In a thunderous collision of Belgian and Thai extreme metal sensibilities, enigmatic blackened death metal project, YHWH, has inked a devastating deal with Wormholedeath, preparing to unleash their debut EP, Tetragrammaton, on April 25.

Forged in the shadowy depths of underground metal, YHWH emerges as a cryptic musical entity led by composer Schem HaMephorash and her sister C. Bones, with S.M. Goat Ritual joining their ritualistic sonic assault in June 2024. Their debut EP represents a raw, uncompromising exploration of extreme metal’s most primal instincts.

“These tracks are eight years in the making,” the band cryptically reveals. “No overarching concept—just a relentless progression of sonic brutality inspired by the most extreme metal pioneers.”

“Tetragrammaton” promises to be an unfiltered descent into the most visceral realms of blackened death metal, drawing inspiration from the genre’s most relentless predecessors.

To get a taste of what’s to come, check out the trailer for Tetragrammaton below.



Tetragrammaton tracklisting:

“Realm Of Darkness”
“Majestic Hatred”
“Police Bastard”
“Burden Of Flesh”

German thrash metal veterans SODOM will release their new album, "The Arsonist", on June 27, 2025 worldwide through SPV/Steamhammer.

We all know that good music is always also a question of sound. To this end, the human factor is crucial — along with the right equipment, of course. After all it's about authenticity and individual personality. With that in mind, SODOM came to a logical conclusion: to enable the most natural production possible, the drum parts on "The Arsonist" were recorded using a 24-track analog tape machine. No studio tricks, no digital overdubs, or, to quote frontman Thomas "Angelripper" Such: "No plastic! The difference in sound compared to today's standard drum productions is amazing and has had a positive effect on all the instruments. Naturally, time and effort as well as costs were also higher, but we're happy to fork out for a superior result."

However, it's not only the complex production process that testifies to the band's exceptional creative spirit, but also their diverse songwriting, which saw all four SODOM musicians — Thomas "Angelripper" Such (vocals, bass),Frank Blackfire (guitar),York Segatz (guitar) and Toni Merkel (drums) — involved in the development of the material on "The Arsonist".

Tom says: "Frank contributed those typical SODOM riffs and hooks again, whereas York favors more epic songwriting. As a perfect complement to both of them, Toni, who is also an excellent guitarist, contributed a number of songs and helped to make the album even more versatile."

The first single and lyric video, "Trigger Discipline", the toughest song on "The Arsonist", is released today. The song sounds equally martial and is about a sniper who has completely lost control of his actions and shoots people indiscriminately.

"The Arsonist" track listing:

01. The Arsonist
02. Battle Of Harvest Moon
03. Trigger Discipline
04. The Spirits That I Called
05. Witchhunter
06. Scavenger
07. Gun Without Groom
08. Taphephobia
09. Sane Insanity
10. A.W.T.F.
11. Twilight Void
12. Obliteration Of The Aeons
13. Return To God In Parts

In a recent interview with Ghost Cult Magazine, Tom spoke about SODOM's plans for 2025. He said in part:  "I wanna slow down everything in next year. I don't wanna stop with the band, but I wanna slow down a little bit. It's like [SLAYER bassist/vocalist] Tom Araya — I need more time for my family, I need more time for my hunting and I need more time for my friends and I need more time for myself. So I have to slow down a little bit.

"I need a break, because after the pandemic, we did so many shows and we did so many things because I'm busy every day with the stuff," he explained. "I'm working 12 [hours] a [day], maybe more. I get some health issues — I get the same, like Tom Araya, with my spine, with my neck, my ears, my eyes. I have to fix it. But I need more time. But if you're on the road every day and all the time, you can do nothing. So we'll see what happens. We wanna wait for the new album and wanna wait for the reaction. And we'll see what happens."

Angelripper added:  "If I [don't] have so much shows in the next year, I have more time for the back catalog, I have more time for the new album, I have more time for this, for that. I never stopped doing my job and I never stopped doing my work, but I can't tour so much next year. That is a problem, because you have one show or two shows in South America and you are on tour for 10 days. You waste time on airports, on hotels, on soundchecks, whatever. I need to take care of my time. I need to take care of myself."

In November 2023, SODOM released a new EP, "1982", via SPV/Steamhammer.

SODOM's 40th-anniversary album, "40 Years At War - The Greatest Hell Of Sodom", arrived in October 2022 through Steamhammer/SPV. The LP included one song from each of the previous studio albums receiving a re-recorded treatment from SODOM's current lineup. The CD and vinyl double LP with their martial cover artwork penned by Eliran Kantor (KREATOR, TESTAMENT, GWAR, among others) contain 17 tracks, all newly recorded by Such, Frank Blackfire (guitar),Yorck Segatz (guitar) and Toni Merkel (drums).

SODOM's latest studio album, "Genesis XIX", came out in November 2020 via Entertainment One (eOne) in North America and Steamhammer/SPV in Europe. The disc was recorded by Siggi Bemm and mastered by Patrick W. Engel and comes shrouded in the cover art of Joe Petagno of MOTÖRHEAD fame.

Angelripper previously described "Genesis XIX" as "one of the toughest and most diverse studio recordings that SODOM have ever released."

Acclaimed British hard rock band, Inglorious, are thrilled to announce the release of their new studio album, V, out on June 6 via Frontiers Music Srl. Following the success of the latest single “Testify”, the band share the new single and accompanying visualizer video, “Devil Inside”, available below. Pre-order the album here.

Talking about the new single, bassist Colin Parkinson said: “This song came about via experimentation with lower tunings. I had the riff for a while but couldn’t really find anything to go with it. That was until I watched a Metallica documentary and approached it again. Nathan came up with the verse pretty much straight away and we tried a few chorus ideas before settling on a more melodic approach. I love the song – It’s an impactful, weighty tune that’s also direct and very catchy. Enjoy!”



Regarding the new album, Parkinson added: “I am extremely happy to be returning to Inglorious after a while away. It’s the right time to get some kickass new music out there for the fans and to focus on the future. Writing and recording with Nathan again has been the easiest it’s ever been; it all flowed so well. We’ve all played and sang our asses off on these songs and I know the new album will not disappoint!”

