Melancholic aggression and intensity await in the new single release, “When The Sun Comes Out At Night” featuring Johan Lindstrand (THE CROWN). With a line-up formed of three previous members of AMON AMARTH, and completed with Clint Williams, FIMBUL WINTER embarks on greater exploration and development of melodic death metal. This latest endeavor follows the band’s previous single “Crowned In Ash” and the 2025 debut EP What Once Was.

“When The Sun Comes Out At Night” descends into a thunderous, high-speed onslaught driven by incessant riffs and untamable percussion. Fiercely melodic, entwining guitars traverse alongside the anguish-fueled harsh vocal performance from Clint Williams and guest vocalist Johan Lindstrand (THE CROWN). The shadowy atmosphere, brutal in nature, obtains a heroic, victorious quality as it reaches its end.

Lyrically, “When The Sun Comes Out At Night” explores the loss of stability experienced upon seeing reality too clearly. This awakening of truth, of knowing, becomes disorientating as it dismantles what was once certain.


Forging a sound that is heavy, melodic and atmospheric, FIMBUL WINTER honor the legacy of their death metal foundations producing music that feels familiar yet is modern in its approach. Drawing from their knowledge and experience in AMON AMARTH, and expanding further their artistic boundaries, FIMBUL WINTER brings power, energy and vehemence into all of their sonic offerings.

Drums and guitars on “When The Sun Comes Out At Night” were recorded at Studio Fluff Vasteras with engineer Andreas Moren while vocals were recorded at Witching Hour Audio and engineered by Shaun Farrugia. Bass performance on the track was performed by Risa Andersson, and mixing and mastering was completed by Marko Tervonen at Studio-MT. The cover artwork for “When The Sun Comes Out At Night” was created by Katarzyna Urbanek.

About FIMBUL WINTER:

Comprised of three former members of AMON AMARTH, including founding members Niko Kaukinen and Anders Biazzi, FIMBUL WINTER strive to redefine melodic death metal. Based out of Stockholm, Sweden and Melbourne, Australia, FIMBUL WINTER formed in 2023 building upon their roots and the members’ legacies in Swedish death metal.

FIMBUL WINTER’s beginnings grew from a spontaneous reunion performing AMON AMARTH’s 1994 demo titled The Arrival Of The Fimbul Winter. The instant connection between the musicians ignited a desire to create something new that captured the essence of Swedish death metal in an updated style that is clean and modern without being polished to its detriment. 2025 brought this vision to life with the unveiling of the ensemble’s first EP, What Once Was.

The new single releases, “Crowned In Ash” and “When The Sun Comes Out At Night”, mark the band’s continuing trajectory. FIMBUL WINTER push their compositional creativity while striving to remain truly authentic to a sound they helped to craft.

In a new interview with U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine, IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris and singer Bruce Dickinson spoke about the legendary British heavy metal band's upcoming induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame's Class Of 2026. Steve and Bruce will be inducted into the Hall Of Fame alongside other members of the group's current lineup, guitarists Adrian Smith, Dave Murray and Janick Gers, as well as ex-singers Paul Di'Anno and Blaze Bayley, ex-guitarist Dennis Stratton and former drummers Nicko McBrain and Clive Burr.

Asked if there were any internal discussions about turning the Rock Hall honor down, Steve said: "No. There have only been comments from a couple of members of the band here and there. Bruce has his own strong feelings about it, which is his opinion. It's never really bothered me one way or the other, because awards aren't what we do this for. But in a weird way I'm glad it’s happened so the Americans will stop banging on about it. To me, if you get offered something, you say, 'Thank you very much.' But did I lose sleep over getting it or not getting it? No."

Bruce chimed in: "I can't even summon the energy to be vitriolic about it. I appreciate that a significant number of people are happy for us. That's nice. It's not something we're bothered about."

Asked if they would go to the ceremony if they weren't on tour in Australia at the time, Bruce said: "No." Steve added: "I don't do those sort of things. I didn't even go to the recent red-carpet thing for the [MAIDEN] documentary. It's not me."

The 2026 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony will take place on November 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It will air on ABC and Disney+ the following month.

On November 14 IRON MAIDEN will be in the middle of an Australian tour, with dates booked for November 13 in Melbourne and November 15 in Sydney.

While MAIDEN has been eligible to join the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame since 2004, the band had only been nominated twice before — in 2021 and 2023.

Even though artists are eligible for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 25 years after the release of their first album or single, iconic hard rock and metal bands like MOTÖRHEAD have yet to be recognized by the institution, which inducted GUNS N' ROSES in that group's first year of eligibility.

The only metal or metal-adjacent acts to have made it into the Rock Hall so far have been BLACK SABBATH, LED ZEPPELIN, METALLICA, AC/DC, JUDAS PRIEST, KISS, VAN HALEN, RUSH, GUNS N' ROSES, Ozzy Osbourne and DEEP PURPLE.

IRON MAIDEN finished in the fourth place in the fan vote for the 2023 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction class.

IRON MAIDEN is among the artists who will be inducted in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame class of 2026 Performer category. Also set to be honored are Phil Collins, Billy Idol, JOY DIVISION/NEW ORDER, OASIS, Sade, Luther Vandross and WU-TANG CLAN.

Celia Cruz, Fela Kuti, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, and Gram Parsons will be presented with the Early Influence Award; Philly Soul songwriter Linda Creed, producer Arif Mardin, producer Jimmy Miller and Rick Rubin will be honored with the Musical Excellence Award; and Ed Sullivan will be given the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

When IRON MAIDEN's induction was first announced earlier this week, Smallwood said in a statement: "We'd like to thank the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame for including us (and former members who were all part of our story) in the 2026 roll call of inductees.

"IRON MAIDEN have always been about our relationship with our fans above anything else, including awards and industry accolades. However, having said that, it's always nice to be recognized and honored for any achievements within the music industry too!"

Smallwood added: "It also seems appropriate for the band to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this year as we continue our 50th-anniversary celebrations with our 'Run For Your Lives' world tour visiting the Americas and beyond. We would also like to congratulate our fellow 2026 inductees and extend our gratitude as ever to our fans for their loyalty, perseverance and support for over 50 years now! See you all, somewhere on tour."

Seven years ago, Harris said that he didn't care that his band had yet to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame despite the fact that it had been eligible since 2004.

"I don't mind that we're not in things like that," he told Rolling Stone in an interview. "I don't think about things like that. It's very nice if people give you awards or accolades, but we didn't get into the business for that sort of thing. I'm certainly not going to lose sleep if we don't get any sort of award, not just that one, any award. I don't think we deserve to have this or that necessarily. With what we do, whatever comes of it is great. Whatever doesn't come of it is great, too."

