In a new interview with The Mistress Carrie Podcast, I PREVAIL vocalist Eric Vanlerberghe spoke about the band's upcoming single, "Paradise", which will be released this coming Friday, June 26. Eric stated about the track (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "As of now, it's a standalone song that we wrote after we finished [the latest I PREVAIL album] 'Violent Nature'. We just started writing again."

He continued: "It's been great, the last few years, with Jon [Eberhard], our bassist. He's also our producer. And instead of going on the road for six months and then taking a break, and then going out for another group of time and then going, 'Okay, you know what? We gotta sit down for a few months to write a record,' the last few years has been the first times that we've been able to go, like, 'Hey, we got three days off on this tour,' like, 'Hey, let's go rent a, a studio,' or 'Let's go rent an Airbnb or a bigger hotel that we can just sit and write in.' And when we're off tour, it's, like, 'Okay, we got a couple of weeks here. Let's just start writing.' And after releasing 'Violent Nature', shortly after, we just started writing again. And so we didn't have that long separation of creating. And, yeah, 'Paradise', the single, is one of those songs that we were, like, 'Let's just start creating again,' and 'Let's collab with artists. Let's reach out to different artists that we like,' whether they've been around forever, we listened to them forever, or they're just starting out and we wanna give them a platform 'cause we like their stuff and like their music and energy.' So, yeah, it's one of those songs that we started writing right after 'Violent Nature' and teamed up with someone that we thought would be cool on it. And here we are."

Vanlerberghe also talked in more detail about "Paradise", which is a collaboration with the Los Angeles-based nu-metal/alt-rock songstress Amira Elfeky. Regarding how powerful Elfeky sounds on the track, Eric said: "I was taken aback [when I first heard her singing on it], but not because I didn't expect it. It was better than I could imagine. I've only heard the little bits of music she's got out so far. And so when we went to the studio, Jon, Steve [Menoian, I PREVAIL guitarist] and I went to... We got to an Airbnb the day before, just started working on a little bit of an instrumental, and when we got in the studio with her, we were, like, 'Hey, we can start with something completely ground up, brand new or we got this, like, rough idea for an instrumental.' And we showed it to her, and she's, like, 'Yeah, that.' And we're, like, 'Are you sure? We can start fresh.' And she said, 'No, no, no, I wanna work on that.' Sick. So we, we started working on it, and we had the idea of going back and forth, back and forth, clean, whatever you wanna call it, the melodic to the harsh vocals. And I knew she had it in her. I knew she can can do the harsh vocals and scream. And she gets in the booth and does it, and then she's, like, 'What do you think? Like this or this?' I was, like, 'You're crushing it. You're blowing me away. You're crushing it. Just keep doing what feels good, and we can go back and tweak it.' And then by the end of the session, it was, like, 'Nah, this is it. I don't wanna touch any of it. You crushed it.'"

Asked if the plan is for I PREVAIL to focus on releasing standalone singles going forward or if there will be more full-length albums in the future, Eric said: "This probably won't be a part of anything like a new record. But, yeah, we'll see what comes of the next couple months. Maybe we'll do a deluxe [version of 'Violent Nature'], maybe we'll just do a little EP of a couple things that are all maybe just for streaming.

"I'm always the guy that's, like, 'No, it's gotta be a record. We gotta have a record, a full-length piece of art.' And I feel like I'm one of the guys that's in the band, like, 'No, man, I don't wanna do a single. It's gotta feel like a body of work.' And I just don't know if that's true anymore," Eric said. "I don't think bands need to absolutely do albums. But I'm not knocking that. Maybe we do continue just to keep doing full-length records. But it's always an interesting conversation to be, like, well, if this song is just a single and it doesn't really fit the vibe of the next record, but it just feels too good not to release it, then what do you do? Do you just sit on it? No, you'd rather wanna have it out. So, yeah, I don't know. I don't know what this ends up. Maybe it'll be a deluxe. Maybe it'll be a collection of songs that just lives on its own. But I guess we'll see soon."

Brian Burkheiser had handled the clean vocals in I PREVAIL since the band's formation but was forced to step away from the group's touring activities due to his battle with Eagle's syndrome, a condition associated with the elongation of the styloid process or calcification of the stylohyoid ligament, clinically characterized by throat and neck pain, radiating into the ear. In Burkheiser's absence, co-vocalist/growler Vanlerberghe had handled the bulk of the singing in I PREVAIL, with the help of guitarist Dylan Bowman. On May 15, 2025, the band announced it had parted ways with Burkheiser after 10 years together.

"Any type of, for lack of better words, a breakup, it's a struggle. It's tough to go through," Vanlerberghe told Australia's Blunt about the split with Burkheiser. "But we've just been focused on the music and focused on the fans and making sure that we're out and still playing these shows, playing these songs and continue to write music that people can relate to. The first tour or two it was a learning curve to go out there and to be the only guy running the show. And it's been a learning experience, but overall it's been fairly smooth."

In October 2024, I PREVAIL released an expanded edition of its 2022 album "True Power", featuring one new song and three reimagined tracks. The updated version included the new single "Hate This Song", the band's collaborative track with ALL TIME LOW, along with reimagined versions of the album singles "Bad Things", "There's Fear In Letting Go" and "Deep End".

Rising to an arena level and receiving two Grammy nominations — "Best Rock Album" for "Trauma", and "Best Metal Performance" for "Bow Down" — I PREVAIL saw its "Hurricane" single top Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in 2020, officially the top song on U.S. rock radio at the time. A number of their singles have since been certified gold and platinum, and they have been praised by press far and wide, including Forbes, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter and NPR.

Photo credit: Reilly Clark

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Florida's WAGE WAR — Briton Bond (lead vocals),Cody Quistad (rhythm guitar, clean vocals),Seth Blake (lead guitar),Chris Gaylord (bass) and Stephen Kluesener (drums) — recently released the "It Calls Me By Name" EP via Fearless Records. It was a vicious selection of tracks where the band elected to indulge the more brutal side of its sound. Today, WAGE WAR releases the video for the brand new standalone single "Sweet Dreams". And it continues the recent trajectory.

While WAGE WAR may have titled the new song "Sweet Dreams", it sounds like the soundtrack to your nightmare. And if you are a musical masochist who likes it loud, fast, brutal, and bloodcurdling, this song answers the call. But it's not all bluster and sonic fists of fury. Rather, the band drops melodic vocals smack dab in the middle of the maelstrom to give you a bit of a breather and to make you think. It's an excellent execution of dynamics.

"'Sweet Dreams' is a song about being deceived by the world around you," WAGE WAR explains. "About safety in a sense of blissful ignorance. Sonically, it draws inspiration from all of our previous work over the last 10 years."

Indeed, it combines WAGE WAR's past and present to create something entirely explosive and new.

WAGE WAR will return to U.S. stages for a headline tour this fall, with WE CAME AS ROMANS, VARIALS and CANE HILL as support. The "Emergency Broadcast" tour kicks off October 25 in San Antonio and runs through November 27 in Orlando.

WAGE WAR on tour with WE CAME AS ROMANS, VARIALS and CANE HILL:

Oct. 25 - San Antonio, TX - The Aztec Theatre
Oct. 26 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall
Oct. 29 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
Oct. 30 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre
Oct. 31 - Riverside, CA - Riverside Municipal Auditorium
Nov. 02 - Albuquerque, NM - Revel Entertainment Center
Nov. 03 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
Nov. 04 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater
Nov. 06 - Madison, WI - The Sylvee
Nov. 07 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
Nov. 08 - Columbus, OH - KEMBA Live!
Nov. 10 - Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
Nov. 11 - Cincinnati, OH - The Andrew J Brady Music Center
Nov. 13 - Wallingford, CT - The Dome at Toyota Oakdale Theatre
Nov. 14 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
Nov. 16 - Toronto, ON - HISTORY
Nov. 17 - Buffalo, NY - Buffalo RiverWorks
Nov. 18 - Huntington, NY - The Paramount
Nov. 20 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore
Nov. 21 - Philadelphia, PA - Franklin Music Hall
Nov. 22 - Norfolk, VA - The NorVa
Nov. 24 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works
Nov. 25 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore
Nov. 27 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live

Hailing from Florida, WAGE WAR has spent its storied career cultivating a reputation for snarling breakdowns, infectious hooks and its own gripping take on the metalcore realms, with its releases also often lyrically packing a connective punch via themes of mental health, introspection and perseverance. Releasing its debut full-length "Blueprints" in 2015, WAGE WAR has since unleashed five studio albums, including the evolutionary 2024 LP "Stigma". Fluent in creating hybrid heavy creations and no strangers to chart success, including taking out the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart for the single "Magnetic", WAGE WAR also dropped an EP, "It Calls Me By Name", a collection of songs shaped by Florida, the swamp and the relentless aggression of nature.

After more than three decades of pushing the boundaries of progressive rock, THE FLOWER KINGS return with their new album, "Hope", due out on October 23, 2026 on InsideOut Music. The follow-up to 2025's "Love" stands as both a celebration of their legacy and a bold artistic statement. The album also finds the band returning to the side-long epic, with tracks clocking in at 18 and 28 minutes.

Rather than chasing trends or revisiting past glories, the band has crafted a work that comfortably exists between refined musicianship and fearless ambition.

THE FLOWER KINGS founding member Roine Stolt explains: "At a certain point in life you arrive at a place where outside opinions matter less and the process gravitates towards making an album that YOU yourself would LOVE but would perhaps normally not be viewed as a commercial attempt at all. We, the band, trust YOU, the audience, to be curious and to trust us that we want to bring you a grand glowing adventure."

To celebrate the release, the band has released the video for the first single titled "In A World Of Fools".

"Hope" serves as a timely meditation on a turbulent time in the modern world. Without venturing into overt political commentary, its songs reflect on an era often marked by division and diminishing empathy while ultimately offering a message rooted in hope, acting as a roadmap, how to get there and re-ignite love in our hearts and our society.

The album's compositions come from Stolt and keyboardist Lalle Larsson, with its centerpiece being the nearly 30-minute epic "The Gods Of Rome". Originally conceived from orchestral ideas developed more than a decade ago, the piece took an unexpected creative journey, at one point nearly becoming the musical foundation for another ANDERSON/STOLT project before ultimately finding its true home with THE FLOWER KINGS. Reimagined for the full band, it has evolved into a powerful reflection on contemporary life, using the imagery of ancient Rome to explore enduring themes of power, conflict, and the human cost of ambition.

Joining Stolt and Larsson once again are Hans Fröberg on vocals, Michael Stolt on bass and Mirko DeMaio on drums. Supported by heartfelt performances from every member of the band, along with a number of special guests, the resulting album unfolds as a rewarding listening experience that reveals new details with each return.

Stolt explains: "Like I said 37 years ago, 'This is the band I will be in for the rest of my days,' but I wouldn't dream of us making one of our finest albums ever in 2026!"

"Hope" will be available as a limited CD + Blu-ray digipak, featuring Dolby Atmos and 5.1 Surround Sound mixes by Rich Mouser, a first for the band. The album will also be available as standard CD jewelcase, gatefold 2LP and digitally.

Track listing:

01. World Spinning - The Final Curtain (18:45)
02. In A World Of Fools (5:35)
03. Mars & Minerva (4:40)
04. The Gods Of Rome (28:15)

In a new interview with Laughing Monkey With Shawn Ratches, drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz of long-running Florida-based death metallers CANNIBAL CORPSE was asked how he has held up physically after playing extreme metal drums for nearly four decades. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I feel pretty good, luckily. I think that's the key. Of course, if we don't feel good, then it would be very difficult at this point in our lives to be up there and maintaining. I don't wanna fool myself or feel like I'm just gonna go up and go through the motions. I wanna feel good up there. And I do — luckily I do… Of course I gotta practice — probably practice way more than I've ever had just to sustain and maintain. So I gotta do that more regularly than ever, which is obviously gonna be good for me, I suppose. But I think, like in anything, when I tell people, just like in life in general, you get older, you gotta eat right, you gotta stay hydrated. You gotta exercise. You gotta get good sleep. Those things are so important. Of course, genetics fall into play as well because some people might do all that, but then they got issues with their back, or they got muscle problems, or they got who knows what kind of issues. Luckily, I do got good genetics, which has kept me really healthy for the most part throughout my life. But like what I just said, these basics — as long as I can get the sleep I need and stay hydrated and eat right — I still play ice hockey, so that kind of obviously helps me a little, working out a little bit."

He continued: "I really gotta play more than anything. I think that's the most important thing, is just still just practicing and keeping up on it in that regard. 'Cause if I don't, I do notice — I'm not 30 years old anymore. You don't have that natural adrenaline flowing. Or I don't, anyways, and I'm a hyper kind of a guy. There's a couple of guys that I look at that are our age, my age, going, 'Man, where do you get all this energy from?' I still have it, but, man, it's waning, of course, and I really gotta work on it to sustain that. So that's the important thing, is really just keep practicing and keep pushing and doing always a little more extra, I suppose, at this point. Because, man, I'll tell you, if I don't, then it's gonna be really quick where I'm gonna turn around and go, 'Wow, I can't do this.' It's harder to come back to it, harder to maintain. We're not getting any younger. Every day is just a day older and a day closer to the end, so to say. But, yeah, man, it's tough, man. I'll tell you, it's tough."

Mazurkiewicz added: "Am I gonna be able to do what I do right now in 10 years? I don't know. We don't know. Maybe, maybe not. I mean, in 10 years I'm gonna be — what? 68 years old? So am I gonna be able to go up there, 68, 70 years old, blasting, doing 'Hammer Smashed Face' with conviction, with feeling like I'm able to just kind of do it — like I said, without dying or feeling like I'm about to pass [out]. Who knows? But that's tough. Only time will tell, I suppose, in that regard. I guess I would've never thought I'd be doing it at this age, when we first started. You look at people, when you're 20 years old, and, of course, a 60-year-old, that's your grandfather."

CANNIBAL CORPSE's sixteenth studio album, "Chaos Horrific", was released in September 2023 via Metal Blade Records.

Since 1988, CANNIBAL CORPSE have been at the forefront of death metal, shaping and defining the genre. In 2021, they raised the stakes again with "Violence Unimagined". And in 2023, the band's thirty-fifth anniversary, they returned with its successor, the equally monstrous "Chaos Horrific", starting a new chapter in their storied legacy.

CANNIBAL CORPSE guitarist/producer Erik Rutan has now helmed six of the band's albums, starting with 2006's "Kill". This is Rutan's second release as a full-fledged member, since officially joining in 2020.

"Chaos Horrific" was recorded at Rutan's Mana Studio in Florida.

This past March, Paul was asked by Jacob Ridenour of the Wildman podcast if he ever thought, when he first started CANNIBAL CORPSE, that the band would still be around nearly 40 years later. Paul said: "Well, you definitely don't think that you're gonna be in a band this long, obviously, when I look back. We were just basically teenagers when we started, so your mentality is a little bit different in that regard. None of the bands around at that point — there's no band that's been around for 50, 60 years at that point. So you're going, 'Oh, well, that's crazy to play in a band when you're 40, 50 years old. That doesn't make sense. How can you do that? Why would you do that?' Obviously, you want the band to succeed, you wanna go as long as you can, but I think you're thinking your shelf life or just your life of the band is gonna be a lot shorter than it could be.

"I remember thinking, like, 'Oh yeah, when I'm 40…', which would've been 20 years after the fact the band started, 'Yeah, I'll be old. I'll be 40 years old. Am I gonna be still wanting to play this? I'm gonna settle down, have a family, all that kind of thing,'" he continued. "So, yeah, it's weird that you had those thoughts, of course, back then, so you never thought that you would be still here doing it. And I'll be 58 this year, and who would have ever thought that I'd be still playing drums in a death metal band and then [that we would still be doing] as well as we're doing and all that. We're still relevant and we still have, like I mentioned earlier, a great fanbase and we're doing amazing — probably better than we ever have in those regards. So, yeah, no, not in your wildest dreams did you think that you'd be here still doing it at this point in your life. So, yeah, pretty wild."

On the topic of what still keeps him and his bandmates going after all these years, Paul said: "If you start doing this, you love it and that's your passion and that's what you wanna do. And then I think that's why you become an artist in any capacity, What we do, of course, as musicians, well, that's why we got into it. We wanted to do this. This was our passion. This was our love. And then once you get your foot in the door and you're doing well and all that, why would you wanna stop? I mean, I'd say most people don't. There's gonna be some people that do, obviously, [who say], 'All right, I've had enough. I wanna retire, do something else.' Okay. But I'd say for the majority, and that's why you got the bands still kicking it that are out there — any of these bands. THE ROLLING STONES or whatever, they're 80 years old and they're still doing it. Why would you wanna stop? This is your life. So I think you're gonna do it as long as you can, for the most part… But, yeah, you're just gonna take it as long as you can. I think we feel the same way. It's just gonna come down to health and all that. Can we do it for another five years, 10 years? I mean, who knows? Because, like I mentioned earlier, we never thought we'd be doing it at this point in our lives. So who's to say we can't do it longer or won't be doing it longer? So, yeah, it's pretty wild, but it's who you are and it's a part of you. So you just wanna make the most of it. You only live once and you might only get this opportunity once."

In an interview with Tyler D of the Delaware radio station 93.5 The Beach, FOZZY frontman Chris Jericho reflected on the extraordinary success of the band's 2017 breakout hit "Judas". "Judas", which reached the Top 5 on the U.S. rock chart and boasts 75 million views on YouTube for the music video, was certified gold in 2022 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) for accumulating 500,000 certified units.

Asked if he knew when "Judas" was first written and recorded that it was going to be such a huge song for FOZZY, Chris said: "You never know, man. I mean, there's songs that we've done where I thought, 'This is gonna be a Number One song,' and it doesn't even get released as a single.

"The thing with 'Judas' is when I first heard it, I knew that it had to be the first song on the album, I knew that it would kick off the set, and I knew it had to be the first single," Chris continued. "And I think the record company originally wanted 'Painless' maybe as the first single. I was, like, 'No, it has to be 'Judas'.' Because I know what it's like for me when my favorite band's been gone for a while and they put out a new single or a new song, and it hits you the way it does. It's, like, 'Oh.' Like ANTHRAX just put out [a new single called] 'It's For The Kids'. And when they were playing me the songs for the [upcoming ANTHRAX] record ['Cursum Perficio'], I said, 'That's the one that has to be the first single, 'cause that's the one that tears my head off and makes me realize ANTHRAX is back.' And then you can get into the more involved and artsy songs, which are all great songs, but I want this face-ripping song for my new ANTHRAX. Same with when 'Judas' came out. It's like, we haven't had a song for a while. We had a little bit of buzz from 'Lights Go Out', which was our first Top 30 song. I was, like, I was like, 'That's the one that I wanna hear. That's the one that, that makes me go, 'Oh, FOZZY's back, man.'' And that's kind of what we did. And then right away, I remember I was hoping, like, somebody asked, 'How many views do you hope this video gets?' And I think 'Sandpaper' had three million, so I was, like, 'Well, I hope it gets to three million.' It did three million in the first month. I was thinking three million in, like, forever. It just kept growing and growing and growing and growing. I think now it's at 90 million or something. It's gone gold. It's gonna go platinum in about another year. You can hear it being played at football games, hockey games. It's in movies. It was in 'Cobra Kai'. And that's the cool thing about [FOZZY's latest single] 'I Know Evil'; it's gonna be in a new movie called 'Dead Of Night' that's coming out."

Jericho added: "When you get your songs into the mainstream, that's when you know you've got something special. And I think 'I Know Evil' is the first song since 'Judas' that made me feel like, 'Okay, this might be our best song since 'Judas'.' And, of course, if we never have another 'Judas', that's okay. We've got it. We've got our 'Enter Sandman'. We've got our 'You Shook Me All Night Long', and we've got our 'My Hero'. And it's, like, whether you get another one or not, it's okay. Everyone knows — not everyone, but if people know rock and roll, they know 'Judas', and that's all you need to get your foot in the door. Do you know how many bands would wish for one song like that, that everybody in the business knows, and all the fans of that type of music know? It's a very rare thing, and we've got it. So we're very proud of that fact."

Released in April, "I Know Evil" was the follow-up to "Fall In Line", which was made available in April 2025 via Madison Records. Prior to "Fall In Line"'s arrival, FOZZY released another standalone single, "Spotlight", which was made available in October 2023. All three tracks were helmed by FOZZY's longtime producer Johnny Andrews (THREE DAYS GRACE, ALL THAT REMAINS, HALESTORM).

Last September FOZZY surprise released its cover version of the OZZY OSBOURNE classic "Crazy Train". The track arrived two months after FOZZY released the official Lawrence Hinson-directed music video for "Fall In Line". The clip was filmed at HM Studios in Las Vegas, Nevada, based on a video concept by Hinson and Mark Willis.

FOZZY's latest album, "Boombox", came out in May 2022 and featured "I Still Burn", which has more than three million views on YouTube. It also included the Top 10 singles "Nowhere To Run" and "Sane".

In January 2022, FOZZY parted ways with longtime drummer Frank Fontsere and replaced him with Grant Brooks (THROUGH FIRE).

Fontsere was a founding member of FOZZY, having formed the group in 1999 with Jericho and guitarist Rich "The Duke" Ward.

When FOZZY announced Fontsere's departure, the band said that he was "stepping down to focus on his family and other projects."

FOZZY is Jericho, Ward, Brooks, Billy Grey (guitar) and P.J. Farley (bass).

In a new interview with Chris Akin of The CMS Metal Show, KAMELOT guitarist Thomas Youngblood was asked if he and his bandmates still enjoy touring as much as they did two or three decades ago in the earlier years of KAMELOT. Thomas responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The thing is we don't tour as much as a lot of different bands, and there's a reason for that. There's a balance that I've learned over the last 20 years of work and touring life and home life. And a lot of bands that just tour, they get burnt out or they lose their relationships at home, all these kind of things. And it's a conscious effort that I've made is to tour where it makes sense, to play shows that are meaningful and do it in a way where you have a balance. So that way when you do see the band on stage, we're energized, we wanna be there, the conditions are... I look at all the venues, I look at the days off, I look at everything when it comes to the tour — the type of bus we have, the hotels — because at the end of the day, you wanna enjoy the whole process. It's not just about making money and saying I played in this city or this city. It's all about the full experience. So, from that aspect, we've been really good at kind of being able to balance all those things. Now, of course, whatever it is, there's always things you gotta consider in being away from home or being in an off town or something where there's nothing to do, those kind of things. But we are the last people to complain about situations and touring and stuff. I mean, the costs have gotten crazy. Everything costs more for everybody, not just us. So, long answer to your question is, yeah, we still love doing it."

Youngblood also addressed the fact that bands rarely cite poor ticket sales publicly when tour dates are canceled, a trend recently dubbed "blue dot fever", referring to a sea of unsold seats on Ticketmaster and other ticketing platforms. Asked if the sheer volume of tours competing for fans' attention and dollars right now makes it "incredibly hard" for a band like KAMELOT to tour in 2026, Thomas said: "Well, it comes off of your track record, the previous tours, really, where the promoters kind of gauge what room they're gonna put you in, these kind of things. I have to say for this [upcoming North American] tour, the pre-sales have been fantastic. But I don't know. I'm not the typical kind of concertgoer. I go to concerts, but, yeah, I don't know what the psychology is now with buying tickets. I mean, the fact that people wait till it's closer to the show kind of makes sense, I guess. But we've never canceled a tour except for 15 years ago when someone quit the whole band and we had to cancel a tour. But that's the first time and it's the last time we've ever had to do that. And people can trust when KAMELOT's coming."

KAMELOT will release a new album, "Dark Asylum", on August 28 via Napalm Records.

So far, two singles have been made available from the effort, "Ashen World" and "Godlike Alchemy".

Longtime KAMELOT producer Sascha Paeth returned to helm the LP, alongside Jacob Hansen, who oversaw mixing and mastering.

Ignacia Fernández, the 28-year-old model who was crowned Miss World Chile 2025 (Spanish: Miss Mundo Chile) during last year's finals of the talent competition, makes a guest appearance on the songs "Ashen World" and "Sanctuary".

"Dark Asylum" unfolds through fifteen interconnected compositions that expand the RavenHill narrative while moving between orchestral passages, heavy guitar-driven arrangements, atmospheric textures, and character-based storytelling.

Formed in Florida in the early 1990s, KAMELOT became one of the defining names in modern symphonic and progressive power metal through albums such as "The Fourth Legacy", "Karma", "Epica", "The Black Halo", "Ghost Opera", "Silverthorn" and "The Awakening". Across more than three decades, the band has built an international following through conceptual storytelling, orchestral arrangements, and ambitious live productions.

In an interview with Germany's Moshpit Passion, guitarist Jeff Loomis spoke about the new lineup of NEVERMORE, which made its live debut on April 1 at IF Performance Hall Beşiktaş in Istanbul, Turkey. Joining Loomis and drummer Van Williams in NEVERMORE's current incarnation are the band's latest additions, Jack Cattoi on guitar, Semir Özerkan on bass, and new vocalist Berzan Önen.

Regarding what the new NEVERMORE material will sound like, having announced earlier in the year that the band had signed a new record deal with a deal with Reigning Phoenix Music, Jeff said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I've got a late start on [working on new music], actually, because we spent so much time getting the band together that it's almost like — I don't wanna say that Van and I got burnt out or anything, but it was… Van really wanted to get back on tour again. He was, like, 'I wanna get back out and play again, man. I wanna play in front of people.' So it's kind of been backwards as we've approached this. But the demos are now starting to flow a little bit."

He continued: "I've got about six ideas going, some in the very infantile stages, some kind of complete. I think with Berzan being able to now come over to the United States, starting in November, it's gonna be huge because when you're writing something, man, in today's age, you can easily send demos back and forth via the Internet and stuff like that. But I ultimately love to work in person with people. You can really feel it and get more energy out of each other that way. So, I don't know — in a sense, I'm just kind of waiting for that, I guess. But we wanna really utilize the six months that we have completely to make the best album of our lives. And that's coming up between October and March, basically. That's what our plans are. We have kind of a structure worked out of what we're gonna do, a plan."

Loomis also talked about how Berzan and Semir were chosen for the new NEVERMORE lineup and how their musical contributions will affect the band's sound going forward. He said: "Berzan is his own person vocally. He just is able to sing [late NEVERMORE singer] Warrel's [Dane] parts almost perfectly. But at the same time, we wanna give him his own identity as well. We wanna give him that opportunity to be his own person and not just have to sing like what Warrel did. But as far as reading every check mark, he got every one. And so did Semir. It's, like, 'Check, check, check. Yep, he's that. He's that.' And so we had to make sure all those check marks were checked before we actually chose them. And they passed all that. I don't wanna say it was like a test or something, but it was more just like, 'These are the guys that we need in our band to make it proper.'"

This past April, Jeff told Brazil's Headbangers News about how the new NEVERMORE lineup came together:  "It definitely took — it took some doing. It took a while to get everything finetuned to the way we liked it, to make sure that it was even going to be possible. And that happened with finding the right people to complete the job. And we had to audition quite a few people to make sure that we found the right people that could actually do it. So, we're very, very fortunate that we have Mr. Berzan Önen on vocals, Mr. Semir Özerkan on bass, and Mr. Jack Cattoi on guitar. So these are the three new members. And, of course, it's still me and Van — me on guitar and Van on drums."

Addressing the fact that NEVERMORE's current lineup doesn't include the aforementioned singer Warrel Dane, who died in 2017, Jeff said: "The initial talks, back when Van and I first started talking about [putting NEVERMORE back together], was, can it be done? And I think so. If you can find the right people that can perform the songs in the correct way, it can be done. We weren't looking for a Warrel Dane clone either. We were looking for somebody that could still sing the songs, but also had his own personal style. So that's what we were looking for from the very beginning, and that's what I believe we found. And we're very happy."

Asked how the involvement of three new musicians will affect NEVERMORE's overall sound going forward, Loomis said: "The core of the NEVERMORE sound is not ever really going to go away. And I think that the core, you could say that that would be me and Van, where we're writing in the style of NEVERMORE and it's still holding its own weight there. But I think when it comes down to longevity in bands, you'll always notice that everybody contributes. Like a band like RUSH, for instance — everybody's contributing something in that band. And we don't wanna have NEVERMORE just be the Van-and-Jeff show. We wanna have the other guys contribute as well. We wanna have Berzan contribute lyrics. We want him to contribute lyric melodies. We want Jack and Semir to contribute riffs. So, will that change the core sound of NEVERMORE? I don't really think so. I think it's just gonna add to the dynamic and make it cooler, 'cause there's gonna be other little elements of cool musical passages that are gonna be available now to use. And I think it's just gonna be that much more interesting for the listener. It'll still have the same core elements as it did back in the day, but it'll be new and interesting with a new vibe, so to speak. And that's kind of what we're looking for for the new NEVERMORE."

Forged in the aftermath of SANCTUARY, NEVERMORE carved out a sound defined by precision musicianship, fearless songwriting, and emotional intensity. From their self-titled debut in 1995 through landmark releases such as "Dead Heart In A Dead World" and "This Godless Endeavor", NEVERMORE built a global following and a reputation as one of modern metal's most distinctive voices.

Following the band's disbandment, Jeff released the acclaimed solo albums "Zero Order Phase" and "Plains Of Oblivion", co-founded CONQUERING DYSTOPIA and spent nearly a decade as a member of ARCH ENEMY, contributing to releases, including "Will To Power" and "Deceivers". Van remained active through projects such as ASHES OF ARES and GHOST SHIP OCTAVIUS. Dane continued creating until his passing in 2017, leaving behind a body of work that continues to inspire musicians and fans worldwide.

Dane died in in December 2017 in São Paulo, Brazil while recording his posthumously released solo studio album, "Shadow Work". The musician reportedly had a heart attack during the night and could not be revived.

According to guitarist Johnny Moraes, who played in Warrel's solo band, Dane had a history of addiction and other health issues. "His health was already very weak because of his diabetes and his problems with alcoholism," he said.

The instrumental parts for Dane's follow-up to 2008's "Praises To The War Machine" solo album were almost completed and he had begun laying down his vocals shortly before his death.

Photo credit: Ola Englund

In a new interview with Ten Tons Of Tone, Jorn Lande spoke about his collaboration with Tony Iommi on the BLACK SABBATH guitarist's upcoming solo album, "From The Dark". The Norwegian singer is credited as co-writer on all of the LP's eight tracks, and is joined on the album by Iommi, drummer Karl Brazil, who has worked with pop icons Robbie Williams and James Blunt, and U.K.-based bassist Becky Baldwin, best known as a recent addition to Danish metal veterans MERCYFUL FATE.

Regarding his mindset going into the making of "From The Dark", Lande said: "I didn't have any strategies going in, or a different approach, really. [I] just went in as myself and with a very strong desire to give it my very best effort. My only focus was to naturally create the best possible vocal melodies to go with Tony's guitar riffs and arrangements, and the fact that I could take the time necessary was essential to the end result. There was never a plan to fit a certain 'style' or direction. It came about naturally between two musicians with mutual respect for each other."

He added: "Of course, when working with Tony, his music naturally pulls you creatively into a darker and deeper mode for melodies and lyrics. Sometimes Tony would change his riffs to fit my melodies; other times I altered my melodies to fit his changes to riffs and musical structures."

"From The Dark" will be available in several deluxe vinyl and CD formats. The double LP edition will be manufactured in four colors, available from different retailers. Cut at 45rpm on double vinyl for optimum dynamic range the deluxe, gatefold package is premium black card with a die cut of Tony's signature cross, that holds beneath a suitably dark and detailed, illustrative journey across the album. Part visible when in situ and with the full image revealing as the inner sleeve is drawn out. There will also be a CD Amazon exclusive that also has the same die cut sleeve and a deluxe 32-page CD media book edition that includes two bonus tracks.

Deluxe CD

01. Over The Violent Sun
02. Black Times
03. World Alone
04. Beyond The Dead
05. Stormwatcher
06. Death Wake
07. Return Of The Arbalist
08. Legacy
09. Scent Of Dark (exclusive bonus track)
10. Deified (extended version) (exclusive bonus track)

Vinyl

Side A

01. Over The Violent Sun
02. Black Times

Side B

01. World Alone
02. Beyond The Dead

Side C

01. Stormwatcher
02. Death Wake

Side D

01. Return Of The Arbalist
02. Legacy

Lande previously performed with Iommi and other surviving HEAVEN & HELL members Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice at a very special tribute to their fallen bandmate, Ronnie James Dio, at the 2010 High Voltage festival at Victoria Park in London, England. The musicians were also joined by legendary former DEEP PURPLE vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes.

In 2010, the now-58-year-old Lande released "Dio", a tribute to the late BLACK SABBATH, DIO and RAINBOW singer Ronnie James Dio.

In a 2016 interview with Don De Leaumont of The Great Southern Brainfart, Jorn was asked if the surviving members of HEAVEN & HELL/BLACK SABBATH gave him any grief for releasing the "Dio" so soon after Ronnie's death. Lande responded: "At the time, it was really a bad time but the good thing for me was when I felt really bad about it in the beginning, like when I got the call from Tony Iommi, when these guys said, 'Jorn, don't worry about it.' Most of the people in the SABBATH camp that were around Ronnie, even though they had mixed feelings, they were not blaming me for anything so I felt a lot of acceptance. That was a great confirmation and helped me not take things too personally and to move on and do my own thing."

Jorn went on to say that he "was asked" to join Ronnie at some HEAVEN & HELL shows that the band had already booked before the legendary singer's passing.

"I never really asked anybody in the camp this question, but as far as I know, it was Ronnie's decision that he wanted to go through with the shows regardless of his treatment," Jorn explained. "When Ronnie got weak and got into a really bad shape, the band discussed the possibilities of doing, if not all the shows, some of them. They asked me if I would be up for it to do some songs and then Ronnie would be on stage to sing some songs so we would just go back and forth, just so they could make the shows happen. A few weeks later, I got the message that Ronnie had passed. It was kind of strange and thinking back now, I'm honored that I was asked at the time."

Lande added: "Honestly, most of my connection with that I just usually kept it to myself for many years. Mostly out of respect and also because I didn't want people to misunderstand things. I kept it to myself to just secure myself and to know in my own heart that I didn't go out there and talk about a lot of it in detail to upset all the fans of Ronnie and BLACK SABBATH. I just kept it to myself and kept a low profile. Still, there was a lot of shit going but now that years have passed, I'm so glad I did it. I'm really grateful for the experience and I owe a lot to Tony and Geezer [Butler] and everybody in that camp. They were always so nice to me and treated me with respect.

Asked if the possibility of doing anything else with the members of HEAVEN & HELL after Dio's death ever came up, Jorn told The Great Southern Brainfart: "Actually, I did some demo things with Tony back around 2005. After that, HEAVEN & HELL happened so we already have done some stuff together that has never been released. Nobody told me back then about the plans for them to do HEAVEN & HELL."

In a new interview with Tony Evans of Australia's Metal Roos, AUGUST BURNS RED frontman Jake Luhrs was asked if he would agree that the band's recently released eleventh studio album, "Season Of Surrender", is a "heavier" record that its predecessor, 2023's "Death Below". Jake responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think you're right in saying that it's heavier. That record, 'Death Below', felt very dark and gloomy. And this one is just very passionate and emotionally driven. And I think what we did was we set up our breakdowns to really pay off. That was kind of in the back of our mind, was, like, 'Okay. Let's make this a thing.' We want it to be an experience when you feel that breakdown hit. So what is something that we can do? How can we make this moment special before all hell breaks loose? And so I think it gives that feeling, so when it gets heavy, it gets really heavy feeling, because there's this whole thing before that we're just kind of getting positioned to do it. So, yeah, I agree. I think that this record is definitely heavy instrumentally, and lyrically it is as well, with some of the topics and things that I was trying to share."

Jake continued: "Honestly, I feel like we're a technical, progressive, American metalcore band, and lyrically I think we've always been that band that tries to shine some hope or dig a little deeper into something of substance, something that carries a little weight versus just maybe a very basic topic or formulaic style of writing. But what is my favorite part is that it comes from my heart. It's who I am. It's a part of me. And so I think that that, as an artist, is what I really enjoy, is that I'm genuinely getting the opportunity to share my life with people who listen, and my hope is that they can resonate with my stories or my experiences and use it for good in their life."

"Season Of Surrender" came out on June 5 via Fearless Records.

AUGUST BURNS RED's career milestones speak for themselves: multiple placements in the top 10 on the Billboard Top 200; tours with everyone from BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE to A DAY TO REMEMBER; and an accumulation of 600 million streams. The band was also nominated for "Best Metal Performance" Grammy in 2016 for the song "Identity" and again for "Invisible Enemy" in 2018.

"Season Of Surrender" features guest appearances from THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA's Mike Hranica, POLARIS's Jamie Hails and MAKE THEM SUFFER.

Earlier this year, Luhrs told U.K.'s Rock Sound about AUGUST BURNS RED's mindset while making "Season Of Surrender": "This band has never been as unified as we are right now, which I think is telling of how we are currently. I think we all just want to be AUGUST BURNS RED. There is a sound and an era of metalcore that we are a part of, and we wanted to write a record that basically states that this is who we are, and we're not going to change for anybody.

"Bands get inspired to change their sound, or maybe a trend or something is moving in the water they want to try, and there's nothing wrong with that," he explained. "I am a hardcore supporter of bands creating new sounds. I think that that's beautiful, because it's their own unique identity. But for us, we have our unique identity. We are who we are, and we just want to make it better. So let's just write a heavy, aggressive, passionate, modern AUGUST BURNS RED record."

In a new interview with Czech Republic's Metal & Rock Zone, Gene Hoglan, who has been raising the bar in extreme metal drumming for decades, was asked to name the "most challenging" album or band or style that he has been involved with. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): I've always referred to this certain album by the band MECHANISM. The album is called 'Inspired Horrific'. It was one of my many bands, but it was a band that I featured on my first DVD. But that band had the most challenging drums I had done up to that point, and I don't think I've done much that's more challenging since. I always do try to challenge myself with all the projects that I do, but some music just lends itself to more insane things. So, the MECHANISM album 'Inspired Horrific' was... Definitely it was my 'Human' [by DEATH] sort of thing, doing some crazy odd-time things... Learning an OPETH set in an afternoon to play with them, that was a challenge. And playing with FORBIDDEN, that's a killer challenge — playing not only Mr. [Paul] Bostaph's stuff, but Mr. [Steve] Jacobs's stuff as well. I'm always up for any kind of challenge. And the STRAPPING [YOUNG LAD] material, like 'City', that was a pretty crazy record. And that was pretty much my next album after [DEATH's] 'Symbolic'. I remember when we put out 'City', a lot of people were complaining about my drumming on it, just going, 'What happened? His drumming on 'Symbolic' was killer, and now it's not a million notes at all times.' It's a different approach. You have to serve the song, and I understand how people don't quite understand about serving a song. They just want you to show off at all points of everything. But if you check out 'City', there's no lack of intensity on that record, man. That's a punch to the face a thousand times. So, there you go there. And then the next album was 'Demonic' from TESTAMENT. That was me learning how to really serve a song. [TESTAMENT guitarist and main songwriter] Eric Peterson was not looking for 'Symbolic' drums or STRAPPING drums. He wanted drums for his project. So those are three different-sounding records that sound different from the drum approach, and that's where I was just learning, like, you gotta really serve the song. You don't have to show off, but make sure that what you're doing makes sense within the parameters of the song. So that's what I tried to do with those."

After the interviewer noted that Hoglan is "in some sense a jack of all trades in drumming", Gene said: "That would be something that I would much prefer to be known as, like, just a well-rounded drummer. Like, 'He could play some really soft, nice, beautiful little passages or the brutal, brutal stuff.' But that, to me, that's more of a compliment than, 'Wow, he's the fastest,' or, 'He's got this or that.' I've always tried to bring new concepts to drumming back from the DARK ANGEL days, from the DEATH days, from the STRAPPING days, just all the way, even in approaches live and things like that, and on record."

Hoglan continued: "I've mentioned this before, that drummers are supposed to steal. There's not a lot you can do on the drums in the concept of songs. So we all steal, but I've always felt like if I'm gonna steal something, then I'm gonna have to put two things back into that pot. So, whether it be beats that nobody's heard. I always tried to do that with DARK ANGEL, tried to write beats that nobody's played before. With DEATH, with 'Individual Thought Patterns' to start, tried to play some beats that nobody's done. And along with 'Symbolic', and then STRAPPING as well, just keep going with that sort of approach, the two rides and that sort of thing, just always trying to elevate just myself, really, and if it elevates everybody else, then kick-ass. But I'm just, like, 'Hey, let me try some things that I've never seen before. It works for me,' kind of thing. So that was really just my approach. I wasn't trying to make a big sea change in the drumming community, but I just tried to bring changes to what I could do and place myself out there in certain parameters where, 'Hey, nobody's tried this. Nobody's tried that. Nobody's tried that.' Like the double-bass pattern that goes along with the riff. I started that back in, like, 1987 or something, '86, when I was writing riffs. And I could write guitar riffs. I could write patterns on the drums. So combine both of those… And I was, like, 'Hey, that's something I've never heard anybody do before.' I mean, it could be somewhere, but I'm not familiar with it, so try that. And so I did a lot of that. And now that's kind of a trope in metal. A lot of folks do that, and that was me, was just, like, 'Hey, maybe this could be DARK ANGEL's little, like, add a little something into the pot. Hey, they brought this style. Nobody's doing this. But it seems to have caught on, so there you go."

Hoglan is acclaimed for his creativity in drum arrangements, including usage of odd devices for percussion effects and his trademark lengthy double-kick drum rhythms (using what he calls "kick triplets"). His highly technical playing is extremely accurate at very high and challenging tempos, earning him the nicknames "The Atomic Clock" and "Human Drum Machine". He is best known for his works with Devin Townsend, DARK ANGEL, DEATH, DETHKLOK, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, TESTAMENT and FEAR FACTORY.

Hoglan got his first drum kit when he was 13 and is completely self-taught. He started jamming along to his KISS and RUSH records. In 1984, Hoglan began his music career as a roadie (lights engineer) for the thrash metal band SLAYER, where he also played the drums during concert soundchecks. He was also part of the band WAR GOD with Michelle Meldrum. At the end of the same year he was asked to join the thrash metal band DARK ANGEL as the drummer. He penned most of the lyrics for DARK ANGEL's next three albums. He achieved greater fame during the mid-1990s playing with DEATH, at the same time that bandleader Chuck Schuldiner was taking that group into a more progressive style. Subsequently, he recorded several albums with the thrash metal band TESTAMENT, and made the acquaintance of Canadian multi-instrumentalist Devin Townsend, forging a lasting friendship. He has since recorded several albums with Townsend, both as part of the speed/industrial/death metal band STRAPPING YOUNG LAD and under Devin Townsend's name.

For the past decade and a half, Hoglan has been working with DETHKLOK, the band from the animated TV show "Metalocalypse". The show was co-created by stand-up comedian/actor/musician Brendon Small, who also composes or performs all of the music.

Gene joined FEAR FACTORY in 2010 and played on the band's "Mechanize" album.

Lionsgate will release Rob Zombie's "Firefly Trilogy" as an eight-disc collector's set on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and digital on October 13, 2026. The collection brings together "House Of 1000 Corpses", "The Devil's Rejects" and "3 From Hell", marking the first time "House Of 1000 Corpses" will be available on 4K.

Written and directed by Rob Zombie, the trilogy follows the Firefly family across its three installments, with a cast that includes Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Sheri Moon Zombie, Karen Black, Ken Foree, William Forsythe, Richard Brake, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Dee Wallace, Emilio Rivera and Danny Trejo.

The new eight-disc collector's set includes an exclusive collectible poster, a Zombie-curated photography book, artwork by Zombie, art cards, and artwork by Vance Kelly. Also included is plenty of material devoted to the making of the trilogy, including the feature-length documentary "30 Days in Hell: The Making Of The Devil's Rejects" and the four-part "To Hell And Back: The Making Of 3 From Hell". Additional extras include behind-the-scenes footage and feature-length audio commentaries from Zombie. The 4K presentations of "House Of 1000 Corpses" and "The Devil's Rejects" will also feature Dolby Vision.

All of Zombie's films have been squarely in the horror and exploitation genres, and he admitted to The Pulse Of Radio a while back that it could be tough for him to change that. "I think that sometimes when you try to break out of something, it can be a big mistake," he said. "You have to transition your way out of something. You can't just go, 'I'm not a comedian anymore, take me serious as an actor.' You know, it never works, 'cause it's a lot to ask from your fans and an audience to go like, 'Hey man, I know you love this, but check this out.' It's too much to ask. Actually, I think it's pretty egotistical to think that that's gonna happen, you know. You have to move slowly that way."

A musician, filmmaker, and author, Rob Zombie has directed eight feature films, including 2016's "31" and 2012's "The Lords Of Salem". His other directing credits include the 2007 re-imagining of John Carpenter's "Halloween", plus its sequel, "Halloween 2". Zombie also developed his own comic book series into an R-rated animated feature, "The Haunted World Of El Superbeasto".

SCORPIONS are heading somewhere they've never been before: outer space.

Inspired by the iconic imagery of the "Rock You Like a Hurricane" music video, "Scorpions: Hurricane" is an officially licensed 96-page graphic novel that takes the legendary rock band on an outrageous sci-fi adventure.

Centuries from now, SCORPIONS aren't just touring the world — they're touring the galaxy. Their latest stop is Venus-7, a mysterious planet rumored to be home to the greatest afterparty in the universe. But what starts as an intergalactic celebration quickly turns into a fight for survival when the band is captured by a technologically advanced society of warriors determined to keep their world free of men.

Now, SCORPIONS have to find a way to escape — and make it back for their next encore.

Part space opera, part action-comedy, "Scorpions: Hurricane" is unlike anything the band has done before.

SCORPIONS comment: "After more than six decades of rocking stages around the world, we're ready to take fans on a different kind of journey. We're excited to partner with Sumerian Comics on 'Scorpions: Hurricane', our first-ever graphic novel that lets us explore a bold new adventure unlike anything we've done before."

Details:

96 full-color pages
Oversized hardcover: 7.25" x 11"
Premium dust jacket
Officially licensed by SCORPIONS
Written by Nathan Yocum
Illustrated by Daniel Maine
Colored by Fares Maese
Lettered by Micah Myers
Arrives October 2026

You can pre-order "Scorpions: Hurricane" now at this location.

SCORPIONS' Las Vegas residency at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, "Scorpions - Coming Home To Las Vegas", will take place from Thursday, September 17 through Saturday, October 3, 2026, and will once again feature special guest BUCKCHERRY. Promoted by Live Nation and Caesars Entertainment, the new residency follows the band's three previous sold-out runs at the venue: "Scorpions - Sin City Nights" in 2022, "Love At First Sting Las Vegas" in 2024, and "Scorpions - Coming Home To Las Vegas 60th Anniversary Las Vegas Residency" in 2025.

With over 110 million records sold around the world, SCORPIONS will play fan favorites from their incredible catalog, including "Wind Of Change", "Still Loving You", "Rock You Like A Hurricane", "Send Me An Angel" and many more.

Founded in Hannover, West Germany in 1965, SCORPIONS were part of the first wave of metal in the 1970's with their debut album, "Lonesome Crow", released in 1972. The band rose to arena status with seminal releases "Lovedrive", "Virgin Killer" and "Animal Magnetism". In the '80s, SCORPIONS amassed a string of Billboard chart toppers from "Love At First Sting" and "Blackout", including multiple Top 10 singles "Rock You Like A Hurricane" and "No One Like You", as well a string of successful singles such as "Send Me An Angel", "Still Loving You" and "Wind Of Change". The band was also ranked No. 46 on VH1's "Greatest Artists Of Hard Rock" and their hit "Rock You Like A Hurricane" also landed as No. 18 on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs".

Celebrated across the globe, the iconic rock act has sold more than 110 million albums worldwide and has received multiple honors including World Music Award winners, a postage stamp in Brazil, a star on Hollywood RockWalk and Echo honors. Most recently, they were honored with the Lower Saxon State Award.

The SCORPIONS launched their 60th-anniversary tour in March 2025 in Mexico, Brazil and Chile. The trek was originally supposed to kick off in February 2025 with a Las Vegas residency at PH Live at Planet Hollywood. However, these dates were postponed due to drummer Mikkey Dee's recovery process following a diagnosis of sepsis.

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

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

In a new interview with The Logan Show, vocalist Chad Gray of MUDVAYNE and HELLYEAH spoke about his upcoming U.S. tour celebrating his 30-year career. Dubbed "30 Years Of Madnesss" (sic),these unique events will feature Gray performing hits of MUDVAYNE and HELLYEAH with a backing band consisting of Marcus Rafferty (touring guitarist for MUDVAYNE) on guitar, Devin Attard on drums, Nick Villarreal on bass, and Joe Bonasorte on guitar. Support on the trek will come from BUTCHER BABIES and DEVIL'S CUT.

The "30 Years Of Madnesss" concerts mark Chad's first-ever solo performances and are taking place during a year when MUDVAYNE is not scheduled to do any touring. It is also an opportunity for Gray to play songs from HELLYEAH, which has been inactive since early 2020 when its U.S. tour was canceled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the meantime, Gray had reunited with his previous band MUDVAYNE, which played its first two shows in 12 years in 2021 and has since completed several tours, in addition to releasing two new songs, "Hurt People Hurt People" and "Sticks And Stones".

Asked if "there is a little bit more pressure now" that he is "carrying all of the weight" as a solo artist, Chad told The Logan Show (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, the pressure is that I know that if I go play a MUDVAYNE show that people are gonna be there. I knew that when I went and played a HELLYEAH show, people were gonna be there. And these first [solo] shows that we've done, the first five, three of them were sold out. Two of them did fucking phenomenal. One of them sold 200 less tickets than when MUDVAYNE played that venue, which was amazing. So, I have the idea stuck in my head that people do wanna see this. But now that I'm doing a full tour, this is kind of the big test. Like, do people really wanna see this? Like, if I go to fucking Paducah or fucking wherever… I don't know why I mentioned Paducah, Kentucky. But if I go to Cleveland or if I go to fucking Minneapolis or if I go to wherever America, am I gonna have people standing in front of me or am I gonna be standing in front of 100 fucking people? It's, like, 'Well, 'cause it's not MUDVAYNE, it's not HELLYEAH, so it's just Chad Gray.' All I can say to people is that the fucking band I have backing me is insane."

He added: "Yes, it's not MUDVAYNE. Yes, it's not HELLYEAH. But it's me. I'm the voice of both of those bands and with an incredible backing band. So if you like these songs, you're gonna get these songs."

Gray also once again explained his motivation in launching a solo project five years after MUDVAYNE announced its comeback, saying: "The only fucking reason that I even put this together was because MUDVAYNE came back four years ago. We've toured once a year for four years. So it's, like, a lot of sitting, eating at home. I've been going out once a year for six weeks, seven weeks, for the past four years, and I've been writing, recording, and touring for 25 years. I've been busy my entire career until we put MUDVAYNE back together. And then we did the [Rob] Zombie tour, and then we did one of our own tours, and then we did the MEGADETH tour — we opened for MEGADETH — and then we did the 25th-anniversary 'L.D. 50' MUDVAYNE tour, which was fucking phenomenal. I mean, that tour, it was so great. Obviously, with the Zombie thing, fuck, we were playing to 10 to 17,000 people a night. People really wanted to see that, but you're with Rob Zombie, which is... Let's look at his lineage. WHITE ZOMBIE, which I was a fucking huge WHITE ZOMBIE fan. But I've been a Rob Zombie fan for a long time. Rob's a great dude and definitely brings it. But that package, as far as attendance, that was the best package of the four years that we were on. But we did this 25th-anniversary MUDVAYNE tour, or 'L.D. 50' tour, and holy fucking shit, man. We were playing, like, 4,000 seaters, and it was just fucking nuts to butts. If they weren't sold out, they were, like, five people from selling out. Every single venue… It was a lot of fucking fun, but then, all of a sudden, it was, like… We had done those last four tours for the last four years. We went to South America. We went to Australia. But we haven't been to Europe. And I'm just sitting around going, like, why are we not going to Europe? Why are we not going to fucking Japan? Why are we not going to the places that MUDVAYNE has played? And, basically, all that shit just comes down to dollars and cents."

