In a new interview with Stereogum, Alice Cooper was asked for his thoughts on some of the recent comments made by his "theatrical" rock peers about gender identity, with Paul Stanley calling gender-affirming care for kids a "sad and dangerous fad" and Dee Snider apparently agreeing with him. Alice said: "I'm understanding that there are cases of transgender, but I'm afraid that it's also a fad, and I'm afraid there's a lot of people claiming to be this just because they want to be that. I find it wrong when you've got a six-year-old kid who has no idea. He just wants to play, and you're confusing him telling him, 'Yeah, you're a boy, but you could be a girl if you want to be.' I think that's so confusing to a kid. It's even confusing to a teenager. You're still trying to find your identity, and yet here's this thing going on, saying, 'Yeah, but you can be anything you want. You can be a cat if you want to be.' I mean, if you identify as a tree… And I'm going, 'Come on! What are we in, a Kurt Vonnegut novel?' It's so absurd, that it's gone now to the point of absurdity.

"The whole woke thing… Nobody can answer this question. Maybe you can. Who's making the rules?" he continued. "Is there a building somewhere in New York where people sit down every day and say, 'Okay, we can't say 'mother' now. We have to say 'birthing person.' Get that out on the wire right now'? Who is this person that's making these rules? I don't get it. I'm not being old school about it. I'm being logical about it.

"It's getting to the point now where it's laughable. If anybody was trying to make a point on this thing, they turned it into a huge comedy. I don't know one person that agrees with the woke thing. I don't know one person. Everybody I talk to says, 'Isn't it stupid?' And I'm going, 'Well, I respect people. I respect people and who they are, but I'm not going to tell a seven-year-old boy, 'Go put a dress on because maybe you're a girl,' and he's going, 'No, I'm not. I'm a boy.''

"So I say let somebody at least become sexually aware of who they are before they start thinking about if they're a boy or a girl," Alice added. "A lot of times, I look at it this way, the logical way: If you have these genitals, you're a boy. If you have those genitals, you're a girl. There's a difference between 'I am a male who is a female, or I'm a female that's a male' and wanting to be a female. You were born a male. Okay, so that's a fact. You have these things here. Now, the difference is you want to be a female. Okay, that's something you can do later on if you want to. But you're not a male born a female."

When the interviewer pointed out to Alice that parents are not encouraging doubt in their kids' identities and are merely listening to their kids and finding pediatricians that provide appropriate care, Cooper said: "Well, I can see somebody really taking advantage of this, though. A guy can walk into a woman's bathroom at any time and just say, 'I just feel like I'm a woman today' and have the time of his life in there, and he's not in the least bit… He's just taking advantage of that situation. Well, that's going to happen. Somebody's going to get raped, and the guy's going to say, 'Well, I felt like a girl that day, and then I felt like a guy.' Where do you draw this line? Something's going to raise its ugly head, and all of a sudden, people are going to start going, 'Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute. We've got to get this under control.' It's almost like that with AI. People would say, 'Well, what about AI?' And I said, 'The only person that shouldn't have AI is Paul McCartney.' It's dangerous."

In late April, Stanley took to his Twitter to weigh in on kids' gender identities and the parents who are "normalizing and even encouraging participation" in embracing them, calling it a "sad and dangerous fad."

The 71-year-old rocker made his comments as politicians in several states have attempted to restrict trans Americans' ability to seek gender-affirming medical treatments. In some states, such as Georgia and Tennessee, bans for minors have already been enacted in the first quarter of 2023.

On April 30, Paul shared the following statement: "My Thoughts On What I'm Seeing

"There is a BIG difference between teaching acceptance and normalizing and even encouraging participation in a lifestyle that confuses young children into questioning their sexual identification as though some sort of game and then parents in some cases allow it.

"There ARE individuals who as adults may decide reassignment is their needed choice but turning this into a game or parents normalizing it as some sort of natural alternative or believing that because a little boy likes to play dress up in his sister's clothes or a girl in her brother's, we should lead them steps further down a path that's far from the innocence of what they are doing.

"With many children who have no real sense of sexuality or sexual experiences caught up in the 'fun' of using pronouns and saying what they identify as, some adults mistakenly confuse teaching acceptance with normalizing and encouraging a situation that has been a struggle for those truly affected and have turned it into a sad and dangerous fad."

Among the people who reacted positively to Stanley's statement was Snider, who has been a longtime ally of the LGBTQ+ community.

"You know what? There was a time where I 'felt pretty' too," Snider tweeted to Stanley. "Glad my parents didn't jump to any rash conclusions!"

Snider continued: "Parents need to be less reactionary; Right and Left. No need to steer the child in either direction. Let the kid figure it out for themselves knowing their family is supportive. I had a vet/cop hardass dad who, while he shook his head A LOT…let me do my thing."

When a fan questioned Snider's comments, the singer said: "I guess I'll just need to turn in my LGBTQIA+ membership card."

In 2021, about 42,000 children and teens across the United States received a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, nearly triple the number in 2017, according to data Komodo compiled for Reuters. Gender dysphoria is defined as the distress caused by a discrepancy between a person's gender identity and the one assigned to them at birth.

Transgender is a broad term for people whose "gender identity, gender expression or behavior does not conform to that typically associated with the sex to which they were assigned at birth," according to the American Psychological Association (APA).

According to a recent survey from The Washington Post and Kaiser Family Foundation, 78% of transgender adults in the United States say living with a gender different from the one assigned to them at birth has made them more satisfied with their lives.

In April, outspoken conservative rocker Ted Nugent shared a tweet in which he denounced the existence of transgender people and told people they could "debate" him if they disagreed.

"There is no such thing as transgender. You cannot change your gender. Comfortably numb is actually uncomfortably dumb. Debate me but bring your bib," he wrote.

Photo credit: Jenny Risher

SPIRITBOX will release a new EP, "The Fear Of Fear", on November 3 via Rise Records/Pale Chord. The EP is highlighted by a new single, "Jaded", and its accompanying cinematic music video.

"The Fear Of Fear" builds on SPIRITBOX's momentum from their massively successful 2021 debut album, "Eternal Blue", which topped charts and dominated critics' year-end lists. The EP features previously released standalone single "The Void" along with five new tracks for a total of six songs.

"The Fear Of Fear" track listing

01. Cellar Door
02. Jaded
03. Too Close / Too Late
04. Angel Eyes
05. The Void
06. Ultraviolet

SPIRITBOX will tour extensively this fall in support of "The Fear Of Fear", having already completed massive tours in Europe and North America this year. The band recently finished a U.K. headline run, followed by multiple major summer festival shows, and will hit the road for shows across the U.S. with SHINEDOWN and PAPA ROACH this September/October.

SPIRITBOX followed the release of "Eternal Blue" with the three-song "Rotoscope" EP, in 2022. The title track came accompanied by an official music video shot by Max Moore, which has run up over 3.4 million YouTube views. The EP has clocked up 27 million streams.

To date, SPIRITBOX have accumulated over 400 million career streams across platforms and 76.4 million YouTube views. They were also nominated for two Juno Awards last year for "Breakthrough Group Of The Year" and "Metal/Hard Music Album of The Year".

In a recent interview with Kerrang! magazine, SPIRITBOX singer Courtney LaPlante stated about her band's constant musical experimentation: "I feel like our sub-genre of metal is so obsessed with the idea that any song you hear from a band is a mission statement, as in, 'This is now what this band sounds like.' Maybe it's like this in every genre and I just don't see it as much, but when Doja Cat puts a song out, and she's singing, [the fans] don't go, 'She's never going to rap again!' We always have to tell people that when you hear a song, that doesn't mean it was created in a linear vacuum, where a band made a song and then they put out only that song. You might hear a song that was written two years after the next song you hear. You don't know when they came into existence.

"The messaging is always funny there, and I feel like bands never message that right either," she continued. "Every time they put out boring music, they're like, 'Oh, we've matured.' I'm like, 'No, I'm not mature or grown up, I just wrote a song that's more radio friendly. I also wrote an ass-beater song — you just haven't heard it yet!'"

Courtney also left the door open for SPIRITBOX to make any number of moves in the future.

"I don't feel like we’ve been around long enough to disappoint anyone," she said. "We are just getting started, and we're still figuring out what we are, and I don't even know if I want to find out. I don't care about genre, I just know we like making heavy music with low-tuned guitars. But I'm like, 'Take me or leave me, this is what we sound like.' I feel like a lot of bands are having fun with that too."

Photo credit: Jonathan Weiner

KILL DEVIL HILL will release its third album, "Seas Of Oblivion", on September 20. The LP, which was produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by engineer Chris Collier, combines classic hard rock with tinges of metal and ultimately bridges the gap between contemporary and classic metal. Comparable to groups like SOUNDGARDEN and ALICE IN CHAINS, KILL DEVIL HILL showcases its ability to experiment with many different styles in this album and push the envelope on what is expected — keeping things fresh and exciting for their fans.

KILL DEVIL HILL has already released four singles from "Seas Of Oblivion": "Playing With Fire", "Blood In The Water", "You Can't Kill Me California", and "Before The Devil Knows".

KILL DEVIL HILL was established in 2011 by former BLACK SABBATH and DIO drummer Vinny Appice and PANTERA bassist Rex Brown. After going through a few member changes, KILL DEVIL HILL's present lineup consists of Johnny Kelly (TYPE O NEGATIVE) on drums, Mark Zavon on guitar, Dewey Bragg on vocals and Matt Snell (ex-FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH) on bass.

Commented Kelly: "There was a little bit of a new direction in the songwriting. I'm sure it had to do with the different lineup. I tried to be more song-oriented in my approach to the songs. I think having Chris Collier producing played a big part as well."

