In a new interview with Canada's The Metal Voice, Mikkey Dee, who played drums for KING DIAMOND from 1985 until 1989, was asked if he is still in contact with the band's singer and namesake and if there has been any talk about them collaborating again, either in the studio or on the road. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, [King and I] talk once in a while. He came and saw us [when I played] with SCORPIONS in Dallas, where he lives. He could not come this last tour we did, unfortunately. They were busy, him and his wife… so he missed that show. But King is a big SCORPIONS fan, and we talk. And I talk to Andy LaRocque [KING DIAMOND guitarist] and Hal [Patino, former KING DIAMOND bassist], especially Andy; we live not far from each other. So we talk. And I say what I've been saying: if they ever wanna have me behind the drum kit for something, I'm totally there for that. That'd be great fun for me. But I also, with that said, know exactly where King's coming from. He's been playing with [current KING DIAMOND drummer] Matt Thompson for so long — a great drummer, a great guy — and [it would] not [be] fair to him or to the rest of the band maybe."

The Swedish-born drummer, who also played with MOTÖRHEAD from 1991 until the band's dissolution in December 2015, continued: "We [in MOTÖRHEAD] went through kind of the same thing with some people that kept talking about [a reunion with former MOTÖRHEAD members] 'Fast' Eddie Clark and [Phil] 'Philthy Animal' Taylor. And [MOTÖRHEAD leader] Lemmy said, 'Never, ever, ever will I play with these guys again. They are friends, and we talk, but I'm playing with the best band I ever played with in my entire life and we're doing better than ever.' So he didn't wanna hear about it. So I see where King's coming from. It would be unfair to a loyal guy like Matt, but I said if they had an interest [in] doing something, I'm here, if I've got the time. I still play drums, and I feel that I play better than ever."

Dee played on the classic KING DIAMOND albums "Fatal Portrait", "Abigail" and "Them" until he left in 1988 to join Don Dokken. He returned a year later as a session player on KING DIAMOND's "Conspiracy".

Thompson has been in KING DIAMOND since 2000.

A little over two years ago, Dee told Cassius Morris of "The Cassius Morris Show" that he would like to take part in a reunion tour featuring the surviving members of KING DIAMOND's original lineup. "Unfortunately, [original KING DIAMOND bassist] Timi Hansen is dead, but you could have Andy, Michael Denner [guitar], you could have Hal Patino, Pete Blakk [guitar], myself, just for a tour, and only play the stuff that we did — from 'Fatal Portrait' to 'Conspiracy'," he said. "That could have been a really fun and successful tour."

Dee, who has been a member of SCORPIONS since 2016, went on to say that it's "totally up to" KING DIAMOND's namesake frontman and leader as to whether such a tour will ever take place. "Because he [also] does MERCYFUL FATE [on the side]," Mikkey said. "I don't see why not. If I'm off [and not doing anything] with SCORPIONS, then I could easily have done that. That would have been so much fun, I think, because we were a great bunch of guys. And I still talk to Andy and Pete and Hal and King as well."

Mikkey previously reflected on his time with KING DIAMOND in a 2017 interview with "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show". He stated at the time: "We started as a bunch of kids, really, and we created something. To tell you the truth, we really didn't know what we did. Well, we knew what we did, but [we weren't aware of the fact] that we created a style. But we had so much fun, and [we were] a bunch of friends touring. It all came to an end, where I didn't feel very happy in the band anymore. We were going in a little bit different direction than I thought that we'd been working ourselves up to. And me as a drummer, I like to play everything. I play big band jazz, fusion, pop, blues, rock, heavy metal, speed metal… So, to me, it was a natural move. I wanted to play some more straight-ahead rock and roll, and I felt a little stressed in KING DIAMOND in the end, maybe."

Asked how he felt about the Satanic overtones of the KING DIAMOND lyrics and image, Mikkey said: "It wasn't that bad at all. King believes in the occult — more Stephen King kind of stuff. And for the rest of the four of us, we were not so much into that. But it was great music, great camaraderie, great lyrics — great. Then King's personal belief was his deal. Just like I never got into Lemmy's personal vision. If you're a band, you're four or five or three people — whatever you are. Everybody has their own vision and their own belief in how life is or wherever you're gonna go. And the trick is to get that to work together without people getting angry or disagreeing. And luckily, with KING DIAMOND, we had great teamwork."

KISS frontman Paul Stanley has blasted Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene after she claimed she was attacked in a restaurant Monday night "by an insane" woman and "screamed at by her adult son."

Greene, a Republican who represents northwest Georgia's 14th congressional district, first mentioned the alleged attack in a tweet late Monday night.

"I was attacked in a restaurant tonight by an insane women [sic] and screamed at by her adult son," she wrote. "They had no respect for the restaurant or the staff or the other people dining or people like me who simply have different political views. They are self righteous, insane, and completely out of control.

"I was sitting at my table, working with my staff, and never even noticed these people until they turned into demons.

"People used to respect others even if they had different views. But not anymore.

"Our country is gone."

In response, David Hogg, a survivor of the high school shooting in Parkland, Florida in 2018, wrote about an incident in which he was confronted by Greene. "Hate when that happens. I was attacked and screamed at in 2018 by an insane woman named Marjorie Taylor Greene. She had no respect for the privacy of me as an 18 year old school shooting survivor or my staff. She was self righteous, insane, and completely out of control," Hogg wrote.

Greene's tweet came weeks after she interrupted President Joe Biden's "State Of The Union" address.

"You lie! You lie! Liar," Greene shouted at Biden after he said Republicans want to cut Medicare and Social Security.

On Tuesday (February 28),Stanley shared Greene's tweet and wrote: "FRIGHTENING anyone buys into this drivel from someone whose tactics include repeatedly accosting, belittling & harassing so many who don't share her views. Ban books?? Divide the country up?? We are always better off being challenged by our freedom than by repression. Stand up."

A day later, Paul returned to Twitter to write: "Take a moment… The core of most of the divisiveness in this country is that NO NEWS SOURCE is reporting the news accurately & without a self serving agenda. Where can we find the truth, the whole truth & nothing but the truth?? Don't kid yourself. You & me are not getting it."

A spokesperson for Greene said the woman initially "introduced herself politely" and then began "berating" the congresswoman, while her son "started screaming expletives at the top of his lungs and came closer."

"I had to get in between him and the table because I had no clue what he'd do," the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson said that restaurant personnel demanded the woman and her son leave and "moved us to a more private table."

This is not the first time Stanley has been critical of the way the American media reports its stories. Last August, the KISS frontman, who is in the middle of the band's "End Of The Road" farewell trek, took to his Twitter to share the logos of several major cable news networks — specifically Fox News, CNN and MSNBC — and he included the following message: "WANT TO HAVE A MORE UNIFIED COUNTRY? Have a more unified news! Not poisonous bickering & slanted distortions on BOTH sides. How can we form educated points of view when we're not getting the unbiased truth? We don't need networks pushing opinions. We need ACCURACY. We need FACTS."

In January 2020, Paul wrote on Twitter: "The divisive and dangerous climate in America is in large part the result of 24 HOUR 'NEWS' CHANNELS WHICH ARE IN FACT SKEWED AND BIASED POLITICAL OUTLETS . Any point of view can be backed up with some sort of documentation and 'expert' analysis and that is the key problem. News?!? No. We are watching slick entertainment channels pushing their own agenda and a reality which then becomes yours."

In June 2019, Paul tweeted out the BBC News logo along with the following message: "If You're Ready For News With Far Less Of The Game Show Slickness And Bias Of Our 24 News Networks You Might Try One Of The BBC Outlets. Less Exciting? YES! But Filling 24 Hours Is An Unnecessary Challenge That Has Turned Outlets Into Biased Fast Food Providers."
FRIGHTENING anyone buys into this drivel from someone whose tactics include repeatedly accosting, belittling & harassing so many who don’t share her views. Ban books?? Divide the country up?? We are always better off being challenged by our freedom than by repression. Stand up. https://t.co/IO3ScFHb0q

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) February 28, 2023


Take a moment… The core of most of the divisiveness in this country is that NO NEWS SOURCE is reporting the news accurately & without a self serving agenda. Where can we find the truth, the whole truth & nothing but the truth?? Don’t kid yourself. You & me are not getting it.

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) March 1, 2023

BORN THROUGH FIRE, the band featuring Tim Lambesis (AS I LAY DYING) on vocals and Joey Alarcon (WOLVES AT THE GATES) on guitar, has inked a worldwide deal with Seek & Strike. The official music video for the group's new track "The Reckoning" can be seen below. "The Reckoning" is taken from BORN THROUGH FIRE's debut album, "Purify And Refine", which will arrive on April 7.

According to a press release, BORN THROUGH FIRE "deliver[s] a propulsive blend of aggression and dynamic hooks resulting in a modern heavy metal assault of epic proportions."

Lambesis states: "Before I started doing music full time again, I worked at a recovery center as a case manager and group therapy facilitator. It was incredibly formative and meaningful work to me.

"I started writing lyrics for 'The Reckoning' in regards to a friend of mine struggling with addiction, but shortly into writing I realized how much I relate to the way unhealthy coping methods and destructive behaviors can take hold. While the song isn't directly about my life, there isn't a single section of it that doesn't also apply to me at one point in my life.

"I'm hoping other people can relate to wanting to be free from harmful patterns. Moving forward often requires new environments, new interactions and addressing the root of what drives us subconsciously. This is also why I became part of the team that started the non-profit group Reintegration for people who need help coming out of whatever their version of rock bottom might be.

"The video for 'The Reckoning' fits the lyrical metaphor of struggling to breathe while performing. At times I'm literally holding my breath underwater, and there are plenty of moments where Joey is inhaling rain while trying to stay focused on crushing riffs. We chose this song as our first single because it encompasses both the riffs and rhythmic sides of our songwriting, while still having just enough melody to convey the emotion of the lyrics."

Alarcon adds: "We self-produced and mixed 'The Reckoning' from start to finish, spending months in the studio crafting our unique sound (heavy, aggressive) taking inspiration from classic metal bands, while also working to bring something new and unique to the table. We believe that 'The Reckoning' is the best song to announce the upcoming album. It perfectly represents our sound, style and the emotional themes that we explore throughout the album."

Lambesis continues: "Seek & Strike is the perfect partner for BORN THROUGH FIRE because we've seen them do incredible work with both established and developing artists. While many fans might know me or Joey from our other work, BORN THROUGH FIRE is just getting started. It's an exciting chapter for me musically because it represents writing music with my closest friend and delivering that to a label formed by someone I tremendously respect and consider a friend. The process is so far removed from music industry norms that can stifle passion to create, so I look toward the upcoming full-length with lots of excitement.

"Our new album covers a lot of ground ranging from rhythmically brutal tracks that groove, catchy sing-alongs and thrash parts to the closest thing to a ballad I've done over 15 years."

In 2013, Lambesis solicited murder by hiring a hitman to try to kill his now-ex-wife. The now-42-year-old singer was paroled in 2016 after serving two years of a six-year sentence, which followed his early 2014 guilty plea on a felony murder solicitation charge. He has since completed his parole requirements.

In June 2018, AS I LAY DYING played its first show with Lambesis in five years and released a new single. Lambesis also owned up to his crimes in a long apology on the band's Facebook page after his release.

The return of AS I LAY DYING raised some questions, particularly since the band's then-guitarist Nick Hipa categorically denounced the disgraced frontman as a "sociopathic narcissist in definite need of rehabilitation" in a social-media post back in 2014.

Last year, AS I LAY DYING completed its first U.S. and European tours with the band's new touring lineup, featuring Lambesis and longtime guitarist Phil Sgrosso alongside drummer Nick Pierce (ex-UNEARTH),bassist/vocalist Ryan Neff (MISS MAY I) and guitarist Ken Susi (UNEARTH).

David Lee Roth has shared a new solo version of the VAN HALEN classic "Unchained". The new recording, like the previously released "Everybody Wants Some!!", "You Really Got Me", "Dance The Night Away", "Panama" and "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love", was laid down on May 3, 2022 during a session at Henson Recording Studio in Hollywood, California. Joining Roth in the studio were Al Estrada on guitar, Ryan Wheeler on bass and Francis Valentino on drums. A total of 14 songs were recorded in two hours. The music and the vocals were tracked live with "no samples" and without the pitch-correction technology Auto-Tune.

Roth's version of "Unchained" comes seven months after he shared a previously unheard solo recording from 2007, "Nothing Could Have Stopped Us Back Then Anyway", in which he looked back nostalgically on his days in VAN HALEN. The latter song was recorded in 2007 with guitarist John 5 and drummer Gregg Bissonette for an album that never came out.

Back in 2020, Roth included five previously unreleased songs in The Roth Project, an online comic narrated by the legendary VAN HALEN singer, with music from John 5 on guitar and bass, Bissonette on drums, Brett Tuggle on keyboards, and Luis Conte on percussion. The tracks "Giddy-Up!", "Somewhere Over The Rainbow Bar And Grill", "Alligator Pants", "Lo-Rez Sunset" and "Manda Bala" were recorded at Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood, California.

Four years ago, Roth was asked by Meltdown of the Detroit radio station WRIF if his LP with John 5 will be made available at some point. He responded: "It will. There's been a revision of things, and I can start making real plans and start marching into the future. And, of course, you'll start hearing that material. This is material that we wrote variously for me solo and for VAN HALEN, and it's quite a bank of stuff."

Roth, who was promoting his Las Vegas residency at the time, didn't offer a possible time frame for the release of the record, explaining that his priority was "getting out on the road first. Let's see the band, let's show ourselves off, let's travel all over the world."

Roth canceled a series of Las Vegas residency shows in January 2022 because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Three months earlier, he had announced in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he was planning to retire after the residency.

In July 2022, Roth released a new solo song titled "Pointing At The Moon". The acoustic-based, Americana-flavored tune was accompanied by a new abstract painting from Roth.

Grab-you-by-the-collar Louisiana metal outfit Vermilion Whiskey has premiered their first single from their upcoming new album, Crimson & Stone, due out on May 26th, 2023.


The band has revealed a new single and lyric video for "Confidence". A heavy, rocking anthem that speaks for itself, Confidence is exactly that. Confident, determined vocals, driving percussion, with a steady dirty guitar drives this one home and is meant to be a message to inspire courage and strength in the face of adversity. 







The American south is steeped in rich musical tradition. In a time when metal is in a constant cycle of who can be the most brutal, we often forget where the tradition started and its signature sound. Leading the stripped bare and played loud is hard rocking stoner metal outfit Vermilion Whiskey. The Louisiana-based band is southern-fried hard rock at its finest. 


Hitting the studio hard in early 2022, the band is eager to return to playing live shows across their regional Gulf Coast stomping ground and beyond. Vermilion Whiskey recruited Tommy Buckley of Crowbar / Soilent Green to rehearse and record drum tracks, and also found current live drummer Wade Perkins, who was instrumental in helping to produce drum tracks alongside Tommy and Duane Simoneaux at OCD Recording and Production in New Orleans, Louisiana.


This newest offering is a blend of classic Vermilion Whiskey southern hard rock, driving stoner riffage, dabs of dissonant overtones, and a heavy helping of pure Louisiana sludge. 





Tracklisting:


"Intro"    
"Down On You"    
"The Get Down"    
"Confidence"
"Good Lovin"    
"Interlude"
"Dissonance"
"Atrophy"
"Hollow"


"Atrophy" sizzle reel:





For further details, visit VermilionWhiskey.com.


 

Marty Friedman has hinted at another potential MEGADETH performance, just days after he joined his former band during a concert at Tokyo's prestigious Budokan arena. The guitarist came up on stage for three songs toward the end of the main set on Monday, February 27: "Countdown To Extinction", "Tornado Of Souls" and "Symphony Of Destruction".

Speaking to Guitar World, when asked if there were any imminent plans for another MEGADETH cameo, Marty teased: "We [MEGADETH and Friedman] are both playing at Wacken Open Air festival in Germany this summer, so you never know."

Friedman also revealed that the biggest challenge he faced during his Budokan appearance with MEGADETH was performing his guitar solos the same way fans remember from his original stint with the band.

"If there was any challenge at all, I guess it would be playing the solos the way the fans remember them, which is something I wanted to do," Friedman noted. "My playing has evolved so much since those songs came out, and there are so many nuances I would naturally do differently now. I had to resist the urge to play it like I would in 2023 and stick to the original way. For example, in a couple of those songs, I entered the solo on the downbeat, with the first note being the root of the chord. I would definitely avoid both of those things now, but apparently, I was fine with it back then."

A couple of days ago, Marty was asked by Consequence if he would be open to playing with MEGADETH again, either onstage or in the studio. "Yeah, man, the door's open," he said. "I think the door has always been open. It's really just a matter of doing something that has meaning to it. Meaning for them and meaning for me. So, Budokan is sort of a no-brainer. But if something were to come up that would be a good thing for them and a good thing for me, and add value to it, then I'm all for it. As far as I'm concerned, their band is just kicking so much ass right now, I can't imagine them needing me for anything. [Laughs] But Budokan was wonderful. There's other things in the future. My door's open and we're on great terms, and I love all the guys in the band. It's very casual."

This year's edition of Wacken Open Air is set to take place August 2-5, 2023.

Wacken Open Air takes place annually in the village of Wacken, which has a population of just about 2,000.

Up to 85,000 people attend the event, which is 33 years old.

The first Wacken Open Air event in 1990 drew less than 800 people, but it has since grown to become the biggest open-air festival of its kind.

Around 30 percent travel from other countries to the festival, which over recent years has been growing in popularity.

After almost 20 years since its original release, Never Ending, the mighty third album from German heavy metal institution Mystic Prophecy is finally available on limited edition vinyl. The album was originally released on October 25, 2004 via Nuclear Blast, and it was the third and ultimately the last album to feature future Ozzy Osbourne guitar hero, Gus G. On March 24, metal fans around the world can finally get their hands on this masterpiece in two different vinyl versions: 300 copies on Gold vinyl and 300 copies on Transparent Orange vinyl.


Pre-order and secure your copy here.







Tracklist


Side A:
"Burning Bridges"
"Time Will Tell"
"Under A Darkened Sun"
"Dust Of Evil"
"In Hell"
"Never Surrender"
 
Side B:
"Wings Of Eternity"
"When I'm Falling"
"Warriors Of Lies"
"Dead Moon Rising"
"Never Ending"





 


Mystic Prophecy will release their 12th studio album, Hellriot, on May 19 via ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records.


 


 


At least with their celebrated last masterpiece Metal Division and chart successes in several countries (including #20 in the official Top 100 German album charts), Mystic Prophecy belong to the spearhead of international heavy metal. They are one of the most successful acts of the genre on digital platforms and with several hundred thousand followers on Spotify. At their live shows they prove again and again that they understand heavy metal as a passionate ultimate fight. And with their new album, Hellriot, they pick up where they left off with Metal Divison: Powerful concise hooks with shout-along factor, hard-hitting and monstrous sound paired with technically brilliant riffs, all refined by a powerful modern production that is second to none and makes the band so popular and unique. In short: With Hellriot, Mystic Prophecy deliver brilliantly and make every heavy metal heart beating mercilessly faster.


 


 


Hellriot will be released on May 19 as jewel case CD, limited mediabook CD, various vinyl colors and picture discs and digital streaming / download format. Also released as a limited to 666 copies collector’s hardcover boxset that includes: the limited mediabook CD, velvet bag, all in one flatware/multitool, raincoat, and signed autograph.


 


 


Pre-order the album here.


 


 





 


 


Tracklisting:


 


 


"Hellriot"
"Unholy Hell"
"Demons Of The Night"
"Metal Attack"
"Paranoia"
"Revenge And Fire"
"Rising With The Storm"
"Road To Babylon"
"Azrael"
"Cross The Line"
"World On Fire"


 


 


- Produced by by R.D. Liapakis
- Mixed & Mastered by Henrik Udd
- Cover Artwork & Layout by Dusan Markovic
- Additional layout by Michael Gladigau


 


 


Mystic Prophecy lineup:


 


 


R.D. Liapakis - Vocals
Markus Pohl - Guitar
Evan K - Guitar
Joey Roxx - Bass
Hanno Kerstan – Drums


 


 


(Photo - Frank Kollbi)


 

Progressive symphonic metal visionaries Coldbound have released a new single and a cinematic visualiser video for the song "Skies Are Weeping”. After a long but necessary hiatus, the band comes back with a brand new single, while at the same time reinvents a new, more symphonic and epic sound approach while incorporating with the biggest production ever up to date in the history of the band.


Founder Pauli Souka states: "This is not just another song in the catalogue of Coldbound, but a sublime creative collective of many artistic souls that joined forces and melted into one in order to bring this idea into life. Every single element and detail has been carefully crafted in order to bring an unparalleled sonic experience to the audience.


A huge thank you to my beloved band fellows and all the session musicians and artists who are part of this work. Without you, this wouldn’t have happened."




The Band:
Pauli Souka - Guitar, Vocals
Meiju Enho - Keyboards, Choirs, Orchestrations
Samuli Federley - Guitar
Otto Schimmelpenninck - Bass
Samuel Ruotsalainen - Drums & Percussions


The Guests:
Lindsay Schoolcraft - Guest Lead Vocals
Sara Strömmer - Guest Vocals
Steve Stockton - Narration
Niko Salmi - Guest Solo
Sakari Kukko - Saxophone
Andras Miklosvari - Guest Keyboards & Piano

Fans of Evil Invaders have a reason to rejoice, as the band has released a new live video for their hit song, "In Deepest Black", taken from their latest album, Shattering Reflection. This addictive crusher is a perfect representation of the band's signature style, complete with dramatic, melodic guitar lines and a catchy chorus that is bound to stay stuck in the listener's head.


The new live video perfectly captures the electrifying energy of an Evil Invaders concert, featuring throwback metal vibes that are sure to get fans head banging and pumping their fists. With this latest release, Evil Invaders proves once again why they are one of the most exciting bands in the metal scene today. Check out the new live video for "In Deepest Black" today and get ready to rock with the band on their upcoming tour.


Joe (vocalist & guitarist) about “In Deepest Black”: “With our new album, Shattering Reflection, and a full festival season, 2022 has been an amazing year for us. Later this month we'll tour throughout Europe so we thought it would be cool to make a recap music video with some of the highlights of last year. We mixed up some festival footage with the release party recordings for Shattering Reflection in Antwerp. Thanks to all who were there rocking out with us! Great memories that won’t be forgotten… We can't wait to see you all again in March and April. Check out our website for all the tour dates.”







Evil Invaders are ready to hit the road and bring their electrifying performances to a city near you. Brace yourselves for a night of thunderous riffs, pounding drums, and high-energy solos that will leave you begging for more. The Belgian heavy metal quartet is all set to embark on their European Tour, and they're bringing their signature sound of classic heavy metal and thrash to every corner of the continent.


Don't miss your chance to witness Evil Invaders' raw energy and power as they take over stages across Europe. The band is ready to bring their unbridled passion for metal to fans and leave audiences in awe. Be sure to grab your tickets early and get ready to mosh to the relentless sound of Shattering Reflection in full, and see the album’s sinister tracks performed live on stage.


Tour dates and ticket links here.


Lineup:


Joe - Vocals & Guitars
Senne Jacobs - Drums
Max - Guitars
Joeri - Bass


(Photo - Tim Tronckoe)

WINGER has set "Seven" as the title of its seventh studio album, tentatively due this spring via Frontiers Music Srl.

Earlier today (Friday, March 3),WINGER shared the "Seven" cover art via social media and included the following message: "STAY TUNED!!! #Winger #WingerSeven".

In January, WINGER shot music videos for three of the songs from "Seven".

Two months ago, WINGER guitarist John Roth told Sam Wall about the band's upcoming LP: "It'll be out on Frontiers in May or June; we don't have a release date yet. [There's] 12 songs on the album. One song's a pretty big surprise.

"To me at least, there's always a song on a WINGER album that comes at you from left field," he explained. "Like on 'Karma', we did a blues song — Kip [Winger, WINGER frontman] and I co-wrote a song called 'After All This Time'. On 'Better Days Comin'', the title track, 'Better Days Comin'', it's kind of funky and it's fun and it's different for WINGER; WINGER's a pretty heavier, darker, metal-ish kind of band. So there's a song on this album that's very different for the band, which is cool.

"It's meticulously produced and recorded, [with] tons of layers of background vocals," he added. "It's heavier lyrically, maybe. All of WINGER's records have a heavier overtone, because the guitars are tuned low; it's just more aggressive. And there's a little bit of a progressive flair on one of the songs. But I think people are gonna really enjoy the album. I hope it's well received."

Roth also spoke in more detail about the WINGER songwriting process, saying: "Well, Kip and Reb [Beach, guitar] are the primary songwriters of the band; they are the nucleus. But I did co-write one song on this album with Kip.

"With WINGER, it normally starts [as] the musical idea. A lot of people write from lyrics and melodies. Most of the songs I write, I have a melody or a lyric which is like the nucleus or the starting point for a song. But with WINGER, it's a riff, it's a musical idea.

"I remember when I was first co-writing with Kip on some songs on 'Better Days Comin'', we're not demoing the songs. We're writing 'em; we're recording the actual songs," he explained. "So, I'm looking at him, going, 'How do you know that you just want one more bar here?' He's, like, 'I hear where I wanna go with the lyrics.' And I'm, like, ''Cause you're making a lot of really big-time decisions for the arrangement,' and we're recording final guitar parts and the lyrics have to revolve around it.

"So everything starts with the music with WINGER," Roth added. "But as the songs are being written and the riffs are coming about, the melodies are in Kip's head. Kip's the maestro, you know? He's the maestro of the band. So he's thinking as we're writing — what the melodies are gonna [be], how they're gonna work around the riffs, and inevitably making final judgment calls on the arrangement as we're cutting the songs. [It] used to be you'd demo songs. You'd demo a song out, and sometimes you couldn't beat the demo. You'd be, like, 'There's a magic on the demo we cannot beat.' So WINGER really doesn't have that problem anymore 'cause as we're writing the songs, we're cutting the final parts."

Asked if he enjoys working that way, Roth said: "I like it. I like it, 'cause stuff moves fast. It's quick. It's exciting. Because a song can sit there when you're layering parts on a song for months at a time. It can get a little bit too thought out, you know what I mean? So when you're writing and you're creating the song, the final [album version], when you're writing [and recording it] instead of coming up with the demo [first], it's exciting. Things move fast."

WINGER's next LP will be the follow-up to 2014's "Better Days Comin'".

In December 2020, Beach described the new WINGER material to the 213Rock Podcast by saying: "It's WINGER — heavy riffs with big vocals. Very catchy songs and very heavy stuff — very progressive."

A month earlier, Beach told the "Pat's Soundbytes Unplugged" podcast that he and Kip had initially pieced together ideas for 11 tracks for WINGER's next album, but that Kip "threw away six of 'em, saying that this has to be like the first BOSTON record where every song is undeniable. And he just wants it to be progressive and like nothing he's hard before," he said. "I brought him these riffs that are just straight-ahead rock riffs, and he said, 'I already know what the next three chords are gonna be after I've heard three chords.'

"We're going for something that's poppy and sing-along stuff yet cool, heavy, progressive riffs — kind of like [2009's] 'Karma'," Reb explained. "That's what we're going for."

WINGER will embark on a U.S. tour this spring and summer with CINDERELLA frontman Tom Keifer and former MÖTLEY CRÜE singer John Corabi.

In the spring of 2020, WINGER invited artists, friends and fans — including Alice Cooper and members of SCORPIONS, STEELHEART and WARRANT — to sing along to "Better Days Comin'", the title track of the band's sixth studio album. An official music video for the new version of the song was made available in late April of that year.

WINGER formed in the late 1980s and soared to immediate success with its 1988 self-titled release. The album spawned the hit singles "Seventeen" and "Headed For A Heartbreak" and achieved platinum sales status. "Winger" also stayed on The Billboard 200 chart for over 60 weeks where it peaked at #21. Their next album, "In The Heart Of The Young", also achieved platinum status behind the singles "Can't Get Enuff" and "Miles Away". The change in musical climate of the mid-'90s, compounded with unprovoked ridicule on MTV's popular "Beavis And Butt-Head" show, led the band to go on hiatus in 1994. In 2001, WINGER reunited and has not looked back since. Kip also earned a 2016 Grammy nomination for the classical album "C.F. Kip Winger: Conversations With Nijinsky", recorded with the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra.
STAY TUNED!!!#Winger#WingerSevenpic.twitter.com/YpukmT1SfW

HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES, who consist of AEROSMITH's Joe Perry, actor Johnny Depp and legendary rocker Alice Cooper, has released the official music video for their cover version of "You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory". The track, which appeared on HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES' 2019 album "Rise", was originally written and recorded by the great Johnny Thunders in 1978 and features Perry on lead vocals.

The three legends first came together to record in 2015, bonding over a shared love of their favorite songs and a desire to celebrate their "dead, drunk friends" by playing the songs of the fallen heroes. Riotous performances ensued around the world.

In 2019, HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES completed a triumphant seven-city North American tour which included a sell-out show at the famous Greek Theatre in Los Angeles and were voted the "best performance" of 2018 at London's Wembley Arena.

HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES' sophomore album "Rise", produced by Tommy Henriksen and the HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES, was hailed as one of the purest, most unapologetic and enjoyable rock and roll albums of 2019, made by masters of the craft and true fans of the form. Unlike their 2015 debut record, the latest album consisted mainly of original material, written by the band. There are however, in the spirit of the VAMPIRES' original mission, three covers of songs originally written and recorded by legendary rockers who died far too young.

Four years ago, Cooper told Billboard about his chemistry with Depp and Perry: "That's a very odd thing about this. You've got three alpha males who are used to running the show, and all of a sudden, three guys are sitting there with zero arguments. The whole thing is, 'Okay, let's try that.' Every time they would send me a track with scratch vocals on it, if I worked on it and chopped it up and did my thing, it would turn into an Alice song. I took my fingerprints off of it. I would hear the song and say, 'Let's do it as it was written.' My instinct might be to say that this part goes too long or the intro goes too long, but that's what makes it interesting."

Regarding HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES' decision to record a second album as a follow-up to 2015's "Hollywood Vampires", which debuted at No. 43 on the Billboard 200, Cooper said: "We looked at each other and went, 'Let's do another album, but let's make this one original.' And just like that, Johnny was writing, Joe was writing, Tommy was writing, I was writing … and we just all kind of put it together while I was on tour. Tommy produced it, and the next thing you know, we had an album. The cool thing about it is that it doesn’t sound like an Alice album, it doesn't sound like an AEROSMITH album: It sounds like a HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES album."

Photo credit: Ross Halfin

DISTURBED frontman David Draiman says that he has lost more than 20 pounds in the last four months.

The 49-year-old singer, who moved to Miami, Florida in early 2022 after residing in Honolulu, Hawaii for a few years, took to his Twitter earlier today (Friday, March 3) to share a photo of him at what appears to be a gym, and he included the following message: "Started this journey right after [DISTURBED bassist John Moyer's] wedding [in early November]. I had ballooned to 213 lbs at the time. Now in full pre tour training mode.

"As of this morning I'm 190 lbs.

"Not done yet.

"Have to remind the world why we have become who we are."

Draiman had previously said that Florida's lack of state income tax and the state's quality of schools were factors in his family's decision to relocate to Miami.

DISTURBED's 36-date "Take Back Your Life" spring/summer 2023 North American tour will kick off at Montreal's Bell Centre on April 27. The tour, produced by Live Nation, will feature support from THEORY OF A DEADMAN in Canada and very special guests BREAKING BENJAMIN and JINJER in select markets in the United States. "Take Back Your Life" will be DISTURBED's first full tour since 2018.

Released in November, DISTURBED's latest album, "Divisive", was recorded early last year with producer Drew Fulk (MOTIONLESS IN WHITE, LIL PEEP, HIGHLY SUSPECT) in Nashville, Tennessee.

Guitarist Dan Donegan's divorce inspired the "Divisive" song "Don't Tell Me", which is a duet with HEART's Ann Wilson. In two decades, it breaks ground as the first-ever guest collaboration on a DISTURBED record.

According to Billboard, "Divisive" sold 26,000 equivalent album units in its first week of release, with 22,000 units via album sales.

On the all-format Billboard 200 chart, "Divisive" debuted at No. 13.

DISTURBED has had five No. 1s on the all-genre chart, beginning with "Believe" in 2002.
Started this journey right after @JohnMoyerBass ‘s wedding. I had ballooned to 213 lbs at the time. Now in full pre tour training mode.

As of this morning I’m 190 lbs.

Not done yet.

Have to remind the world why we have become who we are. 😉🤘🏻@Disturbedpic.twitter.com/Ns0faTVk3T

— David Draiman (@davidmdraiman) March 3, 2023

SEX PISTOLS bassist and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Glen Matlock will release long-awaited solo album, "Consequences Coming", on April 27 via Cooking Vinyl. The second single from the LP, "Magic Carpet Ride", can be heard below.

Matlock states: "'Magic Carpet Ride', with its fingers crossed 'Instant Karma'-esque groove, is part of a quartet of songs from my forthcoming album, 'Consequences Coming'. It attempts to deal with the road to nowhere journey we are being whisked on, to who knows where, who knows how and who the blinking flip knows why and is a sincere pleading that it is not the cul de sac that it promises to be, with the only escape route being the garden gate installed for a laugh by the flat earth society."

Glen continues: "It also has a great slide guitar by Earl Slick."

Matlock is a singer/songwriter/guitarist with a highly esteemed resume. The original bassist and songwriter of the SEX PISTOLS, Matlock is responsible for co-penning some of history's most iconic songs, "Anarchy In The UK", "God Save The Queen" and "Pretty Vacant". After his time with the SEX PISTOLS, Matlock went on to form several well-regarded bands including RICH KIDS (with Midge Ure). He has collaborated with such artists as Iggy Pop and PRIMAL SCREAM, and is also a highly in-demand player, playing live with the likes of the legendary reformed FACES. Additionally, Glen is currently the touring bass player for New York legends BLONDIE and is slated to appear on their forthcoming new 2023 studio album.

His persona these days may be that of a stylish rock gent, but as always the former icon of punk remains politically passionate. This album is nothing short of Glen's call to arms to tackle this current diabolical period of governance.

Matlock previously stated about the first single, "Head On A Stick": "Peeved at the predictable but ultimately pointless political lurch to the right that has happened in the West over the past few years. I put pen to paper and plectrum to guitar to compose a song that's a call to arms, a wake-up alarm and primal open-your-eyes scream."

Glen continued: "It might be easy to be wise after the event but some saw where we were headed and, in the words of 'Pete Seeger,' attempted to hammer out a warning. We always thought it can't happen here but it sadly most definitely has and heads should justifiably roll…"

A music video for "Head On A Stick" can be seen below. "The video was shot on the fly one afternoon in between touring dates with BLONDIE in the U.K.," stated Matlock. "The guys who play on the forthcoming album all jumped at the chance to back me up in the video, and help get this pertinent point across about the parlous state of our present position."

"Consequences Coming" will be made available in digital and specially packaged CD format. The vinyl format is being made available with a limited-edition signed artprint.

"The album was written and recorded in Britain over the last 18 months or so with a posse of seasoned but on point performers." says Matlock. "All done during the debacle that is Brexit and the rise and fall of the turgid Trump episode in the U.S. These songs reflect my take on the whole sorry mess that has ensued."

Matlock elaborates on the album: "Now the wheels of the music business can sometimes move at a lugubrious, glacial pace, and sometimes the moment might be lost but seeing no break in the clouds or clear light at the end of the tunnel, surely the only demand on people's lips should be that there are 'Consequences Coming' for the fat headed oafs who have foisted their asinine warped sensibilities on us. The tunes are pretty catchy too…"

"Consequences Coming" track listing:

01. Head On A Stick
02. Consequences Coming
03. Magic Carpet Ride
04. Speaking In Tongues
05. Shine Off Your Shoes
06. Constant Craving
07. Step In The Right Direction
08. Something 'Bout The Weekend
09. This Empty Heart
10. Face In A Crowd
11. Tried To Tell You
12. Can't Be Myself With You
13. This Ship

Matlock's deal with Cooking Vinyl will also see the label re-release two of his previous solo albums: 2010's "Born Running" and 2018's critically acclaimed "Good To Go".

Photo credit: Danny Clifford

On April 28, UMe/Mercury and Anthem Records continue the comprehensive RUSH 40th-anniversary album series with new and expanded editions of the band's decade-defining 1982 release "Signals", an album that signified how the band was in no way detached and subdivided from the ever-shifting 1980s musical landscape. "Signals - 40th Anniversary" will be available to fans in three distinct configurations, including the (1) Super Deluxe Edition, (2) one-LP Picture Disc Edition, and (3) Dolby Atmos Digital Edition. There will also be a limited edition Super Deluxe box featuring eight lithographs of Neil Peart's original hand-drawn lyrics for each song on "Signals" only available through the official RUSH online store. All configurations can be pre-ordered and pre-saved at RushBackstage.com.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RUSH — bassist/keyboardist/vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist/vocalist Alex Lifeson, and the late, great drummer/lyricist Neil Peart — maintains a large and uniquely passionate worldwide fanbase that acknowledges and respects the band's singular, bold, and perpetually exploratory songcraft that combines sterling musicianship, complex compositions, and distinctive lyrical flair. RUSH has sold more than 25 million albums in the U.S. alone, with worldwide sales estimated at 45 million (and counting),and has been awarded 24 gold, 14 platinum, and three multi-platinum album distinctions. RUSH has received seven Grammy nominations, and the band was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame in 1994 and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2013.

Heavy southern rock band, Texas Hippie Coalition, announces the release of their seventh studio album, The Name Lives On, on April 21 via MNRK Heavy. The hard-hitting, 10-track collection is another riff-heavy, sonic assault from beginning to end.





The first single, “Hell Hounds”, was released today and proves this dog hunts right out of the gate. With a punishing riff, Big Dad Ritch growls, "And I know that you think you're so strong/And I've been sent to prove you wrong."




THC frontman Big Dad Ritch says, “Where there once was an appetite for this style of music, I witnessed a hunger grow and now I see the lovers of real music starving for it. “The name lives on” is an album that is a dinner bell ringer… I was sent to ring that bell!!!”


Listen here, and/or below:





Texas Hippie Coalition is often compared to the many great southern rock and Texas bands that came before them. But they are proving to the world that THC is not just following in their footsteps, they are leaving giant footprints. THC has etched out a place for themselves in the multi-genre fields of music, and have also created their own genre, "Red Dirt Metal." You have to hear it to understand it. Words are not enough to convey how powerfully big their sound is.


Texas Hippie Coalition are:


Big Dad Ritch
Cord Pool
Nevada Romo
Lorado Romo
Joey Mandigo


(Photo - Colt Coan)

New metal sensation, All For Metal, has revealed the first details for their first full-length studio album. Legends will be coming out on July 7 via AFM Records, the pre-sale has just started here.



Under the banner of All For Metal, metal enthusiasts Tim "Tetzel" Schmidt (known as the singer of Asenblut as well as a strength athlete and fitness influencer) and Antonio Calanna (singer of the hard rock band DeVicious) joined forces. Both are united by their love for classic heavy metal sounds and the common vision to bring them to a new generation of music fans.


"We grew up with bands like Manowar, at whose concerts the audience is overwhelmed by the energy," says singer Tetzel. "That's where strangers are in each other's arms and fervently belting out the songs. This invisible bond, this connection, is created through the music alone." His vocal counterpart Antonio adds, "I've only experienced such a sense of community in the metal scene. With All For Metal, we want to help pass this on and let as many music fans as possible share in it."




With incredible, compact, catchy songs and a dedicated, highly professional production team behind them, All For Metal unleash anthemic, straightforward metal that has international class. Following previously-released songs "Born In Valhalla", "Raise Your Hammer" and the aptly-titled track "All For Metal" (with more than a half million views on YouTube), today, the band has unleashed a video clip for the brand new single "Fury Of The Gods". Watch the clip below.


"For me this song was the most difficult one to record in studio...." Antonio comments. "But, after all the commitment we put; it paid off! Head bang with us, and prepare to fear the Fury of the Gods!"


Tetzel adds: "The new single to stick into your ear is upon us. Stay tuned, bang your heads and fear the Fury of the Gods.. there is so much more to come!"














All For Metal is:


Ursula Zanichelli - Guitar
Jasmin Pabst - Guitar
Florian Toma - Bass Guitar

The new single from Outlanders (Tarja Turunen and Torsten Stenzel), "Echoes", featuring Jennifer Batten has arrived. Listen here, and below.


Inspired by the love for Africa and its people, "Echoes" is a tribute to this beautiful land. The emotional lyrics are wrapped in Tarja's vocals.


"Echoes" is the seventh of eight singles and is available as a limited edition 7" vinyl exclusively at Tarja's online store and digitally at earMUSIC.







Side A:
"Echoes" (Feat. Jennifer Batten)


Side B:
"Echoes" (Original Demo 2008)

Norwegian progressive metal pioneer, Ihsahn, has released a new single, "Dom Andra" ft. Jonas Renkse (Katatonia), which is a cover of a track by the Swedish alt rock band Kent. It's the second single to be taken from the forthcoming Fascination Street Sessions EP, which is to be released on March 24 via Candlelight Records.


Comments Ihsahn: "Prior to getting involved with this project, I’d been talking to Jonas Renkse (Katatonia) about doing a cover of the Swedish band Kent and the song 'Dom Andra', and what better opportunity to do a cover of a Swedish band, in Swedish, with a Swedish vocalist, in Sweden with one of the top producers in Sweden. Needless to say, Jonas did a stunning performance of the song and I hope the rest makes it justice too!“







Known as a constantly evolving artist who loves to transcend boundaries, Ihsahn's musical journey has been relentlessly fascinating and frequently revelatory. With his penchant for collaborative projects and fascination with production, this new three-track EP, featuring two new original songs and one cover version, is the direct result of Ihsahn joining forces with URM Academy's online educational program for music production, and producer/engineer Jens Bogren (Opeth, Dimmu Borgir, Arch Enemy, Powerwolf) of Fascination Street Studios.


Joining Ihsahn on this project was his long-time drummer Tobias Ørnes Andersen and keyboardist Øystein Aadland, who spent 10 intense days at Fascination Street Studios recording the songs. Øystein Aadland also adds warm and gentle lead vocals for the track "The Observer," while Jonas Renske of Katatonia recorded guest vocals to the song "Dom Andra," a cover of a track by Swedish band Kent.


Throughout the whole experience, the URM Academy team captured everything on video, with Jens Bogren adding commentary to the production techniques used, with detail on mic placements, preamps, drumhead tunings, sharing his methodology and drilling down into what goes into a recording such as this.


Ihsahn adds, "The idea was to capture high-end recordings of real instruments in great rooms, and we had an amazing setup for drums, guitars, bass, and even a vintage Hammond organ with Leslie, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, etc., recorded through Fender combos and analogue pedals etc. This was an amazing experience, and very educational, as I love everything related to music production. Both the Fascination Street and URM teams were incredible, and I believe everyone involved had a great time, in spite of 14–16 hour workdays. I'm very happy with how everything came together and for those interested in the technical aspects of how it was made, there will be a thorough course coming soon at URM Academy."





Tracklisting:


"The Observer" (Feat. Øystein H. Aadland)
"Contorted Monuments"
"Dom Andrea" (Kent cover, feat. Jonas Renske of Katatonia)


"Contorted Monuments":





(Photo - Bjørn Tore Moen)

Queen continues the new video series, “Queen The Greatest: Live”, a year-long celebration of Queen Live. It's a 50-week YouTube series going behind the scenes to reveal what goes into creating a Queen show featuring moments from iconic performances and demonstrating why the band is regarded as the ultimate live act. The latest episode can be found below.


A message states: "Continuing our celebration of Queen's spectacular concert openings, we enjoy another example of Freddie, Brian, Roger and John's ability to whip a crowd into a frenzy, this time from their memorable performance at the legendary Milton Keynes Bowl."







Queen have announced that The Official 77th Freddie Mercury Birthday Party is scheduled for September 2 at Casino Barriere in Montreux, Switzerland. Tickets are on sale now, here.


A message from Queen states: "The live entertainment this year will come from the UK's Live Killers, who will be performing Queen's 1973 debut album in its entirety, plus deep cuts and classic hits. All those who purchase a ticket will be entered into a draw to win a personalized framed presentation disc of Queen's 1973 debut album signed by Roger Taylor and Brian May. All profits from the event go to The Mercury Phoenix Trust - Fighting AIDS Worldwide.


"From August 31 - September 3, further free activities and live music will be organized near the statue by Montreux Celebration. More information at montreuxcelebration.com."

Enslaved have released their 16th studio album, Heimdal. Heimdal is both a departure and a communion with roots forged over three decades ago in the turbulent birth throes of Norway’s black metal scene. It's a record that points towards new beginnings, and a dawn that’s on the other side of the apex of the land. Prepare for a psychedelic journey through arcane Norse folklore, to connect with one's ancient ancestors and our future selves.


Enslaved's Grutle Kjellson commented, “After more than three decades, I still get excited when I hear Ivar’s demos; we may be older now, and as life has evolved are unable to spend as much time on music as we would like, but the song writing process for Enslaved hasn’t changed much. Ivar works on the seeds and shapes of songs, sends them to the rest of us, and we’ll form our own narratives - these phantom sketches eventually come to life and they speak to us, and hopefully they speak to our fans as well.


"In my opinion, our band is even more creative, more experimental, more diverse and somehow more  musical than when we started. I suppose one of the main reasons we continue as a band is that we have never reached a place where we bore ourselves. Our passion for telling stories, writing riffs, put words to them and exploring the human condition through music and myth, has only increased over the years and Heimdal is a reflection of who we are as artists, musicians and human beings in the year 2023.”




Enslaved have also revealed a masterly lyric video, created by Ingo Spörl, for album focus track "The Eternal Sea". Watch below:





The record is named after Heimdal, arguably the most mysterious entity in Nordic mythology. It features psychedelic track "Caravans To The Outer Worlds" from last year's EP of the same name. Album bonus versions contain an extra track, "Gangandi", alongside a Blu-Ray copy of 2021's stunning Otherworldly Big Band Experience streamed event - the band's boldest project to date, featuring fellow Norwegian prog band Shaman Elephant. The kaleidoscopic stage show features a stellar setlist, covering Enslaved's career, both past and present.  


Heimdal formats:


- CD
- Limited edition digipack CD (inc. Bonus Track) + Blu-Ray*
- 2LP vinyl gatefold - black
- 2LP vinyl gatefold - white + black marble (Nuclear Blast Excl.)
- 2LP vinyl gatefold - white + green marble (Nuclear Blast + Selected Retailers)
- 2LP vinyl gatefold - blue + white marble (UK Retail + EMP)
- 2LP vinyl gatefold - white (USA Revolver Excl.)
- 2LP vinyl gatefold (inc. Bonus Track) + Blu-Ray - crystal clear w/ black marble (Nuclear Blast Excl.)*
- 2LP vinyl gatefold (inc. Bonus Track) + Blu-Ray - clear w/ black + gold marble (Band Excl.)*


Order here.





Heimdal tracklisting:


"Behind The Mirror"
"Congelia"
"Forest Dweller"
"Kingdom"
"The Eternal Sea"
"Caravans To The Outer Worlds"
"Gangandi" (Bonus Track)*
"Heimdal"


"Forest Dweller" video:





"Caravans To The Outer Worlds" video:





"Congelia" video:





"Kingdom" video:





"Caravans To The Outer Worlds" video:





Enslaved recently announced a month-long, North American co-headline tour with Insomnium. The run will take place in April, shortly after the release of Heimdal. Support on the road will come from Black Anvil.


Ivar Bjørnson commented, "Neither you nor we will BELIEVE how much we are looking forward to coming back to the US of A and Canada in April 2023! We have a new album (and more if you want to be technical), Heimdal, to show you - spoiler alert: it will lay venues waste. Yes, we are that confident. We also have some rather cosmically awesome (!) bands joining the trek in co-headliners Insomnium and support Black Anvil - how could this become anything but the most spectacular event of 2023?"





Tour dates:


April
5 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
6 - Boston, MA - Big Night Live
7 - Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre
8 - Toronto, ON - The Opera House
10 - Detroit, MI - Saint Andrew's Hall
11 - Chicago, IL - House Of Blues
12 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater
14 - Denver, CO - The Gothic Theatre
15 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex
17 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile
18 - Vancouver, BC - The Rickshaw
19 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre
21 - Berkeley, CA - The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall
22 - Los Angeles, CA - The Fonda Theatre
23 - Phoenix, AZ - Nile Theater
25 - Austin, TX - Come And Take It Live
26 - Dallas, TX - The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
28 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
29 - Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theatre
30 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage


Enslaved have even more planned for 2023, including festival show dates, and a unique album release event in their home city of Bergen, Norway today, March 3. Named Heimhug, the evening will feature an extended Enslaved live set with guests, and very special guest Jo Quail. Tickets here.


Grutle Kjellson commented, “Sometimes the answers and the truths lie under your very nose, or where the journey starts, where you first set sail towards horizons unknown. This was very much the case when we started working on “Heimdal”; we stepped back and looked a bit inwards and also at our immediate surroundings, at the area we hail from and where we still dwell today; Hordaland. On these shores people have been living and dying, worshiping and crying, laughing and lying ever since the Stone Age. History has been written here, history will still be written here and we will continue to dwell here until the end of our days. Built around this historical narrative, “Heimdal” was created, and on the 3rd of March 2023 we would like to invite you to celebrate the album release with us and pay homage to our history.  Under the “Heimhug”-banner, we’re gonna perform a two-set release concert at USF Bergen with very special guests, we’ll have an art exhibition with the specific photographs and drawings we used for the artwork on the album and also an exclusive showing of last year’s “The Otherworldly BigBand experience”. See you in Bergen in March! Alu Alu Laukar!"





Enslaved are:


Ivar Bjørnson - guitars
Grutle Kjellson - vocals
Arve 'Ice Dale' Isdal - guitar
Håkon Vinje - keyboards, clean vocals
Iver Sandøy - drums

In July 2019, legendary rock band, The Who, headlined Wembley Stadium in London for the first time in forty years. The show was the only UK date on their Moving On! Tour and featured the band accompanied by an over 50-piece orchestra performing classic tracks and more as well tracks from their WHO album.





The Who With Orchestra Live At Wembley will be released later this month as a limited edition yellow, orange and red 3-LP set, triple black vinyl, 2-CD / Blu-Ray set which features the audio remixed in Dolby Atmos/5.1 mixes and a 1-CD edition.




For complete details and pre-order options, head here. Listen to "Imagine A Man" from the set below:





Watch "Baba O'Riley" from the upcoming release:





The Who have announced a UK tour which will see the band performing with a full orchestra each night with shows from July 6 - 23 July in Hull, Edinburgh, London, Derby, Badminton, Durham, St Helens and Brighton. Joining them will be UB40 featuring Ali Campbell across all regional shows except for The O2 London and Edinburgh Castle dates.


Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and band will be performing music from throughout the band’s nearly 60-year career, including sections devoted to classic albums Tommy and Quadrophenia as well as other beloved Who tracks and songs from their 2019 WHO album, their first studio release in 13 years.


The 2023 UK shows include Edinburgh Castle, the band’s first show in the Scottish capital in over 40 years as well as shows in Derby, their first since 1966, The O2 London, Durham and Brighton Cricket grounds. The gigs follow last year’s highly acclaimed The Who Hits Back! tour of the US, where the band shared the with some of the finest orchestras in America.


The 2023 UK tour will feature The Who’s full live band comprised of guitarist/backup singer Simon Townshend, keyboardist Loren Gold, second keyboardist Emily Marshall, bassist Jon Button, drummer Zak Starkey and backing vocals by Billy Nicholls, along with orchestra conductor Keith Levenson, lead violinist Katie Jacoby and lead cellist Audrey Snyder.


The Who wound up their The Who Hits Back! tour of the US in November last year having wowed audiences in over thirty cities, with media and fans agreeing that the band were as good as, if not better than ever and that the orchestral arrangements, most of which were done by the legendary David Campbell, brought a new depth and excitement to Pete Townshend’s music.


Performing with The Who and an orchestra had been a long-held ambition for singer Roger Daltrey. “Having not toured the UK for six years, it’s great that at this time of our careers we have the chance to go to places that are not on the usual touring map Edinburgh Castle and Derby, as well as the other cities across the country that we haven’t been to for decades, will make this very special for me. This opportunity will give our UK Who fans the chance to hear our current show, which, with the addition of an orchestra, takes our music to new heights.”


Pete Townshend: “Roger initially christened this tour with an orchestra Moving On! I love it. It is what both of us want to do. Move on, with new music, classic Who music, all performed in new and exciting ways. Taking risks, nothing to lose. I’m really looking forward to bringing this show to the UK.”


The Who are calling upon fans to add an optional £1 donation onto their ticket price at point of sale in support of Teenage Cancer Trust. Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey are longstanding supporters and Roger has been the driving force behind Teenage Cancer Trust’s Royal Albert Hall concerts since they began in 2000. For more information visit teenagecancertrust.org.


For more information about The Who 2023 dates, visit robomagiclive.com or thewho.com





Tour dates:


July
6 - Sewell Group Craven Park - Hull, UK *
8 - Edinburgh Castle - Edinburgh, UK
9 - Edinburgh Castle - Edinburgh, UK
12 - The O2 - London, UK
14 - The Incora County Ground - Derby, UK *
16 - Badminton Estate - Bristol, UK *
19 - Seat Unique Riverside - Durham, UK *
21 - Totally Wicked Stadium - St Helens, UK *
23 - The 1st Central County Ground - Brighton, UK *


* with UB40 featuring Ali Campbell

Demons Down, the new band featuring vocalist James Robledo (Sinner's Blood), guitarist Francesco Savino (False Memories), guitarist Jimi Bell (House Of Lords, Autograph), drummer Ken Mary (ex-House Of Lords, Alice Cooper, Fifth Angel, etc.), and bassist Chuck Wright (ex-Quiet Riot, House Of Lords, etc.), have released a lyric video for "Where Will Our Tears Fall?", the new single from their debut album, I Stand, slated for release on March 10. Check it out below, and pre-order/save I Stand here.


Demons Down traffic in a hard rock sound that references the late '80s/early '90s movement where massive hooks, huge melodies, and lush keyboards were the order of the day. But this is no simple exercise in paying tribute to yesteryear as the music rocks hard to compliment the vocal talents of Robledo (who has, sonically, been compared to the likes of Jorn Lande and Russell Allen). Fans of early House Of Lords material and their sonic peers from that time period as well as Robledo's debut solo album, 'Wanted Man', will have much to enjoy here.







James Robledo is a Chilean vocalist who comes from a family of musicians with prominent places in the history of Chilean music, with both national and international success. In his youth, he began his foray into metal and rock, but in 2016, James took part in the popular TV show The Voice Chile 2, where his participation generated a stir thanks to his outstanding vocal performances. Since then, he has become a more active member of the larger hard rock/metal community and, with Frontiers, he has released one solo album, Wanted Man and an album, The Mirror Star, with Chilean metal band Sinner's Blood, who are also currently preparing their second album for release.


Francesco Savino is an Italian guitarist and songwriter who founded the up-and-coming gothic metal band False Memories in 2015. That band's latest release, The Last Night Of Fall (2021), was met with praise from both fans and metal media alike. The band also released a covers EP, Echoes Of A Reflection and a live EP, Live Until The Twilight since the release of their last studio album. With his songwriting partner Rossella Moscatello (who is the lead vocalist for False Memories), Franceso has also been contributing songs to Frontiers and is working on the next False Memories album.


Jimi Bell is an established hard rock guitarist who is currently a member of both House Of Lords and Autograph, and, of course, Demons Down. Bell, a Connecticut native, was inducted into the New England Music Hall in 2020. In addition to his work with various bands over the years, he has done a wealth of studio work for sports outlets like ESPN, WWE, Impact Wrestling, and NASCAR. Bell is an official endorser of Roberts Guitar, Viper Guitars, Charvel Guitars, PVX Guitar, Funk Guitars, Ovation Guitars, GHS Strings, Rocktron, Randall, Marshall Amps (Europe), and KickAss Cables. He is also the inventor of the Shredneck.


Chuck Wright is best known as a long-time member of multi-platinum rockers Quiet Riot playing bass and singing on Metal Health which was the first "metal" album to go to #1 on the Billboard charts, selling over 10 million copies. Wright was also a founding member of House Of Lords and Giuffria and has worked alongside such rock music luminaries as Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Pat Travers, and members of Guns 'N Roses and KISS, just to name a few.


Drummer Ken Mary’s lengthy career in music has seen him play in a wide variety of genres that showcased his wide ranging skills at the instrument. In addition to being a drummer, Ken is also an engineer, writer, vocalist, and award winning producer. He has sold a combined 5 million (plus) albums globally over the entirety of his body of work. His drumming can be heard on albums from Alice Cooper, Jordan Rudess, Northern Light Orchestra, Kip Winger, House of Lords, The Beach Boys, Impelliterri, Don Dokken, Fifth Angel, Bonfire, and many more, and of course, very soon, Demons Down.





I Stand tracklisting:


"I Stand"
"Disappear"
"Down In A Hole"
"On My Way To You"
"Where Will Our Tears Fall?"
"Book Of Love"
"Stranded In The Middle Of Nowhere"
"Follow Me"
"To The Edge Of The World"
"Search Over The Horizon"
"Only The Brave"


"Where Will Our Tears Fall?" lyric video:





"Disappear" video:





"I Stand" video:





Demons Down are:


James Robledo - Vocals
Jimi Bell - Guitars
Francesco Savino - Guitars
Chuck Wright - Bass
Ken Mary - Drums


Additional Musicians:


Alessandro Del Vecchio - Keyboards, Guitars, Backing Vocals


- Produced by: Alessandro Del Vecchio
- Executive Producer/A&R: Serafino Perugino

JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford has shared his words of support for Ozzy Osbourne following the cancelation of their joint European tour.

The trek, originally set for 2019 and then rescheduled three times, was officially scrapped this week because of a spinal injury Osbourne suffered four years ago and other health problems. The tour was scheduled to begin in Helsinki, Finland, on May 3, and include gigs in Nottingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester, Dublin and London, before finishing in Ozzy's original hometown of Birmingham on June 14.

When he canceled his spring tour, Osbourne said in a statement that he was "not physically capable" of dealing with the grueling travel that touring entails, prompting the media to perceive his comments as the end of his touring career.

In a new interview with Metal Hammer, Halford said about his longtime friend and fellow metal icon: "I can only reinforce what all of Ozzy's fans, including us in JUDAS PRIEST, have said to him though, which is that he has done so much for all of us in rock and metal. He's done so much for his fans, and we all know how bad he feels about having to cancel because he lives for those fans. You can see that every time he goes onstage, he's beaming and connecting with everybody.

"It was terrible for him to have to make that important — and, to be honest, right — decision," Halford continued. "He made the right call. I don't think he wanted to put himself through a thing where it's, like, 'Okay, we'll have a go' then have to cancel after a couple of shows. Even though there's a lot of love for him and a lot of care and understanding, I've seen what the British metal maniacs have been saying and it's exactly how I feel too — put your feet up; you've earned it."

Earlier this week, Ozzy said during an appearance on SiriusXM's Ozzy's Boneyard channel that his career is not over and he would hit the road again if he were physically able to do so.

"I've been working my guts out to try and get back on my feet. I've come to the point where [my wife and manager] Sharon says to me, 'You know what, the truth of the matter, you can't keep booking tours and failing, canceling.

"If I can ever get back to where I can tour again, fine. But right now, if you said to me, 'Can you go on the road in a month?' I couldn't say yes. I mean, if I could tour, I'd go tour. But right now I can't book tours because, right now, I don't think I could pull them off," he added.

Osbourne also commented on the fact that some of the media outlets reported that he was retiring from the road after he released a statement earlier this month in which he said that he would have to cancel his tour because of a spinal injury he suffered four years ago and other health problems.

"The fucking press drive you nuts," Ozzy said. "I mean, I looked in the magazine, 'Ozzy's on his last legs.' I'm fucking not dying… Come on, guys. Haven't I've had it bad enough already? If I get okay today, if the doctor said to me today, 'Oh, you can tour, it would take another six months to get it together, you know?"

Osbourne said that he was open to other types of live events, including a potential residency in Las Vegas.

Ozzy has had extensive spinal surgery and other treatment over the past four years, after a fall at home in 2019 aggravated injuries he suffered in a near-fatal quad bike crash in 2003. But despite his health problems, Osbourne has performed a couple of times in recent months, including at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last August and at the NFL halftime show at the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills game last September.

Ozzy Osbourne photo credit: Ross Halfin