King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and his wife, Toyah Willcox, have served up a performance of the Foo Fighters hit, "Everlong" for Sunday Lunch.





Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) recently announced the Chris Shiflett Cleaver Telecaster® Deluxe, the new American-made signature model from Chris Shiflett - lead guitarist for the Foo Fighters, solo artist, and host of the podcast, Shred With Shifty.




Night after night, Shiflett carves his way through a full brigade of guitar tones on the biggest, loudest stages in the world, and this tour-tested guitar is named "The Cleaver" for a reason - it positively slashes through the mix with a voice that snarls dirty as well as it sings clean. Previously available only as a Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt Artist offering, the new Chris Shiflett Cleaver Telecaster® Deluxe is a stripped-down rock machine built for high-octane live performance.





With more than 25 years in the music industry, Chris Shiflett is a true punk rock veteran and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer. As a pivotal member of the Foo Fighters, Shiflett has played a crucial role in shaping modern rock, contributing to highly praised albums like One by One, Wasting Light, and Concrete and Gold, while earning multiple Grammy Awards along the way. His musical journey also includes stints with prominent California punk bands like No Use For a Name and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, alongside his Country Rock solo work. Known for his love of Fender Telecaster® guitars, particularly his cherished 1972 Tele® Deluxe, Shiflett is a versatile artist, whether making records and touring the world with Foo Fighters or exploring a range of musical directions with his solo band.


“We put a lot of love and research into creating the American made version of my signature model, The Cleaver,” said Shiflett on his new Signature guitar. “It’s been road-tested, dropped on its head, kicked around, x-rayed, strummed, chicken-picked, and arpeggio swept! I’m excited to announce we’ve made a great guitar that's adaptable to all situations. Can’t wait to get this into the hands of players everywhere!"


Available in Dakota Red or Charcoal Frost Metallic finishes, the Chris Shiflett Cleaver Telecaster® Deluxe’s resonant alder body lays the perfect foundation for bone-rattling, stadium-ready tones. Dressed up in a nitrocellulose lacquer finish, this alder body also has a "belly cut” for superior comfort during the longest sets. Built for speed, the 25.5” scale maple neck features a 12” radius rosewood fingerboard with 21 medium jumbo frets for fiery leads and silky bends. Pearloid block inlays add a touch of unexpected class, whilst two Custom Chris Shiflett "Cleaver" Noiseless™ CS-90 pickups pair powerful output with the throaty midrange punch and singing highs of a vintage single coil, all without hum. The "F"-s

In a new interview with DJ Ramo (a.k.a. Omar Rodriguez) of The Metal Mixtape, GOD FORBID frontman Byron Davis was asked if there have been any conversations between him and his bandmates about new music. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We've had an initial conversation like that. And I'm trying to bring back those conversations.

"We all live separate lives," he explained. "Two members have full functioning families, so if we're gonna do something, it has to make sense. Unfortunately, we're not at a stage where we have a stockpile of money to make these things happen, so we have to be fiscally responsible every time we decide to do this, to see if it financially makes sense to do it. It's not like a band that dissolved and everybody still lives in the same area. We're scattered across the U.S. now. So all that comes into play.

"As long as people really want to come see us, I'm more than happy to get out there, but it has to make sense. Because I'm not gonna jeopardize the future of my personal [life] that I had to rebuild. And I don't expect anyone or know that anyone else in the band to do the same for themselves. We have to be smart about it, and it needs to make sense.

"I think that until we get new music, anything more is just playing… It's not really playing ourselves out. It's just… Dude, I want new music," Byron added. "The dudes in the band want new music. I'd rather spend the time writing music than playing shows at this point, to be honest. I wanna get out there and have something new. Yeah, we have a couple of B-sides that no one's ever heard, but I wanna have new current music. So, we'll see what happens. Everyone has schedules. And then GOD FORBID is not one of those bands that just throws anything together. When we write, we take our time and we write. Luckily for us, everyone in our band is about integrity, so they're not just gonna throw out some slop. So, it's gonna have to go through the gauntlet a couple of times before parts get cemented as the parts. And then from there, then we'll put it together, run some demos. I already started speaking to my man that produced a lot of the material that we did, on the vocal tip. So when we do some material, it's gonna be a record worthy of being called a GOD FORBID record; it's not just gonna be thrown together. So if it takes a little bit longer, it's worth it. Nah, man, we can't be coming in with that bullshit. We've gotta stamp it with the GOD FORBID. It can't be less than; it's gotta be greater than. We've got a we got a back catalog that stands the test of time, and the new shit needs to stand the test of time as well. So that's how we go into the writing process."

GOD FORBID, a New Jersey-based band which helped pioneer the metalcore and New Wave Of American Heavy Metal sound in the late '90s and early '00s along with acts like LAMB OF GOD, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and SHADOWS FALL, broke up in 2013. The band reunited in 2022 for the Blue Ridge Rock Festival in Virginia.

GOD FORBID performed more reunion shows in December 2024 celebrating the 20th anniversary of the band's breakout album, "Gone Forever".

GOD FORBID's performance at the Blue Ridge Rock Festival in September 2022 at the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia marked the band's first live appearance in over nine years.

GOD FORBID's lineup for its recent concerts has included Doc Coyle (guitar),Byron Davis (vocals),Corey Pierce (drums) and John "Beeker" Outcalt (bass),along with Nick Hipa (guitar; ex-AS I LAY DYING),who joined the group in July 2022.

GOD FORBID officially called it quits in August 2013 following Doc's departure.

GOD FORBID's latest album, "Equilibrium", was released in March 2012 via Victory Records. The bulk of the CD was recorded by Mark Lewis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, TRIVIUM),with Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER) stepping in during the the vocal-tracking stage. The effort was mixed by acclaimed Swedish producer Jens Bogren, who previously worked with such acts as KATATONIA, OPETH, PARADISE LOST and AMON AMARTH.

"Equilibrium" sold 3,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 156 on The Billboard 200 chart. The effort landed at No. 7 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

Photo courtesy of Headbangers Boat

The great tragedy of self-consciousness, that terrible and wonderful spark that makes us uniquely human, is the knowledge of our own mortality. That knowledge that one day, everything we have done, everything we are, and everything we love will succumb to the inevitable fading into nonexistence is a curse and our blessing.


"Fade To Blue," the title track from Bastion Rose's debut EP, captures the essence of resilience and transformation. Produced by three-time Grammy award-winning producer David Bottrill (Tool, Muse, Godsmack) and mastered by Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Dream Theater), this song is a journey through raw emotion, blending powerful rock riffs, soulful vocals, and intricate melodies.


The video visually reflects the song’s themes of loss, renewal, and self-discovery, mirroring the poignant and personal experiences that shaped the track.




"Fade To Blue" is more than a song—it's an anthem for anyone who has faced life's hardships and emerged stronger. Let the sound and imagery pull you in and leave you inspired.


Watch the official video for "Fade To Blue" below:





Bastion Rose's story is nothing short of extraordinary, a testament to the resilience and creative fire that fuels their music. In just two years, frontman Austin Frink has transformed from a musician battling the uncertainty of ever regaining his singing voice after a life-altering surgery into the driving force behind Bastion Rose. The band's name itself embodies the transient nature of existence and the significance of cherishing every moment. Their debut EP, Fade To Blue, is a testament to their unwavering spirit and artistic passion.

On August 10, 2024, Canadian melodic metal legends, Unleash The Archers, stormed the stage at the Bloodstock Open Air Festival, delivering a breathtaking performance that left the crowd roaring for more. Known for their unique fusion of power metal, melodic death metal, and progressive influences, this band continues to push boundaries and redefine the genre.


One of the standout moments from the set was their explosive rendition of "Ghosts In The Mist". This song perfectly encapsulates the band’s ability to weave haunting melodies with thunderous rhythms and Brittney Slayes' unparalleled vocal range. Whether you're a seasoned fan or just discovering their music, this track is sure to resonate with you.


Watch pro-shot video of the band's performance of "Ghosts In The Mist" below:







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


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

Rock Duck Radio producer Mark Christopher Garrett has shared a Wake Of Magellan, Special Edition Tribute to Paul O'Neill via YouTube. Check it out below.


"This Savatage Wake of Magellan Special Edition features a behind-the-scenes Making Of featurette with the band, producers and sound engineers to take you deep into the process. This Savatage Special Edition also features the full album with animated cover art. And to wrap it all up, we have some great Savatage Wake Of Magellan live performances. This is a tribute to the great musical visionary storyteller, Paul O'Neill." 


Making of Featurette:
- On the streets with Johnny Lee Middleton and Chris Caffery
- Paul O'Neill
- In the studio with Jon Oliva and David Whitman




Savatage - Wake of Magellan 
"The Ocean"
"Welcome" 
"Turns To Me"
"Morning Sun"
"Another Way"
"Blackjack Guillotine"
"Paragons Of Innocence"
"Complaint In The System"
"Underture"
"The Wake Of Magellan"
"Anymore"
"The Storm"
"The Hourglass"


Bonus Audio Tracks:
"Somewhere In Time / Alone You Breathe"
"Sleep"
"Stay"


Live Bonus Video Tracks:
"The Ocean"
"Welcome"
"Turns To Me"
"Morning Sun"
"The Wake Of Magellan"





The legendary Savatage (Johnny Lee Middleton - bass, Chris Caffery - guitars, Al Pitrelli - guitars, Jeff Plate - drums, and Zak Stevens - vocals) have announced tour dates across Europe for summer 2025, with a mix of festival appearances and headline shows.


Says Zak Stevens: "As you can imagine, there are so many special things about these shows that are racing through my mind. We get to play a series of headline shows for the first time in over twenty years that will put us right back in front of all of the unbelievable fans who have given us so many unforgettable memories over the last three decades. Here’s our chance to directly give back to everyone who’s been there supporting us all these years! All the great festival shows are going to be off-the-charts amazing. It’s even hard to imagine the scale of excitement that’s going to take place with those shows."


Savatage mastermind Jon Oliva expressed his disappointment at not being able to join the band for the shows, but shared his excitement, stating: "I am very excited for the guys to be doing some

In a new interview with "Reckless" Rexx Ruger of Pod Scum, Mick Sweda spoke about THE ROCKETT MAFIA, his new band featuring POISON's Rikki Rockett on drums, Brandon Gibbs (DEVIL CITY ANGELS) on vocals and guitar, and Bryan Kimes on bass and backing vocals. Asked if THE ROCKETT MAFIA's initial live performances will see the quartet performing cover songs or originals, Mick, who previously played with the BULLETBOYS, said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, we're starting out with covers. We're kind of leaning toward a '70s sort of vibe, things that that [Rikki] and I grew up with. But we're making sure there are songs that we love and are passionate about. And we've got some shows booked — I think we're playing the Whisky [A Go Go] in February of this year here in L.A., and we've got some fly-outs coming after that."

He continued: "But, yeah, it's real fun. We're having a great time with it. The singer Brandon is coming in today, so we're actually gonna really kind of hone in on how this is gonna be. But it's energetic, and we're putting our little imprint on the songs, which is something that I would insist on in any circumstance. So I think it's gonna be a lot of fun. And that's kind of what we wanna do — we just wanna keep it high energy and entertaining and fun and live."

Rockett and Gibbs played their first show as THE ROCKETT MAFIA in May 2024 at the end of The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride motorcycle charity event in Santa Monica, California. They were joined at the gig by guitarist Brent Woods (SEBASTIAN BACH, CHEVY METAL) and bassist Wiley Hodgden.

Rockett and Gibbs previously played together in a band called DEVIL CITY ANGELS, also featuring guitarist Tracii Guns (L.A. GUNS) and bassist Eric Brittingham (CINDERELLA). The band released its self-titled debut album in September 2015. Following the recording of "Devil City Angels", Brittingham decided not to continue with the project and his spot was taken by Rudy Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, OZZY OSBOURNE, WHITESNAKE). Around a year later, Rockett, Gibbs and Brittingham joined forces with guitarist Joel Kosche (ex-COLLECTIVE SOUL) to form the LORDS OF DEVIL CITY. Within a few months, Rockett, Gibbs and Brittingham relaunched DEVIL CITY ANGELS, only for Eric to exit the project in the summer of 2017 and be replaced by Topher Nelson. In July 2020, DEVIL CITY ANGELS released a new single, "Testify".

When Rockett and Gibbs first jammed together four months ago in preparation for their appearance at the The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride, Rikki wrote on social media: "Last night Brandon and I jammed for the first time in very long time in order to grease the wheels for the show. We rolled through some cover tunes, but when we chomped on a some DEVIL CITY ANGELS tunes we both felt some serious passion come back.

"If you don't know, we put the DEVIL CITY ANGELS together several years back and made what I think is a very good record. Tracii Guns along with Eric Brittingham, Brandon and I, as DEVIL CITY ANGELS, made our way across the country playing shows in a single tour bus and trailer, old school. The steamroller was going well until I got cancer. Then Tracii got asked back into L.A. GUNS, etc, etc. Bottom line, the band sidelined and only ever did a couple more corporate gigs. With the exception of 'The Stadium Tour' and a few sit-ins with CHEVY METAL, I have pretty much stayed away from live performances with other artists. I pretty much have always put my heart and soul into everything I do and I had a passion for the DEVIL CITY ANGELS project.

"This is] not the DEVIL CITY ANGELS and it's not CHEVY METAL, this is THE ROCKETT MAFIA, a jam combo that I may put together from time to time to enjoy my love of Rock 'N' Roll with some of my besties in the rock world."

In early 2019, Gibbs and Rockett were embroiled in a public war of words after Gibbs indicated he was no longer involved with DEVIL CITY ANGELS due to the fact that the band was "inactive." Rikki responded that DEVIL CITY ANGELS "went inactive" because he was diagnosed with cancer and suggested possibly moving on without Brandon. This prompted Gibbs to fire back that he had "never seen someone complain about money, perception and 1st class tickets" as much as Rockett allegedly did, "to the point where it gets in the way of doing anything." The two have since resolved their differences.

Back in 2015, Rockett told Sleaze Roxx about Gibbs: "The thing about Brandon is that he's a young guy but he sounds like he's from the '70s. That's what is so appealing for guys like us. That's the reason that I really wanted Brandon involved with us. Brandon doesn't have any baggage, which is good and he has a lot of experience. He's got a great pedigree."

In 2015, Rockett and Gibbs joined forces with Rikki's POISON bandmates Bobby Dall (bass) and C.C. DeVille (guitar) to play several shows as THE SPECIAL GUESTS in what was widely perceived as a not-so-subtle message to POISON singer Bret Michaels that they weren't willing to remain completely inactive while he pursued a solo career.

Rikki's memoir, "Ghost Notes", will be released on July 15, 2025 via Rare Bird Books. The book was written with writer duo Leif Eriksson and Martin Svensson.

Finnish melodic metal band Unén have shared their new single and accompanying visualizer video, “Sky”, out now via Frontiers Music Srl.


Lead singer Stina Girs comments on the track: “A dream of a secret door leading to a world where no one judges, there is no concept of time, you can be everything you want and fantasies are real. You dare to let go of reality. This is all what Sky is about.”







Hailing from Helsinki, Finland, Unén are a modern melodic metal band, whose music also incorporates elements ranging from progressive to pop, blending intensity with sensitivity in its sound.


Unén was originally founded in late 2021, laying the foundation for the band's musical style. In 2022, Unén focused on composing and refining production independently, resulting in the release of two self-published tracks. However, after a rollercoaster year, there was a need to change the lineup to accelerate production.


The word "Unén" was derived from the band's original idea that lyrics would be based on the world of dreams. However, due to lineup changes, this concept took a different direction, but the name remained.


In the beginning of 2023, there was a shift in Unén's lineup due to the change of lead singer, which notably accelerated all activities. The band members coming together was a series of fortunate coincidences and determined searches, including encounters with old acquaintances. The right people had found each other.


Unén released their first single "Made of Stone (cover)" in May 2023 with the new lead singer, Stina Girs. She became known during the IDOLS competition in 2011 and subsequently released two albums as a solo artist. The original song by Evanescence inspired

Dutch singer / songwriter Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering) has checked in with the following update:


"Hi friends! How’s your new year been so far? I’ve taken a little breather, but now I’m back at it, full speed ahead, preparing for my upcoming shows and projects.


The band and I have been working hard in the studio on music for the new EP, and I can’t wait to share it with you. We’ll be playing the new songs during our Dutch shows in March and April. By the way, tickets are selling fast - De Pul, Uden is already sold out!




Tickets are available

On January 11th, Canadian bashers Kittie celebrated the 25th anniversary of their debut album, Spit. They shared the following message and a video from vocalist / guitarist / co-founder, Morgan Lander.


"Today marks the 25th anniversary of the official release of ‘Spit’. What a huge milestone. We had no idea of the impact the album would have on us and others, and as soon as it was released our young lives were forever changed. There’s a few exciting things we have coming up this year in relation to that so stay tuned!"


Kittie initially released Spit via NG Records on November 13, 1999. However, shortly after, NG Records was purchased by Artemis Records and production was halted. The label reissued Spit with different artwork and photographs on January 11, 2000. It is Kittie's most successful album, being certified Gold by the RIAA.









 

 
 

 


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Kittie made a triumphant return in June 2024 with their first album in over 10 years, Fire. Fan-filmed video of their entire show at the Factory in Dallas, TX can be viewed below.


Setlist


"Fire"
"I've Failed You"
"Cut Throat"
"No Name"
"Spit"
"What I Always Wanted"
"Sorrow I Know"
"Look So Pretty"
"Ugly"
"We Are Shadows"
"Into the Darkness"
"Eyes Wide Open"
"Severed"
"Funeral for Yesterday"
"In Winter"
"Vultures"
"Charlotte"
"Mouthful of Poison"
"Brackish"
"We Are the Lamb"
"One Foot in the Grave"
"Do You Think I'm a Whore?"





Kittie released their new album, Fire, on June 21 via Sumerian Records. Pick it up Fire here.





Fire tracklisting:


"Fire"
"I Still Wear This Crown"
"Falter"
"Vultures"
"We Are Shadows"
"Wound"
"One Foot I

In a recent interview with UpAndComingTV's "The UACast", former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson was asked to name the  main lessons that he has learned as part of his personal development throughout everything that he has done. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, I think the first thing is try to just be joyful in what you're doing. It's a gift, and we've all got different gifts. Even in a band, there's different gifts. Bass player, don't try to be the drummer. Just stay in your lane. That's one thing. And I think the other thing is if you're a good number one, hire a number two and a three who are better than you. And don't be afraid to get people around you who are better than you, because they will only raise you up. As they say, when the water rises, all boats rise. So, for me, I like to work with the best people I possibly can. And I don't go for the name factor as much as just the best possible people. And some people, just 'cause they haven't had a lucky break to the big time doesn't mean they're not perfectly qualified. And we all get trained and we learn as we go through the process. And so, look, there's nothing replaces experience."

