Next week, Caliban will hit the road across Germany with labelmates Ghøstkid, plus Resolve and League Of Distortion, for a special run of shows. To celebrate this upcoming tour kickoff, the band has dropped a new standalone single for fans.


"The Shadow" can be streamed here. A video for the track (directed by Tom Brückner) can be viewed below.







Regarding "The Shadow", Caliban comments: "'The Shadow' is about breaking out of a situation you got into by being blinded and deceived. A bloody made-up fairy tale with a happy ending."








Caliban are (from left to right in the above photo):


Denis Schmidt - Guitar
Patrick Grün - Drums
Andreas Dörner - Vocals
Marc Görtz - Guitar


(Photo - xoxo photography)

Tarja will release her first-ever "best of" collection, Living The Dream, on December 2 via earMUSIC. Pre-order it here, and watch Tarja unbox various edition of the collection, below:





"Circus Life" is a powerful two hour concert experience which captures Tarja’s 2020 performance at Circul Metroplitan Bucuresti in Bucharest, Romania. A unique in-the-round presentation adds to the dynamic and heightens Tarja’s connection with her enraptured audience. Available for the first time as part of the Best Of: Living The Dream limited edition Mediabook and deluxe box set. Watch a trailer below:







Looking back on 15 extremely successful years of the Finnish singer's solo career, the Best Of contains not only Tarja's most well-known tracks, many of them newly remastered at Sterling Sound, and personal favorites from all six studio albums — My Winter Storm, What Lies Beneath, Colours in the Dark, The Brightest Void, The Shadow Self, and In the Raw — but also the never-before-heard song "Eye of the Storm."


"After all these years, I still really can't believe it's time for me to release a proper 'Best Of' album," Tarja says. "So many beautiful moments, unbelievable. It has been a dream to put together this collection. And I really hope that you will enjoy this as much as I did while making it."


The compilation was hand-picked by Tarja herself and will be released on December 2 in a wide variety of formats. Each featuring exclusive rarities and/or the previously unreleased two-hour Circus Life concert, which is eagerly awaited by fans — as well as upgraded versions of Tarja's music videos. Rounded out by high-quality artwork, deluxe liner notes, and many formats to choose from, this collection is a delight for casual fans, as well as superfans.


Best Of Tarja: Living The Dream will be released on 1CD Digipak, Ltd. 2CD+Blu-ray Mediabook, 2LP (Gatefold, 180g, black), Ltd. Coloured 2LP (Gatefold, 180g, crystal clear), Ltd. Box Set and on Digital.


The standard version of the CD and vinyl contains 16 tracks (including the brand new single) as well as deluxe liner notes. The strictly limited Mediabook holds 13 further tracks and the previously unreleased, two-hour live show Circus Life. The strictly limited box set contains an additional 19 tracks selection of Tarja's projects including Outlanders, 4 Picture Disc, 6 art prints, 2 posters, and a fine art print signed by Tarja!





Content/Tracklisting:


1CD Jewelcase / 2LP Gatefold (180g, black) / Ltd. 2LP Gatefold (180g, crystal clear):
16 Tracks, handpicked by Tarja


Ltd. 2CD+Blu-ray Mediabook (48pages):


CD1: 16 tracks (=1CD Jewelcase)
CD2: 13 further rare tracks from Tarja’s career (B-sides, rarities etc.)
Blu-ray: Two hours of previously unreleased live show Circus Life. Filmed January 23, 2020, at the Circul Metropolitan, Bucharest, Romania + all official music video clips


Ltd. Box Set:


3CD+BD earBOOK (36 pages)
CD1: 16 tracks (=1CD Jewelcase)
CD2: 13 further rare tracks from Tarja’s career (B-sides, rarities etc.)
CD3: 19 tracks selection of Tarja’s classical side projects and Outlanders
Blu-ray:previously unreleased, 2 hours full live concert Circus Life on video. Filmed January 23, 2020 at the Circul Metropolitan, Bucharest, Romania + all official music video clips)
4 Picture Disc (incl. CD1+CD2)
6x art prints
2x posters
1x fine art print signed by Tarja


CD1 / LP1+2 tracklisting:


"Eye of the Storm"
"I Walk Alone" (Single Version)
"Die Alive" (Alternative Version)
"Enough"
"Falling Awake" (Feat. Jason Hook)
"Until My Last Breath" (Single Version)
"I Feel Immortal" (Radio Remix)
"Victim of a Ritual"
"500 Letters"
"Never Enough"
"Innocene" (Radio Edit)
"Demons In You" (Feat. Alissa White-Gluz)
"Diva"
"Dead Promises" Ffeat. Björn "Speed" Strid)
"Tears in Rain"
"You and I" (Band Version)


CD2 + Picture Disc 3+4 tracklisting:


"Oasis"
"Sing for Me"
"Anteroom of Death" (Edit Version)
"In for a Kill"
"Naiad"
"Crimson Deep"
"Mystique Voyage"
"Deliverance"
"Into the Sun"
"Eagle Eye" (Feat. Chad Smith)
"Too Many"
"Love to Hate"
"Shadow Play"


CD3 tracklisting:


"Rukous, Op. 40 : N°2"
"Oi, Kiitos Sa Luojani Armollinen"
"Ave Maria" (Camille Saint-Saëns)
"Ave Maria" (Giulio Caccini)
"Ave Maria" (Tarja Turunen)
"Walking in the Air"
"You Would Have Loved This"
"O Come, O Come Emmanuel"
"Together"
"O Tannenbaum"
"What Child Is This"
"Varpunen Jouluaamuna"
"Heinillä Härkien"
"En Etsi Valtaa Loistoa"
"Witch-Hunt"
"You Take My Breath Away"
"I Feel Pretty"
"The Cruellest Goodbye"
"World in My Eyes"


Blu-Ray tracklisting:


"Mystique Voyage"
"500 Letters"
"Naiad"
"Diva"
"You and I"
"Love to Hate"
"Demons in You"
"Never Enough"
"Falling Awake"
"I Feel Immortal"
"I Walk Alone"
"Victim of Ritual"
"Innocence"
"Die Alive"
"Tears in Rain"
"Dead Promises"
"Until My Last Breath"
"Shadow Play"


"Eye Of The Storm" visualizer:

Stratovarius have restored their "Forever Free" live video, filmed in Hamburg, Germany in 1997, and featured on the band's Infinite Visions DVD (2009). Watch the restored clip below:





In line with their current live shows, Stratovarius recently released a visually stunning music video for "Survive", the title track of their new album. It offers intimate insight into the band's everyday touring life and increases fans anticipation for upcoming live concerts.




"We spent five or six days solid, trying to come up with the lyrics for that song," notes Jens Johansson. "When we finally settled on that punchline for the chorus, it was a good song about survival and it all just seemed to fit. It fits with the history of the band too, because we managed to survive as long as we have. This band has been through some strange days! The original line-up formed in 1984, so it's been a long story. It was the middle of the summer, there were forest fires everywhere, there was a global pandemic, and all kinds of crazy shit going on. Some of the lyrics are perhaps less uplifting than they could have been, but that reflects our mood at the time. There's a lot of positive stuff on there as well!"





The band's Survive album can be ordered here.





Tracklisting:


"Survive"
"Demand"
"Broken"
"Firefly"
"We Are Not Alone"
"Frozen in Time"
"World on Fire"
"Glory Days"
"Breakaway"
"Before the Fall"
"Voice of Thunder"


"Broken" video:





"Firefly" video:





"World On Fire":





"Survive" graphic video:

New York-based metal photographer/videographer, Ignacio Orellana, has posted video of Sacred Oath performing their 80’s power metal anthem, “Two Powers”, at the Brooklyn nightclub Sovereign back on August 27.  The band is currently performing sets of their entire 1987 debut A Crystal Vision as part of their 35th Anniversary concert tour. 


Sacred Oath joined a reunion of three Mercenary Records bands from the late 80s including Attacker and Meanstreak for the “one night only” event hosted by Armageddon Productions. It was the first performance in more than 30 years for the all-female thrash outfit Meanstreak (currently on tour with John Petrucci) and the first time ever that all three bands shared the stage. The night took a tragic turn when Meanstreak singer Bettina Campagna France took a fall backstage and was unable to perform, much to the disappointment of fans who had traveled from out-of-state to witness the reunion.


“It was a crazy situation,” said Sacred Oath singer Rob Thorne. “The promoter was waving his arms at me from the side of the stage before the last song on our set list, and I was thinking ‘are you kidding me? You’re going to make us cut the last song when we’ve promised the whole album?’ But he was asking me to keep playing until we ran out of gas because Tina had just been rushed to the ER with a broken arm, so I just kept calling out songs and we worked our way through half of the Darkness Visible album as well. The rest of the band had no idea what was going on and they thought for sure a long hook was gonna come out and yank me.”




The band hired Ignacio Orellana of ProMusicVideo to shoot their set with four cameras, but ultimately scrapped the footage because of sub-standard sound and lighting at the venue. 

NICKELBACK frontman Chad Kroeger believes that he understands why his band's detractors have been so vocal in publicizing their distaste for the Canadian rock act.

Arguably the most disliked band in America, NICKELBACK has earned a type of hatred so potent it's hard to fathom what they did that was so terrible to the public consciousness. It's gotten to the point that people who enjoy NICKELBACK are denying their fandom and hiding their CDs like criminal contraband.

Asked by Jorge Botas of Portugal's "Metal Global" if he understands how NICKELBACK came to be so disliked by so many people, Chad said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think I've got a pretty good grasp of where things kind of went off the rails for us.

"I think that because we write so many different kinds of music, I think that if you were listening to a radio station any time between 2000 and 2010, '11, '12 even, we were kind of tough to get away from," he explained. "'Cause if you didn't wanna hear it and you changed to a different radio station, you'd probably hear it on there, and then changed to a different radio station, you probably were gonna hear it in so many different places. And we were really tough to get away from. And that's not my fault. [Laughs] We just write the songs. And so with that comes backlash. And then what happens is then comedians start making jokes, and then it starts making it on to TV, and then it makes it into movies and stuff like that. And then it just turns into this wave of, it's fun to pick on and it's an easy joke. And I get it. I understand. There are bands that when I hear them on the radio, I… And they're very popular bands… I mean, we all have those. No one is exempt from that. There are certain bands where you just hear them and you just don't like 'em. And other people may — half the world may love them, and I'll just be, like, 'No. I just cannot hear this band one more [time].' And just like everyone else does, I just change the channel.

"But we became the whipping boy of the music industry for a while there. But whatever. It's just part of the history of the band."

According to Chad, NICKELBACK is not the first group to experience the kind of severe backlash that has earned him and his bandmates the title of "the most hated act in the world."

"It's funny because we were at the American Music Awards, and we were presenting, and we presented to DEF LEPPARD," Chad recalled. "And when we walked backstage afterwards, Joe Elliott and Phil Collen turned to me, and they were just, like, 'Dude, thank you so much.' I'm, like, 'For what?' They were, like, 'For taking the trophy. We get to pass the baton to you for being the most hated band in the world now.' And I was just, like, 'Oh, yeah. 'Cause I want that.'

"And it's funny — we went for dinner with AC/DC in Chicago years and years and years ago," Chad added. "And this whole thing came up. And Brian Johnson said when they released 'Back In Black', they were the most hated band on the planet. So I feel like we're in good company. [Laughs]"

Back in 2016, a student named Salli Anttonen at the University of Eastern Finland conducted a study to find out why there is so much hate directed towards NICKELBACK. Anttonen analyzed Finnish reviews of the band from 2000 through 2014 for her paper, which was titled "Hypocritical Bullshit Performed Through Gritted Teeth: Authenticity Discourses In Nickelback's Album Reviews In Finnish Media".

Anttonen found that critiques of the band became harsher as they became more popular, noting: "It became a phenomenon where the journalists were using the same (reasons) to bash them, and almost making an art out of ridiculing them."

Even though the study was based solely upon Finnish reviews of the band, the critics' animosity toward the group has been a global phenomenon.

Anttonen concluded: "NICKELBACK is too much of everything to be enough of something. They follow genre expectations too well, which is seen as empty imitation, but also not well enough, which is read as commercial tactics and as a lack of a stable and sincere identity."

NICKELBACK's new album, "Get Rollin'", was released today (Friday, November 18) via BMG.

ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello spoke to Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station about the cancelation this past August of two shows on the band's North American tour with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and HATEBREED. ANTHRAX called off dates in Dallas and Austin due to what at the time was being described as "a medical concern."

"We got COVID," Frank revealed (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "Joey [Belladonna, vocals], Charlie [Benante, drums] and myself, all at once, we all got COVID at the same time.

"ANTHRAX, for us to cancel a show, it's gotta be pretty bad. We've played with high fevers and flus and everything — we've played through everything — but that COVID thing… I mean, we got lucky by only canceling two shows. It was a rough one. I tried everything. But I think Joey, it just landed in his throat, so we couldn't go. It made sense.

"On that, I was learning the vocals… I learned 'em before the tour in case something did happen to Joey with COVID, blah blah blah," Bello added. "So we've been getting ready to go. But, unfortunately, Charlie, Joey and myself all had it at the same time, so I couldn't even get up there and sing. We were gonna try it; we were gonna go for it. Scott [Ian, guitar] was gonna do some stuff; I was gonna sing some songs. It didn't work out. But I'm kind of glad Joey was better right away."

Last December, Bello said that he was taking extra precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic because he is suffering from "an immune disease" which makes it easier for him to "get sicker faster."

This past summer, former ANTHRAX guitarist Paul Crook revealed that he served as the "understudy" on the band's tour with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and HATEBREED in case Ian, Bello or guitarist Jonathan Donais got sick and was unable to perform.

Crook, was played with ANTHRAX between 1995 and 2001, contributing guitar work to the "Stomp 442" album and the follow-up "Vol. 8: The Threat Is Real", wrote in an Instagram post: "A lot of tours/ shows are getting canceled due to the obvious, I feel the understudy thing is going to become commonplace. The guys had a health issue that began in Texas… I joined the tour in Atlanta shortly after."

In early 2023, ANTHRAX and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY will head back on the road for a 24-date tour, making stops in all new markets, with both bands playing headline sets. Joining ANTHRAX and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY as special guest on this run will be EXODUS. The trek will launch on January 17 at the Revolution Concert House in Boise, Idaho and wrapping in Oakland, California at the Fox Theatre on February 18.

