Acclaimed Finnish glam/hard rockers HANOI ROCKS will release a new edition of their autobiography, "All Those Wasted Years". This new version, which will be specially packed with two previously unreleased recordings on a seven-inch single, a newly penned note from singer Michael Monroe and an updated chapter, will be available through Cleopatra Records on Friday, September 29 at this location.

"All Those Wasted Years" chronicles HANOI ROCKS from birth to their early demise, following the untimely death of drummer Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley, to their triumphant resurrection — as told by the band members themselves. The new edition has been translated into English and published in a gorgeous 348-page hardcover book featuring rare and never-seen-before photos.

Monroe, who turned 60 in June 2022, celebrated the milestone with a bang on September 23, 2022 at the Helsinki Ice Hall (Helsingin Jäähalli) in Finland. As the grand finale of the concert, the original lineup of HANOI ROCKS took the stage: Monroe, Andy McCoy, Sami Yaffa, Nasty Suicide and Gyp Casino. Prior to that night's performance, the quintet, which started a historic chapter in the world's music scene, was last seen on stage at Helsinki's Tavastia on July 27, 1982.

Monroe discussed the HANOI ROCKS reunion during a September 2022 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". Regarding how the gig came about, he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "What happened was Sami Yaffa and Nasty Suicide were gonna be there anyway [for the DEMOLITION 23 reunion], since Sami is in my band playing the bass. I met with Gyp Casino, the original drummer from HANOI, in Stockholm last December when we were filming my documentary… [He is] a cool guy [and I have] nice memories [of playing with him]. And I invited him over to do something [at the gig]. And then Andy McCoy, he called me. He invited himself. He said, 'I heard you've got this 60th-birthday celebration. If I have time from my world tour, I may have time to show up and maybe I'll come and do 'Tragedy'.' [And I said] 'Okay. Whatever. Fine.' So then I started thinking about it. I said, 'Wow. That would be actually cool. All the guys will be there, the original lineup. Why don't we do a few HANOI songs in the end?' And then we were gonna have it as a surprise, and everybody agreed. This was the only way and the only time to do it, for the right reasons. Then Sami Yaffa told me one night, 'Are you sure you don't wanna let people know ahead of time? Because if fans find out about this later on afterwards, they're gonna be pissed off.' So I said, 'You're right. We should let people know.' The Ice Hall in Helsinki was already over half sold out, but then we had this press conference, and I had Gyp Casino come over too — all five of us — and it was fun. It was surreal to be with everybody right there — all five of us together — after 40 years. It was amazing. It felt really cool, actually. It was fun. And we announced that the end of the show will be the original lineup doing a set of HANOI songs. The next day, it was all sold out and everybody wants to be there."

Monroe and McCoy founded HANOI ROCKS in the late 1970s and the band's original lineup was established in 1980. HANOI ROCKS, the first Finnish rock band to make an international breakthrough, recorded their first three albums with the original lineup: "Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks" (1981),"Oriental Beat" (1982) and "Self Destruction Blues" (1982). Casino was replaced in 1982 by Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley who became an integral member of HANOI ROCKS. Razzle died in a tragic accident in 1984. Unfortunately, this led to the band's untimely demise in early 1985.

HANOI ROCKS did reform once before in 2002, albeit with only Monroe and McCoy from the band's classic lineup, and released a comeback album, "Twelve Shots On The Rocks". The reunion lasted until 2009.

In a 2019 interview with Duke TV, Monroe stated about the band's "rebirth" two decades ago: "It was not planned. It just happened. I would never do a reunion to cash in on the reunion, so to speak, to cash in on the old name. It was interesting for me to see what we could accomplish with Andy because he had learned to respect my songwriting abilities, which he didn't in the past. It was cool to see what we could do. We had some old Ideas, like from 1984, that we had left over, that I remembered, that we reworked and made into songs. Then it started slipping into the same old 'you'd be nothing without me' and all that shit. I was, like, 'Are you sure you want to start this? Let's do some farewell tours.' I was ready to commit to that for the rest of my life if it had continued being fun, but it came to a point where it wasn't fun anymore, so I called Andy and said, 'Let's put this thing to bed.'"

He continued: "After that, I haven't seen him. We haven't had much to do with him, unless it was business with HANOI or something that has to be taking care of, our name in the paper — fine; we'll deal with that. Obviously, we're not the best of friend-friends, not like with Sami. Sami, Nasty and me had this bond that was created in the first half of a year of HANOI ROCKS when we started living in the streets of Stockholm homeless. That made us had this street gang kind of vibe. Us against the world, looking out for each other."

Photo credit: Ville Juurikkala (courtesy of Wilful Publicity)

Danish rock and rollers VOLBEAT will spend all of 2024 working on material for the band's next studio album.

VOLBEAT frontman Michael Poulsen outlined the band's plans for the follow-up to 2021's "Servant Of The Mind" in a video message uploaded earlier today (Thursday, August 24) on VOLBEAT's social media.

He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Hello VOLBEAT listeners and VOLBEAT fans out there. We are home from the U.S. [and] Canada tour. And from everybody in VOLBEAT, I wanna say thank you so much for the amazing support in Canada and U.S. and all the people who've been traveling to see VOLBEAT. We had a great time with HALESTORM, and can't wait to come back.

"So what's up next? Now we're home. We are gonna use some time on family, our kids, and we're not gonna tour next year, but we are gonna write a new album and go into the studio to record the album. So next time we are on the road, it'll be with a bunch of new songs. Can't wait. A lot of great ideas for the next record. So we will get started working on that.

"What else? Yeah. You know, since VOLBEAT is not touring next year, I will be on the road with [my death metal side project] ASINHELL. Check 'em out.

"And, again, thank you for your amazing support. You rock."

In a recent interview with Sonic Perspectives collaborator Rodrigo Altaf, Poulsen spoke about VOLBEAT's recent split with longtime guitarist Rob Caggiano. Rob's replacement for VOLBEAT's current tour is Flemming C. Lund of the Danish extreme metal outfit THE ARCANE ORDER. Michael said: "There's a statement on the net [about the split with Rob], and I can't go into too much details. But the thing was, three weeks before a tour, we suddenly became a three-piece. And, of course, for us, [we initially thought], 'Let's just go out as a three-piece. This is the situation we are in now.' But at the end of the day, when we were sitting down and I was about to do the setlist, of course we became a little bit handicapped. So, there was different options to who we were going to give a call to help us out, but since I already worked with Flemming and I knew Flemming, I gave him a call, even though he said, 'I have no idea how VOLBEAT sounds like.' [Laughs] He's only into death metal. So he said, 'I just have to listen to a lot of VOLBEAT records, I guess.' Of course he knew VOLBEAT — everybody knows VOLBEAT in Denmark — but he was not listening to VOLBEAT. So he said, 'Give me a few days just to actually figure out what you guys are playing,' beside the stuff that you hear on the radio. And he took up the challenge, and we made an agreement and he's helping out VOLBEAT for this year."

VOLBEAT played its first concert with Lund on June 10 at the Rockfest festival in Hyvinkää, Finland.

Just five days earlier, VOLBEAT announced that it had officially parted ways with Caggiano. No reason was given for the split, but the remaining bandmembers said that they wished their "brother Rob all the best with everything he does in the future." They went on to thank Rob "for ten amazing years."

A day later, Lund commented on his decision to accept the offer to play with VOLBEAT on the band's 2023 shows, saying in a statement: "The cat's out of the bag! Sometimes unexpected things happen in life and this must be said to be one of them: I can now finally reveal that I will be playing stand-in in VOLBEAT for Rob Caggiano on lead guitar on VOLBEAT's upcoming summer tour. This means I'm playing all upcoming European festival shows in Finland, Norway, Sweden (warming up for METALLICA),Switzerland, Germany and Austria as well as the US/Canada tour in July and August.

"When I was asked by Michael Poulsen not many weeks ago if I wanted to help them, I was honestly at first very overwhelmed by the request and found it very difficult to see myself in that role. But after a little time to think and talk with those closest to me, it dawned on me that it was something I could not possibly say no to.

"So this summer takes a somewhat unexpected, but obviously insanely cool turn. I will try to enjoy every moment and just take in the many experiences and impressions that will surely be an experience of a lifetime.

