This past Monday, April 21, IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson took part in the Musicians Institute's MI Conversation Series with host Ryan J. Downey in Hollywood, California. During the chat, which can be seen below, Dickinson spoke about MAIDEN's upcoming "Run For Your Lives" world tour, which is scheduled to launch on May 27 in Budapest, Hungary. The trek will mark MAIDEN's first with new drummer Simon Dawson, who previously played with MAIDEN co-founder Steve Harris as a member of his BRITISH LION project. Asked if MAIDEN has already started rehearsing with Simon, Bruce said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, we've already had a rehearsal with Simon on the last [MAIDEN] tour. Simon was tagging along with BRITISH LION, as Steve was doing shows [with both bands]. But it was kind of insurance for us because we weren't sure… We were hoping Nick [IRON MAIDEN's longtime drummer Nicko McBrain] was gonna make the tour, but there were some times during the show when, not so much his drumming, but his physical body was really… We were worried. We were, like, 'We do not want to end up with Nick in hospital, and we do need to have a backup.' And Simon was suggested by Steve, and we all went, 'Yeah, but how do we know it's gonna work?' So we said to Nick, 'Look, in the middle of the tour, we've got a couple of days in Portland, Oregon. We're gonna rent a rehearsal place and we're gonna just give Simon a go just to see if it works, just in case.' So we did. And a couple of us were, like, 'I don't know how this is gonna be, but hey…' And honestly, I was pleasantly shocked. I was, like, 'Wow.' We went through the whole set without a break. And this guy had not rehearsed with anybody. He just, like, turned up with MAIDEN. We went through the entire set of the tour that we were on at the time, and it was all there. I thought, 'My God, we could do a show tonight if we had to. That's unreal.'"

Explaining why Dawson was the right man to replace McBrain, Dickinson said: "The incredible thing was with Simon, which, obviously, when it was suggested, after Nicko decided to retire, or retire from live playing, that Simon should take over, and there were other drummers that people thought were kind of in the frame. And one of the reasons that we didn't pick those other type of drummers was 'cause, although they were very good drummers — nothing wrong with their drumming — they all wanted to sound like Nick. And you can't replace Nicko. You shouldn't even try to replace him. You don't want a Nicko clone. You want a drummer that plays the material but plays kind of their own style. And if I'm honest, if I closed my eyes at moments during that rehearsal [with Simon], it was like having [late MAIDEN drummer] Clive Burr back in the band, 'cause he's got that feel. It's that big band swing time feel. He has all the same influences and everything. And I was just, like, 'Oh my God. Wow.' So I'm actually really excited. We start [rehearsing for the tour] next — not next week. Hang on. I actually go back to Europe tomorrow. And then we've got, like, 10 days and then we start. So we will be going through it. I've got my little speaker set up in my little Airbnb at the moment. I've got the whole setlist on there."

Bruce went on to say that "Run For Your Lives" will mark the start of "a new chapter with Simon, and I look forward to it. There's no shame in that," he added. "We are doing the best we can do for the music.

"MAIDEN has always been greater than the sum of any individual part, which is kind of the way it should be, really, when you've got something like that," Bruce explained. "And we're also in the semi-unique position that we've never really had to — well, we've never really been darlings of any mainstream media. [We] have got to where we are now and getting bigger and bigger and bigger without, basically, anybody taking any notice of us at all."

Regarding the setlist and the production for the "Run For Your Lives" tour, Bruce said: "The show that we've designed is unlike any other MAIDEN show we've ever done. I should not say anymore, 'cause once we get to the first two shows in Budapest, then everyone will be all over the social media saying what they think about it and so on and so forth. But I'm really excited. It's like a whole new chapter for us, this new show. And we've never really done a kind of greatest-hits tour. And if there was one, then this would certainly be it. I mean, the first 25, 30 minutes, I kid you not, is gonna blow people's minds. They're [gonna go], 'I can't believe they're playing that, that, that.'"

He added: "We sold a million tickets in Europe for this summer, for basically two and a bit months this summer, and we are bringing it to the USA in '26."

McBrain played his last-ever gig with MAIDEN more than four months ago in São Paulo, Brazil.

The 72-year-old British musician, whose real name is Michael Henry McBrain, announced his retirement on December 7, 2024 in a statement on MAIDEN's web site and social media. He also said that night's concert at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Brazil would mark his final show with the iconic heavy metal act.

Despite the fact that he was stepping away from touring, McBrain said that he would remain closely connected to IRON MAIDEN and continue to be involved in "a variety of projects" with the band, while also focusing on personal ventures and his existing businesses.

On December 8, 2024, IRON MAIDEN announced Dawson as its new touring drummer.

The São Paulo performance marked the final show of "The Future Past" world tour, which began in May 2023.

Last September, IRON MAIDEN promised fans "a spectacular and elaborate new show" on its 50th anniversary tour in 2025 and 2026.

MAIDEN said it will "cover classics and fan favorites from the first nine albums, from 'Iron Maiden' to 'Fear Of The Dark', many of which we haven't played in years and many we will likely never play again in the future. We have already been hard at work for months putting together an even more spectacular and elaborate new show which will bring the songs to life more than we have ever been able to do before."

"Fear Of The Dark" marked Dickinson's last album before he exited MAIDEN and then later returned in 1999.

Tapped to replace Clive Burr in 1982 after touring activities for the "Number Of The Beast" album concluded, McBrain brought a degree of finesse and technicality that was largely missing from IRON MAIDEN's early output. Whereas Burr was often lauded for his heavy-handed, punk-oriented style, McBrain was largely the opposite, playing with a degree of dexterity and flair that helped primary songwriter Harris take MAIDEN down more adventurous paths. He eventually became the third longest-tenured member of MAIDEN, behind Harris and guitarist Dave Murray.

McBrain spent his early drumming years playing for the likes of Pat Travers and French rockers TRUST, eventually falling on to the radar of Harris and MAIDEN during the group's initial European tour.

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For the first time in over 50 years, the surviving members of the original ALICE COOPER band — singer Alice Cooper, guitarist Michael Bruce, bassist Dennis Dunaway and drummer Neal Smith — have reunited to release a brand-new studio album, "The Revenge Of Alice Cooper", due on July 25 via earMUSIC.

This highly anticipated album is heralded as the successor to their iconic records "School's Out", "Billion Dollar Babies", "Love It to Death" and "Killer".

The first single from the album, "Black Mamba", is out today, featuring the legendary Robby Krieger of THE DOORS. This track serves as a venomous introduction to the new era of ALICE COOPER, packed with familiar classic riffs and electrifying energy.

"The Revenge Of Alice Cooper" is a high-voltage journey into vintage horror and classic 1970s shock rock, capturing the sound, energy, and mischief that made the original ALICE COOPER band legendary. In a truly special moment, the album features a posthumous appearance by Glen Buxton, the band's original guitarist who passed away in 1997, through an unreleased recording that seamlessly blends the past with the present on "What Happened To You", featuring his original guitar part.

If that wasn't cool enough, one of the bonus tracks (box set and limited smart format) also includes a long-lost gem from 1970 — a raw, alternate take of "Return Of The Spiders" (not the version heard on "Easy Action") — recently unearthed from original multi-tracks missing for 50 years and now enhanced and mixed by Bob Ezrin.

Alice, Neal, Michael and Dennis have reunited with their producer Bob Ezrin in an old-school recording studio in Connecticut, rekindling the magic from the 1970s. This album is a celebration of friendship, nostalgia, and the timeless sound that solidified Alice Cooper as a rock icon. Fans can expect a powerful and nostalgic experience that bridges the gap between the band's storied past and their vibrant present.

From the venomous bite of "Black Mamba" to the rebellious charge of "Wild Ones" and the soft, haunting melodies of "See You On The Other Side", every track feels like a rock 'n' roll classic.

"The Revenge Of Alice Cooper" is going to be released on July 25 in a wide variety of formats and limited vinyl colors. It will also be available as a limited box set and as a limited art print (smart format),featuring exclusive access to two bonus tracks from the start, plus the full album automatically delivered as a high-definition download on release day.

The original ALICE COOPER group — Alice Cooper (vocals),Michael Bruce (guitar),Dennis Dunaway (bass),Neal Smith (drums) and Glen Buxton (guitar) — redefined rock in the early 1970s, blending raw, hard-hitting music with shocking theatricality. With Bob Ezrin at the helm, they pioneered shock rock, delivering rebellious anthems, dark storytelling and over-the-top stage shows featuring guillotines, snakes, and macabre theatrics.

Albums like "Love It To Death" (1971),"Killer" (1971),"School's Out" (1972) and "Billion Dollar Babies" (1973) turned them into superstars, producing legendary hits like "I'm Eighteen", "Elected", "School's Out" and "No More Mr. Nice Guy". Their mix of hard rock, glam, and horror made them one of the most influential and controversial bands of their era, leaving a permanent mark on rock history.

Alice Cooper has sold countless millions of records worldwide and shaped rock history forever. Inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2011, their music remains as powerful and relevant as ever.

Now, with "The Revenge Of Alice Cooper", the original band reunites for one more epic chapter, reclaiming the sound and legacy that made them legends.

Cooper told Billboard that making a new album with his original bandmates "was very much like this was our next album after [1973's] 'Muscle Of Love', just like, 'Okay, this is the next album.' Isn't that funny after 50 years? All of a sudden it just falls into place."

Ezrin said about the making of "The Revenge Of Alice Cooper": "None of them has changed much as a person. Obviously, everyone's older and more mature and more settled, but when we all get together and I watch the interplay between them, it's like they just walked out of high school and were hanging out in the local cafe. They just revert to type. They revert to who they were as kids when the first got together… and make music together like they did 50-some years ago."

As for the possibility of the original COOPER band hitting the road again, Alice said: "We haven't even gotten to that point yet. I don't really see it being a full-out tour; it would be very, very hard, I think, if you haven't done it for a long time. But I could see it being a feature, like going into certain cities — Detroit, New York, L.A., London maybe, and doing a half-hour or 40 minutes in a club or something. We always leave those things open, and if it looks feasible, then we do it."

"The Revenge of Alice Cooper" track listing:

01. Black Mamba
02. Wild Ones
03. Up All Night
04. Kill The Flies
05. One Night Stand
06. Blood On The Sun
07. Crap That Gets In The Way Of Your Dreams
08. Famous Face
09. Money Screams
10. What A Syd
11. Inter Galactic Vagabond Blues
12. What Happened To You
13. I Ain't Done Wrong
14. See You On The Other Side
15. Return of the Spiders 2025 (bonus track)
16. Titanic Overunderture (bonus track)

Formed in 1968, the original ALICE COOPER band forged a theatrical brand of hard rock that was destined to shock and had never been seen before. Within five years, they would release no fewer than seven studio albums, amongst them their international breakthrough "School's Out" (including the Top 10 hit of the same name) and the U.S. No. 1 "Billion Dollar Babies" (1973). By 1974, the band had risen to the upper echelon of rock stardom... and then it dissolved.

In October 2015, over 40 years later, record store owner and superfan Chris Penn convinced the original lineup to reunite for a very special performance at Good Records, his record store in Dallas, Texas. Alice, Michael, Dennis and Neal were joined on stage by Alice's current guitarist Ryan Roxie (standing in for Buxton).

Cooper pioneered a grandly theatrical brand of hard rock that was designed to shock. Drawing equally from horror movies, vaudeville, and garage rock, the group created a stage show that featured electric chairs, guillotines, fake blood and boa constrictors. He continues to tour regularly, performing shows worldwide with the dark and horror-themed theatrics that he's best known for. With a schedule that includes six months each year on the road, Cooper brings his own brand of rock psycho-drama to fans both old and new, enjoying it as much as the audience does. Known as the architect of shock rock, Cooper (in both the original ALICE COOPER band and as a solo artist) has rattled the cages and undermined the authority of generations of guardians of the status quo, continuing to surprise fans and exude danger at every turn, like a great horror movie, even in an era where mainstream media can present real-life shocking images.

Photo credit: Allison V. Smith (courtesy of earMUSIC)

On the latest episode of SiriusXM's Ozzy Speaks, Ozzy Osbourne sat down with co-host Billy Morrison and gave a health update. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm in heavy training for this ['Back To The Beginning' concert in Birmingham, United Kingdom] that's coming up [in early July]. I haven't done anything for — this will be seven years [since I played a full concert], and so I've been through all this surgery. It really is like starting from scratch."

Asked what sort of training he is going through at the moment, Ozzy said: "Well, it's endurance training. The first thing to go when you're laid up is your stamina, so believe it or not, I'm doing two sets of three-minute walks a day and weight training. I've gotta get going, you know."

He explained: "I'm waking up in my body. I mean, three minutes to you, for instance, is nothing, but I've been laying on my back recovering from umpteen surgeries."

Ozzy announced his last-ever performance on February 5, revealing that the original members of BLACK SABBATH are reuniting for the first time in 20 years for the show. Joining them at the concert called "Back To The Beginning", which will take place on July 5, will be a host of metal bands SABBATH inspired, including METALLICA, SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, MASTODON, PANTERA and ANTHRAX.