Shortly after he left KILL DEVIL HILL in early 2014, Vinny said that the band's inability to gain significant traction with its music was a major factor in his decision. However, more recently, Vinny has suggested that he exited the group because he "couldn't deal with" the fact that some of his bandmates were consistently tardy for KILL DEVIL HILL activities by an hour and a half or even longer.

Asked to respond to Appice's comments and address the fact that the drummer's explanation for why he left the band appears to have evolved over time, Mark told "J-Bunny's Music Hub": "Well, both [of his stated reasons] are true. And he's right. And there was [tardiness]. Dewey, our singer, at the time, was kind of going through some hard times and some personal difficulties, and he did have a hard time showing up sometimes. And even when we were on tour, he was — I don't know, man — just having a little bit of trouble. He's a totally changed man now, and now he's the first guy, anywhere we go, he's the one telling us, 'Hey, man, we're gonna be late for soundcheck.' But in those days, yeah, it was a little harder to wrangle him. So Vinny was right. And Vinny, he doesn't really put up with that. He's a name guy — he's got a history and a reputation. He's a pro. He's a star. So you can't blame the guy for that. I certainly didn't. I was the first one there [for rehearsals and live shows], 'cause I was stoked to play with those guys. Are you kidding me? Vinny Appice and Rex Brown in a room, and I get to play guitar?"

He continued: "So, anyway, I wish it could have kept going, but sometimes things don't work out, and everything happens for a reason. So I try not to question it. We've got great guys in the band now, and everything happens for a reason. So I'm looking forward to putting out this new record and people hearing what we can do without those guys in the band."

Vinny, who had previously played with BLACK SABBATH, DIO and HEAVEN & HELL, left KILL DEVIL HILL in March 2014.

KILL DEVIL HILL released its sophomore album, "Revolution Rise", in October 2013 via Century Media Records.

In this week’s episode of Queen’s "The Greatest Live" series, , Brian May and Roger Taylor explain their unique bond with the Queen audience - and how the fans have influenced everything from the band’s stagecraft to its songwriting direction since the ’70s.


Queen shows don’t happen in a vacuum. Just as important as the push and pull amongst the four musicians is the energy exchange between stage and audience. Having never subscribed to the ‘untouchable-rock-god’ school of the ’70s, in this week’s exclusive video interview for Queen The Greatest Live, Brian May and Roger Taylor explain how the concert experience still flows both ways.


“I think we have a very personal relationship with the audience,” says Brian. “We don't get lost in being gods with the costumes and lights. We're still human and we like the interaction. I think that's something which is a little different.”




Roger Taylor adds: “And this is a wonderful feeling and we should involve the audience. And, you know, the one thing we weren't was a shoe gazing… I mean, I remember some bands, the guitar player might even face the back. It’s just f**king rude, you know?”


Famously, it was Queen’s love of audience participation that sparked call-and-response classics like "We Will Rock You', and as Brian tells us, the fans’ reaction is still the best yardstick for tightening the setlist. “If you put a new song in there and you get a great reaction, you get reinforced and you think, ‘Yeah, we'll do that again next night’. So the audience are fashioning what we play, and I think they know that. Of course, you go for the things which produce a reaction, whether it's happy or sad – but some kind of reaction.”


While Queen shows have increasingly encouraged audiences to their feet, as Roger remembers, the fans haven’t always been so free to cut loose, with the band forced in early years to overcome everything from heavy-handed security to authoritarian regimes. “In the ’70s, it was the dreaded bouncers. As soon as anybody stood up, it was, ‘You, sit down, sit down!’ You know, they’d come at you. And we just used to encourage them to riot!”


And if a show still refused to ignite, Queen always had their not-so-secret weapon in the form of ringmaster Freddie Mercury. “He was incredible,” recalls Roger. “He could just shout, ‘Come on!’, and then everybody would get up…”

Legendary multi-platinum rockers FOGHAT will release their long-awaited 17th studio album, "Sonic Mojo" — their first in seven years — on November 10 via the band's label, Foghat Records, which is distributed by Select-O-Hits (part of the Sun Records family). The official music video for the LP's first single, "Drivin' On" — co-written by the late Kim Simmonds from SAVOY BROWN — can be seen below.

"Sonic Mojo" will be available as a single CD with 12-tracks and a six-page gatefold cover, as well as an 11-track, limited-edition 180-gram, purple neon vinyl.

Two more songs will be released in the coming months: "She's A Little Bit Of Everything" (also co-written by Simmonds) on September 23, and "I Don't Appreciate You", which was written by the four FOGHAT members, on October 20.

From the opening notes of their 1972 self-titled classic to their bombastic multi-platinum gem "Foghat Live", to 2016's slide guitar-soaked "Under The Influence" and right on through to "Sonic Mojo", FOGHAT has always been about the music. Music played loud. Music played live and music played that makes you want to move.

On "Sonic Mojo", founding member, drummer and leader of the pack Roger Earl is joined by stalwart guitarist, engineer and co-producer Bryan Bassett (WILD CHERRY, MOLLY HATCHET),fun-loving, low-end thumper, fan favorite bassist Rodney O'Quinn (PAT TRAVERS BAND),and on lead vocals and guitar, Scott Holt (Buddy Guy) who has been the singer/guitarist of the band's recent side project EARL & THE AGITATORS since 2015. In typical FOGHAT fashion, there are a few surprises included on the album as well.

Three songs on "Sonic Mojo" have special meaning for Roger Earl, as they were co-written by Simmonds, the man who gave Roger his first break back in 1967 as a member of SAVOY BROWN. Sadly, shortly after writing these songs, Kim passed away.

The first of the three Simmonds co-writes, "Drivin' On", is the debut single from "Sonic Mojo". Vocalist/guitarist Scott Holt smiles as he proudly sums up what this bluesy rocker means to the band: "A song like 'Drivin' On' celebrates the swamp funk blues of Slim Harpo and the cosmic boogie of John Lee Hooker." Part blues, part ZZ TOP and part FOGHAT this tune is destined to become a live fan favorite.

"She's A Little Bit Of Everything" (also co-written by Simmonds),just like FOGHAT's classic "Slow Ride" that starts off with nothing but a drumbeat, followed by fuzzy guitar and, just like that famous song, this one also celebrates woman, albeit in a totally classier way. The third Simmonds co-write is the most emotional of bunch. "Time Slips Away" penned when Kim was terminally ill, delivers a strong message that is both beautiful and emotional.

Kim isn't the only surprise on "Sonic Mojo", however. Roger has a famous brother named Colin Earl, most known for the song "In The Summertime" by MUNGO JERRY. Together, the two brothers and the rest of the band created the most unique tune on the album titled "Wish I'd A Been There". The song is an ode to country music legend Hank Williams.

FOGHAT does country?

Well…sort of, but not really. This fun song shows that this band, even after 50-plus years of making music, isn't afraid of trying something new. And…like everything else they've tried, they do it well.

"Sonic Mojo" also sees FOGHAT tip their hat to great artists that came before them, as well as giving plenty of winks and nods from the current lineup. While there are songs on the album written by Willie Dixon ("Let Me Love You Baby"),B.B. King ("She's Dynamite") and Chuck Berry ("Promised Land"),FOGHAT shows they can still boogie with the best of them.

Elder statesmen, and band leader, Roger Earl has played with enough of the greats to know when he's in good company. "I love playing and working with this band," he says. "During my almost-60-year music career, I have had the honor of playing with some really great musicians. Lonesome Dave, Rod Price, Craig MacGregor, Erik Cartwright, Nick Jameson, Tony Stevens and Jeff Howell, to name some that have graced this band. Many have sadly passed, some have retired or moved on, but I have to say that the current lineup has been one of the most inspirational for me, personally. Writing with Scott and Bryan has come easy. Words and ideas just seem to fall out at any time and another song is in the works. And Rodney's input and bass playing has been invaluable. We are a band in every sense of the word."

Adds Scott Holt: "I feel like 'Sonic Mojo' is a perfect addition to the FOGHAT cannon. For over 50 years, this band has been a celebration of the varied art forms and genres that were created in this country. The pillars of blues, country, soul, R&B and jazz are woven into the fabric of this band at the molecular level. 'Sonic Mojo' is a rock and roll audio mojo hand. We convened our spirits and went down to the crossroads at midnight and put some Mississippi dirt, black cat bones, and moonlight into the bag, Kim Simmonds donated some soul, the spirit of Dave, Rod and Craig were the essence that created the supreme funk that is the finished product. A soulful expression, an offering at the altar of rock and roll."

"Making a record is an emotionally and physically draining experience," Holt continues. "As an artist you disengage every other part of your being and focus on the art…the task at hand. You don't record like it's going to live forever, but you know it's going to live forever. You forget to eat, to drink, you don't sleep or rest until you've got your part correct, and then you rethink it until it's pronounced 'finished.' (You'll always hear the part that you doubted, even after someone tells you that's their favorite part.) This record was made under battle conditions. Roger was drumming with one good arm and would keep recording until the pain was too much…and then do another take."

Roger Earl tore a tendon in his shoulder while shoveling snow after an intense blizzard at his New York home in January 2022. After spending most of that year looking for a qualified surgeon, while touring relentlessly and starting to record "Sonic Mojo", he finally had surgery in December with a doctor who specialized in sports shoulder injuries. Because he knew he would not be able to play up to his standards for a while after surgery, Roger laid down all the drum tracks for "Sonic Mojo" in the couple of months before the surgery, enduring a lot of pain, but doing whatever it took to get the music right. Guess that's why they call it the blues!

Formed in 1971 when Lonesome Dave Peverett and Roger Earl left the British blues-rock band SAVOY BROWN, FOGHAT has earned eight gold records, one platinum record and one double-platinum record. They continue to release new music every few years, and they've never stopped touring and recording, although there have been several ups and downs and changes over the years. They sadly lost Lonesome Dave Peverett in 2000, Rod Price in 2005, and Craig MacGregor in 2018, but Roger Earl keeps banging and kicking to keep FOGHAT's musical legacy going.

"Sonic Mojo" track listing:

01. She's A Little Bit Of Everything (Simmonds/R. Earl/Bassett/Holt/O'Quinn)
02. I Don't Appreciate You (R. Earl/Holt/Bassett/O'Quinn)
03. Mean Woman Blues (Claude DeMetrius)
04. Drivin' On (Simmonds/R. Earl/Bassett/Holt/O'Quinn)
05. Let Me Love You Baby (Willie Dixon)
06. How Many More Years (Chester Burnett)
07. Song For Life (Rodney J. Crowell)
08. Wish I'd A Been There (C. Earl/R. Earl/Bassett/Holt/O'Quinn)
09. Time Slips Away (Simmonds/R. Earl/Bassett/Holt/O'Quinn)
10. Black Days & Blue Nights (R. Earl/Holt/Bassett/O'Quinn)
11. She's Dynamite (B. King Riley -- B.B. King)
12. Promised Land (Chuck Berry)

Photo credit: Jake Coughlin (courtesy of ABC Public Relations)

Rimouski, Quebec's Vortex has teamed up with Chris Kells of The Agonist to direct a new visual treat of an apocalyptic world where mankind must fight for their individual survival. The music video is for the title track from their latest album, The Future Remains In Oblivion, released this past June. It is one of the band's favourite songs off the full-length along with being the most intricate.


"'The Future Remains In Oblivion' (title track) has the most complex structure of the album, it may take a few listens to get into, but it’s a song that will stick over time. It is based around the orchestra and some technical playing and vocals; it is challenging to play live, and we get a kick out of nailing it," adds the band.







Vortex's third epic concept album is set to aggressive and beautiful orchestral melodic death metal with hints of black metal. Each song on The Future Remains In Oblivion is one chapter in their well-written sci-fi tale and there is a build-up in intensity and emotion that goes along with the storyline and the lyrics as you traverse the album. They share their thoughts:


“This is an orchestral death metal album with plenty of heavy riffing and melodies, technical vocals, and epic soloing. Some of the songs are riff-oriented and some others had the orchestra and melodies written before the drums and the guitars. We wrote all the lyrics before the music to make sure that it would fit the feel and emotion of each song/part of the story. When we start writing a song, we know exactly what feeling and emotion we are aiming at, it’s a good way to push ourselves creatively and write thoughtful music.”


Those familiar with the previous albums will note that they were more on the ambient / dramatic side. The new album’s songs are still melodic / orchestral but much more aggressive and some of them have a black metal influence. Vortex’s goal was to create songs that would have a greater impact on their live shows, and these aggressive songs work well live. They feel the album is a good combination of aggression / melody, and ugliness / beauty.


Creativity and storytelling are the key tenets of Vortex. Their masterful lyric writing is equally matched with their prowess in devising riffs, and orchestrations. They will transport the listener into a new world and are recommended for fans of Lorna Shore, Dimmu Borgir, and Fleshgod Apocalypse.


The band will also be touring from the months of September to January performing across Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, and PEI where they will be joined by Aeternam, Serene Dark, Strigampire (2023 Wacken Metal Battle Canada Champions), and Beyond Fiction on select dates.


September
15 - Rivières-Du-Loup, QC - Espace Berger w/ Aeternam, Alvar, Synyster
16 - Montreal, QC - Piranha Bar (Hellstorm Prod. 20th Anniversary Show)


October
20 - St-Georges, QC - Bar 4000 w/ Strigampire, Beyond Fiction
21 - Ottawa, ON - The House Of Targ w/ Serene Dark, Strigampire


November
3 - Saguenay, QC - CEM w/ Beyond Fiction, Strigampire
4 - Montreal, QC - Piranha Bar w/ Strigampire, Serene Dark
15 - Edmundston, NB - Ateepic w/ Aeternam
16 - Charlottetown, PEI - Trail Side Music Hall w/ Aeternam
17 - Moncton, NB - Xeroz w/ Aeternam
18 - Saint John, NB - The Panic Room w/ Aeternam


December
15 - Rimouski, QC - Le Paradis w/ Strigampire, Serene Dark, Beyond Fiction, Synyster
16 - Trois-Rivières, QC - L’Entité w/ Strigampire, Serene Dark, Born Divided


January
26 - Drummondville, QC - La Sainte-Paix w/ Aeternam
27 - Quebec, QC - L’Anti Bar w/ Aeternam


The Future Remains In Oblivion can be ordered here.





Tracklisting:


“From The Sun”
“Downfall”
“The Fool”
“The Walls”
“Our Possible End”
“First Blood”
“The Future Remains In Oblivion”
“When No More Words Will Be Heard”


"The Walls":





"First Blood" video:





 

Finnish chart-topping nu-metal stars Blind Channel have released their newest single, “DEADZONE”, along with an accompanying music video. The band’s latest track further realizes their ‘violent pop’ ambitions – showcasing catchy hooks, an anthemic chorus, and the melding of metal instrumentals with electronic/DJ effects. The new song is undeniably modern and infectious, while also cementing itself in the hard-hitting, irreverent sensibilities of heavy music from past decades. The backstory behind the wild, adrenaline-pumping music video traces back to the origins of the band’s formation.


Commenting on the single, Blind Channel share:


“'DEADZONE' is one of our favorite songs we’ve ever written. It’s a song about reaching the point of no return. You gotta make a choice, to give up or keep going. 'DEADZONE' is the moment of absolute uncertainty. We’ve been there. Maybe you’ve been there as well."







Addressing the musical chemistry of the song, the band adds:


“We wrote this song in Los Angeles with the rock-writer-legend Johnny Andrews, who’s written hits for Three Days Grace and Apocalyptica. During those sessions we managed to combine our musical DNA from the early 2000s rock music with everything we love in mainstream music today. The music video was inspired by the true story about the formation of Blind Channel ten years ago.”


“DEADZONE” was co-written by Johnny Andrews, whose works includes credits with Three Days Grace and Apocalyptica, mixed by Grammy-nominated engineer Zakk Cervini (Blink-182, Machine Gun Kelly, Yungblud), and produced by the band.

Grymheart will release the debut album, Hellish Hunt, on September 22 via Scarlet Records. New single and lyric video for "My Hellish Hunt" is streaming below.


Engineered, produced and mastered by Gábor Kovács; recorded and mixed at Blacksmith Studio (Budapest); majestically illustrated by Gyula Havancsák (Accept, Stratovarius, Burning Witches); Hellish Hunt will be released in the following formats:


- digipack CD
- digital




Pre-order here.


Grymheart is a new heavy metal band founded in 2022 by Gabriel Blacksmith (Gábor Kovács), former leader and main songwriter of the acclaimed Hungarian power metal band, Wisdom.


Grymheart combines the energy of power metal, the harmonies of folk metal, the epicness of symphonic metal and the screaming vocals of death metal. The most important elements of their sound are the catchy melodies: every track contains memorable parts which get stuck in your head; the songs are mostly fast and uplifting with lots of double kick drums, but there are some slow parts with a darker mood too.


The overall concept and image of Grymheart come from iconic monsters & demons hunter characters like The Witcher, Solomon Kane, Van Helsing etc.; each song tells about mystical creatures such as ghosts, Succubus, the living dead, Ignis Fatuus, or harpies. The hunt is open!





Hellish Hunt tracklisting:


"The Twilight Is Coming"
"Hellbent Horde"
"Ignis Fatuus"
"To Die By The Succubus"
"My Hellish Hunt"
"Army From The Graves"
"Everlost"
"Fenrir’s Sons"
"Facing The Kraken"
"Harpies Of Devil"
"Monsters Among Us"


"My Hellish Hunt" lyric video:





Grymheart lineup:


Gabriel Blacksmith - guitar, vocals
Dargor Rivgahr - guitar
V'arhel - bass
Sorin Nalaar - drums





(Photos- Krisztina Máté)

The Devil Wears Prada have shared the new version of their single "Salt," which appears on 2022's Color Decay. This reimagined version features Dayseeker vocalist Rory Rodriguez.


"After playing 'Salt 'around the world for the last year, it became obvious that something was happening with the connection of this song and we wanted to do something special with it," the band offers. "We reached out to our good friend Rory from Dayseeker to see if he would want to feature on a new version of the song, and he absolutely smashed it. Rory totally helps capture the emotional weight and energy that we put into Salt, and we're so excited to put out one of our favorite songs in a whole new light."







TDWP are gearing up to hit the road with Fit For a King, Counterparts, and Landmvrks on a fall tour, which kicks off on September 15 in Anaheim and runs through October 19 in Las Vegas.


Dates:


September
15 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues
16 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
17 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades
19 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex
20 - Denver, CO - The Fillmore
22 - St Louis, MO - Pop's
23 - Chicago, IL - Radius
24 - Detroit, MI - Royal Oak Music Hall
26 - Pittsburgh, PA - Roxian
27 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore
28 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
29 - New York, NY - Palladium Times Square
30 - Montreal, QC - Olympia


October
1 - Toronto, ON - History
3 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore
4 - Norfolk, VA - The Norva
6 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works
7 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore
8 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
10 - Ft Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
11 - Tampa, FL - The Ritz
13 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall
14 - Dallas, TX - The Factory in Deep Ellum
15 - San Antonio, TX - Vibes Event Center
17 - Albuquerque, NM - El Rey Theater
18 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theater
19 -Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues


(Photo - Imani Givertz)

The Hinderers is Dååth's second studio album and Roadrunner Records debut that was produced by the band and James Murphy, and originally released in March 2007.


The now classic album that fused elements of death, thrash, and black metal with technical virtuosity is now available for the first time ever on vinyl, via Metal Blade Records, in the following colors: Red Smoke, Clear Smoke, and as Gray Black White Marble. Get your copy here.


Current and founding member Eyal had this to say about The Hinderers vinyl release and where things are at with the band's new full-length album, due out from Metal Blade Records in 2024.




"Sometimes it's good to be wrong. As I personally celebrate 20 years since writing 'Ovum', the song that gave me a career, two things I never thought would happen are actually happening:


1. An old Dååth album on vinyl
2. A brand new Dååth album


Every single day, for the past twelve years, fans of the band have been hitting us up, demanding our back catalog on vinyl. While it's been super flattering that anyone still cares about songs I wrote in my parent's basement two decades ago, it has felt terrible to tell loyal fans that their desires are pipe dreams. That's why it makes me so happy to say that as of today, thanks to Metal Blade, The Hinderers is available in stores and on vinyl.


I don't know if it'll get a second pressing.


I don't know if this will ever happen again.


All I know is that it's happening now.


So if you've ever wanted Dååth on vinyl, get it now because It might not exist in the future.


... and speaking of the future… while writing this, I'm sitting in Orebro, Sweden, at Fascination Street Studios, listening to Jens Bogren mix the upcoming and BRAND NEW DÅÅTH album. It's sounding tremendous. These songs are epic. Our best. Stay tuned!"


The Hinderers was produced by James Murphy (Disincarnate ex-Death, Testament, Obituary) and co-produced by Dååth and features guest solos by James Murphy of Death and James Malone of Arsis. James and Eyal engineered the record with the help of Andy Sneap, while Colin Richardson mixed the album for them.





The Hinderers tracklisting:


"Subterfuge"
"From The Blind"
"Cosmic Forge"
"Sightless"
"Under A Somber Sign"
"Ovum"
"Festival Mass Soulform"
"Above Lucium"
"Who Will Take The Blame?"
"War Born (Tri-Adverserenade)"
"Dead On The Dance Floor"
"Blessed Through Misery"
"The Hinderers"


The Hinderers lineup:


Sean Farber - vocals
Eyal Levi - guitar
Mike Kameron - synth/keyboards/vocals
Emil Werstler - lead guitar
Jeremy Creamer - bass
Kevin Talley - drums


(Photo - Alex Morgan Imaging)

Massive Scar Era is the brainchild of the visionary artist Cherine Amr, who leads a collaborative journey with diverse musicians in every EP, bringing her unique vision to life. Originating from Alexandria, Egypt, and currently based in Montreal, QC, Massive Scar Era defies genre boundaries, weaving together a captivating tapestry of progressive rock, post-grunge, Egyptian music, and metal, resonating deeply with audiences across the globe.


With an impressive six albums already, Massive Scar Era is ready to present its seventh Metal Goes Egyptian this year. The first look at this EP is the single “Back To The Sun”, which holds a special place for Amr, which she explains:


“It’s a reflection of the warmth and nostalgia we all carry within us. The chorus, sung on a Maqam Rust with its intricate microtone, adds a touch of melancholy and emotional depth to the music.




This song is an ode to the feeling of belonging and the yearning to return to a time and space where we felt at ease.”


The chorus of “Back To The Sun” beautifully utilizes the Maqam Rust, incorporating a microtone between the third and fourth degrees of the scale. This musical choice enhances the emotional and melancholic impact of the song, adding depth and expressiveness. Microtones, which refer to the pitches that lie between the conventional Western musical notes, allow for subtle variations in pitch within the Maqam Rust scale. By incorporating microtones, the song achieves a nuanced and evocative melodic quality, capturing the essence of the emotional journey back home.


A truly enriching musical experience, Massive Scar Era is doomy and melodic metal suitable for fans of Nawather, Merkfolk, and Aeternam.


“Back To The Sun” is being premiered by BraveWords – watch below!





Metal Goes Egyptian is due out on November 3. Preorder at Bandcamp.





Tracklisting:


“Between Waves”
“30 Years”
“Oblivious”
“Back To The Sun”
“Color Blind”
“Endorphins”


(Photo – Biggg Rock Films)

Multi-platinum hard rock icons Extreme - Gary Cherone (vocals), Nuno Bettencourt (guitar), Pat Badger (bass), and Kevin Figueiredo (drums) - have released a static video for "X Out", a track from their new album, SIX, out now via earMusic. Check it out below:





SIX was recorded at Nuno Bettencourt’s home studio in Los Angeles. The album swings between unapologetic fits of fret-burning hard rock and intimately introspective balladry. Order SIX here.







SIX tracklisting:


"Rise"
"#Rebel"
"Banshee"
"Other Side Of The Rainbow"
"Small Town Beautiful"
"The Mask"
"Thicker Than Blood"
"Save Me"
"Hurricane"
"X Out"
"Beautiful Girls"
"Here's To The Losers"


"Hurricane":





"Save Me":





"The Mask:





"Small Town Beautiful":





“Other Side Of The Rainbow” video:





"Banshee" video:





"#Rebel" video:





"Rise" video:





Extreme's headlining “Thicker Than Blood” world tour is underway. It will be followed by stops in Australia and Japan in September and has already sold-out dates in cities including Detroit, Hampton Beach, Tokyo and Yokohama. The band also announced an additional jaunt beginning November 27 in Newcastle, UK and wrapping December 16 in Milan, IT.


Special guests Living Colour (who will also be supporting Extreme on their US and Australian shows) will appear on the UK leg and The Last Internationale will appear across Europe. Tickets  at extreme-band.com.





Tour dates:


August
26 - San Francisco, CA - The Regency #
28 - Portland, OR - TBD #
29 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox #


September
6 - Perth, AU - Regal Theatre #
8 - Adelaide, AU - Hindley Street Music Hall #
10 - Melbourne, AU - Forum #
12 - Sydney, AU - Enmore Theatre #
13 - Brisbane, AU - Fortitude Music Hall #
17 - Sendai, JP - Sendai Gigs
19 - Yokohama, JP - KT Zepp Yokohama
21 - Tokyo, JP - Hitomi Memorial Hall
25 - Nagoya, JP - Shimin Kaikan Hall
26 - Osaka, JP - Zepp Namba





November
27 - Newcastle, UK - O2 City Hall #
28 - Glasgow, UK - O2 Academy #
30 - Manchester, UK - O2 Academy #


December
1 - Wolverhampton, UK - Civic Hall #
3 - Bristol, UK - O2 Academy #
4 - London, UK - O2 Forum #
8 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7 Konzertfabrik *
10 - Berlin, Germany - Huxleys *
11 - Cologne, Germany - Live Music Hall *
12 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg Max *
14 - Antwerp, Belgium - Trix *
16 - Milan, Italy - Alcatraz *


# with Living Colour
* with The Last Internationale

Atlanta, GA rock band, Blackberry Smoke, are set to release their new album, Be Right Here, on February 16 via 3 Legged Records/Thirty Tigers. Pre-order/pre-save the album here.


Today, the band debut the album's lead single, "Dig A Hole". Listen/share here. and watch a music video below.  


Of the song, written by lead singer Charlie Starr and keyboardist Brandon Still, Starr shares, “The lyrics for this song came really quickly. We each have a finite amount of time on this earth, so you probably want to make the best out of it instead of wasting it. Eventually for all of us, they are going to you dig a hole, so try to have a good life before they do that.”




Produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell), Be Right Here is a timely reminder to be present and live authentically. Across these ten tracks - a collection of their signature rock and roll anthems, Americana-leaning ballads and country rock jams - the band celebrates the simple joys of life, the fleeting moments and the little bits of luck found along the way.  


Reflecting on the project, Starr shares, “We always track live together, but this time we had all our amps and drums and everything in the same room. It’s just as natural and as real as possible. The last album was very raw too, but with this one I remember different times I would say, ‘I think we should redo that,’ and Dave was like, ‘No, leave it that way. That way it’s magical.'"


Recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A and Cobb’s Georgia Mae in Savannah, the album features the band - Charlie Starr (vocals, guitar), Richard Turner (bass, vocals), Brit Turner (drums), Paul Jackson (guitar, vocals) and Brandon Still (keyboards) - alongside Preston Holcomb (drums) and Benji Shanks (guitar), as well as special guest vocals from The Black Bettys. Known for their electrifying live shows, the band will continue to tour through the end of this year. See below for complete itinerary. Full details can be found at www.blackberrysmoke.com/tour.


Throughout their prolific career, Blackberry Smoke has released seven studio albums including 2021’s You Hear Georgia, which celebrated their 20th anniversary as a band.


In addition to their studio albums, they have released several other projects such as their EPs Stoned, The Southern Ground Sessions and Live From Capricorn Studios as well as Homecoming: Live In Atlanta, a live album and concert film, which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk Album Sales chart.  


Since forming in 2001, Blackberry Smoke has continued to tour relentlessly, building a strong and loyal community of fans. In addition to their work as musicians, the band is deeply committed to charitable work and formed the Lana Turner Foundation, a non-profit supporting several national foundations committed to curing children’s cancer. With these efforts, the band has raised over $1,000,000 to date benefitting children’s cancer research.   





Be Right Here tracklisting;


"Dig A Hole"
"Hammer And The Nail"
"Like It Was Yesterday"
"Be So Lucky"
"Azalea"
"Don’t Mind If I Do"
"Whatcha Know Good"
"Other Side of the Light"
"Little Bit Crazy"
"Barefoot Angel"


"Dig A Hole" video:





Blackberry Smoke are:


Charlie Starr - Lead vocals/Guitar
Paul Jackson - Guitar/B.vox
Richard Turner - Bass/B.vox
Brandon Still - Keyboards
Brit Turner - Drums/Percussion
Benji Shanks - Guitar
Preston Holcomb - Percussion

Skid Row frontman, Erik Grönwall, has released a new "Backyard Sessions" video, featuring a performance of the Tom Petty classic, "Into The Great Wide Open".


Says Erik: "My guitar teacher introduced me to this song in high school and made it my homework. I still love the chord progression, the song and the story. It felt full circle recording this one with my high school buddy Philip."







The previous "Backyard Sessions" features a performance of the Mr. Big classic, "To Be With You". Check it out below:





Take a behind-the-scenes look at the preparations for the session:

MELVINS drummer Dale Crover will sit out the band's tour with BORIS and MR. PHYLZZZ in order to undergo emergency spinal surgery. Filling in for him will be former MELVINS drummer Coady Willis (BIG BUSINESS, HIGH ON FIRE),who played with the band between 2006 and 2016.

Earlier today, MELVINS released the following statement via social media: "MELVINS dedicate 'Twins Of Evil' tour to Dale Crover as he prepares for spinal surgery.

"We are sad to announce that literally days before leaving on tour, our drummer Dale Crover learned he needed immediate emergency spinal surgery which will take him out of commission for months. He's doing as well as can be expected considering the severity of the situation.

"The one stroke of luck in all this was that Coady Willis part of the MELVINS' family for 8+ years, who literally trained in sitting by Dale's side on too many tours to count is able to step in and take over on drums.

"With MR. PHYLZZZ already on the road heading to L.A. from Chicago and BORIS flying in from Japan, we all felt we needed to support Dale and the other bands on the bill, as well as the ticket holders, by continuing with the tour as scheduled. We ask everyone's solidarity during this dark time. Obviously, our primary concern right now is Dale's health, and we're doing everything possible on our end to make sure he gets what he needs to make a full recovery."

MELVINS' "Twins Of Evil" tour with BORIS and MR. PHYLZZZ will kick off on August 24 at the Belasco in Los Angeles. The seven-week trek will see the Los Angeles-by-way-of-Washington band MELVINS and the Japanese trio BORIS performing classic albums in their entirety: "Bullhead" (MELVINS) and "Heavy Rocks" (BORIS).

THE MELVINS have already had an eventful 40th-anniversary year, recently wrapping up a stint on the Ipecac "Geek Show" tour with labelmates MR. BUNGLE and SPOTLIGHTS, before venturing overseas for the band's first European outing since 2018. The group were also recently featured on a series of Revolver covers, marking their 1983 inception with a trio of portraits shot by TOOL's Adam Jones. Ipecac Recordings has spent the year highlighting previously released MELVINS' albums with quick-to-sell-out vinyl reissues.

THE MELVINS are one of modern music's most influential bands. Having formed in 1983 in Montesano, Washington, the group founded by singer/guitar player Buzz Osborne (with stalwart drummer Dale Crover joining the following year),has been credited with merging the worlds of punk rock and heavy music, forming a new subgenre all its own. Over the band's 40-year history, they've released 30-plus original albums, numerous live full-lengths and far too many to count singles and rarities. In the course of their discography, they've partnered with Jello Biafra, MUDHONEY and FANTÔMAS for individual releases and toured the world many times over. In fact, the band had the misfortune to be in both Christchurch and Tokyo for their 2011 earthquakes. In 2012, THE MELVINS completed the "51 States In 51 Days" (50 states + DC) tour, which was chronicled in the film "Across The USA In 51 Days". The current incarnation of the band is Osborne, Crover and Steven McDonald (REDD KROSS, OFF!). Previous lineups include a pairing of Osborne and Crover with BIG BUSINESS band members Jared Warren and Coady Willis, a four-piece featuring the current trio plus BUTTHOLE SURFERS' Jeff Pinkus, as well as MELVINS LITE, which partners Osborne and Crover with MR. BUNGLE's Trevor Dunn. Sometimes, if you're extra lucky, one version of THE MELVINS will open for THE MELVINS.

Photo credit: Chris Casella

Posted by (the) Melvins on Wednesday, August 23, 2023

FOO FIGHTERS' Dave Grohl, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' Chad Smith, JANE'S ADDICTION's Stephen Perkins, Gregg Bissonette and Shane Hawkins, the son of late FOO FIGHTERS drummer Taylor Hawkins, are among the guest musicians who performed with CHEVY METAL on August 21 at the Rock N Roll Pizza Bar in Simi Valley, California. Fan-filmed video of the concert, which included cover versions of classic songs from THE ROLLING STONES, VAN HALEN, LED ZEPPELIN, BLACK SABBATH, QUEEN, David Bowie and AC/DC, can be seen below.

Not your average "cover band", CHEVY METAL was formed by Taylor Hawkins and Wiley Hodgden and toured the world, been Mick Jagger's backing band and played with some of the best musicians on the planet. You never know who might show up to jam with CHEVY METAL, which plays only the "sickest tunes from the '70s and '80s."

In a 2019 interview with Forbes, Taylor said that CHEVY METAL "started out as kind of a goof. And it still really is a goof, but if we can go do a fun trip or if I can go do an autism benefit or scoliosis benefit or cancer benefit or if I can have fun and play all of those things are good," he said. "It wasn't meant for anything other than to keep my hands loose in between FOO FIGHTERS gigs. That's how it started, really. Obviously, it's not my first priority in life, but it's fun."

Taylor died in March 2022 in Bogota, Colombia due to a reported cardiovascular collapse at the age of 50.

He left behind his wife Alison Hawkins and three children — Oliver Shane, Annabelle and Everleigh.

FOO FIGHTERS played their first official concert with new drummer Josh Freese in late at Bank Of New Hampshire Pavilion At Meadowbrook in Gilford, New Hampshire.

FOO FIGHTERS revealed Freese as part of its new touring lineup during a pre-tour livestream called "Foo Fighters: Preparing Music For Concerts". Freese was unveiled as the drummer during the livestream after comedic cameos by Chad Smith of RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, Tommy Lee of MÖTLEY CRÜE and Danny Carey of TOOL.

FOO FIGHTERS' 11th album, "But Here We Are", was released in June on Roswell/RCA.

Need some last-minute tickets to tonight's big event? You're in luck! 🤘 Click the link for more info: https://www.harleysbowl.com/events/chevy-metal

Posted by Rock N Roll Pizza Bar on Monday, August 21, 2023

SEPULTURA drummer Eloy Casagrande has uploaded drum-cam video of the band's performance of the song "Kairos" on August 12 at the Alcatraz metal festival in Kortrijk, Belgium. Check it out below.

Casagrande joined SEPULTURA 12 years ago as the replacement for Jean Dolabella.

In 2021, guitarist Andreas Kisser spoke to France's Loud TV about how Casagrande's addition to has affected SEPULTURA's sound.

"We're very lucky to have such great musicians here in Brazil, especially in drumming," he said. "We have great drummers and percussionists. You see [Carlos] Santana and all those great names, Paul Simon and stuff, always using some Brazilian here and there regarding the drum world. And Eloy started playing drums very early. He was made for SEPULTURA, man. I mean, he played in some other bands and stuff, but here with SEPULTURA, he's really exploding; he's really free to express himself the way he wants to, and SEPULTURA's music really provides that. And in exchange, he gave me especially to write many new possibilities. I think 'Machine Messiah' and 'Quadra' are the consequence of that interaction we have, which is great. It's so inspiring. It's fantastic.

"We are kind of always writing," he continued. "Sometimes he sends me some drum loops and I send him some riffs and stuff, and it's really cool that we build stuff from there. And he's a very professional guy — the best drummer in the world; at least for SEPULTURA he's the best. [Laughs]"

In February 2020, SEPULTURA singer Derrick Green told Australia's Everblack Media that Casagrande has had "a tremendous impact" on the group since he joined in 2011. "It's undeniable because he's such a strong force," he said. "He loves playing metal music. He's one of the most talented drummers I've ever seen, honestly. That power is consistent from beginning to the end. It really has rubbed off on all of us to really push ourselves further. He's such a perfect match for the band. He really is always influencing us in so many ways to really go beyond — above and beyond."

In 2019, the now-32-year-old Eloy told Drumtalk that he didn't care about the long-simmering feud between founding SEPULTURA members Max and Igor Cavalera and his current bandmates. "I respect all the history," he said. "I have total respect for the past drummers, Igor and Jean. They are amazing guys, incredible guys, but we just live in the present. I really don't care what happened, what didn't happen. I respect all the music. I respect their music nowadays. It's just that we have to follow our path and that's it."

SEPULTURA's latest album, "Quadra", was released in February 2020 via Nuclear Blast. The LP was created at Sweden's Fascination Street Studios with renowned producer Jens Bogren.

SEPULTURA comprises Green, Kisser, bassist Paulo Xisto Pinto Jr. and Casagrande.

Greek guitar virtuoso Gus G., well known in rock and metal circles for his work as Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist and as leader of his own band FIREWIND, has weighed in on the fact that PANTERA's surviving members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass) have united with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.

Anselmo and Brown, along with Wylde and Benante, are headlining a number of major festivals across South America, Asia, North America and Europe and staging some of their own headline concerts. They are also supporting METALLICA on a massive North American stadium tour in 2023 and 2024.

Gus discussed the controversy surrounding PANTERA's comeback in a new interview with Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio. The 42-year-old guitarist said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "That has been the biggest news in metal the past year, or this year. What my thoughts are? I think it's great that they've done this and they're bringing PANTERA music to either the younger generation or people that never got a chance to see them even back in the day. I never got to see PANTERA back in the day. So, I definitely will go to a show if I have the opportunity, yes."

