Every morning before school, when the alarm on his clock-radio went off in Rusk, TX, Matt James awoke to the sounds of the only radio station that came in clear in his bedroom: KNUE - one of East Texas' largest country stations.


In between the sounds of the morning show, he was treated to country's biggest hits from the last 30 years, and slowly learned to love the words to every song and the twang of a steel guitar.


In the truck on the way to school, mixed CDs filled with rock and roll. Everything from AC/DC to ZZ Top came crashing through the speakers and rattled between his ears, down to his soul.




This mixture of rock and country eventually seeped right into his blood, and at the ripe young age of 20 years old, he helped found the band, Blacktop Mojo.


Something new has begun to emerge behind the scenes outside of the sludgy, heavy riffs of Blacktop, that hasn't forgotten rock and roll, but is a little closer to the twang that a young man heard in his bedroom every morning.


Matt James has just released a lyric video for his very first solo track, "Way Too Strong". The song can be streamed here.





(Photo courtesy of Ide Photography)


 

"We are very sad to break the news to you that both Richard (Tunbridge, bassist) and Steve (Kitchener, drummer) will be leaving Gallows Circus to focus on family and personal life," begins a statement from Ian Day, vocalist of the UK-based blues / rock band.


"There is absolutely no animosity and we support them fully in their decision! We will be truly sad to see them go as we have forged unforgettable memories together, played incredible stages and venues, and written songs we are immensely proud of. They will be truly missed.


Obviously this means some shows will be affected. So, unfortunately, we have had to pull out of Outlaw Weekend, and we will no longer be playing HRH Ibiza (though this one is actually due to a venue and date change that we’re unable to work around).




But if you want to catch Rich and Steve in action one last time, they will still be playing with us at The Penny Theatre Canterbury on May 19th, and also at Maid Of Stone Festival on July 22nd. So, let’s see them off with a bang!


As for the future of Gallows Circus, Oscar and I have been given the blessing of Steve and Rich to continue the band. We are very keen to carry on, so that’s what we intend to do.
We will keep working on songs for the album and be back on the scene once we have everything in order.


We thank you all so much for all the support you have all shown us over the years and we hope to see you all soon!"





Bassist Richard Tunbridge commented: "It’s with a heavy heart that I have to say I will be leaving Gallows Circus.


The times I've had with the guys on and off stage have been some of the finest of my life, seriously the best band mates and friends anyone could ask for!


We've been all over the country, played to empty rooms and big stages and it's been the most amazing experience.


I just want to thank every single person who's been to a show, organised gigs, bought some merch and or just had a chat or shared some kind words. It would be nothing without you and it's been incredibly special. You don't know how much your support helped when it got tough.


I want to wish the guys all the love and luck however they wish to continue, they have my 100% support. I'll be doing a few more gigs with the guys so I hope to see some of you out there!"


Drummer Steve Kitchener said: "To the greatest fans a band could ask for, 2023 will be the sixth year since founding Gallows Circus with Ian, and my 23rd year playing drums. You always look to the future and wonder how anything could possibly end, but alas, my time as a gigging musician is now coming to that end.


With the growing responsibilities of getting older, I no longer have the luxury of doing what I love, purely for the love. Financially, writing original music and playing live is more of a strain than most people think. Time is also a big factor - trying to balance a full-time job, working at home on the house, and then to lose a lot of weekends and evenings to rehearsals and gigs becomes harder to do - especially when starting a family is concerned!


So, this dilemma had left me with a horrible decision to make.


I've come to the conclusion that I can no longer carry on doing what I've done for so many years and I have to start thinking about myself and those close to me.


Nothing makes me more proud than seeing a Gallows Circus t-shirt out in the crowd or out in the street. Nothing makes me more proud than hearing our name broadcast on a radio station or printed in a magazine. But, above all, nothing makes me more proud than the knowledge that the music I created with GC has had such a positive affect on people's lives. I hope you can learn to forgive me for being selfish and I hope the GC community can be as loving and welcoming to future members, as they were to me.


I thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Your crazy-faced, curly-mopped, skin-basher - Steve."


Check out Gallows Circus performing "Hell's Whiskey" live on Lockdown TV in December 2020.





(Photograph courtesy of Jenny Bee)


 

Fan-filmed video of Marty Friedman's entire April 10 concert at the Irving Plaza in New York City can be seen below.

The former MEGADETH guitarist spent most of March and early April touring the U.S. as the support act for QUEENSRŸCHE.

Marty's run of shows with QUEENSRŸCHE wrapped on April 16 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Marty's latest album, "Tokyo Jukebox 3", came out in April 2021 via The Players Club/Mascot Label Group. The record, which was made available in Japan in October 2020, is the third in a series that began with "Tokyo Jukebox" in 2009, and then "Tokyo Jukebox 2" following in 2011. The trilogy presents Friedman's inspired performances to Japanese repertoire he's chosen to cover.

Marty's presence in the world of music, the world of guitar and Japanese pop culture is mystifying, bizarre, and nothing short of inspiring. His first major impact in music was in the game-changing guitar duo CACOPHONY, which he founded with equally enigmatic and now-legendary guitarist Jason Becker. He then spent 10 years as lead guitarist in the genre-defining thrash metal act MEGADETH before moving to Tokyo due to his love for Japanese music, language, and culture.

Following his move, he landed a starring role for a new TV comedy "Hebimeta-san" ("Mr. Heavy Metal") and its spinoff, "Rock Fujiyama", which ran for six seasons and propelled him into the living rooms of Japan's mainstream. He has since appeared in over 800 TV shows, movies and commercials, including a two-year campaign with Coca-Cola for Fanta, authored two best-selling novels and was the first-ever foreigner to be appointed as an ambassador of Japan heritage and perform at the opening ceremony for the Tokyo Marathon in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022.

At the same time, Marty has continued his career in music with several solo albums in addition to writing and performing with the top artists in Japanese music, racking up countless chart hits, including a No. 1 with SMAP, two No. 2 songs with MOMOIRO CLOVER, a No. 2 with SOUND HORIZON — just to name a few.

Florida death metal veterans OBITUARY have shared the official music video for the title track of their latest studio album, "Dying Of Everything". The clip was filmed by Natalie Wood, with additional filming by OBITUARY drummer Donald Tardy and Josh "BooBoo" Richardson and editing by Frank Huang (Max Volume Silence).

OBITUARY comments: "As we are working on the setlist, rehearsing the songs and gearing up for the U.S. tour, the band is proud to unveil the new music video for the title track. Filmed during the European tour, we love the fact that it is footage shot night after night in multiple cities and countries. This 'Dying Of Everything' music video is just the way we like it…live, raw and real."

"Dying Of Everything" came out on January 13 via Relapse Records.

Donald recently told Metal Wani about "Dying Of Everything": "Somehow magically all the stars lined up for us. We took a long time writing this record. We don't ever force ourselves into songs; we let the songs find us. But once we really got down to it and started writing and putting the songs together, we were excited right from the beginning. We were, like, 'Holy shit, man. We've got something going on here.' And then, of course, when we were done with the recording, the actual tracking of the songs, we sent it to our boy Joe Cincotta, and he's been our live engineer for 15 years, but he's also done the last three albums with OBITUARY at his studio up there in New York City, Full Force Studios. So, just perfect chemistry we've got going on right now. The band's on fire. I think we played our instruments well. We played clean on this record, which makes engineers' lives very easy. It was very easy, from what Joe said, to produce this album 'cause we handed him product that was heavy but clean and well performed. So [I'm] super, super stoked on this album."

Regarding OBITUARY's long-running working relationship with Cincotta, Donald told Invisible Oranges: "This is our fifth album that we've recorded at our studio, so we've learned a lot over the years. With this one, we knew that we had great songs. We had plenty of time to hone our skills on them and to make sure they were exactly what we want before I even hit record. Drum-wise, I knew everything I wanted. I knew every accent, cymbal punch, fills, small fills, little stops, endings of songs. I knew everything that I wanted. I just wanted to go in there and play it clean.

"When we handed the files over to Joe, we hired him because we trust him because he's a master at what he does," he explained. "All I asked him to do was… I'm proud of my snare drum sound. I love the sound of my drum kit. Just keep it as real as you possibly can and do your magic. I didn't want everything sound replaced. There's no reason to do that with OBITUARY. We play our instruments well, we play them clean, especially the drums. And I tried to keep it as real sounding as a drum kit can sound."

Last year, Decibel Books released "Turned Inside Out: The Official Story Of Obituary", the fully authorized biography of OBITUARY. The book was written by David E. Gehlke, author of "Damn The Machine: The Story Of Noise Records" and "No Celebration: The Official Story Of Paradise Lost".

British death metal legends Benediction have uploaded some live action from their first show in Costa Rica, which took place on April 15th, 2023. Enjoy "Scriptures In Scarlet".





"Scriptures In Scarlet" appears on Scriptures, the eighth studio album from Benediction, released in 2020 via Nuclear Blast.




Order the album in various formats here.





Tracklisting:


"Iterations Of I"
"Scriptures In Scarlet"
"The Crooked Man"
"Stormcrow"
"Progenitors Of A New Paradigm"
"Rabid Carnality"
"In Our Hands, The Scars"
"Tear Off These Wings"
"Embrace The Kill"
"Neverwhen"
"The Blight At The End"
"We Are Legion"


"Stormcrow" video:











 

Last month, producer Burt Sugarman announced the launch of his YouTube channel, The Midnight Special TV Show, celebrating the legendary late-night TV show that featured the biggest names in music, comedy and entertainment from the '70s and early '80s.


Today, The Midnight Special has shared video footage of KISS performing their song "She", which was released in 1975 on the band's third studio album, Dressed To Kill.







From musical legends like Tina Turner, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, KISS, Elton John, The Beach Boys, The Bee Gees, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, and Loretta Lynn to comedians like Steve Martin, Billy Crystal, Richard Pryor and George Carlin, The Midnight Special showcased many of the industry’s biggest artists between 1972 and 1981.


This YouTube release of The Midnight Special will allow fans to rediscover the magic of the show, while introducing a new generation to the incredible performances that took place live on its stage. With over 400 episodes produced over a decade, the original pilot, and dozens of performances will be available to stream for the first time in nearly 50 years.


"The Midnight Special was a groundbreaking and revolutionary show that pushed the boundaries of what was possible on television as not one broadcaster had programming available after 1:00 AM back then," said Burt Sugarman, the show's creator. "I insisted on live performances in front of an audience, there was no lip syncing. I'm thrilled that it will be available for all fans, as well as a new generation of viewers who may not be familiar with the show. Audiences can enjoy hours of classic performances and interviews from the biggest stars of that era.”


The Midnight Special is available to stream on YouTube by subscribing to the channel, here.


 

Hannah Cutt explains, "I wrote 'Happy In Hell' as I was coming to terms with my depression. I’m bipolar 1 and I’ve only had a few manic episodes so I've spent a lot of my time depressed. For me it causes more pain trying to get myself out of it, so it isn’t about having a good perspective or looking at bad scenarios in a good light. It’s about being in a Hell in your mind and being fine with never seeing Heaven."


"Happy In Hell" is the first single being released from the upcoming EP Misery In Heaven, which will be released later this year.







"Misery In Heaven is very dark. It has very catchy big fun choruses, which is what I love, but the subject matter is not so fun," explains Hannah Cutt. "I’m bipolar and it has taken me to places mentally that I would only wish upon my worst enemy. A world that is grey, tired, empty and has an eeriness that is hard to describe."


"I used to tell my father that the world felt evil and everything physically looked flat and one dimensional as if everything was written on a graph. It’s crazy because when you are manic it is the opposite. Photos and TV look 3D. The EP’s title, Misery In Heaven, sums up what life is like after a manic episode. I have a dream life but a nightmare of a brain," says Hannah Cutt.


For further details, visit Hannah Cutt on Facebook.





 

In a new interview with the METALLICA fan-club magazine So What!, guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield spoke about the lyrical inspiration for the band's eleventh studio album, "72 Seasons", the title of which refers to the first 18 years of our lives that form our true or false selves. Asked how much of the "72 Seasons" concept was informed lyrically by his life as a child and how much of it was informed by his life as the parent of children, James said: "Well, '72 seasons' as a concept, that's been digested from somewhere else. Meaning it was a concept — it was the '72 seasons of sorrow,' and I dropped the 'sorrow' part off because the first 18 years of life aren't all sorrow. And we tend to just focus on that in our adult life, like, 'I need to fix all the shit that was wrong when I was a kid.' There was great stuff as well, so 72 seasons, everyone's got their version of what their 72 seasons were and what they mean to them now.

"Having kids definitely helps you understand your childhood and what your parents went through. More the latter. You know, me being a parent, like, 'Come on, guys, give me a break. I'm just a human.' But when you're a kid, you look up to your parents as gods. They can do no wrong, and whatever they say is what's supposed to be. Then, when you get older, you go, 'Man, I'm sorry I put you guys up on a pedestal, made you gods, and blamed you for this and that, or wished differently, but you were just humans too. You were doing your best, and you were working with the tools of your parents.' It goes back generationally, and as a parent, really, what I want to do is maybe do it a little better than my parents did. That's really what I want to ask of myself. There's an inheritance of whatever they brought… you inherit some of those things. There're some I need to work on, there're some I need to completely forget, and there're some I need to find. Everyone's had a childhood. Most people I've met have had a childhood. Whether it's good or bad, we can decide later on in life. You can't change your childhood, but you can change your concept of it and what it means to you now."

When interviewer Steffan Chirazi noted that the "72 Seasons" lyrics are just a further extension of James getting his dark side out, Hetfield said: "Well, it's interesting to contemplate, you know. 'Am I who I am just because of all that? Can I change? Can I not change? Am I capable of changing? Is this just ingrained, is it in the stars? I read my astrology thing for today, and this is just how it is?' I don't know. Nobody knows, and I certainly don't, either. I know the parts of me that I'd like to change take work, and it's hard work. But I've got awareness of it, and if there's some things I can't change, that's really not up to me as well. But the 'blame' part, blaming my parents for all of this and that and whatnot, it's got to stop. Because I have the capacity to make my own choices now. There's a lot of psychology in this, and I can overthink all of it, but at the end of the day, is it these 72 seasons that form your true or false identity? Am I able to change or not? That's a lifelong question."

James also talked about the "72 Seasons" visuals and the use of the yellow color in the entire packaging and aesthetic. He said: "Yellow, for me, is light. It is light. It's a source of goodness. So against the black, it really pops. It is light."

He continued: "My vision was I wanted this album [to be] called 'Lux Æterna' [which is also the title of the first single from the LP] because that summed up all the songs for me, kind of an eternal light that was always inside of us that maybe is just now coming out. And I was outvoted, which is great. '72 Seasons' is definitely more chewable. You get to figure out what it is. You get to dig into it and chew on it a little more. But that color came out of 'Lux Æterna'."

"72 Seasons" will be released April 14 via METALLICA's own Blackened Recordings. Produced by Greg Fidelman with Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and clocking in at over 77 minutes, the 12-track "72 Seasons" is METALLICA's first full-length collection of new material since 2016's "Hardwired…To Self-Destruct". The album will be released in formats, including 2LP 140g black vinyl and limited-edition variants, CD and digital.

METALLICA and Trafalgar Releasing will hold a worldwide "72 Seasons" listening party. For one night only on Thursday, April 13, "72 Seasons" will be played in full in surround sound, exclusively for cinema audiences worldwide — with every one of the new songs featuring its own music video and exclusive commentary from the band.

The "72 Seasons" global premiere sees METALLICA and Trafalgar joining forces once more, having previously worked together on the October 2019 worldwide cinematic release of "S&M²", which documented METALLICA and San Francisco Symphony reuniting to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their original "S&M" (Symphony & Metallica) concerts and releases.

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".

Photo credit: Tim Saccenti

DEF LEPPARD's Rick Allen is " still recovering", more than a month after the drummer was attacked outside a Florida hotel.

Allen, who was in South Florida to perform a show with his DEF LEPPARD bandmates at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, was attacked on March 13 while taking a smoke break outside the Four Seasons hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach.

A 19-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident, but no motive was given for the attack.

Police say the suspect, who was initially hiding behind a pole, ran toward Allen at full speed, striking him and knocking him backward and slamming his head on the ground and "causing injury."

The suspect, who is facing a charge of abuse to an elderly or disabled adult without great harm, was arrested that same day and has since bonded out of jail, records show.

Earlier today, Allen took to his social media to share a new photo of himself, and he included the following message: "Thank you all so very much for all of your love and support over the last month. I am still recovering and getting my mind and body ready for the upcoming DEF LEPPARD tour. Just wanted to say hi and let you know, There Will Be Rock!"

Rick's DEF LEPPARD bandmate, guitarist Vivian Campbell, addressed the assault during an appearance on the March 31 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". Describing Allen's assailant as "some kid on spring break who couldn't hold his beer or his drugs or whatever," Vivian added that "Rick will be fine. He's been through a lot worse, obviously. He's a resilient human being. He will absolutely be okay."

A few days after the incident, the 59-year-old Allen, who lost his left arm in a car accident back in 1984, took to his social media to say that he was thankful for all the support he had received from his fans. He also expressed his relief relieved his wife, Lauren, wasn't with him when the incident occurred, and he revealed that they were "working on recovering in a safe space."

Fort Lauderdale police later released 911 calls that led to the arrest of a man in connection with the Allen assault. In the first 911 call released by Fort Lauderdale police, a woman working security for the Four Seasons called around three minutes after the alleged attack.

"Apparently a guest, some guy assaulted her and was actually beating her up in front of the front of our building," the woman told 911, adding that the female victim was in the lobby of the hotel but the suspect had fled. She didn't mention Allen.

Another caller who said the suspect was trying to break into his restaurant — the Wine Garden, which is near the Four Seasons — told 911, "Send the police here right now!…I'm sitting on a fucking suspect."

Another man on the same call explained, "I was sitting out front. This guy, I caught him throwing chairs inside our establishment and then he ran."

He said the suspect was trying to break the restaurant's window, and they chased him and caught him.

A third caller from the nearby Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach Hilton said: "I have an individual who has been running around breaking windows and has beat up a couple of guests at the Four Seasons, as well." He added the suspect was allegedly "very highly intoxicated."

The police report, which was obtained by TMZ, says a woman came out of the hotel to try to help Allen, but the suspect also knocked her to the ground.

The report said: "While she is on the ground, the defendant continues to batter her by striking her. [She] attempts to escape by running into the hotel. The defendant then grabs [her] by her hair and drags her out of the lobby and back onto the sidewalk before fleeing the area."

The suspect declined to comment when approached by Miami's 7 News WSVN and was asked, 'Are you a DEF LEPPARD fan?"

Allen provided a sworn statement to police and told them that he wanted the suspect to be prosecuted.

Thank you all so very much for all of your love and support over the last month. I am still recovering and getting my...

Posted by Rick Allen on Friday, April 21, 2023

LEFT TO DIE, the new band featuring classic DEATH members Terry Butler (also formerly of MASSACRE and currently in OBITUARY) and Rick Rozz (ex-MASSACRE) paired with GRUESOME founders Matt Harvey (EXHUMED) and Gus Rios (ex-MALEVOLENT CREATION),recently completed its European tour. LEFT TO DIE performs DEATH's classic "Leprosy" album in its entirety, along with cuts from "Scream Bloody Gore".

Asked in a new interview with Germany's Moshpit Passion, how he and Rick approach LEFT TO DIE without making it appear like a "cash grab", Terry said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We approach it like Rick wrote quite a bit of material on 'Leprosy'. Rick was around in the demo days, and a lot of those riffs are also on [DEATH's debut album] 'Scream Bloody Gore'. Rick and I joined DEATH right as 'Scream Bloody Gore' came out, so we have history with that album.

"We're approaching this as a band," Terry explained. "We're eventually going to put out some new music; that's our gameplan. When we find time, put some riffs together, write some stuff, put an album out. So we are approaching this as a band. We're honoring the album 'Leprosy' and [late DEATH mastermind] Chuck [Schuldiner] by doing these handful of tours right now. Down the road, we foresee a future where we have new material, we're playing 75 percent of our new album and throwing in five or six DEATH tunes on top of it, kind of thing. So we don't look at it one hundred percent as a tribute band. We're looking at it as a band with some former members that have a lot of history in that band and have written songs in that band. It's not like we're doing a DARK FUNERAL tribute band. We're doing DEATH songs by people who actually wrote those songs. So that's how we approach it."

With regard to LEFT TO DIE's plans for original material, Rick said: "Like Terry said, we're definitely looking to record new music. Everybody has some riffs, and when we have the time, as a band, to put 'em together, we will most likely do that. Gus and I will probably end up doing some jamming while Terry and Matt are gone on tour, coming up in the next few months, and try to put a couple of things together and present it to the two of them and see what they think about it. And then, slowly but surely… We're not gonna rush. If it's meant to be, it'll come together. And it'll definitely be kickass. But we'll see what happens. But we're definitely looking forward to doing that, yes."

Added Terry: "And musically, obviously, it's gonna be in the same vein. It's not gonna sound like TRIVIUM or GOJIRA. It's gonna be 'Scream', 'Leprosy', [MASSACRE's] 'From Beyond', kind of all of that thrown into a blender, and there you go… It's good stuff. So why not have more of it?"

LEFT TO DIE completed its first U.S. tour in July 2022.

Butler previously stated about how LEFT TO DIE came together: "After the recent Chuck tribute shows that Matt, Gus, and myself did, Rick posed the question, 'Would anyone want to see some 'Leprosy' shows?' With a resounding 'yes!', the masses had spoken. Matt and Gus threw their hats in immediately and, in my opinion, they were the only real choice to bring this thing to life."

Harvey and Rios were both very excited about the project coming together. Harvey reflected: "When Gus and I started GRUESOME as a DEATH tribute, we never thought that it would lead to us playing some of our favorite songs alongside the guys that recorded them, but here we are — and I couldn't be more stoked." Rios added: "When Rick contacted me about his idea, I was immediately on board, since 'Leprosy' is not only my favorite DEATH album, but my favorite death metal album of all time! I'm very grateful and stoked that Terry and Matt were also on board."

LEFT TO DIE is:

Terry Butler - bass guitar
Rick Rozz - guitar
Matt Harvey - guitar, vocals
Gus Rios - drums

On December 11-12, 2021, several former DEATH members — including Butler — played two shows commemorating the 20th anniversary of the passing of the band's mastermind Chuck Schuldiner at Brass Mug in Tampa, Florida. Butler, James Murphy (guitar),Harvey and Rios performed DEATH's classic third album, "Spiritual Healing" (1990),in its entirety under the LIVING MONSTROSITY banner, while Steve DiGiorgio (bass),Bobby Koelble (guitar) and Kelly Conlon (bass) joined forces as SYMBOLIC to play songs from "Human" (1991),"Individual Thought Patterns" (1993),"Symbolic" (1995) and "The Sound Of Perseverance" (1998

Schuldiner died on December 13, 2001 after a battle with pontine glioma, a rare type of brain tumor.

In recent years, DEATH's storied catalog has undergone a meticulous reissue campaign via Relapse Records.

Relapse released the first-ever fully authorized DEATH tab book, featuring 21 classic songs tabbed out for guitar from the band's entire discography. The book, which includes traditional notation as well as tablature, also comes with a digital download of all tracks.

In a recent interview with Grammy.com's "Herbal Tea & White Sofas", former HIM frontman Ville Valo was asked about some of his "tour essentials," especially when it comes to performing live. He said: "I think right before you go on stage, at least in my case, it's very important to be nervous and it's very important to have the butterflies going. And if they're not there, I think the gig won't be a success. 'Cause the best rock gigs are the ones that when you walk onstage you just forget all about everything. And the best gigs usually are the ones that you don't remember anything of. That's when you’ve been lost in the music and one with the crowd. That's a special feeling. But it's easier said and done."

Valo played his first solo concert in the U.S. under the VV banner on March 31 at TLA (Theatre For The Living Arts) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Joining Ville on stage as part of his backing band are Mikko Virta on guitar, Risto Rikala on drums, Sampo Sundström on guitar and Juho Vehmanen on bass.

VV's debut album, "Neon Noir", was made available on January 13 via Heartagram Records, distributed by UMG/Spinefarm.

