Former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson made his live debut with New Jersey thrashers OVERKILL on Thursday, April 11 at C3 Stage in Guadalajara, Mexico.

OVERKILL's setlist was as follows:

01. Scorched
02. Bring Me The Night
03. Electric Rattlesnake
04. Hello From The Gutter
05. Wicked Place
06. Coma
07. Horrorscope
08. Long Time Dyin'
09. The Surgeon
10. Mean, Green, Killing Machine
11. Ironbound
12. Elimination

Encore:

13. Hammerhead
14. Rotten To The Core
15. Fuck You (THE SUBHUMANS cover)

Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below.

In a recent interview with Metal & Rock Zone, Ellefson spoke about the announcement that he was recruited by OVERKILL to play bass for the band on their "Scorching Latin America 2024" tour. The former MEGADETH member is filling in for original OVERKILL bassist D.D. Verni, who is unable to make the shows as he is recovering from shoulder surgery.

Regarding how he ended up being asked to fill in for Verni, Ellefson said: "I got approached before the end of the year. It was just brought to my attention that D.D. was going to go through this surgery. They didn't know if he was gonna be better or not. So I was kind of put on alert that, 'Hey, we may need some help.' And we grew up together, OVERKILL and MEGADETH. I remember the 'Peace Sells' tour, OVERKILL was our direct support. So we've been good friends, all of us. And I always said, look, if there were gonna be two more added to the 'Big Four' [of 1980s thrash metal], it would be EXODUS in California and OVERKILL on the East Coast. So, to me, these are brothers in arms. So, when they hit me a few weeks ago about it, I said, 'Sure. Count me in if you need me to do it.'"

OVERKILL's 10-date "Scorching Latin America 2024" tour will include additional stops in Costa Rica, Chile and Peru before closing on April 28 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

When Ellefson's addition to OVERKILL's touring lineup was first announced, OVERKILL singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth said in a statement: "South, Central America and Mexico, with D.D. on the mend from surgery and the opportunity in front of us, where to go but back to the roots of THRASH! Please welcome Mr. David Ellefson to the OVERKILL, touring ranks this April 2024! 'David, can you help?' The answer: 'Yes, let's go!' We can't wait to see you guys! Horns up!"

Verni commented: "Bummed to not be able to thrash it up with our Latin America fans, but gotta get this wing workin!!....but who better than one of the great original thrash bass players, and old friend, David Ellefson to fill in."

Ellefson said: "It's an honor to fill in for my friend, the mighty D.D. Verni, as he takes time to heal up right now. OVERKILL always brings the fury and I'm looking forward to scorching Latin America with them!"

Ellefson was fired from MEGADETH nearly three years ago. MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine ended up hiring TESTAMENT's Steve DiGiorgio to re-record Ellefson's bass parts on MEGADETH's latest album, "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!"

In May 2022, MEGADETH announced bass player James LoMenzo as a permanent member of the band. LoMenzo was MEGADETH's bass player in the mid-2000s and initially stepped back in as a touring member for "The Metal Tour Of The Year".

Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, and again from 2010 until his latest exit.

Thank you, Guadalajara Mexico, it was so great to make my debut performance with Overkill with all of your beautiful...

Posted by David Ellefson on Friday, April 12, 2024

Overkill
C3 stage
Cacique Entertainment
11/04/2020
Canon eos RP

Posted by Rojo WR on Friday, April 12, 2024

Rehearsals begin today for Overkill 's Scorching Latin America Tour!! It's an honor to fill in for my friend, the mighty...

Posted by David Ellefson on Monday, April 8, 2024

US heavy metal band Out Of Darkness has released a new video for the self-titled song, taken from the album Out of Darkness out from February 23.


The title-track is a pure concentration of compositional skill. After a classic heavy start, the feeling changes with a splendid arpeggio, before exploding in bursts of well-constructed guitar solos. Eric Barrios' voice stands out above all, skilled in giving warmth and melody to the song.







The new album Out Of Darkness demonstrates the evolution of the quartet, showcasing a wide variety of styles and dynamics within the metal realm. The lyrical content can at times be personal and dark, though the overall message of the band is intended to be positive and uplifting. The intended audience would range from lovers of classic US progressive/power metal to fans of modern metal. The band has put their influences and growth thoroughly on display in their second release.


Out Of Darkness was formed in 2020 by Brent E. Smedley (former Iced Earth drummer and percussionist) and Eric Barrios, vocals and guitar. They released the debut EP Seize The Day that same year to much critical acclaim and began to grow their following. Playing live shows first in their home state of Florida, then followed up by doing 3 tours up the East Coast as far as New Jersey and even reaching as far West as Las Vegas. 


The song "Think Again" reached #23 on The Billboard Rock Indicator chart, #8 on the Foundations Rock Chart Top 10 Greatest Gainers and received substantial airplay on many FM radio stations throughout the United States. The band received over 100,000 views for the "I Surrender" video and has over 16,000 followers on Facebook. This epic metal masterpiece seeks to redefine their sound and broaden the spectrum of true heavy metal. 


This album features powerfully crafted songs with crushing riffs, catchy vocal melodies, thought provoking lyrics, and powerful rhythms that take the listener on an audio journey through dynamic and colorful musical soundscapes. It is Out of Darkness's intention to become a legendary metal band like no other.


Out Of Darkness was produced by Stan Martell and Bill Staley. Mixed and mastered by Stan Martell at Martell AVP. Artwork and band photos by Bill Staley. Band logo by David Parrish.


Order the album via the band’s official website, here.





“Terraform” video:





“Via Dolorosa” video:





Out Of Darkness is:


Brent Smedley - Drums
Eric Barrios - Vocals, Guitar
Bill Staley - Guitar
Dan Callahan - Bass


(Photo - Bill Staley)

The Michael Steinman YouTube channel has uploaded video of Ace Frehley's April 12 concert at Capitol Theatre in Rome, New York. Check out the clips below.

Ace's new solo album, "10,000 Volts", was released on February 23 via MNRK Music Group (formerly eOne Music). The 11-track LP was produced by Ace and Steve Brown (TRIXTER).

In a recent interview with VRP Rocks, Ace praised "10,000 Volts", saying: "I'm very happy with the way the record turned out. Now, a lot of times I've recorded records where sometimes you look at three or four songs on the album and you consider them not as good as some of the other ones and you kind of consider them as filler. But I don't think there's any filler on this album. I think every song has merit to it."

He added:  "I think it's one of the best albums I ever did. I mean, I think it's probably as good as my solo album in 1978, which everybody seems to think is my best album to date. But I think this new album is equally as good as my 1978 solo album, and I think there's more than one hit single on the album. So, if I was a KISS fan or an Ace Frehley fan, I'd go out and buy it immediately when it's released on February 23rd, because you're in for a treat."

Ace's new all-original album is the follow-up to "Spaceman", which was released in October 2018 via eOne.

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons co-wrote two tracks on "Spaceman", "Without You I'm Nothing" and "Your Wish Is My Command", the latter of which also features Gene's bass playing.

Frehley recently revealed that his next release will be a third "Origins" volume, covering songs by artists who influenced him. He will once again work with Brown on the project, which is tentatively due in 2025.

In an interview with Billboard, Frehley said that he is at one of the best points of his career. "Y'know, here I am at age 72 and I'm putting out one of the best records I've ever recorded," he said. "The playing is great and the singing is some of the best vocals I've ever done. It really doesn't make any sense, but I'm the kind of guy that’s always broken rules, y'know?"

Ace Frehley is back in the touring groove.

The former KISS lead guitarist is bringing his stable of hits to venues all...

Posted by Rome Capitol Theatre on Monday, October 23, 2023

HALL AFLAME, the rock band led by METAL CHURCH founding guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, will release its sophomore album, "Amplifire", on May 3 via Rat Pak Records. The official music video for the LP's first single, "The Same Gutter", can be seen below.

Originally formed in 1989, HALL AFLAME garnered commercial success with its debut LP, "Guaranteed Forever", which was well received by fans and industry peers alike and quickly found themselves opening for ZZ TOP on their 1991 "Recycler" tour for a number of dates. As with many bands from that era, facing a decline in interest for AOR rock due to the onslaught of the "grunge" scene, the band went on a lengthy hiatus and reunited again in late 2023 to begin working on a handful of songs.

"Amplifire" offers 12 new studio tracks and reunites Kurdt with original bassist Brian Smith, along with drummer Bill Raymond and frontman Scott Nutter.

Vanderhoof comments: "This album came about as a project to document all the songs that we had written for the second album that never came to be. We revisited the songs and realized they had to be recorded properly. Then it blossomed into something much better than we had even hoped! So that led us into reforming the band instead of just having it be a project."

Smith adds: "I think anyone that is a fan of 'Guaranteed Forever' will see this record as a new and improved 'Part II' of HALL AFLAME. Great songs, great production and we had a ton of fun putting this together!"

Nutter says: "A good hard rock album should lift you, make you want to sing along and rock out! That's what this album does for me!"

From the driving album opener "Helltown" to the powerhouse outro track "Keeping Them All Away", HALL AFLAME shines with its signature brand of rock and roll. Tracks like "Ripcord", "In The Same Gutter", "It Ain't Enough" and "Gunnin'" are filled with memorable hooks and melodies, while songs like "Pullin Me Apart" and "1974" showcase their unique, classic rock songwriting abilities. With influences that range from BAD COMPANY to THIN LIZZY, "Amplifire" is best described as the perfect blend of classic rock with a modern-day edge.

Track listing:

01. Helltown
02. Ripcord
03. 1974
04. This Ain't Love
05. The Same Gutter
06. It Ain't Enough
07. Gunnin'
08. Pullin' Me Apart
09. Long Way Down
10. Keeping Them All Away
11. Cowboy (bonus track) (CD and digital)
12. Paradise On Ice (bonus track) (CD and digital)

In an interview with The Break Down With Nath & Johnny, drummer Mike Wengren of DISTURBED, which recently shared the stage with PANTERA at Knotfest Australia, was asked which band he would "love to fill in for" and play a show with. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Oh, I mean, honestly, if they told me, like, somebody took Charlie [Benante, PANTERA drummer] out tonight, I think I could step in. Actually, you know what? Let me make sure I clarify this. All respect to Charlie, 'cause he's killin it, man. He is doing everything in his power to make it sound like Vinnie [Paul Abbott, late PANTERA drummer] is up there. There's nobody in the world that could actually do that. Charlie was so, so close with the [Abbott] brothers, and it's awesome. So, let me make sure I say that first. 'Cause all those guys are my bros. I'm just saying as a huge PANTERA fan, I think I know most of the songs in the back of my head already. I can probably pull it off. I got probably 80 percent of [the set down already]."

Back in June 2018, shortly after Vinnie Paul's passing, Wengren took to his social media to pay tribute to the PANTERA drummer, writing: "Still can't seem to find the words.

"Vinnie Paul was an idol of mine back in the 90s. He was a huge influence on my playing. Then Ozzfest 2000 PANTERA is on main stage and DISTURBED second stage. It was our first-ever major festival touring experience.

"As a second-stage artist, your laminates were restricted to certain areas.

"We met Vinnie and Dime. They welcomed us into their dressing room regardless of what our passes said. They took us under their wing and showed us how to treat your fellow touring mates. It never mattered that they were headliners and we were openers. To them, we were all brothers. We have continued to follow that attitude throughout our careers and treat our opening bands and crew as family.

"So many stories throughout the years.

"We used to jam together whenever our paths crossed on the road. They would join us during our set when we would cover 'Walk'. I would have Vinnie play my kit and I'd join in on the floor toms.

"To have met him was a dream come true. To become his friend was an honor.

"Vin, I will be forever grateful for your impact on my life. Rest in peace, brother. Say hello to Dime for me. Until we jam again in the afterlife."

Vinnie Paul died in June 2018 of dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart, as well as severe coronary artery disease. His death was the result of chronic weakening of the heart muscle — basically meaning his heart couldn't pump blood as well as a healthy heart.

Vinnie's brother, guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, was shot to death in December 2004 while performing onstage. The Abbotts founded the bands PANTERA and DAMAGEPLAN together. After Dimebag's death, Vinnie Paul joined singer Chad Gray and other members of MUDVAYNE and NOTHINGFACE in HELLYEAH, who have released six albums.

Joining Benante in PANTERA's reformed lineup are surviving members Rex Brown (bass) and Philip Anselmo (vocals),along with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY).

Nocturna has released "Sapphire", third single taken from the new album Of Sorcery And Darkness to be released on April 19 by Scarlet Records.


The sophomore record of the band founded by the formidable frontwomen Grace Darkling and Rehn Stillnight - featuring the Frozen Crown/Volturian/Be The Wolf mastermind Federico Mondelli as songwriter, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist - was recorded, mixed and mastered by Andrea Fusini at Fusix Studio; Rehn Stillnight took care of the delightfully grim artwork and illustrations.


After the success of the 2022 mesmerizing debut album, Daughters Of The Night (which mixed gothic-symphonic and power metal elements, alternating between fast & heavy neck breaking episodes and intense, piano-oriented ballads), Nocturna once again delves into the meaning of the term "duality" and all its more morbid connotations.




The romantic inspiration of the lyrics of Of Sorcery And Darkness combines harmoniously with the band's sophisticated sonic approach, and the celestial voices of Grace Darkling and Rehn Stillnight paint mysterious and sensual portraits of an ancestral time (yet so close to us). It's a solemn, sinister and never so lost paradise.


Of Sorcery And Darkness will be released in the following formats:


- digipack CD
- vinyl LP
- digital





Tracklisting:


"Burn The Witch"
"Sapphire"
"Noctis Avem"
"Creatures Of Darkness"
"Midnight Sun"
"First Disobedience"
"Seven Sins"
"Through The Maze"
"Strangers"
"Last Day On Earth"


"Sapphire":





"Seven Sins" video:





Nocturna are:


Grace Darkling - vocals
Rehn Stillnight - vocals
Hedon - guitar
Antares - bass
Deimos - drums


(Photo - Luca Morselli)

On Göden's latest album, Vale Of The Fallen, the sound is heavier than ever and the title track does not disappoint. The new album will be out May 17 via Svart Records. Preorder at the Svart Records webshop.


Göden creator Stephen Flam is best known for his previous work with the band Winter whose sludgy dirge earned a loyal cult following. One could consider Göden to be the spiritual successor to Winter - Winter is to Göden as Celtic Frost is to Triptykon.


About the new track, Flam had this to say:




"'Vale Of The Fallen' was the first song written and recorded during the pandemic in pure isolation... life was complicated for us in New York. I decided to continue writing to keep my sanity during this very dark time and was not able to record with the other members live like the first album."


