Influential Record Label Closing Shop, Soundgarden to Ink New Label Deal + More News

A moment of silence, as Hydra Head Records, the label responsible for bringing us releases by Cave In Botch and more, is closing shop. The label will cease operations in December, after putting out its final releases. While Aaron Turner (seen above), the founder of the operation, claims that it has never been a smooth running scenario, the label can no longer afford to keep its doors open. Instead of compromising its aesthetics and rather than stop putting out challenging (and artistically unfuckwithable) records as the music industry further implodes, it will shut down but continue to sell catalog. What a bum out, since Hydra Head was one of the best underground, extreme metal labels in existence for the better part of two decades. Read the entirety of Turner's blog post to understand the why and the how. He is making the best choice he can, but we're still totally bummed. R.I.P., Hydra Head. You will be missed. But the label's legacy, where it exposed the world to incredibly important bands, will carry on. [Hydra Head Blog]

A Life Once Lost have dropped the lyric video for "Madness Is God," so take a look and listen below. It's from their upcoming album Ecstatic Trance, which will land at retail on Oct. 22.

Watch 'Madness Is God' Lyric Video

Geoff Tate, acclaimed onetime (and possibly current, as he and his ex-mates are embroiled in a legal battle over the name) Queensryche vocalist will release his sophomore solo effort Kings & Thieves on Nov. 6. It is his first solo album in over a decade and his InsideOut Music debut.

"My goal with this record was to make a solid rock album," said Tate. "I wanted it to be an album that I could play live that would be both satisfying and fun, because, as a singer, you need to create a show that has a lot of dynamics to it and takes people on a ride." [Via Press Release]

According to Hits Magazine, Soundgarden are close to finalizing a new record deal with Universal Music Group. In the U.S., the first album under the agreement would be on Seven Four Ent., the new imprint founded by former Warner Bros. Records Chairman/CEO Tom Whalley, through Universal Republic Records. Soundgarden's first album in 16 years, King Animal, is expected by the end of 2012. [Blabbermouth]