In April 2022, Valo released the first single from "Neon Noir", a song called "Loveletting", which marked his first new music in over two years, following the release of the three-track "Gothica Fennica Vol. 1" EP, also released under the VV banner, in March 2020.

Like "Neon Noir", "Gothica Fennica Vol. 1" bore a strong musical resemblance to HIM and featured the tracks "Salute The Sanguine", "Run Away From The Sun" and "Saturnine Saturnalia".

Regarding the musical direction of "Neon Noir", Ville told Metal Hammer: "The new stuff definitely does sound like HIM. But I did write most of the songs, so… I'm to blame for that. It's a continuous journey from HIM for me. A lot of people when they move on to solo projects want to distance themselves from the past, burn bridges and start their solo career. It's different for me. VV is me building a bridge between HIM and the future. That's what 'Neon Noir' is."

HIM completed a farewell tour in 2017, closing the final chapter on the band's 26-year career. At the time, Ville explained to Kerrang! magazine why the band decided to call it a day. "We were tired of the same shit," he said. "When you've done it for a long time, at some point it doesn't taste good anymore. We started working on some stuff, it didn't sound good enough, and we didn't get the teenage buzz you're supposed get."

Formed in 1991 by Valo, guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström and bassist Mikko "Migé" Paananen, HIM offered the world a new take on the metal genre, which became known as "love metal" (also the title of their fourth album).

HIM in 2015 parted ways with its longtime drummer, Mika Kristian Karppinen (a.k.a. Gas Lipstick),and replaced him with Jukka "Kosmo" Kröger (formerly of HERRA YLPPÖ & IHMISET).

Four years ago, Valo teamed up with guitar legend Esa Pulliainen to record an album based on songs by the late, legendary Finnish singer Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki. The self-titled album by VILLE VALO & AGENTS was released in February 2019 and was followed by a short tour.

Norwegian extreme metal band :Bolverk: is thrilled to announce the release of their second album, Svarte Sekunder, set to be unleashed on May 26, 2023, through Wormholedeath. Following the success of their debut album, Uaar, released just a year ago, Svarte Sekunder is a highly anticipated release that promises to take listeners on an unforgettable musical journey.


Described as "sad and melodic as Solstafir in one end and as brutal as Marduk in the other," :Bolverk:'s music is sure to strike a chord with metalheads worldwide. Svarte Sekunder features nine tracks, including eight :Bolverk: originals and a stunning cover of Jonas Fjeld's "The Bells are Ringing For You Now." The album is a true testament to the band's growth and maturity, as most of the material was written during the same period as their debut album.


The album's title, Svarte Sekunder, which means "black seconds" in English, was initially about those moments when one falls over and thinks they are dead. However, it evolved into exploring the concept of thanatosis and how people and animals play dead. and it may even be about those seconds on the album that are actual Black Metal.




According to the band: "The title has spun away from us now and lives a life on its own. Anyway, let’s hope you are ready for another dose of Extreme Norwegian metal. We are very happy with how the album turned out…let’s hope you are, too…"


The album's cover painting was created by Norwegian artist Kenneth Lien, and the tracklist is as follows:





"Beastly Ways of Man"
"Jericho Trumpet"
"Banner of Ophidia"
"Mett av Dage"
"Somber Soliloquy"
"Belphegor’s Hymn"
"Svarte Sekunder"
"Obsidian Byzantium" (Bonus track)
"The Bells Are Ringing For You Now" (Bonus track)

Death metal trailblazers, The Agonist, have checked in with a message for their European fans. Read below...





The Agonist released their Days Before The World Wept EP on October 15, 2021 via Napalm Records. Inspired by real life experiences, Days Before The World Wept explores a grim, conceptual tale of greed, gluttony, confusion, pain, redemption and hope enveloped in a new level of aggression and cohesive, technical prowess. Following up to their single, “Remnants In Time”, and its haunting music video, The Agonist reveal the EP's second single, "Feast On The Living" and another killer video. The certified burner stands tall with rollercoaster clean and gritty vocals, rapid fire drums and needle-sharp guitar leads and solos, cementing the track as one of the most technically meticulous of the band’s career and a forewarning of the band’s more extreme leanings. Frontwoman Vicky Psarakis says about the track and video: "Everything that could possibly go wrong with this video shoot, well... did, haha. We had a very difficult time finding the right location, so our vision kept changing. Days before the shoot was scheduled to take place we managed to secure the perfect spot and experimenting with all sorts of cool lighting is what took it to the next level! Musically, 'Feast On The Living' is a much more straightforward metal track. You're 4 songs into the EP, at this point you know exactly what you're going to be served and you're loving it."







Produced by Christian Donaldson (Beyond Creation, Cryptopsy, Despised Icon), Days Before The World Wept packs several albums worth of skill, songwriting prowess and melancholic lyrical mastery into just five tracks – leaving no stone unturned.


Opening track “Remnants In Time” begins ominously with ghostly piano lines performed by lead vocalist Vicky Psarakis before slamming into a double bass, one-woman choir explosion rife with needle-precision guitar work by deft guitarists Danny Marino and Pascal Jobin. The death metal burner brings non-stop energy throughout, showcasing Psarakis’ multifaceted vocal attack as she nails searing highs, guttural lows and magical clean passages in one fell swoop. The onslaught continues with the rhythmic soundscapes of cry for salvation “Immaculate Deception”, blending fast paced, aggressive verses with haunting, melodic choruses. “Resurrection” reaches into blackened territory before Psarakis splits it wide open – annihilating with her pinpointed vocal attack calling for rebirth. In addition to Psarakis, Marino and Jobin, dexterous drums from Simon McKay and the bass attack of Chris Kells lead the listener through metallic melodic passages topped with emotive poetry before breaking into the next track, “Feast On The Living”. It stands tall with rollercoaster clean and gritty vocals, rapid fire drums and blazingly precise guitar leads and solos, cementing the track as one of the most technically meticulous of the entire offering. Shifting into fifth gear, title track “Days Before The World Wept” brings it all home, beginning with a beckoning acoustic introduction before roaring in with intense blastbeats, polyrhythms and bellowing screams. The Agonist pulls out all the stops, showcasing their chops in all directions with breakneck instrumentation and staggeringly superb vocal approaches. Soaring through a kaleidoscope of blistering metal mastery and hopeful lyrical dramatism, the opus dominates as one of the most impressive works of the band’s catalog.


Psarakis adds about Days Before The World Wept: “There's a lot I could say about this EP and its importance to the band, but does it matter? Obviously, this is the part where I tell you these are the best songs we've put out to date. Honestly - it's a journey. You're either gonna reach the end and want to relive it or you're not... and that's okay. Let the music speak for itself.”


Days Before The World Wept is available in the following formats:


- CD Jewelcase
- 1LP Gatefold Black
- Digital Album


Order here.





Tracklisting:


"Remnants In Time"
"Immaculate Deception"
"Resurrection"
"Feast On The Living"
"Days Before The World Wept"


"Remnants In Time" video:





The Agonist lineup:


Vicky Psarakis -Vocals / Piano
Danny Marino - Guitar
Pascal Jobin - Guitar
Chris Kells - Bass
Simon McKay - Drums


(Photo - Eric Sanchez)

In celebration of Record Store Day (April 22nd), the special re-release of Mr. Big's iconic self-titled debut album is now available. It has received the re-mastered treatment for the ultimate listening experience across multiple products. The previously unreleased track, "Want To Be Wanted," produced by Kevin Elson is included together with other special bonus tracks.


Check out "Want To Be Wanted" below. Go to this location to order the debut album re-issue.







Tracklist:


"Addicted to That Rush"
"Wind Me Up"
"Merciless"
"Had Enough"
"Blame It on My Youth"
"Take a Walk"
"Big Love"
"How Can You Do What You Do"
"Anything for You"
"Rock & Roll Over"
"30 Days in the Hole" (Live)
"Next Time Around"
"Want to Be Wanted"





Mr. Big is putting on their signature top hats and old shoes one last time for a worldwide tour, aptly titled The BIG Finish. Since the band’s original drummer and co-founder, Pat Torpey, lost his battle with Parkinson’s disease in 2018, the band now feels it’s time to mark the end of this chapter of their legacy.