"A big thank you must go to my fantastic workplace MCB for the great flexibility so that it could be successful, and not least to my better half Julie who, as usual, supported and stood behind me!"

THE ARCANE ORDER is a Danish extreme metal quintet which released its fourth album, "Distortions From Cosmogony", on June 9 via Black Lion Records.

Caggiano played on VOLBEAT's last four studio albums: 2013's "Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies", 2016's "Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie", 2019's "Rewind, Replay, Rebound" and "Servant Of The Mind".

An acclaimed musician, songwriter and producer, Caggiano joined ANTHRAX as lead guitarist in 2001, appearing on 2003 album "We've Come For You All" and 2004's "The Greater Of Two Evils". He was onstage with the band during the famous 2010-2011 "Big Four" tour alongside SLAYER, MEGADETH and METALLICA, and he played on and produced ANTHRAX's 2011 critically acclaimed album "Worship Music".

Over the years, Caggiano has also garnered five Grammy nominations as a record producer/guitarist and has worked with a very wide range of artists including CRADLE OF FILTH, ANTHRAX, VOLBEAT, THE DAMNED THINGS, H20, Jesse Malin and even Bruce Springsteen.

When Caggiano was enlisted as producer for VOLBEAT in early 2013, the collaboration was so phenomenally successful that he was quickly invited to join the band as well. The resulting album, "Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies", achieved major chart success on both sides of the Atlantic, as did "Seal The Deal & Let's Boogie".

Photo credit: Ross Halfin (courtesy of Q Prime)
Volbeat update from Michael 😈 pic.twitter.com/avL6K7XRKY

— Volbeat (@VOLBEAT) August 24, 2023

Legendary SoCal punk rock band THE OFFSPRING has shared the third episode of its podcast "Time To Relax With The Offspring", featuring special guest and tourmate, Pierre Bouvier of SIMPLE PLAN.

Ahead of the start of this summer's "Let The Bad Times Roll" North American tour, guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman and singer Bryan "Dexter" Holland alongside their longtime friend Jason "Blackball" McLean (from "You've Gotta Keep 'Em Separated") sit down with Bouvier in the studio to reminisce about getting into mischief on tour and address crucial questions like, "Will Noodles wear shorts on stage?" "Who got a full body cavity search in Sweden?" and "Ever have any gnarly car crashes?" Tune in to find out and make sure to catch the "Let The Bad Times Roll" tour in a city near you now through September 3.

Watch the new episode of "Time To Relax With The Offspring" on the band's YouTube channel below. Audio downloads are available on Spotify, Apple Music, iHeart Radio and Audible.

"Time To Relax With The Offspring" features Wasserman and Holland alongside McLean. The open format video podcast brings friends into their studio to chat music, touring, life and everything in between. Kick off your shoes, lean back and just enjoy the nonsense. It's time to relax with THE OFFSPRING.

The first episode of the podcast, released in June, featured special guest Fletcher Dragge (of PENNYWISE). The guys shared some of their fondest memories together over the past 30 years, punk rock hacks and debauchery.

Frequently regarded as one of the best rock bands of all time, THE OFFSPRING have garnered a reputation for its unmistakable sound and social comment. The multi-platinum band first achieved worldwide success in the 1990s with the release of their album "Smash", which sold over 11 million copies. Following "Smash", they continued to release hit after hit, popularizing rock at a mainstream level. Throughout their career, they've sold over 40 million albums, toured arenas, and built a massive fan base globally. The group is also currently working on new music.

THE OFFSPRING is an American band from Garden Grove, California, formed in 1984. Throughout their 38-year career, they have released ten studio albums. THE OFFSPRING is often credited — alongside fellow California bands GREEN DAY and RANCID — for reviving mainstream interest in rock in the 1990s. They have sold over 40 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling rock bands in history.

Michael Sweet of openly Christian rockers STRYPER says that he finds it "odd that many metalheads have a problem with Jesus yet have absolutely no problem with the devil".

The 60-year-old musician, whose band threw Bibles into the audience and placed a Bible verse on STRYPER's posters (Isaiah 53:5),made the comment in a social media post earlier today (Tuesday, August 22). He wrote: "I find it interesting that most (and I mean most) people who write us off say that it's because we sing about Jesus and that they could never get into that. Yet at the very same time they'll sit (or stand) and listen to a band sing about Satan and not bat an eye. Even though they're not into Satan. It's always struck me as odd that many metal heads have a problem with Jesus yet have absolutely no problem with the devil".

A little over two years ago, Sweet weighed in on the debate about cancel culture, saying that he was worried that it wouldn't be long before the Christian Bible became "canceled." At the time, Sweet took to Twitter to write about his concerns, noting how he and his STRYPER bandmates threw out Bibles to the crowd at their live shows.

"We've been handing out bibles for almost 40 years," he wrote. "For the first time in my life I'm asking myself this question – I wonder how long it will be before this book is cancelled? I know it may seem like a silly thought, but it's really not. It's just a matter of time. Frightening!"

In a 2015 interview with The Great Southern Brainfart, Sweet claimed that STRYPER was more honest in its continuous efforts to emphasize Christian values and messages than many metal musicians who sing about Satan and warfare but go to church on Sunday. He said: "Tom Araya from SLAYER gets up there with the pentagrams and upside down crosses and the screaming and the evil but then he gets off stage and goes to church. Don't get me wrong, I think that's great, but it also brings into question the depth of what they're doing and who they're doing it for."

Asked if it's an underlying goal of STRYPER to get all of its fans to convert to Christianity, Sweet said: "Absolutely not. We never try to convert people. I mean, if there's someone who's there that wants to talk to us about God or say they're just broken and are looking to learn more about God, of course. We're going to do that. We'll have dinner with them and talk to them all about it, but we don't get out there and say, 'Turn or burn in hell!' A lot of Christians take that approach but we don't. We're not about that and we've never been about that. That turns me off just like any other person. We're just all about loving people and hanging out with people. We go and perform in bars."

Formed 40 years ago, STRYPER's name comes from Isaiah 53:5, which states: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

STRYPER's albums include "To Hell With The Devil", "Second Coming", "No More Hell To Pay", "Fallen", "God Damn Evil", "Even The Devil Believes" and the band's latest effort, "The Final Battle".

In a 2018 interview with the Detroit Free Press, Michael said that STRYPER was never fully embraced by the heavy metal and hard rock communities, largely because of the band's Christian lyrics.

"We've never been accepted by either side," he said. "The secular side, the mainstream, they've never accepted us to this day. We're probably that band that everyone's going to go to whenever there's a time to mock. We'll be the band used for that in most cases. Now on the Christian side, we've never really had the full support of the Christian side because we don't fit into their little club. We're not wearing suits and ties and going to every church and preaching."

I find it interesting that most (and I mean most) people who write us off say that it’s because we sing about Jesus and...

Posted by Michael Sweet on Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Roy Khan says that a number of things contributed to his decision to leave KAMELOT more than a decade ago.

The now-53-year-old Norwegian singer announced his exit from KAMELOT in April 2011 after taking several months off to recover from a "burnout."

After his departure from KAMELOT, Khan, who is a devout Christian, joined a church in the coastal town of Moss, Norway.

In a brand new interview with Justin Young of Monsters, Madness And Magic, Roy — whose full name is Roy Sætre Khantatat — was asked what led to his split with KAMELOT. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Everything. Too much travel. Too much work. I had my first kids. I got married and I was pretty much falling into every pit there was. And this whole character that I was creating was very different from the person that I was and wanted to be at home. And those two characters pulled farther and farther from each other and that whole thing just tore me apart. I wasn't really present when I was at home either. I'd come back from a six-week tour and just take my shoes off and sit right down on the PC and work on something, and it was not good. And I got mentally sick. That summer of 2010, I had a period of five, six weeks where I literally did not sleep. Maybe, I mean a little bit, of course, but there were so many nights that I did not sleep at all. I just wandered around the house and worrying about everything and nothing."

Asked if he became religious after his exit from KAMELOT, Roy said: "Religious? Depends on what you mean by religious, how you define that. But I've always been occupied with big questions and also spiritual things. I mean, those kind of things have always fascinated me. But there were some really weird things that happened to me in connection with me being at my lowest low ever in 2010. I mean, obviously, I was really mentally ill at that point, but we experienced things. I mean, I experienced things that other people experienced together with me, and the timing of things were really awkward. Whatever that was, it definitely made me completely change my mind on the whole issue, is there something out there that we can't see that affects us? I'm positive about that. And I still have to sit down and pinch myself in the arm and just remind myself that the things that happened happened. I mean, some of those things people surely will say are coincidence. Some will say that I just imagined it. Some people will say that — some people won't even believe. But for me, it was very, very clear. And, there's no doubt in my mind. That doesn't mean that that completely changed my life. I mean, it did, but it's not like I was a whole new being all of a sudden. I still have things that I struggle with. It's not like you go from being an arrogant, sinful bastard to being an angel. It's a process. But all those things, having those things in mind for me is definitely gradually changing me in my approach to other people, life in general and then how I look at the time that I have left on this planet."

A year ago, Roy told Chaoszine about his split with KAMELOT: "I'm really, really extremely thankful that KAMELOT was able to continue without me, 'cause I had no intention to hurt the band. It was a very personal decision to quit the band and I simply had to. And I'm just glad that everything turned out in the end to be… They managed to go on without me, and I'm just very thankful for that, really."

Khan, who reformed his pre-KAMELOT band CONCEPTION five years ago and released an EP, 2018's "My Dark Symphony", and a full-length album, 2020's "State Of Deception", previously reflected on the circumstances that led to him ending his long working relationship with KAMELOT during an appearance in 2021 on the "Breaking Absolutes With Peter Orullian" podcast. Roy said: "That whole thing was a cocktail of several things that just happened to climax at that point. As you all, KAMELOT was getting more and more popular, so I was away months every year — like half the year at least I was gone. I was having a family, and that right there was starting to tear me apart. And then I was living my life not very healthy — let's put it that way — and I did a lot of stupid stuff back then that… I knew in my heart that it was going down the drain."

He continued: "I remember every night when I sang [the KAMELOT song] 'Karma', I would feel that this shit is gonna knock me on the back of the head at some point. If it's gonna tomorrow, [if] it's gonna be two years from now, I don't know, but the way I live my life, that's not gonna work — it's not sustainable. And then it happened. I knew for so many years, actually, that this was gonna not work out, and then, all of a sudden, it happened. I broke down. I had a full summer where I barely slept — like six to eight weeks where I didn't sleep a whole lot of hours during those six to eight weeks, and I was going really completely crazy. And in connection with that, a lot of stuff happened."

According to Khan, leaving KAMELOT after a 13-year run weighed heavily on him at the time.

"Quitting KAMELOT was the best decision that I've ever made, and by that I don't mean that… KAMELOT was a fantastic thing in my life, and Thomas [Youngblood, KAMELOT founder] and the other guys — it had nothing to do with them; it was all me and the way I lived my life, and I just couldn't take it any longer," he explained. "And I was also overworked — I worked all the time. Even when I was home. The first thing I'd do when I got back home is I would kick my shoes off in the hallway and I'd just sit right down at the computer and start working. I was really not a good husband and I was not a good father. Lots of things weren't good about me at that point.

"Quitting KAMELOT at that point, it was easy but it was hard," he elaborated. "It was easy because I didn't really have a choice. I was really wrecked. And at the same time, it was hard because I'd been working to get to that point my whole life, basically — 20 years, at least — and finally I was there. And then I threw the towel in and said, 'Hey, guys, I'm not coming in for the next tour.' 'Okay. Well, what's wrong?' 'Well, actually, I'm not coming back at all.' And obviously, everybody… My mom was, like, 'Are you kidding me? Are you serious?' Then the guys in the band, they thought that it was gonna pass. But I knew in my heart that summer [of 2010], already in August, I knew that that's it."

KAMELOT officially announced Tommy Karevik as its new lead singer in June 2012. The Florida-based band has recorded four albums so far with the Swedish vocalist: 2012's "Silverthorn", 2015's "Haven", 2018's "The Shadow Theory" and 2023's "The Awakening".

Asked if he has listened to any of KAMELOT's recent material with Karevik, Roy told Italy's SpazioRock back in 2018: "Yes I have. I really like some of their new stuff. Sounds classical KAMELOT in my ears, and Tommy is a great singer."

OF MICE & MEN has shared the music video for the song "Castaway". The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, "Tether", due on October 6 via SharpTone.

"'Castaway' is about longing for connection with the people in our lives who tend to distance themselves when dealing with hardships, and how our inability to help them often feels like we're frozen in time," the band says.

Taking all creative matters into their own hands, the four members of the Southern California act produced and engineered all of the songs on "Tether", their eighth album. Bassist/vocalist Aaron Pauley mixed and mastered the album while drummer Valentino Arteaga designed and painted the album's artwork. As a legion of devoted listeners worldwide has come to expect, guitarists Phil Manansala and Alan Ashby, Aaron and Tino poured their hearts and souls into every note, creating another sonic document of their lives.

"With this one, we weren't really focused on how it sounded as much as we focused on how it felt," Pauley explains. "And that's a weird thing to do when all you're working with is sound. But that was really the goal. And we walked away from making it, feeling like we've accomplished that."

OF MICE & MEN takes sobering looks at depression, anxiety, loneliness, and existential dread, powering through the darkness, and emphasizing the importance of creativity as a balm for mental health. A commanding tempest of sounds coalesces within OF MICE & MEN, blending the uplifting eloquence of modern active rock with the atmospheric dissonance of experimental post-rock. The band first emerged as part of a vanguard of future aggressive rock hitmakers. Over the years, they've distinguished themselves with musicality, creative ambition, and resilient determination.

Album eight is no less ambitious. "Tether" is anchored by a reflective meditation on what it means to draw together as friends, family men, artists, and bandmates. What does it mean to be there for the people who depend on us, knowing we can't fully protect them from the hardships of life?

"Tether" is the next step in OF MICE & MEN's evolution, combining their core sound with experimental and ethereal sound designs. The creative process focused on the excitement of discovery rather than preconceived "goals." Pursuing the moments when the elusive "x factor" reveals itself in the songs. Those moments are palpable in songs like "Integration", "Warpaint", "Enraptured" and "Indigo".

The OF MICE & MEN core since 2016 — Aaron, Alan, Tino and Phil — maintain a powerful bond with their audience and each other, no matter the obstacles. Whether a powerful anthem or atmospheric confession, their songs translate in intimate clubs and massive festivals. "It's about creating moments for people," Pauley says. "Music is the soundtrack to people's lives."

OF MICE & MEN will hit the road this fall with BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and VENDED.

HELMET, the iconic alternative rock band known for its groundbreaking sound and electrifying performances, will release a new studio album, "Left", on November 10 via earMUSIC. The official music video for the LP's first single, "Holiday", can be seen below.

After the critically acclaimed "Dead To The World" in 2016, HELMET is back with their signature blend of heavy, riff-loaded rock and evocative lyrics that have resonated with fans worldwide for over three decades. "Time for your holiday serial murder / How time slips away", resonate the opening lines of "Holiday". HELMET take no prisoners in their direct and unfiltered expression, leaving listeners with a lasting impact and a sense of urgency to examine the world around them.

"Left" sees HELMET — comprising frontman Page Hamilton, drummer Kyle Stevenson, guitarist Dan Beeman and bassist Dave Case — carve out a musical landscape that is taut, muscular, and direct. Hamilton's lead guitar lines feel like everything from downed power lines arcing to exploding resistors in shortwave radios. On "Left", every snare crack hits like gunfire, every solo seemingly a manifestation of rabies-induced psychosis.

Guided by Hamilton alongside co-producers Jim Kaufman and Mark Renk, and mastered by Howie Weinberg, the 11 songs on the new album are leaner and meaner in their execution than previous aural throwdowns. "Left" is powered by unbridled determination, a renewed sense of purpose and a desire to create more new dialects within the musical language Hamilton invented via his use of drop-D tuning.

"Left" track listing:

01. Holiday
02. Gun Fluf
03. NYC Tough Guy
04. Make-Up
05. Big Shot
06. Bombastic
07. Reprise
08. Dislocated
09. Tell Me Again
10. Powder Puff
11. Resolution

HELMET will embark on a U.S. tour in September. Support on the trek, dubbed the "Look Left Tour", will come from SOUL BLIND.

