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. You can now listen to the entire chat below.

When Crahan told Blythe that he doesn't suffer from stage fright and expressed his view that fear drives his performance, Randy said (as transcribe by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "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 will head out on a full U.S. tour with PANTERA this summer, including 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.

MR. BIG played its third concert with new touring drummer Nick D'Virgilio earlier tonight (Saturday, July 22) at Maruzen Intec Arena in Osaka, Japan. Fan-filmed video of the show, which marked MR. BIG's second appearance in Japan in six years, can be seen below.

MR. BIG's first-ever concert with D'Virgilio took place on Sunday, July 16 at the Majiao Music Festival in China.

The band's setlist for the Osaka gig was as follows, according to Setlist.fm:

01. Addicted To That Rush
02. Take Cover
03. Undertow
04. Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song)
05. Alive And Kickin'
06. Green-Tinted Sixties Mind
07. CDFF-Lucky This Time (Jeff Paris cover)
08. Voodoo Kiss
09. Never Say Never
10. Just Take My Heart
11. My Kinda Woman
12. A Little Too Loose
13. Road To Ruin
14. To Be With You
15. Big Love
16. The Chain
17. Promise Her The Moon
18. Where Do I Fit In?
19. Wild World (Cat Stevens cover)
20. Guitar Solo
21. Colorado Bulldog
22. Bass Solo
23. Shy Boy (TALAS cover)

Encore

24. 30 Days In The Hole (HUMBLE PIE cover)
25. Mr. Big (FREE cover)
26. Good Lovin' (THE RASCALS cover) (Paul Gilbert on drums, Billy Sheehan on vocals, Eric Martin on bass and Nick D'Virgilio on guitar)
27. Baba O'Riley (THE WHO cover)

In a April 2023 interview with Border City Rock Talk, D'Virgilio spoke about how he landed the gig as MR. BIG's new touring drummer, five years after the passing of the band's co-founder, Pat Torpey. The 54-year-old Nick, who has spent the last nine years working for the Indiana-based online retailer of music instruments and audio gear Sweetwater, said: "It stemmed through Sweetwater. I've known Paul [Gilbert, MR. BIG guitarist]; Paul was the one guy I knew most. I met Pat, and I met Billy [Sheehan, MR. BIG bassist] — Gosh — at a music trade show back in the day. And I was definitely a fan of the band. I listened to a lot of Pat's drumming way before I ever met him in person. But at Sweetwater, we do a lot of recording workshops and we get artists in to come and people pay to come to the studio and hang in the studio with the artists that come in. Paul does it quite a bit; he's been there a bunch. Billy was there a while back as well, but Paul's been there a number of times. And I've been able to play as his rhythm section for these recording workshops. And I also had Paul play on a song on my solo record called 'Invisible' that I put out in 2020. Through all of this stuff, we got to just jamming some more stuff. And I know Paul through Mike Portnoy and Neal Morse and a lot of circles of musicians. After the last thing we did at Sweetwater, Paul just sent me an e-mail and asked if I would be interested in going on tour with MR. BIG in Asia. Now, this was last July, when he first sent me the e-mail, so nine, 10 months ago or so. And I immediately said 'yes'. I think I said 'fuck yes', all in bold letters… So then I went sort of hog wild here in my studio and I videotaped and multi-tracked my drums. I kind of just went hog wild, sending back these demos of me playing and then singing all the parts. So I sang the lead vocal, and then I sang Pat's parts too. Since [it was an] audition, I figured I'd put my best foot forward. Long story short, they said, 'Yeah, we'd love to do it. And you're in,' basically. So that's kind of how it all happened. It came out of the blue."

D'Virgilio went on to say that he is looking forward to performing with MR. BIG on the band's worldwide tour, aptly titled "The BIG Finish", which will take the band to Japan and Southeast Asia in July and August, while shows in South America, Europe, and the U.S. will launch in early 2024.

"You've been in this music business for a long time. Especially as you get older, the phone doesn't ring as often," he said. "I live in Indiana now. I'm not in California and L.A. where I grew up. So I have a great job, but I'm not where all the action is all the time. So the phone doesn't ring quite like that, maybe like it used to 10, 20 years ago, so it was super exciting to get that e-mail from Paul."

As a session musician and touring artist, Nick has worked with many different kinds of artists and bands, from TEARS FOR FEARS, Sheryl Crow and Kevin Gilbert to Peter Gabriel and Eric Burdon and the ANIMALS. In 1996, Nick took Phil Collins's place in GENESIS and played on their "Calling All Stations" album. He has also carved out a major presence in the progressive rock world with his bands, SPOCK'S BEARD and BIG BIG TRAIN.

Before joining the Sweetwater team, Nick spent almost five years touring with Cirque Du Soleil's "Totem" as drummer, vocalist, and assistant bandleader.

When D'Virgilio's addition to MR. BIG was first announced in March, Sheehan said in a statement: "We found a wonderful drummer in Nick, and he's got a great voice too. Nick has a vocal range similar to Pat's, and he'll be able to do the parts Pat did with a similar finesse. It's a big relief because MR. BIG has always been heavy on the harmonies. When the band began, we really relied on each other. We knew each guy would do exactly what he needed to do vocally and to do it righteously, on key, and in time. It's difficult to find a drummer who sings in that range, but Nick has the voice we really need onstage."

Gilbert concurred, saying: "Nick gets close to the spirit of Pat Torpey. Billy, Eric [Martin, vocals] and I have been really happy with the music we've already shared back and forth. I'm impressed with Nick's level of musical adaptability and breadth of skill. He and I have done some recording together, and I was blown away with his groove, and how he just played what fit the song. If the song requires him to be more progressive and stand out, he will stand out. But if the song requires him to groove, he will groove. That's actually a rare thing, and it really fits in with what we do in MR. BIG."

Martin added: "I love the fact that Nick was a fan of Pat Torpey and wants to keep our BIG sound intact. When I first saw his audition demo video of the 'Lean Into It' song 'Lucky This Time', Nick was playing drums with those signature Pat snare hits and singing harmonies spot on to what Pat used to do. It gave me goosebumps!! I am so thrilled to have this man who will be filling some mighty BIG shoes join us on our last tour."

MR. BIG's final tour will see the band performing the entirety of its breakthrough platinum-selling 1991 album "Lean Into It" from start to finish as a featured highlight of the live setlist.

"We wanted to do a proper farewell, and this seems like the right way to do it," Sheehan said. Gilbert added: "We're in the process of making sure we come up with a suitably big entertainment extravaganza to go along with our music. And since our music has resonated so wonderfully in places all over the world, we're going to play in as many of those places as we can." Martin stated: "If we were in the movie business, we'd just put it all up in lights and say, 'Welcome to 'The BIG Finish'!' Seriously, I'm glad we're getting a chance to do it all onstage together as MR. BIG again and raise a flag to everything we've done as a band over the years."

In a new interview with FaceCulture, VOIVOD drummer Michel "Away" Langevin spoke about the potential risks and challenges associated with the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's definitely an amazing tool in the sense that, like, let's say for our video 'Quest For Nothing' [which was created AI technology], it would have taken me three thousand years to do that frame by frame. So I'm okay with it, on our end, as long as we train the AI with my art and not somebody else's art. For video material, it's just amazing. Also to have a bank of ideas for front covers and stuff like that, it's very useful. But, again, as long as it's my art being used, I can use it for VOIVOD."

Away previously shared his views of AI earlier this month in an interview with Canada's The Metal Voice. At the time, he said: "Technology, I will always try to use it as much as I can, [including] for my visuals and all that. AI videos, I'm jealous because it would take me three thousand years to do it frame by frame. But what I'm most afraid of, really, is AI controlling high-tech weaponry; that's my main fear. And it's funny because in the '70s, as a kid, I saw a movie called 'Colossus[: The Forbin Project]' about that — about a giant super computer in the USA teaming up with a giant super computer in Russia. They take control of the nuclear weapons and enslave humanity."

During The Metal Voice chat, Langevin also touched upon the fact that some of the issues people face today are the same issues humanity has been dealing with for much of the last few decades. He said: "Oh, man, it's funny, because when I [recently] came back [home] to Montreal [from tour] in the smog of the forest [wild]fires, because of climate change and all that… It's a recurring nightmare where back in the '80s we talked about the ozone layer and now we talk about global warming. And it's the same with… At one point, on [our] 'Killing Technology' [album], we were talking about Chernobyl, but all of a sudden it's Fukushima and now it's Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine. So it's always the same nightmare. But I can only be a happy fellow and create and do art and music and travel the world before it's too late."

He added: "Who knows what's gonna happen? You might as well enjoy it right now."

VOIVOD is celebrating 40 eventful years of existence in 2023 with a special anniversary studio album titled "Morgöth Tales", which was released on July 21 via Century Media Records. Once more recorded and mixed by Francis Perron at RadicArt Studio, mastered by Maor Appelbaum and produced by VOIVOD, "Morgöth Tales" includes fresh studio re-recordings by the band's current lineup of nine especially selected, not-so-obvious picks from the band's hyper-classy and extremely diverse back catalogue (between 1984 and 2003) as well as a brand-new song and the album's title track, "Morgöth Tales".

VOIVOD is a Canadian heavy metal band from Jonquière, Québec. Their musical style has changed several times since the band's origin in the early 1980s. Starting out as a speed metal band, VOIVOD have added a mix of progressive metal and thrash metal to create their own unique metal style, and are credited as one of the "big four" Canadian thrash metal bands, along with SACRIFICE, RAZOR and ANNIHILATOR. They are considered by many as one of the most influential metal bands from the '80s, influencing and gaining praise from multiple bands and across numerous genres.

VOIVOD found mainstream success in the late 1980s with their fifth studio album, "Nothingface" (1989),which is the band's only album to enter The Billboard 200 chart, peaking at number 114.

VOIVOD released a new EP, "Ultraman", last November via Century Media Records. The effort features a highly original tribute to the "Ultraman" TV series theme as well as previously unreleased bonus live cuts, available both as a 12-inch vinyl EP or as a digital EP.

VOIVOD's 15th studio album, "Synchro Anarchy", was released in February 2022 via Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2018's "The Wake" was produced by Francis Perron at RadicArt Studio and features cover artwork created by Langevin.

When it was released in March 2018, JUDAS PRIEST's "Firepower" entered the Billboard 200 chart at position No. 5, making it the band's highest-charting album ever. 2014's "Redeemer Of Souls" debuted and peaked at No. 6, while 2008's "Nostradamus" landed at No. 11 and 2005's "Angel Of Retribution" came in at No. 13.

In a new interview with ABC Audio, JUDAS PRIEST's Richie Faulkner said that he hopes to repeat "Firepower"'s success when the group's follow-up effort is released next year. "Hopefully we can match that or maybe top it and push it up to No. 1," he said.

Richie also talked about the significance of "Firepower"'s impressive chart showing, saying: "PRIEST, to me, has always been one of the bands that flies the flag for, not only heavy metal, but British heavy metal. I remember that week in the Billboard top 10 there was country and there was hip-hop and there was pop, and there was heavy metal right there in the middle of it all. It was proud, and it was unmistakable — there it was. In modern times, there's a healthy chunk of heavy metal right there for everyone to see. So it means a lot."

"Firepower" moved 49,000 equivalent album units in first week of release. Of that sum, 48,000 were in traditional album sales, just shy of the 54,000 copies sold by "Angel Of Retribution" in that album's first week. The "Firepower" chart position was bolstered by sales generated from a concert ticket/album sale redemption offer in association with the band's spring 2018 North American tour.

"Firepower" also landed at position No. 5 on the U.K. album chart. It marked the band's highest ranking, and first time in the Top 10, since "British Steel" reached No. 4 in 1980. Elsewhere, "Firepower" also became PRIEST's first-ever No. 1 in Sweden.

"Firepower" was released via Epic. The disc was recorded by British producer Andy Sneap, the band's longtime collaborator Tom Allom and engineer Mike Exeter (BLACK SABBATH). The cover artwork for "Firepower" was created by the Chilean/Italian artist Claudio Bergamin.

JUDAS PRIEST's "Firepower" world tour marked the band's first run of dates since guitarist Glenn Tipton announced that he was retiring from the road due to his battle with Parkinson's disease. He was replaced on tour by Sneap, also known for his work as the guitar player in NWOBHM revivalists HELL and cult thrash outfit SABBAT.

Tipton was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease nine years ago — after being stricken by the degenerative condition at least half a decade earlier — but only announced in 2018 he was going to sit out touring activities in support of "Firepower". The guitarist, who is now 75 and has performed on every PRIEST album since the band's 1974 debut set, "Rocka Rolla", did not quit the band, but simply cannot handle the rigorous challenges of performing live.

BLACK STONE CHERRY frontman Chris Robertson doesn't agree with Miranda Lambert calling out fans for taking a selfie during her show.

Earlier in the month, the country music diva generated a lot of chatter online for pausing her performance at Planet Hollywood's Bakkt Theater in Las Vegas to shame audience members who snapped photographs while she was onstage.

"These girls are worried about their selfie and not listening to the song," Lambert can be heard saying in a TikTok video that surfaced Monday. "It's pissing me off a little bit." The crowd cheers, and Lambert starts the song again. The video, taken by another member of the audience, received millions views on TikTok.

During an appearance on the "Rock Of Nations With Dave Kinchen And Shane McEachern" podcast, Robertson commented on Lambert. When asked if he would call out a fan for taking a selfie at his show, the Kentucky rocker replied: "We were touring back before people had their phones out all the time. We've been fortunate enough to do that. But I also look at it like this, man: not every single person there with their phone out is just doing it to post on their Instagram Story to look cool. Some of those people that are there worked all fucking year to have one night to get to go out and do something, and if they wanna take a picture of themselves with their friends while I'm singing a pretty song, please do it. Please take all the pictures you want. Please — video, anything you wanna do."

Chris continued: "We have always had a policy at our shows of you can film whatever the fuck you want, you can take pictures of whatever you want, as long as there's no flash. We just ask that you don't come in… You can bring in your pro camera and stand in the pit. All that shit is on the venues or the bands we're touring with. If it's a BLACK STONE CHERRY show, I don't care if you come in with the same… I've got a Canon R5 — a really nice camera — I've got really nice lenses. I don't care if you walk in with the same setup I've got and take pictures of our band all night long from the crowd; I do not care.

"To stop a show because three girls were taking selfies and not watching you sing for 30 seconds is ridiculous — in my opinion," Robertson added. "Those people paid for a ticket. They didn't pay for a ticket just to hear you sing; they paid for a ticket in that venue and that seat to do what they want to in that seat. So if they wanna stand there and scream at you until they get kicked out… They bought the seat. I've had people scream at me — until I had 'em removed from the venue. They paid for their seat and they got their money's worth. They got to be seen by everybody in the damn venue, just like I was.

"I just think it's ridiculous for people to get pissed off for someone taking a selfie at a concert. Maybe Miranda Lambert was that girl's favorite artist and they wanted a selfie during that song that they can always remember while she was singing this one song they got their picture at her show to remember that night. And Miranda wasn't really nice to 'em about it. There's been another video surfaced where she punched a hole in a beach ball or something people were kicking around, having fun in the crowd, bouncing, and said the same thing: 'We're not doing that. We're playing country music.' I get that. But I'm pretty sure that it's okay to take a picture at a concert, man. I don't understand. And I'm not condemning anyone. She has every right — Miranda has every right to feel whatever way she wants to.

"For the record, for BLACK STONE CHERRY, take all the selfies you want of you and your buddies," Chris said. "The only thing that's ever disheartening to me is when we're playing and someone's on the front row all night looking at their phone. That's disheartening. And I'll call the person out. I'll be, like, 'Damn, are we that boring? Do I need to work harder?' And the person will laugh nine times out of 10, and they'll put their phone up and actually participate in the show a little bit. But I'm not gonna do it in a mean way. The people in the room are the only reason you get to do what you do."

The fan who identified herself as one of the people Miranda addressed said she was "appalled" by the singer's comments.

"It felt like I was back at school with the teacher scolding me for doing something wrong and telling me to sit down back in my place," she told NBC News. "I feel like she was determined to make us look like we were young, immature and vain. But we were just grown women in our 30s to 60s trying to take a picture."

Back in May 2018, GODSMACK frontman Sully Erna spoke out against cell-phone use at concerts, saying that there's "something really magical that happens when" you are not experiencing live performances through a "little four-inch screen."

