BUSH has released the official music video for the new track "Nowhere To Go But Everywhere" which will appear on the band's first-ever greatest-hits collection, "Loaded: The Greatest Hits 1994-2023", due on November 10 via Round Hill Records. An exploration of mourning youth, while questioning the lengths people go to avoid aging, the clip can be seen below.

BUSH frontman Gavin Rossdale comments on the video: "While anyone can identify with clinging to the past which the song addresses, the extremes we've seen some people go to for external youth is unnerving. It is a drag watching your own face age — and yet, as David Bowie said, 'The thing about aging is you become the person you should have been all along.' Genius. And feels true."

Rossdale wrote "Nowhere To Go But Everywhere", which is the second to last song on "Loaded". He and Corey Britz produced it.

With over 24 million records sold, one billion streams and a procession of No. 1 hits, the Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum band — comprising Gavin Rossdale (vocals, guitar),Chris Traynor (guitar),Corey Britz (bass) and Nik Hughes (drums) — stands tall as rock outliers whose imprint only widens as the years pass. "Loaded" provides an expansive view of the band's incredible legacy with 21 tracks spanning nearly 30 years.

As announced last month, BUSH will launch the "Nowhere To Go But Everywhere" tour, a North American headline run, on November 14 at Hard Rock Live in Orlando, Florida. BAD WOLVES and EVA UNDER FIRE will support on most dates.

"Loaded" includes iconic hits from each of BUSH's nine studio albums as well as "Mouth" (The Stingray Mix) from the 1997 remix album "Deconstructed" and a cover of THE BEATLES' "Come Together" that saw a very limited release in 2012.

Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the release of BUSH's six-times-platinum debut album, "Sixteen Stone", so it's only fitting that "Loaded" explodes with five tracks from the seminal album: their debut single, "Everything Zen", "Little Things", "Machinehead" and the group's first No. 1 singles — "Comedown" and "Glycerine", which topped Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart in 1995.

Other chart-topping hits included in the collection include the Grammy-nominated "Swallowed" (from 1996's "Razorblade Suitcase"),"The Chemicals Between Us" (from 1999's "The Science Of Things"),"The Sound Of Winter" (from 2011's "The Sea Of Memories") and, from the band's 2022 album "The Art Of Survival", "More Than Machines", BUSH's seventh single to top the Active Rock Radio chart. "Bullet Holes", which figured prominently in the box office smash "John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum", is one of three songs pulled from 2020's "The Kingdom".

"I'm really grateful that I get the chance to make music after all of this time," Rossdale said. "The privilege is not lost on me. I'm still in the octagon, and I think that's healthy because I'm good at fighting."

"Loaded: The Greatest Hits 1994-2023" track listing:

01. Everything Zen
02. Little Things
03. Comedown
04. Glycerine
05. Machinehead
06. Swallowed
07. Greedy Fly
08. Mouth (The Stingray Mix)
09. The Chemicals Between Us
10. Letting The Cables Sleep
11. The People That We Love
12. Inflatable
13. The Only Way Out
14. The Sound of Winter
15. This Is War
16. Bullet Holes
17. Flowers On A Grave
18. The Kingdom
19. More Than Machines
20. Nowhere To Go But Everywhere
21. Come Together

Display Of Decay’s “Legion Of Doom” is a death metal look at the menacing death knights found in World Of Warcraft. Step into the shadows of musical intensity and bask in bloody riffs, frosty bass lines, and unholy vocals. “Legion Of Doom” comes off the band’s sixth album, Vitriol, which is packed full of technical and dark artistry. The band details the writing process:


“Musically, this song was rewritten a number of times. I can remember a few minutes before a writing session, Brandon was on his way over and I was sitting there strumming along to warm up when I plucked the notes that would eventually become the chorus, and I thought to myself, 'Did I just write the best riff ever?!' Of course, I didn’t, but it’s a pretty damn great riff. This song is more ‘progressive’ than the other ones, I feel there’s a definite nod to Death in this one, but nonetheless, it’s about slaying monsters in Azeroth. For The Horde.”







Vitriol (mixed & mastered by Chris Donaldson - Cryptopsy) is due out on October 20, 2023 via Gore House Productions and available for pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


“Malicious Motorcide”
“The Butcher”
“Legion Of Doom”
“Familial Feast”
“Harbinger”
“Hot Lead Vengeance”
“Slaughtercast”
“Vitriol”








Catch Display Of Decay on tour across Alberta:


November 
10 - Calgary, AB - Dickens Pub
11 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room
17 - Lloydminster, AB - Cheers Live





 

Today, crossover legends Dog Eat Dog present "Bar Down," the fourth single taken from the forthcoming new studio album Free Radicals, which will be released on October 20 via Metalville Records.


The glitched drums and dark mood of "Bar Down" might have you think the song was created by a different band. Dog Eat Dog shows a willingness to explore new territory and vibes even after 30-plus years. "Bar Down" is a victory anthem disguised as smoldering hymn.







After a long period of only touring, Dog Eat Dog are finally back with Free Radicals…and it was worth the wait. The 14 explosive and inspiring songs combine a variety of contemporary styles without denying their roots. The album surprises with a variety of tones, moods, dynamics, and tempos, accompanied by their never-fading energy and positive attitude.


Singles "Lit Up," "Never Give In," and "Man's Best Friend" provide listeners with the big guitars, groovy beats, and catchy choruses Dog Eat Dog are known for, while "Bar Down" carves out new territory for a band eager to explore the boundaries of their abilities and experiences.


Dog Eat Dog's bi-continental lineup and their unique approach to sound and performance has always made them a must-see live act. With Free Radicals, the band reminds listeners why many consider them one of the pioneers of the crossover genre.


Artwork by Marcos Cabrera:





Tracklisting:


“Lit Up”
“Kin”
“Never Give In”
“Time Won’t Wait”
“1 Thing”
“Mean Str”
“Energy Rock”
“@Joe’s”
“Blvk Clvd”
“Bar Down”
“Man’s Best Friend”
“E1on1”
“Looking Back”
“Zamboni”


“Bar Down”:





“Man’s Best Friend”:





Dog Eat Dog lineup:
John Connor - vocals
Roger Haemmerli - guitars
Dave Neabore - bass
Brandon Finley - drums

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, along with their children Jack and Kelly, have released the fifth episode of their revived podcast. Among the topics covered in the episode is Sharon's claim in her 2007 memoir that she and Ozzy had agreed to go to Swiss assisted dying organization Dignitas should either of them suffer from the common form of dementia. Asked by Jack if that is "still a plan," Sharon responded: "Do you think that we're gonna suffer?" When Jack countered with, "Aren't we already all suffering?", Sharon said: "Yes, we all are, but I don't want it to actually hurt as well. Mental suffering is enough pain without physical. So if you've got mental and physical, see ya." Kelly then asked, "But what if you could survive?" to which Sharon responded: "Yeah, what if you survived and you can't wipe your own ass, you're pissing everywhere, shitting, can't eat."

Back in 2014, Ozzy told The Mirror that his and Sharon's suicide pact had been extended to cover any life-threatening condition, as well as Alzheimer's disease.

"If I can't live my life the way I'm living it now — and I don't mean financially — then that's it...[Switzerland]," he said. "If I can't get up and go to the bathroom myself and I've got tubes up my ass and an enema in my throat, then I've said to Sharon, 'Just turn the machine off.' If I had a stroke and was paralyzed, I don't want to be here. I've made a will and it's all going to Sharon if I die before her, so ultimately it will all go to the kids."

Back in 2007, it was first reported that Ozzy had agreed to a suicide pact with Sharon — because she didn't want to go through the pain her father Don Arden did when he suffered from Alzheimer's. At the time, Sharon claimed she and Ozzy made the mutual decision earlier that year after music mogul Arden lost his struggle with the neurodegenerative disease and died in July 2007, aged 81.

She said: "We believe 100 per cent in euthanasia, so have drawn up plans to go to the assisted suicide flat in Switzerland if we ever have an illness that affects our brains. If Ozzy or I ever got Alzheimer's, that's it — we'd be off. We gathered the kids around the kitchen table, told them our wishes and they've all agreed to go with it."

She continued: "There's no way I could go through what [my father] did, or put my kids through that. My father deteriorated at such a rapid speed he became a shell of himself. Some say the disease is hereditary so at the first sign I want to be put out of my misery."

Sharon added that their decision would spare their kids, Kelly, Jack and Aimée, the burden of the illness.

"It's taken away some of the fear of our ending and is a final gift of love to our kids," she said.

The second season of "The Osbournes" launched September 12. The follow-up to 2018's first season consists of 20 episodes and is being made available in video and audio formats. Topics of discussion include "everything from romance to true crime."

Episodes are recorded at Ozzy and Sharon's home and include Ozzy's own individual episodes in which he talks with his longtime friend, musician Billy Morrison, about everything from food and his time in BLACK SABBATH to aliens.

Swedish blackened death metallers Night Crowned have released the second single "Flickan Som Försvann", taken from the band's upcoming album Tales. Following the successful launch of their first single "De Namnlösa", the band keeps captivating listeners with their mesmerizing blend of dark and atmospheric soundscapes.


Vocalist K. Romlin states: ''‘Flickan Som Försvann’ was the first demo I wrote lyrics for. I was inspired by an old Swedish punk song, but I wanted the words to be more graphic, more horrific, almost provocative, and I think I managed to do that. This is by far the darkest lyrics I have ever written."


Night Crowned's upcoming album, Tales, promises to be a sonic journey that pushes the boundaries of the genre. With their masterful musicianship and evocative storytelling, the band aims to create an immersive experience for listeners, transporting them to a world of darkness and introspection. The band's first single "De Namnlösa" already received widespread acclaim from both fans and critics alike, setting high expectations for the upcoming album. 




Night Crowned consists of seasoned musicians who have made their mark in the metal scene. The band features members from renowned acts such as Dark Funeral, Nightrage, and Cipher System, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to their craft. 


With the release of "Flickan Som Försvann" Night Crowned continues to solidify their position as one of the most exciting and innovative bands in the melodic blackened death metal genre and fans can expect a captivating and immersive experience when Tales is unleashed upon the world.


Tales will be released on November 10 via Noble Demon and is available for pre-order here.





Tales tracklisting:


"De Namnlösa" (feat. Jens Rydén)
"She Comes At Night" (feat. Therése Thomsson)
"Nattramn"
"Loviatar"
"Flickan Som Försvann"
"Strandvaskarens Hymn"
"Lupus Luna" (feat. Therése Thomsson)
"Old Tales"


“Flickan Som Försvann” video:





"De Namnlösa" lyric video:





Night Crowned are:


K. Romlin - Vocals
H. Liljesand - Guitar & keys
J. Jaloma - Drums
J. Eskilsson - Guitar & vocals
P. Eldor Pettersson - Bass

Indian rockers, Fifth Note will release their debut album, Here We Are on December 8 via Frontiers. The first single from the album, “Always Love You,” is out today with an accompanying music video. Preorder Here We Are here.


A new signing to the Frontiers label, Fifth Note is based in Kohima, the capital state of Nagaland, in the Northeast region of India. The group started up in the middle of 2019, evolving from the original foundation as a Christian themed band. Now, they draw most of their musical influences from the secular progressive metal and classic old school hard rock genres. Though progressive music can run the risk of being self-indulgent, Fifth Note manage to offer a sort of primal urge in their music while still offering catchy melodies and a super polished sound.


Like many other bands of the genre, Fifth Note started out performing cover songs, including songs from label mates such as Stryper and Circus Maximus among others. Nevertheless, with the growing interest in original music and demand from the fans, the band released their original "Misfortune" and "Here We Are" singles in 2021.




With those original songs released, the band won many fans and were inspired to keep going and play bigger stages with support from around the state and beyond. Fifth Note has performed live at numerous events and also won several awards in their homeland, thus gaining a considerable following in their country.


The band's original music piqued interest from the Frontiers label which works hard to scout the most exciting musical talents around the globe and the result is Here We Are - Fifth Note’s debut full length album. The record also includes Fifth Note's debut singles and a superbly crafted set of hard rock songs with a progressive metal edge. Not far off from what their compadres About Us have put out in the past few months on their acclaimed debut album. Additionally, Fifth Note is active in promoting good time music with no use of drugs, alcohol or things of that sort.





Tracklisting:


“Rider”
“Always Love You”
“Dreamer”
“Fantasy”
“I Won’t Give Up”
“Here We Are”
“Misfortune”
“Falling Apart”
“Confused Trauma”
“Drifted”
“End Time’s”
“Here We Are” (Acoustic Version – Japan Bonus Track)


“Always Love You” video:





Fifth Note are:
Samuel Thapa: - vocals
Khriekethozo Sekhose - guitar
Jubito Swu - bass
Rüüvolie Kire - drums
Sheduto Kezo - keyboards

DREAM THEATER singer James LaBrie says that he is absolutely against singers who lip sync during their concerts.

In recent years, more and more artists have been given a pass for relying on pre-recorded tracks, drum triggers and other assorted technology that makes concerts more synthetic but also more consistent. For better or worse, pre-recorded tracks are becoming increasingly common for touring artists of all levels and genres and they're not just used in pop music — many rock artists utilize playback tracks to varying degrees.

LaBrie addressed some rock acts' reliance on pre-recorded tracks in a Cameo video message requested by the Syncin' Stanley YouTube channel. Asked for his opinion on singers who use backing tracks for their lead vocals, the drummer said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Okay, first of all, yeah, I've never lip synced in my entire life, so let's just get that out of the way. That's bullshit.

"I don't agree with anybody lip syncing to their music," he continued. "I say that if you do it, you should be able to reproduce it live, or at least try to reproduce it live. I mean, every singer has their fricking bad nights, man, for sure. And it's hard to reproduce or replicate exactly what you did in the studio at times, just because it's human nature. You get tired, you get sick, you're worn out, burnt out, whatever. But yeah, so, that is off the board. No lip syncing whatsoever for whomever you are. I think that's bullshit.

"As far as backing tracks? I think it comes down to when you utilize the studio's environment to be able to create something within that song that is glorious and multi-layered vocals or instruments that are beyond the core instruments used within that band, I think it's cool because it can be very enhancing," he added. "And so when you decide to play those particular songs, you have to either ask yourself, it's gonna be the bare minimum and it's gonna be a little more raw than it was in the studio or the studio's version, or you're going to wanna give your audience everything that they've come to familiarize themselves with while listening to that song. They associate all those other elements that the only way to sometimes reproduce it would be by backtracks. So I think if it's done intelligently and creatively and artistically, it should be acceptable. I think that if it's a vice, so that someone isn't singing what they did in the studio or someone isn't playing what they did in the studio, that's a different deal. I don't agree with that.

"Anyways, so there you go. There's my opinion on the whole backtracking system that's out there. And a lot of bands do it, especially the younger-generation bands, the younger demographic — they're playing tons of backing tracks. It's unbelievable how much they use."

Back in March 2022, LaBrie pushed back against allegations that he used pre-recorded vocal tracks during live performances.

The rumor that LaBrie had been relying on pre-recorded backing tracks gained strength in February 2022 after fan videos of DREAM THEATER's North American tour were shared on YouTube. Some fans have pointed specifically to the post-chorus of the DREAM THEATER song "Bridges In The Sky" where the alleged lip syncing occurs.

LaBrie finally addressed the Internet chatter during DREAM THEATER's concert on March 18, 2022 at Bayou Music Center in Houston, Texas. He told the crowd: "I'm gonna fucking clarify something for you now, okay? People have been saying I'm fucking lip syncing? Fuck you. Fucking, what is wrong with people online?"

He then apologized to the audience for his outburst, noting that he and his DREAM THEATER bandmates launched their current tour more than six weeks ago. "I guess I'm losing my mind because I'm almost at the end of a [tour] leg," he said.

KISS frontman Paul Stanley, who has been struggling to hit the high notes in many of the band's classic songs for a number of years, has been accused of singing to a backing tape on KISS's ongoing "End Of The Road" tour.

Back in 2015, KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons slammed bands who used backing tapes for not being honest enough to include that fact on their concert tickets.

"I have a problem when you charge $100 to see a live show and the artist uses backing tracks," Simmons said. "It's like the ingredients in food. If the first ingredient on the label is sugar, that's at least honest. It should be on every ticket — you're paying $100, 30 to 50 percent of the show is [on] backing tracks and they'll sing sometimes, sometimes they'll lip sync. At least be honest. It's not about backing tracks, it's about dishonesty.

"There's nobody with a synthesizer on our stage, there's no samples on the drums, there's nothing," Gene continued. "There's very few bands who do that now — AC/DC, METALLICA, us. I can't even say that about U2 or THE [ROLLING] STONES. There's very few bands who don't use [backing] tracks."

This past March, KISS's longtime manager Doc McGhee defended Stanley's vocal performance on "End Of The Road", explaining that the "Star Child" "fully sings to every song" at every concert. He explained: It's enhanced. It's just part of the process to make sure that everybody hears the songs the way they should be sang to begin with. Nobody wants to hear people do stuff that's not real, that's not what they came to hear."

When McGhee was asked to clarify if he was "actually saying there are backing tracks that [Paul is] singing to," Doc said: "He'll sing to tracks. It's all part of a process. Because everybody wants to hear everybody sing. But he fully sings to every song."

In March 2020, SHINEDOWN guitarist Zach Myers said that "90 percent" of rock artists use at least some pre-recorded tracks during their live performances. He told Rock Feed: "It bothers me that it bothers people. I'm, like, 'Why does this bother you?' It's the way it is. People have been doing this since the '80s. And we want the sound to be the best it can be. Could we go up there, just the four of us, and put on the best rock show ever? Of course. But that's not how we wanna do it."

Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach has previously said that he is "one of the last people" who are still not using pre-recorded tracks at their live shows. "I don't know how much longer I can say to you that I don't use tapes onstage, because I don't, and I never have," he told Consequence Of Sound. "And I still don't. When I have opening bands, and they're using tapes, and then I come out and I don't use tapes… sometimes, it makes me feel stupid, because I'm like, 'What am I doing, when all these kids half my age can come onstage and do all of my moves, but they don't have to warm up for an hour before the show, or weeks, before the first show?' Sometimes, I'm like, 'Why do I even bother, if the public is so used to this other way?' It's becoming very rare to come see a good band that's actually a real band — that's not miming or doing silly moves while a tape is running. It just becomes more rare as the years go on."

In 2019, IRON MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith said that he doesn't "agree" with certain rock artists relying on pre-recorded tracks during their live performances. "I tell you what, I see it with a lot of younger bands, and I don't think it's a good thing at all," he told the New York Post. "I mean, the music is getting too technical now. You have computerized recording systems, which we use, but I think we use them more for convenience than because we need to. We've toured with a couple bands that use tapes — it's not real. You're supposed to play live; it should be live. I don't agree with using tapes … I think it's a real shame."

One musician who has been open about his band's use of taped vocals during live performances is MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx, who said: "We've used technology since '87." He added the group employed "sequencers, sub tones, background vox tracks, plus background singers and us. [MÖTLEY CRÜE also taped] stuff we can't tour with, like cello parts in ballads, etc.... We love it and don't hide it. It's a great tool to fill out the sound."

In a 2014 interview, MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist Mick Mars admitted that he wasn't comfortable with the fact that his band used pre-recorded backing vocals in its live shows, claiming that he preferred to watch groups whose performances are delivered entirely live. "I don't like it," he said. "I think a band like ours… I have to say '60s bands were my favorite — '60s and '70s bands — because they were real, like, three-piece bands or four-piece bands, and they just got up there and kicked it up. Made a mistake? So what? Sounded a little bit empty here or there? So what? It's the bigness and the rawness and the people that developed and wrote the songs and made them and presented them. To me, that's what I really like. I mean, I could put on a MÖTLEY CD and play with it all day long. I don't wanna do that."

In a new interview with Ernest Skinner of Canada's Border City Rock Talk, ANTHRAX frontman Joey Belladonna, who has been playing sporadic shows with his JOURNEY tribute band called BEYOND FRONTIERS, was asked if he was serious when he recently said that he would love to sing with the legendary rock act. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I've been around [the JOURNEY] guys, my wife and I.. God, I know Deen [Castronovo, JOURNEY drummer], and I've had dinner with Neal [Schon, JOURNEY guitarist], and soundchecked with the crew. I mean, I'm so far into knowing the whole band and crew that I always would have loved to have done that. 'Cause I just like the music. The music is really appealing to me. I love all the melodic [aspects of it]. I love the musicianship. There's so much there. Without really outright looking for that gig, without asking, you know what I mean? Yeah, I love the music and that's why I put we put BEYOND FRONTIERS together because I've always thought it would be a fun night and I like singing the music."

Joey went on to say that he and rest of BEYOND FRONTIERS are currently working on "studio versions" of their "whole set. And it sounded pretty good," he said. "It just hasn't really been mixed yet to where I want it."

Last month, Belladonna was asked point blank by Mike Hsu of the 100 FM The Pike radio station what he would say if he was contacted right now and asked to front JOURNEY. Joey responded: "You know, I would definitely be really interested in doing that. That would be great. Not that I think that that's gonna happen, but, yeah, it would be great. I'd love that challenge. It would be great."

Regarding why he chose to launch a JOURNEY tribute band, Belladonna told 100 FM The Pike: "Well, I've been singing JOURNEY stuff throughout the years, but never had a band that I thought that would be, you know, willing to do it correctly and lengthy like where I could keep it going. I've always liked the music so much. I've owned all the music. I liked JOURNEY long before Steve [Perry] even came. I have all those records, so I was really into the band a lot. But of course, when Steve came along, I was down with singing that live somewhere. And [I] just put it together and said I wanted to do a whole night of it. I just thought it would be fun, and it looked like a blast. And we do have a blast doing it."

Belladonna's JOURNEY tribute also features keyboardist Doug Carter, bassist Paul Arntz, guitarist Matt Basford and drummer Justin Ward.

In an April 2020 interview with SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Belladonna stated about his approach to singing material that was originally written and recorded by Steve Perry: "Obviously, when you do [something like this], there's always open ground for [people to say], 'You didn't do that part, 'You didn't do this.' [But] I didn't wanna copy it note for note. Sometimes I just like to do my own thing with it. Represent it and do what you can, but I love to mess around with things. Not so much to try to be too different, but just make it cool and do it your own way versus trying to get every note. I'm sure some guys study every second of it. Even with ANTHRAX, I do songs different a lot of times. It's just fun that way. To do things off the cuff is fun for me versus trying to follow everything… I can study it all day, but I just don't feel like doing that. I wanna have a little fun doing my own thing with it."

Belladonna's JOURNEY tribute made its live debut in March 2020 at The Beacon Theatre in Hopewell, Virginia.

In a 2005 interview with MusicDish, Belladonna was asked about the rumor that he came to the table with a JOURNEY tune during his 1985 audition for ANTHRAX. "Actually, what happened was I went into the room and they said, 'Just go on in,' and they hadn't heard me sing," he said. "They'd heard of me and they asked me to come in, but we were going in to start tracking and stuff, to get the mic set up and all that and they said, 'Let's get you in there and get you warmed up.' I hit the mic and belted out some JOURNEY… I think it was [the song] 'Lights'. I didn't know what the hell I was getting into in the first place. I just wanted to lay some vocals or something. Just to kinda give an idea and that's what happened. It wasn't really anything more than that. I just kinda belched it out. I think I did 'Oh Sherrie' [written by Steve Perry], too, or something. I dunno why, but I just did. It was something off the top of my head I could do a cappella and it was kinda challenging. I thought maybe in range or something that would be kind of intriguing. It was definitely one they weren't expecting."

ANTHRAX's 2013 EP "Anthems" EP included the band's cover version of JOURNEY's "Keep On Runnin'" alongside classics by RUSH, THIN LIZZY, AC/DC, CHEAP TRICK and BOSTON.

Phoenix thrashers, Flotsam And Jetsam, recently wrapped up a string of dates in the Netherlands and Belgium, which comcluded with an appearance at Germany's Keep It True Rising III festival. Fan filmed video of their entire October 5th show at Hell in Diest, Belgium can be viewed below.


The setlist was as follows:


"Hammerhead"
"Dreams Of Death"
"The Walls"
"Smoked Out"
"Prisoner Of Time"
"Cry For The Dead"
"She Took An Axe"
"Iron Maiden"
"Brace For Impact"
"Suffer The Masses"
"Demolition Man"
"I Live You Die"
"No Place For Disgrace"
"Doomsday For The Deceiver"










Flotsam And Jetsam recently cancelled ten shows covering parts of the eastern United States due to poor ticket sales.


In an official statement, the band said, “We had a logistical nightmare even trying to secure transportation and crew for this short run. There are so many great bands on the road right now that it’s making touring very difficult in what is a very saturated market. We had an important crew member bail on the tour at the last minute for undisclosed reasons, but the final straw was finding out that the ticket sales were poor. We definitely don’t want promoters to lose money booking our band, so we’ll reschedule at a time that makes more sense for them. We apologize to the fans that were planning on coming to see us on these dates and we hope to see you on tour soon."

Seattle technical death metal maestros Xoth announce that its new single “Sporecraft Zero” has ascended to the stars. Taken from its upcoming third album Exogalatic, due out Novrmber 3 via Dawnbreed Records, the single is also available on all major digital streaming providers. 


The band comments: “The spell of the simulation is waning and in need of a reset. The sentinels of the simulacrum descend upon Earth. The huge obsidian monoliths appear, imposing awe and terror upon the masses, unleashing their psychedelic swarm of cosmic fungus upon mankind while inducing mass hallucinations and rapid reconfiguration of DNA. What’s left is barely recognizable as human.”







In partnership with Dawnbreed Records, their third triumph Exogalactic is an ambitious leap forward. It’s as if they've excavated musical relics from Earth's core and melded them with sounds from the far reaches of the universe. Each song is an event horizon, stirring subgenres into a timewarp of past and future sonic chaos.


Amidst the vortex of sound, the mixing sorcery of Joe Cincotta at Full Force Studio (Obituary, Suffocation) collides with the enigmatic mastering finesse of Julian Silva (Panopticon, Intronaut) to manifest an auditory odyssey. The artwork by Shindy Reehal sets the tone for the voyage. Xoth is not just music; its a journey across the celestial landscape led by interstellar luminaries.





Tracklisting:


"Reptilian Bloodsport"
"Manuscripts Of Madness"
"Sporecraft Zero"
"The Parasitic Orchestra"
"Saga Of The Blade"
"Reflective Nemesis"
"Battlesphere"
"Map To The Stars, Monument To The Ancients"


Catch Xoth live at the following shows:


October
14 - Tukwila, WA - Lucky Liquor
28 - Portland, OR - Twilight Bar And Grill


January
20 - Vancouver, BC - The Wise Hall





 

Blacktop Mojo singer Matt James has released a new solo song / video, "Chainsmoking Whiskey". Secure your copy now at this location.


"Had a great time shooting this music video," says Matt. "This was definitely the easiest music video I’ve ever done. Just circled up the trucks, lit a fire, and had a bunch of drinking and shenanigans with a couple friends. Huge thank you to Drew McCuistion for shooting the video, All Star Autoplex for the bada$$ trucks, The Delk family for letting us use their property, and all the homies that came to party (y’all know who you are)."







Catch Matt James live on his solo tour. Confirmed dates are as listed:


October
13 - Huntsville, TX - Jolly Fox Club
14 - Baytown, TX - D's Irish Tavern
21 - Anahuac, TX - The Landing Bar & Grill


November
8 - Huntsville, TX - Jolly Fox Club
9 - Huntsville, TX - Humphrey's Bar and Grill
10 - Stephenville, TX - Rockin' P Bar
22 - Palestine, TX - The Shelton Gin Bar


December
2 - Elk City, OK - The Pitstop
8 - Nashville, TN - Live Oak


Check out Matt's previously released solo songs "Runaway", "Wait It Out", and "Way Too Strong".











 

Prog-rock pioneers and veterans, Crack The Sky, releasied their 20th studio album, From The Wood, on Friday, June 9. Physical orders are available here. The band has shared an acoustic performance video for the track "Don't Close Your Eyes". The song tells a somber tale about teenage suicide and the toll it can take on loved ones set to melodic guitars, gently strumming along to Palumbo’s temperate vocals. Watch below:





From The Wood sees Crack The Sky breaking new ground, surprising fans with a mostly acoustic album.  Acoustic guitars, piano, dobro, ukulele, banjo, accordion, mandolin, bass, toy piano, djembe, and drums, the result is a ten-track opus (plus two bonus tracks) that inspires, enflames, and reassures the listener with twists and turns along the way.  From The Wood is introspective but still unique and progressive. John Palumbo continues to shape his vision of a world with his unique writing style. The guitar interplay from Rick Witkowski and Bobby Hird continues to propel the band in both new and familiar directions.




Songs cover an array of poignant topics including isolation (as experienced from the pandemic), teenage suicide, and social and political commentary on songs such as “Don’t Feed The Tigers” about how we, as a society, put our blind faith in the government and those who run things.  “Fun In Isolation” is a rocking track about the desperation of wanting to be left alone during pandemic to get away from the circus that went on politically surrounding it.  “Heart Of The Lion” with its classic rock sound and smooth vocal harmonies, pays homage to Ukraine. “My New World” is a lament on how much things have changed told from the perspective of a skeptical man. The album’s hopeful closing track, “Circle Of Life” is about the feeling of being in a state of Zen and being one with the universe.


Some bands have the innate ability to put their collective finger on the pulse of the zeitgeist, and then be able to channel that level of awareness into poignant, affecting music that transcends the bounds of the here and now. Crack The Sky is just such a band





Crack The Sky is comprised of John Palumbo (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards), Rick Witkowski (guitars, vocals, studio production, engineering), Bobby Hird (guitars, vocals), Joey D'Amico (drums, vocals), Glenn Workman (keyboards, vocals), and Dave DeMarco (bass, vocals).


(Photo: Rei Peri)

Pattern-Seeking Animals (P-SA) are set to release their 4th studio album Spooky Action At A Distance, later this month on October 27 via InsideOutMusic. 


The band has shared the new single “Underneath The Orphan Moon,” a somber ballad that deals with a teenage girl leaving a bad situation.  Evocative and cinematic, it is not unlike the feel of a classic Elton John song, complete with a real string section. 


John Boegehold had this to say about the song: “‘Underneath The Orphan Moon’ is a bit of a departure for us stylistically but still fits in quite nicely with the other songs on the album.”




Watch the Stuart Wahlin directed video below.





Spooky Action At A Distance finds Pattern-Seeking Animals more confident than ever, approaching new soundscapes and topics, showcasing their evolution, and commitment to pushing their own creative boundaries.


John Boegehold explains, “Because this is our fourth release in less than five years, my intention was to shift gears and not go over ground that's already been covered. In addition to using different sounds, textures and musical styles, we approached the vocals, especially backing vocals from a fairly different angle. In addition, the album was recorded, mixed and mastered at a different studio with a different engineer than our previous three releases.”


The different approach is not only noticeable in production and sounds, but in the lyrics as well. “The subject matter of the lyrics include a Norse king contemplating life while being conquered, an aging seeker on the path toward enlightenment, aliens hunting down humans trying to evade capture, the life of a conflicted soldier before and after WW1, a pregnant teenager leaving a bad situation at home, a reluctant hero victorious in her final battle and a guy’s girlfriend who leaves him because of his conspiracy theories.”


Spooky Action at a Distance is available in the following formats:


• Limited 2CD Digipak*
• Digital album*
• 2LP Gatefold vinyl 180g**
*including 3 live bonus tracks from ProgStock 2022
**including 2 live bonus tracks from ProgStock 2022


Preorder here.





Tracklisting:


CD1
“The Man Made Of Stone”
“Window To The World”
“What Awaits Me”
“He Once Was”
“Underneath The Orphan Moon”
“Clouds That Never Rain”
“Bulletproof”
“Somewhere North Of Nowhere”
“Summoned From Afar”
“Love is Still The Light”


CD2
“There Goes My Baby”
“Orphans Of The Universe” (Live At ProgStock 2022)
“Elegant Vampires” (Live At ProgStock 2022)
“Time Has A Way” (Live At ProgStock 2022) *


*CD and digital album only


"Underneath The Orphan Moon" video:





"Somewhere North Of Nowhere" video:





“Window To The World” video:

In a new interview with The Metal Mixtape, ATREYU guitarist Travis Miguel confirmed that he has "heard a little bit of" the music from DEAD ICARUS, the new project of former ATREYU lead vocalist Alex Varkatzas. He said: "I think his new stuff is absolutely sick. And I'm one hundred percent stoked for him."

Asked if there has been any contact between Varkatzas and his former bandmates in recent months, Travis said: "We haven't had much contact with him lately, obviously just because we've been so busy; we've pretty much spent all of 2023 on the road, as well as being in the studio and writing here and there. But, yeah, like I said, I'm totally stoked for him."

DEAD ICARUS recently signed a worldwide deal with MNRK Heavy and released its debut single, "Sellout". A DEAD ICARUS album will arrive in the spring of 2024.

A staple of Ozzfest in the mid-2000s with two gold albums, ATREYU is one of the defining bands of the New Wave Of American Heavy Metal, alongside groups like AVENGED SEVENFOLD and LAMB OF GOD. Metalcore classics like "The Curse" and "A Death-Grip On Yesterday" were powered by Alex's distinctive scream.

In October 2020, ATREYU surprise-released a new song called "Save Us". It was the first taste of the band's music since the departure of Varkatzas a month earlier. A couple of days before "Save Us"'s release, Varkatzas updated his Instagram stories with hashtags that seemed to throw shade at his former bandmates and their new material: #fakeheavy, #conartists and #justwaitandsee.

ATREYU's former drummer Brandon Saller, who is now focusing completely on singing after previously sharing lead vocals with Varkatzas for most of the band's two-decade-plus existence, discussed Alex's departure from ATREYU in an interview with Terry "Beez" Bezer of Knotfest.com's "Mosh Talks With Beez". Asked what he thought of Varkatzas implying in a social media post that "Save Us" was "fake heavy," Saller said: "I thought it was hilarious, because I think everyone heard it and then was, like, 'Hmm. Okay.'

"The four of us were very, very adamant on this whole thing" — referring to the split with Alex — "being very, very positive. There's no shitting on people that we wanna do. There's not a part of us that wanted anyone to shit-talk us or him. And our whole stance was, like, this is what it is, but we can still lift each other up and make our fans feel good about the fact that there's no beef; there's no whatever.

"He did his own thing, and it wasn't exactly the kind of idea of a narrative that we would have liked to put forward," Brandon continued. "We've always, still to this day, been fully positive. When people say stuff about Alex, I'm still, like, 'The dude's awesome. You should support whatever he does next.' He's learning guitar, he's taking interest in different things, and I will still, till I'm blue in the face, say, yeah, support him. If you like his voice, if you like what he did in ATREYU, he's probably gonna make more music. Now you have two bands you can listen to.

"The 'fake heavy' thing was — we don't know where that came from," Saller added. "Alex wrote 'Save Us' with us. He wrote probably seven, eight songs that are on the next record. He was a part of the beginning of the album, so for him to say it's fake heavy, then he wrote a fake-heavy song.

"I think 'Save Us' is one of the heavier songs we've ever written. It is two and a half minutes of facepunch. Another view we've had is no matter who says what, let's do what we've always done and just let the music talk. We're just gonna continue doing that and let the tunes do all the talking. And people will know what we're all about. They'll know everything they need to know from [listening to] the songs."

According to Brandon, he and his ATREYU bandmates wanted to avoid making the split with Alex more dramatic than it needed to be in the eyes of the public, preferring instead to give everyone a taste of the new music they were working on.

"A lot of people got really butthurt because of the lack of detail that we gave [in our statement announcing Alex's departure]," Saller said. "And I feel like we just felt so strongly that in this day and age, click culture and clickbait, every headline's looking for, 'Guitar player of ATREYU slept with the singer's wife' — some weird drama. But we had no interest in that. We just wanted to keep it about the music and keep it positive and let our fans know that this is what's happening, we're separating, it is what it is, and let's just think about the future."

"I think people think a lot of it is a lot more quick than the reality," Brandon theorized. "I think that people think that we just made this decision and posted it on the Internet, and that was it. But we've been going through this for months and months and months. When you're in a business and a relationship — a marriage, essentially — with someone for 20 years, there's a lot of steps to go through before you can say anything. We were very much wanting to say really nothing — just be positive and let's be adults. And luckily, we have so many people that really, really are showing us a lot of love."

In December 2020, Brandon implied in an interview with "Sappenin' Podcast With Sean Smith" that ATREYU was no longer on speaking terms with Varkatzas: "We'll call it a breakup," he said. "There's obviously a separation, so I think that's something that, in our hopes, the future will heal. But the five of us in the current situation are tighter than ever."

In a new interview with IndiePower.com, KROKUS frontman Marc Storace confirmed that he is working on the follow-up to his debut solo album, "Live And Let Live", which was made available in Switzerland in December 2021 and was released in North America in February 2022. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Tommy Henriksen of the HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES and Alice Cooper band, he lives an hour and a half away from me here [in Switzerland], and he's producing my new album. And, yeah, I'm really happy with the songs. Tommy is a great songwriter and he's also a great engineer, producer, whatever — he can do it. And so I'm looking forward to [getting it recorded]. I just signed a new record contract with Frontiers. So you're gonna be hearing more from me, my band, STORACE, within the next years, as well as the reunited KROKUS, obviously."

Speaking in more detail about the recording process for his upcoming second solo album, Marc said: "This is the most differently done album — it will be — that I've ever done. Because I started off recording lead vocals in [Tommy's] little studio at home. Then I continued recording lead vocals at our drummer's place outside Lausanne, in the French part of Switzerland. And then recently I started recording lead vocals down at this guy — his name's V.O. And he's got this studio where he records a lot of heavy metal. And it's got a great sound and I love recording with him 'cause he understands what I'm going for. So, so far I've recorded in three different places. But you know how it is nowadays — nowadays you can record the drums in the end. You have a demo, click track or whatever, and record to that — as long as you can feel good doing it and put your heart and soul into it like it's a finished thing. But I'm a hardened singer, and my fantasy is always vivid and alive. And so I enjoyed recording every track. And in the end, when Tommy comes back from the tour of his own with Alice Cooper, he's gonna dive into this and put all the bits and pieces together and check out what needs to be done, what needs to be re-recorded. And obviously there's gonna be some stuff which I did, which even I would like to re-record. But we have time. We're not planning to release until next — I don't know, it's gonna be May, June, I guess. And then then do festivals and tour and go whichever way the wind blows."

Regarding the musical direction of his new solo material, Storace said: "'Live And Let Live' was more experimental. I was spreading my wings and I had a lot of elbow room. And now we decided to go more in a hard rock direction — not trying to be like KROKUS or anyone else, but with the sound that I have and even new sounds coming into it and ideas coming from Tommy and the bandmembers. It's gonna be more of a party atmosphere in there as well, as well as a couple of more serious songs. At the same time, there's variety in the album. But we're still far from the release date and things can develop and happen and go different ways and new songs can be written in the meantime. But the main thing I'd like to say is it's gonna rock — it's gonna rock more than the first one."

KROKUS has been playing sporadic shows in recent years, including the Riverside Aarburg festival in late August.

In September 2022, KROKUS played a special concert on the steps of the St. Ursus Cathedral in Solothurn, Switzerland. In addition, Solothurn honored the band with a "Stone Of Honor" on its 2000th anniversary. KROKUS also returned to the "holy ground of rock" in Switzerland, the Hallenstadion in Zürich, on May 6, 2023.

Three years ago, KROKUS postponed what was supposed to be the band's last-ever concerts in USA and Canada due to the coronavirus pandemic that was sweeping the globe.

When KROKUS first announced its decision to embark on a farewell tour in September 2018, the band explained in a statement: "KROKUS shows have always been special and should stay that way. That's why we decided to stop when it's still really good. That's how the fans should remember us."

Formed in 1975, KROKUS has sold over 15 million records, toured the world, and received gold and platinum discs in the USA and Canada. KROKUS was also the first Swiss band to sell out Hallenstadion and has received a diamond disc for selling one million albums in Switzerland alone.

In the course of its career, KROKUS has rocked over 2,000 shows on five continents, countless cities, unique locations, crazy gigs, and loyal fans.

English rock journalist Malcolm Dome quite rightly said: "If you look at the long-term output of this band, KROKUS is clearly one of the best hard rock bands of the last 40 years."

Former DOKKEN guitarist George Lynch, who became a grandfather for the fifth time when his daughter, Mariah Lynch, and her boyfriend, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner, welcomed their first child, a baby girl, in July 2020, spoke to Let's Rock about Richie's skills as a guitar player. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "He's a natural. It's not fabricated. That guy is just good beyond his — he's not even aware how good he is; he's just so good. [Laughs] He reminds me of my guitar teacher when I was a kid coming up. I had this guy. And he was so mature in his playing. And this was — whenever it was — late '60s, early '70s, I guess. And his hands were just so mature. His vibrato, his phrasing — everything; he had it all. And I's just feel, like, 'Oh.' I wanted to be like [him]. I'd look forward to my lessons every week and I always wanted to impress him, and I could never get there. And he just had it in his hands. But Richie reminds me so much of [him]. Even the way he looks and then just his demeanor and then his phrasing — everything about him is just so… He's just got this mature style that's just so deep, where I'm just wrestling around trying to come up with something, and he's just, like, 'It's all right there.' It's just, 'Goddamn it.'"

George also praised Richie on a personal level, saying: They just made the most beautiful, cutest, lovable, funnest little baby on the planet. What a gift to the world. He's a very sweet, bright, talented man and I feel very fortunate that he is taking care of my daughter the way he has. And I really appreciate him so much."

Nearly four years ago, Lynch jokingly expressed his desire to play in PRIEST alongside Faulkner. Speaking at a Pitbull Audio guitar clinic in San Diego in January 2020, Lynch said: "I still to this day love PRIEST. I wish they would call me up and hire me. Glenn Tipton, hello?"

Faulkner joined PRIEST in 2011 as the replacement for original guitarist K.K. Downing.

Richie was once the guitarist in the backing group for Lauren Harris, daughter of IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris.

In September 2020, Richie spoke to SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about what it's like having George as a member of his family.

"The first time George and his wife came over, the night they got here, me and George just played guitar all night," Richie said. "So the women chatted and me and George just played guitar.

"George is a lovely guy; he's like a quiet, humble guy. He's a killer guitar player, as we all know. And he texts Mariah every day: "When can I see my granddaughter?'

"But, yeah, we sat there [and] we played guitar. We talked about guitars. And he's a big PRIEST fan as well; he loves PRIEST. So, yeah, we were talking all night until I put on some Eric Johnson, and then that kind of shut us both up — we didn't wanna play guitar anymore. But he's a lovely guy, man."

Richie also jokingly suggested that his daughter will take after him and her grandfather and start shredding the axe.

"It's the next in line of that heritage — George Lynch, LYNCH MOB, DOKKEN, there's JUDAS PRIEST in there, and now we've got a little princess," he said. "So she's the next in line in the gunslingers. EMG pickups, they sent me this beautiful pink flying V for her first guitar. It's absolutely beautiful — bright pink with a little pickup in it. And it actually plays well. So that's her first guitar. So she's well on her way now."

METAL ALLEGIANCE began as a celebration of heavy metal, powered by the almost tribal bond shared between the extreme music community's most revered trailblazers, armed with a list of contributors onstage (and off) that read like a Wikipedia entry on the genre itself.

On January 25, 2024, METAL ALLEGIANCE will reassemble at the House Of Blues Anaheim for the bands 10th-anniversary celebration (which will also coincide with the return of the winter NAMM show). The night will be sponsored by Dean Guitars, ddrum and Heavys Headphones, with opening acts being DIETH, HELD HOSTAGE and QUOR.

Since METAL ALLEGIANCE's inception in 2014, the band is comprised of the core four members of: Mark Menghi on bass, Alex Skolnick (TESTAMENT) on guitar, David Ellefson (MEGADETH) on bass, and Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER) on drums.

METAL ALLEGIANCE has issued two full-length albums so far, 2015's self-titled debut and 2018's "Volume II: Power Drunk Majesty", as well as an EP, 2016's "Fallen Heroes".

In addition to Menghi, Portnoy, Skolnick and Ellefson, the show will feature John Bush (ARMORED SAINT),Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT),Troy Sanders (MASTODON),Brann Dailor (MASTODON),Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA),Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth (OVERKILL),Gary Holt (EXODUS, SLAYER),Doc Coyle (BAD WOLVES, GOD FORBID),Hel Pyre (NERVOSA) and Chris Poland (ex-MEGADETH),among others, in addition to their usual unannounced surprise guests.

The last time METAL ALLEGIANCE played at the House of Blues Anaheim was in 2020, right before the world shut down; the show garnered rave reviews, such as North East Rock Review saying "I have attended a couple METAL ALLEGIANCE shows over the years and they seem to get better every year. When attending the NAMM show, this is one of the shows not to miss." Additionally, LA Metal Media added, "METAL ALLEGIANCE is an incredible coalition of the metal community's most incredible and notable musicians today; a coalition that pays tribute to some of the best metal music ever written. Be sure to check out this amazing assembly of metal greats if you can whenever they play live."

Metal Hammer raved about one of their past Anaheim shows, "Tonight the mayhem rises exponentially as a platoon of legends descends on the House Of Blues — tucked deep in the heart of downtown Disney — even the besieged bar staff pause to witness the carnage." while Cryptic Rock suggested, "Anyone who has the chance to see this should run, not walk, and join the ALLEGIANCE."

Tickets can be purchased starting October 13 via Ticketmaster.

Also available will be a VIP upgrade package, which will include:

* Early access into the venue
* Exclusive pre-show meet-and-greet with members of METAL ALLEGIANCE
* Personal photograph & autograph signing with members of METAL ALLEGIANCE
* Collectible show poster (which they'll happily sign for you)
* Official meet-and-greet VIP laminate
* Crowd-fee access to the merch booth

Please keep in mind that this is a VIP upgrade only. A ticket to the concert is required to attend pre-show meet-and-greet.

Says Menghi: "I never in my life imagined a band like MA would exist, let alone write and record one record… here we are a few records, an EP and many shows/tours later celebrating our 10th year of existence. Pretty surreal. It's been a minute since the 'Core 4' have been in the same room. Excited to see my brothers, jam and laugh with them again. Only one place to kick off the festivities and that's our home away from home at the House of Blues in Anaheim Cal-i-forn-i-A."

Portnoy adds: "METAL ALLEGIANCE's annual Anaheim shows are always one of the metal events of the year! This will be our return to Anaheim for the first time since our last show there weeks before the world shut down at the beginning of 2020, so I can't wait to get back and throw down with my metal brothers and sisters once again! \m/ "

States Ellefson: "It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since we started METAL ALLEGIANCE out on the MOTÖRHEAD Motörboat cruise, but here we are, a couple of albums and a whole bunch of shows later, celebrating the strength and resilience of heavy metal together. Looking forward to the show as everything is back in the swing during NAMM 2024!"

Skolnick says: "When METAL ALLEGIANCE first came together in 2014, no one could have guessed that ten years later, we'd be planning this anniversary show. The world feels different now than it did then, but we're still here, music still unites and that is cause to celebrate. Among the many MA highlights over the past decade have been our shows in Anaheim, which always create a lot of great memories. This time will be no exception and no better way to mark our ten-year milestone. See you there!"

Says Blitz: "Great to be part of this killer 10-year event with MA. The head-banging doesn't get any better than this!"

Comments Sanders: "I am thrilled to get the band back together for a 10th-anniversary METAL ALLEGIANCE throwdown! We look forward to another memorable show with all our friends!"

Adds Holt: "So stoked to be able to return once again to METAL ALLEGIANCE for the 10-year anniversary of the world's foremost collection of metal maniacs, all sharing a stage together! It's been way too long, I am fired up for this! Bring it on!"