EXTREME guitarist Nuno Bettencourt joined PAT TRAVERS BAND on stage last night (Thursday, January 23) at the Coach House Concert in San Juan Capistrano, California to perform several tracks, including EXTREME's "Get The Funk Out" and Pat's "Snortin' Whiskey". Video of his appearance can be seen below.

When Bettencourt first announced his performance with the PAT TRAVERS BAND on Wednesday (January 22),he said in a video message (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "The reason this is such a big deal for me — this is a big, big, big dream come true. This is up there. I know I've been able, in my lifetime, to do some amazing things and perform with some amazing people, but when people talk about the Mount Rushmore of guitar… And in the past, I've alwaysin conversations and interviews and with peers, we always have this kind of, like, 'What's your Mount Rushmore?' And I've always said Jimmy Page, Edward Van Halen, Brian May. And I've always thrown in Jimi Hendrix as the fourth one. Which is because of what he's done, obviously. I don't know if any of those other guys that I mentioned would even exist without Hendrix, but that's more of a Mount Rushmore. If people say, 'Okay, now what's your personal Mount Rushmore, to you. What is your icons and the guys who really made you who you are as a guitar player and influenced you that much into your DNA of playing that is so recognizable?' And it would still be Edward, it would still be Brian May, it'd still be Jimmy Page, but that fourth guy would have to be Pat Travers — without a doubt. I don't mention him enough, we don't talk about him enough.

"In the funk guitar world, uh, there is no way what I did with 'Get The Funk Out' and what I did with EXTREME would even be that sound if it wasn't for Pat Travers's influence on me. As a matter of fact, when Brian May and met me for the first time and he talked about 'Get The Funk Out' and he said, 'What kind of person writes a riff that's like all these like sort of different movements within riffs instead of just one straight rock riff?' And I told him, 'Why? Pat Travers.' And he said, 'Excuse me?' And I said, 'Yeah, Pat Travers, motherfucker.'

"When you go listening to 'Snortin' Whiskey', that song alone, to me, is a masterpiece in rock and roll," he continued. "The riffs, the playing, the soloing, the drumming, the bass, the pocket, the feel is everything that really shaped me.

"I was always attracted to the funk side of rock, and Pat was a massive, massive influence in songs like 'Gettin' Betta'. If you go and check out Pat Travers's 'Live! Go For What You Know', that was my Bible, that was my funk guitar rock Bible.

"I've never gotten to perform with Pat," Nuno added. "He's always been a hero of mine. He actually did a little bit on 'Get The Funk Out', the original, but he didn't really get to play. It didn't really come out the way we wanted it to. I was young, stupid, whatever. And I'm getting a chance to perform with a hero, an idol of mine who is in the fabric of my being as a guitarist, as a writer, as a singer. And I am so pumped. I'm playing about four or five songs with him. And I get to sit there and not only watch my idol; I get to go up and jump up with him.

"I'm so grateful that Pat is allowing me to share the stage with him. He is an absolute icon to me and one of the most influential guys. Yes, Edward. Yes, Jimmy Page. Yes, Brian. But just as equal, I'm telling you, for me, just as equal on how he affected me and how he changed my game and is in my DNA, Pat Travers, all the fucking way. Most underrated. And if you can catch him— he's still fucking touring like a fucking tour dog that he is and he's still playing clubs, playing wherever they'll let him fucking play because this music needs to be heard."

From his early days in Toronto to playing alongside rock legends like Ronnie Hawkins and touring with the likes of RUSH, Travers has built a career that spans over 40 years and includes some of rock's most electrifying guitar solos. Known for his fiery performances and timeless hits like "Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights)", "Snortin' Whiskey" and "I La La La Love You", Travers remains a top-tier guitarist whose influence can be heard in bands from METALLICA to WHITESNAKE. His current lineup — featuring the talented David Pastorius (bass) and Alex Petrosky (drums) — continues to deliver unforgettable live shows that keep his legacy alive and thriving.

Bettencourt rose to rock superstardom as lead guitarist of the legendary rock band EXTREME. He has parlayed that success into an acclaimed career as a Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum artist, songwriter, and producer, working alongside industry titans such as Sir Paul McCartney, Steven Tyler, Kanye West, Robert Palmer, Rihanna, Janet Jackson and Perry Farrell, among others. Nuno is also the CEO and co-founder of Atlantis Entertainment, a full-service media and production company which creates and produces content through ventures integrating film and television, music, branded entertainment, commercials and digital content.

EXTREME's latest studio album, "Six", was released in June 2023 via earMUSIC.



Pat Travers Band with special guest Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme doing Snortin’ Whisky

Posted by Carl Alvarez on Thursday, January 23, 2025



Posted by Taeko Ogawa on Friday, January 24, 2025



PAT TRAVERS
Thursday Jan 23
Coach House Concert Hall
San Juan Capistrano

Posted by Nuno Bettencourt on Wednesday, January 22, 2025

During a recent appearance on the "Axe Lords" podcast, hosted by Dave Hill, Cindy Hulej and Tom Beaujour, SLAYER guitarist Kerry King was asked how long into the band's career it became noticeable that SLAYER had obsessive, fanatical fans. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "People had to stomach it for a while, so it wasn't record one, wasn't record two. I'd say somewhere between record three, four and five — maybe record three and four. When you start to get a reputation, people know your music; they're not just coming to say, 'Hey, let's check this out.' They know it and they wanna see it. So, it's gotta be that time frame — like, '86, '88."

Asked if he ever gets numb or gets used to the audience going insane at SLAYER shows, King replied: "I'm kind of used to it, but I really don't expect it, 'cause when you expect things, then you're just setting yourself up for failure. So you just go in with a clean slate and see what's gonna happen when the music hits."

Regarding what the craziest thing was that he had ever seen from the stage, Kerry said: "The craziest and funniest thing I ever saw was the first time I saw a wheelchair come over — with somebody in it. I was on Jeff's [Hanneman, late SLAYER guitarist] side — this was when Jeff was still playing — I was on Jeff's side, and we both saw it at the same time. We both just put our heads down because we were both just laughing. Because we weren't prepared to see that, and then once you saw it, you're, like, 'Oh, well, that's kind of cool. At least they get to partake in the fun as well.' But just not having that picture in your mind before you see it, you're just, like, 'What the fuck?' I cracked up for a few seconds and carried on."

King also talked about his plans for a second album from his solo band as the follow-up to "From Hell I Rise", which came out last May. He said: "I'm always working on stuff. Paul [Bostaph, KERRY KING and SLAYER drummer] and I probably demoed 10 or 12 [songs] — not just from when we did this record, but we've still got demos from [SLAYER's final album, 2015's] 'Repentless' that I haven't used. We've got demos from 'From Hell I Rise' that I haven't used. We've got demos from things I've written since then that obviously we haven't used. So, it's just gonna be selecting which ones are gonna be on the next record. And I'm gonna have leftovers for record three. So, we're in a good spot, we're in a good scenario to get another record out in a nice, timely fashion. So you don't have to wait five six years like you would for [a new] SLAYER [album]. [Laughs]"

King and his solo band kicked off their first-ever headlining tour on January 15 at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, California.

With MUNICIPAL WASTE as special guest and ALIEN WEAPONRY supporting, the tour is set to wrap at House of Blues in Las Vegas on February 22.

All material for "From Hell I Rise" was written by the 60-year-old SLAYER guitarist. Helming the sessions at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles in 2023 was producer Josh Wilbur, who has previously worked with KORN, LAMB OF GOD, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and BAD RELIGION, among others.

Joining Kerry in his new band are singer Mark Osegueda (DEATH ANGEL),guitarist Phil Demmel (MACHINE HEAD, VIO-LENCE),Kyle Sanders (bass; HELLYEAH) and Bostaph.

In early May 2024, the KERRY KING band performed its first live show at Reggies in Chicago. In the days following, the band went from playing an intimate venue to performing at the huge U.S. festivals Welcome To Rockville (Florida) and Sonic Temple (Ohio).

KERRY KING launched a European tour on June 3, 2024 — King's 60th birthday – in Tilburg, The Netherlands. The trek combined headline shows in the U.K., The Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Spain but also festival appearances such as Rock Am Ring, Hellfest, Tuska, Download, Sweden Rock Festival and many more.