A number of other musicians have come out in recent years to say that mobile technology is ruining the concert experience, including SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR singer Corey Taylor. He told "Loudwire Nights" that "it's fine" if people want to take pictures of his bands' shows, but not so much if they are videotaping entire performances. "It's one thing to film it, it's another thing to just be staring at your screen while you're filming it," he said. "It's right there. Are you so terrified of real life that you can't do anything unless it's on that little four-by-four screen? Ugggh. It's very weird."

Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach in 2015 urged fans to keep their cell phones at the bottom of their pockets and just watch his performances. "Be in the moment," he said. "You're distracted and it's distracting to the performer as well. Like, put your fuckin' cell phone away, dammit! You're never even going to watch that footage."

The overuse of cellphones to capture grainy, blurry photos and videos at concerts has for years vexed and enraged artists like Bach, who lamented the fact that every one of his performances could be recorded and shared on YouTube almost immediately.

"If I go to a wedding and sing a song, it's on Blabbermouth the next day and everybody analyzes it," said Bach. "It's a really backwards way to watch a band. It's a drag sometimes when I go up there and the first thing I see is everybody getting their phones out and holding them toward my face. It makes you feel intimidated."

Back in 2012, Bruce Dickinson chastised a fan for texting during an IRON MAIDEN concert, calling him a "wanker."

When Axl Rose reunited with his former GUNS N' ROSES bandmates, Duff McKagan and Slash, for the first time in 23 years at the Troubadour in Los Angeles in April 2016, the concert was phone-free.

Guitar legend Steve Vai has shared the following message via social media:


"Today (July 23rd) marks the 30th anniversary release of Sex & Religion. After the success of Passion And Warfare, I had a pull to put a type of super group together with Terry Bozzio on drums and TM Stevens on bass. I know I wanted a vibrant and powerful lead singer, and to my good future, the label (Relativity Records) passed on a tape of a young Canadian powerhouse named Devin Townsend. When I listened to his tape I felt there was an exceptional talent there. I believe Devin was still in his teen years when we first met. He was funny, dynamic, unpredictable, and an intense singer, and he agreed to take the dive into this project and I was thrilled.


Although the touring band for this record changed up a bit, Devin led the band with his magnificent voice, unpredictable antics and extraverted stage performance. He was as unique as they come and offered a dimension to the entire Sex & Religion offering that raised its bar. And I can assure you there was never a dull moment through this entire adventure.




The idea behind Sex & Religion was to create a contemporary metal record with compositional overtones and heavy vocal arrangements. It’s always been my goal to offer great diversity in the various records I release and Sex And Religion hit that mark powerfully. At the time of it’s release people became aware that it was nothing like Passion And Warfare, and its heaviness and complexity was a little ahead of the curve of the trends that followed. It was not very well received by the press at the time being that it was so unexpected and aggressive. But to date, I have discovered that it has grown into a favorite for many fans.


Was that really 30 years ago?


My deepest appreciation to all those that contributed to this record to make it what it is, and to the fans that have supported it all through these years."








During a press conferenece held at Hellfest 2022 in Clisson, France, Devin Townsend was asked if there were plans to celebrate the 30th anniversary of guitar legend Steve Vai's Sex & Religion album. That record was largely responsible for introducing Townsend to the metal world, and two years later he returned with his own band, Strapping Young Lad.


Townsend: "I love Steve, and if he wants me to do something with him, of course I'll do something with him. He's a genius and I love him. I love that guy. But also I think a lot of what made that record interesting yet very odd was the fact that we're very different. And back then we were really different. Now we're less different, but we're still very different. 


The Starmus Festival (in 2017) was great to reconnect, but we're still very different. And I may be wrong, but I think our reasons for doing what we do are fundamentally slightly different, and it's always a little chocolate and cheese, you know? But among the people who I count as being closest to my heart, he is one of the very few. And as a friend, I would be happy to do anything that he would ask of me because I love him. It's true."


Check out the entire press conference below.





Sex & Religion is Vai's third studio album, released on July 23rd, 1993 through Relativity Records. Townsend performed all lead vocals for the album and co-wrote the tracks "Pig" and "Just Cartilage", the latter of which was only released as a bonus track in Japan.

SALIVA will release a new album, "Revelation", on September 8. It will mark the band's first release since the passing of SALIVA's founding guitarist Wayne Swinny, who died four months ago while on tour with the group.

Asked in a new interview with Real Music With Gary Stuckey what is has been like trying to keep the band going while coping with the loss of their bandmate and friend, SALIVA singer Bobby Amaru said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "You can't really put words to it to describe [it]. The years have been crazy. But it's just the way life is, and there's nothing we can do about it when these things happen. We've just gotta try to honor him the right way and do what he would have wanted and just try to pay tribute to who he was and continue that legacy."

Bobby also talked about Swinny's involvement with "Revelation", saying: "I challenged him a lot on this record with just trying different things, playing different ways — things that he hadn't done before. But he was super stoked about how it all came out. I mean, you'll hear it when you listen to the songs and stuff. There's a lot of really, really cool guitar work all over this record. And he was a huge part of all that."

On March 22, SALIVA shared a statement on Facebook in which the band said that Swinny had been found that morning "in medical distress." Paramedics were called and the musician was transported to hospital "where he was diagnosed with a Spontaneous Hemorrhage in his brain."

SALIVA was on the road in the U.S. as part of the "Spring Mayhem" tour with THROUGH FIRE and ANY GIVEN SIN and had played in Warrendale, Pennsylvania on March 21.

When "Revelation" was first announced earlier this month, Amaru said in a statement: "We started working on this record in 2020 during the pandemic shutdown. I felt like we had to get outside of the box with this one.

"I've been sober almost five years now and there are many songs on this record that are a reflection of it. I just wanted to connect with the listener and pull them into what I was dealing with but also shed some light on overcoming personal adversity.

"With the passing of Wayne in March, I felt lost. Where do I go? I knew we had this record we were all stoked about. Wayne's influence is all over these songs and, in my opinion, his playing on this album is next level. It's the only right thing to do to honor him and all our hard work and release it. I just want to share with the world what we have worked on the last three-plus years."

SALIVA will team up with DROWNING POOL, ADELITAS WAY and ANY GIVEN SIN for the "SNAFU Le Tour 2023" in September and October. A complete list of tour dates can be found on the poster below.

SALIVA launched its career in 2001 with the release of "Every Six Seconds", a double-platinum selling album with hits that include "Click, Click Boom" and "Your Disease".

The band has toured the U.S. with SEVENDUST, AEROSMITH and KISS.

SALIVA reunited with original singer Josey Scott for a one-off appearance at last year's Blue Ridge Rock Festival at the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia.

Scott left SALIVA at the end of 2011 after 15 years with the group, reportedly to pursue a solo Christian music career. He was quickly replaced by Amaru, who can be heard on SALIVA's last four releases: "In It To Win It" (2013),"Rise Up" (2014),"Love, Lies & Therapy" (2016) and "10 Lives" (2018).

SALIVA released six albums with Scott and tasted platinum success and a Grammy nomination for its first big hit, "Your Disease".

In May 2021, SALIVA celebrated the 20th anniversary of its breakthrough major label debut, "Every Six Seconds", with a special project called "Every Twenty Years", an EP of classic songs re-recorded with Amaru.

EXTREME has decided to give back to the generations of rock fans who have continuously supported the Massachusetts rockers and kept rock alive. Following the overwhelming response to "Rise", the first single and video from the band's current album "Six", EXTREME has released an alternate version of the single's music video, "Rise: Generations On A Mission".

Directed by EXTREME guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, "Rise: Generations On A Mission" tells the story of two young musicians living the same dream which generations of rock fans and EXTREME fans have lived and breathed for decades… creating music, playing music and sharing that passion on stage or in the audience. As a part of this, EXTREME and earMUSIC have created a space where fans, bands and musician friends of EXTREME spanning the years can come together and share their covers of "Rise". EXTREME and earMUSIC's mission is to share fans' "Rise" covers using their platforms to spread the word, reach the world and unite all generations on the journey to keep rock and roll alive.

"It is not a contest and it is not a competition, but the winner is rock ‘n' roll," says Bettencourt.

Watch a mission statement from Bettencourt below.

In the U.S., "Six" sold an impressive 15,000 units in its first week and charted on five different Billboard charts: Top Hard Rock Albums, No. 2; Top Album Sales and Top Current Album Sales, No. 10; Independent Albums, No. 14; Artist Top 100, No. 42 and Top 200, No. 67.

