In a new interview with The Underground Australia, MUDVAYNE frontman Chad Gray lamented the lack of originality of a lot of the newer hard rock and heavy metal bands, saying that there is "nothing separating one band from another". Asked about the "rebirth" of the "late '90s, early 2000s era of music" in recent years and the presence of fresh "nu metal"-inspired artists, Chad said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Dude, maybe I shouldn't say this, but I don't give a fuck. Because I'm me and I've got stuff to say, and I'm gonna say it. Music now to me, God bless them, new bands, but they sound the same. All new music reminds me of the same fucking thing. There's nothing separating it, one band from another. It's, like, one band kinda does something, a hundred bands follow that band, then another band does something, then a hundred bands follow that band and sound just like that fucking band.

"I was on Ozzfest 2001. So you had SLIPKNOT, [MARILYN] MANSON, PAPA ROACH, DISTURBED, MUDVAYNE, DROWNING POOL… Every fucking band, every band I just named, none of them sound the same," he continued. "None of them. And I think that's why it was such a special time in music, because everybody was bringing what they were bringing to the table. You had SYSTEM OF A DOWN and shit-tons of bands, man. And all very original and all doing their own thing. We were part of that. We were more progressive than a lot of our counterparts from that era. So we were doing our own thing. Just a lot of really good fucking music and a lot of people really digging into what they were. Nobody was fucking following somebody else. We just didn't see a lot of that. A couple bands here and there, maybe, you know what I mean? But for the most part, bands were doing their own thing and really pushing the boundaries, really challenging the listener. And that's what music's all about, right? It's individuality.

"I am Chad Gray and what I do is me," he added. "But the things that make me Chad Gray are James Hetfield, Layne Staley, Phil Anselmo, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I could fucking go down the list and name you probably 50 different singers that I — Chris Cornell —that I used to sing every fucking thing that they ever put out in their songs and on their albums. And I've taken all that influence that inspired me so much to want to do what I do and I've processed that inside of myself. And now all those people that I'm talking about, they come out as Chad Gray from me. You know what I mean? I feel like that's what everybody was doing. I mean, the only way you can have it be music, be that pure and true is if people are drawing from their influence. All these influences create who they are and what they contribute to the musical equation. I did what I did and I contributed what I contributed, but I couldn't have contributed what I contributed without the people that influenced me. And I couldn't have contributed what I contributed if I didn't learn and sing along with every single one of those fucking people that I mentioned. So I think there was a lot of that going on. I think there was a lot of people that weren't looking like… What bands do when they look at this new band and everybody follows that new band, it's not even an influence really because they're current. My influences, even when I came out in 2001, with [MUDVAYNE's debut album] 'L.D. 50', my influences were from 1981, 1983 — like 20 years, almost 20 years prior of me dropping my first album. I wasn't ripping off a band from 1999 and releasing my album in 2001. My influences were long — my influences were 18, 19, 20 years. The people that inspired me — James Hetfield with his 'yellody', the way that James — he basically yelled in key, which I do a lot in my music. And my scream. I definitely think of all the screamer people — Philip Anselmo. It's my scream now, but it started being his scream. I just took it and twisted it and made it something else."

Gray continued: "I think that that's what was happening then. I think that everything that was happening in the late '90s, 2000 was coming from a very pure place with all the musicians that were creating it at that time. I think it all came from old influence that over time had been cultivated and nurtured turned into something completely different. And it takes time in order to do that. I can't be influenced by somebody that just came out with an album that's brand new last year. I don't have time to process that to be something different than probably what it was a year ago. But over 20 years, I can 100 percent absolutely process that and turn it into something that just now belongs to me, that's Chad Gray's, what he offers the music world, which I think is very important.

"Music is truth. It should be truth," Gray concluded. "It is for me. That's where I get my fulfillment from music, is the honesty and the love that I put into it. So whether people like it or not, it doesn't fucking matter to me. It is what it is. I do what I do. I'm honest about what I do. I love what I do. I care about it. I protect it. I nurture it. I cultivate it. And then I put it out. And if you like it, cool. If you don't, eh, whatever."

MUDVAYNE hasn't put out any new material since 2009, which means we're coming up on nearly a decade and a half without a single fresh MUDVAYNE song.

Last August, Chad told The Oakland Press that he and his MUDVAYNE bandmates had "four [songs] in the pipe. I've written each one of them probably three different times, 'cause it's like nothing's good enough," he revealed. "We're gonna keep pushing. We're all getting along really good. We're all talking. Hopefully we all want the same thing from our music, so we'll see. It's definitely the thing that makes the most sense to do now."

MUDVAYNE kicked off its first headlining tour in over 14 years, "The Psychotherapy Sessions", in July 2023. Support on the 26-city trek, which was produced by Live Nation, came from COAL CHAMBER, along with GWAR, NONPOINT and BUTCHER BABIES.

Previously, MUDVAYNE made waves in 2022 when they embarked on the "Freaks On Parade" tour co-headlined with ROB ZOMBIE. This 2023 tour, however, marked MUDVAYNE's first headlining endeavor since 2009.

Gray told The Oakland Press that his "main motivation for putting [MUDVAYNE] back together and coming back was our fans", including those who discovered the band during its absence. "There's so many younger kids that are coming up and coming into our world, the metal world, and they're learning about MUDVAYNE," he said. "So you have this, like, the ground's kind of rumbling and it goes out and touches more and more people, but we weren't out there to scratch that itch. You still have your actual fan base but you're accumulating new people. So when we came back it was very exciting for us. It was about our fans and giving those new fans the experience."

MUDVAYNE formed in 1996 and has sold over six million records worldwide, earning gold certification for three albums ("L.D. 50", "The End Of All Things To Come", "Lost And Found"). The band is known for its sonic experimentation, innovative album art, face and body paint, masks and uniforms. MUDVAYNE is Gray, Greg Tribbett (guitar, backing vocals),Matthew McDonough (drums, synthesizer) and Ryan Martinie (bass).

Gray spent 17 years fronting HELLYEAH, which released its sixth studio album, "Welcome Home", in September 2019 via Eleven Seven Music. The disc marked the group's final effort with drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, who passed away more than five years ago.

