METALLICA kicked off the 2026 leg of the "M72" world tour Saturday night (May 9) at the Olympic Stadium (OAKA) in Athens. Support at the gig came from GOJIRA and KNOCKED LOOSE.

During the concert, METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo performed "Zorba's Dance", the iconic composition by celebrated Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis. They also performed the Greek song "You Don't Fit Anywhere" ("Den Horas Pouthena") by the legendary Greek rock band TRIPES.

"Zorba's Dance", internationally associated with the 1964 film "Zorba The Greek", remains one of the most recognizable Greek musical pieces worldwide and is deeply linked to Theodorakis's legacy.

METALLICA's performance at Athens's Olympic Stadium marked the band's first Greek appearance since 2010. The sold-out show — reportedly attended by 85,000 fans — was part of the "M72" world tour in support of METALLICA's eleventh studio album, "72 Seasons", which came out in 2023. It was the group's fifth performance in Greece. METALLICA previously played in the country in 1993, 1999, 2007 and 2010.

METALLICA launched the "M72" world tour in Amsterdam in April 2023 and has since performed for an estimated four million fans worldwide. As with all tour dates, the band is donating a portion of ticket sales to local charities through METALLICA's All Within My Hands foundation. Established in 2017, the foundation has raised more than $20 million, supporting vocational and technical education, food insecurity relief and disaster response initiatives.

METALLICA added one unusual feature to its shows on the band's recent tours: at each stop, Hammett and Trujillo have been covering songs from some of their musical heroes — often choosing songs that are far removed from the band's traditional metal sound. The "doodles," as the band refers to them in their setlists, are pared-down interpretations — just bass and guitar and sometimes Trujillo singing.

During a 2020 appearance on "Drinks With Johnny", the Internet TV show hosted by AVENGED SEVENFOLD bassist Johnny Christ, Trujillo stated about how the idea for the "doodle" came about: "We were in Europe — this wasn't the last European tour, but the tour before that. We were in Amsterdam, and we had tried a couple of... There was a duet moment, where we were supposed to play a METALLICA song that's maybe, like, a deep cut, so we'd play 'I Disappear' or something, and we started noticing that we weren't getting the result we wanted. It was, like, we'd go up there and we'd start playing, like, 'Eye Of The Beholder' or something, and then the crowd's expecting James [Hetfield, METALLICA frontman] to come out and sing, and it's, like, 'Man, this ain't working.' They were feeling like it was a prelude moment, and I started thinking, 'We've gotta do something different.' So Kirk came out this one night, and he started playing that song by CHIC ['Le Freak'], and it totally caught me off guard. And I'm, like, 'Oh, damn. Okay, I see where he's going.' He's walking out to the front of the snake pit playing this funk jam. He got me the first night, 'cause I didn't exactly know the bass line, so I improvised it. And then the second night, I got it."

He continued: "So it kind of started there for a split second, though we were still doing the METALLICA deep cuts. And then we got to Europe, and we were in Amsterdam, and one of our management team members suggested, 'Why don't you play [a song by the Dutch rock band] GOLDEN EARRING, 'Radar Love'? Check that out.' And we were, like, 'Really?' So I started played the bass line, and then the crowd started singing, and it was, like, 'Hold on a minute. There's something here.' So then we started to kind of formulate some local bands from each city. Like, one of the highlight moments was in Prague [Czech Republic — we played a country song called 'Jožin Z Bažin' [by Ivan Mládek], which was huge. And then we played, in Barcelona, a gypsy kind of flamenco acoustic song, by an artist called Peret — it's called 'El Muerto Vivo', And I'm singing in Spanish, I'm doing my best, and the people went nuts. And we go, 'Hold on. We've got something here.' So what we ended up doing… We came out of that tour — we scraped through it; it wasn't perfect, but we scraped through it. And then when we got home, we did some U.S. dates, we did all that, but we knew we were going back to Europe where it really worked. I said, 'I'm going deep.' So I did a bunch of research, and I researched every single city, even Estonia, and I found out what cool either punk, alternative, country — it didn't matter the style — and I learned the fucking language, and I did the phonetic with the lyric, and we went out and did full arrangements. I'm talking about if there was an accordion solo, Kirk was playing it. So we did our homework, and we really, really went into it. I was going to [Kirk's house in] Hawaii to work with him on the arrangements. I spent, like, five days there strictly on the [songs]. We weren't even surfing, we were just 'boom.' So we put a lot of hard work in it. I mean, we were surfing a little bit, but that wasn't the priority. We were actually really spending time on this.

"So I would say on that last tour run, 'cause we were in these massive stadiums, sold-out shows… And every night was great, but there was a handful of grand slams where people were crying and it was this heavy… Like, you're paying tribute to somebody in, like, Moscow, who is like the David Bowie of Moscow, and people are just, like, 'Oh my god.' They don't know what they're gonna get. All of a sudden, we surprise them, and they get what they didn't expect. [Playing a song by] Johnny Hallyday in Paris, at Stade De France, [in front of] 85,000 people. So to be up there and to feel that energy and emotionally connect with the crowd on that level was special. But it was such hard work. I don't know how we [pulled it off].

"I was meeting with people, like, I would even sometimes do it by phone, and I'd be there for two hours getting the language pronunciation right. So it was a lot of work… And sometimes you'll take some beatings," he admitted. "I remember a couple of the shows when we first started doing it, man — beatings, bro; beatings… I remember, there was a couple of 'em, but there was one… It was in Pennsylvania. It was like college — it was over where Penn State is. And holy cow, man. I thought we would play like the fight song for Penn State. Man, we got, like, 10 seconds into that thing, and nobody cared. It was, like, 'Oh my god.' And I stopped playing — I literally stopped playing. I was so embarrassed. And Kirk kept playing. And then, luckily, we kind of went into a METALLICA… Like, in the U.S., we would parlay it with a local song — these are U.S songs — and then we would always kind of justify it by going into a METALLICA [track], like 'Dyers Eve' or something. Just like, 'Okay, we screwed that up, but we got this.' So it was kind of our savior in the States."

In 2019, Hammett told Cosmo Music about his live "doodles" with Trujillo: "We never really know what the response is going to be. You have to understand, we're going into a country; we're picking some song that's seemingly random and abstract to us, and we're learning this song that we've never heard before from this artist that we've never heard before, and we're taking a chance and playing it in a stadium in front of 60,000 people, and we're hoping that we make the right choice. The last, I would say, three legs [of the tour], we've been hitting it out of the park, but before that, there were some growing pains. There have been a few times we've picked the wrong song and played it and people go, 'Huh?' We'll go into a place like Indianapolis, and we'll play a song by an obscure punk band called THE ZERO BOYS, because we think they're cool... We played the hell out of it, and it was really cool, but we looked out at the audience, and they were just like, 'Huh?' Rob and I always tell each other and people don't recognize it, it's not the end of the world as long as we play it well, and they're entertaining in the way we play it, so we have that to fall back on... We were in Nashville, and we played a Loretta Lynn song... The next day, we got a message from Loretta Lynn, who said she was actually at the show with her family and was so tickled when we broke into her song. She said she might think about covering one of our songs sometime, but in the meantime, we should do more of her songs."

Not every artist that has been spotlighted in the "doodle" has been flattered by the Trujillo/Hammett version of their music. Former CELTIC FROST frontman Tom Gabriel Fischer (a.k.a. Tom G. Warrior) was not impressed with the rendition of the group's "The Usurper" that Hammett and Trujillo performed during METALLICA's May 2019 concert in Zurich, Switzerland. "They butchered it, and it was humiliating," Fischer told Rolling Stone. "Why don't they leave their millionaire fingers off it? They've long lost the ability to play true metal in my opinion. Maybe I should go onstage and do a really miserable version of [METALLICA's] 'Hit The Lights' with, like, 200 mistakes to set the balance."

In a new interview with Jaimunji, former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen was asked if she practices for her upcoming tours by performing her songs while running around in her high heels. She responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I had a tour, seven shows in seven days in Germany, recently, and I was wearing high heels. And I hadn't worn high heels since maybe three years or something like that. And it was a mistake, because I came back home, and I had a severe pain again on my heels. So yeah, it was a sign. And my doctor, I went to see my doctor, and she was, like, 'What have you done?' I said, 'Yeah, because I love wearing high heels.' [Laughs] But those times are over."

Regarding how she prepares for her tours now, Tarja said: "[I get] a lot of practice, obviously, physical training. Now I get to be at home. I get to be at home. I have my PT [physical therapist] coming over, and I'm really working out. It's good. And I'm turning 50 next year, so nothing is staying, let's say. You need to work it out [laughs] or the gravity will take it. [Laughs]"

Tarja's new studio album, "Frisson Noir", will be released on June 12 via earMUSIC.

"Frisson Noir" reflects Tarja's ongoing dialogue between cinematic orchestration, classical heritage, and the power and intensity of contemporary metal. The album moves between intimate piano passages, dramatic orchestral textures, and powerful, guitar-driven moments.

At the center of the soundscape is Tarja's distinctive voice, moving effortlessly between fragile emotional expression and operatic power. Around it, orchestral arrangements, choirs, and layered instrumentation create a cinematic world that constantly shifts between darkness and light, exploring deeply human themes such as fear, beauty, nostalgia, resilience, defiance, transformation, identity, disappearance, independence, trust, and perseverance.

Across 10 tracks, Tarja delivers intensity, emotion, and strength, joined by special guests Dani Filth (CRADLE OF FILTH),APOCALYPTICA, Marko Hietala (ex-NIGHTWISH) and Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS). Mixed by Grammy-winning producer Neal Avron (LINKIN PARK, SKILLET, DISTURBED),the album blends a modern, hard-hitting sound with the dramatic and emotional elements that define Tarja's unmistakable metal identity.

Following the release, Tarja will embark on the international "Frisson" live tour 2026, launching September 30, 2026 in Berlin.

Turunen, who boasts a three-and-a-half octave vocal range, has released five rock/metal solo records since 2007 — including her latest, 2019's "In The Raw".

Turunen was fired from NIGHTWISH at the end of the band's 2005 tour by being presented with an open letter which was published on the NIGHTWISH web site at the same time.

Keanu Reeves's reactivated 1990s and early 2000s grunge band DOGSTAR will release its fourth studio album, "All In Now", on May 29 via the group's own label Dillon Street Records. The LP was produced by Nick Launay (IDLES, AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS, YEAH YEAH YEAHS, NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS) and is the follow-up to DOGSTAR's first album in two decades, "Somewhere Between The Power Lines And Palm Trees", which came out in October 2023.

The official Carlos Garcia Medina-directed music video for the latest single from "All In Now", a song called " This Sphere", can be seen below.

DOGSTAR is composed of guitarist/vocalist Bret Domrose, drummer Rob Mailhouse and bassist Keanu Reeves.

"The album really sets up the energy at the heart of this album and the fun that we've always had playing together," Mailhouse states about "All In Now". "We couldn't fucking wait," Keanu Reeves says about DOGSTAR's collective desire to get right back to the studio. "Personally, I loved it all. For me, the attitude was like, 'let's work hard and let's GO.'" "It felt like our last album was our ticket into a party," says Domrose. "And now we've shown up to the party — the three of us."

DOGSTAR, which Rolling Stone hailed for its "sleek, post-grunge alt-rock", has released the first cut off the album, the "All In Now" title track. "'All In Now' just whacks you in the head," Mailhouse shares, "talk about a live song. Keanu came up with the title for that song too, and it sort of summed up where and who we are as a band today. It just feels true to us. We're leaning in, and we are going to keep going." "And this is a good song to lean into," Reeves adds, "so, we really are all in now."

DOGSTAR's 25-date "All In Now" North American tour is set to kick off on May 28 in cities including Austin, Nashville, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York City and more. Tickets and VIP for these dates will go on sale Friday, March 13 at 10 a.m. local time (with the exception of the August 15 Mashantucket date which will go on sale Friday, March 20 at 10 a.m. ET). Previously announced European tour and festival dates are on sale now.

DOGSTAR is a brotherhood –— a group of three men with multiple talents who combined, have created a sound and energy that is greater than the sum of its parts. After being dormant for 20 years, the California-based trio reunited in 2023 to release their celebrated album "Somewhere Between The Power Lines And Palm Trees", which SPIN called "honest and inspired" and "fully reflects these three guys, the stories of their lives over the last three decades, and exactly who they are." Their new album pushes them further, with a unified and self-assured album forged by their time on the road, touring both in America and around the world, playing everywhere from sweaty rock clubs to giant festivals.

Mailhouse remembers: "Just seeing the smiles on people's faces and feeling their joy on a musical level. Playing some outdoor festivals, and when it starts to rain, seeing nobody leaving." "Those festivals in Europe really made a big, positive impact on us," adds Reeves. "We loved playing to people in the afternoon who didn't come to see DOGSTAR but connected with what we were doing. And that connected with us." Bret continued, "You never know if people are going to show up, are they going to stay, are they going to listen? It meant a lot that people not only stayed but got into songs that they mostly had never heard before."

DOGSTAR credits legendary producer Nick Launay — whose has worked with artists from MIDNIGHT OIL to NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS to YEAH YEAH YEAHS and AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS — with the fully realized sound and the energy of "All In Now". As Domrose recalls, "Our management put Nick's name on a list of possible producers." "And we all thought it was a typo. Like this guy will never work with us," Mailhouse adds with a laugh. For Nick Launay, "Working with Bret, Robert and Keanu was extremely fun because it brought things back to why people form bands and make music. These three friends wrote some killer songs and wanted to push some boundaries in the studio. It's all passion and no B.S. For me, it's always a treat working with such capable musicians because the sky's the limit when experimenting, and that's exactly what we did, while smiling all the way."

"All In Now" reflects DOGSTAR's commitment to put their all into the project, both onstage and in the studio. As Nick Launay puts it, "I love how Bret's voice and melodies soar above the solid grooves on this album. There's something very honest about it, which I guess is why it's called 'All in Now'. I think this friendly trio is sounding HUGE and will turn some heads this time around."

"All In Now" track listing:

01. Math
02. This Sphere
03. All In Now
04. Exalted
05. Siren
06. Punch The Sky
07. Joy
08. What Is
09. The Whisper
10. Shards Of Rain
11. Shallow Easy
12. Wing

Southern California deathcore titans CARNIFEX have officially signed to Sumerian Records, marking the beginning of a powerful new chapter for one of extreme music's most enduring forces. To celebrate the announcement, the band has released a brand new single, "Roses And Rotting Corpses". Watch the accompanying music video below.

For nearly two decades, CARNIFEX has occupied the darker edge of American deathcore, building a catalogue defined by punishing heaviness, blackened atmosphere and a visual world steeped in death, horror and the occult. Emerging from Southern California in 2005, CARNIFEX was seminal in shaping the genre's first wave and has remained at its pinnacle since.

With "Roses And Rotting Corpses", CARNIFEX opens the door on its next era. The track arrives with the weight and menace fans expect, but there is a renewed sense of intent behind it, a sharpened vision that pulls the band's apocalyptic heaviness further into darkness while setting the stage for what comes next.

Speaking on the signing and new single, CARNIFEX vocalist Scott Lewis shares: "We've entered a new era of CARNIFEX, and I couldn't be happier to do it with Sumerian Records. CARNIFEX and the team at Sumerian have parallel histories going back nearly two decades, so to finally be working together on what will arguably be our best album is an incredible feeling. Our new song 'Roses & Rotting Corpses' is just the beginning of this next chapter."

For CARNIFEX, the move signals more than a label change. It marks a fresh creative phase for a band that continues to honor deathcore's roots while expanding its atmosphere, extremity and emotional scope.

Known for their visceral live performances and relentless global touring history, CARNIFEX have become a fixture across death metal, black metal, metalcore and hardcore lineups, bringing their chaotic, emotionally charged sound to stages around the world. From packed clubs to major festival crowds, the band's live presence remains one of the clearest expressions of what has kept them vital for two decades.

CARNIFEX is currently touring the U.S. on the "Chaos & Carnage" tour with BODYSNATCHER, 200 STAB WOUNDS, INGESTED, GATES TO HELL and BODYBOX and will be playing Welcome To Rockville this weekend and Sonic Temple on May 14.

Since emerging from the sun-scorched depths of Southern California in 2005, CARNIFEX have remained one of extreme music's most uncompromising forces, a band that helped define deathcore's first wave and has spent two decades pushing well beyond it. Blending blackened atmosphere, relentless aggression and emotionally charged songwriting, CARNIFEX have built a body of work that turns darkness into catharsis for a global audience.

That legacy runs through landmark releases including "Dead In My Arms", "Hell Chose Me", "Die Without Hope", "Slow Death", "World War X" and "Necromanteum", each one pushing the band further into cinematic, melodic and blackened territory without sacrificing the crushing intensity that made them genre staples in the first place. Their music pairs apocalyptic heaviness with themes of grief, anxiety, isolation and survival, forging a connection with fans that runs far deeper than shock value or brutality alone.

Known for their devastating live performances and relentless touring history, CARNIFEX have become a pillar of modern extreme music, sharing stages worldwide with acts across death metal, black metal, metalcore and hardcore while headlining sold out tours and major festivals across the globe. Whether in intimate clubs or massive festival crowds, the band's live presence remains visceral, chaotic and emotionally unfiltered.

Now entering a new era in 2026, CARNIFEX continue to expand the scope of what deathcore can be. With new music on the horizon and a sharpened creative vision, the band stands as both torchbearers and innovators, honouring the genre's roots while pushing its atmosphere, emotion and extremity into darker and more ambitious territory than ever before.

For CARNIFEX, heaviness has never been just about sound. It is about confronting the darkest parts of existence head on and forging something powerful enough to survive them.

CARNIFEX is:

Scott Lewis - vocals
Cory Arford - guitar
Neal Tiemann - guitar
Fred Calderon - bass
Shawn Cameron - drums

Photo credit: Christian Maravelis

Hard rock legends DEEP PURPLE have released the official music video for the song "Arrogant Boy". The track is the first single from the band's upcoming studio album, "Splat!", which will arrive on July 3 via earMUSIC.

With more than 120 million albums sold since forming in 1968, DEEP PURPLE have long secured their place in rock history. Rather than simply preserving their legacy, they continue to extend it, driven by the same spirit that defined their earliest work.

Says frontman Ian Gillan: "Where we are now with this incarnation of DEEP PURPLE feels very much like a very 'now' version of DEEP PURPLE as it was in the '70s."

Once again, the band has teamed up with renowned producer Bob Ezrin (KISS, PINK FLOYD, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper). Together, they have crafted an album that draws on the sound and attitude that has always set DEEP PURPLE apart from the rest.

"Splat!" is the heaviest DEEP PURPLE album in many years, with the band playing together in the studio — the way DEEP PURPLE have always recorded.

Gillan comments: "I have to say, now we are very much back in with material that is compatible with 'Highway Star', 'Smoke On The Water', 'Lazy' — the dynamics, the balance, and the fun of the music we made from '69 to '73."

At the heart of "Splat!" is an idea conceived by Gillan. Rather than treating the end as destruction, the album imagines it as transformation: "Splat!" explores the end of humanity not in any crude apocalyptic sense but as a metamorphosis beyond physical existence.

The album concept will be revealed further in the weeks leading up to its release on July 3.

To celebrate the release, DEEP PURPLE will continue their extensive 2026 touring schedule with no fewer than 86 shows across 28 countries on three continents.

Gillan sums it up: "DEEP PURPLE is in a great place right now."

"Splat!" formats:

* CD (Digisleeve)
* 2LP (black, 180g, Gtf.)
* Ltd. Purple 2LP (180g, Gtf.)
* Ltd. Transparent Yellow 2LP (180g, Gtf.)
* Ltd. Box Set
* Digital

Box Set Content

* 2LP Gatefold (180g)
* 12-page vinyl-sized booklet
* CD Digisleeve
* 3 exclusive 10-inch vinyl records featuring live recordings from the DEEP PURPLE tour 2024
* Exclusive 7-inch single featuring bonus track "Guinnesis" (not included on the studio album!)

Track listing (CD/2LP):

Side A

01. Arrogant Boy
02. Diablo
03. The Rider
04. The Lunatic

Side B

05. The Only Horse In Town
06. Sacred Land
07. The Beating Of Wings

Side C

08. Guilt Trippin'
09. Scriblin' Gib'rish
10. Jessica's Bra

Side D

11. Third Call
12. My New Movie
13. Splat!

"Splat!" will be available on July 3 in multiple formats:

Limited Box Set, containing:

- 2LP Gatefold (180g)
- 12-page vinyl-sized booklet
- CD Digisleeve
- 3 exclusive 10-inch vinyl records featuring live recordings from the DEEP PURPLE tour 2024
- Exclusive 7-inch single featuring the bonus track "Guinnesis" (not included on the studio album and available exclusively in the box set!)
* CD (Digisleeve)
* 2LP Gatefold (black, 180g) + 12-page vinyl-sized booklet
* Limited Purple 2LP Gatefold (180g) + 12-page vinyl-sized booklet
* Limited Transparent Yellow 2LP (180g) + 12-page vinyl-sized booklet

All LP editions include a rich 12-page LP-sized booklet with illustrations and all song lyrics – available exclusively with the first pressing.

Further exclusive items are available via the official artist store, including:

* Limited 2LP Picture Disc + 12-page vinyl-sized booklet
* Limited Cassette
* A strictly limited canvas signed by all band members and limited to just 199 copies worldwide

There simply aren't enough superlatives to properly acknowledge the contribution DEEP PURPLE has made to rock music. Having sold more than 120 million albums and filled global arenas for decades, there's little wonder that the respected British radio station Planet Rock named the group the "Fifth Most Influential Band Ever". The band were also presented the "Legend Award" at the 2008 World Music Awards and were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2016. DEEP PURPLE truly are "rock royalty".

With a body of work spanning seven decades, DEEP PURPLE have helped pioneer and define the hard rock genre while progressively moving into new areas, both keeping their sound fresh and attracting new fans to the legions who have remained loyal since the band's inception. The celebrated MKII line-up of Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore was responsible for creating many of the defining rock albums of the early '70s, including "Made In Japan", universally accepted as one of the most important and influential live albums of all time.

Known as one of the hardest-working bands ever, DEEP PURPLE have continued to release No. 1 albums and tour globally since forming in 1968, with little rest.

DEEP PURPLE have stayed true to their musical roots, drawing from an eclectic mix of styles to create a distinctive sound that defines the band today and, in turn, has created a legacy that very few bands could ever hope to replicate. The band has written and produced so many "classic", well-known songs that its audience ranges widely in age and background — something the band has readily embraced.

DEEP PURPLE's recent studio album "=1" (2024) followed their worldwide chart-topping albums "Whoosh!" (2020),"inFinite" (2017) and "NOW What?!" (2013). 2026 sees the release of their brand-new album "Splat!". On these albums, DEEP PURPLE joined forces with producer Bob Ezrin, who has worked with the likes of KISS, PINK FLOYD, Lou Reed and Alice Cooper.

Furthering their collaboration with Ezrin, in 2021 and during the pandemic the band recorded a collection of cover songs from their own homes (normal for most bands nowadays, revolutionary for a band that records everything together in the studio),creating an eclectic and celebratory history of their roots in music, in the shape of "Turning To Crime".

Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Don Airey and Simon McBride continue with renewed vitality, pushing the boundaries of hard rock to audiences around the globe, proving that DEEP PURPLE are very much here to stay.

Photo credit: Olaf Heine (courtesy of The Outside Organisation)

As the much-anticipated tribute to Richie Blackmore's RAINBOW, "Ride The Rainbow - The Ultimate Tribute To Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow", draws closer to its June 19 release date, another taste of the treat to come materializes with this sonics-stuffed reimagining of the first album's classic "The Temple Of The King".

Contemplating the full lineup of Ronnie Romero (vocals; RAINBOW),Steve Morse (guitar; DEEP PURPLE),Jonathan Cain (keyboards; JOURNEY),Simon Wright (drums; DIO, AC/DC),Phil Soussan (bass; OZZY OSBOURNE) and Kevin James Morse (guitar),it's immediately clear that this is no straightforward cover version.

Many fans would agree that RAINBOW's debut LP was also their most imaginative, as Blackmore battled to free himself from the shackles of his last band, armed with a lineup that had no intention, either, of being labeled "DEEP PURPLE Part 2". So powerful, in fact, was this particular track that it even titled a recent box set of RAINBOW's own material.

Now, Romero and co lift it even higher than — and, perhaps, even further from — that devastating prototype, a reminder that while critical shorthand insists on referring to RAINBOW as a metal band, the music itself was — and remains — an adventure beyond any contemporary musical standards.

"Being part of the RAINBOW legacy, and having the opportunity to play this song with Ritchie himself on stage, to record this song it means the world to me," says Romero. "I would never be grateful enough for the chance of being part of this legendary band, so here is a humble way to pay tribute to one of my favorite songs and my all-time favorite band. Hope the people like it the same way I loved it recording it."

Steve Morse states: "I remember playing an outdoor festival show featuring RAINBOW, with my previous band, THE DREGS. I stayed and watched RAINBOW and thought that every single song sounded really good! Ritchie had always worked with very good musicians, but his vision of heavy, but melodic, rock really impressed me. I think hearing them sounding so well playing live, really helped to set the bar high for live performance."

Cain, too, has happy memories of the band, and of the man who sang "Temple Of The King" first time around. "When Cleopatra asked me to play on a RAINBOW tribute project, I was excited to add my keyboards to it," he says. "RAINBOW with Ronnie James Dio were one of the truly melodic and memorable metal bands. I got to party with him towards the end of his touring days after a Sweden Rock Festival. His soaring voice and melodies will be remembered for decades to come."

When you're gathering guests for a RAINBOW tribute album, whom better to invite than some of the people who made RAINBOW such a great band in the first place? That's what Cleopatra Records has done. "Ride The Rainbow - The Ultimate Tribute To Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow" is an absolutely star-studded journey through the many faces of the Ritchie Blackmore-led legend, with stunning performances from no fewer than six RAINBOW alumni — Bob Daisley, Graham Bonnet, Don Airey, Joe Lynn Turner, Doogie White and Ronnie Romero. Plus Ritchie's wife and BLACKMORE'S NIGHT bandmate, vocalist Candice Night, and Ritchie's successor in DEEP PURPLE, Steve Morse.

As the subtitle says, it truly is "the ultimate tribute to Ritchie Blackmore's RAINBOW".

To get the ball rolling, Cleopatra Records previously released the fantasy league lineup of Bonnet, Airey and Daisley reuniting for the first time since the dawn of the '80s, to perform the title track of RAINBOW's third album that Daisley first appeared on, "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll", in 1978. The late Ronnie James Dio was the frontman on that record, but, of course, Bonnet and Airey know it well… they joined the band for its next album, "Down To Earth", but "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll" remained a concert favorite throughout their own time with the band.

The rhythm section here, too, is legendary. Daisley is here, of course. But there's more. Back when Ritchie was first starting out with DEEP PURPLE, VANILLA FUDGE were one of the nascent band's biggest influences. Keyboard player Jon Lord caught the American group's first London performance in 1967, and was convinced, "We were going to be an English VANILLA FUDGE." Drummer Carmine Appice, here taking a break from his current duties with CACTUS, was a founder member of the FUDGE.

"I always liked 'Long Live Rock 'N' Roll'," says Carmine. "It had a CACTUS boogie, easy for me to play...it kicked ass then and now!"

Former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, on the other hand, was but a youth when RAINBOW launched in 1975. But, he recalls, "I heard the RAINBOW 'Rising' album as a kid and became a lifelong RAINBOW fan! It's a great honor to play on this song and to pay tribute to this historic band."

The full liner notes for "Ride The Rainbow - The Ultimate Tribute To Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow" were written by Jason Myers of classic metal revivalists ICARUS WITCH.

Track listing:

01. Long Live Rock 'N' Roll - Bob Daisley, Graham Bonnet, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Carmine Appice, Don Airey
02. Man On The Silver Mountain - Sebastian Bach, Doug Aldrich, Bob Daisley, Carmine Appice, Mick Box, Jonathan Cain
03. Stargazer - Derek Sherinian, Marty Friedman, Vinny Appice, Jürgen Engler, Joe Bouchard, Ronnie Romero
04. Lady Of The Lake - ANGEL
05. Rainbow Eyes - Mike Tramp
06. Since You Been Gone - Marty Friedman, Vinny Appice, Graham Bonnet, Jürgen Engler
07. Kill The King - Rick Wakeman, Bob Daisley, Vinnie Moore, Marc Lopes, Chris Adler
08. The Temple Of The King - Steve Morse, Phil Soussan, Ronnie Romero, Simon Wright, Jonathan Cain, Kevin James Morse
09. Jealous Lover - George Lynch, Vinny Appice, Andrew Freeman, David Ellefson, Jonathan Cain
10. I Surrender - Eric Gales, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Phil Soussan, Don Airey, Chris Adler
11. Catch The Rainbow - Doogie White, Derek Sherinian, Chris Poland, Vinny Appice, Bob Daisley
12. Street Of Dreams - Paul Shortino, Joel Hoekstra, Joe Bouchard, Fred Aching, Jonathan Cain
13. Stone Cold - Vivian Campbell, Joe Lynn Turner
14. I Surrender - Marcus Nand, Candice Night

RAINBOW, led by Ritchie Blackmore, became synonymous with some of the most well regarded and popular charting rock songs of the 1970s and 1980s. From "Stargazer" and "Man On A Silver Mountain" to "All Night Long", "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll" and "Since You Been Gone", each year in the decade of RAINBOW was marked by some of the best songs and performances captured both on record and in concert.

Passing through the band were some of the best the genre had to offer. Vocalists Ronnie James Dio and Graham Bonnet, bass player and producer Roger Glover and drummer Cozy Powell, each brought their individual talent to the table to record some of rock's best-loved hard rock on those albums and singles.

Romero, who is originally from Chile but is now settled in Romania after living in Madrid, Spain for a number of years, made his live debut with RAINBOW in June 2016 after he was selected to front the latest version of the band Ritchie Blackmore had formed after quitting DEEP PURPLE.

In addition to Romero and Blackmore, the most recent incarnation of RAINBOW included STRATOVARIUS keyboardist Jens Johansson, BLACKMORE'S NIGHT drummer David Keith, bassist Bob Nouveau (a.k.a. Robert "Bob" Curiano, ex-BLACKMORE'S NIGHT),and backing singers Candice Night and Lady Lynn.

The two shows RAINBOW played in Germany in June 2016 were caught on camera to produce "Memories In Rock - Live In Germany", which was released in November 2016 via Eagle Rock Entertainment on DVD+2CD, Blu-ray+2CD, and digital formats.

Multi-Grammy Award-nominated, multi-platinum rock powerhouse DAUGHTRY has announced "Shock To The System (Deluxe)" today. The deluxe release brings together the full scope of the band's acclaimed two-part project, "Shock To The System (Part 1)" and "Shock To The System (Part 2)" , alongside additional live recordings that capture the visceral force, catharsis, and connection that have defined this latest era of DAUGHTRY. The deluxe release will arrive on vinyl only on June 5 via Big Machine Rock with three variants available from daughtryofficial.store, all of which are a double LP, two of which are very limited edition with only 250 available of each.

* Original double vinyl with one disc that is blue with an orange splatter and the second disc that is orange with a blue splatter that will be widely available.
* Limited-edition glow-in-the-dark double vinyl signed by the band (only 250 available)
* Limited-edition metallic silver picture-disc double vinyl (only 250 available)

Across the "Shock To The System" collection, Chris Daughtry channels grief, change, confrontation, and self-reclamation into some of the band's heaviest and most emotionally charged work to date. From the industrial bite of "Artificial" and the raw release of "Pieces" to the hard-earned resilience of "The Bottom" and the stark vulnerability of "Antidote", "Shock To The System (Deluxe)" traces the full arc of a person forced to face the wreckage, sit with the aftermath, and find the strength to move through it.

DAUGHTRY first launched this era with "Shock To The System (Part One)", the band's debut release with Big Machine Rock, which featured their back-to-back No. 1 singles "Artificial" and "Pieces". The EP marked a heavier, more unguarded creative chapter for the band, pairing amplified production with Chris Daughtry's commanding vocals and an emotional throughline rooted in grief, healing, and the hard-won courage to say the quiet parts out loud.

With "Shock To The System (Part Two)", DAUGHTRY pushed that evolution even further. The EP arrived as a hard-hitting and deeply personal body of work about the wake-up calls that force real change, featuring "The Seeds", "Divided", "The Day I Die", "The Bottom", "Terrified", "Razor" and "Antidote".

Speaking on the release, Chris previously shared: "This EP is ultimately about facing the things we've ignored within ourselves and confronting the wake-up calls that force us to go deeper. These songs unlocked something very real, honest, and visceral in me as a writer and as a human being."

Now, "Shock To The System (Deluxe)" presents the complete picture. The live recordings add another layer, pulling the songs out of the studio and into the charged space between band and audience.

The deluxe album follows a landmark run for DAUGHTRY, including the band's first-ever No. 1 at Active Rock with "Artificial", another No. 1 with "Pieces", major touring alongside BREAKING BENJAMIN, STAIND, CREED, DISTURBED and SEETHER, and continued praise for the heavier, fearless direction of their current era.

"Shock To The System (Deluxe)" track listing:

01. The Reckoning
02. Artificial
03. Pieces
04. Shock To The System
05. Nervous (Explicit)
06. The Dam
07. The Seeds
08. Divided
09. The Day I Die
10. The Bottom
11. Terrified (Explicit)
12. Razor
13. Antidote (Full Mix)
14. Antidote
15. The Dam (Live)
16. Antidote (Live)
17. The Day I Die (Live)
18. Artificial (Live)

DAUGHTRY remains a force of nature in rock music and culture, standing out as one of the best-selling rock bands of the 21st century. The history-making group has scored multiple platinum and gold certifications, notched two No. 1 debuts on the Billboard 200, packed venues worldwide, and sold north of nine million albums and 25 million singles.

2021's "Dearly Beloved" spawned a procession of Top 10 Billboard Rock Airplay hits, namely "World On Fire", "Heavy Is The Crown" and "Changes Are Coming". Chris Daughtry teamed up with Lzzy Hale of HALESTORM for a chart-busting cover of JOURNEY's "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" during 2023. Chris further distinguished himself with featured vocals for PAPA ROACH, BAD WOLVES, NOTHINGMORE and SEVENDUST. Embedded in popular culture, his presence can also be felt everywhere from "Family Guy" to his comic book cover art, including DC comics variant cover of "Batman" #50.

In 2024, "Shock To The System (Part One)" spawned the group's first-ever No. 1 at Active Rock with "Artificial", along with the title of Billboard's "Most Played Artist" at active rock in 2024. Beyond looks from Billboard, Spin and more, Loudwire marveled at how "There's quite the palpable heaviness to the first installment of the singer's planned EPs." Between playing arenas with BREAKING BENJAMIN, STAIND and DISTURBED, the band recorded "Shock To The System (Part Two)" alongside producers and co-writers Marti Frederiksen and Scott Stevens. Now, DAUGHTRY delivers this hard-hitting, heavy, and honest collection of songs in one complete release, with deluxe live versions added, continuing this heavier and deeply personal creative chapter that now reaches its full form with "Shock To The System (Deluxe)", out June 5 via Big Machine Rock.

On the heels of debuting her forthcoming documentary "In My Voice" at the Grammy Museum, rock icon Ann Wilson has released her powerful new single "Nothing But Love", a sweeping and deeply reflective collaboration with legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach. The song arrives today alongside an emotional new music video featuring never-before-seen footage from Wilson's forthcoming documentary "In My Voice", offering an intimate glimpse into the life and legacy of one of rock music's most influential voices.

Written during one of the final creative periods of Bacharach's storied career, "Nothing But Love" carries the timeless emotional weight and melodic sophistication that defined his songwriting, while placing Wilson's unmistakable voice and lyrics front and center.

About the song, Ann says: "I wrote 'Nothing But Love' with Burt Bacharach back in 1999, performed it a few times and then I sort of forgot about it. A friend recently asked me about the song and he suggested I finally take it to the studio and release it properly. I'm proud of what we came up with and I feel quite lucky to have been able to work with Burt. His light remains bright."

The accompanying video serves as an early look into "In My Voice", the forthcoming feature-length documentary directed by Barbara Hall. Told largely through Wilson's own words and rare personal archives, the film traces her journey from a child in Seattle to the commanding voice behind HEART, one of the most groundbreaking rock bands in modern music history. The documentary also explores Wilson's personal life — her journey into motherhood, surviving cancer and continuing her creative endeavors.

"Nothing But Love" arrives during a deeply reflective and creatively fertile chapter for Wilson. Over the past several years, she has expanded her artistic universe through solo releases, her work with TRIPSITTER, and her acclaimed podcast "After Dinner Thinks", where she explores music, culture, spirituality, and the human experience with guests across generations. The new single further cements Wilson not simply as a legendary rock vocalist, but as a fearless storyteller continuing to evolve in real time.

Alongside today's release, ANN WILSON & TRIPSITTER have also announced a new run of tour dates, bringing the project's intimate yet powerful live experience to audiences across North America.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest vocalists in the history of rock music, Ann Wilson helped redefine the genre. As the lead singer and songwriter of HEART, she helped build one of the most enduring and influential catalogs in modern music, selling more than 35 million records worldwide and earning a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

"Nothing But Love" is available now on all streaming platforms.

Ann Wilson "In My Voice" documentary tour dates

May 11 - Seattle, WA - The Neptune
May 12 - Vancouver, BC - Rio Theatre
May 17 - Chicago, IL - City Winery
May 18 - Cleveland, OH - Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
May 20 - Nashville, TN - City Winery
May 27 - New York, NY - City Winery
May 29 - Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Events Center
May 30 - Toronto, ON - The Opera House
Jun. 01 - Boston, MA - City Winery

ANN WILSON & TRIPSITTER North American tour dates:

Sep. 11 - The Villages, FL @ Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center
Sep. 13 - Orange Park, FL @ Thrasher-Horne Center
Sep. 15 - Conway, AR @ Reynolds Performance Hall
Sep. 17 - Lawton, OK @ Apache Casino Hotel
Sep. 19 - Catoosa, OK @ Hard Rock Live
Sep. 22 - Bowling Green, KY @ Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center
Sep. 24 - Montgomery, AL @ Montgomery Performing Arts Center
Sep. 26 - North Myrtle Beach, SC @ The Alabama Theatre
Sep. 28 - Charlottesville, VA @ The Paramount Theater
Sep. 30 - Warren, PA @ Struthers Library Theatre
Oct. 02 - Bethlehem, PA @ Wind Creek Event Center
Oct. 04 - Patchogue, NY @ Patchogue Theatre
Oct. 06 - Burlington, VT @ The Flynn
Oct. 07 - Derry, NH @ Tupelo Music Hall
Oct. 09 - Ridgefield, CT @ The Ridgefield Playhouse

In an interview with Eddie Trunk at the Monsters Of Rock 2026 festival on April 4 at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil, EXTREME guitarist Nuno Bettencourt spoke about the progress of the recording sessions for the band's seventh studio album. The upcoming effort will be the follow-up to "Six", which was released in June 2023 via earMUSIC. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We're still finishing the recording. We just wrapped up some drums. Gary's [Cherone, EXTREME singer] on deck, Pat's [Badger, EXTREME bassist] on deck. But as far as the songs, we got a great crop of, like, 20 songs to choose from. And we're pumped."

He continued: "Look, every band's gonna tell you their next album's [the best one]: 'Wait till you hear it. It's unbelievable.' But no, we're actually authentically excited.

"One of the things that we noticed after doing 'Six', and in rock and roll in general, it's a bit of a famine out there when it comes to new albums, especially from bands from our generation," Nuno explained. "So we wanted to really do a 'rock rock' album.

"EXTREME has always been very known for being kind of eclectic, and we always take left and right turns. And we kind of sat down and we said, 'What if we just do an AC/DC record, a VAN HALEN record?' Not like them, but they always did... Not that there's no ballads, but it's, like, let's just keep pouncing and pounding. So we're excited. It's a true rock and roll album, and it's nonstop. And we're super pumped about it, super excited."

This past March, Bettencourt told "Mistress Carrie" Sarao of The Mistress Carrie Podcast about EXTREME's new music: "[I've been in a] creative black hole over the last — I don't know — year or so wrapping up an EXTREME album. We've got about 18, 20 new tunes, and dare I say it's the greatest album we've ever done — like every artist says."

Regarding a possible release date for the new EXTREME LP, Nuno said: "What we're trying to do is we're hoping to drop the album — it probably has to be towards the end of the year, but we're hoping to do a single per run, like maybe for the summer, for the DEF LEPPARD [European] tour, maybe in June drop our first single, maybe for the MÖTLEY [CRÜE U.S. tour] drop a second single, just to get things excited."

As for Bettencourt's expectations for the upcoming EXTREME album, the guitarist said: "It's time for the fucking Super Bowl for us for real, as a band. And this album — I told the [other] guys [in the band], 'This album is everything for us. It's everything. This is our career. The whole thing is this next fucking album.' So we have an opportunity to do something for ourselves — not for anybody else, for ourselves — and raise that fucking bar for ourselves and let everybody know that we are a rock band and let everybody know that we've always been all in, that we've been passionate, that we fucking leave it always on stage, that we don't take anything for granted, we don't take our fans for granted and we don't take rock and roll for granted... So I told the guys, I said, 'This album has to dwarf what we did.'"

He continued: "I'm telling you right now — I never get excited about anything, I don't brag about anything, I don't talk about stuff, but I cannot wait to play you [the new songs]. Honestly, I think we did something on this album that is so much better than the last album. And what I mean by that is that we cracked the fucking code. It only took 40 years, but we cracked the code. And what I mean by that is I said to myself, 'You know what? If I could go back in time to EXTREME playing clubs before they had a record deal and I said, 'Who are they? What do they play? What do they do? What separates them from everybody else? What's their differentiator?' Like, oh, they've got a funk element to it. They always had this funkiness, rock funk. People used to call this 'funky metal' back in the day. But funky is happy. So what's the heavy version of that? If I went back to '86 — it was right before we got a deal, in '86, '87 — and now it's 2026, what is that version, the back-to-the-future version but the modern bitchslap, heavy, punch-somebody-in-the-fucking-balls funk version of EXTREME, the authentic EXTREME that you've heard nobody else do it this way, that's what we're [doing on this new album]."

Nuno added: "We are so excited, like little giddy children that wrote some music. And not like, 'Man, you watch what we're gonna do.' I don't give a fuck if nobody likes it. I'm just telling you that it's the best thing that we can do that might be one of the best things we've ever done, I think, because of the passion and because of where we are in our lives going, like, who the fuck gets a chance, a second chance to have a second go-around, with all the shit that I've been blessed with over the last three years and the band's been blessed with over the last three years, just for doing it for the love of it."

This past November, EXTREME released the official music video for the song "Here's To The Losers". The clip completed the band's mission to create 12 visual interpretations of the songs from "Six".

"Six" propelled EXTREME to new heights, driven by standout singles such as "Rise" — featuring a solo by Bettencourt praised by the press as "the guitar solo of the century" — alongside "Banshee" and "Other Side Of The Rainbow", and supported by a globe-spanning tour across the U.S., Europe, India, Japan and Australia. Bettencourt also reaffirmed his stature as one of rock's most commanding players with a historic performance at Ozzy Osbourne's "Back To The Beginning" farewell concert. That milestone appearance led to his invitation to serve as music director and guitarist at the 2025 MTV VMAs, where he delivered a powerhouse tribute to Osbourne alongside Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and Yungblud.

"Six" landed at position No. 10 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart with first-week sales of 12,500 copies. The set marked EXTREME's first studio album since 2008. The act was last in the Top 10 with "III Sides To Every Story", which debuted and peaked at No. 10 back in October 1992.

Photo credit: Jesse Lirola (courtesy of earMUSIC)

After what has felt like an eternity for fans, California's most outrageous metal maestros STEEL PANTHER return with an anthem for the ages. The quartet — comprised of singer Michael Starr, guitarist Satchel, bassist Spyder and drummer Stix Zadinia — has crafted a tribute to moms everywhere in honor of the band's favorite Hallmark holiday: Mother's Day.

"The Mother's Day Song" is quintessential STEEL PANTHER, packed with catchy riffs, driving rhythms, and unforgettable, sing-along choruses. The band's irreverent ode to mothers across the globe is delivered with their signature humor and over-the-top style, celebrating the women who bring future generations into the world — STEEL PANTHER style.

The song is now available via all digital service providers.

A music video for the track, directed by longtime collaborator J.T. Arbogast, pays homage to THE BEATLES' iconic performance on "The Ed Sullivan Show". In the video, the members of STEEL PANTHER don their sharpest suits, performing against a stark white backdrop in a tongue-in-cheek nod to the legendary broadcast. It's poised to become another standout entry in the band's already celebrated catalog of visuals.

The official music video for "The Mother's Day Song" can be seen below.

"The Mother's Day Song" is the first piece of original music from STEEL PANTHER in three years. The song is also the first release from the band's new label home, Frontiers Music Srl. The label recently made headlines with their incredible success with the release of the final album by Dave Mustaine and MEGADETH.

STEEL PANTHER comments: "We've signed a lot of things in our career including more body parts than we can remember, but we have now officially signed with Frontiers. Serafino and his team sent us a better batch of drugs and hookers than they gave to Dave Mustaine and MEGADETH, and we all saw how great that album did. Those Italians know how to rub us the right way, and they paid us while doing it. We can't wait to go visit them in their homeland and enjoy their women and wine. Hide your moms, priests, and nuns."

More music from STEEL PANTHER will be released in the near future.

Fresh off a successful North American tour, STEEL PANTHER is currently enjoying some well-earned downtime before heading overseas. STEEL PANTHER will kick off its "Europe Twenty Twenty S€X Tour" on June 15 in Paris, France, wrapping on July 25 in Southampton, U.K.

Last year STEEL PANTHER entered Dave Grohl's Studio 606 with longtime producer Jay Ruston to begin recording the band's first new music since 2023's "On The Prowl" album.

In October 2024, STEEL PANTHER's debut album, "Feel The Steel", was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales in excess of 100,000 copies in the United Kingdom.

"Feel The Steel - 15th Anniversary Edition" was released worldwide on November 15, 2024. The 15th-anniversary edition features two tracks that were only released on the original Japanese import: "You Don't Make Me Feel Dumb" and "I Want Your Tits". The album was produced by Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, COREY TAYLOR).

Formed in 2000, STEEL PANTHER specializes in imitating and exaggerating the less flattering aspects of 1980s hair metal, with unrepentantly crude, non-PC sexual content as a favorite lyrical theme.

The group's music has been described as "VAN HALEN meets MÖTLEY CRÜE meets RATT meets 'Wayne's World', complete with operatic shrieks, misogyny, shredding guitar solos and libidinal overdrive."

Eighteen years ago, STEEL PANTHER changed its name from METAL SKOOL to its current moniker and shifted the focus of its act from '80s metal covers to originals.

STEEL PANTHER's sixth studio album, "On The Prowl", was released in February 2023.

In September 2022, STEEL PANTHER announced the addition of Spyder as the band's new bassist.

Photo credit: David Jackson

On the red carpet of the world premiere of the "Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition" documentary, which was held Tuesday night (May 5) at Cineworld Leicester Square in London, England, IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson discussed the changes in the music industry, especially on the touring front, over the last four decades. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "The problem you have is that costs keep going up and everything else. But that's not an excuse for doing crazy, crazy ticket prices. We've always tried to keep our ticket prices lower than the general norm because, frankly, we don't want a bunch of very rich people standing in front of the stage. We want real fans to be standing there, and they don't always have loads of money. So it's really important for us as a band to have that facility. We want young kids at the shows, and they don't have loads of money. They're gonna get their money from dad. But dad, these days, money's tight. So it's important to try and keep ticket prices within the bounds of reason."

Bruce previously talked about music industry changes and the fact that prices for high-profile, in-demand shows can be eye-watering, especially when they're resold on secondary markets, during a March 2024 interview with Mexico's ATMósferas Magazine. He said at the time: "The music industry has done two things. On the one hand, if you're an artist, it's contracted, as in it's shrunk in terms of the amount of money you get paid for your art — unless you are some massive social media thing, or whatever it is, or unless you're a DJ who turns up with a memory stick and gets paid five times what a band gets paid. And they have to split it eight ways, and he just turns up with his memory stick and pretends he's doing something, and goes away with a huge amount of money. So the world has gone on its ass from that perspective. And there's not a lot that any one individual can do about that. You just have to work with the way the world is."

He continued: "I have no desire whatsoever to be a DJ. I'm a singer, I'm a musician, I have bands and people like that, and they all have to make a living playing with me. So I do the best I can to make sure that everybody's happy, everybody's making a living and we can go out and play great music.

"In terms of the way that records are sold — well, records, downloads, things like that — I think it's a lose-lose situation for everybody," Dickinson added. "I mean, you have all the things like Spotify and stuff like that who are basically ripping off musicians by paying them next to nothing for playing their work. And still, [Spotify] can't make money. So they're not making money [and] the musicians aren't getting paid. New bands can hardly afford to start up, but they do. Why? Because they love what they do. It's that that drives them. It's that that motivates them. So, if the streaming services could manage to actually pay people properly for when people listen, which probably means that people listening have to pay more, which I frankly don't object to, and I don't think probably most listeners would. Maybe less people would listen, but it would be people who care, not people who just do it because it's cheap."

Asked if he thinks the skyrocketing concert ticket prices are having a negative impact on the music industry, Bruce said: "Well, two things. One, it depends what the show is and kind of who the audience are. I mean, I'm not gonna go around and say specific artists, because most of the artists that are charging, like, 1,200 dollars a ticket — like in Las Vegas, if you wanna go and see the U2 show, I think it was 1,200 dollars per seat in the sphere. I've got no interest in paying 1,200 dollars to go and see U2 in the sphere — none. A hundred bucks, maybe. But for me, what's important is to try and keep, on the one hand, the right type of tickets at the right price. So by that I mean the right type of tickets, I mean, the tickets that are in front of the stage, which everybody says should be the most expensive tickets. Actually, no, they should be the most reasonably priced tickets, 'cause the people who are gonna go there to the front of the stage are gonna be people who are real fans, people who are kids, people who can't afford the crazy money, but they are the people that need to be down the front; they're the people that are gonna keep this music alive. And then you get the people that they might be fans, but they wanna bring their wife and they don't wanna get too hot and sweaty and all the rest of it. So, there's some seats at the top or something else like that, what they're gonna pick, and those get priced differently."

Bruce continued: "I understand how promoters try and do it to try and not lose money, because promoters are part of the whole ecosystem. Without promoters, there would be no shows. The promoters have somehow gotta make their money back. So, it's a delicate balance, but in general, ticket prices have gone through the roof. And some of the ticket prices that people pay, well, some of the prices people pay, for me, it's insane. I would never pay that price, but then again, I'm probably not a fan of that particular artist. People who are, maybe they think it's worth it. I mean, certainly with my shows, we've always tried to keep the ticket prices within the normal, normal boundaries. And the same with MAIDEN."

A couple of months after IRON MAIDEN performed at the Power Trip festival in Indio, California in October 2023, Bruce told Brazil's 92.5 Kiss FM radio station that playing at the event "was a slightly strange experience for us" because "the people who should be down the front of the stage, because the tickets for the festival were so expensive, they were at the back, and the people who were at the front were just like rich people that wanted to film everything on their phone. But the kids who you wanted to play to were at the back. And that sucks, actually. It wasn't our festival; it wasn't our organization. We're going into America [in 2024] and we're doing our own tour. And the people who are down the front are gonna be the people who deserve to be down the front. They're gonna be the real fans, which is gonna be great."

"Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition" will hit theaters for a limited time only beginning May 7, 2026. The film is said to trace the British heavy metal legends' "remarkable five‑decade journey" with "unprecedented access" to the band's official archives.

Alongside the band, "Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition" features on‑camera reflections from prominent admirers, including Javier Bardem, METALLICA's Lars Ulrich and PUBLIC ENEMY's Chuck D, each speaking to MAIDEN's influence on music, culture and generations of fans worldwide.

Directed by Malcolm Venville ("Churchill At War") and produced by Dominic Freeman ("Spirits In The Forest - A Depeche Mode Film"),the "electrifying film offers an intimate look at [MAIDEN's] uncompromising vision and unwavering connection with their global army of fans," according to a press release.

Spanish illustrator Alberto "Akirant" Quirantes contributes newly created key art, following his work on IRON MAIDEN's 50th-anniversary coin for the Royal Mint, which was released to celebrate the band's milestone in 2025.

Formed in East London in 1975, IRON MAIDEN have grown into one of the world's most influential and enduring rock bands. Across 50 years they have released 17 studio albums, sold over 100 million records, and performed almost 2,500 concerts across 64 countries.

The documentary arrives as the band continues its two-year "Run For Your Lives" world tour, which included a triumphant homecoming performance at London Stadium a short distance from where it all began five decades ago.

A recently announced, one-of-a-kind, celebration named EddFest in historic Knebworth Park, England, on July 11 forms part of over 50 shows worldwide in 2026.

In a new interview with Marjorie Hache of France 24, DEF LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott spoke about the band's latest single, "Rejoice". The track was released in late January ahead of DEF LEPPARD's return to Las Vegas for their "Def Leppard: Live at Caesars Palace The Las Vegas Residency" that kicked off on February 3. "Rejoice" is available via UMe now on all streaming platforms. Asked what "Rejoice" is about, Joe said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, the title kind of sums it up, really. I wanted to write a really uplifting, positive-message song, and I said to Phil [Collen, DEF LEPPARD guitarist], 'I got this great idea. I need it to be mid-tempo. I want it to have a big intro drum loop so we can actually walk on stage to this and expand it and make it longer live.' But the whole idea of the song is, it starts off — I mean, it's a great opening line, is, 'I'm bored of boredom. I'm sick of all this.' And, 'I wanna be in a better place.' So it gets to the climax, you go through the bridge, and you get to the chorus, it's, 'I wanna go higher.' So it's just very uplifting. It's a joyous, uplifting song."

Joe continued: "That's what we are — we're an escapism band. We're not here to preach. We're not here to tell you who to vote for. Other people can do that. We like to take you away from that and just come and have a good time. It's not meaningless — there is a message there, and the message is, we need to share this moment together and make it a positive one. And 'Rejoice' just about sums that all up."

Asked if the release of "Rejoice" means that there is a whole new DEF LEPPARD album on the way, Joe said: "Absolutely. We're actually recording it. As I speak, somewhere in the world, people are adding their bits to some new songs.

"We've developed a whole new method of recording, which was brought on by COVID," Elliott explained. "I've got a studio at home, and everybody has always gracefully come to my house to record. We'd do a month at a time, and then everybody goes home. But they couldn't travel. So we ended up recording remotely, and we found it to be exhilarating. Everybody got to be at home with their families, yet still make a record. And we trusted each other that we were writing songs. And so everybody just played on everybody else's bits, and it's easy to do. We don't all record in one room when we are in the same studio — we do it, the drums and the bass and the guitars and the vocals; it's all layered. So we've been recording while we were in Vegas [for the latest residency]. On days off, we had the drums set up in the basement of the theater, and Rick [Allen, DEF LEPPARD drummer] played loads of drums on his days off, and they'd do guitars in their hotel rooms, stuff like that. And I sing when I get home. So we've got about 17 or 18 songs written. So we've actually almost got two albums recorded. So we're still deciding which songs are gonna go on album one, if you like. And then we're looking at an early '27 release."

"Def Leppard: Live at Caesars Palace The Las Vegas Residency" ran through February 28, 2026 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. These new shows followed the band's sold-out residency successes in 2019 and 2013.

In January 2025, DEF LEPPARD released a cover of Ben E. King's 1961 classic "Stand By Me". All proceeds from the song went to FireAid, which raises money for those impacted by the fires that swept through Los Angeles in January 2025.

DEF LEPPARD's version of the song is featured in the Netflix film "Bank Of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger", which was released in January 2025. The band can be seen performing the track before the credits.

DEF LEPPARD's "Just Like 73" single, featuring a guest guitar solo from RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello, was made available in June 2024.

DEF LEPPARD's 12th studio album, "Diamond Star Halos", came out in 2022. A year later, the band followed it up with "Drastic Symphonies", a collection of reimagining of some of DEF LEPPARD's greatest hits with London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road. The album spent 15 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Current Classical chart.

In late 2024, DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell underwent a bone marrow transplant as part of his treatment plan for Hodgkin's lymphoma, with which he was diagnosed in 2013.

In June 2025, Campbell revealed that he is "completely in remission" from the cancer of the lymphatic system.

Campbell — who before joining DEF LEPPARD in 1992 was well known for his work with DIO and WHITESNAKE — went public with his Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis in June 2013.

Vivian underwent three separate spells of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, only for his Hodgkin's lymphoma to return.

Seven years ago, Campbell underwent spine surgery.

Vivian and his DEF LEPPARD bandmates were finally inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in March 2019 — 14 years after the British rockers first became eligible.

DRAGONFORCE made its official live debut with new singer Alissa White-Gluz (ex-ARCH ENEMY) Saturday night (May 9) at the Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Due to ongoing hearing loss and tinnitus issues that have increasingly affected longtime DRAGONFORCE singer Marc Hudson's ability to tour, he didn't join DRAGONFORCE on stage at Welcome To Rockville.

DRAGONFORCE commented: "This hasn't been a sudden decision, but something [Marc has] been managing behind the scenes for quite some time. After careful consideration, it's become clear that taking a little break is the best move for his long-term health and recovery.

"We know many of you were looking forward to seeing [Marc] on stage again with Alissa, but don't worry. We have new music with Marc and Alissa in the works. In the meantime, Billy [Wilkins, who has been handling additional guitars and backing vocals for DRAGONFORCE since late 2023] will be stepping in to handle the next two live performances.

"Thank you for all your love and support".

Wilkins will also handle lead vocals, alongside White-Gluz, for DRAGONFORCE's May 17 appearance at the Sonic Temple festival in Columbus, Ohio.

DRAGONFORCE's appearance at Welcome To Rockville kicked off the band's celebration of the twentieth anniversary of "Inhuman Rampage". As the 2006 album that birthed the platinum-selling global phenomenon of "Through The Fire And Flames", which spent 23 consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold, "Inhuman Rampage" introduced the band and their music to tens of millions of new fans and counting.

When Alissa's addition to DRAGONFORCE was first announced on May 6, DRAGONFORCE co-founder and lead guitarist Herman Li said in a statement: "Alissa joining the band is an expansion of everything we've done up to this point. Twenty years is a long time to do anything, let alone survive the music industry and still be so inspired to continue doing what we love. Together we will honor what made 'Inhuman Rampage' matter, while showing people exactly where we're going next. Having Alissa in the room changes everything. She doesn't just sing, she makes all aspects of our music better. And she sounds incredible live! I can't wait for the fans to see her and hear what we have been working on."

Through her work with everyone from THE AGONIST to KAMELOT, ARCH ENEMY and her newly launched BLUE MEDUSA, Alissa has become an icon synonymous with strength, independence, versatility and creative fearlessness, representing a new standard for women at the highest levels of heavy music. Over two decades spent on the stage, blending ferocious and melodic theatricality with lyrical themes of philosophy, psychology, ethics and the human experience, she has built a history spanning 15-plus hours of recorded music, 60-plus music videos, 40-plus collaborations and 2,000-plus concerts across a myriad of subgenres.

On her new partnership with DRAGONFORCE, and pairing her vocal prowess with the band's time-warping precision and live show spectacle, Alissa said: "I am beyond excited to be bringing such iconic music to life with these amazingly skilled musicians in such a fun and inspiring environment. It feels great to showcase all the colors of my voice and utilize all my singing styles in technically challenging, deeply energizing, highly addictive songs. I am so thankful for the amazing support I have been lucky enough to receive from the metal world over this wild career I've built; I want to keep pushing my boundaries and delivering exceptional music and live experiences to the fans that I cherish so much."

Founded in 1999 and based between Los Angeles and London, DRAGONFORCE have rewritten the rules of heavy metal, while redefining the possibilities of their respective instruments. Since the release of "Inhuman Rampage" and its signature anthem "Through The Fire And Flames" — the notoriously unbeatable final boss of "Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock" — the Grammy-nominated band have continued to blow the minds of musicians and gamers everywhere. They have been heard in "Despicable Me 4", "Fortnite Festival", "Brawl Stars", "Asphalt Legends" and beyond, and seen on the covers of dozens of magazines. They have played for millions of fans and shared stages with IRON MAIDEN, Ozzy Osbourne, SLIPKNOT, METALLICA and many more, but one thing has always been certain: the fastest band in the world will not slow down.

DRAGONFORCE 2026 is:

Herman Li - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Sam Totman - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Alissa White-Gluz - Lead Vocals
Marc Hudson - Lead Vocals
Alicia Vigil - Bass
Gee Anzalone - Drums

In a new interview with Chile's Teletrece, MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine was asked about the inspiration for his lyrics for the song "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" and how they relate to the ongoing U.S.-Israel war with Iran. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm a songwriter, and I don't think people should listen to celebrities about stuff, what they should do or how they should vote. And in fact, in America, that used to be private. Nobody would go around and tell people who they voted for. It was important. It was your right. And I even worked with the government in America to get a law passed called the Motor Voter bill, and it made it so that Americans can go to get their driver's license and also register to vote at the same time, and I did that with MTV and the 'Rock The Vote' campaign. But that was a nonpartisan effort."

Dave continued: "Like I said, I don't think celebrities should be telling their fans how to vote, because if I say I'm a Democrat, all the people who are Republicans are gonna be affected by that statement. They may say, 'You know what? I like his music. I don't care if he's a Democrat.' Or they may say, 'You know what? Fuck him. He's a Democrat, and I don't wanna listen to his music anymore.'"

Mustaine clarified: "In fact, I'm not a Democrat or a Republican. I have my viewpoints, which are pretty strict. But I'm what you would call an independent in America. So I don't think that I should be telling anybody about what's going on in the Middle East, 'cause I don't really know. But I do know that the Bible talks about it, and if you really wanna get an idea on what's going on in the world, maybe do some reading. Do some reading."

This past February, Mustaine discussed his political stance while appearing on "Roisin O'Connor's Good Vibrations", the podcast hosted by The Independent's music editor Roisin O'Connor. He said at the time: "I'm a very keen observer, and I probably see things very similar to the way you see things. But the world has developed into a place where if you're somebody offering a product, it's best for you not to talk about your political persuasion. We never used to do that. People never used to say who they voted for. It's none of your goddamn business. And people think I'm a right-winger. I'm not. I'm an independent. I've voted for Democrats, I've voted for Republicans. I vote for whoever's the least of two evils, sometimes three."

Asked why he thinks that kind of narrative was formed around him over the years, Dave replied: "Well, I believe that people who get fired from MEGADETH are bitter, whether it's musicians or people who work in another area with the band. And it's really easy to say bad stuff about me. You can ask anybody I work with… All you can do is show up and be the best person you can be. And my reputation will precede me, of course, but my character will remain. And I think a lot of people are finding out that a lot of the stuff they hear about me or about the band is not true, because we're very personable and I'm very approachable. When we're down in South America, we'll sit out on the steps of the hotel and serenade the fans. That's how we really are. That's how we live. We love our fans."

In January, Dave told The New York Times about his political beliefs: "I'm a Christian, and I answer to a different set of angels. I obey the law, but no, I'm not a right-winger." He also insisted that he is spiritual, not religious. "We used to always say that religion's for people who are afraid of going to hell, and spirituality is for people like us who have been there," he said.

Two years ago, Mustaine was asked during a press conference in Peru what the experience was like of going to the White House in 1992 with the "Rock The Vote" campaign for the Democratic National Convention coverage. He said: "What was it like going up to the White House and doing the 'Rock The Vote' thing? Well, I think if you wanna say something, you need to know what you're saying. And I was asked to help get people in my country registered to vote — not to become a Democrat, not to become a Republican, but to vote. And I've always said, when I talk to people, I try and show them both sides and then let that person pick. I don't try and tell people in my songs what to do.

"Would I do it again? I guess I kind of do it still every day, just being an example in heavy metal music that not everyone in metal is uninterested in civil matters in their country, singing about things that matter," he added.

Four years ago, Mustaine claimed that he "peed on the floor" of the White House bathroom when he went there more than three decades ago. Dave made the outrageous claim while introducing the song "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" during MEGADETH's concert at the Tucson Arena in Tucson, Arizona. Mustaine said in part: "I want you guys to know that I've lived through a lot of different eras in the United States and seen different things, and one thing that makes me the most proud of everything here in our country is you guys, the way that you are handling yourselves and the way that… as the metal community. There's a lot of people that go out there and they say things and they totally embarrass themselves. And I want you guys to know how proud I am to represent you."

He continued: "When I went up to the White House, I was so proud to be able to go up there and say, 'Fuck you. You think we're stupid? We are not stupid, motherfuckers.'

"By the way, when I went into the White House, I went into the royal — whatever the fuck it's called — White House bathroom, and I peed on the floor. I had to. I had to."

Seven years ago, Dave, who has attracted a fair amount of media attention over the years for his political thoughts, said that he and other public figures have fallen victim to so-called negative partisanship, in which people identify as being against the opposing political party, and vocalize their beliefs through anger or loathing.

"I've got this reputation that I'm a right-winger," Mustaine told Ron Keel of the "Streets Of Rock 'N' Roll" radio show. "Well, check my voting record to see that I've voted Democrat and Republican. And it's just a shame that people are trying to destroy people's careers because of a vote."

Mustaine has consistently denied that he is a Republican, telling Artisan News in a 2012 interview: "I'm an independent, not a Republican — I've never been a Republican. I've always said that. I don't belong to any party — I'm non-partisan. And for me, the sad thing is, instead of voting for the best man, I have to vote for the lesser of two evils."

Back in 2016, Mustaine refused to say if was going to vote for Donald Trump in that year's U.S. presidential election but called the billionaire real estate mogul "a very successful businessman." He also said that he wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton.

Four years earlier, Mustaine made headlines when he voiced his support for ultraconservative Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum. He explained at the time that the Pennsylvania politician looked "like he could be a really cool president… kind of like a JFK kind of guy." That same year, he drew ire on social media when he suggested onstage at a concert in Singapore that President Obama was behind the mass shootings in Aurora and at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin.

Mustaine later blamed media outlets for taking his statements out of context, explaining that he never said he officially "endorsed" Santorum. As for the Singapore concert, he claimed to have been repeating the theories of Larry Pratt, a pro-gun activist who runs the organization Gun Owners Of America.

Also in 2012, Mustaine revealed his "birther" opinions on a talk show, saying he doubted President Obama was born in the United States. He told radio host Alex Jones: "With all of the proof about his birth certificate being fake… And you see the signs in Kenya that say 'the birthplace of Barack Obama.' Hello?! C'mon, guys. How stupid are we right now?"

In October 2011, as Occupy Wall Street protests were raging across the country, Mustaine railed against what he saw as the president's inappropriate support for the populist movement, calling Obama the most divisive president we've ever had. "I've never, in my 50 years of being alive, listened to an American president try and turn one class of people against another class of people," he said. "I've never — never — heard a president say, 'Go down and join the protesters down at Wall Street,' knowing that there are Nazis down there, knowing that there are people down there who are trust-fund babies, that are super, super wealthy and they're going down there and pretending that they really care; they just wanna be part of the 'movement.'"

Arizona thrash metal veterans SACRED REICH are mixing their new album, "Into The Abyss", with legendary producer Bill Metoyer for a tentative late 2026 release via Metal Blade Records. The follow-up to 2019's "Awakening" was recorded at The Focusrite Room in Mesa, Arizona, with John Aquilino and SACRED REICH at the production helm. Aquilino also engineered the effort, which will mark SACRED REICH's first LP since the addition of new drummer Eduardo Baldo, who replaced SACRED REICH's longtime drummer Dave McClain last fall. McClain laid down the drum tracks for "Into The Abyss" prior to his exit from the band.

On Friday (May 8),SACRED REICH shared a photo from The Focusrite Room on social media and included the following message: "Recording studio or bridge of the Starship Enterprise? We recorded The Focusrite Room in Mesa, Arizona on a one of a kind Focusrite desk. It sounds incredible. The new album 'Into The Abyss' will feature 11 tracks. It was engineered by John Aquilino and produced by John and SACRED REICH. We are mixing now with Bill Metoyer. Can't wait for you all to hear the record."

Baldo, the Brazilian drummer who most recently played with the Los Angeles-based band RED DEVIL VORTEX, sat behind the drum kit for SACRED REICH's European shows in November with HATEBREED.

When SACRED REICH announced Baldo's official addition to the band last December, SACRED REICH said in a statement: "Baldo played the recent shows in Europe with us and crushed it! He's a great dude and fit right in with us. We are excited to move forward with Baldo behind the kit bringing his own style, enthusiasm and power. Welcome to SACRED REICH!"

In late October, SACRED REICH's longtime drummer Dave McClain commented on his latest exit from the band, explaining in a social media post that he "decided to move on" and adding that he would "still [be] 100% doing my thing, whether it's touring, recording, teaching or just playing in my home studio."

When SACRED REICH announced McClain's departure on October 20, 2025, the band wrote in a statement: "Dave McClain is no longer a member of SACRED REICH. We wish him the best.

"We are excited for this new chapter in SACRED REICH history."

McClain was originally a member of SACRED REICH from 1991 to 1995. He played on the "A Question" EP (1991) and the "Independent" (1993) and "Heal" (1996) albums before leaving to join MACHINE HEAD.

McClain rejoined SACRED REICH in December 2018 and recorded the band's first album in 23 years, "Awakening", which was released in 2019 via Metal Blade Records. The LP was produced by Arthur Rizk, who has previously worked with CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, POWER TRIP and CODE ORANGE, among others.

The now-60-year-old musician, who joined MACHINE HEAD in 1995, announced his departure from the California metal band in October 2018. McClain, along with guitarist Phil Demmel, went on to complete the Robb Flynn-fronted act's "Freaks & Zeroes Tour" before they both officially exited the group.

"Awakening" was described in a press release as "a timeless collection comprised of blistering thrash, crushing grooves, killer solos and socially conscious lyrics that demonstrate a true understanding of everything that matters most in the world today."

"Awakening" was engineered by John Aquilino and was mastered by Maor Appelbaum.

Image credit: Helldorado Festival Official

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NONPOINT's founding bassist Ken MacMillan rejoined his former band on stage on Friday (May 8) at the Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida to perform the group's classic song "Bullet With A Name". It marked his first live appearance with NONPOINT in 15 years.

NONPOINT commented: This happened today. Our original bassist Ken MacMillan aka Bastard, aka Nekro for onstage at Welcome To Rockville joined us on stage to close out and play an even heavier version of 'Bullet With A Name'. A very special day indeed!

"Thank you DWP for the invite and thank you to Ken for helping us close out this amazing moment with a HUGE bang! To all the fans that braved the heat and came out to see us, we thank you!"

Fan-filmed video of MacMillan's performance with NONPOINT at the 2026 Welcome To Rockville can be seen below (courtesy of IFM RAW).

According to NONPOINT singer Elias Soriano, MacMillan, who co-founded the band in 1997, had tired of music and touring, and decided to leave NONPOINT in 2011 to pursue work in the graphics field.

Late last month, NONPOINT released the official lyric video for its new single, "Is It". The track, which was made available on May 8 on all major digital streaming platforms, serves as the first release from NONPOINT's upcoming full-length album, "The Last Word", arriving in late summer 2026 via the band's independent record label 361 Degrees Records LLC.

NONPOINT performed two new songs, "Is It" and "Red Yeti", the latter of which features a guest appearance by SUMO CYCO frontwoman Skye Sweetnam, live during the band's headlining concert on April 25 at Ritz Ybor in Tampa, Florida. The show, which was part of NONPOINT's "The Outta Control Tour", featured support from SOIL and SUMO CYCO.

In a new interview with Overdrive.ie 's Oran O'Beirne, VENOM guitarist Rage (a.k.a. Stuart Dixon) and drummer Danté (a.k.a. Danny Needham) were asked what their initial reaction was when they learned that the band's latest album, "Into Oblivion", which came out on May 1, would have the same title as LAMB OF GOD's most recent effort, which was released on March 13. Rage said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think there was a bit, like, we were messaging, and then, I'll not say who it was, one of us went, 'So fucking what?' [Laughs]" Danté chimed in: "The record label weren't too concerned. So it wasn't, like, 'Shit, we need a quick change of plan.' It was, like, 'Nah, nah.'" Rage added: "We wrote the song [the 'Into Oblivion' title track] five years ago. Fuck that. We were there first." Danté said: "They've [LAMB OF GOD] done three fucking albums since we wrote that fucker, so we were at least touring then."

"Into Oblivion" is VENOM's sixteenth studio album and features the long-standing lineup of Conrad "Cronos" Lant on bass/vocals, Rage on guitar and Danté on drums, and marks VENOM's first new recordings since 2018's "Storm The Gates" LP.

"Into Oblivion" consists of thirteen songs that are signature VENOM: heavy, evil and catchy. There's a combination of the band's classic 1980s sound adjacent to a more modern, progressive approach but without losing any of their fire and brimstone of old.

The album has been in the works for some years now, but a number of factors held back its completion until now; the COVID pandemic, recording setbacks and the hunger to nail it to perfection, but in the words of Cronos: "This album has really pushed the boundaries, but if you want to make a killer album, you pay for it in blood, sweat and tears."

"Into Oblivion" track listing:

01. Into Oblivion
02. Lay Down Your Soul
03. Nevermore
04. Man & Beast
05. Death The Leveller
06. As Above So Below
07. Kicked Outta Hell
08. Legend
09. Live Loud
10. Metal Bloody Metal
11. Dogs Of War
12. Deathwitch
13. Unholy Mother

There are now three different bands using variations of the VENOM name for their live shows. In addition to the new collaboration between Jeff "Mantas" Dunn and Anthony "Abaddon" Bray, VENOM's iconic co-founders — who recently announced that they will celebrate the 45th anniversary of VENOM's classic debut album, 1981's "Welcome To Hell", at various festivals in 2026, including Germany's Keep It True — there is the Cronos-fronted version of VENOM, in which he is the sole remaining member from the band's classic era, and there is VENOM INC., which is led by Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan, who was a member of VENOM between 1989 and 1992, appearing on the albums "Prime Evil" (1989),"Temples Of Ice" (1991) and "The Waste Lands" (1992).

In June 2024, Cronos filed a lawsuit against Abaddon and Plastic Head Music Distribution Ltd in which he accused the distributor of selling merchandise with Lant's copyrighted VENOM designs and Bray of approving the infringement through a licensing agreement. The dispute revolved around the fact that both parties were licensing and selling official VENOM merchandise featuring the contested designs.

According to Law360.com, Lant testified in court last year that he joined VENOM in late 1979 and came up with the Satanic-themed designs used in the band's logo and album covers, which included goat heads, pentagrams and inverted crosses. Bray filed a counterclaim for infringement against Lant and Lant's distributor, Razmataz.com Ltd., arguing that Bray was the real author of the works. Because Lant was able to produce numerous sketches which demonstrated his design process and Bray was unable to do the same, Bray was deemed the owner of the original logo, while Lant was found to be the creator and copyright owner of all but one of the other artistic works in dispute.

VENOM's classic lineup trio of Dunn, Lant and Bray recorded four studio LPs, "Welcome To Hell" (1981),"Black Metal" (1982),"At War With Satan" (1984) and "Possessed" (1985),and live album, "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" (1986). Often cited by bands such as METALLICA, BEHEMOTH, CELTIC FROST and MAYHEM as major influences, they are one of the most revered bands of their generation.

Photo credit: Necrohorns

BREAKING BENJAMIN played a new song called "Something Wicked" during the band's set Saturday night (May 9) at the Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida. Fan-filmed video of the performance can be seen below.

Prior to launching into the track, BREAKING BENJAMIN frontman Benjamin Burnley told the crowd: "I never wanna play a new song or a new single until it's out on the record or it's out on the radio, but tonight we're gonna play it. Right now, this is our new single. It's called 'Something Wicked'."

A studio version of "Something Wicked" is currently available for pre-save and is expected to be released shortly.

BREAKING BENJAMIN's appearance at Welcome To Rockville marked the band's first live performance with new drummer Brian Medeiros (RED, OTHERWISE). Medeiros took over from ASKING ALEXANDRIA drummer James Cassells, who has been sitting behind the kit for BREAKING BENJAMIN for the past eight months after BREAKING BENJAMIN drummer Shaun Foist announced that he would "step away" from touring with the band to "focus on healing" in his ongoing battle with Hashimoto's disease.

BREAKING BENJAMIN commented: "We want to thank James for helping us in a time of need last year, a legend in the making! We welcome Brian to the stage with us moving forward on the road."

James added: "Last year I had the opportunity to step in and play drums for BREAKING BENJAMIN during a pretty unexpected chapter, and I just wanted to say thank you to the band, crew, and everyone who welcomed me along the way. From the first show to the last, it was an absolute privilege to share the stage with such incredible musicians and perform for so many passionate fans every night. I've met a lot of genuinely great people through this experience and I'm incredibly grateful for all the support, kind messages, and encouragement I've received throughout the run. Wishing the guys nothing but the best moving forward."

In October 2024, BREAKING BENJAMIN released a new single called "Awaken". BREAKING BENJAMIN's first new music since 2018 was made available via the band's new global recordings agreement with BMG. The partnership with BMG also marked the group's first new label home since releasing BREAKING BENJAMIN debut album nearly 25 years ago.

BREAKING BENJAMIN has consistently dominated the rock charts since its debut album in 2002, "Saturate". With 10 No. 1 hits and multiple platinum albums, they've solidified their global influence and a strong devoted fan base. Their last release, "Aurora", earned them their tenth No. 1 rock radio hit with "Far Away" (featuring Scooter Ward). Their previous album, "Ember", debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, marking their fourth Top 5 debut. Their track record includes No. 1 hits like "Red Cold River" and "Torn In Two". Both "Aurora" and "Ember" achieved Top 10 status in multiple countries, and No. 1 spots across various charts, including Billboard's Top Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums, Top Hard Rock Albums and Top Digital Albums.

Over the course of the group's career, BREAKING BENJAMIN has earned three platinum albums, two gold albums, one four-times-platinum single, one three-times-platinum single, one two-times-platinum single, three platinum singles, and six gold singles, making them one of rock music's most highly anticipated torch bearers of new music.