Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons have released a video for their new single, "Hammer And Dance". The track is the second song to be taken from their upcoming third album, Kings Of The Asylum, which will be released on September 1 via Nuclear Blast Records.


Phil Campbell comments: “Put on your dancing shoes and get ready for hammer and dance.”







Kings Of The Asylum will be the band's first studio release to feature singer Joel Peters.





Pre-order Kings Of The Asylum on various formats here.





Kings Of The Asylum tracklisting:


"Walking In Circles"
"Too Much Is Never Enough"
"Hammer And Dance"
"Strike The Match"
"Schizophrenia"
"Kings Of The Asylum"
"The Hunt"
"Show No Mercy"
"No Guts! No Glory!"
"Ghosts"
"Maniac"
"Monster" (CD Bonus Track)


"Schizophrenia" video:





Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons are set to head out on an extensive UK and European tour later this year in support of the new album. Full dates can be found below.





Kings Of The Asylum Tour 2023


September
19 - Brighton, UK - The Arch
20 - Sint-Niklaas, Belgium - De Casino
21 - Essen, Germany - Turock
22 - Neuenstadt am Kocher, Germany - Stadthalle Neuenstadt
23 - Aachen, Germany -  Musikbunker
24 - Paris, France - Petit Bain
26 - Barcelona, Spain - Salamandra
27 - Lyon, France - Marché Gare
28 - Ranica, Italy - Druso Club
29 - München, Germany - Backstage Werk
30 - Düdingen, Switzerland - Bad Bonn


October
1 - Aschaffenburg, Germany - Colos-Saal
3 - Lublin, Poland - Radio Lublin
4 - Prague, Czech Republic - Storm
5 - Hamburg, Germany - Uebel & Gefährlich
6 - Berlin, Germany - Frannz
7 - Münster, Germany - Sputnikhalle
8 - Uden, Netherlands - De Pul
10 - Santanyi (Mallorca), Spain - Full Metal Holiday


November
2 - Great Yarmouth, UK - Hard Rock Hell
18 - Weißenhäuser Strand, Germany - Metal Hammer Paradise
21 - Stoke-on-Trent, UK - The Sugarmill
22 - Glasgow, UK - Garage
23 - Leeds, UK - Warehouse
24 - Manchester, UK - The Bread Shed
25 - Derby, UK - The Hairy Dog
26 - Oxford, UK - O2 Academy Oxford
28 - Exeter, UK - Phoenix
29 - London, UK - O2 Academy Islington
30 - Porthcawl, UK - Planet Rockstock


December
1 - Southampton, UK - Engine Rooms
2 - Birmingham, UK - O2 Institute2


Lineup:


Phil Campbell - Guitars
Todd Campbell - Guitars
Tyla Campbell - Bass
Dane Campbell - Drums
Joel Peters - Vocals

Death metal icons, Incantation, prepare the masses for their new album, Unholy Deification, out August 25 via Relapse Records. Today, the band share the second single, “Homunculus (Spirit Made Flesh) IX”, one month before the official album release.


Watch the “Homunculus (Spirit Made Flesh) IX” lyric video & album art visualizer, featuring live footage by The C.O.I.N., below:







Lyrically, Unholy Deification originates with Sherwood. An avid reader and occult logician, the Incantation bassist wanted to capture a fully realized concept of evolution through enlightenment. Expect thought-provoking, historically derived intellection. The mortal-to-deity narrative interacts with the merciless musical conflagration of hard-hitting tracks such as "Concordat (The Pact) I," "Homunculus (Spirit Made Flesh) IX," and "Invocation (Chthonic Merge) X". Make no mistake - the ferocious new album, featuring guests Jeff Beccera (Possessed), Henry Veggian (ex-Revenant), and Dan Vadim Von (Morbid Angel), is pure death metal.


Incantation's sepulchral pandemonium is visually enhanced by award-winning artist and longstanding collaborator Eliran Kantor (Immolation, Kreator, Cavalera, and more.) The end result is an interpretation of Italian Renaissance masters but thrust into Incantation's cauldron of chromatic malice.


Physical Unholy Deification pre-orders are available via Relapse.com here. Digital downloads/streaming are available here.





Unholy Deification tracklisting:


"Offerings (The Swarm) IV"
"Concordat (The Pact) I"
"Chalice (Vessel Consanguineous) VIII"
"Homunculus (Spirit Made Flesh) IX"
"Invocation (Chthonic Merge) X"
"Megaron (Sunken Chamber) VI"
"Convulse (Words Of Power) III"
"Altar (Unify In Carnage) V"
"Exile (Defy The False) II"
"Circle (Eye of Ascension) VII"


"Concordat (The Pact) I" video:





Incantation are on tour throughout Europe and Australia this summer. See all remaining dates below.





July
25 - EL Barrio Club - Dubai, UAE
27 - Crown And Anchor Hotel - Adelaide, Australia
28 - The Bridge Hotel - Sydney, Australia
29 - Max Watts Vic - Melbourne, Australia
30 - The Basement - Canberra, Australia





(Photo - Scott Kinkade)

Ted Nugent has defended Jason Aldean over the country singer's controversial new song "Try That In A Small Town" which has generated headlines for its lyrical content as well as accompanying video.

The clip 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 video 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."

Speaking to Jimmy Failla of "Fox News Saturday Night", Ted stated about the "Try That In A Small Town" controversy: "I know there's a bunch of idiots out there, but you need to learn to get a kick out of the idiots. The idiots hate this Jason Aldean song, because they hate when we push back against violence. They always get it 180 degrees wrong. The song is against violence. The song is about self-defense. The song is about protecting your loved ones in your neighborhood.

"If you find fault with a song that celebrates protecting your loved ones in your neighborhood, you might be going down to Target to the Satan display and getting on your knees," he continued.

"These are just weird people. We dismiss them out of hand because they've got no soul. I laugh in their face."

As for which piece of advice he would give to Aldean, Nugent — who is no stranger to controversy himself, going up against liberals for years over hot-button issues like Second Amendment rights and freedom of speech — said: "I've actually responded to a bunch of social media posts about this, and I've said, 'Jason, the best Americans…' And not only just Americans, but because of the reach of social media, it's almost like Radio Free Europe. The reach of social media gets to good people all over the world. And all the good people in the world are saying what the Nugent family says: Go, Jason, go… We salute you and we stand with you.'"

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."

Guitarist C.J. Pierce of Texas heavy rockers DROWNING POOL has weighed in on the fact that PANTERA's surviving members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass) have united with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.

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

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

Pierce discussed his views on the PANTERA comeback in a new interview with the "Brutally Delicious" podcast. Asked what PANTERA was like when DROWNING POOL and PANTERA shared the stage on May 6 at the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally in Panama City, Florida, C.J. said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "PANTERA was great, man. I know people have said a lot of stuff about it. Rex and Phil, it's a reunion of those two guys coming together. Hats off to PANTERA and what it was about. Of course Dime and Vinnie were a big part of that [and were] personal friends. Actually, we toured together back in the early days with DROWNING POOL. And I've known Zakk forever and I've known Charlie forever. What better person to pick. And I was actually hanging out with Zakk."

Regarding Wylde's approach to performing parts originally written and recorded by Dimebag, Pierce said: "It's Zakk Wylde. Dime did Dime, and nobody's ever gonna play Dime like that… And we were talking about it, 'cause every now and then I'll get called up and go on stage and do some PANTERA covers. So I stay up on my chops. But him and I, Zakk and I were talking about certain things that Dime did. And we were, like, 'What the hell is he doing right here? Was he completely drunk or is he just a genius? Why would you do that?' And Zakk's, like, 'There's one or two things I'm not sure what he's doing. I'm just gonna play a solo.' I said, 'It's a guitar solo, man. Do your thing. You're doing it great.'"

C.J. also had strong words for all the detractors who have been posting negative comments online before even seeing the PANTERA show themselves.

"I don't know why you would [talk] shit [about it]," Pierce said. "'Cause the show was great, and you're keeping that music alive. And you're keeping what Dime and Vinnie brought to the stage. And they nailed it, to me. Phil sounded great; he never sounded better. And the show was amazing. They let us use a lot of their toys, so our show was amazing. [Charlie] is one of the best [drummers out there]. And they took time and they nailed it, man.

"Go see the show. Just go see it. You have to see it and you'll know when you're there. It's so great, dude. I hope they keep going with it."

While he was alive, Vinnie Paul had repeatedly dismissed talks of a PANTERA reunion, telling Germany's EMP Rock Invasion in 2014: "People are selfish, man. They want what they want; they don't care what you want. And it's unfortunate that people go, 'Oh, wow, man, they can get Zakk Wylde to jump up there on stage and it's PANTERA again.' No, it's not, you know. It's not that simple. If Eddie Van Halen was to get shot in the head four times next week, would everybody be going, 'Hey, man, Zakk, go play for VAN HALEN. Just call it VAN HALEN.' You see what I'm saying? I mean, it's really selfish for people to think that, and it's stupid. It's not right at all."

He continued: "They call it a reunion for a reason. It's called bringing the original members back to what it was. So there's a lot of these things that they call reunions that aren't really reunions. They've got one dude from the band floating around in them, you know. That's not a true reunion. With PANTERA, it'll never be possible."

He repeated those same sentiments a few months later, telling PlanetMosh in a separate interview: "Without Dimebag Darrell, there is no [PANTERA] reunion. And that's all there is to it. We were a very influential band, and we touched millions and millions of people with that band, but it's over. People really have to come to grips with that, and that's all there is to it. If all of us were still here, then the possibility would truly be there, but since it's not, you know… It's selfish of the fans to want something that they can't have. And they don't ever understand that, and I get it. There's things I want in this world too. You know, people in fucking hell want ice water, but they're not gonna get it."

Up until his passing in June 2018, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for Dimebag's death.

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

Dimebag's longtime girlfriend Rita Haney in 2011 called on Vinnie and Philip to settle their differences in honor of Dimebag.

Vinnie, who was Dimebag's brother, and Anselmo had not spoken since PANTERA split in 2003. But the relationship got even more acrimonious when Vinnie suggested that some remarks the vocalist had made about Dimebag in print just weeks earlier might have incited Dimebag's killer.

Haney told the producers of "Behind The Music Remastered: Pantera" that she forgave the singer after they found themselves unexpectedly face to face at a concert in California.

2 DAYS!!!! Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally in Panama City Beach… Pantera & Drowning Pool
MAY 6th… 🤘🏼😈🖤😈🤘🏼

Posted by Ryan McCombs on Thursday, May 4, 2023

With just five months until Christmas Day and the holiday season fast approaching, Grammy Award-winning musician, producer, author as well as founding member of hard rock bands ALTER BRIDGE, CREED and TREMONTI, Mark Tremonti has announced his first-ever holiday album. "Christmas Classics New & Old" is Mark's interpretation of nine holiday classics and one original penned song from the acclaimed songwriter himself. After the success of his interpretation of songs Frank Sinatra made famous on his album "Mark Tremonti Sings Frank Sinatra", Mark decided to partner up with the orchestra from that album to work on the holiday album. The album is scheduled for release worldwide on October 27 and is now available for pre-order at www.tremontichristmas.com.

From the opening horns of "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" to the slow fade of the Donny Hathaway classic "This Christmas", Tremonti showcases the music that was the bedrock of his childhood holidays. Mark's interpretations of songs like "Jingle Bells", "The First Noel" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" find their place among the many great versions that preceded them. "O Holy Night" is one of Mark's personal favorites and finds new life in the inspired arrangement by producer Carey Deadman. Mark also took the time to create his own holiday composition called "Christmas Morning". Piano twinkles as a marching band drum roll picks up the momentum. As if changing from black-and-white to technicolor, horns herald a wonderfully warm picture on the track's finale, "My lady and me will make sure our children believe in the glory of Christmas morning."

"Christmas Classics New & Old" will sit alongside the most cherished holiday albums and continues to showcase the musical diversity inside Tremonti. Music from the album will be released in the coming months and a teaser video for the holiday album can be seen below.

"Christmas Classics New & Old" track listing:

01. The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
02. Jingle Bells
03. The Christmas Song
04. Christmas Morning
05. The First Noel
06. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
07. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
08. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
09. O Holy Night
10. This Christmas

As a Grammy Award-winning multiplatinum musician, Tremonti's dynamic musical career spans influential bands from ALTER BRIDGE and CREED to his own TREMONTI, leaving an indelible imprint on hard rock with over 40 million albums sold, chart-topping debuts, countless television appearances and magazine covers, sold out arenas everywhere, and dozens of other accolades. To say he broadened his horizons with 2022's "Mark Tremonti Sings Frank Sinatra" might just be the understatement of the century though. He paid homage to 14 Sinatra classics backed by surviving members of Ol Blue Eyes' band in addition to a cadre of A-list session players. Right out of the gate, it incited widespread audience and tastemaker applause. Beyond features from Billboard, CBS New York, Washington Post and many more, Carson Daly spotlighted the project on "Today" and raved, "Bar none the best Frank Sinatra cover I've ever heard." Donating 100% of the album's proceeds to the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) as part of his Take A Chance For Charity organization, NDSS notably honored Mark and his family at its annual gala and auction in 2023. Moreover, the album hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart, and he would go on to play a handful of sold-out shows in support of the album. However, he has yet to musically contribute to the happiest season of all — until now. Just in time for the holidays, he delivers "Christmas Classics New & Old" with nine renditions of holiday anthems and one original tailor made to "put a smile on your face, make you feel good, and get you into the Christmas spirit," according to Mark.

Photo credit: Chuck Brueckmann



Who is ready for a little Christmas in July? With 5 months until Christmas we are excited to announce "Mark Tremonti Christmas Classics New & Old" - out October 27th, 2023!

Grab your exclusive copied of the record and merch today at:
https://linktr.ee/marktremonti

Christmas Classics New & Old:
1) The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
2) Jingle Bells
3) The Christmas Song
4) Christmas Morning
5) The First Noel
6) Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town
7) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
8) Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
9) O Holy Night
10) This Christmas

Posted by Mark Tremonti on Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Duff McKagan has shared "I Saw God On 10th St.", the new single from his eagerly awaited third solo album, "Lighthouse", arriving everywhere on Friday, October 20. An official visualizer can be seen below.

"I picture him as an old guy with white beard and hair, leaning up against a wall on a city street," says McKagan. "The ultimate jurist of us all. Pissed off, squinting eyes to ward off what he sees, spitting frequently with no care for who may be around. The Creator. God. Allah, Shiva...or whomever. I think I see him sometimes over on 10th St., hands in tight fists, and toes curled up and tense."

"Lighthouse" will be available in several variations, including CD, deluxe CD with fold-out photo print, cassette, standard black vinyl, and deluxe vinyl in a host of colors, each with lithographs, booklet, sticker, and guitar pick. Signed versions and exclusive store versions will be available as well.

For more than 40 years, McKagan has been an unstoppable creative force, spanning a multitude of bands, tours, collaborations, and writings. Now, with his long-awaited new solo album, "Lighthouse", the veteran musician proves to be, at his heart, a gifted singer-songwriter with a distinctive knack for authenticity and introspection.

In 2019, McKagan opened his own recording studio, allowing him a long-hoped-for opportunity to "finally explore songs that I may have written the night before or some of those old riffs from years ago. This is a big deal for me." He spent much of the next two years working with longtime producer/collaborator Martin Feveyear (Mark Lanegan, Brandi Carlile),chipping away at a series of intensely personal new songs.

"Lighthouse" now marks the first full-length collection born in McKagan's studio. Songs like "Hope" (featuring veteran Paul McCartney drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. and melodic lead guitar from Slash) and the philosophical "I Just Don't Know" (featuring contributions from McKagan's longtime friend, Jerry Cantrell of ALICE IN CHAINS) see McKagan baring more of his artistic spirit than ever before, fusing acoustic elements with hard-edged rock 'n' roll to land at the sweet spot between soul-searching reflection and pure energy. The 11-song collection is further highlighted by an additional take on the title track, "Lighthouse (Reprise)", joined by the one and only Iggy Pop.

McKagan first unveiled his new music earlier this year with "This Is The Song", a three-song EP honoring Mental Health Awareness Month alongside a call to action on Propeller. The EP — which was met by critical applause in Rolling Stone, Consequence Of Sound, Loudwire and American Songwriter, to name just a few — includes the deeply moving title track, "This Is The Song", joined by an official companion video streaming now on YouTube.

Starting at just 15, McKagan has been a part of such diverse and influential bands as THE VAINS (1979),THE FASTBACKS (1980),THE LIVING (1982),THE FARTZ (1982),10 MINUTE WARNING (1983) and LOADED (1998),along, of course, with his historic role as founding member of both GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER. Produced by three-time Grammy Award winner Shooter Jennings, McKagan's 2019 second solo album, "Tenderness", marked a powerful new chapter for the ever-evolving artist, taking on societal ills and his own personal transgressions against a rich sonic backdrop of Americana-fueled arrangements. Named by Loudwire as one of that year's "50 Best Rock Albums" and hailed by Rolling Stone in a three-and-a-half (out of four)-starred rave as "an album full of beauty and heart…It's music of conscience, heavy songs with a light touch," the album includes the volatile rocker "Chip Away", which earned extraordinary praise from the maestro himself, Bob Dylan, who recently declared the song a personal favorite.

"There's a Duff McKagan song called 'Chip Away' that has profound meaning for me," Dylan told The Wall Street Journal. "It's a graphic song. Chip away, chip away, like Michelangelo, breaking up solid marble stone to discover the form of King David inside. He didn't build him from the ground up, he chipped away the stone until he discovered the king. It's like my own songwriting, I overwrite something, then I chip away lines and phrases until I get to the real thing."

Along with his prolific musical efforts, McKagan is The New York Times best-selling author of 2011's "It's So Easy: And Other Lies" and 2015's "How To Be A Man: (And Other Illusions)", and the co-host (with Susan Holmes McKagan) of SiriusXM's popular "Three Chords & The Truth" radio show on Ozzy's Boneyard (Ch. 38). McKagan currently serves as a core member of a modern-day "Wrecking Crew" alongside Grammy Award-winning musician/producer Andrew Watt and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' Chad Smith, recording and co-writing on such recent albums as Ozzy Osbourne's "Ordinary Man" (2020) and two-time Grammy Award-winning "Patient No. 9" (2022) and Iggy Pop's acclaimed "Every Loser" (2023). What's more, McKagan — with Watt, Smith, and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' Josh Klinghoffer — is part of the recently unveiled IGGY POP & THE LOSERS lineup, who made a high-profile televised debut earlier this year with an electrifying performance of the feverish "Frenzy" on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

McKagan is currently traveling with GUNS N' ROSES on an epic global tour set to touch down in North America beginning August 5 at Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada's Croix-Bieue Medavie stadium.

"Lighthouse" track listing:

01. Lighthouse
02. Longfeather
03. Holy Water
04. I Saw God On 10th St
05. Fallen
06. Forgiveness
07. Just Another Shakedown
08. Fallen Ones
09. Hope (feat. Slash)
10. I Just Don't Know (feat. Jerry Cantrell)
11. Lighthouse (Reprise) (feat. Iggy Pop)

Photo credit: Charles Peterson

STAIND has landed a No. 1 active rock single with "Lowest In Me", the first single from the band's upcoming album, "Confessions Of The Fallen". The veteran rock group's first full-length album of original material since 2011 is scheduled for release on September 15 via Alchemy Recordings/BMG.

Alchemy Recordings is a record label created in partnership between Dino Paredes, former American Recordings vice president of A&R, and Danny Wimmer, the founder of Danny Wimmer Presents, the premier production company for rock music festivals in the United States.

"We are extremely proud that 'Lowest In Me' is our first No. 1 single at rock radio," says Joe Guzik, general manager of Alchemy Recordings. "We'd like to thank all of our partners at radio and DSPs, Vector Management and Rise/BMG for helping us get to No. 1. We also want to congratulate STAIND for delivering such a great song and putting their trust in us as we grow this partnership. They've turned in an incredible record, and we know this is the first of many number-one songs to come."

STAIND performed "Lowest In Me" live for the first time at the trio of Florida shows the band played earlier in the month leading up to STAIND's U.S. tour with GODSMACK.

"Confessions Of The Fallen" was produced by Erik Ron (GODSMACK, PANIC! AT THE DISCO, BLACK VEIL BRIDES).

Asked in a recent interview with Cutter's Rockcast if "Lowest In Me" is a good representation of the entire LP, STAIND guitarist Mike Mushok said: "Listen, there's a couple of songs that kind of go to, I think, what we're actually really known for — that 'It's Been Awhile', 'Outside' type of thing. But a lot of it has the heavy [edge to it]. And there's something — there's an electronic element that there wasn't in any of our stuff before; it's in this. There's a couple of songs that have a little bit more [of it than others]. And that was something that Aaron [Lewis, STAIND frontman] spoke of for a long time, that he wanted to do. And I really think that Erik, the producer, was really helpful in bringing that element to what we do. 'Cause I remember, in our preliminary talks of it, I was, like, 'I don't know how to write a record like that, 'cause that's not what I do.' And it was something as simple as taking a guitar riff that I wrote and playing it on a synthesizer or breaking it up and making some cool sounds out of it."

Mushok went on to say that he is "real happy with the way that it turned out. It was definitely a little — I just wasn't sure," he explained. "But as I heard it, I was, like, 'Oh.' Actually, I really liked it… I can't wait for people to hear it, 'cause I really feel like it worked. I feel like it's STAIND 2023, I guess. It's kind of… It's a little more modern version, I think, of what we've always done."

Last month, Mushok spoke to the Z93 radio station in Saginaw, Michigan about why it took STAIND so long to make a new studio album. He said: "I always hoped that [we would get around to working on new music]. Aaron wanted to pursue his country career and kind of felt like doing STAIND was something that would be detrimental to what that would be. He had to show the country people, 'I'm a country guy.' And I was able to go off and do a few other things, which was great — play with some really great people, musicians. Thankfully I was able to do that. That being said, I'm very thankful that we're back together and doing this. Because this is really kind of what I started with Aaron — over 28 years ago, whatever, or 27 years ago; whatever it was. So it's great to be able to be back making music again. And I'm looking forward to going out and doing these shows."

Asked if it was the initial plan to write new material when STAIND reunited for its first full live show in five years in September 2019 at the Louder Than Life music festival in Louisville, Kentucky, Mike said: "There was always talk of doing music. Even when we were off, it was funny — I remember Aaron would call me randomly, and I would always be at the same place, this indoor soccer place at my son's soccer game. And I would be, like, 'Oh, it's Aaron.' And we would kind of talk about ultimately [writing new music]. We knew it was in the future. We never had any plans. Then it finally started to come together. I wanna say 2018, I think, we started talking about it. And, honestly, that KORN tour [in 2021] was really where a lot of the record got put together, was on that. I was working every day, and I was able to demo a lot of the songs on that tour and able to get Aaron in a room and say, 'Listen to some of the music,' and get some direction from him of where he wanted it to go and some changes that he wanted to make and what he liked and what he didn't like. So a lot was done on that, and it really gave me the foundation and kind of a roadmap of where things should go. So it was actually really productive and a really good time."

STAIND recently released the DJay Brawner-directed music video for "Lowest In Me".

In May, Mushok told Lou Brutus of HardDrive Radio about the songwriting process for "Confessions Of The Fallen": "I had a lot of songs, and they were all demoed. So it was basically just instrumental songs. I would take something that I liked, and I would just play it for him. Aaron would listen. And [he would say], 'Oh, I like that verse. Maybe we could try this. Maybe change the chorus a little.' So it was just really kind of getting ideas of where he was at, what music that I had that he was wanting to sing over and really kind of taking those notes, going back and reconstructing the songs, if need be, changing parts, rewriting stuff. And finally when we decided we were gonna do it, and I kind of had a pretty good group of what I thought would make up the record, and Erik ended up being the producer, Erik and I kind of went back and did the same process through the music. Kind of refining the songs, demoing them. And he'd take it to Aaron and they would work on the melody and the lyrics."

In an interview with Billboard, Lewis said that it took him "a long time to be ready to do another STAIND record. I got really burnt out on digging into the dark corners of my psyche every night to deliver those very deep, dark songs in a manner that was believable and authentic," he explained. "I needed to step away from it for awhile and do something different. It just came back together naturally."

Regarding the lyrical inspiration for "Lowest In Me", Aaron told Billboard: "Everybody has got people in their lives that don't bring out the good in somebody. Just with what's going on in the world right now, there's so many things, so many people that are like, 'You bring out the lowest in me.' There's a lot of factors out there that could fall under the 'you' category."

When "Confessions Of The Fallen" was announced in April, Lewis stated about the LP's musical direction: "I did want to modernize the sound and bring us up to date. You can certainly recognize the band but at the same time you can hear that we've been paying attention and understand what kind of sounds and approaches we can use that maybe weren't around the last time we did this."

STAIND has released seven albums since 1995, the latest being 2011's self-titled effort. The band has had a number of hit songs during its first two decades, including the Top 10 smash "It's Been Awhile" from the No. 1 album "Break The Cycle". Follow-up LPs "14 Shades Of Grey" and "Chapter V" also topped the Billboard chart.

STAIND released its first album in nine years, "Live: It's Been Awhile", in May 2021 via Yap'em/Alchemy Recordings. The "Live: It's Been Awhile" album was accompanied by "The Return Of Staind", a two-part global streaming series in partnership with Danny Wimmer Presents.

STAIND and GODSMACK's 25-city co-headlining 2023 tour, produced by Live Nation, kicked off on July 18 at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in St. Louis, Missouri, with stops across the U.S. before wrapping up in Austin, Texas at Germania Insurance Amphitheatre on August 31.

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The D.A.'s Live Vault YouTube channel has uploaded video of CANDLEBOX's entire July 14 concert at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, California. Check out the footage below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Bitches Brewin'
02. Arrow
03. What Do You Need
04. Change
05. Blossom
06. Crazy
07. Turn Your Heart Around
08. Sweet Summertime
09. Punks
10. Simple Lessons
11. My Weakness
12. Sometimes
13. Elegante
14. Cover Me
15. Far Behind
16. You
17. Rain

During an appearance on the July 13 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", CANDLEBOX frontman Kevin Martin spoke about his decision to retire after the 30th anniversary of the release of the band's debut album in 2023.

"During COVID, I had a great awakening, being home with my wife and my son and realizing that maybe I had put far too much emphasis on the wrong syllable," he said, referencing a classic line from the 2003 Mike Myers/Gwyneth Paltrow movie "View From The Top". "My music career had become so encompassing of my time and my emotion and my energy and all this stuff that I realized that I had not given my family what they actually needed from me, which was me. And being home and being a dad and a teacher and a husband, and learning how to bake bread and realizing, 'God, man, I've missed a lot of things in my life that I enjoy,' I said, 'I need to figure out when I can wrap this up.'"

He continued: "I love music and it is a part of my life and I love playing live and I love performing and I love the fans. And that is something that I never take for granted. But I knew that I didn't love it the way I did when I started. And so I said to my wife, I said, 'I think I wanna make one last record and I wanna do it in 2023 when the 30th anniversary of the debut comes out, and then I wanna just put a nice little bow on this thing and wrap it up at the end of the year. And how do you feel about that?' And she said, 'I would love that, but only if you're ready.' And it took me from 2020 to 2022 to realize that I was."

Kevin added: "I don't ever wanna be a performer that phones it in on stage. I've been to those shows, I've seen those shows. I don't wanna do that. And I would hate to become that person. If this is my top, where I'm at, and I'm going out on it, and I'm in the best shape ever and my voice is in the best shape ever, and the music that I'm making, the shows that we're playing are fantastic, and we're having an absolute blast, then what better way to go?"

Martin also talked about how he and his CANDLEBOX bandmates handled their early multi-platinum success three decades ago, saying: "We didn't do well. We got caught up in the whole, 'We've gotta get in the studio, make the next record. Let's make the record different.' You get pushed and pulled in all sorts of directions. Whatever little drug habits you had that you could barely afford before, now you can afford as much cocaine as you want, which is ridiculous. And the alcohol intake is more, and you start buying dumb cars and stupid houses and all sorts of dumb shit. You fall into that trap. But we had a good manager; we were managed by Lindy Goetz, who managed the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS at the time as well. And as good as he was and tried his best to keep us focused as a band — I think he actually convinced my guitar player to go to rehab — we were not prepared at all. It was a very strange thing. I remember waking up one morning to go out to get my paper in Seattle and there were people sitting outside my gate, waiting for me to come out. And I'd never experienced anything like that. I thought that was the strangest thing in the world. 'Cause it's not something I would ever do. So I just was taken aback by that. I was, like, 'Why are you here?' And they're, like, 'Oh, can you sign this stuff?' And I said, 'This is my house. Get outta my house.' It was a strange thing— a very strange thing."

CANDLEBOX's final studio album, "The Long Goodbye", will arrive August 25 via Round Hill Records. The LP's first single, "Punks", is a cautionary message to young bands that they won't be the hot new thing forever.

In addition to "Punks", the 10-track collection, which was produced by Don Miggs, includes the sneering statement of independence "What Do You Need", co-written by Nick Brown of the alt-rock band MONA, who also appears on the track, and the moody, atmospheric "Elegante", where Kevin dives headlong into creative wordplay as Miggs and the band mimic a synth-pop vibe with guitars and drums. Elsewhere is the acoustic "Maze" and "Cellphone Jesus", where Kevin allows some of his worldview to seep in as he searches for a sign from above for a damaged society.

CANDLEBOX — Kevin Martin (lead vocals),Adam Kury (bass),Brian Quinn (guitar),Island Styles (guitar),BJ Kerwin (drums) — is currently on the road on their farewell tour, crossing the country until early fall with fellow rockers 3 DOORS DOWN as direct support on their massive "Away From The Sun" amphitheater tour in addition to various headlining shows.

Emerging from Seattle's burgeoning mid-1990s grunge scene, CANDLEBOX quickly found mainstream success with their deep, lyrically driven melodies and big radio hooks, as evidenced by their massive hits "Far Behind", "You" and "Cover Me" that propelled their self-titled debut album, a defining record of the decade, to sell more than four million copies worldwide. Their follow-up album, "Lucy", earned a platinum certification and solidified CANDLEBOX as a tour de force in the thriving alt-rock scene. While the commercial success of the first album played a pivotal role in the band's trajectory to the top, it was their raw and unapologetically honest live performances that ultimately solidified their place among Seattle's elite. In 1998, CANDLEBOX released "Happy Pills", which would be their last album before going on hiatus from 2000 to 2006. In 2008, the band reformed and released their fourth album, "Into The Sun", and hit the road for the first time in 10 years, touring extensively and releasing "Alive In Seattle", a live album that included tracks from every era of their career. 2016 marked the triumphant return of CANDLEBOX with the release of "Disappearing In Airports", a more classic rock-tinged album hailed by many critics and fans as their best work in years. Singles "Vexatious" and "Supernova" drove the album to debut at No. 9 on the Billboard chart and spurred multiple U.S. and international tours, including major festival appearances at Carolina Rebellion, Welcome To Rockville and Lollapalooza Chile. These iconic rockers have been blazing full steam since, releasing their album "Wolves" in 2021, and recently issuing a live, acoustic album, "Live At The Neptune".

Posted by Troubadour on Monday, March 27, 2023

Grammy Award-nominated band SEVENDUST will release its fourteenth studio album, "Truth Killer", on July 28 via the band's new label home, Napalm Records. The follow-up to 2020's "Blood & Stone" was once again tracked at Studio Barbarosa in Gotha, Florida with producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette, who has previously worked with ALTER BRIDGE and SLASH, among others.

The fourth single from "Truth Killer" is "Superficial Drug", and an accompanying music video directed by J.T. Ibanez (P.O.D., Loveless, Orianthi) can be seen below. The clip features the band performing as cloaked figures representing "superficial drugs" as they try to overtake the band.

"Truth Killer" showcases that the original and current SEVENDUST lineup — comprised of Lajon Witherspoon, Clint Lowery, John Connolly, Vince Hornsby and Morgan Rose — sounds as relevant today as it did on its 1997 self-titled debut.

From the introspective opening of "I Might Let The Devil Win" to the classic SEVENDUST sound of "Fence", the twelve songs on "Truth Killer" demonstrate the diverse style that has won the band a legion of loyal fans. "Truth Killer", "Everything" and "Holy Water" combine elements of the classic SEVENDUST sound with modern updates, pointing their lyrical lens at the world today.

"Truth Killer" track listing:

01. I Might Let The Devil Win
02. Truth Killer
03. Won't Stop The Bleeding
04. Everything
05. No Revolution
06. Sick Mouth
07. Holy Water
08. Leave Hell Behind
09. Superficial Drug
10. Messenger
11. Love And Hate
12. Fence

In a February 2023 interview with "The Mistress Carrie Podcast", Lowery stated about "Truth Killer": "I'm very stoked about the record. A lot of bands say that. I'm amazed we're still making music we love and we're not phoning it in. We worked really hard on it."

Clint previously talked about the upcoming SEVENDUST LP in an interview with "Good Company With Scott Bowling". At the time, he said: "I'm really excited about this record. We did that with Elvis Baskette. He's got his vibe. And this will be our third record with him."

Lowery went on to say that he has had to step away from the new SEVENDUST album after it was completed.

"I've listened to it, I've not liked it, I loved it, I hated it, and then I fell back in love with it," he explained.

"When I'm finished with a record, I really… That one took a lot out of me creatively, which is amazing that I even went for [a new solo] EP to do myself [shortly after finishing the SEVENDUST LP], 'cause I was kind of tapped out creatively. I couldn't even listen to the record afterwards. It was mixed and I heard it, and Elvis did a great job, but it was, like, 'I've gotta put it away for a while.' And I put it on the other day to listen to it, and I'm, 'Oh, man, this is gonna be good. People are gonna really dig it.' I think it's one of the best [records] we've done in a while, man."

In June 2022, SEVENDUST drummer Morgan Rose said that the writing session for the band's upcoming album was his "favorite" of SEVENDUST's career. "Just 5 guys in a farm house, creating," he wrote on Instagram. "Telling each other how much we love each other, supporting each other, enjoying being together. No outsiders, no drama, no bullshit. Just us…. The songs are magical, the vibe of the record is magical, our relationship with each other is magical."

In December 2021, SEVENDUST released a digital expanded edition of "Blood & Stone". "Blood & Stone Deluxe" contained five new tracks, including three never-before-released remixes and two newly recorded songs. Jake Bowen of PERIPHERY, Richard Wicander of FIRE FROM THE GODS and Justin deBlieck, formerly of ICE NINE KILLS, provided remixes and the band finished recording "All I Really Know" and "What You Are" specifically for this release. "Blood & Stone Deluxe" was released via all digital partners via Rise Records.

Photo credit: Chuck Brueckmann

Californian rockers BUCKCHERRY have released the official Mike Watts-and-Tom Flynn-directed music video for their cover of the Bryan Adams classic "Summer Of 69". The track is included as a bonus cut on the band's tenth studio album, "Vol. 10", which arrived on June 2. The LP was produced by Marti Frederiksen and recorded at Sienna Studios in Nashville. The album will be released in North America by Round Hill Records, in Japan by Sony Japan, and by Earache Records for the rest of the world.

Asked in a recent interview with Robert Cavuoto of Myglobalmind how BUCKCHERRY's cover of "Summer Of 69" came about, singer Josh Todd said: "That's a song we just pull out from time to time live, usually when we're just really tired and we really wanna just throw out a cover song; we don't do a lot of 'em. And our manager caught it one day, and he's, like, 'Wow! You guys do this so good. We've gotta record this song. This is so cool.'

"We're huge fans of Bryan Adams," he continued. "I think every band, when you're in the game of songwriting, you'll have those songs that you just wish you wrote yourself that aren't your songs, and that's one of those songs. I have loved that song since the '80s. It's just one of those songs, I'm, like, 'Fuck!' Every time I hear it, I'm, like, 'I wish I would have written this song. This song is perfect.' So that's why we recorded it. We sped it up a little bit, and you put my voice on it and all of a sudden it sounds like a really good BUCKCHERRY song.

"I think if a song could capture summer from the beginning to the end and everything you feel in summer, that's the song. That is the song that describes summer and youth and love and inspiration and being in a band and all those things. I mean, it's just such a cool song in that regard. And because it's so well written, you can slow it down and it's still great, you can speed it up and it's still great, you can leave it where it's at and it's great. It's just one of those songs."

"So I'm really pleased with it," Todd added. "It just kind of jumped off. And everybody loved it — our label and our team — so we put it on at the end. It was gonna be just a bonus track, but there's no such thing as bonus tracks anymore."

Last August, BUCKCHERRY announced that Todd and Stevie Dacanay would head to Nashville in late September to finish the writing process for the band's tenth studio album. The band was scheduled to begin recording the effort on November 4, 2022.

Frederiksen previously produced 2021's "Hellbound" as well as BUCKCHERRY's fourth album, "Black Butterfly", and co-wrote "Sorry", among other songs, with the band.

Todd told Australia's Silver Tiger Media about the band's latest LP: "It's just a new body of work. It's where we're at today. The songs are really well written, and I think people are gonna really, really love it. There is no overall [lyrical] theme… You'll enjoy it."

Regarding BUCKCKERRY's songwriting approach this time around, Todd said: "The formula for us is to have no fillers — having a great record from beginning to end. That's what we want — we want to be able to have these unforgettable songs and melodies. And if they don't sound great, we just don't put 'em on records."

In the summer of 2020, BUCKCHERRY recruited JETBOY's Billy Rowe as its new guitarist. He joined the group as the replacement for Kevin Roentgen, who left BUCKCHERRY in July of that year.

In 2019, BUCKCHERRY enlisted Francis Ruiz as its new drummer. He joined the group as the replacement for Sean Winchester, who exited BUCKCHERRY after laying down the drum tracks on "Warpaint".

On the latest podcast edition of "AC/DC Beyond The Thunder", JACKYL's Jesse James Dupree opens up about Brian Johnson's darkest days with AC/DC, expressing his unwavering support and conviction.

"I was with Brian the last show AC/DC played together," Jesse reveals. "I'm not going to speak of that because it's not my place, but I never could fathom that Brian's not the lead singer of AC/DC. As long as he's living and breathing and walking and talking, I have a hard time accepting anybody else do it."

From standing in line overnight just to land AC/DC tickets as a teenager to eventually writing and recording with AC/DC's lead singer, the charismatic southern hard rock frontman for JACKYL and star of "Full Throttle Saloon", a TV series about the world's largest biker bar set in Sturgis, South Dakota, shares his incredible journey from being a passionate fan to his deep-rooted connection with AC/DC.

Dupree reveals that in the early days, his own band JACKYL would perform the entire "Back In Black" album as an encore. "We just absorbed the voodoo on those records," he says. Although frequently compared to Johnson as singer, Dupree attributes his vocal style and stage presence to an unusual but influential combination of professional wrestling and TV preachers. "There's so much to be learned from them," he explains.

"There's been a couple of instances where I've touched on stuff and I went, "Whoa, that's AC/DC'". In fact, the songs he wrote called 'Kill The Sunshine' and 'Locked And Loaded' were so blatantly AC/DC, he decided to call on Johnson to finish the tracks together. He recalls the entire recording process. Johnson said, "I think we're on to something here."

As a young teenager, Jesse camped out for two nights just to score front-row tickets to an AC/DC show, never imagining that one day Johnson would be recording vocal tracks in his own home. "If you'd have told me back then that Brian would be sleeping in my young daughter's bed with Winnie The Pooh murals on the wall, I would have just lost it," laughs Dupree.

From lobbying for Brendan O'Brien to produce AC/DC's records, to having Brian Johnson join JACKYL onstage wielding a chainsaw, to being invited inside the inner circle while AC/DC recorded "Black Ice" in Vancouver, Jesse pulls back the curtain on AC/DC behind the scenes of one of the biggest bands in the world and how they've inspired him. "What an honor for them to take me into their confidence like that," he says.

Known for his distinctive voice, explosive energy, and the band's trademark chainsaw solos, Dupree has become a revered figure in the world of hard rock. With chart-topping hits like "The Lumberjack", "When Will It Rain" and "Down On Me", JACKYL has solidified their status as a high-octane force in the rock 'n' roll scene. Their latest release, "Jackyl 30 Coming In Hot", celebrates the band's 30th anniversary.

Tune in to "AC/DC Beyond The Thunder" Season 4 Episode 2 to experience the magic and camaraderie between Dupree and Johnson, offering an unfiltered and heartfelt glimpse into the world of one of the biggest bands in history.

"AC/DC Beyond The Thunder" has consistently delivered compelling and thought-provoking conversations with notable guests, and this episode promises to be no exception. With its combination of lively banter, exclusive stories, and insider knowledge, the podcast has become a must-listen for fans craving a deeper understanding of the powerhouse that is AC/DC.

Fueled by listener donations, "AC/DC Beyond The Thunder" is a non-profit organization, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to the Make-A-Wish and Nordoff-Robbins music therapy foundations.

"AC/DC Beyond The Thunder" podcast is now available for streaming on all platforms and at www.BeyondTheThunder.com.

The official visualizer for the song "The Looming" from EMPIRE STATE BASTARD, the extreme metal band founded by Simon Neil (BIFFY CLYRO) and Mike Vennart (BIFFY CLYRO live guitarist and solo artist, ex-OCEANSIZE),can be seen below. The track is taken from EMPIRE STATE BASTARD's debut album, "Rivers Of Heresy", which will arrive on September 1 via Roadrunner. The LP will also feature EMPIRE STATE BASTARD's debut single "Harvest", which was released this past March ahead of the band's sold-out U.K. headline tour.

EMPIRE STATE BASTARD also features the legendary Dave Lombardo (SLAYER, TESTAMENT, MR. BUNGLE) on drums, with Naomi Macleod (BITCH FALCON) rounding out the live lineup on bass.

As Mike candidly admits, "I set about making the most fucking poisonous vile music I possibly could, just unabridged hatred in musical form."

Simon adds, "Lyrically, it's as misanthropic and nihilistic as I've ever written."

In addition to its digital release, "Rivers Of Heresy" will be made available on the following limited-edition physical formats: CD with an exclusive 24-page fanzine; poison green vinyl and red / black marble vinyl; and cassette. The deluxe vinyl bundle adds a seven-inch single featuring "Harvest" and a non-album B-side to either album vinyl.

The concept for EMPIRE STATE BASTARD emerged when Neil and Vennart would spend downtime on tour sitting at the back of their bus sharing the heaviest, most avant-garde and confrontational music they could find. Now, a decade on from its conception, the project is finally coming to fruition, with Vennart writing the songs and recording all the guitars, and Neil focusing on vocals and lyrics.

The two have emerged with a collection of songs which adventurously probes slamming hardcore in the vein of SIEGE; the frenetic, visceral thrash of SLAYER; the claustrophobic sludge of MELVINS; the freeform vocal dexterity of Mike Patton; and the gargantuan stoner riffs of SLEEP. It's a band that's rooted in the tradition of metal's forefathers but informed by more recent waves of leftfield aggression.

"Rivers Of Heresy" track listing:

01. Harvest
02. Blusher
03. Moi?
04. Tired, Aye?
05. Sons And Daughters
06. Stutter
07. Palms Of Hands
08. Dusty
09. Sold!
10. The Looming

During a recent appearance on "The Jasta Show", Lombardo spoke about his involvement with EMPIRE STATE BASTARD. Dave said: "Simon Neil and Mike Vennart [are] from a very popular band in the U.K. called BIFFY CLYRO. [A lot of people in the U.S.] don't know who BIFFY CLYRO is, but they're massive in the U.K. They headline Download and Glastonbury [festivals]; they headline Download the next day after IRON MAIDEN. So there guys are massive. But Simon Neil, the vocalist for that band, and Mike Vennart have a love and an affinity for hardcore music. And for the past 10 years they've been talking about this. And they hit me up during the pandemic and took a shot in the dark and said, 'Well, why not? Let's ask him. He might not wanna do it.' But they asked. At first, I fell in love with the music. I was, like, 'Wow. This is pretty fucking cool.' Odd time changes. It's a little thrashy. It has a little bit of grindcore in it. It's hard to describe. It's its own entity and it has a personality of its own. So to give it a description is really difficult. But it is in the hard music vein. And when I heard the music, I was blown away. And I agreed. And they sent me the files [for the album]. And I recorded the drums in my home studio, and I sent it back. And they were pleased. And it's gonna be out — I hope — sometime in September."

Neil previously told NME that working on other projects, including EMPIRE STATE BASTARD, got him "through not touring — just knowing I can spend the year making new music."

He added: "I like putting myself in these positions where I'm like, 'I should never be doing this, so this is what I'm going to do.' I don't just want to do the same shit. Every time between records, I want to do something that's fucked up and off the wall. It brings me back to BIFFY, and I'm more in love with it now than I've ever been."

Lombardo, who has spent most of the recent years between crossover pioneers SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, horror-punk icons MISFITS, hardcore supergroup DEAD CROSS and MR. BUNGLE, was effectively fired from SLAYER after sitting out the group's Australian tour in February/March 2013 due to a contract dispute with the other bandmembers. He was later replaced by Paul Bostaph, who was previously SLAYER's drummer from 1992 until 2001.

Lombardo rejoined TESTAMENT last year but has since stopped touring with that band.

Photo credit: Gavin Smart

Fan-filmed video of KIX's entire July 24 concert at the York State Fair in York, Pennsylvania can be seen below.

Two months ago, KIX vocalist Steve Whiteman opened up about the band's announcement that it will retire after more than 45 years, telling Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station in an interview: "I came to the conclusion probably over a year ago, and I went to the guys and I told them. I said, 'Guys, at the end of 2023, I think I'm done.' I'm sick to death of the travel and the hotels and the waiting in green rooms. It takes three days to do a show anymore because it's all 'fly dates,' one-offs. So I just to the point where I'm 66 and my wife is ready to retire. And we just wanna enjoy life."

Asked whether he has thought about what it will be like to walk off the stage for the final time, Steve said: "Yeah, I have. And I'm ready for it. And the other thing is when [KIX drummer] Jimmy Chalfant collapsed on stage in November, when he went down with a near-death heart attack, it just changed the whole perspective of what we're doing in our later years. Jimmy decided that he was gonna stop this September. And we were actually originally gonna stop in Hinckley, Minnesota. I just wanted to just kind of fade away; I didn't wanna make a big announcement or do a 'whore tour' or anything like that. But the guys talked me into doing one big final splash in our hometown area. So we're gonna do Merriweather Post in Columbia, Maryland. It holds about 15, 16 thousand people. And it's already up to, like, eight thousand sold. So it's gonna be a hoot."

This past May, Whiteman confirmed to Metal Edge that Chalfant's recent health scare — he collapsed onstage nine months ago after suffering a cardiac arrest — expedited his decision to stop playing shows. "For sure," he said. "When Jimmy collapsed in November, that put a whole new perspective on things. It was the sort of thing that got me thinking, 'How much longer do we want to do this?' And if I'm being honest, I was ready to give up and go home then and there. But everybody rallied and pushed me to keep going and finish the dates we had booked. That's when we decided to go until this coming September. We knew we had these summer days, and Jimmy — once he felt good enough to get onstage — put his foot down and said, 'September is it for me.'"

On the topic of whether KIX guitarist Ronnie Younkins — who has been unable to tour with the group for the past couple of years after repeatedly getting in trouble with the police due to his battle with alcoholism — will be part of the final show (Ronnie is being replaced in KIX by Bob Paré),Steve said: "Bob is definitely going to be part of the show. The hope is that Ronnie will be there as a guest player. We're hoping and assuming he'll come up and do a couple of songs with us. We hope he does because it would be amazing for our fans. I also think we'll call up Brad Divens, who played on the 'Cool Kids' album."

For its recent live appearances, including the Monsters Of Rock cruise, KIX had been using drummer Matt Starr, who has previously played with Ace Frehley, MR. BIG and BLACK SWAN, among others. Asked if Jimmy's heart is healthy enough to wrap this up, or if Starr will remain on standby, Whiteman told Metal Edge: "Matt's on standby, but Jimmy feels pretty confident he can do this. He was on the recent cruise with us and came up and did a few songs at the end of the set. He feels great, has been practicing at home, and is ready to do these final summer shows we've planned. We love Matt, but having Jimmy is so important to us. But the thing with that is Jimmy will not be able to do background vocals. He feels that if he plays drums and sings simultaneously, his heart rate increases to a point that makes him nervous. So, we'll miss that a lot, but we'll get Bob to sing more."

KIX's last-ever concert will take place on September 17 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.

The Baltimore-based act, which formed in 1977, announced its plan to call it quits during an appearance on May 7 at the M3 Rock Festival at the Merriweather Post Pavilion.

Chalfant rejoined his KIX bandmates on stage for two songs — "Cold Blood" and "Blow My Fuse" — during the band's set on April 30 aboard this year's Monsters Of Rock cruise. It marked his first live appearance with KIX since he collapsed onstage. Chalfant also performed with KIX at the M3 Rock Festival.

On November 18, 2022, Chalfant suffered a cardiac arrest during KIX's concert at the Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg, Virginia. Chalfant was unconscious and carried offstage before performing the last song of the show.

Paré is an accomplished musician who studied at the Music Institute in Los Angeles and taught music theory and guitar at several institutions, including Western Maryland College and Maryland Institute of Music.

Bob was a session musician for several independent label releases, and has spent most of his long career performing live in the Maryland and Washington, D.C. area with various bands, including FORCER, EVER RISE, PROJECT: EUPHORIA and, most recently, the RUSH tribute band SUN DOGS with KIX bassist Mark Schenker.

KIX was founded in 1977 and released its first, self-titled album on Atlantic Records more than 40 years ago. Their breakthrough came with 1988's "Blow My Fuse", which sold nearly a million copies, thanks to "Don't Close Your Eyes". The band continued to ride the hard-rock wave until 1995, when KIX took a hiatus. Nearly 10 years later, KIX reunited and started touring regionally. A 2008 performance at the Rocklahoma festival led to more gigs and the release of a live DVD/CD called "Live In Baltimore" in 2012. In 2014, KIX released its seventh full-length album, "Rock Your Face Off", the band's first studio effort since 1995's "Show Business". The album debuted at No. 1 on Amazon's Hard Rock and Metal chart, in the Top 50 on the Billboard 200 chart, No. 5 on the Independent Albums chart, No. 11 on the Top Internet chart, No. 17 on the Top Rock Albums chart, No. 27 on the Indie/Small Chain Core Stores chart and No. 33 on the Physical chart.

KIX released "Can't Stop The Show: The Return Of KIX" in October 2016, a two-disc DVD/CD set that entered the Billboard Top Music Video Sales chart at No. 3 and rose to the No. 1 position, the band's highest-charting debut and first No. 1 ever in their 35-year history. The 71-minute film offered an in-depth look into KIX's decision to record their first new album, in almost 20 years.

In 2018, KIX celebrated the 30th anniversary of their biggest album, "Blow My Fuse", with "Blow My Fuse Re-Blown", a two-disc set with a remixed/remastered version of the album, along with the original demo recordings for all 10 songs. The reunion with longtime collaborator Beau Hill for this remix sparked the initiative to revisit "Midnite Dynamite" and take a similar approach to updating KIX's legacy.

On the 35th anniversary of the release of "Midnite Dynamite", KIX released "Midnite Dynamite Re-Lit" in November 2020. For "Midnite Dynamite Re-Lit", KIX partnered with Hill for a blistering update of the fan-favorite album.

ON SALE NOW!!!

KIX headlining out Rocky 98.5 Battle of the Bands is on sale now! They will be on the Bobcat of York...

Posted by York State Fair on Monday, February 6, 2023

On the latest episode of SiriusXM's "Ozzy Speaks", Ozzy Osbourne sat down with co-host Billy Morrison and gave a health update. It marked the first time Osbourne discussed his ongoing medical issues since he canceled his appearance as one the headliners of the Goldenvoice-produced Power Trip festival, set to take place in October.

Regarding how he is doing with his health at the moment, Ozzy said: "I'm battling through it. For instance last Monday, I went to have a filter removed. 'Cause I had the blood clots in my legs, they put a filter in your artery to stop the blood clots going to your heart and your brain. It sounds worse than it is. So, on Monday, I went to have it removed. The blood clots have jammed you all up. So, they put a thing down there in my neck, straight down to my groin."

Osbourne went on to express his frustration over the long list of health issues, including catching COVID-19 more than a year ago, which have forced him to cancel some of his previously announced tours.

"It's just disappointment after disappointment," he said. "Just get this thing fucking done so I can go get on with my life."

"Ozzy Speaks" airs monthly on SiriusXM's Ozzy's Boneyard, Ozzy's exclusive SiriusXM channel. The newest episode airs Thursday, July 27 at 5:00 p.m. ET and will be available on the SXM app.

While Osbourne's health issues forced him to scrap most of his live appearances, the legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman has repeatedly said that he would return if his condition improved.

This past April, Ozzy was photographed walking without his cane in Los Angeles. According to Page Six, the 74-year-old singer looked unbalanced as he walked alongside his carer, who picked up flowers during their daytime stroll around the neighborhood and held them out for Osbourne to take a whiff.

Ozzy previously gave an update on his touring status in February during an episode of "Ozzy Speaks". He said at the time: "Well, I've been working my guts out to try and get back on my feet. I've come to the point where [my wife and manager] Sharon says to me, 'You know what? The truth of the matter is you can't keep booking tours and failing, canceling. So, if I can ever get back to where I can tour again, fine. But right now, if you said to me, 'Can you go on the road in a month?' I couldn't say yes. I mean, if I could tour, I'd tour. But right now I can't book tours because right now I don't think I could pull them off."

Osbourne also commented on the fact that some of the media outlets reported that he was retiring from the road after he released his statement canceling his tour.

"The fucking press drive you nuts," Ozzy said. "I mean, I looked in the magazine, 'Ozzy's on his last legs.' I'm fucking not dying… Come on, guys. Haven't I've had it bad enough already? If I get okay today, if the doctor said to me today, 'Oh, you can tour, it would take another six months to get it together, you know?"

Osbourne also touched upon his ongoing health issues, saying: "You've got no idea. You got no idea what my… I feel like a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest. The only thing I've got that keeps me going is making records. But I can't do that forever. I gotta get out there… [I'm] still in constant pain. I do to the best I can to stay away from the pain medication, but there are times when I go, 'You know, I've gotta take something.' I mean, last week I couldn't… I've been sleeping great, and all of a sudden for two back-to-back nights. I never slept a wink. If you're gonna torture me, just keep me awake for a couple of days. I'll tell you whatever the fuck you want me to say."

Osbourne was due to embark on a tour of Europe this past spring, but in the aforementioned statement said that he has "come to the realization that I'm not physically capable … as I know I couldn't deal with the travel required.

"This is probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to share with my loyal fans," the musician continued in his statement. "As you may all know, four years ago this month, I had a major accident, where I damaged my spine. My one and only purpose during this time has been to get back on stage. My singing voice is fine. However, after three operations, stem cell treatments, endless physical therapy sessions, and most recently groundbreaking Cybernics (HAL) treatment, my body is still physically weak.

"Believe me when I say that the thought of disappointing my fans really FUCKS ME UP, more than you will ever know," he wrote. "Never would I have imagined that my touring days would have ended this way."

In the statement, Osbourne added that he was looking into "ideas for where I will be able to perform without having to travel from city to city and country to country", and thanked his fans for "their endless dedication, loyalty and support, and for giving me the life that I never ever dreamed I would have".

Osbourne's previously announced European tour with guests JUDAS PRIEST, originally set for 2019 and then rescheduled three times, was officially canceled in early February. The trek was scheduled to begin in Helsinki, Finland, on May 3, and include gigs in Nottingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester, Dublin and London, before finishing in his original hometown of Birmingham on June 14.

Ozzy has had extensive spinal surgery and other treatment over the past four years, after a fall at home in 2019 aggravated injuries he suffered in a near-fatal quad bike crash in 2003. But despite his health problems, Osbourne has performed a couple of times in recent months, including at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last August and at the NFL halftime show at the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills game last September.

On July 16, the four members of MEGADETH took part in a "ghost hunt" at Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio prior to the band's performance at the Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival. Video of the experience, as uploaded by Professor Reggie Almeida of the Gracie Barra Brazilian jiu-jitsu school in Spring Hill, Tennessee, who has been traveling with MEGADETH on the group's recent tours, can be seen below.

In a message accompanying the YouTube release of the video, Almeida wrote: "Yes !!! They offered us a 'Ghost Hunt' tour while we were at InkCarceration 2023. Why play with Ghosts??? I Said, 'Because we f can', they replied. hahahaha .. and by the way most of it, Shawshank redemption (um sonho de liberdade) was filmed there."

Built in 1886, the Ohio State Reformatory served for 94 years as a working prison, housing more than 154,000 prisoners and setting the scene for major motion pictures, including "The Shawshank Redemption", "Air Force One" and others. Listed on the National Register Of Historic Places, the prison boasts the world's largest free-standing steel cellblock and is known as the ultimate place to ghost hunt.

MEGADETH's current lineup includes guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, Belgian-born-and-now-Los-Angeles-based drummer Dirk Verbeuren, who had played with SOILWORK for more than a decade before joining MEGADETH, Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro, who was previously best known for his work with ANGRA, and bassist James LoMenzo. James was MEGADETH's bass player in the mid-2000s and stepped back in as a touring member for the 2021 leg of "The Metal Tour Of The Year". In May 2022, it was announced that Lomenzo was officially rejoining the MEGADETH family.

Last September, MEGADETH's latest album, "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!", debuted at the top of the charts during its first week of sales, taking the No. 3 spot on the Billboard 200 as well as number ones on Top Album Sales, Top Current Albums Sales, Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums and Top Hard Rock Albums. "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!" was the highest-charting MEGADETH album of all time around the world, notching No. 1 In Finland, No. 2 in australia, poland, Switzerland, and Scotland, No. 3 in the U.K., and more.

MEGADETH's previous top 10 entries on the Billboard 200 were "Countdown to Extinction" (No. 2, 1992),"Youthanasia" (No. 4, 1994),"Cryptic Writings" (No. 10, 1997),"United Abominations" (No. 8, 2007),"Endgame" (No. 9, 2009),"Super Collider" (No. 6, 2013) and "Dystopia" (No. 3, 2016).

MEGADETH recently received its thirteenth Grammy nomination for "Best Metal Performance" for the song "We'll Be Back" from "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!".

MEGADETH won the 2017 Grammy Award for "Best Metal Performance" for the title track of the band's 2016 album "Dystopia". This marked the group's twelfth Grammy nomination in this category (including nominations in the discontinued "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" category).

In a new interview with Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio, BUTCHER BABIES co-vocalist Heidi Shepherd was asked for her opinion on the current state of the metal scene. She responded: "I really love a lot of new bands that are out there. I think there's a lot of really great bands putting out really great music. And something that I can really respect is that people are experimenting and people are doing things that are different. People are not putting out the same record over and over again. People are expanding. I love that the genre is crossing with so many other genres as well. I'm such a huge fan of hip-hop. I'm such a huge fan of country. I'm a huge fan of all music, to be honest… It's just incredible to see the cross-genre happening and seeing that all these other fans in country or in rap are being exposed to metal. I feel like metal needs that. We all need that. We need that openness between music lovers in general. So that's a huge positive that I'm super excited to see."

Shepherd also touched upon BUTCHER BABIES' cover version of rapper Saweetie's chart-topping single "Best Friend", which featured fellow American rapper and singer Doja Cat. She said: "I love Doja Cat. She's way more metal than most metalheads I know. That girl is so cool. There's so much respect to be given to all artistry. And I feel like sometimes we're told, 'Oh, you're only supposed to like metal, you're only supposed to like metal.' But I feel like you're really doing yourself a disservice if you only jam to metal all the time. I can go from the heaviest deathcore — 'cause deathcore's, like, my favorite [laughs] — I can go from the heaviest deathcore, like SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL, you know, the heaviest stuff, to Lainey Wilson, who's one of my favorite artists out right now. She's dominating the country charts, and she's just like us. I read something today that she tried out for 'American Idol' seven times. She failed at 'The Voice'. And then she went out there and she's the biggest thing in country right now. I just love success stories like that, and I can find total inspiration in drive like that and to just keep knocking down doors. I find inspiration in that kind of stuff too."

BUTCHER BABIES released a double album "Eye For An Eye..." and "…'Til The World's Blind", on July 7. The double album celebrates the tenth anniversary of BUTCHER BABIES' critically acclaimed debut, "Goliath", released on July 9, 2013 via Century Media Records.

Last October, BUTCHER BABIES shared the official music video for their version of "Best Friend". The clip was directed by Dale "Rage" Resteghini and was filmed at the Bare Den adult entertainment club in Newton, New Jersey.

BUTCHER BABIES' previous album, 2017's "Lilith" was produced by Steve Evetts (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SEPULTURA, SUICIDE SILENCE) and marked the band's recording debut with drummer Chase Brickenden, who replaced Chris Warner in 2016.

In July 2019, longtime BUTCHER BABIES bassist Jason Klein announced his departure from the band. He has since been replaced by Ricky Bonazza.

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