Longtime ALL THAT REMAINS drummer Jason Costa has announced his departure from the band.

Earlier today, the 50-year-old musician, who has been with ALL THAT REMAINS since 2006, released the following statement via social media: "Hi everyone. For the last 17 years I have had an absolute blast writing, touring, creating and partying in this band with people that I love and respect.

"My reasons for leaving are deeply personal and have nothing to do with any drama or anything within the band. I love these guys and consider myself extremely lucky to have been a part of this for so long.

"I won't be quitting music for good so hopefully I'll still see all you friends and acquaintances around the world again in the future! Thank you all so much for countless great shows, energy and incredibly fun times!!"

Jason was the featured drummer on the last six ALL THAT REMAINS albums: "Overcome" (2008),"For We Are Many" (2010),"A War You Cannot Win" (2012),"The Order Of Things" (2015),"Madness" (2017) and "Victim Of The New Disease" (2018). He is notable for being one of the few heavy metal drummers to play solely with the "traditional grip."

Back in March 2022, Costa left ALL THAT REMAINS' U.S. tour in order to "deal with some personal matters." He was temporarily replaced by Anthony Barone, who had previously played with BENEATH THE MASSACRE and SHADOW OF INTENT.

Earlier this year, ALL THAT REMAINS's breakthrough album "The Fall Of Ideals", was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA) for sales in excess of 500,000 copies in the United States.

Last year, ALL THAT REMAINS embarked on "The Fall Of Ideals" 15th-anniversary tour.

"The Fall Of Ideals" was reissued in November 2021. The best-selling title features such fan favorites as "This Calling", "Six" and "The Air That I Breathe".

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Italian metal titans LACUNA COIL have released the official lyric video for their recently announced single "Never Dawn". "Never Dawn" showcases LACUNA COIL's signature sound with its haunting melodies, powerful guitar riffs, and the mesmerizing vocal harmonies of Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro. The song delves into the depths of the human spirit, exploring themes of resilience, inner strength, and the eternal struggle between light and darkness.

For "Never Dawn", LACUNA COIL partnered with CMON, the renowned board game publisher behind the popular game "Zombicide". "Never Dawn" is a notable addition to CMON's latest Kickstarter project, "Zombicide: White Death", and was initially used as an instrumental version in a campaign trailer. The game introduces new characters, mechanics, and challenges for players to overcome, and the upcoming "White Death" version features five LACUNA COIL limited-edition survivor tokens.

Cristina comments on the new song: "First presented, in its instrumental version, in the trailer for Zombicide White Death game, and then in its live version, during our last sold-out show in L.A., we're so incredibly thrilled to finally unveil the full version of 'Never Dawn'! This song is a fierce survival journey throughout grotesque and frozen lands, where the power within is the main weapon. Ignite the fire in your heart and enjoy the listening!"

Designed by Nicolas Raoult, one of the designers of the original "Zombicide", along with Jean-Baptiste Lullien and Raphaël Guiton, "Zombicide: White Death" is a sequel to the fantasy spinoff version of "Zombicide" with a new wintery theme. The third installment in this series, it follows "Zombicide: Black Plague", which introduced the concept in 2016, and "Zombicide Green Horde", which came out in 2018.

LACUNA COIL has spent the last few months promoting "Comalies XX", the recently released "deconstructed" and "transported" version of the band's third album, "Comalies".

"Comalies XX" was made available on October 14, 2022 via Century Media Records.

LACUNA COIL celebrated the 20th anniversary of "Comalies", by performing it in its entirety at a one-night-only concert on October 15, 2022 at Fabrique in Milano.

"Comalies" was originally released on October 29, 2002 through Century Media Records. The LP, which featured the band's breakthrough single "Heaven's A Lie", has reportedly gone on to sell over 300,000 copies in the United States alone.

LACUNA COIL played its first show in front of an audience in more than two years on April 7, 2022 as the support act for APOCALYPTICA at the Masquerade in Atlanta, Georgia.

Prior to the Atlanta concert, the last time LACUNA COIL played together was at the group's special September 2020 livestream event where the bandmembers performed their latest album, "Black Anima", in its entirety with no audience in attendance at the Alcatraz Club in Milan, Italy. That show was released as a live album, "Live From The Apocalypse", via Century Media.

LACUNA COIL hadn't played in front of a crowd since the completion of the band's South American tour in February 2020.

Photo credit: Cunene

The Myositis Association has announced its 2023 Patient Ambassador Award recipient is Grammy-winning musician Peter Frampton. This award is presented to a member of the myositis community who has demonstrated extraordinary effort and success raising awareness of myositis diseases within the larger community, raising funds to support TMA and its educational mission, and/or supporting legislative advocacy initiatives for rare diseases, including myositis.

Frampton will be presented the award in person on September 9 during the annual "Heroes In The Fight" awards ceremony in conjunction with TMA's annual patient conference in San Diego, California September 7-10.

Since announcing his diagnosis of inclusion body myositis (IBM) in 2019, Frampton has been actively raising awareness of myositis, a group of rare muscle diseases that cause severe weakness, fatigue, and disability. With his indominable spirit, he is also inspiring others with myositis to live their best life, regardless of their physical limitations.

Frampton is also using his celebrity to raise much-needed funding for research into the cause and treatment of myositis. He established the Peter Frampton Myositis Research Fund at Johns Hopkins where he is being treated. During his 2019 farewell tour, one dollar of every ticket sold, along with proceeds from t-shirt sales, was donated to the fund.

The Myositis Association appreciates Frampton's honesty in sharing his story publicly and his message of inspiration and hope in the face of this progressive, disabling disease. They also appreciate the several times he has provided this motivational messaging directly to those who live with myositis through video presentations for TMA conferences and fundraising events.

"Peter Frampton provides inspiration and hope to the thousands of myositis patients across the country," says John McClun, former chair of TMA's board of directors and an IBM patient himself. "His message — 'It's not life threatening, it's life changing' — is a most powerful antidote for the fear and loss experienced by those who live with this disabling condition that has no treatment and no cure."

While there is still no treatment for IBM, this is an exciting time in IBM research. Scientists are currently recruiting patients for several clinical trials hoping to find an effective therapy. The awareness that Frampton is bringing is especially welcome at this important time.

Frampton is one of the most celebrated artists and guitarists in rock history. In 2007, Frampton won a Grammy for "Best Pop Instrumental Album" for "Fingerprints" and in 2014 was inducted into the Musicians Hall Of Fame. He received the prestigious Les Paul Innovation Award from NAMM's TEC Awards in 2019 and his album "All Blues" was No. 1 for 15 weeks on Billboard's Blues chart. In 2020 Frampton was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame, his autobiography "Do You Feel Like I Do?: A Memoir" debuted on The New York Times Bestsellers list, and his 2021 album "Frampton Forgets The Words" was released to widespread critical acclaim. In November of last year, Frampton performed a sold-out show at London's Royal Albert Hall which was filmed and is currently airing on PBS as part of their Pledge Drive. Most recently, Frampton announced that on July 28 Intervention Records will release "[email protected]", a numbered limited-edition vinyl box set featuring Frampton's essential 1972-1975 studio releases "Wind Of Change", "Frampton's Camel" and "Frampton".

After 47 years, "Frampton Comes Alive!" remains one of the top-selling live records of all time, having sold over 17 million worldwide.

TMA is thrilled to announce that grammy winning guitarist Peter Frampton will be honored as our Patient Ambassador Award...

Posted by The Myositis Association on Friday, May 12, 2023

For nearly two decades, Harm’s Way has evolved from whispered underground favorites to favorite sons with an arsenal of songs that helped shape heavy music’s trajectory – creating a roadmap for legions interested in “reinventing” themselves. Harm’s Way has never stayed complacent and constantly morphed shape– absorbing and reapplying influences in new and creative ways to create some of the most well-executed songs in hardcore punk and metal. And yet, considering the changeling that they and their previous efforts are, Common Suffering is easily the most musically diverse undertaking in their catalog. 


The album beams with incredibly memorable riffs, breakdowns, and impeccable songwriting with subtle melody and point/counter-point which kicks off loud and clear on album opener “Silent Wolf”; released today.


“‘Silent Wolf’ was birthed out of observing a sense of persistent distrust in governing bodies and systems of power in our current cultural climate,” tells vocalist James Pligge. “It speaks on the faith, or lack of faith, many have in these systems and an overall feeling of inertia and paranoia with status quo operations... leading many to the question: 'what is really informing our reality?”




Despite Harm’s Way’s reputation for unrelenting brutality, Common Suffering surprises at several turns with quieter moments of well thought out songwriting that emphasize light and shade. It’s their understanding of how to effectively orchestrate these dynamics that makes an already ironclad record feel infinitely more merciless. This is Harm’s Way at the top of their game – the ambitious sound of a band traversing new ideas. “We really tried not to settle on parts,” recalls guitarist Nick Gauthier. “Sometimes a direction that we could have taken in a song felt too obvious… We would just troubleshoot that until we felt creatively satisfied with the direction we were taking.”


The key to the success may be a shift to recording at Studio 4 in Pennsylvania with producer Will Yip (Turnstile, Code Orange). Going into the recording, the goal was to improve some of the band's processes, examine vocal cadences and experiment during production to gain the best idea from each track. The first change dealt with refocusing members on their specific wheelhouses. While Pligge had previously assisted with riffs, on this effort, his main objective was to ensure the perfect vocal attack– leaning into Yip for advice and letting the remainder of the band take the wheel with their respective parts. The result is each player pushing to the far reaches and creating material that has previously never been colonized by any band, or hardcore writ large, before. 