Dickinson made headlines in 2018 when he referred to the Rock Hall as "an utter and complete load of bollocks" during a spoken-word gig in Australia, insisting that the Cleveland-based institution is "run by a bunch of sanctimonious bloody Americans who wouldn't know rock and roll if it hit them in the face."

Bruce later told The Jerusalem Post that he was "so annoyed with that coverage because they took my statement out of context to make it seem like I was upset that we weren't in the Hall Of Fame."I'm really happy we're not there and I would never want to be there," he continued. "If we're ever inducted, I will refuse — they won't bloody be having my corpse in there.

"Rock and roll music does not belong in a mausoleum in Cleveland," Bruce added. "It's a living, breathing thing, and if you put it in a museum, then it's dead. It's worse than horrible, it's vulgar."

Harris previously told "Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon" that he wasn't concerned about whether IRON MAIDEN would eventually be inducted into the Rock Hall. "I don't really think about it, to be honest. I think awards are things that are nice to have when you get them, but it's not something you're really striving for — it's not what it's about it," he said. "It's never been about that. It's aways been about just trying to make good music and go out and play good live shows, and that's it, really. Hopefully people will appreciate it. It's probably nice when people give you awards — don't get me wrong; I think it's great — but it's not something that you would lose sleep over if you didn't get any.

"It's the way that I am," Harris added. "I don't know. Maybe the rest of the guys [in the band] might think differently to me, but that's the way I think. It's not that I don't care about [awards]. It's just… And it's not that they're not meaningful when you do get 'em — it's nice. But I certainly don't worry about it or anything like that. I think other people are the ones that make a bigger deal out of it than us, about whether we got one or not."

Marking 30 years since the SEX PISTOLS burst back on to the scene, fans will this year be able to buy "Filthy Lucre Live" as a 2LP red vinyl set featuring bonus tracks.

It was the biggest shock reunion of the 1990s and on June 23, 1996, Johnny Rotten (John Lydon),Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock took to the stage at Finsbury Park for a landmark concert that cemented their place among the greats of popular music.

The incendiary show drew heavily on the classic album "Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols", featuring defining tracks including "Anarchy In The U.K.", "Bodies", "God Save The Queen", "Holidays In The Sun" and "Pretty Vacant".

The definitive double red LP and single CD sets, released on November 20, 2026, will include the Japanese bonus tracks — "No Fun" and "Buddies" (a crowd sing-along version of "Bodies") — for the first time.

The release delivers a raw and uncompromising snapshot of the SEX PISTOLS at full volume, reaffirming their enduring influence and confrontational spirit.

Guitarist Steve Jones said: "It was 20 years on from when we initially broke up in '78 and it was always a debate that the pistols couldn't play. I think 'Filthy Lucre' shows not only that we can play but we are a powerhouse. Long live rock 'n' roll."

Drummer Paul Cook said: "It wasn't all about the 'filthy lucre' — that title was always ironic — it was about getting the original lineup behind 'Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols' back together and showing what we could really do. I loved it."

The show came at a time of Britpop optimism and amidst the excitement of Euro 1996. The previous day, England had beaten Spain on penalties and PISTOLS fan Stuart Pearce and future England manager Gareth Southgate were at Finsbury Park to introduce the PISTOLS on stage.

Named after a 1976 Daily Express headline ("Punk? Call It Filthy Lucre") the "Filthy Lucre" tour saw the band reunite following its original implosion during a 1978 tour of the U.S., and their final show at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. "Filthy Lucre" brought back into the fold original PISTOLS bassist Glen Matlock, who had been replaced in 1977 by the late Sid Vicious.

John Robb, writing later for Louder Than War, said of the Finsbury Park show: "I still clearly remember the surge of hair-raising excitement as the band's sound tsunami and cacophonous outrage of high decibel noise exploded from the speakers."

Music writer Robert Thomas Christgau described the live album as "that rare thing, a live album with a life of its own", compelling us to rehear a band that "defined both a new rock voice and a new rock attitude".

Vinyl

A1. Bodies
A2. Seventeen
A3. New York
A4. No Feelings
A5. Did You No Wrong

B1. God Save The Queen
B2. Liar!
B3. Satellite
B4. (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone

C1. Holidays In The Sun
C2. Submission
C3. Pretty Vacant
C4. EMI

D1. Anarchy In The U.K.
D2. Problems
D3. No Fun
D4. Buddies

CD

01. Bodies
02. Seventeen
03. New York
04. No Feelings
05. Did You No Wrong
06. God Save The Queen
07. Liar!
08. Satellite
09. (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
10. Holidays In The Sun
11. Submission
12. Pretty Vacant
13. EMI
14. Anarchy In The U.K.
15. Problems
16. No Fun
17. Buddies

Press images courtesy of The Outside Organisation

MISS MAY I — Levi Benton (vocals),Jerod Boyd (drums),Ryan Neff (bass) and Elisha Mullins (guitar) — will release a new album, "No Place For Me", on October 2 via Solid State Records. Today, the band also shares the video for the new single "Sanctuary". Watch it below.

"'Sanctuary' is a song about wanting to feel safe and realizing you're the one making that impossible," says Benton. "It's a cycle I've struggled with my whole life and I think a lot of people know exactly what that feels like."

Regarding the album, the singer reveals it was a truly cathartic process to write and record it, saying, "'No Place For Me' is everything I've felt for a long time but never had the words for. Writing it taught me who I actually am even when that hurt to look at. It's a full journey: Where it started, what I discovered, and where I am today."

"No Place For Me" track listing:

01. Sanctuary
02. Portrait Of Pain
03. Hand Me A Halo
04. Pray For Silence
05. Death Threat
06. Die On The Vine
07. Fire Falls
08. Bury Me Down
09. Ashes Of The Altar
10. Highbrow Thieves

In a December 2025 interview with the Vulgar Display Of Podcast, Benton stated about MISS MAY I's upcoming follow-up to 2022's "Curse Of Existence" album: "Well, the funny thing is we have taken two years doing this album, just 'cause our schedules are crazy. And since it's a new lineup, we're making sure it's perfect. So it's taking a long time. I have five more songs of vocals to do. That's why I'm going in a couple weeks to finish it. So the album's not done yet, so until it's done, we don't really have a date, but because we have a lot of singles and a lot of stuff… We have the art and everything ready, so I think we're gonna start rolling it out sort of with no end date."

