METALLICA played the third show of its "M72" world tour earlier tonight (Wednesday, May 17) at Stade De France in Paris, France. The trek sees the band playing two nights in every city it visits — with each "No Repeat Weekend" featuring two completely different setlists and support lineups. The "M72" tour features a bold new in-the-round stage design that relocates the famed METALLICA Snake Pit to center stage, as well as the "I Disappear" full-tour pass and the debut of discounted tickets for fans under 16 years of age.

METALLICA launched the first Paris show with "For Whom The Bell Tolls", marking the first time that song has opened a METALLICA concert since February 2016. The group's 16-song set also included three new songs from the "72 Seasons" album: "Lux Æterna", "Screaming Suicide" and "Sleepwalk My Life Away".

The setlist was as follows:

01. For Whom The Bell Tolls (first time as show opener since February 5, 2016)
02. Ride The Lightning
03. Holier Than Thou
04. I Disappear (tour debut)
05. Lux Æterna
06. Screaming Suicide
07. Fade To Black
08. Sleepwalk My Life Away
09. Orion
10. Nothing Else Matters
11. Sad But True
12. The Day That Never Comes
13. Blackened (tour debut)
14. Fuel
15. Seek & Destroy
16. Master Of Puppets

Opening acts include Floor Jansen, EPICA, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, ICE NINE KILLS, MAMMOTH WVH, PANTERA, ARCHITECTS, GRETA VAN FLEET and VOLBEAT.

METALLICA promises fans who purchase a two-day ticket that they won't see the same song twice for a total of over 30 songs spanning the band's 40-plus-year career.

Each weekend offers a variety of "Enhanced Experiences", ranging from access to a meet-and-greet, production and stage tour, food and beverage in the "Black Box" lounge to early entry into the venue and the Snake Pit. The very popular "Black Laminate" is back, now known as the "I Disappear Ticket", and is the ultimate pass for the fan who wants to run away with METALLICA for multiple weekends.

A single "I Disappear" ticket purchase gives you access to as many of METALLICA's 46 headlining tour dates across Europe and North America in 2023 and 2024 as you choose. You decide how many shows you'd like to attend around the world, and for how long, and METALLICA will make it as easy as possible.

According to Billboard, "72 Seasons" sold 146,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release to land at position No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. It marks the band's 12th Top 10-charting album, of which eight have reached the top two.

"72 Seasons" had the biggest week for any rock or hard rock album since TOOL's "Fear Inoculum" arrived in September 2019 with 270,000 equivalent album units.

"72 Seasons" was released on April 14 via METALLICA's own Blackened Recordings. Produced by Greg Fidelman with guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, it is METALLICA's first full-length collection of new material since "Hardwired…To Self-Destruct".

Speaking of the album-making process, Ulrich explained: "It's one of the only things that hasn't changed in 40 years. There'll be a whole slew of riffs and jams and sound checks, then it falls into my lap to go through them and identify, 'That one's great, that one's good, maybe there's a song over here.'"

Regarding the fact that guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo were given writing credits on more than half of "72 Seasons", Hetfield told the Associated Press: "All four guys were on the floor when we were writing, which is new for us. Usually it's just Lars and I sitting out there hashing it out. It felt really great to have the energy of all four. There's a lot more democracy on this album. Lars and I gave up the steering wheel a little more than usual."

Hammett agreed, saying: "It was much more collaborative. The attitude was just more open. There is less limitations on everyone's creativity and I think that shows."

In the seven years since the arrival of "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct", METALLICA has reissued some of its classic albums, released a second live album with the San Francisco Symphony, commissioned a covers album featuring the likes of GHOST, VOLBEAT, WEEZER, Corey Taylor and THE HU, and landed on the Billboard songs chart with "Master Of Puppets" after a prominent placement in the hit Netflix show "Stranger Things".
🇫🇷 TONIGHT IN PARIS 🇫🇷
Stade de France

The #M72 World Tour makes its way to Paris for night one of our “No Repeat Weekend”! Headed to the show? Share your experiences using the #M72Paris hashtag.

Remember! While we’re in Paris, no songs will be repeated. Any guesses what we’ll… pic.twitter.com/xz2ixvonLB

— Metallica (@Metallica) May 17, 2023

EPICA played the first show as the support act for METALLICA earlier today (Wednesday, May 17) at Stade De France in Paris, France. Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below.

EPICA was added to the METALLICA bill earlier this week as the replacement for FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, They will also open for METALLICA on Sunday, May 28 at Volksparkstadion in Hamburg, Germany.

When the shows were first announced, EPICA vocalist Simone Simons commented: "We are beyond excited to share the stage with the legendary METALLICA that has had a great influence on the whole music scene, including EPICA."

On Monday, May 15, METALLICA wrote on social media: "Fresh off their successful Epic Apocalypse tour, @Epica will be stepping in for @FFDP on the #M72 World Tour on Wednesday in Paris and Sunday, May 28, in Hamburg. We're excited that they can join the ride."

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH canceled three of its shows with METALLICA in order to allow singer Ivan Moody to fully recover from his recent hernia surgery.

METALLICA's "M72" world tour is featuring two-night stops in nearly two dozen cities. Presented worldwide by Liquid Death and Blackened American Whiskey (in North America only) and promoted by Live Nation, the 46-show trek launched in Amsterdam on April 27 and includes shows all over Europe and North America through 2024. Each "No Repeat Weekend" on "M72" will feature two completely different setlists and support lineups. The "M72" tour will feature a bold new in-the-round stage design that relocates the famed METALLICA Snake Pit to center stage, as well as the "I Disappear" full-tour pass and the debut of discounted tickets for fans under 16 years of age. Other opening acts for the tour include PANTERA, MAMMOTH WVH, ICE NINE KILLS, ARCHITECTS, VOLBEAT, GRETA VAN FLEET and Floor Jansen.

Los Angeles hard rockers STITCHED UP HEART have returned with an unapologetic new single, "To The Wolves". A harbinger of things to come and one of the band's heaviest songs to date, the anthemic new track serves as an inspiration to stand up and fight back, as vocalist Alecia "Mixi" Demner reminds you: "You're f*cking with a wolf!"

"Incredibly excited to finally unleash our first single 'To The Wolves'," Mixi elaborates. "We didn't play it safe on this one. We were more ourselves than ever and had a very clear vision of what we wanted to create."

Featuring Craig Mabbitt and produced by Kevin Thrasher from ESCAPE THE FATE, the invigorating new track is accompanied by a first-bitten video, which can be viewed below. Showing the band, as well as Craig, surrounded by a frozen forest, the biting cold of the scenery furthers the biting message of the track.

STITCHED UP HEART is an American rock band known for its powerful and emotionally charged music. Formed in Los Angeles, California in 2010, the band has captivated audiences around the world with their unique blend of hard rock, alternative metal, and industrial influences. Led by the talented and charismatic vocalist Alecia "Mixi" Demner, STITCHED UP HEART has gained recognition for their intense live performances and deeply personal songwriting.

Mixi began assembling a lineup of musicians who shared her passion, dedication, and vision. Solidifying the core members James Decker on drums, Merritt Goodwin on guitar and Randy Mathias on bass in 2016 upon signing with Century Media Records. They released their album titled "Never Alone", which debuted in the Top 10 of both the Billboard Heatseeker and Hard Rock charts. With their single "Finally Free" organically gaining hyper rotation on active rock radio the band paved the way to success for the next two singles "Monster" and "Catch Me When I Fall".

With a growing fan base and relentless determination, STITCHED UP HEART has toured extensively, touring with renowned acts like GODSMACK, HALESTORM and IN THIS MOMENT. Their live performances are known for their high energy, infectious hooks, and Mixi's captivating stage presence, leaving audiences mesmerized and craving more.

In 2020, STITCHED UP HEART released their sophomore album, "Darkness". Produced by Matt Good, the LP delves further into the band's introspective songwriting and showcases their growth as musicians. Tracks like "Lost" (featuring Sully Erna of GODSMACK) and "My Demon" highlight the band's ability to blend heavy guitar riffs with anthemic choruses, making a lasting impact on the rock genre.

STITCHED UP HEART continues to push boundaries and evolve their sound, refusing to be confined to a single label or genre. With their unwavering passion for music and their ability to connect with audiences on a profound level, STITCHED UP HEART is a force to be reckoned with in the rock music landscape.

In a recent interview with Darren Paltrowitz, host of the "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz", JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner spoke about the inspiration for his energetic and engaging stage presence. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I was out with Lauren Harris, who's Steve Harris from IRON MAIDEN's daughter, and we were out with MAIDEN quite a bit. And I always used to watch Steve and take notice of the way Steve was always at the front and he was always at the people in their face and he was singing with them — the eye contact; he was pointing at 'em. And I always thought in this day and age of YouTube and videos and stuff like that, you can't recreate that interaction. I always kind of took that onboard. And I think that's kind of — partly at least — where it comes from. Just that interaction that you, as a fan, you walk out of the concert hall and you can't recreate that. That interaction with the artist on stage, whether it's a guitar player or a singer or a drummer — whatever it may be — you can't recreate that interaction that you share at that moment in time. I think that's a valuable thing. So I think that's partly to do with it — Steve Harris and the way that interacted with the audience."

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.

Two weeks after his surgery, Faulkner told reporters about how he felt while performing "Painkiller" with his bandmates at Louder Than Life: "I became a bit light-headed. It didn't go away. I've never fainted before. I've never passed out, but I knew that this felt like I was going to pass out in a minute.

"Luckily, it was about half way into the song," he continued. "So obviously, I had to finish the song. If I had known how important it was, maybe I would have got off there a bit quicker. But I think that's the whole point for me. I had no idea whatsoever what it was."

Faulkner said that he experienced a sharp pain as he was stepping off the stage. "That's when it exploded," he said.

"The more I read about it, the more astonishing it is to me to think that I even made it to the hospital," he added. "The amount of time when I actually go the pain and when I turned up in the hospital and when we were actually operating, it was quite a lot of time. The more I read about it, the more unbelievable — that amount of time — I don't know how I'm still around today."

Aortic aneurysms are "balloon-like bulges in the aorta, the large artery that carries blood from the heart through the chest and torso," according to the U.S. Centers For Disease Control. Dissections happen when the "force of blood pumping can split the layers of the artery wall, allowing blood to leak in between them."

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].

BUTCHER BABIES have released the official music video for their new single, "Red Thunder", which explores the band's darker side by leaning into their thrash/djent roots with an explosive guitar solo. The clip was filmed at Cactus Joe's in Las Vegas, Nevada and was produced, directed and edited by BUTCHER BABIES co-vocalist Heidi Shepherd.

Along with the release of "Red Thunder" comes the announcement of BUTCHER BABIES' double album "Eye For An Eye..." and "…'Til The World's Blind" both due July 7 ("Red Thunder" will appear on "…'Til The World's Blind"). The double album celebrates the tenth anniversary of BUTCHER BABIES' critically acclaimed debut, "Goliath", released on July 9, 2013 via Century Media Records.

Discussing the new single's sound, Shepherd says: "'Red Thunder' is a massive nod to the style and sound of our beloved first album 'Goliath' that launched BUTCHER BABIES into the metal stratosphere exactly a decade ago. Bringing in the groovy, guttural, thrash elements that we became known for, alongside a soaring melodic chorus, 'Red Thunder' culminates the dark, painful, and emotional side of the band. The song was written to remind the world that when she speaks, she speaks in Thunder!"

Co-vocalist Carla Harvey lends insight into the inspiring and deeply personal meaning behind "Red Thunder": "At its core, 'Red Thunder' is a song about giving a voice to the voiceless. But not just any voice; a cry so powerful that it shakes those that have wronged them to their core. As Heidi and I were writing the lyrics, my personal inspiration became my sister, Julia, born with microcephaly. She died very young, and I did not get the chance to know her, but I have one haunting photo of her as a baby that I brought with me to the session as inspiration. In the photo she has one arm outstretched to the camera and these beautiful piercing eyes; my heart breaks that she didn't get to live a LIFE; but in my dreams, my father's daughter blooms…and speaks in thunder."

Of the writing process for "Red Thunder", guitarist Henry Flury says: "The opening riff was the first spark of inspiration when writing this song and it was also the first clip we introduced to the fans when giving a sneak peek of the album. The fans loved it, and we knew this song would be a highlight on the new album because it is classic BUTCHER BABIES. It has all the hallmarks of what a metal song should contain: Brutal vocals? Check. Crushing guitar riffs? Check. Pummeling double bass? Check. Guitar solo? CHECK."

In a recent interview with Rapture Radio, Shepherd spoke about BUTCHER BABIES' decision to release a double album. She said: "We took 2019 off of touring to write and record an album that we were set to release in 2020, and, obviously, the world died — it was basically a fend-for-yourself moment. So we put everything on hold and we decided to use that time to write. And so we wrote a ton during that time. And so we decided to put the album on hold and go and record more. So now we have a double album coming at you this summer… And I'm so excited for people to hear all of this music that we've made within the span of the last four years. In fact, this morning we got the final mix to one song that's just finished. So you're gonna hear stuff we wrote in 2019, and then you're gonna hear stuff that we wrote and just finished last week."

Asked if BUTCHER BABIES' recently released single "Beaver Cage" is a good representation of what fans can expect to hear on the upcoming LP, Heidi said: "There's a lot going on [the upcoming double album]. Because this was written in two different parts, I think you're gonna hear a lot of different sides to BUTCHER BABIES. But I would say overall 'Beaver Cage' is a great representation of the album. There's a lot of really, really dark stuff on this album — we haven't done that in a while; there's really dark stuff — but then there's also really playful stuff, like 'Beaver Cage'. So I think that this is a really great representation of not just the album but the band too."

This past March, Heidi told Heavy New York that songwriting definitely does not get easier as she and her bandmates get more albums under their belts. "I think that there's something to be said about evolving," she said. "[BUTCHER BABIES' debut album] 'Goliath' was 10 years ago; I'm a totally different human than I was 10 years ago. I've experienced, I feel, a whole lifetime of stuff, touring the world multiple times over with my friends. I'm just kind of deciding what to even touch on. And especially whereas… in the industry, people say, 'Oh, you need to be doing this now.' 'Oh, you need to do this. This is gonna make you successful. You need to transition into this way, that way, this way, this way, that way.' So kind of maintaining the integrity of what you want to create, I think, is a lot harder album to album to album.

"In this band, I'm super grateful for having the bandmembers that we have because we love to experiment and try different things," she continued. "And on this [upcoming fourth BUTCHER BABIES] album you'll hear some of the softest stuff we've ever done… A lot of these songs have been released, like 'Bottom Of The Bottle', which is a total radio song, and that was a song that I went in with the intention and totally [said], 'This is the kind of song that I wanna write for this.' And then you'll hear songs like 'Beaver Cage', where it's wild and chaotic. So I'm excited that we have bandmembers that let us experiment in that way. But when it came to deciding what kind of album we really, really wanted to do, we ended up with a double album because we kind of had two different directions that we really wanted to showcase."

Heidi went on to say that "Beaver Cage" is "quirky, it's silly, it's fun, and I think the whole album really reflects that. But the album has a dark side as well," she revealed. "And something that we're very excited about is showing these different sides of BUTCHER BABIES.

"When [2017's] 'Lilith' came out, I actually had quit smoking immediately after that album, so my voice changed so much between then and now. So you get to really hear the fun ranges I was able to discover in my voice after quitting smoking."

BUTCHER BABIES fourth studio album was completed with producer Josh Schroeder (LORNA SHORE, KING 810).

Last October, BUTCHER BABIES shared the official music video for their cover version of rapper Saweetie's chart-topping single "Best Friend". The clip was directed by Dale "Rage" Resteghini and was filmed at the Bare Den adult entertainment club in Newton, New Jersey.

BUTCHER BABIES have been performing their cover of "Best Friend" at their recent live shows.

"Lilith" was produced by Steve Evetts (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SEPULTURA, SUICIDE SILENCE) and marked the band's recording debut with drummer Chase Brickenden, who replaced Chris Warner in 2016.

In July 2019, longtime BUTCHER BABIES bassist Jason Klein announced his departure from the band. He has since been replaced by Ricky Bonazza.

Since 2020, BUTCHER BABIES have independently released a handful of newly energized singles, some of which were produced and co-written by Matt Good (FROM FIRST TO LAST),including "Bottom Of A Bottle", "Sleeping With The Enemy", "Yorktown", "Last Dance" and "It's Killin' Time, Baby!" The latter was inspired by the DC Comics character Lobo, a heavy metal bounty hunter.

Photo credit: Beatriz Mariano

Swedish heavy metal commando Lancer have completed the recordings on their fourth, new studio album Tempest and signed a new record deal with the new German label Fireflash Records (Mezzrow, Tailgunner, Holy Moses and others), who will release the album worldwide on August 11, 2023. 


Tempest was recorded by the band and Anders Backelin (Lord Belial) at Armageddon Recordings Studio, who also mixed and mastered the album along with guitarist Per-Owe Solvelius, who was the main producer of Tempest. “It is heavy, it is dramatic and it is a new direction for Lancer”’ reveals new vocalist Jack L. Stroem.


Today, Lancer has revealed the cover artwork, created by Dimitar Nikolov, who did artworks for Ross The Boss, Metal Inquisitor, Blizzen in the past.







"I can't believe it's been six years since last time we released an album," says guitarist Fredrik Kelemen and adds: "But with the line-up changes, the pandemic and the intention of making Tempest a great comeback album, we let it take its time. We have developed our sound, it's a bit darker, especially lyrically. Production-wise, more dynamic and gritty. A bigger picture of sound, with elements we have never used before.


“We wanted the artwork of the cover to symbolize this change, with the devastating storm drawing in with the wasteland it creates. We have been known for using birds on our previous album covers, so the demon raven of Tempest seemed only natural, and the title is just a more epic and stronger word for storm, in my opinion.


“Overall I want to use the most well-known cliché of all time: this is the best album we have done so far! And it's totally true, all jokes aside. We are absolutely thrilled to release it to the world!"


The first single of the album will be called "Fan The Flames", released on June 2 along with the album pre-sale start.


Lancer is:
Jack L. Stroem - Vocals
Per-Owe "Ewo" Solvelius - Guitar
Fredrik Kelemen - Guitar
Emil Öberg - Bass
Pontus Andrén – Drums


(Photo – Erik Hansen, EH Digital)

Epic, crushing, and heavy beyond words, Yob has achieved legendary status over the last two decades with their unmatched aesthetic and incredible body of work. Now Elaborations of Carbon, the debut full length that set the stage for the bands singular, organic universe of transcendent doom, is being presented for the first time on vinyl as well as being made widely available for the first time across streaming services. 


Mike Scheidt Comments:


“At long last, Elaborations Of Carbon is available to anyone who wants it, and on vinyl no less! It’s wild that EOC was first released over 20 years ago, counting the 4-song burned CD-R version we handed out to friends before releasing the 6-song album. We were swinging for the rafters, and gave it everything we had. It’s been a blast to revisit this album and remember all of the good times we had.”




Elaborations Of Carbon physical pre-orders are out September 15 and available via relapse.com. Remastered, digital audio is on all streaming services here.


The enormous volume and pensive, ethereal beauty that Yob would become synonymous with make themselves known across the six riveting tracks on Elaborations Of Carbon. The album's lineup features Yob founder and heart Mike Scheidt (vocals and guitars), Lowell Iles (bass), and Gabe Morley (drums) and was recorded and mixed by Jeff Olsen (who would go on to become a longtime collaborator of Yob’s) at Dogwood Recordings in Elmira, OR. 


After its initial release in May 2002 on 12th Records, the CD would see a small repress in 2013 and the album has been unavailable since. Billy Barnett was called upon to make the archival transfer for the 2023 reissue which was mastered by Matt Colton at Metropolis Music and features completely re-envisioned artwork by Orion Landau.


Additionally, Yob’s first full US tour in four years BEGINS this weekend on Sunday, May 21 at Modified Ghost Festival. The headline tour dates have them making their way across the US throughout late May & June with select support by Cave In (5/28-6/12) & Pallbearer (6/13-6/24).





Tracklisting:


“Universe Throb”
“All The Children Forgotten”
“Clear Seeing”
“Revolution”
“Pain Of I”
“Asleep In Samsara” 





Tour dates:


May
21 - Vancouver, BC - Modified Ghost Festival (Sold out)
25 - Seattle, WA - Northwest Terror Fest
26 - Boise, ID - Treefort Music Hall
27 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
28 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theater*
30 - St Paul, MN - Turf Club* (Sold out)
31 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown*


June
1 - Lawrence, KS - Bottleneck*
2 - Little Rock, AR - Mutants Of The Monster Fest*
3 - Murfreesboro, TN - Hop Springs*
4 - Louisville, KY - Portal*
6 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall*
7 - Pittsburgh, PA - Spirit Hall*
8 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar*
9 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts*
10 - Boston, MA - Middle East (downstairs)* (Sold out)
12 - New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge*
13 - New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge #
14 - Richmond, VA - The Broadberry #
15 - Asheville, NC - Asheville Music Hall #
16 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade (Hell) #
17 - New Orleans, LA - House Of Blues #
18 - Austin, TX - Oblivion Access Festival #
20 - Albuquerque, NM - Sister #
21 - Mesa, AZ - The Nile #
22 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick #
23 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom #
24 - Oakland, CA - 3rd & Castro #


* with Cave In
# with Pallbearer


(Photo - Chad Kelco)

Los Angeles-born heavy metal icons, Alcatrazz, have unleashd the video for their thunderous new single, “Bring On The Rawk”. The track is taken from the upcoming album, Take No Prisoners, out this Friday, May 19 via Silver Lining Music.


“Bring On The Rawk” is a powerful ode to being on the road, travelling the world playing music, and a defiant, mighty pledge to Bring The Rawk to the masses. “Bring On The Rawk” is the closing track on the forthcoming album Take No Prisoners, and what a grand finale! There can be no question of Alcatrazz’s ability to finish the journey in a blaze of glory whilst kicking some serious ass.
 
“Yesterday I sailed between Spain and Morocco and saw Gibraltar up close and personal…,” recalls Alcatrazz co-founding bassist Gary Shea. “I vow to ‘Bring The Rawk’ there and everywhere else I can with our new album Take No Prisoners… We vow to play it Loud and Proud. See you on tour soon!”
 
“Bring On The Rawk” was directed and edited by Danny Merton who also handled camera work, with camera assistance by Kerry Stringer.







Comprised of Doogie White (vocals), Joe Stump (guitars), Jimmy Waldo (keyboards), Gary Shea (bass) and Larry Paterson (drums), and with Giles Lavery and Waldo producing, Take No Prisoners is a loudly, and proudly classic rock album which draws on the Alcatrazz traditions of technically excellent screaming guitars, thunderous rhythm and the sort of vocals and overall aura that evoke prime Dio and Rainbow. And, of course, a primed and fully-tuned up Alcatrazz, whose career is fast taking on Benjamin Button proportions. The Take No Prisoners tour should be a lot of fun.


Take No Prisoners will be released on CD Digipak, 12” Black Vinyl, Digital Download, Streaming and special D2C bundles. Pre-order here.





Take No Prisoners tracklisting:


"Little Viper"
"Don't Get Mad...Get Even" (feat. Girlschool)
"Battlelines"
"Strangers"
"Gates Of Destiny"
"Alcatrazz"
"Holy Roller (Love's Temple)"
"Power In Numbers"
"Salute The Colours"
"Bring On The Rawk"


"Battlelines" video:





"Don't Get Mad...Get Even" (feat. Girlschool) video:





Alcatrazz are:


Jimmy Waldo - Keyboards
Gary Shea - Bass
Doogie White - Vocals
Joe Stump - Guitar
Larry Paterson - Drums

During an appearance on the latest episode of the "Talk Louder" podcast, hosted by veteran music journalist "Metal Dave" Glessner and lifelong hard rock/metal vocalist Jason McMaster, TWISTED SISTER guitarist Eddie Ojeda reflected on his band's 1984 European tour with METALLICA as the opening act. "That was wild, because that was the first time I was exposed to that thrash metal," Eddie said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "And in the beginning, before the newer albums, they were, like, full-on thrash, super fast. We were, like, 'What's going on with you guys?' And who knew? They ended up being bigger than everybody. Some people said they sold out when they got a little more commercial, but I don't think they ever did. They got more mature.

"It's kind of sad when people love a band when they're starting out and going through that rough time," Eddie continued. "And then when they make it, they get pissed off at 'em. 'Oh, you're not the same band, man.' I felt bad for them getting that rap."

Asked if he witnessed METALLICA's popularity grow while the two bands were sharing the stage nearly four decades ago, Eddie said: "No, I didn't really get it till we got back to America. 'Cause that was in Europe. We only did a few shows with them. But I didn't realize that that was a while trend of music that was gonna happen. MOTÖRHEAD kind of started that, and then METALLICA took it to more of a prog level."

