In a new interview with the I-Rock 93.5 radio station, PAPA ROACH frontman Jacoby Shaddix spoke about the lyrical inspiration for the band's latest single, "Even If It Kills Me", which was released in late January via the group's own label New Noize Records/ADA. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "This one was started about two years ago, the music part of it, and I heard it first from the first musical just vibe with the strings. I was, like, 'It sounds cinematic. This sounds like it's about to be a journey we're taking the fans on.' So I hit the boys up instantly. I'm, like, 'Dude, I can't wait to get in the studio on this one.' Then life happens, and some stuff goes down. My older son went through this really traumatic heartbreak breakup. Just his whole world was leveled, and I watched my son just crumble. And that was a tough one. But to also have to go, 'Hey, man, there's some hard truths about life, and sometimes people aren't what they show themselves as, and there's two sides to people sometimes. And you got one, and then eventually discovered that other dark side of them and you were hurt.' And that was really hard for me to watch my son just fall to pieces. And that song was born from that moment of going, 'I wanna be able to help you, but I also know that you kind of gotta walk through the fire.' And knowing that, 'I'm not gonna leave you. I'm here for you, but I'm also gonna stand in that fire with you.' And I wanted to shoulder the pain. I wish I could, but sometimes we have to go through those moments in life that build character. Who are you? Can you get back up? Well, my son got back up."

PAPA ROACH recently completed the European leg of the "Rise Of The Roach" tour. The trek saw PAPA ROACH bring its biggest-ever production and journey deep through their vast music catalogue, including a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the band's iconic breakthrough album "Infest". Special guests for the global tour were WAGE WAR in Europe and will include RISE AGAINST and UNDEROATH in the U.S.

In a recent interview with Germany's Rock Antenne, Shaddix was asked if fans can expect to see a new studio album from him and his PAPA ROACH bandmates in 2025. He responded: "Definitely. At some point [in 2025], there will be a new record. Probably not — it won't be till the end of the year at the soonest. But we're really proud of the stuff that we've done. And I think the fans will be surprised. The fans that are coming to the shows are gonna be surprised at what we're doing too. And so it's gonna be a good time.

"As we evolve the music and push things forward, you never know what's gonna happen in the studio," he added. "And I've gotta tell you, what happened in the studio this time around has been just exciting.

"We've had a really good run with our [last] album, [2022's] 'Ego Trip', and a lot of successes, especially here in America as well, as well as Germany, we've had some great successes on that record, and it's just been one of those records that our fanbase has been really excited about. And so we're taking that momentum and going back into the studio and creating again, it's been a really good feeling."

PAPA ROACH are two-time Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling leaders in alternative hard rock music. PAPA ROACH are not unfamiliar with calling attention to mental health and have been doing so since the seminal release of their first hit single "Last Resort". Since then, the band has gone on to create 10 studio albums, their most recent, "Ego Trip", on their own label New Noize Records.

Photo credit: Bryson Roatch

In a cover story for the March 2025 issue of Sound On Sound magazine, Jon Bon Jovi confirmed that BON JOVI will release a new version of its 2024 album "Forever" as a collaboration with other artists. He told writer Joe Matera: "This is an album that we're very proud of, and I think it's the best BON JOVI record since 'Lost Highway' or at least 'Have A Nice Day'. We love every song on it and it was a joy to make this album, but I just wasn't ready to go and book shows post-surgery recovery. So, I reached out to a number of friends and I said, 'If you guys would sing a verse here and there, it'll give this great album another life.'"

He added: "My focus moving forward is on the re-release of 'Forever', and God willing, getting back out on the road and running that project through its life."

Produced by Jon with John Shanks, "Forever" featured Jon Bon Jovi once again alongside fellow founding BON JOVI members, keyboardist David Bryan and drummer Tico Torres. They were joined by bassist Hugh McDonald and guitarist Phil X.

"Forever" contained 12 new songs, including the hit lead single "Legendary".

Last August, a duet version of the "Forever" song "The People's House" featuring THE WAR AND TREATY was released, accompanied by a lyric video. In October, the official music video for "The People's House" featuring THE WAR AND TREATY was released, accompanied by a statement from Jon Bon Jovi endorsing Kamala Harris in the 2024 United States presidential election.

"Forever" marked Jon Bon Jovi's return to the recording studio after surgery to repair his damaged vocal cords.

Last June, Jon told The Guardian that his damaged vocal cord is still not healed enough for him to resume touring.

"It's a work in progress," he said. "There's no miracle. I just wish there was a fucking light switch. I'm more than capable of singing again. The bar is now: can I do two and a half hours a night, four nights a week? The answer is no."

Bon Jovi went on to say that making music will always be part of his life, regardless of whether he is able to return to full-scale touring.

"It lights you up when you're out there. As long as I have the ability, I will write songs and make records."

Photo credit: Mark Seliger

The new March 2025 issue of UK’s Sound On Sound magazine (which is available on newsstand around the world) features my...

Posted by Joe Matera on Sunday, February 23, 2025

As excitement builds for the March 7 theatrical release of "Queen Of The Ring" — the highly anticipated biopic chronicling the trailblazing journey of wrestling icon Mildred Burke, written and directed by Ash Avildsen and starring Emily Bett Rickards — Sumerian Records are thrilled to release a very special collaboration between SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor and BAD OMENS. The track, produced, mixed and mastered by Aaron Gilhuis, is haunting cover of the KANSAS classic "Dust In The Wind" and is featured on the official motion picture soundtrack of "Queen Of The Ring" (due via Sumerian Records on March 7).

Fans can listen to "Dust In The Wind" below.

"Queen Of The Ring", written and directed by Ash Avildsen, brings to life the untold story of wrestling legend Mildred Burke, who shattered barriers in the 1930s-1950s to become the first million-dollar female athlete and headline arenas over male competitors in a time when women’s wrestling was outright banned across much of the U.S.

The film stars Emily Bett Rickards ("Arrow") in a career-defining role as Burke, alongside a stellar cast featuring Josh Lucas, Walton Goggins, Gavin Casalegno, Tyler Posey and Deborah Ann Woll, with pro wrestling stars Kamille, Toni Storm, Trinity Fatu and Jim Cornette making appearances.

With its March 7 release strategically set during for the weekend of International Women's Day, the film is an ode to inspirational, trailblazing women who defied the odds and forever changed their industries.

Ash Avildsen grew up in a single-parent household, never having met his father but knowing who he was and having his last name. He chose to pursue music first as an artist, touring in a band and teaching himself the business through a DIY lifestyle. Using all the knowledge he learned from the road, he started his own record label. Sumerian Records has now become one of the top independents in the world for rock and alternative music, with several Grammy nominations and record-setting Billboard chart metrics for the hard-rock genre. Sumerian Records recently celebrated a historic achievement with the first Grammy nomination in the history of the Recording Academy for a solo female artist in the "Best Metal Performance" category, featuring avant-garde singer Poppy.

Avildsen's first feature film, "American Satan", won several awards on the festival circuit before being distributed by Miramax. The film had a theatrical release and was subsequently picked up by Showtime, where it developed a growing cult following. Avildsen expanded on this success by writing and directing the limited series spin-off "Paradise City".

Founding HATEBREED bassist Chris Beattie has confirmed his departure from the band.

The 49-year-old musician, who has been pursuing a career in real estate, addressed his status with HATEBREED just days after the group announced SHADOWS FALL guitarist Matt Bachand would play bass for the Connecticut-based hardcore/metal act "for the foreseeable future."

Earlier today, Beattie shared the following statement on his Instagram: "I just want to take the time to let everyone know that I am doing just fine and I sincerely appreciate everyone who has reached out.

"I was under the impression a joint announcement would be agreed upon in advance, but since that was not the case I wanted to address your concerns in my own post.

"At this time I am unable to discuss the specifics surrounding my departure from HATEBREED on November 13, 2024. However, I want to clarify that the decision to leave the band was not mine and that my departure was uncalled for and based on misleading and wrongful statements that will be subject to future actions."

HATEBREED celebrated its 30th anniversary with a North American tour last fall. The trek kicked off on September 26, 2024 in Portland, Maine and concluded on October 27, 2024 in Norfolk, Virginia. Support on the tour came from CARCASS, HARMS WAY and CRYPTA.

With dozens of pit-stirring anthems across their eight catalog albums, HATEBREED celebrated three decades of ruthless breakdowns and consistently sold-out shows the world over. Over the course of their career, the band has gone from playing basements and backyards to being a featured, must-see attraction on countless festivals like Graspop Metal Meeting, Ozzfest, Warped and Download alongside massive high-profile tours.

Recently described by Forbes as "more relevant than ever in the metal and hardcore community," HATEBREED remains one of the most definitive live acts in music today and recently celebrated a milestone with their track "Looking Down The Barrel Of Today", which surpassed 75 million global streams on Spotify alone while generating over 600,000 global equivalents across all digital service providers, making it their single biggest career streaming track of the modern era. To date, HATEBREED has sold over 1.5 million albums in North America alone.

Photo credit: Jeremy Saffer

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In a new interview with James Wilson-Taylor of Rock Sound, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE frontman Chris "Motionless" Cerulli spoke about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the follow-up to the band's 2022 album "Scoring The End Of The World". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "To me, it's so wild because that timeframe that you and I talked [last year] and then shortly after 'Apocalypse Fest' [in October 2024], I kind of just had this moment where I was, like, 'I just need to be honest with everybody and kind of just see what the temperature of the room is within the band, within our team,' and really just have somebody say, like, 'Hey, it's okay, man. You can you can chill for a moment.' And it was cool to see that everybody was supportive of just, like, 'Hey, don't worry about dumb shit that really doesn't matter in the end. Worry about you and the record and the things that are important.' And that was awesome to have that support system. I obviously think the fans saw that and they were supportive as well of the situation."

He continued: "Since then, I would say things have gotten a lot better. It's still a slow process. I don't have any expected release date. It's truly just we're going to work on it until we feel like we're happy with it. And it's that simple and that plain and black and white. And you'll get it when you get it. That's the narrative I'm sticking to, and that's what's best for everybody."

Chris went on to say that it takes time for him and his bandmates to create something that they can fully stand behind.

"I do feel like I'm seeing an interesting shift now where it felt like back then bands were putting out records every four years," he said. "It's just dependent. I feel like some albums were just back to back to back, and the bands were just on fire. And I think I loved that — not so much because I was impatient and couldn't wait for new music from these bands I love, but simply just because when this band is awesome and then they give you immediately more amazing material, you're just so energized by that. And I liked that, but I also never minded — it never bothered me that I waited three years for another album from a band, as long as it was cool. And now I feel like because of the attention span, because of the oversaturation of content and music, there's so many bands now that fans can migrate to and sort of move on from you if you're not satisfying the need for new stuff, bands are kind of forced to put stuff out in a hurry. But I have noticed that a lot of the bands that have kind of achieved a status that I feel like, I guess, grants them the ability to wait longer and fans aren't gonna go anywhere, they're taking it. And then, as a result, the albums are better because they spent the time on it. It's, like, what do you want? Do you want something that's half of what it could have been quicker or do you want the full realization of what the band wanted for the record in three years or four years? And then you get that. And I think every single fan is gonna have a different answer, and there's no right or wrong. You just can't answer it. And, again, you have to default back to what is best for the band itself and your mental state while making it."

Chris added: "There's no other way to say that other than there's so much more to have to consider and craft and build in addition to the music. And those are types of things that I feel like are expectations of the fans of bands like that. And that's a personal expectation. So all that lines up and you wanna make sure that you're putting out this complete package that is just bulletproof on the look, the sound, the imagery — every component of what makes that album cycle what it is. So, yeah, we're still in the process of that, and it will get done. [We're] just gonna figure it out."

With over one billion cumulative streams and views to date, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE has notched four consecutive Top 5 debuts on the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums chart and Top Rock Albums chart with "Reincarnate" (2014),"Graveyard Shift" (2017),"Disguise" (2019) and their latest effort, "Scoring The End Of The World" (2022),the latter debuting at No. 12 on the Billboard 200, marking the band's second biggest sales week ever. "Scoring The End Of The World" is highlighted by the singles "Masterpiece" which reached No. 1 at Active Rock radio, becoming the band's first chart-topper at the format, and "Werewolf", which reached Top 10 at Active Rock radio and an impressive one million music video views in just four days after its debut.

In September 2023, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE released "Scoring The End Of The World (Deluxe Edition)", a special deluxe reissue of "Scoring The End Of The World", which saw the Cerulli-fronted outfit expanding on its acclaimed 2022 album with new four new bonus tracks, including "Hollow Points", "Fool's Gold", "Timebomb" (STEOTW Mix)" and "Porcelain: Ricky Motion Picture Collection".

"Scoring The End Of The World (Deluxe Edition)" is available in multiple formats and on vinyl for the first time ever in several different color variants, including black, orange, hellfire, scorched earth, and electric purple, the latter of which comes with exclusive alternate cover artwork.

MOTIONLESS IN WHITE is Chris Motionless (vocals),Ricky Olson (guitar),Ryan Sitkowski (guitar),Vinny Mauro (drums) and Justin Morrow (bass).

SYSTEM OF A DOWN bassist Shavo Odadjian has explained his surprising decision to shelve a collaboration with KORN's Jonathan Davis.

As recently as April 2023, Odadjian reported that his song with Davis was getting ready for release as part of the self-titled debut from his new band SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET, but when the LP came out last fall, the tune was nowhere to be found.

During a conversation with SNSMix.com, Odadjian revealed that SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET was originally conceptualized "like a DJ Khaled of rock" in which he'd "get a bunch of features" from various famous vocalists. One such collaborator was Davis.

"What happened was the [SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET] music became really interesting and I started wanting to play this live," he said. "I was, like, 'We should play this live,' and at that point having just features on the record wouldn't work out because then how do you play live?"

When Odadjian decided SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET would be a full-fledged band, he realized that it would be impossible to take Davis out on tour. Shavo and his team tried to change the unnamed song so that the KORN frontman was only featured on the chorus. Ultimately, it just didn’t sound right.

"[The changed version] wasn't as good as it should be, because I think Jonathan is amazing," Odadjian said. "I even spoke to him [and] we decided if we ever do [another collaboration], we'll write together, not use something that he already had [recorded] under another rhythm."

Other guest vocalists who were reportedly going to be on the SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET album included Odadjian's SYSTEM OF A DOWN bandmate Serj Tankian and former KILLSWITCH ENGAGE frontman Howard Jones. Shavo suggested that the latter collaboration may still appear on SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET's second record.

SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET's self-titled debut album was released on October 11, 2024 via Sumerian Records and 1336 Records.

Shavo is joined in the group by vocalist Taylor Barber (LEFT TO SUFFER),WINDS OF PLAGUE guitarist Michael Montoya (a.k.a. Morgoth Beatz, a producer and songwriter who has previously collaborated with Travis Barker, JuiceWrld, Lil Xan, Jonathan Davis, ISSUES and many more),guitarist/backing vocalist Alejandro Aranda (a.k.a. Scarypoolparty, "American Idol") and drummer Josh Johnson (WINDS OF PLAGUE).

SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET made its festival debut at last year's Mayhem festival at the Glen Helen Amphitheatre in San Bernardino, California.

Shavo told RIFF Magazine about how SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET came about: "It was funny. My number's 22, so that's why I have the [cannabis] brand 22Red. So on February 22nd, 2022, we threw a party and the day of the party, I did a live radio show on KROQ here in Los Angeles. And that evening, we were throwing the party for 22Red, but I did that show before and I invited the host to the party. He asked me if he could bring a friend. I said, 'Sure.' He brought his friend. It was Morgoth Beatz who ended up being the producer and now my rhythm guitar player in the band and co-songwriter in some of them songs and stuff. So he and I decided we can write music that day together. So we exchanged numbers and we got together like a month later, wrote a song, and then we did another one a week later. And then it just became this thing where it was gonna be like one song we were going to sell to another artist, 'cause that's what he does; he writes a lot of music and he passes it on. But it became this thing. And he mentioned, he's, like, 'Man, why don't you do a Shavo record? Like something with all of the songs that you wrote instead of just one or two songs. These are coming out great.' And at that point, I wasn't really thinking about doing my own record like that, 'cause I've done so many other projects. And another thing is I've never done heavy music outside of SYSTEM. It's been heavy, but never the same genre. I've always tried to stay against the grain, and I've done EDM, I've done hip-hop, I've done rock-metal shit, but I haven't really just focused on that, which actually is my forte. I close my eyes and it just happens, which is how we did this."

Shavo continued: "So I was at his studio. I have my own studio. I gave him the key. I said, 'Come through. We're gonna start working on this record.' And a year and a half later, we have a full record, plus another half a record for album two. We have a full band. I started my own label and I signed it to Sumerian, who has worldwide distribution to Virgin, which is amazing for me. That's what I kind of wanted with the control. I've been doing this for 30 years, so I kind of knew how I wanted it, and I'm building it. And that's how it started. And that's where we're at right now. It started off as a passion project [and it] became my thing."

Regarding how the songwriting process for SYSTEM OF A DOWN was different from how he approached his previously projects, Shavo said: "Yeah, usually I'll write at home and then I'll bring it to the band. Or my other projects, I've just written at home and then brought it to the rest of the guys. This one, I would just have him play a beat that he made, or even just a 4/4, or even a loop or something, and then I just kind of… I mean, I just started strumming and the music just came out of me. So we just recorded everything I did. And whenever something was amazing, we knew it. I was, like, 'Okay, make that a thing.' So we highlighted that moment. And then afterwards I wrote a part that goes with that, and then kind of arranged it, wrote it all in the studio. So artistically it was really refreshing. There was no boundaries, no law, no rules. I just did it. It just came out so organically. Everything about it has been organic and not planned. And that's what the beauty of SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET."

On the topic of how he came up with the name of the SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET, Shavo said: "He [Morgoth Beatz] wanted to call it SHAV or SHAVO, so people know it's me, and I wrote 95 percent of it. But still, I always like a unit, I like a band. I think it's cooler. And plus he helped me a lot. These guys, they came in and did their part, and it just works perfectly. So I like the collaboration. I've never had the ego, where it's, like, 'me, me, me.' I've never done that. I've never said that. So I like it. It's us. And it became a band. And SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET, the acronym, is S.H.A.V. So that's cool. So they got what they wanted and I got what I wanted. I got a band, the cool name mysterious, but it also has a meaning, but I'm never gonna explain the meaning. It's kind of one of those things. There's many meanings you can think of what 'Violet' is — it could be a female, it could be a thing, the color, an event, it could be anything, and it's kind of cool. So there is some deep meaning to it and maybe one day we'll explain it, but at the moment, I like it where we are."

Regarding the other members of SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET, Shavo said: "My singer, Taylor Barber, he comes from the world of deathcore and the growling. His voice is an instrument, and he's a wonder. He's like the new wonder of the world that no one knows yet that's there. He does have a following and he comes from another band called LEFT TO SUFFER, which is a grindcore band. But he sings like a canary as well. His range is so huge. He's the perfect member. He's the perfect singer that came in and can do all the parts. And then also we got Alejandro Aranda, who, he is just this musical genius who came in. He was the last member, and I didn't even know I needed that member, but, now it's, like, of course I needed him. Of course he fit perfectly. He does side vocals. He sings along with Taylor perfectly. So it's like a two-vocal band now, two-vocalist band. And we got Josh Johnson on the drums, and he's amazing. He hails from a band called WINDS OF PLAGUE; he used to play with them. So he's talented as hell. So, yeah, I'm honored and lucky to have these guys around me and for us to be able to do this music together."

Thrash metal legends SLAYER will play their first Canadian concert in six years at the 2025 edition of the Festival D'été De Québec on July 11 at the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City.

"FEQ is more than just a festival; it's a shared treasure that we have been building for 57 years and will continue to grow," Nicolas Racine, president and CEO of festival producers BLEUFEU, shared in a release. "This cultural gem, shaped by generations of passionate people, should never be taken for granted. It embodies boldness and creativity. As a true Québécois flagship event, it is our collective responsibility to preserve and elevate it."

Passes are on sale now for $165 (taxes included, delivery fees extra) via FEQ's web site. There, you can also find information on VIP "Bleufeu" passes and individual stage passes.

One of Canada's biggest and longest-running music events, FEQ 2025 runs July 3-13.

In a recent interview with Australia's Metal Roos, Kerry King spoke about SLAYER's future plans, following the band's two festival appearances in September and October after a five-year hiatus. He said: "We're never gonna tour again. We're never gonna make a record again. Mark my word: we're never gonna make a record again, we're never gonna tour again. Because that was the last thing. We said [back in 2018], 'This is our final tour.' It took five years for us to come and say, 'Hey, here's a couple of shows, five-year anniversary.'"

Elaborating on the significance of SLAYER's comeback live performances more than four decades after the band's formation, Kerry said: "I think it's really cool. A lot of fans are into it. There's gonna be haters who say, 'Oh, they retired.' Yeah. Whatever. This is all about celebration. Say a kid was 10 years old when we retired. Now he's 15, 16. [It's his] first opportunity to see us. I think that's important."

King also touched upon the fact that SLAYER's reunion shows were announced just a couple of weeks after he went public with the details of his new solo band and debut solo album. He said: "The [SLAYER] announcement timing was not my favorite, but my band was doing its thing. The festivals SLAYER agreed to play, they wanted to release [the information about us playing there], they wanted to announce [it]. So, the timing wasn't in my favor, but everything went [as it did], and here we are in Australia [with my new band] kicking ass."

Kerry reflected on SLAYER's two reunion performances last fall — on September 22, 2024 at the Riot Fest in Chicago, Illinois and on October 10, 2024 at the Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California — during a recent interview with Brian Slagel, CEO of Metal Blade Records, for the recently launched "100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal" podcast. Regarding how he felt going into the Riot Fest gig, King said: "It's kind of like when we did the first 'Big Four' show, I said, 'This is gonna be really cool for the fans, and it'll be good to see the guys.' And that's about all I gave it. But then we actually played the show and a handful more shows, and I said, 'You know what? This is really cool for me.' And I didn't expect that. And I didn't expect that when we did the Chicago show [SLAYER at Riot Fest]. I went with the exact same idea. I'm, like, 'This is gonna be really cool for the fans, especially fans that were too young to see us.' And I hit the stage and I got goosebumps. I'm, like, 'This is way bigger than I ever gave it credit for.' … [And] we've got a lot of history in Chicago too, so for the reunion show to be there, it was pretty epic. And the response was over the top. It was way overwhelming."

At Riot Fest and Aftershock, SLAYER ran through a 20-song set that included opener "South Of Heaven", "Seasons In The Abyss", "Angel Of Death", "Hell Awaits", "Raining Blood" and the title track of SLAYER's final album, "Repentless".

SLAYER was also scheduled to play at the Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky on September 27, 2024, but that performance was canceled due to severe weather.

The lineup for SLAYER's comeback was the same as the one which last toured in 2019: King and drummer Paul Bostaph, along with bassist/vocalist Tom Araya and guitarist Gary Holt.

King's debut solo album, "From Hell I Rise", came out in May 2024 via Reigning Phoenix Music.

SLAYER returns to Canada for their first Canadian show since the final tour in 2019 with a performance at the @festivaleteqc on July 11, 2025 in Quebec City.

Passes on sale now at feq.ca
#feq

Posted by Slayer on Wednesday, February 26, 2025

In a new interview with Dawn Osborne of TotalRock, legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen was asked if he is working on material for the follow-up to his latest album, "Parabellum", which was released in July 2021 via Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I am. I'm in the studio now, and I've been writing a lot of stuff. But I'm doing so much traveling and there's so much things going on. So I'm not really a hundred percent in there, but, yeah, I've been starting somewhat. I've got maybe a hundred ideas."

Malmsteen also reflected on his fall 2024 U.S. tour which was billed as a celebration of his 40th anniversary as a solo artist. He said: "Well, it depends on how you count it, really. Last year was my 40th anniversary as a solo artist, but I was a solo artist before then, actually. So, depends on how you count these things.

"I came to America [in] 1982 — late '82 — and recorded with STEELER and ALCATRAZZ, and then was in Japan in January 1984 and I signed a solo deal," he explained. "And from the point of 1984 forward, I've been a solo artist. However, it seems that a lot of people that didn't really quite get that memo. I won't mention names, but that's irrelevant here. So, before I came to America, I was a solo artist too, but I couldn't call it Yngwie Malmsteen, because you'd go, 'Wait, why would you call it that?' So I called it RISING FORCE or POWERHOUSE and stuff like this. It was just me and a bass player and a drummer that would change every week. [Laughs] And I would write all the songs and sing. So I've always been that kind of person that tends to make everything from my mind, straight up."

Only four of the songs on "Parabellum" featured vocals. The album title is Latin, translating as "Prepare For War".

After working with some of the top hard singers of the past four decades, Yngwie now handles much of the lead vocals himself in his own band, backed by a lineup that includes keyboardist Nick Marino, bassist Emilio Martinez and drummer Kevin Klingenschmid.

As previously reported, Yngwie will release a new live album, "Tokyo Live", on April 25 via Music Theories Recordings. The concert was recorded at the Zepp DiverCity, Tokyo on May 11, 2024 as part of Yngwie's 40th-anniversary world tour.

You can check out the first taster of the LP in the video for "Top Down, Foot Down", available below.

"Top Down, Foot Down" is taken from Yngwie's 2016 album "World On Fire" and showcases the wide range and dynamic flavor which demonstrates Malmsteen's fury and elegance, all encapsulated in a just-under-two-minute version of the song.

Talking about the live experience, Malmsteen said: "Playing live in front of people is really what it's all about. It's exciting and dangerous because you have to take risks and there's no fixing afterwards."

Malmsteen's breathtaking technique takes center stage of the 100-minute concert while being cocooned by exquisite musicianship throughout. The setlist tracks Malmsteen's illustrious career, from "Hiroshima Mon Amour" and "Evil Eye" and through his remarkable solo career with "Rising Force", "Far Beyond The Sun", "Arpeggios From Hell" and "Seventh Sign" all the way up to his most recent material taken from 2021's "Parabellum", with "Wolves At The Door", "Relentless Fury", "(Si Vis Pacem) Parabellum", not to mention rousing renditions of "Paganini's 4th" and "Smoke On The Water".

The name of Yngwie Malmsteen has always stood for uncompromising excellence. In a career that now spans more than 40 years he has proven himself to be a unique artist. You can try to categorize him in any way you wish. But the manner in which this supreme Swedish craftsman has continually developed his music makes Malmsteen sublimely transcend any definition you attempt to impose.

He now has a catalogue of 22 solo studio albums, each of which has much to commend. Malmsteen's artistry has always clearly incorporated a healthy virtuosity, but his talent goes well beyond a comprehensive control of the guitar. The man is a fine composer and, on recent releases, has also showcased a strong vocal presence and now, with only this fifth live release, it captures four decades of relentless fury and blissful artistry of one of the true greats.

Blues-rock powerhouse Joe Bonamassa is back with a brand-new single, "Shake This Ground", out now via J&R Adventures. A bold, anthemic call to shake free from the past and present, the track pulses with raw intensity, pairing Bonamassa's masterful guitar work with gripping storytelling and an unrelenting rhythm.

Co-written by Bonamassa and James House, "Shake This Ground" is about hitting a rough patch in a relationship and finding a way to shake things up before it's too late. The song's steady rhythm and heartfelt lyrics capture the moment when two people recognise the need to break out of a rut and get back to what made them strong in the first place. Bonamassa's rich, expressive vocals bring both grit and warmth to the track, making every word feel real and lived in. Lines like "Ain't saying that I have all the answers, 'cause I got more questions than I need" speak to the uncertainty that can creep into any relationship, while the powerful chorus is all about moving forward — a hopeful and inspirational reminder that it's never too late to turn things around.

Produced by longtime collaborator Kevin Shirley (IRON MAIDEN, THE BLACK CROWES, JOURNEY),"Shake This Ground" expands Bonamassa's ever-evolving sound while staying rooted in his blues-rock foundation and is the first glimpse from his upcoming new studio album slated for later this year. The track arrives on the heels of his recent collaboration with Sammy Hagar on the searing single "Fortune Teller Blues", further cementing Bonamassa's place at the forefront of modern blues.

"This is a song that James House and I wrote randomly that did not seem to find a home until almost a year later," Bonamassa recalls. "I love the way James writes lyrics. The lines sing themselves and have a good amount of meaning now. All good songs find their time and place eventually."

The release of "Shake This Ground" comes amid a whirlwind year for Bonamassa, who is currently on the road for his 2025 U.S. tour, including a sold-out show at the Beacon Theatre in New York City this week. Following his U.S. dates, Bonamassa will set sail on the tenth-anniversary Keeping The Blues Alive At Sea X cruise (March 21-26),a premier floating blues festival featuring an all-star lineup, including BIG HEAD TODD AND THE MONSTERS, Larkin Poe, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Samantha Fish, Joanne Shaw Taylor and many more.

This summer, Bonamassa will also return to Europe for a headline tour, followed by a run of dates with BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, his hard-hitting supergroup with Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, TRAPEZE),Jason Bonham (SAMMY HAGAR, FOREIGNER, LED ZEPPELIN) and Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, SONS OF APOLLO).

Beyond the stage, Bonamassa continues his mission to support music education and emerging artists through the Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, providing scholarships, instruments, and funding for music programs. To date, the foundation has supported over 110,000 students in all 50 states, funded more than 700 music projects and raised over $2.8 million dollars.

Photo credit: Estelle Massry (courtesy of Noble PR)

After an extensive search to find a new drummer, PRIMUS is pulling back the curtain on their unique audition process with the launch of the "Primus Interstellar Drum Derby", a brand-new episodic YouTube series chronicling the entire journey. The second episode, released today, features drummer Thomas Pridgen jamming with Les Claypool and Larry LaLonde, providing an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the dynamic and demanding audition process.

The band put out a global open call for submissions, attracting some of the world's most talented drummers. "Taking submissions from all points in the universe for the position of PRIMUS drummer/percussionist," the band wrote, adding, "Flashy chops are wonderful, but groove, pocket, and the ability to listen, react, and contribute to the musical conversation is a must."

As the process unfolded, PRIMUS documented each audition, capturing the exciting and unexpected moments that unfolded in the studio. Other episodes feature performances from a stellar lineup of drummers, including Rory Dolan, Mike Stone, Stan Bicknell, Sam Groveman, Nikki Glaspie, John Hoffman, Gergo Borlai and Thomas Lang, as well as surprise cameos from special guests.

"The Primus Interstellar Drum Derby" gives fans an unprecedented look at the band's inner workings, their approach to chemistry and collaboration, and what it takes to step behind the kit for one of rock's most innovative trios. With each episode, the series will build anticipation and excitement as the band moves toward its next chapter.

"Luck is when preparation meets opportunity," said John Hoffman, who was ultimately selected as PRIMUS's new drummer. "I came and did my thing the way I do it. It went as well as I could have hoped."

PRIMUS will kick off its first live performance of 2025 at TOOL's "Live In The Sand" in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, where Danny Carey (/b>TOOL) will be sitting in on drums. The band will then hit the road for the second leg of the "Sessanta" tour, a highly anticipated run featuring PUSCIFER and A PERFECT CIRCLE in celebration of Maynard James Keenan's 60(ish) birthday.

Hoffman, who is based in Shreveport, Louisiana, had documented his process of preparing to audition on social media, and afterwards he wrote: "I came and did my thing the way I do it. It went as well as I could have hoped. Maynard James Keenan was sitting directly in front of me and watched my entire audition. He gave me this towel. It's been one of the most incredible days of my life. I love you all. We did this. #primusdrumaudition #primus".

On December 30, PRIMUS played the first concert since longtime drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander's departure at the Fox Theater in Oakland, California. Sitting behind the drums for the show was Bryan "Brain" Mantia, who previously played with PRIMUS when Alexander originally left the band in 1996.

In light of Alexander's latest departure, PRIMUS also enlisted musicians from frontman Les Claypool's side projects, THE HOLY MACKEREL and FROG BRIGADE, to perform during the December 30 performance.

With Mantia, PRIMUS recorded two studio albums — "Brown Album" (1997) and "Antipop" (1999) — as well as the covers EP "Rhinoplasty" (1998) and the original theme song for the TV show "South Park".

In November, Alexander shared a letter with Rolling Stone magazine explaining his decision to leave the band.

"A lot of times, you do something you love for a long time, and sometimes the passion turns into a job, and sometimes that job doesn't feel like it's your being anymore," he said.

He reflected on the impact his decision had on his physical, mental and family life.

"When I discovered that I'm struggling with all these things, I had to sit and think about exactly what am I doing," Alexander said. "I don't think I've ever chosen my path in life, I think I've just always thought 'I'm a drummer, I'm just gonna do music,' and things came to me, accepting whatever happens."

The news of his departure was initially shared on October 29 by his now-former bandmates, who claimed that they received an e-mail from him nearly two weeks earlier saying he had "lost his passion for playing."

Alexander joined PRIMUS in 1989 and left in 1996, then rejoined when they reformed in 2003. He exited the group again in 2010 but returned in 2013.

In July 2016, Alexander revealed that he suffered a second heart attack after he previously endured a similar health scare in 2014.

A decade ago, Les Claypool's plan to reform the "classic" PRIMUS lineup — with Alexander and guitarist Larry Lalonde — was put on hold when Alexander suffered his first heart attack, a "minor" attack that resulted in the drummer requiring triple bypass surgery. To fulfill its touring obligations, PRIMUS recruited Carey to fill in for a few dates. Three months after open-heart surgery, Alexander rejoined PRIMUS on the road.