California traditional heavy metal masters Haunt have premiered the music video for their second single, "Chimera". The band's upcoming ninth album, Golden Arm, is due out May 5th via Iron Grip Records and Church Recordings. 


"'Chimera' is all about using your imagination," says frontman Trevor William Church. "In music, we must always keep our imagination running wild."







Recorded by Church and produced, mixed and mastered by Darren Trentacoste, Golden Arm is a new beginning for the leather-clad metallers.


Founded in 2017 as the solo project of Church, Haunt has quickly become the face of the new wave of traditional heavy metal. Since the band's kickstart six years ago, the heavy metal titans have released eight studio albums and multiple extended plays, including two splits, while also touring with bands like Satan, Unto Others, Night Demon, and others.


Golden Arm releases May 5th on digital, vinyl and compact disc via Iron Grip Records and on cassette via Church Recordings.Pre-orders can be placed now at this location.





Tracklisting:


"Hit And Run"
"Golden Arm"
"Piece By Piece"
"Chimera"
"Fight The Good Fight" 
"Save Yourself"
"Vacant Spaces"
"The Horses Mouth"





For further details, visit Haunt on Facebook.


 

TESLA bassist Brian Wheat says that "there'll be an official statement soon" regarding drummer Troy Luccketta's status with the band.

In September 2021, Luccketta announced that he would "take a little time from the road" to spend with family and friends. He has since been replaced at TESLA's gigs by Steve Brown, the younger brother of former DOKKEN drummer Mick Brown.

Brian discussed his longtime bandmate's absence from TESLA's concerts during a new interview with Thomas S. Orwat, Jr. of the Rock Interview Series. Asked if Troy is still a member of TESLA, Wheat said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "He's not touring [with us]. There'll be an official statement soon — very soon. But no. He's kind of doing his own thing, and we're kind of doing our own thing. And we're working out all that stuff.

"Listen, I love Troy Luccketta; he's my brother," Brian continued. "We all love Troy. It just came to a point where we just weren't on the same page anymore as to what we wanted to do. It's not like we had this big massive fight or anything. It's just you start out like this [holds two fingers close together] and then sometimes you go like this [holds two fingers wide apart]. And that gap just got too wide. And he said, 'Look, maybe it's better if I don't do this.' And we said, 'Okay. Maybe it is.' He's out, I think, playing with THE GUESS WHO or something… So he's out playing. So it's not like he retired. He's not playing in TESLA. And who knows? Maybe one day there'll be some reunion tour — [when we do] the last final lap… But that's not now. And who knows? Things always could change and whatever.

"So, to answer your question, Troy is not playing in TESLA," Wheat repeated. "Will he ever come back? Who knows? We'll see. Maybe one day [he will]. But right now we're sorting out all the shit that you've gotta sort out. And there's no bad blood."

Two months ago,Brian told Waste Some Time With Jason Green that Troy is "not coming back" to TESLA. "I don't think he's gonna come back," he said. "He wanted time off. People just do things like that. You start out like this [holds two fingers close together] and it just grows apart. I think that we've probably come to a point in our professional relationship that we've just grown too far apart on things.

"Look, I love Troy. He's my brother, just like [former TESLA guitarist] Tommy Skeoch is my brother. Will we play together again? I don't know. Probably one day, yeah. I mean, look, I'm the kind of guy that… And I know this is gonna funny to anyone, and I'll go ahead and say it… And I haven't even said this to Frankie [Hannon, guitar] and Jeff [Keith, vocals] or Dave [Rude, guitar] or anybody, but when there's one last lap around the track for this band, I think we owe it to our fans that everyone plays together. And I'm not saying Tommy without Dave; I'm saying Dave and Tommy. And Troy too, if he would be up for it. And go out with class and dignity and style, and say, 'Okay, listen. We've been through a few changes. We're gonna do 40 more shows,' or whatever that is. Not turn that into a five-year tour or anything. But I, as I sit here today… And that can change, Jason… And I'm sure Blabbermouth's gonna be all over this tomorrow and say, 'Brian Wheat wants to put the original band back together'. I'm not saying that. I'm just saying when there's one last lap left, and we all know there's one last lap, I'm the one guy that'll stand up in the room and say, 'I'd like us all to go through it all together.' If that means having two drummers and three guitar players and Jeff Keith, I'm in. Now, I can't speak for the rest of the band. This is me speaking. I'm that guy that would like to do that. So, Blabbermouth, if you're out there, don't fucking misquote me, because that's all you ever do."

Wheat didn't specify exactly how BLABBERMOUTH.NET "misquoted" him in the past, but he added that TESLA should eventually stage a final tour with all current and former members in order to make it special for the fans. "I think we owe it to 'em," Brian said. "They've been such a loyal and diehard fanbase, I think they would love the fact that we went out playing; if that's how we're gonna go out, that that's how we would do it."

Pressed about Troy's reasons for no longer playing with TESLA, Brian said: "I don't know. The bottom line is, we wanted to go out and he said he didn't. And after being off for — what was it? — 18 months with COVID, we had to go out. We couldn't just sit home. We're not independently wealthy guys, We make our living from playing concerts. We work. That's our job. We were never fortunate enough to have, like, a 'Hysteria' or a 'Pyromania' or an 'Appetite [For Destruction]' or 'Slippery When Wet' or the Black Album or 'Back In Black'. We quietly would sell a million, a million and a half records, and we've got this diehard fanbase, and every year we have to go out and earn our living. So we couldn't sit home. And that's where it came to the thing."

Wheat added: "[Troy] had his reasons [for leaving TESLA]. And I respect that. And we just decided we were gonna continue to go out and play."

Troy most recently discussed his absence from TESLA's gigs during a September 2022 interview with Tulsa Music Stream. Asked if he was still taking a break from the band, he said at the time: "I am. I'm on a bit of a break. Personally, there's a lot of things going on in my life that I'm… This thing that we do doesn't cater to families. So at the time that this had gone down and COVID and everything, it just really gave me some time to step back and kind of look at things.

"I'd been running hard with the band for 36 years," he continued. "And I love the guys and I love the band. I'm a fan and always will be. I've got nothing but praise for them. They gave me a great life and I think we all share in that.

"Right now I've been doing a lot of different projects," Troy revealed. "I never played in any cover bands, man, so I went out and played in a James Taylor tribute; I went out and did some with this LED ZEPPELIN tribute; I did a VAN HALEN thing with these friends of mine called COMPLETELY UNCHAINED. And then I'm in classic rock tribute. And those are some of the things. And records — I get to do a lot of records. I'm here. I like being home. And quite honestly, I just signed up… I'm doing some dates with THE GUESS WHO right now. I've done half a dozen shows… I'm having fun with the guys. I like the band; I like the guys. Yeah, good stuff — a lot of good stuff happening."

Luccketta was also full of praise for his replacement in TESLA, saying: "He's a great, great drummer, a great person, a great guy. And we're not best of friends or anything, but I've always known Steve over the years and I always knew he was the right choice. I had him pegged out years ago before I even had to make the phone call. So it's perfect. It's really great because, if you think about it, it's a win-win. And I think it's even a breath of fresh air probably for the guys right now. And it's like having a new girlfriend [laughs] for a minute."

As for his future with TESLA, Troy said: "Will we ever play again together? I don't know if that will ever happen or not. I don't know what we will do moving down the road. But right now Steve is the drummer and it's his gig. And I'm happy for everybody. And I'm happy for me."

In an August 2022 interview with Canada's The Metal Voice , Hannon was non-commital about Troy's return to TESLA, saying: "We're just allowing the time for things to work themselves out. He's got things that he's dealing with.

"Touring is not an easy life, man," he explained. "It's a very difficult thing being out there on a bus, with everybody crammed in that tight situation. And when you've got stuff going on at home, those things need to be taken care of. But hey, man, he's a long-standing member of the band.

"We'll work it out," Frank added. "Time will work things out. He's a brother, and, like I said, time will work things out. The founding members of the band are together and Steve Brown is playing drums for us at the moment and really doing a great job. And we're just happy to be able to keep on working."

Hannon went on to praise Steve's contributions to TESLA, saying: "Steve is not only 'Wild' Mick's little brother but he's also a member of our local community here in Sacramento. We've known him since he was a little guy. He used to come watch us play when he was a teenager. And he has done other shows for us in the past, filling in for Troy. So he's a member of our family as well."

When Luccketta first shared the news of his decision to stay off the road, he wrote: "I am happy and well, and couldn't be more grateful to my bandmates for this opportunity. I am also looking forward to some musical ventures closer to home. In my absence please show some love to Steve Brown. Steve is a dear friend, and great drummer! He has played with OLEANDER, Ronnie Montrose just to name a few. He is one of Sacramento's finest, The perfect choice so to speak!"

TESLA 2023 is:

Frank Hannon - guitar
Brian Wheat - bass
Jeff Keith - lead vocals
Dave Rude - guitar
Steve Brown - drums

In a new interview with Canada's The Metal Voice, SEX PISTOLS' original bassist Glen Matlock shared his views on "Pistol", a six-episode limited series about the legendary SEX PISTOLS guitarist Steve Jones, which premiered last May exclusively on Hulu in the U.S. and on Disney+ in U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Based on Jones's 2018 memoir "Lonely Boy: Tales From A Sex Pistol", the series from Academy Award winner Danny Boyle, who also serves as executive producer and director, was created by Craig Pearce and written by Pearce and Frank Cottrell Boyce.

Glen said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm very disappointed in it, actually, considering I had meetings with Danny Boyle about it. I'm not disappointed that it came out, and I thought it was important that it went ahead because it was based on Steve's story and take on things. And he was the guy that formed the band — not John [Lydon, SEX PISTOLS singer]; Steve. John was the last one in the band… But my portrayal, and particularly my leaving the band — I left the band; I was not sacked. That whole episode where Steve sacked [me] is just bollocks."

Matlock went on to say that "Pistol" should have depicted his departure from the SEX PISTOLS more accurately.

"I [talked to then-SEX PISTOLS manager] Malcolm [McLaren] about it, and Steve and Paul [Cook, drums], and they all said to me, 'Can't you just pretend you like John?'," he recalled. "I said, 'Not really, no. I'm writing all these kind of tunes and things, and if you can't back me up a bit more… If that's what you want, that's what's gonna happen.'

"I just think it should have been more truthful," Glen said. "And I think the real story is more gritty… And I met Danny Boyle again in Los Angeles after it had come out and I had [attended] a private screening. [He said to me], 'Hey, Glen, how are you doing?' [And I said], 'Danny, you're a cunt.' So he knows where I'm coming from on it."

