This summer, Def Leppard co-headlined the massive 36-city The Stadium Tour with Mötley Crüe, joined by special guests Poison and Joan Jett. The band have released the video below, stating: "Looking back at the Stadium Tour 2022 with this blooper and outtake reel!  What was your favorite moment from The Stadium Tour?"





Hot off the heels of the biggest North American stadium tour of 2022 with more than 1.3 million tickets sold, the world’s most iconic and celebrated rock legends Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe are going global in 2023 with their co-headlining "The World Tour".




Produced by Live Nation, the world tour kicks off on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at Foro Sol in Mexico City. Both bands will bring their electrifying stage shows across the globe with stops throughout Latin America before heading to Europe in May 2023 - which includes a stop at the iconic Wembley Stadium on Saturday, July 1, 2023 - then wrapping up in Glasgow, UK at Hampden Park on July 6, 2023. Stay tuned for additional 2023 shows to be announced soon.


“After finally getting back on the road and having a monumental summer tour in the US & Canada this year, we’re beyond thrilled to be bringing this massive stadium tour to major cities all over the world, and kicking off Europe in Sheffield where it all started for us 45 years ago. We’re looking to forward to seeing you out there, somewhere soon!” said Joe Elliott of Def Leppard.


“We had an incredible time playing The Stadium Tour in North America this summer and we truly can’t wait to take the show around the globe with The WORLD Tour in 2023. Crüeheads in Latin America and Europe: Get ready! We’re coming for you next and can’t wait to finally see all of you out there again next year!” Mötley Crüe said in a joint statement.


Check local listings for complete details including VIP offerings, on sale times vary. To purchase tickets, visit defleppard.com/tour, and/or motley.com.





Dates:


February
18 - Mexico City, Mexico - Foro Sol
21 - Monterrey, Mexico - Estadio Banorte
25 - Bogota, Colombia - Parque Simon Bolivar
28 - Lima, Peru - Estadio Nacional


March
3 - Santiago, Chile - Estadio Bicentenario de La Florida
7 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Allianz Parque
9 - Curitiba, Brazil - Estádio Couto Pereira
11 - Porto Alegre, Brazil - Arena do Grêmio


May
22 - Sheffield, UK - Bramall Lane
25 - Mönchengladbach, Germany - SparkassenPark
27 - Munich, Germany - Koenigsplatz
29 - Budapest, Hungary - MVM Dome
31 - Krakow, Poland - Tauron Arena Kraków


June
2 - Prague, Czech Republic - Prague Rocks *
3 - Hannover, Germany - Expo Plaza
7 - Solvesborg, Sweden - Sweden Rock Festival *
9 - Hyvinkää, Finland - RockFest *
11 - Trondheim, Norway - Trondheim Rocks *
14 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Copenhell *
18 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Metal Meeting *
20 - Milan, Italy - Ippodromo SNAI San Siro
23 -  Lisbon, Portugal - Passeio Maritimo de Alges
24 - Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Spain - Auditorio Miguel Ríos
27 - Thun, Switzerland - Stockhorn Arena


July
1 - London, UK - Wembley Stadium
2 - Lytham, UK - Lytham Festival *
4 - Dublin, Ireland - Marlay Park
6 - Glasgow, UK - Hampden Park


* Festival Date





Introducing Definitely: The Official Story Of Def Leppard, available in spring 2023 via Genesis Publications. Part memoir, part scrapbook, "Definitely" is the ultimate record of Def Leppard's legendary career.


This first-ever anthology of Def Leppard is narrated by the band and illustrated with many hundreds of photographs and items of memorabilia shared from the band’s personal archives.


The "Definitely" limited edition of only 1,500 copies comes in two formats, Collector and Deluxe copies, each individually numbered and hand-signed by the band.


"We had balls and we were naive, in a good way. We just went out there, full throttle…" – Joe Elliott





Signed limited edition:


Definitely: The Official Story Of Def Leppard is presented in a limited edition of only 1,500 numbered copies, each signed by Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, Rick Savage, Rick Allen and Vivian Campbell. Secure your copy today at the pre-publication price.





Bookstore edition:


A hardback edition of Definitely: The Official Story Of Def Leppard will be available from all good bookshops in spring 2023. Pre-order your copy now.


For further details, and more pre-order information on the Collector's Edition, visit Genesis Publications.

Speed metal trio, Stälker, strikes again! Returning with their new 12” double single vinyl, Cranking Evil, they present two brand new Necronomicon-induced incantations to be revealed today.


Churning somewhere in between Judas Priest, Motörhead, and Venom, Stälker mercilessly dashes through the underground metal world. Summoning boundless evil, their reckless soundscapes will spew from the musical cauldron as Daif, Nick, and Chris have conjured up possessing, pure speed metal.


With unstoppable velocity, Stälker rushes towards the top of the genre with their new single “Kneel And Worship” and display their invincible power. The song rams like a speeding train, commencing a new era for the genre. Join the unstoppable sonic ride of “Kneel And Worship”.




Stälker on “Kneel And Worship”: “Against the iron gates, you stand at the brink of destruction. Will you kneel? Or has your time finally come?”





Never hitting the brakes, Stälker’s underground punk attitude introduces a new age that unites metal and rock n’ roll with no sweat. The group’s 2017 full length debut, Shadow Of The Sword, brought a new voice to the speed metal scene as the band battered their way through the underground metal world with 10 riff-packed tracks of pure Judas Priest, Motörhead and Venom worship! Soon after, fans rejoiced as the band released their heavily awaited sophomore album, Black Majik Terror, in 2020. The album brought another onslaught of pure speed metal cacophony filled with more power and more riffs, enchanting metalheads and rock n’ rollers to open up mosh pits left and right.





Cranking Evil is available in the following formats:


- 12” Double Single LTD White
- 12” Double Single LTD Red
- Digital Double Single


Order here.





Cranking Evil tracklisting:


"Ripped To Pieces"
"Kneel & Worship"


"Ripped To Pieces" video:





Stälker are:


Daif King - Vocals & Bass
Chris Calavrias - Guitar
Nick Oakes - Drums


(Photo - Hannah Chapman)

For Canada's The Metal Voice, Kenny Kessel in New Jersey interviewed Mark and John Gallagher from the legendary NWOBHM speed metal band Raven. During the interview, the band talks about touring their classic album Wiped Out (40th anniversary, released in 1982), opening for Metallica on the upcoming tribute show for Jon and Marash Zazula, and give some details on their upcoming new studio album.


When asked for an update on a new studio album, Mark reveals: "We signed a new deal, the new record is going to be coming out on Silver Lining Music. The album is all done, we are pretty much in the mixing stage right now and that will come out in May 2023." Mark


John adds: "An exclusive just for The Metal Voice, the name of the album is All Hell's Breaking Loose."







Raven, will serve as special guests to Metallica during a special concert paying tribute to the lives of Jon and Marsha Zazula. The performance will take place Sunday, November 6 at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.





As founders of Megaforce Records, the Zazulas are widely credited for discovering and launching the careers of many of heavy metal’s most ground-breaking, influential, and now legendary artists. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated in Jon and Marsha’s name to MusiCares, a safety net supporting the health and welfare of the music community offering preventive, emergency, and recovery programs to musicians and industry professionals.





Raven is currently amid their Wiped Out 40th anniversary tour, treating their fans by playing the iconic album in full during each show. Support is being provide by Riot Act, the band formed by former Riot guitarist Rick Ventura, performing a Riot repertoire from their classic 1977-1982 era. See all confirmed dates below.





Tour dates:


November
4 - Fractal Brewing Project - Huntsville, AL
5 - The Loft At Center Stage - Atlanta, GA
6 - Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Atlanta, GA * RAVEN only w/ Metallica
7 - Nice Guys - Cape Coral, FL


Raven:


John Gallagher - lead vocals, bass, 12-string bass
Mark Gallagher - guitar, vocals
Mike Heller - drums

Canada’s The Wring is gearing up to release a third album Spectra next month, which promises to be an assertive mix of different styles including hard rock, jazz, metal, classical, ‘80s rock, ‘70s rock, and probably a few other things. Solo artist Don Dewulf had the idea and with the help of accomplished musicians, the project has been brought to life. 


The next piece they are sharing is the single “Stiletto”, which Dewulf outlines:


“This song is about the debilitating need for social media attention and validation. The blade goes in and you never even feel it, then you slowly bleed out. The verses are in 5/8 and ⅞ creating a somewhat jarring effect, and also speaking to the theme. Chandler does a killer job on the chorus vocal and there is a very peculiar odd-time breakdown before the solo. Very fun song to play.”




He also comments that Spectra is a bit like a 1970’s King Crimson album, but without any ethereal soliloquies and certainly with a more significant hard rock/metal influence. Compared to last year’s full-length Project Cipher, this new offering carries on in the same tradition and headspace, but the songs are fuller and cohesive.


The album got its name because Dewulf feels that it really touches on a wide range of musical styles and themes. The mixes are much layered with a lot of detail; you can listen to it many times and still continue to pick out intricacies and small details each time.


Dewulf is writing constantly as he always has a lot of ideas to flesh out and bring to the ears of listeners around the world. He has no intentions of stopping soon, so fans of “Spectra” should keep an eye out for new music. The Wring is recommended for fans of King Crimson, Dream Theater, and Opeth.