MUDVAYNE did not tour behind its fifth album, which was barely promoted and sold weakly upon release.

RIOT V, the band featuring members of legendary metal pioneers RIOT, will release a new studio album, "Mean Streets", on February 16, 2024 via Atomic Fire Records. The follow-up to 2018's "Armor Of Light" contains 12 tracks which were recorded by Bruno Ravel in New Jersey. Ravel also mixed the LP while Bart Gabriel took care of its mastering. Artwork was provided by Gyula Havancsák (ACCEPT, STRATOVARIUS, BRAINSTORM).

The official music video for the album's second single, "Feel The Fire", can be seen below. The clip was shot in New Jersey by director Tom Flynn (LAMB OF GOD, BUCKCHERRY) and additionally stars model Liv Walsh.

RIOT V bass player Donnie Van Stavern states: "When I wrote the music for 'Feel The Fire', I wanted to bring back the early RIOT rock days musically with a [LED] ZEPPELIN/[JUDAS] PRIEST kind of vibe. The lyrics I wrote about a passionate, aggressive, love, fire driven relationship within the souls of man and woman deeply obsessed with one another. The video kind of grabs the concept with fire, aggressive lights and, of course, a hot woman!"

RIOT is a band name that makes every metalhead's mind ring alert — in a positive way for sure. Many iconic musicians and bands listing them as an important influence, the New York City-born group has definitely paved the way for the hard 'n' heavy scene essentially. Their early musical steps — "Rock City" (1977),"Narita" (1979),"Fire Down Under" (1981) and "Restless Breed" (1982),to only name a few — made them grow fastly, following an artist development from hard rock to more metal sounds what resulted in their arguably most iconic record, "Thundersteel" (1988). The band's path was unfortunately also marked by many strokes of fate which led to significant lineup changes. Especially the death of founding member Mark Reale made a big impact on the group and eventually Reale's "Thundersteel" bandmate and songwriting partner Don Van Stavern decided to continue the legacy and came up with an idea out of respect to add "V" (Roman numeral five) for the fifth chapter of the group as well as the recorded singer. 2013 was the year that RIOT V was born! The outfit kept writing and releasing music honoring their legacy — more successfully than ever before. The musical foundation titled "Unleash The Fire" was followed by another furious album that even made RIOT V hit the official German album chart for the very first time in their prominent history ("Armor Of Light" reached position No. 27).

Van Stavern, who currently manages and handles affairs for the band, states: "We are extremely excited to release our 17th RIOT record 'Mean Streets' with the mighty Atomic Fire Records label! We went back to the roots a bit on this one with some hard rockers and of course power metal stylings. Our new pre-release lyric video 'High Noon' is a song I wrote with Mark Reale in mind. He loved the Old West and wrote songs about it as well ['Restless Breed', 'Gunfighter' etc.] and the music is a reminiscence on 'Thundersteel'/'Privilege Of Power'! Enjoy, metal warriors, more awesomeness is on the way!"

Vocalist Todd Michael Hall adds: "I am really excited for the people to hear 'Mean Streets'. We are evolving well with one foot rooted in the past and one foot pointing toward to future."

"Mean Streets" track listing:

01. Hail To The Warriors
02. Feel The Fire
03. Love Beyond The Grave
04. High Noon
05. Before This Time
06. Higher
07. Mean Streets
08. Open Road
09. Mortal Eyes
10. Lost Dreams
11. Lean Into It
12. No More

Hardly any other metal act has such a long and absorbing history behind it. Since the quintet formed in 1975, they have been hit by several severe strokes of fate during their long career. Three deceased members — Rhett Forester (R.I.P. 1994),Guy Speranza (R.I.P. 2003) and Mark Reale (R.I.P. 2012) — have left their mark on the four decades of RIOT's band history.

After the death of Mark Reale and the departure of Tony Moore, Todd Michael Hall (from Michigan),completed the lineup of RIOT, which changed its name to RIOT V and moved forward under the auspices of the two long-term members and main songwriters Donnie van Stavern (bass) and Mike Flyntz (guitar).

Many artists name-check RIOT as an important influence of their musical career and have paid tribute to the power metal godfathers on multiple occasions. The list is long and includes several well-known acts such as HAMMERFALL ("Flight Of The Warrior"),LUCA TURILLI'S RHAPSODY ("Thundersteel"),AXEL RUDI PELL ("Warrior") and newcomers such as NIGHT DEMON ("Road Racin'"),ALPHA TIGER ("Flight Of The Warrior"),SAVAGE MASTER ("Swords And Tequila") and STALLION ("Rock City").

RIOT V 2024 is:

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

Finnish melodic metallers SONATA ARCTICA will release a new studio album, titled "Clear Cold Beyond", on March 8, 2024 through Atomic Fire. The LP contains 10 tracks reviving the band's penchant for power metal-esque tunes following their trip to acoustic landscapes during the pandemic.

The latest single from "Clear Cold Beyond" is a song called "Dark Empath". Longtime followers of their work may notice that this piece is the direct sequel of 2004's "Don't Say A Word", which has become a staple in the group's live set over the years. The track is at once nostalgic and allows new listeners to dive deeper into SONATA ARCTICA's colorful back catalogue.

Singer Tony Kakko comments: "This track is part of a saga that started on our second album 'Silence' in 2001 — some even think it started on our debut album with the song 'The End Of This Chapter' — and has many sequels and prequels already. Its stalker theme offers a frame to write songs in a certain style I like very much. People do not seem to mind this, fortunately, haha! It's not a chronological story, but rather a theme with reoccurring, familiar characters that end up living through variations of the theme over and over again."

"Clear Cold Beyond" is packed with strong songs and fuses the best of all periods of SONATA ARCTICA's multifaceted work: from high-speed anthems such as the recently released single "First In Line" and "California" to emotion-laden tracks such as "The Best Things" and the closing title track, this record offers something for each and every SONATA ARCTICA fan. The album's artwork, reminiscent of their early works, was created by Niko Anttila and the band returned to mixing engineer Mikko Karmila (Finnvox Studios). Final mastering was handled by Svante Forsbäck (Chartmakers West) who has also been part of other SONATA ARCTICA productions.