Ellefson continued: "And just try to be grateful — just try to be thankful. Maybe it's 'cause I'm getting a little older now — I don't know — but I've had that mentality the whole time. It's, like, man, we get to play music. I remember one time I had kind of a spirit advisor, sponsor friend of mine, and I was, like, 'Oh, man, I've gotta go to Japan.' He goes, 'Wait, wait, wait. You get to go to Japan.' As he went to his office and worked, I went, 'God, you know what? You're right. I should probably shut up about that.' And it's like, don't make this out like this is some laborious task. 'Oh, I can't believe I have to go to South America again.' It's, like, you get to go play your songs for people all around the world. And it doesn't negate that travel's hard and there's just human things that beat on you a little bit, just the time changes and stuff. But you know what? It's all just a gift, man. And we're not here very long. I've been coming up on 60 years now, and it seems like I was 30 just a couple of weeks ago. I mean, in my heart I still am; I'm still the same guy. But the truth of it is… I was at a museum the other day and it was giving statistics of people. And one of the last statistics is 100 percent of all people die. 100 percent! It's not, like, 'Well, if you do this, you can survive.' No, 100 percent, all die."

Naming another thing he has learned over the years, Ellefson added: "This is a lesson for me, 'cause I don't do it all the time. Travel light — just carry a light load. And I overpack always and I carry too many creature comforts with me. So it's a good lesson for me to just remember that you don't need to have that shit over there. Just travel light, man. And that's really kind of more of just a mindset. Just kind of be ready to go. If the phone rings, go. Keep the bass tuned. Keep your body in good shape. When it comes, go, man."

Ellefson went on to say that it's important for him to pursue projects that he genuinely enjoys rather than involve himself in things just for the sake of making money.

"I had a friend. I asked him, 'Man, should I or shouldn't I,' whatever the thing was," he recalled. "And he asked me, he goes, 'Well, is there money involved? I said, 'Yeah.' He goes, 'Well, first of all, I always take the money out of it. If there's no money involved, would I still go do it?' I said, 'Of course I would.' He goes, 'Then there's your answer.' He goes, 'Don't make it about the money. Just make it about going.' 'Cause every time I've — and I've only done it a couple of times when I've played… You do a gig or something and somebody dangles, 'Oh, there's a lot of money.' And every time I've done it just for the money, there was never enough money. It was always unenjoyable and there was always something behind it that I didn't like about it. So I'd rather just kind of go and do it. Even when I went back to MEGADETH, I was like, 'You know what? Be willing to do this for free. Would you do this for free?' And I was, like, 'You know what? I would.' Now, they paid me, but still — it wasn't about that. It wasn't about a paycheck. It was just about, 'I kind of wanna go back out and play 'Rust In Peace' again. That'd be a lot of fun. That'd be a good time.' And that's how I just tried to always approach that gig."

Last month, Ellefson unveiled a year-end holiday treat in the form of a fresh and dynamic rendition of the 1980s classic "Ah! Leah!" by legendary singer-songwriter Donnie Iris. The track features an impressive lineup, including vocalists Chip Z'nuff (ENUFF Z'NUFF) and Stephen Shareaux (KIK TRACEE),along with Drew Fortier (THE LUCID) on guitar and Paolo Caridi on drums.

This updated version of the radio rock favorite is now available on all digital platforms.

Ellefson was fired from MEGADETH by Dave Mustaine in May 2021, just days after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the bassist were posted on Twitter.

In 2004, Ellefson filed an $18.5-million lawsuit against Mustaine, alleging the frontman shortchanged him on profits and backed out of a deal to turn Megadeth Inc. over to him when the band broke up in 2002. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed and Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH in 2010.

Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, and again from 2010 until his latest exit.

Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith's wife, Nathalie Dufresne Smith. has revealed via social median that they have lost their home to the wildfires that have decimated parts of Los Angeles. She has posted  a video via Instagram of the family's evacuation from their home, followed by a second post with the message "We are safe. We have each other. We will start again." 


California is currently battling devastating wildfires, with the Pacific Palisades fire being among the most destructive in Los Angeles’ history. Fueled by fierce Santa Ana winds, the fires have destroyed over 12,000 structures, caused at least two fatalities, and forced tens of thousands to evacuate.




 

 
 

 


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AEROSMITH bassist Tom Hamilton has once again said that he doesn't know what the future holds for him and his bandmates after they announced that they were officially retiring from touring due to Steven Tyler's vocal injury.

The legendary Massachusetts rockers made the announcement on August 2, 2024 — nearly one year after the now-76-year-old singer fractured his larynx during a September 2023 show.

In a new interview with WBUR, Hamilton was asked if he thinks AEROSMITH will ever make it back to the concert stage. He responded: "Steven's healing process is going really, really well, but it goes at its own pace. Maybe AEROSMITH will do something in the future, but it's a big 'if', and the last thing I want to be doing is to try and push Steven in that direction. If we do anything in the future, it would come from him."

Last August, Hamilton was asked by AARP how much hope AEROSMITH has of future activities on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being "doubtful we'll do anything" and 10 being "Yes, we'll be doing something". The AEROSMITH bassist said: "On the hope scale, I'm somewhere between 7 and 9. We won't be doing any tours from now on, but I'll always have hope that other types of opportunities will come along. This isn't the first time black clouds have been on our horizon — and somehow the sun managed to come out. Time and hope are all we have at the moment."

But when asked about the possibility of AEROSMITH doing more Las Vegas residencies, Hamilton said that although he loved the band's time in Sin City, "I have doubts that there are any more in the future." He also seemingly poured cold water on the idea that AEROSMITH could record a new album, saying "so far there hasn't been any talk" about going back into the studio, 12 years after AEROSMITH released its last LP, "Music From Another Dimension!"

Despite the fact that AEROSMITH will never tour again, Hamilton said that he holds out hope he and his bandmates can keep AEROSMITH alive.

"Steven has a way of powering through challenges like this one," Tom said. "He's done it before. You never know. We won't be touring, but there are a lot of other ways to be and do AEROSMITH."

Earlier in August, Hamilton told Charlie Kendall's Metalshop about AEROSMITH's decision to retire from touring: "First let me start by clearing up some information on Steven's injury. We were playing the third show of our 'Peace Out' tour [in] September [2023]. During the third song of the set Steven had a fall that resulted in a fracture to his larynx. Somehow he finished the show. Don't ask me how. It's a testament to his strength and desire to give the people what they came for. It wasn't a case of him blowing his throat out by doing something wrong. He has been healing well and working his ass off to get ready to go back out on the road but it just wasn't possible. We don't know what the future holds but it won't include touring."

Asked how much of the decision to retire from touring was made by the management as opposed to the bandmembers themselves, Tom said: "The decision was made by the team which includes the band and our dedicated management."

Hamilton went on to say that AEROSMITH's "magnificent crew and everyone who works for the band were informed" of the band's decision "within a day or two."

Tom also shot down the possibility of AEROSMITH carrying on with another singer, as there had been talk about doing a decade and a half ago when AEROSMITH fell out with Tyler after a canceled tour and Steven's stated intention to work for two years on a solo project. Tyler subsequently entered rehab for an addiction to painkillers.

"There's been no talk at all about going on the road with another singer," Hamilton stated. "I can't imagine it."

In AEROSMITH's original retirement announcement, the band wrote: "As you know, Steven's voice is an instrument like no other. He has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury. We've seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side. Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible.

"We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision - as a band of brothers - to retire from the touring stage," the statement continued. "We are grateful beyond words for everyone who was pumped to get on the road with us one last time."

The band also thanked its fans for their constant support.

"Thanks to you, our Blue Army, that spark caught flame and has been burning for over five decades," the statement read. "Some of you have been with us since the beginning and all of you are the reason we made rock 'n' roll history."

"It has been the honor of our lives to have our music become part of yours. In every club, on every massive tour and at moments grand and private you have given us a place in the soundtrack of your lives," the statement continued.

The "Peace Out" tour came to a halt after what turned out to be a final gig in Elmont, New York on September 9, 2023. That show came just three dates into the trek, which was supposed to last through February 2024. Tyler said in a statement at the time that the injury caused bleeding but that he hoped he and his AEROSMITH bandmates would be back on the road after postponing a few shows.

The rescheduled "Peace Out" tour was due to begin September 20, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with special guests THE BLACK CROWES.

Tyler released a solo LP in 2016.

As previously reported, Hamilton's new band CLOSE ENEMIES has signed with TLG|ROCK for management and label services. CLOSE ENEMIES debut single, "Sound Of A Train", will be released on January 17 and will be distributed through Virgin Music Group.

Joining the 72-year-old Hamilton in the new group his bass tech Trace Foster, who plays guitar in CLOSE ENEMIES alongside Peter Stroud, who has been playing with Sheryl Crow for 25 years. CLOSE ENEMIES' drummer is Tony Brock, who had a band called THE BABYS and then played with Rod Stewart for 12 years. Fronting CLOSE ENEMIES is Chasen Hampton, a performer from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with a strong background in the country music scene. CLOSE ENEMIES is also working with "a great lyricist" named Gary Stier.

CRADLE OF FILTH guitarist Marek "Ashok" Šmerda married the band's female vocalist and keyboardist Zoë M. Federoff on Thursday, January 9 in her hometown of Tucson, Arizona. Photos of the ceremony, as shared by various guests at the event, can be found below.

The 32-year-old Federoff, who joined CRADLE OF FILTH in 2022, thanked her "about-to-be husband" late last month in a year-end message on her Instagram. She wrote in part: "The greatest dream I have ever had is us. The greatest deeds I will do with my life won't take place on a stage. They'll take place building a home and family with you, cariño. What a world of strange beauty, insane humor, and great courage that you bring into being with me!"

In response to questions from fans about how they can send Marek and Zoë wedding gifts, the guitarist wrote in early December: "There's not really 'things' that we need. However, we do anticipate a lot of expenses coming up for my immigration and move to the USA and this has left us unsure if we can afford a honeymoon this coming year. If you are so inclined to give us a gift, we request you send it to our Honeyfund here! We much obliged for anything you can offer, even if it's just well wishes for our new life together."

When Federoff announced her engagement to the 49-year-old Šmerda a year ago, she wrote: "First of all, thank you all so much for your warm wishes and congratulations. Secondly, I truly wish I didn't feel the need to completely clear this up but there's a lot of strange rumors and stories floating around so, take note: I never knew Ashok before I joined COF. He had nothing to do with me coming on board. I have already written some material for the next COF album so clearly our engagement has nothing to do with my continued stay in this band.

"We have no plans to leave COF as we truly enjoy working together, not to mention working with several of our closest friends. Dani has been the greatest and most supportive leader possible when it comes to our engagement.

"We remain happily committed to his team in COF.

"Now please- stop speculating and spreading rumors and let's celebrate all the good things happening this year!"

Federoff is an American vocalist and songwriter from Tucson, Arizona, where she currently resides with her daughter. She began her formal training in classical vocals at the University Of Findlay in Ohio and additionally studied under NIGHTWISH vocalist Floor Jansen. She released her first two albums in 2013 and 2017 with gothic/power metal band INSATIA. Feeling restricted by the scope of the project, in 2017 she cofounded international symphonic metal band CATALYST CRIME with XANDRIA drummer Gerit Lamm, with a lineup including Jonah Weingarten of PYRAMAZE, Canadian guitarist Kaelen Sarakinis, American guitarist Chena Roxx, as well as the unexpected addition of her own father, Matt Federoff, on bass. Zoe credits her love of metal and live performance to her father and sees working with him professionally as one of the greatest achievements of her career.

In addition to her own bands, Zoë has guested as a vocalist for ATROCITY and THE VIVALDI METAL PROJECT. She has also written and edited lyrics for numerous bands, including SERENITY and CONFIDENTIAL. In her spare time, she enjoys being a hiker, book collector and political campaign professional. She is also an active advocate for public education, having been a classroom teacher and student mentor.

Born in Brno, Czech Republic, Šmerda has been the guitarist for CRADLE OF FILTH since early 2014 when he received the invitation to embark on a European tour with the band. Since then, he's become a full-time member, having toured all around the world with the group while simultaneously having put his hand and heart to the plough on the CRADLE OF FILTH releases "Hammer Of The Witches", "Cryptoriana - The Seductiveness Of Decay" and "Existence Is Futile". All these albums were critically acclaimed by critics and fans and quickly became milestones.

For the last 20-plus years, Ashok gained a lot of experience both in studio sessions and live performances with various bands (ROOT, EQUIRHODONT, INNER FEAR, TITANIC, among others) and other musical projects which have allowed him to develop his playing style, tone, and songwriting.

Posted by Jorge Dietter on Friday, January 10, 2025

Huge congratulations to the bride and groom Zoe Marie Federoff and Marek Ashok Smerda! What an amazing week and a...

Posted by Jonah Weingarten on Friday, January 10, 2025

A truly heartfelt congratulations to these amazing newly weds Zoë Marie Federoff and Marek Šmerda
😍
I wish you a long,...

Posted by Veronique Meeuwsen on Friday, January 10, 2025

Tux fitting! Always a sweet part of the anticipation of the event.

Posted by Matt Federoff on Tuesday, January 7, 2025

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RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's classic track "Killing In The Name" has surpassed one billion streams on Spotify.

In celebration of the milestone, the band's guitarist Tom Morello took to his account on X to share the following message: "'KILLING IN THE NAME' just hit 1 billion streams on Spotify! Thanks to all those who listened to it: those who love it, those who hate it, and those that have enjoyed it without understanding it. Righteous proof that rebel music and irony are alive and well."

Last November, in the lead-up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Morello blasted some so-called RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE fans for misconstruing the progressive politics he and his bandmates have stood for since the band's formation more than three decades ago.

"Never ceases to amaze me how many folks who've heard RATM are in Paul Ryan mode, having literally ZERO understanding of anything that band was about and even less understanding where any of us might stand on contemporary issues," he wrote on X. "Recently was talking to a couple at a restaurant who were big fans of 'Killing In The Name'. The nice lady said, 'I love that song. It helped me rage against my parents and later against the jab!' I said, 'Ma'am that song is about racist cops who often behave like the Ku Klux Klan in service of historical white supremacy and are boot licking lackeys and thugs of the racist capitalist ruling class.' She sat there chewing and blinking, chewing and blinking."

When one X user questioned Morello about his response to the lady at the restaurant, the guitarist responded: "My brother. She can do anything she damn well pleases. She can cough covid into her MAGA grandpa's mouth for all I care. But if she presumes to tell a fella who was actually in the room when the song was written what the song is 'really' about then I reserve the right to raise my hand and say, 'no, ma'am.'"

Morello has repeatedly said that "Killing In The Name" is an anti-establishment protest song against systemic racism and brutality in the U.S. police forces, with the first verse opening with the line "some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses". Despite this, American interrogators used "Killing In The Name" to torture detainees at Guantánamo Bay detention camp, playing the song at full volume during sensory deprivation sessions.

In 2009, an online campaign to get "Killing In The Name" to top the U.K. Christmas charts ahead of recurring champions from the talent show "The X Factor" was successful, backed by Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney and THE PRODIGY. The campaign earned RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE a Guinness world record for the fastest-selling digital track in the U.K.: 502,672 downloads in one week.

Back in 2022, Morello went on his official Twitter account and shared: "People who are offended by my politics on Twitter or Instagram, please know it's because you weren't intelligent enough to know what the music that you were listening to all these years was about. For the music, you're welcome, but if you're a white supremacist or a proto-fascist, that music isn't written for you. It's written against you."
“KILLING IN THE NAME” just hit 1 billion streams on Spotify! Thanks to all those who listened to it: those who love it, those who hate it, and those that have enjoyed it without understanding it. Righteous proof that rebel music and irony are alive and well.

— Tom Morello (@tmorello) January 11, 2025


Never ceases to amaze me how many folks who’ve heard RATM are in Paul Ryan mode, having literally ZERO understanding of anything that band was about and even less understanding where any of us might stand on contemporary issues. Recently was talking to a couple at a restaurant…

— Tom Morello (@tmorello) November 3, 2024


My brother. She can do anything she damn well pleases. She can cough covid into her MAGA grandpa’s mouth for all I care. But if she presumes to tell a fella who was actually in the room when the song was written what the song is “really” about then I reserve the right to raise my… https://t.co/T76F0sCHS1

— Tom Morello (@tmorello) November 4, 2024

Swedish power metallers, Sabaton, have checked in with the following update; 


"Massive shout out to all the awesome people who have streamed 'Bismarck'! We’ve officially hit 100 million streams on Spotify, and we couldn’t be more thankful! We really enjoy playing this song and we’re happy that you guys love it too. Feel the power, and let’s keep the energy going!"


"Bismarck" is a stand-alone single, released on May 17th, 2019. Check out the official video below.







Sabaton recently announced The Legendary Tour 2025 with the following message:


"EUROPE ARE YOU READY?


"We are conquering 20 European cities in 2025 with a groundbreaking tour that will be bigger and better than anything we’ve ever embarked on. Get ready for The Legendary Tour 2025!


"We’ve put together a show unlike anything you’ve experienced. Throw traditional thinking out of the window and prepare yourself for more Sabaton than ever!


"This isn’t just another tour; it’s a huge celebration of our music, storytelling and the incredible bond we share with you, our fans.


"But wait… there’s a twist. We’re doing something we’ve never done before! Without revealing too much too soon, let’s just say that we’re planning to make history with the Legendary Orchestra! Along with that and other surprises, you’ll be in for an unprecedented experience, so trust us when we say you’re going to want to be there!


"Put your history books down, mark your calendars and set a reminder! Tickets for The Legendary Tour 2025 go on sale Friday, November 15 at 10 AM, local time (9 AM, UK local time). Below you will find our tour schedule. For more information and ticket purchase links visit our

With Helldorado, the third installment of Spiritworld’s death-western trifecta, chief hombre Stu Folsom and his rhinestone-encrusted, Stetson-wearin' wrecking crew take you deeper into a world where the hot desert sun beats down on a singular vision of the American West as a gateway to hell. 


“It’s a different album than the past two,” says Folsom of the thematic and sonic journey that began with the Las Vegas band’s 2020 Pagan Rhythms LP and continued with 2022’s Deathwestern.


From the honky-tonk swing of opener "Abilene Grime" to the Slayer-worthy riffing of "No Vacancy in Heaven" and the unforgettable "Oblivion" (which features members of Black Braid and Rise Against), Spiritworld's story rides on with this latest offering, blasting Mojave-born bloodlust and stomping tomahawk riffs while charging straight into a sonic vision of macabre Americana.




Helldorado is due out March 21 via Century Media. Preorder here.

During an appearance on the "Lipps Service With Scott Lipps" podcast, SLAYER's Kerry King was asked to name his "perfect" albums from some of his favorite artists. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "If I were to go with [JUDAS] PRIEST, it wouldn't be 'British Steel'; it would be 'Stained Class'. If I were to go with [BLACK] SABBATH, it would be 'Sabotage'. If I were to go with AC/DC, it would be 'Powerage'. [IRON] MAIDEN gets tough, 'cause it's a very different vibe between 'Killers' and 'The Number Of The Beast'. I'd probably have to go 'Number Of The Beast', because top to bottom, I think it's stronger than 'Killers', just because of the ballady-type tune on 'Killers'; I can't remember what it's called. That's a hard pick because 'Killers' is a great record. And I gotta give props to [METALLICA's] 'Master Of Puppets'. It's a great record."

Kerry and his solo band paid tribute to former IRON MAIDEN singer Paul Di'Anno by playing a cover of the MAIDEN classic "Killers" during their recent shows in Australia, including their performances at the Good Things festival. Speaking to the "Everblack" podcast about his decision to include "Killers" in his band's setlist, Kerry said: " [Australia] is the first place we played 'Killers'… And it's cool because even though my [debut solo] record's ['From Hell I Rise'] been out six, seven months, there's still a bunch of people that don't know it. A lot of people don't even know I have a record. So, when I made up this setlist, I'm, like, 'There's gonna be a ton of people that never heard 'Crucifixation' [a song from 'From Hell I Rise'], so why don't we give 'em something they know instead?' So that's how we decided to do 'Killers'. And when we do the headline [tour] in U.S. in January, we're gonna continue to play 'Killers' too."

Earlier this year, King was asked by Riff X's "Metal XS" if he had heard MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson's latest solo album, "The Mandrake Project". He responded: "[I] haven't heard Bruce's new album, but I have a friend who told me it's better than MAIDEN. [It] wouldn't surprise me. Nothing against MAIDEN, but their songs have gotten so long, man, I just can't be bothered with it. And my attention span isn't that much."

Kerry was seemingly referencing MAIDEN's latest two double-albums, 2015's "The Book Of Souls" and 2021's "Senjutsu", the former of which contains the song "Empire Of The Clouds" clocking in at 18 minutes, and three songs on "Senjutsu" running for over 10 minutes.

In a recent interview with Australia's Wall Of Sound, Kerry was asked which BLACK SABBATH album he would take with him if the planet was being blown up and we were all boarding a big spaceship and he was only allowed to take one SABBATH LP with him. He responded:  "I would take… It's easy and it's hard 'cause I'm a super [Ronnie James] Dio fan. But I would take [SABBATH's sixth studio album, 1975's] 'Sabotage'. Something about the vibe on that record. It's cool. I mean, they're all cool, but something about that one. Maybe 'Symptom Of The Universe'. I don't know. It's nonstop badassery."

Back in 2017, King picked "Sabotage" as one of his 10 favorite metal albums, telling Rolling Stone magazine: "'Sabotage' is just a very heavy record. There's so much good stuff on there. As I picked these records, I picked the ones I'm compelled to play if I'm working out or driving, and 'Sabotage' was my choice for BLACK SABBATH. It has 'Megalomania', 'Symptom Of The Universe', which has definitely got attitude, 'Hole In The Sky'. And it has the instrumental 'Supertzar'. I love that one. It grips me for some reason."

Also in 2017, King was asked by Phoenix New Times when the first time was that he heard JUDAS PRIEST or saw them perform. He responded: "First time I saw [them] would've been… 'Point Of Entry' tour, um ... I follow it chronologically by album. Not the dates of the album… but I think that was '80, maybe '81? When 'British Steel' came around, I was a little too young to go to it by myself. And that's why I found them on the radio. We didn't have the Internet, obviously, so the stuff I would've heard on the radio would've been 'Breaking The Law' or 'Living After Midnight', which are basically rock and roll songs. But you get 'British Steel', and you find 'Rapid Fire', then you do your backwards homework which you had to do for a lot of bands, and you find 'Hell Bent For Leather' (1978),'Sad Wings of Destiny' (1976),and all the original classic stuff, and you realize that there’s way more to this band than 'Living After Midnight'."

He continued: "Rob [Halford] is what I call a vocal ninja. The stuff he does in the '70s, '80s, even '90s, and even today, he can't hit the notes from his heyday, but he goes out and puts on a hell of a show. But the thing he does, the shrill crazy Rob Halford scream is I think what got me. It wasn't about wearing leather and chains, but, of course, PRIEST are idols of me, and I think you spend the early part of your career emulating your idols, and we were definitely guilty of that."

King recently told Rolling Stone that "Stained Class" is "the most complete JUDAS PRIEST album." He said: "I love the intro to 'Stained Class'. And Rob Halford is my favorite singer of all time, closely followed by Ronnie James Dio, closely followed by Bruce Dickinson. There's riffs on all of the early records, as well as a lot of the later ones, but it was on 'Stained Class' where they really found what the 'PRIEST sound' was gonna be. It kept evolving a little bit, but to me, it was more defined than 'Sin After Sin' and 'Sad Wings Of Destiny'. It seemed like it came together more. We'd covered ['Sin After Sin''s] 'Dissident Aggressor' because it was super heavy but very obscure. And after we did, a lot of people still thought it was our own song. But on this one, they had the two-guitar thing and it was a little more cleaned up, maybe how 'Reign In Blood' became SLAYER's sound of the future. We've sounded the same basically ever since."

King's debut solo album, "From Hell I Rise", was released in May via Reigning Phoenix Music.

Joining Kerry in his new band are Mark Osegueda (vocals; DEATH ANGEL),Phil Demmel (guitar; MACHINE HEAD, VIO-LENCE),Kyle Sanders (bass; HELLYEAH) and drummer Paul Bostaph (SLAYER, TESTAMENT, EXODUS).

Photo credit: Andrew Stuart

In a new interview with That Fuzzing Rock Show, vocalist Eric "AK" Knutson of veteran Arizona metallers FLOTSAM AND JETSAM was asked if he thinks NICKELBACK "gets a bad rap." He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yes and no. From what I understand — I really don't know any of the original story of why people hate them so much, but they started off pretty heavy, did the smart thing and went a little more commercial because that's where the damn money is. And from what I understand, [NICKELBACK frontman and main songwriter] Chad Kroeger's kind of a monster to deal with for almost anybody. And I think it was the hate for him that started the whole 'NICKELBACK's horrible' thing. But really, if you listen to their songs, they're brilliantly written. They fill arenas for years and years and years now. So it's really a musician thing. Musicians that have dealt with him, that have opened up for him or whatever, just hate his guts. I don't know why, but that's what I've heard. And that's where the whole 'if you're a musician, you have to hate NICKELBACK' thing came from, I think."

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM's latest album, "I Am The Weapon", is the band's fifth release since the return of guitarist Michael Gilbert, who is the only other member of the current FLOTSAM lineup, besides Knutson, to have played on the group's debut LP, 1986's "Doomsday For The Deceiver".

Knutson told the Arizona Republic in a 2021 interview that Gilbert's 2010 return to FLOTSAM AND JETSAM after a 13-year absence was a pivotal moment in the band's rebirth.

"Michael was always a big part of the writing team back in the day," Knutson said. "And when he left, I just kind of used the band as an excuse to go on vacation in Europe a couple times a year. I really wasn't that worried about what the songs sounded like. I was just like, 'Okay, let's put a record out so we can get out on tour again.' We weren't serious about it." When Gilbert returned, Eric said, "We decided to make another serious stab at it and we've just been going uphill ever since."

"I Am The Weapon" arrived on September 13, 2024 via AFM/Believe.

It's been 38 years since FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, formed in Phoenix, Arizona, released "Doomsday For The Deceiver", the only album to ever receive a 6K rating from the influential British magazine Kerrang! Bassist Jason Newsted would jump ship to METALLICA while the band released "No Place For Disgrace" in 1988. "Cuatro" (1992),"Drift" (1995),"High" (1997) and "My God" (2001) all still rank extremely high in heavy metal circles. But it was the first part of this unofficial trilogy in 2016's self-titled "Flotsam And Jetsam", followed by the crushing 2019 successor "The End Of Chaos" that a certain rejuvenation and reset was clearly felt.

Image credit: The Metal Scream

Guitarist C.J. Pierce of Texas heavy rockers DROWNING POOL has once again weighed in on the fact that PANTERA's surviving members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass) have united with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.

Anselmo and Brown, along with Wylde and Benante, are headlining a number of major festivals across South America, Asia, North America and Europe and staging some of their own headline concerts. They are also continuing to support METALLICA on a massive North American stadium tour.

According to Billboard, the lineup has been given a green light by the estates of the band's founders, drummer Vincent "Vinnie Paul" Abbott and guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, as well as Brown, who in 2021 said Wylde wouldn't tour with PANTERA if a reunion were to happen. It's unclear what changed his mind.

Pierce discussed his views on the PANTERA comeback in a recent interview with the Indie Power TV. Asked what PANTERA was like when DROWNING POOL and PANTERA shared the stage on May 6, 2023 at the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally in Panama City, Florida, C.J. said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Dude, it's so great, man. Zakk is killing it, man. Charlie's killing it. People, I guess, in the beginning were giving them flak about it, but, dude, it's epic. We were all friends. I [spent time] hanging with Dime and Vinnie and Zakk and Charlie. So, they're not gonna be mad about this. I knew Dime and Vinnie personally. So I'm just telling everybody right here, knowing them personally, I'm not pissed off about the fact that these guys that we're friends with keeping the legend going."

He continued: "[Zakk and Charlie are] never gonna play like that — nobody's gonna play like the genius, like the Abbott brothers — but the fact of the matter is I'm out there in the crowd after we played with fans my age and with their kids who have never seen PANTERA. So to see them see this metal show and the look on their face is amazing. So they're doing a great thing."

Pierce added: "To play with PANTERA always, it's, like, lucky us to do it. I hope we get to do more shows with them. Again, [they are] one of the biggest influences one of the best, man. And we do a tribute — last night we played the Whisky [in Hollywood], man. We threw [in a cover of PANTERA's] 'Cowboys From Hell'. We keep throwing that in the set, and a hats off to PANTERA as well because they're killing it, man. They're awesome. Go see 'em if you haven't seen the show… They're keeping it going, man. They're carrying the torch, keeping the music alive. I'm looking forward to hopefully rocking out with our brothers in PANTERA again soon. I know they're doing an awesome tour with METALLICA. So lucky them, man. That's epic, dude."

Pierce previously talked about PANTERA's comeback in a July 2023 interview with the "Brutally Delicious" podcast. He stated about sharing the stage with PANTERA at the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally: "PANTERA was great, man. I know people have said a lot of stuff about it. Rex and Phil, it's a reunion of those two guys coming together. Hats off to PANTERA and what it was about. Of course Dime and Vinnie were a big part of that [and were] personal friends. Actually, we toured together back in the early days with DROWNING POOL. And I've known Zakk forever and I've known Charlie forever. What better person to pick. And I was actually hanging out with Zakk."

Regarding Wylde's approach to performing parts originally written and recorded by Dimebag, Pierce said: "It's Zakk Wylde. Dime did Dime, and nobody's ever gonna play Dime like that… And we were talking about it, 'cause every now and then I'll get called up and go on stage and do some PANTERA covers. So I stay up on my chops. But him and I, Zakk and I were talking about certain things that Dime did. And we were, like, 'What the hell is he doing right here? Was he completely drunk or is he just a genius? Why would you do that?' And Zakk's, like, 'There's one or two things I'm not sure what he's doing. I'm just gonna play a solo.' I said, 'It's a guitar solo, man. Do your thing. You're doing it great.'"

C.J. also had strong words for all the detractors who have been posting negative comments online before even seeing the PANTERA show themselves.

"I don't know why you would [talk] shit [about it]," Pierce said. "'Cause the show was great, and you're keeping that music alive. And you're keeping what Dime and Vinnie brought to the stage. And they nailed it, to me. Phil sounded great; he never sounded better. And the show was amazing. They let us use a lot of their toys, so our show was amazing. [Charlie] is one of the best [drummers out there]. And they took time and they nailed it, man.

"Go see the show. Just go see it. You have to see it and you'll know when you're there. It's so great, dude. I hope they keep going with it."

While he was alive, Vinnie Paul had repeatedly dismissed talks of a PANTERA reunion, telling Germany's EMP Rock Invasion in 2014: "People are selfish, man. They want what they want; they don't care what you want. And it's unfortunate that people go, 'Oh, wow, man, they can get Zakk Wylde to jump up there on stage and it's PANTERA again.' No, it's not, you know. It's not that simple. If Eddie Van Halen was to get shot in the head four times next week, would everybody be going, 'Hey, man, Zakk, go play for VAN HALEN. Just call it VAN HALEN.' You see what I'm saying? I mean, it's really selfish for people to think that, and it's stupid. It's not right at all."

He continued: "They call it a reunion for a reason. It's called bringing the original members back to what it was. So there's a lot of these things that they call reunions that aren't really reunions. They've got one dude from the band floating around in them, you know. That's not a true reunion. With PANTERA, it'll never be possible."

He repeated those same sentiments a few months later, telling PlanetMosh in a separate interview: "Without Dimebag Darrell, there is no [PANTERA] reunion. And that's all there is to it. We were a very influential band, and we touched millions and millions of people with that band, but it's over. People really have to come to grips with that, and that's all there is to it. If all of us were still here, then the possibility would truly be there, but since it's not, you know… It's selfish of the fans to want something that they can't have. And they don't ever understand that, and I get it. There's things I want in this world too. You know, people in fucking hell want ice water, but they're not gonna get it."

Up until his passing in June 2018, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for Dimebag's death.

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

Dimebag's longtime girlfriend Rita Haney in 2011 called on Vinnie and Philip to settle their differences in honor of Dimebag.

Vinnie, who was Dimebag's brother, and Anselmo had not spoken since PANTERA split in 2003. But the relationship got even more acrimonious when Vinnie suggested that some remarks the vocalist had made about Dimebag in print just weeks earlier might have incited Dimebag's killer.

Haney told the producers of "Behind The Music Remastered: Pantera" that she forgave the singer after they found themselves unexpectedly face to face at a concert in California.

Grammy-nominated Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based five-piece AUGUST BURNS RED will release a special version of its seminal debut album "Thrill Seeker". The LP was re-recorded from the ground up by producers Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland. And fans have always wondered what the album might sound like with vocalist Jake Luhrs, who joined the band after the album's release. The ABR faithful gets it wish with this version.

The new edition of "Thrill Seeker" features several additional sonic treats, including guest appearances by KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's Adam Dutkiewicz, the original producer of "Thrill Seeker", on "Speech Impediment", and by original "Thrill Seeker" vocalist Josh McManness on "Barbarian". It will also feature the rare bonus track "Pride & Humility", which was also re-recorded.

The anniversary version will come in three vinyl variants, along with exclusive new merch, which is available here.

The 20th-anniversary edition of "Thrill Seeker" will be independently released via the band's own ABR Records on January 24.

Today, ABR has shared the lyric video for "Your Little Suburbia Is In Ruins". Watch it below.

"When I joined the band in early 2006, I often spoke about how I'd love to do vocals on a studio recording of 'Thrill Seeker'," says Luhrs. "I did the majority of the touring on the album and always felt a deep connection to it. As the 20-year anniversary of the album approached, we decided to finally give 'Thrill Seeker' a facelift. It was such a rewarding experience to dust these songs off and give them new life. This album changed the course of my life and I can't wait for fans to hear this."

"Thrill Seeker" 20th-anniversary edition track listing:

01. Your Little Suburbia Is In Ruins
02. Speech Impediment (feat. Adam Dutkiewicz)
03. Endorphins
04. Too Late For Roses
05. Barbarian (feat. Josh McManness)
06. The Reflective Property
07. A Wish Full Of Dreams
08. Consumer
09. A Shot Below The Belt
10. Eve Of The End
11. The Seventh Trumpet
12. Pride & Humility (bonus track)

In a recent interview with "The Chuck Shute Podcast", former LYNCH MOB singer Oni Logan was asked about the possibility of working with George Lynch again, either under the LYNCH MOB name or as a separate project, Referencing the fact that LYNCH MOB is at the tail end of "The Final Ride", a farewell tour celebrating the band's 35-year legacy, Oni said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "'The Final Ride', I don't know much about it. All I know is that George seems to be happy. And we have texted in the past about maybe doing another album together — not under the LYNCH MOB moniker, but under just LYNCH & LOGAN, because that is the essence and the core of the LYNCH MOB sound. So at some point I think we'll get to it before we turn to dust. It would be a celebration of what we had done in the past and something new that we could leave the fans with, if it should be a last venture together. I would look forward to it. We'll see if it happens."

When host Chuck Shute suggested that Logan's new project with Lynch "would be more of a joint effort" between the two musicians rather than Oni just being signed on as a hired gun., the singer clarified: "Well, I never was signed on in the first place as a hired gun. [George and I] were always 50-50 in partnership as far as the money and also on a creative level. So that has always remained right from the beginning. That's why you'll see me not go out on tour [with LYNCH MOB] because that is the deal that we started with and that's the deal that we normally do when I'm with him. I understand that he has a need to go out and make it favorable for him, so that's why we're probably not working together right now. Well, that is the reason why we're not working together because he'd rather favor paying some fellas a fee instead of sharing the loot."

Asked why a possible new collaboration with Lynch wouldn't be made available under the LYNCH MOB moniker and would instead be called LYNCH & LOGAN, Oni explained: "Because I think that's the true essence and the core of LYNCH MOB, and ultimately the brand LYNCH MOB is owned by George Lynch, which doesn't favor me at all. After doing so many miles and years promoting his brand and name, it leads me to… I mean, I worked all those years and spent all those miles building his brand, so it doesn't do me any favors. But it is what it is — it's his name and I accept it and that's the way that it goes. But it doesn't favor me when I say… I wanted to go out and do dates, talking to an agent, under Oni Logan. [The agent would say] 'Oh, Oni, it would be great if you could just use the LYNCH MOB name, because you have history and the promoters know this brand name and they know that this brand name will bring in a clientele.'"

During the same chat, Oni talked about another project that he is working on which will see him collaborating with "well-known" musicians outside the hard rock and heavy metal genre.

"I'd like to put something together. I'm at the moment seeking different musicians, interesting musicians that will do something that's a little bit outside of the box," he said. "They're great musicians. So something out of the box, meaning experimenting with rhythms, having the guitarist being able to really stretch, having a bass player that can really play fluidly. So it's gonna be not your usual thing that you probably hear me doing or expect me to do. It'll be something that is going to be adventurous. I think at this point in time in my life, I have to allow myself to have that. If I don't, there's not gonna be any growth. I become bored rather quickly if I stay in the main route of what everybody expects me to do. And I hope that people will come along for the ride and accept that we all have to grow.

"I found giant leaps in the past two years self-wise individually here [in my heart], and I know that it's here [in my head] too, as well, that my longing and my thirst for creative adventure has never been so high in its pinnacle, what I wanna do than now in my life right now."

Elaborating on how his new project will be different from what he has done before, Oni said: "This new departure, this new idea of recording will be with some really good musicians that are a little bit out of the box. And when I say this, I say this as a positive, working around rhythms, polyrhythms and so forth, and being able to stretch vocally into areas that I haven't done before.

"We're all growing, and as music lovers, our ears become more expansive and we tend to draw in from different areas of different cultures, different music that's just so widely out there. I'm a big fan of listening to all types of music. I'm no longer 20, I'm no longer 30, I'm no longer 40."

Asked when this new project will be coming out, Oni said: "I don't have a release date. I'm just talking to a few musicians right now. And they're all rather well known and they know my history in rock. Sometimes they go, 'Oh, he's a metaller,' but it's not true because I can sing the blues, I can cut up the rug with soul music — I'm pretty versatile as far as my voice works. So there's been an acceptance from their side, which is nice to know that they're willing to work with me. So I won't name the musicians right now because I'd like for it to become into fruition before I announce anything."

Logan first hooked up with LYNCH MOB in 1990, but exited the group after the release of its first album, only to rejoin the outfit in the late 2000s. His most recent departure from LYNCH MOB took place in January 2018. At the time, he said in a statement that he was "looking forward to writing with other artists and bands."

Logan is featured on five of LYNCH MOB's eight albums, including the band's debut, 1990's "Wicked Sensation", as well as 2009's "Smoke And Mirrors", 2014's "Sun Red Sun", 2015's "Rebel" and 2017's "The Brotherhood".

Joining Lynch on LYNCH MOB's "The Final Ride" farewell tour are singer Gabriel Colón, drummer Jimmy D'Anda and bassist Jaron Gulino.

LYNCH MOB was formed in 1989 after Lynch parted ways with his former band DOKKEN. Their debut release, "Wicked Sensation", was met with critical and fan acclaim and went on to be certified gold in sales by the RIAA. The band would continue on through the years with a cast of talented players joining Lynch throughout their musical journey over the course of six more studio albums.

Released in October 2023, "Babylon" was LYNCH MOB's eighth studio album overall and the first since "The Brotherhood".

"We have had a busy 2024," begins an update from Stryper. "Thanks to the best fans in the world, it was an amazing year. Here are some highlights for the year and a little about what we have planned for 2025."


February 2024:


"We started off the year with an amazing Stryper Fan Weekend in Springfield, Massachusetts where we spent quality time with some amazing friends and fans, and we also learned who in our group is a good bowler, and who is not. Stay tuned for details on the next Stryper fan weekend."







March/April 2024:


"We played two of our favorite places… Puerto Rico, and shortly afterward, M3 Festival."





April 2024:


"Along with for King & Country and Lecrae, we released “To Hell With The Devil (RISE)” as part of the Unsung Hero movie. The movie won a Dove Award for Inspirational Film of the Year, and the song is nominated for a We Love Award."





May 2024:


"We released our very first acoustic album, To Hell With The Amps, and a couple of weeks later embarked on our very first acoustic tour."








July 2024:


"We returned this year to perform at the amazing Alive Music Festival and got to catch up with our friends in For King and Country among others. We love that festival!"


September 2024:


"We kicked-off our 40th Anniversary Tour where we performed 2 sets of classic and current material. We hit 37 cities on this tour, quite a few of them were sold-out shows, and we had an absolute blast!

"That same month, we released our 16th studio project, When We Were Kings. The album hit 5 Billboard Charts, including #2 Christian Albums and #16 Top Current Album Sales."

December 2024:

"Michael performed a handful of solo shows including his 8th Annual Christmas Show in Plymouth, Mass (Mark your calendar: the 9th Annual will be December 13th, 2024).

"Michael and Lisa Sweet started a new Foundation in 2024 called Faith In Music Foundation. You will be hearing more about that in 2025."

What's up for 2025?

"2025 is also going to be a busy year for us as we do some international touring. You'll start to see dates announced soon at Stryper.com​

"We will continue work on the Stryper Documentary, which we made incredible progress on in 2024 interviewing dozens and dozens of celebrities, fans, and people inside the Stryper circle.

"We will be very active on our Patreon page, also known as The Stryper Fan Club Plus, with listening parties, chat sessions, Bible Studies, and even the release of some new exclusive music.

"Thank you for an amazing year, for supporting the band, and for all that you do to make the world a better place. We love you!

"God Bless You All, MS, RS, OF, PR"

The Veer Union have launched into 2025 with the release of the their new album, Welcome To Dystopia. The eight song, apocalyptic themed album by the Vancouver BC, Canada based group includes previously released hit singles “Empirical”, “Is This How It Ends”, and the title track, which included a guest appearance by rising rockers Silent Theory.


The focus track for the LP is “No Excuse” which excoriates leaders around the world for leaving the poor, middle class and working class behind in an evolving world – in order to help the wealthy grow their net worth to obscene levels. An ominous spoken word intro explodes into driving guitars, buoyed by a hypnotic piano and synth melody line that are propelled forward by thunderous drums with a chugging, relentless rhythm.


The Veer Union says, "'No Excuse' is a powerful rallying cry that exposes the deep-rooted betrayal of the working class by those in power. For decades, our leaders have decimated the middle class by outsourcing our manufacturing base, leaving communities to struggle while the wealthy elite thrive. At the same time, governments have colluded with big tech to suppress dissent, using cancel culture and censorship as tools to control the narrative."




They continue, “Endless wars have claimed countless innocent lives, torn nations apart, and yet, the only ones to benefit are those at the top. We’ve endured lockdowns, had our freedoms stripped away, and watched our futures grow uncertain. The dream of prosperity has been ripped from us, leaving today’s youth with little more than a dim outlook for a better tomorrow. The rise of AI and robotics threatens to further control, weaponizing technology to erode autonomy. But in this age of information, people are waking up exponentially to the reality of our situation—and they’re demanding accountability from those who’ve betrayed us. All hope is not lost… Yet."


Get the new album here.





Welcome To Dystopia tracklisting:


"No Excuse"
"Is This How It Ends?"
"Shades Of Gray"
"Empirical"
"The Underground"
"Welcome To Dystopia"
"Dig Their Own Graves"
"Space & Time"

Gràb have dropped the forest dwelling video clip “Waidler” ("Woodsman”). This track is the next single taken from their forthcoming new album Kremess (English: 'funeral feast', German "Leichenschmaus"). The sophomore full-length of the Bavarian black metal duo has been chalked-up for release on February 21, 2025.


Preorder here.


"The opening track of the album is named 'Waidler', which is a dialectal word that corresponds loosely translated with the English term 'Woodlander' – in the sense of a person living in a forest", vocalist and lyricist Grànt explains. "This song is dedicated to the Bavarian Forest. Whenever I visit this region of Lower Bavaria, it feels to me like a journey back in time – in a positive way. I very much like the traditional way of living there. Of course, there is also the stunning nature of the Bavarian Forest – harsh and majestic at the same time. That is exactly what we want to convey with the lyrics and the music of 'Waidler'. In my book, we have quite succeeded in delivering a really powerful opening track that also includes a guest contribution by former Dark Fortress vocalist Morean."




Gràb offer both, continuity and change, on their sophomore full-length Kremess. The Bavarian black metal project founded by vocalist Grànt continues to revolve lyrically around tales and traditions narrated in the local dialect of Germany's southernmost Alpine state: Bavaria. "Kremess" means 'funeral feast' in that language and death plays a leading role on this album.


Musically, Gràb still feature a prominent traditional instrument of their region, the hammered dulcimer. This gets combined with particularly Norwegian strands of black metal such as early Gehenna, Ulver, and Darkthrone as well as taking inspiration from German pioneers of the genre namely Nagelfar and Lunar Aurora. Adding to the local sonic colours are many fresh ideas and sounds that came with English guitarist Gnàst, who has replaced previous main songwriter Grain in the meantime. A host of guest musicians including members of Empyrium, Triptykon, and Dark Fortress among others has further enhanced the musical spectrum.


Gràb were conceived by former Dark Fortress frontman Grànt (a.k.a. Azathoth) who wanted to bring a particularly Bavarian expression to black metal. The use of vernacular elements in this harsh style of music emerged early in its for

Avantasia's Tobias Sammet continues his track-by-track description of a new song from the upcoming Here Be Dragons album. H.E.A.T.'s Kenny Leckremo is revealed as the guest singer stars on “Against The Wind”, described as an "anthemic powerful speed metal rocket."





Sammet writes: “Track by Track: ‘Against The Wind’ is an anthemic powerful speed metal rocket with some quite unique phrasings, melancholic melodies and very unusual twists and turns. It combines very early Avantasia trademarks with new elements and yet it somehow reminds me of the carefreeness of my very early songs. Also lyrically I reflect on where I come from, which approach I once set out with and how to be true to yourself despite the headwind and outside expectations. My friend Kenny Leckremo of H.E.A.T. is a wonderful duet partner on this one, it's got some challenging vocal lines and I think the two of us do a pretty good job together, conveying the two extremes of the song: Power and emotion!”




Sammet on "Bring On The Night" featuring Magnum's Bob Catley:


Sammet writes: “Track by Track: ‘Bring On The Night’ was written on the evening of July 6th, 2024 within a few hours as a heartfelt tribute to Magnum and the late Tony Clarkin. I dive deeper into the background story in the Artbook version of the new album, but in brief words: the song came to me within minutes in an almost spiritual way, and I just had to capture it and turn it into an Avantasia tune. 


“I wanted to do it justice and used the sounds and keyboards played on classic ‘80s Magnum records, and of course there would be only one singer in the world, who could sing that song with me, the undisputed king of magic, the storyteller on a storyteller's night: my dear friend and partner for 25 years now, Birmingham's finest: Mr. Bob Catley. It's such a wonderful song, anthemic, melancholic, quite a bit ‘80s... or better: timeless. This kind of approach and the magic you feel when a piece of music is given to you out of nowhere and it all comes together, those are the sacred moments in music that drive me. 


“Bob had tears in his eyes when he sang it, and I was trying to hide mine behind my goggles when I was sitting next to him. It's just so beautiful. Bob, I love you for rocking my world and being the friend and inspiration you are, I can't wait until March to hit the road with you again!”


Sammet on "Everybody's Here Until The End" with guest singer Roy Khan:


“Track by Track: ‘Everybody's Here Until The End’! When the album was almost done I felt that we had a lot of furious and fast material, and I thought that I was still in need of a grand finale for an epic ending, something conciliatory and big, and I sat down on my piano and started to play a ballad which would eventually grow from a piano piece into a monumental power ballad. It's a very personal song but eventually I wanted a duet partner who would add more depth. And I reached out to an old acquaintance to the Avantasia family, the mighty Roy Khan (ex-Kamelot) to help me shape this song to an amazing finale of an enchanting album. I think it's one of the most moving and emotional, and yet biggest ballads I have ever done.”


Sammet on "The Moorlands At Twilight" featuring Helloween's Michael Kiske:


“Track by Track: ‘The Moorlands At Twilight’ is a really rampant speed metal anthem with my lovely brother in Avantasia since the early days, Michael Kiske delivering a killer vocal performance. I guess that type of music is just in my DNA and even though it's a classic Avantasia song I think that the atmosphere is different to anything we've done before. I can hear some early Helloween influence in there, even though the song is very unique with its playful neo-classical elements and wild approach. Also, the lead guitars are extreme and quite virtuous: Sascha Paeth and Arne Wiegand have delivered an extensive, fast and hymnic axe battle that made my jaw drop. When ‘power metal’ is done like that, I absolutely love it!”


Sammet previously described "Here Be Dragons" featuring Geoff Tate:


"Track by Track: ‘Here Be Dragons’ is the longest song on the album and features a great duet with my good friend and one of my vocal heroes since his early days in Queensrÿche, Mr. Geoff Tate, who’s outdone himself on the track. It’s a groovy mid-tempo song with enchanting melodies, orchestral elements, big keyboard passages and a powerful guitar riffing driving the main parts of the song. Even though you can hear some classic Dio, Queensrÿche and even Marillion elements in there, it’s a typical Avantasia song and a very unqiue one. It has two different choruses and a very emotional and big sounding mid-section. The song wasn’t meant to be that long, but there isn’t a single note I would change or leave out if I listen to the final result now.”


Rock and metal flagship, Avantasia, will release their 10th studio album and Napalm Records debut, Here Be Dragons, on February 28. They recently unleashed the energizing first new single, “Creepshow”.


The new track is one of the catchiest songs of Avantasia’s career so far, and it arrives with an exciting, cinematic music video. The guaranteed future hit rings in a new era of Avantasia and will be an integral part of Avantasia’s spectacular live shows.


In their 25 years of existence, Avantasia has become one of the biggest leading forces in metal, boasting nine successful previous albums (such as the #1 charting Moonglow), worldwide sold-out arena tours and headline shows at all of the most important metal festivals. Here Be Dragons is sure to exceed all expectations as the most powerful Avantasia album so far.


Tobias Sammet on the single and video: "'Creepshow' is a perfect single. It’s short and catchy, and it emphasizes a facet of my work that has taken a backseat in my music in recent years. It’s light-hearted and the opposite of melancholic. And it's fresh, boisterous and unabashed - a straightforward kick-ass anthem. Also, even though it may seem like a reminiscence of my earlier writing, I think we managed to turn the whole thing into a trademark Avantasia tune, as we accentuated with the music video. We rented a haunted castle in North England and celebrated a night in the world of spectres and undead creatures. This is the most vibrant and eccentric music video I’ve ever shot in my entire career, not dead-serious, but certainly of serious quality! I can’t wait to play 'Creepshow' live on our tour next year, I can already see the whole venue jumping up and down and screaming along!”


Watch the official music video for “Creepshow”:





Featuring absolute Avantasia essentials such as spellbinding choirs and theatrical symphonic metal elements, multitalented mastermind and frontman Tobias Sammet also surprises fans old and new with plenty of intriguing fresh soundscapes. Here Be Dragons gives the celebrated Avantasia sound that has been carefully crafted over a quarter of a century an exciting and powerful spin. The new album is the most consistent and concise piece of art that the band has ever crafted.


Avantasia is not showing any signs of slowing down - soon after the release of Here Be Dragons, the band will head out on an extensive arena tour across Europe, promising to deliver fans an immersive experience with their biggest and most epic production ever.


In grand Avantasia tradition, the new full-length is rich in vivid storytelling and cinematic atmospheres, not to mention the highest level of musicianship. Opening track “Creepshow” is without a doubt one of the catchiest songs in their career. The energizing future hit truly welcomes the listener into the new era of Avantasia and will be an integral part of the band’s spectacular live shows. In contrast, the incredible title track “Here Be Dragons” is a classic Avantasia song, and at almost nine minutes, is by far the longest on the album. The cinematic dark soundscapes of “The Witch” captivate and support the song’s storyline perfectly. Emotional, multifaceted vocal performances mesmerize on “Avalon”, while the heavy metal number “Against The Wind” serves as further proof of the versatility of Avantasia’s sound. Remaining well-balanced and cohesive, Here Be Dragons is undeniably Avantasia’s most powerful album so far.


The 10-track offering was written and composed in its entirety by Tobias Sammet himself, produced and recorded by Tobias Sammet together with Sascha Paeth, mixed by Sascha Paeth and mastered by Michael Rodenberg. The stunning cover art was once again created by acclaimed British fantasy artist Rodney Matthews. Here Be Dragons marks another masterpiece in the Avantasia catalog, leaving both fans and critics speechless and proving the band’s standing as a main force in the world of rock and metal!


Here Be Dragons is now available for pre-order in several exciting physical editions, with bonus albums included in select limited formats, like a 3CD hardcover artbook with 96 pages, over 160 pictures, drawings of Rodney Matthews and extensive stories to accompany the music and pictures. 





Here Be Dragons will be available in the following formats:


- 3CD-Artbook – large format, hardcover book incl. 96 pages, over 160 pictures and extensive stories and liner notes
- 3LP Vinyl Box incl 72 Pages 12" Booklet – strictly limited to 500 copies
- 1LP Glow in the Dark Vinyl incl 12'' Booklet – strictly limited to 300 copies – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive
- 1LP Yellow/Orange Marbled Vinyl incl 12'' Booklet – strictly limited to 300 copies – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive
- 1LP Blue/White Splattered Vinyl incl 12" Booklet + Poster + Slipmat – strictly limited to 500 copies – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive ROW
- 1LP Orange incl 12'' Booklet     
- 1LP Black incl 12'' Booklet         
- Tape – strictly limited to 100 copies – Napa

Today, Swedish melodic hard rockers, Art Nation, are thrilled to share their new single and video, “Set Me Free”, out now via Frontiers Music Srl.





Vocalist Alexander Strandell comments on the new single: “We are thrilled to share this exciting new perspective of Art Nation with you. In the music video for 'Set Me Free', you’ll witness us stepping into the animated world of Art Nation for the very first time. In this inaugural episode, you’ll follow me, Chris, and Rich as we discover the first portal to this otherworldly dimension.”




Stream "Set Me Free" here, and watch the video below:





Hailing from Gothenburg, Sweden, Art Nation is the rising force in modern melodic Metal. Founded by Alexander Strandell and Christoffer Borg, the band is gaining acclaim for their astonishing hit-writing potential, their truly captivating sound and dynamic live performances.


With his powerful and emotive vocals, Alexander Strandell has captivated audiences on Sweden's National TV and radio. A nominee for “Rock Voice of the Year”, his commanding stage presence and vocal mastery set him apart as one of the most dynamic performers in rock today.


A producer and guitarist celebrated for his precision and creativity, Christoffer Borg has worked with iconic names like Amaranthe, Anthrax, and Evergrey. His exceptional skills bring a polished and melodic edge to Art Nation's signature sound.


Known for his incredible technical prowess and musicality, Richard Svärd has played with a lot of musicians and also toured with thrash legends Death Riders. His deep grooves and intricate bass lines lay the foundation for Art Nation’s unstoppable momentum.


Their debut album Revolution in 2015 received great reviews, earning them nominations at the esteemed “Gaffa Awards” in Sweden. In 2016, they penned the official anthem for the “Gothia Cup” soccer tournament, p

Tarja has released the official video for "Until My Last Breath", from her recently released Rocking Heels: Live At Hellfest, available via earMUSIC. Watch below:





On June 19, 2016, Tarja delivered a captivating performance at Hellfest, one of Europe's largest and most prestigious metal festivals held in Clisson, France. Her powerful blend of operatic vocals and heavy metal instrumentation enthralled the audience, making her performance one of the festival's highlights. The setlist featured a carefully curated mix of her solo work and iconic Nightwish songs.




Opening with “No Bitter End” from her 2016 album, The Shadow Self, Tarja set the tone for an evening of intensity and emotion. Her dynamic stage presence and dramatic musical arrangements created an unforgettable experience, solidifying her status as one of metal's greatest female singers.


Experience the raw energy and powerful emotion of Tarja Turunen's unforgettable performance at Hellfest 2016. Rocking Heels: Live At Hellfest is available as a Ltd. 1LP Gatefold Vinyl Edition, CD Digipak in LP-replica design and on Digital. Order here.





Tracklisting:


"No Bitter End"
"Never Enough"
"Ciaran's Well"
"Calling From The Wild"
"Supremacy"
"Victim Of Ritual"
"Tutankhamen / Ever"
"Tutankhamen" / "Ever Dream" / "The Riddler" / "Slaying The Dreamer" (Nightwish Medley)
"Die Alive"
"Until My Last Breath"


"Never Enough" video: