In a new interview with the "Nothing Shocking" podcast, drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz of long-running Florida-based death metallers CANNIBAL CORPSE was asked if he prefers the transparency and interaction with fans in the social media age over the pre-Internet days when not knowing so much created a certain mystique that is lost on full exposure. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's a tough one. It is a tough one, because, obviously, I love what the Internet and technology has brought us, where you've got everything at your fingertips, bands being able to do so much and know so much. It is cool, but I guess my old-school mentality or being from the generation prior to that, you kind of do miss the mystique of the old days where you didn't know much about bands and you had to get your information from going to buy a magazine, what little info you did get from that or what have you, or it's word-of-mouth kind of stuff. So I kind of miss the old mystique of the metal back in the old days like that because of not knowing and not having everything at your fingertips. It's a tough one, because on the other hand, it's good to stay connected with the fans and so many people can… We wouldn't be doing this right now if it wasn't for that technology. So it's a tough one. But I would have to say, just looking back at how I grew up and all this, it had that certain mystique. Now maybe when I was younger, I would have liked it to be like it is now, because you can think back, what I would have known or could have known or this and that, which you don't know any better because you just don't even think of that, of course, when that's all coming up in the future and you're just living in the now. But I look back at how I grew up, and it was fun going to record stores and finding new bands that way and that's how you got into a lot of the bands, or reading about 'em in a magazine. If not, you'd go into a record store and go, 'Oh, look at this record. Wow. That looks cool. Let's put it on. Wow. This is awesome.' And that's how you found out new music and how you got into bands. Now, of course, who's gonna do that? It's never gonna happen. So I miss that mystique and that way of how it used to be. But that's a thing of the past, I guess. I guess I'm just happy to be a part of that."

Paul continued: "I always tell people I'm just happy… I got lucky, I suppose. Everyone's gotta be born when they're born and I just happened to be born in that whole transitional era with metal… Being a teenager right then at that time in the early '80s and then growing with the music and the changing of the scene daily. Look how much change happened in the metal scene from '80 to '90. It's unbelievable. Or from '82 to '85, or '85 to '88. And we were a part of that as a hungry teenager that's not even sure what… You're getting into your bands and not even sure what you're fully into yet, because you're still getting molded and all. So I feel very lucky that I'm part of all that and having those transitions and being a part of the movement, so to say. It was a great era to be growing up in. And if it wasn't for that, CANNIBAL wouldn't be what they are, and obviously I wouldn't be the drummer I am and the musician I am. So everything happened for a reason and that's the way it goes. But, yeah, exciting times. Definitely."

CANNIBAL CORPSE's 15th studio album, "Violence Unimagined", was released in April 2021 via Metal Blade Records. Erik Rutan, one of the death metal's most acclaimed guitarists who is known for his time as part of MORBID ANGEL throughout the '90s and early 2000s, as well as handling vocals/guitars for HATE ETERNAL, lent his guitar as well as production skills to the effort, which was recorded at his Mana Recording in St. Petersburg, Florida. Rutan previously produced four CANNIBAL CORPSE albums (in addition to "Violence Unimagined"),alongside the likes of GOATWHORE, SOILENT GREEN and BELPHEGOR. Filling in live on guitar since 2019, in 2020 he became a full member, contributing to the writing process.

Fan-filmed video of SLIPKNOT's June 13 performance at Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, The Netherlands can be seen below.

Last week, SLIPKNOT surprise-released a new EP called "Adderall". The six-song effort contains alternate versions (no intro, rough demo and instrumental) of the title track, which originally appeared on last year's "The End, So Far" album, along with the 2023 standalone single "Bone Church", as well as non-album songs "Death March", "Red Or Redder" and "Hard To Be Here". Also newly released are music videos for "Memories (Adderall – Rough Demo)" and "Death March", both directed by SLIPKNOT's founding member, percussionist and visual mastermind M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan.

"Bone Church" was surprise-released in February, along with a video piece titled "Yen – Director's Cut (Bone Church)", which found Crahan refreshing footage from the band's "Yen" music video.

On June 7, SLIPKNOT announced that it had parted ways with longtime keyboardist Craig Jones. However, the post announcing Jones's exit from the group was quickly deleted and a photo was shared of the band's apparent new member. The same unidentified person apparently appeared onstage behind the keyboards at during SLIPKNOT's performance at Austria's Nova Rock festival.

During the Nova Rock concert, SLIPKNOT played two songs — "The Blister Exists" and "Purity" — for the first time in eight years. The band also performed "Liberate" for the first time since 2016 and "Yen", a song from last year's "The End, So Far" album, was aired for the very first time.

No reason was given for Jones's departure from SLIPKNOT.

Jones joined SLIPKNOT in early 1996, shortly after the band had finished the recording of its demo album "Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat." He was initially brought in to replace Donnie Steele, one of the two original guitarists, though he quickly moved on to the role of sampling and keyboards.

On June 7, SLIPKNOT also announced that percussionist Crahan would sit out some of the band's upcoming tour dates so that he can stay home to support his wife "through some health issues".

Crahan rejoined SLIPKNOT on stage at this past weekend's Download festival in the U.K.

Run To The Light, originally released by Metal Blade Records on July 15, 1987, is the third studio album by doom metal legends, Trouble. Metal Blade Records will proudly reissue the quintessential classic this Friday on CD, vinyl and digitally.


The CD and digital release will feature three previously unreleased demos - "The Misery Shows," "Thinking Of The Past and "Run To The Light," along with a cover of The Beatles classic, "Come Together", previously available on the Best Of Metal Blade Vol.2 (1987). All versions are available for pre-order here.


Guitarist Bruce Franklin had this to say about the re-release; "Run To The Light was long overdue for a re-release. So, since it took 35 years, we thought remastering and some bonus tracks were in order. The first bonus track is a cover version of The Beatles 'Come Together', which was recorded during the Run To The Light album sessions. It previously was only available on a Best Of Metal Blade compilation. The other bonus tracks are from a 1986 demo of 3 songs that would end up being prominent titles on the actual Run To The Light album, recorded in 1987. Throw in a bunch of not-seen-before tour pictures from the 1987 tour with King Diamond and you have a new repackaging of Run To The Light with plenty of extras for Trouble fans."







CD / Digital tracklisting:


"The Misery Shows"
"Thinking Of The Past"
"On Borrowed Time"
"Run To The Light"
"Peace Of Mind"
"Born In A Prison"
"Tuesday's Child"
"The Beginning"
"Come Together"
"The Misery Shows" (Demo)
"Thinking Of The Past" (Demo)
"Run to The Light" (Demo)


LP tracklisting:


Side A
"The Misery Shows"
"Thinking Of The Past"
"On Borrowed Time"
"Run To The Light"


Side B
"Peace Of Mind"
"Born In A Prison"
"Tuesday's Child"
"The Beginning"





Trouble is an American metal band noted as one of the pioneers of their genre. The band created a distinct style taking influences from the British heavy metal bands Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, and psychedelic rock of the 1970s. A critically acclaimed group, their first two albums, Psalm 9 and The Skull (on Metal Blade) are cited as landmarks of doom metal. To date, Trouble has released nine studio albums including their latest release, The Distortion Field (July 2013 on FRW Music) featuring new singer Kyle Thomas.

Long-running Massachusetts-based band SHADOWS FALL will enter the studio later this week with producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris to begin recording some of its new material.

Earlier today (Monday, June 12),SHADOWS FALL shared a photo of the band with Zeuss, and it included the following message: "@zeussproducer is in the house and we @shadowsfallband start the recording process this Thursday!"

During an appearance on a recent episode of "The Jasta Show" podcast, SHADOWS FALL singer Brian Fair spoke about the possibility of new music from him and his bandmates. He said: "I will finally say there are riffs that are turning into skeletons that might become songs. Now, what happens with them, where they go, we'll see. But once we started jamming [for the recent reunion shows], we were, like, 'What's the point of doing this without writing new riffs?' And we had to make sure they were gonna sound like SHADOWS FALL; we didn't wanna come out of nowhere with something different, out of left field. But so far, they're coming together, man, and I'm stoked on what I'm hearing. So hopefully that'll continue, that'll continue on. But as far as dropping a whole record… Who knows? These days it's different anyway. Shit, we can just drop a few random singles and then see where it goes. But I'm excited that we're writing, that we're doing things. And so far what I've heard has been amazing… I haven't really committed, but we are finally getting our shit together and getting some riffs together."

Fair went on to say that SHADOWS FALL is not currently signed to any record label. "We're free and clear," he explained. "We were luckily free and clear for a while, so even our last couple of records were done kind of on our own terms."

SHADOWS FALL played its first reunion show in December 2021 at The Palladium in Worcester in the band's native Massachusetts. Fair and his bandmates also performed at Blue Ridge Rock Festival in Alton, Virginia, at the Furnace Fest in Birmingham, Alabama, and at the Milwaukee Metal Fest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Asked by host Jamey Jasta if SHADOWS FALL would be open to going out on a more extensive tour, possibly as the support act for an arena band, Fair said: "We're not averse to that. It takes a lot of logistics now, with the rest of my guys being in legendary thrash bands, like ANTHRAX and OVERKILL and whatnot. But if we can do it, we would love to. Right now, festivals have been something we can pull off. But I would love to do short tours or even a month-long tour. Or at least some long weekends where we hit each coast or do New England and then Midwest and then a West Coast thing. But we'll see. We're not saying 'no' to anything. We're gonna listen. So we'll see, if things make sense and if we can make it work."

He added: "I've been in dad mode, just working nine to five for a while, so getting back on the pirate ship is pretty enticing at this point."

SHADOWS FALL released a statement in August 2014 in which the bandmembers explained that financial difficulties made it virtually impossible for the group to continue as a full-time concern.

In August 2015, SHADOWS FALL played a few reunion shows on the U.S. East Coast, one year after completing what was being billed at the time as the band's "final" European tour.

SHADOWS FALL's latest album, "Fire From The Sky", released in May 2012 via Razor & Tie. The CD sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 38 on The Billboard 200 chart.

SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner is currently playing with OVERKILL, while guitarist Jon Donais is a member of ANTHRAX.

Donais and SHADOWS FALL guitarist Matt Bachand recently launched a new project called LIVING WRECKAGE, in which they are joined by guitarist Matt LeBreton (DOWNPOUR),drummer Jon Morency (LET US PREY) and vocalist Jeff GardDEATH RAY VISION.

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FEAR FACTORY has shared a Dino Cazares guitar playthrough video of an early instrumental version of a new FF song called "Roboticist". Check it out below. The track was made available in late March to promote Toneforge Disruptor, a virtual guitar rig plugin and standalone app that simplifies guitar tone and provides all the necessary tools for guitarists, mixers, and producers to create detailed metal tones. Developed in collaboration with Cazares, the guitarist for FEAR FACTORY, it is the first virtual rig to offer DI Match Technology, String/Tuning Mode calibrations, and AI-matched Dino Cazares tones using a Neural Network algorithm. The plugin also includes an Autonomous Dynamic System, a built-In Dynamic EQ, three Amp Channels, a redesigned Cab Room, and a complete suite of effects pedals.

Cazares told BLABBERMOUTH.NET about "Roboticist", which was mixed by longtime FEAR FACTORY collaborator Damien Rainaud: "Initially it was just going to be a instrumental for the plugin, but it came out so good that I decided to make it a song for the new album. Maybe the album will be called the 'Roboticist'. It fits so well with our concept."

FEAR FACTORY's next LP will be the band's first with new singer Milo Silvestro, whose addition to FEAR FACTORY was officially announced in late February.

The Italian-born Silvestro joined FEAR FACTORY as the replacement for the band's original singer Burton C. Bell.

In a recent interview with Revolver, conducted prior to the start of FEAR FACTORY's "Rise Of The Machine" tour as the support act for STATIC-X, Silvestro was asked if he was feeling nervous about taking the stage as the singer of FEAR FACTORY. He responded: "Yes, a little bit, but I always thought that being nervous is part of the game. My dad always told me, the moment that you're not scared of going onstage, you better quit music. I think it's supposed to be a really emotional thing, an emotional [moment in] your life. Also, the fact that it's my very first tour experience, my very first FEAR FACTORY experience, my first huge [musical] experience in general, of course that makes me a little bit nervous. But the good thing is that Dino [Cazares, FEAR FACTORY guitarist] and also the fans, fortunately enough, are making me really comfortable. I want to say thanks to them because they've been amazing. You're always scared about the hating, the negative comments and stuff, which I started seeing because my name had been leaking even before [I got the job] because of the [vocal] covers [I put on YouTube]. People were like, 'Oh, this guy is really good, so maybe it could be him.' Some haters started popping up: 'Oh, he's fucking garbage.' At first I was a little bit scared — and of course Dino had been preparing me for a long time. 'Be prepared. Either in a good or bad way, it's going to be a shitstorm.' But fortunately enough, [when] the announcement came out, [the reaction] was 99.9 percent positive. The negative comments were mostly about [how] this band without [the] previous singer is not FEAR FACTORY anymore. They just need to change the name, blah, blah, blah. Maybe one or two guys were like, 'I don't like him. He sucks.' But nothing that big to fuck with my brain or make me insecure. I was really happy to see literally thousands of people — either friends of mine, people that I know from Italy and totally unknown FEAR FACTORY fans — going, 'Welcome to the family, dude.' It was a really amazing love showering. I'm so thankful and so humbled for that."

Asked how he planned to win those skeptical fans over, Milo said: "I get that certain people are skeptical, because as a fan of music, as a metalhead and a fan of music in general, I know that metal fans are so dedicated, so crazy about their music, which is a good thing. It's almost like a religion. When your favorite band changes singers or a guitar player or whatever, you can feel a little bit sad about it. It can be hard to move on. I had favorite bands of mine that changed either singers or drummers. Maybe I was so affectionate to the style of that musician, and then I had a hard time moving on. But then once I found myself in this position of being the actual guy that is replacing the previous one, now I realize even more that, yeah, sometimes it can be tough for a fan. But it's just something that you either get over, or you don't care about the band anymore.

"What I want to say to [the doubters] is, I know you're skeptical, and it's totally understandable because the FEAR FACTORY vocal legacy is so iconic. The vocals were so identifiable and iconic and it's like replacing James Hetfield in METALLICA. What I want to say is that it's okay to be skeptical, but we are making sure that we're going to do this right. ... I've been working hard these past three years on the vocal style to make sure even the small nuances [are accounted for], how [Bell] pronounced certain things, how he goes from that note to that other note, how he pronounced certain screamed words. Also, from a vocal effects standpoint, we're making sure that everything sounds exactly like the record. I brought a bunch of effects, which I'm a bit of a freak about because I also run a studio. I like to tweak some shit, so I brought them a bunch of shit. Dino, at first, was like, 'What the fuck is this?,' but then he was like, 'Okay.' I was like, 'What if we recreate some of the vocal effects on the record, the beautiful delays which are parts of the vocal legacy?' Songs like 'Self Bias Resistor', the beautiful chorus has got a lot of deeper delay. That's part of the vocal sound. That's also what makes FEAR FACTORY's trademark sound."

Dino previously told RichardMetalFan that he wasn't "afraid" of replacing someone like Bell. "I've been there before," he said. "I'm ready to move on forward. I look forward to it. I think it's gonna be fucking ripping. It's gonna be killer. I'm gonna put out some more heavy shit. So I don't think anybody needs to worry. The vocalist I got is amazing. He's younger; he's in his mid-30s. He's at his vocal peak, I think. He's there and ready to go."

FEAR FACTORY's latest album, "Aggression Continuum", was released in June 2021 via Nuclear Blast Records. The LP, which was recorded primarily in 2017, features Cazares and Bell alongside drummer Mike Heller.

Amonarchy have released their self-titled album on all major platforms. The album was recorded by Charlie Scovill & Sean Lee and produced by Kyle Purwin.


"We’re excited to announce the release of our debut album, a blend of metal and rock with lyrics that dive into the events and emotions that drive us to create music. We drew on influences from Metallica, Iron Maiden, Rage Against the Machine, Queen and other legends of metal and rock. So put on your horns and crank up the volume. We can’t wait to share our music with you!," says Kyle Purwin.


After graduating from Boston’s Berklee College of Music, Kyle Purwin (guitar, vocals, writing) moved to the West Coast to seek out passionate musicians who shared his vision of telling stories through songs about modern-day issues. After a thorough search, he found like-minded artists, Tony Gallo (drums) and Sam Apotheker (bass), and formed Amonarchy.




The band has been performing regularly at local clubs within the Los Angeles area and has been gaining a lot of ground in the rock music scene. Their songs are musical narratives about real world matters in politics and humanity in general. Their lyrics express their empathy and concerns toward war, government, suicide, and toxic relationships. Amonarchy means one nation, one kingdom and one world that they believe that we are all a part of. The band wishes to inspire their fans and listeners to feel and pursue a chance for a better world we can all live in amicably. Having done many shows, the band has become well known for their energetic performances and powerful sound, which they draw inspiration from: Metallica, Iron Maiden, Foo Fighters, Linkin Park, Rage Against the Machine and Queen.





Tracklisting:


"Menace"
"Unknown Reckoning"
"Racing Hell"
"Among Reason"
"Edge Of Time"
"Far Desperation"
"Patronized Heart Attack"
"Man In The Sky"
"Burning Season"





Lineup:


Kyle Purwin (guitar and vocals)
Tony Gallo (drums)
Sam Apotheker (bass)

Los Angeles’ Our Dying World is geared up to unleash a furious new single, "The Egregious Sins Of Humanity", which comes on the heels of two punishing records “Hymns Of Blinding Darkness” (2022) and “Expedition” (2019). Initially, they focused on the death and thrash metal sub-genres but are now moving into the cinematic and symphonic realms. With this new offering, they are looking to give the audience a bridge between the fast and insane side of metal, to the clever and meticulously crafted end of the classical and orchestral spectrum. This new single is deadly fast, with drums clocking in at 225 BPM and the guitars falling in line culminating in a dark sound that will catch the ears of discerning metalheads everywhere.





The band comments: “We’re taking what so many icons have given us through the generations and we’re doing our best to blend them in a tasteful and fun way that inspires and creates that feeling that raises the hair on your arms. We think the fans are going to enjoy the change in sound. We’ve always strived to take our sound to the next level and with the amount of diversity between the full band versions of the single and the orchestral version, there truly is something for everyone to enjoy.”




“The Egregious Sins Of Humanity” marks the next phase in the band’s development. It shows another level of musical maturity and has pushed each member to create more sophisticated parts and make them work together. Those who are drawn into what Our Dying World has created won’t have long to wait for more intense melodic death metal as the band has two more singles in production.


The band all love dark, melodic death metal, and most of them enjoy the symphonic black metal that they’re slowly creeping towards. There’s a bit of thrash and deathcore in some of the riffs they create, but they love the moody, melodic, and symphonic elements that stay with some of the most dramatic styles in metal. Their music is recommended for fans of Dimmu Borgir, Cradle Of Filth, and Children Of Bodom.





(Photo - Jamie Kaufman Photography)

Texas death metal behemoths, Creeping Death, today drop their ferocious new single and accompanying video for "Vitrified Earth”. The track appears on their Boundless Domain LP, set for release this Friday, June 16 via MNRK Heavy.


Produced by Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz (As I Lay Dying, The Acacia Strain, Underoath) Boundless Domain is, without question, a certified ripper from start to finish and stands towering among this year’s most volatile death metal offerings. In paying tribute to the passing of local icons Riley Gale of Power Trip and Wade Allison of Iron Age, the band - guitarist Trey Pemberton, singer Reese Alavi, bassist Eric “Rico” Mejia, drummer Lincoln Mullins, and guitarist A.J. Ross, III - found themselves digging deep into some of their metallic hardcore favorites making for a sophomore slab of monolithic weight, dimension, and relentless power.







“Vitrified Earth” showcases their increasingly innovative songcraft, most evident with the cadence and phrasing of Alavi’s vocals while never neglecting the sick riffs.


Offers Alavi,"The story this album tells is a mixture of optimism, pessimism, warnings, and consequences. Highlighting certain aspects of reality through fictional stories about the gods' influence on mankind, war, life, and death."





Pre-order Boundless Domain here.





Tracklisting:


“Boundless Domain”
“Intestinal Wrap” (feat. Corpsegrinder)
“Vitrified Earth”
“The Parthian Shot”
“Creators Turned Into Prey”
“Cursed”
“Remnants Of The Old Gods”
“Looming”
“The Common Breed”


"The Common Breed" video:





“Intestinal Wrap” video:





Tour dates below.





Boundless Domain Summer 2023 Part 1 with Year Of The Knife, Fleshrot, Saintpeeler:


June
16 - Vibes Underground – San Antonio, TX
17 - The Rock – El Paso, TX
18 - 191 Toole – Tucson, AZ
19 - Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA
20 - Supply & Demand – Long Beach, CA
21 - Kilowatt Bar – San Francisco, CA
23 - Dante's– Portland, OR
24 - El Corazon – Seattle, WA
26 - The Shredder – Boise, ID
27 - Urban Lounge – Salt Lake City, UT
28 - The Black Sheep – Colorado Springs, CO
29/202389th Street – Oklahoma City, OK * No Fleshrot


July
1 - Mass Movement Community Arts – Tulsa, OK * No Fleshrot





Boundless Domain Summer 2023 Part 2 with Enforced (July 12 - July 16), Upon Stone, Saintpeeler:


July
10 - Chelsea's Live – Baton Rouge, LA
11 - 40 Watt Club – Athens, GA
12 - The Radio Room – Greenville, SC
13 - The Canal Club – Richmond, VA
14 - Lovedraft's Brewing Co. – Mechanicsburg, PA
15 - The Palladium – Worcester, MA
16 - Amityville Music Hall – Amityville, NY
18 - The Loud – Huntington, WV
19 - Eastside Bowl – Nashville, TN
20 - Vino's – Little Rock, AR
21 - Tulips FTW – Ft. Worth, TX


(Photo - Addrian Jafaritabar)

In a new interview with Andrew Daly of Metal Edge magazine, former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson spoke about the way he was fired by Dave Mustaine in May 2021, just days after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the bassist were posted on Twitter. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think it was unnecessary. And it was undoubtedly done with spite and bitterness, which I did not deserve. Considering all that I've done for MEGADETH and all that I've tolerated over the years, I'd say the whole thing was uncalled for. And it certainly was not what we discussed regarding how the transition would happen. What went down came blindly out of nowhere. So, I basically had the option to take it or retaliate, which I was given free license to do. My team said, 'Hey, if you want to go at this guy, go for it. We've never seen something so unethical on every level. Do what you need to do.' But I said, 'No. I'll just sit back, let it sort itself out, and let the music do the talking.'"

Asked if he feels Mustaine is intimidated by the music Ellefson is making with other projects, such as DIETH and KINGS OF THRASH, David said: "I do. I also think he hates the idea of me succeeding outside that arena. Because now, I get to be the one who helps create the music, make the decisions, and basically, be in charge. It wasn't that way in MEGADETH, which I think many people know by now. But people love that band because of the music we created together. Those songs will stand forever despite all the stuff that happened behind the scene. So, when all that went down, I just said, 'We have a great legacy, but it's over now. Do you want to have a shootout or let the music speak for itself?' I chose to let the music I make speak for itself. And I think it speaks volumes. I'm pretty convinced that the stuff I've put out since leaving MEGADETH is as good or better than anything they've done."

Ellefson added "the intimidation factor" is why Dave has continued to take shots at him and fellow KINGS OF THRASH member Jeff Young through the media. "It's 100% why that's been happening," Ellefson said. "I've watched the quality of MEGADETH diminish over the last five years, which was very frustrating. I'd bring ideas to the table and try to help the situation, but those ideas would be either shut down or removed after the fact. It was very aggressive and frustrating to be intentionally diminished or removed from the process. So, I said, 'Okay, I see what's going on here.' An old saying goes, 'Kids that don't share their toys don't have friends.' So, I just said, 'I'll take my toys and play with someone else.' This is simple shit you learn in kindergarten, but not so much in that band."

Read the entire interview at Metal Edge.

Shortly before Ellefson was fired from MEGADETH, he released a statement on Instagram denying all social media chatter that he "groomed" an underage fan. He also filed a report with the police department in Scottsdale, Arizona alleging unlawful distribution of sexually explicit images of him by unknown offenders. In the report, Ellefson admitted that he had been exchanging sexual text messages with a Dutch teenager, who captured a video of several of their virtual "masturbating encounters" without his consent and shared them with friends. (According to Ellefson, the woman was 19 at the time of their first virtual sexual encounter.) Ellefson, who lives in Scottsdale, first became aware of the video on May 9, 2021, when the claim "David Ellefson of MEGADETH is a pedophile" appeared on Instagram. Ellefson told police he was notified on May 14 by MEGADETH that the band would be parting ways with him. Three days later, he was fired.

Mustaine — who formed MEGADETH with Ellefson in 1983 — released a statement on May 24, 2021 announcing the bassist's departure from the band. In the statement, Dave said: "We do not take this decision lightly. While we do not know every detail of what occurred, with an already strained relationship, what has already been revealed now is enough to make working together impossible moving forward."

Two days after Mustaine announced Ellefson's latest departure from MEGADETH, the bassist released a follow-up statement in which he vowed to file a "defamation lawsuit" against the person who "illegally posted a very private video" of the bassist and made "false allegations" against him. He also said he was working with the police in Scottsdale "in their investigation into charges regarding revenge pornography to be filed against the person who posted the video. This person will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Ellefson wrote. He went on to say that he was "taking this time to be with my family" and wished his "bandmates" the best with their tour.

In 2004, Ellefson filed an $18.5-million lawsuit against Mustaine, alleging the frontman shortchanged him on profits and backed out of a deal to turn Megadeth Inc. over to him when the band broke up in 2002. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed and Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH in 2010.

In a new interview with the YouTube channel of Brazilian music journalist Igor Miranda, FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares was asked why his band is still continuing to perform the song "Archetype", which was originally written and recorded during his time away from FEAR FACTORY. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, in the very beginning, years ago when I was out of FEAR FACTORY, and when I came back, I said, 'Hey, I'm not gonna play this song. I'm not gonna play any songs off those records.' And at that time, we agreed; we were all okay. But then somewhere down the line, between 2010 and now, a lot of fans requested that song. So a few years back, I was, like, 'Okay, let's try playing this song. Let's try playing a couple of songs.' So we did 'Cyberwaste' and we did 'Archetype'. And I was okay with it. I was okay with it. In the past, I said I would never do it, but then the fans reacted and I was, like, 'Okay, let's try it.' And then we tried it and we noticed that the reaction was good, especially for the song 'Archetype'. So I decided, 'Okay, let's keep it in the set.' And so we did. And then that was it. That's as much as we did — it's pretty much 'Archetype' — and I've been doing it for the last few tours. And we decided to keep it in the set. It's the most popular song on the record."

He added: "I'm strictly doing it 'cause the fans want it… The fans want it, and I got used to playing it, so it's all good."

FEAR FACTORY released two albums during Cazares's time away from the band, 2004's "Archetype", and 2005's "Transgression".

In a 2010 interview with Decibel magazine, Dino said: "The first time I heard 'Archetype', I had to do a double take, because it sounded just like me. Then I talked to Burton [C. Bell, then-FEAR FACTORY singer] about it and he was like, 'Yeah, that's what 'archetype' means! It's a copy!'"

FEAR FACTORY played "Archetype" live for the first time in years in July 2013 at the Tivoli in Brisbane, Australia.

Earlier this month, Dino told Headbangers News that the first single from FEAR FACTORY featuring the band's latest addition, singer Milo Silvestro will arrive before the end of the year. A new full-length album is not expected until sometime in 2024.

An early instrumental version of a new FEAR FACTORY song called "Roboticist" was made available in March to promote Toneforge Disruptor, a virtual guitar rig plugin and standalone app developed in collaboration with Cazares.

Cazares told BLABBERMOUTH.NET about "Roboticist", which was mixed by longtime FEAR FACTORY collaborator Damien Rainaud: "Initially it was just going to be a instrumental for the plugin, but it came out so good that I decided to make it a song for the new album. Maybe the album will be called the 'Roboticist'. It fits so well with our concept."

FEAR FACTORY's next LP will be the band's first with Silvestro, whose addition to FEAR FACTORY was officially announced in late February.

The Italian-born Silvestro joined FEAR FACTORY as the replacement for the band's original singer Burton C. Bell.

FEAR FACTORY played its first headlining concert with Silvestro and touring drummer Pete Webber on May 5 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.

FEAR FACTORY's recently completed "Rise Of The Machine" U.S. tour as the support act for STATIC-X marked the Cazares-led outfit's first run of shows with Silvestro and Webber.

Webber is filling in for FEAR FACTORY's longtime drummer Mike Heller who is unable to play with the band due to "scheduling conflicts."

The 42-date "Rise Of The Machine" North American trek also featured DOPE as well as select dates with MUSHROOMHEAD and TWIZTID.

FEAR FACTORY will embark on a European tour this fall. The 44-date trek will mark the band's first European shows since 2016. Joining them on this run are BUTCHER BABIES from the USA and IGNEA from Ukraine.

FEAR FACTORY's latest album, "Aggression Continuum", was released in June 2021 via Nuclear Blast Records. The LP, which was recorded primarily in 2017, features Cazares and Bell alongside Heller.

Germany’s hottest band to date, Feuerschwanz, have released a brand-new live video from their epic show at Wacken Open Air 2022, performing right after the headliner in front of one of the biggest crowds in their career. The performance – including a massive pyro show – was part of one of the band’s biggest shows to date, and the live version of the banger “Untot im Drachenboot” will also be available on the bonus CD of the band’s upcoming album, Fegefeuer, out July 7, 2023 via Napalm Records.


“Untot im Drachenboot” was originally released on Feuerschwanz’s successful #1 charting 2021 album, Memento Mori, and reigns as one of the band’s fan favorites - with several millions of streams and video views. At Wacken, the song was literally set on fire. 


Feuerschwanz comments the new live video: “The first time on one of the main stages at Wacken was a particularly emotional moment for us! We want to share this moment with you, so we have cut a music video for 'Untot im Drachenboot' from the existing video material to capture this experience for you forever!”







Formed in 2004, the band has gradually shifted from their roots in comedic medieval folk into a much more serious direction. With the switch to Napalm Records ahead of the release of Das Elfte Gebot (2020), Feuerschwanz set their sights entirely on metal - soon becoming one of the most relevant German bands in the genre today. The band’s enormously successful previous album of original music, Memento Mori (2021), even stormed the official German charts, peaking at #1. On Fegefeuer, Feuerschwanz spice up their medieval inspired folk metal with true heavy metal influences.


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


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





Fegefeuer will be available in the following formats:


- Deluxe Box incl 2 CD Mediabook with 40 pages booklet & 2CDs (Fegefeuer & Live In Wacken 2022), resin BIC lighter, letter of indulgence, trading card, flag - strictly limited to 2000 units worldwide, exclusively available via Napalm Records Mailorder
- 2-CD Mediabook Bundle incl. 0,5l jug (height 16cm, weight 1kg) & Mediabook, incl 40 pages booklet, 2CDs (Fegefeuer & Live In Wacken 2022) - strictly limited to 500 units worldwide, exclusively available via Napalm Records Mailorder
- 3-CD Earbook (Fegefeuer, Live in Wacken 2022, Instrumental) with 48 pages booklet - strictly limited to 1000 units worldwide, exclusively available via Napalm Records Mailorder and EMP
- 2-LP Red, Black Marbled Vinyl Gatefold Deluxe Box, incl 2 Vinyl (Fegefeuer & Live in Wacken 2022), 24 pages booklet, cloth bag, Record Butler - strictly limited to 500 units worldwide, exclusively available via Napalm Records Mailorder and EMP
- 2-CD Mediabook Bundle incl. patch & Mediabook, incl 40 pages booklet, 2CDs (Fegefeuer & Live In Wacken 2022) - strictly limited to 300 units worldwide, exclusively available via Feuerschwanz Shop, Napalm Records Mailorder and EMP
- 2-CD Mediabook, incl 40 pages booklet, 2CDs (Fegefeuer & Live In Wacken 2022)
- 1-LP Gatefold Black
- 1-CD Jewel Case, incl 24 pages booklet
- 2-MC Music Cassette Red transparent - strictly limited to 300 units worldwide, exclusively available via Feuerschwanz Shop, Napalm Records Mailorder and EMP
- Digital Deluxe Album
- Digital Album


Pre-order here





Fegefeuer tracklisting:


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


"Bastard von Asgard" video:





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


Live in Wacken 2022 tracklisting:


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


Feuerschwanz are:


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


(Photo - Stefan Heilemann)

Polish heavy metal rockers, Scream Maker, recently announced the upcoming release of their fourth studio album, Land Of Fire, on July 14. Check out a video for the new single, "See The Light", below, and pre-order/save the new album here.


"Land Of Fire is the first album where we achieved full stylistic coherence,” explains the band. “It's heavy metal, of course, but filtered through our musical tastes, experiences from recording previous albums, and a sense of what will work well in live performances. Land Of Fire may not be the most aggressive thing we've recorded, but it's not about aggression, it's about melodies and musicality. We made sure that the vocals are memorable, and the guitar solos capture the essence of what's best in classic heavy metal. Why the title Land Of Fire? We don't tell stories from Mordor on this album, nor do we directly refer to the current events that actually make the world burn. Land Of Fire is a metaphor for what's happening within us. We are torn apart by internal conflicts, contradictory thoughts swirl in our heads, paralyzing decisions. Sometimes, there's a true mental war raging within us, leaving behind ruins of memories, plans, and aspirations.”


Scream Maker formed in Warsaw, Poland in late 2010 when the original members, including current member Michał Wrona (guitar), gathered together out of a shared love of heavy metal. Wrona is joined in the current incarnation of Scream Maker by vocalist Sebastian Stodolak, bassist Jan Radosz, drummer Tomek Sobieszek, and guitarist Bartosz Ziółkowski.​ ​​The band has produced three full-length studio albums (2014's Livin in the Past, 2016's Back Against the World, 2022's Bloodking), plus one EP (We Are Not the Same' and has played over 300 shows in Poland and abroad, including gigs with luminaries such as Judas Priest, Motörhead, Megadeth, Saxon, Slayer, Nightwish, Primal Fear, Stratovarius, Onslaught, and many more.




The band recorded their debut album, Living in the Past, with producer Alessandro del Vecchio (Jorn, Hardline, Revolution Saints) and the album featured guest appearances from Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater and Wojciech Hoffmann of Turbo. The album was released by Perris Records in April of 2014 in the US and Europe and followed by a tour that included shows with Primal Fear, Paul Di'anno, Blaze Bayley, and more. In May 2014, the band toured China for the first time, playing six festivals and unexpectedly becoming the first Polish artist to have an album released by a domestic record label in China.


In the summer and autumn of 2015, between gigs with Saxon, Black Label Society, and Motörhead, Scream Maker gathered at Hear Studio in Warsaw to record their second album, 'Back Against the World'. The album was crafted under the guidance of Radoslaw Kordowski, as well as, once again, Alessandro Del Vecchio. The album was released in May 2016 and once again the band got busy playing shows in support of the album, including shows with Megadeth, Korn, Slayer, another tour of China (their third, but not last, as China has become a regular touring destination for the band), as well as the third edition of the Ronnie James Dio Memorial that they had started back in 2014, but this time, the tribute included several shows. The band would organize a fourth edition of the Ronnie James Dio Memorial in spring 2017, and in December 2017, the band opened the first ever Polish concert by the Dio Returns tour. The band has continued with the Ronnie James Dio Memorial shows as the years have gone on, turning it into a regular tradition.


Once the global pandemic hit in 2020 and slowed the band's regular busy touring schedule, they focused on fine-tuning and recording material for their third full-length album, 'Bloodking', which was released in January 2022​ and subsequently re-released by Frontiers Music Srl in December of the same year after the band signed a deal with the label​. The album was mixed by Tomasz "Zed" Zalewski, with two songs, "When Our Fight Is Over" and "Hitting the Wall" being mixed by Alessandro Del Vecchio, and was very well received by both fans and critics, with Metal Hammer Poland giving it a glowing review. With touring opening back up, the band got busy playing gigs again and planned their own two-day festival in Warsaw (with Polish legends Turbo headlining)​ in September 2022​, which also included​another edition of the Ronnie James Dio Memorial. In the fall of 2022, the band embark​ed​ on another tour with the Ronnie James Dio Memorial, after which they devote​d​ themselves to writing and recording their fourth full-length album​, which would ultimately become Land Of Fire.





Tracklisting:


"Perpetual Burning"
"Can't Stop The Rain"
"Everybody Needs Illusions"
"Zombies"
"A Nail In The Head"
"The Rider"
"Dark Side Of Mine"
"Way To The Moon"
"Land Of Fire"
"See The Light"
"Below"


"See The Light" video:





"Can't Stop The Rain" video:





Scream Maker are:


Sebastian Stodolak - vocals
Michał Wrona - guitar
Bartosz Ziółkowski - guitar
Jan Radosz - bass
Tomasz Sobieszek - drums

Iconic Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Alice Cooper will release his new album, "Road", on August 25 via earMUSIC. The LP's first single, "I'm Alice", is available below.

Produced by longtime collaborator Bob Ezrin, "Road" was written, composed and recorded with Alice's trusted, longtime bandmates — Ryan Roxie (guitar),Chuck Garric (bass),Tommy Henrikson (guitar),Glen Sobel (drums) and Nita Strauss (guitar). "Road" channels the spirit of old-school Alice with instantly recognizable grit and plenty of gusto. It's everything you'd hope for from him and more.

"In the past, the show got reviewed before the music did," laughs Alice. "We had hit #1 albums, but it was always about what we did on stage. For 'Road', I wanted the band to be involved in the foundation of all the songs. I only see these guys when we're on the road. So, I wanted them to be as tight as they are for the show but on all new material. That's what we did for this record. When you have a band this good, I believe in showing it off, and this is my way of doing so."

The album opener and first single "I'm Alice" sets the tone for the album with its driving drumbeat as guitars wail in the distance. Alice's instantly recognizable rasp takes hold, "I know you're looking for a real good time. So, let me introduce you to a friend of mine. I'm Alice. I'm the Master of Madness; the Sultan of Surprise…so don't be afraid, just look into my eyes."

"Road" is going to be released in a wide variety of formats and limited vinyl colors. Complementing the album's theme, the bonus DVD/Blu-ray comes with Alice Cooper's 2022 full live show at Hellfest and includes all the classics and rarely played gems.

"Road" track listing:

01. I'm Alice
02. Welcome To The Show
03. All Over The World
04. Dead Don't Dance
05. Go Away
06. White Line Frankenstein
07. Big Boots 
08. Rules Of The Road
09. The Big Goodbye
10. Road Rats Forever
11. Baby Please Don't Go
12. 100 More Miles
13. Magic Bus

"Live At Hellfest 2022" (DVD/Blu-ray) track listing:

01. Feed My Frankenstein
02. No More Mr. Nice Guy
03. Bed Of Nails
04. Hey Stoopid
05. Fallen In Love
06. Go Man Go
07. Guitar Solo By Nita Strauss
08. Roses On White Lace
09. I'm Eighteen
10. Poison
11. Billion Dollar Babies
12. The Black Widow Jam
13. Steven
14. Dead Babies
15. I Love The Dead
16. Escape
17. School's Out

No stranger to doing things his own way, Alice has cast a long shadow over rock music with an unrivaled live show and timeless anthems like "School's Out", "No Mr. Nice Guy" and "Poison". Selling over 50 million albums worldwide, he earned a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2003, and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inducted him as part of its class of 2011.

Boasting one of the most influential catalogs in history, Rolling Stone cited 1971's platinum-certified "Love It To Death" among the "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time", while other platinum releases spanned the seminal "Killer" (1971),"School's Out" (1972),the Billboard 200 No. 1 "Billion Dollar Babies" (1973),"Welcome To My Nightmare" (1975) and "Trash" (1989),to name a few. The latter even graced Rolling Stone's "50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums Of All Time." He's so embedded in generations of popular culture that he not only made a cult-classic cameo in "Wayne's World" during 1992, but he also starred alongside EGOT winner John Legend and Sara Bareilles in NBC's 2018 production of Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert" — not to mention, who else appeared on "The Muppets" in seventies and "That 70s Show" in the early aughts?!

Beyond hundreds of syncs, everyone from Etta James, THE SMASHING PUMPKINS, MEGADETH and THE FLAMING LIPS has covered his tunes. THE BEASTIE BOYS, DISTURBED, and countless others have sampled him. His collaborators have notably included the late Vincent Price, AEROSMITH, GUNS N' ROSES and Jon Bon Jovi, to name a few. Plus, he co-founded HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES alongside AEROSMITH's Joe Perry and Johnny Depp.

Most recently, 2021's "Detroit Stories" garnered widespread critical acclaim with Classic Rock grading it "4- out-of-5 stars" and hailing it as "his most concise bolt of precision-tooled heavy rock in 50 years." It bowed at No. 1 on the Billboard Album Sales chart, hit No. 1 in Germany, and garnered nine Top 10 debuts worldwide.

Throughout 2022, he collaborated closely with his band members and longtime producer Bob Ezrin, putting together what would become "Road".

"I said to everybody, 'This is your album, so I want you all to bring songs in'," he recalls. "Hearing Ryan or Tommy gives it so much personality. The backbone is the group. Once they shared their ideas, Bob and I sat there and connected the songs. It was like directing a play. We're old school; we still write thematic albums."

Fittingly, the record opens with "I'm Alice". A dusty drumbeat sets the tone as guitar wails in the distance. Alice's instantly recognizable rasp takes hold, "I know you're looking for a real good time. So, let me introduce you to a friend of mine. I'm Alice. I'm the Master of Madness; the Sultan of Surprise…so don't be afraid, just look into my eyes."

"Ryan brought in 'I'm Alice', and we were like, 'This NEEDS to open the record'," he goes on. "You don't fight it. You just let it be what it is. It sets up the rest of the whole album."

Elsewhere, "White Line Frankenstein" hinges on a head-nodding riff as it steamrolls towards a chantable chorus, "They call me 'White Line Frankenstein'," before a Tom Morello solo, hot enough to burn rubber.

"If you're a truck driver who's been out there a long time, you rule the road," he adds. "In the song, this surreal tough guy is driving on white lines for his whole life, and he's probably DOING white lines. So, 'White Line Frankenstein' would be his CB handle. It's monstrous and definitely a stage song."

Ragtime piano and a funked-out bass line cut through the distortion on "Big Boots" as the lyrics detail a diner interaction with a whole lot of double entendre. "It's the funniest song," he grins. "You've got a waitress saying, 'Take me on tour', and the guy says, 'Well, she's got big boots'. That's the joke."

Kane Roberts (a touring and recording collaborator with Alice in years past who briefly rejoined Cooper on the road in 2022) makes a special guest appearance, contributing the raucous and rip-roaring "Dead Don't Dance". Other special contributors to the album include RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Tom Morello, who co-wrote, and plays and sings backing vocals on "White Line Frankenstein", and BUCKCHERRY's Keith Nelson and MC5's Wayne Kramer, who also co-wrote new songs with Alice. This particular sonic wrecking crew reupped "Road Rats" from 1977's "Lace And Whiskey" as "Road Rats Forever" as "a tribute to the roadies." On the other end of the spectrum, "100 Miles to Go" captured the yearning to get home at the end of a tour. They topped off the journey with a cover of THE WHO's "Magic Bus". Alice grins, "We love the original, so we made it more hard rock."

In the end, the road is as open as ever for Alice Cooper. "There's no downtime for me at all," he leaves off. "I've got this album, this tour, HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES, and a whole lot more. Most guys my age want to rest and relax. I've never felt more up. Physically, I'm in as good of shape as I've ever been. I'm not looking for any way out. I'm not going retire, and I don't want anyone to think I am. I'm at the top of my game right now."

Photo credit: Jenny Risher

In a new interview with "THAT Rocks!", the weekly YouTube series hosted by Eddie Trunk, Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson, SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor commented on the fact that the Iowa band's experimental new album, "The End, So Far", hasn't been met with universal acclaim from fans. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Honestly, I've been saying this since day one. We've never been a band that tries to cater to the audience. And I think that's one of the reasons why our fans have stuck with us for so long. There's definitely been times where certain albums, there have been certain parts of the albums that people haven't liked. But for the most part, overall they really dug it. But we've been lucky in the fact we were, like, 'Well, good, because that's what we were giving you.'

"You can go online and rage-tweet and post and do all these stupid review videos where people break down, 'This is where SLIPKNOT went wrong.' And it's all well and good," he continued. "We've never seen one of those, and we will never see one of those. When it comes to the music and the art, we do what we want and we always have.

"I've said it since day one: I make music for me and then I share it with people. And that's it," Taylor added. "I do not try to dial in a certain style. I mean, there's obviously styles that we want to play or we wouldn't have recorded it. But when it comes to expanding the boundaries, pushing the envelope and, honestly, expanding the palette that we're working with, why would we, man? You wanna spin your wheels in the mud, go ahead, musically. We are gonna do what comes from the heart. There may be stuff that I wouldn't have written, but when I hear it, I go, 'Oh, I can do something with that.' And that's the beauty of SLIPKNOT, is that you never know what you're gonna get. And I think once people kind of got around to remembering that, they all shut the hell up, let's put it that way. [Laughs]"

Last October, Corey told NME that SLIPKNOT has steadfastly refused to bend to expectations from outside the ranks.

"One of the problems about writing one of the heaviest fucking albums of all time is that people just expect you to do that over and over," the singer says, referencing SLIPKNOT's second album, "Iowa". "Well, fuck, that's so boring."

"When people hear ['The End, So Far'], they go, 'Well, that's a departure.' It's like, 'What are you, fucking new?' We've spent 20-plus years throwing people for a loop."

He went on to say: "You also have to remember a large part of the population are also people who have created petitions against every Batman that has ever been fucking cast in a movie, and they've always been wrong. Who's really right here? You fucking idiots, sometimes you just need to shut the fuck up and listen to what we give you."

This past February, SLIPKNOT shared "Bone Church", a surprise standalone single, along with a M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan-directed video piece titled "Yen – Director's Cut (Bone Church)", which found the SLIPKNOT founding member refreshing footage from the band's "Yen" music video.

SLIPKNOT is continuing to tour in support of "The End, So Far", which was released last September via Roadrunner Records. The follow-up to "We Are Not Your Kind", it is the band's final record with Roadrunner after first signing with the rock and metal label in 1998.

You’d be hard pressed to find a group that can unite musicians from across the whole range of genres and generations better than Pink Floyd. From metal heads to stoners to jazz fans and music nerds, all around the globe fans have found in Pink Floyd’s catalog a rich and abounding treasure trove that continually unearths new pleasures.


Recently, rumours have been circulating about a new gathering of diversely talented artists who participated in an as yet unannounced project to revamp and reimagine Pink Floyd’s hugely experimental sixth studio album, Meddle. Much like last year’s enormously impressive Animals Reimagined and 2021’s Still Wish You Were Here, Meddle Reimagined will bring together masterful musicians, prodigious vocalist and visionary artists to recreate every note from the original 1971 masterpiece.


As a preview of what’s in store, a single of Meddle‘s folksy, breezy ode to a beach resort town in southern France, the great “San Tropez”, is hitting digital stores today. The track builds from a dream team of Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo and Blue Öyster Cult’s Joe Bouchard on bass. Rainbow vocalist Graham Bonnet adds a notably darker edge to Roger Waters’ wistful lyrics, with superb piano work from keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman and, of course, gorgeous slide guitar from Megadeth’s Chris Poland.




Bonnet declares, “When first invited to participate on Pink Floyd’s ‘San Tropez,’ I was flattered, yet a little nervous. I had sung on ‘Dogs’ [from Animals Reimagined] a year earlier and was initially concerned whether I could do justice to such an iconic song and thankfully, it turned out better than expected. ‘San Tropez’ would prove to be trickier for me but ultimately I was happy that I was able to honor yet another gem from the cherished and enigmatic Pink Floyd.”


Poland adds,“To me the English are not afraid to wear their heart on their sleeve. Especially Pink Floyd. Even though this song seems upbeat there is an underlying sadness. A longing if you will. Their use of major to minor chords during my solo spot really points to this. I love this band. I have always thought of Pink Floyd as the thinking man's Beatles.”


Check it out here and below, and keep an ear out for more heavy Meddle coming soon!

After spending the past two years conquering the UK and Europe with three sold-out tours, Dirty Honey returned to Byron Bay, Australia, in April ’23 to record their sophomore album, Can’t Find The Brakes, with producer Nick DiDia (Rage Against The Machine, Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots).


The album’s first single, “Won’t Take Me Alive”, is a literal, take-no-prisoners-balls-out rocker available everywhere on July 7.


Dirty Honey will launch the first leg of their 2023-24 world tour in the US in September, supporting Guns N’ Roses, and then roll into headline dates in October/November/December.




Further details to follow.


(Photo - Glenn Mossop)

Pantera - comprised of vocalist Phil Anselmo, bassist Rex Brown, drummer Charlie Benante (Anthrax), and guitarist Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society) - have shared a short clip from their show at O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic on June 12. Check out "Fucking Hostile" below:





Pantera will be on tour across North Ameirca this summer, with special guest Lamb Of God. S.N.A.F.U., Child Bite, Flesh Hoarder, Spirit In The Room, and King Parrot will each enjoy a stint as the opening act. All bands are part of the Housecore Records family. Housecore Records is owned by Pantera vocalist Phil Anselmo.







Pantera / Lamb Of God tour dates:


With Snafu:
July
28 - Burgettstown, PA - The Pavilion at Star Lake
29 - Noblesville, IN - Ruoff Music Center
31 - Milwaukee, WI - American Family Insurance Amphitheater


With Child Bite:
August
2 - Camden, NJ - Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
5 - Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Stadium
6 - Scranton, PA - The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
8 - Syracuse, NY - St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
9 - Darien Center, NY - Darien Lake Amphitheater
12 - Toronto, ON - Budweiser Stage


With Flesh Hoarder:
August
15 - Rogers, AR - Walmart Amp
17 - Houston, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
20 - Austin, TX - Germania Insurance Amphitheater


With Spirit In The Room:
August
23 - Denver, CO - Ball Arena
26 - San Diego, CA - North Island Credit Union Amphitheater
29 - Salt Lake City, UT - Usana Amphitheater
31 - Albuquerque, NM - Isleta Amphitheater


With King Parrot:
September
7 - Bangor, ME - Waterfront Music Pavilion
8 - Gilford, NH - Bank Of New Hampshire
12 - Alpharetta, GA - Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
14 - Virginia Beach, VA - Veterans United Virginia Beach
15 - Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live

Aftermath  released their highly anticipated new album, No Time to Waste via Zoid Entertainment/TLG/INgrooves on March 17. This marks the third album in a trilogy, and is a departure from the previous dark, concept album installment in the trilogy. BraveWords is premiering the music video for "SLAVeABLE (We're Not Your Animals)" - described as "rebellious" and "snarling" by scribe Nick Balazs. Check out our review of No Time To Waste here and raise your fist in the air for the "SLAVeable" video below:





The band states: "From slaves with chains to sex slaves or debt slaves, slavery is a human concept. Invented by man against natural law. This song is about freedom. We aren’t your animals."







"We are really proud of this album. It completes a trilogy of albums that began with our debut. Written in the darkest period in modern history, we actually wrote this one as an album of hope. We streamlined it from our previous dark concept record. The ten songs on this album are heavy and energized. It’s a metal record with a message and that message is we can do this together but we have no time to waste." - Kyriakos "Charlie" Tsiolis.





"We Can Do This Together":





Lineup:


Kyriakos "Charlie" Tsiolis - Vocals
Steve Sacco - Guitar
Ray Schmidt - Drums
George Lagis - Bass

Tarja's Rocking Heels: Live At Metal Church is the document of a very special concert in the idyllic setting of Wacken Church. It will be released on August 11 via earMUSIC and is the first release of the live series Rocking Heels.


In front of just 300 handpicked fans, this onetime-only event opened the Wacken Open Air Festival in 2016. Tarja presents unique arrangements of rock and heavy metal classics by her favourite artists including "Numb" by Linkin Park, In Flames' "Alias," Metallica's "The Unforgiven," songs by Joe Satriani and Slipknot, as well as a Nightwish song and Tarja originals.







The first single, a cover of Linkin Park's "Numb," perfectly reflects the intimate setting of this concert. Tarja's operatic prowess and hauntingly beautiful vocals add an extra layer of ethereal magic to an already powerful masterpiece. The song explores themes of emotional isolation, frustration, and the struggle to find one's identity in a world that often feels overwhelming. The lyrics convey a sense of detachment and numbness, reflecting the emotional struggles and inner turmoil of the protagonist.





With its captivating performances of well-known songs paired with Tarja's iconic voice, this live album is a treasure for fans, as well as a discovery for Tarja-newcomers and all those who missed the chance to attend this exclusive concert. Rocking Heels: Live At Metal Church will be released as a Ltd. 2LP Vinyl Edition, CD Digipak in LP-replica design and on Digital.


Pre-order here


Tarja is on tour now. Buy tickets here.


Tour dates:


June
14 - Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of The Living Arts
16 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage
17 - New York, NY  Irving Plaza
18 - Boston, MA - Big Night Live
20 - Detroit, MI - Saint Andrew's Hall
21 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues Chicago
22 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater
24 - Denver, CO - Marquis Theater
26 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren
27 - Los Angeles, CA - The Belasco
28 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues Las Vegas
30 - Berkeley, CA - The UC Theater

In a new interview with The Rock Experience With Mike Brunn, Janet Gardner was asked how she feels about VIXEN carrying on with drummer Roxy Petrucci as the sole remaining member of the band's "classic" lineup. She said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "What's the alternative? That it doesn't exist anymore? It is what it is. Obviously, [founding guitarist] Jan [Kuehnemund] will never be a part of it anymore, and I left, and then Share [Ross, bass] left. And the alternative is for it not to exist anymore. So, no, it doesn't bother me. Roxy, she loves playing. So, God bless her. Have fun."

She continued: "There's a lot of bands out there playing with very few, if any, original members. And it's really upsetting to people. But nobody is holding a gun to your head. You don't wanna go see it? Don't go see it.

"I got some messages from some people, 'You need to stop them. They're ruining the VIXEN legacy. Why are you letting them do this?' It's, like, well… I don't understand. I don't understand why people are so upset. Don't go see it if you don't want to."

Speaking about her replacement in VIXEN, singer Lorraine Lewis of FEMME FATALE, Janet said: "Lorraine has always been really supportive and nice to me, always. So, yeah, it's cool."

Janet, who released her debut self-titled solo album in 2017, broke the news of her exit from VIXEN in a social media post in January 2019.

Elaborating on her reasons for leaving the band, Janet told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" back in November 2021: "The summer of 2018 was insane with life in general. 'Cause between [me and my husband Justin James], we have three kids [and regular] jobs… And [Justin and I] were doing our [project]. And VIXEN, we were doing tons of the great, the big festivals — we did Graspop, we did Sweden Rock, we did a whole bunch of… Barcelona, whatever… Lots of stuff was going on. And we were still trying to do shows. It was just insane. And I was so stressed out. I literally went to work — my job as a dental hygienist — didn't have time to change clothes. Went to [John F.] Kennedy airport [in New York], got on a plane, flew to Spain. Then we did a bunch of shows. We had a 2:30 in the morning lobby call, and we got to Germany and had to get in a van and drive and do a 90-minute show. I couldn't do that when I was 25. And then a few other times, [Justin and I] had a show and then I had to get on a plane and fly somewhere else and do a VIXEN show, like, in the afternoon. And literally one time I didn't even get a shower. I wore my makeup from the night before on stage the next day. It was that bad. No sleep, no nothing."

Janet went on to say that she is still on good terms with her former bandmates in VIXEN. "Absolutely. I love 'em to death," she said.

When Janet announced her departure from VIXEN, she said in a statement that it was time for her to step aside and let Petrucci and Ross "pursue their vision for the future of VIXEN."

In January 2018, Gardner underwent surgery to remove blood clots in her brain, a condition known as a subdural hematoma.

While Gardner was recovering from her surgery, VIXEN played a show in Durant, Oklahoma in March 2018 with Lewis as a fill-in singer. In January 2019, Lewis was announced as Gardner's official replacement.

Asked if she had anything to do with Lorraine replacing her in VIXEN, Janet told "Trunk Nation": "No. It was totally their call. I expected it. She filled in when I had brain surgery. And they were all comfortable together. Roxy had worked with Lorraine in a different project. Share had worked with Lorraine in a different project. So they all knew each other, and I wasn't surprised at all that that's how it all happened. And I love Lorraine — I think she's great. She's a great singer, a fantastic talent, great frontwoman and a nice person. So I'm happy for them — all of 'em."

Gardner, Petrucci and Ross are considered to be part of VIXEN's classic lineup, along with Kuehnemund, who died of cancer in October 2013.

Gardner contributed lead vocals to VIXEN's most commercially successful studio albums — "Vixen" (1988),"Rev It Up" (1990) and "Tangerine" (1998) — as well as the group's latest release, 2018's live album "Live Fire".

Last week, Janet's collaborative project with her husband, GARDNER/JAMES, released its latest album, "No Strings", via Pavement Entertainment.

"No Strings" is the second Gardner/James album to be released under the GARDNER/JAMES banner. The couple previously collaborated on 2020's "Synergy" and Janet's first two solo albums, 2018's "Janet Gardner" and 2019's "Your Place In The Sun".

Photo courtesy of Pavement Entertainment