Waltari have released the new video below, "Lights On 2021" feat. Lordi. A message from Waltari follows...


"It’s been a while... But we are super excited to present you a brand new video clip: Waltari + Lordi - 'Lights On 2021'. Yes!!! It’s our dear friends in Lordi and have a look at Mr. Lordi and Kartsy (Hatakka) battling.


“'Lights On 2021' in 2022??? Where’s the bridge? Well, it’s that easy: late 2021 we released our album 3rd Decade Anniversary Edition, which included the track feat. Lordi. Fast forward to 2022 - this year marks the 30th anniversary of our “breakthrough” album Torcha. And the album opener back then was 'Lights On'.




"Cutting it short: the video for 'Lights On 2021' wraps up the 3rd Decade cycle, yet also celebrating Torcha… Great times back then… Bringing back fantastic memories. How cool would it be to even get that classic line up back on stage for some anniversary shows?!!! Well, all dreaming is allowed in here."

For the gear heads out there, Cyhra guitarist Euge Valovirta has shared an instructional video on how to get those early days In Flames guitar sounds, and how to arrange guitars in a similar way and create those classic third harmonies.





Cyhra, featuring former Amaranthe vocalist Jake E and Kamelot drummer Alex Landenburg, have released a new single, "Ready To Rumble". Check out the official video below, stream and purchase the song here.




The song will appear on the band's new studio album, due to be released in 2023.

Connecticut metalcore dynamos, Currents, have dropped a lyric video for the new song, "Vengeance". Watch below, and stream the song here.





"'Vengeance' is the manifestation of pent-up aggression over the last few years since the release of our album The Way it Ends," says singer Brian Wille. "It's becoming disillusioned, taking yourself to places you never thought you'd be, and the rage and despair that comes along with that. It also talks about the desire to let those feelings go and to move forward, but not without digging deeper into that negativity first and exploring the satisfaction that comes with the right revenge..."







"Vengeance" follows the recently released track "The Death We Seek". Watch the video below. Expect more from Currents in 2023, including a support slot on the Parkway Drive Winter 2023 tour.

On November 14th, DReam Theater guitarist John Petrucci brought his Terminal Velocity solo tour to the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, WI. High Quality fan-filmed videio of the entire show is available below.


The setlist was as follows:


"Terminal Velocity"
"The Happy Song"
"Jaws of Life"
"The Oddfather"
"Gemini"
"Out of the Blue"
"Tunnel Vision"
"Damage Control"
"Snake in My Boot"
"Temple of Circadia"




Encore:
"Glasgow Kiss"





Petrucci kicked off his first-ever headlining solo tour of North America on October 5th in Providence, RI. The day after the show, he guested on Rob Rush Radio and commented on hitting the stage with former Drean Theater drummer Mike Portnoy for the first time in 12 years.


Petrucci recently spoke with Guitar World about reuniting with Portnoy for the tour, performing instrumental music outside of Dream Theater, and the differences between Portnoy and his replacement, Mike Mangini, as players in Dream Theater. Following is an excerpt from the interview.


Q: This tour sees you sharing the stage with Mike Portnoy for the first time since 2010. What sort of emotions course through you as you hit the stage?


Petrucci: "It's great to be playing with Mike again; it really is. The chemistry between us is so natural, probably because we've known each other since we were 18. And as you know, we played together forever, so even with the passing of time, in some ways, it feels like no time has passed at all.


It's funny because I've often said that this whole tour feels like I'm jamming in the basement with my friends, like when we were little (laughs). So, it's a great feeling to reconnect musically with Mike and to do this together; it's been awesome."


Q: Can you dig deeper into the chemistry that not just you and Mike share but this touring unit in general?


Petrucci: "This group of people on stage with me each night is awesome, man. With Dave LaRue (bass), I used to go see him play with Steve Morse and the Dixie Dregs, and I remember watching him and thinking, 'Wow. I really would love to play with that guy. He's phenomenal.' So, since I got asked to do G3 back in 2001, I've toured with Dave, and Dave has done every G3 tour, all my Guitar Universe camps, and he played bass on both my solo albums. So, he and I have great musical chemistry that fits like a glove.


And with Mike, like I said, we have that long history of meeting at Berkeley and being in Dream Theater together for 25 years, so when the three of us get together, it's awesome. And what's even cooler, Dave plays with Mike on another project called Flying Colors, so we're all very comfortable, and as a trio, we sound great off the bat. Everybody's super professional, very prepared, and playing their asses off. It couldn't be better."


Read the complete interview here.

Rex Brown has made his first public comments about PANTERA's return to the live stage.

As previously reported, the reformed band — featuring PANTERA's surviving members Brown (bass) and Philip Anselmo (vocals) along with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) — will headline a number of major festivals across North America, South America and Europe and stage some of their own headline concerts.

It was first reported in July that Anselmo and Brown will unite with Wylde and Benante (ANTHRAX) for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.

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

PANTERA will play its first shows in over 20 years in December 2022, starting with a co-headlining slot at Mexico's Hell & Heaven Metal Fest and Monterrey Metal Fest, followed by appearances at three Knotfest festivals in South America. There will also be a one-off show with JUDAS PRIEST in São Paulo, Brazil and a headlining concert in Santiago.

Late Friday night (November 25), Rex took to his Instagram to share a photo of him with Wylde and Benante, which the ANTHRAX drummer had previously posted to his socials, and he included the following message: "Get ready folks, this is gonna be one Hell of a Ride…And then some!! This was the start of the ZW sessions that grew into a Monster…5 days 'til Mexico City!! Bolt in….. @panteraofficial #pantera #hellandheavenmetalfest #mexicocity".

