Dirty Honey recently announced Mayhem & Revelry Live, the band’s first live-in-concert, double-vinyl CD and digital release, and its companion four-part video documentary, recorded live throughout North America, the UK and Europe on the band’s 2023-24 "Can’t Find The Brakes” World Tour.





Set for a February 21st release (Dirt Records), the album and video capture the band’s explosive energy and camaraderie with its audience and each other, and puts viewers front and center inside the barricade at the band’s sixty concerts. With 16 tracks total, Side One of the vinyl features recordings from the North American concerts, and the Side Two recordings are from the UK and European shows.




The tracklisting is as follows:


North America
"Won't Take Me Alive"
"California Dreamin'"
"Dirty Mind"
"Heartbreaker"
"Tied Up"
"Coming Home"
"Another Last Time"
"Rolling 7's"


Europe
"Can't Find The Brakes"
"Satisfied"
"Roam"
"The Wire"
"Don't Put Out The Fire"
"Scars"
"When I'm Gone"
"You Make It All Right"





Said guitarist John Notto, “We are very proud to present to you this collection of live performances from around the world. Like my favorite live albums I listened to constantly as a kid, I believe this album features the band in its most honest form, feeding off the audience and walking the wire with a grin and a dash of reckless abandon that can only come from that magical place we get to onstage with you, the audience. We hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed performing it.”  


"To me, live albums have always been the quintessential corner stone for any rock band’s catalog,” vocalist Marc LaBelle added. "I grew up on Aerosmith’s A Little South of Sanity, AC/DC

Theofilos Xenidis, better known as Phil X, prolific studio guitarist, songwriter and renowned guitarist for Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees BON JOVI, and his band THE DRILLS are back and ready to blow minds with their electrifying new album "POW! Right In The Kisser", set for release on March 28 via Frontiers Music Srl. Known for their unique fusion of punk, classic, and modern rock infused with guitar virtuosity, PHIL X & THE DRILLS have carved out a distinctive spot in the rock world — and they're kicking it into high gear with this upcoming release.

To celebrate this announcement, the band shares the album's second single "Moving To California", following up "Don't Wake Up Dead", alongside a new visualizer available to view below. The track features former FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH drummer Jeremy Spencer.

Phil X comments: "'Moving To California" was always a dream of mine when I was a young guitar player going up in Toronto, Canada. From a distance, it always seemed like the place to be. When I moved there in '97, a lot of the ROCK glamor was gone, but I stayed and stuck to my goals. The song is a reflection of my story and other stories I had heard along the way."

PHIL X & THE DRILLS — featuring Phil X on lead vocals and guitar and Daniel Spree on bass and backing vocals — is pulling out all the stops on "POW! Right In The Kisser", with an all-star lineup of guest drummers including Tommy Lee (MÖTLEY CRÜE),Ray Luzier (KORN) and Tico Torres (BON JOVI),among others.

About the album, Phil X shared: "'POW! Right In The Kisser' was a good 10 years in the making. 'Battleship' was tracked in 2014. I just kept writing and we'd record and then kept the whole 'different drummer on every song' thing going. It became a very special collection of songs and vibes. It's very exciting for me to share something like that with the world."

"POW! Right In The Kisser" track listing:

01. Don't Wake Up Dead (Drums: Ray Luzier)
02. Fake The Day Away (Drums: Tommy Lee)
03. Heal (Drums: Brent Fitz)
04. Find A Way (Drums: Tico Torres)
05. Moving To California (Drums: Jeremy Spencer)
06. You Sunk My Battleship (Drums; Brian Tichy)
07. Seemed Like A Good Idea (Drums: Tosh Peterson)
08. Broken Arrow (Drums: Liberty Devitto)
09. I Love You On Her Lips (Drums: Gary Novak)
10. Feel Better (Drums: Ryan Macmillan)
11. Way Gone (Beam Me Up, Scotty) (Drums: Kenny Aronoff)

In 2003, THE DRILLS started to cause a stir in Hollywood, with their brand of punk mixed with classic and modern rock with guitar virtuosic undertones. Phil X was at the helm as the lead vocalist and guitar player. Daniel Spree on bass and backing vocals and Jeremy Spencer (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH) completed the power trio. They remained quite underground and released their first EP, "Kick Your Ass In 17 Minutes", in 2009. Jeremy had left to start FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH by this time, so the constant rotation of drummers began.

Also in that time period, Phil was becoming a groundbreaking YouTube sensation on a video channel called Fretted Americana, where he demoed vintage guitars. Actual 1959 Gibson Les Pauls (worth in the range of $250,000),1954 Fender Stratocasters and hundreds of other guitars were put through their paces in Phil's hands. Before he knew it, Fretted Americana was sitting on millions of collective views and from a marketing standpoint, it made sense to take THE DRILLS to another level as PHIL X & THE DRILLS.

"We Bring The Rock'n'Roll" was the follow-up to "KYAI17M". With even more classic rock flavors stirred into the mix, this was the first endeavor to feature famed drummers that Phil had worked with on other artists' records, including Chris Cornell, DAUGHTRY, Kelly Clarkson and Gavin DeGraw, to name a few. Drummers like Josh Freese (Sting, FOO FIGHTERS),Abe Laboriel Jr. (Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton),and fellow Canadian Randy Cooke (SMASH MOUTH, FIVE FOR FIGHTING) were all featured on this record.

Following two successful tours in the U.K., the band released "We Play Instruments 'N Sh!t". Musically showing vast growth in writing and production, the band was excited to unleash this heightened evolvement to their new fan base. The fan base started to grow exponentially, due to Phil filling in for Richie Sambora in BON JOVI for thirteen shows in 2011. Phil went on to replace Sambora in 2016 and has been juggling both bands along with becoming a father since.

Multiple tours and recordings with BON JOVI inevitably took the front seat in Phil's career but every time he got a break, he was writing and setting up recording sessions with drummers like Tommy Lee, Tico Torres, Ray Luzier and many more.

The first of these sessions were mixed by Chris Lord Alge and released on "Stupid Good Lookings Vol 1". Taylor Hawkins, Glen Sobel, Brent Fitz, Matt Chamberlain, Abe Laboriel Jr. and Randy Cooke all participated on this drum extravaganza with more sessions in the vault.

2024 marked an exciting new landmark for the band when they opened for MÖTLEY CRÜE at Summerfest in Springfield, Illinois. Phil X, Daniel Spree and Brent Fitz took the stage and left the 10,000 attendees, event coordinators, promoters, and agents (not to mention the headliner) all thrilled.

PHIL X & THE DRILLS is:

Phil X - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Daniel Spree - Bass & Background Vocals
Brent Fitz - Drums & Background Vocals

"Force Majeure" was the starting signal for Doro Pesch's groundbreaking solo career as the female hard rock / heavy metal icon par excellence.

The metal queen had already paved the way for Doro's future as the frontwoman of the internationally successful band WARLOCK, with whom she became the first woman to conquer the stage at the legendary Monsters Of Rock festival in 1986 and then immediately embarked on her first major tour with JUDAS PRIEST.

Numerous awards and accolades speak for themselves: in the United States, she was inducted into the Hall Of Heavy Metal History and honored with the Metal Goddess Legend Award in Las Vegas. In England, Doro earned the Legend and Angel Of Rock awards. In Germany, she received the Echo, among others, and was honored several times for her life's work.

Now she can call another award her own as part of her extensive collection. At the German Universal Music office in Berlin, the metal queen was presented with a gold award for selling more than 250,000 copies of "Force Majeure".

Former Phonogram label boss Louis Spillmann and her former product manager Bettina Spillmann were special surprise guests at the event. Also present: Doro's manager Holger Koch (Flying Dolphin Entertainment),her social media manager Jan Jaedike, and Doro's Universal catalog domestic team.

In her 40-year career, Doro has performed over 3,500 concerts in over 60 countries. She has sold over 10 million records to date and has been able to win over legendary fellow musicians such as Gene Simmons (KISS),Lemmy Kilmister (MOTÖRHEAD),Slash (GUNS N' ROSES),Peter Steele (TYPE O NEGATIVE) and most recently Rob Halford (JUDAS PRIEST) for her albums.

Pesch says: "I am overwhelmed and very happy. My big thanks go to my beloved fans worldwide and the great team. On to further deeds."

Holger Koch (business management, Flying Dolphin Entertainment) states: "It is a great honor to have been able to accompany Doro's worldwide career for over 20 years. Polygram and Universal have supported Doro with great commitment and trust at the crucial time and are still a very important partner today, as the chart entry shortly before Christmas 2024 has shown once again. Many thanks to Thomas and his team — we are very much looking forward to the upcoming collaboration on Doro's catalog."

Thomas Thyssen (director catalogue domestic, Universal Music) says: "Doro is not only a pioneer and luminary of international female-fronted metal in personal union, but — much more importantly — as busy as ever to this day. So it was all the better that we were able to find a gap in her busy schedule to present her, long overdue, with gold for 'Force Majeure' and surprise her with two unannounced special guests. Thank you very much, Doro and Holger. We are immensely looking forward to working together again."

Spanish thrash/death metallers, Emissary, are excited to announce that their new album, Eldritch, will be released on March 1 via Fetzner Death Records. Featuring eight brand-new tracks for over half an hour of music, Eldritch will be available as digipak and digital.


Embark on a harrowing journey into the unfathomable void with Eldritch, a sonic odyssey that delves into the heart of cosmic horror. This thrash/death metal masterpiece weaves a tapestry of crushing riffs and fury vocals, immersing listeners in a labyrinth of shadowed realms where the unknown reigns supreme.


The album is a descent into madness, a chaotic symphony that blurs the lines between reality and nightmare. Each track drags you deeper into the abyss, where sanity frays and forbidden truths lie hidden in the darkness. The atmosphere is oppressive yet mesmerizing, with relentless rhythms and haunting melodies echoing the vast, indifferent cosmos.




Through its raw aggression and haunting otherworldly tones, Eldritch conjures visions of ancient, unspeakable entities and realms where time and space warp into incomprehensible horrors. This is not merely an album but an experience, a plunge into a dark mystery where the boundaries of existence dissolve, leaving you to question what is real and what is madness.


Album recorded and produced by Jaume Perna, mixed at Moontower Studio by Javi Felez. Logo by Ian Regueiro and Alejandro "Grim" Herrera. Album artwork created by Alex Shadrin at Nether Temple Design.


Pre-order here.

As previously announced, iconic guitar legends Joe Satriani and Steve Vai have joined forces to create the SATCHVAI band. Today, they are excited to introduce the full band lineup: powerhouse drummer Kenny Aronoff, renowned bassist Marco Mendoza and virtuoso guitarist Pete Thorn complete the stellar quintet that is SATCHVAI band.

"Finding the right musicians for the SATCHVAI band was at first a daunting task, then an exciting one; there are so many great musicians to choose from!" says Satriani. "It's no secret that the chemistry between players will always be the thing that makes them a magical live band, and we've found that chemistry with Kenny, Marco and Pete. The upcoming shows will focus on not only our respective solo works, but also the music from our new album. We are so excited to get this show on the road and celebrate it with all of our fans!"

As Vai explains: "When considering forming one band around myself and Joe we talked about the qualities needed for each position, bass, drums, rhythm guitar. It was a surprising challenge to find the right fits."

Drummer Kenny Aronoff is no stranger to Satriani fans. He has toured alongside Joe as part of the CHICKENFOOT band, joined on Satriani solo tours since 2019, played on "The Elephant Of Mars" album, and most recently stepped in for Jason Bonham on "The Best Of All Worlds" tour with Satriani, Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony.

"What can I say about the legendary Kenny Aronoff that I haven't said before?" asks Satriani. "No other drummer has the sound, feel, time, groove, and swagger like Kenny. He's an exceptional human being too. He's supernatural!"

"Kenny is the quintessential rock drummer," said Vai. "His time is bulletproof, his tone is fat and clean, and his ability to respond in an improvisational setting is instant. Besides that, he's one of the easiest and most fun guys to tour with — an essential quality on the road."

When it came to adding a rhythm guitarist and bass player, the duo was challenged to find the right combo. Vai had been aware of Pete Thorn for quite a while and knew he was perfect for their band. As Vai explains: "Pete's playing is rock solid with a huge tone in his fingers. His rhythm playing is tight and in tune in a way that's rare, and his intonation is stunning. He's the perfect musician for this band, and we couldn't be happier to have him."

Satriani agrees: "Pete is an all-around monster guitarist. He has that rare ability to shine on rhythm and lead guitar, switching back and forth with finesse. He's got the technical abilities and the rock 'n' roll attitude Steve, and I were hoping to find for our band."

Then came the choice for bassist. Vai says of the addition of Marco Mendoza: "Marco is a bass phenomenon. With his six-string fretless, his bass sings with perfect intonation and swooning vibrato. His wide, rich tone and masterful control of dynamics will bring a new dimension to our songs."

With Satriani echoing, "Marco's musicianship is boundless. He's got a special magic to his bass playing; it's both foundational and out front at the same time. Together with his exceptional singing voice and stage presence, he will be a driving force in our band."

Aronoff says: "I've been performing and recording music with Joe Satriani since 2012 (CHICKENFOOT, Sammy Hagar, G3 and Joe's band) and have performed live with Steve Vai, but the next level is RIGHT NOW because I am joining the SATCHVAI band for a two-month tour this summer in Europe. I am pumped, excited and ready to kick ass!"

Thorn states: "It sounds like something out of a mad fantastical dream that the 14-year-old guitar-obsessed me would have had….'Joe Satriani and Steve Vai called, they want you to join their new band!' And then I'd wake up and go to 9th grade math class! But it's real! It's a mind-blowing opportunity, and yet I also feel like I've arrived exactly where I've always wanted to be. I'm beyond excited to be of musical service to these legends, and to rock out!"

Mendoza says: "I have to say that getting invited to be part of a great project like this is monumental for me personally! I know it's going to be something very special, and I can't wait to get it started."

The SATCHVAI band tour will kick off on June 13 and feature stops in major cities like London, Paris, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam, and will also include performances at major European summer festivals including Hellfest, Umbria Jazz Festival and Guitares en Scene Fest. The tour is set to conclude in late July, with more dates to be announced soon.

Celebrating nearly five decades of musical friendship, Joe Satriani and Steve Vai made their first musical collaboration debut in March 2024. "The Sea Of Emotion, Pt. 1" showcases the unmatched synergy between these two legendary guitarists as they seamlessly trade solo sections throughout the nearly six-minute opus. Their second collaboration is set to be released just before the European tour, adding even more anticipation for this epic run.

"Surfing With The Hydra" tour 2025 itinerary:

June 13 - York, UK - Barbican
June 14 - London, UK - Eventim Apollo
June 17 - Glasgow, SC - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
June 18 - Wolverhampton, UK - Civic Hall
June 19 - Manchester, UK - O2 Apollo
June 21 - Clisson, FR - Hellfest
June 22 - Paris, FR - Palais Des Congres
June 23 - Amsterdam, NL - Amsterdam Afas
June 24 - Antwerp, BE - Lotto Arena
June 26 - Copenhagen, DK - Amager Bio
June 27 - Malmo, SE - Slagthuset Saluhallen
June 29 - Helsinki, FI - House of Culture
June 30 - Tampere, FI - Tampere Hall
July 02 - Uppsala, SE - Parksnackan
July 03 - Oslo, NO - Sentrum Scene
July 05 - Warsaw, PL - Torwar
July 08 - Munich, DE - Tollwood Festival
July 10 - Dusseldorf, DE - Mitsubishi Electric Hall
July 11 - Frankfurt, DE - Jahrhunderthalle
July 12 - Zurich, CH - Volkshaus Zürich
July 13 - Milan, IT - Comfort Festival @ Villa Casati Stampa
July 15 - Pordenone, IT - Parco San Valentino
July 16 - Perugia, IT - Umbria Jazz
July 17 - Bologna, IT - Sequoie Music Park
July 18 - Saint-Julien, FR - Guitares en Scene Festival
July 20 - Prague, CZ - Forum Karlin
July 22 - Sofia, BG - National Palace of Culture
July 23 - Bucharest, RO - Arenele Romane
July 25 - Istanbul, TR - KüçükÇiftlik Park (not yet on sale)
July 28 - Athens, GR - Lycabettus Theater

Wormholedeath Records is thrilled to announce the signing of female-fronted melodic prog metal outfit, Diamantide. The band's self-titled debut album is set to make waves on February 21. This release promises to take listeners on an immersive journey through complex emotions, striking musical landscapes, and gripping stories rooted in the past, present, and future.


Formed in September 2023 in the San Francisco Bay Area, Diamantide was born from a long-awaited vision brought to life by guitarist, main composer, and producer Massimiliano (Max) Maggiari. The band’s distinct sound blends heavy guitars, orchestral elements, and deeply melodic vocals, creating an experience that is both grand and introspective. A project marked by international collaboration, Diamantide brings together talented musicians from around the world, each with unique musical experiences and stories.


Their debut album, Diamantide, offers a dynamic fusion of progressive, melodic, and power metal, with extraordinary guest performances by Tom Englund of Evergrey, Mark Basile of DGM, and Roberto Tiranti. Together, these artists add distinctive layers to an already stunning record, channeling life’s complexity through a deeply personal lens shaped by seasoned musicians.




Diamantide’s members bring an impressive collective background, wit

In a new interview with Australia's "Everblack" podcast, OPETH guitarist Fredrik Åkesson spoke about the chemistry within the band since the September 2022 addition of drummer Waltteri Väyrynen (PARADISE LOST, BLOODBATH, BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT). Väyrynen replaced stand-in drummer Sami Karppinen who had been the temporary replacement for Martin "Axe" Axenrot since the fall of 2021. Fredrik said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I feel, just getting off this three-week tour a month ago, I feel as a unit, we're stronger than ever. We're tighter. We've reached some kind of level where we have more energy live. And also behind the stage, the atmosphere and chemistry is really good now, which is so important for us to continue with this."

He continued: "We've always been great friends, but I think the chemistry now on these past tours has been… I can't remember when the chemistry was this good. Also with the crew. Everything matters. You live so tight, and the tour manager you have, it's so important that he looks after everyone. I don't like injustices when there's some kind of hierarchy with the people getting looked down on, because they're not in the band, to a certain extent, and we have nothing of that. Everybody is a part of the team. It's important to have that chemistry."

OPETH's latest album, "The Last Will And Testament", came out in November via Reigning Phoenix Music/Moderbolaget. The LP was written by OPETH guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt, with lyrics conferred with Klara Rönnqvist Fors (THE HEARD, ex-CRUCIFIED BARBARA). "The Last Will And Testament" was co-produced by Åkerfeldt and Stefan Boman (GHOST, THE HELLACOPTERS),engineered by Boman, Joe Jones (KILLING JOKE, ROBERT PLANT) and OPETH, with Boman, Åkerfeldt and the rest of OPETH mixing at Atlantis and Hammerthorpe Studios in Stockholm. The strings on "The Last Will And Testament" were arranged by Åkerfeldt and returning prog friend Dave Stewart (EGG, KHAN) and conducted by Stewart at Angel Studios in London. Visual artist Travis Smith returned to the fold, crafting his 11th cover, a haunting "photograph" reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick's infamous "Overlook Hotel" photograph. Miles Showell (ABBA, QUEEN) also revisited mastering and vinyl lacquer cutting at Abbey Road Studios in London.

Åkerfeldt rolled out the red carpet for storied flautist and JETHRO TULL mainman Ian Anderson. Not only do Anderson's signature notes fly on "§4" and "§7", he narrates on "§1", "§2", "§4", and "§7". Joining Anderson, EUROPE's Joey Tempest lends a backing vocal hand on "§2", while Åkerfeldt's youngest daughter, Mirjam Åkerfeldt, is the disembodied voice in "§1".

"The Last Will And Testament" is a concept album set in the post-World War I era, unfolding the story of a wealthy, conservative patriarch whose last will and testament reveals shocking family secrets. The narrative weaves through the patriarch's confessions, the reactions of his twin children, and the mysterious presence of a polio-ridden girl who the family have taken care of. The album begins with the reading of the father's will in his mansion. Among those in attendance is a young girl, who, despite being an orphan and polio-ridden, has been raised by the family. Her presence at the will reading raises suspicions and questions among the twins.

"The Last Will And Testament" is the darkest and heaviest record OPETH has made in decades, and it is also the band's most fearlessly progressive. A concept album recounting the reading of one recently deceased man's will to an audience of his surviving family members, it brims with haunting melodrama, shocking revelations and some of the wildest and most unpredictable music that Åkerfeldt has ever written.

The follow-up to 2019's widely acclaimed "In Cauda Venenum", "The Last Will And Testament" is set in the shadowy, sepia-stained 1920s. It slowly reveals its secrets like some classic thriller from the distant, cobwebbed past, with each successive song shining more light on the stated machinations of our dead (but definitely not harmless) protagonist. The emotional chaos of the story is perfectly matched by OPETH's vivid but claustrophobic soundtrack, which artfully winds its way towards a crestfallen but sumptuous finale.

Japanese metal sensations, Bridear, performed at the Marrickville Bowling Club in Marrickville, Australia on November 2nd supporting Dream Evil. A four camera mix of the entire show, courtesy of Bobmetallicafreak Productions can be viewed below.


Setlist:


"Still Burning"
"Road"
"Braver Words"
"Born Again"
"Scar Of Reunion"
"Ghoul"
"Ignite"







Bridear recently released a brand-new music video for "Braver Words", the second single from this year’s epic album, Born Again, out now on Psychomanteum Records.


The video accompanies the announcement of a headline tour of Europe in March and April 2025. The Into the World Forever tour will power through France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic and the Netherlands before continuing through the UK.


"Braver Words", with its intense riffs, powerful vocal hooks, and dazzling twin-guitar solo, is the perfect song for announcing the band’s return to Europe. Lead singer Kimi states: "This song is a celebration of strength and perseverance. The video captures the energy and vibe of not just the song but also our live shows!"


Bassist Haru adds: "This video is a celebration of our live performances, and it’s an invitation for everyone to come see us when we head back overseas in 2025. We can’t wait to see all of our fans in Europe and the UK!"

German symphonic metallers Beyond The Black headlined Louder Stage during Wacken Open Air 2023. Check out pro-shot video of "Is There Anybody Out There", "Reincarnation" and "Free Me" below.





Beyond The Böack capped off 2024 with the new single, "Into The Light", taken from their self-titled album released in January 2023. Check out the official video below.




Order the album here.





Tracklisting:


"Is There Anybody Out There?"
"Reincarnation"
"Free Me"
"Winter Is Coming"
"Into The Light"
"Wide Awake"
"Dancing In The Dark"
"Raise Your Head"
"Not In Our Name"
"I Remember Dying"


"Into The Light"





"Dancin

Drumeo has shared a new video along with the following introduction:


"Watch Charlie Benante break down 'Indians' by Anthrax from their legendary album, Among The Living. Charlie will share the stories behind writing this iconic song, the process of crafting the grooves and fills, and reflect on how this song became a thrash metal anthem."







In a recent interview with the Irish Times, Benante was asked a number of questions prior to their first European tour since 2019. 


It’s been forty years since the release of their debut, A Fistful of Metal. When asked if the music industry has changed for the better or worse?


“There is no music industry,” Benante counters. “That’s what has changed. There is nothing any more. There are people listening to music, but they are not listening to music the way music was once listened to.


It’s a different time now. Here’s a strange thing. While I have seen people e

Relive the sheer power and electrifying energy of Unleash The Archers as they take the stage at Bloodstock Open Air Metal Festival 2024. Recorded live on August 10, 2024, at Catton Park, Derbyshire, England, this full set showcases the band’s legendary live performance skills, blending soaring melodies, crushing riffs, and relentless energy that left the crowd in awe.


With their dynamic fusion of power metal, melodic death metal, and progressive elements, Unleash The Archers have carved out a unique place in the metal world. Their appearance at Bloodstock was one of the most anticipated performances of the festival, and they delivered beyond expectations with a setlist packed with fan favorites and jaw-dropping technical mastery. 


Setlist:




"Abyss"
"Soulbound"
"Ghosts In The Mist"
"Green & Glass"
"Awakening"
"The Matriarch"
"Tonight We Ride"





Unleash The Archers released their sixth studio album, Phantoma, last May via Napalm Records.


Mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen, and with lead guitarist Andrew Kingsley at the helm as both principal songwriter and producer, Phantoma is an exciting advancement in Unleash The Archers’ songwriting and storytelling mastery, and a giant leap forward in their towering musical trajectory.

In a new interview with Altars Of Metal, former MORBID ANGEL frontman David Vincent was asked to name the album in his discography that was most difficult to make and the period in his career which was especially challenging. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, record-wise, probably [MORBID ANGEL's] 'Illud [Divinum Insanus]' was the most difficult thing that I've done. Yeah, that was a very strange time. That's when Pete [Sandoval, longtime MORBID ANGEL drummer] had his injury and he was unable to play. We had just worked in a new guitar player and a new drummer. And the writing process was really, really strange — not what I was accustomed to. I did the best that I could with what I had to work with. And I think there's some really, really good performances on the record. Some of the material was just very strange. But again, my job is vocals, and I did the very best that I could with what I had to work with."

As for which was the "most difficult time period" in his career so far, David said: 'Right at the end, in 1996, when I was leaving the band, I was a very miserable person, and that's part of the reason why I left. I needed to get some things right with myself. And I did. And even though we were really at an amazing point career-wise, when you're not happy, you need to address it. And I'm glad I did."

Released in 2011, "Illud Divinum Insanus" drew controversy among MORBID ANGEL fans by incorporating industrial and electronic elements into the band's traditional death metal sound. It marked the group's first CD to feature Vincent since "Domination".

Back in 2017, MORBID ANGEL guitarist Trey Azagthoth offered no apologies for the computerized beats and effects of "Illud Divinum Insanus", telling Guitar World: "It just shows how David and I are in different worlds these days. He is, for sure, an artist and great in his own way, but was becoming so very different than what I was into. It was a confused effort and that is why I changed the lineup."

"I already knew the result was gonna be off during rehearsals and recording," he added. "Some of it turned out cool, but David made his vocals too loud — like usual — and the rhythm guitars got subdued in the mix. Then David flew to L.A. to finish some vocals with the engineer that mixed the record. And it seems he influenced how the mix was gonna turn out. Before I heard the final mixes for the record I thought it was gonna sound a lot more heavy. But nothing could save a silly song like 'Radikult', which I just tried to ignore. I had nothing to do with that thing."

Trey also commented on Vincent's decision to join forces with several other musicians — initially including former MORBID ANGEL drummer Tim Yeung — to perform classic MORBID ANGEL songs under the I AM MORBID banner.

"Sometimes ya just gotta laugh," Trey said. "I'm moving on, and hey, I wish David all the best with whatever he's doing. Me and David made great things in the past for many years and then we grew apart. But now I have people working with me that I can relate to better. Working with Steve [Tucker, current MORBID ANGEL bassist/vocalist] is awesome and we go out there and do all that fucked up, sick-ass shit again."

MORBID ANGEL's ninth studio album, "Kingdoms Disdained", was released in December 2017. The LP saw Azagthoth once again reunited with Tucker. Steve previously handled bass and vocals on MORBID ANGEL's "Formulas Fatal To The Flesh", "Gateways To Annihilation" and "Heretic" LPs.

Tucker told AntiHero Magazine that he and Azagthoth didn't bring up "Illud Divinum Insanus" while recording "Kingdoms Disdained". "We really didn't talk much at all about the last album," he said. "It's not something we really discussed. I wasn't a part of it. Sitting around talking about the last album was sort of like, sitting and talking with your girlfriend about her ex-boyfriend or your ex-girlfriend. It's sort of silly."

In a 2014 interview with AndrewHaug.com, Vincent defended "Illud Divinum Insanus", saying: "MORBID ANGEL has always been a band that been all-encompassing. And when people, sort of, think that they know what we should sound like… I don't think anybody knows what we should sound like more than we do. It's not like it's that big a departure, because on the 'Covenant' record, we did some collaborations with the Slovenian band LAIBACH for that record. So it's not like it's a big change for us to work with some electronic artists and to do some interesting things, in and amongst everything else that we do."

Deep Purple’s Greatest Hits, released in 2009, is a comprehensive compilation showcasing the legendary band’s most iconic tracks.


Spanning their groundbreaking career, the album features classic live versions of hits like “Smoke On The Water,” “Highway Star,” “Child In Time,” and “Black Night,” offering a perfect introduction to Deep Purple’s influential sound. Known as pioneers of hard rock and heavy metal, the band’s virtuosic guitar solos, soaring vocals, and dynamic keyboard riffs shine throughout this collection.


Greatest Hits captures the essence of Deep Purple’s heyday while celebrating their timeless appeal. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, this compilation is an essential addition to any rock music collection, solidifying Deep Purple’s legacy as one of the most influential bands in rock history.

Hungary’s unstoppable thrash-death force, Atrox Trauma, has just dropped the official music video for their latest single, "Emptiness", taken from their sophomore album, Where Death Hunts, due for release via WormHoleDeath Records.


In "Emptiness," the band takes a brutal yet introspective dive into the emotional void, tackling themes of isolation, despair, and the deep human longing for connection. With a raw and aggressive sound that pushes the limits of thrash and death metal, the track exposes the psychological burden of searching for meaning when faced with life's stark emptiness.


The band stated: "Hollowness welcomed inside. This emptiness swallowed by. Fulfilling that emptiness. To find myself in you...This is the solution. This is the Way Out. Emptiness is the second video from our album, which will be released on April 17th. A song about emptiness, being lost, giving up, and finding a way out."




Watch the official video for "Emptiness" below:

In a new interview with Talkin' Bout Rock, Robin McAuley confirmed that his BLACK SWAN project, in which he is joined by guitarist Reb Beach (WINGER, WHITESNAKE),bassist Jeff Pilson (FOREIGNER, THE END MACHINE, ex-DOKKEN),and drummer Matt Starr (ACE FREHLEY, MR. BIG),is putting the finished touches on its third album. The singer said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "Last Friday I finished my vocals for the next BLACK SWAN record. So that's in the can. We're waiting for drums to go down on that. That should be done in the next week. Jeff's done. Reb's done, just about. And we're waiting for drums to go on there and get that thing mixed. And I think it's a great record. I'm pretty excited about it."

BLACK SWAN released its second album, "Generation Mind" in April 2022. The LP was written and composed by McAuley, Pilson and Beach and was once again produced and recorded by Pilson at Pilsound Studios in Los Angeles, with Starr's drums being recorded at On Deck Sound Studios.

The genesis of BLACK SWAN was sparked by a conversation between Pilson and Frontiers Music Srl president and head of A&R, Serafino Perugino, who wanted a project that would not only showcase McAuley's vocal prowess, but have a mighty musical backbone to stand skyscraper tall behind him. Thus, the initial seeds were planted and Pilson ran with it from there. The four members got BLACK SWAN off the ground by exchanging ideas back and forth and then bringing all the songs together. The final result is something fresh, very heavy, but still intensely melodic and it's certainly not DOKKEN, nor WINGER, nor MSG, or some combination thereof, but its own unique animal.

Regarding how BLACK SWAN has managed to stay together to record a second studio album despite the fact that most so-called "supergroups" don't last very long, McAuley told VWMusic in a 2022 interview: "'Shake The World' was a great first record from BLACK SWAN, and I don't think any of us likes the supergroup reference attached to the lineup. We set out to write some great music together. Music that we enjoy playing and listening to. On 'Generation Mind', I think we achieved that cohesive band sound that is very BLACK SWAN, and the production reflects that very much. It's fresh sounding, high energy, and fun. We're not caught up in having to sound a particular way because the label [Frontiers] put us together. This is who we are as a band."

Ahead of their next studio album, Saddiction, due on February 14 via Nuclear Blast, French doom metal pioneers Hangman's Chair are back with their new single, "In Disguise". A haunting, slow-burning shoegaze doom track that drifts through layers of sorrowful distortion. Its mournful lyrics unravel the weight of depression, echoing the isolation and darkness that consumes the soul.                  


Hangman's Chair comments on "In Disguise": "Weather, debts, long time since failure, low motivational level, the feeling of a need to take action… already depressed? January 20th, more commonly known as “Blue Monday”, what a perfect day to release our third single, 'In Disguise'. A last fix before the launching of Saddiction on Valentine’s Day. Enjoy!"


Stream the single here, and watch the visualizer below:







Hangman's Chair comments on Saddiction: "'Saddiction' is the contraction of two words, sadness, and addiction. It means the addiction to sadness. 7th effort of the band, for us, Saddiction is the second album of the new trilogy that started with A Loner back in 2022 and it’s the logical continuity. Keeping up with the cold, massively reverbed, and chorused atmosphere but now mixed with what Hangman’s Chair has been known for, the heaviness and the low-tuned sound, thanks to the magical sound engineer Francis Caste, once again. Valnoir of Metastazis designed the cover and resumed what the identity of Hangman’s Chair is all about in its purest form, concrete, pavement, bleakness, and ultra-modern solitude of the Parisian « banlieue ». Now, please don’t blame us for your saddiction. It has always been here. In your hearts, February 14th, 2025."


Pre-order the new album here.

In a recent interview with "The Jasta Show", the podcast hosted by HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta, legendary German guitarist Michael Schenker was asked if has a venue that he loves to play that he is always happy when he shows up to. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I have no idea. I play so many funny places, from 12 people up to 80,000 people. It makes no difference. Yeah, of course, it's great to play in front of 500,000 people or 100,000 people, but I also enjoy playing in front of 20 people or 30 people. I have always done that. I never got disturbed by that. I wondered sometimes why only 30 people, but I did a lot of touring without management and without anybody looking after me. And so I just focused on the music and I was just happy."

He continued: "I never got paid until '91. That is a long, long time after UFO and MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP. So I never missed it, because I'm happy with necessity. I can be. And so I don't really look at money, if I spend too much or too little, but I make sure that I don't have to borrow. I just kind of make it comfortable."

Michael went on to say that the size of the venue that he plays is "not my focus." He explained: "I mean, the Budokan [in Tokyo, Japan] was an important. It never was my focus either. I never knew about the Budokan, but I played there, and it became a very famous venue for me. I have a very amazing memory of what happened, arriving at the at the show. It was like being in THE BEATLES. It was amazing.

"What I am doing is I want freedom," he continued. "I want peace. And I don't wanna be interrupted by stuff that makes no sense. And so pure self-expression, that's where my rewards come, that's where I'm happy. And not being trapped by a tricky manager. And so I was very, very careful. I mean, I am very careful in the past 20, 25 years. I wasn't before, because I didn't know anything, but I got trapped badly and I was basically tricked into borrowing some more money for the [third MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP album] 'Assault Attack' by a manager who tricked me into this. I got cross collateralized between UFO debts and Michael Schenker debts. And he disappeared with the money and I never saw him again. That was in 1980. So he probably built himself a house somewhere in the Philippines and never showed his face again because I never saw him again. It was disturbing, but I snapped out of it pretty quickly because I always said to myself… Well, of course, I got more and more careful, but not careful enough, maybe, because… Well, it's a Catch 22 in a way, but I was able to stay away from big management who wanted to sign me. And last moment I went, 'No, no, no. I can't do this. I can't do this.' And that was a blessing, because that gave me the freedom. I was never forced to do anything. Everything I do is pure joy because I love to do and pick the notes that I wanna pick, not a note that the manager wants to pick. So I put my notes together the way I like it because I'm an artist."

Michael Schenker first appeared on SCORPIONS' 1972 album "Lonesome Crow", earned acclaim in the 1970s on classic UFO albums such as "Phenomenon" and "Lights Out" before rejoining SCORPIONS for 1979's "Lovedrive". He departed soon thereafter to launch MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP. And while his sometimes-erratic behavior have derailed parts of his career, Schenker remains one of hard rock and metal's most influential axemen.

Schenker recently announced a spring 2025 European tour in support of his "My Years With UFO" album celebrating the 50th anniversary of Michael's years with UFO. Joining him on the trek will be former SKID ROW frontman Erik Grönwall, who is the featured singer on the "Mother Mary" song on "My Years With UFO", which also includes a guest appearance by GUNS N' ROSES' Slash on guitar.

SNOT has shared an official video recap of the band's first concert with new singer Andy Knapp, which took place on Friday (January 17) at the Parish room at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, California. Check it out below. The performance was also livestreamed via the band's Instagram.

SNOT played a second show with Knapp, who also sings for fellow Southern California band STRONGER THAN MACHINES, on Saturday, January 18 at Brick By Brick in San Diego, California.

SNOT's current lineup also includes guitarists Mikey Doling and Sonny Mayo, bassist John "Tumor" Fahnestock and drummer Jamie Miller.

SNOT is scheduled to play three more club concerts in February and April 2025, leading up to the band's appearance at the Welcome To Rockville festival in May 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. SNOT will also play at select European festivals, as well as at the Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival in Mansfield, Ohio, this summer.

Earlier this month, Doling took to social media to share a video message in which he once again explained the reason for the band's decision to not reveal the identity of its new singer prior to the Anaheim show. Mikey said:  "I'm so fucking excited to get out there and start playing again with my brothers, the original lineup of SNOT, with our new singer, of course, who y'all will know who he is after the January 17th show at the Anaheim House Of Blues Parish room.

"I wanted to let y'all know the reason that we haven't let you know who the singer is, is strictly because social media can be brutal and they would just go right to his — I don't know; his Facebook, Instagram or whatnot — and start scrutinizing him before he even got on stage with SNOT.

"I'll tell you this: he's no one you know, he's not some big famous rock star or vocalist, because that's what I'm hearing a lot of people are thinking. They're thinking that's the reason we're keeping it a secret. It's not. We found a guy who's extremely talented, extremely cool people, and he just does it right. He's incredible. I am very confident that y'all will be very happy once you see what he does with SNOT."

Upcoming SNOT shows:

Feb. 08 - Santa Barbara, CA - SOhO (with SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET, PETMEDZ)
April 25 - Denver, CO - HQ
April 26 - Colorado Springs, CO - The Black Sheep
May 18 - Daytona Beach, FL - Welcome To Rockville
July 18 - Flint, MI – The Machine Shop (with THE UNION UNDERGROUND)
July 19-20 - Mansfield, OH - Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival
Aug 8-10 - Kortrijk, Belgium - Alcatraz
Aug. 14-17 - Carhaix, France – Motocultor

Asked in a recent interview with The Kevin Powell Podcast how SNOT plans to announce its new vocalist, Doling said: "Let him come on stage. That's it. And figure out who he is on your own. If he says his name, great. But the last thing I wanna do is go on the Internet and put his name out there, and then people go to his social media and whatnot and start scrutinizing him before he even gets on stage. Because that's what will happen. I mean, you're living in the shadow of the great Lynn Strait [SNOT's late vocalist]. So it's gonna be a rough road for him. He's gotta prove himself on stage first. And, we're giving him that comfort. 'Cause like I said, if I said his name right now, we'd have a lot of people just going right to his social media.

"But he's awesome," Doling continued. "Let me just say when he sent me his audition reels, tapes, recordings, I was blown away like I've never been blown away since [the demise of the original SNOT lineup]. And I sent it to Tumor first thing, my right arm, my bass player from SNOT. He usually doesn't like anything. He's very cynical. He's the greatest guy ever, he's my brother, but he's a cynical person at times. And he called me right away and just said, 'Holy shit balls.' That's a quote. 'Where'd you find this guy? We found our dude. We found him.' And that's how it went down. Then, of course, I sent it to Jamie and Sonny, and they both agreed he's the guy. And here he is. We got him."

SNOT disbanded in 1998 following Strait's death, putting an end to a career that generated considerable promise but only one studio album, "Get Some". The band had been writing material for its sophomore CD and had completed 10 songs at the time of Strait's tragic passing. As a memorial to Strait, SNOT eventually decided to release those tracks, with lyrics and guest vocals provided by a host of stars from the alt-metal community. The resulting album, "Strait Up", was a fitting tribute from Strait's peers and friends, featuring members of LIMP BIZKIT, KORN, SLIPKNOT, SEVENDUST, (HED) P.E., COAL CHAMBER, SUGAR RAY, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, SOULFLY, and more.

SNOT in 2014 recruited Carl Bensley (VITIATE, CONSUME THE FIRE) to sing for the band following the departure of Tommy "Vext" Cummings (ex-DIVINE HERESY, BAD WOLVES).

Reflecting on SNOT's original split and 2014 comeback, Doling told The Kevin Powell Podcast: "Un-fucking-fortunately, our singer Lynn Strait, the great, mighty Lynn Strait, who I miss and love so much, he passed away in a car accident and it put a halt to SNOT. We just couldn't go on without him at that point. And so we stopped for many years. And then we kind of got back together with some friends, and it wasn't real serious — [we] just [played] some shows. I don't really wanna say their names right now, but they're cool people and they helped us out."

As for how SNOT's latest reunion is different from the band's 2014 comeback, Doling said: "This one, it's serious. We're back-back. We got the booking agency. We got high-level shows and festivals. This is the real deal for us. We're back right now. And, yeah, that's where we are right now. And we're hungry to do it again. I'm very excited about it."

Doling previously discussed SNOT's reunion during an appearance on an episode of the "Talk Toomey" podcast. Regarding how the band's comeback happened, Mikey said: "Well, let's see. About a year ago, I was seeing the festivals that were coming in 2024, and I was noticing there were so many bands out there from our genre. You have the COAL CHAMBERs, the MUDVAYNEs and just so many bands out there killing it. And I'm sitting there thinking, 'Man, SNOT, it's time that we get on board with this.' So I talked to the dudes. We didn't even have a singer at that point. So anyway, so I reached out to the band and said, 'Hey, man, I think we should find a singer and play some festivals and have some fun.' And they were, like, 'Yeah, well, we're in if you can find us the right singer.' So, I looked around for a while. I had no luck. But I kept looking. And then I reached out to Alex Gilbert over at TKO — it's our booking agency — and I asked him, I said, 'Hey, man, I'm currently looking for a vocalist. And if I put all this work into putting SNOT back together, would you be interested in booking some shows and festivals for us?' And he said, 'I'll put the feelers out there and let's see how it goes.' So, a year went by. I didn't hear anything back. I kind of thought, 'All right. No interest.' So about three months ago, Alex called me. So I'm looking at my phone, like, 'Whoa, it's Alex from TKO.' I answered and I asked him how he's doing. And he said, 'Hey, man, I'm getting a lot of interest for SNOT. It's a lot. Everybody I talk to wants the band.' So I told him, 'Look, man, we're into it.' I didn't even let him know we didn't have a singer yet at that point. And I said, 'Let me get back to you. I'll talk to the guys.' So I instantly jumped on social media for a little something about looking for a vocalist for SNOT. And I got a lot of response. I got, like, eight videos and audio of dudes who just didn't fit. What they did is they would sing with the album, 'Get Some', and it just didn't fit. So I almost kind of gave up. And so right there at the end, before I threw the towel in on the whole thing, a friend of mine from Santa Barbara hit me up, texted me and said, 'Hey, I found the guy for SNOT.' And, I was, like, 'Yeah, sure,' in my mind thinking, 'Yeah, yeah. Right. Right.' So I jumped on the phone with him — let's say it's a girl, with her — and she said, 'I saw a guy. He has a band. And he reminded me of Lynn. It was goosebumps,' she said. And I said, 'Cool.' And Lynn is one of his favorite all-time singers. So, she put me in contact with him. And, again, I asked him, I said, 'Look, we're looking for a singer. Do me a favor. Set up a camera, microphone and sing along to 'Get Some', our album. And so about three or four days go by and then I get some videos on my phone. So I'm watching the video, and immediately it just punched me in the face how good it was. I was, like, 'Wow, this is the guy.' What he did is he set up in front of his — he has a little rehearsal spot, drums and amps, and he put 'Get Some' through his P.A. system and he wrapped the cable from the microphone around his arm and laid into it as if he was doing a show. He did, like, five songs and he was absolutely incredible, nailing it. He looks right. He's got the whole punk vibe that we're looking for. And he just nailed it, man.

"Singing like Lynn Strait is not easy, man. And he absolutely fucking rocked it, to the point where I had to sit down; I was so blown away. And so I immediately contacted Tumor, John Fahnestock, bass player for SNOT. And Tumor, [he is the] best guy in the world, but [he] hates everything. I sent it to him, and he called me right away. He was, like, 'Dude, holy shit. You found our guy.' That was the first thing he said. 'Who is it? Is this real?' I was, like, 'It's real.' So then I sent it out to the rest of the guys, Jamie and Sonny, and, and yeah, boom, it's there."

Doling added: "So, I talked to the [singer] guy, which I'm not gonna give up his name yet. I'm gonna keep that on the DL [down low] right now for a while until we start doing some shows. People can figure it out on their own. I don't want them knowing too much yet. I wanna keep it tight for now. But anyway. So then I contacted Alex at TKO and he started talking to promoters and we're just getting 'yes', 'yes', 'yes' all over the place right now. And we're gonna start doing some shows, man."

According to the Los Angeles Times, Lynn died in died in a car accident in December 1998 as he attempted to drive across Highway 101 in Mussel Shoals, California. The 30-year-old singer died instantly after his 1992 Ford Tempo was broadsided by a southbound full-size pickup truck about noon. Also killed was Strait's small bulldog, SNOT's mascot Dobbs, who adorned the cover of the band's debut album, the 1997 Geffen Records release "Get Some". Strait, a Santa Barbara resident, was crossing the highway after visiting his girlfriend in the community. Lynn apparently pulled into the path of the truck, which was going about 65 mph. The impact sent Strait's car spinning into the center divider where it stopped, a California Highway Patrol officer told the Los Angeles Times at the time.

SNOT's most recent U.S. tour, during which the band performed "Get Some" in its entirety, kicked off in late November 2014 in Palm Desert, California and wrapped in late December 2014 in Pomona, California.

Cummings fronted SNOT in 2008-2009 before he and Mayo exited the group amid "strained relationships."

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DARK CHAPEL, the new band led by guitarist/singer/producer Dario Lorina, best-known as a longtime member of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY (2014 to present),has released its second single, "Hollow Smile". An accompanying music video for the track, directed by Justin H. Reich (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, Ace Frehley, Rex Brown),can be seen below.

On "Hollow Smile", a thrash-y palm-muted chug seethes beneath his airy intonation on the verses. It climaxes on a chantable chorus accelerated by a driving rhythm.

Lorina explains: "I read a quote recently that portrays the meaning behind this song well: 'A man's own mind is the greatest battle he will face.'"

Led by Lorina and also featuring Brody DeRozie (guitar),Mike Gunn (bass),and Luis Silva (drums),the band's airtight guitar-craft and sludgy grooves with magnetic melodies, bluesy phrasing, and grunge mystique are spotlighted on their debut album, "Spirit In The Glass", which is due out February 28, 2025 on MNRK Heavy.

The album's first single, "Glass Heart", was released last November on all digital outlets. A video for the song can be seen below.

Dario's gritty delivery on the song takes hold on a hypnotic hook, bleeding into a fret-burning lead punctuated by dramatic bends. "'Glass Heart' is a lyrical and almost cinematic musical story that started with a riff and lyrically stemmed from emotion," he revealed. "That emotion created an imagery for me that I began writing about as if that feeling was a painting I was writing to describe."

Striking an elusive balance between dark and heavy, ethereal and passionate, "Spirit In The Glass" is, as Lorina describes, "a culmination of all artistic influence, whether musical or otherwise."

Lorina began his professional career in 2006 when he was 16 as the touring guitarist with the late Jani Lane (ex-WARRANT). At 19, he joined veteran metal act LIZZY BORDEN whom he toured with for four years. He released two instrumental records with Mike Varney on Shrapnel Records in 2013 and 2017, respectively, titled "Dario Lorina" and "Death Grip Tribulations". On January 1, 2014 he joined BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and has since been touring worldwide alongside Zakk Wylde, performing on guitar, piano and backing vocals ever since. Lorina dueled solos with Wylde on BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's 2022 album "Doom Crew Inc.", and he joined Zakk Wylde on the January 2022 cover of Guitar World magazine.

"The guitar never really left my hands," he laughed. Years of woodshedding followed. At 16 years old, he answered the call to audition for Jani Lane and found himself on the road with the ex-WARRANT frontman shortly thereafter.

"Spirit In The Glass" track listing:

01. Afterglow
02. Hollow Smile
03. We Are Remade
04. Corpse Flower
05. Glass Heart
06. Dead Weight
07. Dark Waters
08. All That Remains
09. Gravestoned Humanity
10. Bullet In Our Chamber

Photo credit: Shane O'Neal

In a new interview with TalkShopLive, BUCKCHERRY frontman Josh Todd spoke about the band's upcoming eleventh album, which was recorded last November at a Nashville studio with producer Marti Frederiksen. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The new record is imminent, and it's really great. It's called 'Roar Like Thunder'. It's a rocking record from beginning to end. You guys are gonna really love it. We labored over the songwriting for a long time, and it's a lot of fun from beginning to end. We're gonna be doing two videos for it, one starting in February. We're shooting it in Los Angeles." He added later in the chat that the LP will be made available on June 13. "It's gonna be amazing," he said. "So pre-order it when it comes out."

Last month, Todd told Indie Power TV about BUCKCHERRY's working relationship with Frederiksen: "Yeah, our relationship with Marti goes way back. We co-wrote 'Sorry' with Marti way back on [the] '15' [album], and then 'Black Butterfly' and 'Confessions'. Marti was all part of all that. It's just unfortunate that we didn't get to continue with him because of the politics in B.C. at the time. So, long story short, it's been great to be back with him. I don't ever wanna do a record without him, and he knows that. He understands this band for what's special about BUCKCHERRY, bringing out those elements in us. I think we bring out elements in him that he likes, and we work as a team. We do what's best for the song. We leave the egos at the door and we get to it and we always make great stuff. So it's been a lot of fun making records."

He added: "And [Marti's] got a mini-me. His son is Evan Frederiksen, and he's on this record too. And he was on the last record, and he's really so Marti-ish. And he's gonna be a big player down the line too. He's great. He's very talented. And just like Marti — Marti started on drums; that was his instrument. And then [Marti] eventually got into songwriting, and he can play guitar and he sings and he does it all. He's always writing with somebody at all times, so he's just a wealth of information. And I always learn so much doing records with him."

In November, BUCKCHERRY guitarist Stevie Dacanay (a.k.a. Stevie D.) told Shawn Ratches of Laughingmonkeymusic about the band's upcoming eleventh album: "We're gonna do a 10-song album like we normally do. We got together with Marti Frederiksen at a couple points in this past year to songwrite and then we also demo at my studio in California. And we wrote — I don't know — maybe 20-plus songs. And we always whittle that down to 10 songs."

Regarding BUCKCHERRY's working relationship with Marti, Stevie said: "We've known him for a very long time. About 20 years ago, he co-wrote [the song] 'Sorry' and then produced the 'Black Butterfly' album after that. So we've known him since then, but we got together with him for [2021's] 'Hellbound' album. We reconnected and, in my opinion, we've done some stuff, sonically and musically, that's been really great. And I love the process. I love coming here [to his studio in Nashville] and working with him. It's such an inspiring kind of environment. And there's a lot of history here at the studio and the vibe here just is real conducive to creating. But yeah, working with Marti, and his son now is an integral part of this camp, a lot gets done pretty quickly. And, yeah, I can't say enough good stuff about this place."

Dacanay went on to speak in more detail about the BUCKCHERRY songwriting process, saying: "There's a considerable amount of preparation before we actually get in here to track the album. So we'll spend the year writing and demoing songs, and then we'll pick out the songs we wanna focus on. And then I'll make a demo of the 10 songs and give 'em to the rest of the guys — Kelly [LeMieux, bass], Francis [Ruiz, drums] and Billy [Rowe, guitar]. They'll learn the songs in kind of what they wanna do their parts. And then we'll all fly in… What happened this time is we all flew in pretty early in the morning and just started cranking it out. And these guys are — they're crackerjacks. So they can get in and do their respective parts in a day, 10 songs, and then their second day would be about just touch-ups or revisions or something like that. But each guy knocks his parts out in a couple days. So they were in and out of here in four or five days, I believe. We had two studios going. There's four studios here. So at one point we'll have two rooms going — one with, let's say Billy's in one room and Kelly's in another tracking or Francis. Francis, at one point, was the only one… When he starts it off, there's nothing else to start recording, so Francis goes first and knocks out the majority of it, and then everyone else just starts jumping in."

"Vol. 10" came out in June 2023. The 11-song LP featured 10 new BUCKCHERRY originals and, as a bonus track, a cover of the Bryan Adams classic "Summer Of 69". The album was produced by Frederiksen and recorded at Sienna Studios in Nashville. The album was released in North America by Round Hill Records, in Japan by Sony Japan, and by Earache Records for the rest of the world.

In November 2023, BUCKCHERRY released a new holiday song called "Tell 'Em It's Christmas".

BUCKCHERRY previously released another holiday song, "Christmas Is Here", back in 2010.

In the summer of 2020, BUCKCHERRY recruited JETBOY's Rowe as its new guitarist. He joined the group as the replacement for Kevin Roentgen, who left BUCKCHERRY in July of that year.

In 2019, BUCKCHERRY enlisted Ruiz as its new drummer. He joined the group as the replacement for Sean Winchester, who exited BUCKCHERRY after laying down the drum tracks on "Warpaint".

The 20th-anniversary deluxe edition of the double-platinum BUCKCHERRY album "15" on physical and digital formats arrived on January 17 via Endurance Music Group. Originally released in 2005, the album featured the four-times-platinum single "Crazy Bitch" and the two-times-platinum single "Sorry". The deluxe edition was issued in North America on a two-vinyl-LP format featuring the album's 11 original songs as well as four bonus tracks recorded in 2005 and three newly recorded acoustic tracks by Todd and Dacanay.

BUCKCHERRY will perform the "15" album in its entirety on all 2025 tour dates which begin in March.

In a new interview with Turned Out A Punk, LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe reflected on how his band went from Metal Blade affiliate Prosthetic Records to its current major label home on Epic. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "Approaching us signing to a major label, I think I was probably the only one in the band that was truly nervous about it, because I come from the punk rock scene and major label is a dirty word. But I'm in a metal band. You also have to realize that we're not strictly a punk rock band; we're a metal band. But in looking at this, the way I figured it was gonna happen was that I viewed this as a SEX PISTOLS 'Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle' situation. I'm, like, 'This shouldn't be happening. Our band is very aggressive. We aren't gonna provide any sort of radio hits or whatever. Why is a major label coming knocking? I know what's gonna happen. What will happen is, is they're gonna give us this money. We're gonna write this record. We're gonna give it to them and they're gonna drop us either before it comes out or shortly thereafter it comes out.' And I knew enough about the way the music industry worked to be, like, 'They're gonna drop us. They're going to break contract. So we're gonna get to keep money.' So it was, like, 'Let's take the money and run. Fuck it. It's never gonna work out. They're never gonna keep us around.'"

He continued: "We played a showcase at the Knitting Factory in New York right before we were about to sign. And the president of Epic Records [at the time] was a lovely woman named Polly Anthony. And she came out to this showcase. It was fucking hot as shit. I don't know if you've ever been in the Knitting Factory. It's a tiny club. It's brutal hot in there. We get done, and she's, like, 'That was so great,' this very put together, good-looking middle-aged woman. She's, like, 'Let's go out for celebratory drinks and something to eat to celebrate you guys.' And we're, like, 'Great. Free food' or whatever. So we go to this fancy fucking New York, fancy-schmancy bar or whatever, and we're sitting at this table and they're bringing out shots for us to do a shot. And she's, like, 'I'd just like to propose a toast.' I'm, like, 'Wait just one second. Okay, I have something to say real quick. Before we sign this…' And it was like the needle got picked up from the record, and my whole band just, like, looked at me. I remember it clear as day. I'm, like, 'Number one, we're never gonna write a radio song. Number two, you can't tell us what to write. Number three, you can't tell us who's gonna produce this. Number four, you can't try and change our artistic direction. We're okay already, so we don't really need you.' And this woman looked at me and my band looked at me, like, 'Holy fuck, dude. He's just destroyed everything for us.' She looked at me and she goes, 'Oh, my God. I am so sorry. Did I give you that impression?' I'm, like, 'Nope. Just letting it be known.' And then it worked. And we just fulfilled a seven-album contract with them. It's crazy. We put out seven records on a major label, sounding like us, without delivering a single hit. I'm still not sure how it worked. But they've never told us what to do, they've never told us who to produce us, they've never tried to direct us anyway, because what we have, it doesn't need fixing. It works on its own. I guess they're smart enough to realize that."

Blythe is currently promoting his new book, "Just Beyond The Light: Making Peace With The Wars Inside Our Head", which is due on February 18, 2025 via Grand Central Publishing (GCP).

"Just Beyond The Light" was previously described by Blythe as a "tight, concise roadmap of how I have attempted to maintain what I believe to be a proper perspective in life, even during difficult times."

Last month, Blythe announced more spoken-word and question-and-answer events to promote "Just Beyond The Light". The special "evening with" event includes a spoken-word performance, an audience question-and-answer session, a copy of "Just Beyond The Light" and an opportunity to have the book signed.

In a recent interview with Radioactive MikeZ, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM program "Wired In The Empire", Blythe was asked if "Just Beyond The Light" picks up where his debut book, "Dark Days", which focused on his ordeal in a Czech Republic prison and his subsequent acquittal, left off or if it's a completely different book. Randy said: "It's a completely different book. It's a collection of — I wouldn't call 'em essays, but different chapters about, basically different people and experiences who have [changed] my perspective for the better.

"As I get older, I try not to make the same stupid mistakes again and again and again and again," he explained. "And surprise, surprise, if you look at people who — you look at them and you think, 'Man, this person has their life together,' or, 'They've acted in a manner that I find admirable,' if you pay attention to them and follow their example, you don't do stupid things yourself. I'm not saying that I don't still do stupid things, but I'm trying fully in my old age to learn from others more."

In 2012, Blythe was arrested in the Czech Republic and charged with manslaughter for allegedly pushing a 19-year-old fan offstage at a show two year prior and causing injuries that led to the fan's death. Blythe spent 37 days in a Prague prison before ultimately being found not guilty in 2013.

Blythe's prison experience inspired two songs on LAMB OF GOD's 2015 album "VII: Sturm Und Drang": "512", one of his three prison cell numbers, and "Still Echoes", written while he was in Pankrac Prison, a dilapidated facility built in the 1880s that had been used for executions by the Nazis during World War II. It also led him to write the aforementioned "Dark Days", in which he shared his whole side of the story publicly for the first time.

British death metal veterans BENEDICTION have unveiled the cover of their upcoming studio album, "Ravage Of Empires", which is due to be released on April 4, 2025 via Nuclear Blast Records. "Ravage Of Empires" will be the band's ninth full-length since forming back in 1989 in Birmingham, England.

The year 2020 saw BENEDICTION re-enter the stage with their eighth record, "Scriptures", after 12 years without releasing any new music. The album was a huge success and it was praised by fans and critics alike, also due to the return of longtime vocalist Dave Ingram.

Just like its predecessor, "Ravage Of Empires" was produced by Scott Atkins at Grindstone Sudio with cover artwork by Wolven Claw Artist. The album continues BENEDICTION's flawless discography on Premier League level and promises to become one of 2025's undisputable old-school death metal highlights. Stand by for more information on the album and the pre-order, which will start soon.

Catch BENEDICTION live on their European release tour in April 2025 with guests JUNGLE ROT and MASTER. All confirmed live dates below.

BENEDICTION with JUNGLE ROT and MASTER:

April 04 - DE - Hamburg - Kultur Palast
April 05 - DE - Bad Oeynhausen - Druckerei
April 06 - NL - Sittard - Volt
April 07 - BE - Kortrijk - DVG
April 08 - LU - Esch-Belval - Rockhal
April 09 - DE - Mannheim - 7er Club
April 10 - DE - Obertraubling - Event Hall Airport
April 11 - DE - Geiselwind - Eventzentrum Strohofer
April 12 - AT - Salzburg - Rockhouse
April 13 - DE - Jena - F-Haus
April 15 - DE - Berlin - Lido
April 16 - DE - Essen - Turock
April 17 - CH - Aarau - KIFF

More confirmed dates for 2025:

March 01 - SE - Stockholm - Stockholm Extreme
May 21 - US - Brooklyn, NY - The Meadows
May 22 - US - Baltimore, MD - Maryland Deathfest
June 21 - PT – Beja - Nada Fest
June 25 - CZ - Spalene Porici - Basinfirefest
July 26-27 - ES - Cangas De Morrazo - Kanekas Metalfest
July 30 - August 02 - DE - Wacken - Wacken Open Air
August 01 - DE  - Loebnitz - Full Rewind Fest

Photo by Karen Rew