Canadian thrash metal band, Aggression, has inked a worldwide record deal with Massacre Records.


Aggression was formed in Montreal, Quebec, in 1983. Following a few iconic demos and first full length record releases, numerous concerts with legendary acts such as Anvil, Celtic Frost, Voivod, Nuclear Assault, Agnostic Front, Sword, D.R.I., Possessed, Dark Angel, Crumbsuckers, Sacrifice and many others, Aggression was on track to become one of the forefathers of the 80’s thrash metal movement. If the band’s concerts were beyond impressive, parties were legendary. However, due to substance abuse, legal matters, and reckless behavior, the band was declared “disbanded” by 1989. After a brief reunion in 2005, Aggression resurrected for good in 2014 in Vancouver, British Columbia.


Over the past 9 years, this rejuvenated act had some great musicians come and go, but the current line-up of Denis “Sasquatch” Barthe (vocals, guitar), Dave “Watts” Watson (guitar), Kyle “Viking” Hagen (vocals, bass) and Ryan “Quatchi” Idris (drums) is the strongest yet.




The “new” Aggression has played over 250 shows in North America and Europe with amazing bands such as Brujeria, Venomous Concept, Cattle Decapitation, Zimmers Hole, Venom Inc, Toxic Holocaust, Midnight, Carcass, Havok, Warbringer and countless others.


“Aggression is honoured to join the Massacre Records family alongside blood brothers Sword, long time friends Oz and many other amazing acts.” Says the band about their signing with Massacre Records. “It’s been quite the journey getting here however someone once said that it is a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll. Here we are…”


Watch out and stay tuned for many more band news and updates to follow soon.


Aggression is:


Denis “Sasquatch” Barthe - vocals/guitar
Dave “Watts” Watson - guitar
Kyle “Viking” Hagen - vocals/bass
Ryan “Quatchi” Idris - drums


(Photo - Shimon Karmel)

San Diego, California hard rock / metal band, Seventrain, have released a lyric video for the song "One More Reason", from their new self-titled EP, which was released independently on March 1.


Guitarist Eric Horton comments: "'One More Reason' is about someone's tolerance being pushed way beyond their limits, being taken advantage of, bullied, abused physically and or mentally. The chorus there's one final warning letting the abuser know if their behaviour doesn't stop immediately, they will be gravely sorry for their actions. Not about revenge, but more like payback, teaching them a painful lesson to respect people. Standing up for yourself. Showing that you won’t be messed with..."







Seventrain EP details below.





Tracklisting:


“So Far”
“Rollercoaster”
“One More Reason”
“Save My Soul”


“So Far” lyric video:





“Save My Soul”:





Lineup:


Eric Koonze - Vocals
Dave Odegaard - Guitars
Eric Horton - Guitars (ex-Cage)
Greg Rupp - Bass
Calvin Lakin - Drums

George Thorogood has canceled the next leg of his 50th-anniversary tour dates with his band, THE DESTROYERS, so that he can undergo an undisclosed operation.

"George has been diagnosed with a very serious medical condition that will require immediate surgery and quite a few weeks of recuperation and healing," the band said in a statement earlier today (Tuesday, April 11). "You, our fans, mean the world to us, and we know this news is not want you wanted to hear, but rest assured GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS will be back. We'll keep you updated as we know more."

The next leg of GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS' North American tour was scheduled to kick off April 27 in Vancouver, British Columbia, and wrap May 21 in Big Flats, New York.

Tickets will be refunded at the point of purchase.

The guitarist, songwriter and singer, who turned 73 in February, launched his 50th-anniversary tour on March 17.

Another leg of the "Bad All Over The World - 50 Years Of Rock" tour is slated to begin in July.

"Bad All Over The World - 50 Years Of Rock" features Thorogood and Jeff Simon (drums, percussion) with longtime DESTROYERS Bill Blough (bass guitar),Jim Suhler (rhythm guitar) and Buddy Leach (saxophone).

Since 1976, GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS have sold over 15 million albums, built a catalog of classic hits, and played more than 8,000 ferocious live shows. They broke records with their "50 Dates/50 States Tour", delivered landmark performances at Live Aid and on "SNL", and became mainstays of radio, MTV, and stages worldwide for more than two generations. Through it all, they've remained one of the most consistent — and consistently passionate — progenitors of blues-based rock in pop culture history.

With more than 20 studio and live albums to their credit, GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS have achieved platinum and gold success with eight. In the past few years alone, the band released a top-selling limited edition seven-inch single for Record Store Day and saw the reissues of their legendary "Bad To The Bone", "Born To Be Bad" and "Greatest Hits: 30 Years Of Rock" albums on 180-gram colored vinyl. Thorogood himself received the 2018 B.B. King Award from the Montreal International Jazz Festival, and his solo debut "Party Of One" — which critics called "brilliant" (Spin),"electrifying" (Guitar Player),and "chock full of classics" (Music Connection) — became George's fastest-selling disc in over 20 years. In 2020, Epiphone created the George Thorogood White Fang' ES-125TDC premier signature model guitar, and GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS "Live In Boston 1982: The Complete Concert" was also released — an album that Classic Rock said "may well be one of the great live albums, entirely superb and a master class in live performance."

"It's easy to write a song, difficult to write a good song, and even harder to write a great song," Thorogood previously said. "It strikes home that I have the ability to write some pretty great songs, and there's a real sense of achievement to that."

With great sadness, we must announce the cancellation of our Canadian & U.S. tour dates from April 27, 2023 through May...

Posted by George Thorogood & The Destroyers on Tuesday, April 11, 2023

HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale, who has made a number of guest appearances in recent years alongside such artists as DAUGHTRY, APOCALYPTICA, THE HU, Eric Church, Lindsey Stirling, SHINEDOWN, Machine Gun Kelly, BLACK STONE CHERRY, SEETHER, ADRENALINE MOB and STONE SOUR, was asked in an interview with The SDR Show how her collaborations usually come about. She responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm requested, and I either say yes or no. It's a lot more yeses than it is nos, obviously. But I was just thinking about that the other day, 'cause I still have two on my plate that I have to record this month. And I'm, like, 'Man, people are gonna be just so sick of me by the end of this year.'

"It's interesting, 'cause I remember when we were coming up in the scene how that was Corey Taylor [SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR] for a couple of years, where it's, like, Corey Taylor was on everything," she continued. "And I remember thinking, I'm, like, 'Man, it would be cool to be wanted that much.' So I'm very grateful for it. It's a beautiful thing. And it's fun. You get to do stuff with the people that you love. And sometimes you get to just kind of put a different flavor on it. Especially with some of the collabs that I've been doing that are outside of rock. What I realized — 'cause they all give me the same speech; they're, like, 'We don't want you to cater to…' If it's country, 'We don't want you to cater to country. You're here to rock. This is what you do.' And what I realized is that it doesn't matter whether you're a pop star or a rap star or a country star, everybody wants to be a rock star. Everyone wants to put on a leather jacket and do that. So it's kind of great being able to represent the genre as well."

Back in 2014, Hale spoke about her penchant for collaborating with other artists during an interview with Carnival Of Madness. Asked whom she would like to work with that she hadn't yet, Lzzy said: "I'm a very 'do what I want, when I want, with whoever I want' type of gal. If I believe or admire someone, regardless of the genre, I will be very happy to work with them.

"Lindsey [Stirling] is a shredder," she added. "She's the real deal, and even when everyone said she'd never make it, she moved forward and did it anyway. I have a responsibility as a musician and a girl to support that. Next, I'd love to work with Eminem and I'd love to bring P!nk to the dark side."

This past December, HALESTORM released a deluxe edition of its latest album, "Back From The Dead". "Back From The Dead: Deluxe Edition" includes seven previously unreleased B-sides, including "Mine", a 1980s-inspired rocker. "Back From The Dead: Deluxe Edition" is available digitally, on CD, and cassette tape, marking the first time that the album has been offered in those physical formats.

Lzzy and her brother Arejay (drums) formed HALESTORM in 1998 while in middle school. Guitarist Joe Hottinger joined the group in 2003, followed by bassist Josh Smith in 2004.

In December 2018, HALESTORM was nominated for a "Best Rock Performance" Grammy Award for its song "Uncomfortable". Six years earlier, the band won its first Grammy in the category of "Best Hard Rock/ Metal Performance" for "Love Bites (So Do I)".

In a recent interview with Troy Culpan of May The Rock Be With You, Lzzy expressed her hope that she and her bandmates will have "a new record — kind of — set and figured out" by the end of 2023. And "maybe [even] done," Joe said, adding that "the gears are" turning with regard to writing the follow-up to "Back From The Dead".

Dave Lombardo, one of the most influential, innovative and prolific drummers of modern music, has shared "Inner Sanctum", the third single from his debut solo album, "Rites Of Percussion", which will arrive on May 5 via Ipecac Recordings. An accompanying Displaced/Replaced-created video for the track can be seen below.

Over the two previously released songs, "Journey Of The Host" and "Separation From The Sacred", Lombardo has further demonstrated why he's considered one of the pre-eminent drummers of the modern era. Revolver noted of the forthcoming collection: "It features a massive range of instruments: a large concert bass drum, a timpani, a grand piano, and an array of shakers, maracas, Chinese and symphonic gongs, Native American drums, congas, timbales, bongos, batás, wood blocks, djembes, ibos, darbukas, octobans, cajóns and cymbals." Consequence said, describing "Separation From The Sacred": "Here he strips down to a minimal tribal beat, mostly foregoing cymbals for the pitter-patter of the skins and intricate rim work with his sticks" and The Stranger speaking about the lead track, "Journey Of The Host", said the single "flaunts Lombardo's underutilized funk chops and showcases his power and dexterity."

Lombardo is one of the busiest musicians working right now. Never one to rest on his laurels, the drumming pioneer recently released new albums with DEAD CROSS and VENAMORIS, performed with his other new band, EMPIRE STATE BASTARD (also featuring members of BIFFY CLYRO),and will soon hit the road with MR. BUNGLE, followed by dates with the resurrected punk icons MISFITS.

The 13-track collection is the result of a 40-year career that saw Lombardo rise to prominence as a co-founder of SLAYER, earn two Grammy Awards, and expand his repertoire across genres. The Cuban-born Lombardo's resume includes outings with the acrobatic, Mike Patton-led FANTÔMAS, the critically revered John Zorn, experimental hip-hop artist DJ Spooky and the aforementioned MISFITS.

"[Mike] Patton originally gave me the idea as far back as 1998," explains Lombardo. "He introduced me to Tito Puente's 'Top Percussion' album. I was already familiar with Tito and was a bit shocked that Patton was so musically diverse, and that he surrounded himself with musicians of the same mindset. That inspired me. I have had ideas that I've recorded on cassette over the years, but Patton kept insisting that I had to do a 'drum album.' So, the idea behind the album is years in the making. I just had to find the right time — for me — to do it."

"When the pandemic hit, I thought, 'Well, I can't tour now,'" he says. "I immediately started working on the record. It was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had. I had my studio, all my drums. Nothing was in storage for once! My home became a place where I could be free and creative. On the one hand, the touring part of my livelihood had been taken away, but on the other, I finally had the time to educate myself on different software and recording techniques. It was a very educational and gratifying experience."

The recording process of the film score-like album had a simple mantra: drums had to be drums. Mixed in early 2022 by Lombardo's son, David A. Lombardo, the self-produced release features a large concert bass drum, a timpani, a grand piano, and a flock of shakers, maracas, Chinese and symphonic gongs, Native American drums, congas, timbales, bongos, batás, wood blocks, djembes, ibos, darbukas, octobans, cajóns, and cymbals.

"Rites Of Percussion" track listing:

01. Initiatory Madness
02. Separation From The Sacred
03. Inner Sanctum
04. Journey Of The Host
05. Maunder In Liminality
06. Despojo
07. Interfearium
08. Blood Let
09. Warpath
10. Guerrero
11. Vicissitude
12. Omiero
13. Animismo

Album pre-orders, which include CD, digital, and three vinyl variants: standard cigar smoke, indie retail exclusive blood sacrifice, and Ipecac-exclusive purple haze, are available now.

Dave Lombardo was born in Havana, Cuba, relocating to Los Angeles when he was a mere two years old. He began playing drums as a teenager, and co-founded SLAYER (and created the band's logo) in 1981. Rolling Stone, in their list of the "100 Greatest Drummers Of All Time," dubbed him the "Cuban speed demon, " Modern Drummer proclaimed him "The King," and Drummerworld gave him the title of "The Godfather of double bass." Lombardo's eye-popping resume includes over 100 studio albums/recordings and includes both recorded and live stints with GRIP INC., FANTÔMAS, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, DEAD CROSS, MR. BUNGLE, MISFITS, DJ Spooky, John Zorn, TESTAMENT, and most recently creating the soulful duo VENAMORIS, with his wife Paula.

Lombardo was effectively fired from SLAYER after sitting out the group's Australian tour in February/March 2013 due to a contract dispute with the other bandmembers. He was later replaced by Paul Bostaph, who was previously SLAYER's drummer from 1992 until 2001.

Shortly after his dismissal, Lombardo said that he discovered that 90 percent of SLAYER's tour income was being deducted as expenses, including fees to management, costing the band millions and leaving them with about 10 percent to split four ways. While he and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya hired auditors to figure out what had happened, Lombardo said he was never allowed to see any of the information obtained.

SLAYER played its last-ever show in November 2019 at The Forum in Los Angeles.

Lombardo rejoined TESTAMENT last year.

Photo credit: Ekaterina Gorbacheva

Brazilian/Dutch death metal firestarters, Crypta, performed on the Headbangers Stage at wacken Open Air 2022. Check out pro-shot video of  "Kali", "Starvation" and "From The Ashes" from the show below.





In April 2022, Crypta reissued their Echoes Of The Soul album, bundled with a very special bonus 7" via Napalm Records.




This razor-sharp treat features the brand new song “I Resign”, a lost bonus track from the debut sessions, as well as a hard-hitting live version of “Shadow Within”, a track found on Echoes Of The Soul.


In celebration of the release, the band unveiled a video for an intense live version of “Shadow Within”. Watch below:





Echoes of the Soul & "I Resign" are available in the following formats (order here):


- Back From The Crypt Edition (incl. Echoes of the Soul/“I Resign” 1 LP Gatefold SILVER + 7-inch bonus LP SILVER)
- “I Resign” – 7-inch bonus LP Black
- “I Resign” - Digital Single






Tracklisting:


"Awakening"
"Starvation"
"Possessed"
"Death Arcana"
"Shadow Within"
"Under The Black Wings"
"Kali"
"Blood Stained Heritage"
"Dark Night Of The Soul"
"From The Ashes"


“I Resign” video:

AxMinister is a heavy metal trio from Toronto, Canada. Their sound is true to the traditional metal stylings of some of the biggest metal bands in history. They have their fifth studio release coming in May and they invite metalheads around the world to dive into epic stories and epic riffs. The upcoming EP vir fortis is a three-track stunner of a record that gets lyrical content from Vlad The Impaler and Napoleon, its history delivered with thunder. The first single “Vlad the Impaler… Forests of Impalement” is a smoldering look at the Romanian hero and is being premiered through BraveWords. Check out the lyric video below!





 The band shares some details about the single and EP:




“The single chronicles the horrifying experience of impalement, and the ravenous joy Prince Vlad relished from his forests of impalement. The artwork for the album is oil paintings by our drummer Bas. Bas is sort of obsessed with Napoleon Bonaparte, and there are at least two more songs about the French Emperor to be released in the coming years.”


AxMinister leads listeners through history with vir fortis as they examine the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, and the story (along with the myth) of Vlad the Impaler. Their songs are historically accurate and they aim to tackle three things: History, self-improvement, and the ecclesiastical realm. According to them, they need to tell the world that great men have walked before them, great power lies within your souls, and that there is something bigger than yourself. Live your life any way you please, but remember, you will one day be held accountable.


vir fortis is out on May 11, 2023. It is recommended for fans of Megadeth, Manowar, and Judas Priest. Preorder on Bandcamp.





Tracklisting:


“The Age Of Napolean…The Rise”
“Vlad The Impaler…Son Of The Dragon”
“Vlade The Impaler…Forests Of Impalement” 


(Photo: Maribeth Chabot – Shootingstarr Rock & Roll Photography)

Following on from the release of their debut album, December, in August 2022, Israeli symphonic metallers StormbounD have returned with a cover of the Queen's classic track "The Show Must Go On", and an official video.


Speaking about why they chose to go with this track, the band stated:


"First of all, most of us are Queen fans. One day we were just fooling around with this song's intro at rehearsal, and it felt like something that could fit our sound and style, so we learned the entire song and played it at the next show. Ever since then, we can't do a show without it so we figured out that if everyone enjoys it, we might as well record the thing. It felt really good to take such an iconic song and give it a little energy boost while keeping the original version's harmonies, and we hope we've done it justice."




Check out StormbounD's video for "The Show Must Go On" below. Pick up the single here.





December is a diverse, and melodic prophecy of wrath with epic highs, and despondent lows. StormbounD masterfully takes symphonic metal to new heights while staying grounded in their roots and remaining accessible. They recommended listening for fans of Nightwish, Within Temptation, and Delain.





Tracklisting:


"Desert's Roar"
"Altar Of Innocence"
"Sacred Lies"
"Away From Here"
"December"
"Shadows"
"Flying High"
"Fragments"
"Child's Play"


"Child's Play" video:





"Flying High" video:

Rockshots Records has announced their signing off of Finnish rockers Ode In Black for the release of their sophomore album Into The Dark to be unleashed later this year.


The band comments on their signing and upcoming full-length:


"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.”




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 ‘80s 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. A first taste of Ode In Black’s new sound will be the single “Until We Fall” to be released on April 21, 2023 with a music video. The energetic “Until We Fall” will give a taste of what’s to come on their follow-up album Into The Dark.

Toque have released the official video for their new track "Something For The Pain”. The original song was written by four Canadian rockers: Todd Kerns, Cory Churko, Brent Fitz, and Shane Gaalaas. The song is currently available on all digital music streaming sites. 





“It’s important that we make sure everyone hear this new song, we are very proud of it, it was a great collaboration of us as musicians… we want to share that,” says Brent Fitz, bassist for Toque.  




The official "Something For The Pain" t-shirt is available now at this location.


Fans can expect more original music to come this year, as well watch for shows this Fall / Winter when Toque will once again tour through the frozen tundra of Canada and the US.


 

Former ICED EARTH vocalist Matt Barlow joined QUEENSRŸCHE on stage last night (Tuesday, April 11) at the Baltimore Soundstage in Baltimore, Maryland to perform the classic QUEENSRŸCHE song "Queen Of The Reich". Fan-filmed video of his appearance can be seen below.

Earlier today (Wednesday, April 12),QUEENSRŸCHE singer Todd La Torre shared a link to the YouTube video of Barlow's "Queen Of The Reich" performance, and he included the following message: "Thank you Baltimore, and a VERY special thank you to our dear friend Matthew Barlow for joining us on the spur of the moment for Queen of the Reich".

Barlow added in a separate post: "I had the opportunity to fulfill longtime dream, performing onstage with the legendary QUEENSRŸCHE!

"Many thanks to all of the fellas. The band and crew are absolute awesomeness!!"

ICED EARTH played its final show with Barlow at the 2011 edition of the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany.

Barlow announced his departure from ICED EARTH in March 2011. In a heartfelt statement, he cited his commitment to his family and the need for ICED EARTH to tour more as the reasons for his retirement; however, he committed to performing with ICED EARTH on all 2011 European festival dates, including Wacken Open Air.

Two and a half years ago, Barlow reunited with ICED EARTH guitarist and leader Jon Schaffer to celebrate the holiday season with an EP called "Winter Nights". Released under the SCHAFFER/BARLOW PROJECT banner, the effort contained the duo's unique spin on five Christmas classics and two ICED EARTH songs.

In April 2021, Schaffer pleaded guilty to his role in the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riot. As part of the plea deal, Jon entered into a cooperation agreement with the government.

Following the initial reports that Schaffer was involved in the riot, his ICED EARTH bandmates distanced themselves from his actions. Singer Stu Block and bassist Luke Appleton later posted separate statements on social media announcing their resignations. BLIND GUARDIAN frontman Hansi Kürsch also quit DEMONS & WIZARDS, his long-running project with Schaffer. The allegations also apparently affected Schaffer's relationship with his longtime record label Century Media, which had released albums from both ICED EARTH and DEMONS & WIZARDS. As of mid-January 2021, the Century Media artist roster page did not list either band.

Barlow's ASHES OF ARES project, which also features former ICED EARTH member Freddie Vidales, released its third studio album, "Emperors And Fools", in January 2022 via ROAR! Rock Of Angels. The LP ends with the eleven-minute-long epic "Monster's Lament" which includes the long-imagined joining of forces between Barlow and another former ICED EARTH singer, Tim "Ripper" Owens.

Barlow is married to Schaffer's sister.

I had the opportunity to fulfill longtime dream, performing onstage with the legendary Queensryche!
Many thanks to all of the fellas. The band and crew are absolute awesomeness!! 🤘❤️🤘

Posted by Matthew Barlow on Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Thank you Baltimore, and a VERY special thank you to our dear friend Matthew Barlow for joining us on the spur of the moment for Queen of the Reich 🤘

Posted by Todd La Torre on Wednesday, April 12, 2023

🎸 Heavy metal legends Queensrÿche bring 'The Digital Alliance Tour' to Baltimore Soundstage tomorrow night with special guests Marty Friedman & Trauma! TIX → bit.ly/Queensryche-Bmore

Posted by Baltimore Soundstage on Monday, April 10, 2023

In a new interview with Tavo El Billy, TESTAMENT guitarist Eric Peterson spoke about how his band has been able to adapt to the access-over-ownership business model of streaming music. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The industry, the record company side, they've seen that record sales have gone down a lot, but what they now acknowledge and they now look at is streaming and stuff like that. So in that case, TESTAMENT is now bigger than we've been. They don't go off record sales anymore. That's a good thing, obviously. [There's] physical sales and there's streaming and then there's online sales, but I think what they look at now is the streaming. Even TESTAMENT isn't so pro focusing on streaming. We're still kind of stuck in the — I wouldn't say 'stuck', but there's probably a lot more that we could do to be more of a streaming band. That just sounds weird to us, but I think that's kind of where it's headed. I think that there's room for TESTAMENT to work a little bit harder with that mentality of streaming and stuff like that."

Peterson's bandmate, TESTAMENT frontman Chuck Billy, previously talked about the importance of still releasing full-length records during a March 2020 interview with The Aquarian Weekly. At the time he said: "I have also asked the same question going in to work on the last few albums: why do we even make records anymore when all people seem to want are singles? Thanks to the Internet, many people will only download one or two of their favorite tracks [from a record]. People don't download entire records anymore.

"It's tough," he admitted. "You've got to get out there and hit the pavement. It's like you're starting over [when you release a new record]. You have to tour and push the record. Some people may want to buy the CD, but don't know where to get it. They no longer have the option of going out to a record store chain to buy it. They don't get to walk into a store, see an album and say, 'I can get that record right here. Cool, it's even cheaper here than anywhere else.' We used to sell a lot of CDs that way."

TESTAMENT's latest album, "Titans Of Creation", was released in April 2020 via Nuclear Blast. The long-awaited follow-up to 2016 album "Brotherhood Of The Snake" was produced by Billy and Peterson while Juan Urteaga of Trident Studios handled co-producing, recording and engineering. Andy Sneap was responsible for the mixing and mastering of the album. Eliran Kantor stepped up once again to create the artwork for the cover of this release.

Drummer Dave Lombardo rejoined TESTAMENT in February 2022 following the departure of Gene Hoglan.

An original member of thrash metal legends SLAYER, Lombardo was the guest drummer on TESTAMENT's 1999 studio album "The Gathering", which also marked the first time the band worked with then-up-and-coming British producer/engineer Andy Sneap.

TESTAMENT released a "Titans Of Creation" video album in September 2022 via Nuclear Blast. The limited-edition collectible features performance videos of all the tracks on the record. The footage was compiled at a soundstage in San Francisco and was edited into music video-style clips that were made available on Blu-ray accompanying the CD with bonus photos and liner notes plus a button and sticker in a longbox. Staying true to the record, the performances feature Gene Hoglan behind the kit. This version is limited to 6,500 units worldwide.

In a new interview with Ireland's Overdrive, GOJIRA guitarist/vocalist Joseph Duplantier was asked if he and his bandmates have commenced work on the follow-up to 2021's "Fortitude" album. He responded: "Actually, Mario [Duplantier, GOJIRA drummer and Joseph's brother] was very busy recording drum patterns, and song structures over the pandemic period, and I have a few new things also, but we're not really in a 'writing the next album' situation right now. We're just sending a few ideas to each other here and there.

"Right now, I feel like I squeezed myself like a lemon for 'Fortitude', and I have nothing left in the tank," he explained. "I believe that the slow process is best for us. Some bands just pump out new music with lightning speed, and from what I've seen with a few bands, it's not a good vibe. In fact, it's very stressful and can cause bands to implode. I don't want that to happen to GOJIRA. I want to take it slow and do the very best that we can do when it comes to writing music and lyrics."

Duplantier also talked about how important having his own recording studio, Silver Cord, which is located near his home in New York City on the border of Ridgewood, Queens and Bushwick, Brooklyn, has been for GOJIRA's creativity. He said: "Building the studio was one of the best decisions I have ever made. For me, it's mandatory to have a place where I can work and not be interrupted. I can just be there feeling miserable and trying to come up with ideas, and it's okay if they don't come at once. Silver Cord is a place where ideas are born, nurtured and grow into bigger things, or perhaps not at all. [Laughs] Either way, it doesn't matter because I can just leave and come back tomorrow.

"Before Silver Cord, we had a studio in France [we recorded three albums there], and when I moved to New York in 2009-2010, I was between creative places, and away from the rest of the band… which was a really weird time," he explained. "But that's when I started thinking about building a studio, and Mario moved over for a few years and helped me build Silver Cord.

"I am notoriously slow when I work, because I like to go through everything with a fine-tooth comb, and then after a while, there might be a creative explosion where lots of music or lyrics are written in short period of time, so just being able to have this special place to do all of that, is absolutely vital for me personally.

"I'm not very organized," Joseph added. "I know people who prepare all their demos, go the studio, record, and then that's that. For me, I'm kind of all over the place. [Laughs]. Sometimes, I may start the writing process by mixing before I even have one song. For example, I have recorded an entire demo in the past, just to research how it sounds and how we are gonna do things going forward."

Last October, GOJIRA released a new song titled "Our Time Is Now". The track appears on the soundtrack to EA Sports' long-running NHL video game franchise "NHL 23".

"Fortitude" came out in April 2021 via Roadrunner Records. The follow-up to 2016's "Magma" was recorded and produced by Joseph at Silver Cord and mixed by Andy Wallace (NIRVANA, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE).

GOJIRA initially laid the foundation for "Fortitude" in 2020 with the surprise release of the single "Another World".

The artwork for "Fortitude" was created by Joseph.

Later this month, GOJIRA and MASTODON will embark on "The Mega-Monsters Tour", a massive co-headline tour across North America in 2023 along with special guests LORNA SHORE on all dates. The trek kicks off at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon on April 18, stops at legendary venues such as the Forum in Los Angeles, California on April 21, and steamrolls through MASTODON's hometown of Atlanta for their biggest Georgia headlining gig to date at the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre. The first leg concludes at Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania on May 11. Meanwhile, the tour resumes with a second leg from August 9 through September 2.

In a new interview with "The Chuck Shute Podcast", L.A. GUNS frontman Phil Lewis confirmed that his band doesn't use any backing tracks in its live shows these days. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We wouldn't know how to do that. I guess it all starts with the drums, and you have to play to a drum track. There goes your whole live vibe, 'cause you're playing with a drum machine. It works for DEF LEPPARD, and good luck to 'em, but we need a little bit more of an oscillation, if you will, in the dynamic."

Lewis went on to say that the other members of L.A. GUNS handle backing vocals during the band's live shows. "Tracii's [Guns, guitar] not much of a singer — he'll be the first to admit. But Johnny [Martin, bass] and Ace [Von Johnson, guitar], they fancy themselves as being decent singers. Tracii will do stuff — like lower stuff — and he does it enthusiastically. And he's gotten a lot better [laughs]; let's just leave it at that. [Laughs]"

In recent years, more and more artists have been given a pass for relying on pre-recorded tracks, drum triggers and other assorted technology that makes concerts more synthetic but also more consistent. For better or worse, pre-recorded tracks are becoming increasingly common for touring artists of all levels and genres and they're not just used in pop music — many rock artists utilize playback tracks to varying degrees.

KISS frontman Paul Stanley, who has been struggling to hit the high notes in many of the band's classic songs for a number of years, has been accused of singing to a backing tape on KISS's ongoing "End Of The Road" tour.

Back in 2015, KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons slammed bands who used backing tapes for not being honest enough to include that fact on their concert tickets.

"I have a problem when you charge $100 to see a live show and the artist uses backing tracks," Simmons said. "It's like the ingredients in food. If the first ingredient on the label is sugar, that's at least honest. It should be on every ticket — you're paying $100, 30 to 50 percent of the show is [on] backing tracks and they'll sing sometimes, sometimes they'll lip sync. At least be honest. It's not about backing tracks, it's about dishonesty.

"There's nobody with a synthesizer on our stage, there's no samples on the drums, there's nothing," Gene continued. "There's very few bands who do that now — AC/DC, METALLICA, us. I can't even say that about U2 or THE [ROLLING] STONES. There's very few bands who don't use [backing] tracks."

Last month, KISS's longtime manager Doc McGhee defended Stanley's vocal performance on "End Of The Road", explaining that the "Star Child" "fully sings to every song" at every concert. He explained: It's enhanced. It's just part of the process to make sure that everybody hears the songs the way they should be sang to begin with. Nobody wants to hear people do stuff that's not real, that's not what they came to hear."

When McGhee was asked to clarify if he was "actually saying there are backing tracks that [Paul is] singing to," Doc said: "He'll sing to tracks. It's all part of a process. Because everybody wants to hear everybody sing. But he fully sings to every song."

In March 2020, SHINEDOWN guitarist Zach Myers said that "90 percent" of rock artists use at least some pre-recorded tracks during their live performances. He told Rock Feed: "It bothers me that it bothers people. I'm, like, 'Why does this bother you?' It's the way it is. People have been doing this since the '80s. And we want the sound to be the best it can be. Could we go up there, just the four of us, and put on the best rock show ever? Of course. But that's not how we wanna do it."

Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach has previously said that he is "one of the last people" who are still not using pre-recorded tracks at their live shows. "I don't know how much longer I can say to you that I don't use tapes onstage, because I don't, and I never have," he told Consequence Of Sound. "And I still don't. When I have opening bands, and they're using tapes, and then I come out and I don't use tapes… sometimes, it makes me feel stupid, because I'm like, 'What am I doing, when all these kids half my age can come onstage and do all of my moves, but they don't have to warm up for an hour before the show, or weeks, before the first show?' Sometimes, I'm like, 'Why do I even bother, if the public is so used to this other way?' It's becoming very rare to come see a good band that's actually a real band — that's not miming or doing silly moves while a tape is running. It just becomes more rare as the years go on."

In 2019, IRON MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith said that he doesn't "agree" with certain rock artists relying on pre-recorded tracks during their live performances. "I tell you what, I see it with a lot of younger bands, and I don't think it's a good thing at all," he told the New York Post. "I mean, the music is getting too technical now. You have computerized recording systems, which we use, but I think we use them more for convenience than because we need to. We've toured with a couple bands that use tapes — it's not real. You're supposed to play live; it should be live. I don't agree with using tapes … I think it's a real shame."

One musician who has been open about his band's use of taped vocals during live performances is MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx, who said: "We've used technology since '87." He added the group employed "sequencers, sub tones, background vox tracks, plus background singers and us. [MÖTLEY CRÜE also taped] stuff we can't tour with, like cello parts in ballads, etc.... We love it and don't hide it. It's a great tool to fill out the sound."

In a 2014 interview, MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist Mick Mars admitted that he wasn't comfortable with the fact that his band used pre-recorded backing vocals in its live shows, claiming that he preferred to watch groups whose performances are delivered entirely live. "I don't like it," he said. "I think a band like ours… I have to say '60s bands were my favorite — '60s and '70s bands — because they were real, like, three-piece bands or four-piece bands, and they just got up there and kicked it up. Made a mistake? So what? Sounded a little bit empty here or there? So what? It's the bigness and the rawness and the people that developed and wrote the songs and made them and presented them. To me, that's what I really like. I mean, I could put on a MÖTLEY CD and play with it all day long. I don't wanna do that."

To celebrate and promote the forthcoming The Journey Continues tour this August and September, Big Big Train will be sharing videos of a couple of songs filmed on tour last year.


The band recently shared the video for "The Florentine" recorded in September 2022 at The Boerderij in The Netherlands. Today, the band is pleased to share the performance clip of "The First Rebreather", originally the opening track from their English Electric Pt.1 album.


Guitarist/keyboardist Rikard Sjöblom comments: “'The First Rebreather' was the first song I totally fell in love with when I joined Big Big Train back in 2014, so I’m always really happy when we include it in a setlist. The performance of it here at the Boerderij from last September is great and I’m glad the cameras were rolling! The moody intro, upbeat chorus and the eerie mid section, followed by the bombastic end section - it’s a masterpiece! I can say that, because I didn’t write the song! There’s something about the storytelling in this one that always gets me and Alberto delivers it really well.”




Bassist Gregory Spawton adds: “This song is based on the exploits of diver Alexander Lambert, who was the first man to use experimental rebreather diving equipment in a flooded tunnel. I remember drawing from Dante and Beowulf when I was writing the lyrics. The ebb and flow of the music also helps to deliver the story.”





Watch the video for "The Florentine" below:





See bigbigtrain.com/live for tour dates, and ticket links to all venue box offices.





(Photo - Michael Heller)

BRRR! There's a chill in the air and it's courtesy of ice cold death metal crew, Frozen Soul.


The band - vocalist Chad Green; guitarists Michael Munday and Chris Bonner; bassist Samantha Mobley; and drummer Matt Dennard - is back with frigid force and will unleash its new album Glacial Domination on May 19 via Century Media. The album was produced by Trivium vocalist/guitarist Matthew K. Heafy and co-produced by Daniel Schmuck. Pre-order it here.







Today, the band has shared the video for the title track. It features a cameo from Heafy, as well as a past vs. future battle that ends with someone's arm being ripped off!


"'Glacial Domination' was co-written by the band and Matt Heafy of Trivium," Frozen Soul share. "We had a lot of fun exploring new things like catchier choruses, more leads, and solos. It's an avalanche of riffs leaning in traditional Frozen Soul but adding some new flavor. At the end of the day, we wanted to write a catchy and fun death metal song! It's paired with another video by Brendan McGowen that features Matt and a fight between a stranded, time-traveling space man and a literal caveman — what's not to love about that?!"


Find the video below.





Tracklisting:


"Invisible Tormentor"    
"Arsenal Of War"    
"Death And Glory"    
"Morbid Effigy"    
"Annihilation"    
"Glacial Domination"    
"Frozen Soul"    
"Assimilator"    
"Best Served Cold"    
"Abominable"    
"Atomic Winter"


"Glacial Domination" video:





"Arsenal Of War" video:





"Morbid Effigy" video:





Frozen Soul live:


April
14 - Philadelphia, PA - Decibel Metal & Beer Fest
15 - Pittsburgh, PA - Roxian Theatre
16 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
18 - Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom
19 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrews Hall
20 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Intersection
21 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre
22 - Montreal, QG - MTelus (With Despised Icon)
23 - Boston, MA - Paradise
25 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage
26 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogart's
27 - Nashville, TN - Eastside Bowl
28 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
29 - Orlando, FL - The Beacham
30 - Tampa, FL - The Ritz


May
1 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall
3 - Austin, TX - Mohawk
4 - San Antonio, TX - Vibes Event Center
5 - Ft. Worth, TX - Ridglea Theater
6 - Lawrence, KS - Granada Theater
7 - Denver, CO - Summit Music Hall
8 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater
10 - Mesa, AZ - The Nile
11 - Los Angeles, CA - Belasco Theater
12 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues
13 - Berkeley, CA - UC Theatre
14 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades
16 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
18 - Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre
19 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
20 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre
22 - Edmonton, AB - Union Hall
23 - Calgary, AB - Palace Theatre
25 - Winnipeg, MB - Park Theatre
26 - Minneapolis, MN - Skyway Theater

The freshly crowned Top 10 charting band, Xandria, recently returned to the peak of the mountain with an impressive new lineup and their brand new studio album, The Wonders Still Awaiting. Once again, the pioneers of German symphonic metal enchant their fans with the captivating official lyric video for the single, “My Curse Is My Redemption”. Singer Ambre Vourvahis underlines the intimate setting with breathtaking vocals.


Xandria on “My Curse Is My Redemption”: “As many of you Xandria fans have named this song as one of your favorites from the new album, we decided to make a video for it - with beautiful pictures underlining the meaning of the lyrics: Music, art, as something that can derive from painful experiences, and then not only heal you, but also others. It is a wonderful gift for us all then.


Another musical colour from the rich palette of our album The Wonders Still Awaiting, on which each song has its very own identity and its own atmosphere. This one is symphonic for sure, but also has some straight rock vibes, and a certain 80's flavour to it. It is melancholic but also has a hopeful twist, in both the music and the lyrics.




We noticed that it is a wonderful song to play live - and we are looking forward to play that song for you on the upcoming tour!”


Watch the official lyric video for “My Curse Is My Redemption”:





Order The Wonders Still Awaiting here.





The Wonders Still Awaiting tracklisting:


"Two Worlds"
"Reborn"
"You Will Never Be Our God" (feat. Ralf Scheepers)
"The Wonders Still Awaiting"
"Ghosts"
"Your Stories I'll Remember"
"My Curse Is My Redemption"
"Illusion Is Their Name"
"Paradise"
"Mirror Of Time"
"Scars"
"The Maiden And The Child"
"Astèria"


“Two Worlds” video:





"The Wonders Still Awaiting" video:





"Ghosts" video:





"You Will Never Be Our God" video:





"Reborn" video:





Xandria is set to embark on a European tour with symphonic metal greats, Delain. Compelling the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK, France and Germany in April and May, this package promises an unforgettable experience!
 



Xandria lineup:


Ambre Vourvahis - Vocals
Marco Heubaum - Guitar
Robert Klawonn - Guitar
Tim Schwarz - Bass
Dimitrios Gatsios - Drums


(Photo - Tim Tronckoe)

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, "The Weapon". 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"


"Digital Man" visualizer:





"Chemistry" visualizer:





"The Analog Kid" visualizer:





Unboxing video:

In any serious conversation about death metal, the name Vomitory has to come up. Following their inception in 1989, between 1996 and 2011 they dropped eight of the most blistering albums the genre has spewed up, the quartet parting ways in 2013. However, the band's retirement turned out to be short lived, returning to stages in 2019 to celebrate the band's 30th anniversary, and now they drop their first new full-length in twelve years, the monstrous All Heads Are Gonna Roll.


For a first preview of the album, a video for the title track, directed by Marcus Svensson, can be viewed below.


Boasting the classic Vomitory sound with a few new twists and turns, it is everything their faithful could have hoped for, the band having taken their time before committing to it rather than rushing in. "We weren't feeling any pressure, it was rather about making a decision whether we should continue as a band, i.e. release new material, or simply put the band back in the grave again," explains drummer Tobias Gustafsson. "We wrote a few songs first just for the fun of it, to see if we still 'had it', before we made the final decision to continue and make a new full-length album."




All Heads Are Gonna Roll is best described as "fast, grinding, D-beat, fist-in-your-face death metal", it features fresh aspects that are uncommon to Vomitory records. "One thing in particular we did was to try to build distinct choruses in the songs, which is something we didn't put too much effort into earlier," explains drummer Tobias Gustafsson. "We have also spent a lot more time working with the backing vocal arrangements, which we certainly think paid off very well. It brings something new to our sound. We have also tried to write more straightforward riffs, like we did in the early 2000s."


The instruments for the record were tracked in the band's rehearsal space, on a mobile studio setup engineered by Mats Lindström, and was self-produced. This allowed them to work at their own pace in the hours that worked for them, rather than having this dictated to them as would be the case if they had rented a studio. "Although we had a lot of flexibility to choose our working hours, it was still crucial to keep the recording schedule as strict as possible, because it was so easy to say 'let's do it tomorrow instead'." For vocals, they went to Leon Music Studios and engineer Rikard Löfgren, which was where they recorded their last three albums. They brought in good friend Christian Fredriksson (Vulkan) to play some guitar solos, but otherwise it is entirely their own work. With vivid horror movie-inspired artwork - with a hint of anti-religion thrown in for good measure - All Heads Are Gonna Roll really is the whole package for death metal fans, and a stunning return to form after so many years between releases.





All Heads Are Gonna Roll, out May 26 via Metal Blade, can be pre-ordered here in the following formats:


- Digipak-CD
- 180g black vinyl
- dim gray marbled vinyl (limited to 700 copies)
- crimson red marbled vinyl (limited to 500 copies)
- clear w/ red & white splatter vinyl (limited to 300 copies)
- silver w/ black splatter vinyl (limited to 300 copies)
- red w/ purple splatter vinyl (limited to 300 copies) Sound Pollution exclusive


Cover art by Giannis Nakos.





All Heads Are Gonna Roll tracklisting:


"All Heads Are Gonna Roll"
"Decrowned"
"Ode To The Meat Saw"
"The Deepest Tomb"
"Piece By Stinking Piece"
"Raped, Strangled, Sodomized, Dead"
"Dead Man Stalking"
"Disciples Of The Damned"
"Dead World"
"Beg For Death"


"All Heads Are Gonna Roll" video:





Vomitory lineup:


Erik Rundqvist - vocals/bass
Urban Gustafsson - guitar
Peter Östlund - lead guitar
Tobias Gustafsson - drums


(Photo - Erik Hansen)

Norwegian rockers KVELERTAK will release their new album, "Endling", on September 8 via Rise Records/Petroleum Records.

The official music video for the LP's first single, "Krøterveg Te Helvete", can be seen below.

"'Krøterveg Te Helvete' is a celebration of the intolerable levels of hardships of being in a popular rock band in 2023," says KVELERTAK.

Thematically, "Endling" continues on the path of 2020's critically acclaimed "Splid" — which received press accolades from Stereogum, MetalSucks, Kerrang!, Revolver, Invisible Oranges, BLABBERMOUTH.NET, Guitar World, and more — by delving further into local lore and legend, though guitarist Vidar Landa summed it up best. "On 'Endling', we tell the stories of the extinct and dying men and women of Norway. Old and new myths, culture, and rituals come to life — the folklore that doesn't fit a TV series concept. Vikings and trolls are for television. This is the real deal."

"As the sun fell, at the time when oxen are unyoked, following the trail cut by the footsteps of Rasmus Vardal, the marauders of rock came riding again, screaming Kielland is dead, long live Kielland!," exclaims the band.

"Endling" track listing:

01. Krøterveg Te Helvete
02. Fedrekult
03. Likvoke
04. Motsols
05. Døgeniktens Kvad
06. Endling
07. Skoggangr
08. Paranoia 297
09. Svart September
10. Morild

The follow-up to 2016's "Nattesferd", "Splid" marked KVELERTAK's first release since the departure of longtime frontman Erlend Hjelvik and addition of Ivar Nikolaisen.

Landa told Ireland's Overdrive that the singer switch "was seamless in a way. We knew that Erlend wanted to quit and do other stuff," he said. "We were lucky that we had that close connection with Ivar. He's been part of KVELERTAK for a long time and has sung on a few tracks for us in the past, doing backing vocals. We've toured together in the past also so he was really the only one that we were thinking of to replace him when Erlend was first talking about leaving. Luckily, Ivar wanted to do it and it's all just fit really well, thankfully. It would have been much harder to go through the audition process and undergo that process of looking for a new vocalist. We were very lucky for the way it all happened."

Nikolaisen made his live debut with KVELERTAK in July 2018 at the Fjellparkfestivalen in Flekkefjord, Norway.

MÖTLEY CRÜE's manager has accused Mick Mars's representatives of "elder abuse" in the guitarist's legal dispute with his bandmates over their ongoing tour.

When Mars, a co-founding member of MÖTLEY CRÜE, announced his retirement from touring with the group last October as a result of worsening health issues, he maintained that he would remain a member of the band, with John 5 taking his place on the road. However, in his lawsuit, which was filed last Thursday (April 6) in Los Angeles County's Superior Court, the 71-year-old musician said that, after his announcement, the rest of CRÜE tried to remove him as a significant stakeholder in the group's corporation and business holdings via a shareholders' meeting.

Specifically, Mars claims he was asked to sign a severance agreement that would divest him of his 25 percent stake in the band's various business interests in return for a 5 percent stake in the band's 2023 tour. This stake, the lawsuit alleges, would be reduced to 0 percent for future tours. Mick claims CRÜE's management later upped the offer from 5 percent to a 7.5 percent stake in the band's 2023 tour, which would remain contingent on Mars divesting himself from the band and their businesses. When Mars refused to sign the papers, the band took the dispute to arbitration "rather than a public lawsuit so that the public would not be aware of the deplorable manner in which they treated their 'brother' of 41 years," Mick claims in the lawsuit.

In a new interview with Variety, CRÜE's manager of 29 years, Allen Kovac, said he was so incensed by an interview Mars gave Variety after the suit was filed that he agreed to go on record addressing the musician's accusations — including whether or not the group's performances are largely on tape.

Kovac said Mars is coming out with a list of allegations "to gain leverage in a smear campaign on MÖTLEY. He's attacked the band, and he's done it in a slanderous way, with false accusations and misrepresenting the facts to the fans. Mick is not the victim. The victims are MÖTLEY CRÜE and the brand, which Mick is so prideful of." But, he added, "What's upsetting to me is not Mick, but his representatives, who have guided Mick to say and do harmful things to the brand he cares about so much, MÖTLEY CRÜE. He has a degenerative disease and people are taking advantage of him. It's called elder abuse."

He continued: "Mick's representatives have no idea what they've created, but I've stopped the band from speaking about this, so they're not gonna turn the fans against Mick. But I am going to make sure that people understand that Mick hasn't been treated badly. In fact, he was treated better than anyone else in the band, and they carried him and they saved his life."

Mars suffers from Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS),a chronic and inflammatory form of arthritis that mainly affects the spine and pelvis. After years of performing through the pain, he informed the other members of MÖTLEY CRÜE last summer that he could no longer tour with them but would still be open to recording new music or performing at residencies that did not require much travel.

In his lawsuit, Mars also alleged that he was the only band member to play 100 percent live on their most recent tour, claiming Sixx "did not play a single note on bass during the entire U.S. tour."

"Everything is live with Nikki's [Sixx] bass playing and Tommy's [Lee] drum playing," insisted Kovac in his Variety interview. "When they've used loops, they're still playing. There are augmented vocals, which were (recorded) in the studio and are backgrounds behind the two ladies who are singing and (other background vocals by) John 5 and Nikki Sixx, and before that Mick and Nikki." He described the pre-recorded vocal layering as where "you multi-track and you do gang vocals with, like, 20 people, just like all the other bands do with background vocals. They've got background vocals in the mix. That's the truth.

"But Nikki played his bass and always has," Kovac continued. "Vince [Neil] was singing better than he was before (on the latest tour). That was in reviews. Now, John 5 is playing like who John 5 is. I've heard John 5 perform and I heard Mick perform. Both are great guitar players. Unfortunately, Mick is not the same. He hasn't been the same for a long time. Which was in reviews! You see that the professionals knew. DEF LEPPARD (which alternated headlining spots on tour) knew. And (Mars) caused a train wreck up there, because he would play the wrong songs and the wrong parts, even with the guide tracks. When he played the wrong song, it wasn't Nikki Sixx that had a tape; it was the soundman bringing it into the mix so the audience could hear a song, even though the guitar player was playing a different song." He says audiences "would hear it at first, but (sound engineers) would fix it so that we could keep the song going. I heard it. I'd go to the sound board."

The manager said that, despite what he alleges was a pattern of terrible performances, the band never thought of firing Mars — until he announced that he would be coming off the road due to the difficulties of touring with Ankylosing Spondylitis. "They honored their commitment and propped him up," Kovac said. "Now there's a new guitar player. I want people to hear the difference. They're gonna play the U.S. again in a bunch of markets, and people will be able to use their own ears, just like they can use their own judgment about third-party declarations and contracts instead of spin."

After Mars filed his lawsuit on Thursday, Sixx responded on Twitter, writing: "Sad day for us and we don't deserve this considering how many years we've been propping him up. We still wish him the best and hope he find's [sic] lawyers and managers who aren't damaging him. We love you Mick."

According to Variety, Mars's attorney said he was warned by the band's lawyers that "if your client rejects the severance package that was graciously offered to him by the band, he will get next to nothing. I suggest you think about the repercussions of this decision… There is undisputed legal cause here for Mick's removal. Mick is unable to perform as a full-fledged band member. Among other things, as demonstrated during the last tour, he repeatedly forgets his chords, does not play the right song, plays chords of a different song while on stage, and so on."

Mick's filing claimed that MÖTLEY CRÜE filed an arbitration case against him in February, "essentially suing him" to prove that it had the right to fire him from the band.

"They clearly commenced an arbitration, rather than a public lawsuit, so that the public would not be aware of the deplorable manner in which they treated their 'brother' of 41 years," lawyers for Mars wrote in the petition.

Mick is suing MÖTLEY CRÜE so he can go over all the financial books and determine if he's getting what he feels he deserves.

American metal act ICED EARTH will release two new EPs on April 28 via ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records. Titled "Hellrider" and "I Walk Among You", these releases will include rare recordings from the transition phase between singer Tim "Ripper" Owens and predecessor/successor Matt Barlow in 2007 and 2008, a particularly exciting and eventful period in ICED EARTH's band history.

The "Hellrider" EP consists of the songs "Prophecy", "Birth Of The Wicked" and "The Coming Curse", originally from the album "Something Wicked This Way Comes" (1998),voted one of the best power metal records of all time by Metal Hammer. In late summer 2007, all three tracks were re-recorded, featuring Owens.

The second EP "I Walk Among You" includes the studio tracks "Setian Massacre", "A Charge To Keep" and "The Clouding" from the 2007 album "Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part I)", which were remixed and remastered in 2008 and feature the then-recently returned Barlow. In addition, there are the live tracks "Dark Saga", "Pure Evil" and "Iced Earth", cut at the 2008 Graspop Metal Meeting and also featuring Barlow.

The official lyric video for "The Clouding", taken from the "I Walk Among You" EP can be seen below.

ICED EARTH comments on the EPs: "Before now, these releases hadn't been issued on anything other than CD. Now they've been remastered, with new artwork, new mastering, new formats on vinyl, picture disc, and they'll be available for digital download for the first time."

Both EPs will be made available on various vinyl formats and will also be released as a two-in-one digipack CD and 2LP picture disc combo.

"Hellrider": Produced by Jon Schaffer and Jim Morris. Engineered and mixed by Jim Morris. Cover art by Monte Moore and Roy Young. Layout by Roy Young.

"I Walk Among You": Produced by Jon Schaffer and Jim Morris. Engineered and mixed by Jim Morris. Cover art by Sun Khamunaki. Layout by Roy Young.

Track list CD:

"Hellrider" (feat. Tim "Ripper" Owens)

01. Prophecy
02. Birth Of The Wicked
03. The Coming Curse

"I Walk Among You" (feat. Matt Barlow)

04. Setian Massacre
05. A Charge To Keep
06. The Clouding
07. Dark Saga (Live at Graspop 2008)
08. Pure Evil (Live at Graspop 2008)
09. Iced Earth (Live at Graspop 2008)

Track list 2LP Picture Disc:

Side A:

"Hellrider" (feat. Tim "Ripper" Owens)

01. Prophecy
02. Birth Of The Wicked
03. The Coming Curse

Side B:

• "Exclusive Artwork"

Side C:

"I Walk Among You" (feat. Matt Barlow)

01. Setian Massacre
02. A Charge To Keep
03. The Clouding

Side D:

01. Dark Saga (Live at Graspop 2008)
02. Pure Evil (Live at Graspop 2008)
03. Iced Earth (Live at Graspop 2008)

"Hellrider" vinyl track list:

Side A:

01. Prophecy
02. Birth Of The Wicked
03. The Coming Curse

Side B:

• "Exclusive Etching"

"I Walk Among You" vinyl track list:

Side A:

01. Setian Massacre
02. A Charge to Keep
03. The Clouding

Side B:

01. Dark Saga (Live at Graspop 2008)
02. Pure Evil (Live at Graspop 2008)
03. Iced Earth (Live at Graspop 2008)

"Hellrider" lineup:

Jon Schaffer - Rhythm, Lead, Bass Guitars, Backing vocals
Tim Owens - Lead Vocals
Brent Smedley - Drums
Tim Mills - Guitar Solos

"I Walk Among You" lineup:

Jon Schaffer - Rhythm, Lead, Bass Guitars, Backing vocals
Matt Barlow - Lead Vocals
Brent Smedley - Drums
Troy Seele - Guitar Solos

"Graspop Raw 2008" lineup:

Jon Schaffer - Rhythm Guitar, Backing vocals
Matt Barlow - Lead Vocals
Brent Smedley - Drums
Troy Seele - Lead Guitar
Freddie Vidales - Bass Guitar

Two years ago, Schaffer pleaded guilty to his role in the U.S. Capitol riot.

Although Schaffer was initially charged with six crimes, including engaging in an act of physical violence and targeting police with bear spray, he pleaded guilty to only two charges: obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress; and trespassing on restricted grounds of the Capitol while armed with a deadly or dangerous weapon. The first charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, while the second carries up to a 10-year prison term.

As part of the plea deal, Schaffer agreed to cooperate with investigators and potentially testify in related criminal cases. In return for Schaffer's assistance, the Justice Department might later urge the judge to show leniency during his sentencing.

According to an April 2021 Justice Department press release, Schaffer has "acknowledged he is a founding lifetime member" of the right-wing Oath Keepers extremist group.

The 54-year-old musician was the first Capitol riot defendant to reach a plea deal.

Following the initial reports that Schaffer was involved in the riot, his ICED EARTH bandmates distanced themselves from his actions. Singer Stu Block and bassist Luke Appleton later posted separate statements on social media announcing their resignations. BLIND GUARDIAN frontman Hansi Kürsch also quit DEMONS & WIZARDS, his long-running project with Schaffer. The allegations also apparently affected Schaffer's relationship with his longtime record label Century Media, which had released albums from both ICED EARTH and DEMONS & WIZARDS. As of mid-January 2021, the Century Media artist roster page did not list either band.

On Tuesday (April 11),the second of METALLICA's four-night residency on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", the Rock And Roll Hall of Famers performed "Holier Than Thou", a song from their self-titled 1991 album, better known as The Black Album. Check out video of the performance below.

METALLICA kicked off the "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" residency Monday night (April 10) by sitting down for a chat with host Jimmy Kimmel and performing "Lux Æterna", the lead single from the band's upcoming album, "72 Seasons".

"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" has the distinction of being the longest-running late night program still on the air.

Last Friday, when METALLICA first announced its "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" residency, the band wrote on social media: "In a first for the Jimmy Kimmel Live! show, it's 'Metallica Week,' as we will be the musical guest each night, beginning on Monday, April 10, through Thursday, April 13. We'll be playing live for all four shows, and you'll also catch us on the couch, chatting with Jimmy one night. Keep your eyes peeled for other sightings during the broadcast, as we really don't know what else Jimmy will get us involved in!"

METALLICA previously appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in 2021 when they read one-star reviews of their classic Black Album on the show. More recently, Kimmel hosted METALLICA's "All Within My Hands" benefit concert and auction in December.

"72 Seasons" will be released April 14 via METALLICA's own Blackened Recordings. Produced by Greg Fidelman with Hetfield and 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".

Black Sabbath’s first official live album, Live Evil, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year with a new Super Deluxe Edition that introduces newly remixed and remastered versions of the acclaimed double album.


Live Evil (40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition) will be released on June 2 as a 4CD set, a 4LP set, and digitally. The collections feature two versions of the legendary album: a newly remastered version by Andy Pearce along with a new mix created from the original analog multi-tracks by longtime band associate Wyn Davis. The physical versions also come with illustrated hardback books that include new liner notes and replicas of the concert book and poster from the Mob Rules tour. Pre-order here.


The newly remastered version of “The Mob Rules” is available digitally, today. Listen below.







A new era of Black Sabbath began in 1979 when singer Ronnie James Dio joined the band, along with founding members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, to launch a new incarnation of the iconic heavy metal band.


The newly minted quartet debuted in 1980 with Heaven And Hell, a platinum-certified smash that won over fans of the original lineup. Halfway through the album’s tour, Ward left and was replaced by Vinny Appice. When the tour ended in 1981, the group decamped to Los Angeles and quickly recorded Sabbath’s 10th studio album, Mob Rules. Released in November 1981, the album would be certified gold. While touring for the album, the band announced plans to record several shows for what would become its first official concert album.


In the extensive liner notes that accompany Live Evil (40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition), Hugh Gilmour writes: “The ten-month Mob Rules tour was certainly a very successful one, resurrecting their reputation not only as a band that could fill major venues, but one that could sell plenty of vinyl and cassettes too. Black Sabbath Mk 2 had given their record label two best-selling LPs and were about to present a third.”


When Live Evil arrived in 1983, the double album was a commercial and critical triumph, reaching #13 in the UK and #37 on the Billboard Top 200. Reviews were overwhelmingly positive, including one from influential heavy metal magazine Kerrang! that hailed it as “one of the greatest live albums of all time.”


The recordings capture the ferocious chemistry and dark magic that defined this incarnation of Black Sabbath with thrilling live versions of recent tracks like “Neon Knights,” “The Sign Of The Southern Cross,” “Voodoo,” and “Children Of The Sea.” The album also honoured the band’s original lineup with Dio-led versions of Sabbath classics like “Paranoid,” “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” and “N.I.B.”


Alas, the lineup split before the album was released. Iommi and Butler continued as Black Sabbath, while Dio and Appice left to record Dio’s solo debut, Holy Diver. Still, it wasn’t the final chapter for the band.


The story continued over a decade later when Dio and Appice rejoined Iommi and Butler to record 1992’s Dehumanizer. They went their separate ways yet again, only to reconvene in 2006 - under the moniker Heaven and Hell - to record three new songs. After a hugely successful world tour, the quartet released what would be its final studio album, 2009’s The Devil You Know, which entered Billboard’s Top 200 chart at #8. Shortly after the album’s debut, Dio was diagnosed with cancer, a disease that led to his passing in 2010.





Live Evil (40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition) tracklistings:


CD:


CD1 (Remastered)
“E5150”
“Neon Knights”
“N.I.B.”
“Children Of The Sea”
“Voodoo”
“Black Sabbath”
“War Pigs”
“Iron Man”


CD2 (Remastered)
“The Mob Rules”
“Heaven And Hell”
“The Sign Of The Southern Cross / Heaven And Hell (Continued)”
“Paranoid”
“Children Of The Grave”
“Fluff”


CD3 (2023 Remix)
“E5150” (Live In Seattle, April 24, 1982)
“Neon Knights” (Live In Seattle, April 24, 1982)
“N.I.B.” (Live In San Antonio, May 13, 1982)
“Children Of The Sea” (Live In San Antonio, May 13, 1982)
“Voodoo” (Live In San Antonio, May 13, 1982)
“Black Sabbath” (Live In Dallas, May 12, 1982)
“War Pigs / Drum Solo” (Live In San Antonio, May 13, 1982)
“Iron Man” (Live In San Antonio, May 13, 1982)


CD4 (2023 Remix)
“The Mob Rules” (Live In Seattle, April 24, 1982)
“Heaven And Hell” (Live In San Antonio, May 13, 1982)
“The Sign Of The Southern Cross / Heaven And Hell (Continued)” (Live In San Antonio, May 13, 1982)
“Paranoid” (Live In San Antonio, May 13, 1982)
“Children Of The Grave” (Live In Fresno, April 18, 1982)
“Fluff” (Live In Fresno, April 18, 1982)





LP:


Side One
 “E5150”
“Neon Knights”
“N.I.B.”
“Children Of The Sea”
“Voodoo”


Side Two
“Black Sabbath”
“War Pigs”
“Iron Man”


Side Three
“The Mob Rules”
“Heaven And Hell”


Side Four
“The Sign Of The Southern Cross”
“Heaven And Hell” (Reprise)
“Paranoid”
“Children Of The Grave”
“Fluff”


- 40th Anniversary Remaster (LPs 1-2)
- 40th Anniversary New Mix (LPs 3-4)


"The Mob Rules" (live):





(Photo - Mark Weiss)

Fen are now unleashing the fierce video clip “Scouring Ignorance”, the first single-track taken from the East Anglian's forthcoming album Monuments To Absence, which is scheduled for release on July 7, 2023. Preorders available here.


"We originally wanted to pen a piece from a perspective of strength and self-actualization, addressing the idea of literally scouring ignorance from the world through determination and drive", mastermind Frank "The Watcher" Allain writes. "We swiftly became aware of the futility of such a notion and instead, 'Scouring Ignorance' confronts ignorance itself as an almost tangible force – an infectious, quasi-elemental power that sweeps across our reality. Enlightenment, reason, empathy, and rationality are scoured from thought by the corrosive nature of ignorance itself, willingly embraced by the hapless herds that infest this world. This is a more realistic way to address the manifestations of ignorance swirling around us, reflected in the feverish gaze of foaming-mouthed demagogues and lapped up by the multitudes of the witless. Accompanied by one of our most intense compositions to date and placing the piece as the opener of the album we feel is a defiant and determined statement."


The colour of any Fen album always provides a dead giveaway to its conceptual and musical direction. The cover artwork of the East Anglian's seventh full-length Monuments To Absence features an abundance of the colour red for the first time in the band's history.




Psychologically red is an energetic colour often associated with anger or warnings. And indeed, Fen describe Monuments To Absence as an expression of anger, hopelessness and despair – anger at the desperate futility of a human species hell-bent on self-destruction, cosseted in a shroud of wilful ignorance with all of the resulting hopelessness and despair that this entails.


The themes of anger and despair are also reflected in the musical direction of Monuments To Absence, which is audibly harsher and blacker compared to its predecessor The Dead Light (2019). Yet Fen have not merely shifted the balance back from the 'post-' to the black metal part of their music. The English trio views Monuments To Absence as a crystalline fusion of all of the elements that constitute their sound delivered with power, focus, and intent.


That Monuments To Absence is undoubtedly Fen's most extreme recording to date does not mean, the band has abandoned their atmospheric glory with spatial clean sections, heaving doom, and full-blown riffs, augmenting this furious expression of despairing rage.





Tracklisting:


“Scouring Ignorance”
“Monuments To Absence”
“Thrall”
“To Silence And Abyss We Reach”
“Truth Is Futility”
“Eschaton’s Gift”
“Wracked”
“All Is Lost”


“Scouring Ignorance” video:

Following their recent announcement of joining Nuclear Blast Records, Southern Californian melodic death mongers, Exmortus, have revealed plans to release their sixth studio album, Necrophony, on August 25.


Available for pre-order now, the record four years in the making finds the shredders at a new creative peak, re-born in the isolation of the pandemic and wielding a master craft of metallic savagery.


Commenting on the impending record, guitarist/vocalist Conan says: "Necrophony was an album title idea for as long as I can remember. This Symphony of the Dead couldn't be realized for a collection of songs until now. Finally, we have our darkest and most classically inspired work yet, with artwork by the great Toha Mashudi to match perfectly. We returned to Sharkbite Studios to have the mighty wizard that is Zack Ohren aid us again in forging our metal, and resulted in the finest steel we're all proud to wield on the battlefield."




Today, the band has released the new single "Mind Of Metal," which can be streamed here. Watch the music video for "Mind Of Metal" below.


Conan says of the song: "'Mind Of Metal' is a great compliment to our previous single 'Oathbreaker,' in that it has contrasting rhythms and structure, but shares lyrical inspiration by Tolkien. It's a tribute to the wizard Saruman and other like characters in the legendarium, for their will to power and domination by crafty and industrial means. This song features groove, fast licks, and some of our favorite riffs ever written. Can't wait to perform it live!"





Necrophony tracklisting:


"Masquerade"
"Mask Of Red Death"
"Oathbreaker"
"Mind Of Metal"
"Storm Of Strings"
"Test Of Time"
"Darkest Of Knights"
"Prophecy"
"Children Of The Night"
"Beyond The Grave"
"Overture"
"Necrophony"
"Moonchild"


"Mind Of Metal" video:





"Oathbreaker" lyric video:





Exmortus will take their shred show on a West Coast tour this month with Paladin and Graveshadow, starting tonight in Santa Cruz, CA. Tickets are on sale now.


Tour dates:


April
12 - Santa Cruz, CA - Blue Lagoon
13 - Eugene, OR - John Henry's
14 - Spokane, WA - The Big Dipper
15 - Vancouver, BC - Hyperspace Festival
17 - Eureka, CA - Savage henry Comedy Club
18 - Sacramento, CA - Old Ironsides
19 - Anaheim, CA - Chain Reaction


(Photo - Hugo Juarez; Juarez Photography, Heavy Defender)

Grammy Award-nominated Sevendust are back with the announcement of their 14th studio album, Truth Killer, slated for worldwide release via the band’s new label, Napalm Records.


Truth Killer is the follow-up to the band’s 2020 release, Blood & Stone, that saw the band gain newfound notoriety with their cover of Soundgarden’s “The Day I Tried To Live”. Truth Killer showcases that the original and current lineup - comprised of Lajon Witherspoon, Clint Lowery, John Connolly, Vince Hornsby and Morgan Rose - sound as relevant today as they did on their 1997 self-titled debut. Producer, friend and collaborator Michael “Elvis” Baskette returns to produce Truth Killer which is now available for pre-order in multiple configurations.


From the introspective opening of “I Might Let The Devil Win” to the classic Sevendust sound of “Fence”, the twelve songs on Truth Killer demonstrate the diverse style that has won the band a legion of loyal fans. “Truth Killer”, “Everything” and “Holy Water” combine elements of the classic Sevendust sound with modern updates, pointing their lyrical lens at the world today.




The first song released is the album closer “Fence”, out now and accompanied by a claymation music video directed and animated by Ollie Jones. The video tells the story of a chemical leak during a Sevendust show that causes the band to turn in to zombies - but Sevendust will live forever. Watch below.





Truth Killer will be available in the following formats:


- 1CD 6p. Digisleeve
- 1LP Gatefold Vinyl Black       
- 1LP Gatefold Vinyl Mint - North American retail Only           
- 1LP Gatefold Vinyl *Die Hard* Marbled Blue/White/Black (Slipmat, Record Butler) - Napalm Mail Order Only, limited to 300
- 1LP Gatefold Vinyl Glow In The Dark - Band Mail Order Only, limited to 500
- 1LP Gatefold Vinyl Curacao Transparent - Band Mail Order Only, limited to 500
- 1LP Gatefold Vinyl Gold - Band Mail Order Only, limited to 500
- 1LP Gatefold Vinyl Orange Transparent - Band Mail Order Only, limited to 500
- Music Cassette Neon Yellow Transparent - Napalm Mail Order Only
- 1CD 6p. Digisleeve + Shirt "Truth Killer" Bundle - Napalm Mail Order Only
- Digital Album


Pre-order here.





Truth Killer tracklisting:


"I Might Let The Devil Win"
"Truth Killer"
"Won’t Stop The Bleeding"
"Everything"
"No Revolution"
"Sick Mouth"
"Holy Water"
"Leave Hell Behind"
"Superficial Drug"
"Messenger"
"Love And Hate"
"Fence"


"Fence" video:





Having a reputation as being one of the best live bands and recently making headlines as the band you “don’t ever, ever, ever want to go on after,” Sevendust will be heading out on tour next month opening for longtime friends Alter Bridge. The band has also been confirmed for the WJRR Earthday Birthday 2023 (April 22), WDHA’s Rock The Rock Fest (April 28) and Sick New World 2023 (May 13). As a band who loves to bring the music to their fans live, more dates will be announced in the future and 2023 /2024 will be busy years for Sevendust.


More information on all upcoming tour dates and ticket and VIP info can be found here.


(Photo - Chuck Brueckmann)

Steve Lukather and The Players Club / Mascot Label Group have announced the release of a new studio album, Bridges, on June 16. Today, they present the lead track, “When I See You Again”. View a lyric video for the song below, and pre-order the album here.


His ninth solo album, Bridges, could not be more accurately titled. Luke shares, “I see it as a bridge between my solo music and Toto Music. The fact that Joseph Williams, David Paich and I wrote most of the record, and the fact I invited many of the old Toto gang to come and play, co-writers like Randy Goodrum and Stan Lynch brings all this together. It also proves that most of my old pals and I are still great friends, and I wanted to do a record ‘in the style of,' as Toto will never record another studio album. This is as close as we will get.” He continues, “We still love writing and creating and recording together, and we will no doubt continue to work with each other on our respective solo works. It's complicated, and at the age I am now, I do NOT wish to do anything complicated.”


Amongst the repertoire recorded, “Far From Over” is a co-write with his eldest son Trevor. Luke reflects, “It’s funny…when he was born 35 years ago, I looked into his eyes before I cut the cord and said to myself, 'I wonder IF he will follow in my footsteps?' He sure did! It is a joy beyond belief cause he really is f*cking good! I wish I could say I taught him everything but I didn't. He is the only one of my four kids that has gotten into music (so far), and made it his life. He has a natural gift that one can’t learn. I could not be prouder than I am.”







Over the course of Luke’s career, both Stan Lynch and Randy Goodrum have frequently co-written with him. On Bridges, both of these prolific writers once again have collaborated. Lynch, of Heartbreakers fame co-wrote multiple songs with Lukather / Paich / Williams, and Goodrum with Luke alone on “All Forevers Must End.” As Luke offers, “These guys are the guys that come in and write the lyrics way better than me. I knew they would bring it as always and they did. They are also dear friends as well, and we love working together. I do have input to the lyrics. I give them ideas of what I wanna say and they articulate my feelings into the music, and then perhaps once I see their first drafts we talk about it, edit here and there, and the end result is what we have on this record.”


Bridges presents deep roots and branches from Toto’s family tree. Past and present members contribute on both the writing and performance side. Joseph Williams has writing credits on six of the songs, while David Paich does on four. Williams performs on all recordings contributing background vocals, synths, percussion or keys pending on the track, while Paich plays keyboards on five. Drummer Simon Phillips performed on “Far From Over,” “Not My Kind Of People,” “When I See You Again,” and “Burning Bridges.” While Shannon Forrest returned to play on “Someone,” “All Forevers Must End,” “Take My Love” and “I’ll Never Know.” Both old friend and former member Lee Sklar and Gov’t Mule bassist Jorgen Carlsson perform bass on a couple of tracks, while Luke himself performs on several others. On “Far From Over,” Trev Lukather performs guitars, bass, background vocals, and synths. Current Toto keyboardist Steve Maggiora co-wrote “Take My Love” and performs all keys alongside singing background vocals on that track. Luke shares, “Some people think cause someone has left the band or moved on to their own thing that we stopped being friends or stopped wanting to work together. I think this proves that is not the case, and I wanted to make music with my old friends, alongside having a laugh or two. It was a lot of fun and it also has a sound that is familiar.”


When it comes to David Paich and Joseph Williams, the three remain close to this day. Paich remains the musical director of Toto although he no longer travels appearing at every show. Williams and Lukather are the Dogs of Oz, helming the career of the band in to the future. As Luke shares, “I have been working with both these guys since I was a kid. I revere their talent, and wanted to take pressure off myself. Joe produced the record so I could just be an artist. Paich is the guy that not only taught me how to make records, but he was the one that encouraged my songwriting in Toto, and really pushed me in every musical sense. And, I love these guys and it is so easy. We all like the same stuff and have worked together for most of our lives. It was like going back to summer camp with my best pals!” He continues, “Joe is a remarkable Producer and songwriter as is Dave so…I was able to relax and enjoy the process. Hence it may have a 'familiar' sound or style when this is all mixed together. Not intentionally…it's just what happens when we create together.”





Tracklisting:


"Far From Over"
"Not My Kind Of People"
"Someone"
"All Forevers Must End"
"When I See You Again"
"Take My Love"
"Burning Bridges"
"I'll Never Know"


"When I See You Again" lyric video:





Over the course of five decades Steve Lukather has placed an indelible stamp on pop culture. Alongside his tenure as the only member of Toto to never take a hiatus from the band, he has performed on thousands of albums as a session musician. Amongst these musical contributions are some of the most successful, influential and enduring records of all-time including Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Additionally, he released a memoir titled The Gospel According To Luke which was a global best-seller. He continues to be Toto’s band leader, a long tenured member of Ringo’s All-Starr Band, and a solo artist.


Toto has enjoyed a celebrated global resurgence over the last decade. Through 2022-2023, the band will perform in front of close to a million fans. Their repertoire has 3 Billion+ streams at Spotify alone, with “Africa” counting for one billion plays on its own. Album sales exceed 40 Million copies. Toto is one of the few 70’s bands that have endured the changing trends and styles, and 45 years in to a career enjoy a multi-generational fan base and still selling out shows around the world. Toto was inducted in to the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2009.


For more information on Steve Lukather visit stevelukather.com.


(Photos - Alex Solca)

On June 2, Omnium Gatherum will release their new Slasher EP via Century Media Records.


Today, the band has shared its thoroughly metallic cover of the classic '80s dance pop anthem "Maniac" from the Flashdance film.


Watch the video, produced by Coldstore Productions, below.




Vocalist Jukka Pelkonen comments, "This classic pop song is shapeshifting into the Omnium Gatherum style of modern melodic death metal blast. Here is something to dance and headbang to in summertime!"


Guitarist and clean vocalist Markus Vanhala adds, "I heard it from the start with this classic '80s banger — that it had all the usual OG elements there. Our band just had to play this and turn this into an OG song! Get your upcoming summer spiced with this one and it's gonna be a good one!"


The band has also offered fans the opportunity to possibly choose a new track that they might cover. Fans can select a song from a list, as well as a mood and style that this new cover song could have. It will eventually be released in one of their future formats. Take advantage of this fantastic chance by pre-saving the Slasher EP here and pre-ordering Slasher here. The EP is available in the following formats:


- Ltd. CD digipak
- Black vinyl
- Digital EP


Mixed by Jens Bogren and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios, Slasher is modern melodic death metal of the highest caliber. This 4-track EP includes a cover version of the 80s classic "Maniac", plus the first studio recordings with new guitarist, Nick Cordle. After 25+ years, Omnium Gatherum proves once again that they're still leading the pack!





Slasher tracklisting:


"Slasher"
"Maniac" (Cover Version)
"Sacred"
"Lovelorn"


"Maniac" video:





"Slasher" video:





Omnium Gatherum lineup:


Jukka Pelkonen - Vocals
Markus Vanhala - Guitars and Clean Vocals
Nick Cordle - Guitar
Aapo Koivisto - Keyboards
Mikko Kivistö - Bass and Clean Vocals
Atte Pesonen - Drums


(Photo - Terhi Ylimäinen)