The band have released their new single "Mad Hatter", which is the lead track to their forthcoming "Black Reign" EP (out this Friday) which features the four tracks the band collaborated with for Black Ops. The new game hits on October 12th.

Among the finalists are magician Shin Lim, singer Michael Ketterer, aerial dance group Zurcaroh, Duo Transcend (aerialists), comedians Samuel J. Comroe and Vicki Barbolak, singer Daniel Emmet, violinist Brian King Joseph, singer Glennis Grace, comedienne Vicki Barbolak, and singer Courtney Hadwin.

The song was one of five tunes that saw their live debut during an exclusive show for SiriusXM listeners at the famed Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, CA on September 11 that served as the unofficial launch of the band's fall tour of North America.

An appearance on ABC-TV's Jimmy Kimmel Livc the next night was followed by the official opening night gig on September 13 at the Whisky as Slash and the group - vocalist Myles Kennedy, drummer Brent Fitz, bassist Todd Kerns and guitarist Frank Sidoris - returned to the live concert stage.

The band was working on the follow up to their 2017 effort "Something Else" when Dolores died but the band has continued work on the effort that they hope to release next year.

Guitarist Noel Hogan spoke with The Guardian and revealed the following about the album, "Dolores had an awful lot going on and she was on a roll of being able to write.

"3 excellent albums in 6 years with this great band is one of the proudest achievements of my career, and it has been glorious," explains Johnson. "My family and I have decided to focus our efforts into growing my solo career and I'm excited to be home more to take advantage of working and writing in Nashville. Though I'm moving on from BSR, I will continue to work with Ricky in 'Warwick Johnson', and plan on being a part of any Thin Lizzy commitments in the future. Much love and continued success to the entire band and to the incredible Black Star Riders fans worldwide."

"I just want to thank Damon for being part of the band and three great records together and I wish him all the best," says Scott Gorham. "For BSR it's onwards and upwards!"

Martucci was selected for Black Star Riders duty following a series of auditions by the group in Los Angeles last month.

"As a fan who's been inspired by their music, it's an honor and privilege to be a part of Black Star Riders," states Martucci. "I'm really looking forward to this!"

At the special events fans will see Iommi in conversation with respected journalist and broadcaster Phil Alexander at the Paisley Town Hall in Paisley, Scotland on Friday, October 12 and at Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh, Scotland on Saturday, October 13.

"I'm really looking forward to spilling the beans with Phil Alexander at our 'A Life In Music' shows," says Iommi. "I've known and worked with Phil for a long time and he probably knows more about my career than I do! He's got a great sense of humor and, combined with a nose for every last detail, it'll be fun delving into all periods of my career."

The 2016 record debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 to deliver the group their sixth US chart-topper. The set was named Top Rock Album at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards, and was shut out at the 2018 Grammy Awards, where it had two nominations: for Best Rock Song ("Atlas, Rise!") and Best Rock Album; the latest recognition marked Metallica's 22nd and 23rd Grammy nominations, while the band have won nine times since 1989.

The achievement tops a No. 20 spot for the Maryland outfit's previous set, "Psychic Warfare", and a large jump from the No. 50 peak of 2013's "Earth Rocker."

Clutch recorded "Book Of Bad Decisions" at Sputnik Sound in Nashville, TN with producer Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton, The Raconteurs).

"I think probably naming the record is the most difficult thing for us," explains drummer Jean Paul Gaster. "The title of a record really kinda sets the tone for how the listener is going to have their first impression of that album."

"It's a hand-wringing exercise," adds singer Neil Fallon. "It's like naming a child: you go back and forth, what's good and what's bad. Me personally, I was always kind of reluctant to name it after a song because it kind of catapults that song into a limelight.

The album sees the rocker deliver a diverse set of tracks that pay homage to some of her favorite songs and artists, all of whom have passed away in recent years - including tracks by David Bowie, Tom Petty, Chris Cornell, The Eagles and more.

"The original working titles evolved as the concept for the album evolved, a little bit at a time," explains Wilson. "As my understanding of what I had undertaken grew and clarified, I realized a larger truth; that the souls may have departed but the songs will forever be their resonances.

I (Will) was in the middle of an especially bad period of writer's block. I hadn't written a song in months, and barely felt passionate about anything specific to even attempt writing. So I tried a new technique. I got my loop pedal to create a background effect with bell-like sounds from my guitar. I started playing harmonics at random times in a short loop, but I didn't get the chaotic sound I imagined - instead, I had four notes that were extremely ordered. It was a cool, unusual order of notes that fit perfectly into a 7/8 feel. That ended up being the main hook in Play Your Cards Right (the one that comes in at 0:11), with the lead synth doubling the part. I even named early demos of the song "Harmonic Loop" because it helped me remember it.

I kept the loop going and started playing chords over it until I came up with the chorus. I loved the idea of going from this sweet, bell-like sound to a wall of aggressive, distorted guitars, so I went with some heavy, low chords. One of my favorite tricks to make a guitar sound enormous is to play power chords on the A string with the low 5th on the E string. Guitarists will know what I'm talking about here! Through the magic of the physics of sound, this makes the guitar sound like it's hitting the root note an octave lower, but it doesn't actually seem to crowd the bass frequencies. 311 introduced me to the idea first, and it was perfect for the huge chorus I was imagining for this song.

When I had the chords down, I started playing around with melodies. I wanted something to match the aggression of the guitars, so I tried out melodies higher in my range. I came up with the melody and the line "how do you sleep at night" almost simultaneously because of how well the two fit together. There's something about those words that worked with the rhythm and notes, and my vocal range specifically, so I kept them. I ended up writing all of the lyrics around that one line.