Lead singer Nathan James stated: “In the summer of 2023, I sent a message to Colin and asked him if he wanted to come for a pint. A few meetings and writing sessions later, we had more than an album’s worth of great material and I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed every second of creating this album with him and the new line up. Colin has always been a great songwriter and over the years we’ve both matured as artists, writers, performers and people. This is going to be a great year for Inglorious and I’m excited to welcome Colin back and to share this new music with everyone”.

Inglorious returns with frontman Nathan James and original bassist Colin Parkinson. Nathan James, who founded the band in 2014, has been singing professionally for 20 years. He has performed/recorded with artists such as Ginger Baker, Uli Jon Roth and The Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

More recently, he has appeared in Jeff Wayne’s musical version of The War Of The Worlds, Steve Steinman’s Vampires Rock Symphonic, 80’s Classical and Zeppelin Symphonic. Nathan also fronts Supergroup Iconic, under the Frontiers roster featuring Michael Sweet, Joel Hoekstra, Marco Mendoza and Tommy Aldridge.

In 2022, after a lengthy UK tour, Inglorious announced a hiatus. After seven years of non-stop touring with bands such as The Winery Dogs, Steel Panther, The Dead Daisies, Last In Line, as well as their own international tours and festival appearances, recording four original albums, a live album and a covers album, everyone felt it was the right time to take a break.

Nathan is now back, looking forward to unleashing his powerful voice and he joined forces once again with original Inglorious bass player and main co-writer Colin Parkinson, who co-wrote and released the first three albums with the band: Inglorious, II and Ride To Nowhere.

Joining them is renowned guitarist Richard Shaw, best known for his work with English extreme metal band Cradle Of Filth, as well as NG26, Emperor Chung, and Plague Of Angels. Richard brings exceptional musicality and a fresh energy to the band’s sound.

On drums, longtime friend of Nathan, Henry Rogers, completes the line up. A celebrated musician, Henry has played with Touchstone, Mostly Autumn, Mia Klose, and Mark Kelly’s Marathon and has earned accolades such as “Drummer Of The Year” in Classic Rock Prog Magazine and Rhythm Magazine’s list of influential progressive drummers.

Produced by Colin Parkinson, V was mixed by Tony Draper, who also worked on “Inglorious II” and “Ride To Nowhere”, ensuring the album retains the band’s signature sound while exploring new heights.



Tracklisting:

“Testify”
“Eat You Alive”
“Devil Inside”
“Say What You Wanna Say”
“Believe”
“Stand”
“In Your Eyes”
“Silent”
“End Of The Road”
“Power Of Truth”

Baltimore hardcore band TURNSTILE has announced details of its eagerly awaited new album "Never Enough", which is set to arrive on June 6, marking the group's first full-length release in four years. Today, the band have also shared the album's title track, which is available on all streaming platforms and features an official music video directed by the band's own Brendan Yates and Pat McCrory.

"Never Enough" is available for pre-order/pre-save today, with several limited-edition vinyl color variants available in the band's store.

Recorded between Los Angeles and their homes in Baltimore, "Never Enough" is produced by TURNSTILE's Brendan Yates. The expansive collection is a restless and exhilarating evolution of the band's genre-defying sound. A transformative journey, both fearless and alive, by one of the most forward-thinking and influential bands of their generation. "Never Enough" follows TURNSTILE's widely celebrated album "Glow On", which earned the band four Grammy nominations.

TURNSTILE has several international and North American festival appearances slated for 2025, including Primavera Sound in Barcelona, Spain (June 7),Outbreak Fest in London, United Kingdom (June 13),Primavera Sound in Porto, Portugal (June 14),Hellfest in Clisson, France (June 21),Jera On Air in Ysselsteyn, Netherlands (June 28),Glastonbury in Somerset, United Kingdom (June 29),Ottawa Blues festival in Ottawa, Canada (July 12),and Aftershock in Sacramento, California (October 3)

TURNSTILE is Brendan Yates (voice / synth / keys ),Franz Lyons (bass),Pat McCrory (guitar),Daniel Fang (drums) and Meg Mills (guitar).

Yates described his feelings about hardcore and making music in a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times: "What drew, and still draws me to [hardcore], is that none of us were musicians. Punk and hardcore are less focused on skill and more on expressing yourself. It's hard to imagine other communities where you [can have] people come out and support you when you're really bad at your instrument. The way I taught myself how to play the guitar is wrong — I played with the wrong fingers and stuff like that — but I learned enough to feel good about what I was trying to get out. I think making music is just a shot in the dark. It's this open canvas."

Guitar whiz Richie Kotzen has dropped a major bombshell by revealing he once agreed to join industrial rock pioneers NINE INCH NAILS.

Kotzen, whose latest album with IRON MAIDEN's Adrian Smith — "Black Light/White Noise" — was released on Friday, made the revelation about an abortive alliance with Trent Reznor during an interview with Hot Metal.

"The closest band that I ever came to joining was NINE INCH NAILS — and nobody knows that," Kotzen said. "This is a true one.

"I was friendly with the bass player from MARILYN MANSON [Jeordie White, a.k.a. Twiggy Ramirez] who was playing in NINE INCH NAILS. He said to me, 'Listen, you've got to come down. We're having a hard time finding a guitar player.' So I went down to Third Encore [rehearsal studio in North Hollywood] and I spent the day. Trent told me, 'You're by far the best guy that we've tried. I would love to have you in the band. I'm gonna have my manager reach out to you.' And I left that day thinking, 'Wow, okay, I'm gonna join another band."

It's likely the events occurred when Robin Finck — a former member of GUNS N' ROSES — was out of NINE INCH NAILS, between 2000 and 2008.

Kotzen continued: "And then a week went by. And then another week went by. And I ran into Jeordie and I said, 'What happened?' He said, basically, [Reznor] said he didn't wanna open up Rolling Stone magazine said see [the headline] 'NINE INCH NAILS gets former POISON guitar player Richie Kotzen'. He didn't want the association with a hair metal band in that camp. And, you know, aesthetically, when you think about the fanbase and you think about how people would read into something, I can kind of could see that; I could see the point. So I jokingly said, 'Hey, I'll do it under an alias,' 'cause I wasn't doing anything at the time and I think he's, you know, a genius and I would have loved to have worked with him."

Kotzen appeared on POISON's 1993 record "Native Tongue".

"That wasn't the first time that that stopped me going in one direction or the other," Kotzen reflected. "Now, on the other side of the coin, I don't regret having been a part of POISON because I think that we made a really great record. And so I would much rather have that record live where it's living than have done any of the other stuff that I could have done. But that's kind of how the music business is. It's not just about the music; a lot of people listen with their eyes. And it's unfortunate in a situation like that. But it is a reality. And it's more in the rock world, by the way."

He continued: "I [later] went off and played with Stanley Clarke. I was in Stanley Clarke's band with Stanley Clarke and Lenny White. Stanley Clarke is an innovator and a legend. He didn't give a shit what band I was in before then. It was about the music. So that's kind of the cool thing about jazz and jazz fusion — it really is about the music. And rock — although I'm a rock guy; I love it — as much as they want you to believe it, it's not really about the music. It's about the music and a lot of the other stuff that come along with it. So you just have to kind of put that hat on when you're in that realm."

Press photo credit: Juergen Spachmann

San Francisco Bay Area heavy metal titans SKINLAB are back with a vengeance, dropping the punishing new music video for their latest single, "Flesh Wounds". The song, already a standout hit, has been crushing airwaves as one of the heaviest tracks in rotation on SiriusXM, earning high praise and a roaring endorsement from Jose Mangin, the self-proclaimed "Ambassador Of Heavy Metal." With its relentless riffs and visceral intensity, "Flesh Wounds" marks a triumphant return for the band, proving they're as ferocious as ever.

Alongside the video release, SKINLAB is thrilled to announce the addition of guitarist Angelo Miles to their ranks, joining vocalist/bassist Steev Esquivel, guitarist Marcos Medina, and drummer Fabian Vestod. Miles brings a fresh surge of energy to the lineup, perfectly complementing the band's signature groove-laden heaviness.

"Angelo's a beast on the guitar and fits right into the SKINLAB family," says Esquivel. "He's already tearing it up, and we can't wait for fans to see what's next."

The "Flesh Wounds" music video — directed with gritty, cinematic flair by Karl Winnery — delivers a visual assault that matches the song's raw power.

Fans can expect more bone-crushing goodness later this year, as SKINLAB is gearing up to release a brand-new full-length album this summer — their first since 2019's "Venomous". Major tour announcements are also on the horizon, with details to be revealed soon.

Formed in 1994, SKINLAB has been a cornerstone of the American heavy metal scene, delivering seminal albums like "Bound, Gagged And Blindfolded" (1997),"Disembody: The New Flesh" (1999) and "ReVoltingRoom" (2002) through Century Media, followed by "The Scars Between Us" (2009) and "Venomous" (2019). Known for their unrelenting live performances and a sound that blends groove, thrash, and pure aggression, SKINLAB continues to push the boundaries of heavy music.

SKINLAB has had different lineups throughout its history, with Esquivel as the only mainstay.

"'Flesh Wounds' is just the beginning," Esquivel teases. "This album and these tours are going to hit harder than anything we've done before. We're ready to rip it up." Stay tuned for more updates as SKINLAB prepares to dominate 2025.

METALLICA has announced a new film project. From award-winning director Jonas Åkerlund, "Metallica Saved My Life" explores the world of METALLICA through the lives of their fans — including the bandmembers themselves — who have supported each other through highs, lows, trials and triumph for more than four decades. See it all this spring and summer in this brand new not-quite-finished film.

METALLICA comments: "As a few of you may know, we've been working behind the scenes the last couple of years on a new film that will be released later this year starring you guys! 'Metallica Saved My Life' explores our world through the lives of fans who have supported each other through highs, lows, trials, and triumphs for over four decades. And yeah, we're in it a little bit too.

"You have the chance to view the film first with a sneak peek at theaters in most of our upcoming tour stops in North America. It's not quite finished yet, but we can't wait for you to see it and let us know what you think. Brought to you by award-winning director Jonas Åkerlund, who many fans know from his work with us on 'Turn The Page', 'Whiskey In The Jar' and 'ManUNkind', the film will introduce you to fans from all corners of the world and tell their unique stories. You might even be in it!

"Tickets are available now in all tour cities except Columbus and are limited to two per person. We'll keep a close eye on sales and add screenings where possible should your city sell out quickly. If the film is not coming to your city or you can't make it this time, never fear; the full documentary is expected to be released later this year.

"To all the fans who so generously gave us their time and let us into their lives, we say 'thank you.' This film is all about YOU!"

Showtimes

Syracuse, NY
April 18 | 6:30 PM | Regal Destiny USA

Toronto, ON
April 25 | 7 PM | Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Nashville, TN
May 2 | 6:30 PM | Regal Opry Mills

Christiansburg, VA
May 6 | 6:30 PM | Regal New River Valley

Bensalem, PA
May 24 | 7 PM | AMC Neshaminy 24

Washington, D.C.
May 27 | 6:30 PM | Regal Gallery Place

Charlotte, NC
May 30 | 7 PM | AMC Carolina Pavilion 22

Atlanta, GA
June 2 | 6:30 PM | Regal Atlantic Station

Tampa, FL
June 7 | 7 PM | AMC Veterans 24

Houston, TX
June 13 | 6:30 PM | Regal Edwards Greenway Grande Palace

Santa Clara, CA
June 21 | 7 PM | AMC Mercado 20

Denver, CO
June 28 | 6:30 PM | Regal UA Denver Pavilions

Back in July 2023, METALLICA put out a casting call for "superfans" of the band to possibly appear in an upcoming documentary. The filmmakers were looking for "big personalities, unique characters and unexpected stories from METALLICA fans who consider METALLICA to be their favorite band, real 'Fifth Member' types. All stories and walks of life" were "welcome and encouraged to reach out."

The documentary was reportedly being produced by METALLICA and Mercury Studios, powered by Universal Music Group.

Two years ago, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich credited the use of "Master Of Puppets" in 2022 in the hit Netflix series "Stranger Things" with creating a whole new generation of METALLICA fans.

As a result of the song's appearance in the show, "Master Of Puppets" — the title track of METALLICA's 1986 album — went on to top of the iTunes Rock Chart and crack the Spotify Top 50.

Ulrich told Japan's TVK: "I'm just so happy that hard music and hard rock still has a place. To see so many young people connecting with music again. . . I can see it my kids; I can see it, in the last nine months, the 'Stranger Things' phenomenon of so many young kids discovering 'Master Of Puppets' and that being a gateway to maybe more METALLICA music or to more heavy music or heavy rock music."

Lars went on to say that the possibility for METALLICA's music to reach a new audience seems endless.

"I see that there's still so much, all over the world, a coming of age when kids are 12, 13, 14 years old, to get into music and for us to be part of that discovery is an incredible thing," he explained.

In a 2015 interview with Time Warner Cable News, METALLICA frontman James Hetfield was asked what it feels like to get such a strong reaction from the crowd every time the band performs live. He said: "Well, it's like an ultimate family for us — especially for me. When I'm able to just be honest and ask, 'Hey, help sing this part,' or I screwed up the words and they sing it for me. It's, like, 'Man, they really do have our back.' And we don't look at things as mistakes. There are no mistakes that happen. There's just unique ways of doing it for that day. We go up there and we play it. So there's just such a freedom when you have… When the crowd has your back, there's such a freedom to be able to even explore more up there or to even do better. 'Cause you know you're not out there to impress people, you're out there just to deliver what you've got in you."

In 2016, Ulrich told Vice that he and his bandmates don't make a concerted effort to bring in new fans or win over naysayers whenever they release a new album. "I mean, we are all aware kind of aware of the fact of how wide the net is cast," he said. "And like I said, most things that I see in the world is in grays, so it's pretty easy with this stuff. So 40-year-olds, 50-year-olds, 30-year-olds, 20-year-olds, teens, it's fine. We don't go out of our way to do one thing more than the other. I think that there still there seems to be a rite of passage for 13 and 14-year-old boys and in lots of places around the world. There are still a lot of young kids. When I occasionally check our social media, I can tell that a lot of them are younger, which is cool. So I think we got a pretty good balance. There are certain places like in Scandinavia, they're really young and there is like 14-year-old girls down in the front row. Sometimes parents bring their kids, or kids bring their parents. It's fun."

Legendary DEAD KENNEDYS frontman Jello Biafra joined NAPALM DEATH on stage last night (Monday, April 7) at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, California to perform the DEAD KENNEDYS classic "Nazi Punks Fuck Off". Fan-filmed video of his appearance can be seen below.

In October 2023, NAPALM DEATH bassist Shane Embury told Mammoth Metal TV that the band would "probably" begin work on its next studio album in 2024. Asked about a possible timeline for the recording sessions for the follow-up to 2020's "Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism", Shane said: "The last record, we started it musically in two stages, and then Barney [vocalist Mark Greenway] took quite a few days to record his vocals, 'cause we were touring.

"I've got lots of ideas; [I just need] to piece it together," he added. "And hopefully go into the studio and just kind of experiment."

In February 2022, NAPALM DEATH released a new mini-album, "Resentment Is Always Seismic - A Final Throw Of Throes", via Century Media Records.

"Resentment Is Always Seismic – A Final Throw Of Throes" is a partner recording to "Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism", concluding matters through vital, tumultuous grindcore and shockwave ambience.

The eight-song "Resentment Is Always Seismic – A Final Throw Of Throes" comes with a total playing time of 29 minutes and is available as a limited CD digipak, vinyl as well as in the digital album format.

"Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism" came out in September 2020 via Century Media Records. The band's 16th studio LP was recorded with longtime producer Russ Russell and features artwork by Frode Sylthe.

Embury released his autobiography, "Life?… And Napalm Death", in October 2023 via Rocket 88, an imprint of the established British book production company Essential Works.

Largely misunderstood and widely mocked in their early days, NAPALM DEATH nonetheless became the benchmark for uncompromising extremity, as well as a political force for good. Dismissed by many as a ridiculous noise, NAPALM DEATH became the credible face of extreme art rock, beloved of John Peel, NME cover stars and indie music darlings. Embury's debut studio release with the band, 1988's "From Enslavement To Obliteration", remains a seminal work of raging sonic violence coupled with ultra-credible punk critiques of corrupt politics, capitalist opportunism and societal collapse. The record remains as revered today as it ever was.

Cheers @greatamericanmusichall from all of us here @theofficialnapalmdeath @melvinsdotcom @weedeaterband & @darkskyburial 🙏

Posted by Napalm Death on Monday, April 7, 2025

Tonight at @greatamericanmusichall another sold out show with our buddies @melvinsdotcom and @weedeaterband doors 6pm...

Posted by Napalm Death on Monday, April 7, 2025

Swedish grandeurs of melancholic heaviness KATATONIA will release a new album, "Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State", on June 6, 2025 via Napalm Records. Once again, the Stockholm-based unit masterfully navigates the tightrope act between nocturnal darkness and Scandinavian despair while subtly weaving a sense of hope into the listener's heart.

"Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State" marks the next step in KATATONIA's evolution, building upon the foundation of their previous album, "Sky Void Of Stars" (2023),and also is an introduction to their two new guitarists. KATATONIA in 2025 is composed of vocalist and founding member Jonas Renkse, bassist Niklas Sandin, drummer Daniel Moilanen and guitarists Nico Elgstrand and Sebastian Svalland.

With the album's lead single "Lilac", revealed today, KATATONIA offer a first glimpse of what fans can expect from the new record. The track showcases Renkse's unmistakable vocals intertwining with hypnotic rhythms, heavy riffs, and progressive elements. Accompanied by an atmospheric official music video, "Lilac" speaks straight to the heart, proving KATATONIA's matchless ability to draw listeners into a whirlwind of stirring emotions.

Renkse states: "We are proud and excited to announce our new album, 'Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State', coming out via Napalm Records on June 6. As always, these songs are the stories that thrive in the corner of the eye, obscured by the light but waiting to come alive in the dusk of our morbid existence. Please enjoy the first scent — 'Lilac'."

On "Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State", crystal-clear production highlights the interplay between silence and intensity, while the contrast of heavy riffs, delicate guitar harmonies, ethereal synthesizers, and atmospheric nuances create captivating tension. Tracks like "Thrice" and "Warden" pulse with dynamic energy, a near-ceremonial piece, "Wind Of No Change", merges subtle electronic textures with KATATONIA's enigmatic soundscapes, while "Temporal" balances fragility and strength — its intense verses culminating in a soaring, emotionally charged chorus. The breathtaking "Efter Solen" (English-language translation: "After The Sun"),featuring Swedish lyrics, evokes echoes of Jonas Eika's 2018 short story collection, with minimalistic yet striking instrumentation.

