In a new interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, LYNYRD SKYNYRD frontman Johnny Van Zant talked about the band's 2018 announcement that it was embarking on a farewell tour, only to apparently back away from those plans. He said: "I want to be upfront with you. We were on our last year – 2020 was really going to be our last year. It was like, okay, we'll go out and maybe do two or three shows after that or do some charity work. We were [in our] last year and COVID hit. We were, like, 'Well, shit. This is great.' We sat at home for 15 months and when those months were up, we were obligated to finish off the dates that we had booked. So we said, 'Okay, well, let's reform and get back out there and put everybody back to work.' We got back out there and went, 'You know what? We really missed this.' We missed seeing our fans. [Late LYNYRD SKYNYRD guitarist] Gary [Rossington] was a big part of that. He was, like, 'I don't want to sit at home. COVID retired me for 15 months and I didn't like it.' [Laughs] That's all he's ever done. That's all any of us have ever done. So we said, 'Okay, maybe we were wrong about that.'

"I've come to a conclusion: Musicians never retire; they just play less shows. We'll see where the heck the future goes. There isn't a thing happening right now that Gary didn't know about, and he wanted it to happen. So we're going to fulfill those wishes and we'll see what the future brings."

Last November, LYNYRD SKYNYRD guitarist Rickey Medlocke told Fort Myers News-Press about the band's abandoned plans for a farewell tour: "Well, let's put it this way: Basically, when we announced the farewell tour, it was a farewell tour. … Then COVID knocked us out of — oh, I don't know — 60-plus shows. And when that happened, we said, 'Man, people have gone out and bought tickets. You know, they want to come see the band.' So what we ended up doing is we said, 'Hey, let's go out and we'll make up shows and the dates that were booked and all that.' In order to do that, you gotta add other dates. So we took it upon ourselves … (and we called it) the 'Big Wheels Keep On Rolling Tour'.

"I'm not really sure how many more years it's gonna ensue," he continued. "Nobody really does. ... For myself, personally, I'm never gonna stop playing. I'm a lifer. I've been playing guitar ever since I was five years old, man. And you know what: You don't just lay it down one day and go, 'Okay, I'm gonna go fishing. I'm gonna go fishing for the rest of my years.' You know, it just doesn't happen."

Rossington was the last surviving founding member of LYNYRD SKYNYRD. On March 5, his bandmates announced the news of his death in a statement shared on their social media.

The guitarist had previously dealt with various heart problems throughout the years, including emergency heart surgery in 2021.

LYNYRD SKYNYRD's co-headlining tour with ZZ TOP, the "Sharp Dressed Simple Man", is staging performances in twenty-five cities in North America this summer, with special guest UNCLE KRACKER. Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicked off on July 21 at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida and will wrap in Camden, New Jersey at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion on Sunday, September 17.

††† (CROSSES) — DEFTONES frontman Chino Moreno's project with FAR guitarist Shaun Lopez — will release its sophomore album, "Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete.", on October 13 via Warner. The follow-up to ††† (CROSSES)'s 2014 self-titled album will feature guest appearances by THE CURE vocalist Robert Smith and El-P of RUN THE JEWELS.

"When we started working on 'Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete.', there was so much more light coming in my life, for numerous reasons," Moreno said in a press release. "There's a lot more optimism. Even the darker themes are more romanticized and not coming from a place of despair."

††† (CROSSES) has released the official music video for the LP's first single, "Invisible Hand", directed by Lopez and Lorenzo Carrera. Watch it below.

"Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete." track listing:

01. Pleasure
02. Invisible Hand
03. Found
04. Light As A Feather
05. Pulseplagg
06. Runner
07. Big Youth (feat. El-P)
08. End Youth (Reprise)
09. Last Rites
10. Ghost Ride
11. Grace
12. Eraser
13. Natural Selection
14. Girls Float † Boys Cry (feat. Robert Smith)
15. Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete.

††† (CROSSES) has also announced the following live appearances:

Nov. 13 - Los Angeles, CA - Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Nov. 14 - Los Angeles, CA - Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Nov. 18 - Huntington Beach, CA - Darker Waves Festival
Nov. 28 - Brooklyn, NY - Elsewhere
Dec. 04 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel

††† (CROSSES) issued its self-titled debut in 2014. Last year, the duo released the six-song "Permanent.Radiant" EP, which was later made available as a remixed version with reworked songs courtesy of Hudson Mohawke, Machinedrum, Suicideyear and Away.

In December 2021, Lopez confirmed that ††† (CROSSES) had signed a new deal with Warner Records. That same month, ††† (CROSSES) dropped its cover of Q Lazzarus's "Goodbye Horses" as a digital single. The track was previously covered by ††† (CROSSES) back in 2014.

Prior to "Goodbye Horses"' digital arrival, ††† (CROSSES)'s last release was a cover of "The Beginning Of The End" by '90s electropop band CAUSE & EFFECT. Made available in December 2020, it was the first new music from the alternative band since its 2014-released, self-titled record.

Moreno told The Pulse Of Radio how he got involved with the group in the first place, which was started by Lopez and Chuck Doom. "Shaun and Chuck were working together for a while before I came into the picture, and I just so happened to come in one day," he said. "These guys were, you know, writing some stuff and I heard it and I liked it right off the bat, and I sort of weaseled my way [Laughs] into the project. I think their idea was to get a bunch of different singers to, you know, just write different tracks, and... it didn't happen."

††† (CROSSES)'s CD included the songs from the band's two previously released EPs along with five new tracks.

Moreno told Rolling Stone about ††† (CROSSES)' sound: "By listening to the music, you can tell that a lot of the influences come from the new-wave era. That was basically the scene that I came up on. I just happened to wind up in a metal band when I was 15."

Asked about ††† (CROSSES)'s heavy use of the cross in the band's imagery and songtitles, Moreno said: "I think a lot of bands are influenced by religious symbolism and not even necessarily Christianity or Catholicism. Our band definitely doesn't follow any of those. It's more of the aesthetic. The art, the way it works. The initial name of the band was going to be HOLY GHOST. But at the last minute, another band came out with the name, so Shaun suggested CROSSES. It's a very strong symbol. Three crosses is great. It's great to look at, there's three of us in the band."

††† (CROSSES) made its live debut in January 2012 at The Glass House in Pomona, California.

Before hitting the stage at the world famous Wacken Open Air festival tomorrow, Swiss heavy metal band, Burning Witches, have revealed a blazing live performance video for the attacking track, “Unleash The Beast”, cut from their recent fifth full-length, The Dark Tower.


After storming the charts with their new album and peaking at #3 in Switzerland, Burning Witches showcase their explosive live energy with the brand-new video, filmed at one of their album release shows in Oberhausen this spring.


But there is even more exciting news from the witches’ hut: after stepping in for guitarist Larissa Ernst as stand-in during her maternity leave, shredder queen Courtney Cox (The Iron Maidens) has now joined the band as a full member. Welcome to the coven, Courtney!




Courtney Cox comments: “I’m really excited to be joining my sisters in Burning Witches as a full time member. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us on this metal journey and can’t wait to rock with the coven all around the world!”


But Larissa Ernst won’t leave her witchy sisters behind, as she states: "Dear friends of Burning Witches, as the birth of my baby approaches, I am focusing on my family and will stay in the background of the band for a while. I will continue helping with various tasks and I'm looking forward to seeing you again. I am highly thankful for everybody that supported me, my witch sisters, the team and the label! And of course thank YOU so much for your dedication - stay metal, you all rock!"


Burning Witches on the live video “Unleash The Beast”: “This video shows the pure live power and magic of the Witches on stage! Recorded in Oberhausen, Germany right after Courtney joined us - her skills bring a new level of enthusiasm and musicianship to the band! The new songs are made to be played live on the stages of the world, hopefully we can soon rock a city nearby YOUR home!“


Check out the “Unleash The Beast” live video:





Tour dates:


August
5 - Wacken, Germany - Wacken Open Air 2023
10 - Villena, Germany - Leyendas del Rock 2023
12 - Agones, Spain - Festival Rock Nalon
17 - Saint-nolff, France - Motocultor Festival 2023
26 - Erkelenz, Germany - Metal de houte open air


September
2 - Graz, Austria - Metal on the hill


October
6 - Longvic, France - Rising Fest 2023


October (with KK's Priest and Paul Di'Anno)
7 - Birmingham, UK - O2 Institute
8 - Glasgow, UK - SWG3
10 - Nottingham, UK - Rock City
11 - Manchester, UK - O2 Ritz
12 - London, UK - Shepherd’s Bush Empire





December
1 - Mexico City, MX - Life After Death Horror Festival
3 - Houston, TX - Roof Top Lounge
6 - Hollywood, CA - The Whisky
7 - Las Vegas, NV - Vamp'd
8 - Glendale, AZ - 44 Sports Bar and Grill
9 - Tucson, AZ - Encore Tucson
12 - Denver, CO - The Rickhouse
14 - Morro Bay, CA - The Siren
15 - Fresno, CA - Fulton 55
16 - Reno, NV - Virginia Street Brewhouse
17 - Roseville, CA - Roseville Trading Co.


Lineup:


Laura Guldemond - Vocals
Romana Kalkuhl - Guitars
Courtney Cox - Guitars
Larissa Ernst - Guitars
Jeanine Grob - Bass
Lala Frischknecht - Drums

Sid Falck has released a new song, "Boulevard De L'Amour", featuring Alyson Hell (ex-Reign Of The Last), under the Falck name.





Sid Falck: “This is about how quick we are to judge other humans, without having the slightest clue about the situation behind their actions. I originally finished the song with just my ‘vocals’, and was talking to my buddy, Jerry “SlapSack” Woolverton, and I commented that I wished I could add a female vocal. He immediately agreed and urged me to find a way to do it.




Years ago, I had told Alyson that someday we’d find a way for her to guest with Bob Barnak on an Infectus 13 song. Sadly, that didn’t happen. Alyson has one of the fiercest, scariest death metal voices you’ll ever hear, so when I contacted her about possibly guesting on this song using her natural voice, she was a little surprised. As it turns out, she made me look incredibly smart for asking her, as her contribution brings some much needed class to my vision.”


"Boulevard De L'Amour" can be downloaded here for “set your own price”, making it a free download, should you so choose. "Boulevard De L'Amour" is / will also be available on all streaming and digital platforms.


An accompanying video can be viewed below:

Guitar legend George Lynch will release his sophomore instrumental album, "Guitars At The End Of The World", via Rat Pak Records on September 8. The LP, which features 10 all-new studio tracks along with three new bonus tracks, is the highly anticipated follow-up to George's 2021 opus "Seamless", which fans of the shred-master embraced with open arms.

"Guitars At The End Of The World" features pro drumming legend Curt "Kirkee B." Bisquera, who has worked with such greats as Elton John, Mick Jagger and Tom Petty, and also features renowned bassist Tony Franklin, who is known for his work with THE FIRM, Jimmy Page and Kenny Wayne Sheperd. Also appearing is LYNCH MOB drummer Jimmy D'Anda on the track "The Crucible".

Regarding George's approach to instrumental albums, the virtuoso states: "I always focus on creating guitar-driven music that delivers something outside the realm of what most people would expect, coming from a semi-redeemed '80s hair shredder. I want my instrumental records to be challenging, but not exhausting; personal, without being belligerently self-indulgent, include a fair amount of guitar histrionics, and pay tribute to the masters without making it sound like I'm competing to be the end-all summation of all guitar legacies that preceded me. I also wanted the underlying music to be more than vehicles for solos, I want the compositions to stand on their own."

Track listing:

01. The Knowing
02. Psycho Beta
03. The Crucible
04. The Passage
05. Borracho Boogie Delux
06. Shadow Of The Needle
07. The Wolf
08. Serpentarium
09. The Ritual
10. Contraflow

Bonus tracks (CD and digital versions only)

11. Tone Bender
12. Brilliant Lion From The Second Mountain
13. Bitches Be Trippin'

For the recording of "Seamless", Lynch was backed by D'Anda and bassist Eric Loiselle.

Produced by Lynch, "Seamless" included three bonus tracks that were added to the album after the extra tracks were presented to the label.

Lynch previously said: "'Seamless' is my attempt at creating a guitar-driven instrumental record that delivers something outside the realm of what most people would expect from a guitar instrumental record coming from a semi-redeemed '80s hair shredder. I wanted the record to be challenging but not exhausting; personal without being belligerently self-indulgent and include a fair amount of guitar histrionics and pay tribute to the masters without making it sound like I'm competing to be the end all summation of all guitar legacies that preceded me. I also wanted the underlying music to be more than vehicles for solos; I wanted the compositions to be able to stand on their own."

Asked by Audio Ink Radio what made 2021 the right time to release his debut instrumental album, Lynch said: "The real story is I had written a record intending it to be a new LYNCH MOB record, and it didn't pan out, because none of the vocalists that I talked to and worked with on it could really come up with anything to go over it. Nobody was really feeling it, and that's the first time that's ever happened to me as long as I can remember where I completely failed at a record. It wasn't even salvageable. Looking at it and listening to what these singers were telling me, the critique of it was that it was just too intricate and too busy and too involved and wasn't leaving enough space for the vocals to put their footprint on it, and I got that. I'm usually aware of the kind of thing when I'm writing, so I don't know how that happened. I think I just got carried away and was having fun with the compositions. I think by default — a happy accident — I was making an instrumental record and didn't know it."

Starting in music in 1977, Lynch has long since been considered one of the most-notable guitar players of all time. His work with DOKKEN and LYNCH MOB has garnered him a legion of devoted fans around the globe. His creativity and musicianship has been showcased on over 50 albums since 1982, and 2022 marked his 45th anniversary as a professional musician. Lynch continues to redefine guitar playing and songwriting while showing no signs of slowing down.

In recent years, Lynch has recorded albums with a number of different projects, including LYNCH MOB, KXM, SWEET & LYNCH, THE END MACHINE and DIRTY SHIRLEY. One of his most recent releases was "Heavy Hitters", a collaboration with his former DOKKEN bandmate Jeff Pilson on a collection of studio recordings that turn pop music classics into metal anthems.

In 2020, Lynch told Guitar World magazine that staying "diversified" was key to making a living in rock music today. "Do everything," he said. "Be an engineer, be a composer, play every instrument you can, get endorsements, learn how to make a web site, be social-media savvy and keep your eye on everything."

Photo credit: Cat Parker

The Jim Powers YouTube channel has uploaded HD video of LAMB OF GOD's entire August 2 concert at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden, New Jersey as the support act for PANTERA. Check it out below.

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

01. Memento Mori
02. Walk With Me In Hell
03. Resurrection Man
04. Ditch
05. Desolation
06. 512
07. Ruin
08. Contractor
09. Laid To Rest
10. Redneck

LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe was a guest on a recent episode of "The Electric Theater With Clown" Internet show hosted by SLIPKNOT's M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan. When Crahan told Blythe that he doesn't suffer from stage fright and expressed his view that fear drives his performance, Randy said: "You're saying you're never nervous to go on stage. I'm not either, dude. I don't get shook at all. I can remember the last time… And I wasn't really scared; I was just taken aback. The first was the first time we played the main stage at [United Kingdom's] Download [festival], which was I don't even know how many years ago. And I remember being in the car. And they took me around the racetrack to the stage and I came around and then I just saw that massive crowd. And I was, like, 'Woah.' And the driver was, like, 'Are you all right?' And I was, like, 'Yeah, man. That's a lot of people.' And he was, like, 'Yeah. Yeah, it is.' And then I was cool. And it had been years before that that I had been even slightly nervous about going on stage.

"I don't get nervous about going on stage at all," he continued. "But you're talking about that fear, that driving fear… I think that's really insightful. And it takes me back to why we started doing this in the first place — being willing to get on stage and take this thing that we've created and present it to other people. And there is that sort of — I don't know — almost adrenaline junkie aspect to it. Particularly in the beginning, when you're just starting, you're, like, 'Okay, here we go. This is some shit we've worked on. And now it's time to put it out there. This is where the rubber meets the road.' And it's exhilarating when you do it — utterly exhilarating. And I think that aspect of fear, beyond my love for just creating art in general, I think that's super insightful. And I think that is one reason why I enjoy doing other things, because there is that aspect."

Last September, during an appearance on a recent episode of "Stoke The Fire", the alternative lifestyle and culture podcast hosted by musician Jesse Leach (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE) and DJ/presenter Matt Stocks ("Life In The Stocks"),Blythe spoke about what he believes makes a good frontman. "There are guys in their closet with their YouTube rig or in their garage who can outsing either fucking one of us," Randy said, addressing Leach. "There is no doubt about it, man. They have more talent, natural talent, in their little pinky than either of us. But the difference is… I think one of the main requirements to be a frontman, a good frontman — actually, the only requirement, probably; I mean, you've gotta have some talent — is a willingness to get up in front of people and make an idiot out of yourself and be really bad for a while until you become good. And so these people with all this natural talent, it doesn't fucking matter unless you can get in front of people and do it, and you have to do it with a group of people; you have to feel that bond; you have to deliver."

More than three years ago, LAMB OF GOD guitarist Mark Morton praised Blythe's abilities while discussing the band's appearance at the 2019 Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival in Columbus, Ohio. He said: "That particular Sonic Temple Festival, it was in a stadium, and Randy Blythe, who I think is the best frontman in heavy metal, made that stadium into a theater that day. I remember telling him when we walked off stage, 'Randy, you're the best in the world.' Because he took tens of dozens of thousands of people who were there, and he shrunk that whole stadium into the size of a 2,500-seat theater. That's why he's the best in the world at what he does. I will give him love all day long. He's one of my best friends and I think he's the best frontman in heavy metal. Sometimes when you have a star like that and they're 100 percent on point and the audience is willing, you can actually make that connection even in a monster arena like that."

LAMB OF GOD's U.S. tour with PANTERA this summer includes a few stops at major festivals like Blue Ridge. Throughout August and early September, LAMB OF GOD will play eight headlining shows with a rotating cast of openers, including ICE NINE KILLS, SUICIDE SILENCE, THE ACACIA STRAIN, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and FROZEN SOUL.

LAMB OF GOD's latest album, "Omens", was released in October 2022. The LP is the follow-up to LAMB OF GOD's self-titled album, which arrived in June 2020. That effort marked LAMB OF GOD's first recordings with drummer Art Cruz, who joined the band in July 2019 as the replacement for Chris Adler.

GHOST kicked off its summer 2023 U.S. tour last night (Wednesday, August 2) at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, California. Support on the "Re-Imperatour" is coming from fellow Swedes AMON AMARTH.

GHOST's setlist for the Concord show was as follows:

01. Kaisarion
02. Rats
03. Spillways
04. From The Pinnacle To The Pit
05. Cirice
06. Absolution
07. Ritual
08. Call Me Little Sunshine
09. Con Clavi Con Dio
10. Watcher In The Sky
11. Year Zero
12. He Is
13. Miasma
14. Mary On A Cross
15. Mummy Dust
16. Respite On The Spitalfields

Encore:

17. Kiss the Go-Goat
18. Dance Macabre
19. Square Hammer

Fan-filmed video can be found below.

Produced by Live Nation and FPC Live, the 27-date trek will stop in Salt Lake City, Chicago, Cincinnati, Austin and more before wrapping up with the band's September 11 and September 12 return to the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.

GHOST release an "extended" box-set edition of the band's latest album, "Impera", on July 28.

GHOST's fifth album, "Impera" sold 70,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release to land at position No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. It marked the third top 10 album — and fifth top 40-charting set — for the Swedish act.

"Impera" landed at position No. 1 in Germany and Sweden, No. 2 in the U.K., Netherlands, Belgium and Norway, No. 3 in Australia, No. 5 in France and Ireland, and No. 20 in Italy.

"Impera" was released in March 2022. The 12-song effort was produced by Klas Åhlund and mixed by Andy Wallace.

GHOST leader Tobias Forge worked on the follow-up to 2018's "Prequelle" with Åhlund and Swedish co-writers Salem Al Fakir and Vincent Pontare, whose credits include Madonna and Lady Gaga.

Six of GHOST's albums have charted on the Billboard 200: "Infestissumam" (No. 28, 2013); "If You Have Ghost" EP (No. 87, 2013); "Meliora" (No. 8, 2015); "Popestar" EP (No. 16, 2016); "Prequelle" (No. 3, 2018); and "Impera" (No. 2, 2022).

This past May, GHOST released "Phantomime", a five-song EP which sees the Swedish occult rockers offering takes on IRON MAIDEN's "Phantom Of The Opera", GENESIS's "Jesus He Knows Me", TELEVISION's "See No Evil", THE STRANGLERS' "Hanging Around" and Tina Turner's "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)".

GHOST is no stranger to covers, having previously tackled material originally written and recorded by THE BEATLES ("Here Comes The Sun"), ABBA ("I'm A Marionette"), DEPECHE MODE ("Waiting For The Night"), Roky Erickson ("If You Have Ghosts"), METALLICA ("Enter Sandman"), PET SHOP BOYS ("It's A Sin") and EURYTHMICS ("Missionary Man"), among others.

Dead Groove Band is premiering their new video “Into Infinity” via BraveWords. The track is featured on their new album, Dead Groove, out now. Purchase the CD at deadgrooveclothing.com. The AI (artificial intelligence) generated music video was designed and edited by DGB’s Fred Aching (Kings of Thrash/BulletBoys/Powerflo) and Holly West (Zepparella).





Dead Groove Band is a power trio created in Los Angeles, California. Three ambitious musicians taking on three part harmonies, inspiring riffs, and memorable melodies to create a new face for hard rock. With the current release of their debut - self titled record they will take you on a musical journey with satellites, fast cars, and infinite journeys into the unknown. Dead Groove was released on CD on March 30, 2023.







Dead Groove will be issued on limited (200 copies) gold vinyl. Preorder at deadgrooveclothing.com.





Dead Groove Band live:


August
19 – Kearny, NJ – Jimmy’s Restaurant And Lounge
20 – New York, NY – The Cutting Room (with Militia Vox)


September
7 – Phoenix, AZ – The Blooze Bar
8 – Cedar City, UT – The Blackbird Bar
9 – Draper, UT – Leatherheads
30 – Petaluma, CA – Mystic Theater (with Zepparella)


November
25 – Albuquerque, NM – New Mexico Guitar Show
26 – Dallas, TX - Trees


December
2 – Lima, Peru – Sargento Pimienta de Barranco


Jeff Young (Kings Of Thrash/ex-Megadeth) will be joining Dead Groove Band on guitar for their August, September, and October shows.


Dead Groove Band is:


Fred Aching (Kings of Thrash/BulletBoys/Powerflo)
Holly West (Zepparella) 
Cesar Salaverry (Mauser/The Voice Perú)

During his July 20 show at Café Iguana in Monterrey, Mexico, guitar hero Yngwie Malmsteen performed a version of the Deep Purple classic, "Smoke On The Water". You can now watch the performance, below:





Yngwie Malmsteen returns to the road on August 17 in Falls Church, VA for a tour of the US that will stage 28 performances prior to wrapping the excursion on September 23 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, FL.




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


He now has a catalogue of 21 solo studio albums, each of which has much to commend. Moreover, the guitarist played a crucial role in helping to establish Alcatrazz as a significant force in the 1980s. Malmsteen's artistry has always clearly incorporated a healthy virtuosity, but his talent goes well beyond a comprehensive control of the guitar. The man is a fine composer and, on recent releases, has also showcased a strong vocal presence.


One aspect of his approach has always shone through, and that is an abidingly deep respect for the music he plays. Malmsteen has constantly done whatever it takes to bring out all of the color, shade and hue embedded in each one of his compositions. Merely doing a very good job isn't an option. He wants to go – and does go - well beyond such limitations, into the rarefied realms inhabited by an elite number of timeless masters.


On the release of his most recent studio album Parabellum in 2021, he shared, “I always try to push myself on every album I do, and attempt things which are more extreme than previously. But what has helped this time is that I wasn't able to go on the road because of the pandemic. “It meant I could take much longer in the studio, both to write and record. Because I am usually always on tour, which is great, I haven't had the luxury of spending a lot of time working on new music for more than 20 years.  But I suddenly had no pressure at all on that front. And I feel the album has benefited enormously as a result.”


Parabellum is the best example yet of Malmsteen's creative spark lighting a raging fire that is surely set to burn brightly for many years to come. Yet, despite the care and attention to detail which has gone into every aspect of the album, what truly makes it remarkable is the undoubted joy radiating through each of the songs here. “The bottom line for me is that the passion I feel for the music I make has to be obvious. I am the sort of person who lives in the moment. I wanted this album to have a joyous, spontaneous atmosphere. This must never sound as if it's been rehearsed so much that it becomes routine.”


And in an era when there is a seeming demand for instant gratification, and bands are urged to release individual tracks instead of whole albums, 'Parabellum' is a throwback in the best possible sense to a time when albums were to be treasured and cherished. It has depth, imagination and authority. “I hope people will put on this record at the start and listen right through to the end, from start to finish. I recorded this as a singular piece of art. Not as a collection of 10 tracks you can hear in any order you want.  I view this album as having a natural flow from start to finish. It's not to be cut up into little pieces. I want fans to experience the delight I had in making it.”


Confirmed appearances include:


August
17 - Falls Church, VA - The State Theatre
18 - Hudson Falls, NY - The Strand Theater
19 - Poughkeepsie, NY - The Change Theater
20 - Warrendale, PA - Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
22 - New York, NY - Palladium Times Square
23 - Huntington, NY - The Paramount
25 - Columbus, OH - The KING of CLUBS
26 - St. Charles, IL - Arcada Theatre
27 - Hobart, IN - Art Theater
30 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
31 - Dallas, TX - Majestic Theatre


September
1 - Houston, TX - House of Blues Houston
2 - San Antonio, TX - Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
4 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre
6 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues San Diego
7 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades
8 - Beverly Hills, CA - The Canyon @ The Saban Theatre
9 - Oxnard, CA - The Canyon @ The Oxnard Performing Arts
10 - Montclair, CA - The Canyon – Montclair
11 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues Anaheim
13 - Denver, CO - The Oriental Theater
15 - Mt. Clemens, MI - Emerald Theatre
16 - Angola, IN - The Eclectic Room
17 - Holland, MI - Park Theatre
19 - Worcester, MA - Palladium
20 - Reading, PA - Reverb
21 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Lillian S. Wells Hall at The Parker
23 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall


* Glenn Hughes co-headlines all appearances 8/18-9/23


International Appearances:


November
3 - Wolverhampton, UK - KK’s Steel Mill
4 - Great Yarmouth, UK - hard rock hell 2023
5 - Camden, UK - Electric Ballroom


Additional performances will be announced in the coming weeks.

The time is finally upon us. Nuclear Power Trio's sophomore release, Wet Ass Plutonium, is now out for the world to rock out to. To honor this momentous occasion, the nuclear three have dropped a video for the track, "Critical Bass Theory", directed by K Hunter Lamar.


Donny had this to say about the new music video: "So Critical Bass Theory is one of the greatest songs, probably ever recorded. Everyone says so! We decided to film a performance video inside our compound, which is easily the greatest band rehearsal space/superhero lair ever. We needed someone amazingly famous who could tickle the ivories for us, so we invited a very, very special guest… our great friend Lizzy, the Queen of England! And you know what, she really did such a tremendous job… just an incredibly fantastic job. She really brings the video to life! Hope you all enjoy the playing, because it's the best!"







Fans can order the new album, Wet Ass Plutonium, which is available on CD, vinyl, digitally, and part of a bundle including a shirt, here.





Nuclear Power Trio is:


Supreme Drums: Kimmy
Tremendous Guitar: Donny
KGBass: Vladi P


(Photo - Kyle Lamar)

Two years ago, LORNA SHORE unleashed its groundbreaking "...And I Return To Nothingness" EP — which features the smash hit "To The Hellfire" (currently at over 17 million views on YouTube and over 38 million streams on Spotify). To celebrate this anniversary, the band has dropped a new video for EP track "Of The Abyss", produced by Loki Films.

Additionally, a new exclusive limited colored vinyl (limited to 1000 units, with etching on side B) for "...And I Return To Nothingness", plus merch, is available now at lornashorestore.com.

Adam De Micco (guitar) comments: "I don't think anyone of us could predict what the EP would have done for this band as well as us as individuals. Those three songs allowed us to do things we would have only dreamed of. We are extremely grateful for everything that came from this EP and want to celebrate its anniversary. Thank you for finding yourself in this body of work the way we have. Thank you for everything."

Since the release of "...And I Return To Nothingness", LORNA SHORE has continued to take the music world by storm — most recently by appearing at some of the biggest festivals across Europe, before they kick off the second leg of their North American tour with metal heavyweights MASTODON and GOJIRA next week.

LORNA SHORE recruited singer Will Ramos (MONUMENT OF A MEMORY, ex-A WAKE IN PROVIDENCE) in 2021 following the departure of the band's previous vocalist, CJ McCreery.

LORNA SHORE drummer Austin Archey told Cleveland Scene that he and his bandmates were aware of Ramos's skills because A WAKE IN PROVIDENCE had played some shows with LORNA SHORE.

"We just knew he was this dude who looks super young," Archey said of Ramos. "But when we lost our old vocalist, I reached out to him. I didn’t know if he’d be interested. He was all in. Seven years into a career, it’s hard to find someone with that dedication. He was very prepared. I think he prepared his whole life for this. His first long tour with us was a two-week stretch. He hadn't done anything like that. It was remarkable to see him step up from the ashes and become bigger than all of us."

Photo credit: Mike Elliott (@mpelliott)

The Jim Powers YouTube channel has uploaded HD video of PANTERA's entire August 2 concert at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden, New Jersey. Check it out below.

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

01. A New Level
02. Mouth For War
03. Strength Beyond Strength
04. Becoming
05. I'm Broken
06. Suicide Note Pt. II
07. 5 Minutes Alone
08. This Love
09. Fucking Hostile
10. Planet Caravan (BLACK SABBATH cover)
11. Walk
12. Domination / Hollow
13. Cowboys From Hell

Encore:

14. Slaughtered
15. Revolution Is My Name

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".

PANTERA's 2023 lineup includes two surviving members from the band's classic formation, Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass),along with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX).

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 will also support METALLICA on a massive North American stadium tour in 2023 and 2024.

According to Billboard, the 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.

This past March, PANTERA headlined the 2023 "comeback" edition of Japan's Loud Park festival. The two-day "limited" event took place on March 25 at Intex Osaka in Osaka and March 26 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City near Tokyo.

In December, PANTERA played seven shows in Mexico and South America.

Brown was forced to leave PANTERA's Latin American tour after testing positive for COVID-19. Filling in for him at some of the shows was CATTLE DECAPITATION bassist Derek Engemann, who also plays with Anselmo in both PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS and SCOUR.

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.

Swedish Viking metal marauders AMON AMARTH continue their domination with a brand new music video for their epic Valhalla feast track "Heidrun" off their chart-topping record "The Great Heathen Army". Additionally, AMON AMARTH has unleashed a special four-track digital single of "Heidrun" featuring a newly remixed version of the single plus two live bonus tracks and a "goat remix" version featuring actual goat vocals.

Frontman Johan Hegg sheds light on the mythological significance of "Heidrun": "Heidrun is an interesting mythological character. It's a goat that stands on the roof of Valhalla eating the leaf of the big tree Lärad. The milk that she gives is the honey/mead that the warriors in Valhalla drink each night. The lyrics themselves are both about Vikings travelling the world but also metaphorically what it is to be a touring musician."

"Heidrun" digital single track listing:

01. Heidrun (2023 Remix)
02. Heidrun (live at Graspop Metal Meeting, 2023)
03. Put Your Back Into The Oar (live at Hellfest, 2023)
04. Heidrun (Goat Remix)

Following their hugely successful "The Great Heathen Tour" at the end of last year, which saw them become the first death metal band to ever headline the legendary KIA Forum in Los Angeles, AMON AMARTH's relentless raid continues this week as they invade U.S. shores once again. This time they have joined forces with fellow Swedes GHOST for their 25-date "Re-Imperatour USA 2023" run as well as playing two very special headline shows in Omaha, Nebraska on August 10 with CREEPING DEATH and 200 STAB WOUNDS and Riverside, California on September 9 with GATECREEPER.

AMON AMARTH has teamed up with SET.Live to give Vikings in attendance at each show the opportunity to win their very own special, limited-edition Viking drinking horn on the night of each show. Fans simply need to scan the QR code found scattered throughout each venue near the official tour merch stands and will be entered to win. This also signs fans up for exclusive opportunities that may arise in the future. SET.Live is only available to those in attendance, so get your tickets now.

AMON AMARTH's twelfth studio album, "The Great Heathen Army", was released in August 2022 via Metal Blade Records. The LP was recorded with acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap, who previously worked with the band on 2013's "Deceiver Of The Gods" and 2016's "Jomsviking" albums.

Photo credit: Tomas Gidén and Henryk Michaluk, composite Jake Scheinberg

QUEENS OF THE STONE continue to prove themselves "a band reaching the peak of their powers" (NME). Following a triumphant reign over some of Europe's most hallowed festival grounds including "officially one of the most-watched Glasto sets ever — Josh Homme and co. pulled a huge crowd and unleashed pure chaotic joy" (Kerrang!),QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE are back with the latest audiovisual odyssey from their international chart-topping opus "In Times New Roman…", a brand new video for "Negative Space". As with previous videos from this campaign, "Negative Space" was created by, starring and directed by Liam Lynch, who states: "Acceptance is lonely, messy, and tough, especially when it's all that is left. This video takes place between the end and a beginning. It's the desperate and lost, message-in-a-bottle emotions that are tossed out and let float away. No action required."

In the wake of "In Times New Roman…" achieving global domination — including No. 1s in four countries, Top 3 positions in six more and a sweep of U.S. No. 1s across the Vinyl, Independent, Alternative, Digital, Rock and Hard Music Album Sales charts — QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE kick off the extensive North American leg of their "The End Is Nero" tour tonight at Detroit's Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill with special guests THE ARMED and PHANTOGRAM. With several shows already sold out, Joshua Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Dean Fertita, Michael Shuman and Jon Theodore will continue to span the globe through the end of 2023.

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE also extend a formal invite to their inaugural Queens Colosseum pre-show party experience, taking place August 4 in Toronto at Budweiser Stage — ahead of the band's headlining show. Fans are encouraged to "Dance Like No One Is Surviving," as they immerse themselves in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE-curated extravaganza, including an exclusive merchandise line, burlesque dancers, local vendors featuring everything from books to records to oddities and art, live silk-screen printing, vintage clothing and more. The Queens Colosseum event starts at 4 p.m. and runs through the start of the show, with access available to ticket purchasers only.

In a new interview with FaceCulture, QUEENSRŸCHE singer Todd La Torre talked about the deepfake technology, one of the most worrying fruits of rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI),which allows those who wield it to create audio and video representations of real people saying and doing made-up things. In a deepfake, individuals train computers to mimic real people to make what appears to be an authentic video.

La Torre said that it is clear that when used by nefarious actors, synthetic (AI-generated) media can pose a significant risk to individuals, businesses, and societies more generally.

"When it sounds real, and then you see [the person in the video at] a little bit of a distance… Maybe it's a world leader… and it looks like the real person saying, 'We are gonna wage war against Islam. We're gonna wage war against the West. We're gonna wage war against you.' And people are gonna look, and then they're gonna say he said that. And there could be so much damage before… Now you're trying to clean up the mess," he said. "And at that point, at least in the U.S. — I don't know what it's like over [in the Netherlands, where the FaceCulture interviewer is based] — but people already justify ridiculous shit that is real. Like you saying, 'Oh, this person said that.' 'Well, that's not what he meant.' There's all this justification for things that are actually said that are not good. Now, can you imagine horrible, faked things? I mean, you could have a celebrity thing turned into like an inappropriate video. And somebody claims something, and a woman could say, 'That's not me.' And you say, 'Well, look at the video. You did it.' And now this woman is shamed publicly for something she didn't do. But when your eyes see what they see and you are convinced, it's really hard to unconvince somebody. And when the technology can be so convincing, how do you distinguish what's real and what's not real? The only way you could do that is if there's information within that, whatever it is. Just like there's metadata in photographs, videos — you know, there's things in there that a computer scientist could tear that thing apart and say, 'Here's the origin of this. This is the equipment that it was created on. This is the day and time,' and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But who wants to go through all that when you've already been accused of being a pedophile or a rapist or a thief or a racist or whatever — anything bad. So that that can be really scary."

La Torre went on to say that AI can't replace a live performance. "Okay, you can have a hologram. Well, it looks real, but it's not real," he explained. "And people like to know that I'm watching [a musician] play his piano or his keyboard in real… This is the real guy. And no matter how simulated something could seem, human beings, we understand that human connection. And I don't think AI's gonna be able to do that. But it kind of sucks where AI could…

"There was a thing on a guy's channel, and it was talking about AI. And it's a guy named Rick Beato, and he was talking about AI and this whole Drake thing. He's like this rap guy, whatever, but he is like really famous and probably has tons of money, whatever. But there was a fake, there was an AI of this artist. [And] some people were saying they like the AI artist better than the real artist and what it produced. That's scary."

Last month, QUEENSRŸCHE released a fully AI-generated video for the song "Tormentum", taken from the band's latest album, 2022's "Digital Noise Alliance". The clip was directed by Above The Void.

QUEENSRŸCHE recently completed its 2023 U.S. headlining tour with support from former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman and TRAUMA. On that tour, QUEENSRŸCHE's 18-song set included no less than five songs from the band's sixteenth studio album, "Digital Noise Alliance", which came out last October via Century Media. The record was once again helmed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who previously worked with QUEENSRŸCHE on 2015's "Condition Hüman" and 2019's "The Verdict" LPs.

In a new interview with "The Dark" on the 94 Rocks KFML radio station, PAPA ROACH singer Jacoby Shaddix spoke about FALLING IN REVERSE's recently released cover of PAPA ROACH's "Last Resort" which saw the Ronnie Radke-fronted outfit turning the song into a slow-burning, piano-led ballad. Jacoby said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think it was, like, probably about two or three years ago, we had hit [Ronnie] up… We hit a few different artists up about, 'Hey, we wanna do a re-imagination of 'Last Resort'. We'll celebrate the history and the legacy of the track.' And he was just, like, 'Oh, I'm all about it.' [He] hit me up a few months later and he was, like, 'I've really got something special I'm doing right now. I'm really excited about it.' And time goes on. And then we went and did a tour [together]. And the first day of the tour, he was, like, 'Dude, I got that version I wanna play you.' It was last year. And I remember he came to the dressing room, and I just had goosebumps. And then when I heard it, I was just, like, 'Oh man.' He just tapped into the raw emotion of the lyric and really made it special, made it his."

Shaddix continued: "I just recently… I was on tour, and my wife, she FaceTimes me. She had all tears in her eyes. I'm, like, 'What's going on?' She's, like, 'Honey, I just heard the song Ronnie did, FALLING IN REVERSE, the cover of 'Last Resort', and I just was moved."

Jacoby went on to say that "Last Resort" has been "such a massive part" of PAPA ROACH's lives since its original release in 2000. "This song we put out, it really gave us a career, gave us an opportunity to go make an impact on the world with music," he explained. "And to see it kind of come back at us in such a powerful way… [We] can't ask for anything better."

Circling back to FALLING IN REVERSE's version of the track, Jacoby said: "[Ronnie] nailed it. That dude is — he's wildly talented. Straight up. It's crazy too. 'Cause I see that dude sit down at a piano and start ripping it. That's probably the coolest quality about that dude is he's got these little secret talents. I'm, like, 'Hold on. You're good at piano too. That's dope.'"

"Last Resort" originally appeared on PAPA ROACH's breakthrough album "Infest", which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2020. The LP peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart and has been certified triple platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) for sales in excess of three million copies in the U.S. alone. It also featured the fan favorites "Broken Home", "Blood Brothers" and "Between Angels & Insects".

SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor 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 will also support METALLICA on a massive North American stadium tour in 2023 and 2024.

According to Billboard, the 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.

Taylor discussed his views on the PANTERA comeback during an appearance earlier today (Wednesday, August 2) on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". Asked if he has had a chance to catch a performance from the new PANTERA lineup yet, Corey said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I saw it at [the] Graspop [Metal Meeting festival in Belgium in June]. 'Cause they were on right before us at Graspop just this year. And I hadn't seen 'em [when they played with us in South America last December], 'cause we were flying in and out, so I didn't get to see them on that run, that South American run. And dude, me and [my wife] Alicia ran out to the front of house. And I didn't even care. I was, like, 'I'm watching this.' And I was so stoked. And my expectations were really high, dude. And they sounded incredible. I was so stoked. There's probably a bunch of fan-shot video of me singing along and jumping around like an idiot. I was so stoked, and they sounded so great. Dude, Phil looks great. He's having a great time."

Taylor continued: "We all know the story, and to see them get up there and to feel that positive energy that hasn't been felt around that in so long, dude. I mean, I got really — I'm starting to get emotional about it now. I mean, it just felt really good to see our buddies up there — and this is absolute honesty — really doing justice. I mean, it sounds really, really good."

A year ago, Taylor weighed in on the PANTERA reunion during a previous appearance on "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". He said: "I know everybody in the [current PANTERA] band; I knew everybody in the prior band. So it's interesting. I know there's a lot of debate about it. All I'm going to say is that I'm stoked to see these songs played live. I'm stoked to see it done with respect.

"Whether anybody wants to admit that or not, these fans online, they wanna admit this or not, you're talking about two dudes [Charlie and Zakk] who not only knew the brothers from years ago, knew them before PANTERA was even a thing," Corey continued. "They were friends with those guys from when PANTERA was still playing clubs, and they would go and hang out with them when those respective bands would go and play Dallas; they would go and hang out with those dudes. So then when PANTERA becomes massive, lo and behold they're touring with their friends, man.

"You can't get a better drummer than Charlie, you can't get a better guitar player than Zakk to step into those shoes," Taylor added. "Is it going to work? I don't know. But to say that it's not the right thing — first of all, it's for anybody else to say except for Phil and Rex, because those guys, they were in the band. So let's just give them the benefit of the doubt and let's see what happens."

In a recent interview with Live Nation, Taylor recalled going to an epic PANTERA and WHITE ZOMBIE show with some friends in 1996 that left a lasting impression on him. He said:  "The co-headlining tour was PANTERA and WHITE ZOMBIE, so it was fucking rad. We ended up scoring tickets to the [concert] in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I remember ZOMBIE came out. They opened with 'Electric Head, Part 1', and it was just awesome; I mean, the place lit up. And then PANTERA came out and just destroyed everything. They opened with 'Suicide Note' parts one and two. The excitement in that audience, when they came out and played those two songs back to back, was unlike anything I felt. And it has stuck with me to this day. I mean, it was just one of the most incredible one-two punches of all time. I remember charging the pit feeling like, 'Ah, this is what concerts are made for.' It was just a great way to feel a part of something that you didn't feel a part of in real life. The music was there for you to embrace. It was a rite of passage, man."

In February 2022, Taylor spoke about the impact PANTERA's classic sophomore major label album, "Vulgar Display Of Power", had on his musical upbringing. He told HardDrive Radio: "I remember where I was when that album came out, man. I was listening to that incessantly. I was working at the RV center that my grandma got me a job at. 'Cause I didn't wanna cut my hair and I couldn't work anywhere else, man, so I was washing RVs for nine hours a day during the day in the hottest summer I'd ever felt. And it was intense, dude. And all I had was that tape — I had that tape and [a cassette from] BEASTIE BOYS. So I kept trading those tapes back and forth. And when I needed a burst of energy, I'd put on 'Vulgar Display', and when I just wanted to chill and just kind of get into the rhythm of it, I would put on, I think it was [BEASTIE BOYS'] 'Check Your Head'. So it was, like, those two albums really fueled me that summer to get through it. And I just remember listening to that album and just going, 'Jesus, this is so heavy and yet so hummable.' That's the thing that I think people really lose with PANTERA — is that it was so incredibly heavy but the hooks were incredible, dude. I mean, it was like the next evolution of what METALLICA had kind of started to do. To this day, it's still one of my favorite albums."

Back in 2017, Taylor named PANTERA's 1994 effort "Far Beyond Driven" as one of his 10 favorite metal albums of all time. "That album is so sludgy," he told Rolling Stone. "I loved 'Vulgar Display Of Power', and obviously everybody gravitates toward that one just because it's got the songs, it's got the whatever. But to me, 'Far Beyond Driven' was the first example of what a modern metal production could sound like. It was so thick and the mix was a little angrier. To me, it was the first time that you could really hear how heavy they could go and how willing they were to just drive that shit home. And it's got my favorite PANTERA song on it, which is 'Becoming'. That song alone wins. Just when you thought you had some shit figured out, fuck you. You're done."

Corey Taylor photo credit: Marina Hunter

Former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach performed at the Northern Lights Music Festival in Escanaba, Michigan on July 21st. Fan-filmed video of his entire set can be viewed below.


The setlist was as follows:


"Big Guns"
"Sweet Little Sister"
"Here I Am"
"18 & Life"
"Piece of Me"
"The Threat"
"American Metalhead"
"Monkey Business / Tom Sawyer"
"I Remember You"
"Stuck Inside"
"In A Darkened Room"
"Youth Gone Wild"







Regina Leader Post is reporting that the annual Queen City Exhibition, which runs Wednesday to Sunday at REAL District, made an 11th-hour lineup revision for the Original 16 outdoor stage in Confederation Park.


Sebastian Bach - the former lead singer of Skid Row - has cancelled a pair of upcoming shows, including Sunday night’s appearance in Regina, “due to last-minute, unforeseen scheduling conflicts,” according to a media release.


The ‘80s metal frontman has been replaced by Canadian rock band Sloan, which is scheduled to hit the stage at 9 PM on the final night of QCX.


Pre-purchased VIP and fan zone tickets for Bach will be honoured at the Sloan concert, according to REAL. Refunds are to be available by emailing guest-service@real1884.ca or by calling 306-781-9300. Advance gate and daytripper passes that were purchased for the Bach show are also eligible to be refunded.


Read more at Regina Leader Post.


Bach's team recently checked in with the following update: "Due to last minute, unforeseen scheduling conflicts, Sebastian Bach will not be performing at Rockin The Fields in Minnedosa, MB on 8/4. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. Sebastian hopes to make it back to Canada sometime in the near future. Stay tuned for updates!"


Big Sugar has been announced as Bach's replacement. Go to this location for more information.

Final Gasp hit listeners with their driving new single “Climax Infinity”–the second single from their debut full-length, Mourning Moon– due via Relapse on September 22. “It comes in strong and with the full intention to make you feel it in your chest,” notes vocalist / guitarist Jake Murphy. “Lyrically it’s all about dealing with the things you can’t control, whether good or bad. We’re all put in situations where we know what the outcome will be but you’re hoping for something else.”


The visual for “Climax Infinity” was filmed by Caleb Gowett and Chris Gill at their tour kick off show at Middle East in Cambridge, MA. The footage gives us a first look into their gripping performances which put Final Gasp on the map.


Mourning Moon is a hook laden, inventive journey through all things punk, hardcore, metal and goth. Frontman Jake Murphy drags listeners through twelve thrilling tracks while delivering an unmatched, soulful performance – taking on the weightiest of topics.




“The whole record has to do with loss,” he explains. “The title comes from that anxious feeling you have when you go to bed and you’re thinking about everything all at once. You’re regretting decisions you’ve made - or didn’t make - and you’re up all night thinking about it.”


Final Gasp recorded Mourning Moon in Philadelphia with famed producer Arthur Rizk (Ghostmane, Cavalera Conspiracy, Sumerlands). Its foundation was built by the band’s two previous EPs - 2019’s Baptism of Desire (Primitive Propaganda) and 2021’s Haunting Whisper (Triple B). “Every song was  written with nothing but a natural feeling for what felt right,” Murphy tells. “There’re tons of different influences, like Killing Joke and Die Kreuzen, even Echo & The Bunnymen and SSD.  But we’re not really thinking about other bands. We feel like we’ve tapped into something that’s our own.”


Mourning Moon proves to be one of the most inventive journeys this side of the genre in recent times - now, Final Gasp are ready to emerge from the shadows, and step into the forefront of extreme music's new guard.


Pre-order / pre-save Mourning Moon here.





Mourning Moon tracklisting:


"Climax Infinity"
"Homebound"
"Botched Ritual"
"Frozen Glare"
"Seize"
"Blood And Sulfur"
"Mourning Moon"
"Unnatural Law"
"14 Gates"
"Temptation"
"The Vanishing"
"Rows Of Heaven"


"Climax Infinity":





"Mourning Moon" video:





Final Gasp live:


August
3 – Richmond, VA – Fuzzy Cactus
4 – Washington, DC – The Runaway
5 – New York, NY – TV Eye


Final Gasp is:


Jacob Murphy - Vocals
Alex Consentino - Guitar
Sean Rose - Bass
James Forsythe - Guitar
Peter Micanovic - Guitar  
Eric Lester - Drums


(Photo - Tyler Hallett)

With four albums under their belts already, Slovenia’s Cvinger returns seven years later to take listeners back into black metal darkness with Doctrines By The Figures of Črnobog. Originally creating death metal, they have diverged fully into the black metal underworld, playing festivals in Europe among some of the biggest names in the genre. This new album explores the existence of man in a Slavic spiritual realm whose body and soul are split during the rites and incantations. It is a journey of lust, madness, faith, and sorrow and questioning the existence of its mortality, and the first chance to dig your teeth into this aggressive offering is with a music video for the title track. The band comments:


“The album was written after meditation seances in a cave of a prehistoric hunter. It is the fastest and most brutal album that we have created till now. The new album/single Doctrines By The Figures Of Črnobog will be released by the Polish record label Via Nocturna on the 28th of August 2023. With the new creation, we are paying homage to the Slavic old faith, especially the occult and the dark aspect of it. The band has gone through some lineup changes, and by bringing in the new blood, we have changed the perspective of creating and redefining new hellish symphonies. Soon live rituals will follow in support of the new album.”


This album was created as a stepping stone into a new chapter of Cvinger, who started with a raw and unpolished sound but with each EP/album that came forth, their production and composing became more advanced and most of all more personal. The album artwork was created by an amazing artist Mitchell Nolte. It represents a ritual of Slavs manifesting the obscure god of death and night Črnobog which in translation means the Black God.




Fast, destructive, and mystical, for Cvinger, a concert is not only playing their songs live. It is a ritual and a synergy of sound visualization and energy that is given to the listener. Join their rite by diving into Doctrines By The Figures of Črnobog. It is recommended for fans of Marduk, Mayhem, and Gorgoroth.


Doctrines By The Figures Of Črnobog is due out August 28, 2023 via Via Nocturna (Physical) / Earache (Digital) and is available to preorder on Bandcamp.





Tracklisting:


“Meditations At The World’s Demise”
“Revelation Of The Three Heade One”
“Fury Born Out Of Bones And Fire”
“Blood Catharsis And The Mantra Of Depravity”
“The Winter Night Of The Funeral Pyres”
“Slava”
“Totemism”
“Cosmic Realm”
“Doctrines By The Figures Of Črnobog”
“Chants And Canticle” 


“Doctrines By The Figures Of Črnobog” video:





(Photo – Blanka Slana Heine)

Leah is about to embark on her most ambitious venture yet. The renowned Celtic metal singer-songwriter has launched a crowdfunding campaign to bring her new album, The Glory and the Fallen, to life. Promising to be her most epic and groundbreaking work yet, the album fuses Leah's signature blend of ethereal vocals, magical Celtic melodies and symphonic metal into a monumental soundscape inspired by fantasy, history and personal journey.


“This is one of my biggest projects to date”, illustrates the Canadian maven from her home, just outside of British Columbia. “Not because of the number of people involved, but because of the scope of the music and the way I challenged myself in the songwriting process. I think you’ll hear a continuation of my evolution as a songwriter and vocalist. This collection of songs is very much the classic Leah sound but also explores some new territory that I think you’ll really enjoy.”


The new release will feature appearances from renowned musicians Mark Jansen (Epica, MaYaN), Timo Somers (Arjen Lucassen, ex-Delain), Sander Zoer (Delain), and was produced by Oliver Philipps (Everon, Phantasma). The amazing artwork was created by Giannis Nakos (Kamelot, Evergrey, Amaranthe.)




In a gallant move, Leah will also be treating fans to an instrumental album and folk versions of several songs from the album, providing a full experience for a wide range of musical tastes.





Having successfully crowdfunded her previous four albums without the assistance of a record label, this campaign presents an opportunity for her dedicated fanbase to play a pivotal role in bringing her musical vision to life. The campaign will feature a range of special packages, including limited-edition collector's items that will not be available once the campaign concludes.


These one-of-a-kind items will undoubtedly become cherished memorabilia for Leah's dedicated fan base. She explains, “This crowdfunding campaign is a bit different in that we’re focused on true collector items, for a really immersive and memorable experience. The more common items expected will be available when the album launches publicly this fall.”


The crowdfunding campaign serves as more than just a means of funding the project; it allows Leah to connect directly with her fans and amplify her community of passionate supporters. By participating in the campaign, backers will have the unique opportunity to engage with Leah personally and gain an exclusive glimpse into the creative process behind her music. To make the campaign even more enticing, Leah has curated a selection of captivating rewards that range from limited-edition merchandise to VIP experiences, ensuring that her supporters feel truly valued and connected to the project's journey.


The Kickstarter campaign will run until August 30 and every contribution will make a significant impact in bringing this remarkable album to fruition.


Check out Leah’s past work on Bandcamp.

Former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland, who was with the band from 1984 - 1987, is featured in a new interview with Guitar World discussing his recent work on a re-recorded version of Pink Floyd's 1971 album, Meddle. During the chat, he looked back on his time with Megadeth.


Poland:  "I came from a different place than Dave (Mustaine). But I guess that was the beauty of our incarnation of Megadeth. The differing opinions probably made the music as good as it was.


I look back on what we did with a lot of fondness. And as far as the guitar goes, I'm a better player now. My instincts are sharper. But I still do what I've always done – fly by the seat of my pants (laughs). And, yeah, I still sometimes struggle to re-learn things. But, man, I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of those Megadeth records and how humbled I am to have been a part of it all. 




Peace Sells… But Who's Buying? was a serious record, dude. It was a serious record; I didn't even know it until years later. When I first heard the mix, all I could do was compare it to Metallica's Master of Puppets, and I was so bummed out. I never listened to it again after that. But then it got remastered years later, and I went back and listened, and that's when I realized I'd been a part of a genius record. So, all credit to Dave Mustaine; he probably knew. To me, we were just playing music. I had no idea I was going to be part of something iconic. But I'm glad I was."


Read the complete story here








Photo by Mark Weiss

Boston progressive thrash metal outfit Ice Giant have released a new single from their upcoming studio album. The new track, “Grandeval’s Machine”, is the third and final lead-up track before the release of the band’s long-awaited sophomore studio full-length, Ghost Of Humanity.


In addition to the album, Ice Giant will join forces with Atlanta prog-metal explorers Scorched Moon for nine shows in the month of September – beginning in their own hometown of Boston with a record release show at The Middle East on September 8.


Speaking on “Grandeval’s Machine”, the band shares:




“'Grandeval’s Machine' unveils a futuristic Earth overwhelmed by war and global climate crisis. Amidst fire and destruction, a bio-mechanical plague rises and binds itself to the flesh of Earth's population. This song sets the stage for the full concept of the Ghost Of Humanity album by showcasing the ending of human society if we continue down the wrong path.”





Tour dates:


September
8 - The Middle East Upstairs - Cambridge, MA
9 - Cherry Street Station - Wallingford, CT
10 - The Brooklyn Monarch, Mona Lisa Room - Brooklyn, NY
11 - The Depot - Baltimore, MD
12 - Century Bar - Philadelphia, PA
13 - Another Round Bar & Grill - Richmond, VA
14 - BrickYard Bar & Grill - Knoxville, TN
15 - Star Bar - Atlanta, GA
16 - TBA - Birmingham, AL


Pre-order the album here.





Ghost Of Humanity tracklisting:


"Heritage"
"Grandeval’s Machine"
"Emergence"
"Serenity Of Darkness"
"Home For Eternity"
"Venthos Prime"
"Ghost Of Humanity"
"In The Maw Of Reality"
"Unification Epoch"
"Visages Of Our Past Despair"
"Legacy"


"Grandeval's Machine":





"Ghost Of Humanity" video:





"Serenity Of Darkness" video:

From Ashes To New's new album, Blackout, has landed at #1 on several iTunes and Spotify Rock and Metal charts across the globe. The 12-track album, released via Better Noise Music last Friday, June 28, was produced by vocalist Matt Brandyberry, alongside longtime collaborators and producers Grant McFarland and Carson Slovak.


Blackout has made waves with seven #1 iTunes Metal albums chartings and four #1 iTunes Rock albums placements including four dual #1’s globally. See their top chartings listed below.


“This past weekend was absolutely insane,” says the band’s lead singer Matt Brandyberry. “We went from not releasing a record since 2020 to having one of the biggest releases in the industry last Friday. When we decided to write ‘Blackout,’ we chose to write it for us. We wanted it to be a representation of who we feel we are as a band. Much like ‘Day One’ we pushed away outside influences and made something organic. The silver lining to the chaos of 2020/2021 was realizing how quickly everything can be taken away. It reinvigorated the passion that ignited all of our musical journeys. This sound is who we’ve always been and is who we will always be moving forward. Welcome to the BLACKOUT!”




Charts:


Global - #10 Overall Albums (iTunes)
USA - Top 10 (Spotify)
UK - #1 Metal & #1 Rock Album (iTunes)
Switzerland - #1 Metal & #1 Rock Album (iTunes)
Belgium - #1 Metal & #1 Rock Album (iTunes)
Australia - #1 Metal & #1 Rock Album (iTunes)
Germany - #1 Metal & #2 Rock Album (iTunes)
Japan - #1 Metal & #4 Rock Album (iTunes)
Austria - #2 Metal & #2 Rock Album (iTunes)
France - # 2 Metal & #5 Rock (iTunes)


Conceptually, Blackout encapsulates the distress of the pre-apocalyptic world the Lancaster, PA band built with their groundbreaking 2016 debut Day One, while mirroring the angst and unrest the world felt during the 2020 pandemic at which time it was written. Sonically, From Ashes To New deliver a fresh spin on the sound that broke them onto the scene with their distinctive blend of hard rock, hip-hop, electronic and alternative music.


Blackout was produced by vocalist Matt Brandyberry, alongside longtime collaborators and producers Grant McFarland and Carson Slovak at Atrium Audio in PA. It features 12 tracks including their fifth-ever Top 10-charting rock radio single “Hate Me Too,” which peaked at #8 on Mediabase charts, and their latest anthemic single “Nightmare” which is now climbing the charts at Active Rock radio.


“Blackout is our prequel to Day One,” says co-vocalist Matt Brandyberry. “Day One was a strong representation of the style that made FATN who we are today, and Blackout is a step above. The world seems to be headed further and further towards chaos and destruction, so it only felt right to create a piece to paint the picture we are all becoming all too familiar with. Expect much more of this from us in the future!”


“Blackout is the album we’ve always wanted to make,” relays co-vocalist Danny Case. “It’s intense, emotional, heavy, and most importantly, it’s us. This album truly represents who we are as a band and its massive sound will prove to be our best record yet. We are so incredibly proud of this album, and we are confident it will quickly become our fans’ favorite From Ashes To New record ever.”


Order a copy of the new album on CD, cassette and/or vinyl here.





Tracklisting:


"Heartache"
"Nightmare"
"Hate Me Too"
"Hope Youre Happy"
"Barely Breathing"
"Dead To Me"
"Monster In Me"
"Echoes"
"Armageddon"
"Legacy"
"Until We Break" (feat. Matty Mullins of Memphis Mayfire)
"Broken By Design"


"Monster In Me" lyric video:





"Hate Me Too" video:





"Nightmare" video:





"Heartache" video:





From Ashes To New are currently on tour with In This Moment, Motionless In White, and Fit For A King. Remaining dates are listed below.





August
2 - Oklahoma City, OK - The Criterion
4 - Council Bluffs, IA - KIWR’s Rockfest – Westfair Amphitheater
5 - Camdenton, MO - Ozarks Amphitheater
6 - Little Rock, AR - Simmons Bank Arena
8 - Memphis, TN - The Soundstage at Graceland
9 - Mobile, AL - Mobile Civic Center Arena
11 - Huntsville, AL - Propst Arena
12 - Asheville, NC - Harrah's Cherokee Center
13 - Corbin, KY - Corbin Arena
15 - Evansville, IN - Ford Center
16 - Fort Wayne, IN - Allen County War Memorial Expo Center
18 - Gilford, NH - Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
19 - Albany, NY - MVP Arena


* In This Moment only


(Photo - Jeremy Saffer)

Brian Slagel (pictured above) is once more opening up the doors to the Metal Blade Records Museum, located in Las Vegas, NV. The museum will be opening up to ticket holders on Saturday, August 19 and open up every Saturday thereafter.


Lizzy Borden will be present on Saturday, August 19 to take a stroll through the museum himself! Hours of operation are 12 PM to 5 PM, PT and tickets are available here.


* ticket holders will be informed of the museum address after purchase







Founded upon owner Brian Slagel's enduring drive to find great bands and get their music out to as many people as possible, since 1982 Metal Blade has brought wave after wave of powerful, innovative, and often genre-defining music to the ever-hungry metal masses. It is this ethos that has seen Metal Blade build up a stunning and diverse catalog, weather the various storms facing any independent label, and in an age of declining record sales boast the most successful years of its existence as it celebrates its fourth decade.


Metal Blade Records launched Metallica, Slayer, Armored Saint, Fates Warning, GWAR, Cannibal Corpse, Amon Amarth, Whitechapel, The Black Dahlia Murder, Cattle Decapitation, and dozens more genre giants, shaping four decades and counting of hard rock, metal, and extreme music culture. Brian Slagel worked as a record store clerk when he founded Metal Blade in 1982, reserving a spot for a young Lars Ulrich on his Metal Massacre compilation series. Metal Blade grew from humble beginnings in Los Angeles to become an international powerhouse, selling millions of albums while remaining fiercely independent. In 2017, Slayer's Kerry King inducted the label into the Hall of Heavy Metal History. Slagel's For the Sake of Heaviness: The History of Metal Blade Records arrived the same year.