He continued: "It's gonna be a little experiment for us. But it's been fun because I think our fans will like it. Yeah, we're just not gonna approach it normally of, like, 'Hey, here's the pre-order. Here's two music videos from the album.' Since we've worked so hard on it, we're gonna really try to make each song special and just really work on it. And [the recently released new single] 'Pray For Silence' is as light as the album gets. So I try to tell everybody, like, that's the ballad of the album."

Referencing the fact that founding MISS MAY I guitarists B.J. Stead and Justin Aufdemkampe left the band in 2024 and guitarist Elisha Mullins was welcomed into the MISS MAY I family in their place, Benton stated about the group's mindset while writing "Pray For Silence": "We knew the lineup was changing, we knew we were doing everything, but it was sort of traumatizing to us, 'cause, obviously, we didn't want the original lineup to change. So that whole thing was just sort of a mess. And Elisha was amazing. He was a fill-in before he became part of the band. And we [went] into the studio and then we worked with Elisha for the first time and we were dumbfounded, because we've been with the original lineup since high school. And B.J. and Justin, the original guitar players, always started the songs. So we got into a room, and he's, like, 'Okay, where do we go?' And we're, like, 'Oh, shoot. Those guys aren't here.' We're, like, 'We don't even know where to start.' Which was cool, 'cause Elisha was that for all his projects. And being from Missouri and the same age, we're all cut from the same cloth, which was really cool, 'cause we had the same upbringing and same inspiration, just 500 miles over. So we were doing the same thing just east, which was cool. And then now being a four-piece, and writing with Elisha and not having a full five-piece — and I think people can really tell in 'Pray For Silence' and we lean into it more in further songs. But we'd sort of take rhythm out, the rhythm guitar, and we're playing with soundscapes because we're a four-piece, but we've never got to play with those sounds. So that's why there's a lot of crazy sounds that we were screwing around with, because we're down a person. But we didn't wanna just have a guitar playing on a speaker somewhere, so we've been playing with a lot of sounds. And I think not only 'Pray For Silence', but it gets crazier further in the album of just crazy soundscapes that we're doing. And that's new for MISS MAY I. So that's why I think it sort of sounds like old MISS MAY I, but the new thing — if somebody's really paying attention, dissecting it, we've never had soundscapes until now. Which is so fun, to open up a keyboard and just, like, have 3,000 sounds to be, like, 'Okay, guys, let's figure out what the rhythm's gonna sound like.'"

Benton went on to say that "the secret member" of MISS MAY I "that's behind the scenes that I guess only diehards or people looking at the credits will see is, we've had this guy Nick Sampson, who's sort of been with us since our second album. He was like a young padawan to Joey Sturgis, engineering on when we did 'Monument' at Joey's house," he explained. "And then he's worked on all our albums since. And he does POLYPHIA, he was in I AM ABOMINATION. He's like a guitar shredder, and he's up in Michigan. So he actually comes to Cape Girardeau and he's like our consistent piece instrumentally, on guitar from second album on. So he's sort of like our judge, like, 'No, we wouldn't do that.' Or 'this is that or 'let's do that.' So he's like our boundary to keep it consistent, which has been great."

In 2024, MISS MAY I joined the Solid State Records roster and released "Apologies Are For The Weak (Re-Recorded 15th Anniversary Edition)", the awesomely ambitious 15th-anniversary edition of the band's classic, beloved debut album "Apologies Are For The Weak". The LP was entirely re-recorded and featured cameos on every single song, including from Jake Luhrs of AUGUST BURNS RED, Brandan Schieppati of BLEEDING THROUGH and Scott Lewis of CARNIFEX. Asked what MISS MAY I's relationship with Solid State is like, Levi said: "It's unreal. I wish I started a band like this 15 years ago. Not that everyone's always cracking the whip, but we were just so busy all the time and there was such hard deadlines all the time, which I get, but it's also, like, who knows if that's gonna be the best album? Or who knows if you worked hard enough? And when we were shopping around and we had kids and we were parents, we talked to all the labels and a bunch of managers too; our management team changed at the same time. 'Cause we're just a different band. We are doing things on our own time. We're not just a poster boy metal band that they could just throw out there anymore, 'cause we don't say 'yes' all the time, as much as we used to. And they're still totally cool with it. It's so weird to get off a call and they're just, like, 'Take your time. It'll be done when it's done.' And I'm, like, 'I don't understand.' I'm, like, 'That's crazy.' And they're, like, 'Turn it in when you guys are ready.' And I'm, like, 'This is so nice.' We've always been, and I think you guys have probably seen it a million times in band interviews, but it's always the vocalist's last day, like, 'Yeah, I had to finish three songs before the next band was coming in, 'cause that was the last day of the studio.' I'm, like, we've always done albums like that, and this is just, like, 'Hmm, I could do better. I'll go back in in a month and do different lyrics and try to make it perfect.' 'Cause we know we wanna sit on this one and really make it… I think it's a pivot point for our career. When it comes out, it's gonna be different. I think it's gonna be really awesome."

When it was first released in August 2025, "Pray For Silence" was described in a press release as "a vocally dynamic anthem, with a chorus that will instantly embed in your brain, heavy artillery riffing, and floor-shaking breakdowns. It's ultimately classic metalcore that swells with modern flourishes, ushering MISS MAY I into their next exciting era."

Benton previously told Rolling Stone Australia about Mullins: "He comes from being a producer. All this new music we're doing, it's stuff we've never had before, because we've never written with someone like this."

On a personal level, Benton said Mullins and the rest of MISS MAY I are "all cut from the same cloth. Elisha's from the Midwest, he's the same age [as us]. We listen to the same local bands. It's a natural fit. It's very cool."

Regarding what it was like working on new MISS MAY I material without their main songwriters, Benton said: "The funny thing was, it was a total lost thought. We weren't even thinking about it. We went into the studio and the rest of the guys were, like, 'Oh my God. Justin and B.J. were the main writers — we've got to change something up.' We went back to the drawing board, and that's when the anxiety hit. After years of touring, we didn't even think about writing [like that]. We spent a whole month with Elisha in the studio, just doing one song to get the vibe of how we write together. It was a mock-up of sorts, just a practice run; we ironed everything out."

Instead of letting doubts, anxiety, negativity, and intrusive thoughts run wild, MISS MAY I will catch and turn even the most volatile feelings into airtight anthems. The Ohio-bred quartet ground extreme emotions in a taut framework of technically adroit riffing, hardcore grooves, and unforgettable melodies. The band has expertly honed an uncanny ability to make sense of life on tape. That's why fans worldwide have leaned on the group's music since their emergence in 2007. Following years of grinding, 2012's "At Heart" marked a breakthrough moment for the group when it bowed at No. 32 on the Billboard 200. Their impact only expanded with "Deathless" (2015) and "Shadows Inside" (2017),which both debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart and Top Rock Albums chart. In 2022, "Curse Of Existence" received widespread critical acclaim from the likes of Alternative Press, which raved: "MISS MAY I have penned one of their strongest records yet." V13 hailed it as "packed full of emotion and heartfelt rage," and Outburn marveled at "their fast, aggressive, thrashy metalcore mixed with powerful lyrics." Along the way, they generated hundreds of millions of streams and toured with everyone from KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and PARKWAY DRIVE to MOTIONLESS IN WHITE.

"Mental Funeral" was AUTOPSY's second studio album, originally released back in 1991, and is rightly hailed as one of the greatest death metal albums of all time with its unhinged and uncompromising collection of odes to brutality and depravity, wrapped up in its highly distinctive raw, organic production. To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the seminal album, Peaceville will release two new editions on August 14, featuring newly remastered audio courtesy of current AUTOPSY bassist Greg Wilkinson at his Earhammer Studios.

"Mental Funeral" was recorded at Different Fur Studios in late 1990, with engineering work conducted by Ron Rigler. The iconic artwork appeared courtesy of Kev Walker, who had already provided the (at the time) controversial cover for AUTOPSY's debut, "Severed Survival".

The 35th-anniversary editions of "Mental Funeral" will be available on two new formats:

* Red/green ink spot vinyl, featuring newly remastered audio courtesy of current AUTOPSY bassist Greg Wilkinson at his Earhammer Studios

* Double-disc edition containing remastered audio and a special bonus commentary disc, with Chris Reifert, Eric Culter and Danny Coralles all sharing their recollections of the writing and recording process for the album, and its inspirations

Disc 1

01. Twisted Mass Of Burnt Decay (2:14)
02. In The Grip Of Winter (4:08)
03. Fleshcrawl (0:41)
04. Torn From The Womb (3:18)
05. Slaughterday (4:02)
06. Dead (3:18)
07. Robbing The Grave (3:52)
08. Hole In The Head (6:03)
09. Destined To Fester (4:34)
10. Bonesaw (0:45)
11. Dark Crusade (3:54)
12. Mental Funeral (0:36)

Disc 2 (2CD edition only)

01. Twisted Mass Of Burnt Decay (with commentary) (2:14)
02. In The Grip Of Winter (with commentary) (4:08)
03. Fleshcrawl (with commentary) (0:41)
04. Torn From The Womb (with commentary) (3:18)
05. Slaughterday (with commentary) (4:02)
06. Dead (with commentary) (3:18)
07. Robbing The Grave (with commentary) (3:52)
08. Hole In The Head (with commentary) (6:03)
09. Destined To Fester (with commentary) (4:34)
10. Bonesaw (with commentary) (0:45)
11. Dark Crusade (with commentary) (3:54)
12. Mental Funeral (with commentary) (0:36)

One of the early breed of U.S. death metal acts, AUTOPSY formed in 1987 in San Francisco. Drummer/vocalist Chris Reifert had gained initial recognition with Floridian genre pioneers DEATH and his participation on the classic debut "Scream Bloody Gore" before this new morbid creation was birthed. AUTOPSY released four albums on Peaceville Records in the early part of their career — beginning with the legendary debut, "Severed Survival", in 1989 — before disbanding in 1995, with members going on to become the stalwarts of sickodelia in ABSCESS.

AUTOPSY triumphantly and officially returned from the grave after a 15-year hiatus with the 2010 EP "The Tomb Within". This was followed by the release of the band's fifth studio album, "Macabre Eternal", in 2011, as the group celebrated a new era of popularity and creativity. This reverence continues to this day as AUTOPSY itself nears its 40th anniversary, and still features the longstanding core trio of Chris Reifert, Eric Cutler and Danny Coralles.

Multinational progressive metal / electronic band Playgrounded will release their new record A Flower to Water on 18th September via celebrated label Pelagic Records.

Stream and pre-order here: https://orcd.co/playgrounded

Playgrounded choose the heart of summer to release ‘Snow’, the prog metal quintet’s most intimate composition to date. Themes of loss and longing, a dreamy beat in 15/16, experimental modular synthesis and lush analogue basslines set the stage for a fragile vocal hanging delicately on chilling harmonies. ‘Snow’ unravels Playgrounded‘s electronic introspective core stripped of the heavy distorted tones that usually adorn it. A token of contemporary songwriting that transcends styles and aims for the heart.

The band comment: “We slightly lift the veil to uncover the themes of A Flower to Water in black and white. We speak of grief as a process, its marks on time, the anticipation of the new.

“So… we let it go, inside the snow, today.”


Playgrounded are a progressive post-metal band based in the Netherlands and Greece. Alternative metal and contemporary electronic elements form a genre-defying sound, comparable to artists as diverse as Deftones, Massive Attack, Karnivool, and The Ocean.

A band together for over a decade, Playgrounded have in their time supported Riverside, Anathema, and Nine Inch Nails. Their 2022 record The death of Death (Pelagic Records) was globally lauded, with praise from Prog, Eclipsed, Metal Injection, Metal Hammer Germany and more.

Following its release the band presented the album to packed venues in their home countries and embarked on a 36 date UK/EU tour with The Ocean and LLNN, and then festival performances at ArcTanGent, Euroblast, RADAR, and more.

A Flower to Water is Playgrounded’s third full-length offering and sees the band thriving in their creative relationship with Pelagic Records. Recorded and produced by the band across multiple studios back home in Athens, Playgrounded enlisted the help of longtime collaborators C. Cederberg (Leprous, Anathema) who mixed the album at Cederberg Studios in Kristiansand, Norway and George Tanderø (Madrugada, Satyricon, Jaga Jazzist) who mastered it in Oslo.

An ever sharper refinement of the quintet’s inimitable process, which sees the band build splinters of noise into huge, sprawling soundscapes inspired in part by the work of experimental sound artists like German composer Orson Hentschel; A Flower to Water welcomes the emotional and physical toll of loss into the melee.


Tracklisting:

1. A Flower…
2. Counting Embers
3. Someone
4. Snow
5. Of Air and Metals
6. … to Water

ANTHRAX will release its long-awaited twelfth full-length studio album, "Cursum Perficio", on September 18 via Megaforce in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast in Europe. It marks the band's first record in ten years since 2016's "For All Kings", which debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. The phrase "Cursum Perficio" is Latin for "My journey has come to an end," "My journey is over," or "I complete my journey."