The first leg will take the band to Japan and Southeast Asia in July and August, while shows in South America, Europe, and the US will launch in early 2024 and will be announced soon.


“We wanted to do a proper farewell, and this seems like the right way to do it,” asserts bassist/vocalist Billy Sheehan. Notes guitarist/vocalist Paul Gilbert, “We’re in the process of making sure we come up with a suitably big entertainment extravaganza to go along with our music. And since our music has resonated so wonderfully in places all over the world, we’re going to play in as many of those places as we can.” Submits lead vocalist Eric Martin, “If we were in the movie business, we’d just put it all up in lights and say, ‘Welcome to The BIG Finish!’ Seriously, I’m glad we’re getting a chance to do it all onstage together as Mr. Big again and raise a flag to everything we’ve done as a band over the years.”


After 35 years of being addicted to that perpetually electrifying performance rush, the band feels it’s finally time to collectively hang up their top hats and shoes after coming together for one final, extended curtain call — a curtain call that will take them on an all-out world tour commencing in 2023 that will go for as long as, well, as long as Mr. Big fans demand it.


Joining Mr. Big on drums for this special final world tour will be longtime friend of the band Nick D’Virgilio (Spock’s Beard, Big Big Train), stepping in for founding drummer/vocalist Pat Torpey, who sadly passed away in 2018 following his heroic battle with Parkinson’s disease. “We found a wonderful drummer in Nick, and he’s got a great voice too,” confirms Sheehan. “Nick has a vocal range similar to Pat’s, and he’ll be able to do the parts Pat did with a similar finesse. It’s a big relief because Mr. Big has always been heavy on the harmonies. When the band began, we really relied on each other. We knew each guy would do exactly what he needed to do vocally and to do it righteously, on key, and in time. It’s difficult to find a drummer who sings in that range, but Nick has the voice we really need onstage.”


Concurs Gilbert, “Nick gets close to the spirit of Pat Torpey. Billy, Eric, and I have been really happy with the music we’ve already shared back and forth. I’m impressed with Nick’s level of musical adaptability and breadth of skill. He and I have done some recording together, and I was blown away with his groove, and how he just played what fit the song. If the song requires him to be more progressive and stand out, he will stand out. But if the song requires him to groove, he will groove. That’s actually a rare thing, and it really fits in with what we do in Mr. Big.” “I love the fact that Nick was a fan of Pat Torpey and wants to keep our BIG sound intact,” says Eric. “When I first saw his audition demo video of the Lean Into It song ‘Lucky This Time,’ Nick was playing drums with those signature Pat snare hits and singing harmonies spot on to what Pat used to do. It gave me goosebumps!! I am so thrilled to have this man who will be filling some mighty BIG shoes join us on our last tour.”


One particular aspect of this upcoming final run that Mr. Big are excited about to a man is the decision to perform the entirety of their breakthrough Platinum-selling 1991 album Lean Into It from start to finish as a featured highlight of the live setlist. (To be sure, the full setlist will encompass Mr. Big’s entire career.) Fact is, Lean Into It is the perfect litmus testament to the band’s inherent dexterity at blending a variety of styles together, whether it’s the heady rocking brew of “Green-Tinted Sixties Mind,” the power-drilled and power-chorded identity checklist “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy,” or the truly heartfelt sentiments found within “To Be With You,” Mr. Big’s chart-topping, worldwide #1 smash hit single.


For his part, Martin the songwriter remains eternally grateful for the never-ending success of “To Be With You,” but the essence of Mr. Big goes much, much deeper than that. “That song helped put the stamps in our passports,” Martin allows, “but we really nailed it on Lean Into It. I’m still in awe of how Billy and Paul play on that album, because they’re such brilliant players. I used to call them the dynamic duo. And Pat Torpey was an underrated drummer, in my opinion. I mean, just listen to his tone! Lean Into It is totally indicative of who we are as a band.”


Explains Sheehan, “Lean Into It was put together much like a movie, with an opening scene that lets us get into the dialogue and find out what the story is. And then you get the love scene, the car chase, and the punchline ending. I think it’s a perfectly sequenced album.” Observes Gilbert, “Some people thought we had brought in professional background singers to do all those harmonies on Lean Into It, but no, it’s really us. We always felt like we had something to prove whenever we went on the road and did all that singing ourselves, just to show everyone that we really could do it.”


Just like the consummate performers they are, Mr. Big still want to reach into your dreams. “I hope the people who come see our shows get to feel what it’s like when musicians get together and really play and sing the songs they wrote,” offers Sheehan. “We want the audience to be one with us, and feel our evening together was a magical and beautiful event.” Theorizes Gilbert, “Music is like time travel. You can hear something that takes you right back to 1992, and it reminds you exactly of what was happening back then. On this tour, I want to give people the opportunity to time travel like that and go, ‘These guys are on fire!’ Good music is timeless.”


Concludes Martin, “I love playing with these guys. And if I’m being honest, I don’t want it to ever end. I’m the guy who just knows we still have that special spark together, and I always want to keep the torch burning. But if it really is the end, then I want us all to have a happy ending together. We’re a great live band. I want everybody to come out and see us, because we want to blow you away and have you all think as you’re leaving, ‘Mr. Big really is the real thing.’”


Indeed, when it comes to harnessing the real thing that best represents the unyielding power of rock & roll, Mr. Big have truly got what it takes. Make sure to catch them before they bring down that final curtain, because when it’s through, it’s through. Mr. Big really do want to be with you at least one more time, and they’d be more than honored to see you, one and all, somewhere around the world.





Tour dates:


July
20 - Nagoya, Japan - Nagoya Shimin Kaikan
22 - Osaka, Japan - Osaka Maruzen Intec Arena
25 - Tokyo, Japan - Budokan
29 - Seoul, Korea - Yes24 Live Hall
31 - Hong Kong, China - Southorn Stadium


August
2 - Taiwan - Zepp New Taipei
4 - Singapore - Marina Bay Sands Theater
5 - Singapore - Marina Bay Sands Theater
7 - Bangkok, Thailand - Show DC Hall
9 - Manila, Philippines - Skydome
12 - Kemayoran, Jakarta - The 90's Festival

Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared his weekly solo cover song and video, this time performing the ABBA hit "The Winner Takes It All", taken from the album Super Trouper, released in 1980.





Check out some of Johansson's previous covers below.




"St. Elmo's Fire" - John Parr





"Headless Cross" - Black Sabbath





"You're The Voice" - John Farnham





"Out In The Fields" - Gary Moore





"The Phantom Of The Opera" - Andrew Lloyd Webber

Signing with world-renowned guitar god label Shrapnel Records in 1992 at the unheard of age of 19, Toby Knapp continues to have a productive & prolific career in rock and heavy metal.


Recording albums with 20+ of his own bands including Onward, Toby Knapp, Waxen, Where Evil Follows, Necrytis, Affliktor & Darken, Mr. Knapp is also a full time guitar teacher. A session studio and live musician for many world class national artists including Attila Csihar (Mayhem), Godless Rising, Fetid Zombie, Abhor & more, Toby Knapp has solidified his position as an all-around world-wide guitar Hero, Virtuoso and International Legend!
   
Waxen delivers skillfully played blackened thrash metal with strong true metal leanings and the undercurrent of black metal, drenched in Toby Knapp’s trademark neo-classical shred-mastery!
      
Waxen’s debut album, Fumaroth, was released in 2006. Joining the Moribund Family in 2014 Waxen swiftly released a tetrarchy of internationally acclaimed black / thrash metal albums with Agios Holokauston (2014), Weihung Auf Satan (2016), Terror Decree (2018), and  Blasphemer in Celestial Courts (2019). These albums redefined technical black / thrash metal and credit Knapp with the invention an entirely new sub-genre: “Shred-Black Metal”!


Die Macht Von Hassen (German for The Power of Hate), Waxen’s 6th album, is loaded with traditional thrash metal riffing that turns into black metal shredding, then sways towards a neo-classical heavy metal solo or segments of brutal death metal tremolo. Toby Knapp’s innovative and eclectic style and talent for writing real songs surpasses and sets him apart from all other shredders!