BraveWords is premiering the video for “Stiletto” – watch below!





Spectra is due out on December 16, 2022, via WormHoleDeath Records. Pre-save the album at orcd.co.





Tracklisting:


“Stiletto”
“Stones & Bones”
“The Prince”
“The Wolf”
“Tin Man”
“From Mars”
“Sins”
“Fallen”


Teaser:

Rotting Christ frontman / founder Sakis Tolis has checked in with the following update:


"My dear friends, I would like to  announce my first attempt to perform live as a solo artist in the glorious Inferno Music Festival in Norway early next year. I will perform my first solo album, Among The Fires Of Hell', and songs that have never been performed from Rotting Christ and Thou Art Lord. Look forward to seeing you all there and meanwhile stay tuned for live updates from Rotting Christ. Spirit up brothers & sisters!"







Tolis released his debut solo album, Among The Fires Of Hell, earlier this year. Details below.





Tracklisting:


"My Salvation"
"Among The Fires Of Hell"
"The Dawn Of A New Age"
"We The Fallen Angels"
"Ad Astra"
"Live With Passion (Die With Honour)"
"I Name You Under Our Cult"
"The Silence"
"Nocturnal Hecate"


"We The Fallen Angels" animated video:





"Ad Astra" lyric video:





"I Name You Under Our Cult" lyric video:





"Among The Fires Of Hell" video:





Album stream:

Italian power metallers Frozen Crown have checked in with the following update for the fans:


"Dear friends, we're finally back! Our fourth album Call Of The North, a long journey through a frozen forgotten land, between battle chants and war hymns, has been completed. It will be released at the beginning of 2023 and you'll be listening to the first single in the next weeks!


For this occasion, we'll answer to your questions and have a chat with you all through a livestream on our YouTube channel this Sunday afternoon (November 6th).




Our fourth era has begun!"


The livestream will start at 5:00pm CET.


In late 2021, Frozen Crown released a video for "The Water Dancer", the fourth single from their latest album, Winterbane.


"The song is conceptually inspired by the classic series of novels A Song of Ice and Fire and the hit TV show Game Of Thrones, more specifically, by the ultrabrave and fierce Arya Stark character."


Also, for the first time, Frozen Crown joined forces with an element external to the band: Damien Von Dunkenwald and his Northern Wolfdogs Pack appear in the stunning videoclip alongside Jade, Sheena, Federico, Francesco and Niso.


Check out the video below.





Tracklist:


"Embrace The Night"
"Towards The Sun"
"Far Beyond"
"The Lone Stranger"
"Crown Eternal"
"The Water Dancer"
"Angels In Disguise" (feat Federica Lanna)
"Night Crawler" (Judas Priest cover)
"Tales Of The Forest"
"Blood On The Snow"


"Far Beyond"





"The Water Dancer"





Winterbane was released on April 23rd 2021 on Scarlet Records and Marquee/Avalon (Japan).


Frozen Crown is:


Giada "Jade" Etro - Lead Vocals
Fabiola "Sheena" Bellomo - Lead Guitar
Federico Mondelli - Vocals and Lead Guitar
Francesco Zof - Bass
Niso Tomasini - Drums

Metalcore band, Preacher, have released their new single, "Live Laugh Lobotomy", to all major platforms via Daeth Records/TLG/INgrooves. The single is from their forthcoming EP, Blur.





"Our fans summed it up perfectly!" says the band. They said, "Somehow this is giving me nostalgia. The way that you guys encapsulate that early 2010's post hardcore sound and still manage to make your music sound fresh and new is insane."







Preacher is a metalcore band from Reno, Nevada. In a short 5 years, 3 EPs and 5 singles later, they have managed to tour from coast to coast all on their own. The largest show of these tours included their festival debut at Blue Ridge Rock Fest 2022, one of the largest rock festivals in the United States. Preacher has never been afraid to dive into new genres and explore every avenue of what they can achieve. Their entire discography thus far including their 2022 EP Dream State was entirely self-produced, which showcases exactly why they are a force to be reckoned with in the metalcore genre.


Preacher are:


Nathaniel Garrison - Vocals
Stan Neill - Guitar/Vocals/Bass
Christopher Yancey - Guitar
Alan Terry - Drums

With seven studio albums in nearly two decades of band history, Sweden's root rock figureheads Siena Root are constantly working on something new. They've continually changed their approach and experimented with their sound - not only to keep their music fresh but to challenge themselves which is one of the main reasons why the group’s relevance remains after all these years.


Besides touring with acts such as Deep Purple and Dewolff, the quartet - founding members drummer Love Forsberg and bassist Sam Riffer with guitarist Johan Borgström and vocalist/keyboardist Zubaida Solid - have always brought an infectious performance to stages globally. Those lucky enough to attend one of Siena Root's post-pandemic tours earlier this year may already know how the band spent the Corona years recording a brand-new album that is finally set to be released next year via their new label home of Atomic Fire Records.


Comments the band, "The 'Dynamic Root Rock Experience' called Siena Root caught fire a long time ago. As we all know, you need to catch a fire to be burnin' and this time Siena Root caught an Atomic Fire: we are very proud and honored to announce that we are a part of the Atomic Fire Records family now. The new album, Revelation, will be released in early 2023, stay tuned!"




Atomic Fire Records CEO Markus Wosgien adds, "We're very happy to enrich our roster with Siena Root's innovative mixture of classic, folk, and psychedelic rock. Their musical path as well as their everchanging sound charmed us enormously, leading to their new opus Revelation, which is nothing short of amazing. It’s an album that surely won't only fascinate rockers but also fans beyond the genre. What an outstanding group. They truly know how to perform this music the right way!"


The record title definitely keeps its word: it's a sonic Revelation and has become the most versatile offering in Siena Root's long-spanning career, guiding listeners through a true journey rather than simply stringing together song after song. But that's not all: the first appetizer, new single “Little Burden” which premiered live in 2022, can be enjoyed alongside a music video, edited by Linus Grane, via YouTube.





Elaborates the band, "This is a first taste of Siena Root's journey when introducing the more acoustic side of the 'Dynamic Root Rock Experience.' The song deals with leaving the city and the experience that comes with that. 'Little Burden' is a song that describes the feeling of melancholy and battle one experiences when faced with the arbitrary issues of man and when burdens, however small and inconsequential, make you weary and sometimes even poison you."


More info on Siena Root's eagerly awaited eighth studio album as well as pre-order details will be unveiled before the end of the year. Until then, enjoy “Little Burden”:





Lineup:


Zubaida Solid - vocals, keys
Johan Borgström - guitars
Sam Riffer - bass
Love Forsberg - drums


(Photo -  Petter Hilber)

Hailing from Canada, Alienatör is a sludge metal band that confronts tough issues with razor-sharp riffs and memorable hooks. They released their debut album, Pariahs, in 2019, and are now following it up this year with Regrets, which is darker, more focused, and more intense. They say it also boasts better songwriting and more dynamics. The themes of this upcoming release also explore some heavy topics including alienation, grief, pain, and disgust at the state of the modern world.


The single “The Priest” is no exception, which vocalist/guitarist Brad King explains: “This is the darkest song I’ve ever written. Another is where the bass really drives the song and the guitar comes in, jagged and angular on top. Ralph Rowe was an Anglican Priest who molested countless kids in fly-in reserves in the 70s and 80s. He ruined so many lives and plea-bargained for a prison sentence that was a slap on the wrist. There’s a documentary about him called “Survivor’s Rowe,” and I’ve met a few survivors through my work. Here, he serves as an example of the type of abuse of power we allow those in positions of trust. I’m proud of the dynamics of this one, lots of tension and release and the calm atmospheric part in the middle.”


The music video for “The Priest” can be seen below:







Composed during the claustrophobia of the 2020 election and the global pandemic the album channels rage and catharsis before lulling the listener into a sense of security and then thundering down again into a feedback-drenched conclusion.


Compared to their debut release, fans will recognize a more hard-hitting sound, depth of songwriting, dynamics, darker themes, and more vulnerable and introspective lyrics. Alienatör has matured and grown as musicians, with the addition of drummer Simon Paquette who has added a lot of depth to the sound, and bass player Sean Skillen becoming part of the writing process has added a new dimension. The band is a more cohesive unit and it shows in the material.


Pre-order on Bandcamp.





Tracklisting:


“Revisionist History”
“Loss Leader”
“Blood Red Blood”
“Regrets”
“The Priest”
“The Less Dead”
“Flat Earth Society”
“Irreconcilable”
“Your Funeral”
“Wounded Birds”
“Dark Matters”


“Blood Red Blood”:





(Photo – Peter David Wragg)

On February 24, Finnish metal melancholists Insomnium will release their ninth full-length, Anno 1696, via Century Media Records.


Anno 1696 is a gateway into another world. This time around, Insomnium tells us a tale based on a short story by Niilo Sevänen (bass/vocals), woven with sorrow and the last crumbling vestiges of hope, plus wrath and morbid lullabies. Welcome to 1696. Welcome to hell. This is an age of unrest. The age of great famine in the North. The witch hunt is in full swing all across Europe and the gruesome witch trials have even reached the remote and majestic landscapes of Finland and Sweden.


"The Torsåker witch trials were a horrible source of nightmarish inspiration," Sevänen says of his ghastly muse. "All that talk about 70 women beheaded in this small Swedish parish? It's real stuff from history!" he groans. "And as if that weren't enough, there are also some very dark tales of cannibalism and child murder from the years of the great famine." Stories don't get any more metal than this.




For a first preview of Anno 1696, the new single, "Lilian", can be streamed here; the video (directed by Riivata Visuals) can be viewed below.


Guitarist Markus Vanhala comments about the track: "'Lilian' is probably the most traditional Insomnium hit song on the album - and an easy starter as single - before the heavier main course comes in. It shows the lighter shade of the album, before all hope leaves."


Bassist/vocalist Niilo Sevänen adds: "This is Ville's composition, and it has some of that old Insomnium feel in it. Felt like a video-song from the start. Lyrically, it tells how the tragic couple in the story met each other in the first place."


Guitarist Ville Friman concludes: "One of the first songs to emerge during the pandemic era. It has this old Insomnium vibe and tonality that I tend to steer towards every time I pick up the guitar."


Mixed by Jaime Gomez Arellano (Orgone Studios) and mastered by Tony Lindgren (Fascination Street Studios), Anno 1696 is a tornado of tormented souls, set to a tragedy of Greek proportions. No doubt: this is Insomnium's most delicate tightrope walk yet - between sadness and anger, between silent desperation and cries of anguish. Trying to reach that fading light that still glimmers from beyond the trees. And at that, it's the epitome of the Finnish melancholy. "Can't deny it," guitarist Markus Vanhala laughs. "Insomnium is a soundtrack to both the Finnish mental and physical landscape. We all are strongly feeling melancholic Finns."


And as if a stunning feat like Anno 1696 is not enough, Insomnium continue the epic story on their addendum-like EP Songs of the Dusk, featuring three more journeys into a dark and foggy past. "We simply had eleven great songs, and we thought that this material is too good to be 'just' bonus tracks," Sevänen states. "They are part of the big story, so you can think of them as the director's cut material that tells a little extra. For those who want to have more."


The album will be available in the following formats:


- Standard CD Jewelcase
- Digital Album


In addition to the above-mentioned standard versions, fans can also purchase the limited Deluxe 2CD Artbook that has an extended booklet (44 pages!) and includes the Songs of the Dusk (EP), as well as the English and Finnish versions of the Anno 1696 short story by Niilo Sevänen:


- Ltd. Deluxe 2CD Artbook


The vinyl features an etching on Side D, plus a 12-page booklet with the English version of the 'Anno 1696' short story by Niilo Sevänen - available in the following variants:


- Gatefold black 2LP+CD & LP-Booklet
- Gatefold dark green 2LP+CD & LP-Booklet via CMdistro.de (limited to 300 copies)
- Gatefold transp. light blue 2LP+CD & LP-Booklet via CM Distro Wholesale EU & CMdistro.de (limited to 500 copies)
- Gatefold silver 2LP+CD & LP-Booklet via Nuclear Blast & Napalm Records (limited to 500 copies)
- Gatefold white 2LP+CD & LP-Booklet via Levykauppa Äx & EMP (limited to 500 copies)
- Gatefold transp. red-black marbled 2LP+CD & LP-Booklet via Insomnium (limited to 500 copies)
- Gatefold black-white marbled 2LP+CD & LP-Booklet via Insomnium (limited to 500 copies)


The vinyl available in the USA does not come with the additional CD:


- Gatefold black 2LP & LP-Booklet (USA version)
- Gatefold golden 2LP & LP-Booklet (USA version)


Pre-order here.





Anno 1696 tracklisting:


"1696"
"White Christ" (feat. Sakis Tolis)
"Godforsaken" (feat. Johanna Kurkela)
"Lilian"
"Starless Paths"
"The Witch Hunter"
"The Unrest"
"The Rapids"


Ltd. Deluxe 2CD Artbook tracks, incl. Songs Of The Dusk (EP)


"Flowers Of The Night"
"Stained In Red"
"Song Of The Dusk"


"Lilian" video:





Lineup:


Niilo Sevänen - Bass and Vocals
Jani Liimatainen - Guitars and clean vocals
Markus Hirvonen - Drums
Ville Friman - Guitars
Markus Vanhala - Guitars and clean vocals


(Photo - Terhi Ylimäinen)

In celebration of the album’s five year anniversary, JUNO Award-winning modern power metal frontrunners, Unleash The Archers, recently announced that their seminal 2017 full-length, Apex, will be available as a limited reissue 2-CD Earbook edition, as well as in Deluxe Digital formats, on November 18 via Napalm Records.


Both the 2CD Earbook and Deluxe Digital versions will include the full original Apex album, plus two new bonus tracks - “Falsewave” and “Acoustipex” - genius reimaginings of original album tracks “False Walls” and “Apex”, respectively, as well as a newly mastered instrumental version of the original album. The bonus tracks will also come on a limited edition single-style 10” vinyl EP available as part of the Earbook edition.


The synthwave reimagining “Falsewave” translates perfectly with the original track’s super moody, midtempo vibes, while “Acoustipex” haunts with gothic folk/country-western cinematic flavor, breathing new life into the Apex title track. Following the reveal of “Falsewave”, fans can now experience “Acoustipex” alongside a new playthrough video.




Frontwoman Brittney Slayes says: "We are so excited to share 'Acoustipex' with you all; it's a moody acoustic take on the title track from Apex and we hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed creating it!  It's got a bit of a country vibe, but we added some symphonic elements as well to stay true to the synth theme of the record. The music video was a challenge because we all live in different cities now, but we had a great time coming up with a concept we think you might appreciate. For those of you that have seen our acoustic version of 'Apex' on YouTube from CTV, you will understand where our inspiration came from lol ;) Make sure to get your pre-orders for the EP in now before they're all gone, and let us know what you think!"


Hear "Acoustipex" and watch its accompanying playthrough video:





This special edition release is available in the following formats:


- 2CD Earbook Edition  & 10" Single
- Deluxe Digital


Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


2CD Earbook & Deluxe Digital edition:


"Awakening"
"Shadow Guide"
"The Matriarch"
"Cleanse The Bloodlines"
"The Coward's Way"
"False Walls"
"Ten Thousand Against One"
"Earth And Ashes"
"Call Me Immortal"
"Apex"
"Falsewave"
"Acoustipex"


Instrumental Album:


"Awakening"
"Shadow Guide"
"The Matriarch"
"Cleanse The Bloodlines"
"The Coward's Way"
"False Walls"
"Ten Thousand Against One"
"Earth And Ashes"
"Call Me Immortal"
"Apex"


10" Acoustipex EP (included in Earbook edition):


"Falsewave"
"Acoustipex"


"Falsewave" lyric video:





Unleash The Archers is:


Brittney Slayes - Vocals
Scott Buchanan - Drums
Grant Truesdell - Guitar
Andrew Kingsley - Guitar
Nick Miller - Bass


(Photo - Shimon Karmel)

W.A.S.P. recently kicked off their 40 Years Live World Tour at House Of Blues in Las Vegas, NV. In the video below, the band perform "Chainsaw Charlie (Murders In The New Morgue)", from 1992's The Crimson Idol album.





W.A.S.P. recently shared the video below from the VIP Experience/Personal Q&A With Blackie Lawless in Anaheim, CA.







W.A.S.P. are offering their first ever VIP meet and greet packages on the US leg of the 40 Years Live World Tour. VIP meet and greet packages are available for all dates on the US tour, including shows that are already sold out for show tickets.


In addition to meeting Blackie Lawless and getting a personal photo with him, fans will also be able get a photo holding Blackie's original B.C. Rich Widow bass guitar and get a photo standing next to "Elvis\rdblquote  - Blackie's incredibly unique and one of a kind microphone stand.


To purchase your VIP ticket to meet Blackie Lawless visit WASPnation.com/tour and click the ticket link for your desired show. You will purchase the VIP ticket directly from the venue.


Blackie Lawless commented on offering VIP tickets, "For the 40th Anniversary Tour, and for our first time ever, we are offering VIP Meet and Greet tickets for all of you who\rquote ve wanted to have a genuine VIP Experience. I\rquote ll be doing a photo with everyone who participates as well as several other special offerings that will make this a pretty interesting package. But the one thing that will separate our VIP Experience from all others, and honestly the thing I\rquote m looking most forward to is, at the end of the photo and the autograph sessions I want to do a sit down Question and Answer session with all of you there . The only way I've ever wanted to do a VIP Experience is to have real time with all of you, not only to answer whatever questions you\rquote ve been wanting to ask me for however long, but it also gives me the chance to get to know you. Honestly, this was the only way I would agree to do this because I genuinely wanna hear what you have to say. So get ready and get your questions ready, but, be prepared, it\rquote s gonna work both ways, because if you think you wanna get inside my head\'85. then I\rquote m gonna get inside of yours."





The VIP Experience includes:


• Exclusive VIP Experience Meet and Greet with Blackie Lawless
• Personal Photo with Blackie
• Two Personal Items Signed by Blackie - No Guitars, Pick Guards or Instruments
• Signed VIP Tour Laminate
• $50 Credit at Merchandise Stand
• Set of 3 Blackie Lawless 40th Anniversary Guitar Picks
• Q&A with Blackie with all VIP's after all Photos and Autographs
• Take Photo Holding Blackie's original B.C. Rich Widow Bass Guitar
• Stand for photo next to "Elvis” - Blackie's Incredibly Unique and One of a Kind Microphone Stand
• Automatically Entered to Win a Signed Guitar at the End of the U.S. Tour





Find the complete tour itinerary here.


W.A.S.P. shared the video below from the October 28 show in Las Vegas, featuring the opening medley, "On Your Knees / The Flame / The Torture Never Stops / Inside The Electric Circus":

GUNS N' ROSES has released a new version of the song "November Rain" featuring a 50-piece orchestra.

The reworked version of the epic track was arranged and conducted by film and television composer Christopher Lennertz. It was remixed by progressive rock icon Steven Wilson, who previously said of his involvement: "My mix of a fully orchestrated version of the @gunsnroses evergreen November Rain appears on the just announced 30th anniversary reissue of Use Your Illusion.

"The new 2022 version is the same performance as the original, and mixed faithfully to the established version, but with newly recorded orchestration replacing the sampled sounds used at the time."

Prior to working with GUNS N' ROSES, Wilson had remixed tracks by BLACK SABBATH, YES, MARILLION, RUSH, JETHRO TULL, ROXY MUSIC, KISS and KING CRIMSON, among others.

Released on 1991's "Use Your Illusion I" album, the original version of "November Rain" clocked in at nine minutes and seventeen seconds. The accompanying music video, which has been viewed 1.9 billion times on YouTube, follows the story of a troubled rock star (played by singer Axl Rose),his girlfriend (played by Axl's then-real-life flame Stephanie Seymour),and her mysterious suicide.

The "Use Your Illusion I & II" ultimate box set for GUNS N' ROSES' multi-platinum releases "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II" is due on November 11 via UME/Geffen. "Use Your Illusion I & II" super deluxes feature a total of 97 tracks, 63 are previously unreleased. It will be available in multiple configurations including a Super Deluxe Seven-CD + Blu-ray, a Super Deluxe Twelve-LP + Blu-ray, Two-CD Deluxe Editions of "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II" separately, standard 1CD and 2LP versions of "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II" separately. In all formats, the original studio albums "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II" have been fully remastered for the first-time ever, from high-resolution 96kHz 24-bit transfers from the original stereo 1/2-inch analog masters. All versions will be available to stream and as digital downloads, with all configurations available to pre-order and pre-save.

GUNS N' ROSES' highly anticipated third and fourth studio albums, "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II", were originally released simultaneously on September 17, 1991. With the massive success of "Lies" and "Appetite For Destruction", the band had the daunting task of a follow up album. Not only did the band deliver, GUNS N' ROSES surprised the world by releasing not one but two new, full-length studio albums. Upon release, "Use Your Illusion I" reached No. 2 and "Use Your Illusion II" took the No. 1 position on the Billboard 200 chart concurrently, selling over 500,000 copies in the first two hours of release, with an estimated sales of over 685,000 and 770,000, respectively, within the first week of release.

 Just under a week before the start of their long-awaited co-headline tour with Eluveitie, Amorphis once again wrap you in hard riffs and timeless melodies with their brand new song, "The Well". As part of their Halo (Tour Edition) digipak, released today, the song was recorded during the band's last studio session and is now seeing the light of day for the first time on CD and digitally.


"'The Well' tells the story of an individual who creates chaos and confusion by violating the principles of society. It is a timeless phenomenon that has been repeated regularly throughout history and is simply typical of us humans," says singerTomi Joutsen. "The song itself draws its influences from early Scandinavian black metal and classic oriental amorphis vibes. One of the heavier tracks we recorded during the Halo studio session in 2021."


Purchase or stream "The Well" via all digital platforms found here.







Tour dates are as follows:


November
10 - Zurich, Switzerland - Komplex 457
11 - Filderstadt, Germany - FILharmonie
13 - Trezzo sull'Adda (MI), Italy - Live Club
15 - Toulouse, France - Le Bikini
16 - Madrid, Spain - Sala La Riviera
17 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Razzmatazz
18 - Lyon, France - Le Radiant-Bellevue
19 - Paris, France - L'Olympia
20 - Lille, France - L'Aéronef
22 - Dublin, Ireland - The Academy
23 - Glasgow, Scotland - Queen Margaret Union
24 - Manchester, England - O2 Ritz
25 - London, England - O2 Forum Kentish Town
26 - Brussels, Belgium - Ancienne Belgique
27 - Tilburg, Netherlands - 013
29 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Amager Bio
30 - Oslo, Norway - Sentrum Scene


December
1 - Stockholm, Sweden - Fållan
3 - Helsinki, Finland - Black Box (Helsingin Jäähalli)
5 - Warsaw, Poland - Progresja
6 - Berlin, Germany - Huxleys Neue Welt
7 - Vienna, Austria - Gasometer
9 - Munich, Germany - Zenith
10 - Leipzig, Germany - Felsenkeller
11 - Zlín, Czech Republic - Datart Hala
12 - Budapest, Hungary - Barba Negra
14 - Wiesbaden, Germany - Schlachthof
15 - Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg - Rockhal
16 - Oberhausen, Germany - Turbinenhalle
17 - Hamburg, Germany – Zeltphilharmonie





(Photo - Sam Jamsen)

During a recent question-and-answer session with the readers of U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine, former SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo was asked if he would have joined SLAYER guitarist Kerry King's new band had he been approached about it. He responded: "I knew that was coming. I am, right now, working on too many other projects and I wouldn't be able to accept. New DEAD CROSS, MR. BUNGLE… the pandemic put a lot of stuff on hold, so we need to play some catch-up there. Besides that, he's got Paul Bostaph [playing with him], and I don't think he would have the need to ask me."

Lombardo was also asked if he would play with SLAYER again if the band reunited and wanted him to be part of the lineup. He said: "I don't think that's ever going to happen. But, yeah, I'd listen to whatever it is they had to say. That's it. You can't go any further than that."

Lombardo, who has spent most of the recent years between crossover pioneers SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, horror-punk icons MISFITS, hardcore supergroup DEAD CROSS and MR. BUNGLE, was effectively fired from SLAYER after sitting out the group's Australian tour in February/March 2013 due to a contract dispute with the other bandmembers. He was later replaced by Bostaph, who was previously SLAYER's drummer from 1992 until 2001.

Shortly after his dismissal, Lombardo said that he discovered that 90 percent of SLAYER's tour income was being deducted as expenses, including fees to management, costing the band millions and leaving them with about 10 percent to split four ways. While he and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya hired auditors to figure out what had happened, Lombardo said he was never allowed to see any of the information obtained.

Lombardo released a statement in February 2013 saying he "was denied access to detailed information and the necessary backup documents." He added: "I was told that I would not be paid until I signed a longform contract which gave me no written assurance of how much or on what basis management would deduct commissions, nor did it provide me access to the financial budgets or records for review. It also forbade me to do interviews or make statements having to do with the band, in effect a gagging order."

Dave previously opened about his departure from SLAYER while taking questions from the audience in March 2014 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

"I did my best to try to keep it together, but I couldn't go on, man," Dave said. "I had to step out, because you can't be shackled like that; nobody can take advantage of another person like that anymore. I did it for too many years, and I held my breath. Red flags kept going on in my books. It's, like, 'Really? I'm supposed to make more money? Why am I on the same salary? I'm making the exact same thing I've been making the past two years. And this is back in 2004. So I knew something was up. And I tried my best to work it out with the guys. I brought Tom into the picture. I had Tom in a hotel room with me talking to my attorney, and my attorney was telling him everything their management company had been doing to them for the past 30 freakin' years. And we had an accountant, a forensic accountant, ready to go in there and look at the stuff."

He continued: "Tom got bought out. Management flipped him over a couple of hundred grand — who knows how much? — and Kerry as well, to keep quiet and go against Lombardo. So they turned their backs on me. And on the last day, when I'm at rehearsal with them — and I saved it all the way until the end — I said, 'Guys, we need a new business plan. You guys have been on the same business plan after 30 years. Now I'm an income participant. In other words, I 'm a percentage holder.' So if you're a percentage holder, you have the right, and you're contracted, as a percentage holder, you have the right to see where all the expenses are going. Because here you are getting paid off of net, and then out of 4.4 million dollars, the band gets 400 thousand dollars. Where's the four million? And that's just 2011. [The rest of the money went to] lawyers, accountant and the manager.

"For the past 30 years, they were doing that to the guys. And they took my information… I'll never forget the day…. I just said, 'Guys, look at this. This came from your accountant.' And it showed all the money. It wasn't showing where the money was going, it was just showing 'gross,' 'expenses,' 'net.' And out of that net, I made, on tour, in 2011, 67 thousand dollars. Kerry and Tom, that was about 114 thousand dollars they made on tour. So if you did about 60 shows, divide that up between 60 shows… Anybody have a calculator? No, not 60… Let's say about 90 shows per year: 30 in the spring, 30 in the summer and 30 shows in the winter, in the fall. So you break that up per show… Really? It's disgusting. I bust my ass up there playing drums. I mean, I am just sweating, I'm beat. And for the guy in the Hollywood Hills, for his facials, his manicures… No, I'm not gonna play for that. No."

In a November 2013 interview with Minneapolis City Pages, Araya stated about Lombardo: "Dave left the band originally in '91 or '92, After that, we brought in Jon Dette for two years and then we hooked up with Paul [Bostaph], who did four really great albums with us. Then he decided to move on. Our manager hooked us up with Dave again and when we were putting together [2006's] 'Christ Illusion', Dave offered to help out. We wanted to make things fair for him, so we offered him a contract with the band. Most recently, we were offered to tour Australia. When we were rehearsing, he seemed to do a 180 and said some things that kind of upset me and Kerry. Kerry just looked at him and said, 'If you feel that way, then why are we even rehearsing for this tour?' So we wrote him a letter and said, 'Listen, we need to know if you're going to do the shows in Australia. If you're not, we need to do something about that.' We didn't get a reply. We were put in a position where we had to do something, so we got Jon Dette to play with us again. After what happened with the Australia tour, we made the decision to move forward and make him aware that we no longer needed his services. He was really upset about that. He wrote a rant on Facebook. He said some things that he shouldn't have. It really upset us. And it upset me. I was fuming. I couldn't believe that he would throw that out in the court of public opinion. After that, Jeff [Hanneman, deceased SLAYER guitarist], me and Kerry all got on the phone and talked about it. And Paul's name came up. It was a sure thing with Paul. He'd been in the band for over 12 years. So we gave him a call to see if he was interested and he was more than happy to. It was a no-brainer. He's an amazing drummer."

A few years ago, King said that "when Dave was in [SLAYER] this last time, I figured I'd be on the stage with him until one of us fell off the stage, dead. Things change. He got some bad advice and listened to some bad advice, gave us an ultimatum ten days before we went to Australia [to do the Soundwave festival tour]. And I said, 'I can't have this over my head.' And I feel bad for Dave to this day; I really feel bad for him because he shot himself in the foot. Maybe he thought he had the upper hand, but you ain't gonna get me."

SLAYER played its last-ever show in November 2019 at The Forum in Los Angeles.

Lombardo rejoined TESTAMENT earlier this year.

Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach and STRYPER's Michael Sweet have ended their long-running feud.

The war of words between Bach and Sweet began in November 2016 when Sweet shared a video on Facebook of then-16-year-old emerging artist Moriah Formica performing the SKID ROW track "I Remember You", along with the caption: "Moriah Formica kills this and in my humble opinion, smokes the original singer." He also proceeded to call Bach a "tool" in the comments section after being questioned about the caption by a fan.

After being alerted to Sweet's post by a fan, Sebastian fired back, writing in a tweet: "Michael Sweet has a big fucking mouth. Behind a keyboard that is. Can't wait to see this pussy in person again someday."

While speaking to "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show" at an October 2017 "Bowl For Ronnie" event in Studio City, California, Bach was asked about his war or words with Sweet. He said: "All I know is that when I see a headline on Blabbermouth and it says, 'Bach Slams 'Pussy' Sweet,' you've just kind of gotta do a double take on that one."

Pressed about whether he likes Sweet on a personal level, Sebastian said: "I don't, actually. I think STRYPER sucks. I've always thought that — since I was a little kid. I think their songs suck, I think their fucking clothes suck. Should I go on? What are they gonna [do] — whip a Bible at me? [Laughs]"

After clarifying that his opinion of STRYPER doesn't have anything to do with the Christian messages in the band's lyrics, Bach said: "I think they just make bad records. And I don't think they ever did make good records."

In November 2016, Sweet released a statement in response to Bach's "pussy" comment, saying that "anyone who knows me knows that I express my opinion and I'm more than willing to back it up. I do my best to be honest yet not to be mean-spirited or destructive. I'm also no pussy. Obviously, Sebastian doesn't know me, because if he did, he'd know that as fact."

He added: "Unfortunately, I think because I'm a Christian, some people think that I'm supposed to 'turn the other cheek' and let people say and do whatever they want. I guess the 'pussy' in me won't let me do that."

Sebastian and Michael previously traded barbs in 2015 when the STRYPER leader claimed he was asked to produce a Bach solo album, only for those plans to be squashed because Sebastian couldn't make up his mind. Sweet said: "I was approached to do a Sebastian album… to produce it and to co-write with him and basically try to kind of go back to those powerful songs from the past. Not make a dated record, but just that style, the anthemy SKID ROW stuff that everybody loves. And that was the plan."

Michael also offered a theory as to why so few of Bach's at-the-time-eight hundred thousand Facebook followers purchased the former SKID ROW singer's latest solo album, "Give 'Em Hell", when it was first released. Sweet said: "This isn't a bash against Sebastian at all; it's just my opinion. I think people wanna hear Sebastian of old. They wanna hear the SKID ROW Sebastian. They wanna hear the hits. And he's giving them modern rock. It's ['Give 'Em Hell'] a good album, it's a good-sounding album, but it's not the glory days."

After a fan wrote on Twitter that "the points M. Sweet made about fans wanting 'old school' Bach sounds - are ACCURATE. Not rude or mean. Just true," Bach responded: "ACCURATE? FACT: No member of STRYPER was EVER asked to produce ANY album by Sebastian Bach! EVER. Who do U think asks that?? Omg!"

Sweet later took to his own Twitter to clarify his proposed role in the making of Bach's solo album. Michael wrote: "I was asked by the LABEL to produce Sebastian Bach. I never said by Sebastian."

Michael and Sebastian finally got the opportunity to meet in person for the first time since their online spat at this year's edition of the Kiss Kruise where both STRYPER and Bach were scheduled to perform. Brought together by Metal Edge's Paul Gargano, Bach and Sweet buried the hatchet in private, and later teamed up on stage during Bach's solo set to perform KISS's version of "God Gave Rock 'N' Roll To You" and VAN HALEN's "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love".

Bach told the audience from the stage: "In the spirit of rock and roll music… We've only got one life. We're lucky to be here. From our Lord Jesus, God, I'm being totally serious right now… Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to welcome to the stage Mr. Michael Sweet of STRYPER. Rock 'n' roll brings us together; that’s what rock and roll does. Let's hear it right now… Life is too short."

Following the performance, Sweet and Bachsat down with Gargano to discuss what had transpired. Regarding how the feud between them began, Bach said: "The Internet happened. Every single headline is, this guy said this about this guy, this guy said this about this guy. It's not about the new record, it's not about the new video. It's about this guy called this guy a name. And everybody reads shit about themselves online that they don't like, and then they say something back. So it never ends."

Added Sweet: "You know, one thing said is maybe misconstrued or misunderstood, and another thing is said in retaliation, and then it heats up and people start fueling the fire and it just becomes a nightmare. That's what happened. And it went on for a long time and today was the day that we put all that aside, buried the hatchet and said, 'This is stupid.' "

"Life is too short," Sebastian repeated. "I don't wanna fight with anybody. There's enough rotten shit in the world. We don't need rock and roll to piss us off. Rock 'n' roll is supposed to be fun."

Michael later took to his social media to share a photo of him and Sebastian hugging it out, and he included the following caption: "One of the best moments of my life. Forgiveness. When you can forgive, you can do anything. Brothers… Thank you @kisskruiseofficial and thank you @paulgargano".

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Michael Sweet (@michaelsweetstryper)



'I don't wanna fight with anybody,' Sebastian Bach told us about his feud with Michael Sweet

Posted by Metal Edge Magazine on Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Zakk Wylde says that he is going to sound like himself when he performs "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott's parts on the upcoming PANTERA tour.

In July, it was reported that Wylde and ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante, along with PANTERA's surviving members, singer Philip Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown, will tour as PANTERA, headlining a number of major festivals across North America and Europe and staging some of their own headline concerts.

According to a report by Billboard, Wylde and Benante's involvement in the project has been approved by the estates of PANTERA's late co-founders, Dimebag and drummer Vincent "Vinnie Paul" Abbott.

Zakk discussed his participation in the PANTERA celebration tour in a new interview with Guitar World. He said: "No matter what I do, it's going to sound like me. I can practice all I want and stay as faithful as I want, but I am never going to escape that. It's like if Randy Rhoads were to play Eddie Van Halen's 'Eruption'. No matter what he did, it would sound like Randy playing, not Eddie. You're never going to mistake Randy for Eddie or Eddie for Randy, and it's the same thing here with me playing Dime's stuff."

As for how he plans to approach playing the material, he said: "I am going to go in, learn the parts, be as faithful to what Dime did as possible, and just be me. I'm gonna have fun with it, knowing that I am not expecting myself to sound like Dime, and no one else should either, which is how it is when I play with Ozzy or whatever else."

Zakk went on to confirm that he will be using gear from Dimebag's own collection, including "some of Dime's heads, pedals, or the cabs." He added: "I'll be using my guitars, effects, and pedals, a lot of the pedals that Dime actually gave me, and yeah, I'll definitely be using some of Dime's pedals and stuff, too. I'm still working out how it'll all come together, but I am looking forward to seeing how it all flows once I do. Dime's tech, Grady [Champion], is gonna be coming down too, which is great. I've got my tech, but it'll be great to have Grady here to help pay tribute to Dime."

Zakk previously discussed his involvement in the PANTERA tour during an appearance on The SDR Show. He said: "I had nothing to do with [putting the PANTERA thing together]. I'm friends with the guys. It'd be like if Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell were gonna do a tribute to Jimi [Hendrix] and they [asked] Eric Clapton, 'Eric, would you sing and play Jimi's stuff? We're gonna put this tribute thing together.' It's just, like, of course Eric would [do it]. 'Just let me know when you wanna do it.' It's just like anything. Like when we do 'Experience Hendrix', we do anything like that, it's just, like, 'Would you guys like to go out and honor Jimi Hendrix?' It's just, like, 'Yeah. And why wouldn't we?'"

He continued: "Yeah, of course. I'm gonna be honored. Even if it was a festival they were putting together and they wanted BLACK LABEL to come up and have Phil sing and they were gonna have all the different bands up there — LAMB OF GOD, BLACK LABEL, ANTHRAX — and all the bands were gonna play a PANTERA song and Phil's gonna sing. Of course we'd be involved. Why wouldn't we be involved?"

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."

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, Chile.

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

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.

THE PRETTY RECKLESS singer Taylor Momsen spoke to NME about her involvement with the tribute show for FOO FIGHTERS drummer Taylor Hawkins in California in September. At the event, Momsen fronted a band including former NIRVANA members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic and SOUNDGARDEN's Matt Cameron and Kim Thayil, playing versions of SOUNDGARDEN's "The Day I Tried To Live" and "Black Hole Sun".

"It was an absolute honor to be asked to sing at that,” said Momsen. "I loved Taylor dearly. What an incredible musician and one of the best people I've ever met in my life. It was just an extraordinarily moving night. The energy in the room was beautiful. Everyone who was there was there for the right reason; egos were checked at the door. And then, obviously, to play with some of my heroes of music was just unbelievable. I have to mention Dave and the FOOs as well; the way they went about the show was so well done and so beautiful. It was a very moving evening, very emotional. I feel like Taylor would have really loved it. Dave did a wonderful job honoring his friend."

Prior to the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert, Momsen had sung with Thayil and Cameron at a show honoring SOUNDGARDEN's Chris Cornell. Thayil and Cameron also appeared on THE PRETTY RECKLESS's latest album, "Death By Rock And Roll". More recently, Thayil guested with THE PRETTY RECKLESS on a live rendition of SOUNDGARDEN's "Loud Love".

After celebrating Hawkins's memory and music with a special six-hour gig in London on September 3, the Forum gig saw many of rock, heavy metal and pop music's biggest names unite in honor of Hawkins, who died earlier this year while on tour with the FOO FIGHTERS. Among the other musicians who appeared at the Los Angeles event were QUEEN's Brian May and Roger Taylor, MÖTLEY CRÜE's Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' Chad Smith, Wolfgang Van Halen, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE's Josh Homme, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Brad Wilk, RUSH's Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich, former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach, Miley Cyrus, Pink and Kesha.

The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts ticket and merchandise sales are benefiting charities chosen by the Hawkins family: Music Support and MusiCares.

THE PRETTY RECKLESS will release a new collection of music, "Other Worlds", on November 4 via Fearless Records. The effort sees the group delivering its first proper acoustic recordings, unexpected covers and other reimaginings.

"Death By Rock And Roll" was made available in February 2021 via Fearless Records in the U.S. and Century Media Records in the rest of the world.

Upon release, "Death By Rock And Roll" topped multiple sales charts — including Billboard's Top Albums, Rock, Hard Music, and Digital charts. The record also yielded three back-to-back No. 1 singles — "Death By Rock And Roll", "And So It Went" (featuring Tom Morello of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE) and "Only Love Can Save Me Now" (featuring Thayil and Cameron). The band has tallied seven No. 1 singles at the rock format throughout its career.

Last year, Momsen — who rose to fame portraying the character of edgy little sister Jenny Humphrey on The CW's "Gossip Girl" — described "Death By Rock And Roll" in an interview with ABC Audio as a "battle cry for life and for hope."

Rock & Roll Hall of Famers KISS and Sixthman, creators of unforgettable festivals on sand and at sea for more than two decades, have unveiled the final lineup for the eagerly awaited KISS Kruise XI, sailing from Los Angeles, CA to Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, Mexico aboard Norwegian Jewel for two weeks of non-stop rock ‘n’ roll on the high seas set for October 24-29, 2022 (Week 1) and October 29-November 3, 2022 (Week 2).


Former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick and his band performed on October 25th. Fan-filmed video of the complete show can be viewed below.


The setlist was as follows:




"The Oath"
"Who Wants To Be Lonely" 
"Hell Or High Water" / "I'll Fight Hell To Hold You" / "When Your Walls Come Down" / "No No No"
"Sword And Stone"
"Good Girl Gone Bad"
"King of Hearts"
"Bang Bang You"
"Unholy"
"Domino"
"God Gave Rock n' Roll to You"
"Forever"
"I Walk Alone"
"Crazy Nights" / "Turn On The Night"





For complete KISS Kruise XI details, head here.

Soilwork are currently in Australia for five shows in support of their new album, Övergivenheten. Fan-filmed video from their November 2nd show at the Lion Arts Factory in Adelaide can be viewed below.


The setlist on the night was as follows:


"Övergivenheten"
"This Momentary Bliss"
"Stabbing the Drama"
"The Living Infinite I"
"Is It in Your Darkness"
"Electric Again"
"The Living Infinite II"
"Bastard Chain"
"The Nurturing Glance"
"The Ride Majestic"
"Harvest Spine"
"Death Diviner"




Encore:
"Nerve"
"Arrival"
"Valleys of Gloam"
"Stålfågel"











Remaining tour dates are as follows:


November
3 - Manning Bar - Sydney
4 - The Croxton - Melbourne
5 - The Zoo - Brisbane


Soilwork recently released a live video for their focus track, "Valleys Of Gloam", that you can watch below.


Singer Björn Strid comments: "'Valleys Of Gloam' has a fierce metallic rock drive and sticks out quite a bit on this album. It might remind some people of the Figure Number Five days - yet it’s moving forward with the bands new found era, where the melodic language and intensity unites in a unique and beautiful way. This one is a very uplifting piece, that goes straight to the heart.”





Övergivenheten is available in the following formats:


- CD Jewelcase
- CD Digipack + 24 Page Booklet
- 2LP Vinyl Gatefold + 20 Page Booklet Clear (Retail)
- 2LP Vinyl Gatefold + 20 Page Booklet Split Silver/Blue (Mailorder + Wholesale)
- 2LP Vinyl Gatefold + 20 Page Booklet Splatter Curaçao w/ White & Blue & Splatter Curaçao w/ Black & Yellow (Mailorder)
- 2LP Vinyl Gatefold + 20 Page Booklet Ink Spot Yellow/Blue (Band)


Order the album here.





Tracklisting:


"Övergivenheten"
"Nouse Sommes la Guerre"
"Electric Again"
"Valleys Of Gloam"
"Is It In Your Darkness"
"Vultures"
"Morgongåva/Stormfågel"
"Death, I Hear You Calling"
"This Godless Universe"
"Dreams Of Nowhere"
"The Everlasting Flame"
"Golgata"
"Harvest Spine"
"On The Wings Of A Goddess Through Flaming Sheets Of Rain"


"Dreams Of Nowhere" video:





"Nous Sommes La Guerre" video:





"Övergivenheten" video:





Soilwork is:


Björn "Speed" Strid - vocals
David Andersson - guitars
Sven Karlsson - keyboards
Sylvain Coudret - guitars
Bastian Thusgaard - drums
Rasmus Ehrnborn - bass

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions are set to release the new release from Florida's strong style grindcore psychos Shining Wizard. Tournament Of Death is up now for pre-order on Bandcamp and will be released December 2nd on CD and Digital formats, along with merch and bundles.


Hailing from St. Petersburg Florida, Shining Wizard present a blood soaked tribute to some of the greatest pro-wrestlers that have ever lived... and died! Hana Kimura, Scott Hall, Dr. Death, Brodie Lee, The Big Bossman, and New Jack are all represented in this morbid celebration of violence and suffering. Shining Wizard's signature brand of Strong Style grindcore combines pop punk riffs with obnoxious blast beats in a hybrid genre that's almost catchy enough to enjoy. Tournament Of Death hits like an unprotected steel chair shot to the head... it's like The Misfits vs. Napalm Death in a Barbed-Wire Deathmatch, Blink 182 with CTE, Leftover Crack... smoking even more crack!







Tracklisting:


“Gutwrench”
“Exalted”
“Deadly Flower”
“Devil In The Mirror”
“Bossman Killer”
“Dying On A Razor’s Edge”


“Gutwrench”:

Shock rock veterans, Society 1, have announced that their former drummer Dagon Destroyer will be rejoining the band for their upcoming Exit Through Fear 20th anniversary tour. A large portion of the dates will be on the Rise Of The Machines tour with Static-X, Fear Factory, Mushroomhead and Dope. Additional shows are still being booked. Watch an announcement video here.


The band's most successful album, Exit Through Fear, which was originally released on Earache Records made an impression in 2003 due to the first music video of the album to feature lead vocalist Lord Zane performing body suspension. Drummer Dagon was featured in the video and did a large portion of the subsequent touring.


"I was 19 years old when we filmed our 'Nothing' music video for the album Exit Through Fear with Zane suspending over my drumset. The tours afterward were insane. Everything about Society 1 was insane, especially for a kid. It's surreal that we're joining forces again after 20 years and that we're out with Fear Factory and Static-X. It's a dream for me. These two bands are a huge part of my life," said Dagon




While in preparation and on tour the band will be filmed for a yet to be announced documentary project.





Tour Dates


February
24 - Fresno, CA - TBA *Not Rise Of The Machines
25 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
27 - Portland, OR - Roseland
28 - Seattle, WA - Showbox


March
1 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theater
2 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory
3 - Boise, ID - Revolution Concert Hall
4 - Reno, NV - Virginia Street Brewhouse
5 - Sacramento, CA - Ace Of Spades
7 - Phoenix, AZ - Van Buren
8 - Albuquerque, NM - El Rey Theater
9 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
10 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues
11 - San Antonio, TX - The Aztec Theater
12 - Houston, TX - House Of Blues
14 - Atlanta, GA - Buckhead Theater
15 - Orlando, FL - Plaza Live
16 - Charlotte, NC - Underground
17 - Baltimore, MD- Soundstage
18 - Philadelphia, PA - T.L.A.

Golden Robot Records announce the signing of the fiery, full-blooded Polynesian metal band, Shepherds Reign.





Members Filiva'a James, Oliver Leupolu, Shaymen Rameka, Gideon Voon and Joseph Oti-George have cemented a unique space for themselves in the industry with thunderously fearsome hits, including 2020 hauntingly feral track "Le Manu" that has amassed over 1 million streams since its release.




"We have had our eye on Shepherds Reign for years. There is no one doing what they are doing, it is completely unique and we are thrilled to be a part of it. This is just the beginning for Shepherds Reign, the catapult is coming," says Golden Robot Records CEO and President Mark Alexander-Erber.


"From our first meeting with Golden Robot I could really feel the passion that Mark and the team have for music and rock n roll so I'm really excited to see what we can achieve together," enthuses Oliver Leupolu. “We have great feelings about our new joint venture, there’s a great sense of ‘justice’ for rock n roll in the house of GR and in saying that, I believe Shepherds Reign will fit the bill very well. A new path has opened but the journey remains the same!," adds Shaymen Rameka.





With new music on the horizon, the rarity of Shepherds Reign will become more evident, as will their demand for the world stage. The bands guitarist Gideon Voon sums it up saying, "We are excited for the next chapter in our story, as we have full confidence in Golden Robot to give us the tools to carve our place in the history of music."


Fiercely dedicated to their to their cultural heritage and Polynesian pride, every Shepherds Reign live performance bleeds inner grit and passion, and as said-stages multiply Shepherds Reign remain as ferociously focused as ever on taking over the world with their next chapter looking paramount. “A new path has opened but the journey remains the same!" roars Rameka.


Pay attention. Shepherds Reign are here and they're determined. SAU IAAA!!!

KISS frontman Paul Stanley says that he is saddened by the state of American politics amid a loss of civility, raising the possibility that the polarized American electoral system has come to the point at which a return to traditional democratic norms will be extremely difficult, if not impossible.

On October 30, the 70-year-old Stanley took to his Twitter to write: "I LOVE MY COUNTRY: I have to say it breaks my heart & frightens me to see the cancer eating away at the heart & soul of this amazing nation. Integrity & intelligence battling personal advancement & ignorance. When did those who don't share our views become the enemy and when did our fellow citizens decide it was 'American' to push for elected officials who would trample on the liberties & religious beliefs of those who don't share theirs? Constantly accepting the next 'new normal' can only bring us closer to a new unimaginable."

Nearly two years ago, Stanley defended his right to speak out on political issues, saying that he voices his opinions as a "proud citizen" of a country he loves deeply.

In January 2021, the KISS frontman took to his Twitter to write: "If You Are A Fan Who Now Feels My Opinions Are Alienating You, that is sadly your choice & not my intention. Do the entertainers you enjoy have to share your beliefs? Would you like it more if you didn't know? In many cases you'd be fooling yourself. I won't do that to you or me."

Two days earlier, he wrote: "To All Those Who Don't Share My Views... You are not my enemy. A democracy needs those differences to make it better & ultimately stronger. Friendship doesn't need agreement. OUR enemy should be anyone who turns us against each other for their personal gain."

Stanley expounded on his reasons for being so vocal on social media, writing: "I voice my opinions as a proud citizen of this country I love deeply. My profession should't disallow that as we all have that right so many have fought & died protecting. I also understand that the people who would like me to stay quiet are those who don't share my views. Sorry."

A few days after the U.S. Capitol riot, Stanley called out Republican senators who stoked the election conspiracy theories that sparked the violent attack by supporters of then-U.S. president Donald Trump.

This past August, Stanley once again slammed American mainstream media outlets for only reporting one political side of the story with bias. The KISS frontman, who is in the middle of the band's "End Of The Road" farewell trek, took to his Twitter to share the logos of several major cable news networks — specifically Fox News, CNN and MSNBC — and he included the following message: "WANT TO HAVE A MORE UNIFIED COUNTRY? Have a more unified news! Not poisonous bickering & slanted distortions on BOTH sides. How can we form educated points of view when we're not getting the unbiased truth? We don't need networks pushing opinions. We need ACCURACY. We need FACTS."

This was not the first time Stanley had been critical of the way the American media reports its stories. Back in January 2020, Paul wrote on Twitter: "The divisive and dangerous climate in America is in large part the result of 24 HOUR 'NEWS' CHANNELS WHICH ARE IN FACT SKEWED AND BIASED POLITICAL OUTLETS . Any point of view can be backed up with some sort of documentation and 'expert' analysis and that is the key problem. News?!? No. We are watching slick entertainment channels pushing their own agenda and a reality which then becomes yours."

In June 2019, Paul tweeted out the BBC News logo along with the following message: "If You're Ready For News With Far Less Of The Game Show Slickness And Bias Of Our 24 News Networks You Might Try One Of The BBC Outlets. Less Exciting? YES! But Filling 24 Hours Is An Unnecessary Challenge That Has Turned Outlets Into Biased Fast Food Providers."

In August 2018, Stanley said that he does not believe the press is the enemy of the American people, presumably in response to Trump, who has regularly derided the media as such.

Stanley offered his opinion in two separate tweets, writing: "JOURNALISTS And The Media Are NOT The Enemy Of The People. Without the opportunity to hear all points of view we can't find the truth. Those who want to silence opposition and questions or turn the public against them ARE The Enemy Of The People And Of [email protected] @FoxNews"

He added: "Because ALL media coverage of politics is clearly biased now, we should accept that EVERYONE is participating and NOBODY is innocent. THAT is all the more reason we need to hear it all."
1) I LOVE MY COUNTRY: I have to say it breaks my heart & frightens me to see the cancer eating away at the heart & soul of this amazing nation. Integrity & intelligence battling personal advancement & ignorance. When did those who don’t share our views become the enemy and when…

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) October 30, 2022


2) did our fellow citizens decide it was “American” to push for elected officials who would trample on the liberties & religious beliefs of those who don’t share theirs? Constantly accepting the next “new normal” can only bring us closer to a new unimaginable.

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) October 30, 2022

JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford spoke to Mark Strigl of SiriusXM's Ozzy's Boneyard about his just-released book, "Biblical: Rob Halford's Heavy Metal Scriptures". In the follow-up to his 2020 autobiography "Confess", Halford runs his lively eye over all facets of the hard rock history and the heavy metal world via bite-sized reflections, opinions, and memories in scores and scores of areas, all linked by a biblical theme.

Speaking about how the idea for "Biblical" came about, Rob said: "I had so much with 'Confess', and [co-writer] Ian Gittins, who's my guy, I just sit and talk, and he does all the hard work putting it all together in the manuscript sense. So we finished 'Confess', and much like everything that we do in the creative sense, I already had like a little idea for this next book to make. And I said, 'Ian, can we be blasphemous?' He said, 'Yes, be blasphemous.' I said, 'Can we take the Bible [laughs], can we take the beautiful Bible and take sections of the Bible, like Revelations and Temptations and this and that and the other, and utilize it in a way to take everyone through a story of my life in music but from a different angle, not the autobiographical sense?' Let's talk about what you've gotta do to make things happen, to make the connections, to get the record deal, to get the managers, to get the accountants, to get the lawyers, all that stuff. He did a marvelous job, amongst all of the many anecdotes that we put together for 'Biblical', to make what I think is a really cool, funny, interesting book full of the inside stories which you may be interested in learning about how the machine works, how the rock and roll machine works."

Several months ago, Halford publicly revealed that he battled prostate cancer during the pandemic. He previously mentioned his cancer battle in the new chapter added to the updated paperback edition of "Confess". In "Confess", Halford revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer after experiencing symptoms for at least a couple of years.

In July 2020, Rob underwent prostatectomy, an operation where the entire prostate gland is removed plus some of the tissue around it, including the seminal vesicles. After more cancer was found last year, he went through radiation treatments in April and May 2021 and eventually got then all-clear in June 2021. He also had an appendectomy after a tumor was discovered on his appendix.

"Confess" arrived in September 2020 via Hachette Books. Co-written with Gittins, the book offered readers a compelling, heartfelt and honest look at the struggles Rob has faced with addiction and his sexuality as well as exploring his music and his many brushes with controversy.

Earlier this year, Halford told the Phoenix, Arizona radio station KSLX-FM 100.7 about "Confess": "I was approached in my 30s. 'Rob, do you want to do a book?' I'm, like, 'No, dude. I've got more of a life to live.' And then there's a little bell [that] goes, 'Ping! It's time to do it.' So we put that together while the pandemic was going on.

"Thank you to everybody that took time to get into the book," he continued. "It was a real journey of self-discovery. 'Cause Ian Gittins, who is my guy — Ian did the Nikki Sixx 'Heroin Diaries' and a multitude of other great books. He was the master of taking it through the various parts of my life. And we got it done at long last."

Halford went on to praise Gittins further, saying: "He's great. He's a researcher. He pulls his stuff from all these different resources. Once you put a light on in my head, the lips start flapping… So, I'm relieved that, through my sobriety, I thought I had lost so much of this stuff in those murky years, but he was able to get me through that time, which we included in the book. So, yeah, we didn't miss anything; we didn't cut any corners. The difficulty came when we sent all these hundreds of thousands of words to the publisher, and then the editing team goes in. I'm, like, 'You cannot take that out. It's gotta stay in.' We had quite a bit of material left over — for the right reasons. That's why editors edit. So we're utilizing that in another project that we'll be talking about later on this year," he added, apparently referring to "Biblical: Rob Halford's Heavy Metal Scriptures".

In "Confess", Halford discusses in detail what it was like becoming the first metal icon to announce he is gay in 1998 during an MTV interview, despite knowing about his sexuality since he was 10. Although his bandmates and their management knew he was gay and were accepting, he was advised to be discreet given the macho hetero nature of the metal world. He also opens up about surviving sexual abuse, as well as his struggles with depression, substance abuse, sobriety, and the suicide of one of his former partners. He also talks about how his own suicide attempt in 1986 led him to the rehab program that saved his life.

Two years ago, Halford told Sonic Perspectives about the Confess" book title: "I would like to feel there are parts of this book which are relatable to others. Everybody is the same, as we all share similar life experiences. There are so many things that happen to us; we are almost identical no matter where we are from. I've traveled the world and seen how our music can touch people from all walks of life and professions. Confessing these stories or episodes is important, and it gives the reader a look-see into this guy that you only see from one point of view."

Halford is not the first member of PRIEST's classic lineup to release a book. Former JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing released his autobiography, "Heavy Duty: Days And Nights In Judas Priest", in September 2018 via Da Capo Press.

In 2009, original JUDAS PRIEST singer Al Atkins released his autobiography, titled "Dawn Of The Metal Gods: My Life In Judas Priest And Heavy Metal". JUDAS PRIEST bassist Ian Hill penned the foreword to the book, which was written with Neil Daniels — a freelance rock writer and heavy metal fan who befriended Atkins during the writing of Neil's book "The Story Of Judas Priest: Defenders Of The Faith" (Omnibus Press).

Grammy-nominated Lancaster five-piece August Burns Red - JB Brubaker [lead guitar], Brent Rambler [rhythm guitar], Matt Greiner [drums], Jake Luhrs [vocals], and Dustin Davidson [bass] - have announced their new album, Death Below. It arrives on March 24 via SharpTone Records. Pre-order it here.


"It's no secret that the past few years have been extremely dark and challenging," Brubaker says. "Death Below is here as a result of that time in each our lives and the emotions that came with it. We were motivated by uncertainty, fear, outrage, and triumph. I feel this is the darkest, most personal album we've ever written, and I couldnt be more proud of what the five of us made together."


Today, they have shared the video for the first single "Ancestry", featuring Killswitch Engage singer Jesse Leach. Watch below.




"'Ancestry' is a complex and technical ABR track held together by perhaps the most painful and personal lyrics Jake has ever written," says Brubaker. "I loved this song in every phase since its inception. From the instrumental rendition, to the lyrics and vocals being added, to finally bringing it all together with Jesse's anthemic guest vocals, 'Ancestry' is a song we've been looking forward to sharing with the world for a long time."


The album features additional guest spots from guitarist Jason Richardson, as well as JT Cavey of Erra and Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath.





Tracklisting:


"Premonition"
"The Cleansing"
"Ancestry" (Feat. Jesse Leach)
"Tightrope" (Feat. Jason Richardson)
"Fool's Gold in the Bear Trap"
"Backfire"
"Revival"
"Sevink"
"Dark Divide"
"Deadbolt"
"The Abyss" (Feat. JT Cavey)
"Reckoning" (Feat. Spencer Chamberlain)


"Ancestry" video:





August Burns Red recently announced the third annual Christmas Burns Red. The 2022 edition takes place December 16 + 17 at the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, PA. Details regarding tickets, VIP packages, and lodging can be found here.


August Burns Red will headline both nights. It's the band's first time performing two nights at Freedom Hall. Previous years found the band playing a smaller kick-off show in a club setting and following with a show at Freedom Hall.


December 16 will also be "Solid State Day" and features a lineup of bands from the Solid State Record roster. ABR's set for this show will be comprised exclusively of material from their Solid State catalog.


"Christmas Burns Red is an event we've worked so hard to make better each year," the band says. "This is our first year doing two days in Freedom Hall and we can't wait to watch all these awesome and talented bands play across the weekend. These shows are always the highlight of ABR's year. We look forward to making new memories with everyone in December!"





The daily lineups are below.


December 16:


August Burns Red
Norma Jean
Silent Planet
Phinehas
Becoming the Archetype
Earth Groans


December 17:


August Burns Red
Erra
Shadow of Intent
Brand of Sacrifice
Invent Animate
Convictions

The coming year 2023 will mark the final chapter in the long history of legendary German thrash metal band, Holy Moses, celebrated with the upcoming new studio album, Invisible Queen, and a final series of live shows. 


Vocalist Sabina Classen comments: "I joined Holy Moses in December 1981 and that fundamentally changed the path I was supposed to take in my life. Our first album in 1986 was called Queen Of Siam, and now, to top it off, my last album with Holy Moses in 2023 will be titled Invisible Queen. After 42 eventful years and after so many great albums, fantastic shows and incredible experiences, the time has come to write the last chapter of Holy Moses. And we're excited to have this happening through Fireflash Records with the release of our 12th studio album."


Holy Moses are an established institution in the international metal scene. Their multifaceted thrash metal, the charismatic voice of frontwoman Sabina Classen, as well as the mixture of traditional attitudes and experimental development have made the band a permanent fixture since the early eighties. With classics like Finished With The Dogs (1987), The New Machine Of Liechtenstein (1989), World Chaos (1990) or Terminal Terror (1991), Holy Moses wrote metal history.




Classen: "Throughout 2023 we will be busy promoting Invisible Queen and playing one last series of shows at full intensity. We look forward to seeing you." 


Invisible Queen will be released on April 14th, 2023 via Fireflash Records and distributed worldwide byWarner/ADA.


Classen: "Holy Moses has never had standard thrash songs and never will be. We write songs that we like ourselves, and don't compromise on trends or make concessions to false expectations. We don't have to please everyone, we are our own brand, we have our own sound, including crooked bars, technically demanding passages and unusual chord structures as well as interesting lyrics that deal with the dark sides of people or the human psyche."


Tour dates are as follows, with more shows to be announced soon:


May
19 - Kirchdorf, Germany - Bavarian Battle Open Air
20 - Ostend, Belgium - Huginns Awakening Fest VII


June
8 - Frýdek-Místek, Czech Republic - Hellpdays Festival 


July 
28 - Tolmin, Slovenia - Tolminator


August
13 - Kortrijk, Belgium - Alcatraz Festival


September
15 - Kiel, Germany - Full Metal Cruise X Part I


Photo by Axel Jusseit

Icelandic pagan black metal trio Fortíð has release the second track “Fimbulvetur” of the EP Dómur um dauðan hvern (“Judgement Of Everyone Dead") as a lyric video. Dómur um dauðan hvern is slated for release on November 18, 2022. Preorder here.


The radio single “Fimbulvetur” ("The Great Winter") is named after one of the eschatological events of Norse myth, which are leading to Ragnarök, i.e. the end of the gods and the world in fire.







Fortíð comment: "The first track of the EP, 'Fimbulvetur' tells about a time in the past when the eruption of a volcano blocked the sun for some years, killing crops and livestock, which left people starving and murdering each other for every little scrap that they had left to eat,” mastermind Einar Eldur Thorberg explains. "It's about people, who worshipped the sun and had lost their faith, thinking that their god was either dead or had abandoned them."





With their two-track EP Dómur um dauðan hvern ("Judgement Of Everyone Dead"), Fortíð sent out an impressive sign of life. The Icelandic pagan black metal outfit continues in the massive footprints that their current album World Serpent has left. Epic Icelandic melodies, sharp riffing that draws from black, death, thrash, and heavy metal as well as Einar Eldur Thorberg's distinct vocals combine into fiery and spirited new songs.


(Photo – Laura Diamond)

Avant-garde entity, Thy Catafalque, have released a live performance video for "Fekete mezők", featured on the band's 2011 album, Rengeteg. The clip is taken from the upcoming Blu-Ray, Mezolit - Live At Fekete Zaj, which will be released on November 25 via Season of Mist. Order here, and watch the clip below:





The band recently issued a guitar playthough video for "Szarvas", featured on their album, Vadak, released in 2021 via Season Of Mist. Watch below, and order Vadak  here