Brian “Head” Welch, former guitarist of the nu-metal band KoЯn, has changed his band’s name from “Brian ‘Head’ Welch” to “Love and Death” due to fans confusion between his speaking and live concert dates! Head also announced that his band new CD, Chemicals, will be released on April 24th! Check out the official video update here! Also, get a free download of Love and Death’s new song here!

Band members:
Brian “Head” Welch – Guitars/Vocals
Michael Valentine – Bass
Dan Johnson – Drums
J.R. Bareis – Guitars

Solid State Records is pleased to announce the release of metal mainstays DEMON HUNTER’s sixth full-length album, True Defiance, in stores everywhere April 10.

Produced by Aaron Sprinkle (Anberlin, Emery) and mixed by Jason Suecoff (All That Remains, Trivium), True Defiance finds DEMON HUNTER continuing in their hard rock evolution while embracing the components that have always formed the backbone of their music: true metal, dark rock and balladry.

“This record is without a doubt our most aggressive,” says vocalist and band co-founder Ryan Clark. “Every DEMON HUNTER record must be a step up from the last. I know that’s a goal for every band, but it seldom works that way – especially today, especially in metal. It seems like most bands’ prime years are long behind them. I refuse to let that be the case for us.”

On True Defiance, Grammy-nominated artist Ryan Clark, Tim “Yogi” Watts (drums), Jonathan Dunn (bass) and Patrick Judge (lead guitar) are joined by their longtime friend Jeremiah Scott (guitar), whose credits as a metal musician (The Showdown) and producer (Living Sacrifice) are well established. The partnership marks a vital new chapter in the celebrated history of DEMON HUNTER, who are currently marking their 10th year of writing, breaking and erasing the rules of hard rock. Not ones to rest on their laurels, however, the members have created an album that not only lives up to their own lofty standards, but sets a new high-water mark for what DH is capable of.

“We’ve been extremely underwhelmed with metal for the last five years or so, and that’s been the fuel to create this record,” Clark explains. “With an extreme over-saturation of false, fleeting, trend-hopping noise in today’s metal scene, we had to make something we’ve been longing to hear. Something truly meaningful and artistic. Something our fans would love and something that will turn the heads of those who have ignored us for the past decade.”

True Defiance marks DEMON HUNTER’s first outing since 2010′s The World Is A Thorn, which debuted in the Billboard Top 40 and was hailed as the heaviest, fastest, and most aggressive record of the band’s career. The album yielded hit videos in “Collapsing,” which has racked up 1 million views online, and “LifeWar,” which was viewed over 100,000 times in the past month. The World is a Thorn was preceded by Storm the Gates of Hell (2007), The Triptych (2005), Summer of Darkness (2004) Demon Hunter (2002), and the three-disc CD / DVD set 45 Days, which collectively sold half a million copies and garnered airplay on college and specialty radio, Fuse and MTV2′s Headbangers Ball and earned the band cover features in publications like Revolver and HM.

True Defiance Track List:
1. Crucifix
2. God Forsaken
3. My Destiny
4. Wake
5. Tomorrow Never Comes
6. Someone To Hate
7. This I Know
8. Means To An End
9. We Don’t Care
10. Resistance
11. Dead Flowers

Upcoming Dates:
April 17 – Seattle WA @ El Corazon
April 30 – Kouvola, Finland @ Vappugospel
June 29 – Shirleysburg PA @ Creationfest Northeast

Select praise for the band’s 2010 album, The World Is A Thorn:
“Demon Hunter continues their meteoric rise in excellence on The World Is a Thorn, proving once again that the metalcore genre can be furthered with some thought and creative invention. (8/10)” -POP MATTERS

“Their most accessible and philosophically impassioned outing to date.” -THE PRP

“An aggressive and melodic masterpiece… their best work to date. (9/10)” -INDIE VISION MUSIC

“”This is Demon Hunter at their evolutionary peak, an amalgam of every iteration, every sound they’ve committed to 0’s and 1’s and it’s fantastic… a beautiful combination of old and new. (4.5/5)” -THE NEW REVIEW

Taproot will release their sixth full length album, The Episodes, on April 10th, 2012. The forthcoming effort is produced by Tim Palatan who previously worked with the band on 2010’s highly successful Plead the Fifth.

The Episodes, nearly six years in the making, is a complexly developed concept album. Bassist Phil Lipscomb spoke on the band’s creative process for this record, “I think our fans have come to expect the unexpected from us. Having written the story for this album before the music, this record sounds more like a soundtrack than a typical album, with the songs flowing together and taking you on a journey.”

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the group, demonstrating their strong reputation atop the modern hard rock empire. Lipscomb talked about the longevity of the band, “I’ve spent almost half of my life in Taproot traveling the world and I would sum up the whole experience as: I love my job!”

Watch Taproot’s entire statement as they talk about their 15th year as a band in this new video.

Pre-orders and package deals for The Episodes, featuring brand new merch, are now available here.

For more information on Taproot:

http://www.facebook.com/TaprootMusic

http://www.victoryrecords.com/taproot

U.K. based hard rock band, Starseed, is preparing to hit the US like a roundhouse kick of rock with their debut of Peace Machine on February 21, 2012. AOL Music will be holding a full CD listening party for the entire week. Additionally, throughout the month of February leading up to the release, fans will be able to preview select tracks from the album at Pastepunk.com today, February 7th, Loudwire.com on February 10th, SkullsNBones.com and HearEvil.com on February 14th and on Revolver.com on February 20th.

Starseed, who includes Russell Spence (Vocals, Guitars), Gerald Gill (Guitar, Vocals), Peter Wicker (Guitar), Murray McChlery (Bass, Vocals) and Andrew Spence (Drums, Vocals), produce some of the most satisfying melodic hard rock. Epic energy, powerful, and riff driven rock with electrifying stage shows, their music grasps many elements of the post grunge scene drawing influences from early Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains to the power and torment of Soil. More recent comparisons include the tenacity and energy of Stone Sour and intense melody of Alter Bridge.

Many members of the band were raised in Africa (South Africa and Zimbabwe) until re-locating to the U.K. where Starseed completed the current lineup and achieved success. Starseed has played major festivals alongside Rage Against The Machine, Rob Zombie, and Linkin Park. Most recently, they performed at the 2011 Download Festival. With these achievements, Starseed are also proud endorsees of PRS Guitars, Blackstar Amps, Tama Drums, Roland, Sabian Cymbals, Rotosound Strings, Protection Racket and TC Electronic. Their reception by fans and media in the US has been extremely positive and welcoming. Here’s what people are saying about Peace Machine:

“After waiting four years longer than our friends across the Atlantic, Starseed’s Peace Machine will finally be released in the U.S. this February. The five-piece starts off with a bang as “Shine” burns like a phoenix with scorching guitars and fiery harmonies that show off Russell Spence’s range. The suspense is built up through the booming kick drum and high-inducing chords at the beginning of ‘See Through Your Lies.’ Leading up to each verse, one can’t help but want to get up and just run as far and as fast as possible.” –The Aquarian

“For fans of Soundgarden & Alice In Chains, Peace Machine has plenty to savour” –Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden

For more information and to keep up to date on Starseed, visit:

www.myspace.com/starseedrock

www.facebook.com/starseedrock

www.planetstarseed.com

www.twitter.com/starseedrock

www.youtube.com/starseedrock

Texas In July is proud to announce The Last Reality Tour – the band’s first full US headlining tour in support of their album, One Reality.

Joining the Ephrata, PA-based metal outfit on the tour will be Like Moths To Flames, The Air I Breathe and Hundredth. Splitting the opening slot of the tour will be One Year Later (March 30-April 15) and Equal Vision Records’ For All I Am (April 17-April 28).

In addition to the headlining dates, Texas In July will perform at several upcoming music festivals such as Jamboree Festival, New England Metal and Hardcore Fest and The Bamboozle.

Texas In July released One Reality, their sophomore full-length album, in April 2011 and earned a No. 3 premiere on the Billboard New Artist/Heatseekers Chart while also placing on the Billboard 200, Rock, Independent, and Hard Rock charts. One Reality was recorded in Hadley, MA with producer Zeuss [Hatebreed, Shadows Fall]. The album features technical, hard-hitting drumming, flawless transitions, ongoing dueling guitar riffs, and intricate arpeggios seamlessly melded together through the band’s intense breakdowns and melodic musical grooves. This past summer, the band released a music video for One Reality single ‘1000 Lies’ that can be viewed HERE.