Recorded at Bettencourt's home studio in Los Angeles, "Six" swings between unapologetic fits of fret-burning hard rock and intimately introspective balladry.

"The album is jam-packed with everything Extreme is known for–riffs, vocals, harmonies, thumping rockers, gorgeous ballads and even a couple of oddball left turns…an instant earworm," praised Ultimate Classic Rock.

EXTREME is currently gearing up to perform for audiences across the globe on its headlining "Thicker Than Blood" world tour, which includes appearances in the U.S., Australia, Japan and Europe with special guests LIVING COLOUR (U.S., Australia and U.K. only) and THE LAST INTERNATIONALE (continental Europe only).

In a recent interview with Tiago Ribeiro, Bettencourt spoke about the global chart success of "Six", which came out on June 9 via earMUSIC. "Six" landed at position No. 10 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart with first-week sales of 12,500 copies. The set marked the band's first studio album since 2008. The act was last in the Top 10 with "III Sides To Every Story", which debuted and peaked at No. 10 back in October 1992.

"I would put our album up against anybody's album; I feel that confident," Nuno said. "And I think the album itself — never mind me or EXTREME — if I heard that album and it wasn't us, I would think the same way I think about the album now. I think it belongs there. I think it's a well-made album. I think the songs are there. I think that the musicianship, the chemistry and the guitar playing. But I think, more importantly, what's really there and what people are connecting with is the mythology of rock and roll. I think that's really what's missing a lot in guitar-driven music, is that…

"I think when people saw a guitar player that's in a band with songs and arrangements and the videos and everything, it was almost like seeing something that… People are saying it's so fresh, but for us, it's, like, this is like going back for us," he explained. "This is more of a reminder than it is anything else that you can still be passionate and have fire and do all those things. And the people are letting us know that they're starved — they're starved for rock and roll like this, I think."

"Rise: Generations On A Mission" Campaign

Today we launch our new "Rise: Generations On A Mission" Campaign

Your mission, should you choose to accept it:

We want to see your take on our song "Rise." Grab your bandmates, or put a band together and throw down our song, "Rise" the way you and your band would do it. Remember - this is not a challenge or a competition, but rather a celebration of Rock 'n Roll and a way for us to give back and shine a light on you as you have done for us.

Upload your cover and watch the video at https://Extreme-Band.com/generations

Long live Rock 'n Roll 🤘

Posted by Extreme on Wednesday, July 12, 2023

New York City-based progressive death metallers Solemn Vision have announced the release of their new album, Despite The Rise Of The Sun, which will be out on October 20th via Swedish label, Black Lion Records. 


Despite The Rise Of The Sun is Solemn Vision's sophomore full-length release and is tangible proof of hard work coming to fruition. This album features songs that the band not only always wanted to write and record, but also hear, as listeners and fans of music themselves.


Before the lockdown, the band was already working on songs that would become the bulk of the album; during the lockdown, they kept working on something that had become long-awaited by fans, fueled by the frustrations and difficulties brought on by the pandemic; post-lockdown, coming off a successful three-week tour in the northeast, and an exciting new partnership with Black Lion Records, Solemn Vision is finally ready to bring their vision to life.




Despite The Rise Of The Sun features songs ranging from extremely fast and punishing, to soft but dark, while still finding a sense of balance throughout the whole album. While there isn't necessarily a theme that binds every track together, there is certainly a message within this album: finding a sense of balance is vital when you are faced with any challenges.


In support of the new album, Solemn Vision has released the single "Gates". The track is accompanied by a brand new music video.





"'Gates' is one of our more intense tracks, written during the Covid lockdown. Instrumentally, it provided a cathartic release for our pent-up energy and emotions," Solemn Vision state and continue: "Lyrically, it summarizes a few things that Aaron has experienced while being a part of the local metal scene. The song has been interpreted to admonish 'gatekeeping,' which has always been a problem within the scene. For the music video, we wanted to show people that, as we hail from the melting pot that is New York City, these 'Gates' have no place in the SV camp, as we welcome all with open arms!"





Despite The Rise Of The Sun tracklisting:


"Father From The Flame" 
"Avarice" 
"Gates" 
"A Debt To The Wraith" 
"On The Eve Of Silence" 
"Sea Of Trees" 
"Bane And Benumbed" 
"Unfinished Tapestry" 
"The Cerebral Labyrinth" 
"Unfinished Tapestry" (Acoustic Version)


Pre-orders can be placed here.


 

Maryann Cotton has revealed the first promo photo of their new lineup, which was cemented in March 2023. It's the same band that performed at Maryann Cotton’s sold out comeback show / release party at the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino  in Las Vegas earlier this year.


Maryann states: “This is a really cool band, they all have something to add to the table and are extremely good players! It’s an all American band now. I’ve been in Vegas for many years and Brody literally lives down the street from where I live. Johnny is in Ohio and Hal is Vegas born too. I’m excited to bring this lineup on tour.”


The band members are also featured on Cotton’s latest release, Bleed On Me, released March 20th, 2023.







Bleed On Me tracklisting:


"All That For What"
"Bitch Bitchin’"
"God’s On My Side"
"No Tomorrow"
"Die In Britain"
"Night Train To Paris"
"Danger Us"
"Your Song"
"Forever Young"





The band consists of:


Maryann Cotton - vocals
Hal Patino - bass (King Diamond)
Brody DeRozie - guitar (Sebastian Bach) 
Johnny Cappelletty - drums


For further details, visit Maryann Cotton on Facebook.


 

Texas metal band, Born In Blood, is excited to release their next single, "Inferno", off of the upcoming Can't Save Us All EP.


"Inferno" delves into the aftermath of crawling out of the depths of your self-inflicted misery. The next stage of accepting failure and despair is your own "Inferno," trapped deep beneath the dark soil that becomes a welcoming embrace.


"Welcome to my inferno" comments drummer, Stephen Bonilla, "'Inferno' is an excellent single for the upcoming EP. It starts to bridge the gap from the last album, Misery, and the new one, Can't Save Us All. 'Inferno' is unrelenting and filled with the rage of the current situation you're in. A perfect synopsis of our time when we were writing it during the pandemic."




The music and lyrics for Can't Save Us All were written by Anthony Rendon, Royce Vick, Stephen Bonilla, Talmage Crumholt IV and Dave Chavarri and recorded by Russell Hollar, at Nomad Recording Studio. The EP was mixed and mastered by Lanc Prenc of Prenc Audio.


Stream, download, pre-save & pre-order/purchase here:





Can't Save Us All EP tracklisting:


"Can't Save Us All"
"Inferno"
"Kill Kill"
"Revile"
"Implosion"


"Inferno" video:





Lineup:


Talmage Crumholt IV - Vocals
Stephen Bonilla - Drums
Royce Vick - Bass
Anthony Rendon - Guitar


(Photo - David Parada)

Jawbreaker Records announce the release of the new album, World Targets In Megadeaths, by Slovakian heavy thrashers, Acid Force.


Following a brief hiatus and several lineup changes, Acid Force has returned stronger than ever. The band, now consisting of Andrej Petro on guitars and vocals, Erik Leško on guitars, Federico Petrík on drums, and Juraj Ondrejmiška on bass, has expanded their sonic palette while staying true to their roots. The resulting album is a heavy load of thrashing metal fury, heavily sprinkled with melody and traditional Heavy Metal vibes, superbly delivered with a punk-metal attitude and need for speed.


Since their formation in 2014, Acid Force have slowly been carving a niche for themselves in the underground metal scene through the Towards The Nuclear Load EP (2015) and debut full length album Atrocity For The Lust (2017). The departure of previous frontman Teodor Majerík in 2019 and the global pandemic could have spelled the band’s end, but with guitarist Andrej Petro stepping up to the microphone and the addition of Juraj Ondrejmiška on bass, Acid Force have now risen again, stronger than ever before. The recording process for World Targets In Megadeaths spanned four months of intense dedication to perfecting every detail. Acid Force poured their hearts and souls into each track, meticulously crafting a collection of songs that captures their evolution and growth as musicians. The result was enough to secure them with a record deal with Swedish label Jawbreaker Records.




“What caught my attention on World Targets In Megadeaths," says label boss G.G. Sundin, “is that it is not stuck in the same old grooves that most thrash metal albums coming out nowadays are. Instead Acid Force have created a fresh mix of thrash, speed and traditional heavy metal.”


To give a glimpse of what awaits on World Targets In Megadeaths, the first single song, "Praise The Atom", has just been released, accompanied by a professionally recorded music video (see below). The single showcases the band’s renewed energy and their ability to blend ferocious riffs, thunderous drums and powerful vocals into a compelling sonic assault. Thrashers and speed freaks alike can expect an explosive and unrelenting musical experience that will leave them hungry for more!


World Targets In Megadeaths will be out on vinyl LP, music cassette, CD, and digitally on November 3.





Tracklisting:


"Out Of The Trench"
"Preachers Of Mayhem"
"Fast Friday"
"Rebirth Of The Sun"
"Praise The Atom"
"Lightning Cops"
"Beyond The Concrete Fields"
"World Targets In Megadeaths"


"Praise The Atom" video:

Blackened deathcore outfit, Ov Sulfur, have released a drum playthrough video for "Earthen", a track from their debut full-length, The Burden Ov Faith, out now via Century Media Records. Watch below:





Of the album, vocalist Ricky Hoover comments: "I'm beyond proud of what we've created on The Burden Ov Faith. Who would have thought I would be screaming on new music over a decade after leaving Suffokate - let alone singing?! I legitimately didn't think I was ever coming back to music period when I left back in 2012, so to have an album out on one of the most respected labels in metal is mind-blowing. Huge shout out to all my band mates and everyone who worked to create this with us - and everyone who takes time out of their life to listen!"




Order the album here.





Tracklisting:


"Stained In Rot"
"Befouler" (ft. Alex Terrible)
"Unraveling" (ft. Left to Suffer / Taylor Barber)
"Death Ov Circumstance"
"Earthen"
"A Path to Salvation?"
"I, Apostate"
"Wide Open" (ft. Light The Torch / Howard Jones)
"The Inglorious Archetype"
"The Burden Ov Faith" (ft. Bodysnatcher / Kyle Medina and Lindsay Schoolcraft)


"Wide Open" video:





"Befouler" video:





"Earthen" video:

The Milos Pavlik YouTube channel has uploaded HD video of DEEP PURPLE's July 22 concert at Amfiteáter in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. Check out the clips below.

Last year, DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Don Airey told Rolling Stone magazine that there is no concrete plan for him and his bandmates to stop playing live shows.

"We started the farewell tour in 2017. It was due to end in 2019," he noted. "But the thing is, when you're a musician in a band, you think you're in control of it, but you're not. The business is running you.

"Of course, there was so much demand for the band to continue from the promoters and agents that we said, 'Okay, we'll do one more year.'"

Regarding when he thinks DEEP PURPLE will finally call it quits, Don said: "The words of T.S. Eliot [the greatest English-language poet of his generation] come to mind: 'This is the way the band ends. Not with a bang, but with a whimper.' I think we won't know it's the last gig. We won't have a clue that this one is going to be the last one. That's how it's going to end. It's going to be no big scenario.

"I like what Buddy Guy said. He said, 'Musicians don't retire. They drop.' You do have thoughts about being in the garden and bouncing the grandchildren on your knee, but it's part of your blood system, playing and touring. It's an addiction. I hope I keep playing for a while yet."

In a recent interview with Brazil's A Rádio Rock, DEEP PURPLE bassist Roger Glover spoke about the band's plans for the coming months. He said: "Well, we've just undergone a big change, because our guitarist Steve Morse had to retire from the band because he was looking after his very ill wife. And so we have a new guitarist in the band called Simon McBride. And it's a whole experience; I mean, it's a different band."

He continued: "In a way, we have to embrace change. You can't do the same thing over and over again, and we've had several changes, of course, over the years. And this one is particularly exciting. 'Cause we've been working on a new album; we should have a new album out by next year. And we can't stop writing. That's what we do."

In July 2022, Morse officially left PURPLE to care for his wife, Janine, who is battling cancer.

Morse's announcement came four months after the guitarist said that he would be taking a hiatus from the band, in the hope of rejoining his bandmates once his wife's health improved. He was then replaced on the road by McBride.

Morse effectively took over Ritchie Blackmore's DEEP PURPLE slot in 1994 and had since been in the group longer than Ritchie.

McBride, who is guitar player, singer, songwriter and a band leader all in one, hails from Belfast in Northern Ireland — a place that resonates of the best music traditions like Gary Moore and Rory Gallagher, as well as bands such as THIN LIZZY, STIFF LITTLE FINGERS and obviously U2. His biography tells many stories — from his band touring with no sound engineer, driver, or roadie, playing 30 shows in 35 days, to him regularly sharing stages with Gillan and Airey.

DEEP PURPLE's latest album, "Turning To Crime", came out in November 2021 via earMUSIC. The LP contains DEEP PURPLE's versions of great rock classics and musical jewels — including songs originally recorded by Bob Dylan, FLEETWOOD MAC, Bob Seger, CREAM and THE YARDBIRDS — carefully chosen by each member of the band.

Posted by Organize Event Agency on Monday, July 17, 2023

Roel Käller has joined Dutch death metal legends Pestilence as their new bassist, replacing Joost van der Graaf, who played with the band from 2019 to 2023, and recorded one album - 2021's Exitivim. Prior to joining Pestilence, Käller was best known for his work with symphonic death metallers Mayan.


Pestilence mastermind Patrizio Mameli commented: "Roel Käller will be taking over the bass duties from Joost van der Graaf. We did a practice with him and he proved to be more than capable to fill in the spot. Further, he is the nicest guy, well spoken, loves the same music styles and passed conservatory. I'd like to thank all the bass player participants for their interest, time and effort."


Roel Käller added: "Hi everyone! I've known Pestilence since my teenage years, so joining these guys is something I wouldn't have dreamed of back then! I feel honored to be taking part of this awesome band's legacy! The guys in the band have welcomed me in the nicest way, and the musical chemistry already feels great! I can't wait to get on stage with them and meet you all!"




Earlier in 2023, Pestilence reissued its early, classic catalog, via Agonia Records. Malleus Maleficarum (1988), Consuming Impulse (1989), Testimony Of The Ancients" (1991) and Spheres (1993) were remastered from scratch at Satanic Audio (Behemoth, Azarath) to significantly improve on overall sound quality, by engaging present-day studio equipment. The newly remastered albums are available in an ample variety of physical formats and on streaming platforms.





 

Joan Jett And The Blackhearts have released a lyric video for "(Make The Music Go) Boom", featured on their new digital EP, Mindsets, available on Jett’s longtime independent record label, Blackheart Records. Find the clip below.


Featuring six brand new songs, the EP was produced by Jett, Kenny Laguna, and Thom Panunzio, and executive produced by Carianne Brinkman. Mindsets marks the first new music release for the band since their first-ever acoustic album, Changeup, in March 2022. Listen to Mindsets here.


The release of Mindsets comes ahead of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ summer tour alongside Bryan Adams. For tour dates and more information, visit JoanJett.com.







Tracklisting:


"If You’re Blue" *
"Whiskey Goes Good" **
"Shooting Into Space" *
"Rearview Mirror" *
"Before the Dawn" *
"(Make The Music Go) Boom" *


* Written by Joan Jett and Dougie Needles
** Written by Dougie Needles


"(Make The Music Go) Boom" lyric video:





"If You’re Blue" lyric video:

Blacklist Union have released their new single, "Dirty Halo", from their upcoming release Letters From The Psych Ward. The album is slated for a September release, and will be available on all digital platforms, in addition to CD and vinyl.





"Dirty Halo" was written by Tony West / Christopher Johnson, produced by Christopher Johnson, recorded/mixed by Ghian Wright, and mastered by Maor Appelbaum. Watch the video below.




Musicians on the single:


Tony West - Lead Vocals
Rafael Moreira - Guitars
Nate Morton - Drums
Christopher Johnson - Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Programmer, Backing Vocals





Tony West was raised in the Bronx on Ramones, Bad Brains, and NYHC. Hearing the call of the wild west, Tony made his way to Los Angeles at 19 years old. He initially collaborated with guitarist Todd Youth (Murphy’s Law/Danzig) and Malfunkshun, which was kept active by Andy Wood’s brother Kevin Wood.


Tony took a break from L.A. to try out Memphis in 1998. While he was there, he attended the first Saliva gig with Paul Crosby on drums. This historic event marked the beginning of a lifelong friendship between Paul and Tony, ultimately leading to a management collaboration and Paul joining Blacklist Union. In addition, Tony recorded with Saliva and Jon E. Love (Love/Hate) in 2014.


Tony decided to go in his own direction in 2006. With a shamanistic blend of Stone Temple Pilots, G N’ R, Malfunkshun, and Mother Love Bone... Blacklist Union was born.


"Letters From The Psych Ward" video:





“The Queen Of Everything” video:

Canadian female-fronted metal band, The Fixer, has officially inked a deal with Wormholedeath for the release of their album, Your Lie, scheduled to drop on all digital platforms on November 10. Alongside this exciting announcement, The Fixer is thrilled to present their debut single and accompanying music video, "Smoke Show".


The Fixer's journey leading up to "Your Lie" has been filled with challenges, including member changes, a global pandemic, and other unforeseen events. However, the unwavering support and belief from Wormholedeath Records have been instrumental in driving the album to completion. The band is excited to join the talented and diverse roster at Wormholedeath and is ready to unleash their unique sound and vision upon the world.


Lead vocalist Melladonna shares her enthusiasm, stating, "The Fixer is extremely thrilled to release our debut album on a label that has wholeheartedly embraced our vision like Wormholedeath Records. 'Your Lie' encapsulates our growth as a band, maintaining our experimental, dark, and rhythm-focused style while showcasing a refined and confident approach to songwriting. We believe these songs will deeply resonate with those who seek a connection to something beyond the ordinary, something a little Dark, Sexy, and Loud. Welcome to our dark side of fun. We are pleased to meet you."




"Your Lie" promises to be a sonically dynamic experience, blending earworm melodies, danceable beats, heavy guitars, groovy bass lines, eerie ambiance, and powerful vocals. The album's lead single, "Smoke Show," sets the stage for The Fixer's dark rock sound and visual aesthetic. The accompanying official music video for "Smoke Show" provides a mesmerizing and immersive experience, inviting listeners into The Fixer's hauntingly captivating world.


As The Fixer prepares for the album release, they continue to turn heads with their previous releases, establishing themselves as a must-see live act and earning multiple nominations and wins in their local arts publication. Notably, they were featured as Indie Band of The Week by Alan Cross at 102.1 The Edge in Toronto. With their signing to Wormholedeath Records and several other notable milestones, The Fixer is poised to make an indelible mark on the global metal stage.


Experience the captivating world of The Fixer by watching the official music video for "Smoke Show" below. The single is now available for purchase and streaming on all major music platforms here.





Tracklisting:


"Your Lie"
"Get Greasy"
"Smoke Show"
"Ghosts Will Talk"
"Animal"
"Tounge's Bleeding"
"Colour Deficit"
"Tree Of Fire"
"Unscrewed"
"Your Truth"


"Smoke Show" video:





The Fixer lineup:


Melladonna: Vocals
Vic Sin: Guitars, Vocals & Programming
Ryan Osbourne: Bass & Vocals
The Dreamboat: Guitar
Crippler Crash: Live Drums

Foo Fighters have released a video for "Under You", featured on their new album, But Here We Are, out now via Roswell Records/RCA Records. The clip was filmed during rehearsals for the band's tour.





Find Foo Fighters' live itinerary here.




Produced by Greg Kurstin and Foo Fighters, But Here We Are is in nearly equal measure the 11th Foo Fighters album and the first chapter of the band’s new life. Sonically channeling the naiveté of Foo Fighters’ 1995 debut, informed by decades of maturity and depth, But Here We Are is the sound of brothers finding refuge in the music that brought them together in the first place 28 years ago, a process that was as therapeutic as it was about a continuation of life.


But Here We Are can be ordered here.





Tracklisting:


"Rescued"
"Under You"
"Hearing Voices"
"But Here We Are"
"The Glass"
"Nothing At All"
"Show Me How"
"Beyond Me"
"The Teacher"
"Rest"


"The Glass" visualizer:





"The Teacher" video:





"The Teacher" lyric video:





"Show Me How" video:





"Under You" lyric video:





"Rescued" lyric video:





"Rescued" performance video:

Poison frontman, Bret Michaels, is currently on the road for a limited run of live dates for his 2023 Parti Gras Tour. Bret has shared the videos below from the July 23 date at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden, NJ:










Michaels has created this tour with a Mardi Gras feel in celebration of his great fans and hit music. The renowned rockstar will bring a few of his rocker friends along for a mashup of all killer, no filler hits featuring special guests Night Ranger and Jefferson Starship with special appearances from Steve Augeri (former lead singer of Journey) and Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray), plus a nightly surprise guest to rock your world.


Presented by Live Nation, the 12-city limited date wraps up in Charlotte (NC) at PNC Music Pavilion on August 6. The tour promises to be a modern day throwback to epic tailgate parties, positive energy, and a much needed nothing but a good vibe.


“After seeing Bret bring the party in every market of The Stadium Tour, this past year, we are looking forward to more of his ‘nothing, but a good vibe, high-energy performing’ on The Parti-Gras Tour next summer,” said Rick Franks, Global Touring Live Nation.


Michaels states, “I created Parti-Gras as a sincere and grateful thank you to the fans, friends, and family who have rocked with me over the years.  I promise to deliver positive energy, live, raw, real music, and all the bands will deliver sing-a-long hit after hit songs. Your voice will be hoarse after an epic, big, fun stage show.“


Tickets for the tour are on sale now at LiveNation.com. VIP Meet & Greet Tickets are available for Parti-Gras at BretMichaels.com.





Tour dates:


July
28 - Maryland Heights, MO - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
29 - Tinley Park, IL - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
30 - Noblesville, IN - Ruoff Music Center


August
4 - Tampa, FL - MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds
5 - Alpharetta, GA - Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
6 - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion

Sammy Hagar has released an upscaled version of his music video for "Two Sides Of Love", from the 1984 album, VOA.


Says Hagar: "When I wrote this song and presented it to John Kalodner in the David Geffen company, everyone thought it was going to be a huge hit and wanted it to be the first single. It didn't chart very well and the video wasn't an MTV smash surprising to all of us, then came 'I Can't Drive 55', the unexpected smash that kicked my career in the ass. Sold 1 million records, who would've thought. But it's still a great song."







Catch Sammy Hagar & The Circle (Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham, Vic Johnson) live at the following shows in 2023:


October
9 - Cabo Wabo Cantina - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
11 - Cabo Wabo Cantina - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
13 - Cabo Wabo Cantina - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
26 - The St. Augustine Amphitheatre - St. Augustine, FL
28 - The Sound At Coachman Park - Clearwater, FL
29 - Hard Rock Live - Hollywood, FL

Alasdair Mackie "Algy" Ward, founder and frontman of British metal legends Tank, died at the age of 63 on May 17 at a hospital in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, United Kingdom after suffering from serious health issues for quite some time.


Today, Tank guitarists Mick Tucker and Cliff Evans issued the following update...


"After the recent and very sad loss of founding member Algy Ward, we have had to take stock of what the future holds for Tank and decide how we should move the band forward into yet another era of Tank’s epic journey which started way back in 1980.




With the lockdowns taking the band off the road for a couple of years, along with the usual issues of finding suitable and reliable band members, has meant that Tank have been inactive for a while.


With Algy’s passing, and a determination to keep Tank rolling, we have formulated a master plan to continue recording and releasing great albums and also return to the worldwide touring/festival circuit in 2024.


We are very pleased to announce that Tank will return to the USA for the first time since 1985 to perform a classic set of songs from our first four albums at the Hell’s Heroes Festival in Houston Texas in March 2024.


We will soon announce details of who will be joining our ranks for this new era of Tank as we prepare to record our new studio album which will undoubtably be our heaviest to date.


To mark this important milestone in the history of Tank we have teamed up with renowned French artist Rene Clement, known for his work with the Metallica fan chapters, who will be designing new exclusive images for our official merchandise, album artwork and website.


The War Drags Ever On!" - Mick Tucker/Cliff Evans

In a new feature by music journalist Joel Gausten, Enuff Z’Nuff bassist / vocalist Chip Z’Nuff discusses the band’s latest album Finer Than Sin and the group’s longevity as it approaches its 40th anniversary. An excerpt from the feature appears below:


Enuff Z’ Nuff’s current tour follows the November 2022 release of its 17th studio album, Finer Than Sin. Described by Chip as "a potpourri of Rock and Pop," the 10-song collection is the third Enuff Z’ Nuff record released since the summer of 2020. (Chip, who apparently never sleeps, also released his second solo album, Perfectly Imperfect, in March 2022). Never one to rest on his laurels, he tells me that the songs on the new album (sans the spirited cover of The Sex Pistols’ "God Save The Queen", of course) were all written "in five, 10 minutes" at his place in Blue Island, Illinois.


"A lot of songs come to me late at night when it’s quiet and there’s nobody around. I just fiddle around with my old 1962 Danelectro guitar while sitting on the couch and smoking a joint. Finer Than Sin showcases the world through my rose-colored glasses. If you listen to how the lyrics and the songs are put together, it’s basically a synopsis of how I see everything right now […] My inspiration was what’s on the plate for what we’ve got to deal with in society nowadays. I wanted (the album) to be aggressive; I wanted the album to be strong—big guitars, big drums, and fat bass. But most notably, I wanted good storytelling with some nice abstract harmonies and colors."




Not surprisingly, Chip will be keeping busy once the current tour wraps up. Work on a new Enuff Z’Nuff studio album is already underway, and the band plans to release a live album (recorded at LA’s legendary Whisky a Go Go) in the not-too-distant future. Not bad for a band that’s scratching at the door of its 40th anniversary. In an industry not known for inspiring longevity, Enuff Z’Nuff—and its sole remaining original member— won’t be throwing in the towel any time soon.


"It’s a blessing from above to still be able to move forward. We believe in the legacy of Enuff Z’Nuff. We’ve done six records in the last six years, and I still think there’s gas in the tank. At the end of the day, we’re a real Rock ‘n’ Roll band that shows up and kicks ass whenever we play. We don’t know when it’ll end or when the last show’s going to be, so we just want to leave an indelible mark wherever we go."


The complete feature is available at this location


Frontiers Music Srl released Enuff Z’nuff's new album, Finer Than Sin, on November 11th, 2022. Now fronted by singer and bass guitarist Chip Z’nuff for their last three studio albums, including The Beatles' covers album Enuff Z'Nuff's Hardrock Nite, the band are still delivering their patented infectious power pop melded with hard rock.


Check out a visualizer for the song "Intoxicated" below, and order/save Finer Than Sin here.


Founding member Chip Z’nuff is once again joined by long-running members Tory Stoffregen (guitars), Tony Fennell (guitars), and Daniel Benjamin Hill (drums). Finer Than Sin showcases the musical stylings that have kept the band a loyal fan base since the ‘80s, staying true to their colorful rock 'n roll roots. Finer Than Sin is the band's 17th studio album overall.


Originally formed in 1984 in Chicago, IL, Enuff Z'Nuff received their big break in 1989 when they signed to Atco/Atlantic Records. The band's self-titled album was a monster hit and spawned two evergreen singles, “New Thing” and “Fly High Michelle”. Both received constant airplay on radio and heavy rotation on MTV, spending over 60 weeks in the Top 10. 1991 saw the band release their sophomore album, Strength. The album had a massive hard rock overtone and sustained the success achieved on the first album.


The band made high profile television and radio appearances on the likes of David Letterman and Howard Stern and were featured in Rolling Stone’s Hot Issue as "The Next Big Thing". Enuff Z'nuff have soldiered on during the new musical climates of the ‘90s and '00s and continued to release over a dozen more studio records.





Tracklisting:


"Sound Check"
"Catastrophe"
"Steal The Light"
"Lost And Out Of Control"
"Intoxicated"
"Hurricane"
"Trampoline"
"Temporarily Disconnected"
"God Save The Queen"
"Reprise"


"Intoxicated" visualizer:





"Catastrophe" video:





Enuff Z’nuff are:


Chip Z’nuff - Singer, Electric Bass
Tory Stoffregen - Lead Guitar
Tony Fennell - Guitar, Vocals
Daniel Benjamin Hill - Drums & Percussion

London, UK based dynamic thrash / death metal powerhouse Slave Steel is thrilled to announce their official signing with Wormholedeath Records for their new album, In Fieri. The band's second studio release is set to unleash its sonic fury on September 15th, 2023.


After months of careful consideration, Slave Steel has found the perfect partner in Wormholedeath Records, a label known for its unwavering dedication to supporting and promoting cutting-edge metal artists. The band's relentless passion and musical prowess align seamlessly with the label's vision, making this collaboration a significant milestone in their career.


In Fieri marks a pivotal moment for Slave Steel, as they present their most ambitious and impactful work to date. This album is the result of an intense creative process, with the band pushing themselves to the limits of songwriting, production, and recording. Crafting a deeply immersive experience, Slave Steel embarked on an eight-handed journey, carefully sculpting each song to perfection. The result is a collection of tracks that transcend boundaries, allowing for moments of crushing heaviness intertwined with moments of clarity.




Slave Steel's latest offering, In Fieri, explores the concept of the butterfly effect and its role in shaping individual and collective destinies. The album delves into the inherent human drive to evolve, while weighing the consequences of every choice made along the way. Musically, Slave Steel strikes a delicate balance between an obscure, crushing sound and an unwavering commitment to clarity of listening, leaving listeners captivated and craving more.


To give fans a taste of what's to come, Slave Steel has released an album teaser, providing a glimpse into the sonic onslaught that awaits.





Led by Pil Nazar on vocals, Daniele Manganaro on guitar, Marco Agosta on bass, and Riccardo Priori on drums, Slave Steel brings an electrifying and emotive energy to their live performances. With a dedication to presenting their emotionally-charged values and social commentary, the band's distinctive sound continues to evolve and captivate audiences worldwide.


In celebration of their signing, Slave Steel has announced their first single and video, "Wake Up The Atom", which is scheduled for release on August 4th, 2023. Get ready to experience the full force of Slave Steel as they ignite the metal scene once again. Watch the single teaser below.





In Fieri artwork and tracklisting:





"Wake Up The Atom"
"2 Hours"
"Sorry About Death"
"Warm Up"
"In Fieri"
"Burden"
"Kantharos"
"What A Wreckage"
"F(r)ail"


For further details, visit Slave Steel on Facebook.


 

On this week's episode of Metal Mayhem Roc (which can be seen below,) vocalist Jeff Allen of Witchslayer, the heavy metal band from Chicago who in 2023 properly released its first ever album, something that had been in the works for 40 years, is the featured guest,


Unfortunately, following the success of Witchslayer’s five-song demo in the early
1980s and Metal Blade Records including the song “I Don’t Want To Die” on the Metal Massacre 4 compilation album, the group disbanded before a new full length album could be recorded.


Fast forward to 2022, original singer Jeff Allen reformed the band with guitarist Ken Mandat (Damien Thorne), bassist Mick Lucid (Viscous Circle), and drummer Gabriel Anthony (Tyrant’s Reign).




The new album features 11 hard-hitting tracks which were originally written by the original lineup in the early '80s, but recorded by the new lineup.


Jeff joins Metal Mayhem Roc to talk about the history of the band, the new release, and plans for 2023. Jeff also shares details about early Witchslayer opening for Accept, contacting Metallica during the Kill 'Em All era and hanging out in California and the Sunset Strip era.





 

The Silent Rage has released a lyric-video for "Black Monday" featuring Bob Katsionis (Stray Gods, ex-Firewind), fourth single and third video taken from the new album, Nuances of Life, released in May through Scarlet Records.


"Black Monday" is a heartfelt homage to the 103 victims of the 2018 Attica wildfires in Greece – R.I.P.


"Today is a very special day for us. It marks five years since that Black Monday of 2018, where 103 people lost their lives during the summer wildfires in Mati, Attica, Greece. Therefore, we decided to pay our tribute to those people and we dedicated this song in loving memory of them.




Those wildfires devasted Greece and every year since then, wildfires happens again every year. We are living in a never-ending circle that cannot break. Even now, the state of Attica where 4 out of 5 members of the band live, is burning again. Thousands of acres of forests and wildlife turning to ashes, giving no sign of hope for the future. Our only hope is that there will be no more loss of human life to be mourned, no more wildlife to be lost, no more burning soil.


With honor, The Silent Rage"





The Silent Rage is finally returning to deliver their flawless, hefty, fist-pumping melodic power metal. Nuances Of Life combines the characteristic sound of classic metal, filled with blazing riffs and impressive melodies, combined with catchy and blistering vocal lines – courtesy of extraordinary new frontman, Michalis Rinakakis.


Lyrically wise, Nuances Of Life deals with spreading out the deepest, well-hidden human emotions: tales about mighty heroes and distant lands as well as everyday issues that leave a deep scar in our hearts. Get ready to a non-stop exciting headbanging experience.


Produced by Fotis Benardo (Nightfall, Septicflesh, Melechesh) and mastered by George Nerantzis (Pain Of Salvation, Abbath, Nightrage) at Devasoundz Studios (Athens), Nuances Of Life will be released in the following formats:


- vinyl (limited edition)
- digipak CD
- digital


Order at thesilentrage.com.





Nuances Of Life tracklisting:


"The Serpent Lord"
"Code Of Destruction"
"Carve Your Rage"
"Crows Fly Back"
"Another Fallen Dreamland" (feat. Stu Block - Into Eternity/ ex-Iced Earth)
"Scarlet Dawn" (feat. Harry “The Tyrant” Conklin - Jag Panzer)
"The Man In The Mirror"
"Exhaling Fear"
"Ghost Of A Wayward God"
" Black Monday" (feat. Bob Katsionis - Stray Gods/ex-Firewind)
"Nuances Of Life"
"Defy The Headhunters" (CD bonus track)





The Silent Rage lineup:


Michalis Rinakakis - vocals
Nikos Siglidis - guitar, vocals
Nikos Sarbanis - guitar
George Haniotakis - bass
Stamatis Katsafados - drums


"The Serpent Lord":

In the video below, Def Leppard takes fans behind the scenes on The World Tour. Episode 10 features Switzerland and England, where the band plays the iconic Wembley Stadium.


Bassist Rick Savage comments on the Wembley show:


"In a way, it's a journey that's lasted 45 years. 'Cause when we were growing up and forming the band, we had little goals, but we always knew at the back of our minds, there was the big goal. And here we are — this was the big goal, Wembley Stadium. In England, to English people, it doesn't come much bigger than Wembley Stadium… A historical occasion for the group. Slightly emotional as well, because it proves something to us, to ourselves, that we've actually made it this far for this long. And who knows? Maybe we'll just do a few more in the future."







Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe continue their 2023 co-headline The World Tour with the recent announcement of three exclusive Australian dates.


Produced by Live Nation and presented by Triple M, Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard will bring their electrifying stage shows to Australia, commencing with Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on November 8, Giants Stadium Sydney on November 11, and Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium on November 14.


“After getting back on the road this past summer, we’re beyond thrilled to bring this massive tour to a global audience including some special dates in Australia!” said Joe Elliott of Def Leppard.


“We had an incredible time playing The Stadium Tour in North America and we truly can’t wait to continue taking the show around the globe with The WORLD Tour in 2023. Crüeheads get ready because we have a few amazing Australian dates set for you!” Mötley Crüe said in a joint statement.





Australian dates:


November
8 - Brisbane - Suncorp Stadium
11 - Sydney - Giants Stadium
14 - Melbourne - Marvel Stadium

Finnish melodic death metal band, Before The Dawn, have shared a guitar and drum playthrough video for the song "Downhearted", taken from their new album, Stormbringers. Check it out below.





Before The Dawn recently revealed their new single, "The Dark", together with an official music video. The band’s comeback record, Stormbringers, was released on June 30 via Napalm Records.




“The Dark” catches instantly with an intense intro and - as with the whole album - a wild ride between calmer parts, intense growls and untameable death metal passages. After a 10-year hiatus, Before The Dawn are back stronger than ever, ready to introduce their new lineup on their new record Stormbringers, as well as on festival stages this summer! In autumn, fans will get the chance to catch the band on their European tour with Wolfheart and Hinayana.


Before The Dawn on “The Dark”: "’The Dark’ is the 3rd single from the new album and stands sturdy behind the title and is the most melancholic and melodic song from the whole album. Besides carrying a deep 'autumn mood' it also has all the main features of a classic BTD song. Heavy guitars, heart stabbing guitar melodies, thunderous bass drums and vocals that hits like a storm. The video footage is taken from the comeback show in Lahti, Finland on May 19, 2023. Since it will surely have a very special place in our hearts we wanted make some of that feeling and mood to live forever in a form of a video."





Before The Dawn returns with their first new full length studio album since their hiatus - and stronger than ever. The band originated as Finnish Metal Award winning Tuomas Saukkonen’s (Wolfheart) solo project, but throughout the years, there have been several lineup changes. With the exciting new lineup, the band introduces its biggest changes so far. Previous guitarist and vocalist Saukkonen has moved behind the drums, and talented Voice Of Finland 2022 finalist Paavo Laapotti has taken on all vocalist duties, while Swallow The Sun’s Juho Räihä - who has been with Before The Dawn since 2006 - performs lead guitar duties. Now, the Finns have fully transformed into their new power and are ready to reconquer the scene.


Before The Dawn on Stormbringers: “Stormbringers breaks a silence that lasted over ten years and brings Before The Dawn back stronger than ever. A decade of gathering strength, growing the hunger and building determination and now it is time for our eighth album to see the light of the day and bring the band back on the road.”





Stormbringers will be available in the following formats:


- 1LP Colored Vinyl
- 6-page Digisleeve
- CD + Shirt Bundle
- Digital Album


Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"The Dawn"
"Destroyer"
"Reveries"
"Downhearted"
"Chains"
"Divided"
"The Dark"
"Chaos Star"
"The Weight"


"Chains" video:





"Destroyer" video:





(Photo - Teppo Ristola)

Sweden's Amon Amarth played a surprise gig under the name Guardians Of Asgaard on the unique Portal Stage between Faster and Harder Stages at Wacken Open Air 2022. Check out the pertformances of "Guardians Of Asgaard", "Shield Wall" and "The Pursuit Of Vikings" below.





Amon Amarth recently issued the following message in regards to their upcoming US dates supporting Ghost...




"Vikings of America! After our glorious siege Across Europe + United Kingdom, we are set to conquer your land alongside fellow Swedes Ghost, the ships set sail in two weeks.


To those of you riding alongside us at the shows, we are offering the opportunity to win your very OWN special limited edition Viking drinking horn. We’ve teamed up with SET.Live to give Vikings in attendance at each show the opportunity to take home this limited prize the night of the show.


But how does one win this glorious prize you ask? Fear not, read the official instructions below:


Scan the QR code that can be found scattered throughout each venue  near the official tour merch stands and you will be entered to win. Plus, this signs you up for exclusive opportunities that may arise in the future. SET.Live is only available to those in attendance, so don’t miss out by securing your tickets now!"





Amon Amarth shows with Ghost:


August
2 - Concord Pavilion - Concord, CA
4 - White River Amphitheatre - Auburn, WA
5 - Northern Quest Casino & Resort - Airway Heights, WA
7 - USANA Amphitheatre - West Valley City, UT
8 - Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre - Greenwood Village, CO
11 - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre - St. Louis, MO
12 - American Family Insurance Amphitheater - Milwaukee, WI
14 - Pine Knob Music Theatre - Clarkston, MI
15 - Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island - Chicago, IL
16 - PNC Pavilion - Cincinnati, OH
18 - St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview - Syracuse, NY
19 - Xfinity Center - Mansfield, MA
20 - Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater - Bridgeport, CT
22 - TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park - Indianapolis, IN
23 - The Pavilion at Star Lake - Burgettstown, PA
24 - Jiffy Lube Live - Bristow, VA
25 - Freedom Mortgage Pavilion - Camden, NJ
27 - Ascend Amphitheater - Nashville, TN
29 - CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park - Simpsonville, SC
30 - Daily's Place - Jacksonville, FL
31 - MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre - Tampa, FL


September
2 - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion - The Woodlands, TX
3 - Germania Insurance Amphitheater - Del Valle, TX
5 - The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory - Irving, TX
7 - Isleta Amphitheater - Albuquerque, NM
8 - Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre - Phoenix, AZ





Amon Amarth headline shows:


August
10 - Omaha, NE - The Admiral Theater (with Creeping Death & 200 Stab Wounds)


September
9 - Riverside, CA - Riverside Municipal Auditorium (with Gatecreeper)