Northern California extreme metallers ALL SHALL PERISH have commented on their decision to reunite for their first live shows in 10 years.

Earlier today, ALL SHALL PERISH released the following statement via social media: "Deathcore LIVES.

"We are so back. The cyclical nature of things has come to pass over even The Deathcore. Perhaps the genre never died but zombified?

"The first ALL SHALL PERISH record was released in 2003 and the 'last' in 2011; and now only 9 years after we announced our (failed) reunification and almost 13 years since our last album, we can finally say of the end…. It is finished. We have awoken from our dogmatic slumbers to find ourselves in a strange world, where Deathcore lives and the kids are alight. The blood of the martyrs has been the seed of revival.

"Thank you to all the bands, old and new, who kept the torch burning for a genre that faced straight up hate and has emerged re-discovered and sick AF, much to the chagrin of purity-spiralers worldwide.

"To all the fans, who every single day of our absence, never stopped expressing their discontent, this is for you.

"FIRST SHOWS IN 10 YEARS

Big Texas Metal Fest - May 2024
Inkcarceration Festival - July 2024".

ALL SHALL PERISH's 2024 lineup consists of singer Hernan "Eddie" Hermida, guitarists Chris Storey and Ben Orum and drummer Matthew Kuykendall. A bassist for the reunion has not yet been announced.

Back in October 2013, then-ALL SHALL PERISH bassist Mike Tiner told Metal Injection that the band had no choice but to fire Hermida after the singer joined SUICIDE SILENCE as the replacement for the late Mitch Lucker. Tiner said: "I first heard of Eddie potentially joining SUICIDE SILENCE in March [2013] while we were on tour in Japan. When he first brought it up, he made it seem as if he was only considering recording with them, but then as he further explained everything, it became very clear that he wanted to join SUICIDE SILENCE. Everyone in that room had the same reaction: 'How are you going to possibly have time to do both bands?' Eddie reassured us a dozen times over that both bands would be able to coexist and work together with one another, with him as the vocalist of both bands.

"As we had always trusted Eddie before, after a lot of long conference calls, we gave him the benefit of the doubt and decided to wait till there was an actual scheduling conflict and cross that bridge then. We already had METALLICA's Orion Music + More and our own 'MTL: South Of The Border' tour on the books, so we went ahead with Eddie for those shows, and they all turned out very well. It seemed like maybe everything would actually work out okay. Then, after Eddie was officially in SUICIDE SILENCE (but before it went public),we got an offer from DEATH ANGEL to play two or three shows with them, all in California. Eddie in particular wanted to do these shows and pushed hardest for them, so we confirmed them. Then a week or two later he tells our management that he actually can't do the shows… because of SUICIDE SILENCE. That's when SUICIDE SILENCE's management informed us of all of the things ALL SHALL PERISH would and would not be 'allowed' to do. ALL SHALL PERISH could not play a show until Eddie was well 'established' as the new singer of SUICIDE SILENCE. SUICIDE SILENCE's management told us that they would have to be well into their new album and touring cycle before ALL SHALL PERISH could be seen again with Eddie. That is easily a year of ALL SHALL PERISH not being 'allowed' to do anything; possibly more than a year. There were other rules, too, but this one was huge. When we heard this, we immediately all got on the phone with Eddie and asked him how him being in both bands could ever work, especially after this whole DEATH ANGEL thing. Eddie still insisted it could work but also maintained that SUICIDE SILENCE would be his priority. We asked Eddie if he was quitting and he said, 'No, I'm not. If you want me out of ALL SHALL PERISH, you'll have to fire me.'

"Now, I ask all of you reading this, both ALL SHALL PERISH fans and SUICIDE SILENCE fans: what would happen if you worked at Starbucks and you told your boss that you took a job at Coffee Bean across the street, that Coffee Bean would be your new priority and that you wouldn't be able to pick up a single shift at Starbucks for at least a year or more, followed by: 'But I'm NOT quitting!'

"Did Eddie 'quit' ALL SHALL PERISH or was Eddie 'asked to leave' ALL SHALL PERISH? You tell me."

A few days earlier, Hermida spoke to Metal Injection about his decision to join SUICIDE SILENCE. Regarding how SUICIDE SILENCE approached him to join the band, Hermida said: "At first, their manager contacted me and said, 'Hey, Ed, the guys are thinking about picking themselves up and would like to hear what someone else sounds like on a previously recorded track.' They said it was more for the reference than anything else. After I recorded the 'You Only Live Once' track, they liked it so much that we started exploring ways to make something work."

He added: "Mitch and SUICIDE SILENCE were always like a surrogate family to me so when they asked me to help with the track, I was honored. When they officially asked me if I'd be interested in joining the band, it definitely put me in a tough spot as I had many things to consider."

On the topic of when he decided that he would have to do this full time and depart from ALL SHALL PERISH, Hermida said: "The full-time aspect for SUICIDE SILENCE was always part of the deal. Just know that I did everything in my power to stay in ALL SHALL PERISH and work both projects. The ALL SHALL PERISH boys will say that I quit when I decided to take the reins in SUICIDE SILENCE. I will say that I was asked to step away by my bandmates because they didn't want my schedule with SUICIDE SILENCE to interfere with their future. Either way, ALL SHALL PERISH has my heart and soul built into it and I will always support the work we did together."

In October 2015, ALL SHALL PERISH announced the return of Hermida and Storey, alongside founding members Kuykendall, Caysen Russo and Orum. The group's press release noted that original vocalist Craig Betit would participate in some fashion as well. The band stated that Tiner declined a personal invitation to participate.

Deathcore LIVES.

We are so back. The cyclical nature of things has come to pass over even The Deathcore. Perhaps the...

Posted by All Shall Perish on Wednesday, February 7, 2024

WHOM GODS DESTROY, the formidable group formed by keyboardist Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, SONS OF APOLLO, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION),guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (GUNS N' ROSES, SONS OF APOLLO) and vocalist Dino Jelusick (WHITESNAKE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA),along with the potent rhythm section of bassist Yas Nomura and drummer Bruno Valverde, will release its debut album, "Insanium", on March 15, 2024 worldwide via InsideOut Music.

The official music video for the LP's second single, "Over Again", directed and created by Wayne Joyner, can be seen below.

Thal commented on "Over Again": "This is the second song Derek and I began writing, at the time not knowing what the future would be, only that we were starting 'over again'. Soon after, Dino was with us, then Yas, Bruno and the song came to life. With this song and 'War…', our songwriting direction was falling into place — odd phrasing in verses, melodic choruses, strong lyrics, big unison music phrases, wacky solos, lots of energy throughout..."

Previously, WHOM GODS DESTROY released the first single and opening track off the upcoming album, "In The Name Of War", via a music video directed by Vicente Cordero of Industrialism Films and edited by Vojan Koceić of PILOTstudio.

Thal commented on "In The Name Of War" as follows: "Derek, Dino and I began writing this song in 2020. It was the first song we wrote together. This song captures a lot of what the band is about. It's a good example of what to expect from the album. The song gets pretty intense when the band kicks in, an unexpected contrast. The music tells the story alongside the lyrics — the Eastern scale melody in the chorus followed by the 'war drum' pattern, the bridge feeling like it's heading toward something, an urgency..."

The artwork for "Insanium" was created by Nello Dell'Omo and can be seen below.

"Insanium" track listing:

01. In The Name Of War (06:38)
02. Over Again (05:01)
03. The Decision (07:08)
04. Crawl (06:36)
05. Find My Way Back (05:46)
06. Crucifier (04:43)
07. Keeper Of The Gate (04:54)
08. Hypernova 158 (03:24)
09. Insanium (08:37)

Sherinian and Bumblefoot have built upon the creative link they developed as two of the key elements of supergroup SONS OF APOLLO and now set their sights on a new path with WHOM GODS DESTROY, who are getting ready to present the musical odyssey that is their debut opus, "Insanium", to be released in March 2024.

Bumblefoot explains how WHOM GODS DESTROY got started: "Derek and I began writing new music in 2020. Soon after, Dino joined, followed by Yas and Bruno. We'd share ideas, and each record parts, building and rebuilding songs, and by June '23 the album was finished. The songs all went through a lot of changes, developing...you can definitely hear what each person brings to the music – when it adds up, it's a mix of melody and intense heavy prog."

Working with powerhouse vocalist Dino Jelusick, as well as Yas Nomura and Bruno Valverde, they knew they were building something special, says Bumblefoot. "These guys are all just mind-blowing," he says. "I've known Dino for a few years. We did a collab song a few years ago... His voice is just magic. He's one of the greatest singers out there. Bruno and Yas are downright frightening; there's no limit to what they can do, WTF...! And all great guys to hang with."

Sherinian agrees: "All three of these musicians are super talented with great energy. I think Dino is the real deal. Ron and I knew that we could do something great with him."

Jelusick expresses his excitement as well: "What I love about this band is that it doesn't have any limits. It came together back in 2020 when we started talking about it. Yas and I started working separately not knowing we were both asked to do this. Bruno was the last piece of this puzzle and I'm glad the recommendation came from me. Love this lineup. Derek and Ron are wizards."

WHOM GODS DESTROY is (from left to right in photo from Greg Vorobiov):

Bruno Valverde - Drums
Yas Nomura - Bass
Dino Jelusick - Vocals
Derek Sherinian - Keyboards
Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal - Guitars

Norway's trailblazing cosmic voyagers, Enslaved, released their latest avant-garde creation, Heimdal, one year ago. To celebrate the studio album's first year of existence, the band recently announced the Heimdal (Deluxe) digital album, due out on March 1 via Nuclear Blast Records.


Heimdal (Deluxe) will include the studio album in full, as well as bonus track "Gangandi", alternative versions of two album tracks "Congelia" and "Forest Dweller", both featuring sublime performances from renowned cellist Jo Quail, plus the entirety of The Otherworldly Big Band Experience - Enslaved's stunning 2022 streaming event featuring fellow psychedelic Norwegian prog band Shaman Elephant.







