DAILY RELOAD: ZAKK WYLDE, NIRVANA, SOUNDGARDEN + MORE

Mary Ouellette, SheWillShootYou.com

Here’s a look at the top stories of the day on Loudwire and around the Web:

- Zakk Wylde Recalls Hilarious Ozzy Osbourne Story – Exclusive Video: [Loudwire]

- Jason Everman’s Story: From Nirvana + Soundgarden to Army Special Forces: [Loudwire]

- Megadeth Launch Music Video for ‘Super Collider’: [Loudwire]

- Alice in Chains Joined Onstage by Layne Staley’s Father During Gig in Canada: [Loudwire]

- 10 Awesome Albums with Awful Artwork: [Loudwire]

- Metallica’s Robert Trujillo Discusses the Legendary ‘Bass of Doom’: [Noisecreep]

- Anthrax’s Joey Belladonna Talks Upcoming Live DVD + New Music: [Noisecreep]

- Rod Stewart Recalls Mick Jagger’s Group Sex Invite: [Ultimate Classic Rock]

- ‘We Will Rock You…’ for 15 Seconds: Queen Plays as 2012 Fireworks All Explode at Once’: [Ultimate Classic Rock]

- 10 Bands that Sound Absolutely Nothing Like they Used to: [Diffuser.fm]

EPICA’S SIMONE SIMONS – SUPREME ROCK GODDESSES

Fronting the Dutch symphonic metal act Epica is the mezzo-soprano goddess Simone Simons. At only 28 years old, Simons has already swept the metal world for a decade with her operatic voice.

Originally dubbed Sahara Dust, Epica formed in late 2002, with Simons taking the helm for a project targeted towards classical and symphonic aspects of metal music shortly after the departure of original vocalist Helena Michaelsen (Trail of Tears). Guided by the warmth of Simons, Epica have become symphonic metal icons, having released five full-length albums. In April 2013, Simons announced that she is expecting her first child in late summer 2013.

Supreme rock godnes

HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS’ MARIQUEEN MAANDIG – SUPREME ROCK GODDESSES

Prior to becoming married to Nine Inch Nailsmastermind Trent Reznor, Mariqueen Maandig fronted the dreampop band West Indian Girl. Her influences from this group make for a caustic atmosphere with Reznor’s darker influences that meld in How To Destroy Angels.

Her silky, calm voice helps to craft an ethereal element to the moody music laid down by Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Rob Sheridan. Since 2010, How To Destroy Angels have released two EPs and their debut full length. It is certain we can expect more from this craft group with Maandig’s voice guiding the listeners through whatever chasms of the mind the music takes us.

NEXT GODDESS: THE EPIC ONE

DEAD SARA’S EMILY ARMSTRONG + SIOUXSIE MEDLEY – SUPREME ROCK GODDESSES

Dead Sara boast not one, but two phenomenal females. Led by frontwoman Emily Armstrong, Dead Sara released their debut self-titled album in 2012, unleashing some of the most purely powerful rock to hit mainstream radio in years.

With a stage presence that’s a cross between Iggy Pop and Kurt Cobain, Armstrong can give off an infectious warmth with her voice at one moment while blowing out your eardrums as she belts out unreal screams at another. Guitarist Siouxsie Medley also combines beauty with raw talent, as she pumps out huge lead riffs in tracks such as ‘Weatherman’ and ‘Monumental Holiday.’

NEXT GODDESS: A TRUE 'ANGEL'

ORIANTHI – SUPREME ROCK GODDESSES

Many recognize Orianthi’s shredding from ‘This Is It,’ the film documenting Michael Jackson’s ill-fated 2009 tour. The pop singer could have chosen just about anyone he wanted to play the six-string, but decided on 24-year-old prodigy Orianthi. Not one to rest on her laurels, she has released three solo albums and is currently a touring member of Alice Cooper’s band.

Still not impressed? Orianthi has shared the stage with Prince in addition to having her own stage time opening for the legendary guitar virtuoso Steve Vai. Between all of this, she finds the time to write music for TV and video games. A resume is supposed to be kept to one page, but Orianthi looks like she’s going to have to break that cardinal rule.

NEXT GODDESSES: 'DEAD' DUO

TARJA TURUNEN – SUPREME ROCK GODDESSES

Operatic singer Tarja Turunen is best known for her nearly decade-long tenure as the voice of symphonic Finnish power metal band Nightwish. What’s most impressive about her is that before joining the band, she was never into heavy metal.

The band approached her because they knew she was a good singer. Apparently, “good” is a word to describe Tarja’s world-class talents, but a thesaurus will lead you elsewhere. Nightwish helped pave the way for what would become a wave of female-fronted, operatic symphonic power metal, with Tarja at the helm of it all. Unfortunately, she was fired from Nightwish via an open letter. Since then, Tarja has embarked on a successful solo career.

NEXT ROCK GODDESS: SHE SHREDS!

THE AGONIST’S ALISSA WHITE-GLUZ – SUPREME ROCK GODDESSES

The Agonist are a melodic death metal band from Canada fronted by the sometimes-blue-sometimes-purple-haired Alissa White-Gluz. Her clean singing voice is used even during more chaotic elements of the band’s music, which is refreshing to hear with vocalists that both sing and belt out extreme vocals.

Alissa’s talents free up the band to really do whatever they want because her diverse voice can handle anything they throw at her. To give you an idea of how diverse this woman’s abilities are, she helped to fill in for a sick Nightwish singer Annete Olzon for one show in 2012.

NEXT GODDESS: 'CENTURY CHILD'

IN THIS MOMENT’S MARIA BRINK – SUPREME ROCK GODDESSES

In This Moment singer Maria Brink has become one of modern metal’s most popular females. It’s easy to see why Brink is beloved just by looking at her, but to In This Moment fans, Brink is much more than just a stunning beauty.

Perhaps the frontwoman’s most notable talent is her ability to augment and diminish a lyrical pitch. Brink shoots up and down while screaming on tracks such as ‘The Gun Show’ and ‘Blood,’ creating large bends midway through her lines. Brink also possesses the voice of a pop star, which she also integrates into both light and heavy In This Moment cuts.

NEXT ROCK GODDESS: ANT'AGONIST'

HALESTORM’S LZZY HALE – SUPREME ROCK GODDESSES

Halestorm are still a relatively new band in the public eye, but the truth is they’ve been around for 15 years. Frontwoman Lzzy Hale began writing original music with her drummer brother Arejay since she was 13 years old, and the year later, Halestorm was born.

On both of Halestorm’s full-length studio albums, Lzzy delivers a poppy-yet-hard rock style both on vocals and guitar. Her leading presence in the track ‘Love Bites (So Do I)’ helped cement a 2013 Grammy win for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance. Fierce yet beautiful, Lzzy has accomplished a great deal before even leaving her 20s and she has firmly planted herself among the most supreme rock goddesses.

NEXT GODDESS: 'BLOOD' BEAUTY

OTEP SHAMAYA – SUPREME ROCK GODDESSES

Otep’s Otep Shamaya is one of the more well-known women in the metal genre. Otep is a band that broke through with their spastic and unpredictable songwriting along with the emotional vocals of Shamaya.

The frontwoman is famous for shifting gears between maddening shrieks and screams, to more spoken vocal parts that bring an even more demented element to the already deranged music of Otep. Shamaya is an open lesbian and vegeterian in addition to an extreme metal frontwoman. She serves as a role model for women who may be battling with sexuality issues and the male-dominated metal realm.

NEXT GODDESS: SHE BITES

LACUNA COIL’S CRISTINA SCABBIA – SUPREME ROCK GODDESSES

Italy’s Lacuna Coil combine heavy metal, alternative music and gothic rock into a very unique sound, with Cristina Scabbia leading the charge as the co-singer of the band.

Her voice helps make this band so unique as it intertwines with her male partner-in-crime Andrea Ferro’s gruff voice to bring an intriguing dynamic to the music. It can be thought of in context of death metal and metalcore bands where the singer alternates between good cop/bad cop vocals, but here Lacuna Coil focus on the greatest quality with this dynamic. Scabbia’s voice brings a calmer, more ethereal mood to the music to bring the listener at ease before the more aggressive aspects come into play.

NEXT GODDESS: 'APEX PREDATOR'

WITHIN TEMPTATION’S SHARON DEN ADEL – SUPREME ROCK GODDESSES

Within Temptation singer Sharon den Adel was named Rock Goddess of the Year by our readers in the 2011 Loudwire Music Awards. It’s easy to understand why: Sharon’s voice is breathtaking and she’s an incredibly strong songwriter.

The Dutch songstress has played in bands since the age of 14, racking up 25 years of experience. Possessing a mezzo-soprano range, Sharon den Adel sounds like a classically trained singer, but she’s actually mostly self-taught. Her epic and soothing voice came from practicing three of four hours per day, proving that practice really does make perfect.

NEXT GODDESS: SHE'S COILED

ARCH ENEMY’S ANGELA GOSSOW – SUPREME ROCK GODDESSES

When Arch Enemy welcomed German exportAngela Gossow to the fold, the band’s popularity skyrocketed. Call it coincidence, call it fate, but Angela’s savage vocal delivery, which is reminiscent of Carcass’ Jeff Walker, brought an unholy union to the band featuring Carcass axeman Michael Amott.

While some attribute Arch Enemy’s sudden burst of success to Angela’s deadly good looks, those who know the music know better than this. The melodic death metal group was given an extra edge with Gossow’s voice and menacing stage presence. Her mid-range gutturals are a warm welcome from the deeper-than-thou mentality of many extreme metal vocalists and help to separate Arch Enemy from the rest of the heap.

NEXT GODDESS: TRUE TEMPTRESS

EVANESCENCE’S AMY LEE – SUPREME ROCK GODDESSES

Evanescence‘s Amy Lee has become an idol for countless hopeful female singers, songwriters and pianists worldwide.

The American songstress became rock’s most influential female with the release of the Evanescence breakthrough album ‘Fallen’ in 2003. Her performances on ‘Bring Me to Life,’ ‘My Immortal,’ ‘Call Me When You’re Sober’ and more hits have kept her in the limelight for a decade, with her gothic beauty and unmistakable talent rallying up a cult fan base rivaling almost any active musician today. After completing a heavy 2012 tour schedule, Lee is currently taking a bit of a break to “figure things out.”

NEXT GODDESS: QUEEN OF KHAOS

SUPREME ROCK GODDESSES

Rock and metal used to be a boys’ club, but as music continues to evolve, the role of female musicians has greatly increased within the genres. In the present day, women either front or perform in some of mainstream music and underground music’s most celebrated hard rock and metal bands, so we decided to pay tribute to the very best active female musicians around today.

Many women in rock and metal garner massive amounts of attention due to their physical appearance, but what about true talent? From singing to screaming to instrumental prowess, this is our comprehensive list of the women making the most (and best) noise in the world’s loudest genres. Take a look at more than 30 of today’s Supreme Rock Goddesses by clicking below:

CLICK TO CHECK OUT THE SUPREME ROCK GODDESSES