In a new interview with "The Chuck Shute Podcast", Steve Augeri, who was the lead singer of JOURNEY from 1998 to 2006, was asked about the recent headline-making issues between guitarist Neal Schon and keyboardist Jonathan Cain, with Neal suggesting at one point that founding JOURNEY keyboardist/singer Gregg Rolie would be making an appearance on the band's current tour. Augeri said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Look, if you asked me about them or if you asked me about my next-door neighbor and if their marriage was kind of rocky, it's the same thing. It's not my business; it's none of my business. However, it's a relationship that's going on for 50 years, and that's extraordinary, just to achieve that milestone. And if you don't have cracks in your foundation, I don't know — you must also walk on water. Nobody walks on water. They've been together this long. There's a good chance that they could… I'm sure they could patch things up, except things have been a little rocky lately, more so than ever."

He continued: "That's all I can say. It's theirs to work out, their issue to work out. And I hope they do — for the sake of the band, and equally for the sake of the fans, because you can't help but think that it affects them as well."

Augeri was also touched upon the fact that current JOURNEY singer Arnel Pineda recently posted a series of cryptic tweets that suggested he is unhappy with how things are going with the group. Asked if he thinks JOURNEY would ask him to return to the band and whether he would accept the invitation, Steve said: "Well, I would probably say no and no. And I'll tell you why. If they asked me to go, for starters… Look, I've had my day in the sun, I've had my run, and I think it was wonderful. Arnel has done that, and probably twice as long as I've been there, and he's done it magnificently.

"I think they need to patch it up with the current team; I just think that's the way it is," Augeri continued. "Because if I were to go with whatever faction… Because, unfortunately, right now it appears to be like there's two camps… I love those guys — if I could call it 'love' — and respect them equally for different reasons, because they gave me the biggest shot anybody could… the biggest opportunity anyone could ever have. And I would hate to turn my back on one or the other, so it'd probably be just better… And I'm content doing what I'm doing. Those guys still go out five days a week, and I can't physically do that. The joy would… After the first show, I'd be like a deer in the headlights: 'Is my voice gonna work after the third show on the third day?' And that's not where I'd like to be."

Earlier this month, Augeri spoke to QFM96's "Torg & Elliott" radio show about the task of replacing Steve Perry in one of the world's most beloved rock acts. He said: "It was incredibly daunting. However, the one saving grace was I had a great vocal coach at the time, Mark Baxter from New England. And Mark just said, 'Listen, you're only gonna succeed if you could just sing like yourself and be yourself. That's the only way anybody will ever accept you — if you're genuine.' That little tidbit of information, as well as we kind of eased ourselves into 1,500-seat theaters throughout the country, and for the eight years we built it up to 15,000-[capacity arenas] to 70,000 festivals. So it took a lot of time. The fans were gracious, and they were truly… Without them, it could have never happened. And it wasn't a hundred percent across the board, because, frankly, if you came to me and said, 'Hey, are you gonna replace Robert Plant in LED ZEPPELIN?' I mean, take your greatest favorite bands and try to replace their lead vocalists. It's just impossible. Kudos to whoever was able to do that. First I think of Mr. Sammy Hagar, of course. He did it [with VAN HALEN] and he ripped the leather off the ball, didn't he? That was a grand slam that he did it."

Circling back to his time with JOURNEY, Steve said: "I had a beautiful run with them. I love those guys. I love their music. And it was a great stepping stone to get to today where I finally release a solo album called 'Seven Ways 'Til Sunday'."

Regarding whether it was easy picking up the pieces after his exit from JOURNEY, Augeri said: "It wasn't easy, but, of course, it was very easy because I had just walked away from JOURNEY. Now, granted, I left because I had vocal problems. So for the first year I had to heal my voice. And thank God that happened. And from there, it opened more doors than it closed, let's put it that way. How fortunate can it be that I can always say, 'Well, I used to sing for one of the greatest premier American rock and roll bands there ever will be — ever was or ever will be.' So, I'm thankful for that."

Augeri was born in Brooklyn on January 30, 1959. Steve was the lead vocalist in TALL STORIES, who released a single self-titled album in 1991. He went on to sing with TYKETTO for their 1995 album, "Shine". Augeri retired from music in the mid-1990s after TALL STORIES ran out of momentum. He was working at a Gap store when JOURNEY guitarist Neal Schon came into contact with a demo tape of Augeri's. JOURNEY was, at the time, looking for new lead singer after the loss of Perry who had left the band following their brief mid-1990s reunion due to touring conflicts and health issues.

JOURNEY hired Augeri in 1998. Augeri's debut with the band was on the single "Remember Me" from the "Armageddon" movie soundtrack. He then appeared on the album "Arrival", the "Red 13" EP, and the "Generations" album. Augeri suffered voice problems during JOURNEY's 2006 tour, resulting in his departure from the band.

"Seven Ways 'Til Sunday" was released on January 27.

Augeri will support the album on a summer tour, "Pardi Gras", alongside Bret Michaels, NIGHT RANGER, JEFFERSON STARSHIP and Mark McGrath.

THE RAVEN AGE, the U.K.-based melodic metal band featuring IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris's son George Harris, will release its third album, "Blood Omen", on July 7 via Music For Nations/Sony Music. The official music video for the LP's first single, "Parasite", can be seen below.

A barrage of riffs from guitarists George Harris, Tommy Gentry and bassist Matt Cox ushers in the "Blood Omen", alongside the pummeling of Jai Patel on drums and a growl from Matt James (MJ) which transcends into wide-reaching soaring vocals. "Parasite" is bolstered by a blistering solo from guest guitarist Andy James of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH.

"I've known the lads in THE RAVEN AGE for years now," says Andy. "I really like the direction they are heading with this third record and enjoyed doing a guest solo for 'Parasite'. It's a heavy but memorable track that hits you right between the eyes."

Having established their name as one of the finest in modern British metal, thanks to two acclaimed albums, 2019's "Conspiracy" and "Darkness Will Rise" debut in 2017, THE RAVEN AGE have garnered over 75 million streams worldwide and have toured heavily across the globe.

For the Essex quintet's "all-important third album", as George Harris puts it, they have expanded on every level.

This motivation is written into the album's concept. Following the theme of its two predecessors, the raven motif looms large, this time centering on the overthrowing of old masters, with the band's Raven King character coming to prominence. Even in the artwork, things are bolder, a close-up of the Raven King, says George, "taking his rightful place on the throne."

The theme weaves itself throughout "Blood Omen", kicking off with "Parasite", as MJ explains, "There's the legend about the ravens in the Tower Of London, that if they were ever to leave, the monarchy falls. Without being too political, 'Parasite' is hinting at these dark notes of the hierarchy, the bottom feeders that tend to run everything and then screw everything up. Our Raven King, he's basically ascending to the throne to bring down the monarchy, bring down the establishment, weed out the parasites, as it were."

"It's a heavy track," MJ continues, "We knew we wanted to come back with a real punch between the eyes. It's the full introduction to our Raven King, and it touches on elements of everything to come. It really shows where we're going on this album."

"Blood Omen" pushes everything further than ever before. The choruses are made for arenas, the riffs are taut, direct, and free of fat. It all makes for a grand musical stage on which the record's concept plays out. "Forgive & Forget" rushes in on a scalding lead guitar riff, while the epic "Nostradamus" is a tale of the great prophet. The heavy, raging "Serpents Tongue", meanwhile, deals with "deceit, and never knowing if you're being told the truth," according to George.

To capture all this on record, the band enlisted the help of long-term producer Matt Hyde (SLIPKNOT, MACHINE HEAD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE) to lay down the album's framework, before setting to recording the rest of the album themselves. The final mastering was put into the treasured hands of Mika Jussila at Finnvox (NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM, HIM).

"Blood Omen" is a record of several firsts for THE RAVEN AGE. With the metal end of the operation firmly nailed down, this time around the band were finally able to realize their ambitions of using real strings. Working with noted British cellist arranger Audrey Riley (FOO FIGHTERS, MUSE, COLDPLAY) at the ICMP (Institute of Contemporary Music Performance) studios in London. "Watching a quartet play along to our songs was a whole new experience," says George. "They just made everything more dramatic."

The album also sees the recorded debut of new guitarist Tommy Gentry, the prodigiously talented axeman — whose previous work includes stints with Marco Mendoza and former JUDAS PRIEST six-stringer K.K. Downing.

"Tommy was in our sights from day one," says George. "He's, without doubt, the most talented musician I know. Not only is he an amazing guitarist, he's a grade eight pianist, he can score orchestral music, and all that brings something to the table."

"Blood Omen" is a strong, focused, and ambitious work from one of the most rapidly rising rock bands in Britain and live they solidify this status. They have performed over 400 shows internationally across 38 countries including major festival performances such as the main stage at Download festival, Rock In Rio, Wacken Open Air, Hellfest and many more, as well as touring with the likes of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, VOLBEAT, SHINEDOWN and ALTER BRIDGE.

This summer they will be touring arenas across Europe with IRON MAIDEN, including London's O2 Arena on July 8. They have also been announced to perform at a number of major European festivals this summer, including Germany's Rock Am Ring, Belgium's Graspop Metal Meeting, Return Of The Gods Festival in Italy, Sweden Rock as well as Metal Days in Slovenia.

"Blood Omen" track listing:

01. Changing Of The Guard
02. Parasite
03. Serpents Tongue
04. Essence Of Time
05. Nostradamus
06. Forgive & Forget
07. The Journey
08. War In Heaven
09. Tears Of Stone

Progressive rock legends YES have announced that drummer Jay Schellen has joined the band as a permanent member. Following the sad passing of YES's iconic drummer Alan White on May 26, 2022, Jay will fulfill Alan's wishes in becoming the new drummer with YES.

Schellen was White's choice to stand in during the "Topographic Drama" tour in 2016 and shared drumming duties with him from 2018 onwards. Jay had previously played alongside YES keyboardist Geoff Downes and late bassist Chris Squire, and had long working relationships with Alan and YES bass guitarist Billy Sherwood. This gave Jay a deep insight into the workings of the dynamic rhythm section that drives YES's music.

Steve Howe says: "We're all delighted to welcome Jay officially into the fold! He's been a great support throughout the last seven years, and we couldn't have found a better all-around team player."

Jay adds: "I am thrilled to become the new drummer with YES. I grew up playing along to YES records and I am proud to have worked so closely with my musical hero and great friend Alan White these past few years. I will strive to honor his memory as we drive towards the future with the band."

Formed in 1968 by Jon Anderson and the late and much-missed Chris Squire, YES has been one of the most innovative, influential and best-loved bands in rock music history. Their 1970s albums "The Yes Album", "Fragile", "Close To The Edge", "Yessongs" (a triple live album set),"Tales From Topographic Oceans", "Relayer" and "Going For The One" were ground-breaking in musical style and content. Their music also became synonymous with artist Roger Dean, whose distinctive YES logo design and artwork adorned the lavish gatefold presentation sleeves of many YES albums.

With sales of over 50 million records, the Grammy Award-winning YES was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017, where they performed "Roundabout" from the album "Fragile" and the FM radio-friendly "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" from the 1985 album "90125".

In 2021, YES released its 22nd studio album, "The Quest", produced by Steve Howe, which went to No. 1 in the U.K. rock chart and entered the official U.K. album chart at No. 20.

Photo credit: Geoff Ford

British metal sextet, Bury Tomorrow, have premiered the video for "Heretic", featuring While She Sleeps frontman Loz Taylor. Watch below. "Heretic" is another crushing taste of their forthcoming seventh album, the aptly titled The Seventh Sun, releasing March 31 via Music For Nations.


Dani Winter-Bates states, "'Heretic' is here, and we knew from day one of recording that this song was something we wanted the world to hear immediately. It's right up there with the most aggressive and visceral tracks on the album, with an inherently dark feel, both lyrically and musically, which allowed us to delve into some of the more brutal elements of The Seventh Sun. All in all, we're extremely proud to showcase this track and can't wait to see what people think."


The track marks the band's first vocal feature since Hatebreed's Jamey Jasta appeared on "301" from the band's 2016 album Earthbound. Winter-Bates recollects, "From the off, we knew this song merited a guest vocal spot, and Loz Taylor of While She Sleeps sprang to our minds straightaway. He is already an absolute legend in our eyes, and working with him on this track has only confirmed that status further. His voice incorporated perfectly and has undoubtedly taken the song to the next level - we couldn't be happier."




The accompanying video was once again created in collaboration with director Matt Sears, who directed the horror-inspired, two-part short film that are the "Abandon Us" and "Boltcutter" music videos. This time around, the video is set at an Illuminati-style meeting, worshipping The Seventh Sun. When one of the members is discovered to be a "heretic" and "wanting out," he desecrates the purity of the club, angering The Seventh Sun, who plunges the meeting into chaos.





Pre-order / pre-save The Seventh Sun here.





Tracklisting:


"The Seventh Sun"
"Abandon Us"
"Begin Again"
"Forced Divide"
"Boltcutter"
"Wrath"
"Majesty"
"Heretic"
"Recovery?"
"Care"
"The Carcass King"


"Boltcutter" video:





"Abandon Us" video:





Bury Tomorrow will embark on a spring 2023 headline tour of North America. The tour marks the first time the band has toured North American since 2010 and it is a welcome return!





Dates:


May
2 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echoplex
3 - Tempe, AZ -The Marquee
5 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
6 - Austin, TX - Come And Take It Live
7 - Houston, TX - House of Blues Bronze Peacock
9 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade (Hell)
10 - Charlotte, NC - The Underground
11 - Nashville, TN - The Basement East
12 - Indianapolis, IN - Hi-Fi Annex
13 - Chicago, IL - Park West
14 - Detroit, MI - El Club
16 - Toronto, ON - The Velvet Underground
17 - Montreal, QC - Fairmount Theatre
19 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs
20 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre

Underoath announces label signing to MNRK Heavy for a worldwide deal and shares a teaser for new single, "Let Go". Listen here.


In discussing the excitement of the label signing, Scott Givens, SVP of MNRK Music Group, said: “Rarely does the opportunity present itself to partner with a band as amazing as Underoath. When that opportunity was presented, we seized it immediately, and speaking for the entire company; we are truly honored they gave us a chance to work with them on their upcoming recordings.  The band has had a remarkable career, and all of us at the MRNK Music Group can’t wait to accompany them on their next phase of it.”


Underoath added, “Choosing who we partner with in releasing our music is always a huge decision. The team at MNRK simply rules, understands our vision, and is passionate about the music. We couldn’t be more excited and ready to work with the MNRK team to release some of our favorite work to date.”




The band will perform the first show of 2023 on February 18 in Orlando at the Heartsupport Festivial following the Blind Obedience Tour starting on March 3 in Silver Spring with Periphery and Loathe concluding April 2 in Nashville plus festivals at the Slam Dunk Festival and Inkcarceration Festival.





Tour dates:


February
18 - Orlando, FL - Heartsupport Fest


March
3 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore*
4 - Stroudsburg, PA - The Sherman Theater*
5 - Huntington, NY - The Paramount*
7 - Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room*
8 - Pittsburgh, PA - The Roxian*
10 - East Moline, IL - The Rust Belt*
11 - Milwaukee, WI - The Eagles Club*
13 - Grand Rapids, MI - 20 Monroe*
14 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant*
15 - Kansas City, MO - The Uptown Theater*
17 - Wichita, KS - The Cotilion*
18 - Denver, CO - The Ogden Theater*
20 - Boise, ID - Revolution*
21 - Portland, OR - The Roseland Ballroom*
23 - Wheatland, CA - The Hard Rock Casino*
24 - Anaheim, CA - The House of Blues*
25 - Las Vegas, NV - Brooklyn Bowl*
26 - San Diego, CA - Soma*
27 - Tucson, AZ - The Rialto Theater*
29 - Albuquerque, NM - The El Rey Theatre*
31 - Oklahoma City, OK - The Diamond Ballroom*


April
1 - Little Rock, AR - The Hall*
2 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works*


May
27 - Hatfield, EN - Slam Dunk Festival
28 - Leeds, UK - Slam Dunk Festival


July
15 - Mansfield, OH - Inkcarceration Festival
 
* Blind Obedience Tour with Periphery and Loathe


(Photo - Dan Newman)

Swedish heavy metal power force, Kardinal Sin, heave released a new track from their forthcoming album, S.A.L.I.G.I.A, out in North American on April 7, and in Europe on March 3 via Massacre Records.


Get "They Crashed In The Storm" on digital platforms here, and watch a music video below.


"This song is about the separation of loved ones in a state of war as the man leaves to fight an enemy he doesn't know, for a cause he can't understand," says the band about "They Crashed In The Storm". "It's the fastest song on the album and also the opening track. The variation in the verses and the double-kick chorus kickstarts the album."







The band's upcoming offering, S.A.L.I.G.I.A, unleashes ten complex songs as well as dark lyrics about the world situation now and then, and how we push humanity towards the apocalypse through war and environmental destruction. Compared to the band's debut, S.A.L.I.G.I.A promises to feature more elaborate tracks and arrangements, and is a musical journey through history from the Middle Ages to present. The album was mixed by Fredrik Folkare at Chrome Studios, and was mastered by Lawrence Mackrory (Obey Mastering).


Slated to be released as CD Digipak, Ltd. Vinyl LP and Digital formats, the album pre-sale is available here.





S.A.L.I.G.I.A tracklisting:


"They Crashed In The Storm"
"The Beginning Of The End (Wasteland Symphony Pt: 1)"
"Siege Of Jerusalem"
"Lost Imperium (Wasteland Symphony Pt: 2)"
"Reveal The Sinners Soul"
"S.A.L.I.G.I.A"
"In The Line Of Fire"
"Devastation"
"The Velvet Lies"
"The Aftermath (Wasteland Symphony Pt: 3)"


"Siege Of Jerusalem" video:





Album lineup:


Daniel "Danne" Wikerman – Vocals
Sophie Conte - Guitars, Backing Vocals, Growls
Joakim "Jocke" Vähätalo – Guitars
Hannu Viita – Bass
Thomas "Geson" Gustafsson - Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Mikael "Aspen" Asp - Drums, Backing Vocals

After drawing attention to themselves in 2020, with their debut EP Headed West, and 2022 follow up LP No Saints In The City, the duo of singer-songwriters John Merchant (former Dutch Henry frontman) and multi instrumentalist Todd Long (previously with The Verve Pipe) aka Ghosts Of Sunset have returned with their next shot of melodic hard rock, Breathe.


With Merchant and Long living in Michigan and Florida respectively, both the writing and recording process for Breathe were a bit unconventional and at the same time, par for the course with 21st Century technology.


"We did all our recording via File Sharing,” says Long. “First, one of us will have an idea and then we just start sending mp3s back and forth while building the track up. After a basic track was completed, we’d then seek out who we feel might be right to put a guitar solo on it. If they like the track, then we proceed. If they don't then that's fine too. We just hoped they feel connected enough to the track to want to contribute."




Merchant continues, “The opportunity to make a follow up full length album was an absolute blessing and a daunting task. Unlike some writers, we’re always hoping our influences are noticeable, but we want them to be surprising and revealing as well. With this set of songs, we wanted to keep the door open for anything that moved us. They tell you where they want to go and we are open to whatever gets them to their destination. These songs take listeners from such sweeping landscapes as an oriental spy adventure, to something as internal and personal as the struggle of loving someone battling addiction. The musical compositions are as important as the lyrics to tell the stories that need to be told.”


The first single, "Afterthought", will be released on February 17. Pre-save “Afterthought” here.


“Afterthought” is the first single and Long explains, “When I was writing 'Afterthought', I was looking to write an album opener. John wrote 'Tonight' off of our 1st full length album No Saints In The City. I wanted to try and write one that was just as killer as that one. Who knew it would be our 1st single? I’m like a proud father!”


Merchant adds, “'Afterthought' started with another amazing Todd Long riff that celebrates punk rock’s concise, no nonsense, “get to the point” structure. Lyrically the song speaks to the “seen not heard” role played by the arm candy of someone whose narcissistic ego blinds them to the fact that true beauty is found far below surface physical good looks.”


Ghosts Of Sunset not only pays homage to the 1980s "hair metal" scene they grew up on (Quiet Riot, Ratt, Motley Crue, Warrant, Faster Pussycat, GnR, etc.) but for music fans whose tastes run deep, Breathe touches upon post punk aggression, melodic rock choruses and a quirky Cheap Trick spin on top of it all.


You can pre-order Breathe and limited bundles here.


Bundle includes:


- 1 (One) - Ghosts of Sunset - Breathe"Autographed CD
- 1 (One) - Ghosts of Sunset - Logo T-Shirt
- 1 (One) - Ghosts of Sunset - Logo Sticker





Tracklisting:


"Afterthought"
"Hide Her Heart"
"Move Along"
"Cocaine Kisses"
"Two Tickets To Tokyo"
"Gettin Over You"
"Mine Tonight"
"Don't Blame Love"
"Nobody's Baby"
"Never Go Back"

In the video below from AXS TV, Sammy Hagar heads to L.A. to meet up with Adam Levine, Richie Sambora and Orianthi. The crew teams up on an incredible performance of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine". Then, Sammy sits down with Adam to talk about music, their personal lives, and more.





AXS TV is giving away a signed vinyl copy of Sammy Hagar & The Circle's new album, Crazy Times. Take the Sammy Hagar quiz here to enter for your chance to win. Watch the video below:







You can order Crazy Times here.





Tracklisting:


"Intro: The Beginning Of The End"
"Slow Drain"
"Feed Your Head"
"Pump It Up"
"Be Still"
"You Get What You Pay For"
"Crazy Times"
"Funky Feng Shui"
"Father Time"
"Childhoods End"
"2120" (bonus track)
"Father Time" - Acoustic Demo (bonus track)


"Father Time" video:





"Funky Feng Shui" video:





"Crazy Times" video:





"Pump It Up" video:

Swedish power metal legends, HammerFall, recently announced their return to Nuclear Blast and celebrated a career milestone when it was announced that their albums Renegade, Crimson Thunder, No Sacrifice, No Victory and Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken had all achieved gold status in Sweden. And stoking the flames even higher - it was revealed that Crimson Thunder had surpassed 60,000 sales and hit platinum status.


Today, the band are proud to announce a special 20th anniversary edition of Crimson Thunder, which will be released on April 28 via Nuclear Blast Records, continuing their retrospective series.







Their fourth studio album has been remixed and remastered by Fredrik Nordström and this definitive version will include previously unreleased pre-production tracks, a brand-new medley and live acoustic songs.


To give their fans a taster, below is a remixed and remastered version of their most popular song, "Hearts On Fire".


Guitarist Oscar Dronjak comments: ”There is a lot to look forward to with this release even if you’re a die hard Templar with everything already in your collection: brand new album remix by Fredrik Nordström, never-before heard preproduction bonus tracks, exclusive acoustic live versions, this anniversary edition is packed with unique stuff that sees the light of day for the first time. This is our biggest anniversary edition yet!”


Crimson Thunder 20th Anniversary Edition comes in following formats:


- Digital Album
- 3CD Digi Box
- Platinum Edition - 2LP Trifold Silver Vinyl
- Crimson Edition - 2LP Trifold Marbled Red /Black Vinyl
- Thunder Edition - 2LP Trifold Marbled Blue/White/Black


Listen/pre-order here.





HammerFall tour dates:


March
24 - Örebro, Sweden - Frimis Salonger
25 - Karlstad, Sweden - Nöjesfabriken
31 - Skövde, Sweden - Skövde Kulturhus


April
1 - Huskvarna, Sweden - Folkets Park
14 - Sundsvall, Sweden - Club Deströyer
15 - Umeå, Sweden - Nolia
20 - Malmö, Sweden - Kulturbolaget
21 - Kalmar, Sweden - Kalmar Salen
22 - Sälen, Sweden - Högfjällshotellet
27 - Stockholm, Sweden - Cirkus


May
5 - Bochum, Germany - RuhrCongress *with Helloween
6 - Hamburg, Germany - Sporthalle *with Helloween
12 - Houston, TX - Wharehouse Live
13 - Dallas, TX - The Factory
15 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
16 - St Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live
18 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore
19 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts
20 - New York City, NY - Terminal 5
21 - Worcester, MA - Palladium
22 - Montreal, QC - Théâtre Fairmount
23 - Toronto, ON - History
24 - Royal Oak, MI - Music Theatre
25 - Columbus, OH - The King of Clubs
26 - Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre
27 - Minneapolis, MN - Fillmore
28 - Lawrence, KS - The Granada
30 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
31 - Salt Lake City, UT - Metro Music Hall


June
1 - Las Vegas, NV - Brooklyn Bowl
2 - Inglewood, CA - YouTube Theater
3 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield
4 - Roseville, CA - Goldfield Trading Post
24 - Oslo, Norway - Tons Of Rock


July
15 - Leoben, Austria - Area 53 Festival


August
12 - Villena, Spain - Leyendas Del Rock
16-19 - Dinkelsbuehl, Germany - SummerBreeze
17-19 - Moravsky Krumlov, Czech Republic - Castle Garden, Rock Castle


Current HammerFall lineup:


Joacim Cans - vocals
Oscar Dronjak - guitar
Fredrik Larsson  - bass
Pontus Norgen - guitar
David Wallin - drums

STRYPER's Michael Sweet has praised the organization behind a campaign to produce two Super Bowl ads to promote Jesus Christ on the night of the game on Sunday (February 12).

The Christian group He Gets Us reportedly spent $20 million on two Super Bowl advertisements that showed Jesus as someone with empathy for immigrants and the poor. The campaign, which its creators say will ultimately cost $1 billion, attempts to remove the idea of Jesus as being owned by conservatives or a religious denomination, replacing the hate with a human who loves and forgives.

Earlier today (Monday, February 13), Sweet — whose band became the first Christian metal act to gain acceptance within the mainstream music world nearly four decades ago — shared an article about New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez saying she did not believe Jesus would support Super Bowl commercials that she claims make fascism "look benign". He captioned the post: "We need more 'Jesus' ads. That was the best part of watching the game IMO. Best 20 Million spent in a LONG time".

Ocasio-Cortez was apparently specifically referring to one commercial that emphasized unity and loving your enemies.

"What if we tried to love our enemies the way Jesus loved his? How would it change the tenor of our conflicts and our conversations?" reads a description of one of the He Gets Us ads that ran during the big game.

The advertising campaign is reportedly funded in part by the family behind Hobby Lobby, as well as Christian groups and other anonymous donors. The ads were an effort to spread the message of Jesus to LGBTQ+ people and other communities that have often felt unwelcome by Christianity. The ads direct viewers to a web site that includes Bible readings, methods to chat with real people about religion and information about Jesus.

Formed 40 years ago, STRYPER is the first overtly Christian metal band to go mainstream. The group's name comes from Isaiah 53:5, which states: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

In a 2018 interview with the Detroit Free Press, Michael said that STRYPER was never fully embraced by the heavy metal and hard rock communities, largely because of the band's Christian lyrics.

"We've never been accepted by either side," he said. "The secular side, the mainstream, they've never accepted us to this day. We're probably that band that everyone's going to go to whenever there's a time to mock. We'll be the band used for that in most cases. Now on the Christian side, we've never really had the full support of the Christian side because we don't fit into their little club. We're not wearing suits and ties and going to every church and preaching."

STRYPER's albums include "To Hell With The Devil", "Second Coming", "No More Hell To Pay", "Fallen", "Even The Devil Believes" and the band's latest effort, "The Final Battle".

Michael is joined in STRYPER by his brother Robert Sweet (drums),Oz Fox (guitars) and Perry Richardson (bass).

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Michael Sweet (@michaelsweetstryper)


Something tells me Jesus would *not* spend millions of dollars on Super Bowl ads to make fascism look benign

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 13, 2023

NICKELBACK frontman Chad Kroeger was interviewed on the February 6 edition of "Whiplash", the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie. Asked how all the negative attention surrounding the band has actually contributed to NICKELBACK's longevity, Chad said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, I've been saying that for years. All the detractors, all the haters, all the keyboard heroes, they have no idea how much they keep us in the press loop. It's hilarious. Those people that would love to see us go away, if they really wanted to see us go away, they would just shut up. Because all those bands that came out with us at the same time are all gone, because nobody said anything about them. They all just sort of disappeared. But we've really kind of spun this whole negative thing into a positive thing. And here we are. [Laughs]"

Kroeger also talked about all the memes poking fun at NICKELBACK that regularly pop up on the Internet, explaining that "if it's music oriented and we think it's funny, we just leave it there, 'cause the band, collectively, has a great sense of humor. I mean, funny's funny. Just rude and ignorant, that's different. And yeah, obviously, there's tons of that too. But funny is funny. And as the Brits would say, we have no problem taking the piss out of ourselves."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This past December, Chad's brother, NICKELBACK bassist Mike Kroeger was asked by Germany's Rock Antenne if he pays attention to all the online comments about his band. He responded: "I don't really do social media anymore. I have my own Instagram, but I got off Twitter. I never did Facebook, thank God, but I got off Twitter a couple of years ago — three years ago, I guess, now. I'm thinking about getting back on, just because since Elon Musk bought it, it looks like a hilarious, fun time. All these people are so scared, I love it. I might even rejoin, just to see what happens with that guy at the helm, so to speak.

"I'm not scared of comments 'cause I think sometimes even the ones that are assholes can be really funny," he continued. "To me, if something is truly funny, it's funny. Obviously, just to throw hate at something, like us, that's not kind of funny; that's just negative. But sometimes the haters can say some pretty funny things.

"There's a lot of times when you see people… And that's one thing that the Internet kind of has fostered with sites like Reddit, et cetera, is giving people a platform to try to be funny," Mike added. "And a lot of people try to be funny, and that's kind of the problem, because a lot of people aren't funny. So I have to kind of weed through the amateurs to get to the good ones, 'cause there are some good ones in there. There are people who make fun of our band and are funny about it — I'll have a great laugh when I see that — but there is also a contingent of people online who, they want to be funny, but they're just not. And that's just very sad to me."

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

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

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

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

NICKELBACK's new album, "Get Rollin'", was released in November via BMG.

With less than two weeks until the release of their sixth studio album, On The Prowl, and to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Steel Panther are back with their latest music video from the album.


The NSFW video is for the track “Friends With Benefits” and is a song that lyrically explores a mutually beneficial relationship between two consenting adults. The music video - directed by longtime collaborator J.T. Arbogast – is Steel Panther’s take on the immensely popular show Shark Tank. The band appears in Panther Den as they try and pitch a series of creative ideas to four high-powered cougars. Products such as the Glorious Hole, The Coolcumber and Slikknutz all sound like meaningful creations until Michael Starr arrives selling himself and his companionship package. The band performs in front of the panel of female business leaders and by the time the song is over – there are more than just their wallets out.







Always the innovators and constantly finding new ways to expand their societal footprint, Steel Panther are releasing their first-ever application for mobile phones called Rock N’ Talk. The app works like any other popular dating app, but this one is based around subscribers that share a mutual love of the band. People can sign up and connect with other individuals in their cities and make plans to meet up at shows and develop friendships all thanks to their common interest in the band comprised of Michael Starr, Satchel, Stix Zadinia and Spyder.





The app will also look to expand to integrate other artists in the future. The app and sign-up will be free and is available for all smart phones now. Fans that want to sign up for Rock N’ Talk can go here to download the app.


Steel Panther's sixth studio album, On The Prowl, will be available worldwide on February 24. The album was produced by Steel Panther and is now available for pre-order in multiple configurations including CD, Cassette, and 2 different color variant vinyl records, here.


From the opening synth intro of “Never Too Late (To Get Some Pu**y Tonight)” to the thunderous outro of “Sleeping On The Rollaway,” Steel Panther is back with the infectious riffs, pounding drums, unforgettable vocals alongside the witty humor that has earned them a global audience. Songs like “On Your Instagram,” “Magical Vagina” and “One Pump Chump” are sure to fit in on the biggest live stages next to the band’s most-memorable songs. “1987” is an incredible retro look at that unforgettable year and the band even slows things down on the reflective “Ain’t Dead Yet.”





On The Prowl tracklisting:


"Never Too Late (To Get Some Pu**y Tonight)"
"Friends With Benefits"
"On Your Instagram"
"Put My Money Where Your Mouth Is"
"1987"
"Teleporter"
"Is My D**k Enough" (feat. Dweezil Zappa)
"Magical Vagina"
"All That And More"
"One Pump Chump"
"Pornstar"
"Ain’t Dead Yet"
"Sleeping On The Rollaway"


"1987" video:





"Never Too Late (To Get Some Pussy Tonight)" video:





Steel Panther recently announced a massive world tour. The On The Prowl World Tour 2023 is set to kick off in February and will run throughout North America through April. Crobot and Tragedy will be joining the band on the North American tour.


Additional Information on all ticket and VIP packages including meet and greets, exclusive merch items, early entry and more for the On The Prowl World Tour 2023 can be found here.





On The Prowl World Tour 2023 dates:


February
24 - Las Vegas, NV - House Of Blues
25 - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues
26 - Tempe, AZ - The Marquee Theatre
28 - San Antonio, TX - The Aztec Theater


March
1 - Houston, TX - House Of Blues
3 - Dallas, TX - House Of Blues
4 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
6 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works
8 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room
10 - Orlando FL - The Plaza Live
11 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live
12 - Atlanta, GA - Buckhead Theatre
14 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live
16 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
17 - Philadelphia, PA - Keswick Theatre
18 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
19 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
21 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore
22 - Columbus, OH - The Bluestone
24 - Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room
25 - Chicago, IL - House Of Blues
26 - Bloomington, IL - The Castle Theatre
28 - Milwaukee, WI - The Eagles Club Stage
29 - Minneapolis, MN - The Fillmore
31 - Lincoln, NE - Bourbon Theatre


April
1 - Denver , CO - The Fillmore
2 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
4 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
6 - West Hollywood, CA - Whisky A Go Go
7 - West Hollywood, CA - Whisky A Go Go
8 - San Diego, CA - House Of Blues


May
14 - Glasgow, UK - O2 Academy
15 - Newcastle, UK - O2 City Hall
17 - Manchester, UK - Academy
18 - Birmingham, UK - O2 Academy
20 - London, UK - O2 Forum Kentish Town
21 - Bristol, UK - O2 Academy
23 - Leeds, UK - O2 Academy
25 - Belfast, UK - Ulster Hall
26 - Cork, IE - Cyprus Avenue
28 - Dublin, IE - Vicar Street


(Photo - David Jackson)

Following up on their three track concept EP Gallery Of Sin, metal masters Veil Of The Serpent have now shared the lyric video for "The End And The Beginning". The track is the third part of the brutal horror story the band created for the EP.





Commenting on the idea behind the track, vocalist JD Stafford says:




"The story is taking place in Noxa City. A serial killer starts terrorizing the citizens and a mysterious new art gallery depicting wickedness gains mass popularity. A detective is trying to hunt down the serial killer that makes paintings using the blood of his victims. But in reality the detective has a split personality and is actually the killer. In ‘The End And The Beginning’ he realizes this and the personalities fight and the evil personality takes over permanently."





"Gallery Of Sin" lyric video:





"Profiling A Demon":





Trailer:

Oregon death metal dealers Dripping Decay have officially joined the Satanik Royalty Records roster for the release of their debut full-length, Festering Grotesqueries.  


Forged in 2020 in the sewers of Portland, Dripping Decay spews forth putrid, old-school death/grind inspired by the classic slasher films of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Their blasting output pays homage to the golden age of not only horror cinema, but death metal itself.


Notes Satanik Royalty Records head, Freiburger, of the band’s signing, “I have been following Dripping Decay since their name first caught my eye in 2020. When they approached me about the album at first, I wasn’t sure if I could because of how much I have on my agenda. But I just couldn’t stop listening to the album. It is a bumper-to-bumper banger and I am extremely proud to put this album out! On top of that, their performance at Disemboweled God Fest was amazing! We are honored and excited to welcome Dripping Decay to the Satanik Royalty Records family!”




Adds the band, "The opportunity to work with Satanik Royalty Records is a special one for a variety of reasons. Freiburger as an individual is a staple of the Pacific Northwest metal scene known for promoting and embodying camaraderie, honest dealings, and the promotion of high-quality extreme music acts. His label adheres to his personal standards in every one of those regards and as such we as a band are honored to be a part of the Satanik Royalty roster."





Initially featuring founding guitarist Neil Smith (Frightmare, ex-Lord Gore, ex-Blood Freak), drummer Jason “The Machine” Borton (ex-Jungle Rot), vocalist Eric Stucke (Hallucinator), and bassist Trevor Soule, Dripping Decay chose five of their finest platters of splatter to serve up to an unsuspecting public in the form of 2021’s Watching You Rot demo. Cut in a matter of hours by the band themselves, the only outside force to touch the eighteen-minute blast of bestial morbidity was noted engineer Dan Lowndes of Resonance Sound Studios, who mastered the disc prior to its release via Portland’s own Headsplit Records. The initial run of CDs and cassettes quickly sold out, and additional pressings and distribution deals were brokered via Black Hole Productions (South America) and Corpus Vermis Records (Italy), as well as vinyl pressings via Flesh Vessel Records (US) and Fucking Kill Records (Germany). 


Early 2022 saw the departure of Soule, who was replaced by Jackson Jordan (ex-Conducting From The Grave) in time for inaugural live performances both local and regional. By late summer, the band had completed their debut record and were ready to put it to tape. Entering Portland’s Falcon Studios with engineer Derek Leisy, Dripping Decay spat out Watching You Rot, a 36 minute audio onslaught of blistering death metal performed with the surgical precision for which these seasoned musicians are known. 


The five cuts from Watching You Rot were reforged and refined, then joined by nine new songs to form the fourteen-track Festering Grotesqueries, set for release via Satanik Royalty later this year. Mixed by noted death metal journeyman Vincent Detto (Mortiferum, Cerebral Rot, Oxygen Destroyer), Festering Grotesqueries combines the timeless production of Dripping Decay’s death metal forebears with meticulousness performances and a sick, occasionally nihilistic lyrical bent; a self-destroying viewpoint concocted in a city crumbling from within.


Stand by for further details on Festering Grotesqueries to be unveiled in the weeks to come.


(Photo – Wendy O’Brien Jordan)

Frontiers Music Srl announces the upcoming release of Smackbound's new album, Hostage, on April 21. The Finnish five-piece, vocalist Netta Laurenne, guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, drummer Rolf Pilve, keyboardist Vili Itäpelto, and bassist Tuomas Yli-Jaskari, once again deliver a hooky, driving, metal-influenced slab of hard rock power on their second album.


The first single and music video from the album, "Change", is out today. Watch the clip below, and pre-order the new album here.


”We started writing the album in early 2021 and even recorded the drums for a couple of songs we had ready in the fall, but then stopped the process because a lot was going on in our lives. Given a deadline for getting the album done, most of it was written and recorded in September and October 2022 and I remember writing lyrics and singing lead vocals just days before mastering. And we mixed the album until the very last minute, with Vili [Itäpelto] and Tuomas [Yli-Jaskari] taking turns between working on the record and sleeping! It was a hell of a ride, but we were able to pull through and give birth to our beloved second child, Hostage," says vocalist Netta Laurenne.




Hailing from Finland, Smackbound's story started back in 2015 when vocalist Netta Laurenne founded the group. A classically trained singer who has also studied pop, jazz, and folk singing, Laurenne's powerful vocal style is also perfectly suited for hard rock and metal and she went about finding the perfect musicians to team with for the musical style she wanted to pursue with Smackbound.


Guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari (Wintersun), drummer Rolf Pilve (Stratovarius, The Dark Element), keyboardist Vili Itäpelto (Tracedawn), and bassist Tuomas Yli-Jaskari (Tracedawn) joined forces with Netta and the band commenced writing songs and set about playing gigs to continue to gel as a cohesive unit. Those gigs helped the band build up their rapport as musicians and live performers, turning them into a well-oiled machine by the time they hit the studio to record their debut album 20/20.


But before 20/20 was released, the band formally debuted with a string of successful singles and videos on Youtube including the hooky "Drive It Like You Stole It", the energetic “Wall Of Silence", and the powerful "Run”. All three singles were included on the band’s debut album, which was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios, produced by Tuomas Yli-Jaskari, and mixed and mastered by Jesse Vainio (Sunrise Avenue, Apocalyptica, Poets Of The Fall), except for "Those Who Burn", which was mixed by Nino Laurenne.


Between the release of 20/20 and the band's upcoming album Hostage, Laurenne partook in various guest appearances and also partnered up with fellow Finnish vocalist Noora Louhimo to release an absolutely amazing heavy/hard rock album under the name Laurenne/Louhimo in 2021. The Reckoning was released to rave reviews as it showcased two powerful, dynamic vocalists delivering stunning performances boosted by their undeniable chemistry working together.


Now, Laurenne and her bandmates return for the second chapter of the ongoing story of Smackbound with Hostage.





Hostage tracklisting:


"Reap"
"Change"
"Razor Sharp"
"Rodrigo"
"Break"
"Imperfect Day"
"Graveyard"
"Traveling Back"
"Hold The Fire"
"Hostage"
"The Edge"


"Change" video:





Lineup:


Netta Laurenne - Vocals
Teemu Mäntysaari - Guitars
Tuomas Yli-Jaskari - Bass
Vili Itäpelto - Keyboards
Rolf Pilve - Drums

Finnish melodic metal band Dark The Suns have released a new single and music video, "Phoenix"§. The track is taken from the upcoming fifth studio album which is released later this year via Inverse Records. 


Mikko Ojala commets: "We have worked on our new album for a year. We have worked hard, never gave up and now we can enjoy and celebrate our hard work with the brand new single, 'Phoenix'." 
 
Pick up the single here. Check out the video below.
 



In 2005 Dark the Suns was founded by Mikko Ojala. In 2006 the band grew when three new members (bass player Inka, Juha on the keyboards and drummer Markus) joined the band, which signed with Firebox Records that same year.




During 2007-2010 Firebox Records released the band’s three full-length albums (I


Darkness Comes Beauty, All Ends in Silence and Sleepwalking In A Nightmare). The band performed many live shows during these years.


There have been some changes in the line-up over the years, but Mikko and Inka have been continuously together, making music. The band was inactive for 2013-2020 but in 2020 Mikko and Inka decided to resume making music together. It was a really natural way to continue the band as a duo, because they have written almost all the band’s music and lyrics during all these years.


In 2020 and 2021 Inverse Records released four singles from the band’s 4th album, Suru Raivosi Sydämeni Pimeydessä. The album includes ten songs of melancholic and melodic Finnish metal music. The band has always described their music as "Beautiful piano melodies and dark vocals.”


Fifth studio album is set to be released later in 2023 via Inverse Records. 

CONTROL DENIED and PHARAOH vocalist Tim Aymar has died at the age of 59.

Tim's passing was confirmed by his PHARAOH bandmates in a social media post. They wrote: "We are very sorry to share the awful news of the passing of PHARAOH's one and only singer, Tim Aymar.

"Tim has meant so much to so many people, whose hearts are suddenly flooded with sadness but also memories of his life and music. We look forward to sharing some of our own memories when the right time has come. Until then, we are joined in sorrow and gratitude with all of Tim's family, friends, fans, and fellow musicians."

Aymar is perhaps best known as the vocalist for Chuck Schuldiner's CONTROL DENIED project, which released one album, "The Fragile Art Of Existence", in 1999. Tim also sang for 313, TRIPLE X, PSYCHO SCREAM and the aforementioned PHARAOH, which formed in 1997 in Pennsylvania.

TRIPLE X won the In Pittsburgh Music Awards for "Best Metal Band" in 1990, and was the first regional band to be awarded a national sponsorship, from Anheuser-Busch/Budweiser Anheuser-Busch. Tim was also voted "Vocalist Of The Year" in readers polls of many of the Pittsburgh tri-state area's rock and entertainment publications.

In a 2021 interview with TrueMetal, Tim stated about how he landed the CONTROL DENIED gig: "It was actually Jim Dofka who hooked me and Chuck up. Chuck asked to 'borrow' me for CONTROL DENIED and Jim knew it would boost my career, so he was all for it. Chuck called me, and we hit it off. He invited me to his place in Florida to record three songs as an audition. Obviously, it went well."

Regarding his memories of the making of "The Fragile Art Of Existence", Tim said: "We all had a great time working with [producer] Jim Morris and each other. Then Chuck told me he was having severe headaches and couldn't sleep because of it. He was also experiencing partial paralysis in his left hand which scared the dickens out of him. I recommended a chiropractor since I have neck and back injuries that were being treated by one. As it turned out, well, we know the end of that story."

Schuldiner passed away on December 13, 2001 after a battle with pontine glioma, a rare type of brain tumor. He was 34 years old.

We are very sorry to share the awful news of the passing of Pharaoh's one and only singer, Tim Aymar. Tim has meant so...

Posted by Pharaoh (Official) on Tuesday, February 14, 2023

It is with deep sadness that from several sources it would appear that Tim Aymar has passed away. Our deepest and most sincere condolences to his friends and family.

Posted by Death (Official) on Tuesday, February 14, 2023

“The End Is Imminent” according to Poland’s grindcore commando squad Nuclear Holocaust and the latest single. The song precedes the band’s new album, Sailing Seas Of Nuclear Waste, nearing March release through Selfmadegod Records.


Nuclear Holocaust debuted in 2015 with the Mutant Inferno demo and have since been serving their rabid grindcore with clear influences of thrash metal and punk. Their catalog includes various compilation inclusions, two prior albums, split releases with Leb Prosiaka, Expurgo, and Straight Hate, and more. The band has played numerous shows, sharing the stage with Conflicted, Nuclear, Avulsed, General Surgery, Antigama, Trauma, Dead Infection, Blockheads, Warfuck, and numerous other acts within the world grind scene.







The third full-length of this savage foursome, Sailing Seas Of Nuclear Waste shows Nuclear Holocaust executing sixteen raging songs, nearly none of which crack the two-minute mark with many not even hitting sixty seconds. Recorded in one day in August 2022 at Skog Vegas Studio, engineered by Paweł Chyła, Sailing Seas Of Nuclear Waste is an intense grindcore feast recommended to all diehard savages who regularly visit the damaging records of Excruciating Terror, Rot, Phobia, Blood Duster, P.L.F., and Captain Cleanoff.


With “The End Is Imminent,” drummer Overkiller states, “This song shows probably the best how far we can go for now – although it may not be the best representative of the style of the whole album, it definitely shows the spirit of the creative process we engaged ourselves in.”


Selfmadegod Records will release Sailing Seas Of Nuclear Waste on CD and digitally on March 3. Find preorders on Bandcamp.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Whitesnake has uploaded a lyric video for the Unzipped version of “All I Want All I Need” featuring former Snake guitarist Doug Aldrich.





Whitesnake released the Unzipped box set in in October 2018 via Rhino Records. The 5 CD/DVD collection features unplugged and acoustic-based performances recorded over the past 20+years, including rare and unreleased studio and live recordings, acoustic demos, concert videos, interviews and more.