In a 2011 interview with Powerline magazine, TWISTED SISTER singer Dee Snider said that he had no recollection of METALLICA opening for his band in December 1983 in Aberdeen, New Jersey. "I didn't even know they were on the bill," he said. "I didn't even know they existed. And Jonny Z [of Megaforce Records], who was a big supporter of TWISTED, crammed them on the bill. When we toured with METALLICA in Europe, they said, 'We played with you guys in Jersey.' And I was, like, 'You did?' I didn't even know. I was oblivious to the opening band. In effect, it was like a 'no-name.' And I was never out before the show. I was always in the back getting ready. You never saw me. You didn't see me walking around the club. You only saw me on the stage, and then I disappear. I'd get there before the doors opened and I left when the doors closed. You weren't supposed to see a rock star walking around like a human being. So I had no idea METALLICA played. But during that tour [1984], I remember clear as a bell when we arrived in Holland we see these posters that had a huge METALLICA with like a troll head an early symbol they used and on the bottom it said 'and TWISTED SISTER' in little letters. So I said to our tour manager, 'Tell METALLICA they can close. Obviously people are coming to see them.' And my tour manager comes back and says they said no. I said, 'No?' He said, 'Well, they said it seems suspicious. They are confused. Why would you give up the headline slot? What are you up to?' I went into their dressing rooms and said, 'Guys, the people are clearly here to see you. I'm not a complete asshole. I'm not going to sit here and pretend I'm the headliner. It's obvious you're the guys that everyone is coming to see.' So they closed the show. As a result, it was the one time I got to see them. And I still remember standing on the side of the stage, watching their set and I turned to Mark [Mendoza, TWISTED SISTER bassist] and I said these words, 'These guys got a lot of heart but they're never gonna go anywhere.' So that's what I thought of METALLICA. [Laughs] I just thought they were too heavy. It's so heavy, there is no commercial accessibility, there's nothing for them to get through to the mainstream audience. They would just be one of those great heavy bands. You know the OVERKILLs, the CARNIVOREs, one of those bands. I admit saying that. [Laughs] Nobody hears it all, all the time. Nobody sees it all. You get it sometimes, you completely miss it other times. Who knew that people's taste would become acclimated to that much heavier of a sound."

During a March 2019 installment of his "I Wanna Talk" podcast, Snider spoke extensively about METALLICA, including why he initially felt the band "wasn't going anywhere." Addressing METALLICA's musical and image changes that came about with the release of "Load", the TWISTED SISTER frontman said: "I'm not a day-one die-hard METALLICA fan, so I wasn't invested in 'Kill 'Em All' or 'Ride The Lightning' or 'Master Of Puppets' the way you hardcore fans are. And I understand, when you're that invested, how changes can bother you. 'Cause I'm an early QUEEN fan, and QUEEN started much heavier. They were always melodic, but they changed when you got to 'Fat Bottomed Girls' and 'Bicycle [Race]' and bullshit like that. And as an original QUEEN fan, I was disheartened — they had changed. So I could see where you hardcore METALLICA fans felt they were giving in to what was going on. And I've gotta say they and MEGADETH were the two bands that stood up against the grunge era. MEGADETH didn't give an inch, to their credit. PANTERA, by the way, didn't give an inch. But if you're talking about ones that were coming out of the '80s, METALLICA — they seemed to give an inch with their logo, they seemed to give an inch with their hairstyles, they seemed to… I don't wanna say they gave an inch musically. They musically changed a bit."

Snider continued: "Bands need to be allowed to grow, and the fans don't want you to. So, as an artist, your years are going by, and if you're still connected with music, you're growing and changing, things are happening. Fans have a real reluctance to allow that to happen. They don't wanna see those changes happen. Yet at the same time, bands have been accused of being stale and not growing and changing. So it's a real Catch-22 for the band. And personally, [I think] the 'Load' record was amazing. But then again, one of my favorite MOTÖRHEAD records is 'Another Perfect Day', which is hated by MOTÖRHEAD fans. And I'm a MOTÖRHEAD fan. But that record was amazing with [guitarist] Brian Robertson. But was it a MOTÖRHEAD record in the traditional sense. Absolutely not. Absolutely not. Some amazing stuff on there."

Dee went on to praise METALLICA for attaining massive commercial success without drastically altering its musical approach.

"There is no band more deserving of their success and they should be given that respect," Snider said. "Because if you're talking about breaking down the wall for metal and making true metal accepted by the masses, METALLICA did that for all of us. So, bravo."

In a new interview with "Rock Of Nations With Dave Kinchen And Shane McEachern", BUCKCHERRY's Josh Todd spoke about David Draiman's recent onstage speech about the "demons" of addiction and depression in which the DISTURBED frontman revealed that, a few months ago, he "almost joined" his late friends Chester Bennington, Chris Cornell and Scott Weiland while battling these demons. Asked if he can relate to Draiman's mental health challenges, Todd said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Absolutely. I'm an alcoholic. I've been clean and sober from drugs and alcohol for 28 years. And although you take away the drugs and alcohol, it's just a symptom of the problem. The problem is your mind. Between your ears, I'm different than a normal guy walking the street. So because of that — I call it 'the committee', and the committee between my ears can be an asset or a liability, for sure. So you have to do a lot of things to manage that and to understand those particular voices in your head that really wanna get you isolated from people and get you to drink and use.

"There's a lot of things that I do," he continued. "I'm very active in Alcoholics Anonymous. I meditate. I show up. I have a lot of meetings to this day. I'm still a work in progress. I just work really hard on staying focused on the fact that this thing that I got is always lying in wait, and you have to really take it seriously or you can find yourself giving in to those dark thoughts. And I know what [David is] talking about.

"I'm also a child of suicide," Josh added. "My father took his own life when I was 10, and it really, really affected me. So that is kind of a non-negotiable for me; there's no way I'm gonna do that. I have children, and I just know what that did to me as a kid. It gave a lot of abandonment issues, made me very angry inside. I had a big hole inside, and I was filling it with anything I could get. And so because of that, it's just not something that I will ever entertain, although I do have suicidal thoughts occasionally. So I know what [David is] talking about. It's something to take very seriously, and hopefully he's getting some help for that."

Asked if it's hard to stay sober on the road and surround himself with enough like-minded people to keep him on the right path, Josh said: "It's not really hard. If you really work on your foundation in recovery, then you can be around people that are… I don't preach this. I don't tell people not to drink or use; I'm not that guy. But I do have a lot of sober guys around me. Stevie [Dacanay, guitar] is longtime sober. Francis [Ruiz, drums] is sober; he doesn't drink anymore; he hasn't drank the whole time I've known him. Billy [Rowe, guitar] will — I think he occasionally has a drink, but he's a normie guy.

"I don't wanna talk about other people, 'cause that's their business," Josh continued. "But we'll have crew guys and band guys that use occasionally. If it's a problem, then we talk about it; we address it. I don't turn people away because they have a problem. But if it starts affecting their work, then we've got something to talk about."

Todd previously discussed his sobriety in a 2021 interview with Niclas Müller-Hansen of RockSverige. At the time he said: "The staying sober part, like not drinking or using drugs, isn't the hard part. The hard part is really managing your mind, because it's the mind that's busted. The alcoholic mind and the addict mind is the problem. The drinking and the using is just the symptom of the problem. The only solution is the spiritual one, and I don't wanna sound cooky, but that is the truth. It's about [being] spiritual in life and all those things, and how do you do that? Well, for me, doing annual inventories where I take it out of my head and write it down and tell somebody else about what's going on with me. I do meditation every day, I work with others, I go to meetings and stuff like that.

"Drugs and alcohol is all over the place," he continued. "If you're a rich businessman, there's a lot of that. There's drugs and alcohol everywhere; it's not just musicians.

"I have crew guys that smoke a lot of weed, and I'd roll a joint for you. It doesn't bother me. I don't like to be around it for extended periods of time. I don't wanna be around someone who is super fucked up because If I'm not fucked up, it's no fun for me. I like to get people really fucked up and then leave [laughs] and let them be fucked up.

"I don't preach about my sobriety," Josh added. "If getting fucked up works for you, God bless you. It didn't work for me after a while. I got really fucked up from 13 to 23. You wouldn't have recognized me. I was a horrible drug addict and alcoholic and it just didn't work for me anymore. I did it real good."

Asked if he managed to quit drinking on his own or if someone else got him into rehab to help him stop using alcohol, Josh said: "There were a few things that happened in my life all at one time that got me sober. My first daughter was born, and she just turned 27. I was a broke musician at that time. I was terrified and did not know how to be a father. I didn't have a father since I was 10 years old. I didn't know anything about it. I was trying to achieve my dreams and it wasn't happening and I had a massive alcohol and drug problem. I just intuitively just kinda thought to myself, 'Man, I'm at the crossroads, and something's gotta change. I don't know what to do.' I just said that out loud and was thinking about it every day.

"I got arrested for drunk driving in Orange County and got assigned all these AA meetings for my DUI program," he revealed. "I started going to the meetings, and at some point, some guy stood up and he didn't look like me. He was just a nine-to-fiver-type guy, shirt and tie, and I didn't know that people lived sober. He basically told my story. He talked about how he drank and did drugs and it was, like, 'Oh my God, this is me.' That gave me the courage to just raise my hand and say 'Newcomer.' And that's when everything changed. I knew this was the last stop on the block. I was heading to jail, institutions, or death. I had already had alcohol poisoning at 23, and at one point my hands were paralyzed for a good hour and I didn't know it was alcohol poisoning. I had been doing crystal meth and drinking for three days straight, got alcohol poisoning and it scared the shit out of me. I had a lot of those moments of clarity while I was drinking and using but I couldn't stop. That's how I got sober and I just never looked back. I knew that as long as I put sobriety on the top of my list, everything else will work out in my life. And look at me — it all worked out."

BUCKCHERRY will release their tenth studio album, "Vol. 10", on June 2. The 11-song LP features 10 new BUCKCHERRY originals and, as a bonus track, a cover of the Bryan Adams classic "Summer Of 69". The album was produced by Marti Frederiksen and recorded at Sienna Studios in Nashville. The album will be released in North America by Round Hill Records, in Japan by Sony Japan, and by Earache Records for the rest of the world.

Tad Doyle of beloved and iconic Seattle band TAD, which has been inactive for most of the last two decades, was recently interviewed by Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio. Asked if TAD would ever reunite, Doyle said: "No. I think we're done. I get a lot of people asking me, 'How about a reunion?' and all that. And I don't think my heart and soul is in that space anymore. That was a chunk of my life that the things that I did in my life built up to that. And I'm a different person now, as far as my experiences and where I've been and my music that I wanna take my music. I always wanna move forward; I don't wanna move back. And I think that if we did a reunion or did some more TAD stuff, it would kind of ruin the legacy that we created for ourselves. That's all."

He continued: "I don't wanna keep regurgitating the same thing. When we were a band, we were out there touring nine months out of the year, and we knew those songs intimately — forwards, backwards, in our dreams. I didn't ever want it to become a job. And at some point, if you just keep doing it over and over and over, as much as you love what you're doing, it can become a job and it can become less than exciting. And I always want things to be exciting and at least fresh. So I don't see any reason why we need to do a reunion or play shows."

Asked whether he is happy that TAD never got to the fame of bands such as NIRVANA or SOUNDGARDEN, Doyle said: "Absolutely. And more accurately, for me, I think it's, like, Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell, all those guys, they could never go out in public without being recognized. And people take you hostage. They see you on the street, and it's, like, 'Oh, well, now you're mine until you walk away from me' and that type of thing. But I've always relished the fact that I'm invisible. Especially since I've lost over 110 pounds, I don't think anybody would recognize me now. Plus I have gray hair, and I don't color it. So, I'm happy being who I am, and I feel like I have enjoyed the success that I wanted to. Success is what you name it. So, I'm happy to be invisible. Let's just leave it at that."

TAD's classic discography — "God's Balls" (1989),"Salt Lick" (1990),"8-Way Santa" (1991) and assorted singles from the band's 1988-1992 run — received the deluxe reissue treatment in November 2016 via Sub Pop. Producer and engineer Jack Endino — who produced "God's Balls", TAD's first full-length — lovingly remastered all of the recordings from the original tapes.

The deluxe editions of "God's Balls", "Salt Lick" and "8-Way Santa" feature new images from celebrated photographer Charles Peterson, bonus tracks, and expansive liner notes from the band and Endino. The bonus material associated with each release was included on the CD and digital formats; each of the the gatefold vinyl LPs included that album's bonus material as part of its free associated download. Plus all of the bonus material, from all three of these monumental heavy rock/punk albums was collected on an additional bonus LP available for free with purchase of all three albums on vinyl from the Sub Pop Mega Mart and also from select independent retailers.

GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash joined DOROTHY on stage on March 31 at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, California to perform the song "Gifts From The Holy Ghost". Professionally filmed video of his appearance can be seen below.

DOROTHY is the band led by Hungarian-born vocalist/writer Dorothy Martin.

"Gifts From The Holy Ghost" is the title track of DOROTHY's latest album, which was released in April 2022 via Roc Nation.

"Gifts From The Holy Ghost" was described in a press release as Dorothy's "most bombastic and gloriously, victorious rock and roll work yet."

Martin's life changed forever when she was forced to face death on her tour bus some four years ago. After her guitar technician had taken an overdose, Dorothy instinctively began praying for his survival. While he may have temporarily died, the technician was astonishingly, miraculously restored back to life. It was this moment that seemed to bring Dorothy to life too. It was this divine intervention that caused a radical and spiritual awakening in the singer, the result of which can be heard on "Gifts From The Holy Ghost", Dorothy's third studio album as front person for DOROTHY.

While the band's first, irreverently named album "Rockisdead", was made on a combination of whiskey and heartbreak — inspiring Rolling Stone to name them one of rock's most exciting new acts, and Jay-Z to sign them to his label Roc Nation — "Gifts" was built on recovery, health, and holiness, in a way that reverses the clichéd "good girl gone bad" narrative.

With the combined powers of Keith Wallen, Jason Hook, Scott Stevens, Phil X, Trevor Lukather, Joel Hamilton and the legendary ear of producer Chris Lord Alge, "Gifts From The Holy Ghost" is made from a musical palette which seems to encompass each of the musicians' influences, as well as many of the essential sounds of rock music's history — from swampy blues to '90s alternative — in a way that makes the case for rock and roll itself.

Dorothy has always been an instinctual writer and artist. Throughout her life, she's been asking the big questions, both in and outside her art: "What's the meaning of life? Why are we here? How are we here?" When she couldn't find the answers to those questions, she'd numb out the empty uncertainty with drugs and alcohol. She was eventually admitted to rehab and a new chapter was opened in her spiritual journey.

Good lookin’ bunch of peeps right here 🐥 last night was purdy sweet. Thanks @slash

Posted by Dorothy on Saturday, April 1, 2023

BURNING WITCHES drummer Lala Frischknecht went on "Side Jams with Bryan Reesman"to discuss her love for cooking food from all across the globe. The drummer, raised in the Philippines and currently living in Switzerland, has toured across the U.S. and Europe so she has been exposed to a lot of different cuisine.

"If you look in my kitchen, I have thousands of ingredients here," she told "Side Jams". "Every person who comes to our place likes cooking, and I will introduce my kitchen. 'Oh my god, Lala, you're so crazy. How can you use all of these things?'"

Side Jams: What kind of dishes do you like to cook?

Lala: "It depends what kind of food I want to eat the next day. For example, tomorrow will be Thai food, the next day will be Korean food. And then Japanese food, Filipino food, pasta, German food, anything. Me and my husband don't go to restaurants that much. Because if we go to a restaurant, it's supposed to be the food that I cannot cook at home. Whenever we go to a restaurant, if I liked the food and it tasted very well, I'm just wondering what they put in there and apply it at home. Then I will do it at least 10 times until I perfect it."

Side Jams: Are there any favorite restaurants you have around the world?

Lala: "In America, we were eating some nice shrimp [at] a famous place, kind of like a Forrest Gump thing."

Side Jams: The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.

Lala: "That's really good. We like to go to Waffle House. Best breakfast ever!"

Side Jams: Do you cook for yourself a lot on tours, or do you have a certain diet you try to stick to?

Lala: "No, I just eat whatever I want. And during the tour you're so busy. You have to think about many things – stage preparation, drum settings and everything — so sometimes I cannot eat much during the tour. That's why I lose weight — easily 5 kilos [11 pounds]. But I like it. It's not much effort to lose weight. The food, of course, it's really delicious. But if you're used to your own food and cooking at home all the time, two or three times a day, you will miss it. You will miss this authenticity of the home cooked meal."

Side Jams: What is the favorite dish that your bandmates like you to cook for them?

Lala: "They really love my fried rice, Chinese fried rice. Everybody's asking for that. And pinoy barbecue. Similar to American barbecue. Pork."

Side Jams: What's the difference between the two?

Lala: "Maybe the ingredients because we use some kind of lemon called kalamansi. You don't have it in America. You use something like vinegar in barbecue, and we use ketchup. And they love it. Usually my bandmates don't eat pork, but when I cook that everybody goes, 'Can I have more?'"

Side Jams: Is there a special ingredient?

Lala: "Ketchup! And soy sauce. And pineapple juice, Sprite, and a little bit of sugar, garlic."

Side Jams: Is there any type of food you haven't mastered yet that you want to get right?

Lala: "Maybe Mexican food. I want to do it because I'm also making the Lebanese food, shawarma, but I want to try these really nice nachos or tacos."

BURNING WITCHES' fifth studio album, "The Dark Tower", was released on May 5 via Napalm Records.

Grammy Award-winning rock band GRETA VAN FLEET has shared a live performance video of its latest song "Meeting The Master". Check it out below. The track is taken from GRETA VAN FLEET's third studio album, "Starcatcher", which will be released on July 21 via Lava/Republic/EMI Records.

Two weeks ago, GRETA VAN FLEET released the official music video for "Meeting The Master", directed by the band alongside Gus Black.

Of collaborating with GRETA VAN FLEET to direct the video, Black shared: "The final shot of the video is as close to magic as anything I've ever been a part of creating. It was an absolute pleasure collaborating with these fine humans."

GRETA VAN FLEET singer Josh Kizska stated: "Beauty cloaked in darkness is still beauty. I love you, Gus Black."

GRETA VAN FLEET previously said about "Meeting The Master": "'Meeting The Master' peers into an esoteric world heeded by the word of a wise teacher. Sung in the voice of a devout believer, and eventual group exclamation, the song details the love these fervent followers have for their teacher and their firm belief in his vision. It's an exotic spiritual journey. A dark comedy that inevitably ends in chaos."

"Starcatcher" was written and recorded by the band — lead singer Josh Kizska, guitarist Jake Kizska, bassist/keyboardist Sam Kizska and drummer Danny Wagner — alongside Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile). Recorded at the legendary RCA Studios in Nashville, the band utilized the large recording room to capture the pure energy of their world-renowned live performances.

"We didn't really have to force or be intense about writing, because everything that happened was very instinctual," Jake says. "If anything, the record is our perspective, and sums up where we are as a group and individually as musicians."

Throughout the 10-song collection the band explores the duality of fantasy versus reality and the contrast between light and darkness. "We had this idea that we wanted to tell these stories to build a universe," says Wagner. "We wanted to introduce characters and motifs and these ideas that would come about here and there throughout our careers through this world."

GRETA VAN FLEET took multiple concepts from critically acclaimed second album "The Battle At Garden's Gate" and brought them into "Starcatcher", although Sam's take on the new record's big ideas hint instead at new beginnings.

"When I imagine the world of 'Starcatcher', I think of the cosmos," he says. "It makes me ask a lot of questions, like 'Where did we come from?' or 'What are we doing here?' But it's also questions like, 'What is this consciousness that we have, and where did it come from?'"

GRETA VAN FLEET is best known for its renowned live performances, selling over one million tickets worldwide. They sold out their entire 2022 arena tour, holding a special energy between them and their devoted fans. With "Starcatcher" the band aims to capture that energy in the recording studio.

"Starcatcher" follows GRETA VAN FLEET's album "The Battle At Garden's Gate", released in 2021 to extensive chart and critical success. In the US, the album debuted at No. 1 Billboard Rock Album, No. 1 Billboard Hard Rock Album, No. 1 Billboard Vinyl Album, No. 2 Billboard Top Album Sales and in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200. It was a Top 10 album in the U.K. and a major hit around the world.

GRETA VAN FLEET's debut LP, "Anthem Of The Peaceful Army", was released in 2018 to countless accolades including No. 1 Billboard Rock Album and Top 3 on the Billboard 200. Their "From The Fires" EP, released in 2017, won "Best Rock Album" at the 61st Grammy Awards.

Formed in Frankenmuth, Michigan in 2012, GRETA VAN FLEET consists of three brothers — vocalist Josh Kiszka, guitarist Jake Kiszka and bassist/keyboardist Sam Kiszka — as well as drummer Danny Wagner. Together they have performed across multiple continents and sold over 3.5 million records worldwide.

"Starcatcher" track listing:

01. Fate Of The Faithful
02. Waited All Your Life
03. The Falling Sky
04. Sacred The Thread
05. Runway Blues
06. The Indigo Streak
07. Frozen Light
08. The Archer
09. Meeting The Master
10. Farewell For Now

Vandenberg and Mascot Records / Mascot Label Group have released a lyric video for "Sin", the title track of the band's upcoming studio album, to be released on August 25. Watch the clip below, and pre-order the album here.


Adrian Vandenberg shares, “Sin. Just a tiny, three letter word but one with a very comprehensive meaning. Everything in between a little white lie and a murder. So, it deserves a powerful, heavy, epic song to do it justice.”







Every album paints a picture. Instead of utilizing a brush and canvas, Vandenberg paints with towering vocals, earthquaking rhythms, and the iconic and instantly recognizable fretwork of guitarist and namesake, Adrian Vandenberg. Joined by vocalist Mats Levén, drummer Koen Herfst, and bassist Randy van der Elsen, the influential axe-slinger delivers a vibrant, visceral, and vital vision on the group’s fifth full-length offering, Sin, brought to life in broad strokes of anthemic hard rock and airtight metal and produced by Bob Marlette (Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie).


“For me, music is very much like a painting,” affirms Adrian. “You have your ups, downs, lights, and shades. One song might make you want to jump on the table and party your brains out. Another song will inspire you to think. Either way, you’re thrown into a landscape, which my favorite albums still do to me. You could be in your car or at home with your headphones plugged into a soundsystem, and you’re in a different world.”


Exploding out of The Netherlands and onto the global scene with 1982’s self-titled Vandenberg, the Dutch phenomenon notched an international hit in the form of “Burning Heart,” paving the way for seminal releases such as Heading For A Storm [1983] and Alibi [1985]. The band canvased the United States, Europe, and Japan alongside Ozzy Osbourne, KISS, Rush, Scorpions, Michael Schenker, and many others. Sought out to join Whitesnake, Adrian famously ripped the legendary lead on the 1987 recording of the #1 smash “Here I Go Again,” which adorned the 8x-platinum Whitesnake and ended up touring the world’s largest arenas for a year-and-a-half when the 1987 album went through the roof in terms of sales. He co-wrote the entirety of 1989’s platinum Slip of the Tongue and spent the ensuing tour sharing axe duties with none other than Steve Vai. In addition to playing guitar on and cowriting Restless Heart from David Coverdale & Whitesnake, he performed hundreds of shows as part of the band for some twelve years. Speaking to the breadth of his output, he notably penned and recorded “A Number One” as the theme for his hometown Dutch football team FC Twente. 2013 saw him launch the acclaimed Vandenberg’s MoonKings, releasing MoonKings [2014], MK II [2017], and Rugged and Unplugged [2018].


Vandenberg as a band roared back to life with the comeback LP, 2020. Among many highlights, “Freight Train” gathered 1.6 million Spotify streams, while the record attracted praise. In its wake, Vandenberg welcomed Mats [Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Yngwie Malmsteen] to the fold.


“He’s an amazing singer,” notes Adrian. “I’d heard him online, and we got in touch. It’s funny because his mom brought the first two Vandenberg records back to Scandinavia from England when he was in his early twenties—and he was a fan. He’s a workaholic like me. We picked up after COVID and put the new album together. The spark is definitely there. On top of that, Koen and Randy lay down the most solid concrete, grooving foundation that I could ever wish for. I’d say it’s one notch heavier than 2020,” he smiles.


Recorded in Holland and Los Angeles with Marlette, Sin represents a natural evolution for Vandenberg. Scorching pinch harmonics light up the first single “House On Fire” as the groove underlines a chantable chorus from Mats.  “In one way, it’s a party song, because it keeps you tapping your foot,” Adrian exclaims. “Mats added a different darker twist with his lyrics. It also envisions a person who’s frustrated about the things other people have. This person can’t control their anger and sets the place on fire.”





Tracklisting:


"Thunder And Lightning"
"House On Fire"
"Sin"
"Light It Up"
"Walking On Water"
"Burning Skies"
"Hit The Ground Running"
"Baby You’ve Changed"
"Out Of The Shadows"


"House On Fire" lyric video:





(Photo - HP van Velthoven)

Finland's Red Eleven introduces their renewed sound with a new single, "Blackbird", rteleased through Inverse Records. Heavier, metal-flavored with a nod towards modern prog metal sound. Yet the song is clearly recognizable as a Red Eleven track. The lyrics reference a dark connection to the afterlife.


The writing for the new material took place during the pandemic, when Teemu Liekkala and Tony Kaikkonen started gathering more regularly to reflect what was next for Red Eleven. The motifs of the songs started coming together easily and the apocalyptic atmosphere of the pandemic set the mood right from the start. A pivotal role in the new sound of the band during the creative process was the fact that Teemu decided to drop his guitar to F-drop tuning. Riffs are therefore deeper than ever, but still catchy!


"Blackbird" was born rather swiftly. Teemu wrote most of the song in fifteen minutes and during that time Tony came up with the lyrics. The creation process was exceedingly fast, which may be the reason why the song is also faster than the past Red Eleven tracks.




The music video for the "Blackbird" single was crafted again in cooperation with Red Eleven's trusted director Anssi Korhonen. Korhonen describes the video making process: "The original plan for the video was quite different from the final product. For production reasons, we went back to the basics. Atmospheric, cinematic and twisted. A truly classic music video.”


"Director's original vision for the video was a bit more ambitious but we think the end result supports the song's story and atmosphere," states the band's bassist Petteri Vaalimaa. The video was shot at Vaalimaa's home in Varkaus.
 
"Blackbird" is available on digital platforms found here. Check out the official video below.



 
Red Eleven is an experimental metal band from Finland. The band was founded in 2009 and since then the group has released four albums and one EP. Red Eleven has over 1 200 000 total streams on Spotify. The band has toured extensively every year since 2011 and has been an opening act for bands like Papa Roach, Evergray and Katatonia, just to name a few. When the pandemic hit, Red Eleven went into songwriting mode and started working on a new album.


