Wendy Dio: New Dio Tribute Album a Possibility

In addition to the big stories we covered today, Wire-to-Wire provides you with some of the other key rock and metal news items from May 7, 2018:

- Wendy Dio was on site at the 4th Annual Ride for Ronnie and gave us an update on everything on the horizon to preserve the memory and work of the legendary singer. She's talking to two different companies about Ronnie James Dio's autobiography. Wendy added that Dio Disciples will be in the studio in September. Wendy is encouraging the group to record a cover with two singers, but won't say which song. There's also a possibility that we'll be treated to another Ronnie James Dio tribute album and there has been talk of a Hear N' Aid re-release.

- Morbid Angel have released a gruesome new video for their Kingdoms Disdained track "Garden of Disdain." The horrifying clip was directed by the Nader Sadek and can be viewed at this location.

- Ashes of Ares, the progressive power metal unit featuring former Iced Earth singer Matt Barlow are gearing up for their second album. Barlow says they have 11 songs already written. Watch the video announcement here.

- We caught up Classless Act, which includes Slash's son London Hudson, at the 4th Annual Ride for Ronnie event. "We’re going in[to the studio] soon, like in two weeks to do the EP," Hudson said of their upcoming music. "Sound-wise it’s gonna be a lot of hard, dirty rock and roll."

- Stoner sludge rock vets Torche have entered the studio and are making headway on their fifth album. “The new record has a great balance of new elements that have become a part of our sound over the last couple years, which is very exciting for us. We're pushing classic signatures of our sonic identity, and bringing new vibes to the table," the band said. "This time around there's going to more dynamics, while pushing our "wall of sound" nature much further.”

- Beasto Blanco are in the studio working on a new album with producer Ryan Greene. “I think we’re showing different sides of Beasto. We don’t know how things are gonna happen or how they’re going to develop, so we take that approach in the studio where we put a bunch of stuff out there, different tempos, different vibes and different sounds,' bassist-singer Chuck Garric (also of Alice Cooper) told us at the 4th Annual Ride for Ronnie. "And it’s cool that I’ve got someone like Calico [Cooper]. Her songs are different than some of the ones I’m writing. So I think it makes it a lot of fun, both for us and the fans.”

- Australian occult rockers Witchskull have resurfaced with their sophomore album, Coven's Will. The release is slated for a June 1 release and head here to listen to the new song "Demon Cage."

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