Internationally acclaimed heavy metallers, Sabaton, are celebrating their 25-year milestone in the music industry.


Founded in Falun, Sweden, in 1999, Sabaton's journey has been nothing short of legendary. Their music industry adventures have been fuelled by powerful anthems, 10 studio albums, passionate historical storytelling, and explosive international shows and tours, not to mention out-of-the-box initiatives and projects, all of which wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of their dedicated fan base across the globe.


To mark this momentous milestone, Sabaton have embarked on a year-long celebration. Fans around the world can look forward to a series of celebratory events and an abundance of surprises.




They have checked in with the following message:


"It’s officially March, which means this month we’ll be shining the spotlight on our third studio album – Metalizer! We’ll be sharing never-heard-before details and facts about this album and we’ll be launching a number of fun activities, games and a giveaway to celebrate. Plus, there’ll be new merch! Keep your eyes open. Be Ready. And blast the album loud!"





Following is an excerpt from the behind-the-scenes Metalizer story:


"When we began our heavy metal journey, Metalizer was originally intended to be our very first studio album back in 2002. The record was crafted way before we made our thematic shift towards historical narratives. It featured a collection of songs that delved into more traditional metal themes with titles such as "Hellrider", "Thundergods" and "Hail To The King" setting the tone. Many of the album’s tracks were re-recorded and plucked from Fist For Fight, our self-released debut. However, just as we were ready to unleash our vision upon the world, our collaboration with an Italian label took an unexpected turn, leaving us in limbo for years until a resolution was reached years after in 2007. But we’ll get into more detail about that later…


Listening to Metalizer takes us on a nostalgic journey back to our humble beginnings. We were just a bunch of young metalheads who were on a mission to craft our first album. We were actually living out our dream, and boy, what a feeling that was! The only drawback of this album experience was the lengthy wait of five years before its release, during which we had solidified our musical identity and carved out our niche in the industry.


Imagine this scenario: you record an album in 2002, but it doesn’t see the light of day until 2007. It’s an unusual situation, and, of course, so much can happen and change in five years. As musicians, this was a peculiar situation to find ourselves in. Following the release of Attero Dominatus, this album resurfaced, featuring songs we had barely heard in half a decade. The music, the production, even the lyrical themes felt disconnected from where Sabaton was at the time. Yet, diving back into this old gem proved to be an immensely gratifying experience – especially when performing the songs live on tour."


Read more here.

AmazeVR, the global leader in virtual reality (VR) concerts, in partnership with Warner Records and rock band AVENGED SEVENFOLD, have officially released the "Avenged Sevenfold VR Concert: Looking Inside" exclusively available to AmazeVR Concert app. The 26-minute VR concert features some of the band's iconic hits, "Hail To The King" and "Nightmare", as well as new fan favorites from their latest "Life Is But A Dream…" album, "Nobody", "(D)eath" and "Mattel".

Transcending the traditional boundaries of where artists and fans connect, AmazeVR's AVENGED SEVENFOLD immersive VR concert "Looking Inside" raises the standards of one-to-one entertainment and innovation. Via photorealistic superimposition of live artist footage, VR, and custom visual effects and backgrounds, AmazeVR technology transports viewers to entirely new, extraordinary concert experiences.

Fans are invited to embark on an existential odyssey with AVENGED SEVENFOLD's perfectly curated dark dreamscape, featuring unseen experimental angles that provide the closest-ever look to the artist's instruments in a VR setting.

"We're giving AVENGED SEVENFOLD fans a perfect moment frozen in time," said Steve Lee, AmazeVR CEO and co-founder. "Our technology allows app goers to preserve and experience the highest quality and detailed performance over and over again. We knew that AVENGED SEVENFOLD was the perfect choice to debut our rock genre, they are constantly challenging the norm, experimenting with new technology, all to prioritize connecting with their fans."

Fans are invited to embark on an existential odyssey with AVENGED SEVENFOLD's perfectly curated dark dreamscape, featuring unseen experimental angles that provide the closest-ever look to the artist's instruments in a VR setting. The detailed showcase includes close-ups, including Brooks Wackerman's drum set and 12 guitars, where Synyster Gates, Zacky Vengeance and Johnny Christ bring out new guitars for each song.

"Being able to combine the best aspects of what a live show and technology offers is what excites us the most about our VR concert, and what we've created with the two is pretty compelling," said M. Shadows of AVENGED SEVENFOLD. "Lots of our fans already know the intricacies of our performances, but I think they're going to be blown away when they can get closer than ever before."

"It's a really exciting time to be an artist but also to be a fan," said Jacqui Bransky, VP of web3 and innovation at Warner Records. "As the music industry continues to shift, Warner Records is always looking for new opportunities to bring our artists to the forefront of the technology space. We are excited to continue creating new immersive opportunities for fans that bring them one step closer to experiencing their favorite artists up-close and personal. AmazeVR have been great partners in bringing this vision to life."

Bringing the show to fans, AVENGED SEVENFOLD will also be including their immersive concert experience into their VIP packages on the upcoming "Life Is But A Dream…" North American tour kicking off March 6. Fans will have the opportunity to view the band's performance of "Mattel" inside the VIP lounge.

The addition of AVENGED SEVENFOLD marks the first time AmazeVR has partnered with a band and introduced a new genre, rock, to the AmazeVR Concerts App. Available for download on Apple Vision Pro and Meta App Lab, AVENGED SEVENFOLD adds to the AmazeVR Concerts app calendar of artists, including T-Pain, Megan Thee Stallion, Zara Larsson and UPSAHL. Users can access one free song per artist and purchase the entire concert for the exclusive launch price of $12.99.

To find out more about AmazeVR, along with upcoming concerts, visit amazevr.com.

During a new question-and-answer session posted on Instagram, legendary DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW guitarist Ritchie Blackmore was asked to name his favorite ABBA song. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "There's too many. I love them. They are incredible. Their progressions and it's just… It's a funny story with that. We were in a chateau in France trying to do [RAINBOW's] 'Long Live Rock 'N' Roll' [album in 1977]. We were all very bored. We were sitting around the fireplace — Cozy [Powell, RAINBOW drummer], myself and Ronnie [James Dio, RAINBOW singer] — and we were getting a little bit kind of irritated because we were not coming up with any ideas. And Cozy said, 'Okay, I have to own up.' And we looked at him, because we'd been drinking, as usual, and we said, 'You have to own up about what?' He said, 'Are you ready?' I said, 'Yeah.' He said, 'I like ABBA.' To which I went, 'Oh my God. I love ABBA.' And then Ronnie goes, 'Yes. So do I.' So now we've all embarrassed ourselves going, 'Ah, we love ABBA,' 'cause you're not supposed to say that. And with that, Cozy runs off to get all the ABBA songs and to play them. And we played, for hours, all the ABBA songs around the fireside in this chateau. We should have been writing our own songs, but it was much better to listen to ABBA."

Ritchie continued: "I think ABBA was the best band. I always listened to ABBA when I was a kid. It was so melodic, and it just worked. It was fantastic. And they are probably my favorite band of all time. And I know it's uncool to say that in certain areas. And they were wonderful."

Asked what he listens to nowadays, Ritchie responded: "I have a bad habit of not listening to the radio. I listen to the radio, but I have a bad habit of listening to talk radio because I don't like what they're playing on the radio. To me, music is very serious and I don't like what's on the radio and I find it disturbing. I find it irritating, but it's the fashion of the day. It's what's selling, and I can see that, but it's not for me. I stopped listening to the radio from a musical point of view about 40 years ago. I would often listen to classical music. I found that more refreshing because it wasn't pandering to the public. But I do not listen particularly to the radio."

Blackmore is a co-founder of DEEP PURPLE and wrote many of their most memorable riffs, including "Smoke On The Water", but he has not played with the group since his 1993 departure.

During his time away from PURPLE, Blackmore established the neo-classical band called RAINBOW, which fused baroque music influences elements with hard rock before gradually progressing to catchy pop-style hard rock.

Blackmore, 78, quit rock and roll in 1997 to form BLACKMORE'S NIGHT with then-girlfriend Night. Since then, BLACKMORE'S NIGHT has released 11 studio albums.

Blackmore stepped away from his Renaissance-inspired brand of music with BLACKMORE'S NIGHT in 2016 to perform a handful of shows with a brand-new lineup of RAINBOW.

In addition to Blackmore and Night (backing vocals),the most recent incarnation of RAINBOW included singer Ronnie Romero, STRATOVARIUS keyboardist Jens Johansson, BLACKMORE'S NIGHT drummer David Keith, bassist Bob Nouveau (a.k.a. Robert "Bob" Curiano, ex-BLACKMORE'S NIGHT),and backing singer Lady Lynn.

The two shows RAINBOW played in Germany in June 2016 were caught on camera to produce "Memories In Rock - Live In Germany", which was released in November 2016 via Eagle Rock Entertainment on DVD+2CD, Blu-ray+2CD, and digital formats.

After Ritchie left DEEP PURPLE for the final time in 1993, he reformed RAINBOW for one album (1995's "Stranger In Us All") and one tour, ending things in Denmark in 1997.

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Premier Guitar has uploaded video of PANTERA bassist Rex Brown, guitarist Zakk Wylde and drummer Charlie Benante performing the song "Floods" during soundcheck before their February 10 concert at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee. Check it out below.

PANTERA played "Floods" for the first time since May 2001 at the opening concert of the band's 2024 tour on February 3 at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

"Floods" originally appeared on PANTERA's 1996 album "The Great Southern Trendkill". An early mix of the song was released on the 20th-anniversary edition of the LP.

A 50-minute rig rundown with Rex and Zakk is also available below.

Speaking about PANTERA's ongoing world tour, Rex told Premier Guitar: "We're having the time of our lives out here. Philip [Anselmo, PANTERA singer] and I said, when it started, it's, like… I've been playing with that kid since he was 18 years old… and we worked really hard to get where we're at as a band, really. And here we are, and it's just an amazing feeling."

Reflecting on his four-decade career, which included a stint with DOWN and a solo album, Rex said: "I took myself out of the game for a little bit. I had some kids to raise and they probably needed a father at that time. And that's just life. That's the way we deal with it. One thing at a time."

The reformed band is headlining a number of major festivals across North America, South America and Europe and staging some of their own headline concerts. They are also supporting METALLICA on a massive stadium tour in 2024.

It was first reported in July 2022 that Anselmo and Brown would unite with Wylde and Benante for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.

According to Billboard, the lineup has been given a green light by the estates of the band's founders, drummer Vincent "Vinnie Paul" Abbott and guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, as well as Brown, who in 2021 said Wylde wouldn't tour with PANTERA if a reunion were to happen. It's unclear what changed his mind.

Anselmo and Brown spoke about PANTERA's return to the stage during an appearance on the seventeenth episode of "The Metallica Report", the podcast offering weekly insider updates on all things METALLICA. Philip said: "It's empowering. It is incredibly beautiful, and you feel so much love when you're up there. And if you take it in, it's a great feeling, man. These days, man, that's where me and Rex, you know, we get to dig the shows more."

He continued: "When we were younger, we were at war and when we were on stage; we were just angry and at war, man. Now it's — the songs are there. I can concentrate on singing the fricking songs, number one. Geez, that's a relief for me, man. I don't have to break my fricking body in part anymore."

Anselmo and Brown also talked about Charlie and Zakk being part of the PANTERA team. Philip said: "Them two dudes, so enthusiastic. And they got their damn thing and they got their own damn legacy, both of them, without us. It's an honor to play with them. They're the nicest frickin guys in the world, man. I'm just so... [Laughs] Zakk, he's a crack-up, man. He's a sweetheart. And fricking Charlie, we've known Charlie since '87, man. It's a long time."

Rex chimed in: "The way [Charlie] plays Vinnie's parts is uncanny. I don't think there's any drummer out there that could play the way that Vinnie did. I would close my eyes, because I was trying to get tight, and sometimes if I close my eyes, I can hear a little better; I think I can. And there'd be a tear of joy just coming down, because that was so close to what Vinnie and I used to play. So you have the foundation."

Philip concurred, saying: "The low end sounds so PANTERA, man. It's freaking me out."

When the interviewer suggested that PANTERA in 2023 had Vinnie Paul and Dimebag's "spirit inside it", Philip said: "Only thing I can say is, man, I know for a damn fact Vince and Dime would want us to do this, hands down. They would want the PANTERA brand or the legacy to go on. And I don't know what you believe in, but sometimes, you know, you would like to think that them old fellas are looking down on us, giving us the thumbs-up."

While he was alive, Vinnie Paul had repeatedly dismissed talks of a PANTERA reunion, telling Germany's EMP Rock Invasion in 2014: "People are selfish, man. They want what they want; they don't care what you want. And it's unfortunate that people go, 'Oh, wow, man, they can get Zakk Wylde to jump up there on stage and it's PANTERA again.' No, it's not, you know. It's not that simple. If Eddie Van Halen was to get shot in the head four times next week, would everybody be going, 'Hey, man, Zakk, go play for VAN HALEN. Just call it VAN HALEN.' You see what I'm saying? I mean, it's really selfish for people to think that, and it's stupid. It's not right at all."

He continued: "They call it a reunion for a reason. It's called bringing the original members back to what it was. So there's a lot of these things that they call reunions that aren't really reunions. They've got one dude from the band floating around in them, you know. That's not a true reunion. With PANTERA, it'll never be possible."

He repeated those same sentiments a few months later, telling PlanetMosh in a separate interview: "Without Dimebag Darrell, there is no [PANTERA] reunion. And that's all there is to it. We were a very influential band, and we touched millions and millions of people with that band, but it's over. People really have to come to grips with that, and that's all there is to it. If all of us were still here, then the possibility would truly be there, but since it's not, you know… It's selfish of the fans to want something that they can't have. And they don't ever understand that, and I get it. There's things I want in this world too. You know, people in fucking hell want ice water, but they're not gonna get it."

Up until his passing in June 2018, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for Dimebag's death.

Vinnie Paul and Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.

Dimebag's longtime girlfriend Rita Haney in 2011 called on Vinnie and Philip to settle their differences in honor of Dimebag.

Vinnie, who was Dimebag's brother, and Anselmo had not spoken since PANTERA split in 2003. But the relationship got even more acrimonious when Vinnie suggested that some remarks the vocalist had made about Dimebag in print just weeks earlier might have incited Dimebag's killer.

Haney told the producers of "Behind The Music Remastered: Pantera" that she forgave the singer after they found themselves unexpectedly face to face at a concert in California.

GUNS N' ROSES bassist Duff McKagan has released the official music video for the song "Fallen" from his third solo album, "Lighthouse". The clip was directed and edited by Dan Sturgess and can be seen below.

Duff stated about the track and the video: "It's true. I have and remain fallen. To be able to express it with lyrics and music is sometimes the difficult bit….but this song is my latest attempt at trying to illuminate what it's like for me…with [my wife] Susan.

"Dan Sturgess spent a few months filming with GN'R on the road in the U.K., Europe, and North America. During this time, Dan really got to know Susan and I….or at least how he saw us through his excellent camera work and editing prowess.

"I've found over the years, that its sometimes a bit awkward to be comfortable when a camera is rolling, but Dan just became somewhat invisible, or at least his camera did, when we'd hang out and travel and do gigs.

"This video for the song 'Fallen' does a pretty great job of getting the gist of how Susan Holmes McKagan and I roll. We have fun, work hard, and every day, we love each other. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did."

Duff previously said about the inspiration for "Fallen": "'Fallen' is a song I wrote for — inspired by my wife, Susan. If I say I wrote the song… I have a good situation at home that she gives me plenty of leeway to be creative. I have a studio. She's, like, 'You should get over to the studio. Create something killer today.' And to have that is awesome.

"My wife and I, our kids are grown," he continued. "And we have great kids. But we're empty nesting at this point and have been for a few years. So, when I say [in the song] 'I try to be indecent when that's what you need', it kind of means what it says. But it's a love song for my lovely wife, Susan."

"Lighthouse" was released in October in a wide range of formats including streaming, download, CD, cassette and LP.

"Lighthouse" sees Duff McKagan baring more of his artistic spirit than ever before, fusing acoustic elements with hard-edged rock 'n' roll to land at the sweet spot between soul-searching reflection and pure energy. The album was first announced last summer alongside its title track, "Lighthouse", joined by an official visualizer streaming now at the official Duff McKagan YouTube channel.

"Lighthouse" was soon followed by "I Saw God On 10th Street", also joined by an official visualizer streaming now. "I Saw God On 10th Street" received immediate praise from such outlets as Kerrang!, Revolver and American Songwriter.

"Longfeather" arrived next, hailed by Revolver as "folky, elegiac" and joined by an official music video — directed by longtime visual collaborators Connor Ellmann, Kuj Durollari and Arben Durollari — streaming now on YouTube. A video for the song "I Just Don't Know (Feat. Jerry Cantrell)" is now streaming on YouTube as well.

Starting at just 15, McKagan has been a part of such diverse and influential bands as THE VAINS (1979),THE FASTBACKS (1980),THE LIVING (1982),THE FARTZ (1982),10 MINUTE WARNING (1983) and LOADED (1998),along, of course, with his historic role as founding member of both GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER. Produced by three-time Grammy Award winner Shooter Jennings, McKagan's 2019 second solo album, "Tenderness", marked a powerful new chapter for the ever-evolving artist, taking on societal ills and his own personal transgressions against a rich sonic backdrop of Americana-fueled arrangements. Named by Loudwire as one of that year's "50 Best Rock Albums" and hailed by Rolling Stone in a three-and-a-half (out of four)-starred rave as "an album full of beauty and heart…It's music of conscience, heavy songs with a light touch," the album includes the volatile rocker "Chip Away", which earned extraordinary praise from the maestro himself, Bob Dylan, who recently declared the song a personal favorite.

"There's a Duff McKagan song called 'Chip Away' that has profound meaning for me," Dylan told The Wall Street Journal. "It's a graphic song. Chip away, chip away, like Michelangelo, breaking up solid marble stone to discover the form of King David inside. He didn't build him from the ground up, he chipped away the stone until he discovered the king. It's like my own songwriting, I overwrite something, then I chip away lines and phrases until I get to the real thing."

Along with his prolific musical efforts, McKagan is The New York Times best-selling author of 2011's "It's So Easy: And Other Lies" and 2015's "How To Be A Man: (And Other Illusions)", and the co-host (with Susan Holmes McKagan) of SiriusXM's popular "Three Chords & The Truth" radio show on Ozzy's Boneyard (Ch. 38). McKagan currently serves as a core member of a modern-day "Wrecking Crew" alongside Grammy Award-winning musician/producer Andrew Watt and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' Chad Smith, recording and co-writing on such recent albums as Ozzy Osbourne's "Ordinary Man" (2020) and two-time Grammy Award-winning "Patient No. 9" (2022) and Iggy Pop's acclaimed "Every Loser" (2023). What's more, McKagan — with Watt, Smith, and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' Josh Klinghoffer — is part of the recently unveiled IGGY POP & THE LOSERS lineup, who made a high-profile televised debut last year with an electrifying performance of the feverish "Frenzy" on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

Bloodstock Festivals has released footage of New Jersey's Fit For An Autopsy performing "Pandora" at the 2023 edition of Bloodstock Open Air. Watch below.


A message states: "Immerse yourself in the unparalleled ferocity of Fit For An Autopsy's breathtaking live show at the esteemed Bloodstock Open Air Metal Festival, held on the memorable day of August 11th, 2023. Witness firsthand the electrifying surge of 'Hellions', a remarkable composition that shines brightly among their latest musical endeavours, showcased right here for your viewing pleasure. This track, known for its intricate blend of technical prowess and raw, unbridled aggression, encapsulates the essence of what makes this band a titan in the deathcore scene.


But the journey doesn't end with 'Pandora'. Our channel is poised to reveal an array of additional tracks and the entirety of this monumental performance, ensuring that fans and newcomers alike can relive the intensity of that night. From the first note to the last, Fit For An Autopsy's set at Bloodstock 2023 was a masterclass in musical ferocity, blending death metal's brutality with hardcore's impassioned energy and technical metal's complexity.




Prepare to be captivated by the band's dynamic stage presence, as they not only blur but completely erase the lines between genres, offering a performance that's as thought-provoking as it is visceral."


"Pandora":





"Hellions"

GODSMACK was joined by AEROSMITH guitarist Brad Whitford on stage on February 27 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee to perform covers of AEROSMITH's classic power ballad "Dream On" and THE BEATLES' "Come Together". Fan-filmed video of his appearance can be seen below.

Whitford previously played the same two songs with GODSMACK last May in Franklin, Tennessee and again at the Sonic Temple festival in Columbus, Ohio.

Asked in an interview with the 99.7 The Blitz radio station how the collaboration came about, Erna said: "Actually, me and my fiancée and my manager and his wife and a couple of other friends and their girls, we all took a trip to the Bahamas together. And my manager also manages Joe Perry. So we just kind of all got to know the AEROSMITH camp over the years. And Brad and his wife Lisa came with us, so we spent 10 days with them in the Bahamas and just became really good friends. And I started talking to them about The Scars Foundation [which has been established by Erna and GODSMACK to help raise awareness of the mental health issues that so many are faced with today], and they were just head over heels for it. So I connected them with our executive director, and we've all kind of been in the mix ever since. And then the next thing you know, Lisa and Brad reached out and just said, 'Hey, we're gonna come to Tennessee and Ohio and Michigan and we're just jumping on your bus and we're gonna hang.' And I'm, like, 'Well, cool. Then we're doing an AEROSMITH song. 'Cause that has to happen.' And that's kind of how it started."

Sully went on to say that it's been "surreal" playing with one of his early musical idols.

"I've gotta tell you, man, for me, it was like… As you know, this band [GODSMACK] is from Boston, and AEROSMITH's from Boston, so they were my childhood heroes for sure, and I know some of the other guys [in GODSMACK], of course, love AEROSMITH," Erna said. "'Cause we all grew up with the same music — AEROSMITH, RUSH, [LED] ZEPPELIN, [BLACK] SABBATH. So it's still humbling and so rewarding to know that we're still living out our childhood dreams 25 years later touring. And I remember Joe Perry is actually the reason why I wanted to be a rock star. I started playing drums when I was three years old, so I'd always been a musician. My dad's a musician, my great uncle was a famous composer in Sicily. So music's in our bloodline. But it wasn't till I was about 13 or 14 years old and I opened up the 'Live! Bootleg' record and I'd seen Joe Perry holding up a B.C. Rich [guitar] with his hair covering his eyes and a blond streak. And I was just starting to get into weed and I was, like, 'That's what I wanna do right there.' So it was no longer about being a musician; it was about being a rock star. So, ironically, Joe Perry is the one that kind of flipped me in that direction. And, of course, we just have a lot of history from our childhood going to AEROSMITH shows and things like that. So it's been very surreal. And Brad's such a nice guy — a real sweetheart, man. We've just become really good friends. And it's just such an honor to share the stage with him."

Back in July 2019, Erna paid tribute to AEROSMITH, crediting the legendary rockers with playing "an enormous role in sculpting me to become the musician I am today."

Erna made his comments afer attending an AEROSMITH concert in Las Vegas, where the iconic band was in the middle of its "Deuces Are Wild" residency.

Sully took to his Facebook page to share a few photos of the show and included the following message: "Some info you may or may not know about me... Seeing @aerosmith tonight with my Manager Paul in Vegas was such a walk down memory lane for both of us. Not only have we built the GODSMACK brand together over the years, but we're both #Boston boys and have been friends now for 30 years and grew up listening and studying this band since we were teenagers. We've been going to AEROSMITH concerts since we were 14 hrs old and AEROSMITH Rocks was literally the first album I ever bought. I even remember smoking my first joint to the song 'Last Child'.

"I've seen AEROSMITH at least 10 times throughout the years and the photo of @joeperryofficial inside the Live Bootleg Album holding up his B.C. Rich with his hair in front of his face and that blonde streak was single handedly the photo that made me want to grow my hair long and go from just being a musician to being a 'rockstar.' This band and their music has meant everything to me over the years and has played an enormous role in sculpting me to become the musician I am today. Their presence, attitude and musicianship is by far some of the coolest and iconic ever known.

"I don't know how much longer they'll go for, but I just feel grateful that their music has been embedded into my veins and have been a huge part of my life! Thank You @aerosmith for all the music and inspirations you've given all of us Rock Musicians over the last 50 years! Talk about 'Legends Rise'? These guys have risen, fallen, and rose again to become bigger and better than they were before. They've been on the top of that mountain for decades. And they continue to inspire all of us over and over again. Yes, we're still super fans! But it's also nice to know that I didn't waste the last 37 years of my life idolizing the wrong band. #proud to be #boston ! What a fun and emotional night!"

In 2018, Erna told Classic Rock magazine that AEROSMITH's 1976 album "Rocks" was a huge influence on him growing up. "I'd been a musician since I was three and a half years old, and I was raised on blues and more jazzy music," he said. "A friend played me 'Last Child' from 'Rocks'. I think it was the first time I smoked a joint, and it was a really life-changing point for me, because it really lured me into the world of rock. It was super-cool for a young kid."

GODSMACK kicked off its "Vibez Tour" on February 15 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The trek sees Erna and his bandmates deliver a series of intimate evenings featuring acoustic/electric performances and untold stories in theatres across North America. The second leg of the tour will kick off April 9 in Valley Center, California.

102.9 The Buzz Presents: Godsmack Vibez Tour - An Intimate Evening of Music and Untold Stories, February 27th at Ryman...

Posted by 102.9 The Buzz on Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Slash's long-running band SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS performed at Namba Hatch in Osaka, Japan as part of its "The River Is Rising - Rest Of The World Tour '24". Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. The River Is Rising
02. Driving Rain
03. Halo
04. Too Far Gone
05. Back From Cali
06. Whatever Gets You By
07. C'est La Vie
08. Actions Speak Louder Than Words
09. Always On The Run (Lenny Kravitz cover)
10. Bent To Fly
11. Mind Your Manners
12. Spirit Love
13. Bad Apples (GUNS N' ROSES song)
14. Starlight
15. Wicked Stone
16. April Fool
17. Fill My World
18. Doctor Alibi
19. You're A Lie
20. World On Fire

Encore:

21. Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time) (Elton John cover)
22. Anastasia

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS kicked off "The River Is Rising - Rest Of The World Tour '24" on January 23 with the band's return to Mexico City's Pepsi Centre WTC. The group's 24-song setlist included the live debut of a deep GUNS N' ROSES cut, "Don't Damn Me", featuring bassist Todd Kerns on lead vocals.

Support on various dates of SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS's "The River Is Rising - Rest Of The World Tour '24" is coming from MAMMOTH WVH.

Prior to the launch of "The River Is Rising – Rest Of The World Tour '24", SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS last performed in February and March 2022 as part of a U.S. tour.

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS' latest album, "4", was released in February 2022 via Gibson Records in partnership with BMG.

"4" was Slash's fifth solo album and fourth overall with his band featuring Myles Kennedy (vocals),Brent Fitz (drums),Todd Kerns (bass, vocals) and Frank Sidoris (guitar, vocals).

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS released "Live At Studios 60", their first-ever double live LP, for last year's Record Store Day in June 2022. The effort contained a performance of "4", plus four additional songs from the group. Recorded live in Los Angeles at Studios 60, the "Live At Studios 60" double LP exclusive Record Store Day release was limited to only 2,250 copies. The full concert featured all the songs from "4". Additional performances of the group's Top 5 rock radio hits, including "You're A Lie", "World On Fire", "Anastasia" and "Driving Rain" are also included in the double vinyl package.

For "4", Slash and the band traveled across the country together to Nashville, Tennessee and recorded the new album at the historic RCA Studio A with producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, John Prine, Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile),revealing a stunning new sound and style all captured live in the studio. Cobb shared the band's desire to lay down the tracks live, in the studio including guitar solos and vocals — a first for the group.

#TheRiverIsRisingTour Slash ft. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators playing tonight at Namba Hatch in Osaka, Japan 🇯🇵🎩🎸🤘

#slash #myleskennedy #toddkerns #brentfitz #franksidoris #smkc #osaka #japan

Posted by Myles Kennedy Army on Saturday, March 2, 2024

Intranced, the Los Angeles-based quartet, is storming into 2024 in high gear, eager to introduce their sound to a worldwide audience of old-school heavy metal fans. They will release their first full length album, Muerte y Metal, on June 7th via High Roller Records. The band features vocalist James-Paul Luna (ex-Holy Grail, White Wizzard) and guitarist Fili Bibiano (Fortress). 


Mixed by Herbrand Larsen (Enslaved, Audrey Horne) and mastered by Brad Boatwright, Muerte y Metal offers ten tracks of soaring, anthemic melodies, intricate guitar-playing, hard-charging NWOBHM beats, and distinctive late-'70ss swagger. The title track will be released as the first single, on March 15th, just in time for Intranced's  appearance at the Hell’s Heroes festival in Houston, TX (March 21-23).


The band will also be releasing a new shirt design inspired by the song, which is currently available via Bandcamp.







Tracklist:


"Reyes de las Tinieblas"
"Switchblade"
"Fantasy"
"I Dunno Nothin'"
"Muerte y Metal"
"Entra La Tormenta"
"Lady Lightning"
"Pulse"
"Passionate Pretender"
"See You On The Other Side"

During a question-and-answer session aboard this year's Monsters Of Rock cruise, former JUDAS PRIEST and current KK'S PRIEST frontman Tim "Ripper" Owens was asked what he does to take care of his singing voice. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, I'm lucky, 'cause the voice is a weird thing. I remember Ken [former JUDAS PRIEST and current KK'S PRIEST guitarist Kenneth 'K.K.' Downing] said something. I lost my voice at the second show on the European JUDAS PRIEST tour. And I would go swimming and go to the steam room and I just totally lost my voice. And he said, 'Tim, guitar players have to shut their fingers in the car door [before they are unable to play]. You can just wake up and not have a voice.' And for about five years I didn't. But I've always taken care of it. I go to the gym, I work out, but I don't talk a lot. I hide away when I'm on tour. But it's lucky. You can just lose your voice. But I'm singing better right now. My high notes are better now than, I think, they've ever been. I guess I get up and hope I can sing. That's basically it."

Asked how he gets ready for a live performance, Tim said: "Well, I don't like to talk [before a show]. That was one thing Ronnie [James Dio] was… There was no one like Ronnie. He would not only talk [before hitting the stage]; you would walk with him to the stage [while he is talking to you]. And he's drinking a Guinness on the way to the stage. I don't drink before the KK'S PRIEST shows. I don't like to talk to people. But I don't warm up. I don't do anything. I just go, [lets out a scream].' That's my warm-up. One of those. And that's just to go, 'I hope I can sing.' And then I'm done. I might not even do that, to be honest. But I just, like, clear it away. The first [KK'S PRIEST] song's my warm-up. It is 'Hellfire Thunderbolt', which is kind of a difficult starting song."

Circling back to Dio's approach to preparing for a live show, Tim said: "I love Ronnie. These stories are great. [DISTURBED's] David Draiman, you ever hear that story? David asked Ronnie [one time]… David would talk very seriously. And he would say, 'Ronnie, what do you do to warm up?' And Ronnie said, 'David, if you have to warm up, you don't have it.' But every singer is different. Singers, I think warm-up is fantastic. To me, it just tires me out. But Ronnie was great, 'cause he could just — there was nothing. [There was] no one like Ronnie."

KK'S PRIEST made its live debut on July 6, 2023 at Downing's KK's Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.

Owens and Downing are joined in KK'S PRIEST by guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE),bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE).

KK'S PRIEST's first-ever U.S. headlining tour will kick off on March 7, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and will feature support from L.A. GUNS and BURNING WITCHES. The tour will be the first of at least a two-leg USA run of shows, planned to continue later in 2024.

KK'S PRIEST has been performing tracks from the band's debut album, 2021's "Sermons Of The Sinner", plus material from KK'S PRIEST second LP, last year's "The Sinner Rides Again", as well as many a PRIEST classic thrown in for good measure.

"The Sinner Rides Again" was released last September via the Austrian rock and metal empire Napalm Records. The nine-song effort was produced and written by Downing and mixed/mastered by Jacob Hansen.

Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 and recorded two studio albums with the band — 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — before PRIEST reunited with Rob Halford in 2003.

Brazilian/American metallers SEPULTURA kicked off their farewell tour last night (Friday, March 1) at Arena Hall in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The sold-out show marked the band's debut performance with new touring drummer Greyson Nekrutman (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES),who officially replaced SEPULTURA's longtime drummer Eloy Casagrande in February.

SEPULTURA's setlist for the Belo Horizonte concert was as follows:

01. Refuse/Resist
02. Territory
03. Slave New World
04. Phantom Self
05. Dusted (first time since 2016)
06. Attitude
07. Kairos
08. Means To An End
09. Cut-Throat
10. Guardians Of Earth
11. Mind War (first time since 2015)
12. False (first time since 2019)
13. Choke
14. Escape To The Void (first time since 2019)
15. Kaiowas
16. Sepulnation
17. Biotech Is Godzilla (first time since 2018)
18. Agony Of Defeat
19. Troops Of Doom
20. Arise

Encore:

21. Ratamahatta
22. Roots Bloody Roots

The 21-year-old Nekrutman is one of the most explosive young players in the drumming world, having garnered a legion of fans since bursting on to the international music scene just a few short years ago.

Greyson is featured on ALICE IN CHAINS vocalist William Duvall's "11.12.21 Live-In-Studio Nashville" CD, which came out in June 2022. Nekrutman has also performed or recorded with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, Bakithi Kumalo, Darren Criss, Drumeo, Pearl Drums, Meinl Cymbals and has been featured in articles by Rolling Stone, Rhythm, Rhythm And Drum (Japan) and Sweetwater Music.

SEPULTURA announced Eloy's departure on February 27, explaining in a statement that he was leaving to join "another project", with some fans speculating that he will be the new drummer of SLIPKNOT.

The news of Eloy's exit from SEPULTURA came just two months after the band announced it would celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2024 by embarking on a "farewell tour" which will cover the entire globe.

In SEPULTURA's statement, the remaining bandmembers expressed their shock over Casagrande's departure, saying they were "taken by surprise" that their now-former drummer would "abandon everything related to SEPULTURA" less than a month prior to the start of the tour.

"February 6th, a few days prior to the first rehearsal, drummer Eloy Casagrande informed the band that he was leaving SEPULTURA to pursue a career in another project," they said.

"The band were taken by surprise, without prior warning, he immediately left the band, abandoning everything related to SEPULTURA.

"Luckily American virtuoso Greyson Nekrutman will take the position of Eloy Casagrande and is welcomed as the band's new drummer for the 'Celebrating Life Through Death' farewell tour."

Casagrande, who joined SEPULTURA 13 years ago as the replacement for Jean Dolabella, later took to his social media to write: "I would like to announce my departure from SEPULTURA.

"Being part of the biggest Brazilian metal band was one of the best experiences of my life. I just want to thank the band and crew members.

"It was a story of almost 13 years, in which I had the opportunity to learn and contribute with every song, show and recording. These were years of great dedication, intensity and commitment. We did 3 studio albums very well received by the critics, countless shows on 5 continents and a lot of stories to tell. So, first of all, I reiterate my thanks to SEPULTURA and the fans for everything we've been through.

"Maybe for the band's fans it doesn't make sense at this point, but decisions needed to be made thinking about new cycles that will come. We are made of choices and they are not always easy. My departure will never erase my respect and gratitude to the band.

"There is a lot to come and I hope to continue making a lot of music and art. See you on the road."

Nekrutman also commented on his addition to SEPULTURA's lineup, writing in a statement: "Today I express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible opportunity to join the legendary ranks of SEPULTURA for their farewell tour.

"To contribute to this legacy is a privilege that fills me with both honor and excitement. SEPULTURA's fearless approach to exploring new territories in the metal sphere is something that I have always admired and strived to emulate in my own musical endeavors."

He continued: "I am eagerly looking forward to adding my own spirit and passion to the mix, to connecting with the fans who have supported the band through its evolution, and to the electrifying experiences we'll create together on stage. Here's to the new chapters we'll write together, to the stages we'll conquer, and to the powerful music we'll unleash upon the world."

Confirmed "Celebrating Life Through Death" tour dates so far include shows in South America and Europe. More concerts will be announced soon.

Esses quatro caras estão ansiosos para comemorar quatro décadas do Sepultura, começando hoje à noite com um show...

Posted by Sepultura on Friday, March 1, 2024

Former Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared his weekly cover, this time taking on the 1987 Helloween classic, "Future World". He is backed up by Majestica bandmate Petter Hjerpe. 





Johansson recentla announced his departure from Sabaton and issued the following statement:




"My dear friends! After seven glorious years of heavy metal, I have decided to step down as the guitarist of Sabaton. This has been the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my entire life.


As many of you may know, I do a lot of things outside of Sabaton. I play with another band, perform with various artists, and have a career as a singer that I’ve put aside for years to focus on Sabaton. After doing this for seven years, I feel it’s time to start following my heart. This means I will no longer tour with my brothers in Sabaton and will not meet all you lovely Sabaton supporters on the upcoming tours with the band.


I will never quit playing music. I’ll still be touring with Majestica and other projects, but not on the same level as Sabaton, of course. I am sure I will meet you lovely fans on the road again in the future.


My brothers in Sabaton and the best crew in the world will forever be my second family, and I will miss spending time with all these wonderful people. We had so much fun together every day. I’ve come to learn so much about life, about music and about touring that I wouldn’t have learned anywhere else.


A massive thank you to all you lovely Sabaton fans for accepting me as the new guitarist in 2016. I am certain you will accept the person who takes over after me.


All the best to you all and I’ll see you again soon!"

The Chinese progressive metal band OU (pronunciation: “O”) is set to unleash their mesmerizing sound in their upcoming sophomore album, 蘇醒 II: Frailty, co-produced, mixed and feat. Devin Townsend.


The album will be released on April 26 via InsideOutMusic, and is available for preorder here.


Their newest track "蘇醒Frailty" describes how life unfolds, drop by drop, as a fleeting thread in the ticking dance of time. Let OU navigate you through the depths of progressive metal, offering a unique perspective on the fragility and beauty of our existence.




Stream the video ”蘇醒Frailty” below.


OU comments on the new single: "OU is back! Life unfolds, drop by drop, a fleeting thread in the ticking dance of time. A brief bloom, a withered leaf, breathing in the rhythm of day and night. The river of life, a pale countdown, flowing soil beneath the dreamy sky. Pieces fall, growing without words, returning to the dust. The flower of life bears its fruit, lost in the vast expanse. A poignant journey, from bloom to disappearance, echoing the eternal tick tock of existence. The debut offering '蘇醒 Frailty" from our new album 'OU - 蘇醒 II: Frailty' has arrived, and we're excited to share it with you all."


They add on the album announcement: “We are very excited to present our forthcoming album OU - 蘇醒 II: Frailty, due for an April 26 release via InsideOutMusic. We were honoured to have the privilege on working with the mighty Devin Townsend to produce this album in order to further explore and enhance our sound, working to provide a sonic adventure for you all.”


The album will be available in the following versions:
 •Ltd. CD Jewelcase
•Ltd. White-Black Marbled 1LP 180g Vinyl – Strictly limited to only 1000 copies worldwide
•Digital Album


Artwork by Yooowen:





Tracklisting:


“蘇醒 Frailty”
“淨化 Purge”
 “海 Ocean”
“血液 Redemption”
“衍生 Capture and Elongate (Serenity)”
“破魂 Spirit Broken”
“歪歪地愛 yyds”
“輪迴 Reborn”
“念 Recall”


“蘇醒 Frailty” video:





(Photo – Zhang Xin 張歆)

Six years since the release of the promising potential of their debut album, Legends, finally comes a new song, “Ironsides”, from Los Angeles’ progressive power metal band Novareign.


Ironsides by Novareign


“Old Ironsides is a poem written by Oliver Wendall Holmes Sr. after finding out that the USS Constitution was slated to be deconstructed and used for parts,” explains singer Icarus Marquez. “Saddened by this notion, Holmes took his poem and published it in his local newspaper. After the town read the poem, they rallied together and let the powers that be know that they all believed if the ship was to be destroyed, then it should at the very least have the opportunity to go out in battle. The power that be could not deny its people and made the repairs necessary to get it back in active duty. Centuries later, Old Ironsides is STILL in active duty to this very day. There is no limit to what we as a people can do when we rally together.”




Additionally, the ensuing live shows that followed its release including dates with Michael Schenker, Exmortus, Angra, White Wizzard, Rhapsody Ov Fire, Act of Defiance, Bonded By Blood, GloryHammer, Graveshadow, PowerGlove and Holy Grail, in addition to festivals like Mad With Power, Hyperspace, Ruinfest and Frost And Fire.


In the downtime, Novareign endured a couple of lineup changes implementing new drummer Ulises Hernandez (ex-Judicator, Our Dying World) and guitarist David Walston (ex-Helsott, Monolith), while guitarist Balmore Lemus has split his time with Judicator, Lunar and Dire Peril. On and off Novareign have been writing and recording the follow-up to Legends and a new album is expected by the end of 2024.

Anglo-Finnish progressive metallers, Wheel, are pleased to announce the release of their third studio album, Charismatic Leaders, on May 3.


The album was meticulously crafted to meet Wheel’s ever-heightening benchmarks and recording with engineers/co-producers Daniel Bergstrand and Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah) stretched from August to December 2023. The end result, mixed by Forrester Savell, has consolidated all the gains of what came before: singer/guitarist James Lascelles, lead guitarist Jussi Turunen and drummer Santeri Saksala’s third album represents their heaviest and most conscious music to date.


To mark the announcement, the band have launched the first single taken from the album, and you can watch the video for "Empire" below.




Vocalist & guitarist James Lascelles comments of the track: “This is probably the most metal song I have ever written - it is intense as all hell when it kicks in and it keeps finding new ways to punch you in the face all the way to the end! Santeri did an incredible job with the drum track on this one and playing it live is really going to take some work in the rehearsal room..


Lyrically, it is about media empires and the effect they have on wider society - all of us are influenced to some degree, even if we would rather not admit it. Issues that require nuance are presented as binaries and opposing views are made into caricatures - a target for us to rage at that far too often, doesn't even exist. This is not a new phenomenon by any means but it is one that seems to have been catalysed by the modern landscape of media, the internet and populist politics. As you might be able to tell from the mood of the song, this pisses me off immensely and it was cathartic to vent about it.”


Charismatic Leaders clocks in at just under 50 minutes, and will be available as a Limited CD Digipak (also featuring the Rumination EP tracks as bonus), and a Gatefold 180g LP, both featuring artwork from Lucas Mayer (Long Distance Calling, Blackout Problems). Pre-order your copy here.





Tracklisting:


"Empire"
"Porcelain"
"Submission"
"Saboteur"
"Disciple"
"Caught in the Afterglow"
"The Freeze"


"Empire" video:





The band will be celebrating the release of their new album with their first ever shows in Australia (supporting label-mates Caligula’s Horse), as well as their first ever North American headline shows. Later in the year the band will return to Europe for further headline dates, which have just been announced. Find the band's live itinerary here.


(Photo - Anastasia Korol)

UK gothic metal stars, Paradise Lost, performed at the Bizarre Festival in Cologne, Germany on August 19, 1995. The set was recorded and filmed by Rockpalast, and released as Live At Rockpalast 1995. You can now watch the full show below.


“In this hot stage of our career we never missed a party. It may sound stereotype, but my memories of the nineties are still suffering,” say singer Nick Holmes. “We were young, our fans were young. Everything was much more energetic on these days.”


Paradise Lost's setlist:




"Enchantment"
"Widow"
"Dying Freedom"
"Forever Failure"
"Shadowkings"
"Remembrance"
"Pity the Sadness"
"Sweetness"
"Once Solemn"
"Hallowed Land"
"The Last Time"
"Embers Fire"
"As I Die"
"True Belief"

American rockers, Warrant, performed at Grey Eagle Resort & Casino in Calgary, Alberta (Canada) on February 22. The band have released the recap video below, stating: "Calgary ROCKED! Always an honour to play for you. It was a pleasure working with the amazing staff and production crew - the volume was turned up to 11, and we let the good times rock!"





Warrant also played River Cree Casino in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada) on February 23. Says the band, "A big rock ‘n’ roll cheers to our Canadian Fans! Great venue, staff, and kick-ass listeners! Thank you all, we had a blast."




Watch a recap video:





Warrant performs next on March 15 at Crystal Grand Music Theatre in Wisconsin Dells, WI. Find the band's tour dates and VIP Meet & Greet packages here.

In a new interview with "Paltrocast" host Darren Paltrowitz, bassist Brian Wheat of Sacramento rockers TESLA, who celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2021, spoke about when he and his bandmates might eventually retire from performing live. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "One thing I'm proud about TESLA, and very proud, is that we have a lot of integrity and we still sound fucking great live. And the day we don't is the day we stop. We will not be one of those bands that's out there staying past their expiration date, milking people — however you want to put it — that don't sound good. I don't wanna be one of those bands.

"When people ask me how much gas is left in the tank for TESLA, the simple answer is I don't know," he continued. "It all depends on when Jeff [Keith, TESLA vocalist] can't sing to the level he still sings at. When it's less to a point where people go, 'Oh, he doesn't sound good,' then we'll stop. And as long as we're all healthy."

"I don't think there'd be a TESLA without me, Frank [Hannon, TESLA guitarist] or Jeff. Obviously, Tommy [Skeoch, former TESLA guitarist] and Troy [Luccketta, former TESLA drummer] aren't in the band anymore, but if it wasn't the three of us, I don't think you could justify going out and calling it TESLA… Me and Frank started the band. And then Jeff was the next to join, and then Tommy and then Troy. So, yeah, the original guys from the garage, basically."

As previously reported, TESLA will return to the House Of Blues inside Mandalay Bay Resort And Casino Las Vegas in 2024 with their "Tesla: The Las Vegas Takeover". Shows will be held on April 5, 6, 10, 12 and 13, 2024, and are scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m.

In August 2022, TESLA released a standalone single, "Time To Rock!" A year earlier, the band issued another new track called "Cold Blue Steel".

In September 2023, TESLA released the official music video for its cover of AEROSMITH's "S.O.S. (Too Bad)". The song is a bonus track on TESLA's live album, "Full Throttle Live!", which arrived in May 2023. The LP includes the band's "Time To Rock!" single, plus other songs, all recorded in August 2022 at Full Throttle Saloon in Sturgis, South Dakota.

In September 2021, Luccketta announced that he would "take a little time from the road" to spend with family and friends. He has since been replaced at TESLA's gigs by Steve Brown, the younger brother of former DOKKEN drummer Mick Brown.

TESLA's debut album, 1986's "Mechanical Resonance", went platinum on the strength of the hits "Modern Day Cowboy" and "Little Suzi". The 1989 follow-up album, "The Great Radio Controversy", produced five hits, including "Heaven's Trail (No Way Out)" and "Love Song", which hit the pop Top Ten.

METALLICA is among the artists who will perform in honor of Elton John and Bernie Taupin as they receive the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song on Wednesday, March 20.

The invitation-only event, which will include appearances by John and Taupin, will be hosted by Billy Porter.

METALLICA said: "We are beyond excited and proud to have been invited to perform at a very special event honoring the legendary songwriting team of Elton John and Bernie Taupin as they are presented with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

"We are traveling to Washington, DC, next month to join Garth Brooks, Annie Lennox, Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, and others for the tribute concert and award presentation on March 20. PBS stations nationwide will premiere the concert on Monday, April 8, at 8 PM ET (check local listings),available via broadcast and streaming on PBS.org and the PBS app.

"Elton and Bernie have been collaborating for 56 years and counting, and together, they have penned some of our lifetime's most memorable and influential songs. We are thrilled to celebrate this honor with them, and we look forward to an incredible evening of unique performances from their remarkable collection of songs."

The 90-minute program "Elton John & Bernie Taupin: The Library Of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song" honors the longtime singer-songwriter duo as the two iconic artists receive this year's distinguished recognition from the Library of Congress.

"Our long-standing partnership with the Library of Congress illuminates the incredible contributions made by exceptional songwriters and performers," said Sharon Percy Rockefeller, president and CEO of WETA. "Our viewers can anticipate a delightful evening celebrating Elton John and Bernie Taupin's songwriting partnership and the duo's influence on the music industry for nearly six decades. We are excited to honor these collaborators' extraordinary contributions to popular music."

"Elton John and Bernie Taupin have written some of the most memorable songs of our lives. Their careers stand out for the quality and broad appeal of their music and their influence on their fellow artists," said Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress. "More than 50 years ago, they came from across the pond to win over Americans and audiences worldwide with their beautiful songs and rock anthems. We're proud to join PBS viewers in honoring Elton and Bernie with the Gershwin Prize for their incredible impact on generations of music lovers."

"We are very proud of our partnership with the Library of Congress to share the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song," said Paula Kerger, president and CEO of PBS. "As America's largest stage for the performing arts, we are thrilled to give people once again a front-row seat to this extraordinary show and to spotlight the exceptional artists paying tribute to the legendary Elton John and Bernie Taupin."

"CPB is proud to support the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song and this year's honorees, Elton John and Bernie Taupin," said Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. "In his Emmy-winning performance last year at Dodger Stadium, Elton John said, 'I became successful first in America, so I want to thank you for that. Without America, I wouldn't be here. Thank you for all the years of love, generosity, and loyalty.' We are all grateful that Elton John and Bernie Taupin shared their gift with America and the world. Their songs have been part of our lives. Congratulations."

"The history of contemporary popular music has been enriched for over a half-century because of these two remarkable artists who saw the value of utilizing their respective strengths in marrying great lyrics and incredible melodies together," remarked Ken Ehrlich, founder and president of Ken Ehrlich Productions. "Their legacy contains some of the most resonant songs of any generation, and to honor them with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song will result in a remarkable live event and exciting PBS show. I can't wait to put this on the stage and the screen this spring."

Recording artist Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin joined creative forces in 1967 and went on to pen timeless standards such as "Your Song", "Tiny Dancer", "Rocket Man", "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". In addition to ballads, the duo created sensational rock hits, including "Bennie And The Jets" and "Crocodile Rock", which became their first No. 1 single in the U.S. in 1973.

Today, John is among the top-selling solo artists of all time, with over 70 Top 40 hits over six decades, including nine No. 1s and 28 Top 10s on the Billboard Hot 100. He has sold more than 300 million records worldwide. John holds the record for the biggest-selling physical single of all time with Taupin's rewritten lyrics for "Candle In The Wind 1997", which sold more than 33 million copies after the sudden death of Princess Diana. In 2018, he was named the most successful male solo artist in Billboard Hot 100 chart history. In America, John holds the record for the longest span between Billboard Top 40 hits at 50 years.

In 1992, John established the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which continues to lead the global fight against HIV/AIDS. The foundation has raised more than $565 million for HIV/AIDS grants that have funded more than 3,000 projects in more than 90 countries to care for patients and provide education for AIDS prevention. His music and charitable service have been honored with a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II; the Légion d'honneur, France's highest award; and the National Humanities Medal awarded by President Joe Biden at the White House in 2022.

Since launching his first tour in 1970, John has delivered more than 4,000 performances in more than 80 countries. His work has spanned recording studios, stadiums, stages, and screens — always with music that resonates with new generations of audiences. Disney's "The Lion King", carried by John's tunes, continues to be one of Broadway's longest-running shows.

In January 2024, John won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special for his show "Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium", making him just the 19th performer to achieve rare EGOT status, having also won five Grammy awards, two Oscars for his work on "The Lion King" and with Taupin on the movie "Rocketman", and a Tony Award for the score to the Broadway musical "Aida".
We are beyond excited and proud to perform at next month’s presentation of the @librarycongress#GershwinPrize for Popular Song, honoring Elton John & Bernie Taupin!

PBS stations nationwide will premiere the concert on Monday, April 8. Learn more at https://t.co/U5Gi8dJskh. pic.twitter.com/ZRxo0pviMD

— Metallica (@Metallica) February 28, 2024

UK death metallers Ingested drops their latest single, "Pantheon," upon the masses today. The brutalizing new hymn comes by way of the band's latest full-length, The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams, set for release on April 5 via Metal Blade Records.


Not many top-tier death metal bands can record and release an album a year and follow it with an extensive tour. That's hardly ever been the case for Manchester, England's crushing, visceral Ingested. Since the release of their fifth album, 2020's Where Only God May Tread, the band has been on a creative tear that has produced almost a full record every year - even through the COVID-19 pandemic - but has resulted in the kind of musical growth that only comes from constantly practicing, playing, and writing.


The band's latest output, The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams, is not only as innovative and brutal as their last disc - the bleak, firestorm Ashes Lie Still - it showcases a band willing to expand its creativity without sacrificing the ferocity that made it one of the most impressively destructive, technical death metal bands on the scene. The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams is proof that once Ingested sniffs out a trail of musical blood, they ravenously follow it until they've uncovered a festering feast.




Produced by the band with the guidance of recording engineer Nico Beninato, the record includes a guest appearance by Chimaira's Mark Hunter who provides guest vocals for the track "In Nothingness" and Sylosis singer Josh Middleton who contributes to "Expect To Fail," as well as the striking cover art of David Seidman.


Whether pummelling listeners with double-bass rolls, blast-beats, and grinding rhythm; breaking it all down with jagged, staggered riffs, and piercing harmonics; or flooding the mix with rapid-fire bursts of minor key melodies, Ingested has injected all of their experience, skill, and artistry into the ten trenchant new songs on The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams. Where the new album differs from its predecessor isn't in its brutality or melodicism, it's in the songwriting and the way the tunes flow together in a way that's vicious, but not morose.


"Ashes… was constructed in the COVID period, and the mood of that album definitely reflects that time," the band notes, "With The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams, we wanted to bring the energy up a bit. As much as we like what we did with Ashes…, its depressive tone isn't something we wanted to continue to explore quite as much. There are definitely some dark moments on …Tide…, but for the most part, we took a more upbeat approach to the songs this time round."





The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams will be released on CD, digitally, and LP in the following color variants:


- Pulverised Viridian (US)
- Wounded Scarlet (US)
- Sapphire Shards (EU)
- Empty Crimson (EU - ltd. 500)
- Shattered Harlequin (EU - ltd. 500)


Find pre-order options here.





Following the release of The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams, Ingested will embark upon a European headlining tour with support provided by Fallujah, Vulvodynia, and Mélancolia.





The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams tracklisting:


"Paragon Of Purity"
"Endless Machine"
"Where No Light Shines"
"Expect To Fail" (feat. Josh Middleton of Sylosis)
"Starve The Fire"
"Numinous"
"In Nothingness" (feat. Mark Hunter of Chimaira)
"Pantheon"
"Kingdoms Of Sand"
"A Path Once Lost"


"Pantheon" video:





"Paragon Of Purity" video:





Lineup:


Jason Evans - vocals
Sean Hynes - guitars, backing vocals
Lyn Jeffs - drums


(Photo - Eduardo Ruiz)

Swedish death metallers Feared, led by The Haunted guitarist Ola Englund and featuring Mario Santos Ramos on vocals, recently released their first single in seven years. The new song, "Song Of The Dead", was produced by Jocke Skog (Clawfinger), and is available through all streaming platforms now. 


Englund has posted a playthrough video of the track, complete with TAB for guitarists to play along with.







Englund says: “Tuning is standard E on 7-string. But you can also play this on a 6 string tuned to B standard.”


Says Ola: "We’re finally, after a lot of years, ready to continue the journey of the band Feared, and we’re going back to basics in the style of how Mario and I wrote songs in the beginning. I don’t know why it took this long for us to get something out, but maybe we were waiting for the right song. Me and Mario have already worked out at least 6 more songs so expect more in the future. As for now, we just wanted to release something to keep it alive. 7 years is too long of a wait…





"In regards of mixing, Jocke Skog (engineer) was the obvious choice for this song. He understands the band, having played in Feared several times live and tracking bass on a couple of the previous albums."





A 7" vinyl edition of "Song Of The Dead" is available here.





Feared's previous release in 2017 was the album Svart, produced and mixed by Mark Lewis (Megadeth, Cannibal Corpse, Whitechapel).

In the video below, guitarist Gus G. unboxes the new Firewind album Stand United. Watch below:





Firewind recently released a new single, "Fallen Angel", to be featured on their new studio album, Stand United, out March 1 via AFM. Guitarist / founder Gus G. has shared a guitar solo playthrough and breakdown below. 







"'Fallen Angel' is a song about the eternal battle between good and evil, a song about the temptations of life," says Gus G. "There's been so many interpretations of all this. Working again with director Rainer 'ZIPP' Franze, we gave a biblical touch on the visuals and there's even some choreography going on, for your viewing pleasure. Musically, I feel there's a good balance of modern and classic metal elements which is where  Firewind should be in 2024."





Stand United will be available as CD, LP Vinyl, digital formats and highly collectable bundles including an autographed card, a Firewind cat patch plus a ticket for the band's upcoming European tour with Masterplan (see all dates listed below). For every ticket bundle purchase, fans will also get the chance to win a Meet & Greet. The album pre-sale is underway here.


For more than twenty years, Firewind have enthralled heavy music fans with their exciting blend of hard rock and power metal. Razor-sharp riffs by guitar legend Gus G (Ozzy Osbourne, Arch Enemy, Dream Evil), big hooks and solos meet the incredible vocal skills of charismatic singer Herbie Langhans (Avantasia, Radiant, Seventh Avenue, amongst others), who joined the band in 2019.


Their new offering, Stand United, features nine brand new songs produced with Dennis Ward (Magnum, Unisonic), as well as a cover of the 80s pop rock classic "Talking in Your Sleep", originally recorded by The Romantics but giving it a metal twist in the style of Firewind.


Their forthcoming, tenth studio album also bears testament to the band's sheer enthusiasm and lyrical topics that could not be more relevant. “I wouldn’t exactly call Stand United a classic concept album, but the album title indicates what we’re about thematically,” explains Gus G, who has also contributed with more lyric ideas on this one than any album before. “This world seems to be getting more and more out of balance, what with environmental disasters, the pandemic, the wars currently raging all over the globe. In such times, it’s more important than ever for mankind to stand close together instead of fighting each other. That’s what Stand United is about!”


This basic idea is also reflected in the cover artwork courtesy of Costin Chioreanu (Grave, Mayhem, among others). Says Gus: “I always loved the artwork of our debut album, which was based on a real hand painting. With Stand United being our tenth album, I wanted an equally authentic template and that’s how I came across Costin. The collage of faces on the cover represent war, greed, betrayal, but also love and unity, which are some of the album’s lyrical themes. I’m just as proud of the artwork as I am of the songs on our new album!”





Stand United tracklisting:


"Salvation Day"
"Stand United"
"Destiny Is Calling"
"The Power Lies Within"
"Come Undone"
"Fallen Angel"
"Chains"
"Land Of Chaos"
"Talking In Your Sleep"
"Days Of Grace"


"Come Undone" lyric video:





"Salvation Day" video:





Firewind is:


Gus G. (guitars)
Herbie Langhans (vocals)
Petros Christo (bass)
Jo Nunez (drums)