OTEP, the band led by singer, poet, illustrator, author and activist Otep Shamaya, will release a new studio album, "The God Slayer", on September 15 via Cleopatra. The follow-up to 2018's "Kult 45" offers up a mix of inspired original tracks as well as transformative takes on chart-topping hits from a variety of influences, including pop, rap and grunge, by such artists as Eminem, Billie Eilish, SLIPKNOT, Lil Peep and Olivia Rodrigo.

The LP's latest single is OTEP's unapologetic, nu-metal reimagination of Eminem's "The Way I Am" amplifies the rap god's unadulterated anger with a new vitriol all her own. OTEP's wrath-filled rendition of this rap classic takes a sledgehammer to the Pollyanna image of the perfect celebrity, shattering the listener's rose-tinted glasses with a power-packed, bass-heavy beat, blistering bars, and driving rhythm, complete with high octane screams and a bludgeoning breakdown. Otep's silver tongue shines with her transformative take on this hip hop hit, as she spits rhymes, seamlessly keeping in time, all the while ripping the words from the page to rearrange into something truly one of a kind.

On October 3, 2000, "The Way I Am" was released by Eminem as the second single from "The Marshall Mathers" LP. "The Way I Am" has received double-platinum certification in the U.S. and critical acclaim worldwide, including platinum certification in the U.K. and gold in Sweden. While Eminem's undeniable talent thrust him into the spotlight, it also brought bitter criticism and controversy, as not everyone was ready to hear what he had to say. However, this condemnation only added to fuel to his creative fire, with which he has blazed the trail to the top as the highest-selling rap artist of all time.

Shamaya describes "The God Slayer" best herself, saying: "This offering to the gods of music, I performed many rituals, free-dives into the blackness of my soul, to retrieve the early spark that ignited my creative journey. With respect, love and gratitude, I now offer it to you."

"The God Slayer" track listing:

01. My Violent Appetites
02. Ostracized
03. Good 4 U
04. Exit Wounds
05. You Should See Me In A Crown
06. The Way I Am
07. California Girls
08. Pet
09. Territorial Pissings
10. Star Shopping
11. Purity
12. God Slayer

Not only is Shamaya a revered musical figure, known for her intrepid blending of metal genres and hip-hop, as exemplified on her notorious 2002 debut album "Sevas Tra", but she's also amassed an enormous following based on her fearless performances and confrontational, spiritually tinged lyrics. It's that combination of radical artistry and galvanizing message that the world desperately needs now more than ever, and OTEP is ready to answer the call.

In September 2022, Shamaya told the 96.7 KCAL-FM program "Wired In The Empire" about the songwriting process for OTEP's new album: "This record actually was written with a couple of different songwriters, which I was really excited to work with. 'Kult 45' was my last album, which is four years old now. It's insane to believe that it's been four years, but it has. When I went back in the studio, the band had sort of dispersed at that point — everybody was trying to make a living and trying to find other jobs — and so I just went to the producer and we sat down and we found some really, really talented, creative people. And even though I've been doing this for a long time and have accomplished a lot — at least I think I have — I really work best with mentors. I like people that are, I feel, creatively better than I am so that I can have this sort of spiritual intercourse between all of us where we're sort of sharing ideas and I'm inspiring them and they're inspiring me."

Throughout the span of her career, Shamaya has been an undeniable force in bringing awareness via various acclaimed mediums to social and political injustices felt by various communities and subcultures. For years, publications such as Revolver magazine have lauded Shamaya for "following in the footsteps of outspoken musicians from folk singer Woody Guthrie to RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Zach de la Rocha, dubbing her "one of music's catalysts for social change".

OTEP's latest album, the aforementioned "Kult 45", was recorded at The Lair in Los Angeles, completely utilizing the same equipment used for OTEP's first album, "Sevas Tra" (down to Shamaya's vocal microphone, a SHURE Beta 58),in order to create a sound reminiscent of their roots. "Kult 45" was produced by the band, with assistant engineering from Larry Goetz, Nicolas Schilke and Lizzy Ostro.

Prog legends Nektar will release a 50th anniversary edition of Remember The Future on November 24 as a 4CD / Blu-ray box set. The album is newly remastered from the original master tapes. 


This 50th Anniversary edition comprises 4 CDs and a multi-region Blu-ray disc and features a newly remastered original stereo mix of the album along with and additional two CDs featuring a previously unreleased concert recorded at the Stadthalle, Munster, Germany in January 1974 and stunning new 5.1 Surround Sound and Stereo mixes of the album from the original multi track tapes. 


Also included on the Blu-ray disc are the original 1973 Quad mix and additional video content comprising of the rare Remember The Future promotional film, the film of “Wings” shown on BBC TVs Old Grey Whistle Test and a live performance of “Desolation Valley / Waves” for the same TV show.




The set also comes with an illustrated booklet and new essay. 


First released in November 1973, the album was a conceptual piece comprising a musical cycle divided into two parts and was recorded at Chipping Norton Studios in England. Remember The Future became the band’s most successful album, being a chart hit in Germany, but also reaching number 13 on the US Billboard charts without the band having ever toured America. It was a pivotal album for the band and broke them to a wider audience and remains one of Nektar’s most well-known and highly regarded works.





Tracklisting:


CD1 (Remember The Future Remaster)
“Remember The Future Part One”
“Remember The Future Part Two”
“Let It Grow” (Live Erbach, Germany April 1973) (Bonus Track)


CD2 (Remember The Future Stereo Mix)
“Remember The Future Part One”
“Remember The Future Part Two”
“Lonely Roads” (German Promo Single Version) (Bonus Track)
“Let It Grow” (German Promo Single Version) (Bonus Track)


CD3 (Live At Stadhalle, Munster, Germany January 28, 1974 – Previously Unreleased)
“King Of Twilight”
“Desolation Valley”
“A Day In The Life Of A Preacher”
“Cast Your Fate”


CD4 (Live At Stadhalle, Munster, Germany January 28, 1974 – Previously Unreleased)
“Odyssee”
“That’s Life”
“Fidgety Queen”
“Ron’s On”
“Show Me The Way”
“Little Boy”
“Need Love”
“Smile / Lonely Roads”
“Let It Grow”


Blu-ray
Remember The Future
96 kHz / 24-bit 5.1 Surround Sound mix / stereo remix / original stereo mix / 1973 Quad mix
“Remember the Future – Part One”
“Remember the Future – Part Two”


Visual content
Remember The Future – (promotional film 1973)
“Wings” (BBC TV “Old Grey Whistle Test” – 10th July 1973)
“Desolation Valley” / “Waves” (BBC TV “Old Grey Whistle Test” – October 23, 1973)


Preorder at Cherry Red Records.

THE ROLLING STONES have confirmed the title of their new album, "Hackney Diamonds", their first since 2005.

The full details of the LP will be revealed this coming Wednesday, September 6 at a YouTube livestreamed event from the Hackney district of East London, where Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ron Wood will be interviewed by "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" host Jimmy Fallon.