And Vas Kallas shared these comments:


"These songs were slowly written starting in 2020 during the pandemic. They are mostly conjured up by the science fiction world we all had to endure as humans on this one planet we share. I believe in individualism, freedom, and self-wisdom. I also believe in finding yourself and escaping into yourself or meditative worlds to understand it all or to just look to the skies from where we all came.. or did we? I don’t expect everyone to understand any of this and I don’t ask anyone to, since it is purely art and up to the interpretation of the individual. Words and lyrics to me are like psychic colors on a paintbrush. It’s either pretty or ugly, soothing or disturbing.


"Since the last 4 years, there has been a lot of darkness in the truth, a lot of hatred, humanity going absolutely mad, and a lot of people striving to find their tribe. I personally strive for hope and seek the higher realm of positivity always, but in the meantime, we find ourselves in the 'Vale Of The Fallen'…."


Göden's debut album, Beyond Darkness stood on its own in creating a distinctive world. Now, four years later, they explore new sonic territories with their second album, Vale Of The Fallen. Where Beyond Darkness was a concept album that propelled listeners into space, both inner and outer, Vale Of The Fallen brings us back to twisted reality. The in-your-face approach intensifies the experience - much like a walk through a post-apocalyptic landscape in the bleakest imaginable conditions.


Sound-wise, Stephen Flam's heavier-than-life riffs, Vas Kallas's sardonic delivery, and Tony Pinnisi's keyboards create oppressive atmospheres atop Jason Frantz's powerful drumming, while in contrast, Margaret Murphy’s violin weaves ghostly motifs throughout. Like its predecessor, Vale Of The Fallen features interludes that provide brief respites between some tracks, only to return to the crushing avalanche of sound.





Tracklisting:


“The Divine”
“In The Vale Of The Fallen”
“Urania”
“Black Vortex”
“Rings Of Saturn”
“Death Magus”
“Zero”
“Manifestation IX”
“Requiem”
“Majestic Symphony”


“In The Vale Of The Fallen”:





Svart Records will also re-release Winter’s Into Darkness once more, putting the album back in print for a new generation of listeners. Into Darkness was a gateway drug to the dark depths of sludge metal, and now awaits a whole new throng of acolytes to bow down before the throne of heavy doom.


Now available for preorders on different limited color editions, classic CD-version, and beautiful c-cassette. Into Darkness will also be released on May 17, 2024. Preorder at the Svart Records webshop.

Italian death metal vanguards, Vomit The Soul have today announced their latest auditory onslaught in the shape of new album, Massive Incineration, which will be released worldwide on June 7 via Unique Leader Records.


Marking this pivotal chapter in their relentless journey, the news of the album erupts with the release of lead single and video, "Annihilate The Infernal Army". A visualizer can be found below.


Massive Incineration is a behemoth of ten tracks that fuses brutal death metal with technical prowess and dark thematic storytelling. The album is a further step in Vomit The Soul's sonic evolution - mature, refined, and seething with anger.




The band states, “Massive Incineration brings 10 punishing tracks of brutal death metal, maintaining the VTS style and groove that represents us. We took care to sew darkness and violence into every single detail, creating the most mature, technically refined and angry work we made so far. The album has got a new explosive mix and master, deliberately chosen to be similar to the characteristics of the sound we wanted.


“As a final bonus track, we have included a new entirely rearranged version of one of our classics, ‘Third’, that was featured on our first album. A gift for those who have been following us for years. The album concept was structured and linked closely to the atmosphere of the record. The sound naturally emerged during the writing of the songs, our apostles of evil (seen on our album covers since the time of ‘Apostles of Inexpression’) find themselves in the repugnant and blasphemous abyss of hell. Their purpose- to dominate the entire ‘Otherworld’, after having enticed the wandering souls in Cold.”


Massive Incineration is testament to Vomit The Soul's relentless innovation and fierce dedication to their craft. With a sound steeped in darkness and violence, this album is set to be their most angry and ambitious work to date. A meticulously crafted descent into the macabre, soundtracked by exceptional technicality and unbridled brutality.


As the single "Annihilate The Infernal Army" rips through the veil between worlds with its accompanying video, fans old and new will be lured into the abyss of Vomit The Soul's making.





Tracklisting:


"Annihilate The Infernal Army"
"Beg For Mercy"
"Bloodtime"
"Call To The Abyss"
"Church Of Losers"
"Endless Dark Solstice"
"Mark of Blasphemy"
"Massive Incineration"
"Repulsive Shores Into Oblivion"
"Third" (2024 version)


"Annihilate The Infernal Army" visualizer:





Formed in 2000 by death metal aficionados Max, Ycio, and Denny, Vomit The Soul quickly moved from rehearsal tapes to live gigs and EP recordings, despite lineup changes. Their relentless drive led them to independently release their EP Human Insanity in 2003 and gain traction with intense live performances across Italy. The pursuit of excellence took them offstage to refine their craft, resulting in their well-received debut album Portraits Of Inhuman Abominations in 2005 under Comatose Music, which catapulted them into the international festival circuit, rubbing shoulders with global death metal giants.


Regrouping in 2021 with original members Max and Ycio, joined by new faces Stefano Rossi Ciucci and Davide Billia, the band's evolution continued with the album Cold, their first with world renowned independent label, Unique Leader Records, which reasserted their dominance in the genre. The current lineup, including Andrea Pillitu and a role shift for Ciucci, entered MK2 Recording Studio in 2024 to create Massive Incineration. Mixed by Billia and mastered at Hertz Studios, this upcoming album promises to maintain the band’s signature slam brutality with a fresh sound, set for global release on June 7 via Unique Leader Records.

DEF LEPPARD's Joe Elliott has dismissed accusations that his band is using backing tracks during live performances, saying "we've never done that."

The 64-year-old singer and founding member of the iconic British band made the comment while responding to a question about DEF LEPPARD's "polished"-but-"loose" concerts in an interview with Stereogum. He said in part: "I don't normally comment on this kind of stuff, but a friend of mine just sent me some link to something on YouTube, a recent posting by, forgive me, I don't know his name, Chuck something from TESTAMENT, I think it is, and [ex-W.A.S.P. guitarist] Chris Holmes accusing us of using backing tracks. I don't get angry at this. I'm flattered because their standards must be very different to ours. For anybody that thinks we use backing tracks, it must mean that when they hear us, they can't believe how good it is for real.

"The fact is that if you rehearse the way we do and you're as talented as the band are as musicians, then maybe you would believe it. I'd be happy to invite any of those guys to come stand side stage with a pair of headphones on so they could actually hear what's coming out of the stage.

"We don't use backing tracks," he reiterated. "We use effects. God, who wouldn't? When there's four people singing, we use effects. There's no tapes of backing vocals. We use keyboards. We use a few drum loops because, in fairness, two-armed drummers use drum loops, but Rick Allen, to play a song like 'Rocket', it's a cacophony of toms that one arm couldn't play. So, yeah, we use a triggered loop, which is part of his drum kit, but [U2 drummer] Larry Mullen's been doing that for years. So have thousands of other drummers to enhance a sound. But backing tracks or playing along to a backing track — we've never done that, never. We've never mimed to the vocals, or we've never had multiples of stuff on tape. It's literally live.

"If we're running at about 90%, it's more than most people's 100%. Because we do play and sing, it does take a toll. You can, say, play Denver, where it's a mile above sea level, and if you've got a gig the next day, your voice is going to be pretty shot. We have to get to a level where if it's a little under last night, it's still acceptable to the audience because of the adrenaline and the fact that it is live and you can hear maybe a bit of hoarseness or somebody's fingers slip because it's so cold, they can't keep their fingers on the strings. Things like that happens to every single band, and that's what brings the humanity to it. But we're very proud of the fact that we play live, and we sing live, and we don't use tapes.

"So, sorry Chuck and Chris Holmes, but you've got that one completely wrong," he added. "But thanks for thinking that we need them. We don't. We're that good."

In recent years, more and more artists have been given a pass for relying on pre-recorded tracks, drum triggers and other assorted technology that makes concerts more synthetic but also more consistent. For better or worse, pre-recorded tracks are becoming increasingly common for touring artists of all levels and genres and they're not just used in pop music — many rock artists utilize playback tracks to varying degrees.

Back in November 2023, TESTAMENT frontman Chuck Billy weighed in on bands who rely heavily on pre-recorded tracks during their live performances, telling the Syncin' Stanley YouTube channel: " That's not my thing. I definitely don't lip sync. I think the only time I've ever had to lip sync is when you shoot videos for, like, MTV. Of course, those aren't live. Every band does it. You perform to the track and you lip sync it. So it's not the most fun, cause it's not real. So I'm sure I'm much uglier and nastier-looking when I'm singing live than in a video you see on MTV or somewhere out there. I guess there's bands out there that probably need help. I know there's bands like DEF LEPPARD that use a lot of backing tracks, but that's also backing tracks for that big sound, 'cause, obviously, you can't get all their voices live unless you brought in a choir. So, there's an exception to the rule."

The members of DEF LEPPARD have repeatedly denied that they use backing tracks for their vocals, with guitarist Phil Collen telling Ultimate Classic Rock in a 2019 interview: "We've always used keyboard things and parts of a drum loop, like on 'Rocket' — you couldn't really play that part live. So we've used stuff like that." But that's as far as it goes. "Our vocals are always live, and that's the big difference — we're like a live vocal band," he pointed out. "That's something that a lot of the other bands don't do. They kind of fake the vocals and it's not really them. But this is really us. … It's real."

In June 2023, former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes also weighed in on bands who rely heavily on pre-recorded tracks during their live performances, saying during a question-and-answer session in Northampton, England: "If people wanna pay for it and go see it, then do it. But I don't like it. I never did. When W.A.S.P. started doing it during the second album, during 'Wild Child' they'd have a tape machine… and I hated it. 'Cause if you're not on stage doing it, it's not live; it's not real. And then 'The Headless Children' came in, and that's where he started sampling. It's not called backing tracks; it's called sampling. That's what it actually is. And I hated it. It's not real.

"If you pay to see a real gig, it should be real, whether they sound good or like crap," he continued. "That's the way I look at it. I don't sample; I never will. I would rather play when I'm a little bit off, but it's for real. Some people would rather do it. I heard MÖTLEY CRÜE is doing it. DEF LEPPARDhas to sample. You can't do them eight-part harmonies on the vocals — unless you have other people singing in the background."

Holmes went on to say that relying on backing tapes is "not rock and roll," adding that aging rockers are using tracks "because they can't sound like they did 40 years ago."

According to Chris, a rock show is supposed to be raw, with all of its imperfections.

"It's rock and roll," he said. "It's what it is. You're out of tune here and there, who cares? As long as it sounds good."

W.A.S.P. has been criticized for the group's supposed use of backing tracks, including for Blackie Lawless's lead vocals, for at least several years, as Metal Sludge pointed out in 2019 after Lawless and his bandmates performed at the Helgeåfestivalen in Sweden.

During a May 2023 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Blackie was once again asked about complaints from some of the band's fans about the use of backing tracks during W.A.S.P.'s live performances. He responded: "About 10, 12 years ago, we did 'The Crimson Idol' the first time in its entirety with orchestration. Now, prior to that, we had just done — I call it the 'Live At Leeds' version… Because if you look at what THE WHO did with the 'Live At Leeds', which we all thought was live at the time, and we now realize there are overdubs on those as well, like most live records. We would take the bare-bones approach to doing it. Well, we decided to take an approach where we tried to make it sound exactly like the record. And we had never used orchestration or anything like that. So we went in the studio, we took all the tracks off the record as far as the orchestration, we took the background vocal tracks, we took doubles on leads — we did everything. And we took it and we tried to make it sound as much like the record as we could. I stood in the middle of the room that first night in rehearsal, and I swear to you it was like an out-of-body experience. I had never heard anything sound like that before. I had never played with a live orchestra before. And so this was the closest thing you would get to doing something like that.

"Listen, I understand both sides of the argument on it," he continued. "For me personally, when I'm up there, I'm singing my ass off. But what's wrong with having enhancement to make something sound exactly like the record? Because you're not gonna get a band like QUEEN or any other band that does big productions like that… Four guys cannot go out there and reproduce that record. It's impossible. It won't happen. So do you want it to sound like the record or do you want it to be just a general live performance? And that's a question of taste.

"If you're gonna start making records where you have a lot of orchestration and things like that going, it is impossible to make it sound like that record unless you have that," Lawless added. "And you can also make the argument, which has been going on Broadway for the last 20 years, the musicians' union has been fighting this fiercely but technology rolls on and it's not gonna stop, where they no longer have live music in Broadway productions. And the musicians' union has had a fit over that. Well, even before that happened, when you had keyboards introduced that had entire orchestras in them, you've got one guy now replacing a hundred and twenty different people. So where do you draw the line?

"Like I said, I understand if somebody wants a true, organic experience, but from my perspective, I looked at it and I said… Once I heard it sound exactly like the record, I thought, 'I cannot go back to this again.' I mentioned THE WHO a second ago, the 'Live At Leeds' approach. THE WHO used tapes for years until they started hiring all these other guys to go out with them. But even still, a lot of the keyboard stuff — 'Won't Get Fooled Again', things like that — that's all on tape."

"When I go out on that stage, I take a lot of pride in this gift that God's given me," Blackie added. "And I like to show it off; I'll just be flat-out honest with you. But I think people wanna see that or they wanna hear it. So I don't think there's anything wrong with it. If you've got a guitar player that is really, really good, people are going there to see that. But again, when I went into rehearsals that one night and I heard what it sounded like when it sounded like the record, I thought, 'I can never go back.' Like I said, it was a flat-out out-of-body experience."

Asked what percentage of the vocals during W.A.S.P.'s live concerts are on tape, Blackie said: "You mean from my lead vocals? For my lead vocals, I would encourage people to go… We did five shows where I was sitting. Go look at those last couple. You're gonna hear it loud and clear. 'Cause when we were in Sofia, I cracked a couple of times, which I normally don't do. But it was getting towards the end of the tour. I mean, it wasn't anything catastrophic, but for me, I don't normally crack. But it happens. It's part of the live experience. But when we start doing the choruses and things like that, myself and Mike Duda and Doug Blair, we're all out there singing, but we're using backups behind that too. Because when we did it in the studio, we were using three and four tracks at a time to create that. You cannot make those choruses sound huge like that with just individual vocals creating that, because when you're doing it in the studio, you double and triple tracks. I mentioned QUEEN a while ago — they were using 24 tracks of vocals to create those sounds. You cannot create those chorus sounds by two or three guys doing that. It is impossible… Unless there's 20 guys in that room doing that, it ain't gonna sound like that… If you're doing 24 tracks of vocals to create that chorus effect, a handful of guys cannot do that, even with electronic doublers. And then you can get into that argument — okay, you're using mechanical effects to enhance one guy out there. I mean, where do we draw the line with this now?"