To coincide with "Left"'s release, HELMET will undertake a European tour the same month. The trek will kick off on November 8 in Prague, Czech Republic and make stop the Germany, Scandinavia, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium and France before concluding on December 13 in London, United Kingdom.

For a complete list of tour dates, visit HelmetMusic.com.

In December 2021, Hamilton confirmed to the "Thunder Underground" podcast that he had begun working on material for HELMET's first album in more than six years.

HELMET's first official live album, "Live And Rare", was released in November 2021 via earMUSIC. It was made available on heavyweight black vinyl as well as a CD digipak edition and digital.

Although HELMET disbanded in 1997, Hamilton revived the band in 2004, and the group has continued to tour and record.

"Dead To The World" was released in October 2016 via earMUSIC. The effort was produced by Hamilton and mixed by Jay Baumgardner.

In 2021, HELMET released a cover of GANG OF FOUR's 1981 song "Into The Ditch". The track was recorded for a tribute album to GANG OF FOUR's guitarist Andy Gill, "The Problem Of Leisure: A Celebration Of Andy Gill And Gang Of Four".

Having cut his teeth playing with avant-garde guitar icon Glenn Branca and indie stalwarts BAND OF SUSANS, Hamilton launched HELMET in 1989, and the band released its debut album, "Strap It On", on the independent Amphetamine Reptile label the following year. HELMET soon became the subject of an unprecedented major-label bidding war, ultimately signing with Interscope and releasing "Meantime" in June 1992.

Even while the band was absent from the spotlight, HELMET continued to exercise considerable influence on multiple generations of bands. Their songs have been covered by the likes of CHEVELLE, DEFTONES, FAITH NO MORE, PIG DESTROYER and SOULFLY, and the band inspired a 2016 HELMET tribute album titled "Meantime Redux". HELMET has also been cited as a key influence on such bands as GODSMACK, KORN, MARILYN MANSON, MASTODON, PANTERA, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, SEPULTURA, SLIPKNOT, STAIND, SYSTEM OF A DOWN and TOOL.

Photo courtesy of earMUSIC

As a record producer and mixer I live for the moment when the artist and I can hold the physical product in our hands....

Posted by Jim Kaufman on Friday, August 18, 2023

Professionally filmed video of METALLICA performing the song "The Memory Remains" at the second show of the North American leg of the band's "M72" world tour, which took place on August 6 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey can be seen below.

The trek, which launched in late April in Amsterdam, sees the band playing two nights in every city it visits — with each "No Repeat Weekend" featuring two completely different setlists and support lineups. The "M72" tour features a bold new in-the-round stage design that relocates the famed METALLICA Snake Pit to center stage, as well as the "I Disappear" full-tour pass and the debut of discounted tickets for fans under 16 years of age.

METALLICA launched the second East Rutherford show with "Whiplash" from the band's debut album, "Kill 'Em All", which came out in 1983. The group's 16-song set also included three new songs from METALLICA's latest LP, "72 Seasons": "Lux Æterna", "You Must Burn!" and "Too Far Gone?".

The setlist was as follows:

01. Whiplash
02. For Whom The Bell Tolls
03. Ride The Lightning
04. The Memory Remains
05. Lux Æterna
06. Too Far Gone? (live debut)
07. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
08. You Must Burn!
09. The Call Of Ktulu
10. The Unforgiven
11. Wherever I May Roam
12. Moth Into Flame
13. Blackened
14. Whiskey In The Jar
15. One
16. Enter Sandman

"M72", named after "72 Seasons", sees METALLICA playing two-night stands in cities around the world this year and through 2024, with "takeover" events taking place during weekends in the New York City area, Montreal, Dallas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, St. Louis and Detroit. Those events include film fests, pop-up stores, Ross Halfin book signings, tribute bands, special performances by friends and family, and more.

METALLICA's two-night stand at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas this past weekend was livestreamed to movie theaters across the globe. It marked METALLICA's first appearance in Texas since November 2021, when the band played before, during and after a Triad Combat event at Globe Life Field. Prior to this past weekend, METALLICA last played AT&T Stadium in June 2017.

Hailed as "some of the deepest, hardest-hitting music of their career" (Rolling Stone),METALLICA's "72 Seasons" was released April 14 via the band's own Blackened Recordings. Produced by Greg Fidelman with frontman James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and clocking in at over 77 minutes, the 12-track "72 Seasons" is METALLICA's first full length collection of new material since 2016's "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct".

Formed in 1981 by Hetfield and Ulrich, METALLICA has become one of the most influential and successful rock bands in history, selling nearly 120 million albums worldwide and generating more than 15 billion streams while playing to millions of fans on all seven continents. METALLICA's catalog of multi-platinum studio albums includes "Kill 'Em All", "Ride The Lightning", "Master Of Puppets", "… And Justice For All", "Metallica" (commonly referred to as The Black Album),"Load", "Reload", "St. Anger", "Death Magnetic", "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct" and "72 Seasons". METALLICA's awards and accolades include nine Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, multiple MTV Video Music Awards, a 2009 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and Sweden's Polar Music Prize. In 2017, METALLICA established the All Within My Hands foundation to give back to communities that have supported the band.

Rock outfit DAUGHTRY fights for the heart and soul lost to an AI-run world in the epic visual for the band's new single, "Artificial".

Marking DAUGHTRY's first original material in over two years, the new Big Machine Records signees usher in a fresh sonic era as frontman Chris Daughtry faces down a cyborg clone against a backdrop of crumbling cities and raining fire. Their most ambitious project to date, the cinematic music video spins a cautionary tale about the dangers of a planet overrun by artificial intelligence, a narrative that feels even more timely as artist unions fight for fair pay and protections from AI interference.

"'Artificial' is about the potential nightmare that AI could become and the idea that everything and everyone could eventually be replaced, essentially to perfection, and rendered obsolete," Daughtry explains. "However, the heart and soul of humanity and the ability to feel love, sadness, and compassion can never be replaced. While there are plenty of applications where AI can improve our lives and assist in many areas of creativity, I feel it's imperative that we find a way to protect our musicians, actors, writers, and all creative outlets from being destroyed.

"I am so incredibly proud of this video," Daughtry continues. "Everyone worked so hard to see this vision come to life, and it is easily my favorite thing I’ve done in my career."

The release follows the launch of DAUGHTRY's "Bare Bones" tour, plotting a rare acoustic run with 26 new U.S. dates running throughout the fall. Alongside Billboard chart-topping rocker Ayron Jones, who is set to open on select stops, the upcoming performances mark a unique opportunity to highlight the stars' powerhouse musical versatility and vocal prowess in the most intimate of settings.

Coming in hot off the recent success with its Lzzy Hale duet, "Separate Ways (World's Apart)", DAUGHTRY's amped-up reimagining of the JOURNEY classic debuted at No. 1 on iTunes' All Genres chart and reached No. 6 on Mediabase's Active Rock chart. True to its roots with an updated grit, the single has racked up millions of streams across platforms, earning praise from heavy-hitters like Variety, Billboard, Consequence and American Songwriter, among others.

DAUGHTRY, one of the most visible and best-selling rock bands of the 21st century, has sold out concerts across the globe. Their debut album, the self-titled "Daughtry", was the top-selling album of 2007 and was the fastest-selling rock debut album in SoundScan history. It was also nominated for four Grammy Awards and won four American Music Awards and seven Billboard Music Awards, including "Album Of The Year". Subsequent albums "Leave This Town" (2009),"Break The Spell" (2011) and "Baptized" (2013) have all gone platinum, with "Cage To Rattle" (2018) certified gold. In 2021, DAUGHTRY released their album "Dearly Beloved", which marked a return to their rock roots and a return to the top of the rock charts with their singles "World On Fire", "Heavy Is The Crown" and "Changes Are Coming", each reaching the Top 10 on Billboard's Rock Airplay chart.

Former JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing's new band KK'S PRIEST will release its sophomore album, "The Sinner Rides Again", on September 29 via the Austrian rock and metal empire Napalm Records. The official music video for the LP's third single, "Strike Of The Viper", can be seen below.

Downing says about "Strike Of The Viper": "Beware — 'Strike Of The Viper' is now here... These demons can sting and bite their way into your brain, what world are they from? I would very much like to see this one send all mosh pits spinning into a blur as KK'S PRIEST deliver up some fast and furious metal. Strike after strike — just like the viper."

With "The Sinner Rides Again", the powerhouse heavy metal amalgamation of iconic JUDAS PRIEST alumni and Grammy Award-winning/nominated musicians Downing and Tim "Ripper" Owens (vocals),along with guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE),bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE),double down on the ripping melodic force of their debut, which Metal Hammer U.K. dubbed "hugely enjoyable" and Metal Injection cited as boasting "catchy hooks and plenty of guitar wizardry". "The Sinner Rides Again" wields nine tracks of pure hellfire, produced and written by Downing and mixed/mastered by Jacob Hansen.

Last month, KK'S PRIEST released the first single from "The Sinner Rides Again", a song called "One More Shot At Glory". The track evokes a high-stakes battle with heroic chants and double bass, setting the stage for a spine-tingling guitar solo. The track was accompanied by an intense, high-quality music video.

Downing said about "The Sinner Rides Again": "To continue the legacy of the traditional rock and metal that I have been so fortunate to be a part of for over 50 years, this latest album, 'The Sinner Rides Again', has been created to take the listener on a journey that is both real and fictional with its characters, although sometimes ambiguous. These songs allow the imaginations of all fans of this wonderful genre of music to escape reality and join with us to continue our heavy metal experience into the future."

Downing added regarding the band's signing with Napalm Records: "With a brand new record that needed placement with a great record label, we discussed the labels we liked, and Napalm Records was one of those companies. It's fair to say that Napalm is a leader in the heavy metal genre and has been for a long time now. They have a fantastic roster of both established and new bands and artists that are a force to be reckoned with. So it's a roster of some of the top and leading metal bands in the world today, and for the foreseeable future. I am pleased to say that we are excited about partnering with Napalm Records and we look forward to working together."

Sebastian Münch, senior A&R at Napalm Records, said: "K.K. Downing has created, with the sophomore album 'The Sinner Rides Again', an absolutely brilliant heavy metal masterpiece — one, I believe, that will stand the test of time and will be listened to by metal fans around the world for many, many years. K.K. Downing is a genius and Tim 'Ripper' Owens's vocals are simply mesmerizing! Napalm Records is absolutely proud to help continue to build this legacy."

A haunting introduction of dual guitars carries the listener into the thundering "Sons Of The Sentinel", winding across a wasteland of burning riffs and a deftly dynamic guitar solo to kick off the record with relentless energy. The undeniably catchy anthem "Strike Of The Viper" proves itself as one of the album's most unforgettable tracks, before "Reap The Whirlwind" crashes in with a classic heavy metal power thrust of soaring leads, hair-raising harmonics and earworm vocal hooks. First single "One More Shot At Glory" raises its sword high, instantaneously calling for battle with its opening riff and beckoning verses. Heroic chants and unrelenting double bass set the stage for a galloping midsection as a spine-tingling guitar solo commands the song. Striding "Hymn 66" commands with sultry, slow and low metallic punches and a bluesy gait, while massive title track "The Sinner Rides Again" straddles balladic passages and sinister, head-bobbing choruses. Beginning with ominous bells, "Keeper Of The Graves" rounds the final bend of the album with roaring cascades and a dynamic performance from Owens, before charging "Pledge Your Souls" and rollercoaster closer epic "Wash Away Your Sins" rise as the final embers of a certified burner — proving itself as a must-hear metal album of the year by the greatest to ever perform the genre.

The immense and intricate art for "The Sinner Rides Again" was created by talented artist Andy Pilkington.

"The Sinner Rides Again" track listing:

01. Sons Of The Sentinel
02. Strike Of The Viper
03. Reap The Whirlwind
04. One More Shot At Glory
05. Hymn 66
06. The Sinner Rides Again
07. Keeper Of The Graves
08. Pledge Your Souls
09. Wash Away Your Sins

KK'S PRIEST will embark October U.K. headlining tour. The "Priests, Killers & Witches" tour starts at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Saturday, October 7, and visits London, Glasgow, Manchester and Nottingham. Special guest on all dates will be former IRON MAIDEN vocalist Paul Di'Anno who will be performing a full set of classics straight from the first two MAIDEN records, and opening up the bill is BURNING WITCHES.

"Sermons Of The Sinner" was released in October 2021 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records.

Downing spent four months writing and recording "Sermons Of The Sinner" and, along with new ideas, he even resurrected a few archived riffs from the 1980s.

K.K. formed KK'S PRIEST after JUDAS PRIEST turned down his offer to rejoin the band for their 50th-anniversary tour. It followed a couple of celebrated stage appearances, first with former MANOWAR guitarist Ross The Boss in the summer of 2019, then with a one-off lineup that included former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and former PRIEST drummer Les Binks later that year.

In a recent interview with Ernest Skinner of Border City Rock Talk, Owens spoke about the upcoming sophomore album from KK'S PRIEST. He said: "It's really good too. I like it better [than the debut LP]. It's a little heavier, a little edgier on the vocals — and even music, I think."

Downing was reunited with JUDAS PRIEST for a performance at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony last November at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

PRIEST received the Musical Excellence Award at the event, which honored Eminem, Dolly Parton, DURAN DURAN, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, EURYTHMICS and Carly Simon in the Performers category.

Downing left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance. He was replaced by Richie Faulkner, nearly three decades his junior.

In 2019, Downing said that he reached out to JUDAS PRIEST about taking part in the band's 50th-anniversary tour but that their response was that they were not interested in including him in the celebrations.

In 2018, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."

Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Glenn Tipton's decision to retire from touring.

Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 and recorded two studio albums with the band — 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — before PRIEST reunited with Rob Halford in 2003.

Nearly two years ago, Downing said that he had no problems with fans making comparisons between PRIEST and KK'S PRIEST. "It's absolutely fine, because it's who I am and what I am and what I do and how I do it," he told Brazilian journalist Igor Miranda. "It's too late to change; I can't change. I can't go out and buy different guitars and different amplifiers and start to write differently and think differently. I have to do things the way that I like them to be done. And that's what I did in JUDAS PRIEST for all those years to the best of my ability. But even now that I don't have to consult with anyone else, really, then I feel a lot more freedom to be able to do this.

"I think I can do what I do better now than I did before, if that makes any sense," he continued. "Because I'm working and writing and putting things together for me — and, obviously, of course, the rest of the members in [KK'S PRIEST] as well. But I was on my own, for the most part, in the lockdown doing this. But there was a lot of things I wanted to say and get off my chest.

"The [KK'S PRIEST] album's full of emotions, sentiments and messages and also rejoicement. It's a lot of things, all in one package. And it was very important for me to be able to express myself through this album.

"I know that people will make comparisons, but that's fine. I either succeed or fail, like everyone else in life. But I'm a fan of this wonderful style of music, and if I like it, I'm hopefully sure that the fans will like it too. And I really hope they do. And I'm very much looking forward to the feedback from everybody all over the world.

"Towards the end for me in JUDAS PRIEST, it wasn't as energized as it was in former years, and I missed that. I remember the days when Rob [Halford, PRIEST singer] used to come offstage and he used to empty his boots out, and the water — which was sweat — used to just pour out of the boots. And it was the same for all of us. It was like we ran a marathon or something. So, hopefully we deliver that up. So I'm looking forward to doing that. I'm definitely gonna do my best, put it that way."

In September 2021, Owens said that there was no competition between JUDAS PRIEST and KK'S PRIEST. "I don't think we look at it [like that]," he told The Rock Experience With Mike Brunn in an interview. "There's one JUDAS PRIEST. They're JUDAS PRIEST. If [K.K. and I] wanted to take that angle, we would have called [our new band] KK'S JUDAS PRIEST. But I think fans are happy 'cause they know they do have two things that are the same vein, and they have K.K. back. I went nowhere — I've been putting music out like crazy — but they have Ken and I back together again. So there's no competition. I mean, how awesome would it be if we do shows with them? I don't care. I really don't. I love the guys in PRIEST. Rob's [Halford, PRIEST singer] my idol. And Richie [Faulkner, PRIEST guitarist] and I are friends. But this isn't a competition. We're not trying to make it a competition or another JUDAS PRIEST. That's why we put an album out first; that was the difference. If we were trying to make it that, we would start touring right away, doing the back catalog."

Asked if KK'S PRIEST is really open to touring with JUDAS PRIEST, Tim said: "I'm open to anything. I've never burned bridges. From the sounds of it, it's never gonna happen. 'Cause it never happened with me. I tried to get BEYOND FEAR to support JUDAS PRIEST on tour. Wendy Dio was my manager, and they were, like, 'Absolutely not. You're not gonna support us.' But we're all friends. I mean, I'm speaking for me — I'm not speaking for Ken. But, yeah, listen, I always look at it as how much fans would love stuff. How cool would it be if that happened?"

Photo credit: Mind Art Visual

Montreal, Canada’s Vantablack Warship dives into the depths of AI (artificial intelligence) to present its first music video created by the machine and gives fans a message of awareness towards our use of digital tools. Entitled "Unplug The Drug" – premiered exclusively through BraveWords – the track has a sick groove and guitar solo for you to listen to and turn all your channels off. 





The band adds about the song and video:




"We simply were inspired by the AI videos Above the Void made for Voivod Morgöth Tales and felt that was a great route to take for our next video ‘Unplug The Drug’, as it is a song about addictions to social media in a day an age where the internet has become a drug for many people and the arrival of AI which will only continue to create society's growing dependencies on such technologies. One can wonder with the more social media we have and the more we think we're connecting that perhaps we are really disconnecting from each other?" - Vantablack Warship


Vantablack Warship is made up of members who have worked in prominent groups of the Quebec underground scene for the last 30 years (Arseniq33, Ghoulunatics, Brutal Chérie, Foreshadow, Les Ékorchés, Buffalo Theory Mtl). With a self-titled EP and album “Abrasive Pulmonic Speak” under their belts, they have shared the stage with an impressive lineup of prominent bands. They now have a new partnership with the Quebec label BAM & Co. Heavy to present their new album Last Of The Hardmouthed Poets.


The title of the album speaks to blacklisted writers of yesteryear and reminds us not to take freedom for granted of expression and freedom of thought. Last Of The Hardmouthed Poets also refers to the ending eras, to dying races, to lost generations, and to cherish those who remain. It’s a hard-hitting bomb of an album ready to blow your mind with thrash metal riffs and expertly written lyrics. The band expects that people who are already familiar with them will be pleasantly surprised with what they consider their best effort yet. It’s pedal-to-metal driving music that would be an excellent soundtrack to road trips this summer.


The tracks on Last Of The Hard Mouthed Poets all came together organically, but were mainly inspired by the writings of Beat Generation authors, and various life themes such as loss, perseverance, anti-racism, and cherishing the important things in life. They are unapologetically fast, and addictive, most suitable for fans of Cancer Bats, Cro-Mags, Exodus, Slayer, and Pantera.


Last Of The Hardmouthed Poets is available via BAM & Co. Heavy. Order on Bandcamp. CD and vinyl available at this location.


Live dates:


September
6 – Montreal, QC – Piranha Bar
22 – Montebello, QC 


October
14 – Granby, QC
20 – Alma, QC – Café du Clocher


November
10 – Trois-Rivieres, QC – Amphitheatre Cogeco 





“Hunting The Recruiter”:





(Photo - François Beaudry)

German rockers Double Crush Syndrome, launched by former Sodom guitarist Andy Brings in 2013, released their latest album,  Death To Pop, in October 2019 via Arising Empire.


The band has announced their return in 2024 with four shows confirmed and more to be announced soon.







Frontman Andy Brings on Double Crush Syndrome:


"We see ourselves in the tradition of bands like KISS, Ramones, Skid Row, Motörhead, Mötley Crüe, without even trying to sound like them. It´s our version of rock n´ roll, naturally with a huge punk influence in the instrumentation, strong choruses with an undeniable pop factor, and the power to destroy a small town. One small town per song, that is ! DCS is very tongue-in-cheek, and there´s a certain degree of anarchy happening on stage. But we are not a funny band per se, we take what we do very seriously! Still, everybody is supposed to have a good time, on stage and in the audience."











Double Crush Syndrome has released four albums: The You Filter (2013), Die For Rock´N´Roll (2017), Flash & Blood (2018), and Death To Pop (2019)


 

Today, iconic German heavy metallers, U.D.O., strike back with their new 13-track studio album. But that's not all: Touchdown also marks the musical reunion of singer Udo Dirkschneider and bassist Peter Baltes (ex-Accept) who joined the U.D.O. ranks a few months ago, and to celebrate those happenings, the group have launched a lyric video for new song, "Fight For The Right", which can be found on their new offering.


It's an anti-war track that continues U.D.O.'s tradition of delivering heavy old-school riffing, this time garnished with a grand, classical music dominated guitar solo. Watch the visualisation by Ingo Spörl (Hard Media) below:







Order Touchdown in the physical format of your choice, psave it on your favourite DSP or order it digitally, here.





Tracklisting:


"Isolation Man"
"The Flood"
"The Double Dealer's Club"
"Fight For The Right"
"Forever Free"
"Punchline"
"Sad Man's Show"
"The Betrayer"
"Heroes Of Freedom"
"Better Start To Run"
"The Battle Understood"
"Living Hell"
"Touchdown"


"Touchdown" video:





"Forever Free" lyric video:





U.D.O. (also performing as Dirkschneider) are in the final stages of their 2023 summer festival tour and with the arrival of new studio album Touchdown, the band are pleased to announce the first more extensive leg of their upcoming 2023/24 world tour in support of the aforementioned record.


To not only bring new tunes to their fans' home audio systems but also to the "live fields" of the globe, U.D.O.'s forthcoming concert season will lead them to fourteen German clubs and cities, but also to Pratteln (Switzerland) and the Czech Republic (Prague, Brno & Ostrava) in February/March 2024. While appearances in other countries as well as special guests are in the works, tickets for the below mentioned shows can be purchased now. Info/tickets here.





Dates:


February
23 - Regensburg-Obertraubling, Germany - Eventhall Airport
24 - Berlin, Germany - Huxleys Neue Welt
25 - Magdeburg, Germany - Factory
28 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle
29 - Oberhausen, Germany - Turbinenhalle 2


March
1 - Markneukirchen, Germany - Musikhalle
2 - Leipzig, Germany - Hellraiser
3 - Munich, Germany - Backstage
6 - Mannheim, Germany - Capitol
7 - Stuttgart, Germany - Im Wizemann
8 - Memmingen, Germany - Kaminwerk
9 - Nuremberg, Germany - Löwensaal
10 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Konzertfabrik Z7
14 - Wilhelmshaven, Germany - Pumpwerk
16 - Marsberg, Germany - Metal Diver Festival
20 - Prague, Czech Republic - Roxy
22 - Brno, Czech Republic - Sono Centrum
23 - Ostrava, Czech Republic - Garage Club


U.D.O. / Dirkschneider are:


Udo Dirkschneider - vocals
Andrey Smirnov - guitar
Sven Dirkschneider - drums
Fabian Dee Dammers - guitar
Peter Baltes - bass

Four years after their last studio album No Halos in Hell, Cyhra haver released their new album “The Vertigo Trigger.” The Swedes' third full-length reflects exactly what the melodic metal band stands for: ear-splitting riffs, catchy choruses and plenty of melodies that make the band truly stand out.


They recently released the new single, "Ashlight", and have followed up with a playthrough of the songs courtesy of guitarists Euge Valovirta and  Marcus Sunesson. Check it out below.










Vocalist Jake E comments on the release of The Vertigo Trigger: 


“It feels amazing to FINALLY have new music to release again! We put a lot of effort into finding out what the future of Cyhra's music was to be and I must say I am overwhelmed with the result. Both with the album and also the songwriting!. I think that we have made a fantastic follow-up to both of our first two albums, but also at the same time we’ve managed to modernized the songwriting. I can assure you that no Cyhra fan will be disappointed!"


Drummer Alex Landenburg adds: 


“To me, this is a perfect successor to our first two records. It has all the Cyhra trademarks, but it’s a bit more Rock’n’Roll, more raw, in the way we recorded it. And on top of that, Euge’s great mix and Jacob Hansen’s mastering are a wicked combination!”


Guitarist Euge Valovirta about the new song: 


"This is the first album we produced by ourselves and it turned out to be just like I heard it in my head before we even started to record it. We still wanted to have (longtime producer) Jacob Hansen's input on it so he did the mastering and I did the mixing. I'm very proud of it. And us. Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue."


Marcus Sunesson adds:


“It’s the first of the three Cyhra albums that I played guitar on and also contributed to the songwriting. It was a fun and very creative process, but also challenging since we wanted to break new ground in order to make the best Cyhra album possible. I am so happy and proud of this beast of an album! This time we took a deep breath and dove down to explore a slightly darker, more progressive and modern side of ourselves. Yet still sounding like the Cyhra you all know and love. This album will definitely turn some heads. You will love it!”


Jesper Strömblad comments as well:


“It's so great to have a new album around the corner. We have kept the essential Cyhra sound, but at the same time upgraded and updated it a bit. I love what Euge has done to the mix and I know you are not gonna be disappointed!”


Recorded in the summer/autumn of 2022, The Vertigo Trigger is the band's darkest album to date. The album was entirely self-produced and mixed by guitarist Euge Valovirta, whilst the mastering was handled by long-term producer Jacob Hansen. This new album offers fans the classic Cyhra sound, full of the band's trademarks, but fresh and refined. The Swedes have modernised their song writing meaning that no Cyhra fan will be disappointed, making The Vertigo Trigger a more than worthy successor to their first two albums.


Order The Vertigo Trigger here.





The Vertigo Trigger tracklisting:


"Ready To Rumble"
"Let's Have My Story Told"
"Live A Little"
"1,000,000 Fahrenheit"
"Buried Alive"
"The Voice You Need To Hear"
"Life Is A Hurricane"
"If I"
"Fear Of Missing Out"
"Ashlight"
"Too Old For Fairy Tales"


"Ready To Rumble" video:





"Life Is A Hurricane" video:

Five-piece aggressive metalcore outfit Mouth For War have announced their union with MNRK Heavy for the release of their second full-length studio album, set for release late this fall.


Hailing from Colorado Springs, Colorado, Mouth For War focuses on manifesting crushing breakdowns laced with visceral grooves that echo somber melodies. 


Comments MNRK Heavy’s SVP of Rock & Metal, Scott Givens, of the band’s signing, “Mouth For War is a great addition to the label and they have delivered an amazing record for us. They create a lethal combination of metal/hardcore that we can't wait to unleash.”




In celebration of their singing, today Mouth For War drops their latest single, “Under The Gun,” and its companion video. Comments the band on the punishing new track, “Mouth For War is ecstatic to give you our new track ‘Under The Gun’ after such a long wait. We are undergoing a new era of sonic aggression and we chose our heaviest song yet to bring to you first. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.”





Later this week, Mouth For War will hit the road for a three-week run supporting No Bragging Rights. The Born Dead Tour commences on August 25 in Chicago, Illinois, runs through September 17 in Nashville, Tennessee, and includes a stop at Born Dead Festival in Albany, New York. Additional support will be provided by Downswing, as well as Mugshot and Your Spirit Dies, on select dates.





Dates:


August
25 – Chicago, IL – The WC Social Club
26 – Detroit, MI – The Sanctuary
27 – Cincinnati, OH – Legends Bar & Venue
29 – Columbus, OH – Ace Of Cups
30 – Pittsburgh, PA – Preserving Underground
31 – Erie, PA – Basement Transmissions


September
1 – Rochester, NY – Montage Music Hall
2 – Albany, NY – Born Dead Fest
3 – Manchester, NY – Jewel Music Venue
5 – Brooklyn, NY – The Kingsland
6 – Asbury Park, NJ – House Of Independents
7 – Mechanicsburg, PA – Lovedraft’s
8 – Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie
9 – Norfolk, VA – Norfolk Taphouse
10 – Chapel, Hill, NC – Local 506
11 – Greenville, SC – Radio Room
12 – Orlando, FL – Conduit
13 – Lake Worth, FL – Propaganda 
14 – Tampa, FL – Crowbar
15 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl
17 – Nashville, TN – The End 


(Photo – Errick Easterday)

Elegy Of Madness will release the new album XI on October 20 through Scarlet Records. First single and video for "Broken Soul" is streaming below.


Recorded and produced by Simone Mularoni and Simone Bertozzi; mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studio; beautifully illustrated by Diogo Soares/Gargantula Creations (Witchcraft, EyeHateGod, Stoned Jesus); 'XI' will be released in the following formats:


- digipack CD
- digital




Preorder at the Scarlet Records webshop.


Modern, occult, epic symphonic metal at its best: XI represents a splendid rebirth for Elegy Of Madness, thanks to a redefined sound, a more concise songwriting and the enchanting soprano vocals of new frontwoman Kyrah Aylin.


Conceived in the post-pandemic time, the mood of XI tends towards obscure and melancholic atmospheres; the main topic revolves around the symbolic meaning of the number eleven. Each song actually involves some aspects of it, such as spiritual awakening and growth, strength, intuition, new beginning, disorder and chaos, and the sinful nature of man.


A sun ray can always break through the darker clouds: it's time to rise again from your own ashes.





Tracklisting:


“11:11”
“Broken Soul” (orchestral arrangements by Fleshgod Apocalypse’s Francesco Ferrini)
“Hybrid Love”
“Revelation”
“Insanity”
“Goddess”
“Moon”
“Portrait Of A Ghost”
“A.I. Slavery”
“Crawling”
“Legion”


"Broken Soul" video:





Elegy Of Madness:
Kyrah Aylin - vocals
Tony Tomasicchio - guitar
Marco Monno - guitar
Larry Ozen - bass
Francesco Caputo - drums


(Photo – KINOrama Studio)

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions are set to release the debut album from Denmark's vicious thrash assassins Destabilizer. Violence Is The Answer! is up now for preorder and will be released September 22 on CD and Digital formats along with merch.


Formed in 2020 in Denmark, Destabilizer perform vicious and uncompromising chaotic Thrash metal. With lyrics that provoke and challenge, Violence Is The Answer! delves into the darkest recesses of the human psyche, with a fast-paced and guitar-driven sound that is a furious storm of intensity, accompanied by blistering solos that ignite the senses. Destabilizer deliver a relentless sonic assault that pushes the boundaries of aggression...  a chilling atmosphere that transports listeners to a darker realm. Violence Is The Answer! showcases ten tracks of explosive thrash complimented by the gory and satanic imagery of renowned artist Mario Lopez, which adds a visually striking dimension to the work. 







Tracklisting:


“Violence Is The Answer!”
“Iconoclast”
“The Road To Hell”
“Progress”
“Matchday”
“King Paimon”
“Ex Inferis”
“Panic’
“Terrorist”


“Progress”:

Blackened heavy metal band Faethom from South Florida have released the cover art, album title, and tracklisting for their new album, Chaosmorphogoria.


Chaosmorphogoria is the band's third conceptual full-length album, a sci-fi blackened heavy metal tale about an extraterrestrial witch-warrior named Tien-nen-thal traveling to hellish planets on her spacecraft, Blackfire Star. Throughout her galactic journey, she battles loathsome monsters, such as the giant king, Goregantuan. After her final battle, she embraces the chaos of the cosmos, and transforms triumphant into her truest, most powerful self. 


Faethom has been bringing their unique blend of traditional heavy metal, extreme metal, ‘80s horror/sci-fi and classic ‘70s rock soundscapes since 2008. The band is based out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and their two founding members, Mariela Muerte and David Diacrono, hail from Cochabamba, Bolivia. They were joined by Floridian bassist, Evie Austin, in 2022. Drummer Brian Wilson of Night Demon, Hellwitch, and Midnight Spell has been performing with them live and recorded drums on the new album. 




Chaosmorphogoria was recorded at Derek Roddy's Studio and David Diacrono's home studio in Florida and mixed and mastered by Jörg Uken at Soundlodge Studios in Germany.


The album artwork was created by California-based artist, Fernando Saavedra. The album is scheduled to be released in the fall of 2023.





Tracklisting:


“Rise Of Tien-nen-thal”
“Blackfire Star”
“Ancient Powers That Be”
“Goregantuan”
“Sangre Mala Sangre”
“Untraversable Force”
“Feral”
“Final Cosmic Warcry”
“Strike Thunder, Rebel!”
“Chaosmorphogoria”


Album lineup:
Mariela Muerte - Vocals/keyboards
David Diacrono - Guitars
Evil Evie - Bass
Brutal Brian - Drums

With the excitement continuing about the return of vocalist Jared Weeks and their latest single impacting rock radio, rockers Saving Abel are releasing the music video for the song “Fire.” The new single by the band comprised of Jared Weeks (vocals), Jason Null (guitars), Scott Bartlett (guitars), Scott Wilson (bass), and Dave Moraata (drums) is the follow up to the April 2023 track “Baptize Me” - which marked the first official song since Weeks returned to the band.  


The latest track “Fire” talks about overcoming your personal demons and coming out on the other side from them. The video expands on that messaging with a chained-up vocalist Jared Weeks pleading to different versions of himself until he realizes he has always had the key to free himself and get past what was holding him back. The video was produced and directed by J. Austin Dellamano in conjunction with Weems Creative and can be seen below.







Saving Abel is hitting the road in support of the new single on the recently announced Into The Fire tour. The 32-city headline tour kicks off on October 20 in St. Charles, IL and wraps up on December 10 in Urbana, IL. Along the way, the tour will make stops in Lansing, MI (October 24); Syracuse, NY (October 30); Dallas, TX (November 15) and Las Vegas, NV (November 24). Autumn Kings, Harmless Habit and King Falcon will each be making appearances in support on select dates of the tour. Tickets for all shows are on-sale to the public on August 25 and information on all shows can be found at savingabel.com.


“We can’t wait to get out on the road and bring these new songs - and of course some fan favorites – to everyone on the Into The Fire tour. There is nothing we enjoy more than performing in front of our fans who have supported us through everything for the last 19 years. It is also exciting for us to bring some new talent out with us and having the Autumn Kings, Harmless Habit and King Falcon play with us is going to be a blast. These bands were handpicked by us and we can’t wait to bring this tour to you,” explains Jared Weeks.


Dates:


October
20 – St. Charles, IL – The Arcada Theatre *
21 – Ft. Wayne, IN – Piere’s Entertainment Center *
22 – Mount Vernon, IL – Granada Theatre *
24 – Lansing, MI – Grewal Hall at 224 *
25 – Chesterfield, MI – Diesel Concert Lounge *
27 – Saginaw, MI – The Vault *
30 – Syracuse, NY – The Lost Horizon #


November
1 – Manchester, NH – Angel City Music Hall #
3 – Erie, PA – Basement Transmissions +
4 – Ashland, KY – Paramount Arts Center +
5 – Jacksonville, NC – Hooligans Live +
7 – Charlotte, NC – Amos’ Southend +
8 – Greenville, SC – Radio Room +
9 – Fernandina Beach, FL – Sadler Ranch +
11 – Corinth, MS – Crossroads Arena 
14 – Houston, TX – Bronze Peacock @ House Of Blues +
15 – Dallas, TX – Sundown at Granada +
16 – Buda, TX – Buck’s Backyard +
19 – Colorado Springs, CO – Sunshine Studios Live +
20 – Denver, CO – HQ Live Denver +
22 – Tucson, AZ -191 Toole #
24 – Las Vegas, NV – The Sand Dollar #
25 – Tempe, AZ – The Marquee #


Nov 27 – San Diego, CA – The Casbah #
29 – Reno, NV – Virginia Street Brewhouse #
30 – Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post #


December
1 – Chico, CA – Senator Theatre #
3 – Portland, OR – Mission Theater #
4 – Boise, ID – KQXR Radio Show #
8 – Sioux City, IA – The Marquee #
9 – Iowa City, IA – First Avenue Club #
10 – Urbana, IL – Canopy Club #


* Autumn Kings
+ Harmless Habit
# King Falcon


Previously Announced Saving Abel Dates:


August
 26 – Bonner Springs, KS – Tiblow Days Festival


September 
4 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall


October
6 – Hurricane, UT – Trial Hero Music Fest
7 – Madison, AL – Toyota Field
14 – Middlesboro, KY – Cumberland Mountain Fall Fest
28 – Lorain, OH – The Lorain Palace Theatre


(Photo – J. Austin Dellamano)

German thrash metal band Traitor is set to release their new live disc Teutonic Slaughter on September 22, 2023. The album was recorded by Iridum Stream at the Schlichtenfest 2022. This will be the band's first release since their last album, which featured guest vocals by Sodom’s Tom Angelripper and was well-received by critics and fans alike, receiving positive reviews from us at BraveWords and being featured in Banger TV's Best Metal Albums Of 2022. 


Check out the BraveWords premiered live video for “Reactor IV” – taken from 2015’s Venomizer:


 




The band has also been making waves outside of music, with a cameo appearance in the new film Total Thrash - The Teutonic Story. Fans of the band and the genre can look forward to the release of Teutonic Slaughter in just a few months' time.


The live disc from Traitor called Teutonic Slaughter is available exclusively from the band on both physical and digital format.


There is also a chic T-shirt and a "Teutonic Bundle" limited to 99 sets, consisting of the CD, an exclusive shirt with a print on the back, an exclusive and signed A1 poster and exclusive stickers. The first 25 orders will also receive a limited edition diamond-shaped Exiled To The Surface patch with either a blue or red border.





The whole record was recorded by Iridum Stream at the Schlichtenfest 2022, both the sound and the image. The great cover is by Irvan Yudap.


And best of all: in every CD booklet you will find a QR code with which you can watch the video recordings.


Preorder at Traitor’s webshop.

Lotus Unfolding, out October 20 via KScope, is the new release from UK-based instrumental intergalactic travellers, Ozric Tentacles. Six new tunes have been added to the Ozric universe, conceived, written and recorded in their own ‘Blue Bubble’ studio in Fife.


The album was recorded, written and produced during 2022 - 2023 by Ed Wynne with a little sonic help from Silas. Mastered by Adam Goodlet and illustrated with some nicely detailed ethereal artwork by Steve McKeown and Sally Clark.


Lotus Unfolding is another sonically illustrated excursion through the musical realms the band has explored in their latest chapter. Album opener “Storm In A Teacup” kicks the album off in spectacular style traversing the realms of time and space with flair and virtuosic poise. It’s followed by the groove driven “Deep Blue Shade”, whose melodies are vividly brought to life by Ed Wynne exquisite trademark guitar playing. This is swiftly accompanied by the serene title track - as close to a musical yoga session at the center of the hippocampus you’ll ever experience.




Ozric Tentacles’ aural synapses buzz throughout the album to channel the band’s limitless creativity, making Lotus Unfolding the perfect conduit of the spiritual and the physical. It’s an essential addition to the band’s catalogue.   


Ed Wynne comments: The concept is, as usual, wide & open to interpretation but basically is a sonically illustrated excursion through some of the musical realms we found ourselves in this time around. Designed to elevate and delight the senses, should that be required, because if the day feels like an unfolding lotus, it’s probably going to be a good one!





Lotus Unfolding will be available on CD Digipak, Limited Marble LP with limited die cut sleeve, Blue LP also with limited die cut sleeve, Black LP and available digitally.


Pre-order here.





Lotus Unfolding tracklisting:


"Storm In A Teacup"
"Deep Blue Shade"
"Lotus Unfolding"
"Crumplepenny "
"Green Carnation"
"Burundi Spaceport"


The Lotus Unfolding lineup consists of Ed Wynne (Guitars, Synth and Bass) and Silas Wynne (Modular Synth and Keyboards). Alongside Ed and Silas is Brandi Wynne (bass), Saskia Maxwell (Flute), Tim Wallander (Drums) and Paul Hankin (Percussion).


One of the most influential bands to emerge from the UK’s festival scene, Ozric Tentacles formed during the solstice at Stonehenge Free Festival 1983, going on to become psychedelic staples at Glastonbury and other festivals. The creative vision of multi-instrumentalist Ed Wynne, the Ozrics’ uniquely trippy soundscapes connect fans of progressive rock, psychedelia and dance music culture.


(Photo - Glenn Povey)