"Hackney may be at the heart of Hackney Diamonds, but this is a truly global moment we want to share with fans around the world via YouTube," the group said in a statement.

THE ROLLING STONES' upcoming LP will be the first since their drummer, Charlie Watts, died in 2021. It will be the band's first collection of new material in nearly two decades, following 2005's "A Bigger Bang". In 2016, the band released "Blue & Lonesome", a covers collection paying tribute to old-school blues.

This past February, THE ROLLING STONES confirmed that Paul McCartney makes a guest appearance on the band's upcoming album on at least one track. The band reportedly recorded the effort in a Los Angeles studio with 2021 Grammy "Producer Of The Year" Andrew Watt.

THE ROLLING STONES' new LP will likely include several songs Watts recorded prior to his death.

"Let me put it this way," Richards told the Los Angeles Times in 2021. "You haven't heard the last of Charlie Watts."

THE ROLLING STONES released a new track, "Living In A Ghost Town", in 2020.

Two years ago, Richards told the Los Angeles Times the pandemic delayed work on the new album, while Jagger added, "We have a lot of tracks done, so when the tour's finished, we'll assess where we are with that and continue."

WINGER guitarist Reb Beach celebrated his 60th birthday onstage with his bandmates on August 31 at the Whisky A Go Go. Before launching into the song "Pull Me Under", Beach was presented with a birthday cake in the shape of an oversized can of Coors Light.

Fan-filmed video of the cake presentation can be seen below (courtesy of the alexvigil29 YouTube channel).

Beach is one of the indisputable guitar giants of the current hard rock scene. His resume with '80s/'90s mega-stars WINGER alone would earn him this distinction, but his legacy is cemented by his current membership and work with the legendary WHITESNAKE, his past efforts with DOKKEN, and his releases with supergroup BLACK SWAN, also featuring Jeff Pilson, Robin MacAuley and Matt Starr.

Influenced by the legendary hard rockers of the '70s, Reb spent his teen years jamming along with the greats of that era like AEROSMITH and MONTROSE, but it was when he discovered more progressive players like Steve Morse, Allan Holdsworth and Larry Carlton that his musical world really opened up. The complexity and the speed of the more prog style of playing was a unique challenge compared to the blues-based playing of most musicians of that era. The discovery of these players was ultimately the catalyst that drove his playing to the level he is now so well known to music fans the world over for. Beach eventually graduated from his home practice space to the Berklee College Of Music, but after a couple of semesters he moved on and soon became one of the most sought-after session players in the music industry, working with such all-time great talents as Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Roger Daltrey, Chaka Kahn, Howard Jones and TWISTED SISTER.

While living in New York City, Reb hooked up with his future bandmate, bassist and frontman Kip Winger. Reb and Kip formed the band WINGER and the rest is history. The two proved to be incredible writing partners, crafting multiple platinum records that featured no less than six Top 40 singles. with music that was commercial yet complex.

After WINGER went on a hiatus in the '90s, Beach's career continued thanks to collaborations with Alice Cooper, DOKKEN and NIGHT RANGER, and he debuted as a solo artist in 2002 with the album "Masquerade".

Following the WINGER reunion in the '00s, Reb heard that David Coverdale was looking for a new guitarist for WHITESNAKE. He reached out to him and since 2003, Reb has toured the world with the band as well as released multiple albums with them, including "Good To Be Bad", "Forevermore", "The Purple Album" and the recent "Flesh & Blood", plus a number of live albums.

Beach released his first instrumental album, "A View From The Inside", in November 2020 via Frontiers Music Srl.

THE OBSESSED frontman Scott "Wino" Weinrich spoke to TotalRock's "Hobo On The Radio" show about his band's recently completed fifth studio album, "Gilded Sorrow", to be released early next year on Ripple Music. He said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The new record is gonna be out on Ripple in February 2024. I think that's a smart move to not release it around Christmas time when everything else is coming out.

"I think it's the heaviest thing I've ever done," he continued. "I mean, heavy in a sense as not just sludge heavy, but I think it's well-rounded. I would say I think it's the best thing I've done. I like to be able to say that it's the best thing I've ever done because I want everything that I do to be as good or better. Every time I do a record, I set the bar. 'The Church Within' set the bar for 'Sacred'. 'Sacred' set the bar for 'Gilded Sorrow'. We did it with Frank Marchand [at Waterford Digital] in Maryland.

"We added two members. We added Chris Angleberger on bass. He started out in Maryland in a band called TRANQUILIZER, eventually ended up in Florida, and he plays in some tribute bands and stuff like that; he did some original stuff along the way. And then Jason Taylor on second guitar. I think the adding the second guitar to THE OBSESSED was one of the best decisions I've made, because he's a virtuoso guitar player, first of all. Second of all, he really understands my music and me. He came to the table pretty much knowing all my songs. He sent me a really nice letter. We did some touring with SIERRA when we first met — his band SIERRA; he's Canadian. And he sent me a really nice letter saying, 'I see my future playing original music with you. Your music would be the vehicle.' And I must say he contributed quite a bit of good stuff to this record 'Gilded Sorrow'. He co-wrote some stuff with me [and] he made a bunch of great suggestions. The record runs together sort of as one piece. There are a few stops here and there where it needs to stop, but as a rule, it runs together as one piece. And that was Frank Marchand's idea. He wanted to do something a little bit different with the production, but it really works. But Jason did all the segue stuff with his guitar, with some equipment that he has. So no synthesizers were used on this record. It doesn't sound all keyboarded out — don't get me wrong. But for lack of a better word, if people were wondering, this is all guitar stuff. I think he rounded it out really, really well."

Asked if "Gilded Sorrow" has a "much more expansive sound" than previous THE OBSESSED efforts, Wino said: "I think it sounds fantastic. Everything I do with Frank gets better and better. Frank Marchand in Maryland, he's an amazing live sound guy, but he also has an amazing command of the recording studio, because he's got an amazing command of his digital realm. But then he is got all kinds of analog stuff. It's like Les Paul orgy. He knows his gear. And he can use it. He cut his teeth doing live sound, so he understands hard rock. He knows what the fuck he's doing."

This past April, Wino told the "Heavy Galaxy" show that "Gilded Sorrow" will contain eight songs with a running time of "about 36 [or] 37 minutes."

One of the songs on the follow-up to 2017's "Sacred" is called "Stoned Back To The Bomb Age", a play on words based on when then-U.S. president George W. Bush's deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage threatened to bomb Pakistan "back to the Stone Age" immediately after 9/11.

"I always listened to the radio, so I was listening to a defense department briefing," Weinrich said. "And Armitage said, 'If Pakistan gets involved in this conflict, we're gonna bomb them back to the stone age.' So I was, like, 'Wow.' So, 'Stoned Back To The Bomb Age' — it's kind of a little bit of a comment on modern stuff."

Weinrich went on to say that he is "not really pulling any punches" on "Gilded Sorrow". "But at the same time, I'm not trying to shoot myself in the foot either," he explained. "The music has gotta talk. The reason I even have an audience at all is from the music. I appreciate the fact that I've been able to have a long and fruitful career. I really do."

THE OBSESSED was formed in the late 1970s in Potomac, Maryland by legendary Weinrich (SAINT VITUS, SPIRIT CARAVAN). The band spawned in the realm of musicians/artists such as BLACK SABBATH, Frank Zappa, THE DICTATORS and THE STOOGES. The earliest lineup consisted of Wino, bassist Mark Laue, guitarist John Reese, and drummer Dave Flood. In 1983, Wino took over vocal duties and the band became a three-piece to record the "Sodden Jackal" EP.

The band broke up in the late '80s after Wino moved to California to join SAINT VITUS. At that time, a German label, Hellhound Records, and the booking agency that had signed SAINT VITUS, released "The Obsessed", originally recorded in 1985, prompting Wino to reform THE OBSESSED. After multiple lineup changes, the band signed to Columbia Records in 1994 and released its third album, "The Church Within". Despite receiving highly acclaimed reviews, THE OBSESSED would break up following the release, after which Wino formed SPIRIT CARAVAN (then SHINE) and other projects.

In September 2011, THE OBSESSED returned to the stage at Roadburn festival with "The Church Within"'s legendary lineup (featuring Wino, Greg Rogers and Guy Pinhas). The band played a few more reunion shows over the next couple years at Hellfest 2012 and Maryland Deathfest XI in May 2013 with bassist Reid Raley.

Wino announced the full-time return of THE OBSESSED in March 2016 and the band's official signing to Relapse Records to record the follow-up to "The Church Within". The new lineup originally consisted of SPIRIT CARAVAN bassist Dave Sherman and Wino's longtime friend and former road crew member Brian Costantino (drums). On October 31, 2016, Wino announced another new lineup change for THE OBSESSED, including Bruce Falkinburg (bass) and Seraphim (guitar),making that the first time the band had been a four-piece in over thirty-five years.

In 2017, THE OBSESSED unleashed "Sacred", the band's first studio album in over twenty years, further pushing the band into the annals of heavy metal history. After a few years on the road, the lineup stabilized around Brian Costantino on drums, Chris Angleberger on bass, Jason Taylor on guitar, and, of course, Wino at the helm.

THE OBSESSED 2023 is:

Chris Angleberger - bass
Jason Taylor - guitar
Brian Costantino - drums
Scott "Wino" Weinrich - guitar and vocals

In a new interview with Jerry Kurunen of Finland's Rauta, POSSESSED frontman Jeff Becerra was asked if his band is rightfully credited with initially creating the term "death metal" in 1983. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "One hundred percent. I had the copyright in 1983. POSSESSED was the very first death metal band. That doesn't mean we created death metal; it just means we were the first [to call ourselves death metal]. 'Cause every band after that does their own shit. So, yeah, we were just the first, man. And I'm surprised somebody didn't think of it before, to be honest. It's so obvious.

"Back then, you've gotta realize, with very few exceptions — maybe SLAYER, KREATOR, SODOM, DESTRUCTION, EXODUS — most thrash metal bands were — and with all due respect — were kind of bouncy kind of hair bands," he explained. "They would say, 'Oh, we're so heavy,' but they were never really heavy. 'We're so evil.' And there was nothing wrong with that, but that just isn't what blew our skirts up.

"I happened to meet [former POSSESSED guitarist] Mike Torrao at a very pivotal moment in our life, and we were just, like, 'Fuck the world. Fuck everything. And let's just make the heaviest, most Satanic music in the world.' And trash metal was taken, black metal was taken, speed metal was taken, fucking power metal was taken. Why not death metal? Like, 'Okay.' So then I wrote a song called 'Death Metal', and that was it. But it was more about the music and then the title, but the title seemed to outweigh the music. I don't know.

"These days POSSESSED get a lot more recognition, but we're not one of those famous bands; we're still underground. You're really lucky to be recognized within your lifetime."

Although DEATH is considered to be one of the most important and influential death metal acts of all time, the Florida-based band did not release its debut album, "Scream Bloody Gore", until 1987 — two years after the arrival of "Seven Churches" by California's POSSESSED.

Back in June 2022, Becerra, who was shot in a robbery in 1989, leaving him partially paralyzed and wheelchair-bound, weighed in on the never-ending debate on who can lay claim to being the first "true" death metal band: DEATH or POSSESSED. He told the "The Haunting Chapel" podcast: "We [POSSESSED] were selling ourselves as a death metal band, and that was what we went with. And to this day, it's both a blessing and a curse because it's highly debated and contested. And we literally, after I got shot, certain revisionists tried to block me out of history. The POSSESSED Wiki is the most vandalized page of Wikipedia. There was a certain person — he recently passed away — that was just relentlessly retitling our YouTube, moving our dates forward, messing with the timeline. It was like a battle. When I left, we were the death metal guys. When I came back, it was no more. So I had to fight for my own history back, which was weird. 'Cause there's no cool way to do that, because it sounds like you're tooting your own horn.

"I'm not saying I created death metal; I'm saying POSSESSED was the first death metal band," Jeff explained. "And it's a bone of contention with many DEATH fans. And because of the way that their management spun it and the way that the magazines spun it… Remember, me and Chuck [Schuldiner, DEATH guitarist/vocalist] were friends. He literally was like my protégé. He moved out to Antioch [California from Orlando]; he lived at the [house of the then-]POSSESSED fan club [president Krystal Mahoney]. He was pen paling for a while and tape trading. And he very much modeled himself after me. I was so honored because, remember, I'm just a young teenager. But he was the first person to really get what we were doing, what I was doing, and he was the first person that really understood what it was about. And he was so smart that way because it was undefined and so hard to explain what it is, without putting rules on it, because the last thing you wanna do is put rules on anything and stifle it. But he would just grasp it; he loved it. He said, 'Listen, Jeff. I sound just like you.' And he was proud of that. And I was proud of him. And there was a bromance going there. It was a respect.

"I've never been jealous of another band," Becerra clarified. "I've never claimed anything that wasn't mine. And it's just so obscure to see people trying to claim what they know they wouldn't do in front of me. They know what they didn't do; I was fucking there. And I'm not hating on anybody, but it's a very coveted position.

"What makes me mad is when the magazines spin this 'DEATH or POSSESSED, DEATH versus POSSESSED.' And it even tainted the relationship between DEATH and POSSESSED, and that pisses me off, because we were friends.

"I realize that metal is supposed to be fun," Jeff added. "But there's also something very valid about true history and not revising stuff — not just with POSSESSED but any band. And the way it's spun is, like, bands will exaggerate what they did and the writers will be eager to impress who they're writing about, because the last thing a writer wants is for the band to go, 'This is fucking fucked up.'

"In the old days, it was very truthful. People did their research. They didn't have clickbait. There was no 'POSSESSED versus DEATH.' I hate that shit. Because if Chuck was alive today, I'd like [us to] collaborate. And I don't like it fucking with my remembrance of what it really was. I like the history. Maybe I'm being weird about it, but I think that the truth is so much better than the tale."

Becerra told Antihero in 2017 that Schuldiner cited POSSESSED as a "primary influence" in "countless" magazine interviews. But even though DEATH was inspired by POSSESSED, "they ran with it and went in their own direction and created their own vibe," Jeff said. "To go a step further: Chuck used ['80s death/thrash producer] Randy Burns, who did 'Seven Churches' to do 'Scream Bloody Gore', his first album. He also did a cover of [POSSESSED's] 'The Exorcist'."

Schuldiner died in December 2001 after a battle with pontine glioma, a rare type of brain tumor.

POSSESSED originally split in 1987, leaving behind a short but highly influential legacy, most notably "Seven Churches". Internal tensions after the release of 1987's "The Eyes Of Horror" EP led to the band's dissolution, with guitarist Larry Lalonde joining Bay Area tech-thrashers BLIND ILLUSION, then PRIMUS, while Becerra, Torrao and drummer Mike Sus each going separate directions.

Two years after POSSESSED's split, Becerra was the victim of the aforementioned failed armed robbery attempt, sending him into a spiral of drug and alcohol abuse. POSSESSED was reactivated by Torrao in 1990 with a completely different lineup, but only released two demos before dissolving in 1993. Becerra then reformed POSSESSED in 2007 with his own lineup, which released its first studio album in 33 years, "Revelations Of Oblivion", in 2019.

METALLICA has been forced to postpone its previously announced September 3 concert in Glendale, Arizona to September 9 after frontman James Hetfield tested positive for COVID-19.

The band was set to perform at State Farm Stadium as part of its two-night shows for the "M72" world tour. Hetfield and his bandmates had just played for tens of thousands of fans in Glendale on Friday night (September 1).

Earlier today, METALLICA shared a photo of James's positive COVID-19 test and released the following statement: "We're very sorry to report that tomorrow's scheduled 'M72' date at State Farm Stadium has been postponed to Saturday, September 9, 2023, as unfortunately Covid has caught up with James. We're extremely disappointed and regret any inconvenience this has caused for you; we look forward to returning to complete the 'M72' No Repeat Weekend in Glendale next Saturday.

"All tickets for September 3 will be honored at the September 9 show. For more information, including refund details if you cannot join next weekend, please visit SeatGeek.com. Keep your eyes on Metallica.com and our socials for additional details and updates.

"PS: All M72 Weekend Takeover events scheduled for today and tomorrow (9/2 and 9/3) are still happening."

METALLICA played an abbreviated set on Friday in Glendale, apparently due to Hetfield's "vocal issues".

According to Ed Masley of the Arizona Republic, METALLICA's 14-song set at State Farm Stadium was two tracks shorter than every other opening night since the "M72" tour hit the States, with all previous shows featuring a set-closing "Master Of Puppets" after "Seek & Destroy". METALLICA also appeared to roll tape on the intro to "The Day That Never Comes" before switching to "Hardwired" as the twelfth song of the set.

Masley wrote in his review of the concert: "Hetfield did appear to relinquish his lead-singing duties to the audience more often as the night wore on, but I thought it was just to make the crowd feel more like part of the performance."

According to Setlist.fm, METALLICA cut "The Day That Never Comes" and "Master Of Puppets" from the set due to James's vocal problems.

YouTube user Stadia Vlogs shared video of the "Seek & Destroy" performance from last night's concert and he included the following message: "METALLICA played 'Seek & Destroy' as their last song for their Friday show in Glendale Arizona at State Farm Stadium. They were supposed to play 'Master Of Puppets' last, but James started losing his voice. Hopefully it returns by Sunday."

The "M72" tour features a bold new in-the-round stage design that relocates the famed METALLICA Snake Pit to center stage.

METALLICA is visiting a total of 22 different cities around the world and playing two nights in each city.

Opening acts include FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, ICE NINE KILLS, MAMMOTH WVH, PANTERA, ARCHITECTS, GRETA VAN FLEET and VOLBEAT.

NIGHT TWO IN GLENDALE IS RESCHEDULED TO SEPTEMBER 9!

We’re very sorry to report that tomorrow’s scheduled M72 date at...

Posted by Metallica on Saturday, September 2, 2023

German metal commandos Primal Fear released their new album, Code Red, on September 1 via Atomic Fire. They played an album release show on the same day in Stuttgart, Germany at Im Wizemann. Fan-filmed video is available below.


Bassist / co-founder Mat Sinner, who has been sidelined for two years following an extreme adverse reaction to a Corona vaccination, joined the band on stage for "Final Embrace" towards the end of the set.


The setlist was as follows:




"Chainbreaker"
"Rollercoaster"
"The World Is On Fire"
"Deep In The Night"
"Face the Emptiness"
"Another Hero"
"Nuclear Fire"
"Hear Me Calling"
"Fighting The Darkness"
"King Of Madness"
"The End Is Near"
"When Death Comes Knocking"
"Metal Is Forever"
"Final Embrace" (with Mat Sinner)


Encore:
"Running In The Dust"
"Angel In Black"











In celebration of the album release, Primal Fear unleashed the new single, “Cancel Culture”. Accompanied by a captivating lyric video created by Ingo Spörl of Hard Media, the track is themed around a topic that has been heavily discussed in recent years.


Producer/bassist Mat Sinner comments, "There are countries where you just disappear if you speak your mind. These are intolerable conditions. But I'm not backing down. I've always been a rebel; I don't want to conform. And I don't have to play in certain countries either. It's that simple."


Adds frontman Ralf Scheepers, “The way the culture of having discussions with each other has gone down the drain has become unbearable. People tend to have no more respect for each other and that's a dangerous development and perspective. It's the same sad development with all these ‘keyboard warriors’ out there who hide behind a made up user name to release their hate, jealousy, or frustration. I will never take this as a 'Welcome to the Internet’ invitation; it's simply a no go!"


Watch the lyric video below, and stream/purchase the track here.





Primal Fear's new album was produced by bassist/vocalist Mat Sinner and co-produced by vocalist Ralf Scheepers as well as guitarist Tom Naumann before long-time Primal Fear companion Jacob Hansen took care of its mixing and mastering at his own Hansen Studios in Denmark once again after being recorded in Kempten, Germany at Sebastian "Basi" Roeder's Backyard Studios, with helping hands of Scheepers and Mitch Kunz. Additionally, Stan W. Decker (Angels Of Mercy - Live In Germany (2017), Apocalypse (2018), and I Will Be Gone (2021) by Primal Fear etc.) provided magnificent artwork.


The album is available in the following formats:


- Atomic Fire Records mailorder exclusive bundles (cd-digipak, vinyl, t-shirt, lighter)
- CD-digipak
- 2LP in gatefold (various colours)
- digital


Order here.





Code Red tracklisting:


"Another Hero"
"Bring That Noise
"Deep In The Night"
"Cancel Culture"
"Play A Song"
"The World Is On Fire"
"Their Gods Have Failed"
"Steelmelter"
"Raged By Pain"
"Forever"
"Fearless"


"Deep In The Night" video:





"Another Hero" video:





Primal Fear tour dates are listed below, more information can be found at here.


Tour dates:


September (with The Unity)
2 - Memmingen, Germany - Kaminwerk
3 - Naila, Germany - Frankenhalle
5 - Munich, Germany - Backstage (Werk)
6 - Bochum, Germany - Zeche
7 - Frankfurt, Germany - Batschkapp
9 - Sion, Switzerland - Le Port Franc
10 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7





October
21 - São Luís, Brazil - Maranhão Open Air
26 - Curitiba, Brazil - Tork 'n Roll
28 - Limeira, Brazil - Mirage Eventos
31 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Arena Sur


November
1 - Santiago, Chile - Blondie Club
4 - San José, Costa Rica - Pepper Club
5 - Bogotá, Columbia - Ace of Spades-club
7 - Lima, Peru - CC Festiva
10 - Monterrey, Mexico - Mexico Metal Fest





January
30 - Tokyo, Japan - Spotify O-East
31 - Nagoya, Japan - Club Quattro


February
1 - Osaka, Japan - Umeda Club Quattro


More dates to be added soon.

Legendary rockers AEROSMITH kicked off their "Peace Out" farewell tour last night (Saturday, September 21) at the 21,000-capacity Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The electrifying show features AEROSMITH's classic hits performed in an immersive 360-degree production as they celebrate 50 years as America's greatest rock band.

AEROSMITH's 18-song set opened with "Back In The Saddle" and included a cover of FLEETWOOD MAC's "Stop Messin' Around", before closing with a two-song encore of "Dream On" and "Walk This Way".

Produced by Live Nation, this monumental 40-date North American tour includes stops at iconic arenas across the U.S. and Canada, including Los Angeles's Kia Forum, New York's Madison Square Garden and Toronto's Scotiabank Arena, with a special stop in their hometown of Boston for New Year's Eve 2023. With THX's Certified Live! High-fidelity experience, each arena is calibrated with leading-edge technology so fans don't miss a beat of AEROSMITH's classic rock tunes in quality audio.

AEROSMITH's setlist was as follows:

01. Back In The Saddle
02. Love In An Elevator
03. Cryin'
04. Janie's Got A Gun
05. Adam's Apple
06. Livin' On The Edge
07. No More No More
08. Rag Doll
09. Hangman Jury
10. Seasons Of Wither
11. Movin' Out
12. Stop Messin' Around
13. Rats In The Cellar
14. I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
15. Sweet Emotion
16. Toys In The Attic

Encore

17. Dream On
18. Walk This Way

This past May, AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry explained to Byrd of 97.1 FM The Drive why it was unlikely drummer Joey Kramer, who sat out the band's last round of "Deuces Are Wild" residency shows in Las Vegas, would take part in the "Peace Out" tour. "His heart's in the right place, but, listen, playing the drums is an athletic event," Joe said. "And there's a certain point where you're just kind of, like,… every joint starts to give out, man. So at this point we're not thinking he's gonna be there. We'll see."

When AEROSMITH announced its farewell tour four months ago, the band said about Kramer's absence from the trek: "While Joey Kramer remains a beloved founding member of AEROSMITH, he has regrettably made the decision to sit out the currently scheduled touring dates to focus his full attention on his family and health. Joey's unmistakable and legendary presence behind the drum kit will be sorely missed."

For the past couple of years, AEROSMITH's longtime drum tech John Douglas has been filling in on drums for Kramer, whose wife, Linda Gail Kramer, died in June 2022 at the age of 55. No cause of death has been revealed.

In 2020, Kramer sued the rest of AEROSMITH for breach of contract, saying he was being blocked from performing after suffering "minor injuries" the previous year. He sought an injunction after they announced they would play without him at the 2020 MusiCares Person Of The Year and at the Grammy Awards. He lost that case.

The "Peace Out" run of dates will wrap next year on January 26 in Montreal. Special guests THE BLACK CROWES are joining AEROSMITH for the entire tour, which celebrates AEROSMITH's five decades of music.

AEROSMITH announced its final tour by creating a "breaking news" YouTube video featuring Eminem, Slash, Dolly Parton, Bill Burr, Ringo Starr and other entertainment stars expressing their disbelief that this really is farewell. At the end of the clip, AEROSMITH frontman Steven Tyler could be seen looking into the camera and declaring, "And if you think we're joking … dream on."

Prior to the launch of "Peace Out", AEROSMITH wrapped its critically acclaimed Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM. Ahead of the residency, AEROSMITH returned to its hometown in Boston to perform a record-breaking one-off show at Fenway Park as part of the legendary band's 50th anniversary celebrations. With over 38,700 people in attendance, it was the most tickets sold to date for a show at the iconic venue.

In May 2022, AEROSMITH announced that Tyler had entered a treatment program following a relapse, prompting the band to put their Las Vegas residency on a temporary hold.

Tyler had been struggling with drug and alcohol addiction since the mid-1980s. Over the course of the last four decades, he had relapsed several times, including in the early 2000s and 2009.

Joey has had his own health difficulties in recent years. Kramer suffered a health scare back in 2014, which was initially reported to be "heart-related complications".

THE BLACK CROWES kicked off their U.S. tour as the support act for AEROSMITH last night (Saturday, September 2) at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Joining singer Chris Robinson and guitarist Rich Robinson in the new BLACK CROWES lineup are returning bassist Sven Pipien, who played with the band live from 1997 up until the band's hiatus in 2015, along with Brian Griffin on drums, Joel Robinow on keyboards and Isaiah Mitchell on guitar.

THE BLACK CROWES' 11-song set consisted mostly of selections from the band's first two albums, 1990's "Shake Your Money Maker" and 1992's "The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion".

The setlist was as follows:

01. Sting Me
02. Kickin' My Heart Around
03. Twice As Hard
04. Thick N' Thin
05. By Your Side
06. Soul Singing
07. Hard To Handle (Otis Redding cover)
08. Thorn In My Pride
09. She Talks To Angels
10. Jealous Again
11. Remedy

In celebration of the culmination of their 2021-22 reunion tour, THE BLACK CROWES recently released "The Black Crowes: Shake Your Money Maker Live", an ode to the band reuniting and following an epic two-year anniversary tour with over 100 dates worldwide.

A deluxe reissue of "The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion" will arrive on December 1. The set will include previously unreleased studio recordings, rare B-sides and a live performance from 1993 at Houston's Sam Houston Coliseum.

Last October, Rich was asked by Australia's The Rockpit if he and Chris gave any consideration to the idea of bringing some of the other members of the classic THE BLACK CROWES lineup for the current tour. Rich said: "No. We have Sven, and Sven's been with us for 25 years. I met Sven when I was 14; he was in a rival Atlanta band. And Chris and Steve [Gorman, drums] lived with Sven when Chris first moved out, when he was 18 or whatever. So Sven's been in our life for longer than Johnny Colt [bass] was, or even Steve for that matter. But he didn't join till later… And Sven's great.

"Chris and I decided… A family dynamic is difficult enough as it is, and a band becomes a second family," he explained. "Some dynamics are really good and some dynamics can be really toxic. And with Steve in particular, but also Marc Ford [guitar] going back to his old ways, so to speak… which was the reason why I just put an end to [THE] MAGPIE [SALUTE, Rich's project with Marc], because I'm, like, 'Look, I'm not doing this again,' with going down that road. And then Steve, with his… He's always been that way — manipulative and really trying to keep Chris and I apart. One time Steve told me the scariest thing to him was when Chris and I worked together and got along, and his quote was, 'Because no one can stop you guys from what you wanted to do if you were together.' And he just flat out said that one day. I'm, like, 'Wow. That's really kind of a weird thing to say. Why would you…?'

"We can account for ourselves and how Chris and I deal with each other and deal with our own triggers as brothers, but we can't account for other people with negative agendas that bring their negativity to us," Rich added. "And so if we got everyone back, it would be just a money grab and it would be just, like, 'Let's do this for one record and go away,' because it would [inevitably] just fall apart because of everyone with their little petty bullshit."

Rich added that the decision to bring in mostly new members was influenced in part by his and Chris's plans to create fresh BLACK CROWES music, saying: "The reason we didn't bring anyone back like that was because we want this to be something greater than that. We wanna do this right. I mean, not only do we wanna be in each other's lives as brothers and we don't wanna go down that negative road and we don't wanna fall apart and do all this shit, but we also love playing this music together and we love writing together and we love being in a band together. And we're good at it. I mean, this is what we do. We've been doing this for 32 years, off and on, with each other and with our other bands. So this is something that we really wanted to do. We wanted to do it right and the best way to do that right is to start with a clean slate and get in and start doing it and then hence writing these songs and going in the studio.

"I've sent Chris 30 [new] songs to date to work on," he revealed. "He's singing amazing. Lyrically and melodically, it's really cool. And we're honing all the stuff in. We're working with [producer] George Drakoulias again. And we're hoping to go into the studio in February."

Regarding what the new BLACK CROWES music sounds like, Rich said: "I can't write specifically for something; I just write. I feel like if I was to try to write something, it would be insincere and I don't think that it would translate or come across. So I never filter myself and I never push myself in any direction. So I just write music. And whatever moves me is what I go with. And so that's ultimately what I do. So I've got 40 songs to date. We've kind of pulled back nine of them that maybe would work in a different scenario, like an acoustic record or whatever it may be. So I just write all the time. Chris writes all the time. This is how we do it. And then at the end of the day, you put all the cards on the table and it's gonna show itself in what the best record's gonna be."

Gorman, who penned 2019's memoir "Hard To Handle: The Life And Death Of The Black Crowes", is notably excluded from THE BLACK CROWES' current reunion, which launched a lengthy U.S. tour in 2021.

In August 2021, Rich told the Los Angeles Times that he had no reaction to the release of Gorman's memoir. "It didn't really affect me or make me sad," he said. "No one really takes Steve that seriously. He was our drummer for a long time, and a long time ago, he was our friend. But he was also the one who kind of schemed the most and was more willing to allow a division between me and Chris."

In a February 2020 interview with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station, Gorman said that he was not surprised to see Chris and Rich teaming up with new musicians for a tour. "To me, it's been an inevitability for years," Steve said. "I think they both made serious efforts to establish themselves in solo careers that could sustain them, that could provide a living, and I guess that neither one of those really worked out. And so they were always gonna need to be THE BLACK CROWES again. And this tour is an indication of the fact that, to them, they always wereTHE BLACK CROWES. And to me, THE BLACK CROWES was a band. It wasn't about their band; it was our band. It was six people, or it was five people, or it was four people, depending on the year, but it was always a much greater thing than two brothers who wrote the songs. The success of that band had a lot to do with a lot more than just them, is my point. And the thing that was most special about that band, as I said before, was what six people were able to do when we were on the same page."

Gorman went on to say that he doesn't necessarily fault the Robinson brothers for wanting to keep THE BLACK CROWES brand alive.

"This tour has nothing to do with me — it never did; it never would have," he explained. "THE BLACK CROWES are my past. Now, the music is still around. And if anybody goes to see this tour and decides that they love THE BLACK CROWES now, I think that's fantastic. I'm all for preserving the legacy of the band I was in. I think this tour has nothing to do with that. I think this tour is the two of them needing money. And to that I say — and that's fine. I know what it's like to be concerned about my finances; everybody does. And if you're in your 50s and you can make a living playing music, then, by God, you should be playing music, if that's what you wanna do. So, they're fully within their rights to do it — legally and ethically and morally; whatever. It's fine. It's got nothing to do with me. So, live and let live."

When THE BLACK CROWES announced their split in 2014, Rich issued a statement saying that he loved his brother and respected his talent but that "his present demand that I must give up my equal share of the band and that our drummer for 28 years and original partner, Steve Gorman, relinquish 100 percent of his share … is not something I could agree to."

"Shake Your Money Maker" was re-released in multi-formats sets in February 2021 through UMe/American Recordings. The album, fueled by singles "Jealous Again", "Twice As Hard", "She Talks To Angels" and a cover of fellow Georgian Otis Redding's "Hard To Handle", has sold over five million copies.

Chicago, Illinois-based metallers REPENTANCE have released their sophomore album, "The Process Of Human Demise", via Noble Demon. Listeners can expect an album that combines aggressive riffs, powerful vocals, and thought-provoking lyrics, creating a captivating musical journey through the depths of human emotions and the struggles of existence. Produced by Alex Lackner at Accelerated Sound (with mix/master by Chris Collier at CMC21 Productions),the record's pristine production quality perfectly captures the band's raw energy and intensity.

"The Process Of Human Demise" features 12 brand new tracks showcasing REPENTANCE at their strongest yet. With guest contributions from the likes of TRIVIUM's Corey Beaulieu and FEAR FACTORY's Milo Silvestro, the band's latest offering has become a relentless and intense maelstrom that will sweep you along and an album not to be missed in 2023.

To celebrate "The Process Of Human Demise"'s arrival, REPENTANCE has released a brand new version of its latest music video for the track "Down In The Water". Watch the clip below.

REPENTANCE founder and guitarist Shaun Glass comments on "Down In The Water": "Definitely one of my personal fave songs off the new album. This song oddly enough was one of the first tracks demoed in the early stages and had been changed a few times til we finally got it to where it is now. It has such powerful driving feel and hooks the listener instantly."

"The Process Of Human Demise" track listing:

01. Buried By Fear
02. Withered And Decayed
03. Reborn
04. The Process Of Human Demise
05. Empire
06. Down In The Water
07. A Future Untold
08. All The Misery
09. Light It Up
10. No Innocence
11. A Grave For The False Ones
12. Venom Inside
Formed in 2018 by former SOIL and DIRGE WITHIN guitarist Shaun Glass, REPENTANCE released its critically acclaimed debut album, "God For A Day", in 2020, followed by the EP "Volume I – Reborn" (2021).

REPENTANCE is:

Adam Gilley - Vocals
Shaun Glass - Guitar
Eric Burns - Guitar
Eric Karol - Bass
Brandon White - Drums

Photo by Alex Zarek

Peaceville Records is celebrating 30 years of Dance Of December Souls from Katatonia with a limited pink marble-effect vinyl.


Dance Of December Souls was recorded at Unisound Studios, April 1993 and released later that same year. Engineering and mixing was handled by Dan Swanö (Opeth, Marduk, Dissection). This early incarnation of Katatonia contained a more doom/black metal approach, whilst always keeping the trademark sorrowful & hypnotic guitar melodies which are still evident today. 


The album exudes an atmosphere of utter melancholy, accentuated by the growled, despairing vocals of Jonas. Katatonia quickly became part of the leaders of the gothic doom movement alongside top UK acts Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride and Anathema, before branching out into metallic prog/rock greatness.




This LP edition of Dance Of December Souls is presented on limited edition pink marble-effect vinyl marking the 30th anniversary of the release, in a single sleeve including the original cover artwork. Order at burningshed.com.





Tracklisting:


Side A
“Seven Dreaming Souls”
“Gateways Of Bereavement”
“In Silence Enshrined”
“Without God”
“Elohim Meth”


Side B
“Velvet Thorns (Of Drynwhyl)”
“Tomb Of Insomnia”
“Dancing December”

Your favourite punked-up, black metal-adjacent, classic rock-worshipping Norwegian group, Kvelertak, are back. Their new album, Endling, arrives on September 8 via Rise Records/Petroleum Records. Pre-order the album here.


Today, the band has shared a lyric video for new song and title track to the album "Endling". Watch below, and get the single here.







"Starting with a guitar hook that could have been picked up at a First Avenue show during a U.S. tour and culminating in a Queen-like crescendo of harmonic guitar leads, 'Endling' serves as a requiem for destroyed nature and broken human destinies from our own time," the band says, giving a bird's eye view into the song. "Trusting silver-tongued modernity only ends in a trunk full of fury and unspent wealth drugged in a rut behind you on your certain journey across the river Gjöll."


Thematically, the album Endling continues on the path of 2020's critically acclaimed Splid - which received press accolades across the world - by delving further into local lore and legend.


Guitarist Vidar Landa sums it up best, stating "On Endling, we tell the stories of the extinct and dying men and women of Norway. Old and new myths, culture, and rituals come to life — the folklore that doesn't fit a TV series concept. Vikings and trolls are for television. This is the real deal."


The band exclaim, "As the sun fell, at the time when oxen are unyoked, following the trail cut by the footsteps of Rasmus Vardal, the marauders of rock came riding again, screaming Kielland is dead, long live Kielland!"





Tracklisting:


"Krøterveg Te Helvete"
"Fedrekult"
"Likvoke"
"Motsols"
"Døgeniktens Kvad"
"Endling"
"Skoggangr"
"Paranoia 297"
"Svart September"
"Morild"


"Skoggangr" lyric video:





"Krøterveg Te Helvete" video:

In honour of their 30th anniversary as a band, Lacrimas Profundere present a new song, "Breathing Souls”. At a time when the earth is crying out for help due to the changing climate and exploitation, the song is unfortunately more relevant than ever.





After Olly first composed the instrumental version of the track, the band shelved the song for a period of time, as they felt their vocal and lyrical approach wasn’t a perfect fit with the music. After returning to breathe new life into the song, he looked to his friends Chris Harms (Lord Of The Lost) and Tobias Schönemann (The Vision Bleak) and asked them to take on the song with "fresh ears".




The result is this gloomy melodic piece of music, or to say it in the words of producer Kohle Kohlmannslehner: "This is probably the saddest melody I have ever heard." What greater compliment can you give to a dark metal band?!


To conclude with the words from the pen of Chris Harms in the chorus:


"Relieve the hurt
from Mother Earth
from Mother Earth"!


Listen to "Breathing Souls" here, and below:





Tour dates:


September
1 - Crete, Greece - Rethymno Rocks Festival
7 - Hamburg, Germany - Logo
8 - Oberhausen, Germany - Kulttempel
9 - Hannover, Germany - Subkultur
10 - Berlin, Germany - Cassiopeia
30 - Winterthur, Switzerland - Gaswerk


October
21 - Königsbrunn, Germany - Mammut Festival


December
15 - Leipzig, Germany - Hellraiser
16 - Weinheim, Germany - Cafe Central

British rock legends, Wishbone Ash, have released the new single, "Jailbait" (Live). The track is included on their upcoming live album, Live Dates Live, out September 29 via Steamhammer / SPV.


"Jailbait" (Live) is available on all digital platforms here. Listen to the track below.


Almost fifty years ago to the month, Wishbone Ash brought out Live Dates, their most commercially successful album. A milestone, not only for the band, but also in the history of rock music.




At the time, we had been on tour non-stop for three years, had released Argus – from today’s point of view our most important studio album – and were like a well-oiled machine,” remembers founder Andy Powell, who continues to helm the group. “We had made a name for ourselves as a dynamic live act, so it only made sense to capture the energy and vibrancy of our shows on a live album. Fortunately, the record company funded the costly Rolling Stones Mobile Recording Truck, so we were able to record several shows during our UK tour and compile the most powerful moments on Live Dates.”


Fast forward half a century and we find ourselves in the summer of 2023, with Wishbone Ash celebrating the anniversary of their 1973 concert classic with a new edition. “New” meaning: the same material in exactly the same sequence, performed by the current lineup and recorded at Daryl’s House Club in Pawling, New York. The new release is entitled Live Dates Live and will be available on CD, vinyl double LP and for digital download on Steamhammer/SPV from September 29.


Andy Powell: “Live Dates Live is our tribute to the original and our thank-you to all those fans who have been instrumental in making Wishbone Ash one of the few bands from the early seventies who are still active today, who still record new albums and tour on a regular basis.”


Wishbone Ash in 2023 probably seems to have little in common with the 1973 version but on closer look, there are many parallels. For one, guitarist/vocalist Andy Powell still keeps a tight hold of the musical reins, maintaining a sound that is known and loved.


First-rate musicians Mark Abrahams (guitar), Bob Skeat (guitar) and Mike Truscott (drummer), some of whom are of a younger generation, ooze the original spirit and philosophy of the original line-up, making for a 2023 band that is still 100% Wishbone Ash.


Live Dates Live will be released in the following formats:


- CD Digipak
- 2LP Gatefold
- Download and Stream


Pre-order here.





Live Dates Live tracklisting:


"The King Will Come"
"Warrior"
"Throw Down The Sword"
"Rock n Roll Widow"
"Ballad Of The Beacon"
"Baby What You Want Me To Do"
"The Pilgrim"
"Blowin’ Free"
"Jailbait"
"Lady Whiskey"
"Phoenix"


"Jailbait" (Live):

Satan's Fall are not the first band from Helsinki to set out on a triumphal march around half the (metal) globe. For many years, the Finnish capital on the southern tip of the country has been considered a melting pot for talented bands and musicians with the stamina to survive even the hardest of times.


After the release of their debut album, Final Day, in December of 2020, the pandemic, of course, made all tour plans redundant. However, Satan's Fall, the five-piece surrounding vocalist Miika Kokko, guitarist Tomi Mäenpää and bass player Joni Petander, hasn’t lost its idealism, as a matter of fact, quite the opposite. Following a lineup change that saw Ville Koskinen join on as new lead guitarist and Arttu Hankosaari take the drummer’s seat, the Nordic quintet sounds more impressive than ever before.


Destination Destruction is performed with speed and virtuosity and is infused with catchy melodies and brilliant production. An even stronger album than the first, Destination Destruction features eight powerful metal songs and two bonus cover tracks.




The album will be available from Steamhammer/SPV on November 3, and the singles "Lead The Way" and "Afterglow", along with videos, will be released in advance.


Destination Destruction will be released in the following configurations:


- CD DigiPak (incl. poster)
- 12" LP, 140 g, black vinyl, printed inner sleeve, poster
- Download / Streaming


Pre-order here.


- Exclusive 12" LP (solid white) and CD/LP Bundle with T-shirt only at the Steamhammer shop


Pre-order here.





Destination Destruction tracklisting:


"Lead The Way"
"Garden Of Fire"
"Swines For Slaughter"
"Monster's Ball"
"Afterglow"
"No Gods, No Masters"
"Kill The Machine"
"Dark Star"


Bonus tracks on CD digipak:


"Es Wird Viel Passieren"
"Go Go Power Rangers"

Sweden's Electric Boys have released a video for "When Life Treats You Funky", the opening track of the band's new album, Grand Explosivos, to be released September 15 via Mighty Music. Watch the clip below.





Grand Explosivos will be released on, CD LP (gatefold 180gr black vinyl, and 180gr turquoise vinyl, limited to 500) and digital formats. Pre-orders are available here.







Trackisting:


"When Life Treats You Funky"
"Better Safe Than Sober"
"I’ve Got A Feelin’"
"And The Band Played On (Part 1)"
"Domestic Blitz"
"Karma’s Gonna Get You"
"Missed Her By A Minute"
"Learjet"
"Cozmic Jagger"
"The Great Believer"
"And The Band Played On (Part 2)"








Formed in Stockholm in 1988, Electric Boys is a band with roots in '70s groove rock and '60s pop and psychedelia. Their critically acclaimed debut album, Funk-O-Metal Carpet Ride, was produced by Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi, The Cult, Mötley Crüe) and spawned the self-produced Billboard Top 20 single, “All Lips ‘N’ Hips” that got them heavy rotation on MTV.


After extensive touring, the band entered legendary studio Abbey Road to record the follow-up, Groovus Maximus, which gave the band another Billboard Top 30 single with the song, “Mary In The Mystery World”. The third album, Freewheelin’, (also recorded in Abbey Road) peaked at #16 on the Official Swedish Album Chart before the band called it a day in 1994.


Guitarist and lead singer, Conny Bloom went solo until he, as well as bassist Andy Christell, joined the legendary Hanoi Rocks in 2005. In 2009 they began the process of reuniting the Electric Boys. They released the album, And Them Boys Done Swang, in 2011 and the critically acclaimed favorite, Starflight United, in 2014.


In 2018 the return to studio albums finally happened, with The Ghost Ward Diaries, a record that not only topped the charts in Sweden and Denmark, but also brought back the distinctive sound of Electric Boys to their countless fans and new listeners. Roughly three years after, Ups!de Down, written already under lockdown, repeated the success, but brought a broader array of songs. Now, Grand Explosivos promises a new dynamite-like collection of classic hard rock with the trademark Boys’ twist. A big priority release for Mighty Music.

Today, Firewind are celebrating the release of their new live album, Still Raging. Available as a 2CD and Blu-Ray edition through AFM Records, the band's epic anniversary release, recorded in 2022 at a frenetically-acclaimed hometown show in Thessaloniki, Greece, is out now and available here.


Band mastermind and guitarist, Gus G (Ozzy Osbourne, Arch Enemy, Dream Evil), comments: "Happy release day! Today Still Raging Blu-Ray is finally out and we wanted to share one more song with you. 'Ode To Leonidas' is from our 2017 concept album, Immortals, which has quickly become a staple at our live shows. We love playing this one, so crank it up and go check out the new live release!"







For more than twenty years, the iconic band founded by exceptional guitarist Gus G (Ozzy Osbourne, Arch Enemy, Dream Evil) enthralls heavy music fans with their exciting blend of hard rock and power metal. Razor-sharp riffs, big hooks and solos meet the incredible vocal skills of charismatic singer Herbie Langhans (Avantasia, Radiant, Seventh Avenue, amongst others), who joined the band in 2019.


"It's hard to believe that a band like Firewind has been around for 2 decades," Gus G comments. "In 2022 we had only planned a re-issue of our debut album, but with the pandemic slowly winding down, we were fortunate enough to start doing shows in America and Europe again. Come Fall of 2022 we played 2 headline shows in our homeland, Greece to celebrate our 20th anniversary."


Gus continues: "Prior to the Greek shows, my friends from OTSE film crew asked me about filming our hometown gig in Thessaloniki. In a way, the stars aligned, as we returned to the same venue (Principal Club Theater), with the exact same crew that filmed our DVD back in 2008 (Live Premonition anyone?). With this opportunity in front of us, I started thinking about a cool way to put this onto our beloved fans homes as a special thank you for the support you've shown us over the years. Together with AFM Records, we bring you a special Blu-ray + 2CD package. So yeah... Firewind Still Raging, 20 years later and it's all thanks to YOU!


“While we're currently hard at work on some new music, we hope this commemorative live release will keep you good company, till our new metal anthems arrive!"





Tracklisting:


CD1:


“Welcome To The Empire”
“I Am The Anger”
“Head Up High”
“Devour”
“Destination Forever”
“Orbitual Sunrise”
“World On Fire”
Drum Solo
“The Fire & The Fury”
“Ode To Leonidas”


CD2:


“Overdrive”
“Mercenary Man”
“Lady Of 1000 Sorrows”
“Break Away”
“Between Heaven And Hell”
“Rising Fire”
“Maniac”
“Hands Of Time”
“Few Against Many”
“Falling To Pieces”


"Mercenary Man" video:





"Maniac" video:





“Orbitual Sunrise” video: