Metallica's New Album So Far Delivers The Heavy Says Kirk

"In my opinion, yes, we're breaking up," Sixx tells Cindy Scull of 97.1 The Eagle Rocks in Dallas/Ft. Worth. "We're done as a touring band. If you don't tour, you're not a band in a sense. Will we re-release our songs? Will they come out in movies? But I don't believe we're a band anymore after that."

Sixx explains there needs to be a reason to justify the group's time and energy to make new music. "I mean, the door's not shut," says the bassist. "But my belief is you make music to tour. And, you know, nowadays music is not the sole purpose anymore, even though we all love music and we live music.

"But what I'm doing right now with my other band, SIXX: A.M., I'm making a double album, and I'm gonna go on tour for two years. And music is a way to get people to come see the band to play the music for them, but in the end, the music isn't like what it used to be. Now you put a record out so you can tour."

The guitarist recently announced appearances at a pair of Monsters Of Rock festivals in Germany next June, and there's been speculation about a live return at the UK's Download event.

"Rainbow will only be playing three shows in 2016: two in Germany and one in the UK," Blackmore's agent, Alec Leslie, tells Metal Shock Finland. "The UK performance will not be at Download Festival."

There's no further information on what the clock represents as fans speculate on a possible upcoming announcement. Earlier this month, the Foo Fighters recorded new material in Austin, TX while in town to perform as part of the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival.

Frontman Joe Elliott had previously discussed the track with Rolling Stone. He told the publication, "It has that swaggering, mid-tempo rhythm, like '[Pour Some] Sugar [on Me]' and 'Rock of Ages'.

"The idea was, we wanted something familiar. I mean, when AC/DC comes back after years away, you're not going to get 'Bohemian Rhapsody' from 'em, you know? And you don't want it, either. You want 'Back in Black,' or something like it. For us, this is what we do. And it's something we enjoy doing."

Benante reveals in an open letter to fans that the reason that he is missing the dates, with Jon Dette filling in for him, is because he is still having some issues with the recovery from his previous Carpal Tunnel Syndrome surgery.

He writes, "I want to let all of our fans know what the situation is with my being or not being on the road with the band. Most of you know I had to have hand surgery a couple of years ago for the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome that I developed. Since then, I've continued to have regular physical therapy and doctor's office visits, and while my hand has gotten a lot better, it just hasn't fully healed. My doctor says it could continue to get better, but that's going to take as much time as it takes.

The album was originally slated for a September release, but drummer Abe Cunningham and keyboardist Frank Delgado told Morning Blaze that their label asked the group if they wanted more time to work on the album, and the band happily obliged.

The intimate concert will begin at 7pm and will feature performances from Bruce Kulick of KISS, Rudy Sarzo of Quiet Riot and Whitesnake, Vinny Appice of Black Sabbath and other stars, along with participants from the latest camp.

Both festivals share the same lineup over the course of the three days. Black Sabbath's 2016 tour, billed as "The End", marks the group's final series of live shows after a five-decade career.

The extensive run begins January 20 in Omaha, NE before dates in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and a return to North America. Guitarist Tony Iommi recently revealed that his cancer issues have brought about the need for the farewell run after five decades on the road. "I can't actually do this anymore," said Iommi. "My body won't take it much more."

Ursich posted the following update for fans on the band's official Facebook page, "I just wanted to say thank you guys soooo much for all of your love and support while I was in the hospital.

"I'm very sorry I couldn't finish off the Euro run but health always comes first. In addition to the infected cyst, I had other complications arise which prevented me from rejoining the tour. I am now home, resting and getting my body ready for the ?#?GreaterThanTour?. See you guys soon!"

The Greater Than Tour that he mentioned will be a Volumes and Northlane North American coheadlining trek that will feature support from Cane Hill and coldrain.

The Johnny Marr collaboration is a new single called "Solider of Fortune," a track that was written by Marr which features him on guitar and Ferry on vocals and keyboards.

We were sent the following details about the limited edition deluxe reissue of Ferry's 2014 album "Avonmore": The new special deluxe edition will be limited to only 1500 copies (100 copies pre-order via his official website will be personally signed by Ferry).