Die Macht Von Hassen is Knapp’s personal response to a Black Metal scene which has been diluted and distilled for far too long into something unrecognizable by its creators, founders and followers. A comprehensive tome of ceremonial magic put forth to re-instill the vigor, vinegar and vitriol of days of old. Days when black and thrash metal, were about creating hateful art aimed against the world’s major religions and contempt towards humanity as a whole, instead of being socially correct. 


The album will be released on June 9th.





Tracklist:


"Die Macht Von Hassen"
"God of All Endings"
"Those Reviled"
"Your Kingdom Will Bleed
"Holocaust Light"


"Those Reviled"

Finnish rockers Ode In Black will be releasing their sophomore album Into The Dark later this year via Rockshots Records.


Today, the band is excited to share "Until We Fall", the first single off the record.







The band adds:


"This one was written pretty late in the game, but we always knew it would be the first single. The first version was more the early 2000s riff-oriented, but we hired a renowned producer to do some pre-production, to make it sound heavier. He was from Germany, where heavy pretty much equals Rammstein, so the song got a kind of Rammstein make-over. We had to draw the line in singing in German, since I guess none of us speak German very well, let alone sing in German. Is it even possible, or do they just angrily shout out words like orders? Anyway, the solos were dropped and the song structure was stripped to its bare bones. The result isn’t half bad; the song is heavy and very straightforward. It feels like a massive post-apocalyptic nuclear train that keeps on going full blast from the beginning until it suddenly hits a mountain and reaches its inevitable end.


“I guess the song is about how everything eventually goes to shit, or if not, at least you die. In the end, we’re all dying alone anyway, unless you decide to take all your enemies with you, but maybe that’ll be a different song… In a way, life is just a prelude to death, an extended foreplay of sorts. The song also takes on the duality of man; there are no white or black hats, and nobody’s really a saint or pure evil. It’s all just different shades of gray, and as life goes on, the gray parts slowly start to turn darker. But just like life, the song has got its headbanging moments."


Ode In Black is a rock band from Kuopio, Finland. The band consists of Pasi Mäenpää (vocals), Iiro Saarinen (guitars and backing vocals), Juhani Saarinen (guitars), Ville Puustinen (bass), and Taisto Ristivirta (drums). The band has been in its current line-up since 2015. Ode In Black relies on tight playing, gritty riffs, and catchy choruses. At times, their music may display influences from Finnish melancholic metal, while at other times, they pay homage to ‘80 glam rock.


After releasing their first EP Goodbye in 2014, the band spent the next years touring all over Finland and spreading the word of their melancholic metal. In 2017 the band began working on their first full-length album. In the summer of 2017 the band released two singles “The Sea In Which We Drown” and “The Lone Wolf”. 2018 blasted off with the band’s debut full-length album Seeds Of Chaos.


During the Covid years, the band has evolved heavier and darker than before. Their follow-up album Into The Dark will be released later in 2023.


"Compared to our debut album Seeds Of Chaos this one’s a bit more mature & polished. The songs sound bigger, better, and maybe also a bit heavier. At least that was one of our goals. It’s a step into something new for sure. There are more electronic elements and the songs are way more simple than before due to having done pre-production with an outside producer. But in the end, the songs are written by us and do sound like Ode In Black. I guess it’s growth, or it might be some kind of a tumor, who knows. There’s also a plethora of faster songs than on Seeds Of Chaos. It happened organically; playing the Seeds Of Chaos songs live, we felt that we needed some faster material to cause some serious neck injuries to the crowd. In a way the album’s a step into the dark for us, hence the album title Into The Dark," adds the band.

UNESCO “Artist of Peace” designees The Hu have become a global sensation with their groundbreaking blend of traditional Mongolian throat singing and native instrumentation with modern western rock which they describe as “hunnu rock.” Their namesake, “Hu,” corresponds to the root of the word “human being” in Mongolian and represents their commitment to spread awareness for cultural diversity, respect for nature and equality for humankind throughout their music. To celebrate World Earth Day (April 22), The Hu have announced plans to plant 12,000 Siberian Elm trees in the desert-barren area of Southeastern Mongolia in the shape of their logo--a one-horned leopard, based off an ancient symbol used by the Hun tribes. 


The LandArt campaign is in partnership with the environmental institution, SHAMBALE2056 Engineering Campus, LLC, which has been relentlessly working in the area on several restoration projects and eco-friendly irrigation and energy systems.   The trees being planted are Siberian Elms due to their strong root system and low water requirements which will help fight the rapid deforestation of the Gobi because of sandstorms and climate change. Digging efforts will begin in May and The Hu will offer fans the opportunity to purchase a tree to help fund the cause, details of which will be announced in the coming weeks.


To further commemorate World Earth Day, The Hu have shared the English-translated lyric video for their environment-focused single “Mother Nature,” taken from the forthcoming deluxe version of their 2022 album Rumble Of Thunder due June 30 via Better Noise Music. 







“Everyone in this world belongs to a mother and this song narrates the similarities between one’s relationship with their mother and the connection between humans and the Earth,” describes The Hu. “In a way, Earth is another mother that bore us to this world. In Mongolia, mothers are highly regarded and respected and we believe that even after death, their soul protects their child as their love is limitless.”





To date, The Hu have amassed over 329 million combined streams across digital platforms, 290 million video views, two Top 5 Mainstream Rock charting radio singles, sold-out worldwide headlining tours and appearances at the world’s biggest music festivals (Download, Coachella, Lollapalooza). For the Rumble Of Thunder: Deluxe Album, which is currently on preorder, the band will add four acoustic renditions and three newly recorded singles featuring guest appearances and English vocals from some of the genre’s top acts including William DuVall (Alice In Chains), Serj Tankian (System Of A Down), LP and DL (Bad Wolves). Preorder now digitally or physically on CD and vinyl at this location.


Catch The Hu on tour this summer across the UK & Europe including festival appearances at Glastonbury, Download and Hellfest followed by a jaunt to North America in the fall for Louder Than Life and Aftershock.


Dates:


June
7 - Nickelsdorf, Austria – Nova Rock
8 - Interlaken, Switzerland - Greenfield Festival
10 - Southampton, UK – Southampton Guildhall
11 - Donington, UK – Download Festival
13 - Liverpool, UK – O2 Academy Liverpool
14 - Bristol, UK – O2 Academy Bristol
16 - Landgraaf, Netherlands – Pinkpop 2023
17 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
20 - Lille, France – L’Aeronef
21 - Norwich, UK – University of East Anglia
22 - Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy Glasgow
23 - Newcastle, UK – NX Newcastle
27 - Frankfurt, Germany – Batschkapp
28 - Strasbourg, France – La Laiterie Artefact
30 - Werchter, Belgium - Rock Werchter 2023


July
2 - Helsinki, Finland – Festival Helsinki
4 - Hamburg, Germany – Grosse Freiheit 26
5 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg - Rockhal
6 - Aix-les-bains, Framce – Musilack 2023
8 - Madrid, Spain – Mad Cool Festival 2023
10 - Marseille, France – Espace Julien
12 - Munich, Germany – Backstage Werk
13 - Dresden, Germany – Alter Schlachtohf
15 - Wroclaw, Poland – Center Concert A2
16 - Vizovice, Czech Republic – Masters of Rock
17 - Budapest, Hungary – Budapest Park
20 - Bontida, Romania – Electric Castle Festival
22 - Nordfjordeid, Norway – Malakoff Festival


September
23 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life Festival


October
6 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival 

The Devil Wears Prada — Mike Hranica [vocals], Jeremy DePoyster [vocals, guitar], Mason Nagy [bass], Kyle Sipress [guitar], Jonathan Gering [keys, synthesizers], and Giuseppe Capolupo [drums] — will release the deluxe edition of their eighth album Color Decay on May 5 via Solid State. Preorder here.


The expanded version will be available digitally and on vinyl. It will include 10 additional tracks — a treasure trove that features two new songs, acoustic versions of Color Decay favorites, live renditions, and remixes.


Today, the band has shared the video for the additional song "Ignorance."




"This track came about near the very end of the Color Decay sessions," the band shares. "We had almost wrapped the record when Kyle cooked up the original demo for it, and we knew it was something special! We are stoked that it's finally getting released and that we can continue our expansion of the Color Decay universe."


The band continues, "Writing and producing 'Ignorance' was like an experiment in what we can do as The Devil Wears Prada. We are always trying to push our creative boundaries, and this track delivers that with a combination of things you wouldn't expect from us, like an acoustic intro, a guitar solo, and a bunch of hyperpop synths."





Color Decay tracklisting:


"Exhibition"
"Salt"
"Watchtower"
"Noise"
"Broken"
"Sacrifice"
"Trapped"
"Time"
"Twenty-Five"
"Fire"
"Hallucinate"
"Cancer"


Deluxe Edition tracklisting:


"Reaching"
"Ignorance"
"Salt" (Acoustic)
"Broken" (Acoustic)
"Sacrifice" (Acoustic
"Cancer" (Acoustic)
"Watchtower" (Live)
"Salt" (Live)
"Sacrifice" (Ray Volpe Remix)
"Salt" (Fairlane Remix)


"Ignorance" video:





"Reaching":





TDWP are back on the road with August Burns Red.


Dates:


April
22 - St. Louis, MO  - Red Flag
23 - Kansas City, MO - The Truman
25 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
26 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown
28 - Minneapolis, MN - The Fillmore Minneapolis
29 - Chicago, IL - Concord Music Hall
30 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogarts


May
2 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
3 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
5 - North Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues
6 - Richmond, VA - The National
7 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
9 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall
11 - Montreal, QC - MTelus
12 - Quebec, QC - Theatre Capitole


(Photo - Imani Givertz)

Kingdom Collapse has partnered with Oxide Records for the release of their new single, “Anything” out today, April 21. The band has also released the official music video for the single that features none other than Disturbed’s John Moyer.





The new single has already received early love from SiriusXM Octane, 99.5 KISS San Antonio, LA Lloyd’s Rock 30, and several other national radio stations. Stream “Anything” here.




Alongside the release of their new single, the band has upcoming appearances on several of this year’s biggest rock festivals, including Rockfest and another that is still to be announced.


Kingdom Collapse has been touring viciously, playing with bands such as Three Days Grace, Nothing More, From Ashes To New, Fire From The Gods, Adelitas Way, and more.

Melbourne-based blackened deathcore group Mélancolia share their video for “God Tongue” and unleash hell on debut album, HissThroughRottenTeeth, out now and streaming everywhere via Greyscale Records and Nuclear Blast Records.


Mélancolia’s debut album, HissThroughRottenTeeth immerses listeners in a torturous tale of birth, life and death. HissThroughRottenTeeth follows a fallen deity, cast down from a godly realm and met with the punishment of reincarnating as a human with a wealth of knowledge yet stripped entirely of power.


“Essentially the album is about the pain of existence and how we get no say in coming into this world,” says vocalist and songwriter Alex Hill.







The album traverses different stages of the deity’s miserable existence, doomed to repeat a painful cycle for all of eternity. Mélancolia sink their teeth into their monstrous storyline with eerie passages, guttural deliveries, and grotesque visuals, dispensing pure dread through their music. 


After establishing themselves just last year with the single "Horror_Ethereal," the band announced in February their signing to both Greyscale Records for Australia and New Zealand and Nuclear Blast for the rest of the world. Mélancolia may be fresh out the gates but they're miles from the start line as the four-piece have crafted a unique sound that has already catapulted them to new heights.


Mélancolia unveiled their second single [Inure] alongside their album announcement in early March, which invited listeners into Mélancolia’s world of unease and doom, thematically inspired by sadomasochism and how it's often used as a tactic to feel after experiencing a sense of numbness for so long.


"God Tongue" becomes the latest video to shed from HissThroughRottenTeeth, sharing eerie visuals of a mortal monstrosity. The track observes organized religion and condemns those who follow for the wrong reasons.





Mélancolia echo a tormented entity trapped within the claws of despair, angst, and unnerving melancholy. Like messengers of darkness, Alex Hill takes his place at the forefront as vocalist, Joshua Taafe and Billy Morris join the fold as guitarists with Mason Page on drums. Storming through the gates of 2023 with a vengeance, Mélancolia played their first-ever show with Thy Art Is Murder on their Decade Of Hate Australian Tour in January alongside Starve and Justice For The Damned.





(Photo: Karl Steller)

The melodic metal band Signum Regis will release a new version of their fourth album Chapter IV: The Reckoning in digital format on May 19 via Ulterium Records. The album is remixed and remastered by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Evergrey, Amaranthe) and features lead vocals by the current Signum Regis vocalist Jota Fortinho.


"When Freedom Fails (Version 2023)", the first single from the album is available on all digital outlets.


Ronnie König of Signum Regis comments:




"Chapter IV: The Reckoning has been our bestselling album. Despite the success we felt like the full sonic and production potential was not reached when we released it in 2015. They say it's never too late to make things right, so after 8 years since the release we are releasing a new version of this album that we are really excited about. It's not just a remaster. The songs were re-recorded to a large degree. The drums are completely re-recorded, some other instrumental parts too and the big thing are the vocals as our current singer Jota Fortinho recorded his takes of the vocals. Some songs sounds so fresh now, that they will not only energize new fans but also the fans of the old release. But don't worry! Mayo Petranin who was the lead singer back then is still a part of this re-release. Many of his backing vocals are used in this version and there will also be a special version of this album with his lead vocals released at a later stage."





Tracklisting:


“Lost And Found”
“The Secret Of The Sea”
“The Voice In The Wilderness”
“Prophet Of Doom”
“The Magi”
“Quitters Never Win”
“Tempter Of Evil”
“When Freedom Fails”
“The Kingdom Of Heaven”
“Bells Are Tolling”


“When Freedom Fails”:

New York City's Tanith - Russ Tippins (guitars, vocals), Cindy Maynard (bass, vocals), and Keith Robinson (drums) - have 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 has shared the video for "Flame". "To us, 'Flame' is a standout track," the band says. "Firstly, it's written in a major key, which isn't too common in metal these days, and, Cindy plays keys on the intro! Although the lyrical theme is pretty dark, we made sure to keep the music upbeat and positive. We really had the best time making this video at Saint Vitus... enjoy!"







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"


"Olympus By Dawn" video:





"Snow Tiger" video:

One Desire have released Live With The Shadow Orchestra, a live concert extravaganza featuring the band performing with a symphony orchestra, The Shadow Orchestra (Wasa Sinfonietta), led by conductor Ville Mankkinen.


”What makes this whole thing special is that it is rather like watching a movie than watching just a regular live show. We really took the long road with this production,” says guitarist Jimmy Westerlund.


Watch a performance of the song, "Rio", below, and order/save Live With The Shadow Orchestra on CD+DVD, Blu-ray, Limited Edition Color LP, and Digital here. Please note, the LP release date will be August 4.




Combining energy, powerful vocals, fantastic guitar solos, and catchy choruses, One Desire is one of Finland's most prominent rock bands. They have released two internationally acclaimed albums, their self-titled debut and follow-up, Midnight Empire, and performed several European tours.


Filmed in Vaasa, Elisa Stadium in the summer of 2022, Live With The Shadow Orchestra was aired on YLE TV in Finland in late December of the same year and will now be available on CD/DVD, Blu-ray, and Vinyl on April 21. The audio will also be available on all digital music platforms.


One Desire is currently working on the recording of their upcoming third studio album.





CD/LP tracklisting:


"Never Gonna Stop"
"Apologize"
"Heroes"
"Through The Fire"
"After You’re Gone"
"Rio"
"This Is Where The Heartbreak Begins"
"Shadowman"
"Whenever I’m Dreaming"
"Hurt"
"Buried Alive"


DVD/Blu-ray tracklisting:


Intro
"Never Gonna Stop"
"Apologize"
"Heroes"
"Through The Fire"
"After You’re Gone"
"Rio"
"This Is Where The Heartbreak Begins"
"Shadowman"
"Whenever I’m Dreaming"
"Hurt"
"Buried Alive"
"Down And Dirty" (credits)


"Rio" live video:





"Never Gonna Stop" live video:





"Through The Fire" live video:





Lineup:


André Linman - lead vocals, guitars
Jimmy Westerlund - guitars, vocals
Ossi Sivula - drums
Jonas Kuhlberg - bass
Johnny Nordström - keyboards, background vocals
Geir Rönning - guest vocals on "Hurt"
Wasa Sinfonietta Symphony Orchestra

New metal sensation, All For Metal, will release their first full-length studio album, Legends, on July 7 via AFM Records. Pre-order here.


