RCA Bullet for My Valentine recently revealed that their latest studio album, ‘ Temper Temper ,’ would be arriving on Feb. 11 and now we know what the album cover art looks like. The band has unveiled the artwork (see the image on the left) for their forthcoming release and it shows a darker side to the album’s title. Given that the title ‘Temper Temper’ suggests some hot-headedness, the imagery of a pair of bloody hands, palms up, is a striking one. The pose is almost mindful of a person who is looking down upon their hands contemplating the dastardly deed they’ve done, though we never actually see the person’s face. So far, the group has served up the album’s title track and a second single ‘ Riot ‘ to check out in advance of the disc’s release, but it is not known how those songs compare to the rest of the record. In addition, the band has also unleashed a music video for ‘Temper Temper,’ giving at least some visual representation of the song. Bullet for My Valentine fans have had to wait a little while for a new disc, as singer Matt Tuck spent much of 2012 balancing his time between Bullet and his other hard-edged band, AxeWound , who toured and released their debut disc last year. Tuck says having the other group did affect Bullet for My Valentine’s latest effort, explaining , “We approached the record a lot differently this time around. It was more inspired by the way I did the AxeWound record and that was basically: get in the studio and write and record as you went along.” Look for ‘Temper Temper’ in stores Feb. 11; you can also pre-order the disc here . [button href=”http://loudwire.com/bullet-for-my-valentine-behind-the-scenes-new-album-temper-temper-exclusive-video/” title=”Next: Watch Behind the Scenes Video from ‘Temper Temper'” align=”center”]
Studio Jonkillz An incredibly exciting new musical project is beginning to take shape. To create the soundtrack for an upcoming documentary film about Phil Anselmo ‘s ‘House of Shock’ haunted house attraction, members of Slayer , Exodus , Queens of the Stone Age and Amen have joined forces for a full-on sonic boom. There have been countless “supergroups” formed throughout the history of rock and metal, but this project is a new breed entirely. When Exodus guitarist Gary Holt filled in for Slayer then-ailing guitarist Jeff Hanneman , Holt formed a strong creative bond with Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo . “Whenever Dave and I would get on deck for soundcheck, we’d go up there first and jam make up stuff everyday,” Holt tells Noisecreep . “It just comes easy for us. We’re both into being spontaneous and improvising. We probably have an album’s worth of material.” Legendary producer Ross Robinson ( Slipknot , Deftones ) was self-admittedly blown away by the “fire, energy and wisdom” created by Holt and Lombardo, so when the producer was approached to help provide music for the ‘House of Shock’ documentary, Robinson immediately knew who he wanted to work with. “The first thing I wanted to do was tap into this energy between Gary and Dave,” says Ross of the unnamed project. “And Casey [Chaos, Amen] has this amazing ability to do these amazing choruses and be so violent and ruthless at it.” Along with Casey Chaos coming in as another contibutor, former Queens of the Stone Age bassist Nick Oliveri became the fourth musician to join the collective. With such a unique lineup cemented together for the soundtrack, an obvious question presents itself: Will the diverse group form a new band and create their own album? Although both Holt and Lombardo are hard at work for new Exodus and Slayer albums, respectively, Lombardo keeps an open mind. “If we came in for two weeks of just riff-writing and another two weeks of putting it all together, we’d have an album that would throw people for a loop,” explains the drummer. “They wouldn’t know what hit them … I’m as proud of this stuff as anything I’ve ever done. It’s phenomenal.” Stay tuned for more news on this non-monikered project and the tunes they’re creating for the ‘House of Shock’ documentary.
