Torn Between Two Worlds vocalist Sarah Jezebel Deva, formerly the backing vocalist for Cradle Of Filth, has checked in with the following update:


"Nagash, Steiner, Myself, Astennu and Hellhammer will be reuniting officially for The Kovenant. Sadly, Blackheart will be missing, hopefully short term; however he will be replaced by Knut from Arcturus for any shows. Luckily for The Kovenant, we have the amazing Photograve Management on our side. Older, uglier, but more professional than ever! Here is to whatever the future may hold for us." 


The Kovenant originally formed as a symphonic black metal act known as Covenant in 1993, but in 1999 were forced to change their name to The Kovenant due to a dispute with a Swedish electronic band of the same name. The band's name change also marked a change in sound/style, as the band from there on began to focus more on an aggrotech / industrial metal sound heavily influenced by Europe's EBM scene. Despite their style change, The Kovenant did however later reissue their early albums under The Kovenant name.










Photo: Håkon Grav

Sebastian Bach says that he threatened to quit SKID ROW after he and his bandmates signed away their publishing rights to Jon Bon Jovi when SKID ROW was first starting out.

Despite the fact that the 1989 debut album from the Bach-fronted SKID ROW went five times platinum and produced several hit singes — including "18 And Life", "I Remember You" and "Youth Gone Wild", there was a lot of bitterness surrounding its success, largely due to the fact that in return for the helping hands of Jon Bon Jovi, SKID ROW reportedly had to enter a publishing deal with the BON JOVI frontman's newly established Underground Music Company in which they waived their rights to publishing royalties. All money was paid to Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. After a public dispute, Sambora gave his share of the money back to SKID ROW.

Bach reflected on the dispute with Bon Jovi during an appearance on a recent episode of the "Wild Ride! With Steve-O" podcast. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Here's the honest-to-God truth. That is true that we signed a publishing deal with [Jon] and in order for us to sign it, he would take us on his tour. And we were just a bunch of nobodies. So, 'Let's go on tour in arenas.' I mean, that doesn't happen every day."

Bach continued: "All I can say about it is that there were so many bands at that time. There were so many bands. And the ones that made it were very far and few between. Making it was like a unicorn. But here's what we did. I quit the fucking band. When I understood what we signed, I said, 'I'm not doing this again. I'm not doing this. I'm not doing this again.' So we had a big meeting with the lawyer, who's now Jay-Z's right-hand business guy; he was our lawyer then. And I said, 'I'm quitting unless we're redoing the whole thing with Bon Jovi and I get 25 percent of everything in the band.' And there's five guys in the band, so that was kind of ballsy. But they said, 'Okay.' So we redid that. We got out of that. And then our next record debuted at Number One."

Back in August 2012, Bach said that he was "friends" with Jon Bon Jovi again after he didn't talk to the BON JOVI frontman for many years following the aforementioned dispute over money. Speaking to ArtScenics TV, Bach stated: "Bon Jovi took us on our first tour and we signed some papers with him that he got a cut of, if we made it big, that he would get compensated for helping us out. Nobody expected us to get as big as we got. Nobody thought that we would become a big band. That happens all the time in the music industry. Jon was, like, 'We'll take you on tour, but if you guys make it big,' then he gets a cut of it. So I was bitter about that for awhile, but then I realized that we probably wouldn't have made it as big, or maybe at all, if he didn't take us."

He continued, "I actually had dinner with Jon a couple of years ago. We were staying at the Mandarin Oriental in London — me and Axl [Rose, GUNS N' ROSES singer] — and we were sitting there. And the waitress says, 'Hey, guess who's over in the corner.' And me and Axl go, 'Who?' She said, 'Jon Bon Jovi.' And I go, 'Get the fuck out of here.' He was in the corner. And I didn't know what to do. 'Cause we had had words… Most of them were mine. [Laughs] So I go, 'You know what?! Fuck this. I'm gonna go over there and say 'Hi' to him.' 'Cause we used to be great, great friends; I had Christmas dinner at his house and stuff. So I stood up and walked over towards Jon, and Jon was looking at me, going, 'Are you gonna be a dick or are you gonna be nice?' He's looking at me, like, 'What are you gonna do? What are you gonna say?' And I was like, 'Hey, man, how is it going?' And he was, like, 'Hey, man?' And we stood up and we hugged and then he came over to me and Axl's table and we drank about 15 bottles of red wine, had a great time. He gave me his phone number and I've texted him a couple of times. He's a good guy. We're friends again."

This past November, Bach released a new single, "What Do I Got To Lose?" The song was co-written by Sebastian, Myles Kennedy and Michael "Elvis" Baskette, the latter of whom also served as the track's producer. For the single's accompanying music video, Sebastian was joined by his former SKID ROW bandmate, drummer Rob Affuso.

For the release of "What Do I Got To Lose?", the singer, songwriter, author, Broadway star, and actor teamed up with Reigning Phoenix Music.

Among the other musicians who have assisted Bach during the writing and recording process for his new music are Orianthi (ALICE COOPER, Michael Jackson),John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON),Steve Stevens (Billy Idol),Brent Woods, Eli Santana and Jeremy Colson.

Bach hasn't released a full-length disc since "Give 'Em Hell", which came out in March 2014. Like its predecessor, 2011's "Kicking & Screaming", the disc was released through Frontiers Music Srl, the Italian label which specializes in what's commonly called AOR, a term that once signified a popular radio format ("album-oriented rock") but nowadays applies to acts whose airplay is marginal.

King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and his wife, Toyah Willcox have served up another Sunday Lunch covering the Beastie Boys anthem, "Fight For Your Right".





Fripp and Wilcox performed at the Isle Of Wight Festival 2023 on June 18th, 2023. Toyah has shared pro-shot video of their full band performance of the Lenny Kravitz hit, "Are You Gona Go My Way". Check it out below.

St. Louis metal trio Nest, led by Scour and Agoraphobic Nosebleed bassist John Jarvis, will release their Endeavors full-length on April 12 via Housecore Records, today unveiling the record’s cover art, tracklisting, and first single.


In the wilderness, countless species build nests. Such spaces provide protection and safe harbor for bees, termites, mice, hawks, and eagles alike. You may find some of them repugnant, while others merit admiration.


Vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer John Jarvis has constructed a repository for extreme sounds and emotions in Nest. On one end of the spectrum, his grating riffs played with icy industrial precision and hardcore grit will leave you bloody, bruised, and breathless. On the other, his shoegaze hum bellows in a strangely soothing trance, bordering on blissful in the face of raw destruction. In 2024, this vision takes shape like never before on Nest’s fourth full-length LP and Housecore Records debut, Endeavors.




“There are gorgeous nests, and then there are hideous and gross things like rats’ nests,” he notes. “I wanted to make music with beauty in it, but also some ugliness and darkness. A lot can happen in between.”


A lifelong musician, Jarvis has quietly left his imprint on the underground as bassist for Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Fulgora, and Pig Destroyer. Moreover, his low-end shaped the sonic assault of Scour alongside a true murderers’ row of extreme metal luminaries fronted by Housecore Records founder and Pantera and Down vocalist Philip H. Anselmo. Drawing on influences as diverse as Helmet, Hum, Deftones, and Quicksand, Jarvis formally introduced Nest with his self-titled debut in 2020 followed by Pretense [2020] and Tipping Point [2021]. Signing to Housecore in 2023, he personally wrote, recorded, performed, and curated Endeavors over the course of a week in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. He harnessed unbridled energy during the sessions, packing intensity airtight into a concentrated punch.


“Run Ahead” storms out of the gate with a battering ram bassline and vitriolic screams, while “Commiseration” hinges on a dreamy wave of distortion topped off by grainy vocals. Off-kilter jazz chords echo through “Concept” as the dirge-y barrage melts into a searing guitar lead.


Elsewhere, first single “What’s The Issue” layers guttural growls above a fast-paced beat punctuated by jarring swells of distortion. The guitar, bass, and vocals snap in and out of focus as the drums ceaselessly pummel.


“It’s a punky song with a lot of space for the drums,” Jarvis elaborates. “I like to leave the lyrics up for interpretation, but this one, like most of my lyrics, came from a personal experience."


Stream “What's The Issue” below.





Endeavors will be released on CD, LP, and digital formats. Find pre-orders at the Housecore Records webshop here, or Bandcamp here.





