In a new interview with Metal Nation, DOWN guitarist Kirk Windstein spoke about the progress of the recording sessions for the band's long-awaited new album. Kirk is joined in the long-running heavy metal supergroup by vocalist Philip H. Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, drummer Jimmy Bower and bassist Pat Bruders. Kirk said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's done. It's been recorded. The process of trying to find… 'Cause we kind of self-produced it, so it's not that we're looking for a producer. The work is done. We just need to find the right person to mix it properly. So that's what we're looking at right now. But we're hoping to have a release by October or something, I would think."

Windstein also talked about the songwriting chemistry between him and his bandmates. He said: "It's been amazing. It really clicked — when we started writing for this new record, it was like we were back in the '90s or something, writing the 'NOLA' record [debut DOWN album]. It's, like, everybody's got ideas. One guy's got a riff and then somebody's got something that works with that riff. We also have a situation where Jimmy Bower, who plays guitar in EYEHATEGOD, he really started out as a drummer. I always joke with him — it's not even a joke; it's true — I'm, like, 'Dude, you're a way better drummer than you are a guitar player. But you're perfect for EYEHATEGOD,' which is the only band he plays [guitar] in. But Jimmy can write killer riffs. Our bass player Pat does. And the thing a lot of people don't know is how much Phil Anselmo is such a great songwriter and arranger, really, but he's a great riff writer. And I think three of the 10 songs on the record are pretty much his songs; every part is his. And we're, like, 'This is great.' We add a little something to it here and there."

Last fall, Windstein told "The Jasta Show", that the new DOWN album was shaping up to be "a killer, killer record."

As for his expectations for the LP, Windstein said: "It's either gonna totally be this huge thing or just flop. But if you're a DOWN fan, I don't see how you can not like it."

In August 2025, Kirk confirmed to Geoff of the Gas Masks & Hand Grenades podcast that DOWN was originally going to release a covers LP next. "It started out that way," Kirk said. "And that was the talk for quite a while, and it was kind of, like, well, if we're gonna learn all these really obscure songs, in the time it's gonna take us to learn all these fucking things and kind of make 'em our own, we could probably write originals. So we got together in January of 2024. Went to Phil's [rehearsal and recording studio]. Pepper, myself, Jimmy and Pat had gotten together and come up with a few ideas, and Phil had some stuff. We went out for three days and came back, came home, and by the time we were done, we had seven songs — not perfectly arranged."

Elaborating on the songwriting and recording process for the new DOWN material, Kirk said: "When we got together to write, the chemistry is just undeniable. It's just magic. We've known each other so long, we've jammed together for so long. And Pepper and I did something — [it was] kind of his idea, but I thought it was a pretty brilliant idea. Jimmy doesn't play to a click track, so it's harder [to keep time], especially when you're not looking at him. So, he said, 'You know what? Let's track the fucking guitars together. Let's not do one guy, then one guy. Let's pick out one section, let's make it through the whole fucking verse, and if one of us fucks up, we stop, go back and start it again.' So we're doing it, just playing together and shit. So it's got more of a live feel, because Pat and Jimmy laid the drums and bass down together, and now we're doing guitars together with the rhythm tracks and shit."

He added: "DOWN's one of the few bands — of course we use Pro Tools [recording software], but we don't do click tracks and fix shit. It's real music."

Earlier in August 2025, Kirk told The Five Count radio show in Mankato, Minnesota about the upcoming DOWN LP: "We couldn't be more excited about the material we have. The songs are extremely strong and they're very old school. They're put together really well, arranged really well, great riffs. We're real excited about it and I think the fans will be equally as excited."

In April 2025, it was announced that DOWN had signed with Nuclear Blast Records. At the time, the label said in a statement: "Nuclear Blast is proud to be in the trenches with NOLA legends DOWN as their partner in their long overdue return to the metal world. In addition, we are excited to bring some of their key past catalog releases back into the spotlight, especially on the vinyl side. There are so many longtime DOWN fans at Nuclear Blast who are excited to be working with one of their all-time favorite bands. 2026 can't come soon enough!"

DOWN headlined night one of last year's edition of the Milwaukee Metal Fest in May. The show followed the band's Western U.S. tour with DANZIG.

In April 2024, Windstein, who is also the frontman of CROWBAR, told Concrete Spew about the musical direction of the new DOWN material: "It just sounds like DOWN. I mean, it sounds refreshing because we haven't done it in so long, gotten together with me and the guys and done it in — fuck — 12 years or something. So it sounds like DOWN, I think, to me, it sounds more old-school DOWN. And the reason I say that is I think we got to a point where… Like, the 'NOLA' record is so simple, and it just wrote itself; it was so simple. And that's how this is coming about, which is great."

He continued: "We're not overthinking it. We're not trying to make things too complex. Phillip's not trying to write so many lyrics and things. We just kind of got away — I hate to say 'got away', 'cause anything we do is DOWN, but, to me, we kind of got a little bit… We needed to go back and look at each other and just go, 'Let's just get in a room and do it like we did from the beginning.' And that's what it feels like to me. It's very magical. The ideas and the working together, just bounce off of one another, it's a natural thing."

In August 2020, DOWN celebrated the 25th anniversary of "NOLA" with a special livestreamed event. Dubbed "The Quarter Century Throwdown", the high-production, multi-camera event took place using cutting-edge streaming technology to create a one-of-a-kind virtual concert experience.

A founding member of DOWN, Windstein left the band in 2013 in order to focus on CROWBAR and his family life. He was replaced by Bobby Landgraf, DOWN's former guitar tech who was previously in GAHDZILLA MOTOR COMPANY, a 1990s outfit also featuring Jason McMaster (DANGEROUS TOYS, WATCHTOWER),and HONKY.

Windstein announced his return to DOWN in 2019, with the band confirming a number of festival appearances for 2020 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of "NOLA", all of which were later canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic which swept the globe.

The supergroup hasn't issued anything since the arrival of the "Down IV – Part Two" EP in May 2014.

"Down IV – Part Two" sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release in May 2014 to debut at position No. 23 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous EP, "Down IV Part I – The Purple EP", opened with around 12,000 units in September 2012 to land at No. 35.

"Down IV – Part Two" was recorded at Nodferatu's Lair — Anselmo's home studio — and produced by Michael Thompson. It was released via Down Records/ADA Music.

DOWN press photo credit: MetalDave Media

Frontiers Music Srl has announced the signing of legendary melodic rock duo NELSON to the label's roster. The band, led by master songwriting twin brothers Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, will also appear at the upcoming Frontiers Rock Festival on Sunday, May 3, 2026, further strengthening their renewed partnership with the label.

The band comments: "We're honored to rejoin the Frontiers family. NELSON's now-classic 'Lightning Strikes Twice' was the first release for Frontiers in America when the label opened up their U.S. office years ago, and as such, we've always felt like a valued part of the team. NELSON is and has always been truly unique, and our family at Frontiers has always valued that, as well as our exhaustive process to write, record, and produce world-class albums that endure the test of time.

"We're honored to reconnect with a roster that celebrates melodic rock music with such passion," NELSON adds. "We can't wait to share what we've been working on and to deepen our connection with our fans around the world. Be warned: the new NELSON record is amazing."

Mario De Riso, A&R and business affairs VP at Frontiers, shares: "It is an absolute thrill to have NELSON back to the Frontiers roster. Matthew and Gunnar have a very special place in the history of melodic rock, and their talent, identity, and consistency as artists continue to shine. Their music represents the kind of quality, emotion, and craftsmanship we deeply believe in. We look forward to sharing this new music with their loyal fans and with a new generation of listeners."

Matthew and Gunnar Nelson have built a career that truly stands the test of time. Rising to global prominence in the early 1990s with NELSON's multi-platinum debut "After The Rain", the twins topped the Billboard Hot 100 with "(Can't Live Without Your) Love And Affection", earning a place in the Guinness Book Of World Records. With seven Top 40 singles, five No. 1 MTV videos, and over 6.5 million albums sold worldwide, NELSON became a defining force of their time.

Deeply rooted in one of America's most storied entertainment families, Matthew and Gunnar bring a rare perspective to longevity in music. Their grandparents, Ozzie and Harriet, made television history with "The Adventures Of Ozzie And Harriet", while Ozzie also pioneered early music-video concepts long before MTV. Their father, Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer Ricky Nelson, sold over 200 million records and helped found the country rock genre. Carrying this legacy forward, the twins have consistently evolved and continue to connect with audiences across generations through authenticity, craftsmanship, and heart.

Beyond music, Matthew and Gunnar Nelson have also become best-selling authors with their book "What Happened To Your Hair?", adding another dimension to their creative journey.

Today, Matthew and Gunnar Nelson continue to explore fresh creative territory, carrying forward their unmistakable melodic sensibility and soaring sibling harmonies. With a career defined by reinvention and longevity, NELSON remains a vital presence on the rock scene.

Photo credit: Kristin Barlow

London-based Split Watches has announced the global release of the official Ozzy Osbourne tribute watch, "The Ozzy", exclusively available Thursday, May 14 at splitwatches.com. This 50-piece limited-edition run celebrates Ozzy's enduring cultural legacy and is priced at $2,960 (U.S.) with 100% of the proceeds being donated to MusiCares, the nonprofit partner of the Recording Academy and leading charity supporting the health and well-being of the music community.

"This watch represents something very meaningful — Ozzy always said, 'Time is the most precious thing in the world. Be very careful not to waste it," Sharon Osbourne says. "We're delighted that Split Watches created such a thoughtful piece that truly captures Ozzy's spirit. The fact that they're donating the proceeds to MusiCares, an organization that my husband and I have admired and supported for many years, is just fantastic. The money raised is a great way for us to continue to support MusiCares and the music community."

"The Ozzy" is a tribute to a legend — Ozzy's groundbreaking work via his solo career and as a member of BLACK SABBATH shaped hard rock for generations. For the Split founders, both lifelong fans of SABBATH and Ozzy, his impact goes far beyond the music.

"What Ozzy stood for is deeply ingrained in what we stand for and evident in every expression of the brand — he never pretended to be anything other than who he was" says Split co-founder Ed Margulies. "He was raw and human. No borrowed playbook, no ego, he pushed boundaries."

For Split co-founder and former musician Dara Amjadi, Ozzy's influence is deeply personal. "These were the posters on my wall growing up," Dara says. "The records that shaped what I wanted to do with my life. Music like that stays with you. It's part of who you become."

The team adds: "Ozzy stepped into the wider public eye through 'The Osbournes' and what he revealed went far beyond reality TV. He showed that firstly he was a great family man, and also that vulnerability isn't a weight meant to hold people down — it's a force that can set everyone free. By owning every flaw, every struggle, and every unfiltered moment, he gave people permission to do the same.

"That's the spirit we want in everything we make. The watch is an expression of what Ozzy and his music represented to us. In that honesty, he forged something rare — an unspoken, unbreakable bond with people across the world. Split is for those who value authenticity over ego."

"At MusiCares, we exist to support the people who make music possible, through every triumph and every hardship." said Theresa Wolters, executive director of MusiCares. "Ozzy's impact on music and culture is immeasurable, and just as important is how he cared for people who make music possible. We're deeply grateful to Sharon Osbourne and Split Watches for honoring Ozzy's legacy in such a beautiful and fitting way. Together, we ensure that music people have the help they need, to keep the music playing for all of us."

"The Ozzy" is based on Split's MC collection that features a revolutionary Seiko family automatic chronograph. Using the most advanced modern materials, the watch is intentionally designed to be unpolished and stripped back. "The Ozzy" features the rock legend's iconic purple tinted glasses on the sub dials and his cross at 12 o'clock. Each piece is meticulously hand painted and Ozzy's logo can be seen on the rotor through Split's exhibition case back.

"We want our watches to start conversations that matter." Dara says, "the conversations we rarely make time for."

"Our collaboration with MusiCares started the way the best things often do, with a conversation," the Split team says. "One of our earliest clients, who worked in the music, spoke highly of MusiCares and introduced us. He wasn't wrong. What we discovered wasn't just a charity, but a much-needed support system for those in the industry. It only took a couple of conversations with Wynnie Wynn to realize our shared values, love of music and a belief that it's essential to create a safe space for people in the community to talk. From that point on, it became clear that we needed to do something together, something with intent and purpose.

"All proceeds from 'The Ozzy' will support MusiCares, which provides critical health services, financial assistance, and mental health support to music professionals. MusiCares helps the humans behind the music because music gives so much to the world. The collaboration reflects a belief that objects we choose should carry meaning."

Split Watches was founded by Ed and Dara after a dinner between two lifelong friends, discussing the need for a modern watch with greater meaning. Ed, a third-generation watchmaker trained in Switzerland, spent decades working with some of the most respected names in horology, including Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin and Dara, is a former musician. Split brings together people who feel deeply and wear their feelings proudly. They don't need to blend in or follow inherited rules.

MusiCares helps the humans behind music because music gives so much to the world. Offering preventive, emergency, and recovery programs, MusiCares is a safety net supporting the health and welfare of the music community. Founded by the Recording Academy in 1989 as a U.S. based 501(c)(3) charity, MusiCares safeguards the well-being of all music people through direct financial grant programs, networks of support resources, and tailored crisis relief efforts.

The official Ozzy tribute watch from Split Watches. “The Ozzy” available May 14th at link below in comments

Limited edition 50 pcs. All proceeds being donated to MusiCares

Posted by Ozzy Osbourne on Wednesday, April 8, 2026

In a new interview with George Dionne of KNAC.COM, ex-MEGADETH guitarist Chris Poland was asked if he is planning to see his former band play during what is being billed as MEGADETH's "farewell" tour. Chris responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Oh, I'm sure I will. If it's the final one, I should go see one [show]. I'll have to make the time. I run a couple of hundred studios during the day, and it's a lot of work and it's hard to get out. But I will. I'll make time for Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH leader]."

After Dionne noted that he is "sure it's gonna be the world's longest final tour," Chris said: "I don't know, though. I think Dave is ready. I think Dave's ready to go fishing."

Asked what he remembers about his first tour as a member of MEGADETH, Chris said: "Oh my God. I remember my first time on stage, where I freaked out, was at L'Amours in New York. And luckily, I pulled it off. But I was freaking out 'cause they were playing the song 'Am I Evil?' and the whole room was singing it and it was packed to the gills and the ceiling was sweating. And hat's my first experience with a thrash metal crowd. And I'll tell you, man, I was just blown away. But I got over it after a while.

"We had good times," Poland added. "We had our moments and we had our problems, but somehow we pulled it off. I think we all had guardian angels or something."

Poland was a member of MEGADETH from 1984 to 1987, during which time he performed on the band's classic albums "Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!" and "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?" He is also a featured soloist on the group's 2004 album, "The System Has Failed".

Four years ago, Poland confirmed to Sofa King Cool that the song "Liar" from MEGADETH's 1988 album "So Far, So Good... So What?" was written by Mustaine about him. He said: "Oh, yeah. Obviously, Dave was very upset with me when I left the band — when he fired me, basically."

Asked if he was angry when he first heard he was the lyrical inspiration for the song, Poland said: "No, man. It's like the pot calling the kettle black, man. When you point your finger, man, there's three pointing back at you. I just rolled my eyes and was, like, 'Really?'"

Back in 2004, Poland and/or his management and attorney filed a lawsuit against Mustaine regarding the use of the three "Rust In Peace" demos on the album's reissue without Chris's permission. According to MEGADETH's webmaster, Mustaine included the demos because he thought Chris would be "thankful for the promotion, the tipping of the hat, and showing the fans how Marty [Friedman, MEGADETH's guitarist during some of the post-Poland years] had actually been influenced by some of Chris's solo selections for those songs." Chris also allegedly tried to sue Dave for defamation of character because Dave called him a "thief," but Chris's attorney "dropped that after he found out that Chris had actually taken the band's gear and sold it for drugs," according to MEGADETH's webmaster. "Remember, there is a confession in the VH1 'Behind the Music' on MEGADETH," the webmaster said. Chris eventually settled for $9,500 and thereby ended a professional relationship with Dave and MEGADETH.

In a September 2020 interview with Darren Paltrowitz (host of the "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" podcast),Mustaine singled out Poland, saying: "Chris Poland, as much as I don't really like the guy, he was a great guitar player, and I wanted to give him a shot when we did the 2004 reissues for 'Peace Sells' and 'Rust In Peace', and I wanted to put that song out on the 'Rust In Peace' reissue. He got involved in a nuisance lawsuit, I think it was, and we just ended our friendship. And I thought, 'God, that was such a waste.'

"There was a little teeny mountain that was right out by where we live, and I said I could have just as soon bought that piece of dirt there than sell Chris's friendship, and I'm so bummed that this happened," Mustaine added. "'Cause I thought it would have been terrific to have him on the record. [When] people say, 'Hey, this sounds like Marty Friedman.' No, Marty Friedman sounded like this, because Chris played it first."

Poland previously discussed the legal issues surrounding the 2004 reissue of "Rust In Peace" in a 2018 interview with the As The Story Grows podcast. He said: "When I did 'The System Has Failed', [Dave] was working on adding the demos to a re-release of 'Rust In Peace'. And I wasn't going to get paid, but I didn't realize that until it came out. I was like, 'Wait a minute — I'm not getting paid for this.' And I tried to call Dave at least a dozen times, and I never heard back from him. Then I called Dave's manager a dozen times, and he wouldn't get back to me. The last time I called him, I said, 'Hey, man. If you don't call me back, I'm going to call [my lawyer], and we're going to have to get into it.' [The manager] calls me back and totally insults me, saying, 'You played a couple solos. So what?' And I'm like, 'What do you mean, 'So what?'' 'Well, Dave thought that you would do it for the fans.' I said, 'Okay. Is everybody else that played on that demo doing it for the fans? Are they getting paid?' He said, 'Chris, that's not the point.' I said, 'Listen, man, we have to do something here. I'm not just going to walk away. I love the fans, but I'm just not going to do it. If everybody else is getting a performance royalty for this, I want one.' I want everybody to know that it wasn't a nuisance suit, it wasn't anything like that. I made every attempt to work it out, and they just ignored me."

In a new interview with Marko Syrjälä of Chaoszine, acclaimed hard rock vocalist Ronnie Romero, who has previously worked with such legendary guitarists as Ritchie Blackmore, Michael Schenker and Adrian Vandenberg, was asked if he would "seriously consider" playing with Yngwie Malmsteen if the iconic Swedish guitarist approached him about it. Ronnie responded: "I wouldn't think about it. I wouldn't wanna do it because of all the stories I've heard from people I've worked with who have worked with him. I've worked with people like the Johansson brothers [Jens and Anders], Jeff Scott Soto and Mark Boals. I know all those guys, and they've told me some stories, and I was, like, 'I don't know…' So, when somebody asks me, 'What if Yngwie calls you?' I would say, 'No.' I'd hang up the phone. But I would say that the way I discovered Yngwie was actually when [Swedish singer] Mats Levén was in the band. The first Yngwie album I heard was the [1998] live album 'Live!!', and Mats was singing on it. Then I heard 'Facing The Animal', which is one of my favorites, together with 'The Seventh Sign'. So yeah, if that ever happened, I'd choose just one song — and that would be 'Facing The Animal', for sure."

After Syrjälä noted that Levén will play shows in Japan in May where he will perform the entire "Facing The Animal" album, Ronnie said: "Yeah, he told me that, and that's fantastic. He's a great singer. As I said in a post the other day, he's one of my heroes. Together with David Coverdale and later Ian Gillan, he was one of the first singers who really blew me away. I was, like, 'How can this guy sing like that?' On that live recording, he's just killing it."

Romero made his live debut with RAINBOW in June 2016 after he was selected to front the latest version of the band Ritchie Blackmore had formed after quitting DEEP PURPLE.

In addition to RAINBOW, Romero has recorded and/or toured with MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, LORDS OF BLACK, THE FERRYMEN, ELEGANT WEAPONS, SUNSTORM and VANDENBERG.

The Chilean-born Romero parted ways with VANDENBERG after recording only one album with the Adrian Vandenberg-led group, 2020's "2020".

Regarding what Blackmore was like to work with, Romero told Classic Rock magazine in a 2025 interview: "People think of him as an angry, unfriendly guy, and that's not Ritchie. I knew him at a period of time when he was in a very good place. He's married and he has a beautiful family. He has an incredible sense of humor."

As for Schenker, Ronnie said: "Compared to Ritchie, on the personal side he's a bit more distant, but professionally he was very cool and smart. Ritchie likes to jam, whereas Michael is very regimented. Two different worlds, but I enjoyed them both."

Asked by Chicago Concert Reviews to name the best lesson he learned during his entire path from obscurity to stardom, Romero said: "I think to just be professional in your job. There is no time just to play and to pretend to be a rock star. Rock stars don't exist anymore. Rock stars are the guys who play soccer, basketball or even the hip-hop musicians. Do your job, respect people you're working with and respect the fans. That's what I learned from Blackmore, that's what I've learned from Michael Schenker, that's what I learned from Vandenberg, so I think it's the right way to do it."

Last year Romero released a solo album, "Backbone", via Frontiers Music Srl. The LP was produced by Romero and mixed and mastered by his guitarist Jose Rubio Jimenez. Special contributions included former EUROPE guitarist Kee Marcello, as well as acclaimed songwriter Russ Ballard, who penned the track "Hideaway".

"Backbone" followed Romero's first solo album of original material, "Too Many Lies, Too Many Masters", and two cover records. 2023's "Raised On Heavy Radio" paid tribute to metal giants like OZZY OSBOURNE, JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, ACCEPT and METALLICA, featuring special guests such as Gus G., Chris Caffery and Roland Grapow. Romero's debut solo album, "Raised On Radio", explored his personal musical roots, revisiting classic rock hits from bands like SURVIVOR, BAD COMPANY, FOREIGNER, QUEEN and LED ZEPPELIN, all interpreted through his powerful and expressive vocal style.

Press photo credit: Jeremiah Scott

PRIMAL FEAR bassist Mat Sinner will miss the band's upcoming shows in South America after he suffered a nasty injury during the group's concert in London, United Kingdom in early March. Filling in for him will be GAMMA RAY's Dirk Schlächter

PRIMAL FEAR released the following message via social media on Wednesday, April 8: "An important message to all our fans about the South American tour. Sadly we have to tell you that Mat won't be able to join the band on the forthcoming shows in Argentina and Brazil. Mat lost a fight against a drumriser in London and slashed his right leg in a very evil way. After some more shows the doctors in Norway planned to have a surgery on his leg because the infection was already on a bad level and to prevent a sepsis. Mat is now at home and needs to recover for another 3-4 weeks to avoid any operation. Doctors say it would be a huge risk to sit in a plane for 15 hours — health comes first.

"This wasn't an easy decision. We know many of you were looking forward to seeing us together on stage and Mat is truly sorry for any disappointment this may cause. We promise to give 200% on the shows and Mat will be replaced by GAMMA RAY's Dirk Schlächter.

"Thank you for your understanding, your patience, belief and faith."

Sinner (a.k.a. Matthias Lasch),who also serves as PRIMAL FEAR's producer, reportedly suffered an extreme adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccination in 2021 and received treatment for eight months at various hospitals. As a result of Sinner's health challenges, PRIMAL FEAR canceled all of its planned shows in 2021 and 2022, eventually recruiting Alex Jansen as Mat's temporary replacement.

In August 2024, PRIMAL FEAR split with guitarists Alex Beyrodt and Tom Naumann, drummer Michael Ehré and touring bassist Alex Jansen. Joining Sinner and Ralf Scheepers (vocals) in PRIMAL FEAR's current lineup are the band's latest additions, Italian/Cuban sensation Thalìa Bellazecca (ANGUS MCSIX, ex-FROZEN CROWN) on guitar and André Hilgers (AXXIS, RAGE, SILENT FORCE, SINNER, BONFIRE) on drums. Also appearing with the group is Swedish guitarist Magnus Karlsson, who has been primarily a studio member of the band for much of the past decade but who has now rejoined PRIMAL FEAR's touring lineup.

PRIMAL FEAR's latest album, "Domination", came out last September via Reigning Phoenix Music. The LP stormed the various album charts around the globe once again, with a major highlight being PRIMAL FEAR's fourth German Top 10 entry in a row, rounded off by a series of impressive numbers in other European countries as well as in the U.S. and Japan.

"Domination" was recorded at Dennis Ward's Kangaroo Studios (HELLOWEEN, ANGRA) in autumn 2024, produced by Mat Sinner and co-produced by Ralf Scheepers as well as Magnus Karlsson. It was completed by longtime PRIMAL FEAR mixing/mastering engineer Jacob Hansen (AMORPHIS, VOLBEAT) at his own studios in Denmark. The album artwork was designed by Death.Milk.Designs.

Formed by Sinner in 1997 as an outlet for Scheepers (who had left GAMMA RAY and was a rumored candidate for the then-open JUDAS PRIEST vocal spot, but was considering early retirement from metal),PRIMAL FEAR has emerged as one of the most consistent European metal bands, rarely straying from its core PRIEST-styled power metal sound.

In a new interview with Terry Hudson, speaker, author and host of rBeatz, former QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate was asked if he is flattered or annoyed by the number of other vocalists who have tried to copy his sound and style over the years. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think it's quite a compliment, actually. [It] really is. I've heard some really good imitators. There's been quite a few, actually.

"It's kind of weird when you hear that kind of thing happening, especially if I'm not expecting it and I'm out traveling or something and I come across a band and they're playing one of my songs," Geoff continued. "It's so surreal and strange. It guts me every time I hear it. I think, 'What are they doing?' And then it's very flattering too. It's hard to describe.

"What I find really interesting is how many people don't recognize me — and how many people do," Tate added. "I don't look like I did 20, 30 years ago — I have a different hairstyle now [laughs] — and people still recognize me on the street, and come up and talk to me and tell me about the songs, tell me about the music, how it's affected them. A million stories about the songs — so many stories. And then I have other times where people don't recognize me at all. Like I'll see a guy with a QUEENSRŸCHE shirt on, and I kind of make a point of walking up to somebody with a QUEENSRŸCHE shirt on and I go, 'Hey, I love that band.' And nine times out of 10, they say, 'Yeah, me too. I love that band. I've seen 'em 16 times.' I go, 'Oh, yeah. I've seen him so many times, I can't even count.' And then that's it. And I walk away. They walk away, and they have no clue. [Laughs]"

Tate will release the third chapter in QUEENSRŸCHE's classic "Operation: Mindcrime" album series, "Operation: Mindcrime III", on May 3. The LP's first single, "Power", can now be streamed below.

"Power" was written by Geoff and his guitarist/producer Kieran Robertson. It features vocals by Tate, drums by Rich Baur, bass by DISTURBED bassist and "Operation: Mindcrime III" co-producer John Moyer, guitar by Dario Parente and Amaury Altmayer, and synths and strings by Tate and Robertson. It was mixed and mastered by Juan Urteaga at Trident Studios in Pacheco, California.

Released under Geoff Tate's own name and not under the QUEENSRŸCHE banner, "Operation: Mindcrime III" is once again a concept album with a storyline following Nikki, a drug addict-turned-assassin manipulated by a shadowy figure known as Dr. X. However, unlike the first two installments, "Operation: Mindcrime III" will tell the tale from the perspective of Dr. X, "how the story happened from his point of view," according to Geoff. "Which is kind of interesting, I think, because we've only heard it from Nikki's point of view, and he's been sort of this victim throughout the whole story,"

Originally released in May 1988, QUEENSRŸCHE's third studio album, "Operation: Mindcrime" took the quintet to an entirely new level. The concept, revealed through the songs, revolves around the character of Nikki, a recovering drug addict disillusioned with a corrupt society. Drawn into a cult-like revolutionary group headed by Dr. X (voiced by the late and beloved British actor Anthony Valentine),Nikki is manipulated to assassinate political leaders until his friendship with nun Sister Mary finally opens his eyes to the truth. Regarded as one of the greatest concept metal albums of all time, "Operation: Mindcrime" was certified platinum in 1991 in the U.S. and was ranked in the "Top 100 Metal Albums Of All Time" by both Kerrang! and Billboard magazines. Rolling Stone included it on a similar list, noting that "nearly 30 years after its initial release, 'Mindcrime' feels eerily relevant."

The original "Operation: Mindcrime" album weaved themes of religion, drug abuse and underground, radical politics. By contrast, 2006's "Operation: Mindcrime II" was regarded as an unnecessary sequel that many felt cheapened the original album, despite being a decent record in its own right.

In April 2014, Tate and QUEENSRŸCHE 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. Guitarist Michael 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 "Operation: Mindcrime" and "Operation: Mindcrime II" 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".

Sebastian Bach was joined by TWISTED SISTER guitarist Eddie Ojeda for a performance of the latter band's classic song "I Wanna Rock" during Bach's headlining concert Monday night (April 6) at Cannery Hall in Nashville, Tennessee. Fan-filmed video of Eddie's appearance can be seen below.

In a recent interview with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station, the former SKID ROW singer spoke about being chosen to front TWISTED SISTER for the latter band's fall 2026 shows after iconic vocalist Dee Snider resigned from TWISTED SISTER due to "health challenges". Sebastian said: "I am a fan of TWISTED SISTER. And I'll tell you right now, I'm probably a bigger fan of TWISTED SISTER than anybody watching this. I love that band. I used to go see them whenever I could. And I really love the album 'You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll' with songs like 'The Kids Are Back', 'Ride To Live, Live To Ride'. I love the 'Under The Blade' album. I love 'Shoot 'Em Down', 'Destroyer', 'Tear It Loose'. I mean, I love 'I Wanna Rock', I love 'We're Not Gonna Take It', but there's an earlier period of that band where they were one of the most ferocious rock bands that you will ever see. And if you saw them back then, you know what I'm talking about."

Bach continued: "When they were a club band, they would come out there like a punk rock band or a total thrash metal band. I mean, if you listen to their version of 'It's Only Rock 'N' Roll (But I Like It)' by THE ROLLING STONES, it's like a speed metal tempo… Well, that's the kind of energy that I'm gonna bring. I mean, I'm not no spring chicken, but I still have a lot of energy when I get on the stage. And I'm going to give you guys fun and energy in TWISTED SISTER.

"I'm the lead singer of TWISTED SISTER," Sebastian added. "How much fun is that to say? I love saying that, so I'm really looking forward to it. I will also say that I'll never stop singing the [classic SKID ROW] songs '18 And Life', 'I Remember You', 'Youth Gone Wild', 'Monkey Business', 'Slave To The Grind' — I'll never stop doing that. So I'm not stopping my solo band. I'm continuing my solo band, but I'm doing shows with TWISTED SISTER that are bigger than my solo band. So it's a step up for me. I'll have a nicer dressing room and stuff. [Laughs]

"So … I'm looking forward to rocking out with TWISTED SISTER, because I love the music. And you cannot even challenge me on do I love the [music]. I really do love the music. So you can't fake love — and I love TWISTED SISTER."

During an appearance on the March 3 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Bach stated about how he was recruited to front TWISTED SISTER: "Well, I have tears in my eyes right now. I am SMF Number Two. I was named that by Dee Snider. And I just have to say, I just got off the phone with Dee Snider. We talked for about 45 minutes, and we were both kind of getting teary eyed.

"I just put out a [solo] record called 'Child Within The Man', and one of my favorite all-time bands is TWISTED SISTER," Bach explained. "And the music of TWISTED SISTER makes me feel like a child within the man. This is what I was talking about on my new record, how rock and roll music, it has a life of its own. You're talking to a guy here — I used to go to school and I used to paint the TWISTED SISTER logo on the back of my jacket in liquid paper thinking that looked cool [laughs] — whiteout. [Laughs] So I am a real fan — I am a fan of this music, and that is really, number one, why I'm doing it. And also to honor the legacy of these songs. And I look at it like when Paul Rodgers came in [to sing] for QUEEN, or when [GUNS N' ROSES frontman] Axl [Rose] came in for Brian Johnson [in AC/DC]. I am a fan of TWISTED SISTER and I always have been, and I love this music. I love it. I love 'Tear it Loose'. I love 'Destroyer'. I love 'The Price'. I mean, you talk about [classic SKID ROW songs like] '18 And Life' and 'I Remember You'. Well, you know what? I locked myself in a room rehearsing to 'The Price'. And these songs are how I learned how to rock."

Asked for more details of his conversation with Snider, Bach said: "I said, 'I'm calling you in 10 minutes.' He goes, 'Okay.' And I called him and he goes, 'SMF Number Two.' 'Cause he's always called me that. I'm a sick motherfucker. I'm a sick motherfucking fan of TWISTED SISTER. And he's always called me Number Two. Of course, he's number one. And so I go, 'Well, I guess I really am SMF Number Two.' And then I asked him, what did the doctor say to him? And he's, like, 'No problem. I'll tell you.' He says that he has arthritis, that his knees are going out, and he has bone on bone. And the doctor said that he should not be jumping around. And he goes, 'Well, that's not an option,' 'cause he wants to do the full show moving around and stuff, and the doctor said, 'You can't do it.' So he said, 'You have my full blessing.' He goes, 'I love you.' I told him I loved him, and we were, like, teary eyed. And he told me that his family was crying when he said he couldn't do the tour. I asked him, 'Hey, you wanna come out and jam with us?' He goes, 'Yeah.' He goes, 'Yeah.' So maybe he'll be at some of these gigs on stage with us. Who knows? I don't know if that's gonna happen or not. But it's tough getting older — it's tough for everybody getting older, and I'm a lot younger. [Laughs]"

Sebastian went on to say that it was important to him to get Dee's stamp of approval before proceeding. "That's a sign of respect," he said. "I respect Dee Snider, I respect Jay Jay French, I respect Eddie Ojeda, I respect [former TWISTED SISTER members] A.J. Pero, Mark Mendoza, the whole team. And I've always been a serious fan — like, really serious. I don't just like the hits of TWISTED SISTER. I like 'Like A Knife In The Back'. I like the heavy TWISTED SISTER. And I love 'I Wanna Rock'. I love 'The Price'. 'The Price' is one of my favorite TWISTED SISTER songs. I love 'We're Not Gonna Take It'. But the album 'You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll', I would probably say, is my favorite one."

TWISTED SISTER's 2026 shows will feature Bach, French and Ojeda. Russell Pzütto, who has toured with Snider's solo projects, will replace bassist Mark "The Animal" Mendoza on bass. Joe Franco, who briefly played with the group in the mid-1980s, was supposed to sit behind the drum kit, stepping in for A.J. Pero, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 55. However, Franco is not available to play the fall 2026 shows and will be replaced by Joey Cassata, who played drums on Ace Frehley's final original solo album, "10,000 Volts".

Speaking to "Trunk Nation" about TWISTED SISTER's current touring lineup, Jay Jay said: "In the 53-year history of the band, we've had 20 people who've been in and out of TWISTED SISTER. We've had five singers, we've had three bass players, we've had four guitar players and we've had nine drummers. Half of them are dead. It's a very tough business to be a drummer with TWISTED SISTER. But we had an amazing history of the band, and this is just a continuation of the history. And the thing is the music always survives. They said Steve Perry could never have been replaced in JOURNEY. And he was. That Freddie Mercury could never be replaced [in QUEEN]. And he was. And guess what? Baz is gonna be an unbelievable replacement.

"So it's me, Eddie Ojeda and Baz," French continued. "Joe Franco had signed on for the summer, and he wasn't available in the fall. And so Joey Cassata is gonna be on drums filling in for Joe, but if Joe Franco can make it, he definitely will. And Russ Pzütto, who has been our bass tech and has filled in for Mark in the past, will be playing bass. So Russ has been with the organization for years and years and years. He also played on Dee's solo projects. So that's basically the lineup."

At press time TWISTED SISTER has not announced the full list of shows it plans to play with Bach outside of a September 4 stop at the Alaska State Fair.

Snider and Bach had publicly praised each other in 2020 after they had a disagreement on social media about whether the term "hair metal" was derogatory.

"I love Sebastian Bach!" Snider wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "During the darkest period of my career, he stood tall as a Dee Snider fan when few would. I will always be grateful to him for not caring what was 'cool' at the moment and speaking our proudly for the things he loved. Thank you SMF#2!"

Bach wrote in response: "I love Dee Snider. I will always love the music he has made. No matter how much Dee sees himself as 'hair metal,' I will always see him on a much higher level than that implies. He is one of the greatest frontmen and vocalists of all time. Any corny label less than that is an insult."

Three years ago, TWISTED SISTER staged a one-off reunion at the Metal Hall Of Fame in Agoura Hills, California. On hand to be inducted into the Metal Hall Of Fame were Snider, French, Mendoza and drummer Mike Portnoy. Ojeda was absent from the event after contracting COVID-19; filling in for him was Keith Robert War. TWISTED SISTER played a highly charged three-song set consisting of the staples "You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll" and "Under The Blade", as well as the anthem "We're Not Gonna To Take It".

TWISTED SISTER's original run ended in the late '80s. After more than a decade, the band publicly reunited in November 2001 to top the bill of New York Steel, a hard-rock benefit concert to raise money for the New York Police And Fire Widows' And Children's Benefit Fund.

NASHVILLE! TENNESSEE! TONIGHT! @canneryhallnashville W @stitchedupheart @blazecisco AND a Very Special Surprise Guest...

Posted by Sebastian Bach on Monday, April 6, 2026

In a new interview with France's Metal OBS, SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser was asked about his plans for after the completion of the band's ongoing farewell tour. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm not gonna stop, of course, doing music. I have so many ideas, but I didn't decide yet where to go. I still wanna enjoy the moment, enjoy the tour, enjoy the very last run that we have this year. But I have many possibilities. Maybe [I will] do another album myself or try something different. I wanna explore different worlds. I'm going more to the art world, like painting and mixing music with colors and stuff. And it's interesting, to try to go to different places. I don't wanna find another world that is the same as SEPULTURA. I already did [all that] during SEPULTURA. So I'd like to absorb more ideas and to be aware of new possibilities and see what happens. But now I'm very focused of what we doing today and the [last few months of the] tour."

Kisser also talked about SEPULTURA's recent announcement that it would release a new EP, "The Cloud Of Unknowing", on April 24 via Nuclear Blast Records. Regarding why he and his bandmates chose to release new music while preparing to put the group to rest, he explained:  "When we announced the farewell tour two years ago, almost three years ago, we announced that it's gonna be open. But I mean, we know we are dying; SEPULTURA is stopping. So we're gonna leave it open to fulfill our last wishes. For instance, we had the chance to play Lollapalooza in Brazil for the first time… We went to Iceland for the first time. So we need time to go to places and to fulfill all the possibilities. So every album that SEPULTURA puts out, we take three years touring the world. If you see the history, that's our rhythm. Because we go everywhere. We've been to more than 80 countries and we go far and it takes time. So, why rush? Why run? I mean, there's no reason that we [have to] announce [the final tour] and in a year we have to stop just because people think the farewell has to stop in a certain time. And we leave it open, because we live the moment, we live the present. And it turned out the possibility to record an album."

Kisser continued: "We did the 70000 Tons Of Metal last year, which is a cruise, from Miami to Jamaica and then Jamaica to Miami, and then we make the best of the situation. We went to the Criteria Studios in Miami to record four songs. I had a few ideas. I always have demos and ideas floating around. And [SEPULTURA drummer] Greyson [Nekrutman] came into the band two years ago, and he brought a new perspective, a new energy, new frequencies to the band that it was great. The atmosphere was perfect for us to work. We went into the studio. We didn't have a release date. We didn't have a name for the album. We didn't have even names for the songs. I mean, the song 'Sacred Books', the number three song, we wrote in the studio, jamming, together, me and Greyson and stuff, and we did it in the studio. So it's very spontaneous. It's an album that it doesn't have any attachment to any strategy or marketing or whatever you wanna call. It just happened. And it's great, in this third year of our farewell tour, to have a new element, to have new songs. We have four new songs, which we will play live on this upcoming tour and stuff."

As for why SEPULTURA didn't make a full-length album and opted to record an EP instead, Andreas said: "The pressure of doing an album is totally different. It's totally different. It's another story. We have an EP. The format really fits wherever we felt at the time. Why we have to do an album? There's no law that [says we have] to do something like that. So we made the best of what we had in our hands. The elements of the present. We [were] in Miami. We [had] a few ideas. We went to the studio for 10 days, and we did it. And then a year later now, everything's ready to release. We put out the first single, and April is coming out the whole, full EP. So it's great. I mean, it's, it's something that was really spontaneous. It's kind of crazy. Of course you have some planning, you have some ideas, but you have to let room to improvise as well."

SEPULTURA has already released two singles from "The Cloud Of Unknowing": "The Place" and "Beyond The Dream". SEPULTURA collaborated on the latter with Sérgio Britto and Tony Bellotto of TITÃS.

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

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

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

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

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

The final North American leg of SEPULTURA's "Celebrating Life Through Death" tour will feature support from thrash legends EXODUS, hardcore heavyweights BIOHAZARD, and newcomers TRIBAL GAZE. The trek will kick off on April 29 in Montclair, New Jersey and will visit major cities across the U.S. and Canada, including Montreal, Detroit, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles, before concluding on May 29 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. Along the way, SEPULTURA will also perform at major festivals, including Welcome To Rockville and Sonic Temple.

In a new interview with Go With Elmo, the weekly podcast hosted by Elmo Lovano, a renowned musical director, producer, and founder of Jammcard, Ilan Rubin spoke about how he landed the gig as the new drummer of the FOO FIGHTERS, following the 2025 exit of Josh Freese. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, at some point in time I got a call from Dave [Grohl, FOO FIGHTERS frontman]. We talked about some stuff. He knew that my touring commitments [with NINE INCH NAILS] at the time were coming to an end, and I was available after that. I know that's a bit of a vague way of putting it, but there's some delicacy here. 'Cause I went from a band I'd played with for almost 17 years. So that was an end of a lengthy, extensive era for me. And this new chapter has been incredible — still very new, obviously. I don't even know how long it's been — maybe six, seven months, give or take. I have no idea. But it's been incredible — the most outgoing, inviting people and organization. Kind of just feeling like everything fits like a glove is great, especially after having played with so many bands for such a long time. I'm not saying that those weren't great in their own right, but I'm very much a creature of habit. So I like to stay where I am. Even though my career kind of unexpectedly turned into this thing where I've played with multiple bands, that was never my intention — ever. But I stay where I go. And going into a whole new world can be very daunting, but it's just been so welcoming that I couldn't be happier. Everything's awesome. So much fun. Everything is fun, which is great. The smiles are real, and I can't get enough of it. I don't know how many shows we've played up to this point, but it's still super fresh. Very exciting. And it's a great place to be and a great group of people."

Asked if he already knew Dave prior to getting a call from him, Ilan said: "We had met a few times over the years, but it's not like we were 'buddy buddy' texting all the time. [He had seen me play with the NINE INCH NAILS] probably a couple of times over the years, probably going back to, like — I don't know — if I had to say, maybe 2017 or so. But there would be years in between of seeing one another again.

"I haven't really talked about this whole sort of chapter, so this is a new thing," Ilan continued. "Not that I have anything to hide here, but it was just kind of, like, 'Hey, you probably didn't expect to hear from me, but there's some stuff going on, and I see that your last date is' — whenever it was; time is a giant blur, regardless of bands and touring. I have two kids, and I don't know what day it is today. But that's how it started."

Reflecting on his early rehearsal sessions with the FOO FIGHTERS, Ilan said: "For those who are somewhat familiar with the story or with the band, or this chapter with the band, at some point there were some auditions. And very understandable considering that it's such a massive band, but things didn't work out perhaps the way everyone had hoped over the last couple of years. So they really wanted to make sure that whoever kind of came in was — I don't know— vetted as best as possible. Make sure you check everything else out before you make your choice. These are assumptions here. But, yeah, so I played a second time, and then I was invited. But it was a great time. I mean, sitting down, playing songs. And like I said, very inviting group of people. And the songs are obviously incredibly fun to play."

Ilan continued: "I like to be prepared. So I'm a bit of a perfectionist in that way. And when I got the batch of songs that they wanted to play, I really did my research, because, obviously, the band's been around for so long. A lot of these songs have gone through different iterations over the years. And as somebody who's toured a lot with various bands, I know that things can change from tour to tour. So I really did my research as to what they had been doing for the last couple of years and just showed up as if it was ready to be night one of a tour. And we just played smoothly, and that was that."

Asked about the "story" of the so-called "drummer swap" between FOO FIGHTERS and NINE INCH NAILS, with Rubin leaving NINE INCH NAILS to join FOO FIGHTERS, and NINE INCH NAILS immediately announcing the return of Freese as his replacement, Ilan said: "There is no story, honestly. I think it's just a very logical thing. There was nothing behind it. And it's very logical in the sense that Josh played with NAILS from, I wanna say '05 to the end of '08. I auditioned in '08, took over the next shows, I think it was February of '09, and was with the band up until last summer. The last tour I did was a European tour of the 'Peel It Back' cycle. And as I said earlier, when I was gotten in touch with, Dave and management, everyone was very well aware that I had a commitment up to this point, and was I doing anything afterwards? And at the time there was nothing I knew about. The tour that NINE INCH NAILS had just triumphantly wrapped up was not on the books. So as far as I knew, my contract ended on a date. After that, it was, what am I doing next? And when this happened and the opportunity presented itself and it was just an obvious great fit and a great thing for me…"

Ilan continued: "I guess I need to take a step back, is that at some point in time, for whatever reason, Josh was no longer with FOO FIGHTERS. And that was the first thing. So it's not like Josh was no longer with the band and they had already been talking. None of that was a thing. They dealt with whatever they dealt with. They needed a drummer. And whenever it was getting a little too close for comfort in terms of shows that were coming up in a few months, I was gotten in touch with. As a result of me taking that opportunity, obviously NINE INCH NAILS needed a drummer. And I would imagine that at this point in time, Trent [Reznor, NINE INCH NAILS leader] doesn't wanna spend however many weeks at a rehearsal studio playing the same songs over and over and over again to break in a new drummer. And aside from that, Josh has already done it before, so it was very logical on that. I mean, why else would you go find somebody else? And going back to what we were talking about earlier, in terms of wanting to feel comfortable, Trent wouldn't have to think about anything 'cause he knows that Josh can do it and has done it. So I don't think there's anything particularly surprising there. But when the news leaked, 'cause it did leak, it was kind of billed as this drummer swap. Now that would imply that Trent and Dave were, like, 'Hey, you know what would be a great idea? Why not?' Which is the dumbest thing. But the dots were obviously connected where there was a switch. But it was certainly not a swap. I left my tenure with NINE INCH NAILS to join FOO FIGHTERS. NINE INCH NAILS needed a drummer, and the drummer they got was the guy who was no longer with FOO FIGHTERS. And that's literally what it was."

Ilan added: ""The only thing that kind of really bothered me at the time when that news leaked was that it kind of gave the impression that I just kind of said, 'Well, this came up. I'm outta here. Have fun, guys,' which was not the case at all. Everyone knew what my commitments were, and I'm a very, very loyal guy and I do what I say I'm gonna do. So it just happened to work out better that even though I was available for that [NINE INCH NAILS summer 2025] tour, it worked out better for NAILS to just have Josh, who was then gonna go do the stuff in 2026. And it worked out great for me that rather than having to… And get this: had everything gone the way it was originally supposed to, I would've finished that American leg of the NINE INCH NAILS tour, I would have had a week to rehearse with FOO FIGHTERS and then play a festival in Jakarta. That's what it would've been. That's what everyone had agreed to, and that's what it was. I was gonna go play with NAILS, have my last tour, and then jump in and really put in the work to go learn all the songs that they wanted to do, and that was that. But because it worked out this way, I had so much more time on my hands, just because Trent had made the decision, 'Well, we might as well have Josh just play now because he's gonna be playing the next leg of the tour. Let's just rip off the Band-Aid' — my words, not his — 'and just do it now rather than doing it later.' But that allowed me to, rather than have a week with the band, to have a couple of months to leisurely learn 40 songs or whatever it was, hang out with the guys, get to know everybody really well. And it gave us the opportunity to play these smaller kind of pop-up secret shows."

Ilan made his live debut with the FOO FIGHTERS on September 14, 2025 at the Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo, California.

The FOO FIGHTERS announced that they had tapped Rubin as their new drummer in July 2025, joining Grohl, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett and Rami Jaffree.

Freese was with the FOO FIGHTERS from 2023 until May 2025. Before Freese's time with the band, Taylor Hawkins served as the drummer for the FOO FIGHTERS from 1997 until his death in 2022 at 50.

On June 26, 2026, a long-lost chapter of SAVATAGE history finally comes to light. earMUSIC is delighted to announce the release of "Madness Reigns From The Gutter (1990)", a previously unreleased official live recording capturing the band at the height of their legendary "Rulin' Gutter" tour.

In 1990, SAVATAGE stood at a turning point. Following the release of "Gutter Ballet", the band embarked on a tour that would become one of the most explosive and defining runs of their career. Night after night, audiences were drawn into a powerful blend of crushing riffs, theatrical ambition and emotional intensity. It was a band in transformation: heavier, broader, and more dramatic than ever before.

Now, more than three decades later, "Madness Reigns From The Gutter (1990)" documents that pivotal era in full force. Carefully restored from the original master tapes and newly mixed and mastered, the 19-track album presents SAVATAGE at peak voltage: ferocious yet refined, balancing power metal muscle with the sweeping grandeur that would soon shape their next chapter.

Many fans consider the 1990 line-up to be "peak SAVATAGE", and listening to this performance, it's hard to disagree. On stage, five distinct personalities ignited the night: the youthful and electrifying Chris Caffery; bassist Johnny Lee Middleton, matching Caffery's fire note for note; the hard-hitting and wildly animated Steve "Doc" Wacholz behind his gargantuan triple-bass kit; the virtuosic Criss Oliva, channelling precision and passion in equal measure; and at the center of it all, the charismatic ringmaster Jon Oliva in absolute prime form.

Reflecting on that era, Jon Oliva recalls: "The 'Gutter' tour was SAVATAGE at its live show peak. It was six months where madness definitely reigned in the gutter. Enjoy it friends!"

At a time when Florida's metal scene was pushing toward ever greater extremity, SAVATAGE chose evolution over imitation. With "Gutter Ballet", they fused melody and menace, piano and power, vulnerability and velocity. On stage in 1990, those contrasts became combustible.

"Madness Reigns From The Gutter (1990)" will be released in Europe on June 26 as a CD digipak and heavyweight black 3LP gatefold edition. The digital release will be available worldwide on the same day, with the U.S. physical release following on September 18.

The release, which celebrates one of the band's most defining eras, coincides with SAVATAGE's highly anticipated 2026 "Prelude To Madness" tour, where SAVA-heads across Europe will once again reunite with the band to celebrate the unwavering passion of this extraordinary community together. All dates and further information to be found at www.savatage.com.

"Madness Reigns From The Gutter (1990)" track listing:

01. City Beneath The Surface
02. White Witch
03. Of Rage And War
04. She's In Love
05. Mentally Yours
06. 24 Hrs. Ago
07. Legions
08. Strange Wings
09. Hounds
10. Temptation Revelation
11. When The Crowds Are Gone
12. The Dungeons Are Calling
13. Holocaust
14. Sirens
15. Power Of The Night
16. Hall Of The Mountain King
17. Gutter Ballet
18. Thorazine Shuffle
19. Devastation

Lineup:

Jon Oliva - Vocals, Keyboards
Criss Oliva - Guitar, Vocals
Chris Caffery - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Johnny Lee Middleton - Bass, Vocals
Steve "Doc" Wacholz - Drums

The 2026 "Prelude To Madness" tour will once again feature SAVATAGE's current lineup: vocalist Zak Stevens, guitarists Al Pitrelli and Chris Caffery, bassist Johnny Lee Middleton and drummer Jeff Plate.

SAVATAGE's journey began in Tampa, Florida, founded by brothers Jon and Criss Oliva. Their story is one of both triumph and tragedy, marked by groundbreaking albums including the seminal 1987 release "Hall Of The Mountain King" and the critically acclaimed 1991 rock opera "Streets", both of which continue to resonate with fans worldwide. Following the untimely death of guitarist Criss Oliva after the success of 1993's "Edge Of Thorns", the band persevered with renewed purpose, culminating in their transformative 1995 album "Dead Winter Dead".

Throughout their four-decade career, SAVATAGE have cultivated one of metal's most passionate cult followings. During their nearly 20-year hiatus from touring, devoted fans continuously campaigned for the band's return. Their electrifying reunion performance at Germany's Wacken Open Air festival in 2015 captivated 80,000 fans and reaffirmed both SAVATAGE's legendary status and their audience's unwavering devotion.

Building on the momentum from their 2015 Wacken triumph, SAVATAGE made international headlines in 2025 with their first headline shows since 2002. The European dates successfully reunited multiple generations of "The Legion" — longtime devotees experiencing long-awaited performances alongside newcomers discovering the band's power for the first time.

SAVATAGE played four shows in South America in April 2025 and 10 dates in Europe in June 2025, including at France's Hellfest and Belgium's Graspop Metal Meeting festivals.

SAVATAGE played its first non-festival headlining concert in more than 20 years on April 21, 2025 at the Espaço Unimed in São Paulo, Brazil. The show took place two days after SAVATAGE performed at the Monsters Of Rock festival at Allianz Parque in São Paulo.

Appearing with Middleton, Caffery, Pitrelli, Plate and Stevens were SAVATAGE's two new touring keyboardists, Paulo Cuevas and Shawn McNair.

Zak joined SAVATAGE in 1992 as the replacement for Jon Oliva. Zak sang on four albums with the band — "Edge Of Thorns" (1993),"Handful Of Rain" (1994),"Dead Winter Dead" (1995) and "The Wake Of Magellan" (1997) — before departing in 2000, allowing Jon to return. Both Jon and Zak took part in SAVATAGE's 2015 performance at Wacken Open Air.

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

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

RATT singer Stephen Pearcy has released "I Need U", the first single from his upcoming sixth solo album "The Dogg Mob". The track features Pearcy on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Erik Ferentinos on guitar, Matt Thorne on bass, Blas Elias on drums and an undisclosed "special guest" on guitar.

"This song's on me — download it before they charge ya," Pearcy wrote on his official web site. "We've been writing some killer material the last few years — Erik Ferentinos and I — with Matt Thorne at MT Studios shaping the sound. We're fired up about this record."

This past February, Pearcy teased his upcoming LP by rolling out a snippet of the song "Drive All Night Long". The track, which can be previewed on Stephen's Instagram, was written by Pearcy and features one of the album's many special guests on lead guitar — someone whose name will soon be revealed.

"The Dogg Mob" is tentatively due this summer via Pearcy's Top Fuel Records label.

Pearcy's most recent solo album, "View To A Thrill", came out in 2018 via Frontiers Music Srl. The follow-up to 2017's "Smash" was produced by Thorne and Pearcy and was mixed and mastered by Ferentinos.

For the past year, Pearcy has been playing sporadic shows with guitarist extraordinaire Warren DeMartini — his longtime bandmate in RATT — under the PEARCY/DEMARTINI moniker.

Speaking about the songwriting process for his solo material, Pearcy told Music Existence: "RATT's music is its own entity and animal, and it has its own schematics. With my solo stuff, I tend to do whatever I like — an acoustic song, a really heavy song — and go places and talk about things that I want to. It's my freedom of speech. That's one thing I like about it, and I'm always writing, so what else can I do, you know? Just try to get it out and get it heard! I don't care if it sells ten million or nil million; it's just what I do. You do the best that you can."

RATT hasn't released any new music since 2010's "Infestation" LP.

Photo courtesy of SRO PR (Schneider Rondan Organization)

In a new interview with Cassius Morris, ex-TYPE O NEGATIVE guitarist Kenny Hickey once again spoke about the possibility of teaming up with the other surviving members of TYPE O NEGATIVE to stage a Peter Steele tribute concert with various guest musicians. Asked if former TYPE O NEGATIVE keyboardist Josh Silver, who is married to Kenny's wife's sister, is still unwilling to commit to a Steele tribute project, having spent a long time working for New York City as a paramedic, Kenny said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "He doesn't wanna do it. So maybe it'll take some convincing…"

Asked why he thinks Josh doesn't want to do it, Kenny said: "He would have to answer that question. He was always the kind of guy who's 150% guy. If he's not 150%, then he's not gonna do it. He's got other things going on. So, we'll see. We'll see how things pan out. Maybe he won't have other things going on in the near future."

As for whether he and ex-TYPE O NEGATIVE drummer Johnny Kelly are still open to taking part in a Peter Steele tribute, Kenny said: "We would be into doing it in a tribute fashion, yeah. Yes. It would be cool to do maybe a dozen shows or something like that. Have some great stand-in singer — [or] singers — it would be a cool thing to do. Absolutely."

Kenny also once again confirmed that a full-length concert recording from the long-defunct band is being prepared for an official release. "It's in the works right now, so it might take a month or whatever to get it together," he explained. "And then it will probably be at least a couple of months after that before it's released. Hopefully [it will be out] by the end of the year."

TYPE O NEGATIVE effectively broke up after the passing of frontman Peter Steele in April 2010 from heart failure at the age of 48. Born Petrus T. Ratajczyk on January 4, 1962 in Brooklyn, New York, he stood 6' 7" (201 cm) tall, and had a low, bass-heavy voice, which was one of the most recognizable features in TYPE O NEGATIVE's music.

Before forming TYPE O NEGATIVE, Steele played for the metal group FALLOUT and the thrash band CARNIVORE.

TYPE O NEGATIVE, known for its brooding soundscapes and cult status in the 1990s and early 2000s, has recently seen a cultural resurgence as new generations discover the band's genre-defining music.

TYPE O NEGATIVE was a New York–based goth metal band formed in 1990 by Steele, alongside Hickey, Silver and drummer Sal Abruscato — later replaced by Kelly. Their 1991 debut, "Slow, Deep And Hard", introduced their brooding style, followed by the provocative "The Origin Of The Feces" (1992). TYPE O NEGATIVE achieved breakthrough success with "Bloody Kisses" (1993),which earned a cult following and featured the single "Black No. 1". The band continued to evolve with albums such as "October Rust" (1996),"World Coming Down" (1999),"Life Is Killing Me" (2003) and "Dead Again" (2007).

Revered for their distinctive blend of goth and metal, as well as Steele's deep, iconic vocals, TYPE O NEGATIVE left a lasting legacy in heavy music. The band concluded in 2010 following Steele's death, but their influence endures across the alternative and metal landscape.

Last October, Hickey told Scott Penfold of Loaded Radio that "a lot of people" had approached the surviving members of TYPE O NEGATIVE about staging some kind of Steele tribute. "There are a lot of agents [contacting us]. There's money in it, so the more the value goes up, the more they're gonna hound us."

As for Silver's unwillingness to commit to the project, Hickey said: "Josh is really, at this point, he's very resistant. But we'll see. We don't know what's gonna happen. Josh is about to retire [from his job as a paramedic] soon, so we don't know what's gonna happen. It all depends on how much money it's worth and how much is waved [in front of us]."

Asked if he has a particular singer, or several vocalists, in mind as far as whom he would want to front TYPE O NEGATIVE for such a concert or tour, Kenny said: "No, no. It's a very hard thing to get my head around. If something really gets concrete, then I'll really start thinking about it and painting over it, because there's [also] the issue of the bass playing. [Peter's] bass playing was more unique than his vocals. Deep, baritone vocals — a lot of people with a deep voice could do that shit and roll your Rs… But his bass plan was very, very unique."

Back in June 2023, Hickey was asked by Loaded Radio if he was surprised by the enduring popularity of his former band, now 15 years after the passing of the TYPE O NEGATIVE frontman. He responded: "Yeah. It's surprising, and I'm very grateful for it. I mean, the band has transcended, which is amazing. It's reached a whole new generation. We're doing better than we were doing before Peter passed. [Laughs] [There's] a whole resurgence on it. Which is good. It's a testament to the work we put into it and the honesty we put into it and the years of sweat. There was realism to the music."

Hickey also once again talked about the possibility of him and the other surviving members of TYPE O NEGATIVE staging a Peter Steele tribute concert with various guest musicians. He said: "People have approached us to try and reform the band with a singer and go on the road. 'Cause everybody wants a money grab. We personally don't think Peter is replaceable by anybody, and it just wouldn't work."

He continued: "A tribute I'd love to do. I'm sure Johnny would love to do it. I know Josh wouldn't do it, because Josh is picking up body parts in East New York [during his work as a paramedic]. He's not gonna stop that to start rehearsing. But yeah, we would do it with guest musicians and stuff. If somebody had the idea and got it together and got the logistics together, sure — I would be into it."

When Penfold noted that Kelly previously picked HEART's Ann Wilson as a singer he would like to tackle Steele's parts during a hypothetical tribute concert, Hickey said: "Ann Wilson would be great, but she probably never heard of us."

As for whom he would choose to sing at such an event, Kenny said: "Axl Rose [of GUNS N' ROSES]." He added that "it would be very fucking cool" to hear Axl sing a song like TYPE O's "Love You To Death".

In a new interview with Jai Anderson, a.k.a. That Aussie Metal Guy, CRADLE OF FILTH frontman Dani Filth was spoke about his plans for the follow-up to the band's fourteenth studio album, "The Screaming Of The Valkyries", which came out in March 2025 via Napalm Records. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The new album, [which] we are going into the studio and recording in as little as three to four weeks, is a step up from ['The Screaming Of The Valkyries']. I think it's heavier. There's some really brutal parts in it. But there's a lot of melody. There's a shit-ton of atmosphere. A couple of very, very catchy songs, but I would say, yeah, heavy-wise, it's pushed it up to 13."

Regarding where he is drawing inspiration from lyrically these days, Dani said: "All over the place. I try and surround myself with literature, music. I went looking at houses yesterday with my fiancée, and we were driving all around the English countryside, and, yeah, that was inspirational. I get inspiration from all kinds of things. It strikes in the middle of the night.

"In order not to be predictable, I think it's also good that you can draw inspiration from all kinds of things," he explained. "And should I get like a complete block, which happens to the best of us, I go for a walk or drive, do something completely off the wall. 'Cause you don't know where it's gonna strike, and you just need something to give you a bit of a kick and knock the ideas out of you."

Earlier this month, Dani was asked by Australia's Heavy if the fan response to "The Screaming Of The Valkyries" was everything he had hoped for. He responded: "Yeah. Above and beyond. 'The Screaming Of The Valkyries', it's really charted high. The fans love it. It's the next step up in our evolutionary step. The next record, which, obviously, we're writing at the moment — [we're] almost finished writing; [we're] gonna be in the studio in about three weeks — again takes that to the next level."

Dani continued: "We've had a fantastic few years. Post lockdown, obviously there's been a lot of catching up to do. This is why we've been touring a lot, why we've been very creative. Yeah, I think we're definitely walking into the right direction. The fans seem to like it, and that sort of matters."

Asked if the "old-school sounds and vibes that went into" "The Screaming Of The Valkyries" is something that will be repeated on CRADLE OF FILTH's next effort, Dani said: "Well, yeah, we've moved the goalposts in all kinds of directions. It's very hard to stipulate exactly what we're doing. And, really, to be honest, it's too early to be talking about our new album. We haven't even decided — we've got a huge amount of tracks and we haven't even decided which ones are going on the record as yet. That's up to me and the producer. Next week he's gonna come and visit my house and we're gonna siphon through everything and decide what's a keeper and what isn't, what might need development. So, yeah, again, very early to talk about it."

"The Screaming Of The Valkyries" was produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Scott Atkins at Grindstone Studios in Suffolk, England.

In 2023, CRADLE OF FILTH released its first live album in over 20 years, "Trouble And Their Double Lives", via Napalm Records. The LP was recorded between 2014 and 2019 at different performances in the USA, Europe, Australia and beyond during the band's "Cryptoriana" world tour and dates following.

Last year, six former members of CRADLE OF FILTH filed a lawsuit against Dani and the group's management. It followed allegations levelled at the vocalist by guitarist Marek "Ashok" Šmerda and keyboardist Zoe Marie Federoff. The pair quit the group in August 2025 over alleged poor pay and "psychopathic" contracts.

Filth has not publicly responded to the lawsuit. However, he had previously said that he would not "let unfounded slander define this band or diminish the work we've put into it."

In a new interview with the Brazilian TV show Fantástico, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of RUSH spoke about their decision to reunite for a tour in 2026 and 2027. The run of dates — Lee and Lifeson's first official shows under the RUSH banner in 11 years — will begin at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, site of the last RUSH concert on the legendary Canadian band's "R40" anniversary tour. Joining the duo on the trek will be German drummer Anika Nilles, who toured with legendary guitarist Jeff Beck in 2022 and has been rehearsing with Lee and Lifeson in preparation for the tour, dubbed "Fifty Something", which will celebrate RUSH's music, legacy, and the life of late drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. Also appearing with them will be keyboardist Loren Gold, who is best known as touring member of THE WHO and CHICAGO.

Asked why Lee and Lifeson chose a jazz/fusion/prog drummer to step in for Peart on the "Fifty Something" tour as opposed to someone from a RUSH tribute band or a well-known rock drummer, such as DREAM THEATER's Mike Portnoy, Geddy replied: "Well, there's a few reasons for that. First of all, I think Alex and I wanted to stay away from the obvious comparisons. When you are working with a drummer from this famous band or that famous band, it's just too easy to make comments. You know what the Internet's like, you know what fans could be like arguments. So I think what appealed to us about Anika — first of all, we were so thrilled to see how well she plays and her technical ability. And it never really occurred to us that she came from a different genre of music. So I think we wanted somebody fresh, someone that had a story, someone whose story would be welcomed by our fans. And I think Anika fits that bill completely."

As for whether Lee and Lifeson consciously made the decision to pick someone outside the rock genre to play with them on the upcoming tour, Alex said: "We never really talked about that, because that was never really a concern or an issue. As far as I was concerned personally, I went back and forth on the idea of going back on the road. I did other projects, and I kept pretty busy. And I just didn't know if I wanted to go through the whole thing of touring and being on the road. But Geddy and I got together and we started playing some stuff, and invariably we started playing some RUSH songs, and we really had fun and we realized how much we love playing. I mean, we're very good friends — everybody knows that; we've been friends for a long time — but we were just having so much fun playing the songs, and after not having played them for a while, they were challenging to play. So that made it even more fun. And then we started talking about, what about the idea of maybe sharing this? And the more we talked about it, the more interesting that idea sounded and it kind of took on a life of its own. And now here we are with a full-fledged tour."

Lee added: "Well, the short answer, which Alex didn't really answer, the reason we never discussed what style of drummer we want was because we had no plans to come back on the road. And when suddenly the story that he just told happened, we said, 'Okay, now we need a drummer. Do you know any?'"

On the topic of how RUSH plans to pay tribute to Peart on the "Fifty Something" tour, Lee said: "Well, we've been talking about certain songs that we feel really, really give us the vision of Neil. And we'll pick those songs and each set, of the two sets, so twice a night we will pick a song to play sort of for him and we'll present a visual tribute behind us to Neil, whether it be to his lyrics or just to his playing or whatever. Take a moment, play these songs with him in mind so the whole audience and us can remember him."

The 2026 leg of the "Fifty Something" tour, which will cover Canada, USA and Mexico, initially consisted of 22 dates, which sold out immediately, prompting the addition of more shows. The tour now totals 58 shows across 24 cities, with over half a million tickets sold for 2026.

In February, RUSH announced the addition of South America and Europe tour dates to the "Fifty Something" tour, in early 2027. The dates will be the first time the band has played in Europe since 2013 and 17 years since visiting South America.

Performing 24 shows across 13 European countries, these special "evening with" shows will find the band playing two sets each night. Each show will feature a distinct selection of songs and RUSH will build each night's setlist from a catalog of more than 40 songs, including their greatest hits and fan favorites.

RUSH performed in public with Nilles for the first time at Canada's Juno Awards in Hamilton, Ontario in late March. They played "Finding My Way", the first song from RUSH's first album, the band's only LP not to feature Peart.

The Juno Awards performance was Lee and Lifeson's first as RUSH since they finished their 40th-anniversary tour in 2015, although they have performed under their own names on occasion, including tributes to legendary Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot and Taylor Hawkins of the FOO FIGHTERS.

Peart died in January 2020 after a three-year battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was 67 years old.

RUSH waited three days to announce Peart's passing, setting off shockwaves and an outpouring of grief from fans and musicians all over the world.

RUSH 2026 press photo credit: Richard Sibbald

In a new interview with Mark Strigl, BUCKCHERRY vocalist Josh Todd spoke about a possible follow-up to the band's latest effort, "Roar Like Thunder", which was released in June 2025, via Round Hill Records in North America, Sony Music in Japan and Earache Records elsewhere globally. As with 2023's "Vol. 10" and 2021's "Hellbound", "Roar Like Thunder" was recorded in Nashville at Sienna Studios and helmed by producer and songwriter-for-hire Marti Frederiksen, who has previously collaborated with AEROSMITH, DEF LEPPARD, Jonny Lang and Sheryl Crow, among many others. All 10 tracks were written by Todd, BUCKCHERRY guitarist Stevie Dacanay (aka Stevie D.) and Frederiksen. Asked if it's "too early" for him and his BUCKCHERRY bandmates to be thinking about a new album, Josh said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "No. Actually, as soon as I get off here, I'm gonna record an idea that I've been thinking of. We've already written — God, Stevie and I have written, like, seven songs already for the new record. And this is just us working out a little bit before we hook up with Marti Frederiksen. Because once we get with Marti, we write very fast. I told Marti, I go, 'Let's just make a BUCKCHERRY record in two weeks,' 'cause we can. And it's great. We write very fast and efficiently.

"When we fly to Nashville and we do songwriting with Marti, it's pretty amazing because we'll get a hotel room, and we have this schedule where Stevie and Marti will link up in the mornings and they'll get a good musical composition together," Josh explained. "And then they'll send it to me by, like, 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. Then I'll write lyrics and melodies all night in my hotel room. And then I come down the next day and sing it. And then the process starts again. I'm, like, 'Marti,' I go, 'I've always wanted to just make a record from beginning to end in two weeks, and no breaks, no days off.' And he's, like, 'We can't do that.' He said that to me at one point. And then the next record, cut to 'Roar Like Thunder' we just did it, he goes, 'You know what? I think we can do it.' And I go, 'Yeah, we can.' And it's fun. It's challenging, and it's really exciting making records."

Todd added: "Yeah, 'Roar Like Thunder' came out last year, and we tour two years on a record. So what we do on the second year of a record cycle is we start accumulating demos and ideas, and then by the end of the year, we'll go in with Marti, we'll do the songwriting and we'll record a new record and drop it sometime next year, like probably before summer or at summer."

Asked about BUCKCHERRY's working relationship with Frederiksen, Todd said: "Oh, we have a long, long history. We met up with Marti way back, on the '15' songwriting cycle. He co-wrote 'Sorry' with us. And that's when the relationship started. It just blossomed. I just love him. And when we get in a room with him, it's, like, he just really understands this band for the right reasons. And when we write songs, it's, like, the best idea wins. There's no egos. It's fun, and I learn a lot. He's a really talented guy. And I think he learns a lot from us as well. And we have a lot of fun together."

Last month, Dacanay told Reckless" Rexx Ruger of the Pod Scum podcast about a possible follow-up to "Roar Like Thunder": "I think if you look historically, or at least in the last 10 years, we came out with 'Warpaint', and then two years later, or two and a half years later, we came out with the 'Hellbound'. And that's our cycle — two and a half, three years [later], a new album will come out. And the touring will last a year and a half. And then the writing cycle, then recording, and then they're setting up the album. So, it's been that way since — we're pretty consistent. So at the end of this year will be the end of the touring cycle for this last album. And then we're gonna go into the studio with Marti, start writing around September, October, and then release a new record in the spring [or] summer [of 2027]."

Following the previously announced May tour of the U.S., BUCKCHERRY recently released the second leg of its summer 2026 tour, commencing June 26 in West Fargo, North Dakota and ending July 25 in Pueblo, Colorado. These dates include a July 2 stop at the annual Milwaukee, Wisconsin festival Summerfest and a one-off Canadian date on July 12 at the Rockin' Thunder festival in Edmonton, opening for CREED.

Todd remains the only original member in BUCKCHERRY's current lineup, which also includes Dacanay (guitar, backing vocals),Billy Rowe (guitar, backing vocals),Kelly LeMieux (bass) and Francis Ruiz (drums).

Dacanay has been a defining force in BUCKCHERRY since joining the band during its 2005 revival. After BUCKCHERRY's brief hiatus in the early 2000s, the reformed lineup, led by Stevie and Josh, breathed new life into the band's hard rock roots. Stevie's guitar work helped shape BUCKCHERRY's comeback album "15", which launched hits like "Crazy Bitch" and "Sorry", and re-established the group as a mainstay in the modern rock world.

In a new interview with "The David Ellefson Show", MUDVAYNE and HELLYEAH frontman Chad Gray spoke about his upcoming "30 Years Of Madness" live appearances. The gigs will mark Chad's first-ever solo performances and will take place during a year when MUDVAYNE is not scheduled to do any touring. It will also be an opportunity for Gray to play songs from HELLYEAH, which has been inactive since early 2020 when its U.S. tour was canceled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the meantime, Gray had reunited with his previous band MUDVAYNE, which played its first two shows in 12 years in 2021 and has since completed several tours, in addition to releasing two new songs, "Hurt People Hurt People" and "Sticks And Stones".

Regarding what it has been like to revisit some of the HELLYEAH material after so long, Chad said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's been really weird. I'm obviously rehearsing all that stuff now. And I haven't played, I haven't touched those songs in seven fucking years, or eight years, whatever it's been since Vinnie [Paul Abbott, HELLYEAH drummer] passed. And [HELLYEAH] did the 'Celebration Of Life' tours after he passed, which, honestly, we did those way too early. We were still fucking all mourning, and we did it 'cause we wanted to pay tribute to him. And those tours really kind of fucked us up as a band, 'cause we were all just still mourning and grieving. Needless to say, when we were on stage, they were fun. And we had Roy Mayorga fucking playing drums for us, which he absolutely crushed it and did just such a great job.

"But coming back, there's a little bit of that in revisiting these songs, there's a little bit of, like… There's some remembering penning them, there's some remembering recording them and stuff, but there's a lot of remembering playing them with Vince," Chad continued. "There's some memory of me playing without Vince. It's kind of a big fucking ball of emotions when I [revisit] those [songs]. And that's part of the reason I'm doing it, man. This is an exercise in autonomy. I'm taking ownership of my own independence, my own career, celebrating 30 fucking years… 1996 is when I started this shit, and celebrating 30 years of me doing this with 12 albums, six with each band. And it's been cool, but it's been difficult. But I'm excited about it, man. I wanna pay homage to Vin. I want to keep his legacy alive. You put those songs away and you put that part of his life away and you're putting him away. Bringing these songs back out and playing them and servicing such a large number of fans that have just been — HELLYEAH's been removed from their life — it's really cool too. But a big part of this is to celebrate my own independence and doing what I've done in 30 years. Part of it is paying it forward to Vinnie, paying homage to Vinnie, keeping his legacy alive. Part of it is servicing the HELLYEAH fans. I mean, we ground that motherfucker for 12 years. We built HELLYEAH from nothing. Just fucking five dudes that jumped in a garage — Dime's [late PANTERA guitarist 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott] garage, where they did '[The Great Southern] Trendkill', they did 'Reinventing The Steel' in that, they did the DAMAGEPLAN record in there. It was their own personal studio that was on Dime's property in his garage. So, that's what it was. It was just us showing up and walking in the room with no relationship. I didn't have any kind of relationship with Vinnie. I'd met him one time."

As for how the idea for his solo gigs came about, Chad said:  "Since we brought [MUDVAYNE] back in '21, we've done it once a year for the last four years. And it's just, like, management, everybody's just, like, 'We should probably give it a break. We should probably just take 2026 off.' And I'm just, like, I'm 54 fucking years old. I'm not taking a year off. That's like me putting my happiness in a cage for a year. That's where I shine. I love to service my fans. I love to fucking help however I can and give back. And just sitting around my fucking house with my thumb in my ass, doing fucking projects and shit, it's not the way I'm wired, man. I wanna work. I'm a worker bee."

Gray continued: "I was writing, recording or touring nonstop in one band or another for 20 fucking years. And Vinnie passed. It took a little bit [of time to get back into it]. I came back to the MUDVAYNE table, put that back together. And then we did it. And then we were off 46 weeks. And then we did it, and then we were off 46 weeks. And the old days of like writing, recording, touring, writing, recording, touring, which is what I loved, that was out the fucking window. So even though I'm going out once a year for six weeks or seven weeks or whatever, I'm just sitting around the fucking house all the time. So the whole idea of this, honestly, was when we said we were gonna take the year off, and it's just, like, I don't wanna do that."

Gray will launch the "30 Years Of Madness" tour dates on April 24 at the Fremont Country Club in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Backing Gray at the "30 Years Of Madness" shows will be HELLYEAH guitarist Christian Brady and MUDVAYNE touring guitarist Marcus Raffety, among other musicians.

Vinnie Paul recorded a total of six albums with HELLYEAH over a decade, including its latest, "Welcome Home", for which he laid down his drum tracks before his passing.

STONE SOUR drummer Roy Mayorga stepped in as Vinnie Paul's replacement for the touring activity in support of "Welcome Home", which came out in September 2019.

Mayorga previously played with HELLYEAH bassist Kyle Sanders in MEDICATION, the early 2000s outfit which also featured guitarist Logan Mader (MACHINE HEAD) and singer Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE).

MUDVAYNE guitarist Greg Tribbett sat out the band's summer/fall 2025 "L.D. 50 25th Anniversary" tour after his wife reportedly lost her year-and-a-half-long battle with cancer.

The "L.D. 50 25th Anniversary" tour kicked off on September 11, 2025 in Dubuque, Iowa and concluded on October 26, 2025 in Uncasville, Connecticut.

In 2024, Greg sat out the remaining shows on MUDVAYNE's "Destroy All Enemies" tour with MEGADETH due to what at the time was described as a "family issue". Filling in for him was Rafferty, who has served as a guitar tech for several metal bands over the years, including LAMB OF GOD and HATEBREED. He also worked for HELLYEAH, which originally featured both Tribbett and Gray.

"Sticks And Stones" and "Hurt People Hurt People" were released through Alchemy Recordings, a record label created in partnership between Dino Paredes, former American Recordings vice president of A&R, and Danny Wimmer, the founder of Danny Wimmer Presents, the premier production company for rock music festivals in the United States. Other Alchemy artists include STAIND and CHEVELLE.

Prior to the arrival of "Hurt People Hurt People", the reunited metallers hadn't put out any new material since 2009, which means more than a decade and a half had gone by without a single fresh MUDVAYNE song.

MUDVAYNE formed in 1996 and has sold over six million records worldwide, earning gold certification for three albums ("L.D. 50", "The End Of All Things To Come", "Lost And Found"). The band is known for its sonic experimentation, innovative album art, face and body paint, masks and uniforms.