Metal Blade Records Swedish metal outfit Ghost have been pounding away in the studio, working to complete their latest effort and the band is happy to announce that ‘Infestissumam’ will arrive next spring. The follow-up to the critically hailed ‘Opus Eponymous’ album was produced by Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Deftones, Death Angel) and will be released by Loma Vista Recordings. The 10-track set features the song ‘Secular Haze,’ which the band debuted live during their performance in Linkoping, Sweden over the weekend. Video from the show can be seen below. ‘Secular Haze’ is also available as a free download at the band’s website . If you doubt their dedication to all things hard and heavy, one of the band’s nameless members recently stated about their position toward rock , “Us being faceless and dressing apart from standard couture was a way for everyone to be able to connect with the concept. Being from a metal background, we know that it’s all about looking the part — the choice of shoes you wear, for some bands, proves the value of the song. It’s just a d–k-measuring competition. Hard rock is about who has the biggest d–k and pop music is about who’s got the smallest. I guess we’re pretty average. But in order to have a big d–k, you have to have it mentally.” Ghost, ‘Infestissumam’ Track Listing 1. ‘Infestissumam’ 2. ‘Per Aspera Ad Inferi’ 3. ‘Secular Haze’ 4. ‘Jigolo Har Megiddo’ 5. ‘Ghuleh / Zombie Queen’ 6. ‘Year Zero’ 7. ‘Idolatrine’ 8. ‘Body and Blood’ 9. ‘Depth of Satans Eyes’ 10. ‘Monstrance Clock’ Watch Ghost Perform ‘Secular Haze’ [button href=”http://loudwire.com/nameless-ghoul-of-ghost-talks-touring-anonymity-more/” title=”Next: Ghost Member Discusses Band Anonymity” align=”center”] ?
NewstedHeavyMetal.com Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted is back rocking again and fans are getting the first taste of his new self-titled band with the just-released single ‘Soldierhead.’ The song comes from the four-track release, ‘ Metal ,’ due Jan. 8 via iTunes. Newsted shot a video for the song over the week that’s expected to debut shortly, but in the interim fans can check out ‘Soldierhead’ in the player below. The hard-driving track finds the bassist exploring his metal roots and delivering the type of head banging song that most fans would hope for. The bassist steps up to the mic on the ‘Metal’ EP and does an admirable job, but it’s the bass breakdown in ‘Soldierhead’ that stands out and makes it uniquely Newsted. In addition to ‘Soldierhead,’ fans can keep an ear out for ‘Godsnake,’ ‘King of the Underdogs’ and ‘Skyscraper,’ the three other songs that make up the ‘Metal’ EP. Though full versions of the tracks have yet to hit the Internet, song snippets can be heard at iTunes, where the disc is currently available for pre-order. ‘Godsnake’ is more a chugging track, while ‘King of the Underdogs’ finds the band rocking with reckless abandon and ‘Skyscraper’ is more of a straight-up, attitude-filled rocker. To hear the song snippets or to pre-order the ‘Metal’ EP, click here . Newsted has not announced any tour dates as of yet, but it is likely he’ll play some shows as some point. Listen to Newsted’s ‘Soliderhead’ [button href=”http://loudwire.com/ex-metallica-bassist-jason-newsted-details-plans-for-musical-comeback/” title=”Next: Jason Newsted Details Musical Comeback Plans” align=”center”]
Charlemange Productions Love metal? Dig Christmas? Then let legendary actor Christopher Lee entertain you with heavy metal versions of classic Christmas songs. The 90-year-old Lee is famous for his roles in ’Dracula’ and ‘Lord of the Rings,’ among countless other films. He has been crafting his voice for many years, having famously lent his pipes to the soundtrack for horror flick ‘The Wicker Man,’ released in 1973. Although Lee is a classically trained singer, the ‘Dracula’ icon released his first metal album, ‘Charlemange: By the Sword and the Cross,’ in 2010, receiving Metal Hammer’s Spirit of Metal award at their 2010 Golden Gods ceremony. Lee’s ‘Charlemange’ sequel, ‘The Omens of Death,’ is expected to see a 2013 release. “I was first introduced to metal when I sang with a [band] called Rhapsody,” Lee tells BBC Radio. “But what I sang was not heavy metal; I sang with a tenor. Then I worked with Manowar as a narrator, I think it was in Germany, and again, that was not me singing metal. I became rather fascinated by this, ’cause in terms of history of music, it’s fairly recent, really. And if it’s properly done and you can understand the story and you can understand what the people are singing and you have the right bands and the right singers, I think it’s rather exciting.” Christopher Lee’s surprisingly crushing renditions of ‘The Little Drummer Boy’ and ‘Silent Night’ are now available to purchase via iTunes and Amazon . Check out a preview of both tracks in the player below. Christopher Lee, ‘The Little Drummer Boy’ + ‘Silent Night’ (Teaser) [button href=”http://loudwire.com/lord-of-the-rings-actor-christopher-lee-recording-metal-album-at-90-years-old/” title=”Next: More on Christopher Lee’s Upcoming Metal Album” align=”center”]
Razor & Tie / Nuclear Blast If a random dude happens to hand you a pamphlet on how the apocalypse is coming, be sure to hand him back this list of upcoming rock and metal releases for January 2013. Hatebreed are set to release their seventh studio album, ‘The Divinity of Purpose,’ on Jan. 29. With the band’s new track ‘Put It to the Torch’ having just been inducted into our Death Match Hall of Fame, it’s certain that hardcore fans are foaming at the mouth for Hatebreed’s next offering. Punk rock legends Bad Religion will release ‘True North,’ their follow-up to ‘The Dissent of Man,’ on Jan. 22. That week will also see the debut album from Love & Death , featuring former Korn guitarist Brian ‘Head’ Welch on vocals. Black Veil Brides , Helloween, Trapt , Dropkick Murphys, Hollywood Undead and many more bands will unleash their latest efforts in the first month of 2013. Check out our full list of albums below and get ready for some new tunes in the new year. January 2013 Music Releases: Jan. 8: Alice in Chains, ‘Hollow’ (Single) Black Veil Brides, ‘Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones’ Dropkick Murphys, ‘Signed and Sealed in Blood’ Hollywood Undead, ‘Notes From the Underground’ Jan. 15: Rammstein, ‘Videos 1995-2012′ (DVD) Various Artists, ’12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief’ Various Artists, ‘West of Memphis: Voices For Justice’ Jan. 22: Bad Religion, ‘True North’ Helloween, ‘Straight Out of Hell’ Holy Grail, ‘Ride the Void’ Love & Death, ‘Between Here & Lost’ Otep, ‘Hydra’ Rotten Sound, ‘Species at War’ (EP) Stellar Revival, ‘Love, Lust and Bad Company’ Trapt, ‘Reborn’ Voivod, ‘Target Earth’ Jan. 29: Accept, ‘Playlist: The Very Best of Accept’ Cult of Luna, ‘Vertikal’ Funeral for a Friend, ‘Conduit’ Hatebreed, ‘The Divinity of Purpose’ Stratovarius, ‘Unbreakable’ (EP)
Michael Buckner, Getty Images It’s always difficult to predict the next move of Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor . Along with his legendary industrial group, Reznor’s discography includes making music with his wife for How to Destroy Angels and creating original scores for feature films. Now, Reznor has officially announced that he is planning to release new Nine Inch Nails songs on an upcoming best-of compilation. In a new feature on Reznor, New Yorker magazine [via Spin ] reports the following: ”In 2014, Interscope Records will release an edition of the band’s greatest hits, to which Reznor intends to contribute two new songs. Then he plans to write music for a new record.” In the same article, Reznor talks about his new partnership with hip-hop mogul Dr. Dre and his ‘Beats’ brand. It’s revealed that Reznor has been developing a music streaming project, tentatively titled ‘Daisy.’ The platform aims to help users sort through songs in a way that differentiates it from services like Spotify. “‘Here’s 16 million licensed pieces of music,’ they’ve said, but you’re not stumbling into anything,” says Reznor of the other platforms. “What’s missing is a system that adds a layer of intelligent curation . . . As great as it is to have all this information bombarding you, there’s a real value in trusted filters. It’s like having your own guy when you go into the record store, who knows what you like but can also point you down some paths you wouldn’t necessarily have encountered.” Stay tuned for more news on Reznor and his multitude of projects as news breaks. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/how-to-destroy-angels-stream-an-omen-ep-ahead-of-release/” title=”Listen to How to Destroy Angels’ ‘An Omen’ EP in Full” align=”center”]