Just before the dawn of 2024, Graywitch released “God Of War”. This is the first single from their upcoming album, Children Of Gods, to be released by Sleaszy Rider SRL on February 2.





The track was produced at Infected Studios by Geοrge Stournaras, in Thessaloniki, Greece, featuring guest musicians as Dan Baune (Devil’s Train, Lost Sanctuary, Monument) and Jimmy “Sinner” Tairidis (Everflow, Anxiety, Divine Requiem) taking over the guitar solos.




“God Of War” is the first song introducing George Papadopoulos, as the new singer of Graywitch. It is composed by complex time signatures, daring structure, solid guitar work and catchy choruses. Lyrically is inspired by Greek history and mythology.

Extreme metallists, Second Shooter, are readying the release of their latest effort – a brutal full-length debut entitled Fury Made Flesh, which arrives on January 19 via Into Records. The culmination of five years of work for the band - vocalist Melanie Johnson, guitarists Travis Hildreth and Wynn McElwee, bassist Jeff Clark, and drummer Jim Wilinski - was inspired by the craziness going on around the world and in their own lives during recent times.


With all the band members contributing to the writing of the music and lyrics for the album (which arrives in the wake of two earlier EP's, Second Shooter and What Was Left Behind), the tracks were recorded by the band in their studio – with Jim acting as engineer during tracking, and Jeff then mixing and mastering the album.


The album title, Fury Made Flesh, is taken from the lyrics of the song "Bringer Of Death" about the Hindu goddess Kali, who was also the inspiration for the cover art (created by illustrator David Paul Seymour). Tracks like "Diana The Huntress", "Protect And Serve", "Caged", "Gold Plated Pervert", and "For All The Parasites" are topical songs, while "Bleeding Ear", "Set Adrift", and "Suffocate Eternal" delve into personal trauma. "Palm Reader" and the aforementioned "Bringer Of Death" veer into the supernatural to round out the album.




The end result is an album that the band is excited about and that shows who they are today as a band and as musicians. "Much of the previous material we released was partly written by past members of the band," explains the band. "But Fury Made Flesh is the five of us working together to challenge ourselves as artists as we connect with an ever-growing audience. We pull together influences from groove metal, hardcore, death metal, thrash, progressive metal, and even a pinch of doom to make something that is uniquely us."


"As dedicated metal fans ourselves, our goal has always been to perform music that makes people want to move. Second Shooter gives live performances our all, feeding our audiences our energy while feeding off theirs in return. Our overarching ethos is 'No gimmicks, no bullshit, just metal.'"





Tracklisting:


"Protect And Serve"
"Diana The Huntress"
"Palm Reader"
"Bringer Of Death"
"Suffocate Eternal"
"Gold Plated Pervert"
"Bleeding Ear"
"Set Adrift"
"Caged"
"For All The Parasites"


The album can be ordered here.


And on the same date as the album's release, the band will be hitting the road in support of Fury Made Flesh, as they will be touring with Go Ahead And Die on the Unhealthy Mechanisms Tour alongside Body Box - beginning on the 19th in Tucson, and wrapping up on the 28th in Houston.


Dates:


January
19 - Tucson, AZ - The Rock
20 - El Paso, TX - RockHouse Bar & Grill
21 - Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad
23 - Lubbock, TX - Jake's
24 - Oklahoma City, OK - 89th Street
25 - Dallas, TX. @Trees
26 - Austin, TX - Come And Take It Live!
27 - Corpus Christi, TX - House of Rock
28 - Houston, TX - Scout Bar


(Photo - Jeremy Saffer)

In a recent interview with Brazil's Lado Direito Do Palco, Roger Miret spoke about AGNOSTIC FRONT's reputation as a band willing to tackle societal and political issues through its music. The 59-year-old AGNOSTIC FRONT singer said: "The thing is, especially with AGNOSTIC FRONT, we live that life too. We speak about oppression and overcoming oppression, and people can relate to that, whether they're oppressed by the government or at home or whatever. And then they see that we're genuine, we're real and they could relate to us. And that's why I think it's been a secret to our legacy is the fact that we are genuine and people can feel that and they feel that we come from a genuine place; they can relate to us. So I think I see a lot of that definitely in São Paulo and definitely in Brazil and in a lot of South American countries. I see that total relation because I see that life they're living is mirroring my life from New York City."

In September 2021, Miret revealed that his cancer was in remission.

After Miret was diagnosed with cancer in early 2021, a long road of tests and diagnoses led to a complex initial surgery and lengthy hospital stay. Even though the original surgery was complicated, the results were extremely positive.

Born in Cuba, Miret fled with his family to the U.S. to escape the Castro regime. He joined AGNOSTIC FRONT in 1983, and the seminal New York hardcore group released classics like "United Blood", "Victim In Pain" and "Cause For Alarm" over the next several years.

In 2017, Miret released a memoir, "My Riot: Agnostic Front, Grit, Guts, And Glory", which documented his struggles to adapt to life in the U.S. after his family fled the Castro regime. According to the Phoenix New Times, the book delved into many facets of Miret's life: the grinding poverty of his childhood; living as a teenager squatter; becoming deeply enmeshed in downtown New York’s hardcore scene; and later turning to drug-running to support his family.

In addition to fronting AGNOSTIC FRONT, Miret has also played with ROGER MIRET AND THE DISASTERS and is a member of THE ALLIGATORS.

For the past several years, Roger has resided in Scottsdale, Arizona.

In a recent interview with "The Logan Show", SALIVA frontman Bobby Amaru spoke about Live Nation's new initiative called "On The Road Again", which saw the largest live music promoter in the world and the owner of Ticketmaster announcing that it would no longer be asking for a percentage of merch sales from club-level performers at the company's venues, and would also be paying the artists $1,500 on top of their nightly compensation to help with gas and travel expenses. The campaign also announced bonuses to crew members at local venues that have put in over 500 hours of service time, and that Live Nation will be donating $5 million to the Crew Nation relief fund that takes care of behind-the-scenes personnel when they incur unexpected hardships.

Bobby said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "They had announced [in late September] that Live Nation wasn't taking merch cuts and they were gonna give bands money and stuff for their merch. And it fucking happened. It was real shit. I showed up [at a House Of Blues] and there was an envelope there for us, like gas cards and money and all this shit. And [they told us], 'Oh, hey, by the way, we're not taking a cut of your merch.' It was, like, 'Can we do like 20 more of these?' [Laughs]"

He continued: "I remember hearing and reading about [the 'On The Road Again' initiative when it was first announced]. And it was literally like two days later we were in House Of Blues and then my tour manager was, like, 'Oh, hey, by the way, this is for you guys.' And I'm, like, 'Holy shit.' It was like a 'thank you' card and this whole thing from Live Nation. They give you the little chocolate candies and shit too. I'm, like, 'Damn, they're really laying it on, aren't they?'"

Amaru also weighed in on widespread speculation that "On The Road Again" could ultimately hurt many locally owned music venues by pulling talent away from them as performers rush to play Live Nation venues to cash in on the $1,500 payments.

"Those smaller-cap rooms, maybe they'll figure out something," Bobby said. "I don't know how they budget shows. But those could definitely benefit — I think all bands could benefit from keeping 100 percent of their merch. Especially us. I pay to have all our stuff printed — everything's paid for by the band, and anytime we do artwork, it's paid for by the band or any of that stuff — and I feel like the venues don't really put in on any of that. And it's kind of, like, 'All right, well, this makes absolutely no fucking sense [for a venue to take a cut of the merch.' But what do you do?"

Bobby went on to praise other bands like BAD OMENS for taking a stand against concert venues lately for taking a cut of artists' merchandise sales.

"I can't imagine how much merch a band like [BAD OMENS] is selling every night. They're probably killing it, like I'd say 50 grand on a bad night," Amaru said. "And that's a lot of money. So for a room to take 20 percent of that for not printing any of it. And then not to mention the band has sold out your room. You've just made an incredible amount of money on bar and booze. But maybe shows like that are the ones — I don't know, man — are making up for the ones that aren't selling as well."

When "On The Road Again" was first announced, it was revealed that more than 70 venues across the United States and Canada were taking part in the initiative, named after the 1980 hit song by Willie Nelson.

The program was created with Nelson to help the live music careers of artists, as well as their crews. Live Nation said there was no limit on the number of qualifying shows an artist could play and the benefits added up as artists performed on tour. By helping with some core expenses, officials with Live Nation said they wanted to "make it easier for artists on the road so they can keep performing to their fans in more cities across the country."

"On The Road Again" is only expected to last through the end of 2023.

Former SLIPKNOT drummer Jay Weinberg has shared a video of him walking "unassisted" for the first time since undergoing hip and femur surgery in November.

The 33-year-old Nashville-based musician, who required crutches as he recovered from his operation, wrote in a message accompanying the clip: "2024 is off and running! Well, walking unassisted…but I'll take it! Yesterday was my first full day walking without a crutch since my operation in November, and it ruled.

"Stoked to be making steady progress; not just protecting my hip, but now building back strength in the joint, and my leg overall. Taking that as a win — it feels good".

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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In a recent interview with the 80's Glam Metalcast, former DOKKEN guitarist George Lynch dismissed Don Dokken's assertion that the band's namesake frontman wrote "a lot" of the group's biggest songs. George said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "[Bassist Jeff Pilson, drummer Mick Brown and I] wrote almost everything. There was a point where the manager… This is always a thing with Don. He goes off about how he wrote everything. That's bullshit. Jeff and I, and Don and Jeff wrote some things, and Don wrote a thing, something on his own here and there, and important songs, but the bulk of the material was written by Jeff and I, and that's just the truth. And even the lyrics and the melodies and the titles were… Jeff and I joke all the time. There was a thing called the TV Guide, and I would get all my titles and the lyrics, obviously, flowed from the titles, from TV Guide. So you look and see a lot of those early records, they were either reworked XCITER [George's pre-DOKKEN band] songs or new stuff that Jeff and I wrote — sometimes with Mick's help — and then we'd end up with Don too; we'd collaborate with Don at the end of the process. But for 90 percent of material, that was the case. And these titles were out of the TV Guide — they were movies."

He continued: "On 'Tooth And Nail' and the record after that, a lot of these were — I think especially 'Tooth And Nail'; I think it was allTV Guide titles, pretty much. 'Without Warning', 'Tooth And Nail', 'When Heaven Comes Down', 'Don't Close Your Eyes' — those were all movies. I remember looking at the TV Guide and seeing the names of those movies — they were old movies, usually. [And I'd go] 'Oh, that's a cool name. We'll name a song that.' So 'Tooth And Nail' was me and Mick and Jeff sitting around just going ''Tooth And Nail', okay. Run around the streets and start a fight.' Silly fucking lyrics, but whatever. It worked. 'Don't close your eyes or I'll be there.' I remember having that whole hook and that melody and everything in my head. And we based it on that. 'When Heaven Comes Down', I wrote that. I spent a whole night; I stayed up all night. And Jeff had gone home. We were working in Anaheim in my home studio. And I was really frustrated with the song and I wanted to finish it. And I had an idea for 'When Heaven Comes Down'. 'When Heaven Comes Down' was a movie. I stole the title from it. And then I came up with the lyrics. And then I sang it all into a harmonizer, an octave low, so it sounded like the devil, with all this echo on it… I was really proud of it. Of course, that got redone and everything, but… I can't sing."

In a recent interview with the "On The Road To Rock With Clint Switzer" podcast, Don explained why he and his DOKKEN bandmates decided in the beginning to split their songwriting royalties equally between the four members of the group. He said: "DOKKEN was a very unusual band. When I formed the band, even though I'd been DOKKEN for years and years before I met George and Jeff and Mick — I'd already toured Germany twice — but when we finally came together, I said, 'Let's make it simple. You write a hit, you write a hit, you write a hit, we'll just split it four ways. It doesn't matter who writes what. May the best songs win.' And that's how it was. Now, looking back, I could say it was a stupid thing to do, because I wrote a lot of the hits and I gave up 75 percent to the three of them. So instead of me getting four bucks, I got a dollar and Mick got a dollar and George got a dollar and Jeff got a dollar and the management took theirs and the accountants took theirs, and I thought, 'Jesus.' I go, 'I lost millions' writing 'In My Dreams' and 'Just Got Lucky' or 'Alone Again'. I mean, I can name a bazillion songs that I wrote by myself on the guitar and wrote all the music. But that's the deal we made. We were nobody. We weren't famous. Hey, if George wrote a hit, I get money. Jeff writes a hit, I get money. Mick's the one that scored. He didn't write. We rehearsed the songs for a week, go into a rehearsal studio, flesh it all out, pick the 12 best songs, Mick comes in the studio for four or five days, knocks out his drums and he goes to the drug dealer and then he heads off for the Rainbow [Bar & Grill in West Hollywood]. I said, 'Mick, you scored. You made millions of dollars and all you had to do was spend a couple of weeks playing drums.'"

Almost a decade ago, Lynch spoke about the breakup of the classic DOKKEN lineup in 1989, telling Guitar Interactive magazine: "Here's the things that happens in a band… especially in our era, in the '80s, and I don't know, even now probably… But if you have a record deal, or a master deal, for a certain amount of time, and you have increasing record sales, and then you get to the point where the deal ends, your managers come in and renegotiate and you get paid. Then you're set for life — possibly. That's when everything changes. That's what you worked for for those however many years. This is where all your… Everything you've invested in time and energy, you get paid back for. And the singer [Don Dokken], at that point, decided that he wanted it all, he didn't wanna share it with [the rest of] us, and he let us know that. So after this [Monsters Of Rock] tour [in 1988 with VAN HALEN, METALLICA and SCORPIONS], where we were gonna go out and play in front of hundreds of thousands of people and get paid lots of money, [he basically said] 'I'm gonna try to take the whole thing and run with it, and you guys are gonna get left in the dust, and if you're lucky, I might hire you [to play in my band].' And you have to go on stage like that."

He continued: "The reason that we were on fire before that — we were so dedicated, we kept persevering — was because we were all working for something. It wasn't even for the money, it was just to get to that point. And success on all levels — musically and financially, so we could be secure, and all these things, for all the right reasons. And we took care of each other, and we were an equal-split band, and I fought for that. And by Monsters Of Rock, when Don announced that he was gonna, basically, try to grab the negotiation brass ring and keep it to himself, that backfired on all of us. Financially, it backfired on all of us, 'cause we didn't get that massive… At that point, I think, that year MÖTLEY CRÜE got a 25-million-dollar deal, ANTHRAX got a 12.5-million-dollar deal, we would have been fine. Basically, we had a lot of leverage. We were gonna be a free agent, so it was really a shame. It just didn't go right for anybody. So I went on to form LYNCH MOB, which did pretty well."

DOKKEN's current lineup consists of Don alongside bassist Chris McCarvill, guitarist Jon Levin and drummer BJ Zampa (HOUSE OF LORDS).

DOKKEN's 13th studio album, "Heaven Comes Down", came out in October via Silver Lining Music. The follow-up to "Broken Bones" was produced by Bill Palmer and Don Dokken and was mixed by Kevin Shirley (AEROSMITH, IRON MAIDEN).

Seattle rock legends HEART performed during the first intermission of the National Hockey League (NHL) game between the Seattle Kraken and the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Park on January 1, 2024 in Seattle, Washington.

Ann and Nancy Wilson, along with their backing musicians, consisting of four members of Ann's band TRIPSITTER — guitarist Ryan Wariner, bassist Tony Lucido, guitarist/keyboardist Paul Moak and drummer Sean Lane — plus guitarist Ryan Waters, who was in HEART's 2019 touring lineup, played the classic HEART songs "Barracuda" and "Magic Man". Also appearing at the event was Sir Mix-A-Lot, who performed "Jump On It".

Last month, HEART played its first three concerts in more than four years — in Highland, California, at Greater Palm Springs in Palm Desert, California, and in Seattle, Washington,.

Prior to HEART's December 27 show in Highland, the band's last performance 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, 2023 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".

Last 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."

Last April, Ann 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 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 in 2022 after the two sisters failed to agree on which backing band to use. Ann wanted her guys, Nancy didn't.

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.

Heart at the NHL Winter Classic in Seattle!

What did Julie Hines & I do new Years Day? We were part of the on-field audience for Heart performing live at the Seattle NHL Winter Classic in front of nearly 50,000 people! Oh yeah, the Seattle Kraken beat the Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in the first shutout in Winter Classic History!

Posted by Warren Wyatt on Tuesday, January 2, 2024

The NHL Winter Classic - New Years day.
We got to be groupies today during the 1st intermission entertainment with Heart.
Can't get much closer!!

Posted by Bob Peterson on Monday, January 1, 2024

Femme sleaze rockers, Cobra Spell, have released a guitar playthrough video for "S.E.X.", featured on their debut album, 666, out now via Napalm Records. Watch below:





The band previously released a guitar playthrough video for "Satan Is A Woman", and a drum playthrough video for "The Devil Inside Of Me", both from 666. Watch below:










Cobra Spell’s ambitious, smoking hot debut attack, 666, showcases the indisputable talent of the outfit, and is sure to settle the rising rockers’ standing in the scene. These fierce ladies take no prisoners and are now ready to take on all stages worldwide, with a hunger to put on a show that will leave audiences around the globe bewitched, speechless and begging for more.


Cobra Spell on 666: “Unleash the power of our upcoming album, 666 - an album that defines convention and rebels against the limitations imposed on us, women. This is a sonic journey that embraces the devil’s number as a symbol of personal autonomy and freedom. ‘666’ is not just music; it’s an act of rebellion against gender inequality, a scream for freedom of expression, and a fight to destigmatize sexual expression for women. Join us in this unapologetic quest for equality and empowerment.”


Order here.





666 tracklisting:


"666"
"S.E.X."
"Satan Is A Woman"
"Hotline 666"
"Bad Girl Crew"
"The Devil Inside Of Me"
"Fly Away"
"Love = Love"
"Love Crime"
"Warrior From Hell"
"You’re A Cheater"
"High On Love"


"Warrior From Hell" video:





"The Devil Inside Of Me" video:





"S.E.X." video:





Cobra Spell are:


Sonia Anubis - Guitars, Synthesizers
Noelle dos Anjos - Guitars
Kristina Vega - Lead vocals
Hale Naphtha - Drums
Roxy Herrera - Bass

On December 29th, Ratt vocalist Stephen Pearcy celebrated the 40th anniversary of his band's debut album, Out Of The Cellar, by performing the record in its entirety with his solo group at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California. It marked Pearcy's first time playing Out Of The Cellar live from front to back. 


Check out the fan-filmed video below.


Setlist:




"Sweet Cheater"
"You Think You're Tough"
"Nobody Rides for Free"


Out Of The Cellar


"Wanted Man"
"You're in Trouble"
"Round and Round"
"In Your Direction"
"She Wants Money"
"Lack of Communication"
"Back for More"
"The Morning After"
"I'm Insane"
"Scene of the Crime"


"Lay It Down"
"You're in Love"
"Walking the Dog" (Rufus Thomas cover with Carlos Cavazo and Marq Torien)

Los Angeles’ Anubis are anxious to kick off the new year with a brand-new single and lyric video, for the song “Heartless” – an infectiously catchy heavy metal ode from the forthcoming debut. The video, created by Scott Rudd (Opeth, Hammerfall), can be found below.


"People who have been seeing us live for a while should be pretty familiar with this song,” states singer Devin Reiche. “This has always been one of my absolute favorite songs of ours, and I can't wait for more people to hear it as it was truly intended to be heard."


“Heartless” comes from the group’s album, Dark Paradise, which is set for a February 24 release on CD, limited colored (300) heartless purple vinyl and digital.




Dark Paradise was produced by Devin Reiche and recording took place at Notes From Underground Studios, with a mix courtesy of Josh Franks (Once Human, Railgun, Highland) and mastering by the famed Mika Jussila (Nightwish, Avantasia, Gamma Ray) in Finland.  The album sports a fantastic cover with artwork by Adi Dechristianize.


“’Dark Paradise’ marks our inaugural full-length album, and the anticipation is real! We believe this work strongly showcases our distinct blend of lightning-paced thrash riffs and resonant, memorable hooks that you’ve all come to expect from us,” explains bassist Will Buckley. “We’re beyond excited to unleash this adrenaline-charged experience straight to your ears, and soon enough to a venue near you!”


Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"Venom And The Viper's Kiss"
"Heartless"
"Priestess Of Dark Paradise"
"Fallen"
"Devour"
"The Uncreated"
"Symbolic"
"Strife"
"Thy Frozen Throne"


"Heartless" lyric video:





"Devour" lyric video:

The Iranian metal band initially known as Demonic Ritual came into existence in 2013 when vocalist Mani Kewmars founded the group. After navigating numerous lineup changes and releasing two demo tapes, Nima Kewmars, the vocalist's younger brother, joined as the lead guitarist and primary songwriter.


The entry of the Mottaghi brothers - Farhad on rhythm guitar and Faramarz on drums - prompted a renaming of the band to War Angel. In 2017, they marked their presence with the debut album Symphony Of War.


Their second album, Tales Of The Damned, released in 2020, showcased a shift in musical style and lyrical content compared to their debut work. The album's lead single, "Tomb Of The Pharaoh," caught the attention of notable artists like Gary Holt, leading to his support of the band by sharing the song's music video on social media. This was a monumental moment as the band had long idolized Exodus and Generation Kill since childhood. Subsequently, the band established contact with Rob Youells and Rob Dukes.




“Getting to know Mani and War Angel has reminded me what this music can mean to people. Having so much creative fire in their gut, its amazing what they have accomplished with such limited resources. It’s like those organisms that not only survive, but thrive in boiling temperatures near volcanic vents in the ocean. They formed their band in a most inhospitable environment, but in spite of that, these songs and this video have come into existence. It’s all very impressive and inspiring. The bridge between worlds having Dukes in the mix is crazy cool," says Rob Youells, drummer for Generation Kill.


In a heartwarming display of solidarity, War Angel collaborated with Rob Dukes on "Armageddon," both a song and a music video that embodies a powerful message: "We're Standing Side by Side, Brotherhood of Man!"


"'Armageddon' was a dream come true for me. As a child I grew up with heavy metal music because my father was a metalhead. We were always cast away and ridiculed for that in this country, but no matter what we endured. Bands like Iron maiden, Exodus, Slayer, Metallica and mercyful fate shaped who I am and, later on, Generation Kill in my teenage years had a great influence on me because I really liked Mr Dukes' albums with exodus in both lyrical and musical themes the most.


So, when I first talked with Rob Youells it was like a dream. leading to a conversation about Rob Dukes' alleged dislike for the Middle East. Youells dispelled the misconception, highlighting the Dukes' compassionate nature while expressing his aversion to politics and war crimes. In a beautiful gesture of peace, Mr Dukes agreed to do guest vocals on a War Angel song, and we immediately began writing the song and lyrics. The song is about the importance of mankind being united against the common problems like pollution, social media addiction, war, poverty and being controlled by the governments through the media. The song was recorded, and Mr Dukes delivered the vocals, which were on fire! Then we recorded the music video and Mr Dukes provided us with footages of himself singing. An indescribable feeling! Now the song is out, and we just want people to hear it, because we worked really hard for it, and it's our only dream and goal right now.


We made this song in the most harsh environment and in the most horrible time, with so many obstacles and difficulties that will bring everyone down, we endured and pushed through to make it happen. It's everything we are now. Everything we ever had. Everything we wanted to be," says the band's vocalist Mani Kewmars.


Rob Dukes adds, “It was an honor to work with War Angel from Iran on the song 'Armageddon'. They are a great band playing metal in one of the most oppressive environments on Earth, yet they keep moving forward, regardless of the continual prospect of prison, or worse. They come from a dire situation and it’s inspiring. I only hope one day, somehow, I can join them onstage somewhere and play it live with them. They are what metal music stands for - giving the finger to the establishment of oppressors!”





War Angel's musical style encompasses various subgenres of metal, blending high-pitched epic vocals of heavy metal with the relentless riffs of thrash metal and the impactful breakdowns of metalcore.


Facing challenging circumstances in a country where metal is prohibited, and where authorities persecute metalheads, the band exhibited resilience. Despite the risks - including potential danger to their lives - stemming from a government with strict religious beliefs, the band persists in their passion for metal music, driven by their sole desire to be heard.


Operating with minimal to no budget, the band self-recorded and produced all their songs and music videos, showcasing their dedication amidst adversity.

Due to unprecedented interest in recent times, the original lineup of The Almighty were back in force for the first time in 32 years. Drummer Stumpy Monroe, bassist Floyd London, guitarist Andy “Tantrum” McCafferty together with Warwick announced three retrospective concerts to celebrate their 35th Anniversary in Glasgow, Manchester and London. from November 30th through December 2nd.


Warwick recently announced that The Almighty will be doing more headline shows in 2024 and 2025.







The band has issued the following update:


"We wouldn't be doing it all again if it wasn't for you, with thanks and a heads up that Tickets for 2024 & 2025 are selling fast, Barrowland Ballroom Glasgow is going to sell out soon!


Ticket links here.


As a thank you from us to you we have a 10 minute video documentary from the last dates created by our good friends at Duke TV and Jake Owens Photography. And featuring many of you. Enjoy!"





Fan-filmed video of the entire London show on December 2nd at O2 Forum Kentish Town can be viewed below.


Setlist:


"Resurrection Mutha"
"Over the Edge"
"Power"
"Addiction"
"Destroyed"
"Wrench"
"Little Lost Sometimes"
"Takin' Hold"
"Devil's Toy"
"Full Force Lovin' Machine"
"Bandaged Knees"
"Welcome to Defiance"
"Sin Against the Light"
"The Unreal Thing"
"Blood, Fire & Love"
"Jonestown Mind"
"Crank and Deceit"
"Free 'n' Easy"


Encore:
"Crucify"
"Jesus Loves You... But I Don't"
"Wild & Wonderful"

Former DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Mangini is thrilled to announce a special masterclass series, marking his return to in-person educational sessions after more than a decade-long hiatus. With a passion for sharing knowledge and fostering musical growth, the Grammy-winning drummer, composer, and music educator invites aspiring drummers and all musicians to participate in a unique opportunity to learn directly from one of the industry's most accomplished talents.

In masterclass sessions, students can address their challenges and questions, receiving personalized guidance from Mike, while learning from his solving others' challenges leveraging his expertise. Mangini provides tailored solutions, while fast-tracking technical and musical goals. This exclusive opportunity promises to equip attendees with exceptionally fast skills growth, offering valuable insights for a significant impact on their musical journey. This premier educational event utilizes Mike's Rhythm Knowledge solutions protocols, ensuring your journey to require significantly less time and work.

Mike sold out his first two classes at Drum Center Portsmouth and Bosse Music School and will be conducting more masterclasses throughout January and February of 2024. Due to the intimate nature of these sessions, spots are limited, and interested participants in Mike's January 9, 2024 Long Island Drum Center appearance are encouraged to reserve a spot today at www.drummingdeals.com.

Masterclass dates:

Jan. 09 - Long Island Drum Center - Hicksville, NY
Jan. 18 - Mark's Music - Brewer, ME
Feb. 17 - Badges Drum Shop - Cincinnati, OH
Feb. 19 - Nstuff Music - Pittsburg, PA
Feb. 21 - Parkway Music - Clifton Park, NY

More dates throughout the country will be announced soon.

Mangini's commitment to education is evident in his past role as part of Berklee College Of Music's percussion faculty earning a top 1% national student evaluation rating, as well as his achievements as top tier clinician for both Pearl and Zildjian. His Rhythm Knowledge instructional materials on Vimeo and via his store, including award-winning DVDs like "The Grid" showcase his dedication to advancing drumming education.

Mangini joined DREAM THEATER in late 2010 through a widely publicized audition following the departure of Mike Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER 38 years ago. Mangini beat out six other of the world's top drummers — Marco Minnemann, Virgil Donati, Aquiles Priester, Thomas Lang, Peter Wildoer and Derek Roddy — for the gig, a three-day process that was filmed for a documentary-style reality show called "The Spirit Carries On".

Mangini made his name in the hard rock world in the mid-1990s when he played with EXTREME, before landing the gig with guitar legend Steve Vai in 1996. Nearly a decade later, Mangini took up a full-time teaching position at the world-renowned Berklee College Of Music.

In a recent interview with Brazil's Ibagenscast, Mangini was asked "how proud" he is of the "legacy" that he built with DREAM THEATER during his 13-year stint with the progressive metal band. He said in part: "Very. I'm so happy to have been a part of the lives of so many musicians, especially in a way where it's all good, where the vibe is positive. How fortunate am I? I went surfing for a while. That's what I did. So, yeah, how great is that? And I can look at the Grammy [I won as a member of DREAM THEATER for the song 'The Alien'] and say, 'Ah, I remember working on the grooves for that [track] four years, four or five years ahead.' In fact, I think I sent a drum demo to Jordan [Rudess, DREAM THEATER keyboardist] years ago. It was that, that riff, that thing, and it became 'The Alien'… It's one of those things that occurs and, yeah, it happens. And then you just go, 'Oh, well, that was nice. Cool.' And look at it for what it is and then move on to what's happening now."

In early November, Mangini told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about his exit from DREAM THEATER and the return of Portnoy: "All I know is the decision was made and when I heard it, all I pictured was, 'Oh, this is an original guy going back to his band. Uh, okay. All right. Let's go to the next thing.' It was nothing more. I was told. It was just nothing more than — it seemed so simple to me. And maybe intuitively it's, like, 'Oh yeah, I get it.' And that was that. That's really it… So that's really the crux of it all is it was an easy thing for me to understand. And then once the news hit and it became real, which is when it set in, because once I knew about it, I just got busy. I was, like, 'Okay, I've got all these videos to finish.'"

The 60-year-old Mangini continued: "I'm actually doing like a lot of stuff for my [recently released solo] album. I'll do some drum playthroughs. Not to yap and yap and yap about it, but I have a lot on my cork board and my lists and things to do and things to accomplish and things to complete. There's so much there I haven't been able to do. But once it hit and it became real, it was real quick for me. I'm, like, 'Okay, I get it.'"

When host Eddie Trunk noted that everything about his exit from DREAM THEATER, from the way it was handled to the fans' response to Mike's attitude about it, was "about as good as it could be," Mangini concurred. "It is as good as it could be," Mike said. "I think people are where they need to be. It's, like, there's stuff to do, there's places to be, there's people to see, there are things to accomplish and roles to fulfill and tasks to do. And that's what it is. That's really what it is.

"How lucky am I, how fortunate am I to be just a part of that history, to have all this amazing stuff happen?" he continued. "It's positive, positive, positive.

"I know I've accomplished some things with my career, and I've had a lot of struggles and a lot of things that didn't work or whatever, but for my parents to be in their 90s, to see this happen, and I'm not talking about career stuff; I'm talking about how I've treated people and how they treat me. I mean, I think that's what I want for my kids — I wanna feel well about how they are with people and how people treat them at the end of the day. I think that's just awesome."

When Portnoy's return to DREAM THEATER was first announced on October 25, Mangini said in a statement: "I understand DREAM THEATER's decision to get Mike Portnoy back at this time. As was said from Day 1, my place was not to fill all the roles that Mike held in the band. I was to play the drums in order to help the band carry on. My main role of keeping our live show working tightly on a nightly basis was an intense and rewarding experience. Thankfully, I got to experience playing music with these iconic musicians, as well as some fun times laced with humor. I also really enjoyed spending lots of time with the crew. And then there's the Grammy win, which was amazingly satisfying. To the fans: thank you so much for being amazing to me. I cherish the pictures I have of you all losing your minds and having fun. Finally, I really love the band, crew and management and wish them and the entire organization all the best."

Mangini released his debut solo album, "Invisible Signs", on November 11. Accompanying Mangini on the LP are Tony Dickinson on bass, Ivan Keller on guitar, Gus G. (FIREWIND, OZZY OSBOURNE) on lead guitar and former EVANESCENCE guitarist Jen Majura on vocals.

British rock band MAGNUM will release a new studio album, "Here Comes The Rain", on January 12, 2024 via Steamhammer/SPV. The official lyric video for the LP's second single, "The Seventh Darkness", can be seen below.

"The Seventh Darkness" includes some awesome brass sections courtesy of guest musicians Chris "BeeBe" Aldridge (saxophone) and Nick Dewhurst (trumpet),which lend the song brilliance and shape.

MAGNUM guitarist/songwriter Tony Clarkin states: "The recordings were great fun, especially the moment when Chris's sax took the lead and my guitar responded. A real highlight on this album!"

The album's highly inspired artwork is once more designed by the great Rodney Matthews, who has already created a number of MAGNUM sleeves to support the band's atmospherically dense music. Says Clarkin: "The back cover features a kind of avian battalion in attack mode, which I think is a great allegory!"

Apart from MAGNUM's typical trademarks, "Here Comes The Rain" also holds a number of thoroughly pleasant surprises. First single "Blue Tango" is a real riff-rock number that makes you want to move your feet.

There is no doubt about it: "Here Comes The Rain" sees the MAGNUM lineup consisting of singer Bob Catley, Clarkin, keyboardist Rick Benton, bassist Dennis Ward and drummer Lee Morris, once again succeed in creating an outstanding, colorful, varied and inspired new studio album.

"Everyone played their part without me dictating anything," Clarkin enthuses, "everyone just instinctively played what their inspiration told them." It's a good thing that these superb musicians can rely on their intuition!

"Here Comes The Rain" track listing:

01. Run Into The Shadows
02. Here Comes The Rain
03. Some Kind Of Treachery
04. After The Silence
05. Blue Tango
06. The Day He Lied
07. The Seventh Darkness
08. Broken City
09. I Wanna Live
10. Borderline

Late last month, it was announced that Clarkin has been diagnosed with a rare and incurable spinal condition. As a result of his diagnosis, MAGNUM has canceled its previously announced spring 2024 tour.

On December 18, Clarkin released the following message via social media: "I'm afraid I have some bad news for you guys. Over the past year or so I've been bothered by increasingly bad pains in my neck and head. For a long time the docs couldn't work out why, but now they've found out and it's gonna mean some changes.

"I have developed a rare spinal condition. It's not life-limiting, but it can be degenerative in some people, and sadly it's not curable. There are treatments that may help but we don't know how good they'll be.

"With the nature of touring and the weight of electric guitars this means there's no way I would be able to play the scheduled shows in the spring. We've taken the decision to cancel the tour, rather than mess anyone around trying to postpone in the hope things might get better in the short term. Bob didn't feel it would be right doing it with a dep at this time.

"This is not gonna be the end of MAGNUM, but the future might have to be a bit different, so please bear with us while we try and figure out what I can and can't do moving forward.

"I'm really sorry for everyone who'd already bought tickets, it goes without saying that I'm absolutely gutted that I'm not gonna be able to play for you.

"Cheers and I hope I'll be able to see you all again soon."

The rest of MAGNUM added in a separate statement: "We are obviously all extremely upset at this development, especially so close to Christmas. We can't thank you all enough for your support over the years and hope you'll stick with us through this too. We really hope you're all going to love the new album 'Here Comes The Rain' out on the 12th January 2024 and this won't spoil it for you.

"Please everyone contact your ticket reseller for a refund. We'll be back…"

Formed in Birmingham over 50 years ago by Catley and Clarkin, MAGNUM have cemented themselves as one of the U.K.'s finest hard rock exports, a largely American dominated genre.

With their unique melodic skill and tasteful instrumentation, the group have released 22 studio albums over the years, with their most recent, "The Monster Roars", arriving in 2022 to great critical acclaim.

Photo credit: Rob Barrow

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE drummer Brad Wilk says that the iconic band will not play any more shows.

Earlier today (Wednesday, January 3),the 55-year-old musician took to his Instagram to write: "I know a lot of people are waiting for us to announce new tour dates for all the canceled RATM shows. I don't want to string people or myself along any further.

"I know a lot of people are waiting for us to announce new tour dates for all the canceled RATM shows. I don't want to string people or myself along any further.

"So while there has been some communication that this may be happening in the future… I want to let you know that RATM (Tim, Zack, Tom and I) will not be touring or playing live again.

"I'm sorry for those of you who have been waiting for this to happen. I really wish it was…"

This past November, Tom Morello was the sole member of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE who attended the band's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Pioneering rapper and BODY COUNT frontman Ice-T inducted Morello, singer Zack De La Rocha, bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk into the Rock Hall, recalling how RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE opened for him during the band's earliest days.

"Right out of the gate, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE was not a game," Ice-T said. "In their their career, they did things that impress cats like me. You can't impress me with normal stuff. You got to impress me with stuff like suing the U.S. State Department for using their music in Guantanamo Bay for torture. Who does that? RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE does that. Or how about 1993, pulling up at Lollapalooza butt naked with duct tape, protesting against the PRMC [Parents Music Resource Center]? Who does that? RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE does that. I respect the hell out of this band.

"If you want to go down in history, you have to make something or break something," Ice-Tcontinued. "RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE broke every rule in the book just so they could let you know that they were in the building."

In his acceptance speech, Morello said: "I am deeply grateful for the musical chemistry I've had the good fortune to share with Brad Wilk, Tim Commerford and Zach De La Rocha. Like most bands, we have differing perspectives on a lot of things, including about being inducted into the Rock Hall.

"The reason we are here and the best way to celebrate this music is for you to carry on that mission and that message. The lesson I've learned from RAGE fans is that music can change the world daily."

The 59-year-old guitarist continued: "The job we set out to do is not over. Now you're the ones that must testify. If you've got a boss, join a union. If you're a student, start underground paper. If you're an anarchist, throw a brick. If you're a soldier or a cop, follow your conscience not your orders. If you're bummed out that you didn't get to see RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, then form your own band, and let's hear what you have to say.

"When protest music is done right," Morello added, "you can hear a new world emerging in the songs."

When it was first announced that RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE was being inducted into the Rock Hall back in May 2023, the bandmembers shared a lengthy statement thanking the institution for the induction, and recounting the long, radical journey that led up to the honor.

"In 1991 four people in Los Angeles formed a musical group to stand where sound and and solidarity intersect," they wrote. "We are grateful to all of the passionate fans, the many talented co-conspirators we’ve worked with and all the activists, organizers, rebels and revolutionaries past, present and future who have inspired our art."

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Rock Hall induction came after the band appeared on six ballots.

In October 2022, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE canceled its North American tour, three months after De La Rocha severed his left Achilles tendon, leaving a mere eight inches of the tendon intact.

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's comeback tour, which was first announced in 2019 and then delayed several times due to the pandemic, marked the first time the reunited rap-metal quartet had hit the road together since 2011.

In late 2022, Commerford revealed that he has been living with prostate cancer.

Back in 2015, Rolling Stone asked Commerford about the band's Rock Hall prospects, to which he quipped: "If RAGE gets inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, it'll be interesting to see who shows up. I think it's pretty obvious. I think there's somebody who's going to show up and somebody who's not going to show up and maybe somebody who's going to show up with an enema filled with food coloring and shit all over the red carpet."

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In an exclusive clip from the Sky Arts series "Greatest Guitar Riffs", QUEEN guitar legend Brian May solos over BLACK SABBATH's "Paranoid", accompanied by his friend, SABBATH co-founder Tony Iommi. The video, which was uploaded to the Guitar World YouTube channel, can be seen below.

"Greatest Guitar Riffs" aired last fall over the course of three consecutive nights: November 24, November 25 and November 26. This three-part documentary series unpicks the workings of some of the most famous riffs in musical history, taking audiences on an exhilarating journey which tracks the personal impact of the guitar riff on three legendary guitarists: Iommi, THE POLICE's Andy Summers and HEART's Nancy Wilson.

Episode One

BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi pulls back the curtain on the creation of SABBATH's classic riffs and the creation of heavy metal, delving into tracks including "Paranoid", "War Pigs" and "Iron Man". He's also joined by QUEEN's Brian May for an exclusive jam session.

Episode Two

Legendary guitarist Andy Summers reflects on his favorite riffs of all time and tells the stories of the riffs that brought fame and fortune to THE POLICE, including the opening bars of Grammy Award-winning hit "Every Breath You Take". Andy also pays a visit to one of the best jazz guitar players of all time, George Benson.

Episode Three

HEART's Nancy Wilson takes us on a very personal journey through the music and the riffs that influenced her, tracing a through-line from the music of HEART into the grunge scene of the 1990s. She's joined by PEARL JAM's Mike McCready and SOUNDGARDEN's Kim Thayil.

The iconic music trio are joined by an array of guitar stars, including jazz guitarist George Benson, Dave Keuning (THE KILLERS),Richie Sambora (BON JOVI),Hank Marvin (THE SHADOWS) and Orianthi (Michael Jackson, Alice Cooper). Together, they will cover riffs from the likes of LED ZEPPELIN, VAN HALEN, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and more.

Phil Edgar-Jones, director of Sky Arts, said: "'Greatest Guitar Riffs' is a treat for anyone who loves an axe-based ear worm; with this smart, thoughtful journey through the very best riffs ever written, brought to us by three guitar legends, I challenge anyone to watch without either a) humming along or b) picking up that air guitar and strumming along."

"Greatest Guitar Riffs" was commissioned by Edgar-Jones for Zai Bennett, managing director of content for Sky U.K. and Ireland. The commissioning editor for Sky is Barbara Lee.

The series is produced by Somethin' Else TV, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. Ian Sharpe serves as executive producer.

Greatest Guitar Riffs

Join me this Friday to discuss the art of writing riffs!

Greatest Guitar Riffs, starts Friday 24th November with Tony Iommi on Sky Arts. Freeview channel 36.

Posted by Tony Iommi on Tuesday, November 21, 2023