I See Stars, 'are we 3ven?' -- New Song And Video

Wait - I See Stars has another new song?!? They are currently on a sold-out tour with Bad Omens and ERRA.

The new track is called "are we 3ven?" - and it's the third new song from the band in the past few months. These new songs come after a multi-year drought of new music, shows or news. Literally it was radio silence for so long, many of us who love ISS just assumed the band was over.

Just In Time For Halloween: An Ice Nine Kills Special Event

For all those folks in and around Los Angeles - this will be a great horror-themed event later this week! We're at the point now where Ice Nine Kills are definitely challenging Alice Cooper when it comes to macabre theming. Plus how great is it that a modern metal band is taking the time and money to market themselves in this way - and having a special screening and Q&A session to premiere their new song and video "Meat & Greet?"

Not in California? The event will be streamed free on the Ice Nine Kills YouTube channel starting at 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET.

Doesn't matter if you like the music of Ice Nine Kills or not - you have to give the band props for never phoning it in when it comes to branding and staying on theme. Respect.

The Best Pat Benatar Cover Of All Time: The Amity Affliction

The Amity Affliction is one of my favorite metalcore acts. Back in 2008, the band covered Pat Benatar's hit "Love Is A Battlefield" on the album Severed Ties.

The cover is a huge high point of the album and a song I've always really enjoyed. Plus, coming The Amity Affliction, covering Pat Benatar is a bit of a shock.

The Best Skid Row Cover Of All Time: Asking Alexandria

Back in 2010, my beloved Asking Alexandria released an album featuring two Skid Row covers. The Life Gone Wild EP includes "Youth Gone Wild" and "18 and Life." AA's take on "Youth Gone Wild" is a longtime favorite of mine. It's been on my running playlist for years now.

Asking Alexandria performed "Youth Gone Wild" with Sebastian Bach in 2011:

The Best Aerosmith Covers Of All Time: Babylon A.D.

In 1999, Babylon A.D. released Live In Your Face, featuring cover songs from famous bands. One of the tracks on the album is "Rats In The Cellar" by Aerosmith. It's kind of crazy how much singer Derek Davis sounds like Steven Tyler at times on this performance.

"Rats In The Cellar" is on the Aerosmith album Rocks. I definitely wanted to include a cover on my best-of highlights because it is one of my favorite Aerosmith tracks. I love talking about the obscure and I think Babylon A.D. Live In Your Face is definitely on the unknown side of things.

The Best Aerosmith Covers Of All Time: Testament

Thrash legends Testament covered my favorite Aerosmith song “Nobody’s Fault” on their 1988 album The New Order. It is considered the band’s breakthrough release.

Testament released an official video for “Nobody’s Fault” and it was played in heavy rotation on MTVs Headbanger’s Ball.

The entirety of The New Order is about social and personal struggles, so “Nobody’s Fault” fits right in. The album is heavy as hell but has plenty of melodic moments too. There’s a reason why The New Order is a thrash-metal classic. Of course, I think the guitar work on the original is better - but not many folks can out-perform Aerosmith's Brad Whitford. On the track, he plays both the rhythm and lead guitar parts. He is a genius, after all.

The Best Aerosmith Covers Of All Time: Guns n' Roses

It's well documented that the members of Guns n' Roses have an affinity for Aerosmith. It's no surprise, then, that GnR covered Aerosmith early and often in their career.

"Mama Kin" is a song on Aerosmith's self-titled debut album. Steven Tyler wrote the song and he famously has the title tattooed on his arm. The band once owned a bar in Boston called "Mama Kin Music Hall."

Guns n' Roses included a live version of "Mama Kin" on their 1988 album Lies.

Axl Rose's vocals are undeniably distinct, and he brings his unique voice to the cover. While Steven Tyler's original vocals are hard to match (and really can't be), Axl's interpretation adds a new layer of energy to the track. His soaring high notes and raspy delivery provide a fitting tribute to the original.