The official music video for the LP's second single, "The Edge Of Perfection", can be seen below. The new single is highlighted by clean guitar echoes and cymbals that gently shake until a blastbeat blows open the doors. Guitars buzz like a motorboat on the River Styx, making waves through the darkness. In their wake, a crushing rhythm trails the melody of lead singer Joey Belladonna's lament, "My heart breaks…I'm on the edge…I'm on the edge of perfection."

For the video, the multi-Grammy Award-nominated titans — Scott Ian (guitar),Charlie Benante (drums),Frank Bello (bass),Joey Belladonna (vocals) and Jonathan Donais (guitar) — teamed up with director and Academy Award winner Joel Harlow ("Star Trek" and "Alice In Wonderland") to create a spectacular cinematic experience that takes the hero from a dream into an evening of magic where he encounters underworld evil, interspersed with live performance footage. The clip includes appearances from martial artist Wes Scarpias, actress Ashley Edner-Tancharoen, actor Troy James, actor and Academy Award-winning make-up and special effects creator Rick Baker, actor Rod Maxwell and actor Fedor Steer.

"It's the apex predator of ANTHRAX songs," grins Ian. "I think it's the best song we've ever written and the best thing I've ever been a part of creatively. What's the most powerful emotion that moves me more than anything? Of course it's love. Nothing moves me like the deep feeling that I get from my wife and son. I'm living on that edge for the rest of my life. This is mine, but there are a lot of ways to ruin it. I've ruined it in past iterations of my life, but it got me to where I am. Love is perfection, and I like being on the edge of it. I don't want everything to be about all of the same shit. This record has a whole bunch of love, a whole bunch of fun, and a little hate."

Benante adds: "When I think about songs like 'Only' and 'Indians', you know that you hit something and you can feel it. That's the way I felt about 'The Edge Of Perfection'."

In a recent interview with Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show, Ian described "The Edge Of Perfection" as "the greatest ANTHRAX song in the history of ANTHRAX. We have not written anything this great in our career. And to do that all these years in makes it all the more special."

The guitarist went on to say that the song was written about his family and striving to maintain "the edge of perfection", as the title suggests. "I think that I've never had any real other goal in my life except to be happy. And I am," he explained.

In August 2024, Benante told Metal Hammer magazine that he had written the music for "The Edge Of Perfection" "way before COVID, and it has just stayed with me — the melody and the chords, but also the aggression."

Less than two months ago, Benante told Talk Is Jericho, the podcast hosted by wrestling superstar and FOZZY frontman Chris Jericho, about the response to the first single from the upcoming LP, "It's For The Kids", which was made available in May: "Well, for me, I've been waiting so long for this moment because I've lived with this song for so long. And I knew once people heard it… You know how it is, man. It's like when you have a song and you think it's really good, but you can't really… How do you know how good it is until people hear it and then you get that feedback? And it's so important, for me at least, to hear that feedback.

"The first song, we wanted to release something that really represents the band and shows that we're not slowing down," Charlie explained. "We're hitting as hard as we feel we are. So it was definitely a statement.

"Someone said this was a love letter to our fans, and when they said that to me, I was, like, 'You're right.' That's exactly what this is."

On the topic of why it took a decade for ANTHRAX to release the follow-up to "For All Kings", Charlie, who writes the majority of the band's music, said: "The honest answer I can give is, me personally, I didn't have it to write. I didn't feel it. It just wasn't the right time. I was, like, 'Well, I don't have anything to say right now. I don't think the band has anything to say.' And then the whole pandemic happened, which we started to actually write before the pandemic, and then that happened, and then that set us back — what? — two years. But a lot of these songs on this record — there's a song called 'Target On My Back' ['T.O.M.B.']; that's from 2015. There's a lot of stuff that was old that I had, and then there's some new songs that I felt, 'This is too good to hold back and wait. I want this out.'"

Benante continued: "A song like 'It's For The Kids' — I would do these demos and I would put them in a Dropbox, and then Scott [Ian, ANTHRAX guitarist] would listen to them, and then he'd write me. He's, like, 'I didn't even know about this song.' And I'm, like, 'Oh yeah.' I would just do the demo and throw it in there. So all of a sudden, we started to get an abundance of these songs, and then we would get together — me, Scott and Frankie [Bello, ANTHRAX bassist] — and kind of play them live. And it was such a great feeling to be back with them and just playing some new songs. If you're in a band, you kind of know what that feels like. It's almost like spring training. You're getting together with the guys again, and you're doing the thing that you love, but yet there's this new vibe happening. There's these new songs that are being created. Man, it's just a great feeling. And it took a while, but I guess it had to take a while."

Charlie added: "I even know Scott at some point was having a little bit of a writer's block, too, as far as the lyrics goes, because Scott writes the lyrics for the band. And Scott's such a great lyricist. His lyrics, to me — we'll talk about things, and we talk about certain aspects of life or whatever, and sometimes we'll just be talking, and he'll use that in a lyric. Like the song 'The Long Goodbye', for me, it's a very personal and emotional song. It's about Scott's dad, who had Alzheimer's. And it's called 'The Long Goodbye', and that, to me, even when I talk about it, I think about his dad, 'cause I loved his dad. His dad was one of the greatest — just such a great person. And it makes me sad just to think about that whole thing that happened because it brings me back to my parents and stuff like that. But 'The Long Goodbye' was one of those songs that, for me, the music was very emotional, and I remember Scott saying, 'Dude, that melody in there is one of the best ones that we ever had.' Same with 'The Edge Of Perfection'. Scott thought that was the best ever. And the funny thing about that song, 'The Edge Of Perfection', is every time I do a demo, man, I do, like, an eight-minute demo, but the reason why I do that is because I like to put a different variation of the riff. If I'm doing, like, a minute and a half of the riff, well, then maybe at five minutes, the riff changes a little bit, because I want everybody to hear it as, like, 'Well, we can do that part first and then bring...' You know, just arrange it differently. And Scott and Frank are really good with arranging the song."

Charlie also talked about the inspiration for the "Cursum Perficio", album title, saying: "I'd been looking for a title for this record that pretty much summarized where we were and where I was at this point. And I'm not saying this is the last album, but the album title translates to 'my journey has come to an end', 'my journey is over'.

"Two times this happened to me, and it was very strange, the way some things come to me without me even knowing it," he continued. "I was watching this documentary on Marilyn Monroe, and in her home in L.A., in Beverly Hills, she had this tile, this plaque, and it said 'Cursum Perficio'. And when I was watching it and the narrator was saying what it was and what it meant, dude, a light just went off in my head. I'm, like, 'That's it. That's the title right there.' So when I brought it to the guys, they thought it was strange too, and they liked it. But everybody liked it. And that's the one thing — if everybody likes it, that means it's right. So we went with that title. And then the artwork for the cover, I was looking for an artist who did... I don't know if you remember those old Harry Houdini posters, the way they looked, like a Coney Island type of art. It just had this look and this vibe to it. And I was watching this magician, David Blaine. He was doing this docuseries, and it was, like, a six-part series, and after every episode, there was a piece of art that would basically summarize the episode. And when I saw the art, I'm, like, 'That's it. That's exactly the style that I want.' So I went to the credits, and I found the artist's name, and we contacted him, and he was, like, 'Yes, I would love to do this cover for you guys.' And I worked with him about it. And it's a very strange kind of Salvador Dalí-esque type of piece of art. And there's a a couple of Easter eggs in the art. I see fans trying to pick it out, 'Oh, here's something from this album', 'Here's something from that album,' which I love that they're doing that. But each character on the cover has a backstory too, which will come out later."

"Cursum Perficio" will be available as a standard CD; Target-exclusive CD with a fabric patch of the album cover; standard black double LP with pop-up gatefold; Target-exclusive double LP, red zoetrope with pop-up gatefold; Amazon-exclusive double LP, purple zoetrope LP with pop-up gatefold; merch-exclusive lilac vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold; Metal Injection-exclusive white vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold; Talk Shop Live-exclusive signed with red ripple vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold; Indie-exclusive red, orange yellow vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold.

The band dove into recording "Cursum Perficio" in earnest during 2022, working out of Dave Grohl's Studio 606 in Los Angeles. They carefully pieced together what would be this magnum opus, mining their history with reverence, delivering on fan expectations tenfold, and broadening the scope of their signature sound. Produced by Jay Ruston and ANTHRAX, the result is an album that's as angry, aggressive, and alive as their most celebrated fare.

ANTHRAX celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2021 with a number of special activities and events. Formed by Ian and bassist Dan Lilker in Queens, New York on July 18, 1981, ANTHRAX was one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast and quickly became regarded as a leader in the genre alongside METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH.

Active over the past five decades, ANTHRAX has released 11 studio albums, been awarded multiple gold and platinum certifications, received six Grammy nominations, toured the world since 1984 playing thousands of shows, including headlining Madison Square Garden and playing Yankee Stadium with the "Big Four".

"For All Kings" was called by some critics ANTHRAX's strongest album to date. Its arrival followed a five-year period during which the group experienced a rebirth of sorts, beginning with ANTHRAX's inclusion on the "Big Four" tour, and continuing with the release of comeback LP "Worship Music".

Photo credit: Travis Shinn

In a new video his Facebook page, QUEENSRŸCHE singer Todd La Torre answered a fan-submitted question about whether he uses "any secret concoctions to keep the vocal pipes in top form". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I've had days where I did everything you're supposed to do by the book and didn't sing that well, and then there are other times where I've had a Coca-Cola, I've eaten a piece of pizza pretty much right before I went on stage, and had some of the best performances of my life. Obviously, rest is best. And I don't think that drinking hot tea or anything does anything actually to the vocal cords, but I do think that it does feel soothing to have a hot beverage. A lot of people like Throat Coat tea. That's a thing that a lot of singers seem to go for. You know, rest, a lot of water, hydration is always the best. Hydrating from the inside out to the vocal cords and those tissues are always recommended."

Todd continued: "I don't do any vocal warm-ups, really. I never really have, and so I've never taken vocal lessons or anything like that. I don't really follow really kind of the rules that so many singers seem to adhere to or be so strict about. I feel like if I don't acknowledge them, they don't really apply to me. But I know some other great singers never warmed up either. I'm told Ronnie James Dio never really did. Rob Halford, same thing. So, some people have their special regimen that they do to keep their vocals in check. I don't drink alcohol; I never have. I quit smoking cigarettes three and a half years ago, so I'm sure that that helped. But pretty much just not speaking on tour and lots of water. And also, when you do sing, exercising that full range. I feel like it's like a weightlifter. If you stop lifting heavy weights, when you go to lift that heavy weight, you're not gonna be able to. So I always try to exercise my full range."

In a 2024 interview with Canada's The Metal Voice, the now-52-year-old Todd said that he and his QUEENSRŸCHE bandmates still play all of their songs in "the standard tuning". He explained: "Most guitars are just, you strum and they're just E — standard tuning… And listen, back then, '80s and rock was very much always in E — maybe E flat where you downtune it a half step. And singers that struggle a lot of times will say, 'Hey, we're gonna need to tune this one down.' So the song, all the music gets tuned down. You tune the music, the key, the instruments down a little. And then when you play those same chords, you play the guitar the same way, but it's just a little bit in a lower key, and so it makes it easier for a lot of singers to sing those songs still, just not in the standard tuning that they were originally recorded… There's nothing wrong with that, if that's what you have to do to to make it work. What's not cool is when you act like you didn't do it, and there are singers that do that, or it's frustrating when people will say, 'Oh,' whatever band it is, 'that guy's still hitting the notes like the record.' And they don't realize that, no, he's not. It's tuned down. It's not the same. And you can compare 'em — you can 'A-B' 'em and listen. You think he's killing these high notes. He's not. He's singing lower note that still sound good, but let's make no mistake. It's not how it was recorded. And again, that's fine. There might be a point in my life where, yeah, I can't do that. But you can still sing it really, really well. At [52] years old, I still — when I feel good and I'm not ill and tired and everything — I can sing all the QUEENSRŸCHE stuff in standard tuning and it's fine. It's not a big deal."

La Torre was the lead singer for CRIMSON GLORY from late 2010 until resigned from the band in early 2013. In 2012, Todd became a household name in the metal world when he officially joined QUEENSRŸCHE as the group's new vocalist. The band immediately began touring globally and started writing new material for the self-titled 2013 album "Queensrÿche". To date, QUEENSRŸCHE has released four studio albums with La Torre: "Queensrÿche", "Condition Hüman" (2015),"The Verdict" (2019) and "Digital Noise Alliance" (2022).

KnuckleBonz has announced an official collaboration with DEATH and the estate of Chuck Schuldiner to offer the Death Experience in KnuckleBonz360, a first-of-its-kind immersive 3D digital platform launching summer 2026.

KnuckleBonz360 is a digital platform featuring immersive 3D worlds built to celebrate the iconic imagery of great bands and artists. With more than 20 band worlds launching in 2026, KnuckleBonz360 BackStage Experience gives fans a place to connect with other fans, play mini-games, shop for exclusive collectibles, and explore as iconic album art and imagery come to life!

Tony Simerman, CEO and creative director of KnuckleBonz Corp., said: "As a kid, I would stare at album covers for hours and wonder what existed beyond those four corners, wondering what world was living just outside the frame. In building KnuckleBonz360, we got an opportunity to imagine this world using DEATH's 'Leprosy' album. Chuck Schuldiner's vision, his artistry, and his legacy deserve to be experienced, not just remembered. That's what the Death Experience delivers."

The Death Experience is developed by a team of incredibly talented artists, engineers, and enthusiastic music superfans. The creators are also fans! DEATH's fans from across the globe can come together in KnuckleBonz360 to celebrate the band's complete catalog and the unparalleled legacy of Chuck Schuldiner, widely recognized as the father of death metal.

Chris Steele, nephew of Chuck Schuldiner, said: "Whether you're sitting on a throne and toasting with the goblet of gore or climbing a fiery red mountain with the sound of perseverance helping you reach the summit, this experience is immersive and something my imagination has been starving for."

Fans will enter the Death Experience and discover an immersive world spanning the band's entire discography, from "Scream Bloody Gore" to "The Sound Of Perseverance". At the heart of the experience, the iconic "Leprosy" album comes to life in stunning 3D. Every KnuckleBonz limited-edition DEATH and Chuck Schuldiner collectible is woven into the experience, existing within the world fans can explore and collect.

The Death Experience in KnuckleBonz360 will feature exclusive digital and physical collectibles and merchandise that ships worldwide. This multi-player world allows DEATH fans to connect and explore together. The experience launches summer 2026.

Join the KnuckleBonz360 BackStage Experience waitlist at knucklebonz360.com.

KnuckleBonz Corp. is a music merchandising and immersive digital experience company dedicated to the music superfan. Founded in 2003, KnuckleBonz has spent over two decades creating high-end collectibles and content focusing on music, art, and collector culture. With the launch of KnuckleBonz360, the company continues its mission to deliver next-level experiences and merchandise for the fans who live and breathe music.

Schuldiner died on December 13, 2001 after a battle with pontine glioma, a rare type of brain tumor.

"Born Human: The Life And Music Of Death's Chuck Schuldiner", the fully authorized biography of the legendary DEATH frontman, was released in November 2025 via Decibel Books.

"Born Human", authored by accomplished journalist David E. Gehlke ("The Scott Burns Sessions: A Life In Death Metal 1987-1997", "Turned Inside Out: The Official Story Of Obituary"),features exclusive interviews, contributions, stunning new Ed Repka cover art and previously unreleased, hand-selected photographs from those who knew Chuck best. "Born Human" brings life to the dramatic story of the man who blazed an iconic path in metal music, laying the foundation for generations to come.

Fans can order their copy now at store.decibelmagazine.com.

Press image courtesy of Relapse

In a recent interview with Joe Pags of the "Unshaken And Unafraid" podcast, legendary rocker Ted Nugent spoke about how the music industry has evolved to a place where nobody buys records anymore but can listen to everything, paying for access instead of possession. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think [Nugent's classic song] 'Stranglehold' is approaching a billion what they call streams. And my [song] 'Fred Bear' is approaching a billion streams, 'cause people love powerful, emotional, dynamic, fun music. But in the old days, I could get a couple of bucks per album sold. I think if you have a billion streams, you might get $29.95."

Nugent went on to say that he was " blind to the compensatory considerations" when he first became a professional musician six decades ago. "I wasn't aware of getting paid," he explained. "I just wanted to make music until I started realizing that instead of 10 people came to the gig at a buck a head, there was 200 people. Well, that's my money. They came to see [me]. They didn't come to see the walls.

"If you're gonna put a band together and get an amplifier and get guitar strings and get a van and get a trailer and pay for the gas and change the oil and get new tires, you gotta get paid to keep the boat afloat," Ted added. "That payment has dramatically been reduced, and I know guys that bust their ass that are incredible virtuosos, and they can barely pay the fee to keep that boat afloat because the compensation in the music-selling industry — the records, the CDs, whatever the... I don't even know what they are now; you can't keep up. Now we're selling a lot of my original vinyls. There's a new system called NugeVault, NugeVault.com, where we're getting all this archives, all these old recordings and outtakes and extra songs from the recording sessions of my 40 million albums sold, and people are buying these. So I'm still lucky that people dig into what makes Ted Nugent tick... It's called NugeVault.com, and it's a huge success because people wanna know what makes this maniac tick. And as soon as you figure it out, call me, would you?"

Nugent's self-titled debut album in 1975 was certified double platinum in the United States, while "Free-for-All", "Cat Scratch Fever", "Weekend Warriors" and "State Of Shock" all reached the Top 30 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Nugent has reportedly sold over 40 million albums and was named Detroit's greatest guitar player of all time by readers of MLive.

The conservative rocker, who been eligible for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as a solo artist since 2000, has enjoyed a remarkably successful and eventful musical career over the past five decades, but his music is increasingly overshadowed by his political outbursts.

Nugent's latest album, "Detroit Muscle", was released in April 2022 via Pavement Music. The follow-up to 2018's "The Music Made Me Do It" was recorded with Ted's then-touring band, which included bassist Greg Smith and drummer Jason Hartless.

Nugent has said a number of times that that his political views — which the rocker himself has proudly called "radical" — are one of the main reasons he hasn't been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Nugent has long been outspoken about his conservative beliefs, and he has repeatedly slammed GREEN DAY and RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello for their progressive politics.

In a new interview with Mexico's Metalópolis podcast, Jon Schaffer, the founder, chief songwriter, and driving force behind the heavy metal acts ICED EARTH, DEMONS & WIZARDS and SONS OF LIBERTY, was asked if SONS OF LIBERTY is just a "studio project" for him or of there are plans to take the band on the road. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, it is a project. In a way it's a solo project, but not really, because there's a lot of different people that have contributed to it. So [newly added SONS OF LIBERTY guitarist] Matt O'Rourke will be on the next studio album."

Jon continued: "I just started playing guitar a few weeks ago for the first time in years. [Matt's got some great musical arrangement ideas, and mine are starting to happen, so I think we're gonna do something cool. But who else performs on it, on a record, I don't know. And as far as touring goes, we don't have any plans. We may. It just depends on what opportunities arise, but that's not really the goal with this. I'm certain that there's gonna be more ICED EARTH off in the future, but I don't know right now 100% because, like I said, I'm just now starting to come out of this nightmare and starting to play. And my soul is telling me I need to do another SONS OF LIBERTY chapter, another record that will show where my head and where my soul's at now, and then we'll see what comes later. But there's no immediate plan. I mean, we've had a couple offers, but there's no immediate plans to take it on the road. We'll see. Maybe. Maybe it will."

Jon's recently issued reimagining of his most unflinching work, "Sons Of Liberty - Thought Crimes (Volumes 1 & 2)", is a bold new mix that fuses the raw essence of the "Brush-fires Of The Mind" LP (2009) and the "Spirit Of The Times" EP (2011),breathing fresh life into a message that has proven eerily prophetic in an era of escalating world challenges.

"Thought Crimes (Volumes 1 & 2)" is out now on all streaming platforms, inviting listeners everywhere, old or new, to discover its urgency. For collectors, a special physical rollout will arrive via The Circle Music on July 4, 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration Of Independence. This includes a double gatefold vinyl edition in five vibrant colors (with an exclusive limited run of 100 copies available only at www.icedearthmerch.com),a luxurious limited-edition leather box CD, and a sleek digipak CD, and cassette.

Originally crafted with programmed drums to minimize costs, these releases were designed not for profit, but as a gift to the world to be copied, shared, and amplified freely.

At its core, SONS OF LIBERTY's music exposed the machinations of a fraudulent financial system and the insidious creep of authoritarianism, serving as a stark warning to humanity. Today, with those shadows cast longer than ever, this music stands as a timeless testament to truth, unfiltered and unapologetic.

What sets "Sons Of Liberty - Thought Crimes (Volumes 1 & 2)" apart is its transcendence of partisan divides. This is not an echo chamber of political agendas; it's a universal wake-up call, championing freedom as the bedrock of peace and prosperity for every person on the planet. In a world fractured by division, Schaffer's lyrics rally for pro-freedom/pro-humanity ideals: anti-authoritarian, non-partisan, and rooted in the unyielding principles of liberty. It's a reminder that true empowerment comes from questioning and resisting systems that promote aggression and erode our shared dignity, fostering unity through principles of liberty, individual sovereignty, and collective resilience.

Elevating the original material to new heights, this release features thunderous, newly recorded drums by longtime friend Mark Prator, whose precision and groove has powered classics from ICED EARTH ("The Dark Saga", "Something Wicked This Way Comes"),DEMONS & WIZARDS (self-titled debut) and JON SCHAFFER'S PURGATORY (EP 2018). Paired with a cutting-edge modern mix by Jim Morris, the result is a sonic powerhouse that has matured like a fine wine — delivering an intensity and honesty that's all too rare in today's pop culture landscape.

In an age where ideas can be silenced, this stands as the most censored and canceled heavy metal music in history. It begs the question: Why? Are thought crimes an inevitable reality in a world that fears unbridled truth? Dive in, reflect, and educate yourself — because freedom isn't a spectator sport; it is difficult, it requires action, and it's the only path to a better world for all of us.

Schaffer said: "SONS OF LIBERTY was always meant to be more than music; it was a wake-up call and an attempt to start brushfires of freedom in the minds of those with ears to hear.

"Those who know me know that I am not here to please everyone; not with my music, nor with my ideals and principles. I respect the rights of others to disagree, and to speak freely. I will stand up for their rights, especially if I strongly disagree with them. This is the cornerstone of liberty. It's not so impressive to stand up for the people that share your beliefs and agree with you. Are you into freedom enough to allow others to live as they choose, as long as they don't aggress? This is a legitimate question that we all should reflect on."

Jon continued: "My wish with the first SONS OF LIBERTY album in 2009 was to inspire the people to inform themselves. When these songs were first released, I wanted to expose the financial and political systems that prosper through aggression and subjugate our personal freedom. 17 years later the message has only become more relevant, and the situation more urgent."

"Adding Mark Prator's drums and Jim Morris's new mix finally gives these tracks the sonic power they deserve. They both absolutely crushed it. It doesn't sound like a demo anymore. The artwork is a huge step up from the originals as well. Back in '09 I had no vision for what the 'Brush-fires' cover would look like. It was the first and only time in my career that has happened. However, this time it came to me, and I believe it's one of the best covers in my entire catalog. Roy Young and David Newman Stump did a fantastic job."

Schaffer added: "The system has tried to silence and cancel this music because it speaks uncomfortable truths, but you cannot cancel the spirit of liberty. Not yet. The aggressors are working hard to destroy our power of discernment, distract us, divide us, and in the end, conquer us. This collection of music is for everyone who refuses to be a spectator in the struggle for their own sovereignty.

"I am always learning, and I am always willing to be convinced that another point of view is a better way forward. Bring a reasonable argument, and I'm all ears. Through the years I have grown, and changed my views as I learn, but my principles remain. I can't see any other viable path to peace than through freedom. I think about these issues often and discuss them in great depth with my friends. It is my strongly held belief that collectivism, when mandated by the state, in any form, is more dangerous to our liberties than an invading army. Trading our freedom for 'safety' has never turned out well. Not ever.

"In the future, it is my intention to write a new chapter of SONS music focusing on what I believe to be the solution. Until then, as a great friend and mentor says… Don't aggress. Be an excellent human. Live and let live."

In October 2024, Schaffer was sentenced to three years of probation and 120 hours of community service in connection with his involvement in the riot at the U.S. Capitol in January 2021. At the sentencing hearing, Jon was also ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution and a $200 financial assessment. Schaffer later became one of about 1,500 people accused of crimes related to the riot who were pardoned by U.S. president Donald Trump.

Following the initial reports that Schaffer was involved in the riot, his ICED EARTH bandmates distanced themselves from his actions. Singer Stu Block and bassist Luke Appleton later posted separate statements on social media announcing their resignations. BLIND GUARDIAN frontman Hansi Kürsch also quit DEMONS & WIZARDS, his long-running project with Schaffer. The allegations also apparently affected Schaffer's relationship with his longtime record label Century Media, which had released albums from both ICED EARTH and DEMONS & WIZARDS. As of mid-January 2021, the Century Media artist roster page did not list either band.

In April 2025, Schaffer said in an interview that the legal issues and professional setback he faced as a result of his involvement in the Capitol riot have been "the biggest gift" of his life, in part because "it is what led" him "to [Jesus] Christ."