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:

Legendary Connecticut-based power-thrashers, Sacred Oath, have posted a live video for “Return Of The Dragon” in advance of their summer dates in the northeast US.  The band is currently on their 35th Anniversary Tour celebrating 35 years since the release of their cult-classic debut, A Crystal Vision.


“We’re looking forward to a handful of dates this summer,” says singer Rob Thorne. “It’s about all we can manage, but it will be great to get out there again and perform for the Oathbangers. We’re headlining all the shows so we‘ll deliver a good 100+ minute set. Lots of cuts from “Crystal”, Darkness”, “World On Fire”, “Ravensong” … pretty much everything, and of course “Return Of The Dragon”."


Dates are scheduled for New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Rhode Island beginning Saturday, April 29 at The Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie, NY. Ticket and venue information can be found on the band’s website, here.

Italian metallers, Raven Tide, returns with their new single, "Warriors". The song, which is available today on all music streaming platforms and presented with a lyric video, is a real preview of a new concept made of sci-fi graphics and a new style that will take the final shape with the upcoming releases.





With "Warriors", Raven Tide show once again how to combine the energy of metal with engaging melodies and deep lyrics.




The production of "Warriors" has been treated in detail, with a powerful and incisive sound that reflects the determination and the energy that distinguishes the new course of the band. The single was recorded and mixed by Claudio Biancalani (Sound Check Studio, Prato - Italy) and mastered by Roberto Priori (PriStudio, Bologna - Italy), while the lyric video was edited by Stefano Mastronicola.


The band said, "We are very excited about the release of 'Warriors'. This song represents for us a new beginning, a real turning point. The song, in fact, tells the story of an inner battle, the fight against fears and insecurities to become stronger, be a real warriors day after day and make dreams come true. After the struggling period we all have been through, this new single will finally give us the charge for a series of new and increasingly larger goals that we can not wait to share with all our fans."


"Warriors" is just the first single in a series of new songs that Raven Tide have in store. The band has announced to be working on a new album, which will be released in October under the name Eleven.


All that remains is to listen to "Warriors", discover the new sound of Raven Tide and wait for the next releases.

North German heavy metal band, Mob Rules, have shared their new single, "Hymn Of The Damned", via Steamhammer/SPV. Previously written in 2019, the song is the story of a dystopian future that holds many challenges for the world.





Who could have guessed how quickly fiction and reality can resemble each other? This makes this anthem is so timely for 2023.




In an era in which the world faces so many crises, Mob Rules wants to convey a message of hope and cohesion with their song, "Hymn Of The Damned". They don't gloss over the situation, instead seeking to strengthen faith and give courage for us to reach towards a better future.


Singer Klaus Dirks explains: “When we wrote this song, we wanted to tell a story. I love these parallel worlds like in Mad Max or Waterworld. We wanted to write something that gives hope and reminds us that together, we can make a difference - be it in a fictional world or the real world. A message that is becoming more and more important!"





Mob Rules tour dates:


April
21 - Oldenburg, Germany - Cadillac (sold out)
22 - Weiher, Germany - Live Music Hall
23 - Selb, Germany - Rock Club
27 - Bilzen, Belgium - South Of Heaven
28 - Mechelen, Belgium - Transit M De Club
29 - Oberhausen, Germany - Resonanzwerk


May
5 - Bremen, Germany - Meisenfrei

On April 28, UMe/Mercury and Anthem Records continue the comprehensive Rush 40th anniversary album series with new and expanded editions of the band’s decade-defining 1982 release, Signals, an album that signified how the band was in no way detached and subdivided from the ever-shifting 1980s musical landscape.


Today, the band release a new visualizer for the Signals track, "New World Man". Check it out below:







Signals-40th Anniversary will be available to fans in three distinct configurations, including the (1) Super Deluxe Edition, (2) one-LP Picture Disc Edition, and (3) Dolby Atmos Digital Edition. There will also be a limited edition Super Deluxe box featuring eight lithographs of Neil Peart’s original hand-drawn lyrics for each song on Signals only available through the official Rush online store.


All configurations can be pre-ordered and pre-saved, here. Watch an unboxing video below.


Signals, Rush’s ninth studio album, was originally released in September 1982, and its technology-embracing riffs and rhythms, continued the forward-thinking trajectory of the acclaimed Canadian trio as it continued to chart the demands of a new decade. The album’s eight songs built upon Rush’s penchant for adapting to the flow of the times without compromising its flair for melding long-established progressive roots with radio-friendly song arrangements. Signals, co-produced by Rush with longtime band confidant Terry Brown and engineered by Paul Northfield, was the third of numerous Rush recording sessions held at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Quebec. The band’s synergistic recording process at Le Studio had been well-established during sessions for the aforementioned Moving Pictures, as well as the sessions for that album’s predecessor, January 1980’s Permanent Waves.


“Subdivisions,” the generation-defining lead-off track on Signals, succinctly captures the angst of the perennial restless dreams of youth, and this synth-driven song subsequently became one of Rush’s most celebrated FM favorites as well as a cherished concert staple for many years to come. Next, the band shifts gears and leans back into the wide-eyed yearnings of “The Analog Kid,” a propulsive track that also reached No. 19 on the Mainstream Rock chart. Meanwhile, the quest for emotional interactivity reaches a combustive head in the connective musical tissue of “Chemistry.” Side A closes out with the fast-forward thinking of “Digital Man,” presaging our eventual reliance on the 0s and 1s that now permeate our daily lives.


Side B commences with the angular thrust of “The Weapon” (subtitled as being “Part II of Fear”), a rumination on personal apprehension and doubt that also serves as a modernized offshoot of the mob-mentality prejudices of “Witch Hunt” (a.k.a. “Part III of Fear”) from Moving Pictures. “The Weapon” also became another Rush concert favorite featuring a videoscreen-projected introduction courtesy of Count Floyd, one of Joe Flaherty’s many notable characters from SCTV. The kinetic, reggae-tinged lilt of “New World Man” peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, Rush’s singular Top 40 hit in the United States. The truly beautiful “Losing It,” a starkly honest assessment of knowing when the optimal-performance curtain is coming down and how to gracefully deal with its consequences (or not), features poignant electric violin accompaniment from guest performer Ben Mink. “Losing It” was never played onstage until Rush’s final R40 Live Tour in 2015, with Mink reprising his role at the tour’s stop in Toronto and Jonathan Dinklage of the Clockwork Angels Ensemble playing on it when the song was performed in the States. The album wraps up with the optimistic skyward views of “Countdown,” an unabashed celebratory chronicle of the launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1981. “Countdown” also features approved audio of the voice communications between the Columbia astronauts and ground control.