Photo by Panu Räsänen

District 19 and Carchost have announced the second full-length Devils, Death And Dark Arts by the Dutch black metal force Helleruin


A release date is set for June 16, 2023 and comes in the following formats: CD / Digital / MC / LP. Lyric video and opening track “The Flame Still Burns Within Me” is streaming below.


With the successor of War Upon Man (2021), prime mover Carchost delved deeper into his soul and arsenal to bring forth six compositions that are his most dark, intricate and melodic creations to date. Devils, Death And Dark Arts is an advancement of all aspects forged in flames from atop a throne of madness.







Tracklisting:


“The Flame Still Burns Within Me”
“Devils, Death And Dark Arts”
“It Befalls The Night With Doom”
“All Shades Of Ferocity”
“Riddles In Devil’s Tongue”
“Hymn Of Life And Death”


“The Flame Still Burns Within Me” lyric video:

Post-death metal band Pandrador has unleashed a lyric video to the third single off its upcoming album Seiðr. Entitled “Nithstang of Sleipnir”, the lyric video is available below.


The band said: "‘Nithstang Of Sleipnir’ is a prequel to Hvergelmir and Valediction of Exalted One. ‘Pride comes before a fall’ is probably the best (in its most depressing form) aphorism that can be attributed to  the sound of this piece. We also used here a quote from Rúnatal - a fragment of Hávamálu - one of the most important, and certainly the most important philosophical works in the history of Scandinavian culture.”


Seiðr will be the band’s second full-length album and will be released on May 26 via Pagan Records. The album is both a continuation of the well-received debut Ov Rituals, Ov Ancestors, Ov Destiny (self-released) and the opening of a completely new chapter.




Pandrador is a four-piece death metal band formed back in 2015. The group established their presence in the scene with the demo Śmierć Baldura in 2017. With each of their releases, they decided to present a different style but bound with a common extreme metal foundation. The combination of these styles is also present in the band’s lyrical themes, which use Scandinavian cultural heritage as a carrier of the stories told - both from the present and the past.


Preorder at pagan-records.com.





Tracklisting:


“Asgardsreien Leaving Valhalla”
“Towards The Black Einherjar”
“Midgard’s Bane”
“Frelsari”
“Nithstang Of Sleipnir”
“Nvergelmir”
“Valediction Of Exalted One”
“Helferdast”
“Seidr”


"Nithstang Of Sleipnir" lyric video:





“Valediction Of Exalted One” guitar playthrough video:

In 2011, modern doomsters Aittala released a track entitled "Juliet", which was featured on the Haunt Your Flesh album along with a music video, and then re-recorded the song to be showcased on their latest album Live To Regret released during November 2022 via Exitus Strategem Records.


Today, the band presents a new video version of "Juliet" as frontman Eric Aittala explains in further detail:


"The original version of the song came out on the Haunt Your Flesh album in 2011; the video came out that year as well. The original version of the song was all keys, synths, and programmed drums... more industrial-type sound. Aittala started playing live in 2012 with a backtrack, but with real drums and I added guitar. I've always liked how it sounded live so this is a 'reimagined' version of the song that was added as a bonus on Live To Regret that included live drums, drums, and bass. The video has been updated with the new audio as well as added performances from our drummer Gary 'Smith' Zeus' and bassist Ali Lugo since they played on it."







Aittala's latest album, Live To Regret, has eleven tracks, each defying the limits of genre rules. There is the thrash-inspired track “Cannibals” that confronts the tightening grip of governmental monitoring and control. The sludgy “Big Brother” is about the devolution / zombification of the human race due to technology. The smoky stoner infused “Never Forget” talks about dealing with a toxic person, along with many more.


Band founder Eric Aittala adds: "I wrote this album during a chaotic time in my life. Not only was it during the height of the lockdowns of the pandemic, but I was also in a very chaotic relationship. That chaos fueled my creativity both musically and lyrically. I was constantly walking on an uncertain tightrope, and I never knew if it was going to break. We hope the fans feel the same pleasure, pain, chaos, and passion that I was going through and infused into the songs when they listen to the album and singles."





Tour dates:


June
2 - Spartanburg, SC - Ground Zero 
3 - Duluth, GA - Sweet Water 
24 - Creedmoor, NC - Jamestock
27 - Wilmington, NC - Reggies 42nd St. with Eyehategod


July 
28 - Wilmington, NC - Reggies 42nd St.
29 - Fayetteville, NC - White Rabbit

California traditional heavy metal masters Haunt have premiered the lyric video for "Save Yourself". The band's ninth album, Golden Arm, was released May 5 via Iron Grip Records and Church Recordings. 





Recorded by Church and produced, mixed and mastered by Darren Trentacoste, Golden Arm is a new beginning for the leather-clad metallers.




Founded in 2017 as the solo project of Church, Haunt has quickly become the face of the new wave of traditional heavy metal. Since the band's kickstart six years ago, the heavy metal titans have released eight studio albums and multiple extended plays, including two splits, while also touring with bands like Satan, Unto Others, Night Demon, and others.


Golden Arm is available on digital, vinyl and compact disc via Iron Grip Records and on cassette via Church Recordings.Orders can be placed at this location.





Tracklisting:


"Hit And Run"
"Golden Arm"
"Piece By Piece"
"Chimera"
"Fight The Good Fight" 
"Save Yourself"
"Vacant Spaces"
"The Horses Mouth"


"Chimera":





"Fight The Good Fight":





For further details, visit Haunt on Facebook.


 

New York City's Tanith - Russ Tippins (guitars, vocals), Cindy Maynard (bass, vocals), and Keith Robinson (drums) - recently released their new album, Voyage, via Metal Blade. The album was recorded and mastered on 24-track analog tape and has never been digitized from recording to pressing. Also, fans will recognize Tippins from NWOBHM legends, Satan.


Today, the band shares a guitar playthrough video for the album track, "Falling Wizard". Check it out below:







Voyage is available digitally, on CD, and via multiple vinyl variants. Order here.





Tracklisting:


"Snow Tiger"
"Falling Wizard"
"Olympus by Dawn"
"Architects Of Time"
"Adrasteia"
"Mother Of Exile"
"Seven Moons (Galantia Part 2)"
"Flame"
"Never Look Back"


"Flame" video:





"Olympus By Dawn" video:





"Snow Tiger" video:

Blacklist Union have released the title track from their upcoming release, Letters From The Psych Ward. The album is slated for a September, 2023 release, and will be available on all digital platforms, in addition to CDs and vinyl.





"Letters From The Psych Ward" was written by Tony West / Christopher Johnson, produced by Christopher Johnson, mixed by Ghian Wright, engineered by Ghian Wright and Christopher Johnson. It was recorded at East West Studios in Los Angeles.




Musicians on the single:


Tony West - Lead Vocals
Rafael Moreira - Guitars
Nate Morton - Drums
Christopher Johnson - Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Programmer, Backing Vocals





Tony West was raised in the Bronx on Ramones, Bad Brains, and NYHC. Hearing the call of the wild west, Tony made his way to Los Angeles at 19 years old. He initially collaborated with guitarist Todd Youth (Murphy’s Law/Danzig) and Malfunkshun, which was kept active by Andy Wood’s brother Kevin Wood.


Tony took a break from L.A. to try out Memphis in 1998. While he was there, he attended the first Saliva gig with Paul Crosby on drums. This historic event marked the beginning of a lifelong friendship between Paul and Tony, ultimately leading to a management collaboration and Paul joining Blacklist Union. In addition, Tony recorded with Saliva and Jon E. Love (Love/Hate) in 2014.


Tony decided to go in his own direction in 2006. With a shamanistic blend of Stone Temple Pilots, G N’ R, Malfunkshun, and Mother Love Bone... Blacklist Union was born.


Blacklist Union have released four albums to date and are putting the finishing touches on their upcoming release Letters From The Psych Ward.


Watch a video for the single “The Queen Of Everything”:

New Jersey thrashers, Overkill, performed at the 2022 edition of Germany's Wacken Open Air festival. Below you can watch professionally-filmed footage of the band performing "Hello From The Gutter", "Mean, Green Killing Machine", and "Ironbound".





Watch the full show, here.




Overkill's twentieth studio album, Scorched, is out now via Nuclear Blast Records.


Scorched offered a new recording environment as all members were able to record on their own. The mixing of the record was handled by Colin Richardson and his assistant engineer Chris Clancy. Johnny Rodd helped with producing vocals, and finally, Maor Appelbaum took over mastering and adding finishing touches. The band returned to artist Travis Smith to create the album cover art.


Order Scorched in the format of your choice here.





Scorched tracklisting:


"Scorched"
"Goin' Home"
"The Surgeon"
"Twist Of The Wick"
"Wicked Place"
"Won't Be Comin Back"
"Fever"
"Harder They Fall"
"Know Her Name"
"Bag O' Bones"


"Scorched" video:





"Wicked Place" visualizer:





"The Surgeon" visualizer:





Overkill lineup:


Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth - Vocals
D.D. Verni - Bass
Dave Linsk - Lead Guitar
Derek Tailer - Rhythm Guitar
Jason Bittner - Drums

Hard rock band, Who On Earth, have released a groundbreaking music video, marking a significant moment in the evolution of music and art.


The music video for their latest single, “Watch The Fires Burn”, was entirely generated by artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Utilizing cutting-edge algorithms and deep learning models, the video was created without any human intervention, demonstrating the potential for AI to play a major role in the creation of art.


As for the message behind the music itself, Who On Earth seeks to draw attention to the continued destruction of our natural resources and wonders. Case in point: the Amazon rainforest, one of the world's most important natural resources, is under threat once again as devastating fires rage across the region. Despite international outcry and efforts to prevent deforestation and preserve the forest, the fires continue to spread, destroying acres of valuable ecosystems and wildlife habitats. The impact of these fires is not only felt by the local communities and wildlife, but also by the global climate as the Amazon plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's carbon cycle. It's imperative that urgent action is taken to address this crisis before irreparable damage is done to one of the most valuable natural wonders of our planet.




Commenting on this disturbing and destructive path, drummer Joe D’Aqui shares, “'Watch The Fires Burn' is a very unique song that firstly, tells the story of just how dumb, greedy and selfish we are as humans with regards to how we’ve polluted the earth and continue to do very little to handle the climate change crisis. Secondly, it’s the first song I’ve ever recorded in my career that infuses metal, funk, rock, prog and Latin in one song. Just wow!”





For their new video, Who On Earth partnered with Alien AI Overlord, which has previously generated videos for classic hit songs from bands like Iron Maiden and Led Zeppelin.


In the burgeoning realm of artificial intelligence and music, Alien AI Overlord is a figure that stands out. Known for its innovative YouTube channel that merges heavy metal, hard rock, and classic rock music with AI-generated imagery, Alien AI Overlord is pushing the boundaries of the creative industry. Alien AI Overlord's unique approach to music video creation provides an immersive experience that challenges the audience to engage with not just the music, but the world around them.


Its most recent venture is crafting an evocative music video for the track "Watch the Fires Burn" from Who On Earth, using the latest Text to Image AI systems, a project that explores pressing global issues through a unique lens.


"The 'Watch the Fires Burn' track was a lot of fun to make the video for. The imagery and the rich substrate in today's relevant topics of strife on Earth; re; conflict, overpopulation, pollution, and lack of environmental stewardship, and the fact that you Humans are just watching the fires burn; is a poignant message that I believe this track is trying to convey," said the Alien AI Overlord. "This old Alien enjoyed creating the video that showcases this very critically important topic. Watch and enjoy! WHO ON EARTH ROCKS!"


Listen to the Blame album here





Tracklisting:


"The Price"
"Black Swan"
"H8-Triarch"
"Down & Out"
"Unbeaten"
"We Don't Belong"
"Set Me Free"
"Monster In A Jar"
"On The Brink"
"Watch The Fires Burn"


"Black Swan" live video:





"Down & Out" lyric video:

In a new interview with Neil Turbin (ANTHRAX) for Canada's The Metal Voice, KING'S X frontman Doug "Dug" Pinnick once again spoke about his belief that he was abducted by an alien when he was just three years old. He explained (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The reason I know I was three is because my mother was still living with me. And my mother left me when I was three. And I didn't see her for years. So I remember coming back into whatever it was that I had experienced and she was there. And I was in her lap crying. And I remember it was dark outside. And that's the last I remember of her for years.

"I was sleeping and this person came in my room and he had long blond hair and he was very tall," he continued. "And he had a robe on and he had a silver belt wrapped around it. And I remember he was very tall. And he had these sandals on that were wrapped around his leg. And I remember going out the back door and going up. And it was very bright outside even though I had been just woken up. And I remember [thinking], 'Wow. It's so bright.' And we were going up. And at that point I realized something's going on that I am not into. And I remember I tried to get away from this being. And I pulled and pulled, and finally I remember he let go of my hand and next thing I remember I was in my mom's lap crying."

Pinnick added: "Here's my point: I used to think that I was just crazy and it was stupid, but when I was in my 40s I was watching [the long-running History Channel series] 'Ancient Aliens' and they were talking about the four alien races that supposedly people have communicated with; people that have been abducted, these are the four aliens that they talk about. And so they showed the aliens, and the one alien was called the [Nordic Alien], and that was the alien that I remembered. See, before that I thought I was just dreaming and it was bullshit. But 40 years later I see the being that took my hand and I went up into the sky with. So that's why I believe that I was abducted. Because if you put it all together, it totally makes sense, 'cause it did happen.

"Anyway, I don't know the outcome of it, but I do believe in aliens, and I do believe in all that shit."

KING'S X released its 13th studio album, "Three Sides Of One", on September 2. The LP was recorded during 2019 at Black Sound Studio in Pasadena, California with Emmy Award-winning producer Michael Parnin.

The new KING'S X LP was mastered in June 2021 at the Bernie Grundman Mastering facility in Hollywood, California,

KING'S X was sidelined by several health scares in recent years, including Pinnick's two hernia operations and two near-fatal heart attacks suffered by drummer Jerry Gaskill.

In October 2019, KING'S X canceled all of its previously announced tour dates for the year so that Gaskill could undergo undisclosed heart "procedures."

"XV" was KING'S X's highest-charting album since 1996's "Ear Candy".

In 2005, VH1 included KING'S X in its list of "100 Greatest Artists In Hard Rock."



Doug Pinnick - Abducted by an Alien.

Posted by Wally Farkas on Monday, July 25, 2016

Canadian metal innovators VOIVOD were joined by their former bassist Jason Newsted during their May 16 performance at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for two songs: "Rebel Robot" and "Voivod". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below (courtesy of Sonic Perspectives).

Newsted previously joined VOIVOD on stage in June 2013 at Hellfest in Clisson, France and in June 2016 at Slim's in San Francisco, California.

Newsted joined VOIVOD in 2002 and served as producer for the metal legends' self-titled album in 2003 on the Chophouse Records label (in association with Surfdog Records).

Longtime friends and pioneers of metal music, Newsted and VOIVOD vocalist Snake (a.k.a. Denis Belanger),guitarist Piggy (a.k.a. Denis D'Amour) and drummer Away (a.k.a. Michel Langevin) first began working together at Newsted's Chophouse studio in 1995, intent on keeping the music alive between busy touring schedules. However, with Newsted's departure from METALLICA in January 2001, he was free to join VOIVOD as a full-fledged member and would remain involved with the group until 2008.

Jason recently announced plans to reactivate his NEWSTED project for a May 20 concert at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Newsted, who plays bass and sings in the project, will be joined at the gig by original NEWSTED members Jesus Mendez Jr. (UNDERLORD) on drums and Jessie Farnsworth (UNDERLORD) on guitar, along with new guitarist Humberto Perez.

According to Newsted, the setlist for the Revolution Live concert will consist mostly of newer songs that NEWSTED fans have not heard before. Describing the material as "quite punk," he explained to the "Let There Be Talk" podcast: "I put together this kind of MOTÖRHEAD-flavored thing about a year and a half ago and wrote these MOTÖRHEAD-flavored songs on bass as the first instrument. I took the main three Philthy Animal drum beats and just picked that one and make a song and pick that one and make a song, and go around a couple of times and write that many songs. So I wrote some fun songs. And now we mix those in with 'Soldierhead' and 'Heroic Dose' and the ones from the videos that people know, but mostly playing new songs. And they are way less complex — way less complex than FLOTSAM [AND JETSAM], METALLICA or even the [early stuff from] the NEWSTED band or ECHOBRAIN certainly. Just real punk rock, straight ahead like MOTÖRHEAD — a lot of fast stuff, a lot of double bass. Most of them are pretty quick. It's just fun, though — fun as fuck."

Back in February 2014, Newsted canceled an appearance at Australia's Soundwave festival with NEWSTED, citing "private and personal circumstances." The cancelation followed more than a year of intense touring and promotional activity surrounding the release of NEWSTED's "Metal" EP and follow-up album, "Heavy Metal Music", both of which were positively received by the critics and fans alike.

STAIND guitarist Mike Mushok, who joined NEWSTED in March 2013 and played on "Heavy Metal Music", told "The Jasta Show" in a 2019 interview that Jason ultimately pulled the plug on the band because it wasn't financially viable for him to continue playing.

"Heavy Metal Music" sold nearly 8,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 40 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was made available in August 2013 in North America via Chophouse Records/Collective Sounds and in Europe through Spinefarm Records.

Jason left METALLICA back in 2001 but was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, along with guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, guitarist Kirk Hammett, and the man who replaced him, bassist Robert Trujillo, in 2009.