The front cover features a specially commissioned illustration of Ferry by David Downton and a 48-page-book containing exclusive live photographs captured by tour photographer Matthew Becker during the 2015 Avonmore Tour and an introduction by Richard Williams and specially printed lyric sheets.

The deluxe set also includes the original album Avonmore on both heavyweight white vinyl and CD. Bonus material then adds four exclusive Avonmore remixes on a second white heavyweight 12" vinyl plus two more CDs of remixes of album tracks including unreleased cuts from Leo Zero, Idjut Boys and Synapson. The set is completed by a DVD featuring the official videos for singles Loop De Li, Johnny & Mary and Driving Me Wild.

The film and the new music video were directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Thirteen) and the video features a cameo from Toni Collette. The movie will hit theaters on November 6th.

Ritter revealed the following back story for the new track, "The production put me up in a quaint but isolated flat in West Kensington, and I had nothing but a ukulele to keep me busy when I wasn't on set.

"My first day of work I met Toni and watched her playing Milly, a wife and a mother of two, who had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. As heavy of a subject that is to discuss, let alone portray, I was immediately awestruck by Toni's bravery.

"After my first day on set, I had this ringing in my ear. Having not composed a piece of music for over a year at that point, I didn't recognize that I was hearing a melody. With that melody, came the words. Immediately I knew what it was, it was a song for Milly, a song that was written as a goodbye note to her loved ones.

He was a member of Axl Rose's outfit from 1990 to 1997 and he's currently working with supergroup Kings Of Chaos. In a new interview with the Windsor Star, Sorum describes his time in GnR as "like watching somebody else's movie" and adds: "Was I really there or was it some sort of warped dream? The whole things was surreal.

Marshall, who died in 2012 aged 88, opened a drum shop in London in 1960 but decided to branch out at the request of musicians who visited his store. He said: "All the drummers used to bring their groups in with them, which is how I got to meet guitarists like Pete Townsend and Ritchie Blackmore. They kept pestering me to stock guitars and amps so I decided to give it a go."

The Chicago band found it hard to make a name for themselves in a city better known for its alternative scene than for rock and metal. Draiman tells Loudwire: "People think it was this meteoric rise - it really wasn't. We beat the hell out of ourselves for two or three years as a local band. Any time a rock show would come through town, we would pass out cassettes, stickers, t-shirts - whatever we could.

In a Facebook post that's now been removed, Janus said: "I will continue to create music. On my terms. F*** the meaningless noise and trolls. My way, forever. Suck it. Done."

But Meahl has followed her comments up with a statement of his own. He says: "Jill posted that she was having difficulty dealing with devastating health issues. Four months ago she had major surgery to remove cancer from her uterus. She needs time to fully recover from her hysterectomy and to continue treatment for her mental health issues.

"Her bouts with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder have been particularly difficult lately and are ultimately responsible for her unfounded statement last night."

"Amongst the hundreds of songs I have written over the years Routine has a very special place," says Wilson. "It's a deeply sad story of loss and denial, but at its conclusion the clouds lift and there is acceptance at least. Having worked with her on three previous videos, I knew as soon as I wrote it that it was perfect for Jess [Cope] to do something amazing with. Even then nothing prepared me for the organic beauty and power of the film she made, a painstaking labour of love that took her months to produce. When we play the song live I look out into the audience and see people swept away with emotion at the combination of music and animation. To find poetry and beauty in sadness is a wonderful thing I think."

"Routine is the fourth film that Owl House Studio has made in collaboration with Steven Wilson and the biggest one yet," adds Cope. "The story centres on a woman dealing with the tragic loss of her family and the routine she creates for herself to try and cope. The themes in Steven's music are often quite morbid and macabre and when we heard Routine for the first time, Tom Kaye [Writer/Producer] and I knew the story had to be really strong, to do justice to the music.

The Freddie Mercury composition was released on October 31, 1975, and went on to become the third biggest-selling single in UK chart history. It's been the subject of several affectionate spoofs, including the iconic scene in 1992 movie Wayne's World.

May tells the BBC: "I'm not sick of it. You can't complain that people want to talk about it all these years later. I still enjoy hearing it - if it comes on the radio I'll turn it up and listen. But no air guitar. I'm too old."