The band’s impressive tour resume includes two European headlining runs and performances on the Motel 6 Rock Yourself To Sleep and I’m Alive tours with labelmates We Came As Romans, Take Action Tour with Bayside and Silverstein, and Scream The Prayer with Norma Jean. Texas In July is currently on a full US and Canada tour with August Burns Red , Silverstein and I the Breather.

The band made headlines when a video of drummer Adam Gray drumming and juggling drum sticks simultaneously went viral last year, leading to an opportunity to perform the trick on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Alternative Press magazine also named the band as one of the “100 Bands You Need to Know in 2011” and reviewed the album stating, “One Reality offers excellent pit fuel, with a few meditative moments that demonstrate an admirable depth that will hopefully continue to grow on future releases.”

Texas In July is currently writing for their full-length follow up to One Reality and plan to enter the studio and begin recording this summer. All upcoming Texas In July tour dates can be seen below.

Last Reality Tour – Texas In July
w/Like Moths To Flames, The Air I Breathe, Hundredth, One Year Later / For All I Am
Mar 30 Kettering, OH @ The Attic Club
Mar 31 Evansville, IN @ Boney Junes
Apr 01 St. Louis, MO @ Fubar
Apr 03 Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory
Apr 04 Lubbock, TX @ Jakes
Apr 05 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
Apr 06 Tempe, AZ @ Clubhouse
Apr 07 Bakersfield, CA @ The Underground at Golden State Hall
Apr 09 Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
Apr 10 Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Café
Apr 12 Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep
Apr 13 Omaha, NE @ Sokol Underground
Apr 14 Madison, WI @ The Loft
Apr 15 Toledo, OH @ Jamboree Festival at Headliners*
Apr 17 Barrington, IL @ Penny Rd. Pub
Apr 18 Indianapolis, IN @ Emerson Theatre
Apr 19 Columbus, OH @ The Basement
Apr 20 Pittsburgh, PA @ Altar Bar
Apr 21 Syracuse, NY @ Lost Horizon*
Apr 22 Worcester, MA @ Metal Fest at The Palladium*
Apr 24 Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
Apr 25 Danbury, CT @ The Streets at Tuxedo
Apr 26 Richmond, VA @ Kingdom
Apr 27 Wilmington, DE @ Harmony Grange
Apr 28 Lancaster, PA @ Launch at Lancaster Convention Center
May 20 Asbury Park, NJ @ The Bamboozle*

*Festival performance; please visit official festival/venue websites for complete lineup.

August Burns Red, Silverstein, Texas In July and I the Breather
Feb 02 Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
Feb 03 San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
Feb 04 Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues
Feb 05 San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom
Feb 07 Denver, CO @ The Summit Music Hall
Feb 08 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
Feb 09 Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
Feb 10 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
Feb 11 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
Feb 13 Calgary, AB, CAN @ MacEwan Hall
Feb 14 Edmonton, AB, CAN @ The Starlite Room
Feb 16 Winnipeg, MB, CAN @ The Garrick
Feb 17 Minneapolis, MN @ The Cabooze
Feb 18 Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
Feb 21 Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s
Feb 22 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
Feb 23 Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
Feb 24 Guelph, ON, CAN @ University of Guelph
Feb 25 Toronto, ON, CAN @ The Sound Academy
Feb 26 Montreal, QC, CAN @ Metropolis
Feb 27 Clifton Park, NY @ Northern Lights
Feb 29 Boston, MA @ House of Blues
Mar 01 New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
Mar 03 Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts

Watch a teaser for MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE’s upcoming self-titled album now on YouTube! The album will be available in stores and online March 13th.

The first new song, “On Wings Of Integrity Part II” will be posted online next Friday, February 10th. Stay tuned for more music and goodies!

The band is proud to announce that they have finished tracking a brand new album in Seattle.

“This record is without a doubt our most aggressive. Every Demon Hunter record must be a step up from the last. I know that’s a goal for every band, but it seldom works that way – especially today, especially in metal. It seems like most bands’ prime years are long behind them. I refuse to let that be the case for us,” said vocalist and band co-founder Ryan Clark.

“We’ve been extremely underwhelmed with metal for the last five years or so, and that’s been the fuel to create this record. With an extreme over-saturation of false, fleeting, trend-hopping noise in today’s metal scene, we had to make something we’ve been longing to hear. Something truly meaningful and artistic. Something our fans would love and something that will turn the heads of those who have ignored us for the past decade.”

The new Demon Hunter album sees them returning to producer Aaron Sprinkle (Anberlin, Emery) and mixer Jason Suecoff (All That Remains, Trivium) with a collection of songs emphasizing the band’s strongest components: true metal, dark rock and balladry.

Ryan Clark, Tim “Yogi” Watts (drums), Jonathan Dunn (bass) and Patrick Judge (lead guitar) are now joined by their longtime friend Jeremiah Scott (guitar), whose credits as a metal musician (The Showdown) and producer (Living Sacrifice) are well established.

Demon Hunter has already lined up the first of their live dates for 2012, which include:

APRIL 27 – SEATTLE, WA @ EL CORAZON

APRIL 30 – KOUVOLA, FINLAND @ VAPPUGOSPEL

Demon Hunter’s mix of ferocious metal and melodic power predates much of what has become prevalent in the heavy music scene. The Seattle based group’s prominence has continued, despite trends, thanks largely to the artistic vision of band leader and Grammy nominated artist Ryan Clark, whose determination and authenticity has endeared Demon Hunter to their incredibly dedicated fans.

Now a decade into their career, Demon Hunter have continued to inspire and captivate with their body of work and live show. The World is a Thorn produced “Collapsing,” with well over 1 million views online, as well as the new video for “LifeWar,” which has been watched over 100,000 times in the past month. The World is a Thorn followed previous albums Storm the Gates of Hell (2007), The Triptych (2005), Summer of Darkness (2004) and Demon Hunter (2002), as well as the live album and three disc CD / DVD set 45 Days, which have sold close to a combined half a million copies. 2010 saw a tour with As I Lay Dying and their first trip to Europe.

“Fading Away,” “Carry Me Down,” “Undying,” “One Thousand Apologies,” “Not Ready to Die” and “Infected” — to name a few — have all been staples of Christian, college and speciality radio and featured continuously on MTV2’s Headbangers Ball and Fuse. Ryan Clark was featured on the cover of Revolver in 2006 as part of their “Christian Metal” cover story and they are regularly a huge draw at festivals.

The “Hunters” in the “Blessed Resistance,” as the band’s most devoted fans are known, have championed the cause since day one and are making their voices heard throughout the underground.

The new Demon Hunter album is tentatively scheduled for an April release through longtime label home Solid State.
To stay up-to-date on Demon Hunter activities, please visit:

DemonHunter.net

BlessedResistance.com

Twitter.com/DemonHunterBand

Facebook.com/DemonHunter

Myspace.com/DemonHunter

SolidStateRecords.com

Emmure have released a new live performance music video for the track “Drug Dealer Friend.”

The group will support the recently announced album, Slave To The Game (out 4/10), with a full North American tour this spring. The band was also announced to perform at Bamboozle on 5/19.

Emmure Tour Dates:

w/ We Came As Romans & more

03/09/2012 – Covington, KY @ Madison Theater

03/10/2012 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade

03/11/2012 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ REVOLUTION

03/12/2012 – Orlando, FL @ The Plaza Live

03/13/2012 – Tampa, FL @ The Ritz

03/15/2012 – San Antonio, TX @ The White Rabbit

03/17/2012 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Quicktrip Park

03/18/2012 – Houston, TX @ VERIZON WIRELESS THEATER

03/20/2012 – Scottsdale, AZ @ VENUE OF SCOTTSDALE

03/21/2012 – San Diego, CA @ Soma

03/22/2012 – Anaheim, CA @ The Grove Of Anaheim

03/23/2012 – West Hollywood, CA @ House of Blues

03/24/2012 – Bakersfield, CA @ GOLDEN GATE HALL

03/25/2012 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom

03/27/2012 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater

03/28/2012 – Seattle, WA, @ EL CORAZON

03/30/2012 – Salt Lake City, UT @ SALTAIR PAVILLION

03/31/2012 – Denver, CO @ The Summit Music Hall

04/01/2012 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theater

04/02/2012 – Minneapolis, MN @ Cabooze

04/03/2012 – Joliet, IL @ Mojoes

04/04/2012 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Orbit Room

04/05/2012 – Toronto, ON @ Opera House

04/06/2012 – Montreal, QC, CA @ LA TULIPE

04/07/2012 – Worcester, MA @ Palladium

04/09/2012 – Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall

04/10/2012 – Clifton Park, NY @ Northern Lights

04/11/2012 – Philadelphia, PA @ THEATRE OF LIVING ARTS

04/12/2012 – Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live

04/13/2012 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Zoo

04/14/2012 – Toledo, OH @ Headliners

05/19/2012 Asbury Park, NJ @ ASBURY PARK CONV. CENTER, BAMBOOZLE

For more information on EMMURE:

http://www.facebook.com/emmure

http://www.victoryrecords.com/emmure

Impending Doom has revealed the album artwork for their upcoming album “Baptized In Filth” which will be released on March 13 through eOne Music. They have also released a full album preview which can be watched via YouTube here! Pre-orders for the album have launched over MerchNow. This album will not disappoint the Doom fans! Eager fans can go to the iTunes store and purchase the band’s first single from the album “For The Wicked” to help them hang in there until the release date!

Don’t forget to catch Impending Doom on the Metal Alliance Tour 2012 and over the summer on Warped Tour!

The world’s unofficial party ambassadors, Dr. Acula, have released a music video for the song “Party 2.0.” “We wanted to do something simple, but fun, “ revealed guitarist Ricky Ostolaza on the concept of the video. Ostolaza went on to say, “This is the ultimate party video. We want our fans to get out to a show on the F*ck All Your Friends Tour and live out the music video with us!”

Watch “Party 2.0” now

The video is now also available on Vevo here:

http://www.vevo.com/watch/dr-acula/party-20/USCIV1161312

Dr. Acula Tour Dates

with Design The Skyline

02/01/2012 – S. Barrington, IL @ PENNY ROAD PUB

02/02/2012 – Peoria, IL @ The Brass Rail

02/03/2012 – Des Moines, IA @ VAUDEVILLE MEWS

02/06/2012 – Denver, CO @ Quixote’s True Blue

02/07/2012 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court

02/09/2012 – Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven

02/11/2012 – Medford, OR @ Music Head

02/12/2012 – Orangevale, CA @ Boardwalk

02/13/2012 – Simi Valley, CA @ Dream 118

02/14/2012 – West Hollywood, CA @ Whiskey A Go Go

02/15/2012 – Las Vegas, NV @ Hypnotic

02/16/2012 – Mesa, AZ @ The Undeground

02/17/2012 – Gallup, NM @ Juggernaut

02/18/2012 – Las Cruces, NM @ Las Cruces Events Center

02/19/2012 – San Antonio, TX @ The White Rabbit

02/20/2012 – Fort Worth, TX @ TomCats West

02/21/2012 – Houston, TX @ Vinyl Junkie

02/22/2012 – Little Rock, AR @ Downtown Music Hall

02/23/2012 – Clarksville, TN @ The Coup

02/24/2012 – Columbus, GA @ Gallery 13

02/25/2012 – Marietta, GA @ Swayze’s

02/26/2012 – Tampa, FL @ Transitions Art Gallery

02/28/2012 – Charleston, SC @ Jimbo’s Rock Lounge

02/29/2012 – Spartanburg, SC @ Ground Zero

03/01/2012 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Shaka’s

03/02/2012 – Springfield, VA @ Jaxx

03/03/2012 – Vineland, NJ @ Hangar 84

03/04/2012 – Lemoyne, PA @ The Champ

03/05/2012 – Whitehall, PA @ Planet Trog

03/06/2012 – Danbury, CT @ Tuxedo Junction

03/07/2012 – Providence, RI @ PVD Social Club

03/08/2012 – Amityville, NY @ Broadway Bar

03/09/2012 – Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Loft

For more information on DR. ACULA:

http://www.facebook.com/draculaband

http://www.victoryrecords.com/dracula