Dutch symphonic prog band Epica have announced a string of North American tour dates for this coming winter.

The dates mark the band’s first visit to the US since the arrival of new bassist Rob van der Loo (ex-Delain) and span a whole month between the end of October and end of November.

The confirmed dates are as follows:

Oct. 23 – Howard Theater – Washington DC
Oct. 25 – Trocadero Theater – Philadelphia, PA
Oct. 26 – Irving Plaza- New York, NY
Oct. 27 – The Palladium – Worcester, MA
Oct. 29 – Imperial – Quebec City, QC
Oct. 30 – Metropolis – Montreal, QC
Oct. 31 – The Opera House – Toronto, ON
Nov. 02 – [to be announced] – Cleveland, OH
Nov. 03 – Altar Bar – Pittsburgh, PA
Nov. 04 – Mojoes – Joliet, IL – TBD
Nov. 05 – Station 4 – St. Paul, MN
Nov. 07 – Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO
Nov. 08 – The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
Nov. 10 – Rickshaw Theater – Vancouver, BC
Nov. 11 – El Corazon – Seattle, WA
Nov. 12 – Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR
Nov. 14 – The Grand Ballroom at the Regency Center – San Francisco, CA
Nov. 15 – House of Blues – San Diego, CA
Nov. 16 – House of Blues Sunset Strip – West Hollywood, CA
Nov. 17 – The Marquee – Tempe, AZ
Nov. 19 – Trees – Dallas, TX
Nov. 20 – Scout Bar – Houston, TX
Nov. 21 – Backstage Live – San Antonio, TX
Nov. 23 – Headliner’s Music Hall – Louisville, KY
Nov. 24 – Soundstage – Baltimore, MD

Following his suicide in March, the ongoing musical legacy of much loved guitarist Ronnie Montrose is to be celebrated with the release of his first ever full length live DVD.

Recorded just a few short week’s before Ronnie’s death, ‘Live at The Uptown’ was recorded was recorded in Napa, California on January 27th.

The DVD will be released on May 1st and available only from the Montrose website.  The release comes in a standard edition, or a strictly limited edition with 12.5″ x 19″ three colour poster.

It has been announced that Dokken bassist Jeff Pilson will sit in the producer’s chair during the sessions for the next Benedictum album.

Pilson previously worked with the American power metal band on their ‘Uncreation’ and ‘Seasons of Tragedy’ albums, released in 2006 and 2008 respectively.

The next album will be the first to feature new drummer Rikard Stjernkvist, previously of Jag Panzer fame.

Read a review of Benedictum’s 2011 release ‘Dominion’ here.

During April 2012 Irish rockers Therapy? toured the UK as part of a package tour promoted by Jägermeister.

The Jägermeister Music Tour showcased British bands and saw Therapy? on a bill with cult heroes Skindred and retro rockers The Black Spiders.

On April 11th, the tour reached Glasgow, and Planet Mosh TV caught up with Michael McKeegan and Neil Cooper of Therapy? for a lengthy chat, which you can now watch below.

Therapy?’s 2012 release ‘A Brief Crack of Light’ gained a hugely positive response from the online press, with some claiming it a return to form.

On May 15th, post grunge/alternative metal band Godsmack release their first live album.

After over a decade together, so far a Godsmack show has never been captured on CD. This year’s ‘Live & Inspired’ offers a live show and more.

As the title suggests, in addition to previously unheard live recordings, the new disc contains a handful of cover tunes – tunes which have inspired the band. Although only featuring four songs, the covers EP features a curious choice of ‘Rocky Mountain Way’ (originally by sometime Eagles man Joe Walsh), and it’s that track Godsmack have chosen for a single release.

The confirmed tracklisting for ‘Live & Inspired’ is as follows:

CD 1 (Live):

01. Straight Outta Line
02. Realign
03. Awake
04. Moon Baby
05. Changes
06. The Enemy
07. Keep Away
08. Speak
09. Voodoo
10. Batalla De Los Tambores
11. Whatever
12. Serenity
13. I Stand Alone

CD 2 (Inspired):

01. Rocky Mountain Way (originally released by Joe Walsh in 1977)
02. Come Together (Originally released by The Beatles in 1969)
03. Time (Originally released by Pink Floyd in 1973)
04. Nothing Else Matters (Originally released by Metallica in 1991)