In a new interview with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station, former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman once again spoke about why he finally decided to open up about his time with the band — after spending most of the last two decades focusing on his solo career — while writing his autobiography, "Dreaming Japanese", which came out on December 3, 2024 via Permuted Press. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I lost it big time [toward the end of my time with MEGADETH], and I never really talked about this because once I left MEGADETH, I stopped doing interviews about MEGADETH completely and I made it a clause in any contract having to do with a live appearance or anything, it's, like, 'You can't mention MEGADETH in the marquee or in the advertisement or in the headline or anything.' And I did this for 23 years. But in an autobiography, that's a big part of my history, so now it's time to talk about the things that really, really happened in detail and with honesty and with respect to that period of time and respect to the people in the band and the people around the band, talk about our managers and our crew and, of course, the members in the band and my relationships with them."

He continued: "It's not gonna make me look good, I'm telling you this right now, when you read it [in my book]. I didn't leave the band on the nicest terms and I kind of — I don't wanna say 'screwed the band over,' but it wasn't a really nice thing that I did. Of course, I had absolutely no choice to do what I did, and you'll see why, but I feel really bad about the way I left the band and the situation I left them in, and you can see that in the book, why it turned out that way. And there's no excusing what I did, but it wasn't gonna happen any other way. Things happen and that's what happened. So, now you'll finally read it from the horse's mouth, so to speak."

Marty added: "I think it's interesting. It's definitely not something I'm happy about. But, of course, I'm very glad I left the band and I was able to do things that far surpassed my time in the band, and the band has done wonderful things in my absence, so I think everybody wins. But at that period of time, it wasn't nice for anybody, and I think that's what makes for interesting reading. So, I think people will — at least they'll get some closure on it; they'll know the whys and the whos and all that."

Asked if the two gigs he played with MEGADETH in 2023 — first at the Budokan in Tokyo, Japan in February of that year and then at the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany in August — gave him some personal closure regarding his time with the band, Marty responded: "Yeah. Especially the Budokan show in Japan, that was kind of the one thing that was hanging over… I left the band, it was over and all that, and we all went on to do our own things and have our own great successes, but when you're in a band, especially MEGADETH at the level that we were at, there's a bond in there that is in some ways deeper than family, and we all knew, especially myself and [MEGADETH leader] Dave Mustaine, we all knew that the desire to play MEGADETH together, to play Budokan together, that was just something…. It's like one of those small kid-time dreams, you know what I mean? It was something that meant a lot to us at the time, and even though we went our separate ways, it was one of those unfinished-business type of things. And in the interim I had played Budokan several times in other projects in Japan and by myself and all kinds of different things but not with MEGADETH. And MEGADETH was the first time in my life and in Dave Mustaine's life that we actually had our first shot at doing it, and it didn't come to pass. And so the first time in the first six, seven times I played Budokan, it wasn't with MEGADETH. So when we both had the chance to play together, it was a big celebration. Getting there is a big deal, and they got there without me. So I was proud of them for doing that, and I was honored to be asked to play there with them. It was a celebration of what I'd done, and also a big celebration of MEGADETH's success without me. So I was their biggest supporter and glad to be there. And it was kind of a love letter to the fans and a celebration for us. So it was definite closure. That's outlined a lot with a lot more personal details in the book, but it was a moment of closure, for sure."

Friedman previously discussed his reluctance to open up about his time with the band until he wrote about it in his autobiography during an appearance on the January 21 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". He said at the time: "It's definitely true that even when I first started touring my solo music, which is quite some time ago, I made it an extreme important point within every contract that the word 'MEGADETH' or 'ex-MEGADETH' is not used anywhere, and otherwise the show is off and there's a fine. And this I took very, very seriously and still do today. It's in every single contract of everything that I do with my solo band.

"It wasn't difficult to write this MEGADETH stuff because I knew that I haven't spoken about it in years, but I know everything that happened in my life with great clarity," he explained. "I mean, as you see in the book, I stopped doing drugs when I was 17 — no drinking, no drugs — so everything is really clear in my mind, the things that happened. There's no blurry periods of time in there; it's all really clear. And so I think what kind of might have made it easier is the fact that I'd written everything after I had played Budokan with MEGADETH in 2023. I had, of course, a rough draft and manuscript of the entire book before that, but playing at Budokan with MEGADETH and meeting Dave [Mustaine] there and playing it together was a huge, huge load off both of our backs. And it was kind of a love letter to each other, a celebration of the history that we have together and a huge thank you to the fans who didn't get to see that when it was originally booked and sold out. So it was kind of very therapeutic to do that show. And it was like taking a huge dump.

"People put importance on certain things — it's only one show, but, as you know, and a lot of people who know me know, Budokan is very, very big… It's kind of a landmark in my life as a music fan and as a music player, and every time that I play there, before playing with MEGADETH and since, it's just a big deal, because it's one of those little-kid things, like, 'I wanna play at Budokan. It's my dream.' And so when those things happen, it's big, even bigger than other things that should be bigger. But anyway, having that behind us, I was able to really be straight and not pull any punches,. I uncovered everything, all the stuff that I did that wasn't so cool, and all the stuff that everyone else did that wasn't so cool. And I also said all the cool things that everyone did, which, thankfully, far outweigh any uncool stuff. I mean, you don't wanna stay in a band for 10 years if things aren't cool."

Friedman added: "I'll just go on record and say [being in MEGADETH] was a wonderful, wonderful experience, but within any experience, like MEGADETH especially, you're in a bubble and you see the bandmembers in a more intimate way than you do even your own family. You're not with your family 24 hours a day, 11 months out of the year in bathrooms and dressing rooms and hotels and gigs and everywhere, so it's a really deep relationship, so things are gonna happen, there's gonna be drama. And so it was kind of fun to think what fans are going to find interesting and put that in the book. And there's a lot of petty nonsense in there as well. And I found that quite entertaining to write, because it's not the most important things but I think it humanizes everybody — petty, little things that we would bicker about and things that blew up into big arguments and things that didn't, things that went well things that didn't go well. It's flat. There's no agenda, there's no leaning left or right on it — it's just exactly how I saw it. And I think it's a very big, long, fun part of the book and will answer a lot of questions for the fans of MEGADETH and myself in that band, because I've always been very — not necessarily guarded, but not very sparing. [There's] not a lot of private information on me out there, so it was kind of fun to think of the things that definitely nobody knows and probably the band guys all remember for sure, but not things that have been in interviews and stuff like that."

Friedman also talked about the debilitating panic attacks he was experiencing while he and the rest of MEGADETH were touring in support of their 1999 album "Risk", his final recorded appearance with the band.

"Yeah, [the panic attacks] set me off for a whole year," Marty said. "And it was after I had announced that I quit the band to the band. It wasn't announced in public or anything, but it was announced to the band, so I was gonna finish out the tour we were on and then, once the tour was gonna take a break, I was gonna leave and they were gonna find another guy. But all the gory details are in there, but to sum it up, I had this — I didn't know it was a panic attack at the time, but it was a monster.

"I'd never had any issues with any kind of mental issues or psychological issues or health issues at all," Marty revealed. "Suddenly I was in the ER and I was just freaking out completely. I couldn't move. I was screaming. I was shouting. It's out of nowhere, dude. It was just out of nowhere. I had no idea what it was. And I had to figure out a way to continue the tour in that condition. And I couldn't walk without two people carrying me around. I'm cutting out a lot of the details here because it's impossible to shorten it. But I was on so many anti-depression things and muscle relaxers and all kinds of different drugs just to keep me from going completely mad. And then I found that if I ate these grilled chicken sandwiches, that sort of helped. And the only thing other than help was staying in a hot bathtub for hours on end. So what I would do — it was such a horrible thing. And I cringe when I think about it because I put the staff, the band and everyone around me in such a horrible situation, but I wasn't going to do anything without being in a fricking bathtub all day and being shuttled around like a fricking diva. And people would take me to eat, and I would go off on the waiters and stuff. And it's so unlike me. I was a completely different person. I put this in the book. I remember I was at a Japanese restaurant. And [Carlos] Santana's music was playing in the background. And I started screaming. It was like a sushi restaurant. I'm, like, 'Okay, there's probably protein here. Good. I can eat this.' As soon as I heard some of Santana's music in the background, I'm, like, 'What the fuck is this? This is a Japanese restaurant. Why are they playing Mexican music in here? What the fuck is this?' And I was screaming this at the top of my lungs, banging down on the table. Wasabi and ginger was flying all over the place. I was just such a horrible human being to everyone around me. And it was just so out of character, but in that moment, that's what it was, dude. I mean, it was that.

"And what really sucked about this was if I did stay in the bathtub all day and eat nothing but protein things and chicken sandwiches, the second I got on stage, I was normal," Friedman added. "I could fucking play — I could play music, and then when I got off the stage, I was over the wreck again; I was a complete wreck. So the guys in the band and the people in the staff were, like, 'What the fuck's wrong with this guy? He's totally fine. He's acting like he's sick and shit.' And so they probably hated my guts and rightfully so.

"You don't wanna talk about this stuff, but it's your autobiography," Marty explained. "But that's what it was, dude. It was that. I didn't wanna cause people problems, but I was there, that was happening, and I was not a good person for the entire time. And it took me, like, eight months after the tour stopped and I got off the tour completely of completely vegging out in my house. I didn't play guitar. I didn't listen to music. All I did was, like, take these antidepressant things and sit in the bathtub and eat fucking chicken sandwiches. That's what I did for, like, eight months until I started to see a little improvement and become normal again.

"This is the first time I ever talked about that, that awful, awful stuff in the book. And I talked about the psychological reasons for that in there, which is too detailed to talk about now, but they figured out kind of what it was and I kind of made peace with it. And I got back to myself around 2001, but that whole year was just — I feel sorry for everyone around me and I don't blame anyone at all for not forgiving me. I was not a cool person and, yeah, I'm just glad I came out of it.

"I thought that I was gonna turn into one of those — you know the lyrics in the RAMONES song ['Teenage Lobotomy'] where they're talking about 'DDT', 'lobotomy' and all that stuff, and I thought I was gonna be one of those people in the rubber rooms. That's what I saw in my future. That's what I felt like. And I'm just so grateful that I came out of it, but it took a real, real long time. Real long. Crazy stuff."

Marty's latest solo album, "Drama", came out last May via Frontiers Music Srl.

Friedman's first major impact in music was in the game-changing guitar duo CACOPHONY, which he founded with equally enigmatic and now-legendary guitarist Jason Becker. He then spent 10 years as lead guitarist in the genre-defining thrash metal act MEGADETH before moving to Tokyo due to his love for Japanese music, language, and culture.

Following his move, he landed a starring role for a new TV comedy "Hebimeta-san" ("Mr. Heavy Metal") and its spinoff, "Rock Fujiyama", which ran for six seasons and propelled him into the living rooms of Japan's mainstream. He has since appeared in over 800 TV shows, movies and commercials, including a two-year campaign with Coca-Cola for Fanta, authored two best-selling novels and was the first-ever foreigner to be appointed as an ambassador of Japan heritage and perform at the opening ceremony for the Tokyo Marathon.

At the same time, Marty has continued his career in music with several solo albums in addition to writing and performing with the top artists in Japanese music, racking up countless chart hits, including a No. 1 with SMAP, two No. 2 songs with MOMOIRO CLOVER, a No. 2 with SOUND HORIZON — just to name a few.

DISCIPLES OF VERITY, which is fronted by Corey Glover of LIVING COLOUR, has unveiled its latest single, "Thread The Needle", through TLG|ZOID and distributed by Virgin Music Group. The song is taken from DISCIPLES OF VERITY's upcoming sophomore album, "Nexus", which was produced by George Pond and co-produced by Sahaj Ticotin. Accompanying the release of the single is a music video that offers a powerful visual representation of the song's message.

DISCIPLES OF VERITY drummer Corey Pierce shares: "'Thread The Needle' is such a dynamic song as it's based in the roots of pessimism versus hope in an abstract call to all of us moving into an unforeseen future."

"Thread The Needle" is now available on all major streaming platforms, and the accompanying music video can be viewed on the band's official YouTube channel.

Fueled by an insatiable urge to create and collaborate, DISCIPLES OF VERITY seeks to challenge all that they believe to be true. The band features heavy hitters such as Corey Glover (LIVING COLOUR),Corey Pierce (GOD FORBID),George Pond (NEGATIVE SKY, SWIM THE CURRENT),Mark Monjoy (SEKOND SKYN) and Zack Miranowic (SEKOND SKYN, RIVERSEND). This all-star group unleashes an onslaught to the senses with a new sound that can only be described as "a new breed of crossover metal."

DISCIPLES OF VERITY formed just over four years ago after mutual projects brought the five members together. With Pond as the common denominator, having played with each of these artists throughout his career, his songs with Corey Glover were quickly embraced by the others, which evolved into their debut album, "Pragmatic Sanction".

Over the next eight months, DISCIPLES OF VERITY feverishly cranked out eight heavy, hook-laden songs with one distinct element — their infectious, melodic grooves. Ranging from hardcore, metalcore and even active rock, the band knew that their debut would be like nothing else in the industry and brought in a veritable "who's who" of the hard rock and metal industry to up the ante.

Four years have passed since the release of their first single from "Pragmatic Sanction". However, now comes the dawn of a new age. They have been quietly working on 12 new tracks for their upcoming sophomore album titled "Nexus". The band collaborated with producer Sahaj Ticcotin, who has worked with STARSET, MÖTLEY CRÜE, RA, BAD WOLVES, and many more. This monster of a record is set to be released in 2025 through TLG/ZOID, and distributed through Virgin Music Group.

DISCIPLES OF VERITY is:

Corey Glover (LIVING COLOUR) - Vocals
Corey Pierce (GOD FORBID) - Drums
George Pond (SWIM THE CURRENT, NEGATIVE SKY) - Bass
Mark Monjoy (SEKOND SKYN) - Guitar
Zack Miranowic (SEKOND SKYN, RIVERSEND) - Guitar

QUEENSRŸCHE kicked off the European leg of "The Origins Tour" on January 31 at Kulttuuritalo in Helsinki, Finland.

The band's setlist was as follows, according to Setlist.fm:

EP:

01. Queen Of The Reich
02. Nightrider
03. Blinded
04. The Lady Wore Black
05. The Warning

"Warning" album:

06. En Force
07. Deliverance
08. No Sanctuary
09. NM 156
10. Take Hold Of The Flame
11. Before The Storm
12. Child Of Fire
13. Roads To Madness

Encore:

14. Walk In The Shadows
15. Empire
16. Screaming In Digital
17. Eyes Of A Stranger

Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below.

Although QUEENSRŸCHE would score multi-platinum albums and hit singles over their career, their fans have developed an undeniable love for the group's early releases, the 1983 EP and 1984's "The Warning" album, when they helped trailblaze a style of rock that combined elements of metal and prog. And for the first time ever, QUEENSRŸCHE is performing both classic releases in their entirety as part of "The Origins Tour".

When the U.S. leg of "The Origins Tour" was first announced, singer Todd La Torre said in a statement: "We are thrilled to bring to you 'The Origins Tour'. This will be the first time in QUEENSRŸCHE's history that the EP and 'The Warning' will be performed live in their entirety."

He added: "Join us for this unique and very special experience, as we celebrate the origins of QUEENSRŸCHE. Take hold!"

Early last year, QUEENSRŸCHE completed its 2023 U.S. headlining tour with support from former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman and TRAUMA. On that tour, QUEENSRŸCHE's 18-song set included no less than five songs from the band's sixteenth studio album, "Digital Noise Alliance", which came out in October 2022 via Century Media. The record was once again helmed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who previously worked with QUEENSRŸCHE on 2015's "Condition Hüman" and 2019's "The Verdict" LPs.

Stone, who rejoined QUEENSRŸCHE in 2021, contributed guitar solos to the band's latest studio album.

Since late May 2021, Stone has been handling second-guitar duties in QUEENSRŸCHE, which announced in July 2021 that longtime guitarist Parker Lundgren was exiting the group to focus on "other business ventures."

Stone originally joined QUEENSRŸCHE for the 2003 album "Tribe" and stayed with the band for six years before leaving the group.

For the past seven years, drummer Casey Grillo has been filling in for original QUEENSRŸCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield, who stepped away from the band's touring activities in early 2017 to spend time with his young son.

In October 2021, Rockenfield filed a lawsuit against guitarist Michael Wilton and bassist Eddie Jackson, alleging, among other things, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and wrongful discharge. A few months later, Wilton and Jackson filed a countersuit against Rockenfield, accusing him of abandoning his position as a member of the band and misappropriating the group's assets to his own personal benefit. That dispute has since been settled out of court.

LINKIN PARK kicked off the 2025 leg of its "From Zero" world tour Friday night (January 31) at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City, Mexico.

The band's setlist was as follows, according to Setlist.fm:

01. Somewhere I Belong
02. Crawling
03. New Divide
04. The Emptiness Machine

Act II

05. The Catalyst
06. Burn It Down
07. Over Each Other
08. Waiting For The End
09. Castle Of Glass
10. Two Faced
11. Joe Hahn Solo (with Colin on drums)
12. When They Come For Me / Remember The Name (Mike solo; with Colin on drums)
13. Casualty
14. One Step Closer

Act III

15. Lost (Mike and Emily piano snippet into full band version)
16. Good Things Go (Live debut)
17. What I've Done

Act IV

18. Overflow (Live debut)
19. Numb
20. In The End
21. Faint

Encore:

22. Papercut
23. A Place For My Head
24. Heavy Is The Crown
25. Bleed It Out

Fan-filmed video can be seen below.

Late last month, LINKIN PARK released an a cappella/vocals-only version of the band's latest album, "From Zero", dubbed "From Zero - A Cappellas".

The original version of "From Zero", issued last November, marked LINKIN PARK's first full-length effort since 2017's "One More Light", which was the last LINKIN PARK album before the death of lead vocalist Chester Bennington. "From Zero" features LINKIN PARK's new singer Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain, who have joined returning members co-vocalist and main producer Shinoda, guitarist Brad Delson, bassist Dave "Phoenix" Farrell and DJ/visual director Joe Hahnin the band's new lineup. Guitarist Alex Feder is filling in for Delson at all LINKIN PARK concerts for the foreseeable future.

Last fall, Shinoda told KROQ's Kevan Kenney about the emotions surrounding LINKIN PARK's return: "It's really complicated. For me, two years ago it was very overwhelming, and I think the best thing that we did was to just basically let things happen in the order and at the timeline that they were gonna happen, let things happen organically and not push too hard. And I feel like what ended up evolving was we just naturally kind of found each other, we found this new lineup, we found Emily and Colin in particular, and the music just kind of came into focus based on what we were having the most fun doing."

When Kenney suggested that "From Zero" "sounds almost like a return to [LINKIN PARK's] roots", Shinoda said: "I love that there's such a strong LINKIN PARK DNA in the record. It does really feel like LINKIN PARK, but I think there's a part of it that's the old sound and part of that's every era of the band, to me, on the record."

Farrell chimed in: "I don't know if I know well what the LINKIN PARK DNA is. It's kind of like when you're too close to something, you just do it and then other people tell you. They almost interpret it and then you kind of say, 'Okay, cool. I'm glad that came across.' But I think in any and all of that creation of an album or working on new music or new stuff or when there's — I don't know — interstitials or whatever you might wanna call it, for me those things are just like us doing us and figuring that out and moving forward. And in this process, one of the things that was so fun and rewarding and cool and energizing was just how when we started gradually integrating Emily and Colin, it felt like LINKIN PARK. It just felt like it fit for me and for us. And those were the coolest moments in the entire process, was just feeling like things were kind of jelling and coming together and we were having a blast doing it the whole time. So at this stage being ready to finally have the album out, having people be excited about it, that feels great."

LINKIN PARK announced its new lineup during a September 2024 one-hour global livestream of a concert in Los Angeles showcasing Armstrong and Brittain.

Last November, LINKIN PARK announced a massive world tour across North America, Europe, Asia and South America. The trek will launch in January with three dates in Mexico before heading to Japan and a one-off show in Jakarta, Indonesia. This spring and summer, LINKIN PARK will hit a number of cities the United States and end in November with a run throughout South America.

During LINKIN PARK's fall 2024 concert in São Paulo, Brazil, the band revealed that video of the performance, which was also livestreamed in full on Brazilian broadcast channel Multishow, will be central focus of a live documentary. A release date has yet to be announced.

In a recent interview with LifeMinute, RATT singer Stephen Pearcy once again offered his opinion of the label "hair metal," the pejorative term which was coined in the late 1990s as a way to disparage acts thought to have been all flash and no substance. Asked if he was ever bothered by being called a "hair metal" band, Pearcy said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "You know what? When it first pretty much started, [they] were starting to introduce our bunch of bands as that, I thought it was funny. Everybody's all uptight. And I'm, like, 'It's kind of cool,' I go, 'because you're gonna be played now on a lot of places and be identified with the '80s scene just being called hair metal. So do something with it.'

"I have a friend, and there's this band called HAIRBALL," he continued. "They dress up like Alice Cooper and they have three singers. It's like an act that tours. They're insane. So HAIRBALL, cheers… I go out there and sing with 'em once in a while. But it's funny."

The use of the term "hair metal" became widespread after grunge gained popularity at the expense of 1980s metal.

One musician who has been very vocal about his dislike of being called "hair metal" is Sebastian Bach. In July 2020, the former SKID ROW frontman said that "When I 1st aspired to be a vocalist of a band it was called rock n' roll Heavy metal Heavy Rock Hard Rock Glam metal Nobody in the 80s ever started a hair metal band."

He added: "Being labeled something that I never set out to be labeled gets under my skin. It's a pain when people try to rewrite history. Believe me none of us ever set out to be in a hair metal band that did not exist in the 80s."

That was not the first time Bach reacted negatively to the term "hair metal." In a 2012 interview with The New York Times, he famously said: "I am the man who put the hair in hair metal. I also headlined Broadway musicals. I acted in millions of TV shows. I didn't get to star in 'Jekyll And Hyde' on Broadway because of my haircut. My voice has gotten me everything in my life, not my hair."

In August 2020, TWISTED SISTER's Dee Snider addressed Bach's Twitter tirade in which the former SKID ROW frontman took issue with being called "hair metal". Dee told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk": "[I've been doing my radio show] 'House Of Hair' [for more than two decades], and it resonates with people," Dee said. "For the fans, they don't find it offensive. Whatever it is, it's just a term.

"I didn't name 'House Of Hair'. I got shit about it. But to me, I just say, you know what? You're fighting a losing battle. Sebastian's losing shit. Life's too short.

"I'm the original hair farmer. Whatever. As long as they remember me."

Elsewhere, TESLA bassist Brian Wheat said that he found the term "hair metal' "condescending. What does fucking hair have to do with the music?" he said in an interview with "The Cassius Morris Show". "Should we be called 'cock metal' because we all have big dicks? Seriously, it's, like, 'hair metal' — what does that have to do with [anything music-related]? It's condescending. It's a putdown. It's almost like saying, 'Well, the music's not valid. They just had good hair.' That's what it's like.

"I don't like it," he reiterated. "Just talk about the music, because that's what what matters. Not about the hair. If you wanna call it anything, call it '80s metal — call it 1980s rock. 'Cause that's what it was — it was rock that came out of the '80s and early '90s. THE BLACK CROWES came out a year later than TESLA, and they're not called a hair metal band.

"Why call us a hair metal band when all we were doing was imitating AEROSMITH?" Wheat added. "I think we're very parallel to an AEROSMITH. I think, personally, if you can't go see AEROSMITH and you wanna see a good version of AEROSMITH, go see TESLA. They're very similar. I mean, Jeff Keith looks like Steven Tyler; he sings like Steven Tyler."

Back in April 2021, legendary DOKKEN guitarist George Lynch told the "Cobras & Fire" podcast about the "hair metal" label: "Generally, it's not a genre that you look at too seriously. It was the one that allowed me to have a career. So I respect it in that sense; it's what got me here. There are bands from that genre that I really, really like — RATT being one; I like RATT. I love their songs, and I love Warren [DeMartini, RATT guitarist], and I just like what they do, and what they did back then. So, I don't know — there's a few things that I like about it. But generally, I'm a product of the '60s and '70s, and that's where my heroes are from — from those eras."

Tankard’s classic album The Morning After will be reissued as a deluxe Picture-LP (limited to 500 copies) by Hammerheart Records. The LP comes with an insert and a huge poster of the artwork.

The Morning After saw Tankard at the peak of their beer soaked powers, delivering a thrash assault that was as ferocious as it was fun. Following the chaos of Chemical Invasion, their third album refined their sound without losing the unhinged energy that made them stand out.

From the riotous title track to headbangers like “Try Again” and “Help Yourself,” Tankard proved they could party harder than anyone while still delivering tight, razor sharp thrash metal. Their wild energy and signature booze soaked charm were as strong as ever, but underneath the madness was serious musicianship that kept them neck-and-neck with Germany’s thrash metal elite.

Preorder at hammerheartstore.com.

Album notes:
• Legendary album from 1988 celebrating its 37th anniversary this year
• Extremely limited edition of only 500 copies world wide
• Comes in a quality sleeve with lyrics and a nice A2 poster
• Artwork by Sebastian Krüger (Destruction, Running Wild, Sodom)

British rockers THE WILDHEARTS have released a brand new single, "Troubadour Moon", the second track to be revealed from their upcoming studio album, "Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts", due out on March 7, 2025 via Snakefarm. The accompanying music video, directed by Shaun Hodson of Loki Films, can be seen below.

"Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts" track listing:

01. Eventually
02. Scared Of Glass
03. Troubadour Moon
04. Fire In The Cheap Seats
05. Kunce
06. Maintain Radio Silence
07. Blue Moon Over Brinkburn
08. Hurt People Hurt People
09. I'll Be Your Monster
10. Failure Is The Mother Of Success
11. Loyola (bonus track)

When the LP's first single, "Failure Is The Mother Of Success", was released in December, THE WILDHEARTS frontman Ginger (real name David Walls) said: "'Failure Is The Mother Of Success' is about getting back on your feet after things have gone wrong.

"There's an old saying, 'fall down three times, get up four'. It's about feeling like you're worth getting back up for, and that making mistakes is just an essential part of life, everyone does it.

"At almost eight minutes long, it's pretty brave for the record company to pick it as a single, but it's a really good taster for the album and has everything any WILDHEARTS fan could want. I hope you absolutely love it!"

Dante Bonutto of Snakefarm added: "To be honest, I really struggled to decide what the lead single should be. Whenever I was sent a new track, I thought, 'Right, that's the single!' In fact, every song could have been. But then that's THE WILDHEARTS — never knowingly under-singled! In the end, when I heard Ginger talk about 'Failure…', it became clear that this is the unofficial title track of the album, brilliantly encapsulating the triumph over adversity theme; the fact that the future remains unwritten, you just need to grasp both the nettle and the pen, possibly the other way round?!

"If you love the fact, like I do, that Ginger can feature an album's worth of song ideas in a single track, and do it seamlessly, then you're in for a treat!"

Check out the official video for "Failure Is The Mother Of Success" below.

The creatively brilliant Ginger is arguably amongst the U.K.'s best and most prolific songwriters, and his band, THE WILDHEARTS, recently signed a worldwide deal with Snakefarm/Integral.

"The songs on 'Satanic Rites…' were written during a period of transition, from extremely negative to positive," reflects Ginger. "I realized how much control I have over my mental health, and the songs came from that understanding. There's everything here — catchy choruses, proper fuck-off riffs, anger, frustration, acceptance and revelation, with plenty of insane detours. The album starts pessimistic and ends up like 'Ah, so I CAN turn my life around?' It's a hard rock album for people who love hard rock!"

"Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts" was produced by Jim Pinder (BRING ME THE HORIZON, WHILE SHE SLEEPS, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) and mixed by Jim Pinder and Carl Bown (TRIVIUM, MACHINE HEAD, WHILE SHE SLEEPS, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, BRING ME THE HORIZON).

"Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts" will be available on colored vinyl LP, CD (with exclusive bonus track),and cassette. The LP and CD formats contain lyrics hand-written by Ginger, a painting by Ginger, plus other Ginger-related graphics.

To celebrate this release, THE WILDHEARTS will be playing eight headline U.K. shows in March, starting on March 7 at the Leadmill in Sheffield and concluding on March 16 at the 1865 in Southampton.

About the tour, Ginger said:"We'll be taking a full evening's entertainment on tour, kicking off with party-punks Dirt Box Disco, going to rock 'n' roll church with Jim Jones, then being flayed alive with THE WILDHEARTS. The party starts when the doors open, so get a buzz on and get down early. Come join THE WILDHEARTS' community gathering. We guarantee you'll leave with the spirit of rock 'n' roll firmly restored"

For three decades, THE WILDHEARTS have remained at the forefront of the U.K. rock scene, and their incendiary live shows have cemented their reputation and legacy as one of the best bands their homeland has produced, so miss these shows at your peril.

In an interview with Reality Check TV on the red carpet at the ninth annual Metal Hall Of Fame on January 22 in Anaheim, California, BIOHAZARD guitarist/vocalist Billy Graziadei was asked about the progress of the recording sessions for the long-awaited new album from the reunited classic lineup of the metal/hardcore band. He said: "I fly out tomorrow to finish it…. It's almost done. It'll be out later this year. Hopefully it'll be out before summer, but you never know."

As for whether the new BIOHAZARD album has a title, Billy said: "Yep… Can't say nothing." But he added: "It's a great fucking record."

In December, BIOHAZARD entered Shorefire Recording Studios in Long Branch, New Jersey to begin recording its new LP, due later in the year via Frontiers Label Group's new imprint BLKIIBLK.

In late November, BIOHAZARD guitarist Bobby Hambel confirmed to The Brooklyn Blast Furnace podcast that he and his bandmates would enter the studio "in a couple of weeks" to begin recording their long-awaited new album.

"After playing together — what is it? — fucking year and a half, I think we're ready to lay it down, to start puking out some more fucking stuff," Bobby said. "It's happening, too. It's heavy shit, too.

"A lot of people say — they give their opinions on what they think we should do," he continued. "And they're always asking questions like, 'Is it gonna be like this album or that album?', and I can't really answer any of that. I just can answer it's coming from the same place it always came from, and I think everybody's on point. Everybody wants it. So I think it's time. We've got a lot of shit to say."

In October, BIOHAZARD drummer Danny Schuler told Pod Scum about the group's songwriting process: "It's really all over the place in BIOHAZARD. Sometimes one guy brings in a couple of songs and we kind of go with that. Sometimes somebody has an idea and we're all together in the jam room and we kind of all work through it together. It kind of happens a lot of different ways, but all four guys are very creative, some more than others, but everybody creates and brings in stuff. So there's no one writer in BIOHAZARD. There's never really been. But we all write. And now we're getting ready to record a new record and we have so much new stuff. And it's been really cool lately — a very creative environment lately to be around with everybody writing new stuff and getting psyched for a new album. It's cool right now."

Asked why he thinks right now is the best time for a new BIOHAZARD album, Danny said: "Well, I don't know if right now is the best time. I don't think in terms of, like, 'Oh, well, let's do an album out now because now's the best time.' I don't know that stuff. I don't know when's a good time to do a record. I just know when I feel inspired and I know when I'm coming up with stuff that I feel is real strong and meaningful, and lately it's been a good time for that kind of creative process. So, for me, when the ideas are flowing and everything feels real natural, real strong, that's a good time to do a record. Business-wise, I don't know when's a good time to do a record. I'm not a businessman, in that regard with the music business."

In a separate interview with France's Loud TV, BIOHAZARD bassist/vocalist Evan Seinfeld confirmed that he and his bandmates were "making a new album". Evan said: "I'm really excited about it. I'm writing a lot of lyrics right now, working on some music. All the guys are writing. It's exciting."

Evan previously discussed BIOHAZARD's plans for new music in April 2024 in an interview with El Planeta Del Rock. At the time, he said: "We're working on our process on a couple of really cool songs, and when something is special enough and we are excited about it, I imagine we'll release a single before release an album, but there's a full-length album in the works. That's the mission… We wanna go into the studio and really lock ourselves down, like we used to do in the '90s, and spend some time really [making a strong album]. For us, it's not about one song, one song. Making an album is still something that we care about."

He continued: "I know it's not the popular [way of doing things]. How many people buy new albums by artists and listen to the whole album from beginning to end? Young people don't really ingest music like that so much. But BIOHAZARD is about authenticity. We do what we do, and we're gonna make the best album we can make in 2024."

The first reunion gig from Graziadei, Hambel, Schuler and Seinfeld took place on May 26, 2023 at the Milwaukee Metal Fest at The Rave/Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In 2022, Graziadei said in an interview that there had been "talk" about putting BIOHAZARD back together.

The group, which is acknowledged as one of the earliest outfits to fuse hardcore punk and heavy metal with elements of hip-hop, had been out of the public eye since Scott Roberts left the band more than eight years ago.

Roberts, who played guitar on BIOHAZARD's 2005 album "Means To An End", rejoined the group in June 2011 as the replacement for Seinfeld. Scott fronted BIOHAZARD for nearly five years before exiting the band in February 2016.

Photo credit: Jeremy Deputat

To celebrate their upcoming European "Hell, Fire And Steel" tour, British heavy metal legends SAXON have released the dramatic Paul M. Green-directed video for the band's new single "1066", taken from their critically acclaimed 24th studio album, "Hell, Fire And Damnation", out now via Silver Lining Music.

SAXON frontman Biff Byford says: "A totally British-themed song, the massive invasion… In fact, it was the end of the Saxons really, so I'm singing about the demise of the Saxons.

"I did a song with AMON AMARTH a while back called 'Saxons And Vikings' which was about the end of the Vikings in England and the rise of the Saxons, so I thought I may as well do a song about six-seven hundred years later when William The Conqueror comes over and nobbles the Saxons.

"We'll be playing the song on the 'Hell, Fire And Steel' tour next month, which is gonna be fantastic."

Meanwhile, tickets for the "Hell, Fire And Steel" tour are selling fast, with many of the shows already sold out, including the very first show in Bremen and more shows also running low on tickets. SAXON will be joined by their great friends GIRLSCHOOL as main support, with GRAND SLAM appearing as special guests. Very special guest Doro will join SAXON on the last show at the Mitsubishi Electric Halle in Düsseldorf.

"Hell, Fire And Damnation" is an album which sees SAXON investigate all areas of history and mystery amidst ten of their most confident and thunderously powerful songs yet.

On "Hell, Fire And Damnation", Byford delivers his richest vocals in years, Nigel Glockler and Nibbs Carter on drums and bass, respectively, lay down the rhythmic law with bombastic power, and the guitars of Doug Scarratt and Brian Tatler are fresh and fiery, a perfect complement to each other, carrying an overall energy and fury which will have fans salivating. Musically, SAXON bring it all to the table. There's a furious tribute to actual heavy metal in the denim-and-leather-coated super-sprint "Fire And Steel", a wonderful nod to the NWOBHM's birth in the electric mid-pace "Pirates Of The Airwaves", but maybe the true treasure amidst the jewels is "There's Something In Roswell", with the sort of expansive groove and embrace which deserves arenas.

Produced by Andy Sneap (JUDAS PRIEST, EXODUS, ACCEPT) and Byford, with Sneap mixing and mastering, "Hell, Fire And Damnation" strides the perfect line between confident, current power, and gloriously irreverent flexing of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal muscle which SAXON co-created.

"I think this album's one of the best he's done sound-wise, and he's done a lot of albums," Biff declared. "It has a really raw, vibrant sound... if you compress the total time making this album, it was four weeks tops… you can hear everything brilliantly, nothing's overcomplicated, nothing's over compressed. The guitar sounds are fucking immense, they're just great, raw guitar sounds. And we haven't done a lot of overdubbing on there, it's just playing. I really, really like it."

In early 2023, SAXON guitarist Paul Quinn announced that he was stepping back from touring with the band. As a result of his decision, SAXON canceled its April 2023 South American tour as well as the appearance at the Monsters Of Rock cruise. Quinn has since been replaced on the road by DIAMOND HEAD's Brian Tatler.

Brian has already joined fellow guitarist Doug Scarratt, drummer Nigel Glockler, bassist Tim "Nibbs" Carter and Byford for a number of shows in 2023 and 2024, but will continue to be a member of DIAMOND HEAD.

Byford and Quinn are the sole remaining original members in SAXON's current lineup.

Originally from South Yorkshire, England, SAXON has gone on to sell about 23 million albums and has produced such classic songs as "Denim And Leather", "Princess Of The Night", "Wheels Of Steel" and "Power And Glory".

In a new interview with Australia's "Everblack" podcast, drummer Mike Portnoy, who rejoined progressive metallers DREAM THEATER in October 2023 after a 13-year absence, was asked if he feels he and his bandmates are "stronger now as mates" than they ever were in the past. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Absolutely. I think we're just much older and wiser at this point. When I left the band back in 2010, I was in my early forties, and now here I am, I'm in my late fifties. All of our kids have grown up and gone off and left the houses at this point. So, we're very much older and wiser and we have all of those experiences that we had over the last decade and a half apart. I went and did dozens and dozens of albums with dozens of different bands, and these guys have had all the experiences they had together without me, so coming back together, I think we're much stronger people. We're just more mature, older, wiser, calmer. I think we're just better people at this point."

Portnoy went on to say that the strong bond between the DREAM THEATER members affected the songwriting and recording process for the band's sixteenth studio album, "Parasomnia", which is due on February 7, 2025 via InsideOut Music. He said: "I mean, you can definitely feel the energy. I find it similar to the energy we had with 'Images And Words' and with 'Scenes From A Memory'. In both of those cases, we were making records with a new lineup — 'Images And Words' was the first album with [singer] James [LaBrie] in the band, and 'Scenes From A Memory' was the first album with [keyboardist] Jordan [Rudess] in the band. And there was a definite spirit to the chemistry in both of those cases. And I think it's a very similar energy to the spirit of this album, just really being energized by the lineup change. It really inspired us to rise to the occasion."

Regarding what it has been like touring with DREAM THEATER again for the first time in 14 years, Portnoy said:  "It's been incredible. We did a full European leg so far and we did a full South American leg so far, and each and every show, the emotions have just been incredible. I mean, on one hand, there's a big celebration of the reunion of this lineup, and there's a lot of people in the audience that haven't seen this lineup together in so long, or there's a lot of people in the audience that weren't even born when this lineup last played together. So there's a lot of people in the audience that never saw this lineup together. So for that reason alone, there's a lot of emotions in the air, but also the celebration of 40 years and this incredible discography of songs and music to work with and choose from when putting together the setlist. I put together a setlist that I think really celebrates the full spectrum of the band's career. There's a cross section of fan favorites and deep cuts as well. So I think it's a show that the fans have really been loving."

"Parasomnia" marks DREAM THEATER's first release with Portnoy since 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings".

"Parasomnia" was produced by guitarist John Petrucci, engineered by James "Jimmy T" Meslin, and mixed by Andy Sneap. Hugh Syme returns once again to lend his creative vision to the cover art.

Clocking in at 71 minutes, "Parasomnia" takes the listener on a musical journey that has become synonymous with the band since the beginning of their career. "Parasomnia" is a term for disruptive, sleep-related disturbances including sleepwalking, sleep paralysis, and night terrors. Songs like "A Broken Man", "Dead Asleep", "Midnight Messiah" and "Bend The Clock" all build upon the themes brought on by the album title. The first single, "Night Terror", is a musical thrill ride captured in the just shy of ten minutes listening experience.

Portnoy co-founded DREAM THEATER in 1985 with guitarist John Petrucci and bassist John Myung. Mike played on 10 DREAM THEATER albums over a 20-year period, from 1989's "When Dream And Day Unite" through 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings", before exiting the group in 2010.

Mike Mangini joined DREAM THEATER in late 2010 through a widely publicized audition following the departure of Portnoy. Mangini beat out six other of the world's top drummers — Marco Minnemann, Virgil Donati, Aquiles Priester, Thomas Lang, Peter Wildoer and Derek Roddy — for the gig, a three-day process that was filmed for a documentary-style reality show called "The Spirit Carries On".

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

DEF LEPPARD's version of the song is featured in the Netflix film "Bank Of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger", which was released on January 10. The band can be seen performing the track before the credits.

DEF LEPPARD says: "We are very excited to share our take on 'Stand By Me' from 'Bank Of Dave 2', which you can stream today.

"All proceeds from the track will be donated to FireAid to assist in both short-term relief efforts and long-term initiatives to prevent future fire disasters throughout Southern California.

"Los Angeles, we stand by YOU".

DEF LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott said: "Los Angeles and its surrounding area has always played a central role in DEF LEPPARD's career, from it being where some of us are based and it being our U.S. hub for rehearsals, to being the city where we played our first-ever American gig. We feel blessed to be able to dedicate this song and give all the royalties to the amazing heroes in L.A. helping those affected by the fires. No better song."

DEF LEPPARD bassist Rick Savage said: "For a time in the '80s and '90s, L.A. became my home from home. To see the devastation caused by the wildfires is heartbreaking. To everyone affected by the tragedy, our hearts go out to you all. May you find a way forward physically, mentally and spiritually. It's hard to comprehend the incomprehensible but there's a chance if we stand by each other."

DEF LEPPARD drummer Rick Allen said: "I have a continued appreciation for the L.A. firefighters and all of the first responders. I know how important first responders are in states of emergency, especially given my history, which is why in addition to supporting FireAid through the release of 'Stand By Me', the Raven Drum Foundation will be offering five signed guitars to benefit First Responders Resiliency Inc., offering free resiliency and trauma trainings for first responders and their families across California."

DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen said: "In times of devastation, standing together is more important than ever. As a resident of Southern California for 35 years, I've witnessed the impact of wildfires as they continue to ravage communities across California.

"Our cover of Ben E. King's 'Stand By Me' is a tribute to resilience, unity, and hope. All proceeds from our version will go directly to wildfire victims, helping those who need it most. Let's stand by each other and make a difference — because no one should face hardship alone."

DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell said: "Having spent most of my adult life living in L.A., it's beyond heartbreaking to see the devastation wrought by the fires. I'm familiar with each and every neighborhood affected and know so many who have lost their homes and livelihoods. Our thoughts continue with them all as they begin to rebuild their lives and communities."

DEF LEPPARD's first concert of 2025 took place on January 18 at Feria Estatal De León in León, Mexico. As was the case with the band's October 14, 2024 private show in Nashville (as part of the Daimler Truck Customer Appreciation Event),Campbell was unable to join his bandmates at the León gig due to his cancer treatment and was replaced by John Zocco, who is Phil Collen's guitar tech.

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

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

Six years ago, Campbell underwent spine surgery.

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

DEF LEPPARD's latest album, "Diamond Star Halos", arrived in May 2022 via UMe.

Photo credit: Ross Halfin

Blues-rock titan Joe Bonamassa and rock legend Sammy Hagar have teamed up for an electrifying new single, "Fortune Teller Blues", out now on all major streaming platforms. This powerhouse collaboration blends Bonamassa's searing guitar work with Hagar's unmistakable vocals, delivering a high-voltage track steeped in grit and mystery.

A blues-drenched tale of fate and deception, "Fortune Teller Blues" unfolds like a smoky backroom confession. The song's lyrics chronicle an eerie encounter with a cryptic fortune teller who refuses to reveal the whole truth, leaving the narrator to wrestle with what's better left unknown. The track's simmering tension is amplified by a driving beat and deep, brooding riffs that channel both Bonamassa's mastery of blues guitar and Hagar's rock-and-roll swagger.

Co-written by Bonamassa, Hagar and longtime producer Kevin Shirley (IRON MAIDEN, JOURNEY, THE BLACK CROWES),the track is steeped in classic blues traditions yet injected with a fierce, modern energy. Bonamassa's scorching solos and Hagar's impassioned delivery elevate the song into a tour de force.

Shirley reflected on the song's origin, saying: "Sammy sent us this very rough idea of a blues song while Joe and I were in a studio in Greece, and we crafted a raw, edgy blues version to go with it. At times, it carries a haunting energy, and at others, it evokes the spirit of the New Orleans French Quarter. Joe was in a particularly gritty mood and played the entire track on an Ovation acoustic guitar plugged into an overdriven amplifier, producing a chaotic, heavy, and almost eerie sound. We wanted to create a different kind of blues feel to complement the lyrics, and we're all thrilled with how it turned out."

Hagar added, "Holy shit, the thing came out good... the track is a monster!"

The release of "Fortune Teller Blues" adds another milestone to what has already been a landmark period for Bonamassa. Hot off the heels of his fourth Grammy nomination for "Blues Deluxe Vol. 2", in which winners will be announced this Sunday, Bonamassa continues to push the boundaries of blues music while staying true to its raw, emotional roots.

This new single arrives just as Bonamassa prepares to kick off his U.S. spring 2025 tour, launching on February 16 in Seattle, Washington, with stops in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and more before concluding in Melbourne, Florida on March 19. Fans can expect a blistering setlist that weaves together new material with timeless classics.

Bonamassa will then set sail on the tenth-anniversary Keeping The Blues Alive At Sea X cruise (March 21-26),a floating blues festival featuring an all-star lineup including BIG HEAD TODD and THE MONSTERS, Larkin Poe, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Samantha Fish, Joanne Shaw Taylor and more. The cruise will journey from Miami to Harvest Caye, Belize, and Costa Maya, Mexico, offering fans an immersive experience packed with unforgettable performances and special collaborations.

Beyond his relentless touring and recording schedule, Bonamassa remains deeply committed to supporting the next generation of musicians through his Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation. The foundation's mission provides funding for music education and financial relief for struggling artists.

Joe Bonamassa photo by Adam Kennedy / Sammy Hagar photo by Leigh Steiger

Canadian rockers NICKELBACK have released the music video for the song "Tidal Wave". The track is taken from the band's first album in five years, "Get Rollin'", which was released in November 2022 via BMG and debuted at No. 2 across the Current Rock, Alternative, Hard Music and Digital Album charts. The record also landed on the ARIA album chart at No. 3 and in the Top 10 in the U.K., Canada, Germany, Australia and Austria. Additionally, "Get Rollin'" debuted at No. 1 in Switzerland, a career first for the band.

NICKELBACK released a new live album, "Live From Nashville", on November 15, 2024 via BMG. The LP was recorded at the band's August 2023 show at Nashville, Tennessee's s Bridgestone Arena as part of NICKELBACK's "Get Rollin'" tour and features special guest appearances from Ernest ("Flower Shops"),Josh Ross and Brantley Gilbert (for a cover of Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road"),Chris Daughtry ("Savin' Me"),Bailey Zimmerman ("Rockstar") and Hardy ("Sold Out").

"Hate To Love: Nickelback", a feature-length documentary film about one of Canada's most iconic and globally celebrated rock bands, premiered in September 2023 at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film tells the authentic story of the band from their humble beginnings in Hanna Alberta to their explosive global success in 2001 and the highs and lows that followed. Directed by Leigh Brooks and produced by Ben Jones, the film celebrates the loyalty of NICKELBACK fans and delves into the years of online vitriol while exposing the personal impact it had on each of the band members. The film also unveils the rock group's decision to return after a five-year break with a new record and a hugely successful sold-out tour, finding themselves riding a sudden wave of online love that has introduced their music to an army of new fans and audiences worldwide.

2023 Canadian Music Hall Of Fame recipients, and diamond-certified selling group NICKELBACK were named the "most successful rock band of the decade" by Billboard in 2009. Globally celebrated for their career defining and award-winning hits "How You Remind Me", "Photograph", "Far Away", "Rockstar" and more, the four-piece comprised of Chad Kroeger, Ryan Peake, Mike Kroeger and Daniel Adair is one of the most commercially viable and important acts of the past two decades. Their success includes worldwide sales of more than 50 million units, solidifying their status as one of the top-selling acts of all time and the second best-selling foreign act in the U.S., in the 2000s decade, behind only THE BEATLES. Their inescapable and irresistible smash "How You Remind Me" was named Billboard's "Top Rock Song Of The Decade" and was the No. 1 most played song on U.S. radio (any format) in the 2000s according to Nielsen Soundscan, with over 1.2 million spins.

Amongst all of these accolades, they've also been named Billboard's "Top Rock Group Of The Decade" and received nine Grammy Award nominations, three American Music Awards, a World Music Award, a People's Choice Award, twelve JUNO Awards, seven MuchMusic Video Awards, and have been inducted into Canada's Walk Of Fame (2007) and the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame (2023). With more than 23 chart-topping singles and fans spanning the globe, NICKELBACK boasts more than twelve consecutive sold-out world tours, playing to well over 10 million diehard and adoring fans.

SALIVA is embarking on a new chapter with the release of its new deluxe album, "Revelation: Retold", via Judge & Jury Records. The band recently issued "Time Bomb" off the upcoming record, a confrontational track rooted in the hardships of the world featuring post-grunge vocalist Peyton Parrish. Paired with a compelling performance heavy visual, "Time Bomb" can also be viewed on YouTube with a music video directed by Mason Wright.

To celebrate today's release of "Revelation: Retold", the band launched a solid music video "Devil's World", a new track off the record.

On the upcoming record, SALIVA vocalist Bobby Amaru shares: "We received an incredible amount of support and positive feedback from critics and fans alike at radio with 'Revelation' in 2023, with the singles 'High On Me' and 'Crows' both breaking into the Top 20. That being said, while working on that album, we wrote a lot more music that resonated with its sound and theme but didn't make the final cut. 'Revelation: Retold' is exactly what the name implies — a reimagining of our 2023 release 'Revelation'. It features music from the original album alongside contributions from several guest artists and some brand-new songs."

"Revelation: Retold" track listing:

01. Time Bomb (feat. Peyton Parrish)
02. High On Me: Retold (feat. Lauren Babic)
03. Horizon (feat. Kevin Martin of CANDLEBOX)
04. Crowd Goes Wild
05. Devil's World
06. Come Back Stronger
07. Die Before You Fly
08. Crows
09. How To Be Human
10. Fractures
11. Warzone
12. How To Live
13. I Belong
14. Friend In A Bottle
15. Toxic

Judge & Jury Records is a powerhouse record label and production company founded by multi-platinum producer Howard Benson (MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, SEETHER, SKILLET, OF MICE & MEN) and Neil Sanderson of THREE DAYS GRACE.

The instrumentation was meticulously crafted by Benson and Sanderson at West Valley Recording Studios, Benson's studio in Woodland Hills.

On the signing to Judge & Jury Records, Benson said: "I have known SALIVA for a while and was a fan of Bobby's vocals before he was even in the band. When we heard they were looking for a new label, I thought the band was a great fit for Judge & Jury Records. We are stoked on the result!"

SALIVA's career launched in 2001 with the release of "Every Six Seconds", a certified double platinum-selling album, containing the hits, "Click Click Boom" and 2002 Grammy-nominated "Your Disease". SALIVA's in-your-face, anthemic writing style continued with a certified gold-selling album "Back In To Your System" that contained top singles "Always", "Raise Up" and the Nikki Sixx-co-written "Rest In Pieces". Despite original vocalist Josey Scott leaving the band in 2011, the addition of Amaru brought a contemporary feel to the band, all while staying true to the band's blue collar roots. Amaru has been the SALIVA frontman for the past decade plus and was featured on the most recent releases "Rise Up", "Love Lies And Therapy", "10 Lives", "Every Twenty Years" EP and "Revelation".

Shortly before the release of the most recent album, SALIVA guitarist Wayne Swinny passed away unexpectedly. The "Come Back Stronger" video was notably filmed just days before Swinny's death, and was dedicated to the fallen guitarist. The album went on to be highly acclaimed by critics and the singles "Crows" and "High On Me" charted Top 20 on Billboard's Active Rock chart. The band continues to honor "Uncle Wayne" at every show.

With nearly three million monthly listeners and Spotify and a catalog that boasts more than one billion streams, the popularity of the music, old and new, endures.

SALIVA is Bobby Amaru (vocals),Brad Stewart (bass),Josh Kulack (guitar),Sebastian LaBar (guitar) and Sammi Jo Bishop (drums).

Photo credit: Gabriel Goulding

In a new interview with Reality Check TV conducted on January 24 at this year's NAMM convention in Anaheim, California, SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser was once again asked about the possibility of reuniting with original frontman Max Cavalera and drummer Igor "Iggor" Cavalera for a final show to cap off the band's ongoing farewell tour. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I hope so. The idea is to do a very last show [in 2026] in São Paulo, Brazil, where we have all the guests, friends to celebrate our history."

He continued: "There's no reason to be fighting. We just go on stage, enjoy ourselves. We know how to play the songs. It's gonna be a party for the fans. Forty years of history, it's a lot — many albums, many different changes and different styles of music. And it's gonna be an amazing party — I hope so — and hopefully everybody will be a part [of it]."

SEPULTURA kicked off the North American leg of the massive "Celebrating Life Through Death" farewell tour on September 17, 2024 at the Concord Music Hall in Chicago, Illinois. The band played a career-spanning set that honors SEPULTURA's 40 years of existence. Joining SEPULTURA on this tour were Florida-based death metal veterans OBITUARY, iconic New York hardcore pioneers AGNOSTIC FRONT, and São Paulo, Brazil's death/thrash metallers CLAUSTROFOBIA.

SEPULTURA is putting together a live album commemorating their last run of shows. The band is recording 40 songs in 40 different cities for what will be a "massive compilation of our best, most energetic moments on stage," according to a statement released by SEPULTURA in December 2023.

Asked in a new interview with Germany's Moshpit Passion if SEPULTURA's final show will also be included in the package, Andreas said: "Who knows? Everything is possible. We did three big shows in São Paulo [Brazil] before we went to the States. And we recorded the whole show — the cameras, DVD and stuff. Of course, this stuff that we're recording for the live album is audio only. And we are planning to have the last farewell show in São Paulo in 2026, so we like to go places, we like to visit places that we've never been before. We like to do our goodbye in a relaxed mood — no hurry. There's no reason really to rush anything. We are enjoying the moment so much. We are celebrating the momentum. It's fantastic. It's amazing. So it's something that is gonna be on the recording as well, this great vibe, the connection we have with the crowd and stuff. But, yeah, everything is possible. I mean, of course, the last show, [it] would be great to have a register. We like to invite all the ex-members, including the brothers, Cavalera brothers. Let's see what happens. We're working towards that, to have a big celebration for the fans."

Acknowledging the fact that SEPULTURA had an acrimonious split with Max Cavalera nearly 30 years ago, Andreas said: "We don't care who is right or wrong. We're never gonna get to that point. [Laughs] We have different point of views and different perspectives about same historical events and stuff. So let's jam, let's have a good time for the fans, for us, for ourselves, and really close this amazing 43 years or 44, whatever it's gonna be at the time, in peace with ourselves, and really reach for something different afterwards. At least in my point of view, I like to, of course, continue with music and everything, but maybe do something different. Who knows?"

In a recent interview with Metal Hammer magazine, Kisser and vocalist Derrick Green were asked about their plans for after the completion of the farewell tour. Andreas said: "I don't know, and it feels great. I want to study acoustic guitar, and to create instructional material on the SEPULTURA music. I've done small things here and there, but not a complete overview of my guitar playing and writing. I will decide when the time comes, but right now it is time to celebrate the moment."

Derrick added: "I want to do a lot more with the TV show I'm working on, 'Highway To Health'. I've also been interested in doing voiceover work in animation or commercials. Musically, I'd like to do something outside of metal with more singing, but if somebody approaches with something I think is intriguing, I'm definitely open to that, because I never want to step away from music."

Asked if Andreas and Derrick will still work together in the future, Kisser quipped: "Nah. We only talk to each other by contract. When the contract is done, we're done. [Laughs] No, of course there are a lot of possibilities. I would love to work with Derrick outside of SEPULTURA. We have the idea for a reggae project on the cards, which we have a great name for. The comfort zone is the worst thing that can happen to an artist. It would be boring to stop SEPULTURA and do something else that is SEPULTURA-like."

SEPULTURA kicked off its farewell tour on March 1, 2024 at Arena Hall in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The sold-out show marked the band's debut performance with drummer Greyson Nekrutman, who previously played with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES.

SEPULTURA announced drummer Eloy Casagrande's departure on February 27, 2024, explaining in a statement that he was leaving to join "another project", with Eloy later confirming that he is the new drummer of SLIPKNOT.

The news of Eloy's exit from SEPULTURA came just two months after the band announced it would celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2024 by embarking on a "farewell tour" which will cover the entire globe.

In SEPULTURA's statement, the remaining bandmembers expressed their shock over Casagrande's departure, saying they were "taken by surprise" that their now-former drummer would "abandon everything related to SEPULTURA" less than a month prior to the start of the tour.

Legendary rock band FOREIGNER has officially entered Spotify's esteemed Billions Club, achieving a monumental milestone with their 1999 remastered version of the timeless classic "I Want To Know What Love Is". The track, one of the band's most iconic hits, has now surpassed one billion streams, joining an elite group of music legends that includes THE BEATLES, THE ROLLING STONES, QUEEN, AC/DC and Elton John, but very few others.

This is not an easy club for heritage bands to join! While FLEETWOOD MAC have three songs and THE EAGLES have two, THE BEATLES only have one and PINK FLOYD, THE WHO and Bob Dylan have yet to become members.

This remarkable achievement comes at a pivotal moment for FOREIGNER as the band prepares to celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2026, following their recent induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The distinction of joining Spotify's Billions Club solidifies FOREIGNER's enduring influence and popularity of their music with generations of fans worldwide.

"We're truly honored to be included in Spotify's Billions Club," said the song's writer and FOREIGNER founder Mick Jones. "This achievement is a testament to the lasting power of 'I Want To Know What Love Is' and the incredible support from our fans around the world. As we look ahead to our 50th anniversary, this is a reminder of how much our music has meant to so many people over the years."

"I Want To Know What Love Is", originally released in 1984, became a defining anthem of the '80s rock era, climbing to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning multiple platinum certifications. The 1999 remastered version has resonated with both longtime fans and new listeners.

As the band looks forward to its milestone anniversary and upcoming touring plans, FOREIGNER is also preparing to release new material in celebration of its 50 years of musical history. Their legacy continues to inspire, and the Billions Club honor adds another chapter to their storied career.

Responsible for some of rock and roll's most enduring anthems including "Juke Box Hero", "Cold As Ice", "Hot Blooded", "Waiting For A Girl Like You", "Feels Like The First Time", "Urgent", "Head Games", "Say You Will" and the worldwide No. 1 hit "I Want To Know What Love Is", FOREIGNER still rocks the charts almost 50 years into the game with massive airplay and continued Billboard 200 album success. Streams of FOREIGNER's hits are over 15 million per week.

Photo credit: Karsten Staiger

'00s metal faves DRY KILL LOGIC are gearing up for what looks to be quite a busy year in 2025. The band will drop the new single "Now You Belong With the Dead", produced by Greg Thomas (END, SHAI HULUD, MISERY SIGNALS). It will arrive on May 2. Watch this space for more details.

In the meantime, however, DRY KILL LOGIC have announced several upcoming live appearances at major rock festivals. They will take the stage at Welcome To Rockville (Daytona Beach, Florida),Rock Fest (Cadott, Wisconsin) and Inkcarceration (Manfield, Ohio) this spring and summer. There is also a headline show on deck at Dingbatz in Clifton, New Jersey, set for June 14 and celebrating the 20th anniversary of the band's "The Dead & Dreaming" release.

"We're stoked to announce our first headline show in the U.S. since '05, and looking forward to playing some new songs, some of the classics and maybe even some rare stuff," states DRY KILL LOGIC singer Cliff Rigano. "Hope to see you there!"

Upcoming DRY KILL LOGIC shows:

May 18 - Welcome To Rockville - Daytona, FL
June 14 - Dingbatz - Clifton, NJ
July 17 - Rock Fest - Cadott, WI
July 19 - Inkcarceration - Mansfield, OH

Formed in late 1994, DRY KILL LOGIC quickly established themselves as a force in the heavy music scene. Under their initial moniker of HINGE, the band garnered a dedicated fanbase with their aggressive sound and straightforward lyrics. Produced by Eddie Wohl (PRIMER 55, ILL NINO) and Rob Caggiano (ANTHRAX, VOLBEAT, CRADLE OF FILTH),their 2001 debut album "The Darker Side Of Nonsense" was an essential part of the alternative metal landscape, with tracks like "Nightmare" and "Rot" still echoing in the memories of fans worldwide. The band built their live show on worldwide tours and festivals alongside FEAR FACTORY, SLAYER, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, SPINESHANK, MASTODON, and many more.

In 2002, the band parted ways with Roadrunner Records and was joined by guitarist Jason Bozzi who took the band's signature sound to the next level. Once again with Wohl and Caggiano at the helm, the band released their sophomore album, "The Dead And Dreaming", on Repossession Records in the U.S. and SPV globally. Seamlessly traversing the lines of metalcore, post-hardcore and alternative metal the band stretched their wings, embracing melody, dynamics and more complex songwriting. Tracks like "Paper Tiger", "200 Years", "Neither Here Nor Missed" and "With Deepest Regrets…" showcases the depth and character of the new lineup, as well as a newfound live ferocity after years of nonstop touring. Co-headline U.S. tours with NONPOINT, DROWNING POOL and HED P.E. followed, along with a slot on the inaugural 2005 Gigantour featuring MEGADETH, DREAM THEATER, and many others. The band wound down the album cycle with a run of headline shows in the U.S. and shows supporting DISTURBED and CORROSION OF CONFORMITY.

In 2006, the group was joined by bassist Brendan Kane (100 DEMONS, A THOUSAND FALLING SKIES) and released both their live DVD "The Magellan Complex" and their third album, "Of Vengeance And Violence". Produced by Wohl and Caggiano and mixed by legendary engineer Paul Orofino (BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, BLEEDING THROUGH, AHMAD JAMAL),the band again evolved, pushing the limits of metalcore aggression with songs like "My Dying Heart", "Dead Man's Eyes" and "Boneyard". It was at this time the band found itself as a headline act across Europe, returning twice in the year due to demand. The band also played its first shows in Australia as support for FEAR FACTORY and DEVILDRIVER.

Following a series of challenges within the ever-evolving dynamics of the music industry, the band went on hiatus in 2007. Despite sporadic rumors of a reunion, DRY KILL LOGIC remained silent, with fans wondering if they'd ever see the band return to the stage.

In 2018, the group surprised their fans by releasing "Vices", the ferocious first single from the group in 13 years. Produced by Greg Thomas (END, MISERY SIGNALS, SHAI HULUD),the track was celebrated by fans worldwide as a triumphant return to form. In 2020, the band worked with Thomas and released "Don't See Ghosts", a hauntingly relentless track filled with the group's signature guitar work and pummeling breakdowns.

In 2025, DRY KILL LOGIC plan to unveil their new single and music video capturing the dark energy of the music. The song blends their signature explosive riffs with atmospheric acoustic elements, creating an aggressive yet melodic experience. It's a declaration of intent — a bridge from the band's past to a bold future.