Kakko comments: "We've felt for a while now that we needed to get heavier after a couple of unintentionally softer albums. We still love those albums, but in terms of finding cornerstone songs for a feel-good melodic metal show, the previous album didn't have much to offer. We're getting back to metal after all that feels like a fresh start, and the new songs have been so much fun to write and record: More speed and songs that people can and want to sing along to. We can't wait to hit the road with this album and see how the crowds react to us being back at it."

"Clear Cold Beyond" track listing:

01. First In Line
02. California
03. Shah Mat
04. Dark Empath
05. Cure For Everything
06. A Monster Only You Can't See
07. Teardrops
08. Angel Defiled
09. The Best Things
10. Clear Cold Beyond

Bonus tracks (digipak + vinyl only):

11. A Ballad For The Broken
12. Toy Soldiers (MARTIKA cover)

Born in 1996 at the edge of the world in the northern Finnish town of Kemi, these humble music makers of melodic metal never tire of the sweet taste of victory. Achieving gold status in their native Finland and securing their ninth career gold record with 2012's "Stones Grow Her Name" just seven days after release, SONATA ARCTICA also have a long-established history of global chart domination and sold-out shows around the world.

SONATA ARCTICA is:

Tony Kakko - vocals
Elias Viljanen - guitars
Pasi Kauppinen - bass
Henrik "Henkka" Klingenberg - keyboards
Tommy Portimo - drums

Photo by Jaakko Manninen

Former WHITE LION frontman Mike Tramp will release his second solo album sung entirely in Danish, "Mand Af En Tid", on March 15 via Target Records.

The official music video for the LP's new single, "Ham Vi Vil Være", can be seen below.

Tramp is probably the only person ever to sing about Jolly Cola, THE BEATLES, sauerkraut (a traditional German food) and karate on the same album. It happened on "For Første Gang", which was released in 2022 and was Mike Tramp's first-ever album in Danish.

With "Mand Af En Tid", he does it again. This time the songs are about everything from Andy Warhol's "Fifteen Minutes Of Fame" to Ingrid & Lillebror, Muhammad Ali, Ole Olsen and roast duck. Again, it all happens in Danish.

Thus, Mike shows that it was not for fun when, to the surprise of most, he released a record in his mother tongue after more than 45 years of singing in English. The Danish songs are a way of telling some of the stories and sharing the experiences that have been gathered together throughout his life.

Says Tramp: "Many of those I meet at my concerts have always followed me, and we have almost grown up together. I can feel that it means something very special to them that I suddenly sing in Danish. They can recognize themselves in the stories and songs because I sing about something that means something to me. I'm a grown man who's tried a little bit of everything, but I'm still here and don't need to chase the latest trend. I know who I am and stand by it. Therefore, the record could not be called anything other than 'Man Of A Time'."

Tramp's career is longer and more colorful than most. He has been the country's biggest teenage idol, made records in Germany and was an MTV star in the USA. With "Mand Af En Tid", he makes up for it, and as he states in one of the album's tracks: "I have chosen my path and the path gave me answers / I came as I was". Or as he describes himself in another song: "Stiff-necked, stubborn and retro, but really okay".

"In the past, I have always written songs that should suit a band," Mike explains. "Therefore, there have been many things that I just couldn't do because I had to live up to a certain image or a particular sound. With the Danish songs, I go where the songs demand it. If it's a big mess, well then it's with strings. If it's a song about the old nightclubs on Vesterbro, then of course it should also sound like that. I grew up with albums where songs could sound different. 'Mand Af En Tid' is such an album."

On "Mand Af En Tid", this means that there is room for the pure rock numbers such as the album's title song and "Storm Og Stille", the great break-up song "Indeni", the rock hymn "Altid Farvel" and not least the glimpses of memory in "Ham Vi Vil Være" and in "Nat På Libelle", which is a song about Tramp's late mother.

As with "For Første Gang", all the songs on "Mand Af En Tid" were written together with Lars Daneskov, and the record was produced by Tramp himself together with Søren Andersen. The record also features Søren Skov, Claus Langeskov, Kenni Andy, Emily Garriock Langeskov and Jørgen Thorup.

"Mand Af En Tid" will be released on LP (black vinyl, limited to 500 units),digipack CD and digital formats. All pre-orders made in Targetshop.dk are signed by Mike Tramp.

Recording lineup:

Mike Tramp - vocals, guitar
Claus Langeskov - bass
Søren Andersen - guitar
Kenni Andy - drums
Søren Skov - piano, B-3, keyboards
Emily Garriock Langeskov - harmonies
Jørgen Thorup - harmonies

Mike Tramp Danish tour dates:

March 15 - Slagelse Musikhus, Badeanstalten, Slagelse
March 16 - Stars, Vordinborg
March 20 - Agger Darling, Vestervig
March 21 - Ferritslev Fritidshus, Ferritslev
March 22 - VINDANMARK, Aarhus
April 12 - BIO Huset, Galten
April 13 - Kulturcafé Ludvig, Sorø
April 19 - Ny Ridehus, Kulturcentret i Næstved, Næstved
April 20 - Gribskov Kultursal, Helsinge
May 10 - Bygningen, Køge
May 11 - Karosserifabrikken, Helsingør

Photo credit: Marcus Nand (courtesy of Target Records)

Reigning Phoenix Music, the emerging force in heavy music, has announced the integration of Atomic Fire Records. The strategic move sees the incorporation of Atomic Fire Records' roster into the RPM family and expands into a very impressive global lineup comprised of many genre-defining bands.

The new RPM roaster boasts many legendary, Grammy-nominated, and global powerhouses such as OPETH and MESHUGGAH, German pioneers of heavy metal HELLOWEEN, Finnish metal legends AMORPHIS, the newly signed DEICIDE and Sebastian Bach, with more to be revealed soon.

"Everyone at RPM is extremely excited about the prospect of continuing our quest to build the most impressive line-up in heavy music, especially this moment as we welcome many of these icons into the fold," said Sven Bogner, founder of RPM.

Gerardo Martinez, co-founder of RPM, states: "It is an honor to welcome and to see familiar faces join the team! Having spent 20 years with MESHUGGAH, I'm very much looking forward to another 20."

"Our vision for RPM goes beyond just being another record label; it is a collective endeavor to unite with exceptional individuals and bands deeply aligned with our commitment to extraordinary music," said Jochen Richert, the newly appointed managing director for RPM in Germany.

This new structure solidifies RPM as a big contender in the current heavy music scene and promises a great variety of quality music to be released in the future. Atomic Fire's sub-label Fireflash Records will be integrated as well. The RPM family also promises to heavily focus on new and up and coming artists, catering to their specific needs, paving the way to the young talent to reach success. More details will be unveiled soon.

RPM is currently headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, and Los Angeles, California. RPM also has full localized world-wide market support and expertise with teams offering best services and practices, including boots on the ground in major markets such as the U.K., Mexico City, Latin America, Australia, and more.

Founded in 2023, Reigning Phoenix Music is truly the 100% independently owned vision of music industry professional Gerardo Martinez and avionics and tech entrepreneur Sven Bogner. The blueprint is to continue to help heavy metal, extreme and hard music thrive by partnering with an array of well-established acts, new talent, and iconic artists by offering best services and practices in the industry. RPM's paramount goal is to help the artists amplify their music and talent to a winning formula for success.

SKID ROW has released a new "facts video" for the band's self-titled debut album to celebrate the LP's 35th anniversary.

In a message accompanying the YouTube release of the video, SKID ROW wrote: "Happy 35th Birthday on SKID ROW's debut album. Celebrate with this album facts video and let us know in the comments what you did or didn't know before!"

SKID ROW was unleashed on the world when its self-titled debut album was released in January 1989. That year, the album steadily climbed the Billboard chart to peak at No. 6 on the strength of the band's hits "Youth Gone Wild", "I Remember You" and Billboard Top 5 single "18 And Life".

SKID ROW was formed in 1986 in Toms River, New Jersey. Two years later, guitarists Dave "Snake" Sabo and Scotti Hill, bassist Rachel Bolan, drummer Rob Affuso and singer Sebastian Bach signed with Atlantic Records. To record their debut, the quintet traveled to Royal Recorders in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin to work with producer Michael Wagener (DOKKEN, GREAT WHITE, WHITE LION).

Shortly after the album was released on January 24, 1989, "Skid Row" was certified platinum, and the band began touring the world, first with BON JOVI on its "New Jersey Syndicate" tour, and later with AEROSMITH during the band's tour for the album "Pump". The extensive touring, coupled with heavy rotation of SKID ROW's music videos on MTV, helped fuel the debut album's enormous popularity.

"Skid Row" would remain in the Billboard album chart's Top 10 for three months, and the record would eventually be certified platinum five times. The first single from the album — "Youth Gone Wild" — was followed by the Top 10 hits "18 And Life" and "I Remember You". "Skid Row: 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition" includes the song "Forever" as a bonus track. Originally recorded in 1988 during the sessions for "Skid Row", the song remained unreleased until 1998 when it appeared on "40 Seasons: The Best Of Skid Row".

For "Skid Row"'s 30th anniversary in 2019, Rhino released a digital deluxe edition of the album that included the original album remastered for the first time, expanded with the bonus track "Forever". The deluxe edition also featured a previously unreleased live performance from 1989, marking the first ever release of a full live show from the band. "Skid Row: 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition" is available on all digital download and streaming services.

"Skid Row: 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition" features a previously unreleased recording of the band's April 28, 1989 performance at the Marquee club in California. The show includes powerful live versions of the classic hits from the album as well as fan-favorites such as "Rattlesnake Shake", "Piece Of Me" and "Big Guns", as well as the set-closing cover of the KISS classic "Cold Gin".

Slower (the all-Slayer cover project formed by members of Fu Manchu, Kylesa, Monolord, Lowrider, Kyuss, and Year Of The Cobra) present their crushing and hypnotic rendition of Slayer's all-time-classic "South Of Heaven". The song is taken from their self-titled debut album, to be released this Friday, January 26th on Heavy Psych Sounds.


The full lineup behind the glacial glory of Slower features six major players from the international stoner and doom metal scene: guitarist Bob Balch of Fu Manchu, drummer Esben Willems of Monolord, bassist Peder Bergstrand of Lowrider, bassist Scott Reeder of Fireball Ministry (also ex-Kyuss), vocalist Laura Pleasants of Kylesa and vocalist Amy Barrysmith of Year Of The Cobra. This unique recording will catch all heavy and doom metal fans off guard, delivering five fully reinvented Slayer classics with heavier-than-thou atmospheres and compelling ethereal vocals from the Kylesa and Year of the Cobra frontwomen. 


The bewitching "South Of Heaven" cover features Laura Pleasants (Kylesa) on vocals, Scott Reeder (Kyuss) on bass, Bob Balch (Fu Manchu) on guitar and Esben Willems (Monolord) on drums. About the song, Bob Balch says: "The main riff to 'South Of Heaven' was what started the entire Slower project. Once I demoed that riff, I knew that this record had to be made eventually. I was teaching a student so we slowed down the riff. I thought it would be really cool to tune down and play it heavy and make it doomy. This is the only song on the record that features Laura Pleasants on vocals and Scott Reeder on bass. The main structure/demo of this recording goes back to 2020. Now, almost four years later, I’m super stoked that people get to hear it. Enjoy.”







About this collaborative project, Bob Balch explains: “The idea for the Slower project started around four years ago. I was teaching a student how to play 'South Of Heaven' by Slayer but she was a beginner so we slowed it down. I thought that sounded cool so I tuned down to B standard and tried it. I added some drums and thought “someone in the doom community should do this and name it Slower.”


“A few years later I befriended Steven 'Thee Slayer Hippy' Hanford, best known for his work as the drummer in the influential Oregon punk band Poison Idea. He was backstage at a Fu Manchu show. Oddly enough I was wearing a Poison Idea shirt and he told me that my shirt sucks. I asked who he was and why he was in our backstage. He told me and I felt stupid. We started drinking whiskey and talking about music. We stayed in touch over the next year or so and during Covid I told him about my Slower idea. He asked me to send him tracks. I waited too long because the day I sent the tracks he passed away. Totally tragic. I’m glad I got to know him even for a few years. He was a monster musician with a giant heart. He will be greatly missed.”