Chad continued: "So, we get done doing the 25th-anniversary tour, the 'L.D. 50' tour, and the band's just kind of, like, 'Well, we think we're gonna take 2026 off.' And I'm, like, 'What? Fucking take a year off? Fuck this shit.' As far as I'm concerned, I've been taking the last four years off, 'cause I'm touring once a year for the last four years, and I'm not used to that. In fucking HELLYEAH, in MUDVAYNE too, we toured 'L.D. 50' for 26 months, and then we broke for two weeks. We got a residential studio, went in, fucking wrote 'The End Of All Things To Come', set that album up for probably a couple weeks, went out, toured that album, came off of that tour, fucking went back in, fucking did 'Lost And Found', fucking went back in, did the next one and da, da, da. And then here comes HELLYEAH, and I'm playing in both bands. I was playing in MUDVAYNE and HELLYEAH, so if I wasn't writing in MUDVAYNE, but if I was writing in MUDVAYNE, I was touring in HELLYEAH. If I was touring in HELLYEAH and I was writing in MUD… That two years of my life was the most insane shit ever 'cause I was constantly working. And then MUDVAYNE does the hiatus, and I'm in HELLYEAH, and it was the same shit, man. We did the first album. We toured the first album. We took a couple of weeks off. We went in, we did the second album. We toured that, did that whole cycle. We took two weeks off. We did that. We went and did the third album. We did 'Band Of Brothers'. We took two weeks off. We did 'Blood For Blood'. We took two weeks off. We did... We're talking fucking full album cycles, man. These are fucking year-and-a-half, two-year cycles that we're doing, constantly, constantly, constantly touring. I did that for 25 fucking years, man. And then all of a sudden I'm touring once every year for six weeks. And I'm just fucking sitting around here with my fucking dick in my hand doing nothing. And then this happens and it's, like, 'Oh, we're gonna take 2026 off.' And I'm, like, 'I'm not taking 2026 off.' I don't give a fuck."

Earlier this year, Chad was asked by Jesea Lee if he is open to the idea of releasing new music under the Chad Gray banner. The singer responded: "I'm certainly not opposed to it. But just promoting music and everything is just done differently now. It's about having those tools. It's about having the right people plugged in to be able to let people know that you have new music."We released the new MUDVAYNE songs ['Hurt People Hurt People' and 'Sticks And Stones' in 2025], and everybody was super stoked about those. But I thought for sure 'Sticks And Stones' would be a Top 10 single, and it topped out at [Top] 20. It was weird, because everybody at radio fucking loved that track. It's just it's done a little bit differently now than it used to be. It's not saying that it's not able to be done now, because people do it. But I'm not sure we were plugged into completely that world."

Asked if the disappointing performance of "Hurt People Hurt People" and "Sticks And Stones" contributed to MUDVAYNE's decision to take a break from touring and recording in 2026, Chad responded: "No. Not at all. It was just merely, like, boom, boom, boom, boom. Four years in a row of just hitting it. Like, let's chill. Let's put it on ice for a minute and see what kind of opportunities come, having put it on ice for a year. Just see what happens. 'Cause we just headlined [a tour]. So who knows? [We weren't interested in] headlining again within such a short amount of time. We want things that we do to be successful, and we want people to be excited to see us, and sometimes when you kind of know you're gonna be able to see them next year, you kind of pass. 'Ah, maybe I'll pass this year, and I'll just go see them next year.' So it's just one of those things, where you're just, like, 'Eh.'"

Referencing his solo project, Chad said: "I'm excited. I'm excited about what we did. I'm excited I decided to do this. I think the fans really enjoyed [the first show]. I think the fans are gonna continue to enjoy it. I know I enjoyed it, and I'm gonna continue to enjoy it. And I think I'm doing it for the right reasons."

After Lee noted that some fans will likely be excited about the prospect of seeing songs from both MUDVAYNE and HELLYEAH performed on the same night, Chad concurred. "That's exciting for me, too," he said. "You can't always guarantee that MUDVAYNE fans are gonna be HELLYEAH fans and that HELLYEAH fans are MUDVAYNE fans. They were two separate things. They were two completely kind of different things. And with HELLYEAH, it was funny, 'cause [late HELLYEAH and PANTERA drummer] Vinnie [Paul Abbott] used to say, like, 'Man, it's frustrating to me because people look at our band like a wall between me and PANTERA and you and MUDVAYNE.' And that's not what it is at all. It was just some dudes getting together in a room and going for it and just having some fun. But people did kind of look at it like, 'I'm not gonna like HELLYEAH because HELLYEAH is keeping Chad away from MUDVAYNE, or keeping Vinnie away from doing the PANTERA reunion,' or something like that. And we always wanted HELLYEAH to kind of stand on its own. That's why we never played MUDVAYNE songs and we never played PANTERA songs in our sets. We just wanted HELLYEAH to be what HELLYEAH was. It was a very true band that was real. There was a lot of passion in that project. It was a passion project, is what it really was. And there was a lot of passion in that project. We worked really hard in that band for fucking 12 years."

Back in March 2021, Gray released a solo single, a cover of "Always On My Mind" — a song made famous by Willie Nelson. The track was originally recorded for his fall 2020 wedding to SiriusXM on-air personality Shannon Gunz.

Vinnie Paul recorded a total of six albums with HELLYEAH over a decade, including its latest, "Welcome Home", for which he laid down his drum tracks before his passing.

STONE SOUR drummer Roy Mayorga stepped in as Vinnie Paul's replacement for the touring activity in support of "Welcome Home", which came out in September 2019.

Mayorga previously played with HELLYEAH bassist Kyle Sanders in MEDICATION, the early 2000s outfit which also featured guitarist Logan Mader (MACHINE HEAD) and singer Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE).

MUDVAYNE guitarist Greg Tribbett sat out the band's summer/fall 2025 "L.D. 50 25th Anniversary" tour after his wife reportedly lost her year-and-a-half-long battle with cancer.

The "L.D. 50 25th Anniversary" tour kicked off on September 11, 2025 in Dubuque, Iowa and concluded on October 26, 2025 in Uncasville, Connecticut.

In 2024, Greg sat out the remaining shows on MUDVAYNE's "Destroy All Enemies" tour with MEGADETH due to what at the time was described as a "family issue". Filling in for him was Rafferty, who has served as a guitar tech for several metal bands over the years, including LAMB OF GOD and HATEBREED. He also worked for HELLYEAH, which originally featured both Tribbett and Gray.

"Sticks And Stones" and "Hurt People Hurt People" were released through Alchemy Recordings, a record label created in partnership between Dino Paredes, former American Recordings vice president of A&R, and Danny Wimmer, the founder of Danny Wimmer Presents, the premier production company for rock music festivals in the United States. Other Alchemy artists include STAIND and CHEVELLE.

Prior to the arrival of "Hurt People Hurt People", the reunited metallers hadn't put out any new material since 2009, which means more than a decade and a half had gone by without a single fresh MUDVAYNE song.

MUDVAYNE formed in 1996 and has sold over six million records worldwide, earning gold certification for three albums ("L.D. 50", "The End Of All Things To Come", "Lost And Found"). The band is known for its sonic experimentation, innovative album art, face and body paint, masks and uniforms.

GUNS N' ROSES has partnered with Fandiem to launch a national fundraising campaign in support of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP),giving fans the chance to win an unforgettable VIP experience at the band's Rose Bowl show in Pasadena, California on Saturday, September 5, 2026.

The campaign will help build awareness around GUNS N' ROSES' 2026 world tour in North America while raising funds for AFSP and its mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.

Fans who donate through Fandiem will be entered for the chance to win a trip for two to Pasadena to attend GUNS N' ROSES' Rose Bowl concert. In addition, fans at every show on the band's North American tour will have the opportunity to donate on site for the chance to receive ticket upgrades, giving fans in every city a way to participate and support AFSP.

The grand prize includes round-trip travel to Pasadena, a three-night hotel stay for two, and two tickets for their September 5, 2026 performance at the Rose Bowl. The winner and their guest will also get access to the VIP riser access in the Pit, early entry with priority access to the Pit, a behind-the-scenes look at the band's elaborate production, an on-stage group photo with the opportunity to hold one of the band member's instruments, invitation to The Live Era VIP Lounge, limited-edition GUNS N' ROSES VIP merchandise, an Ultimate-only VIP gift item, an official GUNS N' ROSES The Live Era VIP Lounge laminate, VIP commemorative concert ticket, and more.

As part of the campaign, fans who donate $150 or more will receive a GUNS N' ROSES hoodie, while fans who donate $50 or more will receive three months of Veeps All Access for free.

"We are grateful to GUNS N' ROSES and Fandiem for their extraordinary support and for using their platform to champion the mission of our organization," said AFSP chief executive officer Bob Gebbia. "Music has a unique ability to reduce stigma and start conversations that save lives, and by bringing a message of hope directly to fans during their 2026 world tour, the band is helping us reach more people with vital resources and the knowledge that they are not alone."

The campaign is open now at fandiem.com/gnr.

Fandiem is a fan-powered fundraising platform that partners with artists and nonprofits to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences and exclusive prizes that raise money and awareness for important causes. Fandiem has helped power hundreds of campaigns and raise millions of dollars for charitable organizations around the world.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, including those who have experienced a loss. AFSP creates a culture that's smart about mental health through public education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, with its Policy and Advocacy Office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico, with programs and events nationwide.

Last December, GUNS N' ROSES returned with two brand new singles. Marking their first new music release since 2023, "Nothin'" and "Atlas" found the long-running band showcasing two different sides of its personality. "Atlas" is GN'R in full surging rock mode, while "Nothin'" grows more introspective over floaty keys and an emotive guitar. Both songs are available via Interscope Records.

GUNS N' ROSES have steadily been releasing new material in recent years in conjunction with their sold-out tours across the globe. Following 2023's "The General" and "Perhaps", "Atlas" and "Nothin'" join as vital additions to setlists otherwise featuring all the classic hits and deep cut fan favorites from GN'R's early catalog.

Last year, GUNS N' ROSES released their deluxe "Live Era '87-'93" boxset, a limited pressing with remastered audio and revamped art.

GUNS N' ROSES endure as the most dynamic, dangerous, and definitive American rock band in history to this day.

Embedded in popular culture, GUNS N' ROSES' landmark diamond-selling 1987 opus "Appetite For Destruction" stands out as "the best-selling U.S. debut album ever" and "the 11th best-selling U.S. album of all time." Following its release, GUNS N' ROSES shook the world with the one-two punch of the over seven-times-platinum "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II", clinching the top two spots on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart upon arrival. With total sales of 100 million units thus far, their catalog also consists of "GN'R Lies" (five times platinum),"The Spaghetti Incident?" (platinum),"Greatest Hits" (five times platinum),and "Chinese Democracy" (over six million worldwide). Not to mention, they are one of the most-streamed rock bands in the world with an average of 27 million monthly listeners on Spotify and in May 2024 were inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame for their 1987 debut album, "Appetite For Destruction".

On the touring front, GUNS N' ROSES' legendary three-hour-plus shows encompass sought-after fan favorites in addition to newly dusted-off gems from their back catalog, leaving ardent audiences in awe. Their blockbuster 2024 world tour sold 1.3 million tickets around the world and marked the band's largest run to date. Consisting of acclaimed performances in stadiums and arenas alike, the tour included headlining festival dates at Glastonbury and London's Hyde Park, while the North American leg included sold-out performances at historic venues such as the Hollywood Bowl and MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, as well as a co-headlining performance at Power Trip in Indio, California with AC/DC and METALLICA. GUNS N' ROSES' previous world tour, "Not In This Lifetime…", notably ranked as the "fourth-highest grossing concert tour of all time", selling more than five million tickets and included a headline performance at Coachella. The band's massive 2025 tour saw the powerhouse band hit stadiums and arenas in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America throughout the year.

GUNS N' ROSES are Axl Rose (vocals, keyboards),Duff McKagan (bass),Slash (lead guitar),Dizzy Reed (keyboard),Richard Fortus (rhythm guitar),Isaac Carpenter (drums) and Melissa Reese (keyboard).

Riot Games has announced that Oli Sykes (BRING ME THE HORIZON),Courtney LaPlante (SPIRITBOX) and longtime Valorant collaborator Grabbitz have teamed up as performers for the 2026 Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) anthem. Written and produced by Grabbitz, "If The Sun Burns Out Tonight" marks his fourth collaboration with Valorant and will be released globally on all major streaming platforms this fall.

Ahead of the song's release, Riot Games has debuted an accompanying promotional trailer that offers players and fans a behind-the-scenes look at the collaboration. The film follows the song's evolution as ideas are exchanged, demos move from one artist to the next, and each collaborator leaves their signature mark on the track. Check it out below.

Music has long been at the heart of the Valorant experience, helping define some of the game's most memorable competitive moments and collaboration is at the heart of the Valorant's ethos. This year's Champions anthem brings rock darlings Oli Sykes, frontman of the two-time Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum band BRING ME THE HORIZON, together with Courtney LaPlante, vocalist of the two-time Grammy-nominated progressive metal band SPIRITBOX, for a unique collaboration to perform the anthem for Valorant's biggest stage. The collaboration marks LaPlante's second project with Riot Games, following her performance of "Ties That Bind" for 2XKO, while introducing Sykes to the Riot Games universe for the first time.

For Grabbitz, this collaboration marks a return to familiar ground. His previous three collaborations with Valorant, including the 2021 hit "Die For You", the 2022 anthem "Fire Again" performed by Ashnikko, and 2023's "Ticking Away" with bbno$, have collectively amassed more than 350 million streams worldwide.

"The best collaborations happen when everyone brings a different perspective to the room — and that's what makes this record so exciting to me," explains Grabbitz. "Oli, Courtney and I came together from different corners of the globe, and landed on a track that sits effortlessly between my electronic world and the heavy landscapes of BRING ME THE HORIZON and SPIRITBOX. The three of us just clicked — and the result is what I believe to be the best Valorant anthem to date."

"I've always been drawn to projects that blur the lines between storytelling and music, so working with Riot Games, alongside Grabbitz and Courtney, and becoming part of the Valorant world felt like a really natural fit," shares Oli Sykes.

"I cannot wait to release this song!" adds Courtney LaPlante. "Oli has given me the opportunity to perform live with BMTH many times over the years, and we're finally debuting something we worked on together. Grabbitz produced such a great atmosphere and a song tailored to all three of our voices, and Oli went in right away and made it a true collaboration."

"Welcoming artists of Oli Sykes and Courtney LaPlante's caliber into the world of Valorant this year has been an incredible honor for us," said Bob DeBelina, music artist partnerships manager at Riot Games. "They're two of the most respected voices in modern heavy music, and we're thrilled they brought their own creative vision and emotion to this year's Champions anthem. Pairing them with Grabbitz, the artistic force behind some of Valorant's most iconic musical moments, made for an incredible collaboration. The three of them immediately clicked as a creative team, blending their distinct styles into something that feels authentic to each artist while staying true to the spirit of Champions. We can't wait for players to experience what they created together!"

The Valorant Champions Shanghai 2026 finals will take place from September 24 to October 18, bringing together the world's top 16 teams to compete for the championship in this sixth edition of the tournament. Since its inception in 2021, Valorant Champions has traveled across continents, with previous editions held in Berlin, Istanbul, Los Angeles, Seoul and Paris.

The annual Champions anthem has become a defining part of Valorant's competitive legacy, with previous releases including "Superpower" by Julie & Natty of KISS OF LIFE and Mark Tuan, "Ticking Away" by Grabbitz & bbno$, "Fire Again" by Ashnikko, "Die For You" by Grabbitz, and "Last Shot" by templuv ft. 347aidan.

Riot Games was founded in 2006 to develop, publish, and support the most player-focused games in the world. In 2009, Riot released its debut title, League Of Legends, which has gone on to be one of the most-played PC games in the world. In the years since, Riot has released Valorant, Teamfight Tactics, Legends Of Runeterra, League Of Legends: Wild Rift, Riftbound and 2XKO. Riot's titles have led to the creation of some of the most-watched and widely recognized esports in the world, culminating in events like the League Of Legends World Championship, Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) and the TFT Open, which are watched by millions of fans each year. Riot has also expanded its IP through multimedia projects across music, comic books, board games, and "Arcane", its Emmy-winning animated series.

Valorant is a competitive 5v5 character-based first-person tactical shooter developed and published by Riot Games for PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, with a mobile version available in China. Valorant is a precise and lethal multiplayer game with high-fidelity gunplay, a diverse arsenal of guns, agents with unique abilities, and competitively tuned maps for unlimited hours of play. In Valorant, players lock in their agent for the entire duration of the match and then attempt to win a round-based, attackers vs. defenders, best-of-24-rounds fight.

Valorant is a free-to-play game and optimized to perform on a wide variety of platforms, allowing for a global audience to compete. Demonstrated by the game's best-in-class game server quality, global infrastructure, and proprietary anti-cheat technology, Riot Games is committed to preserving the core tenets of the tactical shooter genre and upholding the competitive integrity of the gameplay experience across all available platforms.