Today, Enslaved have released the alternative version of their track, "Forest Dweller", featuring internationally acclaimed composer and virtuoso cellist Jo Quail, alongside a beautiful visualizer video created by Costin Chioreanu.


Guitarist Ivar Bjørnson commented, "It is an absolute honour to have Jo Quail on these special versions of 'Forest Dweller' and 'Congelia'. We are all big fans of her unique work and style; I have personally had the pleasure of working with her for some time through By Norse Music (the label co-founded with Einar Selvik and our manager Simon Füllemann). When we had the chance to invite guest artists for the release show in Bergen of 'Heimdal' back in March 2023, Jo Quail was a given. She blew our (and the audience’s) collective minds with her powerful interpretation and performance on 'Forest Dweller' and 'Congelia' - to the degree that it simply could not be the end of the story. She has a take on her art that is one of a kind - impossible to categorise, haunting, emotive and atmospheric; we feel that this version of us joining forces underlines the artistic and musical kinship we feel being present between our two camps. So here we are; for the world to hear! Be sure to check out Jo’s releases while you are at it!!!"


Jo Quail added, "I’ve long been a fan of Enslaved, and I have huge admiration for the way their masterful compositions broaden and deepen with each release. When the band invited me to collaborate I had to re-read the email several times! I was honoured and humbled by this invitation from a band so greatly revered by so many of us all over the world, and I was tremendously excited by the chance to explore our sonic worlds together. Enslaved are the same people on and off stage, which is not always a given, and it’s something that, in my opinion, translates in their music and performance - the connection with their audience in concert draws us in deeply and it’s nothing short of inspiring. It was an absolute honour to be invited by Enslaved to perform Forest Dweller and Congelia with them in March 2023. I approached these two quite diverse tracks with immense respect, as both were already fully developed and everything sat perfectly and exactly where it needed to be, so any contribution from me needed to underpin or enhance the existing story arc rather than divert from it. Enslaved are musically very generous; they were wholly supportive of my suggestions for cello parts, and the result was a collaboration that I shall treasure for all time. I’m thrilled that this now has life beyond that one very special concert, and I hope you enjoy the result!"





Pre-save Heimdal (Deluxe) here.


Enslaved's latest studio album Heimdal (released March 2023) is both a departure and a communion with roots forged over three decades ago in the turbulent birth throes of Norway’s black metal scene. It's a record that points towards new beginnings, and a dawn that’s on the other side of the apex of the land. A psychedelic journey through arcane Norse folklore, connecting with one's ancient ancestors and our future selves.


The Otherworldly Big Band Experience was an Enslaved show like none other, their biggest, boldest project to date - a colossal, kaleidoscopic stage show featuring a stellar setlist covering their career, both past and present. Including some tracks never previously performed live.





Enslaved will be touring the UK and Europe in March. The 16-date run will take the band across 10 different countries, with support coming from British post-hardcore quartet Svalbard and US metallers Wayfarer. Tickets are on-sale now, here.





Tour dates:


March
6 - London, UK - Islington Assembly Hall
7 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
8 - Manchester, UK - Club Academy
9 - Glasgow, UK - Slay
10 - Dublin, Ireland - Opium
12 - Helmond, Netherlands - Cacaofabriek
13 - Paris, France - La Machine
14 - Geneva, Switzerland - PTR/l'Usine
15 - Montpellier, France - Victoire 2
16 - Milan, Italy - Legend
18 - Prague, Czech Republic - Futurum
19 - Vienna, Austria - Szene
21 - Cologne, Germany - Club Volta
22 - Leipzig, Germany - Taubchenthal
23 - Berlin, Germany - Hole44
24 - Warsaw, Poland - Proxima


Enslaved have also been announced for some festivals in 2024:


July
31-August 3 - Beyond The Gates - Bergen, Norway


August
11 - Bloodstock Festival - Derby, UK
14-17 - Summer Breeze - Dinkelsbühl, Germany


November
16-17 - Mexico Metal Fest - Mexico City, Mexico


Enslaved are:


Ivar Bjørnson - guitars
Grutle Kjellson - vocals
Arve 'Ice Dale' Isdal - guitar
Håkon Vinje - keyboards, clean vocals
Iver Sandøy - drums


(Photo - Roy Bjørge)

In a new interview with Artists On Record Starring ADIKA Live!, former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick once again confirmed that he wasn't asked to be at the band's final show last month and "wasn't invited" to attend the event, which was held at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

"When the interviews started regarding the final 50 shows [of KISS's 'End Of The Road' farewell tour], [KISS's longtime manager Doc McGhee] was very clear when asked point blank by a podcaster, 'What about Bruce Kulick? Do you think he could come up and play with the band on the final show?'" Kulick recalled. "And he said, 'Well, KISS doesn't jam. It's not a jam band.' And that's outrageous because I wouldn't jam with them. Of course I'd know the song and we'd know what we're doing and I've done it on the cruise [Kiss Kruise] three times. That's not what he means. He means they don't want anybody else up on stage with them. I have to know that, because how could he say something that is factually incorrect? You think I wanna go up there and have a slopfest? 'Where do I plug in? What do I do?' You see what I'm saying? 'Yeah, but they're not a jam band.'

"Now I get the optics of me getting up on stage when they're seven feet tall in their outfits, and I get that, but I wasn't asking for that," Bruce continued. "I wasn't looking to play with them on the final show, but it was asked to Doc. And then he turns it into, 'Well, KISS doesn't jam.'"

Kulick went on to say that the way the final KISS show was presented was far different from the approach KISS leaders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons took with the band's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction in 2014.

"Let's be clear that the narrative from the Hall Of Fame, right or wrong, and they did it to other bands, and of course they broke that rule with other bands too, where they allowed everybody [who was in the band to be inducted], but they clearly were not gonna do [that with KISS]," Bruce said. "They didn't even want KISS in the Hall Of Fame. So I remember Paul being very vocal, and I actually thanked him for being that way about all the eras not being represented by the Hall Of Fame. When've you got [late KISS drummer] Eric Carr doing all those years and being in makeup even, and then myself, et cetera, et cetera, but at the Hall Of Fame, it was only those [original four] guys. They refused to play, which was an opportunity, of course, that people hoped for, but I knew why it couldn't happen. And then even better, which connects to the final show, which is part of why I was a little surprised that nothing about my Kisstory was really fairly represented with a shoutout or a video montage. I was never expecting to play and be invited on stage [at the final show] — I really wasn't. Not after what Doc said. But I was flown out by the band first class to be with their entourage to be at the Hall Of Fame as they were celebrating the band and their Kisstory. And Tom Morello gets up there [and gives the induction speech for KISS], gives a shoutout to every member. Gene mentioned my name. You see what I'm saying? So. At that event, yeah, they didn't play and they all posed and took their picture, but there I was with [current KISS members] Tommy [Thayer] and Eric [Singer] at the table and part of that event. And it meant the world to me. And I was so grateful to the guys. And, of course, I knew I wasn't going there to get inducted, but I was part of Kisstory that night. It felt really great. And I think Paul taught that narrative of the whole 'missed opportunity here. They didn't get it. This band's much bigger than that,' et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. 'And they should have done more. But we all know how the Hall Of Fame is.'"

Circling back to KISS's final show, Kulick said: "I wasn't invited. I wasn't gonna crash that party. I wasn't gonna go to the Garden. I wasn't crushed in any way, because I knew already from what Doc said, 'This ain't going to happen.' People invited me to, and they wanted to pay me to be at some events that were going on around the Garden final show. I don't wanna be there like that. I mean, it's nice to get paid for an autograph signing and to be part of… And then everybody was, like, 'You're going to the Garden?' Well, I wasn't invited. I'm not gonna crash a party. I wasn't invited. Would Eric have given me tickets if I asked him? Of course. But that's a lot different than you asking them for tickets, saying, 'Can you get me in?' I had personal friends who know those guys well and who were backstage asking me, 'Hey, you're in New York? Did you come? And I said, 'No. Just have a great show. I'm not there.' I didn't gripe about it."

Bruce added that KISS fans "expected more of Kisstory" at the final Madison Square Garden concert. "That did not happen. And sadly, I really feel that it was a missed opportunity by the band. But that was their choice. They're this machine that was out there doing the 'End Of The Road' tour. The last night was a big, big setup for their future. But the missed opportunity was not honoring and respecting Kisstory. And all I would have hoped for — and I'm hearing this from fans; this isn't, 'Oh, Bruce was in the band for 12 years.' This is from fans. Why they couldn't say or show a video montage featuring all those great eras of the band. How do you do an event like that and not mention Eric Carr or represent him? How do you not mention [original KISS members] Ace [Frehley] and Peter [Criss]? That's even bigger.

"Now we know there was all this drama, very public with Ace talking about [how he was never invited to take part in the final KISS show]… I have no facts about who of them, if [Ace and Peter] were ever contacted or they had a discussion. I have no clue. They claimed they didn't; they did. It doesn't matter to me. All I can tell you is I was never contacted. That's a fact. And that is nothing to lie about. But regardless, you can't go out there and say, 'Well, I would do it, but I've gotta get a quarter of a million dollars, like Ace said. And I'm just, like, 'That's not good optics for anybody.' I know what he feels like. He feels like he should be compensated because he created the Spaceman with them.

"I could never put myself totally in Peter Criss's and Ace Frehley's shoes," Bruce added. "I could never. Because they started this incredible band. Now, of course, they couldn't do it without the four of them. We all know that. And we all know that Paul and Gene took it over, nurtured it, took care of it. When Gene was running off doing movies and everything else, Paul was steering the ship and rightfully so, and that was the start of my era kind of, 'cause Gene got more into other things."

Kulick concluded by saying that he looks back fondly on his time with KISS.

"I have nothing to be ashamed of in my 12 years," he said. "I'm very proud of it."

In 1984, Bruce joined KISS, where he remained as their lead guitarist for twelve years, accompanying the band on the "Animalize" tour and continuing with the band until the 1996 reunion tour. Bruce is heavily featured on "Kissology – Vol. 2" and "Vol. 3", the band's DVDs spanning their historic 45-year career.

In an April 2020 interview with Sleaze Roxx, Kulick said that he was "relieved" he wasn't approached to rejoin the band after Frehley left for good back in 2001.

"When I had to leave in '96 after the success of the KISS 'Unplugged' performance, people were aware of the musicianship that existed in the band between Eric Singer [drums] and I, but after 20 years of people hearing about KISS in makeup, it was kind of like 'Star Wars' when it was rebooted people went to see what it was all about," he said. "I understood that it was the original guys, they put the makeup on and people were excited to either see it again or see it for the first time. That carried on, then it carried on and it carried on. [Laughs] It then reached a point where Gene [Simmons] and Paul [Stanley] couldn't continue with Peter [Criss] so they called on Eric Singer to step into the role and the makeup.

"Eric is such a tremendous drummer," he continued. "I was genuinely happy for him. I still am. Then when Ace started dropping the ball, it was seamless for them to go with Tommy Thayer who does such a fantastic job as the 'Spaceman.'

"If I had been asked to step into the 'Spaceman' role, it would have been really awkward for me. I get asked by the fans a lot, 'Well, why aren't you there?' I think Tommy stepping into the role was a lot more natural than Bruce Kulick becoming the 'Spaceman' and shooting rockets off of my guitar. I would have had to play the songs note for note like Ace. I don't think I could do that and remain happy in the band. Tommy does that to perfection. I was never required to learn the classic stuff note for note, but if you're going to be the 'Spaceman,' it would have to stay true to the way Ace plays it. That's not to say that I don't play the classic songs with respect. I play the GRAND FUNK RAILROAD songs with respect, while injecting my own style into them, like I did in my time in KISS. I would lose my 'liberties' if I stepped into the 'Spaceman' role.

"I'm friends with Tommy, Bruce added. "We've gotten closer over the years on the 'Kiss Kruise'. We've spoken a lot on the 'Kruise'. He once said to me, 'Hey, I never got into the Floyd Rose whammy bar thing. How do you play 'Crazy Nights'?' I said, 'Don't worry about it. Play it how you play it. It's what works for you. I don't take any offense and you don't need to copy how I do it.'

"Tommy's style is so much closer to Ace's than mine. I have a unique style to my approach you can hear it on 'Tears Are Falling', 'Who Wants To Be Lonely', 'Unholy' and even the acoustic solo on 'Forever'. I am proud of my body of work for that era of KISS. I'm embracing it. The fans are embracing it. It's all good."

Kulick went on to say that he is at peace with the fact that he will never be part of the makeup era of KISS.

"I was relieved [when they didn't ask me to step in after Ace left]," he said. "I think if I had been asked and done it, I think it would hurt. I know that Tommy and Eric avoid… I'm close to both but I'm closer with Eric. They avoid reading things online. Their best medicine is to just do a great job every night and not read that stuff. I'm shocked that sometimes someone will leave a snarky comment toward me. I'm, like, 'Really?' I don't get into that stuff and I don't like anything negative on social media and I never do or post anything negative. I won't allow anything negative. There's times I read something and I choose to ignore it. Everyone has a voice these days. They have a laptop, a tablet or a smartphone.

"I was relieved, but how could I not have 'entertained' the idea if I was asked? At the time when they swooped Tommy right in, I was already in GRAND FUNK RAILROAD and I was and still am pretty happy with my role in the band. Sure, it wasn't KISS, but it's a great gig. Now think of it from this angle. Let's say they made the right proposition and I took it, then Ace wanted back into the band. Where would that have left me? No KISS gig and no gig in GRAND FUNK."

During an appearance on the "Loudwire Nights" radio show, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford spoke about the importance of his band's connection with its fans, particularly when it comes to performing live. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "When you see PRIEST now, it's an event because, if I'm not speaking complete garbage, JUDAS PRIEST is the longest — I was going to say the 'oldest'; I hate that word — but we've been making metal for 50 years and we're still active and we're still relevant. And so when you, when you come to see your favorite band, JUDAS PRIEST, it is an event, 'cause, wow, you look at these guys and they've been doing this for so long and they're still there for all the right reasons.

"We go onstage with a job to do in terms of responsibility that you have for your fans, because, again — I've said this a million times — we're nothing without our fans," he continued. "It's an absolute fact that any band — never lose the fact that without your fans you have nothing. You can be in the biggest band in the world in a room banging away, but what good is that? It's all about sharing what your creativity and making a connection, and PRIEST has been making that connection now for over 50 years."

Asked if he thinks the heavy metal community is as "welcoming" in 2024 as it has been in recent decades, Halford said: "Those things that you're talking about in terms of complete inclusivity, that's what I love about our metal community, that regardless of the bands that you're into, regardless of what you look like, who you love, whatever, how much money you've got, whatever, it doesn't matter. We look at each other and we embrace each other, because we love heavy metal.

"I was just reading something again the other day about the importance of this particular style and sound of music," he continued. "The importance reaches way further than the music does. It's a very, very important component within us if you're a metalhead, if you're a metal fan. It has all of the attributes for getting into a better mental state. It makes articulation work stronger in all elements of your life. Metal is a very, very powerful part of who we are as people. So if you wanna go deep, but I do go deep — that's what it does, man. And so when I say I love my metal maniacs, I mean that really sincerely and very purely. I think about them all the time, because… 'Family' is a big word to use, but that's what we create — we create this family of this heavy metal community. Regardless of your band, there's a special relationship with every single fan."

Halford added: "When I look out in a crowd of thousands of people, I'm looking at every single one of you, because I know that you've taken this band's music into your life. For a lot of PRIEST metal fans, the story of your life is in music. I'm not saying that properly, but do you know what I'm trying to say? If you've been with this band for the longest time and we play 'Breaking The Law', suddenly we've gone back into the '80s, we play 'Painkiller', suddenly we're back in the '90s. This time machine of emotions in your life is with you as a fan. And again, that's not lost on me. I really take it very, very personally, and so that responsibility of caring for your fans and looking after your fans is really important, no matter what band you're in."

JUDAS PRIEST's new studio album, "Invincible Shield", will arrive on March 8 via Sony Music.

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

In a new interview with The Logan Show, DIAMOND HEAD guitarist Brian Tatler reflected on his band's gigs as the support act for AC/DC more than 44 years ago, which turned out to be singer Bon Scott's final shows with the latter act before his tragic death. Speaking about the two concerts — which took place on January 25, 1980 at Mayfair Ballroom in Newcastle, U.K. and January 27, 1980 at Gaumont in Southampton, U.K. — Brian said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, both shows were incredible. They were both sold out. We were all huge fans of AC/DC.

"The way we think it happened was DEF LEPPARD did the tour, which probably ran up to November [of 1979], [in support of 1979's] 'Highway To Hell' [album]. Then [DEF LEPPARD] went into the studio. The two gigs that we got had been left over — one, I think there'd been a fire, and I forget what the other one was. So, we got to do Newcastle Mayfair and Southampton Gaumont, and, of course, we jumped at it. And I think the management, who happened to be Peter Mensch, and it was part of [the] Leber-Krebs [management company]. I think the management was having a look at us because they must have heard from [U.K. journalists] like Geoff Barton and Malcolm Dome and Paul Suter that DIAMOND HEAD were a hot band: 'You should check them out and possibly manage them.' And they probably said, 'The management they've got is not very good.'

"So anyway, they gave us these two gigs," Brian continued. "And we watched as they… We had a big long soundcheck. Their drum tech came and helped tune up the drum kit for us. Peter Mensch came into our dressing room. And I thought, 'That's unusual.' The manager of the main band is coming into the dressing room of the support band — a little band from Stourbridge who nobody's ever heard of, who are all 20 years old. But he was obviously coming to check us out. It seems like that to me and to [then-DIAMOND HEAD drummer] Duncan Scott. We've discussed this. We think he was going to have a look at us and see if we were worth signing, but he either decided, 'Now I'm not going to,' or he decided, 'I can't prize the [DIAMOND HEAD] singer's mother [who was managing DIAMOND HEAD at the time] away from the singer.' So he didn't make an overture."

Tatler added: "And yeah, the two gigs were just incredible. We watched [AC/DC] both nights. And, of course, we had no idea they were gonna be Bon's last gigs; no one did. But, yeah, they were absolutely brilliant. And then, about a week [later], on the 10th of Feb[ruary], I think, a week or so later, we heard he died and we were all completely shocked. [It was] very strange to meet somebody and get their autographs and all that, and then suddenly they're no more. [It was] very strange and quite upsetting."

Asked if Bon was a cool guy to hang out with, Brian said: "Oh, yeah. In fact, we came off stage, and he'd been drinking a bottle of whisky. He was watching us from the side of the stage. We were all thinking, 'Oh, Bon Scott's there, look, watching us. We should be good. We've gotta play well.' And he he'd been drinking a bottle of Jack, I think, and he gave the rest of the bottle to our bass player, Colin [Kimberley], as we passed him. 'Here you go, guys,' you know, that kind of thing. And Colin kept that bottle and took it home with him and thought, 'Oh, that'll be worth some money one day.' [Laughs]"

Scott was invited to join AC/DC by Malcolm and Angus Young in 1974, and achieved international stardom before his death at the age of 33 from alcohol poisoning.

He sang on AC/DC's first six studio albums, including "High Voltage", "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap", "Let There Be Rock" and "Highway To Hell".

Scott died of acute alcohol poisoning after a night of heavy drinking at a club in London, just days after attending a session with Malcolm and Angus Young where they began working on music for what became the "Back In Black" album.

According to the AC/DC FAQ web site, Bon and the friend, a musician named Alisdair Kinnear, had been drinking the evening of February 19, 1980 and Bon apparently fell asleep during the ride home. Kinnear could not wake Bon, so he left him in the car to sleep. Kinnear awoke early in the evening on February 20, checked on Bon, and found him unconscious in the car. Bon could not be revived, and was pronounced dead.

Angus told The Pulse Of Radio a while back that the band almost didn't get past Scott's death. "Bon was the big… He was a full-on frontman, plus he had this great character, you know. I mean, he just lived that rock 'n' roll life. With Bon, what you saw was what you got, and, yeah, it was pretty, pretty tough."

In a 2010 interview, Angus stated about Bon's influence on the band more than three decades after the singer's death: "I think it's just something that is part of you. It's like you lost someone close to you, in your family or a very close friend. You've always got that feeling they're there but you just, I suppose, miss them in the physical sense. There's always memories that keep coming back to you, and it doesn't matter what the situation is. You could be traveling, you could be relaxing somewhere, or going to play or being in the studio, there's always something that reminds you."

SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor has shared a new video message addressing fans' concerns over his well-being after he canceled a tour.

Earlier this month, Taylor announced that he was scrapping his solo dates in North America to take a break and focus on his mental and physical health and spend time with his family. Less than three weeks later, he revealed he would go ahead with a short run of four shows in Asia between late March and early April.

Shortly after Corey announced the Asia tour, some fans of the 50-year-old musician expressed their confusion online as to why his North America shows were canceled but he was able to proceed with the Asia gigs.

In a video posted to his Instagram, Taylor responded to the Internet chatter, saying (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Hey everybody, Corey Taylor here. Where do I even start?

"I decided to make this video in response to a lot of the feedback that came out after I announced that I would be carrying on with my Southeast Asia run. Originally, that was supposed to be mentioned in the statement that I released relating to my mental health lapse.

"The truth of the matter is I understand why so many of you are upset, and I'm just gonna break it down for you," he continued. "I, over the last year, have had a complete and utter breakdown of boundaries, mental health, ego, entitlement, the whole nine yards, culminating in a very, very real, very near relapse that I kind of don't recognize myself.

"So, again, I wanted to address this and just tell people that I needed time to reset, I needed time to start working on my heart and my mind and get straight. The reason I'm keeping the Southeast Asia run, it's literally four shows, it's literally a week. I'm gonna see how I do with that and just take it day by day, basically. I'm working on self-care right now, getting the help that I need and surrounding myself with my family.

"So, to everyone concerned with me, thank you very much. I appreciate it. To everyone who's upset, I hope this answers any of your questions. I'm just doing the best for me right now. And it's a long road and I don't know what's at the end of it, but I look forward to it. I have gratitude for it, and I hope you can show me some patience. Thank you."

Corey recently completed European and North American tours in support of his sophomore solo album, "CMF2", which was released in September. Taylor's first album for BMG and the first on his own label imprint, Decibel Cooper Recordings, was produced by Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER, AMON AMARTH),who also helmed STONE SOUR's 2017 LP "Hydrograd" as well as 2020's "CMFT".

Taylor began tracking the follow-up to 2020's "CMFT" LP in January 2023 at The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas, Nevada with Ruston. Joining Corey in the studio was the rest of his solo band — bassist Eliot Lorango, drummer Dustin Robert, along with guitarists Christian Martucci and Zach Throne.

"CMFT" featured the No. 1 Billboard mainstream rock single "Black Eyes Blue" and "CMFT Must Be Stopped" (feat. Tech N9ne and Kid Bookie). The LP hit No. 6 on Billboard's U.S. Top Rock Albums chart.

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In a new interview with Radioactive MikeZ, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM program "Wired In The Empire", FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares was asked which METALLICA album he thinks is better, "Ride The Lightning" or "Master Of Puppets". He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, the first time I'd seen METALLICA was actually on [the tour in support of] 'Ride The Lightning'. I was freshly off the boat in Los Angeles. I was 18 years old, and [the concert took place] right across the street [from] where I was working. I was working at a sandwich shop right across the street from the Hollywood Palladium. It was called Togo's sandwiches. And I was working there. And I had met [MEGADETH mainman] Dave Mustaine. I met [MEGADETH bassist] Dave Ellefson. I met everybody in MÖTLEY CRÜE and all the L.A. local bands. And I was working, and some of the crew guys for METALLICA came over. I made 'em some sandwiches, and I asked 'em a bunch of questions, of course. And I went to see the show across the street, and I was, like, 'Fuck.' And I was just blown away. Because they opened up for ARMORED SAINT. Now, I love ARMORED SAINT to death. But that day, METALLICA on 'Ride The Lightning' killed ARMORED SAINT. Half the crowd left, and it was, like, 'Wow.' And I was just blown away. And I think that experience, to me, to see the band raw, just ripping and just destroy a crowd, it would have to be 'Ride The Lightning'."

Dino continued: "Now, 'Master Of Puppets' is a great record — don't get me wrong; it's a masterpiece — but it's something about the rawness in 'Ride The Lightning'; 'Fight Fire With Fire', which is ripping. But a year or two later, I saw them open up for Ozzy [Osbourne], and at that point, Ozzy was kind of transitioning to a little glammy. He had his poofy, curly hair, and he kind of was wearing this sequins thing; it almost looked like a dress. And it was, like, 'Oh my God.' But that was in a bigger arena, so I was further away. So that experience was much more different. So, I would have to say 'Ride The Lightning'. Of course, the production got better on 'Master Of Puppets'. They had longer songs on that record; it was only eight songs in that record. But still, I would still say 'Ride the Lightning'."

Back in April 2021, Cazares spoke to "Speak N' Destroy", a podcast about all things METALLICA, hosted by longtime journalist and METALLICA fan Ryan J. Downey, about how James Hetfield's rhythm playing inspired him. Cazares said: "I can tell you everybody combined that influenced me. It comes from [AC/DC's] Angus Young. That's where it comes from — the chords. Of course, you've got your Tony Iommis, and all that stuff was cool for when I began. But when I first heard METALLICA, when I first heard [James Hetfield's] right hand, I was, like, 'This is what I wanna do.'

"Everybody you get a piece of something from, but when it comes to down picking, when it comes to those kind of rhythms, James Hetfieldwas the man," Dino continued. "And the way he palm mutes and the way he picks, you feel the power. And the way he had his amps set up, his guitars, his pickup, all that created this certain crunch, this certain tone that I fell in love with instantly. And to me, that was more powerful. Because that palm right there… You can go back to [hums opening riff of 'Disposable Heroes']. That's all down picking… Then [hums another riff from 'Disposable Heroes'] — he had the alternate picking… And those were rhythms were, like, 'Holy shit!' It was, like, 'I've gotta learn that.' Right away, I had to learn that. But I've known him more for was his down picking, and that was really what I took from that — from his picking."

FEAR FACTORY is planning to enter the studio later this year to record a new studio album. The effort will mark FEAR FACTORY's recording debut with the group's latest addition, Italian-born vocalist Milo Silvestro, whose addition to FEAR FACTORY was officially announced in February 2023.

FEAR FACTORY played its first headlining concert with Silvestro and touring drummer Pete Webber on May 5, 2023 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.

Earlier last year, FEAR FACTORY completed the "Rise Of The Machine" U.S. tour as the support act for STATIC-X marked the Cazares-led outfit's first run of shows with Silvestro and Webber.

Webber has been filling in for FEAR FACTORY's longtime drummer Mike Heller who is unable to play with the band due to "scheduling conflicts."

Last fall, FEAR FACTORY completed a European tour. The 44-date trek marked the band's first European shows since 2016. Joining them on this run were BUTCHER BABIES from the USA and IGNEA from Ukraine.

FEAR FACTORY and MACHINE HEAD recently joined forces for the "Slaughter The Martour North America 2024" tour. Additional support on the trek is coming from Sweden's ORBIT CULTURE and Louisville, Kentucky's GATES TO HELL.

During a new appearance on "The Mistress Carrie Podcast", former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach was asked to name "a perfectly crafted, a perfectly written song" that he wishes he wrote himself. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, there's many, there's so many that I could choose, but when you say, 'Could you give me an example of a well-crafted song that's your favorite song? That might be two different things. Like one of my favorite KISS albums is 'Hotter Than Hell', and I can't tell you how many times I read online, 'I would love this record, but I hate the production.' I go, 'But that's what makes the album.' It sounds like hell. It's called 'Hotter Than Hell' — perfect. But I wouldn't list that as perfectly crafted, because it's not good production. But neither is MOTÖRHEAD, and I love MOTÖRHEAD."

He continued: "If you say, 'What's the most well-crafted song and album?' I've gotta say… This might bore you, but it's the 45 RPM vinyl version, original master recording, special original master reissue of Donald Fagen'The Nightfly'. And the song that I say is well crafted is called 'I.G.Y.' It's the first song on the record. When I wanna impress somebody with my stereo, that's what I put on. And people's jaws hit the floor in my living room when they hear how well-crafted this song is."

This past November, Bach released a new single, "What Do I Got To Lose?" The song's official music video was directed by Jim Louvau and Tony Aguilera. For the clip, Sebastian is joined by his former SKID ROW bandmate, drummer Rob Affuso.

"What Do I Got To Lose?" was co-written by Sebastian, Myles Kennedy and producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette at Elvis's studio, Studio Barbarosa in Gotha, Florida.

Among the other musicians who have assisted Bach during the writing and recording process for his new music are Orianthi (ALICE COOPER, Michael Jackson),John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON),Steve Stevens (Billy Idol),Brent Woods, Eli Santana and Jeremy Colson.

Bach hasn't released a full-length disc since "Give 'Em Hell", which came out in March 2014. Like its predecessor, 2011's "Kicking & Screaming", the disc was released through Frontiers Music Srl, the Italian label which specializes in what's commonly called AOR, a term that once signified a popular radio format ("album-oriented rock") but nowadays applies to acts whose airplay is marginal.

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:





Masters OF Fire Tour 2024 - Firewind And Masterplan:


February
29 - Frankfurt, Germany - Das Bett


March
1 - Bochum, Germany - Matrix
2 - Uden, Netherlands - De Pul
3 - Savigny Le Temple, France - L’Empreinte
6 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Wolf
7 - Madrid, Spain - Shoko
8 - Pamplona, Spain - Totem
11 - Munich, Germany - Backstage Halle
12 - Wien, Austria - Szene
13 - Bratislava, Slovakia - Randal Club
14 - Zlin, Czech Republic - Masters of Rock Cafe
15 - Lublin, Poland - Studio im. Budki Suflera
16 - Zabrze, Poland – CK Wiatrak
17 - Leipzig, Germany - Hellraiser
20 - Oslo, Norway - John Dee
21 - Malmö, Sweden - Plan B
22 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Surr Arena
23 - Gävle, Sweden - Gasklockorna
24 - Stockholm, Sweden - Biblioteket Live





US dates:


April
12 - Manchester, NH - Angerl City Music Hall
13 - Reading, PA - Reverb
14 - Pittsburgh, PA - Crafthouse
16 - Westland, MI - Token Lounge
17 - Hobart, IN - Hobart Art Theater
20 - Peoria, IL - Revival Music Hall
21 - Joliet, IL - The Forge
23 - Denver, CO - Hq
25 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
26 - Anaheim, CA - The Parish @ House Of Blues
27 - W. Hollywood, CA - Whisky A Go Go
28 - San Francisco, CA - Dna Lounge


May
1 - Austin, TX - Come And Take It Live
2 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater (Sundown Room)
3 - San Antonio, TX - Rolling Oaks Event Center
6 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live


Firewind is:


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

Melodic death metallers Voidfallen have released their brand new single "Tread With The Ghosts". The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, which is currently being finalized and will be released later this year via Noble Demon. The intense song is accompanied by a cinematic new music video.


Voidfallen comments: "The second single from the upcoming, as of now untitled album of Voidfallen is a dark and aggressive take on loss of loved ones and the repeating hell that is their everyday life. The release is accompanied by a cinematic, action driven music video depicting one side of those themes."







Originally conceived as a two-man project in 2019 by guitarists Tommi Kangaskortet and Henri Vuorenmaa, the goal has always been to learn from previous mistakes and to create music with no compromises. Voidfallen has since expanded its lineup with skilled musicians to bring their intense compositions to life on stage. Their genre-defying sound has been described as melodic death metal, showcasing a perfect blend of aggression and melody. The band's dedication to both musical and visual excellence is evident and with the release of their debut album The Atlas of Spiritual Apocalypse (2021), Voidfallen has set the stage for future releases and live shows.





Voidfallen are:
Lauri Honkola: Vocals
Henri Vuorenmaa: Guitars
Tommi Kangaskortet: Guitars
Lauri Myllylä: Bass
Mika Lumijärvi: Drums

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH has pushed back the release date of the digital deluxe edition of "AfterLife", the band's critically acclaimed ninth studio album, to April 5 from the previously announced February 9 via Better Noise Music. The deluxe version will include the original 12 tracks recorded with the band's longtime collaborator, producer Kevin Churko (OZZY OSBOURNE) in addition to four bonus tracks: three acoustic versions of the album's songs "The End", "Judgement Day" and "Thanks For Asking" plus a brand new song, "This Is The Way", featuring the late rapper DMX. An official music video for "This Is The Way (Featuring DMX)" is directed by none other than highly influential filmmaker Hype Williams, a longtime friend and close collaborator of the late DMX. Hailed by The New York Times in 2024 as "The Nineties Wunderkind," Hype Williams is known for his seminal work with luminaries like Tupac, Wu-Tang Clan and Jay-Z, among others. The video will be released to coincide with the deluxe edition of "AfterLife" on April 5.

In other news, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH is celebrating three recent platinum certifications for some of the band's most popular releases: the "Blue On Black" 2019 single featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Brantley Gilbert and Brian May; the "Blue On Black" 2018 single; and the "Got Your Six" 2015 album.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH guitarist Zoltan Bathory says about "This Is The Way (Featuring DMX)": "Music is meant to be shared, and it starts at the top with us, the artists. We have always embraced the mixing of genres, whether it be the remake of LL Cool J's 'Mama Said Knock You Out' featuring Tech N9ne as a guest or our collaboration with blues warrior Kenny Wayne Shepherd, country star Brantley Gilbert, and Brian May, the legendary guitarist of QUEEN, on the song 'Blue On Black'.

"The idea of collaborating with DMX had been in discussion for years, and it was a long and winding road to turn this particular item on our wish list into reality. He was a lyrical warrior, a true original who spoke his mind incorruptibly. We have always viewed DMX as 'the metalhead of hip-hop' because of his aggressive, raw, and untamed style. He growled and snarled, aiming to rattle some cages — an attitude we share, as FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH has always been drawn to the fearless and the real. It made all the sense in the world, but today this is more than just a song; it's a salute to a legend, a way to honor DMX's memory."

Upon announcement of the digital deluxe version of "AfterLife" today, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH has premiered an advance listen to the previously unreleased acoustic version of "Judgement Day" which can be streamed below. The band previously partnered with Covenant House in November 2023 and released an official video for "Judgement Day" during National Runaway Prevention Month to help raise awareness about the Youth Homelessness Crisis.

"AfterLife: Deluxe" track listing:

01. Welcome To The Circus
02. AfterLife
03. Times Like These
04. Roll Dem Bones
05. Pick Up Behind You
06. Judgment Day
07. IOU
08. Thanks For Asking
09. Blood And Tar
10. All I Know
11. Gold Gutter
12. The End
13. This Is The Way (feat. DMX)
14. Judgment Day (acoustic)
15. The End (acoustic)
16. Thanks For Asking (acoustic)

As previously reported, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will embark on a full European tour of headline dates as well as festival appearances this summer. The tour also coincides with the European portion of METALLICA's "M72" tour on which FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH continues to tour stadiums around the world as special guest.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH celebrated the 10th anniversary of "The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell, Volume 1 & Volume 2" by releasing a limited-edition vinyl 6LP box set, as well as a digital version of the box set, on December 1, 2023.

"AfterLife" is FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's first album with its latest addition, renowned British virtuoso Andy James, who replaced Jason Hook in 2020. James was previously featured on "Broken World", a song that was included on the second installment of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's greatest-hits collection, "A Decade Of Destruction – Volume 2", which came out in the fall of 2020.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH played its first show as the support act for METALLICA on the "M72" tour on August 6, 2023 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH was originally supposed to support METALLICA on several European shows last spring but ended up canceling the dates in order to allow singer Ivan Moody to fully recover from a hernia surgery.

Photo credit: Hristo Shindov

34 years since their latest album "Violent By Nature", released in 1990, Tucson, Arizona-based thrash metal titans ATROPHY return with a brand new album. "Asylum" will be unleashed on March 15, 2024 via Massacre Records.

"Asylum" marks the next evolutionary step for ATROPHY. Keeping the speed of "Socialized Hate" and the grooves of "Violent By Nature", this album adds a big dose of heaviness to the mix resulting in a satisfying aural kick in your face.

ATROPHY has premiered a lyric video for the first single from "Asylum", the album opening track "Punishment For All". Check it out below.

ATROPHY frontman Brian Zimmerman states about the track: "'Punishment For All' was inspired by the attempted insurrection on January 6 (2021) with COVID-19 restrictions still in play. To sit in my living room and watch this unfold was almost too much to bear. Americans were at each other's throats, calling people traitors, or trying to undermine democracy and not believing in the results of the election, following the myriad conspiracy theories that were swirling around at the time. I thought to myself, what if they were successful? What are we, as a country divided, going to do then? Take down everything we have built together as a country? What are we putting in place? Are we just going to do whatever the loudest people tell us to do? The whole thing was just absolutely crazy."

"Asylum" was produced, mixed and mastered by Alex Parra at Second Sight Studio.

The track listing is as follows:

01. Punishment For All
02. High Anxiety
03. Seeds Of Sorrow
04. Distortion
05. Bleeding Out
06. American Dream
07. Close My Eyes
08. The Apostle
09. Five Minutes 'Til Suicide

"Asylum" recording lineup:

Brian Zimmerman - Vocals
Nathan Montalvo - Lead Guitar
Mark Coglan - Rhythm Guitar
Josh Gibbs - Bass
Jonas Shütz - Drums

Guest musicians:

Kragen Lum - Lead Guitar on "American Dream"
Justin Stear - Bass Guitar on "American Dream", "Close My Eyes", "Distortion"

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil native modern progressive death metal band, Siriun, is pleased to introduce fans to their visually artistic side with their brand new music video for the track “Another Reality”, with heavy mid-paced headbanging song alongside surreal visionary landscapes and psychedelic effects edited by Shah Talifta (Jinjer).


“The song is a journey through other realities. The protagonist, at a certain point in his alchemical journey, enters the doors of the unknown and launches himself through dreamscapes, interacting with surreal life forms in visionary places” states guitarist/vocalist Alexandre Castellan.







Siriun is:


Alexandre Castellan - Guitar / Vocal
Braulio Drumond - Drums
Djavan Fernandes - Guitar
Marcos Medeiros – Bass


(Photo - Alessandra Tolc)

During a February 2 appearance on "Chaz And AJ" on Connecticut's 99.1 PLR radio station, DISTURBED guitarist Dan Donegan spoke about the band's latest Grammy Award nomination. "Bad Man", a single from DISTURBED's 2022 album "Divisive", was up for "Best Metal Performance" at the 66th annual Grammy Awards, which took place Sunday, February 4 in Los Angeles. DISTURBED had been nominated twice before, in 2009 and 2017, but did not win either time.

"It's a pretty amazing feeling," Donegan stated about DISTURBED being nominated again. "I've never been really one for all this award-show stuff. I'm just thankful for having a long career and a fanbase. But I know the Grammy is obviously the Super Bowl trophy of all trophies, I guess. But, yeah, to be acknowledged and appreciated, to know that we're still writing songs that are relevant and connect with people, I guess it's good to be noticed by the industry for that."

Dan went on to say that he and his DISTURBED bandmates would not attend this past weekend's ceremony because they were "on the road touring." But he did admit that "it would be a great honor" to finally win a Grammy. "And finally, we're in a category with our peers," he said, referencing the fact that DISTURBED was up against GHOST, METALLICA, SLIPKNOT and SPIRITBOX at this year's event (METALLICA ended up winning the trophy). "Sometimes it doesn't always make sense on some of the people that you get matched up with, but we're in great company and we're just honored to be included in that."

Asked if he and the other members of DISTURBED attended the Grammy Awards in 2009 or 2017, Dan said: "I went one year. It was funny. We went to the pre-show part of it, and then we left early, so we didn't even go to the televised version. We went out and went to dinner instead and then went to the Warner Brothers afterparty. So, we did the whole red-carpet thing and whatever, but we were more interested in… After the pre-show thing — that's obviously when they honor more of the rock acts and stuff because none of that stuff ever gets televised, 'cause it's not part of the pop culture world. But whatever. We went to it. We had a good time. We made the most of it."

DISTURBED kicked off the 2024 leg of its "Take Back Your Life" tour on January 19 at the Peoria Civic Center in Peoria, Illinois. The band's 21-song setlist included the live debut of the "Divisive" album track "Don't Tell Me" featuring a guest appearance by Moriah Formica of the opening band PLUSH.

Released in November 2022, "Divisive" was recorded earlier that year with producer Drew Fulk (MOTIONLESS IN WHITE, LIL PEEP, HIGHLY SUSPECT) in Nashville, Tennessee.

According to Billboard, "Divisive" sold 26,000 equivalent album units in its first week of release, with 22,000 units via album sales.

On the all-format Billboard 200 chart, "Divisive" debuted at No. 13.

DISTURBED has had five No. 1s on the all-genre chart, beginning with "Believe" in 2002.

In the clip below, courtesy of the Ken Tamplin Music Academy, vocalist Gabbi Gun teams up with powerhouse musicians Rudy Sarzo, Scott Van Zen, Ken Mary, and Gary Schutt for a cover of the Whitesnake classic, "Slow An' Easy".


Released in 1984, "Slow An' Easy" was co-written by David Coverdale and Micky Moody, who were the only two original band members remaining in Whitesnake. Moody left the band shortly after the release of the album, which finally gave the group a commercial breakthrough in the US. 







Check out Gabbi's previous cover of Whitesnake's "Still Of The Night" below.

Junkyard Drive is more energetic than ever before. The new album, with the title Look At Me Now, presents a band with new energy and inspiration. 


Since 2014, Junkyard Drive has been determined to be the band that provides the soundtrack to life in the fast lane with the audience as passengers. Every time! With three critically acclaimed albums, lots of concerts and tours in most of the world, they have tried more than most Danish rock bands. Now their fourth album is on the way, and the goal has changed. 


On Look At Me Now, Junkyard Drive rolls out ten high-octane rock tracks, delivered with flair, precision and lots of energy. One is tempted to say renewed energy, because even though Junkyard Drive are largely recognizable on the ten tracks that will be released in April, it is in many ways a changed band that delivers them. A few changes in the lineup and a much-needed look inside the internal relationships have restored focus and renewed the joy of playing. Look At Me Now welcomes two new guitarists: Oliver Hartmann and Kristoffer Kristensen. Both come with experience from genres other than rock, and that brings new ideas to the table during the songwriting process. 




“Since we released Electric Love in 2022, we have gone through a process that can be heard in the new tracks,” lead singer Kristian Johansen offers. “We are tired of rock music always being put in the booth with draft beer and festivity. We want to show that rock music can develop and that it can contain sensitivity and depth. That’s why we had to go inside ourselves, to write texts that were more honest and that have something more at heart. When you go into yourself, you also have to come face to face with your own weaknesses. It can be a hard, but also very learning process. We have experienced that it has also taken a toll on the band’s internal relationships as you go through topics that can be tough, but we are incredibly proud to have gone through the process, because the lyrics and sound we have created have more layers than we have previously performed.”


Look At Me Now was produced by Soren Andersen (Glenn Hughes, Thundermother) and will be released in LP (black and red vinyl editions, the latter being limited to 500 units) CD and digital formats on April 12th, 2024. Pre-orders are available at this location.


The first single from the album, "Tearaway", is out now and can be streamed here. The official video can be seen below.





Tracklisting:


"Somewhere To Hide" 
"Shoot From The Hip" 
"Tearaway" 
"Black Wolf" 
"Beauty Fool" 
"Blood Red Sky" 
"Saw You Hanging There" 
"The Tide Is High" 
"Pipe Down" 
"Afterglow"








(Photo by Klaus Rudbæk)


 

Los Angeles-based group, Silos, has dropped the new single “Gaslight” feat. The Haunt via Judge & Jury Records.


The song is inspired from experiences very close to band’s mastermind Ray Garrison, and emphasizes the importance of friends helping you see your current situation from an outside perspective, saving you from an unhealthy relationship.


Watch the video for "Gaslight" below.




“Based on true events, 'Gaslight' is inspired by someone who wanted to make you question your own reality to get what they wanted. If it wasn’t for a friend seeing through the situation from an outside perspective, I’d have fully given in. Ana from The Haunt had the perfect style to blend in and really captured the female perspective for the story. I started with the vocal hook then we sat down and wrote the music around that - It was a really cool reverse-engineering process of making a song!” - Ray Garrison of Silos





Silos was formed in 2022 by former DJ, producer and singer-songwriter Garrison. The band released its debut EP earlier this year, Insatiable which featured fan-favored singles “If I Fall,” “Mind Eraser” and title track “Insatiable.” A remix version of the EP, Insatiable Remixes Vol. 001, shortly followed with mixes from Garrison and Blvck Crowz. While based out of LA, the members of Silos hail from all over the world - bassist Philip Strange Nielsen (ex-Crazy Town) from Denmark, guitarist Nick Dromin from Ukraine, and drummer David Rehmann and guitarist Ramón Blanco Ariza hail from Spain; both formerly played as touring members for Grandson.


The Haunt is an American rock band from South Florida. The band consists of siblings, Anastasia Grace Haunt (lead vocals), and Maximillion Haunt (vocals, guitar and production), alongside Nat Smallish on bass guitar (formerly Beach Day). The band first gained recognition after the success of their debut EP, The Haunt EP, in 2018 and subsequent tours with rock band, Palaye Royale.


“Gaslight” was performed by Silos, The Haunt, Judge & Jury. Written by Raymond Garrison, Kevin Hissink, Nick Dromin, David Rehmann, Philip Nielsen, Ramòn Blanco Ariza. Produced by Ray Garrison, Howard Benson, Neil Sanderson, and Mike Plotnikoff. Mixing Engineer: Joe Rickard. Engineered by Mike Plotnikoff. Assistant Engineer: Brandt Sier. Edited by Paul DeCarli, Alex Krotz. Mastering Engineer: Niels Nielsen.


Silos is:


Ray Garrison - Vocals, Background Vocals, Programming
Nick Dromin - Guitar
Ramòn Blanco Ariza - Guitar
Kevin Hissink - Guitar
Philip Nielsen - Bass
David Rehmann - Drums

"Forever" is the first single from The Crows' new album, Ready When You Are, to be released on February 26 via Lions Pride Music. A lyric video for the song can be found below, and you can pre-order the new album here.


In the world of hard rock, few bands can boast a lineup with the caliber and diversity of experience found in The Crows. Formed from the collective talents of seasoned musicians who have shared stages with legendary artists such as Noisy Mama, Larry Mitchell (Tracy Chapman), Quiet Riot, Earl Slick (David Bowie), and Carl Canedy (The Rods), The Crows have taken the rock 'n' roll scene by storm.


Fronted by the charismatic and powerhouse lead vocalist, Michael Santarsiero, known previously as Michael Devlin Blare, who once led the American hard rock band Totally Lost Cause from 1989 to 1996. Under his leadership, Totally Lost Cause released two influential albums, Original Sin and Serious Trouble, before embarking on a musical journey that included collaborations with The Giants of Science, Cranky Bitch, and The Sandy Clams. In 2010, Michael became a founding member of The Idol Kings, and in 2015, he reunited with two of his former Totally Lost Cause bandmates to join forces with the renowned metal drummer and producer, Carl Canedy of The Rods. This collaboration birthed the progressive metal supergroup, Canedy, which unleashed their debut album, Warrior, upon the world in 2020.




The Crows' lead guitarist, Jimmy Gumina, brings a sonic experience like no other. A founding member of Noisy Mama and a virtuoso who has graced stages with White Noise, Ethr, and Hounds of Desire, Gumina's electrifying guitar work is deeply rooted in the influences of British rock legends Ritchie Blackmore and Jimmy Page. His signature style and tone have become a defining feature of The Crows' sound.


Bassist Freddy Villano, whose rock pedigree includes stints with Quiet Riot, Widowmaker (featuring Dee Snider), and Earl Slick (David Bowie), has an impressive resume that extends from '90s pop to punk rock and classic rock supergroups. Currently, he holds the low end for '80s metal icons, The Rods. Drawing inspiration from bass legends like Geezer Butler, Steve Harris, and John Paul Jones, Villano's rumbling bass lines form the solid foundation of The Crows' music.


The rhythmic backbone of the band is provided by the powerhouse drummer Vic Pullen. A New York City-based musician hailing from Little Rock, Arkansas, Pullen's extensive career includes collaborations with Larry Mitchell (Tracy Chapman), Francis Dunnery (Robert Plant), and various projects spanning different genres. His drumming influences range from Frank Zappa to John Coltrane, ELP to The B-52s, and Rush to Heart, with a deep appreciation for Led Zeppelin's percussive artistry. Vic Pullen's versatile drumming style is a driving force behind The Crows' electrifying sound.


Together, The Crows have emerged as a hard rock powerhouse, epitomizing the spirit of unadulterated rock 'n' roll at its finest. Their Lions Pride Music debut release, Ready When You Are, transports listeners to a bygone era when rock was melodic, ballsy, and unbound. The music is a sensual, groove-laden journey that pays homage to the rock legends of the late '70s and early '80s, while blazing a trail for a new generation of rock enthusiasts. With a lineup as impressive as their collective experience, The Crows are poised to seduce the hearts and minds of rock aficionados worldwide. Get ready to be captivated, because The Crows are here, and they are ready to rock your world.





Ready When You Are tracklisting:


"All Fall Down"
"I Should've Known"
"Scorcher"
"Forever"
"Evil At The Gate"
"Boom Bang Twang"
"One Last Look"
"Pretty Little Liar"
"Red Rover"
"Falling In Love Again"


"Forever" lyric video:





The Crows are:


Michael Santarsiero: Lead & Backing Vocals
Jimmy Gumina: Guitars, Keyboards, Theremin
Freddy Villano: Bass & Backing Vocals
Vic Pullen: Drums


Guest Musicians:
Lonnie Park: Backing Vocals


Mixed & Mastered by Stacy Odell @ Studio A in Clearwater, FL
Produced by Stacy Odell, Lonnie Park & The Crows.
Front Cover by Joey Polycarpo @ Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Layout by Chris Siloma for C.S.M&P. Studios @ Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Hellas.


(Photo - Roger William Theise and Alan Rand; composite by Chris Siloma)

The first official promotional photo of Kerry King's new eponymously named solo band can be seen above (photo credit: Andrew Stuart.

The SLAYER guitarist's debut solo album, "From Hell I Rise", will be released on May 17 via Reigning Phoenix Music. All material for the LP was written by the 59-year-old musician, who was accompanied during the recording sessions by drummer Paul Bostaph (SLAYER),bassist Kyle Sanders (HELLYEAH),guitarist Phil Demmel (formerly of MACHINE HEAD) and Mark Osegueda (DEATH ANGEL) on vocals. Helming the sessions at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles last year was producer Josh Wilbur, who has previously worked with KORN, LAMB OF GOD, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and BAD RELIGION, among others.

King told Rolling Stone of the LP's first single: "'Idle Hands' are what I've been doing the last four years. That and 'From Hell I Rise' have been my frame of mind in the last four and a half years."

As for the decision to call the band KERRY KING, the guitarist explained: "It was going to be KING'S REIGN for a long time, which is really cool. But even with that one, I went to the guys, like, 'I'm not a vain dude. I don't want my name to be a part of it.' We talked about BLOOD REIGN for a while, but it didn't work. Every time I came up with anything remotely cool, it was taken by some obscure band in Eastern Europe. It became KERRY KING because I love that logo."

King said the album is about "various religious topics, some war entries, heavy stuff, punky stuff, doomy stuff, and spooky stuff, with Herculean speeds achieved," adding, "If you've ever liked any SLAYER throughout any part of our history, there's something on this record that you'll get into, be it classic punk, fast punk, thrash, or just plain heavy metal."

King added there's more to come, too. "Even with a record in the can, I've still got so many songs that need to be finished," he said. "This is what I know how to do…number one being music, number two being metal. It's been a part of my life for 40 years, and I'm nowhere near being done."

KERRY KING will be special guest on the upcoming LAMB OF GOD/MASTODON North American "Ashes Of Leviathan" co-headline tour. The six-week run will launch on July 19 in Grand Prairie, Texas and will wrap on August 31 in Omaha, Nebraska. KERRY KING will make the band's 2024 concert debut in May, first at the Welcome To Rockville festival (May 9),followed by Sonic Temple Arts & Music Festival (May 16).

During SLAYER's final show back in November of 2019 at the Forum in Los Angeles, California, King took off his signature chains from his belt, held them high, dropped them onto the floor, turned around and walked off the stage. "I knew early on that I wasn't done, and I had no intention of not continuing to play," he revealed in a press release.

King previously told Metal Hammer his solo album would follow in the sonic footsteps of his former band. "If I wasn't in SLAYER, I would be a SLAYER fan. So yes, I think it's an extension of SLAYER, and I think a lot of people will think it might have been the next record. I guess maybe 80 percent of it would have been, maybe it would have been exactly what I’m putting on this one."

Photo credit: Andrew Stuart

I can finally talk about this…..
I retired from touring in 2019 went on to get settled into a life in one place, home. ...

Posted by Warren Lee on Monday, February 5, 2024

The 2024 edition of the 70000 Tons Of Metal festival sailed January 29 to February 2 from Miami, Florida to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and back, on board the luxury passenger vessel Freedom Of The Seas. Capital Chaos TV has shared video of Angra performing "Nothing To Say" during their stay on board. Check out the video below.





Details of next year's 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise have emerged.




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





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


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


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


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


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

Modern punk and hardcore pioneers COMEBACK KID have shared their exhilarating new song and video "Disruption". The track serves as the second single, following "Trouble In The Winner's Circle" from the band's upcoming "Trouble" EP, set for release March 15 through SharpTone Records.

On "Disruption", the band has created a punk anthem with frenetic drums, punchy vocals, and explosive lyrics. The track is primed to incite circle pits and sing-a-longs in a live setting, and the accompanying video fittingly showcases imagery from COMEBACK KID's recent European tour.

Diving further into the song's lyrics, vocalist Andrew Neufeld states: "'Disruption' serves as our call to arms type song. It's about just getting through the next day, or the next step because it could all come crashing down at any given moment."

Produced and recorded by the band and John Paul Peters at Private Ear Recording in their hometown of Winnipeg during 2023, the "Trouble" EP is a testament to COMEBACK KID's unwavering commitment to pushing forward on their own terms. The band set out to create an almost palette cleanser from past material, leaning more upbeat, but still carrying the hard-hitting aggression they're known for. With mixing and mastering from Will Putney, you can hear the layers and depth of sound the band carved out in every track on the release. The four songs are a sonic blast, as bright melodies cross waves with thrashy riffs and riled-up vocals.

Originating in Winnipeg, Canada and first gaining recognition with their 2002 demo and the acclaimed "Turn It Around" in 2003, COMEBACK KID has consistently balanced a DIY ethos and dependability with a humanitarian approach, breaking down hardcore boundaries and elevating the genre to a global stage. Career-defining album "Wake The Dead" launched the band to new heights in 2005, and 2007 found Neufeld taking over vocal duties on the band's third full-length, "Broadcasting". Giving hardcore notoriety across the world, COMEBACK KID released four albums between 2011 and 2022, the latest being the highly praised "Heavy Steps" (Nuclear Blast). With the upcoming release of their "Trouble" EP and a packed touring schedule, 2024 is set to be another standout year for the five-piece.

COMEBACK KID is Andrew Neufeld (vocals),Jeremy Hiebert (guitar),Stu Ross (guitar),Loren Legare (drums) and Chase Brenneman (bass).

"Trouble" EP track listing:

01. Trouble In The Winner's Circle
02. Disruption
03. Chompin' At The Bit
04. Breaking And Bruised

DEEP PURPLE unleashed one of the best guitar riffs since the invention of rock and roll with "Smoke On The Water", a song dubbed the "Beethoven's 5th of hard rock." Since its 1972 debut on "Machine Head", the song and the album have left an indelible mark on music, inspiring countless bands around the world.

Warner Records and Rhino Entertainment honor the album's enormous legacy with a comprehensive version introducing new mixes and previously unreleased live recordings. "Machine Head: Super Deluxe Edition" will be available on March 29 as a 3-CD/LP/Blu-ray.

Highlighting the collection are several different versions of the album, including new stereo and Dolby Atmos mixes by Dweezil Zappa. The 1974 quadraphonic mix and a newly remastered version of the original album are also featured, adding depth to the extraordinary set. Zappa's newly remixed stereo version of "Smoke On The Water" is available today digitally.

The "Super Deluxe Edition" also contains two captivating live performances. The first, recorded on March 9, 1972, at the Paris Theatre in London, captures the group's unrivaled stage presence during the "Machine Head" tour. The second, previously unreleased, was recorded in April 1971 at the Montreux Casino in Switzerland. The band planned to record "Machine Head" there that December, but the venue burned down right before the sessions began, an event immortalized in "Smoke On The Water".

In the aftermath, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, keyboardist Jon Lord, singer Ian Gillan, bassist Roger Glover and drummer Ian Paice relocated to the nearby Grand Hotel (empty for the winter season) to record the album. Despite the chaos, the band managed to create its most successful album ever, topping the U.K. album chart and cracking the Top 10 in the U.S., earning a double platinum certification in 1986.

The previously unreleased Montreux concert promises to be a highlight for fans. The audience recording covers songs the band recorded prior to "Machine Head", including "Child In Time" (from 1969's "Concerto For Group And Orchestra"),"Speed King" (from 1970's "In Rock"),and "Strange Kind Of Woman" (from 1971's "Fireball").

The new Dolby Atmos and 2024 mixes provide fresh and immersive perspectives on this classic album and were made by Zappa using the original tapes. In the liner notes, Zappa says: "It's one of those records where I think, 'How did they come up with this?' It's got classical influences in the guitar and the keyboard, but then it's got the blues and there's little bits of funkiness. And you have this singer who has the most killer voice. All these things come together in a way where it doesn't sound like commercial music, yet people got really excited about it. It's a fascinating recipe."

"Machine Head: Super Deluxe Edition" LP track listing:

LP One: Dweezil Zappa 2024 Remix

Side One

01. Highway Star
02. Maybe I'm A Leo
03. Pictures Of Home
04. Never Before

Side Two

01. Smoke On The Water
02. Lazy
03. When A Blind Man Cries – B-side
04. Space Truckin'

CD Track Listing

CD One: Dweezil Zappa 2024 Remix

01. Highway Star
02. Maybe I'm A Leo
03. Pictures Of Home
04. Never Before
05. Smoke On The Water
06. Lazy
07. Space Truckin'
08. When A Blind Man Cries – B-side

2024 Remaster

09. Highway Star
10. Maybe I'm A Leo
11. Pictures Of Home
12. Never Before
13. Smoke On The Water
14. Lazy
15. Space Truckin'

CD Two: In Concert '72

01. Introduction
02. Highway Star
03. Strange Kind Of Woman
04. Maybe I'm A Leo
05. Smoke On The Water
06. Never Before
07. Lazy
08. Space Truckin'
09. Lucille
10. Maybe I'm A Leo – soundcheck

CD Three: Montreux '71

01. Swiss Yodel *
02. Speed King *
03. Strange Kind Of Woman *
04. Into The Fire *
05. Child In Time *
06. Paint It Black *
07. Wring That Neck (Hard Road) *
08. Black Night *
09. Lucille *

Blu-ray (Audio Only)

Dweezil Zappa 2024 Atmos Remix

01. Highway Star *
02. Maybe I'm A Leo *
03. Pictures Of Home *
04. Never Before *
05. Smoke On The Water *
06. Lazy *
07. Space Truckin' *
08. When A Blind Man Cries – B-side *

1974 U.S. Quad Mix

09. Highway Star
10. Maybe I'm A Leo
11. Pictures Of Home
12. Never Before
13. Smoke On The Water
14. Lazy
15. Space Truckin'

Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound Mixes

16. When A Blind Man Cries – B-side
17. Maybe I'm A Leo
18. Lazy

* previously unreleased

THE MELVINS will release a new album, "Tarantula Heart", on April 19 via Ipecac Recordings. According to a press release, the LP is quite possibly the band's most unconventional, catchiest and imaginative work yet, continuing a legacy celebrated for its eccentric and extraordinary output.

A preview of the five-song, 39-minute collection arrives with the release of "Working The Ditch", and the accompanying Jesse Nieminen-created video. Nieminen previously directed the band's short film "A Walk With Love And Death".

"The way we approached 'Tarantula Heart' was different than any other MELVINS album," explains Buzz Osborne. "I had Dale and Roy Mayorga come in and play along with Steven and I to some riffs, then I took those sessions and figured out what parts would work and wrote new music to fit. This isn't a studio approach we've ever taken. Usually we have the songs written BEFORE we start recording!"

"The majority of 'Tarantula Heart' has dual drum parts," adds longtime MELVINS drummer Dale Crover. "Roy is an amazing drummer. We would discuss what we would do pattern wise, then we'd just go for it. Improvising riffs and trading off on drum fills."

In actuality, nothing appeared out of thin air. Buzz spent hours and hours with the drum tracks by himself writing songs to what he was hearing drum wise. "When the rest of the band heard these songs I'd created from the sessions, they were blown away," Buzz shares. "These were fully developed new songs that they'd never heard before that had seemingly appeared out of thin air. Presto!"

Recorded, mixed and co-produced by longtime MELVINS collaborator Toshi Kasai, the album also features WE ARE THE ASTEROID guitar player Gary Chester. Gary and the MELVINS' history goes back to their days on Boner Records, with the guitar player formerly having been a part of the legendary band ED HALL.

"Tarantula Heart" pre-orders are available now, with the album available on a trio of vinyl variants (black, indie-exclusive silver streak and Ipecac Recordings' 25th-anniversary puke green),featuring a 12-page booklet, as well as on CD and digitally.

Next month sees the MELVINS head overseas, playing in Japan for the first time since 2019 following a stint where they join current labelmates MR. BUNGLE for a trek across Australia and New Zealand. Buzz and BUNGLE bass player Trevor Dunn team up later this year for the "King Dunn Tour", a 45-date excursion that sees the pair play songs from the KING BUZZO releases "This Machine Kills Artists" and "Gift Of Sacrifice".

"Tarantula Heart" track listing:

01. Pain Equals Funny
02. Working The Ditch
03. She's Got Weird Arms
04. Allergic To Food
05. Smiler

Internationally acclaimed heavy metallers, Sabaton, are gearing up for an epic celebration as they approach 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 will embark on a year-long celebration. Fans around the world can look forward to a series of celebratory events and an abundance of surprises.




The band has shared a new video along with the following message:


"Are you ready for some hilarious and shocking stories? This listening party puts Attero Dominatus in the spotlight. Our second studio album comes with plenty of anecdotes. You’ll find out how long it took for us to record it, you’ll hear about Pär’s crazy injury before our very first tour, you’ll get to witness Chris’ epic DJ skills (haha) and so much more! Grab yourself a beverage and some snacks and come chill with us for an hour. You won’t regret it!"





Each month of 2024 will be dedicated to an album from Sabaton’s discography, beginning with Primo Victoria and ending with The War To End All Wars. Special activities and insights will be provided to grant fans a better understanding of each studio album.


Highlights include album stories, song facts, and album listening parties during which band members will reminisce on and discuss their favorite tracks, while sharing never-heard-before experiences with Sabaton fans.


Other exciting initiatives include fun games, contests, and giveaways that will grant fans the chance to win unique prizes, as well as a limited edition 25-year anniversary merch, including some very exclusive items.


Frontman, Joakim Brodén, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming celebration, saying: "This is a massive milestone for us. Our fans have been with us every step of the way and we couldn't be more excited to celebrate this monumental occasion with them. We're planning some great things that we've never done before, and we're confident that 2024 will be one to remember, especially as we are heading to the studio at the beginning of next year to begin working on new music!"


Meanwhile, bassist and band manager, Pär Sundström, stated: “It’s hard to believe that a quarter of a century of us playing music and doing what we love the most has passed already. It’s been one hell of a journey, that’s for sure. We sing about history, but looking back we also wrote some history! Stay tuned!”


The 25th-anniversary celebrations will also include throwback photos, videos, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into Sabaton's incredible journey, taking fans on a nostalgic trip through the band's history.


Follow the band’s social media channels and website to keep up to date with the latest news and celebrations. Keep your eyes peeled. 2024 is going to be an interesting year!


In the meantime, check out this video message from Pär and Tommy:

On Monday, February 5, Chris Jericho, FOZZY frontman and wrestling superstar, joined PANTERA on stage for a performance of the song "Walk" during the Philip Anselmo-fronted act's show at Amalie Arena in Chris's hometown of Tampa, Florida. Fan-filmed video of Jericho's appearance can be viewed below.

The reformed PANTERA — featuring the band's surviving members Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass),along with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) — is headlining a number of major festivals across North America, South America and Europe and staging some of its 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.

In October 2022, two months before the current lineup of PANTERA played its first show, Jericho discussed his views on the band's comeback in an interview with Oran O'Beirne of Ireland's Overdrive. He said: "I think it's great. I'm amazing. I was very good friends with Vinnie and I think that, in retrospect, both Vinnie and Dime would be very happy about this. I think that a world with PANTERA music in it, is better than a world with no PANTERA music in it. I think they got the right guys to help out, with Charlie and Zakk, and when it comes to a whole generation of kids that never got to see those songs being performed live, this is their chance, and it's gonna be amazing.

"At the end of the day, it's about music and sharing the experience of great music amongst people," Chris explained. "I don't believe that those songs should be locked away and not performed in a grand setting. It's time for everybody to experience some kind of connection with that music again, be it for the very first time or perhaps just one more time. Either way, it's gonna be amazing."

PANTERA played the first concert of 2024 on Saturday, February 3 at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. The band's 14-song set, which marked the opening show of PANTERA's February North American tour with LAMB OF GOD, included the first performance of the track "Floods" since May 2001.

"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.

Anselmo and Brown spoke about PANTERA's return to the stage during an appearance on the seventeenth episode of "The Metallica Report", the recently launched 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.

In a new interview with Tony Webster of The Metal Command, British heavy metal vocalist Blaze Bayley, who fronted IRON MAIDEN more than 20 years ago, spoke about some fans' initial reluctance to embrace his era of the band. When Webster noted that Blaze's solo work over the last two decades has gone a long way toward "changing the narrative" of his time with MAIDEN, Bayley said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, I think you're right, Tony. I'm hearing this a lot. People look back and they go… Some fans go, 'Of course I've got every IRON MAIDEN album, but the ones I haven't listened to are [Blaze-era albums] 'The X Factor' and 'Virtual XI'. And now that's all I can listen to that I haven't listened to a hundred times. I have to listen to those. And it's exactly what you say to me.

"'The X Factor''s got some incredible music on it, but the sound of it is so dark, and the way it was produced, it's not accessible like some of the other MAIDEN albums," Blaze explained. "You've gotta live with that for quite a few spins until you're tuned into what things are doing. Then you can get to the music. I think that was maybe a problem with it at the time. It's so dark and the sounds of things were quite different to what came before. People who did live with it, managed to find it. And it's different cultures as well, different countries. In Sweden and Spain, those albums, people loved them as much as every other [MAIDEN] album. But in other places, people didn't. It's a different thing.

"For me, I do now [shows celebrating] my 30th anniversary and that's an anniversary of joining MAIDEN. It's a great time for me. But what I take away most isn't I play big stadiums or all of that around the world. What I take away most is, working with the guys in [MAIDEN], writing songs with the guys and what I learned from their experience — they were so generous — and I found, working in the studio and writing, another part of my voice I didn't even know I had. So, now I'm able to express the lyric and the melody and get the emotion and the passion and the specific feelings from that lyric, from that song. I'm able to get my voice and use my voice in a way I could never do before. And that's because of everything I learned in IRON MAIDEN. And even though I've been in a wasteland, and I've been underground for a long, long time, I've kept singing and my voice has developed. And now I think my voice is the best it's ever been. I have more control over my voice. I'm able to do more things that help me tell my listener a story than I've ever done before. And that goes back to those five years. That's all it was out of my career of 40 years — five years with IRON MAIDEN, and I learned so much that I've gradually been able to build up. And now with [my upcoming album] 'Circle Of Stone', I'm so proud. The things I've done on this, I haven't been able to do before. And I'm so proud of it."

The 60-year-old Bayley fronted IRON MAIDEN from 1994 until 1999. The two MAIDEN albums he appeared on, "The X Factor" and "Virtual XI", sold considerably less than the band's prior releases and were their lowest-charting titles in the group's home country since 1981's "Killers".

Since leaving IRON MAIDEN in 1999, Bayley has released a number of albums, including several under the moniker BLAZE and more than a handful under his own name. He also appeared on 2012's "Wolfsbane Saves The World", the first album of new material by WOLFSBANE since the group's self-titled 1994 effort, and a follow-up LP, 2022's "Genius".

Blaze's latest studio album, "War Within Me", came out in April 2021. The LP was recorded during 2020 with work split between Blaze's studio at home in the West Midlands and Christopher Appleton's studio in Greater Manchester.

Nearly a year ago, Blaze underwent a quadruple bypass surgery following a heart attack.

Bayley will release his new solo album, the aforementioned "Circle Of Stone", on February 23.