Z'Nuff said of the album: "It's a stoner rock record. What I have with Enuff Z'Nuff is special but this is a labor of love. I started these songs while going through every type of hard time - family, finances, relationships - and found moments of clarity while writing."

They wrap up with gigs in Asia next month, after which Davis hopes to get to work on new music with the self-styled God Of F***. Manson first hinted at the collaboration in issue 271 of Metal Hammer magazine, and Davis later confirmed it was on the cards.

Davis tells Westword: "We're going to get together and write some music and see what happens. I'm going to get back and start working with him on ideas and sh*t.

The Graham Bonnet Band will perform at The Suncastle in Skegness on February 3. Gigs in Swindon, Carlisle and Leeds have also been added to the tour.

Danny Merton of promoters Metal Mercenary Records says: "We're honoured to be able to be involved in bringing Graham home. We're sure everyone in Skegness will get behind him and it's going to be an emotional night."

Owner Michael Clifford says: "We knew that it was going to be a magical night. What we didn't realise was that the evening would become even more special.

The band say: "New video for The Embers. Put together using footage shot over the last few years from tours in Japan, Australia, the Grievances release dates and our August tour supporting The Fall of Troy."

This song was born, like most ideas I might bring to the Skindred table, from a group of riffs that I hummed into my phone. I seem to always come up with ideas for songs when I'm driving or walking somewhere, nowhere near a guitar basically. Recording voice notes on a phone has basically become my life line to memorable writing. I tend never to think in terms of key or pitch, generally speaking a tempo presents itself to me (usually one that I can imagine a big crowd jumping up and down to) and the riff follows. If it sounds and feels good to hum and slap some air drums to, I'll pick up a guitar and work out the best place for the riff to drop on the neck. In any writing period there will be four or five ideas in a similar bouncy vein, where one song presents itself as the winner. Most of our songs began as riffs that Dan or I bring to rehearsal, sometimes Benji will have a lyric that inspires a riff but its usually the other way around.

I'll always have an idea for a basic drum feel, a kick and snare pattern for example. If I can't feel what the riff does on the drums then I'll probably move on from it. A percussive approach to guitar has always been more my 'thing' than any kind of speed or virtuosity; feel is where it's at for me. I'll have an idea for what the bass could do but I refrain from dictating, Dan grasps what I'm after and does his thing. More often than not, Arya is on exactly the same page for what the riff requires, he'll embellish the feel and do his thing to it. As with all riffs or songs in their infancy, it's just sh*t hummed into a phone until the band get hold of it, then it becomes a Skindred song. Dan Sturgess might add a sample or sound that can't be generated with guitars, if the riff is calling for it.

The main riff evolved a bit in the rehearsal space, putting the guitar through an octave pedal gave it this really menacing quality, it sounded that extra bit more crushing. That 'sound' eventually appeared a few more times on the album, it really helped shape the identity of the record sonically. I don't like to use effects needlessly, sometimes a pedal can lift a riff from sounding flat into awesomeness. We felt that the riff was strong enough to be like a chorus itself - kind of an x-factor riff that we're always keen to get hold of. Any vocals on top just seemed gratuitous so it stayed largely instrumental.

The verses of the song are similar to the main riff, Arya brought this killer feel to the verses which we all loved. It was a fun song to play through, and Benji came up with vibes straight off the bat, which is usually a good sign for a song. Vocally, the chorus was a bit of a head scratcher for a minute, we were going round & round trying to find the right thing for a while. We basically press record, play a song through countless times then listen back. I had a scan through various takes & heard Benji just messing around singing between takes; he was singing this "Who's gonna help them, whoa" refrain acapella, out of nowhere. He does a lot of that. I told him "sing that on the chorus, it's badass!". And it was! Lyrically Benji has a lot to say, universal social commentary and observation is a big source of reference for him. Under Attack is like a call to arms, a unity song for people to think about the impact of certain actions on a global scale.

The song was written pretty quickly and we knew exactly how it sounded before going in to record the album, which always helps with the confidence of performances and so on. It was a stand out song and we figured it made for a good lead single. We shot a video in London featuring about 100 of our fans in a warehouse studio, it turned out to be a killer video that really embraced the Skindred live vibe.