Asked if he had any input in the series, Glen said: "At the beginning, I had some meetings with Danny in particular and the production team. And I thought it had all been ironed out. But then I was ignored. So, I'm not happy. I feel shafted."

"I went to see it with my son Louis, and I was a bit embarrassed, really," he added. "Louis sort of quite astutely said, 'The thing is I know you did this, that and the other, and I also know this about Steve,' he said, 'but you and Paul just come across like two-dimensional characters; there's no background [or information about] your family and all that.' A bit of that could have been in there and [they could] have fleshed things out a little bit more. And [Danny] can say, 'Well, there's no time for all that in there.' Well, there was a whole episode on Chrissie Hynde not getting married to Steve, which took up an hour of everybody's lives, which never happened."

Matlock also touched upon Hynde's portrayal in "Pistol" as a main character in the SEX PISTOLS saga and an on-again/off-again love interest of Jones.

"I know Chrissie," Glen said. "She's my neighbor in London. I was talking to her about it. She said, 'I only slept with [Steve] once.' They were mates, and they're still mates to this day."

Last May, Jones admitted to The New York Times that Hynde was "shocked" when she saw "Pistol" for the first time. "But I do think it's a good story," he said. "Even if it wasn't as long as that, my relationship with her, I just think the way it's been written makes it interesting. If you're a train spotter, you're going to hate it, because it's not in the timeline, but whatever."

Matlock left SEX PISTOLS in early 1977. In "Pistol", his character is seen having numerous fights with Lydon and chiding McLaren for not paying them enough. At a pub one night, McLaren urges Jones to fire him. Jones then takes Matlock into a bathroom and does just that.

According to Rolling Stone, as Matlock lays out in his book "I Was A Teenage Sex Pistol", his departure from the band wasn't nearly that sudden or unexpected. Lydon's growing ego and bombastic behavior had been gnawing at him for months, and by the time of their tour of Holland in January 1977 he didn't even want to stand on the same stage as the singer. "He was totally conceited, arrogant, and stroppy just for the sake of it," Glen wrote. "I didn't need it. I thought, 'This is stupid. I'd had enough. I've really had enough.'"

SEX PISTOLS' "Never Mind The Bollocks" is frequently listed as one of the most influential albums of all time. Their single "God Save The Queen" was banned by the BBC and reached No. 1 on the U.K.'s NME chart, but appeared at No. 2 on the official U.K. singles chart, leading to accusations that the song was purposely kept off the top spot. For the only time in chart history, the track was listed as a blank, to avoid offence to the monarchy.

In a new interview with The Rock Experience With Mike Brunn, WINGER frontman Kip Winger was asked if he thinks it's easier or harder these days to connect with the band's fans compared to how it was in the pre-Internet and -social media days of the 1980s, when WINGER first came on to the scene. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think it's way easier through social media. For those people who really work the social media, look what's happened — it's like you just go straight to the fans; you don't have to have the middleman. So that point is better. But for dinosaurs like me, it's different, 'cause social media is extremely time consuming and I like to spend my time writing. And I don't wanna film myself doing every single thing every day, 'cause I find it just extremely distracting. And the one biggest killer for creativity is interruption. And so you're always trying to, 'Hey, look at me. I'm doing this.' I find it really difficult to keep that up. But having said that, if you don't do it, it's do or die. So I understand. And I'm the same. I'm a fan of Peter Gabriel. I like to see what he's doing in the day. What does he do? Where does he go for coffee? It's interesting. So it's kind of a double-edged sword.

"But to answer your question, I think it's much easier now," he repeated. "But it's much more difficult because there's so many more people out there. The competition has become exponentially way more intense."

WINGER's seventh studio album, "Seven" is due on May 5 via Frontiers Music Srl. The 12-track album was produced by Winger and recorded in Nashville.

In January, WINGER shot music videos for three of the songs from "Seven", including "It All Comes Back Around" and "Proud Desperado".

As with "Proud Desperado", the "It All Comes Back Around" clip was filmed in Nashville and directed by Jack Sawyers.

WINGER's next LP will be the follow-up to 2014's "Better Days Comin'".

In December 2020, guitarist Reb Beach described the new WINGER material to the 213Rock Podcast by saying: "It's WINGER — heavy riffs with big vocals. Very catchy songs and very heavy stuff — very progressive."

A month earlier, Beach told the "Pat's Soundbytes Unplugged" podcast that he and Kip had initially pieced together ideas for 11 tracks for WINGER's next album, but that Kip "threw away six of 'em, saying that this has to be like the first BOSTON record where every song is undeniable. And he just wants it to be progressive and like nothing he's hard before," he said. "I brought him these riffs that are just straight-ahead rock riffs, and he said, 'I already know what the next three chords are gonna be after I've heard three chords.'

"We're going for something that's poppy and sing-along stuff yet cool, heavy, progressive riffs — kind of like [2009's] 'Karma'," Reb explained. "That's what we're going for."

WINGER will hit the road beginning with a U.K. tour with STEEL PANTHER in May, followed by a U.S tour with the Tom Keifer in June. Additionally, the band will play a number of headlining shows throughout the summer.

WINGER formed in the late 1980s and soared to immediate success with its 1988 self-titled release. The album spawned the hit singles "Seventeen" and "Headed For A Heartbreak" and achieved platinum sales status. "Winger" also stayed on The Billboard 200 chart for over 60 weeks where it peaked at #21. Their next album, "In The Heart Of The Young", also achieved platinum status behind the singles "Can't Get Enuff" and "Miles Away". The change in musical climate of the mid-'90s, compounded with unprovoked ridicule on MTV's popular "Beavis And Butt-Head" show, led the band to go on hiatus in 1994. In 2001, WINGER reunited and has not looked back since. Kip also earned a 2016 Grammy nomination for the classical album "C.F. Kip Winger: Conversations With Nijinsky", recorded with the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra.

In a new interview with Duffy of the Z93 radio station, LINKIN PARK bassist Dave "Phoenix" Farrell was asked if he thinks there will ever be new music from him and his bandmates. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The best answer I can give is I think that we will do something again at some point. I think we'll do, hopefully, new music. And I would love to play some shows.

"The reality of it is that the timetable, I have no idea what that is or what that looks like," he explained. "And we're not trying or haven't made any progress toward doing it.

"The relationship in the band is still intact between all the guys and we're still in communication, but everybody is always in different kind of spaces. And the amount of earth that needs to be moved to begin the construction project of LINKIN PARK and whatever that may look like is a ton, and it's not going anywhere fast.

"And so it's just kind of a 'wait and see,'" Farrell added. "I know that's not the answer that anybody wants 'cause it's not really any information. But at the same time, I think it's just kind of honestly where it's at."

LINKIN PARK has been on hiatus since the death of singer Chester Bennington in 2017.

A year ago, LINKIN PARK's Mike Shinoda said that there are no plans for new music, albums or live shows from the band. The 46-year-old musician addressed LINKIN PARK's future during a Twitch livestream.

"The only LINKIN PARK news I have for you is that… Yeah, we talk every few weeks — I talk to the guys, or some of the guys," he said. "And there's no tours, there's no music, there's no albums in the pipeline. Okay, so let me just tell you that. So just keep in your minds that that is not happening.

"I'm just gonna say that much for now," he continued. "I say that because anytime the band says anything or does anything, everyone tries to start up the hype train, and we're, like, 'No, no, no, no. Don't start up the hype train.' You're gonna disappoint yourself. Don't do that."

LINKIN PARK has not performed together in public since October 2017, when the surviving members staged a tribute concert in Los Angeles to Bennington. The band has not officially announced whether it intends to carry on following the death of Bennington, who committed suicide in July 2017 at the age of 41.

Four years ago, Shinoda shot down reports that LINKIN PARK was actively searching for a replacement for Bennington. In February 2019, Shinoda took to his Twitter account to write: "Lemme clarify a rumor: we are not looking for a new singer, and if it were to happen organically, I'd be open. Seems pretty clear, yet I guess some folks have a hard time understanding.

"I'm not into predicting the future. The future will happen."

Shinoda made his comments in an apparent response to how the media covered an interview he gave to Rock Antenne. When asked about the possibility of finding a new singer, Shinoda said: "That's not my goal right now. I think it has to happen naturally. And if we find somebody that's a great person that we think is a good personality fit and a good stylistic fit, then I could see trying to do some stuff with somebody... I wouldn't wanna ever feel like we were replacing Chester."

Shinoda added: "I know the other guys, they love to get onstage, they love to be in the studio, and so to not do that would be — I don't know — almost unhealthy. If doing that means that we need to have some other people in the mix in order to do it and do it well, then we would do that... But, like I said before, it has to happen naturally. I'm not running out and putting up 'vocalist wanted' posters."

Bennington's passing was ruled a suicide soon after his body was found in July 2017 at his home in Palos Verdes Estates, California.

Chester had been candid about mental-health battles in numerous interviews over the years, saying he grappled with depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and substance abuse. His struggles with drugs and alcohol landed him in rehab twice around 2006.

LINKIN PARK released a concert album titled "One More Light Live" in December 2017.

Florida crossover thrashers Intoxicated have released a video for their cover of the Angry Samoans’ song, "Gas Chamber", featuring Obituary guitarist Ken Andrews.


Intoxicated vocalist / guitarist Erik Payne commented: “Growing up with an older brother and skate ramp in the backyard was a musical and cultural gift in my case. I was exposed to a ton of great punk and metal at an early age and Angry Samoans were always a stand out for me. Listening back to 'Gas Chamber' recently, I just started playing along with heavy distortion; it sounded so pissed! I called my long time friend and guitarist of Obituary, Ken Andrews, to come over and fuck around with some recording. Ken has always been like a fifth member of Intoxicated and has contributed in some way on the majority of our albums / earlier EPs. We also played together as part of the Andrew W.K. touring band with Obituary drummer DT, so our history / friendship runs deep.”


“Once we laid down a few tracks, the real excitement began! We started doing this just to have fun, but it quickly began to take shape and sounded awesome! Within 48 hours and a few phone calls, drums, vocals and bass were added. I sent the tracks to Ryan at Candor Studios (Foo Fighters, Melvins, Whores) in Tampa to mix, and then to our label Seeing Red Records. Everyone was excited and the label was like fuck it, shoot a video! Ken, being the trooper he is, came out to shoot the night before Obituary left for Europe and we got it done!”




“We all love Angry Samoans and this is us paying our respects! They're actually out on tour right now so go see them!”





 

In a new interview with Lazer 103.3's Andy Hall, PAPA ROACH frontman Jacoby Shaddix spoke about the inclusion of the band's iconic song "Last Resort" in "Friends, Romans, Countrymen", the Season 2 premiere of Showtime's creepy, ambient survival drama "Yellowjackets". Asked if he has seen the show already, Jacoby said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "No, I have not, but everybody tells me I've gotta watch it. They're, like, 'Dude, don't sleep on this show, bro. It's amazing.' And what a great placement for us. And what a cool opportunity to feature that classic track years later."

He continued: "What's rad about it is our old-school music and new-school music is grabbing this new generation of rock fans. What was happening with the [RED HOT] CHILI PEPPERS back in 2000 is kind of happening with us now, and that blows me away. 'Cause I've been a huge CHILI PEPPERS fan for many years, and when they had that second wave of their story, it blew me away. And I see a lot more years of P-ROACH; I don't see this thing letting up. And having placements like that, in 'Yellowjackets', which is an iconic piece of entertainment for the people, and our music is in it? That's a good sign."

"Last Resort" is featured in a "Yellowjackets" scene where Jeff (Warren Kole),who is married to Shauna (Melanie Lynskey),airs out some of his frustration over the state of his relationship with his wife while sitting alone in his car and blasting the song at full volume.

"We knew immediately it was going to be this song" that played in this scene, showrunner Jonathan Lisco told The Daily Beast. "We needed a way for him to expurgate all that rage. He's obviously being very cool trying to get over the fact that Shauna had an affair, but we needed a very terse, intense way to show that he is not okay. That song popped into our minds right away because of that really intense, anthem-like quality of it."

Kole admitted that he had never heard "Last Resort", which was released in 2000, the same year he graduated college, before shooting the scene. "So use your imagination as to how that one was jarred out of my memory," he laughed. He went on to say that he listened to "Last Resort" about 50 times to figure out how he wanted to play the scene. He added: "I hate it. Terrible song. A perfect song for the scene. But oh, I can't stand it."

"Last Resort" originally appeared on PAPA ROACH's breakthrough album "Infest", which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2020. The LP peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart and has been certified triple platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) for sales in excess of three million copies in the U.S. alone. It also featured the fan favorites "Broken Home", "Blood Brothers" and "Between Angels & Insects".

In June 2020, Shaddix told "Offstage With DWP" that he still feels the same way about "Last Resort" as he did when PAPA ROACH first released it. "I feel that that song is a lifeline to a lot of people, and has been," he said. "I've met thousands of kids over the years that have told us, 'Yo, that song saved my life. That song was there for me in my darkest hour.' If I could look back on my career just for that one moment, just that piece, it's, like, 'Wow!' To be able to make a song that impacts people in a positive way, that it has, it's, like, mission accomplished. It wasn't really my intention. It was just, like, 'We're just writing music. We've gotta get this off our chest.' But to look back on it now and see the effect that it's had, the positive effect… And also, man, it's one of those songs that cuts deep and it's at the heart of the matter… Yeah, people have been through some really dark stuff, and 'Last Resort' has brought some people through some feelings of suicide and whatnot. But then on the other hand, it's also become this crazy party anthem. I just saw this dude [on video at] a Walmart the other day and just start singing 'Last Resort' in the middle of everybody pandemic shopping, with a broom. So it's just one of those songs, it's survived the test of time, and I'm just fortunate that it's been such a positive piece of art out there floating around to be a lifeline for people struggling."

PAPA ROACH's latest album, "Ego Trip", was released in April 2022 via New Noize Records in partnership with ADA Worldwide (WMG's independent label and artist services arm).

Mending Kids' annual "Imagine Gala: The Gift Of The Future" was a night to remember as 250 guests came together to celebrate the organization's upcoming milestone of mending its 5,000th child. The fundraiser took place on Saturday, March 18 at the Malibu Jewish Center And Synagogue, with the who's who of Malibu, California in attendance, including Jonathan Banks from "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul", Lizze Broadway, Brandon Jenner, Linda Thompson, Cindy Ambuehl, Don Diamont and titan realtor Chris Cortazzo, who received the Love Award in recognition of his dedication to Mending Kids' mission.

The highlight of the night was KISS legend Gene Simmons's impromptu speech and generous donation of a quarter of a million dollars to Mending Kids. He also offered up a signed version of his signature Axe Guitar at the live auction, selling for $75,000, and added on front-row seats with VIP backstage passes to a KISS concert and a personal dog walk to the winning bidder.

"Mending Kids is doing incredible work, and I'm proud to support them … I encourage everyone to get involved," said Simmons.

Making a special appearance at the "Imagine Gala" was Elise, a five-year-old scoliosis patient from Cameroon. Mending Kids later reported that she received successful surgery, performed by Dr. Robert Cho, chief of staff of Shriners Children's Southern California, and Dr. Robert Bernstein, chief of staff of Shriners Portland. Dr. Cho and Shriners Children's Southern California were honored at the Gala with the Mend Award for their longstanding partnership with Mending Kids.

Mending Kids has been providing life-changing surgical care to children in need for 18 years. The organization's dedication to helping children from all over the world is unparalleled, and Mending Kids thanks everyone who made this year's "Imagine Gala" a huge success.

For more information about Mending Kids and how to get involved, visit www.mendingkids.org.

Our guy Kenny on the stage with the one and only Gene Simmons from KISS for Mending Kids
Gene Simmons
California Coast...

Posted by Zachary Ian Krone on Sunday, March 19, 2023

A Fox and a Bear get a huge Kiss! Our teddy bears raised more money than KISS at the Mending Kids Gala last weekend!...

Posted by Joseph B. Sprung on Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared his weekly solo cover song and video, this time performing the John Parr hit "St. Elmo's Fire", taken from the 1986 soundtrack for the movie of the same name.





Check out some of Johansson's previous covers below.




"Africa" - Toto





"Headless Cross" - Black Sabbath





"You're The Voice" - John Farnham





"Out In The Fields" - Gary Moore





"The Phantom Of The Opera" - Andrew Lloyd Webber

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee and four-time Grammy winner Joe Perry has released a new single, "Fortunate One", featuring vocals from THE BLACK CROWES' Chris Robinson. Co-written and recorded in London with Joe's sons Tony and Roman, the song contains a bluesy riff that glides over raucous piano as Robinson's gritty delivery instantly takes hold. Reaching a climax, Joe's deft guitar playing gives way to an earworm of a solo.

Joe Perry shares: "I'm really excited to get this song out. It hadn't been written when the first version of 'Sweetzerland Manifesto' was released. Tony and I wrote it together, and then my old friend Chris Robinson from THE BLACK CROWES sang on it. He knocked it outta the park! We started it in L.À., recorded it in London, and Chris sang on it..... and BANG.....!! Doesn't get better than that...!!! Really proud of this track."

The co-founding member, principal songwriter, and co-producer of AEROSMITH and HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES, as well as one of the most sought-after guitarists of all time, Joe Perry is also excited to share news of the May 26 release of his new album "Sweetzerland Manifesto MKII" via Roman Records. The LP will be made available via all DSPs as well as on vinyl which was not the case when he dropped "Sweetzerland Manifesto" in 2018. The new LP includes six new tracks and alternate vocal appearances and mixes from the earlier version.

"We had so many songs and with everything going on with the VAMPIRES, AEROSMITH, COVID, not touring, and touring, this music kept riding along for me," Joe notes. "It was like the engine of a train that wasn't going to stop. I'd wanted to put these songs out, and the idea of adding them to a vinyl release or deluxe version turned into doing 'MKII'. I tend to think in terms of albums. The first one had a vibe, and 'MKII' is a little more rocked out. I almost prefer it. It's one of those records I can play from front to back live."

"Sweetzerland Manifesto MKII" serves as the perfect companion and spiritual successor to the original "Sweetzerland Manifesto". Joe wrote and recorded the bulk of the material for both versions at the Los Angeles home of fellow "Vampire" Johnny Depp back in 2017. During a few months at "Sweetzerland", he experienced a groundswell of creativity and welcomed various collaborators into the fold, including vocals courtesy of David Johansen (NEW YORK DOLLS, Buster Poindexter),Robin Zander (CHEAP TRICK) and Terry Reid. Johnny served as executive producer, while AEROSMITH's go-to producer Jack Douglas, Bruce Witkin and Joe's sons Tony and Roman also contributed to production.

"Sweetzerland Manifesto MKII" track listing:

01. Fortunate One (feat. Chris Robinson [THE BLACK CROWES] and Robert DeLeo [STONE TEMPLE PILOTS])
02. Quake (feat. Gary Cherone [EXTREME, VAN HALEN])
03. I'll Do Happiness (feat. Terry Reid)
04. Aye Aye Aye (feat. Robin Zander [CHEAP TRICK])
05. Man With a Golden Arm (instrumental)
06. Time Will Tell
07. I Wanna Roll (feat. David Johanson [NEW YORK DOLLS])
08. Suck It Up (feat. Robin Zander [CHEAP TRICK] and Robert DeLeo [STONE TEMPLE PILOTS])
09. Goes His Own Way (feat. Terry Reid)
10. Won't Let Me Go (feat. Terry Reid)

As previously announced, Perry is playing his first set of tour dates this year with THE JOE PERRY PROJECT. The tour kicks off on Saturday, April 15 in Mashantucket, Connecticut and concludes on April 22 in Pontiac, Michigan at The Crofoot Ballroom. He will make stops at New York City's Webster Hall on April 18 and play a hometown show at the House of Blues in Boston on April 16. Perry will pull from his extensive catalog for a setlist that will thrill longtime and new fans alike. He will be joined on the tour by Gary Cherone (EXTREME, VAN HALEN) on vocals, with the band rounded out by Buck Johnson (keyboards/vocals),Jason Sutter (drums) and David Hull (bass/vocals). Additionally, a limited number of VIP tickets will be made available and will include options for admission to a photo meet-and-greet with Perry, seating in the first 10 rows or early entry to the show.

THE JOE PERRY PROJECT tour dates:

April 15 - Foxwoods Resort Casino - Mashantucket, CT
April 16 - Citizens House of Blues - Boston, MA
April 18 - Webster Hall - New York, NY
April 20 - Des Plaines Theatre - Des Plaines, IL
April 21 - Arcada Theatre - St. Charles, IL
April 22 - Crofoot Ballroom - Pontiac, MI

MÖTLEY CRÜE's John 5 will appear on the upcoming rock album from country legend Dolly Parton.

The CRÜE guitarist shared the news of his participation in a tweet earlier today (Tuesday, April 11). He shared a throwback photo of him with Dolly and he wrote: "I'm so honored that I got the opportunity to play guitar on one of the songs on the upcoming @DollyParton album. I've been listening to Dolly ever since I can remember. Words cannot describe how exciting this is."

John 5's appearance on Parton's LP comes less than a month after his CRÜE bandmate Nikki Sixx also confirmed that he will contribute to the effort by playing bass on one song.

Parton recently said that she was making a rock album in order to celebrate her induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

"I'm making an album, too, because I have to live up to all of that hype," she said last December on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon".

"I'm very honored and very proud, and I'm good about timing, so I always thought I might want to do a rock record, because my husband is a rock and roll freak. So, anyway, I thought, 'Well, if I'm ever gonna do it, now's the time," she added.

Tentatively titled "Rock Star", Dolly's LP will include covers of classic rock tunes like "Purple Rain" by Prince, "Can't Get No Satisfaction" by THE ROLLING STONES, "Stairway To Heaven" by LED ZEPPELIN and "Freebird" by LYNYRD SKYNYRD.

During an appearance on "The View", Parton also shared that she collaborated with a number of fellow iconic artists on the album, including Paul McCartney, Steven Tyler, Stevie Nicks, Steve Perry, John Fogerty, P!nk and Brandie Carlile.

"If I'm gonna be in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, I'm gonna have to do something to earn it. So I'm doing a rock and roll album, and I'm having a lot of the rock stars that I met that night be on the album with me," Parton explained.

Another heavy metal musician who said he was approached about contributing to Dolly's album is JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford, who joined Parton on stage at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony to perform her classic song "Jolene". Also appearing with them as part of a "super jam" performance were some of the other Rock Hall inductees, including Pat Benatar, Annie Lennox and DURAN DURAN's Simon Le Bon.

Speaking to TotalRock, Rob said: "After the show, her manager came up to me, Danny [Nozell], and he goes, 'She's doing a project, like a rock album. Would you be interested?' I said, 'Yeah. Here's my number.' And then, out of the blue, like four weeks later, and suddenly [there's] ideas for some more work."
I’m so honored that I got the opportunity to play guitar on one of the songs on the upcoming @DollyParton album. I’ve been listening to Dolly ever since I can remember. Words cannot describe how exciting this is. 🙏❤️#DollyParton#John5pic.twitter.com/8tbWORNT5d

— John 5 (@john5guitarist) April 11, 2023

California groove metallers DEVILDRIVER will release part two of their "Dealing With Demons" saga, their tenth full-length, "Dealing With Demons Vol. II", on May 12 via Napalm Records. Once again produced and engineered by Steve Evetts with additional engineering from guitarist Mike Spreitzer, 'Dealing With Demons Vol. II' is inarguably heavier and relentlessly harsher than its predecessor — as proven last month with bludgeoning lead single "Through The Depths".

Today, DEVILDRIVER dropped another unrelenting track, "If Blood Is Life", plus an action-packed performance music video featuring exclusive footage from the band's recent U.S. co-headline tour with labelmates CRADLE OF FILTH. The dynamic anthem grips with an unforgettable hook and lead guitar lines, swaying with an undeniable headbang-worthy groove as it shifts between rhythmic passages.

DEVILDRIVER frontman Dez Fafara says about "If Blood is Life": "Shadows of the future, ghosts of your past walking the floor — why do these things haunt us as humans, when we should be focused on the fact that, like the chorus says, 'Time, it waits for no one, Time, it's worth the taking.' Learn to focus on the now, the here, the present."

International media mainstays like Revolver, Metal Hammer, Kerrang! and Consequence lauded "Dealing With Demons I", which debuted at No. 4 on the U.S. Current Hard Music Albums chart. BLABBERMOUTH.NET stated, "If the second half of this mammoth endeavor matches the first, this will be remembered as a pivotal moment in the DEVILDRIVER story." Rest assured, "Dealing With Demons Vol. II" doubles down on the brutality — and then some!

Track one "I Have No Pity" instantly keeps fans guessing with its contrasting, marching rhythmic groove and Fafara's icy, earworm warnings. The album's standout production immediately shines, with the track's thick riffs, haunting leads, room-filling drums and Fafara's vocal prowess leading the way. Eerie, insistent "Mantra" drops a wave of melodic aggression on the listener, instantly inducing headbanging with its breakneck pace and occult lyricism. Dynamic tracks like "Nothing Lasts Forever" and "Summoning" cascade with alternating passages of sinister riffage and memorable chants. "Bloodbath" is as brutal as its name suggests, ominously bending and pummeling with immediate aggression, as "It's A Hard Truth" continues the onslaught, cautioning against delusion amid balanced melodic leads. Closer anthems "If Blood Is Life" and "This Relationship, Broken" are the blood-soaked cherries atop "Dealing With Demons Vol. II", bringing together all of the elements that make DEVILDRIVER the best at their craft.

Fafara adds: "'Dealing With Demons Vol. II' is — simply put — a conversation in its entirety about dealing with 'inner' demons. It's a conversation in song form between 'self and a power apart from one's self, and trying to bury old entities.'"

"Dealing With Demons Vol. II" track listing:

01. I Have No Pity
02. Mantra
03. Nothing Lasts Forever
04. Summoning
05. Through The Depths
06. Bloodbath
07. It's A Hard Truth
08. If Blood Is Life
09. This Relationship, Broken

Last December, DEVILDRIVER parted ways with drummer Austin D'Amond and replaced him with Davier Pérez.

D'Amond joined DEVILDRIVER in 2015 as the replacement for original drummer John Boecklin.

In July 2022, DEVILDRIVER announced the return of original bassist Jon Miller after more than a decade-long absence from the scene. In addition to epic reunion, DEVILDRIVER added guitarist Alex Lee (HOLY GRAIL) to the lineup, replacing Neal Tiemann.

Ibarra joined DEVILDRIVER in 2016 as the replacement for former BURY YOUR DEAD guitarist Chris Towning, who appeared on the Fafara-fronted band's 2013 album "Winter Kills".

In October 2021, DEVILDRIVER parted ways with Tiemann. Neal, formerly of BURN HALO, joined the band in 2015 as the replacement for Jeff Kendrick, who left DEVILDRIVER in October 2014.

DEVILDRIVER 2023 is:

Dez Fafara - Vocals
Mike Spreitzer - Guitar
Jon Miller - Bass
Alex Lee - Guitar
Davier Pérez - Drums

Photo credit: Jeremy Saffer

Hard-hitting and melodic; pissed off and groovy; energetic and catchy: upon first listen, it is clear that Sicksense is all of these things. The band - comprised of vocalists Killer V (Vicky Psarakis) and Rob The Ripper (Robby J. Fonts), guitarist Breakdown Bran (Bran Panic), drummer The True Cody Taylor (Cody Taylor) and bassist Spot-On Sam/SOS (Samuel Bedard) – released their debut 5-song EP, Kings Today, on April 22, 2022.


Sicksense has released the new single, "Fools Tomorrow", featuring Fozzy guitarist Billy Grey. Check out the official video below.







The band recently checked in with the following update:


"Sicksense is ecstatic to announce we are playing our first shows ever, and they'll be happening in our hometown of Montreal! Two back-to-back headline dates in June at Turbo Haüs. Come celebrate our Double EP Release shows with us! We hope to see you there. Get pre-sale tickets & VIP Upgrades here."





Kings Today is now available here.





Kings Today tracklisting:


"Kings Today"
"Forgotten Days"
"Make Believe"
"Soul Snatcher"
"Heart Of Stone"


"Make Believe" video:





"Forgotten Days"





"Kings Today"





Having both performed a range of styles in numerous heavy bands, Killer V and Rob The Ripper (who are married) wanted to return to a genre that’s close to their hearts, but also make music that is specifically written for two vocalists. Written with dual vocal interplay from a male / female perspective, their performance reflects a personal and fun side of them as people, but also tackles social and societal issues in the world today. Backed by guitarist Breakdown Bran (Bran Panic), drummer The Trve Cody Taylor (Cody Taylor) and bassist Spot-On Sam/SOS (Samuel Bedard), Sicksense would be born out of the band’s desire to share their upbeat and fun message with the world. Sicksense chooses musical inspiration from various bands and those influences shine through in their debut EP, Kings Today.   


Sicksense is:


Killer V – Vocals/Keys
Rob The Ripper – Vocals
Breakdown Bran – Guitars
Spot-On Sam/SOS – Bass
The Trve Cody Taylor – Drums


(Photo by: Chris Kells, Edit by: Ash To Life)

CANDLEBOX will release a new, live acoustic album, titled "Live At The Neptune", on June 23 via Pavement Entertainment. It will be available on all streaming platforms, as well as on vinyl and CD.

Featuring all four original CANDLEBOX members — Kevin Martin, Peter Klett, Bardi Martin and Scott Mercado — "Live At The Neptune" was recorded at the Neptune Theatre in Seattle, Washington on November 5, 2021, when the lineup reunited for one night only to celebrate the 26th anniversary of their iconic album "Lucy". The setlist features hit songs from the band’s self-titled debut as well as their sophomore release "Lucy".

Lead singer Kevin Martin says: "That was such an amazing night for us to share with our fans. We're so stoked with how great this recording turned out. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as we do!"

Guitarist Peter Klett adds: "I love that we were able to capture such a vibe. It feels as though you're there with the band."

The track listing is as follows:

Side A

01. Cover Me
02. Blinders
03. He Calls Home
04. Change

Side B

01. Blossom
02. Sometimes
03. You
04. Far Behind

Fans can also pre-order "Live At The Neptune" on CD. This format has two bonus songs that are not included on the vinyl: "A Stone's Throw Away" and "It's Alright".

Last month, CANDLEBOX announced details of its 30th-anniversary celebration and farewell tour. "The Long Goodbye Tour 2023", which kicks off June 10 and runs through September 23, will feature a career retrospective of the band's extensive eight studio album catalogue.

The farewell tour dates, alongside CANDLEBOX's support dates with 3 DOORS DOWN on their "Away From The Sun Anniversary Tour", will hit amphitheaters in major markets across the U.S. CANDLEBOX will also perform with legendary LYNYRD SKYNYRD on Friday, May 5 at Frank Brown Park in Panama City, Florida.

To celebrate, CANDLEBOX will offer VIP meet-and-greet packages at each 3 DOORS DOWN date, including a ticket, early entry, photo with the band, and merchandise.

In addition to CANDLEBOX's extensive tour schedule this year, the band is working on its final studio album with producer Don Miggs. It will be released later this year by Round Hill Records. Additionally, a feature-length documentary, "Far Behind: The Candlebox Story", is in the works for the group. Executive produced by Guy Oseary and Amy Decker and co-produced by Warner Music Entertainment (WME),the television and film division of Warner Music Group, and Highway West Entertainment, the film will explore the beginnings of what the world would come to know as the grunge scene, following CANDLEBOX on their rise to fame.

CANDLEBOX first formed in 1991 and helped lay the groundwork for the grunge genre, alongside notable bands such as PEARL JAM, SOUNDGARDEN, NIRVANA, and others.

CANDLEBOX has sold over seven million albums worldwide, scoring the megahits "Far Behind" and "You", which have garnered over 100 million streams, decades after their initial release. The band's latest album, "Wolves", had been in the top 10 on two Billboard charts (Hard Music Albums and Alternative Albums).

Last May, Martin announced plans to retire after the 30th anniversary of the release of the band's debut album in 2023. "I am retiring after next summer — yes, I am retiring," the CANDLEBOX frontman told the 94.3 The Shark radio station.

Noting that CANDLEBOX would celebrate its 31st birthday in October 2022, Martin said: "I don't know if I would have ever thought that CANDLEBOX would be around this long. I wanted it, of course; I think every kid wants to have that opportunity and a career that lasts decades, and I'm very grateful that it has. But there comes a time where my responsibilities as a husband and a father supersede my responsibilities to the music that I make. And that's kind of where I'm at. I enjoy it, but it's not the love of my life anymore. And that's, I think, when you as an artist you kind of have to recognize that and step away from it. And if it means that five years after that I decide that I wanna go out and do some shows, I'll do it; if two years after that I decide I'm going to do some shows… But I won't be doing the full-band tours for two, three, four months. I don't wanna do that. It's really, really hard. And I miss my family. And physically, it's very taxing. The way I sing, it's acrobatic, so it's not something that I wanna be performing and not have my voice work. So I'd rather go out on top, I think, is the term."

Although Martin plans on retiring from the road, he hasn't closed the door on making more music.

"I know that I've got another record I have to do," he told the 94.3 The Shark. "And people are saying, 'Well, if you do another record, you've gotta tour on it.' Well, that's not necessarily true. I would certainly want to and have people hear it, but I think that the case is that it's probably best for me to just accept that the mindset that I'm in and what I've decided for myself is what I need to do. As much as I may wanna keep singing and doing this and putting myself in the music the way I do, I have to recognize that I'm not in love with it the way I [once] was."

Kevin went on to say that "a lot of people" are telling him that he can't retire. "And a lot of those people are my bandmembers and my management," he revealed. "They're, like, 'You can't retire. People love you, and they love your music.' But like I said, man, I have got to put myself first emotionally in everything I do. And that's kind of where I'm at. I don't want to stop singing a song like 'Sometimes' that means the world to me, or 'It's Alright' or 'Far Behind' or 'You', because I love them, but I just know that it's the decision I have to make."

Ted Nugent says that he stands with Kid Rock in the latter's meltdown over Anheuser-Busch's decision to enlist trans activist and influencer Dylan Mulvaney as a Bud Light brand influencer.

The TikTok star with more than 10 million followers posted a video advertising the beer company's March Madness contest offering customers a chance to win $15,000. This caused a number of conservatives to share their apparent anger over the partnership, including Kid Rock, who posted a video of him using a semi-automatic rifle to shoot a rapid fire of bullets at several cases of Bud Light which had been placed on top of a table by a river.

"Grandpa is feeling a little frisky today. Let me tell you as clear and concise as possible," the 52-year-old rocker said before shooting up the beer. He then raised his middle finger and shouted: "Fuck Bud Light and fuck Anheuser-Busch."

Mulvaney revealed to her Instagram followers that Bud Light had sent her a personalized can with her face on it to commemorate 365 days since she began her gender transition.

However, Anheuser-Busch said the cans with Mulvaney's face on them were a personal gift to her and that she is one of hundreds of influencers the company partners with.

"Anheuser-Busch works with hundreds of influencers across our brands as one of many ways to authentically connect with audiences across various demographics and passion points," a spokesperson for the company told Fox News. "From time to time, we produce unique commemorative cans for fans and for brand influencers, like Dylan Mulvaney. This commemorative can was a gift to celebrate a personal milestone and is not for sale to the general public."

Nugent addressed Anheuser-Busch's collaboration with Mulvaney in an interview with Eric Bolling, the host of Newsmax's "Eric Bolling The Balance". Addressing Kid Rock's response to the world's largest brewing company's partnership with the TikTok star, Ted said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think I might have trained Kid Rock appropriately, because nothing says 'I love you' like a fully automatic MP5 and nine-millimeter blasting about 600 rounds per minute.

"The beauty of my life — there's so many things — is that I've never spent one red cent on alcohol, but I made my sure that my entire crew and my family will never allow any Anheuser-Bush products anywhere near my world," he continued. "Or now it looks like Jack Daniel's has fallen into the same crevasse of stupidity," he said, apparently referencing a Jack Daniel's ad from two years ago featuring a trio of drag performers as part of the brand's pact with "RuPaul's Drag Race" alums on the "Drag Queen Summer Glamp" campaign.

"How could they be that disrespectful and give the middle finger to their core consumer demographic?" Ted added. "Can they possibly have a meeting around a table and come to the conclusion that they're gonna piss in the face of the people that pay their salaries? This is the epitome of a cultural deprivation in an ongoing tsunami of cultural deprivation, but I get a kick out of it because good people are still standing our ground.

"I just wrapped up a wonderful shitkicker brunch I have every week with farmers and ranchers and cops and teachers and hardware store operators and energy barons and guitar players and music people, and we stand with Kid Rock's statement that if that corporation of that industry can be that out of touch and disrespectful to their consumer base, then — like Kid Rock said — have a nice day, dirtbags."

When Bolling implied that the vast majority of beer consumers would likely not be interested in promoting the radical gender theory associated with Dylan's gender identity, Ted said: "Don't try to use logic to figure this stuff out. Don't try to use logic to figure out Joe Biden or Kamala Harris. Don't try to use logic or you'll have a headache, because there's no logic to be found.

"I'm a guy that celebrates truth, logic and common sense, much like you, Eric, and all of my friends, and truth, logic and common sense is kryptonite to our government, to Big Tech, to the media, to everything leftist, communist, Democrat party. These people have not only lost their minds, they've lost their souls.

"And remember, I'm a big fan of quality beverages," he continued. "I think a beer is probably better for you than a sugary, nasty drink loaded with things that are bad for you. But I don't drink alcohol. But I have a backstage party every night, and my crew and my band and my friends come. There will never be any Anheuser-Busch or Jack Daniel's because they've gone down the same route.

"So we the people who stand for good over evil, we can't just voice it; we've really got to enact it. Walk the walk, not just talk the talk. So everybody out there, this is an indicator that you don't support Disney. You don't even support Tractor Supply. Eric, they supported a drag queen event in Waco where these perverted monsters were singing to children, 'We like it when you kiss me where I pee.' And an outfit like Tractor Supply supports this?

"So we don't do business with those people," Ted added. "And we call their headquarters and we let 'em know that we don't do business with them and we tell 'em that nobody we know will do business with them. So I'd like to think that the response to this will be appropriate."

Nugent and Kid Rock got to spend some time in the Oval Office with then-U.S. president Donald Trump in April 2017. They were joined by Sarah Palin, the former Alaskan governor and GOP vice presidential nominee, who posted photos of the visit on social media the following morning. Nugent later told the Detroit Free Press that he and Kid Rock represent a salt-of-the-earth American demographic that helped Trump land the presidency.

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Finland's Recordshop X has issued the following update for Children Of Bodom fans:


"Back in 2009, the cover album of Children Of Bodom, Skeletons In The Closet, was released only on CD format, so it's about time to have it available on wax as well! Double vinyl includes all 20 tracks which were recorded on the album, now for the first time on same record. We suggest to pre-order the green color version asap, cos it's limited to only 300 copies worldwide. If you like to carry things, why not order a bundle tote bag with this magnificent vinyl reissue?"


Go to this location to pre-order. Official release date is June 16th, 2023.







Tracklist:


Side A
"Lookin’ Out My Back Door" (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
"Hell Is For Children" (Pat Benatar)
"Somebody Put Something In My Drink" (Ramones)
"Mass Hypnosis" (Sepultura)
"Don´t Stop At The Top" (Scorpions)


Side B
"Silent Scream" (Slayer)
"She Is Beautiful" (Andrew W.K.)
"Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" (Kenny Rogers)
"Bed Of Nails" (Alice Cooper)
"Hellion" (W.A.S.P.)


SiDe C
"Aces High" (Iron Maiden)
"Rebel Yell" (Billy Idol)
"No Commands" (Stone)
"Antisocial" (Trust/Anthrax)
"Talk Dirty To Me" (Poison)


Side D
"War Inside My Head" (Suicidal Tendencies)
"Ooops!… I Did It Again" (Britney Spears)
"Waiting" (King Diamond)
"Ghostriders In The Sky" (Bob Geddins Cavaliers)
"Shot In The Dark" (Ozzy Osbourne) 


"Aces High"





"Shot In The Dark"





"Hellion"

Bringing together East Coast attitude with West Coast swagger, Trip The Wire is a high-energy hard rock band from one of rock music’s meccas: Seattle, Washington. The group is set to release their self-titled debut on June 16th, 2023.


Today, Trip The Wire has shared the first taste of their new album with the single / video "Hurricane".







Born and raised in the Bronx, Trip The Wire’s frontwoman Eve Clarke joined forces with lifetime Washingtonian axe-man Dave Farrell in 2020. Soon after, Eve's bandmate from another project, bass player Johnny Massey, joined the fold. Drummer Rico Ybarra rounded out the lineup just prior to the band’s first show at Tony V’s in Everett, Washington. 


Trip The Wire’s upcoming self-titled debut offering, in all aspects, is a true blue heavy metal opus. The musical vibe is that of classic to traditional heavy metal with the catchiness and infectiousness of the occasional pop influence. Vocally, Clarke can sit right up on the throne with any of the great metal vocalists of the day. Musically, the same goes for the rest of the band, whose cohesion and tight execution make for an album that is both relentless and well-paced. 


Thematically, the album traverses a continent’s worth of territory. Album opener “In The Crossfire” is your battle anthem for 2023, while “Hurricane” is a hot, steamy endeavor about not being able to get enough of your lover. The accompanying video for “Hurricane” also sees Clarke’s video production debut. “Shine On” showcases the band’s softer, more emotional side, while “Step Nine” takes to task the harsh realities of coping with behaviors that stem from addiction. 


Trip The Wire wants you to “take a leap and put it all on the line. Go for it, live life to the fullest.” Recorded and mixed by Sean Walker at Uberbeatz Studios in Lynnwood, WA and mastered by Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering in Los Angeles, CA, their debut is sure to fire you up to do just that!





Tracklisting:


"In The Crossfire"
"Anti Love"
"Hurricane"
"Zombie Child"
"Shine On"
"The Fire"
"Maybe Next Time"
"Outta My Hands"
"Never Enough"
"Step Nine"


 

METALLICA kicked off a four-night residency on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Monday night (April 10) by sitting down for a chat with host Jimmy Kimmel and performing "Lux Æterna", the lead single from the band's upcoming album, "72 Seasons". During the interview portion of their appearance on the ABC program, Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich talked about being on our show all week, young people being into their music, "Master Of Puppets" exploding after "Stranger Things", their kids being musicians, their cover song competition for high school and college marching bands, going on tour and doing two nights in each city, pressing their own vinal records, and the first albums that each of them ever bought. You can watch video below.

"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" has the distinction of being the longest-running late night program still on the air.

Last Friday, when METALLICA first announced its "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" residency, the band wrote on social media: "In a first for the Jimmy Kimmel Live! show, it's 'Metallica Week,' as we will be the musical guest each night, beginning on Monday, April 10, through Thursday, April 13. We'll be playing live for all four shows, and you'll also catch us on the couch, chatting with Jimmy one night. Keep your eyes peeled for other sightings during the broadcast, as we really don't know what else Jimmy will get us involved in!"

METALLICA previously appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in 2021 when they read one-star reviews of their classic Black Album on the show. More recently, Kimmel hosted METALLICA's "All Within My Hands" benefit concert and auction in December.

"72 Seasons" will be released April 14 via METALLICA's own Blackened Recordings. Produced by Greg Fidelman with Hetfield and Ulrich, and clocking in at over 77 minutes, the 12-track "72 Seasons" is METALLICA's first full-length collection of new material since 2016's "Hardwired…To Self-Destruct". The album will be released in formats, including 2LP 140g black vinyl and limited-edition variants, CD and digital.

METALLICA and Trafalgar Releasing will hold a worldwide "72 Seasons" listening party. For one night only on Thursday, April 13, "72 Seasons" will be played in full in surround sound, exclusively for cinema audiences worldwide — with every one of the new songs featuring its own music video and exclusive commentary from the band.

The "72 Seasons" global premiere sees METALLICA and Trafalgar joining forces once more, having previously worked together on the October 2019 worldwide cinematic release of "S&M²", which documented METALLICA and San Francisco Symphony reuniting to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their original "S&M" (Symphony & Metallica) concerts and releases.

In the seven years since the arrival of "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct", METALLICA has reissued some of its classic albums, released a second live album with the San Francisco Symphony, commissioned a covers album featuring the likes of GHOST, VOLBEAT, WEEZER, Corey Taylor and THE HU, and landed on the Billboard songs chart with "Master Of Puppets" after a prominent placement in the hit Netflix show "Stranger Things".

Iberian black/death metal practitioners, Noctem, performed the title track of their 2019 album, The Black Consecration, during their set at Bloodstock Open Air 2022. Watch professionally-filmed footage below:





The band’s new full-length, Credo Certe Ne Cras, was released last October via MNRK Heavy. Find order options here.







Credo Certe Ne Cras trackisting:


"I Am Alpha"
"Sovereign Providence"
"Sanctum Of Anguish"
"Credo Certe Ne Cras"
"Homilia Of Punishment"
"The Pale Moon Rite"
"The Tolling Of The Nine Bells"
"Chalice Of Turpitude"
"Ceremonial Miasma"
"We Are Omega"


"Credo Certe Ne Cras" video:





"We Are Omega" video:





Noctem:


Beleth - vocals
Varu - bass
Voor - drums
Moss - guitars
Tobal - guitars

Montreal, Canada's Vvon Dogma I burst onto the scene with their debut EP, Communion, back in 2017, which received critical acclaim for its innovative sound and intricate instrumentation provided by nine-string bassist Chaoth, known for his playing in Unexpect.


Now, Vvon Dogma I is releasing another album, The Kvlt Of Glitch, poised to take things to the next level, pushing the boundaries of experimental rock and challenging listeners with their unconventional approach to music.


The first single to be dropped is “One Eye”, on which Chaoth shares his thoughts: “It is the first single even though it doesn't necessarily represent the whole album. Sometimes you have to go with something different. It sounds more playful and not as serious than the rest of this dark-ass album and I guess the video shows that a little bit. I got to collaborate with my old friend Pierre-Olivier Forest for the video. Really just an excuse to reconnect with an old friend.”




Musically, Chaoth comes from a world where you have to dare to do something different, and The Kvlt Of Glitch is exactly that. It will wrench the listener out of his or her comfort zone and send them into another dimension of deep synths and extraordinary riffs.


The writing process for Vvon Dogma I is mostly taken upon by Chaoth right now, but he is looking to have way more collaboration on the following releases. ''It starts with the music and then I apply lines from my lyric book'', but Chaoth says that sometimes the music forces you to change the words so that everything flows phonetically. It's like a sonic Tetris where everything needs to fall into place and feel right.


“One Eye” is recommended for open-minded fans who enjoy avant-garde sounds and who already enjoy Sleep Token, Unprocessed, and Meshuggah. Watch the music video for “One Eye” below.


The Kvlt Of Glitch was produced by Chaoth along with Blaise Borboën-Léonard, Chris Donaldson (Cryptopsy), and Dave Evangelista, and is due out May 5. Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:​


"The Void"
"Tabula Rasa"
"Triangles and Crosses"
"Day of The Dead"
"One Eye"
"Hivemind"
"Lithium Blue"
"2 + 2 = 5" (Radiohead cover)
"Hurt"
"The Great Maze"


"One Eye" video:

Mentalist and former Blind Guardian drummer, Thomen Stauch, has released a drum playthrough video for Gotthard's "I Wonder", lifted from that band's 2005 release, Lipservice. Watch below:





A selection of Thomen's previous drum cover videos are available below:

Music In Motion Ent is set to release Honymoon Suite's Clifton Hill... Revisited. This 2023 reissue has been remixed from the original multi-tracks bringing the sound into the modern era. Johnnie Dee and Derry Grehan have recorded two new acoustic versions of “Ordinary” and “Sittin' In The Garden” with producer Vic Branco at Iguana Studios in Toronto, ON along with the accompanying videos. A Dolby Atmos mix of the album from Iguana Studios will also be available online.


Honeymoon Suite’s sixth studio album was recorded in an old church in Hamilton, ON and produced by Tom Treumuth, who also produced the band’s triple platinum debut album in 1984. The songs are classic Honeymoon Suite returning to the pure melodic rock sound that made the band famous in the 80’s. The title of the album is a nod to their roots in Niagara Falls, ON where it all started in 1982. Street date is soon to be announced for fall 2023.







Tracklisting:


"The House"
"Riffola"
"That's All U Got"
"Why Should I?"
"Ordinary"
"She Ain't Alright"
"Sunday Morning"
"Tired O' Waiting On You"
"Restless"
"Separate Lives"
"Sittin' In The Garden"
"Ordinary" (acoustic) *
"Sittin' In The Garden" (acoustic) *  


* denotes CD version only


The limited edition CD/LP version is now available for pre-sale on the Honeymoon Suite webstore here through RockPaperMerch.com. This special edition of 200 pieces is pressed on red/yellow swirl vinyl and comes in special gatefold packaging that also houses the CD version with bonus tracks. All albums are personally hand signed by vocalist Johnnie Dee and guitarist Derry Grehan.


Prior to their full band concert on May 26 at Classic Bowl in Mississauga ON, Johnnie and Derry will perform a special acoustic set on May 24 at the same venue to celebrate the release of Clifton Hill... Revisited. 100 fans will be the first to hear the new album and view the two new videos at a listening party. A special live acoustic set will follow including never before played songs from Clifton Hill plus a selection of  the band's hits. Johnnie & Derry will then have an exclusive Q&A and everyone who purchased the release will get their Clifton Hill... Revisited CD/LP personally signed.


Tickets and details are now available through the band's webstore on RockPaperMerch.com. Doors open at 6 PM. All packages also include a Commemorative Ticket and special Room Key keychain.

TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider was the latest celebrity to be revealed on Wednesday's (April 5) episode of "The Masked Singer", as the Doll.

Doll came in third place, behind Dandelion and Mantis, after a performance of "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley. None of the panelists got Doll's identity right. Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg thought it was Iggy Pop. Robin Thicke went with Gene Simmons, Nicole Scherzinger named David Lee Roth and Ken Jeong guessed Austin Butler.

"I couldn't believe you guys didn't get it," Dee said to the panel during his unmasked interview with host Nick Cannon. "You were circling around it. But let me tell you — Gene Simmons, Iggy Pop, no one could wear pumps like I did. And by the way, ladies, it's like riding a bike. I wore them in the '70s. It all came back to me once I put them on." When asked if he had anything to say to his fans, Dee began an impromptu performance of his band's classic hit "We're Not Gonna Take It".

Based on an international hit, "The Masked Singer" features celebrities facing off against one another with one major twist: each singer is shrouded from head to toe in an elaborate costume, complete with full face mask to conceal his or her identity.

Asked by Entertainment Weekly why he decided to do "The Masked Singer" now, Dee said: "Well, actually, to tell a secret, I was asked season one to be on the show. And I said, 'No, this show will never work.' [Laughs] Nine seasons later, they said, 'Will you be on it now?' 'Yes, I'll be on it now.' I did the same thing with 'Sharknado' by the way. They asked me to be in 'Sharknado 1', I go, 'Oh, this will never work.' And then 'Sharknado 6' there I was in Romania dressed as a sheriff. And apologizing to the director. 'You were right. You were right.' So you gotta imagine I said no and all of a sudden this show it's just like, blowing up. Well, that was really a bad call. So I was glad to get asked to have another chance."

Snider also talked about the difficulty of performing while wearing the Doll costume, saying: "I had to pull back my natural performing tendency. People say, 'Wow, you were really moving on stage.' But what I would do normally and what I wanted to do was so much more, but with my limited range of vision, and wearing these high heels, there was a lot of obstacles, many edges of the stage to fall off of. There was gaps, there was wires, all kinds of things like that. So if I communicate anything to your readers, I'd say, appreciate that this is a very difficult thing for every single member of the cast who comes on that show. And we're out of our comfort zone. It's almost like a sensory deprivation situation when they put that headpiece on you. It is like, whoa, where am I? What am I doing? Where am I going? I can't see anything. You know, so it's tough."

AS I LAY DYING has completed recording the drums for the band's next studio album. The LP will mark the band's first with its new lineup, featuring founding vocalist Tim Lambesis and longtime guitarist Phil Sgrosso alongside drummer Nick Pierce (ex-UNEARTH),bassist vocalist Ryan Neff (MISS MAY I) and guitarist Ken Susi (UNEARTH).

Earlier today (Monday, April 10),AS I LAY DYING shared a photo and a short video from the studio and included the following message: "Drums have been tracked for the new album".

Last September, Lambesis told Metalshop TV about AS I LAY DYING's recent lineup changes: "I think for our fans, they think that the changes happened all in a very short period of time, but they actually happened over the last two years. The first change was on guitar we invited Ken Susi to fill in for us. And that was about two years ago that we invited him. But then, of course, the pandemic happened and so we had a lot of breaks until we had a tour again. So Ken's been rehearsing with us, or talking about rehearsing with us, for the last couple of years. And on drums we have Nick Pierce, who joined us. Nick Pierce was previously in UNEARTH; Ken is from UNEARTH as well. And Nick stopped playing with UNEARTH and coincidentally at the same time we needed a drummer, because our previous drummer hadn't been communicating with us; he went very isolated once the pandemic hit. And so there wasn't an argument or anything like that; it was just a situation where when the pandemic hit, he decided to take a new direction in life and kind of cut himself off from the rest of us. And we decided we wanted to keep going forward. Phil and I had been the ones writing the songs all these years, so when Nick Pierce left UNEARTH, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to have him perform with us. And then Ryan came from MISS MAY I. He was the last guy to come in. And he didn't come in until a couple of months ago. Our bass player, Josh, previously left, and he's with SPIRITBOX now. And when he decided to go perform with SPIRITBOX, we called up Ryan, who was with MISS MAY I. And Ryan Neff was on tour at the time. And then we asked him, 'Can you start touring with us as soon as this tour is over?' And he said, 'Well, I'm only gonna have three days off to rehearse in between tours.' He said, 'If you guys want me to do it, I'll make sure I come prepared.' And he had a lot to learn in three days, but he pulled it together. He's a very, very hard-working guy."

Lambesis also talked about AS I LAY DYING's plans for a new studio album as a follow-up to "Shaped By Fire", which came out in September 2019 via Nuclear Blast.

"Well, we have demos going back and forth between Phil and I," he said at the time. "The two of us have been writing songs for 20 years, and so we have a very, I guess, refined method of writing where we exchange demos early on so that they have room to be pulled apart. And then once there's a full instrumental, then I start writing lyrics. And I typically don't write lyrics until after we have all the instrumentals together. So pretty shortly after this tour we'll finish the demo process and then I can start writing lyrics. And hopefully by the end of the year we'll finish recording so we can have an album next year."

In June 2022, longtime AS I LAY DYING drummer Jordan Mancino announced that he would sit out the band's tour due to "a number of ongoing internal issues" that "have not yet been resolved."

Mancino's announcement came less than a month after AS I LAY DYING's longtime bassist/vocalist Josh Gilbert revealed that he was leaving the band. In a statement, the remaining members of AS I LAY DYING said that Gilbert "decided to exit" the group "to pursue other musical opportunities."

Josh was the second AS I LAY DYING member to leave the band in less than a year. In August 2021, guitarist Nick Hipa confirmed his exit from AS I LAY DYING, explaining that he could no longer justify being part of "a superficial pursuit" of the "story and meaning" that the band's 2018 reunion was built upon.

Lambesis was famously convicted in 2014 for his role in a murder-for-hire plot against his estranged wife.

In May 2014, Lambesis was sentenced to six years in jail after pleading guilty to paying a San Diego police officer posing as a hitman $1,000 to kill his wife. Approximately two and a half years later — on December 17, 2016 — he was discharged from a California detention facility and was transferred to the Division of Adult Parole Operations.

In June 2018, AS I LAY DYING played its first show with Lambesis in five years and released a new single. Lambesis also owned up to his crimes in a long apology on the band's Facebook page after his release.

The return of AS I LAY DYING raised some questions, particularly since Hipa categorically denounced the band's disgraced frontman as a "sociopathic narcissist in definite need of rehabilitation" in a social-media post back in 2014.

In September 2021, AS I LAY DYING released a new song called "Roots Below" which was originally a B-side leftover from when the sessions for "Shaped By Fire".

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Nomad Snakepit Productions has announced the June 1 release of Infernäl Mäjesty's None Shall Live (In Rotterdam) album.


Infernäl Mäjesty, the undisputed Canadian masters of old-school death/thrash metal, went on tour through Europe in 1997 (together with Malevolent Creation, Vader and Vital Remains), where they finally presented their timeless ’87 opus, None Shall Defy, for the very first time to the hungry European crowds. One of their live shows (in Rotterdam, The Netherlands) happened to be captured with an amazing sound quality, and was recently resurrected by Nomad Snakepit Productions.







The LP features five tracks from their magnum opus None Shall Defy, and one that would later appear on (and name) their sophomore album, Unholier Than Thou. The LP has been pressed on red/yellow vinyl (honouring the flames of Hell) and is strictly limited to 200 copies. It further contains an insert with extensive liner-notes and exclusive band pictures.





Tracklisting:


"None Shall Defy"
"Anthology Of Death"
"Overlord"
"Unholier Than Thou"
"S.O.S."
"Night Of The Living Dead"

In a new interview with Consequence, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich said that he prides him on the ability to play what the song calls for, adding that a talented drummer will play what's best for the song and can perform simply, even though they are capable of doing more when needed.

"It's often easier to play fast than it is to play slow," Ulrich explained. "Or it's easier to sit down and figure out how to play 600 notes in a guitar solo than it is to play 20 that are tasty. You can learn the 600 notes from a book, but it's much harder to learn how, like a [Eric] Clapton or [Jimi] Hendrix or [Ritchie] Blackmore, some of these guys weave in and out of time signatures. That's not something that's so easy to write down. That's more feel, and feel is less easily definable in a book than is ability.

"I'm just more interested in landing on what the song needs, than, 'Look at what I could do with backwards paradiddles standing on my head, dangling from the ceiling,'" he added.

Lars's latest comments come more than two years after he told METALLICA's So What! fan-club magazine that he is no longer bothered by people's criticism of his drumming abilities. At the time, the Danish-born musician said: "Unlike years ago, I basically don't read any of the interviews that the other guys [in METALLICA] do. 20 or 30 years ago, we would all sit and fucking read every page of Kerrang! and every page of Circus magazine, see what so-and-so's saying and what the other band members were saying, what James [Hetfield, METALLICA guitarist/vocalist] was saying about this and that. Now there's just none of that. I also don't really read what people say about METALLICA.

"I'll say that occasionally, once every six months or something like that, it's kind of fun to go through the trolling section just because of the ridiculousness of all of it, but it's not something that I do regularly anymore," he revealed. "20 years ago, it would've been, 'Oh, my God, somebody said something bad,' or, 'That person said a nasty comment in the comments section,' or whatever. Now, none of that really means anything to me."

Back in 2016, Ulrich, who has gotten a lot of flak over the years from people who accused him of being a poor drummer, told the "Talk Is Jericho" podcast that he went through a period in the mid-1980s "that probably culminated in the 'Justice' album where I felt sort of compelled to try to show ability."

According to Lars, part of the reason for him feeling insecure about his abilities was the increased competition from some of his peers.

"Listen, when you've got Dave Lombardo and Charlie Benante breathing down your back, it was, like, 'Okay, I've gotta…' I tried to step it up a little bit and tried to do my own thing and do all this crazy shit," he said. "I was trying really hard to push the drums kind of into the foreground. And then, after like a year or two of that, I was, like, 'Okay. Seriously? Just do your thing. Chill out. Support the riffs. Do what's best for the song.' So since around I guess the late '80s — so I guess it's been, like, 25 years now — the only thing that's really interested me is just doing the best thing for the song."

Asked in a 2008 interview with U.K.'s Rhythm magazine if he was troubled by the fact that he's gotten a lot of flak over the years from people who accused him of being a poor drummer, Lars said: "It used to, back in the day — and I spent a lot of time overcompensating for that on the early records. But then you wake up one day and you're like, whatever. It hasn't bothered me for [many] years. I'm no Joey Jordison, I'm no Mike Portnoy, and I have nothing but love and respect and admiration for all those guys. When I hear some of the young dudes, they blow my mind with what they can do with their feet and stuff — but it's not something that makes me go, 'I need to feel better about myself so I'm gonna learn how to do what they do with my feet.' I'm not a particularly accomplished drummer but I am very, very, very good at understanding the role of the drums next to James Hetfield's rhythm guitar. I guarantee you I'm the best guy in the world for that, and that's enough for me."

Ulrich stated about his playing ability in a 2012 interview with DRUM! magazine: "I usually feel like I've regressed. [Laughs] I'm like, 'Why can't I do that anymore?'" He continued: "I can't say that I necessarily sit down to practice, like, 'I'm going to play and practice so I can get better.' What happens is that I just sit down and kind of play to just more stay in shape."

Ulrich added: "You know, METALLICA was up to two or three months off [in 2011], and I would sit down, I have an iPod next to my drums so I can play along to all kind of crazy stuff, and try to see if I can land in the same zip code of some of that stuff occasionally. But I can't say that I sit down to necessarily practice to sort of get better. For most of my stuff, it's about listening and about interpreting stuff that I'm listening to. So all the kind of sitting down and, you know, 'Now I'm going to do thirty-second-note paradiddles standing on my head — you know what I mean? I don't do that kind of stuff so much. For me it's more about the regimen of staying in shape, running every day, eating healthy, you know, being on top of that side of it."

EMPEROR frontman Ihsahn (real name: Vegard Sverre Tveitan) says that he would be open to the idea of him and his bandmates writing and recording a comeback album under the right set of circumstances.

EMPEROR's last studio album, "Prometheus - The Discipline Of Fire & Demise", was released in 2001 and was written entirely by Ihsahn. The band broke up shortly thereafter, with Ihsahn going on to pursue a solo career, while guitarist Samoth (real name: Tomas Thormodsæter Haugen) partook in a variety of bands, including SCUM and ZYKLON. EMPEROR has reunited frequently in ensuing years to perform live, but has continually resisted calls to release new material, something Ihsahn says he is no longer completely opposed to.

Asked in a new interview with Australia's Heavy if there will ever be a follow-up to "Prometheus - The Discipline Of Fire & Demise", Ihsahn said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "If I had a dime for every time someone asked that… That's, of course, a question that has come up a lot. And I think it's easy to answer and it's kind of hard at the same point. Because to start with, for 20 years, I've been, like, 'No way.' I've seen no point in doing that. But it's always come up. And it's something that me and Samoth have to relate to. And sometimes we touch on it more like just by coincidence.

"From my perspective, and I can only speak for myself, so far it's been very hard to see where we would pick up," he continued. "The legacy of EMPEROR is that we never compromised. I think that is what appealed to the people who got into this music, that it was not made in a certain way for people to like it. It was just made totally without compromise, and people picked up on it probably because of that honesty.

"If we were to make another EMPEROR record, should we make something that sounded like the old stuff? Which would be easy, but it wouldn't really be true," Ihsahn explained. "Or should we pick up where we left off with 'Prometheus', with me doing more and more experimental stuff. I'm not sure that would be what the fans would want. In the end, what would be the motivation outside any commercial things? And I think for it to happen, we would have to come to a place where our ideas aligned and that it felt right to do, in the same way that the shows have come together and we are now in a place where it feels right to do, where everybody's kind of in the same place.

"So, before [I would have said] immediately no, but if circumstances would have it that we would connect creatively and that we could create something on the same pure kind of values that we did in the first place, then I would be open to do that," he added.

EMPEROR will embark on their first U.S. tour in over 15 years this summer. The trek will kick off on June 23 in Chicago, Illinois and conclude on July 1 in Anaheim, California.

Formed in 1991, EMPEROR's game-changing debut "In The Nightside Eclipse" (1995) created the template for symphonic, bombastic, melodic black metal, while the follow-up record, "Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk" (1997) became an instant hit. They disbanded in 2001 following the release of "Prometheus – The Discipline of Fire & Demise". They reunited periodically between 2005 and 2014. In late 2016 it was announced that EMPEROR would reunite again for a special set of performances to celebrate the 20th anniversary of "Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk". This legendary album cemented EMPEROR's reputation as the flagbearers of black metal and is still recognized as one of the most influential in this genre.

Photo credit: Bjørn Tore Moen / Freeman Promotions

JOURNEY guitarist Neal Schon says that he supports MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist Mick Mars in his legal dispute with his bandmates over the latter group's ongoing tour.

When Mars, a co-founding member of MÖTLEY CRÜE, announced his retirement from touring with the group last October as a result of worsening health issues, he maintained that he would remain a member of the band, with John 5 taking his place on the road. However, in his lawsuit, which was filed last Thursday (April 6) in Los Angeles County's Superior Court, Mars said that, after his announcement, the rest of CRÜE tried to remove him as a significant stakeholder in the group's corporation and business holdings via a shareholders' meeting.

Specifically, Mars claims he was asked to sign a severance agreement that would divest him of his 25 percent stake in the band's various business interests in return for a 5 percent stake in the band's 2023 tour. This stake, the lawsuit alleges, would be reduced to 0 percent for future tours. Mick claims CRÜE's management later upped the offer from 5 percent to a 7.5 percent stake in the band's 2023 tour, which would remain contingent on Mars divesting himself from the band and their businesses. When Mars refused to sign the papers, the band took the dispute to arbitration "rather than a public lawsuit so that the public would not be aware of the deplorable manner in which they treated their 'brother' of 41 years," Mick claims in the lawsuit.

Schon, who founded JOURNEY in 1972 and remains the band's sole consistent member, having participated in every album and tour to date, weighed in on Mick's dispute with CRÜE on social media on Saturday (April 8). Responding to a Twitter poll asking "Are you on #TeamMick [or] #TeamMotleyCrue", Schon wrote "Mick" and added in a follow-up tweet: "Given his health issues, and he obvious swagger, he gives to the band through his guitar playing. He didn't deserve this."

After Mars filed his lawsuit on Thursday, MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx responded on Twitter, writing: "Sad day for us and we don't deserve this considering how many years we've been propping him up. We still wish him the best and hope he find's [sic] lawyers and managers who aren't damaging him. We love you Mick."

Mars suffers from Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS),a chronic and inflammatory form of arthritis that mainly affects the spine and pelvis. After years of performing through the pain, he informed the other members of MÖTLEY CRÜE last summer that he could no longer tour with them but would still be open to recording new music or performing at residencies that did not require much travel.

"Retiring from touring is resigning from the band," MÖTLEY CRÜE lawyer Sahsa Frid told Variety in response to the lawsuit. "The band's primary function is to tour and perform concerts. And as you saw from the amendment, if a shareholder resigns, he cannot receive any compensation from touring — which is what Mick is trying to get. It's clear-cut that Mick is not entitled to any more money."

In his lawsuit, Mars also alleged that he was the only band member to play 100 percent live on their most recent tour, claiming Sixx "did not play a single note on bass during the entire U.S. tour."

According to Variety, Mars's attorney said he was warned by the band's lawyers that "if your client rejects the severance package that was graciously offered to him by the band, he will get next to nothing. I suggest you think about the repercussions of this decision… There is undisputed legal cause here for Mick's removal. Mick is unable to perform as a full-fledged band member. Among other things, as demonstrated during the last tour, he repeatedly forgets his chords, does not play the right song, plays chords of a different song while on stage, and so on."

Mick's filing claimed that MÖTLEY CRÜE filed an arbitration case against him in February, "essentially suing him" to prove that it had the right to fire him from the band.

"They clearly commenced an arbitration, rather than a public lawsuit, so that the public would not be aware of the deplorable manner in which they treated their 'brother' of 41 years," lawyers for Mars wrote in the petition.

Mick is suing MÖTLEY CRÜE so he can go over all the financial books and determine if he's getting what he feels he deserves.

Neal Schon photo credit: Erik Kabik
Given his health issues, and he obvious swagger, he gives to the band through his guitar playing. He didn’t deserve this.

— NEAL SCHON MUSIC (@NealSchonMusic) April 8, 2023

GHOST leader Tobias Forge has revealed in a new interview with NME that he recorded covers of classic songs by RUSH, MISFITS, U2 and MOTÖRHEAD during the sessions that yielded the upcoming "Phantomime" EP, scheduled for release on May 18. However, it is not clear if those tracks will ever see the light of day.

"During the demoing of [GHOST's latest studio album] 'Impera', I kept working on demos for what I just referred to as the 'cover album'," he told NME. "Originally, the idea was to have 10 songs on this covers record, because I wanted to make a complete record and that LP was going to basically mirror 'Impera' somehow.

"Originally the selection was a little bit more eclectic," Forge revealed. "Look, I'm not going into great detail about them, because we might use some of them at a later point. But it was basically like a piano version of a MOTÖRHEAD song. There was [also] a MISFITS song that was really cool and a U2 track. We recorded it all. In fact, we did a really finished demo of RUSH's 'Distant Early Warning', and then after 'Impera', I was just like, 'I want to do a rock EP. A pure rock EP.'"

Forge explained that the decision to abandon the idea of a 10-track covers album in a favor of an EP came about because he felt "fried" by the "Impera" album sessions.

"I thought I’ll sort of take away some of the more experimental stuff, and just focus on the rock songs — the ones that are energetic," he said. "The ones that don't go into any excursions, as in not a piano-led MOTÖRHEAD track. There were even instrumental covers; like proper instrumentals. But I just wanted to basically make a new recording that was as opposed to 'Impera' as could be — quick and fairly simple."

"Phantomime" is comprised of covers of classics and deep cuts by TELEVISION, GENESIS, THE STRANGLERS, IRON MAIDEN and Tina Turner.

Sunday's (April 9) announcement of "Phantomime"'s impending release also solved the mystery of GHOST's recent "Jesus Is Coming" campaign, as referenced in the Good Friday premiere of the newest installment of the band's long-running webisode series, "Chapter 17: Nap Time". "Phantomime"'s May 18 release via Loma Vista Recordings was heralded by GHOST's interpretation of GENESIS's 1992 satirical stab at televangelists "Jesus He Knows Me", available now to stream and download.

This second coming of "Jesus He Knows Me" is accompanied by an Alex Ross Perry-directed video that will surely make the case that one person's beauty is another's blasphemy. Culminating in a climactic ritual that must be seen to be believed, GHOST's visual interpretation of "Jesus He Knows Me" rises to the occasion in unholy fashion — and then some.

"Phantomime" track listing:

01. See No Evil (TELEVISION)
02. Jesus He Knows Me (GENESIS)
03. Hanging Around (THE STRANGLERS)
04. Phantom Of The Opera (IRON MAIDEN)
05. We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) (Tina Turner)

GHOST is no stranger to covers, having previously tackled material originally written and recorded by THE BEATLES ("Here Comes The Sun"), ABBA ("I'm A Marionette"), DEPECHE MODE ("Waiting For The Night"), Roky Erickson ("If You Have Ghosts"), METALLICA ("Enter Sandman"), PET SHOP BOYS ("It's A Sin") and EURYTHMICS ("Missionary Man"), among others.

This past February, GHOST revealed details of its upcoming "Re-Imperatour" summer 2023 U.S. tour with special guest AMON AMARTH. Produced by Live Nation and FPC Live, the 27-date trek kicks off on Wednesday, August 2 in Concord, California at Concord Pavilion, with stops in Salt Lake City, Chicago, Cincinnati, Austin and more before wrapping up with the band's Monday, September 11 return to the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.

GHOST is continuing to tour in support of its latest album, "Impera", which sold 70,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release to land at position No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. It marked the third top 10 album — and fifth top 40-charting set — for the Swedish act. The 12-song effort was produced by Klas Åhlund and mixed by Andy Wallace.

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

Forge worked on the follow-up to 2018's "Prequelle" with Åhlund and Swedish co-writers Salem Al Fakir and Vincent Pontare, whose credits include Madonna and Lady Gaga.

In January, GHOST released a new version of its song "Spillways" featuring a guest appearance by DEF LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott.

"Spillways" is taken from "Impera", which was released in March 2022.