MEGADETH has shared a one-and-a-half-minute "Studio Timelapse 2025" video featuring footage of the making of the band's upcoming seventeenth studio album. Check out the clip below.

MEGADETH wrote in an accompanying message: "Can't wait to drop this one".

MEGADETH's next album will be released via frontman Dave Mustaine's Tradecraft imprint with the Frontiers Label Group's new imprint BLKIIBLK.

MEGADETH is once again working with Chris Rakestraw, a producer, mixer and engineer who previously worked on MEGADETH's last two albums, 2022's "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!" and 2016's "Dystopia".

Last September, MEGADETH guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, who joined the band a year and a half ago as the replacement for Kiko Loureiro, was asked by Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station about the progress of the songwriting sessions for MEGADETH's next LP. He said: "Yeah, actually, already a while back Dave started talking about making the next album and kind of starting to do pre-production. And as soon as he mentioned that, and kind of before that already, once it was clear that I'm gonna be staying with the band, then I kind of started putting my ideas down and just recording any riff ideas that I feel like could be something that could be used in MEGADETH. And by now I have a bunch of riffs and ideas that I've gathered. And then Dave told me that he likes to work the way that everybody does their riffs and then at some point we're gonna get together and then review things and see which riffs are gonna work together and then work out the parts between the riffs to kind of connect things and then that way come up with the skeletons for the songs. And I'm really looking forward to doing that and hearing how he feels about my ideas as well. But what I've done so far is whenever I have a moment to sit down, I usually just record a little video of myself playing a riff idea and then when we have a day off at the hotel, then I would record that properly and then just like have this folder of riffs that we can look into at some point. So, [I'm] really looking forward to that. And Dave has been really supportive and sounds like he wants to have all the guys' input on the next album, which is really exciting."

In August 2024, Mustaine was asked by Chuck Armstrong of "Loudwire Nights" how the dynamic within MEGADETH has changed since Mäntysaari's addition to the band. Mustaine responded: "Well, we are a band again. It doesn't feel like me and some side players or some session guys. Not that it felt like that with any of the previous lineups, but that was one of the fears that I had. I feel like Kiko did us a really huge courtesy by helping us find Teemu because with Kiko needing to step down… I thought I was gonna finish my career out with Kiko, and when things came up with him, he couldn't tour anymore because he needed to be home for his kids. So I see he's touring again, which I'm happy that he's still playing. But he had to go home. And when he did, he introduced us to Teemu. And it was an even closer connection between me and Teemu than Kiko and I had. We'll [Kiko and I] always be friends, but this new relationship I have is — it harkens me back to the days when we had Marty Friedman in the band and the four of us actually felt like a band."

Mäntysaari stepped in September 2023 for Loureiro, who announced earlier that month that he would sit out the next leg of MEGADETH's "Crush The World" tour in order to stay home with his children back in Finland. It was later revealed that the now-38-year-old Finnish musician would continue to play guitar for MEGADETH for the foreseeable future, with Loureiro seemingly having no plans to return.

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

Earlier in August, Mustaine was asked by Kyle Meredith what Mäntysaari has brought to MEGADETH that wasn't there before. Mustaine responded: "God, he's such an amazing talent. And as far as being a human is concerned, he's a really humble guy. He's fun to be around because he's kind of — there's this 'greenness' to him, if that's a word, greenness. He makes it really fun because he's gone from being in a band that was pretty well known to being in MEGADETH. And so everything's very new for him at this level. And for us, we get to kind of enjoy ourselves, because we sometimes forget where we're at and then you see other people that, 'Wow, the bread is round and so is the meat,' that kind of shit. And it just makes him really happy, and it just reminds you of how good you have it."

Regarding how much a lineup change like that actually alters the musical DNA of the band, Dave said: "Well, it depends on who the new player is. If they're willing to learn the parts, then the songs either, they stay where they are or they get better. And a lot of times when you have a new player, like when Teemu came in, he played everything identical to the original players. So, he's been one of the best guitar players to step in and play somebody else's stuff. I don't know what his stuff's going to sound like yet, which I'm looking forward to finding out."

Last June, Mustaine told Sakis Fragos of Rock Hard Greece that he thought Teemu would contribute to the songwriting process on MEGADETH's next studio album. "I think he's gonna be a great addition to MEGADETH," Dave said. "He already has. We're playing more songs now than we were playing before. And that has nothing negative to say about any of the previous lineups. It just says that he knew more about the band and understands the metal backbone of so many of these songs more than some of the other people would understand it."

He continued: "When you're a metal guy, I think you understand metal compositions more than somebody who, say for example, knows progressive rock like [former MEGADETH guitarist] Chris Broderick does, or somebody who knows bossa nova, which Kiko does, or somebody that plays jazzy, like [former MEGADETH guitarist] Glen Drover would play, maybe Al Pitrelli. These guys all have their strengths."

Mustaine added: "I've often thought, although I've never said it, I do believe that when somebody gets singled out by me, that's pretty much it for them. They've been indoctrinated into the world of great guitar players, and from that moment on, their life will change."

In early October 2023, Mustaine told Shaggy of the 94.9 and 104.5 The Pick radio station in Idaho Falls, Idaho about Teemu's addition to MEGADETH: "People are losing their minds over how things are going right now 'cause we have a really good chemistry together."

In September 2023, Mustaine was equally full of praise for Mäntysaari, telling Wes Styles in a separate interview: "He's really great. And I'm super excited with what Teemu has brought. And it's uncanny because he plays a lot like Marty. And it's really exciting. At certain times I just close my eyes during the set and I just hear these songs played, whether like Kiko in the past or Teemu now, it just sounds really magic because these guys have learned these songs and they're not just going out there and just banging their guitar around; they actually learned the solos from some of the virtuosos that I've played with over my career."

Photo credit: Ryan Chang

In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett was asked if he and his bandmates would entertain the possibility of performing at the Las Vegas Sphere, the 17,600-capacity venue which has transformed live entertainment since opening in September 2023. He responded: "Oh, heck, yeah! That's a great example of how venues are changing. That's using modern technology to the fullest, to really up the levels of production and entertainment, connected to A.I. and making it a crazy experience."

A massive, spherical venue known for its immersive entertainment experiences, including concerts and films, featuring a state-of-the-art 16K resolution wraparound screen and a powerful sound system, the Las Vegas Sphere is nestled near the Venetian Resort and Wynn Las Vegas just off the Las Vegas Strip.

The Sphere has already hosted residencies from a number of legendary rockers, including U2, PHISH, DEAD & COMPANY and THE EAGLES.

U2 opened the building with 160,000-square-foot LED screens and 4D features, playing to more 700,000 fans across 40 sold-out dates from September 2023 through March 2024. The shows commemorated one of U2's most successful albums, the chart-topping 1991 release "Achtung Baby", played in its entirety, along with select tracks from other U2 LPs.

A global news event which saw the world's biggest rock band open the world's most state-of-the-art venue, "U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere" quickly became a pop culture moment and a must-see for music lovers everywhere. The show's stunning visuals and live music performance, combined with the venue's immersive technology elements, including the world's most advanced audio system, became an instant social media sensation as hundreds of thousands of fans shared their "U2:UV" experience across multiple platforms generating billions of impressions, making "U2:UV" a truly global phenomenon. One of the band's most ambitious creative projects to date, it saw them work once again with longtime creative collaborator and show director Willie Williams, artists including Es Devlin, John Gerrard and Marco Brambilla, and longtime partner and producer Brian Eno.

The first sports event to take place was the NHL Draft with the UFC following in September 2024.

Last October, Sphere Entertainment, the company behind Sphere Las Vegas, announced plans for a new venue in Abu Dhabi.

In a new interview with The Prog Report, RUSH guitarist Alex Lifeson was asked how close he and his longtime RUSH bandmate Geddy Lee have come to accepting a concert promoter's offer to play a show together. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, that [being approached by concert promoters] happens all the time, and it has been consistent for 10 years. And I would say that it's happening even more lately, and I think it's because after COVID, everybody's on the road and there's excitement for live shows, people getting out. So all those old promoters are quite excited to get something from us."

He continued: "But Geddy's been writing quite a bit lately. He's written four books. He's been super busy with all of that stuff. I'm working on ENVY OF NONE, two albums, some soundtrack work, a couple of other, smaller artists that I'm producing. So I've been super, super, super busy.

"Ged and I get together," Alex explained. "We're best friends, so we get together all the time. We talk to each other almost every day. We live 10 minutes from each other, like we have for the last 35 years, so we're connected. I go over there. Sometimes we just sit around drinking coffee and laughing and talking. Sometimes we go down to his little room and play whatever — maybe some bluesy stuff or, like I said, we've been playing some RUSH songs for the fun of it… But that's fun, 'cause we haven't really played that stuff in a long time. And that's our history."

Circling back to the possibility of performing with Geddy again, Alex said: "I don't know. Anything could happen in the world. I mean, so many things are changing, so many things are happening that we never would've expected. We see that every day, particularly politically. So, who knows? Right now we're still busy living life and doing so much, but — well, we'll see what happens."

ENVY OF NONE, the band featuring Lifeson, Andy Curran (CONEY HATCH),Alfio Annibalini and singer Maiah Wynne, released its second album, "Stygian Wavz", on March 14 via Kscope.

RUSH's final tour concluded in August 2015 in Los Angeles.

As one of the most successful Canadian music group in history, RUSH has performed before millions of fans around the world.

RUSH drummer Neil Peart died in January 2020 after a three-year battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was 67 years old.

RUSH waited three days to announce Peart's passing, setting off shockwaves and an outpouring of grief from fans and musicians all over the world.

Since Peart's death, Lifeson and Lee have not recorded any new music or performed live under the RUSH name, although both of them confirmed that several drummers reached out to them in the days after the legendary drummer's passing about the possibility of stepping in for Neil.

Lifeson made his mark on the music industry over 50 years ago, redefining the boundaries of progressive rock guitar. His signature riffing, copious use of effects processing and unorthodox chord structures befitted him the title by his RUSH bandmates as "The Musical Scientist." While the bulk of Lifeson's work in music has been with RUSH, he has contributed to a body of work outside of the band as a guitarist, producer and with the release of his 1996 solo album "Victor". Lifeson ranks third overall in the Guitar World readers' poll of "100 Greatest Guitarists" and is also included in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time."