As for having Wylde fill in for the late, great Dimebag, Gus said: "That's the perfect lineup to go out and do that. Obviously, Zakk had a really good relationship with Dimebag; they were really close. In my mind, and I think in pretty much every fan's mind out there, that was the right choice and the only choice — the only guy that could step in and do it justice. And all the videos I've seen, they sound slamming; they sound killer. And it's a great show. I love the lights, the pyro, all the stuff they have. It's a big rock show, man. It's great."

The reformed PANTERA kicked off its U.S. headlining tour with LAMB OF GOD on July 28 at The Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania.

PANTERA's current setlist includes two songs which hadn't been performed live since the band's comeback last year: "Slaughtered", from PANTERA's 1994 album "Far Beyond Driven", widely considered the heaviest metal record to ever reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart; and "Revolution Is My Name" from PANTERA's final studio album, 2000's "Reinventing The Steel".

According to Billboard, the new PANTERA lineup has been given a green light by the estates of the band's founders, drummer Vincent "Vinnie Paul" Abbott and guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, as well as Brown, who in 2021 said Wylde wouldn't tour with PANTERA if a reunion were to happen. It's unclear what changed his mind.

Up until his passing, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for Dimebag's death.

Vinnie Paul and Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.

Vinnie passed away on June 22, 2018 at his other home in Las Vegas at the age of 54. He died of dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart, as well as severe coronary artery disease. His death was the result of chronic weakening of the heart muscle — basically meaning his heart couldn't pump blood as well as a healthy heart.

Rob Zombie kicked off his "Freaks On Parade" 2023 tour with Alice Cooper last night (Thursday, August 24) at Dos Equis Pavilion in Dallas, Texas. Fan-filmed video of Rob's performance can be seen below (courtesy of the Russell McKeown YouTube channel).

Rob's setlist was as follows, according to Setlist.fm:

01. The Triumph Of King Freak (A Crypt Of Preservation And Superstition)
02. Feel So Numb
03. Well, Everybody's Fucking In A U.F.O.
04. What Lurks On Channel X?
05. Superbeast
06. Demonoid Phenomenon
07. Drum Solo
08. The Lords Of Salem
09. House Of 1000 Corpses
10. More Human Than Human (WHITE ZOMBIE song)
11. Living Dead Girl
12. Thunder Kiss '65 (WHITE ZOMBIE song)
13. Dragula

This past May, Rob told "Howie Mandel Does Stuff" that he had started work on his next studio album. "It's been a while since I've made a record," he said. "I was [working on the music for the LP] till about a week ago. And it's going good. It's a long process.

"I like making records over a long period of time, so that I can live with it," he explained. "Sometimes you write something and it's new and you're all excited 'cause it's new and the time goes by, [and you're, like] 'Eh, it's just exciting 'cause it's new. It's not really that good.' But if you live with stuff for a while, you kind of [get a better sense of how strong it is]."

Elaborating on how he goes about making albums, Rob said: "Usually it starts with just me and the producer coming up with ideas, mapping out rough ideas. And then the band will start, 'I've got this idea. And this idea…' I haven't stood in a room with a band and jammed on ideas since the early '90s. 'Cause I just always found that to be really draining… I like working with one guy behind the board and we formulate ideas and you piece it together — kind of like you would a movie; it's kind of similar. As opposed to a bunch of guys jamming all day long. You're, like, 'Anyone got any ideas?' 'Not really.'"

Asked how close he is to completing the next album, Rob said: "Not close at all. We just have a ton of ideas and I've gotta take those ideas, whittle them down, start writing lyrics, see if that makes sense… Hopefully by next summer [it will be ready]."

Rob's seventh studio album, "The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy", was released in March 2021 via Nuclear Blast. The LP marked Rob's first new album in nearly five years. The follow-up to 2016's "The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser" was produced by Chris "Zeuss" Harris.

"The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy" was the third consecutive effort to feature Zombie and guitarist John 5 alongside bassist Piggy D. and drummer Ginger Fish.

Last fall, John 5 exited Rob's band to join MÖTLEY CRÜE as the replacement for that group's founding guitarist Mick Mars. John 5 has since been replaced in Zombie's band by returning guitarist Mike Riggs.

Riggs had previously spent six years as a member of ROB ZOMBIE. Riggs joined forces with Rob in the '90s and stayed with him into the early 2000s, eventually leaving in 2004 (when Rob Zombie was largely focusing on films rather than music) to start a project of his own. Riggs songwriting and crunching guitars can be heard on Rob Zombie's "Hellbilly Deluxe", "American Made Music To Strip By", "The Sinister Urge" and "The Past, Present & Future" records.

More recently, Riggs had kept busy with his band SCUM OF THE EARTH, named after a song from "Sinister Urge". SCUM OF THE EARTH favors the sort of rhythmic, industrial-influenced, mildly funky, hip-hop-minded alternative metal that Riggs honed during his initial Rob Zombie days.

John 5 had worked with Zombie for 16 years, co-writing on all studio albums since "Educated Horses", and composing the score for Zombie's 2013 movie "The Lords Of Salem".

Rider Johnson (aka Rider Ripperson), drummer of legendary Canadian thrash metal band Razor, has announced that he has left the band. He has been replaced by Shareef “Reef” Hassanien (Invicta).


A message from Rider states: "Yes, I left Razor awhile back, just kept it hush. I had a great decade with these boys lots of laughs but I felt like it was my time to move on. I wish them well and Shareef Hassanien is going to kill it. Love you all and stay thrash!!!"


Razor are yet to comment on the lineup change. Stay tuned for updates.

Nourished by nightmares and the throbbing pulse of pragmatic terror, Carnifex have returned with their ninth full-length studio album, Necromanteum, out October 6 via Nuclear Blast Records. After existing as a band for over 18 years, Carnifex continue to experiment with fresh song arrangements, and adding a unique sense of atmosphere to their inherently deathcore foundation.


The band offers fans the next single from the album entitled, “Death's Forgotten Children” which features Tom Barber of Chelsea Grin. Lyrically the song was inspired by near-death experiences that Scott and Tom have lived through. 


Carnifex's Scott Ian Lewis comments, “I really had a great time working with Tom. Not only did we collaborate on the vocal patterns but we co-wrote the lyrics, which is something I’ve never done before. The song came out great and we both hope the fans love it as much as we do.”




The recording process took place over the course of several weeks with producer Jason Suecof in Florida, and saw the return of live drums since COVID-19 restrictions made doing so on Graveside Confessions impossible. Mastered by Mark Lewis in Nashville, TN, the album was also co-produced by vocalist Scott Ian Lewis and drummer Shawn Cameron. The cover artwork glows with an emerald and lavender fog; a ghostly energy erupting from the depths of a cemetery. Designed by renowned comic book artist E.M. Gist, this gateway represents the questions we ask about what lies on the other side of reality.


Decades ago, wealthy intellectuals began installing psychomanteum in their homes; a secret room completely filled with mirrors, or a single mirror, and in complete darkness, in order to speak to the dead in other dimensions, and gain their knowledge. It was often used as a healing tool to help dissolve grief or considered a form of prophecy. Necromanteum presents the concept: what if you could use that kind of room to speak with death, itself? What secrets of the world could you uncover from a direct conversation with the grim reaper? Not a monster, but a fellow intellect.





Necromanteum will be available digitally and in the following formats:


- CD Jewel
- Vinyl (Neon Green w/ Purple Splatter)


Pre-order/pre-save here.





Necromanteum tracklisting:


"Torn In Two"
"Death's Forgotten Children"
"Necromanteum"
"Crowned In Everblack"
"The Pathless Forest"
"How The Knife Gets Twisted"
"Architect Of Misanthropy"
"Infinite Night Terror"
"Bleed More"
"Heaven And Hell All At Once"


"Death's Forgotten Children" visualizer:





"Necromanteum" video:

Carlos Santana has apologized for his "insensitive" comments about the trans community.

The 76-year-old musician faced criticism when a video of him making anti-transgender comments during a concert in New Jersey in July resurfaced on social media.

"When God made you and me, before we came out of the womb, you know who you are and what you are," the guitarist is seen saying in the clip.

He continued: "Later on when you grow up, and you see things and you start believing that you could be something that sounds good but you know it ain't right, because a woman is a woman and a man is a man — that's it.”

"Whatever you wanna do in the closet, that's your business, I'm okay with that," Santana added, before referencing his friendship with his "brother Dave Chapelle," who also faced criticism for anti-LGBTQ comments made in his 2021 Netflix comedy special "The Closer".

The criticism Santana faced after the video went viral prompted him to release a statement on his Facebook page, where he wrote: "I am sorry for my insensitive comments. They don't reflect that I want to honor and respect all person’s ideals and beliefs. I realize that what I said hurt people and that was not my intent. I sincerely apologize to the transgender community and everyone I offended.

"Here is my personal goal that I strive to achieve every day," he continued. "I want to honor and respect all person’s ideals and beliefs whether they are LGBTQ or not. This is the planet of free will and we have all been given this gift. I will now pursue this goal to be happy and have fun, and for everyone to believe what they want and follow in your hearts without fear. It takes courage to grow and glow in the light that you are and to be true, genuine, and authentic. We grow and learn to shine our light with love and compliments. Have a glorious existence. Peace."

Carlos's comments came as politicians in several states have attempted to restrict trans Americans' ability to seek gender-affirming medical treatments.

Over 400 bills having been introduced in state legislatures since the start of the year.

Carlos isn't the only aging rocker to publicly offer anti-trans comments. In an interview with Stereogum, Alice Cooper called gender-affirming care "a fad" and claimed that discourse surrounding the trans community has "gone now to the point of absurdity."

"I'm understanding that there are cases of transgender, but I’m afraid that it’s also a fad," Alice said. "I find it wrong when you've got a six-year-old kid who has no idea. He just wants to play, and you're confusing him telling him, 'Yeah, you're a boy, but you could be a girl if you want to be.'"

Cooper also echoed false claims proliferated by anti-trans politicians and activists online that kids these days are identifying as cats and using litter boxes.

"I think that's so confusing to a kid. It's even confusing to a teenager," he said. "You're still trying to find your identity, and yet here’s this thing going on, saying, 'Yeah, but you can be anything you want. You can be a cat if you want to be.' I mean, if you identify as a tree… And I'm going, 'Come on! What are we in, a Kurt Vonnegut novel?' It’s so absurd, that it's gone now to the point of absurdity."

Alice went on to repeat the false belief that transgender women pose a threat to cis women and girls in public restrooms.

"I can see somebody really taking advantage of this, though," Cooper said. "A guy can walk into a woman's bathroom at any time and just say, 'I just feel like I'm a woman today' and have the time of his life in there, and he's not in the least bit… He's just taking advantage of that situation. Well, that's going to happen. Somebody's going to get raped, and the guy's going to say, 'Well, I felt like a girl that day, and then I felt like a guy.' Where do you draw this line?"

KISS frontman Paul Stanley has been criticized for describing gender-affirming care for kids as a "sad and dangerous fad" and TWISTED SISTER's Dee Snider was consequently dropped off of the lineup for San Francisco Pride for seemingly agreeing with Paul.

I am sorry for my insensitive comments. They don’t reflect that I want to honor and respect all person’s ideals and...

Posted by Carlos Santana on Thursday, August 24, 2023

Original WHITESNAKE guitarist Bernie Marsden has died at the age of 72.

Bernie's passing was confirmed by his family in a social media post earlier today (Friday, August 25). They wrote: "On behalf of his family, it is with deep sadness we announce the death of Bernie Marsden. Bernie died peacefully on Thursday evening with his wife, Fran, and daughters, Charlotte and Olivia, by his side.

"Bernie never lost his passion for music, writing and recording new songs until the end."

WHITESNAKE singer David Coverdale shared a tribute to his former bandmate on social media.

"I've just woken up to the awful news that my old friend and former Snake Bernie Marsden has passed," he wrote. "My sincere thoughts and prayers to his beloved family, friends and fans. A genuinely funny, gifted man, whom I was honored to know and share a stage with."

Marsden was one of the U.K.'s foremost rock and blues guitarists, famous for his time in professional bands since 1972 and a founding member of one of the biggest rock acts of all time, the mighty WHITESNAKE.

But there was a lot more to this man, from his first band UFO to treading the boards of the National Theatre in London, on stage with Ringo Starr in Monaco, playing the Beacon Theatre in New York with THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND, writing and playing with Joe Bonamassa and MOTÖRHEAD.

His long-term friendships with so many top names in the guitar business, Billy Gibbons, Steve Lukather, Warren Haynes, as well as rejoining the new WHITESNAKE lineup of recent years and a solo career kept him both on the road and in the studio. He became interested in guitars as a teenager watching THE BEATLES, his fascination continued to his final days. Bernie also developed one of the most unique and expansive private guitar collections in the world.

At a rough guesstimate, Marsden's name appears on a hundred albums — maybe more. In addition to a long-running solo career, the Buckinghamshire-born guitarist had been a recording musician since the early 1970s via membership of such groups as WHITESNAKE, UFO, WILD TURKEY, BABE RUTH, PAICE ASHTON & LORD, COZY POWELL'S HAMMER, ALASKA, M3 and many more. Though there's a tendency to pigeonhole him as a blues-rock guitarist, each of Marsden's acts had its own individual flavor.

In a March 2018 interview with Tigman of the Albany, New York radio station Q103, Marsden stated about his time with WHITESNAKE: "When I look back on it, it was very, very busy — very hectic. I mean, we were touring pretty much all the time, and then we would break specifically to make two records a year, which seems crazy these days, but that's the way it was. And if you look back, it didn't hurt anybody — the creative juices were still flowing, and we managed to write some pretty good material. And it all went very, very well for three or four years. And then we came to an end roundabout '82. David [Coverdale, WHITESNAKE mainman] relocated to America — he lives up in Nevada — and put the band back together in the mid-'80s, but with kind of an American lineup. And that's the band that re-recorded 'Here I Go Again', and the rest of that is kind of history, and [that song] has kind of become an American anthem."

As for what he thought about Coverdale re-recording some of the early WHITESNAKE material with later lineups, Bernie said: "It was four or five years between the two things, and there was no bitterness or anything, I was not thinking, 'Oh, man. That should be me.' I don't work like that. I could listen to WHITESNAKE roundabout the '87 period and onwards, and to this day, when I still play with them occasionally. When they come over to Europe, I very often get up on stage and guest with them. But it was a different band. I could listen to WHITESNAKE then as if it was JOURNEY or FOREIGNER or TOTO, you know what I mean? I liked what they were doing. It wasn't the kind of thing we were doing — it was slightly more adult-orientated rock rather than what I was doing, [which was] kind of blues rock. But a good song is a good song, and as long as you have good musicians, it's always gonna sound good."

Photo credit: Fabio Gianarda
Good Morning…I’ve just woken up to the awful news that my old friend & former Snake Bernie Marsden has passed. My sincere thoughts & prayers to his beloved family, friends & fans. A genuinely funny, gifted man, whom I was honored to know & share a stage with
RIP, Bernie XXX pic.twitter.com/KXwsDEICN6

— David Coverdale (@davidcoverdale) August 25, 2023



On behalf of his family, it is with deep sadness we announce the death of Bernie Marsden. Bernie died peacefully on...

Posted by Bernie Marsden on Friday, August 25, 2023

David Coverdale was a relatively unknown 21-year-old singer-songwriter when he joined DEEP PURPLE in 1973. He went on to record three classic albums alongside the Rock And Roll Hall Of Famers before embarking on his musical journey a few years later with his band, WHITESNAKE.

Coverdale is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his DEEP PURPLE debut this year with a special version of "The Purple Album", WHITESNAKE's tribute to his three-year tenure with the legendary group. This newly remixed, remastered, and expanded edition of the 2015 album features previously unreleased recordings, including the very demo that secured Coverdale's spot with DEEP PURPLE.

"The Purple Album: Special Gold Edition" arrives on October 13 as a 2-CD/Blu-ray set for $29.98 and a 2-LP set on resplendent gold vinyl for $36.98. The new remix of "Burn" is available today digitally.

Coverdale recorded "The Purple Album" with guitarist Reb Beach, bassist Michael Devin, guitarist Joel Hoekstra (on his first WHITESNAKE album),and drummer Tommy Aldridge, reappearing on a WHITESNAKE studio album for the first time since 1989's "Slip Of The Tongue". The band cherry-picked gems from "Burn" (1974),"Stormbringer" (1974) and "Come Taste The Band" (1975),delivering inspired takes on fan favorites like "Lay Down Stay Down", "Lady Double Dealer" and "You Keep On Moving".

The 2-CD/Blu-ray version of "The Purple Album: Special Gold Edition" goes beyond the original with the addition of live recordings and concert videos from "The Purple Tour" ("The Gypsy", "Mistreated"),official music videos ("Sail Away", "You Fool No One"),and an assortment of previously unreleased material, including six alternate mixes of album tracks. The Blu-ray also offers a behind-the-scenes look at the album's making and a song-by-song commentary by Coverdale.

An exciting addition to the upcoming collection is the four-song demo Coverdale submitted to DEEP PURPLE, hoping to become the band's next singer. Recorded in 1972 with his former band, THE FABULOSA BROTHERS, the reel-to-reel tape was extensively restored after Coverdale stumbled upon it among his late mother's belongings. In the album's liner notes, Coverdale says: "I had no idea my Mam had the tape…For me, to open my Mam's trunk of personal items, 30 years after her passing, was a gift from Heaven." The collection also features several demos Coverdale recorded while working on songs for DEEP PURPLE's 1974 album "Stormbringer".

"The Purple Album: Special Gold Edition" 2-CD/Blu-ray track listing:

CD One: 2023 Remix

01. Burn
02. Lay Down, Stay Down
03. Love Child
04. Holy Man
05. The Gypsy
06. Lady Double Dealer
07. Might Just Take Your Life
08. Mistreated
09. Stormbringer
10. Sail Away (Interpolating "Elegy For Jon")
11. You Keep On Moving – featuring the Hook City Strings
12. Lady Luck
13. Coming Home
14. You Fool No One (Interpolating "Itchy Fingers") Dedicated in loving memory to Jeff Beck
15. Soldier Of Fortune

CD Two

The Purple Tour Five Live

01. Burn
02. The Gypsy
03. Mistreated
04. You Fool No One
05. Soldier Of Fortune

Alternative Mixes

06. Holy Man (Unzipped) *
07. Stormbringer (Punch In The Nuts Mix) *
08. Love Child (Alternate Mix) *
09. Soldier Of Fortune – featuring Joel Hoekstra & The Hook City Strings *
10. Soldier Of Fortune – featuring The Hook City Strings *
11. Soldier Of Fortune (Instrumental) – featuring The Hook City Strings *

The 1972 DC Purple Audition Tape Featuring The Fabulosa Brothers

12. Everybody's Talkin' *
13. Get Ready *
14. Lonely Town, Lonely Street *
15. Dancing In The Street *
16. 1974 DC Demo Ideas For The Stormbringer Album *

Blu-ray

Purple Music Videos

01. Lady Double Dealer
02. Stormbringer
03. Sail Away
04. Soldier Of Fortune
05. The Gypsy
06. Soldier Of Fortune – featuring Joel Hoekstra & The Hook City Strings*
07. Soldier Of Fortune – featuring The Hook City Strings*

Purplesnake Videos

08. Lay Down, Stay Down*
09. Holy Man*
10. You Keep On Moving*
11. You Fool No One*

Live Clips

12. Burn – Live "Atlantis" Video
13. Burn/Stormbringer – Live In The Still Of The Night
14. Soldier Of Fortune – Starkers In Tokyo

The Purple Tour Five Live

15. Burn
16. The Gypsy
17. Mistreated
18. You Fool No One
19. Soldier Of Fortune
20. The Purple Album: Behind The Scenes*
21. The Purple Album: Song-By-Song*

* Previously unreleased

When "The Purple Album" was originally released, Coverdale told Billboard: "Everyone did their homework, and every performance is done respectfully in honor of [DEEP PURPLE's] musicians. Though I focused on the twin-guitar attack of WHITESNAKE, we had a guest keyboard player because a huge part of the DEEP PURPLE sound was Jon Lord playing that amazing Hammond organ."

He continued: "There were respectful nods to the original musicians throughout the album, and it has come out delightfully. It's a tribute to Jon Lord, Ian Paice and Ritchie Blackmore, who gave me my break in the first place. I'd never even made a record when I joined DEEP PURPLE, and my first record went double gold, which was early platinum. They didn't even have platinum records back in those days!"

Coverdale added: "When we were working on it, each one of my musicians said these songs sounded as if they were written yesterday, and none of them were born when I first recorded them! It's a testament to the songs that they stand up. We've Whitesnaked them up and given them a fresh coat of paint, but it's still the same House of Purple."

Belgian black metal band Serpents Oath has signed with Odium Records for the release of their third album. Renowned for their intense and dark sound, Serpents Oath have established a formidable reputation in the darkness of the underground through their two exceptional albums, Nihil and Ascension. Now they have forged a new alliance with Odium Records, a label renowned throughout the world for their dedication to the dark, for the release of their as yet untitled third album - expected to descend upon us in late 2023.


Talking about their new relationship with Odium Records, Serpents Oath commented: "Since the release of our first album we have been in contact with Shadow of Odium Records. It was clear from the start that we shared the same vision on uncompromising black metal. Hence we are honored to team up with an elite underground label that has released material from bands like Ofermod, Beastcraft, Acherontas, Varathron and Black Altar."


Going on to speak about the new, forthcoming album the band added: "As this is the third record, we realized we had to challenge ourselves. Not only did we switch labels, but we also went to a different studio. The goal was to capture the energy that our live performances have and combine that with a pulverizing sound. At Project Zero Studio we achieved exactly that goal. Yarne pushed us to our limits when recording and then assured the mixing and mastering delivered that skull crushing result."




Shadow, the head of Odium Records was equally pleased to be able to welcome Serpents Oath to his roster: "After following up such a strong debut with an equally impressive second album it was clear to us that we wanted to work with Serpents Oath. They bring a fresh wind whilst capturing the spirit of '90s black metal. Their third album will see them taking this to the next level."





 

Hypocrisy played Hellfest in Clisson, France on June 15, 2023. Earlier today, the Swedish death metal heroes posted a recap video, along with the following statement from vocalist / guitarist Peter Tägtgren:  


"Throwing it back to the unforgettable show of Hypocrisy at Hellfest Open Air 2023. That's how our summer festival season begun this year and that was wild." 










 


 

It’s been a trying couple of years for one of the most enduring institutions of Southern Rock. In 2021, beloved veterans Black Oak Arkansas lost one of their founding members, guitarist, songwriter, and vibrant, rebellious spirit Rickie Lee Reynolds. Reynolds, who was there at the very inception of the band back in 1963 when they were calling themselves The Knowbody Else, was in many ways the heart of the group, the fiery soul who kept the music playing and set the stage for legendary frontman James “Jim Dandy” Mangrum. But you can’t keep a good band down, and today a new BOA lineup, still fronted by Mangrum, announce a new studio album that seeks to honor Rickie Lee’s memory and keep the flame of Southern Rock alive and burning!


The Devil’s Jukebox is, surprisingly, BOA’s very first album of all covers in their five-decade history. Sure, the band has been known for thunderous live versions of Tommy Bolin’s “Homeward Strut”, but now for the first time ever they were given a chance to hand-select songs to record and make their own. Unsurprisingly, the band chose great classic rock tracks like The Stones’ “Sympathy For The Devil” and Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody To Love”. They even reclaim what many perceive to be an anti-South song by Neil Young, “Southern Man”, which appears here alongside songs by Bob Dylan and The Mamas & The Papas.


But perhaps one of the biggest highlights of The Devil’s Jukebox is BOA’s absolutely killer take on the ‘90s alt rock megahit “Space Lord” originally by Monster Magnet. Built around one of the biggest, most bombastic guitar riffs of modern rock, “Space Lord” feels tailor-made for a southern rock reinvention and Black Oak does exactly that, infusing the track with a grittier, swampier feel that somehow makes the track even more sinister and compelling.







Stream / download the single here.


The same applies to many of the fantastic reinventions that BOA pull off on The Devil’s Jukebox and though his playing does not appear on the album, Rickie Lee’s spirit is palpable throughout. As band leader Mangrum puts it, “This album is dedicated to the memory of our brother, Rickie Lee Reynolds, who passed away right after we started recording this album. We love you Rickie Lee, you’ll never be forgotten.”


The Devil’s Jukebox is set for release on CD and digital September 1 with a beautiful vinyl version coming on September 22. Physical copies can be pre-ordered now via Cleopatra Records. Pre-order / pre-save the digital at this location.





Tracklisting:


"Sympathy For The Devil"    
"Space Lord"  
"All Along The Watchtower" 
"California Dreamin'" 
"Rock 'N' Roll Woman"         
"I'm A Man"   
"Somebody To Love" 
"Bold As Love"          
"Mr. Soul"      
"Southern Man"       
"Goin' Back" 
"Christmas Everywhere"   








 


 


 


 

BRING ME THE HORIZON's seventh full-length studio album, "Post Human: NeX GEn", which was originally scheduled to arrive on September 15 via Columbia Records, has been delayed until an as-yet-unspecified date.

Earlier today (Wednesday, August 23),Oli Sykes, who sings for the British rockers, released the following message via his social media: "So I got some bad news… nex gen won't be coming September 15th. unforeseen circumstances rendered us unable to complete the record to the standard we'd be happy with. I was hoping despite the setbacks we could pull it off in time for you guys but there's still so many little details I want to be perfect and until it's nailed I'm just not willing to give it to you guys.

"We can't give a new date just yet but just know it's close… & I know you guys have been so patient but you just gotta be a lil more.. we did finish the artwork at least… here's the final cover by my muse @alissic

"Sorry & thanks for understanding".

In a recent interview with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station, Sykes stated about "Post Human: NeX GEn": "It's part of four EPs that we're working on called like the 'Post Human' series. And they've all got their own particular sound. And this record's definitely leaning more into, like, I guess the kind of bands where I got obsessed with rock music was like when I got into my hardcore, post-hardcore emo phase. My first-ever show was LINKIN PARK, but then I started going to straight-edge hardcore shows and punk gigs and stuff like that, and local shows at pubs and stuff like that. And that's when I got introduced to hardcore music and then bands like GLASSJAW and AMERICAN NIGHTMARE and all that stuff. This record's definitely paying homage to that stuff. And even bands like FALL OUT BOY and MY CHEM[ICAL ROMANCE] and all the emo stuff, TAKING BACK SUNDAY and stuff. It's definitely got that feel, but then we're trying to push it in a direction that makes it feel like contemporary and modern and something new. So you get kind of the nostalgia of those years, but then it feels fresh, you know?"

After Meltdown noted that no two songs on "Post Human: NeX GEn" sound similar, Oli said: "We're definitely trying to hone in on a vibe, but then I guess the spectrum of emo and hardcore and post-hardcore and stuff like that is quite wide. So it does give us a fair bit of room to play within." Referencing the aggression of the recently released song "AmEN!", Oli said: "We're definitely tapping into like bands like THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN and GLASSJAW. There is not that much difference between a metalcore song and when you get into that world of like post-hardcore and stuff, but it's more about the freeness and the kind of frantic and unhinged energy of it, which was really fun to tap back into, because I always feel like even when we're heavy, we've become quite a polished band. And it was very fun to kind of just throw all that out and just be, like, rough and ready again."

Two months ago, Sykes told NME about "Post Human: NeX GEn": "LINKIN PARK were the first band that I got into, but when I found GLASSJAW is when I became obsessed with music and knew I wanted to be a singer, so the album pays homage to that."

He continued: "I wouldn't say it's a hyper-pop album, but I've definitely been inspired by that world. I admire how obnoxious, trashy and in your face that music feels, which is what I was drawn to when I got into emo, hardcore and screamo.

"It's not that we've lost that in our music, but as you become a bigger band, things do get more polished. I want to go the opposite way. Let's be unhinged, let's stop trying to make all the edges smooth."

The frontman went on to explain how "the hope is that this record is pure fun" with "no limits on how or what we want to express."

"There's no, 'That song could be played on the radio if we don't scream,'" he revealed. "It's almost like we’re connecting to that time before BRING ME THE HORIZON had any prospects of being a big band. Back then, there was never anything but, 'What do you want to make?' — so we're trying to tap back into that."

BRING ME THE HORIZON is Sykes, guitarist Lee Malia, bassist Matt Kean, drummer Mat Nicholls, and keyboardist Jordan Fish.

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