Endeavors tracklisting:


"Run Ahead"
"Commiseration"
"Installed"
"Burn Clean"
"Ripe"
"Fickle"
"Round Up"
"Concept"
"What's The Issue"
"Plasticine"


"What's The Issue":





The band will open select shows on Pantera’s upcoming headlining tour beginning this weekend. With more performances and surprises on the horizon, Nest ultimately seethe and soar on Endeavors.





(Photo - John Jarvis)

Bridging the gap between the gritty swagger of the Sunset Strip and the soulful depths of Seattle, Budderside resurrect and renew the purity of rock n’ roll with their high-energy anthems. The Los Angeles-based alt-rockers have released an explosive new single, “Good For Nothing,” produced by Matt Good (Asking Alexandria, Hollywood Undead) available now digitally here.





“‘Good For Nothing’ is straight-up grunge & punk,” says vocalist Patrick Stone. “The song instantly feels like riding a nuclear missile bareback with your pants on fire through the apocalypse. Working with producer Matt Good always delivers an exciting and modern twist.”




The “Good For Nothing” video delivers visual fireworks, notes Stone. “The video is a cinematic spectacular honoring movies like ‘Fury Road’ and ‘Sin City’ with a seriously sick sense of Tarantino type humor.”


Watch the “Good For Nothing” video below. Directed by longtime collaborator Vicente Cordero (Industrialism Films) with VFX by Brennan Karem (Wasteland Entertainment), the thrill-seeking, action-packed music video stars the band and a slew of guests - including music personality/VJ Matt Pinfield - being pursued after a money heist with an edge-of-your-seat car chase emphasized by the track’s chugging guitar riffs and pulsing anthemic vocals.





Budderside consists of founder/vocalist Patrick Stone, lead guitarist Sam Koltun (Dorothy, Faster Pussycat, Crossbone Skully), rhythm guitarist Logan Nikolic (Diamante), drummer Jeff Dewbray and new bassist Eliot Lorango. The group are currently working on their third full-length album (due later this year) which will include “Good For Nothing” and their recent 2023 single “Power Hour.” It was written as the official theme song AXS’s weekly countdown show of the same name hosted by Matt Pinfield, SiriusXM VJ Caity Babs, and music industry personality Josh Bernstein.


Having previously toured with bands including Motörhead, Slayer, Anthrax and L.A. Guns as well as on festival stages such as Welcome to Rockville, Rocklahoma, Wacken Open Air, Motörboat, Malmö Festival, and the Monsters Of Rock cruise, Budderside will join gothic rockers The 69 Eyes on their “Death of Darkness” tour across the US this spring. The 16-date tour will stretch across the northern and southern east coast from March 26 to April 13. See the tour poster below for full dates. Tickets are on sale now, here.





(Photo - Steph Gomez)

Internationally acclaimed heavy metallers, Sabaton, are celebrating their 25-year milestone in the music industry.


Founded in Falun, Sweden, in 1999, Sabaton's journey has been nothing short of legendary. Their music industry adventures have been fuelled by powerful anthems, 10 studio albums, passionate historical storytelling, and explosive international shows and tours, not to mention out-of-the-box initiatives and projects, all of which wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of their dedicated fan base across the globe.


To mark this momentous milestone, Sabaton will embark on a year-long celebration. Fans around the world can look forward to a series of celebratory events and an abundance of surprises.




The band has shared the following message:


"Did you know our song 'Primo Victoria' was inspired by the movie, Saving Private Ryan? The lyrics are based on the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy in 1944.


This track was a key stepping stone for us in our musical evolution. It was the very first time we arranged the instruments in such a way, and harmonized the vocals the way we do - similar to Lutheran church hymns. The song played a crucial role in shaping the Sabaton narrative."


Check out the Primo Victoria album here.





Each month of 2024 will be dedicated to an album from Sabaton’s discography, beginning with Primo Victoria and ending with The War To End All Wars. Special activities and insights will be provided to grant fans a better understanding of each studio album.


Highlights include album stories, song facts, and album listening parties during which band members will reminisce on and discuss their favorite tracks, while sharing never-heard-before experiences with Sabaton fans.


Other exciting initiatives include fun games, contests, and giveaways that will grant fans the chance to win unique prizes, as well as a limited edition 25-year anniversary merch, including some very exclusive items.


Frontman, Joakim Brodén, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming celebration, saying: "This is a massive milestone for us. Our fans have been with us every step of the way and we couldn't be more excited to celebrate this monumental occasion with them. We're planning some great things that we've never done before, and we're confident that 2024 will be one to remember, especially as we are heading to the studio at the beginning of next year to begin working on new music!"


Meanwhile, bassist and band manager, Pär Sundström, stated: “It’s hard to believe that a quarter of a century of us playing music and doing what we love the most has passed already. It’s been one hell of a journey, that’s for sure. We sing about history, but looking back we also wrote some history! Stay tuned!”


The 25th-anniversary celebrations will also include throwback photos, videos, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into Sabaton's incredible journey, taking fans on a nostalgic trip through the band's history.


Follow the band’s social media channels and website to keep up to date with the latest news and celebrations. Keep your eyes peeled. 2024 is going to be an interesting year!


In the meantime, check out this video message from Pär and Tommy:

In a new interview with Ernest Skinner of Canada's Border City Rock Talk, GREAT WHITE guitarist Mark Kendall confirmed that is still working on new music with Brett Carlisle, who was officially named the band's new vocalist in October 2022. Brett joined the group as the replacement for Andrew Freeman (LAST IN LINE),who sang for GREAT WHITE for only five months.

"I've been writing like crazy and going into the studio, making demos," Mark said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "I've been going down to Tracy G's [Grijalva], a former guitar player that was in DIO, [and he] was in a band called WORLD WAR III with Vinny Appice and Jimmy Bain. He has a studio that's more conducive than what I have here. He does a lot of records there and stuff, and it's just a home studio, but it's more ready to go. I just show up and I make songs just to present to the band. 'Cause when we all get together, everybody throws in their ideas and we work on things together as a band. So I've been doing that, but my bass player just went through back surgery — Scott [Snyder] just had back surgery. He's doing much better. So, as soon as he is up and running, we're gonna get together and get a record together."

Regarding how GREAT WHITE plans to release its new music, Kendall said: "We're not sure how we're gonna do it yet. We haven't really had a lot of meetings about that. Are we gonna put out a 12-song thing or are we just gonna put out maybe five songs at a time? The world has changed so much, we're not really sure. We wanna speak to some people and see what the best way to do it."

Mark went on to say that GREAT WHITE will "probably" put out a few singles ahead of a full-length album release. "Just not give [the fans] too much information at once, and just throw out videos of what we feel are the best songs," he explained.

"Since all the mediums are kind of taken away with the record stores, the radio and MTVs and all that, and people mostly download songs, it sounds sensible to just put out one or two songs at a time," he added. "It makes the most sense."

Carlisle made his live debut with GREAT WHITE on September 24, 2022 at the Cannery Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

According to Brett, he felt welcomed by his new bandmates and the GREAT WHITE fans from the get-go.

"After meeting [the GREAT WHITE guys], they're all super-cool dudes," he told Kevin McKay of the 99 Rock WKSM FM radio station. "In Vegas, we had a rehearsal the day before, and I already knew half the songs well enough to be able to do it. So I wanted to do the best that I could on 'em. But after we hung out, everybody was cool and stuff. I mean, it's a big crowd. I love big crowds; they're fun."

Carlisle has been playing guitar and singing since the age of eight and counts bands like VAN HALEN, SKID ROW and METALLICA as his main influences.

In May 2022, GREAT WHITE announced that it had parted ways with singer Mitch Malloy and had replaced him with Freeman. Malloy had been in GREAT WHITE for nearly four years, having joined the group in 2018 following the departure of Terry Ilous.

Ilous, frontman of '80s L.A. hard rockers XYZ, joined GREAT WHITE in 2010 after stepping in for touring vocalist Jani Lane (WARRANT).

The Ilous-led GREAT WHITE released two albums, 2012's "Elation" and 2017's "Full Circle", before Terry was dismissed from the group.

This version of GREAT WHITE is not to be confused with JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE, which features original GREAT WHITE singer Jack Russell.