Even after more than 30 years, KATATONIA continues to redefine the emotional spectrum of their genre, effortlessly shifting between haunting vulnerability and commanding artistry. With sonic landscapes that evoke dystopia, inner demons, purity, and beauty alike, "Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State" stands as a testament to their enduring brilliance.

The album was produced by Renkse, recorded by Lawrence Mackrory at NBS Audio and The City Of Glass, mixed by Adam Noble, and mastered by Robin Schmidt at 24-96 Mastering.

"Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State" track listing:

01. Thrice
02. The Liquid Eye
03. Wind Of No Change
04. Lilac
05. Temporal
06. Departure Trails
07. Warden
08. The Light Which I Bleed
09. Efter Solen
10. In The Event Of

As soon as summer has shattered, KATATONIA will embark on an epic headline tour this fall across Europe together with labelmates and Gothenburg's top-notch metal export EVERGREY and KLOGR from Italy. Kicking off on November 11 in Tampere, Finland, the tour will cover 31 major cities in total and culminate in a grand finale in Stockholm, Sweden on December 20.

KATATONIA 2025 is:

Jonas Renkse - Vocals
Niklas Sandin - Bass
Daniel Moilanen - Drums
Nico Elgstrand - Guitar
Sebastian Svalland - Guitar

Last month, founding KATATONIA guitarist Anders Nyström confirmed his departure from the band.

On March 18, Nyström released the following statement through KATATONIA's social media channels: "Sad but true.

"The time has come for me to confirm that the roads ahead Jonas [Renkse, KATATONIA vocalist] and I have chosen for both KATATONIA and ourselves have grown too wide and far apart, and as a result, our long-term collaboration has drawn to a close.

"With him and I being the duo that founded KATATONIA almost 35 years ago, and owing to the fact that we managed to take our mission this far, it's inevitable that our band's legacy will continue to play a huge role for both of us and always live on, albeit in a different light either captured by our past, future or the many chapters in between.

"To each our own, we may all have our own preferences and different levels of appreciation for either the early, mid or later KATATONIA eras, but it seems like any willingness to embrace them all, in order to honor our history through live activities, has unfortunately failed to sustain. Needless to say, I still love ALL our albums, but with the early stuff being neglected for so many years, a feeling of having 'unfinished business' with a style that goes far back to our roots has just grown stronger and stronger. I can't help feeling adamant that songs from our early-mid discography deserve to be equally acknowledged and likewise targeted for our live show repertoire, the essential medium where the past should always be alive! Unfortunately, that door has been kept shut and left everything we did pre-millennium in a void.

"Avowed, with one of us gone, KATATONIA could and should have been mutually laid to rest while exploiting the freedom to continue in any desirable direction under a new name. But with Jonas now regrouping with new members and navigating further in his own direction, I no longer need to wait and see which way the wind is blowing to enter that void and grab hold of what's been abandoned. After all, KATATONIA's legacy is resting on both ends of the timeline.

"Come what may, I'd like to thank Jonas and the rest of my ex-colleagues for the incredible ride we shared through four compelling decades.

"Blessed be!"

Renkse announced Nyström's exit from KATATONIA in a statement on March 17. He wrote: "Anders Nyström and I are going our separate ways. A decision not taken lightly, but for everyone to thrive and move forward with their own creative preferences as well as personal schedules this has become the realistic option.

"Anders and I started the band in 1991 and his impact on the band's trademark sound is undeniable.

"As bleak as this sounds, and is, it's further evidence of life getting in the way of our preferred plans. I wish Anders all the best for the future."

Photo credit: Terhi Ylimäinen

DARK ANGEL drummer Gene Hoglan spoke to the "Everblack" podcast about the band's upcoming album, "Extinction Level Event". DARK ANGEL's first new LP in 34 years is due to be released later in 2025 via Reversed Records. Gene said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's a pretty ferocious record. I'm stoked with it. It took long enough for it to come out, but now that we're getting closer to the release, things are starting to get closer to finalized with it. So, everybody keep your eyes open. We just released the album cover last week and when we have some actual, actual, like 'here is the drop date for it', we'll be able to share that with everybody. Pay attention to the DARK ANGEL socials and all that, and there will be a release date. We're teasing it as 2025, so, hey, before December 31st, we are getting a DARK ANGEL record."

DARK ANGEL will release the "Extinction Level Event" title track on Friday, April 11. The cover artwork for the LP can be seen below. Also available is a short teaser for the effort.

Fan-filmed video of DARK ANGEL performing two new songs, "Extinction Level Event" and "Circular Firing Squad", on March 23 at the Metal Beer Open Air festival at Hipódromo Chile in Santiago, Chile can be seen below.

Last month, Hoglan was asked by Chile's PowerOfMetal.cl about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's long-awaited new album. He said: " Well, we are going to be debuting a couple of new songs, some new material, at these upcoming couple of South American shows that we have. I know we are playing Buenos Aires [on March 21], and that's two nights before the Metal Beer [Open Air] fest. So, at both of those shows we are debuting some new material, and we're really excited to be able to play some new stuff after all this time. And hey, man, hopefully that's gonna lead to a whole bunch more stuff. And we're very excited to be unleashing some new material on the metal world."

Regarding the possibility of a new DARK ANGEL album being released this year, Gene said: "Boy, you never know. We're working and trying to make things happen. And so hopefully at some point — I've said this many times in the past — hopefully at some point we'll be able to give some kind of exciting update on progress of anything. And so hopefully we'll be able to do that somewhere in the near future. And everybody, keep your eyes peeled to DARK ANGEL. We'll see what happens."

DARK ANGEL was originally scheduled to play new music for the first time since 1991 during its January 29 concert at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California. However, that show ended up getting postponed due to the wildfires in the state.

In July 2024, DARK ANGEL officially entered the studio to begin recording its new LP. Two months earlier, Hoglan told Rocking With Jam Man that he had "been working diligently for the last couple of years on some projects that are gonna make DARK ANGEL fans really happy, I think. So, everybody, just sit tight," he said. "I just don't wanna nebulously announce something and then have circumstances beyond my control come along and make things delayed. I just wanna be able to be able to say, 'Yes, this is gonna be a solid date that we can announce for people, and we're gonna be able to stick to that date.' That's what I'm all about. So, keep your eyes and ears peeled, everybody."

Asked what it has been like making new DARK ANGEL music more than 30 years after the release of the band's last album, 1991's "Time Does Not Heal", Gene responded: "Well, that's one thing. It's like we had a choice. I had an entire DARK ANGEL album written that was ready to start getting recorded after the 'Time Does Not Heal' record, and circumstances occurred where the band just had to dissolve. So, I had a bunch of material written. And when [DARK ANGEL guitarist] Jim Durkin and myself — Jim is no longer with us, but when we put DARK ANGEL back together and we started talking about, like, 'What do we wanna do for the future? Do we wanna write some new material?' And 'I've got some ideas, Gene, and you probably have some ideas.' And I have a number of songs that I sent to Jim. And when Jim heard that — I sent it to him on a CD — he freaked out and he was, like, 'My God, here's our new album. This is gonna be our next record. Hell yeah.' And he got really excited about that material. But I was, like, 'Hey, Jim, tell you what. I feel really strongly about my writing chops, and the songs I'm hearing from you right now are crushing. So how about we just write new stuff, get together and start writing new material?' And so we kind of went that route."

He continued: "For my elements of what I wanted DARK ANGEL to sound like, Jim Durkin is a huge influence on my writing style. So I wanted this to have a lot of the Jim Durkin influence on it. In terms of riffs, there's not as many from Jim as we were hoping for, but Jim's entire presence is all over the new DARK ANGEL material that I've been working on. And he's a huge guitar influence on me, as well as a lot of people. So, there's definitely gonna be a pretty hardy Jim Durkin influence. And I just wanna write a kick-ass metal album. So what I've tried to do is not go back 35 years or 37 years or whatever, 'Darkness Descends' or even 'We Have Arrived', those early albums, or 'Leave Scars' or 'Time Does Not Heal', I've not tried to duplicate anything from any of those albums, but I tried to put myself in the mindset of what if DARK ANGEL just kept writing albums for the last 30-whatever years, 32, 33 years, where would we be at now? And so that has been my approach on the new DARK ANGEL material."

Durkin died on March 8, 2023 at the age of 58. An original member of DARK ANGEL, Durkin played on the band's first three albums — 1985's "We Have Arrived", 1986's "Darkness Descends" and 1989's "Leave Scars" — before departing the group in 1989. He was part of DARK ANGEL's lineup when the band reformed in 2013, and had been playing with them, on and off, ever since.

Prior to his death, Durkin had been sitting out some of DARK ANGEL's gigs. He was replaced at the shows by Hoglan's wife Laura Christine, who has since joined DARK ANGEL as a permanent member.

DARK ANGEL released two albums with Don Doty on vocals — the aforementioned "We Have Arrived" and "Darkness Descends" — before he exited the group and was replaced by Ron Rinehart (after a brief stint with Jim Drabos in 1987). The band issued two more studio LPs — "Leave Scars" and "Time Does Not Heal" — before calling it quits in 1992.

Hoglan previously talked about DARK ANGEL's upcoming LP in May 2023 in an interview with Friday 13th. He said at the time: "Jim and I, we had gotten together a number of times to write some new material for DARK ANGEL. And we weren't able to get it down on tape too much. If DARK ANGELhas any new material, there's a song that he's got on there that is pretty darn DARK ANGEL-esque.

"In tribute to Jim, DARK ANGEL's new material will have a ton of his spirit all over it — his feel. Whether he actually wrote stuff on the new stuff or not, his spirit is very there. His imprint is felt throughout thrash metal, I feel. Even before I was in DARK ANGEL, I'd see Jim's influence on bands. Absolutely. So his legacy will live forevermore in the realm of extreme metal. His style will always be a part of DARK ANGEL, absolutely, big time."

Asked how the next DARK ANGEL album will compare to the band's previous efforts, Hoglan said: "Well, I can't really even comment on the fact that there might or might not be an album yet. But put it this way — if I were to have any new DARK ANGEL material, I would want it to be an extension of where the band is at now and where I'm at now. And I would probably approach the writing of it in a way as if DARK ANGEL never disappeared for a decade, two decades, three decades, or whatever it's been. It's just like we just kept doing what we do, and this would be where we're at right now. Which I would want to be putting out the most savage, heaviest material that DARK ANGEL could. And I'm no slouch with writing psychotic, heavy material. So I would be very, very excited with where DARK ANGEL's new material would be if that would be able to confirm."

Extreme metal giants BEHEMOTH will release their new album, "The Shit Ov God", on May 9 via Nuclear Blast Records. The official music video for the LP's third single, "Lvciferaeon", can be seen below.

Filled to the brim with iconic, blasphemous imagery, the video for "Lvciferaeon" follows the tradition of cinematic and spectacular music videos for which BEHEMOTH have always been known. Similar to "The Shadow Elite", the last single from "The Shit Ov God", the brand new song "Lvciferaeon" encapsulates both the band's raw black metal roots and the vicious grandeur of modern-era BEHEMOTH.

BEHEMOTH founder and frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski commented: "It seems fitting to announce 'Lvciferaeon' as our next single amongst all the protest activity seen on the streets of the 'Unholy Trinity' tour. Lucifer has been a recurring symbol for us over our three decades of existence — a symbol of defiance and humanity in contrast to the divine ideal. Our fight continues!"

BEHEMOTH have always been known for not shying away from controversy, and they most certainly remain true to this approach with their 13th full-length. Here's a band that, 34 years in, is releasing its most inflammatory and extreme record to date. Eight songs that go into the fathoms of humanity, divinity, and what defiance means in an age where individuality is prized but everyone is clinging to their saviors — musically, politically, or otherwise. The title of the album is in line with those sensibilities.

Intentionally polarizing, Nergal says of the title: "We chose this provocative title deliberately, rejecting subtlety in favor of a direct and polarizing statement. It's a defiant plunge into the depths, daring to seek the absolute even in the gutter."

But make no mistake, despite its apparent insubtlety, the album title gets a touch of genius when seen in combination with the strikingly clever artwork, which depicts an upside-down version of the most common Christogram "IHS."

Nergal commented: "I've reached a point in BEHEMOTH's journey and my own creativity where words and statements mean less and less. The true essence of who we are and what we stand for lies in our music, our art, our visuals, our sounds, our performances, and the ways we connect with you. I deeply believe BEHEMOTH represents transcendent, timeless art.

"The number thirteen — so magical and significant. If this were to be our final album, I could say I die a proud man. Without a shadow of a doubt, this is the most refined, purest representation of BEHEMOTH. No filler, no excess — just the very best we have to offer, handed to you.

"Hail Satan."

BEHEMOTH meticulously chose the audiovisual artists involved on the album. Production on the album was helmed by the inimitable Jens Bogren of Fascination Street Studios (EMPEROR, ENSLAVED, KREATOR, ROTTING CHRIST et al.). Working closely with the band, Bogren's deft hand underscored the band's natural sound while sacrificing none of the mayhem and ferocity which permeates the band's essence. As is always the case with BEHEMOTH, the visuals were as carefully constructed as the sound. The band tapped long-time collaborator and partner in crime Bartek Rogalewicz (BLACK.LODGE.IS.NOW) as well as Dark Sigil Workshop to make the beautifully ominous and unique cover art.

"The Shit Ov God" track listing:

01. The Shadow Elite
02. Sowing Salt
03. The Shit Ov God
04. Lvciferaeon
05. To Drown The Svn In Wine
06. Nomen Barbarvm
07. O Venvs, Come!
08. Avgvr (The Dread Vvltvre)

BEHEMOTH has just kicked off the extreme metal event of 2025, featuring legendary Norwegian black metal pioneers SATYRICON as special guest. From the ancient lands of Greece, the ever-epic ROTTING CHRIST completes "The Unholy Trinity".

The tour launched on April 4, 2025, in Vienna, Austria and descends across major cities, including Berlin, Paris, London, and Stockholm, before culminating in Prague, Czech Republic on April 27.

BEHEMOTH's 12th studio album, "Opvs Contra Natvram", was released in September 2022. The LP was previously described in a press release as "a stark reminder of the rebellion, individuality, and unflinching self-expression that BEHEMOTH's phenomenal work imbues, shaped by a literary worldview."

Photo credit: Sylwia Makris and Christian Martin Weiss

British rock veterans THE DARKNESS have stormed the U.K. albums chart with their eighth studio LP, "Dreams On Toast", out via Cooking Vinyl. It has entered at No. 2 in the U.K. official albums chart and reached No. 1 in multiple charts, including the Independent Albums, Rock & Metal Albums, Vinyl Albums and Album Downloads charts. It is THE DARKNESS's highest-charting album since the band's smash hit debut "Permission To Land".

Celebrating the success, THE DARKNESS has released the video for the new searing hard rock anthem "Rock And Roll Party Cowboy". Co-directed by drummer Rufus "Tiger" Taylor and Darri3D, the gloriously outrageous animated video glows with the fluorescent lights of Sunset Strip as THE DARKNESS perform to rabid fans. They channel the sounds of hard rock legends such as ZZ TOP, MOTÖRHEAD and JUDAS PRIEST with searing solos, hell-raising vocals and a fist-pumpin' rhythm section to create a tongue-in-cheek reflection on the hedonistic, macho music scene of the '70s and '80s.

The explosive video is packed full of pyro and also stuffed with DARKNESS easter eggs, from the spaceship synonymous with "Permission To Land" to frontman Justin Hawkins's noble flying white tiger steed which soared above fans at Wembley Arena in 2004. THE DARKNESS returned to the iconic venue for a triumphant performance at the end of March to mark the release of "Dreams On Toast" as part of their most recent sold-out U.K. headline tour.

Regarding the video, Rufus says: "Only three things embody what it is to be a rock n roll party cowboy these days. My dog, Don Vito. The international live music band group, THE DARKNESS. And the fans around the world who support us so fiercely. This one's for you."

Produced by Dan Hawkins, "Dreams On Toast" flawlessly captures THE DARKNESS in their finest form, celebrating their influences, strengthening their sound, while also embarking on avenues never heard from the band before in a grand display from a passionate, hungry and inspired collective.

From the likes of the jaunty '70s pop genius of lead single "The Longest Kiss", searing hard rock of "Rock And Roll Party Cowboy", heartfelt '60s pop balladry of "Hot On My Tail", huge swaggering anthems such as "Mortal Dread" and "Walking Through Fire", while even creating a country classic with "Cold Hearted Woman", "Dreams On Toast" brings all of the wildest fantasies of THE DARKNESS to life.

When "Dreams On Toast" was first announced in September 2024, Justin said in a statement: "You know that thing when God's breath tickles your soul and tells you to create? Yeah, makes me giggle too. But you can't resist. God might not be the power she once was, but say what you like about her, she knows damn well that what the world needs now, is rock sweet rock. And who are we, mere mortals of extraordinary ability, to argue with the divine?

"So we knuckled down and thought really hard about the best of the best, the elite songs, the life-changing music of the ages. Then we popped out a dozen bangers before lunch. And these bangers we present to you here, wallowing in an aromatic aural ragu, served atop the charred remains of our envious contemporaries… ladies and gentlemen, I give you 'Dreams On Toast'!"

"Dreams On Toast" album artwork was designed by Grammy-nominated artist Perry Shall.

"Welcome To The Darkness", the epic documentary directed by famed photographer Simon Emmett, will be available for the first time in the U.S. on April 15. The film originally released November 2023 in the U.K., follows THE DARKNESS from before their wildly successful monster debut album "Permission To Land" in 2003 throughout the majestic highs and massive lows over the years, to beyond 2017's "Pinewood Smile".

Photo credit: Simon Emmett

EPICA guitarist/vocalist Mark Jansen spoke to FaceCulture about last fall's announcement that his pre-EPICA band AFTER FOREVER would reunite for two special 25th-anniversary concerts on October 4, 2025 and October 5, 2025 at 013 Poppodium in Tilburg, Netherlands. Regarding how the AFTER FOREVER reunion came about, he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Ego was involved in everything when I was removed from the band back in the day. My ego was hurt, but we talked later on and we came also to the conclusion with that that everybody had too big egos back in the day, and that was clashing. So me, them, everybody. But it's good to see that from yourself and that everybody has grown. And now it's completely different people. And also now when we work to together, everybody wants to have fun. That's the most important thing. And that's also why I'm part of it. Because we wanna have fun, we wanna do this to have a good time, to play these old songs again and just enjoy ourselves. And that's all [it's] about."

Asked why original AFTER FOREVER singer Floor Jansen, who has been fronting NIGHTWISH for more than a decade, isn't involved in the AFTER FOREVER reunion concert, Mark said: "Yeah, of course, we asked her as well, and she said, 'For me it's a closed book. It's a closed thing.' And yeah, you can only respect that. Of course, after that, we thought a bit, what shall we do, maybe not do it at all? But at a certain point we thought, yeah, if we wait forever, then maybe it's never gonna happen. So that would also be a pity… Then it's literally 'after forever' and the chance is gone. [Laughs]"

Regarding his current relationship with his onetime AFTER FOREVER bandmate Sander Gommans, Mark said: "Yeah. Some things are the same. That's the humor that's still the same, the same kind of humor. And some things are really different. Like I said, I feel a growth on a personal level, also in him — in myself, in him, also in the other guys. And if that growth had not taken place in me or in him or in in anybody, it would've not happened because then the old struggles would have come to the surface. But now it's, like… How you say that in English? 'Sand over it.' [Laughs] We have that saying in Dutch. And then it's also, we let it go without that it comes to the surface again with stuff."

As for whether the two AFTER FOREVER concerts will be a "one-off" or there is a possibility of more gigs coming up, Mark said: "The plan is one-off, and if it leads to something more, then we won't stop it, if it leads to anything. But the idea is this. And because, yeah, I'm also myself busy enough — EPICA is forever my priority and everybody knows that, but if there would be a bit more time left some somehow and something happens, I don't say right away 'no'. But the plan is first this [one show] and nothing else."

When Mark announced the AFTER FOREVER reunion show last October, he said in a statement: "2025 marks a monumental milestone: 25 years since AFTER FOREVER left a timeless footprint on the world of symphonic metal with their debut album 'Prison Of Desire'. Its 2001 successor, 'Decipher', pushed their music even further, fusing progressive elements with a heavier sound that helped shape the symphonic metal of today. These two releases marked the start of a wonderful journey — one that took the band to international stages and into the hearts of fans all over the world.

"After five successful albums, the sextet's journey came to an end in 2009. Despite that, their music has lived on, continuing to inspire the next generations of musicians and fans alike. With a loyal following, still passionate about the band's musical legacy, the time has come to bring back to life — and to the stage — the music from these two records that started it all.

"Even though AFTER FOREVER is a closed chapter for the group's original singer, Floor Jansen, members of the original lineup — Mark Jansen, Sander Gommans, Luuk van Gerven and André Borgman — have joined forces with vocalist Angel Wolf-Black (SHEWOLF),guitarist Bas Maas (AFTER FOREVER, DORO),and keyboardist Jeffrey Revet (STREAM OF PASSION) to honour and celebrate the band's cherished music and its lasting impact, in an unforgettable live experience.

"Join us as we revisit old hits, revive the energy, and celebrate the legacy of AFTER FOREVER!

"Feel free to let us know which songs you'd like to hear:)".

In a 2018 interview with FaceCulture, Floor Jansen, who has been a member of NIGHTWISH for more than a decade, stated about AFTER FOREVER: "I think it was a very special time. We made great music, which ended way too fast. I'm still sad that it was not able to continue, but I think it was amazing what we did with our young years and, yeah, I'm still extremely proud of what we made and still listen to the music with great joy and memories."

Asked whether she thought AFTER FOREVER could have accomplished more, Floor said: "Yes, I do. I was not too pleased with stopping. I did not think it was a good idea. I think there was [more to do]."

AFTER FOREVER's latest, self-titled album was released in April 2007 via Nuclear Blast Records.

SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor played an acoustic solo show this past Saturday (April 5) at the Spookala horror and pop culture convention at the Florida State Fairgrounds - Expo Center in Tampa, Florida. Video of the performance can be seen below.

According to Setlist.fm, the setlist for the concert was as follows:

01. Add It Up (VIOLENT FEMMES cover)
02. Song #3 (STONE SOUR song)
03. Black Eyes Blue
04. Everlong (FOO FIGHTERS cover)
05. Taciturn (STONE SOUR song)
06. I Miss You (INCUBUS cover)
07. Something I Can Never Have (NINE INCH NAILS cover)
08. Snuff (SLIPKNOT song)
09. Home
10. SpongeBob SquarePants Theme (PAINTY THE PIRATE & KIDS cover)
11. Bother (STONE SOUR song)
12. Through Glass (STONE SOUR song)
13. Pink Pony Club (CHAPPELL ROAN cover)
14. Spit It Out

Taylor played what he said was his first acoustic solo show in over three years on March 22 at the HorrorHound Weekend convention in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Taylor's solo album of covers and B-sides from the "CMF2" album sessions, titled "CMF2B… Or Not 2B", was released digitally in May 2024. The effort was previously made available on April 20, 2024 via BMG as part of last year's Record Store Day.

Corey spent much of the last half of 2023 touring in support of his sophomore solo album, "CMF2", which was released in September of that year. Taylor's first album for BMG and the first on his own label imprint, Decibel Cooper Recordings, was produced by Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER, AMON AMARTH),who also helmed STONE SOUR's 2017 LP "Hydrograd" as well as 2020's "CMFT".

Taylor began tracking the follow-up to 2020's "CMFT" LP in early January 2023 at The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas, Nevada with Ruston. Joining Corey in the studio was the rest of his solo band — bassist Eliot Lorango, drummer Dustin Robert, along with guitarists Christian Martucci and Zach Throne.

"CMFT" featured the No. 1 Billboard mainstream rock single "Black Eyes Blue" and streaming sensation "CMFT Must Be Stopped" (feat. Tech N9ne and Kid Bookie). The LP hit No. 6 on Billboard's U.S. Top Rock Albums chart.

Back in January 2024, Taylor canceled his previously scheduled North American solo tour, citing struggles with his mental health. He later told Alternative Press that he hit "a real dark point" early last year and that he needed to make some changes to the way he worked for his well-being, including touring. He told the magazine: "I found that my pursuit of work and all things ego was killing me. And nearly killed me. So I've reinvested my life to the point [where] I'm only going to work so much. I'll never be gone from home for more than two and a half weeks. I'm putting importance back on the things I really value. That is the greatest gift I could give myself and my family."