Guns N' Roses brought their ongoing World Tour to Park HaYarkon in Tel Aviv, Israel on Monday (June 5). During the soundcheck for the show, the band played through the unreleased song, "Perhaps", one of the tracks from the sessions for their Chinese Democracy album, issued in 2008.


Fans waiting outside the venue captured the band sound checking "Perhaps", and you can listen to the clips below.  According to Setlist.fm, GN'R's soundcheck that day also included "It's So Easy", "Bad Obsession", "Pretty Tied Up", "Anything Goes", and "Down On The Farm".










Guns N’ Roses recently announced the artists that will support the tour’s North American leg: Superstar Carrie Underwood, The Pretenders, Alice In Chains, The Warning, and Dirty Honey. In addition, the band will be adding new shows: one in Pittsburgh, PA at PNC Park on Friday, August 18 and another in Seattle, WA at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday, October 14.


Guns N’ Roses return to the road on a massive 2023 World Tour produced by Live Nation, headlining stadiums, festivals, and arenas throughout the summer and fall. The powerhouse rock band launched this jaunt on June 5 in Tel Aviv, and will continue across Europe through July 22, wrapping in Athens, Greece. The band will continue onto North America, starting on Saturday, August 5 in Moncton, NB at Medavie Blue Cross Stadium, and will visit historic venues across the country such as Fenway Park in Boston, MA on August 21 and Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL on August 24. The tour concludes in Vancouver, BC at BC Place on Monday, October 16.  


This will be the first time the group have toured North America since the monumental We’re F’N Back! Tour in 2021 - which also steamrolled stadiums coast-to-coast including their first headliner at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. Meanwhile, their now-legendary Not In This Lifetime… Tour (2016-2019) stands out as the “third-highest grossing tour of all time.”


Expanding their influence across culture, Guns N’ Roses also notably just sponsored Erik Jones and the No. 43 in the Daytona 500. His race team, Legacy Motor Club is co-owned by NASCAR legends Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson who shared his excitement on Twitter.


2023 Global Tour Dates;


International:


June
9 - Madrid, Spain - Civitas Metropolitan Stadium
12 - Vigo, Spain - Estadio Abanca Balaídos
15 - Dessel, Belgium - Grasspop Metal Meeting
17 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Copenhell
21 - Oslo, Norway - Tons of Rock
27 - Glasgow, UK - Bellahouston Park
30 - London, UK - BST Hyde Park


July
3 - Frankfurt, Germany - Deutsch Bank Park
5 - Bern, Switzerland - BernExpo
8 - Rome, Italy - Circo Massimo
11 - Landgraaf, Netherlands - Megaland
13 - Paris, France - La Defense
16 - Bucharest, Romania - National Arena
19 - Budapest, Hungary - Puskás Arena
22 - Athens, Greece - Olympic Stadium





North America:


August
5 - Moncton, NB - Medavie Blue Cross Stadium with Carrie Underwood
8 - Montreal, QC - Parc Jean Drapeau with Carrie Underwood
11 - Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Stadium with The Pretenders
15 - East Rutherford, NJ - MetLife Stadium with The Pretenders
18 - Pittsburgh, PA - PNC Park with The Pretenders^
21 - Boston, MA - Fenway Park  with The Pretenders
24 - Chicago, IL - Wrigley Field with The Pretenders
26 - Nashville, TN - GEODIS Park with Carrie Underwood
29 - Charlotte, NC - Spectrum Center with Dirty Honey


September
1 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center with Dirty Honey
3 - Toronto, ON - Rogers Centre with The Pretenders
6 - Lexington, KY - Rupp Arena with Dirty Honey
9 - St. Louis, MO - Busch Stadium with The Pretenders
12 - Knoxville, TN - Thompson-Boling Arena with The Warning
15 - Hollywood, FL - Hard Rock Live with The Warning*
17 - Atlanta, GA - Midtown Music Festival*
20 - Biloxi, MS - Mississippi Coast Coliseum with Dirty Honey
23 - Kansas City, MO - Kauffman Stadium with Alice in Chains
26 - San Antonio, TX - Alamodome with Alice in Chains
28 - Houston, TX - Minute Maid Park with Alice in Chains


October
1 - San Diego, CA - Snapdragon Stadium with Alice in Chains
6 - Indio, CA - Power Trip Festival*
8 - Sacramento, CA - Aftershock Festival*
11 - Phoenix, AZ - Chase Field with Alice in Chains
14 - Seattle, WA - Climate Pledge Arena^ (support act TBD)
16 - Vancouver, BC - BC Place with Alice in Chains


^ Newly Added Date
* Not A Live Nation Date


(Photo - Katarina Benzova)


 

Frayle deliver a beautiful take on Soundgarden's "Head Down", fueled by the mystery of Gwyn Strang's haunting vocals and down-tuned frying guitars. The fast-rising doom act from Cleveland, OH has furthermore illustrated this dark song with a stunning video. Watch below.


Frayle comment: "Soundgarden was an integral part of our development as musicians from an early age with brillant songs such as 'Fell on Black Days', 'Black Hole Sun', the list just goes on and on", singer Gwyn Strang writes and multi-instrumentalist Sean Bilovecki continues: "For 'Head Down', we deconstructed the song and switched its timing to 4/4. The song as recorded by Soundgarden has overlapping drum parts and complicated timings for example. We stripped it down and gave the track elements of tribal drumming, while we added layers of vocal harmonies and voices coming at the listener from all angles."







More information about the forthcoming MER Redux Series instalment, Superunknown Redux, can be found below. The massive double album has been scheduled for release on July 14. Pre-order here.


Parallel to Superunknown Redux, Magnetic Eye Records will release the by now customary companion album entitled Best Of Soundgarden Redux, that contains further 15 cover versions of deep cuts and all-time classics from across Soundgarden's extensive catalogue recorded by more exciting artists.





Superunknown Redux tracklisting:


Ufomammut - "Let Me Drown"
High Priest feat. Bobby Ferry (16) - "My Wave"
Marissa Nadler - "Fell On Black Days"
Somnuri - "Mailman"
Valley Of The Sun - "Superunknown"
Frayle - "Head Down"
Spotlights - "Black Hole Sun"
Horseburner - "Spoonman"
Witch Mountain - "Limo Wreck"
Beastwars - "The Day I Tried To Live"
Jack Harlon & The Dead Crows - "Kickstand"
The Age Of Truth - "Fresh Tendrils"
Marc Urselli's SteppenDoom feat. Matt Cameron (Soundgarden, Pearl Jam), Igor Sydorenko (Stoned Jesus), Alain Johannes (Queens of the Stone Age, Eleven), Albert Kuvezin (Yat-Kha) & Utelo - "4th Of July"
Dozer - "Half"
Darkher - "Like Suicide"


"Let Me Drown":

The G-String Murders is the fifth official release from Canadian instrumentalist Darren Michael Boyd. Fans of his music have grown to expect a blend humour and darkness, and this four song EP does not disappoint. Interesting compositions, memorable melodies, and sophisticated chord-play are always Boyd’s priority, but there are still enough guitar fireworks to satisfy shred fans.


There is a witchy and quirky feel to his “Spooky Surf” sound that easily creates a visual in the listener’s imagination. The title was chosen because Boyd thought it was hysterical when he first came up with it, knowing that despite its complete lack of subtlety, some people would probably still miss the joke!


Darren Michael Boyd is comfortable playing all kinds of music, and feels at home with a big theatrical show – regardless of the venue size. After years of touring, writing, recording, Darren has developed his own dynamic musical style, along with authenticity and unprecedented professionalism.







Tracklist:


"Hide And Shriek"
"Darkling"
"Racing For Pinks"
"The G-String Murders"


"Darkling"

On June 3rd, guitar legend Steve Vai performed at the Best Of Blues And Rock Fest 2023 at Parque do Ibirapuera in São Paulo, Brazil. Fan-filmed video of his entire show is available below.


Vai checekd in with the following message after the gig:


"The show in São Paulo at the Best Of Blues And Rock fest was outstanding. It was a beautiful, clear night with a full moon and 8000 enthusiastic people. Thanks to all the fans and to the promoter for inviting me. Brazil rocks, hard and beautiful."




The setlist on the night was as follows:


"Avalancha"
"Giant Balls of Gold"
"Little Pretty"
"Tender Surrender"
"Building the Church"
"I'm Becoming"
"Greenish Blues"
"Bad Horsie"
- drum solo - (Jeremy Colson)
"Teeth of the Hydra"
"Zeus in Chains"
"For the Love of God"











Vai recently announced the next leg of the Inviolate North American Tour. Tickets and EVO Experience passes are now on sale at vai.com.


Dates are as follows:


July
16 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre
18 - Grand Junction, CO - Mesa Theatre
19 - Albuquerque, NM - Revel
20 - Midland, TX - La Hacienda
21 - Little Rock, AR - Little Rock Hall
23 - New Orleans, LA - Joy Theater
25 - Nashville, TN - CMA Theater
26 - Memphis, TN - Minglewood Hall
27 - Peoria, IL - Civic Center Theater
28 - Clarksburg, WV - The Robinson Grand
29 - Harrisburg, PA - Whitaker Center
30 - Wilkes-Barre, PA - FM Kirby Center


August
1 - Bar Harbor, ME - The 1932 Criterion Theatre
2 - Halifax, NS - TBD
3 - Saint John, NB - TBD
5 - Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre
6 - Ottawa, ON - Bronson Centre
8 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall
10 - Winnipeg, MB - Burton Cummings Theatre
11 - Saskatoon, SK - Coors Event Centre
12 - Edmonton, AB - Union Hall
13 - Calgary, AB - The Palace Theatre
15 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre
16 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory
17 - Bend, OR - Midtown Ballroom
19 - Monterey, CA - Golden State Theater





 

Golden Robot Records recently announced the signing of the fiery, full-blooded Polynesian metal band, Shepherds Reign.


Hailing from South Auckland, New Zealand, Polynesian by birth and blood; Filiva’a James (vocals/keytar), Gideon Voon (guitar), Oliver Leupolu (guitar/production), Shaymen Rameka (drums) and Joseph Oti-George (bass) are the real thing, a band who put their hearts and lives into their songs.


The latest single from Shepherds Reign’s heavily anticipated forthcoming album, Ala Mai, is a love song. Note though, a love song for Shepherds Reign is not exactly Lionel Richie territory; and indeed "Finally" is filled with the band’s trademark guttural vocal roar, heavy zig-zag riffing throughout its verses, and soaring anthemic choruses, with a characteristic mind-melting lead guitar break.




"Finally" is a song about losing hope that you would ever find your one true love, but then… finally… you find that someone, the someone who makes you happy at your core; the someone who vindicates your patience and perseverance. A person who has come into your life and completely changed your perspective. Now that’s a love worth waiting for…





Shepherds Reign are famous in the Southern hemisphere for their primal performance, one which evokes many aspects of their cultural heritage and fierce Polynesian pride. Coupled with their enormous intimidating physical presence, there’s tribal roars, gargantuan riffs, twisting dual melodies, virulent virtuosity and crushing, bombastic rhythms, which all give Shepherds Reign their propulsive, dynamic metal sound. There is a special passion and power in every note struck, and in every word sung.


"Finally" is out on June 16th, and album Ala Mai  is out August 25th via Golden Robot Records.


Pre-order / pre-save "Finally" here.


"Ua Masa'a"

“Amputation Station” is the newest video and single from Baton Rouge / New Orleans, Louisiana-based noise rock trio Woorms. The standalone track drops as the band gets in the van to assault half of the US on tour this week.


Woorms’ material surges with dirge, grit, and groove, backed with bellowing amplification. Since their 2017 formation, the band has developed a diehard fanbase through three LPs, an array of singles, demos, and EPs, splits with A Hanging, Radiant Knife, and The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, released through the likes of Sludgelord Records, Forbidden Place Records, and their own Hospital Records. Most recently, the band’s third LP, Fatalismo, was recorded with Steve Austin from Today Is The Day and released on Austin’s SuperNova Records last summer.


After the release of Fatalismo, guitarist/vocalist Joey Carbo and drummer Aaron M. Polk welcomed new bassist Miguel Rincon, and the trio immediately began creating new music, expanding the band’s sound with new stylistic experimentation. “Amputation Station” the first new song from the revamped lineup, was recorded by Carbo at his own The Hospital Studio in Baton Rouge, and now sees release through a video, filmed and edited by Istanbul-based director Ensar Oytun Morgul.







Carbo delves into the new song and video: “I have intended to write about self-surgery for maybe 20 years now. Back then I had read some accounts of people successfully removing glands in marathon self-surgery sessions, lying on plastic sheeting on a motel room floor. They would become obsessed with the removal of a certain organ; a pathology would develop there. I do a lot of research for songs and to find samples that no one will have heard before. These research sessions are not always the best part of my job, to put it nicely, but research for this song was f*cking hardcore.”


“I learned that there are a few subtypes within this community. So, let me be very clear on this video. The acts we portray mimic those of individuals who, for sexual and/or aesthetic purposes, willingly remove their own body parts. We absolutely don’t judge any of this behavior. We say go for it; safety first, and let God be your gardener… we don’t give a f*ck. But what we are not making light of (or even portraying here) is the fetishization of those who have lost limbs in accidents, etc. Again, all good with us when consent is established. I say that because one thing I learned is that when someone suffers an amputation one of the first things doctors will prepare them for is the fact that they will be approached by or receive the attentions of certain people who will be attracted to the amputation itself, so they can decide how they will deal with that and consider how that might make them feel.”


“We had no desire to tackle that nuanced subject. But two guys willing to take their own limbs off so they can enjoy some good old fashioned stump f*cking? Well, that’s fair game. The extreme certainly interests me as much as anyone else. I am intrigued by those who would go so far as to self-mutilate, become a serial killer, or join a religion.”





Find “Amputation Station” at Bandcamp. 


Woorms sets out across The United States on tour this week with 16 confirmed shows:


June
8 - Marsh Room – Metairie, LA
9 - The Mix – San Antonio, TX 
10 - The 13th Floor – Austin, TX
11 - 3 Links – Dallas, TX
12 - Growlers – Memphis, TN
13 - Kiss Bar – Springfield, MO
14 - Minibar – Kansas City, MO
15 - Buzzbomb – Springfield, IL
16 - Cobra Lounge – Chicago, IL
17 - The Lager House – Detroit, MI
18 - Buzzbin – Akron, OH
20 - Southgate House – Newport, KY
21 - Cherry St Tavern – Chattanooga, TN
22 - Starbar – Atlanta, GA
23 - Alabama Music Box – Mobile, AL
24 - Fractal Brewing – Huntsville, AL





(Photo by Ensar Oytun Morgul)


 

Black metal band, Ancestral Blood, is excited to announce that they have joined forces with Wormholedeath, and will release their debut album, Forgotten Myths And Legends - Chapter 1 on July 21 on all digital platforms.


Forgotten Myths And Legends is a musical journey that explores lost stories and legends from different cultures and eras. Each song is fascinating, epical, and well-crafted to take each listener back through an old world of magic, kings, and dark mystical times. The songs consist of furious yet mesmerizing guitars, celestial and melancholy atmospheres, and harsh vocals while drumming to the call of battle.


Ancestral Blood's music is described as atmospheric battle metal with celestial vibrance. The band cites influences from 90s underground black metal and old releases by bands such as Ishtar, Isvind, Arthemesia, Vordven, Trollheims Grott, Ringnevond, Summoning, and Windir.




Ancestral Blood was founded in the mid-late 90s by Charles Lucia, better known as Verigo of the black metal band Vesterian. After several lineup changes and hiatuses, the band was reborn in 2016 with drummer Void and vocalist Circe. The band recorded their first full-length Forgotten Myths and Legends - Chapter 1 in 2021 and released their first single "Through The Enchanted Forest Of Illusions in 2022. In January 2023 the band signed with the Italian label Wormholedeath. The band is now working on videos while preparing to record Forgotten Myths And Legends - Chapter 2.





Tracklisting:


"Forged In The Fires Of Hephaestos"
"Forgotten Myths And Legends"
"Sky Fortress Of Wizardry"
"Crystallized Within The Caverns Of Time"
"Through The Enchanted Forest Of Illusions"
"Awaiting Where Calm Winds Blow At Nightfall"
"The Cronos Stone"
"Lost On A Boundless Journey (Voyage)"
"Sparks Of Light Atop Towers Deserted For Ages"


Trailer:





Ancestral Blood is:


Verigo: All music, guitars/leads/bass/keys/lyrics/male spoken parts/backup screams
Circe: Harsh vocals/female voices and spoken parts
Void: Drums
Hepar: Bass

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]."