In an April 2023 interview with Larry Mac of the 96.1 KLPX radio station, Kendall said that he is not as concerned about record sales or commercial success as he is about making sure the new GREAT WHITE songs are strong enough to stand alongside the band's classic material.

"Even in our heyday, I've never really thought dollars and cents; I just wanna know if people like the music or not," he explained. "To where I would be so desperate, I would go to friends of mine who are pretty hard on me — tough critics or whatever — just to get feedback. 'Cause that space in time after you're done recording to when it comes out is pretty brutal. So I always run to friends: 'Tell me you love me. Listen to this.' So I'm kind of the same way now. I just wanna get the music to the people and get feedback: 'How is this? Would this hold up in the '80s? Is it better?' Because I still feel really creative. And we can always get better.

"I'm really feeling pretty good about these songs that we're coming up with," Kendall revealed. "So I'm more anxious for people to hear it than I am selling a million records or whatever. And I think it makes us viable that we still are creative; we still wanna make new music. We're not quite an oldies band yet, even though they kind of label us classic rock or whatever. But that's not so bad. So, yeah, that's it. We wanna keep [creating] and not just go out and be the oldies band that plays the hits every year or whatever. We wanna come up with some tunes and get it to the folks and let 'em know that we're still making music for you. And no matter what's happened with the industry or whatever, we're still the same band and we still make music. This is what we do."

In January 2023, Kendall told the "Mark 2.0" podcast that he was surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response to Carlisle's addition to GREAT WHITE. "It was world news," he said. "I'm seeing stuff on the Internet from Italy, Germany, the U.K. And even some of the more online dirt-seeking-type entities that normally are just huntin' for the headline to say, 'He said his singer sucks'. That's the article. That's the way it starts. These guys actually said good things and posted some of the [fan-filmed videos]. They're cellphone cameras, so the quality probably isn't… But you can hear it. You need to sing great."

In October 2022, Carlisle was asked in an interview with AL.com about his approach to singing GREAT WHITE's classic songs. He said: "I just want to do the songs justice, because that's what people expect to hear. They want to go to the shows and hear the songs the way they remember them, the way they know them. It's not about me and how many high notes I can hit or anything like that. I just want to do the give the people, and the band, what they want."

Brett went on to say that he is honored to be singing for a band whose songs — including "Save Your Love", "Rock Me" and "Lady Red Light" — he had previously covered with his other band ALL OR NOTHING.

"I just want to learn from them," Carlisle said of his new bandmates "It's just really cool to be included in what I've grown up listening to, like looking at the CDs and everything. And then now people are coming up after the shows asking me to sign like original GREAT WHITE cassettes and stuff. And I'm sitting here feeling like I'm not worthy. Because I didn't record that. But I'm like, I just sang with them, so, sure, if you want me to."

Always a wet dream for all sleaze / hard rock fans, Kickin Valentina is back with a brand new digital single and official video, teasing their upcoming studio album, Star Spangled Fist Fight. “Takin A Ride” is a shadowy tune about a high-speed chase through the apocalypse... And a renegade outlaw at the wheel who is desperate to escape his past. 





Stream "Takin A Ride" here.




In April 2024, the world will be a bit less shitty, as Kickin Valentina will release their fourth full-length album titled, Star Spangled Fist Fight. Ten bullets of loud, unapologetic rock’n’roll are fired, aiming at the hearts and jugulars of all hard rock fans with a sleaze rock fallout. And, with an almost cynical precision, the four guys in Kickin Valentina, knock each and every one of us with catchy choruses, indecently strong riffs and a sexy rhythm groove that’s almost pornographic. 


Once again, the album was produced by Andy Reilly (UFO, Bruce Dickinson, Cradle Of Filth) at Muse Productions in Atlanta, and mastered by Joel Wanasek. “It’s been way too long since our last album, and we are really excited about Star Spangled Fist Fight,” bassist Chris Taylor states. “I know every band says this, but I think this is our best album so far. Everything just seemed to click while we were writing it”. 


Kickin Valentina still plays the proverbial loud unapologetic rock’n’roll in 2024, as the band enters the second decade of its existence. Except that Star Spangled Fist Fight is a bit louder and a bit more unapologetic. 


Star Spangled Fist Fight will be released on LP (black vinyl, limited to 500 copies), digipack CD and digital formats via Mighty Music on April 19th, 2024. Pre-orders can be placed now at this location.





Tracklisting:


"Gettin Off"
"Dirty Rhythm"
"Fire Back"
"Man On A Mission"
"Turn Me Loose"
"Died Laughing"
"Takin’ A Ride"
"Amsterdam"
"Ride Or Die"
"Star Spangled Fist Fight"


For further details, visit Kickin Valentina on Facebook.


(Photo by John Mortensson)

Symphonic black metal ensemble Vesperian Sorrow is gearing up for the release of their fifth studio album, Awaken The Greylight, on April 26th via Black Lion Records.


This monumental album marks the band's triumphant return after a twelve-year hiatus, and showcases their evolution and artistic maturity. Awaken The Greylight is a captivating blend of atmospheric black metal and symphonic elements, delivering a haunting and immersive sonic experience. Fans can expect an intense journey, filled with intricate melodies, and the signature raw energy that defines Vesperian Sorrow's sound.


This release demonstrates the band's unwavering commitment to their craft, as well as their passion for pushing the boundaries of the genre. Vesperian Sorrow has meticulously crafted each track, pouring their hearts and souls into the music, resulting in a profound and captivating listening experience.




Awaken The Greylight artwork and tracklisting:





"As The Pillars Were Raised"
"Antediluvian - Proceeding The Unshaping"
"An Epistle To The Prime Vivified"
"Traverse The Vorthonian Passage"
"A Dire Flight For The Black Fragment"
"Seek The Last Priestess Of Tyyk"
"They Beheld The Chainbreaker's Crowning Defiance"
"Who Dwells Whithin The Blight Moon"
"The Excillion Ontogenesis"
"Awaken The Greylight"





For further details, visit Vesperian Sorrow on Facebook.


 

Former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson has opened up about the sex scandal that caused his latest exit from the band. Speaking to Metal Hammer magazine, he said: "There's two sides to it. One: when you bare it all, you've got nothing to hide. Fuck it, now you can truly be yourself. We all come into the world with our birthday suit on, so what are we ashamed of? What I feel the worst about is the embarrassment that it caused some people, like my family, who didn't deserve it. Out of respect for them, I'm going to keep the family dynamic off the table [during interviews]. That's at their request."

Regarding MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine's response to the report that sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving Ellefson were posted on Twitter, David said: "Dave, his manager and his lawyer [called me after the scandal]. There was a sentiment from one of them saying, 'Let's step back, let Ellefson deal with it. It leaves the door open for him to come back.' Dave didn't want that. He made his decision and it is what it is."

At the time, Ellefson 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.

Asked in the 2022 issue of Metal Hammer whether dismissing Ellefson from MEGADETH was a difficult decision to take, given the longtime friendship between the two men, Mustaine replied: "I have made mistakes myself and so I know what it feels like to have people gunning for you. But what we had to remember is that MEGADETH has a lot of moving parts to it. There are four bandmembers; you've got their families, their management companies, the agencies, all of their technicians and on and on and on.

"I can tell you I've made decisions in the past that were detrimental to the security of the band and I know what harm that caused," he continued. "But I don’t want to be saying anything about anyone who is unable to defend themselves."

"God, it's so hard to tap-dance around this...

"Let me just say this — it was a hard decision that had to be made," Mustaine added. "There were a lot of people involved and I had to make a decision, because unfortunately, when you're the leader, you're the one that has to suck it up and face the music.

"All I wanted to do was make a clean break, and not hurt anyone, not hurt the fans and not hurt him. I just wanted to move on, and I hope the gentleman concerned is doing okay. I imagine there was some adjustment that had to take place when it happened.

"It was hard for me when I lost my job," Mustaine said, apparently referring to getting kicked out of METALLICA in 1983. "But I've forgiven him before when he sued me and I'll forgive him a thousand times. I just won't play music with him anymore."

Mustaine ended up hiring TESTAMENT's Steve DiGiorgio to re-record Ellefson's bass parts on MEGADETH's latest album, "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!", because he is "one of those just really amazingly talented players," Dave told Rolling Stone.

In May 2022, MEGADETH announced bass player James LoMenzo as a permanent member of the band. LoMenzo was MEGADETH's bass player in the mid-2000s and initially stepped back in as a touring member for "The Metal Tour Of The Year".

In the police report that Ellefson filed in May 2021, he 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, 2021 by MEGADETH that the band would be parting ways with him. Three days later, he was fired.

During an October 2021 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Ellefson opened up about the circumstances that led to his dismissal from MEGADETH, saying: "I ran toward the bullets and dealt with it right away. The night [the messages and video were leaked online], a couple of people said, 'Hey, don't say anything.' In particular, the MEGADETH camp didn't want me to say anything. But my legal [advisers] said, 'Hey, I think you should say something. I think some people have done some really shitty things here and made some false allegations about you, and you have every right to defend yourself.' And I did. Ultimately, that led to my dismissal from MEGADETH. But I have every right, as anyone does, to defend yourself, especially when somebody is making false allegations about you like that. So I dealt with it that night, and quite honestly, that was it — it was over, and it was really kind of done. But then, as the MEGADETH camp in particular jumped in and had addressed it — and not that they shouldn't, but they did. That pretty quickly led to them making the decision to part ways with me and to move away from it.

"We had originally talked about doing a joint statement of sorts, and, of course, that was not what happened," David continued. "So I was disappointed in probably the way it went down.

"Ironically, things are fine between [me and MEGADETH]. We parted ways, and they took their road. And there's not ill will between us, believe it or not. And I think any fights and those things, that was 20 years go — lawsuits and all that crap.

"Look, they moved forward [with 'The Metal Tour Of The Year']," Ellefson added. "I wished them well in my [original] statement to them, and I mean it. It's a group I helped form almost 40 years coming up here for the band. And the songs that are on the radio that I see come up are songs that I had a participation in, and we built a big legacy. I still consider them family, and my DNA is all over that. I don't think you build something of that size together and then suddenly you're just out and that's it."

Ellefson also talked about the statement Mustaine — who formed MEGADETH with Ellefson in 1983 — released 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." Asked if he was aware of any tension between him and Mustaine and whether he "felt like the ice was getting ready to break again," Ellefson said: "I did not. I think one of the things — and this probably started 20 years ago, when MEGADETH was disbanded in 2002 and then put back together in 2004, it was very clear in 2004 that it was gonna be reframed around Dave unilaterally, one hundred percent being the boss and running the show. Gone were the days of the partnership, the '90s, where it was me, Nick [Menza], Marty [Friedman], Dave — kind of 'the four horsemen ride again' kind of mentality… That day was done; it was not gonna be that anymore. And that's where we fell apart in 2004 and I wasn't with the group through those years. Coming back to it in 2010, now we're a few years older, [with] a little more maturity in the situation, realizing that we're better together, that even though it's not, on paper, a partnership, there's a kind of visual partnership — the optics of it are kind of, like, 'Yeah, this looks better as MEGADETH with me and Dave together. We're one of those bands that, although Dave is the quarterback and the quarterback still plays, the overall feeling and likability and I think everything about it just feels better when it's Dave and Dave together, because we've been together from the beginning for so many years. And I think that worked really well for the last decade. At the same time, Dave and I are grown men, and we have opinions. It's not the thing where it's just Dave and three side guys when it's me and the band. And apparently, they didn't want that anymore — they wanted it to not be that. And I can't speak for them, 'cause I don't know. I'm not trying to put words in anybody's mouth about that. But it just seemed like 'there's just too much history here, and let's just part ways now and let MEGADETH move forward on a new day with kind of a new marching order.' So rather than fight it, which is what happened 20 years ago, 'cause we were dissolving a partnership at that point, we're not dissolving a partnership [this time]. It's, like, 'Hey, we don't want you here. There's the door. Don't come to work on Monday.' So, it's, like, 'Okay. Fine.' And that's just how I viewed it, and that's how I view it today. I don't have any sour grapes over it, and I'm not bitter about it."

Ellefson told "Trunk Nation" host Eddie Trunk that he initially "didn't even know what" the word "grooming" was, adding that he "had no idea" about the meaning of the term experts use to refer to the actions that sexual abusers take to get close to and gain the trust of those they are interested in. "And any allegations of anything being illegal [are false]," he said. "There was nothing. And that's why I immediately hired a criminal lawyer. I went right to the police department. And just for the record, the bad guy doesn't go to the police department. Okay? So, just to be clear. The guy who didn't do anything wrong, he goes to the police department. That's why I went to the police department and filed a police report and let them deal with it.

"I think there was a big fear of — there's always this talk of cancel culture and all this stuff," he continued. "And I was, like, 'Listen, that was not me.' And I had every right to stand up against that and defend myself against it. And I just turned that over to the lawyers and police department and let them deal with it, and they did."

David also addressed his decision to step away from social media and stop doing interviews for a few months while things settled, both personally and professionally.

"Look, certainly time heals wounds in these things, which is good," he said. "And that was the thing — I was, like, look, I didn't do anything wrong; there was nothing illegal here; and you let it go. And for me to just kind of take some time away and go dark. I got off all social media. I have one Facebook account that I don't even run, just for kind of professional purposes and everything, but I'm off of that. And I think that helps."

When Trunk brought up the point that the only apparent "illegality" in this case lies with the person who actually leaked the above-mentioned video, Ellefson said: "A hundred percent. That's why I didn't hire a civil lawyer to sue people for a million bucks. I hired a criminal lawyer, and what they do is prosecute to put people in jail. 'Cause those were the crimes. You can't just go do shit like that — put stuff out there, content — and not have a penalty. That is the crime. And I think people just think they can — and not everybody; I'm not saying all people — but there is a faction that they just think that that could be just done as a joke and for fun, and it can't. Of course, it's the Internet, so people live in foreign countries; there's all this stuff. That's why the best thing, I think, is to, first of all, just get away from those platforms because that is a breeding ground for that society to do that."

Asked by Trunk if there were still ongoing legal proceedings in the case, Ellefson said: "It's been resolved. We took the steps necessary, walked through that process, which was necessary to do, and that's all landed and, as of now, that's fine."

David, who studied for a year at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in St. Louis more than a decade ago, also wanted to address one specific "misconception" about him that had been repeatedly raised in the months since his masturbation videos were posted online. He said: "There's a misconception that I'm a pastor. I am not a pastor. I did a year of seminary, and they made it real clear, 'If you are gonna continue at seminary, you need to quit MEGADETH,' so I quit seminary to be in MEGADETH. And I remember telling my mom that, when she was still alive — God rest her soul. I said, 'Hey, I withdrew out of seminary,' in good standing, to continue being in MEGADETH. And she was actually very disappointed. She was, like, 'You know what? MEGADETH is holding you back. That's too bad. You should have stayed in seminary.' Turns out maybe I should have listened to my mom; I don't know. [Laughs] Of course, mom wants the best for you.

"Who knows? Whatever," he continued. "I'm a rock and roller, man. I'm a founding member of MEGADETH. It's who I am. It's what I do. It's part of my life. It's part of my existence. So I have no regrets about any of that. But I think that was a misconception. People started throwing that around. And so I've never been an ordained pastor. Yes. I did explore that world for a time."

David went on to say that there is a perception that people of faith must set a higher standard of how they live with and treat others. "It's almost like you're this entity that's floating up toward the heavens: 'Oh, he's such a wonderful man. He's a man of faith. He's got his family. And then this happens.' It's, like, 'What the hell is this?'

"I mean, look, admittedly I've sort of trained the public to think that I'm one of the more well-behaved rock stars out there, and for the most part I have been," he continued. "But at the same time, and this isn't to claim anything other than just, oops, shit happens. That is what it is.

"In the season that I was away from MEGADETH, in the 2000s, I got involved in other things in church, and raising my family, and blah blah blah, these things, and so by nature, I kind of became more of a suburban homebody — the dad guy," David added. "And then I went back to MEGADETH in 2010. And the thing is to try to reconcile that you're not one guy at home and another guy on the road, that you're the same guy. And I think for anybody who spent any time on the road — whether you're a rock star, a traveling salesman or whoever you may be — that is the challenge, and it's a real challenge, to keep your life in order when every day your toothbrush is in a new zip code."

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.

Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, and again from 2010 until his latest exit.

