During a recent edition of "The Nightly Nuge", a news-style clip in which Ted Nugent offers his take on the news of our world every night, the outspoken conservative rocker defended Jason Aldean over criticism following the release of the music video for the country singer's controversial song "Try That In A Small Town", which was accused of being racist and pro-lynching, by comparing the track to one Ted believes represents real vulgarity and degeneracy: Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's "WAP".

Ted said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "When you see that the number one Grammy song a couple of years ago… Can I even say it? About a big, wet pussy? And just nasty. And I'm a big fan of sex; I love sex. I love the gift of the female spirit and body, the physics of spirituality. But when you get into the gutter, that nasty, especially a woman that celebrates the abuse of women in a nasty, dirty, vulgar, obscene song. And that wins the Grammy, but Jason Aldean comes out with a song condemning violence, condemning arson, condemning terrorism, condemning carjacking, condemning murder…"

Nugent then addressed "The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg, who called out Aldean for allegedly invoking "racist imagery" in the "Try That In A Small Town" video. Nugent said: "The Whoopi Goldbergs of the world, who — I don't know if I can say this on 'The Nightly Nuge', but I just got word from the street. Now, I believe the street often — not all the time — but I do believe that Whoopi Goldberg is actually Michael Moore in blackface… The point is that the Whoopi Goldbergs of the world are literally condemning the condemnation of violence. So that means she's on the side of Black Lives Matter when they burned down Seattle and Chicago and New York and Portland. The left condemning 'Try That In A Small Town' by Jason Aldean, which, of course, good Americans… You're talking about good, bad and ugly. The good seeds made Jason Aldean song number one. The bad seeds are trying to rationalize and make excuses for arson, murder, vandalism, carjacking and terrorism in our towns. And the point of the song is that the good seeds will always be there for each other."

Ted continued: "I use the word 'blood' brother. And I have blood brothers every night at my concerts, the heroes of the military. I had the — I hate to use the term — the president's counter-assault team come to my concert in West Virginia the other night. Warriors from Delta Force special operations, our Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, Green Berets. These guys are standing up for God's word in the U.S. Constitution, willing to put their lives on the line."

Nugent went on to reference several companies who have found themselves in the crosshairs of a growing conservative backlash triggered by Bud Light's partnership with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney, North Face's ad featuring drag queen Pattie Gonia, and Target and Kohl's Pride-themed clothing.

"So good seeds are abundant, but the devil seeds run those in power, from Big Tech to media to Hollywood to the the teacher's unions to the corporations with Anheuser Busch and Ford and Target and North Face and Tractor Supply," Ted said. "So we need to stand up to these people and we can do it with our feet and our pocket book. When we see Satan celebrated in glaring imagery; they're not even hiding it. Don't spend your hard-earned dollars at Target, or at Ford Motor Company, or at North Face, or at Tractor Supply. There's so many of them. Certainly Anheuser Busch, they're taking it in the ass where they deserve it.

"So we, the people, are the good seed who work hard, earn our own way, live within our means, save for our rainy days. Which... Whoopi Goldberg's gang hates good over evil. They're celebrating evil over good. So you're right: the good seeds are abundant and we need to be more vocal and more upstanding."

The "Try That In A Small Town" video features footage of protests and robberies projected onto a courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, where 18-year-old black man Henry Choate was lynched in 1927. The clip also shows footage from the 2020 riots following the death of George Floyd to illustrate Aldean's message, which garnered criticism from those who allege the implications are inflammatory. The song's lyrics focus on the divide between people in cities and rural areas (or "small towns") where, according to Aldean, people aren't as tolerant of certain behavior, like "(cussing) out a cop" or "(stomping) on the flag" and setting iron fire: "Try that in a small town / See how far you make it down the road / Around here we take care of our own."

The lyrics point to gun ownership, which some say add to its threatening undertone: "Got a gun that my grandad gave me / They say one day they're going to round up / Well that shit might fly in the city. Good luck."

Although the Country Music Television network initially aired the video for "Try That In A Small Town", it eventually yanked it after it garnered widespread attention over its lyrics and controversial imagery.

The network's decision to not air the video caused an uproar on Twitter, with some people calling for a boycott of CMT.

The video premiered on YouTube on July 14 and has been viewed more than 16 million times as of Monday morning (July 24).

Aldean defended the song in a written statement last week.

"In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests," he tweeted. "These references are not only meritless, but dangerous. There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it- and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage -and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far. "

The country music star, who is a vocal supporter of former U.S. president Donald Trump, went on to say that the lyrics refer to his childhood "where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief. Because they were our neighbors, and that was above any differences."

He continued: "My political views have never been something I've hidden from, and I know that a lot of us in this country don't agree on how we get back to a sense of normalcy where we go at least a day without a headline that keeps us up at night. But the desire for it to — that's what this song is about."

Progressive heavy metal vehicle, Interloper has revealed their newest offering in the form of the single, “Sanctum”. Stream here.


The 6-minute banger is a mix of the band's more technical elements and its very melodic guitar approach. 'Sanctum' is a glimpse into a new era of Interloper.







Andrew Virrueta comments, "We present to you our newest song, 'Sanctum'! We’re extremely excited about having this song finally out. It is a step in a heavier direction, as well as a more progressive direction. We hope you love it! Thanks so much for sticking around with our ever-evolving music. We are always trying to push the boundaries with what is conventional, and we feel this song really showcases the full spectrum of what we are capable of.”





Interloper released their debut, full-length album Search Party on June 11, 2021 via Nuclear Blast Records.


The deep cohesiveness of Interloper’s writing process for Search Party allowed for a creative project with no real boundaries or restrictions. The album was produced by the band and Joey Virrueta. Drums were recorded at Big Bad Sound LA by Jack Ruley and Zach Fisher, with the mixing and mastering completed once more by Andrew’s brother Joey Virrueta. The album artwork was created by Caelan Stokkermans.

Renowned metal band Narcotic Wasteland, led by the talented Dallas Toler-Wade, has unleashed their latest musical offering, a gripping single entitled "Sex, Lies & DNA". The track showcases the band's signature intense sound, with haunting lyrics that delve into the intriguing world of true crime. Set for release on Friday, July 28, 2023, the song is expected to captivate audiences with its thought-provoking themes and powerful instrumentation.


With Dallas Toler-Wade on guitar and vocals, Brett Lee on lead guitar, Erik Schultek on drums, Kenji Tsunami on bass, and Joseph Howard and special guest Andrea_N_Black on vocals, "Sex, Lies & DNA" features an impressive lineup of talented musicians whose synergy produces an electrifying sonic experience.







The single's production was meticulously handled by Erik Schultek and Dallas Toler-Wade themselves at Level 3 Studios, resulting in a top-tier musical composition that expertly captures the essence of the band's unique style. In a statement about the song, Dallas Toler-Wade shared his inspiration, stating:


"This song lyrically shows my ever-growing fascination with true crime. As I was working on this song, I asked myself a question. I asked myself what's worse? A serial killer that has to ritual kill for power and control over the victim, or the husband or wife that kills their partner for a life insurance payout? It's all equally bad, of course. The difference for me is I am fascinated with serial killers, but these other petty selfish murders like for money disgust me. While there are different reasons people kill, it all seems to stem from being a sociopath. The level of detachment and selfishness is astounding. And many of these murders, whether it be from a serial killer or more on the domestic side of things, drugs, and alcohol often play a role. Musically, "Sex Lies & DNA" showcases the band's signature frantic tri-tonal riffing combined with an old-school speed metal/punk vibe, particularly evident in the powerful chorus chant."


Dallas Toler-Wade's songwriting prowess is evident as the track presents a challenging yet enthralling vocal and instrumental arrangement, featuring an exceptional guitar solo contributed by Brett Lee, followed by an impressive solo by Toler-Wade himself. The dedication to perfection even extends to the chorus, with multiple tracks recorded for the chant, including a contribution from their booking agent Andrea_N_Black.


To celebrate the release of "Sex, Lies & DNA", Narcotic Wasteland is embarking on a thrilling tour, treating fans across North America to their electrifying live performances. The tour will feature special guests Gorgatron and Tegmentum, promising a night of pure metal mayhem and unadulterated energy.


Tickets are available at narcoticwasteland.com/tour.


They are recommended for fans of Vader, Death, The Crown, Autopsy, Pestilence, and Nile.





Dates:


July 
28 - Long Beach, CA - Supply & Demand **
29 – Eureka, CA – The Siren’s Song Tavern **
30 - San Francisco, CA - DNA Lounge **
31 - Portland, OR – Twilight #


August 
1 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon #
3 – Boise, ID – The Shredder
4 - Columbia Falls, MT - The Silver Bullet Bar #
5 - Drumheller, AB - Loud As Hell Fest
7 – Regina, SK – Cloud 9 #
9 - Winnipeg, MB - Bulldog Event Center #
10 - Thunder Bay, ON - Black Pirates Pub #
11 - Sioux Falls, SD - Bigs Bar #
12 - Menomonie, WI - Zymurgy Brewing #
13 – Fort Wayne, IN – Piere’s
17 – Montreal, QC – Piranha Bar
18 – Toronto, ON – The Rockpile
19 – Ottawa, ON – Rainbow Bistro
20 – Bowling Green, OH – Howard’s Club H 


**with Gorgatron and Tegmentum
#with Gorgatron











(Photo - Andrea Roberts)

On July 26, FALLING IN REVERSE frontman Ronnie Radke spoke to 100.3 The X Rocks's Adam McGuire-Britson about his band's decision to focus on releasing singles in recent years following the disappointing performance of FALLING IN REVERSE's most recent full-length album, 2017's "Coming Home". Radke said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, my album 'Coming Home' didn't do well; it tanked. It did bad. It didn't do well. The numbers don't lie, like they say — in good ways and bad ways. So, I noticed a lot of bands that were my age that were putting out [new music], trying their hardest and they were trying to figure it out, and I just remember being, like, 'I can't put another album out.' I'm, like, 'What can I do? Because I don't wanna go down. I don't wanna disappear into the abyss of aging emo….' There's a lot of bands that have done that. So I looked to rap, like Drake, and I was, like, 'What are they doing?' And they're putting out singles. They just drop a single. Pop artists drop singles. I'm, like, 'Okay, so what if I put all my creativity into one song instead of putting all my creativity into 10 songs and being rushed to get it out? Your creativity starts spreading out over 10 songs. If you put it all into one song, it's really good. And then you put all your creativity into this music video. And it worked. Slowly. 'Cause it was 'Losing My Mind', then it was 'Losing My Life', then 'Drugs'. Corey Taylor [SLIPKNOT], who's the nicest guy ever, jumped on it. And then 'Popular Monster', it [shot right up]. I was like, 'Oh, I need to keep doing this.' I was, like, 'This is somehow working.''

Elaborating on why he thinks releasing standalone singles was the right move for FALLING IN REVERSE, Ronnie said: "It was just because I honed in my creative juices and I just really spent… Like 'Popular Monster', I wrote that chorus six times. And I realized, 'Wait a minute. I don't have to be sold on the first chorus that I write.' And I figured that out, and I'm, like, I'll just keep making it until when I wake up the next day I don't question the song anymore. I'm, like, 'Dang.' It's like seven in the morning. I'm going to get coffee. I put the song on. I'm, like, 'This slaps.' Instead of being, like, 'It's pretty good,' it's, like, 'No. This is insanely good.'"

FALLING IN REVERSE also embark on its "The Popular Monstour" today, with special guests ICE NINE KILLS. Special guests on select dates include UNDEROATH, SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL, CROWN THE EMPIRE and CATCH YOUR BREATH, making for a thrilling night of hard rock in each city the tour hits.

FALLING IN REVERSE continues to explode by leaps and bounds in this nascent decade. The band's catalog has clocked over 2.7 billion — yes, billion — streams. Another recent single "Watch The World Burn" is at 135 million global streams (including 36 million video views) and landed at No 1 on multiple charts, including Billboard's Hot Hard Rock Songs, Hard Rock Digital Song Sales, and Alternative Digital Song Sales. Elsewhere, "Voices In My Head" garnered over 140 million million streams and was the No. 1 song of 2022 at SiriusXM's Octane, while "Zombified" has clocked 138 million and topped the active rock charts. Lastly, "Popular Monster" was also, well, a monster, that landed at No. 1 on the active rock charts as well.

FALLING IN REVERSE, led by Radke, have been completely dominating the radio and streaming space in this new decade. The band, which formed back in 2008 and built itself as a mainstay of the Warped Tour scene while gracing many Alternative Press covers, has seen its latest single "Zombified" hit No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Hard Rock Songs chart. The band has also been generating nearly 50 million total streams per month.

"Popular Monster" has been streamed nearly half a billion times and has emerged as one of the biggest anthems of the past several years. It enjoyed a multi-week stint at No. 1 on the rock radio charts, landing in the top spot on the Mediabase Active Rock chart, Billboard's Hot Hard Rock chart, and the Nielsen Rock chart, and marked the first No.1 single of the band's career. It followed the gold certification of the band's 2011-released debut album "The Drug in Me Is You" and a sold-out anniversary tour. During the shutdown that was a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Radke quickly established himself as one of the most popular musicians streaming on the Twitch platform. In Winter 2022, the band returned to the road and embarked on the sold-out "Live From The Unknown" tour, further cementing its status as one of the top live draws in the genre. FALLING IN REVERSE have continued to catch the eye of the press, with their career arc being spotlighted by top-tier, tastemaking publications such as Forbes, Billboard, The New York Times, Pitchfork and beyond.

Thrash-metal legends Evildead have released their new single, “Bathe In Fire”. 


The track is taken from their upcoming new studio album; a follow up to their album United States of Anarchy that was released in 2020. The new single has a lyrical theme that deals in depression and suicide.







“Unfortunately depression and trauma are common and widespread, but suicide is never a solution. You can make things better; there are people you may never know who care and love you.” - Phil Flores (Evildead)


“In darkness there’s light; it might be faint, perhaps dimmed, but eventually it will shine.” - Juan Garcia (Evildead / Body Count)


Stream the single here.





Evildead will start their European tour tomorrow in Münster, Germany with scheduled festival appearances at Wacken (DE), Brutal Assault (CZ) and Alcatraz Open Air (BE).





Evildead are:
Albert Gonzales – Rhythm/Lead Guitars
Juan Garcia – Rhythm/Lead Guitars
Rob Alaniz – Drums
Phil Flores – Lead Vocals
Karlos Medina – Bass

Germany’s hottest folk metal band, Feuerschwanz, has hit #1 on the Official German Album Charts again. Feuerschwanz unleashed their new full-length, Fegefeuer, last Friday, and have now stormed the album charts with their second #1 placement in a row. Feuerschwanz's previous studio album, Memento Mori (2021), also entered at #1, and with this new achievement, it is safe to say that Feuerschwanz truly belongs among one of the biggest current bands in the German metal scene.





With the switch to Napalm Records in 2020, Feuerschwanz started their gradual change from the comedic medieval folk outfit of the past into the serious metal band they are today, with #3-charting album, Das elfte Gebot. The 2021 live album, Die letzte Schlacht, landed at #4, and with Memento Mori, the band climbed to the top of the Official German Album Charts for the first time, followed by the cover album Todsünden on #5. All of the last five releases entered the Top 5 of the Official German Album Charts. With their second #1 album, Fegefeuer, Feuerschwanz have reached new career highs – and there’s no end in sight to their ongoing ascent!




Feuerschwanz on the chart entry: “FEGEFEUER HITS #1 IN THE GERMAN ALBUM CHARTS! Our second #1 in only two years - if someone had told us this would happen in the early days, when we sang unplugged on beer benches, cracking jokes about mead... We would have laughed madly into the drinking horn and sung on until we fell off the table (which wasn’t so bad - there were fewer spectators in front of the “stage” than musicians on it anyway).


To celebrate such a victory today - even though we haven’t even digested the last #1 entry - is just great! We owe it all to YOU - whether you have accompanied us through the purgatory of the early days or if you have recently joined us. Another epic album battle has been fought - and we have won!


Dear mainstream radio landscape out there: There is a crazy, colorful and fantastic music world here where people sing and sweat together, where music is made by hand, where strange instruments are used and where you can be a battle dwarf or a Valkyrie or both at the same time! This is not a funny little fringe group - no, we are LOUD and we are MANY! To our biggest fans, the HORDE - we thank you!”


Napalm Records Founder, Owner and Managing Director Markus Riedler: “What a success! Feuerschwanz have secured the #1 spot on the Official German Album Charts again with the new album, Fegefeuer. With the goal of constantly evolving to consistently deliver the quality that makes listeners have fun and be in a good mood, the band not only has great demands on themselves, but also on us as a label. Accordingly, we would like to thank all those involved who have made this success possible. Above all, however, this thanks goes to you, the fans, for supporting this great band so devotedly on its development and future path!”


Fegefeuer kicks off with outstanding opening track “SGFRD Dragonslayer”. Lyrical references to the legendary Siegfried Dragonslayer combine with heavy riffing and Nordic mythology. Successor “Bastard von Asgard” features beautiful vocals by Eluveitie’s Fabienne Erni. The catchy viking party anthem “Berzerkermode” calls for the listener to join the celebration and “party like a viking”, while the first three tracks, as well as heavy “Highlander”, are best proof of the band’s evolution from comedy rock to metal. Other tracks like the intense title track “Fegefeuer”, Lord of the Rings battlechant “Uruk-Hai” and “Die Horde” will be long-time fan favorites.


Fegefeuer stays lyrically true to trademark topics, exploring long forgotten legends and heroic battles, and shows off the band’s extraordinary musical skills. The album will be available in various formats, with some containing the live bonus album Live in Wacken 2022, which includes a recording of their co-headline show from the holy fields. With their new release, Feuerschwanz clearly confirm their outstanding position at the top of the German metal scene.


Order the album here





Fegefeuer tracklisting:


"SGFRD Dragonslayer"
"Bastard von Asgard"
"Berzerkermode"
"Knochenkarussell"
"Fegefeuer"
"Die Horde"
"Uruk-Hai"
"Highlander"
"Morrigan"
"Eis & Feuer"
"Valkyren"


“Knochenkarussell” video:





"Berzerkermode" video:





"Bastard von Asgard" video:





Various limited versions come with the bonus CD, Live in Wacken 2022, recorded during the band's co-headline set at Wacken Open Air 2022. Other versions include the instrumental version of all 11 album tracks.


Live in Wacken 2022 tracklisting:


"Intro (Das Elfte Gebot)" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Memento Mori" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Untot im Drachenboot" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Metfest" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Ultima Nocte" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Schubsetanz" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Methämmer" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Dragostea Din Tei" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Rohirrim" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Das Elfte Gebot" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Warriors Of The World United" (Live in Wacken 2022 / feat. Melissa Bonny)
"Die Hörner Hoch" (Live in Wacken 2022)
"Extro" (Live in Wacken 2022)





Feuerschwanz are:


Johanna - violin, hurdy-gurdy
Hauptmann - vocals, guitar
Hodi - flutes, bagpipes, guitars, vocals
Hans - guitar
Jarne - bass
Rollo - drums
Musch Musch - dance & performance
Myu - dance & performance


(Photo - Stefan Heilemann)

In a recent interview with Live Nation, SLIPKNOT's Corey 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 (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "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."

You can grab tickets to Taylor tickets and 2,500 other shows with Live Nation's Summer's Live — four tickets for $80 all-in to select shows, while inventory lasts. The limited-time ticket offer includes access to shows across a variety of genres, including country, hip-hop, Latin, R&B, Afrobeats, pop, rock, and more.

Fans can visit LiveNation.com/SummersLive now through August 1 at 11:59 p.m. local time to see the full list of participating events. Once you select the event you are interested in, look for the "Summer's Live 4 Pack" ticket type and it will automatically add one four-pack of tickets to your cart. Once you cart the tickets, and proceed to checkout, the price will automatically populate as $80. Taxes will be added where applicable.

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 North America and Europe and staging some of their own headline concerts. They will also support METALLICA on a massive stadium tour in 2023 and 2024.

Last August, Taylor discussed his views on the PANTERA comeback during an appearance on SiriusXM's "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 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."

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ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY....1996

WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS: Pantera, White Zombie, Deftones – Five Seasons Center, Cedar...

Posted by Rock 108 on Monday, August 6, 2018

Brazilian progressive power metal legends, Angra, recently signed a deal with Atomic Fire Records. While playing a string of shows in their home country, the group have also kept preparing the release of their upcoming studio album, Cycles Of Pain, which is due otu on November 3.


Today, Angra are pleased to announce that the record is already available for pre-order in various formats before they'll present first digital single, "Ride Into The Storm", to the world  on Friday, August 4. Pre-save the track here.


Guitarist Rafael Bittencourt states: "This is a very special record for us for several reasons: First, much has happened since our last release in 2018. During the last 5 years, we experienced a lot of pain (personally and collectively) alongside challenges, frustrations, glories and successes, on a rollercoaster of emotions that became a giant cauldron of subjects and inspirations. In the year 2019, my father passed away and a few months later also Andre Matos died what had a big impact on my life. I know the struggles of my bandmates too.




This is a dense album of experiences and accumulated pain. Although we are in a great moment, the album draws inspiration from all pains experienced to bring reflections on them from different angles: What hurts us, how it arrives, the cure, the trauma, the scars. We avoid and we are faced with pain constantly from birth, in an endless cycle; we want it to be far away, but it is what molds and matures us during life. And in the midst of such a profound topic, we want to bring hope and strength to people who are suffering right now. I believe this album will make a difference in the lives of many people and will set a new standard within our style."


Bassist Felipe Andreoli adds: "Cycles Of Pain brings different perspectives on human pain and the cycles that involve it. It reminds us that while pain is inevitable, it is also an integral part of growing and learning. By recognizing and facing these cycles, we can discover our inner strength and find a path to healing and transformation. The album leads us to contemplate our own journey of pain and to embrace the hope that despite the seemingly endless cycles, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. It is an invitation to reflect on the complexities of human pain, addressing topics such as loss, disillusionment, loneliness and despair, but also bringing a message of resilience and hope."


Cycles Of Pain was produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by long-time Angra partner Dennis Ward (D.C. Cooper, Pink Cream 69, Place Vendome etc.) at the Sonastério & Elephant Office in Brazil, while mixing and mastering took place at The TrakShak in Karlsdorf, Germany. Its artwork was designed by Erick Pasqua before Jonathan Canuto took care of layout duties.


"The combination of elements - an angel of death with bright, worn wings adorned with religious and pagan symbols, a dark forest with fire and rain, the prevalence of Brazilian elements - conveys a deeper narrative regarding the album's theme and musical interpretation. It conveys the idea that pain is a recurring and transformative experience, encompassing spiritual and earthly aspects and encouraging us to delve into the depths of our own pain, explore its many dimensions and find strength and healing in the journey of these cycles," explains Andreoli.


The album also features a range of guests including appearances by Amanda Somerville ("Tears Of Blood"), Brazilian artists Lenine ("Vida Seca") and Vanessa Moreno ("Tide Of Changes - Part II" & "Here In The Now"), and last but not least Juliana D'Agostini on piano ("Tears Of Blood").





Cycles Of Pain will be available in the following formats:


- CD-digipak
- jewelcase-CD
- various vinyls (red/yellow split-coloured | clear/blue marbled | clear yellow/white splatter)
- digital


Pre-order here.





Cycles Of Pain tracklisting:


"Cyclus Doloris"
"Ride Into The Storm"
"Dead Man On Display"
"Tide Of Changes - Part I"
"Tide Of Changes - Part II"
"Vida Seca"
"Gods Of The World"
"Cycles Of Pain"
"Faithless Sanctuary"
"Here In The Now"
"Generation Warriors"
"Tears Of Blood"


Tour dates:


August
12 - Curitiba, Brazil - Ópera De Arame


October
28 - São José dos Campos, Brazil - Festival Hora do Rock @ Arena Vale Fest


November
3 - São Paulo, Brazil - Tokio Marine Hall (Album Release Show)
18 - Joinville, Brazil - Armageddon Metal Fest


December
15 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Circo Voador


January
29-Feb. 2 - Miami, FL - 70,000 Tons of Metal


Angra are:


Fabio Lione - vocals
Rafael Bittencourt - guitars
Marcelo Barbosa - guitars
Felipe Andreoli - bass
Bruno Valverde-| drums


(Photo - Marcos Hermes)

The Godz have announced the release of their new album, Resurrected, due for release in fall 2023. CD pre-sale is underway here, with approximate shipping date of September 15. Information on other formats, such as vinyl and cassette will be available soon.





Tracklisting:




"Here Comes Trouble"
"Crazy Raised Me Right"
"Ass, Gas, Or Grass"
"Never Gonna Change"
"Hard Road"
"Chest Fever" (Live Bonus Track)


The new CD features the current lineup of original founding member Mark Chatfield (guitars), Sav Ramey (bass, vocals), Keith Pickens (drums), and Julie Neal (backing vocals). The CD release party will be held in Columbus, Ohio on November 24, at The King of Clubs.


In additional news, on July 14, The Godz welcomed guitarist Steve Mitchell to the lineup. More information on Steve, as well as further band info and show dates, can be found here.

Today, rock legend Billy Idol releases the expanded edition of his self-titled debut album via Capitol/UMe. The reissue includes the original ten-track album, a previously unreleased recording of Idols complete August 12, 1982 concert at The Roxy in West Hollywood, CA, and the recently unearthed and previously unreleased 12-minute Clubland Extended Remix of his classic song, "White Wedding".


Fans can purchase the deluxe reissue here and watch an official video for the Clubland Extended Remix of "White Wedding" below.


Fans are also encouraged to celebrate the release of this iconic album with a Dolby Atmos aural upgrade by Grammy-winning engineer Paul Hicks, who has remixed albums in Atmos for The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, George Harrison, and more.







Tracklisting:


Disc 1:


"Come On, Come On"
"White Wedding (Part 1)"
"Hot In The City"
"Dead On Arrival"
"Nobody’s Business"
"Love Calling"
"Hole In The Wall"
"Shooting Stars"
"It’s So Cruel"
"Congo Man"
"White Wedding (Clubland Extended Remix - Previously Unreleased)"


Disc 2 - Live At The Roxy, 1982 - Previously Unreleased:


"Baby Talk"
"Untouchables"
"Come On, Come On"
"Hot In The City"
"Dead On Arrival"
"Heavens Inside"
"Ready Steady Go"
"Hole In The Wall"
"Shooting Stars"
"Kiss Me Deadly"
"White Wedding"
"Nobody’s Business"
"Dancing With Myself"
"Mony Mony"
"Triumph"


"White Wedding" (Clubland Extended Remix) video:





Billy Idol: State Line, a concert film showcasing his April concert at Hoover Dam, will be released fall 2023. Watch the first official teaser below.


Idol performed two unique sets of his iconic hits on site at Hoover Dam, which straddles the Colorado River directly on the Nevada/Arizona state line; a full band concert at sunset with special guests that electrified and illuminated the surrounding Black Canyon and an acoustic duo set on the roof of the powerhouse directly at the foot of Hoover Dam. For both sets, Idol was joined by his collaborator and lead guitarist of over forty years, Steve Stevens. Performed in front of only 250 fans, the electric set featured special guests Alison Mosshart (The Kills, The Dead Weather), Steve Jones (Sex Pistols, Generation Sex) and Tony Kanal (No Doubt).

Kings Of Thrash, featuring Megadeth alumni bassist David Ellefson and guitarist Jeff Young, recently returned from their Thrashin' Down Under Australian Tour and Young gave BraveWords an update on the original material the band is working on.


"It’s not frightening at all,” he says about creating new music that measures up to the band classic repertoire. “We have five tracks in the can. David lives in Arizona and we have this amazing underground recording studio. And in Arizona with that heat, it’s great if you’re underground because it’s like an oven there. That first song that David and I started which was spawned by the Menza movie. That song has come to life, and it’s called “Bridges Burned” (which has its origins from a riff Jeff brought in back in 1988, intended for what became Rust In Peace). We were doing it on the road with Kings Of Thrash. We’ve kind of taken a turn to where we are going to proceed. And David has talked about it a little bit, so I guess I can be the next one to leak out the next bit of news. Kings Of Thrash are going to continue to do exactly what we do. Doing the best of the classic Megadeth that we were a part of. It’s part of our heritage. We’re doing extra stuff in the encore like Riot’s ‘Swords And Tequila’. We even got Rick Ventura, the original guitar player, joining us when we were in New York. And I think we inspired them because Riot Act are out on the road performing Fire Down Under and it’s entirety. We are expanding and doing Metallica songs and Def Leppard’s ‘Wasted’ which is on David’s covers album. So Kings Of Thrash is going to continue on this path and play as many shows that people want to see us. For the original material, we are going to use a different singer. We are working with somebody who is frighteningly good. He’s already finished the vocals on 'Bridges Burned'. It’s really brand new, so I can’t really say too much more about it. The originals, they have thrash elements, but there’s everything because David and I have lived 10 different lives since Megadeth. We’ve grown as musicians, so we’re gonna bring all that stuff and the energy we had in our 20s and combine that with everything that we’ve learned in our 30s 40s and 50s is in that music. There is a thrash element, and it’s got the speedy, shreddy stuff, but we had much more. It’s like a jambalaya. I just love the songs. Each of the songs are quite different, but they all sound like the same band.”


Jeff Young will be on BraveWords' Streaming For Vengeance in the the coming days. 





Kings Of Thrash “The MEGA Years” features Grammy Award winning bassist David Ellefson, along with guitarist Jeff Young, reuniting to perform the early thrash classics upon which the genre was built and defined in the 1980s. Showcasing the songs from the above mentioned albums in their entirety, Ellefson & Young stay true to material not performed live in several decades, along with the spirit of the era which launched one of the greatest genres of heavy metal music, and one of the biggest names in metal, the mighty Megadeth!


Says Ellefson, “I think we’ve assembled an energetic song list and group of musicians to capture the spirit of a genre we helped create & define so many years ago. Fans have been requesting these songs for a long time now and it seems like a good moment to bring them back to the stage”.


Jeff Young adds, “The mission here is to bring a connection of goodwill through the music, with a collaboration of musicians and friends in our community. Our thrash tribe casts a wide net to give people hope in a time when they’re looking for something positive and uplifting. What better way than to do that than through the music which has become the soundtrack to our lives.”

In a brand new interview with Sky News, QUEEN guitarist Brian May, who has a PhD in astrophysics, addressed a comment he made in a 2019 video he made for the European Space Agency (ESA) in which he argued humans should not venture into space they "sort out how [they] behave on [their] own planet." Asked about the fact that scientists from two global climate authorities have reported before July has even ended that this month will be the planet’s hottest on record by far, Brian said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, I think it's now pretty apparent that we are having an effect on the earth, which is deleterious, and we need to stop doing what we're doing. It's not just about climate change; it's about the way we're polluting the earth and covering it in concrete and basically pretty much eliminating all species except the ones that we think are useful to us. So I think we need a major, major change of philosophy in the way we treat the other creatures with which we share this planet."

He continued: "So I did say [that about humans needing to sort out how they behave on their own planet first] at one of the Starmus conventions [a global festival of science communication and art], and I said it in front of a number of men who had walked upon the moon, feeling very nervous. But they all came up afterwards and said, 'You were right to say that, Brian. We have to behave better on our own planet before we go out putting our imprint on the rest of the cosmos.'"

May has just released a book of 3D photographs of the near-Earth asteroid Bennu based on images gathered by NASA's OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft, which snagged samples from the space rock in October 2020.

The 76-year-old rock legend cooperated on the book with OSIRIS-REx (short for "Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer") principal investigator and planetary scientist Dante Lauretta.

May is undoubtedly one of rock music's greatest and best-known guitarists. Regularly appearing in "The World's Greatest Guitarists" polls and such, Brian is a living legend and an icon to musicians of all ages. As a member of QUEEN, he is a household name and his innovative signature guitar riffs are world famous. Some of his most recognized songs for QUEEN include "We Will Rock You", "Tie Your Mother Down" and "Fat Bottomed Girls". But there is more to this fiercely talented and intelligent man than QUEEN. He is a passionate activist and animal welfare charity enthusiast, an avid and popular blogger as well as an author.

Legendary rock band Toto, featuring guitarist Steve Lukather, performed in Tokyo, Japan at the Budokan on July 21st. Fan-filmed video of the entire show can be viewed below.


The setlist was as follows:


"Orphan"
"Afraid of Love"
"Hold the Line"
"Falling in Between"
"I'll Be Over You"
- keyboard solo -
"White Sister"
"Georgy Porgy"
"Pamela"
"Kingdom of Desire"
- drum solo -
"Waiting for Your Love"
"I'll Supply the Love"
"Home of the Brave"
"Rosanna"
"Africa"




Encore:
"With a Little Help From My Friends" (The Beatles)





With a career that has spanned an awe-inspiring five decades, Steve Lukather has solidified his position as an internationally renowned musician, singer-songwriter, producer, not to mention co-founder of the iconic band, Toto. His list of achievements and accolades is as extensive as his talent, with five Grammy wins and an unparalleled discography featuring collaborations with music legends such as Michael Jackson, George Benson, and Boz Scaggs. Steve's unwavering dedication and exceptional skill have firmly established him as one of the greatest guitar players in the annals of rock and roll history, and he has accumulated a wealth of fascinating rock and roll stories along the way which he shares with drum legend Kenny Aronoff in the interview below.


Together, they unlock the key highlights of Steve Lukather's extraordinary journey, including his formative years as a musician, the significance of his dual roles as a session musician and band member, and his illustrious discography that has left an indelible mark on the music world. They delve into the vibrant realm of creativity and innovation that has shaped Steve's career, as he fearlessly embraced various musical styles and adapted to ever-changing musicscapes. His legendary experiences with the band Toto, his successful solo career, and the profound impact of working with a virtual ‘Who’s who” in the music industry are thoroughly explored.

Traversing the plains of doom, stoner and punk, Nova Doll is gearing up to unveil the new album, Denaturing. This offering is intended to be an experience, moving from one season to the next with tracks joined with sounds of nature.


Dive into Nova Doll's serving of heavy stoner rock laced with garage riffs and punk snarl. Denaturing will be released on September 29th, 2023, via Black Throne Productions and Tarantula Tapes. The video for the latest single from Denaturing, "California Sunshine", is out now.







Each song is about death in a different respect - death of a person, death of innocence, death of relationships, or death of the seasons. Denaturing opens with "The Circle" about how some people will cast circles or call circle to create a sacred place to do their work. This haunting and heavy track opens the floor to the magic of the album. "California Sunshine" explores an acid trip that led to tragedy through an immersive, fuzz-fueled sound, with a dark undertone. The title track, "Denaturation" explores the biological and chemical breakdown of the body during the dying process, while the concluding "Dead Before I Knew It" delves into the experience of losing a part of yourself at the hand of someone else’s actions. It's an eerie atmospheric venture into gloomy doom with a punk attitude. 





Tracklisting:


"The Circle"
"Waydown" 
"California Sunshine" 
"Denaturation"
"Light Her Up"
"Mabon"
"Dead Before I Knew It" 


Nova Doll was established in 2022 and is based out of Barrie, ON, Canada. The project draws musical inspiration from across the stoner rock, punk, and grunge / sludge / doom genres. Influenced by the likes of Kyuss and early Queens Of The Stone Age, as well as High On Fire, the debut record Denaturing, leans heavily into these realms. 


 

Morbid Angel, Origin and Angelcorpse musicians, teamed up under the band name Malefic Throne, have begun recording their debut studio album at Menegroth The Thousand Caves with Colin Marston (Gorguts, Origin, Atheist). Drummer John Longstreth hints at the album as "extremely brutal and infernal nuclear death metal."


Longstreth - acclaimed tech-death drummer virtuoso, primarily known from Origin, Hate Eternal and Angelcorpse - had this to say about the ongoing recordings: "I am truly ecstatic to announce to you all that the recording for the up and comming debut by Malefic Throne on Agonia Records has begun, and the drum tracks are complete!"


"If you're reading this, then you are aware of our recent mini album release from 2022 and have an idea of what we intend to release upon the public. Upon listening back to the basic tracks, I am proud to say it's so much more than what the mini album hinted at. Every song here is a twisting maze that will provide for a truly challenging listen."




Longstreth continues: "We are recording this album at Menegroth The Thousand Caves with Colin Marston engineering and mastering, so you can be rest assured that this album is in the best hands and ears possible. It's all the extremely brutal and infernal nuclear death that you can expect from the three of us, but add that we have all traveled and honed our skills for the past 20 plus years since we initially met in 1997." 


"On a personal note, this is the original type of death metal I cut my teeth on when I first started. Evil, fast, a touch euro thrashy, and beligerently pissed off. This is a return to roots, and I have a lot to say in this language. The drums are left wide open, raw, and live. You will hear a real band here. You will hear aggression, hellish self indulgence, you will hear a mistake or two. My promise is that you will hear total death metal with all of it's festering boyles and lesions left intact. Gene and Steve are next up and I can not wait to hear what they have in store for all of us. Take care, death metal maniacs!"


By Gene and Steve, Longstreth means his Malefic Throne bandmates - founder & guitarist Gene Palubicki (Perdition Temple, Angelcorpse) and vocalist & bassist Steve Tucker (Morbid Angel). The trio was put together by Palubicki in 2020, after initially having met at Morrisound in 1997, where both Angelcorpse and Morbid Angel were recording their own albums side by side. In 2022 they released a self-titled, four track EP, featuring the song "Deciding tTe Heirarchy", for which Longstreth recorded a playthrough video, courtesy of Meinl Cymbals.





For further details, visit Malefic Throne on Facebook.


 

With the summer heat intensifying, powerful melodic Finnish metallers Dyecrest (ft. members Metal de Facto, Thy Row, Everfrost, Kiowan Dynamo) have their single "Colder" to cool ya off and enjoy the season fun. The single is from their forthcoming album, Once I Had A Heart, due out September 29, 2023 via Rockshots Records.


"The song is a bit older and was written by the late Kimmo Blom, who was at that point our singer. We kinda decided that 'Now we’ll make a song, let’s do it!'. And I think it was only a couple of hours later when we had the song together. With the lyrics and the irresistible melodies that the song has!"


"When we were thinking about what would be the best choice to be the first single, we ended up with 'Colder', cause it's catchy (without being cheesy) and a powerful song with a strong story," says drummer Niko Takala.







Dyecrest's new album, Once I Had A Heart, features nine melodic melancholic tracks to follow their 2019 EP The Stage Is Set, and 2018 album Are You Not Entertained?. Seven of the nine songs are brand new songs, two are a bit older but weren’t properly recorded at any point. This new record has some new “twists” in the songs, but still, the trademarks that Dyecrest is known for with their pounding and powerful anthems and strong vocal melodies with big choirs, accompanied by flashing guitar solos.


“The album overall is a tighter package than any previous Dyecrest album, and it lifts the band to a whole new level, for sure! On the album, there are some songs which have been written already some years ago (for example 'Read My Mind' and 'Man Made God') as well as brand new songs, such as the title track 'Once I Had A Heart;, the crushing opener 'Sacred Sleep', the bouncing and heavy 'Oathkeeper' and the majestic and powerful half-ballad 'Fire From Your World', which also ends the album with its heartbreaking atmosphere," adds Niko Takala.


Guitarist Matti Pasanen also adds: "This is the album, which in my opinion is reflecting the sound of Dyecrest in the best way so far. Heavy, yet atmospheric and also a bit progressive musical elements are combined with meaningful lyrics and intriguing melodies!"


"On this album we were able to build up layers, which aren’t 'chewed ready for you,' but which you have to find out by listening to the songs over and over again. And those layers can be found both in compositions as well in lyrics. Once I Had A Heart is truly the album out of which I can honestly say that 'Hey, check this out, THIS IS DYECREST!'"


"This time the Dyecrest-way of songwriting (meaning that we are writing the songs as they were meant purely and just for ourselves) has created the heaviest, catchiest, and also the most beautiful Dyecrest songs so far."


The whole band continues: "We want to dedicate this album in the loving memory of the band’s former singer, friend, and brother forever, Kimmo Blom. Kimmo sadly passed away in the fall of 2022. We feel privileged that there are three songs on the album which we have written with Kimmo, and that we had the chance of having him as one of the backing vocalists on the album. 'One day we’ll meet and rock together again - there, Where the Light Was Born!'"





Tracklisting:


"Sacred Sleep" 
"Man Made God" 
"Once I Had A Heart" 
"Oathkeeper" 
"Face The Light"
"Read My Mind"
"Colder" 
"The Final Act"
"Fire From Your World" 


Pre-orders can be placed now at this location.


 

Rising progressive death metal stars Kallias will be digitally releasing their brand new album, First Ascent, on August 25, 2023 via AISA Distribution. In celebration, the band has premiered the first single from the record, "Lungta II: Everlasting", along with a haunting music video.


Kallias guitarist and vocalist Nicole Papastavrou comments, "We’re thrilled to showcase our more progressive elements in this new single, such as the use of Chris’ upright bass and a very special throat singing section by Alex Novick. Overall, 'Lungta II: Everlasting' is not only a departure from First Ascent, but takes a direction we hope to accomplish with the next record." 


"The music video resembles the physical and mental journey of climbing in the Himalayas. ‘Lungta,’ meaning ‘Wind Horse,’ resemble the prayer flags that bring goodwill, with red specifically resembling fire. We best used our imagination to bring to life the inward battle one must face when taking such journeys. We hope you enjoy the visuals and look forward to the release of First Ascent to follow."







The 3D cover artwork of First Ascent was created by Francesco Artusato (Light The Torch, All Shall Perish). Pre-orders can be placed here.





Tracklisting:


"The Approach" 
"Irrational Fear" (Ft. Jeff Loomis)
"Disembodied Existence"
"Matter Eater" (Ft. Colin Cook)
"The Dark Machine"
"21 Grams" (Ft. Rafael Trujillo)
"Nine In Time" (Ft. Greg Burgess)
"Lungta I: The Path:
"Lungta II: Everlasting" 


Kallias is comprised of players who are masters of their craft. Nicole Papastavrou's solid history of songwriting and tight rhythms paired with Colin Cook's jazzy and technical leads are the perfect compliment. JP Andrade's undeniably precise percussion serves the music on every level, from jazz-influenced melodic sections to satisfyingly odd rhythms for the eager prog-loving ear. Beautifully woven bass lines by Chris Marrone provide an indomitable structure and embrace for each instrument — never overpowering, yet always highlighting.


For modern day prog and metal fans, Kallias can be compared to bands such as Opeth, Meshuggah, and Decapitated. The quartet holds a musical chemistry that is few and far between and that will keep you in the foreground from the beginning with bone-chilling introductions. This is by no means background music. Kallias creates their own genre for a panoramic audio experience that demands the listener's undivided attention to focus and feel.


In addition, Kallias will be embarking on a run of West Coast tour dates this August in support of Cyborg Octopus. The full itinerary is as listed:


August
25 - Fullerton, CA - Programme
26 - San Diego, CA - Til Two Club
27 - Cupertino, CA - XBar
29 - Las Vegas, NV - The Griffin
30 - Fresno, CA - Destructive Warehouse


For further details, visit Kallias on Facebook.


 


 


 


 

QUEENSRŸCHE/ex-KAMELOT drummer Casey Grillo has joined forces with guitar virtuoso Angel Vivaldi and singer Roman Grey to form a new melodic metal supergroup, INFINITY'S ASHES. The official music video for the band's first single, "The Perfect Flaw", can be seen below.

Angel comments: "Like most projects, this band has been in the oven for quite a number of years. To finally let the world see and hear this incredible collaboration feels magical. I'm proud of the work each of us put into these songs. Excited to see what's on the horizon for us."

Casey states: "I am absolutely thrilled to be part of this project that Angel and I embarked on several years ago. Countless hours of dedication and meticulous planning have been poured into it, and I'm eagerly anticipating the fans' reactions to our creation. Get ready to enjoy what we've accomplished!"

Grillo adds: "This will not change my involvement with QUEENSRŸCHE. I simply wanted to explore a different aspect of my drumming."

For more than six years, Grillo has been filling in for original QUEENSRŸCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield, who stepped away from the band's touring activities in early 2017 to spend time with his young son.

Almost a year after playing his first show with QUEENSRŸCHE, Casey announced his exit from his previous band KAMELOT in order to pursue "other musical endeavors" as well as tend to his "rapidly growing" drumhead company DrumStatic.

X JAPAN, one of the most successful rock groups in Japanese history, has released its first new single in eight years, "Angel".

X JAPAN has achieved legendary status among rock fans worldwide, making a buzz at Coachella, headlining major venues such as Wembley Arena and Madison Square Garden, and selling out Japan's 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome a record 18 times.

The last single from X JAPAN was 2015's "Born To Be Free", and the critically acclaimed documentary film about the band, "We Are X", was released in 2018 in 30 countries, winning awards at the SXSW and Sundance film festivals.

With music and lyrics by X JAPAN leader, composer, drummer, and pianist Yoshiki, "Angel" is one of the band's most personal and emotional ballads. "Angel" is distributed globally by Melodee Music/Ingrooves/Virgin Music Group.

Recently, X JAPAN became the center of controversy when Elon Musk announced he was rebranding Japanese Twitter as "X Japan", causing fans across the globe to respond in support of the band's trademark and supporting them as the country's only true "X JAPAN".

X JAPAN has sold more than 30 million albums, singles, and videos combined and played to millions of fans around the world.

In 1997, at the height of their success, the band broke up. In early 2007, Yoshiki and vocalist Toshi reunited, and later that year X JAPAN officially reformed.

The band launched its reunion in 2008 with three nights at the Tokyo Dome. In 2010, X JAPAN performed for the first time at Lollapalooza in Chicago. Immediately following the festival, X JAPAN played the biggest concert in its history, selling out two consecutive shows at Japan's Nissan Stadium, filling 140,000 seats. The band then launched their first North American tour, selling out across the U.S. and Canada.

X JAPAN made their Coachella debut in 2018, and the band performed three sold-out concerts at Makuhari Messe in September 2018 for 100,000 fans.

The current lineup of X JAPAN is Yoshiki (drums, piano, composer),Toshi (vocals),Pata (guitar),Heath (bass),Sugizo (violin, guitar).

Legendary punk band DESCENDENTS has canceled its previously announced European tour after lead singer Milo Aukerman suffered a heart attack.

Earlier today (Friday, July 28),DESCENDENTS released the following statement via social media: "We are truly sorry, but we have to cancel the upcoming European shows.

"Our singer, Milo, had a mild heart attack last night. He's doing fine, and is expected to make a full recovery from surgery, but will need a few weeks to recover before we can hit the road again.

"Hope to see you soon."

DESCENDENTS last performed live on June 25 at the Punk In Drublic festival in Ohio.

The band was scheduled to kick off its European tour today in Spain, with dates booked through early August.

Barcelona's Barna N Roll festival, where DESCENDANTS were set to perform tonight, said the singer was currently hospitalized, adding that they hope his health "evolves favorably" in the next couple of days. "We're sad to share that due to health reasons, Milo Aukerman of DESCENDANTS had to cancel the concert planned for tonight," the festival wrote.

DESCENDENTS' latest album, "9th & Walnut", came out in 2021 via Epitaph Records.

In 2002, the original "Milo Goes To College" lineup — bassist Tony Lombardo, drummer Bill Stevenson, guitarist Frank Navetta (died in 2008) and vocalist Milo Aukerman — entered the studio to finally record the songs with which they first forged their genre-defining sound. The 18-track result, "9th & Walnut", was named for their Long Beach practice space back in the day. The album features the band's earliest material written from 1976 through 1980.

DESCENDENTS' current lineup consists of Aukerman, guitarist Stephen Egerton, bassist Karl Alvarez and drummer Bill Stevenson.

We are truly sorry, but we have to cancel the upcoming European shows.

Our singer, Milo, had a mild heart attack last...

Posted by Descendents on Friday, July 28, 2023

In a new interview with the "Brutally Delicious" podcast, ATREYU frontman Brandon Saller spoke about the possibility of him and his bandmates shifting their focus away from releasing albums to putting out a series of singles. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I care less and less about the traditional kind of methods of things and more about, how do we actually get people to have the opportunity to digest all of the art? … You put out an album, put out 12 songs on an album and four of 'em get a light shined on them and are in the tens of millions of streams and have all this attention and then the other eight are in the hundreds of thousands, if that — maybe they hit a million. They're in the dark and you spent all this time on these songs.

"We're not a band that has historically put out records with a bunch of filler; it's hard to get songs past us," he explained. "So, for us, it's, like, 'Oh, well, man, it just didn't have opportunity to get shown.'

"I'm all about alternative methods of release," Saller added. "I think that physical release really only lies in vinyl and cool, like, collectors' kind of stuff these days. I don't care about CDs. I couldn't play a CD if I wanted to. I don't have a CD [player] in my car. I don't have a CD player in my computer. But as far as just releasing things, I just wanna release things that make it more accessible and easy to actually consume and digest them. And I think that that potentially is in singles and EPs. I don't know everything or anything. So we'll see how it goes."

ATREYU and MEMPHIS MAY FIRE will join forces for the "We Want Your Misery" tour, set to kick off on August 26 in Ventura at the Ventura Theater with CATCH YOUR BREATH and ANOTHER DAY DAWNS as support.

ATREYU will perform at the California – Is For Lovers and Rocklahoma 2023 festivals and will join GODSMACK on September 5 for select dates then back to the "We Want Your Misery" tour followed by Canadian dates with IRON MAIDEN on September 28.

ATREYU's "The Moment You Find Your Flame" EP is due August 18 via Spinefarm. It is the follow-up to the recent EP "The Hope Of A Spark". ATREYU also announced "The Beautiful Dark Of Life" album due later this year as part of the EP series delivering the final chapter of the "Seasons Of Life" concept along the rollercoaster of human existence.

"The Moment You Find Your Flame" EP, produced by longtime collaborator John Feldmann, reflects the struggle in recognizing one’s self-worth and it touches on internal battles, self-doubt, and insecurities that can overshadow one's perception of their own abilities. The band has found its own flame, a metaphor for their soul-baring introspection and providing comfort and catharsis through music in the face of universal emotions that unite us all.

Photo credit: Micala Austin

On a recent episode of the "Talk Louder" podcast, hosted by veteran music journalist "Metal Dave" Glessner and lifelong hard rock/metal vocalist Jason McMaster (DANGEROUS TOYS),DIAMOND HEAD's Brian Tatler spoke about how he landed the gig as SAXON's new touring guitarist following the departure of Paul Quinn. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "[SAXON and DIAMOND HEAD are] on the same label and we've got the same manager, Adam Parsons from Siren. We've got to know each other over the years. We've done festivals with them. We've done support dates with them. And in last year we did a big tour — we did 33 dates across Europe and the U.K. And I think everybody was getting on really well, and they probably realized I'm a nice guy and I can play, et cetera. So I got the call in March from the manager to say Paul Quinn's stepping down. Would I be interested in taking over from Paul? And I said, 'Yes. Absolutely.'"

During the chat, which was recorded in early June, a month prior to his first gig with SAXON, Tatler went on to say that he was looking forward to playing some live shows with singer Biff Byford and the rest of the band.

"DIAMOND HEAD's great — it's always been my baby and we've been going a long, long time — but to have a fresh challenge now at my age and this time in my life, a new set to learn a new band to go out with," he said. "They're of a higher level, a tour bus level. I mean, SAXON will headline a festival like a Wacken [Open Air in Wacken, Germany] or something, whereas DIAMOND HEAD, we've done Wacken, but we'd be on a smaller stage, let's say two o'clock in the afternoon, three o'clock in the afternoon sort of thing. So it's gonna be a big jump for me. But I'm excited for the challenge. I think it's great. I thought it was fabulous of them to offer it to me. I'm really grateful."

Asked if there has been any talk of him being a permanent addition to SAXON, Brian replied: "I think it's too early to say. I've gotta at least do one gig, I think, and then maybe we'll talk again. I think… I mean, who knows? But I'd like to. But I think we've probably gotta do some gigs first."

Tatler made his live debut as SAXON's new touring guitarist on July 7 at the Rockwave festival in Athens, Greece. Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below.

Brian will join fellow guitarist Doug Scarratt, bassist Nibs Carter, drummer Nigel Glockler and Byford for shows throughout 2023 but will continue to be a member of DIAMOND HEAD.

In addition to a dozen or so already-announced festival appearances in 2023, SAXON has revealed that it will support JUDAS PRIEST on a U.K. tour in early 2024. "We're playing really big venues," Brian told Ernest Skinner of Border City Rock Talk earlier in the year. "And it's JUDAS PRIEST, SAXON and URIAH HEEP. And I'm amazed to be… I've never been on a tour with JUDAS PRIEST before. The closest DIAMOND HEAD's come in the past is we've been on the same festival bill. I'm a big PRIEST fan and have been since maybe 1975. So to be on tour with them where we can watch them every night and get to know 'em a little bit and chat will be fantastic. I'm stoked about that…. It's not till March 2024, but I'm already looking forward to that."

In March, Quinn thanked fans for their "outpouring of love and respect" after his announcement that he was "stepping back from touring".

As a result of Quinn's decision, SAXON canceled its April 2023 South American tour as well as the appearance at the Monsters Of Rock cruise.

In a recent interview with Robert Cavuoto of Myglobalmind, Byford spoke about Quinn's decision to retire from the road. The singer said: "Yeah, it's gonna be a change. The thing is it wasn't a surprise. It was talked about for a few years now that he might retire. And the thing is the band are getting bigger, and we're busy and we're doing longer tours and bigger venues. I just think he wants to rest now. So it wasn't really a shock. We talked about it a few times, the fact that he gets very tired quite quickly. There's a lot of pressure on you when you're touring in a band. So, he's gonna be around. He's gonna be doing show till the end of the year with us, and he's gonna doing the new album with us. So pretty much he will be there, but not there, if you know what I mean."

SAXON's latest album, "More Inspirations", arrived in March via Silver Lining Music. Following the release of "Inspirations" in 2021, "More Inspirations" is the second "deep dish" serving of the influences which have fed SAXON's immensely successful 40-plus-year career.

Byford and Quinn are the sole remaining original members in SAXON's current lineup.

Paul Rodgers, iconic lead vocalist, main songwriter and founding member of legendary rock band BAD COMPANY, has released a new single called "Take Love". The track is taken from his upcoming album, "Midnight Rose", slated for release on September 22 via Sun Records. This is Rodgers's first solo LP of new music in nearly 25 years.

With a carpe diem, live-life-to-the-fullest lyric backed by driving guitars and booming drums, Rodgers's vocal takes center stage here. Newly mastered in Dolby Atmos spatial audio, fans will recognize "Take Love" from live setlists during his tenure fronting QUEEN on tour.

Last month, Paul released the first single from "Midnight Rose", a song called "Living It Up".

In a short video posted to his social media, Paul stated about the inspiration for the "Midnight Rose" cover: "So, the story of the 'Midnight Rose' painting is this… It was my wife Cynthia's 50th birthday, and I wanted to give her something for her birthday. So I said, 'What do you want?' She said, 'Oh, find me some bird seed and a nice plant,' something. And I said, 'Oh, I've gotta get you more than that.' And she said, 'Okay. Paint me a picture.' And I said, 'Okay. What type of bird seed do you want?' And she said, 'No, no. That's off the cards. You've gotta paint me a picture now.' So I went ahead and did it."

The eight-track album is a collection of all new, original music completely written by Rodgers, with the exception of "Living It Up", which was co-written by Rodgers and his band's bassist Todd Ronning, and drummer Rick Fedyk.

"Midnight Rose" was produced by Cynthia Rodgers and Bob Rock, and was recorded at Roper Recording and The Warehouse over the last 18 months with unique album artwork contributed by Paul and his love of 26 years, Cynthia.

"My new album 'Midnight Rose' grew from sparks of ideas I had," said Rodgers. "The sparks developed into a raging fire when the band and everyone involved brought their absolute 'A' game. I think it is my best album to date, I like it. I hope you do too."

Dominic Pandiscia, chief strategy officer, Primary Wave/Sun Label Group, added: "Paul Rodgers is a rock legend and we're proud to have him on the Sun Records label. His album 'Midnight Rose' is a modern-day classic that his established and new fans will love. We have heard one consistent comment throughout the record making process and it's that Paul has never sounded better. I couldn't agree more."

"Midnight Rose" track listing:

01. Coming Home
02. Photo Shooter
03. Midnight Rose
04. Living It Up
05. Dance In The Sun
06. Take Love
07. Highway Robber
08. Melting

The founding member of English supergroup BAD COMPANY along with guitarist Mick Ralphs, Rodgers has sold more than 125 million records worldwide in his 55-year career. In addition to BAD COMPANY, Rodgers formed and led two other legendary English bands to international success — FREE with guitarist Paul Kossoff, and THE FIRM with LED ZEPPELIN's Jimmy Page.

"Working with Paul gave me the opportunity to appreciate what an extraordinary vocalist and songwriter this man really is," Page said.

Rodgers was also instrumental in resurrecting QUEEN under the banner of QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS, which saw the group release an original album "The Cosmos Rocks", which marked the first time Rodgers released new, original music since his 1999 solo album "Electric". They also released several live DVDs including songs from both of their respective catalogs. He fronted the band for four years from 2004 to 2008 before leaving to return to his solo career and BAD COMPANY.

"[He's] simply the greatest blues/rock singer alive. Having now had the privilege to work with Paul, it is even more clear to me that Paul Rodgers is the rock/blues voice they all look up to," said Brian May, lead guitarist of QUEEN.

He added: "FREE's 'Fire & Water' album was our bible when we were starting out. I remember we were in the studio recording and Freddie [Mercury] was doing the vocal track. I made some suggestions and he said, 'I'm not Paul Rodgers. I can't do that!'"

LED ZEPPELIN's Robert Plant calls him "the voice of all British voices" and Rolling Stone magazine ranked him as "one of the greatest singers of all time." Some hit songs include "All Right Now", "Bad Company", "Feel Like Makin' Love", "Can't Get Enough", "Satisfaction Guaranteed" and "Radioactive".

Respected rock journalist Mick Wall, author of biographies on rock stars including Ozzy Osbourne, Jon Bon Jovi and Axl Rose, with bylines in publications such as Louder, Classic Rock and Kerrang!, believes "everyone knows that Paul Rodgers is one of the greatest singers in the world. What they are only waking up to is that there may never be another like him."

Photo courtesy of The Press House

Speaking exclusively to Rock Candy magazine as part of an in-depth 18-page LYNYRD SKYNYRD story, lead vocalist Johnny Van Zant explains exactly how and why the band has decided to continue after the untimely death of founding member and guitarist Gary Rossington back in March.

"Gary's wife really sealed the deal," Johnny outlined to Rock Candy editor Howard Johnson. "Dale has been singing backing vocals with SKYNYRD for years and years, ever since the tribute tour that brought the band back together in 1987. And when Gary died, Dale said to me, 'This is what Gary did and he would want you guys to carry on.' So now more than ever I want to continue. Gary was out there carrying the legacy for the original guys — for Ronnie and Allen, for Billy and Leon — for so many years out of respect for what they did. Now I think he deserves the same kind of respect from us."

With SKYNYRD currently hitting the road for shows with ZZ TOP, guitarist Rickey Medlocke is also quick to explain his desire to keep the band's legacy alive.

"When Gary passed, it broke my heart," says Medlocke. "It really did. It's only now that I've got to the point where I can talk about it and think about the good old days and all the good times we had together. So it's very emotional for me to get up on stage and play, and to look across and not see Gary doing his thing. But I believe it's important to keep SKYNYRD's music alive and not let it just fade away. It's important for all of us to honor the memories of all the other guys who went before us in this band. I'm just very proud and very honored to be doing that."

Van Zant also says that live performance has always been at the very core of LYNYRD SKYNYRD's work.

"The records SKYNYRD made were great, but Gary felt that in truth SKYNYRD had always been about the live performance," he explains. "Now we're no young turkeys, no spring chickens. But what I do know is that everyone still loves getting out there and playing the music. We feel like a family when we're out there together, and we all want to go out there again and really give Gary his due."

You can read our 18-page LYNYRD SKYNYRD special, together with many other fascinating stories about RATT, JETHRO TULL, FASTER PUSSYCAT and Ronnie Montrose in issue 39 of Rock Candy.

For more details, visit www.rockcandymag.com.

Rock Candy is a 100-page, full-color bi-monthly rock mag, created in the U.K. It covers the sights, sounds and smells from the greatest era in hard rock music, the '70s and '80s. It is the brainchild of respected U.K. rock journalists Derek Oliver, Howard Johnson and Malcolm Dome — all frontline writers for the legendary Kerrang! magazine in the golden era.

In 2020, guitar-shredding virtuoso George Lynch reteamed with former DOKKEN bandmate Jeff Pilson for a set of new studio recordings that turned pop music classics into powerful metal anthems. Dubbed "Heavy Hitters", the album was well-received by rock and metal devotees across the board. Now, this dynamic duo have once again converged for the highly anticipated follow-up album, "Heavy Hitters II", which brings forth a fresh new set of reimagined cover versions representing classics of soul, modern alt-rock, new wave, blues and more!

Ever wondered what Pilson, one of the most widely respected bass players in all of hard rock and metal, could do with SLY & THE FAMILY STONE's ultra-funky bass line in "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)"? Or questioned whether Mr. Scary could transform Howlin' Wolf's oft-covered "Smokestack Lightning" into a smokin' hot, floor-stompin' slab of bluesy rock (with a special guest vocal by the great Corey Glover of LIVING COLOUR)? Well, "Heavy Hitters II" has your answers. Those delights and a whole lot more wait in store — just check out the album's brand new single, a completely revamped version of IMAGINE DRAGONS' "Radioactive". In the hands of Lynch and Pilson, this tune gets a thorough re-working with a supercharged galloping rhythmic guitar riff you'll have to hear to believe.

Whereas the previous volume of "Heavy Hitters" featured a mix of various guest vocalists, this time around Lynch and Pilson brought in one of the most diverse and powerful vocalists in the business, longtime THE ROLLING STONES backing vocalist Bernard Fowler. Fowler, along with acclaimed drummer Brian Tichy, fill out each of the album's tracks with their masterful performances.

Reflecting on the project, Lynch declares: "Jeff and I have always cherished any opportunities to work together over the 40 something years we've been playing together. Writing original records, (in DOKKEN, LP, T&N, THE END MACHINE, etc.) is wonderful but doing an album of covers is a different and refreshing experience for us. I'd say it's a little less 'grindy' work and a lot more fun because we're interpreting previously written songs rather than building compositions from the ground up. It's very liberating and affords more time to experiment and have fun with tracks. Plus getting to do a record with Bernard who is a legend was very motivating! It's almost like we're a few degrees removed from being in THE ROLLING STONES!"

Pilson likewise enthuses: "George and I have so much fun with these 'Heavy Hitters' records. Reinterpreting classic pop songs as rock anthems is an amazingly fun challenge. And with Bernard and Brian we have a band that I'd put up against anyone out there! Plus as writers George and I love studying what makes these songs such classics and we take that into our own writing to constantly improve. And we've always wanted to write and record a Christmas song — which we did with 'It's A Wonderful Life'. So Merry Christmas from 'Heavy Hitters' — and have a great summer!"

"Heavy Hitters II" will arrive on CD, vinyl and digital on August 11.

Track listing:

01. Sledgehammer
02. Carry On
03. The Stroke
04. Radioactive
05. Smokestack Lightning
06. Hold On (I'm Coming)
07. Stay With Me
08. Shout
09. New Sensation
10. Jumpin' Jack Flash
11. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
12. It's A Wonderful Life

Metalville Records has set an October 20 release date for DOG EAT DOG's comeback album, "Free Radicals".

After a long period of only touring, DOG EAT DOG is finally back with its first full-length album in 17 years, "Free Radicals"… and it was worth the wait! The 14 explosive and inspiring songs combine a variety of contemporary styles without denying their roots. The album surprises with a variety of tones, moods, dynamics, and tempos, accompanied by their never-fading energy and positive attitude.

Singles "Lit Up", "Never Give In" and "Man's Best Friend" provide listeners with the big guitars, groovy beats, and catchy choruses DOG EAT DOG is known for, while "Bar Down" carves out new territory for a band eager to explore the boundaries of their abilities and experiences.

DOG EAT DOG's bi-continental lineup and their unique approach to sound and performance has always made them a must-see live act. With "Free Radicals", the band reminds listeners why many consider them one of the pioneers of the crossover genre.

The "Free Radicals" cover artwork was created by Marcos Cabrera and can be seen below.

"Free Radicals" track listing:

01. Lit Up
02. Kin
03. Never Give In
04. Time Won't Wait
05. 1 Thing
06. Mean Str
07. Energy Rock
08. @Joe's
09. Blvk Clvd
10. Bar Down
11. Man's Best Friend
12. E1on1
13. Looking Back
14. Zamboni

DOG EAT DOG 2023 lineup:

John Connor - vocals
Roger Haemmerli - guitars
Dave Neabore - bass
Brandon Finley - drums

Formed in New Jersey from the ashes of MUCKY PUP, DOG EAT DOG became one of the pioneers of rap-rock, being one of the first bands to fuse hardcore with rap in a way that would later become commonplace.

They released their debut full-length, "All Boro Kings", via Roadrunner in 1994. Packed full of good time party hits such as "No Fronts", "If These Are Good Times" and "Who's The King", it went on to sell over 600,000 records worldwide.

With huge support from MTV — including an appearance on the "Beavis & Butt-Head" show, where they were labeled as "a bunch of butt-munches" by the show's animated hosts — it was not long before DOG EAT DOG were filling huge theatres around the world, as well as sharing stages with the likes of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, OZZY OSBOURNE, KISS and METALLICA.

In 2017, DOG EAT DOG released its first new material since 2006, an EP titled "Brand New Breed". It consisted of four new tracks, and was expanded to include four acoustic/live tracks the following year with a reissue.

Photo credit: Suspicious Activities PR / Metalville

Melbourne, Australia-based progressive metal band, Teramaze, performed at Barwon Club Hotel in Geelong, Australia on July 22. You can now watch video of the band's full set, recorded by Mick (Vendetta) Kee. Check it out below.


Setlist:


"Battle"
"Sleeping Man"
"Jackie Seth"
"The Heist"
"Navigate In Solitude"
"Shadows" (Tony Paulo on drums)
"And the Beauty They Perceive"
"Her Halo"

Queen has shared episode 27 of its yearlong "The Greatest: Live" video series. Watch the video below.


Queen have always been spoilt for choice when it comes to packing setlists with their own crowd-pleasers – but as seen in this special moment from the Magic Tour, the band’s riotous cover version of the Little Richard classic from Wembley ’86 both ignites the stadium crowd and sees the lineup play with the joy of a teenage garage band.


In last week’s episode of Queen The Greatest Live, Brian May and Roger Taylor revealed how curveballs keep the show fresh for band and fans alike. Whether unplugging for an intimate acoustic set on a ‘B’ stage, splicing hits into a quickfire medley or racing through a formative rock ‘n’ roll cover – the only rule at a Queen concert is to expect the unexpected.




Now, in this archive Wembley Stadium footage from 1986’s Magic Tour, the joy is infectious as the lineup put an inimitable Queen spin on Little Richard’s immortal "Tutti Frutti". As Brian told Total Guitar earlier this year, the song was a fitting choice for a band who cut their teeth on the R&B trailblazer. “When I first heard Little Richard, it was a moment of shock, but there was also the joy of realising that people could actually sing that way – they could scream their emotions.”


Starting the song half-hidden in moody blue lighting, with Freddie supplying finger clicks and falsettos, it briefly seems the band have taken a mellow acoustic approach. Then this cover version explodes into a rocket-fuelled rhythm and blues masterclass, with Roger laying down his tambourine for thunderous drum fills, while Brian slings the Red Special for a ferocious solo. Watch closely, too, for the moment when Freddie mimes a golf swing with his sawn-off mic stand.  


The 72,000-strong Wembley crowd’s response says it all, with the entire stadium shouting back "Tutti Frutti"’s gobbledygook-genius payoff: “A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop, a-lop-bam-boom…!”