With eleven irresistible, compact and catchy songs, the band's colossal debut unleashes anthemic, straightforward metal that has international class. Under the banner of All For Metal, metal enthusiasts Tim "Tetzel" Schmidt (known as the singer of Asenblut as well as a strength athlete and fitness influencer) and Antonio Calanna (singer of the hard rock band DeVicious) joined forces for the perfect metal match. Both are united by their love for classic heavy metal sounds and the common vision to bring them to a new generation of music fans.


"We grew up with bands like Manowar, at whose concerts the audience is overwhelmed by the energy," says singer Tetzel. "That's where strangers are in each other's arms and fervently belting out the songs. This invisible bond, this connection, is created through the music alone." His vocal counterpart Antonio adds, "I've only experienced such a sense of community in the metal scene. With All For Metal, we want to help pass this on and let as many music fans as possible share in it."




Following four previously-released songs, "Born In Valhalla", "Raise Your Hammer", "Fury Of The Gods" and the aptly-titled track "All For Metal", today, the band is premiering a music video for the thunderous single, "Mountain Of Power".


With its pounding drums, blazing guitars, and an epic chorus, "Mountain Of Power" will be your new favorite heavy metal anthem, one that will make you feel invincible! Get ready to climb to the summit of metal greatness with All For Meal, and watch the band's new video clip below.





Tracklisting:


"All For Metal"
"Goddess Of War"
"Born In Valhalla"
"Raise Your Hammer"
"Hear The Drum"
"Run"
"Prophecy Of Hope"
"Mountain Of Power"
"Fury Of The Gods"
"The Day Of Hammerfall"
"Legends Never Die"

















All For Metal is:


Ursula Zanichelli - Guitar
Jasmin Pabst - Guitar
Florian Toma - Bass Guitar

Mentalist and former Blind Guardian drummer, Thomen Stauch, has released a drum playthrough video for Meat Loaf's "Paradise By The Dashboard Light", featured on the classic album Bat Out Of Hell, released in 1977. Watch below:





A selection of Thomen's previous drum cover videos are available below:

Queen continues the new video series, “Queen The Greatest: Live”, a year-long celebration of Queen Live. It's a 50-week YouTube series going behind the scenes to reveal what goes into creating a Queen show featuring moments from iconic performances and demonstrating why the band is regarded as the ultimate live act. The latest episode can be found below.


A message states: "Enjoy a classic performance from Queen's legendary Night At The Odeon to revisit some spectacular Zandra Rhodes creations, and see how the glam rock era influenced their stage wear as well as their music."







Having first launched their universally acclaimed Rhapsody Tour with 25 epic shows across North America in 2019, Queen + Adam Lambert are bringing their highly acclaimed production, now expanded and updated, back to where it first began.


After a 4-year long hiatus, Sir Brian May, Roger Taylor and their exceptional frontman Adam Lambert have announced they will set out on a spectacular North America run this fall. Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off on October 4 at Baltimore’s CFG Bank Arena making stops in Toronto, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Dallas, Denver and more before concluding at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. See full routing below.


Brian May says, “Our last tour featured our most ambitious production ever. So we decided to rip it apart and get even more ambitious. Watch out world.”


And Adam Lambert says: “I can’t wait to tour North America one more time with the Rhapsody tour alongside the two unbelievably talented legends that are Brian May and Roger Taylor.”


Queen + Adam Lambert’s 150-minute career-spanning set list celebrates the band’s extraordinary back catalogue, lining up wall-to-wall immortal anthems like “We Will Rock You”, “Don’t Stop Me Now”, “Radio Ga Ga”, and “Somebody To Love” alongside classic deep cuts and vintage fan favourites. Featuring a dazzling state-of-the-art stage design, incredible special effects and set pieces, this sense-swamping extravaganza has been blowing critics and fans away the world over.


As with last year's UK and European dates, the 2023 North American tour will see Queen + Adam Lambert supported on stage by their regular band members, long-serving Queen keyboard player and musical director Spike Edney, bass guitarist Neil Fairclough and percussionist Tyler Warren.


Having extensively toured over the last few years, the Rhapsody show is forever evolving. But it remains at heart a tribute to Freddie Mercury’s majestic legacy, a confirmation of Brian and Roger’s undimmed musical prowess, plus a magnificent showcase for Adam’s vocal skills and electrifying stage charisma, all of which adds up to a glorious full-blooded celebration of one of the greatest songbooks in rock history.


Tickets are available at LiveNation.com.


Queen + Adam Lambert appreciate that it is an enormous task to try and stop scalpers from taking advantage of fans wanting to purchase tickets for the tour. In an effort to help minimize resale and keep ticket prices at face value for fans, the band are collaborating with the venues’ ticketing partners to restrict the ability to transfer tickets for The Rhapsody Tour so that they may only be transferred between fans at the original price.


Fans will still have protection against unforeseen circumstances. Those who purchase tickets and are no longer able to attend their show will be able to sell their tickets at the price they paid using a face value ticket exchange, including the Ticketmaster Face Value Exchange - which is free to use for buyers and sellers. More information on how the Ticketmaster Exchange works is available here.


Unfortunately, the states of NY, IL, and CO have laws in place that protect ticket scalpers - these laws prohibit artists from being able to restrict the transfer of their tickets to face-value exchanges only. For shows in these states, Queen + Adam Lambert strongly encourages fans to only buy or sell tickets to one another on face-value exchanges. More information can be found here, with more details to follow in the coming weeks.





Tour dates:


October
4 - Baltimore, MD - CFG Bank Arena
8 - Toronto, ON - Scotiabank Arena
10 - Detroit, MI - Little Caesars Arena
12 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
15 - Boston, MA - TD Garden
18 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
23 - Atlanta, GA - State Farm Arena
25 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
27 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
30 - Chicago, IL - United Center


November
2 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
5 - Denver, CO - Ball Arena
8 - San Francisco, CA - Chase Center
11 - Los Angeles, CA - BMO Stadium

Finland's Stratovarius performed at Germany's Wacken Open Air festival in 2022. Professionally-filmed footage of the band performing the tracks "Black Diamond", "Unbreakable", and "Hunting High And Low", can be viewed below:





Stratovarius released Survive, their first album in seven years, in September 2022. It is available here.







Tracklisting:


"Survive"
"Demand"
"Broken"
"Firefly"
"We Are Not Alone"
"Frozen in Time"
"World on Fire"
"Glory Days"
"Breakaway"
"Before the Fall"
"Voice of Thunder"


"Firefly" video:





"World On Fire":





"Survive" graphic video:

Static Abyss, featuring the duo of Greg Wilkinson (guitars/bass) and Chris Reifert (drums/vocals), both members of legendary American masters of sickness Autopsy, will release their sophomore album, Aborted From Reality, on June 30 via Peaceville Records.


Pre-order the album here, and watch a lyric video for the first single, "Wormskinned", below.


Aborted From Reality follows Static Abyss’ 2022 debut, Labyrinth Of Veins; itself a wild and contagious ride through a nightmarish soundscape. The album presents a stark contrast between a brutal wall of riffs and crawling darkly hypnotic guitar leads burying themselves under the skin, and combines for a sick and unnerving experience through death metal combined with crust and doom elements.




Chris’ unmistakable vocals come spewing from the depths of insanity in this soundtrack to an anxiety-filled dimension, backing up the twisted riffs from Greg’s own cauldron of mental chaos.


Aborted From Reality was recorded at Earhammer Studios in Oakland, CA, with engineering, mixing and mastering overseen by Greg himself. Following on from the debut release, cover art appears once again courtesy of All Things Rotten.





Tracklisting:


"Aborted From Reality"
"Wormskinned"
"Cathedral Of Vomit"
"Cerebral Ghost"
"Mind Tentacles"
"Poisoned Limbs"
"Horizon Of Cremains"
"Crosses And Coffins"
"Unrepentant Mutant Serpent"
"Dehumanized"
"The Static Abyss"


"Wormskinned" lyric video: