Israel-based band Neolia's debut self-titled album is a masterpiece of experimental, progressive metal that will leave you speechless. From the haunting melodies to the complex rhythms, every aspect of this album has been crafted with care and precision. Get ready to be transported to another dimension with this Israeli band's stunning debut and the recently released single “Rise And Fall” being presented now with a lyric video.


The band shares the background of the track: “It was the first one of the first songs we wrote for the album. Its first draft was recorded with just an electric guitar as a very basic demo, but it had most of the original riffs. The next demo version that was crafted at Tomer’s home studio was already in its final form, but it had had tweaks done to it and other parts and elements added as well. It is directly related to the concept of the album and the struggles of day-to-day life but not only the common ones, and is based on a fictional story Tomer had written. The main character, Alex, tries his best to recreate his past as a raging prophet that leads the weak, bruised, and innocent to follow his path but he doesn’t succeed this time so he crawls back to the demons that comfort him in his depression.”


The track starts off with a heavy groove intro, but it breaks once the verse enters with a drum and bass-like pattern demonstrating the duality of the song as the energy stretches back and forth. Containing some odd signature rhythms and polyrhythmic components it even leans into different genres becoming thought-provoking, alongside relatable, cathartic lyrics.







On a musical level, Neolia aspires to be a new horizon in the rock and metal scene, allowing a sense of freedom within the parameters of rock and metal, and leaving space for other musical inspirations such as African, Latin, and contemporary jazz music. They are recommended for fans of Protest The Hero, Coheed and Cambria, The Human Abstract, and Tool.


Neolia's self-titled album was released on May 5, and is available on Bandcamp and Spotify.





Tracklisting:


"The Shed"
"The Shed Outro"
"Your Prophecy"
"Dance Of Violence"
"Carried Away"
"Carried Away Outro"
"Karma"
"Karma Outro"
"Day In Day Out"
"Anchors"
"Rise And Fall"
"Blow The Leaves"
"A Better Version Of You"
"Refahim"











(Photo - Avi Veldman, Edited by Rana Sneider)

The Keening - the solo musical project of Rebecca Vernon (SubRosa) - signs to Relapse Records and announces live performances in September.


Rebecca Vernon comments: "I'm very excited and honored to join the Relapse family and look forward to the journey ahead with them. This music has been a long time in the making, and a lot of blood, sweat and travail went into it. I hope those who connect with it find it worth the wait. A lot of thanks goes to the many who have helped me along the way, but especially to my family, and Billy Anderson, Andrea Morgan and Nate Carson, who were the most heavily involved in the making of the album."


The Keening weaves a web of lush orchestration, American Gothic sensibilities and wintry murder ballads set against a backdrop of dark, shimmering folk. Vernon’s previous band SubRosa echoes in The Keening’s chamber doom, flowing with flute, strings, harp, French horn, piano, organ and hammered dulcimer. Ultra-melodic forays into haunted bogs, endless wells, secret crimes, jeweled cages and the unenviable curse of being a murder witness abound. Dark as this sounds, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.




Rebecca Vernon was the lead singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter of Salt Lake City’s acclaimed SubRosa. She ended that 13-year project in 2018 to focus on The Keening.


Largely composed at a retreat in Joshua Tree and a friend’s family homestead in Kamas, Utah, The Keening's upcoming album was recorded in December 2020 at Hallowed Halls in Portland, Oregon with “Engine-ear” Billy Anderson. Anderson’s long resume includes such luminaries as Melvins, Neurosis, Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, High on Fire, Bell Witch, Amenra, Agalloch, Cathedral, Cattle Decapitation, Red House Painters, Sick of it All, Sleep, and more.


Anderson collaborated with Vernon and Witch Mountain drummer Nathan Carson as co-producers of the recording of the album. A host of Portland’s finest session musicians lent their talents to the album, including Andrea Morgan of Exulansis on violin.


The Keening is primed to release this brand new album via Relapse Records in 2023. More information about the album will be made available in the weeks and months to come.


Tour dates:


September
15 - Bellingham, WA - Shakedown
16 - Seattle, WA - Clock-Out Lounge
22 - Eugene, OR - John Henry’s
23 - Portland OR - Crystal Ballroom (with Agalloch, Thief)


(Photo - Angela H. Brown)

Einar Solberg - frontman of Norwegian rock mavericks Leprous - released his debut solo album, 16, last week. Wildly diverse, but spiritually rooted in Einar’s well-established musical world, 16 is an album that brims with surprises and spinning curveballs and features a collection of intimate but extravagant collaborations.


Einar comments: “It feels great to finally have it out there. It’s been a long journey but I’m super proud of the album, and super grateful to all the collaborators!”


To celebrate, Einar has launched a live sing-through video for the album’s second single, "A Beautiful Life", and you can watch that now, below:







In April, Einar performed his first ever live shows for this project at Prognosis in the Netherlands and UK, and has just been confirmed to play this year’s edition of Euroblast in Germany. His band for these shows is Hrafnkell Örn Guðjónsson (Agent Fresco), Ben Levin (ex-Bent Knee), Chris Baum (Bent Knee), Ari Karason (Mezzoforte) and Ruben Aksnes (Maraton).


Einar Solberg is as renowned for the tender honesty of his lyrics as he is for the eccentric majesty of Leprous’ music. But even by his usual standards, 16 is an extremely emotional and dynamic piece of work. Einar describes the record as “the closest I’ve ever come to writing a concept album” and explains that the new songs are about a very specific and transformational period in the musician’s life. This is the sound of a restless spirit in his absolute element.


“It’s called 16 because that’s when the first really, really bad things started happening to me in life. From 16 to 19, there were a lot of very life-defining moments that happened to me, and that changed me,” he says. “That’s when I kind of lost my innocence and I started realising that life is serious and bad shit can happen. A lot of pretty drastic things happened within those three years. But this album is not only about the bad things. It’s also about some of the career-defining moments, like the moment I started playing with the band and began to find a community to belong to. Emotionally, I’m a bit of everything, so it covers the entire emotional spectrum!”


16 finds Einar collaborating with everyone from modern prog contemporaries like Bent Knee’s Ben Levin and Agent Fresco’s Toti Gudnason, to experimental cellist (and regular Leprous live musician) Raphael Weinroth-Browne and Magnus Børmark, best known as a member of Norwegian alt-folk troupe Gåte. He also once again collaborates with Ihsahn and Star Of Ash amongst many others. The record was mixed by mixed by Adam Noble (Placebo, Biffy Clyro, Nothing But Thieves) and mastered by Robin Schmidt (The 1975, Placebo, The Gaslight Anthem, etc.).


16 is available on Ltd CD Digipak, Gatefold 180g 2LP + LP-booklet & Digitally. Order here.





Tracklisting:


"16" (feat. Raphael Weinroth-Browne)
"Remember Me"
"A Beautiful Life"
"Where All The Twigs Broke" (feat. Star Of Ash)
"Metacognitive" (feat. Raphael Weinroth-Browne)
"Home" (feat. Ben Levin)
"Blue Light" (feat. Asger Mygind)
"Grotto" (feat. Magnus Børmark)
"Splitting The Soul" (feat. Ihsahn)
"Over The Top"
"The Glass Is Empty" (feat. Tóti Guðnason)


"Home" video:





"A Beautiful Life" video:





"Grotto" video:





(Photo - Elena Sihida)

UK-based melodic metal band The Raven Age, have released a new song with an accompanying video, "Forgive & Forget", out on all streaming platforms now. The track is featured on the band's new album, Blood Omen, out on July 7. Watch the video below.


The band’s lineup includes guitarist George Harris, guitarist Tommy Gentry, bassist Matt Cox, drummer Jai Patel, and singer Matt “MJ” James.


Rushing in on a scalding lead guitar riff, “Forgive & Forget” is a genre-defining, sonic stampede, upbeat and catchy, but bearing the band’s signature ambition and heaviness. “It’s about letting go of old demons and not letting unwanted memories shape your future,” explains lead guitarist and songwriter George Harris.




Conceived, produced, and directed by the band themselves the Tarantino-esque video was shot in the legendary Laredo Western Town. “We wanted to try something completely different with ‘Forgive & Forget’”, says singer Matt James. “We wanted to follow on from our two recent singles ‘Serpents Tongue’ and ‘Parasite’ with the horror vibe but with a spin… and to see how far we could push it! Cowboys and zombies definitely felt like something unique, and we found the perfect location to make it happen!”





The band is pushing everything further than ever before. The choruses are made for arenas, the riffs are taut, direct and go straight for the jugular. The creative ambition on display in the video is also evident throughout the forthcoming album Blood Omen which will be out on July 7 via Music For Nations/Sony Music and was produced by Matt Hyde (Slipknot, Machine Head, Bullet For My Valentine) with final mastering put into the hands of Mika Jussila at Finnvox (Nightwish, Children of Bodom, HIM).


Blood Omen is available on several formats including standard transparent red vinyl, standard jewel case CD, deluxe hardcover CD with exclusive artwork, and a deluxe LP version pressed on black and red splatter vinyl, housed in gatefold packaging, complete with additional and exclusive artwork.


Pre-order the album here.





Tracklisting:


"Changing Of The Guard"
"Parasite"
"Serpents Tongue"
"Essence Of Time"
"Nostradamus"
"Forgive & Forget"
"The Journey"
"War In Heaven"
"Tears Of Stone"


"Parasite" video:





This summer, The Raven Age will be touring arenas across Europe and the UK with Iron Maiden. They will also be performing at Germany’s Rock am Ring, Belgium’s Graspop Metal Meeting, Return Of The Gods Festival in Italy, Sweden Rock, and Metal Days in Slovenia.


Full list of tour dates here.


(Photo - John McMurtrie)

German pioneers of industrial metal, Megaherz, return to tear down walls with their full-length studio album, In Teufels Namen (eng. In the Devil's Name), set to be released on August 11 via Napalm Records. Three decades into their career, Megaherz have undoubtedly become one of the most important bands, the co-founders of Neue Deutsche Härte, which they proved with their critically acclaimed 2018 full-length, Komet - storming charts and peaking at #7 in Germany.


On their new release, In Teufels Namen, Megaherz raise their voice again and direct their gaze to where it hurts - criticizing conspiracy theories, religion and society as a whole, but also facing inner struggles and pain. The brand new single "Alles Arschlöcher" (EN: “All Assholes”) shows off hard hitting guitars, catchy synth-melodies, electronic influences and strong lyrics - criticizing the worst of society in trademark Megaherz style. Followed by a captivating, dark official music video, it highlights the expressive statement and strong topic.


Megaherz on “Alles Arschlöcher”: “Today we proudly present the first single from our new album. ‘Alles Arschlöcher’ is a hard-hitting expression of our frustration and the anger we feel towards the hypocrites and manipulators of this world. Let yourself be carried away by the aggression and the penetrating power of ‘Alles Arschlöcher’ and scream your frustration out together with us.”




Watch the official music video for “Alles Arschlöcher” below.


Megaherz’s new album begins strongly with the epic title track “In Teufels Namen” (EN: "In the Devil's Name"), detailing their critique on the church as an institution. On “Der König Der Dummen” (EN: “The King Of The Fools”), one of the heaviest songs on the record, the quintet doesn’t mince words once again, commenting on conspiracy theorists in their tinfoil hats. The hypnotizing track “Amnesie” (EN: “Amnesia”) is heavily built on electronic-inspired beats and melodies, while chanting anthem of the free spirited, “Freigeist”, features catchy synths and a sing-along chorus. On tracks like “Rabenherz” (EN: “Raven Heart”) and “Engelsgesicht” (EN: "Angel face"), the band show an emotional facet, while the second is a reminiscent of the band’s all-time hit “Miststück” (EN: “Bitch”). "Menschenhasser” is a powerful, fast Neue Deutsche Härte track that eases into the breather "Ich Hasse (Epilog)" (EN: "I Hate (Epilogue)"), featuring emotional keys, before the empowering “Auf dem Weg zur Sonne” (EN: “On My Way To The Sun”) showcases their vulnerable side before closing the album. Overall, In Teufels Namen is an energetic ride providing the listener with pure industrial metal at its best.


Megaherz on their new album: “We are happy to finally release our new album, In Teufels Namen, and it hits with full force. In Teufels Namen is an album steeped in dark themes and strong emotions. We went deep into the abyss of human nature and the result is songs that powerfully and uncompromisingly unleash an energy that will sweep you away.”





In Teufels Namen will be available in the following formats:


- 2 CD Deluxe Box (incl. Ltd. Digisleeve, bonus CD with 6 previously unreleased tracks, pocket bottle, art print (15x15cm)) - limited to 300 copies
- 1 LP Gatefold Clear Blue – limited to 500 copies, GSA only
- 1 LP Gatefold Black – limited to 300 copies
- 1 CD Digisleeve + Shirt Bundle
- 1 CD Limited Digisleeve
- Digital Album


Pre-order here.





In Teufels Namen tracklisting:


"In Teufels Namen"
"Rabenherz"
"Engelsgesicht"
"Freigeist"
"Kannst du den Himmel sehn?"
"Der König Der Dummen"
"Amnesie"
"Alles Arschlöcher"
"Menschenhasser"
"Ich Hasse (Epilog)"
"Auf dem Weg zur Sonne"


"Alles Arschlöcher" video:





Don’t miss Megaherz on their European co-headliner tour with Combichrist this fall.


Megaherz are:


Lex - Vocals
X-ti - Guitars & Samples
Chris - Guitar
Wenz - Bass
Maxx - Drums


(Photo - Franz Schepers)

"The future is a beast, and we're here to ride it." - Chuck Garric


COP International is proud to announce the signing of Nashville rock act, Beasto Blanco, to its growing artist roster, and will exclusively release two new singles from the band in 2023, followed by a full-length album in 2024, supported by upcoming tour dates.


"We were approached by Eric Burton / Schubert Music about signing Beasto Blanco, and as soon as we heard that Chuck Garric (bass, Alice Cooper) and Calico Cooper fronted the band, we were very interested," says Christian Petke, founder of COP International Records. "I saw Beasto Blanco for the first time in Germany at the Waldstation in Frankfurt. They were opening for the Böhse Onkelz in front of a massive crowd of 50,000-plus people. It was an absolute high-pressure situation, as Böhse Onkelz fans are notorious for not taking kindly to opening acts. However, Beasto stood their ground and absolutely nailed their set. The mayhem Beasto created on stage radiated out into the audience, creating an insane feedback loop that left us all breathless. In that moment, I knew that we had a winner – a band capable of delivering an electrifying performance in the most challenging of circumstances."




Burton suggested COP bring in Chris Harms (Lord Of The Lost) as the producer for the album, which turned out to be a brilliant match. "We were looking for a sound that was inspired by bands, movies, and lyrical concepts that inspired Beasto Blanco. Chris instantly got that vibe," says Calico Cooper. "We flew to Hamburg to track the vocals, finished the writing in February, and the sessions were creative and amazing in a city with great energy!”


Chris Harms adds, "Working with Beasto Blanco was one of the most creative and exciting productions of my producing career. For a few months, I was allowed to dive into the band's world so deeply that it felt like I was part of the band. We wrote, recorded, and produced songs together, with great attention to detail and no genre boundaries. Everything that felt good was right. I'm very proud of this album, which, for me, is a milestone in BB's career!"


“We will drop two singles in the second half of this year," says Chuck Garric. "I will be touring with Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie in the fall, and we want to use this opportunity to introduce some of the new material to the fans. We will release the new album early 2024 and are planning some extensive touring to support the record. Beasto Blanco is my inner beast, my spirit animal, the thing that I turn into when I hit the stage," he says.


Beasto Blanco bass player Jan LeGrow adds of the connection to COP International Records, which has distribution in Germany and America, “Germany is home to us. Literally home. I was born and raised in Köln, Germany. Beasto has rocked in stadiums and arenas around Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Our first time rehearsing as a band was in Zurich, Switzerland, so it is really fitting that we are signed to a German / American label and publisher. We love our Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft."


Blood, sweat, and gasoline are fueling Beasto Blanco's explosive rock sound and captivating visuals. A band and an audience united in one inseparable union of musical thunder and sensational spectacle: Welcome to the world of Beasto Blanco. Whether illuminated in the spotlights of cavernous arenas or headlining packed theaters and clubs, the band's mission is unwavering: To create an immersive experience where everyone is welcome to join an extended family whose support is unconditional and authentic.


More announcements regarding Beasto Blanco will be forthcoming in 2023.


(Photo - Jed Williams)

In a new interview with Tony González of Spain's Made In Metal, former QUEENSRŸCHE frontman Geoff Tate confirmed that he is "almost finished" writing his autobiography after working on it "for quite a few years". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's a lot of work to be a book writer, I find. It's different with songs. For example, you might spend one month per song — writing the music and writing the lyrics — and then it's finished. But books can take years to write. Every chapter has to be so in-depth. It depends on what kind of book. In my case, writing an autobiography is a little easier because I know my subject very well. [Laughs] And I've been a journaler for years — I've always kept a diary and a journal — so I have a lot of source material to reference. Like where I was on a certain date, what happened, roughly. So I have a lot of ability to go back and read what I lived."

Tate previously discussed his autobiography last fall in an interview with Keysmash magazine. At the time, he said: "Over the last close to a year, I've been working on my book, my autobiography. And I'm just finishing it up now; I'm kind of in the proofreading stage. And actually reading it through, I'm kind of shocked at how much life I've had. [Laughs] I've done a lot of stuff, and a lot of interesting things. I've done a lot of traveling. I've been to 67 countries in the world. I've been a lot of places, done a lot of things, played a lot of shows, made a lot of friends. I've lost a lot of friends along the way. [I've had] a crazy, crazy life."

In a March 2021 interview with Sonic Perspectives, Tate said that he had "a lot of stuff written already" for his autobiography. "I'm kind of a journal writer, keeping track of everything, 'cause, honestly, the older I get, I can't remember all the stuff," he explained. "I go back and read what I wrote to remember dates and places. 'Cause I've played so many shows — thousands of shows — in different places around the world, and honestly, you just sort of forget, unless you keep track of it and write it down. You forget where you were, or you remember there was something that happened there and maybe you can remember the situation, but you don't know where you were. So it really helps to write it down and keep track of it. I have a lot of things written down — probably eight or nine hundred pages of information. It's pretty much organized by date."

Tate recently announced the summer/fall 2023 U.S. leg of his "Big Rock Show Hits" tour.

Geoff celebrated his 64th birthday on January 14 during his concert at Amaturo Theater in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Tate's "Big Rock Show Hits" tour kicked off on December 1, 2022. Tate and his international band — featuring guitarists Kieran Robertson from Scotland, James Brown from Ireland and Alex Hart from Boston along with bass player Jack Ross from Scotland, drummer Danny Laverde from Cincinnati and keyboardist Jason Ames — hit 28 cities across the United States, including Cleveland, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Denver and Nashville, on an initial tour leg that culminated on Geoff's birthday.

In April 2014, Tate and QUEENSRŸCHE announced that a settlement had been reached after a nearly two-year legal battle where the singer sued over the rights to the QUEENSRŸCHE name after being fired in 2012.

Tate was replaced in QUEENSRŸCHE by former CRIMSON GLORY singer Todd La Torre.

Geoff is currently celebrating the 35th anniversary of QUEENSRŸCHE's classic album "Operation: Mindcrime".

Last summer, Tate underwent an aortic valve replacement at the Universitäts-Herzzentrum Freiburg-Bad Krozingen (University Heart Center Freiburg) in Bad Krozingen, Germany. According to NHS, an aortic valve replacement is a type of open-heart surgery used to treat problems with the heart's aortic valve, which controls the flow of blood out from the heart to the rest of the body.

New Jersey-based indie rock band Riversend are back with their follow-up to "Phantom"; their original take of Pantera's "Revolution Is My Name".


Olivia Horovitz (lead vocals), and Zack Miranowic (lead guitarist of Disciples Of Verity and Sekond Skyn) are the duo taking a calculated risk with "Revolution Is My Name" and breathing into it a whole new emotional spirit. Once again, Riversend is showcasing their musical abilities in a nuance that stands guns loaded, in a scene from a moment of justice being delivered. The music entwines in the haunting apparitional motion only Olivia can convey through her vocals and Zack fulfills with his guitar work and mix.


Joining Olivia Horovitz and Zack Miranowic on this unique Pantera cover is guest drummer / percussionist, Garrett Kruse.







Lead vocalist Olivia Horovitz reflects: “We knew it was a bold choice when we decided to cover a song by Pantera, but we did it for the fun of creating something new and different." Guitarist / bassist Zack Miranowic added, "When I heard Olivia singing the chorus to 'Revolution Is My Name', I thought, 'Hey, that would be something really cool to record because I’ve never heard anybody do a Pantera cover in that way.'”


Purchase "Revolution Is My Name" by Riversend at Bandcamp.





The official 4K remaster of the "Revolution Is My Name" music video by Pantera, from their Reinventing The Steel album, issued in 2000, can be enjoyed below.





 

JUDAS PRIEST's Richie Faulkner was the featured guest on BBC's "The Rock Show With Johnnie Walker" during the "Rock God" segment. Richie picked Jimi Hendrix and stated about his choice (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I still remember, as most of us do, the first time the sonic psychedelia leaped out from the grooves in the vinyl. My father was also a massive fan and was passing the torch to his young son.

"Watching Jimi's performance at the Monterey Pop Festival on a VHS tape was also otherworldly," he continued. "Exploding out of the shadows to a cover of Howlin' Wolf's 'Killing Floor', a pink feather boa draped around his neck and a black Stratocaster thrust forward, this young boy from London was hooked.

"Jimi never seemed to be brash or loud as a person and let his music do the talking.

"As a guitar player, I always look to Jimi for guidance and inspiration if I get lost writing a song or can't find the right fluster of notes," Richie added. "He always brings me back to the core of why I was inspired to be a guitar player in the first place.

"Jimi is my rock god, as he still inspires millions to this day."

Faulkner is currently promoting "Horns For A Halo", the debut album from ELEGANT WEAPONS, his new project also featuring singer Ronnie Romero (RAINBOW, MSG). The LP, which was released on May 26 via Nuclear Blast, was recorded with bassist Rex Brown (PANTERA, DOWN) and drummer Scott Travis (JUDAS PRIEST) and was helmed by acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap, who has previously worked with JUDAS PRIEST, ACCEPT, EXODUS and MEGADETH, among many others.

ELEGANT WEAPONS, which is rounded out by Dave Rimmer (URIAH HEEP) on bass and Christopher Williams (ACCEPT) on drums, will hit the road in Europe beginning in June and running through July. The trek will include performances with PANTERA, festival appearances and headlining shows.

Faulkner joined JUDAS PRIEST in 2011 as the replacement for the band's founding guitarist K.K. Downing.

In September 2021, Faulkner suffered an acute cardiac aortic dissection during PRIEST's performance at the Louder Than Life festival, just a short distance from Rudd Heart and Lung Center at UofL Health - Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. It took the hospital's cardiothoracic surgery team, led by Dr. Siddharth Pahwa and also including Drs. Brian Ganzel and Mark Slaughter, approximately 10 hours to complete the surgery, an aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement with hemiarch replacement.

After Louder Than Life, JUDAS PRIEST postponed the remainder of the U.S. dates on its 50th-anniversary tour, dubbed "50 Heavy Metal Years". The shows were rescheduled for March and April 2022.

Last September, Faulkner revealed that he underwent a second heart surgery in early August 2022 to fix "a hole in the repair." He added: "There was a leak — I'd basically sprung a leak in there — and it was causing a sack to form around my heart. So they found it just before the European leg [of PRIEST's 2022 tour]."

Following the news of their signing to The Circle Music, Greek black metal act, Melan Selas, have unleashed the first single and lyric video in support of the upcoming second album, Zephyrean Hymns. Watch the lyric video for “Dreadful Dome” below.


Scheduled for a September 22 release, Zephyrean Hymns breathes new life into the black metal scene and promises to place the band among the greats of the Greek black metal scene.


"A quest through space and time, an ascension to something greater... Zephyrean Hymns lead our cause," this is how the band describes the new album.




Zephyrean Hymns consists of eight songs that create a unique atmosphere. Sometimes the listener is assaulted by raging riffs and eerie screams and at other times engrossed in seductive vocals travelling with dreamy melodies.


Hailing from Trikala, Greece, Melan Selas formed in 2015 and have so far released two EPs and one full-length album, Φάος. The band consists of D.K. (Riffobia, Katavasia) who handles all instruments and Astraea (Oletir) on vocals and lyrics.


Melan Selas' music genre can be defined as black metal with epic and atmospheric elements, as well as some black/thrash metal sections. The lyrical themes of the project vary between nature, ancient times and philosophy.





Zephyrean Hymns tracklisting:


"Mountain Tops"
"Frozen Lake"
"Humble Soil"
"Trumpets Of War"
"Dreadful Dome"
"Darkened Cliff"
"Wanderer"
"Ancient Scrolls"


"Dreadful Dome" lyric video:





(Photo - Georg Iffert)

S8nt Elektric, the female-fronted hard rock band from Los Angeles, is excited to release their latest single and music video, "Live On". The song showcases their unique sound and is accompanied by a visually captivating video.





"Live On" combines rock, alternative, and electronic influences to create an impactful anthem. With powerful vocals and infectious guitar riffs, S8nt Elektric delivers an electrifying experience for listeners.




"Live On" is now available on major streaming platforms, with the music video available for streaming below.





S8nt Elektric is a five-piece hard rock band from Los Angeles, influenced by all types of rock, alternative, and even disco. With a goal of innovating rock n’ roll for the 21st century they have hard-hitting players and unexpected twists and turns in their music. Releasing one single at a time, S8nt Elektric are paving their own lane in this complicated musical landscape.


Formed in 2021, the lineup includes Briana Carbajal on vocals, Niko Tsangaris on lead guitar, London Hudson on drums, Eric Matt on rhythm guitar, and Jack Kleinman on bass.

In a new interview with Robert Cavuoto of Sonic Perspectives, BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler was asked about the report that Ozzy Osbourne may perform in a chair when he returns to the live stage later this year. The report came in March, a month after Osbourne released a statement in which he said that he would have to cancel his tour because of a spinal injury he suffered four years ago and other health problems.

Geezer, who is promoting his autobiography "Into The Void: From Birth To Black Sabbath - And Beyond", said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I wouldn't be surprised. It's up to him. I've got nothing to do with his solo career. Whatever Ozzy wants to do, it's up to him… It's sad that he has to do that, if he does it. But Ozzy wants to get out there and play to his fans one more time. So good luck to him."

Asked he still stays in touch with Ozzy and other fellow original SABBATH members Tony Iommi and Bill Ward, Geezer said: "I stay in touch with Tony. Bill's not on the Internet. And I haven't spoken to Ozzy since the last SABBATH gig [in 2017]."

In March, it was announced that Ozzy will join GUNS N' ROSES, AC/DC, METALLICA, IRON MAIDEN and TOOL as one the headliners of the Goldenvoice-produced Power Trip festival, which will take place Friday, October 6 to Sunday, October 8 at the Empire Polo Club In Indio, California.

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

In an interview with The Sun, Sharon Osbourne spoke about some of Ozzy's health issues, including catching COVID-19 more a year ago, which forced him to cancel some of his previously announced tours.

"Ozzy's Achilles' heel has always been his lungs, so to get something like Covid that affects your breathing and all of that, it was just torturous," she said.

"It has been very difficult. Ozzy has been plagued medically by different things that have been wrong. It is like one thing leads to another then another. For some reason he is tested all the time. I think, 'No more, please God. He has passed all the tests, he has survived — please leave him alone'."

Sharon added: "This is the longest time Ozzy has ever been at home. He is driving me crazy, every fucking day.

"Ozzy said to me during Covid, 'Do you think we are spending too much time together?' I'm like, 'Yeah, but where the fuck do I go? I can't go to a hotel, what do you want me to do? Where do you want me to go?'. And he said, 'I didn't think of that'."

Sharon said that getting Ozzy into a good enough physical shape to play live shows is now a priority.

"The biggest love affair of Ozzy's life is his audience and performing," she explained. "He misses the live audience, he misses his fans terribly. He feels he's let them down. Performing is what he is born to do. Ozzy says to me that he can't do anything as good as performing. I get heart-broken when I hear him say that and knowing he cannot go out and do what he is meant to do. But he will get there."

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

The news of Osbourne's participation in Power Trip came nearly two months after he released a statement in which he said that he would have to cancel his tour because of a spinal injury he suffered four years ago and other health problems.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In February 2017, SABBATH finished "The End" tour in Birmingham, closing out the quartet's groundbreaking 49-year career.

"The End" was SABBATH's last tour because Iommi — who was diagnosed with lymphoma in late 2011 — can no longer travel for extended amounts of time.

"Into The Void: From Birth To Black Sabbath - And Beyond" is being released on June 6 in North America via HarperCollins imprint Dey Street Books. The book will arrive in the United Kingdom on June 8.

A founding member of BLACK SABBATH, Butler is also the lyricist of such SABBATH classics as "War Pigs", "Iron Man", "Paranoid" and others.

IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain, who turns 71 today (Monday, June 5),celebrated his birthday onstage with his bandmates during their concert last night (Sunday, June 4) at Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland. An official video capturing the moment has been uploaded to MAIDEN's YouTube channel and can be seen below.

Tapped to replace Clive Burr in 1982 after touring activities for "Number Of The Beast" concluded, McBrain brought a degree of finesse and technicality that was largely missing from IRON MAIDEN's early output. Whereas Burr was often lauded for his heavy-handed, punk-oriented style, McBrain was largely the opposite, playing with a degree of dexterity and flair that helped primary songwriter Steve Harris take MAIDEN down more adventurous paths. He is now the third longest-tenured member of MAIDEN, behind Harris and guitarist Dave Murray.

McBrain spent his early drumming years playing for the likes of Pat Travers and French rockers TRUST, eventually falling on to the radar of Harris and MAIDEN during the group's initial European tour.

McBrain recently shared a new nine-minute video breakdown of the drum kit he is using for the 2023 leg of the band's "The Future Past" world tour. The trek, which launched on May 28 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, is scheduled to hit North America in September and October.

In November 2019, Nicko announced that he would be playing the Manchester, U.K.-based drum brand British Drum Co. and carry the title "International Ambassador" with it.

British Drum Co. has been around since 2015, launched by drum builder Keith Keough four years after he sold his own company, KD Drums, to Premier. Premier is the company McBrain endorsed for much of the '90s and 2000s. Nicko now plays the British Drum Co. Legend Series.

Nicko has his own IRON MAIDEN artwork on all the drums in his kit. Each drum features MAIDEN's mascot Eddie and has its own story relating to the stage set and to the history of "The Future Past " tour.

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A post shared by Nicko McBrain's Drum One 🥁1️⃣🤘 (@nickosdrumone)

Peter Gabriel has releasesd the sixth track from his forthcoming album i/o. This month the song is "Road To Joy" and the first version to be heard is the Bright-Side Mix, by Mark ‘Spike’ Stent.


Written by Peter Gabriel and produced by Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno, "Road To Joy" features Soweto Gospel Choir, a string arrangement from John Metcalfe and contributions from a number of Gabriel’s current touring band; long-time collaborators Tony Levin (bass), David Rhodes (guitar) and Manu Katché (drums) as well as two newer members Don E (bass keys), ‘he did the funkiest bass line that you can imagine’ and Josh Shpak (trumpet), ‘beautiful playing, a super musical guy.’ The song was recorded at Real World Studios, Bath, The Beehive and British Grove, London and High Seas Studios, South Africa.


"I'm working on a project which is partly a story focused around the brain and how we perceive things and this song connects to that. It deals with near-death experience and locked-in syndrome situations where people are unable to communicate or to move. It's an amazingly frustrating condition. There have been some great books and films about this subject, but at this point in our story the people looking after our hero manage to find a way to wake him up. So, it’s a lyric about coming back into your senses, back to life, back into the world."




The song is one of the last tracks to emerge for the i/o record, but it has some DNA from an earlier project; "It was actually very late in the record that we got to this. There had been a song that musically I'd started, I think, around the OVO project called Pukka. It was very different to this, but it was actually the starting point for coming back to this song. I just felt there was a good groove there, and I wanted something else with rhythm and so we tried a few things when I was working with Brian Eno. The excitement and energy in the song was something that I was getting off on. I felt we didn't have enough of that for this record."





As with previous full moon releases, "Road To Joy" comes with an artist of the month, and for this June release that artist is Ai Weiwei and his work ‘Middle Finger in Pink’.


"I'm a big fan of Ai Weiwei, both as an artist, as a designer and as a human rights campaigner. He's an incredibly brave man and regularly risks the wrath of the Chinese government. But his work is exceptional, often political and quite extraordinary. When I was hustling him, I think he had absolutely no idea who I was, so it was an uphill battle at first, but he was open to talking and we got to know each other and hang out a little bit. I was delighted when he agreed to being a part of the i/o project and generously sent us three designs. He has this middle finger image that he uses a lot in his work, and it is often directed to those in power. He's definitely been at the root end of power, as his father was before him. So that's an important symbol for him and I guess in the context of the story I am now working on, death is the dominant power, and the hero is coming back to life and raising his finger to death."


Just like the previous full moon releases, "Road To Joy" comes with differing mix approaches from Mark ‘Spike’ Stent (Bright-Side Mix). Tchad Blake (Dark-Side Mix) and Hans-Martin Buff’s Atmos mix (In-Side Mix), released later in the month.





Since the release of Four Kinds Of Horses, last month, Peter Gabriel has begun the European leg of the i/o tour.


i/o - The Tour sees Gabriel playing new material from his forthcoming album i/o, as well as delving into his peerless catalogue of music, with hits, fan favourites and the unexpected. For the shows, Gabriel will be joined by regular band-mates Tony Levin, David Rhodes and Manu Katché.





Tour dates:


June
5 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Ziggo Dome
6 - Antwerp, Belgium - Sportpaleis
8 - Zurich, Switzerland - Hallenstadion
10 - Cologne, Germany - Lanxess Arena
12 - Hamburg, Germany - Barclays Arena
13 - Frankfurt, Germany - Festhalle
15 - Bordeaux, France - Arkea Arena
17 - Birmingham, UK - Utilita Arena
19 - London, UK - The O2
20 - Nottingham, UK - Motorpoint Arena
22 - Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro
23 - Manchester, UK - AO Arena
25 - Dublin, Ireland - 3Arena


September
8 - Quebec City, Quebec - Videotron Centre
9 - Ottawa, Ontario - Canadian Tire Centre
11 - Toronto, Ontario - Scotiabank Arena
13 - Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre
14 - Boston, Massachusetts - TD Garden
16 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Wells Fargo Center
18 - New York, New York - Madison Square Garden
20 - Washington, D.C. - Capital One Arena
22 - Buffalo, New York - KeyBank Center
23 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - PPG Paints Arena
25 - Columbus, Ohio - Nationwide Arena
27 - Cleveland, Ohio - Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
29 - Detroit, Michigan - Little Caesars Arena
30 - Chicago, Illinois - United Center


October
2 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Fiserv Forum
3 - St. Paul , Minnesota - Xcel Energy Center     
7 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Rogers Arena
8 - Seattle, Washington - Climate Pledge Arena
11 - San Francisco, California - Chase Center
13 - Los Angeles, California - Kia Forum
14 - Palm Springs, California - Acrisure Arena
16 - Denver , Colorado - Ball Arena
18 - Austin, Texas - Moody Center
19 - Dallas, Texas - American Airlines Center
21 - Houston, Texas - Toyota Center


(Photo - Nadav Kander)

Italy’s blackened deathcore outfit, The Modern Age Slavery, recently released  their fourth studio album, 1901 | The First Mother, via their new label, Fireflash Records. The album includes a unique cover version of the Korn classic, “Blind”, a band favorite, although Korn does not belong to the death metal strand.


“We just wanted to make a cover that would actually stand out since, differently from all the other tracks, it is not full The Modern Age style. It is actually the first time we insert some clean vocals which are not in the background. We are all curious of what our listeners and friends will think about it...”, comments the band.


Watch the video below:







Order 1901 | The First Mother here





Tracklisting:


“Pro Patria Mori”
“KLLD”
“Irradiate All The Earth”
“The Hip”
“Lilibeth”
“Overture To Silence”
“OXYgen”
“Nytric”
“Victoria’s Death”
“The Age Of Great Men”
“Blind” (Korn cover)


“Pro Patria Mori”:





“KLLD”: