Canadian rock band, Saga, have released the video for "Humble Stance", filmed in London, England in 1981, and beautifully remastered to full HD. Watch below.


"Humble Stance" was part of their debut album, Saga, which was released 1978 and was written by the complete band. Today the song continues to be recognized as one of the band's most iconic and enduring songs.







The band previously released a remastered video for their all-time classic hit , "On The Loose", recorded live in Pratteln, Switzerland on December 8, 2005.


Saga formed in 1977 and has been known for their progressive rock sound and thought-provoking lyrics. "On The Loose" is one of their most popular songs, with a catchy guitar riff and memorable chorus that has made it a fan favorite for decades. Recorded during their Trust album tour, the video captures the energy and excitement of a Saga live show, with the band playing their hearts out and the crowd singing along to every word.

The Defiants have announced their return with a new album, their third overall, Drive, on June 9 via Frontiers Music Srl.


Formed by Paul Laine, Bruno Ravel, and Rob Marcello, who are all current or former members of beloved rockers Danger Danger, The Defiants' latest opus is yet another impeccable slice of melodic hard rock.


The first single from the album, "Hey Life", is out today. Watch a lyric video below.




Best known for being the D2 vocalist on four studio albums over the course of 12 years, Paul Laine came back to work with his former bandmates Bruno Ravel and Rob Marcello, who are the other two pillars of The Defiants, for the band’s self-titled debut in 2015.


The guys reunited at the suggestion of Frontiers' President & Head of A&R, Serafino Perugino, who really wanted these current and former Danger Danger members to offer fans of that band some new music. The resulting album was pleasing not only to the D2 fans, but also to ALL the fans out there who are into the classic sound of the era from which D2 emerged.


The Defiants' debut album was greeted with a great acclaim as a glorious return to the “in your face” melodic hard rock that enraptured millions of fans back in the '80s and '90s and is currently enjoying a renaissance here in the 21st century. Within the first two weeks of its release, the album entered Billboard's Heatseekers Chart in the Top 50. Also that same year, the album claimed the #1 position on Classic Rock Magazine’s ranking of best AOR albums of the year.


Their follow up album, Zokusho, was released to critical acclaim in 2019 and needless to say, it had all the ingredients to continue to thrill The Defiants' fans. A big melodic rock album with huge choruses, hooks, and soaring guitars and vocals.


Now, after another four year wait between albums, The Defiants return with Drive, perhaps their greatest musical achievement... so far.


Pre-order / save here.





Tracklisting:


"Hey Life"
"Go Big Or Go Home"
"19 Summertime"
"What Are We Waiting For"
"Miracle"
"Against The Grain"
"So Good"
"Love Doesn’t Live Here Anymore"
"Another Time, Another Place"
"The Night To Remember"
"Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now"


"Hey Life" lyric video:





The Defiants are:


Paul Laine: Vocals
Rob Marcello: Guitar
Bruno Ravel: Bass
Van Romaine: Drums


- Written by Paul Laine and Bruno Ravel
- Produced by: Bruno Ravel

Fates Warning recently released a guitar playthrough video for "Shuttered World", a track from the band's Long Day Good Night album, released in 2020 via Metal Blade Records. Today, the band release another playthrough for the song, which sees Jim Matheos play along to the instrumental version. Watch both clips below:










Long Day Good Night can be ordered here .





Long Day Good Night tracklisting:


"The Destination Onward"
"Shuttered World"
"Alone We Walk"
"Now Comes The Rain"
"The Way Home"
"Under The Sun"
"Scars"
"Begin Again"
"When Snow Falls"
"Liar"
"Glass Houses"
"The Longest Shadow Of The Day"
"The Last Song"


"Scars":

For more than 35 years, Bonfire have been the embodiment of "hard 'n' heavy made in Germany“. September 22 will see the band reissue their most wanted albums - Point Blank, Fireworks and Don't Touch The Light - as MMXXIII re-recorded versions with entirely new artwork.


Available for the very first time as digital format on all streaming providers, as coloured limited and none limited vinyl and as CD digipack, you can now pre-save your favorite album via AFM Records, here.







Bonfire belong to one of the most iconic German hard rock bands of the past forty years, and their 2020 offering, Fistful Of Fire, garnered high positions in the German album charts. Their first three releases Don’t Touch The Light (1986), Fireworks (1987) and Point Blank (1989), which have shaped a whole era, still hold a special position in Bonfire’s career.


As one of the group’s founding members and its main composer, Hans Ziller came up with an ambitious idea: How would the songs from those now slightly dated releases sound if they were re-recorded in contemporary studio conditions? This concept was particularly exciting because the band’s current line-up is one of the strongest of their entire career.


And so his idea began to take shape: The outstanding, current Bonfire lineup has completely re-recorded all three albums, supported by updated cover artwork and a sound to make your heart beat faster.


As Ziller comments: “What we wanted to do was to record the songs as if Bonfire had been a metal band in the eighties!”


Watch the new Bonfire lyric video for the "S.D.I." (MMXXIII Version):





Naturally, you need first-rate musicians for this kind of ambitious, re-recording undertaking, and that’s precisely what Bonfire mark 2023 have: Greek singer Dyan, one of the greatest European vocal talents of our time, has recently joined the Bonfire fold. Ziller hadn’t realised that the man from southern Europe has always been a huge Bonfire fan for whom a lifelong dream came true. In less than two weeks, the 30-year-old had mastered all 35 songs from the three cult albums.


Ziller enthuses: “Dyan can simply sing anything, from rock vocals to falsetto. You only have to listen to him to realise that he will excel live.”


In addition to Dyan and Ziller, the lineup includes solo guitarist Frank Pané (Valley’s Eve, Sainted Sinners), New York bassist Ronnie Parkes and drummer Fabio Allesandrini (Annihilator). What literally screams metal by name definitely sounds like it: These recent recordings of Don't Touch The Light, Fireworks and Point Blank see Bonfire deliver the timeless material from the original albums in a powerful sound that, despite its unbridled power, has lost none of its complexity.


Ziller: “Of course, we kept to the original arrangements as much as possible, perhaps slightly changing a riff now and then or updating the sound of a guitar part. But all the essential elements, right down to the lyrics, have remained untouched.”

Trivium have released recap videos fro the first three weeks of their European/UK tour. Watch all three clips below:













Trivium recently announced their return to the UK this summer, for the Goblins And Wizards Tour - a baker's dozen of intimate shows including venues the band haven't played in over 15 years. Special guests will be Bleed From Within and Orbit Culture.


Bassist Paolo Gregoletto comments: "Since the first UK headline tour in 2005 we’d made it a point to do our best to get out of the big cities and play other ones that might get overlooked or skipped. We looked at old Maiden and Motörhead posters and let that inspire the way we routed this one. Bleed From Within and Orbit Culture are two of our favourite new bands and we are honoured to have them join us. This is going to be the biggest and best metal show to hit your town this summer guaranteed!"


Order tickets here or at Trivium.org.





Goblins And Wizards dates are as follows:


August
23 - Cambridge, UK - Corn Exchange
24 - Norwich, UK - UEA
25 - Nottingham, UK - Rock City
26 - Oxford, UK - O2 Academy
28 - Stone, UK - Victoria Hall
29 - Liverpool, UK - O2 Academy
30 - Sheffield, UK - O2 Academy
31 - Newcastle, UK - NX


September
2 - Edinburgh, UK - O2 Academy
3 - Leeds, UK - Stylus
4 - Bristol, UK - Academy
6 - Folkestone, UK - Leas Cliff Hall
7 - Southampton O2, UK - Guildhall

Germany’s Eurovision Song Contest 2023 representatives, Lord Of The Lost, have revealed a music video for “Forever Lost”, cut from their latest #1 charting album, Blood & Glitter. The captivating music video consists of shocking news content from around the world, reflecting on the current state of the planet and society, and impending doom.


After being announced as support for heavy metal legends Iron Maiden again on their upcoming European tour, and with their first-ever #1 debut on the Official German Album Charts, 2023 was already set to be a game-changing year in the history of Lord Of The Lost. Then, in March, the Hamburg/St. Pauli based five-piece took part in the German Eurovision Song Contest preliminary rounds with their track “Blood & Glitter” - winning the most public votes by a long shot. Now, the band is prepared to bring its glamorous party combining glam rock and metal to the finals in Liverpool on May 13, 2023.


Lord Of The Lost on “Forever Lost”: “With all the hustle that's going on around the band and us as individuals in particular, it felt important to take a step back with the new video for "Forever Lost". The video we had planned originally was a completely different one - but we've changed our minds, to put the focus on the things that REALLY matter.”







Watch the winning performance of “Blood & Glitter” live at the German preliminaries below:





Order the Blood & Glitter album here.





Blood & Glitter tracklisting:


"Blood & Glitter"
"Leave Your Hate In The Comments"
"Absolute Attitude"
"The Future Of A Past Life"
"No Respect For Disrespect"
"Reset The Preset"
"Destruction Manual"
"Dead End"
"Leaving The Planet Earth"
"Forever Lost"
"Save Our Souls"
"One Last Song"
"The Look" (Roxette Cover)


"Absolute Attitude" video:





“Leaving The Planet Earth” video:





"Blood & Glitter" video:





Lord Of The Lost are:


Chris Harms – Vocals, Guitar
Pi Stoffers – Guitar
Class Grenayde – Bass
Gared Dirge – Piano, Synths, Percussion, Guitar
Niklas Kahl – Drums


(Photo - VDPictures)

Unearth have released their new single, "Into The Abyss", from their upcoming album, The Wretched; The Ruinous, out May 5.


Unearth delivers another bar raising track of extraordinary musicianship loaded with technical prowess and an utterly brutal vocal delivery, taking listeners from dismal to hopeful and yet again raising Unearth to higher ground.


Trevor Phipps says, "A riff fueled interstellar endeavor sums up our third single ‘Into the Abyss’.  Our future planet is in disrepair and the fortunate are forced to flee to a distant world to continue the human race while billions of the less fortunate are left behind to meet a hellish end. Buz McGrath lights the path with a journey of melodic riffs, leads and solos that set it apart from the bulk of The Wretched; The Ruinous album. Beyond oblivion we ride!"




Get "Into The Abyss":





On album number eight, The Wretched; The Ruinous, Unearth not merely continues to amp-up their metal meets hardcore intensities, but they also exceed themselves with a record that incorporates elements of classic Unearth offerings dating back to 2004’s “breakthrough” The Oncoming Storm, while exploring beyond the recent back-to-basics promise of 2018’s Extinction(s). For Unearth’s founding mainstays, Trevor Phipps and guitarist Buz McGrath, it feels like the beginning of a new chapter. “Buz took the entire pandemic to write these songs,” says Trevor. “He pushed himself to get out of his comfort zone and explore what Unearth is, both past and present. Buz adding these new elements and killer song structures inspired me to be more diverse vocally. The Wretched; the Ruinous is still Unearth, but it’s also the most dynamic record we’ve ever done.”


Teaming again with Extinction(s) producer, Will Putney (Body Count, Thy Art Is Murder), the goal was simple: create the definitive Unearth record. From the scathing title track opener to the explosive "Cremation of the Living", the brooding "Mother Betrayal" to the album’s riff-violent closer, "Theaters of War", The Wretched; The Ruinous is Unearth pulling out all the stops. “There’s certain songs where you can really hear the band’s hardcore roots,” explains Trevor. “The track 'Dawn of the Militant' is a true mix of metal and heavy hardcore, that to me define what the term 'metalcore' truly is. For the bulk of this record though, the metal, aggression, and technicality are reminiscent of our Watchers of Rule (2014) album. All of the ingredients of Unearth are present on these songs, but the band continues to explore new territories as writers and players."


The Wretched; The Ruinous is a turning point moment for Unearth. It’s first album in their canon recorded without guitarist Ken Susi, who mutually parted with the band in 2022. Trevor shares, "It simply came time for Unearth and Ken to take a break from working together. He'll always be a large part of the story of this band, and we wish him the best on all of his endeavours."


The frontman makes no bones about the arduous writing process for The Wretched; The Ruinous. “Coming out of the pandemic I found myself struggling to find my zone of creativity with writing, but I pushed through, and once I found it things caught fire.” Phipps has never been one to shy away from often scathing social commentary. “Lyrically, it’s a warning shot record,” Trevor continues. “I’ve spoken about the decline of our environment by Mankind’s hand dating back to our first record in 2001, and I've continued to write about the environmental crisis throughout our entire career. We are now at a tipping point with Mother Nature and our place on this planet, and I had to devote the entirety of this album to what is happening around us. This album is a collection of stories of what is happening, and what is to come, if we do not make monstrous changes to how we treat our only home."


“The Wretched; The Ruinous is about the eight billion people on this planet,” echoes the frontman of Unearth’s latest state of the world address. "We've created a man-made mass extinction event and have been too slow to correct our faults. Extreme weather, drought, famine, disease, erosion of land, culture wars, civil wars, wars for natural resources, and the displacement of billions of people, is all a current reality. This isn't a future problem; it is a now problem and I take this record to talk about it. As a species we are very quickly turning our once Garden of Eden into our future hellscape.”


"It's not all devastation and gloom though," adds Phipps. "On the track 'Call of Existence' I talk about how we can turn this around with swift, drastic changes to our emissions and consumption of natural resources. There is a responsible way forward that will benefit all life on our planet, and we have to embrace and act on that responsibility now."


Pre-order the album here.





Tracklisting:


"The Wretched; The Ruinous"
"Cremation Of The Living"
"Eradicator"
"Mother Betrayal"
"Invictus"
"Call Of Existence"
"Dawn Of The Militant"
"Aniara"
"Into The Abyss"
"Broken Arrow"
"Theaters Of War"


"Mother Betrayal" video:





"The Wretched; The Ruinous" video:





Unearth have announced a North American album release tour in support of The Wretched; The Ruinous.


"It's been almost five years since we've headlined the Midwest and West Coast of the USA and we are excited to be coming at you all first to support our new album The Wretched; The Ruinous. We've got two killer bands joining us on all dates, Upon A Burning Body and 156/Silence, as well as some yet to be announced bands on select gigs. See you all out there." - Unearth





Dates:


May (Album Release Tour)
4 - Lubbock, TX - Jake's
5 - El Paso, TX - Rock House
6 - Tucson, AZ - The Rock
7 - Anaheim, CA - Parish Room @ House of Blues
8 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theater
9 - Roseville, CA - Goldfields
11 - Portland, OR - Star Theater
12 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
14 - Salt Lake City, UT - Soundwell
15 - Denver, CO - HQ
16 - Lawrence, KS - The Bottleneck
18 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups
19 - Rochester, NY - Montage Music Hall


May (supporting The Halo Effect)
20 - Hartford, CT - The Webster
21 - Brooklyn, NY - Monarch
22 - Philadelphia, PA - Brooklyn Bowl
23 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium Upstairs
24 - Quebec City, QC - Imperial bell
25 - Montreal, QC - Fairmount Theatre
26 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern
27 - Detroit, MI - Crofoot Ballroom


Recording lineup:


Vocals - Trevor Phipps
Guitars - Buz McGrath
Bass - Chris O'Toole
Drums - Nick Pierce


(Photo - Mezgarth)

2023 is a huge year for Visions Of Atlantis. After they thrilled fans with their recent release, Pirates, the symphonic metal icons are now doubling down on the special experiences. After their very successful first headline tour in the US, the symphonic metal visionaries are ready to set sail in Europe, as their headline tour kicks off tomorrow, April 4.


Today, the band unveils the beautiful live version of "Melancholy Angel", recorded with a full orchestra and taken from the bonus DVD of their recently released live album, Pirates Over Wacken! The fan favorite from Pirates has already reached more than two million streams on Spotify and over a million views on YouTube.


Watch the official live video for “Melancholy Angel” below.




Visions Of Atlantis on Pirates Over Wacken: "There is something purely magical about Wacken. Maybe it is the collective belief that this is the Holy Ground of Heavy Metal. Maybe it simply is, the Holy Ground of Heavy Metal. Maybe this casts a specific energy around the stages and the fields of this special German town. We didn’t miss feeling this magic, while shouting the name “Wacken" out loud on stage or while looking around and seeing thousands of people, at peace, loving being there and sharing this together.


It was very special to us again, as if it wasn’t our first time playing Wacken. We were overcome with emotion several times during the show. There was so much we wanted to say. We felt empowered as artists and human beings. Wacken is a place where you feel you can change the world. Watching this crowd and talking to them on that very day felt like something we never experienced before and we will remember it forever.


Nothing lasts forever, but memories do. Thank you Wacken for having made us a part of your legend.”





Pirates Over Europe tour dates (with support from Autumn Bride):


April
4 - Cham, Germany - L.A.
5 - Bologna / Alchemica
6 - Monthey, Switzerland - Pont Rouge
7 - Montpellier, France - Secret Place
8 - Toulouse, France - L’usine A Musique
10 - Lisbon, Portugal - RCA Club
11 - Mos-Pontevedra, Spain - Sala Rebullon
12 - Madrid, Spain - Revi Live
13 - Vitoria, Spain - Urban Rock Concept
15 - Gent, Belgium - JH Asgaard
16 - Amersfoort, Netherlands - Fluor
18 - Aschaffenburg, Germany - Colos Saal
19 - Saarbrücken, Germany - Garage
20 - Essen, Germany - Turock
21 - Hanover, Germany - Musikzentrum
22 - Nuremberg, Germany - Der Cult
23 - Klagenfurt, Austria - Volxhaus


 


Visions Of Atlantis are:


Clémentine Delauney - Vocals
Michele Guaitoli - Vocals
Dushi Duscha - Guitars
Herbert Glos - Bass
Thomas Caser - Drums


(Photo - Stefan Heilemann)

The concertsrock YouTube channel has uploaded video of WARRANT's April 1 concert at Bayside Stadium at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida. Check out the clips below.

In a recent interview with Mankato, Minnesota's "The Five Count" radio show, WARRANT guitarist Joey Allen was asked if there has been any talk of a follow-up to 2017's "Louder Harder Faster" album. He responded: "We are actually writing right now for a record. So people are sending riffs around. You can do it on the Internet nowadays. We just have a cloud-based files system where we just upload ideas. And somebody will take an idea, a music idea, and put some lyrics to it, and we'll start to craft our songs. So maybe by this fall we'll dig into the studio again and [record] the follow-up to 'Louder Harder Faster', which came out, I think, six years ago this year. The recording process takes about four or five weeks, so maybe early next year we'll have something new out for everybody to listen to and back on the road we will go to support that."

Less than two years ago, WARRANT singer Robert Mason told the "Thunder Underground" podcast that there wasn't "a defined schedule" for the group's next studio album, but he added that he and his bandmates are "always writing."

In 2020, WARRANT guitarist Erik Turner told the "Talking Metal" podcast that the group was "throwing some ideas around" for a new LP. He said: "I've been sending Robert some riffs, and Robert's been working on songs. I've got a song going with Jerry [Dixon, bass]. So it's a slow, long process for us, but the seed of a new record has been started. Now, that doesn't mean the seed will grow into a record. We've got a long way to go. We don't have one finished song. We've got a couple of things cooking, and we're actually sending ideas around back and forth to each other."

"Louder Harder Faster" was released in May 2017. The disc was recorded with producer Jeff Pilson — a veteran bassist who has played with DIO, FOREIGNER, DOKKEN and T&N, among others — and was mixed by Pat Regan, except for the song "I Think I'll Just Stay Here And Drink", which was mixed by Chris "The Wizard" Collier (FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, PRONG, LAST IN LINE).

Mason replaced original WARRANT frontman Jani Lane in 2008 and has brought a degree of stability to the band after Lane's unceremonious departure and subsequent 2011 death.

WARRANT is rounded out by original drummer Steven Sweet.

English industrial metal pioneers GODFLESH will release their first new material in six years, "Purge", on June 9. A digital-only single of the opening song "Nero", coupled with three remixes, has just been made available.

GODFLESH songwriter and creator Justin K. Broadrick states: "Nero, as a symbol and reminder of irresponsible self destruction as being practiced always, now and forever… In classic GODFLESH tradition, 3 self reinterpretations are presented, to display the many sides of the same coin."

In other news, GODFLESH has announced the following U.S. tour dates:

Jun. 18 - Austin – Oblivion Access Festival @ Empire Control Room

With PRIEST RELIGION

Jun. 21 - San Diego – Brick By Brick
Jun. 22 - San Francisco – DNA Lounge
Jun. 23 - Los Angeles – El Rey Theatre
Jun. 24 - Denver – Trve Bacchanale @ Gothic Theatre
Jun. 28 - Portland – Hawthorne Theatre
Jun. 29 - Salt Lake City – Metro Music Hall
Jun. 30 - Lawrence – The Bottleneck
Jul. 01 - Atlanta – Terminal West
Jul. 02 - Orlando – Conduit

With CEL GENESIS

Sep. 13 - Philadelphia – Underground Arts
Sep. 14 - Baltimore – Baltimore Soundstage
Sep. 16 - New York – Desertfest @ Knockdown Center
Sep. 20 - Montreal – Foufounes Electriques
Sep. 21 - Toronto – Lee's Palace
Sep. 22 - Detroit – El Club
Sep. 24 - Chicago – Coldwaves Festival @ The Metro (no CEL GENESIS)

The follow-up to 2017's critically acclaimed "Post Self" sees GODFLESH revisiting and updating the concepts of "Pure" (1992),as well as bringing a whole host of new dirges and laments. Among the many layers of dirt, "Purge" mangles 1990s hip-hop grooves and puts them through the GODFLESH filter to create something futuristic in style — and utterly unique.

Both minimal and maximal, GODFLESH delivers alien grooves that swing while also retaining the psychedelic, bad trip edge with layer upon layer of filth and heaviness that the band has always been known for. This is, and always has been, feel-bad music.

The title alone — "Purge" — references directly how Broadrick utilizes GODFLESH's music as a temporary relief from his diagnosed autism and PTSD. It's the next stage in a journey he has been on since he began creating music, feeling alone and like an outsider in any scene or group, from childhood through to adulthood. The music of GODFLESH gives Broadrick the means to express a lifetime of feeling misunderstood and overwhelmed by hyper-sensitivity. The band is the vehicle to provide some sense of catharsis and transcendence; a way of communicating overload, as well as the constant disenchantment at the human condition, and man's abuse of power and the systems that chain us. "Purge" references the cycle of horror that man always has and always will put us through; those in positions of power revel in the infliction of pain and horror upon individuals — in the name of their religion, their power, their money, their flags…

"Purge" track listing:

01. Nero
02. Land Lord
03. Army Of Non
04. Lazarus Leper
05. Permission
06. The Father
07. Mythology Of Self
08. You Are The Judge, The Jury, And The Executioner

GODFLESH — consisting of Broadrick and Ben Green — augmented by Machines, is seen as a pivotal entity in the world of "heavy" music, impacting entire subcultures within the scene since the band's inception in 1988.

GODFLESH has been credited as being one of the first bands to cross old British industrial music with down-tuned, primitive and minimal metal, accidentally pioneering the "industrial metal" sound — yet reaches far beyond the confines of the genre. The band is widely regarded as a cultural icon, and its impact can be felt across generations of heavy music, both mainstream and underground.

Image courtesy of Obscene Extreme Fest
NERO by GODFLESH

In a new interview with Canada's The Metal Voice, legendary German guitarist Uli Jon Roth revealed that he used the downtime during the coronavirus pandemic to write a book. He explained (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The book's called 'In Search Of The Alpha Law', and it's a book which is not about myself — it's not about my life on the road or my life. It is about my — well, my philosophy of life. Something which I've… Ever since the early SCORPIONS days, I was a closet philosopher. I love thinking about things, thinking deep thoughts. Not that I mind shallow thoughts occasionally as well, just like everybody, but sometimes I go into this zone, and then, for me at least, interesting things come out. And a lot of that has to do with the inner spirit and architecture of music, the laws of music, which I found are the same laws that govern pretty much everything else that we see and perceive, if not the whole universe. I think these laws are these fundamental laws of nature, and even beyond that, because they also apply to our mind and our spirit, our soul. These laws are, to me, very fascinating to look at them and try to understand what they even are. And it's not easy to put these things into words, but I tried. And I'm quite happy with the outcome."

According to Uli, his book will be incorporated into his upcoming North American tour, although not in a way his fans might expect.

"It's different from any tour I've done before, but it's got elements of what I've done before," Roth said about the trek, which is scheduled to kick off in September. "It's different, because it's actually… The show consists of two very different halves. And it's a three-hour show — which sounds scary, but I've been doing three-hour shows for a long time, and we always have an intermission in the middle… So this show is a three-hour integrated show. And the first half is called 'An Evening With Uli Jon Roth'… So in the first half, it will be 'An Evening With…', but I will integrate a 15-minute 'TED Talk'. I've never done that before, but where I'm just introducing the book. There's a lot to talk about in the book, and it's impossible to put 560 pages plus a thousand photographs into a 15-minute thing, but it'll be a nice challenge. And rather than it being all complete, I will just pick certain things and just a taste of what it is, just present it."

He added: "[So] the first half of the show has this 'TED Talk', but it has also quite a few new music pieces which don't really fit into the band format. They're more orchestral. They are very melodic throughout when the guitar is leading, but I have orchestra backing… Then we have an intermission, so everybody can recuperate… But after the intermission, it's a full-on band show. So I'm bringing my band. Because originally I didn't want to do that for the next North American tour, but since it's been such a long time — I think [it's been] four years now since we were last in your neck of the woods — I'm bringing the band because I know most of my core audience wants to hear that and they want to get the full flow of also my earlier musical existence, including, of course, the SCORPIONS, ELECTRIC SUN, some SKY OF AVALON, a touch of Jimi Hendrix. It'll all be there. And that rounds off the show."

Roth was in the SCORPIONS for five years before leaving the group in 1978, following the release of the live double album "Tokyo Tapes".

In recent years, Roth has revisited the early music of his period with the SCORPIONS, which resulted in the "Scorpions Revisited" double CD and "Tokyo Tapes Revisited" DVD/Blu-ray releases.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest guitar players ever, Uli pioneered a unique style of guitar playing which — for the first time — combined complete mastery of the instrument with an intensely melodic and emotional appeal.

From his earliest days onwards, Uli has always been a bold and uncompromising musical innovator of the first order. Being the first guitar player in rock to incorporate complex melodic arpeggio sequences, Uli Jon Roth — in the eyes of many of his peers — practically reinvented modern guitar-technique almost singlehandedly during his SCORPIONS tenure, but even more so during his ELECTRIC SUN days.

MACHINE HEAD's Robb Flynn and Jared MacEachern celebrated the sixteenth anniversary of their sixth album, 2007's "The Blackening", by performing it in its entirety during their "Electric Happy Hour" session on Friday, March 31. You can now watch the video below.

Says MACHINE HEAD: "Join the boyz as they rip through 'The Blackening' to mark its sixteenth anniversary! All tracks from this bona fide classic album are given the 'Electric Happy Hour' treatment, starting with 'Clenching The Fists Of Dissent' through to epic closer 'A Farewell To Arms' and everything in between."

Featured songs:

0:00:00 Welcome And Beers Up
0:03:13 Clenching The Fists Of Dissent
0:11:50 Beautiful Morning
0:20:05 Aesthetics Of Hate
0:26:37 Now I Lay Thee Down
0:34:37 Slanderous
0:40:15 Halo
0:55:37 Wolves
1:04:49 A Farewell To Arms
1:15:06 Become The Firestorm
1:25:34 Blistering
1:30:41 Children Of The Grave (BLACK SABBATH cover)
1:35:56 South Of Heaven (SLAYER cover)
1:41:10 Battery (METALLICA cover)
1:45:48 Hallowed Be Thy Name (IRON MAIDEN cover)
1:58:38 Locust

In a March 2020 e-mail blast to its mailing list, MACHINE HEAD celebrated the thirteenth anniversary of "The Blackening" by stating the following, in part, about the LP: "While ex-guitarist Phil Demmel is often viewed in the media as the savior of the band, 85% of the material on 'The Blackening' was written by drummer Dave McClain and guitarist Robb Flynn, with Robb playing all guitars on the album, including rhythm, lead, all intros, harmonies, and all dueling lead guitar harmonies. McClain wrote the main riff in 'Halo' and Robb wrote all of 'Aesthetics Of Hate'."

That same day, Demmel took to his Twitter to apparently address MACHINE HEAD's characterization of his involvement with the record, writing: "Proud of this record and my contributions. 'Beautiful Mourning', 'Slanderous', 'Now I Lay Thee Down' and 'Farewell To Arms' simply do not happen without them. Thanks for all the kind words and continued support from all the Head cases."

When one fan on Twitter told Demmel, "Sad that the email sent out to the mailing list tried to downplay your contributions. That record wouldn't have been what it is without the entire band at the time.", he responded: "Yeah, right? Sometimes ALL of the glory isn't enough."

After Demmel's comments were picked up by BLABBERMOUTH.NET, Demmel took to his social media to express his regret for his earlier remarks, explaining that there are "way too much more important things to put positive energy into."

He wrote: "Damn, that sure escalated. Not my intention. I guess it might be human nature to defend when provoked but looking back, it's embarrassing to me. This almost 53 year-old, Father of 3/Grandfather of 4 shouldn't be acting like this on social media. So with that, my apologies for letting that get the best of me. No excuses, just culpability. There's WAY too much more important things to put positive energy into. Again, I'm sorry. Thanks for the mountains of support from all my friends/family and especially the HeadCases that have my back. Good things. PD"

Demmel announced his exit from MACHINE HEAD in October 2018, explaining at the time that he wanted "to step away and do something else musically." Phil, who first played with Robb in VIO-LENCE in the late 1980s and early 1990s, went on to complete the Flynn-fronted act's "Freaks & Zeroes Tour" before officially leaving the band.

In 2019, Demmel told the "In The Pitts Of Metal And Motor Chaos" podcast that MACHINE HEAD ended up becoming a Flynn solo project toward the end of his time with the group. "We weren't a band," he said. "That was Robb's trip, and we were basically just being told what was gonna happen… Everything had changed over time. Shit, we were together for 16 years and stuff changes after that. It's been the band that he started. So things shift, and as they weren't what we agreed to or what we wanted to be a part of, [McClain and I] just left. So we do our own thing, and he does his thing."

Demmel also said that the musical side of MACHINE HEAD took a sharp turn for the worse during the writing stage for 2018's "Catharsis", an album that he said he hated.

According to The Republic, attorneys for the District of Columbia have asked a federal judge to reject a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against ICED EARTH guitarist Jon Schaffer who pleaded guilty to storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The March 24 response challenged a motion filed earlier last month by Schaffer's attorney that sought to dismiss the lawsuit.

In a letter to U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta, who is presiding over the case, the District of Columbia wrote: "We write in response to Defendant Jon Ryan Schaffer's March 10, 2023, motion to join his Co-Defendants' previously filed motions to dismiss.

"For the reasons stated in the District's Omnibus Opposition to Defendants' Motions to Dismiss, the arguments in the motions Defendant Schaffer joins are without merit and should be dismissed. In lieu of filing additional briefing in opposition, we direct the Court's attention to the Amended Complaint's allegations of Defendant Schaffer's involvement in the larger conspiracy. For example, the Amended Complaint alleges:

* Schaffer is a founding, lifetime member of the Oath Keepers.
* In connection with the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, Schaffer has pleaded guilty to two felonies: (i) obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress and (ii) trespass of the Capitol while armed with a deadly or dangerous weapon.
* In connection with his plea deal, Schaffer admitted that he unlawfully entered the Capitol building on January 6 'with the purpose of influencing, affecting, and retaliating against the conduct of government by stopping or delaying the Congressional proceeding by intimidation or coercion.'
* As captured in a photograph, Schaffer marched with the mob through the Capitol, shouting.

"The above allegations, as well as additional allegations included and incorporated in the Amended Complaint, are more than sufficient to state claims against Defendant Schaffer."

In a motion filed March 10 in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., the attorney representing Schaffer asked to join a series of motions to dismiss the lawsuit and some responses from other defendants, stating that the arguments made in those filings "similarly apply" to Schaffer. Those motions argue that the District of Columbia does not have standing to bring civil action against the defendants because the civil rights statutes cited in the District's lawsuit limit "standing to injured federal officials or officers, not a governmental entity."

"Defendant Jon Ryan Schaffer respectfully moves to join in the five motions to dismiss the amended complaint," Schaffer's motion, which was obtained by BLABBERMOUTH.NET, read in part. "Defendant Schaffer asks to join these filed motions to the extent they pertain to allegations against him. The arguments set forth in the motions to dismiss similarly apply to Defendant Schaffer. Joinder to the motions to dismiss and their replies serve the interests to expedite and consolidate this matter and to avoid the repetition of filing a separate motion that would assert the same arguments as set forth in those motions and replies."

In December 2021, District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine filed a lawsuit against more than two dozen members of the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys, including Schaffer, over their role in the U.S. Capitol attack.

According to CNN, the lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., accused 31 members of the extremist groups of "conspiring to terrorize the District" on January 6, 2021, calling their actions "a coordinated act of domestic terrorism." The lawsuit cited the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, a federal law created after the Civil War to protect civil rights and, as Racine noted, "to protect against vigilantes and insurrectionists."

"I think the damages are substantial," Racine told The Washington Post at the time the lawsuit was filed. "If it so happens that it bankrupts or puts these individuals and entities in financial peril, so be it."

The 84-page complaint, which can be found at this location, described Schaffer as "a founding, lifetime member of the Oath Keepers." It went on to say: "Schaffer was criminally charged and indicted for his role in perpetrating the January 6th Attack. In connection with a promise to cooperate with investigators and potentially testify in criminal cases related to the conspiracy to commit the January 6th Attack, Schaffer pleaded guilty to the entire Statement of Offense in the criminal action brought against him, which included two felony offenses: (1) trespass of the Capitol while armed with a deadly or dangerous weapon and (2) obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress. The Criminal Complaint filed against Schaffer—as well as Schaffer's Plea Agreement and the accompanying Statement of Offense describing his conduct—are publicly available documents that are hereby incorporated into the Complaint by reference."

"No one bore the brunt of this gutless attack more than the courageous law enforcement officers including the men and women of the DC Metropolitan Police Department who went into the fire and violence with one objective in mind: remove the violent mob and restore our country's fragile democracy," Racine said at a news conference.

"The defendants, as you know, were not tourists, nor were they acting patriotically," he added. "They were vigilantes, members of a mob, insurrectionists who sought to crush our country's freedoms."

As part of his April 2021 plea deal, Jon entered into a cooperation agreement with the government.

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.

In his plea agreement, Schaffer acknowledged that on January 6, 2021 he was in Washington to attend the "Stop The Steal" rally at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. to protest the results of the presidential election, which he believed were fraudulent. Schaffer wore a tactical vest and carried bear spray, a dangerous weapon and chemical irritant used to ward off bears. When the rally finished, Schaffer joined a large crowd that marched from the Ellipse to the Capitol, where a joint session of Congress, presided over by Vice President Michael Pence, was in session to certify the electoral college vote results. Shortly after 2:00 p.m., members of the mob forced entry into the Capitol building, disrupting the joint session and causing members of Congress and the Vice President to be evacuated from the House and Senate chambers.

In his plea agreement, Schaffer admitted that after arriving on Capitol grounds, he walked past barriers intended to restrict access to the public and to a set of locked doors on the Capitol's west side. At approximately 2:40 p.m., Schaffer positioned himself at the front of a crowd that broke open a set of doors being guarded by four U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officers wearing riot gear. Schaffer admitted to being among the first individuals to push past the damaged doors and into the Capitol building, forcing officers to retreat. Schaffer and others advanced toward five or six backpedaling USCP officers while members of the mob swelled inside of the Capitol and overwhelmed the officers. The officers ultimately deployed a chemical irritant to disperse the mob. Schaffer was among the people who were sprayed in the face, after which he exited while holding his own bear spray in his hands.

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

As part of the agreement, the Justice Department has offered to sponsor Schaffer for the witness protection program.

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

The Indiana chapter of the Oath Keepers distanced itself from Schaffer after his arrest, claiming he was not a member of the local group. But the national organization, which sells lifetime memberships for $1,200, has not commented on his alleged affiliation with the group.

At a November 2020 Donald Trump rally in Washington, D.C., Schaffer was videotaped walking behind a Florida couple, Kelly Meggs and Connie Meggs, who were accused of being among 10 members of the Oath Keepers to have played a leading role in the Capitol assault. According to federal authorities, Kelly and Connie Meggs plotted for weeks ahead of the attack, attended training sessions and recruited others. Kelly Meggs was the head of the Oath Keepers' chapter in Florida.

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.

King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and his wife, Toyah Willcox, are back with their latest Sunday Lunch video. Watch below.


A message states: “Are you ready for this week, it's the episode that the most used screenshot came from, it's the image that appears in pretty much every news article about Sunday Lunch!"







The couple recently shared a couple of blooper videos, which can be viewed below:

Omega Auctions has listed a pair of leather shorts, owned and worn on stage by late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, heading to auction on April 25. They are expected to sell for £8,000 - £12,000.





Description:




A pair of tailored leather shorts (see images for measurements) owned and worn by Freddie Mercury, most notably onstage during the encore for Queen's second sold-out night at the Birmingham Exhibition Centre, December 6, 1980. This occasion is cited in 'Queen - As It Began' by fan club secretary Jacky Gunn and Jim Jenkins (a copy included in the lot).


They write "Freddie decided to try to shock the audience with his stage outfit for the encore: the shortest , tightest pair of black leather shorts he could find - they didn't leave much to the imagination, but no one complained..."


The shorts were purchased by the vendor at a Queen Fan Club Auction in Southport, 1993. The lot includes the original signed letter of authenticity from fan club secretary Jacky Gunn.


For more details, head to Omega Auctions.


(Photos - Omega Auctions)

The Night Flight Orchestra are back with their first new music of 2023. After a successful run of European dates last November, and the completion of an outstanding leg through Scandinavia in March, the Swedes follow up with their new single, "The Sensation". The new song pays tribute to late guitarist David Andersson. 


"The Sensation" is accompanied by a brand new music video, which can be viewed below. Stream the new song here.


The Night Flight Orchestra about the single: "'The Sensation' is the first in a series of brand new singles being released this year. It carries everything this band is about: glorious riffage, soaring vocals, infectious rhythms and unforgettable melodies. The lyric is also a tribute to the late great David Andersson and the many journeys Björn shared with him."




Singer Björn Strid comments: “This video shows the rise of a very young female star and the realization of what goes on behind the curtains, when the glitter fades. It shatters her universe but she rises above it in her grand debut in this deliciously tacky game show, where in the end winners are made and losers fade.
 
The cover art is also inspired by a written note, that David Andersson left us all with: 'Should anybody be reading this, I want you to know that I now am an astronaut. I’m on my way, somewhere out in space, with the aim of eventually being transformed into a ball of ice, with a tail of fire.'"

METALLICA has shared three short video clips of frontman James Hetfield showing the contents of the packaging for the vinyl, digipak CD and cassette variants of the band's upcoming 12th studio album, "72 Seasons".

"Would ya look at that. It seems a box of vinyl fell off the back of a truck & somehow found its way to HQ and into the tattooed hands of James Hetfield!" reads a tweet from METALLICA accompanying the first video. "Check out your first look at the vinyl packaging of #72Seasons!"

The second video was accompanied by the message: "Next up… James give you a sneak peek at the 72 Seasons CD digipak including a clear look at those track times!"

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

METALLICA and Trafalgar Releasing will hold a worldwide "72 Seasons" listening party. For one night only on Thursday, April 13, "72 Seasons" will be played in full in pummeling 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 result will offer fans an unforgettable night as they experience "72 Seasons" first and fully on the eve of its April 14 release date.

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 a recently released behind-the-scenes look at the making of "72 Seasons", Hetfield stated about the LP's first single, "Lux Æterna": "'Lux Æterna' is an upbeat, kind of fast and joyous song, I would say — really indicative of New Wave Of British [Heavy] Metal stuff, so kind of a harkening-back-to-'80s kind of riff. It's just fun and makes me move. It was fun making the video, fun recording a song that comes out really easy, that was a real easy song to write and to perform, like I said, very much like the early '80s for us."

As for the inspiration for the "72 Seasons" album title, Hetfield said: "'72 Seasons' came out of a book I was reading about childhood, basically, and sorting out childhood as an adult. And 72 seasons is basically the first 18 years of your life. How do you evolve and grow and mature and develop your own ideas and identity of self after those first 72 seasons? Some things are more difficult than others — you know, some things you can't unsee and they're with you for the rest of your life, and other things you're able to rewind the tape and make a new tape in your life. So that's the real interesting part for me, is how you're able to address those situations as an adult and mature."

He continued: "There's been a lot of darkness in my life and in our career and things that have happened with us, but always having a sense of hope, always having the light that is in that darkness… Without darkness, there is no light, and being able to focus a little more on the light in life instead of all of the… how it used to be and how horrible it is... There's a lot of good things going on in life — focusing on that instead, and it helps to balance out my life. And there's no one meaning to it — everyone has some sense of hope or light in their life, and, obviously, music is mine. And the song specifically talks about gathering of people at a concert and [being] able to see the joy and the life and the love that comes out of music and the family and the kinship in that, and just a sense of uplifting."

In November, METALLICA released the Tim Saccenti-directed music video for "Lux Æterna", along with details about the album's accompanying "M72" world tour featuring two-night stops in nearly two dozen cities. Presented worldwide by Liquid Death and Blackened American Whiskey (in North America only) and promoted by Live Nation, the 46-show trek will launch in Amsterdam on April 27 and will include shows all over Europe and North America through 2024. Each "No Repeat Weekend" on "M72" will feature two completely different setlists and support lineups. The "M72" tour will feature a bold new in-the-round stage design that relocates the famed METALLICA Snake Pit to center stage, as well as the "I Disappear" full-tour pass and the debut of discounted tickets for fans under 16 years of age. Opening acts for the tour include PANTERA, MAMMOTH WVH, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, ICE NINE KILLS, ARCHITECTS, VOLBEAT and GRETA VAN FLEET.

In the six 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".
Would ya look at that. It seems a box of vinyl fell off the back of a truck & somehow found its way to HQ and into the tattooed hands of James Hetfield! Check out your first look at the vinyl packaging of #72Seasons!

Brutal tech / death veterans The Arcane Order have unveiled details of their forthcoming album, Distortions From Cosmogony, which will be released via Black Lion Records on June 9th, 2023. The new single, "Cry Of Olympus", is available now at this location.





The central theme of Distortions From Cosmogony explores the eternal existential struggle of humankind's division between autonomy and submission, influenced by lead singer Kim Song Sternkopf's fascination with the fluctuation between the simplicity of faith and the complexity of the free will. With its thought-provoking lyrical theme and unique musical ambiance, this album is a must-listen for any fan of melodic death metal.




Pre-order your copy of Distortions From Cosmogony now via Bandcamp. The cover art and tracklisting are as follows:





"Distortions From Cosmogony"
"Cry Of Olympus"
"A Blinding Trust In Chosen Kings"
"Starvations For Elysium"
"Favors For Significance"
"The First Deceiver"
"Empedocles’ Dream"
"Ideals Of Wretched Kingdoms"
"Children Of Erebos"
"Wings Of Duality" 


For further details, visit The Arcane Order on Facebook.


 

3 Headed Snake is an old school classic power metal band based out of Los Angeles, California, inspired by the sounds of Warrior, Malice, Dio and Iron Maiden. 


The group features Floridian lead singer Johnny Ray, whose insanely powerful voice has been compared to Rob Halford of Judas Priest, and two-time Grammy-nominated guitarist Sin Quirin, who has been in the industry for nearly 20 years, playing and songwriting for legendary names like Ministry.


After dropping their Wisdom Screams EP in 2018 and their most recent release, Tyrants in 2021, 3 Headed Snake is set to release a new batch of songs that explore a whole new side to metal, while rooting themselves in their classic and addictive sound. The songs will be available on Bandcamp and Spotify, including the newly issued second single, “Dead Bound From Bedlam”.







“Dead Bound From Bedlam” is best described as a “quintessential story about scapegoating.” This particular song speaks to the power of alternative ideas, and how society is quick to shun those who push against its traditional framework. By pushing outcasts away, they turn to other areas of life, usually more involved with the wilderness – which in turn “brings peace and tranquility,” according to Ray. He describes how this notion can be seen in modern life, with the exacerbation of cancel culture in the past decade. Once again invoking a positive message, the group uses the song as a way to express that the scapegoats of society will find a new and better community through new outlets.


The first single, “Untouchable Undead” which was released on March 17th, speaks to these feelings, as well as acts as a commentary on religion – providing a message of looking out for the powerless, the vulnerable, and the weak. It comes hot in right off the bat, with powerful drum kicks and Johnny’s captivating and illustrious voice. Combined with Sin’s unstoppable, dark industrial sound, the song is able to grasp the attention of metalheads and bring them a feeling of catharsis all from the very first track. 





By taking on a whole new approach to metal, 3 Headed Snake is able to pave a path that has not been traversed in this genre, and brings their audience a message of hope, of positivity, and of catharsis and ridding yourself of negative energy rather than wallowing in it. While remaining inspired by the classic metal sound from groups we know and love, 3 Headed Snake draws in their audience to a familiar sound – with a whole new meaning. 


For further details, visit 3 Headed Snake on Facebook.


 

On December 2nd, 2022, Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann performed a solo show at the Hell & Heaven Metal Fest 2022 in Toluca, Mexico. YouTube user Rammenstein95 has assembled multi-cam fan-filmed video of his entire show. It can be viewed below.


The setlist was as follows:


"Skills In Pills"
"Fat"
"Ich Weiss Es Nicht"
"Allesfresser"
"Knebel"
"Golden Shower"
"Blut"
"Praise Abort"
"Ach So Gern"
"Gummi"
"Steh Auf"
"Ich Hasse Kinder"







In November 2020, an update from Lindemann - the duo of Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann and Pain / Hypocrisy mastermind Peter Tägtgren - indicated they had decided to go their separate ways:


"As Till Lindemann and Peter Tägtgren confirm today, the two artists have ended their collaboration on the project Lindemann. Both will be pursuing their own plans in the future. Lindemann and Tägtgren are currently working on a final joint release, a live DVD of their show in Moscow 2020, which will be released in spring 2021. Till Lindemann will be active under the name Lindemann within a new set-up in the future."


Till Lindemann and Peter Tägtgren released two album under the Lindemann moniker; Skills In Pills (2015) and F & M (2019). They released a total of seven singles and eight videos.

Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared his solo power metal cover of Gary Moore's "Running From The Storm", taken from the 1989 album, After The War. Check it out below.





Pro-shot video Sabaton performing at Resurrection Fest on July 1st, 2022 in Viveiro, Spain has been shared by festival organizers and can be viewed below.




The setlist was as follows:


"Ghost Division"
"Stormtroopers"
"Great War"
"The Red Baron"
"Bismarck"
"The Attack of the Dead Men"
"Soldier of Heaven"
"Steel Commanders"
"Carolux Rex"
"Resist and Bite"
"Night Witches"
"Dreadnought"
"The Last Stand"
"Christmas Truce"
"Primo Victoria"
"Swedish Pagans"
"To Hell and Back"

The grand finale of Atrocity's Okkult trilogy, Okkult III, is out now via Massacre Records. Order here, and check out Micki Richter's guitar playthrough video for "Malicious Sukkubus" below.





Guest musicians on the Okkult III album include: Elina Siirala (Leaves’ Eyes, Angel Nation), Zoe Marie Federoff (Cradle Of Filth, Catalyst Crime), Robse Dahn (Equilibrium), Misstiq, Jonah Weingarten (Catalyst Crime, Pyramaze) as well as Igor Górewicz.




Killer production by Alexander Krull at Mastersound Entertainment. Striking horror sound effects provided by Emmy Award-winning Canadian sound designer Katie Halliday (Saw, Stranger Things, Star Trek: Discovery).


The lyrical concept about the dark side of human history, obscure stories and mysterious places is spun further on Okkult III. "We look deep into the mental abysses of the serial killer Józef Cyppek from Szczecin, Poland, in the 1950s ('Cypka'), experience the great conspiracy of the Schwarze Reichswehr after World War I ('Born To Kill'), dive into the world of modern ghost conjuring ('Faces From Beyond') and into the occult machinations of the Vatican and the Order of the Knights Templar ('Bleeding For Blasphemy')," says Atrocity.


Okkult III is the culminating conclusion of the Okkult trilogy, and a self-proclaimed German death metal masterpiece.





"Desecration Of God"
"Fire Ignites"
"Born To Kill"
"Bleeding For Blasphemy"
"Priest Of Plague"
"Malicious Sukkubus" (feat. Elina Siirala & Zoe Federoff)
"Lycanthropia"
"Faces From Beyond"
"Cypka"
"Teufelsmarsch" (feat. Robse Dahn & Misstiq)


"Fire Ignites" video:





"Malicious Sukkubus" video





"Desecration Of God" video:





"Born To Kill" video:





"Faces From Beyond" video:

German metal vets Grave Digger brought their hefty heavy metal to Wacken Open Air 2022. Check out pro-shot footage of the band performing tracks “The Dark Of The Sun”, “Hell Is My Purgatory”, and “Rebellion (The Clans Are Marching)” below.





Grave Digger recently released an audio visualizer for "Symbol Of Eternity", the title track of the band's studio album released in August 2022. Check it out below:







Symbol Of Eternity is available as CD, Vinyl, Boxset, Download and on all streaming platforms via ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records! Get your copy here.





"Battle Cry” lyric video:





"Heart Of A Warrior" lyric video:





"King Of The Kings" video:





"Hell Is My Purgatory" video:

In a new interview with Robert Cavuoto of Metal Rules, ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante was asked if his packed 2023 touring schedule with PANTERA will delay the release of ANTHRAX's long-awaited follow-up to 2016's "For All Kings" album. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We're actually going in two weeks to start recording the record. But it probably wouldn't come out till '24 anyway. But the good part about it is we are going in to start recording it. So that's awesome."

Elaborating on why it has taken so long for ANTHRAX to complete the writing process for a new LP, Charlie said: "If we didn't get hit with this whole global pandemic thing, it would have been out probably two years ago, three years ago. But we all know what happened. But now, being that some of the songs were [written] before the pandemic hit, they're old to me. So now there's a bunch of new songs that kind of came in the mix. So that's a good thing. You can never have enough… We're still working on the older ones because we really like a lot of those."

This past January, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian told Metal Edge that he and his bandmates had "11 musical arrangements", as well as "some" lyrics, that they were working on for their next album. "Obviously, I'm going to be working on more words and we're getting there," he said. "I'm hoping at some point we'll be able to get into the studio [this year] and record them."

Benante also loudly wondered if ANTHRAX could focus on releasing EPs in the foreseeable future as opposed to full-length albums, as has been the case for much of the band's four-plus-decade career.

"What if it wasn't a full album?" the drummer asked. "If we released six songs and then we released another six songs. I know from a record company's point of view that really doesn't work, but in these days…"

"Yeah. It's all so different now," Ian said, jumping in. "SLIPKNOT's saying now why even make full albums anymore. I get it. I get all sides of it. I still love a full album, but at the same time I totally understand the idea of what's the point of giving someone 11 songs. Most people don't listen to albums anymore. So, yeah — why not parse it out? I don't know. All I know is at some point in the next few months we'll probably have 14 or 15 things and then we'll have to decide when we're going to record it and how we're going to release it."

"Think about it," Benante continued. "If ANTHRAX released five songs and you have these five songs, and you absorb it in such a different way nowadays, too. I think that may be the way to go, rather than give everybody 11 songs and it's like, 'Oh — I only had a chance to listen to the first four or five.' I don't know. I just think maybe the business model is different."

"And even for us, playing songs live it's like, you put out a record with 10 or 11 songs on it with the idea that, 'Oh man, I can't wait to play this one live and I can't wait to play this one live,'" Ian added. "On 'For All Kings', we definitely didn't play all of those songs at any point. I think there's maybe six songs on the record that got played – and that's it. I almost feel like you're wasting them. I understand album tracks, but if you put out just five songs it would be easy to play all five of those on a new tour."

"And easier to digest, too," Benante agreed. "You would appreciate it more if it was just five songs and, 'These five songs are fuckin' killer. I can't wait for the next five songs,' knowing that we will release another five or six."

Earlier in January, Benante told Ruben Mosqueda of We Go To 11 that ANTHRAX was planning to enter the studio sometime this spring to begin recording the new LP.

"Between the PANTERA [tour dates in 2023], we're gonna be working on this record, this ANTHRAX record," he said. "We're hoping to have it finished before PANTERA go to Europe [in late May]. I have a little window after that, before [PANTERA's stadium tour with] METALLICA starts. At least if I get my drum tracks done, then the other guys can continue to work on it. That's the plan. Unless something else happens, but hopefully nothing will happen."

Last November, ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello told SiriusXM that the band is "not in a rush" to record the new album. "We wanna make sure it's the right record," he explained. "We can't just throw out something that's not ready. So we're gonna really make sure it's the right record and live with it for a little bit. We have some brutal stuff and some cool stuff coming up — very heavy — we've been working on. Everybody can say that when they're working on a record. But the proof is in the pudding. I'm pretty proud of what we've come up with so far."

In August, Ian praised the production quality on some of the band's recent albums, including 2011's "Worship Music" and "For All Kings". He said: [On] 'Worship [Music]' and 'For All Kings', for me, we've really kind of found our sound. We've got this base level where we're at right now with [producer] Jay Ruston where we know it's gonna be great, and then we could push it even further. Especially with the songwriting that we have right now, going into what will eventually be a new ANTHRAX album, it just lends itself to even a more aggressive production which I think we will have no problem accomplishing."

In April 2022, Scott confirmed to Metal Injection that ANTHRAX had a few songs already written for the upcoming LP. "All I can say is we will get in the studio when we're ready," he said. "I think we're getting there. I think we have great songs. I think people will be very happy.

"Not to make a weird comparison, but it's our third record back together with [singer] Joey [Belladonna]. Actually, it's an odd comparison. I should just say it's our third album since our kind of our reboot in 2010 and our third album back in the day was 'Among The Living'. I'm not saying that this is [like that album], because it's not 'Among The Living II' in any sense, but I just think we have some great songs and there's like a fucking mountain of great riffs. I think people are going to be very happy."

Ian previously discussed ANTHRAX's upcoming LP during a July 2021 appearance on Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show. At the time, he said: "We've been at it for a little while now. We actually started writing in '19 — pre-COVID — and kind of stepped away from things when COVID happened. We were all separate and apart and we would kind of revisit some of the demos, but we weren't actively working on it.

"Yeah, it's the same as it's always been," he said. "I would have to think by the time we get to the other side of the writing process and we decide we're ready to go record it, I would have to assume it's certainly going to represent this time in our lives. And the world having gone through a pandemic, I would imagine certainly that's in some way, shape or form going to come out through this next record. I can't tell you how yet, but I would have to think it's going to."

ANTHRAX celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2021 with a number of special activities and events. Formed by Ian and bassist Dan Lilker in Queens, New York on July 18, 1981, ANTHRAX was one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast and quickly became regarded as a leader in the genre alongside METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH.

Active over the past five decades, ANTHRAX has released 11 studio albums, been awarded multiple gold and platinum certifications, received six Grammy nominations, toured the world since 1984 playing thousands of shows, including headlining Madison Square Garden and playing Yankee Stadium with the "Big Four".

"For All Kings" was called by some critics ANTHRAX's strongest album to date. Its arrival followed a five-year period during which the group experienced a rebirth of sorts, beginning with ANTHRAX's inclusion on the "Big Four" tour, and continuing with the release of comeback LP "Worship Music".

ANTHRAX and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY recently completed a 24-date tour, making stops in all new markets, with both bands playing headline sets. Joining ANTHRAX and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY as special guest on this run was EXODUS.

Misfits guitarist Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein's band, Doyle, performed at the 2022 edition of Bloodstock Open Air. Professionally-filmed footage of the band performing the 2017 song, "We Belong Dead", can be viewed below:





The Original Misfits, one of the most influential, genre-defining bands to emerge from North America, have announced a limited run of shows for 2023 kicking off on June 24 in Tampa at MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre with Megadeth, hitting the band’s home turf of NJ at the Prudential Center in Newark on July 8 with fellow New Jersey natives The Gaslight Anthem, followed by a performance at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre on July 15 in Phoenix with AFI. All three dates will also have support from Fear.




The tour will give fans the rare opportunity to see the horror punk pioneers in their fiendish glory, live on stage as well as mark the first time the reunited Original Misfits have visited the states of Florida and Arizona, featuring the classic lineup of original singer/songwriter Glenn Danzig and original bassist Jerry Only with longtime guitarist Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein.


Visit the ticket links for each show below and use password FIEND to walk among the very first to score tickets to the latest chapter in the Misfits legacy of brutality.





Dates:


June
24 - Tampa, FL - MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre (Tickets)


July
8 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center (Tickets)
15 - Phoeniz, AZ - Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre (Tickets)

Morten Veland (Sirenia, Mortemia and founder of Tristania) has released the second Mortemia song from The Covid Aftermath Sessions today. The track features Ulli Perhonen on guest vocals and Nils Courbaron on solo guitar and is available on all digital platforms.





Morten Veland:




“I am proud and honoured to introduce Ulli Perhonen and my great friend and Sirenia bandmate Nils Courbaron as my special guests for The Covid Aftermath Sessions. This new song is called ‘The Endless Shore’ and will be available on all digital platforms on the 31 of March 2023. Ulli has a really beautiful and expressive classical voice that fits perfectly for this track, and Nils have made an epic guitar solo for the song. I feel truly privileged and thankful to have Ulli and Nils on board this project, and I am really pleased to be sharing this song with you all. You can enjoy ‘The Endless Shore’ on all digital platforms now.”


Ulli Perhonen:


“I'm proud to be part of Mortemia's brand new song ‘The Endless Shore’. I've been following the project for a while now, listening to brilliant collaborations with awesome vocalists like Zora Cock, Heidi Parviainen, Madeleine Liljestam and many many more. I was surprised and thankful that Morten asked me to do the vocals here and that I can now also contribute to the Mortemia songs, along with Nils Courbaron on solo guitar. It’s a great honour for me and I hope you will like Mortemia’s soundscape combined with Nils’s and my contribution. Enjoy the song and let us take you to the endless shore …”


After 11 years of silence Norwegian multi-instrumentalist, producer and artist Morten Veland activated his solo project Mortemia during the early stages of the Covid 19 pandemic, this time with a brand new concept consisting of collaborations with multiple guest singers. The Pandemic Pandemonium Sessions was a series of singles released on a monthly basis, each song featuring a well-known and highly profiled guest singer from the metal scene. Now he is ready to endeavor on the next project entitled The Covid Aftermath Sessions, once more the project will feature multiple amazing guest singers.


So far the following singers has contributed for his collaborations: 


Madeleine Liljestam  (Eleine)
Marcela Bovio (Stream of Passion, Ayreon, MaYaN, Dark Horse White Horse) 
Alessia Scolletti (Temperance, ERA)  
Liv Kristine (Liv Kristine, ex-Theatre of Tragedy, ex-Leaves Eyes)  
Melissa Bonny (Ad Infinitum, The Dark Side of the Moon)
Brittney Slayes (Unleash the Archers)
Maja Shining (Forever Still)
Erica Ohlsson (Metalite)
Heidi Parviainen (Dark Sarah, ex Amberian Dawn)
Zora Cock (Blackbriar)
Linda Toni Grahn (Anima Veil, ex Follow the Cipher)
Caterina Nix (Chaos Magic)
Federica Lanna (Volturian)
Ulli Perhonen (ex-Snow White Blood)