ANTHRAX celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2021 with a number of special activities and events. Formed by Ian and bassist Dan Lilker in Queens, New York on July 18, 1981, ANTHRAX was one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast and quickly became regarded as a leader in the genre alongside METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH.

Active over the past five decades, ANTHRAX has released 11 studio albums, been awarded multiple gold and platinum certifications, received six Grammy nominations, toured the world since 1984 playing thousands of shows, including headlining Madison Square Garden and playing Yankee Stadium with the "Big Four".

ANTHRAX's latest album, 2016's "For All Kings", was called by some critics the band's strongest LP to date. Its arrival followed a five-year period during which the group experienced a rebirth of sorts, beginning with ANTHRAX's inclusion on the "Big Four" tour, and continuing with the release of comeback effort "Worship Music".

In a brand new interview with Jon Weigell of Rolling Stone's Twitch channel, GHOST leader Tobias Forge was asked if that is any music that he has been inspired by lately that he will try to incorporate into the upcoming follow-up to 2022's "Impera" album. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Nothing that I can commit to here and now. There are a lot of things in my head that I feel like I wanna explore writing.

"I think I've never really ended an album production, or left an album production, without feeling like there are things that I would wanna do different next time," he explained. "Kind of [the way I feel] about [GHOST's onstage] costumes — you try to… slowly and steadily you try to perfect, but for every process end up doing some of experiment that might have been a miracle, or the next time you're, like, 'Oh, let's never do that again.' Because recording and writing and just making a record is also… it's a boring thing, but there's a lot of practical factors that will play into the result of making a record. Historically, if we don't talk about my band, but just historic records, there's a big difference between recording in your hometown and recording a record on a tropical island someplace. And none of it is better than the other; it just means two different things. And people that you work with, and what state of mind you are in when you are doing it. And if you work nights or if you do work in the daytime. There are so many things like that.

"So right now I'm more about vibing — I'm trying to build a new vibe for writing this record now, just to sort of see to it that I don't end up repeating myself, and do something else," Forge added. "Evoke a few good things from the past and try to eradicate some of the things I didn't like. And once more, you try to do it perfectly. It's like being that sort of person that gets married for the sixth time: 'This time is gonna be great. It's gonna be perfect this time.'"

This past weekend, GHOST won its first-ever American Music Award in the newly debuted "Favorite Rock Album" category. The critically acclaimed, chart-topping "Impera" edged out formidable competition from COLDPLAY, IMAGINE DRAGONS, Machine Gun Kelly and the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS to win the vote.

The winners of the American Music Award are all voted by fans. Nominees in 37 categories were selected based on key fan interactions through Billboard charts, including streaming, album and song sales, radio airplay, and tour grosses. These were tracked by Billboard and Luminate covering the eligibility period of September 24, 2021 to September 22, 2022.

Featuring the Rock Radio No. 1s "Call Me Little Sunshine" — recently nominated for a "Best Metal Performance" Grammy — and "Hunter's Moon" (the end credits song from 2021's No. 1 R-rated film "Halloween Kills") as well as the currently climbing "Spillways", "Impera" was released March 11, 2022 via Loma Vista Recordings. Hailed by Rolling Stone as "an escapist rock and roll album," "Impera" "conquered rock, metal and the charts" (as reported by the Los Angeles Times),debuting at No. 1 in a sweep of the U.S. album charts, and entering the Billboard 200 at No. 2. Produced by Klas Åhlund and mixed by Andy Wallace, "Impera" sets the most current and topical GHOST subject matter to date against a hypnotic and darkly colorful melodic backdrop, resulting in a listen like no other — yet unmistakably, quintessentially GHOST. "Impera"'s release has been supported by the "euphoric spectacle" (Rolling Stone) of the 70+ date "Imperatour" arena tour, during which the Wall Street Journal christened GHOST "the next generation of arena stars."

The 2022 American Music Awards took place on Sunday (November 20) at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California.

"Impera" sold 70,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release to land at position No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. It marked the third top 10 album — and fifth top 40-charting set — for the Swedish act.

"Impera" landed at position No. 1 in Germany and Sweden, No. 2 in the U.K., Netherlands, Belgium and Norway, No. 3 in Australia, No. 5 in France and Ireland, and No. 20 in Italy.

Six of GHOST's albums have charted on the Billboard 200: "Infestissumam" (No. 28, 2013); "If You Have Ghost" EP (No. 87, 2013); "Meliora" (No. 8, 2015); "Popestar" EP (No. 16, 2016); "Prequelle" (No. 3, 2018); and "Impera" (No. 2, 2022). Nine GHOST songs have charted on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, with five reaching No. 1: "Square Hammer" in 2017; "Rats" in 2018; "Dance Macabre" in 2019; and "Hunter's Moon" and "Call Me Little Sunshine" in 2022.

Dylan Gers, the son of IRON MAIDEN guitarist Janick Gers, has teamed up with Noah Yorke, the son of RADIOHEAD frontman Thom Yorke, on a new collaborative single, "Red Skies". Due on December 2 on all streaming platforms through independent record label Sly-Tone, the track is said to feature "a more textured and more detailed approach" than Dylan's first single, "Moon Rise", which came out in April. It starts with a lone acoustic accompanied with a flanger, phaser and reverb, playing a melody which captures your attention straight away, then moments later, harmonics which weave in and out to illustrate tension. A 12-stringed guitar played by Noah is then heard to the rest of this piece of music.

Dylan says: "I can't wait for all of you to hear this, I'm truly more excited with this than anything I've done in my life."

In September 2021, Noah dropped a song called "Trying Too Hard (Lullaby)", which marked the first single he had released using his own name after previously issuing music under the moniker Alec Owen, including the 2020 "L.E.T.H.A.L." album.

Dylan is not the first offspring of a MAIDEN member to pursue his passion for music. MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson's son Austin fronts AS LIONS, while his other son Griffin is the vocalist of SHVPES. MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris's son George is one of the founding guitarists of the band THE RAVEN AGE.

Janick Gers was the lead guitarist of the band WHITE SPIRIT before joining GILLAN, a group formed by then-former DEEP PURPLE vocalist Ian Gillan. After GILLAN disbanded, he played in the group GOGMAGOG (with former IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno and drummer Clive Burr) and with various artists, including Fish of MARILLION. In 1990, he played guitar on Dickinson's first solo album, "Tattooed Millionaire". During the recording of the LP, he was asked to join MAIDEN in place of departing Adrian Smith. He has remained with the band ever since, even after Smith rejoined the band in 1999.

In a recent interview with Rockin' Metal Revival, QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Michael Wilton was asked about the possibility of him and his bandmates releasing a band biography. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We've had offers of people writing a book for us. And it just takes a lot of time — to organize and to get everything done. And we're working all the time; we're on the road, we're doing [press]. But it's something, at some point, maybe we'll release something. Whether it's just concert photos or something like that, or someone does a book for us. Who knows? You've gotta realize those things take a lot of time."

In October 2021, NW Metalworx Music released an unauthorized QUEENSRŸCHE biography called "Building An Empire: The Story Of Queensrÿche". That book was written by James R. Beach, with Brian L. Naron and Brian J. Heaton. Paul Suter, the acclaimed writer from Kerrang! who broke the story on QUEENSRŸCHE in early 1983, penned the book's foreword.

In April 2014, founding QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate and the rest of the band's original lineup announced that a settlement had been reached after a nearly two-year legal battle where the singer sued over the rights to the QUEENSRŸCHE name after being fired in 2012. Wilton, drummer Scott Rockenfield and bassist Eddie Jackson responded with a countersuit. The settlement included an agreement that Wilton, Rockenfield and Jackson would continue as QUEENSRŸCHE, while Tate would have the sole right to perform the "Operation: Mindcrime" and "Operation: Mindcrime II" albums in their entirety live.

Tate's replacement, Todd La Torre, has released four albums thus far with QUEENSRŸCHE: 2013's "Queensrÿche", 2015's "Condition Hüman", 2019's "The Verdict" and 2022's "Digital Noise Alliance".

"Digital Noise Alliance" came out on October 7 via Century Media. The record was once again helmed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who previously worked with QUEENSRŸCHE on 2015's "Condition Hüman" and 2019's "The Verdict" LPs.

Guitarist Mike Stone, who rejoined QUEENSRŸCHE last year, contributed guitar solos to the band's new studio album.

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

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

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

In October 2021, Rockenfield filed a lawsuit against Wilton and Jackson, alleging, among other things, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and wrongful discharge. A few months later, Wilton and Jackson filed a countersuit against Rockenfield, accusing him of abandoning his position as a member of the band and misappropriating the group's assets to his own personal benefit.

QUEENSRŸCHE kicked off its fall 2022 U.S. tour as the support act for JUDAS PRIEST on October 13 at Toyota Presents the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, Connecticut.

Fan-filmed video of former JUDAS PRIEST drummer Les Binks performing with the Finnish PRIEST tribute band PRIESTHOOD FINLAND on November 19 at the Classic Rock And Metal Meeting at On The Rocks in Helsinki can be seen below.

Binks was among the PRIEST members who were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame on November 5 at the Miscrosoft Theater in Los Angeles, California.

PRIEST received the Musical Excellence Award at the event, which honored Eminem, Dolly Parton, DURAN DURAN, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, EURYTHMICS and Carly Simon in the Performers category.

The JUDAS PRIEST members that got inducted include current members Rob Halford (vocals),Ian Hill (bass),Glenn Tipton (guitar) and Scott Travis (drums),along with former members K.K. Downing (guitar),Binks and late drummer Dave Holland.

Binks played drums on PRIEST's "Stained Class", "Hell Bent For Leather" (released as "Killing Machine" in the United Kingdom) and "Unleashed In The East" albums.

Downing reconnected with Binks in 2017 for the first time in nearly four decades. Downing later described the experience of meeting his former bandmate as "great" and called Les "one of the greatest drummers in the world and a good friend and a great guy."

After the release of "Unleashed In The East", Binks exited PRIEST and was replaced by ex-TRAPEZE member Dave Holland. Les later told Downing's official web site that the making of the live album "caused a rift between me and [PRIEST's] manager and ultimately led to my decision to leave the band. I just didn't see the point in continuing to work with a band whose manager didn't want me to receive any payment for that live album. A completely ludicrous scenario. It's a classic heavy metal live album which I believe eventually went platinum and he didn't want me to receive a penny for it. Crazy fucker!!! But that's what happens if a band allows someone like that to manage them — they lose members. So exit drummer number four."

Three years ago, Binks told Metal Rules that he understood how Downing's disparaging comments about his former bandmates in the press made it more difficult for K.K. to rejoin PRIEST in time for the group's 50th-anniversary tour.

"When I met up with K.K. [after not being in contact for many years], it sorts of altered my impression of him because I thought he was actually quite more accommodating and easy-going and it was a pleasure to be in his company," Binks said. "And I understand exactly his attitude about the relationship with Glenn, and Glenn is the dominant character in that setup. And how frustrating that must have been for K.K. because he had to put up with that for many years. But I also know one thing: I got on fine with Glenn. I like Glenn. I like them all, and I always thought they were all nice guys. So, I feel that the band as a unit on what they achieved, and throughout the entirety of their career right up until now. The last album, the 'Firepower' album, did really well. So, I think as a unit, and as an entity, it's bigger than any one of them. Do you know what I mean? Even Rob's career, when he went solo, it didn't exactly hit the heights of success that he would have liked."

In a new interview with Australia's Noise11.com, DISTURBED frontman David Draiman was asked if he and his bandmates thought about covering any classic songs during the sessions for their latest album, "Divisive". He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We weren't even thinking about it. We were having so much fun with the original stuff that we just kind of left it alone. And then here we were at the end of the record, and we had the material, and we were, like, 'Let's just leave it off this record.'

"We do [cover songs] for fun. And for this particular record, we were having so much fun with the original stuff that we didn't need to right now. We'll pick up the habit again in the future."

In September 2020, DISTURBED released a cover version of Sting's 1993 single "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You".

DISTURBED had great commercial success with its orchestral treatment of SIMON AND GARFUNKEL's 1964 song "The Sound Of Silence", which appeared on 2015's "Immortalized" album. The band also previously covered TEARS FOR FEARS' "Shout" in 2000 and GENESIS's "Land Of Confusion" in 2005, the latter of which landed at position No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

"The Sound Of Silence" earned DISTURBED its highest Billboard Hot 100 chart position ever (No. 42 in 2016).

"Divisive" arrived on November 18 via Reprise. The LP was recorded earlier this year with producer Drew Fulk (MOTIONLESS IN WHITE, LIL PEEP, HIGHLY SUSPECT) in Nashville, Tennessee. The follow-up to 2018's "Evolution" includes the three recently released singles "Hey You", "Unstoppable" and "Divisive".

Back in September, British old school death metal band Memoriam issued the following update:


"Hello all, we unfortunately have some bad news: we are working on album number five. We have pretty much wrapped up the instrument demos, Scott (Fairfax - guitarist) is busy working on writing some absolute classic old school death metal riffage, soon it will be the turn of Frank (Healy - bassist) to sit in at riff central and drink, which ultimately leads to a few changes, then onto Karl (Willetts - singer) to vocal demo the tracks. Exciting and busy times, no time to waste."


Memoriam will release the new album, Rise To Power, on February 3rd, 2023 via Reaper Entertainment.




Rise To Power will break open doors, because next to the essential Death Metal groove, Memoriam are more variable with each additional song and keep adding new dynamics to their sound - from brutal grooves to doomy-melodic parts to aggressive Nordic riffing - Rise To Power is an extremely varied album.


Once again, the production by Russ Russell (Napalm Death, Dimmu Borgir, At The Gates) at Parlor Studios rounds off the grandiose songwriting and the first-class recordings, which are charmingly "down-to-earth", but wonderfully differentiated and come along with every detail on Rise To Power gives the deserved space.


Since the band's early days, Dan Seagrave (Benediction, Dismember, Hypocrisy, Suffocation) a constant companion who visually accompanies the music. After designing the artwork for the first four Memoriam albums, he also designed the cover for Rise To Power.


The band comments: "Introducing album number 5, Rise To Power, the second album in the second trilogy. For this album we have once again worked with creative genius Dan Seagrave. Dan designed the previous 4 album covers for us, so there was no other choice to keep the theme and continuity. We love his work and it's a great experience to be part of the creative process while the artwork is being made. Seeing our fundamental ideas come to life through his mind and hands is amazing and he always delivers. 


This time the cover is a majestic purple and features the "King" (the central figure in all of the artwork Dan creates for us) at his coronation ceremony where he "rises to power". The new album's lyrical content ties in with its predecessors by maintaining the theme of grief, loss and despair along with social commentary on current events such as the war in Ukraine and past events such as the Holocaust. The ubiquitous theme of war runs through the entire album, as it does on all the others. 


We consider Rise To Power to be our strongest album yet as it contains a variety of songs that build on what we've accomplished with Memoriam over the past 7 years. Rise To Power is a true celebration of life through death metal."





The tracklist is as follows:


"Never Forget, Never Again (6 Million Dead)"
"Total War"
"I Am the Enemy"
"The Conflict is Within"
"Annihilation's Dawn"
"All is Lost" 
"Rise to Power"
"This Pain"


Memoriam are:


Karl Willetts - Vocals
Frank Healy - Bass
Scott Fairfax - Guitar
Spike T. Smith - Drums


(Photo - Timm Sonnenschein)

Canada's Iron Kingdom presents its new lyric video for its latest single “Sheathe The Sword”, which draws inspiration from the fantasy series Wheel Of Time. For years now, Iron Kingdom has been gracing the world with its traditional heavy metal, weaving grand stories and teleporting listeners to far-off lands. This latest single refers to a sword move in which you willingly accept your opponent’s sword into your body in order to inflict a killing blow. The video features clips from the band's sold-out album launch show held in Vancouver on November 4 at Wise Hall.


The band comments on the single:


“We were looking to do something pretty fast and driving, and once we had the ideas for the first couple of riffs we knew it had to be about Lan Mandoragon - the uncrowned king of a lost and scattered kingdom and is highly respected by neighbouring kingdoms who recognize him as the battle lord of the borderlands. Musically this song is a speedy, driving power metal tune in the vein of early Hammerfall. ‘Sheathe The Sword’ is a warrior's last chance at victory, but that victory comes with a heavy cost.”







Order the album here, or here.


The Blood Of Creation artwork and tracklisting:





"Tides Of Desolation"
"Sheathe The Sword"
"Queen Of The Crystal Throne"
"Hunter And Prey"
"Witching Hour"
"In The Grip Of Nightmares"
"Primordial"
"The Blood Of Creation"


Teaser:





"In The Grip Of Nightmares":





In additional news, Iron Kingdom have announced their album launch show for November 4th in Vancouver, BC at The Wise Hall. For more info, head here.





 

Greek Guitarist George “The Kid” Karafotis (Power Quest) has joined forces with his brother Evan Noct (Oceandvst), and JCJO (X-Factor Greece Finalist) to release a brand new music video on YouTube, covering “Never Too Late” from Three Days Grace.





The cover features a great production full of powerful and melodic vocals, heavy guitars, pounding drums, and shredding guitar solos you haven’t heard before in this song.




Credits:
Produced by Pantelis BNS at True North Studios.
Video Director/Editor/Camera Operator: Tasos Amarantidis
DOP/Camera Operator: Giannis Lemonidis
Light Technician: George Kosmidis
Make up: Yro Venetopoulou

Joe Lynn Turner says that now was the right time to finally drop the hairpiece he has worn since the age of 14 after being diagnosed with alopecia at three years old.

The former RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE singer, who turned 71 this summer, went public with his new look on August 25 in a series publicity images released to promote his latest solo album, "Belly Of The Beast". In a press release for the LP, Joe said that he started wearing the wig to deal with "emotional and psychological damage from cruel bullying in school."

"In a way, it's a blessing and a curse," Joe admitted. "I have nothing to prove, and I can wear a wig — or not. I am free to do what I want. I'm a grown man, and I'm getting to be an older man.

"Many men in this business eventually come to the decision to continue to 'wear hair' or shave their head which is very fashionable today. Either way, it takes a lot of personal courage. Assholes in high school trying to kick me around made me stronger and gave me the necessary motivation and strength to rise above the rest. Anger and pain are a great tool. If applied correctly, it could develop you to become the best version of yourself. Instead of running away, I was 'hiding in plain sight.'"

In a new interview with Barbara Caserta of Italy's Linea Rock, Joe spoke about what it has been like finally ditching the wig after all these years. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, first of all, I don't think I was ready. And with the love, support, understanding of my family and close friends, especially my wife, who thinks I'm much sexier without it, I just said, 'You know, I'm 71 years old. I'm not trying to hide it from anyone. What the hell is the difference?' So with the change, with the transformation of my music, I made a transformation physically. And I said, 'Okay, here we go.' It's not a big deal to me — it never was.

"But also, I think the industry wasn't ready. I think back then [in the 1980s], everything was about the hair and you had to fit in with the uniform. Everybody wears a uniform; everyone wears a costume in life.

"So I think now is the time. Just like a good wine, you can't make the wine come before its time; it needs to ferment. And I needed to ferment. I needed to be more strong emotionally, more strong psychologically, more mature, and I think I've reached that point.

"And the upshot of that whole thing is, which is really unique, is that if I want to play a show like the old Joe Lynn Turner, I just put the hair back on. And if I play 'Belly Of The Beast', I take the hair off. Now, that is a costume. And you know what? Bands like KISS, bands like SLIPKNOT, GHOST, they have the makeup, they have the masks, they have the hair, they have everything. There's no big deal with this. This is show business. So what's the big deal?"

Turner previously discussed his decision to drop the wig in an interview this past September with the "Rock Of Nations With Dave Kinchen And Shane McEachern" podcast. At the time, he said: "It's absolutely liberating. First of all, I'll give a little background. It was an open secret. It wasn't like I was trying to fool people or ever denied it or anything. In fact, I never thought it was that important, but certain, shall we say haters, or whatever, these bigots, these bullies, they would always take a shot at me, which I always thought they were just pretty jealous, really, to be honest with you. And then it said more about them than it does me. That's not my kind of people. What about the music? That's what's important."

He continued: "I knew this was on my so-called bucket list before I was gonna leave this planet. And while we were making this record, I started to feel, 'Something has to happen.' And my partner, wife, co-manager — she's amazing — she just said, 'Now's the time, man.' And I said, 'You know, you're right.' Even though I was trepidatious about it — of course, she would know naturally I would be a little fearful, because you're putting your foot in an unknown territory — she said, 'You know what? Once you're yourself, people love you more.' And she was damn well right. Once you're yourself, people love you more, because you come out and say, 'This is me. I've got nothing to hide. I've got nothing to prove. Take your shots. Do what you've gotta do. And hey, by the way, here's the record. Now what?'"

Alopecia areata is a disease that happens when the immune system attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss. Hair follicles are the structures in skin that form hair. While hair can be lost from any part of the body, alopecia areata usually affects the head and face. Hair typically falls out in small, round patches about the size of a quarter, but in some cases, hair loss is more extensive. Most people with the disease are healthy and have no other symptoms.

Alopecia became a topic of discussion in the mainstream media in March when actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars ceremony. Will's wife, the 50-year-old actress Jade Pinkett Smith, experienced hair loss due to alopecia and has always openly shared her struggle. The confrontation took place after Rock made a joke, calling Pinkett Smith "G.I. Jane" in reference to her bald head, which she has previously explained is due to alopecia. The shocking incident saw Will storm on stage to hit Chris following the offending comment before returning to his seat and yelling "keep my wife's name out of your fucking mouth" shortly before he collected his best actor gong for his role in "King Richard".

A few hours after Joe first posted his new photos on social media, fellow ex-RAINBOW singer Graham Bonnet took to his Facebook page to share one of the images and he wrote in an accompanying message: "Hi all. Graham here. I'm posting this photo of my friend Joe Lynn Turner because I was moved to tears today when I saw it.

"Joe exemplifies the meaning of rockstar. His bravery is staggering. This industry is ruthless (especially in our genre),particularly when it comes to hair. I still hear the tale about Ritchie Blackmore posting a guard at my hotel door to keep me from getting a haircut. BTW, that never happened, although he was so pissed when I did visit the barber.

"But I digress...... I don't know if Joe will see this but I want him to know how proud I am of him and how moved I was at his honesty.

"You have blazed a trail today, Joe. If you are reading this, I want you to know that I never realized what a beautiful man you were until I saw this photo."

Joe was the singer of RAINBOW between 1980 and 1984 and he sang on the album "Difficult To Cure", which featured the band's most successful U.K. single, "I Surrender".

During Turner's time with RAINBOW, the band had its first USA chart success and recorded songs that helped define the melodic rock genre.

1990 saw Turner reunited with RAINBOW leader Ritchie Blackmore in a reformed DEEP PURPLE for the "Slaves And Masters" album.

Photo credit: Agata Nigrovskaya

NONPOINT drummer Robb Rivera has weighed in on the news that PANTERA's surviving members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass) will unite with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.

Anselmo and Brown, along with Wylde and Benante, will headline a number of major festivals across North America and Europe and stage some of their own headline concerts.

According to Billboard, the lineup has been given a green light by the estates of the band's founders, drummer Vincent "Vinnie Paul" Abbott and guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, as well as Brown, who last year said Wylde wouldn't tour with PANTERA if a reunion were to happen. It's unclear what changed his mind.

Rivera offered his views on the PANTERA comeback in a post earlier today (Tuesday, November 22) on his social media. He wrote: "I was asked about the PANTERA reunión/tribute and this is my opinion. I have no opinion, not my band or business. Did I see the classic lineup? Yes I did and it was incredible. Will I see the new lineup? Absolutely, at the end of the day I still love those songs!"

PANTERA will play its first shows in over 20 years in December 2022, starting with a co-headlining slot at Mexico's Hell & Heaven Metal Fest and Monterrey Metal Fest, followed by appearances at three Knotfest festivals in South America. There will also be a one-off show with JUDAS PRIEST in São Paulo, Brazil and a headlining concert in Santiago.

Next year, PANTERA will appear at a number of European festivals, including Germany's Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park, Sweden Rock Festival, Norway's Tons Of Rock and Denmark's Copenhell.

Benante told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about how he plans to approach the PANTERA gig: "I can't go do this as the drummer from ANTHRAX because it would be a different sound completely. So the way I'm gonna do that is if you close your eyes, it's gonna sound like it's Vinnie, basically. And that's how it's gonna be. The sound is gonna sound exactly like him."

Wylde said that he had a similar mindset. "You approach it the same way as you do when I'm playing with Ozzy," he said. "Obviously I've gotta learn [Randy] Rhoads's stuff and I've gotta learn Jake's [E. Lee] stuff, and when I was doing the [BLACK] SABBATH stuff, you learn it and do it as faithful as you can. Charlie's gotta learn all of Vinnie's parts. You approach it as if you're in a cover band. When we do the ZAKK SABBATH stuff," referring to his BLACK SABBATH cover band, "I don't start changing lyrics midway through 'War Pigs'. You learn the songs — so that's what you do."

A year ago, Anselmo said that he was up for reuniting with Brown for a special tour celebrating the music of PANTERA. The 54-year-old singer, who has spent the past few years playing a PANTERA-centric set with his solo band, THE ILLEGALS, discussed the possibility of re-teaming with his former PANTERA bandmate during an interview with Brazil's Inside With Paulo Baron. Asked if he and Rex would be open to playing some shows in celebration of PANTERA's legacy, Anselmo said: "If Rex and I had a show to play, or we were ever gonna be on stage again together, I would welcome it with open arms. I love Rex. And he'd be the same way. We're brothers forever. So playing on stage together, or doing some shows together, is not out of the question. It could happen."

In April 2021, Rex told Eonmusic that he and Philip still get offers for a PANTERA tribute tour. "But if you don't have the other guys in the band, it's not going to sound the same," he said. "If we were ever to do something like that, it would have to be spot-on, or I wouldn't do it. It would be a tribute."

Talk about a possible PANTERA "reunion" intensified when Anselmo regularly joined Wylde's BLACK LABEL SOCIETY to perform PANTERA's song "I'm Broken" during DOWN's 2014 stint on the "Revolver Golden Gods Tour". That buzz only got stronger after Brown joined the jam on May 23, 2014 when the tour swung through Texas.

Up until his passing, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for Dimebag's death.

Vinnie Paul and Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.

I was asked about the Pantera reunión/tribute and this is my opinion. I have no opinion, not my band or business. Did I...

Posted by Robb Rivera Nonpoint on Tuesday, November 22, 2022

2003 was a special year. That September, the band that came to be known as Hydrogyn was born, featuring Jeff Westlake and Jeff Boggs on guitar, Jason Fields on bass and Jerry Lawson on drums. 


In January 2004, the band found vocalist Julie Eplion. From there, things officially were off and running. From then until March 2005, Hydrogyn toured, recorded and partnered with such heavy-hitters as Pepsi , Budweiser and Off The Rim apparel company. Those connections and the band’s ever-growing profile led to working with world-renowned producer Michael Wagener. That relationship turned out the worldwide success of sophomore release, Bombshell, in 2006. 


The band followed up with a live recording from the successful tour they had been on since Fall 2005. They went back in the studio in January 2008 to again turn out the highly acclaimed Deadly Passions. The band went on to record 10 albums. 




Julie left in 2014, and Erica Parrott came in for Redemption. The very modern heavy-hitting opus saw the nucleus of Westlake, Boggs and Chris Sammons back together along with John Cardilino on drums. 


When the pandemic struck in 2020, the band welcomed new faces and voices around Westlake. Those changes brought in the vocalist he had wanted for some time: Holly Hines Freed. She came on board along with her husband Jacob on bass, drummer Scot Clayton II and Ryan Stepp on guitar. That line-up put out The Boiling Point.


Having been plagued by a string of health issues, Holly was sidelined from the band for the past year. With her health being the most important thing, Westlake has decided to put Hydrogyn to bed. After 18 years, he says it is time to say goodbye. 


However, Hydrogyn is not going out without a final shot or two.


The band took time right before Holly’s surgery in 2021 to record a live event as well as some new studio tracks called Hydrogyn Live 3:18 // Live Never Fails. In addition, Westlake is planning a Best Of compilation titled Essential Elements that also will include some rarities and previously unreleased tracks. 


“I want to thank every single person who believed in what we have done,” Westlake said. “I want to thank every person who has played in the band, worked along side us and showed us the way. It was a fabulous time, and I am grateful for all of the friendships made along the way, too.


“This is not the end for me, of course, but it is for Hydrogyn. We love you all and thank you for all the memories.”





Written by Chris Dickerson

Confirming to be one of the most promising power metal projects, Rodrigo Bravo’s Bravelord has just released an animated video clip to promote his new single entitled “Legendary War”, an epic audio-visual piece that shows another episode of his long-awaited conceptual debut album: The Power From The End Of The World.





“This single tells the story of the first encounter between Bravelord and The Evil, an epic battle represented in an animated video clip I did with visual artists Arnaldo Pino and Julian Rojas. The idea is to present a video that parents can enjoy with their children, so the love for power metal is passed along to new generations”, says Rodrigo Bravo on the single that you can already watch on YouTube and listen on musical platforms like Spotify, Tidal, iTunes and others.







While Bravelord is a project that barely started last year, it had made its way in the international power metal scene with its singles “The Power From The End Of The World”, “Destruction Is Coming” (featuring YouTuber Nico Borie) and the impressive Helloween cover “Eagle Fly Free”.


Rodrigo Bravo is Bravelord’s vocalist and leader, a solo project which includes the collaboration of Benjamin Cisterna on drums, Rodrigo “Pudu” Neira on keyboards, Jaime Salva on vocals and Nicolas Arce on guitar and bass, who also take part as producer. The art cover was created by Chilean artist and tattooist Miguel Cooper (@Cooper_Tattoo), who made the acrylic picture on canvas and has worked on the other covers as well.

Fourth.Media and SuperNova Records present Today Is The Day Live In Japan, a concert mini-documentary which has been unearthed from the archives where it’s sat for two decades.





Take a psychotic trip down memory lane with Today Is The Day frontman Steve Austin as he recalls the sheer magnitude of Beast Feast 2002, the legendary Japanese metal festival. Today Is The Day’s set has here been fully remastered and is joined by a newly filmed interview with Austin about the experience. Additionally, home video footage shot by Austin himself has been uncovered and compiled, including rare behind-the-scenes and backstage footage. Hear stories of meeting Slayer, hanging out with Converge, Joey Jordison, Teeth getting knocked out, see snippets of Slayer and Hatebreed, candid moments with Shadows Fall, Converge, and much more.







Today Is The Day Live In Japan will be available for rental and download as of this Friday, November 25 through Fourth.Media, following their recent release of the Deadguy: Killing Music documentary at fourth.media.


Also watch for a limited shirt designed by Simon Tripcony to be made available shortly in addition to other formats and viewing options of Today Is The Day Live In Japan. Austin’s own SuperNova Records will also release the digital audio of the set on its own in the days ahead.

FIRSTBORNE, the band featuring Grammy Award-winning artist Chris Adler and MEGADETH bassist James LoMenzo, has just released another new single, "Intercontinental Champions". As was the case with "Bad Things" and "One Of A Kind", which were made available in September, and "Dead Rats", which came out in October, the latest track was independently produced by the band — also featuring soft-shred pioneer Myrone (guitar) and rising-star vocalist Girish Pradhan — with mixing and mastering by longtime collaborator Gene "Machine" Freeman.

When "Bad Things" and "One Of A Kind" were released, Adler had this to say about the new singles and the trajectory of FIRSTBORNE: "We've made good use of the time. For the next year-plus we will be releasing a song a month, starting here and now with a one-two-punch.

"I'm thrilled to be in a creative partnership that can do just about anything. Feels like playing in 'God Mode' on Guitar / Band Hero. It's a passion project and it's fun for us to share. Dig in. Or don't. See you next month!"

Myrone added about the ethos of the group: "No Labels, No Management, NO GODS, NO MASTERS!!!!"

FIRSTBORNE's self-titled debut EP came out in 2020 and marked Adler's first dedicated band release since his departure from MEGADETH and LAMB OF GOD.

"Firstborne" included five songs and two lyric videos. The EP represented several years of dedicated introspection and refined effort to the idea of a heavy and positive message.

As might be expected, Adler chose his bandmates in this endeavor meticulously.

Not too long ago, Adler shared the stage across the Middle East with LoMenzo in HAIL! Prior to that, LoMenzo and Adler orbited each other for years traveling together on tours crossing the globe. The connect was inevitable.

Adler and Myrone began collaborating in early 2019 after Myrone noticed Adler's e-mail address attached to a Bandcamp sales notification email. Adler had been a fan of Myrone's talent for years prior and as soon as they connected, it was game on.

A chance meeting in India, almost a second home to Chris after eight visits, was the spark needed to form the international group FIRSTBORNE and for Chris to return to the studio. Adler met and shared the stage with Pradhan during a six-week clinic tour of India in the fall of 2019. After the first show of the clinic tour, Adler immediately called Myrone, noting he'd "struck gold" in their search for a singer for the then-unnamed project.

Girish Pradhan is the glue that united FIRSTBORNE. Pradhan on vocals represents an almost unprecedented international collaboration.

Pradhan is an established and well-known recording and touring artist in India and resides in Bengaluru. His band GIRISH AND THE CHRONICLES made international headlines with their album "Rock The Highway" and music videos "Rock 'N Roll Is Here to Stay", "Identity Crisis" and "Rock The Highway".

Speaking on his experience creating with FIRSTBORNE, Myrone explained: "Every single part of this experience has been extremely surreal for me. Girish is one of the best metal vocalists on the planet, Chris is one of the most influential drummers of the last 25 years, and JLO can play anything from MEGADETH to John Fogerty to Motown and everything in between. I can't believe I get to share space on a .wav with them."

Myrone is a Los Angeles-based producer/guitarist who pioneered the "soft shred" genre. In the last few years, he has released several albums and two EPs of instrumental guitar music and racked up millions of Spotify streams. In addition to his own recordings, he has collaborated with Rivers Cuomo (WEEZER),SZA, Little Boots, Michael Christmas and Deaton Chris Anthony. More recently, Myrone was Guitar #1 in the L.A. production of "Rock Of Ages", the 29th-longest running show in Broadway history.

LoMenzo is a veteran touring/recording musician since his multi-platinum band WHITE LION in the 1980s. Lomenzo is one of the most in-demand rock bass players in the world. His list of credits includes WHITE LION, Zakk Wylde's BLACK LABEL SOCIETY/PRIDE & GLORY, MEGADETH, Jerry Cantrell, David Lee Roth, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT, LYNCH MOB, FREHEY'S COMET and more. He officially rejoined MEGADETH as a touring member last year and became an official member this past May.

LoMenzo had this to say about his collaboration within FIRSTBORNE: "I first met Chris in 2006 on MEGADETH's 'Gigantour'. I was playing bass with MEGADETH at the time. Watching Chris on that tour, I recall being struck by the creativity, speed and power of his drumming with LAMB OF GOD. In contrast, I found him to be a gentle, thoughtful soul. Years later, I had the opportunity to finally play with Chris, performing in the Middle East with the all-star metal band HAIL! We had a great time. At this time, Chris mentioned he was looking forward to exploring making all kinds of music. I suggested he keep me in mind. Next thing I know I'm being introduced to Myrone through a demo that Chris forwarded to me. I was immediately drawn to the music. Myrone's guitar is uniquely untethered to any one style. He's a brilliant and capable amalgam of classic rock, new and classic metal. Girish on top of all this had me stunned! A soaring, powerful voice that while uniquely his own, conjures images of the greatest singers of metal, blues and classic rock. His voice is a powerful, emotive vehicle to inform through his heartfelt and socially conscious lyrics. To my ear, the combination of all this musical talent is wonderfully unique and perfectly familiar."

Adler added: "I've been incredibly fortunate in my creative endeavors. From the start, I sought out the best players I could find to work alongside. It's been an incredible journey that is clearly not over. Some things have changed. This may not be exactly what people expect from me right now, and I'm aware and embrace that. It's time for something new. I'm have a platform to present something important, true and collaborative. Creating FIRSTBORNE beckons cohesiveness as a mission statement. This is not about being mad all the time, egos or fabricating polarizing drama. 'This is right' is now my alarm clock. Girish, Myrone and James have the exact locker room mentality of 'kill 'em all! but let's make sure everyone is okay and having a kick-ass time' that I try and bring to everything I do. FIRSTBONE is the result of all of my experiences, both positive and negative, and I'm proud of what we are doing together."

Adler is a Grammy-winning American metal drummer from Richmond, Virginia. Chris founded LAMB OF GOD in 1994 and helped usher in what critics have dubbed the "New Wave Of American Heavy Metal." LAMB OF GOD's discography with Chris includes multiple gold records and platinum DVDs as well as five Grammy nominations.

Chris received a Grammy for playing drums on legendary thrash metal band MEGADETH's 2016 record "Dystopia". Chris also toured with MEGADETH in support of the record while juggling and occasionally combining tour dates with LAMB OF GOD.

Chris has collaborated and contributed to records with PROTEST THE HERO, TESTAMENT, THAIKKUDAM BRIDGE, Michael Angelo Batio and Ron Jarzombek.

In 2018, Chris created an artist management firm Kintsugi Management.

FIRSTBORNE is:

Vocals: Girish Pradhan
Guitar: Myrone
Bass: James LoMenzo
Drums: Chris Adler

Thrash legends Exodus performed at Medellín, Colombia's Altavoz Festival 2023 on November 2013. Pro-shot video of the band's entire set can be viewed below.


The setlist was as follows:


 "The Beatings Will Continue"
 "A Lesson in Violence"
 "Blood In, Blood Out"
 "The Years of Death and Dying"
 "Deathamphetamine"
 "Blacklist"
 "Piranha"
 "Prescribing Horror"
 "Bonded by Blood"
"The Toxic Waltz"
"Strike of the Beast"







Co-headliners Anthrax and Black Label Society will be heading back on the road for a 24-date tour, making stops in all new markets, with both bands playing headline sets. Joining Anthrax and Black Label Society as Special Guest on this run will be Northern California’s thrash metal gods, Exodus.


The tour launches on January 17 at the Revolution Concert House in Boise, ID, wrapping in Oakland, CA at the Fox Theatre on February 18. Tickets and VIP packages available now at anthrax.com/tour, blacklabelsociety.com, and exodusattack.com/site/tour-dates.


As this tour will take the bands to different markets than last summer’s did, the multi-Gold and Platinum, card-carrying member of the Big Four, six-time Grammy-nominated Anthrax looks forward to continuing the celebration of its landmark 40th anniversary (now in its 41st year) with fans.


According to the band, “We are so pumped to be hitting the road again with Black Label Society. We had such a great time when we toured with them earlier this year, that we had talked about doing it again when we were still on the road together. And, having the guys from Exodus on the bill as Special Guest, will definitely make this a tour not to miss.”


Said Black Label Society’s Zakk Wylde, "Anthrax is one of The BESTEST LEGENDARY METAL/THRASH BANDS of ALL TIME - I have been buds with SCOTTY, CHARLIE, FRANKIE & JOEY for over 3O years & they are some of the BESTEST people you will meet. JON is The BESTEST new addition Anthrax could ask for. The Anthrax + Black Label Society & Exodus Tour is going to be one of the BESTEST TOURS EVER!!”


“Exodus are super stoked to announce that we will be touring with Anthrax and Black Label Society,” said the band’s Gary Holt. "Touring with our long-time friends in Anthrax is always an epic good time, and now we get to tour with BLS and watch Zakk and company rip it up nightly too! Going to be awesome and we will be bringing our unique brand of audio violence to every city! Let the metal roll!”





Tour dates:


January
17 - Boise, ID - Revolution Concert House
18 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
20 - Vancouver, BC - PNE Forum
21 - Penticton, BC - So. Okanagan Events Ctr.
22 - Calgary, AB - Grey Eagle Events Centre
24 - Winnipeg, MB - Burton Cummings
25 - Grand Forks, ND - Alerus Center
27 - Madison, WI - The Sylvee
28 - Mt. Pleasant, MI - Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
29 - Chicago, IL - Radius
31 - Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theater


February
2 - Portland, ME - Cross Insurance Arena
3 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
4 - Bethlehem, PA - Sands Bethlehem Event Center
5 - Boston, MA - House of Blues
7 - Corbin, KY - Corbin Arena
8 - St. Louis, MO - The Factory at The District
10 - San Antonio, TX - Tech Port Center + Arena
11 - Houston, TX - Bayou Music Center
13 - Omaha, NE - The Admiral Theater
14 - Oklahoma City, OK - The Criterion
15 - Albuquerque, NM - Revel
17 - Riverside, CA - Riverside Municipal Auditorium
18 - Oakland, CA - Fox Theater

Croatian extreme metal band Prognan is releasing their first album in 10 years since the last EP, 2012’s Jama.


Album is called Naši Životi Više Ne Postoje (Our Lives Don't Exist Anymore) and it is a conceptual album about a soldier going through the horrors of World War 1. The entire story is based on true events and consist of ten songs and is over an hour long. What separates this album from most extreme albums is that there will be live recordings of percussion, choir and various orchestra.







The album will also have 15 pages of booklet with lyrics and linear notes.


Quite curious detail about this band is that lead singer, guitarist and band leader Kob (Goran Dragas) is a well-known name in the movie business. His music has been used in various Hollywood movie trailers like: Pirates of the Caribbean 5, Alien, Logan, Dr. Strange, Spiderman, Jurassic World, Game of Thrones, Star Wars: Rogue One and more.


"When I started this band, I never would have thought I would end up writing epic music for living...,” he said, "but I am so glad to be able to do what I love. In a way, I'm also glad we didn't release our first album 10 years ago when we were bunch of kids. We never would have been able to create something we have created now. My composer background really brought something new to creation of this one. This is the pinnacle of what we are able to offer at this moment."


The release date is scheduled for first quarter of 2023.

Peter Hesslein is an original founding member of the band Lucifer’s Friend and an accomplished guitarist. His first Night Drive album was meant to be a one-off, but its success prompted a sequel in Night Drive 2 and now the further demand, from fans, has led to a Night Drive 3.


Lucifer’s Friend was originally formed in Hamburg in 1970 by guitarist Peter Hesslein, singer John Lawton, bassist Dieter Horns, keyboardist Peter Hecht and drummer Joachim Reitenbach. Lucifer’s Friend reformed in 2015 and since then has recorded new studio albums and played concerts and high-profile festivals.


The last track on Night Drive 3, “Chapters Of My Life”, features a guest appearance by former Lucifer’s Friend lead singer, Mike Starrs.




Peter Hesslein said of his new studio album: “So now I’d like to share with you a third Night Drive album because I had a lot of messages asking about it.  When I started the idea, I thought the first Night Drive album would be on its own, but now fans have asked for two more albums for car journeys!  I am very grateful fans like this music and they want more from me!”


Night Drive 3 is out now and available via Amazon CD, Spotify, Apple Music. Also available directly from Cherry Red, here.