Lynyrd Skynyrd have a new album (to be released Sep. 29, 2009), “God & Guns” coming out. Check out the video for the first single, “Still Unbroken”. Supposedly you can listen to all the tracks this week here at CMT’s The Leak, but as of this writing it’s not working. “Still Unbroken” sounds pretty cool tho.

KISS has a new album coming out called “Sonic Boom”, much to the surprise of everyone that thought they were actually going to retire some 13 odd years ago on that first (of many) farewell tours… but to the surprise of no one that knows Gene Simmons likes to make money. 🙂  All the tracks are available for streaming. It’s really not that bad. It feels like a return to their 70’s albums, but certainly with a hint of the 80’s in it too. Really, one of the better albums they’ve put out.

Megadeth also has a new album, “Endgame” and you can stream the whole album on their MySpace page. I haven’t paid much attention to Megadeth the past some years, but this album rocks. Mustaine’s guitar playing is awesome. There’s rumor going around that “the big 4 of thrash” (Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer) might do a tour. You hear various things from various sources which makes it sound like yes it’s actually being talked about but no one wants to really say anything until all the details are worked out and the contracts are signed. It would be logistically interesting, and certainly an ego-filled endeavor. But hey, if Megadeth and Slayer can tour together these days, maybe it could work out. Anthrax would have to get their shit together, and hopefully Metallica wouldn’t feel a need to be the kings of the roost (they may be the most commercially successful, but like Slayer was ever commercial? And bands that have to go on either before or after Slayer always have a rough time). Still, if it was to happen, I’m sure lots of money could be made.