KISS frontman Paul Stanley, who had been struggling to hit the high notes in many of the band's classic songs for a number of years, was accused of singing to a backing tape on KISS's recently completed "End Of The Road" tour.

Back in 2015, KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons slammed bands who used backing tapes for not being honest enough to include that fact on their concert tickets.

"I have a problem when you charge $100 to see a live show and the artist uses backing tracks," Simmons said. "It's like the ingredients in food. If the first ingredient on the label is sugar, that's at least honest. It should be on every ticket — you're paying $100, 30 to 50 percent of the show is [on] backing tracks and they'll sing sometimes, sometimes they'll lip sync. At least be honest. It's not about backing tracks, it's about dishonesty.

"There's nobody with a synthesizer on our stage, there's no samples on the drums, there's nothing," Gene continued. "There's very few bands who do that now — AC/DC, METALLICA, us. I can't even say that about U2 or THE [ROLLING] STONES. There's very few bands who don't use [backing] tracks."

In March 2023, KISS's longtime manager Doc McGhee defended Stanley's vocal performance on "End Of The Road", explaining that the "Star Child" "fully sings to every song" at every concert. He explained: It's enhanced. It's just part of the process to make sure that everybody hears the songs the way they should be sang to begin with. Nobody wants to hear people do stuff that's not real, that's not what they came to hear."

When McGhee was asked to clarify if he was "actually saying there [were] backing tracks that [Paul was] singing to," Doc said: "He'll sing to tracks. It's all part of a process. Because everybody wants to hear everybody sing. But he fully sings to every song."

In March 2020, SHINEDOWN guitarist Zach Myers said that "90 percent" of rock artists use at least some pre-recorded tracks during their live performances. He told Rock Feed: "It bothers me that it bothers people. I'm, like, 'Why does this bother you?' It's the way it is. People have been doing this since the '80s. And we want the sound to be the best it can be. Could we go up there, just the four of us, and put on the best rock show ever? Of course. But that's not how we wanna do it."

Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach has previously said that he is "one of the last people" who are still not using pre-recorded tracks at their live shows. "I don't know how much longer I can say to you that I don't use tapes onstage, because I don't, and I never have," he told Consequence Of Sound. "And I still don't. When I have opening bands, and they're using tapes, and then I come out and I don't use tapes… sometimes, it makes me feel stupid, because I'm like, 'What am I doing, when all these kids half my age can come onstage and do all of my moves, but they don't have to warm up for an hour before the show, or weeks, before the first show?' Sometimes, I'm like, 'Why do I even bother, if the public is so used to this other way?' It's becoming very rare to come see a good band that's actually a real band — that's not miming or doing silly moves while a tape is running. It just becomes more rare as the years go on."

In 2019, IRON MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith said that he doesn't "agree" with certain rock artists relying on pre-recorded tracks during their live performances. "I tell you what, I see it with a lot of younger bands, and I don't think it's a good thing at all," he told the New York Post. "I mean, the music is getting too technical now. You have computerized recording systems, which we use, but I think we use them more for convenience than because we need to. We've toured with a couple bands that use tapes — it's not real. You're supposed to play live; it should be live. I don't agree with using tapes … I think it's a real shame."

One musician who has been open about his band's use of taped vocals during live performances is MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx, who said: "We've used technology since '87." He added the group employed "sequencers, sub tones, background vox tracks, plus background singers and us. [MÖTLEY CRÜE also taped] stuff we can't tour with, like cello parts in ballads, etc.... We love it and don't hide it. It's a great tool to fill out the sound."

In a 2014 interview, MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist Mick Mars admitted that he wasn't comfortable with the fact that his band used pre-recorded backing vocals in its live shows, claiming that he preferred to watch groups whose performances are delivered entirely live. "I don't like it," he said. "I think a band like ours… I have to say '60s bands were my favorite — '60s and '70s bands — because they were real, like, three-piece bands or four-piece bands, and they just got up there and kicked it up. Made a mistake? So what? Sounded a little bit empty here or there? So what? It's the bigness and the rawness and the people that developed and wrote the songs and made them and presented them. To me, that's what I really like. I mean, I could put on a MÖTLEY CD and play with it all day long. I don't wanna do that."

4K video of JUDAS PRIEST's entire April 8 concert Le Zénith in Paris, France can be seen below.

PRIEST's 18-song setlist included three songs from the band's latest album, "Invincible Shield": the title track, "Panic Attack" and "Crown Of Horns".

As he has done a number of other times over the course of the last six years, guitarist Glenn Tipton appeared with PRIEST for the encore, performing "Metal Gods" and "Living After Midnight".

Tipton was diagnosed with Parkinson's 10 years ago — after being stricken by the condition at least half a decade earlier — but announced in early 2018 he was going to sit out touring activities in support of JUDAS PRIEST's "Firepower" album. He was replaced by "Firepower" and "Invincible Shield" album producer Andy Sneap, who is also known for his work in NWOBHM revivalists HELL and cult thrash outfit SABBAT.

Featured songs in video below:

* Panic Attack 00:00
* You've Got Another Thing Comin' 06:47
* Rapid Fire 12:54
* Breaking The Law 17:02
* Lightning Strike 19:30
* Love Bites 23:03
* Devil's Child 28:00
* Saints In Hell 33:02
* Crown Of Horns 38:43
* Turbo Lover 44:53
* Invincible Shield 52:54
* Victim Of Changes 59:17
* The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown) 1:10:58
* Painkiller 01:15:56
* The Hellion 01:22:44
* Electric Eye 01:23:24
* Hell Bent For Leather 01:27:12
* Metal Gods (with Glenn Tipton) 01:31:39
* Living After Midnight (with Glenn Tipton) 01:35:48

In a recent appearance on The Break Down With Nath & Johnny podcast, JUDAS PRIEST bassist Ian Hill was asked who in the band has the final say when it comes to picking a setlist for the PRIEST live shows. He responded: "Well, it is probably Rob [Halford, PRIEST singer], really. But then again, we've got a whole spectrum now. You've got the younger element with Richie [Faulkner, PRIEST guitarist]. He's the same age as my eldest son. And then comes Scott [Travis, PRIEST drummer] and you've got Glenn [Tipton, PRIEST guitarist], of course. He can't do it anymore [due to his battle with Parkinson's disease]. [But] he's still sharp as a pin between his ears. Then Andy [Sneap, PRIEST touring guitarist] and Rob and myself. So you've got a full spectrum there of ages. So everybody has their own favorites and their own types of JUDAS PRIEST song. We all sort of [go], 'Yeah, like that. No, don't like that one.' And then we'll go. If someone's adamant that they really don't wanna do something, well, you don't wanna do something, and vice versa — if someone really wants to do a particular track, you do it. Like I say, you've got the ring-fence tracks there that you've gotta do — the 'Breaking The Law's and the 'Living After Midnight's and things like that, that you have to do. It's what brings people to the shows, basically. And then you've got your other sort of classic PRIEST songs, which is a little bit easier because you can swap and change those between — do a month maybe using one song, change it to another one of a similar kind. And then try to get some new stuff in there — three, maybe four maximum is about as much as you can get at any one time. I'm sure there'll be more than that, that we'll go through. And just swap and change as we go."

Asked if there are any songs that he can think of straight off the top of his head, in the PRIEST back catalog that he really loves to play live but never has, Ian said: "Ah, there's one that we have played live that we haven't played for a while and that's 'Dissident Aggressor'. I still say that's probably my all-time favorite song. It's just so raw — it's just pure rock, really. It's one of those songs that, even in the studio, I can remember it being — it's two guitars, bass, drums and vocals. And I think there might be one extra guitar on there through the lead break. Other than that, it's totally raw. It's exactly as it would be on stage. And I love that song, apart from it being a great song. And there's always other things. We've never really done 'Before The Dawn' — from the other point of view, the other end of the spectrum, if there's a quiet part in [the show]. These days people tend to prefer the more upbeat stuff rather than the quieter pieces. But that would be cool to do as well. It's only about two and a half, three minutes long anyway, so it wouldn't take much time. But there's loads in there — there's loads of them. 'Sinner' we haven't done, so it'd be great to do that again. We haven't done that for a while. But we'll see."

In a separate interview with Metal Pilgrim, Halford spoke about the setlist for the European leg of PRIEST's tour with SAXON and URIAH HEEP. He said: "We've had this conversation before as far as trying to put the setlist together. And after 19 studio albums, it's, like, 'Oh my God. Where do we go?' If we didn't play 'Breaking The Law', there'd be a riot. If we didn't play 'Painkiller', there'd be a riot. There are certain songs that you are indebted to your fans to play, because they're part of the fabric of who you are as a band. Without naming names, there are certain bands where you know you wanna hear that song when you go to a show. So there's a portion of the setlist that already writes itself. Having said that, yeah, we are gonna go quite deep, and we found some songs from previous albums that we're gonna work with and we're gonna bring out. So there'll probably be at least two or three deep cuts on this setlist."

Rob continued: "At any given moment, we've got 60 to 70 songs we can play — at any given moment. And then we're gonna add more into the mix. It's fun to see the texts and the e-mails flying through: 'Well, I'll give you this one if you give me that one.' 'Cause you've gotta find a balance. When a band plays on stage, every single bandmember has to agree on the set list. There's no place for, 'Oh, dude, I've gotta play this one.' There's no place for that. You've all gotta be believing in that particular song as you go through the show. And it's gonna be fantastic. And this is gonna be a really eventful tour as we're about to kick off in Europe, with our friends SAXON and URIAH HEEP."

Hill is the sole remaining original member of PRIEST, which formed in 1969. Halford joined the group in 1973 and Tipton signed on in 1974. Rob left PRIEST in the early 1990s to form his own band, then came back to PRIEST in 2003. Original guitarist K.K. Downing parted ways with the band in 2011, and was replaced by Faulkner.

"Invincible Shield" entered the U.K. chart at No. 2, just behind Ariana Grande's "Eternal Sunshine".

Prior to "Invincible Shield"'s arrival, PRIEST's highest U.K. chart achievement was with 1980's "British Steel", which reached No. 4.

PRIEST's 2018 album "Firepower" entered the chart at No. 5.

"Invincible Shield" is JUDAS PRIEST's fifth Top 10 album, after the aforementioned "British Steel" and "Firepower", as well as 2014's "Redeemer Of Souls" (No. 6) and the 1979 live album "Unleashed In The East" (No. 10).

"Invincible Shield" landed at No. 1 in Germany, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland, as well as No. 5 in France, No. 8 in Italy and No. 16 in Australia.

🔥 Judas in Paname 🔥

Posted by METAL in Paname on Tuesday, April 9, 2024

WAGE WAR will release its fifth album, "Stigma", digitally on June 21 via Fearless Records. The physical version will land in stores on September 6.

Last month, the band shared the music video for the new single "Magnetic". They are now following it up with the video for "Nail5". The song comes in hot with subtle synths, cool and unexpected vocal tricks, chunky, industrial-inspired riffs, and undeniable ferocity. "Nail5" is erected on a groove that will have you nodding your head. WAGE WAR continue to experiment with their sound, and fans and new listeners will be happy to ride sidecar as the band takes thrilling and unpredictable sonic twists and turns.

"'Nail5' is a tribute to our fifth album and continuing to push the envelope in every way, and in this instance, the heavy side," the band says. "We took the elements that we loved from our past discography and turned it all the way up. The message: You're either in or you're in the way."

"Stigma" track listing:

01. The Show's About To Start
02. Self Sacrifice
03. Magnetic
04. Nail5
05. Blur
06. Tombstone
07. Happy Hunting
08. Hellbent
09. In My Blood
10. Is This How It Ends?

WAGE WAR will kick off its spring 2024 co-headline tour with NOTHING MORE on Tuesday, April 16 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The trek runs through Friday, May 17 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Traveling a constant forward trajectory at lightspeed, WAGE WAR not only push their own sound forward, but they also propel heavy music into new territory. The Florida quintet have always tempered a pummeling metallic onslaught with unshakable melodies. A near-decade grind naturally brought WAGE WAR to this point. They have unleashed a string of fan favorite albums, including "Blueprints" (2015),"Deadweight" (2017),"Pressure" (2019) and "Manic" (2021). Beyond looks from SPIN, Modern Drummer, American Songwriter, Revolver, Guitar World and more, Kerrang! hailed the latter as "their greatest album yet," and Dork raved, "It's an embracing of being metalheads, popheads and just fans of good songs. On more than one occasion, there's an earworm poking its head up through the dirt." They also put up numbers, tallying hundreds of millions of streams boosted by the likes of "Stitch", "Low", "Manic" and "Circle The Drain". On their fifth full-length offering "Stigma" (Fearless Records),WAGE WAR outfit their signature style with industrial grit and electronic sheen, leveling up into the future in the process with singles such as "Magnetic" and "Nail5".

Junkyard Drive have released their new album, Look At Me Now. A full album stream can be found below.


Look At Me Now presents a band with new energy and inspiration.  Since 2014, Junkyard Drive has been determined to be the band that provides the soundtrack to life in the fast lane with the audience as passengers. Every time! With three critically acclaimed albums, lots of concerts and tours in most of the world, they have tried more than most Danish rock bands. Now their fourth album is on the way, and the goal has changed.


On Look At Me Now, Junkyard Drive rolls out ten high-octane rock tracks, delivered with flair, precision and lots of energy. One is tempted to say renewed energy, because even though Junkyard Drive are largely recognizable on the ten tracks that will be released in April, it is in many ways a changed band that delivers them. A few changes in the lineup and a much-needed look inside the internal relationships have restored focus and renewed the joy of playing. Look At Me Now welcomes two new guitarists: Oliver Hartmann and Kristoffer Kristensen. Both come with experience from genres other than rock, and that brings new ideas to the table during the songwriting process.




“Since we released Electric Love in 2022, we have gone through a process that can be heard in the new tracks,” lead singer Kristian Johansen offers. “We are tired of rock music always being put in the booth with draft beer and festivity. We want to show that rock music can develop and that it can contain sensitivity and depth. That’s why we had to go inside ourselves, to write texts that were more honest and that have something more at heart. When you go into yourself, you also have to come face to face with your own weaknesses. It can be a hard, but also very learning process. We have experienced that it has also taken a toll on the band’s internal relationships as you go through topics that can be tough, but we are incredibly proud to have gone through the process, because the lyrics and sound we have created have more layers than we have previously performed.”


Look At Me Now was produced by Soren Andersen (Glenn Hughes, Thundermother) and is available in LP (black and red vinyl editions, the latter being limited to 500 units), CD, and digital formats. Order at this location.