The title Common Suffering is a clear nod to the collective experiences of the past three years of chaos, misanthropy, paranoia, disorder, confusion and anxiety, with the band exploring themes ranging from personal struggles with mental health, relationships, political upheaval, corruption, and political power. Pligge digs deep into these subjects such as the track “Cyanide,” which examines the expansion of media outlets, the correlative rise of disinformation, and the pervasive impact it has on people’s lives and systems of power. Additional tracks include “Devour,” which examines the impact of toxic people in one’s life, the highly personal “Hollow Cry,” where Pligge explores his own humanity and relationships, and the somewhat improbable “Undertow,” which features the haunting vocals or Kristina Esfandiari--AKA King Woman--who adds a whole new dimension to the record and helps exhibit the band’s willingness to push into uncharted territory.


Common Suffering sees its release September 29 across all digital streaming platforms, vinyl and CD formats via Metal Blade Records.





Variants include: Digipak CD, Grey / Black Marbled Vinyl (US Exclusive), Clear Smoke Vinyl (US Exclusive), Fog Marbled Vinyl (US Exclusive), White / Black Marbled Vinyl (EU Exclusive - Ltd. 500 copies), Silver Vinyl (EU Exclusive - Ltd. 500 copies), Crystal Clear w/ Black Dust Vinyl (EU Exclusive - Ltd. 300 copies), "Black Hole" w/ Red & White Splatter Vinyl (EU Exclusive - Ltd. 300 copies).


Preorder at metalblade.com.





Tracklisting:


“Silent Wolf”
“Denial”
“Hollow Cry”
“Devour”
“Undertow”
“Heaven’s Call”
“Cyanide”
“Terrorizer”
“Sadist Guilt”
“Wanderer”


“Silent Wolf” video:





(Photo – Vanessa Valadez)

Dancing pop-violin sensation Lindsey Stirling has released her cover of LED ZEPPELIN's rock anthem "Kashmir" via Lindseystomp Music. Renowned for her unique blend of hard-hitting violin, electrifying dance, and contemporary beats, Stirling's interpretation of "Kashmir" pays homage to the iconic rock classic while infusing it with her unmistakable style and virtuosity. Combining her signature violin mastery with bold electronic elements and an infectious energy, Stirling's rendition revitalizes the beloved track, giving it a fresh and modern twist.

Lindsey comments: "'Kashmir' has always been one of my favorite rock songs and I'm so excited I got to work with the legendary producers Howard Benson (MOTÖRHEAD, ALL AMERICAN REJECTS) and Neil Sanderson (THREE DAYS GRACE, MY DARKEST DAYS) on imagining a way to bring it to life in my style."

As an artist who has consistently pushed the boundaries of what's possible with the violin, Stirling's "Kashmir" cover serves as a testament to her musical innovation and her ability to seamlessly bridge the gap between genres. Her arrangement captivates listeners with its dynamic range, showcasing her ability to transition from delicate and ethereal moments to explosive crescendos. Lindsey's electric violin folds into the epic melody of the rock classic seamlessly, in a unique take on LED ZEPPELIN's song.

Alongside the song, today, Stirling will make her Lollapalooza Paris debut on the mainstage, just before kicking off her five-week U.S. summer tour. Stirling's live show amazes audiences with a "combination of cutting-edge performances… along with her signature genre-bending, amped-up orchestrations" (Consequence). Stirling has performed for more than 800,000 people on her headline tours, and her run of dates with EVANESCENCE was named one of Live Nation's best-selling amphitheater tours. Multi-platinum pop band WALK OFF THE EARTH will support Stirling on her U.S. tour.

Stirling is an electronic violinist, dancer, and artist who has humbly become one of the 21st century's most innovative stars. Her groundbreaking vision has gained her millions of adoring fans worldwide, four Billboard chart-topping albums, and two Billboard Music Awards, including Top Dance/Electronic Album for her third studio release, "Brave Enough". Her holiday album, "Warmer In Winter", catapulted to the No. 1 spot on Billboard, Amazon and iTunes Holiday Album charts upon release and lead single "Carol Of The Bells" made history as the only instrumental song ever to reach the Top 10 at AC Radio. Lindsey has amassed over 12.5 million subscribers, nearly three billion views on YouTube, three million followers on Tik Tok, and over 500,000 user-generated creations across TikTok and Instagram reels. In addition to this, Forbes placed her at No. 4 on its 2015 World's Top-Earning YouTube Stars list and her fifth-studio album, "Artemis", debuted at No. 1 on the Dance/Electronic Album chart.

Polish guitarist Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka (DECAPITATED),who joined MACHINE HEAD's lineup prior to the launch of the band's "Burn My Eyes" 25th-anniversary tour in late 2019, spoke to Oran O'Beirne of Bloodstock TV about how he manages to split his time between the two outfits. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm the guitar player of MACHINE HEAD officially. I'm waiting for the plans, for a tour. There's nothing yet announced for MACHINE HEAD — talking about the next U.S. or European or whatever, about the tours."

He continued: "Well, we inform each other about the plans. If there is something on the way with DECAPITATED, I just tell it to Robb [Flynn, MACHINE HEAD frontman]. And if they have any plans, Robb or Joseph [Huston], the manager of MACHINE HEAD, he's sending me plans, and I'm, like, 'Yeah, let's do it.' So we're trying to deal with the situation all the time. And, of course, if there is the situation that, for example, DECAP announced a tour and then there's some kind of single festival with MACHINE HEAD, then Robb is really cool with the situation that he understands I have DECAPITATED, and if I need to have a replacement for one or two shows, then there's no problem. We deal with that this way; that's the solution for us in this situation."

Vogg added: "The MACHINE HEAD guys and Robb and all [of the] team of MACHINE HEAD, they're treating me so well in this case. They understand about that DECAPITATED is my band, it's my child, so there's no problem if I can't [do] one or two shows. There was a few shows that Reece [Alan Scruggs] from HAVOK replaced me. It's really cool. I love the way he's playing the songs. He's a great guitar player. He's a great replacement."

As for how he goes about deciding which musical ideas to use in DECAPITATED and which to give away to MACHINE HEAD, Vogg said: "I have to say that Robb is the main composer in MACHINE HEAD. He's making 95 percent or 98 percent of the riffs. For the last record ['Of Kingdom And Crown', which came out last August via Nuclear Blast/Imperium Recordings], I delivered ideas for two songs, and I recorded my solo parts for, like, six songs. So, yeah, it was like that. If I have some kind of idea for the riffs that I don't know actually how to use it for DECAPITATED and for me it sounds more familiar for MACHINE HEAD style, then I just send it to Robb [and I say], 'Hey, Robb, I have this riff. I have this idea. Tell me what you think. If you like it, use it. Do something with that. If you don't, then… you know, whatever.'"

Back in November 2019, Flynn said that Vogg's audition for MACHINE HEAD "just fucking blew" his "mind — it was so fucking tight and fucking accurate," Robb said. "He sent over [a recording of] 'Imperium' as his first song just as a test. We always had all the dudes do a sound test, just to make sure the levels are good and stuff. I was, like, 'Oh my God! This dude is playing 'Imperium' better than I can right now.' [Laughs] It was crazy. And we ended up talking. Super-nice guy."

In May 2021, Vogg told Finland's Kaaos TV that his addition to MACHINE HEAD's touring lineup was "a big surprise" for him, because he "didn't plan" to play with the band. "It kind of accidentally happened," he said.

"In 2019, when we started the summer festivals with DECAPITATED, I sent an e-mail to Robb Flynn about congratulations, because I heard about the upcoming 'Burn My Eyes' tour," he explained. "Because I'm still a huge fan of the first album, I just wanted to share my happiness about that with Robb. So I sent a message to him. And he replied, saying, 'Thanks, man.' And, 'Maybe you can play with us one song as a guest in Warsaw,' because they planned a Warsaw show. So we started to talk. And then it became a serious talking about the guitar player they were looking for, and I was sending my proposition that maybe I can help with that. So I did an audition. They sent me song requests for the audition, so I did it. And in a few days, I became a new guitar player of MACHINE HEAD. It was really fast. Because I didn't hear about that they were looking for a guitar player. I heard about Phil Demmel, the issues with Phil and the rest of the guys; they quit the band before. But I thought that the 'Burn My Eyes' anniversary tour was only the 'Burn My Eyes' lineup, and then I found out that it's also a second lineup to play [the other] songs. So, it was cool. It was [such] a positive shock for me."

Vogg went on to say that he was "so happy" to have been part of the "Burn My Eyes" anniversary tour "because I'm a huge fan of MACHINE HEAD since I was a kid. And to have the opportunity to go with them as a guitar player on tour which celebrates my favorite [MACHINE HEAD] album, which is probably one of my [favorite] ten albums ever, it was unbelievable," he said. "And it was such a great experience for me seeing a really big band on tour and seeing the pre-production process and traveling with all this huge crew and a few buses and trucks and all this equipment. It was really something new for me. Even [though] I'm an experienced musician, I had a big lesson from those guys and from the crew. It was such a great experience. It was such a great feeling being on stage in front of thousands of people every night. And then, after I finished my set, which includes the best songs from MACHINE HEAD — it takes two hours — then I go to change my clothes and come back to the side of the stage to see 'Burn My Eyes', the whole album, played by the original lineup. It was amazing. I have to say it was one of the best life experiences I had."

The follow-up to 2018's "Catharsis", "Of Kingdom And Crown" includes the three songs that were featured on 2021's "Arrows In Words From The Sky" single: "Become The Firestorm", "Rotten" and "Arrows In Words From The Sky". Much of the new MACHINE HEAD album was recorded at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California with engineer/producer Zack Ohren.

In November 2020, MACHINE HEAD released a single, "My Hands Are Empty", via Nuclear Blast. The song marked the first musical collaboration between Flynn and original "Burn My Eyes" guitarist Logan Mader in 24 years.

"My Hands Are Empty" was just one in a line of singles to be released by MACHINE HEAD, which issued "Do Or Die" in October 2019, "Circle The Drain" in February 2020, and the two-song digital single "Civil Unrest", consisting of "Stop The Bleeding" and "Bulletproof", in June 2020. "Stop The Bleeding" featured guest vocals from KILLSWITCH ENGAGE frontman Jesse Leach, and was written and recorded just days after the murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery.

Ozzy Osbourne, Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Richie Sambora are among the rockers who have reacted on social media to the passing of Tony Bennett. The legendary singer died earlier today (Friday, July 21) at age 96, according to his longtime publicist Sylvia Weiner.

In 2016, Bennett was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of age-related dementia.

He had reportedly been singing and playing piano in the days leading up to his death.

With worldwide record sales in the millions and dozens of platinum and gold albums to his credit, Bennett was a musician who touched the hearts and souls of audiences with his legendary vocals and charming stage presence. His long list of achievements, spanning over 60 years, includes 19 Grammy Awards, including the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, making this artist a true international treasure. His signature tunes, such as "Steppin' Out With My Baby" and "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" form part of the fabric of American music culture.

Bennett's 85th birthday in 2011 marked the release of "Duets II" and made music history by making Tony the oldest artist to ever have a No. 1 CD on the Billboard album charts. "Duets II" followed up "Tony Bennett Duets: An American Classic" CD, released in 2006. 2012 marked the 50th anniversary of the singer's signature song "I Left My Heart in San Francisco", as well as the release of a documentary film, "The Zen Of Bennett", created and conceived by Tony's son and manager Danny Bennett. Bennett also authored his fourth book, "Life Is A Gift", released in 2012 and entered The New York Times Best Seller list. In 2014, Bennett released a collaborative album with Lady Gaga, "Cheek To Cheek", featuring these two legendary artists performing jazz standards. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Album charts, making Bennett the oldest musical artist, at the age of 88, to have an album top the Billboard 200, and won the Grammy Award in the Best Traditional Pop Album category. Tony Bennett is a Kennedy Center honoree, an NEA Jazz Master, and a recipient of the United Nation’s Humanitarian and Citizen of the World honors. Bennett was also a talented painter. He had exhibited his work in galleries around the world, and three of his original paintings are part of the permanent collection in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

Throughout his career, Tony Bennett put his heart and time into supporting humanitarian concerns and joined with Dr. Martin Luther King in the historic Selma march in 1965. His many charitable works include raising millions towards diabetes and lending his artwork to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. In 2007, he was honored by the United Nations. Together with his wife Susan, Tony Bennett established the charitable organization Exploring The Arts (ETA),to support arts education in public high schools. Tony founded Frank Sinatra School Of The Arts, a New York City public high school in his hometown of Astoria, Queens.

He is survived by his wife, Susan Benedetto, his two sons, Danny and Dae Bennett, his daughters Johanna Bennett and Antonia Bennett and nine grandchildren.
RIP Tony Bennett. His gift for melody and his depth of grasping a lyric was without compare. To the end the master. https://t.co/virtdIaJfX

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) July 21, 2023


Rest in peace to best singer in the business...Tony Bennett

— LIPS ANVIL (@LIPSANVIL) July 21, 2023


May you Rest in Peace, Tony Bennett!
Photo from 2015

Photo: J. Bouquet pic.twitter.com/ZYVlktk8tz

— Keith Richards (@officialKeef) July 21, 2023


Very sad to hear about Tony Bennett’s passing. Rest in Peace pic.twitter.com/Q0OTK5OJfC

— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) July 21, 2023


Rest in Peace to one of the best to ever grace the stage. I was just saying that the greatest gig I had ever witnessed was Tony Bennett at North Sea Jazz in 2012. It was like dropping a needle on a record. He was the last of the greatest generation of singers and musicians. pic.twitter.com/KAqtyA3ujr

— Joe Bonamassa (Official) (@JBONAMASSA) July 21, 2023


Anthony Dominick Benedetto, one of the GOATS, hands down, who left his heart with all of us just now🙏🏼 RIP #tonybennettpic.twitter.com/L4Dk2z0FZc

— Alex Skolnick (@AlexSkolnick) July 21, 2023


RIP Tony Bennett. A true legend. pic.twitter.com/mrn4SfuqWM

— William Patrick Corgan (@Billy) July 21, 2023


Today we lost an icon of icons. Kind, considerate and as Sinatra was quoted as saying, the best singer of them all. Rest In Peace, Tony Bennett. https://t.co/vUPE9FYy6F

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) July 21, 2023


Tony Bennett.
That’s how you do it. Life As Lyric.
Music & Art FULLY Realized. So Hip. So Real. So ALIVE as Long As He Lived. Before orchestras. Before trios. Before the blank canvas.
G.O.A.T. with few peers.
🌹🌹🌹

— Vernon Reid (@vurnt22) July 21, 2023


We’ve just lost one of the greats of all time.. Tony Bennett.. I’m profoundly sad. God bless you brother and thank you.. for all you have shown us and bestowed upon us.. ❤️❤️❤️@TheRealSambora

— RICHIE SAMBORA (@TheRealSambora) July 21, 2023


Tony Bennett was a legend and an inspiration to so many. My thoughts & prayers are with his family and friends today. May you have Godspeed, my friend

— Bret Michaels (@bretmichaels) July 21, 2023


RIP Tony Bennett. One of the greatest voices of all time. @RussDWaRf is pretty good too. RIP 🙏🏻 #EndOfAnErapic.twitter.com/1Uva1FOhME

— Darrell Dwarf Millar (@DarrellDWaRf) July 21, 2023


RIP #TonyBennetthttps://t.co/ERWDJNxw6D

— Slash (@Slash) July 21, 2023

Roger Waters has set October 6, 2023 as the release date for "The Dark Side Of The Moon Redux", an epically ambitious reinterpretation of one of the most famous and acclaimed albums in history, fifty years on from recording the original with PINK FLOYD.

The album's lead single, Waters's reinterpretation of "Money", is out today with accompanying lyric video.

Recorded by PINK FLOYD when Waters was just 29, "The Dark Side Of The Moon" was an extraordinary multidimensional meditation on the human experience, the passage of time, descent into madness, and the abyss.

"The memories of a man in his old age - are the deeds of a man in his prime". As foretold by its opening line, "The Dark Side Of The Moon Redux" sees Waters transcend this half-century void to reinterpret and embellish his original creations with a new perspective gleaned from his own life experience, philosophy, and the wisdom of age, with added emphasis on the philosophical, social and political themes of the original.

Waters's extraordinary vocal performance adds fresh layers of profundity to his classic lyrics, and gravelly wisdom to his philosophical new creations. Waters and Gus Seyffert's production strips back PINK FLOYD's psychedelic orchestrations into something rawer and more delicate, but no less experimentally inventive, exquisitely textured, and rich in musical intertext.

In addition to reimagining each of "The Dark Side Of The Moon"'s original ten tracks — which, like the original, run seamlessly together to create one epic composition — "The Dark Side Of The Moon Redux" LP format will feature a bonus 13-minute original composition inspired by the re-recording as a final track.

Roger said: "The original 'Dark Side Of The Moon' feels in some ways like the lament of an elder being on the human condition. But Dave, Rick, Nick and I were so young when we made it, and when you look at the world around us, clearly the message hasn't stuck. That's why I started to consider what the wisdom of an 80-year-old could bring to a reimagined version.

"When I first mentioned the idea of re-recording 'The Dark Side Of The Moon' to Gus and Sean, we all thought I was mad, but the more we considered it, the more we thought 'isn't that the whole point?'

"I'm immensely proud of what we have created, a work that can sit proudly alongside the original, hand in hand across a half century of time."

Track listing:

CD / Digital

01. Speak To Me
02. Breathe
03. On The Run
04. Time
05. Great Gig In The Sky
06. Money
07. Us And Them
08. Any Colour You Like
09. Brain Damage
10. Eclipse

Vinyl

01. Side One
02. Speak To Me
03. Breathe
04. On The Run
05. Time

Side Two

01. Great Gig In The Sky
02. Money

Side Three

01. Us And Them
02. Any Colour You Like
03. Brain Damage
04. Eclipse

Side Four

01. Original Composition

During a question-and-answer session this past Monday (July 17) at Pitbull Audio in National City, California where he was holding a guitar clinic, EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt was asked if he ever thought about making a solo album. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I've thought about doing a solo record for years, like having different friends play on it and different singers and shit like that. Maybe someday. But I give everything I've got to EXODUS and always have. And when the rest of the band are sitting around doing nothing, like a bunch of lazy fucks they are, and I love 'em to death, I'm writing or I'm doing other shit. But that's okay; that's my role. So I never have time for that kind of shit. Even when I have time… Like right now, with [EXODUS's tour of] Europe being canceled, I've been home doing nothing, but I need to make a new EXODUS record, so I've been working on that, aside from doing some home improvement bullshit and stuff like that."

This past March, Hachette Books announced that it had acquired the upcoming memoir from Holt. "A Fabulous Disaster: From The Garage To Madison Square Garden, The Hard Way" is described in a press release as "a no-holds-barred memoir from the preeminent thrasher's life in metal, from its humble (but not quiet) beginnings in the San Francisco Bay Area through today's current resurgence in worldwide popularity, as he lived big, played fast and crashed hard, written in collaboration with Adem Tepedelen."

Holt shared the news of his upcoming memoir on social media, writing: "Super stoked!!! The announcement in book circles has gone out today, so I'm sharing it in MY circle! The book about my life is under way, from the beginnings of EXODUS and thrash metal, to the drug fueled fall, to the unexpected and tragic circumstances that led me to @slayerbandofficial to the bounce back to Madison Square Garden with and @exodusbandofficial charting at number 20 on the MAIN Billboard charts, all will be told! No holds barred, all the lows and highs will be retold! Been a project very close to me, and I'm stoked to be working with @ademtepedelen_ @lauramazer @bschafer714 @hachettebooks and @wendysherman to make this a reality!"

Holt joined EXODUS in 1981, shortly after the band's formation, and has been the group's main songwriter ever since. Holt has performed on every EXODUS album, and is considered highly influential in the world of thrash metal.

Holt began filling in for SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman at live shows in 2011, and became the band's full-time co-guitarist as of 2013, while remaining a member of EXODUS. Holt played on SLAYER's final album, "Repentless", which came out in 2015.

In a June 2012 interview with Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show, SLAYER's Kerry King stated about Holt: "I always regard Gary as the Glenn Tipton of our era — really good, really polished and nobody talks about him. To this day, nobody really references [JUDAS] PRIEST and Tipton that much as guitar players and I feel the same way about Gary. EXODUS have a huge following but a little more overlooked than METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER, ANTHRAX — the 'Big Four,' so to speak, so [it is great] to be able to bring him to the forefront and shove him down people's throats and say, 'Hey, this motherfucker kicks ass. Pay attention.'"

EXODUS's latest album, "Persona Non Grata", came out in November 2021 via Nuclear Blast Records. The LP was recorded at a studio in Lake Almanor, California and was engineered by Steve Lagudi and EXODUS. It was produced by EXODUS and was mixed by Andy Sneap. For the third time in the band's history, they returned to Swedish artist Pär Olofsson to create the album artwork.

"Persona Non Grata" was the follow-up to 2014's "Blood In Blood Out", which was the San Francisco Bay Area thrashers' first release since the departure of the group's lead singer of nine years, Rob Dukes, and the return of Steve "Zetro" Souza, who previously fronted EXODUS from 1986 to 1993 and from 2002 to 2004.

German metal legends Blind Guardian performed at Midalidare Rock 2023 in Mogilovo, Bulgaria on July 1st. Fan-filmed video of the entire show can be viewed below.


The setlist was as follows:


"Imaginations From the Other Side"
"Welcome to Dying"
"Nightfall"
"Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill)" 
"The Quest for Tanelorn"
"Born in a Mourning Hall" 
"Violent Shadows" 
"The Bard's Song - In the Forest" 
"Mirror Mirror"
"Valhalla"

Metal Blade Records has announced the signing of the American metal quintet, Wretched, who will release their fifth full-length album with the label - more details will be announced in the coming months so be sure to follow the band to keep up to date on all things Wretched.


The band commented; "It is with great excitement that we announce the official return of Wretched! We've signed on with Metal Blade Records and we're both eager to bring new material to you. Stay tuned."


Check out this video from the band:







Formed in September of 2005, Wretched began their career in Charlotte, North Carolina, gaining their first signing with Victory Records in 2008 and going on to release four full-length studio albums; The Exodus Of Autonomy (2009), Beyond The Gate (2010), Son Of Perdition (2012), and Cannibal (2014). During that timespan, Wretched spent most of their efforts touring North America before eventually spending some time away from the road after 2015. The band continued to write and record music in the years after with those recording sessions still continuing on today.


"We're beyond excited to hit the stage and share all of the new music we've been creating." commented the band. "We've worked on numerous things in the last years and are excited to let this stuff out into the wild. We're currently writing for our debut release on Metal Blade and we can't be more honored to be able to work with some great people, make some fun music and hang with our friends and fans out on the road!"


Lineup:


Billy Powers - vocals
Joel Moore - guitars
Steven Funderburk - guitars
Andrew Grevey - bass
Marshall Wieczorek - drums


(Photo - Marshall Wieczorek)

Enjoy the moment when Brian May of Queen got to unbox the first copy of the Gold Series release of Star Fleet.


This third release in the “Brian May Gold Series” offers an extensively revisited and expanded box set edition of these now legendary sessions. The set is a complete document of the two days, April 21 and 22, 1983 that May spent in the Record Plant, Los Angeles accompanied by top rock music luminaries Edward Van Halen (guitar), Alan Gratzer (drums), Phil Chen (bass) and Fred Mandel (keyboards). The box set includes a spectacular 23-track CD filled with previously unreleased material.







Containing 2 CDs, 1 vinyl LP, and a vinyl single, as well as other collector’s items, Brian May + Friends: Star Fleet Sessions will be launched as a Deluxe Edition box set, worldwide on July 14th.


A separate exclusive 7” double A-side single, also available on CD comes the same day, July 14th, featuring newly mixed single versions of “Star Fleet” and “Let Me Out”. A special red vinyl version will be available exclusively through the official Queen Online Store.





As May writes in his introductory sleeve notes in the box set: “We are going to give you everything. Every take of every song. The things that went wrong, the laughing, the finding new things to do. But it won’t be just a remaster – we’ve rescued everything from the original multitracks, every detail magnificently remixed, and more! You’ll hear every take from the historic 1983 sessions plus fragments of conversations, out-takes and musical experimentation.”


The original 3-track mini album, released October 31,1983, featured a full-length take of “Star Fleet”, May’s hard rock re-imagining of the signature tune from the Japanese-made kids science fiction series of the same name. The programme was compulsive regular viewing for Brian and his 4-year-old son Jimmy on Saturday morning TV, inspiring Brian’s attachment to its title song, written by English musician Paul Bliss. The album also featured "Let Me Out", including extensive opportunities for May and Van Halen to solo, and "Blues Breaker" a 13-minute piece of completely spontaneous improvisation from all members of this  ‘supergroup’ of musicians.


May says: “If Paul hadn’t written a very catchy song as the theme tune for that kid’s TV science fiction drama series, things would have been different. The signature tune began to stick in my head, and I could hear my own arrangement of the tune developing in my mind. But how to record it?”


“So, one morning, I woke up in Los Angeles, on a break from activities with Queen, and made some phone calls. I’ve told the story of what happened next in the material you will find in this box. The outcome was something I will forever treasure.”


“We did a little preparation, on the phone and at home with tiny Rockman amps and earphones. Then we went in. The tapes rolled. My LA neighbour Alan Gratzer beat the Hell out of his kit with the fattest, heaviest drum sticks I had ever seen. Phil Chen, a friend I had met when he played with Rod Stewart, brought his unusual style of funk-orientated rock playing to the party, along with his sunny Caribbean energy and humour. And Fred Mandel, one of the classiest keyboard players I have ever met, tickled both the ivories and some very technical synth patches to bring the spacey riffs to life.  Ed (I can still never call him “Eddie Van Halen” because he more than once told me he found it annoying!) played the guitar as if it were a piano … tapping and snapping, and sliding and skipping around the fingerboard like an electric sprite - always with a cheeky smile. If anything he did was difficult for him, he never showed it.  A total original. Pure joy. What an everlasting privilege to play with him.”


A superlative show of back-to-basics passion and purpose, Star Fleet brims with the freedom of an off-the-cuff break from the day jobs for all involved.


The record emerged on October 20, 1983 as a set of blistering guitar work, rock’n’roll spontaneity and vibrant melody, infused with a palpable chemistry and respect between the players. Spawning a single in the title-track, the mini-album reached No 1 in the British ‘Kerrang’ rock charts.


Now, of course, the record stands in part as a celebration of those we’ve lost: a chance to reconvene with great, much-missed talents. As Brian puts it, “It’s been very exciting to open up the vault to find these tapes where, in the blink of an eye, I’m trading licks with my friends, including the fantastic Ed Van Halen. It’s highly emotional, especially since Ed is sadly no longer around. We have since also lost Phil - so the rest of us cherish these fleeting moments together.”


The troupe also worked on an earlier May song, the bluesy “Let Me Out”, while the set closes with the titanic “Blues Breaker”, almost 13 minutes of scorching guitar interplay between Brian and Edward: not so much duelling as sharing ideas and passions. As Brian explains, “It was inspired by John Mayall’s Blues Breakers, the album with Eric Clapton reading The Beano on the front cover. Edward said, ‘This is great for me, I haven’t played like this in years.  This is where I come from! I didn’t come up doing tapping and all the fireworks. I grew up doing blues, wanting to be like Eric Clapton and do something melodic.”


If that sense of liberation rings out, so does a spirit of shared adventure. “There was a lot of ebullience, a lot of exploration, discovery and astonishment,” says Brian. “And some truly magical moments when everything gelled together - a fusion of energies!”


Across two CDs, a 12” vinyl LP, a 7” vinyl single, the ‘Star Fleet Sessions’ box set houses the proof. Presented in 180g transparent red vinyl, the original LP issue has been treated to a full new mix, executed by Queen sound engineers Justin Shirley-Smith and Kris Fredriksson under Brian’s direction at his Surrey studio from the original multitrack tapes and, says Brian, “cut at half-speed for maximum fidelity”. The single features two tracks. The A-side is an edited version of “Star Fleet”, with brand-new intro guitar harmonies from Brian. The B-side mirrors the original B-side “Son of Star Fleet” which Brian explains “was a way of including the rest of the original long version of the recording on a 7” record; effectively the whole recording is split between the two sides.”


CD1 Star Fleet Project + Beyond features the single version of the title track alongside full-length album versions of “Let Me Out” and “Blues Breaker”. Also included is an interview with Cynthia Fox conducted on Los Angeles radio station KMET in October 1983, on the day of the single release, and a Rockline interview with Bob Coburn. A live version of “Let Me Out” from the Palace Theatre in LA follows, segueing into “We Will Rock You” and a reworking of the same song’s adored fast rendition. The line-up of May, powerhouse drummer Cozy Powell, bassist Neil Murray, guitarist Jamie Moses, keyboardist Spike Edney and backing singers Cathy Porter & Shelley Preston finds The Brian May Band on fire. Finally, CD1 closes with the full LP version of “Star Fleet”, “just as the day it happened,” says Brian, “as if we were in the room.”


CD2 Star Fleet - The Complete Sessions features 23 tracks that go deeper into that room. The disc boasts a newly-created mix from the entire original analogue session tapes, featuring songs in the process of evolution (some with guide vocals) plus discussion, banter, laughs and, says Brian, “some ‘mistakes’, if there are such things”. Amps blow, mics break, strings snap – the results take you as close as it is possible to get to the Record Plant in April 1983.





And Van Halen fans, take note: the “Star Fleet” takes feature eight Edward guitar solos, “never quite treading the same path twice,” says Brian. “Ed was a wonderful soul. Listening to him and me, I feel completely outclassed by him in the studio. But in a very pleasant way – what a joy for me to be around a guy who could do all that. Such a privilege."


“So, you’ll hear us in the studio trading licks,” adds May. “We’ve cleaned up the mix and now EVH’s sound is larger than life. You’ll hear the development of his solo, which I always thought was one of the greatest things he did… a real immortal classic of Ed Van Halen pieces.”


A badge and a booklet featuring extensive liner notes complete the box set. A poster will be exclusive to box set orders placed via QueenOnline.com, where 180g black vinyl, cassette and picture-disc vinyl albums will also be available.


Complete with a digital recreation of the original 1983 source material’s artwork, Star Fleet Sessions doesn’t just gleam anew. Across 136 minutes of audio, the box set takes you behind the curtain, highlighting the electricity that made the project such a special chapter in Brian’s life and career.


“It’s all here. ALL of it ! Every note we played on those two unforgettable, exhilarating days is right here, on show for the first time. Hearing these sessions, especially through the new restoration and mixes we’ve now produced, still sends shivers up my spine,” he says. A time capsule of an unrepeatable moment, this much-anticipated, lovingly curated box set proves why.





Tracklistings:


Star Fleet Sessions Box Set | Format: 2CD + LP (Red Vinyl) + 7” (Black Vinyl)


CD1: Star Fleet Project + Beyond:
"Star Fleet" (Edited Single Version / 2023 Mix)
"Let Me Out" (2023 Mix)
"Blues Breaker" (2023 Mix)
Cynthia Fox Release Day Interview 1983
Bob Coburn Rockline Interview 1984
"Let Me Out" (Live at The Palace Theater, LA / 1993)
"We Will Rock You" (Live at The Palace Theater, LA / 1993)
"We Will Rock You" - Fast (Live at The Palace Theater, LA / 1993)
"Star Fleet" (Complete Version / 2023 Mix)


CD2: Star Fleet The Complete Sessions:
"Star Fleet" (Take 1)
"Star Fleet" (Take 2)
"Star Fleet" (Take 3)
"Star Fleet" (Take 4)
"Star Fleet" (Take 5)
Solo Jam
"Star Fleet" (Take 7)
"Star Fleet" (Take 8)
"Star Fleet" (Take 10)
"Star Fleet" (Take 11)
"Star Fleet" (Alternative Overdub EVH Solo)
Jam
"Let Me Out" (Rehearsal 1)
"Let Me Out" (Rehearsal 2)
Boogie Woogie Jam
"Let Me Out" (Take 1)
"Jazz Police"
"Let Me Out" (Take 3)
"Let Me Out" (Take 4)
Jam (Let's Do The Show Right Here)
"Let Me Out" (Take 6)
Funky Jam
"Let Me Out" (Take 7 False Start)


LP: Star Fleet Project (180g Red Vinyl):
"Star Fleet" (2023 Mix)
"Let Me Out" (2023 Mix)
"Blues Breaker" (2023 Mix)


7” Single "Star Fleet":
"Star Fleet" (Edited Single Version / 2023 Mix)
"Son Of Star Fleet" (2023 Mix) – Exclusive to the box set 7”


Star Fleet Project + Beyond CD:
"Star Fleet" (Edited Single Version / 2023 Mix)
"Let Me Out" (2023 Mix)
"Blues Breaker" (2023 Mix)
Cynthia Fox Release Day Interview 1983
Bob Coburn Rockline Interview 1984
"Let Me Out" (Live at The Palace Theater, LA / 1993)
"We Will Rock You" (Live at The Palace Theater, LA / 1993)
"We Will Rock You" - Fast (Live at The Palace Theater, LA / 1993)
"Star Fleet" (Complete Version / 2023 Mix)


Star Fleet Project / LP 180g black vinyl / LP picture disc / Cassette:
"Star Fleet" (2023 Mix)
"Let Me Out" (2023 Mix)
"Blues Breaker" (2023 Mix)





"Star Fleet" / "Let Me Out" - Double A Side Single (7” Vinyl (Red) / CD Single):
"Star Fleet" (Edited Single Version / 2023 Mix)
"Let Me Out" (Single Edit / 2023 Mix) – Only available physically on this 7” Vinyl & CD single





Credits:


- Content supervised by Kris Fredriksson.
- Mixed by Justin Shirley-Smith and Kris Fredriksson, Allerton Hill Studio.
- Mastered by Adam Ayan, Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland, Maine.
- Half Speed vinyl mastering by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios.
- Artwork by Richard Gray and Brian May.
- Photography by Phil Chen, James “Motor” Merritt, Elizabeth “Lizard” Frye, Brian May, Ron Galella / Getty Images.


3D unboxing video:





Star Fleet Sessions: How It Began (Episode 1):





Star Fleet Sessions: Meet The Band (Episode 2):





Star Fleet Sessions: In The Studio (Episode 3):





 

Swedish rockers, Sarayasign, will release their sophomore studio album, The Lion's Road, on August 11. Watch a video for the new single, "When All Lights Go Out", below, and pre-order/save The Lion's Road here.


"The new album will take the listener on a new journey for sure,” explains drummer/keyboardist/guitarist Jesper Lindbergh. “There will be places, familiarity and sounds and melodies that you'll recognize, but this time around, we've really found our own DNA as a band and most of the things you'll hear are played out in uncharted territory and with an evolved hunger. Welcome to the darker chapter two, The Lion's Road.”


Sarayasign is a cinematic melodic hard rock band, headquartered in Örebro, Sweden. With guitar driven roots from the late ’70s and the cinematic experience of the 21st Century, layered with strings and storytelling driven, melody-focused songs with an edge, the listener will be in for a treat.




Formed in late 2020, with their debut album, Throne Of Gold, released in May 2022, Sarayasign is a concept driven, cinematic, melodic hard rock band that aims for the same experience often felt through films, for they believe that music can propel a narrative and take the listener into unexplored dreamlike and emotional territory. Through the lens and the voice of the storyteller depicted in their lyrics and the atmospheric music and soundscapes of their world called Saraya, created by drummer/keyboardist/guitarist Jesper Lindbergh, Sarayasign wants you to close your eyes and enjoy the journey they will take you on.


The Lion's Road is the band’s sophomore release, the first for the Frontiers Music s.r.l. label. The songs, or shall we say stories, on the upcoming album are directly connected to and a continuation of the initial eight stories told on Throne Of Gold. Transcending time and space, like a lost treasure in the Swedish melodic hard rock scene, with some of the most outstanding musical visionaries and craftsmen the scene has to offer comes a beautifully crafted trajectory that reaches beyond traditional melodic hard rock. Introducing cinematic soundscapes and with the mesmerizing stories that take place in the land of Saraya, Sarayasign brings something new and fresh to the table.


With stellar guitar riffs and haunting melodies and arrangements from childhood dreams merged with Sarayasign’s own twist of cinematic hard rock, the band is able to offer something new that still has strong liaison with the classic sounds.





The Lion's Road tracklisting:


"When All Lights Go Out"
"Blood From Stone"
"A Way Back"
"The Beginning Of The End"
"Will You Find Me"
"Everdying Night"
"The Lion's Road"
"Love Will Burn"
"Hope And The Sorrow"
"Throne Of Gold Part II – A Heartless Melody"


"When All Lights Go Out" video:





"Everdying Night" video:





Lineup:


Stefan Nykvist - Lead and backing vocals
Jesper Lindbergh - Drums, rhythm guitar, keyboards, loops & soundscapes
Daniel Lykkeklev - Bass, keyboards
Peter Lundin -  Lead and rhythm guitar

On October 6, metallic hardcore outfit Capra will unleash their sophomore full-length, Errors, via Metal Blade Records / Blacklight Media Records.


Maintaining all the elements that made their 2021 debut so compelling - raucous energy, frantic riffs, the from-the-gut lyrics and soul-searing delivery of vocalist Crow Lotus - Capra has stepped things up on this record, with stronger songwriting and a determination to reach the next level.


For a first preview of Errors, the video for the new single, "Tied Up" (filmed by Dante Torrieri, Editing and Direction by Jai Benoit), can be viewed below.




Tracking in Estuary Recording Studios in Austin, Texas, with Andrew Hernandez, Errors was mixed by Taylor Young and mastered by Brad Boatright, the latter two having worked on In Transmission (2021). Guitarist Tyler Harper comments, "I knew that I wanted it to pick up where the first album left off, but that it needed to have an entirely new attitude. If you listen to the last song from 'In Transmission' into the first song on 'Errors', it's a continuation. From there the album steers off into a direction that still feels similar, but is new." Coming primarily from a hardcore background, giving listeners a sense of nostalgia for the sounds of the late 90's and early 2000's hardcore and punk scenes, but also incorporating elements of metal that complement the overall tone, everything the band does on Errors resonates with emotion; nothing is forced.


For collaborations, Capra recruited Walls Of Jericho vocalist Candace Kucsulain-Puopolo to add her inimitable tones to "Human Commodity," while their friend Dustin Coffman from Glassing added backing vocals to a handful of tracks. Producer Hernandez also added some piano to "Nora," which closes out the album in a very different manner than anything they've previously explored. In a complete juxtaposition to the tracks that precede it, "Nora" is atmospheric and lithe, delicate and haunting. "I've always wanted to show a prettier/lighter side to this band where it's not always aggressive," says Harper. "Life is a rollercoaster and sometimes you need to throw some pretty piano into it." Since Capra's inception, Harper has always envisaged each album being a continuation of the last, and then breaking it off into its own journey, seeing "Nora" as "a fun way to start album three!"


Until then, the band will tour like the road warriors they have become, bringing Errors to North America and overseas. Capra are eager to bond with fans new and old. Lotus explains that crucial connection: "Care about us because we care about you. And because we are a part of creating something our community can be proud of."





The album can be pre-ordered here in the following formats:


- CD
- red/white marble vinyl
- smoke vinyl
- digital album





Errors tracklisting:


"CHSF"
"Tied Up"
"Silana"
"Trauma Bond"
"Loser"
"Kingslayer"
"Human Commodity"
"Transplant"
"Obligatory Existence"
"Nora (Last Call)"


"Tied Up" video:





Capra lineup:


Crow Lotus - Vocals
Tyler Harper - Guitar
Jeremy Randazzo - Drums
Trevor Alleman - Bass


(Photo - Tyson Pate)

Singer / songwriter Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering) has checked in with the following update:


"I am really looking forward to performing in Latin America again! It's been a while, and I'm very excited that during this tour, I will also be visiting countries where I have never performed before. The fact that I will be sharing the stage with Marko Hietala and Tuomas Wäinölä makes everything even more special


Marko and I will each perform a solo set and we will close the evening together. I can't wait to see all of you again!"







Anneke van Giersbergen recently shared the following news:


"I'm delighted to announce that the wonderful Ché Aimee Dorval will join me on my Dutch tour this November. We've shared vocal duties on quite a few Devin Townsend songs, but we've never shared the stage before, so I'm definitely looking forward to these shows and welcome Ché to The Netherlands this fall. Tickets are already on sale!"

BAD WOLVES, who fuse unpredictable metallic intensity and impressive musicianship with arena-ready hooks, have released the first single, "Bad Friend", from their upcoming album,due later this year via Better Noise Music. "Bad Friend" brings awareness to recognizing the importance of cutting out people in your life who show toxic behavior and moving on from them. BAD WOLVES enlisted director Wombatfire (ASKING ALEXANDRIA, DREAM THEATER) for the song's dark-themed music video, which can be seen below.

"'Bad Friend' exemplifies exactly where BAD WOLVES always wanted to be as a band," relays BAD WOLVES vocalist Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz. "It lives dead center of being melodically catchy as well as crushingly heavy and is a great representation of our new upcoming album. This song reminds us that TRUE friendship is not about being perfect or always saying the right thing but being there for each other through the good times and the bad. It's also to be willing to acknowledge one's own mistakes and make things right. If you can't do that, you might be a bad f*cking friend."

Since 2018, BAD WOLVES, whose lineup consists of John Boecklin (drums),Doc Coyle (lead guitar, backing vocals) and Kyle Konkiel (bass, backing vocals),have earned a platinum plaque, topped iTunes, and continued to rule Active Rock radio charts with six No. 1 singles ("Hear Me Now", "Killing Me Slowly", "Lifeline", "Remember When", "Sober" and "Zombie") and two Top 10 singles ("If Tomorrow Never Comes" at No. 2 and "Learn To Walk Again" at No. 10). Their debut album, "Disobey", made a Top 25 debut on the Billboard Top 200 and saw BAD WOLVES perform to sold-out audiences on multiple continents with heavyweights such as FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and MEGADETH. 2019's "N.A.T.I.O.N." brought their total stream tally past the half-billion mark — unprecedented for a modern rock band. On top of that, Loudwire hailed it among the "50 Best Rock Albums of 2019" as Billboard and Consequence Of Sound chronicled their rise. In the midst of 2021, they welcomed Laskiewicz — previously of THE ACACIA STRAIN — as lead vocalist, ushering in a new chapter with their third full-length offering, "Dear Monster".

BAD WOLVES are currently on a headlining tour with support from FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS, THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT and INIMICAL DRIVE until July 28. Next, they head out with ASKING ALEXANDRIA and THE HU on their co-headlining "Psycho Thunder" tour across the U.S. from August 30 to October 8.

Photo credit: Wombat (courtesy of Schneider Rondan Organization)

Century Media recently reissued Naglfar’s first two albums Vittra (1995) and Diabolical (1998) on CD, LP, and digital. The albums were remastered by Dan Swanö (Unisound AB) with artwork revamped by Ogino Design. Vittra and Diabolical are two albums of classic Swedish black metal. 





Check out two new visualizers for “The Brimstone Gate” from Vittra and “As The Twilight Gave Birth To The Night” from Diabolical below. 




Order Vittra here and Diabolical at this location.

According to the Associated Press, Marilyn Manson will plead no contest to a misdemeanor simple assault charge related to an alleged incident with a videographer during a 2019 concert in New Hampshire.

Manson was charged with two misdemeanor counts of simple assault after a videographer accused the singer of spitting and blowing his nose on her at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion.

The second charge will be dismissed with a negotiated plea deal, according to a filing by his attorney. A no contest plea means Manson will not contest the charge and does not admit guilt.

As part of the no contest plea, Manson will pay a $1,200 fine and serve 20 hours of community service for the nose-blowing offense.

Back in May 2021, the Gilford Police Department announced that they had an active arrest warrant for Manson in connection with the incident, which occurred in August 2019.

According to the affidavit, Manson approached the videographer, whose company was contracted by the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion for the concert season the first time, put his face close to the camera and spat a "big lougee" at her. She was struck on both hands with saliva. The shock rocker allegedly returned a second time, covering one side of his nostril and blowing in the videographer's direction.

Manson performed in Gilford, New Hampshire on August 19, 2019 as part of the co-headlining "Hell Never Dies" tour with Rob Zombie.

In a statement, Manson's attorney Howard King said: "It is no secret to anyone who has attended a Marilyn Manson concert that he likes to be provocative on stage, especially in front of a camera. This misdemeanor claim was pursued after we received a demand from a venue videographer for more than $35,000 after a small amount of spit came into contact with their arm. After we asked for evidence of any alleged damages, we never received a reply. This whole claim is ludicrous, but we remain committed to cooperating with authorities, as we have done throughout."

Seemingly contradicting King's statement, three concert attendees — including a security guard — told People that they saw Manson spit and "shoot his snot" at the camerawoman.

"He was spitting everywhere and one time it got on her camera so she wiped it off and looked semi-irritated. He noticed this and kept purposely spitting on her camera," one attendee told People. "I think her final straw is he got on the floor, got within 2-3 feet of her and hacked a giant snot rocket at her not the camera. She was pissed off and disgusted so she stormed off and he just laughed."

"I stopped listening to his music after that and told my husband I would never go to another one of his concerts again," she added.

A second attendee concurred, stating that he "bent down to shoot his snot all over this woman. I can remember him just laughing about what he did."

"I was right there when it happened, she was beyond furious when he did that to her," a third man, who works as a security guard at the venue, said. "He spit on her a couple of times and then leaned real close to the camera and blew a huge snot rocket on her. After he did that, she almost threw her camera right down on the ground."

Last year, Marilyn confirmed he was dropped by his record label, Loma Vista Recordings, and talent agency CAA after at least 15 women have accused the musician of sexual assault. Manson has denied all allegations, which he has called "horrible distortions of reality."

Iconic rock group QUEEN has been presented with a BRIT Billion Award by the BPI (British Phonographic Industry),the representative voice for the U.K.'s world-leading record labels and music companies, which is also home to the BRIT Awards.

The BRIT Billion Award celebrates the band's outstanding achievement as recording artists in surpassing the landmark of one billion career streams in the U.K. — as calculated by the Official Charts Company.

Contributing to the huge total, QUEEN's most-streamed hits include such classics as "Another One Bites The Dust", "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", "Killer Queen", "Radio Ga Ga", "Under Pressure", "We Are The Champions" and "We Will Rock You", among a great many others.

Receiving the award for QUEEN are Sir Brian May and Roger Taylor OBE, who have each been presented with the personalized trophy created for the BPI by Gaudio Awards in the shape of the BRITs "B" and incorporating an encapsulated BRITs statuette. The award made to QUEEN coincides with the 50th anniversary of the band's self-titled debut album, which was released in July 1973 — the same year the BPI itself came into being in its present role.

Sir Brian May of QUEEN said of the BRIT Billion Award: "Thank you for presenting QUEEN with a BRIT Billion Award. We're grateful to all our fans that support us and continue to enjoy our music. Rock on, BPI."

Fellow QUEEN member Roger Taylor OBE added: "I'm thrilled to accept the BRIT Billion Award on behalf of QUEEN, celebrating being streamed over a billion times in the U.K., which is incredible. I would like to say thanks to everyone who has extracted a morsel of enjoyment from our music. We are still around and we hope to entertain you a little. Thank you."

QUEEN, whose classic lineup also comprised Freddie Mercury and John Deacon, and the BPI have enjoyed a number of shared connections over the course of their respective five-decade histories.

The band's self titled debut album was released in July 1973, the same year the BPI was incorporated as a trade association, while QUEEN was among the very first artists to appear in the inaugural BRIT Awards in 1977 (co-winning the award for Best British Single with "Bohemian Rhapsody"). Since then the band's acclaimed QUEEN's "Greatest Hits" has gone on to be BRIT certified 24 times platinum by the BPI as the most successful album of all time in the U.K., with sales and streams combined.

Dr Jo Twist OBE, BPI chief executive, said: "There can be few artists who have done more to popularize and promote British music around the world than QUEEN. The term iconic barely does justice to their monumental achievements as recording artists — with their 'Greatest Hits' the most successful album ever in the U.K. and their body of classic songs now celebrated for having being streamed more than a billion times in the U.K.

"QUEEN occupy a special place in the heart of the BPI — their self-titled debut album came out the same year we were formed and they were among the very first artists to win an inaugural BRIT Award — so we couldn't be happier that they have now been honored with a BRIT Billion Award in this, our 50th anniversary year."

Creative Industries minister and lifelong QUEEN fan John Whittingdale said: "It is fantastic to see the BPI marking their 50th anniversary year with a new award recognizing the success of Britain's biggest stars in the digital age. Thanks to streaming, future audiences can enjoy their music for many years to come.

"Congratulations to QUEEN for reaching this huge milestone. As a lifelong fan, I am delighted they are receiving this recognition as their magic continues to entertain millions of followers worldwide."

Officially launched in May 2023, the first wave of artists to receive the BRIT Billion Award included global superstars ABBA, COLDPLAY, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, pioneering rap and hip-hop artists AJ Tracey and Headie One, and chart-dominating pop artists and singer-songwriters Anne-Marie, Ellie Goulding, George Ezra, Lewis Capaldi, RAYE, Rita Ora and Sam Smith.

The BRIT Billion Award reflects the extent to which streaming has transformed the music landscape for artists and fans alike over the past decade — more than 85% of the U.K.'s recorded music consumption now takes place through streaming, and in 2022 there were a record 160 billion audio streams in the U.K. in total.

An original 1993 MTV "Moonman" award for PEARL JAM's iconic and controversial "Jeremy" music video has been acquired by Rockaway Records. The award was presented to the band's longtime former manager Kelly Curtis. The rare "Moonman" statue is up for sale along with additional PEARL JAM memorabilia at www.rockaway.com.

The groundbreaking and provocative "Jeremy" music video, directed by Mark Pellington ("Arlington Road", "Going All The Way"),exploded into the public consciousness in late summer 1992 pushing the band's career to another level. The video remained a cultural staple for well over a year, taking home four MTV Video Music Awards, including "Best Metal/Hard Rock Video", "Best Director", "Best Group Video" and "Video Of The Year" at the 1993 ceremony.

The design of MTV Moonman award was inspired by the network's first broadcast in August of 1981 where they featured footage of the Apollo 11 Moonwalk with the infamous images of astronaut Buzz Aldrin on the lunar surface but replaced the U.S. flag with animated MTV logos. The Moonman, created by Manhattan Designs, still remains the symbol of the Video Music Awards nearly 40 years later.

Wayne Johnson of Rockaway Records commented: "MTV 'Moonmen' are incredibly rare. They are made in tiny quantities, and we have only had a handful since they were first handed out in 1984. The statue for PEARL JAM's 'Jeremy' is one of the coolest and rarest PEARL JAM items we have ever offered for sale."

Additional items include a Fender Telecaster signed on the white pickguard by Stone Gossard, and a limited 2009 "Backspacer" translucent (semi-transparent) vinyl LP — one of only two copies known to exist.

Following the success of THE ROLLING STONES, THE BEATLES and 1970s punk collections, Rockaway continues to be the premiere destination for collectors who seek unique, hard-to-find pieces of music memorabilia from their favorite artists.

While many independent record stores and chains in Los Angeles shut their doors years ago, Rockaway Records remained open and shifted their focus to high-end vinyl and collectibles. Co-founders and brothers Wayne and Gary Johnson started aggressively acquiring extensive record industry and personal collections of vinyl, posters, autographs, and other rarities. Expert appraisers of music and music memorabilia, the brothers Johnson have traveled the world buying and selling some of the most highly sought-after music collectibles.

Rockaway is known throughout the world for its honesty and expertise, and in turn sellers are paid the highest possible value for their goods. Rockaway competes with the larger auction houses and often gets much higher returns on music-related items because of their extensive knowledge of the marketplace due to their 45 years of unparalleled experience in the music industry.

Wayne and Gary began selling records in 1979 after attending the legendary record swap meet at the Capitol Records parking lot in Hollywood. What began as a hobby 45 years ago quickly evolved to become the world-renowned business it is today.

On the eve of the band's biggest-ever European tour and the launch of new album, "Drastic Symphonies", DEF LEPPARD played a one-off club show on May 19 at the iconic Sheffield venue The Leadmill. The 850-capacity venue was treated to a must-see performance from one of Britain's greatest-ever rock bands. It was a huge night for fans of the band who got the chance to hear the band's extraordinary stadium-style catalog in a club setting. It was the most intimate show the band has played in the U.K. or the rest of Europe in 35 years. The setlist was for one night only — unique to this show and different to the setlist the band would play three days later, when they start the European tour at a sold-out Sheffield United's Bramall Lane on May 22.

Professionally filmed video of the entire Leadmill concert, courtesy of the DefLeppardHD YouTube channel, can be seen below.

Featured songs:

0:00 - Intro
0:08 - Action (SWEET cover)
4:05 - Fire It Up
7:53 - Let It Go
13:29 - Too Late For Love
19:16 - Excitable
23:51 - Mirror, Mirror (Look Into My Eyes)
28:07 - Slang
30:51 - Kick
35:35 - Bringin' On The Heartbreak
40:12 - Switch 625
43:30 - Rick Allen Drum Solo
45:15 - Hysteria
52:03 - Pour Some Sugar On Me
56:17 - Wasted
1:00:31 - Outro

DEF LEPPARD wanted to shine a light on The Leadmill, a vital part of the Sheffield and national U.K. music scene which is among many of the small U.K. music venues threatened with closure. Net proceeds from ticket sales from The Leadmill show were donated to Music Venue Trust who diligently work to help struggling U.K. music venues.

When the show was first announced, DEF LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott said: "Sheffield is in the very DNA of this band!

"We are ecstatic to be starting the European leg of our world tour at home at Bramall Lane!

"When thinking of a warm-up, it made sense to do a special set at The Leadmill, in the city where it all started.

"We know there are a lot of small music venues struggling across the U.K., so we wanted to give back to what gave to us.

"The net proceeds from the evening will go directly to Music Venue Trust in an effort to keep U.K. clubs alive."

The Leadmill's Ben Hartley said the show — DEF LEPPARD's first at the venue — would add "another chapter to Sheffield's musical history".

"The fact that a local act that has gone on to play stadiums across the world is willing to come back home and support us in a time of need — as well as thousands of other integral grassroots venues across the U.K. — speaks volumes of their character," he added.

Mark Davyd, CEO and founder of the Music Venue Trust, said: "The U.K.'s grassroots music venues are facing an incredibly tough year, currently one is permanently closing every week.

"It's going to take a huge collective effort to turn that around and it's so important that artists get involved and lead the fight we need to stop closures."

2022 saw DEF LEPPARD release their critically and commercially acclaimed 12th studio album, "Diamond Star Halos", which charted all over the world including a top 5 and top 10 in both North America and the U.K.. Early 2023, saw the band score a U.K. No 1 Netflix film with their cameo in acclaimed movie "Bank Of Dave". DEF LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott also recently rode high in charts across the world with his guest vocal on the GHOST track "Spillways".

DEF LEPPARD also embarked on a sold-out stadium tour across North America with MÖTLEY CRÜE in 2022 — selling over 1.3 million tickets. February and March 2023 saw the tour wow audiences throughout Central and South America. In May, June and July the must-see tour of 2023 came to Europe, including a stop at the iconic Wembley Stadium on July 1.

With more than 110 million albums sold worldwide and two prestigious Diamond Awards in the U.S., 2019 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees DEF LEPPARD — Elliott, Phil Collen (guitar),Rick Savage (bass),Vivian Campbell (guitar) and Rick Allen (drums) — continue to be one of the most important forces in rock music. Over the course of their career, the band has produced a series of classic ground-breaking albums that set the bar for generations of music fans and artists alike. The group's spectacular live shows and arsenal of hits have become synonymous with their name, leading DEF LEPPARD to be heralded as the world's greatest live rock band.

DEF LEPPARD's influential career includes numerous hit singles and ground-breaking multi-platinum albums — including two of the best-selling albums of all time, "Pyromania" and "Hysteria", capturing the group's legendary tracks, bringing together classic LEPPARD hits such as "Rock Of Ages", "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and "Foolin'".

For the first time, in January 2018 DEF LEPPARD debuted their full recording catalog worldwide via streaming and download platforms. As they did with the original release of their records, DEF LEPPARD dominated the worldwide charts again, which found their albums charting in the iTunes Top 10 in more than 30 countries, including "Hysteria" at No. 3 in the U.S., and No. 5 in the U.K. (36 years after the album had charted at No 1 in the Billboard charts). DEF LEPPARD also had the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 records on the U.S. catalog albums chart. The band have gone on to amass a staggering 5.5 billion streams since 2018, reaching a younger 18-44 demographic that now represents 58% of their fanbase. Additionally, the band have garnered an impressive 15 million followers across their social media platforms.

In May 2022, DEF LEPPARD released their twelfth studio album "Diamond Star Halos". The album debuted at No. 1 on the Apple and Amazon Music charts. The album also scored a Top 10 debut on North America's Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart, marking the band's eighth Top 10 album of their career, and garnered a No. 1 debut on Billboard's Hard Rock chart. "Diamond Star Halos" had numerous Top 10 chart entries globally including a Top 5 debut in the U.K.

DEF LEPPARD recently released "Drastic Symphonies", a brand-new album featuring the band's greatest tracks dramatically reimagined via a collaboration with London's iconic Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Guitarist Jason Hook is storming out of the gates with his new band FLAT BLACK. The former FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH guitarist has recruited a trio of young and talented turks, and the band has signed with Fearless Records for its debut album, the details of which are to be announced. The LP was recorded at Jason's home studio in Las Vegas and produced by Hook. To promote the effort, FLAT BLACK will support GODSMACK on tour this fall.

"I feel like FLAT BLACK is a secret I've been keeping for three years," Hook says. "It's finally time to unleash this band on the world. I'm grateful to Sully [Erna] from GODSMACK for giving us the chance to get out on the road and play for such an amazing group of fans."

Despite having reached a commercial summit with his prior band, thanks to multiple platinum certifications, sold-out arena shows, and a string of No. 1 singles, Hook remains as hungry for musical blood and thunder as the day he first picked up a guitar at the age of six. He is eager to not only replicate but to surpass his past successes with his new band.

Having left his prior band in February 2020, which was right before COVID-19 put the entire world on pause, Hook wanted to assume creative control and let his musical free spirit soar in a project that was truly his. He opted to gamble on himself. With great risk comes great reward and the decision to form FLAT BLACK clearly worked out in his favor.

"As a musician, I crave freedom and I wasn't ready to stop creating," Hook shares.

"Life is short," he continues. "We all want to feel satisfied and happy with what we are trying to accomplish in life."

The pandemic shutdown allowed him the opportunity to assemble the right musicians and carefully craft their debut album. FLAT BLACK is armed with an arsenal of riffs that'll rattle your teeth loose from your gums, stadium-sized hooks, arena-ready anthems, and choruses that are guaranteed to touch a nerve. All of those factors combined make FLAT BLACK poised for success.

The origin stories of the rest of the players are indicative of a lifelong love of music and plenty of road-worn experience. The desire to play courses through their veins and propels them forward, which is why they all meshed so well with Hook.

Singer Wes Horton was introduced to music at age 13, thanks to his sister and Guitar Hero. He honed his vocal chops by playing in local bands and making online videos. Various music industry friends and acquaintances would become the connective tissue between himself and Hook. Horton knew he wanted to be a frontman, and FLAT BLACK afforded him that opportunity. Wes loves the fact that his bandmates prioritize songcraft — and that allows him to be the singer he has always wanted to be.

Bassist Nick Diltz, who was born and raised in Los Angeles, is the son of a legendary rock music photographer who brought him to concerts during his formative years. He recalls being inspired by watching a VHS video of U2 performing at legendary venue Red Rocks. Seeing fans clamoring for a piece of Bono in the footage is a vision that never left his head. This first exposure to the power of a true rock icon solidified Nick's destiny as a live performer.

Drummer Rob Pierce hails from Nashville, a.k.a. Music City. His dad was a race car driver and his grandfather was a pastor. He grew up racing go karts and at first, wanted to follow in his dad's footsteps until he joined the fourth grade band and was bitten by the music bug. He chose the snare drum over the saxophone and from that moment on, music was the only thing that mattered. Rob got his first drum kit at age 11, which he set up in his dad's car shop. He learned to play his instrument next to 1,000 horsepower engines, which influences his highly energetic style to this day.

The chemistry between the players in FLAT BLACK is palpable. And while FLAT BLACK's songs are built to take up real estate in the brains of fans for weeks at a time, the true nature of the band's material is meant to be experienced live. FLAT BLACK are now ready to hit the road and bring these brutal bangers to the masses live and in the flesh.

FLAT BLACK on tour with GODSMACK:

Aug. 24 - Irvine, CA - FivePoint Amphitheatre
Aug. 26 - Las Vegas, NV - Bakk
Aug. 27 - San Diego, CA - North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Aug. 31 - Austin, TX - Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Sep. 03 - Baton Rouge, LA - Raising Cane's River Center
Sep. 05 - Pensacola, FL - Pensacola Bay Center
Sep. 06 - Jacksonville, FL - Daily's Place
Sep. 07 - Charleston, SC - Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center
Sep. 09 - Tampa, FL - MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sep. 10 - Hollywood, FL - Hard Rock Live
Sep. 24 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Blossom Music Center
Sep. 26 - Green Bay, WI - Resch Center
Sep. 28 - Moline, IL - Vibrant Arena
Sep. 29 - Omaha, NE - Baxter Arena
Oct. 01 - Rapid City, SD - Summit Arena at The Monument
Oct. 03 - Salt Lake City, UT - Maverik Center
Oct. 04 - Nampa, ID - Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater
Oct. 08 - Kent, WA - Accesso ShoWare Center
Oct. 10 - Abbostford, BC - Abbotsford Centre
Oct. 12 - Edmonton, AB - Rogers Place
Oct. 13 - Calgary, AB - Scotiabank Saddledome
Oct. 15 - Saskatoon, SK - SaskTel Centre
Oct. 16 - Winnipeg, MB - Canada Life Centre
Oct. 19 - London, ON - Budweiser Gardens
Oct. 21 - Laval, QC - Place Bell
Oct. 22 - Quebec City, QC - Videotron Centre

FLAT BLACK is:

Jason Hook - Guitar
Wes Horton - Vocals
Rob Pierce - Drums
Nicholas Diltz - Bass

In October 2020, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH confirmed that it had officially parted ways with Hook eight months earlier during the band's sold-out European arena tour. He has since been replaced by renowned British virtuoso Andy James, who made his recording debut with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH on "Broken World", a song that was included on the second installment of the group's greatest-hits collection, "A Decade Of Destruction - Volume 2".

After his recovery from emergency gallbladder surgery at the end of 2019, Hook had to leave midway from FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's tour of Europe to address further complications.

Jason, who joined FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH in 2009, said about his exit from the band: "As for the reason I'm leaving… well, there really isn't just one. I've been in bands my entire life and I feel like I've done all the good that I can here. It's time to pass the baton and move on to new challenges."

In October 2021, Hook spoke to the "Making Waves" podcast about his new project for which he had been writing music for much of the past four years. He said: "That's been the only agenda I've had, really, since leaving DEATH PUNCH. I just went right to work writing songs. I've got 30, 35 songs. Where I'm getting stuck is I've had many singers come through and I'm just really trying to be patient to pick the right guy. [People on my team] were, like, 'Don't be in a hurry to pick your singer. Make sure you find the right guy.' And I don't disagree with that because it really is the make-or-break element. So, that's top priority right now."

He continued: "I've done my work. I've got all the material prepared; some are completed songs, some are just music. But I really wanna find a co-writer, a partner, somebody that I have that chemistry with and that we're both on the same page musically. I've got the facility. That's the only element that's missing."

Asked what kind of singer he was looking for, Hook said at the time: "I like heavy music, but I also like melodic music. And I think that's one of the things that [FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH singer] Ivan Moody was fantastic with, is that he sells his lyrics, he can sing really well, and he can get heavy but you can still decipher what he's talking about; you can follow the storyline. It's not like that guttural [death metal-style vocal]; you can really understand what he's saying even when he's singing with his heavy voice. And Ivan Moodys don't just grow on trees [laughs]; it's hard to find.

"I like guys like Dave Grohl," he added. "I certainly like Corey Taylor. I always loved Adam Gontier's voice, from THREE DAYS GRACE; those early records and the power and the grit of his voice. But most importantly, I'm just looking for somebody that has something above and beyond, something that's magic. There's a lot of good guys out there — I've certainly had them over here — but I'm looking for something that's magic, not just good."

Hook went on to say that he was not trying to simply launch another version of his former band. "I'm not necessarily looking to recreate FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH," he said. "That band is an anomaly, and I think it would be foolish to try to clone it. The music will have familiar sounds and elements from what they sound like, but that's only because I had a pretty decent hand at writing that music. So it's inevitable that I'm gonna take me over here, and it's gonna have some familiarity, obviously. But as far as a singer goes, it's kind of like when Tom Morello found Chris Cornell, you've got two guys that are extremely good at their role; that was destined to succeed. Now, when Eddie Van Halen had Sammy Hagar, they got very lucky 'cause that clicked, that worked. But when they got Gary Cherone — not so cool."



Tomorrow...

Posted by FLAT BLACK on Monday, July 17, 2023

FLAT BLACK will be hitting the road for our first-ever North American tour with Godsmack! We will also be joining...

Posted by FLAT BLACK on Tuesday, July 18, 2023