Photo credit: Maciej Pieloch (courtesy of Napalm Records)

In a new interview with Spain's link textMade In Metal, HELMET frontman Page Hamilton discussed the lyrical inspiration for the band's new song "Make-Up", which appears on HELMET's latest album, "Left". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "That word 'make-up' — term, I should say; it's two words — has so many meanings. Somebody can make stuff up. He made that up; it's a lie. A person's character, their make-up. What is their make-up? Also, wearing make-up, like how people wear make-up on TV. Those specifically, those lines, if you read some of the lyrics, I sing, 'Bloated, feckless / Orange and dick-less / Flaunt your lack of grace.' That's very, very specifically about [former U.S. president] Donald Trump, who's the worst president in the history of the United States and a terrible human being who's caused so much pain and death and destruction. And he's just an evil, evil person who has no interest in this country or any of its citizens. He wants to enrich himself, and he likes to be in that position of power. But I think, hopefully his time is over. I hope."

Earlier this month, Page told Keefy of Ghost Cult that Trump is largely to blame for the political divisions that are ripping apart Americans' social ties. He said: "I have friends that are conservative. I have friends that voted for Trump, people I care for, and we're on the same fucking side. Don't do what he does and pit families… He has separated families. I mean, he is the most toxic pile of shit that we've ever had in American politics. And this fascination with his celebrity or whatever… When I watched the Anderson Cooper interview with that Playboy bunny that he had an affair with, and she was, like, 'He's so brilliant.' And I'm, like, he's not fucking brilliant. He's a moron. He's a fucking moron."

Last month, Page spoke to Australia's "Everblack" podcast about how the world events of the last few years — including the global pandemic and political unrest — have provided him with the inspiration to create some of the songs on "Left".

"We seem to be descending into chaos," Page said. "Each century of humankind has been more violent than the next, and the 20th century managed to murder millions of people. And here we are listening to a presidential candidate in the United States talk about putting kid children in cages, anchor babies, meaning babies that were born in the United States but from immigrant parents.

"We've got some issues," he continued. "And it's where we have to get back on track. The GOP, the Republican party, right wing, whatever you wanna call it, in this country is a minority, and our system is broken, and that's why we've had — since Nixon, we've had these presidents that don't deserve to be president, because they haven't won the popular vote. One of them did; I can't remember which one. They won the electoral college. And so as a nation, the majority is being subjected to policies that we disagree with. And that's not democracy. Democracy is, I get two votes, you get one, I win — my side wins. And the pandemic hit and we saw what a shit show Donald Trump's White House was, and the thought that this guy could win re-election to me is horrifying. And it should horrify everyone, not just Americans."

Circling back to the lyrical inspiration for "Left", Page said: "I think part of this, like in this album, as I've gotten older, and I never really cared what anyone thought, but I was never wanting to stand on a soapbox. We're not RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE. And I admire those guys on many levels, but at the same time, they pick specific causes that they stood behind and those were not necessarily global causes, they were individual causes. And I have a hard time with that because I don't know the facts 'cause I wasn't there, for Leonard Peltier [an imprisoned Native American leader] in 1975 or whenever, so it's really hard to stand behind something that I don't know everything about. But these global issues are pretty obvious and we need to make changes. And I think that the right wing, they always scream and yell and think that they can scream and yell louder than we can. And I'm, like, I sing in one of the loudest motherfucking bands in the world, motherfucker. I can sing pretty loud."

Hamilton previously discussed how the global political situation inspired "Left" in an interview last October with Kevin McKay of Florida's 99ROCK WKSM radio station.

"I feel like there are so many destructive forces politically in our country," Page said at the time. "And I have every right to express my opinion. I pay taxes.

"I wanted a bike at the age of 10 years old, and my dear dad, may he rest in peace, and mom and dad, brother [and] sister, all Republicans, dad was, like, 'Oh, you want a bike? Oh, well, we'd better get you a job.' And he taught me how to do my taxes and everything at the age of 10, 11 years old.

"We always have to be able to discuss things," Page continued. "Discourse is so healthy. And when did this divisive tone develop?

"Anybody that disagrees with [Donald Trump] is a terrible person that should be… General [Mark] Milley should be hung for treason. Come on, man. This guy serves our country, U.S. military. [Editor's note: In September 2023, Trump wrote on his social-media network, Truth Social, that Milley's phone call to reassure China in the aftermath of the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, was "an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH."]

"The Republicans [in Congress], I don't know what they're doing, but it's dangerous right now — it's really dangerous," Hamilton added. "We need to get it together, man. I feel like there's a huge contingent that they just want… It's probably a pretty cushy job. You got a half-million-dollar-a-year travel budget, and people in your office, in an office, and you make all this money. And it's like a good job, so they don't wanna lose their jobs. So they're doing what they think will help them keep their jobs. Well, that's not what we pay you for. We pay you to govern and to make sure that the citizens of our country, myself included are taken care of. 'Cause I don't know how to pave roads or do stomach surgery or whatever.

"I believe that we outnumber people that don't believe in the country — I honestly do… So as a singer in a quote-unquote heavy metal band or hardcore, post-hardcore, whatever we're called, indie rock, I can sing pretty loud."

Earlier in October, Page told 518Scene.com that the changes in the political climate in the U.S. inspired some of the lyrics on "Left".

"I can't speak for other countries — I know Hungary has a fascist guy too, and there are neo-Nazis popping up and they've always been around — but they were a little more underground before Orange Douche Face made it okay to be a racist douchebag," he said, apparently referencing Trump. "That stuff really had an effect on me. I have a trans godson, for example. I have nieces and nephews. I have two other godsons. I would like to leave a better world behind when I go for them, than the current state of divisive, caustic [beliefs] and whatever is going on in this country."

Hamilton also discussed the new HELMET song "Gun Fluf", saying: "I feel I have a right to express myself. I'm happy to sit down and have a conversation with any gun owner. I own guns. I grew up owning guns. I grew up in southern Oregon. I got a 12-gauge shotgun when I turned 12 from Grandpa Bones, and I hunted. I'm all for it, but I'm not all for there not being tighter restrictions on who can purchase a gun.

"Automatic weapons are unnecessary for a citizen population," he explained. "They're not for hunting; they're not for recreation. They are for killing human beings.

"Every time there's another mass murderer shooting, it affects me deeply. That's just heartbreaking. What we are saying is, yes, we have the right to bear arms, but we also have children who have a right to go to school and not fear for their lives, or go grocery shopping — as in Buffalo — and not worry that somebody's going to come in with an automatic weapon that can shoot 200 rounds in however many minutes. So that song poured out of me. It makes me angry that people are not more responsible."

"Left" was released on November 10, 2023 via earMUSIC.

To coincide with "Left"'s release, HELMET embarked on a European tour the same month. The trek kicked off on November 8 in Prague, Czech Republic and made stops in Germany, Scandinavia, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium and France before concluding on December 13 in London, United Kingdom.

Although HELMET disbanded in 1997, Hamilton revived the band in 2004, and the group has continued to tour and record.

POISON drummer Rikki Rockett hit a milestone this week when he was awarded a Brazilian jiu-jitsu fourth-degree black belt.

The 62-year-old musician, who trains under Renato Magno, the owner of Street Sports Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Santa Monica, California, took to his Instagram on Saturday (January 27) to share a photo of him and Magno, and he included the following message: "So this happened today… 4th degree. In just a few words… I am humbled by the journey. Congrats to my Jiu Jitsu brethren and a huge thank you to @renatomagno.streetsports ! @streetsportsbjj @bjjc_streetsports @originusa".

Rockett began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu back in 1998 with Rigan and Jacques Machado and supplemented his classes with private lessons from Magno.

In a 2019 interview with Jiu-Jitsu Times, Rockett stated about how he got involved with jiu-jitsu: "Like many people, I saw Royce Gracie in the UFC and wanted to know more. This was around the time of UFC 3. I met Jean Jacques Machado and John Machado at a rally and they invited me to their school. One of the first people I met there was Eddie Bravo. I got tapped about a dozen times by a few people and signed up the next day. I never looked back. I trained at the Tarzana school until purple belt, and when Renato Magno (who came over from Brazil with the Machado brothers) opened Street Sports BJJ, I switched over to that school."

Regarding his protocols for training on the road, Rikki said: "I hardly get to train on the road, and it sucks. It's risk versus livelihood. If I get hurt, a lot of people go home. Promoters don't like 'fill-in' players in this band, and it affects ticket sales. When the original four don't show up, it's a pretty big problem. However, I have done a few seminars on the road, and I really love teaching. I can control and sort of 'read' who I want to roll with. If I just walk into a school to train, come free training time, every swinging dick in there wants to tap me out so they can say they did."

Rockett, who was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2015, also talked about how or if jiu-jitsu contributed to his survival. He said: "Going through all of that made me realize just how damn easy it is to take your health and mobility for granted. I was braver because of jiu-jitsu training. I know that to be a fact. I knew I had survived some really tough rolling experiences, so I knew I could handle the treatments… Jiu-jitsu helped me through treatment. Seriously. I got the strength knowing that I could make it because of all the years of blood, sweat and tears on the mat."

As for how his "rock star lifestyle" has been affected by his time as an active martial artist, Rikki said: "When you don't pay attention to nutrition, sleep, your routine, and your overall health, your time on the mat will suffer. In fact, since I am older, I have to pay attention to all of these things in order to play the best I can. Who knows what I'd look and sound like if I didn't? Who knows if I would pay attention to these things if it weren't for jiu-jitsu? I think jiu-jitsu has helped me as a musician… usually, unless I get hurt. Again, it is a second reason to maintain a healthier lifestyle. I have zero desire to get loaded on tour anymore."

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The Commoners are on track for another banner year with the release of their third album, Restless. Released by Gypsy Soul Records on June 21, 2024, the new album features ten tracks that grip your senses and make you groove. The album's available to pre-order in various formats at this location.


Following their critically acclaimed 2022 sophomore album Find A Better Way, the Canadian roots-rock quintet continue their dedicated musical journey to provide listeners with a hearty dose of Southern-style swagger accentuated with slide guitar, organ swell, and heartfelt vocals.


“The Way I Am”, the second single taken from the new album, was released digitally on January 26th. The song is currently available on all streaming platforms. Kicking through the speaker with high energy and grit, “The Way I Am” bears an unapologetically wild spirit, effectively setting a tone that matches the album’s edgy theme. Chris Medhurst’s lead vocals plead and pry over Ben Spiller’s pulsing bass and Adam Cannon’s rhythmic percussion, steering the verses into a true rock n’ roll chorus supported by rich harmonies and wailing riffs.




Combined with Ross Hayes Citrullo’s infectious guitar riffs, the new single delivers a second helping of anthemic, guitar-driven rock. It’s the perfect follow-up to the previous single, “Devil Teasin’ Me”, which proved immensely popular on British classic rock radio.





A natural evolution from their 2022 album Find A Better Way, Restless offers a peek behind the curtain of success, revealing the gruelling routines and ragged emotions that hide behind the glamorous aesthetic of a rock band on the rise. With introspective, slower-tempo numbers pocketed amongst rip-roaring anthems, the new album, recorded at RHC Music in Toronto, is a portrait of a hardworking group revitalizing a classic genre.


“As with our previous album, we wanted to marry old and new southern rock together in a way that was unique to the band’s Canadian roots,” says The Commoners guitarist and producer Ross Hayes Citrullo. “By adding the soul and rock elements of The Black Crowes, and the southern blues rock undertones of The Allman Brothers to a production style akin to Blackberry Smoke and Rival Sons, I think we developed an authentic sound that compares sonically to some of our favourite records across all of those music genres.”


With 2023 rounding out a busy year of recording and touring the UK, in support of none other than Grammy-nominated duo Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton, The Commoners are an act to keep tabs on. The release of Restless will see the quintet greeting the road once more in 2024, with two UK festivals (Steelhouse and Maid Of Stone) already slated for July, and more dates to be announced in the coming weeks. From the speakers to the stage, one thing is certain: The Commoners are ushering in a party rock renaissance, and we’re all invited.





Tracklisting:


"Devil Teasin’ Me" 
"Shake You Off" 
"The Way I Am" 
"Restless" 
"Gone Without Warning" 
"Who Are You (Ain't Knocked Down)" 
"Body And Soul" 
"See You Again"
"Too Soon To Know You" 
"All That We Have" 





(Band photo by Blackham Images)


 

Decrepit Birth drummer Samus Paulicelli, who runs a YouTube channel under the name 66Samus, has shared his playthrough of Children Of Bodom's "Silent Night, Bodom Night".


The song is taken from Children Of Bodom's second album, hatebreeder, released in 2005.







Back in June 2022, The Haunted guitarist Ola Englund recently shared a video to his YouTube channel featuring himself learning how to play the Children Of Bodom classic, "Are You Dead Yet?". He teamed up with Paulicelli for an instrumental cover of the song. Check it out below.

In a new interview with Robert Cavuoto of Myglobalmind, Joe Satriani reflected on his attempt to perform Eddie Van Halen's intro to "Mean Street", the opening track off VAN HALEN's 1981 album "Fair Warning", during a recent early-morning live appearance on "The Howard Stern Show". Satriani later said that he "royally screwed up" playing the track, the original version of which saw Eddie Van Halen applying his two-handed tapping to lead-rhythm guitar.

Joe told Myglobalmind that "it wasn't" Sammy Hagar who pressured him into playing "Mean Street" when host Howard Stern asked the two of them which of Eddie Van Halen's riffs is the one that is most difficult to play. Satriani said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It was my own naïveté. I had no idea. When we were gonna do that show, I remember saying to Sam, 'Do we really wanna show people what we sound like at six in the morning?' Plus we've never rehearsed. And I've avoided learning any of these songs for, like, three decades 'cause I never wanted to sound like Eddie. But Sam, he has such a positive attitude towards life. He's, like, 'No, it'll be great. We'll just get together. We'll have fun.' He said to me, he goes, 'Howard's going to ask you about your artwork and about this and all this.' And I said, 'Okay, yeah, fine.' So, silly me. Obviously, it's not turning out like that. And Howard asked me that question. And I should have just laughed and not played anything, but I was just being totally honest — maybe 'cause I was so sleepy [laughs] 'cause it was so early, and I just thought, 'Oh, yeah, sure.' I just felt like I was among friends, and I said, 'Yeah, I'll show you what I've been trying to play.' But, yeah, technically, I've gotta work on that a little bit.' [Laughs] In the end, I thought, well, this is a really endearing moment because it really does show how amazing Eddie was, because… What I've noticed about it is that even when people rehearse it and they get it down, it just doesn't even come close to the magic that he put into every note. And it's a mental thing that you have to get used to. You have to tell yourself, 'I'm never gonna get there. So, relax and just learn the parts and then put your own thing into it.' Because that's the only thing you can do. But yeah, that was a pretty funny moment."

A few days after Satriani performed on "The Howard Stern Show" with his new "Best Of All Worlds" tour bandmates Hagar, Michael Anthony and Jason Bonham, he told Guitar World about his "Mean Street" rendition: "I royally screwed up, which hurt like a thorn in my side, but I'll get over it."

Satriani told Guitar World that Eddie himself must have found it challenging to perform his early catalog through what the magazine called "incredibly gain-y rig of his latter touring years."

"He probably struggled with it the most," Satriani said. "Because I'm sure when he sat down to do the beginning of 'Mean Street', he experienced what I did on Howard Stern, where it's, like, 'There's too much gain!' Because you want a peak in the midrange of the gain so you can get those harmonics to sing out as loud. But if you cross the line, you get too much surface noise. But to try and figure all of that out at six in the morning was like… 'Damn, this is rough.'"

During the "Howard Stern" appearance, Hagar explained why he wanted to get Satriani involved instead of just some guitar player who can imitate Eddie's sound.

"The thing about what Eddie did — I mean, the reason Joe is in this band for this tour is because, like I said, if you're gonna go deep into his stuff in the VAN HALEN catalog, you need a guy like Joe Satriani that's not just imitating Eddie.

"So many little kids in grocery stores nowadays just pick up a guitar off the shelf and go play all this stuff, but they don't necessarily know what they're playing," he explained. "They're just imitating Eddie because he's so distinct. Joe knows what he's playing and Joe can do something like that and know what it means.

"I'm going, 'I think that's just Eddie just fucking around beating the shit out of his guitars,'" Hagar said, compared to Joe who actually "knows this stuff".

"That's the difference between playing this stuff with Joe and just having some guitar player in the band that can imitate Eddie," Sammy concluded.

The "Best Of All Worlds" tour will focus on music from the VAN HALEN catalog.

Kicking off on July 13, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida, the 28-date trek will feature special guest LOVERBOY.

Bloodstock Festivals has released professionally-filmed video of Killswitch Engage performing "Rise Iside" at the 2023 edition of the festival. Previously released footage of the band performing "The Signal Fire" and "Rose Of Sharyn" at the same show can also be viewed below.


A message states: "2023 was a landmark year for Killswitch Engage, marking their first time headlining at the Bloodstock Festival. This performance was not only their UK festival headlining debut but also a significant moment for the band and their fans."













Killswitch Engage's next live performance is scheduled for April 18-19 at The Metal Fest Ecuador 2024 in Quito, Ecuador. Find the band's complete tour itinerary here.

At last Wednesday night's (January 24) Metal Hall Of Fame gala at the Delta Marriott Garden Grove in Garden Grove, California, METAL CHURCH singer Marc Lopes spoke to The Metal Voice about the cancelation of the band's previously announced 2024 tour dates due to "an ongoing back issue" suffered by guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We did this whole tour from May till December, [finishing] in Australia. He's had a chronic problem with his back for a long time. And I can understand that, 'cause I do too. It's a little bit different. But he battled through as best as he could always; I mean, he never not did what needed to be done. And it just got to the point where if he didn't address it, it would just end up being — he wouldn't be able to play. So, rather than take that chance, it was better off that he go and get it taken care of and then carry on from there."

Asked by host Jimmy Kay if METAL CHURCH is "continuing" despite Kurdt's health setback, Marc said: "As far as I know. [Laughs] I haven't got that memo [that the band is over] yet. And in all honesty, if it did happen, I would understand. It would suck, but I would totally understand. But we're not there. So that's good. But hopefully we'll get together and write more. We were actually starting to get into that mode of writing the next record. I had a billion ideas ready to go — you know me — so, that probably will happen at some point, depending on how [his recovery is]."

When METAL CHURCH first announced that it was canceling its tour dates, Vanderhoof said in a statement: "As some of you may have recently noticed during our live performances, I frequently will disappear to the side of the stage during a set and continue playing while sitting on a chair. This is due to an ongoing back issue that I've needed to deal with for a while now. I kept putting it off and it's finally caught up with me, so I'm going to get this taken care of so I can continue performing live in the future.

"That being said, sadly we will be canceling all upcoming show dates for 2024. I apologize for this but I need to get this taken care of.

"Check with your local venues for any refunds.

"Thank you for your continued support and I'm looking forward to seeing you in the future!"

In a recent interview with Metal Wani, Lopes was asked how he takes care of his singing voice. He said: "I work out all the time. I eat good. I rest as much as I can. It's a mindset too. And just try to stay mentally healthy too, 'cause that's probably one of the biggest parts of the battle; a lot of people don't understand. I know, 'cause I know at the beginning of this METAL CHURCH stuff, I was a mess — the stress and the amount of anxiety I had. I mean, the first batch of shows, I could barely get notes out, there was so much stress. I felt like everybody was just weighing on my chest. And now [I feel] just a lot more comfortable in my footing and having a lot more fun."

METAL CHURCH made its live debut with Lopes on June 3, 2023 at the Legions Of Metal festival at Reggies in Chicago, Illinois.

Lopes joined METAL CHURCH in the summer of 2022 as the replacement for Mike Howe, who tragically passed away in July of 2021. The band's current lineup is rounded out by founding guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, guitarist Rick Van Zandt, bassist Steve Unger and drummer Stet Howland.

Lopes's first studio album with METAL CHURCH, "Congregation Of Annihilation" came out on May 26, 2023 via Rat Pak Records (America) and Reaper Entertainment (Europe). The LP was produced by Vanderhoof.

Alternative chart-topping and 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards "Best New Artist (Alt & Rock)" nominee BAD OMENS and Grammy-nominated artist and multi-hyphenate Poppy performed their collaborative new single "V.A.N" live for the first time this past Saturday, January 27 at the opening show of their "Concrete Forever" tour at Columbiahalle in Berlin, Germany. Fan-filmed video of the performance can be seen below.

The cinematic music video for the studio version of "V.A.N" was released on January 24 via Sumerian Records.

Written and produced by BAD OMENS frontman Noah Sebastian, the song is the first glimpse of what the band will be offering on their upcoming album, the "Concrete Forever" project also known as "Concrete Jungle OST". The project is an experimental extension of BAD OMENS' hit LP "The Death Of Peace Of Mind" and the soundtrack to their "Concrete Jungle" comic book universe.

"V.A.N" is an industrial metal masterpiece about an artificial intelligence entity set out on a course to destroy humanity. The track immediately captivates the listener with BAD OMENS' hypnotic production and Poppy's angelic, whispering vocals as she takes on the role of the Concrete Jungle Universe AI character V.A.N. It then shock-transitions into a powerful onslaught of frantic drums, heavy guitars, and Poppy's vocals evolving from otherworldly tones to aggro screams.

When asked about his approach to creating the single, Noah explained: "That's a song that started just with the hook 'Violence against nature', and then after saving the project with the acronym and seeing it we realized it could be fun to think of 'VAN' as a name. Thus the rabbit hole of ideas began that led us to decide to write lyrics from the perspective of an artificial intelligence gone rogue."

Playing off the AI concept of the track and taking additional visual inspiration from the video game "Portal", the film "Ex Machina" and "Stranger Things", the story is brought to life by a visually stunning sci-fi thriller. In the mini film written by Sebastian, Poppy and Garrett Nicholson, Poppy portrays a synthetic human being held captive and subjected to experiments in a laboratory, eventually escaping and embarking on a murderous rampage.

BAD OMENS are coming off a wildly successful two years with the explosive success of their breakthrough third studio album "The Death Of Peace Of Mind" (2022). Hailed as "a stunning fusion of dark, Weeknd-esque pop and industrialized metalcore" (Revolver),the project has racked up over 940 million streams globally and surged BAD OMENS catalog to over 1.5 billion streams. The hardworking bands ascension was driven in part by the albums hit-single "Just Pretend" experiencing a viral TikTok moment that yielded a growing, dedicated fandom who catapulted them into the spotlight. Becoming the band's first RIAA gold-certified single, "Just Pretend" reached No. 1 at U.S. Alternative Radio and smashed multiple Billboard year-end charts, coming in at No. 1 on Hot Hard Rock Songs, No. 6 on Alternative Airplay Songs, No. 11 on Rock and Alternative Airplay Songs, No. 11 on Mainstream Rock Airplay Songs, No. 14 Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, and No. 23 on Hot Alternative Songs. The genre defyers continue their climb with the albums seductive title track, "The Death Of Peace Of Mind", currently sitting at No. 23 on Mediabase Alternative Radio Charts and No. 37 on Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. The song also became RIAA gold certified in January 2024. Their radio success also earned BAD OMENS a nomination for "Best New Artist (Alt & Rock)" at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards.

Gaining momentum online and over the airwaves, BAD OMENS persistently surged ahead, captivating their rapidly expanding fanbase with electrifying live shows at numerous sold-out tours and festival performances worldwide. The band is already set for an intense touring schedule in 2024, recently concluding U.K. dates with BRING ME THE HORIZON, embarking on their "Concrete Forever" European headline run, announcing rescheduled U.S. performances and unveiling a lineup of festivals throughout the 2024 season.

At this past Wednesday night's (January 24) Metal Hall Of Fame gala at the Delta Marriott Garden Grove in Garden Grove, California, former JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim "Ripper" Owens was asked by The Metal Voice if he thinks the two albums that he has done with KK'S PRIEST so far would have been "a total game changer" if they were released under the JUDAS PRIEST name back in the 1990s and early 2000s instead of 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition". He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I don't think it would have been. I think it was the time we were at. I think if we released 'Jugulator' and 'Demolition' right now, it would be totally different, in my opinion. Because metal was so bad [back in the 1990s]. Bands were playing in smaller places. At the end of JUDAS PRIEST, on the 'Painkiller' tour, they were playing in front of a thousand people in Europe and stuff; I mean, it was a totally different kind of an animal. In 2000 or so, when it started coming back, you started seeing it. Now you get [IRON] MAIDEN and PRIEST out there still selling out these big concerts — well, MAIDEN selling out their really big concerts. And I think those records… It's hard to replace somebody like [Rob Halford]. I don't care how great the records would have been. [The fans] still want Rob, just like people still yell that they want Ken [former JUDAS PRIEST and current KK'S PRIEST guitarist Kenneth 'K.K.' Downing] in PRIEST. I mean, that's a normal thing. But I think no matter what we would have released, I don't think it would have [been received much better]. It would have been about the same."

Owens was also asked if his lack of songwriting contributions to PRIEST was primarily the result of the fact that he was the "new guy" in the band, Owens said: "Oh, exactly. You're joining JUDAS PRIEST. At the end, I did wanna write. I came to the table with a few songs; 'Scream Machine' [which appeared on the 2006 album from his BEYOND FEAR project] was one of them, actually, which would have probably been one of the better JUDAS PRIEST songs on those records. But it's JUDAS PRIEST. It's K.K. You know what I mean? You just go with it, and I was fine with how everything went. I loved the records, and I learned a lot from working with Glenn [Tipton, PRIEST guitarist] and Ken, and working in the studio. I learned a lot."

Last September, Owens spoke to Cassius Morris about his relationship with Halford. He said: "I think it made people very angry that there never really was [a rivalry between us]. I mean, there was a little bit of things said back in the day, but we've always been friends and I've always respected him, obviously. And he's always talked well about me in the press. So I think it does make people mad that that they're that we don't hate each other and we say bad things. But we definitely consider each other friends and there's respect there."

Asked if he thinks there is a chance of PRIEST staging a one-off reunion concert featuring all current and former members of the band, including Owens and Downing, Tim said: "Should there be? Yes. Will there be? I don't think so. I don't think they would ever do it. They don't seem to make those kind of good decisions, so I don't think it would happen. I mean, this is a band that went to one guitar player [in 2022]" he added, referencing the fact that PRIEST announced it would tour with one guitarist before quickly reversing its decision and going back to the two-guitar format. "So I really don't think that that it would happen."

He continued: "I think it would be great if they got Ken back and they did a tour. I think the world would love to see that especially. Me? It definitely is not gonna happen, I wouldn't think. But I think fans would love it. I think it'd be great and it would be fun… but I don't think it'll ever happen."

Three years ago, Owens told Pierre Gutiérrez of Rock Talks that "it doesn't make sense" JUDAS PRIEST to not perform any songs from the two albums he recorded with the band — 19the aforementioned "Jugulator" and "Demolition" — during the group's 50th-anniversary tour. "I mean, it was JUDAS PRIEST," he said. "Listen, you're celebrating 50 years of JUDAS PRIEST, but you're leaving out 10 years of it. The thing is Rob would sound so awesome… Could you imagine Rob singing 'Burn In Hell'? Holy crap, it would sound fantastic. So, there's nothing wrong with sticking 'Burn In Hell' in a setlist. It was right in the middle there, so… I don't know. But they have a great setlist to play right now, so it's pretty awesome to see it.

"It's amazing JUDAS PRIEST has never done it," Owens continued. "They don't always have to do it, but it's amazing that they've never done it. I mean, Rob supposedly has never heard my era of JUDAS PRIEST, and it's kind of all right because I've never actually listened to his solo stuff except FIGHT, so we're kind of even on it. After FIGHT, I've not really listened to his stuff either, so it's kind of all right.

"When I was in JUDAS PRIEST, I didn't listen to a lot of stuff so I really didn't listen to the HALFORD stuff — unless somebody had it on somewhere," Tim explained.

"I love Rob — Rob is a friend and a mentor and an idol. Rob Halford and Ronnie James Dio are the two guys that really inspired me. So it's nothing against anything, really. It's not that I didn't want to [listen to his solo stuff]; I just never did. It was kind of, like, 'I'm in JUDAS PRIEST. There's no need.' But after I left, I listened to the JUDAS PRIEST records. Whether I liked them or not, I listened to 'em."

In September 2021, Rob was asked by Classic Rock magazine if he has listened to "Demolition" and "Jugulator". "No. I still haven't," he said. "This might sound selfish, but because it's not me singing, I'm not attracted to it. I sound like a twat, but I'm really just not interested. And that's no disrespect to Ripper, 'cause he's a friend of mine."

Halford went on to say that he first met Owens "when the band went through Ohio, [and Tim] came to the show. Was it awkward? Not in the least," he said. "We gave each other a hug. He's a massive PRIEST fan, and when the opportunity came for me to go back, he was, like, 'Thumbs up, it's great. I'm happy for the band, I'm happy for Rob.' I respect his chops; he's a great singer."

Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 after being discovered when the band's drummer, Scott Travis, was given a videotape of him performing with the PRIEST cover act BRITISH STEEL. JUDAS PRIEST at the time was seeking a replacement for Halford.

In a 2000 interview, Halford explained why he was reluctant to hear "Jugulator". "It's just too difficult for me to listen to the band when I'm not in it, and that's nothing to do with taking a shot at Ripper," he said. "I just can't listen to it. It's just psychological. I should just put it on and listen to the fucking thing, but then if I do, [interviewers] will say, 'Well have you heard it?', and I'll go, 'Yeah', and then you'll go, 'What do you think?', and I don't want to do that. I don't want to be put in that situation. I just love all the things that I've done with the band and I'm happy to be a part of that great legacy and that's all. You want to treat it with respect because that's what it deserves."

In October 2020, Halford told "The SDR Show" that he would "absolutely" be open to performing material from "Demolition" and "Jugulator" with PRIEST. "Those two albums are just as valid as everything else in the PRIEST catalog," he explained. "So who knows? That day may yet come."

In 2019, Owens told Ultimate Guitar that he believes his era of JUDAS PRIEST is largely overlooked. "Yeah, I think it definitely deserves more [attention]," he said. "I mean, they don't do anything. [Laughs] It's kind of amazing that they just totally erased it that they won't play... I mean, 'Burn In Hell' [off 'Jugulator'], the crowd would like to hear 'Burn In Hell'.

"They don't have to give me a tribute or anything, but it would be nice to play a song from... You know, that was a pretty big thing, I did two studio records, two live records, and a DVD, starting from '96 to 2004. So it's kind of crazy that it's just been erased and they won't even play a song from it live, because it is JUDAS PRIEST."

In October 2019, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner said that "Hell Is Home" is one of his favorite songs from the Owens era. The PRIEST guitarist, who joined the band in 2011 as the replacement for K.K. Downing, offered his opinion during a live video chat. He said: "I was listening to the Ripper albums the other day, and 'Hell Is Home' is such a great track. It's really heavy and the vocal melody is really great. I think Ripper sings it really well. It's probably one of my favorite PRIEST songs of the Ripper era. 'Hell Is Home' — I really like that."

"Demolition" and "Jugulator" are included on "50 Heavy Metal Years Of Music", JUDAS PRIEST's limited-edition box set which contains every official live and studio album to date plus 13 unreleased discs. Released in October 2021, it is the most extensive release of previously unreleased music the band has made from its vast archives.

Impregnate a thrash song with Peter Steele style vocals and keyboard arrangements that echo the darker side of Danny Elfman, and you’ll give birth to the new single “Faith In Cycles” from one man metal band, Autumns Eyes.


The track kicks off an energetic start to the new year with a new album, Grimoire Of Oak & Shadow, just on the horizon for the New England based musician. Last October gave us a first taste of the bands new material with the somber yet catchy song “Follow the Embers”, that also featured a fiery music video showcasing the beauty of New England's back woods.


With tempos picking up on the new song, lyrical themes remain rooted in the realism, with founding member Daniel Mitchell sharing a bit of method behind the madness…




“As with most people struggling to find solutions to all of life’s misery, there comes a point where hope seems like an empty dream. 'Faith In Cycles' was written as a reminder that all things in life seem to follow a pattern. Much like the seasons, there are moments where all life is seemingly sucked out of the atmosphere, & other times when the sun shines so bright as life flourishes at its most extraordinary peaks. This taught me the value of patience, & how trusting such cycles can bring peace during times of frustration.”


Hear the new single “Faith In Cycles” below, and grab it on all the major streaming platforms.