Confirmed PANTERA shows so far:

Dec. 02 - Texicoco, Mexico - Hell & Heaven Metal Fest
Dec. 06 - Monterrey, Mexico – Monterrey Metal Fest
Dec. 09 - Bogotá, Colombia – Knotfest Colombia
Dec. 11 - Santiago, Chile - Knotfest Chile
Dec. 12 - Santiago, Chile - Movistar Arena
Dec. 15 - São Paulo, Brazil – Vibra São Paulo (with JUDAS PRIEST)
Dec. 18 - São Paulo, Brazil – Knotfest Brazil
May 26 - Sofia, Bulgaria - Armeets Arena
May 27 - Bucharest, Romania - Metalhead Meeting Open Air Festival
May 30 - Budapest, Hungary - Barba Negra
May 31 - Vienna, Austria - Gasometer
Jun. 2-4 - Nürburgring, Germany - Rock Am Ring
Jun. 2-4 - Nürnberg, Germany - Rock Im Park
Jun. 05 - Lodz, Poland - Atlas Arena
Jun. 8-10 - Hyvinkää, Finland - Rockfest
Jun. 10 - Sölvesborg, Sweden – Sweden Rock Festival
Jun. 12 - Prague, Czech Republic - O2 Arena
Jun. 13 - Berlin, Germany - Verti Music Hall
Jun. 15 - Copenhagen, Denmark – Copenhell
Jun. 15-18 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Metal Meeting
Jun. 21 - Hamburg, Germany - Edel Optics
Jun. 22-24 - Oslo, Norway - Tons Of Rock

Benante told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about how he plans to approach the PANTERA gig: "I can't go do this as the drummer from ANTHRAX because it would be a different sound completely. So the way I'm gonna do that is if you close your eyes, it's gonna sound like it's Vinnie, basically. And that's how it's gonna be. The sound is gonna sound exactly like him."

Wylde said that he had a similar mindset. "You approach it the same way as you do when I'm playing with Ozzy," he said. "Obviously I've gotta learn [Randy] Rhoads's stuff and I've gotta learn Jake's [E. Lee] stuff, and when I was doing the [BLACK] SABBATH stuff, you learn it and do it as faithful as you can. Charlie's gotta learn all of Vinnie's parts. You approach it as if you're in a cover band. When we do the ZAKK SABBATH stuff," referring to his BLACK SABBATH cover band, "I don't start changing lyrics midway through 'War Pigs'. You learn the songs — so that's what you do."

A year ago, Anselmo said that he was up for reuniting with Brown for a special tour celebrating the music of PANTERA. The 54-year-old singer, who has spent the past few years playing a PANTERA-centric set with his solo band, THE ILLEGALS, discussed the possibility of re-teaming with his former PANTERA bandmate during an interview with Brazil's Inside With Paulo Baron. Asked if he and Rex would be open to playing some shows in celebration of PANTERA's legacy, Anselmo said: "If Rex and I had a show to play, or we were ever gonna be on stage again together, I would welcome it with open arms. I love Rex. And he'd be the same way. We're brothers forever. So playing on stage together, or doing some shows together, is not out of the question. It could happen."

In April 2021, Rex told Eonmusic that he and Philip still get offers for a PANTERA tribute tour. "But if you don't have the other guys in the band, it's not going to sound the same," he said. "If we were ever to do something like that, it would have to be spot-on, or I wouldn't do it. It would be a tribute."

Talk about a possible PANTERA "reunion" intensified when Anselmo regularly joined Wylde's BLACK LABEL SOCIETY to perform PANTERA's song "I'm Broken" during DOWN's 2014 stint on the "Revolver Golden Gods Tour". That buzz only got stronger after Brown joined the jam on May 23, 2014 when the tour swung through Texas.

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

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

PANTERA is managed by Scott McGhee of 1 Degree Music Entertainment. The band's legal representative is Nick Ferrara And Associates. PANTERA is booked internationally by Rod MacSween at ITB. Artist Group International will book PANTERA's North American dates, with Dennis Arfa and Peter Pappalardo as the responsible agents.

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In a new interview with WSOU 89.5 FM, SLIPKNOT drummer Jay Weinberg was asked how it felt for him to have been named No. 1 metal drummer in Modern Drummer magazine's 2022 Readers' Poll. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's awesome. I'm incredibly grateful for that recognition and that people are in tune with what we're doing, with what I'm doing. It's not the goal of setting out to be in a band and work really hard at making the music that you love, but to have that happen is… It's quite surreal to go from being a Modern Drummer reader all my life to receiving a recognition like that. It's a real honor. It's a real testament to our fanbase and everybody tuning in to what we're about and what I've been up to these last nine years. It's awesome. I'm very thankful. It's not the main idea, not the main goal by any stretch, but [it's] certainly cool."

When it was first announced in September that Weinberg had won Modern Drummer's 2022 Readers' Poll, he released a statement via social media in which he said: "It is truly an honor to be named Metal Drummer of the Year in the 2022 @modern_drummer Reader's Poll. I distinctly remember being a teenager, buying my first copy of Modern Drummer Magazine at my local drum shop. It's surreal and humbling to receive this recognition.

"Thank you so much to Modern Drummer, the entire MD community, and everyone who voted. Your support means the world to me.

"Tomas, Brann, Eloy, and Matt: you guys know how much your music means to me. Thank you all for the endless inspiration you've given the worldwide drumming community, and for everything you do to push the instrument forward.

"Thank you to my wife @chloweinberg, our dog @hiya___papaya, my parents and siblings, and my bandmates in @slipknot for the love and encouragement. I owe you all a debt of gratitude I can never repay.

"To everyone who's been in my corner all these years, thank you so much. I sincerely appreciate it."

Jay discovered SLIPKNOT when he was a pre-teen, through his father Max, of Bruce Springsteen's E STREET BAND, and leader of the house band on Conan O'Brien's talk show. He was hooked immediately and was a huge fan of SLIPKNOT by the time he was invited to Los Angeles to try out as replacement for Joey Jordison in 2013.

For the first few months after the release of 2014's ".5: The Gray Chapter", the members of SLIPKNOT had declined to name the musicians who were playing drums and bass on their tour, despite the fact that their identities were revealed as Weinberg and bassist Alessandro "Vman" Venturella by a disgruntled former drumtech for SLIPKNOT who posted a picture of a backstage call sheet on Instagram.

SLIPKNOT announced its split with Jordison in December 2013 but did not disclose the reasons for his exit. The drummer subsequently issued a statement saying that he did not quit the group.

Jordison passed away "peacefully in his sleep" in July 2021 of an unspecified cause. He was 46 years old.

Asked in a 2016 interview with Music Radar how respectful he felt he had to be to Joey's legacy, and how much he felt he was free to make it his own, Weinberg said: "Having a massive respect for the band's music, having a massive respect for Joey Jordison as a person and as a player, I understood my role in needing to deliver what this band needs, and understanding what Joey brought to the table, and having this band's legacy continue in the way that the Maggots, the fans of the band, respect, and the nine of us feeling proud of the music we're creating.

"Of course, the history of the band feeds into what I think of the band, but when it came time to come up with new material, new songs, I didn't think about Joey Jordison one bit," he continued. "And I feel it would be disrespectful to do that, and the band wanted me to be completely myself. Because why would I want to be Joey Jordison, why would I try to mimic what he's done?

"Joey's one of the greatest drummers we've ever had the privilege of witnessing. So as a fan of the band and someone who respects the people and the music, I didn't want to come in and try to be a copycat. That's not interesting to me, that's not interesting to the band and it would be insulting to everyone involved, including the fans."

Prior to joining SLIPKNOT, Weinberg was a member of AGAINST ME!, having played with the Florida-based act from November 2010 until December 2012.

Weinberg joined AGAINST ME! shortly after he was ousted from MADBALL and following the departure of AGAINST ME!'s previous sticksman, George Rebelo.

In May 2013, Weinberg filled in for KVELERTAK drummer Kjetil Gjermundrod during the band's North American tour because Gjermundrod had to bow out of the run after experiencing significant pain in his arm.

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Time flies! Looking back at the last year, vicious thrash metal legends Destruction saw many successes, celebrating their 40th anniversary with the release of their impressive latest full-length record, Diabolical. Catapulting you straight into the seventh heaven of metallic bliss, their incredible fifteenth studio album brings out a heavy artillery full of honest and uncompromising thrash metal - a massacre of razor-sharp sound no fan of the genre should miss.


Able to travel the globe again, Destruction shared stages at the world’s biggest festivals like Hellfest, Graspop and México Metal Fest – which can now be seen in the new official music video for “Tormented Soul”. Capturing every single fan, Destruction brings you right back to the summer of metal ‘22.


Destruction about the new video: "The enthusiasm, energy and euphoria of the Latin American Metal crowds are legendary meanwhile all around the globe. That is the reason why we have filmed the new video clip for 'Tormented Soul' in the middle of our Latin American Attack tour, at the Mexico Metal Fest! It was always a dream to do this and of course the fans did not disappoint: they are the star of this old school music video - dive into the stamina and the lunacy of a dedicated crowd! This is METAL - this is WHY we do this!“







Destruction riffkiller Martin Furia about the Diabolical record: “Diabolical' is an album of extremes, everything is more brutal and more technical but at the same time more melodic and to the point. It's a pure and devastating Destruction album with no gimmicks, full of power and adrenaline. I'm excited for what the future is bringing and can't wait to play the new songs live!”


Diabolical is available via Napalm Records. Order here.





Tracklisting:


"Under The Spell"
"Diabolical"
"No Faith In Humanity"
"Repent Your Sins"
"Hope Dies Last"
"The Last Of A Dying Breed"
"State Of Apathy"
"Tormented Soul"
"Servant Of The Beast"
"The Lonely Wolf"
"Ghost From The Past"
"Whorefication"
"City Baby Attacked By Rats"


"No Faith In Humanity" video:





"Diabolical" video:





Destruction are:


Schmier - Bass, Vocals
Martin Furia - Guitars
Randy Black - Drums
Damir Eskić - Guitars


(Photo - Lena Mischuk)

Powerwolf are undoubtedly one of the most celebrated and successful heavy metal bands of the last decade. Multiple #1 album chart entries, Gold and Platinum records, huge sold out arena shows, as well as headline slots at the biggest festivals have paved their way. In less than 20 years of band history, Powerwolf has made it to the very highest league of heavy metal.


Just in time for the highest Christian holiday, Easter 2023, another highlight of the band's discography, Interludium, will be released on April 7. The new release features six new studio tracks, including the single "Sainted By The Storm", which was already celebrated on the band's exhilarating Wolfsnächte 2022 headline tour, as well as one of the most intense tracks in the band's history, "My Will Be Done". Interludium also features gems and rarities from the band's historysuch as “Midnight Madonna” or “Living On A Nightmare”


Interludium comes in several editions, most of them containing another exciting surprise: the bonus album Communio Lupatum II, where eleven befriended bands like Eisbrecher, Electric Callboy, Korpiklaani and Rage cover some of the biggest hits of Powerwolf’s career. More limited versions also contain the second bonus album Interludium Orchestrale, containing eight orchestral versions of the album tracks.







Interludium will be available in various formats:


- 3 LP Vinyl Transparent / Black in Cardboard Box (1-LP Gatefold + 2 x Bonus Album in Slipcase) with Slipmat – strictly limited to 300 worldwide (Napalm Records Shop exclusive)
- 3 LP Vinyl Marbled Green / White / Black in Cardboard Box (1-LP Gatefold + 2 x Bonus Album in Slipcase) with Slipmat – strictly limited to 300 worldwide (Powerwolf Shop exclusive)
- 3 LP Vinyl Marbled Black / Red in Cardboard Box (1-LP Gatefold + 2 x Bonus Album in Slipcase) with Slipmat – strictly limited to 400 worldwide (EMP exclusive)
- 3 CD Earbook with 96 pages booklet – strictly limited to 1500 worldwide
- 2 CD Mediabook with 48 pages booklet, incl Communio Lupatum II bundled with ticket for Un Holy Metal Mass in Cologne
- 2 CD Mediabook with 48 pages booklet, incl Communio Lupatum II with Aluminium Chalice (Capacity: 0,6l, Height: 20cm, Weight: 750g) – strictly limited to 500 worldwide (Napalm Records Shop exclusive)
- 2 CD Mediabook with 48 pages booklet, incl Communio Lupatum II
- 1 CD Jewel Case
- 1 LP Gatefold with poster
- 2 Music Cassette – strictly limited to 300 worldwide
- Digital Deluxe Album
- Digital Album


Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"Wolves Of War"
"Sainted By The Storm"
"No Prayer At Midnight"
"My Will Be Done"
"Altars On Fire"
"Wolfborn"
"Stronger Than The Sacrament"
"Living On A Nightmare"
"Midnight Madonna"
"Bête du Gévaudan"


CD 2 Communio Lupatum II:


"Werewolves Of Armenia" (by Wind Rose)
"Reverent Of Rats" (by Mystic Prophecy)
"Dancing With The Dead" (by Annisokay)
"Call Of The Wild" (by Rage)
"Venom Of Venus" (by Ad Infinitum)
"Sudenmorsian" (Where The Wild Wolves Have Gone) (by Korpiklaani)
"Stossgebet" (by Eisbrecher)
"Fire & Forgive" (by Electric Callboy)
"Armata Strigoi" (by Warkings)
"We Are The Wild" (by Lord Of The Lost)
"Night Of The Werewolves" (by Unleash The Archers)


CD 3 Interludium Orchestrale:


"Wolves Of War" (orchestral version)
"Sainted By The Storm" (orchestral version)
"No Prayer At Midnight" (orchestral version)
"My Will Be Done" (orchestral version)
"Altars On Fire" (orchestral version)
"Wolfborn" (orchestral version)
"Midnight Madonna" (orchestral version)
"Bête du Gévaudan" (orchestral version)


"My Will Be Done" video:





"Sainted By The Storm" lyric video:





One day before the release of Interludium, Powerwolf will celebrate Easter with their devotees at Palladium in Cologne. The album release show will be one of the biggest concerts in the history of the band and a once in a lifetime experience for each Powerwolf fan.


Powerwolf are:


Attila Dorn – vocals
Falk Maria Schlegel – organ
Charles Greywolf – guitar
Matthew Greywolf – guitar
Roel van Helden – drums


(Photo - Matteo Vdiva Fabbiani for VD Pictures)

Iconic rockers Faster Pussycat have released double A-side singles "Like A Ghost" and "Pirate Love" via Golden Robot Records. 
 
This release is the first for the band under the Golden Robot umbrella with Taime Downe saying earlier this year:


"The band and I are over the moon to join the Golden Robot Records rock-n-roll family! We are super excited to release some of our badass new tunes globally – we know the label see our vision and supports the band and we feel completely at home here." 


"Like A Ghost" is a track about growing up in the '70s, listening to the radio and doing what kids do and the memories it brings back. It features Taime's signature vocals carrying the song through to completion. The production on this track is second to none with blistering guitars and the band in full force. 




"Pirate Love", a cover of the legend Johnny Thunders, stays true to the original with both tracks complimenting each other with strong instrumentals and killer vocals with an edge to them - everything you would expect from a top-shelf Faster Pussycat release.


The singles are available via digital platforms found here.








The double A-side single comes just a few months before Faster Pussycat are expected to hit Australian shores for Glam Fest, with an exclusive Australian tour edition of "Like A Ghost" and "Pirate Love" on coloured translucent blue 7" vinyl available to purchase at these shows with only limited stock to be made available online in 2023. 


Tickets for Glam Fest 2023 can be purchased here.

West Coast based glam rockers Prophets Of Addiction have released a new video for their single "Superhero".


The band enlisted the services of Lonny Paul Johnson to create the animated piece. "We felt an animated video captured the whole theme of the song, and it was something I always wanted to do. This was the perfect fit," states POA mainman Lesli Sanders.







"Superhero" is the first single and video from the forthcoming, as yet untitled, Prophets Of Addiction album. The band is currently in the midst of working on this new release with longtime producer Phil Soussan (bassist for Ozzy Osbourne, Beggars And Thieves, Billy Idol, Vince Neil, Rod Stewart) at Blue Cat Studios in Las Vegas, NV.


Prophets Of Addiction's fourth album sees Sanders and company (guitarists G.G Sleaze, Tchad Drats, Terry Bratsch and drummer Wayne "The Stoke" Stokley going back towards the glam, punk and roots the band is most closely associated with. "I’ve always wanted to do a dark powerful acoustic record with a message and I think we achieved that with our last record. Now with a very strong lineup that is ready to move forward it’s time to get back to rocking," remarks Sanders. The new release is expected to hit stores in the second quarter of 2023.


The "Superhero" single / video also marks Prophets Of Addiction's signing with renowned Los Angeles based label Cleopatra Records to a seven year deal. "When searching for a home for the new release, we wanted a place that 'gets it', and felt Brian and his label Cleopatra Records was the best place. He has always kept it 'real' and is a fan of music and the scene."





  

Revolution Saints, the band centred around vocalist/drummer Deen Castronovo, have returned with a new lineup and a new single, "Eagle Flight". Castronovo is joined by new companions, bassist Jeff Pilson and guitarist Joel Hoekstra for Revolution Saints 2.0 and "Eagle Flight" is their brand new musical statement announcing their arrival. Watch the music video below.





Revolution Saints was initially put together by Serafino Perugino, President and Head of A&R for Frontiers Records, to showcase the stunning voice of Deen Castronovo (Journey, Bad English, Hardline). Castronovo has always been a well respected drummer, but fans who took note of his background vocals over his career and who attended Journey shows and saw him take lead vocals on "Mother, Father" during the band's set, came to realize he also had an amazing voice. Revolution Saints was, and always has been, a vehicle to show the world Deen's incredible singing talents.




For the first three Revolution Saints albums, Revolution Saints, Light In The Dark, and Rise, Deen was joined by bassist/vocalist Jack Blades (Night Ranger) and guitarist Doug Aldrich (The Dead Daisies, ex-Whitesnake, Dio). Produced by Alessandro Del Vecchio, those three albums brought back the classic melodic rock style that thrilled and delighted legions of fans in the ‘80s and ‘90s and still does today! Inspiring, uplifting vocals, soaring melodies, and hooks for days is what you get in spades across those three albums.


While Revolution Saints MK I left an indelible mark on the melodic rock world, it was time for MK II to be born. Deen, having recently re-joined Journey, was feeling invigorated and inspired and ready to sing his ass off. Filling Blades and Aldrich's shoes would be no easy feat, but, mercifully, the exact right guys were found for the job.


Joel Hoekstra is a current member of Whitesnake, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Iconic, as well as having his own solo project, Joel Hoekstra's 13 and is an absolutely stunning guitar player, able to play multiple styles. Jeff Pilson, currently a member of Foreigner, Black Swan, and The End Machine, is also known for his time in Dokken and his more recent production work. Two stellar musicians to compliment Deen's singing and drumming is exactly what was needed for Revolution Saints 2.0 and that's exactly what we've got here.


Fans of Revolution Saints first three releases are going to find much to be delighted with here with the new, rejuvenated Rev Saints and their brand new single, "Eagle Flight".


A new studio album will be released in the first half of 2023. Stream/download "Eagle Flight" here.





Revolution Saints are:


Deen Castronovo - lead vocals, drums
Joel Hoekstra - guitars
Jeff Pilson - bass

On November 27th, Nightwish performed at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, Holland. Fan-filmed video of the band performing "Phantom Of The Opera" for the first time since 2005, with guest vocalist Henk Poort, can be viewed below.


The band has posted the following message:


"Thank you, Amsterdam! Always a true pleasure performing in Floor Jansen's home country. Special shout out to Henk Poort joining us to perform The Phantom of the Opera again for the first time in 17 years!"




The show was filmed for a futrure DVD release. The setlist was as follows:


"Noise"
"Storytime"
"Tribal"
"Élan"
"Sleeping Sun"
"7 Days to the Wolves"
"Dark Chest of Wonders"
"Harvest"
"I Want My Tears Back"
"Nemo"
"How's the Heart?" (Acoustic)
"Shoemaker"
"Last Ride of the Day"
"Ghost Love Score"
"The Phantom of the Opera"
"The Greatest Show on Earth"

King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and his wife, Toyah Willcox, were back in the kitchen together this past weekend for another Sunday Lunch. Check out their rendition of Megadeth's classic "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" from their legendary Rust In Peace album.

A selection of Robert & Toyah's previous Sunday Lunch videos can be seen below:

























 

Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared his solo power metal cover of the Taylor Swift song "Anti-Hero", which was released in October. It is taken from Swift's new album, Midnights. Check it out below.










Johansson recently covered the 1984 Chicago classic "You're The Inspiration". Check it out below.


Johansson: "A song that me I've listened to a lot since I was a kid! My dear friend Chris challenged me to make an extreme power metal version of this song, and a challenge like that I would never decline - and here's the result."

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE bassist Tim Commerford has joined forces with Mathias Wakrat and Jonny Polonsky to form a new trio, 7D7D. The band's debut track, "Capitalism", has just been released via Mad Bunny Records and can be streamed below.

It is hard to pinpoint what hits you first — the misleadingly upbeat, even pop nature of the melody and Tim's vocals, or his signature bass tone; Mathias's totally unique and odd pattern of drums, whose time signatures have hints of jazz, mechanical and electronic rhythms but are all acoustically created expertly integrated; or Jonny's sublime, precise and powerful guitar locking it all together to deliver the lyrics — manifestos, really — that arrive into your mind like a snake in the grass. In just a few lines of "Capitalism", the catchy tune compels you to sing along before you even realize the no-holds-barred content, and the lyrics continue to come down like a gavel, explicitly denouncing the tyranny and injustices Tim observes, and has raged against, all his life.

Raised in Irvine, California, Tim learned the bass and began to channel a tough childhood into music. By the time he was in his early 20s, he was in RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE. Tim was also in AUDIOSLAVE (where he met Jonny) and PROPHETS OF RAGE. French-born Mathias first fell in love with percussion through his uncle who played, and began studying it at age 11, before moving to Los Angeles, where he would later meet Tim. Tim and Mathias were fast friends, sharing a passion for mountain bikes and John Coltrane, though it took many years before they performed together in a band.

In 2015 the two were both in the trio WAKRAT, which Tim described as "unapologetic, unrelenting, unbridled and uncensored. Understood?" However, this could be said of every band Tim has been in.

Tim and Jonny first started writing music together after AUDIOSLAVE broke up. Jonny had been a guitar tech, but that humble position is deceptive — Jonny was discovered in the 1990s by Reeves Gabrels, and Frank Black from the PIXIES helped produce his first demo. Jonny was then signed by Rick Rubin to his label American Recordings. Jonny went on to join PUSCIFER, he has toured with many artists, including Tom Morello, and he has recorded with Kevin Haskins and David J of BAUHAUS, and played on the last two Johnny Cash albums produced by Rubin and more.

Australian theatrical glam rockers, Crosson, have shown their tongue in cheek side with the release of their new video and single, "Stop Pretending That You Love Me". With it’s ‘catchy as chlamydia’ chorus, this song will be stuck in your head for days.


Directed by Lord Tim (Lord), the video stars the beautiful Namibian-born Australian actress, model, entrepreneur Verna Amy Mclune and the rising comedic actor Miles Boland who play out a hilarious love triangle during a Crosson rehearsal.


Stop Pretending That You Love Me” is the third video/single from the new Crosson album, Ready, Aim… Rock!!, which was mixed by Duane Baron (Motley Crue, Ozzy Osbourne, Poison) and mastered by Dave Donnelly (Aerosmith, KISS, Cher).







Crosson will be delivering their theatrical over the top stage show throughout Australia in January as part of GlamFest 2023 featuring Faster Pussycat, Wednesday 19, Eclipse, Enuff ‘Z Nuff, Pretty Boy Floyd, Tuff and Sisters Doll.

Metallica have announced that they will release their new album, entitled 72 Seasons, on April 14, 2023. A music video for the first single, "Lux Æterna", is available  for streaming below. The band have also announced a World Tour in support of the upcoming release.





Says Metallica: "Yes, you read that correctly... we have completed recording at HQ, and our 12th studio album is coming your way! It’s been six years since Hardwired…To Self Destruct, so we think it’s about time for some new music. With 12 tracks totaling over 77 minutes, 72 Seasons hits all the places you can consume music on Friday, April 14, 2023.




"Produced by Greg Fidelman, along with James and Lars, 72 Seasons is available for pre-order now on CD, 2LP 140g black vinyl, two different colored vinyl variations, and digitally in the Met Store. Every pre-order will receive a digital instant grat track of the first song we are releasing, “Lux Æterna,” and you can check out the brand new video, one of the coolest we’ve ever made, on our YouTube channel. Directed by Tim Saccenti, we recently traveled to Los Angeles to capture our performance using some crazy cutting-edge technology.


"The album package was once again conceived and art directed by our good friend, acclaimed designer David Turner, and his team. David, who won a Grammy for his work on Death Magnetic, is the man behind the look and feel of all of our recent releases, including Through The Never, S&M2, and Hardwired.


“Is there a special meaning to the title?” you ask. James explains it best: “72 seasons. The first 18 years of our lives that form our true or false selves. The concept that we were told ‘who we are’ by our parents. A possible pigeonholing around what kind of personality we are. I think the most interesting part of this is the continued study of those core beliefs and how it affects our perception of the world today. Much of our adult experience is reenactment or reaction to these childhood experiences. Prisoners of childhood or breaking free of those bondages we carry.”


Pre-order the new album here.





72 Seasons tracklisting:


"72 Seasons"
"Shadows Follow"
"Screaming Suicide"
"Sleepwalk My Life Away"
"You Must Burn!"
"Lux Æterna"
"Crown Of Barbed Wire"
"Chasing Light"
"If Darkness Had A Son"
"Too Far Gone?"
"Room Of Mirrors"
"Inamorata"


"Lux Æterna" video:





More from Metallica: "We told you about our new album 72 Seasons, so what’s next now that we’ve escaped the studio? Hit the road, of course! You want a tour, we’ve got a tour... how about two full years worth of shows?!?!


"Over the past few years, we have been so inspired by the dedication and family/community vibe of the fans who traveled to San Francisco for our recent weekend celebrations, first in 2019 with the two S&M2 shows, followed by last year’s 40th Anniversary shows. On top of that, we had a blast being a part of the 2021 Wimmer Festivals when we played two nights in one city, each with a totally different setlist. With all of that in mind, the M72 tour was born!


"Starting in April of 2023, we’ll be visiting 22 different cities around the world and playing two nights in each city, with each “No Repeat Weekend” show a completely unique experience: Two totally different set lists with two different bands opening the show each night! Purchase a two-day ticket, and you won’t see the same song twice for a total of over 30 songs spanning our 40+ years of being lucky enough to make music. Most of the shows (sorry, not all - we tried!) will be on Fridays and Sundays, so we’ll be sure to have lots of extracurricular events for you to hang with fellow Metallica fans at before the shows kick-off and on the Saturday night in between.


"Presented worldwide by Liquid Death and Blackened American Whiskey (in North America only), and brought to you by our friends at Live Nation, the M72 tour also launches a completely different look for us in stadiums – we’ll be in the round in the middle of the field. On top of that, the Snake Pit has been relocated to the center of the stage so that fans there will have a complete 360 view of the show. Each weekend offers a variety of Enhanced Experiences, ranging from access to a meet and greet, production and stage tour, food and beverage in the “Black Box” lounge to early entry into the venue and the aforementioned Snake Pit. The very popular “Black Laminate” is back, now known as the “I Disappear Ticket,” and is the ultimate pass for the fan who wants to run away with us for multiple weekends. Grab one of these and attend every show on your continent or in the world! For more information about Enhanced Experiences and I Disappear Tickets, visit wearesuper.co/metallica.


"In keeping with the theme of two completely unique shows each weekend, we’re excited to share the stage with different bands each night, including some we have traveled with before and new friends who are joining us for the first time. Signing up for the entire adventure with us are Five Finger Death Punch, Ice Nine Kills, and MammothWVH, and some of you will see Pantera, Architects, Greta Van Fleet, or Volbeat, depending on the shows you attend. All the details are in the listing of dates below and on the individual show pages.


"Two-day discounted tickets will be on sale Friday, December 2, for all shows. Fan Club presales start early on Wednesday, November 30, with various other presales beginning later that day and throughout the week. To request your Fan Club presale code, visit metallica.com/presale-code. If you cannot join us for the entire weekend, single-day tickets will be available starting January 20, 2023.


"A portion of proceeds from every ticket sold will go to the band’s All Within My Hands foundation. Founded in 2017, AWMH’s efforts to assist and enrich the lives of members of the communities who have supported the band have raised nearly $13 million – providing $5.9 million in grants to career and technical education programs in the US, over $2.5 million to combat food insecurity, and more than $3.2 million to disaster relief efforts worldwide.


We cannot wait to embark on this new adventure, play some new music, and spend our weekends in ’23 and ’24 with YOU!"





Tour dates:


April
27 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Johan Cruijff Arena
29 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Johan Cruijff Arena


May
17 - Paris, France - Stade de France*
19 - Paris, France - Stade de France
6 - Hamburg, Germany - Volksparkstadion
28 - Hambur, Germany - Volksparkstadion


June
16 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Ullevi Stadium**
18 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Ullevi Stadium


August
4 - East Rutherford, NJ - MetLife Stadium
6 - East Rutherford, NJ - MetLife Stadium
11 - Montreal, QC - Stade Olympique
13 - Montreal, QC - Stade Olympique
8 - Arlington, TX - AT&T Stadium
20 - Arlington, TX - AT&T Stadium
25 - Inglewood, CA - SoFi Stadium
27 - Inglewood, CA - SoFi Stadium


September
1 - Glendale, AZ - State Farm Stadium
3 - Glendale, AZ - State Farm Stadium


November
3 - St. Louis, MO - The Dome at America’s Center
5 - St. Louis, MO - The Dome at America’s Center
10 - Detroit, MI - Ford Field
12 - Detroit, MI - Ford Field


May
24 - Munich, Germany - Olympiastadion
26 - Munich, Germany - Olympiastadion


June
7 - Helsinki, Finland - Olympic Stadium
9 - Helsinki, Finland - Olympic Stadium
14 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Parken Stadium
16 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Parken Stadium


July
5 - Warsaw, Poland - PGE Narodowy
7 - Warsaw, Poland - PGE Narodowy
12 - Madrid, Spain - Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano
14 - Madrid, Spain - Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano


August
2 - Foxborough, MA - Gillette Stadium
4 - Foxborough, MA - Gillette Stadium
9 - Chicago, IL - Soldier Field
11 - Chicago, IL - Soldier Field
16 - Minneapolis, MN - US Bank Stadium
18 - Minneapolis, MN - US Bank Stadium
23 - Edmonton, AB - Commonwealth Stadium
25 - Edmonton, AB - Commonwealth Stadium
30 - Seattle, WA - Lumen Field


September
1 - Seattle, WA - Lumen Field
20 - Mexico City, Mexico - Foro Sol***
22 - Mexico City, Mexico - Foro Sol
27 - Mexico City, Mexico - Foro Sol***
29 - Mexico City, Mexico - Foro Sol


Show 1 Support Europe: Architects & Mammoth WVH**
Show 2 Support Europe: Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills
* Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills play Show 1 in Paris, Architects & Mammoth WVH play Show 2 in Paris
** Volbeat replaces Architects on Show 1 in Gothenburg


Show 1 Support North America: Pantera & Mammoth WVH***
Show 2 Support North America: Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills
*** Greta Van Fleet replaces Pantera on show 1 both weekends in Mexico City


Citi is the official card of the M72 Tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to pre-sale tickets in the US beginning Wednesday, November 30 at 2 PM, local time until Thursday, December 1 at 10 PM, pm local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete pre-sale details visit citientertainment.com/.


Find further pre-sale information here.


(Photos - Tim Saccenti)

Drawn Into Madness, the fourth album by groove metallers Fall Of Carthage, was released back in September. The band around SuidakrA frontman Arkadius Antonik and singer Sascha Aßbach offer eight songs of relentless rhythms, catchy riffs, and groove - surely their best album together.





An artistic lyric video is now available for the song "Smell Of The Oak", for which Sascha Aßbach himself is responsible. Watch below.




The complete album is available on all common streaming platforms and the CD can be found at MDD Records, through the band and in well-stocked shops.

Globally acclaimed breakthrough Mongolian rock act, The Hu, are honored to announce they’ve been named UNESCO’s “Artist For Peace” at a ceremony earlier today (November 25) at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris, France by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.


They are the first-ever artist in the rock/metal genre to receive this prestigious designation and follow previous “Artist for Peace” recipients including Celine Dion, Shirley Bassey, Sarah Brightman, Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller and World Orchestra For Peace. Having met the band on her official visit to Mongolia this past August, Azoulay has acknowledged The Hu’s contribution to the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage and their support for the promotion of cultural diversity through music; these are qualities which resonate with UNESCO's values and work.  


Founded in 2016 in Ulaanbaatar, The Hu have since amassed a global following and critical acclaim with their unique musical genre they call "Hunnu Rock." It fuses rock and heavy metal with styles of traditional Mongolian music, such as the art of Khöömei (throat singing), the tsuur flute and the Morin Khuur (horse-headed fiddle), all of which have been inscribed by UNESCO on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. "HU" corresponds to the root of the word "human being" in the Mongolian language. With this name, the group claim their humanist commitment. Through their music, they address the themes of gender equality, respect for difference, and the importance of protecting nature. They also promote linguistic diversity by using endangered regional dialects.   




As an “Artist for Peace” - alongside UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors and Champions - The Hu will be designated for a renewable period of two years in which time they will help raise public awareness on UNESCO’s mandate and programs among the general public and youth. The Hu will use their talent and reputation to promote UNESCO's values and objectives through upcoming events and projects to help bring a positive change.


The Hu’s UNESCO “Artist For Peace” title lands alongside their previous awards as Cultural Envoy of Mongolia in 2019 and being the first group and 12th overall recipients of the highest state award in Mongolia, the Order of Genghis Khan, which was granted to the band by the President of Mongolia, Kh. Battulga in 2020.


“Mongolians have upmost respect for our history, culture and the language that was left to us from thousands of years ago from our elders and ancestors,” says band leader and throat singer Gala. “The Hu’s goal and purpose is first and foremost to perform a unique genre of music that gives strength and power upon every listen. Secondly, it is to show the world Mongolia’s nomadic and environmentally aware livelihood that has been passed down from previous generations and to inspire others to live minimalistic lives and enjoy life to its fullest. UNESCO electing The Hu with ‘Artists for Peace’ designation shows their appreciation towards cultural diversity and heritage pieces that are of great value to Mongolians. The partnership between The Hu and UNESCO will bring awareness towards every culture that is distinguished by their unique heritage and core values, so we are excited to be part of a movement that can improve and change so many lives.”


“We sincerely appreciate being selected by UNESCO as part of their ‘Artists for Peace’ and understand the importance of the designation,” adds tumur khuur and tsuur player Jaya. “From a very young age we have been practicing traditional music techniques and instrumentation such as long song, throat singing, horse head fiddle, tsuur and tovshuur, as we know the significance and impact of sharing one’s culture around the world has to rest of the society. Our music delivers profound ideas that are understood in the subconscious mind while delivering hard rock and ethereal tunes. On the surface level, our lyrics and music seem to talk about basic yet important principles of human beings; on a deeper level, they share the preservation of cultures that are in danger of going extinct and allow us to be representatives for groups who have slightly different world perspectives than the modern world. This is a huge inspiration for us and part of our purposes as artists. Therefore, we will do everything in our power to be the inspiration for the cultures that are underrepresented and work with UNESCO to bring them the attention that they deserve.”


“The Hunnu Rock genre’s fundamental values are based on creating safe space in the modern music world for different traditional music styles that are only appreciated by certain geographical regions and has many cultural values to its techniques and history to its instruments,” states The Hu’s producer Dashka. “With UNESCO recognizing that effort and selecting The Hu as their cultural ambassador to stand with what we believe in and what we are trying to accomplish is important to not only Mongolians, but to all nations around the world. In any tradition the lores and the music carry so much of their uniqueness and world view, and everybody agree that sometimes the only way to describe one’s perspective is through music. Our goals and priorities will always be to create amazing music and safeguard the pieces of culture that were passed down to us from prior generations.”


The Hu are currently on the last leg of their global headlining tour which concludes in London, UK on December 9. Earlier this year, the band headlined across North America, a run which included their fiery debut performance at Coachella, and was followed by a supporting tour alongside Five Finger Death Punch and Megadeth.


The Hu released their second album, Rumble Of Thunder in July. It features their eco-conscious debut single, “This Is Mongol”; an epic two-part music video for their nine-minute track “Black Thunder”; and the lively single “Bii Biyelegee.” The Hu have announced a deluxe version of  to be released in spring/summer of 2023 via Better Noise Music, with guest appearances from some of rock’s top musicians. Stay tuned for more information in the new year.


Rumble Of Thunder is available to order here.





Tracklisting:


“This Is Mongol”
“YUT Hövende”
“Triangle”
“Teach Me”
“Upright Destined Mongol”
“Sell The World”
“Black Thunder”
“Mother Nature”
“Bii Biyelgee”
“Segee”
“Shihi Hutu”
“TATAR Warrior”


“Bii Biyelgee” video:





“Black Thunder” Part 1 video:





“Black Thunder” Part 2 video:





(Photo - Khishigsuren Baasan)

GR Music has shared a video clip featuring guitar legend Zakk Wylde playing through the Ozzy Osbourne classic "Mama, I'm Coming Home". The song appears on Ozzy's 1991 album, No More Tears, and was composed by Osbourne, Wylde, and Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister.










UG: Since this was kind of a surprise that the (Pantera reunion) tour was announced this year, and on the other hand, this is an idea that was kind of in the making for years — for how long have you been discussing this? Or did this just happen? Did you ever discuss this with Vinnie Paul while he was still alive? How did this come to be?


Zakk: "The fellas… there was always word about that going around. And I just always said, 'That's up to the guys.' It's almost kind of like, the way I always viewed it, if Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding called up Eric Clapton because Eric and Jimi, they're all friends. And they're just like, 'Eric, we're gonna get together, and we're gonna go honor Jimi. Would you sing and play Jimi's stuff?' Of course Eric would do it. I mean, that's his buddy. Of course, I would do it.


It's like, 'Zakk, would you ever do it?' It's like, 'Well, of course I'm going to do it. Why would I not?' I'm going to do best job I can, obviously, but that's not my decision, that's the guys. Back in the day with Vinnie, there were discussions, and then, after Vinnie passed away, I didn't think anything would ever happen. I remember Phil (Anselmo) called me one night, and was like, 'Zakk, me and Rex would really love it if you would honor Dime.' And I was like, 'Of course, guys, I would always be here to honor Dime and all your achievements.' The way I looked at it - it's just a bunch of friends getting together, honoring their buddies."


Read more here.


The recently reformed Pantera is now comprised of vocalist Phil Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown, along with new additions / old friends Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne) on guitar, and Charlie Benante (Anthrax) on drums, replacing the late, great Abbott brothers, Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul.





Pantera's 2022 tour itinerary is listed below. Currently, the band has not revealed plans to play any shows in The United States or Canada.


December
2 - Hell & Heaven Metal Fest - Toluca, Mexico
6 - Monterey Metal Fest - Monterey, Mexico
9 - Knotfest - Bogota, Colombia
11 - Knotfest - Santiago, Chile
15 - Vibra - Sao Paulo, Brazil 
18 - Knotfest - Sao Paulo, Brazil


May
26 - Armeets Arena - Sofia, Bulgaria 
27 - Metalhead Meeting Open Air Festival - Bucharest, Romania 
30 - Barba Negra - Budapest, Hungary 
31 - Gasometer - Vienna, Austria


June
2-4 - Rock Am Ring - Nürburgring, Germany 
2-4 - Rock Im Park - Nürnberg, Germany 
5 - Atlas Arena - Lodz, Poland 
10 – Sweden Rock Festival - Sölvesborg, Sweden 
12 - O2 Arena - Prague, Czech Republic 
13 - Verti Music Hall - Berlin, Germany 
15 - Copenhell - Copenhagen, Denmark 
21 - Edel Optics - Hamburg, Germany 
22-24 - Tons Of Rock - Oslo, Norway

Swiss-French female-fronted symphonic power metal band, Hartlight, have signed with Wormholedeath for their From Midland And Beyond EP, due for digital release on December 16.


Hartlight was born in the minds of Noémie Allet and Adrien Djouadou. They both met in the context of music and fell in love with each other. They both share a passion for music, anime, mangas, video games, and games in general.


Noémie wanted to write and compose songs and Adrien proposed to do the arrangements and the instruments. Together, they recorded the songs "Victorious Heart" and "Hartlight" while they were still searching for their style. After reading Berserk together, Noémie had the idea to create a full EP about this incredible story. This context made the duo go into a more power metal style with symphonic elements to translate the epicness and emotions of the story.




The EP would be called From Midland And Beyond and had a first intimate release on the Bandcamp of the band. After a while, the label Wormholedeath spotted it on the internet and signed a first deal with the band. Now, Hartlight is writing an album about their favorite stories because they want to recall and share tales and works they love. The band wants to make people dream and take them on those journeys that gave them courage and support. They plan to play live in the near future. They will be gathering members to complete the team and play their songs on stage after the first album will be fully written.





Tracklisting:


"The Merrow's Chant"
"Be Blessed"
"The Eclipse"
"Into The Realm Of The Elves"


"Be Blessed" video:

During a November 23 Instagram Live chat with fans, former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen was asked about her tendency to evolve musically on every album and never repeat herself. She said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I face a challenge every time I start working on a new album. I face a challenge — or many challenges, actually. The biggest one of them is that I hate repeating myself. So I'm one of those artists that don't like repeating themselves. There are artists, there are bands that have found their way and sound in one song and they continue repeating it, and it works. And then there are artists that always evolve, always progress, and I'm absolutely one of those.

"Since I don't like repeating myself, when I'm writing material, when I'm just improvising, gathering around song ideas," she continued. "And then I go back… In the moment, it feels all good. 'Oh, this could be a nice song.' And I go the next day and I listen to what I recorded, and I [go], 'Holy hell. This sounds again like 'The Shadow Self' or 'Silent Masquerade' or… No. [Laughs] I hate repeating myself…

"Yeah, it's a challenge," Tarja repeated. "But it's who I am. But in everything. As a person also, I don't wanna get stuck in my life. I want to progress. I want to learn about myself more. I wanna travel. I wanna see things. I wanna learn. It's important to me. Find new ways. Get inspired. It's the way I am."

Last year, Turunen released her first book, "Singing In My Blood", via Rocket 88. Written and compiled over the first year of lockdown, Tarja searched through scores of photos and memories to create a big, deluxe book about her life in music. There are contributions from friends and colleagues who've played a part in her music on stage, in the studio and at home, alongside lots of previously unseen intimate photos from childhood to the present day.

The 45-year-old Finnish-born singer, who currently lives in Spain (after previously residing in both Finland and Argentina),was fired from NIGHTWISH at the end of the band's 2005 tour by being presented with an open letter which was published on the NIGHTWISH web site at the same time. In the letter, the other members of NIGHTWISH wrote: "To you, unfortunately, business, money, and things that have nothing to do with emotions have become much more important."

NIGHTWISH keyboardist and main songwriter Tuomas Holopainen later called the decision to part ways with Turunen "the most difficult thing I ever had to do." For her part, Tarja said the way she was kicked out of the group proved that her former bandmates were not her friends. "Maybe one day I'll forgive, but I will never forget," she said.

Tarja will release a new collection, "Best Of: Living The Dream", on December 2 via earMUSIC.