Scarlet Aura, the internationally renowned heavy metal band from Romania, has announced their upcoming album Rock in Sange si Vointa, featuring 11 songs, which will be released on May 5, 2023 via Universal Music Romania and Silver City Records.


Scarlet Aura has been making waves in the international heavy metal scene since their inception in 2015, with a string of successful albums and electrifying live performances on extensive tours throughout Europe and Asia, and appearances with heavyweights such as Tarja Turunen, Rhapsody of Fire, Delain, and Sabaton just to name a few. Scarlet Aura's sound is known for its distinctive blend of heavy metal, rock, and melodic elements and has earned them a dedicated following worldwide. Recent collaboration with Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear, Avantasia) and joint event “Rock United by Scarlet Aura” with Ralf and Doro Pesch in October 2022 in Bucharest strengthened their presence on heavy metal scene.


With Rock in Sange si Vointa, Scarlet Aura is poised to reach new heights as the band pushes their creativity to new levels, showcasing their love for their Romanian roots and passion for creating powerful, meaningful music. The album marks a significant departure from band’s previous work, as all 11 songs are fully written in Romanian, for the first time in Scarlet Aura’s career. The band's decision to embrace their native language was inspired by a desire to pay homage to their heritage and create a unique listening experience. The album will also present significantly heavier sound that draws inspiration from the roots of thrash and speed metal. Fans can expect an album full of high-energy anthems, powerful vocals, and crushing riffs.




"We are incredibly excited to share this new chapter of our musical journey with our fans”, says Scarlet Aura's frontwoman Aura Danciulescu. Rock in Sange si Vointa is an album that is close to our hearts, and we poured our souls into every song. Rock in Sange si Vointa (which translates as Rock in Blood and Will) is an album about strength, passion, and the power of music to connect people across cultures, borders and people from all walks of life. We can't wait for everyone to hear it and experience the beauty of the Romanian language and the power of true Romanian metal! In one of our songs, I sing “Romania Canta Rock – Romania Este Rock”, which means “Romania sings Rock – Romania IS Rock”. We hope it will inspire people to connect with their own roots and embrace the power of music to bring us all together."


Rock in Sange si Vointa will be released in May 2023, but fans can get a taste of what's to come with the first single of the same name, set to be released on March 24, 2023.


Tracklisting:


“Rock in Sange si Vointa”
“Ingeri si Demoni”
“Blestemul Sfintilor”
“Regina Noptii”
“Veteranii”
“Romania Canta Rock”
“Cu Pletele-n Vant”
“Aripi Pentru Toti”
“Sunt Eu…o Umbra”
“Uniti Pana La Moarte”
“Ploaia” (Spin cover)

Chicago's Necronomicon Ex Mortis is a bubbling cauldron of 80’s horror movies, the 80s shred goods, modern production, and tight thrash metal. They are gearing up to release their debut self-titled album, which is intended to transport listeners into a VHS tape of campy horror and aggressive riffs.


The single “Nocturnal” is a combination of guitarist Michael Nystrom Bala’s favorite thrash riffs and follows the classic plot line about murdering teenagers at a summer camp.


The band details the track: "'Nocturnal' was the result of an experiment on Mike’s part to write a more mid-tempo thrash song. He wanted to have a relatively interesting song structure with very little repetition (except for the chorus). He also decided to challenge himself in the studio by improvising the guitar solo, which he recorded in a single take.”




Watch a lyric video for the track below.





Encapsulating all the best that horrors have to offer, from old school horror movies and games and H.P. Lovecraft, Necronomicon Ex Mortis introduce their bloody music with gusto in hope that it will worm its way into the brains of metal fans around the world.


Necronomicon Ex Mortis was formed out of extreme love for 90s death metal and 80s shred. The idea came to be when Bala called some of his best friends from Berklee and used a combination of pestering, begging, and trickery to get them to play metal with him.


This EP acts as a trailer for their music, a taste of the feature length that is on the horizon, and a small sampling of what is the gory good time that awaits in the future. It is recommended for fans of Black Dahlia Murder, Obscura, and Arsis.


The debut self-titled EP is due out March 31, and is available for pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"Celestial Tomb"
"Earth Cancer"
"Nocturnal"
"The Burning"


"Nocturnal" lyric video:





"Celestial Tomb" lyric video:





Lineup:


Michael Bala - Guitar
Manuel Barbarà - Guitar
Yusuf Rashid - Bass
Craig Schmul - Vocals
Joey Ferretti - Drums

Chilliwack, BC, Canada's Medevil is gearing up to release their second album, Mirror In The Darkness, in April and the 2015 Wacken Battle Canada finalists couldn’t be more pleased to show off their updated sound. This album is also bittersweet, it is dedicated to drummer Chris Malcolmson who, since recording, has passed away. The latest single off this progressive and adventurous new album is “Pray For Me” presented with a visualizer video.


The band digs into the slower and moodier song: “It’s a slower-paced, moodier song with a dense atmosphere and spacious chord progressions that give Liam room to shine on the vocals. The lyrics portray a person who is building walls around them, keeping others out, and not wanting to deal with the world. “Pray for Me” is one of the more accessible tracks on the album, with a driving groove and lush production. Featuring dual guitar solos and biting vocal harmonies over a soaring chorus section that will definitely get stuck in your head.”


“Pray for Me” came out of a jam session between guitarist Brett Gibbs and Malcolmson, while it’s highly accessible, they juxtaposed that accessibility with dark tones and Drop-C tuning. They focused on getting a densely layered soundscape, and since the demo had the best production while writing, they also used it as a template for producing the rest of the album, which they mostly did amongst themselves.




Angry and atmospheric and at times soothing and thought-provoking, “Pray For Me” is recommended for fans of Baroness, Metallica, and Mastodon.





Mirror In The Darkness comes out on April 7. Pre-order on Bandcamp and receive the digital download of "The Signal".





Tracklisting:


“Dead Before Birth”
“Among Thieves”
“Pray For Me”
“The Signal”
“Smoke And Mirrors”
“Weight Of The Crown”
“Mirror In The Darkness”
“Gateways”
“Veiled”
“No Peace In Rest”


“The Signal”:





"Among Thieves" lyric video:





(Photo – Matthew Collingwood)

Edge Of Paradise have released the video below, featuring a piano version of "One Last Time", originally featured on the band's 2021 album, The Unknown.


The following message accompanies the video:


"In the year 2177, concept of death is thought to be defeated, and transfer of consciousness is a regular practice…




A woman finds herself facing this choice sooner than most, as the love of her life’s, young body is failing.


It is routine during such circumstances to transfer the mind into an artificial body. As the couple went through this process, and she was there when his consciousness woke up in a new body, she felt immeasurable relief and excitement  as they got a second chance at life together. Months go by as she tries to move on in this facade . Until one day, she realized what she already knew, that nothing is the same, his touch, his words, his gaze, his love is full of emptiness. She remained unspoken, as grief is not tolerated in the new world. Overwhelmed with pain of existing in her loved one’s emptiness, she decides to join him in the digital world.


As her transfer is approaching, she spends her last day, cherishing every drop of her human emotion, filled with pain and love as she says her last goodbye."

Amon Amarth have issued the following news: "Calling all Heathens! Our latest opus, The Great Heathen Army, has been nominated for "Hard Rock/Metal Album Of The Year" by the Swedish Grammis. A glorious day and honor indeed, Skål! ⚔️🛡


The 40th edition of the Grammis will broadcast live on May 3 at 8 PM, CEST on TV4 Play and Seven. In the meantime revisit the album here.







The Great Heathen Tour makes its way to Asia and Australia next week. Dates below:


March
18 - Singapore - Singapore Rockfest
19 - Jakarta, Indonesia - Hammersonic Festival
23 - Melbourne, Australia - The Forum
24 - Melbourne, Australia - Knotfest Australia
25 - Sydney, Australia - Knotfest Australia
26 - Brisbane, Australia - Knotfest Australia
28 - Brisbane, Australia - Eatons Hill Hotel


Ghost recently announced the Re-Imperatour U.S.A. 2023 summer tour with special guest Amon Amarth. The tour kicks off on Wednesday, August 2 in Concord, CA at Concord Pavilion. Dates below.


Says Amon Amarth: "We are pleased to announce Amon Amarth are joining fellow Swedes Ghost for another raid this summer across the US this August. Sharpen your axes and fasten your shields as we blaze across America sacking your cities and converting the survivors to join the Great Heathen Army! See you at the shows!"





Ghost dates with Amon Amarth:


August
2 - Concord, CA - Concord Pavilion
4 - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre
5 - Airway Heights, WA - BECU Live at Northern Quest
7 - West Valley City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre
8 - Denver, CO - Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
11 - St. Louis, MO - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
12 - Milwaukee, WI - American Family Insurance Amphitheater
14- Clarkston, MI - Pine Knob Music Theatre
15 - Chicago, IL - Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
16 - Cincinnati, OH - PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
18 - Syracuse, NY - St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
19 - Mansfield, MA - Xfinity Center
20 - Bridgeport, CT - Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
22 - Indianapolis, IN - TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park
23 - Burgettstown, PA - The Pavilion at Star Lake
24 - Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live
25 - Camden, NJ - Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
27 - Nashville, TN - Ascend Amphitheater
29 - Simpsonville, SC - CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park
30 - Jacksonville, FL - Daily’s Place
31 - Tampa, FL - MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre


September
2 - The Woodlands, TX - The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
3 - Austin, TX - Germania Insurance Amphitheater
5 - Irving, TX - The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
7 - Albuquerque, NM - Isleta Amphitheater
8 - Phoenix, AZ - Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

As they prepare for their extensive European tour with Igorrr, French doom metal visionaries, Hangman's Chair, reveal a previously unreleased gem in the form of new single, "Spleenwise". Clocking in at over six minutes, "Spleenwise" bears the trademark features of Hangman's Chair, as it combines dark, brooding atmosphere with somber melodies.


Hangman's Chair stated about "Spleenwise": "'Laugh at everything, sad sex and poor decisions. Silence is addictive.' 'Spleenwise' is a neologism to express our state of mind towards everything that surrounds us: sit around, watch the world burn, and appreciate the spleen.
Plus, this song is a link between the past and the future, a track written many moons ago that closes the A Loner chapter, as it is the last remaining song of the studio sessions."







Recently, Hangman's Chair's latest album A Loner celebrated its first anniversary. The band's Nuclear Blast debut was released on February 11, 2022. A Loner is available in various formats.


Last week, the band released a portrait video about the band's background and inspirations in cooperation with Radio Metal. You can watch the video below:

There are few truly unique musical artists, but the music made by Italian producer Victor Love as Master Boot Record arguably exists in a category of its own. Fans of that music were finally able to see the full live band in all of its CRT and chiptune glory throughout Europe in February. Those in attendance witnessed guitarist Edoardo Taddei's tremendous lead guitar playing, which has been put on display in a newly released guitar performance for "ANSI.SYS" from the Floppy Disk Overdrive album. Watch the video below.


Founder/producer Victor Love adds: "The live sound of Master Boot Record is the result of combining synth guitars and chiptune leads from studio album written by myself via MIDI with live performed guitars playing in sync with them. This is especially challenging for lead guitar parts that aren't written according to natural guitar playing positions. By combining synthesizers and real instruments (baritone guitar, lead guitar and drums) the live show of MBR is a different experience from the studio albums that are instead 100% synthesized."







Additionally, live videos from the tour have been appearing on YouTube, including a performance of "IRQ 2 Cascade" from Nantes, France on the band's official channel here.


Upcoming live dates:


April
8  - London, England - O2 Academy
9 - Sheffield, England - Corporation
10 - Glasgow, Scotland - Classic Grand
29 - Helsinki, Finland - Kuudes Linja
30 - Barroselas, Portugal - SWR Fest


Tickets/info here.

In a new interview with Terrie Carr of the Morristown, New Jersey radio station 105.5 WDHA, ALICE IN CHAINS singer William DuVall was asked about a possible follow-up to the band's "Rainier Fog" album, which came out in August 2018. He said: "I would suppose [there will be new music coming soon]. There's no plans in the offing right now, because we're all kind of doing other things. But inevitably it seems to kind of circle back. [Laughs]"

DuVall also reflected on his 17-year sting as the ALICE IN CHAINS frontman, saying: "In some ways it feels like seven minutes, and in other ways it feels like 37 years. [Laughs] It's really interesting — time, your perceptions of time. But, yeah, there are certain memories that feel like three lifetimes ago, and then there are certain things that happened maybe 15 years ago but it feels like yesterday. It's really weird. But it's great. And I'm really proud of everything that we've been able to accomplish in that time."

William's critically acclaimed debut solo effort, "One Alone", arrived in October 2019. The 11-track album showed DuVall's powerful voice with nothing but an acoustic guitar to back it. A follow-up effort, "11.12.21 Live-In-Studio Nashville", came out in June 2022 via DVL Recordings. The LP captured a power trio performance recorded live direct-to-disc at the famed Welcome To 1979 Studio in Nashville on November 12, 2021.

Prior to joining ALICE IN CHAINS in 2006, DuVall was a member of punk rock bands AWARENESS VOID OF CHAOS, NEON CHRIST, BL'AST! and FINAL OFFERING. DuVall's long musical history also includes COMES WITH THE FALL and ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist Jerry Cantrell's solo work.

Cantrell befriended the members of COMES WITH THE FALL in the early 2000s, playing shows with the band on the West Coast, then enlisting the musicians to tour with him as both opening act and backing group in support of his album "Degradation Trip".

DuVall appears on the last three ALICE IN CHAINS albums: 2009's "Black Gives Way To Blue", 2013's "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" and "Rainier Fog".

SYSTEM OF A DOWN bassist Shavo Odadjian has confirmed that he is putting the finishing touches on his debut solo album.

The 48-year-old Armenian-American musician, born Shavarsh Odadjian, is working on the LP with WINDS OF PLAGUE guitarist Michael Montoya (a.k.a. MorgothBeatz),a producer and songwriter who has previously collaborated with Travis Barker, JuiceWrld, Lil Xan, Jonathan Davis, ISSUES and many more.

Shavo spoke about his plans for solo material while taking part in Jonathan Montenegro's "My 3 Questions To" series. He said: "I've got a solo record coming out very soon. That's heavy and it's big. It's not hip-hop. It's just crazy. All my side projects have been kind of hip-hoppy or electro… I wanted to do something that felt right to me from day one. That's my DNA. So look out for the solo record."

Odadjian also shared a snippet of the solo music he is working on via his social media, writing in an accompanying message: "After years of experimenting with different styles and genres for my side projects, I decided to go back to my roots and make a heavy solo record. Been working hard writing and recording with my bro @morgothbeatz for a few months now. Here's a lil snippet of what’s to come. Who wants to hear more of this?"

SYSTEM OF A DOWN has toured intermittently since ending its hiatus in 2011, but has only managed to record two songs in the last 17 years, "Protect The Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz". Released in November 2020, the tracks were motivated by the conflict between Artsakh and Azerbaijan, with all proceeds supporting humanitarian efforts in SYSTEM OF A DOWN's ancestral homeland of Armenia. Along with other donations from fans on their social pages, they have raised over $600,000.

In 2018, SYSTEM OF A DOWN guitarist Daron Malakian publicly accused singer Serj Tankian of not wanting to record, with Tankian responding that creative and financial issues with Malakian led to the stalemate. In a message on Facebook, Tankian wrote that Malakian wanted to control SYSTEM's creative process, take more of the publishing money and be the only bandmember to speak to the press.

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In a new interview with Rodrigo Altaf of Sonic Perspectives, former MOTÖRHEAD drummer Mikkey Dee was asked if the band's late frontman Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister had any idea he was dying in the months leading up to his December 2015 passing. Mikkey responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "No, I don't think that he had those — I know he didn't have these thoughts at all. But he did struggle with his health, and that was a pain in the ass for Lemmy, because he wanted to live his normal life so much. But he had some good days and bad days. And '15 was a tough year for Lemmy, and for all of us, obviously. But I know for a fact that he had no idea that he would actually pass away — I mean, die — by the end of that year; he had no clue about that."

Lemmy died on December 28, 2015 at the age of 70 shortly after learning he had been diagnosed with cancer.

MOTÖRHEAD had to cancel a number of shows in 2015 because of Lemmy's poor health, although the band did manage to complete the aforementioned European tour a couple of weeks before his death.

In June 2020, it was announced that Lemmy would get the biopic treatment. The upcoming film, "Lemmy", will be directed by Greg Olliver, who previously helmed the 2010 documentary of the same name, "Lemmy".

A custom-made urn containing Lemmy's ashes is on permanent display in a columbarium at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood, California.

Back in May 2021, Dee told the "Waste Some Time With Jason Green" video podcast that Lemmy refused to quit touring in the weeks leading up to his death, even when his health was clearly deteriorating.

"We played the last show the 11th of December [of 2015] in Berlin, and he passed just [two] weeks later," Mikkey recalled. "And that tells you, the guy died with his boots on. And both me and Phil [Campbell, MOTÖRHEAD guitarist] were trying to talk him out of starting the second part of the European tour after Christmas. But there was no way in hell we could do that. And I said to Phil, 'Look, instead of arguing with Lemmy or pushing him not to do this,' because we said maybe we should break for a couple of months for him to catch his wind, basically. I said, 'Let's not push him anyway. Let him decide what he wants to do. He knows best what he wants to do.' And he wanted to be on stage. So we said, 'Let's just support him instead,' and that's what we did. But we never made it to the second leg of that European tour, unfortunately. It was the U.K. that was on the next part of it, I remember that."

Asked if he knew when he came home to Sweden that it would probably be the end for Lemmy, Mikkey said: "No. Not at all. Because I talked to Lemmy after that show in Berlin. We were all gonna go separate ways, obviously. I was gonna just fly out to Sweden, and Phil went back home to Wales. Lemmy was flying back to L.A., but I believe he was gonna fly to London and stay one night or two or so and say hi to friends and then fly back home. And I spoke to him right after the show. I went down to Lemmy's dressing room, and I said, 'All right. Go back to L.A. and figure out, maybe, another two songs from [MOTÖRHEAD's final album] 'Bad Magic' that you think that we should do. And we take out the two songs that we already played on this leg, and we put in two new songs from the record.' And he said, 'Yeah. All right. I'll check that out.' And I said, 'Let's hook up after Christmas.' Because it was the 11th of December at that time, and I figured we'd talk between Christmas and New Year's Eve and decide which two songs that we agreed on on playing on that next leg. And he said, 'Yeah, I'll go back and work on that.' And that was it. He had no intention of not coming back to Europe and touring. So we did a little finger hook, as we always did, and that was the last time I saw him, actually. Very sad."

Dee went on to say that Lemmy had made some changes in his life to improve his health after dealing with several issues over the last few years of his life, including heart trouble. "But my personal belief is that it was maybe a little too late," he said. "He should have maybe changed a little earlier. But knowing Lemmy, he was not for that. He was doing it his way or the highway, basically. And that made him to what he was. He never compromised with his music, he never compromised with friendship, he never compromised with what way he was gonna go for anyone else in that way, which is why MOTÖRHEAD was MOTÖRHEAD, and still is MOTÖRHEAD. But with that said, of course, the three of us were talking a lot about stuff, and it was not like he was some kind of a boss here. But we all worked so good together, and that's what created the magic, I would say."

TRIUMPH guitarist/vocalist Rik Emmett will release his long-awaited memoir, "Lay It On The Line - A Backstage Pass To Rock Star Adventure, Conflict And Triumph", on October 10 via ECW Press.

Asked in a new interview with "Etcetera With Kelly Barrett" if there's a deep level of vulnerability that goes into writing a memoir, Emmett said: "I never have much of a problem with being honest and being candid. I really didn't. I used to teach songwriters: 'Your job is to get naked and get on a high wire without a net. That's what you've gotta do. You have to put something of yourself at risk in the work that you do for your work to be able to speak emotionally to other people.

"A memoir, I must admit, it was a challenge; I had no idea how hard it was — it was really hard work," he continued. "Even in the eleventh hour, I had to have beta readers, like friends of mine. I had to have a lawyer go through some of the stuff — the TRIUMPH chapter and stuff — and I had a good friend of mine who had been a member of parliament who sort of understood about sticking your foot in your mouth. And I said, 'Can you just two of these chapters for me and make sure…?' … There were certain things where I had my wife read it, because I didn't wanna say something that she might go, 'How dare you say that about us?'

"I think I'm a fairly good judge of what might hurt people and what might be not diplomatically correct or proper, so that I can say what I wanna say but say it in a way that it doesn't do damage to others," Rik added. "If there's gonna be any damage, it'll be to me. And that's okay. I can take it."

A little over a year ago, Emmett was asked by Dr. Music how his memoir will compare to the band's documentary, "Triumph: Rock & Roll Machine", which was produced by Banger Films and directed by Sam Dunn and Marc Ricciardelli. Rik said: "I think they're gonna get real Rik Emmett, so they're gonna get some truth that might hurt, or that they might go, 'Ooooh, shit. I didn't realize that he was like that. I didn't realize Rik was that kind of guy.' But I'm not afraid anymore to speak truth. What am I saving it for? [Laughs]"

He continued: "I was doing an interview the other day talking about the documentary. And the guy was saying, 'Oh, so we're gonna get a true insight.' And I go, well, let me make sure that you understand this. You're gonna get a documentary made by Banger Films, and that's essentially Sam Dunn and Marc Ricciardelli. And those two guys, they know what they're doing — they've done plenty of these: RUSH and IRON MAIDEN and ZZ TOP and Alice Cooper, and you name 'em. But they're gonna tell a story. They know that, as a filmmaker, that's what they need to do — you need to sort of tie everything to a story. So the story of TRIUMPH is gonna be the story that they decide to tell. And it's gonna be based on whatever footage they have available and whatever they decide [the angle should be]: 'Ooh, Rik quit the band at its height,' and, 'The band disappeared overnight.' And I go, 'Well, that's not what it felt like to me. That's not my story.' And when my memoir comes out, there'll be an opportunity for me to tell more of my story as opposed to the one that's the TRIUMPH story that Banger Films is telling you in a rockumentary. Which is not to say that [the documentary is] not great — it is great — but it's their story. And my story isn't [drummer] Gil Moore's story, and my story isn't [bassist] Mike Levine's story, although there was a story that was the three of us."

Moore, Levine, and Emmett formed TRIUMPH in 1975, and their blend of heavy riff-rockers with progressive odysseys, peppered with thoughtful, inspiring lyrics and virtuosic guitar playing quickly made them a household name in Canada. Anthems like "Lay It On The Line", "Magic Power" and "Fight The Good Fight" broke them in the USA, and they amassed a legion of fiercely passionate fans. But, as a band that suddenly split at the zenith of their popularity, TRIUMPH missed out on an opportunity to say thank you to those loyal and devoted fans, a base that is still active today, three decades later.

After 20 years apart, Emmett, Levine and Moore played at the 2008 editions of the Sweden Rock Festival and Rocklahoma. A DVD of the historic Sweden performance was made available four years later.

Back in 2016, Moore and Levine reunited with Rik as special guests on the "RES 9" album from Emmett's band RESOLUTION9.

Last May, former IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno came face to face with MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris for the first time in three decades before the band's concert in Croatia.

Harris, whose group kicked off the 2022 leg of its "Legacy Of The Beast" world tour at the 22,000-capacity Arena Zagreb, came out before the show to greet a wheelchair-bound Di'Anno and chat with him for a few minutes. Di'Anno, who had been receiving physiotherapy and lymphatic drainage treatments in Croatia, also had a short discussion with MAIDEN's longtime manager Rod Smallwood, who was traveling with the group.

After his friendly meeting with Harris, Di'Anno stuck around long enough to watch some of MAIDEN's performance before leaving near the end of the set to avoid a huge traffic jam after the show.

In a new interview with Classic Rock, Harris stated about his encounter with Di'Anno: "It was lovely to see Paul, but obviously also sad to see him in that situation. Whatever we can do to help him, that's what we're doing."

When the interviewer noted that "it's fantastic that MAIDEN are paying for the rest" of Paul's medical treatment, Steve said: "If you can't help one of your own when they need it, then there's something wrong."

Asked if it felt like bridges had been mended, Steve said: "I didn't think any bridges needed mending. Paul had said a few things about his time in MAIDEN, but that's Paul. It's how he is and how he'll always be. And I've no problem with that. He once called me Hitler, which some people were offended by, but I thought it was funny."

Last November, Di'Anno addressed his past comments about MAIDEN — including referring to Smallwood as "Rod Smallwallet" and comparing Steve to Adolf Hitler — during an interview with Sakis Fragos of Greece's Rock Hard magazine. He said: "I never called [Rod] Rod Smallwallet. A journalist called him Rod Smallwallet, and we thought it was all funny, so everybody in IRON MAIDEN called him that, 'cause it used to piss him off. So that's the end of that one.

"I did call Steve Hitler once. [Laughs] Because of the way he runs [the band]," Paul explained. "It's like a fucking army. He's so focused. And I couldn't think of another one person to [compare him to]. I said 'Hitler' [but] I didn't mean it in that way."

Looking back on the circumstances that led to his departure from MAIDEN and whether it's true that it has something to do with his vocal performance, Paul said: "My record stands for itself. I've played more shows than IRON MAIDEN have ever played… They play a lot of concerts, but I played a hell of a lot more than they ever had. So it was nothing to do with my voice. It was nothing to do with that. I was just upset about certain things, which were private things in the band. And the way I dealt with them maybe was not right, but I dealt with them. And that's the end of it. And that's as much as I'm gonna say."

Di'Anno finally underwent his knee surgery last September. Asked if the MAIDEN camp assisted him with any of the costs involved with his medical treatment, Paul said: "Yes, they did. Towards the end. It was very kind of them. What happened was we were almost there, but there was quite a bit of more money needed for surgeries. 'Cause it's all privately done as well; that's how you get better attention. And IRON MAIDEN just called in, their administration called in, and said, 'We're gonna take over the rest of it now. So we'll pay for the final parts.' And all of it is important, but obviously the final part is the final part. There's still a few more little issues to deal with, but [we're almost there]. [So] thank you, IRON MAIDEN, and most of all, thank you to the fans."

Pressed about whether it's true that he wasn't properly compensated for his work on the first two IRON MAIDEN albums, Paul said: "I have nothing to comment on that at all, because, to be honest with you, it's nobody's damn business. I got paid very well. I'm very happy with that. See, if I try to say, 'Oh, IRON MAIDEN didn't pay me enough money,' it's a bad reflection on IRON MAIDEN. And I'm not taking that. I got paid very well. They looked after me. End of story."

Di'Anno recorded two classic albums with IRON MAIDEN — a self-titled effort in 1980 and "Killers" in 1981 — before being fired and replaced by Bruce Dickinson. He went on to front a number of other bands, including KILLERS and BATTLEZONE, and released several solo records.

Di'Anno made the aforementioned "Hitler" comment during a 2009 press conference in Argentina where he was asked about the rumors that his drug use had something to do with his split with MAIDEN. "Where the fuck do you people get this from?" he asked. "I left IRON MAIDEN because they were going too heavy metal, and IRON MAIDEN is a money-making machine, and I don't give a fuck about it. It was not about drugs; it was nothing like that. Me and Steve... I [wrote] the song 'Killers'. Steve had [what he thought] were better songs. I thought his songs were shit. Nothing to do with drugs; nothing whatsoever. Check your facts or otherwise this interview is over... I hate that! I fucking hate that! Because people... You say something but you don't know. Well, I'm telling you. IRON MAIDEN is Steve Harris's band. It doesn't matter about anybody else — whether it's Dave Murray, Clive [Burr], me... it's Steve Harris's band and all it is is money, money, money, money — nobody else counts. And I wrote fuckin' 20-times better songs than his, but I only got one song on the 'Killers' album because it's Steve's — he must have this. Fuckin' Adolf Hitler. I'm not interested. So there you go. But you need to take drugs when you're with IRON MAIDEN because they're so fucking boring. And the only drugs were aspirin, because Steve [making hand gesture as if someone is speaking into his ear]... Fuckin' headache."

More than a decade and a half ago, Di'Anno told The Jerusalem Post that leaving the MAIDEN juggernaut behind was the best thing that ever happened to him, and that he had no bitter feelings toward his former bandmates. "I absolutely have no regrets about leaving MAIDEN — I wasn't right in the head at that time to be in the middle of all that," he said. "I was fed up and disillusioned; it would have been cheating the fans and myself if I had stayed. It was easy to walk away from, and I'm very happy the band got bigger and bigger."

Several years ago, Di'Anno told Metal Thunder Radio that he wasn't as involved with MAIDEN's songwriting as he would have liked. "Steve had most of the words and the lyrics [to the band's first album] all written. That was some of the bones of contention that we had in the band — that I didn't get to write as much as I wanted to. 'Cause I am actually quite a prolific writer, but a lot of my songs were not accepted. 'Cause it's Steve's band, obviously."

He continued: "That first album was a revelation, I've gotta tell you. It was amazing. And the second album, for me, not so much. That's when I started to lose interest a little bit. But [we] still [had] great times — really great times."

In May, Paul played his first full solo concert in seven years at the Bikers Beer Factory in Zagreb. The show was filmed and parts of it will be included in a documentary about Di'Anno, to be directed by Wes Orshoski, co-director and producer of the acclaimed 2010 film "Lemmy" about the MOTÖRHEAD icon.

The Zagreb concert was free to attend and was held as a way of thanking Paul's fans for their help during the most difficult time of his recovery. The show took place just a day before the IRON MAIDEN's gig at the Zagreb Arena.

Di'Anno recently teamed up with several Croatian musicians to form a new project called WARHORSE. WARHORSE entered the studio to record three songs, two of which — "Stop The War" and "The Doubt Within" — have been released as a special limited-edition DVD single.

Photo credit: Wes Orshoski

In an interview with Brazil's A Rádio Rock conducted this past December but only now uploaded to YouTube, MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx was asked about the possibility of him and his bandmates writing and releasing new music. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We just did those four songs for 'The Dirt' soundtrack. We're pretty much locked down right now. We're having conversations beyond [2023]. So what's '24 look like for us in a touring capacity? As far as new music — I think new music always comes when the band is getting along. We get along so great right now. We've been having the best time. We spend time together. We go out to dinner.

"Tommy [Lee, MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer] just had his 60th-birthday party [last October] down in Mexico, and he invited a small group of his very good friends. And I was there, and a bunch of cool Tommy's friends. All of our wives were there. John 5 came in. And it was just cool to be able to not talk business, be in rehearsal, get on the phone, talk about the photo shoot or the video. It was just hanging out, walking on the beach. And we had some sweet conversations. Me and Tommy and Vince [Neil, MÖTLEY CRÜE singer] had this conversation. I said, I go,' What are you guys doing for the next eight years?' And everybody's laughing: 'I don't know.' I said, 'Why don't we just keep going? Let's just take it to 50 [years since the band's inception, which will be in 2031].'

"So this isn't a final tour," Sixx clarified. "What does that look like? I have no idea. I'm just telling you, you have the band saying, 'We're having a blast. Why stop?'"

After selling more than 1.3 million tickets on their 2022 North American stadium tour, MÖTLEY CRÜE and DEF LEPPARD are going global in 2023 with "The World Tour", along with special guest Alice Cooper.

Produced by Live Nation, the U.S. leg of the world tour kicks off on August 5 in Syracuse, New York.

Last month, MÖTLEY CRÜE and DEF LEPPARD played two shows at the 7,000-capacity Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Atlantic City gigs marked MÖTLEY CRÜE's first U.S. live appearances since the announcement that founding guitarist Mick Mars would no longer tour with the legendary rock act. He is being replaced on the road by former ROB ZOMBIE and MARILYN MANSON guitarist John 5.

The 71-year-old Mars — whose real name is Robert Alan Deal — served as MÖTLEY CRÜE's lead guitarist since the band's inception in 1981.

In his statement, Mick said that he had decided to step back from live shows due to his "ongoing painful struggle" with ankylosing spondylitis and while he will continue to be a member of the band, he cannot "handle the rigors" of touring life.

Last year, Sixx told Entertainment Tonight that he was initially opposed to the idea of touring again with MÖTLEY CRÜE, especially since CRÜE fans who shelled out for the group's 2014/2015 "farewell" tour were led to believe that the band would never return after playing its final show on December 2015 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The group touted the signing of a pre-tour "cessation of touring" agreement as cementing the fact it truly was the end of CRÜE's life on the road.

In a 2013 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Sixx said "the most important thing about a farewell tour is that the band doesn't lie to the fans, and the band doesn't tour and then come back years later. That's what's important for us, planning what's the right time to go out."

Four years ago, Sixx said that "The Dirt" movie, about MÖTLEY CRÜE's formative years, sparked a renewed interest from younger fans who wanted to see them live, contributing to the band's decision to renege on its infamous "cessation of touring" contract.

During an appearance on a recent episode of "The BlackSheep Podcast", SKID ROW guitarist Dave "Snake" Sabo spoke about how the introduction of the band's latest addition, Swedish-born singer Erik Grönwall, brought about a rejuvenated energy and a burst of creativity that had been previously missing for quite some time.

"One of the great things about the way the band is now is that we've already started writing for the next record," Snake said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "I mean, there's four potential songs for the next record already. And who knows whether they'll make it or not. We've never done that before. So that's kind of where everybody's head is at. We're really staying in the moment, but we're also utilizing this newfound energy, shall I say, to be really creative and productive.

"We always kind of went by write the record, record the record, tour, get off tour and get done with touring, write the record, record the record, tour. That's been kind of the way that we've worked," he explained. "But not this time. We're actively writing. Erik is a very creative guy. He's a really good guitar player. So it really helps. We're exchanging ideas back and forth again and writing during soundchecks and things like that. So it's been nothing but positive."

Grönwall famously went from auditioning for the competition show "Swedish Idol" back in 2009 by singing a cover of SKID ROW's "18 And Life" to now fronting the band.

Grönwall joined SKID ROW as the replacement for ZP Theart, who had been in the group for more than six years.

In March 2022, SKID ROW released its first single with Grönwall, "The Gang's All Here". The song is the title track of the band's latest album, which arrived in October via earMUSIC.

SKID ROW recorded most of "The Gang's All Here" in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Nick Raskulinecz, who has previously worked with FOO FIGHTERS, STONE SOUR, HALESTORM, EVANESCENCE, RUSH and ALICE IN CHAINS, among many others.

Grönwall, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2021 and was declared cancer free six months later after receiving a bone marrow transplant, released his cover version of "18 And Life" that same month via all streaming platforms.

Last May, Snake was asked by The Aquarian Weekly if it helped that Erik was a huge SKID ROW fan and knew all the songs coming into the band. He said: "Oh, he knew the songs. He did his homework. That's another thing — he has this incredible work ethic. His story is incredible. He's the one that deserves to tell his own personal path, but he has such an amazing appreciation for music and for singing. It shows. He's not just up there singing and doing a job. He's living it. He's living those lyrics and owning all of that stuff. That's one of the things that we noticed with the songs on the new record is that he owned it. He owned it. We finished the vocals while we were in Las Vegas [opening for the SCORPIONS in March and April 2022] because we had such great success with him doing it remotely from Sweden with our producer Nick Raskulinecz that we said we can do it on our days off to finish the record. We did a bunch of different vocal tracks and did some comping and stuff, but it wasn't a lot of takes. That's for sure. Rachel [Bolan, SKID ROW bassist] and I were in the studio and were, like, 'Man, we don't even need to be here.' That's how much he owned these new songs. You can see the live performances too. He owns our whole catalog as well."
Listen to "Dave "The Snake" Sabo: Skid Row" on Spreaker.

In a new interview with the YouTube channel of Brazilian music journalist Igor Miranda, acclaimed hard rock singer Jeff Scott Soto was asked if he thinks Dave Mustaine "overreacted" when he fired David Ellefson from MEGADETH in May 2021, just days after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the bassist were posted on Twitter. Soto, who is involved with Ellefson in a project called ELLEFSON-SOTO, responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "My personal opinion… I don't like to get into replying for somebody else in those kinds of things, because there's so many sites out there that will watch what we're talking about here and make a headline out of it. My personal opinion is I think there was already trouble in the water, I think there was already something happening, and maybe he was looking for a reason or an excuse to end it. And that's just my own personal feeling. But without getting too into it, because I don't wanna be in the headlines: 'Jeff Scott Soto blasts Dave Mustaine.' I don't wany any of that shit in my life; it's not necessary. So I'm gonna leave it at I think there was already something for years that was… he was looking for a reason to move on and use that one. That's pretty much it. I think anyway; that's what I'm assuming."

Shortly before Ellefson was fired from MEGADETH, he released a statement on Instagram denying all social media chatter that he "groomed" an underage fan. He also filed a report with the police department in Scottsdale, Arizona alleging unlawful distribution of sexually explicit images of him by unknown offenders. In the report, Ellefson admitted that he had been exchanging sexual text messages with a Dutch teenager, who captured a video of several of their virtual "masturbating encounters" without his consent and shared them with friends. (According to Ellefson, the woman was 19 at the time of their first virtual sexual encounter.) Ellefson, who lives in Scottsdale, first became aware of the video on May 9, 2021, when the claim "David Ellefson of MEGADETH is a pedophile" appeared on Instagram. Ellefson told police he was notified on May 14 by MEGADETH that the band would be parting ways with him. Three days later, he was fired.

In October 2021, Ellefson spoke to SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about the circumstances that led to his exit from MEGADETH. He said: "I ran toward the bullets and dealt with it right away. The night [the messages and video were leaked online], a couple of people said, 'Hey, don't say anything.' In particular, the MEGADETH camp didn't want me to say anything. But my legal [advisers] said, 'Hey, I think you should say something. I think some people have done some really shitty things here and made some false allegations about you, and you have every right to defend yourself.' And I did. Ultimately, that led to my dismissal from MEGADETH. But I have every right, as anyone does, to defend yourself, especially when somebody is making false allegations about you like that. So I dealt with it that night, and quite honestly, that was it — it was over, and it was really kind of done. But then, as the MEGADETH camp in particular jumped in and had addressed it — and not that they shouldn't, but they did. That pretty quickly led to them making the decision to part ways with me and to move away from it.

"We had originally talked about doing a joint statement of sorts, and, of course, that was not what happened," David continued. "So I was disappointed in probably the way it went down.

"Ironically, things are fine between [me and MEGADETH]. We parted ways, and they took their road. And there's not ill will between us, believe it or not. And I think any fights and those things, that was 20 years go — lawsuits and all that crap.

"Look, they moved forward [with 'The Metal Tour Of The Year']," Ellefson added. "I wished them well in my [original] statement to them, and I mean it. It's a group I helped form almost 40 years coming up here for the band. And the songs that are on the radio that I see come up are songs that I had a participation in, and we built a big legacy. I still consider them family, and my DNA is all over that. I don't think you build something of that size together and then suddenly you're just out and that's it."

Ellefson also talked about the statement Mustaine — who formed MEGADETH with Ellefson in 1983 — released on May 24, 2021 announcing the bassist's departure from the band. In the statement, Dave said: "We do not take this decision lightly. While we do not know every detail of what occurred, with an already strained relationship, what has already been revealed now is enough to make working together impossible moving forward." Asked if he was aware of any tension between him and Mustaine and whether he "felt like the ice was getting ready to break again," Ellefson said: "I did not. I think one of the things — and this probably started 20 years ago, when MEGADETH was disbanded in 2002 and then put back together in 2004, it was very clear in 2004 that it was gonna be reframed around Dave unilaterally, one hundred percent being the boss and running the show. Gone were the days of the partnership, the '90s, where it was me, Nick [Menza], Marty [Friedman], Dave — kind of 'the four horsemen ride again' kind of mentality… That day was done; it was not gonna be that anymore. And that's where we fell apart in 2004 and I wasn't with the group through those years. Coming back to it in 2010, now we're a few years older, [with] a little more maturity in the situation, realizing that we're better together, that even though it's not, on paper, a partnership, there's a kind of visual partnership — the optics of it are kind of, like, 'Yeah, this looks better as MEGADETH with me and Dave together. We're one of those bands that, although Dave is the quarterback and the quarterback still plays, the overall feeling and likability and I think everything about it just feels better when it's Dave and Dave together, because we've been together from the beginning for so many years. And I think that worked really well for the last decade. At the same time, Dave and I are grown men, and we have opinions. It's not the thing where it's just Dave and three side guys when it's me and the band. And apparently, they didn't want that anymore — they wanted it to not be that. And I can't speak for them, 'cause I don't know. I'm not trying to put words in anybody's mouth about that. But it just seemed like 'there's just too much history here, and let's just part ways now and let MEGADETH move forward on a new day with kind of a new marching order.' So rather than fight it, which is what happened 20 years ago, 'cause we were dissolving a partnership at that point, we're not dissolving a partnership [this time]. It's, like, 'Hey, we don't want you here. There's the door. Don't come to work on Monday.' So, it's, like, 'Okay. Fine.' And that's just how I viewed it, and that's how I view it today. I don't have any sour grapes over it, and I'm not bitter about it."

Two days after Mustaine announced Ellefson's latest departure from MEGADETH, the bassist released a follow-up statement in which he vowed to file a "defamation lawsuit" against the person who "illegally posted a very private video" of the bassist and made "false allegations" against him. He also said he was working with the police in Scottsdale "in their investigation into charges regarding revenge pornography to be filed against the person who posted the video. This person will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Ellefson wrote. He went on to say that he was "taking this time to be with my family" and wished his "bandmates" the best with their tour.

Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, and again from 2010 until his latest exit.

ELLEFSON-SOTO released a full-length album, "Vacation In The Underworld", in October 2022 via Rat Pak Records. Ellefson and Soto are joined in the project by Andy Martongelli on guitar and keyboards and Paulo Caridi on drums.

Scorpions have shard pro-shot footage performing the Love At First Sting classic “Big City Nights” at Wacken Open Air 2012.





Check out "Blackout" from WOA 2012:

Kampfar's 2022 album, Til Klovers Takt has been nominated for a Norwegian Grammy award.





Til Klovers Takt is an album that stands on the shoulders of everything that came before it in Kampfar's catalogue. It draws inspiration from the first song written 28 years ago as much as it leans on any other period in the band's past.







The result is a finely tuned album where each piece has its own voice and its own atmosphere, where nothing is accidental and where the band, having taken control of all aspects of the recording process, were able to create exactly the album they set out to release.

Psychedelic doom metal band Orbiter from Helsinki, Finland, have signed with Argonauta Records to release their debut full length album later this year. The record will be available in digital, vinyl and CD editions. The first single Raven Bones off the upcoming album is now available on streaming and digital download platforms, marking Orbiter’s first release since their 2020 debut EP The Deluge.


In crafting the album, Orbiter wanted to build upon light and shade to create strong dynamics and musical contrast. The shared vision of the band and producer Hiili Hiilesmaa was to create a psychedelic and heavy soundscape, evident in the effects-laden guitars of the new single.


“When we started making this album, we wanted to create a really strong record with timeless sounds”, states guitarist Alexander Meaney. “I’ve always been a fan of the monumentally heavy production of Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 by HIM, so Hiili quickly made it to the top of our producer shortlist. When we contacted him, we hit it off straight away, and he was really enthusiastic about this collaboration.”




Founded in late 2014, the now four-piece band draws influences from doom metal, stoner rock, and psychedelia. Since their previous release, Orbiter have played actively on the Finnish live circuit, and also performed at festivals in Germany in late 2022.


The as-yet-untitled album was recorded in 2022 at Coal House Studio in Hämeenlinna, Finland, and Soundwell Studio, Espoo, Finland. Engineering was handled by Hiili Hiilesmaa and Sakari Ikonen, and the album was mastered by Ted Jensen, who has previously worked with Alice In Chains, Mastodon, and The Eagles, among others.





Orbiter:
Carolin Koss - Vocals
Alexander Meaney - Guitars
Tuomas Talka - Bass guitar
Sami Heiniö - Drums

European progressive/hard rock group Headless - composed of former members of Yngwie Malmsteen, John Norum and Elegy - have released a new animated music video for their brand new song, “Withered Flowers”. The standalone single - which is now available for streaming and download on all digital platforms here - features a blistering lead from guest guitarist Jeff Young (ex-Megadeth, Badi Assad, Kings Of Thrash).





“Being a huge Megadeth fan, I invited my idol and new friend Jeff Young to shred with us on this new one,” tells Headless guitarist Walter Cianciusi. “I could barely believe my ears when listening to his performance the first time. He’s amazing.”




At the end of this month, Headless will join singer Geoff Tate on his European shows promoting 35 years of Queensrÿche's classic concept album Operation: Mindcrime. “Withered Flowers” was specifically recorded for Headless’ upcoming tour supporting the legendary singer’s tour across Europe.


"It’s a song really reminiscent of Geoff Tate’s material, composed to properly celebrate the occasion of a tour together,” states Headless guitarist Dario Parente.


Walter and Dario should know Geoff’s material as the duo have performed as the singer’s guitar team for several years now, including appearing on the latest Sweet Oblivion album.





While “Withered Flowers” features the voice Göran Edman, who’s fronted Headless since 2011, getting his start in Sweden four decades ago fronting a variety melodic and progressive hard rock bands beginning with the likes of Madison, Swedish Erotica, Glory and more known internationally for lead vocals on albums by Yngwie Malmsteen, John Norum, and Karmakanic. But Göran will be absent on these live shows, instead the group will be fronted by another notable name.


“For this leg of the tour Göran was unavailable due to a very significant family issue,” explains Headless bassist Matin Helmantel. “I’m sad for him but at the same time I’m very enthusiastic to share the stage - after 23 years - with my bandmate in Elegy - Ian Parry, who will be filling in for Göran.”


Ian Parry is another recognized presence in melodic rock and progressive metal circles, whose name while most associated with Elegy, has also recorded with Vengeance and his own Consortium Project amongst others.


Other than “Withered Flowers,” Headless continue to promote their M-Theory Audio debut, Square One, an underrated album of classic rock, metal and progressive qualities balancing a fine line between all and showcasing some infectious, at times intellectual, and other times a pure fun rock record. The album is available on CD, with two variant colored vinyl options and on all digital platforms.

Canadian classic roots and blues rock band The Commoners release “More Than Mistakes”, the fourth single from their sophomore album, Find A Better Way.  The single, issued by Gypsy Soul Records, dovetails their April 2023 Co-Headline UK Tour with Troy Redfern.


On the punchy and rollicking “More Than Mistakes”, the rock train rolls on full steam ahead.  Bright tambourine accents a rhythm section to rival Motown, illuminating a track that instantly pushes listeners to the edge of their seats, raising them to their feet. Alive and free, “More Than Mistakes” affirms the album’s theme of self-empowerment with gusto.







“'More Than Mistakes' is a song written in self-defiance,” says The Commoners’ lead singer, Chris Medhurst. “It’s about taking on one’s own weakness with a sense of forgiveness for past transgressions, while enthusiastically searching for the limit.”





Confirmed dates for The Commoners 2023 Co-Headline UK Tour with Troy Redfern are as listed:


April
13 - London, UK - The Grace
14 - Sittingborne, UK - The Bourne Music Club
15 - Southampton, UK - The Joiners
17 - Brighton, UK - Komedia
18 - Sheffield, UK - Greystones
20 - Oxford, UK - The Bullingdon
21 - Bristol, UK - The Louisiana
22 - Birmingham, UK - The Asylum 2
23 - Newcastle, UK - The Cluny
24 - Edinburgh, UK - The Voodoo Rooms
25 - Glasgow, UK - King Tut’s
26 - Manchester, UK - Night & Day
27 - York, UK - The Crescent
28 - Chester, UK - The Live Rooms
29 - Nottingham, UK - The Bodega





Possessing a sound tapped from the oaken belly of a whiskey barrel, The Commoners are a four-piece roots / blues rock band from Toronto, Canada.


Described as “a classic rock and roll affair,” the nine songs take the listener on a sonic voyage through the lives of the band, from the dusty back roads of rural Ontario to the bright lights of the big city. Offering their own blend of rock and roll, southern blues, and roots music, the Toronto-based four-piece band are known for their high-energy riffs, soulful vocals, and rich harmonies. The result is an authentic Southern-style rock experience.


The group was cobbled together over the course of a decade, adapting through numerous obstacles to form the unit as it exists today: Chris Medhurst (vocals/guitar), Ben Spiller (bass), Ross Hayes Citrullo (lead guitar), and Adam Cannon (drums). Often joined by their friend, organist Miles Evans-Branagh, The Commoners unite under a shared dream: to write, perform, and share music that is an authentic nod to the greats who paved the way before them.





“The new album authentically embodies the rock and roll, soul, and blues rock experience,” says the band’s lead singer, Chris Medhurst. “That’s something we really wanted to bring back. That’s the roots. That’s what we listen to.”


The Black Crowes are a considerable influence for us,” says Medhurst. “Derek Trucks, Marcus King, Led Zeppelin, and The Allman Brothers Band, too. These are the bands that we wear on our sleeves as we aspire to create our own music and sound.”


Find A Better Way is an album that demands attention from the first note. The opening lines “If I scream at the top of my lungs, and stamp my feet, ’til the floor comes undone,” immediately inform that a wild ride lies ahead. The album was recorded and produced at RHC Music in Toronto by the band’s guitarist Ross Hayes Citrullo. Ross collaborated with executive producer Renan Yildizdogan to strike the perfect balance of new and old recording treatments. The goal was to create something that felt new and original, yet still familiar to their target classic roots rock and blues rock audience.


“The vision from the beginning was to marry old and new southern rock together in a way that was unique to the band’s Canadian roots,” explains Citrullo. “By adding the soul and rock elements of the Black Crowes, and the southern blues rock undertones of the Allman Brothers to a production style akin to Blackberry Smoke and Rival Sons, I think we developed an authentic sound that compares sonically to some of our favourite records across all of those music genres.” 


The album’s lyrical themes drill into the essence of humanity: love, regret, ambition, and fear. Circling the forever challenge of doubt vs. desire, The Commoners place themselves into the shoes of the everyman. The result? Nine tracks that function as a comfort and companion through all of life’s trials and tribulations, with melodic solos, soaring organ, and a punchy rhythm section to drive the messages home.


Drummer Adam Cannon says, “Music, like so much in life, is about the exchange of energy,” and The Commoners make more than a fair trade. Striving to present an impactful, memorable, and downright exhilarating live experience that accurately represents their recorded works, the band carries the listener over spirited choruses and group chants, before returning them back to earth in need of a shot of something smooth. You can expect to leave fully satisfied, sweat drenched, and heart racing, a good time guaranteed—just what we all need.





The Commoners enlisted a handful of Toronto’s finest musicians to help bring their record to life. On the title track Find A Better Way, the band brought on keyboardist Jeff Heisholt (The Trews) to lay down an iconic organ track. For the rest of the album, keyboardist Miles Evans-Branagh performed organ, piano, and Rhodes.


To accompany Ben and Adam on backup vocals, The Commoners called upon three of Canada’s top backup singers. Tash Lorayne and Shezelle Weekes (The Arkells), and Chantal Williams joined in to arrange vocal parts and enliven the mix with their vivacious voices resulting in a spine-tingling performance. 


The Commoners also invited local legend Michael Eckert to lend his pedal steel talents on I Won’t and Alive. Adding the final cherry on top, renowned multi-instrumentalist Ben Healey treated Deadlines to a guitar solo worthy of the world’s greatest stadiums. Though these songs were all written by The Commoners, the contributions of these amazing guest musicians make the album something special.


“Every time we brought an outside player into the studio, they would offer their own unique instincts and interpretations of each song. This helped the album grow into a collaborative art piece that continues to surprise us with every listen.”


A rock anthem to its core, the title track, "Find A Better Way", carries a message that encapsulates the entirety of the record. With growing uncertainties, society faces challenges previously unseen, leaving the collective in a perpetual state of questioning, with doubt directed towards governments, public leaders, and our neighbours. From the aftermath of COVID-19, the increasing mental health crisis in North America, war crimes in Ukraine, and the explosion of social movements and protests, one thought unites us all—we need to find a better way to co-exist on this planet. Find A Better Way takes an inward look at confronting our tumultuous past and accepting personal accountabilities to uncover the strength needed to seek a solution.


"Find A Better Way" is the only track on the record to mixed outside of Canada. The band worked with legendary producer / mixer Kevin Shirley (The Black Crowes, Joe Bonamassa, Led Zeppelin) at Caveman Studios in Sydney, Australia. Kevin’s mix helped set the perfect tone for the album, which Ross Hayes Citrullo was then able to follow for the rest of the record. Kevin’s involvement set The Commoners on the right path with this epic title track.


Mastering was also an important consideration for the band and their label. For this stage, the team sent their record all the way to Nashville, Tennessee to Pete Lyman (Tedeschi Trucks, Blackberry Smoke, Chris Stapleton, Rival Sons) at Infrasonic Sound. Pete’s specialty for mastering southern rock made the mixes come alive, making them sonically competitive to the band’s influences.


As a collective, we find ourselves emerging into a changed society, with uncertainty looming and shadowing the future. In their upcoming release, The Commoners remind us that music has a unique ability to heal, a medicine of extraordinary merit, and balm for the soul during dark times. Every major movement in history gave rise to change makers, and The Commoners are taking their stand, here to lead and inspire us all to Find A Better Way.





Tracklisting:


"Find A Better Way" 
"Fill My Cup" 
"More Than Mistakes" 
"Too Much" 
"Naturally" 
"I  Won’t" 
"Deadlines" 
"Hangin’ On Again" 
"Alive" 


Get your copy of Find A Better Way on CD, Vinyl, and Digital formats now at this location. 











(Photos by JC Polien)


 

Get ready for more death, more black, and more thrash from Swedish supergroup Ironmaster and their forthcoming album Weapons Of Spiritual Carnage due out April 28, 2023 via Black Lion Records. The full length is the follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut Thy Ancient Fire (February 2022).


Featuring current and ex-members of Dark Funeral, Scar Symmetry, Raubtier, Carnal Forge, and Facebreaker, this strong follow-up album is a natural continuation of the path taken on the band's debut record. More powerful and faster than ever at times, but the flow of the full-length has been the focal point of the whole writing and recording process. Everything has been done with the full album listening experience in mind. Get ready to headbang it heavy and hard from beginning to end for a memorable audible mosh pit.


Edvin Skårud wrote all the lyrics (except for one song) on this record, his dark and masterful lyrics deal with death, cruelty and the dark side of life, and the blackness of one's soul.




New lyric video for the album’s second single “Monolithic Suppressor Engaged” is available below.


"This black-thrash song on the album has some King Diamond inspired guitar in the chorus that's a bit unusual for us, but adds an evil flavor to the whole thing."


Weapons Of Spiritual Carnage was recorded, mixed, and mastered at Blacklounge Studios between May 2021 and October 2022 by Jonas Kjellgren. Preorder on Bandcamp.





Tracklisting:


“Solemn Pestilence”
“Ocean Of Searing Hatred”
“Weapons Of Spiritual Carnage”
“Infinite Virulent”
“Monolithic Suppressor Engaged”
“Cast Into The Hollow”
“Implications Of Sacral Time”
“Lies Of Apathy”
“Bringer Of Deception”
“Dismantling Eternity”


"Monolithic Suprressor Engaged" lyric video:





“Bringer Of Deception” lyric video:





Ironmaster are:
Roberth Karlsson - Vocals
Jonas Kjellgren - Guitars
Janne Jaloma – Drums


(Photo – Scott Bobbox)

Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared his weekly solo cover song and video, this time taking on Europe's "Sign Of The Times". The song is taken from Europe's 1988 album, Out Of This World.





Sabaton recently released the new lyric video below for the song "En Livstid i Krig", lifted from the band's Carolus Rex album.




Says Sabaton: "Jump into the weekend the right way by blasting 'En Livstid i Krig' as loud as possible! 🤘 Here’s our brand new lyric video for one of your favourites. Enjoy metalheads!"





Spring 2023 will see Sabaton touring across Europe on the eagerly awaited re-scheduled tour: The Tour To End All Tours.


Starting in Leeds on April 14, the tour will bring Sabaton to 21 cities in 14 countries. They will present their biggest and most spectacular show to date in Europe's largest arenas. Fans can be assured that the band will write history with the ground-breaking live shows on The Tour To End All Tours.


The band also confirmed that Japanese dance metal sensation Babymetal will appear as very special guests, marking their first international shows in over three years. Finnish Eurovision winners Lordi will open all shows.


"We are extremely happy to welcome Babymetal to our already much anticipated tour in Europe 2023,” says bass player Pär Sundström. “The energy and power of this band will for sure make each night something special."


“If there ever was a band that would break all the rules, it’s Babymetal with the power and precision to deliver a full on heavy metal show!” echoes frontman Joakim Brodén. “It’s not our first rodeo together, expect nothing but excellence from Babymetal!”


Joakim participated as a guest on “Oh! Majinai (feat. Joakim Brodén)" on Babymetal’s third album, Metal Galaxy, released on October 11th, 2018. He also made a guest appearance at Babymetal’s headline show in October 2018, Babymetal World Tour 2018 in Japan Extra Show Dark Night Carnival.


Tickets for European shows are available here. Tickets for the UK shows on sale here.





Tour dates:


April
14 - Leeds, UK - First Direct Arena
15 - London, UK - OVO Arena Wembley
16 - Cardiff, UK - Motorpoint Arena
18 - Glasgow, UK - The OVO Hydro
21 - Paris, France - Zenith
24 - Hamburg, Germany - Barclays Arena
25 - Esch / Alzette, Luxembourg - Rockhal
28 - Stockholm, Sweden - Avicii Arena
29 - Oslo, Norway - Spektrum
30 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Royal Arena


May
2 - Hannover, Germany - ZAG Arena
3 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Ziggo Dome
5 - Berlin, Germany - Mercedes Benz Arena
6 - Leipzig, Germany - Quarterback Immobilien Arena
7 - Vienna, Austria - Stadthalle
12 - Cologne, Germany - Lanxess Arena
13 - Antwerp, Belgium - Sportpaleis
15 - Munich, Germany - Olympiahalle
18 - Tallinn, Estonia - Saku Arena
19 - Helsinki, Finland - Ice Hall
20 - Kuopio, Finland - Kuopio Hall