Norway's pioneers of avant-garde and progressive black metal, Borknagar, will release their monumental twelfth studio album, Fall, worldwide on February 23 via longtime record label partners, Century Media Records.


Today, the band release the video for "Nordic Anthem". The video was created by Marius Martinsen, Kenneth Williams and Lars A. Nedland via the production company High & Low.
 
"So many gods. So many beliefs. So much conflict," the band says about the track. "'Nordic Anthem' is about rejecting any kind of doctrine, religious or political. It's about going to your own nature, your inner core, and finding strength and freedom. Our perspective is a northern one — we're from the north, after all — but this is a firm stance that is universally applicable. It's about finding and trusting your own values, your own heritage, and standing up against gods and authorities trying to push doctrine to control you, or corrupt you. This is our collective anthem. We won't bend our knee to any god!"







Fall includes eight majestic tracks across 54 epic minutes of playing time, once again brilliantly mixed by Jens Bogren/ Fascination Street Studios (Opeth, Amon Amarth, Kreator) and featuring stunning album cover artwork by Eliran Kantor (Testament, My Dying Bride, Sodom).


Borknagar founder and mastermind Øystein G. Brun comments about Fall as follows, "We are extremely proud to present you all with our twelfth album entitled Fall, another chapter of our musical journey. In many ways, Fall represents a continuation of True North, but as always, we are pushing further and afar to seek even broader and more challenging horizons. Musically, we are loyal to our musical legacy, but we have most certainly walked through fire and ice to reach our highest peak yet. Although Fall represents a wide array of musical and lyrical ideas, the fundamental theme behind the album is based on the fascination and appreciation of the very outskirts of life. Those places, and those beings, in the vast periphery of our own existence that very few live to see or even learn to know about- but still are profoundly essential for our existence. With Fall, we seek to portray and cherish all that holds up and pushes boundaries - against the great fall."


Øystein G. Brun added the following words about the track, "From the day you are born, nature will do everything in its power to get you back into the ground. The lonesome struggle of being you or the mighty struggle of all life, will eventually tear you down from the inside - or from the outside. But for the short glimpse of time we endure, we all seek the ultimate heights of our very own existence. Our first single 'Summits,' from the upcoming album Fall, scopes in on this everlasting drama of life - where the drama unfolds - at the very outskirts of life."


Fall is the follow up to 2019's widely acclaimed True North studio album and will be available as limited first-pressing Digipak CD, Gatefold 2-LP on 180gr vinyl, and as Digital Album.


The vinyl edition of Fall will be available in the following variants:


- Gatefold black 2LP
- Ltd. Gatefold neon orange 2LP (300x copies, available from cmdistro.de + various other retailers)
- Ltd. Gatefold transp. bottle green 2LP (300x copies, available from EMP & Nuclear Blast)


Pre-order here.





Fall tracklisting:


"Summits"
"Nordic Anthem"
"Afar"
"Moon"
"Stars Ablaze"
"Unraveling"
"The Wild Lingers"
"Northward"


"Summits" visualizer:





Borknagar are (from left to right in photo at top):


ICS Vortex - Bass, Vocals + Choirs
Lars A. Nedland - Keys, Vocals, + Choirs
Øystein G. Brun - Guitars
Bjørn Dugstad Rønnow - Drums and Percussion
Jostein Thomassen - Guitars


(Photo - Jørn Veberg)

Glam rock legends L.A. Guns rang in 2024 with a New Year's Eve show at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, CA. Fan-filmed video of the entire show can be viewed below.


Setlist:


"Cannonball"
"Electric Gypsy"
"Over the Edge"
"Sex Action"
"You Betray"
"One More Reason"
"Diamonds"
"Speed"
"Like a Drug"
"I Wanna Be Your Man"
"Kiss My Love Goodbye"
"Never Enough"
"Crystal Eyes / The Ballad of Jayne"
"Hellraisers Ball"
"Rip and Tear"







Is there new L.A .Guns music brewing? "You bet your last guitar pick there is," answers Tracii Guns. "We're deep in the creative cave, crafting what's destined to be our most explosive album yet, set to drop in 2024. Prepare yourselves for a sound explosion that's going to tear the roof off the rock world. It's going to be legendary!"


"As we rev up our engines for another wild ride, we can't help but look back at the incredible year we've had – and it's all thanks to you. Your unwavering support fuels our fire and keeps the rock 'n' roll dream alive. We're amped to hit the road and see you in person. Remember, every chord we strum, every note we sing, is for you. Here's to rocking out together, now and forever!"


"Get ready to set your hearts on fire because we're hitting the road for a mind-blowing 30-show tour alongside the legendary Tom Keifer and the electrifying KK's Priest! This is going to be an epic journey of rock 'n' roll madness, and we can't wait to rock out with each and every one of you. Keep your eyes peeled for dates and cities – we're coming to shake the ground beneath you!"


To view the complete LAG tour schedule, visit this location.

Reformed Danish metal legends MERCYFUL FATE and their American bassist Joey Vera have "mutually" decided to part ways.

MERCYFUL FATE frontman King Diamond said in a statement: "Our friendship and respect for each other will always remain the same, and we all sincerely wish each other the absolute best for the future."

MERCYFUL FATE completed its first North American headlining tour in over two decades in November 2022. Stepping in on bass for MERCYFUL FATE at these shows was Becky Baldwin, a British musician who has previously played with FURY, TRIAXIS and CONTROL THE STORM. She filled in for Vera, who was unable to make the trek due to a scheduling conflict with his longtime band ARMORED SAINT.

In 2019, it was announced Vera would be replacing original MERCYFUL FATE bassist Timi Hansen for the band's summer 2020 European festival appearances due to Hansen's cancer diagnosis. Hansen passed away in November 2019 and MERCYFUL FATE's 2020 summer festival appearances were rescheduled for 2021, and then to 2022.

MERCYFUL FATE's North American tour, which featured support from by KREATOR and MIDNIGHT, followed the band's headlining performance at the 2022 edition of Psycho Las Vegas.

MERCYFUL FATE is currently working on a new album and recently gave fans a taste of the new material when they debuted a song called "The Jackal Of Salzburg" in Germany in June 2022 as well as at Psycho Las Vegas. The band's current lineup is rounded out by Hank Shermann and Mike Wead on guitars, and Bjarne T. Holm on drums.

MERCYFUL FATE was formed in early 1981 in Copenhagen, Denmark by vocalist King Diamond and guitarist Hank Shermann. They were later joined by guitarist Michael Denner and bassist Timi Hansen, and soon thereafter drummer Kim Ruzz would join to complete the band lineup. The band recorded two demos in 1981 and later signed with Rave On Records in Holland for the recording of their successful self-titled EP, released in November of 1982. The "Mercyful Fate" EP was soon in heavy rotation around core metal radio stations, launching a new breed of heavy metal with their unique sound.

The band joined Roadrunner Records in 1983 and their debut full-length, "Melissa", was recorded and released that same year. The following year, MERCYFUL FATE returned to the studio to record their now legendary "Don't Break The Oath" full-length, released in September of 1984.

MERCYFUL FATE embarked upon a two-month U.S. tour in support of the record, which took them across the States several times sharing the stage with the likes of MOTÖRHEAD and EXCITER. The shows had created a brush fire within the metal community. The band reaped recognition globally, closing the year with a five-date tour in Germany with MOTÖRHEAD, GIRLSCHOOL, HELIX and TALON.

MERCYFUL FATE's first concert of 1985 was in their hometown of Copenhagen at an old movie theater with a large capacity. The show sold out and their stage show exhibited a new level of distinction. The night was a huge victory and a new highlight for the band. By April of 1985, however, MERCYFUL FATE decided to part ways for each to pursue new challenges. The KING DIAMOND band was born and reaped critical acclaim the following years with five studio albums on Roadrunner Records. KING DIAMOND has since signed with Metal Blade Records and is going stronger than ever before.

In the summer of 1992, MERCYFUL FATE decided to reunite and penned a new deal with Brian Slagel and his label, Metal Blade Records. "In The Shadows" was released in 1993 and was an instant triumph furthered by a sold-out U.S. tour.

MERCYFUL FATE has gone on to release another five studio albums and have toured Europe, the U.S. and South America multiple times. The highlight of 1999 was their critically acclaimed album "9" which was followed by a European tour with METALLICA, where King Diamond and Hank Shermann joined the band onstage several times for the medley "Mercyful Fate" which METALLICA had recorded on their "Garage Inc." double tribute album the year prior. Tours in the U.S. and in South America followed, marking the band's last live performances for over a decade. MERCYFUL FATE then went on hiatus, but made a brief appearance when members joined METALLICA onstage in 2011 for their 30th-anniversary show in San Francisco, California.

Mercyful Fate and Joey Vera have mutually decided to split ways.

“Our friendship and respect for each other will...

Posted by MERCYFUL FATE on Tuesday, January 16, 2024

British heavy metal legends SAXON will release their 24th studio album, "Hell, Fire And Damnation", on January 19, 2024 via Silver Lining Music.

The official music video for the LP's latest single, "There's Something In Roswell", can be seen below.

"Hell, Fire And Damnation" sees SAXON investigate all areas of history and mystery amidst ten of their most confident and thunderously powerful songs and "There's Something In Roswell" is a true treasure amidst the jewels, with the sort of expansive groove and embrace which deserves arenas. The track is about the enigmatic events surrounding the 1947 crash of an assumed Army weather balloon in Roswell New Mexico, referred to as "the Roswell incident".

"It's such a great story. It's been around for years and years, and it's just what the song says: there must be something in Roswell because there's too much hoorah about it still," SAXON lead singer Biff Byford explains. "I like the tune as well; I think it harks back to '80s SAXON musically, a really good bridge between the classic 'Dallas 1 PM' era and 'SAXON 2023.'"

"Hell, Fire And Damnation" is an album which sees SAXON investigate all areas of history and mystery amidst ten of their most confident and thunderously powerful songs yet. Biff delivers his richest vocals in years, Nigel Glockler and Nibbs Carter on drums and bass, respectively, lay down the rhythmic law with bombastic power, and the guitars of Doug Scarratt and Brian Tatler are fresh and fiery, a perfect complement to each other, carrying an overall energy and fury which will have fans salivating. Musically, SAXON bring it all to the table. There's a furious tribute to actual heavy metal in the denim-and-leather-coated super-sprint "Fire And Steel", a wonderful nod to the NWOBHM's birth in the electric mid-pace "Pirates Of The Airwaves", but maybe the true treasure amidst the jewels is "There's Something In Roswell", with the sort of expansive groove and embrace which deserves arenas.

Produced by Andy Sneap (JUDAS PRIEST, EXODUS, ACCEPT) and Byford, with Sneap mixing and mastering, "Hell, Fire And Damnation" strides the perfect line between confident, current power, and gloriously irreverent flexing of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal muscle which SAXON co-created.

"I think this album's one of the best he's done sound-wise, and he's done a lot of albums," Biff declared. "It has a really raw, vibrant sound... if you compress the total time making this album, it was four weeks tops… you can hear everything brilliantly, nothing's overcomplicated, nothing's over compressed. The guitar sounds are fucking immense, they're just great, raw guitar sounds. And we haven't done a lot of overdubbing on there, it's just playing. I really, really like it."

2024 promises to be a great year for SAXON, with the European tour alongside JUDAS PRIEST and URIAH HEEP kicking off in the U.K. in March, the arrival of the heavy metal masterpiece "Hell, Fire And Damnation" and the recently announced co-headline U.S. tour with URIAH HEEP titled "Hell, Fire & Chaos - The Best Of British Rock & Metal".

"Getting these shows in March 2024 with JUDAS PRIEST and URIAH HEEP meant it made sense to push and get the album made faster," says Biff, "so, we got on with it in haste and pulled it out of the bag. It was tricky, but I think it's safe to say we managed it well."

"Hell, Fire And Damnation" track listing:

01. The Prophecy
02. Hell, Fire And Damnation
03. Madame Guillotine
04. Fire And Steel
05. There's Something In Roswell
06. Kubla Khan And The Merchant Of Venice
07. Pirates Of The Airwaves
08. 1066
09. Witches Of Salem
10. Super Charger

The cover art was created by Péter Sallai and can be seen below.

Early last year, SAXON guitarist Paul Quinn announced that he was stepping back from touring with the band. As a result of his decision, SAXON canceled its April 2023 South American tour as well as the appearance at the Monsters Of Rock cruise. Quinn has since been replaced on the road by DIAMOND HEAD's Brian Tatler.

Brian has already joined fellow guitarist Doug Scarratt, drummer Nigel Glockler, bassist Tim "Nibbs" Carter and Byford for several European shows but will continue to be a member of DIAMOND HEAD.

Byford and Quinn are the sole remaining original members in SAXON's current lineup.

Originally from South Yorkshire, England, SAXON has gone on to sell about 23 million albums and has produced such classic songs as "Denim And Leather", "Princess Of The Night", "Wheels Of Steel" and "Power And Glory".

During an appearance on recent episode of the "That Metal Interview" podcast, German metal queen Doro Pesch explained how she got the rights back to the name of her early band WARLOCK more than a decade ago after previously losing a legal battle with the band's former manager. The singer, who has released more than a dozen albums under her own name over the past three and a half decades, said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "WARLOCK and Doro, for me, it's one and the same," she said. "It's just we had a problem with the name for many, many years, but after 20 years, I got the rights to the name WARLOCK back."

"Our former manager, he died. He's not anymore alive," she continued. "And he was our merchandiser as well. And I think back in the day, back in the '80s, we sold so many t shirts and merchandising. And then one time he said, 'Hey, you guys know, we have to protect our name just in case that nobody else will call a band WARLOCK or whatever.' And then he said, 'Well, I go somewhere with all your passports.' We gave him our passports and then he was supposed to put it under our name, like the guys and me and the band. And then I was in America and doing [WARLOCK's] 'Triumph And Agony' album, which became really, really successful. And we did a long tour in Europe with Ronnie James Dio. And then suddenly my American manager, he said, 'Doro, I have to talk to you. There's something really serious.' And I thought, 'Oh no.' I hate when people say that. I said, 'Well, what can it be? The album is going well. Everything is so successful. We are on tour with my favorite singer, Ronnie James Dio.' He said, 'Well, your German manager, he left.' And I said, 'He left?' And yeah, he just split. And there was probably something going on, but when you're on tour and being a musician, you can't like cancel the tour. And I thought, 'Yeah, we will sort it out after the tour is over.' So we did the tour with Ronnie James Dio in Europe and then with MEGADETH in America. And then I was doing another album that was the follow-up of 'Triumph And Agony'. And we were in the studio, everything was really going well. We thought, 'Oh, man. This will be a big album again.' And great vibes, great songs. And suddenly we got a letter from a lawyer and said, 'Well, we cannot use the name WARLOCK anymore.' And we thought, 'Hey, it's our name. Of course we'll use the name. It's my name, it's our name.' And then we tried to do it, and we were hanging posters and doing the album, but that didn't happen. We got in so much trouble and then the people said, 'If we see one more time the poster with the name WARLOCK on, there's a lawsuit and you guys, you have to pay whatever, 50,000 dollars, something like that.' So, I thought, 'Okay, what can we do?' And I always wanted to do music for the rest of my life. And then the record company said, 'Well, how about we call it Doro?' Because they weren't interested in having another band name. They said, 'Well, another band name. We just built you guys up and maybe it's starting from scratch. So call it Doro. And then when it gets solved, next album, then WARLOCK again.' But that took 20 years. And my manager, the German guy, he went to Turkey and back in the day, there was no Internet, no cell phones. You could not get a hold of him. We could solve it. And the last thing I knew was, there was a journalist calling me from Aardschok magazine; it was in the Netherlands, very famous magazine. And he said, 'Doro, I have news for you. Your manager got killed.' And I thought, 'Wow, really?' He said, 'Yes, he got poisoned.' And I thought, 'Wow.' So it never really got solved with that guy. But I got the rights to the name back 20 years later."

Doro said that she was disappointed to see her former manager take advantage of her and her bandmates at a time when they were just starting to make their name in the music industry.

"When there was a little bit success, I saw it many times, a little, little tiny bit of success, then people go crazy," she said. "And then they see only the money or whatever. And he was a close friend. I was so sad. The money, I didn't care, but the name, I did care. And then we were friends before.

"So there was the story of that. I never wanted to do a solo career, never planned on it. But it took a long time [to get the WARLOCK name back], yeah. But I wanted to do music, of course."

Last month, Doro announced the digital release of "True Metal Maniacs", an exceptional song that tells about the deep connection with her fans. It comes along with a very special video with live footage from Wacken Open Air, the Monsters Of Rock festival in Brazil and her anniversary show in Düsseldorf.

"True Metal Maniacs" is one of the five bonus tracks from the recently released album "Conqueress - Forever Strong And Proud", so far only been released on the physical products, and is included in the digital EP "Conqueress - Extended", which will be released on March 1, 2024.

"Conqueress - Forever Strong And Proud" came out on October 27, 2023 via Nuclear Blast. The LP is described in a press release as "the result of intensive hard work that took the incomparable singer and songwriter back to studios in Miami, New York and Hamburg, amongst others. The album presents Doro at the height of her creative powers."

In June 2023, Doro released "Time For Justice", the first single from "Conqueress - Forever Strong And Proud", along with a "Mad Max"-style video. The clip was filmed with director Mirko Witzki.

"Conqueress - Forever Strong And Proud" arrived one day before Doro's 40th-anniversary concert at the Mitsubishi Electric Halle in Düsseldorf.

Photo credit: Jochen Rolfes

HEART played its third concert in more than four years Sunday night (December 31) at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. Fan-filmed video of the entire show can be seen below.

According to Setlist.fm, HEART kicked off its 17-song set with the title track of the band's 1980 album "Bébé Le Strange" and finished the show with a cover of Robert Burns's "Auld Lang Syne".

The setlist was as follows:

01. Bébé Le Strange
02. Never
03. Love Alive
04. Roll The Dice
05. This Is Now (ANN WILSON & TRIPSITTER song)
06. Magic Man
07. Little Queen
08. Straight On / Let's Dance (DAVID BOWIE cover)
09. These Dreams
10. Drum Moment
11. Mistral Wind
12. Alone / What About Love
13. The Ocean (LED ZEPPELIN cover)
14. Barracuda

Encore:

15. The Battle Of Evermore (LED ZEPPELIN cover)
16. Crazy On You
17. Auld Lang Syne (Robert Burns cover)

Prior to HEART's December 27 show in Highland, California, the band's last concert took place in October 2019 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

In a recent interview with the 96.1 KLPX radio station, HEART's Ann Wilson, who has been working on solo projects, and in September of this year released the album "Another Door", billed as ANN WILSON & TRIPSITTER, stated about HEART's reunion concerts: "We're gonna see how it works with the HEART thing, whether it feels like a level up. If it does feel like a level up, then we'll keep doing it. But that's what it has to be. It can't just slide down into jukebox time… It's gotta be real. No going through the motions. No phoning it in. No just getting on some kind of circuit just to take people's money and play the old songs again and again and again. No, we're gonna make it cool, really make it cool."

Ann's sister, HEART guitarist Nancy Wilson made a surprise appearance during Ann's concert on October 10 in Santa Rosa, California.

Nancy joined her sister and TRIPSITTER on stage at the Luther Burbank Center For The Arts in Nancy's hometown to perform the HEART classic "Barracuda".

This past June, Nancy revealed in an interview with Joe Rock of Long Island, New York's rock station 102.3 WBAB that she was working on fresh music with Ann. The 69-year-old musician, who has spent some of the recent months on tour with her new band NANCY WILSON'S HEART, broke the news of her latest collaboration with Ann while discussing some of her current recording projects, including "Tomboy", which involves covering songs written by her male friends.

"I think right now I've been working on 'Tomboy' the most because I love the title, for one thing; it's almost like 'boy genius' or something," she explained. "But I've got a bunch of new ideas for songs. But I've also been writing new music with Ann too. So it's a real creative time. I think being on the tour right now, when I get home, I'm gonna really dig into the other projects, including finishing some new material with Ann. So it's really a good time to be creative. And I've got a new studio in my house, and so I can't wait to sort of run tape on stuff."

Asked if there is anything that she feels is really exciting because she feels it's something that's so different from what she's done before, Nancy said: "Yeah. Some of the stuff I've been working on with Ann is like that. I've also worked a bit with Sue Ennis, who used to work a lot with me and Ann for HEART music. And so I have some lyrics mainly that I worked on with Sue and took to Ann. And there's a couple of things that I'm really excited about. Very cool. Like stuff that you wouldn't have heard us do in the '80s. [It's] closer to what you would have heard us originally do in the '70s, late '70s. So it's really fun. It's just exciting and inspiring."

Nancy went on to say that she is really pleased to be collaborating on new material with her sister. "It's been a really nice kind of rediscovery of our relationship, working on music together again," she said. "So, yeah, I'm really happy about that."

In July 2022, Ann told Grammy.com that she and her sister had plans for the band to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2023. "Yes, we do," she said. "I'm not at liberty to say exactly what they are yet because it's such early days, but sure. It will be next year. And we're doing a thing. Definitely. We're still formulating it now."

Ann's comments came three months after she denied rumors of a rift with Nancy. In an interview in the 300th issue of Classic Rock, Ann said that she was "not" feuding with her younger sister. "It's a myth," she insisted. "Nancy and I are okay with each other. We just have different ideas for what HEART should be, and we haven’t figured out a compromise yet.

"Fifty years on, I still want it to break barriers and rules, and she's more satisfied to ride the L.A. imaging thing and just do legacy stuff," Ann explained. "So that's a real split between us. Things like this will happen, though, but then they'll get better, and we'll love each other more."

Relations between the two sisters were considered to be at an all-time low after a much-publicized incident when Ann's husband was arrested during a HEART tour in 2016. But in an interview with Rock Candy magazine to coincide with the release of her new solo album, "Fierce Bliss", Ann said: "Things happen in families. And that was a really good example of something that happened within a family, and we worked it out. But the part that made it hard was that it happened in the public eye. If it had happened privately, we'd have got the family in a room and sat down and worked it out between us. Instead, the police were called, and this myth was born that Nancy and I were feuding, and we were at each other's throats all the time. And it's really not like that at all."

A proposed HEART tour fell through last year after the two sisters failed to agree on which backing band to use. Ann wanted her guys, Nancy didn't. But Ann later said that another HEART album, which would be the band's first since 2016's "Beautiful Broken", was a definite possibility, especially considering the fact that 2023 marks HEART's 50th anniversary.

"It depends on the songs," she said in her Rock Candy interview. "The songs lead everything. And I'm writing songs again now. I don't know if they'll be for my solo thing or for HEART. But yes, I would like to make another HEART album."

Ann previously said that HEART would celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2023 "because next year's the 50-year [anniversary] of when we actually got together and got going," she told Liz Barnes of Planet Rock's "My Planet Rocks". "Nancy didn't join until '75, but the band got going in '73. So, yeah, we have a bunch of stuff planned for next year. So I can definitely see HEART doing something."

In February 2022, Nancy spoke to Joe Rock about why HEART had been inactive for most of the previous three years.

"HEART had a big offer on the table [in 2021] for a bigger tour, but Ann wasn't interested in going out with my lineup of guys that we were out with before," she said. "She has a new lineup of guys that she wanted me to join up with. And I sort of [thought] I don't really know them and don't have loyalty yet for anybody like that."

HEART toured North America in the summer of 2019 after the aforementioned nasty split that kept the Wilson sisters estranged for three years.

Ann and Nancy had a falling out during HEART's 2016 tour, when Ann's husband Dean Welter was arrested for assaulting Nancy's then-16-year-old twin sons in a backstage altercation at a gig near their hometown of Seattle. He pleaded guilty to two lesser assault charges to avoid jail time.

After completing HEART's 2016 tour, Nancy formed a new band called ROADCASE ROYALE and released an album, "First Things First". ROADCASE ROYALE featured three members of HEART along with Liv Warfield from Prince's NEW POWER GENERATION band and her guitarist Ryan Wilson.

In Nancy's new band NANCY WILSON'S HEART, she is joined in the group by her longtime collaborators, guitarist Ryan Waters, drummer Ben Smith, bassist Andy Stoller and keyboardist Dan Walker, along with powerhouse singer Kimberly Nichole.

JUST ANNOUNCED: Seattle’s own Heart are going to ring in the New Year at Climate Pledge Arena on 12/31 with very special...

Posted by Heart on Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Lars Ulrich has thanked everyone for their messages of support following the death of his father, Torben Ulrich.

On Sunday (December 31),Lars shared the following message on his social media: "Since my dad's passing 10 days ago, there has been an unexpected influx of condolences, messages, stories and testimonies coming my way about how his life impacted and affected so many people in a variety of different ways; it's honestly blown me away.

"As you can imagine it's been quite a surreal time, so let me say from the heart how much I truly appreciate every single thought, sentiment, feeling and emotion you’ve kindly taken the time to share with me. It means so, so, so much… Thank you, thank you, thank you…"

Torben was 95 years old at the time of his death.

Lars announced his father's death in a social media post on December 20. He wrote: "Torben Ulrich: 1928-2023. 95 years of adventures, unique experiences, curiosity, pushing boundaries, challenging the status quo, tennis, music, art, writing….and quite a bit of Danish contrarian attitude. Thank you endlessly! I love you dad".

Torben Ulrich, who was said to be METALLICA's biggest fan and its biggest critic, famously told his son "I would delete that" when asked for an opinion of a new song during the writing sessions for what became 2003's "St. Anger" album — a scene immortalized in the "Some Kind Of Monster" documentary. Torben added, as Lars laughed uncomfortably. "For me, it doesn't cut it. It sounds like a guy shouting in some kind of echo chamber."

Asked in a 2005 interview if he was disappointed that Lars didn't pursue tennis as a career, Torben said: "No, no. The main thing was that he do what he thought was his choice — not our choice. But in order for him to know that more clearly, we encouraged him to leave Denmark for a year and travel to Florida, to a place called the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. He went there when he was 13 or 14. He was very interested in tennis at that time, but he was also very interested in music. After a year, he still wanted to go out and listen to the concerts and I think at the Academy they were not so keen that he stayed out, so he was reprimanded there for keeping some late hours."

In a 1995 interview, Lars Ulrich, who will turn 59 later this month, stated about his childhood: "I grew up in as open an upbringing as you can imagine. Americans would call it spoiled. But I was very independent. I had nothing tying me down. At the same time, anything I wanted I had to get it myself. It's 1975, and I want to go see BLACK SABBATH. As far as my parents were concerned, I could go see BLACK SABBATH 12 times a day. But I had to find my own means, carrying the paper or whatever, to get the money to buy the tickets. And I had to find my own way to the concert and back. From that point of view, I was left alone a lot. But in terms of culture, there was always shit going on around the house.

"My dad was always around music He was hanging out with Sonny Rollins, Don Cherry, Dexter Gordon. Dexter Gordon was my godfather. I used to play with Neneh Cherry when we were little kids. Her stepfather, Don Cherry, lived like six houses from where we lived in Copenhagen. Those types of people were always around.

"Even though tennis was his main source of income, my dad was also writing about jazz in the papers in Copenhagen. Miles Davis and Ornette Coleman were always playing in the stereo around the house. Later it was THE DOORS and Jimi Hendrix."

In 2021, Torben released a jazz album titled "Oakland Moments: Cello, Voice, Reuniting (Rejoicing)". The project featured him playing alongside cellist and composer Lori Goldston.

Torben had been called one the most colorful and unique voices in Danish culture of the 20th and 21st centuries, stemming from a long life of activity as a poet, musician, radio and newspaper journalist, painter, filmmaker, performer and athlete, all within a transdisciplinary approach. His work was grounded in a process-oriented, wide-ranging study of movement in spiritual, philosophical and athletic traditions, accentuating the practical while including historical aspects of alchemy, dance, yogic studies, Buddhism, Kabbalah, Sufism, Taoism, etc.

Torben also co-directed two films; 1988's "The Ball And The Wall" with Gil de Kermadec, and 2002's "Body & Being: Before The Wall" with Rick New and Molly Martin. In addition, he appeared in two of Jørgen Leth's films, "Motion Picture" (1969) and "Moments Of Play" (1986).

Back in 2017, Lars was asked about what his dad — who at the time was 88 years old — thought about METALLICA in general, to which Lars replied: "I think he appreciates METALLICA, especially when we're daring and a little unorthodox, when we play strange sideways tempos that I don't even know what are. He appreciates that side of it. When we play a little straighter and a little safer, he raises an eyebrow."

Lars added: "METALLICA fans know that he's been a fairly large presence in and out of METALLICA's history for 35 years. There's a famous clip in 'Some Kind Of Monster' — a scene where he comes to listen to some of the stuff we were working on [for 'St. Anger']. He's standing over the mixing desk and he doesn't look too pleased. And I ask him, 'What do you think of this music?' There's a long, long, long pause, and he goes, 'I would delete that.' [Laughs] A lot of METALLICA fans know him by association, so it's very cool."

Lars was also asked on what Torben thought of METALLICA's 2016 album "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct". The drummer said: "[Laughs] I played him the first two songs a couple of months back and he dug it; he was very into it, he thought it sounded very much like METALLICA. And then I had the office send [the album] over to him...

"I saw him for Thanksgiving dinner and he unprovoked — unprovoked! — started talking to me about how awesome the record was. I got more positive vibes out of him than I have for any METALLICA record for quite some time. He got it on CD and he asked if he could also have — [laughs] he's 88 years old! — he's got an iPod now and he asked if he could have it in digital form. So I'll take that as a good sign. The days of 'delete that' are over, at least on this record."

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Lord Of The Lost have released their covers album, Weapons Of Mass Seduction, wrapping up the band’s most successful year so far. Among other highlights, 2023 has seen Lord Of The Lost hitting #1 on the official German album charts, representing Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest finals, many sold-out shows, providing tour support to legendary Iron Maiden (once again), and now the release of their first full covers album - exactly one year after the release of #1 album Blood & Glitter.


Frontman Chris Harms recently spoke with Metal Kings about the album. Following is an excerpt from the chat.


Q: Making a music album is a lot of work. Why did you feel the need to release a cover album and not just a new album of your songs?




Chris: "We do feel the need to release a 'real' new album with our own songs very much. But not now, not yet. We will need time for that, time to to really dive deep to find some new pearls in some depths we haven't visited before or have not been visiting for a long time. And apart from the factor time, it would be way too early now for something new. Therefore a new album with own material won't come before summer 2025. The idea for a cover album is something we wanted to do for many years but it always felt too early for that. We didn't wanna be one of those bands with this kind of success which is just based on one or a couple of cover songs. Not dropping any names here, the examples are out there for everyone to see. That's why there was never a cover song on one of our regular albums. We always only released them as bonus tracks and b-sides. After Thornstar and Judas, both Top 10 chart albums, we felt it was the right time for a cover album after the next album following Judas. So already during the studio time for Blood & Glitter, in early 2022 in Helsinki, we made plans for a cover album, to be released one year after “Blood & Glitter”, an cover album which kind of feels like from the same world as Blood & Glitter, with the same kind of energy. A musical second serving, the extra portion, the dessert if you will. We finally decided to do the whole cover album thing while recording the Roxette cover, 'The Look' which was meant to be a bonus track for Blood & Glitter. So directly after Finland, we started working on the cover album in summer 2022, which was done then in early 2023, waiting for its release – now."


Q: Many German bands and rock bands in general often do covers of Rammstein. Do you feel like singing some of the songs of these popular fellow countrymen?


Chris: "No, this won't happen. And I actually don't recall that many Rammstein covers. Just one: 'Seemann' by Apocalyptica with Nina Hagen, which I find way more interesting than the original. Being asked as a vocalist on an Apocalyptica song is still one of my life goals, by the way. I love them since the late '90s, I used to practice my cello play to their Metallica tribute record. I actually listened to their Metallica covers way before I listened to the original Metallica songs, which is kind of funny."


Read the complete interview here.


Lord Of The Lost does not show any signs of slowing down in 2024 - on top of their fast-selling “15 Years of Lord Of The Lost” tour that is approaching in spring as well as two dates in the US, the outfit has already been confirmed for several big festival performances. Listen to “Turbo Lover” below, make sure to get your copy of Weapons Of Mass Seduction, and grab your tickets for the upcoming live shows in the new year.


Lord Of The Lost state: "During the production of our last album, Blood & Glitter, while recording our Roxette cover 'The Look' in Finland, it had already become clear that we had opened Pandora's box. The energy and fun of covering the songs of beloved and respected colleagues and idols was something we were determined to continue. So even before the release of Blood & Glitter we started working on this 'covers album' project, which for us is the perfect dessert to Blood & Glitter, before we embark on the adventure of reinventing ourselves again for a new studio album."





While Weapons Of Mass Seduction is entirely composed of covers, Weapons Of Mass Seduction confirms Lord Of The Lost’s creative ability to make even unexpected songs their own, and further confirms their status. The covers album comes in various different formats – some of them containing a second CD with 11 covers that are already released or have been played live. The deluxe boxset includes a third CD with 10 acoustic tracks, exclusively available in this format.





Weapons Of Mass Seduction is available in the following formats:             


- 3 CD Boxset, incl 2 CD 6 pages Digisleeve (Ltd Deluxe Edition) and CD 3 incl 10 acoustic songs, exclusively available in the Deluxe Box + pink Sweatband with black logo, sharped patch and sticker - Napalm Records Mailorder and Lord Shop exclusive – strictly limited to 1000 copies worldwide
- 2 LP Recycled Color Vinyl - Die Hard Edition incl Slipmat, record butler and 12 inch booklet – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive – strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide
- 2 LP Recycled Color Vinyl incl 12 inch booklet - Lord Shop exclusive – strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide
- 2LP Gatefold Recycled Black Vinyl
- 2 CD 6 pages Digisleeve (Ltd Deluxe Edition), 12p booklet
- 1 CD 6 pages Digisleeve, 12p booklet
- Cassette (Pink w/ Black print) - Napalm Records Mailorder and Lord Shop exclusive – strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide
- Digital Album


Order here.





Weapons Of Mass Seduction tracklisting:


CD1
"Shock To The System" (Billy Idol Cover)
"Unstoppable" (Sia Cover)
"Smalltown Boy" (Bronski Beat Cover)
"Turbo Lover" (Judas Priest Cover)
"Hymn" (Ultravox Cover)
"Give In To Me" (Michael Jackson Cover)
"River" (Bishop Briggs Cover)
"Somewhere Only We Know" (Keane Cover)
"(I Just) Died In Your Arms" (feat. Anica Russo) (Cutting Crew Cover)
"High" (Zella Day Cover)
"House On A Hill" (The Pretty Reckless Cover)


CD2
"The Look" (feat. Blümchen) (Roxette Cover)
"Ordinary Town" (Celebrate The Nun Cover)
"Cha Cha Cha" (Käärijä Cover)
"Judas" (Lady Gaga Cover)
"Children Of The Damned" (Iron Maiden Cover)
"Wig In A Box" (Hedwig and the Angry Inch Cover)
"Bad Romance" (Lady Gaga Cover)
"The Most Radical Thing To Do" (The Ark Cover)
"This Is The Life" (Amy MacDonald Cover)
"It's A Sin" (Pet Shop Boys Cover)
"Ordinary World" (Duran Duran Cover)


CD3 - Ltd Deluxe Edition only
"Starman" (David Bowie Cover)
"Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon" (Neil Diamond Cover)
"The Days Of Pearly Spencer" (David McWilliams Cover)
"Hey You" (Pink Floyd Cover)
"I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night" (The Electric Prunes Cover)
"Where Do You Go To My Lovely" (Peter Sarstedt Cover)
"Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season)" (The Byrds Cover)
"In The Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)" (Zager & Evans Cover)
"All I Have To Do Is Dream" (The Everly Brothers Cover)
"Perfect Day" (Lou Reed Cover)


"Shock To The System" video:





"The Look"





Lord Of The Lost are:


Chris Harms – Vocals, Guitar
Pi Stoffers – Guitar
Class Grenayde – Bass
Gared Dirge – Piano, Synths, Percussion, Guitar
Niklas Kahl – Drums


Photo by Carl Begai

WATCHTOWER drummer Rick Colaluca has uploaded drum-cam video of his band's January 5 performance at Come And Take It Live in Austin, Texas. You can now watch the clips below.

WATCHTOWER played its first reunion concert with singer Jason McMaster on September 8, 2023 at Fitzgerald's Bar & Live Music Venue in San Antonio, Texas. This marked the progressive metal legends' first appearance with McMaster since the band's performances at Germany's Bang Your Head!!! festival in 2000 and Holland's Headway Festival in 2004.

McMaster is joined in WATCHTOWER's current lineup by bassist Doug Keyser, guitarist Ron Jarzombek and Colaluca.

Jason confirmed his return to WATCHTOWER in May 2023 during an appearance on the "Decibel Geek" podcast. He said at the time: "I rehearsed with WATCHTOWER recently, and we're doing some festivals next year… So, you know, well, you know, maybe I let the cat out of the bag. But those are not confirmed. But we have been asked to play some festivals. It's possible that we are to do some shows soon. But we have rehearsed a couple of times.

"It's weird playing songs very sporadically," he continued. "Because I've done reunion things with WATCHTOWER before, but the last one was 20 years ago. The last sort of reunion thing we did, we went to Amsterdam, and played a festival over there. And we did a couple of warmup shows around Texas before we got on the plane, kind of thing. And that was in 2004. So, singing songs that you wrote 40 years ago? It's crazy to think about that… And have them be legit. Play them, like, 'Holy shit.' And have all of the guys look around each other in rehearsal as old men and go, 'This shit is fucking hard to play.' But that's why people like it."

McMaster co-founded WATCHTOWER in 1982 and appeared on the band's 1985 debut album "Energetic Disassembly" before leaving three years later to focus on sleaze rockers DANGEROUS TOYS. Jason was replaced in WATCHTOWER by Alan Tecchio (formerly of HADES),who sang on group's second and most recent studio album, 1989's "Control And Resistance". A reunion with McMaster followed in 1999 and lasted for several years, only for Jason to leave again. Tecchio returned for new material intended for WATCHTOWER's since-scrapped third album "Mathematics" that resulted in the 2016 EP "Concepts Of Math: Book One".

Jason previously stated about WATCHTOWER's early musical direction: "By the end of 1983, we had a set of unbelievable, technical, fast, crazy, time-changing, sophisticated sounds coming out of the mill we had created, making a planet that we didn't feel had been fully instigated. All of the lyrics were socially aware and some strange fascinations with nuclear power and some sort of holocaustic world (that had been dreamt up by guitarist Billy White and bassist Doug Keyser). They equally weirded each other out with their lyrics. I had no problem with the stuff they were pumping out. It was so tasteful, but yet had urgency and was frantic about the topics, mostly apocalyptic and socially chaotic on news issues. These were crazy words to sing over crazy changes."

He added: "I had no map. This wasn't rock and roll. I wrote all of the melodies (I use that word loosely) for the songs, and that was my contribution to the sound and timber, even though later on a few critics would learn to hate the style of 'pissed off Geddy Lee' vocals. It seemed to be most of the death metalhead mags would say that they 'love the band, hate the singer'."

In April 2010, WATCHTOWER played its first live show with Tecchio on vocals in some 20 years as co-headliners of Germany's Keep It True festival in Lauda-Königshofen.

In a new interview with Metalheads Forever, former IRON MAIDEN singer Blaze Bayley spoke about the inspiration for his solo song "Pull Yourself Up", which appears on his 2021 album "War Within Me". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I had a motorcycle accident, and the guy doing the physio said, 'You'll probably never walk without a limp.' And I just thought, 'You don't know me.' And that's in the first part. And then the next part, it's… I had some terrible reviews as a young man. 'Oh, sorry, Blaze, you just can't sing,' which was terrible. And somebody said to me, 'You're never gonna make it. Just give up. Why do you even bother?' And this was before I had a record deal or anything like that. 'Oh, you're just not a natural singer. It's never gonna happen.' And I love to sing. Ronnie James Dio is the main inspiration, but there are a lot of other great singers. And so that's where it says [in the song], 'They said I could not sing.' But here I am. It doesn't matter anyway if I couldn't sing. It does not matter. It doesn't matter, because if you've got a dream… The last thing I'm gonna do, if somebody's trying to be a singer, I'm not gonna go up to that person and say, 'Oh, well, you don't sound very good. Why did you give up?' I'm gonna say, 'Hey, have you tried this for your breathing? Have you thought about doing this? Have you thought about this? Well, good luck with your music.' Because that's what I needed when I started with WOLFSBANE. And that's what I dreamed of."

He continued: "But the thing is, with all of the things that they said, I'm living my dream. I am a full-time, professional heavy metal singer. And there are thousands of people who would love to be a professional musician. They would love to wake up in the morning and have my day where it's, 'Oh, I've gotta write some lyrics. I've gotta listen to this album. I've gotta make sure this mix is okay. I've gotta check out what I'm doing for this video.' That's a wonderful, wonderful day that thousands of people would like to have. If they'd been a musician in an orchestra or a heavy metal musician or in a pop band, thousands of people, man, would love to make a living as a professional musician or sportsman. But that's a dream that you have. Nobody gives you that. You dream that and you work for it. And if you have a bit of luck along the way, you might be as lucky as me, you might get there. And I think it's very cruel when people start to actually [tell others to give up] on a dream."

Bayley will release his new solo album, "Circle Of Stone", on February 23. The official music video for the LP's title track, featuring a guest appearance by Niklas Stålvind of the Swedish metal band WOLF, was released last week

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.

Last March, Blaze underwent a quadruple bypass surgery following a heart attack. He later shared details of the massive outpouring of well-wishes he received after his heart attack, including messages from his former MAIDEN bandmates.

"The thing I feel most lucky about is the incredible support I've had from my fans," he told BLABBERMOUTH.NET. "All over the world. My WOLFSBANE, Blaze Bayley, the MAIDEN fans. Everybody bought a t-shirt for a tour that was postponed. They still bought it to support me. I'm just incredibly lucky. And the letters people wrote to me. Hundreds of cards from all over the place. It's very humbling."

Blaze continued: "I've always put my whole life into music. It is my life. When people get in touch with you and say, 'I wish you well because your music has gotten me through tough times,' 'Your music meant this to me,' 'I first saw you way back when and it's been the soundtrack to my life,' it's incredible. I got a massive card from the MAIDEN fan club. The [MAIDEN] guys all sent me a message. I'm always in touch with Steve Harris [MAIDEN bassist] anyway, but everyone sent messages of support."

A heart bypass surgery, or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, is used to improve blood flow to the heart. A surgeon uses blood vessels taken from another area of the body to bypass the damaged arteries.

The term quadruple bypass refers to the number of coronary arteries bypassed in the procedure. In other words, a quadruple bypass means four coronary arteries are bypassed.

Melodic hard rockers Lionheart have revealed "Flight 19," the first single taken from their new studio album, The Grace Of A Dragonfly, set for international release on February 23rd via Metalville Records. The official lyric video can be viewed below.


"Flight 19" relates the story about a group of bombers that disappeared over the Bermuda Triangle on December 5th, 1945, after losing contact during a United States Navy overwater navigation training flight from Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale. The song's industrial choruses convey the mysteriousness surrounding the whole affair.










As soon as the previous album, The Reality Of Miracles, hit the shelves in 2020, Lionheart knuckled down to record the next one, deciding early on that this time they would produce a concept album. The record centres around WW2, but the band very much wanted to make this an anti-war album, while at the same time remembering those who fought for our freedom.


The songs on The Grace Of A Dragonfly are sensational, with Lee Small’s emotional lyrics reflecting not only the pain and grief inflicted by war on ordinary, innocent people in every conflict zone, but also their strength, resilience, and determination. Supported by Lionheart’s superb songwriting, soaring backing vocals, beautiful twin-guitar harmonies, and atmospheric keyboards, Lionheart’s sheer power shines brightly from every one of the eleven songs, culminating in a heartfelt prayer for peace in the world.





Tracklist:


"Declaration"
"Flight 19"
"V Is For Victory"
"This Is A Woman's War"
"The Longest Night"
"The Eagle's Nest"
"Little Ships"
"Just A Man"
"UXB"
"The Grace Of A Dragonfly"
"Remembrance, Praying For World Peace"


Lionheart lineup: 


Lee Small (The Sweet, ex-Shy) - lead vocals
Dennis Stratton (ex-Iron Maiden) - lead guitar/backing vocals
Steve Mann (MSG, ex-Liar) - lead guitar/backing vocals
Rocky Newton (Grand Slam, ex-MSG) - bass guitar/backing vocals
Clive Edwards (ex-Pat Travers, Uli Jon Roth & Wild Horses) - drums, percussion


 

Ron Keel’s RFK Media label has signed former MCA artist Cold Sweat, with plans to release Unburied Alive on March 29th in conjunction with the band’s appearance at the 2024 M3 Festival on May 5th.


The foundation of this album consists of four unreleased studio tracks from the early '90s, which showcase the band (Marc Ferrari & Erik Gamans, guitar – Chris McLernon, bass – Anthony White, drums – and Roy Cathey, vocals) delivering powerful heavy melodic rock at its finest. Unburied Alive also features vintage concert cuts from their 1990 appearance at the Super Rock Festival in Mannheim, Germany supporting Whitesnake, Aerosmith, Dio and Poison, plus recent modern-era live recordings from their triumphant reunion at the 2020 Monsters Of Rock Cruise pre-party.


Ferrari founded Cold Sweat after departing the band Keel in 1989. The band released their acclaimed cult classic Break Out on MCA Records and toured the US and Europe before falling victim to the changing musical landscape of the '90s. This collection of recordings proves that the music has stood the test of time, and the men behind that music plan to drive that point home when they hit the stage May 5th in Columbia, Maryland at this year’s M3 Festival, on the bill with Bret Michaels, Night Ranger, Y&T and Stryper.




“We [RFK Media] heard these unreleased studio tracks and realized immediately, we have to get this music out there,” explains RFK chief Ron Keel. “Then we found out there were unreleased live tracks, not just from the 2020 reunion but from the 1990 festival appearance in Germany. It was like an uppercut to the jaw, a right cross and a body blow in quick succession, and we’re ready to deliver the knockout punch with this very special Cold Sweat release.”





Marc Ferrari (guitarist – Cold Sweat, Keel, Medicine Wheel) says: “Since the initial Cold Sweat reunion of 2020, we’ve been hearing loud and clear from the fans out there that they want
to hear anything that has been previously unreleased. We all felt that the time was now to make these available. It's been said that doing something after a long time is kinda like 'riding a bike.' If that's the case, then Cold Sweat won the Tour De France of Rock n Roll! Some of us hadn't even seen each other in 29 years. We had one rehearsal and went on to do two incredible shows as part of the 2020 Monsters of Rock Cruise. It felt amazing to be on the stage and all the pieces fell back into place immediately.”


Roy Cathey (lead vocalist – Cold Sweat, The Fifth, Steel City) says: “These songs are truly a snapshot in time. With our upcoming M3 performance it seemed the perfect time to release these to the public. Hearing this stuff brings the memories flooding back. The entire Cold Sweat experience was literally me living out my dreams. I will forever cherish the moments we share together, both back in the day and what we’re getting ready to do at M3.”


Chris McLernon (bassist – Cold Sweat, Saigon Kick, Kinell) says: “Digging into your musical past is like rummaging through your closet. What you thought was cool and fashionable then could make you wince and cringe now. No worries here. Unearthing these Cold Sweat recordings fits fine, like a pair of jeans you forgot you had. It’s very satisfying to hear these 1991 demos paired with our 2020 live show. They match the past and present deftly. Above all, Cold Sweat could always deliver as a band. These tracks prove that, despite a 30 year hiatus. Still a perfect fit.”


Unburied Alive artwork and tracklisting:





"Rain Down"
"Claim To Fame"
"Long Gone"
"Out On My Own"
"Let’s Make Love Tonight" (Live 2020)
"Long Way Down" (Live 2020)
"Four On The Floor" (Live 2020)
"Lovestruck" (Live 2020)
"Cryin’ Shame" (Live 2020)
"Killing Floor" (Live 2020)
"Mannheim Medley" (Live 1990) – "I Just Wanna Make Love To You" / "Cryin’ Shame" / "Killing Floor"


For further details, visit Cold Sweat on Facebook.


 


 


 


 

In a recent interview with Gearnews, DREAM THEATER bassist John Myung was asked how he ended up performing while seated during the band's headlining concert last July at Marymoor Amphitheater in Redmond, Washington after suffering a head injury of some sort. He said: "That event was triggered by dehydration on tour. We were just constantly traveling, and on the 13th night we were on the bus, and I just wasn't drinking enough water. Around 2.30 a.m., I woke up at a border checkpoint and went inside the building, and the next thing I knew I passed out and hit a metal post with the right side of my forehead, which cut me open. I went to a hospital in Bellingham, Washington, and they stitched me back up. We got through the show, and I've been feeling normal ever since."

He added: "So… don't underestimate the benefits of water. Your life will not flow without it."

One person who attended the Redmond show told BLABBERMOUTH.NET that the 56-year founding member of DREAM THEATER, who was sporting a bandage on the right side of his forehead, didn't disclose how he sustained the injury, but James LaBrie told the crowd that the concert was almost canceled. The singer also indicated that Myung would discuss the circumstances that led to his wound in his own time.

DREAM THEATER kicked off the first edition of its progressive metal festival, "Dreamsonic", on June 16, 2023 in Cedar Park, Texas. Support on the trek came from Devin Townsend and ANIMALS AS LEADERS. The tour concluded on July 26, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, to Korean parents, Myung grew up in Kings Park, Long Island, New York. He played the violin from the age of five until he was asked to play electric bass in a local band when he was fifteen, which he accepted. After graduating from high school he and his high school friend John Petrucci enrolled at the Berklee College Of Music, where they met future bandmate Mike Portnoy.

Though DREAM THEATER is his primary focus musically, he has appeared in a number of other projects through his career. His first was the progressive rock supergroup PLATYPUS, with Rod Morgenstein, Ty Tabor and ex-DREAM THEATER bandmate Derek Sherinian. After PLATYPUS disbanded in 2000, Myung, Tabor and Morgenstein recorded four albums as the JELLY JAM.

Myung's favorite bands include THE BEATLES, BLACK SABBATH, THE WHO, IRON MAIDEN, RUSH, YES, JETHRO TULL and GENESIS. He cites bassists Geezer Butler, John Entwistle, Chris Squire, Steve Harris, Geddy Lee and Jaco Pastorius as the main influences on his playing style.



Posted by Zachary Witkowski on Saturday, July 22, 2023



Posted by Zachary Witkowski on Saturday, July 22, 2023



Posted by Zachary Witkowski on Saturday, July 22, 2023

John Myung suffered a head injury. When asked not to gig he simply replies ‘Uh Uh’! Nothing stops him from continuing. John Petrucci kneels beside him.

Posted by Ishaaq Valodia on Sunday, July 23, 2023

GUNS N' ROSES has joined Spotify's "Billions Club" with the band's classic song "Paradise City".

Billions Club is a playlist first launched in 2020 which includes all of the songs on Spotify that have surpassed one billion streams on the platform. After the achievement, Spotify gifts artists the Billions Club plaque.

"Paradise City" joins other tracks — including METALLICA's "Nothing Else Matters", AEROSMITH's "Dream On", SURVIVOR's "Eye Of The Tiger", ABBA's "Dancing Queen", PAPA ROACH's "Last Resort" and Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" — to reach the achievement. The milestone has reportedly been achieved by nearly 500 songs so far.

"Paradise City" is the third GUNS N' ROSES track to surpass one billion streams on Spotify, following "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Welcome To The Jungle". All three songs can be found on GUNS N' ROSES' debut album, "Appetite For Destruction", which was certified in September 2008 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for U.S. sales in excess of 18 million copies. The LP has reportedly accumulated worldwide sales in excess of 28 million since its 1987 release.

The album's original cover, based on the Robert Williams painting "Appetite for Destruction", depicted a robot rapist about to be punished by a metal avenger. After several music retailers refused to stock the album, they compromised and put the controversial cover art inside, replacing it with a cover depicting a cross and skulls of the five band members (designed by Billy White Jr., originally as a tattoo),each skull representing one member of the band: Izzy Stradlin, top skull; Steven Adler, left skull; Axl Rose, center skull; Duff McKagan, right skull; and Slash, bottom skull. The photographs used for the back of the album and liner notes were taken by Robert John.

Neither Adler nor Stradlin have been part of the GUNS N' ROSES reunion tour that started in April 2016 and is continuing later this year with singer Axl Rose, guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan.

Adler did rejoin GUNS at several shows on the tour, including three stops on the U.S. leg and one gig in Buenos Aires, Argentina, playing drums on two songs. Stradlin reportedly turned down a five-figure fee to participate, writing that the band didn't want to "split the loot equally."
Along with Sweet Child O’ Mine and Welcome To The Jungle, Paradise City has now officially surpassed 1 BILLION streams on Spotify.

This song (coupled with the video) is what made me a Guns N’ Roses fan in the first place. Paradise City supremacy. pic.twitter.com/liJlPMA8Qq

— J. ⚡️ (@TheGNRGiirl) January 14, 2024

Scandinavian power quartet, Leach, is closing in for a kill with a masterpiece of – quite literally – punching thrash/death'n'roll. As a first harbinger of the upcoming album New Model Of Disbelief, the band has just delivered their brand new video single, "Gone To Waste".





Kicking it off with a crushing main riff and frantically aggressive vocals by singer/guitarist Markus Wikander, the single manages to move on to its rich, touching chorus in an almost seamless fashion.




However, the truly unexpected star of this blood fest is a very old-school melodic metal epilogue that can easily get you to indulge in awesome flashbacks – if you’ve been a metalhead for a while. Leach themselves describe this piece of northern perfection in much simpler words: “A good sum up of what we’re all about. Fast ‘in your face’ stuff blended with rock’n’roll grooves and melodies.”


The visuals presented in the music video are perfectly set to underline this ceremony of opposites: from the band’s sweaty, hard rockin’ performance amidst the eerie atmosphere of a midnight parking lot to the refined elegance of female movement looking for the perfect swing in a blood-soaked fight club setting, as presented by Swedish pro wrestlers Betty Rose and Sixt.





With three full length releases and one EP already under their belts, the guys have certainly established Leach in the Scandi music scene. They’ve redefined the internationally cherished Swedish sound by merging elements of the iconic Gothenburg scene with that special aggressiveness of northern hardcore, while mixing in a good measure of old-school Stockholm death. Defining attributes of their work are electrifying and exciting smash songs with groovy twists – picture a blood-thirsty, melody-hungry bastard child of Entombed and Exodus, two of the band’s biggest, long-lasting influences.


This gang – Markus Wikander on vocals and guitars, Robert Karlsson on guitars, Anders Nordlander (as well as his successor Tobias Oja) on bass and Joachim Dahlström on drums – knows exactly how to work their blend of styles, and many of the most relevant playlist editors around the world have proven them right numerous times over the years. The vocals bite, the riffs burst to mosh and the melodies open up to passionate, huge life questions. The tense thematic run between revolution, social injustice and inner struggles in the band’s lyrics offers a superbly dynamic pressure vent for piled up emotions of all sorts.


And the Swedes aren’t a slouch in the touring department either: Through their wide-ranging live history, Leach have shared the stage with prominent bands, such as Unearth, Misery Index, Belphegor and Kampfar. Over the recent years, this caused the gathering of an enthusiastic following around the band, as they describe by example of a typical Leach live experience: “Over the top energy – the crowd can feel that we give it all and give us energy back.” Touring preparations for 2024 have long begun and first Swedish shows as well as a few festival gigs have already been booked.





Leach's fourth album, New Model Of Disbelief, will be released digitally and as CD and LP on April 19. Christian Silver at Studiomega (Sepultura, Kreator, Soilwork), who already took great care of the band’s previous record Lovely Light Of Life, acted as the driving force in terms of recording, mixing and mastering once again.


Pre-save the new record here.

Female-fronted symphonic power metal band, Maesün, has released their first official music video, for the song "Book Of The Dead". The clip can be viewed below.





This track is also the band's first single and is set to be part of their upcoming studio album, Remember To Die, which will be released on March 1.







Additionally, Maesün announces the second single from the album. This track is titled "Life In Chains" and features one of the most important voices in Romanian metal - Aura Danciulescu, none other than the vocalist of the band Scarlet Aura. The song will be available on January 24 on all streaming platforms, YouTube, and Bandcamp, and will also be included in the full-length album.





Lineup:


Andrada Hofmeister - Vocals
Brici Mihai Dan - Guitars
Florin Huluba - Guitars
Tarcea Dan - Bass
Mihai H - Drums

Arising Empire proudly welcomes Avralize to their roster. Fronted by vocalist Severin Sailer, with guitarist Philipp Tenberken, drummer Bastian Gölz, and bassist Valentin Noack, the band has shared the video for "Lotus". Watch below.





Many worlds come together. A mix of vibe, technique, and artistic creativity meets destructive breakdowns, provoking guitar riffs and catchy choruses. With finesse, the four guys from south Germany strike the perfect balance between the brutality and exciting grooves that you just want to dance to.




"We are thrilled to share the exciting news of our partnership with Arising Empire. With their support, we can now concentrate on realizing our vision for the band and immerse ourselves even more in what we love most: creating music," the band says.


"The essence of the song revolves around the profound theme of letting go of the past. This signifies a transformative process of shedding old burdens, relationships, or beliefs to make way for new growth and change. Change is often perceived as intimidating and frightening, yet for us, it became essential to break free from self-imposed limitations and embrace the freedom to pursue our true desires, regardless of external opinions. Authenticity lies in being true to oneself and removing anything that obstructs the expression of our genuine selves—a step that anyone is capable of taking," says vocalist Severin Sailer.


Having shared the stage with scene heavyweights like Ghostkid, Novelists, Paleface, and Of Virtue, the group quickly established a reputation for their energetic live show that turns their crowds into a giant party on a regular basis. Avralize have already performed at established festivals like Southside, Hurricane and RockXplosion.





(Photo - @fragilegold)

The DT Archive YouTube channel has shared rare live footage of the band performing as Nightmare Cinema at the London Forum on December 9th, 1997 on the Falling Into Infinity tour. In the clip below they perform Deep Purple's "Perfect Strangers" featuring James LaBrie on vocals, Mike Portnoy on bass, John Petrucci on drums, John Myung on keyboards,and Derek Sherinian on guitar.





Drum legend Mike Portnoy, who recently rejoined Dream Theater, is featured in a new interview on The Prog Report. Check it out below.




Portnoy: "The first 13 mins or so of my latest appearance on The Prog Report is spent talking all about the big DT/MP reunion. In all honesty, none of us in Dream Theater are currently doing any 'formal interviews' at the moment about it, so between my Drumeo special last week and this impromptu discussion at the start of this episode, this is likely the last you’ll hear from me talking about it for a little while. Tune in to the whole discussion to see if any of your burning questions were asked (and stick around for an hour of Metallica discussion and rankings as well)!"





Five years ago, Mike Portnoy “wouldn’t have put money” on ever rejoining Dream Theater, the band he co-founded almost 40 years ago. His departure in 2010 may have been outlined by tension and discontent, but the five members have rekindled their friendships and the band is feeling more confident than ever.


In his first full on-camera interview since rejoining DT, Portnoy talks to Drumeo's Brandon Toews about the emotions and process behind coming back into the fold, his sentiments toward Mike Mangini, and if there’s a new album in the works.


On how he rejoined Dream Theater, Portnoy reveals, “It’s been thirteen years and I think time heals all wounds, as the expression goes. It’s been many years now of rekindling my relationships with the guys, starting with John Petrucci.


His wife and my wife were in a band together even before we knew our wives, our kids have grown up together, my daughter and John Petrucci’s daughter shared an apartment together in New York for the last 5 years… the families were still close, so John and I inevitably reconnected on a personal level.


I guess it really started to gain some traction during COVID lockdown because I couldn’t tour and Dream Theater couldn’t tour, so John decided he wanted to do a solo album and he asked me to play on it. A few months later, I did a [Liquid Tension Experiment] album with John and Jordan [Rudess], so that brought three of us back together. And then the following year, I ended up doing John’s solo tour and our wives’ bands were opening for us… so it just seemed like it was all starting to come together on a personal level and then the musical level as well.


I think the final piece was me reconnecting with James LaBrie, because James and I hadn’t spoken in over a decade. I went to see Dream Theater play in New York around 2022 and that was my first time seeing James in over a decade… within five seconds of seeing each other it was huge, kisses… and it was like any of the drama and bullshit that happened during all of those years of the split, it just melted away immediately.


With James and I buddying up again, it kind of just began to seem like an inevitability. It wasn’t ever in either of our plans to eventually reunite. In fact, if you would’ve asked me this five years ago, I probably wouldn’t have put money on it. But with the developments of everything… it just seems like we’re in the right place and the right time at this stage of our lives.


All those years of Dream Theater… we were in our 20s and 30s and 40s. And here we are - most of us in our 50s and some of the members in their 60s - and it just seems like life is too short to not be with the people you love and play the music that is part of your life and your heart and soul.”


Watch the video below:

“The biggest problem that art has nowadays is that it doesn’t hurt anymore,” says Ghøstkid vocalist and agent provocateur Sebastian “Sushi” Biesler. “Especially here in Germany, people are so afraid to push boundaries. To make art that makes you think and feel.”


By fall 2021, with the world shutdown seemingly over, Sushi wasn’t content to let his creative yen languish at home in Germany. “Even though we had made it through Covid, I was missing being able to play live, to really function as a band,” says Sushi. “It didn’t feel real to me. I became distanced from the music.” A six-week decampment to Los Angeles became the creative fuel for Ghøstkid’s next steps.  The last vestiges of Hollywood sleaze, decaying glamour, personal temptation and the still-vibrant creative vibes of the city became the frontman’s “don’t-look-before-you-leap” inspiration for the gestating Hollywood Suicide.


The album is a perfect snapshot of an artist finding himself, crawling from his own personal wreckage against a crumbling, mythical Californian milieu. “That’s why ’Hollywood Suicide’ is the first track. If you really want to make it, you have to give a lot. You have to be willing to give up everything. It’s kind of like suicide to the person that you’ve been when you become an artist.”




The matching, lush and elaborate art adorning the album was created by Aly Wayne Gacy.





Tracklisting:


"Hollywood Suicide" 
"S3x" 
"FSU" 
"Heavy Rain" 
"Valerie" 
"Black Cloud" 
"Ugly" 
"Bløød" 
"Murder" (feat. Inhuman) 
"Dahlia" 
"Helena Drive"


Pre-order / pre-save your copy now at this location. Hollwood Suicide will be out March 22nd, 2024 and available in the following formats:

• Ltd. CD Digipak


• Ltd. transp. red LP


• Ltd. grey LP (300x) available from cmdistro.de & various other retailers


• Ltd. white-black haze LP (500x) available from Ghøstkid


• Ltd. translucent highlighter yellow LP (US version) available in the US

Today also marks the release of the video for Ghøstkid’s latest single, “FSU”.





“‘FSU’ describes the raw and aggressive lifestyle of not giving a sh*t about anything and just do whatever you want,” comments Biesler who directed and edited the video in cooperation with Nils Lesser (Vaultroom Production) and Benjamin Klose. “The track was inspired by the Joker from Batman and the pure chaos and anarchy that the character is representing. Even if the lyrics circle around self-destructive behavior, the song is more about the feeling of freedom by dismissing the rules. It’s a track about being a misfit and taking back your power, about being yourself, getting rid of labels and becoming independent - basically a big f*ck you…”


“Live is where it’s the most real, the most in the moment,” says Sushi. “There’s no sense of boundaries, no sense of gender. I wear what I like as long as it looks cool. Ghøstkid, for me, is how I express my art through the music and my persona. When it comes down to art, you should be free.” Ghøstkid will be bringing their melody and chaos to American stages for the first time in the spring of 2024 opening for Black Veil Brides following a European tour with labelmates Blind Channel.











 

Former SLIPKNOT drummer Jay Weinberg says that he is moving into "the second phase" of his recovery after undergoing hip and femur surgery in November.

On Sunday (January 14),the 33-year-old Nashville-based musician, who required crutches as he recovered from his operation, took to his social media to share a video of his progress, and he included the following message: "Two months! Now we're talking. It's been two months since I underwent surgery to repair & reattach my left hip labrum and shave down part of excess femur bone. I'm so excited to move into the second phase of my recovery — no longer just stabilizing and protecting the joint, but building back strength and getting back to my favorite activities.

"It's still a slow and steady physical therapy process, but it's incredibly encouraging that my team has cleared me to start playing drums again — much earlier than I had originally expected.

"Feeling awesome. Thank you all for your continued good vibes and messages of support, it's sincerely appreciated.

Earlier this month, Weinberg shared a video of him walking "unassisted" for the first time since undergoing his surgery.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SLIPKNOT has yet to announce a replacement for Jay.

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A post shared by Jay Weinberg (@jayweinberg)

Dive into the electrifying world of Bastion Rose with "Halo Devil", their second single from the upcoming Fade To Blue EP.


This powerhouse track, a testament to the band's signature sound, encapsulates a captivating blend of raw emotion and hard-hitting rock. As the lyrics unfold in this official lyric video, the synergy between soulful vocals, intricate guitar work, and a dynamic rhythm section becomes palpable. Immerse yourself in the sonic journey of "Halo Devil", a song that not only rocks your senses but also weaves a narrative of resilience, passion, and the indomitable spirit that defines Bastion Rose.







Bastion Rose's story is nothing short of extraordinary, a testament to the resilience and creative fire that fuels their music. In just two years, frontman Austin Frink has transformed from a musician battling the uncertainty of ever regaining his singing voice after a life-altering surgery into the driving force behind Bastion Rose. The band's name itself embodies the transient nature of existence and the significance of cherishing every moment. Their debut EP, Fade To Blue, is a testament to their unwavering spirit and artistic passion.


Produced by the three-time Grammy award-winning maestro, David Bottrill (known for his work with Tool, Rush, Godsmack, Mastodon, Muse, Coheed And Cambria) and mastered by the skilled engineer Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Dream Theater, Meat Loaf, Eric Gales), Fade To Blue stands as an unfiltered outpouring of raw emotion and unapologetic rock energy. It artfully blends ethereal soundscapes with powerful guitar riffs, all anchored by Bastion Rose's unique fusion of soulful vocals, intricate guitar craftsmanship, and a dynamic rhythm section. Their ensemble, featuring John Donlon on drums, Steve Pierce on bass guitar, Barrett Abraham on keyboards, and Austin Mudd on guitar, brings together a symphony of talents that define Bastion Rose's electrifying sound.


Inspired by a diverse range of musical legends, from timeless classics like Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, and Lynyrd Skynyrd to contemporary giants like Tool and Foo Fighters, Bastion Rose crafts anthems that resonate with rock enthusiasts worldwide.





Lineup:


Austin Frink
Steve Pierce
John Donlon
Barrett Abraham
Austin Mudd

Los Angeles quartet, Dead Poet Society, will drop their second album, Fission, on January 26 via Spinefarm. Pre-order here.


Today, the band has shared the official video for "My Condition". The semi-animated video was directed by The Moldy Peaches' Steven Mertens, who has lensed videos for Regina Spektor, Lil Peep, Duran Duran, and more.


Commenting on the track, frontman Jack Underkofler says, "This song took years to write and it’s one of our favorites. It's about knowing that nothing matters, so might as well go for what brings you fulfillment and do what you want."







DPS have also announced details of an exclusive and intimate record release show. Rock Night Out presents Dead Poet Society: The Fission Album Release Experience, sponsored by Spinefarm Records, is set for January 24 in Los Angeles at Pico Union Project. Stay tuned to the band's social properties for more information on this special show.





Fission tracklisting:


"- 5:29:45"
"Running In Circles"    
"Hurt"
"How Could I Love You?"
"I hope you hate me."    
"UTO"    
"Tipping Point"    
"LA Queen"    
"Hard To Be God"    
"81 Tonnes"    
"My Condition"    
"KOET"    
"Black and Gold"


"Running In Circles" / "Hurt" video:





"How Could I Love You?" live video:





Dead Poet Society lineup:


Jack Underkofler - Vocals/Guitar
Jack Collins - Guitar
Will Goodroad - Drums
Dylan Brenner - Bass