Ozzy — who hasn't played a full show since late 2018 — said on his SiriusXM show "Ozzy Speaks": "I'm not planning on doing a set with BLACK SABBATH but I am doing little bits and pieces with them. I am doing what I can, where I feel comfortable."

The 76-year-old heavy metal singer, who revealed in 2020 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, added that he is doing what he can to get ready for the Villa Park concert.

"I am trying to get back on my feet," he said. "When you get up in the morning, you just jump out of bed. I have to balance myself, but I'm not dead. I'm still actively doing things."

This past February, Ozzy's wife and manager Sharon Osbourne told The Sun that her husband is struggling to walk amid his battle with Parkinsons disease, but that his singing voice is "as good as ever". She said: "[Ozzy's] very happy to be coming back and very emotional about this.

"Parkinson's is a progressive disease. It's not something you can stabilize. It affects different parts of the body and it's affected his legs. But his voice is as good as it's ever been."

Ozzy talked in more detail about his condition on his SiriusXM radio show. He said: "I have made it to 2025. I can't walk, but you know what I was thinking over the holidays? For all my complaining, I'm still alive. I may be moaning that I can't walk but I look down the road and there's people that didn't do half as much as me and didn't make it."

Proceeds from the "Back To The Beginning" show will support Cure Parkinson's, the Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice, a Children's Hospice supported by Aston Villa.

The concert will mark the first time that Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward have played together in 20 years.

Sharon told BBC News about Ozzy: "He's doing great. He's doing really great. He's so excited about this, about being with the guys again and all his friends. It's exciting for everyone."

According to Sharon, Ozzy, who paused touring "for now" in 2023 after extensive spinal surgery and rescheduled his "No More Tours 2" shows from going ahead several times because of illness, the pandemic and logistical issues, will not play any more shows after the Villa Park event.

"Ozzy didn't have a chance to say goodbye to his friends, to his fans, and he feels there's no been no full stop," she explained. "This is his full stop."

In addition, there will be a performance by a "supergroup of musicians" including Duff McKagan and Slash (GUNS 'N' ROSES),Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS),Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT),K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST),Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE),Wolfgang Van Halen (VAN HALEN, MAMMOTH WVH) and Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE).

"It's an endless amount of people," said Sharon. "They're going to be doing some SABBATH songs, some Ozzy songs, and they'll all mix together. Different little groups will be coming on, but they're all icons."

The original lineup of BLACK SABBATH last performed in 2005. Since then, SABBATH has played in partial reunions but never in its original lineup.

"For Ozzy right now, it's definitely: 'I love you and good night'," Sharon told Reuters.

She added that Ozzy was doing well and excited about the gig. "It's stimulated him," she said. "He's very, very excited and very thankful that he can do it."

The legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman was diagnosed in 2003 with Parkin 2 — a very rare genetic form of Parkinson's. During a TV appearance in January 2020, the singer disclosed that he was 'stricken" with the disease which occurs when the nerve cells of the body degenerate and levels of dopamine are reduced. Dopamine is an essential chemical that is produced by these nerve cells which send signals to different parts of the brain to control movements of the body.

Ozzy's health issues, including suffering a nasty fall and dislodging metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003, as well as catching COVID-19 three years ago, forced him to cancel some of his previously announced tours.

While Osbourne's health issues forced him to scrap most of his live appearances, the musician said he would return if his condition improved.

Osbourne's previously announced European tour with guests JUDAS PRIEST, originally set for 2019 and then rescheduled three times, was officially canceled in early February 2023.

Despite his health problems, Osbourne has performed a couple of times in the last three years, including at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022 and at the NFL halftime show at the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills game in September 2022.

Ten years ago, FOREIGNER's founding guitarist Mick Jones was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Despite the challenges, he continued to tour with FOREIGNER, finding joy in performing for fans around the world. Two years ago, the progression of the disease made it impossible for him to take the stage — a profound loss for someone whose life has been dedicated to music. However, through the completion of his new song, "Shelter From The Storm", Mick found a renewed sense of purpose, a way to reconnect with his artistry, and a moment of normalcy.

In honor of Parkinson's Awareness Month this month, Mick has partnered with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's research to not only raise awareness for the millions affected by this disease, but to also raise funds toward research for a cure. On April 26, "Shelter From The Storm" will be unveiled by The Michael J. Fox Foundation during their annual Parkinson's Unity Walk — a day of community, action, and impact in Central Park in New York City, bringing together thousands of people and families affected by Parkinson's disease. Mick will appear at the event.

Jones said: "About 12 years ago I was diagnosed with Parkinson's, which came as a real shock to me. Despite this, I continued to tour with FOREIGNER up until a few years ago. Sadly, I've had to stop since the Parkinson's has affected my ability to play my guitar the way I would like. It's a daily struggle, but I feel very fortunate to have had my life in music.

"So many people are afflicted with this debilitating disease and it is vital to find a cure. My hope is that my new song 'Shelter From The Storm' can bring awareness among my listeners and direct them toward The Michael J. Fox Foundation where they can join my team 'MJ's Shelter From The Storm' and make a donation to help research to find a cure.

"I am honored that my friend Michael J. Fox has chosen to unveil 'Shelter From The Storm' at the Unity Walk this year. Michael has done so much to raise awareness of the terrible debilitating disease that we share. His efforts to bring focus to the need for funds to research and a cure are legendary, and I hope to support him in any way that I can."

FOREIGNER was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame last October. Original singer Lou Gramm, keyboardist Al Greenwood and bassist Rick Wills were present to accept the award, while Jones and drummer Dennis Elliott sat out the ceremony. (Jones's daughter, Annabelle Dexter-Jones, was on hand to help accept the award.) Multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald and bassist Ed Gagliardi died in 2022 and 2014, respectively.

Mick is a Songwriters Hall Of Fame inductee, and Grammy and Golden Globe-nominated rock legend. Jones, also a recipient of the prestigious British Ivor Novello Songwriter Award for "The Flame Still Burns", the soundtrack for the film "Still Crazy", is the founding member of the British-American rock band FOREIGNER.

Jones is the creative force behind iconic rock and roll hits such as "I Want To Know What Love Is", "Urgent", "Cold As Ice", "Hot Blooded" and "Waiting For A Girl Like You". Formed in 1976, FOREIGNER has become one of the world's best-selling groups, with global sales exceeding 80 million.

Michael Leslie Jones, known professionally as Mick Jones, was born and raised in England. He began playing the guitar as a teenager and formed his own blues/rock band. After opening for THE ROLLING STONES in South London pubs, Jones got his first significant break working for French hitmaker Sylvie Vartan, with whom he opened for THE BEATLES at the Olympia in Paris. He also accompanied Jimi Hendrix on tour in France.

Jones then became the musical director and songwriter for French rock icon Johnny Hallyday, contributing to some of Hallyday's biggest hits. Jones continued to work in France until 1971. George Harrison had encouraged him to move to New York, after which he reformed SPOOKY TOOTH with Gary Wright and played with THE LESLIE WEST BAND and George Harrison himself.

In 1976 Jones formed FOREIGNER. The group, comprised of two other Englishmen, Ian McDonald and Dennis Elliott, and three Americans, Lou Gramm, Al Greenwood and Ed Gagliardi, went on to release some of rock and roll's most enduring classics, including "Cold As Ice", "Feels Like The First Time", "Long, Long Way From Home", "Juke Box Hero", "Hot Blooded", "Waiting For A Girl Like You", "Head Games", "Say You Will" and the global No. 1 hit "I Want To Know What Love Is".

With more top 10 hits than JOURNEY and as many as FLEETWOOD MAC, and 10 multi-platinum albums, FOREIGNER continues to chart on radio airplay and the Billboard 200 almost five decades later.

Outside of his work with the band, Jones has maintained a solo career as a producer, working with BAD COMPANY and producing the best-selling albums of Billy Joel ("Storm Front") and VAN HALEN ("5150"). He co-wrote the Grammy Award-winning song "Bad Love" with Eric Clapton and "Dreamer" with Ozzy Osbourne.

In July 2023, FOREIGNER commenced its farewell tour with a spectacularly successful headline run at Live Nation amphitheaters.

Photo credit: Karsten Staiger

Adrian Vandenberg, who was a member of WHITESNAKE from 1987 to 1990, and again from 1994 to 1997, spoke to American Musical Supply about what it was like to share the stage with legendary axeman Steve Vai. Vai joined WHITESNAKE in time for 1989's "Slip Of The Tongue", an album co-written by Vandenberg, and although the Dutch guitarist didn't feature on the album, he rejoined the band for its subsequent touring cycle.

"[Playing with] Steve was quite a challenge because he's a virtuoso," Adrian admitted. "It was an interesting challenge because it really put me on thinking about what is my style? Because I got carried away when I joined WHITESNAKE, the whole fast playing bit that was going on in the States, and I've never really been into it, because I was influenced by guys like Brian May and early Leslie West, the blues players and melodic players like [Michael] Schenker. And a lot of people don't even realize that Eddie Van Halen is actually a really melodic player because it kind of got covered by — he was so flamboyant in his playing, but if you listen to a lot of the solos, they always have a little melody in it that he repeats live as well. And then he does all the flurry stuff in between. So, for me, it's mainly the right note on the right spot. And so touring with Steve, I thought, 'Oh, wait a minute. I got carried away a little bit the last couple of years, so I'm gonna focus on what I think I should be doing.' And that was a really great way for us to work together because we've got such different styles. So, yeah, I really enjoyed it. [He's a] great guy [with a] sense of humor. [It was] a wonderful time."

Adrian previously talked about his musical partnership with Steve in a 2023 interview with Eonmusic. He said at the time: "Steve and I became really good friends pretty much instantly. I think it worked really well between Steve and I because I thought it sounded so different".

Going on to talk about their differences as players, Vandenberg said: I'm a very melodic player — that's always been my passion — and Steve, especially in that period, was very flashy, because he felt he had to prove himself more. That's what he told me later."

Going on to reveal that Vai had apologized for what he himself described as "prima donna" behavior, Vandenberg said: "Steve later on said, 'Man, I have to say, you know, at the time, my ego was a little inflated', and he kind of apologized for it. He said, 'You know, I was just getting carried away by that period of time where everybody was going, 'Oh! Steve Vai.'"

Admitting that it was tough to not get to play on the "Slip Of The Tongue" album, Adrian was philosophical. "As frustrating as it was that I wasn't able to play on my own songs because of this wrist injury, at the same time, I thought, 'Well, in a way, it's kind of cool that a player of Steve's caliber plays on the songs,'" he said.

In a separate 2023 interview with Vintage Rock Pod, Vai stated about his decision to join the David Coverdale-fronted band after parting ways with David Lee Roth: "In my mind, that's what I was doing — I was surrendering my career. Because the music for [my solo album] 'Passion And Warfare' [which ended up getting released in 1990]… I knew it was very different."

Vai went on to admit that he lacked the confidence to perform instrumental music in front of an audience as he was used to having a frontman. "So I thought, 'Well, it would make much more sense to tour with WHITESNAKE and make a record with them,'" he explained. "And for the momentum of that other side of my career, and lucky for me, I really liked the music of WHITESNAKE. Back then, their 'Whitesnake' album [had] sold 25 million copies and it was a great record. I just love great singers, and Coverdale was a monster. I mean, come on. I watched that guy get on stage every night and deliver like a boss. So I thought, 'Yeah, man. I want in.' It was great. When I got into the band, all the music was written and recorded for the 'Slip Of The Tongue' record. I just had to put the guitars on it. That was another really great group of guys."

Vai continued: "If anybody was difficult, it was me. I was a bit of a prima donna. I came from Dave Roth, and with Dave Roth, you learn certain things, how to navigate the business and navigate the magazines and the press and things like this. Plus I had 'Passion And Warfare' out. It was blowing up while I was touring with WHITESNAKE. So we did the 'Slip Of The Tongue', and we did a huge tour. It was fantastic. At the end of it, David was going through some personal things. He was going through a divorce, so he disbanded everything. But I knew instinctively that I [had to] do a record and a tour with them, and [then] return to the quirky music that was in my head. And I did."

WHITESNAKE scored the band's third consecutive platinum record with its eighth studio album, "Slip Of The Tongue". Originally released in November 1989, it peaked at No. 10 on the U.K. and U.S. album charts thanks largely to its two Top 40 hits — "Fool For Your Loving" and "The Deeper The Love". The fan favorite turned 30 in 2019 and Rhino celebrated with several new versions, including a colossal seven-disc boxed set.

Following the eight-times-platinum success of its eponymous album in 1987, WHITESNAKE returned two years later with "Slip Of The Tongue". At the time, the band included Coverdale, bassist Rudy Sarzo, drummer Tommy Aldridge, Vandenberg and Vai. Vandenberg and Coverdale co-wrote all but one song on the album, but Vandenberg couldn't record them in the studio at the time due to a hand injury. To fill the void, Vai joined the band for the album and tour.

"When I had joined WHITESNAKE, the tracks were already recorded and Adrian had laid down guide rhythm tracks," Vai told Guitar World. "What had happened was Adrian developed this situation with his wrist that persisted throughout the tour. I'm not sure what caused it, but he'd have to soak his wrist after every show.

"Adrian's such a great player, but the injury made it so he couldn't really sustain for too long because of the pain. I've stayed pretty close with Adrian over the years and I see him whenever I'm in Holland, and when I spoke to him a couple of years ago, he was still having that wrist problem — but they located the source of it to his neck.

"So Adrian had made these guide tracks and that were basically chords and structures, and I obviously copped a lot of the riffs from those, but I put my spin on them because it was all like one track of guitar. I went in with 20 tracks on some songs; it's a very dense guitar record and I definitely did my best to decorate it. It was a departure for what WHITESNAKE was normally known for in the guitar department."

Asked if he had any reservations about not staying wholly true to WHITESNAKE's old signature sound, Vai said: "You have to find a balance between what's expected of you from the band, what the fans are expecting, what the song requires and is telling you to do — and also being true to your own voice. I had no choice but to express my own voice because that's all I know.

"If I had tried to sound like Yngwie [Malmsteen] when I had joined ALCATRAZZ, it just wouldn't have worked because I'm very satisfied with the way I play, but I also can't play like Yngwie. It was the same thing when I was playing with Dave [David Lee] Roth; I needed to deliver in a rock context — which was very natural to me — but I'm not going to compete with Edward Van Halen.

"There's no way those records would've been accepted if I didn't have some kind of rock integrity, but I knew what the songs needed and I knew what the audience was expecting and there's a side of me that I knew could deliver that. It was the same thing with WHITESNAKE.

"The foundation of WHITESNAKE's sound was rooted in rock blues, and there's a whole culture that emanated from Europe in that traditional solid rock blues guitar playing that had a real authenticity to it.

"Michael Schenker, Uli Jon Roth, Adrian Vandenberg, Ritchie Blackmore, Jimmy Page — that was the sound all WHITESNAKE records had been built upon. But WHITESNAKE had gone through different permutations of guitar sounds throughout the years, and the previous one to me was John Sykes, and he absolutely had his own sound.

"Sykes didn't sound like any other previous WHITESNAKE guitarist, but his thumbprint is an indelible part of the WHITESNAKE record he did. The fatness of that record and the rock integrity it had was all Sykes. So I knew I wasn't going to sound like Sykes and I wasn't going to try to.

"You cheat yourself when you try to do that and play like someone else. And the audience is a lot smarter than you think; they're very intuitive and perceptive and if you try to pull anything over on them — like biting someone else's thing — you'll get beat up for it."

Image credit: DeadMike.com

FAMOUS STRANGERS Featuring INTO ETERNITY Vocalist AMANDA KIERNAN Release Official Video For “I’ll See You In The Stars” 0
By Editorial Team on April 19, 2025Heavy Metal, News
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Famous Strangers, featuring Into Eternity vocalist Amanda Kiernan, formed in 2023, came together through a shared passion for creating music that pushes boundaries and evokes deep emotions The band consists of members with extensive past experiences in other bands, bringing a wealth of talent and diverse influences to the group. Their combined expertise and creative vision have shaped the unique sound of Famous Strangers, characterized by haunting melodies, a blend of melodic and aggressive vocals, and atmospheric instrumentals.

They have released the new single “I’ll See You In The Stars”. Check out the official video below.

The band comments: “This video was created entirely by the band—shot, edited, and produced DIY with zero budget and all heart. The song is about a love that was never meant to be—something just out of reach, but impossible to forget. It’s heavy, emotional, and honest, and we poured everything into bringing it to life visually.”



Famous Strangers is gearing up to make their mark on the music scene with a series of single releases this year, leading up to a highly anticipated full album release set for 2025. As they embark on this exciting journey, the band remains committed to delivering powerful performances and captivating audiences with their unforgettable sound.

Check out previous singles “George” and “Deepstar” below.

Renowned guitarist and songwriter Don Felder – best known for his role with the Eagles – recently announced the release of his new studio album The Vault – Fifty Years Of Music, set for release on May 23 via Frontiers Music Srl.

Today, Felder shares a lyric video for the song, “Hollywood Victim”. Watch below:



Don Felder’s fourth solo album, The Vault – Fifty Years Of Music, marks a unique milestone in his storied career, offering a stunning collection of newly recorded versions of songs originally demoed over a span of five decades.

From the album opener, “Move On,” a song from 1974, to “I Like The Things You Do,” written in 2023, ‘The Vault’ offers a comprehensive look at Felder’s rich musical history. The album’s title reflects this expansive journey through time, blending timeless rock anthems with heartfelt ballads in a way that only Felder can.

What sets ‘The Vault’ apart is the incredible roster of musical giants that have come together to lend their talents to the project. Felder is joined by true rock royalties including David Paich, Steve Lukather, Joseph “Joe” Williams, and Greg Phillinganes of Toto, renowned drummers such as Greg Bissonette, Brian Tichy, Todd Sucherman, plus Timothy Drury, Nathan East, Nina Winter, and Lenny Castro, among others.

Their contributions bring a fresh, dynamic energy to the music, enhancing Felder’s signature sound and bringing new life to these songs. In addition to the previously unreleased material, ‘The Vault’ also includes a newly re-recorded version of “Heavy Metal,” Felder’s classic hit from his 1983 debut album, Airborne, and the soundtrack of the 1981 animated film of the same name.

With its perfect blend of high-energy rockers and introspective, emotional ballads, The Vault – Fifty Years Of Music showcases Don Felder’s enduring legacy as one of rock’s most influential and skilled guitarists.

Fans of Felder’s remarkable career and music lovers alike will find ‘The Vault’ to be an essential addition to their collection. Prepare to experience the sound of a musical journey that spans half a century and don’t miss Don Felder live in his up-and-coming tour with Styx and The Kevin Cronin Band, aptly named “The Brotherhood of Rock”, starting on May 28 in Greenville, South Carolina.

Pre-order The Vault – Fifty Years Of Music here.



The Vault – Fifty Years Of Music tracklisting:

“Move On”
“Free At Last”
“Hollywood Victim”
“Last All Night”
“Digital World”
“I Like The Things You Do”
“All Girls Love To Dance”
“Together Forever”
“Heavy Metal”
“Let Me Down Easy”
“Blue Skies”

In a new interview with Argentina's Rocktambulos, HELMET guitarist/vocalist Page Hamilton discussed the South American leg of the band's "Betty" 30th-anniversary tour, which will take place in late April and early May. The setlist will feature the "Betty" album together with favorites from the band's catalog.

Speaking about "Betty"'s legacy, Page said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, it's not for me to say. People have told me — like I was talking to an engineer in Germany, and he said, 'Yeah, when we wanna kind of tune the system or get in the right vibe for mixing, we listen to 'Betty'.' Other people said, like one guy in Australia said, 'Oh, I was at the university in Australia and they used the 'Betty' album cover as an example of subversive art.' And so I like that. That makes me happy.

"I know that a lot of [people view 'Betty' as a classic] — only because people have told me," he continued. "I'm not sitting around going, like, 'Wow,' patting myself on the back. But I like that people like the album because we got shit for it when it came out from some people. Some people were, like, 'This isn't 'Meantime'.' And I'm like, 'Well, we did 'Meantime'. We don't wanna do 'Meantime' again.' So, it's gratifying, I guess, that 30-plus years later that people refer to 'Betty', a lot of people think it's our best album. That cracks me up."

Regarding the prospect of performing the entire "Betty" album live more than 30 years after the LP's release, Page said: "If you don't have the — I don't know, not bravery, that's not the right word, but the guts to try to challenge your fans, then you're kind of… I would lose respect for someone that didn't wanna challenge people. I love jazz music, and jazz is improvisation. The song 'Beautiful Love', I've played it a thousand times and I play it completely differently now than I did in 1994. In fact, I'll play it completely different today than I did yesterday. That's the beauty of jazz. There's a structure there, a 16-bar structure on that tune, for example, and there's chord changes. And what can I do with those chord changes to keep it interesting and improvise? And it's much like a conversation. And I think that's why I love jazz so much.

"The one thing with 'Betty', playing it live, as you ask about, is that I get to play guitar solos, so I get to improvise every night," he explained. "And so it's different. It's gonna be different. Like the solo I play on 'Sam Hell' is gonna be different in Argentina than it will be in São Paulo or Santiago on the other shows we're doing down south. So, that's kind of fun — fun for me. I don't know what it's like for those guys, but they really love playing together. They're such a powerful rhythm section. Kyle [Stevenson, drums], Dave [Case, bass] and Dan [Beeman, rhythm guitar] together are very in sync. And they get the music on that level. They understand that you have to kind of tap into something.

"I mean, I have the occasional conflict as well with Kyle, 'cause a lot of drummers feel that you have to lay back to make music feel good, and there is some truth to that in some forms of music, but in the HELMET music, you have to kind of stay on top of the beat," Hamilton added. "And it has to feel like it's speeding up, even though it's not. That's very much a jazz thing — it feels like it's speeding up, but it's not. So, yeah, I'm sure they have different things that they're challenged by every night to keep it fresh as well."

HELMET's latest album, "Left", was released in November 2023 via earMUSIC.

After the critically acclaimed "Dead To The World" in 2016, HELMET is back with their signature blend of heavy, riff-loaded rock and evocative lyrics that have resonated with fans worldwide for over three decades. "Time for your holiday serial murder / How time slips away", resonate the opening lines of "Holiday". HELMET take no prisoners in their direct and unfiltered expression, leaving listeners with a lasting impact and a sense of urgency to examine the world around them.

"Left" sees HELMET — comprising frontman Page Hamilton, drummer Kyle Stevenson, guitarist Dan Beeman and bassist Dave Case — carve out a musical landscape that is taut, muscular, and direct. Hamilton's lead guitar lines feel like everything from downed power lines arcing to exploding resistors in shortwave radios. On "Left", every snare crack hits like gunfire, every solo seemingly a manifestation of rabies-induced psychosis.

Guided by Hamilton alongside co-producers Jim Kaufman and Mark Renk, and mastered by Howie Weinberg, the 11 songs on the new album are leaner and meaner in their execution than previous aural throwdowns. "Left" is powered by unbridled determination, a renewed sense of purpose and a desire to create more new dialects within the musical language Hamilton invented via his use of drop-D tuning.

HELMET's first official live album, "Live And Rare", was released in November 2021 via earMUSIC. It was made available on heavyweight black vinyl as well as a CD digipak edition and digital.

Although HELMET disbanded in 1997, Hamilton revived the band in 2004, and the group has continued to tour and record.

"Dead To The World" was released in October 2016 via earMUSIC. The effort was produced by Hamilton and mixed by Jay Baumgardner.

In 2021, HELMET released a cover of GANG OF FOUR's 1981 song "Into The Ditch". The track was recorded for a tribute album to GANG OF FOUR's guitarist Andy Gill, "The Problem Of Leisure: A Celebration Of Andy Gill And Gang Of Four".

Having cut his teeth playing with avant-garde guitar icon Glenn Branca and indie stalwarts BAND OF SUSANS, Hamilton launched HELMET in 1989, and the band released its debut album, "Strap It On", on the independent Amphetamine Reptile label the following year. HELMET soon became the subject of an unprecedented major-label bidding war, ultimately signing with Interscope and releasing "Meantime" in June 1992.

Even while the band was absent from the spotlight, HELMET continued to exercise considerable influence on multiple generations of bands. Their songs have been covered by the likes of CHEVELLE, DEFTONES, FAITH NO MORE, PIG DESTROYER and SOULFLY, and the band inspired a 2016 HELMET tribute album titled "Meantime Redux". HELMET has also been cited as a key influence on such bands as GODSMACK, KORN, MARILYN MANSON, MASTODON, PANTERA, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, SEPULTURA, SLIPKNOT, STAIND, SYSTEM OF A DOWN and TOOL.

Insight Editions has set a September 16 release date for Rob Zombie's "House Of 1000 Corpses: The Making Of A Cult Classic" book.

In the 304-page hardcover book, writer, director and musician Rob Zombie journeys into the madhouse with "House Of 1000 Corpses", an inside look at the making of his cult classic horror film, showcasing the visceral intensity of his signature artistic style and inviting readers to explore the twisted world that launched the Firefly universe.

Zombie's captivating art and making-of book "House Of 1000 Corpses" is a visually stunning volume offering an unparalleled behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Zombie's groundbreaking film that redefined the genre. Explore a treasure trove of film stills, rare artwork, concept sketches, and the director’s original shooting script that brings to life the film's vivid characters and chilling atmosphere. With Zombie's own handwritten notes, readers will gain insight into the process and the dark inspirations that fueled the film.

"House Of 1000 Corpses" is an artistic tribute to a cinematic cult classic that continues to haunt audiences to this day, proving that from film to music, the Zombie aesthetic is truly one of a kind.

"I think fans will really enjoy seeing the journey of how an idea becomes reality," Zombie told People magazine.

"The book takes the fans from early notes and sketches right up to the premiere of the film. Along the way, you see every twist and turn the film took. It is not done through me telling the story but through my script which is covered in all my notes, thumbnails, sketches and constant changes."

He added: "Any film fan will enjoy seeing this behind-the-scenes look at the process and how these beloved, bizarre characters came to be."

Released in 2003, "House of 1000 Corpses" was Zombie's debut as a feature film director.

Even though "House of 1000 Corpses" was not a box office smash, the relatively low-budget flick's (which cost a reported $7 million to produce) $12.5 million haul was enough to make Lions Gate Films happy.

2005's "The Devil's Rejects", widely considered Zombie's best film, picked up the story of the infamous Firefly family, a clan of psychopathic murderers first introduced in "House Of 1000 Corpses".

Zombie's first live appearance with bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson in 18 years took place last August at the opening show of the 2024 leg of Zombie and Alice Cooper's "Freaks On Parade" tour at the Isleta Amphitheater in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Blasko's return to Rob Zombie was announced in January 2024.

Nicholson rejoined the group just hours after the shock rocker's longtime bassist Matt "Piggy D." Montgomery revealed that he was exiting the band after 18 years.

Blasko was previously a member of Rob Zombie's band from 1997 through 2006, playing bass on the first three Zombie albums: "Hellbilly Deluxe", "The Sinister Urge" and "Educated Horses".

Nicholson left Zombie in May 2006 in order to join Ozzy Osbourne's recording/touring band.

Montgomery played bass on the Rob Zombie studio albums "Hellbilly Deluxe 2" (2010),"Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor" (2013),"The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser" (2016) and "The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy" (2021).

In the fall of 2022, John 5 left Rob Zombie to join MÖTLEY CRÜE as the replacement for that band's co-founding guitarist Mick Mars. John 5 has since been replaced in Zombie's band by returning guitarist Mike Riggs.

Rob Zombie's current band consists of Zombie, Riggs, Blasko and drummer Ginger Fish, who has played with Rob since 2011.

Photo credit: Travis Shinn

Jonathan Davis, the iconic frontman of Grammy Award-winning band KORN, has teamed up with fashion designer Ashton Michael to create an exclusive new capsule collection under Davis's Freak On A Leash pet line. The collection — featuring rebellious fashion, edgy accessories, and plush toys for pets — drops today, April 22, and a portion of proceeds will support Pup Culture Rescue, a nonprofit dog rescue based in Pasadena, California. The rescue's adoptable pups also star in the campaign's promo images and videos, bringing the mission full circle.

Launched in 2022 and aptly named after KORN's legendary single, Freak On A Leash is Davis's homage to the pets that have brought light into his life. This latest collaboration marks the first time designer Ashton Michael has ventured into the pet space — bringing the same energy he's used to dress Beyoncé, Post Malone, SZA, Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion to your four-legged best friend.

"The joy and love I get from my dog is like no other," says Davis. "It's a special bond we have. To be able to make something to dress them up kind of like your own style… and then giving back to dogs who don't have homes, it's just something that makes me feel something warm in my dark little heart."

"I think the one thing that I wanted to do was take what I would make as an inspiration for stage clothes (for Jonathan) and adapt it to the pets." says Ashton Hirota (Ashton Michael). "Things that people like about or identify with Jonathan. Like his three eyebrow piercings being incorporated into the collars so that not only do you feel like you are getting a part of his brand for your pet but you're getting a part of him as the musician, the artist, as this being that we all adore. So the beauty is in the details for me."

The collection blends punk, metal, and high-fashion aesthetics with unexpected touches that nod to Davis's personal style—from bandanas with red-to-black gradients and moto-inspired leather to a harness vest adorned with gold metallic rings. The drop includes:

* Spiked Collars (3 row spike collar and single row spiked collar)
* Bold Graphic Bandanas (paisley, gradient, and leather-print motifs)
* Matte Gold Leather Leash with leash extension
* Denim Vests (with patches & leather harness options)
* "Ouija" Plush Toy
* Suede Tug Rope Toy

The collection ranges from $15 to $95 and offers sizes XS through XL for collars and clothing. Every piece is designed to be both functional and statement-making — perfect for pet lovers who like their walks with a side of rock 'n' roll.

The Freak On A Leash x Ashton Michael collection is now available at FreakOnALeash.com.

Davis is an American singer, songwriter, and musician, best known as the lead vocalist and frontman of KORN. The band's self-titled debut album was a record that pioneered a genre, while their enduring success points to a larger cultural moment. Since forming, KORN has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide, collected two Grammys, toured the world countless times, and set many records in the process that will likely never be surpassed. KORN has continued to push the limits of the rock, alternative and metal genres, while remaining a pillar of influence for legions of fans and generations of artists around the globe.

Davis has always been passionate about animals, and as a decades-long pet owner, he decided to take this love to the next level in 2022. When it came time to choose a name for his pet line brand, "Freak On A Leash" was a no brainer, as it is one of his most successful, culture-defining hit singles. The KORN song has earned a Grammy and has been streamed over a billion times.

Freak On A Leash is Jonathan's own take on pet toys, accessories, and designer pet apparel. The brand's selection includes wearables such as collars, leashes, bandanas, harnesses and jackets, as well as plush toys, keychains and charms.

Photo credit: Alexander Bemis

Swedish occult metallers GHOST have shared "Peacefield", the third track to be released from their upcoming sixth album, "Skeletá". Check it out below.

"Peacefield" follows the previously released singles "Lachryma" and "Satanized", the latter of which was dubbed a "catchy goth-rock epic" by Vice and hailed by Brooklyn Vegan as "the band's trademark occult rock sounding as equally eerie and triumphant as ever".

"Skeletá" will arrive on April 25 via Loma Vista Recordings.

GHOST mastermind Tobias Forge told Metal Hammer about "Peacefield": "Because the record is going to slalom into darker subjects, I wanted to set a tone of hope in the beginning. I wanted to add a hand to the listener: 'It will all be fine, but we’re gonna go sideways now and go on a little trip.'"

In a recent interview with Brent Porche of Philadelphia's 93.3 WMMR radio station, Forge stated about "Skeletá": "It is a record that is introspective to a further degree, I guess, than especially the previous record [2022's 'Impera']. Just to be clear, I do believe that most artists usually create a new record based on where they were on the previous one — not as a counter-reaction, but usually there's something that you wish to achieve that you maybe didn't on the previous[ one] or you wanna change something or just fill your… At the end of the day, what you're doing is basically you're filling your repertoire with hopefully songs that you didn't have before. But thematically, I usually have some sort of thematic guideline when I write, first and foremost for myself in order to make sense of what the new record is so it's not too whimsically just about everything at the same time. But where 'Impera' was very much not only extroverted, but exteriorly reflecting on bigger society, social issues, and also, as the title implies, imperial structure and its ultimate demise, it didn't feel very productive to continue down that and make an 'Impera 2', talking about the continual demise of… I was more attracted to the idea of this this record that was more shining a light in inside and making a record about healing aspects of being essentially a human being in whatever structural design, because at the end of the day, most humans are surprisingly alike and display the same abilities to sentiments. And these sentiments are usually quite basic. And that idea was attractive to me — making a record that had a song about hope, had a song about hate, had a song about love, acceptance and all these things."

Last month, Forge told Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station about "Satanized", which came out in early March: "Yeah, it's a fun video and it's a upbeat, fun track. It's a song about being in love and how that can potentially be mistaken as demonic possession, but in reality this song has nothing to do with demonic possession."

Asked why he picked "Satanized" to be the first single from "Skeletá", Tobias said: "It's funny because as I was making the record, I didn't really put much like regard into trying to write… Of course, as a songwriter, you always try to write as good songs as possible, but there wasn't a whole lot of, like, 'Oh, I'm gonna write a hit song.' So I was more interested in sort of making a bunch of songs that I was gonna put cohesively into an understandable and entertaining album. And wise with experience over the years where I've delivered records to the people that work with me, and I'm, like, 'This is the song. This is the single. This is the hit.' And more than often, it ends up being, like, 'Oh, no. We believe in that song instead.' Okay. So finally I've sort of given up a little bit on that. So I just sort of gave the record and I'm, like, 'You guys choose what you wanna do.' And then I'm sort of holding my thumb a little, crossing my fingers, hoping that that maybe they they'll hear what I hear. And to my big surprise, they came back with 'Satanized'. And I was, like, 'I couldn't be happier. I have a really funny video idea for that one. I never thought that you would go for that one,' simply because it's like…"

He continued: "To me, I am a huge fan of '70s music. That's a very simplified way of saying that, but I'm a big fan of SCORPIONS from the '80s, but also the SCORPIONS from the '70s, which sometimes, I guess, a certain age group might not be aware that that SCORPIONS was a band in the '70s, and they released several records. Those records are a little bit different from the '80s records, when they sort of became a '80s hit rock band. And 'Satanized' definitely had more of a SCORPIONS '77 stomp that I really liked about the track. And somehow, therefore, I guess, I wasn't like putting that as a hit-single fan favorite, or a favorite that way. I thought I was gonna work my magic to make that song a big song, the same way that we did with 'Mary On A Cross' once upon a time, when that was regarded as this 'B' track that was just for fun. And I was, like, 'I think that that song is actually quite good. We're gonna play it every show we're playing.' And it took years before it became what that became."

Circling back to the fact that his record company seemingly had the same vision for "Satanized" as he did in terms of the song's potential, Forge said: "I was overwhelmed and overjoyed with the synchronicity, because I have done that mistake before where I have conceived a record, conceived a track, have an idea for a video for a track, and then the powers that be want another kickoff. And then that leads to a discussion, and then more than often, the reasoning as to why you go with another track might be perfectly understandable, but all of a sudden my idea is just not worth the piece of paper it's written on, because it simply doesn't work if it's not in a… Sometimes the crux of being conceptual, sometimes your ideas are simply too conceptual and too based on presentation and stars aligning. But in this case, we ended up with fluency, which was cool."

"Satanized" was described in a press release as "an avalanche of infectious hooks and harmonies is buoyed by a hypnotic shuffle, as the narrator succumbs to dark forces within and without, helplessly acknowledging their own blasphemy and heresy as it inexorably consumes them." By the time the song's opening lines "There is something inside me and they don't know if there is a cure" have moved from the inner monologue of the possessed to the ears of the hapless listener, it will already be too late: You will have been "Satanized".

The "Satanized" music video introduces the new character who is fronting GHOST for its 2025 touring cycle: Papa V Perpetua.

GHOST's sixth psalm, "Skeletá", is its most unflinchingly introspective work to date. Where previous GHOST albums dealt largely with chronicling and/or observing outward facing subject matter — such as "Impera"'s meditations on the rise and fall of empires and its predecessor "Prequelle"'s evocations of the ravages of era-defining plagues — "Skeletá"'s lyrics render the distinct individual emotional vistas of each of its 10 songs in one-on-one fashion, at times as if in a dialogue with oneself in a mirror. The end result is a singular collection of timeless, universal sentiments, all filtered through a prism of a uniquely personal point of view.

GHOST has also launched an interactive element dubbed The Satanizer, a first-of-its-kind music video experience for fans who wish to be "Satanized." Developed in partnership with Jason Zada (Elf Yourself),The Satanizer will morph its users into characters featured in the song's melodramatic video. With a quick upload of your photo, The Satanizer will send out a personalized music video clip featuring the participant, who can in turn share via social media that they too have been "Satanized."

"Skeletá" track listing:

01. Peacefield
02. Lachryma
03. Satanized
04. Guiding Lights
05. De Profundis Borealis
06. Cenotaph
07. Missilia Amori
08. Marks Of The Evil One
09. Umbra
10. Excelsis

Forge performed as a "new" Papa Emeritus on each of the band's first three LPs, with each version of Papa replacing the one that came before it. Papa Emeritus III was retired in favor of Cardinal Copia before the release of 2018's "Prequelle". In March 2020, at final show of GHOST's "Prequelle" tour in Mexico City, Mexico, the band officially introduced Papa Emeritus IV, the character who fronted the act for its "Impera" (2022) album phase.

The European leg of GHOST's 2025 world tour kicked off on April 15 in Manchester, United Kingdom and will conclude on May 24 in Oslo, Norway. The North American leg of GHOST's 2025 tour will launch on July 9 in Baltimore, Maryland and wrap up on August 16 in Houston, Texas.

The physical home video of GHOST's worldwide Top 10 box office smash feature film debut "Rite Here Rite Now" was made available on December 6, 2024.

Five years ago, Florida-based metallers TRIVIUM used profits generated from a livestreamed concert to purchase a decommissioned airplane hangar. The Orlando facility is now serving as the band's headquarters for both recording and rehearsing, in addition to being a place where TRIVIUM can store its equipment.

TRIVIUM guitarist/vocalist Matt Heafy recently gave Fishman Music a full tour of the hangar. Check out the report below.

Asked how one goes about buying an airplane hangar, Matt told U.K.'s Rock Sound in a 2020 interview: "Man, that's a great question. We've been renting at a pretty sketchy place. Most bands, I think, are in the kind of position that we are that you rehearse somewhere that you don't love; it's kind of crappy; you're paying rent to someone else. Just thinking to ourselves, we don't wanna be paying rent — we wanna be investing in ourselves and our future, and we've always wanted a headquarters where we could do everything. And we've talked about the idea of a place where we can rehearse and also store but eventually make records in. And then when we started seeing how much we love livestreaming, it's a place that we can stream every single thing from — we can stream our tour rehearsals or do special little sets there that are still free on our channels.

"I contacted our real estate agent, who helped my wife and I get our house way back, who just helped Paolo [Gregoletto, bass] move," he continued. "Paolo actually lives nine minutes away from me now, which is amazing — he just left Chicago during the pandemic; he got in a car and he was, like, 'I'm outta here. I'm [moving] by you guys.' So we contacted her and we were looking at commercial real estate. I saw a bunch of different places.

"I'm not saying now is the time to buy, but I kind of figured now might be an okay time to look," Matt added. "And we're very, very smart with our money. We're not a loaded band by any means. I am not living in a mansion. We have just what we need. We love just having what we need. And the same idea was for the practice thing. So we were, like, 'Let's find something that is exactly what we need — exact size, exact shape, somewhere where we can do exactly what we wanna do.' And so she kind of led me to this one agent where I found a bunch of places, and I talked about the idea of an airplane hangar, 'cause I saw one hangar at a different airport. And I mentioned it to my mother-in-law just in passing, and she was, like, 'You know who owns one of those?' [My wife] Ashley's uncle. So I contacted Ashley's uncle and his son, and I've been dealing with his son now. They happen to own multiple of these extra hangars. So it's buying from my family, which is even better. So we're setting it up with one of our family members, and the process is kind of going through. We're very close now. It's not complete. It's not the size of a commercial plane — it's not the IRON MAIDEN-size hangar like that; it's more modest than that. But it's good that we're able to keep it all in the family; we're actually able to support our family, so TRIVIUM can buy from them. They're acting as the agents, and we can work from there."

TRIVIUM and BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE recently launched "The Poisoned Ascendancy" tour during which the two bands are celebrating the 20th anniversary of "Ascendancy" and "The Poison" albums, respectively, by playing them in full.

Produced by Live Nation, the North American leg of "The Poisoned Ascendancy" kicked off on March 30 at PNE Forum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, making stops across North America in Las Vegas, Chicago, New York and more before wrapping up in Raleigh, North Carolina at Red Hat Amphitheater on May 18.

Released in March of 2005, TRIVIUM crafted a classic in the form of "Ascendancy". It concluded 2005 as Kerrang!'s "Album Of The Year," went gold in the U.K., and has since surpassed global sales of 500,000 copies. Opening the main stage of Download festival that year, the Floridian four piece — barely out of their teens — delivered a set that left all who witnessed it in no doubt that they were looking at future legends, with Kerrang! readers later voting it as the tenth best gig of all time.

TRIVIUM's latest album, "In The Court Of The Dragon", came out in October 2021 via TRIVIUM's longtime label Roadrunner Records. The record was produced and mixed by Josh Wilbur and recorded in the fall of 2020 at Full Sail University in Orlando. The album cover is an original oil painting by French artist Mathieu Nozieres.

CANDLEMASS leader Leif Edling says that the band's upcoming reunion concert with Messiah Marcolin will be a one-off event, with no chance of further dates being added.

As previously reported, Messiah will front CANDLEMASS for an appearance at this year's edition of the Rock Hard Festival Greece, slated for September 12-13, 2025 in Athens, Greece. It will mark Marcolin's first performance with CANDLEMASS in nearly 20 years.

Earlier today, Edling released a video message in which he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): " Hello, everybody. This is Leif Edling from CANDLEMASS. We are celebrating 40 years as a band this year, and there will be a lot of happenings. And one of those will be a live gig with Messiah Marcolin in Athens at the Rock Hard Festival on September 13. So that will be a blast, definitely. There will be one show and one show only. No recordings, no tours, nothing more, just one show. And I'm sure it will be a fantastic event. And don't forget our new EP, the 'Black Star' EP. So check it out. Good stuff. And take care. And see you soon on the road somewhere."

In a recent interview with Finland's Chaoszine, CANDLEMASS's current singer Johan Längqvist (a.k.a. Johan Langquist) was asked if he will be a part of the band's upcoming performance featuring Messiah. He responded: "No, I'm not a part of that performance, because the Greeks, they loved CANDLEMASS from the very beginning, and we are very popular in Greece. And I think the reason is because [Messiah] has a part of their history, the music listeners in Greece. So I do respect they wanted us to do a gig with Messiah."

Johan continued: "What can I say? I wish him the best. And he was a character in the band and we've actually met two nights together, partying together. And I wish him the best. I hope they're gonna make a great show down there. Yeah, that's it."

As the godfathers of epic doom metal, CANDLEMASS defined the genre with releases such as "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus" (1986) and "Nightfall" (1987). Through their evil riffs, crushing rhythmic attack and dramatic vocals, they changed the landscape of metal worldwide. Led by Edling, CANDLEMASS reunited with Längqvist in 2018, 32 years after the singer performed on "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus".

Längqvist originally exited CANDLEMASS after "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus" and was replaced by Marcolin.

Marcolin exited CANDLEMASS for the presumably final time in 2006, one year after the release of the band's self-titled album. He was later replaced by Robert Lowe (SOLITUDE AETURNUS),who sang on the band's "King Of The Grey Islands" (2007),"Death Magic Doom" (2009) and "Psalms For The Dead" (2012) LPs. CANDLEMASS's frontman between 2012 and 2018 was Mats Levén, who previously recorded and toured with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN and THERION. Seven years ago, CANDLEMASS fired Levén and rehired Längqvist.

Back in October 2022, Messiah and longtime CANDLEMASS guitarist Mats "Mappe" Björkman joined Canadian metallers ANVIL on stage at the Slaktkyrkan venue in Stockholm, Sweden to perform the classic ANVIL song "Metal On Metal". The event marked the first time in 16 years that the two musicians performed together.

Earlier this month, CANDLEMASS unveiled the title track of its upcoming EP, "Black Star", due out May 9 via Napalm Records. The EP impressively marks the 40th anniversary of the legendary band.

Johan's solo project JOHAN LANGQUIST THE CASTLE will release its self-titled debut album on CD and vinyl on June 27 via I Hate Records. The record was initially made available digitally without a label in 2024.

SAVATAGE played its first non-festival headlining concert in more than 20 years Monday night (April 210) at the Espaço Unimed in São Paulo, Brazil. The show took place two days after SAVATAGE performed at the Monsters Of Rock festival at Allianz Parque in São Paulo.

SAVATAGE's setlist for the Espaço Unimed concert was as follows:

01. The Ocean
02. Welcome
03. Jesus Saves
04. Sirens
05. Another Way (first time since 2015)
06. The Wake Of Magellan
07. Strange Wings (first time since 2002)
08. Taunting Cobras (first time since 1998)
09. Turns To Me (first time since 2015)
10. Dead Winter Dead
11. The Storm (first time since 2015)
12. Handful Of Rain
13. Chance
14. This Is The Time (1990) (first time since 2002)
15. Gutter Ballet
16. Edge Of Thorns
17. The Hourglass (first time since 2002)
18. Believe (Jon Oliva on piano and vocals on screen; band came in after chorus; Criss Oliva tribute during solo.)

Encore:

19. Power Of The Night (first time since 2003)
20. Hall Of The Mountain King

SAVATAGE's lineup for the two São Paulo gigs and the upcoming shows this spring and summer consists of Johnny Lee Middleton on bass, Chris Caffery on guitar, Al Pitrelli on guitar, Jeff Plate on drums and Zak Stevens on lead vocals. Also appearing with the group are SAVATAGE's two new touring keyboardists, Paulo Cuevas and Shawn McNair.

One key member is missing from SAVATAGE's reunited lineup: Jon Oliva, the band's founding vocalist and keyboardist. In 2023, Oliva suffered a T7 vertebra fracture in three places, a severe injury that has left him relying on a wheelchair. Additionally, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and Ménière's disease, conditions that have further complicated his health.

In an interview with Brazilian music journalist Igor Miranda, Oliva repeatedly emphasized that his injuries prevent him from taking part in the tour, explaining how his condition has affected even basic activities, let alone performing. "I can't even sing right now because of the pain," he admitted. "I can't stand for too long, and I need time for my vertebra to heal naturally." When asked about surgery as a possible solution, Oliva explained that he had considered it but ultimately decided against it after seeking advice from medical professionals and acquaintances. "They wanted to put metal in my body," he said. "But people I spoke to told me not to do it, that I would regret it. So, I chose to let it heal naturally."

This past January, Caffery and Plate spoke to The Metal Voice about SAVATAGE's 2025 live shows. Regarding how the SAVATAGE "reunion" came together, Plate said: "Well, I think the catalyst has just been the fanbase. The fanbase never gave up on us. They've been beating the drum for this reunion for years.

"The band never broke up," the drummer clarified. "We haven't done a proper tour in over 20 years, but we never officially broke up. Obviously, we all work together in TSO [TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA]. We've played a lot of this SAVATAGE music in the TSO shows. Throughout the years, we've done at least one SAVATAGE song per tour, I believe — at least one. So the music has been out there. And the fanbase has been clamoring for this for the longest time. And, man, I've gotta hand it to them.

"Jon Oliva, several years ago… Jon is always writing music, and the plan was to do some recording — he's got a bunch of new ideas — do some recording and get out there and let's do this again. Jon has obviously run into a number of health problems, which are serious, and I'm sure everybody's read about them. But in Jon's wisdom, he's, like, 'You know what?' The ball kind of started rolling again. He's not going to stop it this time. Jon's gonna be involved in everything that we're doing from here forward. He can't go out and do these tours right now, and he's gonna work himself back into it. We've got our fingers crossed. But I tell you, man, the music in general, the fanbase, there's just a strength behind all that that's really kept the name alive, kept the interest alive.

"We're all here," Plate continued. "We're all playing probably as well or better than we've ever played. It's not like we've been sitting around for 20 years doing nothing and decided to reunite. Chris and I, Johnny and Al, we've been doing these TSO tours every year, plus a number of things in the off season. So there's a lot of factors to this. But the excitement of seeing the reality of it, seeing the confirmed shows, seeing the posters…

"Chris and I have been basically joined at the hip since 1995," Jeff added. "We've done a lot of stuff together. We talk about this all the time, and it really is exciting just to be able to get back out there and do this and play this music."

Chris chimed in: "The plan was, after we did Wacken [Open Air festival in 2015], to start playing. But [TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA founder] Paul [O'Neill] passed, and then we had to get over that. Then COVID came. And then Jon wanted to get started, then his injuries came. Like Johnny Lee had said when I was just speaking with him, 10 years went by like that. And we need to do this now. It's, like, if you blink your eyes, 10 more years will go by. And I don't wanna get emotional on things, but every other day, somebody in my life passes, it seems nowadays, as you get older. So we wanna take the advantage now of getting us together and celebrating what Jon and Paul and Criss [Oliva, late SAVATAGE guitarist] and all of us have done with SAVATAGE's music and give the fans that had a chance to see it a chance to see us again and the ones that never saw us a chance to see it."

Jeff continued: "And I'll tell you something. Chris mentioned losing Paul, and that obviously threw a huge wrench into everything. But in the infinite wisdom of Jon and Paul, they never dissolved the band. We've had this discussion several times. 'Well, what is SAVATAGE? Are we still a thing?' Paul refused to ever say that we were done. 'We're still a band,' yada, yada. So here we are all these years later. It may have been frustrating for a lot of people that we haven't played, but we never broke up. So now we're back. And I think this is gonna be really interesting and it's gonna be awesome."

Chris said: "I used to tell the fans, 'My crystal ball isn't working. When it happens, I will be there.' And I wanted it probably as much [as], if not 10 times more than, the fans, because it was such an important part of my everyday life. The fans are fans of a band, and SAVATAGE was a lot of my life for decades. And then TSO came along, but that piece of SAVATAGE not being there… I'm the one who's not married and I don't have kids, so it's, like, that part of my life being gone was a big part of me. So it means a lot for me to be back in that family and that world. It really does."

Zak joined SAVATAGE in 1992 as the replacement for Jon Oliva. Zak sang on four albums with the band — "Edge Of Thorns" (1993),"Handful Of Rain" (1994),"Dead Winter Dead" (1995) and "The Wake Of Magellan" (1997) — before departing in 2000, allowing Jon to return. Both Jon and Zak took part in SAVATAGE's 2015 performance at Wacken Open Air, which marked the band's first, and only so far, appearance on stage since they went on hiatus back in 2002.

SAVATAGE's last album release, "Poets And Madmen", in 2001 was highlighted by Jon's return as lead vocalist, replacing Zak, who left the band citing family reasons, and the departure of guitarist Al Pitrelli, who accepted an offer to join MEGADETH in 2000. Pitrelli did record solos for some songs prior to his departure. Another very limited U.S. tour followed, supported by FATES WARNING in the early shows, and then NEVERMORE for the remainder. Around this time, Jon chose Zak's replacement in the form of Damond Jiniya (DIET OF WORMS). Damond performed Zak's parts on tour, with Jon having an increased vocal role in proceedings.

In September 2021, Jon Oliva was arrested on the west central coast of Florida for driving under the influence as well as possession of a controlled substance. Police charged Oliva with possession of cocaine, which is a felony, and DUI, which is a misdemeanor. Oliva was reportedly arrested again in July 2023 on another cocaine possession charge.

Back in 2016, Jon announced on social media that he suffered a stroke in April of that year. At the time, he said: "It was not as serious as it could have been, but it did leave me with some physical recovery challenges often associated with strokes."

Despite his health issues, Jon said that he didn't regret the way he had lived his life. He wrote: "I lived the rock 'n' roll lifestyle since I was 18. It's all I knew and I enjoyed the ride very much. But there comes a time in everyone's life where you have to step back and make some life-changing decisions... which I have."

Shortly after SAVATAGE's reunion performance at the 2015 Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany, Oliva claimed that he felt better than he had in 20 years because he had "stopped drinking and eating" in preparation for the concert. He explained: "It's my voice that's freaking me out, because, even when I was in my late 20s, early 30s, doing songs like '24 Hours Ago' were always really hard to do. And, of course, I didn't realize that it was all the drugs and alcohol I was doing. But, after doing that, getting my act together and stuff, singing '24 Hours Ago', it's actually easy now. [Laughs]"

In addition to his work with SAVATAGE, Oliva is well known for co-creating the classical music-meets-prog rock and pyro act TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA alongside the project's founder Paul O'Neill. Oliva has reportedly remained involved in TSO's activities even after O'Neill's April 2017 death of an accidental drug overdose.

Jon's brother Criss, who was one of the founding members of SAVATAGE, was killed in October 1993 by a drunk driver when he and his wife Dawn were en route to the Livestock festival in Zephyrhills, Florida. The driver of the other car was found to have a drunk driving record of seven prior DUIs and having a blood alcohol content of .294 percent.

São Paulo, we’re coming for you... x2! Join us a couple days after our appearance at Monsters of Rock for an...

Posted by Savatage on Tuesday, February 18, 2025

In a new interview with Radioactive MikeZ, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM program "Wired In The Empire", EXODUS drummer Tom Hunting was asked which METALLICA album he thinks is better, "Ride The Lightning" or "Master Of Puppets". He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think I would pick 'Master'. I think 'Ride The Lightning' is a more brutal record, but I think 'Master Of Puppets', that was a moment captured in time of a band — just young men peaking creatively. It's a perfect record from end to end. And 'Ride The Lightning' is definitely a close second. I mean, 'Master' is my favorite album. Pinning it against all the others, I think it's better than all the others. The 'Black Album' is a great record, lots of commercial success for that one for them. They just blasted the door down for everybody. But I'd definitely pick 'Master'."

He continued: "I think James's [Hetfield] vocals on that record… With any band, you could see the progression, if they're doing it right. You could see the progression of a musician as they're getting better. 'Kill 'Em All', we were just kids and he was just figuring out how he was gonna be a metal singer. And he invented that shit — he invented the METALLICA-style singing and then took it to another level on 'Ride The Lightning'. And then 'Master Of Puppets', he just crushes."

EXODUS played its first concert with singer Rob Dukes in nearly 11 years on April 5 at the Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Philly at the Fillmore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In January it was announced that EXODUS had parted ways with longtime singer Steve "Zetro" Souza and was being rejoined by Dukes.

Souza joined EXODUS in 1986 after previously fronting the band LEGACY (which later became TESTAMENT). He remained in the band until their hiatus in 1993, but rejoined them for two years from 2002 to 2004. Dukes had joined EXODUS in 2005 (following Souza's departure) and remained until 2014, when Souza rejoined.

Dukes appeared on four of EXODUS's studio albums — "Shovel Headed Kill Machine" (2005),"The Atrocity Exhibition... Exhibit A" (2007),"Let There Be Blood" (2008, a re-recording of EXODUS's classic 1985 LP, "Bonded By Blood") and "Exhibit B: The Human Condition" (2010).

Although EXODUS rarely gets mentioned alongside the so-called "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal — METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX — the band's "Bonded By Blood" LP inspired the likes of TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL, VIO-LENCE and many others to launch their careers and is considered one of the most influential thrash metal albums of all time.

In a new interview with Headbangers México, Mark Morton, guitarist and songwriter for the five-time Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling band LAMB OF GOD, spoke about his evolution as a solo artist, particularly as it relates to his latest solo album, "Without The Pain". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, I think that [Morton's debut solo album, 2019's] 'Anesthetic' was a wonderful experience. [I'm] very proud of that record. It had some incredible moments and I built some incredible relationships there and [it had] really cool songs. And doing that record, which was a little more hard rock, heavy metal, a little bit closer — well, certainly closer to what I do with LAMB OF GOD than this new record is. And so doing that record really gave me the confidence and the independence to pursue doing a record that really reflected the music that I'm most a fan of and most listen to at home. And it's how I play guitar at home and the types of songs that I play on my own time. So I think 'Anesthetic' allowed me to do a record like 'Without The Pain', because it gave me the confidence, and I was able to feel that creative freedom."

Asked what inspired the "shift" from his heavier roots with LAMB OF GOD to the "southern rock, Americana, blues"-inspired direction of "Without The Pain", Mark said: "It's not a shift at all. I mean, this has always been part of my life. I didn't decide to explore this new avenue. This has always been who I am. If you grew up where I grew up, when I grew up, how I grew up, this is part of the culture, so this is very much part of my life, [and] always has been. It's the music that I'm most a fan of. So it feels like coming home, really, for me to be able to make a record like this."

Earlier in the month, Mark told Riff X's "Metal XS" that he has "never completely defined" himself "as just a heavy metal guitar player. And when I say 'just', there are plenty of players that just play metal and they're phenomenally explosive, incredibly dynamic and creative musicians. And that's cool," he said. "And so I believe that's possible. But for me, I've never felt like metal was the only place my creative spirit lives. So, I think I have, over time, built up this ambition and this kind of desire to express my musical spirit and my creative ideas outside of the context of LAMB OF GOD — not in spite of LAMB OF GOD, just in addition to. I love LAMB OF GOD, I love heavy metal. It's been my life's work, really, musically, until recently where I really kind of started exploring some of the stuff that was more reflective of what my personal listening tastes are. And that's what you hear on this new record."

Addressing the fact that the songwriting process in LAMB OF GOD at times requires him to make compromises while maintaining his vision of the band, Mark said: "I think what we have been able to develop in LAMB OF GOD is a real trust with one another creatively. So typically, and it's not always the case, but typically if there's some debate going on and somebody feels really, really strongly about it, where other people aren't sure, that becomes pretty apparent. And if Willie [Adler, LAMB OF GOD guitarist] feels absolute about this musical thing that I'm not sure about, then I trust his artistry because I respect and admire him as a musician. And I think the same is true the other way. And the same with Randy [Blythe, LAMB OF GOD singer]. Him and I write lyrics together, and if he feels really, really strongly about a lyrical thing, then, yeah, you're the one singing it. Run with it. Your question makes it sound like it's this sort of liability that we have to give each other room. I think it's a strength."

"Without The Pain" marks a significant departure from Mark's work with LAMB OF GOD, diving into his southern roots and leaning heavily into the southern rock lane. The album features collaborations with artists like Cody Jinks, Jaren Johnston (THE CADILLAC THREE),Charlie Starr (BLACKBERRY SMOKE),TYLER BRYANT AND THE SHAKEDOWN, Travis Denning plus guitar solos from Grace Bowers, Jason Isbell, and more, making it a unique and exciting project that blends blues, southern rock, Americana and outlaw country influences with Mark's signature guitar work.

Last month, Mark was asked by United Rock Nations about his recent comment that he had been "waiting [his] whole life" to make "Without The Pain". Asked why it took him so long to finally write and record the effort, Morton said:  "Well, I think it's been a process for me to kind of get to the point where I've felt the confidence and the independence to make this kind of record. I made my first solo LP, 'Anesthetic', which came out in 2019, I think, and that was like my first published work outside of LAMB OF GOD as a solo artist. And while it was very different than LAMB OF GOD and that was the point, I think it was still kind of tied to metal roots and metal influences. And having had the experience of making that record and gaining the confidence in my ability and in learning that my audience was willing to go there with me, I think it gave me this sort of creative freedom to feel like I could lean into what is truly the music that I'm a fan of and the kind of music that I listen to, and have been a fan of, really, my whole life and that's kind of, really, at the foundation of my playing as a guitar player. I've always felt like I'm a blues player first. That's just the way I feel about it. So for me, it wasn't really uncomfortable at all to pursue this kind of music. It was more [that] it felt like something I finally could do after waiting for a long time to get the opportunity."

Asked if making a really personal album like "Without The Pain" is a form of therapy for him, Mark said: "I think some of it's personal, some of it's not at all. I think the songs are just the songs. I think sometimes there are songs that wind up being really personal. The last song on the record, 'Home', is extremely personal. There are components of 'Brother' that are lived experience and 'Without The Pain' has references to parts of my life. But then songs like 'Hell & Back' are really just a cool kind of story. And 'Come December' is not a personal experience; it's a story. That one's cool. 'Nocturnal Sun' is just very abstract. 'Forever In The Light' is pretty abstract as well. So I don't think they're all like directly autobiographical in a sense like that."

Mark continued: "Songwriting is such a strange thing because sometimes there are lines in a song that are lived experience, and they may appear in a song that isn't entirely autobiographical. So just because a part of a song is directly related to something from a songwriter's life — there's songs that are collaborative, so different people adding different things. And really it becomes more about the song than it does what maybe inspired one or another part of it. It's a weird kind of thing. But in the end, it becomes this unique thing and when it works best is someone listens to it and they make it about their own story, and that's when it works best. And how genuine or authentic it is to a direct lived experience is less important than it being a genuine and authentic representation of a feeling or an emotion."

"Without The Pain" was released on April 11 via Snakefarm.

"Without The Pain" track listing:

01. Hell & Back feat. Jaren Johnston of THE CADILLAC THREE (Mark Morton, Jaren Johnston, Josh Wilbur)
02. Brother feat. Cody Jinks (Mark Morton, Cody Jinks, Travis Denning)
03. Without The Pain feat. Matt James of Blacktop Mojo (Mark Morton, Jaren Johnston, Josh Wilbur)
04. Kite String feat. Travis Denning (Mark Morton, Travis Denning)
05. Come December feat. Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke & Jason Isbell (Mark Morton, Charlie Gray, Matt Connor)
06. Dust feat. Cody Jinks & Grace Bowers (Mark Morton, Jaren Johnston, Cody Jinks)
07. Forever In The Light feat. Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown (Mark Morton, Tyler Bryant, Caleb Crosby)
08. Nocturnal Sun feat. Troy Sanders & Jared James Nichols (Mark Morton, Josh Wilbur)
09. The Needle And The Spoon feat. Neil Fallon of Clutch (Allen Collins, Ronald W Vanzant)
10. Home feat. Travis Denning (Mark Morton, Travis Denning, Josh Wilbur)

Mark co-wrote every song on "Without The Pain" except for the track "The Needle And The Spoon", which is a cover of the iconic LYNYRD SKYNYRD song. Throughout the album, Mark's songwriting explores themes of healing, growth, and self-reflection, with each track reflecting his journey of personal evolution. Drawing from his deep southern roots, Mark embraces the sounds of southern rock, blues, and outlaw country, while maintaining his signature edge — blending honest, raw lyricism with intricate guitar work. This album represents a true reinvention for Mark, as he embraces a more introspective and reflective phase in his career, marking his second solo release after his critically acclaimed debut.

The themes explored on "Without The Pain" are a natural progression from Mark's deeply personal autobiography, "Desolation: A Heavy Metal Memoir". In the book, Mark delves into his struggles with addiction, mental health, and the toll of his heavy metal career, offering a raw, unfiltered look at his life and the journey toward finding peace and redemption. "Without The Pain" picks up where the memoir left off, providing a soundtrack to Mark's continuing journey of growth and reconciliation.

Just ahead of their "Bonded By Blood" 40th-anniversary shows, "Swarm of Horror" USA headline tour and stops at Sonic Temple, Welcome To Rockville and Milwaukee Metal Fest, San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal pioneers EXODUS have released a brand new cover of the SCORPIONS deep cut "He's A Woman - She's A Man" featuring fellow thrash icon Mark Osegueda of DEATH ANGEL on lead vocals. This unmissable hard rock-turned-thrash metal meeting sees some of metal's legendary greats paying homage to one of rock's most timeless artists.

EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt says: "We decided to cover one of our favorite bands of all time a ways back and have been sitting on it until now, and even better, the one and only Mark Osegueda of DEATH ANGEL/KERRY KING collabed with us to sing it, and he crushes it! He is the only guy we knew who could do Klaus [Meine] justice. Hope you dig it!"

EXODUS played its first concert with singer Rob Dukes in nearly 11 years on April 5 at the Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Philly at the Fillmore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In January it was announced that EXODUS had parted ways with longtime singer Steve "Zetro" Souza and was being rejoined by Dukes.

Souza joined EXODUS in 1986 after previously fronting the band LEGACY (which later became TESTAMENT). He remained in the band until their hiatus in 1993, but rejoined them for two years from 2002 to 2004. Dukes had joined EXODUS in 2005 (following Souza's departure) and remained until 2014, when Souza rejoined.

Dukes previously appeared on four of EXODUS's studio albums — "Shovel Headed Kill Machine" (2005),"The Atrocity Exhibition... Exhibit A" (2007),"Let There Be Blood" (2008, a re-recording of EXODUS's classic 1985 LP, "Bonded By Blood") and "Exhibit B: The Human Condition" (2010).

Although EXODUS rarely gets mentioned alongside the so-called "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal — METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX — the aforementioned "Bonded By Blood" LP inspired the likes of TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL, VIO-LENCE and many others to launch their careers and is considered one of the most influential thrash metal albums of all time.

HALESTORM has unveiled "Darkness Always Wins", a slowly building, cinematic hard rock anthem that marks the Grammy-winning band's first release of 2025. The song, helmed by Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb, is the first to be revealed from a new album from Atlantic Records, details of which will be announced soon.

"'Darkness Always Wins' is not a song of hope, nor is it a song of despair," said HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale. "It is reality. History repeating. Evil prevails and the good depart first. But we are not doomed as long as we persist and keep our fires burning. The war may not be won in this lifetime. But our mission is to pass the torch so that those who follow have a light to fight with."

In a social media post, HALESTORM guitarist Joe Hottinger wrote about "Darkness Always Wins": "We wrote this down in Savannah, GA. It was the first song we wrote for what became the album. It was like a test session… we went down there to see how it was working with Dave Cobb. Wrote and recorded this in two days at his then new studio. It was the beginning of a beautiful relationship that turned into a beautiful album.

"Can't wait for everyone to hear what we've been up to."

In a recent interview with Cutter's Rockcast, Lzzy spoke about HALESTORM's songwriting and recording sessions with Cobb, known for his previous collaborations with the likes of Sammy Hagar, Slash, GRETA VAN FLEET and RIVAL SONS. Asked if the band's follow-up to 2022's "Back From The Dead" album was "done", Lzzy said: "Yes. Literally we're getting mixes back as we speak."

Regarding the musical direction of the new HALESTORM material, Lzzy said: "It's really hard to describe this one. We did the record with Dave Cobb, which is a new producer for us. His ADHD mixed very well with our ADHD. But we didn't do it traditionally the way we always do these albums. First day, we walked in and I always have, like, whatever, a ton of half-written songs or full-written songs, or, 'Here's a riff or whatever' — you come in with your bag of tricks. And Dave Cobb says, 'Oh, we're not gonna do any of that.' And I'm, like, 'What do you mean?' He's, like, 'We're not doing demos. I hate demos. What we're gonna do is we're gonna start and we're gonna write, and as we're writing, we're recording at the same time.' So that's what we did. The first day we actually ended up writing our first single that'll be coming out soon. But, yeah, we started, like, 'Okay, who's got a line?' 'Oh, I have this that I thought of yesterday.' 'Cool. That'll work. Let's go.' Set up the drums, set up the guitar, here's the vocals. And so we would be recording while we were writing it, and then we would get done and we would move on to the next day. And so there are songs that don't even have a click track to them or a guide because we forgot."

Lzzy continued: "There's so many different elements of songs that we used to write when we were kids, but, obviously, as adults — a lot of that feeling. It was kind of an emotional rollercoaster. There's also, I think, some of the heaviest songs we've ever written on there, some really beautiful mid-tempos. A lot of personalities that I've always wanted to kind of put on a record, but I never really had the freedom or time to, because usually when we do a HALESTORM record, it's, like, 'Okay, we have to have all the songs picked. We have to have them rehearsed.' We go in and kind of do it like an assembly line. Like, 'Okay, you do the bass, do the drums, do the guitar, do the vocals, and we're good.' So there's no time to really like sit with things before they're, like, 'Okay, we've already decided we're gonna do that.' And so the freedom and kind of the nerve-racking kind of element of the fact that there wasn't really a plan ended up being the special sauce on this album, because we were just chasing everything that got us excited. And if it wasn't a 'hell yeah', it was a 'hell no'. So there's nothing on there on this album that we don't feel complete ownership over. There's nothing on this album that anybody forced us to do. There's nothing on this album that isn't part of our personalities."

Elaborating on why the new HALESTORM album feels like it is a return to the band's roots in a way, Lzzy said: "My bass player said it yesterday. He's, like, 'It's kind of like this long road to the beginning,' 'cause all of the guys at one point in time said this really feels like we're back in our parents' basement again and we're hustling and we're trying to figure out how to write songs on the radio. But we have all this knowledge now. So everything ended up coming together so incredibly well. But it was almost like the reverse, that the music was telling us what to do and not us trying to like shoehorn anything in.

"I'm telling you, man, — it is the most HALESTORM record we've ever done," Lzzy added. "It is the first time in the 20 years we've been on Atlantic Records that we have not felt lorded over in regarding to making records, because usually it's time crunch. Somebody's always there being, like, 'Oh, we can't do that.' 'Oh, you probably shouldn't say that.' 'What about this thing?' And that kind of thing. So it usually becomes like a project, like a group project.

"We didn't do it in Nashville — we did it in Savannah, Georgia, locked in a house in the middle of nowhere, next to a river," Hale revealed. "The guys and I would wake up like around 11:30 a.m., we would start recording and we wouldn't stop until 4:00 a.m. And then we would annoy the hell out of the engineer who was trying to sleep with playing on the proper keyboard and coming up with weird stuff. But we were unsupervised in the best way, and it was all about, who are we now? Who were we then? This is our story. For me, when I listen to this album, it's my personal opus — all the things that I've gone through in my life, both dark and not. There's more questions than answers. It's not just me giving myself a pep talk, like 'I'm the fire', 'I'm back from the dead.' It's like I'm dealing with a lot of my reality and a lot of the reality of the world in my own way. And then it's also our story as a band, and you can really hear it in the music and in the lyrics. So I'm so excited for people to hear it. And it's to the point where it's, like, I don't even really care if anybody likes it because all four of us are, like, 'This is our favorite album we've ever done.'"

Earlier this year, Lzzy and Joe completed "Halestorm's Lzzy And Joe: The Living Room Sessions" tour featuring the duo performing acoustic, stripped down versions of HALESTORM favorites and the music that inspired the band.

Cobb has shared in nine Grammy wins, including four for "Best Americana Album" and three for "Best Country Album". He's also been named "Producer Of The Year" by the Country Music Awards, the Americana Music Association (twice) and the Music Row Awards, and has been a Grammy nominee in the category.

Last summer HALESTORM and I PREVAIL completed a co-headlining tour. Produced by Live Nation, the trek was also the catalyst and the creative spark for HALESTORM and I PREVAIL's collaborative track "Can U See Me In The Dark?", which was released last June.

"Back From The Dead" has tallied over 100 million streams worldwide. Rolling Stone called the title track "a biting but cathartic howler about overcoming all obstacles," and that song as well as "The Steeple" marked their fifth and sixth number ones at rock radio, respectively. Associated Press said the album "will definitely be in the running for best hard rock/metal album of the year." Their previous album, "Vicious", earned the band their second Grammy nomination, for "Best Hard Rock Performance" for the song "Uncomfortable", the band's fourth #1 at rock radio, and led Loudwire to name HALESTORM "Rock Artist Of The Decade" in 2019.

Fronted by Lzzy with drummer Arejay Hale, Hottinger and bass player Josh Smith, HALESTORM's music has earned multiple platinum and gold certifications from the RIAA, and the band has earned a reputation as a powerful live music force, headlining sold-out shows and topping festival bills around the world, and sharing the stage with icons including HEAVEN & HELL, Alice Cooper, Joan Jett and JUDAS PRIEST. Additionally, Lzzy was named the first female brand ambassador for Gibson and served as host of AXS TV's "A Year In Music".

Photo credit: Jimmy Fontaine

Dawn Of Ashes was founded in Los Angeles by Kristof Bathory at the turn of the millennium, the group moniker he chose suggestive of “the beginning of the end.” Emerging from the industrial and aggrotech genres before expanding into the blackened metal and extreme industrial scenes, Bathory and his band have been a relentless force ever since, evolving and redefining the boundaries of extreme music for over two decades.

Having recently relocated to Denmark, forthcoming new album Infecting The Scars sees Bathory return Dawn Of Ashes to its aggrotech roots while pushing forward with a new level of intensity and maturity. It marks a rebirth, fusing the raw, unfiltered aggression of the past with a refined and evolved sound. Lyrically and sonically, it reaches a level where the songs are no longer merely anthems of destruction, but rather an exploration of psychological horror, inner demons and the scars left behind by life’s most brutal moments.

Embodying this evolution, the album’s first single, “Hypertensive Crisis”, is described by Bathory as a deliberate attempt to “recapture the nostalgia of our early era while seamlessly blending it with fresh, modern elements. Evolution and maturity – both in sound and lyrics – are crucial to the creative process. Artistic growth has allowed this project to delve deeper, delivering more meaningful lyrics that evoke horror through the lens of psychosis. This song is a perfect example, showcasing a fully realised version of our classic sound, reimagined with a new intensity and depth.”

The move to Denmark also sees Dawn Of Ashes set to expand its reach, bringing the group’s visceral live performances to new territories. European tour dates are currently in the works alongside planned shows in Mexico, promising a global assault of chaos and horror.

Infectting The Scars will be released on June 6 via Metropolis Records.



Tracklist:

“Intro – Made In Hell”
“Infecting The Scars”
“Bone Saw” (feat. Alien Vampires)
“Visceral Rage”
“Hypertensive Crisis”
“Coma Maker”
“Masochism”
“Faith Desecration”
“Throne Of Misanthropy”
“Outro – Existential Despair”

“Hypertensive Crisis”

Moribund Records has announced May 23 as the release date for Waxen’s new album, High Plains Bloodlust. Check out the track, “Black Nitrite”, below, and pre-order the CD here.

Waxen delivers skillfully played blackened thrash metal with strong true metal leanings and the undercurrent of black metal, drenched in Toby Knapp’s trademark neo-classical shred-mastery.

Waxen’s seventh album, High Plaines Bloodlust, see’s Toby Knapp bringing a much more melodic approach to their normal rough and raw black thrash metal sound. The album is loaded with traditional thrash metal riffing that transforms into black metal shredding, then oscillates towards a neo-classical heavy metal solo or segments of brutal death metal tremolo. Toby Knapp’s innovative and eclectic style and talent for writing real songs surpasses and sets him apart from all other shredders, and catapults Waxen to the forefront of the US black thrash metal scene.



Tracklisting:

“Battle Of One Hundred Slain”
“A Horse Named Fear”
“Hadamar”
“Black Nitrite”
“Red Clouds Over Kill Zones”
“High Plaines Bloodlust”

“Black Nitrite”:

During an appearance on a recent episode of The Candid Mic With Fran Strine podcast, DRAGONFORCE guitarist Herman Li was asked if he and fellow DRAGONFORCE founding guitarist Sam Totman are essentially the only actual members of the band, with the other musicians performing and recording with the group as mere "hired guns". Li responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, Sam and I started the band, and we always did pretty much all the work for it. So, in a way, it hasn't really changed. It's just some people's lives change, and that's what happens [to cause lineup changes in a band]. And every time we make a change in a band, it's because we're trying to make it better. Someone here isn't happy — they're not able to give it a hundred percent. They have other things they need to do or they just want a change in their life. And that's kind of what happens. And it's normal. It's like a company. If you're buying a Nvidia graphics card, someone, an engineer, decides they're gonna do a different job, are you gonna say, 'Wow, what's going on? This GPU is not gonna work.' Or this camera, someone making this camera. But in a band, because of what you see, who performs, sometimes you think, well, you might have some ideas."

Regarding how he and his DRAGONFORCE bandmates have adapted to the changes in the music industry over the last couple of decades, Li said: "It has changed a lot. And because the industry is changing… So the story is this: in 2018, we got rid of management, we got rid of everything. Our old business system that was put in place by our old manager, we just kind of got rid of it because it's, like, 'Well, this needs to be changed here. This is not working out.'

"I managed the band up until basically the third DRAGONFORCE album [2005's 'Inhuman Rampage'], our big hit album. At that time, the band exploded, so me managing the band wasn't even possible anymore. Especially if someone's gonna come to me and say, 'Well, I can manage the band. I work with these other bands.' Who am I to question to say, 'I know better than this guy'. So we did that for a number of years, and then I realized, 'Well, this is not actually any better.' So now I have the experience, I'm gonna do it. I've been doing enough, and I'm sure I can do a better job. So that was the big change. So I can say we had the downtime, unfortunately, through, I believe, mismanagement, because the music hasn't got worse. And now, luckily, we're more successful and popular than at that time [during] the 'Guitar Hero' explosion. And now we are actually doing better. And funnily enough, that song 'Through The Fire And Flames' [from 'Inhuman Rampage'] just got released on probably one of the biggest video games in the world right now, Fortnite. It came out last week and it's been an absolute hit. It's been crazy. I mean, how many people play that game, Fortnite? It's insane."

Herman recently confirmed that there are tentative plans for him and his DRAGONFORCE bandmates to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their most commercially successful album, "Inhuman Rampage", by performing the LP in its entirety on a 2026 tour.

Back in July 2017, "Inhuman Rampage", which came out in 2006 via Roadrunner, was officially certified gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of half a million copies.

"Inhuman Rampage" sold almost 10,000 copies in its first week of release to land at position No. 103 on the Billboard 200 chart. A song from the LP, the aforementioned "Through The Fire And Flames", received rock radio and Fuse TV airplay and was featured as a playable track (along with "Heroes Of Our Time") on the videogame "Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock". The platinum-selling single brought the Grammy-nominated extreme power metal group international acclaim.

In March 2019, the "Through The Fire And Flames" music video reached a new milestone: it surpassed one hundred million views on YouTube — DRAGONFORCE's first music video to do so.

Earlier in March, "Through The Fire And Flames" was released as a Jam Track in the video game Fortnite, available to players participating in the game's new "Spring Raid" event.

"Inhuman Rampage" was the second-to-last album to feature singer ZP "Zippy" Theart, who exited the band in 2010 and was replaced by Marc Hudson.

Only Li and Totman remain from the "Inhuman Rampage" recording lineup. They are joined in group's current formation by Hudson, drummer Gee Anzalone and bassist Alicia Vigil.

DRAGONFORCE's latest album, "Warp Speed Warriors", was released in March 2024 via Napalm Records.

"Warp Speed Warriors" was produced, mixed and mastered by Damien Rainaud at Mix Unlimited in Los Angeles, California with Totman and Li.

In a new interview with Springfield, Missouri's Q102.1 radio station, FOZZY frontman Chris Jericho was asked if there are any plans for him and his bandmates to release a follow-up to their 2022 album "Boombox". He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's interesting. So our last record, 'Boombox', we wrote it and recorded it basically during the pandemic. And then it took a couple of years to finally release it, because you didn't wanna release it with no radio playing new stuff and you can't tour on it. And that record, we spent so much time with it, I realized, and the rest of the guys did as well, maybe making a [full-length] record isn't the way to do it anymore. 'Cause we had three radio singles with it, three other songs that we play live, and then the other six songs just kind of go to the elephant burial ground where you don't really hear them ever again. And in our opinion, as you should think this way, every one of those songs could have been a Top 10 hit, like 'Sane' was and like 'Nowhere To Run' was and 'I Still Burn' was. So we're just releasing one song at a time for right now, which I think in the modern world, might be the way to do it."

Jericho continued: "If you're kind of old school, like METALLICA or [IRON] MAIDEN or something, albums still seem to be the way to go, but I think for us rock radio bands, one song at a time, because every song will get a chance to live or die on the radio and every song will get a chance to live or die live. And I think that's what we're gonna be concentrating on. So we released 'Spotlight' [in October 2023] that way. Now 'Fall In Line' [has just come] out. We're already working on the next tune, so that when this one starts to… Radio takes about a good five or six months to go through the cycle, and when it starts going down, we'll release another one. So I think that's gonna be kind of our M.O. for the next little while."

Chris went on to say that he likes releasing one song at a time as opposed to making full-length albums.

"I wanna give every song a chance at this point in time, 'cause, like I said, on 'Boombox', there was far too many great songs that just didn't get their chance," he explained. "And I think that's a shame when you spend so much time. And you know, like, 'This song is great.' We had a song called 'Ugly On The Inside' on 'Boombox'. As soon as I heard it, I'm, like, 'That's gonna be a Number One song.' We didn't even release it as a single. We never even played it live, 'cause other songs come out and the other songs work better in certain situations. So I think from now on, it's just one at a time. So we are working on the next one right now. ['Fall In Line'] just came out. So give it a chance first. But maybe in six months or so we'll release another one."

"Fall In Line" was released on April 17 via Madison Records.

The 2025 leg of FOZZY's 25th-anniversary tour, dubbed "2025th Anniversary Tour", features support from LILIAC and THE NOCTURNAL AFFAIR. The trek kicked off on April 17 in Springfield, Missouri and will conclude on May 12 in Wyandotte, Michigan.

The first U.S. leg of FOZZY's 25th-anniversary tour ran through October 21, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. Support on the tour came from THE NOCTURNAL AFFAIR and CLOZURE.

"Fall In Line" is the follow-up to FOZZY's previous standalone single, "Spotlight", which was released in October 2023 via Madison Records/The Orchard. The track was helmed by FOZZY's longtime producer Johnny Andrews (THREE DAYS GRACE, ALL THAT REMAINS, HALESTORM) and sonically refined by mixer Jacob Hanson (VOLBEAT, AMARANTHE, ARCH ENEMY).

"Boombox" came out in May 2022 and featured "I Still Burn", which has more than three million views on YouTube. It also included the Top 10 singles "Nowhere To Run" and "Sane".

In the spring of 2023, FOZZY spent time on the road with UGLY KID JOE as part of the latter band's first tour of the United States in 27 years.

In January 2022, FOZZY parted ways with longtime drummer Frank Fontsere and replaced him with Grant Brooks (THROUGH FIRE).

Fontsere was a founding member of FOZZY, having formed the group in 1999 with Jericho and Ward.

When FOZZY announced Fontsere's departure, the band said that he was "stepping down to focus on his family and other projects."

FOZZY is Jericho, Ward, Brooks, Billy Grey (guitar) and P.J. Farley (bass).

Resurrected San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal veterans FORBIDDEN will release a new song, "Divided By Zero", later in the year. The track will mark the band's first recording with FORBIDDEN's current lineup, consisting of founding guitarist Craig Locicero, alongside longtime bassist Matt Camacho and the group's latest additions, Norman "Norm" Skinner (vocals) and Chris Kontos (drums),plus VOIVOD guitarist Daniel Mongrain, who stepped in as a replacement for Steve Smyth in July 2024.

In a new interview with The Metal Command podcast, Skinner stated about "Divided By Zero": "It's going to be released soon enough. They just finished the single artwork for it. And the clock is already ticking on that first song being released."

Regarding how his vocal approach is different from that of former FORBIDDEN singer Russ Anderson, Norm, who has previously fronted such acts as NIVIANE and IMAGIKA, said: "I kept in mind, I'm, like, 'I've gotta throw a little bit of Russ in there on some of this. I can't just be, like, 'Okay, well, now here's a new song done completely in the style of Norm now.' So, yeah, it's a balancing act with some of these songs.

"It's a little different and there's a bit of a learning curve for me because I'm so used to singing a certain way and recording a certain way and everything, and now with this group of guys, it's, like, 'Well, we don't do it that way. We do it this way,'" he explained.

"I just finished a powwow with our guitar player Daniel Mongrain and found out that I sing a lot of 'happy chords', a lot of majors, he says. So we're going on ways to — I don't know — maybe make it sound a little more evil. But then when you've been singing power metal for 10 years, that tends to happen.

"But I'm definitely keeping it in the back of my mind that, as we roll out these new tunes, to make sure I still stay true to what I think the FORBIDDEN fans will like while staying true to myself at the same time," Norm added.

On the topic of the musical direction of the new FORBIDDEN music compared to that of the band's previous efforts, Norm said: "The music itself, I've heard Craig [say] that it's very a mixture of [2010's] 'Omega Wave' and [1990's] 'Twisted Into Form'. That's the cross where vocally I'm doing the more modern-sounding singing like I do — I'm throwing in my harsh screams and growls sprinkled throughout, which Russ really didn't do until 'Omega Wave'. 'Omega Wave', all of a sudden it's, like, 'Oh, wow.' I mean, [1997's] 'Green' was an angry album, and Russ was just more just like raw scream and just anger. 'Omega Wave' was a more polished, some more death vocal stuff thrown in and stuff. So I'm bringing a lot of that in these songs here and there, because that's something I like to do. But then at the same time I'm taking a lot of the kind of phrasing that Russ would do on those old thrash songs. And, of course, I'm keeping the high notes in there, here and there. Not overdoing it, just placing them where they need to be. So you get that little, 'Yeah, there it is.' We're just trying to really balance these songs as best. And, for me, those are my two favorite FORBIDDEN albums: 'Twisted Into Form' and 'Omega Wave'."

FORBIDDEN's new songs are being recorded at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California with engineer/co-producer Zack Ohren.

As previously reported, FORBIDDEN will embark on the "40 Years Of Twisted Evil" European tour in August. The trek will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band's formation and the 35th anniversary of the release of FORBIDDEN's second album, "Twisted Into Form", which originally came out in March 1990 via Combat Records.

In August 2024, Locicero spoke to Bloodstock TV's Oran O'Beirne about FORBIDDEN's decision to remain independent, at least for the time being. He said: "We don't have a record label. I don't want a record label yet. I have an opportunity to finally do this with no monkey. And we're a better band than we were at any point recently because of all the things that have kind of brought us together. It feels different, and that's no knock on anyone. But from the top down, with Russ going through what he went through, that's kind of the stigma that stayed on us for a while. He wasn't feeling a hundred percent. So now you have Norm who's up there, he's, like, 'Yeah.' He's not trying to be anybody, and there's just a whole positive groundswell."

Elaborating on why FORBIDDEN has no interest in aligning itself with a record label right now, Craig said: "It's important to say that we have no delusions of grandeur either. I think that we understand more than anybody how much the industry has changed.

"I don't wanna get caught in the machine, and the machine can chew you up before you get creative," he explained. "You can get stunted creatively if you agree too quickly. 'Cause we've been approached already. And I'm, like, 'Not yet.' We're not gonna go there yet.

"It's important for us to feel like we got our album done and artistically put together, lyrically," Craig added. "No one needs to fucking tell us how to do it. And I feel good about our chances of at least reigniting and kind of reforging our path again. 'Cause there's a spot for us. 'Cause we've got all our Bay Area brothers, but we're that band, we're a little more heavy metal, a little more melodic. We do things a little differently. So we have our own little spot. And I hope to have it all land where it's supposed to be."

Smyth exited FORBIDDEN in July 2024, saying in a statement that he "decided it's time to part ways with FORBIDDEN, and return to my band ONE MACHINE as priority, along with other projects on the horizon, and of course session work, and teaching music as always."

The resurrected FORBIDDEN lineup made its live debut at a "secret" show in July 2023 at Baltic Kiss in Richmond, California under the TWISTED INTO EVIL banner.

Originally founded in 1985 as FORBIDDEN EVIL by Anderson, guitarists Locicero and Robb Flynn, bassist John Tegio and drummer Jim Pittman, the quintet started playing house parties and Bay Area clubs such as the legendary Ruthie's Inn soon after. After a couple of lineup changes (Paul Bostaph on drums and Matt Camacho on bass) in '86, the band quickly rose through the ranks of Bay Area thrash to gain a massive following and worldwide notoriety. In 1986, the band added Glen Alvelais as the second guitarist. It was this lineup that cemented itself into the Bay Area scene and soon after recorded 1988 release "Forbidden Evil" for Combat Records, changing the band's name to simply FORBIDDEN. In May of '89 while on a European tour with SACRED REICH, FORBIDDEN made their first appearance at the legendary Dynamo Open Air in Eindhoven, Netherlands. It was here that FORBIDDEN made their European mark and recorded the "Raw Evil" EP. The band returned Stateside and replaced Alvelais with Tim Calvert. Calvert was a missing ingredient that brought the band closer together as a team. They continued to tour the U.S. first with EXODUS and then again with SACRED REICH with Calvert on second guitar. The band went on to release "Twisted Into Form" in 1990, "Distortion" in 1994 and "Green" in 1996. However, the band, having gone though many lineup changes, disbanded in 1997.

In 2008 Craig being inspired at a screening of the movie "Get Thrashed", called the other members of the band and suggested getting back on stage to see if they could reignite the FORBIDDEN machine. With Anderson, Locicero, Camacho back in the mix along with new additions Glen Alvelais and Gene Hoglan they played two sold-out DEATH ANGEL shows in San Francisco. Steve Smyth came into the mix in place of Alvelais and Mark Hernandez took Hoglan's place. The band then released "Omega Wave", the fifth in the catalog and went on a U.S. tour with OVERKILL. European festivals were next but afterwards Hernandez had to walk away due to personal reasons leading to a tour cancelation. Sasha Horn was the answer to fill the drummer's spot.

After playing "Bonded By Baloff" with EXODUS and one Bay Area show, FORBIDDEN embarked for Chile to play the Metal Fest in Santiago. It was on this flight back home that Russ informed the band that he couldn't tour anymore because of the physical toll it was taking on him. With that, the band dissolved once again for 11 years.

When FORBIDDEN's "rebirth" was first announced in April 2023, Locicero said in a statement: "First off, I did NOT see this coming. When FORBIDDEN quietly disbanded the second time in 2012, I figured it was over. While I always apply the 'never say never' mantra to my life, Russ made it clear that he was completely finished with touring. My wingman and main dude from the conception of FORBIDDEN EVIL, Russ was my mentor and the guy who bought me beer when I was 15! I couldn't imagine FORBIDDEN without him, so I had little hope of a future with FORBIDDEN. Today Russ is happily retired and living the sober life. I have nothing but love for that and him. Everyone needs to respect his wishes like we do.

"So then ….. fast forward 11 years after our last show, Bay Area vocal talent Norman Skinner walks in to help us rehearse and sing a few thrash classics for the BAY AREA INTERTHRASHIONAL set at Dynamo MetalFest 2022. WHAMMO! That's when it all happened by accident. Truly. Then it happens AGAIN when Norman sings 'Chalice Of Blood' onstage alongside WARBRINGER at the one Bay Area show of BAY AREA INTERTHRASHIONAL. Holy fuck!"