Founding vocalist for the metal band BUTCHER BABIES, comic book author, artist, novelist, and the holder of multiple degrees in mortuary science and thanatology, singer/musician Carla Harvey has released the official music video for "Sick Ones", the first single from her new project THE VIOLENT HOUR, via Megaforce Records. The new track was co-written by Harvey and her fiancé, ANTHRAX and PANTERA drummer Charlie Benante, and features MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist John 5.

"'Sick Ones' is a rock 'n' roll anthem about cutting the toxic people out of your life," said Harvey. "It's a call of freedom, a fist-to-the-face to anyone who has tried to hold you down, hold you back or dim your light. It was written at a vulnerable time in my life when I was forced to end relationships I thought would last forever.

"When choosing a theme for this song," Harvey added, "I thought about a phrase I had scrawled across a journal from 1999: 'Cut The Sick Ones Loose.' Those words became my mantra over the last couple years and felt perfect to chant over Charlie's guitar riffs. 'Sick Ones' also features an absolutely shredding guitar solo by John 5 that brings this thrasher to a whole different level."

"'Sick Ones' has a modernized NWOBHM (New wave of British heavy metal) vibe to it," said Benante. "The riff is very catchy and stays with you like a good riff should. 'Sick Ones' is just the tip of the iceberg for this project. Many of the songs we crafted for THE VIOLENT HOUR are unlike anything Carla has ever done as a vocalist, reflecting different moods and a new beginning. The music flowed out of me because I had this motivation, this drive...it was unstoppable."

The "Sick Ones" video script, written by Harvey and directed by Industrialism Films' Vicente Cordero (BLACK VEIL BRIDES, Kat Von D),sees Harvey portraying each of the video's five personalities.

"While 'Sick Ones' is about cutting toxic people out of your life — those who constantly devalue you — I wanted to flip that narrative for the video," Harvey said. "I've always been interested in the idea that sometimes the most dangerous person to confront is yourself. The video explores what it means to face those darker versions of who we've been and whether we can truly leave them behind… or, as the ending suggests, learn to coexist peacefully. Vicente took my vision and brought it to life. I came to him with a wild idea and no clue how to execute it — and we made it work! I loved getting a chance to play multiple larger-than-life characters."

Not many people have comic book author, embalmer and musician on their resumes. Carla boasts all three and so much more.

Carla was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan — a city known for its grit, resilience, and often deep divides. Navigating life as a bi-racial kid in a fractured environment wasn't easy, but Carla found her escape in art, music, and self-expression. By day, she hustled, attending the prestigious College For Creative Studies alongside working odd jobs like perfume counter girl and gas station attendant, and by night, she was on stage with local bands, saving every dollar she could for a one-way trip to Los Angeles.

At twenty, she put all her belongings in her car and navigated from Detroit to Hollywood with a paper map. In L.A., she landed acting roles on shows like "Rules Of Engagement", played in bands searching for her sound, and never stopped creating. But beyond the music was a driven academic. Carla had a deep love for science and eventually pursued a Bachelor Of Mortuary Science (graduating as valedictorian) and a Master Of Science in thanatology. Carla became a licensed funeral director and embalmer and founded her own grief counseling service — all while touring the world extensively as a founding member of the BUTCHER BABIES.

Today, In addition to her music career, Carla is a grief specialist for the innovative death care company Parting Stone that transforms cremated remains into environmentally friendly stones that the departed's family can hold, treasure and honor.

Beyond her professional life, Carla is a devoted collector of pop culture oddities: comics, wrestling figures, vintage Barbies, Elvira, the Incredible Hulk, and rock relics from her wildest nights in Hollywood. She still holds on to her Rainbow Bar & Grill drink tickets from the '90s and a poker chip from Lemmy's last birthday party. Her creative heroes — Russ Meyers, Robert Williams, Robert Crumb and Charles Bukowski — mirror her love of the bold and the raw.

To date, Carla has released six albums, multiple comic books and a 2014 novel, "Death And Other Dances". But if you ask her…she's still just a blue-collar kid from the Midwest with big dreams.

BUTCHER BABIES announced their split with Harvey in July 2024, saying in a statement that "Carla has been an integral part of our journey, bringing her unique talent, passion, and energy to the band," and wishing "her all the best in her future endeavors."

Carla, who co-founded BUTCHER BABIES in 2010 with fellow vocalist Heidi Shepherd, confirmed her exit from the band in a separate post, saying that she was "super proud" of her work with BUTCHER BABIES and adding that she was "not done making music and performing."

In the fall of 2023, BUTCHER BABIES completed a European tour without Carla, who sat out the trek in order to undergo emergency surgery on her left eye.

In January 2024, Harvey and Benante announced that they were officially engaged.

Photo credit: Stephanie Cabral

SLEEP TOKEN has released "Damocles", the final single from the band's upcoming album, "Even In Arcadia", due on May 9 via RCA Records. The track delves into the quiet unraveling beneath the surface — where grandeur fades and unspoken battles take center stage. With their signature blend of mystique and vulnerability, "Damocles" captures the weight of unseen struggle and the haunting echo of former glory, inviting listeners to confront what lies beneath the mask.

As the last preview before the album's release, "Damocles" sets the emotional tone for "Even In Arcadia" — a record that navigates identity, inner eclipse, and transcendence with cinematic intensity. The album is expected to push the boundaries of sound and emotion even further, dissolving into something otherworldly. With momentum driven by previous singles "Emergence" and "Caramel" — both of which cracked the Billboard Hot 100 and hit No. 1 on the Hot Hard Rock Songs chart — the band has made history as one of only three artists to replace themselves at the top of the chart since its inception in June 2020. SLEEP TOKEN continues to deliver a refined, expansive sonic journey that deepens their exploration of emotional depth and enigmatic storytelling.

In a unique collaboration with Spotify, the official track listing for "Even In Arcadia" was recently revealed through a series of intriguing puzzles across various social media platforms. This creative, interactive rollout offered fans an immersive experience as they pieced together the album's final track listing, adding to the anticipation surrounding the record's release.

As this next chapter unfolds, the band will embark on its first sold-out arena tour in the U.S. — the "Even In Arcadia" tour — with stops in 17 cities this fall. Promoted by AEG Presents, the "Even In Arcadia" tour will be SLEEP TOKEN's only headline tour in 2025. The band will also make an appearance at the Louder Than Life festival on Friday, September 19.

"Even In Arcadia" track listing:

01. Look To Windward
02. Emergence
03. Past Self
04. Dangerous
05. Caramel
06. Even In Arcadia
07. Provider
08. Damocles
09. Gethsemane
10. Infinite Baths

Formed in London, United Kingdom in 2016, the SLEEP TOKEN members perform under cover of anonymity in cloaks and masks. Only two of the group's pseudonymous members — singer and multi-instrumentalist Vessel and drummer II — are credited as having played or written a note on any of SLEEP TOKEN's three albums so far.

Widely considered one of the biggest rock bands in Britain, SLEEP TOKEN wrapped up a massive U.K. arena tour last December that included two stops at London's O2 Arena.

The members of SLEEP TOKEN have never revealed their true identities and have only done a handful of interviews since forming in 2016.

SLEEP TOKEN masterfully blends epic, emotionally charged anthems with bold, boundary-pushing experimentation that transcends traditional genre limits. With rich layers of atmospheric soundscapes and hauntingly beautiful lyrics, they build an immersive, mystical world where music, emotion, and mythology converge under the being known as Vessel. This world becomes a sacred space for fans to escape, connect, and experience catharsis, fostering deep bonds among those who share in the band's ethos. Their innovative approach has established them as one of the most exciting forces in modern music.

Emerging in 2019 with their debut album "Sundowning", SLEEP TOKEN quickly garnered attention for their unique sound and mysterious persona. Two years later, they achieved mainstream success with their sophomore album, "This Place Will Become Your Tomb", which charted in the U.K. and attracted a growing global following. Their trajectory reached new heights in 2023 with the release of "Take Me Back To Eden", an album that became an international success, topping charts in multiple countries. Notably, standout tracks from "Take Me Back To Eden" have dominated streaming platforms, with "The Summoning" leading the charge. The track became a viral sensation, amassing millions of streams, taking the No. 1 spot on international Spotify viral charts, and earning a feature as a "YouTube Trending Artist On The Rise", appearing on YouTube's homepage and being viewed by millions every day.

With their meteoric rise, SLEEP TOKEN has never played a headline show that didn't sell out. In 2023, Revolver awarded the band both "Artist Of The Year" and "Album Of The Year" for "Take Me Back To Eden", while at the Heavy Music Awards, they took home "Best UK Breakthrough Band" and "Best Album" for the same record. Though notoriously elusive, SLEEP TOKEN's presence in the music world continues to strengthen, with their creativity and mystique drawing increasing attention from both fans and the media, earning praise from outlets like Billboard, Forbes, NME, Revolver and more for their innovative sound and creative vision.

Photo credit: Andy Ford

San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD have released the official music video for their song "Outsider". The clip was filmed during the band's April 17 concert at The Aztec Theatre in San Antonio, Texas. The track is taken from the band's eleventh studio album, "Unatoned", which came out today (Friday, April 25) via Nuclear Blast/Imperium Recordings.

MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn comments: "'Outsider' is an anthem that has kinship with anyone who's had to cut toxic people loose. These last few years, I've had to let go of a lot of relationships, and I know I'm not alone in that. This track is for anyone who's been there."

According to a press release, "Unatoned" is "a testament to momentum, an album honed to its sharpest edge, forged on creative discipline and the hunger to push forward. It drips with melancholy melodies, and yet hammers with bludgeoning riffs, soars with anthemic sing-alongs of love lost and sadness, to bellowing power and undeniable confidence. Eleven albums deep, MACHINE HEAD remain as fierce, relevant, and unstoppable as ever."

Written in motion — on the road, in hotel rooms, and across continents — "Unatoned" reflects the raw energy of their return to the global festival circuit after an 11-year hiatus. The LP was recorded at Robb's Jam Room, Sharkbite Studios and Drop Of Sun Recording between July 2023 and December 2024. The album was produced by Flynn, as well as Zack Ohren, who was also responsible for the engineering. The mixing and mastering was handled by Colin Richardson and Chris Clancy at Audioworks UK, and the mastering of the record was handled by Ted Jensen and his assistant Justin Shturtz. The only exception was the track "Landscape Of Thorns" which was produced by Flynn and Joel Wanasek who was also in charge of mixing the single alongside Zack Ohren. MACHINE HEAD once again tapped Seth Siro Anton to create the album artwork.

"Unatoned" track listing:

01. Landscape Of Thorns
02. Atomic Revelations
03. Unbound
04. Outsider
05. Not Long For This World
06. These Scars Won't Define Us
07. Dustmaker
08. Bonescraper
09. Addicted To Pain
10. Bleeding Me Dry
11. Shards Of Shattered Dreams
12. Scorn

MACHINE HEAD performed "These Scars Won't Define Us" and "Unbound" live for the first time during the kick-off concert of the band's North American tour on April 1 at Revolution Concert House And Event Center in Garden City, Idaho. MACHINE HEAD also played in Spokane, Washington on April 3 before teaming up with IN FLAMES, LACUNA COIL and UNEARTH for another 25 dates across the U.S. and Canada.

Flynn told "The Garza Podcast" about "Unatoned": "My last album was like a huge renaissance for the band. It just was fucking crazy. We headlined Hellfest [in France]. It was our tenth record. It was a concept record. It was the first time we ever did a concept record. Opening track was a 10-minute-long song. It's nuts.

"I'm fortunate enough to have been in this position a handful of times where I now have to follow up this record that is so beloved by fans, by people," he continued. "It's incredibly successful — elevates the band to another level. And everybody wants us to write another concept record. Everybody is just, like, 'You should just make another record like that one.' And I'm, like, 'You can't, because it's never gonna live up.' Nothing's ever gonna live up, because that moment for so many people... Lars [Ulrich of METALLICA] always talked about this — the reason so many people love [METALLICA's] Black Album, it's, like, they lost the virginity to the Black Album. Nothing is ever gonna top that. People lost their virginity to [MACHINE HEAD's] '[Unto] The Locust' or 'The Blackening' or whatever. Nothing's ever gonna top that. That's just life and stuff.

"So with this record, I set some pretty strict parameters around what I could do," Flynn explained. "And I'm not a big believer in talking about the direction of a record. I always feel like even if we have done it in the past, it never panned out. 'Oh, it's gonna be the heaviest or the thrashing' or the whatever, and you've just gotta follow it to wherever it goes… But I did want to put some structure around it. The last record had a bunch of long songs, so I was, like, 'I don't want any song longer than four minutes on this record.' So that was one structure. The other structure is — [I'm a] huge SLAYER fan to the death; [they're] one of my favorite bands, life-changing bands of all times. And one of the most underrated things about SLAYER is their genius use of chord changes — chord changes fucking galore all over every song. [They'd] have, like, three different chord changes in the lead section, and it the way it sets up the chorus or whatever. So I was, like, 'Every song has to have a chord change outside of the typical structure that you would expect.' … At some point it's gotta go to a key change that totally doesn't go with where the rest of the song went. Last thing is that the music in the last chorus had to be different from the music in the first chorus — maybe the drums drop out, maybe the guitars drop out, maybe that's where the key change happens, but something had to be [different]. The lyrics would always be the same. And at first it kind of took me a minute to kind of get into that mindset, like, 'Wow, this is a really challenging way to write,' but it always just became about trimming the fat, trimming the fat, trimming the fat. And in the end what we came up with was 10 songs plus two instrumentals. It's 41 minutes — the shortest album in MACHINE HEAD history. And I'm really proud of this thing. I really feel like we've got a fucking monster on our hands. It's just really unique."

Elaborating on the musical direction of "Unatoned", Robb said: "It's not our heaviest record; I would never say that it's our heaviest record. It's got a lot of melody. The last song on the record is a… I'm a total sucker for the Elton John piano ballad. I love Chris Stapleton… And that last song 'Scorn' is… It's, like, I've been trying to write a piano ballad for four albums in a row now, and I failed four albums in a row. And I finally nailed it with this album. I collaborated with this guy Joel Wanasek. I collaborated with Jordan [Fish], ex-BRING ME THE HORIZON, on the whole album. He actually got a piece on the record, which was really cool — added a really amazing element. I've got a few collaborators, like four guys that I work with, but me and this guy, Joel Wanasek, finally nailed down this piano thing… It was the last song I wrote on the record. And I know a lot of people think I'm super Mr. Libtard, social justice warrior guy and that's just not me, but that's kind of just what people think and the haters think. And I just started writing about — not that — but I just started writing about, I don't believe in Trump, but I think the fucking Democrats are a bunch of spineless fucking pussies. And I don't believe in anything anymore. I believe in myself. And I just wrote all of these lyrics kind of in that mindset. And the last line is, 'The wings of an angel, the heart of a king, the strength of a lion, the power I bring. I've lost faith in everyone, follow no more, my heroes have failed me, they look down on me with their scorn.' And so I took all of that. I was, like, 'I don't have any music, but I really like these lyrics.' So I came in with Zack [Ohren] — Zack's my engineer; he's my producer. He is fucking awesome; he's amazing… And I just picked up a guitar and I just said, 'I'm gonna play four chords here and I'm just gonna make this up as I go. I don't even know what I'm doing. I just wanna sing over this to something.' And I did, and I sang it, and I sang it in two takes. I laid out all the lyrics that I had written that morning. I pulled up some shit on my computer. I got two binders of lyrics. I wrote three and a half binders of lyrics from this record alone — just three and a half binders… And I literally sang the song in two takes, and when I was done, I was, like, 'That song's fucking done.' And it's the last song on the record. And I sent the chords to Joel and I was, like, 'Hey, like, can you make this into sad piano chords and put it together and kind of reverse engineer the rest of the song?' And I've gotta say, I'm so proud of this song. It's definitely kind of the outlier of the record, but I really just feel like it's a special song. And it's kind of something we've never done. And when you've been trying to do something for a long time — 15 years, I've been trying to write a fucking piano song — and it always just sounded too dorky… And it [finally] happened [on this album]."

Flynn also talked about his general approach to creating art with MACHINE HEAD, saying: "I don't know what I'm doing. I'm just trying to write music. Alls I ever wanted to do was just play guitar and write songs and sing and make motherfuckers circle pit and make motherfuckers jump and sing and fucking headbang and go crazy. That's all I've ever wanted to do.

"I'm not a businessman. I don't know what the fucking right decision is," he continued. "I just know the music that I do and where it comes from, and I do know that I'm really, really, really good at that. I know that. I'm not one of these guys who's good at a million fucking things — I'm not — but I do know that I'm really, really good at that. And I just try and focus on that. And I've got a good team of people that help me make decisions now and I feel like we've all got a good head on our shoulders and what MACHINE HEAD needs to be.

"We're not the heaviest band in the world," he added. "We're heavy, but we've been around for 32 years, and motherfuckers like [SUICIDE SILENCE] came along and LORNA SHORE and SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL, and [those bands are] fucking 10 times heavier than we will ever, ever, ever be. I can't sing like that. I don't even wanna try to; it'd be fucking ridiculous to. It would sound stupid for my fucking heavy metal Gandalf ass to be fucking trying to sing like that. We found our lane and we're super lucky that we found our lane and we fucking made that lane a little bit wider and a little bit wider so we can kind of go over here and do this and go over here and do this. But at the end of the day, it's just MACHINE HEAD music. That's what it is to me. It's metal, for sure — a hundred percent."

Last November, MACHINE HEAD released "These Scars Won't Define Us" as the first single from "Unatoned".

MACHINE HEAD's current lineup includes former HAVOK guitarist Reece Alan Scruggs. Scruggs stepped in for MACHINE HEAD's previous guitarist Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka, who had been unable to make some of the group's dates due to his touring commitments with his longtime band DECAPITATED.

Reece made his live debut with MACHINE HEAD in November 2022 at Strummer's in Fresno, California at the opening show of the "Electric Happy Hour (Live)" tour.

Vogg joined MACHINE HEAD's touring lineup prior to the launch of the band's "Burn My Eyes" 25th-anniversary tour in late 2019.

The rest of MACHINE HEAD's lineup consists of guitarist/vocalist Flynn, bassist Jared MacEachern and British drummer Matt Alston (DEVILMENT, EASTERN FRONT).

Earlier last year, MACHINE HEAD completed the "Slaughter The Martour" North American tour with support from L.A.'s FEAR FACTORY, Sweden's ORBIT CULTURE and Louisville, Kentucky's GATES TO HELL.

Photo credit: Travis Shinn

Swedish metallers SABATON have unveiled their new single and video, "Templars". The track will appear on the band's soon-to-be-announced eleventh studio album, to be released later in the year via SABATON's new label home, Better Noise Music.

Along with the digital release of "Templars", SABATON is offering its fans a special one-sided 12-inch vinyl single which is limited to 1,000 copies worldwide and set to be released on June 27.

The strikingly cinematic "Templars" video was filmed at two massive historical fortresses in Serbia and can be seen below.

"'Templars' is the first song we wrote for our forthcoming album and it truly brings out the theatrical side of SABATON," says SABATON bassist and manager Pär Sundström. "From the moment we started working on it, we were overflowing with ideas on how to bring it to life on stage. We didn't just want to play it — we wanted to show it!"

SABATON — Joakim Brodén (vocals),Pär Sundström (bass),Chris Rörland (guitar),Thobbe Englund (guitar),Hannes Van Dahl (drums) — has always had a signature focus on writing songs about historical battles, wars, and acts of heroism that have solidified their impact with their loyal and longtime fans. SABATON has accumulated more than three billion streams across all streaming platforms and almost two billion views on YouTube.

The video for "Templars" presents a fictionalized depiction of a possible last stand for the Knights Templar. The band members take on the roles of the last remaining Templars, sworn to protect the secrets of their order. The story unfolds as the Templars intercept a letter warning them of their impending arrest for heresy. Soon after, an enemy army arrives on their doorstep demanding their surrender on behalf of King Philip IV of France. Refusing to yield, the Templars choose to fight to the bitter end. One by one, they fall in battle until only a single warrior remains. In a final, desperate clash, he defeats the enemy commander before retreating to the keep. There, he makes the ultimate sacrifice, setting fire to the stronghold to ensure the secrets of the order are lost to history.

The video was filmed at two massive historical fortresses in Serbia (Belgrade Fortress within Kalemegdan Park and Smederevo Fortress),both of which provided a striking and authentic backdrop for the epic battle scenes. To ensure both realism and safety, the band enlisted a large group of experienced reenactors, many of whom had worked in film production before. Their expertise helped bring the fight sequences to life with remarkable accuracy. Shot over the course of two long, hot days, the production faced intense summer heat, adding to the challenges of filming, but also enhancing the raw energy of the battle scenes.

As Thobbe Englund had only just rejoined the band after his almost eight-year hiatus, his bandmates wanted to mark his return in a memorable way by making him the last Templar standing, tasked with one final, epic battle. Initially, the plan was for him to wear a helmet so that a stuntman could step in for the demanding fight scene. However, the stunt coordinator had a different idea. He decided to take on the fight alongside Thobbe himself. While the battle was carefully choreographed, moments of improvisation added to its intensity. Clad in 40 kilos of armor, the two clashed with such force that the impact rumbled like an earthquake. To make things even more challenging, the scene was filmed in the scorching summer heat, and Thobbe was battling a fever at the time. Yet, he powered through, delivering a performance that was nothing short of legendary — a fitting way to mark his triumphant return to SABATON.

Better Noise Music is known for its creative artist development, innovative cross-media strategies, and ability to build international success stories. It was named Billboard's No. 1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Label and No. 1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Imprint of 2024, after its history-making run of five consecutive years as the No. 1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Imprint (2018-2022). In 2023 Allen Kovac moved up to chairman role and over the last two and a half years the company has been run by Dan Waite CEO, Steve Kline COO and president, Harris Masood CFO and Paul Cormack GM.

Since SABATON's 2005 debut LP, the band has released 10 studio albums (some of which have been certified as gold, platinum, and even quadruple platinum),seen eight of its albums score Top 10 international chart status, and six claim the Top 5.

"We're truly excited to begin this new chapter with Better Noise Music," SABATON bassist and manager Pär Sundström comments. "After exploring various record labels worldwide, we found Better Noise to be the perfect fit. As an independent label, they haven't traditionally focused on our style of heavy metal, making this collaboration particularly exciting. We're excited to see how this partnership develops, confident that they're ready to embrace the challenge of working with a band that brings a unique sound to their roster."

"We're thrilled to welcome SABATON to our roster," says Lexie Viklund, the label's director of A&R. "Their powerful music and storytelling have resonated with fans worldwide, and we're eager to amplify their presence in the U.S. while continuing to grow their global impact."

Last October, Brodén told Radioactive MikeZ, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM program "Wired In The Empire", about the progress of the songwriting sessions for SABATON's follow-up to 2022's "The War To End All Wars" album: "Yeah, we're working on new material always, it feels like. I mean, if we're done [with] an album, I feel like, 'Screw that. I don't wanna write music for a while now.' But there I am three months later writing new music. Maybe I'll sit with one of the guitarists on tour one day, and we'll be bored on a day off because there wasn't that much to do that day. It was Sunday. Everything's closed. So let's grab our gear and crank out a song because it's better than doing nothing."

He continued: "We already have some material. So it's not like we are, after this, gonna take a break and then start writing. We're in the works already."

Elaborating on how he feels after an album is completed, Joakim said: "For me, when an album is ready, I — sorry to say — fucking hate it, because first process… And I'm not the only songwriter in the band, but I'm the one who writes most of the music. And I'm involved with lyrics or in most of the songs and almost all of the songs in a musical way. So I spend months in the studio writing, alone or with somebody, then getting all the pre-productions ready, which is me again cleaning up takes and what are we gonna do putting it all together, delivering it to everybody in the band so they can practice. Then we go into the studio. And then I'm the constant in the studio, keeping track of everything, making sure everything is [as it should be], with the producer. So I'm there for the whole recording. Then I take a little break, and then the audio engineer starts mixing. And then I come in again for the mixing. And then, at that point, I'm already tired of the songs. And then all you do from that point on is try to find problems and errors. What went wrong? What's wrong here? Do we need to do a retake on something? Should we fix something? Oh, is that too loud? Do we need to EQ? So at that point I've programmed myself to only hear the problems with the album. So by the time like the master is done, I fucking hate it. I'm so tired of that music. So it'll take me a year or two before I can even, in some objective way, listen to it again."

"The War to End All Wars" was the last SABATON album to feature guitarist Tommy Johansson. He has since been replaced by a returning Englund.

Thobbe originally joined SABATON in April 2012 and amicably parted ways with the band in July 2016 to focus on his personal life and expand his creativity. He rejoined SABATON in February 2024.

Englund recorded two studio albums with SABATON, namely "Heroes" (2014) and "The Last Stand" (2016),and assisted with the songwriting of some very popular songs including "Shiroyama" and "Fields Of Verdun", among others.

In November 2025, SABATON will embark on a 20-city European run dubbed "The Legendary Tour". The band teased the trek as "a huge celebration of SABATON's music, storytelling and the incredible bond they share with their fans", featuring "The Legendary Orchestra and other surprises," resulting in "something unprecedented."

Last fall, SABATON served as main support to JUDAS PRIEST on the legendary heavy metal band's North American tour.

In the more than two decades since their launch, SABATON has achieved quadruple-platinum sales, headlined major festivals, sold-out arena concerts across the globe, and earned a legion of loyal fans by being self-managed and carving out a reputation as one of the most innovative bands in rock. SABATON combines standout stage design and production with epic concept albums, linking real-life historical war events with classic kick-ass metal. To date, the band has released ten studio albums, amassed six gold, two platinum, and one four-times-platinum awards, seen eight of its albums score Top 10 international chart status, and six claim the Top 5.

When SABATON hit the 20-year mark, they headlined both stages at Wacken 2019 — the biggest metal festival in the world — simultaneously. Meanwhile, in 2023 as part of a charity initiative, SABATON donated their full-length animated movie to museums around the world in order to increase awareness and visitor numbers, and successfully encouraged people to support the preservation of history in these establishments. During SABATON's 25th-anniversary year, the band released the "Tour To End All Tours" concert film, and through independent distribution, it was screened in more than 1,200 cinemas spanning 28 territories.

Photo credit: Ben Alexis

Canadian hard rock heavyweights, Sven Gali, have announced the release of a ferocious new live album, captured during their sold-out performance on Friday the 13th, September 2024, at the world-famous El Mocambo in Toronto. The record captures the band at full throttle in one of the most iconic rock venues on the planet — and it’s set to drop on another Friday the 13th: June 13, 2025.

With a history as loud as the amps that have powered it, The El Mocambo has hosted some of the most legendary names in rock: The Rolling Stones (who recorded their now-famous 1977 live set there), Stevie Ray Vaughan, U2, The Ramones, Blondie, Elvis Costello, and more. Sven Gali now joins that elite club with a performance that’s raw, unfiltered, and undeniably heavy.

“Recording at the El Mocambo was a full-circle moment for us,” says frontman Dave Wanless. “The energy of the crowd, the history of the venue, and the rawness of the night are all captured in this album. It’s a testament to our roots and our evolution.”

The live album features a thunderous setlist focused on the band’s gold-certified 1992 self-titled debut, delivering full-throttle versions of the songs that made Sven Gali a household name on MuchMusic and beyond:

– “Under The Influence” – 1993 MuchMusic Heavy Metal Video of the Year
– “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” – Top 10 Canadian single and #6 CanCon song of 1993
– “Tie Dyed Skies” and “In My Garden” – fan favorites with iconic video rotation

Plus a searing live cover of Motörhead’s “Ace Of Spades”. The video for this can be found below.

Recorded live with Dave Wanless (vocals), Andy Frank (guitar), Shawn Minden (bass), Sean Williamson (guitar), and Dan Fila (drums), the album captures Sven Gali doing what they do best: delivering heavy music with zero compromise and total conviction.



As a special thank you to fans, every purchase or pre-sale of the new live album before June 30, 2025, will be automatically entered into a one-of-a-kind contest to win an official Sven Gali Gold Album Award — the real deal, issued by Music Canada, celebrating their 1992 self-titled record going gold. This isn’t a replica — it’s the same style of award that hangs in industry offices and band studios. One lucky fan is going to own a true piece of Canadian rock history.

Sven Gali Live At The El Mocambo will be released on Friday the 13th, June 2025. Pre-orders, exclusive bundles, and additional details are available. For Canadian orders, head here. Fans in the US, Europe, and Asia can pre-order here.



Tracklisting:

“Freakz”
“Here Today Gone Tomorrow”
“Sweet Little Gypsy”
“Tie Dyed Skies”
“Under The Influence”
“Disgusteen”
“Ace Of Spades”
“Stiff Competition”
“In My Garden”
“Love Don’t Live Here Anymore”
“Hurt” (CD Bonus Track)

Annihilator is the most successful Canadian speed/thrash metal band of all times and one of the most influential pioneers of thrash metal worldwide. The band’s success speaks for itself, distinguished by superior live shows and especially Jeff Waters, who takes on the role of guitarist, vocalist, studio bassist, songwriter, producer, as well as mixing and mastering engineer – quite an all-rounder.

Over the next few years, earMUSIC is paying tribute to Annihilator with the re-release of their highly sought-after back catalogue in a series of CD and Vinyl releases. Each studio album will be reissued with fully remastered sound on high-quality 180g black Vinyl and as a CD Digipak Edition. Both formats feature refreshed artwork with brand-new sleeve notes by Alex Milas (a. o. Metal Hammer UK), who interviewed Jeff Waters for this reissue series.

Additionally – and for the first time – the numerous demo recordings and bonus tracks from each album era will be compiled as part of the reissue series on CD and as a digital album.

The catalogue revival begins on June 6th, 2025, by revisiting a pivotal era in Annihilator’s history, breathing new life into King Of The Kill (1994), Refresh The Demon (1996), and Remains (1997). Spanning the mid-to-late ’90s, these albums showcase Jeff Waters’ evolution as a songwriter, guitarist, and producer, blending thrash intensity with melody, experimentation, and groove. This reissue series highlights a band that constantly pushed boundaries.

King Of The Kill was the full expression of Annihilator’s potential to enchant and to entertain. It was a comeback and rebirth of a leaner Annihilator impervious to the shifting sands of the industry, and it established Jeff Waters as a guitar-slinging/songwriting titan in a time of great uncertainty. Annihilator, finally, had arrived.

For anyone just picking themselves up off the floor following the double-barreled wallop of King Of The Kill,Refresh The Demon was just what the doctor ordered. According to Waters, it was a continuation of the same creative role that had inspired King Of The Kill and felt like a second creative lease on life.

Remains was Annihilator’s boldest experiment, a daring venture into industrial-laced heaviness that defied expectations. With Jeff Waters handling nearly all aspects of the recording, the album took a more mechanical and groove-driven approach. Despite its departure from the band’s earlier thrash roots, the album still retained Jeff’s signature guitar work. Remains will be released for the very first time on vinyl.

More Noise offers a glimpse into Annihilator’s creative process during the King Of The Kill, Refresh The Demon, and Remains era. This collection of demo recordings and bonus tracks captures the raw energy, experimentation, and unmistakable guitar work of Jeff Waters, highlighting the evolution of the band’s sound. For the very first time, More Noise compiles all bonus tracks from these albums on one CD.

The re-release of the Annihilator years 1994–1997 is just the beginning. Fans and collectors can look forward to more albums coming soon.

For further details, and to pre-order, head here.



King Of The Kill (CD Digipak, Black 180g LP Gatefold):

“King Of The Kill” (Vinyl Side A)
“21”
“Bliss”
“Second To None”
“Hell Is A War”
“Annihilator”
“Fiasco” (Vinyl Side B)
“The Box”
“Bad Child”
“In The Blood”
“Speed”
“Catch The Wind”

CD Bonus Tracks:

“21” (Jeff Demo)
“Annihilator” (Jeff Demo)
“Bad Child” (Jeff Demo)
“In The Blood” (Jeff Demo)
“King Of The Kill” (Jeff Demo)
“Second To None” (Jeff Demo)



Refresh The Demons (CD Digipak, Black 180g 2LP Gatefold):

“Refresh The Demon” (Vinyl Side A)
“Ultraparanoia”
“Syn. Kill 1”
“Awaken” (Vinyl Side B)
“The Pastor Of Disaster”
“City Of Ice”
“A Man Called Nothing”
“Innocent Eyes” (Vinyl Side C)
“Voices And Victims”
“Anything For Money” (Vinyl Side D)
“Hunger”



Remains (CD Digipak, Black 180g LP Gatefold):

“Tricks And Traps” (Vinyl Side A)
“Murder”
“Never Forget”
“Reaction”
“Human Remains”
“I Want”
“Dead Wrong” (Vinyl Side B)
“No Love”
“Sexecution”
“Wind”
“Bastiage”



More Noise Vol. 1 (CD Digipak)

“Only Be Lonely” (King Of The Kill Bonus Track)
“Slates” (King Of The Kill Interlude)
“Annihilator” (1985 Radio Ottawa Demo)
“Fiasco (“The Slate”)” (King Of The Kill Interlude)
“21” (1994 Demo)
“Weapon X” (2004 Demo / No Guitars / Playthrough)
“Bloodbath” (1999 Criteria Demo)
“Nothing To Me” (Single Version)
“Back To The Palace” (1999 Demo)
“It’s You” (Remains Bonus Track)
“The Box” (Live 1995)
“Riff Raff” (Refresh The Demon Bonus Track)

Prior to the MISFITS' April 12 performance at this year's Coachella festival in Indio, California, Nicole Alvarez of the KROQ radio station asked MISFITS bassist Jerry Only if the band's legacy surprises him. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Can I be honest with you? It does surprise me. Well, because we didn't plan on it. When we got together, we were doing it because we loved it, and I still love it.

"I think our legacy is something that's gonna stand the test of time," he continued. "I mean, if you look at things that are iconic today, like, for example, if you looked at THE ROLLING STONES logo. And they had said they were playing 50-something years and they said, 'Well, we've been playing 50-something years, but we've only actually played two years. The rest is standing around waiting.'"

Reflecting on MISFITS' earliest days, Jerry said:  "Well, we used to practice in our garage. And a lot of the bands from the West Coast, like SOCIAL DISTORTION, who was, like, 14 years old, would come and stay at our place. And we pretty much got together through a mutual friend, who was a drummer, and he came up to me and he said, 'Hey, we're starting a band.' It [was] brand new. I was playing bass for about a month. And what happened was that I met Glenn [Danzig, MISFITS singer], and we started rehearsing, and the next thing you know, we put out a record and bingo — next thing we were on the road."

The initial comeback performance by MISFITS members Danzig, Only and longtime guitarist Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein took place at the 2016 Riot Fest. The estranged bandmates played together for the first time since 1983 and were backed by former SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo and guitarist Acey Slade.

Since then, the original lineup of the MISFITS has reunited for scattered dates.

Prior to the 2016 Riot Fest concert, Glenn, Jerry and Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein last performed together on October 29, 1983.

Five years ago, Danzig told Rolling Stone magazine that he was happy with the way the MISFITS shows have been going. "Shit, we sold out Madison Square Garden," he said. "As a matter of fact, we oversold it. Back in the day, all the bigwig promoters and record label people were, like, 'A punk band will never headline Madison Square Garden.' And, of course, we're the first punk band to headline there. And not only did we sell it out, we oversold it. So a big fuck you to all those assholes, who are probably selling hotdogs on Sixth Avenue."

The original MISFITS band broke up in 1983, and Only brought forth a new version of the MISFITS in 1995. Various members have come and gone, but Only, along with BLACK FLAG's Dez Cadena, has kept some form of the MISFITS in the recording studio and on the road for most of the last three decades.

In a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, Only said about working with Danzig again: "Glenn is Glenn. We dealt with Glenn in the beginning and it's the same dealing with Glenn now. It doesn't change. It's just a different perspective. If we let Glenn be Glenn and do what we're supposed to do, it's gonna work. You don't argue with each other. I think we're over that. I think we're old enough now."

Asked what it was like keeping the MISFITS going for 20 years without Glenn, Only said: "There was always that hole. When Glenn split, there was always that feeling we were missing a component of what makes us what we are. And I'm sure the same goes on for him. In the other bands he was in, he's changed people left and right. When we play together, it's just us."

Brian May has paid tribute to British producer, Roy Thomas Baker, who passed away at 78 years of age on April 12, 2025 in Lake Havasu City, AZ. No cause of death has been confirmed.

Baker produced the first four Queen albums, including A Night At The Opera, which included the legendary single, “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

Brian May shared the following via Instagram:

“Very sad to hear of the passing of Roy Thomas Baker. Roy played a huge part in the production of so much Queen music in the early days. Photographs of Roy seem to be quite rare, but I was able to find these 3-D pictures of a trip that my then wife Chrissy and I made to visit Roy and his wife Barbara in their cottage in Norfolk. It must have been 1973. We went strawberry picking, and, as you can see, Roy was interested in the stereoscopic process, posing in a pile of wood for stereoscopic effect! I took the tennis picture at Ridge Farm, on a day when we were visited by some Japanese journalists from *Music Life* magazine.

“Roy was a part of our production team from the very beginning up to and including the album ‘A night at the Opera’. We then parted company for ‘A Day at the Races’, but reunited for the ‘Jazz’ album. Roy’s production contribution along with Mike Stone’s engineering for ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ will never be forgotten.

“I regret slipping out of touch latterly with Roy. I suppose life moves at such a pace these days that we imagine there will be plenty of time to rekindle a friendship, and then suddenly one day it’s too late.

“Thank you, Roy for all the great work you did for us, and all the fun we had. Rest in Peace. Bri.”

Baker worked with many famed artists and albums, including Journey’s Infinity and Evolution, Foreigner’s Head Games, the soundtrack to Heavy Metal, four albums with The Cars, Ozzy Osbourne’s No Rest For The Wicked and Cheap Trick’s One On One.

During his tenure as Senior VP of A&R with Elektra Records in the ‘80s, he oversaw the signings of Metallica and 10,000 Maniacs.

Later on in his career he would oversee The Darkness’ One Way Ticket To Hell…And Back in 2005 and Smashing Pumpkins’ Zeitgeist in 2007.

Get your denim and leather jackets ready for Ambush and their Napalm Records debut, Evil In All Dimensions, out September 5.

Marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their relentless quest for speed, Ambush captures the classic essence of heavy metal – championing the genre’s roots while setting a new benchmark for modern heavy music with their signature high octane vocals and riff driven anthems.

“Evil In All Dimensions”, the title track and first single, is an exhilarating 80s inspired heavy metal ripper refined with sleek, modern production. Taking listeners through a terrible nightmare that becomes reality, the song kicks off the record with thunderous drum fills by Linus Fritzson and powerful licks from guitar-virtuosos Karl Dotzek and Olof Engqvist. “Evil In All Dimension” arrives with a thunderous official music video and is now available on all streaming services worldwide, as well as a strictly limited 12” maxi single, available here. To make this special collector’s item even more special, Ambush include a non-album track and a cover of Diamond Head’s “Canterbury” as a B-side.

The evil in this world can’t hide – Ambush will take care of it with relentless heavy metal power!

Ambush about the new single “Evil In All Dimensions”: “Have you ever woken up in anguish from the fact that in your dream you did something terrible. Something so evil that – even if it was just a dream – you could not forgive yourself for even giving birth to such horror in your mind? What if you suddenly realize that your dream is reality?”

Watch the official music video for “Evil In All Dimensions” below.

Evil In All Dimensions is undeniable proof of Ambush’s unwavering passion and talent for the genre. Now, with Napalm Records as their partner, they are primed to take the world by storm. Ambush wield an arsenal of of 80s metal prowess: with whipping drums, sharp guitars, and high-pitched vocals, “Come Angel Of Night” explores themes of reconciliation when the damage seems irreversible, culminating in a soaring solo that highlights the band’s musical power. Bassist Oskar Andersson hypnotizes listeners with his infectious grooves in the brooding “The Night I Took Your Life”, while “Maskinovka” features an anthemic, standout performance from vocalist Oskar Jakobssons. The track’s mid-tempo groove personifies the difficulties of standing up for truth in a world shaped by manipulation.

In addition to their undeniable talent to revive fast and glorious 80s headbangers, the Swedes also surprise with the gripping power ballad “I Fear The Blood”. A song to pump your fist to, vacillating between themes of escapism and self destruction, amidst the battle against one’s inner demons. Founder Oskar Jakobssons screams his soul out in this heavy-hearted and honest masterpiece, which creates the perfect moment to wave your lighters in the air, passionately belting along.

Ambush about the album: “We are stoked to unveil Evil In All Dimensions – our long awaited 4th album. For us the album feels like a new dawn where everything is possible and steel rules the world. We regard it as the proudest moment in our hellbent strive for Heavy Metal mastery, and we hope that you guys will appreciate it!”



Evil In All Dimensions will be available in the following formats:

– 1LP Marbled Yellow Orange – limited to 300 copies worldwide (Napalm Records Mailorder only)
– 1LP Marbled White, Viola, Royal blue – limited to 300 copies worldwide (Napalm Records Mailorder only)
– 1LP Gatefold Black
– Digipack & Shirt Bundle
– 6 Page Digipack
– Digital Album

Pre-order here.



Evil In All Dimensions tracklisting:

“Evil In All Dimensions”
“Maskirovka”
“Iron Sign”
“The Night I Took Your Life”
“I Fear The Blood”
“Come Angel Of Night”
“The Reaper”
“Bending The Steel”
“Heavy Metal Brethren”

Steve "Zetro" Souza has opened up about his latest departure from EXODUS, saying that he "definitely" has "no desire" to play with the band ever again.

Three months ago, it was announced that EXODUS had parted ways with the singer and had been rejoined by Rob Dukes.

Souza joined EXODUS in 1986 after previously fronting the band LEGACY (which later became TESTAMENT). He remained in the band until their hiatus in 1993, but rejoined them for two years from 2002 to 2004. Dukes had joined EXODUS in 2005 (following Souza's departure) and remained until 2014, when Souza rejoined.

Souza discussed his most recent split with EXODUS during a new episode of his Zetro's Toxic Vault YouTube series in which he is joined by his longtime friend and co-host Walter Morgan. Addressing the reasons for his departure, Zetro said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I've been doing this since 1986 —1986, in June, I joined EXODUS for the very first time. I was 22 years old. I'm now 61. So to have kind of a rollercoaster ride in music has actually been kind of exciting,. It kept my life going. Certain things happen and certain things go on, and you kind of have to deal with them as they happen, like anything."

Clarifying that he "did not quit" EXODUS and "was let go", Souza continued: "I don't read much of what goes on the Internet. With no disrespect to anybody, I don't give a fuck what anybody thinks about me or what you say… But I was made privy by my son of something Gary [Holt, EXODUS guitarist and main songwriter] had responded to me saying that I didn't quit; I was let go. And I have to agree with his analogy. Being in a band is like a marriage — it truly is — and the marriage was over. And it was. Now, I was never gonna quit, meaning maybe I guess I would never leave the marriage, for whatever reason. But I truly think that it was probably the right thing for me especially, and I hope it's the right thing for them as well."

Regarding his mindset after his latest departure from EXODUS, Souza said: "People were calling me — my friends and my family — asking me if I was okay. And I was fine. I was, like, 'I'm great.' I'm really, really happy and more content. And again, we're in April now, and this went down in January. And actually, I knew in December — I knew before anybody knew, before it was announced. And I was cool with it."

Speaking directly to the EXODUS fans, Zetro said: "I'm gonna miss you guys. I really am. But for me, my life has changed a lot. What I liked when I was younger in my twenties and my thirties are not necessarily what I'm into anymore. I love my family. I mean, I came home and got married to Vickie, who I've been with for 17 years, and she is the love of my life. And you know how hard it is to go away from the love of my life at this point, at 61 years old for five weeks, six weeks at a time? It wasn't easy for me, even though it may not have shown on stage, and it definitely didn't show when I was with you guys, with you fans, and anybody that approached me because I would never want anyone to have an awful experience with me. But I think it was time, honestly.

"I had told Gary, and I told them that I would like to do this till I was 70 and probably not much more than that, but I think in the back of my mind I think I was kind of already done with the rigorous life of touring, 'cause it's very demanding," Souza admitted. "And the business doesn't care about what you have going on. [I'll] give you an example — in 2016, my mother died and I was in El Salvador on tour. I should have been at her bedside, but I wasn't, because I had to do this. I've had dogs pass. I've missed graduations from my children. Any musician that has been in my position can absolutely relate with this, because it is part of it. And a lot of times people don't necessarily think of that. And then there's the guys, there's the musicians that really like to do this, and they'll go out and they'll hit it hard. They'll go from one thing to another."

Elaborating on his reasons for wanting to spend less time on the road, Zetro said: "I've changed over the past few years, even in the last 10 years since I've been back. And I think I'm more interested in what's going on in my house and around what I'm doing here. I like to see my dogs every day. I have three pugs that absolutely love. I have a grandson now. I never get to see them. I wanna see my wife every day. I wanna sleep in my bed every day. It's been something that mentally has gone on and changed. But again, I would've never quit because I'm not a quitter in that type of respect. Everybody's, 'Oh, well, you quit in 2004.' No, I had to leave the band because I had a union job, three little kids and a wife, and I was trying to balance working as a foreman, as a union job, being a father, coaching baseball and soccer, and being a husband and playing in EXODUS, and I couldn't balance all three. The thing that I loved the most was playing in EXODUS, but, unfortunately, it could not take care of my wife and my kids and ballerina signups, baseball signups. The business wasn't paying that much at the time, so I needed to go and take care of my family… So coming back into the band in 2014, kids are grown, I'm set in my job. I was very, very excited. And again, I had a really good time over the last 10 years playing in the band. And it was one of those things that I have to say I'm kind of glad that I've ended up where I'm at right now, I don't like airports anymore. I don't like sleeping on the tour bus anymore… So I'm not saying that this was a decision that I would've made, but I'm saying for myself and to have a few months to look at it, it was definitely the right decision."

Souza went on to say that EXODUS fans should continue to support the band now that Dukes has returned to the group.

"I look at it now as, what about all you guys that are big fans of Rob's era? Just think — now you get to come back and see Rob maybe for the next 10 years and see him continue on," Zetro said. "So if you were fans of his era, like you were fans of my era, or both eras — I know there's some of you [that are] 'I'm [Team] Zetro' or 'I'm [Team] Rob', or whatever, 'I'm cool with whatever EXODUS does,' I get it. And I totally understand that, and I respect every one of you for those things. But now maybe for the last part of the band they get to enjoy Rob and Rob's era of the band. I mean, Gary's gonna continue to write music and record music. And Gary Holt doesn't know how to write a shitty riff. Okay? So you EXODUS fans know what you're gonna get from that, and that's what I have to say."

Souza also addressed the possibility of another reunion with EXODUS down the line, saying: "Will I ever grace the stage with them? No, definitely not. I think it's been done. This was the third time that I had joined the band, so I think it would be a bit redundant to try to do this or do this again. So just so you guys wanna know, I have no desire to do that ever again. It's been done. If you saw my last concert in Los Angeles at the Regent [in December 2024], then you truly saw the last concert that Zetro will ever sing with EXODUS."

Zetro added that he went out on top, both in term of his live performance with EXODUS and his relationship with the band's fans.

"If you saw us on the last tour with HAVOK, then, honestly, I was singing better than I've ever sung through the years," Souza said. "So I don't feel that it was something that, vocally… I did my job — I did my job quite well — and even they'll tell you that. And the fans, you guys know that I bring it. Every time I come, I bring it. And that's just the way it is. And if you walked up to me for a picture or an autograph, I never would say no and I've never pushed you guys away. I would hang out and talk to you about stuff. How many of you fans have spent time after the show talking to me about whatever? Horror, movies, metal sports, whatever. I'll sit out there and talk to you guys 'cause I've never considered myself above anybody."

Asked what specifically he didn't enjoy about the touring lifestyle, Zetro said: "Too much time in the day. Waiting to wait. It's a lot of waiting. Going to an airport, waiting four hours for the flight, getting on the flight for five hours, getting to where you've gotta go. Then you have another six-hour layover before you have another five-hour flight. And line one, line two, security this, security that. I don't have the patience for that anymore. The bus — I know this sounds very pompous. I was very fortunate to get to tour in a bus. I know bands that do not tour in buses… But for me, the bunk started to be very, very uncomfortable. And the only time I could get in there was when I truly had to sleep. But as soon as I woke up, I got up. So there's too much time in a day for you to go to museums or comic bookstores or me to go buy toys and whatever I do on the road. It is just a lot of downtime, and I feel as now 61 years old, I wanna do other things in that downtime. And I don't wanna be doing this, and all of a sudden I end up getting sick or my wife end up getting sick and one of my children, and I have to come home and I've got six months to live, or they've got six months to live and I've missed all of this with them and I missed it all. I don't want to do that anymore. I've missed too much over the years, and it's just kind of where I've been mentally — especially the last few years I've been thinking about that."

EXODUS played its first concert with Dukes in nearly 11 years on April 5 at the Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Philly at the Fillmore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Dukes previously joined EXODUS in January 2005 and appeared on four of the band's studio albums — "Shovel Headed Kill Machine" (2005),"The Atrocity Exhibition... Exhibit A" (2007),"Let There Be Blood" (2008, a re-recording of EXODUS's classic 1985 LP, "Bonded By Blood") and "Exhibit B: The Human Condition" (2010).

In a recent interview with CBS SF, Holt was asked if there was any thought of even considering a different singer with the band after parting ways with Zetro. Gary said: "You mean now? No. I don't like change, for one. I never intended to make any of these vocalist changes. Not Rob the first time, and not Steve [now]. But at 60 years old, all of us, we all demand to be happy and be surrounded by happiness. We did some amazing music with Steve back. Amazing. [EXODUS's latest LP] 'Persona Non Grata' is my second favorite album in our whole catalog. But we're moving forward."

He continued: "I didn't want to bring in a young guy. Yeah, we could have brought in some 30-year-old guy who's young and has abs and can still jump off drum risers. [Laughs] That sounds appealing, but I like familiarity. Rob keeps me laughing, and he's an amazing singer. And he's one of my best friends. So that was kind of a no-brainer. I mean, I don't know how much longer we could play this kind of ferocious stuff. Over the years, we've just gotten faster and the songs have gotten harder to play as the arthritis gets worse. So we're going to just keep going for it as long as we can."

After interviewer Dave Pehling noted that Holt wrote in his just-released memoir, "A Fabulous Disaster: From The Garage To Madison Square Garden, The Hard Way", that the EXODUS members were at the best place that they had been in their whole career, Gary said: "It's one of those things. And I've got nothing but love for [Zetro]. It's not like the last time he left the band, when it was on really bad terms. At 60 years old, this job gets fucking hard. And if you don't like to travel, and no longer like to be out on the road and and you want to cut the touring way back and all that, we can no longer make a living at this. We literally would have to go get day jobs. That's pretty much what happened. One guy wasn't enjoying it anymore. And none of us enjoy being away from home all the time. It sucks. My happy place is being around my family. I can speak for all of us, Steve included. But while I can — this whole age thing — while I can still tour for six weeks and crush it and go out and play seven, eight, nine shows in a row, I'm going to do it. Until I can't, and then I'll slow down. But if we start slowing down now, eventually it's just going to come to a stop."

When EXODUS announced Souza's latest departure on January 15, the band wrote in a statement: "We thank Steve for his years fronting the band and all the killer music we made during that time. We wish him only the best in the future and much success with anything he does.

"And please help us welcome Rob Dukes back to EXODUS! We are beyond stoked to have Rob back ripping up the stage with us and he's looking forward to crushing everything like only he can.

"Next chapter begins, new record rolls along as planned and the beatings will continue."

Although EXODUS rarely gets mentioned alongside the so-called "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal — METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX — the aforementioned "Bonded By Blood" LP inspired the likes of TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL, VIO-LENCE and many others to launch their careers and is considered one of the most influential thrash metal albums of all time.

Music legend, Carlos Santana, was hospitalized after collapsing during the soundcheck for his Tuesday (April 22) show at the Majestic & Empire Theatres in San Antonio, Texas. The show was postponed.

Majestic & Empire Theatres shared the following message last night:

“Santana is postponing his Oneness Tour 2025 show at the Majestic Theatre tonight (Tuesday, April 22, 2025) in San Antonio, Texas, Michael Vrionis, manager said. He has been taken in for observation in San Antonio.”

Vrionis said: “It is with profound disappointment that I have to inform you all that tonight’s show in San Antonio has been postponed. Mr. Santana was at the venue (Majestic Theatre) preparing for tonight’s show when he experienced an event that was determined to be dehydration. Out of an abundance of caution and the health of Mr. Santana, the decision to postpone the show was the most prudent course of action. He is doing well and is looking forward to coming back to San Antonio soon as well as continuing his US Tour. Thank you all very much for your understanding. The show will be rescheduled soon.”

The San Antonio Fire Department told TMZ that they responded to the Majestic Theater at 5 PM, CT for a report of an elderly patient who had reportedly fainted and transported them to the hospital with a non life-threatening condition.

Santana is scheduled to perform tonight (Wednesday, April 23) at Smart Financial Center Sugar Land, TX. Find his complete tour itinerary here.

After turning heads with their crushing rendition of Motörhead’s “Iron Fist”, UK thrash legends, Onslaught, return with the second single from their upcoming double-album Origins Of Aggression, which is due out on May 23 via Reigning Phoenix Music.

This time it’s personal. “In Search Of Sanity”, a re-recorded version of the band’s 1989 title track, explodes back to life in 2025 with a vengeance. Packed with towering riffs, mind-blowing solos, and vocal lines sharper than ever, this modern take breathes new fire into a thrash anthem – while keeping its roots raw and intact.

Guitarist and founding member Nige Rockett opens up about the song’s return: “This new recording of the title track from the album of the same name has completely blown me away… It’s like night and day compared to the original version. It’s common knowledge that I’ve never been a huge fan of the album overall. Don’t get me wrong – I love the songs, but at the time it just wasn’t an Onslaught album in terms of the production, vibe, and everything else that surrounded this particular release. It’s always been my dream to re-record the whole album and to finally make it sound like a real Onslaught record – the way it should have sounded the first time around. Here it is…! Tons of aggression and anger, a real heavy thrash song with all the necessary components. I hope you dig the new lease of life this track now has, as much as we do!”

Listen to the song here, and watch the video below:



“In Search Of Sanity” [2025 Version] is the second of three singles leading into Origins Of Aggression – a full-throttle retrospective featuring re-recorded classics and influential punk and metal covers, all delivered with a modern-day brutality.

Disc 1 features a fine selection of ten re-recorded tracks from Onslaught’s early days [1982-1989], while Disc 2 presents a colourful bouquet of cover versions of punk and metal songs that lead fans through the range of bands – from the Dead Kennedys, The Exploited and Discharge to Judas Priest, Black Sabbath and beyond – defining the group’s sound.

Origins Of Aggression can be pre-ordered [formats: 2CD-digipak, coloured vinyl, digital] or pre-saved on your favourite digital service provider (DSP) worldwide, here.

Cirith Ungol is pleased to unveil their live video of “Relentless.” The track and footage appears on the band’s upcoming Live At The Roxy offering, set for release on April 25 via Metal Blade Records.

One of the world’s most iconic music venues – the Sunset Strip’s Roxy Theatre – hosted a legendary 2024 gig by one of the world’s most iconic heavy metal bands: Cirith Ungol. The one-night-only performance was an album release show for the band’s 2023-released Dark Parade LP. It captured the lineup at the height of its considerable powers, performing Dark Parade in its entirety, along with a set of classic songs including “Join The Legion,” “Frost And Fire,” “Black Machine,” and “Atom Smasher.” The end result is a stellar live album and DVD.

On “Relentless,” co-founding drummer Robert Garven comments, “The Egyptian and Hindu guitar scales have always intrigued me for their exotic sound, so I wanted to come up with a sort of snake charmer melody for a new song. First I came up with a rhythm that is reminiscent of ‘The Fire’ off of the One Foot In Hell album. Next came the accompanying signature lead on top. It fit well and stuck, so we built the song from there creating simple, straight forward, rockin’ verses, choruses, bridges, and solo sections. I’m pleased with how it turned out. Relentless, overwhelming, forever black… Our many and treacherous demons thwarting our every effort to stay sane in an insane nightmare. Prayers? Realty? To whom and why? A twisted path to our inevitable downfall, despite the frail attempts at avoidance. The future leads nowhere? As of now it seems likely, Eternal and Black.”

Watch the “Relentless” video below:

Slaying audiences across North America on his "There's No Such Thing As Monsters" tour celebrating 20 years of "Transylvania 90210", Wednesday 13 has just unleashed the biggest surprise in his bag of tricks — brand-new single "No Apologies" featuring FASTER PUSSYCAT's Taime Downe. The track appears on the band's upcoming full-length album, "Mid Death Crisis", out this Friday, April 25 via Napalm Records.

"No Apologies" wastes no time ripping into a heavy rock rager, laced with fiery guitar leads and even more searing lyrics. The fast-romping anthem is an unapologetic exorcism of toxic demons and even more toxic people, and arrives alongside a new music video, also featuring Taime Downe.

Wednesday 13 comments: "This is the most rock 'n' roll song I've written in years. I wanted to go back to my roots, and my roots are '80s glam. The name at the top of that list was FASTER PUSSYCAT, so it made total sense to have Taime Downe guest on this track. Having one of my rock 'n' roll idols alongside me in the studio was an honor. We whipped up a nasty little middle finger salute to ourselves on this one, and the result is 'No Apologies'."

After returning in 2022 with his widely acclaimed full-length album "Horrifier", as well as several major tours supporting his solo work and celebrated MURDERDOLLS-centric shows, world-renowned fearsome frontman Wednesday 13 is back with another slew of harbingers of horror to slay the masses.

The Duke Of Spook himself dubs "Mid Death Crisis" as a fun, campy, "leave-your-brain-at-the-door" rager and a true return to his hard-rocking roots! Produced by guitarist Alex Kane (LIFE, SEX & DEATH, ENUFF Z'NUFF, ANTIPRODUCT) and mixed by Steve Evetts (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, PRONG, DEVILDRIVER) the album oozes infectious 1980s sleaze metal energy.

Eerie introductory track "There's No Such Thing As Monsters" vibrates with electricity before industrial-tinged "Decease And Desist" kicks in full blast. Wednesday 13's trademark crooning wastes no time entering the fold as he careens through the high-octane horror anthem, before tracks like "Rotting Away" and "Blood Storm" ensnare with metallic goth-punk energy that will have crowds moving wall to wall. Featuring Downe on guest vocals, standout heavy rocker "No Apologies" is a fast-romping exorcism of toxic demons, while the triumphant mini-murder ballad "Decapitation" riles up listeners with a catchy lead riff before making a hard left into a theatrical bridge straight out of a sinister '60s sock hop! Ragers like "In Misery", "Xanaxtasy" and "Sick And Violent" explore various genres of metal, injecting the album with elements of gripping heaviness for any listener, while downtempo stunners "I Hurt You" and "My Funeral" approach a more pensive territory.

Although its title, "Mid Death Crisis", may suggest otherwise, the Duke Of Spook shows zero signs of stopping on this refreshingly powerful and multi-faceted entry into the Wednesday 13 hall of horrific history.

"Mid Death Crisis" track listing:

01. There's No Such Thing As Monsters
02. Decease And Desist
03. When The Devil Commands
04. Rotting Away
05. No Apologies (feat. Taime Downe)
06. Decapitation
07. In Misery
08. Blood Storm
09. Xanaxtasy
10. I Hurt You
11. My Funeral
12. Sick And Violent

WEDNESDAY 13 is:

Wednesday 13 - Lead Vocals / Guitar
Jack Tankersley - Guitar
Troy Doebbler - Bass
Mike Dupke - Drums
Ashes - Lead Guitar

Photo credit: Anabel DFlux

Ashes Of Ares featuring former Iced Earth vocalist Matt Barlow and bassist Freddie Vidales have announced a European tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of IE’s Dark Saga album.

The band says, “Happy Wednesday! – Here is a teaser announcement that an announcement is coming:

“A dream of many fans is now coming true, as the European audience will have the opportunity to hear and witness the entire epic The Dark Saga album on stage.

“The monumental 1996 album that has brought so many memories and joy to metal fans will be played from start to finish, yes all 10 songs, along with songs from our forthcoming album.
Be sure to check back here tomorrow, when we will announce our first date in October. Guess where this is going to be.”

German power metal veterans PRIMAL FEAR will release their new album, "Domination", on September 5 via Reigning Phoenix Music.

To celebrate this announcement, the lead single "Far Away" has officially landed on streaming platforms worldwide. Packed with all the signature elements of a classic PRIMAL FEAR anthem — soaring melodies, thunderous drums and bass, and a blistering twin-guitar solo — the track also carries a powerful sense of yearning, brought to life by Ralf Scheepers's unmistakable vocals. Filmed at Dennis Ward's Kangaroo Studios in Karlsdorf-Neuthard, Germany, where the "Domination" recording sessions took place in late 2024, "Far Away" is also available now as a performance-style music video on YouTube.

Scheepers explains the meaning behind the single: "It's an expression of faith and trust, no matter where or what. We all know this feeling of missing someone so much, not being able to see or hear him/her every day — especially as musicians whilst touring."

Going strong for nearly three decades, PRIMAL FEAR was founded and is still led by Mat Sinner (bass, vocals) and Ralf Scheepers (vocals),who have never let down their global fanbase. Relentless and constantly pushing their limits, PRIMAL FEAR ensure that no two albums ever sound the same. After "Code Red" (2023) hit some of the highest chart positions of their career, expectations for the next release were higher than ever. Now joined by Italian/Cuban sensation Thalìa Bellazecca (ANGUS MCSIX, ex-FROZEN CROWN) on guitar and André Hilgers (AXXIS, RAGE, SILENT FORCE, SINNER, BONFIRE) on drums, the quintet was more than up for the challenge. And as "Domination" makes clear, no obstacle is too great for PRIMAL FEAR's powerhouse songwriting trio — Sinner, Scheepers and Swedish guitarist Magnus Karlsson, who also rejoins the band's live lineup after several years away.

From the hard-hitting opener "The Hunter" and first single "Far Away" to the uplifting mid-tempo anthem "Tears Of Fire" and the epic ballad "Eden" — featuring a guest appearance by AD INFINITUM's Melissa Bonny — "Domination" delivers on all fronts. Add in neck-breakers like "Scream" and "Crossfire", and the reflective, string-and-piano-driven closer "A Tune I Won't Forget", and it's clear: PRIMAL FEAR aren't here to reclaim the crown — they're here to prove they've never left the throne of heavy/power metal royalty.

"Domination" was recorded in autumn 2024, produced by Mat Sinner and co-produced by Ralf Scheepers as well as Magnus Karlsson. Rounded off by multiple PRIMAL FEAR mixing/mastering engineer Jacob Hansen at his own studios in Denmark, the album artwork was designed by Death.Milk.Designs.

"Domination" track listing:

01. The Hunter
02. Destroyer
03. Far Away
04. I Am The Primal Fear
05. Tears Of Fire
06. Heroes And Gods
07. Hallucinations
08. Eden (feat. Melissa Bonny of AD INFINITUM)
09. Scream
10. The Dead Don't Die
11. Crossfire
12. March Boy March
13. A Tune I Won't Forget

Bonus track (physical only, excluding jewel case CD)

14. Bridges Will Burn

Warming up at five select summer festivals, PRIMAL FEAR will return to the live front with its longest European tour since 2018. Reigning Phoenix Music labelmates ELEINE have been confirmed as special guests.

In August 2024, guitarists Alex Beyrodt and Tom Naumann, drummer Michael Ehré and bassist Alex Jansen announced their departures from PRIMAL FEAR, writing in a statement: "Dear fans and friends of PRIMAL FEAR, we unfortunately have to inform you today that Alex Beyrodt, Tom Naumann, Michael Ehré and Alex Jansen, who helped us on bass for the last two years, are no longer part of the band PRIMAL FEAR. Triggered by decisions within the band that we do not agree with, this step was anything but easy for us to take. We would like to make it clear that despite the differences of opinion, there was no argument or bad blood.

"We would like to thank you for the time we spent together, the numerous albums, the tours, shows and festivals that have taken us around the world together, and of course for the love of the fans. We wish Mat and Ralf all the best for the future!"

Formed by Sinner in 1997 as an outlet for Scheepers (who had left GAMMA RAY and was a rumored candidate for the then-open JUDAS PRIEST vocal spot, but was considering early retirement from metal),PRIMAL FEAR has emerged as one of the most consistent European metal bands, rarely straying from its core PRIEST-styled power metal sound.

PRIMAL FEAR 2025 is:

Ralf Scheepers - vocals
Mat Sinner - bass, vocals
Magnus Karlsson - guitars
Thalìa Bellazecca - guitars
André Hilgers - drums

Photo credit: Heiko Roith

Metal gods Judas Priest performed at Vibra São Paulo in São Paulo, Brazil on April 20. Fan-filmed video of their entire show can be viewed below.

Setlist:

“Panic Attack”
“You’ve Got Another Thing Comin'”
“Rapid Fire”
“Breaking the Law”
“Riding on the Wind”
“Love Bites”
“Devil’s Child”
“Saints in Hell”
“Crown of Horns”
“Sinner”
“Turbo Lover”
“Invincible Shield”
“Victim of Changes”
“The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)” (Fleetwood Mac)
“Painkiller”

Encore:
“The Hellion / Electric Eye”
“Hell Bent for Leather”
“Living After Midnight”

Finnish progressive metal band, Oddland, are thrilled to share their new single and official music video, “Freefall”, available today via Frontiers Music Srl. Watch the official video below, and stream/download the song here.



The band commented on the new single: “’Freefall’ paints a picture of a repeating nightmare in sleep paralysis that feels like you are forever falling, without a way out. Like a broken record, you are forced to relive it again and again, but with the difference that you can’t get up and change it. Hopefully people will find this song a pleasant ‘nightmare’ that you really don’t mind listening to again and again!”

The song was mixed and mastered by the Grammy nominated producers Carson Slovak & Grant McFarland from Atrium Audio (August Burns Red, Lorna Shore, Candlebox). The video for the song was shot by the band in various cities during Oddland’s European tour with Soen in October/November 2024, with additional cinematography during the tour’s last concert in Gdansk, Poland by Dariusz Feluz, who did an amazing job capturing the intense atmosphere on camera. The final editing and special effects were added by the band’s drummer Ville Viitanen.



Founded in 2003 in Turku, Finland, Oddland’s forward-thinking delivery melds aggressive tones, spacious textures, and glorious melodies into a seamless and cohesive entity. Following a string of successful demos, the band was signed to Century Media for the 2012 debut album, The Treachery Of Senses.

Mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö, the record was greeted with a barrage of critical acclaim, and was praised as the best prog-metal record ever recorded in Finland.

Oddland recorded the magnificent follow-up album Origin at Fantom Studios (Insomnium, Korpiklaani, Oranssi Pazuzu) after which it was mixed and mastered by Daniel Bergstrand (Meshuggah, In Flames, Dimmu Borgir) and release worldwide through Sensory Records in 2016.

Containing a bit more than forty-five minutes of music, the album bears a theme which ties deeply into the lyrics and extensive artwork, with a separate piece of art being created for each of the nine songs, by Egyptian artist Mohammed Essam.

Oddland have performed at several festivals including FME, Tuska, Headway, Næstved metalfest and Progpower Europe, been touring Europe three times, both as support act for Persefone, for Manticora and as split headliner, in addition to many shows alongside the likes of established acts including Soen, Leprous, Swallow the Sun and Omnium Gatherum. It’s a great live band that leaves nothing to be desired.

In February 2022, the band signed with the brand-new German label Uprising! Records (a sub-label of Target Group) and released their third album, Vermilion. With an insanely amazing production that takes the listener into the universe of Tool and mixes that super production with a perfect blend of musical twists that would startle any Leprous, Pain Of Salvation or even Faith No More fan, you just can’t go wrong with these Finnish masters of prog.

Vermilion is nothing short of a production-wise masterpiece that combines all that prog-lovers love about prog. Mixed and mastered by Carson Slovak and Grant Mcfarland (Black Crown Initiate, Rivers Of Nihil, a.o.), with an eerie artwork, created by drummer/multi-talent Ville Viitanen, this album sees Oddland lifted to higher levels within the world of heavy metal.

Oddland is:

Sakari Ojanen – Vocals, guitars
Joni Palmroth – Bass
Ville Viitanen – Drums
Jussi Poikonen – guitars

Armored Saint played their biggest Wacken Open Air show so far in 2024. Below you can watch professionally-filmed footage of the band performing “End Of The Attention Span”, “March Of The Saint”, and “Reign Of Fire”:



Watch the full show at Magenta Musik, here.

Armored Saint will enter the studio next month to begin recording their long-awaited ninth studio album, tentatively slated for a spring 2026 release through Metal Blade Records.

In September, the band will join W.A.S.P. for a trio of UK shows before returning to the States to support legendary guitarist Michael Schenker on his My Years With UFO US Tour. Armored Saint will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of their second album, Delirious Nomad, with a five-song micro set of songs from the record throughout the tour.

To further commemorate the cornerstone record, the band is making available a special Delirious Nomad wrapped guitar from Dean Guitars. Each guitar is signed by the band.