BENEDICTUM Announce New Bassist

BENEDICTUM have checked in with the following announcement:

“At long last Benedictum is proud to announce a new member to the fold. Our new bass player Aric Avina! You may know him from the band TYNATOR, but now he belongs to Benedictum!”

(via The Gauntlet)

On The Road With KOBRA AND THE LOTUS

A four-minute behind-the-scenes look at KOBRA AND THE LOTUS‘ fall 2012 tour across Europe supporting STEEL PANTHER; U.K. tour supporting BUCKCHERRY, and Canada/U.S. dates supporting SONATA ARCTICA can be seen above.

KOBRA AND THE LOTUS recently released a video for “50 Shades Of Evil“, the second single from the their current self-titled album, released in August via Spinefarm.

Directed by Lisa Mann, whose previous credits include videos for APOCALYPTICA, THE USED and CASCADA, “50 Shades Of Evil” sees singer Brittany Paige surviving a full-tilt attack on the senses, while her bandmembers run through the song like men (literally) possessed!

(via Blistering)

NIGHTVISION Bassist Killed In Car Crash

According to the Sleaford Standard, Dean Hocking, bassist for U.K. heavy rockers NIGHTVISION, was killed in a car crash early Thursday morning (December 27) in Sleaford, England. The 23-year-old musician and an as-yet-unnamed 37-year-old fellow passenger were both pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident happened at around 2:50 a.m. when a Vauxhall Astra left the road. No other vehicles are thought to have been involved and a 27-year-old local woman has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving. She is currently helping police with their enquiries.

(via Blabbermouth)

WHITESNAKE Mainman Remembers JON LORD

In the four-minute clip above, WHITESNAKE/ex-DEEP PURPLE vocalist David Coverdale remembers first meeting late DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Jon Lord whom he describes as “a sweet, sweet man. He knew how to elevate your spirit.”

Coverdale talks about how Lord comforted him before his audition for DEEP PURPLE in 1973, and of the rehearsals at Clearwell Castle before they recorded the “Burn” album.

(via Blistering)

CHILDREN OF BODOM With First Video Update From The Studio

Finnish metallers CHILDREN OF BODOM entered the studio on Friday, December 28 to begin recording their new album for a late spring/early summer 2013 release via Marquee Inc. in Japan and Nuclear Blast in other parts of the world.

(via Blabbermouth)

DRAGONFORCE With Credit Card Commercial Posted Online

In the new year it appears the creative ad men at Capital One credit cards have overthrown the comical, long-running Viking maurader themes in favor of a more dastardly bunch: long-haired metal musicians, in this case, DRAGONFORCE.

(via Bravewords)

THE AGONIST With Video Recap Of Asian Tour

A five-minute video recap of THE AGONIST‘s November 2012 Asian tour — which included stops in Taiwan and Japan — can be seen above.

THE AGONIST‘s third album, “Prisoners“, debuted at No. 19 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

(via Blistering)

New Video Interview Posted Online By KATATONIA

O2 Academy recently conducted an interview with Swedish dark rockers KATATONIA.

KATATONIA‘s ninth album, “Dead End Kings“, sold 3,200 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 138 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The CD landed at position No. 4 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

KATATONIA‘s previous album, 2009’s “Night Is The New Day“, opened with around 2,200 units.

(via Blabbermouth)