“I shelved the project for a while after that. One day Esben from Monolord posted about musical collaborations. I love Monolord so I thought what the hell. I sent him some tracks and he killed it on drums. So I sent more. Then more. Shortly after that, we started reaching out to other musicians to get them involved. That’s how we ended up with this lineup. Everyone that contributed completely knocked it out of the park and I can’t thank them enough.”


“This project has been a long time coming and I’m beyond stoked on how it turned out. Without all of the players involved, Steven Hanford and my baritone Reverend guitar it wouldn’t have happened. Thanks to everyone involved and I hope you dig it! I’m a giant Slayer fan so it’s been a treat to dig into these classic songs. Hopefully, we can do another record in the near future. Look out for shows because they will happen!”





Tracklisting:


"War Ensemble" 
"The Antichrist" 
"Blood Red" 
"Dead Skin Mask" 
"South Of Heaven" 








(Cover artwork by Peder Bergstrand)


 

"The one you’ve been asking for…" begins drummer extraordinaire Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, The Winery Dogs, Adrenaline Mob, Sons Of Apollo).


"Fun fact: You’re not gonna believe this, but this track was NOT on the list of discussed songs/content before I arrived at Drumeo to shoot. Brandon Toews asked me on the spot if I’d be willing to do it, and I said I was willing to give it a try but that I hadn’t played it in YEARS (since the Shattered Fortress tour in 2017). We decided to give it a whirl without me even listening to the track to review it… hit record and this is what came out! 'Like riding a bicycle! Well, more like a unicycle…'."


"The Dance Of Eternity" is arguably one of the most iconic (and difficult) progressive rock songs of all time. Watch below as the one and only Mike Portnoy breaks down how he plays this incredible song.







Initially released in 1999 on Dream Theater's fifth studio album, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory, "The Dance Of Eternity" is a dazzling instrumental.





 

In a touching nod to the recent natural turmoil in their homeland of New Zealand, rock powerhouse Black Smoke Trigger have dropped their latest single, "Perfect Torture". The single comes with a striking music video that beautifully parallels the emotional turbulence of the song with the band's personal experience with Cyclone Gabrielle and the devastation it wreaked on their hometown of Hawke’s Bay.


Stream the track here, and watch the music video below.







"Perfect Torture really developed in the studio, we experimented a lot with producer Nick Raskulinecz to get the vibe right and I think we nailed it. The raw acoustic intro allows space to show off Baldrick's voice and the song really goes from 0 - 60 as it gets darker and reaches the first chorus where Baldrick completely unleashes. The song is about someone you love that just doesn't make it easy, but in the end, you know it's worth the fight to weather the storm, hence the line 'Your love is perfect torture'. We really wanted this song to be a journey when you listen to it, and take you through different emotions, from the most calming & loving, to the complete opposite," says guitarist and band leader Charlie Wallace.


Creating a visual representation for "Perfect Torture" became more than a music video production – it turned into a labour of love and a tribute. The song's thematic focus on emotional struggle is mirrored in the video's stormy imagery, paying tribute to the resilience shown by those affected. "Perfect Torture" stands as a powerful metaphor for the trials and tribulations that challenge us, both in love and life.


"After we had the concept and figured out how to pull it off, our director was having a hard time finding an art department who was going to create what we wanted, so we said, “screw it, let's be the art department!”. So the band and our crew created the surreal hill you see in the video. All of the leaves, trees and real grass actually came from my house, my Dad drove it all up in a van to the studio in Auckland that we filmed it. We had just had a cyclone (Cyclone Gabrielle) that really devastated our hometown in Hawke's Bay, so I drove down to the river to collect a bunch of stuff that had been washed up. This for us gave it a bigger meaning, as there were people who lost their homes, pets and even their lives in this cyclone. So having a music video showing a storm coming in and wreaking havoc, in a weird way, is a tribute to what people had to go through," Wallace reflects on the creative process.





Black Smoke Trigger continues to ride the high of their dynamic rock, anchored by the distinctive guitar work of Wallace and the commanding vocals of Baldrick combined with their pummelling rhythm section courtesy of bassist Dan Fulton, and drummer Josh Te Maro. Fast becoming known for churning out certified 10/10, arena ready rock bangers, Black Smoke Trigger are also quickly garnering a reputation for creating jaw-dropping and often death-defying music videos.


“Perfect Torture” follows the release of their previous single, “The Way Down”, the video for which saw the band perform atop the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere whilst Wallace jumped off the edge, shredding a guitar solo whilst plummeting 630ft, and has clocked up over 1 million views on YouTube. Prior to that, the band put out track “Caught In The Undertow”, where the video was also a feat of extreme conditions. Filmed at Muriwai beach in Auckland, New Zealand and at a helicopter crash testing facility in a 3.6M deep pool, the whole band performed much of the song underwater creating a stunning visual that has clocked up 3.2 million YouTube views and highlights the band’s dedication to creating unforgettable visual accompaniments for their hard-hitting rock anthems.


Black Smoke Trigger will be supporting Filter on the Australia and New Zealand leg of their Algorithm World Tour this April, before heading over to Europe for some select dates in the UK, France, and the Netherlands supporting the legendary Bruce Dickinson.





For full dates and tickets head to blacksmoketrigger.com.


With their debut full-length album set for release this May, the horizon shines bright for these Kiwi rock trailblazers. Stay tuned for much more to come.


(Photo - Christine Solomon)

Yesterday, Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson released "Rain On The Graves", the second track from his forthcoming solo album, The Mandrake Project. And today, guitarist Thomas Zwijsen shares acoustic guitar cover of the new song. Check it out below:





Watch Bruce Dickinson's official video for "Rain On The Graves" below:







Across ten inventive, expansive and absorbing tracks, Dickinson and his long-term co-writer and producer Roy Z, have created one of 2024’s defining rock albums. Sonically heavy and rich in musical textures, The Mandrake Project sees Bruce bring to life a musical vision long-in-the-making, and features some of the finest vocal performances of his career.


Recorded largely at LA’s Doom Room with Roy Z doubling up as both guitarist and bassist, the lineup for The Mandrake Project was rounded out by keyboard maestro Mistheria and drummer Dave Moreno, both of whom also featured on Bruce’s last solo studio album, Tyranny Of Souls, in 2005.


The Mandrake Project is Dickinson’s seventh solo album. It will be released on March 1 via BMG worldwide on multiple formats. Pre-order here.





The Mandrake Project tracklisting


"Afterglow Of Ragnarok"
"Many Doors To Hell"
"Rain On The Graves"
"Resurrection Men"
"Fingers In The Wounds"
"Eternity Has Failed"
"Mistress Of Mercy"
"Face In The Mirror"
"Shadow Of The Gods"
"Sonata (Immortal Beloved)"


"Afterglow Of Ragnarok" video:





Bruce Dickinson and his phenomenal band will bring the music of The Mandrake Project to life with a major headline tour this spring and summer.


The Mandrake Project tour dates:


April
18 - Diana Theater - Guadalajara, Mexico
20 - Pepsi Theatre - Mexico City, Mexico
24 - Live Curitiba - Curitiba, Brazil
25 - Pepsi On Stage - Porto Alegre, Brazil
27 - Opera Hall - Brasilia, Brazil
28 - Arena Hall - Belo Horizonte, Brazil
30- Qualistage - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil


May
2 - Quinta Linda - Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
4 - Vibra - Sao Paulo, Brazil
18 - Barrowland Ballroom - Glasgow, UK
19 - O2 Academy - Manchester, UK
21 - Arena - Swansea, UK
23 - Rock City - Nottingham, UK
24 - O2 Forum Kentish Town - London, UK
26 - L’Olympia - Paris, France
28 - 013 - Tilburg, Holland
29 - De Oosterport - Groningen, Holland


June
1 - Barba Negra - Budapest, Hungary
3 - Arenale Romane - Bucharest, Romania
5-8 - Mystic Festival - Gdansk, Poland *
5-8 - Sweden Rock Festival - Solvesborg, Sweden *
9 - Rockefeller - Oslo, Norway
11 - Grona Lund - Stockholm, Sweden
13 - House Of Culture - Helsinki, Finland
14 - Noblessner Foundry - Tallinn, Estonia
16 - Huxleys Neue Welt - Berlin, Germany
17 - Grosse Freiheit 36 - Hamburg, Germany
19-22 - Copenhell - Copenhagen, Denmark *
22 - Summerside Festival - Grenchen, Switzerland *
24 - Zeltfestival Rhein-Neckar - Mannheim, Germany *
25 - Circus Krone - Munich, Germany
27-30 - Hellfest - Clisson, France *
30 - Rockhal, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg


July
3-6 - Rockharz Open Air - Ballenstedt, Germany *
5 - Ippodrome Delle Capannelle, Rock In Rome - Rome, Italy *
6 - Bassano Del Grappa, Metal Park - Vincenza, Italy *
9 - E-Werk - Koln, Germany
13 - Hala - Zagreb, Croatia
16 - Kolodrum Arena - Sofia, Bulgaria
19 - Kucukciftlik Park - Istanbul, Turkey
21 - Plateia Nerou - Athens, Greece (supporting Judas Priest)


* - festival performance


Bruce Dickinson’s touring band features guitarist Roy Z, drummer Dave Moreno, bass-player Tanya O’Callaghan and keyboard maestro Mistheria. For more information regarding the tour click here.

Carnifex released their ninth full-length studio album, Necromanteum, last fall via Nuclear Blast Records, followed by a U. run in support of the new music. Continuing the momentum, the band is kicking off the new year with a music video for the single "Torn In Two" followed by a European/UK run this March and a US tour in May.


Carnifex's Scott Ian Lewis states, “We had an amazing time on the Necromanteum US tour and we’re happy to catch some of the good times on that tour in this 'Torn In Two' music video.”


Watch the video, directed by Tyler Kosec and Nox Nohi, below, and order the new album here.







Necromanteum tracklisting:


"Torn In Two"
"Death's Forgotten Children"
"Necromanteum"
"Crowned In Everblack"
"The Pathless Forest"
"How The Knife Gets Twisted"
"Architect Of Misanthropy"
"Infinite Night Terror"
"Bleed More"
"Heaven And Hell All At Once"


"Torn In Two" video:





“Infinite Night Terror” track video:





"Death's Forgotten Children" visualizer:





"Necromanteum" video:





Carnifex and Cattle Decapitation will co-headline this year’s edition of the Chaos & Carnage Tour. The journey runs from April 30 through May 26 with additional support provided by the band’s Metal Blade labelmates, Rivers Of Nihil and The Zenith Passage, as well as Humanity’s Last Breath, Vitriol, and Face Yourself.


Tickets for the Chaos & Carnage Tour 2024 are on sale at chaosandcarnage.com.





Tour dates:


April
30 - Nile Theater - Mesa, AZ


May
2 - Come And Take It Live - Austin, TX
3 - Granada Theater - Dallas, TX
4 - Vibes Event Center - San Antonio, TX
6 - The Orpheum - Tampa, FL
8 - Brooklyn Bowl - Nashville, TN
10 - The Brooklyn Monarch - Brooklyn, NY
11 - Reverb - Reading, PA
12 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA
14 - Sharkey’s Event Center - Liverpool, NY
15 - Preserving Underground - New Kensington, PA
16 - King Of Clubs - Columbus, OH
17 - The Crofoot - Pontiac, MI
18 - WC Social Club - West Chicago, IL
20 - The Gothic Theatre - Englewood, CO
23 - The UC Theatre - Berkeley, CA
24 - The Belasco - Los Angeles, CA
25 - House Of Blues - Anaheim, CA
26 - House Of Blues - Las Vegas, NV

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


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


To mark this momentous milestone, Sabaton 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 the following blast from the past:


"Are you ready for the epic story behind our song, 'Metal Machine'? In the midst of the Primo Victoria recording sessions, Joakim found himself in a lyrical predicament. The man had a musical masterpiece laid out, but he had forgotten to write the lyrics to the song. Now, what does a metal musician turn to in a situation like this? The porcelain throne, of course! In a stroke of genius (or desperation), Joakim transformed his bathroom break into a lyrical brainstorming session. Armed with nothing but toilet paper, a pen and some metal magazines, he crafted the words to 'Metal Machine' in just 25 minutes! Who knew that a stack of metal mags and a roll of TP could result in a headbanging anthem?"


Check out the Primo Victoria album here.





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:

Furor Gallico will release the new album Future To Come on March 22 through Scarlet Records. New lyric video "Among The Ashes" is streaming below.


The fourth studio album of the Italian folk metal masters was produced by guitarist Gabriel Consiglio, mixed by Federico Ascari (Within Destruction, Signs of the Swarm) and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (Opeth, Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth); longtime Furor Gallico collaborator Kris Verwimp (Marduk, Suidakra, Vital Remains) was again commissioned to draw the striking cover artwork; last but not least, as in the classic 'Canto d'Inverno' taken from the 2019 'Dusk of the Ages' album (4,6 million views on YouTube), 'Future to Come' features Valentina Pucci as session female vocalist.


Future To Come will be released in the following formats:
-digipack CD
-vinyl LP
-digital




Preorder here.


Artwork by Kris Verwimp:





Tracklisting:


“Call Of The Wind”
“Among The Ashes”
“Birth Of The Sun”
“Black Skies”
“Faith Upon Lies”
“Ancient Roots”
“Future To Come”
“Anelito”


"Among The Ashes" lyric video:

During a January 16 question-and-answer event at St. Vitus in Brooklyn, New York, IRON MAIDEN's 65-year-old singer Bruce Dickinson, who flew his group around the world in their customized jumbo jet dubbed Ed Force One, confirmed that the Federal Aviation Administration retirement age for pilots is one of the reasons he is no longer in the pilot's seat when he and his bandmates are on the road.

"To be fair, it depends which country you're in," he told interviewer Joe DiVita of Loudwire about the mandatory retirement age for commercial pilots (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "So if you, for example, are a professional pilot, which is what we're talking about, because as long as you're reasonably competent, which is more competent than any of the present candidates for the president of the United States, as long as you're reasonably mentally competent, you can fly, as long as you can see straight and hear and things like that. So in, for example, Australia, there's no limit to what time you can be a commercial pilot. But you have to pass the same checks as all the young guys. You have to do the physical stuff the same. Your eyes have got to be up to snuff — not perfect, but you can have them corrected for vision and stuff like that."

He continued: "It's a tiring old job in the end. Now, some people, they just wanna go on and then, when they stop flying, they just kind of die. And it's true — a lot of airline pilots die within, like, five years of retirement. It's an incredible number. It's quite shocking, actually… They just spent their whole life doing it. And they are, like, 'What do I do now?' I mean, I always used to say when you get to a certain level in a career in aviation, 'cause everybody… As a professional pilot, everybody — probably; there are people that don't, but most everybody starts out going, 'I wanna be a captain' of whatever. I mean, nowadays it would be like an Airbus or something. Back in my day, everybody was, like, 'I wanna be a captain of a 747. Whoa. Yeah.' So you start off as a junior first. You get your licenses and everything, and then you have to get a job. Well, that's assuming you now get a job, you start off, you're the lowest of the low. You're a junior first officer. You jump through all the hoops, and gradually you go up. A lot of airlines are seniority based, but smaller airlines are based on a kind of meritocracy. If you you're smart and you're clever, you can advance quite quickly. So after three or four years, you could be up for doing an assessment to be a captain. But anyway, once you get to be a captain, and let's say you've done some other stuff, and you get to around about six or seven thousand hours of flight time, frankly, some guys are like — and girls, clearly, obviously, 'cause it's both — some people are, like, all I want to do for the rest of my life is exactly what I'm doing right now, and never stop that, never change. Boom. And there's nothing wrong with that. Some people are, like, 'Okay, I'm really bored. Actually, this job kind of sucks. It's not that difficult to do. Now that I got to the level that I'm at, I can do it in my sleep, and I just get abused by all these people, so, really, I'm just gonna be a grumpy fucking old grouch and take the money and growl at people.' Those are those are potentially dangerous pilots, 'cause they've got a bad attitude. And then there are other pilots who go, 'You know what? It's 10,000 hours. I kind of like flying but just doing the same 'Groundhog Day' every day. Maybe I should do something different. Maybe I should go part time. Maybe I should do some training. Maybe I should go into a bit of management. Maybe I should do a bit of this.' … And that's what happened to me, is I became a trainer and I was a ground school trainer. I was the chief technical pilot, the 757, 737. So I was training other pilots. I was in the simulator doing stuff. And the learning makes it interesting. But I could see there was this cutoff point where people would go either 'I want everything to be 'Groundhog Day', and that makes me really happy' or 'there's more to life than just doing this.' And there's other people that just sort of give up and go, 'Well, I can't do anything else, but I hate it,' and they stay with it, which is kind of sad. But you have those kind of choices. And I've observed it in a lot of pilots. 'Cause as a first officer, you fly with captains, and a lot of them have been around an awful long time. And some of them are fantastic — enthusiastic, cool. Others, just grumpy old sods and actually potentially dangerous because of it. So, you've gotta keep your eye on people."

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),commercial pilots have to retire at age 65. There is currently no maximum age limit for being a private pilot or for being an Air Force pilot.

Dickinson gained a commercial pilot's license after learning to fly in the 1990s. In 2012 he set up Cardiff Aviation, an aircraft maintenance company which has since changed its name to Caerdav.

Bruce, who spent a few years flying planes for Astraeus Airlines, told CNN in a 2007 interview: "Aviation's been kicking around my family for as long as I can remember; my uncle was in the RAF. But I always thought I was too stupid. I was useless at maths and majored in history at university, so I thought history majors don't become pilots, let alone rock stars. And then our drummer learned to fly, so I said, 'If a drummer can learn to fly, then anyone can.'"

Dickinson told Wales Online that he still gets a thrill out of flying, but that it's a totally different sensation to playing live.

"The satisfaction flying airplanes is getting the job done, but the satisfaction with playing live is external, looking out at all the people looking at you," he said. "With an airliner, it's all internal. If you've got passengers, nobody goes, 'Wow! Wasn't that great?' They're thinking about the rest of their day. Your job as an airline pilot is to deliver them safely and be invisible. That's quite nice for me because it's completely the opposite to what I do when I sing."

Bruce's new solo album, "The Mandrake Project", will be released on March 1 via BMG. Bruce and his long-term co-writer and producer Roy "Z" Ramirez recorded the LP largely at Los Angeles's Doom Room, with Roy Z doubling up as both guitarist and bassist. The recording lineup for "The Mandrake Project" was rounded out by keyboard maestro Mistheria and drummer Dave Moreno, both of whom also featured on Bruce's last solo studio album, "Tyranny Of Souls", in 2005.

So St.Vitus Bruce Dickinson meet and great was great last night Thanks #BiglouDoomcrew for the heads up about the event

Posted by Andrew Riskin on Wednesday, January 17, 2024

With you Mr. Bruce Dickinson! Bruce Dickinson: The Mandrake Project Signing, Q+A

Adrian.-

Posted by Eddie The Head Fan Club on Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Grammy-winning rock band GRETA VAN FLEET has shared "The Indigo Streak (Live From RCA Studio A)". The reimagined version of the song, off the group's Grammy-nominated third studio album, was performed and filmed at the famed RCA Studio A in Nashville, Tennessee. The video, directed by Steven Lester, is the first in a series of songs, including "Meeting The Master", "The Falling Sky", "Sacred The Thread" and "Farewell For Now" tracked by the band at the studio, which they will release on a weekly basis.

GRETA VAN FLEET is nominated this year for "Best Rock Album" for "Starcatcher" at the 66th annual Grammy Awards. The band took home its first Grammy in 2019, winning "Best Rock Album" for their EP "From The Fires" and has been nominated for four Grammys overall.

Recently, GRETA VAN FLEET announced the extension of its "Starcatcher" world tour with the addition of 12 new dates throughout the U.S. this year. The 2024 leg kicks off on Saturday, April 27 in St. Louis, with stops in Kansas City, Austin, Pittsburgh and Milwaukee. The "Starcatcher" world tour supports the band's critically acclaimed album "Starcatcher", which was released on July 21, 2023 via Lava/Republic Records and debuted at No. 1 on the Top Rock Albums, Top Hard Rock Albums, and Top Rock/Alternative Albums charts.

GRETA VAN FLEET lead singer Josh Kiszka states: "'Starcatcher' is a dangerous and delightful expedition into a both violent and gentle dreamlike landscape. A purgatory of duality where brutality and beauty clash like a thunderstorm of stillness. Neither fact nor fiction inhabit the far reaches of this surrealist world. A storybook for the fighters and lovers alike, 'Starcatcher' captures a certain wonder on the fringe of mayhem."

"Starcatcher" was written and recorded by the band — Josh Kiszka, guitarist Jake Kiszka, bassist/keyboardist Sam Kiszka and drummer Danny Wagner — alongside Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile). Recorded at the legendary RCA Studios in Nashville, the band utilized the large recording room to capture the pure energy of their world-renowned live performances.

Swedish glam rockers Cruzh have announced the release of their new album, The Jungle Revolution, set for release on March 22, 2024. They’re also sharing a taste of the upcoming work with the first single, “FL89”, out today.


Preorder The Jungle Revolution here.


About the new single, bassist Dennis Butabi Borg said "It feels great to release FL89 as the first single of our new album, because I really see it as a natural bridge between our last release Tropical Thunder and The Jungle Revolution. Fun fact, at first the song lyrics might seem like a typical, nostalgic story about broken hearts. But there's a much cooler twist to it if you listen carefully. Who knows, I might tell you the origin story down the road."




"We're super excited to release the album” – Butabi adds – “because it's by far our most honest release so far. We've gone full circle and landed in the jungle where we came from. Enjoy the squealing guitars and massive sing-along choruses until we meet on a live show near you.”


With The Jungle Revolution, Cruzh is going back to find the pureness of the wild, their inner animals, the attitude of rock ‘n’ roll. With full force and some added power in the line-up, Alex, Butabi, Anton and Silver are joined by guitar slinger Johan Öberg. With two guitar players, the band has drifted towards a tougher more riff-driven direction without losing their love for big choruses with insanely catchy hooks.


Hailing from Sweden, Cruzh was conceived when former TrashQueen members Anton Joensson and Dennis Butabi Borg united with Tony Andersson, known for his work on an unreleased TrashQueen record. Cruzh made waves in March 2013 with their online debut, sparking intrigue with the unveiling of "In a Blink of an Eye." The subsequent release of "Stay" and cryptic social media clues further fueled speculation. The fall of 2013 marked their unmasking, coinciding with the acclaimed Hard To Get EP. Cruzh's journey reached new heights in 2015 when Frontiers Music Srl embraced them.


Fast forward to 2024, Cruzh anticipates the release of The Jungle Revolution, an album set to redefine their musical narrative and captivate audiences worldwide. Stay tuned for Cruzh's next chapter as they continue pushing the boundaries of rock music.


With all five band members operating as songwriters, the band is hungry and eager to spread The Jungle Revolution on the road.





Tracklisting:


“The Jungle Revolution”
“Angel Dust”
“FL89”
“Killing In The Name Of Love”
“SkullCruzher”
“At The Radio Station”
“Split Personality”
“Sold Your Soul”
“From Above”
“Winner”
“Gimme Anarchy”


“FL89” lyric video:





Cruzh:
Alex Waghorn – lead vocals
Anton Joensson - guitar, background vocals
Dennis Butabi Borg - bass, background vocals
Johan Öberg – guitar
Matt Silver – drums, background vocals

Vipassi will release their new album, Lightless, this Friday, January 26, via Season Of Mist. Pre-order the album here, and find an advanced album stream below.


Vipassi have been carefully unlocking a mystery. The Australian quartet's new album, Lightless, explores all sorts of twisted phenomena, from the hooded ritual of "Phainesthai" to the distorted maze of "Labyrinthine Hex". 


As a purely instrumental band, Vipassi are blessed with a telepathic chemistry. No wonder they spin epic stories without uttering a single word.







Tracklisting:


“Lightless”
“Labyrinthine Hex”
“Morningstar”
“Shapshu”
“Phainesthai”
“Ruination Glow”
“Neon Rain”
“Promethea”


Album stream:





“Morningstar”: