Canada’s The Blood Of Christ is an epic dark metal band that has been around since the early ‘90s. To date, they have released three full-length albums, and their new EP Sworn Trilogy is set to come out on April 23, 2024. The concept record tells a story about a man who, by means of his own cowardice in the face of oblivion, sentences his entire bloodline to commit evil acts on behalf of abyssal demons for all time. 


Ahead of the EP, to give fans of black and death metal a taste of what’s in store, they are releasing a lyric video for the single “Oath Breaker”, which they comment on:


“‘Oath Breaker’ was the last song we wrote for this trilogy and it might have just turned out to be one of our best yet. It has a lot of emotion and moods and resolves the trilogy in classic death metal, climaxing pit riff fashion. We have a feeling that this song will be a staple in our live set for several years to come and can’t wait to see the reaction to it.”




While the band’s influences favour the shocking approach with lyrical themes that were rampant with gore, Satanism, and often-abhorrent imagery, The Blood Of Christ chose to focus on the more abstract and poetic subject matter. Their songs are often rife with human suffering, lust and longing, time travel, astrology, historical battles, and the human struggle for personal freedom. In “Oath Breaker” we see the protagonist flinging himself into the abyss, removing his own scourge from the earth and ending the curse his ancestors placed upon him.


The Blood Of Christ’s brooding, unique, and crushing sound has made fans out of underground metal lovers from many genres, creating an appeal that defies genre borders.


Fiends who were raised on the sheer brutality and boundary-smashing efforts of Morbid Angel, or the pioneering and challenging progressive grind-core of Liverpudlian innovators Carcass, the epic and majestic sounds of Viking artisans Enslaved, or even the groove-laden proto-death of Brazilian legends Sepultura will find something rousing and engulfing within The Blood Of Christ.


Sworn Trilogy is due out on April 23 via CDN Records.





Tracklisting:


“Sworn 1 – The Vow”
“Sworn 2 – Feeding The Abyss”
“Sworn 3 – Oath Breaker”


“Oath Breaker”:

Doom metal legends TROUBLE have announced Garry Naples as their new drummer. Naples has already begun rehearsals with TROUBLE and will be recording drums for the band's upcoming studio album, the details of which are still pending and will be announced separately.

Naples, a Chicago-based drummer, has been playing in metal and rock bands for over 20 years. After joining his first band at the age of 15, Garry joined Prophecy Productions recording artist NOVEMBERS DOOM in 2011. He has since recorded three full-length albums with them, and has performed in Europe, North America, and South America. Garry co-founded the band WITHOUT WAVES in 2010. After signing to Prosthetic Records in 2016, the band released two albums under that label, and has done several U.S. tours. Additionally, Garry has toured and recorded with several other bands, including WOLVHAMMER, CHROME WAVES and BEAR MACE.

TROUBLE founder and guitarist Rick Wartell stated: "The band is very excited to have Garry join us as a permanent member. He's an accomplished musician, with extensive recording and touring experience, and his playing style is a perfect fit for TROUBLE.

"We're scheduled to head into the studio to work with him, and eager to have him lend his talents and creativity on our upcoming album. We're also looking forward to bringing this lineup out live for some shows, and then on tour in support of the new record when the time comes."

Naples had occasion to share the stage with TROUBLE back in October 2023, playing with NOVEMBERS DOOM as one of the acts on the opening night of the inaugural launch of Heavy Chicago Fest, a three-day event hosted at Avondale Music Hall. The new music festival featured TROUBLE as the headliner, and also showcased ACID KING and BONGZILLA.

TROUBLE has released nine studio albums to date, and is in the process of recording its tenth, which will be released on Hammerheart Records in 2025.

TROUBLE is an American metal band noted as one of the pioneers of their genre. The band created a distinct style taking influences of the British heavy metal bands BLACK SABBATH and JUDAS PRIEST, and psychedelic rock of the 1970s. A critically acclaimed group, their first two albums, "Psalm 9" and "The Skull" are cited as landmarks of doom metal.

TROUBLE's current line-up is: Kyle Thomas (vocals),Rick Wartell (guitars),Bruce Franklin (guitars),Rob Hultz (bass) and Garry Naples (drums).

TROUBLE's first studio album in six years, "The Distortion Field", landed at position No. 25 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200. Released in Europe in August 2013 via FRW Records, the 12-song follow-up to 2007's "Simple Mind Condition" was helmed by veteran producer Bill Metoyer (SLAYER, W.A.S.P., ARMORED SAINT, DARK ANGEL, SACRED REICH, CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER, D.R.I.) and marked the recording debut with Thomas following the departure of the group's frontman of four years, Kory Clarke (of WARRIOR SOUL fame).

TROUBLE formed in 1979 and released several classic albums like "Trouble", "Manic Frustration" and "Plastic Green Head".

Singer Eric Wagner left TROUBLE in April 2008, citing his disdain for the touring life as the main reason for his departure.

Eric, who was TROUBLE's original singer, died in August 2021 after a battle with COVID pneumonia. He was 62 years old.

According to Wagner's TROUBLE and THE SKULL bandmate Ron Holzner, Eric was generally opposed to institutionalized medicine but he wouldn't make an exception for the COVID vaccine.

"We argued about it, and he stood his ground on the matter," Holzner told the Chicago Reader. "I always joked, 'The World According To Eric Wagner — you should write a book.' He lived his life his way."

Wagner, who smoked cigarettes and occasionally drank and vaped, had health issues, but had begun taking better care of himself and switching to a plant-based diet, Holzner said.

MEGADETH surprised fans in Argentina earlier today (Tuesday, April 16) by performing a three-song acoustic set outside Hotel Madero in Buenos Aires.

Fan-filmed video of guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist James LoMenzo, guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari and drummer Dirk Verbeuren playing "Trust", "Angry Again" and "Symphony Of Destruction" can be seen below.

MEGADETH previously played a short acoustic set for the band's fans outside the Four Seasons hotel in Buenos Aires in August 2016. Less than two years later, in May 2018, Mustaine played a surprise acoustic set for fans outside his hotel in Mendoza, Argentina. The MEGADETH leader was in town for a few days of relaxation, as well as visits to local wineries, after playing a couple of shows in Mexico earlier that month.

MEGADETH played the first two shows at the 15,000-capacity Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Saturday, April 13 and on Sunday, April 14.

After the first concert at Movistar Arena sold out in a matter of minutes, the band added another date at the same venue. That concert sold out in two hours, according to concert promoter Ake Music Productions. MEGADETH later announced that it would play a third show at Movistar Arena on April 16.

MEGADETH's concerts in Argentina are taking place 30 years after the band's first appearance in the country, which was held on December 2, 1994 at the Obras Sanitarias stadium. It was at that gig that the chant "Aguante Megadeth" was started during the song "Symphony Of Destruction", loosely translating to "MEGADETH rocks".

Finnish guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari joined MEGADETH last September after the band's longtime axeman Kiko Loureiro, announced earlier that month that he would sit out the next leg of MEGADETH's "Crush The World" tour in order to stay home with his children back in Finland. It was later revealed that Mäntysaari would continue to play guitar for MEGADETH for the foreseeable future, with Loureiro seemingly having no plans to return.

The 37-year-old Mäntysaari was born in Tampere, Finland and began playing guitar at the age of 12. In 2004, he joined the band WINTERSUN. He has also been a member of SMACKBOUND since 2015.

MEGADETH played its first concert with Mäntysaari on September 6, 2023 at Revel in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Loureiro officially joined MEGADETH in April 2015, about five months after Chris Broderick's exit from the group.

Since its inception in 1983, MEGADETH has ascended from its raw thrash metal roots to become an unstoppable force in the heavy metal world. With founder Dave Mustaine at the helm, MEGADETH's journey has been marked by a penchant for pushing the boundaries of speed, technicality, and complexity in their music. Their groundbreaking album "Rust In Peace", released in 1990, is frequently cited as a seminal work in the thrash metal genre. Along with the critically acclaimed "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?", it cemented MEGADETH's place in the annals of metal history.

Over four decades, the band's discography has earned numerous certifications, including platinum and multi-platinum awards, with albums like "Countdown To Extinction" and "Youthanasia" achieving widespread critical acclaim. 2016's "Dystopia" not only marked a high point with their first Grammy Award for "Best Metal Performance" after twelve nominations but also set the stage for their latest triumph, "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!" in 2022. MEGADETH's status as part of the "Big Four" of thrash metal underscores their trailblazing role in the genre, laying the groundwork for countless bands and musicians who have followed in their wake.

From now through next Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., fans can preview the gear that will be available to purchase from famed former MEGADETH guitarist Kiko Loureiro via the official Kiko Loureiro Reverb shop.

Known for his time in both the legendary thrash metal band MEGADETH and the Brazilian power metal band ANGRA, as well as his solo projects, Kiko is finally willing to part with a number of pieces of stage-and-studio-played gear — along with personal items like sweatbands, t-shirts and his Gracie Barra Brazilian jiu-jitsu gi — all of which will be available to fans and fellow music makers alike when the items in the shop become available for purchase next week.

Highlights from the official Kiko Loureiro Reverb shop include:

* A surprise Gibson Les Paul Modern that Kiko played on two songs every night during the 2022 MEGADETH tour;
* A few acoustic guitars, including a Godin Multiac ACS SA Grand Concert used on the on tour all over the world in 2023, a Godin Arena Pro CW, and an Ibanez GA6CE-AM used on tours in 2019, '21, and '22 as well as backstage and in hotel rooms for practice;
* A couple of well-used Kramer models, like a SM-1;
* A super portable DV Mark Neoclassic 1x12 guitar speaker cab, and DV Mark Multiamp from the MEGADETH jam and rehearsal room;
* Several Neural DSP Quad Cortex units that have been main pieces of Kiko's touring rig since 2022;
* Some non-gear extras, like Kiko's sweatbands, a few shirts, and even a Gracie Barra Brazilian jiu-jitsu gi.

To preview all of the gear that will be available for purchase in the official Kiko Loureiro Reverb shop on April 17, click here.

Last November, the Brazilian-born Kiko, who lives in Finland, announced his decision to "extend" his absence from MEGADETH's touring activities, explaining that he didn't want to "hinder any of the band's plans or the hard work of all the incredible people involved in the tour."

Kiko revealed in September that he would sit out the next leg of MEGADETH's "Crush The World" tour in order to stay home with his children back in Finland.

One day after Kiko's announcement that he was "extending" his absence from MEGADETH's touring activities, band leader Dave Mustaine released a statement in which he said that he loves Loureiro and respects and fully supports Kiko's decision. He described Kiko as "a top-notch professional, a maestro" and thanked the guitarist "for his dedication and hard work these past nine years, helping us to achieve a Grammy on 'Dystopia' and the additional awards we have received on this latest record 'The Sick... The Dying...And The Dead'." Mustaine added: "I could not have done this without Kiko Loureiro."

MEGADETH played its first concert with Kiko's replacement, Teemu Mäntysaari on September 6, 2023 at Revel in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The 37-year-old Mäntysaari was born in Tampere, Finland and began playing guitar at the age of 12. In 2004, he joined the band WINTERSUN. He has also been a member of SMACKBOUND since 2015.

Loureiro officially joined MEGADETH in April 2015, about five months after Chris Broderick's exit from the group.

In a new interview with Steve King of the 105.3 The Bone radio station, JOURNEY keyboardist Jonathan Cain spoke about the band's current working relationship with its longtime vocalist Arnel Pineda. Pineda was a bar and club singer working in Manila, Philippines in 2007 when he got an e-mail from JOURNEY guitarist Neal Schon who had seen videos of Pineda performing on YouTube and asked him to come to San Francisco and audition to become the band's new frontman.

"Yeah, Arnel's 16 years celebrating — this is his 16th year [with JOURNEY]," Cain said. "[It's] probably the longest tenure of any lead singer for the band. So, he's been crushing it for us. He's got his kids on the road with him this time, and he seems really content and happy. And we're really proud of everything he's done up to this point. And we see some years left. There's definitely still some gas in the tank. But we're very happy with Arnel. He's amazing."

Classic JOURNEY singer Steve Perry left the band in 1998 and was replaced by Steve Augeri. Jeff Scott Soto replaced Augeri in JOURNEY in December 2006 after Augeri began suffering throat problems on the road. But Soto lasted less than a year, and in December 2007, JOURNEY hired Pineda, who fronts the band to this day.

Back in August 2022, Schon was asked what it had been like to work with Pineda for the prior 15 years. He responded: "Arnel is just a gem. He's more amazing right now than he was when I first found him in Manila 15 years ago, when he was homeless and he was in dire straits. I was searching for the new singer for JOURNEY and I chose YouTube to look all over the world for the singer. When I heard his voice, I knew that he was it — with no other thought. It hit me emotionally in my heart. I went, 'That is the voice. He is the voice. I know he can do it.' And so I stuck to my guns, with a lot of resistance from many — from within the band and from management. They all thought I was crazy. I said, 'I know I'm right. So get him over here.' We got him over. And he proved that I was right again."

Neal continued: "The show we just played the other night, he sounded phenomenal through the whole show. We finally got his in-ears sorted out; we've got a great mixer in front now. It sounds like a record every night. And he's sounding phenomenal every night. And he's very excited about some of the new direction that we took that allows him to show how creative he can be without having to emulate our other albums, which is a requirement for any singer that would come into JOURNEY. It's either that or you throw away all your hits that you ever had. And what do you do? Start from ground zero again? It doesn't make sense.

"So I knew when I found Arnel that I had found a true chameleon like no other singer I've ever heard. He is amazing. I love him. He's a true warrior."

Born in the Philippines, Pineda has been fronting the legendary rockers since 2007. A vocal doppelganger for JOURNEY's longtime vocalist Steve Perry, Arnel has helped put JOURNEY back in arenas once again. But some fans were not happy about the addition of Pineda, complaining about his ethnicity and dismissing his voice as a "copycat" of Perry.

Pineda and Perry finally crossed paths when JOURNEY and its former singer shared the stage at their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in April 2017. While accepting the award, Steve spoke warmly about his former bandmates, as well as the man who replaced him. "I must give a shout-out to a man who sings his heart out every night, Arnel Pineda," Perry said.

Although Pineda did not get inducted with his bandmates, he did get up and join them at the Hall Of Fame induction ceremony, singing "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Lights".

Six years ago, Perry told SiriusXM that he didn't perform with JOURNEY at the Rock Hall ceremony because he is "not in the band. I haven't been in the band for quite some time," he explained. "Arnel's been in the band for almost 10 years, I think. He's a sweet kid — he's a wonderful kid. He sings his heart out every night. It's his gig."

As for meeting Pineda before the induction, Perry said: "There was something endearing about the way he looked at me. He was meeting, like, a grandfather. [Laughs] He's got the gig. It's his gig. He's doing great."

Pineda has overcome a tremendous number of obstacles throughout his life, including the loss of his mother at a young age, homelessness and borderline starvation, making him an inspiration and providing hope for millions of people around the globe. Blessed with the ability to give back, Pineda mobilized his team to join the battle against poverty and its ensuing havoc on Philippine youth.

In a new interview with Concrete Spew, DOWN guitarist Kirk Windstein spoke about the musical direction of the material he and his bandmates have been working on for their next release. The long-running heavy metal supergroup hasn't issued anything since the arrival of the "Down IV – Part Two" EP in May 2014.

"It just sounds like DOWN," Kirk said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "I mean, it sounds refreshing because we haven't done it in so long, gotten together with me and the guys and done it in — fuck — 12 years or something. So it sounds like DOWN, I think, to me, it sounds more old-school DOWN. And the reason I say that is I think we got to a point where… Like, the 'NOLA' record is so simple, and it just wrote itself; it was so simple. And that's how this is coming about, which is great. We're not overthinking it. We're not trying to make things too complex. Phillip's [Anselmo, DOWN singer] not trying to write so many lyrics and things. We just kind of got away — I hate to say 'got away', 'cause anything we do is DOWN, but, to me, we kind of got a little bit… We needed to go back and look at each other and just go, 'Let's just get in a room and do it like we did from the beginning.' And that's what it feels like to me. It's very magical. The ideas and the working together, just bounce off of one another, it's a natural thing."

Windstein went on to say that DOWN has "seven songs" written "right now," but he noted that he hadn't heard them with lead vocals yet "because I was on tour with CROWBAR in the U.K. and Ireland. And so Phil and [his wife] Kate had [a get-together] over at the house and on the property where the studio is and all while we were on tour. And everybody got to hear it with vocals, except me, and I haven't heard it. So I guess I'm gonna have to try to make a trip over there. But Pepper [Keenan, DOWN guitarist] also built kind of a home studio thing in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. He's got like a beach house out there — well, really two that are next door to one another. And I talked to him about that right before we left. So we wanna do guitar solos, at least demo 'em or whatever, have ideas, and what we call sweetie tracks, which is little licks and things between vocal lines. So in order to do that, we're gonna have to get have the vocals, 'cause nobody's got the tracks with Phil's vocals except Phil."

Last month, DOWN drummer Jimmy Bower told Shawn Ratches of Laughingmonkeymusic about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's new release: "We got together about a month or two ago, and we were practicing with just me, Pat [Bruders, bass], Kirk and Pepper. Phil lives on the other side of the lake [in Louisiana]. We got together over at his house for a weekend, and we have seven songs, man. We're supposed to get together again in April, and then talk about recording, trying to get this thing out."

Asked whether Anselmo, who has spent most of the past year and a half touring with the reformed PANTERA, comes in with a book of lyrical ideas when they are working on music, Bower said: "He's got notebooks and stuff that he definitely writes and keeps stuff for, but he's generally a writes-for-the-song kind of thing.

"Phil's amazing to write with because he's really good with arranging, and he's just really witty with his arrangements and bridges and stuff like that, that, I'd be, like, 'Damn, I would have never thought of that.' And that's the beautiful thing about DOWN — it's a room filled with dudes that are witty with their songwriting and stuff like that. We can write all day without Phil, but when he's there, it's that much better. It really is. 'Cause he'd be, like, 'Do this four times. Go into the bridge, then go back to the verse, and then we'll do a pre-chorus, and next thing you know, you've got a killer song."

Jimmy went on to praise Philip's skills as a composer, saying: "He's such a songwriter, it's ridiculous. And he's super, super fucking talented. Sometimes I read comments about people's misconceptions, and I just hold my tongue. 'Cause I know the truth. The dude can jam his ass off. It's just really fun to write with Phil. He's always in a killer mood, especially when we're being creative. We've been in so many bands together."

Last October, Windstein, who also plays guitar and sings in CROWBAR, told Scott Penfold of Loaded Radio about the DOWN songwriting process: "When you have five guys — well, Phil, of course, will be kind of out of the picture for now but me, Pepper, Jimmy and Pat — in a room together, when you've got all these guys writing riffs off of each other… And that's the way I like to write — I like to write spontaneously off the cuff. I don't like to [go], 'Okay, this is my new song. Boom. Here y'all go,' or whatever. I like to write off the cuff, on the spot. I feel what the other guys are giving me vibe-wise and whatnot. And that, to me, is a winning formula. It really is."

Regarding how long he thinks DOWN can keep going, Kirk said: "When we got DOWN together in 1991, that was the first demo tape. We wrote 'Bury Me In Smoke', 'Temptation's Wings' and 'Losing All' in a day. We recorded it. Phil sang. We mixed it off on a four-track or some shit, and that was it. Phil flew back to Texas and Pepper flew back to North Carolina with C.O.C. So when we got together, we always joked, but it's no longer a joke that this is the kind of band we can grow old with. It doesn't matter what we look like. We can be fat. We can be bald. We're not attracting 18-year-old girls. If they wanna be a fan of the music, great. If you're a [Taylor Swift] fan, hey, more power to you. It's all good. Whatever. But that was not our intention. And it's kind of ironic or whatever that it's kind of come full circle where we see ourselves going, 'Hey, guys, we're closing in on mid-50s to 60s. This is a band that we can actually do and kill it and then retire with it maybe.'"

DOWN made a handful of rare live appearances in the spring and summer of 2022. The band launched a three-date U.S. run of shows in May 2022 at the Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida. After playing in Atlanta and Dallas immediately after Rockville, DOWN took a three-week break before regrouping for three European festival appearances in June. An appearance at that year's Blue Ridge Rock Festival followed in September 2022 in Alton, Virginia.

In August 2021, DOWN took part in a very special in-person live and virtual experience. "NOLA Town Throwdown" was held at the Fillmore in New Orleans, Louisiana and featured fans attending the show in person as well as watching it in real time from the comfort of their living room.

In August 2020, DOWN celebrated the 25th anniversary of "NOLA" with a special livestreamed event. Dubbed "The Quarter Century Throwdown", the high-production, multi-camera event took place using cutting-edge streaming technology to create a one-of-a-kind virtual concert experience.

A founding member of DOWN, Windstein left the band in 2013 in order to focus on CROWBAR and his family life. He was replaced by Bobby Landgraf, DOWN's former guitar tech who was previously in GAHDZILLA MOTOR COMPANY, a 1990s outfit also featuring Jason McMaster (DANGEROUS TOYS, WATCHTOWER),and HONKY.

Windstein announced his return to DOWN in 2019, with the band confirming a number of festival appearances for 2020 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of "NOLA", all of which were later canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic which swept the globe.

Prior to the August 2020 livestream, DOWN's last live appearance took place in August 2016 at the Psycho Las Vegas festival in Las Vegas.

"Down IV – Part Two" sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release in May 2014 to debut at position No. 23 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous EP, "Down IV Part I – The Purple EP", opened with around 12,000 units in September 2012 to land at No. 35.

"Down IV – Part Two" was recorded at Nodferatu's Lair — Anselmo's home studio — and produced by Michael Thompson. It was released via Down Records/ADA Music.

During an April 12 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", SCORPIONS guitarist Rudolf Schenker confirmed 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. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "You have to think about that what we didn't know when we made [that] farewell tour [almost 15 years ago], it was exactly the time when WhatsApp came up, when all this new technology [on the] Internet came, that people watching the SCORPIONS on WhatsApp and seeing young kids between 16 and 24 or whatever, [they were] finding [out about] the SCORPIONS. So, and what was happening on the final tour, on the tour, kids were in front of the stage. We said, 'What's happening here?' The older [fans] were up in the balcony or whatever, and we said, 'Hey, it's a complete new feeling on stage.' So then 'MTV Unplugged' came and then we said, 'Hey…' The chemistry was right, no question about this. That's a very important point, when the band has a great chemistry. And then you have fun when you go on the road."

Last September, Rudolf also seemingly dismissed any talk of possible retirement but acknowledged that SCORPIONS would 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, SCORPIONS singer Klaus Meine told Jorge Botas of Portugal's "Metal Global": "We scratched that word [retirement] out of our [vocabulary]. 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.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN's John Dolmayan has uploaded drum-cam video of him and his bandmates rehearsing the song "Cigaro" off their album "Mezmerize" on April 16 for their upcoming appearance at the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas, Nevada. Check out the clip below.

Last November, SYSTEM OF A DOWN frontman Serj Tankian addressed his comment from a year earlier that he wasn't interested in touring due to some health issues. Asked if those issues are still affecting him, Serj told Revolver magazine: "Some of my back stuff is a lot better, in terms of health, which is cool. I have some other things I'm dealing with right now, which may or may not be affected by travel or touring.

"It wasn't just a health-related decision as far as cutting down on touring, but also a lifestyle decision," he explained. "Based on family and vision.

"I've been touring for 20-something years, on and off, of course. Not every year. And it's fun, it's profitable, it makes a lot of people happy in terms of being out there and sharing the music and [seeing] the reaction, and people really enjoying it and getting that feedback. But after years of doing it and the travel that's involved, it's one of those things where it's not the top priority on my list in life."

Asked if that means that he wants to spend more time with his son, Serj said: "Travel takes you out of… you could take your family with you if you're doing a small tour, I guess. And that's something that we have done, even when our son was really young. But it's just about prioritizing life and what you really want to do.

"Some people like to tour until they're ready to go from this plane, and that's not how I see myself going," he explained. "To me, doing different things in measured form allows me to be more creative than to take something that's repetitious and do it for a long period of time. And that includes everything that I do."

As previously reported, Serj's memoir, "Down With The System", will be released on May 14, 2024 via
Hachette Books.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN vocalist/guitarist Daron Malakian has resurrected his SCARS ON BROADWAY project for its first live appearances in five years: October 5 at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles as the support act for KORN, and October 11 at the Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California.

Soul Sign is an all-star group comprising members of Quiet Riot, Scorpions’ Uli Jon Roth, Yngwie Malmsteen, Ted Nugent, Player, Dokken, DIO Returns, Leatherwolf and Unida delivering heavy, melodic rock that will touch your soul. BraveWords is premiering the new music video for “Out Of The Dark – White Room Cover” – check it out below. 





Video notes:
Directed & Editing - John Haggard  
Produced, Mixed & Mastered by Bjorn Englen   




The group, based out of Los Angeles, was founded with the intention to deliver strong, honest, organic modern and classic rock through world class musicianship. All members are extraordinary musicians & personalities who have had their craft perfected through many years of extensive world-wide touring & recording with world famous, multi-platinum selling artists. They deliver an energetic live show suited to a wide range audience. 


Mark Boals - Vocals
The legendary voice of Yngwie Malmsteen, Ted Nugent & Scorpions’ Uli Jon Roth. Mark has also sung with Don Dokken, The Rock Vault, Ring of Fire & Royal Hunt. Bigger than life vocals with a range that is hard to beat! 


Rob Math - Guitar
Rob’s unique & tasteful style is combining blues with great chops. He has recorded with Seal, Toni Braxton & many more. He has been a recording & touring member of Player (“Baby Come Back”) & metal classics Leatherwolf. 


Bjorn Englen - Bass
Extraordinary virtuoso bass player mainly known for decades with multi-platinum Quiet Riot, DIO Returns, as well as guitar gods Yngwie Malmsteen, Uli Jon Roth & Tony MacAlpine.


Mike Cancino - Drums
A much experienced world class, “work horse” drummer who grew up in the California desert & has toured internationally for decades with Lynch Mob, stoner rock legends Unida & many more.


Head to soulsignband.com for more information about the band.

JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford says that he misses "terribly" the band's guitarist Glenn Tipton who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease 10 years ago — after being stricken by the condition at least half a decade earlier.

Tipton has been rejoining PRIEST on stage at select shows during the band's recently launched "Metal Masters" European tour with SAXON and URIAH HEEP. Tipton usually appears with PRIEST for the encore, performing "Metal Gods" and "Living After Midnight".

Tipton 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.

In a new interview with Classic Rock magazine, Halford said: "It was very, very difficult for me when we went out for the first time without Glenn. God bless Andy Sneap — he's done a brilliant job and no disrespect to him — but I do miss Glenn terribly when we play live. So when he does come out to have a bang, it's, like: 'My God!' It feels so great."

Also full of praise for Tipton was PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner, who joined the band in 2011 as the replacement for founding guitarist K.K. Downing.

"It's absolutely vital that Glenn is part of the songwriting team," Faulkner said. "Rob, Glenn and me, we go into a room with ideas and throw them around. Whatever challenge Glenn has got, that's what he deals with. If he could play, he would play. If he couldn't, then I'd take it on. We helped each other out like that.

"Glenn's like an older brother," he continues. "When I joined he took me under his wing as the other guitar player. When we were on the road, we'd go out together. So when he pulled back from touring, I did feel like my brother wasn't there. But I know what it's like to have something threaten your future career or your ability to play guitar."

Glenn recently spoke to Total Guitar magazine about his contributions to PRIEST's latest album, the aforementioned "Invincible Shield". He said: "I played what I could and am very proud of the whole album. Richie helped a lot. I think his strongest attribute is his ability to adapt to different styles whilst maintaining his own very strong character. PRIEST require a guitarist who can shift from out-and-out metal to more melodic tracks."

Glenn continued: "Obviously the drawback for me now is Parkinson's, and I've had to pass a lot of work onto his shoulders. I keep pushing myself because I believe in 'no surrender'. This disease won't beat me, and I will continue writing and playing for as long as I can."

Faulkner also spoke to Total Guitar about the "Invincible Shield" and how it was affected by Tipton's illness. He said: "With Glenn's situation, he wasn't playing as much lead as before. But that's okay, we didn't want that to impede the process. If Glenn was having a good day, he'd play the part. If he couldn't, I'd do it.

"We didn't want him to worry," Faulkner explained. "He brought songs to the table like 'Sons Of Thunder' which is a classic three-minute track in the style of 'Hell Bent For Leather'. Glenn is the master of that stuff. He was as involved as he could be and it was important for us to involve him."

In a separate interview with Bryan Reesman of The Aquarian, Faulkner spoke about Tipton's contributions to "Invincible Shield". Asked how many ideas Glenn worked on and how Richie collaborated with him on all the guitar parts, Faulkner said: "We all go away separately after a tour and put down riff ideas and song ideas and melody ideas. He was the same, really, so when we get in a room together — me, Glenn and Rob — we get those ideas out. We put those ideas on the table, we play them back for each other. Glenn did the same. He had a few more ideas that were more developed — 'Sons Of Thunder', 'Escape From Reality', 'Vicious Circle', stuff like that — so we worked on those. It was no different in that regard. He was able to sit in a studio [to] take time and play the ideas that he was putting forward. And when he had an idea and we were together, if he couldn't play it that day, then he would translate it through me and we'd hash it out.

"If Glenn can play it, then he'll play it, and if he can't play it, then I'll take on the workload," Richie explained. "I mean, what's wrong with that? I'm a guitar player and I'm a fan. I love the guys. That's your duty — if something needs to be done, guitar or otherwise, you do it. You step up, you know? That applied to the recording, as well. There are some things on there that he played, and he could write. It was important to us to involve him, and it probably was just as important for him to be involved as much as he could after doing it and being a genre-defining guitar player for the last 50 years."

Asked where Glenn's soloing pops up on "Invincible Shield", Richie said: "Glenn's influence is more than just the solos. There are solos on 'Sons Of Thunder' and 'Vicious Circle', and it goes beyond that. As we said before, the little twists and turns musically… and the vibe. When you play songs and solos by both K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton on an intimate level for 13 years, I don't think you can help but have that become part of your DNA, as well, so I think you can hear stuff from Glenn in my playing as well as what I've learned from him in the last 13 years. On something like 'Panic Attack', there are some sweep picking stuff that was never part of my repertoire. Playing songs like 'Painkiller' on an intimate level becomes part of your repertoire, so it shows up on the record. So apart from the songwriting ideas he had, the songs he had, some of the solos he had, it's in my playing as well. He's infiltrated my DNA in that sense — along with Ken [K.K.], of course, and along with Zakk [Wylde] and Michael Schenker and people like that. I think [Glenn's] influence can't be overstated either."

In his first interview since revealing his condition in early 2018, Glenn, who turned 76 last October, told Guitar World magazine about his diagnosis: "It was upsetting, but I wasn't really shocked because I sort of thought it was Parkinson's. I probably hoped it wasn't but the doctor said it was."

Regarding being told by the doctor that he had likely already had the disease for between 10 and 15 years, Glenn said: "Hearing that I already had Parkinson's for a long time made me even more determined to fight. I could still play, so I just continued recording and touring."

About a month before the opening date of PRIEST's "Firepower" tour, Tipton realized he could not guarantee that he would be able to execute an energetic, precision performance with the band night after night and "decided that it was really going to be too much for me," he told Guitar World. "With the medication and the time zone changes and everything else, I realized it was time to retire — from touring at least. I don't ever want to compromise JUDAS PRIEST. It's too big a part of my life.”

"Invincible Shield" arrived on March 8 via Sony Music.

On April 9, IRON MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson spoke to KTLA 5's Doug Kolk about his first solo tour in 20 years. "The Mandrake Project" trek officially kicks off tonight (Monday, April 15) at The Observatory in Santa Ana, California. Dickinson also played two back-to-back warm-up shows at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California on April 12 and April 13.

Asked what it's like to play a small venue like the Whisky after performing at stadiums around the world, Bruce said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Oh, it's brilliant. Honestly. I mean, not just — you can see the audience, and you can smell 'em. It's fantastic. No, no. I mean, it's great. It really is great, because, honestly, it's what it's all about. It's the source code of music, is that kind of — well, I have to use the term 'analog' because, as opposed to digital and stuff like that, and as opposed to bands or entertainers now that do everything like to a click track or to time code or whatever. None of that. So, we are back in 1972, which is, most people say, 'I wasn't even born then.'"

Dickinson played the two Whisky A Go Go shows under the banner of THE HOUSE BAND FROM HELL, Bruce was joined by his backing band, featuring Dave Moreno (drums),Mistheria (keyboards) and Tanya O'Callaghan (bass),alongside the group's latest additions, Swedish guitarist, songwriter and multi-platinum-credited producer Philip Näslund and Swiss session and touring guitarist Chris Declercq (who played on Dickinson's "Rain On The Graves" single). Bruce's longtime guitarist and collaborator Roy "Z" Ramirez is not part of the touring lineup.

Prior to Friday night's (April 12) Whisky A Go Go show, Bruce last performed with his solo band on in August 2002 at the legendary Wacken Open Air festival in Germany.

In a recent interview with Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show, Bruce spoke about the stripped-down nature of tour in support of "The Mandrake Project". He said: "Well, we're doing a mix of festivals and headline shows so far in Europe up till July 21, about 40 shows. Luckily, I think most of the headline shows are almost sold out or sold out now. So we're gonna be sold out in most places in Europe. About two-and-a-half-thousand seaters — the average is probably about two and a half thousand, so they're cool-sized venues.

"For me, the whole essence of this is letting the music do the talking, let the music do the storytelling," he explained. "And so I'm not planning on having monsters or pyro or any of that stuff. There will be a screen, and, of course, we'll have a lot of stuff to put on it because we've got a great director and he'll be able to give us some content. But even then, I'm not going to have a show that's choreographed to like a time code or a click track or something else like that. This is gonna be a show where the music and the musicians take the story to people. So, I'm not thinking 2002, I'm not thinking 1982. I'm thinking 1972."

Last month, Bruce told Paul Anthony of Planet Rock about Roy's absence from the touring band: "[It] is disappointing, but there you are. He had a lot of stuff going on at home. And, basically, there's stuff he could be doing in the studio. We are in the middle of doing Dolby Atmos mixes for all of my back catalog, and that requires quite a lot of stuff, 'cause we're not just remixing; we are also — what's the expression? — reimagining some of the albums. So some of the albums that should have been, frankly, a bit heavier, like 'Balls To Picasso', we can stick some new stuff on, and there's some stuff that didn't get mixed on to the album that was recorded that we can take a view on as well. So there's quite a lot of exciting stuff going on there, so there's gonna be lots for him to get on with whilst we're touring."

He continued: "But we've got two fantastic guitar players, Philip Näslund from Sweden and Chris Declercq, who actually is already on the record, because he played the solo on 'Rain On The Graves'. So he's based in L.A. He's a Swiss guy, but he lives in L.A., [is] based in L. A. And Philipwas based in L.A. but now lives back in Sweden. So it's gonna be an incredible band. I jammed with both guitar players. And I was, like, 'You know, I'm just gonna take both of them.' Obviously, there's a lot of twin guitar parts on the record. And there's also quite a bit of keyboards on the record and lots of stuff. So there'll be no idle hands on stage. But it'll sound magnificent. I've already jammed with Tanya and Chris and Philip and Dave Moreno when I was out in L.A., just to give it a quick once around the houses with some of the tunes, and it was so exciting. It really was."

Asked how many of the songs from "The Mandrake Project" will be performed live on the upcoming tour, Bruce said: "Well, I wanna make sure that people come to the show and just go away going, 'Well, that was great, cracking. You can't expect people… I mean, it's not like the Sermon On The Mount, where you turn up and it's, like, 'And you're gonna have this, whether you like it or not. So I'm gonna play certainly four tracks off the new record, and we'll just see how it goes. It's not a situation like a MAIDEN situation where, because we have a big show, because we have everything coordinated with the lights and monsters and pyro and everything, once we get out there, the show is pretty much set in stone, what we're gonna play. Well, this one, we can swap it around a little bit. I mean, if we start doing rehearsals and we go, 'Wow, this feels great. Why don't we chop in another song?' I wasn't gonna play anything off 'Skunkworks'. Now I'm not so sure, 'cause it turns out that both guitarists and the drummer are mad, keen fans of that album. So I'd just done an Atmos mix of 'Skunkworks' with the blessing of [the LP's original producer] Jack Endino, and it sounds brilliant. And I was in there with, with Chris and he's, like, 'Oh, can you play that track?' I went, 'How'd you know that track?' He goes, 'I love this album.' 'Wow.' So, there'll be a lot of stuff. There'll be stuff off 'The Chemical Wedding', obviously, gotta play 'Tears Of The Dragon' and so on and so forth, there'll be stuff off 'Accident Of Birth'. So it's gonna be a smorgasbord of the best-of, 'cause it's been 19, 20 years since I've toured live [as a solo artist]. So lots of people have either never seen me live or the ones that have seen me live have forgotten how bad it was, and have bought tickets. [Laughs]"

Roy played guitar on Dickinson's 1994 album "Balls To Picasso" and went on to produce, co-write and perform multiple instruments on Bruce's subsequent three solo albums, "Accident At Birth" (1997),"The Chemical Wedding" (1998) and "Tyranny Of Souls" (2005).

O'Callaghan is an Irish musician who joined WHITESNAKE in 2021 and toured with the David Coverdale-fronted outfit the following year. She also hit the road with Dickinson last year as part of a performance of Jon Lord's "Concerto For Group And Orchestra" on nearly a dozen dates in Europe and South America.

Californian drummer Moreno previously played on "Tyranny Of Souls" and has worked with BODY COUNT, Jizzy Pearl, Dizzy Reed and Steve Stevens, among others.

Italian keyboard wizard Mistheria has collaborated with an array of artists live and in the studio, including Rob Rock, Mike Portnoy, Jeff Scott Soto and Joel Hoekstra.

"The Mandrake Project" arrived on March 1 via BMG.

Bruce and Roy recorded "The Mandrake Project" largely at Los Angeles's Doom Room, with Roy doubling up as both guitarist and bassist. The recording lineup for "The Mandrake Project" was rounded out by Mistheria and Moreno, both of whom also featured on Bruce's last solo studio album, "Tyranny Of Souls", in 2005.

Dickinson made his recording debut with IRON MAIDEN on the "Number Of The Beast" album in 1982. He quit the band in 1993 in order to pursue his solo career and was replaced by Blaze Bayley, who had previously been the lead singer of the metal band WOLFSBANE. After releasing two traditional metal albums with former MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith, Dickinson rejoined the band in 1999 along with Smith.

Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson talks 1st solo tour in decades.

Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson spoke to KTLA 5's Doug Kolk about his first solo tour in 20 years. The Mandrake Project tour kicks off on April 15 at The Observatory in Orange County. Dickinson also announced a surprise show at the Whisky a Go Go on April 12. For tickets and information head to TheMandrakeProject.com.

Posted by Eddie The Head Fan Club on Friday, April 12, 2024

Legendary rock guitarist, Steve Hackett, was forced to miss his scheduled show on Saturday (April 13) at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona after he was hospitalized.


The former Genesis guitarist took to social media on Sunday to share the following message:


"Hello everyone, I’m so sorry for the scare. I’d hoped to power through the Phoenix show but I had a bronchial infection and a last minute adverse reaction to medication. Consequently, the Medics took me to hospital. I am now recovering and glad to be feeling okay. I was very sad to miss the show and I will return to play in Phoenix as soon as possible. My thanks to you all for your understanding and support.




"With warmest wishes, Steve"

Hackett recently released his new studio album, The Circus And The Nightwhale, via InsideOut Music.


The Circus And The Nightwhale is Steve’s first new music in over two years. It follows the beautiful acoustic LP Under A Mediterranean Sky from January 2021 - which rose to #2 in the UK Classical chart - and, in September of that year, his metallic masterpiece Surrender Of Silence, which hit the UK Top 40. His 2023 live album, Foxtrot At Fifty + Hackett Highlights: Live in Brighton, reached #2 in the Rock & Metal Chart. Steve’s new LP promises ballads, blues, blistering progressive rock… and healthy measures of theatre and fantasia.


Recorded between tours in 2022 and 2023 at Siren studio in the UK - with guest parts beamed in from Sweden, Austria, the US, Azerbaijan and Denmark, the lineup for The Circus And The Nightwhale includes some familiar faces alongside Steve on electric and acoustic guitars, 12-string, mandolin, harmonica, percussion, bass and vocals. Roger King (keyboards, programming and orchestral arrangements), Rob Townsend (sax), Jonas Reingold (bass), Nad Sylvan (vocals), Craig Blundell (drums) and Amanda Lehmann on vocals. Nick D’Virgilio and Hugo Degenhardt return as guests on the drumstool, engineer extraordinaire Benedict Fenner appears on keyboards and Malik Mansurov is back with the tar. Finally, Steve’s brother John Hackett is present once more on flute.


The new album is available to order on several different formats, including a Limited CD+Blu-ray mediabook (including 5.1 Surround Sound & 24bit high resolution stereo mixes), Standard CD Jewelcase, Gatefold 180g Vinyl LP & as Digital Album. All feature the stunning cover painting by Denise Marsh. Order here.





Tracklisting:


"People Of The Smoke"
"These Passing Clouds"
"Taking You Down"
"Found And Lost"
"Enter The Ring"
"Get Me Out!"
"Ghost Moon And Living Love"
"Circo Inferno"
"Breakout"
"All At Sea"
"Into The Nightwhale"
"Wherever You Are"
"White Dove"


"Circo Inferno" visualizer:





"People Of The Smoke" video:





"Wherever You Are" video:





For Steve Hackett's upcoming live dates, head here.


(Photo - Tina Korhonen)

In a new interview with Henrique Inglez de Souza of Brazil's Rockast, KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons spoke about the band's recent decision to sell its music catalogue, brand name and likeness to Pophouse, the company behind ABBA's hologram concerts. A biopic, an avatar show, and a KISS-themed experience are already in the works, with Simmons and fellow KISS founder Paul Stanley playing key roles in the development of all these projects, working closely with Pophouse.

"There will be movies, cartoon shows, all kinds of things, but the avatars are the future of KISS," Gene explained. "And to say they're concerts is too small. It's bigger than that. And I don't wanna say too much. I'm not allowed to. Not yet."

Using cutting-edge technology, Pophouse Entertainment Group, which was founded by ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus, will create digital versions of KISS. The project was previewed at the final KISS show in New York in December 2023.

Regarding KISS's apparent willingness to fully embrace modern technology, Simmons told Rockast: "Well, everything evolves. We didn't always stand up on two legs. A few million years ago, we were on four legs. Everything evolves, and you either evolve or you become obsolete or you die. So technology is here. A.I. is here. Virtual reality is here. Everything is here. And we don't wanna be yesterday's news. So even the end of something can be the beginning of something. But we're very excited — and proud. I keep saying proud, because that's what it is."

Earlier this month, Simmons told People magazine that KISS's decision to sell its entire music catalog, likeness and brand name to Pophouse was the "natural thing" to do. "Life happens while you're busy making important plans," he explained. "We were planning our respectful, proud walking off into the sunset, because we've been touring, we had been touring for half a century.

"If you take a look at Mother Nature, you either evolve or you become extinct," he added.

While terms of the Pophouse deal were not officially announced, Bloomberg and Associated Press said it was worth upwards of $300 million. However, Simmons insisted that financial gain is "not what [the sale is] about. It's about enjoying life," while adding, "I'm certainly blessed."

In a separate interview with TMZ, Simmons defended KISS's plans for an avatar concert similar to ABBA's with digital versions of the group.

"A.I. [artificial intelligence] is here to stay," he said. "Technology is here to stay. And you either join in and try to adapt and try to figure out how that works with you or you're just yesterday's news in a very real way.

"Truthfully, KISS has stopped touring," he continued. "We will never tour as KISS again. However, the end is also the beginning. We're gonna do things that will blow your socks off. But we couldn't do this without our new best friends for life Pophouse. They're really remarkable people."

When the interviewer asked if fans will embrace the concept of a concert that is A.I.-driven and consists of nothing but holograms, Gene said: "It's not just, 'Okay, they're gonna show up on stage just like they did before, but it's holograms. No. That's an archaic term. Technology has advanced so far, you won't believe it.

"We spent some time at George Lucas's place and did motion capture stuff secretly," he continued. "We didn't talk to anybody — media or anything — about it, because we wanted this to be like nothing anybody's ever seen. And I will tell you, if you've seen the ABBA show in London, which is phenomenal, this is gonna be beyond anything you've ever seen.

"So the future is here, and with our friends at Pophouse, who are visionaries, we're gonna be doing things that no band and no musical — nobody's ever done before," Gene added. "Our events are going to be multi, I wanna say multidimensional. You just won't believe your eyes. Things are gonna be so much larger than life in front of you. You won't believe it. We've already seen the first fragments of that. It's just jaw-droppingly amazing."

Working closely with KISS, Pophouse will follow its unique, value-add approach of drawing upon its world-class, in-house creative and storytelling expertise to unlock new audiences and revenue streams. Pophouse will use its proven, industry-defining playbook to create new content and experiences to enrich the KISS catalog for fans, old and new, actively seeking to enrich and add value to the brands and artists it partners with. Inclusivity and community have always been vital to the KISS experience, and Pophouse is committed to nurture the close relationship between KISS and its devoted fans moving forward.

Johan Lagerlöf, head of investment at Pophouse, said: "KISS is one of the most recognized and iconic bands in the history of music. They redefined the concept of rock shows and have always taken their artistry to new uncharted territories. The band has consistently been able to appeal to new generations of fans and our mission is to fulfill the band's vision to become immortal, and to let new generations discover and be part of the KISS journey and carry it forward. With the help of the fans' energy, the band, our expertise, and creativity we will make that vision happen."

Per Sundin, CEO at Pophouse Entertainment, said: "KISS has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and has throughout their 50-year career continued to push the boundaries in popular culture. The band's enigmatic personas, unparalleled band attributes, and iconic imagery have made them a cultural force and a legendary act with multigenerational appeal. We will safeguard and enrich this legacy through future global endeavors, by breathing new life into their characters and personas while also leveraging and elevating the visual world of KISS."

As part of the partnership, Pophouse will create digital versions of KISS that will allow the band and their unique personas to live forever. The project, already underway, was previewed at the final KISS show in Madison Square Garden, New York on December 2, 2023, when, to the audience's surprise, KISS avatars closed the night with a rendition of "God Gave Rock And Roll To You" (resulting in international headlines). Through a magical combination of cutting-edge technology and unrivalled creativity, Pophouse will bring the full, authentic KISS experience to both existing and new fans for years to come. The avatar show is planned to launch in 2027.

Stanley said in a statement: "Our journey with Pophouse is fueled by the desire to eternally resonate across diverse facets of global culture. As we embark on this venture, we aim to weave our legacy into the tapestry of different worlds, ensuring that the KISS experience continues to captivate both our devoted fans and those yet to discover the thrill. This partnership is not just a chapter; it's an eternal symphony of rock 'n' roll immortality."

Today, Grand Slam unleash the video for “Spitfire”, the ferocious second single from the new studio album, Wheel Of Fortune, out on June 7 via Silver Lining Music.


“I simply can’t wait for you guys to listen to this track. It’s a complete monster!,” exclaims frontman Mike Dyer. “We had the music and the lyrics weren’t quite breaking through. I went to bed that night in the studio under considerable pressure from the boys and I read an incredible story about a young 12-year-old who had a fear of heights, he overcame his fear by jumping off a high board. Eventually, he moved from South Africa to Oxford, England, and became a Spitfire ace, at age 19!”


“I had a rough arrangement idea down for ‘Spitfire’,” adds guitarist and co-founding member Laurence Archer, “but it was only once we all got together in the studio that we found the true feel for the song and it transformed into the monster that it is.”




Watch the "Spitfire" video below:





Grand Slam’s story has been a true journey of destiny, one where early unions ended up leaving unfinished business on the table, and one which finally sees the band attending to said business with the brand-new album Wheel Of Fortune. From Archer’s faultless, fearless fret-driven song architecture on "Spitfire" to Dyer’s swagger and style on "There Goes My Heart". There are moments such as "Come Together (In Harlem)" where the moody strut of original co-founder Phil Lynott is unmistakable, yet the multi-layered steamy swing of "Pirate Song" makes it very clear Grand Slam is firing forward with all guns blazing. Joined by Benjy Reid on drums and Rocky Newton on bass, the creative vigor and will to propel Grand Slam is stronger still, with the new album Wheel Of Fortune being the true statement to this.


“We have a direction that is in my heart, it’s a tribal thing,” Dyer explains, “and the Wheel Of Fortune album is Grand Slam in big boy pants without any scaffolding. This band is something very special; I’m slightly biased I know, but God, I’m really proud of that.”


Wheel Of Fortune will be released in digital and physical formats on June 7. The album will be available in a variety of formats and pre-orders can be placed here.





Wheel Of Fortune tracklisting:


"There Goes My Heart"
"Starcrossed Lovers"
"Come Together (In Harlem)"
"Trail Of Tears"
"Feeling Is Strong (Jo's Song)"
"Spitfire"
"I Wanna Know!"
"Pirate Song"
"Afterlife"
"Wheel Of Fortune"


"There Goes My Heart" video:





Grand Slam will also re-release their debut album, Hit The Ground. Originally released in 2019, the record has been given a makeover.


“I stopped playing for a while and started a film career,” recounts Archer of Hit The Ground. “In 2018 I was working on location in Guadalupe, and I arrived at the decision to record the Grand Slam songs properly, because essentially, what has been out there has not really been representative of what we did back then. Phil and I had done some work-in-progress demos in his backyard studio, and unfortunately, someone stole them and released them. So, it’s always been a goal of mine to re-visit those songs and do them properly, and I had been thinking about showcasing them fittingly for over 30 years, instead of hearing these horrible demos that people put out.”


Re-mixed, re-mastered, and featuring new artwork, Hit The Ground – Revised, will be released on May 10 in digital formats and June 7 in physical formats. Pre-orders can be placed here.





Hit The Ground - Revised tracklisting:


"Gone Are The Days"
"Nineteen"
"Hit The Ground"
"Military Man"
"Crazy"
"Dedication"
"Long Road"
"Sisters Of Mercy"
"Crime Rate"
"Grand Slam" *


* not available on vinyl


Grand Slam are:


Mike Dyer – vocals
Laurence Archer – guitars
Benjy Reid – drums
Rocky Newton – bass


(Photo - Frank Noon)

Currently on the Latin American leg of their Crush The World Tour, Megadeth have released the recap video below, focusing on the April 13 and 14 dates at at Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires, Argentina





Megadeth made their triumphant return to Latin America for ten shows, with the first stop in Lima, Peru on April 6. Megadeth VIP Package Upgrades, including a VIP Q&A and Meet & Greets with band members, are available through Megadeth.com.




Crush The World Tour 2024:


April
16 - Asuncion, Paraguay - Jockey Club
18 - São Paulo, Brazil - Espaco Unimed
21 - Bogota, Colombia - Movistar Arena
23 - San Salvador, El Salvador - Complejo Cuscatlan
25 - Ciudad de México, México - Arena Ciudad de México
27 - Monterrey, México - Arena Monterrey

Former Megadeth guitarist Kiko Loureiro, who was with the band from 2015 - 2023, has shared a new instructional video diving into his use of open triads in his playing.





For the first time in Europe, embark on an immersive guitar camp with one of the most renowned guitarists in the world: Kiko Loureiro.




On June 1st and 2nd, experience a unique journey of learning and inspiration where you'll refine your musical skills, unlock your creative potential and create unforgettable moments. Set in the heart of Helsinki, this camp will take place at a very unique venue - The Katajanokka Hotel, a former jail transformed into a boutique lodging.


Tailored for dedicated and passionate guitar enthusiasts like yourself, this cultural event provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to transform your playing style. During the weekend, you'll have the chance to dig deep into creating amazing solos, improvising freely, transforming your ideas into real songs, and more:


-12 hours of full guitar immersion;


- Learn from the best - Participate in masterclasses and jams with Kiko himself;


- Get feedback from your playing and ask everything you ever wanted to know about music and guitar;


- Get a free license of one of Neural DSP plugins;


- Experience the ultimate blend of cool and unique at a camp venue unlike anything you've ever seen;


- Discover the unique tones and craftsmanship of Kiko's personal guitar collection;


- After the sessions, enjoy casual hangouts and sightseeing in the picturesque setting of Helsinki Downtown.


- Download exclusive content for practice after the event.


Register for The Kiko Loureiro Guitar Experience here.

Today marks the release of "Hangtime", the latest single from the heavy psychedelic rock trio Mooch, off their upcoming album Visions. Accompanying the launch of this powerful track is a live performance video that captures the raw energy and immense talent of the band. 


"Hangtime" is a dynamic exploration of uncertainty and future anxieties, characterized by Mooch’s signature fusion of down-tuned desert rock, '90s grunge, and '70s psychedelia. The song starts with a gritty, compelling riff that evolves into a full-blown auditory experience filled with deep, resonant vocals and the complex interplay of guitar and drums that fans have come to expect from Mooch.


The live performance video, filmed during one of the band’s captivating live sessions, showcases the chemistry and intensity of Mooch’s onstage presence. Recorded under the atmospheric blend of psychedelic lighting and enveloping sound, the video offers a glimpse into what fans can anticipate during the upcoming "Visions Tour 2024."







Mooch describes "Hangtime" as, "a song written about the feeling of being up in the air, uncertain and worried about the direction of the future. However, even coming from a grey, doom-ridden perspective, one has the potential to touchdown and make an impact." This release not only teases the depth and diversity of the forthcoming album Visions but also highlights the band’s growth and continued innovation in their music.


With the release of "Hangtime," Mooch continues to solidify their position in the modern rock scene, promising more immersive experiences with the full release of Visions on May 3, 2024. 





Tracklisting:


"Hangtime"    
"Morning Prayer"    
"Intention"    
"New Door"    
"Together"    
"Vision"    
"You Wouldn't Know"    
"Reflections"


With roots in both Montreal and Yellowknife, Mooch has established themselves as a formidable force in the rock scene, known for their electrifying performances and a unique sound that seamlessly blends the raw edge of rock with captivating melodies and thunderous rhythms.


Don't miss your chance to catch Mooch live in action – a band that continues to redefine the boundaries of rock music with every performance. Canadian tour dates are as follows:


May 
10 - Ottawa, ON - Café Dekcuf
11 - Montreal, QC - The Purple Room (Joint album release show with The Hazytones)
17 - Toronto, ON - Bovine Sex Club
18 - Hamilton, ON - Doors Taco Joint and Metal Bar
19 - Barrie, ON - The Poolhaus
24 - Fredericton, NB - Broken Record Bar & Music Room
25 - Moncton, NB - Xeroz
26 - Sydney, NS - St. Patricks
27 - Halifax, NS - Rad Storm





 

Erik Grönwall, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2021, has released a new video message in which he offered an even lengthier explanation for his decision to leave SKID ROW.

In the clip, which was uploaded to his YouTube channel earlier today (Friday, March 29),the 36-year-old Swedish singer stated in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Okay, so it's out, and now you all know that I have decided to leave SKID ROW. I feel relieved, in a way. I'm happy that it's out, that I don't have to hide it from you guys. I think the word I'm looking for is ambivalent.

"So what do you say we talk about it?

"First of all, let me just say that I am overwhelmed by your understanding and your comments and the love and support you guys have shown me since we made the announcement," he said. "It's incredible. Thank you so much for being the best fans in the world.

"Like I said in the announcement, the main reason why I've decided to leave the band is because it's been very hard and it's proved very challenging to prioritize my health and full recovery being the lead singer of the band. And it's not like I woke up yesterday and decided to go, 'Ooh. That's a horrible idea. What time?' This is something I've been considering for a long time. The first time I brought it up and requested a better balance in the touring was in 2022.

"So most of you guys who follow me, you already know this, but for those of you who don't, let me give you some background info," he continued. "In 2021, I was undergoing treatment against leukemia, and as a result of the treatments and the bone marrow transplant that I did, my immune system was impaired. You can think of my immune system as a four-year-old kid bringing home all kinds of shit and viruses from preschool. So I pretty much get everything. It takes a while for the immune system to build up that resistance again, but my immune system is getting stronger every day. So that's the good news. However, I'm still doing regular checkups, like blood tests, at the hematology department at my hospital in Sweden. But that part has proved very challenging while keeping up with the SKID ROW schedule and demand. And as I'm sure you all understand, I have way too much respect for my medical history and for my health to push myself to the limit.

"But I also wanna say that this illness came with a lot of good things. And one of the best things that I want to mention here is that it gave me a superpower called perspective. I remember sitting at the hospital, and I was in a really fucking dark place. And I was looking out my window and I saw all these people going to work in a hurry, stressing. And I remember asking myself, watching all these people, and I was, like, 'What are we stressing about? What are we chasing?' So right there I felt like I had so much perspective on things and actually a gratitude towards — it's weird to say it, but a gratitude towards my illness. I remember going, 'Thank you for giving me this perspective this early in life.' Anyway, so I was sitting there, and I remembered that the samurai had a code of honor that they called Bushido that they lived by. And so with the perspective I had at the time, I wanted to create my own Bushido. My goal was always, okay, 'I'm gonna get through this and I'm gonna get healthy,' but I wanted to remember the perspective, that feeling of gratitude and perspective I had at the time, because I know that we're human beings and we move on and we forget things, but I didn't wanna forget this; I wanted to remember this for the rest of my life. So what I did was I created my own Bushido at the hospital, and on top of that list, it says 'health first'. And back to SKID ROW, that's exactly why I had to make this decision.

"I've had to look at that list a lot of times this last year," Erik added. "Actually, to be honest, since I joined the band. And I've been questioning myself if I'm really living according to those values. And at the end of the day, I realized that the answer was no.

"And I just wanna say, before the media starts with all this fucking clickbait shit, let me be perfectly clear. Listen carefully: I am not sick. And it's not like I don't wanna tour. I love being on the road. I just need a better balance. And, of course, we have tried to find the right balance together as a band multiple times. But at the end of the day, I realized that it was better for me to just step aside.

"There's a lot of people that are relying on making a living from SKID ROW. And being on the road is mainly where the money is nowadays. So, I totally understand that people have to keep touring. And I feel like it's hard to say this without sounding like, um, like a martyr. Is that the word I'm looking for? Yeah, I think so. But I feel like I need to say it to let you guys know the thoughts I've had recently.

"It's actually been a bit of a burden to tour with a new immune system — not only knowing that I'm intentionally pushing myself, but also knowing that if I get sick on the road, which I'm more likely to with a new immune system, there is no one who can fill in for me. We've had our amazing guitar tech, and I can't express how much I love this guy enough, but our guitar tech, Casey, he filled in for both Snake [Dave Sabo, guitar] and Rachel [Bolan, bass] when they got sick. But when I got sick on the road, we had to cancel, reschedule shows, and, honestly, it's not a fun position to be in. So, wait? All of this is happening because of me? It's not good for the band, it's not good for the crew, it's not good for the fans, it's not good for the promoters, it's not good for the SKID ROW team. All of that also made it less fun for me. I didn't really enjoy myself out there.

"I love singing," Erik concluded. "I love being an artist. I love touring, but I wasn't happy. I understand and respect that SKID ROW is a touring band, but like I told the guys, if I can't prioritize my health, then I'm not the right guy for the job."

SKID ROW's longtime friend Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM) will handle lead vocals for the band's four concerts in late May and early June.

The SKID ROW members said in a statement that they are "proud of what they have created and accomplished with Erik over the past two years" and "wish nothing but the best to him and his health. To celebrate the last two years, the band will be releasing a live album that perfectly captures this moment of time in the band's 35-plus-year history, to be announced soon."

Erik reflected on his leukemia battle and subsequent addition to SKID ROW in a summer 2022 interview with 80's Metal Recycle Bin. He said: "I wouldn't call myself a religious man [laughs], but I would call myself… After all of this, I'm way more spiritual. I'm, like, 'Okay, who planned this?' I was on my way to a completely different life [before my diagnosis], but it was kind of like someone just nudged me.

"I was scrolling on Instagram a couple of days ago and I just saw a post, and it was a text saying, 'I'm sorry I had to make you uncomfortable, but I had to make you move. God.' And I was, like, 'Oh, fuck, man.' [Laughs] That's what it feels like.

"I'm not sure if everything happens for a reason, but that's the only way I can explain this — getting leukemia, then ending up in my favorite band," he continued.

"When I was on stage in [Las] Vegas [with SKID ROW in March and April of 2022], I was interacting with the audience, and I told them that, 'Do you know how amazing it feels to be here singing the song that started your career?' 'Cause '18 And Life' was the song I auditioned with for the 'Idol' show; that's what got me on 'Idol'. And I told them, 'Do you know how it feels to be here on stage with your favorite band of all time singing the song that started your career?' And someone commented on it, and it was, like, 'Did he just quote the 'Rock Star' movie script?' And I was, like, 'Yeah, I didn't even think about that, but it's that movie," he said, referencing the film in which an average kid from Pittsburgh gets tapped to be the new lead singer for his favorite heavy metal band. "So it's kind of like a movie script.

"It's just incredible," Erik added. "I'm still trying to process it. It feels like I've been in the band for two years. It's been four months. We've done, like, 30 shows in four months. We recorded an album. We started working on a new album. We recorded a music video. Everything has been happening so fast. It's overwhelming in so many ways."

Erik also credited his wife with providing him with the emotional strength and support that he needed through his ordeal.

"I wanna say my wife has been incredible this whole journey, especially during the treatments, 'cause when I was ready to give up, she was, like, 'Hey, you're not giving up now. You've got so many people that love you and need you in their lives.' She was tough," he recalled. "And I needed that. So I was, like, 'Yeah, I know.' And I can mention I also have a two-and-a-half-year-old son at home. So that was really, really tough — coming back from the hospital and seeing him. That was my weak spot. She really helped me a lot, and she's very understanding. And obviously, when you have this kind of lifestyle, you need someone who really understands that lifestyle and supports it. And it's kind of a selfish lifestyle in many ways. But she totally gets it, and she's got my back."

Grönwall, who was a member of the Swedish hard rock band H.E.A.T. for nearly a decade before exiting the group in October 2020, announced in September 2021 that he was cancer free after receiving a bone marrow transplant one month earlier.

"There's been a lot of tears, and I still get emotional now talking about this," Erik said. "I think I'm done with the crying [laughs] — I think — but somehow I feel grateful that I went through all of this, 'cause it gave me a lot of perspective. I just feel like I've gotten a lot of perspective on things.

"Being in this business, you see a lot of comments, and you've gotta be tough in many ways," he explained. "And back in the H.E.A.T. days, negative comments could really get to me. Now I'm just, like, 'Dude, I don't care.'

"I'm so happy to wake up every day above ground. It's, like, 'Shit, I get another day? What am I gonna do with this day?'

"I was happy before SKID ROW," Erik added. "I am very happy in SKID ROW. Everything is temporary. I will be happy after SKID ROW. I'm just happy. I've got perspective, and I'm just happy to be alive. And I'm gonna keep singing until this voice can't sing anymore."

Grönwall sang on four H.E.A.T. studio albums — "Address The Nation" (2012),"Tearing Down The Walls" (2014),"Into The Great Unknown" (2017) and "H.E.A.T II" (2020).

In September 2021, just four months before he joined SKID ROW, Grönwall released his new cover version of "18 And Life" via all streaming platforms.

In 2018, Grönwall debuted in the U.S. for 10 million viewers in NBC's live broadcast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's and Tim Rice's musical "Jesus Christ Superstar". Along with John Legend, Alice Cooper, Sara Bareilles and others, Erik played the key role of Simon Zealotes.

In January 2022, Grönwall told Headbangers Lifestyle about beating cancer: "Some anonymous wonderful human being somewhere in the world donated his/her blood cells so that I could get a second chance at life. Sometimes I can just get tears in my eyes when I think about it. It's so beautiful that one person who is not connected to me in any way wanted to do that for me. He/she doesn't know that the blood cells were for me. It's completely anonymous."

In late March 2022, SKID ROW released its first single with Grönwall, "The Gang's All Here". The song is the title track of the band's latest album, which arrived in October 2022 via earMUSIC.

SKID ROW played its first show with Grönwall on March 26, 2022 at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada as the support act on the rescheduled dates for SCORPIONS' "Sin City Nights" residency.
⠀⠀

GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan has announced an expanded digital edition of his acclaimed third solo album, "Lighthouse", available now at all DSPs and streaming services. The deluxe release includes eight additional tracks along with three exclusive live performance videos filmed last December at Easy Street Records in McKagan's hometown of Seattle, Washington.

"Lighthouse (Expanded Edition)" is highlighted by a stripped-down acoustic rendition of the album standout, "I Just Don't Know", transformed from its powerful original version into a soaring, reflective ballad which showcases the vulnerability of the lyrics and McKagan's vocal performance.

"'I Just Don't Know (Acoustic Mix)' is a song I landed upon, that seems to encapsulate somehow, my own personal thoughts about what's next in life, and what is out there in general," says McKagan. "It's the core of the human existence to ponder the afterlife. I like to have fun with the possibilities."

Hailed by Paste as "an emotional, personal and spiritual reckoning...[ McKagan's] most important rock project yet," "Lighthouse" now also features "This Is The Song", "It Can't Come Too Soon" and "Pass You By" (all originally found on McKagan's "This Is The Song" EP, released last May to honor Mental Health Awareness Month),along with the previously unheard "C'mon Boys" (featuring outlaw country badass Jesse Dayton) and live versions of the fan favorites "I Saw God On 10th Street", "Just Another Shakedown" and "Longfeather". All three live tracks are accompanied by official videos from the intimate hometown event. In addition, a complete video capturing McKagan's live in-store performance can be viewed in its entirety via YouTube.

"Lighthouse" is available now in a wide range of formats including streaming, download, CD and LP. A number of deluxe versions and bundles featuring official Certificates Of Authenticity signed by McKagan are also available. An exclusive line of brand-new "Lighthouse" merch is available now at www.duffonline.com.

"It's very nice for me to add the 'This Is The Song' EP from earlier last year, into the mix here of the 'Lighthouse' record itself," says McKagan. "Playing Easy Street Records in December was made much cooler when my erstwhile producer Martin Feveyear came up with the idea to record the show. We have included that recorded live show to this expanded release. There is also a studio track called 'C'mon Boys' that really only became a song when legendary Austin blues man and rockabilly god Jesse Dayton stopped by the studio with his guitar and voice!"

"Lighthouse" sees McKagan baring more of his artistic spirit than ever before, fusing acoustic elements with hard-edged rock 'n' roll to land at the sweet spot between soul-searching reflection and pure energy. The album was first announced last summer alongside its title track, "Lighthouse", joined by an official visualizer streaming now at the official Duff McKagan YouTube channel.

"Lighthouse" was soon followed by "I Saw God On 10th Street", also joined by an official visualizer. "I Saw God On 10th Street" received immediate praise from such outlets as Kerrang!, Revolver and American Songwriter. "Longfeather" arrived next, hailed by Revolver as "folky, elegiac" and joined by an official music video directed by longtime visual collaborators Connor Ellmann, Kuj Durollari and Arben Durollari. A video for the song "I Just Don't Know (Feat. Jerry Cantrell)" is also available.

Regarding how Jerry Cantrell ended up on the album, Duff told SPIN: "He and I have been playing on each other's demos for years and have known each other since around 1989 or 1990. We watch football together on Sundays and I played a lot of bass on his last solo album. I sent him 'I Just Don't Know' and he was, like, 'Man, this is great. Do you want me to do anything on it?' I said, 'Yeah. A solo.' He brought that beautiful solo and then asked if I needed him to sing, and I said, 'Sure.'"

On the topic of the lyrical inspiration for the "Lighthouse" title track, Duff told Paste: "I try to be somewhat reserved with my lyric writing and, sometimes, have a few meanings — none are wrong. But 'Lighthouse' I wrote as my wife being the lighthouse, my life. Our kids are grown, and she and I have been through so much stuff together. And then we got a worldwide pandemic that we were going through together. The way she really supported me — I had just got my own studio right before COVID started, and I had recorded two songs. I was supposed to be off on a GUNS N' ROSES tour and, of course, that all came crumbling down. I really realized, with her, in our time when you're not in contact with other people, it was just her and I thought, 'Fuck, man, we're solid.' We'd heard about people splitting up during COVID; we got drawn closer to each other during that [time]. I'm a fortunate guy to have met her, that girl Susan Holmes, when I was 32, two years into sobriety — because there was something that clicked and, hopefully, for both of us, that really has made my life make sense. Even in the darkest times, even when I'm suffering a panic attack or some other malady, I still know I have her."

Starting at just 15, McKagan has been a part of such diverse and influential bands as THE VAINS (1979),THE FASTBACKS (1980),THE LIVING (1982),THE FARTZ (1982),10 MINUTE WARNING (1983) and LOADED (1998),along, of course, with his historic role as founding member of both GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER. Produced by three-time Grammy Award winner Shooter Jennings, McKagan's 2019 second solo album, "Tenderness", marked a powerful new chapter for the ever-evolving artist, taking on societal ills and his own personal transgressions against a rich sonic backdrop of Americana-fueled arrangements. Named by Loudwire as one of that year's "50 Best Rock Albums" and hailed by Rolling Stone in a three-and-a-half (out of four)-starred rave as "an album full of beauty and heart…It's music of conscience, heavy songs with a light touch," the album includes the volatile rocker "Chip Away", which earned extraordinary praise from the maestro himself, Bob Dylan, who declared the song a personal favorite.

Along with his prolific musical efforts, McKagan is The New York Times best-selling author of 2011's "It's So Easy: And Other Lies" and 2015's "How To Be A Man: (And Other Illusions)", and the co-host (with Susan Holmes McKagan) of SiriusXM's popular "Three Chords & The Truth" radio show on Ozzy's Boneyard (Ch. 38). McKagan currently serves as a core member of a modern-day "Wrecking Crew" alongside Grammy Award-winning musician/producer Andrew Watt and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' Chad Smith, recording and co-writing on such recent albums as Ozzy Osbourne's "Ordinary Man" (2020) and two-time Grammy Award-winning "Patient No. 9" (2022) and Iggy Pop's acclaimed "Every Loser" (2023).

"Lighthouse (Expanded Edition)" track listing:

01. Lighthouse
02. Longfeather
03. Holy Water
04. I Saw God On 10th Street
05. Fallen
06. Forgiveness
07. Just Another Shakedown
08. Fallen Ones
09. Hope Featuring Slash
10. I Just Don't Know (featuring Jerry Cantrell)
11. Lighthouse Reprise (featuring Iggy Pop)
12. This Is The Song *
13. Pass You By *
14. It Can't Come Too Soon *
15. I Just Don't Know (Acoustic Mix) *
16. C'mon Boys (featuring Jesse Dayton) *
17. I Saw God On 10th Street (Live From Easy Street Records) *
18. Just Another Shakedown (Live From Easy Street Records) *
19. Longfeather (Live From Easy Street Records) *

* Bonus tracks exclusive to expanded edition

Photo credit: Charles Peterson

Ancient Entities, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin is a powerhouse ensemble of seasoned musicians, Alex Rausa, Bernardo Mendia, Jake Falk, Luke Veranth, and Brian Gulliford, who are now proudly announcing the release of their debut death metal album, Echoes Of Annihilation, on June 21, 2024. Coupled with this announcement, they are also unveiling the lyric video for their hard-hitting single “Pierced By Obsidian”. And that’s not all, they are also performing at Milwaukee Metal Fest in May. They share what festival attendees can expect:


“I can say we definitely hold our own against bands we share the stage with. We respect everyone but we aren't ones to bow our heads cause someone has been around longer than us. We can't say that we offer anything more than any other band that graces that stage but we can certainly tell you the floor will be moving when we go on.”


The journey to Echoes Of Annihilation began as an idea by guitarist Rausa in January 2021. The band's evolution saw them refine their sound and solidify their lineup, culminating in their debut show in December of the same year. Since then, Ancient Entities has been on a mission to transport listeners back to ancient times, immersing them in the rich tapestry of history through their powerful music.




Punishing death metal awaits those who dig into the single or are lucky enough to catch Ancient Entities live at Milwaukee Metal Fest on May 17th at The Rave. The band is also doing a merch giveaway with Milwaukee Metal Fest that can be entered at this location.


Echoes Of Annihilation artwork and tracklisting:





"Cenote Sagrado" 
"Empire In Ashes" 
"Creatures From The Sand" 
"Blood Upon Stone" 
"Ritual Autopsy" 
"Hidden"
"Pierced By Obsidian" 
"Wall Of War" 
"Damnatio Ad Flammas" 





For further details, visit Ancient Entities on Facebook.


 

Starting off the spring with fresh wind and an incredible amount of power, Generation Steel introduce their new singer, Dirk Meyer (ex-Ivory Tower), and announce the upcoming new single and heavy metal anthem, "Steelers".


The band remains true to their traditional heavy metal style and the guys are already working hard on song material for their third long player.







"Steelers" will be available on May 2 via El Puerto Records on all well-known and popular digital download and streaming platforms as well as on YouTube as audio visualizer. Pre-save the single here.


Lineup:


Dirk Meyer (Vocals)
Jack the Riffer (Guitar)
Pascal Lorenz (Lead Guitar)


Guests:
Andreas Drommershausen (Bass)
Marc Laukel (Drums)

Chicago’s infamous extreme metal trio, Lair Of The Minotaur, has returned to its primary incarnation, and introduces a merciless new single, “Six Days In Hades”.


The original lineup of Lair Of The Minotaur unites Pelican drummer Larry Herweg and 7000 Dying Rats members, guitarist/vocalist Steven Rathbone and bassist DJ Barraca, the crew which stormed the globe in the early 2000s with their self-released eponymous demo which saw them then sign to Southern Lord who would release the Carnage LP, The Ultimate Destroyer LP, and the Cannibal Massacre EP. The band’s two subsequent LPs and multiple EPs/singles would see several member shifts from this lineup, but in 2023 these three henchmen got back together.


With two new tracks written, Lair Of The Minotaur recorded two new songs in November 2023 with longtime producer Sanford Parker (Voivod, Eyehategod, Yob) at Jamdek Studios in Chicago. The tracks were mastered by Collin Jordan at The Boiler Room (Ministry, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Kanye West), and fitted with artwork by Unexpected Specter (Year Of The Cobra, Oak, Feral Light). The first single, “Dark Sorcery Beyond,” was released in January, accompanied by a video directed by the infamous dark artist Lars Kristoffer Hormander.




Lair Of The Minotaur now reveals the second new track, “Six Days In Hades,” a grating, gnarled rager which seethes with the aggression and grit synonymous with the band’s sound.





Steven Rathbone states, “The original lineup of Lair Of The Minotaur got back together over a year ago and started jamming the old material. Not long after, I wrote these two new songs and brought them to Larry and DJ. We are stoked to release the second track we recorded with Sanford Parker called, ‘Six Days In Hades.’ It harkens back to the metal's elder days, with a heavy dose of sleazy sludge. This one's for the old-school headbangers!”


DJ Barraca reveals, “It was a surreal experience to be in the studio with Lair Of The Minotaur again twenty years after we recorded our first demo together. ‘Dark Sorcery Beyond’ and ‘Six Days In Hades’ sound familiar and fresh at the same time. Sanford perfectly captured the energy and excitement of the three of us playing together again.”


Larry Herweg adds, “It’s been really fun reconnecting and jamming with DJ and Steve after a seventeen-year break. The original plan was to relearn Carnage for its 20th anniversary and play some reunion shows, until Steve sent us his ideas for ‘Dark Sorcery Beyond’ and ‘Six Days In Hades’ and it was a no-brainer to bang these out. Both tracks came together pretty effortlessly and were fun to track in the studio. I’m looking forward to their live debut later this month.”





Lair Of The Minotaur will unleash hell upon their hometown with their first live engagement with the original lineup since 2017 with a 20th anniversary show on April 20 with Black Cross Hotel, Eunuchs, and ILLS. Additional East and West Coast shows are being plotted for later this year while the band continues to forge new material. Stand by for updates to post over the months ahead.





Lair Of The Minotaur are:


Steven Rathbone – guitar, vocals, synth
DJ Barraca – bass
Larry Herweg – drums

In a new interview with Alejandrosis, MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine was asked what it was like for the band to be reunited with former guitarist Marty Friedman for two appearances over a six-month period last year — first in February 2023 at Tokyo, Japan's famed Budokan and then in early August 2023 at the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It was very familiar. And Marty is a sweet, sweet man. He's a very teeny little dude, but he's like that saying: dynamite comes in small packages. Marty may be small, but he's fucking mighty. And when we were playing together, there was a time where he came over and he leaned next to me, and I kind of leaned next to him, and it was just so natural because we had done that for so many years. And it just felt great."

He continued: "I love him, and I wish him the very best in everything that he does. I think it would be fun if we were able to do stuff like that in the future for us. I don't wanna do it too much, because I think that it'll become like a circus. And there are certain people that we did play with over the past that they're alumni and I love 'em and respect 'em, but I don't think it would be good for us to play with some of them because I don't know that they are still playing or if they would even remember the different tracks."

At the 2023 Wacken Open Air, Marty performed four songs with MEGADETH: "Trust", "Tornado Of Souls", "Symphony Of Destruction" and "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due".

At Budokan, Friedman came up on stage for three songs toward the end of MEGADETH's main set: "Countdown To Extinction", "Tornado Of Souls" and "Symphony Of Destruction".

Last September, Friedman told Metalhead Marv of This Day In Metal about the experience of playing with MEGADETH again:  "It was wonderful. We have a wonderful history together, so when something special like that came up, it was kind of a definite thing that I wanted to do. And we both enjoyed it immensely. And I just hope the fans enjoyed it as much as we did. For us, it was just a really nice, nice thing to do to kind of just put an exclamation point on the thing that we did in the history of the band. And, of course, I'm the biggest fan of whatever they do in my absence and just rooting them on the whole way."

In March, Marty was asked by Ultimate Guitar if he has had a chance to hear MEGADETH with its latest addition, Finnish guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, who replaced Kiko Loureiro last September. Marty said: "I haven't, as a matter of fact, but I'm sure he's doing a great job if he's up there doing it. And I was able to meet him when I played with the band at Wacken [Open Air festival in Germany last August] and he seemed a very, very cool dude. And I wish him tons and tons of success with the band and it's gonna be a big fun ride for him, I'm sure."

Regarding his current relationship with Mustaine, Marty said: "Yeah, it's great. We played two wonderful shows [last year] in Budokan [in Tokyo, Japan] and at Wacken Open Air. Yeah, he's a bro. I'm the biggest MEGADETH fan out there."

Technical death metal troupe, Cognitive, is back with Abhorrence, set for release on May 17 via Metal Blade Records. Watch a guitar playthrough of the first single and title track below:





The band's fifth full-length album and a tremendously worthy successor to 2021's Malevolent Thoughts Of A Hastened Extinction, Abhorrence finds the New Jersey powerhouse quintet at its brutal best. Unrelenting riffs leave the listener stunned, while a wave of thoughtful, devastating lyrics washes over. The album is a raging, draining, and ultimately fulfilling experience.




Cognitive started work on Abhorrence while touring in support of Malevolent Thoughts Of A Hastened Extinction, sending tracks back and forth while trekking from one intense gig to the next. "There were riffs and ideas that didn't make Malevolent Thoughts…," notes guitarist Rob Wharton. "We just kept toiling away with it. And then we recorded the 'Rot Eternal' single in between touring. So, it's been just nonstop writing."


Drummer AJ Viana has his own studio (he's previously worked with bands as prestigious as Hath) and recorded, tracked, and mixed the album, before Ryan Williams (The Black Dahlia Murder, John Frum) at Metal Blade Records mastered it. To the album's immense benefit, it was a collaborative process and everyone brought their A game.


Abhorrence is an exercise in aural turbulence, each track taking its listener on a magnificently traumatic journey. "Our lyrics for this record are all over the place," says Wharton. "There's some stuff about video games and addiction and mental health. To me, that's the kind of subject matter that hits home because everyone's got stuff going on in their lives. It's relatable."


Relatable much like the album title itself. Peer at the state of the world in recent years and "abhorrence" seems like an entirely appropriate world. "We were going through all the song titles and wondering which is the strongest song," Wharton says. "We decided to go with Abhorrence. Everyone's so mean and cruel to each other and the world is terrible. We just felt like it kind of encompassed everything. We had put a lot of time into that one specifically because there are so many repeating parts, but it was mostly about depression, anxiety attacks and mental health."


The title track also serves as the record's opener and first single. Wharton elaborates, "'Abhorrence' is a groove-filled song with a melodic chorus. Heavily syncopated drums make every chug hit harder and harder. It's a song filled with tension and aggressive vocal patterns screaming about anxiety, panic, and depression all at once."


Watch Cognitive's video for "Abhorrence" below.





Abhorrence will be released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:


- Crimson Void (US retail)
- Gilded Abyss (EU + US Metal Blade Webstore - Ltd. 400)


Pre-order here.





Abhorrence tracklisting:


"Abhorrence"
"Insidious"
"A Pact Unholy"
"Ivory Tower"
"As The Light Fades"
"Savor The Suffering"
"Containment Breach"
"Rorschach"
"Lunar Psychopathy"
"Cold Dead Hands"


"Abhorrence" video:





Cognitive is:


Rob Wharton - guitars
Harry Lannon - guitars
Shane Jost - vocals
Tyler Capone-Vitale - bass
AJ Viana - drums


(Photo - Chris Hosey)