The SLAYER guitarist's solo band played its first concert as the support act for LAMB OF GOD and MASTODON on July 19, 2024 at the Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie, Texas. The six-week "Ashes Of Leviathan" tour wrapped on August 31, 2024 in Omaha, Nebraska.

Photo credit: Andrew Stuart

Hungarian-born singer Dorothy Martin will release her new album, "The Way", on March 14 via Roc Nation.

The LP is truly a watershed moment for the artist, ultimately cementing her place among hard rock's elite players.

Today, she has shared the lyric video for the new single "Tombstone Town", featuring GUNS N' ROSES guitar icon Slash. Dorothy's arena-sized voice collides with Slash's legendary playing.

Dorothy says: "'Tombstone Town' is a sexy boot-stomper about betrayal, revenge, and mercy. Slash lends us his legendary guitar playing, and the music video has surprising twist at the end."

Slash himself sums it up perfectly: "'Tombstone Town' is a sexy rock 'n' roll grind, featuring Dorothy's inimitable swagger and great guitar hook."

About the album, the vocalist enthuses: "This album is a love letter to the fans. I'm letting them know everything is going to be okay, and we"ll help each other find the way — even if we get lost at times."

Projecting a full-bodied voice with every inch of her being, Martin kindles a spark of hope into a flame as bright as the sun itself. The Budapest-born maverick singer, songwriter, performer, and frontwoman of the Los Angeles-based eponymous band, Dorothy brings gusto, grit, and glory back to hard rock, exuding superstar-size confidence coupled with the quiet resolve of an old school Western anti-hero. She has unassumingly blazed her own trail with sold out tours, major collaborations, and over one billion streams already in the rearview.

However, her vision really catches fire on her fourth full-length album, "The Way".

Dorothy arrived with the force of a hurricane back in 2016, serving up the full-length debut "Rockisdead". Surging on all platforms on which fans discover new music, "Raise Hell" reeled in over 85 million Spotify streams followed by "Wicked Ones" with 77 million Spotify streams. The band organically attracted a diehard global fanbase with "28 Days In The Valley" (2018) and "Gifts From The Holy Ghost" (2022). Kerrang! hailed the latter as "a hot-blooded rock 'n' roll record through and through," and RIFF raved, "'Holy Ghost' serves as a triumphant battle cry and a return to form." Perhaps, Outburn put it best, "It's her most bombastic and gloriously, victorious rock and roll work yet." Simultaneously, the singer took flight as the rare dynamo equally at home on a track with Slash and Nita Strauss of ALICE COOPER or STAIND and Scott Stapp of CREED. She even notably dueted with Stapp at the Grand Ole Opry.

Over the course of 2024, she carefully architected what would become "The Way" alongside songwriter and producer Scott Stevens (HALESTORM, SHINEDOWN, DAUGHTRY). Expanding the creative palette, they leaned into heavier rock spiked with a healthy helping of Southern swagger and country-style storytelling.

"The Way" track listing:

01. I Come Alive
02. The Devil I Know
03. MUD
04. Tombstone Town (feat. Slash)
05. Bones
06. Unholy Water
07. Haunted House
08. Putting Out The Fire
09. Superhuman
10. The Way

Former SLIPKNOT and current SUICIDAL TENDENCIES drummer Jay Weinberg has shared professionally filmed video of his entire October 27, 2024 performance at the Bag'Show at Le Trianon in Paris, France. Check it out below.

Says Weinberg: "This past summer, five years since my last clinic-style solo performance, I received the kind invitation from ‪@LaBaguetterieParis‬ to play their intimidatingly prestigious drum show — at the beautiful Le Trianon, alongside some truly awe-inspiring friends and heroes from the drumming world. I viewed this 30-minute set as an opportunity to take a quick look back at my experiences in music over the last 15 years; songs I've helped co-create, songs I learned on a flight to join a life-changing tour the next day, reinterpretations of material I played when I first started touring as a teenager…some songs I hadn't played live in years, and some songs I hadn't played live ever.

"Merci beaucoup, La Baguetterie — for an opportunity and experience that means so much. I hope to come back someday."

During an appearance on a July 2024 episode of the "One Life One Chance With Toby Morse" podcast, Weinberg addressed his surprise firing from SLIPKNOT in November 2023, saying: "Truth be told, I'm at kind of a point where I'm not quite yet really ready to talk about it, really. And that's not to dismiss the conversation, but I've spent time, and spend time, just processing the entire experience. And the experience not being the last six months, but really the last 10 years [of playing with SLIPKNOT]. And finally, in a way, processing all of that. And doing it in kind of what I would consider the responsible way.

"I have a fantastic therapist who helps me," he continued. "Before I speak on it, it's important for me to do the right work of processing these events that you spend 10 years exclusively committed to one thing. There's a lot to process that on the other side. And I think there is definitely a time where I'll speak to my lived experience over those ten years — just not quite yet."

Asked by host Toby Morse if he has written a book about his experiences, Weinberg said: "Yeah, I write a lot. It's one of the ways that I think is a responsible way of that processing, and that's one of the things that, through therapy, has actually been — well, literally therapeutic. It helps you helps you understand moments, periods of time, long periods of time, and it kind of helps you just kind of contextualize that in the greater scheme of life, that you're not able to when you're kind of directly just consumed by it."

Asked if he has ever had therapy for that before in his life, Jay said: "At points. Here and there. But I think anybody who embarks on trying to prioritize their mental health and pursue happiness through really tackling these things, I think anybody who embarks on that kind of a journey for themselves can understand when you find different therapists or different approaches or whatever, sometimes it doesn't work out. Sometimes it's, like, 'Oh, it's not the way I really approach this or whatever,' but I'm in a place where I've found somebody amazing where I actually feel — I've used this expression before but that pedal meeting the pavement of, like, 'Wow, this helps me contextualize, this helps me process.' And that's huge. 'Cause it can get a little bit demotivating when you're trying to search for answers and search for help with when you turn over to trying to find somebody of, like, 'Help me process this incredibly complex moment.' It doesn't happen overnight. And some people might find that to be a dejecting part of the process of. It's hard to find a good therapist, but when you do, it's a worthwhile pursuit. And it's an invitation to anybody out there who's in search of that, that even if it is difficult, if you hit those obstacles of, like, you don't feel you've found the right person to talk with yet, they're out there. It's a worthwhile thing of searching for, if you need it."

On November 5, 2023, SLIPKNOT released a statement via social media in which it said it had "decided to make a creative decision and to part ways with Jay."

Six days later, Weinberg, who replaced Joey Jordison, SLIPKNOT's original drummer, in 2013, shared on Instagram that he "was heartbroken and blindsided to receive the phone call", "the news of which, most of you learned shortly after."

Jay played his final show with SLIPKNOT on November 3 at the Hell & Heaven festival in Toluca, Mexico.

Jay discovered SLIPKNOT when he was a pre-teen, through his father. He was hooked immediately and was a huge fan of SLIPKNOT by the time he was invited to Los Angeles to try out as replacement for Joey Jordison in 2013.

For the first few months after the release of 2014's ".5: The Gray Chapter", the members of SLIPKNOT had declined to name the musicians who were playing drums and bass on their tour, despite the fact that their identities were revealed as Weinberg and bassist Alessandro "Vman" Venturella by a disgruntled former drumtech for SLIPKNOT who posted a picture of a backstage call sheet on Instagram.

".5: The Gray Chapter" went on to score a trio of Grammy nominations, including two for "Best Metal Performance" and a nomination for "Best Rock Album".

Weinberg also played on 2019's "We Are Not Your Kind" and 2022's "The End, So Far", both of which topped Billboard's rock albums chart.

In February 2024, SLIPKNOT recruited former SEPULTURA drummer Eloy Casagrande as the replacement for Jay.

Prior to joining SLIPKNOT, Jay played with AGAINST ME! and MADBALL.

Jay played his first concert with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES in March 2023 in Osaka, Japan.

In addition to Weinberg and frontman Mike Muir, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' current lineup features lead guitarist Dean Pleasants, rhythm guitarist Ben Weinman (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN) and bassist Tye Trujillo (son of METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo).

Weinberg's pairing with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES came less than two months after he was announced as the new drummer of INFECTIOUS GROOVES, the long-running outfit formed more than three decades ago by Robert Trujillo alongside Robert's then-SUICIDAL TENDENCIES bandmate Muir.