The Super Deluxe Edition includes one CD, one Blu-ray Audio, one high-quality 180-gram black-vinyl LP with new artwork from original album designer Hugh Syme in a premium tip-on jacket, and four 7-inch singles (“Subdivisions,” “Countdown,” “New World Man,” and “The Weapon (Single Edit”), all of them with new artwork from Syme. The set encompasses the Abbey Road Mastering Studios 2015 remastered edition of the album for the first time on CD. The Blu-ray Audio disc contains the core album newly mixed from the original multi-tracks in 48kHz 24-bit Dolby Atmos (the second Rush album to appear in Atmos, following Moving Pictures) and 96kHz 24-bit Dolby TrueHD 5.1 as done by esteemed producer/engineer Richard Chycki, alongside the previously available 48kHz 24-bit PCM Stereo mix. Also included on the Blu-ray are new animated visualizers for all eight songs, as well as two bonus remastered vintage promo videos: the high-school halls narrative of “Subdivisions” and “Countdown,” the latter of which features authorized Space Shuttle Columbia launch footage. Additionally, the LP in the Super Deluxe Edition has been cut via half-speed Direct Metal Mastering (the second Rush album to have been done as such, again following Moving Pictures) on a 180-gram audiophile black-vinyl LP, and it has been pressed at GZ Media in the Czech Republic.


The Super Deluxe Edition of Signals-40th Anniversary will also include several exclusive items, including a 40-page hardcover book with new song illustrations and new artwork by original album designer Hugh Syme and unreleased photos from the Signals Tour, along with three lenticular lithographs that transition from the original black-and-white band headshots into the original album’s “Digital Man” color headshots; four Signals Tour band lithographs; Syme’s original album cover sketch lithograph; and a double-sided 24x24-inch poster featuring Syme’s new Signals artwork on one side, and an outtake photo from the original album cover shoot on the other side. All contents are housed in a premium lift-top box, which features significantly reimagined cover artwork by Hugh Syme.


The second configuration Signals-40th Anniversary will be released in is a one-LP Picture Disc Edition. The picture disc is housed in a transparent plastic sleeve, and it showcases new Hugh Syme artwork on both album sides.


Finally, the third configuration, the Dolby Atmos Digital Edition, is the digital equivalent of Richard Chycki’s expert Atmos mix of all eight tracks from the original album.





Tracklistings:


Super Deluxe Edition:


CD - Disc 1: Original Album - Produced by Rush and Terry Brown / 2015 remaster on CD for the first time:


"Subdivisions"
"The Analog Kid"
"Chemistry"
"Digital Man"
"The Weapon"
"New World Man"
"Losing It"
"Countdown"


Blu-Ray Audio - Disc 2 (Dolby Atmos* / Dolby TrueHD 5.1* / PCM Stereo; * Previously unreleased mixes):


"Subdivisions"
"The Analog Kid"
"Chemistry"
"Digital Man"
"The Weapon"
"New World Man"
"Losing It"
"Countdown"


Bonus Promo Videos (Dolby TrueHD 5.1* / PCM Stereo; * Previously unreleased mixes):


"Subdivisions"
"Countdown"


1LP - Signals (DMM Half-Speed Mastering / Original Album - Produced by Rush and Terry Brown):


Side A


"Subdivisions"
"The Analog Kid"
"Chemistry"
"Digital Man"


Side B


"The Weapon"
"New World Man"
"Losing It"
"Countdown"
 
7" Singles (All four singles feature brand-new Hugh Syme artwork):


Single 1 - Side A:


"Subdivisions"


Single 1 - Side B:


"Red Barchetta" (Live)


Single 2 - Side A:


"Countdown"


Single 2 - Side B:


"New World Man"


Single 3 - Side A:


"New World Man"


Single 3 - Side B:


"Vital Signs" (Live)


Single 4 - Side A:


"The Weapon" (Single Edit)


Single 4 - Side B:


"Digital Man"


1LP Picture Disc Edition:


Signals (DMM Half-Speed Mastering / Original Album - Produced by Rush and Terry Brown; Both sides feature brand-new Hugh Syme artwork):


Side A
"Subdivisions"
"The Analog Kid"
"Chemistry"
"Digital Man"


Side B


"The Weapon"
"New World Man"
"Losing It"
"Countdown"


Signals (Dolby Atmos Digital Edition* / previously unreleased):


"Subdivisions"
"The Analog Kid"
"Chemistry"
"Digital Man"
"The Weapon"
"New World Man"
"Losing It"
"Countdown"


"The Weapon" visualizer:





"Digital Man" visualizer:





"Chemistry" visualizer:





"The Analog Kid" visualizer:





Unboxing video:

Holy Moses and their label, Fireflash Records, expected a lot from the band's new and final album, Invisible Queen, but they never expected it to land on the German album charts, let alone hit #14.


Vocalist / founder Sabina Classen comments: "Tears of joy come to my eyes, it's a roller coaster of emotions. It's just unbelievable and an absolutely unexpected sensation. The loyalty of the old and apparently many young, new fans of Holy Moses touches me emotionally, very strongly. I can only say thank you to everyone involved for this first chart entry in the 43-year history of Holy Moses. It shows me what heavy metal means. The fact that we got into the charts with our farewell album is only thanks to you. I would like to thank every single fan, my band, the booking agency, our management and Wossi and Fireflash Records, who believed in Holy Moses. I can't believe what's happening here. Metal connects and metal has made me strong. I am very happy to pass on this power and energy to all of you. Because you have to believe in yourself and live your visions and you need such loyal and great fans like you. Your very grateful and deeply touched Sabina."







2023 marks the final chapter in the long history of Germany’s legendary thrash metal act, Holy Moses, celebrated with the band's new studio album, Invisible Queen, released on April 14th, and a last run of live shows.


Sabina Classen comments:"Musically, this is a homage to the time of The New Machine Of Liechtenstein. The song is very catchy and in this way also a typical Hol Moses title. It contains crazy increases and hidden rhythms, in a special speed, paired with a mega solo by Pete. 'Alternative Reality' is a catchy thrash bomb."





Invisible Queen is available in the following formats:


- 1CD Jewelcase
- 2CD Digipak incl. 12-Track Bonus CD "Invincible Friends"
- 1LP in red/black marbled (lt. 500 pieces) and white/black marbled (ltd. 500 pieces)
- Digital


At the Atomic Fire Records webshop you can get a strictly limited (200 pieces) boxset including the 2CD digipak, a flag with the cover art, logo-patch, lanyard and a signed foto-card by all members. Get your version here:


On the CD bonus album, Invincible Friends, you get all album tracks in special versions, featuring various well-known guest singers.





Tracklisting (bonus album guests in brackets):


"Downfall Of Mankind" (Feat. Marloes Voskuil – Haliphron)
"Cult Of The Machine" (Feat. Bobby Ellsworth – Overkill)
"Order Out Of Chaos" (Feat. Diva Satanica – ex-Nervosa / Bloodhunter)
"Invisible Queen" (Feat. Ingo Bajonczak – Assassin / Bonded)
"Alternative Reality" (Feat. Tom Angelripper – Sodom)
"The New Norm" (Feat. Chris Staubach – Courageous)
"Visions In Red" (Feat. Rægina – Dæmonesq)
"Outcasts" (Feat. Leif Jensen – Dew-Scented)
"Forces Great And Hidden" (Feat. Gerre – Tankard)
"Too Far Gone" (Feat. Jens Kidman – Meshuggah)
"Depersonalized" (Feat. Daniela Karrer – Headshot)
"Through The Veils Of Sleep" (Feat. Ryker’s)


"Cult Of The Machine"





"Invisible Queen" video:





"My farewell album for the Final Reign Tour contains everything that made Holy Moses special in the past 43 years. Vocally, I was overflowing with energy and felt like I was transported back to the 80s. We have always written songs that we ourselves like and never compromised on trends or conceded to wrong expectations, especially with this final album. We aren’t out to please everyone; we are our own brand and have our own sound, which includes odd meters, technically demanding passages, and unusual chord structures as well as interesting lyrics that deal with the dark side of humanity and the human psyche", comments Sabina Classen.


Tour dates:


April
28-29 - Kirchdorf, Germany - No Playback Festival


May
19-20 - Kirchdorf, Germany - Bavarian Battle Open Air
20-21 - Ostend, Belgium - Huginns Awakening Fest VII
26-28 - Gelsenkirchen, Germany - Rock Hard Festival


June
8-10 - Frýdek-Místek, Czech Republic - HellPdays Festival 2023
8-10 - Büßfeld, Germany - M:O:A - M.I.S.E. Open Air
15-18 - Clisson, France - Hellfest


July
5-9 - Trutnov, Czech Republic - Obscene Extreme Festival
13-15 - Torgau / Entenfang, Germany - In Flammen Open Air
25-29 - Tolmin, Slovenia - Tolminator


August
2-5 - Wacken, Germany - Wacken Open Air
11-13 - Kortrijk, Belgium - Alcatraz Festival
15-20 - Kiel, Germany - Full Metal Cruise X Part I


November
18 - Zwickau, Germany - Club Seilerstraße


December
8-9 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - Eindhoven Metal Meeting
16 - Übach-Palenberg, Germany - Rockfabrik Club
27 - Hamburg, Germany - Markthalle (final show)


(Photo - Axel Jusseit)

MORBID ANGEL guitarist Trey Azagthoth collapsed on stage during the band's concert last night (Friday, April 21) in Tampa, Florida.

Video of the incident, which apparently happened during the fifth song of MORBID ANGEL's set at The Orpheum in Azagthoth's hometown, shows the 58-year-old musician — whose real name is George Emmanuel III — struggling to stay on his feet while performing before he is helped to the back of the stage by a couple of roadies.

After a short break, MORBID ANGEL bassist/vocalist Steve Tucker told the crowd that Trey "injured himself", before he and the other members of the group performed one more song and then ended the show.

"I think we're gonna call it a night, man," Steve told the crowd. "Without the leader… I apologize. I love all you motherfuckers. Thank you for coming. Hopefully Trey is all right. We'll see you all again real soon, man. You have a good fucking night."

The Tampa show was part of MORBID ANGEL's "United States Tour Of Terror" which was scheduled to conclude tonight (Saturday, April 22) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is not presently clear if that concert will still go ahead.

MORBID ANGEL kicked off its 2023 U.S. tour on March 15 at Vinyl Music Hall in Pensacola, Florida. The trek marks the band's first with drummer Charlie Koryn, who has previously played with ASCENDED DEAD, INCANTATION, FUNEBRARUM and SKELETAL REMAINS.

Azagthoth made headlines in 2020 after he was arrested on a misdemeanor DUI charge near his home in Florida. After being read his rights, Emmanuel "admitted to consuming 1-2 shots of whiskey prior to driving," according to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Smoking Gun. The guitarist also reportedly told cops: "I'm a professional drinker." Several months later, he pleaded no contest to reckless driving as a reduced charge from DUI. He was also ordered to complete "DUI School", pay a small fine and perform 50 hours of community service.

MORBID ANGEL made mainstream media headlines late last month after a 50-year-old man died when the roof collapsed at a theater hosting the band's concert in Belvidere, Illinois.

Although the concert was reportedly sold out, the Belvidere Police Department said only 260 people were at the Apollo Theater on March 31 when the collapse occurred as a heavy storm rolled through the area. The capacity of the theater is around 1,500.

In total, 28 people were taken to local hospitals by paramedics and another 48 people sought treatment on their own.

Trey had previously said that his stage name combines his status as "the third" in his family and the name of a Lovecraftian deity.

MORBID ANGEL's latest album, "Kingdoms Disdained", was released in December 2017.

In a new interview with Colombia's El Expreso Del Rock, Wolf Hoffmann said that ACCEPT is "one of the very few bands that still play everything [live] in the original key." He added: "That is something that a lot of [people in] the audience don't even pay any attention to. But a lot of singers, when they get older, they tune the guitar down and down, because it's easier to sing that way. But to me, it sounds different, because a key is a key, and as soon as you drop the key, it changes the mood of the song. But there are so many bands out there that drop the keys — they tune the guitars to E flat or D or C sharp. It gets lower and lower and lower, and it loses some of the original dynamic. But we are one of the very few bands that still do it in the original key, and I'm very proud of that, because our singer, Mark Tornillo, is incredible."

Last June, Michael Sweet admitted that he and his STRYPER bandmates no longer attempt to perform the group's songs in the original key. In a social media post, the now-59-year-old guitarist/vocalist revealed that and the rest of STRYPER are playing their music a half step down to accommodate his aging voice. He wrote: "I have found that it's not only much easier to hit the 'high' notes but it's just much easier to sing these songs. We did an 18-show run and I made it through without any vocal issues. I was able to retain my range and high end and sing much more consistently night after night."

Four years ago, IRON MAIDEN's Bruce Dickinson said that he takes pride in the fact that he and his bandmates perform their songs in the original key. "We don't detune, like some other people do," he said. "We don't do any of that. I suppose if one day we have to, we have to, but we don't have to do it now, and I think the songs sound better as a result of it. They're meant to be played in that key."

Back in 2014, QUEENSRŸCHE's Todd La Torre said that the fact that he sings the band's songs in their original key is one of the reasons he has been able to win over so many of the QUEENSRŸCHE fans following the departure of original frontman Geoff Tate. "We don't drop-tune," he said. "When I first got in the band, [the other guys in QUEENSRŸCHE] said, 'Hey, if you want us to tune down a half a step, if it's easier for you, don't be afraid to ask us.' And I said, 'No. I wanna do this the best way that I can to represent the songs the way that they really go, and if it's a struggle for me, I just have more work to do for me. But let me keep trying to do this.' So I think the fact that those old songs weren't being played [in the last few years with Geoff in the band]… I mean, some of them were played, but a lot of times they were tuned down or songs were not played in their entirety, like 'Roads To Madness'; we play that song in its entirety. We play 'NM 156' in its entirety. And those fans, they really love hearing that. So the fact that that wasn't happening, and then when I came into the band, it started happening, it really kind of made it easier, I think, for fans to kind of rally around and go, 'Awesome!'"

Norwegian black metallers have issued the following update:

"We’re now moving towards the close of the year, and it’s been a very eventful year for Gravdal, so we thought it was time for an update on what has been happening with the band, and a look ahead to the future.

The biggest event for Gravdal in 2010 was of course the release of our second full-length album Torturmantra, which was produced by ENSLAVED’s Herbrand Larsen, and recorded by Larsen, Bjørnar E. Nilsen and Arve Isdal. We saw Torturmantra as a big step forward from our first album Sadist, and an expansion of our ideas and sound for the band. The track that probably surprised most of you was of course the slower ballad-like Mishandlet, a song that was new territory for us, and for which we were able to feature SHINING’s Niklas Kvarforth on vocals. We have been very happy with the response to the album both from the fans and the press, and the feedback we have been getting has greatly encouraged us.

2010 also saw a lot of live activity for the band with appearances at festivals like Inferno and Hole in the Sky, and a tour with GORGOROTH and KEEP OF KALESSIN, which coincided perfectly with the release of Torturmantra. Even the explosion of the volcano with the unpronounceable name could not halt the tour, but it did mean that it took us a long time to get back by a very circuitous route, which is not the best thing to happen after a tour!

There have also been developments amongst the members of Gravdal, with drummer Taakesjel working on his BIZARREKULT project, and guitarist Specter joining me in AETERNUS, the band that sees me in my more usual place behind the drum kit. He has been busy familiarizing himself with the band’s material and we are both getting ready to work on the new album.

So, what does the rest of the year hold for Gravdal? We don’t plan on doing any more touring before 2011, but we will consider any one-off gigs that look interesting. In the meantime the rest of the guys will be able to stand down from Gravdal duties for a couple of weeks while I hit the road with SULPHUR as session live drummer on the Dark Essence Records tour between the 28th October and 7th November, which is something I’m very much looking forward to as it means I will be with touring with fellow Bergen bands TAAKE, HELHEIM and VULTURE INDUSTRIES, so I’m anticipating a lot of hard work and an equal amount of fun.

And next year? Well, we have been spurred on by the reaction to Torturmantra and the response we received from the audiences during our live shows and we are now looking ahead to the next album. We already have a title, so we will be starting to write the music and the lyrics and play around with the ideas that we have. We have also just started to work with the German booking agency Heavy Space, so look out for more live dates in 2011.

To close our update, on behalf of Gravdal I would like to thank various people who have helped us in many different ways. A big thank you goes to the following: Our Manager Patricia Thomas for her insight and dedication to Gravdal and for taking care of us and all the business and promotion side of things so that we can concentrate on our music. Herbrand & Co for the great production (not forgetting Bjornar’s dog Leif for keeping us company in the studio!). Fellow musicians Niklas (SHINING) for his vocals, and Ares (AETERNUS), Martin Legreid (HELLISH OUTCAST), Ole Walaunet (THE BATALLION/GRIMFIST) for lending us some bad ass equipment for the album, S.Otto Unnison (LEADSLEDGE, BETATT, ex-Hellish Outcast) for pre production and technical help. Robert Høyem for the fantastic cover art. Isak Strand at Little Dollar Studio for mastering the album and for letting us use his face on the cover! Bjarne Skintveit for shooting great pictures. Vidar H.H. for his economic support and investment. Hole in the Sky and Inferno Festivals for booking us. Dreggen for live bass work and Christina for taking his place. Gorgoroth, Keep Of Kalessin and the crew for an awesome tour. And last, but definitely not least, all of you have supported us, and those who bought our album and of course, those who came to see us live and gave us such a great reception. We enjoyed playing for you, and meeting you all. Here’s to a lot more of the same, but even better, in the future."

In a brand new interview with Shannon Gunz of SiriusXM's Ozzy's Boneyard, METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo reflected on being on the road with PANTERA more than three decades ago when he was a member of the long-running Venice Beach, California thrash/punk band SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Back in, I wanna say 1990 or '91 — it's been so long. It might have been '89. I don't know. It was a long time ago. Phil [Anselmo, PANTERA frontman] at the time was 22. So let's figure. But [PANTERA's major-label debut] 'Cowboys From Hell' had just come out. And it was SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, EXODUS and PANTERA [touring together].

"Originally, when I heard the name PANTERA, I automatically was, like, 'Wait. What's up with this band?', having no idea how heavy and badass they were and energized on stage," Robert admitted. "It was an important moment for me, because it was one of my earlier tours with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. And also [that was] back in the day when you would connect and bond with other bands. If there were ever days off, you were hanging together. And we would share music and listen to different cassettes and kind of vibe with…

"I remember Phil had the first demo tapes that I ever heard of… I think it was EXHORDER; then you had the [RED HOT] CHILI PEPPERS demo; and then you had MR. BUNGLE — all these eccentric, kind of crazy alternative bands, ranging from super heavy to alternative kind of funk metal and all that. So it was an exciting time to be on that tour with PANTERA."

Last month, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich weighed in on the fact that PANTERA's surviving members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass) have united with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.

Anselmo and Brown, along with Wylde and Benante, are headlining a number of major festivals across South America, Asia, North America and Europe and staging some of their own headline concerts. They will also support METALLICA on a massive North American stadium tour in 2023 and 2024.

According to Billboard, the lineup has been given a green light by the estates of the band's founders, drummer Vincent "Vinnie Paul" Abbott and guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, as well as Brown, who in 2021 said Wylde wouldn't tour with PANTERA if a reunion were to happen. It's unclear what changed his mind.

Ulrich discussed his views on the PANTERA comeback in an interview with Revolver. He said: "I think that the idea that they're out celebrating the music and the magic of PANTERA is ... I know there's been a lot of talk in the community about whether people support that or not. But I'm the type of person, if Glenn Hughes wants to go out and play a DEEP PURPLE set, I'd support that.

"I'm always in favor of people following their musical and creative ambitions; so this PANTERA reunion, I think, is good," he added. "And obviously having Charlie up there is great. I saw a video from one of the Mexico shows that felt like they were in the pocket. It'll be fun to have them out."

Speaking about METALLICA's relationship with PANTERA, which dates back to before Anselmo had even joined the band, Ulrich said: "We met the brothers on the 'Ride The Lightning' tour and became friends with them. This was in Dallas in — what — 1622 or something? It was about 400 years ago. We obviously loved both of them, and they had a posse down there, and we would see them whenever we came through Texas. We watched the band evolve over the years from more rock vibes into that creative, unique force that they became. So, we've had a relationship with them for decades and decades."

After Dimebag was murdered in December 2004, Ulrich released a statement in which he said that he was "fortunate enough to meet both Darrell and his brother in Dallas on tour" in 1985. He went on to say: "The first thing me and my friend did as soon as that tour was over was to head straight back to Dallas and hang out with Darrell and Vinnie for a long time, 'cause they were the coolest mutherfuckers that we had met after criss-crossing the states for three months. That was the beginning of a friendship that was anchored in love, respect, fun, outrageousness, music, booze, sweat, late nights, early mornings, hangovers, headaches, pounding eardrums, sore bodies... the list goes on."

He added: "Darrell and his brother were the cornerstone of musical adventures that were always groundbreaking, pushing boundaries, challenging to themselves and to their fans, respected by their peers and always true musicians' musicians."

PANTERA played seven shows in Mexico and South America in December and headlined the 2023 "comeback" edition of Japan's Loud Park festival in late March.

In a new interview with El Cuartel Del Metal, Eicca Toppinen of Finnish cello rockers APOCALYPTICA was asked if he and his bandmates have any other collaborations planned after recently releasing a number of singles, including "Rise Again", which came out last December. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We have one song, we are just waiting for the singer to get into the studio, to get it finished. And then we have other ideas. And actually in May we will start to record the next album. So I've been, all day today, in rehearsals for that. I am actually going, straight from Buenos Aires at the end of [the South American] tour [on April 30], I'm going to Los Angeles to start the recording. We're not gonna do it at once. We're gonna do it during this year, and it's gonna be out sometime next year. And even we are focusing on that album — it's a concept album; I won't tell the concept yet — but then even we are working on the album, we are also working on other songs which we want to put out before the album will be out."

Regarding how APOCALYPTICA plans to roll out the new music, Eicca said: "The modern world has changed so that in the old times you made the album and then you tour for three years or something. And then you have a little break and then you start to work on the next album. And that was kind of the release cycle. But now it feels like you have to, in a way, also to release music all the time, or regularly, because that's kind of what the modern world seems to demand. You need to be active. And it's kind of fun, Tour, make music, tour, make music — it's not either or; you can do both things at the same time. And I like the change. I like switching from being a performing band into being a creative band. I very much like it."

Last month, Eicca told Matías Arteaga of Chile's Rock Legacy webzine that APOCALYPTICA's recent singles, including "Rise Again", "are all totally separate" from the band's upcoming album. "Because we realized that this modern release culture, with digital platforms, allows us, actually, to do different types of APOCALYPTICA at the same time in different formats," he explained. "So we have an album that's instrumental; then we do those singles that are vocal collaborations; and then we also release this classical EP. So we actually can do a lot of things at the same time.

"At the moment, there's no plans… Those singles are not part of the album," he reiterated. "We are just starting to work on material for the next album, which is gonna be something totally different again. And still we are going to release singles on the way before we get the album ready. So we kind of want to have continuously coming out some songs."

"Rise Again" featured a guest appearance by Simone Simons of EPICA on vocals. Accompanied by an artistic and unique music video directed by Lisa Mann, "Rise Again" is a new version of APOCALYPTICA's instrumental track "Rise", taken from the band's most recent album "Cell-0".

At last year's Louder Than Life festival, Toppinen told Knotfest that a new full-length album from APOCALYPTICA probably won't arrive before 2024. He explained: "We are kind of following different paths, because the digital world gives you the possibility that it's not the old-school way that you release an album and then you tour for two or three years and then you make a new album. It's not like that. The modern world requires, in a way, to deliver something new and fresh pretty much constantly. And we have this classical covers world, then we have the original instrument APOCALYPTICA world, and then we have the vocal world of APOCALYPTICA. We have kind of three tracks we are [following]. At the same time when we are working on a new album, we are also working… Because an album is always a little bit more like a concept — it's one type of full structure of an idea — and we don't want to stick only on that. Even [while] we go for this one album structure, we want to keep these both other paths alive at the same time. So that's why it's very hard to say exactly what's gonna happen in which order."

"Metal Classic, Classic Metal" was released last September. The effort included the focus track "Flight Of The Bumblebees", originally by Nikolai Rimski-Korsakow. "Metal Classic, Classic Metal" also contained a new version of Beethoven's "5th Symphony" as well as a remake of Maurice Ravel's "Bolero".

In March 2022, APOCALYPTICA released the "I'll Get Through It" single, which was written for the band by American award-winning songwriter Diane Warren. It featured Franky Perez — guest vocalist in APOCALYPTICA's 2015 record "Shadowmaker" — as well as Geezer Butler of BLACK SABBATH on bass guitar. The song was born out of a visit Geezer and Franky paid to their friend Diane, who had already written the track "Not Strong Enough" for APOCALYPTICA, included in their 2010 record "7th Symphony".

2015's "Shadowmaker" was APOCALYPTICA's first album to feature just one singer — Perez — instead of guest collaborators. The disc was recorded with Grammy Award-winning producer Nick Raskulinecz (FOO FIGHTERS, DEFTONES, MASTODON).

Prior to enlisting Perez, who accompanied APOCALYPTICA on the band's 2022 North American tour, the group released eight albums that melded the classically trained cello mastery of the three core bandmembers with the harder elements of the rock world, including drums and guest vocalists, such as Gavin Rossdale from BUSH, and Corey Taylor of SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR fame.

In April 2021, APOCALYPTICA released the official music video for its collaboration with PAPA ROACH singer Jacoby Shaddix on a cover version of the CREAM classic "White Room". The track was produced by Howard Benson at West Valley Recording Studios in Woodland Hills, California and mixed by Chris Lorde-Alge.

"White Room" was the first release from APOCALYPTICA since "Talk To Me", which arrived in August 2020. That song was a collaboration with HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale.

"Cell-0" came out in January 2020. The effort was the band's first fully instrumental record in 17 years.

The popular vinyl collectible company Funko — best known for its big-headed Pop! figures — has announced the upcoming release of the Pop! figure of late AC/DC frontman Bon Scott.

The new Bon Scott Funko Pop! measures approximately four inches tall and comes packaged in a window display box. Tentatively due in August, it can be pre-ordered at Funko.com.

Other artists who have gotten the Pop! treatment in the past include KISS, IRON MAIDEN, METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne, DEF LEPPARD, Rob Zombie, SLIPKNOT, SLAYER, GHOST, MOTÖRHEAD, PANTERA and Joan Jett.

A Funko vinyl Pop! figure, or popularly known as a "Pop!", is packaged carefully inside a box with a transparent front. The figurine is made out of vinyl and may come as a bobblehead.

Headquartered in Everett, Washington, Funko designs, sources and distributes merchandise based on some of the world’s most coveted licenses across multiple categories, including vinyl figures, board games, action toys, plush, apparel, housewares, NFTs, vinyl records, posters and accessories.

Funko products are created for consumers who seek tangible ways to identify and connect with their favorite pop culture brands and characters.

The company was founded in 1998 by Mike Becker who started Funko as a bobblehead company; The company was sold in 2004 to Brian Mariotti who then introduced the iconic Funko Pop! figures.

Funko continues to invest in the music vertical with Pop! Rocks, Pop! Albums, Gold and most recently, announced a co-branded retail store with Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg House.

In a new interview with Sakis Fragos of Greece's Rock Hard, SAVATAGE leader Jon Oliva confirmed that he is working on new music from the cult metal outfit. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "This [next] SAVATAGE record is going to fuck people up. It's that good.

"I've made these mistakes before. I'm not making these mistakes now. I'm not rushing it," he explained. "I figure, well, I wanna get it out by next April so that I can come over with everybody. We all wanna come and do the festivals next summer. And I'm, like, I'm not rushing this. No fucking way. 'Cause this will probably be the last album we ever do. And I'm gonna make sure that it's a 10 out of a 10."

According to Oliva, there are plenty of ideas to choose from for SAVATAGE's upcoming LP. "I have enough material right now for three albums," he said. "And what I'm going to do is I'm going to condense it down. I'm gonna try to condense it down to one album with three bonus tracks. I'm gonna record everything when I get the guys down here. So we're gonna record all the shit that we've got. And in case I wanna do another album, I'll have it all ready to go. That's the gameplan."

Regarding the musical direction of the new SAVATAGE material, Jon said: "Some of this shit is really strong. I'm even looking at myself going, 'Holy shit. This is really strong.' And the fact that you're gonna have me and [SAVATAGE singer] Zak [Stevens] sharing the vocals and doing songs together in like a duet thing, is even more… it blows me away. I purposely wrote five or six songs specifically for Zak to sing. And then I worked [on] a lot of songs with Al Pitrelli [guitar] that are definitely, 'These are Oliva songs.' And then we have a couple of big epic songs.

"This is gonna be the best album I ever made," Oliva promised. "Unless I kill myself. All I know is that the SAVA fans are gonna be fucking blown away when they hear this. They're gonna be blown away. I wasn't gonna do the SAVATAGE thing and just do a half-assed album. If I'm doing this album, it's gonna be the best album I've ever done. 'Cause when I go out, I wanna go out on top."

Jon went on to say that a new SAVATAGE song called "For The Man Who Would Be King" is one that he sometimes refers to as "the new 'Morphine Child'," a nod to the track on SAVATAGE's 2001 album "Poets And Madmen". "And that's one that me and Zak are gonna do together," he explained. "And then it's got this big middle section that's all these QUEEN, operatic[-style vocals]. I'm, like, 'Wow, this is gonna be epic.'"

Regarding which other musicians will be involved in the recording process for the new SAVATAGE album, Jon said: "I'm gonna have [former SAVATAGE drummer Steve] Wacholz come in and play on a couple of songs. But Jeff Plate [drums], Johnny [Lee Middleton, bass], Al Pitrelli [guitar], Chris Caffery [guitar], Zak, me, and on a couple of things I'm gonna have Jane Mangini [TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA keyboardist] come in and play. And maybe the Ukrainian guy Vitalij Kuprij… 'Cause I have a couple of things that are beyond my capabilities of playing, and I figured instead of me spending a month trying to play this, I'll have one of these guys… My keyboard players with TSO, they're some of the best in the world — by far. So I'm, like, 'Oliva, are you stupid? Why you are gonna sit there and try to…? You can't do it. With four arms you couldn't do it.'"

He continued: "I'm getting everybody involved from the beginning. I want it to be a full-band album, all of us working together. And it's gonna be great."

Asked about a possible title for the new SAVATAGE album, Jon said: "The working title is 'Curtain Call', but I don't know if that's gonna be it. 'Cause the very last song that's gonna be on the album is this song called 'Curtain Call', and it's just me with a piano, and it's very deep. It's basically me singing to the fans, telling them all goodbye and thank you. Every time I hear it, I cry. Everybody I played it for cries. It's just very deep. But it's my way of saying goodbye to everybody. 'Thank you. I love you all. And this is my final goodbye. Thank you. Have a good life. And do whatever.' So I think I'm gonna call it 'Curtain Call', but it's not in stone yet."

As for a timeline for the recording sessions for the new SAVATAGE LP, Oliva said: "We're gonna work on it and record it starting in June, and we're gonna work on it until we have to go to Omaha for TSO rehearsals. And then after the TSO tour, in January we're gonna come back and finish it up in January and February. And I wanna put it out on Criss's [Oliva, late SAVATAGE guitarist and Jon's brother] birthday [in April] next year."

Jon also talked about SAVATAGE's touring plans, saying: "We have a lot of offers to come over and do festivals. And I'm, like, all right, man, look… I'm not 25 anymore. If we're gonna do this, I wanna do Wacken [Open Air in Germany] — I wanna do them all. And that's it. And be done with it. It's my way of saying goodbye to everybody. Giving the fans a goodbye from me and the guys to them. 'Hey, we love you.'

"I've loved our fans forever," he added. "They've provided me with a living. And I'm not gonna let them down. I'm gonna come out and I'm gonna be out there next summer doing the festivals and we're gonna kick ass."

Zak joined SAVATAGE in 1992 as the replacement of Oliva. Zak sang on four albums with the band — "Edge Of Thorns" (1993),"Handful Of Rain" (1994),"Dead Winter Dead" (1995) and "The Wake Of Magellan" (1997) — before departing in 2000, allowing Jon to return. Both Jon and Zak took part in SAVATAGE's 2015 performance at Wacken Open Air, which marked the band's first, and only so far, appearance on stage since they went on hiatus back in 2002.

SAVATAGE's last album release, "Poets And Madmen", in 2001 was highlighted by Jon's return as lead vocalist, replacing Zak, who left the band citing family reasons, and the departure of guitarist Al Pitrelli, who accepted an offer to join MEGADETH in 2000. Pitrelli did record solos for some songs prior to his departure. Another very limited U.S. tour followed, supported by FATES WARNING in the early shows, and then NEVERMORE for the remainder. Around this time, Jon chose Zak's replacement in the form of Damond Jiniya (DIET OF WORMS). Damond performed Zak's parts on tour, with Jon having an increased vocal role in proceedings.

In September 2021, Jon Oliva was arrested on the west central coast of Florida for driving under the influence as well as possession of a controlled substance. Police charged Oliva with possession of cocaine, which is a felony, and DUI, which is a misdemeanor.

Back in 2016, Jon announced on social media that he suffered a stroke in April of that year. At the time, he said: "It was not as serious as it could have been, but it did leave me with some physical recovery challenges often associated with strokes."

Despite his health issues, Jon said that he didn't regret the way he had lived his life. He wrote: "I lived the rock 'n' roll lifestyle since I was 18. It's all I knew and I enjoyed the ride very much. But there comes a time in everyone's life where you have to step back and make some life-changing decisions... which I have."

Shortly after SAVATAGE's reunion performance at the 2015 Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany, Oliva claimed that he felt better than he had in 20 years because he had "stopped drinking and eating" in preparation for the concert. He explained: "It's my voice that's freaking me out, because, even when I was in my late 20s, early 30s, doing songs like '24 Hours Ago' were always really hard to do. And, of course, I didn't realize that it was all the drugs and alcohol I was doing. But, after doing that, getting my act together and stuff, singing '24 Hours Ago', it's actually easy now. [Laughs]"

In addition to his work with SAVATAGE, Oliva is well known for co-creating the classical music-meets-prog rock and pyro act TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA alongside the project's founder Paul O'Neill. Oliva has reportedly remained involved in TSO's activities even after O'Neill's April 2017 death of an accidental drug overdose.

Jon's brother Criss, who was one of the founding members of SAVATAGE, was killed in October 1993 by a drunk driver when he and his wife Dawn were en route to the Livestock festival in Zephyrhills, Florida. The driver of the other car was found to have a drunk driving record of seven prior DUIs and having a blood alcohol content of .294 percent.

During an appearance on this past Tuesday's (April 18) episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Jason Newsted was asked about his current relationship with his former bandmates in METALLICA. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I've texted back and forth with Lars [Ulrich, METALLICA drummer] the last couple of days. We try to stay in touch — he and I do — and talk about whatever. He's interested in [my] art a lot; he's always been very supportive of that, so I'm grateful. But also with the music stuff… And I know that his sons [who have their own band called TAIPEI HOUSTON] — I'm a fan of them and they're fans of my stuff, and that's a cool thing. It's an incredible thing, actually. And I've got nothing but mad respect. That's it. That's what I've got. And I'm so frickin' proud of those guys. Still cutting it like that, man? C'mon now. And taking this big of a bite and going for shows all the way up through — what? — fall of '24 or something? Frickin' huge balls, dude. Incredible. How can't you applaud that? … I'm always surprised. It was obviously meant to be. Who has this kind of staying power? I mean, it's such a unique thing — such a unique thing."

Asked if he has ever had any discussions with current METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo about his approach to playing the band's classic songs live, Newsted said: "We haven't really had conversations with that kind of detail before. No." He added: "They sound killer right now. They have for a while live. They've got a great thing going, man, for real. It sounds killer."

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

Back in 2009, Newsted told Rolling Stone that he had no regrets about exiting METALLICA. "I tell you very honestly, one billion percent, I have never regretted leaving METALLICA," he said. "It was the right thing for everyone. It was the right thing to do for the camp, that's it. I've never told anyone that I wanted to go back or anything like that, not once. I made up my mind. It was not an easy thing to do, but it was something I had to do. I thought about it very much before I pulled the trigger, and because of that, I have never looked back. The past is where it's supposed to be."

He added: "I was one of the biggest fan of the band before I went in, and I'm a METALLICA fan still. I was always the one person in the world who had an inside look and an outside look at the band, at the same time, and now, I've been out for a while, and I'm able to be a fan again."

As previously reported, Newsted will perform with his NEWSTED project for the first time in nearly a decade on May 20 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.

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ATREYU has released a music video for the song "God/Devil". The track is taken from the band's latest EP, "The Hope Of A Spark", which came out on April 14 via Spinefarm. The clip was directed by ATREYU bassist Marc "Porter" McKnight.

"God/Devil" laments a loss of identity, self and faith, a desperate cry for help from a higher power when the greatest power is already within.

"'God/Devil' represents the intense feeling of hopelessness that leaves us as humans feeling so helpless and scared that we reach for anything that will help us alleviate the pain/sadness we are going through," said ATREYU. "When life shows its saddest darkest side, we desperately reach for anything we can grasp to help us, and 'God/Devil' is the audible version of that."

The four-track EP embodies everything that ATREYU has come to be, to mean, to represent, marking the beginning of the next chapter in the band's story, with assorted pieces of an expansive puzzle still taking shape, form, and focus.

Produced by longtime collaborator John Feldmann, the new music explores reflection and rumination on the pressures, pleasures, and pains of modern life with each track representing a snapshot of deeply personal lived and shared experiences.

"The overarching concept is essentially about the seasons of life," frontman Brandon Saller explains. "Everyone goes through the same things, the ups, and downs of life. The emphasis really is the importance of at least respecting those, and finding the positives and the lessons from even your lowest moments."

The opening track "Drowning" was written as a collective effort from each bandmember who poured their own experiences, be it familial health problems that guitarist Dan Jacobs was shouldering to Saller's first encounters with feelings of anxiety, or McKnight's long-running fight with depression. The second track, "God/Devil", laments a loss of identity, self, and faith, a desperate cry for help from a higher power, when our greatest power is one we need to find within, following, "Capital F", which was inspired by Saller's observations of the human plight he saw in his local community.

"We draw strength from each other and give each other the space and support to be the best, most creative person we can be," Jacobs explains. "And together, right now, that makes us the best band we've ever been."

ATREYU will kick off "The Hope Of A Spark" headlining tour on April 27 in Sacramento at Ace of Spades with a one-off date supporting KAYZO on May 6 in Los Angeles and concluding on May 21 in Denver at the Gothic Theatre. All dates are with special guests POINT NORTH, WITHIN DESTRUCTION and LYLVC.

ATREYU ushered in a new movement in heavy music. Their music seamlessly intertwines with formative experiences for a diverse legion of dedicated listeners, many of whom started their own bands. They've broken into the Top 10 in the Billboard 200 more than once; two of their albums, "The Curse" and "Lead Sails Paper Anchor", are certified gold with two million albums sold worldwide and an encompassing 600 million streams. Their most recent album, "Baptize", has clocked 65 million streams alongside a Top 10 at rock radio hit with "Warrior" featuring Travis Barker.

Where once the band was heralded as the early innovators of the nascent metalcore scene, their place in heavy music's diverse and boundary-breaking scene has never felt more relevant, with inspirations of pop-punk, hardcore, thrash, '80s rock, and more melding into a unique and varied sound that has never felt more relevant than in today's increasingly genreless world.

With a 20-year career and eight acclaimed albums in the rear-view mirror, ATREYU in 2023 is focused only on the present and the future, and a mission to continue shaping and defining the rock and metal scene, just as they have always done since their emergence from Huntington Beach in Southern California.

Photo credit: Dennis Larance

BEARTOOTH has released a new single, "Sunshine!" The track has all the hallmarks of your favorite BEARTOOTH bangers — cranked up to 11. There's a supremely catchy, anthemic singalong chorus and a tectonic plate-shifting breakdown that will have you pumping your fist in the air. Say hello to your feel-good hit of the summer, courtesy of the 'TOOTH!

"'Sunshine!' is about a lot of things, the most obvious being seasonal depression," says vocalist Caleb Shomo. "It's always been prevalent in my life but as I grow older, it gets more intense. This song is also about moving on from the dark place I was in during 2020-2021. At the end of the day, life should be enjoyed and a BEARTOOTH song doesn't always have to be miserable."

In other BEARTOOTH news, the band was recently nominated for a Libera Award for "Best Heavy Record" for the 2022 hit single "Riptide", which has garnered over 20 million streams to date. They also wrapped an 18-date, sold-out tour of Europe, where they headlined some of their biggest shows to date, including the iconic Wembley Arena. It marked the band's most successful overseas run its history so far.

BEARTOOTH will next embark on a 38-date U.S. co-headline tour alongside TRIVIUM, which includes a triumphant return home at Sonic Temple festival in Columbus, Ohio. The band will follow the co-headliner with trips to Australia and Europe, while concluding 2023 with an appearance at Blue Ridge Rock Festival in Alton, Virginia.

BEARTOOTH has released four albums thus far: "Disgusting" (2014),"Aggressive" (2016),"Disease" (2018) and "Below" (2021).

The Ohio act recently released a deluxe edition of "Below". "Below Deluxe" is expanded to include 32 tracks. For this edition, BEARTOOTH added two new bonus tracks, "Fighting Back" and "Permanently Sealed", as well as a refreshed version of current radio single "Skin (Alternate Universe Version)", which mixes acoustics and electrics. It also includes the full, 17-track live recordings from the "Live From The Journey Below" livestream, recorded at the historic Clyde Theatre in Fort Wayne, Indiana in July 2021. An exclusive 52-track "Special Video Edition" Apple eMix bundle includes all the official videos plus the videos from "Live From The Journey Below".

KnuckleBonz, the creator of the Rock Iconz music collectible series, has announced a new early-1990s-era Chris Cornell limited-edition statue. Officially licensed, each statue is hand-cast and painted with a unique number and certificate of authenticity on the base. Only 3,000 are made and sold worldwide. The statue will tentatively ship in the fall of 2023.

KnuckleBonz has been developing iconic, high-quality statues of the legend of rock music since 2003.

All work created by the company is officially licensed and approved by the artists and their management.

KnuckleBonz, Inc. is a music merchandising company focused on the creation of high-end products for music enthusiasts. KnuckleBonz is committed to fine craftsmanship and artistry and has developed the Rock Iconz, 3D Vinyl and On Tour collectible series. KnuckleBonz is solely focused on offering quality products specifically for the music superfan.

Chris was found hanged in his room at the MGM Grand Detroit hotel on May 18, 2017. His body was found soon after he had spoken with a "slurred" voice to his wife, Vicky, by phone. The death was ruled a suicide. But his family has questioned the medical examiner's ruling, saying that he had a prescription for Ativan and that a higher than recommended dosage may have caused him to experience suicidal thoughts.

Earlier this month, SOUNDGARDEN and Vicky Cornell announced that they have reached "an amicable out-of-court resolution" regarding the release of recordings made before Chris's death.