Australian rockers Big Red Fire Truck have released a video for "Psychotropic Thunder". The song is from their upcoming EP, Trouble In Paradise, which is out on August 4th, 2023.
The band comments: "'Psychotropic Thunder' is about someone trying to escape back to reality as the paranoia of insanity slowly takes over their mind. If you listen closely to the lyrics it's actually using the movie Predator, yes the Arnie movie, as a metaphor for it. The sound is also heavily influenced by old video games of that era and Digby trained for six months as a professional wrestler just for the video clip. It's full '80s heavy metal here."
Big Red Fire Truck began in 2016 as a project by lead vocalist / guitarist Digby to write some fun heavy metal and hard rock songs and fulfil his need to hear new music in the style of his beloved bands. Taking inspiration from the likes of Van Halen, Reckless Love, The Darkness, Aerosmith, Sum 41, and Crazy Lixx, the quartet pay homage to previous generations of hard rock while delivering their own distinctive character.
Godthrymm, the British epic doom metal outfit featuring members once involved in such luminaries as My Dying Bride, Anathema, Vallenfyre, and Solstice, today unveil their latest single “Devils” and its accompanying video. The track comes by way of the band’s new album, Distortions, set for release on August 18th via Profound Lore Records.
The follow-up to 2020’s widely lauded Reflections shows the Halifax-based quartet of Hamish Glencross (guitars, vocals), Catherine Glencross (keyboards, vocals), “Sasquatch” Bob Crolla (bass), and Shaun “Winter” Taylor-Steels (drums) elegantly expanding upon their sound and vision. With tracks like “Follow Me”, featuring former My Dying Bride compatriot Aaron Stainthorpe, “Echoes”, and “Devils”, Distortions advances Godthrymm into the hallowed halls of the genre they adore to death.
Comments Hamish of “Devils”, “Yes, we’ve got a video! So this gives the opportunity to showcase a riff heavy stomper from the new album, with the live lineup heads down in the studio where we recorded Distortions. Whereas ‘Echoes’ finds us in a more melancholic, somber mood, this rocks in a heavier metal fashion. Look, listen, and loud!”
Distortions will be released on CD, LP, cassette, and digital formats. Find pre-orders here.
Distortions is the second part of Hamish Glencross’ Visions trilogy — the third part, Projections, is already in the works. Throughout its seven-track, hour-long expanse, Godthrymm’s sophomore effort delves deeper into the despondent march of post-pandemic singles “Chasm” and “In Perpetuum”. Glencross’ emotionally-charged vocals pair perfectly with his towering riffs and thoughtful, crestfallen harmonies. The rhythmic foundation of Crolla and Taylor-Steels is absolutely critical to Glencross’ woebegone éclat. With Catherine Glencross’ angelic vocals and atmospheric keyboards stitched into the monumental “As Titans,” the granite-hard “Obsess And Regress”, and the stirring “Pictures Remain”, Distortions has it all.
“The songwriting for Distortions began during the first lockdown,” Hamish says. “That inspired me to start writing and recording at home, and that structure helped define how we would ultimately write the album. It was very much isolated for the most part, though. I would write and record the first arrangement of a song and then send it through to the others, who would record their parts and send them back. Then, it would be a case of refining and rewriting as inspired by the contributions of everyone. Only one song, ‘Devils’, was written in the rehearsal room before the rest of the album.”
For an album centered lyrically on grief, loss, regret, resolve, love, and determination, it’s hard to imagine something inexplicably heavy yet remarkably beautiful. Producer Andy Hawkins (Hark, Grave Lines) was the perfect man for the job. Spread across The Nave Studio in Leeds and Sasquatch Music Studio in Huddersfield, he captured Godthrymm at their most menacing (“Unseen Unheard”) and vulnerable (“Follow Me”). The tones he extracted from Glencross, Crolla, and Taylor-Steels absolutely crush, while the brighter moments (like Catherine Glencross’ spell-binding vocals on “Obsess and Regress”) splinter Godthrymm’s disheartened darkness in two. Distortions was mastered by Mark Midgley (Doom, Hellkrusher) for Northern Mastering Co.
For a band that formed in 2017, Godthrymm are on an impressive run. Not only have they proven to be a formidable live act—invites to Bloodstock Open Air, In Flammen Open Air, and Tomorrow’s Ghost Festival are but the beginning—but the group’s prolific output of three EPs, two singles, and two full-length albums have also repositioned England as the epicenter of high-quality, epic-sounding doom metal. The cover art by Andy Green (My Dying Bride, Strangeways) is simply a force multiplier. All eyes are on Godthrymm with Distortions.
Distortions tracklisting:
"As Titans"
"Devils"
"Echoes"
"Obsess And Regress"
"Unseen Unheard"
"Follow Me"
"Pictures Remain"
Nathan James is on fire with his last release "The Hanged Man" doing over 600K Spotify streams in the first month. While also having the song being added in the full SXM Octane radio rotation.
"My next song, 'Toxic World', takes a deep dive into the modern art/music world calling out the 'Fast Food Music' that we currently see a lot of “artists” making," says Nathan James.
Stream the single here, and watch the music video below:
Nathan James will be heading out on tour with Shaggy 2 Dope of Insane Clown Posse this summer. The tour will kick off on July 19 in Sauget, IL at Pop's and conclude on August 12 in Fort Wayne, IN.
Nathan James is an independent artist who is a “Photographer Rockstar.” Nathan stands for the popular outcast with a goal to turn all life experiences good or bad into “More Art” through music and photography.
Hailing from the Mile High City of Denver, Colorado, Nathan James has always been pushing out his creative energy for the world to see. Building a foundation as one of the most desired entertainment photographer behind some of the industry’s most iconic shots (Lil Wayne, Justin Bieber, Machine Gun Kelly, Avril Lavigne, Post Malone & many more.
Since his burst onto the music scene in early 2020, Nathan James has already developed into a full-blown rockstar, manifesting his creative influences into a unique musical identity. It would be an understatement to say that Nathan hit the ground running. Despite the compromising circumstances of COVID-19, Nathan James has released multiple singles and amassed millions of streams across all platforms.
Nathan James has no intention of stopping his production of “More Art”. Whether it’s photography, music, or any other form of art, Nathan James is a unique presence that cannot go unnoticed. In a world full of creativity and expression, Nathan James urges people everywhere to create “More Art”, and he’s not afraid to lead by example.
Every musical release starts from a point of ground zero, and with a fresh lineup change along with a new musical direction, London, Ontatrio's Atria are building on their second EP to take them to the next level.
Set to be unleashed this coming August, their sophomore effort Ground Zero follows their 2018 debut New World Nightmare. Their new lineup features Jerad Sterling (Tortured Saint) on drums, Brody King on lead guitar, and bassist Joe Mullen to join founding members vocalist Tom Emmans (Odium, Deathpoint, Choices, Scaithe) and guitarist Tim Ross. Once again Atria teamed up with producer Jon Howard (Threat Signal) to help them craft their signature anthemic metal sound. Tom Emmans explains further.
"We've definitely gotten more aggressive, we always wanted to blend a lot of melody and anthemic chorus’ with brutality. I feel like the fans will agree that on this new one, we’ve gotten much better at doing that. Lyrically, there’s a lot of anger towards not only myself but the world we live in. I try to be hopeful, but I also try to dig into what’s making me angry. It's therapeutic and cathartic, but it’s really hard. It comes from a real place and it’s not always fun. We hope when fans hear Ground Zero from beginning to end, they feel as if they are being exorcised. from the frustration of life."
The EP also features their 2022 hit single "Antiheroes", which garnered the band a recent "Best Metal" trophy from the 2023 Forest City London, ON Music Awards. Blasting right from the get-go with a tinge of Slipknot and In Flames groove, the track is about losing faith in government and media.
"In 2022, I had seen the world completely fall apart, I had seen division, I had seen lies and hatred coming from both sides of the political spectrum. I wondered to myself how can all these people in one world be so divided? It was enough for any of us to question humanity, government, religion, and ourselves. This is the anthem that came out of it." adds Emmans.
The music video for "Antiheroes" filmed by Joe Lyko of Dark Moon Productions can be viewed below.
Performing heavy, yet catchy music, Atria has already shared the stage with The Agonist, Goatwhore, The Casualties, and Threat Signal, among many more and plans to be touring Eastern Canada later this year in support of the new record.
Atria's Ground Zero EP is due out on August 18, and is available for pre-order here.
Tracklisting:
"Ground Zero"
"Antiheroes"
"Dysmorphia"
"Just A Number"
"The Brightest Lights"
Swedish heavy metal pioneers, Enforcer, performed at the 2023 edition of Germany's Rock Hard Festival back on May 28. You can now watch professionally-filmed video of the band's full set. Check it out below:
Enforcer's sixth studio album, Nostalgia, is out now via Nuclear Blast Records. Order/save Nostalgia here.
Tracklisting:
"Armageddon"
"Unshackle Me"
"Coming Alive"
"Heartbeats"
"Demon"
"Kiss Of Death"
"Nostalgia"
"No Tomorrow"
"At The End Of The Rainbow"
"Metal Supremacia"
"White Lights In The USA"
"Keep The Flame Alive"
"When The Thunder Roars (Cross Fire)"
When Queen took a break for the first part of 1983, Brian May put his time to good use. Waking up one morning in Los Angeles, he decided to phone a few friends and invite them to collaborate on some tracks in California’s famous Record Plant studios. The resulting collaboration was a great success, and Brian would later mould the recordings into a unique mini-album, Brian May + Friends: Star Fleet Project.
Order Star Fleet Project here, and watch a remastered video for the song "Star Fleet" below:
This third release in the “Brian May Gold Series” offers an extensively revisited and expanded box set edition of these now legendary sessions. The set is a complete document of the two days, April 21 and 22, 1983 that May spent in the Record Plant, Los Angeles accompanied by top rock music luminaries Edward Van Halen (guitar), Alan Gratzer (drums), Phil Chen (bass) and Fred Mandel (keyboards). The box set includes a spectacular 23-track CD filled with previously unreleased material.
Containing 2 CDs, 1 vinyl LP, and a vinyl single, as well as other collectors items, Brian May + Friends: Star Fleet Sessions is available as a Deluxe Edition box set, worldwide.
A separate exclusive 7” double A side single, also available on CD, features newly mixed single versions of “Star Fleet” and “Let Me Out”. A special red vinyl version is available exclusively through the official Queen Online store and is available to order here.
As May writes in his introductory sleeve notes in the box set: “We are going to give you everything. Every take of every song. The things that went wrong, the laughing, the finding new things to do. But it won’t be just a remaster – we’ve rescued everything from the original multitracks, every detail magnificently remixed, and more! You’ll hear every take from the historic 1983 sessions plus fragments of conversations, out-takes and musical experimentation.”
The original 3-track mini album, released October 31,1983, featured a full-length take of “Star Fleet”, May’s hard rock re-imagining of the signature tune from the Japanese-made kids science fiction series of the same name. The programme was compulsive regular viewing for Brian and his 4-year-old son Jimmy on Saturday morning TV, inspiring Brian’s attachment to its title song, written by English musician Paul Bliss. The album also featured "Let Me Out", including extensive opportunities for May and Van Halen to solo, and "Blues Breaker" a 13-minute piece of completely spontaneous improvisation from all members of this ‘supergroup’ of musicians.
May says: “If Paul hadn’t written a very catchy song as the theme tune for that kid’s TV science fiction drama series, things would have been different. The signature tune began to stick in my head, and I could hear my own arrangement of the tune developing in my mind. But how to record it?”
“So, one morning, I woke up in Los Angeles, on a break from activities with Queen, and made some phone calls. I’ve told the story of what happened next in the material you will find in this box. The outcome was something I will forever treasure.”
“We did a little preparation, on the phone and at home with tiny Rockman amps and earphones. Then we went in. The tapes rolled. My LA neighbour Alan Gratzer beat the Hell out of his kit with the fattest, heaviest drum sticks I had ever seen. Phil Chen, a friend I had met when he played with Rod Stewart, brought his unusual style of funk-orientated rock playing to the party, along with his sunny Caribbean energy and humour. And Fred Mandel, one of the classiest keyboard players I have ever met, tickled both the ivories and some very technical synth patches to bring the spacey riffs to life. Ed (I can still never call him “Eddie Van Halen” because he more than once told me he found it annoying!) played the guitar as if it were a piano … tapping and snapping, and sliding and skipping around the fingerboard like an electric sprite - always with a cheeky smile. If anything he did was difficult for him, he never showed it. A total original. Pure joy. What an everlasting privilege to play with him.”
A superlative show of back-to-basics passion and purpose, Star Fleet brims with the freedom of an off-the-cuff break from the day jobs for all involved.
The record emerged on October 20, 1983 as a set of blistering guitar work, rock’n’roll spontaneity and vibrant melody, infused with a palpable chemistry and respect between the players. Spawning a single in the title-track, the mini-album reached No 1 in the British ‘Kerrang’ rock charts.
Now, of course, the record stands in part as a celebration of those we’ve lost: a chance to reconvene with great, much-missed talents. As Brian puts it, “It’s been very exciting to open up the vault to find these tapes where, in the blink of an eye, I’m trading licks with my friends, including the fantastic Ed Van Halen. It’s highly emotional, especially since Ed is sadly no longer around. We have since also lost Phil - so the rest of us cherish these fleeting moments together.”
The troupe also worked on an earlier May song, the bluesy “Let Me Out”, while the set closes with the titanic “Blues Breaker”, almost 13 minutes of scorching guitar interplay between Brian and Edward: not so much duelling as sharing ideas and passions. As Brian explains, “It was inspired by John Mayall’s Blues Breakers, the album with Eric Clapton reading The Beano on the front cover. Edward said, ‘This is great for me, I haven’t played like this in years. This is where I come from! I didn’t come up doing tapping and all the fireworks. I grew up doing blues, wanting to be like Eric Clapton and do something melodic.”
If that sense of liberation rings out, so does a spirit of shared adventure. “There was a lot of ebullience, a lot of exploration, discovery and astonishment,” says Brian. “And some truly magical moments when everything gelled together - a fusion of energies!”
Across two CDs, a 12” vinyl LP, a 7” vinyl single, the ‘Star Fleet Sessions’ box set houses the proof. Presented in 180g transparent red vinyl, the original LP issue has been treated to a full new mix, executed by Queen sound engineers Justin Shirley-Smith and Kris Fredriksson under Brian’s direction at his Surrey studio from the original multitrack tapes and, says Brian, “cut at half-speed for maximum fidelity”. The single features two tracks. The A-side is an edited version of “Star Fleet”, with brand-new intro guitar harmonies from Brian. The B-side mirrors the original B-side “Son of Star Fleet” which Brian explains “was a way of including the rest of the original long version of the recording on a 7” record; effectively the whole recording is split between the two sides.”
CD1 Star Fleet Project + Beyond features the single version of the title track alongside full-length album versions of “Let Me Out” and “Blues Breaker”. Also included is an interview with Cynthia Fox conducted on Los Angeles radio station KMET in October 1983, on the day of the single release, and a Rockline interview with Bob Coburn. A live version of “Let Me Out” from the Palace Theatre in LA follows, segueing into “We Will Rock You” and a reworking of the same song’s adored fast rendition. The line-up of May, powerhouse drummer Cozy Powell, bassist Neil Murray, guitarist Jamie Moses, keyboardist Spike Edney and backing singers Cathy Porter & Shelley Preston finds The Brian May Band on fire. Finally, CD1 closes with the full LP version of “Star Fleet”, “just as the day it happened,” says Brian, “as if we were in the room.”
CD2 Star Fleet - The Complete Sessions features 23 tracks that go deeper into that room. The disc boasts a newly-created mix from the entire original analogue session tapes, featuring songs in the process of evolution (some with guide vocals) plus discussion, banter, laughs and, says Brian, “some ‘mistakes’, if there are such things”. Amps blow, mics break, strings snap – the results take you as close as it is possible to get to the Record Plant in April 1983.
And Van Halen fans, take note: the “Star Fleet” takes feature eight Edward guitar solos, “never quite treading the same path twice,” says Brian. “Ed was a wonderful soul. Listening to him and me, I feel completely outclassed by him in the studio. But in a very pleasant way – what a joy for me to be around a guy who could do all that. Such a privilege."
“So, you’ll hear us in the studio trading licks,” adds May. “We’ve cleaned up the mix and now EVH’s sound is larger than life. You’ll hear the development of his solo, which I always thought was one of the greatest things he did… a real immortal classic of Ed Van Halen pieces.”
A badge and a booklet featuring extensive liner notes complete the box set. A poster will be exclusive to box set orders placed via QueenOnline.com, where 180g black vinyl, cassette and picture-disc vinyl albums will also be available.
Complete with a digital recreation of the original 1983 source material’s artwork, Star Fleet Sessions doesn’t just gleam anew. Across 136 minutes of audio, the box set takes you behind the curtain, highlighting the electricity that made the project such a special chapter in Brian’s life and career.
“It’s all here. ALL of it ! Every note we played on those two unforgettable, exhilarating days is right here, on show for the first time. Hearing these sessions, especially through the new restoration and mixes we’ve now produced, still sends shivers up my spine,” he says. A time capsule of an unrepeatable moment, this much-anticipated, lovingly curated box set proves why.
Tracklistings:
Star Fleet Sessions Box Set | Format: 2CD + LP (Red Vinyl) + 7” (Black Vinyl)
CD1: Star Fleet Project + Beyond:
"Star Fleet" (Edited Single Version / 2023 Mix)
"Let Me Out" (2023 Mix)
"Blues Breaker" (2023 Mix)
Cynthia Fox Release Day Interview 1983
Bob Coburn Rockline Interview 1984
"Let Me Out" (Live at The Palace Theater, LA / 1993)
"We Will Rock You" (Live at The Palace Theater, LA / 1993)
"We Will Rock You" - Fast (Live at The Palace Theater, LA / 1993)
"Star Fleet" (Complete Version / 2023 Mix)
CD2: Star Fleet The Complete Sessions:
"Star Fleet" (Take 1)
"Star Fleet" (Take 2)
"Star Fleet" (Take 3)
"Star Fleet" (Take 4)
"Star Fleet" (Take 5)
Solo Jam
"Star Fleet" (Take 7)
"Star Fleet" (Take 8)
"Star Fleet" (Take 10)
"Star Fleet" (Take 11)
"Star Fleet" (Alternative Overdub EVH Solo)
Jam
"Let Me Out" (Rehearsal 1)
"Let Me Out" (Rehearsal 2)
Boogie Woogie Jam
"Let Me Out" (Take 1)
"Jazz Police"
"Let Me Out" (Take 3)
"Let Me Out" (Take 4)
Jam (Let's Do The Show Right Here)
"Let Me Out" (Take 6)
Funky Jam
"Let Me Out" (Take 7 False Start)
LP: Star Fleet Project (180g Red Vinyl):
"Star Fleet" (2023 Mix)
"Let Me Out" (2023 Mix)
"Blues Breaker" (2023 Mix)
7” Single "Star Fleet":
"Star Fleet" (Edited Single Version / 2023 Mix)
"Son Of Star Fleet" (2023 Mix) – Exclusive to the box set 7”
Star Fleet Project + Beyond CD:
"Star Fleet" (Edited Single Version / 2023 Mix)
"Let Me Out" (2023 Mix)
"Blues Breaker" (2023 Mix)
Cynthia Fox Release Day Interview 1983
Bob Coburn Rockline Interview 1984
"Let Me Out" (Live at The Palace Theater, LA / 1993)
"We Will Rock You" (Live at The Palace Theater, LA / 1993)
"We Will Rock You" - Fast (Live at The Palace Theater, LA / 1993)
"Star Fleet" (Complete Version / 2023 Mix)
Star Fleet Project / LP 180g black vinyl / LP picture disc / Cassette:
"Star Fleet" (2023 Mix)
"Let Me Out" (2023 Mix)
"Blues Breaker" (2023 Mix)
"Star Fleet" / "Let Me Out" - Double A Side Single (7” Vinyl (Red) / CD Single):
"Star Fleet" (Edited Single Version / 2023 Mix)
"Let Me Out" (Single Edit / 2023 Mix) – Only available physically on this 7” Vinyl & CD single
Credits:
- Content supervised by Kris Fredriksson.
- Mixed by Justin Shirley-Smith and Kris Fredriksson, Allerton Hill Studio.
- Mastered by Adam Ayan, Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland, Maine.
- Half Speed vinyl mastering by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios.
- Artwork by Richard Gray and Brian May.
- Photography by Phil Chen, James “Motor” Merritt, Elizabeth “Lizard” Frye, Brian May, Ron Galella / Getty Images.
French female-fronted progressive metal band, Antipod, has officially inked a deal with Wormholedeath for the release of their album, Eveil. The album is scheduled to hit digital platforms worldwide on September 8.
With their captivating sound and mesmerizing stage presence, Antipod has been making waves in the progressive metal scene, earning them a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim. Their partnership with Wormholedeath is a significant milestone in their musical journey, as it ensures international exposure for their unique brand of music.
In a statement regarding the signing, Antipod expressed their pride and gratitude to Wormholedeath for their belief in the band's talent. They said, "This collaboration with Wormholedeath fills us with immense pride, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to them for placing their trust in us."
To celebrate this exciting collaboration, Antipod has released a special signing announcement video, providing fans and music enthusiasts with a glimpse into their world. The video can be viewed below:
Describing the upcoming album, Eveil, Antipod reveals a work that defies easy categorization. With a solid metal foundation, the band incorporates symphonic and progressive elements, infusing each track with a unique blend of epic and melancholic tones. Lyrically, the album explores a range of themes, both contemporary and timeless, conveyed through metaphor and vivid storytelling. Eveil is an invitation to embark on a colorful, unconventional, and diverse musical journey that articulates a range of emotions and resonates with listeners on a profound level.
Antipod's journey began as a solo project called Mythrillium, initiated by Sebastien, the band's composer. After sharing his music creations with fellow musicians, they recognized the potential and suggested recording some tracks in a professional studio. Steven Segarra, the creator and guitarist of the band Wedingoth, played a pivotal role in this process, contributing guitar and bass lines and lending his production expertise. Sebastien enlisted several talented guests to add their vocals and guitar parts to the album, including Faustine, Julien Lagnier, Fabien Lacroix, and Stéphane Monsérrat.
The release of their first single received an overwhelmingly positive response, garnering airplay on over 300 radio stations and earning spots on physical mixtapes featuring French metal and music records. Encouraged by this reception, Sebastien made the decision to form a full-fledged band, produce a complete album, and deliver unforgettable live performances. Over time, Antipod's lineup has evolved, and today, the band consists of the following members:
Jémina Robineau: Female Singer
Stéphane Monserrat: Male Singer
Elias Bouabib: Rhythmic Guitar, Solo and Backing Vocals
Bilel Adda: Rhythmic Guitar
Aurélien Braun: Drums
Matthieu Lucet: Bass
Sébastien Lelong: Keyboard, Composer
With the upcoming release of Eveil, Antipod is poised to captivate a global audience and solidify their position as one of the most exciting acts in the progressive metal genre. Be sure to follow their social media channels and subscribe to their YouTube channel for the latest updates and releases.
Eveil tracklisting:
"Eveil"
"Affronter ses idées noires"
"Heylel"
"La vie au temps"
"Ne jamais douter"
"Berzerkir"
"Naufrage"
"Nouvelle ere"
"Chrysalide"
"Valse des songes"
"La vie au temps orchestrale" (bonus)
To get a taste of Antipod's musical prowess and the astonishing voice of Faustine, watch the lyric video for their track "Heylel":
SOULFLY has released the official live video for "Superstition", the first single from the band's twelfth album, "Totem", which came out last August via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2018's "Ritual" was recorded at Platinum Underground in Mesa, Arizona by John Aquilino and Arthur Rizk with assistance from John Powers. Produced by SOULFLY mainman Max Cavalera alongside Arthur Rizk (KREATOR, MUNICIPAL WASTE, CODE ORANGE),the LP boasts guest appearances from John Powers (ETERNAL CHAMPION),Chris Ulsh (POWER TRIP),and John Tardy (OBITUARY). Rizk was also responsible for playing lead guitar on the record. The artwork for the album was created by James Bousema.
Regarding the lyrical themes covered on "Totem", Max told The Bogcast: "'Superstition' was inspired by Superstition Mountains. I ended up doing a lot of reading about it and the whole Lost Dutchman. A lot of people died there. It's a really mysterious, mystic place, so I kind of made the lyrics kind of connected to that, which was pretty cool. In the actual chorus, it says, 'Superstition is harder than stone.' I'm referring to the mountain itself. That's a hard mountain. It's been there forever and probably will be there till the end of times.
"The whole record is inspired by nature," he continued. "That's why it's called 'Totem'. I don't know if you guys saw the cover, but we've got this totem pole with a bunch of different animals in it. Supposedly it's kind of like our spirit animals a little bit and our signs. There's almost like a lion mixed with a warthog and there's a goat with the horns. And there's an owl, eagle on top of it. And it's in the forest.
"So, yeah, the record was inspired by nature — the spirits in nature," Cavalera added. "I find that fascinating. I love that. I think the desert is very spiritual and very mysterious. And also the forest. We tour a lot, so we go to Iceland and Norway, and we all see those beautiful forests and stuff.
"So a lot of the record was inspired by, I guess you'd call it the worshipping of nature, almost as a god. A lot of natives have that belief — that nature is like a god that you worship. So I think that became the kind of focus point for the record. There's definitely songs that deal with different topics on it. There's a really cool song that's against cancer. We lost so many good people [to] cancer. I remember when I was writing the record, L.G. [Petrov] from ENTOMBED passed away, and Chuck [Schuldiner] from DEATH [died 20 years ago], and also family members that succumbed to cancer. And so I was, like, 'I wanna write a song against cancer' — a 'fuck you, cancer'-type letter, like a letter to cancer: 'Fuck you. You're not gonna bring all of us down. We're gonna fight you.' It's called 'Scouring The Vile'. That's one of the heaviest songs on the record. Also there's one that's kind of a little bit about society in general, and it's called 'Filth Upon Filth'. It's very, very 'Reign In Blood' influenced; I was listening to a lot of 'Reign In Blood' when I wrote that song. The tempo of it is a very killer SLAYER kind of groove. There is one song called 'The Damage Done'. It's about all the deforestation. I was reading a lot about the Amazon, how they're just raping and pillaging and destroying and that's like the lungs of the world. It's kind of up to us at least to talk about some of these topics, so I think it was kind of cool to give it a shot."
According to Max, "Totem" closes with a 10-minute track called "Spirit Animal". "It's a bit like an epic kind of song," he said. "It's really inspired by old heavy metal tracks, like closers of BLACK SABBATH albums that were really long, like eight [or] nine minutes long, like 'Heaven And Hell'-type shit. I wanted to write something like that. So it's got a lot of parts — tons of riffs. It's a riff fest. [Laughs] And it's great, 'cause it's also got… Richie from INCITE sings on it, my [step]son. And we've got Chris from POWER TRIP doing the solos on it. He's also in MAMMOTH GRINDER. He's a great musician. So he did the solos on 'Spirit Animal', and it came out sick."
In a separate interview with the "Rez Metal" podcast, Max stated about "Totem": "It was created a little bit different. The majority was just me and my son Zyon playing together, so we kind of wrote the bulk of the material. And then I had a great producer friend, Arthur Rizk; he worked with POWER TRIP and CODE ORANGE. Arthur is great, man. And I was curious how Arthur would make a SOULFLY record sound if he was in charge [of] it. And we created something that, to me, feels kind of like… It's almost like a biography of Max music. We cover everything from the early days all the way… So there's some black metal things, there's some death and thrash, there's some groove metal — there's everything. So the record really goes deep into all different areas of metal. So because of that, the album feels very diverse. At the end of the day, I just wanted to make a solid, full-on attitude record that just says, 'We're here to fuck shit up.' This is what we do. This is why I love playing metal, because of the energy it gives me.
"I don't wanna describe the record too much — I'd rather have people hear it and see what they think — but to me, it feels like this is just a really, really energetic SOULFLY record," Cavalera added. "It's kind of cool to have that kind of… After so many records, if you can still put an energetic record out, it says something about your career; you're not slowing down — you're going, actually, the opposite way. So I'm more in the trenches than ever with this one. It feels like [I've been] rejuvenated; I feel like a young kid again playing metal. Those are great elements to have. Especially when you're getting older, a lot of people go more mild and slow down. I'm not one of those people. I wanna just get even more wild, get heavier. But always with the SOULFLY groove, 'cause I think that's a key element of SOULFLY; it's always been the groove. So we pay really close attention to the… We actually added a lot of percussion to it, so it kind of goes back to records like 'Primitive'; some of the grooves go back to songs like 'Primitive' and 'Boom', but some of the other stuff is super aggressive and it's like a lot of the current extreme metal that I listen to right now from a lot of other bands."
In April 2021, Max told Chris Enriquez of Saint Vitus Presents: Age Of Quarantine that Rizk took the new SOULFLY project "super seriously. He said, 'Hey, Max, I don't wanna do just another SOULFLY record. I wanna do the bestSOULFLY record,'" he recalled. 'I was, like, 'All right. I take the challenge. Let's do it, man.'"
SOULFLY's current lead guitarist is Mike DeLeon, who joined the band in early 2023. Prior to hooking up with SOULFLY, DeLeon had been a member of PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo's solo band PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, which he joined in 2015 as the replacement for Marzi Montazeri. More recently, Mike filled in for Zakk Wylde at the first rehearsal for the fall 2022 PANTERA shows.
In August 2021, SOULFLY parted ways with longtime guitarist Marc Rizzo due to personal differences. FEAR FACTORY's Dino Cazares played guitar for SOULFLY on the band's 2021 and 2022 run of shows.
BLACKBIRD ANGELS, the new project founded by guitarist Tracii Guns (L.A. GUNS) and bassist/vocalist Todd Kerns (SLASH, TOQUE, HEROES AND MONSTERS),will release its debut album, "Solsorte", on September 8 via Frontiers Music Srl.
Adam Hamilton, a multi-instrumentalist who spent time in L.A. GUNS and has also produced albums by L.A. GUNS, VAINS OF JENNA, George Lynch, and more, rounds out the BLACKBIRD ANGELS lineup on drums.
BLACKBIRD ANGELS' self-titled debut album sees some old friends getting together and simply having fun playing some good 'ol rock 'n roll like their heroes from the '70s did.
The official music video for the LP's first single, "Shut Up (You Know I Love You)", can be seen below.
Guns comments: "Todd and I have wanted to make a record for about 10 years now and we finally did it and it's everything I hoped for. With the addition of Adam Hamilton, it's pure magic. For live performances, Johnny Martin will play bass and Sam Bam Koltun will play guitar."
Kerns adds: "I've always been a great admirer of Tracii's. When he approached me about this project, we were still in the throes of the pandemic and I really felt this deep need to make as much music as possible while we were all facing such an uncertain future. The record turned out to not only be a cathartic experience, it became some of my favorite music I've ever been a part of. It's raw, it's real and it rocks. I'm super excited for people to hear it."
The seeds of BLACKBIRD ANGELS were planted when Tracii decided he wanted to write a rock and roll record more directly influenced by the music he grew up worshipping as a teenager, i.e. LED ZEPPELIN, Peter Frampton, BAD COMPANY, late '70s JOURNEY, and the like. He and Todd Kerns were already friends and Tracii felt Todd's voice and bass playing would match perfectly with his vision. The two chatted and concluded they could make a killer rock and roll record together.
"Solsorte" track listing:
01. Shut Up (You Know I Love You)
02. Mine (All Mine)
03. Worth The Wait
04. Coming In Hot
05. On And On/Over And Over
06. Only Everything
07. Broken In Two
08. Better Than This
09. Unbroken
10. The Last Song
11. Scream Bloody Murder
Guns is a respected guitarist who first came to prominence with the band he founded in Los Angeles in the early '80s, L.A. GUNS. L.A. GUNS would go on to be one of the marquee bands of '80s hard rock and had multiple hit records and singles, including "The Ballad Of Jayne". Guns has also had different forays with other groups outside of L.A. GUNS, including BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION with MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx, CONTRABAND with Michael Schenker, and, more recently, SUNBOMB with STRYPER guitarist/vocalist Michael Sweet. Guns reunited with vocalist Phil Lewis in 2016 under the L.A. GUNS name and the band has been releasing new albums, three in total thus far, and touring regularly since.
Kerns is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer. He is most noted for being the bass player and backup singer in SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS, and for being the frontman of gold-record-selling Canadian band THE AGE OF ELECTRIC. In more recent years, he has been making his mark as a singer/songwriter with sold-out solo performances as well as fronting former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick's band, as well as his own Canadian supergroup TOQUE. Most recently, Todd joined forces with guitarist Stef Burns and drummer Will Hunt in the power trio HEROES AND MONSTERS.
BLACKBIRD ANGELS is:
Tracii Guns - Guitars
Todd Kerns - Vocals
Adam Hamilton - Drums
LAMB OF GOD has shared drone-camera video of the band's July 16 performance at the Inkcarceration Music And Tattoo Festival at Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio. Check it out below.
Inkcarceration was first held at the Reformatory, made famous by "The Shawshank Redemption" movie, in 2018.
The festival, which ran from Friday through Sunday, reportedly drew more than 25,000 guests per day from across the globe.
This year's Inkcarceration featured bands performing on three different stages each day, with LIMP BIZKIT headlining on Friday, PANTERA topping the bill on Saturday and SLIPKNOT closing on Sunday.
LAMB OF GOD will head out on a full U.S. tour with PANTERA this summer, including a few stops at major festivals like Blue Ridge. Throughout August and early September, LAMB OF GOD will play eight headlining shows with a rotating cast of openers, including ICE NINE KILLS, SUICIDE SILENCE, THE ACACIA STRAIN, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and FROZEN SOUL.
LAMB OF GOD's latest album, "Omens", was released in October 2022. The LP is the follow-up to LAMB OF GOD's self-titled album, which arrived in June 2020. That effort marked LAMB OF GOD's first recordings with drummer Art Cruz, who joined the band in July 2019 as the replacement for Chris Adler.
Now You've Got Something to Die For | @InkcarFestival
Florida’s death-dealers Inhuman Condition are back with another right-hook single; a high-octane cover of the Blue Oyster Cult classic, “Godzilla”. The video for the second single from their upcoming EP, Panic Prayer, features the ever popular reptilian wreaking havoc on a city, while singing about his misadventures. The video was filmed and edited by Daniel Wahlström at Heavy Groove Media, who previously worked with the band on “I’m Now The Monster” and “Caustic Vomit Reveries”.
Set for a July 21st release on Listenable Insanity Records, Panic Prayer is the band’s third release since the their inception in early 2021. With members of Obituary, Deicide, and Venom Inc, the trio is no stranger to extreme music, blending a mix of groovy death metal and thrash, with a pinch of hardcore.
The group have once again enlisted the help of art-extraordinaire Dan “Babe Ruth” Goldsworthy (Cradle Of Filth, Accept, Hakan, Alestorm) for the cover art for the EP. Goldsworthy’s third album cover for the band features the bands “unofficial mascot,” sometimes referred to as “The Rat God”, who was on the group’s 2021 debut Rat God, as well as 2022’s follow-up album Fearsick.
Panic Prayer tracklisting:
"Civilized Holocaust"
"Final Credits"
"Panic Prayer"
"Godzilla"
"The Mold Testament" (live)
"Recycled Hate" (live)
"Euphoriphobia" (live)
"The Neck Step" (live)
Inhuman Condition is:
Jeramie Kling - vocals / drums
Terry Butler - bass
Taylor Nordberg - guitar
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