British rock band THE DARKNESS — singer/guitarist Justin Hawkins, guitarist Dan Hawkins, bassist Frankie Poullain and drummer Rufus Taylor — has released its brand new single, "Rock And Roll Party Cowboy", the opening track of their forthcoming album "Dreams On Toast", out March 28 via Cooking Vinyl.

THE DARKNESS goes hell for leather on the new single, channeling the sounds of hard rock legends such as ZZ TOP, MOTÖRHEAD and JUDAS PRIEST with searing solos, hell-raising vocals and a fist-pumpin' rhythm section to create a tongue-in-cheek reflection on the hedonistic, macho music scene of the 1970s and 1980s.

Regarding the single, Justin Hawkins says: "People recognize me as astronaut pirate movie star cool and that's obviously accurate. What they may have overlooked, though, is that I am also ROCK AND ROLL PARTY COWBOY cool… which is a good 15 percent cooler!!! I think you'll recognize that in the first listen."

"Rock And Roll Party Cowboy" is the third single to be taken from "Dreams On Toast". It follows the self-deprecating glam punk rock of "I Hate Myself" and jaunty pop genius of "The Longest Kiss" — showcasing the diversity and brilliance of the band's eighth studio album.

Produced by Dan Hawkins, "Dreams On Toast" flawlessly captures THE DARKNESS in their finest form, celebrating their influences, strengthening their sound, while also embarking on avenues never heard from the band before in a grand display from a passionate, hungry and inspired collective.

From the likes of the jaunty '70s pop genius of lead single "The Longest Kiss", searing hard rock of "Rock And Roll Party Cowboy", heartfelt '60s pop balladry of "Hot On My Tail", huge swaggering anthems such as "Mortal Dread" and "Walking Through Fire", while even creating a country classic with "Cold Hearted Woman", "Dreams On Toast" brings all of the wildest fantasies of THE DARKNESS to life.

When "Dreams On Toast" was first announced in September, Justin said in a statement: "You know that thing when God's breath tickles your soul and tells you to create? Yeah, makes me giggle too. But you can't resist. God might not be the power she once was, but say what you like about her, she knows damn well that what the world needs now, is rock sweet rock. And who are we, mere mortals of extraordinary ability, to argue with the divine?

"So we knuckled down and thought really hard about the best of the best, the elite songs, the life-changing music of the ages. Then we popped out a dozen bangers before lunch. And these bangers we present to you here, wallowing in an aromatic aural ragu, served atop the charred remains of our envious contemporaries… ladies and gentlemen, I give you 'Dreams On Toast'!"

"Dreams On Toast" track listing:

01. Rock And Roll Party Cowboy
02. I Hate Myself
03. Hot On My Tail
04. Mortal Dread
05. Don't Need Sunshine
06. The Longest Kiss
07. The Battle For Gadget Land
08. Cold Hearted Woman
09. Walking Through Fire
10. Weekend In Rome

"Dreams On Toast" album artwork was designed by Grammy-nominated artist Perry Shall.

THE DARKNESS closed 2024 with a special treat for fans at a series of six intimate Rough Trade in stores across the U.K. where they performed songs from "Dreams On Toast" live for the very first time. The band will now hit the road in 2025 on a much larger scale and the "Dreams On Toast" U.K. headline tour will see them play 18 shows across the country, finishing at London's OVO Wembley Arena on March 29. Support comes from Northern Irish indie-rock heroes ASH, who first supported THE DARKNESS on their legendary "Permission To Land" tour over 20 years ago.

"Welcome To The Darkness", the epic documentary directed by famed photographer Simon Emmett, will be available for the first time in the U.S. on April 15. The film originally released November 2023 in the U.K., follows THE DARKNESS from before their wildly successful monster debut album "Permission To Land" in 2003 throughout the majestic highs and massive lows over the years, to beyond 2017's "Pinewood Smile".

Photo credit: Simon Emmett

Alt-rock veterans, Smile Empty Soul, have unveiled the new single, "Violence", from their upcoming EP, Swan Song, which is scheduled for release digitally on February 28, and on vinyl/CD on April 11 through TLG|ZOID distributed by Virgin Music Group.





"'Violence' is a song about the many toxic relationships that occur in our society. They seem to be everywhere, be it in the home, the streets, or even the relationship between the people and the government. It’s inescapable," says Sean Danielsen.




The song was written and produced by Sean Danielsen, engineered by Brian Scheffer, mixed and mastered by Eddie Wohl.


Stream "Violence" here, and watch the official lyric video below:





Smile Empty Soul is a hard rock band that originated in Los Angeles, CA in the late 1990’s and has stayed true to their brand of “no bullshit”, “real as it gets” hard rock to this day. The band signed a major label record deal in 2003 to release their self-titled debut album in May of that year. They realized huge success at alternative radio, rock radio, and the music video channels that have since fallen by the wayside or turned into reality show networks.


After three very successful singles/videos and a gold record from the debut release, the band ran into trouble with their record company (which was in the midst of turmoil at the top levels) and found themselves working extra hard in the trenches, and signed to indie labels or no label at all from then on.

As the new year gets underway, “Nu Metalcore” champions Uncured are back with their latest single, “Bleed Me Dry”. The new single is the opening track from the band’s upcoming debut album, Warpath, slated for worldwide release on February 21.


The song from the New Jersey quartet comprised of Rex Cox [vocals], Zak Cox [guitars], “King Z” Zachary King [drums], and Betto Andrade [bass] starts right in on a massive chorus with soaring harmonies, then features frantic synths, melodic verses, a deathcore breakdown, plus another of Uncured’s signature guitar solos. The song is now available via all digital service providers here. Listen below.


“Everyday life can be monotonous, especially when there is only a narrow framework for acceptable self-expression,” says vocalist Rex Cox. “Despite the ‘slow death’ that comes from the ‘thousand cuts’ of daily indignity, the song pushes the listener to break away from their downward spiral.”




 


Over the entire length of their debut, Uncured offers an interesting and unique perspective they call their own. Rather than tread well-worn ground, the band forges ahead with an aggressive, unrelenting, fearless sound and message of their own.  Combining soaring chorus melodies, visceral screams, deathcore gutturals, and lightning-fast lyrics with pounding guitar riffs and thundering breakdowns and impeccable guitar solos, Warpath showcases the band’s exceptional musicianship and flair with songs that are catchy, insightful, and unapologetically angry.


Warpath is now available for pre-order/pre-save here.





Tracklisting:


"Bleed Me Dry"
"Mask Of Sanity"
"Perfect Specimen"
"Detonate"
"Prostitute"
"Fall In Line"
"Crucify"
"3 Minutes"
"Manifesto"
"Closer"


"3 Minut

Leading AOR force, The Night Flight Orchestra, will release their cinematic seventh album, Give Us The Moon, on January 31 via Napalm Records. In the new video below, frontman Björn Strid unboxes the new album:





Founded in 2007 by members of high-profile bands such as Soilwork, Arch Enemy and Mean Streak, over the years, The Night Flight Orchestra has garnered millions of streams, earned Swedish Grammis nominations and built a reputation for dynamic live performances internationally through touring and massive festival shows such as Wacken Open Air. The band is set to continue winning over international live audiences on their European and Scandinavian headline tours this winter and spring.




Give Us The Moon takes the listener on an exciting sonic journey, balancing between uplifting escapism and captivating stories inspired by real life events. The album's themes span the likes of heroines and temptresses to liberation and romantic nostalgia, set to backdrops of abandoned cities and cosmic tides.


The intro track “Final Call” sets the scene for Give Us The Moon before impressive opening track “Stratus”. The intro of “Like The Beating Of A Heart” captures the listener from its first notes, leading into an irresistibly catchy chorus. Massive “Melbourne, May I?” is a classic The Night Flight Orchestra anthem, featuring captivating solos that are equally prominent on following track “Miraculous”. The Night Flight Orchestra slows it down for the emotional “Paloma”, before again diving into different soundscapes on the exciting, uplifting “Cosmic Tide”. The title track “Give Us The Moon” builds into a singalong chorus, before the band continues their trademark of name-dropping streets and cities on “A Paris Point Of View”, that features fascinating instrumentation including particularly 80s-inspired keys and groovy bass. Sentimental “Runaways” feels like a part of a movie, only partially because of the attention-grabbing intro track before the first notes. The Night Flight Orchestra gets the tempo up once more for “Way To Spend The Night” before epic closing track “Stewardess, Empress, Hot Mess (And The Captain Of Pain)” wraps up The Night Flight Orchestra’s most cinematic masterpiece so far.


Give Us The Moon is free from the limitations of one genre or style, although many of the soundscapes of the album draw inspiration from the 80s, making the album a varied, exciting adventure. The album was produced by THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA and Sebastian Forslund, who also mixed the album, and is mastered by Plec Johansson at award-winning The Panic Room Studios. The galactic artwork was once again created by the talented Giorgia Carteri Boarding is completed - fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the flight!


The Night Flight Orchestra about their new album: “We have never worked harder on an album before and what a journey it’s been. We feel that this album has it all and there’s no way we could have done any better. It’s an explosion of emotions and cinematic landscapes where you’ll be catapulted into space and then land smoothly while feeling right at home. It will be your haven and your grand escape all at once. We hope you will connect to this album with every fiber of your body and mind, just like we do. Please do enjoy Give Us The Moon!”





Give Us The Moon will be available in the following formats:


- 1LP Gatefold Splatter Vinyl incl booklet, poster and flight ticket
- Digisleeve incl booklet, hip bag and sleeping mask      
- 1LP Gatefold Crystal Clear Vinyl           
- 1LP Gatefold Salmon Pink – band exclusive
- 1LP Gatefold Vinyl Black Vinyl
- Digisleeve
- Digital Album


Pre-order here





Give Us The Moon tracklisting:


"Final Call" (Intro)
"Stratus"
"Shooting Velvet"
"Like The Beating Of A Heart"
"Melbourne, May I?"
"Miraculous"
"Paloma"
"Cosmic Tide"
"Give Us The Moon"
"A Paris Point Of View"
"Runaways"
"Way To Spend The Night"
"Stewardess, Empress, Hot Mess (And The Captain Of Pain)"


“Give Us The Moon” lyric video:





“Way To Spend The Night” video:





Shooting Velvet" video:





Moon Over Europe 2025:


January
30 - Tilburg, Netherlands - 13
31 - Lyon, France - O Totem Live


February
1 - London, UK - Garage
2 - Paris, France - Petit Brain
4 - Bilbao, Spain - Sana27

Paul Rodgers - best known as the frontman for the bands Free and Bad Company - has shared the throwback video below, featuring his performance of Free's "My Brother Jake", live at the Jools 11th Annual Hootenanny on December 31, 2003.





In September 2023, Rodgers released Midnight Rose - his first solo album in nearly 25 years - via Sun Records. Order/save the album here.

Building on a huge touring run that saw the band visit their biggest ever venues across the UK, Europe, USA, Australia and Japan, Bury Tomorrow look forward to an even bigger 2025.


New single, "Let Go", serves as the third preview of the recently announced LP, Will You Haunt Me, With That Same Patience, and looks set to continue stoking the furnace of a fanbase already burning brightly.


On "Let Go," the band table perhaps the biggest addition to their sonic approach to date, whilst still maintaining their signature savagery. Drum and bass beats collide with breakdowns, as aggressive vocals interweave in and around the tempo in a spoken word delivery, reinforced by stadium-sized choruses.




The track explores concepts of honesty, as frontman Dani Winter-Bates expands, "Both within yourself and the people around you. To be dishonest with yourself leads to decisions based in fear and can lead to regret, while to be true to yourself can cost some of the things you hold closest."


Co-vocalist Tom Prendergast goes further, saying "There is a sense throughout the song that we can often give all of our energy to a toxic situation and need to recognize when to cut ties to grow. 'Let Go' is about how that can shape you, change you and define your choices and your path through life. There is a cost to every choice, and there are some harder to let go of than others."





For Bury Tomorrow, the last two years have been about trying to fill the space where they knew something was missing.


From the depths of uncertainty, through line-up changes and COVID-inspired road blocks, the arrival of guitarist Ed Hartwell and keyboardist/vocalist rendergast and the creation of 2023's The Seventh Sun has allowed them to lay out a whole new path of possibilities that felt unavailable before. Now, with an invigorated belief and fresh outlook on what the band can encompass, they present Will You Haunt Me, With That Same Patience, their most fantastically visceral offering to date.


Crafted more intimately and intricately than ever before by internalizing every aspect of the writing process, with Carl Bown [Sleep Token, Bullet For My Valentine, While She Sleeps] manning production duties for the first time, the result is a profoundly personal, extraordinarily expansive, and punishingly grand display of cathartic craftsmanship.


Born from a shared sense of frustration in feeling an ever-shifting disconnect from the state of modern society, the band have created an earnest, heart-wrenching, and definitive look at the overlapping effects of brutal self-sabotage, crippling anxiety, fierce despondency, and the never-ending search for peace and clarity in a world so full of noise. It is a record about division as much as togetherness, an outpouring of personal devastation but a hopeful reminder that we are all navigating it together.


"To haunt is to revisit or recur persistently to the consciousness of someone or something," explains guitarist Kristan Dawson. "There's beauty in that commitment somewhat. In a world full of distraction, discourse, instancy and demand, patience seems hard to attain. In patience, there is peace, one thing society is short of. The title serves as a call of reflection, relying on the present moment, remembering what truly matters. I think the notion of patience being haunting is quite a contrast and that's certainly reflective of the album musically."


Within such deep sonic exploration and shared emotional understanding, and despite its bleak outlook on things, Will You Haunt Me With That Same Patience still strives to represent that lingering presence, that hope, that reminds us that this isn't the be-all and end-all of this existence. That things can change for the better, just like we can change for the better with it, and persevering through such separation will bring us back around eventually. We just have to weather the storm and trust in that feeling to pull us through.


To have allowed themselves the time and space to reach this point of comfort and confidence now feels like a starting point for everything that the band will do in the future. Expanding their empire in all corners of the world and delivering their biggest statement of intent to date is the beginning of a whole new chapter in the story of one of the most devastating and dedicated assets to British heavy music.


Pre-order/pre-save the album here.





Tracklisting:

German hard rockers, Bonfire, have released their new studio album, Higher Ground, via Frontiers Music Srl. To celebrate, the band have released a visualizer for the new single, the title track of the record, available to view below.


Guitarist Hans Ziller describes the new single, by saying: “'Higher Ground' is the title track from the new album. It features crunchy guitar riffs with a pulsing rhythm in classic Bonfire powerhouse style. All fans of real melodic anthems will love this track!”


Ziller also expresses his enthusiasm for the new album: “The new Bonfire album is a masterpiece. Bonfire have reinvented themselves with Higher Ground, never neglecting their virtues - fat hard guitars, incredible solos, great choir passages and stirring vocals. The band plays as one and is at its best.”




Watch the visualizer for "Higher Ground" below, and order the album here.





Higher Ground tracklisting:


"Nostradamus"
"I Will Rise"
"Higher Ground"
"I Died Tonight"
"Lost All Control"
"When Love Comes Down"
"Fallin'"
"Come Hell Or High Water"
"Jealousy"
"Spinnin’ In The Black"
"Rock’n’Roll Survivor" (2024 Version)


"Higher Ground" visualizer:





"Lost All Control" video:





"I Will Rise" video:





"I Died Tonight" video:





Bonfire is one of the most seminal German hard rock bands of the past 50 years. Originally founded as Cacumen in 1972 by guitarist Hans Ziller in Ingolstadt, Germany, the group initially played local venues, steadily building a fan base before releasing their first album under the name Cacumen.


In 1986, the band rebranded as Bonfire, and their debut album as Bonfire, Don't Touch the Light, marked their international breakthrough. They followed it up with Fireworks in 1987, which further cemented their status in the rock and metal scene. Despite their success, Bonfire experienced several lineup changes, including the departure of key members. However, Ziller, the band’s driving force, kept Bonfire alive, continuously adapting to the challenges faced by the group.


In the 1990s, Bonfire briefly disbanded but returned in 1996, with Ziller reclaiming the rights to the band’s name. Since then, Bonfire has released numerous albums and maintained a strong presence on the international rock scene. Bonfire has remained a resilient force in hard rock, continuing to tour and release new material well into the 21st century.

To mark the release of the remixed, remastered and extended Queen 1 boxset, the band have released the sixth episode in their Queen The Greatest Special series.


A message states: "In this final episode of our Queen The Greatest Special series celebrating the release of the Queen 1 Boxset, Roger Taylor exclusively recounts how his experience of recording the debut album was far from enjoyable when he found himself at odds with the studio bosses over how the drums should sound."







Watch the first fire Queen The Greatest Special episodes below:


Episode 1:





Episode 2:





Episode 3:





Episode 4:





Episode 5:





The 6CD + 1 LP Queen I box set (out now) contains 63 tracks with 43 brand new mixes, comprising the original album with its intended running order restored, intimate fly-on-the-wall audio of Queen in the studio, demos, rare live tracks, and previously unheard recordings from Queen’s first ever live performance in London, August 1970. Absent from the 1973 release, the song “Mad the Swine” has been reinstated to its original place in the running order. A 108-page book containing handwritten lyrics and memorabilia accompanies the release.





“This is not just a remaster,” writes Brian May in the CD sleeve insert notes, “this is a brand new 2024 rebuild of the entire Queen debut album, which, with the benefit of hindsight, we have re-titled QUEEN I.”


May continues, “All the performances are exactly as they originally appeared in 1973, but every instrument has been revisited to produce the ‘live’ ambient sounds we would have liked to use originally. The result is “Queen“ as it would have sounded with t

Thin Lizzy is back with a fresh take on some of their most iconic tracks, marking their first new release in over four decades. This unique acoustic album reimagines beloved songs, offering a stripped-back sound that exposes the core of their songwriting. Original vocals from Phil Lynott are paired with brand-new guitar parts from founding member Eric Bell, creating an entirely new listening experience for fans.


Acoustic Sessions is out now via Decca. Watch a new lyric video for "Dublin" (Acoustic Version) below:







A new release trailer is streaming below:





Producer and mixer Richard Whittaker, working alongside Eric Bell, went to huge lengths to use the original tapes, vocals and instrumentation with the only new addition being Eric’s fresh acoustic guitar parts which were recorded with him in Belfast at the Oh Yeah! Centre Studios, a unique celebration of Irish artists and their craft.


Each track on the album is a freshly created version of songs featured on either the 50th-anniversary super deluxe editions of Vagabonds Of The Western World, considered Thin Lizzy’s breakthrough, alongside their self-titled debut and Shades Of A Blue Orphanage.


This album marks the first time since Bell’s exit that he has recorded under the Thin Lizzy name. Fans can now experience what might have been their “MTV Unplugged” moment—a chance to hear the band’s timeless music in its most intimate form.


The album is available in both CD and limited-edition marble vinyl formats, along with an ultra-limited vinyl edition featuring an exclusive bonus track.


Order here. For dedicated fans, a D2C edition includes an exclusive bonus track, “Slow Blues G.M,” a tribute to Gary Moore.








Tracklisting:


"Mama Nature Said" (Acoustic Version)
"A Song For While I’m Away" (Acoustic Version)
"Eire" (Acoustic Version)

British guitarist, Sophie Lloyd, played her first-ever US solo show on Thursday, January 16, at Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California. Fan-filmed video of the entire show can be viewed below.


Sophie shared the following message prior to the show:


"We will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the merchandise sold at the gig, and $5 from each remaining ticket sold, to the Los Angeles Fire Department Fund. In addition to this, I will be auctioning off one of my signature Kiesel Guitars that I use at the show to raise funds for a charity close to my heart, @pasadenahumane in LA, which is an animal shelter that has taken in over 400 animals from the fires, many injured and in urgent need of medical supplies."




Setlist:


"Battleground"
"Thunderstruck" (AC/DC cover - instrumental)
"Hanging On" (Lauren Babic - vocals)
"Won't You Come" (Lauren Babic - vocals)

Finnish folk metal goliaths, Ensiferum, are currently on the Pagafest 2025 tour with Alestorm, Týr, Heidevolk and Elvenking. Fan-filmed video of their entire January 19th show in London, England at O2 Academy Brixton can be viewed below.


Setlist:


"Fatherland"
"Twilight Tavern"
"Treacherous Gods"
"Winter Storm Vigilantes"
"Lai Lai Hei"
"Andromeda"
"Victorious"
"Victory Song"
"Two of Spades"
"Iron"







Ensiferum recently unveiled their official video for “The Howl”. The track is taken from their Winter Storm full-length, out now on Metal Blade Records.


Says the band: "Winter Storm has been out for a few months now, so how about we release a new video? The official music video for 'The Howl' is here, and it’s as wild as the track itself! Watch it now."





Ensiferum's Winter Storm was produced by Janne Joutsenniemi, mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren, and includes guest appearances by Lassi Logrén on Nyckelharpa and violin and Mikko Mustonen on orchestration as well as Eleine's Madeleine Liljestam who p

Any Given Sin and Mascot Records have released a new song titled “Rest For The Wicked”. Guitarist Mike Connor shares, “’Rest For The Wicked’ is a glimpse of where the bar is set for the next album. Chris Dawson is the producer on this one as well. He has taken it to a slightly more modern sound as far as how it's being approached. We also experimented with some different guitar tunings. We wanted to still be very Any Given Sin-ish without putting out ‘War Within’ Part 2." 


Drummer Mike Showalter offers, “I personally had a lot of fun with the percussion on this one. I approached it with more of a swing beat in the verses because that's what I felt, and it gives the song some originality. I also connected with the lyrics. They really hit home with some of my past life experiences." Check out the lyric video:







Inner struggle incites outward expression. Any Given Sin transfigure conflict into caustic and catchy hard rock punctuated by metallic intensity and alternative intimacy. The Maryland quartet—Victor Ritchie [vocals], Mike Conner [guitar], Rich Stevenson [bass], and Mike Showalter [drums]—encase these unrestrained emotions inside arena-size anthems with bold hooks and bludgeoning riffs. Buzzing at radio and building a devout fan base through years of touring, the band perfected their pummeling and powerful style on their 2023 full-length debut LP, War Within, amassing over 55 Million Total Streams.


Following the release of their version of the Cutting Crew classic, “(I Just) Died In Your Arms Tonight”, a whole new group of fans joined the fold generating Four million streams in just a few months. Late in 2024, Any Given Sin entered the studio to begin tracking the band’s second album for Mascot Records.  The lead song, “Rest For The Wicked” is the first new music being shared from the band’s second studio album coming this Summer. The first two confirmed appearances are May 10th at Rock Lansing, supporting Ayron Jones and Badflower, and July 21st at Rock The Mountains.  Over the last several years, Any Given Sin has toured with Adelita’s Way, Black Stone Cherry, Crobot, Drowning Pool, Saint Asonia and Saliva. While appearing at festivals which include Rocklahoma, Louder Than Life, Blue Ridge Rock Festival, River Fest, Rock Lansing, Northwoods Rock Rally, and many others.

Nearly 35 years on, -(16)- remains one of the most enduring, hardest sounding rock and metal entities from North America. The San Diego band redefines heavy on their new album, Guides For The Misguided, set for release on February 7th via Relapse Records.


Bobby Ferry returns at the helm as the band's visceral vocalist and guitarist, and in true -(16)- fashion, belts out stories of pain and unhinged anguish. Standout tracks like "Proudly Damned” see the band playing at the crowd while Ferry shares tales of personal strife and depression: "To defile and offend/These are the demons found within/The sullen face of communion’s alarm/It’s an incentive to do more harm." Ferry is absolutely seething while the band plows through a virulent mix of rock, metal, and sludge. Dion Thurman's pounding drum set, Ferry and Alex Shuster's heavier-than-anything-else guitars, and the lowest low end from bassist Barney Firks herald tones so low they're nearly apocalyptic.


Today the band shares “After All”, the second single from Guides For The Misguided.







-(16)- frontman Bobby Ferry comments on Guides For The Misguided:


"The album came together after we wrapped the final mix of our last one Into Dust. It’s all about harnessing creative momentum when it strikes and we’ve been in a kind of creative autopilot for about a decade. When inspiration is there, the rest seems to fall into place effortlessly. Thankfully, we’re still driven to write and perform even after all these years. There’s no grander meaning behind it than simply following that primal urge to create—put your head down and just make something."


"Age has of course given us a fresh perspective. In the 8 years since Lifespan Of A Moth our lineup has shifted. We lost a singer, gained Alex Shuster on lead guitar/producer, and founding member Bobby Ferry slid into the lead vocalist rhythm guitarist spot. Lyrically, we’ve moved beyond the personal and inward grievances of our earlier work and embraced broader themes of conflict, like the hypocrisy of religion and its negative effects on the psyche. On the new album, there's a song called 'Blood Atonement Blues' that delves into the story of Ervil LeBaron, often referred to as the "Mormon Manson," while 'Proudly Damned' explores addiction and how it turns into a Pagan Ritual with a witch-like character posing as the opiate — both in substance abuse and the spiritual realm— in parallel. In many ways, this album might be the closest we’ve come to creating a concept record. Including the two covers on the album is meant to lessen this heavy hand and lighten the focus."


"Musically, we are still grasping for the perfect riffs married to the most ideal arrangements. We’re not afraid to lean into the stuff we love:  noise, classic rock, hardcore, doom metal, and thrash. We are well aware we are not reinventing the wheel but lovingly fashioning something from us and basically for us, first and foremost."





Guides For The Misguided tracklisting:


"After All"
"Hat On A Bed"
"Blood Atonement Blues"
"Fortress Of Hate"
"Proudly Damned"
"Fire And Brimstone Inc"
"Desperation Angel"
"Resurrection Day"
"Give Thanks And Praises" (Bad Brains cover)
"Kick Out The Chair"
"The Tower" (Bonus Track) (Superchunk cover)


"Proudly Damned" video:

In a recent interview with Shawn Ratches of Laughingmonkeymusic, former SKID ROW singer Erik Grönwall once again opened up about his decision to exit the band less than a year ago.

The 37-year-old Swedish-born musician, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2021, announced his departure from SKID ROW in March 2024, saying that it had become increasingly "difficult to prioritize" his health and full recovery as the lead singer of the group.

Addressing the circumstances that led to his exit from SKID ROW, Erik told Laughingmonkeymusic (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It was a really, really tough decision. And if I could have stayed in the band, I would. It just got to a point where I was, like, well, if I'm gonna respect the guy who went through all of this and respect my own values, I just had to make that decision. But it was the right decision, but it was a hard decision."

Grönwall went on to say that both he and the members of SKID ROW "took a risk" when they decided to work with each other. "I remember once saying to [SKID ROW bassist] Rachel [Bolan], like, 'Wow, you guys took a really big risk with me.' And he was, like, Yeah, but you took it that times four' or something, 'cause there are four [other] people in the band. But the thing is we found each other right away. And I still think we were so good for each other. They helped me and I hope I added value to SKID ROW. It feels like it. And they added value to Erik Grönwall, the Grönwall business. So it was a really, really good relationship we had, and we had a really good thing going. But they definitely took a big risk."

Elaborating on the factors that were involved in his decision to leave SKID ROW, Erik said: "I understand it's hard to grasp how what a bone marrow transplant comes with or a leukemia treatment comes with. There's so much, and it's not like there's any blueprint for it. It's just, 'Okay. Today this is happening to your body. Okay, we've gotta check what that is.' And it's blood tests every month, every third month, every six months. And it's a big thing. And it's a lot to keep keep track on, obviously. But we were really good for each other. And those guys were very extremely generous from day one. Very democratic. It was democratic from day one. It wasn't like I was the hired guy. I was part of the band. So they made me feel really good about that. And I wanted to be a part of the band as well. There's a lot to say, obviously, but we had a really good thing together."

Regarding why SKID ROW turned down his proposed touring schedule of three weeks on the road, including traveling, and then one month off, Erik said: "I can't speak for them, obviously. I gave them a proposal that I thought would be manageable for me, but it didn't work for them. And they have to do what they do, and they've been doing this for a long time, and they somehow always manage to come back again. So it's not for me to say."

Erik added that he really wanted to make things work, given the circumstances, but he was given no choice but to leave.

"I can also feel saddened that we ended up here," he said. "But I think we really tried to find a solution. And at the end of the day, everybody's gotta do what they feel is best for them."

Grönwall also spoke highly of SKID ROW's original singer Sebastian Bach, who hasn't fronted the group since his 1996 departure.

"I've always said, from the day I joined SKID ROW, I was, like, if I meet [Sebastian], I'm gonna shake his hand and just say, 'Thank you for the inspiration,' because he was a vocal inspiration for me when I grew up," Erik said. "And I will say it again, what he did on [SKID ROW's] 'Slave To The Grind' [album] — [one of] top three best vocal performances of all time in rock and roll history. That was insanely good. So, for me, it was a privilege to go out and sing those songs. There's a lot of stuff going on vocally, which makes it fun, obviously. It's not fun on bad days, though. When you have a cold, then it sucks — then it's the worst job in the world —but on good days, it's great."

Erik went from auditioning for the competition show "Swedish Idol" back in 2009 by singing a cover of SKID ROW's "18 And Life" to fronting the band 13 years later.

SKID ROW's longtime friend Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM) handled lead vocals for the band's four concerts in late May 2024 and early June 2024, two months after Erik's exit from the group.

At the time of Grönwall's departure, SKID ROW members said in a statement that they were "proud" of what they had "created and accomplished with Erik" over the previous two years" and wished "nothing but the best to him and his health."

Earlier this month, Erik told Finland's Chaoszine about his exit from SKID ROW: "Leaving the band was one of the toughest career decisions I ever had to make. I loved being in that band. It didn't hurt waking up being the lead singer of SKID ROW. But I would still be in the band if that was an option.

"I left to respect the person who went through the leukemia — I mean, the person at the hospital," he explained. "I promised myself that I would always put my health first. And when I felt like I couldn't do that being in the band, I just had to make that decision.

"I loved my time in the band. I had so much fun with the guys. We clicked right away, and I will always look back at that time with a smile, for sure. And I would have loved to stay in the band. But given the circumstances, we just couldn't find common ground in terms of how much we should tour."

Grönwall went on to clarify that he was always open to continuing with SKID ROW if an agreement had been reached regarding how much time to spend on the road.

"I'm not sure if it's been said in any interview, but, for me, it was never about not touring at all," he said. "I just wanted to have more time in between to recover. So, my suggestion was three weeks on the road, including traveling, and then one month off, three weeks on the road, including traveling, one month off, just to have that time in between. But they didn't find that feasible, and that's totally fine. I mean, SKID ROW has been doing this since before I was born. [Laughs] They have a recipe. I totally respect that they didn't find out feasible at all. But it was what I needed, and here we are."

According to Erik, leaving SKID ROW has given him "a lot of freedom" to pursue other projects.

"I won't stop being an artist," he said. "I can pretty much do whatever I want. And I like that. I'm not signed to any label right now. I don't wanna be. I like that kind of independence, freedom. Maybe there will come a time when it makes sense to sign with someone, but right now I'm doing everything from [my home]. It's nice to wake up, just go downstairs, put on some coffee, get in here and sing, and then go to the next room here and record the video and put it on YouTube. It's kind of convenient."

As for how he plans to release his new music, Erik said:  "I'm actually writing a lot of music now, because I wanna release something on my own. To be honest, I haven't decided if I'm gonna do it solo or in a band. But I think I wanna start a band and just release new music. I still feel like I haven't done my own thing 100 percent. I will always join bands who already had an established sound. So I'm working a lot on that, actually — writing new music and focusing on the future."

In a November 2024 interview with Chris Akin Presents, Bolan and SKID ROW guitarist Dave "Snake" Sabo addressed Erik's exit from the group. When host Chris Akin noted that Grönwall's explanation for exiting SKID ROW sounded a little "fishy" to him and other SKID ROW fans in light of the fact that Erik had immediately announced that he was releasing his autobiography and was planning to go on tour with Michael Schenker in 2025, Rachel said: "Well, I'll put it this way: we understand exactly what you're saying. And I'd be a liar if I said sometimes I don't feel the same way. We were told exactly what he announced to the rest of the world via his YouTube channel. That's exactly what we were told. That's exactly what he sent in a text to Snake. I'm not gonna sit here and shit talk the guy because it's not gonna do anything. But we had a really, really, really good thing going, and we're here now."

Bolan continued: "You're not the first person to say this to any of us. We've all been DMed and a lot of fans thought think the same thing, and, like I said, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I thought the same thing at times, but we're just going by what he told to us."

Snake chimed in: "Obviously, we had to postpone and cancel some shows. There was definitely some health issues with him while we were out there. But what Rachel is saying is 100 percent true. This is what we were told, and we made attempts to figure it out, how we could do this where we could cut way back on the touring, but it just wasn't economically feasible for anybody — it just couldn't be done. And, yeah, we had a really, really good situation, but he was the one who left."

Bolan and Sabo also touched upon the fact that Grönwall released a demo version of a song called "Can't Kill What's Dead" which Erik said he co-wrote with his producer Jona Tee for possible inclusion on a new SKID ROW album while he was still in the band.

"Yeah, I heard the song for the first time in [Erik's October 2024] post," Rachel said. "So I'm not even sure what he was talking about."

After Akin clarified that Erik said "Can't Kill What's Dead" was one of three songs Grönwall co-wrote with Tee for potential inclusion on a new SKID ROW album, Rachel said: "That's creative wording. That's for sure."

Added Snake: "That's news to us. I mean, I guess we would have to play on it for it to be on a SKID ROW record."

Rachel continued: "Yeah, I saw the post and I was, like, 'Huh. Okay.' I was as confused as everyone else. I'm, like, 'Okay.'"

The English version of Grönwall's autobiography, "Power – Music, Death, Life", was made available on December 6 via HarperCollins.

Grönwall, who was a member of the Swedish hard rock band H.E.A.T. for nearly a decade before exiting the group in October 2020, announced in September 2021 that he was cancer free after receiving a bone marrow transplant one month earlier.

Grönwall sang on four H.E.A.T. studio albums — "Address The Nation" (2012),"Tearing Down The Walls" (2014),"Into The Great Unknown" (2017) and "H.E.A.T II" (2020).

In September 2021, just four months before joining SKID ROW, Grönwall released his new cover version of "18 And Life" via all streaming platforms.

In 2018, Grönwall debuted in the U.S. for 10 million viewers in NBC's live broadcast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's and Tim Rice's musical "Jesus Christ Superstar". Along with John Legend, Alice Cooper, Sara Bareilles and others, Erik played the key role of Simon Zealotes.

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

SKID ROW played its first show with Grönwall on March 26, 2022 at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada as the support act on the rescheduled dates for SCORPIONS' "Sin City Nights" residency.

Grönwall lives in Knivsta, a city in Uppsala County in east central Sweden, with his wife and their son.

With their debut, Intergalactic Battle Tunes, German power metallers Sculforge were one of the most exciting new releases of 2023 and have impressively underpinned this status with several singles over the past year. For all fans of the quartet, it is good news that the intergalactic journey and the sci-fi concept continues. 


On March 20th, the new album Cosmic Crusade Chronicles ...Stories From The... Errr... Nevermind! will be released. Look forward to 11 new tracks between power and thrash, metal anthems and blast beats, universal abysses, and madness. The band will also be performing live on a release tour.


Order the album via MDD Records here.

Symphonic metal vikings Leaves' Eyes released their new studio album, Myths Of Fate, in March 2024 via AFM Records. They have revisited the record with an epic orchestral version of "Forged By Fire". It is available via all digital platforms.





With Myths Of Fate, the band set sails for new winds that definitely blow from the harsh shallows of the symphonic metal genre. The fantastic world of legends from Norse and Eastern European mythology is the setting for monumental entertainment: Leaves' Eyes open up a world of magical places, spellbound weapons or supernatural creatures.




Leaves' Eyes have always played in a league of their own. The international group has toured all populated continents, playing concerts in more than 50 countries, frequently reach top positions in the album charts and with every output they deliver a multimedia masterpiece when it comes to video clips and artwork.


In their multifaceted discography, Leaves' Eyes naturally integrate various genres such as folk metal, Viking metal or symphonic metal into their unique sound creations. Legendary releases like Vinland Saga (2005) or Njord (2009) made them pioneers in their own league, a position they successfully confirmed with chart-breakers like King Of Kings (2015) or Sign Of The Dragonhead (2018). Their compositions are complex, though, always well balanced between heaviness and melodic atmosphere. Each of their mind-broadening lyrical concepts based on mediaeval mythology are thoroughly researched, offering their audience journeys to the past times of Vikings, myths and sagas.


Their live shows are spectacular events with breathtaking stage scenery, including a Viking ship or even the “Swords In Rock” monument from Norway. Leaves' Eyes have been setting world history to music and undeniably, by doing so, have raced to the top of the symphonic metal tree.


Now, Alexander Krull once again exceeded his own standards in the producer’s chair. For the fine and complex compositions you will find on Myths Of Fate, he created an extraordinary and crystal-clear sound sphere with an undeniable live feeling. The band sounds raw and feisty, but still leaves space for affective atmospheres. The US soundtrack-multi-talent Jonah Weingarten contributes the impressive orchestral score that was created hand in hand with the metal arrangements. Moreover, Lea-Sophie Fischer (Eluveitie) on the fiddle and Thomas Roth’s play of the mediaeval Nyckelharpa add on mystical sounds to Myths Of Fate.


Leaves' Eyes have created an entire universe of their own imagination that showcases their talent as storytellers and music perfectionists. No doubt, the band will leave an everlasting footprint in their own genre with this album. Myths Of Fate provides a dynamic soundtrack for a vivid escape into a magical world of mythology. Four years after bringing The Last Viking to Valhalla with their previous opus, Leaves' Eyes resurrect with Myths Of Fate to celebrate their 20th year of existence. As the first single releases prove, with their ninth studio album, the band consolidates their leading position in the symphonic metal universe. Powerful, epic and impressive - Leaves' Eyes once again merge traditional metal genres by fusing elements of folk, gothic, and classical music into a captivating sonic masterpiece.


Order the album here.





Myths Of Fate tracklisting:


"Forged By Fire"
"Realm Of Dark Waves"
"Who Wants To Live Forever"
"Hammer Of The Gods"
"In Eternity"
"Fear The Serpent"
"Goddess Of The Night"
"Sons Of Triglav"
"Elder Spirit"
"Einherjar"
"Sail With The Dead"


"In Eternity" video:





"Who Wants To Live Forever" video:

TESTAMENT's Alex Skolnick has revealed that he was "on standby" for MEGADETH in 2016 when the latter band's then-guitarist Kiko Loureiro and his wife were expecting twins. The guitar virtuoso made the revelation while chatting to Eonmusic about METAL ALLEGIANCE's upcoming show at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, California.

One of the elite breed of guitar shredders from the 1980s, Skolnick was famously a student of Joe Satriani, along with Steve Vai and METALLICA's Kirk Hammett, and was even sought out by Ozzy Osbourne, playing a gig with the BLACK SABBATH legend in the U.K. in 1995.

When Eonmusic's Eamon O'Neill put it to Skolnick that he would have been a perfect fit for the MEGADETH, Alex admitted that he had been on the radar of band leader Dave Mustaine for some time. Skolnick said: "I heard through the grapevine, many, many years ago [that they were interested]. I don't know, if I'd made a call secretly, and reached out to management, or whatever, and said, 'Hey, I really wanna give this a shot,' I'm sure maybe it could have happened, but it was pre-Marty [Friedman, who joined MEGADETH in 1990], and it was during the time TESTAMENT was just up and running, and I knew, 'Okay, if I were to join this other thing...' At that time with TESTAMENT, we were really finding our footing, and establishing a sound with albums like 'The New Order' and 'Practice What You Preach', like now-essential albums, and it just seemed like, 'Okay, I'm a part of this thing.' And I think at that point MEGADETH had already had three guitar players, and there'd been so many members, so it was just clear, ''Okay, if you're in MEGADETH, you don't know how long it's going to last.'"

It was then that Alex revealed that he had been approached to possibly play for MEGADETH less than a decade ago, on reserve for Loureiro whose wife was pregnant at the time. "There were a couple shows, actually, as recently as the Kiko Loureiro era, where I was on standby to fill in," he said. "Kiko's wife was giving birth, so there was a possibility of that, and they didn't know exactly when it was going to be, and there was a possibility it was going to conflict with a show or event. So it was on standby. I learned the songs. I was ready, but as it turned out, he didn't need to miss any shows. I've always been friends with the MEGADETH camp, you know, mad respect for the band, but I like my role as... occasional possible understudy is as far as it's gone."

Read the entire interview at Eonmusic, where Alex discusses the METAL ALLEGIANCE show, how his commercial ambitions were misunderstood, and how he came to rejoin TESTAMENT in 2006.

In a 2009 interview with The Quietus, Skolnick was asked if he got along with Mustaine well during TESTAMENT and MEGADETH's U.K. tour with JUDAS PRIEST, which took place earlier that year. Alex said: "Dave and I have known each other a long time and he is, without a doubt, a very intense personality, so I could see how people might find that intimidating. He's very interesting and at times during the tour he actually came to me for some tips."

He explained: "I play in a jazz orchestra when I'm not doing this and we have very different styles, so Dave was looking for some help with jazz chords. What you need to know about Dave is that he always wants to improve and he is recording his new record as if it's his first, which says a lot about how driven he is."

Skolnick joined TESTAMENT in 1985 at the age of 16 and stayed with the band for eight years before leaving in 1993 and going on to study at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.

In addition to playing with ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO and TESTAMENT, he has worked as a sideman with such artists as vocalist Ishtar of the French band ALABINA and Jewish folk singer Debbie Friedman. He has also guested on an album from RODRIGO Y GABRIELA.

TESTAMENT's latest album, "Titans Of Creation", came out in April 2020 via Nuclear Blast. A follow-up effort is tentatively due later this year.

German thrash metal veterans DESTRUCTION will release their 16th studio album, "Birth Of Malice", on March 7, 2025 via Napalm Records. The official music video for the LP's latest single, "A.N.G.S.T.", can be seen below. Tackling fear, the song urges fans to confront their inner demons and break free from mental chains. The single is accompanied by an incredible music video that honors the horror genre and its iconic special FX — images taken from your deepest nightmares creeping in your head to stay.

DESTRUCTION bassist/vocalist Schmier comments on "A.N.G.S.T.": "Our very first German songtitle is one of two very different tracks on this new album. I wanted to write a groovin' live track with staccato riffs, evil bloodcurdling vocals and dark atmosphere."

Schmier adds about the elaborate music video: "We wanted to create a music video like a horror movie that plays with our natural fears, and to create a scary vibe that gives you the chills. It will make you press REPEAT and think, 'What was that? Let's watch this freak show again!' We hope you're entertained!"

Schmier once again combines his dual vocal/bass attack with crashing riffs from dual battle axe masters Martin Furia and Damir Eskić, while Randy Black blasts his drums to new heights. As witnessed on their previous thrash fest "Diabolical" (2022),DESTRUCTION return with their uniquely raw and brutal sound, delivering merciless songs with a touch more variety and groove this time. All 12 songs straight from the butchers hit with a direct, clean sound — resulting in addictive metal anthems for the next generation of thrashers.

The "Destruction" single was released last November and as it's named after the band, it contains everything DESTRUCTION is revered for. This thrash anthem reflects on the band’s legacy, fueled by razor-sharp riffs and Schmier's relentless vocals. With lyrics celebrating their outcast origins and unbreakable metal spirit, "Destruction" is a tribute to over 40 years of thrash dominance.

Schmier previously commented on DESTRUCTION's eponymous battle hymn: "The crushing song 'Destruction' is the perfect opener for this album: it builds a bridge between our old-school sound and riffing, including songtitle phrases from classic DESTRUCTION tracks and more shredding and melodic twin lead guitars, that will pinch your brain with its razor-sharp leads! The message 'we are DESTRUCTION' unites us with our fans worldwide and manifests the bond we have together!

"I see this track in the tradition of a cult song like 'Curse The Gods' in the way it is composed — a thrash metal rollercoaster ride galore!"

Regarding the "Destruction" music video, Schmier said: "We filmed this clip in São Paulo, Brazil, one of the top-notch capitals of metal around the globe and a city that means a lot to us as a band. We played here for the first time in 1989 and have returned countless times for amazing concerts, festivals, visits... I feel at home here. Many friends live in this crazy town. I got my first tattoo, the 'Release From Agony' album cover, in São Paulo. We met SEPULTURA here the first time and the fans are simply mind-blowing! We wanted to catch the energy of a DESTRUCTION show and appreciate the faithful fans that breathe thrash metal to the core. Without them we are nothing, the lyrics of this song honor and acknowledge our supporters, they are our backbone, they are DESTRUCTION!"

DESTRUCTION's newest onslaught is opened by the aforementioned "Destruction", with a luring intro transforming into a true thrashing hymn with razor-sharp guitars honoring the band's 40-plus-year legacy, where mastermind Schmier reflects on the old days. Like the title "Birth Of Malice" suggests, lyrically, Schmier delves deep in human errors — like selfish behavior on "Greed" and "Evil Never Sleeps", while stomping "A.N.G.S.T." delivers shredding guitar solos and flirts with our paranoid instinct, criticizing evil forces who prey on the weaknesses of others. A clear statement is made with carnage on "Scumbag Human Race", exploring the mistakes mankind makes and pushing authorities in its memorable chorus "I will count your days!" The same rebellious attitude can be witnessed on the banging "No Kings – No Masters". DESTRUCTION also shifts to futuristic topics on the album, like the unconscious influence of technology and new forms of war on "Cyber Warfare". To close this brutal tour de force on a positive note, the thrashing legends celebrate their strong allyship with metal colleagues ACCEPT by presenting their own version of classic neck breaker "Fast As A Shark". All of these heavy topics are combined in the brutal cover artwork, designed by talented Hungarian artist Gyula Havancsák, known for his works for bands like ACCEPT, KREATOR and BLIND GUARDIAN.

"Birth Of Malice" was recorded at Switzerland's Little Creek Studio by V.O. Pulver. Guitarist Martin Furia mixed and mastered the masterpiece at The Black Mancave in Hannover, Germany.

"Birth Of Malice" track listing:

01. Birth Of Malice
02. Destruction
03. Cyber Warfare
04. No Kings - No Masters
05. Scumbag Human Race
06. God Of Gore
07. A.N.G.S.T.
08. Dealer Of Death
09. Evil Never Sleeps
10. Chains Of Sorrow
11. Greed
12. Fast As A Shark

DESTRUCTION's massive career has seen many successes, with the band hitting stages at the world's biggest festivals around the world like Hellfest, Wacken Open Air, Graspop Metal Meeting and México Metal Fest.

DESTRUCTION, known as one of the "Teutonic Four", alongside KREATOR, SODOM and TANKARD, were reunited with the other three acts at the "Klash Of The Ruhrpott" concert on July 20, 2024 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

In a January 2023 interview with Felipe Canales of Chile's iRock, Schmier was asked if he and his DESTRUCTION bandmates have ever considered changing their sound in order to reach a wider audience. He responded: "In Germany, we say, 'Don't change your winning recipe. Stick to the guns. Stick to what you can do best.' And for me, what I can do best is playing thrash metal. Every album we do sounds a little bit different, but it always will sound like DESTRUCTION.

"When you get older, it's very easy to slow down," Schmier explained. "A lot of musicians, when they [get] older, they wanna slow down; they wanna play blues; they wanna play more mellow music. For me, that's never been the case. I think the older you [get], the more you go crazy about it. You wanna still show the young kids how it's done. When we go out there to the festivals, we compete… To all those young bands, I could be [their] father, so I have to be the role model. So that's how I see it. Slowing down and changing something is not what we do."

As for whether it's harder for him to play physically challenging music as he gets older, Schmier said: "It's like in football — the old, experienced player, he has the feel for it. The young player runs more and runs faster. The old player has the eye and the brain. And it's the same in music. Of course I have to train harder to go on stage, but my experience of my age is great because I have better voice control. I know more what I want. I know what I don't want and where the band belongs. So this experience of a certain 40 years in the music business is, of course, a great one."

DESTRUCTION's latest studio album, "Diabolical", came out in April 2022 via Napalm Records.

In August 2021, DESTRUCTION officially parted ways with founding guitarist Michael "Mike" Sifringer and replaced him with Martin Furia. The Argentinian-born, Belgian-based Furia is best known for his work as sound engineer and producer for such bands as NERVOSA and EVIL INVADERS.

Sifringer was the only member of DESTRUCTION to have remained constant throughout the band's career. Schmier appeared on DESTRUCTION's first three albums before exiting the band and being replaced by POLTERGEIST vocalist André Grieder. André's sole recorded appearance with DESTRUCTION was on the "Cracked Brain" album, which came out in 1990. Schmier rejoined DESTRUCTION in 1999.

DESTRUCTION 2025 is:

Schmier - Bass, Vocals
Martin Furia - Guitars
Randy Black - Drums
Damir Eskić - Guitars

Photo credit: Mythodia Visuals