In a new interview with 80s_Metal_Headz, SKID ROW bassist Rachel Bolan was asked to name something that people sometimes misunderstand about him. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "A lot of people, and I say a lot of people, a few people, and it's mainly the haters, think I'm this guy that is all ego. Listen, we're in a business of egos. It's without a doubt. That's what drives us, wanting to be the best, and sometimes we think we're the best, some guys more than others, some people more than others. But some people, like I'll see comments online, it's, like, 'Oh, it's his ego.' I hear about my ego all the time, and I'm, like, 'That's really interesting.' People that I am a complete stranger to are saying my ego is getting in my way. [Laughs] And I'm, like, 'Okay.'"

Asked how he personally deals with the online haters, Rachel said: "Yeah, it's easy to do that, the anonymity of just firing off on a message board. That's really easy… I kind of envision haters miserable in their own lives, because that's why they have to spew hatred. Because people that are happy in their life don't do that. They're supportive, they're empathetic. Haters aren't like that. But the funniest thing is I think about haters, and I've talked to other friends in bands that go through the same thing, it's almost like we read the comments for sport, because it's funny to us. We laugh at a lot of the stuff. And I always think of these people just miserable when they get up, so the first thing they do is go on message boards and spew all their shit. And on their lunch break they're on their phone spewing their shit to their co-workers or their friends. They're spewing their shit. They get home, they spew their shit. They go to bed miserable and they wake up miserable the next day. Me, I go to bed in SKID ROW and I wake up and I'm in motherfucking SKID ROW. So I could give a shit about the haters, or couldn't give a shit about the haters. It's kind of funny, and in a weird way it's kind of healthy. Because you see other people start ganging up on 'em, and I'm, like, 'Oh man, dude, I would've held that thought in if I were you.' Because SKID ROW fans sometimes, they get hardcore, and then I'm, like, 'Ooh, he shouldn't have said that.'"

Bolan added: "It's really easy to be nice. It really is really fucking easy to be nice."

Rachel will release his debut solo album, "Gargoyle Of The Garden State", on June 12 via earMUSIC. The LP, which will be made available under the BOLAN banner, was produced by Nick Raskulinecz, who previously worked on SKID ROW's 2022 album "The Gang's All Here", and it will feature guest appearances by Rachel's SKID ROW bandmates Dave "Snake" Sabo (guitar),Scotti Hill (guitar) and Rob Hammersmith (drums),along with Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR),Nuno Bettencourt (EXTREME),Danko Jones, Steve Conte (NEW YORK DOLLS) and Damon Johnson (BROTHER CANE, LYNYRD SKYNYRD).

According to a press release, "Gargoyle Of The Garden State" is "a bold, deeply personal debut rooted in the grit, attitude, and storytelling spirit of his New Jersey upbringing."Musically, the album delivers hook-driven, anthemic songs that fuse punk energy with melodic sensibility, wrapped in swagger and raw edge what early listeners have already called "quintessentially New Jersey." Among its standout moments is a surprising cover of OASIS's "Rock And Roll Star", reimagined through Bolan's distinctive lens.

Expanding beyond his role as a bassist, Bolan performs the majority of instruments, shaping the record from the ground up. Drawing on influences from Britpop and glam to punk rock and new wave, the album represents a lifetime in music.

SKID ROW is currently looking for a new singer following the departure of Erik Grönwall in March 2024.

Photo credit: Anabel DFlux (courtesy of earMUSIC)

In a new interview with LA Lloyd, the nationally syndicated radio host for the "LA Lloyd Rock 30", EVANESCENCE frontwoman Amy Lee spoke about the band's recently released single, "Who Will You Follow". The track was co-written and produced by Zakk Cervini (BAD OMENS, YUNGBLUD, BRING ME THE HORIZON, SPIRITBOX) and Jordan Fish (BRING ME THE HORIZON, Poppy, HOUSE OF PROTECTION, ARCHITECTS) and serves as a preview for EVANESCENCE's upcoming album "Sanctuary", due on June 5. Asked if the lyrical inspiration for "Who Will You Follow" is "the danger of influence itself" or if she is talking about "specific people to watch out for or if it's just a metaphor in a way", Amy said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I feel like it's so specific, but I get it. The lyric is, 'When all your faith in reality fades away, who will you follow?' Like, who will you follow? If you don't even know what is real, how can you base any action if you don't even know what's true? If you don't even know what's A.I. You don't even know what's being fed to you on your feed, that we are all so... It is so hard, and I am just as guilty. I have to stop myself from doing this [scrolling through my social media] and then being, like, 'Holy shit, an hour just went by and I don't even know what I just looked at, but I'm mad and scared.' So I feel like all of this input that is just such a drain, and at the same time, we do have to face reality."

Amy continued: "I feel like 'Who Will You Follow' is more than anything like the plot of 'The Matrix' [1999 science-fiction action film]. So it's waking up. It's the disillusionment of this, and wanting that. I want that. I want us to look at each other in the eyes as human beings and go, 'Hi. Is this real life? You're a real human being? Great. Let's have a glass of wine and get through this shit together,' because running away from it and pretending like it isn't happening, and just going along with the lies while they step on your neck isn't working. Let's come together."

Amy added: "Love is strong. People are powerful. We just gotta know that. We have to remember that we have each other."

Noting that emotional, negative content fuels the viral spread of news on social media, Amy said: "It's hard because you wanna do something. And what can we do? And I guess I asked myself that question. And I was, like, well, I'm a singer, and people listen to what I say. So instead of me personally spending my time trying to make the perfect post and then all the energy that it takes out of me feeling misunderstood, or whatever, shit on, how about do what I'm best at and put my hope and my love and my anger and all the things that I hope can bring us together into the music? And hopefully have a deeper impact than that. No shade to the people shining light on the things that are true. That needs to happen. But there is definitely a degree of just so much information, most of it lies, but just information, just constant bad news. It's exhausting. We are exhausted. We're exhausted, and I don't think the solution is just running away from it. I think it's that we need change. So first of all, let's face it together."

Amy also talked about the positive aspects of social media platforms and the fact that they have become essential for P.R. by providing a direct line to the audience and an opportunity to engage in real-time conversations. She said: "I remember being so excited when that whole thing kind of started, like just being able to have some kind of a social media account and talk directly to the fans instead of waiting for a journalist to have an interview with me and then process it in their own words and put it out in a magazine for somebody to read a month later. To just literally be able to go and go, 'Hey, here's the deal,' or, 'Here's the announcement,' or, 'Hey, by the way, what I said, that's not what I said. This is what I meant.' Whatever it is, just to be able to have an actual direct line of communication I think is a really good thing. And it's really cool also to see all of people's artistic expression. I don't know if it's just my algorithm, and I really don't spend a ton of time there, but TikTok is fun to me. My algorithm is very much art creation and comedy — just people being stupid. And that I can get behind. [Laughs]"

"Who Will You Follow" has already become the fastest-moving rock radio single of EVANESCENCE's career to date, earning the band its first-ever No. 1 on Billboard's Hard Rock Song chart.

"Sanctuary" will be available as a digital album, standard CD, deluxe CD and limited-edition box set. A double vinyl of the album will be released on September 4. The deluxe CD is exclusive to the EVANESCENCE store and includes a Blu-ray that contains a "Live In São Paulo" concert, documentary from EVANESCENCE's 2023 South America tour and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the "Who Will You Follow" video. The deluxe vinyl is also a webstore exclusive.

EVANESCENCE recently announced a 2026 world tour, kicking off on June 11, taking them across North America and Europe. Special guests SPIRITBOX and NOVA TWINS will open on the North American portion of the tour, and special guest Poppy will support on the Europe shows, with NOVA TWINS opening outside the U.K. K.Flay, who features on EVANESCENCE's last single, "Fight Like A Girl", will open the U.K. shows. K.Flay will also support EVANESCENCE for their Red Rocks Amphitheatre concert.

EVANESCENCE has partnered with PLUS1 so that $1/£1/€1 from every ticket sold will support organizations providing humanitarian aid and medical relief to those in need around the world.

