Prolific metalcore progressives, Erra, will release their new album, Cure, on April 5 via UNFD. Pre-order it here.  


Today, the band has shared the visualizer for "Crawl Backwards Out Of Heaven". The visualizer captors the raw, explosive, and forward-thinking intensity of the song, which doesn't let up from the first note.







Cure is the band's sixth album and it highlights and expands on the forward-thinking sound and guitar-driven style that the band has built its reputation on. Following 2021's self-titled release, Cure is a stunning execution of both raw talent and surgical technicality. It's as emotional powerful as it is musically proficient, which is not an easy feat to achieve. Yet Erra make it look and sound easy. Cure is a sonic thrill ride — one that you hope will never end.





Tracklisting:


"Cure"
"Rumor of Light"
"Idle Wild"
"Blue Reverie"
"Slow Sour Bleed"
"Wish"
"Glimpse"
"Past Life Persona"
"Crawl Backwards Out of Heaven"
"End to Excess"
"Pale Iris"
"Wave"











Erra are:


J.T. Cavey — Vocals
Jesse Cash — Vocals + Guitars
Conor Hesse — Bass
Alex Ballew — Drums
Clint Tustin — Guitar

In a new interview with Forbes, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford spoke about the British heavy metal legends' tour in support of their upcoming album, "Invincible Shield". Produced by Live Nation, the trek will kick off on April 18 at Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, Connecticut, making stops in Reading, Pennsylvania; Boston, Massachusetts; Rosemont, Illinois; Washington, D.C. and more before wrapping up in Syracuse, New York at Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview on May 22.

"From day one, I've always felt that you should work really hard to leave your fans with a visual memory of the show," Halford said. "It can be something simple as riding a motorcycle out on the stage, which isn't easy [and] the way the light sets look, the way the stage set is created, the video screens that you use to reinforce certain songs in the visual texture. All of these are part of the world that PRIEST has been making since as long as I can remember. So we have a new stage set that defines all the mantra of what an invincible shield is about. I micromanage everything because I love this band so much and I want to give our fans the absolute best show.

"Don't get me started on the setlist," he continued. "Every album has something strong to say. We did kind of like the heavy metal hits tour with the 50th anniversary. So we're trying to, again, project 'Invincible Shield', but balance it with some deep cuts that we've never done before. You have to stay focused to try and give in the time that you're on stage the broadest set of entertaining, exciting, memorable songs that you can do."

"Invincible Shield" will arrive on March 8 via Sony Music.

Last month, Halford told Metal Pilgrim about the setlist for the European leg of the "Invincible Shield" tour with SAXON and URIAH HEEP, which is scheduled to kick off on March 11 in Glasgow, United Kingdom. He said: "We've had this conversation before as far as trying to put the setlist together. And after 19 studio albums, it's, like, 'Oh my God. Where do we go?' If we didn't play 'Breaking The Law', there'd be a riot. If we didn't play 'Painkiller', there'd be a riot. There are certain songs that you are indebted to your fans to play, because they're part of the fabric of who you are as a band. Without naming names, there are certain bands where you know you wanna hear that song when you go to a show. So there's a portion of the setlist that already writes itself. Having said that, yeah, we are gonna go quite deep, and we found some songs from previous albums that we're gonna work with and we're gonna bring out. So there'll probably be at least two or three deep cuts on this setlist."

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

In a recent interview with Remy Maxwell of Audacy Check In, Halford spoke about the first three songs that have been released "Invincible Shield": "Panic Attack", "Trial By Fire" and "Crown Of Horns". He said: "Your first three cuts, your first three tracks of your new album are so important because they have to send the right messages out in terms of connectivity and what are they doing now? What is it gonna sound like? There's then the excitement and the anticipation of your new music. Your fans around the world are just, like, 'What are they doing? I wanna check it out, what's going on.'"

He continued: "I'll tell you what was really cool, because there's that great intro to [the first single] 'Panic Attack', which starts with the almost-'Turbo'-sounding guitars… And I thought, I just know our fans are gonna be listening and [going], 'What the hell is this shit? What are they doing now?' Which is exactly what we wanted to do in terms of getting your attention, getting you focused and ready, because when that song opens up, when those first rhythm riffs start blasting through and then the band is just taking off, we leave the launchpad immediately. And PRIEST fans are going off, 'Thank God for that. Because this is exactly what I wanted.' … The structures, the arrangements, the DNA of that song is full of lots of beautiful metal trails that take this band all the way back to 'Sad Wings Of Destiny' and beyond."

When Maxwell touched upon the fact that none of the first three songs released from "Invincible Shield" sound similar to one another, Halford concurred. "I'm really pleased with the way that we've unleashed these first three tracks, because, again, it just shows you the breadth of the ability of this band to take you to all these different places," he said. "Those three songs are nothing like each other; they're nothing like each other. They're three songs, but when they're connected to the rest of the material, you're getting, again, this beautiful album definition of what PRIEST is doing and representing itself in 2024."

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

After recently releasing the instrumental edition of Pain Remains, Lorna Shore is now giving fans a full band playthrough video for the Pain Remains trilogy. Watch the clip below.


Pain Remains trilogy:


Pain Remains I: "Dancing Like Flames"
Pain Remains II: "After All I've Done, I'll Disappear"
Pain Remains III: "In A Sea Of Fire"







Lorna Shore lineup:


Michael Yager - bass
Adam De Micco - guitar
Will Ramos - vocals
Austin Archey - drums
Andrew O'Connor - guitar

Technical death metal band, Gory Blister, have released a live video for their song, "No Shadow", accompanied by the original audio.


Originally part of the tracklisting of the album 1991_Bloodstained, "No Shadow" is one of the band's highlights, extracted from the live setlist performed by Gory Blister during the recent show in Florence, as part of the Firenze Metal event, held at the Viper Theater in Florence.


Guitarist Raff Sangiorgio enthusiastically comments: "It was an electrifying experience! In addition to the excellent organization by the Firenze Metal team, we were impressed by the enthusiasm of such a young audience who attended our show. It's a shift in trend that testifies to the passing of the torch to the new generation, which seems to appreciate and enjoy Extreme Metal sounds, new to them... The video itself is a testament to this phenomenon."







Gory Blister continues their live activities with enthusiasm to promote their recent album, Reborn From Hatred, released on September 8, 2023, via Eclipse Records. The band will soon announce new live dates and the release of a new music video.

In the labyrinth of underground metal, where genres intertwine and creativity knows no bounds, emerges Fixation Arc. The four-piece is an enigmatic progressive thrash metal supergroup.


Formed as a pandemic project between guitarist Daryl Rabidoux (The Cancer Conspiracy, Drowningman) and drummer Justin Foley (Killswitch Engage, Lybica), the two quickly discovered fertile ground in complex riffs and patterns that grew into their first two songs.


Adding Philip Jamieson (Caspian) on bass and Jonathon Newby (Brazil/JC Autobody) on vocals, Fixation Arc bring together four talents from disparate corners of the musical universe to transcend mere headbanging and breakdowns, and create a cerebral and cathartic experience.







Meticulously crafted and expertly executed, their debut single, "The Void Stares Back", delivers four minutes of relentless speed and intricate time signatures that are as intellectually engaging and adventurous as emotionally resonant.


"'The Void Stares Back' is a headlong dive into darkness, chaos, and an entropic universe," the band says. "It's about seeing things for what they are, and the meaningless rituals we use to forget what's crawling up from the abyss."


Stream the single here, and below:

The 2024 edition of the 70000 Tons Of Metal festival sailed January 29 to February 2 from Miami, Florida to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and back, on board the luxury passenger vessel Freedom Of The Seas.


Organizers have released the Day 4 Recap video below, stating: "A variety of activities took place, including our infamous Belly Flop Contest, which featured a distinguished panel of artists as judges, and Jamming in International Waters – All Star Jam hosted by Alex Krull of Leaves' Eyes and Kristin Starkey of Temperance.


"Closing out the Pool Deck Stage, The World’s Biggest Open Air Stage Structure to Ever Sail the Open Seas, was the iconic band Angra. Following their performance, the Skipper talked to the crowd, which we fondly call the United Nations of Heavy Metal at Sea. A total of 71 countries were present at 70000 Tons Of Metal 2024, showcasing an incredible gathering of Heavy Metal enthusiasts and artists.




"As the event draws to a close, Sailors unite at the Solarium for a special edition of 70000 Tons Of Karaoke, where musicians and Sailors alike sing their favorite tunes until the break of dawn.


"Featured performances from Day 4 include: Lord Of The Lost, Fleshgod Apocalypse and Angra."





Watch the Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 recap videos below:











Watch a Pre-Cruise Parties recap video:





With the recent completion of the 2024 edition of the 70000 Tons Of Metal festival, details of next year's cruise have emerged.


Sailors, brace yourselves for another epic voyage! The 2025 edition of 70000 Tons Of Metal, The Original, The World's Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise, will take us back to an absolute fan-favorite port that hasn't been visited in a decade - Ocho Rios, Jamaica! Taking place January 30 – February 3, 2025.





60 Bands, 4 Days, 1 Cruise Ship, and only 3000 Tickets. This is 70000 Tons Of Metal, The Original, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise!


On 70000 Tons Of Metal you get unrestricted festival access to all 120 live shows on board, 70000 Tons Of Karaoke until sunrise, Jamming In International Waters – the Official 70000 Tons Of Metal All Star Jam which writes heavy metal history every year, clinics and work-shops with the musicians, our infamous belly flop contest, shore excursions with your favorite artists, and much more!


Everyone on board is a VIP, we don’t have assigned seating (this is a heavy metal cruise after all), and most importantly the bars on our ship never close – you heard us, bars that never close!


On this life changing adventure you will spend five days and four nights at sea mingling side-by-side with your favorite artists in this incredibly fan-friendly scenario that has no comparison. It’s like having an All-Access backstage pass!


Visit 70000Tons.com or the official 70000 Tons Of Metal Facebook page for further details.

Norwegian progressive metal masters, Rendezvous Point, return with their first new single in five years, "Don't Look Up".


Fuelled by their collective love for hard-hitting, in-your-face music that seamlessly blends punchy rhythms with soaring melodies and atmospheric undertones, the five-piece around Leprous drummer Baard Kolstad, keyboardist Nicolay Tangen Svennæs (Ihsahn, Bernhoft, Emilie Nicolas), singer Geirmund Hansen, guitarist Petter Hallaråker and bass player Gunn-Hilde Erstad, embarked on a journey of creating music that was meant to explore the limits of progressive metal and traverse into uncharted territory. With each member bringing their unique talents and perspectives to the table, the band promises to push the boundaries of their artistry even further, inviting listeners to join them on the journey.







Singer Geirmund Hansen comments on the track: "Regardless of all the warning signs around us, humankind continues to destroy earth’s resources. It feels like we don’t care about tomorrow as long as our decisions benefit today. 'Don‘t Look Up' is also a story about how our longing for personal glory can destroy our relations to others and the outside world."


Watch the official video for "Don't Look Up" below. Stream the track here.


Commenting on the video for "Don't Look Up," the band had this to say: "The music video for 'Don’t Look Up' is a satirical take on the screen addiction in today’s society. One can also interpret the theme in a wider sense pointing out that we often have difficulties seeing the bigger picture when we focus only on what is right in front of us. What happens to our identity when an objective truth no longer exists? A big part of the video is shot on the location where Edvard Munch took the inspiration for his painting ‘The Scream’."





Rendezvous Point is:


Geirmund Hansen - Vocals
Baard Kolstad - Drums
Nicolay Tangen Svennæs - Keyboards
Petter Hallaråker - Guitar
Gunn-Hilde Erstad - Bass


(Photo - Jonathan Vivaas Kise)

Mike Portnoy has shot down the suggestion that his return to DREAM THEATER is the reason for the end of his progressive metal supergroup SONS OF APOLLO.

SONS OF APOLLO, which also featured guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (ex-GUNS N' ROSES),bassist Billy Sheehan (MR. BIG, THE WINERY DOGS),keyboardist Derek Sherinian (also of BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION) and singer Jeff Scott Soto (TALISMAN, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) recorded and released two studio albums over the course of a three-year period but has been inactive since completing a South American tour in August 2022.

In some of his recent interviews, Bumblefoot spoke about SONS OF APOLLO in the past tense and said "everything has its lifespan" with regard to the band's future plans, stirring up speculation that SONS OF APOLLO was all but finished. Sherinian and Thal have since formed new progressive metal outfit WHOM GODS DESTROY, while Soto has also joined Thal in ART OF ANARCHY, with both bands releasing new albums within a month of each other.

Bumblefoot addressed SONS OF APOLLO's status in a new interview with Jimmy Kay of Canada's The Metal Voice. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, we were on tour. Shows, we had doubled our attendances. Just everything was going this way [pointing up]. It was going great. And we got four shows into a 20-show tour in Europe. And we had to pull the plug, COVID and all, and went back home. And then Derek and I and Jeff, we wanted to start working on album number three. It was, like, 'We have all this time now to nurture it.' But not everybody was on board to do that; some people had their own plans and things they wanted to do, which they did. And so, what happened was it split into two bands. Jeff, he offered to be the singer for this band that I had with old friends of mine called ART OF ANARCHY. And he knew that we were just, during the pandemic, we'd get together and record songs. And he said, 'You've had all these problematic singers. You should have just worked with me from the beginning and everything would have been fine.' And I was, like, 'I agree.' So he offered to be the singer. And, of course, the band all said, 'Hell yeah.' So now I have ART OF ANARCHY with Jeff. And Derek and I just continued writing as we did with SONS OF APOLLO where we just write; we write the music. And we kept doing that, and we realized that with certain members not interested, we couldn't really continue with SONS OF APOLLO. I mean, Jeff was interested; he would have loved to do a third [album]. But we found new bandmembers… So [WHOM GODS DESTROY] really started from the ashes of SONS OF APOLLO. We crawled out and we continued writing what could've become a third SONS OF APOLLO album, but it wasn't gonna happen."

Asked if it's easy keeping a supergroup like SONS OF APOLLO together, Thal said: "Nothing is easy. It can be easy if everyone just shuts the fuck up and does their job and, yeah, if people think about the hive and not just their bee-self. If you have the mentality of being a team player and not just a selfish fuck, then a band can easily work and last for decades."

He clarified: "I'm not calling anyone in particular a selfish fuck. I'm just saying that in bands, in every band, you're gonna have the narcissist, usually a drug-addict narcissist, you're gonna have the conspiring, greedy asshole, you're gonna have the one that is just riddled with depression and thinks that every note is the most important thing that happened. And also you have people that forget that if you have four or five people in the band, you should only be getting 25 or 20 percent of your ideas going through, and if you're hogging it up, you're taking away from everyone else. And it's not a fair scenario and someone is gonna feel like they're left out and not being heard and not feel like an equal. So I always say in a band, in a band of five unemployable dysfunctional dudes, if only one out of five of your ideas makes it through, then everything is fair and you have to be able to be okay with that. 20 percent times five — that's how it should be. You have to accept that mentality, and anything beyond that, think of as a bonus and don't look at it like…"

Thal added: "Bands are a really fucked-up marriage."

After Bumblefoot's remarks were published on the Prog web site and the article was shared on the magazine's Facebook page, Portnoy took to the comments section to write: "Obviously Ron is (discreetly) pointing the finger at me (and possibly Billy as well?),but I must publicly squash this rhetoric that is implying SONS OF APOLLO's demise had anything to do with me rejoining DREAM THEATER. That didn't happen until Oct 2023…

"The reality is when the SOA tour got cancelled because of Covid in 2020, by the time there was any talk of writing new stuff and a possible 3rd album, I already had commitments with TRANSATLANTIC, NMB [NEAL MORSE BAND] and THE WINERY DOGS (w Billy as well). I can understand Ron, Derek & Jeff's frustration with this, but the reality is the ONLY way I was ever able to juggle and balance all my bands all these years was to block certain windows in my schedule for each band or project to have time for an album/tour cycle. Sadly, SOA's album/tour cycle window got killed by Covid and by the time the world reopened again, I already was booked with my other bands and projects.

"Anyways, I'm happy for those guys that they were able to continue working together in other musical capacity's…but make no mistake, at the time, it had nothing to with me rejoining DT!"

Sheehan was unable to join his SONS OF APOLLO bandmates on the aforementioned South American tour due to COVID-19 vaccine-related travel restrictions. His replacement on the trek was ANGRA's Felipe Andreoli.

SONS OF APOLLO's second album, "MMXX", was released in January 2020 via InsideOut Music/Sony.

The follow-up to 2017's "Psychotic Symphony" debuted on multiple Billboard charts dated, including Tastemakers (No. 10),Heatseekers Albums (No. 11) and Hard Rock Albums (No. 21).

At the time of "MMXX"'s release, Soto told Billboard: "We absolutely jumped into this as an ongoing commitment from all of us that we were going to follow up on and treat it, with all intents and purposes, as a real band. With the caliber of who we have and what we could come up with, we knew we wanted to dive into this thing fully committed, and not as a one-off."

Regarding the differences in the musical direction between the two albums, Soto said: "I don't think we strayed too far. If you put both albums together as a double album, it would work. The only difference is that I feel that I put a little more personality into the vocal parts. It was a little homogenized on the first album, in terms of playing it safe. I didn't toy around too much with straying from the main ideas.

"On [the second] album, I knew exactly what I wanted to do," he continued. "I knew where we were headed as a band. This time, it was a no-brainer that I should just go for it. The first album was, again, the foundation and the skeletal embryonic stage of the band. Now it's solid and I’ve watched it flourish, and I went in knowing what to do."

Six years ago, Portnoy told Let's Rock about SONS OF APOLLO's chemistry: "I'd like to say that I was surprised by how easy it came together, but, to be honest, I kind of expected that. That wasn't really a surprise. I knew it would work. I knew it would be easy once once we started playing just because I know the guys involved. So, I can't really say there were many surprises. Everything kind of went according to plan. Everybody was kind of chosen for the band because I knew their personalities. And Jeff and Bumblefoot in particular are the two most easy-going guys, and [laughs] that's very rare for a guitar player and a singer. But in this case, you couldn't ask for two sweeter guys. That's a huge part of [the] importance in picking band chemistry. A lot of times, it's well beyond the music. It's more about the personalities and in this case, it's a great group of guys."

Photo credit: Hristo Shindov

Vltimas have been legends since the dawn of metal. Rune Eriksen took hold of axe-wielding duties for the second coming of Mayhem. Flo Mounier has been drumming for Cryptopsy since their earliest exhumations of the Canadian underground. And who could forget David Vincent, the larger-than-life vocalist for Morbid Angel.        


Having already made history, some metalheads may have stroked their beard and wondered if there could possibly be any new realms for this band to conquer. But on their new album, Vltimas ascend to truly epic heights.


Vltimas' new album, Epic, will be released on Friday, March 15, via Season Of Mist. Find an advanced album stream below.




Available formats:


- Digital Download
- CD Digipak
- 12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
- 12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Skull Gold
- 12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Dracula
- 12" Picture Vinyl


Pre-order here, pre-save here.





Tracklisting:


"Volens Discordant"
"Epic"
"Miserere"
"Exercitus Irae"
"Mephisto Manifesto"
"Scorcher"
"Invictus"
"Nature's Fangs"
"Spoils Of War"


Album stream:





"Scorcher" visualizer:





"Miserere" video:





Extreme metal powerhouse Vltimas (pronounced 'uhl-tuh-mas') assault metaldom once more with their highly-anticipated sophomore album, Epic, through Season of Mist. Featuring Norwegian guitarist Rune "Blasphemer" Eriksen (ex-Mayhem, Aura Noir), American vocalist David Vincent (ex-Morbid Angel), and Canadian drummer Flo Mounier (Cryptopsy), the multinational quintet, rounded out by Dutch bassist Ype TVS (ex-Dodecahedron) and Portuguese guitarist João Duarte (Corpus Christii), continue to venture down their path. Moored by strength and integrity, Vltimas fortified their signature with wicked invention, as applauded by Decibel Magazine, BangerTV, Louder, and many others, on their debut, Something Wicked Marches In (2019). Singles "Miserere," "Scorcher," and "Invictus" showcase a band of musicians at the top of their game, united in their pursuit of oneness.


"We wrote every bit of Epic together at my ranch in Dime Box, Texas," offers Vincent. "The writing sessions were as organic as they could be. There were times when, at the end of the night, Rune would take his guitar and play something ridiculous. Flo would play something even more ridiculous on top of it. I'd say to the guys, 'I need to capture this.' So, the magic [of Vltimas] is being in the same room together, discussing, playing, and recording music and everything else we're doing together. We have unbelievable camaraderie."
 
While the members of Vltimas are not atavists, their preferred creative methods are time-tested and battle-hardened. Technology has its place, but the group thrive when they're together, not separated by the world. Eriksen, renowned as a riff innovator, is more effective when he's got a highly capable sideman like Vincent or Mounier, whose drumming in Cryptopsy and his celebrated instructional Extreme Metal Drumming 101 DVD has proven to be a no-limits player, by his side. Whether it's the moody, angular attack of "Miserere," the wicked groove of "Mephisto Manifesto," or the dark fury of "Nature's Fangs," the chemistry and enterprise of Vltimas is undeniable.


"The main goal [of Vltimas] is to be real," Eriksen reveals. "To channel the very moment, to let true inspiration out. I don't believe I ever set myself a goal on what an album should or needs to sound like before I or we write it because that means I have to compromise during the process. For Epic, we focused on more direct songs, trimming the fat, as opposed to Something Wicked Marches In, which had a progressive and 'playful' flair."


Vltimas was a profane concept—a constellation of riffs against a modest frame—when formed by Eriksen in 2015. After departing Mayhem in 2008 and putting his gothic doom outfit Ava Inferi to rest in 2013, the Norwegian's fingers still itched with infernal fury. Vltimas was his vent, and when Mounier and Vincent joined, he finally had the cadre of professionals to make it a reality. Together, they devised complementary schemes and themes rooted in rightness. In a world gone mad, Vltimas had a vision. On Something Wicked Marches In, they commanded attention with metaphors about the apocalypse, the ancient goddess Lilith, and truth. Lyrically, Epic spears into the very nucleus of strength through Vincent's brio of double entendre and clever wordsmithing. The songs are designed to be heard, read, and interpreted—there are no shortcuts.


"Everything we're doing and messaging is about strength and honor," says Vincent. "These are the fundamentals that I incorporate into my life, which I believe in. I want to share with others, hoping they'll incorporate strength and honor into their lives. I wouldn't say I like spelling lyrics out. I use a lot of double meanings on purpose because I want to inspire the listener to think. I'm not a short attention span guy, and I don't appreciate it. Epic is holistic and meant to be experienced that way."


Epic was recorded by producer Jaime Gomez Arellano (Paradise Lost, Grave Miasma) with engineer Jonathan Mazzeo (First Fragment, Sickening) at Arda Recorders in Porto, Portugal. Vltimas tracked the album throughout May 2023. Arellano also handled the mix and master. Like everything the band does, the main goal was to be honest. The maxim of no sample replacement or re-amping—Epic was captured on outboard gear—was adhered to and enjoyed by the team. The result is a sonic expression that sounds like nothing else. From the crushing title track to the epic musicality of closer "Spoils of War," Epic is an absolute beast.


"Stress, long walks, too much alcohol, yet very focused once in the recording mode," Eriksen says of the sessions. "We booked a month, but somehow, that flew by instantly. We worked up until the very end. I even added a few solos at my local Soundscape Studio in Almada, Portugal. Art unfolds, and once you think you are done, there's always another idea popping up."


Vltimas brought Italian artist Daniele Valeriani (Mayhem, Unanimated) to visualize Epic. The aesthetic, as illuminated by music and message, was iconic boldness. The three-eagle head crest with three different crowns, accompanied by transfigured symbols of the Passion and the "impossible triangle," projects effortlessly. In Epic, the group will dominate. There's no escape from "Miserere," "Mephisto Manifesto," "Scorcher," and "Invictus." Together, they thrust, by resolve and inventiveness, Vltimas into the uppermost echelons of extreme metal.


"[Epic is] old meets contemporary, a symbiosis of all the great things we love about extreme metal," offers Eriksen. "All combined into one album."


"I want to be as emotional and honest [with Vltimas]," Vincent adds. "I want to tell stories; I want to have the themes that appeal to me; I want to have some messaging that someone can take away, in this case, strength. Epic is strength."


Lineup:


David Vincent - Vocals
Rune Blasphemer Eriksen - Guitars
Flo Mounier - Drums
Ype TVS - Bass
João Duarte - Guitars

Finnish folk metal superstars, Korpiklaani, are happy to unveil their newest single and music video, "Oraakkelit". It's the third single from their upcoming new studio album, Rankarumpu, which is due to be released on April 5.


Korpiklaani's twelfth studio album is once again full of tasty folk metal and its different flavors, but it also offers new spices. One of the most wonderful features of Rankarumpu is related to the folk instruments. Although Korpiklaani has done one or maybe even a couple of unforgettable things in the realm of folk metal, this time new permanent member Olli Vänskä's violin and Sami Perttula's accordion may surprise even die-hard fans.


"Oraakkelit" shows a darker, more serious side of Korpiklaani and is a nice contrast to the happier, more upbeat previous singles, "Saunaan" and "Aita". The mood of the song has been perfectly captured by a mystical and visually stunning video directed by Vesa Ranta.




Singer Jonne commented: "I had never actually written a shuffle based song before and I wanted to try to write such a riff and see how it would work in metal music. Normally it is used a lot in old blues and rock’n’roll music. I was suprised how cool it went and then I thought: what if all the gods all over the world would have a big rock’n'roll dancing party together underground. The idea made me laugh, so I decided to use it!"


Drummer Samuli added: ”When I heard the first demo I was really excited. This is something very different! I felt there could be a cool shuffle feeling to the rhythm and I started to explored it. There is a great atmosphere in the song. First it lurks enigmatically but then it starts to rock! Drumwise you can use lots of dynamics. It will be a fun live song!”





Pre-order/pre-save the new album here.





Tracklisting:


"Kotomaa"
"Tapa sen kun kerkeet"
"Aita"
"Saunaan"
"Mettään"
"Kalmisto"
"Rankarumpu"
"No perkele"
"Viikatelintu"
"Nouse"
"Oraakkelit"
"Harhainen höyhen"


"Aita" video:





"Saunaan" video:





Korpiklaani have massive touring plans for 2024, following an extensive UK tour with Alestorm and Heidevolk in February and March,  a North Amercan tour with Visions Of Atlantis & Illumishade (feat. members of Eluveitie) will happen in April and May, and after that several big European Summer festivals await, as well as a European tour towards the end of the year.





April (with Visions Of Atlantis & Illumishade)
8 - Reading, PA - Reverb
9 - New York City, NY - Gramercy Theatre
10 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
11 - Montreal, QC - La Tulipe
12 - Ottawa, ON - Brass Monkey
13 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre
14 - Pontiac, MI - The Crofoot
15 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall
17 - Minneapolis, MN - Skyway Theatre
18 - Winnipeg, MA - Park Theatre
19 - Regina, SK - The Exchange
20 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room
21 - Calgary, AB - Dickens
23 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre
24 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
25 - Portland, OR - BossaNova Ballroom
26 - San Francisco, CA - DNA Lounge
27 - Los Angeles, CA - 1720
28 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
29 - Phoenix, AZ - The Nile


May (with Visions Of Atlantis & Illumishade)
1 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre
2 - Lincoln, NB - The Bourbon Theater
3 - Joliet, IL - The Forge
4 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr Smalls Theatre
5 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage


2024 Festivals


June
27-30 - Clisson, France - Hellfest


July
12 - Laundresse - La Guerre Du Son
28-August 3 - Velenje, Slovenia - MetalDays


August
9-11 - Cercoux, France - Festival 666
9-11 - Walton on Trent, UK - Bloodstock Open Air
9-11 - Kortrijk, Belgium - Alcatraz Festival
14-17 - Dinkelsbühl, Germany - Summer Breeze
15-17 - Zámek Moravský Krumlov, Czech Republic - Rock Castle
24 - Pindelo dos Milagres, Portugal - Milagre Metaleiro Open Air


November (with In Extremo & Rauhbein)
15 - Saarbrücken, Germany - Garage
16 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
22 - Rostock, Germany - Moya
23 - Dortmund, Germany - Phantastischer Lichter Weihnachtsmarkt
29 - Berlin, Germany - Columbiahalle
30 - Bremen, Germany - Pier 2


December (with In Extremo & Rauhbein)
6 - Nürnberg, Germany - KIA Metropol Arena
7 - Wien, Austria - Gasometer
12 - Bielefeld, Germany - Lokschuppen
13 - Hannover, Germany - Swiss Life Hall
14 - Dresden, Germany - Alter Schlachthof
20 - Leipzig, Germany - Haus Auensee
21 - Stuttgart, Germany - Porsche Arena
27 - München, Germany - Zenith
28 - Wiesbaden, Germany - Schlachthof
29 - Erfurt, Germany - Messehalle
30 - Köln, Germany - Palladium


(Photo - Jake Owens)

Jona Tee and Nils Molin are thrilled to announce the upcoming release of the New Horizon album, Conquerors, an epitome of power metal finesse, slated to hit the shelves on June 14 via Frontiers Music.


Fans can get a taste of the album's epic melodies with the lead single and video, "Daimyo", out today. Conquerors presents itself as a thematic anthology, delving into pivotal moments in history and the remarkable individuals who have shaped them. The track "Daimyo" transports listeners to 16th century feudal Japan, narrating the saga of the renowned unifier Oda Nobunaga. Watch the video below.


Following a remarkable journey that saw vocalist Erik Grönwall joining Skid Row, New Horizon's founder Jona Tee embarked on a mission to find a singer who could embody the essence of the band's next chapter. His quest led him to longtime friend Nils Molin, renowned vocalist of Dynazty and Amaranthe.




Upon encountering the band's fresh material, Molin was immediately drawn in, igniting a powerful collaboration. Reflecting on their partnership, Jona Tee shared: "At our first sit down in the studio he said ‘If I'm going to do this, I need to be 100% involved.’ Nils and I have been exploring the possibility of collaborating on a project for some time now. At first, I deemed it unlikely seeing as he’s got plenty on his plate already. However, I had to ask and was happily surprised that he considered it. And when we started bouncing ideas for lyrical themes the path forward appeared crystal clear. The die has been cast."


Conquerors marks New Horizon's sophomore album, showcasing their resilience and unwavering commitment to musical excellence. Nils's commanding vocals seamlessly intertwine with Tee's intricate melodies, resulting in a sound that is both familiar and refreshingly innovative.


Expressing his excitement for the project, Nils remarked: "My initial reaction to getting a text from Jona, asking me to sing on the new album was: Damn, I don’t have the time. But upon hearing some of the early material he was working on and after our first couple of sessions tracking vocals, effortlessly collaborating and mapping out a plan for the album, I decided that this simply needs to be done. Conquerors became a tale that grew in the making and ultimately expanding into an album way beyond my expectations, brim-packed with stellar songwriting, performances and surprise elements. If you like melodic metal - you’re in for a treat.”


With Conquerors poised for release, New Horizon is poised to ascend further in the power metal realm. Their dedication to musical craftsmanship and adaptability solidifies their position as a rising force in the genre. As they embark on this new chapter, New Horizon is prepared to conquer new frontiers and make an enduring impact on the music scene.





Tracklisting:


"Against The Odds"
"King Of Kings"
"Daimyo"
"Shadow Warrior"
"Apollo"
"Fallout War"
"Messenger Of The Stars"
"Before The Dawn"
"Edge Of Insanity"
"Alexander The Great (356-323 B.C)"


"Daimyo" video:

Existing at the forefront of the Polish black metal movement, Blaze Of Perdition returns in 2024 with their sixth full-length, Upharsin, set for release on April 19 via Metal Blade Records.


A step back from the somewhat unusual direction the band followed on their previous offering - 2020's The Harrowing Of Hearts - Upharsin takes on a dark and pessimistic tone reflected by its appropriately oppressive music. Haunting and melancholic melodies rooted in traditional black metal meet unforgiving blastbeats and solemn marches, while emotional yet feral vocals aim to bring a proper sense of rage and disgust.


"With Upharsin, we aimed to open the wounds of humanity as a collective," the band notes. "The album reflects on how humans tend to gravitate towards conflict and strife. How religions and politics as well as other aspects of our everyday life are tainted and driven by our lower instincts as we willingly refuse to learn from our own history, as we choose to ignore and neglect the shadow aspect of our psychic reality, which in turn takes us further and further in the everlasting cycle of violence. It's probably the most realistic concept we've taken on, with noticeably less spiritual leanings and a much more grounded approach."




Opening track and first single, "W Kwiecie Rozłamu" (English translation: "In Rupture's Prime") hits hard from the very first second. "We wanted to begin the album with something striking and punishing, hence why there is no intro to set the mood first. However, most of our songs rarely keep the same mood for the entire duration and this one is no different. It's probably the most varied composition on Upharsin and what starts with fury and flames, soon transcends into a somewhat sludgy, almost psychedelic abyss to shift once again into fiery blast-driven inferno. Lyrically, it talks about our struggle to keep up with the pace and temptations of our collective, destructive nature. To understand, accept and learn from it instead of suppressing it and allowing it to expand."


Listen to "W Kwiecie Rozłamu" below.





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


- 180g Black (EU)
- Dark Charcoal Marbled (US + EU - Ltd. 500)
- Crystal Clear w/ Black Dust( EU - Ltd. 300)


Find pre-orders here.





Upharsin tracklisting:


"W kwiecie rozłamu"
"Przez rany"
"Niezmywalne"
"Architekt"
"Młot, miecz i bat"


"W kwiecie rozłamu":





Lineup:


S. - vocals
XCIII - guitars
M.R. - guitars
VZN - drums
Wyrd - bass (session)


(Photo - Justyna Kaminska)

UK bashers, Skindred, have released a video for "Our Religion", the opening track of their latest album, Smile, released last year via Earache Records.


A message states: "Ahead of Skindred playing Wembley tomorrow night, and Manchester tonight, and Birmingham on Saturday, we wanted to share this rehearsal room footage of the band performing 'Our Religion' from their new album Smile (filmed by Steve Clarke). For those of you travelling to see the band at Wembley tomorrow by car, leave early as the M25 is closed, or even better jump on a train. Finally there are still some tickets left for the show - grab them quickly from Ticketmaster."







Order the Smile album here.





Tracklisting:


"Our Religion"
"Gimme That Boom"
"Set Fazers"
"Life That's Free"
"If I Could"
"L.O.V.E. (Smile Please)"
"This Appointed Love"
"Black Stars"
"State Of The Union"
"Addicted"
"Mama"
"Unstoppable"


"If I Could" visualizer:





"Set Fazers" video:





"Unstoppable"

Norwegian black metal legends, Limbonic Art, have signed a multi-album deal with Kyrck Productions & Armour. The band will release their forthcoming ninth full-length via the label.


Limbonic Art comment: "It is with great pleasure that I can confirm my signing to Kyrck Productions & Armour", mastermind Vidar "Daemon" Jensen states. "Following two decades of friendship and collaborations, label founder Iannis Mantzoros kindly introduced me to the new owner Martin Koller from SPKR. Martin and his team have done an outstanding job on my upcoming new album. With such great backing, I am confident that this long-awaited offering will have a strong impact on the metal scene and maintain the legacy of Limbonic Art."


The collaboration between Limbonic Art and Kyrck Productions & Armour goes back a long way in time. True to its early mission statement to reissue ground-breaking works from genre-shaping bands, the label released the vinyl compilation Limbonic Art 1995 that contained the earliest recordings from the cassette demo Promo Rehearsal '95 in the year 2009. A year later, in 2010 and again on vinyl Limbonic Art 1996 combined the band's cassettes Rehearsal 1996 and Promotion Tape 1996. Tracks from both releases were also compiled on a CD entitled Limbonic Art 1995-199", which was released in 2009.




Those early tapes had captured the ear of Emperor guitarist Samoth aka Tomas Thormodsæter Haugen, who signed Limbonic Art to his label Nocturnal Art Productions in 1996. At the time, the band that was originally founded as a 4-piece in Sandefjord in the south of Norway had already been reduced to a duo that consisted of vocalist, guitarist and bass player Daemon alias Vidar Jensen and multi-instrumentalist and singer Morfeus aka Krister Dreyer.


In 1996, Limbonic Art released their regular album debut, Moon In The Scorpio. Their at the time unique combination of harsh Nordic black metal with cinematic elements inspired by romantic and classic orchestral music proved extremely influential in the following years. Despite their considerable success in the underground scene, the Norwegians began to reduce symphonic elements over time. The sophomore full-length In Abhorrence Dementia (1997) is also considered a classic recording of the band as well as the third album Epitome Of Illusions (1998), which contained new recordings of overhauled demo material.
 
Limbonic Art have always been an elusive creation that rarely appeared live, for example with a stunning performance at the Black Whitsun sub-festival of the doomed millennium year edition of the Wave Gotik Treffen (2000) in Leipzig, Germany. In the new century, the duo slowly began to drift apart. Daemon joined Samoth's band Zyklon for a while, and Morfeus began to focus on his own project Dimension F3H. In February 2003, Limbonic Art officially broke up.


However, Daemon and Morfeus reformed the band in 2006. With the latter soon out of the band again, Daemon continued on his own to release the albums Phantasmagoria (2010) and Spectre Abysm (2017) under the name Limbonic Art. Ending another long period of silence, the Norwegian cult act finally announce their ninth album to be released via Kyrck Productions & Armour this year!


(Photo - Sean Fulton)

Intelligent Music Project, the Bulgarian-based supergroup comprising world-famous rock musicians, is set to launch their eighth album, Miracles Beyond, on May 15.


The band has just released their first single, offering a fascinating preview of the musical journey that awaits. While the album boasts the presence of globally celebrated rock stars, it's noteworthy that the lead vocalist for the single, "Shine For You" is none other than Slavin Slavchev. Serving as the band's primary vocalist in live performances, Slavchev, also an X-Factor winner, emerges as the driving force behind the track with his exceptional and powerful vocal prowess.


"Shine For You" is available digitally via Amazon, iTunes, Deezer and Spotify.







Miracles Beyond features an ensemble of legendary musicians, including Simon Phillips (Toto, Protocol, The Who, Judas Priest), Joseph Williams (Toto), John Payne (ex-Asia), and Carl Sentence (Nazareth), each bringing their unique flair to the project. The artwork has already ignited curiosity and excitement, hinting at the magic Miracles Beyond is poised to deliver.





Intelligent Music Project captured attention as Bulgaria's representative at Eurovision 2022 in Turin, showcasing their versatility on the international stage with their song “Intention”.


Milen Vrabevski, MD, producer, songwriter, founder of the project, and the mastermind behind the band, expressed his joy at the collaboration with top-notch musicians. He shared, "I'm so happy to present our eighth album with yet another magnificent line-up!! So great to have all these musicians on board again. This is Simon Phillips’s 6th album with us, John Payne’s 5th and Joseph Williams’s 4th. Such a star turnout is a special privilege for me, and I hope I truly hope to bring to the audience some delight in those strange times. Enjoy our next world-class product!”


The Miracles Beyond lineup includes also the Grammy Award Nominee Ernest Tibbs and the producer's favourite Richard Grisman.


Besides the aforementioned musicians, over the years the band has seen a stellar lineup, including John Lawton (Uriah Heep, Lucifer’s Friend), Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, Michael Schenker’s Group), Nathan East (Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, Toto, Stevie Wonder and more), Tim Pierce (Joe Cocker, Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper and more), Bobby Rondinelli (Rainbow, Black Sabbath), and Todd Sucherman (Styx).

Classical music has always been an influence — albeit limited — on ACCEPT's Teutonic approach to rock and heavy metal. However, it wasn't until 1997 during a extended hiatus from ACCEPT that guitarist Wolf Hoffmann finally had the chance to fully explore and fulfill this interest by recording his first astounding solo album "Classical", a record filled with his rock-guitar-driven interpretations of some of classical music's most loved compositions. A follow-up album, "Headbangers Symphony", arrived in July 2016 via Nuclear Blast.

Asked in a new interview with Colombia's Rock The House what motivated him to start a solo career, Wolf said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It was basically a continuation of something I started almost 30, 40 years ago with ACCEPT when I introduced classical themes into heavy metal music, into our songs, and I recognized what a great potential that is, because most people have heard some classical themes in their life but not everybody is a die-hard classical fan. But there's many metal fans out there, and I'm a metal guitar player, so it seemed to be a natural thing for me to try to combine the two worlds in a more intense way, because I didn't wanna do it… ACCEPT is ACCEPT, and it should stay what it is, but with my solo albums, I was able to do a completely dedicated album with nothing but that kind of stuff, which I personally love. So I use that as a vehicle for me to express myself and see what it would be like if I made a complete album with nothing but instrumental music. And I have to tell you, it's quite a challenge. I find it's actually much easier to write songs where people sing than it is to write songs that are interesting with just guitars. It's a challenge."

Regarding whether he has plans to release another solo album at some point in the future, Wolf said: "I have plans, but nothing is really finalized yet. I'm currently working with my life partner, Ava-Rebekah Rahman. She's an amazing violinist. And the two of us are working on some songs for the two of us, and maybe someday we'll release something. We've already done a couple of YouTube clips and something will happen, but maybe we'll make another album together. I'm not quite sure yet. Like I said, it takes a long time and it's a lot of work and I need to have the free time in the ACCEPT schedule to even think about doing that. So I can only do these sort of solo projects when ACCEPT is not busy, and ACCEPT is always busy. So it's hard."

In April 2022, Rahman announced via Instagram that she had been romantically involved with Hoffmann for the previous three years, calling it a "mad, crazy messy, blissful, soaring, heart-breaking heart-healing union and love".

Wolf had previously been married to Gaby Hoffmann, who had served as ACCEPT's longtime manager, designer and lyricist virtually since the band's inception.

In July 2019, it was announced that Gaby was officially retiring, with an official statement on ACCEPT's web site explaining that she was "a bit tired after many years of intense activity, and she needs some rest and time for herself. It's not a farewell," the statement added. "Her heart will still be with us, but she won't engage in professional activities anymore."

ACCEPT will release a new album, "Humanoid", on April 26 via Napalm Records. The LP was once again produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by critically acclaimed heavy metal producer Andy Sneap.

Photo credit: Christoph Vohler

The release of Riot V's new studio album, Mean Streets, have been postponed. The record will now be available on May 10 via Atomic Fire Records.


Heavy metal was born on the streets. A dangerous din, the calamitous sound of chains and leather, of motorbikes, of recklessness and lawlessness. On their ripping new album Mean Streets, NYC legends Riot V take heavy metal back to the streets. Back to where it was born. Back to where it belongs.


“Riot was born and raised on the streets of New York,” bass veteran Donnie Van Stavern says of the band that was started by iconic guitar overlord Mark Reale. “Mark and the guys would play block parties and concerts and ended up meeting the first producers and management that helped them take off so to speak. This new record represents growing up on the streets of Brooklyn.”




He must know: Joining the band in 1986, he’s the longest running Riot V member. Founded in 1975 - almost a whooping 50 years ago - by Reale, the band all but dominated the US metal scene in the ‘80s, bursting out of New York City with ground-breaking albums Fire Down Under [1981] and Thundersteel [1988], swiftly becoming one of the biggest metal bands in the world.


Early landslide performances in the UK at Castle Donington (where else?), in Wacken or as support for some of the biggest names ever like Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Rush, Rainbow or KISS - to name but a few - made them become pioneers of power metal. Riot quickly rose to one of the pivotal acts worldwide to herald the triumph of steel. After the tragic death of figurehead Reale back in 2012, the surviving members reformed the band to Riot V, honoring his legacy and continuing to spawn world-class, hard-hitting, gritty heavy metal in the way it was meant to be played. With amps on eleven and the pedal to the metal.


Mean Streets tells about this legacy. And about the undying love for an immortal genre. Today, Riot V combine their early days street-style heavy metal with their triumphant power metal force, patching together their various body parts to a Frankenstein’s monster kind of record that will please fans of each and every era. “Mean Streets is an album that we put a lot of passion into for our legacy and fans,” notes Van Stavern. And that’s not lightly said for a band looking back at a storied and tumultuous career like theirs. “Throughout the years I have learned what the listener expects from the band,” he continues. “We had some time off so we really wanted to make the fans happy with our return. We always write with Mark in mind and what he might have done. This one will represent all eras of the band from the rock beginnings of Rock City to our last power metal release Armor Of Light.” He promises: “We always unleash the ‘fire down under’!”


Written in the chaos of these past years and recorded in their various home studios as well as in Michigan, Texas and New Jersey, already the first seconds of Mean Streets make good of that promise. Only take churning album opener "Hail To The Warriors", a banger that will make present-day Judas Priest and Iron Maiden look pale in comparison: The power, the vigor, the zeal - it’s as if the ‘80s had never ended! After two albums without founding figure Mark Reale, Riot V truly come into their own on their overall 17th record. “We knew continuing wouldn’t be an easy task because Riot V fans deserve what they to came to know and love,” the bassist says and adds: “Luckily we were well received and soldier on for the family.”


What’s extraordinary about Riot V is that this band is all but an estate manager of past glories. Instead, with a stable line-up since 2012, they continue the saga and honor the legacy of one of the biggest and most influential bands ever to come from the States. In fact, there has never been a longer time with the same line-up. Seems the fellowship of vocal tornado Todd Michael Hall, Donnie Van Stavern, Mike Flyntz (guitars), Nick Lee (guitars) and Frank Gilchriest (drums) has finally broken the curse of this endlessly rotating cast of members. “I am very proud that the band continues on and I do all in my power to make us the best we can be in this ever changing musical world,” bassist and manager Van Stavern says. “Mark used to say ‘longevity of a band is achieved through good music’... so as long as we keep putting out good music we will keep the fire burning for the Riot legacy.”


Oh and how wild this fire is burning. From "High Noon", a quintessential Riot V anthem in the vein only Mark Reale could write, to Priest-like banger "Feel the Fire" or the dirty daredevilry of title track "Mean Streets", Riot V never lose their nerve, their verve, their bite. “Heavy metal is a passion. It’s impossible to give up after doing it for so many years,” Van Stavern says with a crooked grin. “As long as you can perform and compose it will be ingrained deep in your heart and soul.” There’s really nothing to add here.


Mean Streets contains 12 tracks which were recorded by Bruno Ravel in New Jersey. Ravel also mixed the album while Bart Gabriel took care of its mastering.


Artwork was provided by Gyula Havancsák, who captured the galloping style of the new material skillfully - without missing the band's typical seal style, of course.


Mean Streets will be available in the following formats:


- CD-digipak (EU)
- jewelcase CD (US)
- coloured vinyl [black | "electric blue" (transparent/blue/red-transparent) | yellow/black splatter | "seal white" (white; US-excl.)]
- digital


Pre-order the album in the physical format of your choice, pre-save it on your favourite DSP or pre-order it digitally, here.





Tracklisting:


"Hail To The Warriors"
"Feel The Fire"
"Love Beyond The Grave"
"High Noon"
"Before This Time"
"Higher"
"Mean Streets"
"Open Road"
"Mortal Eyes"
"Lost Dreams"
"Lean Into It"
"No More"


"Feel The Fire" video:





"High Noon" lyric video:





Riot V have announced a series of eleven European live shows in support of the new record - including stops at Rock in Rautheim and prestigious Rock Hard Festival - for May this year. Support on select dates will come from one of the hottest current upcoming heavy metal acts, UK based band Tailgunner.


Donnie van Stavern states: "We are extremely excited and ready to hit the road and tour again as the the world normalcy returns! It will be great seeing all of our fans/friends in support of our 17th new release Mean Streets! We will perform hits from our long career with classics to our new tunes and a few surprises! Europe always holds a special place in our metal hearts, so see you soon metal warriors... Are you ready to Riot?"


Tailgunner add: "We're thrilled to announce we open for heavy metal heroes Riot V this spring! Bringing our mission to put British heavy metal back on the map to Germany once again plus Switzerland, the Netherlands n' Belgium for the first time! We can't wait to see all of you out there, we'll be 'Road Racin'' to get to you in May! Grab your tickets now for what's sure to be a Metal Mäyhem assault - fuelled on a diet of 'Swords n' Tequila'! Don't miss this! In for the kill…with 'Thundersteel'! HEAVY METAL FOR ETERNITY!"





Tour dates:


May
8 - Warsaw, Poland - Hydrozagadka
9 - Selb, Germany - Rockclub Nordbayern*
10 - Aarburg, Switzerland - Musigburg*
11 - Braunschweig, Germany - Rock in Rautheim
12 - Hamburg, Germany - Bambi Galore*
15 - Mannheim, Germany - 7er Club*
14 - Oldenburg, Germany - MTS*
16 - Enschede, Netherlands - Metropool*
17 - Drachten, Netheralnds - Iduna*
18 - Bilzen, Belgium - South Of Heaven*
19 - Gelsenkirchen, Germany - Rock Hard Festival @ Amphitheater


* with Tailgunner


Riot V are:


Todd Michael Hall - vocals
Mike Flyntz - guitars
Nick Lee - guitars
Don Van Stavern - bass
Frank Gilchriest - drums


(Photo Collage Credit: Randy Caballero | Doug Julien | Anthony Lopardo)

Grammy-nominated extreme power metal frontrunners DRAGONFORCE have unveiled the official music video for their new single, "Burning Heart". The track is taken from the band's latest album, "Warp Speed Warriors", which is being released today (Friday, March 15) via Napalm Records.

DRAGONFORCE guitarist Herman Li comments on "Burning Heart": "'Burning Heart' is another DRAGONFORCE song we are extremely proud of. It's another epic anthem with our signature sound with 10 guitar solos!

"It's been five years since we've released a new album. We are super excited for the fans to hear 'Warp Speed Warriors'!"

On "Warp Speed Warriors", DRAGONFORCE — composed of of guitar virtuosos and founding members Li and Sam Totman, singer Marc Hudson, bassist Alicia Vigil and drummer Gee Anzalone — explore a wider range of varying musical styles than ever before, evolving their sound throughout the exciting musical journey while still staying true to their roots.

Herman stated about "Warp Speed Warriors": "After four years of creative incubation, we are beyond excited to release what we believe to be our most ambitious and grandiose record yet. This album showcases multiple facets of our artistic abilities, and we invite metal aficionados from every corner of the genre to discover something captivating within its layers. We can't wait to share this chapter of our musical journey with you, it's going to be EPIC!"

"Power Of The Triforce" keeps the volume high before DRAGONFORCE temporarily slows it down for the ballad "Kingdom Of Steel". Rapid drum patterns and thrilling guitars carry the catchy "Burning Heart", while chanting "Space Marine Corp" features a strong and uplifting chorus. Electronic influences on grandiose power metal anthem "The Killer Queen" hypnotize, as singer Marc Hudson's vocals reach for the skies. On "Doomsday Party", 1980s rock influences meet captivating retro video game soundscapes and epic guitar solos in true DRAGONFORCE manner. The last original track on "Warp Speed Warriors", "Pixel Prison", is followed by DRAGONFORCE's unexpected yet brilliant cover of Taylor Swift's "Wildest Dreams (Taylor's Version)" as a bonus track that wraps up the epic adventure.

"Warp Speed Warriors" was produced, mixed and mastered by Damien Rainaud at Mix Unlimited in Los Angeles, California with Sam Totman and Herman Li. This album is a matchless, innovative listening experience that continues the band's legacy with songs that will, without a shadow of a doubt, become instant classics in and beyond the DRAGONFORCE canon.

"Warp Speed Warriors" track listing:

01. Astro Warrior Anthem
02. Power Of The Triforce
03. Kingdom Of Steel
04. Burning Heart
05. Space Marine Corp
06. Doomsday Party
07. Prelude To Darkness
08. The Killer Queen
09. Pixel Prison

In November 2022, DRAGONFORCE released a music video for the song "The Last Dragonborn". The track is taken from "Extreme Power Metal", which came out in September 2019. Produced in Los Angeles, California by Damien Rainaud at Mix Unlimited, the LP was also recorded, in part, on Li's livestream channel on Twitch with participation from the fans.

"The Last Dragonborn" was the first DRAGONFORCE music video to feature Vigil, who first joined the band as a touring member in January 2020.

DRAGONFORCE's platinum-selling single "Through The Fire And Flames" brought the London-based Grammy-nominated extreme power metal group international acclaim and was featured as the most challenging song on "Guitar Hero III".

In March 2019, the "Through The Fire And Flames" music video reached a new milestone: it surpassed one hundred million views on YouTube — DRAGONFORCE's first music video to do so.

"Through The Fire And Flames" is the leadoff track from 2006's "Inhuman Rampage" album, which was officially certified gold in July 2017 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of half a million copies.

In August 2019, DRAGONFORCE parted ways with longtime bassist Frédéric Leclercq. He has since joined German thrashers KREATOR.

DRAGONFORCE is:

Herman Li - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Sam Totman - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Marc Hudson - Vocals
Alicia Vigil - Bass, Backing Vocals
Gee Anzalone - Drums, Backing Vocals

Photo credit: Travis Shinn

British heavy metal legends JUDAS PRIEST played the second concert of their "Invincible Shield" world tour Wednesday night (March 13) at First Direct Arena in Leeds, United Kingdom.

The band's 17-song setlist included three tracks from PRIEST's latest album, "Invincible Shield" — the title track, "Panic Attack" and "Trial By Fire" — along with the second performance of "Love Bites" in nearly a decade.

PRIEST's setlist for the Leeds concert was as follows:

01. Panic Attack
02. You've Got Another Thing Comin'
03. Breaking The Law
04. Rapid Fire
05. Lightning Strike
06. Love Bites
07. Saints In Hell
08. Trial By Fire
09. Turbo Lover
10. Invincible Shield
11. Victim Of Changes
12. Metal Gods
13. The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown) (FLEETWOOD MAC cover)
14. Painkiller

Encore:

15. The Hellion / Electric Eye
16. Hell Bent For Leather
17. Living After Midnight

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

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

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

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

Former SLIPKNOT drummer Jay Weinberg played his first concert with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES earlier tonight (Thursday, March 14) in Osaka, Japan. Fan-filmed video of the show can be seen below.

Weinberg confirmed his addition to SUICIDAL TENDENCIES in a social media post on March 5. The 33-year-old Nashville-based musician wrote: "When I think of the culture and community of heavy music that I've loved and considered my creative home for 20 years, I think of SUICIDAL TENDENCIES: a foundational pillar and source of inspiration ever since I fell in love with punk, metal, and hardcore.

"Having toured and played shows together all over the world, I've been so fortunate to become friends with my musical heroes who have been a part of this band's incredible history.

"It's an absolute honor and privilege to play with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, and I can't wait to start this incredibly exciting new chapter in just one week! See you all in the pit!"

Weinberg will play one more concert in Japan with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES (March 16 in Chiba). The band is also slated to perform at the No Values festival on June 8 in Pomona, California, with a series of European festival dates scheduled for June and July.

In addition to Weinberg and Muir, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' current lineup features lead guitarist Dean Pleasants, rhythm guitarist Ben Weinman (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN) and bassist Tye Trujillo (son of METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo).

Weinberg's pairing with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES came less than two months after he was announced as the new drummer of INFECTIOUS GROOVES, the long-running outfit formed more than three decades ago by Robert Trujillo alongside Robert's then-SUICIDAL TENDENCIES bandmate Muir.

INFECTIOUS GROOVES has scheduled two U.S. shows this month — March 23 and March 24 at the Garden Grove Amphitheater in Garden Grove, California — before embarking on a short tour of Australia in late March and early April.

Weinberg was recruited by INFECTIOUS GROOVES for the band's first live appearances since a one-off show in 2019 due to longtime drummer Brooks Wackerman's commitment to AVENGED SEVENFOLD.

In a recent interview with Australia's Metal-Roos, Muir stated about how Weinberg came to join INFECTIOUS GROOVES: "We wanted to get somebody that you know could carry that torch and was there. It's funny 'cause we were kind of saying… well, I told Robert, 'You put a list [of drummers] together, I'll put a list together and then we'll kind of see who's touring and who's available and try to do it.' And my middle son, who's 14, was asking, he goes, 'If Brooks can't do it, who are you gonna get to play drums?' And I'm, like, 'We're not sure. We're putting a list together.' He goes, 'You're gonna ask Jay?' So my son, his two favorite drummers are Lars [Ulrich] and Jay Weinberg and stuff. And I was, like, I hadn't even thought of Jay. And I knew that he had surgery. And I looked [on his social media] and I go, 'It's January 1st.' And he goes [in a social media post], 'I'm walking for the first time [since surgery], and I'm like, 'Ooh.' And my son said, 'You should get Jay. I saw him. He's playing the drums again. You should get him. Talk to him.' And I go, 'I don't have his number.' He goes, 'You could get it. Robert's probably got it.'"

Muir continued: "The first tour that that Jay did in SLIPKNOT, SUICIDAL opened. I, obviously, have been around a lot of drummers, a lot of musicians, and I'd heard the drummer they got is really good. As I always say, I don't judge, I observe. And I was watching him play at soundcheck, going, 'Oh, dude, this guy's actually really good. He mixes it up really well. And he's really versatile.' And it always stuck out to me because, I go, 'He obviously kills it in SLIPKNOT,' but I go, 'He's actually a really versatile drummer and really good.' And it stuck out to me and stuff. So I knew that he could definitely do it, obviously. It's a matter of would he want to do it and then physically could. So I got his number and I texted him. And he goes, 'I'm at my physical therapist's right now. I'm not even supposed to be starting to play until the middle of April.' But he goes, 'I think I'm way ahead of my schedule.' And he goes, 'Let me get back to you. I'm gonna be there on Monday.' And it was the weekend… But he goes, 'Yeah, I think it's gonna be all right,' and this and that. So anyhow, we talked a lot and then were, like, 'Let's fly out and get together.' And when we practiced, I was going, 'You cannot tell that he's just had two major surgeries.' It's funny because my kids went to the practice and they were, like, 'Dude, Robert was smiling ear to ear the whole practice. He looked like a little kid just having a ball.' And it was just so much fun in a good way. Jay on drums, he's driving that sports car, and he's got a really good edge and he's able to actually showcase a lot more on the INFECTIOUS songs, which he was really appreciating. I think people, they're gonna trip. Because everybody knows Robert's great bass player; they know the bass lines in INFECTIOUS. Whether you know the music or not, you hear it, you're, like, 'Oh, dude, that bass player is insane,' especially for the time. But I think, when Jay's up there, they're gonna go, 'Wow, that's really powerful.' So we're super excited, as you can tell."

In addition to Weinberg, Muir and Trujillo, INFECTIOUS GROOVES' 2024 lineup includes guitarists Dean Pleasants (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES) and Dave Kushner (ex-VELVET REVOLVER).

INFECTIOUS GROOVES was formed soon after Trujillo joined SUICIDAL TENDENCIES in 1989. Muir and Trujillo got together with some friends to write song that centered more around the bass, but with the intent of giving everyone else a whole lot of freedom.

On November 5, 2023, SLIPKNOT released a statement via social media in which it said it had "decided to make a creative decision and to part ways with Jay."

Six days later, Weinberg, who replaced Joey Jordison, SLIPKNOT's original drummer, in 2013, shared on Instagram that he "was heartbroken and blindsided to receive the phone call", "the news of which, most of you learned shortly after."

Jay played his final show with SLIPKNOT on November 3 at the Hell & Heaven festival in Toluca, Mexico.

When SLIPKNOT announced Weinberg's departure, the band thanked Jay "for his dedication and passion over the past ten years." The group added: "No one can ever replace Joey Jordison's original sound, style or energy, but Jay honored Joey's parts and contributed to the last three albums and we, the band, and the fans appreciate it. But as ever, SLIPKNOT is intent on evolving. We wish Jay all the best and are very excited for what the future holds."

Jay discovered SLIPKNOT when he was a pre-teen, through his father, Max Weinberg, of Bruce Springsteen's E STREET BAND, and leader of the house band on Conan O'Brien's talk show. He was hooked immediately and was a huge fan of SLIPKNOT by the time he was invited to Los Angeles to try out as replacement for Joey Jordison in 2013.

For the first few months after the release of 2014's ".5: The Gray Chapter", the members of SLIPKNOT had declined to name the musicians who were playing drums and bass on their tour, despite the fact that their identities were revealed as Weinberg and bassist Alessandro "Vman" Venturella by a disgruntled former drumtech for SLIPKNOT who posted a picture of a backstage call sheet on Instagram.

".5: The Gray Chapter" went on to score a trio of Grammy nominations, including two for "Best Metal Performance" and a nomination for "Best Rock Album".

Weinberg also played on 2019's "We Are Not Your Kind" and 2022's "The End, So Far", both of which topped Billboard's rock albums chart.

SLIPKNOT has yet to announce a replacement for Jay.

Welcome to the Church of Suicidal

See you tonight, Osaka 🔥🇯🇵🔥 @mv_namba

📷: @melhummel

Posted by Jay Weinberg on Wednesday, March 13, 2024

As a legendary rock band, Suicidal Tendencies formed in 1980, but tonight was my first time seeing their performance. So...

Posted by Chunze Piao on Thursday, March 14, 2024

VENDED, the band fronted by Griffin Taylor, the 21-year-old son of SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor, has released a new single, "The Far Side". The track follows the arrival of previous single "Am I The Only One", the video for which has now racked up over half a million views on YouTube.

VENDED's lineup is completed by Simon Crahan (son of SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan) on drums, Connor Grodzicki on rhythm guitar, Jeremiah Pugh on bass and Cole Espeland on lead guitar.

VENDED comments: "'The Far Side' shows another side of VENDED that hasn't been seen before. The focus of this song was pushing our boundaries and abilities to the limit.

"'The Far Side' represents a new era of the band; a new level of aggression and rawness. It was recorded live in the studio, nothing but raw power and pure energy in the room. It fully encapsulates the intensity you would hear in a live setting. Whether you’re seeing us in a club or an arena, the energy you hear live was put directly into this record."

In an interview with Andy Hall of the Des Moines, Iowa radio station Lazer 103.3, Corey spoke about Griffin's work with VENDED, saying: "I cannot tell you how proud I am of that boy. And, of course, being a typical Taylor, on one hand I'm super proud of him, but I still can't get him to clean anything, dude; he's just such a nightmare.

"The funny thing is you and I were talking the day after he was born. And I keep going back to that night, going, 'What's he gonna be? Who's he gonna be in life?' And now [21] years later, , and he is this crazy metal pirate, just like I was," Corey continued. "And I'm just, like, 'Oh, I failed as a father. What did I do?' I kept trying to push him to be anything other than what I do. And, yeah, dude, he's crushing.

"I've heard the new stuff that he just recorded with [producer] Chris Collier, and it is so good," Corey added. "VENDED, their new stuff is so rad. Not only Griffin, man, but Simon's [Crahan] drumming sounds incredible. All of the guys — Cole [Espeland] and Grod [Connor Grodzicki] sound great [on guitar]. The guitars have just gone above and beyond. J.J.'s [Jeremiah Pugh] crushing it on bass. I'm really, really proud of those guys, man. And then to be able to watch my boy get out there and just be himself and crush. It's so easy for him, and it just makes me angry. Because he's got all the great stuff that I never had when I was… He can wear anything. It's just criminal. I'm just, like, 'You don't know how good you've got it, kid. The carbs haven't caught you yet.'"

VENDED's five-track debut EP, "What Is It / Kill It", arrived at DSPs in November 2021. The collection was recorded with Griffin Landa of THE ACACIA STRAIN. The two singles bookended VENDED's first U.S. headline tour, after which the band went on to open the day's proceedings at the huge Knotfest Los Angeles show at the Banc Of California Stadium, playing alongside SLIPKNOT, BRING ME THE HORIZON, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, FEVER 333, CODE ORANGE and CHERRY BOMBS.

Formed in February of 2018 in Des Moines, Iowa, VENDED had its first mainstream exposure in 2020 when they performed as part of Knotfest.com's virtual "Pulse Of The Maggots" festival.

VENDED played its first headlining show in March 2020 at the iconic local club Vaudeville Mews in Des Moines, Iowa.

Griffin, who looks a lot like his father, previously showcased his skills when he joined Corey onstage during STONE SOUR shows in 2017 and 2018. He's also played cover tunes with Simon Crahan, while Clown's daughter Alexandria Crahan-Conway has snapped some of VENDED's previous press pics.

BON JOVI, Grammy Award-winning, Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame band, and one of history's most iconic acts, continues its 40th anniversary celebration, with the release of "Legendary", new single and video out now via EMI. The monumental new track sets the stage for BON JOVI's upcoming 16th studio album, "Forever", arriving on June 7. The new album is now available for pre-order where fans can find exclusive colored vinyl options, CDs, cassettes, and limited edition signed copies. An extremely limited run of Ocean Waves colored vinyl will include a one-of-a-kind instant photo of Jon Bon Jovi.

In conjunction with last month's 66th annual Grammy Awards, Jon Bon Jovi was named 2024 MusiCares Person Of The Year and was honored with an all-star tribute concert at the L.A. Convention Center featuring Bruce Springsteen, Shania Twain, Melissa Etheridge, Sammy Hagar, Jason Isbell, Jelly Roll, Pat Monahan of TRAIN, and many others.

"This record is a return to joy. From the writing, through the recording process, this is turn-up-the-volume, feel-good BON JOVI," said Jon Bon Jovi.

"Forever" features Jon Bon Jovi once again alongside fellow founding BON JOVI members, keyboardist David Bryan and drummer Tico Torres. They are joined by bassist Hugh McDonald and guitarist Phil X.

"Forever" track listing

01. Legendary
02. We Made It Look Easy
03. Living Proof
04. Waves
05. Seeds
06. Kiss The Bride
07. The People's House
08. Walls Of Jericho
09. I Wrote You A Song
10. Living In Paradise
11. My First Guitar
12. Hollow Man

"Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story", the first-ever docuseries on the band's history with full cooperation from all past and present members of BON JOVI, premieres Friday, April 26 on Hulu in the U.S. and coming soon to Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ in all other territories. Following one of the world's most iconic bands and its frontman, Jon Bon Jovi, the documentary gives us a view behind the music and the man.

The docuseries is a ROS production, the banner of filmmaker Gotham Chopra, and celebrates the band's 40th anniversary of its self-titled debut album which was released on January 21, 1984 via Polygram/Mercury Records, less than a year after forming in their home state of New Jersey.

Guitarist Richie Sambora left BON JOVI mid-tour in 2013 in order to spend more time with his family. His exit came after he missed 13 shows on the band's 2011 tour when he entered rehab.

Sambora joined his former bandmates onstage in 2018 when they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Last November, Sambora told People that a BON JOVI reunion tour was not out of the question.

"There's a documentary that's being done about the band and stuff that I've participated in, and people want to come see us play, and it's going to make everybody happy," the guitarist said. "I mean, essentially, that's why you do it at this point."

He continued: "I think that we wrote a lot of songs that changed a lot of people's lives just by letting them have a good time. I know that's what music did to me … kept me company. And I hope that I can reflect that in what I do.

"So yeah, it definitely could happen," he added of a reunion. "It's just a question of when everybody's ready to go do it. It will be a big, massive kind of undertaking."

Photo credit: Mark Seliger