Legendary rockers CHEAP TRICK have released the official music video for their song "The Best Thing". The clip, which was produced by Silent Trade, can be seen below.

"The Best Thing" is taken from CHEAP TRICK's 21st studio album, "All Washed Up", which was released last November.

Produced by CHEAP TRICK with longtime associate Julian Raymond and mixed by five-time Grammy Award winner Chris Lord-Alge (GREEN DAY, DAVE MATTHEWS BAND),"All Washed Up" was recorded at various studios in Nashville and Los Angeles through 2024.

CHEAP TRICK, the iconic rock band hailing from Illinois, has been rocking stages and winning over fans with their timeless sound for over five decades. Known for their electrifying live performances, catchy melodies, and innovative songwriting, CHEAP TRICK has become a staple in rock music history. With hits like "I Want You to Want Me", "Dream Police", "The Flame" and "Surrender", this legendary band continues to inspire and entertain audiences with their signature blend of hard rock and power-pop sensibilities.

CHEAP TRICK is part of the very fiber of American music, inspiring and delighting generations with their unique union of massive melodies and razorblade riffs, their own special brand of mischievous wit and maximum rock 'n' roll. They achieved mainstream popularity in the U.S. in 1979 with the triple-platinum live album "At Budokan" and a Top 10 single, a live recording of "I Want You to Want Me". More success followed with the album "Dream Police" in 1979, which reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200.The band experienced another resurgence in the late 1980s when they topped U.S. charts with the power ballad "The Flame".

Inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2016, CHEAP TRICK maintain an almost constant touring schedule, having performed live more than 6,000 times since their formation, selling more than 20 million albums and building a dedicated cult following.

CHEAP TRICK's current lineup includes three of its original members: singer Robin Zander, guitarist Rick Nielsen and bassist Tom Petersson. Drummer Bun E. Carlos stopped touring with the band in 2010 and was replaced by Nielsen's son Daxx. Rounding out CHEAP TRICK's current touring lineup is Robin Zander's son, Robin Taylor Zander, on rhythm guitar and vocals.

Photo credit: Jeff Daly

In a recent interview with Kati Rausch of Music Interview Corner, SEVENDUST singer Lajon Witherspoon was asked which member of the band has the "craziest warm-up ritual" before a show. Lajon responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Probably me. I like to do my warm-ups. I like to play all kind of different kind of music. We do a lot of dancing, a lot of joking. But the thing that we do every night before we've gone on since the day we started is we pray together as a band. And if you happen to be here and you pass me, I'm gonna bring you in the prayer. But one good thing is Brian Marshall from [SEVENDUST's 2026 European tourmates] ALTER BRIDGE shows up for the prayer every night with us. He makes a point to come to find us, to pray with us."

Lajon continued: "I do a prayer to thank for everything that we have, and we're so very blessed to be here and to make sure that everyone that shows up gets home safely too. And let's go out here and rock it."

Asked which role belief and faith play in his life, Lajon said: "Oh, I don't like to always tell this. I do say this, I'll say this tonight. I say I don't care what you believe in; you just gotta believe in something. You have to believe in something, whatever it is, I don't care… But yeah, you just have to have some type of faith. I think it's a beautiful thing. I've grown up to have faith, and it is definitely a healer. And in those dark times, I think that helps a lot."

After Rausch noted that SEVENDUST has only had two lineup changes in its three-decade-plus history, she asked Lajon what the secret has been to keeping the band intact for so long. He responded: "I remember when we first started out how I knew that I would never take this for granted. But I also remember saying, 'Wouldn't it be cool one day if we had the band still and we had kids and wives and then we could bring them out on the bus and on tour with us and stuff?' We're all, like, 'Yeah, that would be cool.' That stuff happened. I can't get my wife nowhere near a tour bus anymore. [Laughs] The kids love it… [Laughs] So we got to do all that. So that's been a blessing.

"But you know what I think — I think respecting each other," he explained. "And then also something in our band — not to have to go too deep — but this is something that I always said from day one. It can't only come from one person's perspective. If it all came just from me, that would be boring. So if anyone knows anyone, it's us. And if my brother has something that's on his mind and he wants to write and sing, I'm gonna help and we're gonna convey that and we understand each other. I think at this point of our career, we're closer than we've ever been. It's kind of crazy. We're really very blessed."

SEVENDUST's fifteenth studio album "One", will arrive on May 1 via Napalm Records.

Last year SEVENDUST guitarist Clint Lowery revealed that he had just completed his first tour as a "saved Christian."

Kentucky rockers BLACK STONE CHERRY have just released a brand-new EP, "Celebrate", digitally via Mascot Records. The official music video for the EP's latest single, "Deep", can be seen below.

Teaming up with Sands, the U.K. charity saving babies' lives and supporting bereaved families, "Deep" sees BLACK STONE CHERRY wear their hearts on their sleeves.

On the personal and emotionally vulnerable lyrical content of the song, BLACK STONE CHERRY guitarist Ben Wells shares: "'Deep' is a very personal song. Without sugarcoating it, my wife and I have struggled with infertility for over a decade. Anyone that has been through that journey knows that it can be an absolutely helpless feeling and I sympathize with them beyond measure. Just as we were coming to peace with the fact that it wasn't in the cards for us to be parents, we got pregnant during the writing session for this EP. However, it sadly led to a miscarriage which led to one of the darkest and lowest points we had experienced together."

He continues: "I usually keep things close to the chest when it comes to personal matters, but this time I felt I had to get it out and I'm so thankful for faith, love, and music in that time.

"I was searching for a song that said what we were feeling in those moments, but I couldn't find it until God allowed me to let these lyrics flow out. Through it all, we continued to love and lift each other up and I'm so thankful for that."

Ben adds: "I'm so thankful that our band crafted this song, and I just know in my heart it will help others out there who also feel that life can sometimes be too deep."

On their partnership with the Sands charity, Ben continues: "To be honest, I never imagined I would be writing something like this, but in an effort to be fully transparent, just like our song 'Deep', here we are and I'm truly thankful that an organization like Sands exists to help heal and guide those of us who have experienced something tragic like this. We are thankful for charities like Sands who can assist in being a lighthouse in a storm and helping direct our hearts to a healing place.

"I personally believe that God has a plan for all of us and while we may not always understand it, we have to trust it and know that joy will be there on the other side of any dark time life gives us."

"Celebrate" was produced by the BLACK STONE CHERRY bandmembers themselves and recorded at High Street Studios in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It contains six commanding, stage-ready original tracks and an inspired cover of SIMPLE MINDS' "Don't You (Forget About Me)" featuring Tyler Connolly (THEORY OF A DEADMAN).

BLACK STONE CHERRY are masters of taking a somber subject and flipping it on its head, creating a punchy, empowering rock song.

"Any piece of art is a snapshot of that artist's life," singer/guitarist Chris Robertson reasoned. "So I look at these songs as a culmination of everything we've lived since 'Screamin' At The Sky'."

"None of us are precious, because we're all fighting on the same team," guitarist Ben Wells said. "So John Fred [Young, drums] might have a guitar riff, or me or Chris might have a drum beat. And Steve [Jewell Jr.] is our bass player, but he played slide on the last album, and there's parts on the new stuff where he plays guitar. It was cool to think you could start the day without a song, and five hours later walk out with a demo."

"Celebrate" is an EP of contrasts. "I'm Fine" is a dreamily woozy, NIRVANA-laced grunge singalong. But it was the searing, mid-tempo heartache of "Deep" that struck a really pertinent chord — with Ben in particular. Following long struggles with fertility issues, he and his wife suffered a miscarriage midway through the writing process. Two days later, he was channeling the experience into "Deep".

For a curveball, "Celebrate" is capped off with a strapping-yet-sensuous cover of SIMPLE MINDS classic "Don't You (Forget About Me)", featuring guest vocals from old BLACK STONE friend Tyler Connolly. Immortalized in John Hughes's seminal 1985 coming-of-age film "The Breakfast Club", it turned out to be a surprisingly natural fit for BLACK STONE CHERRY. A happy pairing with the soulful gravel and sincerity of Chris's vocals. "I love that song!" the frontman laughed.

"Celebrate" track listing:

01. Celebrate
02. Neon Eyes
03. Caught Up In The Up Down
04. I'm Fine
05. Deep
06. What You're Made Of
07. Don't You Forget About Me (featuring THEORY OF A DEADMAN's Tyler Connolly)

BLACK STONE CHERRY is:

Chris Robertson - vocals, guitars
Ben Wells - guitars
John Fred Young - drums
Steve Jewell Jr. - bass

In a new interview with Uruguay's The Dark Melody, SYMPHONY X singer Russell Allen spoke about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's long-awaited follow-up to 2015's "Underworld" album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, the gaps [between albums] have always been there [with SYMPHONY X]. They got worse and worse over the years. I think as we've started to be sort of self-produced in a way — I mean, look, I just built all this [home studio setup]. I've been working on everything. So, obviously, I'm in the studio right now. And Mike's [SYMPHONY X guitarist Michael Romeo] been working on this stuff for years, and the guys, I guess. The problem is that when we stop, it really messes up with Mike's creative process, and he's obviously the guy who's really the true musical director, I guess… How can I say that? The composer of the band, really, It's still a band, but he's the main guy, obviously, with the musical side of things, and the singing stuff, that's my thing. And so, the gaps have been worse, I think, as we start to just get lost in what we're doing. And then we have to stop and then start again. And we're just not that kind of band. Mike's not wired like that. He's a real kind of a mad scientist, genius guy. He just needs to be locked in his world and not be — 'cause he'll start something, stop, then go back after the tour. 'Ah, I don't remember any of that stuff. That stuff all was shit. Let me start again.'"

Russell continued: "We've got about — I don't know — [Michael] sent me 10 hours of stuff for a 55-minute record. It becomes a monumental task just to weed through all the stuff. And that's kind of where we're at. But he's honed a lot of it in, so we're getting close. And that's where the new album is at now. But this has been a while. People have gotta believe us when we say, 'Hey, we've been working on it.' 'Cause that's his process, and I'm not one to argue with that. It's not the best business model [laughs] if you're gonna try and make it make a bigger thing in this business, but who cares about that shit when you guys are there? It's all about the quality of what the fans are gonna hear, and that's our legacy, and that's what we leave behind. And so, obviously, at this tenure in our career, that's what we're more concerned about than a quick 'hey', whatever. But we are gonna try and use the time that Mike put in on this one. There's so much good material. We both feel that there's a lot to pull on for the next one. So there shouldn't be as much of a gap. The material's just too good. So it's, like, 'Okay, let's just pick out what this story or what this album's theme is gonna be, and then we've got all this other stuff that's great.' And it's in that SYMPHONY X realm. And we could definitely use that as a starting point for the next one. So there shouldn't be — I'm not gonna make any promises, 'cause every time you say shit like this, something always happens. But in the point that we're at now, that's where we're at."

He added: "I'm not gonna apologize to you guys for taking the time. It's nothing that we're sorry for. It's just how we create this stuff… [But] we don't wanna make you guys wait forever. It's nothing against you, the fan, or something to slight you guys. It's just our process, and it's just what it takes to get it done and make it on a level that we're proud of to put out. At the end of the day, we've gotta live with it. So that's kind of what we think about these things. So that's kind of where it's at. But it's coming along. It's really sounding good. It's really awesome."

Referencing SYMPHONY X's upcoming 30th-anniversary Latin American tour, which is scheduled to kick off later this month, Russell said: "We wanna get down there and have a good time and celebrate this sort of milestone in our lives and in our careers with you guys and then get right back into it here. 'Cause we're not really booking anything else after this for the rest of the year, unless something amazing comes along, another opportunity. But again, that causes problems for this process. So, we're weighing all those things out. I mean, there's really nothing, I think, that can get in our way in terms of shows and stuff at this point, beyond what we're doing with you guys, and so that gives us the entire summer, fall to get the songs completely finished in terms of what they're gonna be, and then the recording process is what it is and the time it takes to do that. But I feel like it's pretty strong that the album will be pretty much in the can by, hopefully, the end of the year, if not in the fall. If we get lucky and something just really takes off, maybe a little sooner release time. So that's all label stuff and management, and they've gotta figure out their windows."

In October 2024, Romeo told the "Coffee With Ola" podcast about the upcoming SYMPHONY X LP: "With us, it's not like, 'Oh, yeah, we're just gonna write one — how do you say? — single, and then just have a bunch of filler. It's, like, everything's gotta be as good as it can be. So, yeah, it gets harder and it takes longer. Then you throw in COVID and a bunch of other things, and then it's just, like, 'Oh, shit.' Now it's, like, I don't know — eight years or something. I lost track.

"What's different now than in the past is that we could take a bunch of time off. There would be some royalties from CDs back in the day coming in and kind of float on the downtime and really get the record done and then come back out [with a] new record, tour. So now it's, like, well, that money's gone. So we have to tour a little bit, keep things going, work on the record, go back out. So it's been like that for a while. And for me — I do most of the writing, so for me it's hard because you're sitting in the studio for whatever month, 'I got this idea,' and you're trying to put these things together, and it's, like, 'Oh, we've gotta go on tour now.' All right, cool. We do our thing. And then you come back, and it's, like, 'What the fuck was I working on again? Was this riff here?' And so you're trying to arrange all this stuff. And then you're, like, 'Oh, I've got all these new ideas.' So then you keep adding. And then after a long period of time, it's, like, 'Oh my god, there's so much stuff I can't even manage it now.' Plenty of material — like three hours of stuff — but now it's actually making sense."

Elaborating on when SYMPHONY X might be done composing the material for the next album, Michael said: "It's gonna take some time to organize everything. It's not like there's nothing there. It's [not], like, 'Oh, man, we have to start from scratch.' There's quite a bit. It's actually overwhelming. I never remember being this overwhelmed by the amount of stuff, 'cause over the last year and a half or whatever, every time there was a break, it's, like, 'Okay, I'll write something.' I didn't stop and [go], like, 'Well, let me finish this.' It was, like, boom, 'I got all these ideas,' and I just kept going. So now it's, like, all right, no more writing. Now more arranging."

SYMPHONY X completed an extensive tour behind "Underworld" in 2016, including a U.S. run of shows with OVERKILL and a pair of headlining performances in Australia.

In July 2017, Allen and his ADRENALINE MOB bandmates were involved in a crash that killed the group's bassist, David Zablidowsky.

In 2019, Allen — who has toured with TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA since 2013 — was injured during the rehearsals for TSO's annual winter trek and was unable to make the tour.

Romeo released his latest solo album, "War Of The Worlds Pt. 2", in March 2022 via InsideOut Music. The record featured guest vocals by Dino Jelusick (WHITESNAKE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA).

Photo credit: Danny Sanchez

ALIEN ANT FARM has released a new single, "Reasons", via Judge & Jury Records. The track will appear on the band's forthcoming new album, due out this fall. The release marks a new chapter for the band, leaning into new creative opportunities and collaborations after more than two decades together.

Additionally, ALIEN ANT FARM will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its breakthrough album "ANThology" with a special vinyl edition slated for a 2026 release.

"Reasons", written by Rome Ramirez (formerly of SUBLIME WITH ROME) and Andreas Ramirez and produced by Howard Benson, represents a unique collaboration. Both ALIEN ANT FARM and SUBLIME WITH ROME are staples of the Southern California music scene and were, at one point, managed by the same team. When management approached ALIEN ANT FARM with the opportunity to record "Reasons", the band jumped at the chance to record the song and give it an edgy spin."

ALIEN ANT FARM vocalist Dryden Mitchell shares: "'Reasons' resonates with me because I love the notion that some people, if granted the opportunity of a second chance, actually make the change in themselves to be present and reliable to someone. This song is tight and concise, and an ANThem to all who have wanted to actually make that change for the better. This song is about redemption and making your wrongs right. It's about second chances after hurtful, dumb mistakes. Recording this song with the Judge & Jury production team has been a joy and a privilege to remember for a lifetime."

"Reasons" marks the first ALIEN ANT FARM track created alongside Judge & Jury's production team, comprised of multiple rock music legends such as Howard Benson (MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, SKILLET, PAPA ROACH),Neil Sanderson (of THREE DAYS GRACE),Mike Plotnikoff (VAN HALEN, AEROSMITH, BUCKCHERRY) and Joe Rickard (BREAKING BENJAMIN, STARSET, IN FLAMES).

"Reasons" is available now on all streaming platforms via Judge & Jury Records.

ALIEN ANT FARM is a Southern California alt-rock band known for fusing heavy riffs, catchy hooks, and an unmistakable sense of personality. Since forming in Riverside in 1996, the band has carved out a unique place in rock history, first exploding on to the global stage with their breakout 2001 album "ANThology", which featured the hit single "Movies" and their era-defining cover of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal". That record would go on to be certified multi-platinum, and its 25th anniversary is just around the corner in 2026; a milestone that underscores the band's enduring impact on the genre.

Comprised of Dryden Mitchell (vocals),Terry Corso (guitar),Mike Cosgrove (drums) and Tim Peugh (bass),ALIEN ANT FARM continues to push forward creatively while embracing their legacy. Known for their genre-defying approach to alternative rock and blending elements of metal, punk, prog, and pop, they've built a reputation for experimentation, evolution, and explosive live shows that have taken them around the world.

Across six studio albums, including "TruANT" (2003),"Up In The Attic" (2006),"Always And Forever" (2015) and most recently "mAntras" (2024),the band has explored everything from introspective struggles to full-blown anthemic rock with both emotional depth and sonic variety. Their latest work reflects a band that has grown up without losing the spark that made them stand out in the first place.

Currently, ALIEN ANT FARM is writing new music and continuing to tour, reconnecting with longtime fans while winning over new ones with every performance. Nearly three decades into their career, the band remains as passionate and driven as ever proving that reinvention and staying power can go hand in hand.

Press photo courtesy of O'Donnell Media Group

THE WARNING, the rock sister-trio from Monterrey, Mexico, has released a brand new single titled "Kerosene" via LAVA/Republic Records.

The group pulls no punches on this incendiary and infectious anthem. A hyper-charged drumbeat gallops beneath clever verses fueled by a gritty guitar riff. The momentum climaxes on a catchy and chantable chorus, "Strip down for me. I see right through you. Spit kerosene. You know you want to!" A spunky bassline drives an attitude laden bridge as the band dismiss the copycats, "You rip my hair, my style, my jeans. I swear you copy everything."

The music video for "Kerosene" follows the three sisters speeding through the desert in a stolen car, radiating confidence and defiance. It all builds to a chaotic junkyard scene where they rock out with flame throwers before setting the car on fire, turning it into a bold statement of power and rebellion.

The energy never relents, and "Kerosene" finds THE WARNING really firing on all cylinders. It follows "Love To Be Loved" — the group's genre-breaking collaboration with Carín León. Revolver applauded how, "the cut cross-references rock with country and pop flavors," and Rock Sound attested, "Dany, Ale and Pau bring the rock and roll chaos, whilst Carín offers up melody and atmosphere by the boatload. The result is effortlessly catchy and will instantly be trapped between your ears." Voted "Favorite New Latin Music Of The Week" by fans, Billboard praised, "The song meshes country and rock backed by León's and THE WARNING's powerhouse harmonies." Melodic Magazine dubbed it "a song that would set their fanbases on fire."

The fuse is lit for a whole lot more to come from THE WARNING very soon.

In 2026, the band expands their global touring footprint as they hit the road performing at Lollapalooza and festivals across Latin America, and supporting Yungblud on the "Idols" tour in the U.K. and U.S. later this year. The band will also headline Pier 17 in New York City on June 11.

THE WARNING draw strength and power from a lifetime of sisterhood and music. The Mexico-born sister trio — Daniela "Dany" (guitar, lead vocals, piano),Paulina "Pau" (drums, vocals, piano) and Alejandra "Ale" Villarreal (bass, piano, backing vocals) — has logged thousands of miles on the road, generated hundreds of millions of streams, and left countless fans in awe. All of this tireless work and dedication has shaped and sharpened their sound with knifepoint precision, arming alternative anthems with universally catchy hooks and an uncompromising hard rock kick. The girls have devoted themselves to a shared dream since their childhood in Monterrey, Mexico. They initially made waves with a string of independent releases, paving the way for their acclaimed 2022 full-length offering "Error". Between performing alongside MUSE, FOO FIGHTERS, GUNS N' ROSES, ROYAL BLOOD, THE PRETTY RECKLESS, THREE DAYS GRACE and IMAGINE DRAGONS, the band ignited MTV's Extended Play Stage at the 2023 MTV VMAs. Representative of their cultural impact, Pepsi even notably chose them as the face of Pepsi Black in Mexico. Moreover, they emerged as the rare force who could comfortably appear on the cover of Rock Sound and Kerrang! and in features by Vanity Fair, People, Cosmopolitan and Glamour as well as on METALLICA's star-studded "Blacklist" compilation — placing their cover of "Enter Sandman" (with Alessia Cara) shoulder-to-shoulder with contributions from GHOST, St. Vincent, Chris Stapleton, IDLES and WEEZER. THE WARNING embraced their destiny on their 2024 full-length album "Keep Me Fed". The LP was introduced by singles "More", "S!ck", "Hell You Call A Dream", "Qué Más Quieres", "Automatic Sun" and "Burnout". In 2024 they continued their global impact with nominations and performances at the Latin Grammys for "Best Rock Song" and MTV's EMAs for "Push Artist". THE WARNING was also nominated for "Push Performance" at MTV's VMAs and performed on France's "Taratata".

Press photo courtesy of Republic Records

Few bands have shaped the landscape of rock music with the force and longevity of THE WHO. For nearly six decades, their sound, spirit, and unmistakable energy have echoed across generations, influencing artists and audiences around the world. In 2026, the band adds a remarkable new chapter to their legacy with "Live At Eden Project" — a landmark live recording that captures the raw power, emotional depth, and artistic ambition of their unforgettable July 2023 performance at Cornwall's iconic Eden Project.

Set within one of the U.K.'s most sustainable and visually striking venues — a breathtaking network of biomes nestled in the Cornish countryside — the concert stands as a testament not only to THE WHO's musical evolution but also to their enduring cultural relevance. Backed by the Heart Of England Philharmonic Orchestra, founding members Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey delivered a performance that fused classic rock intensity with orchestral grandeur. The Eden Project's natural acoustics and enclosed structures created a warm, detailed sonic environment that offered a clarity and intimacy unmatched by traditional stadium settings.

The recording reflects this unique atmosphere. Fans have long cherished THE WHO's "special location" shows, and Eden stands among the most memorable — a once-in-a-lifetime convergence of music, environment, and artistic vision. The smaller capacity fostered a deeper connection between the band and audience, allowing for heightened interaction, greater emotional resonance, and a sense of being inside the performance rather than observing it from afar. This intimacy, combined with the band's refined orchestral approach, captures THE WHO at a defining moment in their modern era.

"Live At Eden Project" also presents one of the strongest and most focused setlists of THE WHO's orchestral period. Alongside beloved anthems such as "Baba O'Riley" and "Pinball Wizard", the album includes rarely performed gems like "Cry If You Want", "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" and "The Rock", creating a career-spanning journey that balances hits, deep cuts, and orchestral showpieces with remarkable fluidity.

Today's announcement coincides with the launch of the first single "Pinball Wizard", which is available for streaming and download immediately. The track offers a powerful first glimpse into the atmosphere and artistry of the Eden performance, capturing the heightened clarity, emotional nuance, and orchestral depth that define the full release.

Scheduled for release on May 29, "Live At Eden Project" will be available as a 2CD digipak, a limited 3LP gatefold edition pressed on recycled vinyl with no plastic shrink wrap and packed in a separate paper wallet, a standard 3LP gatefold, and across all major digital platforms. Every format showcases the full emotional and sonic range of a night that stands among the most compelling in THE WHO's recent history.

Vibrant, immersive, and uniquely alive, "Live At Eden Project" is the definitive document of THE WHO's orchestral era — a recording that captures not only a legendary band in peak form but also the spirit of a venue whose environmental ethos and natural beauty mirror the band's own commitment to evolution and innovation.

"Live At Eden Project" track listing:

01. Overture
02. 1921
03. Amazing Journey
04. Sparks
05. The Acid Queen
06. Pinball Wizard
07. We're Not Gonna Take It
08. Who Are You
09. Eminence Front
10. The Kids Are Alright
11. You Better You Bet
12. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere
13. Substitute
14. I Can't Explain
15. My Generation
16. Cry If You Want
17. Won't Get Fooled Again
18. Behind Blue Eyes
19. The Real Me
20. I'm One
21. 5:15
22. The Rock
23. Love, Reign O'er Me
24. Baba O'Riley

Photo credit: Brian Robinson (courtesy of Atom Splitter PR and Chris Hewlett PR)

In a new interview with the Iron City Rocks podcast, former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach spoke about his insistence on making new music and performing his latest solo music live instead of relying completely on the catalog of his previous band. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, we do 'What Do I Got To Lose?' and 'Freedom' and 'Future Of Youth' [from my latest album, 2024's 'Child Within The Man'], we do those every show, and we do '(Hold On) To The Dream' 99% of the shows. So those are four tunes that are in the set. And my audience makes no distinction between — it just fits right in."

Referencing other artists who focus almost exclusively on performing their hits, Bach said: "I understand that way of thinking, but that would be so boring to me, to not have any new songs. I would be bored out of my mind. I'm not into this to be bored.

"I'm always gonna be putting out new stuff, 'cause that's what I enjoy doing," he explained. "But I should preface that by saying, don't really hold your breath for the next one, because we had the total odd occurrence of the pandemic, which allowed me and the musicians to just concentrate on nothing except for that album. And rock and roll's always reinventing itself and nowadays people are just clamoring to come to shows. And I think it's because we all spend so much time on our phones and our computers and staring at screens that we all are, like, 'Enough. Oh my God. Let's go rock out and have fun with our friends and our family and sing songs that we love and be together with other people instead of just staring at a screen.' That's really the way I feel."

This past January, Bach told This Day In Metal that he wanted to make "a Christmas record" at some point in his life. "I love Christmas music, and I know exactly the kind of Christmas record I would make," he said. "It's not gonna be 'Jingle Bells' with electric guitars. It's gonna be a traditional piano, organ-based record of vocals of songs that I did in the church when I was in Peterborough, Ontario at Anglican Church — All Saints, I think it was called. So that's what I want. I need to do that at some point."

Bach recently embarked on a 2026 North American headlining tour, "The Party Never Ends", which kicked off February 26 in Highland, California at Yaamava' Casino.

Bach's current touring band includes his son Paris Bach on drums, "Bruiser" Brody DeRozie on guitar, and Fede Delfino on bass.

"Child Within The Man" — the singer, songwriter, author, Broadway star and actor's first album in more than 10 years — was well-received, with Associated Press saying "…it shows a fierce performer in prime fighting form…his vocals remain sharp and his songwriting talents as cunning as ever," while Ultimate Classic Rock noted: "Bach's voice has lost none of its rage or range, even in the highest registers…" In addition, the album's "(Hold On) To The Dream" track was included in Consequence's "30 Best Metal & Hard Rock Songs Of 2024" which described the song as "...a late-career masterpiece from the former SKID ROW singer. Baz hits some of the highest notes of his career on the sweeping ballad, an inspiring anthem about perseverance."

In January 2025, Sebastian was back on TV when he appeared on Food Network's "Worst Cooks In America Celebrity Edition: Heroes vs. Villains". In addition, in June 2024 Sebastian was the subject of an A&E "Biography: Rock Legends" special. This followed his 2023 appearance as "Tiki" on Fox's "The Masked Singer".

"Child Within The Man" yielded the following singles/videos, all of which have impacted the rock charts: "Freedom", "What Do I Got To Lose?", "Everybody Bleeds" and "(Hold On) To The Dream" (along with the "(Hold On) To The Dream" alternate video),"Future Of Youth" and "To Live Again".

"Child Within The Man" was recorded in Orlando, Florida; produced and mixed by Michael "Elvis" Baskette; engineered by Jef Moll, assistant engineered by Josh Saldate and mastered by Robert Ludwig of Gateway Mastering. Bach wrote or co-wrote all the album's 11 tracks and sang all lead and backing vocals.

"Child Within The Man" features guest appearances from John 5 (MÖTLEY CRÜE, ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON),Steve Stevens (BILLY IDOL) and Orianthi (ALICE COOPER, MICHAEL JACKSON) — who all co-wrote their respective tracks with Bach — and two tracks co-written with ALTER BRIDGE's Myles Kennedy ("What Do I Got to Lose?" and "To Live Again"). Devin Bronson (guitars),Todd Kerns (bass) and Jeremy Colson (drums) round out the players on the album.

Prior to "Child Within The Man"'s arrival, Bach hadn't released a full-length disc since "Give 'Em Hell", which came out in March 2014.

CRO-MAGS founder Harley Flanagan has revealed that he is working on the band's new album with SEPULTURA drummer Greyson Nekrutman and acclaimed producer Arthur Rizk. Arthur had previously helmed LPs by KREATOR, MUNICIPAL WASTE, CODE ORANGE and SOULFLY, among others.

On Saturday, March 7, Harley shared a photo of him in the studio with Greyson and Arthur and he wrote that they had already laid down "11 new CRO-MAGS songs so far in just two days". He added: "Two more days in the studio coming up!!! Damn… How many songs can we create in how many days!!!

"Love these guys. It was such a positive, inspiring day!!!!"

CRO-MAGS' most recent album, "In The Beginning", came out in June 2020 via Arising Empire and Mission Two Entertainment.

CRO-MAGS' "Don't Give In" EP was released in August 2019 via Victory Records. A second three-song EP, titled "From The Grave", arrived in December 2019.

The history of the CRO-MAGS is integral to the history of hardcore, its evolution from punk and the development of alternative music genres such as hardcore, cross-over, thrash metal, post punk and grunge, to name a few. Numerous iconic bands from METALLICA to GREEN DAY, and individuals such as Dave Grohl have credited CRO-MAGS with having had a primal influence on their development.

Born out of the violence and depravity of the Lower East Side of New York in the late '70s and early '80s, the CRO-MAGS was the brainchild of a very young Harley Flanagan (at the time 14 years old) when still playing with THE STIMULATORS. By 1982/83 he wrote and recorded the very first CRO-MAGS demos consisting of four songs that would become the blueprint for the seminal 1986 LP "Age Of Quarrel". He wrote all of the music, played each instrument and sang. Before long, he connected with Parris Mayhew and the two started writing music and auditioning band members.

Last October, Flanagan told George Miller of United Kingdom's Devolution Magazine about his songwriting process: "A lot of the stuff is actually written in the studio. Typically I'll go in with half the songs kind of formulated and the other half will just kind of happen, and then I'll just move a couple parts around, but that'll be the basis of the song. In fact, I find more often than not, those are the songs that come out the best because they're just burning; they're coming out right then and there. And then the good thing to do is to freestyle some vocals or whatever, and then come back to them and revisit them later with actual lyrics, and take it from there."

He added: "My process is still evolving. Who knows? Maybe that's why I haven't had any real success, because I haven't stuck to a formula long enough for people to sink their teeth into it. I don't know. But do you wanna be a successful artist or do you want to be a satisfied artist?"

The feature documentary "Harley Flanagan: Wired For Chaos", which charts his tumultuous life and survival, arrived in theaters last June.

This past January, a freshly re-recorded version of the CRO-MAGS classic track "Hard Times" was made available online. The song arrived just in time for the 40th anniversary of the hardcore legends' "The Age Of Quarrel" debut album. This version, dubbed the "Wired for Chaos Session", also celebrates the aforementioned documentary film of the same name.

In addition to touring with his band CRO-MAGS all over the world, today Harley is a jiu-jitsu professor (under the tutelage of Master Renzo Gracie),devoted husband (having married a Park Avenue attorney) and the father of two sons.

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In a new interview with Sam Law of U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine, LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe was asked how he responds to people who say that musicians or "entertainers" should stay out of politics. He said: "To those people, I say 'Go fuck yourself.' I'm an American citizen and a world traveler. More than that, I'm a human being. I'm not some dancing monkey put here for your entertainment. If you have any sort of moral compass at all, it's irresponsible to not exercise your right to speak up. If people are willing to compartmentalize something like a child sex trafficking ring because they think it might better their bank account, they've lost a component of their humanity. They've lost an integral part of what it is to be a righteous human being. At that point, it's time to stop and reassess and reevaluate. You're not going to be able to carry your money into the grave, motherfucker, but you will be able to carry the memories of silently going along with people that enabled child sex predators. How are you going to feel about that on your death bed?"

Blythe went on to say that he is "hopeful" things will get better in the not-too-distant future.

"There is an apocalyptic side to my nature. I will admit that, and plenty of our lyrics reflect it," he said. "I have to watch myself with that. I have to acknowledge that that possibility exists. But I don't need to sink into glorifying it. It's okay to pay attention to what's going on and be worried, but you need to do your best to change it. Everyday citizens in a functional democracy have a right to vote and they need to not become apathetic. I have a lot of problems with our American system. There are things that are archaic such as the electoral college, which should be abolished. But that is the only system we have right now. And if I do not engage in it and do my best to be a force for positive change, then I am abdicating responsibility and handing what little bit of control I have — my agency — over to someone else.

"In general, I see that fatalist, defeatist attitude in people and it bums me out. Like, 'Oh, it doesn't make a difference…' Well, you're right, because if you don't do anything, then that won't make any difference at all," he explained. "So please carry yourself to the voting booth and do what you can. I don't understand politics in the U.K., but I do know that you need to vote. Don't just be an apathetic slug and complain when everything turns to shit."

Back in 2021, Blythe told Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show that being confrontational about social and political issues has painted an inaccurate picture of his personality and temperament. "I guess some people would think, 'Oh, this guy is super-duper liberal in all aspects,' and that's not true," he said at the time. "In some ways, I'm quite conservative. I think change is definitely necessary in so many ways in our society, but I do think, in many ways, with this rampant spread of technology, there's a lot of good values that are being abandoned. Some people would look at that and say, 'Oh, that's stodgy conservatism,' but I don't care.

"I don't define myself as liberal or conservative or Democratic or Republican," he continued. "Just because you speak on a certain issue... And that's a problem in our country today, on both the left and the right, is this knee-jerk reaction, that if you disagree with some sort of issue, because things are so polarized right now, then automatically you're painted as A or B, and that's idiotic; that's simply moronic.

"We're all human beings, and I think people are existing in these echo chambers, particularly 'cause they're isolated lately. They're sitting in these digital echo chambers of negativity, and it's just sort of reinforcing their biases; they're looking for things to just reinforce their opinions.

"As far as an inaccurate view of my personality, I have no idea of what people really view my personality as," Randy added. "I mean, my friends tell me I'm a pretty mellow guy. I don't really care what people think of my personality; it's not my concern. It's really none of my business. My business is to act in a manner in accordance with my moral compass, which I would like to think is empathetic and correctly calibrated."

LAMB OF GOD's tenth studio album, "Into Oblivion", will be released on March 13 via Epic.

Produced and mixed by longtime studio collaborator Josh Wilbur, "Into Oblivion" was recorded across multiple locations tied closely to the band's identity. Drums were tracked in Richmond, Virginia, with guitars and bass recorded at guitarist Mark Morton's home studio. Blythe recorded his vocals at the legendary Total Access studio in Redondo Beach, California, the birthplace of seminal punk records by BLACK FLAG, HÜSKER DÜ and DESCENDENTS.

LAMB OF GOD previously announced a spring North American tour in what promises to be the heaviest trek of 2026. Joined by KUBLAI KHAN TX, FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY and SANGUISUGABOGG, the tour will kick off on March 17.

Photo credit: Travis Shinn

In a new interview with 80s_METAL_HEADZ, Lorraine Lewis spoke about some of the projects she has coming up for later in 2026 after the recent release of two singles, "Bad Love" and "Living Like There's No Tomorrow", from her long-running band FEMME FATALE via Cleopatra Records. The singer said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "I feel really lucky to be signed to Cleopatra Records. We've released two singles so far. We're gonna release a whole album by the end of the year. I'm hoping that we release the next single and video maybe the second or third week of March. And then I've got more stuff coming out. I will say we have a new version of [FEMME FATALE's] 'Falling In And Out Of Love' that was re-recorded with [TRIXTER guitarist and acclaimed producer] Steve Brown and him doing the solo work on it and it's really, really kick-ass. Also [a new version of FEMME FATALE's] 'Waiting For The Big One', waiting to drop that as well. I actually did a duet on that song with Leather Leone from CHASTAIN, so it's both of our vocals, and she really brought it. I'm really excited for people to hear that. There's a song, a co-write with Tommy Henriksen from Alice Cooper's band — me and Tommy and Steve Brown. It's a song called 'Somebody'. It's so hooky. It's so great. And I'm gonna be in the studio next week. I did a song with BLACKLIST UNION singer Tony West. I don't know if you know that band, but you should definitely check it out. Hooks for days. They've released six albums independently. A really great band. And I went in the studio and did [a cover of Stevie Nicks's] 'Stop Draggin' My Heart Around' with him. And we're going back in the studio next week. We're going to be recording 'Jackson' by Johnny Cash and June Carter, but it's really punk rock. It's like a barn burner. It's like SOCIAL D[ISTORTION] kind of; it's really hella cool. And then we have a couple of other surprises. And then I am working on a song that was written by Michael Caruso, who did some things for the VIXEN band years ago. And he presented me with a song that, I'm telling you, it's a Grammy-winning song, so I'm gonna be laying down a vocal for that as well… And then in addition, I've been working with a production company in the U.K., doing a documentary about me. I'm writing a book. I have no date when it's gonna come out. I was talking to my publishing editor, and he said, 'No rush. We're going to release it when we're gonna release it.' But that's a lot of time. I don't know if you've ever tried writing a book, but I have a lot to say and there's a lot of stories. So that's gonna take another year probably. So documentary, a reality show called 'Lorraine Rocks', which is about me and my crazy life. [And I also have my recently launched] podcast, 'Dangerously Honest'."

This past January, Lorraine told Rev. Tom Brice of Sportzwire Radio that there were plans to release a new full-length album from FEMME FATALE later this year: "Yeah, absolutely," she said. "We've been dropping singles and videos. I know that there's a new single and video coming out with a really prominent rock artist singer. I can't mention [the artist's name] yet. I'm really excited about that. It's being mixed and mastered as we speak. It's a duet with an iconic singer. So stay tuned for that, everybody. I'm really excited. And then I have been in the studio, again with Scott Gutierrez, laying down my lead vocals. There is a song coming out that I love. I'm just gonna say the title of it — it's called 'Somebody', and it was written by Tommy Henriksen, who plays with Alice Cooper, Steve Brown and myself. And oh my God. So Steve actually messaged me this morning. He showed himself singing the chorus in the studio this morning and putting backing vocals on it. But I love the song. I really, really love the song."

Lorraine continued: "I'm so fortunate, I'm so lucky to be working with Steve, 'cause Steve knows everybody. And he brings in [a lot of guest musicians] to work on the tracks. And I'm just so grateful, I can't even tell you. But, yeah, sometime this year after we have dropped all of the singles and videos, we will gather everything up and a full album will be released on Cleopatra Records."

Last November, Lewis told George Dionne of The Rock Is George podcast about her plan of releasing several singles prior to the arrival of a full-length album: "Look, we could have done it a bunch of different ways. We could have done it old school, recorded an album and released it, and then you've got, like, four to six weeks to make a splash and hope that something catches fire. So, the way we are doing it, Steve and I, we decided, and Cleopatra agreed, is that we just kind of stay in the news. So every eight to 10, 11 weeks, we drop a single and a video, and it's, like, 'Oh, there's FEMME FATALE again.' … We have another single to drop that is ready to go, which actually… I'm gonna say what it is. It's the FEMME FATALE 'Falling In And Out Of Love' that has been re-recorded. And it's in the same key. It's badass. Steve just brought it. It's so huge sounding. It's massive. And I do wanna say Bruno Ravel has mixed and mastered all of the tracks. And I was thinking about that this morning. I was on my walk this morning, and I was thinking about the mixes and how they're mastered. And Bruno just has this thing that they're crunchy. The traps are crunchy and there's this frequency that sounds so radio to me. No matter what the tracks are, there's this thing that he does. I don't know how he does it. I just know when I listen to 'Bad Love' or 'Living Like There's No Tomorrow', it's there, this crispness, and it's yummy. It's radio to my ear, and I just want more of it. So shout-out to Bruno — great at mix and master."

She continued: "So that is the plan — dropping this stuff so that I stay in your face, if you will, as we go along. And then we gather everything up, and we'll drop an album [in 2026]. We have about — I wanna say we have six tracks in total that are 'done done'. There's also a duet that is coming out next year. And I will say originally it was [supposed to be] with [former FOREIGNER singer] Lou Gramm. And then Lou got super busy. We had recorded a song together, 'Heroes', and then Lou got really busy — [taking part in the FOREIGNER] Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and now he's on tour with FOREIGNER and doing all of these amazing things. So instead of just kind of waiting and sitting on it, we've made some other arrangements, and the vocals are done with another heavyweight artist that I think people are gonna be kind of blown away that I recorded this song with this badass that is iconic — honestly, iconic. And I can't wait for people to hear the track. So, it is 'Heroes', but it is with someone special. And I am going to have Scott Gilman put some saxophone on the track, and then Steve and I will be putting some backup vocals on it."

The official music video for "Bad Love", which was directed by Vicente Cordero and shot by David Hernandez, can be seen below.

Written by Lorraine, Brown and guitarist David Julian, "Bad Love", she previously said, "is about that magnetic kind of connection you know isn't good for you, but you keep going back anyway. It's messy, it's addictive and it's real. I wanted to capture that push-and-pull between desire and self-preservation. We've all been there. We see the red flag and still jump in headfirst... but if that red flag's on fire? Baby, that's your cue to run."

"Bad Love" also features the rhythm section of Joey Cassata on drums and Sean McNabb on bass, plus what Lorraine described as "a slaying guitar solo" from former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal.

Regarding her collaboration with Brown, Lewis told Rev. Tom Brice of Sportzwire Radio: "A lot of people are working with Steve, because Steve is an amazing producer. It was [in 2024] that Steve reached out to me. He was just coming off the success of [Ace Frehley's] '10,000 Volts' album. [The '10,000 Volts' title track is a] great, great song. That and 'Cherry Medicine' I loved off the album. Classic Ace but in 2024. It was great."

She continued: "I'm just so lucky that Steve reached out to me. Steve and I were labelmates back in the day on MCA. We've also done the cruises together. We've known each other a long time. And so he reached out to me and said, 'Hey, let's do an album.' And I said, 'Let's go.' So the first song was 'Living Like There's No Tomorrow'. He had the chorus ready to go. I immediately was, like, 'Oh, this is such a great anthem.' And it just spoke to me then with everything that had gone on in the previous months before we started working together."

"Living Like There's No Tomorrow" was written by Lewis and Brown, who also produced the song at his Mojo Vegas 6160 studio in New Jersey. The track was engineered by Brown and Scott Gutierrez and was mixed by Bruno Ravel.

"Living Like There's No Tomorrow" features Brown and David Julian on guitars, with the guitar solo played by R.J. Ronquillo, and drums played by Kent Slucher.

FEMME FATALE released a self-titled MCA album in 1988 which produced two big rock singles and MTV videos: "Waiting For The Big One" and "Falling In And Out of Love".

Lewis was fired from VIXEN in May 2024 and was replaced by Rosa Laricchiuta.

In January 2019, VIXEN recruited Lewis as its new lead singer following the departure of Janet Gardner.

Lewis had already performed with VIXEN in March 2018 in Durant, Oklahoma while Gardner was recovering from surgery.

A collection of demos for what was supposed to be FEMME FATALE's second album, "One More For The Road", was released in 2016 via FnA Records. The demos were recorded back in 1989/1990 with the original bandmembers and had never seen the light of day until more than a quarter century later.

"One More For The Road" contained 14 tracks, including a version of Janis Joplin's "Piece Of My Heart".

FEMME FATALE released a live album in April 2024, "Demos + Live", that also included five demo tracks and a cover of AC/DC's "It's A Long Way To The Top".

Emmy-winning composers, songwriters and producers Sonya Belousova and Giona Ostinelli have shared "Pray To The Sun", the first offering from the season two soundtrack to Netflix's hit series "One Piece". After creating the soundtrack for the first season of the live-action adaptation, the duo is back to score the show's highly anticipated second season. Featuring Declan De Barra and Mongolian folk metal band THE HU, "Pray To The Sun" is a fierce anthem that sets the tone for epic battles to come.

Netflix's epic high-seas pirate adventure "One Piece" returns for Season 2 — unleashing fiercer adversaries and the most perilous quests yet. Luffy and the Straw Hats set sail for the extraordinary Grand Line — a legendary stretch of sea where danger and wonder await at every turn. As they journey through this unpredictable realm in search of the world's greatest treasure, they'll encounter bizarre islands and a host of formidable new enemies.

"Pray To The Sun" brings together THE HU's unmistakable, raw throat-singing power and modern metal energy with Declan De Barra's primal vocals in a thunderous collision of two giant forces. It's a ferocious anthem for the Viking giants of Elbaf — warriors who worship the Sun God, hence the repeated "Pray To The Sun" chorus, and live by an unbreakable code of honor: to fight to the end and die a warrior's death.

Belousova and Ostinelli comment: "With throat singing, nyckelharpa, tagelharpas, hurdy-gurdy, morin khuur (horse-head fiddle),tovshuur (Mongolian guitar),tsuur (end-blown flute),and jaw harp, it's an explosive anthem! We've greatly admired THE HU for years and had been waiting for the right project to collaborate. Their fusion of ancient Mongolian tradition and modern metal felt like a perfect match for the two fan-favorite Viking giants of Elbaf, making 'Pray To The Sun' feel both visceral and utterly contemporary — defining the song and its characters through their signature vocal and instrumental palette."

Belousova and Ostinelli continue: "'One Piece: Into The Grand Line' is the most ambitious and adventurous musical world we've ever built. The scale of this season's music production and recording was massive: a 90-piece orchestra, five choirs (women, men, full choir, children — and yes, Vikings!!),an electrifying big band, virtuosic soloists, original songs, and extraordinary featured artists. We spent over 140 hours recording overnight for the orchestra and choirs alone — and that doesn't even count any of our daytime sessions — because we wanted this soundtrack to feel as vast, emotional, and wildly alive as the 'One Piece' universe itself."

Netflix's live-action adaptation of "One Piece" is based on Japan's highest-selling manga series of all time by Eiichiro Oda, with over 100 volumes and 500 million copies sold worldwide. The epic high-seas adventure follows Monkey D. Luffy on his quest to find the legendary fabled treasure, the One Piece, and become King Of The Pirates. The beloved franchise has a vast multigenerational global fanbase. Upon its debut in 2023, the Netflix live action series became a global phenomenon, spending eight weeks in the Global Top 10, reaching the top 10 in all 93 countries and No. 1 in over 75 countries and making history as the first Netflix English-language series to debut at No. 1 in Japan. The show has over 100 million views and is one of Netflix's most downloaded shows of all time. "One Piece" was nominated for 11 awards at the Children's & Family Emmy Awards, including "Outstanding Young Teen Series". The beloved adaptation offers fans ways to engage year-round, off screen, with a brand new immersive experience set to open at Netflix House later this year and fans can bring the world of the live-action show into their everyday lives with products like LEGO, Moose Toys and more; at Netflix Shop and retailers worldwide. "One Piece" returns for its highly anticipated second season on March 10, 2026 and has been renewed for season 3. The show is created in partnership with Shueisha and is produced by Tomorrow Studios (an ITV Studios partner).

Photo credit: Blguunee Hiroshi (courtesy of Better Noise Music)

In a new interview with Thomas S. Orwat, Jr. of Rock Interview Series, former EXCITER guitarist John Ricci spoke about his new band POWERRAGE in which he is joined by bassist Todd Pilon (formerly of WITCHKILLER),vocalist Jacques Bélanger (who previously sang on three EXCITER albums: "The Dark Command" [1997], "Blood Of Tyrants" [2000] and "New Testament" [2004]) and drummer Lucas Dery. POWERRAGE's debut album, "Beast", which will arrive on April 24 via High Roller Records. The LP was mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö at Unisound and it features artwork by Mario Lopez.

Regarding how POWERRAGE's formation came about, Ricci said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, after [I left] EXCITER in 2018, I just wanted to take a break from everybody and everything, 'cause after decades of dealing with certain situations and traveling and all that kind of stuff, I just needed to get away. But I've said many times, Todd, our bass player, kind of encouraged me to speed it up a little bit and put a new band together. So, Todd and I were the first two of the lineup. And then, of course, we needed vocals. So Jacques Bélanger, who played on three EXCITER records, I called him up and asked him if he was interested, but I told him, 'It's not gonna be EXCITER number two.' I just wanted to move on and try something different, but without losing the essence of what EXCITER was or what I'm about. And he was totally into it when I contacted him. So I did tell him the vocal style was gonna be a bit different from the way he normally sings. And again, he was okay with that. The toughest thing was the drummer, trying to find the right drummer. So we did try drummers, but for one reason or another, they didn't work out. I had an ad out for a drummer, and we got a call from Lucas, who's our drummer now. And I liked his attitude on the phone, when he called me. So, to me, the attitude is 50% of if it's gonna be successful or not. So we gave him some songs. He came down to our rehearsal hall right here, and he passed the audition. So his background is not really an all-out metal drum style — that's not what his roots are — but he did adapt very, very well to what I wanted and what my vision is. And he bought a bigger drum kit — more of a heavy metal double-bass kit, and et cetera, et cetera. And then I got really deep into the songwriting."

Speaking about "Dark Wings", which is the first single from Beast", Ricci said: "'Dark Wings', actually, was a later song that I wrote. It wasn't in the initial batch of the songs that appear on the album, so it was almost like an afterthought. But you were mentioning before that 'Dark Wings' sounds aggressive and brutal, [and] because it's partially frustration on my part after 40-plus years of trying to play in a band and be successful. And there was a lot of times where EXCITER was held back for one reason or another. So all that frustration is coming out in my new songwriting. So that's probably why that 'Dark Wings' song is right in your face. It doesn't spare anybody."

On the topic of the overall music direction of "Beast", Ricci said: "When you hear the whole album, it's in the same vein as 'Dark Wings'. The album has 50% slow, doomy-type songs, and the other 50% is very high-energy, thrashy, fast songs. So it's a nice balance. But I tried to write these songs from a very original point of view. I didn't wanna follow a formula, a heavy metal songwriting formula. I was trying to sound as original as possible because there's so much competition today than there was in the '80s… It's hard not to get lost in a heavy metal market. Concert promoters and managers and record companies have such a great choice of who they wanna sign to a deal. How are you supposed to stand out? All these great shredding guitar players and a lot of great vocalists too."

The second single from "Beast", a song called "Dragon Man", is tentatively due to be released on March 23.

While Ricci and Bélanger were both members of EXCITER, John wanted to make one thing perfectly clear. "Well, with this band I didn't want to be another EXCITER," he said in a press release. "It was time to move on. Even though EXCITER was based around my guitar style, and it was a successful formula, I wanted to start from scratch and start all over again.

"Starting over and not depending on your past accomplishments is definitely a very difficult task but I feel confident enough I can make it happen," he continued.

It's hard to pin down, but listening to the eight songs on "Beast", you will get a large dose of very heavy, early doom/death metal, as well as some classic EXCITER and also a lot of early MERCYFUL FATE. Asked if this description makes any sense at all, Ricci said: "Yes, I agree with you about the comparisons you mentioned. Doom influence yes, EXCITER classic riffing yes, but MERCYFUL FATE influence? I would say that was not intentional. It was just the way I envisioned the vocals; it was a coincidence."

"When it was time to record the album, we decided to do it the same way as the preceding two-song demo," continued Ricci, "live off the floor in our rehearsal studio. My longtime friend/producer Manfred Leidecker and engineer George Henderson set up a mobile studio and recorded the music, but the vocals were recorded in Manfred's studio (under a more controlled environment). The album was mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö at Unisound.

"I wrote everything on 'Beast': music, lyrics, melodies," Ricci explained. "POWERRAGE is 100 % my musical vision. All eight songs are brand-new — no rehashed riffs from my EXCITER days."

"Beast" track listing:

01. Dark Wings
02. Cremation Damnation
03. Dragon Man
04. Haunted Hell
05. I Torture I Kill
06. The Devil Is Screaming
07. Damned And Cursed
08. The Black Mass

More than seven years ago, EXCITER bassist Allan Johnson spoke to The Metal Voice about the September 2018 departure of Ricci. The guitarist has since been replaced by Daniel Dekay, who has previously played with DIEMONDS. Asked why Ricci decided to once again exit EXCITER, Allan said: "Well, that's still somewhat of a mystery. We haven't seen or actually spoke with John since it happened. We got back from our Singapore gig, and we started some e-mail chats back and forth, and John just said he's kind of getting fed up and he wants out. Dan [Beehler, drums/vocals] and I were actually quite surprised about this. First thing I said was we've got shows next year — tentative shows; nothing concrete — a couple coming up. They start to filter in quite quicky this time of year for 2019. So John said, 'You and Dan can go ahead and do the shows without me.' And that was pretty much it. He didn't give a solid reason why. I don't know what he meant by 'fed up,' but he said he was fed up. I confirmed with him. I said, 'Are you sure about this?' And he said, 'Yeah, I'm definitely out.'"

Ricci previously left EXCITER in 1985 following the release of the band's first three classic albums — "Heavy Metal Maniac" (1983),"Violence & Force" (1984) and "Long Live the Loud" (1985).

"It's funny because the first thing I said to Dan when I contacted him [to let him know John was out] was I texted him and I said, 'Guess what — it's 1985 all over again,'" Allan said. "And he said, 'What? What?' Like, what's going on? It's funny — it's like déjà vu. [In 1985], we came back from a U.S. tour and John said, 'I'm out. That's it. I don't wanna do it anymore.' And we were, like, 'Well, we've got a Germany tour. What do you wanna do?' And he said, 'Do it without me.' So back then, we got our old guitarist, Brian McPhee, from a band that Dan and I played with before we were in EXCITER. So it was like total déjà vu. Only this time we have an opportunity to do things better than we did back in '85. And by having Dekay onboard, I think we're gonna definitely do that."

EXCITER's latest album, "Death Machine", which featured Ricci as the sole remaining original member, was released in October 2010 via Massacre Records.

Ricci, Beehler and Johnson reunited as EXCITER in 2014 and had been playing sporadic shows until John's latest departure.

Vocalist Tommy DeCarlo, who is best known for having performed with BOSTON since 2007, has died at the age of 60.

DeCarlo's family revealed that he passed away earlier today (Monday, March 9) after a battle with brain cancer.

"It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our Dad, Tommy DeCarlo, on Monday, March 9th, 2026," the family wrote on social media. "After being diagnosed with brain cancer last September, he fought with incredible strength and courage right up until the very end.

"During this difficult time, we kindly ask that friends and fans respect our family’s privacy as we grieve and support one another.

"Rest in peace, Dad.

With love, Annie, Talia & Tommy Jr.".

DeCarlo joined BOSTON following the death of the band's original lead vocalist, Brad Delp.

A GoFundMe page was launched last year that asked for help with Tommy's medical bills; it so far raised over $56,000.

DeCarlo suffered a sudden brain bleed in late September 2025 and underwent an emergency craniotomy. During surgery, doctors discovered two melanoma masses on his brain and another spot on his lungs. While recovering, he had another brain bleed and had been hospitalized since late November.

After Tommy's scheduled live concerts last fall were canceled, he took to social media to write: "This was not an easy choice, as performing and sharing music with all of you around the world has been one of the greatest joys of my life. But right now, it's important that I take the time I need to recover and get back to feeling my best, so that when I return to the stage, I can give you everything I've got."

In 2012, DeCarlo formed the band DECARLO with his son. After signing a deal with Frontiers Music Srl, they released their debut album, "Lightning Strikes Twice", in January 2020.

In December 2022, DeCarlo released his debut solo album, "Dancing In The Moonlight".

Press photo courtesy of Frontiers Music Srl / Freeman Promotions

Keanu Reeves's reactivated 1990s and early 2000s grunge band DOGSTAR will release its fourth studio album, "All In Now", on May 29 via the group's own label Dillon Street Records. The LP was produced by Nick Launay (IDLES, AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS, YEAH YEAH YEAHS, NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS) and is the follow-up to DOGSTAR's first album in two decades, "Somewhere Between The Power Lines And Palm Trees", which came out in October 2023.

DOGSTAR is composed of guitarist/vocalist Bret Domrose, drummer Rob Mailhouse and bassist Keanu Reeves.

"The album really sets up the energy at the heart of this album and the fun that we've always had playing together," Mailhouse states about "All In Now". "We couldn't fucking wait," Keanu Reeves says about DOGSTAR's collective desire to get right back to the studio. "Personally, I loved it all. For me, the attitude was like, 'let's work hard and let's GO.'" "It felt like our last album was our ticket into a party," says Domrose. "And now we've shown up to the party — the three of us."

DOGSTAR, which Rolling Stone hailed for its "sleek, post-grunge alt-rock", has released the first cut off the album, the "All In Now" title track. "'All In Now' just whacks you in the head," Mailhouse shares, "talk about a live song. Keanu came up with the title for that song too, and it sort of summed up where and who we are as a band today. It just feels true to us. We're leaning in, and we are going to keep going." "And this is a good song to lean into," Reeves adds, "so, we really are all in now."

Watch the "All In Now" music video, directed by Carlos Garcia Medina, below

DOGSTAR's 25-date "All In Now" North American tour is set to kick off on May 28 in cities including Austin, Nashville, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York City and more. Tickets and VIP for these dates will go on sale Friday, March 13 at 10 a.m. local time (with the exception of the August 15 Mashantucket date which will go on sale Friday, March 20 at 10 a.m. ET). Previously announced European tour and festival dates are on sale now.

DOGSTAR is a brotherhood –— a group of three men with multiple talents who combined, have created a sound and energy that is greater than the sum of its parts. After being dormant for 20 years, the California-based trio reunited in 2023 to release their celebrated album "Somewhere Between The Power Lines And Palm Trees", which SPIN called "honest and inspired" and "fully reflects these three guys, the stories of their lives over the last three decades, and exactly who they are." Their new album pushes them further, with a unified and self-assured album forged by their time on the road, touring both in America and around the world, playing everywhere from sweaty rock clubs to giant festivals.

Mailhouse remembers: "Just seeing the smiles on people's faces and feeling their joy on a musical level. Playing some outdoor festivals, and when it starts to rain, seeing nobody leaving." "Those festivals in Europe really made a big, positive impact on us," adds Reeves. "We loved playing to people in the afternoon who didn't come to see DOGSTAR but connected with what we were doing. And that connected with us." Bret continued, "You never know if people are going to show up, are they going to stay, are they going to listen? It meant a lot that people not only stayed but got into songs that they mostly had never heard before."

DOGSTAR credits legendary producer Nick Launay — whose has worked with artists from MIDNIGHT OIL to NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS to YEAH YEAH YEAHS and AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS — with the fully realized sound and the energy of "All In Now". As Domrose recalls, "Our management put Nick's name on a list of possible producers." "And we all thought it was a typo. Like this guy will never work with us," Mailhouse adds with a laugh. For Nick Launay, "Working with Bret, Robert and Keanu was extremely fun because it brought things back to why people form bands and make music. These three friends wrote some killer songs and wanted to push some boundaries in the studio. It's all passion and no B.S. For me, it's always a treat working with such capable musicians because the sky's the limit when experimenting, and that's exactly what we did, while smiling all the way."

"All In Now" reflects DOGSTAR's commitment to put their all into the project, both onstage and in the studio. As Nick Launay puts it, "I love how Bret's voice and melodies soar above the solid grooves on this album. There's something very honest about it, which I guess is why it's called 'All in Now'. I think this friendly trio is sounding HUGE and will turn some heads this time around."

"All In Now" track listing:

01. Math
02. This Sphere
03. All In Now
04. Exalted
05. Siren
06. Punch The Sky
07. Joy
08. What Is
09. The Whisper
10. Shards Of Rain
11. Shallow Easy
12. Wing

Best known for his work as drummer and songwriter with death metal band DEICIDE, Steve Asheim will release "Volume One", a collection of solo classical piano pieces consisting of originals and covers by Franz Liszt, Frédéric Chopin and Sergei Rachmaninoff (also spelled Rachmaninov) on April 20, 2026 through his own label, SteevoRecords.

Pre-orders start Friday, March 6 on Bandcamp at steveasheim.bandcamp.com.

"Volume One" will be pressed on transparent blue vinyl and will contain 10 tracks.

Steve tells BLABBERMOUTH.NET: "I'd just like to point out that I'm still in DEICIDE. Everything is fine. We're all looking forward to our tours this year and the future. This is just a hobby project release."

Back in 2008, Steve was asked by MetalSucks if he listens to any non-metal music and how it influences him as a metal musician. He responded: "I listen to classical piano. Some of that stuff rips it up and is actually reminiscent of metal — for me, anyway. I think it gives a broader range of what's possible in constructing songs and music."

In a 2024 interview with Francisco Zamudio of KNAC.COM, Asheim spoke about his early musical inspirations around DEICIDE's formation in the late 1980s. He said: "Well, there were some definitely heavy bands around when I started, and that's how I got into it myself. [Dave Lombardo of] SLAYER and [Gene Hoglan of] DARK ANGEL, from a drumming standpoint, right when I was getting into being an extreme drummer, those were the guys to look up to, and still are. Incredible players, great ideas and execution, and just everything about their playing was great and I liked and still like. And I still try to push myself along those lines like they did. I still enjoy listening to those guys today 'cause they do the same thing — pushing themselves still to this day. It's just nice to be a part of something as crazy as extreme metal is. It's an elite club.

"When we started, there weren't a whole lot of bands like this out," he continued. "Now there are hundreds. And that's cool, because everything grows with time. But it's nice to kind of get in early and see how much it grew and evolved and everything that happened with it. It's an interesting thing to have seen. It's a good thing to be a part of."

Asked how he has managed to perform at such high intensity for nearly four decades, Steve said: "Relatively clean living. Just trying to stay relatively healthy. Not that I'm straight edge or anything, but through the years I've certainly managed to maintain a good physical approach to it and not let anything tear me down physically that would inhibit me from playing at that level. So, definitely just stay strong mentally and physically and keep your head clear so you can perform well."

Asked if there was ever a time in his drumming career and his time with DEICIDE when he hit a roadblock or was struggling with something in his playing, Steve said: "Back [in] our first 10 years or so, we were kind of innovative in our approach, and then as — we were considered fast, but then other bands started coming out that were even faster. And so around that time, I was, like, 'Wow, it's time to try to, like they say, go woodshedding. Time to keep up.' So I was, like, increasing my speed up to what these other guys were doing. They were breaking out BPM-counting drum pads, gauging how fast their single strokes were. So, that was a challenge, and I think I was able to catch up pretty good. And then another 10 years goes by and everyone is gravity blasting, and that's a new thing. And that one, this is where I'm, like, 'You guys keep going with that. I'm gonna hang back here with the old-school blasting. And good luck, man. I'll see you guys down the road.'"

He continued: "When it gets so fast and you have to listen so hard to what's happening, it's a bit of a chore, [whereas with old-school blasting] it's kind of easy to distinguish what's happening without working too hard. It's an easy listen; it's not a chore to listen to."

As for his own personal approach to his drumming, Steve said: "I try to just have the drums not take over the song, but just complement it, but definitely guide it and enhance it, but not take it over."

DEICIDE's latest album, "Banished By Sin", was released in April 2024 via Reigning Phoenix Music.

Photo credit: Deidra Kling (courtesy of Reigning Phoenix Music / Adrenaline PR)

Metal Blade Records has announced the re-signing of UNEARTH.

Nothing short of standard-bearers and keepers of the faith for American metalcore, UNEARTH was the band born in the breakdown who never wavered from their love of European death metal melodicism, supercharged by American thrash and hardcore. Now, nearly three decades into a career that's seen the Massachusetts mob play innumerable gigs and massive festivals on six continents, sell hundreds of thousands of records, and inspire some of the most important bands in extreme metal today, they remain a force with which to contend. And their reunion with Metal Blade Records — their label from their halcyon days of the 2000s first decade — only increases the ferocity of that force.

UNEARTH's change back then from hardcore-focused Eulogy Recordings to one with "Metal" literally in the name aligned with their sound's sharpening into a more brutal "Blade." This time it's more about going home to the host of genre-defining albums like "The Oncoming Storm", "III: In The Eyes Of Fire" and "The March". It's not to say they haven't made great albums (see "Watchers Of Rule" and the latest LP, "The Wretched; The Ruinous") with great partners (MNRK Heavy, formerly eOne Music; and Century Media, respectively),but the lightning here has the chance to strike twice and UNEARTH are ready to ride it.

Comments vocalist Trevor Phipps: "Getting another shot at working with Metal Blade Records feels nothing short of coming home. We truly got our best chance at making a life of creating music and touring during our first run with Metal Blade from 2004 to 2011. Working with so many familiar faces we trust and appreciate is something we wholeheartedly welcome. The music we're cooking is as heavy and boundary-pushing as we've ever been, and we look forward to sharing it with you all in 2027."

"They gave us our start; now, they're part of our future," says guitarist Peter Layman. "After fifteen years apart, we're back with Metal Blade, the home of some of our defining records. With the writing process well underway, we felt Metal Blade was the perfect fit for us and the direction we're headed. We're thankful that they feel the same way and know that what comes next will be our best offering yet."

Adds Michael Faley, Metal Blade Records A&R: "It is an honor to have UNEARTH back in the Metal Blade family. Our history with the band includes some truly incredible moments in this label's catalog. Reconnecting with them now, at a time when both the band and the label have grown so much, is a massive win. We've always believed in their vision, and we're honored to be the ones helping them tell the next chapter of their story. A new Storm is coming!"

Additionally, UNEARTH is pleased to announce its new management home of AISAmusic and European booking agency, Cobra.

Says Phipps: "We are excited to team up with AISAmusic for a new era of UNEARTH. Simon Füllemann has been a friend, peer, and colleague of ours for almost 25 years, while Bradley Zorgdrager has proven to be an ally in this business in the few short years we've known him. With new music, tours, and partnerships coming, we are eager to get in the studio and back on the road to riff with you all."

"We couldn't be happier to join the AISAmusic team for management," notes Layman. "Heading down a new path with Simon and Bradley at our side has instantly had a positive impact, and we know it's only the beginning. Their professionalism, knowledge, experience, and level of planning gives us the best opportunity to be successful moving forward."

Phipps continues, "We want to thank the good people at Cobra Agency for bringing us onto their killer roster for Europe and Asia. We look forward to spending a lot of time on the road with you all, starting this summer with a European festival and club run."

Layman concurs: "We are incredibly proud to announce our partnership with Cobra Agency for booking throughout Europe and Asia. One of the best parts about being in a band is sharing your art while visiting incredible places around the world. We know that working with Cobra Agency gives us the best opportunity to continue doing this."

UNEARTH's nearly thirty-year ride has been wild enough thus far. As one of the key bands of the New Wave Of American Heavy Metal (NWOAHM),they rose alongside the likes of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, LAMB OF GOD, SHADOWS FALL, DARKEST HOUR and more.

"It was a healthy competition between all of us," recalls Phipps. "It made for some great music and opened up a new chapter in American metal." And though the Wave ain't so New anymore, the great music continues as UNEARTH opens a new chapter of their own.

Photo by Angel Mejia

Dee Snider says that he "totally" approves of Sebastian Bach stepping in for him as the lead singer for TWISTED SISTER.

Bach ended up being chosen to front TWISTED SISTER for the band's fall 2026 shows after Snider resigned from the group due to "health challenges".

Earlier today, Snider took to X (formerly Twitter) to write: "For a retired 71 yr old I'm great. But I've only got so much tread left on these tires. I decided to use it for the rest of my journey…and not burn them up on stage trying to prove I'm as good as I ever was. I can live with that choice. I would've been a shadow of my former self out there anyway.

"The story of my retirement for health reasons ran wild! I'm not dying. (No, not never!) Just can't do the things I used to do. I'm cool with it. I have a great life! And I totally approve of
Sebastian Bach stepping in for me. He's a true fan & will honor what I did with every show!

"My son Jesse and Bas are the only people I believe can deliver. Bas got the call."

TWISTED SISTER's 2026 shows will feature Bach along with guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda. Russell Pzütto, who has toured with Snider's solo projects, will replace bassist Mark "The Animal" Mendoza on bass. Joe Franco, who briefly played with the group in the mid-1980s, was supposed to sit behind the drum kit, stepping in for A.J. Pero, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 55. However, Franco is not available to play the fall 2026 shows and will be replaced by Joey Cassata, who played drums on Ace Frehley's final original solo album, "10,000 Volts".

At press time TWISTED SISTER has not announced the full list of shows it plans to play with Bach outside of a September 4 stop at the Alaska State Fair.

One month after Snider left due to health concerns, TWISTED SISTER announced that Bach will take his place for a series of tour dates this fall.

"TWISTED SISTER members Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda are thrilled to announce that iconic vocalist and front man Sebastian Bach will be fronting the band for a handful of select dates this fall," a statement shared to the TWISTED SISTER web site on March 3 read. "These appearances do not affect or conflict with Sebastian's current or future solo touring schedule, which remains fully intact."

Snider said in a statement in February that he suffers from degenerative arthritis, and is only able to "perform a few songs at a time in pain." He also said that his intense rocking over the years has "taken its toll on his heart as well."

"I don't know of any other way to rock," Snider said. "The idea of slowing down is unacceptable to me. I'd rather walk away than be a shadow of my former self."

Snider and Bach had publicly praised each other in 2020 after they had a disagreement on social media about whether the term "hair metal" was derogatory.

"I love Sebastian Bach!" Snider wrote on X. "During the darkest period of my career, he stood tall as a Dee Snider fan when few would. I will always be grateful to him for not caring what was 'cool' at the moment and speaking our proudly for the things he loved. Thank you SMF#2!"

Bach wrote in response: "I love Dee Snider. I will always love the music he has made. No matter how much Dee sees himself as 'hair metal,' I will always see him on a much higher level than that implies. He is one of the greatest frontmen and vocalists of all time. Any corny label less than that is an insult."

Three years ago, TWISTED SISTER staged a one-off reunion at the Metal Hall Of Fame in Agoura Hills, California. On hand to be inducted into the Metal Hall Of Fame were Snider, French, Mendoza and drummer Mike Portnoy. Ojeda was absent from the event after contracting COVID-19; filling in for him was Keith Robert War. TWISTED SISTER played a highly charged three-song set consisting of the staples "You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll" and "Under The Blade", as well as the anthem "We're Not Gonna To Take It".

TWISTED SISTER's original run ended in the late '80s. After more than a decade, the band publicly reunited in November 2001 to top the bill of New York Steel, a hard-rock benefit concert to raise money for the New York Police And Fire Widows' And Children's Benefit Fund.

Portuguese metallers MOONSPELL have set "Far From God" as the title of their long-awaited new album, due on July 3 via Napalm Records. The LP's first single, the "Far From God" title track, will be made available, alongside an accompanying music video, on March 25.

On Saturday (March 7),MOONSPELL vocalist Fernando Ribeiro took part in a live question-and-answer session on the band's Instagram, in which he said about the musical direction of MOONSPELL's upcoming follow-up to 2021's "Hermitage" (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Let's say the people that have listened to it now so far call it the 'Irreligious' [MOONSPELL's second album, which came out in 1996] of the 21st century. And why? Because we had many places to go, so we are going to a place that is more familiar to us. So, it's a gothic metal album. It's an album that doesn't have the social or quite the philosophical tones of other albums. It's a very simple album. It's very melodic. It's very atmospheric. It's very delicate and it's very emotional for us too. It was recorded in Porto [Portugal] during these past few months with Jaime Gomez Arellano, the one that worked with us on 'Hermitage'. There's going to be a lot of clean vocals, yeah. But it's also MOONSPELL. The fortunate people that have listened to it so far, people that work with us, the producer, close friends, they say it's MOONSPELL. And for us it's the best compliment."

Fernando continued: "It's very, very hard to speak about our own music, and why? Because it's an important part of our life and hopefully an important part of your life too. So the best things in life, I think, you fail to explain. It's just a question of feeling. But what we have tried to do on this album was to try to underline some characteristics of MOONSPELL, which are more bordering the romantic and more bordering the existential vibes of our band and of our music and of our life."

Regarding the songwriting process for "Far From God", Fernando said: "It was a difficult album to write. We had a lot of trial and error. I made, like, 50-something [sets of] lyrics. I had 10 album titles, and that's not very common in MOONSPELL."

Elaborating on the long gap between "Hermitage" and "Far From God", Fernando said: "In a nutshell, after 'Hermitage', you know what happened. There was the pandemic, there was a lot of stuff, picking up life, picking up the pieces, I would say, and finding out the direction. So the direction we did, it's what we do the best, I think. It's the gothic metal."

He added: "It has a bit of everything, I have to say, of the MOONSPELL nature. There are songs that are quite dark and a bit disturbing. There are songs that are very uplifting, but I think, really, it's the 'Irreligious' of the 21st century. It's an album that doesn't have anything else than gothic and metal."

On the topic of the decision to lean more into the "gothic" side of the MOONSPELL sound this time around, Fernando said: "I've been listening to a lot of gothic music, not only the old legends, like FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM or THE SISTERS OF MERCY, LOVE LIKE BLOOD or BAUHAUS, et cetera, but also the FRENCH POLICE, TWIN TRIBES, a lot of Spanish goth too. And I really got into that vibe. So, we decided to go that way. It's always hard to choose. We could make a heavier album. We could make an album in Portuguese. We could make an album industrial-like. So that's the price of the MOONSPELL freedom. I think every fan has [their] moments with our music. Some albums were not very well understood at the beginning and then they were catching up. I think 'Hermitage' still has a lot of catching up to do. So let's see how 'Far From God' gets you. I think it's really a beautiful album."

He continued: "To be honest, after this revival of gothic, with especially those bands, more electro bands, TWIN TRIBES, FRENCH POLICE, et cetera, I felt that the 'gothic metal' term was just easily abused. Because a lot of it doesn't have pain, doesn't have love, doesn't have desperation. It's just the flowers, but not the wither flowers. So it's just the stardust but not the dust. So we decided to bring this melancholy back."

As for the cover artwork of the "Far From God" album, Fernando said: "We're gonna reveal it soon, probably on the March 25th too. Why not? Because I think the album is going to be on presale since March 25th already. So, the cover artwork, it's made by Eliran Kantor. It's a beautiful cover artwork. I loved it since the day I saw the sketch. It's not probably the cover you expected from MOONSPELL — I don't know why — but, yeah, I think it's beautiful. And if fits really the album. There'll be two or three music videos for this album. The first one is coming 25th of March."

October 26, 2024 saw MOONSPELL perform its first-ever symphonic show, dubbed "Opus Diabolicum", at the MEO Arena in Lisbon, Portugal's capital city. The band made history at this unforgettable live event, adding another magnificent chapter to both metal music made in Portugal and their very own legacy. A year later — on October 31, 2025 — this monumental event was made available to view anytime, available in DVD/Blu-ray, two-CD, black and colored vinyl and digital formats via Napalm Records.

On "Opus Diabolicum", MOONSPELL revisited its classics and its bombastic album "1755" at a one-off, exclusive show and its biggest production to date. The heavy metallic power of the dark metal pioneers met the classical magnitude of the 45-piece Orquestra Sinfonietta de Lisboa (Lisbon Sinfonietta Orchestra) — one of Portugal's finest orchestras — conducted by maestro Vasco Pearce de Azevedo.

In September 2022, MOONSPELL released a very special Blu-ray/DVD and album, a live performance of their latest studio album, "Hermitage", with "From Down Below - Live 80 Meters Deep" via Napalm Records.

"Hermitage" was released in February 2021 via Napalm Records. The LP was recorded, mixed and mastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano (PARADISE LOST, PRIMORDIAL, GHOST, SÓLSTAFIR) at the Orgone Studios in the U.K.

In 2020, MOONSPELL parted ways with original drummer Miguel "Mike" Gaspar and replaced him with Hugo Ribeiro (no relation to Fernando Ribeiro).

Press photo credit: Rui Vasco (courtesy of Jassy of Decibel Touring)

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