Rob Caggiano Leaves Anthrax

After a long and successful run as guitarist for the legendary thrash metal act Anthrax, Rob Caggiano has decided that it's time to move on and focus on his other passion: producing records for the time being. Already an acclaimed rock and metal producer, Rob has amassed a long list of production credits working with acts such as Cradle of Filth (on their Grammy-nominated classic Nymphetamine), The Damned Things, and Jesse Malin to name a few. Rob's production work on the most recent Anthrax studio album Worship Music received high recognition, as the track "I'm Alive" received a Grammy Nomination for Best Rock + Metal Performance.

Being a member of the mighty Anthrax for the better part of the last 12 years is something that Caggiano is of course very proud of. This was not an easy decision to make.

"I'm extremely proud of my time in Anthrax. Actually, that's an understatement! We accomplished so many great things together over the years and I shared some of the best times of my life with these guys. As a band, we also weathered quite a few storms along the way. It's been a wild ride (to say the least) from Day One and I wouldn't change one single thing about the last 12 years. This is an extremely difficult and emotional decision for me to make but my heart is just steering me in a different direction right now. I've always been one to follow my heart in everything that I do and while this might be one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make, it feels like the right one for me at this time. Scott, Charlie, Joey, Frankie (and John Bush) will always be part of my family and this decision doesn't change the way I feel about that in the slightest. I would also like to say thanks to all the amazing fans I've met and hung out with worldwide over the years. You guys always were and always will be the reason why I make music! In this day and age, being a musician isn't always easy -also an understatement- but the fans truly make it worthwhile for me. I hope to see each and every one of you again really soon. The fact that Anthrax is at the top of their game right now and totally 'out for blood' after all these years is a testament to this band's longevity and conviction! I'm truly honored to have been a part of their brilliant legacy."

With this new direction, Caggiano very much looks forward to getting back to producing/recording/writing again in the immediate future.

"I can't wait to get back in the recording studio again! Over the years, I've been blessed with the privilege of working with a wide range of great bands/artists from Anthrax and Cradle of Filth all the way to Bruce Springsteen, and I look forward to a hopeful continuation of that side of my career while I figure out my next move as an artist. BTW in case anyone was wondering after reading all of this, I do FULLY intend to get back out there on the road very soon in some way shape or form....it's in my blood! Please feel free to follow me on Twitter @RobCaggiano for any and all updates on what I am up to."

BUTCHER BABIES to Tour with Marilyn Manson; Band Added to Hell & Heaven Metal Fest 2013

With heavy metal and horror-inspired theatrics fascinating crowds worldwide, the BUTCHER BABIES has emerged as one of the biggest draws on the Sunset Strip in their hometown of Los Angeles, CA. Within a few short weeks BUTCHER BABIES has made two huge announcements: a record deal with metal label CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS and a 2013 North American tour with shock-rock icon MARILYN MANSON. A list of confirmed dates can be seen below.

In addition, BUTCHER BABIES is proud to announce that they have been confirmed to play Hell & Heaven Metal Fest 2013. The festival is on May 18th and 19th in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. MOTӦRHEAD, ANTHRAX, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, and MOONSPELL are already confirmed for the festival along with a number of other key acts. Additional details on Hell & Heaven Metal Fest 2013 will be released and more information on the event can be found here: www.hellandheavenfest.com

Fronted by Carla Harvey and Heidi Shepherd - named two of the year's 'Hottest Women in Rock' by Revolver Magazine - BUTCHER BABIES has brought their show worldwide wowing UK fans at this year's Download Festival and as support for ANTHRAX in Cardiff. Following their UK appearances, the band returned to America as direct support for OTEP and just wrapped up their first headlining tour.

Butcher Babies' track "Axe Wound" (listen here) is currently in rotation on Sirius XM Liquid Metal, and their short movie/video for the track "Mr. Slowdeath" can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YttVe6v31Yk. The band - vocalists Harvey and Shepherd, guitarist Henry Flury, bassist Jason Klein and drummer Chris Warner - is currently working on their full-length debut, slated for a worldwide release in Summer 2013 via Century Media Records.

Dates with Marilyn Manson:

01/18/13 - Milwaukee, WI @ Eagle's Ballroom

01/19/13 - Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart's

01/20/13 - Columbus, OH @ The LC Pavilion

01/22/13 - Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore

01/23/13 - Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues

01/25/13 - Wallingford, CT @ The Dome

01/26/13 - Boston, MA @ House of Blues

01/28/13 - Montreal, QC, CA @ Metropolis

01/29/13 - Oshawa, ON, CA @ General Motors Centre

01/30/13 - Hamilton, ON, CA @ Hamilton Place Theatre

02/01/13 - Sudbury, ON, CA @ Sudbury Arena

02/04/13 - Winnipeg, MB, CA @ MTS Centre

02/05/13 - Moose Jaw, SK, CA @ Mosiac Place

02/06/13 - Saskatoon, SK, CA @ TCU Place

02/08/13 - Calgary, AB, CA @ Stampede Corral

02/09/13 - Edmonton, AB, CA @ Shaw Conference Centre

02/11/13 - Vancouver, BC, CA @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre

02/13/13 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theatre

02/19/13 - San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre

02/20/13 - Anaheim, CA @ The Grove of Anaheim

02/21/13 - Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia

02/23/13 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues

Hell & Heaven Metal Fest 2013:

*Butcher Babies performance date TBA. The festival is 05/18/13 and 05/19/13.

HEAVEN'S CRY PREMIERE TRACK ON LAMBGOAT

Canadian progressive metallists HEAVEN'S CRY will be premiering the song "Komma" from the upcoming reissue of their second album, "Primal Power Addiction", exclusively on LAMBGOAT.COM HERE.

HEAVEN'S CRY's first two releases, "Food For Thought Substitute", along with the follow-up,"Primal Power Addiction", will be reissued by PROSTHETIC RECORDS on January 8th, following the success of the band's recently released comeback album "Wheels of Impermanence". Both of the reissues feature revamped artwork as well as being newly remixed by Yannick St-Amand (Despised Icon, Beneath The Massacre, Kataklysm) and remastered by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Katatonia, Symphony X) in addition to "Primal Power Addiction" being re-sequenced. You can pre-order both albums on the PROSTHETIC IndieMerch store HERE (www.indiemerch.com/prostheticrecords/item/17436).

"Wheels of Impermanence" marked the first new music from the band (who were originally formed in the early 90's) in the past seven years. The band currently consists of Pierre St-Jean (Vocals/guitar), Sylvain Auclair (Vocals/bass), Eric Jarrin (Guitar,ex-Despised Icon), and René Lacharité (drums). They were most recently seen headlining the prestigious Prog-Power Festival Europe in the Netherlands and have since been announced to appear at the 2013 ProgPower USA Festival.

CASTLE ANNOUNCE NEW TOUR DATES, POST LIVE FOOTAGE

Thrash-infused doom act CASTLE will embark on their first-ever headlining tour tomorrow (4) in Oakland, Calif. at Eli's Mile High Club. The band's updated itinerary now includes several new show dates in Florida, North Carolina and Texas. A complete list of dates can be found below.

CASTLE will be supporting their PROSTHETIC debut "Blacklands," which is currently available on iTunes HERE. The album, produced by Billy Anderson (Cathedral, Sleep, Eyehategod, Neurosis), earned a 9/10 rating from Outburn and was described by Metal Hammer UK as being "charged with arcane mysticism." The band recently released a music video for the song "Storm Below The Mountain," which was directed by Jaan Silmberg of Pistoltrixx and can be viewed below.

CASTLE were recently seen supporting doom act Witch Mountain on a Scion A/V-sponsored national tour and have also performed with the likes of Blood Ceremony, Hammers of Misfortune and Gates of Slumber. The band will also take part in the upcoming Roadburn Festival alongside the likes of High On Fire, Intronaut, Royal Thunder, Pallbearer and many more.

Thanks to Heavy Metal Home TV, you now can experience the intensity of a live CASTLE show by watching the complete video coverage of their recent performance at Turbinehalle in Oberhausen, Germany HERE.

Come see CASTLE and grab a copy of "Blacklands" on one of the dates below:
1/4 Oakland, CA - Eli’s Mile High Club
1/5 Ventura, CA - Billy O’s
1/6 Los Angeles,CA - Los Globos
1/7 Long Beach, CA - Que Sera
1/8 San Diego,CA - Soda Bar
1/9 Tempe,AZ - Yucca Tap Room
1/10 El Paso,TX - Gallery 127
1/11 San Antonio,TX - 1011
1/12 Corpus Christi,TX - Zero’s
1/13 New Orleans,LA - The Circle Bar
1/15 Orlando,FL - Backbooth
1/16 Jacksonville,FL - Phoenix Taproom
1/17 Wilmington, NC - Ortons
1/18 Greensboro, NC - Somewhere Else Tavern
1/19 Richmond,VA - Strange Matter
1/21 Martinsburg, WV - MJ’s Pub
1/22 Columbus, OH - Kobo Live
1/23 Chicago, IL - Cobra Lounge
1/24 Lansing, MI - Mac’s Bar
1/25 Cleveland,OH - Now That’s Class
1/26 York,PA - The Depot
1/27 Hartford,CT - Webster Underground
1/28 Boston, MA - O’Briens
1/29 Worcester,MA - Ralph’s Rock Diner
1/30 Brooklyn,NY - The Acheron
1/31 Knoxville, MD - Lallo’s
2/1 Savannah, GA - The Jinx
2/2 Atlanta,GA - The Earl
2/3 Johnson City, TN - Hideaway
2/5 Austin, TX - Red Seven
2/6 Dallas,TX - Club Dada
2/8 Lubbock, TX - Jake’s Sports Cafe
2/10 Las Vegas, NV - Bunkhouse

For further information & ticket links please visit: www.heavycastle.com
www.facebook.com/heavycastle

GIANT X Release Third Song Sample From Debut Album I

GIANT X is the spectacular new band founded by Running Wild`s Rolf Kasparek and Peter J. Jordan has released another song snippet from their debut. Check out a preview of the song "Don't Quit Till Tomorrow" HERE.

The first snippet from the song "On a Blind Flight" can be heard HERE.

The second snippet from the song "Rough Ride" can be heard HERE.

GIANT X' s debut album I will be out on Steamhammer/SPV as a super jewel case and download on January 18th in Germany, January 21st in Europe and January 29th in USA/Canada and is set to delight particularly fans of traditional hard rock.

A video trailer for the album is available for viewing HERE. In addition to the video trailer, GIANT X has released an EPK for I. Check out part one HERE and part two HERE.

Royal Thunder Premiere "Blue" Video via Pitchfork; Announce North American and European Tour Dates

Royal Thunder, the Atlanta-based co-ed quartet whose debut album (CVI) landed on Best of 2012 lists from Decibel, Pitchfork, Spin, Revolver and the Village Voice, premiere their video for "Blue" via Pitchfork (http://pitchfork.com/tv/youtube/13-music-videos/630-royal-thunder-blue-official-music-video/).

The clip comes as news of the band's first European tour is confirmed. Royal Thunder will perform a handful of mid-April dates with Pallbearer including a stop at Roadburn on Apr. 18. The band also kick off a month of North American dates, joining Enslaved and Pallbearer for a trek that launches on Jan. 30 at Underground Arts in Philadelphia.

"This is a long awaited tour for both Royal Thunder and the many European fans who have reached out to us over the past couple of years," said singer/guitar player Mlny Parsonz of the band's first European tour. "Roadburn is a wild dream come true. Anyone I have talked to that has played Roadburn always has exciting and positive feedback on the festival. Europe or Bust! Here we come!"

Royal Thunder 2013 tour dates:

dates w/Enslaved and Pallbearer
Jan. 30 Philadelphia, PA Underground Arts
Jan. 31 Baltimore, MD Ottobar
Feb. 1 Pittsburgh, PA Mr. Small's Theatre
Feb. 2 Detroit, MI The Magic Stick
Feb. 3 Chicago, IL Reggie's Rock Club
Feb. 4 Minneapolis, MN Mill City Nights
Feb. 6 Denver, CO Marquis Theatre
Feb. 8 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
Feb. 9 San Francisco, CA Slim's
Feb. 10 Portland, OR Branx
Feb. 11 Seattle, WA Highline Bar
Feb. 12 Vancouver, BC Biltmore Cabaret
Feb. 14 Edmonton, AB Pawn Shop
Feb. 15 Calgary, AB Dickens Pub
Feb. 16 Regina, SK The Exchange
Feb. 17 Winnipeg, MB The Osborne Village Inn
Feb. 19 Toronto, ON Opera House
Feb. 20 Montreal, QC Les Foufounes Electriques
Feb. 21 Boston, MA The Sinclair
Feb. 22 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom

dates with Pallbearer (except Roadburn)
Apr. 10 London, UK Borderline
Apr. 11 Antwerp, Belgium Trix
Apr. 12 Leipzig, Germany Connewitz
Apr. 13 Berlin, Germany Bi Nuu
Apr. 14 Linz, Austria Posthof
Apr. 15 Bologna, Italy Freakout Club
Apr. 16 Aarau, Switzerland K.i.F.F.
Apr. 17 Germany TBA
Apr. 18 Tilburg, Netherlands Roadburn
 

STONE SOUR Reveal New Tracks, Release Date + More

Grammy-nominated rockers Stone Sour will release the first installment of their double album House of Gold & Bones Part 1 on Roadrunner Records on October 23, 2012. The second installment will be released in 2013. The album was recorded at Sound Farm Studios just outside of the band's native Des Moines, Iowa with producer David Bottrill (Tool, Muse, Staind) at the helm.

The band is sharing the first two tracks from Part 1, titled "Gone Sovereign" and "Absolute Zero," at www.houseofgoldandbones.com. Both tracks embody and encompass everything that Stone Sour is: a forward-thinking rock band that is able to mesh maelstrom with melody, brains with brawn and the head with the heart.

Guitarist Josh Rand states, "House of Gold & Bones takes everything that's great about this band and amplifies it. The riffs, the lyrics, the grooves and the songs are like Stone Sour times 10. There's also heavy stuff that's like nothing we've ever done before . It's dark as hell and a complete experience from the first track to the last." 

Singer, songwriter and lyricist Corey Taylor, himself a bestselling author courtesy of last year's Seven Deadly Sins, wrote the lyrics for the 24 tracks that make up House of Gold & Bones as a linear storyline. It tells the compelling tale of a character created by Taylor. The release of the first two tracks from Part 1 is the first step in unveiling a journey which has only just begun and will continue over the next year. Music is just one of the media the band uses to tell the story.

Stone Sour have also confirmed the first leg of a massive global tour push to support House of Gold & Bones, playing shows on five continents, with many more to come. Says Taylor, "It's going to be awesome to bring the House of Gold & Bones to the fans live. We're all psyched to come to Japan and South America right away as well; they're some of the best fans in the world! We gave people a taste of Part 1, now we're going to bring them the best Stone Sour show they've ever seen. Get ready: It begins soon…"

More information about House of Gold & Bones will be revealed as the project unfolds. The track listing for Part 1 is below.

House of Gold & Bones Part 1 Track Listing:

1. Gone Sovereign

2. Absolute Zero

3. A Rumor of Skin

4. The Travelers, Pt. 1

5. Tired

6. RU486

7. My Name is Allen

8. Taciturn

9. Influence of a Drowsy God

10. The Travelers, Pt. 2

11. Last of the Real