Tracklisting:


"Somewhere To Hide"
"Shoot From The Hip"
"Tearaway"
"Black Wolf"
"Beauty Fool"
"Blood Red Sky"
"Saw You Hanging There"
"The Tide Is High"
"Pipe Down"
"Afterglow"


Album stream:





"Tearaway" video:





(Photo by Klaus Rudbæk)

Former Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg, who was fired from the band in November 2023, performed with Infectious Grooves on April 5 as part of the Suicidal Tendencies 6-Pack Encore at UNSW Roundhouse in Sydney, Australia.


Weinberg has released the live drum-cam video below, performing Suicidal Tendencies' "Send Me Your Money" at the show:



 
Weinberg and Infectious Grooves performed on April 1 at Byron Bay BluesFest in Byron Bay, Australia. Jay released the video below, featuring live drum-cam video for the Infectious Grooves track, "Monster Skank".







Infectious Grooves is:


Mike Muir (Suicidal Tendencies) - vocals
Robert Trujillo (Metallica) - bass
Jay Weinberg (Slipknot) - drums
Dean Pleasants (Suicidal Tendencies) - guitar
Dave Kushner (Velvet Revolver) - guitar

A special triple vinyl Candlemass set containing a combination of spellbinding performances of the Epicus Doomicus Metallicus and Nightfall albums from Södra Teatern, Sweden will be presented on limited coloured vinyl on May 31 via Peaceville.


As Candlemass quickly approaches a new milestone of four decades of existence, this special triple vinyl set, Tritonus Nights, includes stellar recent performances of both the Epicus… and Nightfall albums in their entirety, which took place at the esteemed Södra Teatern in Stockholm, Sweden in November 2021, with the double-night event a fitting platform to celebrate the 35th anniversaries of both iconic titles.


With a lineup consisting of Lars Johansson, Mappe Björkman, Leif Edling, Janne Lindh, & Johan Längquist, Candlemass captivates a spellbound audience with renditions of numerous classic doom tracks such as "Solitude", "Demon’s Gate", "The Well of Souls" and "Bewitched", plus also notable is the inclusion of the pre-Epicus… track "Battlecry" as a rare live treat. With professionally recorded & mixed sound, and with mastering work undertaken by Patrick Engel at Temple of Disharmony, Tritonus Nights is Candlemass captured at their magnificent best.







Tritonus Nights is presented on limited edition triple coloured vinyl in a slipcase plus additional booklet, with Side D of the double Nightfall vinyl containing a special etched design.


"Those two nights at the Southend Theatre in Stockholm were amazing! Level of Magic - 200%! We sounded great and the god of Doom smiled upon us on those cold, but very special November nights." - Leif Edling


Video trailer:





Candlemass, formed by bassist and songwriter Leif Edling in Stockholm in 1984, is well known for its influential epic doom metal sound, which itself evolved out of the masterful Black Sabbath. Following the legendary and genre-defining debut, Epicus Doomicus Metallicus (1986), Nightfall was released just one year later and, alongside Epicus…, is widely hailed as an all-time classic, instrumental in shaping the scene that still exists to this day with its unrivalled melodic heavy doom, with the creation of classic anthems such as "Dark Are The Veils Of Death" and "Well Of Souls".

King Zebra have today released their new album, Between The Shadows. The band hailing from the picturesque city of Zurich, Switzerland, emerges as the new face of rock in a harmonious fusion of youthful exuberance and veteran wisdom.


Order the album here, and check out a visualizer for the song, "Love Lies", below:







King Zebra burst into the music scene with their 2019 EP, a sonic voyage marked by the standout track "Firewalker," amassing over 2 million streams and firmly establishing the band in the hearts of rock enthusiasts globally. Their presence soared as they graced renowned festivals like Rock the Ring and Rock of Ages, sharing stages with iconic acts such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Uriah Heep, and Rose Tattoo.


In 2020, King Zebra embarked on a transformative journey to Crehate Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden, to craft their sophomore album, Survivors, under the skilled guidance of producer Oscar Nilsson. The collaboration with ex-Thundermother singer Guernica Mancini on "Wall Of Confusion" elevated their sound, resonating with fans and critics alike. The album found a home with Golden Robot Records, paving the way for extensive touring throughout Europe, sharing stages with notable acts like Crash Diet.


Now, signed to Frontiers Records, King Zebra deliver their next sonic masterpiece, Between The Shadows, meticulously produced once again by Oscar Nilsson. This is a musical journey three years in the making.


Between The Shadows showcases the culmination of dedication, passion, and attention to detail that defines King Zebra's distinctive sound, characterized by former China vocalist Eric St. Michaels. As the band fills their schedule with live dates, the world eagerly anticipates the release of this new chapter in King Zebra's musical legacy.





Tracklisting:


"Starlight"
"Children Of The Night"
"Wicked"
"Dina"
"Love Lies"
"Cyanide"
"With You Forever"
"Love Me Tonight"
"Out In The Wild"
"Restless Revolution"


"Children Of The Night" video:





"Dina" video:

Legendary rockers, Blue Öyster Cult, have shared a fresh single to celebrate the release of their new album, Ghost Stories, out today via Frontiers Music Srl. The track, "Cherry" is accompanied by a lyric video.


After the resounding success of their 50th Anniversary celebration, Ghost Stories sees the band eagerly gearing up for an exciting new chapter in their storied career. This highly anticipated album marks a fitting finale to the recording legacy of one of rock’s most iconic fixtures from the past 50 years.


In partnership with Frontiers Music Srl, Ghost Stories will captivate fans with a collection of reimagined and completed songs that span from 1978-2016. These musical treasures, long considered the 'lost gems' by Blue Öyster Cult enthusiasts, were originally recorded between 1978 and 1983, except for one track from 2016, "If I Fell." Also included is the only known recorded performance of their concert classic “Kick Out the Jams” (MC5 cover). Some of the material is from workshopping albums, some from performance rehearsals, and all were recorded once in the hopes that someday they'd see the light of day.




Check out the lyric video for "Cherry":





As Blue Öyster Cult embraces its 'classic rock' phenomenon status, the anticipation for this album is reaching a crescendo. Fans are eager to experience the culmination of the band's artistic vision and witness the completion of songs that have become part of their folklore. The band will also add some of the songs in their up-and-coming 2024 shows.


With a legacy spanning over five decades, Blue Öyster Cult continues to be a formidable force in the classic rock scene. The exciting partnership with Frontiers Music Srl and the visionary leadership of Serafino Perugino add an extra layer of anticipation to the release of 'Ghost Stories.' As the band bids farewell to their recording career, they do so with a flourish, offering fans a musical odyssey that is sure to leave a lasting imprint on rock history. Truly, a remarkable journey.


Order Ghost Stories here.





Tracklisting:


"Late Night Street Fight"
"Cherry"
"So Supernatural"
"We Gotta Get Out Of This Place"
"Soul Jive"
"Gun"
"Shot In The Dark"
"The Only Thing"
"Kick Out The Jams"
"Money Machine"
"Don't Come Running"
"If I Fell"
"Roadhouse Blues" (Bonus Track Japan)


"Don't Come Running To Me" video:





"So Supernatural" video:





Band Members & Credits:


Eric Bloom - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Albert Bouchard - Drums, Vocals
Joe Bouchard - Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals
Allen Lanier - Guitar, Keyboards
Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser - Guitar, Vocals


Rick Downey – Drums (on 3 and 11)
Richie Castellano - Additional Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals


“If I Fell” was Recorded on April 18, 2016, at Red Studios, Hollywood, CA


Eric Bloom - Vocals
Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser - Guitar, Vocals
Richie Castellano - Guitar, Vocals
Kasim Sulton - Vocals
Jules Radino - Percussion


Original recordings Produced by George Geranios and Blue Öyster Cult except:


“If I Fell” Produced by Steve Schenck and Richie Castellano
De-mixed, Re-mixed and Produced by Steve Schenck & Richie Castellano
Engineered by Richie Castellano


“Gun” and “Money Machine” overdubs recorded by Joe Bouchard


Digital Transfers by George Geranios


Mastered by Sam Stauff at Mercy College Studio, Dobbs Ferry, NY

In a new interview with Australia's New Breed TV, FEAR FACTORY's new frontman Milo Silvestro spoke about the way he approaches his singing as the replacement for the band's original vocalist Burton C. Bell. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I would say a bad clean singing, especially with those high notes, can do more damage to your cords than a good screaming. Because if you have a good screaming technique, growling technique, you're using it properly. So what I do, which is what Burt did, it's like a mixed sound between false cord, fry scream and shouting. So you use a little bit of vocal cords, false cords… Burt was probably one of the first in that era. It was a vibe back then, like Robb [Flynn] from MACHINE HEAD, Phil [Anselmo] from PANTERA, of course — they had that tonal kind of scream. You could hear the note, but wasn't like a normal singing; it was rough. But Burt had his own unique way to do that. And I've always been a lot inspired by him, but when I got the gig, I went back and studied his vocal style even more to make sure that all those nuances were there. Like, my scream before FEAR FACTORY was way more guttural-ish. I'm a lot inspired by singers like Dez [Fafara] from COAL CHAMBER, Jonny [Santos] from SPINESHANK, Wayne [Static] from STATIC-X, which they have way more like a raspy guttural [approach]. But Burt was more gutty — he used a lot of guts, a lot of energy. And so I went back and studied that approach."

Elaborating on some of the other aspects of his singing technique, Milo said: "I would say another thing that I worked on while studying properly Burt's style is not just the the way you make the sound, actually create the sound, but also the way you pronounce words.

"At first, Dino [Cazares, FEAR FACTORY guitarist] wanted me to have some pronunciation coach lessons, because he was, like, 'Your English is good, but I want to make sure there is no imperfection. You have to sound as native as possible, because, of course, you're from an L.A. famous band, you have to sound as American as possible. So, I kind of have an American sound because of my parents; they raised me on American music."

Last December, Milo addressed the fact that a lot of people think he sounds very similar to Bell, telling RichardMetalFan: "Yeah, either if they mean it in a good or in a bad way, for me, it's a compliment, because first of all, Burt is my idol and I love him, I love his artistic job and legacy as a vocalist. And second, I'm singing for a band that it's iconic, and everything in FEAR FACTORY's sound — guitar, vocals, the synthesizer, the drums, the bass — everything is iconic. If you could listen to FEAR FACTORY stems, the separated tracks, you know that's the FEAR FACTORY guitar, you know that's FEAR FACTORY vocals. Everything is so iconic about FEAR FACTORY. And I think, and Dino thinks also, that if you need to replace such an iconic singer, you have to nail the style. So it's not that I want to sound like Burt just because I like Burt and I want to — like some people say in a more hateful way — be a Burt copycat, which to me is still a compliment, by the way. I mean, it is what it is. They miss him and I get it. But it is what it is. There are people that enjoy having FEAR FACTORY moving on with a new guy."

He continued: "The thing is it's not that I want to be Burt copycat, but it's a matter of nailing the style. It's like if you came to filling in for, let's say, for Dino, for such an iconic guitar tone and playing style, of course you're gonna use his sound, his guitar, his pickups. You wanna create that tone. And the same thing goes with vocals. Dino was sending me a cappellas during the audition process. He sent me a cappellas from [the songs] 'Resurrection' and 'Timelessness'. And he's, like, 'I'm gonna send you a cappellas.' And I'm, like, 'Oh, okay, cool. What am I supposed to do with them?' And he was, like, 'Just listen and study his style.' Because, of course, he started to hit me up because he noticed that I have studied [Burt's] style, but he wanted me to study even more, like you have to nail it, not just sounding like him, but having his nuances, his leaks. Burt has a lot of leaks, a lot of typical Burt leaks and things he did with melodies and his voice, even the slide-off notes you hear in the records, that's all part of his sound. The beauty of his vocal is that he wasn't super precise and technical, but it was true, though. It had soul, and you have to nail that soul, not just with the technical aspect, but with the emotional aspect. You have to feel what he's singing. I think that's the very most hard, difficult part about singing FEAR FACTORY. You have to sing with that passion and that soul. And that's something that you can study as well. And I think that's the reason why — and I'm really glad that people are saying that — but that's the reason why people are noticing this similarity with Burt's voice. We don't have very similar voice when we talk, but we're baritones, so that, of course, that matters because you wanna pick up a guy that has the same vocal range. And I went through a lot — I studied surgically all his nuances on the records and with those a cappellas. So, I guess that's the reason why. I really studied his style because that's what I was asked to do, of course. And I think that is perfectly right and fair because you wanna pay justice to the vocal legacy of this band. You don't wanna just throw a completely different vocal style."

In October, FEAR FACTORY kicked off a European headlining tour with support from BUTCHER BABIES from the USA and IGNEA from Ukraine. The 44-date trek marked FEAR FACTORY's first European shows since 2016.

FEAR FACTORY and MACHINE HEAD joined forces for the "Slaughter The Martour North America 2024" tour in January and February. Additional support on the trek came from Sweden's ORBIT CULTURE and Louisville, Kentucky's GATES TO HELL.

Dino recently confirmed plans for FEAR FACTORY to make a new studio album in 2024. The effort will mark FEAR FACTORY's recording debut with the Italian-born Silvestro, whose addition to FEAR FACTORY was officially announced in February 2023.

FEAR FACTORY played its first headlining concert with Silvestro and touring drummer Pete Webber on May 5, 2023 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.

Earlier last year, FEAR FACTORY completed the "Rise Of The Machine" U.S. tour as the support act for STATIC-X marked the Cazares-led outfit's first run of shows with Silvestro and Webber.

Webber has been filling in for FEAR FACTORY's longtime drummer Mike Heller who is unable to play with the band due to "scheduling conflicts."

Image courtesy of IFM RAW

In a new interview with the Mike Nelson Show, legendary German guitarist Uli Jon Roth was asked why he picked up the guitar and not some other instrument. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I had to. It was destiny. I was surrounded by music at a certain age. My neighbor friend had a band, and I used to drive around with them and I wanted to be part of it. And the music just drew me in. I started being a BEATLES fan before I played. And then, yeah, once I got in contact with with real instruments, that was it. I started playing the guitar and then it was like an instant-attraction thing. It was very easy for me to learn it. And after a few months, I already had my first gig on stage. I remember that. And it was almost like learning it as if I'd already known it. That's what it felt like. And back then we didn't have any tutors, no YouTube; you had to figure it out all by yourself. Meaning, I listened to longplay records. That's what we used to do with turntables. I listened to, how does Eric Clapton play this? And I played along with the record after I came home from school, driving the neighbors crazy."

Asked how important Jimi Hendrix was in his playing, Uli said: "That came slightly later. I didn't start with Jimi Hendrix. I first started with the blues, BLUESBREAKERS, Eric Clapton, CREAM. Jimi Hendrix was a little bit later, and then, yeah, he was my main influence for so many years. I learned everything from him — the rhythm playing, I used to really get into that because I was enthralled and fascinated by his musical message there. I always felt there was so much more to his playing than just guitar playing. That's the thing that attracted me the most. And that's what I didn't hear with the other players. Most of the other players were playing just cool music, but with Hendrix there was always like a cosmic element. And when I saw him play when I was a kid, I just turned 14 or whatever — I don't quite remember — January '69, I saw him play in concert in Hamburg, and it was mind-blowing, quite literally. The sound was like from hyperspace. The guitar sounded like some superhuman being from space. Those sounds were completely new back then. Nobody sounded like that. No other guitar player sounded like that. And I soaked that up, and I wanted that sound. I can still remember it."

In recent years, Roth has revisited the early music of his period with the SCORPIONS, which resulted in the "Scorpions Revisited" double CD and "Tokyo Tapes Revisited" DVD/Blu-ray releases.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest guitar players ever, Uli pioneered a unique style of guitar playing which — for the first time — combined complete mastery of the instrument with an intensely melodic and emotional appeal.

From his earliest days onwards, Uli has always been a bold and uncompromising musical innovator of the first order. Being the first guitar player in rock to incorporate complex melodic arpeggio sequences, Uli Jon Roth — in the eyes of many of his peers — practically reinvented modern guitar technique almost singlehandedly during his SCORPIONS tenure, but even more so during his ELECTRIC SUN days.

Roth kicked off his spring 2024 North American tour on April 2 in Mesa, Arizona.

Sacramento rockers TESLA dedicated the song "Love Song" to FIREHOUSE singer CJ Snare during their April 10 concert at the House Of Blues in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Prior to launching into the track, TESLA guitarist Frank Hannon told the crowd: "[Fellow TESLA guitarist] Dave Rude and myself, we're gonna play a little acoustic guitar for you. And I'd like to dedicate this song to a friend that we just lost, Mr. CJ Snare from FIREHOUSE. He was a sweetheart. I'm gonna send this up to him."

TESLA returned to the House Of Blues inside Mandalay Bay Resort And Casino Las Vegas earlier this month with their "Tesla: The Las Vegas Takeover". Remaining shows will be held on April 12 and 13, and are scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m.

Snare died on April 5 at the age of 64 following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in 2020 and took a hiatus from the band in 2023 to undergo abdominal surgery. However, his daughter is reported to have stated the official cause of death was cardiac arrest, according to TMZ.

When Snare's death was first announced, TESLA took to social media to write: "We are so sad to hear of the passing of CJ Snare. We toured all across America with FIREHOUSE in 1991 on our headline tour for the 'Psychotic Supper' album. We shared many great times with them, CJ was a very kind man and a great singer. He will be missed."

CJ planned to rejoin FIREHOUSE for the band's summer tour in 2024.

In a statement on FIREHOUSE's social media, Snare's bandmates said he died "unexpectedly" despite his long illness.

They shared their "great sorrow" at losing their "brother… the rock and roll warrior.

"We are all in complete shock with CJ's untimely passing," they wrote.

"CJ was was arguably one of the best vocal talents of a generation, touring the world with FIREHOUSE non stop the past 34 years.

"Our heartfelt condolences go out to the entire Snare family, Katherine Little, friends, and all our beloved fans all over the world."

FIREHOUSE hasn't released a studio album since 2011's "Full Circle", which featured re-recorded versions of some of the band's older songs. The group's last collection of new material, "Prime Time", came out in 2003.

FIREHOUSE reached stardom during the early '90s with hits like "Reach For The Sky", "Don't Treat Me Bad" and "All She Wrote", as well as its signature power ballads "I Live My Life For You", "Love Of A Lifetime" and "When I Look Into Your Eyes".

At the 1992 American Music Awards, FIREHOUSE won the award for "Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock New Artist". They were chosen over NIRVANA and ALICE IN CHAINS.

Formed nearly four decades ago, FIREHOUSE's classic lineup consisted of Snare, guitarist Bill Leverty, drummer Michael Foster and bassist Perry Richardson. Richardson left in 2000 and was replaced by Allen McKenzie in 2003.

Slash, the iconic, Grammy-winning guitarist and songwriter, will release his highly anticipated sixth solo album "Orgy Of The Damned", on May 17 via Gibson Records.

A collection of 12 dynamic songs that shakes up and revitalizes blues classics with a stripped-down, instinctive approach, "Orgy Of The Damned" creates a singular expression that pays homage to the blues.

The second single, a rendition of FLEETWOOD MAC's "Oh Well" featuring country star Chris Stapleton, can be streamed below.

"I knew from the beginning I wanted to do ['Oh Well'] on this record," Slash said in a statement. "It was also one of the songs that I was trying to figure out who would be the right vocalist for it, and one of the ideas I had was Chris Stapleton, who is one of the most brilliant singer-songwriters today. He's also got such a gritty and distinctive voice, so I called him up and he did an amazing job. I mean, his voice is so cool."

The first single "Killing Floor" — which features Brian Johnson of AC/DC on vocals, and Steven Tyler of AEROSMITH on harmonica — is an electrifying, raucous and gleefully unbridled take on Howlin' Wolf's 1964 Chicago blues standard.

The video for "Killing Floor", which was released last month, offered a first look at Slash and his blues band Johnny Griparic (bass),Teddy Andreadis (keyboards),Michael Jerome (drums),and Tash Neal (vocals/guitar),recording the song in the studio.

Slash said: "'Killing Floor' is one of my favorite Howlin' Wolf songs, but also one of the iconic blues riffs that turned me on as a young guitar player. I've always wanted to cover it in some capacity and this record was the perfect vehicle. But playing it with this band, and with Brian Johnson singing, it was an achievement I would never have imagined back then. Let alone Steven Tyler providing the harp."

Johnson states: "When Slash asked me to sing on 'Killing Floor', I said yes immediately. It was one of the first songs I learned in my very first band, and when he played me the backing track it was a no-brainer, and Steven's harmonica is so bloody hot. I had a ball with Slash in the studio, and I think we did this great old song justice. Rock on."

By celebrating both well-known and largely undiscovered songs, Slash offers a nostalgic nod to the past while reinvigorating the songs with his inimitable guitar playing and the spirit of collaboration. For "Orgy Of The Damned", the acclaimed guitarist reteamed with storied producer Mike Clink and enlisted the album's diverse guest vocalists which include Gary Clark Jr., Billy F. Gibbons, Chris Stapleton, Dorothy, Iggy Pop, Paul Rodgers, Demi Lovato, Brian Johnson, Tash Neal, Chris Robinson and Beth Hart, in a similar way to his 2010 self-titled solo LP "Slash". To round out his band in the studio and on the road, Slash reunited with two of his bandmates from his BLUES BALL outfit in the '90s, bassist Johnny Griparic and keyboardist Teddy Andreadis, and brought on drummer Michael Jerome and singer/guitarist Tash Neal.

Although he grew up in England, Slash's American grandmother turned him on to the blues early on and he was immediately taken with B.B. King. At the same time, his parents raised him on a healthy diet of '60s British rock 'n' roll, from THE WHO to THE KINKS. Once he moved to Laurel Canyon, Slash found himself surrounded by rock and folk singers like Joni Mitchell, CROSBY, STILLS & NASH and Neil Young — all of whom eventually inspired his playing and songwriting. It wasn't until he began playing guitar himself that Slash realized all of his favorite musicians had been influenced by the same B.B. King blues records he'd listened to as a young kid.

"Orgy Of The Damned" encompasses a broad range of styles within the blues genre, veering from an upbeat, rowdy take on Robert Johnson's "Crossroads" to a plaintive, twanging rendition of T. Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday". Some of the songs, like STEPPENWOLF's "The Pusher", Charlie Segar's "Key To The Highway" and Albert King's "Born Under A Bad Sign", had been performed by SLASH'S BLUES BALL while others, like Stevie Wonder's "Living For The City", were longtime favorites for Slash. "Hoochie Coochie Man", written by Willie Dixon and made famous by Muddy Waters in 1954, showcases the in-the-moment nature and unrestrained energy of "Orgy Of The Damned", with ZZ TOP's Billy F. Gibbons stepping in on guitar and vocals. The group went into a rehearsal room in North Hollywood and began hashing out soulful, rollicking takes on the classic songs. Everything was played live in the room, with an emphasis on improvisation which resulted in a collection of dynamic, energized songs that are immediate, raw, and distinctly familiar.

As Slash was considering vocalists, he approached his old friend and collaborator Iggy Pop, who had long wanted to record a blues song. Pop suggested Lightnin' Hopkins's 1962 track "Awful Dream", a sparse, drawling number originally laid down on acoustic guitar. The duo decided to recreate that stripped back vibe and recorded their own languid, emotionally-resonate version sitting on two stools in Slash's studio.

"Iggy's interpretation of that song is actually sublime," says Slash. "And it's something that nobody's really heard from him. At the end of the track, you can hear him just singing the harmonica parts."

Elsewhere on "Orgy Of The Damned", Demi Lovato lends her powerhouse voice to "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone", a fervent, soulful version of the 1972 single by THE TEMPTATIONS that Slash admired as a kid. Although the song veers more towards R&B, the guitarist wanted to give it his own impassioned spin. The album concludes with a soaring original instrumental number, "Metal Chestnut", penned specifically for "Orgy Of The Damned" by Slash.

"Orgy Of The Damned" showcases a lesser-heard aspect of Slash's musical prowess. While he has always embraced a broad range of styles and genres, the album offers a rare opportunity to explore a unique side of his playing and bring to the forefront a rollicking journey through his strong, blues inspirations, that have long been in the background of his illustrious career.

"Orgy Of The Damned" track listing:

01. The Pusher (feat. Chris Robinson)
02. Crossroads (feat. Gary Clark Jr.)
03. Hoochie Coochie Man (feat. Billy Gibbons)
04. Oh Well (feat. Chris Stapleton)
05. Key To The Highway (feat. Dorothy)
06. Awful Dream (feat. Iggy Pop)
07. Born Under A Bad Sign (feat. Paul Rodgers)
08. Papa Was A Rolling Stone (feat. Demi Lovato)
09. Killing Floor (feat. Brian Johnson)
10. Living For The City (feat. Tash Neal)
11. Stormy Day (feat. Beth Hart)
12. Metal Chestnut

Although Slash's upcoming LP will be his second under the "Slash" banner, he has released a handful of albums with his long-running band SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS, in which he is joined by ALTER BRIDGE frontman Myles Kennedy.

InFebruary, Slash resumed touring with SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS.

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS' latest album, "4", was released in February 2022 via Gibson Records in partnership with BMG.

"4" was Slash's fifth solo album and fourth overall with his band featuring Kennedy, Brent Fitz (drums),Todd Kerns (bass, vocals) and Frank Sidoris (guitar, vocals).

Photo credit: Gibson

STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet has completed mixing the band's new studio album with longtime collaborator Danny Bernini at SpiritHouse Recording Studios in Northampton, Massachusetts.

On Thursday (April 11),Sweet took to his social media to write: "As we were going through each song over the past 5 days, we were both blown away at how amazing everything sounds. Every single song stands in its own. This is a very special album, unlike any other. As I listen I truly believe it's our best album. That's saying a lot but that's how I feel. Everyone delivers in this album and the production and mixes are next level. So are the songs. I say all this humbly. It could be the opposite."

He continued: "For some reason, God keeps blessing this band beyond measure. His favor is all over this one.

"I cannot wait for the world to hear this one".

Late last month, Sweet, who is responsible for almost all of the songwriting in STRYPER, said that the follow-up to 2022's "The Final Battle" "has a very special signature. It has a heaviness yet at the same time, a very melodic approach and a bit more of a 'sing-along' style when it comes to the choruses," he revealed. "I'm really pleased with the results and I truly believe it will be at the top of everyone's 'best of' list. There are some stand out tracks to my ears already but I won't go into details quite yet. Bottom line, a KILLER new STRYPER album is coming!"

Last September, Michael said that he wanted "to branch out a bit" on the next STRYPER album "and try some new things and I also want to get back to some 'pop metal' on a few tracks as well."

In December, Sweet underwent partial thyroidectomy, the surgery to remove part of his thyroid gland. It is the most common surgery for thyroid cancer.

The follow-up to 2020's "Even The Devil Believes", "The Final Battle" was produced by Sweet and was once again recorded at SpiritHouse Recording Studios.

Formed 41 years ago, STRYPER's name comes from Isaiah 53:5, which states: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

STRYPER's albums include "To Hell With The Devil", "Second Coming", "No More Hell To Pay", "Fallen", "God Damn Evil" and the aforementioned "Even The Devil Believes" and "The Final Battle".

Michael is joined in STRYPER by his brother Robert Sweet (drums),Oz Fox (guitar) and Perry Richardson (bass).

STRYPER's "To Hell With The Amps: The Unplugged Tour" will kick off in late May. For the first time ever, the Christian rockers will stage a full tour where they will perform their hits and fan favorites acoustically.

Always trying to make the band look like a joke. Yet we keep going and going. Album after album. Tour after tour. It must really piss these folks off😂

Posted by Michael Sweet on Friday, April 12, 2024

Just finished the mixes for the new Stryper album with Danny Bernini

As we were going through each song over the past 5...

Posted by Michael Sweet on Thursday, April 11, 2024

SCORPIONS kicked off their 2024 "Love At First Sting Las Vegas" residency last night (Thursday, April 11) at Planet Hollywood's Bakkt Theater.

The legendary German rockers' 17-song setlist included eight of the nine songs (all but "As Soon As The Good Times Roll") from their iconic album "Love At First Sting", which is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

Promoted by Live Nation and Caesars Entertainment, "Scorpions - Love At First Sting Las Vegas" follows the band's popular "Sin City Nights" residency which sold out all nine performances at the venue in 2022.

When "Love At First Sting Las Vegas" was first announced, SCORPIONS singer Klaus Meine said in a statement: "We're very excited to return to Las Vegas in 2024 for nine more concerts at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino's Bakkt Theater. We can't wait to share our new show with our fans in the U.S., celebrating the 40th anniversary of the iconic 'Love At First Sting' album along with our biggest Hits! Get ready for another Desert Sting … it's gonna be a Hell of a Ride!!!"

SCORPIONS' setlist for last night's show was as follows, according to Setlist.fm:

01. Coming Home
02. Gas In The Tank
03. Big City Nights
04. I'm Leaving You
05. The Zoo
06. Crossfire
07. Coast To Coast
08. Send Me An Angel
09. Make It Real
10. Wind Of Change
11. Peacemaker
12. The Same Thrill
13. Tease Me Please Me
14. Bad Boys Running Wild
15. Blackout
16. Still Loving You
17. Rock You Like A Hurricane

Remaining performances:

April 2024:

April 13
April 18
April 20
April 24
April 26
April 28

May 2024:

May 1
May 3

Shows begin at 8 p.m.

In a recent interview with Justin Young of Monsters, Madness And Magic, Meine spoke about SCORPIONS' plans for the coming months and years. He said: "Well, we're still out there with the 'Rock Believer' tour. It takes us around the world. And even though we have a little break right now, we keep going [in 2024], we pick it up. And we might come back to the United States and a lot of other places we haven't been on this tour so far and we keep going. And who knows if we go back to the studio at some point again. We never really talk about it. Right now, we're still doing 'Rock Believer' tour and we enjoy it a lot."

He continued: "There's so many rock believers out there. When you think, so many people in all those years said rock is dead because of grunge, because of hip-hop, because of rap, whatever it is. But no, it's not dead at all. There are millions of rock believers out there, and we can't wait to see them in 2024 and in '25, because it will mark the 60th anniversary of the SCORPIONS. That is something quite special. So right now, '24, '25 — we're on the road, and we put it all together right now. And we can't wait to see the rock believers out there again.

"The new album is still a new album, 'Rock Believer', and we can't wait to go out there," Klaus repeated. "And maybe we change a couple songs in the show. We'll see, we'll see. It's too early to say. And we can't wait to be out there next year. And for '25, yeah, it's 60 years. Hard to believe. There are guys, the next generation ahead of us, like THE ROLLING STONES, it's amazing to see what they're doing. Just heard, a couple of days ago, their new songs, and, man, they're rocking hard. That's pretty cool."

Last October, SCORPIONS founder Rudolf Schenker seemingly dismissed any talk of possible retirement but acknowledged that the band will not be able to continue indefinitely. The 75-year-old guitarist told Vikram Chandrasekar of Tales From The Road: "It's not a never-ending road. The road will be finished sooner or later; it's up to you and to our gods. But in 2025, that could be a great time for our 60th anniversary. 2025, it's the time when SCORPIONS is 60 years old. So, then, to celebrate 60 years of SCORPIONS could be a possibility, because I'm in contact with our very old drummer, who was playing on [SCORPIONS' 1972 debut album] 'Lonesome Crow', and the bass player, and use them also on stage to see the different kind of states we went through. Because we are very much connected still in all the different musicians, and that shows again, when we can make it, that music is always there for making friendships."

Back in May 2022, Meine told Jorge Botas of Portugal's "Metal Global" that there was no more talk of retirement within the band, as there was back in 2010 with what was purported to be a final album and a farewell tour that never quite took hold. "No, we scratched that word [retirement] out of our [vocabulary]," the now-75-year-old singer said. "It's not there. We don't think about it and we don't talk about it and we take it as it comes.

"We're just growing older and we do what we do and we hope our fans enjoy it as much as we do," Klaus continued. "But who would have thought we're still around after celebrating 50 years of being recording artists — our first album came out in 1972 and now 'Rock Believer' looks like it hits the big time with the fans and so many positive reviews from all over the world. And after all these years, who would have thought? And it's a wonderful thing.

"But all we know is [that] the road ahead is way shorter than what's behind us," Meine added. "And we never take it for granted — we never take success for granted. We work hard on what we do because we still love it and we still enjoy it. But it's what it is. And I think every artist knows what I'm talking about, because to go out there, play a great show for the fans and not let 'em down, it takes a lot of preparation, takes a lot of work. And being the singer, you try to make sure your pipes are in a good condition.

"It's a lot of things," Meine said. "And we don't know what the future will bring. Take a look at the next corner, and you never know what's going on. But right now, life is good. We have a great new album out there. And we have a lot of fun. We enjoy it."

Meine previously discussed SCORPIONS' aborted retirement in a 2018 interview with SiriusXM. "The thing is we have a much different view now," Klaus said. "And it's a young generation — that's the fuel that keeps us going, and it's really motivating.

"To be honest, every other year, you take a look around the corner: 'Can we do this?' 'Can we still deliver on the same high level, the way we used to do it?'" he admitted. "And that's the only way, and it's only fun if you can go out there and play a great rock show, wherever you do it. Like in the last couple of weeks, we had so much fun. But then you get sick on the road, like I did last year with the severe laryngitis. What can you do? There's not a chance. And then sometimes, of course, you ask yourself, 'How long can we do this?' Especially for singers — and I know I'm not the only one. But it's always, sometimes you ask yourself, 'Klaus, c'mon, how long can you keep up this level?' And then you go out there, everything feels good."

Circling back to SCORPIONS' 2010 "farewell tour" announcement, Klaus told SiriusXM: "Of course, we had our moment of doubt when we said, 'Okay. Maybe we should retire. Maybe this is a good moment.' And then we realized we were wrong, because there's still a lot of sting in the tail, so to speak, and it still feels good. There's such a demand for the SCORPIONS, and we're one of the few bands who play this global stage. If there wasn't this kind of demand, of course, there's no point after so many years, and you'd better go, 'Well, I go home and take it easy.' But there's such a strong demand and that really feels good and challenging — it's a challenge. Of course, you don't do it for the business. It's a good business, yes, but you don't do it for the business and for the money — you do it for the fun, you do it for what's inside of you, what's in your blood, what's in your veins, and that's the rock and roll music. And you wanna go out and play in front of an audience, because that's what it's all about."

SCORPIONS' only continuous member has been Schenker, although Meine has appeared on all of the band's studio albums, while guitarist Matthias Jabs has been a consistent member since 1978, and bassist Paweł Mąciwoda and drummer Mikkey Dee have been in the band since 2003 and 2016, respectively.

SCORPIONS' latest album, "Rock Believer", was released in February 2022. The album was recorded primarily at Peppermint Park Studios in Hannover, Germany and was mixed at the legendary Hansa Studios in Berlin, Germany with engineer Michael Ilbert, who has earned multiple Grammy nominations for his mix work with producer Max Martin on albums by Taylor Swift and Katy Perry.

#Scorpions #ScorpionsTour #Vegas

Posted by Scorpions Tour on Tuesday, April 9, 2024

On Wednesday, April 10, veteran hard rockers EUROPE were awarded the Swedish government's Special Prize by the minister for international development cooperation and foreign trade Johan Forssell. Loreen was presented with the government's Music Export Prize and the Honorable Mention went to Melodifestivalen.

EUROPE said: "We were very honored to receive the Swedish Government's special award for long-standing contributions to Swedish Music Exports. Thank you to all who were there and for all the support."

Forssell said: "Swedish musicians continue to be internationally successful and I am truly proud to present this year's prizes. Swedish music exports bring in billions and the industry contributes to job opportunities, growth and spreading a positive image of Sweden abroad. We want to acknowledge that today."

The jury's citation: From teenage rock dreams in the classrooms of Vilundaskolan in Upplands Väsby in the late 1970s to prominent careers filled with export success, international chart toppers and epic world tours, EUROPE, with their mix of hard and melodic rock, were pioneers in putting Sweden on the world map. The band had a major breakthrough and achieved great success with the album "The Final Countdown" in 1986 but had already won over Japanese hard rock fans with their song "Seven Doors Hotel" in 1983. A string of timeless and iconic songs such as "The Final Countdown", "Rock The Night", "Superstitious" and "Carrie", to name just a few, will always be a fundamental part of the Swedish "music phenomenon".

Since their comeback in the early 2000s, the band's journey has continued through energetic live performances, continued impressive songwriting and successful albums to this day. Not only have EUROPE survived constant changes within the music industry, they have also become a symbol for constant development and artistic integrity. They have successfully combined their ability to create powerful songs without losing the connection to the heavy '70s rock that the members grew up with. EUROPE have not just preserved their magnificent heritage, but also dared to explore new musical territories, cementing them as a long-lasting and respected force in rock music. In Sweden — and the world.

Last year, EUROPE released a new song titled "Hold Your Head Up". The track, which is described by the band as "a punchy uptempo rocker with reminiscent elements of early EUROPE," was recorded in August 2023 at Atlantis Studios in Stockholm with producer Klas Åhlund (GHOST, ROBYN) and was mixed by Stefan Glaumann (RAMMSTEIN, DEF LEPPARD),who also mixed EUROPE's "Secret Society" album.

"Hold Your Head Up" was made available to stream and download on September 29, 2023 across all reputable digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple, iTunes, Amazon Music, Deezer, Tidal, Pandora and YouTube Music.

EUROPE's twelfth studio album is expected to be recorded in late 2024 and released in early 2025.

The "Hold Your Head Up" video offers a glimpse into the brand-new documentary that the band have been busy filming with producer/director Craig Hooper (DEEP PURPLE, SAXON) for Coolhead Productions simply titled "Europe - The Movie". The film will tell the story of the band, from formation until present day, telling of their rise to success in the mid-1980s, through hard times and heartache, to coming back in the millennium, and the current successes the band has achieved. This is set for release later this year.

EUROPE recently completed "Time Capsule" European tour which included 21 concerts across Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Norway, Sweden, France, The Netherlands, and the U.K., including two nights at the famous London Palladium. These anniversary shows consisted of a career retrospective "evening with" performance featuring all the hits together with deep cuts and fan favorites from all of their 11 studio albums.

EUROPE's latest album, "Walk The Earth", was released in October 2017 via Hell & Back Recordings (Silver Lining Music). It was recorded at famed Abbey Road Studios in London with Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (RIVAL SONS, Shooter Jennings, Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton).

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A new video of Tony Martin and Tony Iommi discussing the BLACK SABBATH album "Headless Cross" can be seen below.

"Headless Cross" is included in the "Anno Domini 1989-1995" box set of the Martin-era BLACK SABBATH recordings, which will be made available on on May 31 via Rhino.

BLACK SABBATH's history with singers Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio has been chronicled extensively through the years in multiple collections. Until now, no boxed set has focused on BLACK SABBATH's time with Martin, the band's second-longest-serving singer.

Rhino explores this prolific period from the godfathers of heavy metal in a new collection that brings four albums back into print after an extended absence. "Anno Domini 1989-1995" will be released in four-LP and four-CD configurations. The set contains newly remastered versions of "Headless Cross" (1989),"Tyr" (1990) and "Cross Purposes" (1994),plus a new version of "Forbidden" (1995) that guitarist Tony Iommi remixed specially for the collection.

Several albums make their vinyl debut in the LP version of "Anno Domini", while the CD version contains three exclusive bonus tracks: the B-side "Cloak & Dagger" and the Japan-only releases "What's The Use" and "Loser Gets It All". A booklet comes with the set featuring photos, artwork, and liner notes by Hugh Gilmour. The collection also contains a "Headless Cross" poster and a replica concert book from the "Headless Cross" tour.

"Anno Domini" picks up BLACK SABBATH's story in 1989, two decades and multiple lineup changes into the band's groundbreaking career as metal originators. At the time, membership had solidified around riffmaster and founding member Tony Iommi, legendary drummer Cozy Powell (JEFF BECK, RAINBOW, WHITESNAKE),singer Tony Martin, and longtime BLACK SABBATH collaborator and keyboardist Geoff Nicholls (QUARTZ, BANDY LEGS).

The group originally released "Headless Cross" in 1989 on I.R.S. Records, the first of four albums SABBATH recorded for the label. Praised by fans and critics alike, the band's 14th studio release produced three singles: "Devil And Daughter", "Call Of The Wild" and the title track. Bassist Neil Murray (WHITESNAKE, GARY MOORE) joined for the "Headless Cross" tour and stayed to record SABBATH's next album, 1990's "Tyr". Named for the Norse god of war, the album explores similar mythological themes in songs like "The Battle Of Tyr" and "Valhalla". On "The Sabbath Stones", the band channels Old Testament fire and brimstone into a classic bruiser.

In 1992, following a successful world tour, this incarnation of BLACK SABBATH was put on hold when the band reunited temporarily with Ronnie James Dio. Two years later, Martin and Nicholls were back in the studio with Iommi to record 1994's "Cross Purposes". The band was completed with the addition of founding SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bobby Rondinelli of RAINBOW.

The "Tyr"-era BLACK SABBATH lineup reunited in 1995 when Powell and Murray returned to record "Forbidden". It was the band's 18th studio album, and its last for nearly 20 years. (In 2013, Iommi, Osbourne and Butler released BLACK SABBATH's final studio album, "13".) "Forbidden", produced by Ernie C of BODY COUNT, the hard rock band fronted by rapper/actor/SABBATH fan Ice-T, who appears on the song "Illusion Of Power". Since its release, sonically improving the album has been one of Iommi's pet projects.

He explains: "I was never happy with the guitar sound, and Cozy was definitely never happy with the drum sound… So, I thought it would be nice to do it for him in a way." He adds, "I just felt that, without changing any of the songs, there was an opportunity to go back and bring out some of the sounds and make it more what people would expect SABBATH to sound like."

Included in the set:

* "Headless Cross", "Tyr" and "Cross Purposes" newly remastered
* "Forbidden" newly remixed by Tony Iommi
* 1989 "Headless Cross" tour replica concert book
* 40-page book with photos, artwork and new liner notes
* Replica color tour poster

Disc 1 – "Headless Cross"

01. The Gates Of Hell (2024 Remaster)
02. Headless Cross (2024 Remaster)
03. Devil & Daughter (2024 Remaster)
04. When Death Calls (2024 Remaster)
05. Kill In The Spirit World (2024 Remaster)
06. Call Of The Wild (2024 Remaster)
07. Black Moon (2024 Remaster)
08. Nightwing (2024 Remaster)
09. Cloak & Dagger (2024 Remaster)

Disc 2 – "Tyr"

01. Anno Mundi (2024 Remaster)
02. The Law Maker (2024 Remaster)
03. Jerusalem (2024 Remaster)
04. The Sabbath Stones (2024 Remaster)
05. The Battle Of Tyr (2024 Remaster)
06. Odin's Court (2024 Remaster)
07. Valhalla (2024 Remaster)
08. Feels Good To Me (2024 Remaster)
09. Heaven In Black (2024 Remaster)

Disc 3 – "Cross Purposes"

01. I Witness (2024 Remaster)
02. Cross Of Thorns (2024 Remaster)
03. Psychophobia (2024 Remaster)
04. Virtual Death (2024 Remaster)
05. Immaculate Deception (2024 Remaster)
06. Dying For Love (2024 Remaster)
07. Back To Eden (2024 Remaster)
08. The Hand That Rocks The Cradle (2024 Remaster)
09. Cardinal Sin (2024 Remaster)
10. Evil Eye (2024 Remaster)
11. What's The Use (2024 Remaster)

Disc 4 – "Forbidden" remix

01. Illusion Of Power
02. Get A Grip
03. Can't Get Close Enough
04. Shaking Off The Chains
05. I Won't Cry For You
06. Guilty As Hell
07. Sick And Tired
08. Rusty Angels
09. Forbidden
10. Kiss Of Death
11. Loser Gets It All

Vinyl:

LP 1 – Side A

01. The Gates Of Hell (2024 Remaster)
02. Headless Cross (2024 Remaster)
03. Devil & Daughter (2024 Remaster)
04. When Death Calls (2024 Remaster)

LP 1 – Side B

01. Kill In The Spirit World (2024 Remaster)
02. Call Of The Wild (2024 Remaster)
03. Black Moon (2024 Remaster)
04. Nightwing (2024 Remaster)

LP 2 – Side A

01. Anno Mundi (2024 Remaster)
02. The Law Maker (2024 Remaster)
03. Jerusalem (2024 Remaster)
04. The Sabbath Stones (2024 Remaster)

LP 2 – Side B

01. The Battle Of Tyr (2024 Remaster)
02. Odin's Court (2024 Remaster)
03. Valhalla (2024 Remaster)
04. Feels Good To Me (2024 Remaster)
05. Heaven In Black (2024 Remaster)

LP 3 – Side A

01. I Witness (2024 Remaster)
02. Cross Of Thorns (2024 Remaster)
03. Psychophobia (2024 Remaster)
04. Virtual Death (2024 Remaster)
05. Immaculate Deception (2024 Remaster)

LP 3 – Side B

01. Dying For Love (2024 Remaster)
02. Back To Eden (2024 Remaster)
03. The Hand That Rocks The Cradle (2024 Remaster)
04. Cardinal Sin (2024 Remaster)
05. Evil Eye (2024 Remaster)

LP 4 – Side A

01. Illusion Of Power
02. Get A Grip
03. Can't Get Close Enough
04. Shaking Off The Chains
05. I Won't Cry For You

LP 4 – Side B

01. Guilty As Hell
02. Sick And Tired
03. Rusty Angels
04. Forbidden
05. Kiss Of Death

In the summer of 2022, Martin told "The Rock And Metal Profs: The History And Philosophy Of Rock And Metal" podcast that "two record labels" were going to re-release the albums he recorded with SABBATH. "I don't know when, and I don't know what it's gonna look like," he said. "There was some suggestion a while back that we might be able to put extra tracks and stuff on it. I did offer, and I went to see Tony Iommi and offered some things. And then he said we can't use anything new 'cause nothing new can be released under the BLACK SABBATH name. It can only be stuff that's got the original four members on it.

"I'm expecting it to be a remixed version of whatever the original was; that's what I'm expecting," Tony added. "So I await as you do to find out. Let me know if you hear it first."

When the interviewer expressed hope that the box set will include some live recordings from the Martin era of SABBATH, either in audio or video format, Tony said: "I recorded the writing session with… Eddie Van Halen came over and helped us write one of the tracks [for 1994's 'Cross Purposes' album]. And I had an eight-track recorder at the time in the 1980s, and I used to take it everywhere, this thing. I've got all of the writing sessions and rehearsals recorded. So I sent [Iommi] this, and he went, 'Wow! That's fucking great.' And I said, 'Well, you're welcome to use it, if you wanna put that on.' So, I don't know… Maybe you'll get that on there."

Martin added: "It's great to hear Eddie play."

BLACK SABBATH released six albums with Martin on vocals: "The Eternal Idol" (1987),"Headless Cross" (1989),"Tyr" (1990),"Cross Purposes" (1994),"Cross Purposes Live" (1995) and "Forbidden" (1995). Eventually, Martin and his "Forbidden"-era bandmates were ousted when Iommi reunited with SABBATH's fellow original members.

In January 2022, Martin reflected on his time with SABBATH during an appearance on "The Ron Keel Podcast", saying: "It doesn't haunt me. It's not a bad thing. I've got a lot to be grateful for. SABBATH is the reason why you, and the world, knows about my voice. So there are things to be grateful for. It was hard work for me. I'm 12 years younger than the rest of the guys, so even just circle of friends was different — they're hanging out with Ian Gillan and Brian May, and my best friend is Dave down the road. So that was a gap. And also the experience — they were way ahead of me in experience, at least 12 years further up the road from me, and I never could quite catch them up; they will always have that much more experience than me. So that was hard work."

He continued: "When I first got the gig, it was actually 1986 that I was put on standby when they were with Glenn Hughes on the 'Seventh Star' album. And I don't know what the issues were, but something went wrong with Glenn and they put me on standby. That scared me to death, 'cause it's Glenn Hughes. I can't sing like Glenn Hughes; nobody can sing like Glenn Hughes. Only Glenn Hughes can sing like Glenn Hughes. So that was really scary. Then they got Ray Gillen in. Then he left — he left to join BLUE MURDER with John Sykes, so they called me again and said, 'You'd better come down to the studio and try this out.' And they gave me one song, which was 'The Shining' off 'Eternal Idol', and then two days later said, 'Okay. You've got the job. You've got a week to finish the album.' So right from the start it was scary — it was huge; suddenly being the frontman of BLACK SABBATH was just ridiculous. And yeah, the whole association with me and my voice lasted 11 years."

Seven years ago, Iommi told I Heart Guitar that "it's a shame" that "it took a lot for people to accept" Martin as SABBATH's vocalist. "It's taken all these years later for people to say, 'Oh blimey, that was a good band with good singing.' So it took a long time to get people to really realize how good it was."

In 2018, Iommi spent time in the studio remixing "Forbidden" for a future release. The LP, which features Martin, drummer Cozy Powell and bassist Neil Murray, is often regarded as SABBATH's worst studio recording.

In a 2012 interview with Über Röck, Martin said that he was "surprised" to see Iommi criticizing him in the guitarist's "Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven And Hell With Black Sabbath" book (referring to the Martin period, especially the touring phase following the release of "Cross Purposes" in 1994, Iommi lambasted his former singer as "unprofessional" and having "no stage presence"). Martin said: "I mean, they never said anything to me. Surely, if you've got a problem, the first person you should say something to is the person that's in the band with you... It sounds like a really stupid thing to say, as they didn't say anything to my face — and, if that's the case, then more fool them for not saying anything, because, you know, we could have fixed it. I said to them, endlessly, that if there was anything they wanted changed, done differently, just to say and we could fix it, but clearly, they didn't, they hadn't got the guts to, obviously, and to write about it in a book afterwards seems a bit daft to me. I'm not bitter about it, but it is surprising... It seems a bit stupid to say that after the event."

The El Expreso Del Rock YouTube channel has uploaded video of DEATH ANGEL's April 10 concert at Ace Of Spades in Bogota, Colombia. Check out the clips below.

In a recent interview with El Planeta Del Rock, DEATH ANGEL guitarist Ted Aguilar stated about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's next studio album: "Well, right now, yeah, it's going good. We have a bunch of songs, a lot of skeletons. We spent the first three months of this year writing. We didn't do any activity — just writing. And I actually saw Rob [Cavestany, DEATH ANGEL guitarist] a couple of nights ago, and it's going well. There's a bunch of skeletons, as we call it. There's a lot of ideas that we're waiting for [singer] Mark [Osegueda] to put some vocals on. But we're taking a break right now, because I think next week we start rehearsals for [our tour of] South America. So we have to [go], 'All right, let's stop the writing.' We've gotta get back and put together a really good setlist for South America and do the tour. Then, when we come back, we'll probably take a week off, then we go back into writing. Which is perfect timing, because when we get back from South America, Mark's gonna be busy [touring] with Kerry King [SLAYER]. So it's perfect timing 'cause while Mark's doing the Kerry King thing, we're gonna be at home and just — the priority is the new record."

Osegueda is the featured singer on King's debut solo album, "From Hell I Rise", which will arrive on May 17 via Reigning Phoenix Music. Joining Kerry and Mark on the record are drummer Paul Bostaph (SLAYER),bassist Kyle Sanders (HELLYEAH) and Phil Demmel (formerly of MACHINE HEAD) on lead guitar. Working with producer Josh Wilbur (KORN, LAMB OF GOD, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, BAD RELIGION),the vast bulk of King's solo album was recorded at Henson Recording Studios (formerly A&M Studios) in Los Angeles, California, a location that birthed classics from THE DOORS, PINK FLOYD, RAMONES and SOUNDGARDEN, among others.

KERRY KING will be special guest on the upcoming LAMB OF GOD/MASTODON North American "Ashes Of Leviathan" co-headline tour. The six-week run will launch on July 19 in Grand Prairie, Texas and will wrap on August 31 in Omaha, Nebraska. KERRY KING will make the band's 2024 concert debut in May.

Last month, Osegueda told El Planeta Del Rock about the songwriting process for DEATH ANGEL's next LP: "It's going great. And we're excited about it. That's where DEATH ANGEL is right now, writing the new record… I think I was at [Rob's] house on Thursday and I laid down vocals to a demo of a new DEATH ANGEL song. And there's more songs I've gotta start writing the lyrics and melodies for, 'cause him and Will [Carroll, DEATH ANGEL drummer] are in the studio and Rob has been tracking Will's drums on these songs for demos and now it's time for me to catch up and write more lyrics and melodies. It's happening. And the only thing that's gonna slow it down — and I don't mind; we're all excited about it — starting next week, we'll switch the gears into rehearsing for the Latin American 'Humanicide' tour. So we'll be rehearsing for the Latin American 'Humanicide' tour, go on that tour, which we're not trying to rush, then we'll come back, take a moment to breathe, and then it's right back into writing. That'll be the main focus after that."

Asked if there is any chance of DEATH ANGEL releasing a new single this year, Mark said: "That's a good question. I don't know. We're more of an album band. 'Cause we wanna write a whole bunch of music and cherry pick the best songs that we think will make a solid, solid, vicious record, especially after — [it being] the follow-up to 'Humanicide' and being that it's already been, we're going on five years since the last [studio album]. So I think we wanna get the best product possible."

In a separate interview with Elevar, Cavestany confirmed that new DEATH ANGEL music was in the works. "I don't like divulging the 'play by play'; I'd rather news came out when there is substantial information to speak of," he explained. "That being said, I can tell you there are around seven songs we are currently working on and I'm currently getting deep into the writing zone, which is my happy place. If we can manage to stop saying yes to every tour offer (we love to tour),then maybe we can finally get this new album done. The plan is to record it this year."

Also this month, Carroll said that he was "stoked" about how DEATH ANGEL's new music was shaping up. "The creative juices are flowing and things are moving along at a very productive rate," he wrote on social media. "One more song and we'll have reached our goal we set for ourselves before rehearsing the songs we're doing down in South/Central America in April. Once that tour is over and we're back home we get straight back to making these demos."

He added: "I can't wait for the DA fans around the world to hear this new material and hopefully we'll make some new ones along the way. Exciting times indeed."

Two months ago, Will said that he and his DEATH ANGEL bandmates were "hard at work getting" the band's next album "written and completely demo'd."

"It felt good to get back to work with Rob Cavestany," Will wrote on January 26. "It's a real challenge to not rehash the same ideas and beats from previous albums but I think so far things are sounding fresh and inspired."

Last July, Aguilar told Vikram Chandrasekar about the band's songwriting process: "Well, when it comes down to writing, it's all Rob. It's all Rob. It starts with him. He comes up with a basic structure and him and Will get together and they hash it all out and they record it. And when they get it to a point where, 'Oh, yeah, this is great,' then they send it off to everyone else. And Damien [Sisson, bass] does his parts and Mark [Osegueda, vocals] will listen to it and try to write lyrics and melodies. And I'll listen to it and I'll touch base with Rob: 'What do you want me to do here? Do you want me to play something here? Or do you want me to do something different?' 'Cause Rob has a vision and you kind of wanna see his vision. And as soon as the song comes together to where we play it quite a few times, then we could throw in our ideas, like, 'Hey, maybe that part should be a little longer,' or, 'Maybe cut that out,' or Will will go, 'I wanna do something different here instead.' So, you know, Rob has a vision, we listen, we play along with it. Then if we feel like there needs to be changes, we express our concern, and Rob is really good at, 'Yeah, let's give it a try.' So we try everything. And it comes down to, 'All right, this is what works.' So it starts with Rob. And with regarding the lyrics, every now and then Rob will pick out a song: 'I wanna write lyrics for this song.' And Mark goes, 'Go ahead.' But Mark writes all the lyrics, and what he does is with the music, he'll listen to it over and over by himself. I don't know where he goes. He goes into the far corners of the earth by himself, with the headphones and music, and he'll come up with so many types of different melodies and stuff, and then come up with the ones he's happy with and lay it down on the demo form. Then when we get into the real studio, then things start to evolve 'cause we've played it so many times or we listened to it so many times that when we get in there, [we go], 'All right, let's try this.' It's always evolving to the point where it's handing it in to get mastered. Some songs stay kind of the same from what it was, but we just put more energy into it. Some songs have been rewritten quite a few times, so it differs. Rob's the songwriter, and on the last album I wrote one song. Yeah, it's how it is. And right now I'm writing some stuff, and how it goes is I'll write some stuff, I'll send it to Rob. I always tell him, 'If it's good, use it. If not, if you find parts are good, use it. If it's not good, it's okay, dude.' I'm just throwing some stuff out there, 'cause he knows what the DEATH ANGEL sound should be. And if he likes it, he'll use it. If he doesn't, my feelings are not broken."

DEATH ANGEL released a live album titled "The Bastard Tracks" in November 2021 via Nuclear Blast. Recorded live at The Great American Music Hall in their hometown of San Francisco on May 22, 2021, and streamed live soon after, "The Bastard Tracks" was described in a press release as "a deep-cuts collection of rarely and never performed songs from the band's catalog" that was released digitally and on CD, vinyl and Blu-ray.

In October 2020, DEATH ANGEL released a four-song EP, "Under Pressure". The effort included a cover of QUEEN + David Bowie's "Under Pressure", followed by a new track titled "Faded Remains", plus acoustic versions of "Act III"'s classic "A Room With A View" and "Humanicide"'s "Revelation Song". The EP was mixed by Max Norman (OZZY OSBOURNE, MEGADETH, BAD COMPANY) and mastered by Ted Jensen (LAMB OF GOD, MACHINE HEAD, HALESTORM).

Released in May 2019 via Nuclear Blast, "Humanicide" saw DEATH ANGEL returning to producer and friend Jason Suecof (DEICIDE, TRIVIUM) of Audiohammer studios for the recording and mixing, along with the mastering of the legendary Ted Jensen (SLIPKNOT, PANTERA) of Sterling Sound, who added the final touches and brought it all to life, with artist Brent Elliott White (LAMB OF GOD, MEGADETH) providing the ominous cover artwork.

In March 2020, Carroll spent almost two weeks on a ventilator in an intensive care unit at a Northern California hospital after being diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. He first got sick when he and the rest of DEATH ANGEL spent more than a month on the road in Europe with TESTAMENT and EXODUS as part of "The Bay Strikes Back 2020" tour.

DEATH ANGEL was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Metal Performance" for the "Humanicide" title track. It was the group's first Grammy nomination.

Carroll joined DEATH ANGEL in 2009 as the replacement for the band's original drummer, Andy Galeon.

Tonight Death Angel is playing in Bogota, Colombia at Ace of spades-club.
This will be Death Angel's first ever...

Posted by Mark Osegueda Official on Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Today, North German metallers, Mob Rules, share their cover version of "Fame" by Irene Cara, first made popular by the film of the same name in 1980. The track is one of three covers that appear on Mob Rules' upcoming album, Celebration Day - 30 Years Of Mob Rules, out via Steamhammer/SPV on May 3.


Stream "Fame" here, and listen below.


About the track, singer Klaus Dirks says: "The person responsible for this is our former drummer Nikolas Fritz. During the lockdown, he suddenly had the idea to make this cover version of Irene Cara's song. While showering he heard it on the radio and suddenly felt that it was a good idea to make a metal version of it. So we made it happen with the help of our friend and engineer Markus Teske who added this symphonic touch. We are very happy with the result!"







With Celebration Day - 30 Years Of Mob Rules, the band around singer Klaus Dirks announces an extensive compilation of Mob Rules classics with over 150 minutes of playing time spread over two CDs. Consisting of thirty hand-picked songs, including classics such as "Black Rain", "Hollowed Be Thy Name", and "Rain Song", but also songs that have previously seen less of a spotlight.


Klaus explains: "I immediately have to think of 'Way Of The World', which was the last song on our Hollowed Be Thy Name album from 2002. We were able to get ex-Helloween/Masterplan guitarist Roland Grapow for a guest appearance and in the end the eight-and-a-half-minute track became one of the best in our repertoire."


In addition to this amazing cross-section of the band's career, they have included some tracks which were previously only available digitally (as examples, the latest single "Hymn Of The Damned" and the Amon Amarth cover "Raven's Flight"). These tracks were carefully remastered by Markus Teske especially for this compilation.





With three brand new cover songs, Celebration Day - 30 Years Of Mob Rules also contains previously unreleased material. With great attention to detail, the band took on diverse songs such as "Run To The Hills" (Iron Maiden), "Fame" (Irene Cara), and "Square Hammer" (Ghost) and made them their own.


French artist Stan-W Decker (Primal Fear, Blue Öyster Cult, Rage) was enlisted for the visual design of the anniversary release, creating the perfect setting with a breathtaking cover illustration containing numerous cross-references to the Mob Rules band history.


All in all, every detail of Celebration Day - 30 Years Of Mob Rules displays the high-quality standards of a band that has never done things by halves. Here's to the next 30 years!


Pre-Order Celebration Day - 30 Years of Mob Rules here.





Tracklisting:
 
CD1
"Way Of The World"
"Run To The Hills" (Iron Maiden cover)
"Fame" (Irene Cara cover)
"Square Hammer" (Ghost cover)
"Ghost Town" (re-recorded)
"Sacred Heart" (Dio cover)
"Ghost Of A Chance"
"Hollowed Be Thy Name"
"Sinister Light"
"Black Rain"
"Ice & Fire"
"Somerled"
"Flag Of Life"
"Unholy War"
"Fuel To The Fire"


CD2
"Raven's Flight" (Amon Amarth cover)
"Hymn Of The Damned"
"Lord Of Madness" (re-recorded)
"Evolution's Falling"
"Shores Ahead"
"Hydrophobia"
"Hold Back The Light"
"Tele Box Fool"
"Desperate Son"
"The Sirens"
"Better Morning"
"Trial By Fire"
"On The Edge"
"Rain Song"
"Dykemaster's Tale"


"Run To The Hills":





Mob Rules live dates:


May
3 - Bremen, Germany - Meisenfrei
4 - Duisburg, Germany - Parkhaus Meiderich
5 - Waldbronn, Germany - Soundcheck One

Mexican Ape-Lord’s third full-length album will drop from the sky like a Marshall-sized meteorite on May 10. From the impact crater of its opening chords to the final subterranean refrain, Blunt Instrument is an exercise in mayhem and madness. The record features the original lineup, with producer Peter Rutcho once again at the controls.





Blunt Instrument is an official launch partner for Unable Music Group’s new label imprint 10-31 Records, specializing in metal and punk. CDs and digital downloads are available for pre-order here . All customers will receive the first two singles, "Blunt Instrument" and "Kentucky Meat Shower,” at the time of purchase as an ‘instant gratification’ bonus. Listen to "Blunt Instrument" below:







In 2012 Meliah Rage guitarist/songwriter Anthony Nichols and The Bags vocalist/bassist Jon Hardy teamed up with drummer Steve Fry and lead guitarist Dan Dykes to form Mexican Ape-Lord. The band’s debut album, The Late Heavy Bombardment (Unable Records, 2014) made a slew of top ten lists. BraveWords called it “a balls-out metal album” and True Metal Lives declared “It proudly stands up and gives genre labeling the big middle finger.”


Friends since high school, Nichols and Hardy found success in different branches of the Boston rock scene in the late eighties. After signing to Epic Records in 1988, Meliah Rage went on to release nine albums and built a loyal following over the course of numerous international tours. The Bags won the Boston Rock ’n’ Roll Rumble in 1989, released six albums, and had their song “Cavemen Rejoice” featured on the PlayStation 2 game Guitar Hero.


Just days after completing work on The Late Heavy Bombardment, Nichols suffered a brutal wrist injury and was told he would never play guitar again. After multiple surgeries and years of rehab he returned to writing music and gradually worked his way back into top form. That material became the basis for Mexican Ape-Lord’s second album, Survival Cannibalism (Unable Records, 2020).        


The songs on Survival Cannibalism were inspired by a true story of shipwreck and cannibalism that took place on Boon Island, Maine in 1710. “I wanted to get inside the heads of these tormented guys, whose suffering drove them to do the unthinkable,” says Hardy. “It’s an grim subject, obviously, but a great one for Tony, Dan, and Steve, because they are masterful at covering the full range, musically – from utter darkness to the thrill of cheating Death.”


In 2022 the band released Burn Pit (Unable Records), a four song EP exploring some classic Mexican Ape-Lord themes: inner demons, dangerous work, ritualistic bloodshed, and apex predators. “We weren’t about to stop making music just because the world was coming to an end,” says Nichols.


And now, just as the skies have cleared, another heavy hitter appears. Mexican Ape-Lord’s Blunt Instrument drops May 10, 2024.  

Moribundis Grim, Necrophagia's final album, due out May 10th 2024 via Time To Kill Records, is a compelling testament to perseverance, top to bottom.


After many years of silence, the legendary death metal force has reawakened and they have shared another single from the upcoming record with "Mental Decay".


Guitarist Serge Streltsov:




“‘Mental Decay’ is a re-recording of the classic from the Season Of The Dead album. Killjoy wanted to update some of those songs with the newer, more modern sound. Plus his vocal style had changed from those years, so he wanted to make it heavier and more extreme. This track was originally supposed to come out for the 30th anniversary of the album back in 2017.”


In the years of 2016-2018, the band’s last line-up - Killjoy, Serge Streltsov, Shawn Slusarek and Jake Arnette - composed and started recording what their final opus, Moribundis Grim became.


Unfortunately, in 2018 Killjoy passed away before finishing the album. In 2022 with the help of special guests and former Necrophagia members - John McEntee from Incantation, Titta Tani (ex-Goblin) and Mirai Kawashima from Sigh - the album was finally completed.


In a way, it is quite sensational to see another Necrophagia album released at this point in time, meaning 40 years after their first demos were released.


Serge Streltsov:


“Moribundis Grim is Killjoy’s final album. These are his last vocal performances. The album features the last Necrophagia live line up: Killjoy Desade, Serge Streltsov, Shawn Slusarek and Jake Arnette, along with special guest John McEntee and previous members Titta Tani and Mirai Kawashima. These songs are the demos the band and Killjoy worked on up until Killjoy’s passing. Also featuring re-worked versions of songs from the first album and a Samhain cover. Once again the bastard children of horror and gore capture the true essence of what Necrophagia is all about. Killjoy and Fulci Live! Gore Forever!”


Completed from a remote creative exchange, with ideas being bounced back and forth between all members to create an eight-track barrage of death metal, Moribundis Grim is an incredible achievement.





Tracklisting:


“House By The Cemetary” (cover)
“Moribundis Grim”
“Bleeding Torment”
“Mental Decay”
“Halloween 3” (Samhain cover)
“The Wicked” (live)
“Scarecrows”
“Sundown”


"Mental Decay":





“Moribundis Grim”:





Album line-up:


Killjoy Desade - Lead Vocals
Serge Streltsov - Guitars, Bass
Shawn Slusarek- Drums
Jake Arnette- Bass


Titta Tani - Drums, Backing Vocals
Mirai Kawashima- Keys
John McEntee - Guest Vocals
Dee Commisso - Keys

Today, Century Media Records welcomes Philadelphia heavy metal band, Sonja, to its roster. Conceptualized in 2014, Sonja are capturing the true spirit of metal and rock n’ roll with a dark and sensual approach.


Following their 2022 debut album Loud Arriver, Sonja now expose their new single, "Discretion For The Generous”. The powerful track intermingles gothic rock style with a habitually infectious chorus that incites a fiery metal whirlwind. Vocalist and guitarist Melissa Moore commands melody and lyrics, derived from perception and transaction.







The music video matches the track’s intensity, displaying not only a striking performance from the band but a parallel tale of art and objectification. Sonja delve through the hands of lust and temptation while setting forth their own path, something that has become dominant though the elevation of the band.


Stream the track here, and watch the video below.





On the single and signing Moore bares: “It’s a potent experience to write, record, film a video at my home, and immediately release a song that is literally encompassing my life right now. Sonja is our Goddess and she despises compromise. We exist for her extreme desire and as such we are full-on at all times. To create the art worthy of her name we rip through our realities into the new planes of existence she demands.  We are grateful for those who join us on this path of serving her.


"Escaping to Portugal to write the lyrics, I attempted to articulate some of the insanity back in Philly. When I returned home, we turned the volume UP. Century Media became our new sugar daddy.


"We stare into each other’s souls with an unhinged need to push each other over the edge. It’s pointless to even try to predict what kind of fucked up situations we are all going to end up in. Some knowledge can only be found in the dark.”


Mike Gitter, VP of A&R at Century Media Records adds on welcoming Sonja: "When we first heard Sonja's Loud Arriver, it was as full of heaviness, angst, sexuality and heart as a rock record could be. Like the band itself, it both challenged and waved a bloody sword for the classic and the contemporary. ‘Discretion For the Generous,’ in true Sonja fashion, occupies the space where Manowar, Danzig and Mercyful Fate conjure and conquer at the best late night party you can imagine. Century Media is proud to be Sonja's new label home."


Sonja have an extensive tour schedule ahead, starting with a European headline run on April 16. From there the band will support Wayfarer on tour across North America.





Sonja is:


Melissa Moore (Vocals/Guitar)
Grzesiek Czapla (Drums)
Ben Brand (Bass)


(Photo - Zev Deans and Christopher Raymond)

In celebration of their 40th Anniversary (1984-2024), legendary British AOR rock band, FM, are proud to release “Don’t Need Another Heartache”, the second single from their forthcoming fourteenth studio album, Old Habits Die Hard.


The new single is available on all streaming platforms here, and an official video can be viewed below.


“Heartache draws influences from the bands love for bands like free and Bad Company,” says FM’s lead singer Steve Overland. “It’s a straight-to-the-point, classic blues rock track.”




"This song will probably be in the live set for the 40th anniversary tour as it’s one of our favourites from the album,” explains drummer and founder FM member, Pete Jupp.





Released to coincide with the bands 40th Anniversary, vocalist, guitarist and founding member Steve Overland says, “the new album encompasses the best melodic elements of the band’s illustrious 40-year spanning career."


"We really looked at what made the most popular FM albums great and tried to focus on that,” says Steve about the new album Old Habits Die Hard.


FM are known by many for their big choruses, twin lead guitars and Steve Overland’s intimate, yet powerful vocals, and clean guitar sound.


Following 2022’s Thirteen album, Old Habits Die Hard was delayed slightly by keyboard player Jem Davis’ cancer diagnosis (thankfully he’s now received the all-clear) and then by the sudden passing of FM’s founding guitarist Chris Overland (Steve’s brother), which hit the band hard.


Over the past 12 months, during their extensive touring schedule, FM produced the album themselves and recorded the bulk of it at their own Dale View and Electric Pepperland recording studios.


Opening track and first single “Out Of The Blue” was a song that originated from keyboard player Jem Davis. Says Jem, “The band love the music of Toto and Foreigner and so I tried to put those influences into one track. ‘Once Steve got involved and started singing it, I knew that we were onto something special.”


“'Out Of The Blue' is a song that old school FM fans will really latch on to,” says Steve. “So far, the reaction to the track has been amazing.”


“Whatever It Takes” and “No Easy Way Out” are typical FM melodic tracks and could fit seamlessly on to one of the bands earlier classic albums. Bass player and founder member Merv Goldsworthy explains, “No Easy way Out has the big typical FM chorus. It’s a massive hook. The kind of thing that we’ve become known for. It’s one of my favourites on the album.”


The heavier side of the album is represented by “Lost,” “Another Day in My World,” and “Leap of Faith.” Whilst more hard hitting, these songs embody the catchy melodic choruses that FM are known for.


“Cut Me Loose,” “California,” and “Blue Sky Mind” are poppier, more feelgood tracks. “Blue Sky Mind” was conceived again by keyboard player Jem Davis who originally wrote the song about his experience with his cancer diagnosis. ‘That song really was therapy for me. It was important that I got it out of my system and into music,” says Jem.


“Black Water” is a brooding, bluesy track that grows and grows. ‘This is a real favourite of mine,” says FM guitarist, Jim Kirkpatrick. “I could hear Brian May playing the guitar solo, so I pulled out my Brian May signature guitar and tried to do my best impersonation of him. Hopefully, I got somewhere close.”


Signed CDs can be pre-ordered here. All other streaming and physical pre-orders can be found here.





Tracklisting:


"Out Of The Blue"
"Don't Need Another Heartache"
"No Easy Way Out"
"Lost"
"Whatever It Takes"
"Black Water"
"Cut Me Loose"
"Leap of Faith"
"California"
"Another Day On My World"
"Blue Sky Mind"


Japan bonus track:


"Whatever It Takes" (Acoustic)


"Out Of The Blue" video:





FM previously announced their “Old Habits Die Hard” 40th Anniversary Tour. Find the complete tour itinerary and ticket links at fmofficial.com.





Band lineup:


Steve Overland – Vocals, Guitar
Merv Goldsworthy – Bass Guitar
Pete Jupp – Drums
Jem Davis – Keyboards
Jim Kirkpatrick – Guitar


(Photo - Paul Stuart Hollingsworth)