hear, with its piano opening and melodic chorus offset by moments of pure thrash metal. ‘Lion’ feels like something that came out of the Linkin Park songbook, with its intimate and haunting moments mixed with elements of in-your-face rapping. And the album closer, ‘Outside,’ is a surprisingly moving track that comes from somewhere deeply personal and may connect with audiences more than any track in their career. On a less serious note, Hollywood Undead also offer the bravado-filled ‘Pigskin,’ with its hip-hop leaning, sports and sex metaphors, and the unbelievably catchy sing-along, “ Hut one, hut two, hut three, go .” The band also add their bouncy weed-friendly track ‘Up in Smoke,’ stamped with their own sense of humor. All in all, ‘Notes From the Underground’ is not the most cohesive album and is not an aggressive rock record throughout, but with the band’s mining of several different genres, the group most certainly hits on something for just about everyone. ? [button href=”http://music.aol.com/new-releases-full-cds/#/3″ title=”Stream ‘Notes From the Underground at AOL.com” align=”center”]