Photo credit: Chapman Baehler (courtesy of Mercenary Publicity)

Ace Frehley's 1975 Gibson Les Paul, one of the most historically significant guitars in rock and roll, sold for $512,000 as part of the "Music Icons" series from auction house Julien's, a two-day live auction which took place on May 29 and May 30 at Hard Rock Cafe Times Square in New York City. From the very beginning of his career, this instrument, which was expected to fetch between $400,000 and $600,000, was Frehley's constant companion, accompanying him on stage and in the studio with KISS more than any other guitar in his arsenal. His longtime use of this Gibson Les Paul has earned Frehley a place on nearly every "Top 10 Les Paul Players Of All Time" list ever published.

Several other items from Frehley were sold above their original estimates: Super Bowl XXXIII stage-played 1997 Gibson Signature Les Paul Custom ($57,600); stage-played 1996 KISS reunion tour light show Sanchez Custom Gibson Les Paul Jr. ($57,600); stage-worn "Destroyer" costume ($51,200); Ace Frehley/Arthur Kane of THE NEW YORK DOLLS stage-worn jumpsuit ($11,520); and Ace's 1977 "Rock And Roll Over" tour jacket ($8,960).

Hosted in partnership with the world-renowned Hard Rock Cafe, the "Music Icons" auction brought together an extraordinary collection of genre-defining memorabilia from the most influential artists in rock and roll history, including instruments played on stage and in studio by revered musicians. This landmark event offered collectors and fans a rare opportunity to acquire pieces from the music legends who shaped generations. Guitars, stage wear, handwritten lyrics and deeply personal relics from the artists who defined the sound of the last half-century changed hands across those two days.

Frehley passed away last October at the age of 74. The founding KISS guitarist died of blunt-trauma injuries to his head due to a fall, the Morris County Medical Examiner confirmed in a report. The manner of death was ruled an accident.

According to the report, a CT scan of Frehley's head revealed multiple contusions, bone fractures to the back of his skull, hemorrhages, and a subdural hematoma (the type of bleeding that occurs in a person's brain after a head injury). Additional bruises were found on the musician's hip, thigh, and abdomen. The report also noted that Frehley had suffered a stroke.

A separate toxicology report on Frehley's blood at the time of his death has not yet been released.

Frehley's longtime manager John Ostrosky confirmed to the New York Post that the late KISS icon was laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx, New York.

The legendary musician was buried on October 22 following a private memorial on October 21 at Sinatra Memorial Home in Yonkers, New York.

Frehley, whose real name was Paul Daniel Frehley, passed away peacefully surrounded by family in Morristown, New Jersey. He reportedly died nearly two weeks after a second fall at his home, which led to him being placed on life support after a brain bleed. The musician's family made the heartbreaking decision to take him off the ventilator.

Frehley's family confirmed his death, writing in a statement: "We are completely devastated and heartbroken. In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth.

"We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace's memory will continue to live on forever!"

Ace co-founded KISS with guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley, bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons and drummer Peter Criss in New York City in 1973. Frehley appeared on KISS's first nine albums, and returned for the band's 1998 reunion album, "Psycho Circus", only to leave again. He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame with the rest of KISS's original lineup in 2014.

Frehley first left KISS in 1982. He rejoined in 1996 and parted ways with the band once again in 2002 after the conclusion of KISS's first "farewell tour." Since his departure, guitarist Tommy Thayer had assumed the role of the Spaceman.

Earlier in October, Frehley scrapped the remainder of his previously announced 2025 tour dates due to unspecified "medical issues".

The legendary rocker announced the cancelation two weeks after he pulled out of the Antelope Valley Fair in Lancaster, California after sustaining minor injuries in a fall at his home.

Frehley had a rocky relationship with Simmons and Stanley whom he blamed for exacerbating his abuse of drugs and alcohol because they allegedly minimized his contributions to KISS.

In 2019, Simmons told Guitar World that Frehley and Criss had exited KISS three times, in part because they "weren't carrying their load" and weren't dependable onstage. In response, Frehley called Simmons and Stanley "control freaks, untrustworthy and… too difficult to work with."

Ace said in a 2024 interview that he got sober in 2006 after "10 car accidents" and credited his daughter Monique with inspiring him to give up drinking in 2006.

"My daughter calls me up and goes, 'Dad, I'm not hearing good things about you.' I looked in the mirror and just said, 'Shit — she's right,'" he said. "That evening, I called my sponsor and he took me to an AA meeting, and I've been sober ever since."

During an appearance on the Turned Out A Punk podcast, SOUNDGARDEN guitarist Kim Thayil, who is promoting his upcoming memoir, "A Screaming Life: Into The Superunknown With Soundgarden And Beyond", was asked if he and his bandmates were frustrated by the fact that they were "marketed into the metal world" alongside bands like METALLICA when they first signed to major label A&M in the late 1980s. Kim responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, we liked METALLICA, but that was different. The thrash scene kind of had — they crossed over with the punk scene very, very much so, and it was independent, and it wasn't as radio friendly or MTV oriented or pop oriented. We were already into METAL CHURCH, and I was acquainted with TROUBLE and EXODUS, so we had those records. As a atter of fact, it was Mark Arm, Mark from MUDHONEY — back then it was pre-GREEN RIVER, or around the time GREEN RIVER and SOUNDGARDEN started — it was Mark who turned me on to… He brought [METALLICA's debut album] 'Kill 'Em All' and [EXODUS's debut album] 'Bonded By Blood' over, and he's turning me on to this. I remember him saying, 'Listen how fast that is. That guitarist, he's only, like, 17.' [He was talking about] Kirk Hammett. And I remember it was Mark who — I don't know how his collection got so big, 'cause he wasn't DJing, but he turned me on to the TROUBLE albums and everything. So that aspect of metal was perfectly fine. On one hand you got this band that's definitely on the metal scene like TROUBLE, then you got this band coming out of the punk rock indie scene like SAINT VITUS. And they're both kind of doom oriented. And there's that element in what we're doing. There's definitely some stoner rock doom stuff that we impacted with that scene. We did a lot of different kinds of stuff."

Kim continued: "I think the problem was the major label maybe orienting things toward MTV. The people who work in major labels, they wanna get a little gold star on their lapel or their door, like, 'Hey, we helped break this band or make this...' They didn't quite understand that we weren't of that scene and we're this separate thing. And really it was NIRVANA's success that got that shit off of our back. Thank you, NIRVANA. And NIRVANA wasn't being promoted, 'cause everyone wanted to see what SOUNDGARDEN did. I tried to talk our A&R guys at A&M into signing NIRVANA. It's, like, 'Oh, we got this band. They're like our little brothers. They're coming up. They're amazing. The singer's great. Their songs are cool.' They're, like, 'Well, why do we wanna sign them when we already got you? We don't want two bands who are similar. And we wanna see what you guys do first before we...' I thought, 'Huh.' But they were very frank about that. It's, like, 'Well, we don't wanna sign NIRVANA' because we might compete with each other. We're kind of from the same scene... And they don't know what kind of success we may or may not have. But they knew what worked, and what worked was the stuff that was just the hugest thing in the world, and it was MTV and it was radio and it was that pop metal that, it had generally the glam look, so that was a way to sell it and package it, but the music was pretty much kind of pop with VAN HALEN guitar solos and fuzzy guitars. But if you take off the fuzzy guitars and the proficient tapping, you end up with basically pop songs, only pop songs about — I don't know — cars and strippers. Not that there's anything wrong with that — I'm sure there's cool stuff about cars and strippers — but the human experience does have a little bit more variety and depth to it. So that's the thing that bothered us, was people's inability and lack of insight or courage in taking risks in developing us as we were with an audience we'd already built through a number of tours in Europe and the U.S. on these indie labels. Why would you wanna steer us in the other direction? Oh, because it's lucrative and it's successful. And we did have — Chris [Cornell, SOUNDGARDEN singer] is very good-looking, statuesque, and he could easily be marketed that way. 'If he'd only do the spandex and heels and maybe put some blonde streaks in his hair and use some hairspray.' But it wasn't gonna happen. That wasn't what Chris was about, and it wasn't what the band was about. I think there probably was an interest in maybe doing that to help sell SOUNDGARDEN and break it. I do not doubt that there are probably some talks in the back rooms about, like, 'If we could just get another bass player and guitarist that was more willing to play that, then we could package this and this could be huge.' But fortunately, that didn't happen. We had a manager who championed us, and each of us were championing each other. But that was it. They wanted to market us alongside a band like METALLICA… By the way, before METALLICA got huge, you had success from FAITH NO MORE, and then the [RED HOT] CHILI PEPPERS started having success. BEASTIE BOYS' 'Licensed To Ill' was double platinum really quickly. So the labels were kind of looking around trying to figure out where to put their feet, and there may have been money in that pop metal thing, but there was other stuff happening. You had independent hip-hop labels that had platinum records, and you had some independent metal records, labels that were selling bands like METALLICA and MEGADETH. And you had SST, which with the success of HÜSKER DÜ and MINUTEMEN and a lot of their bands, SST became a really powerful and wealthy label themselves. And this is all money that's not going into the major label coffers. And I think they were aware of that. They ignored rap and punk and thrash for a long enough time that a good percentage of that record industry entertainment dollar was not going their way."

"A Screaming Life: Into The Superunknown With Soundgarden And Beyond" will arrive on June 9, 2026 via HarperCollins imprint William Morrow.

SOUNDGARDEN is working on an album of previously unreleased recordings they made with Cornell before the singer's 2017 death. Thayil, drummer Matt Cameron and bassist Ben Shepherd are collaborating with producer Terry Date, who previously helmed SOUNDGARDEN's "Louder Than Love" (1989) and "Badmotorfinger" (1991) LPs.

In November 2025, SOUNDGARDEN joined the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame class of 2025 in the Performer category. The Seattle grunge legends were first nominated for the Rock Hall in 2020, and were on the ballot again in 2023 before finally being chosen for induction last year.

Thayil, Cameron, Cornell and Shepherd were included in the induction, as was original bassist Hiro Yamamoto, who was with SOUNDGARDEN from 1984 to 1989 and played on the band's first two EPs and first two albums.

SOUNDGARDEN's three surviving members performed during the event, alongside guest vocalists Taylor Momsen and Brandi Carlile in place of Cornell. The set also featured appearances by PEARL JAM's Mike McCready and ALICE IN CHAINS' Jerry Cantrell.

In a new interview with Robert Cavuoto of Metal Rules, VOIVOD's drummer and founding member Michel "Away" Langevin spoke about how the band's "Symphonique" live album, a special collaboration with the Quebec Symphony Orchestra (Orchestre Symphonique De Québec),inspired the songwriting process for new material from Canada's progressive sci-fi metal innovators. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "I think that the symphonic concerts really influenced us in the writing and recording of the future studio album. In between tours, we are doing — we write a new album, and we are recording the album three songs at a time. And I think it's gonna sound a bit like a movie soundtrack. It's a concept album with the [VOIVOD mascot cyborg] Korgull coming back and everything. So, it's kind of interesting what's going on right now."

Elaborating on VOIVOD's creative mindset at the moment, Away said: "We're trying to be more and more experimental. And the last couple of albums were pretty intricate, and we won awards for them, so it's giving us confidence. And we do have a secret weapon — it's Chewy [Daniel Mongrain], our guitar player. He teaches jazz at college, and he has a lot of notions. And he already charted music for [VOIVOD's 2018 album] 'The Wake'. We had the string quartet for the Montreal Jazz Festival and [2020's] 'The End Of Dormancy' EP, he charted parts for a brass quintet. And so we try to include newer sounds in our music that will make it even more like a journey for the listener. There are no limits for us, it seems like, so we're gonna try to push it really."

Asked when he thinks the new VOIVOD album will be released, Away said: "We have so many shows planned and so many projects in the works. I would say late next year [2027]. At least people will be able to enjoy the symphonic album. And also we have a video game coming out called 'Nuclear Warrior', and it's based on end-of-'80s, early-'90s aesthetics. And again, we are all involved. I supplied a lot of low-res art Chewy's working on turning the VOIVOD music into 8-bit style. [VOIVOD frontman] Snake [Denis Bélanger] is doing the voice for the main character, and [VOIVOD bassist] Rocky [Dominic Laroche] is testing the game, so it's pretty fun. And the documentary 'We Are Connected' is coming out soon as well. And we just released a book with Jeff Wagner, 'Always Moving' — it's more than 500 pages long. So many things are in the works, and tons of reissues all the time."

Away added: "I've dedicated my life to VOIVOD for 43 years now, and it's pretty fun to be able to release all of these projects, because the people into VOIVOD are very loyal. So we try to supply them with as much stuff as possible."

"Symphonique" is due on June 5, 2026 worldwide via Century Media Records. "Symphonique", which functions like an epic piece of cinema, showcases VOIVOD's pioneering futuristic metal with the strains of a symphony orchestra, and features a carefully curated VOIVOD best-of setlist composed of 12 songs across 73 minutes, recorded live on June 4, 2025, at the Grand Théâtre in Québec City, Canada.

VOIVOD previously played two shows with the Orchestre Symphonique De Montréal on January 29, 2025 and January 30, 2025 at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletie in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Mongrain, who wrote an eight-minute arrangement for the brass quintet that performed with VOIVOD at the Montreal International Jazz Festival (Festival International de Jazz de Montréal) in June 2019, called the collaboration with the Orchestre Symphonique De Montréal "a dream come true."

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's long-awaited official documentary, "We Are Connected", received its world premiere on July 29, 2024 at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, Quebec. Canada.

"We Are Connected" dives deep into the 40-plus-year legacy of one of the most original and influential metal bands in history. From their explosive beginnings in Jonquière to their groundbreaking global journey, VOIVOD's story is one of unparalleled creativity, resilience, and evolution. The film covers VOIVOD's history from unlikely origins in northern Québec at the height of the Cold War to underground success to sharing tours and stages with IRON MAIDEN, RUSH and METALLICA. Included in the documentary are high and lows throughout those 40 years, from major-label support and Billboard recognition to seismic lineup changes and an event many critics claimed to be the end of VOIVOD: the death of co-founding guitarist and composer Dennis "Piggy" D'Amour.

Directed by Felipe Belalcazar and produced with full access to the band's archives, this film features exclusive insights and appearances by metal icons like Tobias Forge (GHOST),Mikael Åkerfeldt (OPETH),Jason Newsted (METALLICA),Zach Blair (RISE AGAINST, GWAR),Tom G. Warrior (CELTIC FROST, TRIPTYKON) and Ivan Doroschuk (MEN WITHOUT HATS),among many others.

VOIVOD's official biography, "Always Moving - The Strange Multiverse Of Voivod", came out last November. The book celebrates the extraordinary 40-plus-year career of Canada's cosmic metal visionaries VOIVOD. Author Jeff Wagner draws from exclusive interviews with band members, managers, producers, record label reps, family, peers, and musicians profoundly shaped by VOIVOD's ever-mutating sound to tell their full, fascinating story.

"Always Moving: The Strange Multiverse Of Voivod" is presented as a monumental oral history woven with Wagner's narrative. "Always Moving" casts a bright arc light on every creative era — from the raw chaos of the early years to the tech-prog heights, through tragedy, reinvention, and ultimate triumph.

VOIVOD has been touring in support of its latest album, 2023's "Morgöth Tales", which was released via Century Media, The Orchard and Sony Music.

The band's 2022 release, "Synchro Anarchy", garnered significant acclaim, winning the 2023 Juno Award for "Best Hard Rock/Metal Album" in Canada.

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".

Photo credit: Catherine Deslauriers

In a new interview with The Jesea Lee Show, FOZZY frontman Chris Jericho addressed the fact that some people still don't his band seriously due to his status as a legendary professional wrestler. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Every band has a gimmick. SLIPKNOT wears masks. When METALLICA came out, they played faster than anybody. KISS had makeup. All that is great. FOZZY has a wrestler as a singer. Awesome. Then five minutes into the performance, either it's good or it's bad. If KISS didn't have good songs, it wouldn't have mattered they wore makeup. Same with all the other bands, and same with FOZZY. If we weren't a great rock and roll band with great songs, we wouldn't still be around 25 years later playing festivals high up on the ladder like we are [at the Sonic Temple festival in Columbus]."

Chris continued: "Some bands will come out with a huge push from the radio, and you can tell that, okay, someone's spending some money on it, and they just don't follow up. I mean, we can go through the list of bands. I remember that band from 10 years ago that was the biggest thing, that was the hottest thing, and then, like, where are they now? So you really have to continue to evolve and morph your sound so it's always giving people something new.

"I think you look at the greatest bands of all time, they always changed," Jericho explained. "Always. I mean, look at METALLICA. If they were still playing 'Kill 'Em All' music, it would be boring at this point in time. They had to branch out. GUNS N' ROSES, I watched them last week — 'November Rain' and 'Estranged' and all this stuff. It's, like, [those songs] don't have any place on 'Appetite For Destruction', but they didn't get to the next level until they wrote those types of songs. And that's one thing with FOZZY. We have a sound, but we have no problems adding or subtracting, changing, trying different things. And Bowie was like that. He was always David Bowie, but it was always different. And we take great pride in doing that with FOZZY, and I do it in wrestling as well with the different personas and characters that I create. You have to continue to give people something new without betraying what you are essentially deep down inside. And, once again, if you can figure a way to do that — unless you're AC/DC or SLAYER, who don't have to do that, every huge band in history has done that."

Referencing the fact that he has established a large fanbase through different facets of his career, including his time in wrestling, Chris said: "There's people that still chant 'Y2J' [Chris's nickname] when I do a show, and that's fine because that tells me that people remember that era and it means something to them. 'You just made the list.' I get that every single day. But if I was saying 'you just made the list' every night, it wouldn't be as special anymore. So yes, I appreciate it. It's like [KISS frontman] Paul Stanley says: if the career of Chris Jericho is a 35-year elevator, some people get on the bottom floor, some people get on the eighth floor, some people get on right near the top. As long as you get on, I'm excited. And if you left and came back, or you left completely, I appreciate the fact that people were fans of mine in any era. The long-term ones, I mean, that's amazing as well. And, of course, in this day and age you get a lot of haters, and I can't worry about that. I can't worry about people on social media who absolutely hate everything I do, 'cause they're never gonna like me. I don't worry about the people that don't like me. I focus on the people that do, and I focus on making new fans who like what I do. That's it. The ones that hate me, thank you. Go watch something else. That's fine. Anybody that's listening that has any type of fanbase, don't worry about the haters 'cause they're never gonna like you. 'Cause if they suddenly start liking you, then they're telling themselves that they were wrong. And no one likes to be told that they're wrong or thinking that they're wrong. 'See, I told you he was shit. I told you he sucked.' And it's like, okay… Either way for me, I focus on the people that go, "Man, that was really fun. Thank you for, for being here.'"

This past April, FOZZY released a new single, "I Know Evil". The song served as a high-octane preview for the band's "Twisted Faith Tour 2026", which took place around the band's appearances at the Welcome To Rockville and Sonic Temple festivals.

"I Know Evil" is the follow-up to "Fall In Line", which was released in April 2025 via Madison Records. Prior to "Fall In Line"'s arrival, FOZZY released another standalone single, "Spotlight", which was made available in October 2023. All three tracks were helmed by FOZZY's longtime producer Johnny Andrews (THREE DAYS GRACE, ALL THAT REMAINS, HALESTORM).

Last September FOZZY surprise released its cover version of the OZZY OSBOURNE classic "Crazy Train". The track arrived two months after FOZZY released the official Lawrence Hinson-directed music video for "Fall In Line". The clip was filmed at HM Studios in Las Vegas, Nevada, based on a video concept by Hinson and Mark Willis.

FOZZY's latest album, "Boombox", came out in May 2022 and featured "I Still Burn", which has more than three million views on YouTube. It also included the Top 10 singles "Nowhere To Run" and "Sane".

In January 2022, FOZZY parted ways with longtime drummer Frank Fontsere and replaced him with Grant Brooks (THROUGH FIRE).

Fontsere was a founding member of FOZZY, having formed the group in 1999 with Jericho and guitarist Rich Ward.

When FOZZY announced Fontsere's departure, the band said that he was "stepping down to focus on his family and other projects."

FOZZY is Jericho, Ward, Brooks, Billy Grey (guitar) and P.J. Farley (bass).

Image credit: link textHadesmetal

Insight Editions has set an October 27 release date for "KISS Destroyer: The Definitive Visual History: Making And Touring The Legendary Album, Official And Authorized". The book was written by author Ken Sharp along with KISS co-founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons.

In 1976, Gene, Paul, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss stomped their platform heels into the mainstream with "Destroyer", which catapulted them to superstardom. This official, authorized retrospective takes you behind the scenes at the recording sessions and backstage at the mind-blowing tour that followed, offering eye-opening insights into:

* Marlon Brando's significance on the direction of the album
* tensions in the sound studio
* the destruction of Paul Stanley's favorite guitar
* creating the costumes and the cover artwork
* the photo shoots to promote the record
* a dare that led to the birth of the KISS Army
* David Bowie's influence on the stage design
* the band's hijinks on tour
* their encounters with Karen Carpenter, Margaret Hamilton, Paul Lynde, other stars of the day... and more!

The book features interviews with more than 50 people, including exclusive new interviews with Stanley, Simmons and producer Bob Ezrin, who reveal all the sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll that went into making the record. It comes jam-packed with deep dives on all the songs—including demos that didn't make the final cut and who titled "Beth" — and contains hundreds of photos, some never before published. Comprehensive tour information covers dates, venues, and key performances, and a complete timeline of recording and promoting the seminal album features world affairs and other cultural events, putting the band's milestones in meaningful context. So paint your face, stick out your tongue, and "Shout It Out Loud" with this must-have showcase of one of the most influential rock records of all time!

You can pre-order Insight Editions has set an October 27 release date for "KISS Destroyer: The Definitive Visual History: Making And Touring The Legendary Album, Official And Authorized" at this location.

Insight Editions is a pop-culture publisher based in San Rafael, California.

Ken Sharp is the author of the New York Times bestseller "Nothin' To Lose: The Making Of KISS". He writes for various national music magazines, works on music documentaries, and has written liner notes for releases from Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Santana and others. He lives in Los Angeles.

Gene Simmons is the co-founder, bass guitarist, and vocalist for KISS, who, in the 1970s, shattered box-office records set by Elvis Presley and THE BEATLES. The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, earning the most gold records in American music history, and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inducted them in 2014. An actor, manager, producer, publisher, record label founder, restaurateur, and entrepreneur, Simmons is the author or coauthor of multiple best-selling books, including "KISS And Make-Up", "KISS Kompendium", "KISS: The Early Years", "Me, Inc.", "Nothin' To Lose", "On Power" and "Sex Money KISS".

Paul Stanley is the co-founder, rhythm guitarist, and vocalist for KISS. A designer, musical theater actor, painter, producer, restaurateur, and entrepreneur, Stanley received accolades for playing the title role of "The Phantom Of The Opera" in Toronto and returned to close the show's ten-year run. He authored two New York Times best-selling books, "Face The Music" and "Backstage Pass", and is the author or co-author of other best-selling books, including "KISS Kompendium", "KISS: The Early Years" and "Nothin' To Lose". He actively supports AboutFace and various Wounded Warrior Project organizations.

Rock singer/guitarist/songwriter Tim Montana will release a new album, "Entire State Of Tim Montana", on July 31 via BMG. The sixteen tracks on the record feature some assists from music's heaviest hitters, including Jerry Cantrell (ALICE IN CHAINS),Slash (GUNS N' ROSES),Billy F Gibbons (ZZ TOP) and include cameos from Martin Sheen, Charlie Sheen and Robert Patrick as well.

Montana has built a reputation for delivering unapologetically loud, high-energy songs driven by blistering guitar riffs, raw vocals, and a rebellious, blue-collar attitude. Blending Southern rock swagger with modern hard-rock production, Montana's sound truly bridges the worlds of various genres, earning him a growing audience across multiple formats. His music reflects the rugged independence of the American West, with lyrics rooted in hard work, freedom, and living life on your own terms.

In addition to the album announcement, Montana launched the second single "Brown Sugar" off the upcoming record which features guitar powerhouses Gibbons and Slash.

Montana says: "Recording 'Brown Sugar' with Billy F Gibbons and Slash was a full-circle moment for me. My first brush with music was finding a GUNS N' ROSES tape, and later I became a die-hard ZZ TOP fan. Billy is like family, and seeing him play 'Brown Sugar' at our Wise River Club made me realize it had to be the one. To have these childhood heroes, Billy, who's become a mentor, and Slash, who lit that early spark on this track with me is beyond a dream."

The album news follows the first single off the new record "Break Me Down", which sets an immediate impact with heavy-hitting guitar riffs that kick in, pulling listeners in before vocals even start. The track builds into an emotional, powerful chorus, pairing melodies with intense visual storytelling in the accompanying music video.

On the upcoming record, Montana shares: "This record is a collision of my heroes and my scars, the loudest moments I've ever lived and the quiet truths I couldn't outrun. Don't worry there's some fun moments too. It's not over-polished, it's not safe, but it's exactly who I am."

"Entire State Of Tim Montana" track listing:

01. Courtroom (feat. Martin Sheen, Charlie Sheen & Robert Patrick)
02. Beautiful Hate
03. Break Me Down
04. Watch Me Drown (feat. First Crazy Dog & WolfBear)
05. Kinda Like It (feat. Jerry Cantrell)
06. Long Long Year
07. Brown Sugar (feat. Billy F Gibbons & Slash)
08. Vampires
09. Crown Of Ash (feat. Royale Lynn)
10. One Black Thumbnail
11. Roar
12. Like A Satellite
13. Off The Ground
14. Like A Kennedy
15. When It's Over
16. Everything I'm Not

Known for his electrifying live performances and larger-than-life presence, Montana has shared stages with some of the biggest names in rock and has continues to expand his reach with charting singles and a rapidly growing fan base. Whether in the studio or onstage, Tim Montana brings an unmistakable authenticity and intensity that sets him apart as one of the most distinctive voices in modern rock.

For as much as Tim Montana may be known as a wild man (and he certainly is),he really asserts himself as a tried-and-true storyteller. His story has twisted and turned with the unforgiving unpredictability of a Montana winter. He went from a rough youth spent off-the-grid in a trailer powered by a faulty generator to captivating a devout global fanbase, dropping successful independent albums, selling out shows, and earning the endorsement of childhood heroes such as Dave Grohl. At 21 years old, Tim settled in Music City. He busted his ass and found a way to be heard. He caught the attention of David Letterman who personally booked Montana on "The Late Show With David Letterman". Unlocking a creative chemistry with Billy Gibbons of ZZ TOP, their collaborations included "This Beard Came Here to Party", which served as the anthem for the 2013 World Series champion Boston Red Sox and the Nashville Predators during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He co-wrote radio hits for Kid Rock such as "Tennessee Mountain Top" and "Greatest Show On Earth" for 2017’s "Sweet Southern Sugar" — which bowed in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. Charlie Sheen espoused his admiration for Tim on social media and wound up directing the music video for "Mostly Stoned". Following 2021's "Long Shots", Tim he let his grunge flag fly, while still telling the kind of stories fans fell in love with in the first place. Now, he infuses Space Needle-shaking grunge grit with a different kind of frontier poetry, bringing together vivid lyricism, vulnerable melodies, and vicious distortion.

Photo credit: Spidey Smith

The Silent Rage issued the following press release:

“Legionnaires,

We are proud to officially welcome the newest members of The Silent Rage family: Constantin Maris (Forbidden Seed, I Abyssick) on lead vocals and Vassilis Batilas (Daylight Misery, ex-Fragile Vastness) on lead guitar.

Founding member and guitarist Nikos Siglidis comments: ‘It is a true pleasure to welcome Constantin and Vassilis to the band. We have known each other for many years, and they have always shown genuine respect and appreciation for The Silent Rage. Having them officially join our ranks marks an exciting new chapter for us, and I am truly looking forward to what the future holds.’

Vassilis Batilas states: “I am beyond stoked to join The Silent Rage as their new guitar player. Honored to be a part of the band as I have been a fan of the guys for quite a while. Onwards Legionnaires to our new endeavors. See you at An Club!”

Constantin Marris adds: “I’m really excited to be joining The Silent Rage. I couldn’t have asked for a warmer welcome to this new chapter. From the very first moment, it felt like we’d been playing together since always. I’m looking forward to see what the future holds for us on this new journey together. Gather the legions—battle is coming”.”

The Silent Rage will make their debut with the new line up alongside with Sunlight & Still Dusk at An Club in Athens, Greece, on Saturday, June 6th, 2026.

The Silent Rage is
Nikos Siglidis / Guitars
George Haniotakis / Bass
Stamatis Katsafados / Drums
Vassilis Batilas / Lead Guitar
Constantin Maris / Lead Vocals

The HojasLive channel on YouTube has uploaded video of DOWN performing the song "Lifer" — dedicated to late PANTERA members "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and Vinnie Paul Abbott, as well as iconic BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne — earlier today (Wednesday, June 3) at this year's edition of the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden. Check it out below.

DOWN, the long-running heavy metal supergroup featuring vocalist Philip H. Anselmo, guitarists Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein, drummer Jimmy Bower and bassist Pat Bruders, will return to North American stages this summer for a two-week headlining tour with support provided by HELMET and SPIRIT IN THE ROOM. The "Strap It Down" trek will begin in Atlanta, Georgia on August 15 and close in Shakopee, Minnesota on September 4 with a special previously announced performance as direct support to SLAYER. The journey also includes slots on the 2026 installment of Zakk Wylde's "Berzerkus" festival featuring LAMB OF GOD, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and others on August 28 in Scranton, Pennsylvania and August 29 in Wantagh, New York.

DOWN's special cover of Dr. John's "Right Place, Wrong Time", initially released in video form to celebrate Mardi Gras earlier this year, is currently available on all streaming platforms.

In a recent interview with Metal Nation, Windstein spoke about the progress of the recording sessions for DOWN's long-awaited new album. Kirk said: "It's done. It's been recorded. The process of trying to find… 'Cause we kind of self-produced it, so it's not that we're looking for a producer. The work is done. We just need to find the right person to mix it properly. So that's what we're looking at right now. But we're hoping to have a release by October or something, I would think."

Windstein also talked about the songwriting chemistry between him and his bandmates. He said: "It's been amazing. It really clicked — when we started writing for this new record, it was like we were back in the '90s or something, writing the 'NOLA' record [debut DOWN album]. It's, like, everybody's got ideas. One guy's got a riff and then somebody's got something that works with that riff. We also have a situation where Jimmy Bower, who plays guitar in EYEHATEGOD, he really started out as a drummer. I always joke with him — it's not even a joke; it's true — I'm, like, 'Dude, you're a way better drummer than you are a guitar player. But you're perfect for EYEHATEGOD,' which is the only band he plays [guitar] in. But Jimmy can write killer riffs. Our bass player Pat does. And the thing a lot of people don't know is how much Phil Anselmo is such a great songwriter and arranger, really, but he's a great riff writer. And I think three of the 10 songs on the record are pretty much his songs; every part is his. And we're, like, 'This is great.' We add a little something to it here and there."

Last fall, Windstein told "The Jasta Show", that the new DOWN album was shaping up to be "a killer, killer record."

As for his expectations for the LP, Windstein said: "It's either gonna totally be this huge thing or just flop. But if you're a DOWN fan, I don't see how you can not like it."

In August 2025, Kirk confirmed to Geoff of the Gas Masks & Hand Grenades podcast that DOWN was originally going to release a covers LP next. "It started out that way," Kirk said. "And that was the talk for quite a while, and it was kind of, like, well, if we're gonna learn all these really obscure songs, in the time it's gonna take us to learn all these fucking things and kind of make 'em our own, we could probably write originals. So we got together in January of 2024. Went to Phil's [rehearsal and recording studio]. Pepper, myself, Jimmy and Pat had gotten together and come up with a few ideas, and Phil had some stuff. We went out for three days and came back, came home, and by the time we were done, we had seven songs — not perfectly arranged."

Elaborating on the songwriting and recording process for the new DOWN material, Kirk said: "When we got together to write, the chemistry is just undeniable. It's just magic. We've known each other so long, we've jammed together for so long. And Pepper and I did something — [it was] kind of his idea, but I thought it was a pretty brilliant idea. Jimmy doesn't play to a click track, so it's harder [to keep time], especially when you're not looking at him. So, he said, 'You know what? Let's track the fucking guitars together. Let's not do one guy, then one guy. Let's pick out one section, let's make it through the whole fucking verse, and if one of us fucks up, we stop, go back and start it again.' So we're doing it, just playing together and shit. So it's got more of a live feel, because Pat and Jimmy laid the drums and bass down together, and now we're doing guitars together with the rhythm tracks and shit."

He added: "DOWN's one of the few bands — of course we use Pro Tools [recording software], but we don't do click tracks and fix shit. It's real music."

Earlier in August 2025, Kirk told The Five Count radio show in Mankato, Minnesota about the upcoming DOWN LP: "We couldn't be more excited about the material we have. The songs are extremely strong and they're very old school. They're put together really well, arranged really well, great riffs. We're real excited about it and I think the fans will be equally as excited."

In April 2025, it was announced that DOWN had signed with Nuclear Blast Records. At the time, the label said in a statement: "Nuclear Blast is proud to be in the trenches with NOLA legends DOWN as their partner in their long overdue return to the metal world. In addition, we are excited to bring some of their key past catalog releases back into the spotlight, especially on the vinyl side. There are so many longtime DOWN fans at Nuclear Blast who are excited to be working with one of their all-time favorite bands. 2026 can't come soon enough!"

DOWN headlined night one of last year's edition of the Milwaukee Metal Fest in May. The show followed the band's Western U.S. tour with DANZIG.

In April 2024, Windstein, who is also the frontman of CROWBAR, told Concrete Spew about the musical direction of the new DOWN material: "It just sounds like DOWN. I mean, it sounds refreshing because we haven't done it in so long, gotten together with me and the guys and done it in — fuck — 12 years or something. So it sounds like DOWN, I think, to me, it sounds more old-school DOWN. And the reason I say that is I think we got to a point where… Like, the 'NOLA' record is so simple, and it just wrote itself; it was so simple. And that's how this is coming about, which is great."

He continued: "We're not overthinking it. We're not trying to make things too complex. Phillip's not trying to write so many lyrics and things. We just kind of got away — I hate to say 'got away', 'cause anything we do is DOWN, but, to me, we kind of got a little bit… We needed to go back and look at each other and just go, 'Let's just get in a room and do it like we did from the beginning.' And that's what it feels like to me. It's very magical. The ideas and the working together, just bounce off of one another, it's a natural thing."

In August 2020, DOWN celebrated the 25th anniversary of "NOLA" with a special livestreamed event. Dubbed "The Quarter Century Throwdown", the high-production, multi-camera event took place using cutting-edge streaming technology to create a one-of-a-kind virtual concert experience.

A founding member of DOWN, Windstein left the band in 2013 in order to focus on CROWBAR and his family life. He was replaced by Bobby Landgraf, DOWN's former guitar tech who was previously in GAHDZILLA MOTOR COMPANY, a 1990s outfit also featuring Jason McMaster (DANGEROUS TOYS, WATCHTOWER),and HONKY.

Windstein announced his return to DOWN in 2019, with the band confirming a number of festival appearances for 2020 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of "NOLA", all of which were later canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic which swept the globe.

The supergroup hasn't issued any new original material since the arrival of the "Down IV – Part Two" EP in May 2014.

"Down IV – Part Two" sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release in May 2014 to debut at position No. 23 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous EP, "Down IV Part I – The Purple EP", opened with around 12,000 units in September 2012 to land at No. 35.

"Down IV – Part Two" was recorded at Nodferatu's Lair — Anselmo's home studio — and produced by Michael Thompson. It was released via Down Records/ADA Music.
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A trailer for the upcoming Peter Frampton documentary "Frampton" is available below. The two-and-a-half-minute clip includes archival photos and video, as well as interview footage with Sheryl Crow, Ringo Starr, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Tom Morello, director Cameron Crowe, Alice Cooper, STYX's Tommy Shaw, HEART's Nancy Wilson, THE WHO's Roger Daltrey and more.

From the explosive heights of "Frampton Comes Alive!" to the quiet introspection of his final tour, "Frampton" is an intimate portrait of a rock icon who soared, stumbled, and rose again.

This feature documentary traces Peter Frampton's extraordinary life and career — from his meteoric rise in the 1970s that made him a global sensation, through the turbulent years that tested his artistry, identity, and resilience.

As the roar of stadium crowds faded, Frampton faced the daunting task of rebuilding — reinventing his sound and rediscovering his purpose across solo projects, collaborations, and relentless touring. Behind the stage lights, personal sacrifices and fractured family ties reveal the cost of fame that few ever see.

Now, diagnosed with Inclusion Body Myositis, a degenerative muscle condition threatening his ability to play guitar, Frampton stands at a profound crossroads. "Frampton" captures the soulful poignancy of an artist confronting both the passage of time and his own physical limits, determined to make every performance count.

Directed by Frampton's own longtime bandleader Rob Arthur, the film allows the British musician to recount, in his own words, how he first came to prominence in the bands THE HERD and HUMBLE PIE before becoming a solo artist and experiencing a meteoric rise to selling out stadium shows in 1976.

Mixing archival footage with interviews and performance from Frampton's latest tour, this documentary shows not only where the musician has been but where he is and hopes to go, charting out all the trials and victories along the way. Filled with stories of (and interviews with) many of his fellow musicians of the era, this picture stands as a testament to some of the perils that come with fame and value lying in the making of music and bonds through the years.

"Frampton" will premiere on Thursday, June 4 at the Tribeca Festival in New York City.

For more information, visit www.framptonfilm.com.

Earlier this year, Peter celebrated the 50th anniversary of his iconic album "Frampton Comes Alive!" Upon its original release in 1976, "Frampton Comes Alive!" became a cultural phenomenon and remains one of the top-selling live albums of all time, with nearly 20 million copies sold worldwide. In honor of the milestone, Peter released a Vinylphyle edition of the landmark album via A&M/UMe. The limited Vinylphyle double LP pressing is sourced from the original 1975 Doug Sax 1/4" production master, with lacquers cut by Joe Nino-Hernes, and pressed on 180-gram black vinyl at RTI. The package features a four-panel insert including a new interview with Frampton and Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop.

Over the course of a career spanning more than six decades, Peter Frampton has established himself as one of the most celebrated guitarists in rock history. In 2007, he won a Grammy for "Best Pop Instrumental Album" for "Fingerprints"; in 2014, he was inducted into the Musicians Hall Of Fame; and in 2019, he received the Les Paul Innovation Award at NAMM's TEC Awards.

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 he appeared on Dolly Parton's latest album, "Rockstar", as the only artist featured on two tracks.

In 2023, Frampton unveiled "Frampton@50" on Intervention Records, a numbered limited-edition vinyl box set featuring Frampton's essential 1972-1975 studio releases "Wind Of Change", "Frampton's Camel" and "Frampton". He also received The Myositis Association's Heroes in the Fight 2023 Patient Ambassador Award and unveiled his historic performance at London's Royal Albert Hall as a live album via UMe.

In 2024, he received the Les Paul Spirit Award at Gibson Garage Nashville, was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and wrapped an extensive headline tour before returning to the studio to record "Carry The Light".

Photo credit: Lynn Goldsmith

One of the most distinctive and revered forces in rock music, Sweden’s Graveyard, have announced October 9 as the release date for their seventh studio album, Fever. Three years after the dreamlike haze of much-lauded previous record Six, the band return with a heavier, more direct sound — while still carrying the blues-soaked soul that defined their breakthrough album Hisingen Blues.

Graveyard commented: “Alright folks. Here it is — album number 7. Fever. Haven’t we always had it? The itch, the burn and the restlessness. The urge to push forward into the fog. Even with the teeth of hopelessness snapping at our asses and all the smoke and mirrors of our time telling us we got no future. Come what may. Let’s go!

This time around, we decided to waste no time. No outside producer. No detours. Just Graveyard, straight to the point, doing what we do best. This just might be our greatest album so far! Hope you like it, too.”

The striking artwork for Fever was created by acclaimed Dutch artist Maarten Donders, whose powerful and expressive visual style has been showcased at the renowned cult festival Roadburn. Over the years, Donders has created artwork for more than 50 artists, ranging from Acid King to Frank Zappa.

Handling mixing duties is Pelle Gunnerfeldt, celebrated for capturing the raw intensity of bands such as The Hives and Refused, while more recently working with Viagra Boys.



Tracklisting:

“Back From The Grave”
“Tongue Tied”
“A Better Cut (Note To Self)”
“Year Of The Horse”
“A Means To An End”
“Time To Tell”
“Don’t Shoot!”
“Room Tempered”
“Dead Note”

Rolling Stone magazine has premiered the official by Rex Miller-directed music video for CRO-MAGS' first new song in six years, "Wired For Chaos". The track — which shares a name with a recent documentary about CRO-MAGS frontman Harley Flanagan's life — will appear on the New York hardcore legends' upcoming album, which will be released in 2027 via BLKIIBLK, the heavy metal imprint of Frontiers Label Group.

In a statement to Rolling Stone, Flanagan said about the "Wired For Chaos" song: "It comes in with an aggressive metal intro befitting a UFC walk-in or a video game, then bursts into a more traditional HC thrash vibe before returning to a heavy beatdown at the end in an unmistakable CRO-MAGS style."

Regarding the lyrical inspiration for the track, Harley said: "The song is literally about being programmed and wired for chaos from birth, not just by environment, but by parents, trauma, childhood experiences, and the resulting PTSD that I personally struggle with as a result."

This past March, Harley revealed that he was working on the band's new album with SEPULTURA drummer Greyson Nekrutman and acclaimed producer Arthur Rizk. Arthur had previously helmed LPs by KREATOR, MUNICIPAL WASTE, CODE ORANGE and SOULFLY, among others.

CRO-MAGS' most recent album, "In The Beginning", came out in June 2020 via Arising Empire and Mission Two Entertainment.

CRO-MAGS' "Don't Give In" EP was released in August 2019 via Victory Records. A second three-song EP, titled "From The Grave", arrived in December 2019.

The history of the CRO-MAGS is integral to the history of hardcore, its evolution from punk and the development of alternative music genres such as hardcore, cross-over, thrash metal, post punk and grunge, to name a few. Numerous iconic bands from METALLICA to GREEN DAY, and individuals such as Dave Grohl have credited CRO-MAGS with having had a primal influence on their development.

Born out of the violence and depravity of the Lower East Side of New York in the late '70s and early '80s, the CRO-MAGS was the brainchild of a very young Harley Flanagan (at the time 14 years old) when still playing with THE STIMULATORS. By 1982/83 he wrote and recorded the very first CRO-MAGS demos consisting of four songs that would become the blueprint for the seminal 1986 LP "Age Of Quarrel". He wrote all of the music, played each instrument and sang. Before long, he connected with Parris Mayhew and the two started writing music and auditioning band members.

Last October, Flanagan told George Miller of United Kingdom's Devolution Magazine about his songwriting process: "A lot of the stuff is actually written in the studio. Typically I'll go in with half the songs kind of formulated and the other half will just kind of happen, and then I'll just move a couple parts around, but that'll be the basis of the song. In fact, I find more often than not, those are the songs that come out the best because they're just burning; they're coming out right then and there. And then the good thing to do is to freestyle some vocals or whatever, and then come back to them and revisit them later with actual lyrics, and take it from there."

He added: "My process is still evolving. Who knows? Maybe that's why I haven't had any real success, because I haven't stuck to a formula long enough for people to sink their teeth into it. I don't know. But do you wanna be a successful artist or do you want to be a satisfied artist?"

The feature documentary "Harley Flanagan: Wired For Chaos", which charts his tumultuous life and survival, arrived in theaters in June 2025.

This past January, a freshly re-recorded version of the CRO-MAGS classic track "Hard Times" was made available online. The song arrived just in time for the 40th anniversary of the hardcore legends' "The Age Of Quarrel" debut album. This version, dubbed the "Wired for Chaos Session", also celebrates the aforementioned documentary film of the same name.

In addition to touring with his band CRO-MAGS all over the world, today Harley is a jiu-jitsu professor (under the tutelage of Master Renzo Gracie),devoted husband (having married a Park Avenue attorney) and the father of two sons.

QUEEN frontman Adam Lambert, who made history nearly a decade and a half ago as the first openly LGBT vocalist to have an album debut at the No. 1 position of the Billboard album chart, spoke to Audacy Music about this year's LGBTQ+ Pride Month, which commemorates the anniversary of the 1969 uprising at a popular gay bar in New York City. Asked what gives him the most hope today compared to how things were when he first started out, Adam said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, it's incredible how much change has happened. When I first came out into the music scene, there weren't really any other gay men doing mainstream pop music. I couldn't find any. Maybe one in the U.K. It was very slim. There were a lot of actors starting to become very visible and coming out that helped, but there was this wave starting of visibility, and I'm really proud to say that I was part of that wave that affected things like gay marriage and the idea that there's a lot of different types of people in the gay community. It's not just one cliché. Because we were coming out of an era where the one clown on a TV show was, queer. But that wasn't a broad, fully comprehensive picture of who we were. So I'm just really proud of all the progress we've made as a community. And yeah, the pendulum is swinging, and there's some ups and some downs, and there's some setbacks and obstacles, and that's just how it's gonna go. That's life and history. But I think we've done really well."

Asked what Pride means to him personally in the year 2026, Adam said: "Well, I think the only way we're gonna get through some of these challenges is with each other, the unity of it all, remembering that it is a community. I think the more mainstream the gay world gets, the less of a community exists. It's like we're not as close-knit because there's a lot more versions of us now, and they're more out there in the world, and people understand what they are. So there's a lot of segregation even within the community that is hard to see. Because in the beginning it felt like more of a small, tight-knit kind of experience. And everybody, if you look at the history of it, like back in the '70s when it was starting, the human rights and equal rights of it all, people were all dealing with kind of the similar thing. Society felt this way about gay people, our families felt this way about gay people. So people had a lot to identify with each other over, because they had the same struggles. Now, there's all these different types of struggles. Some people don't struggle at all, so for some people it's really easy. It's not that hard at all to be gay or bi or lesbian or whatever. For some people it still is.

"I would love to see Pride this year put some emphasis on us as a community," Adam continued. "And everyone's welcome, everyone's accepted, especially like our trans brothers and sisters right now that are really getting some harsh treatment from the country we live in right now.

"There are members of the community that sort of don't wanna acknowledge trans people as part of the umbrella, and it's just, like, come on," Lambert added. "Quit being a bully. It's like the you-can't-sit-with-us energy. That's not gonna get us ahead in this day and age. So I would just like to see Pride just be as inclusive as possible."

Last month, Lambert released the official Vitalii Akimov-directed music video for his latest single, "Eat U Alive". The track is taken from Adam's sixth full-length studio album, "Adam", which will arrive on Friday, July 10 via his own label, distributed via The Orchard. Featuring artwork by renowned fashion photographer Nick Knight and executive produced by Pete Nappi (Jon Bellion, Jon Batiste, JONAS BROTHERS, Rihanna, Pharrell Williams),the self-titled album features 12 diverse new songs and marks a fully realized exploration into all facets of Lambert's humanity and otherworldly artistry.

The "Eat U Alive" release marked the first original music from Lambert since his critically acclaimed Broadway debut in 2024 starring as Emcee in the Tony Award-winning production of "Cabaret" at the Kit Kat Club for which The New York Times praised his "theatrical chops" and Variety called it a role he was "born to play." Due to fan demand, he released "I Don't Care Much" as a single in collaboration with Andrew Lloyd Webber, which he debuted on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon". He followed up that acclaimed role with "Jesus Christ Superstar" at the Hollywood Bowl in August 2025 where he starred as Judas alongside Cynthia Erivo as Jesus. The three-night run of shows received rave reviews with TheWrap touting it as "the theater world's hottest ticket." Variety also praised the "smashing" three-night run of shows saying, "If Lambert and Erivo could both be signed up for Broadway, this show would surely run for as many months, years or millennia as they were willing to commit to it."

In addition to the arts, activism and advocacy are key pillars for Lambert. Continuing his support for the LGBTQ+ community, he founded the non-profit organization Feel Something Foundation in 2020, supporting LGBTQ+ human rights. He also serves as an ambassador for Global Citizen, an advocacy platform dedicated to achieving the end of extreme poverty and will be speaking Thursday, May 14 at the "Global Citizen NOW: New York" impact summit.

Lambert is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, actor, and LGBTQ+ trailblazer who rose to global fame on "American Idol" in 2009. He has since built an international career defined by powerhouse vocals and bold artistry, earning multiple Top 10 albums including "For Your Entertainment", "Trespassing" and "The Original High", along with hit singles like "Whatya Want From Me" and "Ghost Town". His album "Trespassing" made history as the first No. 1 on the Billboard 200 by an openly gay male artist, and beyond his solo work, Lambert has captivated audiences worldwide as the frontman for QUEEN, performing sold-out stadium shows across the globe.

His creative reach spans film, television, and stage, with standout roles in "Glee" and his acclaimed Broadway debut as the Emcee in "Cabaret". In 2025, he starred as Judas in "Jesus Christ Superstar" at the Hollywood Bowl alongside Cynthia Erivo, earning rave reviews. A passionate advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, he founded the Feel Something Foundation to support global human rights initiatives. Constantly evolving, Lambert continues to push artistic boundaries as he prepares to release his highly anticipated sixth studio album, "Adam".

"Eat U Alive" was written by Adam Lambert, David Pramik, Alna Hofmeyr, Jordan Brasko Gable, Peter Nappi and Brasko. Produced by Pramik and Nappi, it features Pramik on acoustic guitar, synthesizer, percussion, and electronic drums, Nappi on synthesizer, percussion, and electronic drums, and Hofmeyr on background vocals.

In a new interview with the Zach Sang Show, MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee spoke about the band's upcoming "The Return Of Carnival Of Sins" tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of CRÜE's groundbreaking 2005-2006 "Carnival Of Sins" tour and the 45th anniversary of the band. The 33-city Live Nation-produced trek will kick off on July 17, 2026 in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania at the Pavilion at Star Lake and will feature support acts EXTREME and TESLA. Regarding the preparation for the tour, Tommy said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We start rehearsing in — I don't know — two weeks. So I'll be playing every single day then.

Asked about the musicianship and chemistry between him and the other members of MÖTLEY CRÜE when they meet up and play together now, Tommy said: "We've been playing these songs for so long, if anything, we're just brushing up on some of the newer stuff. But we've played those songs so many times, we could all play them blindfolded, drunk and standing on your head.

"The vibe's cool, man," he continued. "As we've grown, the vibe as a band has really gotten closer, and you would think it wouldn't. We've gotten closer. Everybody, I think, has had enough time to kind of step back and reflect on what we've done together, man, and we're still doing. Count that on one hand. There's not a whole lot of bands that are still doing it from when we started. So we all have a big gratification, a new love, and just — I don't know — appreciation for a lot. And we've been very, very fortunate."

Regarding whether MÖTLEY CRÜE is "bigger than any one person", Tommy said: "Yeah… When the four of us get together, each guy brings a certain something to the party, and only those four guys can do that. You can't really assemble it. And it's really hard to be objective talking about yourself. You're, like, 'Uh, I don't know, quite know how to answer that.' I'll just tell you how I feel. But it's a trip, dude."

Asked what the reason is for MÖTLEY CRÜE's success, Lee said: "The reason? Oh my God, dude… Okay. Luck, talent, timing. There's so many reasons. I don't know if you can necessarily just be it's one thing. It really is a combination of timing, luck, talent, just all this stuff that somehow the universe lined up for you to go and play with.

After host Zach Sang noted that there must have been a lot of moments where Tommy could have quit MÖTLEY CRÜE, Lee said: "Oh, for sure. Oh, yeah. I mean, I actually did quit MÖTLEY for a couple years. I was creatively dying slowly as just my personal musicianship and craft and stuff, and I needed an outlet. So I actually quit for a couple years, and that's when I started METHODS OF MAYHEM and started doing some solo stuff because I had to switch gears. I wasn't able to creatively do anything outside of the MÖTLEY format. And with my own stuff, it was a place for me — I call it the adult sandbox. Like, literally anything goes. No genres, no style — it doesn't matter. We're doing whatever I wanna do and just have fun with it. Creatively I needed that, 'cause I was at kind of a bad place in my life. And then I realized it sitting in jail", referring to the time in 1998 when he served four months in jail for a spousal abuse charge on then wife Pamela Anderson. "I was, like, 'I gotta change something, 'cause obviously I'm here. I gotta switch it up because I gotta get happy and get out of here.'"

Tommy went on to say that he knew his unhappiness was linked to his creativity. "100%, man," he said. "It's such a big part of me. If you're not happy creatively and you don't feel like you're able to constantly evolve and create and do that stuff, that's dangerous.

Asked by Sang if he thinks he was "born to do this" and "it's a part of who" he is, Tommy said: "I think so, dude, because… I mean, I wouldn't remember, but my parents tell me, as soon as I was tall enough to reach into the silverware drawer and pull out all the pots and pans, I was just constantly playing, constantly playing. That I don't really remember, but a little later on in life, I remember just jumping up and down on my bed playing air guitar and knowing that 'I'm doing this'. There was no other thing. I was, like, 'I wanna do this.' And I remember having some funny arguments with my parents, quitting school my senior year. They're, like, 'Dude, just graduate. Oh my God, you only have a couple of more months. What if this music thing doesn't work out?' I'm, like, 'Oh, it's gonna work out. It's gonna work out. It's gonna fucking work out. I got this.' And then the time came where both of my parents come to the Forum [in Los Angeles] and watched us on tour with Ozzy Osbourne — sold out, 18,000 people. And my mom and dad are sitting out there. And they're looking around. The house light, the blinders go on and it lights up the whole audience. From playing my drums, I can see my parents, and both of my parents are looking around, and they're, like, 'Fuck, he said he got it. He got it.' 'Cause I was, like, 'No, I got this.' And that look, that moment was, like, 'Oh…' What gets any better than that? You're kind of going against your parents' wishes, but you're confident enough to know, like, 'No, this is in me. I have to do this.' And to be able to have them come and see that, and watching that from the stage, I'm, like... I almost started crying. I was, like, 'This is what it's all about. This is what it's all about, man.'"

Tommy is a founding member of MÖTLEY CRÜE, which formed in 1981. He also founded the rap-metal band METHODS OF MAYHEM and pursued solo music projects. The drummer has dabbled in TV and starred in two reality shows.

2000's "New Tattoo" album was the only MÖTLEY CRÜE studio record ever made entirely without Lee. Randy Castillo, a former member of Ozzy Osbourne's band, was behind the kit in the studio.

When the "Carnival Of Sins" tour first hit the road in 2005, it wasn’t just a concert — it was a full-scale production that pushed the limits of live shows. It combined grit, humor, and high-voltage energy with elaborate staging and a sense of chaos that only MÖTLEY CRÜE could pull off. Two decades later, fans will have the chance to experience "The Return Of The Carnival Of Sins" as MÖTLEY CRÜE revisits one of the most memorable live tours of their storied career with a reimagined show and updated setlist.

MÖTLEY CRÜE said that $1 from every ticket sold for "The Return Of Carnival Of Sins" will be donated to ASAP! (After School Arts Program) through the Mötley Crüe Giveback Initiative to fund hands-on arts programs for young people.

Photo credit: Leo Baron